Best of Liverpool Magazine - March 2013 by Liverpool Post & Echo

SUPPLEMENT

WINNERS

COLDSET COLOUR SUPPLEMENT OF THE YEAR!

MUM’S THE WORD

Treat your ma to some gorgeous gifts for Mother’s Day

OF LIVERPOOL MARCH ISSUE 2013

EGG-CITING EVENTS

Follow the Easter bunny’s trail around the city in search of choctastic treats

A GRAND DAY OUT

THE WRITE STUFF

Follow our style guide and find out where to catch the race-day action

IRISH EYES Create your own Paddy’s day feast with our Emerald Isle inspired recipes

Lizzie Nunnery – musician, folksinger, playwright – is there any end to her talents? RACES FASHION//SPIFFING SUITS//SALON SPOTLIGHT//FITNESS//WHAT’S ON TOTS ON TREND//EASTER RECIPES//WEDDING SPECIAL//SPRING HOME STYLE

WIN S FOR TICKET & JUSTIN S FRIEND

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BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Contents

BEST

MARCH 13

MARCH 13 14

NEWS

04-05 TALK OF THE TOWN City news and gossip

O F L IVERP O O L

FASHION

THE 2012 NEWSPAPER AWARD

WINNERS: COLDSET COLOUR SUPPLEMENT OF THE YEAR!

GET IN TOUCH

CHILDREN

12-13 TODDLER TRENDS Cute kids’ clothes for spring

MOTHER’S DAY

14-15 GORGEOUS GIFTS Ways to treat your mummy dearest

Welcome... MAGAZINE EDITOR Michelle Rushton DEPUTY EDITOR Katie McLoughlin WRITERS Paul Baker, Sarah Hooley, Sue Kelbrick, Katie McLoughlin and Emma Thompson PHOTOGRAPHY Trinity Mirror photographers FRONT COVER PHOTO Gavin Trafford DESIGN Vicky Andrews, Colin Harrison COMMERCIAL FEATURES EDITOR Sally Jones SALES MANAGER Ros McGuire

COPYRIGHT Best of Liverpool is published monthly by Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales/ Liverpool ECHO. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

10 SALON SPOTLIGHT Race day ready at The House Beauty Spa 11 STRETCH IT OUT The new way to enjoy pilates

STORIES 0151 330 5035 EMAIL magazine@liverpool.com ADVERTISING 0151 330 5039 WEBSITE www.bestofliverpool.com FOLLOW US twitter@BestofLpool

LIVERPOOL ECHO EDITOR Alastair Machray

06-07 SHOPPING FOR HER Style tips for fashionable fillies 08 SHOPPING FOR HIM Go Gatsby for the Grand National

IT’S official, after a dreary winter, spring is finally on the horizon. The daffodils are starting to unfurl and we’ve even had the odd glimpse of sunlight. It’s a lovely time of year, when you can come out of hibernation and re-discover your surroundings and even venture outdoors! Feeling a little cabin feverish, we at Best of Liverpool have been getting out and about, scouring the shops for ideas of what to wear at the races next month. See Katie’s winning fashion formula for Ladies’ Day on pages 6-7. And for the gents, we travel back to the 1920s for style inspiration – well if it was good enough for the Great Gatsby and Mr Selfridge... After months of covering up in big woollies and coats, we start to shed the layers and so a little preening is required. Plus with the races coming up, I decided to treat myself to a little pampering. Find out how I got on on page 10. Meanwhile, in a bid to tone up, Sarah discovers a new way to enjoy pilates on page 11. There’s some colourful spring styles emerging for young ones. See Sue’s selection on pages 12-13 plus don’t forget to enter our competition to win tickets for Justin & Friends. No doubt, they’ll be getting egg-cited (pardon the pun) about a visit from the Easter Bunny. See Emma’s choc-tastic line-up of Easter egg hunts and egg-cellent selection of eggs on pages 24-25.

Don’t forget it’s Mother’s Day on March 10. Sarah has gorgeous gifts covered on pages 14-15 plus a line-up of shows to take your mum to. And you’ll find even more fantastic events to look forward to on page 19. Paul catches up with the multi-talented Lizzie Nunnery on page 16 and gets a sneak preview of what’s in store at the Threshold Festival this year, courtesy of Chris Carney on page 17. Meanwhile, I pick the literary brains of Lyn Andrews on page 18. With food and drink always a favourite subject with the Best of Liverpool team, we bring you some mouthwatering recipes to try – from spring lamb and Easter cupcakes (pages 22-23) to St Patrick’s Day suppers on page 20. Mums Emma, Sue and myself, take our children out foraging for family friendly fodder on pages 26-27, while Paul chases the best Champagne breakfast and race day packages to enjoy during the world famous steeplechase on page 21. Katie comes over all romantic with her ideas on how to say “I do” in style on pages 28-29, while I pick out some inspiring interiors to feather your nest with this spring on page 30. Enjoy!

ENTERTAINMENT

16-17 HOMEGROWN TALENT Writer Lizzie Nunnery and Threshold Festival organiser, Chris Carney 18 EXTRA TALENT Author Lyn Andrews and ones to watch 19 WHAT’S ON March’s essential events

FOOD & DRINK

20 ST PATRICK’S DAY A taste of Ireland 21 RACE DAY PACKAGES Where to catch the action 22-23 SPRING RECIPES Luscious lamb recipes and cute cupcakes 26-27 RESTAURANT REVIEWS Family friendly eateries are put to the test

EASTER

24-25 CHASE THE EGG On the hunt for egg-cellent Easter events

WEDDINGS

28-29 WEDDING PLANS How to say “I do” in style

HOMES & GARDENS

30 SPRING HOME STYLE Bring some sunshine back into your home Michelle Rushton, Best of Liverpool Editor

BEST OF LIVERPOOL 03

Talk of the town HYSTERICAL BUS TOUR

OutANDabout

From swish soirées to gatherings, launches and more, Katie McLoughlin and Michelle Rushton take a look at what the city’s glitterati have been up to...

MUSIC TO THEIR EARS

We’re loving... HAPPY IN BLOOM THIS new limited edition Happy in Bloom perfume spray which is just perfect for spring. Clinique’s new fresh, fruity and floral scent features notes of yellow plum, a cocktail of frozen fruit, and watery green notes make this a lovely fragrance. Housed in a bright and floral decorated bottle it is guaranteed to make your Mother’s Day. RRP £25.00 for 30ml. Visit www.clinique.co.uk for further information.

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Photos: Anderson Jones

NOT content with being a great comedy actor and running a successful cabaret lounge, Ricky Tomlinson is now going on the buses! The Royle Family and Great Night Out star, who co-owns The Greenroom cabaret lounge and bar on Duke Street along with his good friends and media moguls, Simon and Richard Wallace, is now launching a new bus tour! He will be joined by Liverpool’s much-loved historian, Frank Carlyle, taking passengers for a one hour open top bus tour around some of the wonders of the city. As well as witnessing some of our finest buildings and hearing first hand the fascinating stories that surround them, passengers will also get to see some of Liverpool’s hidden gems. Ricky explains how they came up with the idea, saying: “It’s simple really. We get lots of bus tours driving past with people waving at us and we thought, ‘why not do our own?’ So we tried it out one Saturday and it went down a storm.” Ricky and his team got hold of an open top bus, decorated it with the Greenroom branding and enlisted the services of historian Frank who has encyclopedic knowledge of the city. He adds: “We’re planning two routes, one for local people telling them things they don’t already know about their city and a showbiz route and of course, there will be plenty of laughs – it will be hysterical as well as historical! “We might even get local comedians coming along for the ride and telling a gag or two,” chuckles Ricky. “And as we have our live historian on board, people can ask all kinds of questions.” Ricky reveals that he gets lots of people from all over the UK coming to his cabaret lounge which hosts a big range of acts from top comedians to tribute acts. “Now they can come over for the day, come in for a coffee then hop on the bus for a tour of the city followed by a great night’s entertainment. We can offer the whole package!” The Greenroom City Bus Tours will take place every Saturday at 11.30am and 2pm. To find out more or book tickets, pop into the cabaret lounge on Duke Street, telephone 0151 922 7771 or visit www.thegreenroomliverpool.com

LOVE IS IN THE AIR STUDENTS at Knowsley Community College (KCC) held some heart-warming activities last month, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Students enjoyed delicious heart-shaped cakes and took part in a range of activities – from flash mob dancing to Valentine’s date makeovers. Blood pressure testing, lessons in how to save heart attack victims and mobile health screening also took place, to teach students to think of their hearts all year round – not just on Valentine’s Day.

SHANKLY – THE LOST DIARY GETTING a glimpse into the mind of the real Bill Shankly. His autobiography, penned after he had dramatically called time on his Anfield reign, gives us an insight into the passions that motivated this remarkable football man. This is the real Shankly talking to you once more, revealing his innermost thoughts on the great Anfield masterplan in a weekly series in the summer of 62 in the Liverpool ECHO – a must read for every Liverpool fan! RRP £9.99 – now only £7.99 from www.merseyshop.com

A HOST of Motown legends were in the city recently for a charity ball hosted by The House Beauty Spa. Held in a marquee at Aigburth Cricket Club, The House Beauty Spa Motown Ball saw Motown legends Percy Sledge, C G Lee, Kym Weston and Candi Statton perform alongside Pebo Bryson and Sheila Ferguson. As well as enjoying fantastic music, guests at the event enjoyed a gourmet three-

GRINGO SUSHI STARTING our weekends in style at The Vincent Hotel in Southport. And on Friday evenings, the stylish hotel offers complimentary sushi between 5pm and 7pm, to everyone enjoying a drink in the bar. And it has just launched ‘Gringo Sushi’ a Mexican dining concept offering a meat alternative to classic sushi, including a wide variety of fillings from pork, to chorizo and bacon. It just makes that Friday evening drink after work even more special. Call 01704 883 800 for details.

course dinner provided by acclaimed caterers Pickled Walnut. The event raised a whopping £17,500 for The Whitechapel Centre, a homeless and housing charity which helps those sleeping rough, living in hostels or struggling to manage their accommodation in Liverpool. With £17,500 raised at the ball, The House Beauty Spa has now raised over £56,000 for the charity so far in 2013.

MARCH 13 LANTERN COMPANY LIGHTS UP EXHIBITION

DERBY WITH A DIFFERENCE

THEY’RE famed for lighting up Sefton Park in a blaze of glory every October for their annual Halloween Lantern Carnival, when hundreds of hand-made lanterns make their way through the south Liverpool park in an enchanting parade. Now the Liverpool Lantern Company is celebrating a decade of illumination with a very special exhibition at St George’s Hall from March 23 until April 6. The exhibition will shed light on a decade of work, with displays featuring some of the Lantern Company’s best creations from the last 10 years – including giant skeletons, contorted characters and enchanting animals. Jo Pocock, artistic director at the Lantern Company, says: “Over 10 years we’ve built up an incredible backcatalogue of puppets and characters and are delighted to have the opportunity to bring them all together in what will be a visually stunning display.”

LIVERPOOL vs Everton is always one of the biggest fixtures of the footy season and this month, there’s a derby with a difference on March 23. The ladies’ football season kicks off with a Merseyside Derby for the Continental Cup on March 23 at Liverpool Ladies’ Team’s home ground, Halton Stadium. And there will be plenty of spice surrounding the derby with a number of players switching Blue for Red and vice versa during the off-season. The Liverpool v Everton match kicks off at 7.30pm on March 23, tickets are available from www.everton.fawsl.com/tickets or from Halton Stadium on the day.

DISNEY SKATES INTO TOWN

PIZZA WITH A PURPOSE

The Linda McCartney Centre, affectionately known as ‘R Linda’ as part of the hospital’s new charity fundraising campaign, is a stateof-the-art cancer care centre established to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for patients and their families. Rebecca Grime, from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, says: “It’s lovely to see how much Il Forno values and cares for their customers. Their generosity shows real humility and great regard for the fantastic cancer services we have here in Liverpool and we greatly value their support.”

THE SPICE IS RIGHT AT ZAAFFRAN

CHIP ON THE OLD DOCK A TRIO of city personalities were on hand to help the Albert Dock’s first-ever chippy to open its doors last month. The first-ever chip shop to open on the Albert Dock in its 25 year history, Docklands Fish & Chips officially opened on February 28, with Thelma Madine from My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, local Masterchef star Jay Tinker and famed city hairdresser, Herbert attending the launch event. Owner, Tony Kay says: “There has never been a fish and chip shop at the Albert Dock throughout its 25-year history and it has been an ambition of mine for many years to open a chippie here. The dock is an iconic global landmark attracting tourists from all over the world, with some of the most amazing views you will find anywhere. Who wouldn’t want to set up shop here?” The launch was a sizzling success with Thelma, Herbert and Jay along with a host of other guests enjoying some tasty treats straight from the fryer.

Photos: David Munn

DUKE Street Italian restaurant, Il Forno, raised funds for the city’s Linda McCartney Centre last month, with a special charity pizza. Created in honour of one of Il Forno’s customers, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer at the centre, the ‘Vesuvio’ pizza was sold at the Duke Street Italian until February 28. For every Vesuvio pizza purchased, £3 was donated to the Linda McCartney Centre at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital where the restaurant’s customer is being treated.

DISNEY On Ice presents Let’s Party skated into ECHO Arena Liverpool last month, for a five day run, much to the delight of thousands of families. The show proved to be a huge hit with the city’s celebrities too, with many of them arriving with their excited kids for the opening night show. Anfield stars Glen Johnson, Luis Suarez and Pepe Reina were spotted in the audience, whilst Coleen and Wayne Rooney arrived with son Kai along with Peter Crouch and Abigail Clancy who had brought their daughter Sophia along to watch the show. Disney On Ice presents Let’s Party features more than 50 classic and contemporary Disney characters who join Mickey Mouse and friends in a spectacular show, jam-packed with fun surprises, dazzling skating and vibrant costumes.

Photos: Dave the Pap

SOUTH Liverpool Indian restaurant, Zaaffran celebrated its first birthday last month with a glitzy, guest-list only event on February 27. With a contemporary take on Indian cuisine, stylish décor and a host of signature dishes, the Allerton Road restaurant has become a popular haunt

with city foodies since opening its doors last year and its first birthday event was exceptionally well attended. As well as celebrating Zaaffran’s first birthday, the event saw the restaurant launch a new Indian tapas menu. Visit www.zaaffran.co.uk or call 0151 729 0165 to book a table.

BEST OF LIVERPOOL 05

Shopping for her V-back white dress, £55, from La Redoute

Hot to trot

Bodycon dress in rose mirror floral print, £55, from ASOS.com

Katie McLoughlin helps fashionable fillies stay ahead in the style stakes with her pick of this season’s occasion wear...

Dress, left, £69, and dress, right, also £69, both from Miss Selfridge

Pale pink lace dress, £29, from La Redoute

Orange ‘Peggy’ dress, £34, from Apricot

Dress by Mary Portas, £99, from House of Fraser

‘Kate’ dress, £95, from Pearl Boutique, Aigburth Road (www.pearl-boutique.com)

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

MARCH 13 Pied a Terre multicoloured digital print dress, £110, from House of Fraser

Honor Gold ‘Paige’ dress, £50, from Pearl Boutique, Allerton

Embellished flower prom dress, £63, and Harley shoe, £42, from Dorothy Perkins

‘Harriet’ dress, £199, ‘Tiara’ bag, £99, and ‘Rene’ court shoes, £149, from Hobbs

‘Becki’ dress, £125, from Pearl Boutique, Aigburth Road (www.pearl-boutique.com)

FINISHING TOUCHES

Hayden fascinator in praline, £55, from Phase Eight

Metallic spot jacquard stole, £19, from Accessorize

Pointed high heels, £45, from ASOS.com Fluoro clutch, £22, from Next

Madelyn fascinator in black, £59, from Phase Eight

Peggy fascinator in jade, £55, from Phase Eight

Biba peach suede ‘Ruby’ clutch, £149, from House of Fraser

Scallop beaded clutch, £39, from Accessorize

Pink wedges, £45, from Miss Selfridge

Somerset by Alice Temperley ‘Promrose’ black leather stiletto sandals, £145, from John Lewis

BEST OF LIVERPOOL 07

Shopping for him Outfit, from Burton Hat, from H&M

Jacket, from www.tedbaker.com

Berry Tuxedo Jacket, £80, from River Island

Berry velvet bow tie, £20, from River Island

SPIFFING SUITS Sarah Hooley finds out why the roaring twenties have become the fashion world’s latest muse... EVER since pictures surfaced from Baz Luhrmann’s forthcoming remake of The Great Gatsby, the fashion world’s love affair with the 1920s began. From three piece suits and tuxedos to brogues and bow ties,

key designs from the roaring twenties have been flooding the shops. And with good reason too. This spiffing era is a sure fire way to channel your inner cad and look smoother than a double malt whisky. Opt for browns, greys and deep

blues when it comes to suits and team with a coloured shirt and tie, as well as multi-tonal brogues. Dapper and undeniably on trend in one fell swoop – it’s perfect for any gent looking to sweep the style stakes at next month’s Grand National.

Outfit, from Burton

Abraham, £135, from Dune

Brogue, £66.99, from Office

Swiss-made watch, £499, from Dreyfuss

Red Line jacket, £85, trousers, £35, waistcoat, £35, Red Herring shirt, £18, tie, £9.50, Osborne straw boater, £26, and John Rocha shoes, £80, from Debenhams

Outfit, from Burton

Natty neckwear... IT’S time to bid farewell to boring neckwear (yawn), and say hello to bold patterns and bright colours. From polka dots and paisley to primary colours, statement ties are big news this spring...

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

St. George by Duffer tie, £14, from Debenhams

Polka dot tie, £7, from Burton

Red Herring pocket square, £6, from Debenhams

Check tie, £7, from Burton

Red paisley print tie, £10, from Topman

Limited Collection tie, £15, from Marks & Spencer

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BEST OF LIVERPOOL 09

Health & beauty

Photo finish Michelle Rushton gets ready for the races with a spot of pampering at The House Beauty Spa A DAY at the races requires a certain amount of beautification with fillies on parade in their finest form and that’s just the female racegoers! So with Ladies’ Day looming fast and feeling more old nag than sleek racehorse, I raced on down to the House Beauty Spa, in Allerton, to be reacquainted with my inner glamour puss. I discovered that the elegant spa on Mather Avenue offers a range of pamper packages ranging from quick fixes to the downright indulgent. But wanting to save my money for a little flutter, the Race Day Ready package was the odds-on favourite offering great value for money – a real treat without breaking the bank. The package included a Shellac manicure, OPI pedicure, Fake Bake spray tan and Weekend Lashes and it came in at £50 (normally priced £82). Bonus! On booking the package, the receptionist advised me to come in for a patch test 24 hours before having the spray tan, so I popped in after work and she applied a little of the tanning lotion on my skin. Luckily, I had no allergic reaction to the product, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. On the morning of my pamper session, I was advised not to wear any deodorant or perfume and to wear loose, dark clothing. So, appropriately attired, I headed to the house for some well deserved ‘me time.’

On arrival, I was shown into the plush orangery by the receptionist who encouraged me to relax on the huge sofas for a while and browse through magazines whilst she brought me a fruity herbal tea served in pretty Wedgwood crockery. Before long, I was introduced to one of the beauty therapists, Amy, who led me to the pedicure room and invited me to take a seat in the relaxing pedicure chair which actually massaged my back throughout the treatment! Amy set to work on my hooves and 20 minutes of bliss followed as she carefully attended to my neglected toes, filing my nails, cuticles and applying a lovely plum shade of polish. I was then shown to the nail bar where

beauty therapist Helen worked her magic on my hands with a Shellac manicure. As well as filing my nails and attending to my cuticles, she applied a base coat, and two coats of Shellac nail polish, followed by a top coat. She explained how Shellac is a mixture of gel and polish which is chip-free and lasts much longer than normal nail varnish. I had to place my hands in a UV lamp inbetween coats which cured and set the Shellac. The whole manicure took around 45 minutes and the result was a shiny, deep plum finish, similar to my toes, which I chose to match my races outfit – a plum coloured lacy dress. The Shellac lasted really well – even withstanding the washing up each evening for around two weeks! With my nails done, we then ventured upstairs to a treatment room where Helen turned her attention to my lashes. Having never worn false eyelashes before, and having rather small eyes, I felt the full on lashes might look a little OTT on my face, so Helen applied a few individual lashes which had a more natural effect, opening up my eyes and making my lashes look longer and fuller. It only took a few minutes and although it felt a little weird at first, I soon got used to it and slept in them with no problems. She advised me that they would last one or two days but I actually kept them on for about four days and even then they showed no signs of moving! Lastly, we went down to the tanning room for my Fake Bake spray tan. Having a rather pale complexion, I opted for the more natural light, golden original shade, although there are darker shades for those blessed with more melanin. I was asked to disrobe and don a fetching shower cap and paper knickers, as well as removing all jewellery, then took up my place in the booth whilst Helen sprayed me with the Fake Bake tanning gun. It felt a little cold, like a fine mist being sprayed and it actually smelled quite pleasant with hints of cocoa rather than that stale biscuity smell which some cheap self-tanning products can have.

I did feel a little sheepish, and images of my Dad Creosoting the back fence sprang to mind, but it was over in a flash and I was advised to stay in the booth for a few minutes to allow the tan to dry before dressing. I then retreated back to the orangery for a refreshing coffee and took a few minutes to unwind before facing the outside world and returning to work. Throughout the day, I kept glancing at my skin which was getting progressively darker, although my colleagues assured me I wasn’t turning into David Dickinson! I was advised to shower after six to eight hours and to my relief, my tan looked more natural and very even in colour. It was a lovely shade and gave me a healthy glow rather than the Judith Chalmers effect. Six days later and it had faded a little but I was still more bronzed than usual so I would definitely have one again. Overall, it was an enjoyable, relaxing morning in beautiful surroundings where I was thoroughly pampered by the lovely, expert therapists and felt really serene and well groomed following my treatments. Return visits are strongly fancied!

WHERE IS IT?

The House Beauty Spa is situated in an idyllic Georgian town house between the Police and Fire station at 9 Mather Avenue, off Allerton Road, in South Liverpool.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

It offers a range of luxury beauty treatments and day spa packages, along with non-surgical aesthetic procedures. Its extensive treatment list has been hand-picked from quality brands including Elemis, Guinot, OPI Nails, Caudalie and Jessica Nails.

CONTACT:

Telephone The House Beauty Spa on 0151 724 4999, email info@thehousebeautyspa.co.uk or visit the website www.thehousebeautyspa.co.uk

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Fitness

MARCH 13

The Cadillac of classes? Sarah Hooley gets revved up about a new form of pilates... WITH fluffy ankle straps, metal hooks and a trapeze bar, it's fair to say the new pilates equipment at The Physiotherapy Centre in Mossley Hill wasn't what I'd been expecting. Where were the mats? The roomful of women I could hide behind? I was fairly certain there hadn't been any Fifty Shades of Grey-style contraptions the last time I went to a class at my local gym... but, fortunately, it all turned out to be above board. “It isn't as scary as it looks – I promise,” laughs Sarah Johnson, clinic director as she shows me into one of the centre's studios for a taster session. The equipment – including a Cadillac, Wunda chair and Reformer to give them their correct names – are the latest addition to The Physiotherapy Centre. The spring-based machines, created by German-born Joseph Pilates in the early 1900s, are believed to improve flexibility, posture and joint mobility, as well as tone and strengthen the muscles. Like mat-based pilates, a range of fluid exercise movements are carried out

on each piece of equipment with the increased resistance making the workout even more intense. And, with fans said to include body-beautiful Pippa Middleton, who was I to argue? “We only got the apparatus last month, and it's already attracting a lot of attention,” says Sarah, a fully-qualified physiotherapist. “We offer both individual one-to-one appointments on the equipment, as well as small group sessions for up to four people.” Located on Booker Avenue, the centre is one of Liverpool's leading physiotherapy clinics and specialises in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports injuries and pilates. And as all of the instructors are trained physios, Sarah tells me that the classes are ideal for those with mobility or health issues such as back pain or osteoporosis. However, if you're purely looking for a fitness class don't be put off. Around 50% of class members are non-patients. Sarah, also an experienced pilates instructor and teacher for The

Strike a pose

Photo: James Maloney

Australian Physiotherapy & Pilates Institute (APPI), explains: “Our classes are open to everyone – men, women, kids! It's a fantastic way to tone up, and we run more than 25 different sessions to suit everyone from beginners to professional athletes. “The key difference in coming to a class here,” she adds, “is that our instructors are also fully-qualified physios. We use our combined knowledge in physiotherapy and pilates to clinically reason what exercises will have the most impact, and why. This means that our clients see results fast, and receive tailored advice in each session." As a newbie to the clinic, my visit starts with an assessment. “It's essential to evaluate each new client,” Sarah continues. “We need to make sure that the exercises we give them, or the class that we place them in is right. To do this we look at each person's posture, general health and what they want to get out of the sessions. Plus, we use real-time ultrasound imaging so we know exactly how their core muscles work.” Once my assessment is finished, Sarah surmises that I need to “correct my core” (or in layman's terms, the way I hold my body). To do this, I lie on the mat part of the Cadillac and Sarah shows me the optimum position to hold my body for pilates exercises. “It's important,” she explains, “to get this right, as it's the basis for all of the movements. More than that, getting the position wrong could mean the exercises won't have any effect,

Sarah Johnson, clinic director at The Physiotherapy Centre, demonstrating some advanced exercises on the Cadillac

or could actually make any existing health issues worse.” Initially it's tricky to get it right, but after a few attempts I'm ready to be guided through a range of exercises on the Cadillac. From scissor movements, arm glides and circular leg motions, to 100s, followed by cat stretches using the trapeze bar, Sarah modifes each one to suit my ability and aims. Having previously done a few matbased pilates classes, I thought I'd fare relatively well and know roughly what to expect. But with the sole attention of Sarah and the amplified resistance of the machine, the session is a lot more intense than I'd experienced before. Sarah adds: “We use the equipment to get the best out of each client's body. Be it an individual that wants to tone up and build on their fitness, or a professional dancer that needs to work on extending their movement." Overall, my session was focused and really good fun (plus, acrobatic skills were not a pre-requisite as I had feared). And despite my appointment only being a taster session I could definitely feel the effects the following day... The Physiotherapy Clinic offers oneto-one appointment and small group sessions on the pilates equipment, as well as a wide range of mat-based classes. For more information call 0151 724 2060 or visit the website at www.thephysiotherapycentre.com

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Children

Stripe shirt (0-24 months), £8, from M&Co

Pink floral dress, from Debenhams

TOP OF THE TOTS

Sue Kelbrick checks out the latest colourful styles on the high street

Shoe print t-shirt, £8, from Mothercare

Yellow dress by Little Bird by Jools Oliver, £14, from Mothercare

Pink shoe, from F&F at Tesco Baby hydrangea print dress, £38£40, from Monsoon

Boys’ printed shirt, £12, from River Island

KEEP IT LOCAL WHEN it comes to kids’ fashion, you don’t always have to head for the high street. There are some great independent boutiques locally where you can find fabulous fashions for little ones.

ELAINE CUNNINGHAM

Pink panther playsuit, £89, from Monnalisa at Strawberry Childrenswear Left, strawberry top and shorts, £89, from Monnalisa at Strawberry Childrenswear

STRAWBERRY CHILDRENSWEAR

BASED in Aigburth, this shop has been selling top of the range designer clothes for kids for more than six years and has built up a reputation for offering a fabulous hand-picked selection of children’s clothes from all the latest designer collections. A favourite with Coleen Rooney, Alex Gerrard and Nichola Carragher, Strawberry Childrenswear stocks everything from Armani Junior, Catimini, Maharishi and Miss Grant to Monnalisa, Moschino, Pampolina, Ralph Lauren and Vivienne Westwood. Strawberry is open six days a week at 329 Aigburth Road. Telephone 0151 727 4252 or order at www.strawberrychildren.co.uk

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Girls’ dresses in various designs, from £14.99, from Elaine Cunningham

ALSO based in Aigburth, is Elaine Cunningham who has been selling a fabulous range of vintage-inspired children’s clothes for around 18 months, from her already renowned interiors store. The current range oozes retro style with vintage prints adorning raincoats, umbrellas and wellington boots, as well as a great selection of oh-so-pretty dresses with matching sun hats, shorts and top sets and a new collection of summery pyjamas. And flying the flag for British design, Elaine Cunningham is also showcasing a range of embroidered Union Jack bibs and baby grows. Roll on summer... Elaine Cunningham, 390-392 Aigburth Road, telephone 0151 494 1555.

MARCH 13 IT’S SHOWTIME!

Geo print dress, £9, from M&S

IF your children are enthralled by the stage, then there’s plenty of thrilling theatricals in the city this month, guaranteed to entertain your little luvvies... Gilet, £10, T-shirt, £6, check shirt, £4, hoody, £4, and jeans, £9, from Heatons

WHY THE LION DANCED

CHINESE New Year is brought to life for children in this inventive production featuring live music, song and dance by award-winning Yellow Earth. Deep in the mountains of ancient China, every 13th moon a dreaded monster visits the village. The villagers must protect themselves but which animal can save them? Why The Lion Danced is on at Unity Theatre, March 9 at 11.30am and 2.30pm and is perfect for ages five and over. Tickets: adults £8 and kids £6, call 0844 873 2888 or visit www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk

UGLY DUCKLING

IF your kids love the magic of music, theatre and live ballet then they will enjoy Ugly Duckling by Northern, Ballet which has been created especially for children. On March 15 the Liverpool Playhouse is re-telling the famous Hans Christian Anderson fairytale as a poor duckling is lonely and fed-up, shunned by those who see her as too ugly, but she overcomes her troubles and turns into a beautiful swan. Ideal for ages three and over, performances start at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 5pm for 45 minutes. Tickets cost £8 and £6 (under 16). Log on to www.everymanplayhouse. com or call 0151 709 4776.

T-shirt, £3, shorts, £7, and hat, £5, from F&F at Tesco

I WAS A RAT

WIN

JUSTIN & FRIENDS TICKETS AND ALBUM!

FOR the first time ever, fans will be able to see Justin Fletcher’s favourite characters brought together on stage as Justin & Friends prepares to rock the ECHO Two at ECHO Arena Liverpool this Easter. Gigglebiz favourites including Nana Knickerbocker, Lost Pirate, Arthur Sleep and Keith Fit will be joining the fun alongside a host of Tumbles from Something Special in a spectacular show presented by CBeebies Live! Joining Justin on his adventures will be his friends Robert the Robot and Little Monster from Justin’s House, as Justin prepares to put on a spectacular rock and rolypoly show for a very special visitor! He will be joined by Nina from Nina and the Neurons, the adventurous Andy Day who will leave no stone unturned and Katy Ashworth who will cook up a storm. Prepare to be thrilled, excited and spectacularly entertained as you dance and sing along with Justin and all his friends! Justin & Friends will come to Liverpool ECHO Two on Thursday, April 4 at 1.30pm and 4:30pm. Tickets are £13

for children, with family tickets from £52 (for four people and subject to a booking fee). For tickets visit the website www.bbcliveshows.com Meanwhile, Best of Liverpool has two family tickets to give away to two lucky readers to see Justin & Friends as well as a copy of his amazing new album ‘The Best Of Friends’ which is jam packed with great tunes that youngsters will love to sing along to. Justin has hand-picked his all time favourite nursery rhymes and chart-topping songs and the album includes his new single, title track ‘The Best of Friends’ (Best Friends Forever). To be in with a chance of winning a family ticket for Justin & Friends and a copy of the album, The Best Of Friends, simply answer the following question: What is the name of the Gigglebiz newsreader who tells bad jokes? Answers on a postcard to Justin & Friends competition, Best of Liverpool, Commercial Editorial Unit, Liverpool Post & ECHO, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB. Closing date: Friday, March 22.

BROUGHT to life on the professional stage for the first time in the UK is Philip Pullman’s glorious and gripping story, I Was A Rat! Combining humour, fantasy, and adventure this moving and darkly comic tale slowly reveals its connection to one of the most famous fairy tales of all time. “I was a rat!” insists the scruffy page boy who turns up one evening on the doorstep of old married couple Bob and Joan. But what is he now? Visit the Playhouse, Williamson Square, from March 19 to 23; tickets £12 to £20; log on to www.everymanplayhouse.com or call 0151 709 4776.

MOTHER AFRICA – THE CIRCUS OF THE SENSES

CHILDREN will be captivated by the colourful world of Africa and a celebration of its glorious attitude to life in a veritable firework display of circus art and emotion, at the Liverpool Empire on March 24. The show will take the audience on a stirring journey featuring vivid costumes, foot-tapping rhythms, breathtaking acrobatics, energetic dancing and the sheer joy of life. The breathtaking skills of the show’s pole act have even been recorded for posterity with an official entry in the Guinness Book of Records! It really is a circus for the senses so roll up, roll up – and prepare to be amazed! Tickets cost £16 £26 and are available from Liverpool Empire Box Office or call 0844 871 3017 or online at www.atgtickets.com/ liverpool

BEST OF LIVERPOOL 13

Mother’s Day Olly Murs comes to the ECHO Arena

Classical Spectacular. Above, Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill

Mum’s the word! Amazing mums deserve an amazing gift, says Sarah Hooley. Here are our picks of the best Mother’s Day treats in Liverpool....

Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill

IT’S well known that you can’t put on any weight on Mother’s Day (well that’s our excuse anyway). So why not treat your mum to a delicious Sunday lunch at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill? The chic restaurant – located inside Hotel Indigo on Chapel Street in the city centre – is offering a three course menu for just £25pp (£12.50 for under 12s), including a bunch of flowers for mum to take home. Guests can enjoy a mouthwatering array of treats including mushroom focaccia with tarragon cream, roast loin of pork with herb stuffing and apple sauce, and banana meringue mess. To make a reservation, call 0151 559 0555. The Chill Out Spa

ECHO Arena

Boogie Nights

Chill Out Spa

SET within the walls of Knowsley Hall, the Chill Out Spa is a sanctuary where mums can grab those illusive five minutes of peace. Its extensive treatment menu includes an array of luxurious facials, massages and manicures as well as spa days. Our favourite is the half day package for £89pp – perfect for mums and daughters. The price includes a 30 minute back, neck and shoulder massage, 30 minute purity facial, express manicure or pedicure, a dip in the hot tub and lunch. Visit www.chilloutspa.co.uk or call 0844 9670 599.

Capello

BETWEEN going to work, entertaining the kids and running the house, it’s fair to say that mums don’t get much time to spend on themselves. So why not treat her to a new look at hair and make-up studio, Capello, in Hatton Gardens? Offering cuts, colours, hair ups, pin curls and make-up application the friendly and talented team are on hand to make every client look and feel their best. A nail techician is also available to get mums’ mits in tip top condition. Plus, there’s a private boudoir for the ultimate in glamour and relaxing experiences. To find out more, call 0151 236 4444 or visit www.capelloliverpool.co.uk

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Olympus Health Club & Spa

WHEN the bigwigs at the ECHO Arena planned their line-up for March, we have a sneaky suspicion they must have been thinking of the city’s mums. First up is cheeky pop sensation Olly Murs arriving at the arena on Wednesday, March 13. Since shooting to fame on ITV’s The X Factor in 2009 the singer has released chart-topping hit after chart-topping hit and his latest tour is a must see for fans. Olly will also be supported by special guests Loveable Rogues, and is set to return for a second date on March 27. A mere four days later, One Direction, are then set to grace the arena’s stage. Arguably the world’s hottest boyband (and every mum’s guilty pleasure), Zayn, Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis will be entertaining crowds on March 17, and March 31. If pop’s not her cup of tea however, how about Classical Spectacular, on March 16? A mix of classical music, lasers, lights and fireworks the exciting show will change the way you think about classical music forever. Visit www.echoarena.com or call the box office on 0844 8000 400.

ONE of the West End’s original jukebox musicals, Boogie Nights, returns to the Liverpool Empire on April 1. Featuring no less than 70 hits from the era of disco, the show is set in a British town at the height of the seventies and follows the heart-warming story of Roddy O’Neil. From Y.M.C.A. and Happy Days to We Are Family and Boogie Wonderland, the all star cast includes The Osmonds, Gareth Gates, Chico, Shane Riche Jnr and X-Factor finalist Andy Abraham as well as ex-Eastender Louisa Lytton. The soundtrack for anyone who grew up in the 70s! Tickets from £10. Visit www.agttickets.com Merrill, Jay, and Jimmy Osmond star in Boogie Nights

Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa

Olympus Health Club & Spa

HIDDEN in the heart of the city’s business district is Olympus Health Club & Spa. With an ancient-Greek theme, the spa offers the ideal place to enjoy a spot of goddess worthy pampering. Its facilities include a sauna, steam room, and sunken baths as well as a chill out zone – perfect for a few hours of pure relaxation, plus a range of beauty treatments and indulgent spa packages are also available, with prices starting at £26pp for the ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ offer. Fantastic value, the package includes half day use of the spa, an eyebrow shape, 20-minute seated massage and refreshments. Call 0151 236 7493 or visit the website at www.olympushealthclubandspa.com

Delifonseca Dockside

ONE of our all time favourites, Delifonseca on Brunswick Dock is spoiling us with a delicious Mother’s Day breakfast this Sunday, March 10. For £14.95pp, diners can tuck into a threecourse feast which includes a glass of Bucks Fizz. The menu starts with oats soaked in Cheshire apple juice with toasted nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit, yoghurt and honey, followed by a choice of smoked salmon with scrambled eggs on toast; eggs florentine or a Delifonseca breakfast for the main course. It also includes a warm croissant with raspberry and vanilla jam, washed down with a cup of freshly made coffee or Brew Scouser’s tea. Booking is essential. Visit www.delifonseca.co.uk

Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa

INDULGENT beauty treatments? Check. Luxurious surroundings? Check. The spa at Thornton Hall Hotel in Wirral is offering the perfect Mother’s Day experience for just £60pp. As well as a hot stone back massage, 30-minute ESPA radiance taster facial, and luxury hand and arm massage, the package includes full use of the spa facilities and a free goody bag for every mum. Available from Sunday to Thursday, the deal is on for the whole of March, and can be presented as a gift voucher. Alternatively, why not treat your mum to the Great Wirral Afternoon Tea at the hotel’s Lawns restaurant? For more information visit www.thorntonhallhotel.com

Delifonseca Dockside

MARCH 13

SIMPLY THE BEST Call us materialistic, but sometimes there’s nothing better than ripping the wrapping paper off an outlandishly expensive present. If you know a stylish mum that deserves spoiling, here are some glamorous gift ideas...

Toast Antonia Silk Dressing Gown, Terracotta, £225, from John Lewis

Penhaligons Ellenisia EDP, £95, from House of Fraser

Mum bouquet, £50, from www.arenaflowers.com/ bhf-mothers (with 20% of the sale price going to the British Heart Foundation)

Great Starts gift set, £48, from Origins Allon shoes by Faith, £42, from Debenhams

Chocolate hamper containing a selection of chocolate flowers, fresh truffles, rocky road, and a bar of milk or dark chocolate, £15, from The Chocolate Cellar

Tan handbag, from Ted Baker Delonghi blue vintage icona coffee machine, £170, from Debenhams

BUDGET BEAUTY TREATS LIKE most daughters, there’s nothing I love more than treating my mum to a bit of pampering. Unfortunately, my ability to lavish her with expensive prezzies is somewhat dictated by my ever-shrinking bank balance. So, when I heard about an array of bargain beauty treatments at Beauty Bazaar, Harvey Nichols, in the city centre, I couldn’t wait to find out more. A little like a very glam, and very trendy, sweet shop for grown-ups, the Beauty Bazaar is a haven for beauty afficiandos. Inside, the shop boasts two floors of luxury make-up and skincare counters, as well as a hair salon, manicure bar, pedicure stations and Champagne lounge, with a beauty salon to the third floor. On arrival I was keen to find out if the free mini facial I’d heard about was true. Charlie-Ann, manager of the Origins counter, explained that customers can choose to have the 45-minute treatment at the counter for free, or, in one of the in-house salon’s plush spa rooms for £15 (then redeemable against Origins goodies). Preferring a little more privacy, I opted for the £15 version. A week’s notice is normally required to book the mini facial in one of the sumptous treatment rooms, but luckily they happened to have a spare appointment, and within minutes I was cosied up in a fluffy robe and slippers. The treatment itself included a cleanse, gentle scrub, hydrating face mask, cooling mask for puffy eyes and a

SpaforBliss mums at Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa

charcoal-based face mask, as well as a hand massage, mositurising lotion, anti-ageing serum, moisturiser and eye cream. Each product was specially selected for my skin, and by the time Charlie-Ann was finished my skin felt both baby soft and radiant. An absolute steal for £15 and utterly relaxing. In the meantime, BOL’s deputy editor, Katie, had decided to test out Nail Inc’s express manicure. Taking a seat at the nail bar, the manicurist showed her the huge range of colours on offer and talked Katie through the latest trends. Priced from £18, the manicure included a file and polish as well as a complimentary chilled glass of Champagne and Katie couldn’t stop ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ over her flawless nails. Arguably one of the most glamorous destinations in the city centre, Harvey Nic’s Beauty Bazaar is a must for anyone looking for a Champagne-gift on a lemonade budget this Mother’s Day. To book any of the treatments call 0845 606 0342, or email beautybazaar. liverpool@harveynichols.com

Thornton Hall Hotel is offering the perfect Mother’s Day experience, with a package that includes:

THIS SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY TREAT is available from Sunday-Thursday throughout March

• A hot stone back massage • ESPA radiance 30-minute taster facial • Luxury hand and arm massage with full use of the spa facilities and a free goody bag for Mum. Spa Manager Fiona Lewis said: “We look forward to welcoming mums of all ages to relax and be pampered with us this Mother’s Day. Our fantastic package has been designed to give guests a chance to kick back and chill out and have some ‘me-time’.”

£60

PER PERSON

which can also be given as a gift voucher – and also includes a cosy gown and slippers.

Why not treat Mum, to the Great Wirral Afternoon Tea at The Lawns restaurant

For further information or to book please call The Spa on

0151 353 0116 or visit www.thorntonhallhotel.com

Thornton Hall Hotel on 0151 336 3938

BEST OF LIVERPOOL 15

Homegrown talent

Photo: Gavin Trafford

The storyteller Paul Baker chats to acclaimed local writer and musician Lizzie Nunnery about the many different strands of her fascinating career TALENTED people, it seems, often have so much talent on tap that it can’t stay confined to just one little jar. No, you turn it on and sometimes it keeps on coming out to the extent you have to find all manner of different vessels just to hold it in. Now, this isn’t a problem for most of us, but it is a happy issue for Liverpudlian writer Lizzie Nunnery to deal with. The words and stories pour out of her to the extent that she’s not only a successful writer for both theatre and radio, but also an acclaimed songwriter played nationally on both Radio 1 and 2. Oh yes, and she sings too – rather well! She has two albums under her belt and her dulcet tones were described by a writer from The Irish World as: “The most wonderfully enchanting voice that falls somewhere between Kate Bush and [acclaimed Irish folk singer] Dolores Keane.” So she’s not bad at that either, then. Her play Intemperance, produced by Everyman Liverpool, was critically acclaimed, pulling in full marks from The Guardian. Another work, Unprotected, was awarded the Amnesty International Award for Freedom of Expression and her last, The Swallowing Dark, premiered at the newly re-opened Liverpool Playhouse Studio in 2011. Anything else? Well, she does a fair bit of writing for Radio 4 as well... not bad for a Liverpool lass who’s barely out of her 20s. So, with all these different hats Lizzie puts on, which is the easiest for her to wear? “I don’t find any role easier than the other,” explains Lizzie. “I just really feel compelled to do all those things. I just think of myself as a writer really... So quite often I could have an idea which could become a poem or become a song or part of a play, and actually doing the two things can really help. “It can be nice because scriptwriting can be quite a solitary pursuit, it’s actually quite nice to balance that with performing as a songwriter and musician. You get to go out and do something incredibly sociable which requires a whole other side to your personality.” It’s timely that Lizzie mentions the “solitary pursuit” of writing as she puts the finishing touches to a new play, an adaptation of a historical novel, The Solitude of Thomas Cave by Georgina Harding, for the re-opening of the Everyman Theatre. “Well that came about because Gemma Bodinetz at the Phil asked me if I’d like to work on it,” she explains. “I’m married to a Norwegian, and spend a lot of time in Norway, so I’ve got a really strong Scandinavian link and really interested in Scandinavian history, and the book is all set in Svalbard which is an island in the Arctic – the northernmost point of Norway.” The story follows the travails of a sailor in the 1600s who takes a bet that he can survive a winter alone on Svalbard.

Lizzie with Suzanne Bell and other writers of the play Unprotected at the Everyman

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Lizzie and Vidar performing Photo: Jennifer Pelligrini

“It’s a story about the difficulty of human connection and how we all have that experience of solitude and how to bridge the gap,” says Lizzie. “And that’s what theatre is always trying to do – to bridge that gap and find unity between an audience and the story of a play.” Lizzie lives in Toxteth now but she grew up in Maghull. Her big break came when reading English at Oxford University. Having always known she wanted to be a writer, studying great plays set her mind on becoming a playwright. “I wrote my genuine, first ever play while I was a student. It was about students and was set in my uni. “That play was one of the winners of the Oxford Student New Writing competition and the really fortuitous thing was that Suzanne Bell was one of the judges of that and she was literary manager of the [Liverpool] Everyman and Playhouse at the time. “She invited me to join the young writers’ programme that still runs every year. It was through her really, and through her encouragement, that I saw it as a realistic

“On the new album, the songs are looking outward more, rather than in...” thing that I could be a writer.” So that covers one half of Lizzie Nunnery. But what of the other – the performer, the songwriter, the voice? Lizzie reveals that she was told she had a good voice as far back as primary school. As a teenager, her and a group of friends would put on shows during her days at Maricourt High School. Then, from the age of 17, she was going to acoustic nights, writing her own songs and performing them. Even when she was studying towards her degree she was writing and gigging around Oxford. “I’ve always been writing songs,” she says. “I don’t really see it is as work to write songs. You feel like you get to a point where you’ve got a set of songs that might connect with people and just have that desire to get out there and communicate really. It’s always been that simple – I mean it is busy, doing both but I never really felt like I could choose between the two. “I was lucky enough that a label called Fellside, based in Leighton Buzzard, heard some of my demos. So they asked me if I wanted to work with them to release a debut album, Company of Ghosts, which came out in 2010. But it was just a great experience and it meant that I really connected with the folk world.” The folk scene really was like a new world to Lizzie

who had been used to playing in bars and supporting indie bands. Entry to it brought her to an audience who ‘got’ her music straight away. Her second album, Black Hound Howling, followed in the autumn of 2012. It was self released on her label Red Thread, a collaboration with Vidar Nordheim her multiinstrumentalist husband and member of successful local indie band Wave Machines. “On the new album the songs are looking outward more, rather than in,” reckons Lizzie. “There are still some really personal, inward-looking songs there, more contemplative songwriter area, and then songs that are trying to make a political comment… I was nervous of doing it but it’s had really great responses at gigs, and feel justified in doing it now. I think as well, the times we’re living in are getting me more and more angry, so I think there will be more political songs to come.” So what else does the year hold for Lizzie? “I’m working on a radio series for Radio 4, I do really love writing for radio, it fits quite nicely between the music and the theatre. This series is for the Woman’s Hour and it’s based on a true story of a Russian journalist, who was murdered in 2009, Anna Politkovskaya, she was a really amazing woman, she was assassinated and it still hasn’t been adjudged who killed her.” Thankfully it seems that Lizzie’s talents are still in full flow, no matter which hat she happens to be wearing. Keep watching to see where the waters will lead her next. Lizzie, Vidar and band will be performing in the Rodewald Suite at the Philharmonic Hall, May 11.

MARCH 13 Photo: Andy Teebay

Performers at last year’s Threshold Festival

ON THE THRESHOLD ONLY a few sleeps left... Threshold Festival is almost upon us. The multi-arts festival is in its third incarnation and each year gets predictably better and bigger. This year’s winter arts fest runs this Friday to Sunday, March 8 to 10 and will bring the Baltic Triangle to life, rolling into Camp and Furnace, The Picket, Elevator Bar and other venues on the arty edges of the city. Bursting with over 180 performers and artists, this event is so ‘fringe’ that this year it has its own Fringe Festival! Chris Carney is the man behind the festival. Together with his wife, Norwegian singer/songwriter Kaya Herstad, he bolts this celebratory arts fest together and keeps the ship sailing smoothly through the oft uncharted waters of a festival weekend. I caught up with Chris as he was applying the finishing touches to this year’s event.

Paul Baker speaks to local actor turned promoter, Chris Carney, on DJing, Fringe events and organising this month’s Threshold spectacular “Just putting a few final things together for Threshold,” says Chris from his Toxteth home. “There are so many strands to promote: the line-up on Saturday is amazing; our panels are always popular. We have a discussion with four members and the facilitator of [last year’s literally giant] Sea Odyssey event. Also to host an official screening of an Efterklang film is a huge deal to me. “Another thing not to miss on the Saturday is the Mello Mello takeover of The Picket. The idea is for a pop-up bar/restaurant and my idea was to link Mello Mello with Debt Records from Manchester.

ONES TO WATCH LIVERPOOL singer-songwriter James J Turner releases his new single How Could We Be Wrong? on March 25, from the album of the same name. James has certainly paid his musical dues playing guitar and singing at the Cavern from the tender age of nine! After school, James worked on the Liverpool docks but continued to play most evenings and weekends in the city. Joining the New Wave scene and hanging around Eric’s, James fronted The Electric Morning, releasing on indie label Probe Records and getting airplay from John Peel and Andy Kershaw, while touring with American bands such as The Rain Parade and The Long Riders.

James later opened Liverpool Hard City Studios where he recorded his debut solo album, The Believer. His current album, How Could We Be Wrong?, has been described as one of the best folk rock records of the year. Visit www.jjturner.com

“They’ve got this Victorian punk, vintage sound – gypsy punk I suppose. I think it will be a good match up with the Mello crowd. We’ve also got Liverpool artists like the Long Finger Bandits, Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies and improv group Propriety.” Sounds great, but a potential minefield to administrate, how do you keep everyone happy at an event like this? “My wife, Kaya, does the programming – the timing of it, so the bands don’t clash – it’s a huge amount of work. Then I work on the overall, I shape how it all works.” Kirkby-lad Chris explains that the spark of the festival is the array of different panels and discussions that are put on. Along with the always popular talks aimed at music industry insiders, he’s trying to get the general public involved in the discussion. “Yeah we’ve got one called ‘For the love?’. We’ve experienced a lot of philanthropy going on in the music industry. Why do we do this? Anthony Pickford of the Biennial, record label Baltic Sub and Michael Berris of Milk Records will discuss,” says Chris. “The concept works but while the industry panels appeal to a certain group of people we wanted to make them more accessible to the everyday punter.” Chris’s journey to becoming an arts promoter was a meandering one. Starting out as an actor, he found he was often frustrated by how shows he was in were being organised. “I felt like I was doing my job, but perhaps that others weren’t. I was motivated to find out how the job of promotion and putting on a show really works.” His start in the industry came through clubbing and warehouse parties about

six years ago. Then he helped Kaya make a success of popular music showcase Under The Influence at Studio 2 on Parr Street. In 2011 he was approached by Nice Festival who asked him if he could make a large arts festival happen in Liverpool. With his and Kaya’s combined background and contacts the arts festival was soon ready to go – Threshold Festival was born. “For this year’s Threshold we’ve joined forces with The Albert Dock to offer a free aspect to the festival,” says Chris. “There will be two days of free Fringe events for the public to enjoy. We hope it will showcase the main festival and its artists. I think we’re the only festival to do our own Fringe!” Chris hints at more exciting arts events to come from him this year, including the Liverpool Fringe Festival in August and a special Norwegian National Day as part of Light Night in the spring. In the meantime, put your coat on, get on over to Threshold Festival this weekend, and support your local winter arts festival. You’ll be all teary-eyed if you miss it! Chris will be performing on Saturday night of Threshold as part of DJ collective CantMixWontMixShdntMixDontMix. Visit www.thresholdfestival.com for the latest information on who’s playing, when and where.

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Books

The latest saga Michelle Rushton catches up with Liverpool-born novelist, Lyn Andrews

“It is hard work,” admits Lyn. “I usually produce a hardback once a year in time for Mother’s Day followed by a paperback version in August and then I have a hectic schedule with lots of book signings.” And she reveals that she has to be very strict and disciplined when it comes to writing. “I start in the October and aim to get it finished in the May. I write six days a week from 10.30am to 4.30pm. I can’t write in the evenings as I would have trouble sleeping!”

ONES TO WATCH SODAJERKER ON SONGWRITING

of Sodajerker on Songwriting. Obviously it’s a subject we’re passionate about, but getting to talk in detail with the talents behind some of the biggest hits ever written is fantastic. We still have a list of people we’d love to talk to, so hopefully there’ll be plenty more to come.” Sodajerker also have a catalogue of their own material which has been featured in a number of feature films and on TV and radio. The pair has worked together for more than 15 years since meeting as teenagers and touring the country with their band Santa Carla. To find out more about Sodajerker, or to download their podcasts, visit sodajerker.com. You can also connect with them on Facebook at facebook.com/ sodajerker or via Twitter at twitter.com/sodajerker

TONY TEARDROP ARRIVES

WITH over 30 episodes already under their belt and more than 80,000 downloads to date, internationally renowned songwriters are queuing up to be interviewed by Liverpool-based duo Sodajerker. Founded last year by songwriters, Simon Barber and Brian O’Connor, the ‘Sodajerker on Songwriting’ podcast has welcomed guests including Ben Folds Five, Neil Sedaka, Weird Al Yankovic, Valerie Simpson and Harry Shearer among many others and has received positive reviews including celebrity endorsements from artists like Jamie Cullum. Available to download for free on iTunes, each episode is about an hour long and features Sodajerker interviewing a world-class songwriter about their craft. Unlike many interviews with musicians, songwriting rather than fame is the focus. Sodajerker on Songwriting’s success follows other podcasts recorded in Liverpool such as the hugely popular Anfield Wrap. Simon Barber says: “We’re delighted with the success

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

WE are looking forward to watching up and coming star of stage and screen Robert Schofield who will be performing in the stage premiere of ‘Tony Teardrop’ this month. Robert is the son of veteran British actor, Drew Schofield, so we are expecting big things of the young actor who studied performing arts at Liverpool Community College. Robert was also a member of the Young Everyman Playhouse and performed in 12, in a successful run at the Lantern Theatre, as well as appearing in TV’s Grange Hill and films including Reds and Blues, The Last Ferry, Milner, Help, Lipstick and Ambition. The gritty and thought provoking play written by Esther Wilson makes its ‘site specific’ stage premiere at Liverpool’s St Luke’s ‘Bombed Out’ Church this March, the first time the site has ever been used for a production of this scale. It is produced by Cut to the Chase productions and runs from March 21 to April 6. For tickets, call 0151 709 4776 or visit www.everymanplayhouse.com

Photo: Michael Trevillion

LIVERPOOL bestseller author Lyn Andrews will be unveiling her new books in the city tomorrow night. One of the UK’s most popular writers, whose works regularly appear on the Sunday Times bestseller lists and whose lifetime sales are now over 2 million books, Lyn will attend a special event hosted by The House Beauty Spa Book Club at the Hope Street Hotel. She will be personally signing copies of her new books for guests during the evening and will be reading from her debut historical novel, The Queen’s Promise and her brand new heartwarming Liverpool saga, Sunlight on the Mersey as well as taking part in a Q&A session. Margaret Harry, owner of the House Beauty Spa says: “We are very proud to be hosting this wonderful event with Lyn Andrews, who is known as the Catherine Cookson of Liverpool, and is an outstanding story teller.” Lyn was born and raised in Liverpool, which serves as the inspiration for her novels, but now lives on the Isle of Man. We managed to catch up with the busy author who is travelling the length and breadth of the UK promoting her latest works.

Lyn doesn’t hail from a literary background. Born in Fazakerley, she is the daughter of a hairdresser and a police officer. She was educated at the Convent of Notre Dame where she developed a passion for history and literature. After graduating, she became a secretary, married a policeman and became a mother of triplets. It was when her children started school that her writing really took off. Lyn says: “I suddenly had more time on my hands and started reading a lot and thought ‘I can do better than that.’ I had a go and was very fortunate to have my work accepted by an agent.” Shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Award, Lyn has written an impressive 33 books to date. So what inspires her? “I get my ideas from song titles, a line of a poem or a half heard conversation and think ‘what if?’ I do a bit of research and add meat on the bones of the character and it just takes off.” Sunlight On The Mersey is set after the Great War and tells the story of sisters Iris and Rose who are adjusting to life in their modest Liverpool home after their brother Charlie has returned from the front. Life takes the siblings in different directions with Rose being sent to the beautiful Welsh village of Tregarron but when tragedy strikes, the whole family must pull together if they are to survive the turmoil ahead. Meanwhile, The Queen’s Promise is an historical epic set at the endlessly fascinating Tudor court about the most infamous woman of the age – Anne Boleyn – and the man who loved her before she became queen. “It’s my first historical novel,” confides Lyn. “It was a different style of writing and took two and a half years of historical research, involving writing to the Earl of Northumberland, so was much harder work but I am really proud of it.” Indeed, both Lyn’s new books are a compelling read and make ideal Mother’s Day gifts. Sunlight on the Mersey is in hardback, priced £14.99, and The Queen’s Promise is in paperback, priced £6.99. Catch Lyn at The House Beauty Spa Book Club on March 8 at Hope Street Hotel. The Book Club’s next event, on March 12, will feature Eloise by Judy Finnigan at Gusto, Albert Dock, with a very special guest interviewer – Richard Madeley! To book tickets for Lyn Andrews or Judy Finnigan, contact The House Beauty Spa on 0151 724 4999 or email info@thehousebeautyspa.co.uk. Proceeds from the event are kindly being donated to Variety – the children’s charity (Charity reg: 209259).

What’s on

MARCH 13

Emma Thompson checks her diary to find out what’s happening in March...

BY NIGHT

BY DAY THE Open Eye Gallery on the Albert Dock has announced two major new exhibitions by photographer provocateurs Mishka Henner and Edith Tudor-Hart. Until May 5, the Mishka Henner: Precious Commodities Archive Exhibition shows images derived from a multitude of sources – the internet, satellite imagery, Google Earth and television. The Edith Tudor-Hart (1908 – 1973) exhibition documents the political upheaval in Vienna; the industrial landscapes of Rhondda Valley’s coal mining in South Wales; and the care and education of disabled children at the previous Fountain Hospital in London. The gallery opens 10.30am to 5.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Visit www.openeye.org.uk

LINE DANCING DAY EVER fancied strutting your stuff in the magnificent St George’s Hall? On March 24, The Allied Dancing Association Ltd presents ‘Tiara and Black Tie’ Grand Line Dancing Day in the great hall in aid of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.Tickets cost £7 (pay on the door only) and doors open at 1pm, with dancing from 1.30pm to 6pm. Visit www.stgeorgesliverpool.co.uk

Mishka Henner at the Open Eye Gallery

HALF MARATHON

MARCH 17 will see the return of the Liverpool Half Marathon with an expected 8,000 people hitting the streets to run the course. This year it starts and finishes in front of the iconic Three Graces at the Pier Head with a starting time of 9am. The course is mainly flat and heads towards Upper Parliament Street, Princes Road, Sefton Park then on to Otterspool Promenade and all the way down towards the Albert Dock. Check out www.btrliverpool.com for details and information on other races.

AGATHA Christie’s legendary thriller, The Mousetrap, is going on tour for the first time to celebrate 60 incredible years on stage. From April 2 to 6 the Liverpool Empire Theatre will be host to one of the longest running shows in British theatre. The scene is set when a group of people gathered in a country house cut off by the snow discover, to their horror, that there is a murderer in their midst. Who can it be? For tickets, priced £12 to £32.50, log on to www.atgtickets.com or visit the box office.

RADSTOCK FESTIVAL

GET ready for 10 hours of live music (1pm to 11pm) on March 30 at Radstock Festival in the O2 Academy, Liverpool. Headlining is Welsh alternative rock band The Blackout, along with We Are The Ocean, Don Broco, Yashin, Bury Tomorrow, Bleed from Within, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Sonic Boom Six, Natives, and more. Log on to www.o2academyliverpool.co.uk for the full line-up and tickets (priced £25).

CITY THAT ROCKED

Enjoy the Liverpool Half Marathon

MUST DO MUST DO...

MUST SEE...

YOUR bit to support the NSPCC on St Patrick’s Day, March 17, at the Albert Dock. Venues including What’s Cooking? PanAm, Blue and Nauticalia will all be Going NSPCC Green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day while raising money for the NSPCC’s services in Merseyside. There’ll be green themed menus, cake sales, raffles, fancy dress, bucket collections and more. Plus What’s Cooking? will donate £1 for every food table they serve and Nauticalia will have 10% off their ‘green’ solar range.

LIVERPOOL’S dance sensations MD Productions in Crazy Right Now! at the Epstein Theatre on March 24. The Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists present a fabulous two-hour show featuring hits from the queen of pop, Beyonce. Crazy Right Now! will have sensational lighting design, special effects, creative costumes and energetic dance performances. For tickets, priced £15/£12.50, visit the Epstein Theatre Box Office on Hanover St, call 0844 888 4411 or log on to www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk

MUST TRY...

MUST REMEMBER...

OVER 100 different varieties of wine at Sefton Park Palm House’s Spring Wine Evening on March 20. Whether you’re a casual wine drinker or a connoisseur, it’s a perfect opportunity to learn about different types of wines and grapes in a fun and relaxed setting. Experts will be on hand to offer tips and advice plus there will also be two masterclass tasting sessions running. Entry costs £15. For tickets, visit www.liverpoolfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk

TO view the work of the great romantic artist Turner which is on display in Huyton Gallery until June 1. ‘Travels with Turner’ is an exhibition of rarely seen prints providing a fascinating insight into the imagery and travels of this much loved English artist. There will also be a range of fun, hands-on activities for schools and families to try out. The exhibition is at Huyton Gallery, Civic Way, Huyton until June 1 and then repeated at Kirkby Gallery from Monday, July 29 to Saturday, November 16, 2013.

ON April 3 the Philharmonic Hall is hosting a VIP event – the premier of a new documentary that celebrates 60 years of Liverpool’s music heritage. The City That Rocked The World is packed with rare archive photos and exclusive interviews, ranging from skiffle to Merseybeat, the Casbah, the Cavern, the Beatles, to Eric’s, Cream, Echo & The Bunnymen, OMD and much more. A concert party will follow at Camp & Furnace. Tickets cost £12 for the premier screening and £20 for premier screening and concert, visit www.liverpoolphil.com for bookings.

WIN

Photo: Valeria Cherchi

THE MOUSETRAP

OPEN EYE GALLERY

Bicep

CIRCUS

CITY club night, Circus has a night of monumental proportions planned for March 31 with a cracking line-up in store for its Easter shindig. Taking place in Camp & Furnace from 8pm to 4am, Circus’ Easter Sunday Party will see Maceo Plex, Maya Jane Coles, Steve Lawler, The Martinez Brothers, Bicep and Ki Creighton all play the Greenland Street venue. Also on the bill are Circus founder Yousef, residents Lewis Boardman and Scott Lewis, plus Makes No Sense, Acid Mondays and David Glass. Tickets cost £20 advance, available from www.circusclub.co.uk or call 0151 706 8045.

TONY TEARDROP

FROM March 21 to April 6, Liverpool’s iconic St Luke’s ‘bombed out’ Church will be the venue showcasing Tony Teardrop, by Liverpool playwright Esther Wilson. This biting, humorous stage premiere version is set in and around a ‘wet house’ for homeless alcoholics and follows Tony on a journey through his interior landscape looking for the true meaning of ‘home.’ The project also includes a photography exhibition, writing masterclasses and an extensive outreach programme. Tickets cost £10 for preview performances (21-25 March), thereafter £16. Visit www.everymanplayhouse.com or call 0151 709 4776.

TICKETS FOR ‘HOPE’

THE Royal Court Theatre is host to a brand new and rather mysterious stage play ‘Hope’ starring some of the city’s finest TV and film acting talent. Husband and wife Mark Womack (Good Cop, Route Irish, Murphy’s Law) and Samantha Womack (EastEnders, Game On, South Pacific UK tour) star in this darkly comic psychological thriller in their first stage job together since meeting on the set of Liverpool 1 in the 1990s. The all-star cast also features TV and film actor René Zagger (The Bill, Grange Hill, The Take) and the play’s writer and director, Scot Williams (Backbeat, Nice Guy Eddie, Lillies, The Crew). ‘Hope’ is a darkly comical love story wrapped within an intriguing psychological thriller, with Samantha Womack’s mysterious title character, Hope, being the keeper of a secret at the heart of the story. Samantha Womack says: “Hope is a

beautifully written play with four powerful characters that are as funny as they are disturbing, who come together in a story that will grip the audience from start to finish.” The show runs until March 30. To book tickets, visit the Royal Court Box Office, telephone 0870 787 1866 or visit www.royalcourtliverpool.co.uk for details. Best of Liverpool has two pairs of tickets for Hope on March 16 to give away, for your chance to win simply answer the following question: What’s Samantha Womack’s character name in the show? Send your answers on a postcard to: Hope Competition, Best of Liverpool, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB. One entry per person. Closing date March 11.

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St Patrick’s Day

GETTING JIGGY WITH IT ST PATRICK’S Day is always a fun affair in Liverpool with all the Irish bars pulling out all the stops to celebrate with plenty of live Irish music, dancing and drinking Guinness, as well as sporting giant green hats! O’Neill’s pub and grill on Wood Street is one of our favourite Irish bars and is always a great place for the craic on St Patrick’s Day. In fact, O’Neill’s will be partying all week to celebrate starting on Thursday, March 14 with Join the Jig at 7pm when it will join other O’Neill’s pubs around the UK and attempt to smash the Guinness World Record for the most people Irish dancing at the same time! The record attempt starts at 8pm sharp and will last for five minutes. In preparation, perfect your Irish jig by watching its YouTube tutorial, then upload a video of you and your mates Irish jigging. The best 12 will win a bottle of Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey! For more details visit the website www.oneills.co.uk/liverpool/

Photo: Andrew Teebay

Michelle Rushton finds out, ‘What’s the craic?’ for a St Patrick’s Day festive feast

Get in the spirit for St Patrick’s Day

Eamonn Lavin shares his recipe

St Patrick’s Day takes place on Sunday, March 17, but in the meantime, you can get into the spirit of the occasion with these Emerald Isle inspired recipes to try at home. The national dish of Ireland, Irish Stew is traditionally eaten on St Patrick’s day. In days of old, Irish stew was always made with mutton, but is more often made with lamb nowadays. Eamonn Lavin, manager at O’Neill’s Liverpool has kindly agreed to share his recipe with Best of Liverpool readers.

He says: “Our Irish stew is a fantastic dish and one that the customers at O’Neill’s really enjoy. There is something about a home cooked stew that cannot be beaten and brings a real taste of Ireland. “Our stew is traditional by all means, slowly cooked so that the real flavours of the lamb come through and is served with chunks of Irish soda bread and butter. One thing that sets our stew apart from others is that it comes topped with thyme cobblers, which are savoury scones for those that don’t know!

“The cobblers steam cook in the heat of the stew and take on the wonderful taste of the meat. They are a perfect addition to the dish and give a bit of a twist to an otherwise classic dish.” Those culinary geniuses at Blue Bar & Grill at the Albert Dock have also given us their recipe for the most fabulous Irish-themed dessert for your St Patrick’s Day feast. Have a go at making this moreish pud courtesy of chef Lisa Healy – you’ll be hooked – there’s no stout about it!

IRISH STEW WITH THYME COBBLERS

STICKY GUINNESS CAKE & BAILEYS ICE CREAM

Ingredients: For the stew l 500g shoulder of lamb, cut into 6-7cm pieces l Seasoned flour, for dusting l 2 medium onions, sliced l 3 medium carrots, cut into 2cm chunks l 4 medium King Edward potatoes, peeled and cut into 3-4cm chunks l 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped l Rapeseed oil for frying For the stock l 500g Lamb bones l 1 onion (quartered) l 1 carrot l 1 celery stick l 1 bay leaf For the thyme cobblers l 350g self raising flour l 200g chilled butter, cubed l 4 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves l Juice of 1 lemon l Salt and pepper l Beaten egg for glazing

Ingredients: For the cake l 175g dates l 100ml water l 100ml Guinness l 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda l 50g butter (extra for greasing) l 175g caster sugar l 2 medium eggs l 175g self-raising flour For the ice cream l 125g caster sugar l 50ml milk l 300ml double cream l 1 egg l 75ml Baileys

Method: l To make the stock, place the bones and vegetables into a pan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. l Remove any scum and simmer for one hour. l Strain stock into a clean pan and reduce by half by boiling vigorously. l To make the stew, put the oven onto 160 degrees celsius. l Place the lamb and flour in a plastic bag and shake to coat. l Heat the frying pan until hot, add a little oil and brown the meat in batches. Remove to a casserole dish.

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Fry the onion and carrot in a little more oil for three to four minutes, then deglaze the pan with a ladle of stock. Place everything into the casserole dish. l Add the potatoes and thyme to the casserole, season with salt and pepper and add the stock to just under the ingredients level. l Bring to the boil on the hob. Cover and place in the oven and cook for one hour. l For the thyme cobblers, whizz the flour and thyme together in a food processor for a couple of seconds to combine. l Season with salt and pepper. l Add the butter and pulse until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. l Add the lemon juice and a little cold water to produce a firm dough. l Roll the dough out to 1cm thick and cut out shapes using biscuit cutters. l After one hour’s cooking, remove the stew from the oven and add the cobbler shapes to the top of the stew. l Brush the cobbler with the beaten egg. l Replace the stew uncovered into the oven for 30-40 minutes until the cobbler is golden and the stew is bubbling. l Serve sprinkled with fresh thyme leaves. l

Method: l Make the ice cream in advance. Using a hand blender or whisk, mix egg and sugar until pale and white. Add milk, cream and Baileys until well combined. l Using an ice cream machine churn for 30 minutes then pour into a lined container until 1.5 cm, cover with cling film or lid and place in freezer. l Alternatively pour mix into a container and cover with cling film or lid and stir every 30 minutes until the ice cream turns into a thick creamy consistency, smooth the top and ensure the depth is no more than 1.5cm and keep covered until use. l For the cake, preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. l Place the dates into a pan with the water, Guinness and bicarbonate of soda. l Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the dates have softened. Set aside. l Grease a 28cm x 18cm/11in x 7in baking tin.

Place the butter and sugar into a bowl and beat together until combined. l Add the eggs and beat into the butter and sugar. Add the flour and mix well. l Carefully fold the Guinness and date mixture into the egg and flour mixture until well combined. Transfer the pudding mixture into the greased tin and place into the oven to cook for 40 minutes, or until risen and cooked through. l Remove cake and place on a wire cooling rack. l To serve, using a circle shaped cutter, remove the required amount of circles and place on serving plate. l Clean the cutter from any excess cake and press into the ice cream mixture, using a palette knife or fish slice lift the circle shaped ice cream onto the top of the cake to make the Guinness effect, dust with icing sugar and serve. l

MARCH 13

A Grand day out With the Grand National just weeks away, Paul Baker seeks out tasty Champagne breakfasts and top race day packages HORSES have had a bad press recently, but at Aintree you can rest assured you’re getting the real thing. If you haven’t bought your Tattersalls tickets yet, best get yourself into gear as the action gets underway at this year’s

Aintree Grand National meeting very soon. The runners and riders will be taking to the fabled course from April 4-6, taking in Grand Opening Day, Ladies’ Day and climaxing with the Grand National itself. But whether or not you are

lucky enough to get a ticket for any day of the Aintree meeting, you can still enjoy the hospitality of Merseyside’s many bars and restaurants who put on a host of special deals and menus to cater for the Grand National fever which grips the region each spring.

Newz Bar

THE Water Street bar is offering a superb race-goers’ package available Friday and Saturday, April 5-6, for Ladies’ Day and Grand National Day. For £24.95 per person, punters can enjoy a great start to their day with a glass of bubbly on arrival in the morning; choice of breakfasts; orange juice, tea or coffee; transport to and from the racecourse; and then free entry and canapés on arrival back at Newz after the racing to party the night away with top DJs and a VIP crowd. All this costs just £24.95 per person. However, tickets to get into the Aintree racecourse itself are not included in the price. If you don’t get a ticket for Saturday’s Grand National action, you can still get dressed up, go out and enjoy the spectacle at Newz Bar. Newz offers a race day experience with a front row seat to watch the live action unfold on the large screen TV. You’ll get a main meal with a glass of wine or beer before the big race, late afternoon tea and live entertainment throughout the day. Tickets are £20 per person. Call 0151 236 2025 for tickets. www.thenewzbar.com

Blue Bar and PanAm

GET the Grand National party started in style at the Albert Dock where both Blue Bar and PanAm have superb Grand National VIP packages. This year’s package includes a Champagne breakfast, two way transport to and from Aintree, a set three course evening meal and live after-dinner entertainment. The offer costs £40 per person on Thursday, April 4, and £55 per person on the Friday and Saturday. A race ticket is not included in the price. Blue Bar: 0151 702 5831. www.bluebarliverpool.co.uk PanAm: 0151 702 5831. www.panambarliverpool.co.uk

Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill

The Sir Thomas Hotel

FOR Ladies’ Day and Grand National Day, The Sir Thomas Hotel is offering a great package with a pre-races Champagne breakfast, a post-races luxury three course dinner with live entertainment, plus transport to and from Aintree Racecourse all for just £54.95 per person. Of course, race tickets are not included. If you’d prefer, you can leave out the evening meal and just opt for the Champagne breakfast and return travel for £29.95 per person. And, if you’re not planning on going to Aintree itself, you can enjoy a unique race day experience at the hotel with a front row seat to watch all the races live in stylish surroundings. You can enjoy a pre-races Champagne luncheon, with all races live on the big screen and a late afternoon tea to look forward to. There will even be live entertainment throughout the day and all this for just £35 per person! And after the racing action you could party on at one of the VIP tables in the hotel’s sumptuous lounge, complete with entertainment and DJs. Reservations: 0151 236 1366. www.sirthomashotel.co.uk

YOU might well think, why start my race day anywhere other than Aintree itself? In which case you might like to reserve a place at one of the fantastic on-course restaurants to make the most of fine dining with a spectacular view of the racing. The package differs depending on which restaurant you opt for but typically you’ll get an admission badge, an exclusive table for your use, three-course à la carte lunch, access to a cash bar with waitress service, Grandstand badge of your choice, racecard, one car parking space per couple, TV viewing and betting facilities. Places sell fast, so hurry and book. Hospitality: 0151 522 2911. www.aintree.co.uk

Photos: PA

MARCO Pierre White’s bistro at Hotel Indigo on Chapel Street is offering punters a hearty Grand National Champagne Breakfast from 10am-1pm throughout the Grand National meeting. The price is £20 for a full breakfast buffet and a glass of Champagne. Groups or small tables can be accommodated and complimentary copies of The Racing Post are included. What’s more, it’s really handy for the train! Reservations: 0151 559 0555. www.hotelindigoliverpool.com

On-course hospitality

TICKETS PLEASE... IF you are attending any Grand National events you can pick up racecourse tickets from the Albert Dock Visitor Information Centre (Anchor Courtyard). Tickets for all days to get into Tattersalls, Earl of Derby Stand or Lord Sefton Stand will be available for purchase until tickets are sold out. Customers can also purchase tickets over the counter at any Liverpool Tourist Information Centres, in advance from Aintree Racecourse itself, online from the Grand National website or by telephone: 0844 579 3001.

What’s Cooking?

ALBERT Dock favourite, What’s Cooking? can offer customers a Champagne breakfast, a complimentary Racing Post, coach transport to and from the races, plus a three-course evening meal at What’s Cooking? – all for £49.95 per person. Race tickets not included. Reservations: 0151 707 2023. www.whats-cooking.co.uk

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Food & drink

Falling for spring lamb MINTY LAMB KOFTAS

YOU know spring has sprung when delicious spring lamb starts to appear at the meat counter. But don’t just stick to lamb chops – why not try cooking something a bit different that the whole family can enjoy? Sue Kelbrick checks out a selection of mouth-watering spring lamb recipes

FROM Top 100 Finger Foods by Annabel Karmel. Ingredients: l 1 small red onion, finely chopped l 1 tbsp olive oil l 1 garlic clove, crushed l Half tsp ground cumin l 225g minced lamb l 20g fresh breadcrumbs, from 1 of slice bread, crusts removed l 2 tsp chopped fresh mint leaves l 1 tsp clear honey l 1 egg yolk l Salt and pepper, to season l 8 wooden skewers, soaked in warm water for 30 minutes Method: l Sauté the onion in the oil for 5-6 minutes, until soft. l Add the garlic and cumin, and cook for an extra minute, then transfer to a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, season to taste with salt and pepper, and mix thoroughly. For a finer texture pulse everything in a food processor. l Divide the mixture into eight and form into balls. Thread a skewer through each ball and use your hand firmly to form each ball into a sausage shape on the skewer. l If possible chill the koftas for 1-2 hours. l Pre-heat the grill to high. Grill the koftas for 8-10 minutes, turning halfway, until cooked through. l Cool slightly before serving and remove the skewers for smaller children.

Serve with a minty yoghurt dressing Ingredients: l 6 tsp Greek yoghurt l 1 tsp (10-12 leaves) chopped fresh mint l 1 tsp fresh lemon juice l A pinch of salt

Method: l Mix together the yoghurt, mint and lemon juice with a pinch of salt (dip can be stored, covered, in the fridge for two days).

WELSH LAMB & PUMPKIN PIE Ingredients: l 2 tbsp 450g cubed Welsh lamb shoulder l 1 onion, roughly chopped l 1 tsp ground cumin l Half a small pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 450g prepared weight) l 300ml lamb stock l 25g sultanas l 25g pine nuts l Seasoning l 2 sprigs fresh rosemary l 500g premade all butter puff pastry l 1 egg and splash of milk mixed together for glazing

WELSH LAMB MINCE & APPLE STRUDEL Ingredients: l 225g lean Welsh lamb mince l Half a lemon, rind removed l 1 small sprig fresh rosemary leaves, chopped l 1 eating apple, cored and chopped l 25g breadcrumbs l 25g sultanas l 25g melted butter l 6 sheets filo pastry Method: l Preheat oven to Gas 5, 190ºC, 375ºF. l Place lamb mince in a cold pan, turn heat on and ‘dry fry’ in its own juices until browned. l Place cooked mince in a sieve and allow to drain. Place mince

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in a large bowl and add to it the lemon rind, rosemary, apple, breadcrumbs and sultanas. Mix well together. l Place 3 sheets of filo pastry onto a board, brush the edges of the pastry with melted butter. l Place half of the mixture onto the pastry and spread out evenly – leaving about 1-2 cm clear of the edge. l ‘Roll up’ from the longest edge in a Swiss roll fashion and place on a lined baking sheet, brush all over with melted butter and repeat the process with the remaining ingredients. l Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until crisp and golden. l Serve in thick slices hot or cold.

Method: l Heat oil in a large pan, add onion and brown slightly. Add the cubed lamb and brown. Add the cumin and stir well. Then add the pumpkin or squash, stock, sultanas, pine nuts and season well. Add one sprig of rosemary, put lid on pan and allow to gently simmer for about 30 minutes. l Remove from heat and ladle into a ‘family’ sized pie dish or four individual pie dishes. Reserve a little juice if quite a lot and save this for additional gravy. l Remove the packaging from the pastry and press into it (with your clean fingers!) small pieces from a sprig of rosemary. l Take a rolling pin and roll out the pastry to fit the pie dish (pressing in the rosemary if it falls out). l Place pastry into dish, brush with egg and milk glaze, and place in preheated oven at Gas 6, 200ºC, 400ºF oven for about 25 minutes until the pastry is risen and golden brown. l Serve with a heap of seasonal green vegetables.

MARCH 13 EASTER CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES IF you want a delicious Easter treat, these cute cupcakes will leave you wanting more than one! (Recipe courtesy of Stork). Servings: 18 – 20 Calories per cake: 204 Preparation time: 25 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients: For the cakes l 115g (4 oz) Stork tub l 115g (4 oz) caster sugar l 2 eggs, large l 115g (4 oz) self-raising flour, sieved together with 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, and half teaspoon baking powder For the chocolate icing l 85g (3 oz) Stork tub l 1-2 tablespoons milk l 1 heaped tablespoon cocoa powder l 225g (8 oz) icing sugar (less 1 tablespoon), sieved To decorate l Mini chocolate Easter eggs

Method: l To make cakes, place all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl and beat together with a wooden spoon until well mixed for two to three minutes. l Place teaspoons of the mixture in 18-20 paper cases. l Bake on the second shelf from top of a preheated oven 190°C, 170°C fan, Gas 5 for 15 - 20 minutes. l Cool on a wire tray. l To make the chocolate icing, place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth. l Either spread or pipe over the cakes in a nest effect and decorate with Easter eggs.

WELSH LAMB MEATBALLS SERVED in a tomato and leek sauce, with a cheesy crumb topping. Ingredients: l 450g lean minced Welsh lamb l 2 tbsp tomato purée l 1 tbsp fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped l 1 tbsp olive oil l 2 leeks, washed and finely sliced l 1 clove garlic, crushed l 400g can chopped tomatoes l 2 tbsp tomato ketchup l 1 tbsp fresh flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped, for garnish l 15ml (1tbsp) fresh basil, roughly chopped l Black pepper l Pinch of sugar l 100g breadcrumbs l 50g Cheddar cheese, grated l 2 tbsp fresh chives, snipped

Method: l For the meatballs, mix the Welsh lamb and tomato purée together and shape into 12-15 meatballs. l In a large non-stick saucepan heat the oil and fry the leeks and garlic for about 4 minutes. Add the parsley, chopped tomatoes, ketchup, basil, salt and pepper. Place the meatballs in the sauce, bring to the boil, transfer to a shallow ovenproof dish. l Mix together breadcrumbs, cheese and chives. l Top with breadcrumb mixture and bake at Gas 6, 200 degrees celsius, for about 25 minutes until topping is golden and meatballs cooked through. l Serve with spaghetti and a side salad.

TAKE THAT are currently THE most popular band in the UK. It is with price that we say THE TAKE THAT EXPERIENCE are the UK’s premier Tribute to Take That. The Take That experience recreate the true experience of Take That with replica costumes, extremely energetic choreography and of course the music that everybody loves. This superb show is packed full of hits including Back for Good, Relight my Fire, Could it be Magic, Patience, Shine, Rule the World, Up All Night, Greatest Day, The Flood and many more. Package Includes: Three Course Dinner, Live Cabaret Entertainment and Disco to ﬁnish the evening off. Dinner is served at 7.30pm Entertainment and Disco until 1.30am For more information and availability contact Marilyn Vaughan on:

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Easter events

Cracking Easter fun Emma Thompson hunts out some egg-cellent Easter activities...

Martin Mere Wetland Centre

There are plenty of Easter activities for youngsters to join in with this holiday

Martin Mere

THIS wetland centre which is home to hundreds of birds and wildlife is all set to entertain the little ones this Easter. From March 23 to April 14, kids can take part in the free telescope treasure trail to see if they can find Martin the Duck to be in with an chance to enter a draw for some fantastic prizes. For £2 children can also make a treasure chest raft to escape from Treasure Island between 1pm and 4pm in the Dome. On Easter Sunday, from noon to 2pm, you can take part in egg rolling at the Harrier Hide. There is also a Giant Plastic Duck Hunt which starts at 10am, when 120 plastic ducks will be hidden around Martin Mere. There is a prize for each duck you bring back to the information desk (only one duck per child at a time) – so get here early to win the best prizes and find the best ducks. Additionally, for £2 each, there are guided boat tours of the wetlands and for £5 per canoe you can enjoy the self-guided Canoe Safari. Plus little kids can enjoy The Rushes play area, which has toddler area, water play, nets and ropes for climbing, jumping and sliding plus a sand play area. Visit www.wwt.org.uk/visit/martin-mere or call 01704 895181.

Port Sunlight

KEEP the children entertained with a day out to Port Sunlight Museum and Garden Village this Easter. From March 26 to 28 there will be a range of Easter family craft activity sessions for afternoons of fun, from 1pm to 3.30pm, £1.50 per child. Then on March 29 to April 1 there will be an egg-cellent Easter Trail at Port Sunlight Museum, from 11am to 4pm. Once you’ve got your trail you can go off in search of the hidden treasures dotted around the village (with your guardians). Hand in your completed form with your contact details (in case you win!) then go into the museum and enjoy the many family friendly activities happening in there. Log on to www.portsunlightvillage.com for information.

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Speke Hall

IT’S time to have some eggstra-special Easter holiday fun with Speke Hall’s Cadbury’s Easter Egg Trail, from noon to 4.30pm, on March 31 and April 1. You can enjoy free fun and games on the Orchard with the Cadbury’s team and have a go at the Cadbury’s Easter Egg Trail! Follow the clues and solve the puzzles to win your Easter egg reward! The trail is £1.50 per child. There is also Easter bonnet making from April 3 to 5, so kids can get creative with the events team in the Education room and then join the Easter Bonnet Parade in the Dairy Courtyard at 4pm. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/speke-hall or call 0151 427 7231 for details.

Keep the children entertained at Port Sunlight

Church Farm

THE Easter bunny is looking forward to meeting you at Church Farm, Thurstaston, from March 29 to April 1. This is not your average Easter Egg Hunt, you can ride on the tractor up to the Church Farm forest and adults and children will love working together to complete the games of skill and solve the Easter puzzle. There will be hook-a-duck, basketball dunk, see-saw, ring toss, target practice, i-spy and lots more. You can then meet the cuddly Easter bunny, who’ll reward children with a chocolate gift. Rides run throughout the day every 20 minutes from 10am to 3pm, and the egg hunt takes about 45 minutes. Tickets online cost £7.75 per person and on the day £9 per person. Log on to www.churchfarm.org.uk or telephone 0151 648 7838 for more information.

Animal action at Croxteth Hall

Croxteth Hall GOOD Friday, March 29 will see Croxteth Hall fully open for the season including the hall, home farm – enjoying the arrival of 26 piglets – and walled garden. To help celebrate the Easter period there will be an Easter Egg Hunt inside the hall from 10.30am to 5pm (last admission 4.30pm) were younger children and parents can discover all the hidden Easter egg pictures on your visit around the hall rooms. Mums and dads can help you unscramble

all the letters to find the seasonal answer and all correct answers will be entered into a prize draw. From March 29 to April 14 there will also be an Easter Bunny Joke Trail (down on the farm) from 11am to 5pm (last admission 4.30pm) to ensure all children have a very ‘hoppy Easter’. Donkey rides will also be available (subject to weather), from noon until 4pm near the children’s play area, which are great fun for young children. Log on to www.croxteth.co.uk or call 0151 233 6930 for details.

MARCH 13 CHOCOLATE HEAVEN – THAT’S NO YOLK

Join the Easter egg hunt at Active Adventures

WE all love a little bit of chocolate at Easter so we’ve found some tasty treats to please the kids – and adults – this Easter! Hollow milk chocolate bunny, £1, from Sainsbury’s

Rocky Road to Caramel extra thick Easter egg, £27, from Hotel Chocolat

Chokablok American Dreamcake Easter egg, £5, from Tesco

Active Adventures

WHY not pay a visit to Active Adventures at Otterspool this Easter? An event for the whole family to enjoy, the fabulous Easter Egg Hunt involves tracking down the chocolate eggs which have been hidden all over the maze by one tricky bunny. Active Adventures, which overlooks the Mersey at Otterspool Promenade, is celebrating its first birthday with an a-mazeing Easter Bunny Maze Chocolate Hunt for children on Easter weekend March 29 to April 1. And in the following week, the Active Adventures team are putting on a Falcon Maze, teaming up with Excel Falconry to put on a birds of prey show around a themed maze on April 6 and 7. There are loads of themed games planned and with the on-site Otters Cafe offering an impressive selection of drinks, snacks and hot food, as well as a brilliant selection of outdoor activities, there is plenty to keep even the most lively of ‘little otters’ entertained. Tickets are just £7.50 for children and free for accompanying parents. Visit www.activeadventuresliverpool.co.uk for more information and tickets.

Finest Belgian milk chocolate egg with hazelnuts and hand decorated mini eggs, £10, from Tesco

Luxury Fairtrade dark chocolate egg with raspberry, £10, from Marks and Spencer

Taste the Difference Belgian white chocolate egg, £5, from Sainsbury’s

Museum of Liverpool

ON your visit around the wonderful Museum of Liverpool make the most of the free drop-in Easter event from March 29 to 31. At the museum you can find out about Liverpool Easter customs from the past and then get creative by making an Easter bonnet and take part in the grand Easter parade! Log on to www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk for events across all the museums and galleries.

Selection of handmade Easter eggs, from Liverpool-based chocolatiers The Chocolate Cellar – also available to buy from the Continential Market in Williamson Square, Liverpool, March 28-31

Beau Bunny’s Breakfast cup, £10, from Hotel Chocolat

BEST OF LIVERPOOL 25

Food and drink

FAMILY FRIENDLY Eating out with little ones can be a little tricky with tears and tantrums aplenty, so our Best of Liverpool mums put some local eateries to the test. Michelle Rushton kicked off with a fun soccer fuelled afternoon with her family at Cafe Sports Express I’LL be honest, dining out is a bit of a trial these days as I have one very lively four-year-old, Daniel, who can’t sit still for one minute plus a 20-month-old toddler, Isla, who is walking and likes to explore. But, my partner Mike and I love eating out, especially on a Sunday. Who wants to slave over a hot oven when you can have it all prepared for you with no washing up afterwards?! So, we were determined to persevere and get the little ones used to eating out. One Sunday, there was a particularly important football match on (Liverpool v Man U) which Mike didn’t want to miss, so we decided to head for Café Sports England on Stanley Street. Owned by local sporting hero Jamie Carragher, in partnership with Jonathan Flanagan and family, the café’s website claimed to be a family friendly venue where you can dine whilst watching live sports – perfect! Arriving in the snow, we were greeted by friendly staff who helped us carry Isla’s buggy up the stairs and showed us to our tables. Mike was very impressed with the LCD TVs on every wall which allow you to catch the sporting action from every angle and football memorabilia, but far from being a testosterone-fuelled gentleman’s club, the décor is actually quite glam, with lots of red leather and glitzy chandeliers – ideal for any wannabe WAG! Our waitress brought us the menus and lots of colouring materials to keep the kids amused. Daniel got stuck into the work sheets which featured word searches, a chance to design your own football kit, a name the footballer quiz and other footie-related activities, plus competitions to win a free football. As well as an adult menu featuring lots of pizza, pasta and char-grilled dishes freshly made to order, there was a Little League Menu for under 12s – with two courses and one side dish costing just £5.50. Daniel choose the Penne Carragher with baked beans, while we thought Isla would like the chicken nuggets and chips with salad. Mike and I opted for the Tomato and Mozzarella and

BBQ Spare Ribs to start followed by the 10oz Sirloin Steak and 12oz Grilled Rump Steak. Whilst waiting for our food, Daniel and Isla got stuck into their colouring whilst we watched the match. There was a nice atmosphere in the restaurant with lots of families. On the table next to us there were dads with their sons playing on the Nintendos. Our food arrived and went down really well with the kids, well there wasn’t much left put it this way! Although they did make quite a mess on the table but we were assured by our waitress that this was fine! The BBQ Spare Ribs were lovely, cooked in a tangy sauce, while the sliced mozzarella and beef tomato came drizzled with a tasty basil and olive oil dressing. Our steaks were cooked to perfection and came with rocket lettuce, chargrilled tomatoes and flat mushrooms, and topped with a creamy peppercorn sauce. Mike and I couldn’t manage a pudding but the kids enjoyed a strawberry lolly for afters. The food was excellent, but by this time, Daniel and Isla were getting a little restless and wanted to explore and

run off. I took them for a little walk while Mike enjoyed a pint of San Miguel and watched the rest of the match, having a go on the football tables and tested the baby changing facilities, which were very good. The staff were really understanding and patient as my two tearaways had a little run around and even brought them balloons when Isla banged her head. We returned to the table in time for the half time quiz hosted by the hilarious compère. The little boys on the next table told jokes and we all sang happy birthday to another little boy in the restaurant.. It was a really jolly, family atmosphere and I would definitely recommend it to other parents who fancy an afternoon of fabulous food and football! Café Sports England, 42/44 Stanley Street Liverpool, L1 6AL, telephone 0151 239 5070, visit www.cafesportsengland.com

BITE-SIZE TIPS - THE BEST OF THE REST MARANTO’S on Lark Lane has been a family favourite for the past 30 years. This family-run bar and restaurant is a great place for lunch, tea, parties and special occasions. The staff are genuinely welcoming and help to amuse children providing colouring books and crayons and engage with the kids, having a laugh and a joke. The Italian/American menu features fresh, hearty fayre, with lots of pizza and pasta dishes and a special children’s Sunday lunch menu. Kids love Maranto’s famous BBQ ribs, not to mention the puddings such as the hot fudge sundae and ice cream. Maranto’s, 57 - 63 Lark Lane, Aigburth, Liverpool, telephone 0151 727 7200, visit www.marantoslarklane.co.uk

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

TRIBECA on Smithdown Road offers a great selection of fresh, home-made pizzas for the whole family to enjoy. And for the kids, there’s custom-made pizzas with a drink and an ice cream or babycino for just £4.95, which is great value for money. There’s also colouring-in to keep the kids entertained while the grown-ups enjoy their meals so everyone is happy! TriBeCa, 336-338 Smithdown Road, Liverpool L15 5AN, telephone 0151 733 6366, visit www.tribeca-liverpool.co.uk Photo: Mark McNulty

HOUSE on Bold Street offers a bustling, family-friendly vibe and is a great place for the whole family to hang out. With a delicious children’s menu offering a selection of mouthwatering dishes including fresh tomato pasta, home-made pizza and fish and chips, the food is guaranteed to keep even the most fussy eaters happy. And, at just £3.95, it’s great value for money as well. There are high chairs and baby changing facilities too. The House, Bold Street, Liverpool, www.house-liverpool.com

MARCH 13

Bella familia Sue Kelbrick is made to feel like one of the family at Bella Italia... GOING out for a meal with two small children in tow is no mean feat. Gone are the days of a leisurely browse of the menu while sipping a nice glass of Pinot. These days it’s more a question of taking it in turns to eat and trying to stop the kids breaking any crockery. So it was with some trepidation that the Kelbrick-Davis family headed out for a meal at traditional Italian family restaurant, Bella Italia situated on Ranelagh Street in the heart of the city centre. As we walked in, we were greeted by our waiter, Hassan, who looked after us all evening and the service he gave us was simply exemplary. He showed us to our table and, within minutes, we had a high chair for baby Abigail and colouring-in stuff for five-year-old, Lauren. And, even better, a glass of wine for me and a beer for my other

half. So far, so good. Whilst we browsed the menu which offered loads of different types of pasta and pizza, the children munched on a selection of nibbles including carrot sticks, breadsticks and a delicious pomodoro tomato dip. I selected a delicious-sounding dish of lemon chicken with pasta cooked in a creamy Sicilian sauce whilst my boyfriend ordered a suitably manly ‘carne’ calzone which included pancetta, spicy meatballs, red onion, mozzarella and beef ragu. For the kids, we ordered spaghetti bolognese and meatballs. At just £5.25 for antipastini, a main course, a dessert and a drink for the children, it’s really good value for money. And when the food came it was absolutely delicious and the children wolfed theirs down which is always

a good sign. The icing on the cake (if you pardon the pun) was that we even got to have a dessert – ice cream for the children and a rather ominously entitled ‘Godfather’ for the grown ups to share. Incorporating nutty fudge brownies, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce, fresh cream, chocolate popping candy, dark chocolate sprinkles and a wafer curl, it was certainly something I could imagine the Godfather approving of! The evening was hailed a huge success by the whole family and in the words of daughter Lauren: “Anyone who can go to Bella Italia should.” And you can’t say fairer than that.

Abigail and Lauren enjoying their food

Bella Italia, 39 Ranelagh Street, Liverpool L1 1JP. Tel: 0151 707 2121, visit www.bellaitalia.co.uk

Brunch with baby Emma Thompson and her family head to Malmaison for Sunday lunch ESCAPING from the cold wind at the docks we darted through the doors of the Malmaison to a warm reception leading to the brasserie with our baby Ben sleeping soundly in his car seat. Having a nice atmosphere with a mix of hotel guests and locals, the restaurant is happy to cater for children, and with high chairs available for six months and up, all are welcome. We didn’t need one today though as he was fast asleep! Served from 12pm to 4pm, the brasserie has given Sundays a wake up with their new three-course ‘Mal on Sunday’ £19.95 menu, or £7.95 for children under 12, where kids can enjoy appropriately sized portions and, like adults, unlimited trips to the ‘chef’s table’! This slightly quirky menu starts at the ‘chef’s table’, on which, the waiter explained, we simply help ourselves to the vast selection on offer such as cheeses, oak smoked salmon, a variety of cured meats, seafood salad and cous cous to eggs, omelettes, sweet or savoury waffles and pancakes which can all be cooked for you by the awaiting chef. I loved it all, but my favourite was the succulent ham terrine which went beautifully with the homemade coleslaw – if I didn’t have two more courses to fit in I may have gone back for more!

A True Italian Experience

Francos

THE BEST IN ITALIAN FOOD 0151 236 3375 bookings@francosliverpool.com www.francosliverpool.com

Early Doors Menu Tuesday-Friday 5.30pm - 7pm only

Express Lunch Menu

Special Reduced Priced Lunch Options - Mon-Fri Only

Torn about what to choose for my main – the roast prime rib of beef was tempting as was the corned beef hash with fried duck egg – I opted for the rump steak and fries while my other half chose the Normandy chicken with sage and onion stuffing. On to our final course, I went for sticky toffee pudding with pecan and caramel sauce. A moist sponge cake with hot melty sauce and tasty pecans, it was my perfect dessert and with a scoop of creamy real vanilla ice cream it was mouth-watering, although I have to confess I couldn’t quite finish it! The classic crème brûlée was my partner’s choice and with a crunchy sugar-coated topping he broke through to soft creamy filling which was amazing and, minus one spoonful that I stole, he cleared the dish loving every mouthful. All in all, it was a lovely meal, although Ben didn’t get to sample any of it, but we were able to eat our food in peace and if he had have been awake, the Malmaison would have provided everything we needed to ensure an enjoyable and smooth running Sunday lunch! Malmaison, William Jessop Way, Princes Dock, Liverpool L3 1QZ, telephone 0151 229 5000, visit www.malmaison.com/Liverpool

Evening Menu

Special Menu available every evening £19.95 inc Half Bottle of House Wine per couple

Francos Restaurant is situated at 48a Castle Street in the heart of Liverpool. Open daily for lunch and dinner - until 11pm on Saturdays

BEST OF LIVERPOOL 27

Weddings Add a touch of vintage glamour with Art Deco detailing, like this Florentina bridal dress, £495, and rhinestone and pearl band, £15, from BHS www.bhs.co.uk

Say ‘I do’ in style Katie McLoughlin shows you how to have the perfect wedding...

With chantilly lace and tulle, this cap sleeved, V-neckline dress with mermaid skirt and chapel length train, this wedding gown, style 8626 by Justin Alexander, captures the glamour of a bygone time, www.justinalexanderbridal.com

BEAUTIFUL BRIDES

HIGH CLASS HENS

WITH Baz Luhrmann’s production of The Great Gatsby predicted to be this year’s biggest movie release, the opulence and vintage glamour of the 1920s is set to be one of the biggest wedding trends for 2013; with on-trend brides set to be walking down the aisle in drop-waisted wedding dresses, bejewelled headbands and Art Deco jewellery. Other bridal trends for 2013 include lace, sheer fabrics, gowns with cut-out backs and wedding dresses in pretty pastel shades like candy floss pink, as well as traditional white and ivory.

EVER dreamed of being a 1950’s pin-up for the day and having your very own photoshoot? Or being transformed into a vintage Hollywood bombshell with a group of friends? Well, at Vintage Pamper Box brides-tobe can enjoy a retro-inspired celebration. Run by Wirral-based Betty Pamper and Lilly von Pink, two vintage loving vixens with a talent for glamorous pampering, The Vintage Pamper Box offers a number of packages ideal for hen parties with a difference. The Deluxe Vintage Pamper Party package, for example, will see your group enjoy a full retro Hollywood glamour hair and make-up workshop, a beginners’ burlesque or jive lesson, a 1950’s make-over by Betty and Lilly, then a photoshoot with your own image to keep afterwards. With so much to choose from, it’s impossible to resist the temptations of the Vintage Pamper Box. Contact Betty at bettybeevintage@yahoo.co.uk, call 0151 624 2842 or log onto www.vintagepamperbox.com

Vintage Pamper Box

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

SWEET TREATS

Bold Street Sweets

MOVING away from the trend a few years ago to buy scratchcards or lottery tickets as favours for your guests (how much would you kick yourself if you’d bought a winning ticket and given it away?!) on-trend favours are of the edible persuasion. From personalised chocolates to mini bottles of whiskey adorned with custom labels, there are a wealth of options available. And, at Bold Street Sweets there are a veritable array of favour ideas to keep your guests sweet on your big day. The independent confectionery store can create a wide range of memorable wedding favours, table centrepieces, bouquets and even tiered wedding cakes (!) made entirely out of sweets and tailored to the bride and groom. Visit Bold Street Sweets at 6 Bold Street, Liverpool, or find them on their Facebook page, at facebook.com/BoldStreetSweets

MARCH 13 AMONGST THE PALMS FOR a wedding venue with the wow factor, Sefton Park Palm House is hard to beat. Originally opened in 1896, this grade II listed Victorian glasshouse has been lovingly restored and makes for a perfect setting for a magical wedding. Available for exclusive hire, the Palm House is licensed to hold civil wedding ceremonies, civil partnerships and renewal of vows ceremonies and, whether you’re planning a small wedding or an extravaganza, the venue’s events team can assist you every step of the way – from choosing a caterer to organising entertainment and selecting decoration. During spring and summer months, you can also utilise the grounds and hold a drinks reception overlooking Sefton Park. Visit Sefton Park Palm House, Sefton Park, Liverpool, L17 1AP, call 0151 726 9304 or visit www.palmhouse.org.uk

MOVING away from posed, formal photos, the latest style of wedding photography is very natural and unposed as couples look to capture every moment of their special day as it really happens. Carl Crozier from Merseyside-based Simply Perfection Photography, says: “Most people now want the type of photos that are taken without the subject being aware – just enjoying their wedding, laughing and at their best. Couples want to look back on their wedding photos and see real memories rather than posed, fake pictures which have been set up.” Visit www.simplyperfection.co.uk or call Simply Perfection Photography on 07521515750 (Carl).

WITH THIS RING...

WEDDING WINGS

FRENCH FANCY

LOOKING for something a little different to amaze your guests on your wedding day? Merseyside company Flying The Knot can arrange for the beautiful British barn owls Angel, Spirit and Star Darling to elegantly and gracefully fly your wedding rings along the aisle to deliver to the bride, groom, best man, flower girl, page boy, or whoever you would like, to receive your precious rings! For more information visit www.flyingtheknot.co.uk

TO add a little Continental style to your big day, consider an alternative wedding cake from TinaKiiana. Inspired by the amazing patisseries of Paris, this family-run, Frodsham-based firm specialises in hand-made petit fours. Dainty and delicious, these miniature cupcakes and meringues, are available in a range of flavours like cherry almond, vanilla fudge and banoffee mini cupcakes. All hand-made using locally sourced, free-range eggs and natural flavourings by husband and wife team, Louise and Neil, the petit fours can be personalised and made into favour boxes. Alternatively, for something a little bit different to a traditional three-tier wedding cake, TinaKiiana makes a range of beautiful wedding cakes – featuring a beautifully decorated, vanilla sponge cake to cut on the top tier, with either petit fours or cupcakes below. Log onto www.tinakiiana.co.uk or call 07981679073 or email tinakiiana@ googlemail.com to find out more.

Fly the knot

PICTURE PERFECT

Sefton Park Palm House. Inset, Simply Perfection Photography

TinaKiiana cakes

WHEN it comes to wedding rings, matching bands, embellished and stunning diamond set designs are key trends for 2013, according to prestigious jewellers, David M Robinson. Alisha Duffy, showroom manager, in the jeweller’s Liverpool ONE store, says: “Diamond wedding rings are getting more-and-more popular every year. “This year, we’re finding that very slim, grain set diamond bands are being chosen by many brides. These are very delicate and really complement a solitaire diamond engagement ring. A fashionable option is to purchase two of these bands and wear them either side of the engagement ring to make a real statement.” Alisha continues: “Couples are also still really keen on having matching wedding bands but in different widths.” Visit David M Robinson on South John Street, in Liverpool ONE. For more information call 0151 708 1140 or log onto www.davidmrobinson.co.uk

Retro weddings WITH retro glamour being one of the biggest trends for weddings in 2013, it seems fitting that Liverpool should be hosting a vintage wedding event this month. Taking place at the Camp and Furnace on Saturday, March 24, The Vintage Wedding Festival is believed to be one of the biggest vintage wedding events in the North West. Organised by Pillbox Vintage, the event has everything couples need to add a touch of vintage glamour or a retro theme to their special day. Exhibitors include vintage wedding transport, stationery, floral designers, cake designers, vintage/retro bridal wear, vintage/retro outfits for guests, accessories, wedding outfit designers, hair and beauty, vintage crockery hire and much, much more. As well as exhibitors, there will be a programme of live entertainment at the event, including DJ sessions and live music performances from choirs, solo performers and more. The event is set to take place at the Camp and Furnace, which has built a reputation for hosting creative and innovative events since opening its doors in May 2012 and is an ideal choice for couples looking for something a little

bit different for their wedding day. Newly licensed to host weddings and civil parterships, Camp and Furnace will be offering tours of the sprawling Greenland Street venue along with free tasters of its wedding breakfast menus at the vintage wedding event. Tickets to The Vintage Wedding Festival are £4 in advance, and £5 on the door, available from www.fatsoma.com

BEST OF LIVERPOOL 29

Homes

MARCH 13

ZING INTO SPRING

Michelle Rushton discovers all things bright and beautiful to breathe new life into your home Parrot plate, from Debenhams

Laser Cut Bird Decoration, £2, from Paperchase

Matthew Williamson, set of three storage boxes, £29.50, from Debenhams

Words canvas, £32, from Littlewoods.com

Carmelle bedstead £399, Colourfield floral bed set £39.50, Fara nest of tables £299, Purple Globe table lamp £59, from Marks & Spencer Cupcake Butterfly mini teapot, £8, from Paperchase

All items from The Good Life range at Next

Bright green cushion, from Matalan

Birds cushion, £40, from House of Fraser

EGGSTRA CUTE Chicken egg cup, £5, from Marks & Spencer

BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Good Day Sunshine cushion, £14, from Next

WHETHER you prefer yours hard boiled, runny to dip your soldiers in or with a face painted on, these quirky egg cups are guaranteed to put a smile on your face in the morning...

Camper van egg cups, £12.95, from House of Bath

Egg House, £10, from Next

Sweet Home set of four egg cups, £7, from Very

Set of two chicken egg cups, £6, from Next

present

L’ E L iv oo ght ‘Bo uS erp g ni ote cL Liv nin * Qu Exst of ope £15! plies Be er – ST g fee ap f u in of s j *Book t ke tic

Dan aykroyD and JuDith Belushi

Thu 21 – SaT 23 March 0844 871 3017

BY PHONE: (bkg fee) BUY ONLINE: atgtickets.com/liverpool (bkg fee) *noT applicaBle on TickeTs already purchased and cannoT Be used in conJuncTion wiTh any oTher offer The Blues BroThers is a regisTered Trademark of applied acTion research corp. and JudiTh Belushi pisano, and is used By permission under license from Blues BroThers approved venTures llc. all righTs reserved,no reproducTion wiThouT prior wriTTen permission.

BEST OF LIVERPOOL 31

Guinot Crown Salon 2013 We are delighted to announce that Guinot has awarded The House Beauty Spa with a coveted Guinot Crown Award, one of only 58 in the UK. This award recognises the spa’s outstanding levels of treatments and service by our therapists. We would like to thank all of our team, for their dedication to achieving such amazing high standards.

2013

Race Day Spa package: • • • •

Fake Bake Tan Let’s Go Lashes Shellac Manicure OPI Mini-cure Pedicure

Limited offer, only £50 (£35 off)

@TheHouseBeauty

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