The Cheshire Magazine - June/July 22 by The Cheshire Magazine & The Rutland Magazine

JUNE/JULY 2022 s ISSUE 096

CHANEL Get the look

SH AY Given On football, fitness & family

FAMILY Fun in Chester The Ultimate Guide

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JUNE/JULY 2022 s ISSUE 096 s

Managing Director Kathryn Otto Editor Craig Hough Editorial Team Kevin Evans Toby Taylor Isla Wilson Contributers James Fossdyke Clare Stobart Martine Alexander Phil Aird-Mash Alex Mellor-Brook Ange Seddon Design & Production Kate Woods Picture Editor Kat Hannon Brand Ambassadors Keely Barrett Sarah Irlam Charity and Event’s Coordinator Rachel O’Hare

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A Note From...

ime together as a family is precious and as we enter the summer holiday season, it offers families the opportunity to spend some quality time together. Our family themed issue is full of ideas to help keep your little one’s entertained over the sunny period. We start with our Notebook pages (p.17) which are packed full of family-friendly events for you to enjoy. From Kidchella at Tatton Park to Car Fest at Bolesworth, we have something for everyone. For those looking for something a little closer to home, we have teamed up with Chester BID to create the ultimate guide for families visiting Chester (p.55). The family theme keeps flowing into our Travel pages where we’ve put togethersome of the best family breaks (p.68), enjoy a family trip to Hotel Football in Manchester (p.70) and a pampered girls’ night at Cottons Hotel and Spa (p.72). Also this issue, we talk to the new Head of Family and Relationships at HM Legal, Elizabeth Hassall (p.14) about her life in Cheshire. Our Health and Fitness Expert Clare Stobart talks to ex-Premier League star Shay Given about his career, fitness and his family (p.32). Comedian and actor Romesh Ranganathan discuss his new BBC comedy (p.28) and fashion designer Richard Quinn sheds light on his new collaboration with Jo Malone (p.45). In Style we take a sneak peek at Mappin & Webb’s new store in Chester (p.38), learn how to ‘get the look’ with Chanel in Health, Beauty and Wellness (p.44) and shine a spotlight on Ducie Street Warehouse’s new social dining menu in Food and Drink (p.62). Over in Drive we take a look at the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach 1 (p.82) and finally in Home we showcase the vibrant and colourful tile collection from Villeroy & Boch and leading fashion designer Mary Katrantzou (p.89). So, settle in with your strawberries and cream, pour your Pimms and enjoy our fun-filled family issue.

Where to find us... CHESTER 1539 Restaurant DD Clinical Gieves & Hawkes Opera Bar & Grill Piccolino’s Oddfellows Pied Bull The White Horse Powells Jewellery

LIVERPOOL Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar David M Robinson

MANCHESTER David M Robinson Gotham Hotel Kimpton Clock Tower Harvey Nichols Hilton Manchester Deansgate King Street Townhouse Mappin & Webb Rosso Restaurant Bar & Grill Watches of Switzerland 20 Stories Oddfellows on the Park

CHESHIRE Carden Park Hotel Mottram Hall Spa Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet The Mere Cottons Hotel The Colony Wilmslow Luciano Alderley Edge Guncast Pools & Wellness

Happy reading,

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Cpase Knutsford

cover On the

Cute little boy reaching for the chocolate chip cookies on the kitchen shelf Photograph - Rangizzz

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AM M II LL Y AA FF A Y SS TT O O RR YY A FAMILY STORY

Yasmin and Amber Le Bon wear Raindance Yasmin and Amber Le Bon wear Raindance Yasmin and Amber Le Bon wear Raindance

Contents

A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITES

AVOIDANCE

FIND YOUR FIT

LUXURY ISLAND ESCAPE

Comedian and actor Romesh Ranganathan on his new BBC comedy

FAMILY

FAMILY FUN IN CHESTER

The ultimate guide

FOOD & DRINK

Shay Given on family, football and fitness

MEET THE CHEF

SPOTLIGHT ON…

We head to Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa for sun and adventure

Andrew King from Ring O’ Bells in Christleton

Ducie Street Warehouse’s new social dining concept

TRAVEL STYLE

NEW GEM IN CHESTER’S CROWN

Introducing the new Mappin & Webb store

70 72

FAMILY FOOTBALL FUN

At Hotel Football in Manchester

GIRLS NIGHT IN

At Cottons Hotel & Spa

HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLNESS

REGULARS

MY LIFE IN...

LOCAL SCENE

DATING AFTER A DIVORCE

Q&A WITH…

TEE OFF WITH

Fashion designer Richard Quinn on his new collaboration

Ross Astley from Macdonald Portal

Elizabeth Hassall on her life in Cheshire

This month’s social pages are packed with fundraising, fun and fizz

Dating expert Alex MellorBrook offers his advice

DRIVE

FEELING SUPERSONIC The Ford Mustang Mach 1

HOME

VICTORIAN

The Villeroy & Boch and Mary Katrantzou collaboration

INTRODUCING

Afternoon Tea at 360 Sky Bar, Liverpool Beautifully presented and served against the 18th floor venue’s unrivalled panoramic views of Liverpool and beyond, afternoon tea at Gino D’Acampo 360 Sky Bar combines the best of British tradition with a taste of Italy. Available from 12pm to 5pm Sunday to Friday and 12pm to 3pm every Saturday, the Italian chef’s take on afternoon tea delivers the perfect balance of savoury and sweet, including a deli selection, freshly baked scones, and four picture-worthy sweet treats. Advance reservations are required, with guests kindly asked to book a minimum of 24 hours in advance. Reservations can be placed by email at Liverpool@ ginodacampohotelsandleisure.com or by calling the restaurant on 0151 832 4517.

360 Sky Bar by Gino D’Acampo, INNSiDE by Meliá, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9LQ T: 0151 832 4517 E: Liverpool@ginodacampohotelsandleisure.com GINODACAMPOHOTELSANDLEISURE.COM

My life ... ELIZABETH HASSALL , HEAD OF FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIPS AT HM LEGAL

How would you describe yourself ? Determined, empathetic and very keen to provide a first-class service to clients. Where is home? And work? Home is just outside Chester, and as a farmer’s daughter and sister I love living in the country. I work in gorgeous offices at Gorse Stacks House, just minutes away from Chester City Centre. What motivated your move to HM Legal? I was motivated as I wanted to work somewhere that shared my values. Also, I wanted to be with a legal company which is progressive and has exciting plans to grow, but not just grow for the sake of it. What excites you about your new role and what plans do you have? I’m excited because the legal landscape is changing all the time; I have plans for the family team at HM Legal to adapt to those changes. I’m particularly keen to develop the team to help clients navigate no-fault divorce, and alternatives to the strict court system – including around the table discussions and collaborative law

“You never know what’s around the corner. Sometimes you have to be adaptable to unexpected changes in life.” negotiations. I want to appeal to clients in both the urban and rural locations around us. Importantly, I want the HM team to be known for a practical and empathetic approach, helping people through what can be difficult life changes. I’m pleased to say that your readers are the type of clients I’m helping every day, be it individuals or business owners. Specifically, we hope to be the SOS service at a time of marriage, civil partnership or relationship breakdown. We would also seek to help in the world of asset protection – for example – when mum and dad are providing financial support for their child to buy property, or to assist couples entering into a cohabitation or a pre-nuptial agreement. By working closely with a team of professional advisers, my team can offer a 360 degree service for wealth, tax and inheritance planning. What did you want to be when you were younger? Not a train driver! But I had hopes of becoming a vet – I had a great foundation growing up on a farm, surrounded by animals.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

L TO R: LINDSEY KIDD, MANAGING DIRECTOR; AND ELIZABETH HASSALL

Name a few of your favourite places to be... My favourite places to be include Bickerton Hills, the old walls of Chester, and the delights of the riverbank along the River Dee. What or who inspires you? Definitely Helena Kennedy QC, a barrister and judge who works with professional women at risk in Afghanistan. Also, Baroness Hale of Richmond, who broke down barriers for women in law. It is 101 years since women were admitted! Other inspirational people include pioneering solicitors and barristers who have insisted on change. What was the last gift you gave someone? The gift of a bracelet for my best friend’s daughter’s 18th birthday. Tell us a secret/fun fact? Since I was 13 years old, I have kept a Kermit the Frog eraser. Whenever I’m nervous I rub his tummy! Who or what would you place in Room 101? Goats cheese - I hate everything about it, particularly a smell akin to gym shoes. What would your mastermind subject be? Winnie the Pooh. What’s been your biggest life lesson? You never know what’s around the corner. Sometimes you have to be adaptable to unexpected changes in life. www.hm-legal.co.uk

DON’T MISS THE

UNMISSABLE 2022 CHESTER TICKETS & HOSPITALITY ON SALE NOW

FRIDAY 24 JUNE

SUNDAY 31 JULY

Mappin & Webb Ladies Evening

Family Funday

SATURDAY 25 JUNE

Ladies Day

SATURDAY 20 AUGUST

Matthew Clark Summer Festival

FRIDAY 9 SEPTEMBER

FRIDAY 8 JULY

The Deepbridge Autumn Festival Friday

Ladies & Gents Evening

SATURDAY 9 JULY The Clogau City Plate Day

SATURDAY 16 JULY

SATURDAY 10 SEPTEMBER Autumn Festival Saturday

SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER Season Finale

The Budweiser Midsummer Meeting

Chester-Races.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

NOTEBOOK WORDS: CRAIG HOUGH

K id idcchell hella a

The pint-sized pop festival returns

with stellar tribute acts of Little Mix, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift headlining. There'll be roaming entertainers, lots of fun activities, and even glitter bars – and, of course, nobody goes home without having their face painted. 10 July and 6 August, Tatton Park www.tattonparkpopupfestival.co.uk

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

21 - 24 JUL

bluedot Jodrell Bank, Cheshire

What’s O n ?

Big and small boffins are welcome at bluedot for four days of cosmic fun. The Planet field, where science superheroes roam, is the place to head for mind-boggling shows and extraordinary experiments, and to learn out-of-this-world skills such as how to wield a Jedi Lightsaber. www.discoverthebluedot.com

22 - 23 JUL

Manchester Craft Beer Festival Depot Mayfield, Manchester The team behind Bigfoot Festival will take over Depot Mayfield to host the beer, food and music fuelled festival. Running across three sessions, the festival features a supreme line-up of world-class breweries. New for 2022 are The Fire Pits, featuring a series of guest chefs and live fire specialists serving up a signature dish for hungry festival goers. www.manchestercraftbeerfestival.com

15 - 17 JUL

Hale Barns Carnival 2022 St Ambrose Fields, Hale Barns The family friendly carnival returns for three spectacular days of entertainment with headline live acts that include Rose Royce singer Gwen Dickey, people’s tenor Russell Watson and The Real Thing. The event also features the ‘Kidchella’ mini festival experience, traditional fun fair rides, a makers’ market, the return of the Supercar Paddock and much, much more. www.halebarnscarnival.co.uk 18

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

20 - 21 AUG

Gatherings Festival Gisburne Park Estate, Lancashire An eclectic two-day festival bringing together music, multi-arts, food and wellness. Line-up includes Roger Sanchez, Ibibio Sound Machine, Children of Zeus, Crazy P, House Gospel Choir, Craig Charles, Wellness guru Davinia Taylor, Chef Steven Smith plus poets, a pool party and goat yoga. www.gatheringsfestival.com

22 - 24 JUL

Carfest North Bolesworth Estate, Chester This year's CarFest North offers an amazing weekend packed to the brim with activities for every member of the family, underpinned by fantastic music, celebrity chefs, your favourite TV stars and of course, plenty of cars! www.carfest.org

30 JUL - 21 AUG

The Gruffalo Lowry Theatre, Salford Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world. www.thelowry.com

UNTIL 28 AUG

Storyhouse Outdoors Grosvenor Park Open Air Village, Chester Storyhouse is heading outdoors this summer with its own beer hall-style Teepee Bar. There'll be a festival vibe to the programme, which is bursting with events such as Alice's Adventure, a storytelling trail through the park that even the dog can join in with, and Storyhouse Languages, drop-in sessions for little ones to hear stories told by Chester's Brazilian community. www.storyhouse.com

31 JUL

Family Funday Chester Racecourse They’re under starter’s orders for this summer’s Family Funday at Chester Racecourse, when the heart of the historic course transforms into a funfilled arena for families. While the adults keep half an eye on the races going on around the outside, youngsters can enjoy PlayFest, curated by Parentfolk's festival team, which includes music tours and a roller-skating rink. www.chester-races.com 19

Free Reader Event

SAVE 20 THE 10 DATE 22 Enjoy an evening of champagne tasting A celebration of Kitchen Architecture’s 20th year and The Cheshire Magazine’s 100th issue. Join us on Thursday 20 October for an exclusive Champagne Masterclass delivered by the world’s most admired Grande Marque – La Maison de Louis Roederer. Under the tutelage of their Master of Wine, learn how to savour this maison’s most prestige cuvées. Hosted by Kitchen Architecture in conjunction with The Cheshire Magazine and Gaggenau, you will have the opportunity to discuss home renovations with expert design consultants who will be on hand to guide, inspire and answer any questions you may have. Don’t forget to bring along plans if you’d like individual input and advice. Gaggenau advisers will also be available to demonstrate their market-leading kitchen appliances. Kitchen Architecture understands how good design can add value to your lifestyle and home. Visiting their Wilmslow design centre, you will experience high-end kitchen-living spaces curated for family and friends to enjoy more time together – be it cooking, dining, or relaxing, including an outdoor kitchen and entertaining area. As a celebration of Kitchen Architecture’s 20th year, they are offering five free design consultations for readers planning home renovations and wanting to embrace a sociable lifestyle at home. The evening is completely free but places are limited so please book now: email events@kitchenarchitecture.co.uk. Date: 6-8 pm, Thursday 20 October 2022 Location: Kitchen Architecture, The Colony, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, SK9 4LY To book: events@kitchenarchitecture.co.uk

Where life is calm and connected...

Kitchen Architecture is a family-run business that specialises in creating sociable living spaces that add value to your lifestyle and home. If you’re planning a home renovation, come along and chat to an expert design consultant.

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

B oodles M ay Fest iv i val at C heste hesterr R acec o u rse One of the most popular races events on the social calendar returned this year with three days of horse racing and events concluding with Friday’s TOTE Chester Cup Day

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

he return this year saw thousands of guests back at the Roodee course, including a host of famous faces, all donning colourful outfits to compliment the blue skies and sunshine. The famous Boodles May Festival Ladies Day saw Jackie Chambers win the Boodles Best Dressed Lady competition - who dazzled in a bright yellow bodycon Sophie Hunter dress teamed with matching Steve Madden heels and a huge floral fascinator. Jackie collected the top prize of a Boodles diamond pendant and £700 fashion vouchers from designer Matthew O’Brien.

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

The event also saw an exciting new addition – the Edinburgh Gin Garden and Cabanas. The racecourse teamed up with Edinburgh Gin to build five Mediterranean style cabanas and provided an impressive boost to the £1M Edinburgh Gin Garden. Located in the Edinburgh Gin Garden, previously the Champagne Garden, each cabana offered guests a private terrace, table service, TV screen, entertainment and even an Edinburgh Gin welcome drink. Tickets for the remainder of the 2022 season at Chester are available at chester-races.com

polo series At Chester Racecourse At Chester Racecourse

Friday 2nd July July Friday 1st 1st & & Saturday Saturday 2nd

Tickets from Tickets from £9 £9 Hospitality packages packages from from £89 Hospitality £89 www.chester-races.com/polo www.chester-races.com/polo

Local Scene ADVERT

The JMF Ladies’ Lunch Lost & Found, Knutsford Last month saw the 5th annual ladies’ lunch in support of the James Milner Foundation. The JMF Ladies’ Lunch is an elegant affair, hosted by founder, Amy Milner, and managed by Entertainment Today Events. The foundation benefits 4 main charities: NSPCC, Bloodwise, Help for Heroes, MND Association and regional sporting initiatives. For this year’s Spring lunch, over 100 ladies took over the top floor of Lost & Found; a beautiful open-spaced restaurant, located in the heart of Knutsford. The perfect spot for a fabulous afternoon, raising funds and awareness. The event began with a glass of fizz and a unique shopping experience with stalls from Beauty Bazaar/Harvey Nichols, Food4Thoughts, Smudge Boutique, OG Beachwear and Sarah Graham Travel Counsellor. This is followed by a speech from Amy, who shared some of the amazing work that the foundation does. Throughout the three-course dinner, guests enjoy a fun afternoon of games, raffles and a live auction, along with musical guests. The final performance of the night was from The Voice finalist, and a friend of the foundation, Holly Ellison. The foundation is pleased to announce that this year’s Spring lunch raised just under £18,000. This is an incredible amount to make in just one afternoon, and events like these couldn’t happen without the amazing support from guests and a variety of sponsors that included CPASE in Knutsford. www.entertainmenttoday.co.uk 26

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

Charles Clinkard Opening Wilmslow To celebrate the launch of its new store located in the heart of Wilmslow, independent footwear retailer, Charles Clinkard, held a launch event last month to unveil its new home in the North West and to celebrate what the area has to offer. This included a night full of live music, sweet treats, and plenty of bubbles. The team was joined by local influencers, businesses from the area, and friends of Charles Clinkard for a fantastic night showcasing the new store on Grove Street. www.charlesclinkard.co.uk

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Avoi void d an ancc e Comedian and actor Romesh Ranganathan on his new BBC comedy about a man with severe conflict avoidance issues who is forced to change for the sake of his son

Tell us about your new series Avoidance and what audiences can expect from the show? Avoidance is about a conflict-avoidant beta male, who is so frustrating to live with that his partner leaves. He is then forced to try and sort himself out, for the sake of this son. He ends up staying with his sister and her wife… it’s funnier than it sounds. It’s supposed to be funny with a bit of heart, but I’d settle for mildly diverting at this point.

This is your first series with your own production company Ranga Bee for the BBC, how was that? It’s cool to have a production company, but it does add extra anxiety when you know that any issues are something you need to worry about. I didn’t enjoy the idea that if I moaned about anything, I was essentially slagging myself off.

Tell us about the writing process for Avoidance. Ben Green and I had a version of this idea about five years ago and every now and then we would dip back into it and develop it further. Eventually we decided to put it together as an idea for the BBC. Ben, Neil Webster, Shaun Pye, Kefi Chadwick and myself thrashed out storylines and ideas, and then eventually wrote individual scripts before poring over them to make sure our characters seemed like real people. Then we spent the rest of the process worrying it was all rubbish.

Do you have any similarities to your character Jonathan? His conflict-avoidant beta maledom is based on my own character, but I would like to think I hide it a bit better than Jonathan does. The fact that Ben agreed it would be a good starting point for a comedy suggests I don’t.

Do you have any favourite memories from filming? I think the first scene with Kieran who plays Spencer - he was who I filmed with on the first few days. He was just so natural and brilliant and I remember thinking we were onto something good with him. It was a really nice moment, swiftly followed by waves of anxiety about my own performance.

You have some great talent involved, when you wrote it did you have the casting in mind? We didn’t have people in mind specifically, but we were lucky that in each of the main roles, the cast had taken the characters beyond how we even imagined they could be. Jess, Lisa and Mandeep are the most incredible actors, and they brought their characters to life in a way that had us all buzzing. We have really lucked out with them - every day they were looking at scenes and how to approach them and improve them.

How was filming with your fellow cast mates? Have you worked with any of them before? I worked with Lisa on King Gary and thought she was amazing, and worked with Jess on Judge Romesh, which I thought went well, but she has since told me I seemed a bit stressed on that, and I thought I was being charming, so I’m glad we’ve had this experience to wash that away. I watched Mandeep in After Life and thought she was excellent, but had never worked with her. Kieran is of course a megastar in the making. Avoidance is available on BBC iplayer now

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

F I N D YOU OUR R F I T:

S hay G iven Clare Stobart talks football, fitness and family with the ex-Premier League and Republic of Ireland star

You have an outstanding careers and legacy, including many record-breaking moments such as 134 caps for Ireland. Since retiring from professional football, how has your fitness routine changed? I am 46 now, so I have to monitor what I do and don’t do. I’ve had some issues injury wise when I was playing football which led to multiple operations on different areas of my body. But, right now, I feel pretty fit both physically and mentally. I go to the gym 3 to 4 times a week. I can’t always fit training in as much as I would like to due to my new role as a football pundit. I’m really enjoying this chapter in my life, which is still driven by my passion for football. Punditry keeps me involved, albeit no longer on the pitch. My fitness routine has changed since I retired from playing professional football. I find that I am lifting heavier weights now because of the people I train with. Having a group of friends to work out with here reminds me of being at the football club. We have a coffee in the morning, a great craic together, then do some training, and often have

lunch together. It feels like being back in the changing rooms. We bounce off each other when we’re training and have fun. It is great motivation, and I think I would struggle if I was training on my own to be honest. If I was to compare my fitness levels when I was playing in the Premier League and for Ireland, I would say I was a 9 out of 10. I think 10 is perfection, Cristiano Ronaldo standard! Now, I think I’m more like a 6 out of 10 to be honest. But doing the classes like Cyclo at CPASE really do help. The cycling is a great form of cardio, but still takes some of the pressure off my joints,

“Success isn’t given to you on a plate, it’s a result of hard work and so much time put in behind the scenes”

From your professional and personal experience, are there any tips you can share with us to improve people’s overall fitness and wellbeing? It has to be ‘show up!’. I think this is the best thing I could say to someone who feels as though they are not very fit or do not enjoy going to the gym. Getting yourself through that door really is the first step. Once you’ve achieved that, you can achieve anything. By gradually building up your fitness levels and your mental strength, it will really help you with your ‘get up and go’, encouraging you to push yourself that little bit more, each and every day. No matter how small or short your session is, it’s always worth it. Particularly due to the benefit increased movement has to not only your physical, but also your mental health. Whenever I miss a workout, I always feel like I could have done better that day and it plays on my mind. It’s scientifically

Relaxation is key in any profession, particularly one that is as physically demanding as football. What is your go to thing to do to unwind? I enjoy using the steam room and sauna and I also like to stretch in the pool. It helps in the rehabilitation of my previous injuries and keeps any new niggles at bay. Outside of the gym, I love to play golf. Being with friends and having a bit of fun together all whist SHAY GIVEN SAVE VS ZINEDINE ZIDANE, 2006 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER: REPUBLIC OF IRELAND VS FRANCE

particularly my knees. From an over all fitness perspective, I really enjoy being able to add some cardio into my training regime.

proven that your mood - for the rest of the day you showed up and trained on - is lifted. By scheduling in time for a workout, you are setting yourself up to have a great day. It really is so important to challenge yourself and show up.

playing a few rounds is absolutely great. This is something that I find is also good for the mind, as it gets you away from the stresses and pressure of everyday life, even if it is only for 18 holes.

You have worked very closely with Macmillan Cancer Research to honour your mum Agnes’ memory, who sadly passed away when you were only 4. Do you have any future fundraising planned? While I don’t have any immediate plans for fundraising, I am always helping wherever possible. It is a cause that is very close to my heart, and I try to help as much as I can. I also work with Beechwood Cancer Care Home in Stockport. It is an amazing local charity who provide a sanctuary for cancer patients and their families in Stockport and the surrounding area.

Where are your favourite spots in and around Cheshire to relax with your family, catch up with friends or even kick around a football? Since moving here in 2009 what has been your most treasured find? There are so many nice places around Cheshire, it’s hard to say just one. I love Tatton Park and going back to my love of golf, there are some amazing courses around. I

play at Mottram, Prestbury and The Mere. I’m really spoiled for choice. I also love walking over The Edge in Alderley and taking in the incredible scenery. One thing I really love about Cheshire, is that it’s so central and easy to commute to and from, without compromising the beautiful and unrivalled countryside.

Shay, you’re considered one of the best keepers in the world. In your autobiography Any Given Saturday, you touch on all aspects of your professional and personal life. What led you to share your story? It is an absolute honour to be considered one of the best keepers in the world, thank you so much. Playing the sport, I love for Ireland and the Premier League was definitely the driving force behind writing my book. The first chapter of my book is about my mum which was very tough to write about to be honest.

TheCHESHIRE CHESHIREMagazine Magazine| Regulars | Feature The

“...going to the gym. Getting yourself through that door really is the first step. Once you’ve achieved that, you can achieve anything”

People know you as a football player, but don’t always know anything else about you. Opening up so much about my home life and family was hard to get through, because it was quite emotional. It got me thinking about a lot of things my family went through when I was growing up. After my mum died, my dad took on the 6 of us and when he went on to remarry, he took on 2 more kids. I wrote about my journey from where I started to where I ended up.

to have had the career I’ve had and always stay humble and grateful. Success isn’t given to you on a plate, it’s a result of hard work and so much time put in behind the scenes. My “Mrs” Rebecca and I try to instil this mindset into my 4 kids, just like my dad did to me. After all, it has served me well. You also have to love what you’re doing. I didn’t have love for school and studying, but I’m dedicated to what I do. My dream was always to play football, but there are not many players from north west Ireland, especially from my hometown of Donegal. Seamus Coleman who currently plays for Everton also comes from the area, but not many professional players have come from Donegal. People always used to say, “you’ll get nowhere playing football” and that somehow, I would regret trying. In my experience, you need to have dedication, talent and touch of Irish luck, I was definitely in the right place, at the right time.

And finally, looking back, what is the best piece of advice you have ever been given? “Try and enjoy everything you do”. As soon as I shifted into the mindset, that, “this is fun”, everything changed and I started to genuinely love my career, even the hard parts. There is a lot of horrible stuff going on in the world, but you’ve got to focus on the stuff between your ears and keep that focussed and happy. If you do that, everything else will follow. My dad always told me to work hard in order to reap the rewards, even when we were in the fields working as kids. This has always put me in good stead over the years, as I feel truly blessed

www.cpase.co.uk

Stars of the Llyn Peninsula Collection... As night falls in the Llyn Peninsula, stargazers are awed by celestial beauty. Inspired by the Welsh skies that provide this spectacular light show, these sterling silver and 9ct rose gold pieces containing rare Welsh are set with dazzling genuine faceted white topaz. It’s a beautiful symbol of nature’s capacity to calm and enthral us.

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Style Summe ummerr C ity Sand anda al

Busy lifestyles call for practical yet stylish shoes like the City Sandal from Essen. Handmade in Portugal from luxurious dark brown leather that softens beautifully with wear, the comfortable cushioned footbed provides support while the toe loop and adjustable buckled strap will keep your foot secure and stylish. The City Sandal will make even the most relaxed summer outfit look refined, elegant and considered. The City Sandal – Espresso, €229 www.essenthelabel.com

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

A Ne New w Ge Gem m In Cheste hesterr’s Cro Cr own Mappin & Webb revelas new-look boutique after major refurbishment

uxury jewellers, Mappin & Webb part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, have this month unveiled its brandnew boutique, located on Eastgate Street in Chester. The new larger boutique replaces their previous location, which was also located in the Rows at Eastgate, and is now situated at street level at 22-24 Eastgate street. The new Mappin & Webb boutique reflects the brands’ visual identity, whilst retaining key elements throughout to highlight the jeweller’s historical heritage, with its rich blue interior, wooden panelling, and beautiful cabinetry. The aesthetic is carefully interwoven with the brands tradition and heritage to ensure that the boutique has a unique appeal, combining the modern and the classic, the traditional and the contemporary. To celebrate the boutiques launch, it has a unique installation of butterflies which feature across both the exterior and throughout the interior. When you enter, your eye is instantly drawn to the stunning butterfly installation at the rear of the boutique, above the new

fully functional bar. The hospitality area offers the perfect relaxing space, where customers can enjoy a glass of champagne or Chester’s own unique blue Mappin & Webb cocktail. The new boutique offers an enviable line-up of luxury timepieces, which includes a large Rolex area, as well newly introduced brands to Chester - Panerai, IWC and TAG Heuer, each with their own dedicated areas. In addition to the luxury timepieces, the boutique, offers a fine selection of luxury jewellery which includes brands FOPE and Kiki McDonough, as well as Mappin & Webb’s own collections of diamond, gold and fine jewellery. Craig Bolton, President, UK and Europe at the Watches of Switzerland Group said: “We are delighted to be opening in the new location. At Mappin & Webb, we are committed to providing our customers with a luxury shopping experience that differs to any other jewellery store by embracing our brands tradition and heritage. We aim to provide the finest selection of watches, gold and diamond jewellery for our customers, and are always looking to add sought after brands to strengthen our customer offering.” Mappin & Webb has held Royal Warrants to British monarchs since 1897, the jeweller now has 15 boutiques throughout the UK. www.mappinandwebb.com

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Fash ashiion Forw orwa a rd w ith M a r t i ne A lexa nder

With this month’s article, I am focusing on kindness, as this is a subject close to my heart

REDONE

NADIA MORGENTHALER AT NET A PORTER

WYSE LONDON

LOVE SHACK FANCY

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GABRIELA HEARST AT NET A PORTER

In this month’s article, I also wanted to feature some great new-season pieces from brands that are kind, whether the brand is totally sustainable, or they have a collection of sustainable pieces for SS22. The items I’ve picked are versatile and can be worn so many different ways, because, let’s face it, if we’re buying something, to make it ‘slow fashion’ you have to be able to wear it multiple ways. Email: martine@martinealexander.co.uk Instagram: @martinealexander Twitter: @yourstylist

GUCCI AT NET A PORTER

eople think that being a stylist means you just deal with clothes and make people look great. In the main (and for the majority of stylists out there), this is true. But for me, I’ve come to realise after 17 years of working with clients, that it’s so much more than that. It’s about empowering you, showing you how incredible you are and increasing your confidence. Who knew that editing your closet, or buying new clothes could be classed as being kind to yourself? We’re so quick to put our bodies down, dismiss a compliment, or when someone says we look nice, we reply with, “this old thing?”. If you’re reading this and thinking, “that’s me”, don’t worry, you’re not alone. We’re all guilty of putting ourselves down. But now you’re aware of it, you can do something about it. When someone compliments you, and you feel awkward and just want to run and hide, bite your tongue, and however hard it may be, say, “thank you”. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. It’s that old phrase, “fake it till you make it”. When you look at yourself in the mirror and straight away focus on the bits you dislike about yourself, and internally berate how big/small it looks today, snap out of it. Instead, be kind to yourself and shift your gaze to something you do like about your body. It can be something as simple as your eyes, your hands, or even your skin tone. Just as long as you shift the focus. Sometimes, just taking the time for yourself can make you feel guilty, but you deserve it. So, when you want to go shopping and have some time away from the kids, but feel guilty, remember that you deserve that time for yourself.

QUEENS OF ARCHIVE

and I thought I would take a different approach to the subject

What I’ve Been up to… This month it’s all been about the white tie balls, sourcing gowns and suits all around the UK. I’ve also been styling celebrity clients for upcoming red carpet awards.

Health, Beauty

Wellness

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Buxton Crescent is the ideal base for those seeking a scenic spa holiday to one of the UK’s most beautiful hotspots. High up on the edge of The Peak District National Park, the spa hotel is home to three pools – the Thermal Pool which is a fully refurbished Victorian pool boasting the unique feature of having Buxton mineral rich water flowing into it, which is heated and left chemically untreated; a relaxation pool with an atmospheric dark ceiling pierced with shafts of light and an impressive indoor-outdoor rooftop pool. www.ensanahotels.com/buxton

Health &

Beauty

CHANEL: GET THE LOOK Style your make- up after Margaret Qualley at the 75th Cannes International Film Festival

ctor and House ambassador Margaret Qualley takes a pause before attending the premiere of Stars at Noon – her first film to ever be presented at the Festival de Cannes. The talented beauty looked nothing short of sublime with dewy skin, flushed cheeks, glistening eyes and berry-bitten lips.

THE LOOK Skin Sérum Revitalisant au Camélia Rouge N1 DE CHANEL Fond de teint Revitalisant au Camélia Rouge N1 de CHANEL B30 JOUES CONTRASTE Rouge Profond

Eyes STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF Espresso LES BEIGES Palette Regard Belle Mine Naturelle Médium LE VOLUME DE CHANEL Noir

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Health & Beauty

with... ... RICHARD QUINN Q&A with Jo Malone London has collaborated with fashion designer Richard Quinn on a limited-edition collection for the home. The fragrance and lifestyle house’s scents are given a flamboyant makeover using Richard’s colourful prints on the products as well as gift boxes, ribbons and other finishing touches. Why did you decide to collaborate with Jo Malone London? It feels like the perfect collaboration. We are both British-based brands and are interested in fantasy and florals, so it felt very natural. I haven’t done anything similar to this before, so it’s been nice to see how I could put my own mark on something like the Jo Malone London packaging that is so established and see how our prints can be a visual representation of a scent that already exists. What was the inspiration behind the collection? We started with the Jo Malone London packaging and thought about how we could reinterpret it using both existing and new prints to create an eclectic collection with a vintage feel. We tried to create a visual representation of the scents using different styles of print designs. For Peony & Blush Suede we wanted to have something a bit freer, and so we used brush strokes to create the soft feel of a meadow to complement the scent. For the bolder scent of Tuberose Angelica we made a gingham grid with flowers going through it. You then have different intensities of prints for the different notes of the scents. How did the process differ from the way you normally work? You have to think of it in a whole new way because it’s completely different to designing fashion collections. I was struck by how tactile and luxurious Jo Malone London’s

packaging was: quite matte and textured. Obviously, we do lots of experimental things on fabrics, so it was interesting to see how the prints transformed when printed onto different papers and finishes. What’s behind your fascination with florals? I feel like we do florals in a really saturated way and put it in a darker context, embroidered with latex for example. There’s always a twisted element to how we use florals. Going back to the couture houses of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, you can always see florals as the archetype or the foundation of a collection, whether it’s embroidery or an impression of that flower. It’s been such a constant throughout fashion history, and you can map the mood of an era through the style of the florals, and that’s what I find interesting. Then thinking about florals through scent provides a whole new angle and interpretation. How do you envision this collection being used? I thought about how people can use all components of the packaging as keepsakes throughout the collection. So we’ve got three main stories with different edgings and prints, and also different prints and tissue paper inside the boxes. It means that the boxes can be reused again and again. Why do you think this collection would make a good gift? Because each piece has been thoughtfully designed, from the starting product through to the packaging. I will be gifting the collection to my mum– she’s always been a Jo Malone London fan and now she gets to have a piece from the collection with my take on it. The collection is now available exclusively at www.selfridges.com and www.jomalone.co.uk

TEE OFF with

ROSS ASTLEY Regional Director of Golf at Macdonald Portal Talk to us about your current role at Portal My current role oversees the commercial performance and direction of both Macdonald Portal and Hill Valley, ensuring that the operations run both efficiently and profitably whilst developing both business’s reputation as chosen destination golf venues in the country. I work directly with the resorts chosen partners and key stakeholders to ensure the relationship is constantly developing and inline with the strategic direction outlined in the annual budget.

on holiday in Anglesey. The addiction to the sport was straight away and started lessons at my home golf club at Wilpshire Golf Club, Lancashire as soon as I could.

What has been the best piece of advice you have received? Two really good quotes that have been told to me over the years which have stuck in my head are, “If you always do what you have always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got” which has driven me to become forward-thinking and aspirational. Within a world that is turning direction at every opportunity within the golf industry to stay level-headed I always consider, “If you control the controllable, everything else will look after itself”, which helps me understand that as long as I can do my best each day, the results will have the best chance of success.

Who is your golf hero? I think undoubtedly Tiger Woods’ career would inspire any young golf fan. The comeback when he won the Masters in 2019 was so inspirational following his leave from competitive golf.

What’s your first memory of golf? My first memory was at the grand age of 4 when my dad presented me with the first set of clubs whilst

For those who have yet to visit, how would you describe the experience of playing at Macdonald Portal? Portal is a one-stop shop for all golfing enthusiasts at all levels of ability. With 3 great golf courses onsite, it presents versatility with a unique set-up with the layout of both the Championship and the Premier courses being completely different. With Portal being the flagship venue of the group you can expect high standards of on-course presentation and off-course services from the dedicated outside golf operations team at hand to provide a first-class guest and member experience. www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

What’s your favourite course? I have recently been fortunate to play at the 2023 Solheim Cup venue at Finca Cortesin based in Andalucia, Spain. The experience and golf course were breathtaking, with the service and standards to match.

Are there any dream courses you’ve yet to play on? I think a few that stand out above the rest for me would be TPC Sawgrass, Augusta National, Pebble Beach, Royal County Down and Whistling Straights due to their historic nature and how challenging they come across to the players on the big screen.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

MACDONALD PORTAL HOTEL, GOLF & SPA Overview With a choice of three great courses, the largest indoor golf academy in Europe and a wellstocked pro shop, Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa has established itself as a world-class golfing venue, ideal for players of all standards. The courses are all set to some of the most impressive backdrops in the country and offer challenges for golfers of all abilities. The Championship Course meanders through rolling parkland, testing golfers with play around mature trees and beautiful water features to tournament style USGA greens all with stunning views over the Cheshire countryside. The Premier Course features several key holes including the par three

seventh, cut out of a sandstone quarry. In contrast, the nine hole Arderne Course is perfect for either a gentle warm up or a fun competition which will test every level of player. Society Packages With five celebrated golf courses, it’s time to get out on one of the Championship courses with golf days from just £25 per player. The perfect golf outing combines a warm welcome, pristine greens and great service. Getting There Premier - coming off the A49, the Premier course is located on Forest Road approximately 100 yards from the junction on

the left hand side, opposite the entrance to Eaton Hill Driving Range. Championship - travelling from the A49, turn on to Forest Road, pass the entrance for the Premier course, continue for approximately a further 500 yards and take a left turn on to Cobblers Cross Lane. The entrance to the Championship course and hotel is then located 150 yards up on the left hand side. Accommodation Rooms at Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa are as elegant and luxurious as you’d expect; stylish design, plush fabrics and rich soft furnishings combine to make a stay here something special.

Promotion | The CHESHIRE Magazine

O ne Bi B ig Famil amilyy

Competition The Cheshire Magazine has teamed up with Liverpool ONE to offer your family the ultimate overnight shopping break in the city

ummer is fast approaching and it’s time for some fun in the sun with the family! Whatever you’re looking for, all needs are catered to at Liverpool ONE with familyfriendly activities, as well as glam and gorgeous high-end shopping. To celebrate Liverpool One is giving away; • £100 gift card at Liverpool ONE • Mid-week overnight stay in a 2/3 bedroom apartment at Cove • Meal for a family of 4 at Smoke & Dough • Afternoon Tea at Hilton Liverpool • An hour of golf at On The Green (accommodating up to 8 people) • Cap from Castore worth £30 • Free 24-hr parking at Q-Park

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is visit the website below and complete the competition entry form

www.liverpool-one.com/summerwin Deadline for competition entries is 12 noon on 21/07/2022 Winners will be notified week commencing 1st August Terms and conditions apply. For full T&Cs visit www.liverpool-one.com/summerwin

Family Pla y , R ead Play & Rel Rela ax Create a hideaway for your little ones

with this aesthetic and decorative play tent. The braided rattan gives the kids’ room an organic expression and creates a sheltered spot for children to play, read and relax, while small windows let your little one peek outside. The handy flat-packed design facilitates easy storage when not in use. www.fermliving.com

A Little Green…Dream

Family news WORDS: CRAIG HOUGH

Giddy Up for The New Game in Town Smart Games is jumping with joy to unveil its latest game, Horse Academy, a charming game that will see little ones 7+ galloping off to the gymkhana this Summer. Allowing players to create their very own show jumping path and sequence, the all-new game will have players working towards the winning rosette! Taking the horse successfully from start to finish is sure to be a mind boggler, but can you canter over the jumps in the right sequence, and out of the exit gate? RRP £19.99, www.smarttoysandgames.co.uk 50

Having recently featured on a hit BBC drama and spotted keeping Spencer Matthew’s latest arrival snuggled for sleep, The Little Green Sheep’s multi award-winning range of Moses baskets is more popular than ever. Beautifully crafted with natural materials, this stunning Moses basket provides a super snug environment for baby to snooze from day dot, up to four months. Lovingly woven from natural palm leaf, the baskets are strong, durable, and breathable for precious new arrivals. The beautiful collection, which is loved by many a celebrity family, includes both a knitted or quilted liner, depending on the style and aesthetic new families are hoping to achieve. Both liners are 100% organic, super breathable to ensure air circulates freely, and machine washable – saving the day when accidents strike! www.thelittlegreensheep.co.uk

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

Hairstyles for Houseplant The summer holidays are upon us and if you’re wondering how on Earth to keep children well-occupied during their time off school, how about turning to nature for inspiration? Many younger children, who can become hyperactive or restless are readily engaged by simple horticultural activities, especially when they can watch the seeds or baby plants they’ve tended come to life. You can make the home-growing process even more fun for children with Lechuza’s OJO Planters, which are specially for youngsters and parents who are keen to help green-fingers develop in their offspring. The cute OJO planters offer children the opportunity to grow fun hairstyles with their houseplants, be they decorative ferns and succulents, or easy-pick edibles such as chives, cress, parsley or basil. The lightweight, shatterproof and UV-resistant OJO planters are available in six different colours – ruby pink, apple green, aquamarine, ocean blue, fire red, and raven black – which can be mixed and matched so children can enjoy them with their friends. RRP £29.99, www.lechuza.co.uk

Have a Suneez Summer A pair of Suneez are the perfect travel companion to keep a little one’s eyes safe during this year’s summer holiday. The virtually unbreakable sunglasses for kids have lenses that block 100% of harmful UVA / UVB rays up to and including UV400, so they will protect children’s sensitive eyes in style from sunrise to sundown. Plus, the Polarised lenses help reduce glare for safer, more comfortable and crystal-clear vision, enabling a child to enjoy all the fun of outdoor summer activities and sports. www.suneez.com

Perfect Recipe for Baby Development Former Great British Bake Off finalist, Katie Lyon is looking forward to bringing her passion for baby development to families living across mid-Cheshire in September. Her sessions at Bloom Baby classes incorporate a gentle multi-sensory baby development and massage class for younger babies. Katie’s fun, interactive and inclusive sessions focus on your baby’s cognitive, physical, social, emotional and linguistic development in a creative way. Classes launch this September starting in Knutsford and additional classes will launch in Winsford, Northwich and surrounding areas in the coming months. www.bloombabyclasses.com 51

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

Da t i n g A f te r A D i vor c e – Is No Bl a m e A Ne w G a m e Alex Mellor-Brook, Co-founder and Dating Expert at Select Personal Introductions has the answer

he answer is yes - and no. Since 6 April 2022, couples in the UK can obtain a no-fault divorce in 20 weeks from the first application to conditional order of divorce. Surely that should help us all move forwards with less stress, less blame and less baggage? Practically speaking, that’s definitely the case, and for many couples, there will be lower costs, both financially and emotionally, to a no-fault divorce process. But some things don’t change.

Are you ready to date? Sometimes we feel compelled to date; wanting to prove we’re ‘back in the game’, desperate to test our attractiveness and keen to reassure family and friends that we’re coping emotionally. The new no-fault divorce might make it quicker and easier to get free, but it won’t necessarily prepare us for being single again. It’s better to ease yourself back into a wider social life than to launch straight into the jungle of dating apps. For example: • Try a new coffee shop, eat lunch somewhere different, take up a new hobby • Book a retreat or volunteer in your community • Fulfil a lifetime’s ambition - skydive, visit the Andes, sign up for Britain’s Got Talent! While none of these will necessarily lead to romance, they do get you used to things that are part of successful dating: making small talk with strangers, being part of a group as a single person, developing a sense of yourself as worth getting to know. All these attributes can give you confidence about dating - and getting out there might even deliver the date too.

Assess your risk potential 103,592 UK divorces were granted in 2020, and the experience of each person in those couples will be unique. We all have different ways of processing our feelings and while some people are happy to be out there on a dating app, others might need a different approach; ‘curated’ blind dates organised by friends, or even the services of an experienced matchmaker. Risk isn’t just about whether we ‘click’ or not, it’s also about how much it costs us emotionally to engage with each first encounter; for some that’s a walk in the park, for others, it’s ascending Everest. Knowing that we might be risk-averse to some parts of the dating process isn’t weakness, it’s smart, self-loving behaviour.

Start again Your old relationship was familiar, even if it wasn’t working, so when you start dating again, it can feel weird to engage with somebody who’s different to your ex, and it’s easy to slide into trying to recreate your former relationship. Instead, allow yourself to grow and change and accept that you might have talents, capacities, interests and yes, desires, that it’s time to explore. There’s a new you waiting to emerge, and you might really like who you become, as well as liking who you meet. www.selectservices.co.uk 53

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

Family Fun in

Chester Named the UK staycation city of the year - every year thousands of tourists flock to experience a mini break in Chester

ere’s how to have the best of family holidays, at the destination right on your doorstep.

What To Do...

A City For Creatives Feeling creative? Tucked away on Eastgate Rows is Pictura Studio, a café and a studio for the artists in your lives. From babies all the way to adults, Pictura offer art classes, pottery painting, decoupage and more. Drop in at a whim or book in on one of their scheduled art classes. www.picturastudios.co.uk

If art viewing is more your thing, why not follow the mini-mural trail around the city – where 10 BT boxes scattered across the city have been painted by local artists. Converting ‘hidden objects’ into wonderful pieces of public art. www.experiencechester.co.uk

IMAGES: CHESTER BID

The city really does suit all ages - it wins awards for accessibility too. For the littlest ones, Chester’s quaint, cobbled pedestrianised streets make a stroll through the city a very safe and uncomplicated affair. Likewise, teenagers have a city they can easily navigate around with a friend, with no chance of getting lost and plenty of green space just to ‘hang’ in.

Riverside Fun Chester’s riverside is quintessentially English and just the perfect spot for a sunny day. From the Victorian bandstand to the ice cream stands, and the beautiful pedestrian bridge. For summertime river fun, head straight to Chester Boat, where you can pick up a pedalo, take a motorboat for a spin or take a sedate river cruise in one of their larger boats. www.chesterboat.co.uk

Those seeking the thrills and spills of adventure, can try kayaking with Dee River Kayaking - through white water at Chester Weir or calmly paddle boarding down the Dee. www.deeriverkayaking.com

Festival Spirit

Storyhouse is heading outdoors this summer at the Grosvenor Park Open Air village with its own beer hall-style Tepee Bar. There’ll be a festival vibe to the programme, which is bursting with events such as Alice’s Adventure, a storytelling trail through the park that even the dog can join in with, and Storyhouse Languages, drop-in sessions for little ones to hear stories told by Chester’s Brazilian community. Until 28 August, www.storyhouse.com

Discover The Rows

Chester’s Rows are unlike anything else found in the world. The open first floor galleries are an assortment of medieval, Tudor, Georgian, Victorian and contemporary architecture and also house some of the most fabulous boutiques, art galleries and jewellers in the UK. Keep the kids busy while you shop, with a downloadable audio tour. They will unearth Roman treasure, decode a message about a possible visit to the city by Catherine of Aragon and see England’s oldest shopfront. www.visitchester.com/discover-the-rows

Life On The Tracks

The exciting model railway event, Making Tracks chugs back into Chester Cathedral this summer to delight fans of all things track and train. Created by railway enthusiast Pete Waterman OBE, and Chester’s own Model Centre, this year’s exhibition will look at the green elements of the railway. www.chestercathedral.com

Family Funday They’re under starter’s orders for this summer’s Family Funday at Chester Racecourse, when the heart of the historic course transforms into a fun-filled arena for families. While the adults keep half an eye on the races going on around the outside, youngsters can enjoy PlayFest, curated by Parentfolk’s festival team, which includes music tours and a roller-skating rink. 31 July, Chester Racecourse, www.chester-races.com

For our mini enthusiast railway buffs, check out Chester Model Centre up above Bridge Street on the rows. It is an Aladdin’s cave of all things model railway and offers a cornucopia of engine delights!

Where To Dine... Chester has all the usual city centre haunts that the children love including Five Guys, Pizza Express and Nando’s. For something a little different, why not try one of Chester’s many independent restaurants.

IMAGES: CHESTER BID

The | Promotion TheCHESHIRE CHESHIREMagazine Magazine | Regulars

Hamayuu For children who love the fun of sushi, or a bento box, this Japanese restaurant nestled on Watergate Street is a perfect refuelling stop. The children will love the option of cushions on the floor to dine, the chopsticks and the origami birds you receive as a gift with the bill. www.hamayuu.co.uk Augusto Pizzeria The newest pizzeria in town and brought to Chester by the husbandand-wife team behind the very popular Da Noi restaurant. The award-winning team bring authentic Neapolitan and Turin-style pizzas to the streets of Chester. Made from fresh, local produce, each pizza is lovingly crafted by head pizza chef, Giovanni. www.augustopizzeriachester.co.uk Atina Kitchen A wonderful cacophony of Italian food with a British twist, Atina is a firm family favourite. Dishes are diverse with classic British mains s itting alongside Italian pasta dishes and modern burgers. There will be something every member of the family enjoys at Atina! www.atinakitchen.com

An Extra Little Treat For The Kids... A Chester institution not-to-be-missed is independent toy shop, Weasel and The Bug. Owner, Katie, set up the shop when she found she couldn’t buy the toys she wanted for her children. A little shop run on big ideas, that toys should be run by children, not by batteries and be sustainably sourced. www.weaselandthebug.com

Phone: +44 7413 102320 | Mail: info@dariolamonaca.com www.dariolamonaca.com

Dario Lamonaca

Wine Tasting Off the Beaten Path

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Food Drink The Taste of Summer Ancoats’ Vietnamese restaurant and audiophile

bar NAM, launches a new menu by chef Gary Weir, who set out to create dishes inspired by founder Nam Tran’s Vietnamese heritage. Food that is non-pretentious and soulful, that you’d share with the family, but consistently packs a punch on flavour. The menu pays homage to Vietnamese cuisine’s aptitude to embrace all five flavour elements and balance them out to create a unique blend of sweet, sour, bitter, heat, and saltiness. Instagram - @nammcr www.nammcr.com

NEW HAWKSMOOR VENUE

Food & Drink news

Famous for their charcoal grilled, 35-day dry aged steaks, award-winning cocktails, and spectacular interiors, Hawksmoor Liverpool will open in the iconic, Grade II-listed India Buildings, on the corner of Brunswick Street and Fenwick Street later this year. Fresh from opening ‘the hottest steakhouse in New York’ (Eater) last year and ranking number one in the ‘World’s Best Steak Restaurants’ list, co-founder Will Beckett said: “We‘ve spent lots of time in Liverpool over the years, and it’s one of the most exciting and dynamic cities in the country. We’ve found a beautiful, listed building in such a great location. We’ve been talking to them for a long time about how we can build a restaurant that would really fit into this city.” www.thehawksmoor.com

WORDS: CRAIG HOUGH

DESTINATION: LIVERPOOL This summer, Flannels Liverpool will open in the Owen Owen Building as the city’s most exclusive and experiential department store, fusing retail and leisure under one roof, with a mixture of best in class brands, dining and experiences. The new store will feature four venues open from dawn until late creating a new eating and drinking destination for the city of Liverpool. On the ground floor, Bacino will introduce modern Italian cuisine in a setting that oozes personality and brings social dining to life. An all day menu will incorporate brunch classics alongside pizzas, pasta, aperitivo cocktails, coffees and desserts; offering seasonal, fresh ingredients prepared with creativity in a setting perfect to relax, gather and dine. On the sixth floor three additional venues will open this autumn featuring a Rooftop Brasserie, Bar and Pan Asian Restaurant. With their own entrance, the sixth floor venues will open outside of store hours and boast views across the city with space to dine, drink, work, gather and party late into the night. @bacinorestaurants on Instagram

New Summer Menu CitySuites Aparthotel's Embankment Kitchen is set to launch a fresh new summer menu featuring an exciting range of fresh and vibrant dishes. Ahead of the summer months, the team, headed up by Master Chef: The Professionals finalist Marika Healey has curated a delightful fusion menu of authentic Italian cuisine with a modern British twist and a touch of east Asian flavours. Highlights from the new menu include the crispy house dusted squid, chorizo, crispy kale, turmeric and chorizo aioli starter and a strawberry, champagne jelly amaretto and white chocolate tiramisu topped with meringue. www.citysuites.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food & Drink

MEET THE CHEF:

ANDREW

K I NG

Head Chef at Ring O’Bells, Chester What’s your first food related memory? It was when I was allowed to help my Dad in the kitchen at home on a Saturday night or for a Sunday lunch. I always loved doing the Waitrose trip on a Saturday morning too, one of my earliest memories is that wonderful smell of the fish counter, that kind of seaside meets smoked fish aroma. Lovely! When did you know you wanted to be a chef? This is going to sound awful…but when my parents separated. Mum worked full time and it was a case of learning to cook or probably die of malnutrition, so I stepped up to help her, asked for some cookbooks for Christmas and the rest is history. Where were you trained? Barnfield College, Luton. I then went to a wonderful place called The Horseshoes in Eggington, Bedfordshire. I love fine dining but never wanted to work it. My love has always been a good pub with simple food done well. Describe your style in three words. Simple, tasty, local.. Where do you draw your creative inspiration from? Creativity is everywhere - whether it be a trip somewhere, socials, chats/ exhibitions with chefs, food and travel shows or even a menu

brainstorm at 2am with a glass of wine where some of our bestsellers have been created (including our salt & pepper pulled brisket pasty). What four ingredients are necessary for your kitchen? • Lemon juice - I try and use this to reduce how much salt we use in dishes. • Good cheese - we have a local supplier. • Good olive oil - people are big into healthy eating these days and it helps to reduce the amount of butter we use. • Cocoa powder - I’m going to give away a secret here…. It makes a stew richer, and also takes away the burn on a spicy dish. If you could prepare a meal for anyone, who would it be and what would you make? I’d cook Kylie, steak with gratin dauphinoise. I’d keep it nice and simple as I wouldn’t want to waste too much time in the kitchen. Who is your biggest supporter? My wife, Sam. I wouldn’t wish being a chef’s wife or my wife for that matter on anybody. She has the patience of a saint and a heart of gold. What would you want to have as your last meal? Barbecued fresh mackerel, buttered new potatoes and a decent salad sat at a restaurant on Tenby beach. Are there any foods you just don’t like? Branston Pickle, pineapple and anything involving aniseed. What advice would you offer to an aspiring chef? I was told this 25 years ago, “keep your eyes and ears open and unless something useful is coming out of it, keep your mouth shut”. www.ringobellschester.co.uk 61

Food & Drink | The CHESHIRE Magazine

SPOTLIGHT ON... D U C I E S T R E E T WORDS: ANGE SEDDON

WA R E H O US E

Best for... Delicious sharing plates

ucie Street Warehouse has become a Manchester favourite in recent years and so we were quick to accept the invite from Head Chef Andrew Green and his team to trial their new menu. Promoted as a ‘social dining concept’ and ‘something for everyone’ menu, I was interested to see what these culinary buzzwords actually entailed. The menu itself was divided into ‘while you decide’ appetisers, and ‘from the farm’, ‘from the sea’, ‘from the allotment’ mains, with additional sides and a range of desserts for the ‘sweet tooth’. The food is designed to be shared and to be social, and it certainly lived up to that. The menu itself was a good mix of tastes and cultures, which enhanced their claim of there being something for everyone, but that only made the choice harder as it all looked delicious. While we decided on our mains, we sampled the rosemary and sea salt focaccia with confit garlic butter, and the Padron peppers topped with lemon and sea salt. The bread was delicious and light and a lovely accompaniment to the perfectly blistered peppers. From their extensive drinks menu, my friend ordered a

cosmopolitan and I ordered a glass of Provence rose. From ‘the farm’ we ordered the lamb koftas with beetroot hummus and crumbled feta and the Lancashire hotpot croquettes. From ‘the sea’ we ordered the DSW famous lobster macaroni cheese and from ‘the allotment’ the charred asparagus with feta and pickled red onions, and garlic-scented wild mushrooms and spinach on sourdough. The ingredients they use all hail from local sources; with the lamb from Cumbria and the fish from Fleetwood. These days any restaurant worth its salt should always champion local suppliers, so it’s reassuring to see the practice in full force here. The lamb koftas were moist and perfectly seasoned and worked well with the earthy beetroot and salty feta. But my favourite dish of the night had to be the Lancashire hotpot croquettes. Each mouthful was like a full-on roast lamb dinner, tasting just like my dad used to make. Absolutely delicious. The lobster macaroni was indulgent and rich, with no skimping on the lobster. The asparagus was perfectly charred giving it an almost nutty flavour, the dressing was lovely and fresh-tasting, and the feta added a creaminess

and seasoning. The mushrooms and spinach on sourdough were delicious as the mushrooms had absorbed all the flavours of the garlic, lemon and herbs they were cooked in. We then got to dessert. I chose the medjool date sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, and my friend ordered the lemon meringue with raspberries. I find sticky toffee pudding to be a good measure of a restaurant, having tried it many times (and also making a mean one myself). Light yet rich, with a beautifully balanced sauce. My friend’s lemon meringue was stunning; light crisp pastry with a delightful lemon filling, crisp meringue and finished with the freshness of raspberries. I am frequently a victim of order envy, and a special mention must go to the gnocchi that the gentlemen on the table next to us had ordered. They said it was superb. I would highly recommend this new menu when you are next in Manchester. Bring your friends! You won’t be disappointed. www.duciestreet.com

YOUR ULTIMATE LONDON ADDRESS To book your summer staycation, email biltmore.reservations@hilton.com www.thebiltmoremayfair.com The Biltmore Mayfair 44 Grosvenor Sqaure Mayfair, London W1K 2HP 020 7629 9400

Tantalise Your Tastebuds The Weber Way Weber, the leading barbecue brand offers two delicious recipes, inspired by Discover Weber events

eber, the leading barbecue brand, is offering local foodies and barbecue enthusiasts the chance to taste, touch and smell delicious dishes created by Weber Grill Instructors as part of its Discover Weber event. A treat for all the senses, this exciting showcase on a selection of dates will include hands-on barbecue demos from the experts, as well as hints and tips on how to cook the ‘Weber Way’ on a selection of award-winning barbecues.

Classic Italian Style Pizza

INGREDIENTS 350ml cold water 100ml beer 50ml oil 15g fresh yeast (approx. 5g dry yeast) 2 tsp coarse salt 150 durum spelt flour 500g Italian flour 250g Tomato Sauce 350-400g Mozzarella, or cheese of your choice Toppings of your choice eg. olives, pepperoni, mushrooms, artichokes

EQUIPMENT GBS Pizza Stone GBS Cooking Grate

PREPA RATION Combine the water, beer, oil, and yeast. Add the durum flour and salt and knead well. Add the Italian flour a little at a time until the dough has the right consistency. Divide the dough into lumps of 150 g for mini pizzas or 250 g for larger pizzas. Form each lump of dough into a nice ball, cover with cling film and let it rest in the fridge for at least three hours before using. Roll the dough out and cover with tomato sauce, cheese, toppings, and more cheese – in that order.

AT T H E BA R B E C U E Prepare the grill for direct heat. Place the GBS Pizza Stone on the GBS Cooking Grate and let it heat up for 15 minutes. Place the tray with the pizza onto the grill and cook for 15-20 minutes until done. To note: The more toppings you add, the longer the pizza will take to cook. Watch out that your crust doesn't get burned on the bottom.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

Succulent Steaks with Boursin Butter INGREDIENTS 50g butter, softened 30g Boursin flavoured with garlic herbs 1 tbsp fresh, chopped parsley Salt & freshly ground black pepper 4 prime fillet beef steaks, each weighing about 200g 1 tbsp olive oil 250g bundle asparagus, trimmed, blanched & drained 16 cherry tomatoes on the vine

PREPA RATION Beat together the butter, Boursin, parsley and seasoning, and roll into a log using cling film. Chill until hard enough to cut into four slices.

AT T H E BA R B E C U E Season the fillet steaks, brush lightly with olive oil and barbecue over direct high heat for three to five minutes each side, turning once. Remove the steaks from the barbecue, add a slice of Boursin butter, cover with foil, and then leave to rest for five minutes. This allows the juices to settle (for a fuller flavour) and the butter to melt over the meat. Toss the asparagus tips and cherry tomatoes in olive oil and place on the barbecue for a couple of minutes on each side. Season to taste and serve with the steaks.

ents Garden Centre, on Warrington Road, is a Weber World store, showcasing the full range of barbecues and accessories, plus exclusive products such as the 2022 Genesis Gas Barbecues and an all-new accessory line called WEBER CRAFTED, which takes cooking outdoors to new levels of food discovery and exploration. Offering an unrivalled shopping experience, with dedicated one-to-one support by a team of Weber experts, visitors can get advice on choosing the right barbecue based on the preferred cooking method, and tips on how to perfect certain barbecue dishes and recipes. For more information, or to register your interest in the Discover Weber events visit www.discover-weber.com. www.weber.com 65

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01/03/2022 09:13

Travel Disco scov ver a Diffe fferrent Pace

With vast private olive groves and bougainvillea gardens, chic design and quality service, Cypriot authenticity at its heart, Anassa offers families total privacy, peace and tranquillity – perfect for those looking to reset, disconnect from the stresses of everyday life and spend some time outdoors with their loved ones. For the ultimate secluded stay, families can book into one of Anassa’s four picturesque villas with sensational infinity pools. Other facilities at the hotel include a serene indoor swimming pool, 18 treatment rooms, saunas, steam baths, salt water exercise pools and a state-of-the-art fitness room. www.scottdunn.com

Travel news

WORDS:CRAIG HOUGH

Rural Family Retreat As Domaine des Etangs is a former family home – everything centres around quality time being spent together in groups, making it the perfect playground for families. The rural French retreat boats an abundant of family-friendly activities including an outdoor wooden playground, a guided tour of the farm where children can meet the cows of the Domaine among other farm animals, explore the vegetable garden and discover the expansive variety of fauna and flora on the property. Families can spend a morning angling on one of the ponds, taking a tennis or horse-riding lesson, swimming in the indoor pool or enjoy a workshop in drawing, painting, calligraphy, cooking or baking. The enormous attic in the castle is an indoor playground inclusive of a trunk brimming with fancy dress, card games, snooker and multiple toys, leaving your little ones entertained until the day they leave. www.domainedesetangs.com

CASTAWAY ESCAPE Little ones can now visit the recently opened Vooc Village, at Six Senses Ninh Bay. They’ll be able to hang upside down at the jungle gym, splash around in the aqua gym, or enjoy supervised games or craft-making in the indoor play centre. Active children can enjoy gardening, yoga or mixology, whilst those looking for a more relaxed experience can partake in foot massages, herbal compresses and body scrubs. They can also get creative with a local twist, such as traditional Vietnamese origami, Hoi An lantern making and trying to play traditional Vietnamese musical instruments. Never too young to inspire a passion for protecting nature, children can build their own coral reef, be a farmer, make beeswax wraps and homemade soaps, join an essential oil workshop, and learn about langurs with the resident biologist. www.sixsenses.com

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE New for 2022, Matetsi Victoria Falls announces a thrilling collaboration with National Geographic zoologist, Jack Randall, to give adventurous families a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in a 4-day expedition across Zimbabwe’s most magnificent wildlife locations. On this epic journey of discovery, adventurers will get to know some of the incredible wildlife of Zimbabwe, while encountering a myriad of iconic species from the huge herds of elephant and buffalo, to prides of lion and solitary elusive leopards. From the renowned ‘flight of angels’ helicopter excursion that whisks guests over the Victoria Falls, to game drives through the bush at sunrise and gentle river cruises along the private stretch of the Zambezi river, this is the ultimate education itinerary fit for the entire family. www.matetsivictoriafalls.com

Family Trip To The Capital Families looking for an iconic London adventure this summer should look no further than The Bloomsbury. Bursting with creativity, history and culture, the property transforms family staycations, welcoming little campers with the relaunch of its chic teepee beds. The Camping experience comes complete with a hotel teddy bear and a gourmet ‘midnight feast’ of delicious cookies and a flask of warm milk. Additional touches such as a selection of traditional games, fluffy kid’s robes and complimentary meals for children under eight ensure each stay is memorable for the whole family. www.doylecollection.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

T he Tra Tr a vel Insid Insi d er This month Phil Aird-Mash Aird-Mash,, CEO of ITC Travel Group looks at exploring the world with your family

hen it comes to spending valued time with the people who mean most to you, nothing compares to travel. For families, exploring the world opens countless opportunities to learn new lessons, experience new cultures and broaden their horizons. Plus, with the importance of taking care of our planet more vital than ever, travel can be an eye-opening way to teach children the importance of being kind to our world. To do this, sometimes you need to think beyond the usual. At ITC, I’m lucky enough to see some of the world’s most unique and beautiful places with our brands, Regent and Rainbow. Both are driven by the most passionate destination specialists you could meet and offer an incredible way for families to experience something new and enriching.

With Regent, travel is all about going off the beaten track. Each tour and itinerary goes beyond the ordinary, taking you to some of the world’s most unique places. You can head out to admire the Northern Lights, take an Icelandic adventure or even a railway journey through the likes of Finland or Norway. For families with teenagers, I recommend the electric fly-drive through Slovenia. With an eco-friendly twist, you’ll get to experience a new culture, plus go bear watching and white-water rafting in t his beautiful country. If your family loves wildlife, Rainbow provides an excellent way to see some of our planet’s natural wonders responsibly. Working with charities and conservationists, they offer families the chance to visit safari lodges and enjoy activities that directly benefit local communities. From Africa’s best reserves to the Galapagos Islands and South America’s vibrant rainforests, all ages can learn all about the importance of protecting our planet’s wildlife and supporting the people who live among it. What better way to travel? www.inspiringtravelcompany.co.uk www.regent-holidays.co.uk www.rainbowtours.co.uk

Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Family Fun at Hotel Football Edwina, Charlie and their two children, Lucia (7) and Finlay (5) enjoyed an unforgettable Hotel Football away day in Manchester

ith two energetic little ones to keep entertained over half term, we looked for a fun break somewhere close to our home in Christleton, Cheshire. As both of our kids are avid football fans, we set our sights on the home of football in the north. Hotel Football is an upscale footballthemed hotel overlooking Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United F.C. Owned by former players Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Phil Neville and Gary Neville as well as the GG Hospitality Management Company.

The hotel opened back in 2015 at a cost of £24m and features 133 rooms, a restaurant called Cafe Football and a five-a-side football pitch on the roof.

Little One’s Thoughts

What did you enjoy most about staying at the hotel?

Lucia: “I liked that they had their own sweet shop in the cafe which served ice cream and pick and mix sweets.” Finlay: “I liked playing football on the rooftop 5 aside football pitch. The staff at the hotel joined in and we also got to play with other children in the hotel.”

Mum & Dad Thoughts

This is the perfect break for any Manchester United fan as some rooms were overlooking Old Trafford. The hotel had a fabulous restaurant and bar called Cafe Football which served continental and made to order hot

breakfasts, lunch, afternoon tea and evening meals. There were plenty of options and a great choice of foods for children. We would highly recommend the afternoon tea, offering hot and cold food with delicious creamed scones. There were lots of televisions around the bar and restaurant showing a number of different football games at the same time. There was a lovely, friendly and lively atmosphere throughout the hotel. The staff were really welcoming and made a fuss of the kids, offering excellent service - nothing was too much trouble. We stayed in one of the ‘Squad Room’, which are larger, corner rooms come complete with a double sofa bed and a stadium view. It’s a great room for families with a mini bar full of kids treats. The hotel was busy but you couldn’t hear a pin drop during the night. We would fully recommend Hotel Football to families, couples and groups of football fans. The hotel caters for everyone. Your little football fanatics will be grateful for a stay here. www.hotelfootball.com

Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Family Fun at Cottons Hotel & Spa Kat Hannon and her two girls, Isabel (9) and Phoebe (4) enjoy a girl’s night in pampering at the spa hotel in Knutsford

ou have two gorgeous little girls that have had an amazing few weeks at school and you’ve had a busy few weeks at work and all you want to do is get away for the night. A change of scenery for you and the munchkins with a smattering of fun. Nothing too far that makes you stress about travel and nothing too creative like camping that requires thought. The answer? A beautiful night’s stay at Cottons Hotel and Spa, based in the heart of East Cheshire only a 40 minute drive from my home in Chester.

liked the big one too” Isabel: “I have 3 favourite parts; the pool because it has a shallow bit, a big bit then a shallow bit. I liked the treat they had for you arrived and at dinner time they came around with hot chocolate… and room service (giggles) that was fun!”

Little One’s Thoughts

Isabel: “Definitely. I even insisted on Elle having her wedding there. I’d take Devon and Greta and we’d go in a pool for a bit, then go round the whole place and explore. So we’d go in, then we’d have lunch, then dinner, then back in the pool, go in the hot tub, go back into the pool, back into the hot tub and so on and so on. I really enjoyed that you could just order stuff, and it wasn’t a buffet so you didn’t have to get up.”

What did you enjoy most about staying at the hotel? Phoebe: “I liked the swimming pool because it’s so fun. I actually swam in the little kids’ pool, not the big mummies and dads one. I

If you were to go there again, would you take your friends?

What did you think of the staff?

Isabel: “They were nice. I remember there was a TV that was on and there were pictures of what

you could do there, that’s why I said Elle should have her wedding there because it looks pretty nice. She’d like the pool and spa and she said I could be her bridesmaid or flower girl.”

Is there anything else we need to know about the hotel?

Isabel: “I really like the swan towel; how do they do that? I can barely paper origami never mind towel origami. The only downside was they could have done other animals. They could have done a baby owl or something. But it was still awesome.”

Mum Thoughts

The things that were really important to me and that I valued were the little touches. Of which there were plentiful. The staff greeted us and talked to the girls about taking the cases and what

we’d be up to that night. I love that. Communication is super important and made the girls feel welcome immediately. The room was filled with cute little details like the cookie and games for the kids, and the robes with ‘VI Little P’ on which was too cute watching them walk down to the pool wearing them. When we were shown to our room, we were greeted by the swan towel on the bed. Which the girls could not believe - their eyes popping wide and smiles as big as Cheshire cats, which they still talk about now. The pool was super easy for the kids and me to play and swim in. In the evening after dinner, story time was held for the kids, and glasses of hot chocolate were handed out to the children as a nightcap, rounding off a perfect family stay. www.cottonshotel.co.uk

Lisa G roome Ta ilor- M ade Tr avel

LTD

IT ’ S N E VER TOO E AR LY TO PL AN YOU R N E X T TR I P AWAY Cont ac t your Independent Tr avel A gent with over 20 ye ar s E xperience 07 7 7196 8959 hello @lisa groometr avel.co.uk w w w.lisa groometr avel.co.uk I ATA TI DS N o: 96 0 9 0 411

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

L U X U RY ISLAND E S CA P E Sarah Irlam heads to Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa for sun and adventure

veryone needs to try and go to Seychelles once in their lifetime. The archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa, is just over 10 hours from Heathrow and is home to numerous beaches, coral reefs and nature reserves, as well as rare animals such as giant Aldabra tortoises. Mahe, a hub for visiting the other islands, is home to Capital Victoria. It also has the mountain rainforests of Morne Seychellois National Park and beaches, including Vallon and Anse Takamaka. I was staying at Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa, which is located in the Northwest of Mahe near Beau Vallon Bay. It is a collection of peaceful villas all overlooking the Indian Ocean

surrounded by white sands and tropical gardens, just seven kilometres from the capital of Victoria. I was met on our arrival by the very friendly team and taken by golf buggy to my beautiful villa. I was lucky enough to be in an Ocean View Room with my own infinity swimming pool where I could swim while listening to the waves of the sea surrounded by what I could only describe as a tropical rain forest. Our first lunch was in the Wave Restaurant, here you can enjoy lovely salads, such as watermelon, Ceaser, spiced eggplant and quinoa or pasta and 75

rice dishes such as seafood risotto, spaghetti arrabbiata or pasta Alla Sorrentina all tasted delicious, whilst watching the world go by in paradise overlooking the vivid ocean views. There are 3 restaurants at The Hilton, Wave, Ocean View and Mahe Restaurant which is the signature restaurant where a la carte breakfast and dinner are served. The setting provides a destination dining experience complimented with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and the backdrop of Seychelles nature in all its bounty. Ocean View Bar and Restaurant is on split level decking with uninterrupted views and magical sunsets where they have a selection of international cocktails and tropical juices and three times a week you can experience a touch of local culture where live music is performed by top Seychellios musicians. There is a bar on the Lower Deck which is the only gin bar in the Seychelles, where they serve an array of gins and gin cocktails. As well as the restaurants, room service is available and you can be served your lunch on a floating tray in the privacy of your own swimming pool. There is an on-site fitness centre, swimming pool, business centre and meeting rooms and free parking if you 76

wanted to hire a mini moke and explore the island, which we did and was great fun and ideal way to visit other parts of the island and see the beautiful beaches that are on offer. The Eforea Spa at the hotel uses Elemis products in its treatments and offers services such as massages, scrubs, facials and wraps and all treatment rooms boast views of the ocean. On one of the days we hired a mini moke and visited Takamaka Rum Distillery, a family run business where they make and bottle their own rum. Their rums are a true expression of the tropical island paradise and have been crafted to showcase their heritage and creole traditions while at the same time pushing the boundaries of conventional rum making. We had a delightful lunch at the restaurant at Le Jardin du Roi. Inspired by the original 18th century gardens developed by the French to promote spice trading in the colonies, Le Jardin du Roi spice garden offers visitors a day on a typical Seychelles plantation that grows spices and other rare plants. It is a haven for botanists, nature lovers and the environmentally conscious, to enjoy nature walks, and a fine meal at the restaurant where the drinks, ice creams and almost all of the food are flavoured with the plantation’s own spices. The hotel has a sister hotel – Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resport and Spa, this is the only resort on Silhouette Island and offers a

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

tropical paradise nestled between white sand beaches and forested mountains, to reach Silhouette Island I took a 45 minute ferry, but private boat taxi is available to hire. There are 7 restaurants on the island. Café Dauban is Creole and International buffet style. Grann Kaz, is the restored home of the Dauban family - the island’s owners during the 1800’s - and the restaurant blends modern Seychellois spirit with Silhouette’s English and French heritage. La Pizzeria and Lo Brizan Bar which is it as it says – pizzeria and grill and bar. Portobello is their fine dining restaurant which serves Mediterranean cuisine and specially selected wines. Sakura offers Asian fusion cuisine, Teppanyaki where you can watch your meal be prepared in traditional Japanese style, and The Four Degrees is located on the beach, where you can sip cocktails whilst enjoying a seafood platter. I was lucky to have a Creole cooking class where I made octopus curry to devour for my lunch. There are so many activities you can enjoy from hiking, snorkelling, boat excursions, fishing, tennis, yoga, mini golf, kayaking or diving as they are the only PADI five star dive centre in the region and have a decompression chamber on site. Or you could choose just to relax on the beaches or around the swimming pool area. Seychelles are very focused on sustainability and has no plastic bottles. The filter system harvests

water from Mount Dauban’s waterfall and then gets filled into glass bottles for use across Silhouette and Mahe and so far they have saved over 180,000 plastic bottles. They have also replaced single-use plastic straws with bio-degradable versions, this change has eliminated the use of approximately 40,000 environment harming straws since 2018. You can practise your golf swing by hitting balls from the beach or your terrace into the sea and each ball degrades within 72 hours into fish food. There is so much to see and do at Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa, it is definitely worth a visit. The climate is tropical oceanic, with little temperature variation during the year, with daily temperatures rising to the mid-80s (low 30s) in the afternoon and falling to the low 70s (low 20s) at night. Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa can be booked directly from Heathrow to Mahe with British Airways. www.hilton.com 77

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Drive STAIR TAIRW WAY TO SEV SEV EN The future is electric, and that’s as

true for big luxury saloons as it is for tiny city cars. Which is why BMW’s new flagship saloon car – the new 7 Series – will see hybrid and electric versions sold alongside more conventional models. Every version, however, will come with a similar exterior design, with a modern front end and clean sides, as well as a fabulously built interior. It will even have a massive 8K cinema screen in the back, controlled by smartphone-sized touchscreens on the door panels. That should keep your passengers entertained. BMW 7 Series, www.bmw.co.uk

DRIVE DROP-TOP GORGEOUS

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

Ferrari has taken the stunning 296 GTB supercar and made it even more striking – just by removing the roof

he latest Ferrari supercar, the 296 GTB, is a wonderful, wonderful thing. Yes, Ferrari fans find the V6 engine and plug-in hybrid system a bit controversial, but there’s no questioning its capability on the road or race track. It’s also unbelievably pretty. But now Ferrari has come up with something even more beautiful, and the effort required to do so was not that great. Yep, the famous Italian brand has chopped off the 296 GTB’s roof, creating the breathtaking 296 GTS. Like the GTB, it’s a mid-engined, V6, plug-in hybrid supercar with more than 800bhp, and it gets from 0-62mph in less than three seconds. But it also manages around 15 miles on electrical power alone and the battery is rechargeable, so theoretically speaking, you need never use the petrol engine at all.

In practice, however, you’re going to want to use the engine all the time. The V6 sounds fabulous in the GTB, and we can only assume getting closer to the noise will make it even better. To achieve that, Ferrari has given the 296 GTS a retractable hardtop that takes 14 seconds to fold away and can do so at speeds of up to 28mph. When it’s in place, it’s designed to look much like the GTB’s roof, but when it’s folded away the GTS becomes a dramatic, 205mph roadster. Ferrari 296 GTS, £TBC, www.ferrari.com 80

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THE LONG RANGER

loves

Mercedes-Benz is working hard to build allelectric versions of its existing models, denoting the zero-emission offerings with the EQ prefix. We’ve already seen the GLA-based EQA and GLC-based EQC, and we’ve had the E-Class-derived EQE and S-Class derived EQS. Now, there’s an SUV version of the EQS, which sits 20cm further from the road and comes with a similar electric powertrain. That’s good for up to 410 miles on a single charge, and the most powerful version has 536bhp, but there’s still an off-road setting that gives the car some all-terrain credibility. Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, £TBC, www.mercedes-benz.co.uk

PHANTOM FANTASY As if the Rolls-Royce Phantom wasn’t already imposing enough, Rolls-Royce has seen fit to update its flagship limousine for 2023. New headlights and a new, illuminated grille are the main tweaks at the front, while there are new alloy wheel options and some new customisation options. Inside, the only change in what Rolls calls a “light-touch” update is a thicker steering wheel for “a more connected and immediate point of contact”. However, Rolls-Royce has fitted some new technology, allowing customers to interact with vehicle functions such as satellite navigation remotely using a smartphone app. Rolls-Royce Phantom, £POA, www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

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The new Ford Mustang Mach 1 might be a little bit rubbish, writes James Fossdyke,, but it’s also utterly brilliant

n 1969, the speed of sound was in vogue. Although the sound barrier had first been broken more than 20 years earlier, Concorde was making its first test flights and Nasa was launching missions to the moon. Soon, it seemed, everyone would be travelling at Mach 1. So Ford chose the perfect moment to capitalise on this need for speed by introducing a new, high-performance version of its fabled Mustang muscle car. With a super-cool bonnet air scoop, upgraded suspension and teak wood grain in the cabin, as well as sportier seats and more power, the Mach 1 became an instant hit. Following that success, Ford reprised the Mustang Mach 1 name in the 2000s, but at that time the fast Ford was not offered to British customers. And now, with the Mustang officially on sale in the UK, Ford has brought it back once more, creating this staggering study in shock and awe. The casual observer might dismiss this car as “ just another Mustang”, but those in the know will spot the grey alloy wheels, the grey pony badge and the grille with its round ‘nostrils’ on either side. Better still, the Mach 1 has upgraded aerodynamics courtesy of changes to the front and rear bumpers and a new rear wing, while the piece de resistance is the black stripe up the bonnet and along the door sills. Inside, the car comes with leather-wrapped sports seats with dove grey stripes, plus a B&O sound system and satellite navigation. But the most important changes can be found under the skin, where Ford has tuned that thumping V8 engine to produce 454bhp – up from 444bhp in the ‘standard’ Mustang GT. The American company has also fitted its MagneRide adaptive suspension system, which is specifically tuned for the Mach 1, and there are Brembo brakes to stop the car more quickly. In short, this car is built to be the pinnacle of Mustang performance; the best of the breed.

Of course, the Mach 1 is still a Mustang, and that isn’t always such a good thing. Yes, it looks dramatic and it’s relatively cheap – even this top-of-the-range version costs just over £57,000, and that’s £10,000 more than the Mustang GT – but the cabin quality is well below average. The Ford is built down to a price, and that means the plastics are unforgiving and unappealing, with some worryingly flimsy bits of trim and switchgear. Even a Ford Focus hatchback is more upmarket than this. It’s more practical, too. The back seats aren’t really fit for human habitation, and accessing the boot is made tricky by the letterbox-style boot opening. Once you’ve negotiated that, the boot measures 408 litres, which is fairly generous, but still only about 30 litres more than you get in the more accessible Focus. And if truth be told, the Mach 1 isn’t even that fast. The massive 5.0-litre engine is an old-school V8 with plenty of grunt, but no turbochargers to help it along, so 454bhp isn’t all that much by modern standards. Not when a BMW M4 Competition is producing 503bhp from a 3.0-litre engine with two fewer cylinders. As a result, the M4 will get from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, whereas the Mach 1 takes 4.4 seconds to manage the same feat. And that’s only if you choose the optional automatic gearbox – the manual takes 4.8 seconds. A European coupe will be more economical, too. The Mustang Mach 1 claims to manage 22.8mpg on the official economy test, but our test car managed, um… about 15mpg. Yeah, 15. Against that backdrop, and when there’s a fuel crisis in full swing, the M4 Competition’s 28.8mpg economy suddenly looks pretty impressive. So if you want a car that goes quickly and doesn’t burn too much Shell V-Power, the Mustang is easily bettered by its European rivals. But at least the Mach 1 version puts up slightly more of a fight when it’s on a road or race track. With tweaked suspension, Brembo

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Feeling Supersonic

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Ford Mustang Mach 1 Price: From £57,075 Engine: 5.0-litre V8 petrol Gearbox: Six-speed manual 0-62mph: 4.8 seconds Top speed: 166mph Power: 454bhp

brakes and new aerodynamics producing 22 percent more downforce, this is the first Mustang that really can be thrown around on a back road without too much terror. Of course, there’s still an awful lot of power going to the back wheels and they have an alarming propensity to break traction, sending the Mach 1 into a buttock-clenching slide. There’s none of the poise you get from an M4 or a Porsche Cayman, and there’s less feel for what the wheels are doing. But it will dart into corners more keenly than a standard Mustang, and there’s something to be said for the adjustable suspension that slackens off or stiffens up depending on which mode the car is in. You can make it more comfortable on the motorway, or you can make it firmer for more ‘spirited’ driving.

All that said, however, the Mach 1 is still not as good as anything from Porsche, BMW or Audi. It may be the best Mustang on the road, but if we’re being brutal, even the Kia Stinger is a more impressive piece of engineering. Yet none of that really matters, because although the Mustang is objectively a bit rubbish compared with similarly powerful European coupes, it makes you feel incredible. Starting the engine elicits a blood-curdling roar, and revving that snarling V8 gives you an enormous sense of imperviousness. It’s like being the god (or goddess) of thunder, sticking it to the unimaginative neighbours with their predictable German sports cars. Yes, it’s silly and ridiculous and it makes Greenpeace very angry indeed, but that’s the whole point. And from day to day, it’s only racing drivers who actually care about performance or handling. You don’t buy a car like this; it’s the big kid inside you who signs the cheque. And the big kid inside you doesn’t do anything dispassionately or objectively – they act in search of something much more important but much less tangible. They do it because they love it.

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Feature

Inspi nspirr ed by the P ast to Create Desi esig g ns fo for th the Futur turee Villeroy & Boch tiles present VICTORIAN by Mary Katrantzou

illeroy & Boch tiles, the international ceramics specialist, has unveiled its first designer collaboration in more than 20 years. Created by leading fashion designer Mary Katrantzou, VICTORIAN is a vibrant and colourful tile collection inspired by the art of lepidopterists and the geometry of Victorian tiles, bringing the natural world into the living environment. The new partnership also sees Katrantzou make her first foray into interior design, built on the global success of her eponymous fashion label of over a decade. A forward-thinking company with a rich heritage spanning over 270 years, Villeroy & Boch tiles continue to evolve and innovate – driven by its dedication to establishing a longstanding legacy in ceramic design. Captured by the creative vision of Katrantzou – an acclaimed designer with a strong passion for premium and timeless elegance, as well as an appreciation of craftsmanship and tradition – Villeroy & Boch tiles saw the opportunity to create a signature collection that would lend itself to the designer’s unique aesthetic and style.

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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

Inspiration When Katrantzou was first approached by the tile specialist, she was instantly drawn to its over two centuries’ history of design and manufacturing. The designer was keen to convert her approach to fashion into a spatial context of walls and floors, blurring boundaries between decorative mediums and drawing inspiration from objects, interiors and art. Through her personal visit to Villeroy & Boch tiles’ headquarters in Merzig, Germany, Katrantzou learnt more about the process behind the creation of its tiles. She also discovered that tiles from this era were still present in one of the hallways on site, and realised that 19th century Victorian tiles have truly stood the test of time, being as fashionable today as when they first came into style. Katrantzou recognised that this collaboration with Villeroy & Boch tiles should be an exercise in the understanding and application of balance, symmetry and proportion, and that striking a harmonious balance between colour,

pattern and form is just as important in interiors as it is in fashion. As a former architectural student, she also explored Victorian interiors and ornamentation in her Autumn/Winter 2018 Collection. As a result, the designer and Villeroy & Boch tiles decided to collaborate on a collection that interplays between their respective archival designs.

NewCollection: VICTORIAN Butterflies are central to the new VICTORIAN collection. A recurring theme in her fashion collections, Katrantzou sees them as one of the truest examples of metamorphosis. Notably inspired by her 10th anniversary collection in 2019, where the theme was the art of collecting, the designer wanted to utilise butterfly prints to communicate optimism while transforming tiles into a collectable piece of art. Another theme central to Katrantzou’s work since Spring/Summer 2013 is postage stamps. She believes that they “exude the allure of faraway lands and make you dream about what each piece of paper represents, where it might have been, who has touched it on its journey round the world.” In a world where stamps are becoming obsolete, the designer appreciates them even more “as tokens of the past and relics of a different era”. Through the VICTORIAN collection, she wanted to create a vignette within the home, a window into the world that captures this sense of nostalgia but is equally graphic and modern in its design. Gathering these themes together, VICTORIAN features eight different décor sets (20cm x 20cm) with borders and edges to complete the offering. Four coloured butterflies on either white or black

Homes and Interiors

backgrounds have been created using a combination of digital print and traditional screen-printing, with light visual 3-D effect used to provide a handcrafted appearance to each tile. Seen either straight-on or at a 45-degree angle, each butterfly tile is enhanced with either gold, black or perforated borders. Continuing the theme of white, black and gold, authentic marble-effect tiles are offered in two different finishes – high gloss for walls and polished surface for floors. They are joined by concentric designs alongside modern graphic interpretations of Victorian tiles. The butterfly tiles can be used independently or in combination to create a design that perfectly suits every bathroom setting. Mary Katrantzou commented, “It’s been a privilege working on ceramics with Villeroy &

Boch tiles – an exciting process to imagine and create spaces that people will live in daily. “These designs form part of an individual’s home, where they surround themselves with things they love, creating a feeling of permanence that’s very different to the very nature of fashion. This collaboration allowed me to look at patterns outside the female figure and be guided instead by the power of interiors to create an extension of one’s aesthetic.” Dr Jörg Schwall, Managing Director of Villeroy & Boch tiles, added, “As one of the most styledefining companies, Villeroy & Boch is characterised by its love of design excellence. Collaborating with Mary Katrantzou is a natural evolution in taking the brand in a new direction, and offering design aficionados the opportunity to create their own aesthetic using tiles from this inspirational collection.” Founded in 1748 in the heart of Europe, Villeroy & Boch is a globally respected brand with a rich tradition of actively shaping bathroom culture. Its products – ranging from sanitaryware to tiles – embody classical elegance and reflect the beauty of both nature and urban design. While much has changed since the Baroque era, when the company was founded, Villeroy & Boch’s longevity and unrivalled business record are a testament to its unerring ability to anticipate trends and stay relevant with changing consumer needs. The VICTORIAN tile collection is available to order now, exclusively via Villeroy & Boch.

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F LOOR I NG T R END ENDS S

2022

Leigh Price, Co-Director of Real Stone, Tile & Bathroom gives his insight into the latest on-trend flooring

FLAVIKER BLUE SAVOY STONE-EFFECT TILE IN GREY, 120X120

looring is the foundation of any room, and it is important to choose wisely, as good quality flooring should last for many years before needing to be replaced. With so many different types, colours, and materials to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. Most people want a floor which exudes style and quality but is also cost effective and durable. It’s important, too, to think about how your flooring will work with the rest of your interior design choices. You might even wish to consider how you can incorporate some of the latest flooring trends into your home! We spoke to Leigh Price, Co-Director of Real Stone, Tile & Bathroom to get his insight into the latest on-trend flooring options.

Large Format Tiles

Large format tiles have grown hugely in popularity in recent years and are great for creating that seamless look. With minimal grout lines, bigger tiles contribute to the feel of an open, uninterrupted expanse, and cleverly create the illusion of more space. If you are working with a smaller room, I would definitely recommend considering this option! Top tip - try to match your grout colour as closely as you possibly can with your tiles; the

less visible your grout is, the more your flooring will appear as one big continuous surface. Kerakoll recently expanded their offering to include 50 colours of grout, which are all available at Real Stone, Tile & Bathroom, so now there really is a grout colour for every tile!

Homes and Interiors

Indoor outdoor tiles are another popular trend, that really help you make the most of your living space, due to their ability to open up a home and create a seamless transition from inside to out. It doesn’t matter if you have a small garden, a small roof terrace or a large sprawling garden, using the same gorgeous tiled flooring throughout creates a desirable, modern aesthetic and truly expands your living space outwards. There are many different indoor outdoor tiles to choose from to suit your needs. Flaviker, for example, have a stunning outdoor tile range called the X20 collection, which are 20 mm thick outdoor porcelain paving tiles, inspired by the materials from Flaviker’s other popular ranges. Personally, I think these tiles are a great choice as they are resistant to high load and stress, and can withstand the most severe atmospheric conditions. X20 is ideal for use in heavy foot traffic areas including gardens, terraces, balconies, and swimming pool surrounds.

DAKOTA TILE IN AVANA

FLAVIKER X20 RE_TOUR FOG TILE

Bringing the Outside In

Porcelain Wood-Effect Tiles

Due to their incredible functionality and durability, porcelain tiles have long been a popular flooring choice. Boasting many benefits, porcelain tiles are highly resistant to wear and tear, are great for high traffic areas, and are super easy to look after. Also, unlike ceramic, porcelain is classed as impervious, meaning it is extremely water resistant which makes it a great flooring choice for bathrooms or kitchens. Available in so many different colours, shapes, and sizes, you can now even get highly realistic wood-effect porcelain tiles for a beautiful, long-lasting flooring option. Many of my customers love the low maintenance of this new style; there is no need to varnish, seal or treat porcelain tiles, and there is no danger of the colour fading or warping, which can be a worry with real wooden floors. Flaviker has a beautiful wood-effect porcelain tile collection, which presents a fantastic imitation of wood without the impracticalities and limitations of the real thing. Whilst wood is susceptible to water and stains, wood-effect tiles repel moisture and debris, and any grime or stains can be easily wiped away. Porcelain will not swell or shrink in warm or cold weather, making the practical nature of wood-effect tiles the ideal long-term choice for homeowners. Perfect for bringing warmth into a room, wood-effect flooring is, in my opinion, very versatile as it pairs perfectly with fittings and fixtures of any colour.

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FINISHING TOUCHES

REBEL EMERALD PORCELAN TILE

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

certainly inspire interior decorating dreams! This beautiful sky-blue shade is also soft enough to be used in patterned floor tiles, without appearing too busy. For more information about Real Stone, Tile & Bathroom or to get advice on choosing the right flooring for your home, visit www.realstoneandtile.co.uk

FLORIS DENIM ENCAUSTIC TILE

Bold & Bright

More and more of my customers wanting to achieve maximum impact are bringing green and blue tones into their home, which are very on-trend at the moment. Too much strong colour can be overwhelming though, so we often see CALACATTA EMERALD TILE people opting for a bright feature floor or feature wall, paired with more muted tones throughout the rest of the room. The Rebel Emerald porcelain tile, which really stands out for its visually striking aesthetic with a stylish, oxidised metal appearance, is a great option for those wanting to go bolder with their interior choices. However, if you prefer a more subtle incorporation of colour, there are plenty of options to choose from such as neutral toned marble floor tiles enhanced with rich, colourful veins of varying hues. Marble is an age-old classic which guarantees a glamorous and sophisticated effect when introduced to any room of the home, and with lots of incredibly realistic marble-effect tiles on the market. Dulux’s 2022 Colour of the Year is Bright Skies, and we are definitely anticipating this invigorating, light and airy shade cropping up a lot this year. Said to bring a breath of fresh air, this palette introduces brightness and will

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THE WILLOWS THE WILLOWS, NEWBY BRIDGE, LA12 8NS WRAPPED UP IN TWO ACRES OF LAND, PADDOCKS, STABLES AND BRIMMING WITH POTENTIAL, THE WILLOWS IS A HOLIDAY HOME THAT REDEFINES THE TERM ‘UNIQUE’

£750,000

amed for the willow beds that remain in situ on the land, it’s hard to believe upon arrival at The Willows, that you are only a ten-minute walk from the busy shores of Lake Windermere and only minutes from Fell Foot Park. Central to the panorama of peaceful, 360-degree fellside views, the timberclad house, set upon a large area of gravelled driveway, sits utterly in harmony with its surroundings. Designed as a celebration of the outdoors, light-filled living epitomises The Willows. Stepping inside, into the open-plan living-dining-kitchen, the

double-height ceiling and gallery landing rise up above, for an airy, impressive arrival home. Solid oak harmonises with glass as full-height windows reach the apex of the roof, with French doors from the living room connecting to the decking for seamless indoor-out living. Emanating hygge vibes and warmth of welcome, the log burner stands at an angle, flue exposed and rising upward, again drawing attention to the high ceiling and airiness of the room. Eco décor adds a natural softness throughout in the sheep’s wool

insulation and lime plaster specifically selected to accommodate the natural movement of oak over time. Whether relaxing in front of the log burner with a book, or dining by the corner of glass windows, views of the mountains, garden and countryside are an ever-present source of pleasure. Subtle curves feature throughout the home, displayed in the kitchen, awash with light courtesy of a large Velux window overhead and a window above the sink framing views out to Gummer’s How.

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Underfloor heating beneath the oak flooring, served by the low-carbon emission Air Source Heat Pump is low maintenance and efficient, ensuring constant warmth. With views from every window, watch the weather patterns come in from a distance, snug and cosy indoors. A sociable space, remain connected with family and friends whilst preparing dinner. Across from the kitchen, sneak a peek at an office, where large windows to two sides provide inspirational scenes of nature while you work. A versatile space, it could also serve as a playroom. Continue along to arrive at the first of two double bedrooms on the left. Sage green tones and honeyed oak combine for a soothing palette in touch with the Lakeland setting. Soothe your aches after an adrenaline-filled day of adventuree on the hills, kayaking on Lake Windermere or hacking along the bridleways, with a soak in the bath. Tiled in Burlington slate underfoot, the bathroom contains a bath, separate wet-room style walk-in shower, pebble bowl inset in an oak vanity unit and WC. Returning to the main living area, take the curved oak staircase to the mezzanine level landing, a large space that curves around to a snug – the ultimate den for teenagers – set beneath a triangular window looking

out to the trees. Ideal too as an office area or even a guest bedroom, Velux windows above and windows surrounding ensure a constant connection to nature. Borrowing light and views from the enormous wall of windows to the front, the second bedroom, another comfortable double, has glass doors to capture unbroken views of the outdoors.

Garden and Outbuildings The dream home for those looking to live ‘the Good Life’, the two acres of tranquil grounds and gardens surrounding The Willows include a barn, stables, outdoor office and a paddock, offering ample space for those looking to keep horses on-site. Return to nature, relax the pace and live the good life at The Willows, where the outdoors is at your fingertips, even when you’re snug indoors. This is more than just living, it’s a lifestyle. www.ashdownjones.co.uk

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And Finally ... Imagine an outdoor space that lets you enjoy the natural peace and calm; that helps you reconnect with those that you love in the great outdoors; that’s the perfect place to listen to the trees, the breeze and the birds, or watch the stars in the night sky; that you can use every hour of the day, every day of the year if you want to, with a chilled glass of wine or a huge hot chocolate; that eases your mind and your soul; that allows you to stop the world and relax, with a smile on your face. That space? It’s the Wild Relaxation Hangout - the hammock totally reinvented - and it’s in your garden. Prices start from £2450, www.wildrelaxation.co.uk

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