La di da - Issue 4

I SS U E 4 SPRING/SUMMER 2014

A DAMNED FINE READ FOR N O RTHER N HI G H SO C I ETY GIV E A GIRL THE RIGHT SHO E S A ND SHE CAN CONQUER THE WORLD

Lingerie Queen MODEL CAPRICE HEADS NORTH

The Rock’n’Roll Cobbler KATE MOSS LOVES HIM, SO DO WE

Yorkshire Totty CHEF JAMES MARTIN REVEALS ALL

Gent

LOOK DAPPER, DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Plummy Kids LUXURY FOR LITTLE ONES

Le Grand Départ THE CULTURAL GUIDE TO

ISSU E 4

LA DI DA’S GUIDE TO THE TOP PLACES TO BE SEEN

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arrival of The Grand Depart: Tour De France. La Di Da has put together an uber-luxe guide to the best places to be seen in when the tour comes to town - don’t leave home without it!

This edition we also bring you some Yorkshire Totty in the form of eye candy James Martin, who had Ed Linda’s heart aflutter when she interviewed him in his home town of Malton, North Yorks. And yes, he’s as charming as he is talented.

If you’re looking for new, exciting places to explore then add Jesmond eaterie SoHe to your little black book. The latest addition to the luxe restaurant scene, SoHe offers Asian cuisine inspired by street dishes in the East. They do a mean cocktail too! It’s our latest place to be seen.

Here at La Di Da, we’re huge fans of celeb haunt Calcot Manor in the Cotswolds, so we were delighted to hear the owners have taken over Lord Crewe Arms Hotel in Blanchland. Read all on P56.

Finally, we launch our new children pages for all you yummy mummies out there. Each issue we’ll be bringing you all the latest news, fashion and events for the little ones in your life.

Until next time….

WE are all of an excitement at La Di Da Towers. Spring is here, which means only thing. New season = new clothes. The boutiques are full of spring/summer collections and we’re dying to get our hands on some stunning new pieces. Time to book a date with the girls and hit the shops, fuelled by the odd glass of champers, of course.

If you’re after stylish new additions to your wardrobe then head to our favourite high street haven NEXT. This issue we have an exclusive showcase of their latest summer collection which hits the shops in May and it’s full of holiday must-haves. Personally, we’ll be stocking up on a NEXT floral playsuit and one of their stunning lace dresses, a snip at just £50.

Did you know Rock ’n’roll cobbler Terry De Havilland, a fave of Kate Moss, is married to a Geordie and has an office here in Newcastle? We talk exclusively to the man who has dressed the feet of every major celeb around.

Supermodel Caprice is heading to the region this month and we talk exclusively to her about the secrets to running a successful business. We also showcase her new SS14 lingerie range-we love her undies and we’re sure you will too.

2014 has been declared the Year of Yorkshire with the

La Di Da is looking to add to its sales team and we are on the hunt for talented media sales executives who have the drive and determination to succeed. If you are interested please send a covering letter explaining why you are perfect for the role along with your CV to lizlamb@ladida.co.uk

S U BM ISS IO NS La Di Da likes to shout about North East talent. If you are a photographer, writer, illustrator, graphic designer, model, stylist or in anyway involved in the creative industry and would like to work with La Di Da please email lizlamb@ladida.co.uk

Facebook.com/LaDiDaMagazine Twitter @LaDiDaMag

SUBSCRIPTIONS Want to keep up-to-date with all the fabulous happenings in the North East?

From posh nosh to parties, exclusive interviews, the latest beauty and style news alongside an unrivalled Gent’s section, La Di Da is THE North’s most stylish society magazine.

Come and join the party.

La Di Da is offering 12 issues for £20. To take advantage of this exclusive offer email subscriptions@ladida.co.uk may

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WITH THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

WE ’R E HIR ING

Li nda and Liz

I SSUE 4

S PR I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

6 Shoes to die for

LA DI DA MAGAZINE CLAVERING HOUSE CLAVERING PLACE NEWCASTLE NE1 3NG (0191) 466 1028

The celebs favourite cobbler

8 Win Win Win

EDITOR LIZ LAMB (FASHION & BEAUTY) QUEENIE@LADIDA.CO.UK

WIN shoes as seen on Kate Moss

41 Child’s Play

EDITOR LINDA JANE WESTPHAL (INTERIORS) YOURMAJ@LADIDA.CO.UK GENTLEMAN’S EDITOR ANDREW SMITH GENTLEMAN@LADIDA.CO.UK

La Di Da Kids - the latest products, events and fashion for little ones

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR MARK BURNS CASSELL LORDMARK@LADIDA.CO.UK

48 So Fabulous

DRINKS EDITOR ANGELA METCALFE

MOTORING EDITOR GRAHAM COURTNEY

9 Hot Stuff

SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIPTIONS@LADIDA.CO.UK

We chat to chef James Martin

DESIGN CURIOUS 12 THE ATTIC, AUCKLAND CASTLE, BISHOP AUCKLAND, COUNTY DURHAM. DL14 7NR RICHARD@CURIOUS12.COM 01388 743751

12 Model of Success

TRAVEL EDITOR CATHARINE HEWITSON MY STYLE EDITOR GAYNA MILLICAN

All contents copyright ©2014 La Di Da. All rights reserved. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies, howsoever caused. No liability can be accepted for illustrations, artwork, advertising or photographic material while in transmission or with the publisher or with their agents. All information is correct at time of going to print.

A DAM NED FINE REA D FOR NORTHERN HIGH SOCIETY

OUR COVER SHOT PHOTOGRAPHY HARKNESS PHOTOGRAPHY MODEL SARAH ELGIN AT TYNE TEES MODELS DRESS PINK ECRU SKATER DRESS £36 NEXT WWW.NEXT.CO.UK MUA LO DIAS @THE BEAUTY BOMB HAIR KARA SCOTT

Sohe - the new place to be seen

60 Yummy Yorkshire Malton-the new foodie capital of Yorkshire?

Model and businesswoman Caprice heads North. Read our exclusive interview.

18 & 19 Cutting Edge One of the region’s finest plastic surgeons talks beauty

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Tangerine-the colour to be seen in

71 Car Kings

26-29 Fashion crush

Aston Martin: Where royalty head for a car fix

Our fave summer style picks with leading retailer Next

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The latest posh properties

Orange Calling

33 Top Man Gent’s: a must-have read for super-stylish guys may

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91-95 The Great and The Good All the latest parties, catwalk shows and showbiz news

Feature

The

ROCK ’N’ D ROLL Cobbler

FROM A-LIST ACTR ESS ES TO SUPERM O DELS , PO P SINGER S AND RO CK S TAR S , TER RY D E H AV I LLAN D H AS D R ESSED THE F EET O F J U S T ABOUT EVERY M AJ O R CELEBR ITY G O I N G .

UBBED the Rock’n’Roll cobbler thanks to his penchant for late nights and hard partying, Terry is the creator of the most fabulous footwear.

They are shoes that demand attention.

Gorgeous look-at-me wedges in python prints, block heels adorned in metallic leather and platforms decorated with psychedelic prints, they are not for the shy and retiring.

Which is why celebrities love them. Our favourite fashionista Kate Moss is a fan. So is Angelina Jolie, Cher, Rita Ora, David Bowie, Sienna Miller and Dame Shirley Bassey, the list goes on.

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Feature

“I’ve met a fair few, but I never kiss and tell,” smiles Terry, who is now in his Seventies but shows no signs of hanging up his boots.

As well as still hand-making couture shoes, Terry continues to develop and design his Ready to Wear collection with his wife Liz, a Geordie.

“She showed me around the “Toon” when we were up there to celebrate her parent’s Golden

Wedding Anniversary,” says the designer. “I had no idea how buzzy it was. It’s a very vibrant city.”

Though Terry’s shoe empire is based in East London, the brand has a small operations team here in Newcastle headed up by Managing Director Darren Spurling, who lives in the city.

Terry has been designing and creating shoes

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for over five decades, making him one of the UK’s most iconic shoe designers.

His career began in 1960 when he joined the family firm, Waverley Shoes. The business catered for a wealthy West End clientele and was producing highly-popular winklepickers that were selling faster than they could cope with. Terry came on board to help out.

“It was a wonderfully creative time,”

Feature

COMPET IT ION

Kate has always supported what I have done and she is one of the nicest people you could meet

WIN A PAIR OF T ERRY D E H AV ILL AND SH OES AS SEEN ON K ATE MOSS

Ter r y wit h Kate recalls the designer. We still had a shoe industry in the UK back then and I had a factory to play in. It was all about design it, make it, get it out there. There were no “on trend” predictions or huge global fashion corporations. We played hard and we worked hard. It was a magical time.”

By 1972, the shoe designer had opened his own shop on the King’s Road, Cobblers to the World, and was designing boots for people like Jackie O and appearing in glossy fashion magazines.

He played, partied and worked hard, all earning him the nickname ‘the rock’n’roll cobbler.’ Though the designer is reluctant to reveal the most rock’n’roll thing he has ever done.

“They wouldn’t let you print that,” he laughs.

“The opening of my shop on the Kings Road in the 70s was pretty rock’n’roll. It was a full on party.

“We even stopped the traffic when a model decided to do a streak wearing nothing but a pair of my shoes.”

Drug-fuelled parties were all part of the fashionable scene Terry was immersed in so

what’s the best party he has ever been to?

“I was there….how could I possibly remember?” he laughs.

Today Terry is as popular as ever and the Terry de Havilland brand continues to attract big name celebrity fans, his favourite being Kate Moss.

“Kate has always supported what I have done and she is one of the nicest people you could meet,” he says.

The Spring Summer 14 collection features a mixture of classic platforms and wedges plus contemporary new stiletto shapes.

“I love using metallics in my designs and have featured them again this season in a variety of textures and colours,” says Terry.

“Also, for the first time in my career I’ve designed a range of flat beach sandals, which turned out to be really enjoyable experience.

They’re based on a few of my classic designs (there’s a Margaux version for instance) and can be slipped into a handbag for an easy nightclub exit.

“I’m getting a really positive reaction to them and I can’t wait to see what the feedback is when they hit the stores this June.”

TO VI E W T ERRY’S COL L E CT ION VISIT WWW.TD HCO UTURE.CO M

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La Di Da has teamed up with Terry De Havilland to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a pair of Terry de Havilland Margaux Python silver wedge shoes worth £495. The shoes are available in sizes 36-41, whole sizes only.

Kate Moss is a huge fan of the Margaux wedges and has been snapped out and about wearing the black version.

To be in with a chance of winning please answer the following question: In what year was Kate Moss discovered and how old was she at the time?

E-mail your answer to: competitions@ladida.co.uk stating your full name, age, address, contact number and shoe size.

For full terms and conditions go to www.ladida.co.uk Deadline for entries is Monday June 16 2014 at 12 noon. The winner will be picked at random and will be notified with four weeks of the competition deadline. No cash alternative is available.

Feature

Yorkshire

Totty

PHOTOGRAPH GASP WWW.GASPPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

H E I S AN INTE RNATIO NA LLY ACCLAIM ED CH EF, ACCOM PLISH ED R ACING DR I V ER AN D SU CC E SSFU L TV S TA R. LI N DA JANE WEST P HAL M EETS JAM ES M ARTIN AN D G ETS AN E XC LUS I V E INS IGHT INTO HIS SH OWB IZ FAB ULOUS WORLD AN D FIND S O U T WH Y H E I S RE TU RN IN G TO H IS YOR KSH IRE ROOTS. . .

Yes.

He’s much more handsome in the flesh. La Di Da has interviewed a fair few celebs in our time, but never one who has attracted the interest of so many women of differing ages and had questions posed so repeatedly about his appearance. In fact, as we travel all around Britain, mention his name and the interest remains as high. He is as popular with London ladies as Northern lasses.

So he has sex appeal in abundance, pilots a helicopter, is an international TV star, races cars and has a classic car collection worth millions. Oh, and did we mention he could cook?

Meet James Martin, TV’s blue eyed boy and as Yorkshire as they come. Affable, wry and down to earth, he may have an abundance of charm

and easy going chat, but he’s nobody’s fool. It’s easy to see why he has managed to not only sustain a 20 year old TV career, but keeps delivering record ratings and audiences that even old pros like Jonathan Ross are failing to deliver, despite severe dyslexia that means he struggles reading an autocue.

We meet him at The Talbot Hotel in Malton,

Yorkshire, where he has his own restaurant and which is the market town he grew up in.

Unlike many celeb chefs, this is a man who is clearly never happier than when he is cooking.

Despite a punishing schedule, in the last year he has only had nine days off, he is relaxed and happy pottering around the hotel in his chef whites, preparing dinner for

TV is a thinking man’s game, you’re in one minute, out the next. A lot of people pretend to be something they’re not but if you do that TV will always get you eventually...” may

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a fully booked restaurant that evening.

The night before, after driving up from his Hampshire home, he enjoyed one of his mum’s ‘brilliant roast’ dinners and he is clearly enjoying the chance to be back in his beloved home county. His family are likely to see more of him as he has recently bought a home locally, one with spacious grounds to accommodate this renowned petrolhead’s huge car collection including a £1.5 million Ferrari.

In fact, Malton is one of the few places where he can be left relatively alone; his appeal is not only national but international. He is regularly mobbed in places like South Africa where people fly for up to 10 hours to see one of his hour cookery demos.

Turn on the TV at any time of the day and you will see James Martin. He is a guaranteed TV ratings winner and has a huge portfolio of popular and diverse TV programmes to his name.

It all started for James when he left home to go to London. He clearly remembers standing on the town’s station platform at the age of 16; with a just few bob in his pocket and dreams of studying with the superstar chefs of the day.

A top student from Scarborough College, he was named Student of the Year three years running, he admits the kitchens in the top hotels in those days were tough and extremely competitive. But coming from a farming family, he wasn’t shy of hard work and failure wasn’t an option for him.

James first started working in London for Antony Worrall Thompson at 190 Queensway before moving onto Dell’Ugo and other top London establishments. He then toured France, working in old Chateaux, often besides the Grandmothers and Mothers of the grand old families. A return to England saw him at the iconic Chewton Glen as pastry chef. This was followed by, at the incredibly young age of 22, opening as Head Chef at the Hotel Du Vin & Bistro Winchester, where he changed the menu every day. The success kicked off the expansion of the chain.

It was here that he was spotted by a TV production team, when the engaging young chef quickly stole the scene in the backdrop of a recording for a TV cookery programme.

James was offered a spot on the now iconic TV show, The Big Breakfast in 1996 and his TV career was born, as well as a lifelong friendship with presenter Chris Evans.

“I learned a lot from Chris Evans. It is incredible to watch him in a studio, he can

My mum phoned me up a few months ago and asked me for a recipe. I couldn’t believe it, in 20 years she has never asked for my advice on cooking or recipes. I was absolutely made up...it’s the best accolade I could ever have make something out of nothing and has a really quick brain,” explains James.

“Whereas I will sit and think about stuff, he is a real ideas person and if it works it works and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t and I really admire that about him. He said to me the other day that he can count his real friends on one hand and I was one of them and I was really honoured when he said that, it meant a lot.”

His success was such that he has now enjoyed 20 years of working in television, which is testament to his skill as a TV presenter as well as his enduring popularity, given the fickle nature of the medium.

“It’s a thinking man’s game TV; you’re in one minute, out the next,” he says. “A lot of people pretend to be something they’re not but if you do that, TV will always get you eventually.”

“Autocue is very difficult because it’s out of my comfort zone. I know what I’m good at and I always thoroughly research the people I interview and watch videos on them. I won’t be beaten, I’ve always had that mindset and it’s served me well. Saturday Kitchen is a very hard show to do, it’s hard to cook and interview someone at the same time. I may look relaxed, but it’s live TV and you have to be on the ball at all times.”

As we speak, he gets the news that more of his current TV shows have been recomissioned due to excellent ratings, including Operation Hospital Food, whose morning slot outdid all expectations and became real water cooler viewing.

It’s a subject close to his heart but he is a pragmatist. He knows change will happen over years rather than months and has no time for politicians who just want a quick sound bite rather than a long term solution.

“The hardest thing was getting a hospital to agree to have me there. Obviously hospitals don’t want to lay themselves open to criticism.

I said to the production team, if you can get may

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me in, I can really make a difference, but the difficulty would be in getting me in. There are no easy solutions; everyone is just doing the best they can in a difficult system.

“You have to take a ‘gently gently approach’ and think long term but the changes are happening and that is really satisfying to see.”

It’s just one of many programmes James has lined up, including cooking on a cruise ship with Marco Pierre White where 16,000 meals will need to be delivered to passengers. He is also kept busy with his new 150 seater restaurant, James Martin Manchester at M 235 Casino, and cooking at The Talbot. Add in the international tours and cookery books and you can see why his team insisted he take some time off last year. But family time keeps him grounded and spending more time in Yorkshire is something that this family man relishes.

“Forget all the red carpet gubbins,” he says, “one of my biggest moments came quite recently when my mum phoned me up and asked me for a recipe. The first time in 20 years, I couldn’t believe it. I was so chuffed.

Then, when I was around her house, I saw a brand of oil that I had used on my show. It was quite unusual and hard to get so I know she must have bought it after seeing me use it but she wouldn’t admit it,” he laughs.

And it’s this no nonsense Yorkshire lack of starriness that clearly keeps him grounded and adds to his appeal. After the interview is over, we watch as he takes an impromptu wander over to a group of high flying women solicitors who are taking a cookery class.

Within seconds they have succumbed to the Martin charm, and have dissolved into girlish giggles much to the bemusement of the cookery teacher, all thoughts of macaroons forgotten. With charisma like that, it’s likely James Martin will be on TV for many years to come.

Feature

lingerie

goddess EXCLUSIVE: MO DEL AN D BUSIN ESSWOM AN CAPR I CE I S H EAD ING TO TH E N O RTH TH I S MON TH . LIZ LA M B CH ATS TO H ER ABOUT H ER N EW LINGER IE R AN G E, H ER SUCCESS IN B U S I N ESS AN D H ER MOD ELLI N G DAYS .

Your

lingerie and swimwear collections for SS14 are stunning-what is your inspiration for the collections?

We go to Paris and see what’s there. I pay a lot of attention to colour trends. You have to educate yourself and see what’s going on trends-wise. I also really listen to my customers and see what sells season on season. may

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Feature

Who is the By Caprice customer?

Women that buy By Caprice are not compulsive buyers, she wants outstanding quality and value for her money. She is fun, fashionable and confident in her own skin.

What makes By Caprice stand out from competitors?

At By Caprice our designs are unique, fashionable, functional and fun. There is a definite signature in terms of material, bright colours and prints and we pay a lot of attention to fits to ensure comfort and support. We use the most stunning fabrics and textures and this shows in the end product and helps us stand out from the competition.

Why did you set up the By Caprice business?

When I turned 30 I thought 'holy smokes', I have got to think of something that I'm passionate about that people can buy into.

Lingerie worked so well and I used modelling as a platform to turn myself into a businesswoman.

Do you still model?

Occasionally but now that I have two boys I choose a new celebrity face to model the collections every season.

Ferne from Towie features in the latest

By Caprice campaign, why did you ask her to model?

We chose Ferne because she fun, fashionable and sexy. She has an incredible figure with curves in all the right places. She is a true natural in front of the camera and the perfect ambassador for By Caprice SS14.

You are visiting Newcastle this month to talk at the Entrepreneur’s Forum conference-what will you be sharing with the audience?

I will be sharing my story from model to businesswoman and hopefully inspire the next generation of budding entrepreneurs.

Have you been to Newcastle before? If yes, what were your impressions?

I love Newcastle. The people are amazing kindly and friendly. It is a beautiful city.

You achieved worldwide fame in modelling, what are your favourite memories of that time?

Gosh there are so many amazing memories! I

always remember handing out an award with Steven Tyler at the MTV European Music Awards in Rotterdam. I had to fly in from a modelling job and almost missed the appearance and I had a police escort from the airport in a rush to get me on stage.

What have been the highlights/low times so far in running your own business?

The highs are seeing my business grow from an idea into an international company that sells in five different countries. My customers are the most important aspect to my business and I also love their positive feedback and loyalty.

I’ve had to learn a lot – the biggest thing has been how currency exchange rates work. I now look at rates every day to see how our costs will be affected. They are always up and down and I have to keep my eye on the ball.

You took a gamble and invested your own money into By Caprice-any regrets?

What would you do differently?

I would have also learnt about the importance of cash flow from the beginning, I didn’t realise for the first three years you have to keep investing money into the business. Cash flow is your bible!

Surround yourself with good employees and don't go cheap. I did in the beginning and it was a huge mistake. It cost me a lot of money, a hard lesson I learnt quickly. Now I micromanage every bit of my business to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently as possible. Ensure you hire the right people from the start and ultimately you will make more money. I run a very tight ship.

What are you plans for By Caprice this year and beyond?

I would like to expend into hosiery and maternity and beachwear. I want to take over America. . The US is a massive market but it's a lot harder to break into but I really think there is opportunity for me there.

TO V IEW C AP RIC E’ S LATEST SS14 CO LLEC TIO NS V ISIT WWW.BYC AP RIC E.CO M

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Ideal for wedding day makeovers, special dates, birthday indulgences, girlie beauty sessions or just for everyday treats that make huge difference.

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retreat Luxury

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ROM the latest must-have beauty treatments to pamper sessions for princesses and men’s grooming essentials, The Sanctuary Spa at Seahouses is the ultimate go-to for glamorous makeovers.

The award-winning spa was set up by businesswoman Kelly Preston who wanted to create a five-star experience for clients in luxurious surroundings.

Set over three floors, The Sanctuary has boutique beauty rooms as well as a luxury hair studio so you can be pampered from head-totoe all under one roof.

Despite only opening in October, the spa has achieved huge success, winning the title of Northumberland Beauty Spa of the Year 2014, appearing in Glamour magazine and building up a staggering 28,000 followers on its Facebook page.

“I wanted to create something five star,” says Kelly, from Beadnell. “A luxury spa where you could be pampered in lovely surroundings and have anything done.

“The spa is in a tourist area so if you are up here staying in your holiday home and you are going out for the night you can pop in for a

quick blow-dry or a beauty treatment.

“I wanted to bring a bit of glamour to the area.”

The Sanctuary has a team of fully-trained beauty therapists and hair stylists who keep up-to-date on the must-have looks in hair and beauty.

They recently travelled to Harley Street, London, to train with LoveLite, a teeth whitening brand favoured by celebrities, and they now offer the procedure at The Sanctuary.

The spa also offers non-surgical facelifts, liposuction and lip enhancement by leading beauty brand Caci, who have a host of A-list fans such as Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and supermodel Linda Evangelista.

Other designer brands include Elemis, Decleor Paris, CND Shellac nail care, Fake Bake tanning and L’Oréal Professionnel.

“We also offer men’s treatments, grooming is a huge market now,” says Kelly. “We offer Elemis face and body treatments for men, Turkish shaves, massages. We get a lot of men coming in who are getting married who want to look their best.”

With a host of stunning wedding venues close-by including Bamburgh Castle, Doxford Hall Hotel and Newton Hall, the spa has been inundated with bridal parties wanting highend treatments before the big day.

“It’s so popular we now only have one weekend free for the whole of the year.” says

Beauty

WH ERE D O TH E G LI TTER ATI GO WH EN TH EY N EED A BEAUTY FIX ? TH EY H EAD TO NORTH UM B ER LAN D’S B EAU TY SPA OF TH E YEAR O F CO U R S E, AS LIZ LAM B DI S COV ER S .

Kelly, a mum-of-three.

Mimi-fashionistas can also enjoy a luxury day at the spa. The Sanctuary offers a Mummy and Me package which includes a choice of any blow dry, a petite Princess, cupcakes and a mocktail served in a champagne glass, while mummy enjoys a complimentary glass of bubbles.

Kelly says: “It’s great for families who are up here on holiday or on a day trip and mums can come with their daughters and both be pampered.”

The Sanctuary Spa has proved such a hit that Kelly is now opening a new salon in Percy Wood Country Park in Morpeth.

“It’s in an old stately home, I am going to transform part of it into a day spa,” says Kelly.

THE SANC TUARY SPA 12 MAIN STREET, SEAHO USES NO RTHUMBERLAN D N E 68 7RG C ALL (01665) 720 668 WWW.SANC TUARYSPASEAHO USES.CO. UK may

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Feature in association with

O N E O F T H E TOP P LA S TIC S U RGE O NS IN TH E N ORTH , PAUL BAGULEY IS TH E S U RG EO N TH E R E G IO N ’ S F I N E A ND FA BU LO U S TU RN TO. LA D I DA FIND S OUT MOR E…

H

IS website lists a long menu of operations from breast implants and eye lifts to tummy tucks, liposuction and nose jobs, but one of the trickiest aspects of consultant plastic surgeon Paul Baguley’s job is managing the expectations of his patients.

“Some people come in expecting to look like a celebrity, they want to look 50 years younger, or they want to be a triple G cup when they’re only an A cup,” says Mr Baguley.

“However these things aren’t going to happen.”

As medical director of his wife Karen Peel’s A Vita Beauty Clinic in Yarm, alongside Jessica Powell, and director of Define Cosmetic Surgery, the charming 53-year-old dad of four from Kirklevington, operates on patients at the Woodlands Clinic, Darlington as well as BMI Harrogate and Nuffield York.

They come from all walks of life including celebrities and even ‘the odd bricklayer or plumber you wouldn’t expect to be worried about their eyelids’. But if he thinks you don’t need surgery, he’ll tell you straight.

“I’m very polite and pleasant but my usual line is - personally I don’t think I can deliver on your expectations, so therefore I’m going to refer you to somebody else,” he explains. “If you come in expecting your life to completely

change, it’s not going to happen. But your confidence level is certainly going to be boosted.”

Trained at the Manchester Medical School achieving the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Surgery, he was the first in his family to become a doctor. He spent 14 years in Canada where he achieved a standing in paediatrics and general medicine for the Royal College of Physicians before going into surgical specialities and achieving a Royal College standing in general surgery and then a Royal College certification in plastic surgery.

He carried out cleft lip and palate operations in Canada and became a Fellow in Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. Back in the UK he became an expert in hand surgery at Leeds and was a Senior Registrar in Hull.

He still carries out reconstructive surgery for NHS cancer patients and helps burns victims, which he finds immensely rewarding. But his private practice is busier than ever - albeit with more minor procedures rather than large scale surgery - such as his version of the one-stitch facelift called the Define L Lift where scars are hidden in the hairline.

“These days people just want a subtle change, and they can’t afford the downtime off work,” he says, whilst admitting some people will may

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progress to other procedures. “They start off with botox or a filler, then they might have their eyes done, then they’ll get their breasts done, then a facelift.”

While breast surgery is the commonest procedure for women (augmentations far outweigh reductions), it’s baggy eyes and moobs that most concern men who now make up 25% of patients compared to 10% four years ago.

One of the biggest procedures is a body lift following massive weight loss, which can cost £10,000 to £15,000. “The problem can be that people don’t like themselves when they’re fat, they don’t like themselves when they’ve lost weight because of all the loose skin, and quite often they don’t like themselves after surgery because of the scars. It’s all about managing expectations and helping them build their confidence,” he says.

And, as he has immense charisma as well as expertise, we doubt that’s too much of a problem for him.

CO NTACT PAUL AT WOODL ANDS (0 1 3 2 5 ) 3 4 1 7 0 0 OR YARM (0 1 6 4 2 ) 7 94150 W W W.BM IH EALT HCARE.CO.U K/ WO O DLANDS

in association with

Feature

If you come in expecting your life to completely change, it’s not going to happen. But your confidence level is certainly going to be boosted

PHOTGRAPHY CARLA WHITTINGHAM may

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Feature

H E R E A R E SO ME O F O U R TO P S U MMER PICKS, AVAILAB LE IN STORE N OW.

SUMMER STAPLES

F

VERSACE BRIGHT CRYSTAL ABSOLU FRAGRANCE (90ML) £79.99

WOODEN BLOCK HEEL SUEDE COURT SHOES £228.99 PAUL SMITH SHOES

TIGER SELMA STUDDED ANIMAL PRINT CANVAS TOTE £328.99 MICHAEL KORS

WOMEN’S WHITE DIGITAL PRIN T FLORAL SWING DR ESS £133.99 PRETTY DRESS COMPANY

MAISON SCOTC H BLUE VOYAGE LIGHT WAS H MID RISE SKINNY JEANS£96. 99

WOMENS YELLOW OVERSIZE PLASTIC BUCKLE ARM GLASSES £113.99 MICHAEL KORS TRUE RE LIGION BLUE GRAC E SKINNY BOYFRIEND JEA NS £208.99

MULTI STR IP E LOW C UT SWIMSUIT £108.99 PAUL SMITH

LIGHT GREEN BLURRED FLORAL SWIMSUIT £68.99 TED B AKER

ASHION retailer Psyche has a new revamped ladieswear department offering everything you need for your summer wardrobe.

There’s a range of premium collections from Michael Kors, Paul Smith and Ted Baker and a brand-spanking new handbag and footwear area where you can stock up on this season’s hottest styles.

Psyche has also launched a new denim lounge following a return of ladies denimwear, featuring brands such as Armani Jeans, True Religion, Lee Jeans, Levis Revel and Curve ID. Paolo Capaldi, Marketing Manager at Psyche said: “Psyche is renowned for embracing change and constant innovation. These redesigns were borne from changes in consumer demand - predominantly indicated by a surge in high-end ladieswear sales.”

PSYCH E, L I NT H ORP E ROA D, MID D LESB ROUG H WWW. PSYC HE. CO. UK may

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in association with

Fashion & Beauty

Left t o ri g h t: L o n g l i n e B l a ze r £ 6 0 N ex t , Co l et t e f roc k £ 1 5 0 J aegar, Eye s had ow i n O range £ 1 2 .5 0 Ma c, L a nza rote ora nge bikin i £36 B o u x Ave n ue, Mo ra n ge l i p st i c k £ 15 M ac WORDS LIZ LAMB PHOTO HARKNESS PHOTOGRAPHY WWW.HARKNESSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM MODEL FRANCESCA HATCH MAKE UP ARTIST CARLY MUSLEH @ BEAUTYSAUCE

ORA NGE CRU SH Left t o ri g h t: Tren c h co a t £ 1 3 9 0 P P Q, J ui c y Cle me nt i ne li p s t i c k £ 1 9 .5 0 C lari n s , Oran ge s hi r t p l a y sui t £ 4 2 5 M a r y l i n g

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T

HINK bright, think orange this summer.

Tones of tangerine, clementine and coral all proved a hit on the catwalk making it THE trend of the season.

Go for bold, beautiful lips with Mac’s Morange or Clarins Rouge Eclat Juicy Clementine lipstick.

“Anyone can wear orange, you just need to find the right colour for your skin tone,” says make-up artist Carly Musleh, who runs the Beauty Source blog.

“Vivid and neon shades look great on darker skin tones, true and red-based orange looks beautiful on golden and tanned skin while tangerine or coral-based orange looks stunning on paler skin.”

Hair & Beauty in association with

Vintage glamour

F

underneath. Spraying hairspray on the top will weigh the hair down and it will not maintain the lift.

I then applied Oribe dry texturizing spray to the remainder of the hair and used my Babyliss Pro straighteners to curl the ends.

The look is versatile.You can pull the hair back into a ponytail and you can also twist the ponytail around making an elegant up do.”

OR the ultimate in sophistication this season keep make-up neutral and team with a Bardot-inspired beehive for a vintage-inspired look.

Hair stylist Kara Scott and make-up artist Amy Philipson of Rose and Bird reveal how to get the look.

Hair Kara says: “I’ve always adored Brigitte Bardot and took my hair inspiration from her. I wanted to incorporate her iconic beehive style into the theme for this look which was Amaranthine meaning ‘eternally beautiful’.

“Model Ellen had beautiful long hair which was great to work with. I began by applying a pea sized amount of ‘Small Talk’ by Tigi, which gave the hair some ‘grab’ ready for backcombing. I then started to create the beehive. When backcombing, it’s important to use a good quality tail comb and hold the hair correctly. It should be lifted straight up in the hair away from the root. Then, it should be angled forward slightly and pulled tight. Short, quick strokes on the underside of the root create the strongest hold, and then fix with a little hairspray on the may

Make Up Amy says: “I wanted the makeup to complement the vintage Bardotstyle hair and the feminine clothes used in the shoot. Our model had delicate features and I wanted to subtly enhance them with a smokey eye, contoured cheekbones and a nude lip.

To achieve this I first created flawless skin by applying Laura Mercier radiance primer all over followed by Bobbi Brown correct, conceal & cover using the BBU palette. The cheeks were contoured using Nars 'Laguna' bronzer and finished with a flush of Mac blush in 'Rosy Outlook' adding a pretty flush to the cheeks.

For the smokey eye the key is to blend well so that there are no visible harsh lines - to do this I gradually built up the Mac eyeshadow in

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Hair & Beauty

Dr. Beautiful Dear Dr Beautiful Q. I’m 35 but my eyes make me look 70. I’m left with deep hollows underneath both eyes and everyone commenting on how tired I look!

I’ve considered surgery but that costs £3,000 and I don’t want to do something that drastic. What can else can be done?

Claire, 33, from Ponteland A. Deep hollows under the eyes are also know as “tear troughs” and these can occur from an accumulation of fat around the eye bags causing them to sag, loss of the elasticity of the skin and even bone loss from around the eye socket as we age.

A quick ten minute solution can be achieved with “the tear trough treatment”. The procedure involves carefully injecting a filler above the bone of the eye socket, which is massaged into the hollows beneath the eye to plump up the hollows, blending dark circles into the cheekbones giving instant results which can last up to nine months.

COST FROM £350

Extra Dr Beautiful hot tip

Make your eyes look extra youthful and seductive with long, thick and luscious lashes. Many over the counter lash serum products don’t work and can feel like a waste of money but investing in a prescription eye lash serum from your cosmetic doctor can give you amazingly long thick and dark lashes – complementing your new eyes and never needing falsies again 'Corduroy' towards the brows using the Mac 217 blending brush.

The eyes were then lined and smudged with Mac Kohl pencil in 'Smolder' and finished with 'They're Real' Benefit mascara.

Just a slick of Mac Mineralize Rich 'Luxe Natural' lipstick completed the look.”

PRODUCT AMALIAN LASH SERUM (PRESCRIPTION ONLY) COST £100 FOR 5 MONTH’S SUPPLY

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WILL D O HIS BEST TO REP LY.

HAIR KARA SCOTT WWW.KARASCOTTHAIRSTYLIST.CO.UK MAKE UP AMY AT ROSE & BIRD WWW.ROSEANDBIRD.CO.UK MODEL ELLEN HARDIE OF TYNE TEES MODELLING WWW.TYNETEESMODELS.CO.UK PHOTOGRAPHER LEIGH ELLIOTT STYLIST RACHEL CAMPBELL

PLEASE NOTE: THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS PAGE IS BY LE BEAU IDEAL. THIS IS SUGGESTED ADVICE. FOR SERIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS OR FURTHER ADVICE CONSULT YOUR GP OR AESTHETIC PHYSICIAN. may

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Feature

INT RO D U C I N G O U R FA BU LO U S NE W COLU M N I S T M I CH ELLE TAY LO R , OWN ER OF LU X URY L I N G E RIE LINE TA LLU LA H LOVE, WH O E AC H I SSU E WILL BE TA LK ING TO A ND C E L EB R AT I N G C RE ATIV E FO LK FRO M AROUND T H E R EG I O N .

T H IS EDI T I O N , OU R LOVE LY TA LLU LAH TALKS TO A RT I S T JE N N IFE R LA MBE RT.

L

OOKING just as stunning as one of the subjects in her portraits, artist Jennifer Lambert is all sparkly eyes and dewy skin.

Effortlessly stylish with a warm and graceful presence, we meet in the sumptuous surroundings of The Redwood bar of Newcastle’s Vermont Hotel.

Jennifer is the new kid on the block in the UK and international art scene.

Despite being a relative newcomer, the mum-of-two’s artwork is already catching the eye of fashion brands, entrepreneurs and TV chiefs from across the world.

“I like to draw cool A-list celebrities to stunning models,” says the mum-of-two from Whitley Bay. “Eyes and hair are my favourite parts of the face to focus on. When you look closely at a face you can pick up on every little detail.”

Her favourite and most highly-regarded drawing is her study of the devilishly handsome movie star Johnny Depp.

In just over a year drawing has gone from a hobby to a thriving business. The use of social media has seen Jen’s work be appreciated by many with her absolute attention to almost-photographic detail.

Her followers are mesmerised with each new study, as she teases them with the progress of her detailed creations.

“With channels like Facebook and Instagram it’s easier to get noticed,” says the artist. “I started posting my work and people responded really well and I started to receive commission work straight away.

“A lot of my family have creative careers. My mother can draw and is an interior designer, my uncle and grandfather are artists and my brother-in-law is a graphic designer, so I grew up alongside very talented people.”

Blissfully married to chef Greg, Jen spends her time walking by the sea, sketching and being a super-creative mam to her young sons, six-yearold Joel and two-year-old Brody.

In the future she’d like to establish her art career further creating much larger detailed studies and exhibiting in galleries.

‘I recently entered a BBC artist competition which will be aired on TV,” says Jen. “I was completely stunned to get a call back so I’m waiting to hear if I get through, fingers crossed.”

I’m also getting my Tallulah knickers in a twist with the excitement that Jen is also collaborating with some top designer fashion brands too.

It’s all top secret at the moment but watch this space fashionistas! I will reveal all as soon as I can. may

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TO SEE JEN N IFER LA MB ERT ’S WO RK YOU C A N FOLLOW HER ON FAC E BOO K WWW. FAC EB OOK. COM/ JEN N IF E RL A M BE RTA RT OR IN STAG R A M JEN LA MB ERT77 O R S HOP ONL I NE AT WWW. ETSY. COM/ UK/ SHOP/ JEN NI F E RL A M BE RTA R

J ENNIFER L AMBERT, L EFT, W IT H HER DESI GNS, ABOVE 2014

Promotion

BAC K YOUR W I N N I NG LOOK AT

Dalton Park G E T O N S T UNNING FO RM FO R N E WC A S T L E R AC E S W ITH S MA RT, S T Y L I SH LO O K S FRO M T HE R E G I O N ’ S FAVO U RITE S H O P P I N G O UTLE T

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E’RE now under starter’s orders for two of the biggest sporting events of the season as Newcastle Racecourse gets ready for the Northumberland Plate Festival in June and Beeswing Ladies Day in July. Apart from the thrill of the race, these two premier meetings have become a highlight of the north-east social calendar where the visitor code is definitely ‘dress to impress’. We’re talking ultra smart men and glamorous ladies – top to toe – so no reining in on the small details!

Men

– for your top race day outfit, visit Jeff Banks, Moss or Suit Direct at Dalton Park, where you’ll find a range of stunning smart co-ordinates at up to 50% off the normal high

street prices. This season’s key look is the suit – but updated with a choice of fits - so check out the style that will get you noticed! The ‘Slim Fit’ with shorter jacket length is a big catwalk favourite this season. This new ‘attitude’ suit is trimmed down to give a leaner body silhouette complete with narrower chest, waist and sleeves and slimmer lapels. Tapered trousers complement the leaner look. The ‘Tailored Fit’ offers a smart, flattering look with mid-line jacket and nipped waist. The trousers are slightly tapered to give a stylish but easier look. And the ‘Regular Fit’ is for men who prefer a classically comfortable look with wider-fit, longer length jacket and straight leg trouser. And remember – white and lighter coloured suits are as cool as black and navy this season – and stick to single breasted or one or two button styles.

Now for those extra touches. Go one step further and upgrade to three-piece with a matching waistcoat – leave the bottom button undone for ultra-style and wear a pocket fob watch for sheer decadence! You also need to pay extra attention to shirts and ties. Go for a crisp white or pastel from Moss or Suit Direct – or opt for a more contemporary jazzy look with minute monochrome pin check or

miniature floral designs from Studio at Jeff Banks. And the tie needs to match the fit of your jacket – so choose a narrower width for your ‘Slim Fit’ jacket.

Leave the bottom button undone for ultra-style and wear a pocket fob watch for sheer decadence!

CO M P E T I T I O N :

WIN £ 1 00 TO SPEND ON U P DATING YOUR WA RDROBE WITH DA LTON PAR K We’re offering one lucky reader the chance to win a £100 gift card to spend at Dalton Park on a fabulous suit or smart coordinates at Jeff Banks, Moss or Suit Direct or for the ladies how about a new dress in this season’s bold colours from Joseph?

To win this fabulous prize all you have to do is answer: In which County Durham town is Dalton Park?

E-mail your answer to: competitions@ladida.co.uk stating your full name, age, address, contact number.

RIGH T M OSS T E D B A K E R TAILORE D F IT BLUE D UCKE G G S UI T RRP £279 N OW £2 2 9

Deadline for entries is Monday June 16 2014 at 12 noon. The winner will be picked at random and will be notified with four weeks of the competition deadline. No cash alternative is available.

For full terms and conditions visit www.laddida.co.uk

FA R RI GHT M OSS VENTUN O 21 S L IM F I T FAD E D B LUE S UI T R R P £249 N OW £179 (FREE S H IRT A ND T I E) may

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Fashion

IN VEST I N S O M E K EY PIECES F O R YO U R SUM M ER WAR DRO B E WITH OUR FAVO U R I TE H IG H ST R EET H AV EN . LI Z LAM B PRES EN TS TH E LATEST S EAS O N COLLECTI O N F RO M N EX T.

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pend lazy summer days dressed in denim shorts and lightweight summer knits or opt for a pretty floral playsuit that will see you from day to

night.

Suitcase essentials include a soft denim frock decorated with white flowers that will keep you cool as well as stylish as you wander along the beach.

Or how about a skater dress in pale pink to flatter your figure. Team with wedges for a sophisticated night-time look or wear with flats and shades for the ultimate in day time style.

Dress up in a delicate lace dress in the softest shade of pink or show off your tan in a floral print frock that looks great teamed with heels and a silver clutch, perfect for a wedding or a day at the races.

Whatever the occasion, the latest high summer collection from NEXT has everything you need for summer sophistication.

HIGH

Summer HIT LIST

may

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Fashion

opposite this page P r i n t e d Shi f t Dre ss Ne c k lace T- B ar S and als Clut c h Bag

£45 £10 £28 £24

LEF T Dre ss £ 4 5 Ne c k lace £ 3 5 RIG H T F loral Dre ss £ 3 0 H at £ 1 8

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Fashion

this page opposite LEF T F l o ra l P r i nt P lay s ui t £ 2 8 Ta n We ave Wai s t Be lt £ 1 5 S ue d e Fr i n ge Duf f le Bag £ 5 0

Lace Dre ss £ 5 0 S and als £ 3 5

RIG H T S we at e r £ 2 8 D e ni m S hor t s £ 2 0

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Fashion

credits A ll clo t h e s s u p p l ie d by N ex t w w w. next . co. uk Next h a s s t ore s t h rou g h ou t th e N ort h East .

Fo r s to re l o c a t i o n s v i si t w w w. n ex t.co.uk Ph o t og ra p h y M a r ie H a r k n e ss a t H a r k n e ss P h o t og ra phy www. h a a r ke ssp h o t o g ra p h y. co m M ake u p L o D ia s a t T h e B e a u t y B o m www. th e b e a u t y b o m . co m H ai r K a ra Sco t t H a i r S t y l i s t www. k a ra s co t t h a i rst yl i st . co . u k M o del Sa ra h E l k i n a t Ty n e Te e s Mo d e l s www. ty n e t e e sm o d e l s. co . u k Sh o t o n l oc a t ion a t G u y za n ce H a l l, an exclu s i ve 8 0 0 a c re cou n t ry e s ta t e i n No r t h u m b e rl a n d .

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Fashion

I Love My...

A

FABULOUS fashionista with a wardrobe to die for, Natalie Cooper has a serious shoe and handbag habit. But, out of all her legions of bags, one little beauty occupies a very special place in her heart and her wardrobe....

Her vintage Chanel Flap bag was her first major classic designer purchase when she worked in London on Elle Online and Sugar Magazine. Joining the magazine as a new graduate from the prestigious St Martin’s Fashion Journalism course, it took many months of pay cheques to acquire her dream bag.

“I spotted the bag at Brompton Cross and I just had to have it,” she explains. “It was a fashion essential and I knew it would be an investment piece but the truth is I just fell in love with it.”

Even when she had saved the money, buying the bag proved far from easy.

“I phoned up and checked they had it in stock in Bond Street when I finally had the money to buy it and I went down there before getting

a train back to Darlington but when I got there it wasn’t in stock after all. I just remember sitting on the train home being so disappointed.”

When she did finally get to own her dream bag, it attracted a lot of attention.

“My friends love it, of course, but I was really pleased when the Editor of Elle said ‘you can’t go wrong with that bag’. It goes everywhere with me but I don’t travel overseas with it, it just feels wrong to put it on an airplane, it could get damaged.”

The bag has gone up significantly in value since Natalie’s London days, not that she intends to part with it. She now heads up the uber fabulous designer Houndgate Townhouse in Darlington, a family business but she still retains her passion for fashion.

“I get a lot of my look online, especially jewellery like Lizzie Fortunato Jewels, who are two amazing twins who have their own jewellery line. I often buy from American sites like HampdenClothing.com. And I love my fashion magazines. I saw an advert with a Mulberry bag on a beach andI fell in love may

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WORDS LINDA JANE WESTPHAL PHOTOGRAPHY WWW.GASPPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK LOCATION HOUNDGATE TOWNHOUSE, DARLINGTON MUA JO LEVERSUCH WWW.MAKEUPBYJO.CO.UK

with that as well and bought it. Hermes is a bit stuffy for me, I don’t like to be too polished, I always look a bit scratty.”

It was Natalie’s love of accessories that got her the job at Elle Online initially when the interviewer could see how passionate she was about handbags, shoes and jewellery and read a feature about them on Natalie’s blog.

“It was a great job for someone who loves fashion. One of my tasks was to sort out the fashion cupboard which I loved. It was really tiny but full of fabulous accessories and as it was next to the Inside Soap newsdesk, I got all the gossip.”

She also interviewed a lot of the top celebrities including doing a cover shoot with Taylor Swift.

“She was really down to earth and grounded but knew exactly how she wanted to be portrayed, she was very savvy even in her early twenties,” says Natalie.

A comment that could equally be applied to Natalie, who, while the rest of us were spending money on cocktails and going out, had the good sense to invest in Chanel.

Fashion

My style.

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY GAYNA MILLICAN

NAME:

Lesley Lister FROM: Northumberland Describe your style: I like so many styles. At home I am a bit of a plain Jane, I love nothing more than my jogging bottoms and my hubbies oversized hoodies with my Barbour for walking the dog, it’s like a quilt. For work I like a bold, nicely cut, power dress and when I go out I like to stay elegant and classy.

About me: I’m MD of Tyne Tees Models which was established in 1994. I am a mum- of-four and grandmother to a very active twoyear-old little lady. I do have a busy lifestyle with managing several businesses, attending events and looking after a family.

However I endeavour to keep my weekends work free. It doesn’t always happen but business is fickle and you have to grab every opportunity you can.

Working in the fashion industry where image is everything, I try to look after myself. I eat fairly well, with occasional ‘let your hair down days’ (what fun would it be otherwise) and I exercise regularly.

I love my job, but working in ‘the people business’ can be very stressful. I’m a great believer, ‘you get out what you put in’ and ‘it’s nice to be nice’, although some of my close friends would tell you I’m too nice at times and I need to be a little more ruthless.

I go to church on Sundays, my star sign is Cancer to which I totally live up to, as my family would describe me as a ‘feeder & nurturer’.

Fave designers: I like Nine West, especially in the shoe department, but I don't have a favourite clothes designer. I like what I like and what will suit my body shape and my colours. Colours really can transform your attire, they can make you look younger and healthier.

Fave high street stores: Anywhere I can buy extra-long legs, Next, M&S, Topshop.

Fave labels: Weekend MaxMara, Linea at House of Fraser and Topshop Tall.

Your fail-safe outfit: Little Black Dress, but isn't that every ones? I've had mine for ages and it still looks modern and smart.

It’s from LK Bennett.

Outfit that you feel amazing in: I have a few jumpsuits and I always feel great in them.

My favourite is backless, with a huge bow around the neck, it just seems to flow as I walk and it’s totally me. I bought it on a business trip to China. may

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Fave accessories and why: I don't do accessories as much as I should and I know that if they are done well, they will complement and highlight your finest points. Having said that I don't often leave the house without my watch.

The green ring and bracelet, I bought in Rome from an antique shop. It’s like the crystal 'Malachite' and green is my favourite colour. I do like statement pieces and when I'm away if I decide to treat myself it’s usually to a piece of jewellery.

The coloured shoes are by Terry De Havilland. I picked this little bargain up from a friend’s house party.

The leopard print shoes and bag I purchased from Banana Republic.

I'm not great in high heels but the wedge still makes me feel dressed.

The scarf belongs to my daughter, but I do like to borrow it. I like the nude colour more than the skulls, but it’s a lovely scarf from Firetrap.

My favourite boots are from LK Bennett, but I was devastated when Primark brought out a brilliant copy last year.

Feature

Verity &Violet ONE FOR YOUR

SPEED DIAL...

S UPER TA L EN T E D A ND FA BU LO U S LY D RESSED, VERITY & VIOLET AR E A VIN TAG E- I N S PI R ED S IN G I N G AC T T H AT A RE S E RIO U S LY IN D EMAND.

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HEY have performed at London Fashion Week, The Ritz, The Savoy and The Cannes Film Festival and their biggest fan is none other than Sex and The City actress Kim Cattrall.

The girls-whose real names are Jessica Dolman and Loui Batley- have held a residency at the uberexclusive Quaglino’s restaurant in Mayfair, London and this year will perform in Marrakesh and The Antibes as well as headlining their own concert in the capital.

Blonde singer Jess hails from Newcastle and attended Church High school before moving to London to train as an actress. Here she met Loui, a former actress on Hollyoaks.

The pair became best friends and a few years later, after attending a 1940s Blitz night, they dreamed up the idea of Verity & Violet after a few glasses of rose in the local pub.

“We’re a sparkling vintage-inspired vocal duo,” explains Jess.” Mixing the old with the new. “With a huge passion for fashion and all things fabulous.” may

When they performed at London Fashion Week fashionistas declared they were ‘set for stardom’.

Verity & Violet are truly unique: “It was only the other day that a client, who we weren't available for, was offering to double our fee as they couldn't find anything like us,” say Jess. “What it is I'm not sure.

Two girls. High fashion. We can do pure 40s, pure 20s. Or a crazy mix of all of the above.”

And what of Kim Cattrall?

“She was at our gig at The Old Vic,” says the singer. “She was so lovely, blowing us kisses and giving us a big smile. She tweeted us too! So lovely of her to show support. She's a mega star. All girls love Sex and The City don't they?”

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VER ITY & VIOLET WWW. VER ITYA NDVI O L E T. COM

2014

gent.

Stylish separates

Grooming

Dressing for success

W E G I V E YO U THE LOW DOW N O N E F F O RTLE SS S TY LE

LA D I DA TESTS OUT A CLARINS FACIAL

TH E 12 RULES YOU R EA LLY NEED TO F OLLOW

PHOTOGRAPHY MARIE HARKNESS PHOTOGRAPHY WWW.HARKNESSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM MODEL OWEN BULL @ TYNE TEES MODELS HAIR SEAN PEACOCK @ HUGH’S AT PALLION CLOTHING TUXEDO AND SHIRT, BOTH KARL JACKSON BOW TIE: NEXT SCARF: HOUSE OF SCOTLAND LOCATION/SHOT FOR BL HAIRDRESSING SUNDERLAND may

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MODEL LEWIS JAMISON @ TYNE TEES MODELS, NEMESIS MODEL AGENCY (MANCHESTER) & MAVERICK MODEL (AUSTRALIA)

PHOTOGRAPHY HARKNESS PHOTOGRAPHY. WWW. HARTSOESSPHOTOGRAPBY.COM

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MR EFFORTLESS

OP T F O R E F F O RT L ESS S T Y L E T H I S S U MME R WI TH A WARD ROBE OF ULT R A-CO O L SE PA R AT E S . T H ROW O N A L I G H TWE I G HT K N I T, S E X I T U P WI TH A P I NST R IPE B L A Z E R OR M A K E L I K E J A M E S D EA N W I TH A D E N I M JAC K E T AN D A C RI S P, G R E Y T E E .

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JUMPER TOPMAN

PINSTRIPE SUIT JACKET CALVIN KLEIN

T-SHIRT H&M, COAT BARCELONA, SUNGLASSES RAY-BAN CLUBMASTER

T-SHIRT H&M, DENIM JACKET PULL & BEAR

JUMPER TOPMAN, COAT BARCELONA, JEANS H&M;

CLOTHING (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT)

T H E K E Y I S TO LO O K L I K E YO U JU S T G OT U P AN D THRE W I T AL L TOG E T H E R .

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S CE NTS SK IN BLIT Z FOR BOYS OF A MA N WORDS MARK BURNS CASSELL

T U R N H E AD S W I T H O U R SE L E C T I O N O F S C E N TS FO R S U M M E R SPICE BOMB VIKTOR & ROLF £76.50

ARMANI EAU DU NUIT £48.50

HUGO BOSS ORANGE £38.99

T HI S I SS U E OU R RE VI E WE R TE S TS O U T A C L ARI N S FAC I AL

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ESPITE being a chap who looks after himself, I was a men’s facial virgin before receiving my communiqué from La Di Da Towers. My mission?

To experience the Clarins Men’s Skin Blitz at Fenwick, Newcastle.

On arrival I was welcomed by Claire before being whisked away from the crowds into Clarins’ own in-house spa.

Comfy leather chairs, lots of fresh greenery, but best of all, total calm. I was given some ice cold water and taken into a private spa booth – where I was greeted by a heated treatment chair, a cosy duvet, and fresh towels to tuck myself between. I slipped between the sheets and was given time to wind down before my consultation with Claire.

The treatment was bespoke to my skin type, and began with warmed eye pillows, a relaxing oil massage and some deep breathing to wind down.

The room was a perfect temperature and the soft pan pipe music created an atmosphere of pure bliss.

To begin Claire applied a skin exfoliation cleanser made using bison grass to gently scrub away dead skin and re-energise my skin tissue. She incorporated anti-fatigue serum, toner, rejuvenating eye serum and a double serum – the number one toning serum product on the market, she advised – containing pistachio, lemon grass and katafray bark to moisturize and hydrate.

Hot mitts were applied to remove treatments between applications and I was also given a scalp massage, then a hand, arm, and shoulder massage too.

I was given time afterward to come back round into the world again then Claire talked me through the products she’d used, giving me a chance to snap up some of the amazing treatments she’d used – though there was no pushiness; frankly, after the treatment, the products sell themselves.

I floated out of the spa feeling like a new, and very beautiful, man. I’m not sure if every other person in Fenwick did stop in their tracks and drop their jaws in amazement at my beaming radiance, or if that was just my imagination – but I’ll certainly be back for another treatment.

The Clarins Men’s Skin Blitz is £46 for a 65 minute treatment. Block-booking gets you five treatments for the price of four, and for two months of the year Clarins offer the chance to buy four treatments and get two free.

VERSACE EROS £59.99

AL L AVA IL ABL E AT W W W. T H E P E R FU MESH OP.COM

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My style.

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY GAYNA MILLICAN

Patrick Forster AGE: 31 J O B T IT L E : Owner of Patrick Forster Barber & Shop, High Bridge, Newcastle. 0191 222 1296 N A ME:

Favourite designers: Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Thomas Pink.

Favourite high street stores: Zara, Cos, Reiss.

Favourite labels: Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Nike.

My fail-safe outfit: It would be pair of Reiss oxblood shoes,a pair of Zara slim fit dark jeans, LV belt, black Boss shirt and a Zara jacket.

Outfit I feel amazing in: A Hugo Boss suit or a fresh Nike tracksuit for chilling in.

Favourite accessories and why? It would be my LV belts and money holder.

About me:

9-5

I’ve worked in hairdressing for 17 years both in Newcastle and Dubai. I opened my first shop in Newcastle but designed it for men that want a salon haircut but in a men's environment. We have beers, whiskeys, X-box's and great haircuts. It's a social barber shop where guys feel at home or part of a club. We also showcase and sell apparel and gifts. It’s a real man cave. may

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RULES OF DRESSING FOR SUCCESS TO PAR AP H R A SE CO CO C H A N E L , D R E SS S H A B B I LY A N D T H E Y REM EM BER THE CLOT H E S, D R E SS IM P E CC A B LY A N D T H E Y R E M E MB E R T H E M A N .

GEN T L E M A N ’ S E D ITO R A N D R E W S M I T H D I S C U SS E S T H E E T I Q U ETTE OF D R E SS I N G F O R T H AT M A K E O R B R E A K B U S I N E SS ME E T I N G . . .

1. Don’t dress for fashion Fashion is driven by change, style remains constant.

2. Do dress for your body shape

I T ’S A G A M E T H AT C AT E RS F OR I N D I V I D U A L I S M BU T T HE RE ARE S O M E S I M P L E BA S I C R U L E S ;

This is key, buy the suit that suits you not the person who inspired you. The right suit can make you look like you were born for it - think about what will suit you. If you don’t know, engage a tailor, they will. If you are blessed with a full neck, avoid a tie if possible, a smart shirt with an open collar will look fine, if the occasion fits. If you are on the larger side, avoid double breasted, it just accentuates your size. If you are short of stature go with two buttons, it will elongate your body. may

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3. Select the right cloth

8. Handmade Shirts.

Select a cloth that will work with your skin tone. Navy and Gray are two safe options, a Prince of Wales check can give a degree of subtle flair.

Pin and chalk stripes complement height while flannel works well for autumn and spring – but it will wear thin, so use it as an occasional suit.

Tweed will travel well – but a heavy tweed suit is often intended for outdoors, you will need long johns to avoid it feeling like a hair shirt.

Select a weight of cloth that suits its purpose. Is it an evening dinner? Are you a bouncer? No, then avoid black.

The right fit is of paramount importance. A good off the peg shirt from a Jermyn street shirt maker can cost just shy of £100, and yet you can get a custom shirt for as little as £150 in Savile Row or try some of our excellent local tailors.You can seek advice and select the weight of cloth required for the job at hand, resulting in something that will stand you in good stead for many a year.

4. Get the right collar Club collars are currently fashionable, oft’ being seen attached to boy band members’ necks, prior to which they were often seen as part of the uniform of a well heeled school boy. A forward point has a military look and suits the more rounded face. An English spread will accommodate a Windsor knot and will give a traditional ‘English look’ (it’s an American term). A cut away collar, again somewhat fashionable. It supports a huge tie knot, but the collar doesn’t work with the fuller face.

5. Invest wisely

9. The right watch.

There are so many watches available from the simple to the ‘smart’. They are often designed to serve a purpose other than telling the time and the thing to consider ‘is this incongruous with how I want to be perceived?’.

Go for something simple, something elegant, and something Anti-breitling (unless you fly to work). Try to ensure the metals of the watch complement other accessories, and if it’s a leather strap, ensure its colour complements your foot wear.You don’t have to break the bank; Longines Grand Classics will work splendidly as would an IWC Portuguese.

10. The rules regarding ties.

Less is more, don’t try to coordinate all your colours but avoid clashes. Keep it simple, from the watch face to the belt buckle; do ensure that leathers and metals work with the shoes, the wallet and the brief case. Be bold with the tie and the pochette – a darker suit can benefit from bright bold colours.

Are you a footballer? No? Then your tie knot should not be visible from a space station. Nor should it be fastened with a four-in-hand knot, it makes you look like a school boy - the exception to this is if you are wearing a knitted tie, then it’s casual asymmetry works well. Go with a half or full Windsor for simple elegance, the symmetry of the full Windsor is neat and professional, working well with a cutaway collar.

The tie should cover the button row and hang to about 1 cm above your belt – and should not be tucked into your trousers unless you are under 12 years of age.

If you wear a tie bar, it should rest in the middle of the shirt and should reach to circa ¾ of the ties width.

7. Get a tailor.

11. Collars, cuffs and lapels

The essential element in looking impeccably dressed, is that your clothes fit you. This doesn’t mean bespoke, made to measure can be a quick and effective approach if you wish to build up a wardrobe without too much time and investment.

Lapels, often over looked but key, nevertheless. There are, in essence 3 typesshawl, notch or peak. With notched – you can’t go wrong, it suits all body types. Peak, formal, works well with a double breast or pinstripe it adds height to a figure and a

Better to buy a number of suits than just the one. A good wardrobe should have winter tweed, autumn flannels, a couple of lounge suits (a blue and a grey), along with some linen for dressing down.

6. Accessorise wisely

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slimming effect. Shawl, somewhat fashionable at the moment, it appears somewhat informal, though works well on a tuxedo. Best avoided if you have rounded face or body – it will emphasise it.

12. Shoes A quick look at someone’s shoes can tell you a lot about them - the quality and the style will inform a lot giving an insight into temperament and judgement. Go for British, handmade and sensible if possible - if not, then Italian is a sensible choice.

Wear something appropriate to the season and the event (oxfords - formal, loafers semiformal, brogues. Chelsea boots for inclement weather). Consider the colours of the accessories, the tones should complement the cloth colours and be consistent.

W H EN YO U C A N SAFELY B R E A K T H E RUL E S There are primarily five occasions when you can break the rules.

1.When in the USA where it is considered acceptable to wear a navy sports jacket (with brass buttons) and ‘chinos’ – a faux pas will most likely be overlooked even when ‘high fiving’.

2. Nudist colonies/beaches – focus on tie length rather than the knot, no one will notice the latter.

3. Drinking alcohol whilst stood outside a public house – it’s common place in the summer these days - so kick back and remove your tie, showing the world your relaxed state. There are benefits of this disguise as the absence of your tie minimises the risk of people recognising you, your regiment or school, you are effectively undercover.

4. Sporting events where you can ‘mix it up’ with an ascot or cravat, sports jacket and twills.

5. When you are dead.

Feature

Kids 1st Bowesfield When only the best is good enough for the little one in your life.

At Kids 1st we look after your child as our own, delivering the highest quality of childcare in a safe and secure environment.

Here are just some of the reasons that you will love Kids 1st Bowesfield: • Purpose-built nursery • Nutritious, homemade meals • Dedicated Pre-School • Large, exciting outdoor play areas • CCTV and Fingerprint Security • French and Dance classes • Coffee to Go Breakfast Service

Opens July 2014

But don’t take our word for it... come along and see for yourself.

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Cygnet Drive, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3DZ

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Kids 1st Bowesfield

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Also located at Wynyard Park.

The Highest Quality Childcare Provider in the UK 2011 - 2013 Nursery World

kids1st.net

0191 461 8877 may

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SUITCASE ESSENTIAL These super-cute bikini and flip flops are perfect for beach holidays abroad. The pink contrast bikini is priced £21.99 and available in ages 2-5 while the bow detail flip flops are £11.99 and available in sizes 25, 27 and 29.

Both are by Billieblush at Psyche, Middlesbrough www.psyche.co.uk

E AC H EDI T I ON W E ’ LL BE B R I N G I N G YO U A LL THE L AT ES T N EW S FO R THE L IT T L E O N E I N YO U R LIFE .

WORDS LIZ LAMB

PUSHCHAIRS FIT FOR A DUCHESS There’s no trickier decision when you are a mum-to-be than which pushchair to buy your new arrival.

Which brand do you buy? What’s reliable?

Much like fashion, celebrities are now aiding pushchair sales by making a style statement with their choice of buggy. Such as the Duchess of Cambridge who purchased a Bugaboo pushchair in pale blue for little George. Other fans of the uber trendy brand, which is popular among yummy mummies, are Victoria Beckham, Gywneth Paltrow and Sienna Miller. The good news is that Bugaboo is available here in the North East and the brand has just launched a new line in collaboration with Andy Warhol featuring his striking banana print.

Available at John Lewis, Fenwick, Mothercare North Shields, Harrogate and Gateshead, Watts & Sons in Middlesbrough and Newbles in Seaham.

For more information visit www.bugaboo.com

DESIGNER THREADS FOR MINI-ME Do your little ones like to look as stylish as you? Then pop into the brand-spanking new childrenswear department at Psyche in Middlesbrough. Shop from brands such as Chloe, Polo Ralph Lauren, Barbour and Hugo Boss Kids in specially-designated areas such as the Psyche Junior section or the ultracolourful baby area.

MUST BUY We love this floral quilted jacket from Barbour.

Not only is it colourful and warm but it’s stylish too. The Girl’s Mae Summer Liddesdale.

Quilted Jacket is priced £89.95 www.barbour.com may

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PRINCESS PARTIES If you have a little Princess in your life then she’ll love the new Princess Club at As You Like It in Jesmond. Held once a month, on a Sunday, little ones arrive dressed as their favourite Princess before being treated to a Princess tea party with sandwiches and fairy cakes. There are etiquette lessons from three of their favourite Princess characters, as well as storytelling, themed games, face painting, glitter tattoos and pixie dust and autographed photo for each little Princess. The next event is on May 25 with the Mermaid Princess, the 1st Princess Sophia and the Sleeping Princess.

Tickets £20 per Princess including lunch and drinks and £10 per adults including lunch.

Booking in advance is essential.

Call (0191) 281 2277

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KIDS 1 S T H AS BE E N C ITE D A S O NE OF TH E B EST N UR SERIES IN TH E COUN TRY AN D I S O N E O F T H E M O S T E XC LU S IV E A ND S O U GHT AFTER NURSERIES IN TH E REGION . AS IT CELEB R ATES I TS 1 0 T H Y E A R WI TH A FA BU LO U S NE W OPEN IN G , LINDA JANE WEST P HAL FIND S O U T M O R E…

We are keen that the children get to sit around a table and have a proper family style meal at lunchtime and they absolutely love it

I

F you see well behaved children, bright, happy and able to easily socialise with impeccable table manners with more than a passing knowledge of French, the chances are you’re looking at graduates of Kids 1st Nurseries.

For the last three years running, they have been named as the Highest Quality Childcare Provider in the UK

by Nursery World and with a clutch of outstanding Ofsted awards, it is the waiting list for these nurseries which really tells the story of Kids 1st commitment to excellence.

Celebrating their 10th year, the company is opening its 10th nursery this summer, Kids 1st Bowesfield, in Cygnet Drive, Stockton-OnTees. This is definitely one to have on speedial before all the places get snapped up.

A marketing suite will be opening in May and June at the nursery by appointment only and it will open in July this year.

The attention to detail and the offer for children is stellar. As well as French and dance classes and a multitude of other subjects, each nursery has a dedicated Chef and Housekeeper. Menus are reviewed seasonally at Kids 1st and children are encouraged to sit together for lunch in groups of six or seven.

The aim is to teach them how to use cutlery properly, have good table manners and socialise them so they are prepared for school and dining out with parents.

“We are keen that the children get to sit around a table and have a proper family style meal at lunchtime and they absolutely love it,” explains Kids 1st Head of Childcare Allison Winship. “We feel it’s an ideal time to teach them the importance of sitting down to enjoy meals and to gain the skills which will serve them so well when they go to school and in later life.

“We often get schools commenting that they know which children have been to our nurseries because our children are so at ease in all types of social and formal situations and have excellent dining manners.

The pre school preparation is a key part of Kids 1st ethos. They spend a lot of time on the pre school element in all different ways and may

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feel it’s a vital part of a child’s development and helping them transition from nursery to school.

“One of the major things we believe in which really benefits the children is that we progress the child based on their individual performance from room to room. When we feel they are ready and happy, we will move them onto the next room. This means they are relaxed, confident and happy about meeting new children and leaving friends behind which is key to ensure a successful transition into school where they may not be with friends from nursery, “explains Allison.

And, as part of their healthy lifestyle policy, children are encouraged to play outside in the gardens as much as possible and, showing the usual Kids 1st attention to detail, they even have their own all weather suits to ensure they can enjoy outdoor activity despite the season.

SP EED D I A L Kids 1st Bowesfield Cygnet Drive, Stockton-On-Tees, TS18 3DZ (0191) 4618877 www.kids1st.net

ANDY WARHOL + BUGABOO

THE BANANA COLLECTION AVAILABLE AS COMPLETE BUGABOO CAMELEON 3, FOOTMUFF & SEAT LINER ©/®/tm The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.

kids

Luxury for little ones WORDS LIZ LAMB

T

REAT your little prince or princess to gorgeous new garments that ooze luxury.

Leading British brand Plum of London lovingly create clothes made from pure Royal Alpaca yarn which is known for its high-end quality.

The company is the brainchild of Hexhamborn designer and Northumbria University lecturer Hugo Douglass who wanted to launch a label that was both ethical and luxurious.

After working in design in London then for a Northumberland designer, Hugo researched various yarns and found alpaca was far more superior to others available on the market.

Alpaca is hypoallergenic, extremely durable and is as soft yet finer than cashmere. Other benefits include excellent thermal qualities and the yarn is virtually water repellent. “I realised that no one was manufacturing alpaca in Britain so I saw the perfect opportunity to work closely with British mills and create luxurious and contemporary designed alpaca products and clothing,� says Hugo.

The range includes knitwear for both boys and girls and super-cute booties for babies.

Plum of London has also started offering garments for grown-ups too.

VI S I T WWW. PLUM O F LOND ON. CO M FOR M ORE D E TA I L S may

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ANDY WARHOL + BUGABOO

THE BANANA COLLECTION AVAILABLE AS COMPLETE BUGABOO CAMELEON3, FOOTMUFF & SEAT LINER AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME IN FENWICK, NEWCASTLE ©/®/tm The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.

From Afternoon Tea to an Aperitif, Brunch to Bellinis, we've got it covered‌

‌and if you just don't want to leave, you don't have to we also offer luxurious rooms for a good night's ZZZ!

www.houndgatetownhouse.co.uk 01325 486011 info@houndgatetownhouse.co.uk

Raising the bar N E WC A S T L E ’ S BRIDGE TAV ER N I S A M IC RO BRE W E RY, PUB AN D EAT ERY, THE HO LY T R IN I T Y AS FA R A S G E N T L EM AN ’ S E DITO R A ND B E E R N AZ I AN DR EW S MI TH IS CO N C ER N ED. W E S E NT HIM A LO N G TO SE E IF IT LIVE D U P TO H I S V E RY H IGH S TA N DAR DS …

‘The Bridge Tavern brew pub and eatery’ , the name ticked so many boxes I just had to go.

We are here to meet Joe the brewer, one of the team, in an establishment with a burgeoning reputation for its beer, food and being a little sublime.

The interior meets expectations, a bar of epic proportions with a legion of fonts and beer engines standing to attention. The rest of the establishment is dark woods, leather and iron work complementing the architecture and location perfectly.

Joe the brewer is enthusiastic and experienced, having worked at a number of well known breweries. The in house kit, whilst small, has its benefits as he can make numerous small batch brews. They are predominantly one offs, but it gives the clientele the opportunity to sample a different beer on each visit. There are few core beers in the establishment, meaning there is a constant change on offer, no bad thing if the current range is an indication of the delights that must drift through the cellar.

WH AT WE ATE We feasted on Spelt and wild mushroom fritters, Pigs Head croquettes and burgers and pulled pork rolls. The fritters were crisp, nutty accompanied by rich, earthy mushroom ‘pate’. The pigs head croquettes were fantastic – smooth potato, unctuous and tasty pork fried until crunchy and the burger and pulled pork were done with the same care and attention as the beer, served in buns from the brilliant Artful Bakery in Seaham.

Food & Drink

flavours. Personally I felt it would benefit from a little carbonation, when mentioned, Joe unleashed a bottle conditioned version which was absolutely on the nose - if you hurry they may still have some left.

BRIDGE TAVERN BLACK TO BLACK 3.3%

It caught my eye because it’s the first beer I have seen with my hero Lee Scratch Perry on the label. For those of you whom know Mr Perry, you will know it implies a little bit of crazy and a whole lot of good. It’s a porter (duh!) but with a little bit of coconut, chilli and all spice added. It’s dark, tingly, spicy, sweet, rich and surprising.

BEER NAZI VERDICT In theory this should be wronger than wrong, but it just isn’t. It’s not too much of anything, rather it’s just right – especially with my pulled pork!

THORNBRIDGE SEQUIOA 4.5% WYLAM TAVERNALE 4% I am a BIG fan of Wylam brewery, in my humble opinion Gold Tankard is the archetypal fine pale ale. The beer is brewed specifically for The Bridge and it doesn’t disappoint. Rounded flavour, a slight fizz that lifts the bitterness and gives it a fresh feel.

Hopped with Pacifica and Galaxy so it gives it a beautiful soft bitterness, complemented by passion fruit and a little marmalade.

BEER NAZI VERDICT Like Gold Tankard, I could drink this all day every day. Good for a session beer but works well with the food on offer; especially the rich pigs head croquettes.

BRIDGE TAVERN BLACK TO BLACK 3.3%

It’s half strength Black IPA, brewed with Cententail, Cascade and Warrior.

It’s citrusy, lightly flowery and of course bitter – the use of Carafe Special to darken the beer gives it the roasted notes you expect but without the bitter astringency of roasted barley.

BEER NAZI VERDICT Soft, bitter and tasty. It went very well with our food pairing well with the hearty may

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As you’d expect from Thornbridge, it’s complex and full of American hops, Amarillo, Cascade and Centennial, which work well with the toffee and caramel in this Amber Ale. Rather than just grapefruit, you get a balance of citrus, pine and sappy bitterness that balance well. Mouth feel is silky with a bit of body.

BEER NAZI VERDICT Refreshing, palate cleansing an ideal beer with any wholesome meal as the flavours cut through. Ideal for a sunny day and a hearty meal.

BRIDGE TAVERN HALF CENTENNIAL SAISON 4%

A one off saison made in house, with a mixture of American ale yeast and saison. It’s very refreshing and easy to drink, with the centennial hops giving it a floral and citrus edge.

BEER NAZI VERDICT A surprise and delight, this saison is great, Joe pulled some samples of this new bottled beer from the fridge for us to try. It’s effervescent and slightly cloudy as you’d expect from a saison. Available in bottles, directly from The Bridge Tavern, and I would advise you snap some up to sup in the sunshine.

Hopefully it will become a regular – hats off to you Joe.

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asi a n i n s p i ra t i o n

resort in Hurworth, Darlington. He then turned his attention to pan Asian dining, helping to develop the offer for the popular Lotus Lounge restaurant brand in Yarm and Durham.

The experience offered by Sohe is going to draw upon his expertise A M A Z I N G DÉ CO R, A MA Z ING C HE F, AM AZIN G and take it to a new level. Big flavours will be on the menu combined COC K TAI L S. WHAT ’ S NOT TO LOVE ? LINDA with an experiential element and exciting presentation with a touch of JA N E WE S T P H A L ME E TS THE CU LINARY tableside theatre.

GE NIU S B EH I N D JE S MO ND’ S LATE S T AND “In a restaurant you’re eating with your brain, with your sight, with V E RY FA S H I O N FA BU LO U S NE W O P EN IN G … your senses, with touch and feel, so all need to play a part to deliver a really exciting dining journey,” explains Martin. “So, for example, we HE Jesmond dining scene has a brand might rub lemongrass or ginger essential oils around the plates so when new addition. And what an addition it is. they’re heated they give off amazing aromas as you eat or we could Sohe promises to elevate the local dining offer have smoked salmon tartare with a smoke element at the table.” with fabulous contemporary Asian inspired Since the nation went Heston Blumenthal crazy, there has been many a food by one of the region's top chefs, divine good dining experience ruined by style over substance.You can cocktails and striking decor and it even has its guarantee this won’t be one of them. Not only is Martin an own cave, natch. exceptionally skilled chef but his background has given him a clear In fact, it's all set to provide the backdrop to a very la di da social scene. understanding of how to design a menu which also ensures the service Headed up by one of the most acclaimed chefs in the region, Martin element is delivered at the highest level.

Moore, Sohe promises to be a totally unique experience for the “Molecular cooking is very interesting but you can go too far with it,” Northern food scene. he notes “We have 150 covers to serve on a Saturday evening and that “The cuisine at Sohe pushes the boundaries and goes beyond needs to be taken into account. We don’t want people waiting for their everything I have ever created. I am introducing new preparations and food, the service needs to be excellent. So we will have little elements new ingredients,” explains Martin. “It'll be a fusion of the senses and a presence tableside, so with a soup we could serve it as a liquid in through taste, touch and smell with a large measure of North East spirit a specially designed jug which the diner has to pour which will release to create a high energy, sophisticated, yet impressive dining experience.” the aromas, for example. We will experiment with flavoured jellies and And with Martin’s pedigree who would doubt that it’s going to be foams, but we will balance the element memory journey carefully so seriously good. This is the chef who ran the much acclaimed Ozone at we can make sure every part of the diner’s food experience delivers at the Serenity Spa at the 5 star Seaham Hall before heading down to every level.”

Rockliffe Hall as an executive chef. As part of his role he was one of In terms of cuisine, the menu is Asian influenced rather than the executive chef team that set up and developed the respected 5 star recreations of Asian traditional dishes. But forget Asian ‘Lite’, this is far

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more nuanced than that.

“It’s going to be big bowl flavours,” Martin explains. “It will be elements of Asian cuisine but we’re turning the flavour volume up. We’re cooking Asian style food but with English and European skills. So, dishes could be slow cooked which makes the meat very tender, unlike Asian cooking where the meat can be tougher.”

The menu is seriously exciting and will suit its cosmopolitan patrons. There will be familiar items on the menu such as Dim Sum and Sushi, but taken to the next level. And those with a more traditional mindset will also be catered for so there may be Steak and Chips, but with an Asian spicy sauce. And for the fabulous fashionistas of Jesmond, there will be an Afternoon Tea, Asian style.

Think unctuous Carrot Cake, Lemon Cheesecake and Chocolate Brownies, all with a touch of Asian spice and presentation.

As one would expect from Martin, one of the most respected chefs in the region, he has assembled a crack kitchen team. His Sous Chef is Luke Newton, who started at Seaham Hall and it also includes Jade Keelty, winner of the Chef of the Year competition. The chefs will be on display as they cook, providing their own visual theatre but it’s not something that worries Martin, who is used to open kitchens.

“The culture of chef kitchens has changed dramatically over the years.

The image of chefs screaming at people and lots of noise and drama is out of date in most cases. There is no place for that in a professional kitchen,” he explains. “I like the fact that diners can see their food being cooked and what goes into it. It adds to their food journey and makes Sohe an interesting, vibrant place to dine.”

Months of preparation have gone into the planning of Sohe. The interiors are striking and avant garde, featuring a rainforest, a cave and the open kitchen. An island bar creates an impressive design statement, with opulent white marble tops, mosaics and an undulating sculptural ceiling to floor feature. It's here you can sit and try one of their bespoke handcrafted cocktails or sip, with pinkie raised natch, one of their finest teas. They also have a carefully selected wine list which shows the same level of attention to detail as the rest of the Sohe offer.

The restaurant is owned by the Cairn Group, who own a host of top hotels and bars in the region and further afield, including the Cairn Hotel next door in Osborne Road, which is itself undergoing a £2 million pound makeover to become a stylish boutique hotel.

With both developments side by side, it looks set to satisfy the need for high end experiences, positioned well away from the Jesmond student scene.

The service element is headed up by one of the most exciting young talents on the North East hospitality scene, General Manager Sarah Harker. Passionate for ‘above and beyond’ customer experience, she has John Lewis, Waitrose, The Apartment Group and Living Ventures on her

The cuisine at Sohe pushes the boundaries and goes beyond everything I have ever created…

may

CV, some of the most respected names in delivering high levels of customer service experiences.

Sarah is also winner of the Kraken Black Spiced Rum cocktail competition, Think Ink, so she takes her cocktails extremely seriously and they promise to be as exciting and awe inspiring as the rest of the Sohe offer.

“To us dining isn't just about a plate of incredible food; the overall restaurant experience has become more and more important in recent years,” says Sarah. “It's not just the food that must reflect our vision and our 'vibe', but everything that surrounds our diners too.

“From the bar to the chairs and the walls to the lighting, everything at Sohe has been specially created and that takes time. This provides our diners with a sense inspiring experience enlightening the sight, taste and touch.”

And if you want a full on experiential dining experience, then book the private dining room. Not only is it jawdroppingly beautiful but it gives Martin and his team of chefs full reign to delight and inspire with their creativity. Either way, Sohe promises to be one of the most talked about openings Jesmond has seen for some time and it certainly has the team in place to deliver.

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M E NU TAS T E R S TART ER S

Northumbrian beef tataki salad hot & sour pickled vegetables, bean sprouts & peanuts, chilli-lime & mint dressing

M AI N S

Malaysian ginger & lime sea bass fillet Shellfish & vegetable, yellow spiced sauce, pak choi, coconut & coriander foam

DESS ERT

Roast 5 spiced plums Coconut & pineapple ice cream & passion fruit

SO HE, 97-103 O SBO RNE ROAD, JE S M ON D (0191) 281 1358 WWW. S OH E . CO. UK MO NDAY – SATURDAY 12 N OON – 11PM SUNDAY 12NO O N – 10PM 2014

Food & Drink

Queen of fizz A N G E L A M E TC ALFE IS T H E D R I N K S BU YE R FO R ICO NIC DE L I L EW I S AND CO O P E R BA S E D IN N ORT H A L L E RTO N A ND YA RM WW W. L E W I S A NDCO O P E R.CO.U K

NO RT HE R N G I N

C

THE Q U E E N O F FIZZ IS A B IT PA RTIA L TO A VE RY FIN ELY HO NE D G&T. S HE TAKES A TIP P LE O R TWO W ITH SOM E O F THE RE GIO N’ S BOUTIQUE GIN P RO DU CE RS TO FIND OUT A LL A BO U T THE NORTH ERN GIN RE VO LU TIO N…

HATTING in one of Bedale’s best kept secrets, Helmvaart Bier Café with its Santa-esque owner and beer fetishist, John and partner Phil, over a couple of the 130 Belgians they stock (my bio-dynamic Lambic was superb), I had to ask the question, Does size really matter?

Yes, absolutely it does when it comes to distilling your own artisan gin, where it’s a case of quality over quantity, according to Bedale based Karl Mason, distiller of Masons, the world’s first and only Yorkshire Gin. As a former groupie and occasional guest vocalist with the band Panther, it is hardly surprising that he named his new alembic still, Steve (after the legendary axe-man, Stevie Stills). Steve is curvy in all the right places, wide where it’s needed, yet not too big to handle.

Steve is built to last! Steve is also designed to get the very best from the carefully sourced botanicals, Harrogate spring water and a base mash of sugar beet! He’s currently growing Yorkshire sloes.

With a background in accountancy and finance and a day job in publishing, and having lived in South Africa, London and The Bahamas this is very much a labour of love, born from a desire to “….take a bloody good G&T to the people.” Frustrated by the offerings of the big names, and that most of the commonly available gins are so mass produced that all you have to do is walk into a factory, press a button and bottled gin comes out the other side, Karl decided to make a rock ‘n’ roll gin, describing Masons as the David Bowie of gins. A few may dislike it but for those who don’t,

it’s edgy but appealing, with the creativity to make it a classic.

Amongst the botanicals for Masons are dried lemon and lime with a big dollop of Seville orange. The richness of the orange makes me want to cut this with acidity, but I prefer to forego more citrus in favour of either apple, the crisper the better, I prefer Bramley, or to go massively Yorkshire and add a slice of rhubarb, this not only adds an extra dimension to the flavours but brings out the fennel and coriander.

Another great new Northern gin I’ve tasted recently is the brilliant Durham Gin. Again, this is handmade artisan gin, but with completely different botanicals. The elderflower gives almost grassy notes but it’s the savoury flavours of the pink peppercorns and celery seeds I love.

I’ve had a play with a thin slice of tomato and a stick of celery, which works beautifully and suggests a gin version of a Bloody Mary would be a bit of a triumph, but keeping it simple with a twist of sea-salt and good tonic is surprisingly good.

Always use good tonic! There is simply no point in trying to make a really good G&T if you haven’t the right base. Have a taste of the neat gin, try to identify which flavours appeal to you most and then get playing with your garnishes. That’s why Hendrick’s works so well with cucumber and a rose petal, and why Leopold’s small batch American gin simply cries out for persimmon and star anise.

MA SON ’S G I N WWW.MASO NSYO RKSHI R E G I N . COM D UR HA M G IN WWW.D URHAMD ISTIL L E RY. CO. UK

LEFT, KARL MASON OF MASONS GIN may

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Fabulous Food JA ME S COO P E R H E A D C H EF AT THE CLE VE LA ND TO NTIN E

H

ERE at the Tontine, we work with the best quality local ingredients to create dishes which look as good as they taste. I’m well known for a slavish attention to detail and for my creativity in the kitchen, which comes from experience in prestigious hotels and restaurants up and down the country including the Summer Lodge in Dorset to Cliveden House in Berkshire.

Everything possible is done on-site; we make three different types of bread daily, our own strawberry jam and even our own cheese biscuits.

Our beef is matured and butchered right here and almost all of our ingredients are from local suppliers.

By managing suppliers effectively, I’m able to make cost savings which are passed directly to the customer, keeping the restaurant prices reasonable while serving exceptional food.

In addition to the daily lunch and dinner service and the now legendary Tontine Afternoon Tea, the kitchen team enjoy the opportunity to do something a little bit different once in a while.

Our bi-monthly Experimental Night gives them a chance to let their imaginations run wild and showcase something unusual.

The atmosphere is laid back and guests are treated to a surprise three course menu with an accompanying quiz where they can show off their culinary credentials by guessing the ingredients.

A recent dessert featured a fairy-tale style toadstool with a white chocolate filling sitting atop a moist chunk of pistachio cake. Everyone loved it.

There is nothing better than a buzzing restaurant where the orders are flying in and the kitchen is frantic. It’s what makes everyone want to come to work. Most of our valuable lessons are learnt from these busy times when it’s really obvious if there’s anything we could have done better and what elements of the food and the service really worked. We are always making small changes to ensure that every guest gets the absolute best we can deliver.

EVERY N OW AN D TH EN YO U D ISCOVER A G EM O F A PLACE AND WOND ER WH Y YO U ’D NOT D ISCOV ER ED I T S O O N ER .

FOR ME, TH E CLEV ELAN D TON TIN E H O LDS TH AT PLACE IN M Y H EART.

T WORDS LIZ LAMB

HE boutique hotel, nestled on the side of the A19 and with a beautiful backdrop of the Cleveland Hills, it’s one of those hotels that is truly unique.

It not only boasts an interior I’d love to emulate in my own home but the service and personal touches they provide make you remember your stay long after you’ve checked out.

Unlike larger venues and chain hotels when you can be made to feel like just another number, at The Tontine it’s like you’ve been welcomed into the bosom of a family of like-minded folk without the airs and graces of other high-end establishments.

From the reception staff, to the waiters and bar staff, there is a friendly, relaxed and homely atmosphere-but a very stylish home of course.

The bistro is a hotel’s jewel in the crown.

Diners travel from different counties to experience their fine dining offering and it’s easy to see why.

We visited on a Saturday evening and the place was alive with families, groups of

JAME S COOP E R H A S B EEN HEAD CHEF AT THE CLEVELAND TO NT INE F O R A L M OS T TWO YEARS AND I S VERY MUCH THE MA ST ER O F HIS OWN K I TC H E N. H E H EADS A DEDI CATED TEAM MADE UP O F YO UNG , PASS I ONATE C H E FS AND SEASONED PROFESSI ONAL S, WIT H T HE LONGE S T S E RV ING MEMB ER OF STAFF HAV I NG B EEN IN T HE TON TI NE KI TCHEN FOR 33 YEARS. W ITH A BU S Y E V ENTS PROGRAMME AND A RAPI DLY FILLING BOOK I NGS D I A RY, DON’T LEAVE I T TOO LATE TO MAKE A RE S E RVATI ON. JAMES AND HI S TEAM ARE READY FO R YO U. TH E NE X T E X PE R IMENTAL NI GHT I S ON THURSDAY 22ND MAY TO BOO K A TAB LE CALL ( 01609) 882671

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Food & Drink

friends and couples, there was a great mixture of people which provided a lively atmosphere.

My husband and I decided to have a cocktail in the Champagne bar before going downstairs to dinner.

We found a spot by the open fire in the lounge area which is tastefully decorated with velvet chairs and vivid prints on the walls.

After chatting to the other guests, who recommend some cocktails to try, I ordered a Pearini (pears soaked in Prosecco) while my husband opted for a Lindeboom lager.

As we enjoyed our drinks a pianist was playing upbeat tunes in the next room which floated into the bar.

After drinks, we made our way to the conservatory which is just off the main restaurant, which has a vaulted ceiling and stunning stone fireplace.

The conservatory overlooks the gardens and had tables decorated with vintage tea plates, candles and crisp, white linen and we found an intimate spot in the corner, perfect for a romantic meal.

The Tontine boasts a fantastic food menu as well as an impressive wine list. We took some time to peruse the menu as there were so many delicious-sounding dishes but finally made our choice after enjoying a selection of warm breads, all handmade in the kitchen.

My husband chose a starter from the specials menu-pressed terrine of confit duck and foie gras, apple gel and treacle soda bread (£10.50) while I opted for the pan seared scallops, risotto nero with chorizo and curly squid (£12.95).

I’m a big fan of scallops but sometimes find they can be overcooked in restaurants resulting in a bland flavour and a chewy texture.

I’d need not have worried at the Tontine, these were beautifully cooked, soft and tender, and packed with favour thanks to the combination of chorizo and risotto. It all married together well.

The duck terrine was also a hit. Terrine can occasionally be dry and tough but not this dish. My husband enjoyed layering the terrine on the bread and topping it off with the apple gel.

Our mains did not disappoint either. I’d hoped to enjoy the Yorkshire chicken with lobster kiev but it was a sell-out so instead I chose the smoked fillet of locally reared pork.

It was served with crisp belly and salted toffee apple, which tasted divine (£17.95). I chose a side dish accompaniment of mash (£2.95) which was presented in a wonderful small, copper pot.

The Tontine are strong supporters of local produce and adapt their menus depending on the season. They use local farmers for the meat and vegetables while fish is from the nearby coast. The quality is evident in the dishes they provide-both in terms of taste as well as choice.

My husband raved about his fillet of spring lamb-bursting with flavour, the quality of the meat was of an exceptionally high standard.

The lamb was wrapped in bread and served with Provencal vegetables, local goat’s cheese and anchovies (£18.95).

We declined desserts but choices included banana tarte tatin, lemongrass and chamomile panacotta and duck egg custard with Yorkshire triangle rhubarb.

Both of us were impressed with not only the quality of the produce but the inventiveness of the dishes. The Tontine give their own unique twist to their dinner offerings which is a refreshing change and they obviously give real thought to the type of food they wish to serve.

The Tontine is a true gem in the North East food scene. I wish I could keep it a secret but I can’t- good food, exceptional service and beautiful, ambient surroundings really need to be shouted about.

If you haven’t been, you’re really missing out!

TAST I N G N OTE S The Cleveland Tontine Staddlebridge, North Yorkshire DL6 3JB (01609) 882671 wwww.theclevelandtontine.co.uk bookings@theclevelandtontine.co.uk

The hotel has seven individually-styled bedrooms. We stayed in the Coach House room which definitely had the ‘wow’ factor.

The walls are lined with eye-catching wallpaper featuring shelves of books designed by award-winning local designer Deborah Bowness.

In the early 1800s The Tontine was used as a resting place for travellers and mail coaches on the Sunderland to London route, hence the name of the room, The Coach House.

The bedroom enjoys dual aspect with views of nearby woodland and the pretty coach house. A staircase from the bedroom leads up to an amazing bathroom featuring a free standing bath and double shower. I enjoyed a soak, a glass of champers in hand, while enjoying the view over the Cleveland Hills.

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Food & Drink

T HE ET IQUET T E OF FINE D INI N G WI T H CHILD REN CH ILD R EN AN D FABULOUS R ES TAU R AN TS D ON’T H AVE TO B E M UTUALLY EXCLU S I V E. TOP CH EF AND MUM G ILLY RO B I N S O N OFFERS H ER GUID E TO TH E ART O F H AV I N G RESTAURAN T-FRIEND LY CH IL DR EN …

W

HEN a friend described me as brave for having always taken my three children to restaurants, I began to realise that maybe I was different rather than brave.

I grew up in a household where eating as a family around the table was the norm and a meal out was always part of a birthday or anniversary.

This combined by a few years of my life a nanny to a family who travelled and expected the children to be seen with them but under my control, could be the reason why from day one my children have had the dining out ability.

Now my children are grown up going out to a restaurant without them is almost impossible especially the two who really love food. My children know too well that if we are near a table of monsters they will get what is known as my nanny stare!

Lead by example and be confident. If children see how to behave around a table at home this will be second nature. For the small high chair variety always have a couple of small toys to help entertain and a familiar spoon or trainer cup to make them feel comfortable.

When the booster seat stage is reached, make them feel special being able to sit up to a lovely table with beautiful knives and forks and glass wear. Why not ask them to set the table for Sunday lunch ‘like they saw at the restaurant?’ Older children can be made the centre of attention by reading the menu and finding out about the food. For a special occasion, explain to them that the theatre of a fabulous restaurant is fun to watch but nobody wants to see children behave as if they were in a circus.

Don’t stay too long … even if everything is going to plan, it is worth making the first few trips shorter to ensure it is a good experience.

The more times you try to eat out as a family the better, a coffee somewhere new or a light lunch while shopping, is all going to help create the ideal dining companions ‘restaurant-friendly children’.

G ILLY ROB IN SON IS A N EXPER IEN CE D C HE F W HO HA S WOR KED A S A HOME ECON O M I S T W I T H C ELEB R ITY N A MES SUC H A S ROS E M A RY S HRAGE R. SHE OFFER S ‘COOK AT HOME’ TU I T I O N A S W E L L A S B EIN G HEA D TUTOR AT MA LTON COO KE RY S C HO OL .

CON TAC T HER ON G ILLYTHECOO K @GM A I L . CO M

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Food & Drink

N EWCASTLE IS A CITY WITH N O SH ORTAGE OF FAB ULOUS R ESTAURAN TS SO IS TH E B UZZ ABOUT TH E LATEST OPENING PEACE AND LOAF D ESERVED? D EBORAH JOHNSON H EAD S FOR SOME FAB ULOUS FINE D INING TO FIND OUT…

Peace be with you

P

EACE and Loaf is fast becoming the jewel in the city’s culinary crown and a must-visit for diners in Newcastle, the wider North East, and far beyond.

The restaurant, in Newcastle’s upmarket Jesmond, is the brainchild of Masterchef finalist Dave Coulson. Offering his own unique combination of ‘traditional pub grub’ and gourmet cuisine, Coulson has created

something very special in Peace and Loaf.

Stuck for a topic of conversation? The food alone will provide the talking point. Cheesy beans on toast as a canape was talked about by pretty much everyone in the restaurant that night. Novel, adventurous, and above all delicious.

And even better was to follow. The main course and particularly the pudding were utterly spectacular. The obvious choice on the menu was Coulson’s staple Masterchef Chicken Pie, as viewers of the cult show will remember fondly from their TV screens. The

creativity that goes into such a creation is quite a sight to behold. Coulson dishes up little tasters of chicken in almost every possible way - from deep fried to stuffing mix - with a little portion of pastry thrown in for good measure. Almost as far removed from a pie as you can get, but that is quite the contrary of a complaint.

After a delightful main, my personal highlight of the evening was pudding. Rice pudding has never tasted so good, and a trip to Peace and Loaf for that reason alone is very highly recommended. The most wonderful texture and flavours combine to create something really quite exquisite. Far from reinventing a classic dish, Coulson has stayed by and large true to the traditional recipe - but the result is utter perfection.

After my original reluctance to get excited over yet another restaurant opening, I can confirm that Peace and Loaf is a class apart from the vast majority of its rivals. Few times can you ever say, in all honesty: ‘Yes, really DO believe the hype.’ But with this utter gem of a venue, it’s entirely true.

TAST I N G N OTE S Peace & Loaf 217 Jesmond Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1LA www.peaceandloaf.co.uk

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Food & drink

Crewe L Winning

T H E OW N ER S OF U BE R FA BU LO U S CALCOT M AN OR AND B A R N S L EY H O U S E A RE BE HIND THE OPEN IN G OF A NEW H OT E L AN D R ES TA U RA NT DE S TINE D TO BE A MUST VISIT FOR T H E N O RT H ’ S G RE AT A ND GO O D. LI NDA JANE WEST P HAL GE TS A SN EA K P E E K ...

A DI DA has been on a secret mission for the last few months, dear reader.

We have journeyed to the beautiful medieval village of Blanchland, on the County Durham and Northumberland border, for exclusive sneak peeks at one of the most exciting country hotels to open in our region.

Allow us to introduce you to the fabulous redevelopment of the historic Lord Crewe Arms.

Blanchland is a jewel of a village in County Durham. A perfectly-formed unspoilt medieval village, it is often the location for films and TV settings and with good reason, it is jawdroppingly beautiful. Central to the tiny village is the Lord Crewe Arms, a gorgeous Grade II listed building which dates back to the 1700s. Having lain empty for years, this building has now come alive under the ownership of the Lord Crewe’s charity who brought on board Calcot Hotels to develop it.

Inside it is stunning. Huge fireplaces, crooked stone steps, fabulous medieval rooms, lots of theatre for the eyes but cosy, with open fires and little nooks and crannies, in fact, the perfect country hotel.You can easily imagine sitting down for a Sunday lunch after a walk in the beautiful countryside and wiling away a few hours with friends or enjoying an amazing meal in the evening and sitting by the fireside, nursing a locally brewed ale.

Although most famous for three amazingly stylish hotels in the Cotswolds, Barnsley House, Calcot Hotel and The Village Pub, the family behind the business, the Stones, have strong links to Weardale and the shooting

scene. This love of the area, combined with a formidably good team, is clear to see in the whole redevelopment.

The hotel has the elegance and attention to detail you would expect from the Calcot team but it is warm, inviting, and friendly and is firmly rooted in the local community. It is

after all the village local, and that’s extremely important to the ethos behind the new venture.

In fact, the General Manager they have chosen to head up the Lord Crewe, Tommy Mark, even used to live in Blanchland. He also happens to be one of the most experienced and respected hotel managers around and is a trusted member of the Calcot team.

He has spent time at both Calcot and Barnsley House as well as having an excellent pedigree elsewhere and grew up in a family rooted in the North East hospitality industry. His wife,

TH E B AC K STO RY The Grade II Lord Crewe Arms, which originally dates back to the 1700s, is named after Nathanial, Lord Crewe, who was Bishop of Oxford, then of Durham for 47 years.

An influential figure with close links to the throne, he had bought the estates of Blanchland and Bamburgh from his wife’s family in 1709. Shortly after his death, part of what had once been Blanchland Abbey (before being converted into a manor house) then became an inn.

The Lord Crewe’s charity was formed in 1721 under the terms of the will of Nathanial, Lord Crewe and has entered into a partnership with Calcot Hotels to undertake the £1.5 million renovation.

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ABOVE : G E NE RAL M A N AG ER TO M M Y M A R K A ND H EAD CH EF S IM O N H ICK S

There will be a lot of ingredients people won’t have seen before, I am a big fan of foraged ingredients and I will ask my suppliers to surprise me Emily, heads up the wedding side of the business and, one suspects, is destined to be very busy. The ethos of the whole place very much has a family feel to it rather than a corporate redevelopment.

Saying he is passionate about excellent service doesn’t really do Tommy justice. “We’re trying to build a family here,” he explains.

“Everyone’s bringing something different to the team and our people are the biggest and most important part of the business. All of the people we employ are totally dedicated to providing the best service possible. They live and breathe delivering a lovely customer experience. ”

He has a 28 strong team in total managing the 21 bedrooms in the main building and The Angel, which is just across a small cobbled square from the Lord Crewe.

“The key thing for me was getting the right mix of people; we need to be able to read each other to deliver excellent customer service. If something is wrong or if something can be improved upon to make sure the customer has an amazing visit, we need to be able to communicate that to each other by a look and know that other person has understood what needs to be done and can address it. ” Another key member of the team at Lord Crewe is chef Simon Hicks. With a stellar reputation, Simon joined the team from London’s acclaimed Soho Hix, where he was Head Chef.

As Head Chef at Lord Crewe, he is planning a really innovative and seasonal menu, which celebrates its ingredients, offers very good value but also delivers in terms of dining experience.

“There will be a lot of ingredients people won’t have seen before,” he explains. “I am a big fan of foraged ingredients and I will ask my suppliers to surprise me. We can then create amazing dishes around the freshest and most unexpected of produce which are based on the flavour they deliver. For example, we may use hogget rather than lamb, because it delivers much more in terms of flavour.”

He is not a fan of over complicated dishes such as ‘truffle soufflé with 19 different types may

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of things on the plate’. Instead diners can look forward to English takes on international classics as well as more traditional signature dishes such as game dumplings, devilled kidneys and Chester pie and innovative fabulous fare such as Seathorn Blancmange with Seaweed Toile.

Simon is also keen to bring back the theatre to the dining table. A suckling pig may be roasting in the huge fireplaces or bread baking away, providing delicious aromas. Sunday lunch may be carved at the table; dishes may be served on a lazy susan or feature one giant pudding shared by the whole table. He has been sourcing quirky serving dishes to add excitement and make the meal real occasion dining. And, as well as promising an amazing Sunday lunch, the restaurant will also be offering fabulous Saturday brunches with Bloody Mary’s and delicious Afternoon Teas.

After all that fabulous food you may wish to stay over and the bedrooms don’t disappoint.

The bedrooms are beautifully furnished by Calcot Design Director Nicky Farquhar. The rooms are divided into three different types of experience, Cosy, Canny and Champion.

There is also a huge and very romantic bridal suite which is guaranteed to make any wedding truly memorable.

All muted colours, fabulous views and high quality fixtures and fittings, each room has personal touches such as vintage coat hooks and paintings and pictures, sourced from antique markets, artisan craft makers and local art galleries. These perfectly complement the country hotel scene, making the rooms feel homely as well as stylish.

Many of the furnishings have been sourced locally, a key part of the Lord Crewe ethos, including a supplier from the village, the Damn Good Furniture Company.

All in all, it adds up to an amazing experience, whether enjoying a romantic break, a fabulous Sunday lunch after a local walk or for a special dinner. With its amazing setting and Cotswold style mixed with North East hospitality, it’s already attracting bookings and is set to be firmly on the radar of the region’s foodies.

TAST I NG N OTE S The Lord Crewe Arms Blanchland, DH8 9SP www.lordcrewearmsblanchland.co.uk

Food & drink

Distinctly Delicious Taste Trail in town centre restaurants and bars for the whole weekend

A tasty way to spend your bank holiday!

DARLINGTON FESTIVAL OF FOOD

May 24 – 26 Darlington Town Centre

Programme of Events* Saturday May 24 10am – 1pm | Market Square Tasting and judging of new products created specially for the festival

Don’t miss our fabulous street theatre performances across the whole weekend, throughout the Town Centre

Sunday May 25

Liver Cottage Kitchen with Hugh Fearn and Lee Whittingstall

Distinctly Delicious Awards

Eat Along Ratatouille (U)

10.30am and 5.30pm | Market Square £5 including movie and eat along matched nibbles

Drink Along Sideways (15)

Saturday May 24 Monday May 26 Food and Drink Stalls

10am – 5pm | High Row & Blackwellgate Distinctly Delicious food and drink stalls on Blackwellgate and High Row

Street Food and Bar

12pm – 5pm | Market Square Authentic, tasty street eats from some of your favourite local restaurants

Saturday May 24 Sunday May 25 Tastings and Workshops

On the half hour, 12.30pm – 4.30pm Market Square

Demonstrations

1pm – 5pm | Market Square Demonstrations by top local chefs every hour

8pm | Market Square £20 including movie and 6 drink along matched wines To book either event email admin@distinctdarlington.co.uk

Watch a demo by our comedy chefs which we promise will be like nothing you’ve ever seen, including their signature dish - Pan Fried Pizza Crusts with Medallions of Air Dried Chewing Gum.

Jean And Morag - Darlington’s Own Hilarious Tea Ladies Join this fabulous twosome for a cuppa, a chat and some sponge fingers!

Bridie the Irish Tea Lady The tallest tea lady around – who just happens to be obsessed with Dean Martin.

Monday May 26

Locomotion Cake Parade

Cake Decorating Workshops

from 11am | Market Square Parade from 2.30pm (weather dependent) Across the Town Centre Whether you’re a local business, a school, a community group or just friends and family, find out how you can get involved.

Granny Turismo Don’t miss the opportunity to see the world’s only shopping trolley formation dance team!

Contact Maddie Maughan at maddiemaughan@hotmail.com or call 07738 822 568

FOLLOW US @DarloFoodFest or visit www.distinctdarlington.co.uk

For more information please visit www.distinctdarlington.co.uk follow @DarlingtonBID on Twitter or like Distinct Darlington on Facebook *Please note all events may be subject to change may

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Darlington gets food fabulous A V ERY SP EC I A L FO O D FE S TIVA L IS TAKIN G PLACE TH IS MAY IN M ONTE DARLO. L A D I DA H A S THE INS IDE S K INNY…

SIM ON PR E S TON , THE WI LLY WON KA OF F OO D F E S TI VA L S , I S INVOLV E D I N T H E D I S TI N CTLY D E L IC I OUS F OO D F ES TI VA L

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HEN La Di Da heard that the Willy Wonka of food fabulous festivals, Simon Preston, was involved in Darlington’s new food festival, we knew it was a ‘must attend’ event.

Running from May 24-26th, prepare for a spectacular celebration of the town’s stellar history and excellent food suppliers with a host of imaginative, fabulous and fun activities.

The Distinctly Delicious – Darlington Festival of Food programme will include street theatre throughout the festival and on Sunday March 25 the Market Square will be hosting ‘EatAlong Movies’, three hit films where those watching will be able to sample dishes that are

being eaten on screen at key moments. And the grand finale of the three day event will culminate in the Locomotion Cake Parade, recreating in cake the 32 carriages which were pulled on that world-first journey made by the Locomotion steam train back in 1825.

The huge cakes are being made by Darlington’s Clervaux Artisan bakery and promises to deliver a huge slice of edible theatre. A whole host of activities are planned across the festival, including workshops and demonstrations and the unveiling of the Distinctly Delicious Food Trail. Throughout the three days there will also be a food village and stalls offering the very best in local and regional produce, with producers facing a challenge to create something may

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new especially for the event.

“We wanted to come up with something truly special for a town with such a great history,” explains Simon, who has an impressive pedigree of producing acclaimed food festivals and events including the EAT! Newcastle Gateshead festival.

“It will be upmarket and celebrate artisan food producers but it also needs to be inclusive and fun at the same time. We’re encouraging the whole community to get involved and become part of the event so, for example, with the cake parade, we are not telling people to go down a set route, they can take the parade wherever they want it; it can be an impromptu cake conga. It’s a celebration of the town and that’s the spirit we want to convey.”

The event is being created by Distinct Darlington, the town’s Business Improvement District and the hope is that it will bring in not just local people but visitors from across the region.

“This is a really exciting event for Darlington and we’re delighted that we’re being able to bring this to the town,” said Alex Hirst, Manager of Distinct Darlington.

“We’ve got a packed and very imaginative programme with something for everyone and an opportunity for people to really get involved in the Locomotion Cake Parade.

“There is some really unusual and unique entertainment being planned which we believe people from across the region will want to come and enjoy.”

G RANNY T URISMO – ONE OF THE S T REET T H EAT R E ACTS APPEARI NG AT T H E F EST IVAL.

Food & drink

Food for

the last six years we have been working with the community to really build on Malton's food heritage and encourage tourism to the town to support the local economy,” he explains.

“It's a great place to stay, Malton is the gateway to the North Yorks Moors, we are surrounded by fantastic places to visit such as Castle Howard and now we are starting to develop a really strong offer for food lovers.”

It is indeed. May 24th and 25th sees the return of the annual Food Lovers Festival, of which Tom is the organiser. Launched six years ago, it now regularly attracts 20,000 visitors and has 160 food stalls, over 75% of which are local.

This year sees a particularly stellar line up of celebrity chefs giving demos including Jean Christophe Novelli, the very glam Channel 4 stars Michela Chiappa and her sisters and BBC's Incredible Spice Men as well as local top chefs such as Andrew Pern.

The Malton Cookery School, which opens on the 16th, will be hosting pop up sessions including workshops and master classes with some of these top names. Based in a beautiful old congregational chapel, this is a new temple to Yorkshire gastronomy.

It's headed up by fantastic chef and experienced teacher, Gilly Robinson, who has worked as a home economist to a host of well known chefs including Rosemary Shrager, as well as collaborating on books. The school has already lined up some fun but informative classes for the months ahead including Cooking with Dad (or Mum), Sunday Brunch, Kids in the Kitchen and Summer Entertaining. And, if you have a school leaver heading for University in

thought...

A C E LEB R I T Y C HE F S TA R- S TU DDE D FOOD FESTIVAL, TH R IVING A RT IS A N F O O D P RO DU C E RS A ND A BR AN D N EW COOKERY S C HO O L . L I NDA J AN E W ES TPH AL M EETS TOM NAY LOR L E Y LAN D, T H E MA N S HA P ING MA LTON AS TH E FOOD IE C A PITAL O F YO RK S HIRE ...

T

HE butcher, the baker the cricket bat maker, that's what Malton is made of.

In fact, such is the fabulous and rich diversity of interesting independent firms in this charming North Yorkshire market town that the list could go on and on.

Two butchers, two delis, two greengrocers, a fishmonger, a Yorkshire rocking horse maker, a chocolatier, microbrewery and a rope maker are just some of the artisan crafts and food suppliers you'll find in the town. Add in some rather stylish interiors shops and chi chi

boutiques and you can see why this part of Yorkshire has become very attractive to the great and good. Even latter day TV star and firm foodie Selina Scott has her own shop in the town.

Now it has a brand new addition, a rather fabulous cookery school with celeb connections, an emphasis on local produce and a relaxed, enjoyable style of learning how to create fantastic recipes using the freshest of ingredients. This, along with many other fine foodie initiatives in the town, is the brainchild of Tom Naylor-Leyland, organiser of Malton's acclaimed Food Lovers Festival and part of the Fitzwilliam Malton Estate, a major landowner in Malton and the surrounding area. Tom and the estate have been central to promoting the food agenda to help revitalise and support the independents.

“Malton is lucky enough to have a wealth of fantastic food producers on its doorstep. Over may

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It’s a great place to stay, Malton is the gateway to the North Yorks Moors...

Food & Drink

September, the school even runs its own class to teach them the basics of cuisine self survival.

The school can create bespoke classes so it's ideal for friends, a fabulous hen party activity, families or an enjoyable team building session.

“A typical cookery class would see the group start by choosing our vegetables and herbs from The Talbot Hotel's kitchen garden before strolling into town to choose fresh meat and fish from the local suppliers,” explains Gilly.

“We would then head back to the school, have a coffee and I would talk everyone through what we are making. The atmosphere will be very relaxed and will suit all levels of skill and the group will sit down together and eat what they've prepared for lunch. The emphasis is on meals that you can recreate at home and we don't use any equipment that people wouldn't have in their own kitchens.”

In fact, the only fly in the ointment could be having to fight James Martin for the best produce from the hotel's kitchen garden. For it is here, in a stunning historic building with panoramic views, that James has his own restaurant.

The return of Malton’s best loved son and most famous chef, is another initiative from Tom, who persuaded him to return to his home town two years ago and set up the restaurant in The Talbot. James has been involved with the Talbot since it re-opened in April 2012 following a £4 million plus refurbishment. The hotel has a fantastic reputation for food due to his involvement and the extremely talented and well respected Head Chef Craig Aitchison. Now guests can also enjoy James Martin at The Talbot

TAST I N G N OT ES For more information log onto www.TalbotMalton.co.uk Enquiries@maltoncookeryschool.co.uk www.maltonyorkshire.co.uk Or take a look at our special film on the cookery school at www.ladida.co.uk to see our new La Di Da columnist, Gilly Robinson, talk about the school’s exciting plans

including some of his legendary cakes for a fabulous Yorkshire Afternoon Tea or an amazing dinner.

An elegant Country Hotel, it is perched on the edge of Malton, and has quickly become

one of the best hotels in the area. Guests at the Talbot Hotel enjoy reduced rates at the cookery school and can take advantage of special packages and access.

“North Yorkshire really is the larder of Britain and it's a pleasure to source the ingredients from as close as possible,” says James. “As a boy I used to cycle past The Talbot and so it feels amazing to have my restaurant here in Malton, Yorkshire's Food Capital.”

The positioning of Malton as Yorkshire's food capital is gaining momentum. As well as the Food Lovers Festival, the town hosts regular monthly food markets, much more than your average farmers market. The last few months have also seen the opening of The Yorke Coaching Building. Opposite The Talbot, it is home to six artisan food producers including a chocolatier and the micro brewery Brasscastle, which takes Malton back to its brewing roots “The new cookery school is very exciting and will add to our food offer,” explains Tom. Now visitors can stay at The Talbot, eat at James Martin's restaurant, cook in Malton Cookery School, and wander around the town and shop at all our amazing independents before heading out to the local countryside.

“We have many more exciting plans, currently we're only on stage two of the 20 stages we want to see come to fruition,” says Tom. Stage Two? Already Malton is the sort of place you visit and fall totally in love with. If you're a serious foodie, you could find yourself pressing your nose against the window of a local estate agent. La Di Da can't wait to see what's next on the agenda for Yorkshire's food capital. Look out Ludlow.Yorkshire's coming to get you...

ABOVE & BELOW PHOTOGAPHY GASP WWW.GASPPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

C HAN NE L 4 S TAR S M I CH ELA CH I A P PA A N D S I ST ERS W ILL BE AT M ALTO N’S F O O D LOVERS F EST IVAL, AND RI GHT, GI L LY ROBI NS ON , T H E M A LTO N CO O K ERY S CH O O L may

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Feature

The Secret Cigar Club IN T H E H E A RT O F NE WCA S T L E ’ S H IS TO RIC GR A I N G E R TOW N NE S TLE S A L IT T LE SE C R ET, A P LE A S ING L IT T LE SU R P R I S E THAT MIXE S O N E PA RT DRO N E S C LU B W IT H O N E PART ME N’ S INS T I T U T E WI T H A DA S H O F S PE A K E A S Y TO P RO DU C E A D E L IG H T F U L LY E GA LITA RIA N COC K TAI L . G ENTLE MA N’ S E DITO R AN DR EW S MI TH INV ES T I G AT ES . ..

S

OMEWHERE to educate, relax and escape modernity, a ‘manctuary’ for the modern man (or lady). Intrigued? Let me expand and enlarge upon the point...

Hark back a little, only 30 years or so, when, men could be cogitating over a cigar after dinner, or fettling their pipe armed with strange tools in a measured manner before commencing to issue forth an aromatic odour from an array of tobaccos.

To a large extent these days are gone, the legislation pushing the new social pariahs to the streets where they can be frowned upon as they hurryingly draw on ‘a gasper’ as if in some hogarthian pamphlet.

The Cuban Cigar Club in Newcastle does however buck this trend. A small establishment, to be found heading up from the station it could easily be missed, like a door from a JK Rowling novel it is there but mainly overlooked – except, that is, for the occasional group of people peering and

pointing through the window at the wonders on display.

The shop is a cornucopia of tobaccos and accoutrements, bewildering to the uninitiated and an exhibition to the rest. Upon entering we are greeted by Justin Clayton, the manager and some might say maitre’d of said establishment. Cigars are the order of the day so we are introduced to the vast walk in humidor. It’s impressive in its array of choice with a selection second on a par with anything I have seen in St James and better than most.

Newcastle it may be, but the Cuban Cigar Club won the coveted Silver Chaveta for best habanos retailer of 2012 and you can see why.

As we peruse the selection, regulars come and go, letting themselves into the humidor (using the secret pin code), they hail a greeting and make their selection of samples before disappearing into the sampling room to try their selection and consider their purchases.

The humidor contains a selection of Cuban and new world cigars arranged by ring gauge – it’s bewildering, and there lies a point. Wine or beer often come with tasting and pairing notes, it is easy for the ignorant to make selections based upon the copious tasting notes, pairings one reads or the recommendation of associates.

This is what sets the Cuban Cigar club apart.

Having made our selection we adjourn to the sampling room with Justin. It is a well proportioned room at the rear of the establishment, filled with bucket seats and small tables and the gentle hum of the ventilators. We are served coffee and tea to accompany our cigars, whilst some members sip at something stronger as they chat away.

The sampling room has a huge array of whiskies, brandies and rums, each bottle neatly tagged with a name, so the owner can enjoy it with their chosen tobacco. The next three september

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hours disappear as we wax lyrical on many topics covering the merits of the vast range of pipes (including some made for the CCC by Dunhill), the pipe tobacco selections, their merits and our preferences. Justin is an excellent host showing an erudite knowledge, delivered with passion.

In one corner a young gent is guiding a new initiate in how to prepare their pipe and tobacco. He looks a little apprehensive at first, even self-conscious, yet in no time he appears to be enjoying himself as he tries a number of different blends and selects his purchase.

The club is not just a name, it is a club in many ways. Both the evident camaraderie, the quiet salutations as people come and go, the clientele, old and young, with a broad mix of professions and social backgrounds – it’s as if it has taken best aspects of the London clubs mixed them with camaraderie of the old working men’s clubs and created an exquisite yet egalitarian abode for those that appreciate the ‘gentle art of smoking’.

GEN T LEMA N ’S N OT ES The club arranges events & dinners partnered with local restaurants so members can enjoy excellent food before relaxing with a cigar and entertainment ranging from quizzes to burlesque.

The sampling room is open to members and non members alike, and will hopefully be offering a concierge service for those who wish to avoid shopping

Promotion

Dine I N ST Y L E

N E WC A S T L E ’ S NE W E S T VE NU E B ONB A R I S SE RV ING U P A S T Y L I S H M EN U O F DE LICIO U S DIS H ES , C A P T IVATING CO C K TA I L S AND THE BE S T B R A N D S O F C HA MPAGNE .

L A D I DA TA K E S A LO O K .

B

E Tempted. Be Indulgent. Be Entertained. Be at Bonbar.

Succumb to the allure of Newcastle’s most decadent playhouse, with rooms dedicated to the most elegant recreation.

Bonbar invites you drink & dine, revel & relax and immerse yourself in our extraordinary entertainment.

With drinks to impress the most skilled mixologist and fantastic food to complement all tastes, Bonbar offers an experience like no other.

Come in to the place where Bon girls beguile and bartenders bemuse.You simply must indulge in the sensation that is Bonbar.

Following a £1million transformation, Bonbar, housed in the historic Assembly Rooms, has been unveiled as Newcastle’s premier venue providing unrivalled service,

exceptional products and extraordinary live entertainment Amongst the stylish surroundings you can dine on fabulous food. Bonbar offers a decadent experience with a varied menu serving up lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and late-night nibbles for those who want to stay and party the night away.

The Assembly Rooms has always prided itself on its reputation for serving top quality food catering for all tastes and Bonbar’s menu is no exception.

Dishes devised by their team of awardwinning chefs include delectable sharing boards offering up delights such as the Fish Platter of smoked mackerel pate, home cured salmon, fish goujons, shell on prawns, garlic king prawns, crispy focaccia and blinis, served with beetroot relish and lemon mayo.

For starters you can feast on Asian salmon fish cakes, chickpea and pancetta soup or lime leaf chicken skewers while mains include Aged Northumbrian Steak, Miso cod, seared tuna, Parpadelle and The BFC (Bon fried Chicken).

Side dishes include paprika wedges, savoy cabbage with pancetta and potato rosti.

If you have a sweet tooth you won’t be disappointed with the dessert offering. These include warm chocolate and beetroot brownies, blueberry and mascarpone cheesecake, bread and butter pudding and gooey chocolate torte.

If you prefer savoury, then you can choose from either a British or an Italian cheeseboard.

Newcastle’s most decadent playhouse, with rooms dedicated to the most elegant recreation All can be washed down with a glass or two from the tempting wine list.

If you prefer to indulge on champagne, offerings range from the high-end with bottles of Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades pink rose (£700) to mid-range Dom Perignon Vintage (£140) and less expensive Taittinger Brut Reserve (£45).

Bonbar’s unique cocktail menu reflects the classic and contemporary interior design and architecture of the building.

From vintage favourites like ‘Parisian 75’ made famous by the film ‘Casablanca’ to modern tipples like ‘What’s Poppin’ a quirky blend of Brugal Blanco Rum infused with popcorn shaken with Frangelico Hazelnut and a helping of popcorn, there is something to suit all tastes.

Food is served between 12 noon and 9.30pm (last serving). Late night nibbles are served until closing time at 2am (Mon-Wed) and Thurs-Sun till 4am.

B ON B A R , THE A SSEMB LY ROOMS, FEN KLE STR EET, N E WC A S T L E NE 1 5X U WWW. B ON B A R . CO. UK september

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The

La Di Da to

Le Grand DĂŠpart WORDS ANDREW SMITH

ESDAMES and Monsieurs, the world's greatest cycle race - the Tour de France - is coming to Yorkshire, hereby known as God's Country, for the first time on the 5th and 6th July.

And, as we are sure our French cousins will appreciate, Yorkshire never fails to finish first when it comes to the finest food and drink offerings. So, to ensure you regardez in style, we present you with La Di Da's favourite watering spots for your delectation. Bon appetit!

M

A symphony for Yorkshire Sing a song of Yorkshire, from the Humber to the Tees.

Of horses, wool and terriers, of pudding and of cheese.

I know no other county where the land is quite so fine.

England's lovely county. And I'm proud to call it mine.

Where shining purple heather stretches far across the moor, and the lapwing's cry above me takes the place of traffic roar.

And peace comes drifting gently, there's no place I'd rather be than this land of hills and valleys, from the Pennines to the sea.

So when I've done my roaming, and when my step grows slow; when heart and mind assure me that the time has come to go, then let me rest in Yorkshire, for it's there I want to lie 'neath sun and wind and heather‌ and a gleaming Yorkshire sky.

Dore

en Brigham, Harrogate

Everything is inspiration.

If you look at the world as the incredible place it is, then each moment is a feast.

J. D . M e a n s

may

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2014

Reeth

Yorkshire

Leyburn Aysgarth

Hawes

Kettlewell

STAGE TWO FINISH

Ripon

Harrogate

Knaresborough

Ilkley STAGE TWO START

Skipton

Hebden Bridge

Harewood Otley Silsden Haworth RACE START Leeds

Elland Huddersfield

Holmfirth STAGE TWO FINISH

The valleys went out.

The moorland broke loose.

S h e ffi e l d

Te d H u g h e s

may

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2014

York

Little Chocolate Shop

The Reliance

Sustenance of the appropriate calibre.

It's not big but it is clever. Relaxed vibrant bar on the edge of Leeds with great beer and superb food and charcuterie. Sunday is games night, try it.

www.thelittlechocolateshop.co.uk

HARROGATE

www.thereliance.co.uk

Friends of Ham

Weetons A miniature Fortnums Food hall for the most fabulous picnic.

Oú on trouve des bons vivants?

For the ultimate packed lunch. Charcuterie, fromagerie and snackatorium with drinks to match.

www.weetons.com

www.friendsofham.com

Malt Shovel @Brearton

SKIPTON

Quirky ‘shabby chic' pub run by the Bleikers, who also own the famous smokehouse. Classic dishes with continental flavours and also do lunchtime tapas style small plates.

Woolly Sheep Inn Proper Yorkshire fare delivered with panache and quaint rooms.

www.themaltshovelbrearton.co.uk

www.woollysheepinn.co.uk

KNARESBROUGH

KIRKBY LONSDALE

MARVELLOUS MASHAM, RIPON, N YORKS

General Tarleton

Hipping Hall

Swinton Park

Opulent rural splendour, fine dining and divine cocktails, quirky accommodation, a gem.

www.generaltarleton.co.uk

Enjoy the great scenic views and easy access to Day 1 in style at this fabulous hotel. The perfect retreat to wind down and enjoy.

Set in its own grounds, with helicopter pad for quick access, spa for relaxation and Samuel's restaurant, this is an exquisite base camp and puts you close to the action for the end of Day 1. Book the Tower Room if you can.

www.swintonpark.com

Johnny Baghdads Got a healthy appetite? JBs is where those in the know go for ‘man food'. Known for its fab steak and snail pie...

One of the best pubs in town and the best beer for miles around.

www.villagebrewer.co.uk

Rudding Park Splendid everything you could possibly want from afternoon tea to excellent cocktails and spa.

www.ruddingpark.co.uk

www.johnnybaghdadscafe.co.uk

YORK

Joneva

Star Inn in the city

Avoid the risk of hypoglycemia with panache.

www.joneva.com

www.starinnthecity.co.uk

The Blue Bicycle

Wensleydale Heifer

www.thebluebicycle.com

Luxuriant country pub with food to die for, including fabulous fish, just nestled a couple of miles from the route.

The Golden Ball

Innovative and tasty in a beautiful setting

Best quiz night ever. Great pub.

www.goldenballyork.co.uk

REETH

LEEDS

Burgoyne on the Green

Souz Le Nez

Reeth is the jewel of Swaledale and BoTG is simply delightful with excellent food and accommodation and an ideal base for some of the best scenery of the tour.

www.theburgoyne.co.uk

LEYBURN

Long established for a reason. Literally under your nose so follow it.

www.souslenez.com

The Maven Prohibition with a modern twist. Cocktails are seriously good.

www.themavenbar.com

Sandpiper

The Outlaws Yacht Club

Award winning chef in a fine 17th century inn overlooking the market square.

Tip top drinks and tasty bites in a great little hideyhole

www.sandpiper.co.uk

www.outlawsyachtclub.com may

66

Grab the best views as you picnic...

O

Very fabulous food.

WEST WITTON

www.wensleydaleheifer.co.uk

www.hippinghall.com

Blind Jacks

2014

nce you have imbibed the finest luxury food and drink known to humanity, you need to secure a fabulous viewing point.

Here are some of our suggestions for the most scenic.

At Reeth the green is splendid and the competitors will be coming down the dale after the Buttertubs pass. Middle ham should be a great vantage point, as the cyclists will be climbing up from Leyburn.

The castle and village are magnificent and there should be great views.

Or try the stretch between West Burton and Aysgarth. As the narrowest point of the route, you are only a short distance to Middleham ( West Witton for a fab lunch) so you can see parts of the race. Plus you would also get the views of Aysgarth Falls and Bolton Castle.

You can then dash down to Harrogate, via Pateley Bridge, avoiding the traffic, so you catch the finish at Harrogate...

Business News

Lef t t o r i g ht: Ga ry Rob son, Anton H e i l, H a rvey a nd Richa rd Lister

KI N GS OF

C RE ATIVITY

N

ICE guys don’t always come last. In fact, in this case nice guys are definitely coming first. Celebrating their first birthday, Bishop Auckland-based creative and digital agency Curious12, has already won a host of top regional, national and international accounts.

And the secret of their success? It’s simple.

They put the client first, all of the time, every time.

Curious12, which is based at Auckland Castle, was set up by directors Richard Lister and Anton Heil last April, with fellow director Gary Robson coming on board shortly after.

The trio quickly smashed their original targets on projected work, doubling the amount of projects within the first six months and the business has continued to expand rapidly throughout their first year.

The agency has beaten top London and international agencies to win a host of prestigious projects which include working as marketing and design partner to global company CMR Group and building a website for leading FMCG brand Wrigleys.

In addition, Curious12 has been working with the North East’s most ambitious visitor destination, Auckland Castle, on a range of innovative marketing projects including

websites, brochures, email campaigns, signage, CGI presentations and apps. They have even internationally sourced and modified touch screen technology to support the castle’s plans to become one of the most exciting visitor attractions in the region.

“We love what we do and it feels great when our clients tell us that our enthusiasm shows through in the work we deliver for them,” explains co-founder and Business Development Director Richard Lister.

“We enjoy being truly creative rather than focusing on the bottom line. For us, it’s not about getting the job done as quickly as possible to maximise profits. What motivates us is digging below the surface to understand what outcome our client really wants and then doing whatever it takes to deliver that.”

The team’s ‘can do’ approach is backed by half a century of experience at the highest level in the fields of design, print and digital marketing. Curious12 works with a host of different businesses of all sizes, in fields ranging

from education to community initiatives, from engineering to financial services and from B2B to high end consumer magazines including La Di Da. The clients have all been attracted by the firm’s customer service driven ethos and ability to become a seamless part of their client’s team.

“We call ourselves Curious because that defines our approach to our business,” explains Richard. “We don’t just ask ‘what’ a client wants us to do, we always want to know why they want to do it too and we use this insight to identify the best ways to help them achieve the outcomes they are looking for.

“It’s about joining our clients on their journey and becoming totally involved and immersed in it. When you become as passionate about what they want to achieve as they are, then you can truly produce work that is able to revolutionise their business.”

The agency has launched a new website featuring many of its exciting projects which can be seen at www.curious12.com.

We don’t try to complete the work in the least amount of time to make as much profit as possible. We do whatever it takes to deliver at the highest level and that’s our real motivation... may

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Business News Promotion

More More More

for Assembly Rooms entrepreneur T H E M A N P ER HA P S BE S T KN OWN F O R O P E RATING O NE O F T H E N O RT H E A S T ’ S MO S T PO PUL AR CO N FE RE NCE A ND E V E NT V EN UE S HA S NOW A DD E D A G O U R ME T FO O D D E L IV E RY B US I NE SS TO HIS PO RT F O L I O

A

NTONY MICHAELIDES, whose family’s company has run Newcastle’s historic Assembly Rooms for 40 years, has now created More More More, which offers freshly-made food from the venue’s kitchens delivered to homes around the UK. Together with wife Fiona, Antony launched the online business just before Christmas, and is now taking on another five chefs to keep pace with demand.

More More More was trialed for six months before officially launching, and its food – which uses locally-sourced ingredients wherever possible - has been consistently rated ahead of high-end ready meal competitors in independent taste tests.

Its gourmet cuisine, which can either be ordered as advertised on its website or can be made to bespoke requirements, is cooked by chefs in the 237-year-old Grade II listed Assembly Rooms. It is then vacuum packed and then put into insulated boxes with gel packs, to ensure it arrives at its destination in perfect condition within the following 24 hours.

More More More has been established with the support of Newcastle law firm Sintons.

Partner Christopher Welch has worked with the Michaelides family for more than 20 years.

Antony Michaelides - who is also currently overseeing the £1m transformation of the Assembly Rooms into the Bonbar restaurant and nightclub – said: “We are renowned for the quality of our food at the Assembly Rooms, so it almost seemed a logical step to diversify from there to provide our top-class cuisine for dinner parties and busy families across the UK.

A b ove : Ant ony M i c hae li d e s and Chr i s t op he r We lc h

“Our food is cooked to order by our team of outstanding chefs, and delivered within 24 hours to wherever it needs to be by the best couriers. There are few, if any, businesses in this country doing what we do, certainly none in this region, and already we are seeing orders coming in from across the UK. “With the horsemeat scandal, and the increasing focus on traceable ingredients and the levels of salt and sugar in what we eat, there is a renewed desire for fresh, homecooked food – that is what we are providing, and is precisely why it is proving to be so popular.”

Christopher Welch, Partner in the Company and Commercial department at Sintons, said: “The Assembly Rooms has, over the past 40 years, built an outstanding reputation for its quality and commitment to excellence in many areas, not least its food. That foundation is now the basis for More More More, which gives diners around the UK access to the Assembly Rooms’ exceptional cuisine.

“This is an exciting new venture for Antony and Fiona and both I and Sintons are very pleased to be able to support them with the creation of More More More, which has already got off to the strongest of starts.”

S I NTO NS T HE C U B E , B AR R AC K ROAD, N E WC AST L E, N E4 6 D B T E L : 0191 226 7878 | WWW. SI N TON S. CO. U K | @S I N TO N S L AW Sintons is a full service law firm based in North East England serving clients throughout the UK and further afield. We have an outstanding reputation for being approachable, reliable and providing clear, direct legal advice. With 250 employees including 29 partners and over 100 lawyers, we are one of the largest law firms in the North East and pride ourselves on providing our clients with the highest quality, partner-led legal advice with exceptional personal service. may

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2014

Business News

M AT FE N HA L L ENTERS SECO N D P H ASE O F £ 4 5 0 ,0 0 0 INVESTMENT.. .

O

NE of the North East’s most fabulous country hotels has entered the second phase of a major £450,000 investment into its golf and spa facilities.

Matfen Hall, Northumberland – the ancestral home of the Blackett family - is one of the region’s leading leisure, conference and wedding destinations.

Owners Sir Hugh and Lady Blackett have strengthened its appeal by introducing state of the art equipment and technology to benefit golfers and spa clients alike.

Around £150,000 has already been spent refurbishing the 53 bedroom hotel’s fitness suite. Open to members and residents, it boasts state of the art Technogym equipment including excite cardio equipment featuring the UNITY console. There are also six Kinesis stations offering a more functional training experience and an ARKE area which is designed to target the origins of movement.

Personal guidance and advice is always available as an instructor is always present to motivate guide and inspire.

A further £150,000 is to be invested introducing a brand new range of thermal experiences. This will include an aromatherapy room which provides gentle warmth and aroma. A steam room offering almost 100% humidity to cleanse and stimulate the body’s circulation, a traditional sauna, experience showers which offer soft tropical rain or an ice cold bucket shower and an ice fountain. This provides full spa journey experience allowing the body to benefit from the most gentle heat to the most intense then cool down and rest.

A further £160k has been invested in upgrading the golf course maintenance equipment. Complementing the existing machinery the new equipment including the latest electric hybrid greens mowers, will allow Matfen’s 27 hole golf course and practice facilities to remain at the forefront of golfing experiences in the region Managing Director, Bernard Bloodworth said: “This is a very exciting time at Matfen with this investment creating a lot of interest not only regionally but nationally too.”

Matfen Hall, call 01661 886500 email info@matfenhall.com or visit www.matfenhall.com.

LAD I ES ARE D O I NG I T FO R T H E N ORT H EA ST

A

T a recent presentation The North East Ladies Day Committee awarded cheques of £5,500 to three north east charities, taking the total awarded to each charity from the September function to a staggering £7500.

Representatives from St Margaret’s Centre in Durham, Kilton Thorpe Friend’s Association, Brotton and Victoria’s Wish, Redcar attended a presentation at Middleton Hall retirement village, to receive their cheques.

North East Ladies Day is an annual event, which offers the opportunity for ladies from around our region to enjoy a fabulous day out and is supported by Barclaycard.

Last year’s celebrity guest speaker was the comedian and writer, Jenny Éclair who entertained over 500 ladies. In addition to a bubbly reception, 3 course lunch, grand prize draw, there are a select range of retailers such as Molton Brown, Estee lauder, House of Colour, Shoeby Do and Jinny D, amongst others.

Chairperson Dawn Wright said, “We are well under way with arrangements for our 2014 ladies day, and are pleased to announce that our event this year will be held on Wednesday 17th September, at Hardwick Hall and Country Club, Sedgefield.

Commencing 11 am. We have been extremely fortunate in securing the services of Giles Brandreth as our Special Guest Speaker, and expect the day to be one of our most enjoyable, and successful!”

This year’s nominated charities are Henry Dancer Days, South Cleveland Heart Fund and Ellen Timney Foundation.

For further information on this year’s event and chosen charities, please visit the website: www.NELadiesDay.Moonfruit.com may

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N EW AP P OI N TME N T

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DAM Dyke, who has worked at a number of prestigious hotels in the UK, has a new role. He has joined the Cleveland Tontine hotel in North Yorkshire as general manager, where he once worked as Assistant Restaurant manager, early in his career.

He was most recently GM at Wynyard Hall Hotel. During his time there, Wynyard Hall achieved Michelin Guide status, featured in the Good Food Guide and became an Inspector’s Choice Hotel with four AA red stars and three rosettes for culinary excellence.

Before joining Wynyard Hall, Adam held the position of General Manager at Yorebridge House where he was instrumental in achieving 5 star AA status and 2 rosettes and was key in making Yorebridge the best Restaurant with Rooms in Yorkshire in 2011.

He says: “I have always prided myself on being customer focussed first and foremost. Whatever is going on behind the scenes, the customer must always feel they are getting absolutely the best we can deliver”.

Since joining the Cleveland Tontine, after its brief closure for a full refurbishment, Adam has been concentrating on re-establishing the venue as the premier destination in the North East, not only for exceptional food but also for business events, functions and short breaks. In April, The Tontine was awarded five gold stars by the AA, the highest award possible, for its exceptional accommodation, as well as a coveted Breakfast Award. Adam says: “ These achievements are down to an enormous amount of hard work from the entire team and they reinforce the fact that the Tontine has something special; that unique quirkiness which many places try to emulate but never quite succeed. We are back on the map and better than ever, so pop in for a coffee or come for the weekend. We are looking forward to seeing you.’

Beautifully Placed Aston Workshop Authorised servicing, parts, accessories and category A approved crash repair.

Aston Workshop Red Row, Beamish County Durham DH9 0RW Tel: 01207 233525 Fax: 01207 232202 astonworkshop@aston.co.uk www.aston.co.uk

Here at Aston Workshop we pride ourselves on our service and extensive knowledge of Aston Martin cars, and now we have been awarded Authorised Service Centre status by Aston Martin which means your car will be in experienced hands.

Book your Aston in now as for a limited time we are offering a complimentary lunch to you and a friend at the famous Black Horse Gastro Pub so come and visit us in the beautiful Beamish conservation valley.

Motoring

Taking our cars out on rallies is the best advertisement for our business...

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BE S T O F B RIT IS H

J E TS E T T E R S AND A S TO N E NTHU S IASTS FROM ALL OVER TH E WOR LD SEND TH EI R AS TO N S TO A FA M I LY F I R M IN BE A MIS H. L I N DA JANE WEST P HAL FIN D S OUT M ORE. . .

N a little green corner of Beamish, around winding roads and past fields of sheep, lies the mecca of the Aston Martin world, the Aston Workshop.

Jawdroppingly beautiful Astons, from the 1930s onwards, line the huge workshops. Every decade bringing its own unique style to the classic Aston design. Row upon row of classic cars lay silent, in every colour of the rainbow from peacock blue to powder pink, as specialist craftsmen work on them. An Aston can take years to restore which is some measure of the care and devotion classic cars like these deserve.

These Astons have been sent from all over the

world to be treated to some TLC. Whether members of Middle East royalty, or Chinese and Russian oligarchs or German high flyers, they all ship their Astons here.

The local market is negligible in terms of Aston restoration. The sleek sports cars that pass you on the road as you approach the workshop are the local bread and butter. And you can see why the north east petrol head community bring their fabulous cars here. Not only do you get top craftsmen working on your vehicle, you also get to look around the amazing workshop at some of the most beautiful Astons in the world. In fact, you can have a very nice day out should you choose to, because the workshop also owns the Black Horse just down the lane, which is ideally positioned for lunch. may

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As we wander around the workshop, amongst the amazing cars, all at different stages of repair, Clive Dickinson, who has worked alongside his friend, owner Bob Fountain building the business for years, points out a fantastic Aston which recently took part in the Chinese rally, from Beijing to Shanghai.

“We’re keen to expand into the Chinese market and taking one of our cars out on the rallies is the best advertisement for our business,” explains Clive. “When people see the workmanship that goes into our cars, they always want to find out more about the business.”

And you can see why, it’s an interesting story.

Twenty five years ago Bob was running one of his family’s photography shops in Low Fell and Clive,

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Motoring

an accomplished professional photographer, was a client and a friend. Bob owned the land in Beamish and was looking into farming sheep until one day a friend of his drove up to see him in an Aston Martin DB5 and a love affair was born. Bob bought an Aston and spent years restoring it. A natural and gifted mechanic, he sold it for a significant mark up and invested the money in more Astons.

“He kept asking me to come down to his workshop and take some photos for him,” explains Clive. “I kept putting him off until one day I gave in. When I came down here, I couldn’t believe it, I was really blown away.

“I advised him that he should think about changing his marketing, make it more upmarket and emphasise what an amazing place it is and how fantastic your people are.”

With Clive directing the marketing, the business went from strength to strength and it soon became a full time task for Clive to manage, so he left photography behind and joined the Aston Workshop team.

Now the site boasts significant square footage of workshop space and workshops, all kitted out with the latest state of the art equipment.

On site too, is a separate Aston Martin approved reception area as the company is a

fully authorised Aston Martin Service and Parts Centre and is able to offer servicing on any model of Aston Martin with thousands of Aston Martin Parts also available on site from their impressive parts department.

The two parts of the business are kept very separate. They even have their own reception areas, with the Approved Aston Martin reception all designer European chairs and sleek fittings as befits their brand.

The Aston Workshop offers servicing on the older Aston’s, DB2-DB7 Vantage at a fixed labour rate. The fixed price offer is for the full labour cost of the service. Parts and materials are charged extra. They will advise you of any other repairs and replacements that may be required. For the newer models, Aston Workshop offers fixed price servicing including all parts and fluids.

Before I leave, a baby pink 1960s Aston catches my eye. Inside its dashboard is beautifully upholstered in deepest red leather with pink fittings. This is just one of many rare exclusive models of classic Aston Martins in the room. Some are so rare you can’t even put a price on them. This neatly sums up the specialness of the Aston Workshop at Beamish.

Like the Astons it cares for, it’s a real class act.

WWW.ASTON.CO.UK RED ROW, BEAMISH COUNTY DURHAM may

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T HE R I D E O F YOU R L I FE

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OVE your Aston Martin but want it to be even better? Then the Aston Workshop at Beamish should be your first port of call. Using a genuine factory Aston Martin, they can build you ultimate the bespoke car. Whether it’s a DB4, 5 or 6, they can enhance your power steering, full suspension performance pack; add in a 4.7 vantage engine or a 4 or 6 speed manual transmission.

And if you want to really put your Aston through its paces, AP Racing Brakes can be fitted.Virtually every part of your Aston could be improved upon by the Aston Workshop team, delivering you the ultimate Aston.

Modern, adjustable gas filled dampers, progressive rate springs and modern radial tyres have transformed the handling of modern cars and now classic car owners can have dampers fitted as standard on all bespoke models. Adjusting the damper settings, different settings and spring rates and optimising these alongside modern radial tyres, it becomes possible to tailor the handling characteristics to suit.

Replacing rear lever arm dampers with telescopic dampers, eliminates what has now become an obsolete component and is another step towards the ultimate goal of achieving modern safety standards of ride comfort safety and handling, says the Aston Workshop.

“We are also working towards being able to offer in-car adjustable dampers on bespoke models. This offers exciting possibilities allowing the driver to optimise handling according to road conditions at the time.”

And don’t forget looks are everything. So you may want to think about investing in a colour and trim of your choice to provoke serious Aston envy.

Motoring

MOTOR IN G EXPERT GRAH AM COURTN EY OF AU TO H ! G I V ES H I S LOWD OWN ON TH E LATES T LAU N CH ES

top cat

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T’S time to make an admission. I was on the train home from London last week and I read (can’t believe I’m admitting this) one of those tatty celebrity magazines. I’d forgotten to bring a book or buy a paper, so when the lady sitting opposite me got off at Peterborough and left a copy of the magazine on her seat, out of desperation I decided to flick through it.

Once I’d got past who’s ditched whom, how someone has lost two stones and how a supposed superstar was ‘brave enough’ to pick up a penguin, I noticed the number of pictures that featured the Jaguar F-Type.

To be honest, I‘m not surprised; anyone would look good either sat in or stood next to the F-Type. It’s a stunner. Even David Beckham is getting in on the act. He’s been signed-up by Jaguar as their brand ambassador in China. He’s looking like his usual cool self, leaning nonchalantly next to the new F-Type Coupé. Posh will be jealous.

Back to the roadster; there are three versions on offer. The entry level model comes in at £58,535. Next up is the £67,535 ‘S’ model, and finally we come to the one we’ve got here, the V8 S which tips the scales at £79,995. While the other two models use a 3.0 litre V6 engine, this one gets a stonking 5.0 litre supercharged V8 which develops just under 500bhp. Power goes to the rear wheels via an 8-speed ‘box What does this mean in on-road terms? 0-60 flashes by in 4.2 seconds; you can reach almost 190mph. Economy won’t be a concern to you if you’re after this type of car but, for the record, it’ll do around 26mpg overall. (The V6 models return a very respectable 33mpg).

The sound from the four exhaust pipes is delicious.You can flick a switch to open some of the baffles in the silencers to let the neighbours know that you’ve safely arrived home. They’ll hear you from outside the county. may

The ride is nothing short of outstanding. There are very few cars that can amble around town, hustle along a country lane or sprint down the Autoroute to St.Tropez and leave the occupants totally relaxed. For a car which has such sporting pretentions, this is a stunning achievement.

Drop the roof, folding electronically, and there is a pleasant lack of wind buffeting.You can drive along at motorway speeds without a wind in the hair, flies in the teeth experience. The roof drops down behind the seats in 12 seconds and it’ll operate at speeds up to 30mph The interior is truly sumptuous. The cockpit wraps around you. The seats are firm and supportive.You can even fiddle with the interior lighting to create the perfect atmosphere. In terms of extras well, you really don’t need to dip into the brochure. The V8 S comes with all of the essentials, although there’s a surprising amount of kit that allows you to personalise your Jag. Y’know, when you compare this car to competition from Porsche and Mercedes, it looks like really good value. Buyers of those two marques are quite rightly extremely fussy about their vehicles. Thankfully, the F-Type stacks up. It really is the best of British. It also represents the strides that Jaguar has made over the past few years. They’ve gone from being a firm that had lost its way, to being a firm that leads the way, not only here in the UK, but worldwide.

This cat has got the cream. It’s a top cat.

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Motoring

XC-LENT T

HERE are times when it really is too easy to slip into a stereotype. I live near a public school and I have to admit that it’s become rather funny watching the steady flow of immaculate Range Rovers, BMW X5s, Cayennes and, yes, a Hummer, inching their way through the entrance.

However, the times, they are a-changing.

There’s a new kid on the block. It’s not so big or cumbersome but is equally handy at hauling kids and stuff from A to B. It’s certainly more economical and is easier to punt around. It’s called a Crossover.

Most manufacturers have at least one in their range.

The Volvo XC60 is brilliant.

It has the caché of the Volvo badge and looks extremely smart And one of the best is the Volvo XC60.

A Crossover is a car that has all of the attributes of a family saloon yet has the looks of an SUV (sports utility vehicle).

Some can be just as rugged and come with 4-wheel drive, but most manage with just the front wheels being powered.

The Volvo XC60 is brilliant. It has the caché of the Volvo badge and looks extremely smart. Prices start at £31,260, but there’ll be space for some haggling there. One of our favourites here at La Di Da is the R-Resign which starts at £32,535. This is the perfect Yummy Mummy mover. It’s very smart and sporty.

In terms of engine choice, you have a selection of various diesel options and a single petrol. The diesels are either 4 or 5 cylinder units. We reckon the best is the 2.0 litre 4-cylinder diesel. It’s reasonably refined and perfectly suited to the XC60. 0-60 takes a very acceptable 8 seconds. There’s a top speed of 130mph and, if you stick to the 2-wheel drive, manual gearbox models, you’ll crack 60mpg. Auto models are thirstier, but not by much. If you want 4WD, you’ll need the bigger engine models.

What’s it like inside? Well, civilised is the word I’d use. There are very few cars that give such a smooth and quiet ride. At motorways speeds, there’s no need for raised voices or turning up the audio to drown out the din. If you need a family holdall that is capable of giving everyone a comfortable may

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journey over long distances, I can’t think of a better car for the money. It also score points as one of the most reliable cars on the road and it comes with a high customer satisfaction rating.

Of course, it goes without saying that the car is loaded with safety kit. There are air bags everywhere and you get Volvo’s clever City Safety system. At speeds below 20mph, if you get too close to the vehicle in front, a warning buzzer will sound. If you fail to react, the car will automatically brake.

Kids love being in the back. The seats are given a lofty position which means that even tiny tots can see out of the side windows.

You can opt for 40-20-40 configuration too if you’d rather have two largely separate seats with a folding table in the middle.

In terms of goodies,Volvo has a reputation for putting plenty of kit onto its cars. The XC60 is no exception. Climate control, natty alloys, DAB radio, auto lights and wipers, Bluetooth etc are all included.

There’s a really good sturdy feel to everything.You certainly get the impression that the XC60 will shrug off the wear and tear that a family will throw at it.

So, go on, break the mould. Ditch the Chelsea Tractor. Try the Volvo XC60.

Crossover to the latest motoring fashion.

Tulipalo offer stunning design-led fireplaces which can transform your home. In Contemporary and Classic styles, our state of the art brands offer fabulous statement fires, fireplaces and stoves for the ultimate wow factor.

Newcastle showroom now open displaying a range of inspiring brands backed by ‘Exceptional’ customer service.

TULP

PIET BOON

FARMINGTON

CHESNEY’S

TULIPALO, 14 BLANDFORD SQUARE, NEWCASTLE, NE1 4HZ. 0191 260 5959 WWW.TULIPALO.CO.UK

Interiors

fires Fabulous

B OR E D O F T HAT CHU NK Y FIRE P LACE? M ORE D ESIG N URG H T HA N D E S I G N E R? L I N DA J AN E W E ST P HAL TAKES A LOOK AT T HE L AT ES T LOO K S IN THE MA RK E T FOR TH E ULTIMATE STY LE S TAT EM EN T. . .

T

HE term wow factor could be made for Tulipalo’s showroom. Wall to wall designer heaven, this is fireplace design as functioning and sheer damn fabulous art.

Everywhere you look there is something new and innovative to inspire. Even the more traditional and transitional ranges have been made designer fabulous. It’s no wonder then that people come into the showroom thinking they want one thing, only to walk out with something completely different, but even more jawdroppingly gorgeous.

“People often come in with pre conceived ideas but then quickly change their minds when they see the range we have,” says Tulipalo director Simon Sparke-Pearson.

“They may have a period property and plan to have something traditional but then fall in love with one of Tulp’s contemporary fires. With great design there’s nothing to stop you having a contemporary fireplace in a period property, they can look amazing.”

Tulipalo is a new addition on the Northern interiors scene, having been set up in July. But Simon and his fellow directors have decades of experience in the fireplace market. In fact, it was when he was abroad on business that a

particular range caught Simon’s eye at a trade exhibition, Tulp, and now Tulipalo is the UK distributor for the range and is in the process of establishing a nationwide network of likeminded partner showrooms.

It’s easy to see why they stopped him in his tracks. The range includes beautiful three sided glass cases with ceramic wood, providing a modern take on the rustic beauty of a real fire.

In fact, the showroom in Blandford Square has so many beautiful fires that you can quickly become transfixed by the interior possibilities.

These are fireplaces as art. Forget the mantra of having a fireplace central to the room.

There are even fireplaces as portholes, ideal to offer a statement design in the dividing wall of an open plan studio.

Or why not try hanging your fireplace on your wall like an eyecatching piece of artwork? The possibilities are endless.

“Our fireplaces debunk the common misconception that you have to have a telly or fireplace in the centre of the room,” explains Simon.

“With these fires you can have them on the wall, in a porthole, practically anything is possible, using your space a lot more effectively and still have a real statement piece. may

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They are increasingly being used in kitchens as kitchens become more of a social space, with these new looks the old design rules are being turned on their head.”

With designers such as Tulp, Piet Boon, Farmington and Chesney’s, some of these fireplaces are at the higher end of the price bracket. But in terms of adding impact to your interiors and using your space much more imaginatively, the investment is worth it. And, unlike the statement car, these won’t devalue.

“Fireplaces are the third most important investment after your kitchen and bathroom for adding value to your home. When you have a real statement fireplace, it just sells the whole home. People fall in love with your interiors as soon as they walk through the door,” says Simon.

For a more traditional feel, try Chesney’s. For many years they have restored antique fireplaces at their workshop in London. Their range is ideally suited to period properties and they have some fabulous designs which would suit any period.

They have also collaborated with some serious designer names to spectacular effect. For a fashion fabulous look try the range designed

by BIBA founder Barbara Hulanicki or for furniture aficionados take a look at the Jasper Conran Collection or London designer Tom Faulkner. Great designs with classic lines but lots of flair and expert craftsmanship.

Contemporary, transitional, traditional, the choice is yours but be warned, once you step into the showroom, you may surprise yourself when you have seen the beautiful fires insitu.

But whatever you decide to go with, it will look amazing.

GET T H E LO O K Tulipalo 14 Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4HZ wvww.tulipalo.co.uk

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Interiors

S E RIO U S LY P O S H B AT H RO O M S WA N T TO H AVE A BATHRO O M FIT FOR A KING OR QUEEN ? LINDA JANE WEST P HA L G I V ES TH E IN SI DE SCO O P O N W HE RE A LL THE A LISTER S GO TO FOR TH E ULTIMATE THRO N E RO O M ...

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VER wondered what a celebrity’s bathroom looks seriously divine. like? Then head down to P.T Ranson’s Gateshead Or enjoy one of showroom and prepare to have serious bathroom envy. Vitra’s baths, all Walk in through the doors and you will be greeted statement design, with every top European designer brand you can not to mention the think of,Vitra, Matki, Burgbad,Victoria + Albert fact that you could Baths, the list is endless. Seriously gorgeous bathrooms with every fit three people functionality you could possibly want. into it easily. Just At work but dreaming of that hot oily bath? Then just activate your add music and iphone app and the bath will pop the plug in and run itself, all ready accessorise with a for you as you step through the door. Back from the hairdresser and magnum of the need a shower in preparation for a fabulous society soiree but don’t finest champagne. want to get your hair wet? Then just activate your own personal shower While the setting on your digital shower and your new blow dry will still look showroom is a salon fresh. must visit, legions A fabulous walk in shower which can remember your personal setting, of square footage devoted to every conceivable variation imaginable, your child’s personal setting and your partner’s personal setting. Heaven. P.T Ranson’s website attracts serious traffic. They have delivered as far “This is one of our customer’s favourite features,” says Paul Randall, down south as London and as far north as the Shetland Isles. one of the two directors of P.T Ranson, alongside Tony Jackson. “Men And they have an expert team in place to advise and install. They like to be blasted by their shower; ladies often prefer not to get their work regularly with interior designers and architects and have fitted hair wet. With our digital showers, you can have your own bespoke every fabulous boutique hotel in the North East that you care to shower setting.” name. They can advise on all of your needs Paul has just returned from overseeing work and their latest CAD software can help you on a very famous London based footballer’s make the best use of the space you have house to include 10 fabulous bathrooms. He for maximum wow factor and P.T Ranson has every major A lister as a client and on functionality.

6-8-10 Baltic Road, Gateshead, seeing P.T Ranson’s bathrooms you can see And the great news is that you can justify that NE10 0SB why. Not only do they have state of the art indulgent purchase, as you relax in your uber www.ptranson.com technology, but they are seriously beautiful. fabulous bath with a G&T, by musing on the (0191) 469 6999 Want some glamour in the throne room? Try fact that it will add seriously to your house’s Burgbad with its high gloss black cabinets buyer appeal. A great excuse to splash out if accessorised with Swarovski crystal handles, ever you needed one.

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may

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Interiors

C LAIRE H ORNBY, H EA D O F CR EATI V E & D I S P LAY F O R BARK ER AND S TO NEH O US E

queen Interiors

HE R I N V E N T I V E DIS P LAYS HAVE S P R IN KLED FAIRY D UST OVER TH E BAR KER A N D S TO N EH O US E BATTE RS E A S TO RE , A ND MAD E IT A M UST VISIT FOR TH E STY LE S AV V Y R I CH A ND FAM O US . LI N DA J AN E W E S TPHAL M EETS BAR KER AND STON EH OUSE H EAD O F CR EATI V E & DIS P L AY C L AIRE HO RNBY, TO FIND OUT WH ER E SH E G ETS H ER INSPIR ATIO N F RO M ...

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ONDON is loving a bit of Northern Soul at the moment.

Barker and Stonehouse’s Northern style has got the London interiors scene in a bit

of a tizz.

The great and good of our fair capital city have become hooked on one of the North’s top furniture brands, Barker and Stonehouse.

And by great and good, we mean seriously great and good. Think Gordon Ramsey, think

the Editor of Elle Decor, think Britain’s greatest and perhaps best looking power couple (she’s a fashion queen, he is a very good looking ex football star...can you guess who it is yet?).

They are all heading down to B&S’s Battersea store to buy up Northern style and inspiration.

And much of that inspiration comes from Head of Creative & Display Claire Hornby, whose amazing displays have become the stuff of legend. A veritable Willy Wonka of the furniture world, her inventive, and often hand built, displays make even well travelled top interior journalists go weak at the knees.

A children’s den she built for the opening of the Battersea store had the Editor of Elle Decor in raptures and an excellent write up made them the defacto choice for London’s may

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yummy mummy set. Gordon Ramsey has bought up most of the store and is a regular in the store’s Northern style cafe (think of a hip Betty’s). Staff are eagerly awaiting the imminent arrival of the ultimate power couple, close friends of Gordon, although whether they succumb to the cafe’s fabulous cake remains to be seen.

“The Battersea store has gone so well for us, we are just overwhelmed with the way people have responded to our offer down there,” says Claire. “Obviously our stores do really well in the North but we are a known brand and have a lot of heritage and history. To take our look and ideas and inspiration down to one of the hippest parts of London, where we are an unknown brand, and receive that reaction has been really amazing and exciting for us.”

Interiors

THE TI M OT H Y OULTO N A R E A AT TH E BATTE R S E A S TORE

People are bored of going into a furniture store and seeing rows and rows of beige sofas Claire merchandises all of Barker and Storehouses’ stores, which are spread throughout the North, in addition to the London store. A few times a week she is on the 6.30 am train from Darlington heading down to London. Add in the constant travel to international furniture shows and the hours are seriously wearing. But you won’t hear Claire complain. She’s got her dream job and is passionate about Barker and Stonehouse and the family behind it.

“As an MD James Barker just has so much vision, he is really inspiring to work with. He has trusted me and let me take risks and be really creative which just makes him an

absolute pleasure to deal with. And his father Richard Barker is so knowledgeable and well respected, you just learn so much from being with him,” says Claire.

“They have been really brave opening a new store in London, where they’re virtually unknown, in a recession but their instincts have proved spot on.”

Of course, London is just catching up on what the North East has enjoyed for years. The displays at the St James store always seem to have even the hippest interior junkies pressing their noses against the window to see the latest uber fabulous chandelier or must have chi chi sideboard.

Claire gains a lot a of her inspiration from going around the world to visit furniture shows and manufacturers but also ideas just come to her based on her every day observations. A key current trend, she says, is recycling and adding an urban feel with the use of innovative materials such as furniture with concrete tops. Despite years in the industry, new products and trends clearly still have the power to move her and excite her about how she displays them.

“Wherever I am I tend to pick up ideas or they spark off a thought process in my head.

Sometimes you’ll see a piece of furniture and it will just naturally lend itself to being displayed in a certain way or I’ll be out and about and an idea will just come to me,” she explains.

“Trends play a key part and we like to give people inspiration and ideas about how they can use them but it’s more about providing

CLAIRE’S INS P I RI NG DI SPL AYS HAVE BECO M E A K EY PART OF THE BARKER AND STO NEH OU SE LOOK

inspiration on how they can bring some colour into their homes or use space in a particular way, or just have fun building a look around a piece of furniture they love.”

Claire was first spotted by Barker and Stonehouse after creating amazing showroom displays for fabulous fire company CVO Fires.

Her imagination and instinctive understanding of how to excite and inspire people about their interiors soon saw her become an essential part of the Barker and Stonehouse team, helping them create a look and feel that was completely different from other furniture retailers.

“People are bored of going into a furniture store and seeing rows and rows of beige sofas.

It’s so uninspiring, “says Claire. “People want to see colour and ideas and how to use the latest trends. They want to feel excited about their interiors and what they can do. Having a home that reflects you and your personality is so important, it’s where you escape from the world and spend time with people you love and it should be a place you can’t wait to get back to.”

GET T H E LO O K CLAIRE’S CH ILDREN’S DEN, BUILT F O R THE P RESS O P ENING O F T H E BAT T ERSEA S TO RE H AD TO P LO NDO N INT ERIO R J O U RNALISTS IN RAP T URES may

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Barker and Stonehouse www.barkerandstonehouse.com

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Interiors Feature

ST R E TC H I NG TH E B O U N DAR I ES O F D ESIGN IN N OVAT I V E MATE RIA LS U S E D IN CO M M ERC I A L P ROJE CTS CA N P ROVID E A MA Z I N G N EW LO O K S IN HO ME CO N V ER S I O N S A S W E LL. O U R INTERIORS E X P ERT G EO RGE BO ND TA LK S S TRETCH C E ILI N G S WI TH E XP E RT JE FF DO DDS AND F IN DS O UT M ORE …

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A S T RETCH CEILING IN A H O M E S H OWS THE POSSI BI L I TI ES O F S T RETCH . T H IS O NE H AS BEEN P RI NTED WI TH A SKY VI EW

HE origins of stretch ceilings can be traced back to the middle ages; linen was soaked in water and then pulled tight between frames, after it dried it became smooth because of the force placed on the material.

Although the materials have changed somewhat, the principal has not; instead of water, substitute heat. The fabric becomes very pliable when heated making it easy to fit in the frame; it then contracts as it cools making it become taut. Present day stretch ceilings can trace their roots back over 40 years to Northern Europe. Although it has been around for quite a long time, stretch as we know it now has generally been limited in its use and for one simple reason; cost.

‘In the UK you would generally only see stretch ceilings in swimming pools and spas. Ceilings in these areas are difficult to fit and because of the harshness of the environment using normal materials means redecorating every couple of years. Although stretch was expensive they had advantages over standard ceilings here. Apart from being easier to fit they form a complete vapour barrier, so as well as giving a fantastic finish they are also a practical solution,” so says Jeff Dodds the Managing Director of Soffitto, the North of England based partners of Edward Ray International who are one of the UK’s leading stretch ceiling installers.

‘The cost factor doesn’t come in to it so much now, ” he explains, “new advances in materials and the sheer volume of installations in Europe

has brought cost down. Because of the almost infinite design possibilities with stretch, interior designers are finding a new way of bringing their client’s ideas to life.’

Some of the advantages of using a fabric ceiling are obvious. A recent customer was having problems with his barn ceiling and used stretch to overcome the issue of movement which showed itself up as cracks between the timber beams and the finished plasterwork.

‘The fabric will move with the building and therefore you get no cracks, ” explains Jeff. “You can’t actually tell it’s a fabric ceiling anyway and that’s one of the great features as it will blend into whatever surroundings. On this installation we had to get fabric between beams where there was a 100mm gap. It was no problem with stretch but try getting that plastered and get a smooth finish.’

Using stretch in a modern building can change the whole way in which we see things. We can use a lacquered material for example which reflects the light source and changing the light colour can change the colour of the whole room. Using LEDs behind translucent stretch can be used to make a huge light feature which can be dimmed or colour changed for a really exciting design solution.

‘The possibilities are endless, we also have stretch mirror which is ultra light and therefore ultra safe.All of this has a standard 10 yr warranty and is fireproof and recycleable. Any colour ,finish or print can be made.Translucent mirror also can be used for art or special effects.

The ceiling at Joe Macari in London is a great example of how stretch can be used to create a stunning effect.

‘Basically there isn’t another material which will give the finish, crisp lines and look of lacquered stretch. The colours are rich and do not fade, cleaning is very simple and the installation process is quite quick as well as the added advantage of having no wet trades on site.”

G EORG E BOND I NT E RI ORS (019 1) 281 7799

CO MM E RC IA L PROJ E CT AT J O E MACA R I I N LO NDO N SH OW S T H E S T UNNING EFFEC TS T H AT C AN B E CR EATE D U S ED S TR E TC H CEILING S september

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EN QUIR IES @GE O RGE BO ND. T V WWW.S O F F I T TO. CO. UK

Properry

La Di Da Homes HE R E ’ S O UR PIC K O F THE MO S T FAB ULOUS AN D JAWD ROPPINGLY G ORG E O U S H O U S E S O N THE MA RKET.

B O LB EC CH A S E

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OLBEC Chase is situated in the grounds of Whalton Park, a magnificent country estate; close by to the beautiful village of Whalton, as well as Belsay, Bolam Lake and Ponteland.

Bolbec Chase has historical connections with the area and reflects the equestrian history of this most magnificent former stable block, which was built for a former race owner who owned the former Gallowhill Hall Estate.

The property was purchased in the year 2000 and was extensively rebuilt, remodelled and improved to create this luxurious country house. The property comprises the principal house with its five bedroom suites and has a four bedroom lodge which is connected to its courtyard via the tower on its western elevation. The central wing of the house has a magnificent drawing room, with triple vaulted ceiling and a stunning central fireplace.

Bolbec Chase is set within magnificent private gardens and grounds extending to circa 9.5 acres. It includes a very discreet electrically operated gated entrance with an intercom system linking into the house. The grounds include tall mature trees and woodland, a small orchard and a drive linking to a triple car garage. The drive meanders through the trees and leads to a stable block with two loose boxes and a hay store, as well as two grazing paddocks.

P RICE

£3,200,00 0 may

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Property

F EN H AM GRA NG E

F

ENHAM Grange, located at Fenham Le Moor near Belford, has an amazing location with an unparalleled view and aspect overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage site of Holy Island and Lindisfarne Castle.

The property provides the last principal dwelling before reaching the shore line of the nature reserve at Fenham Flats. The

owners have created the most fantastic retreat and idyllic home, which includes the principal Grange, a beautiful four bedroom house and the support of two adjacent cottages which provide two further bedrooms each. These cottages are a good investment and are ideal for family use.

P RICE

£1,500,000 T H E PAVI LI O N The Pavilion at Coldingham Sands is one of the most unique, rare and impressive beach houses available within the United Kingdom. The property occupies the site of a former Edwardian pavilion which was demolished in 2010 and redeveloped with this contemporary and truly spectacular home.

Built in steel with a Shucho glazing system, the property is set down the sloping banks of the bay at Coldingham Sands, which is an area of outstanding beauty and used by many throughout the year to enjoy the dramatic surf and water sports that take place in the bay.

The double storey accommodation lies under a curved and highly impressive roof feature, which is wrapped into the bank side with Welsh slate and enjoys a glazed aspect to both side and front elevations, where all the rooms have a panoramic aspect of the North Sea and the bay. The accommodation includes four double bedroom suites and each of them face out to sea, with large floor to ceiling windows and doors that lead out onto the terraces.

Coldingham Sands is only a short distance away from the Border town of Berwick upon Tweed, and has excellent travel links.

P RICE

£1,500,000 AL L PROPERTIES AVA ILA B LE FROM SA N D ER SON YOUN G .

SA N D ER SON YOUN G R A R E! 0 1 9 1 2 23 3500 WWW. SA N D ER SON YOUN G . CO. UK

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Interiors

Hidden gem H AV E SO M E FAMILY HE IRLO O MS GATH ERIN G D UST? WANT TO KNOW WH AT ARTS AN D A N T IQ UI T I ES TO INV E S T IN FO R TA X FRIEND LY INH ER ITAN CE? WE H AVE JUST TH E M AN F O R YOU. L I N DA J AN E W E S TPH AL ME E TS AN TIQUES EXPERT AND TV STAR DAVID H AR PER .....

H

E’S always good value is David Harper. Chatty, interesting and engaging, you can see why he has become the ‘go to’ antiques expert for the great and good of the Telly world.

Behind that genial exterior though, lurks a formidably astute and expert mind. Watch Put Your Money Where Your Mouth is or Bargain Hunt and you’ll see that our Mr Harper always comes out on top.

We meet at his beautiful base on the bank of historic Teesdale market town Barnard Castle.

It is a treasure trove of fabulous antiques and paintings. Although David has a prodigiously busy schedule of TV work, his main business is to act as a broker for people wanting to sell or buy antiques. As we speak, a large TV screen on the wall is displaying a live auction and David’s team are watching it like hawks.

And this is where David’s expertise really comes into play. Finding exactly the right auction for your antiques and using his extensive contact book to find the right buyer for you, be they in London, Moscow or Beijing.

“The difference in what you can receive for your antique or painting from one auction house to another can be astronomical,” says David. “Specialist auction houses are vital to achieve the best possible price but it often comes down to having an expert who has the contacts and relationships to achieve maximum return on your item.”

And if he can’t give the ultimate expert insight, he knows someone who can. He has every major expert on speed dial.

“There’s an art in finding the right auction house in itself. It’s like every business, it’s all about who you know,” he notes. “One of my personal pals is one of the top five militaria experts in the world and I know I can just send him an email or pick up the phone and he will give me an instant assessment. We have a lot of auctioneers who are on our side as well. We’re really quite tough to deal with, we want to make sure our client’s items are well catalogued, photographed well and positioned

properly but we all have the same end goal, we want the item to sell for as much money as possible and the good auction houses understand this.”

If you’re looking to buy rather than sell, then David can also advise on how to invest in the right type of antique to provide a tax friendly inheritance for the family or a great return.

“Classic cars are a fantastic investment if you choose wisely.You could have picked up the Aston Martin DB5 from 1965 for just £35,000 a few years ago, now it’s worth £350,000 or the Ferrari Daytona, which was £200,000 three years ago and is now worth half a million,” he says.

Furniture is troughing at the moment, he says, but don’t discount it, it will be on the turn.

“You can furnish a 20 bedroom mansion, using any style of antique furniture from traditional to a contemporary look, for a fraction of the cost of new furniture,” he says.

“You can live with it, enjoy it, and then sell it for a profit.”

In fact his unstuffy attitude is typical of David’s approach in general.

PHOTOGRAPHY WWW.CALICOIMAGES.CO.UK

Don’t be put off by antique experts. At the end of the day antique experts handle second hand goods...

“People shouldn’t be put off by antique experts,” he adds “At the end of the day antique experts handle second hand goods.

That’s what we do so you should never worry about feeling silly if an item turns out to not be as valuable as you had thought. It’s always worth getting an expert opinion as you just never know, we have seen some really valuable items end up in charity shops because people didn’t realise their value. ”

FOR MOR E IN FOR MATION C HEC K OUT WWW. DAVID HA R PER A N TIQUES. CO. UK september

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Art & Culture

SIDSE L C H R I S T E NS E N STUDY F OR COM PO S I TI O N X PHOTO MARK PINDER 2013

AWAR D WINNING FIL M F E ST I VAL CEL EBRATES 1 0 T H B IRTHDAY

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ERWICK Film & Media Arts Festival, an international celebration of the art of film set in the border town of Berwick upon Tweed, is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year and organisers are promising a programme full of surprises.

Each year since 2005, the Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival has transformed the town into one big screen through a series of film premieres, site-specific installations, and live events in a number of locations around Berwick and along the town walls.

Set in the far North of England, and straddling the border with Scotland, 2014 sees the Festival take on Border Crossing as its theme; taking audiences on a journey, setting out to cross and transcend borders in all directions, exploring border identities all over the world.

Berwick-upon-Tweed makes an ideal starting point: a border town in a region once known as ‘the debatable lands,’ with an identity neither English nor Scottish, but all of its own.

The film festival recently won the award for Best Event Northumberland at the Journal Culture Awards. The Journal Culture Awards bestowed not just one, but two honours on Berwick, as the winner of Best Visual Artist went to the Swedish-born, North East-based Cecilia Stenbom in recognition of her work last year, which included a six-month residency with Berwick Visual Arts, in partnership with the Festival.

Festival Director Melanie Iredale said: “It’s a fantastic tribute to the hard work of so many people who make the Festival what it is, and to the support of our audiences, we’re absolutely thrilled. It’s also such a huge encouragement as we prepare for what will be the Festival’s tenth anniversary edition this September, which is set to be even more ambitious than ever!”

The 10th Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival comes to Berwick-upon-Tweed from 17th to 21st September 2014: www.berwickfilm-artsfest.com.

JAB B ERWO C K Y ARTS FESTI VA L RET U RN S TO DARLI N GTO N

A

FTER the success of the first Jabberwocky Market last October, Battersea Arts Centre returns to Darlington this spring with a raft of fantastic new shows. The tour will visit Torbay, Thanet, Gloucester, Hull and Great Yarmouth before reaching it’s northern-most point in Darlington and will take place during the third weekend of Darlington Arts Festival.

Caroline Pearce, Producer, whose Darlington based company, Luxi, runs Jabberwocky Market said:“It’s fantastic that we are able to work with Darlington for Culture more closely this time and bring to their programme, some of the very best in small scale theatre. We are very collaborative in ethos and believe that by working together, we will be able to bring the town the best possible opportunities to see and do arts and theatre.”

Once again, the festival will be supported by Creative Darlington, as well as the core funders, Arts Council England and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. The hub in the Indoor Market will be back and Highlights of the Jabberwocky Market, which will be held over four days in different locations across the town, include 97 YEARS by JO HELLIER. Cherry-picked for the Spill Showcase may

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of performance 2013, Bristol-based contemporary artist Jo Hellier brings her interactive installation to a new series of unique spaces. Built around conversations with her Grandfather, the installation features live audio and video that create a complex and carefully composed environment exploring the joys and sorrows, the tenderness and the violence of ageing.

Another festival highlight will be MAJOR TOM by VICTORIA MELODY. Following a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013, Victoria Melody delights with her comical one woman, one dog show commissioned and produced by Farnham Maltings.

This show reflects the British fascination with celebrity, beauty and winning and reveals how an unlikely pair of underdogs became a beauty queen and championship show dog.

Major Tom blends Victoria’s eccentric performance style with documentary multimedia elements.

Jabberwocky Festival of Arts runs from 15-18 May 2014 in Darlington.

For more information visit the website at www.jabberwockymarket. org.uk and follow on twitter @JabbMarket and facebook JabberwockyMarket.

Feature

Blooming marvellous

F LOW E R S C A N A DD A RTIS TRY A ND TH EATR E TO AN Y OCCASION . LA D I DA AS K ED EX PERT K AT I E TAY LO R TO S HA RE HE R IDE AS AN D TH E LATEST TR END S FOR FLOWER FAB U LO U S N ESS …

W

HEN it comes to flowers, there are no limitations.

They have the uncanny ability to enhance your mood as well as your kitchen windowsill, and I love them. Every single one. And so should you.

The 2014 Pantone colour report has a strong floral theme, with their colour of the year ‘Radiant Orchid’. What’s more, there’s no need to dig out your paint brush as this royal and compelling purple hue is so easy to bring into any glamorous interior using a variety of gorgeous blooms. Hurrah!

This time of year brings an abundance of purple flowers, in all sorts of shapes, sizes and tones. If you’re going for a vintage country cottage feel then look no further than a bunch of irresistible, scented Stocks, usually available from April – June, mixed with a variety of foliage – for example Pittosporum, Thlaspi, and Eucalyptus – in a simple earthen-ware pot

or a vintage milk-churn.

Whatever you do, resist the urge to buy seasonal blooms at the wrong time of year – they will be more expensive and simply won’t last very long.

In contrast, for a modern, architectural home with high ceilings, all you need is a few stems of Alliums in a tall glass vase. These blooms are visually striking so less is definitely more. Remember to stick to odd numbers when it comes to all things floral to create balance.

Olive and Deep Hunter green colour schemes work particularly well with Radiant Orchid, as do inky blues, sandy yellows and even sunrise reds. Go wild with vases full of purple Orchids, Hydrangeas, Delphiniums, Larkspur, Lisianthus and Limonium.

In terms of floral arrangements for dinner parties, take risks and don’t opt for neutral shades. Trends from New York and London see

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champagne-gold candelabras come into their own, complemented with flowers in shades of coral and sage (think Miss Piggy Roses and a variety of Succulents). If you’re hosting a slightly more relaxed affair, why not go for jam jars galore – the more the better!

Flowers have the amazing ability to completely transform, complement, update and refresh any interior, flowers give that unique and personalised stamp that nothing else can.

Katie is part of the team at Flowers

by Nattrass. Contact her at katie@flowersbynattrass.com

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Feature

TH E STY LE S IS T E R S F RO M C H A N EL HA NDBAGS TO BU RBERRY TR ENCH ES AND PILES OF LOUB O U TI N S , S I S TER S NE E TA A RO RA A ND G EETA RAL ARE TR UE FASH ION ISTAS. G E E TA , J O INT OW NE R O F P E AC E & LOAF IN JESMON D WITH CELEB R ITY M AS TERCH EF F IN AL I ST DAVE CO U LS O N, A ND NEETA, WH O OWNS SACH INS R ESTAURAN T I N N EWCAS TLE W ITH HU S BA ND BOB, R EVEAL TH EIR STY LE SECRETS. PHOTOGRAPHY GAYNA MILLICAN

Favourite designer store?

Geeta: Michael Kors. I love the chain front dress, maxi dresses that are cool and comfortable and of course, the jewellery that goes with everything.

Neeta: Vivienne Westwood. I adore the classic crisp white and black shirts that look great for any occasion.

If you could save one piece from your wardrobe in a fire what would it be?

Geeta: I’d have to save my Louis Vuitton patent leather ballerina bag. It was my first Mother’s Day present from my beautiful daughter, Priya.Sentimental value and class.

Neeta: I would save my quilted Chanel personally, but then I would send Bob back into the fire to save my Burberry trench.

Which designer pieces do you have the most of in your wardrobe and why?

Geeta: Stella McCartney. I love the simplicity of her pieces, they’re easy to wear when on the school run!

Neeta: The legendary Coco Chanel. I love the jewellery probably more, but which wardrobe wouldn’t be complete without the classic Chanel jacket?

If you had £1m to spend on clothes what would you buy?

Geeta: The whole of Stella McCartney’s range, and of course, a Hermes Birkin bag and a full set of Louis Vuitton luggage, that would do for starters.

Neeta: Same as my sister, it has to be a Hermes Birkin bag. If I had any change after that, I’d probably buy Victoria Beckham’s entire collection too.

What’s your best beauty tip?

Geeta: MAC’s Prep & Prime. This gives you a great base, even if you just want to use loose powder. Hair wise, Moroccan oil is awesome, a few drops before you blow dry and it makes your hair so smooth and light and it also makes it smell divine.

Neeta: Quite boring really, lots of water. I don’t drink anything else apart from the odd gin and tonic, on very rare occasions.

The sisters wear go wns they designed themse lves for an Asi an wedding

Fave high street store?

Geeta and Neeta look st unni ng in Ted Baker dresses

Geeta: Dorothy Perkins. I love their skater dresses; they can be dressed up with nice heels and statement jewellery or dressed down with comfy flats and funky belt. The baby blue crepe skater dress is a must this season.

Neeta: French Connection and Ted Baker-I just bought a block dress with this season’s colour, chartreuse. Lovely. may

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NEETA'S Q UILT ED CHANEL HANDBAG

Society

H

I there from sunny London. Spring has been very busy in the celeb world.

Things kicked off with a royal encounter - an invite to the Samsung Prince's Trust Awards held outside the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square.

Stars from Joan Collins to Sir Ben Kingsley came together for Prince Charles' charity. On the red carpet I chatted to Philip Schofield, X Factor winner Sam Bailey who proudly displayed her baby bump in an elegant black gown, and Hollywood actor Dominic West who was fresh back from an expedition to the Arctic with Prince Harry. Sadly we weren't allowed to meet Prince Charles himself but I glimpsed him waving to the waiting crowds outside.

There was a royal encounter of another kind with the dark Prince - aka Simon Cowell at the launch of musical I Can't Sing! Simon attended the show's opening night with mum Julie and his partner Lauren Silverman and showbiz pals Louis Walsh and Amanda Holden. The X Factor judge revealed all to me about becoming a dad to baby Eric even confessing to changing a nappy!

Also at the launch was Sinitta who tried her best attempt at Cheryl Cole's Geordie accent...sadly the show's poor ratings meant it has closed after just five weeks.

But while the music of I Can't Sing didn't bring the crowds in, music fans flocked to the annual NME awards where Sir Paul McCartney was given a special gong Songwriter's Songwriter award which

Sarah wit h Simon C owe ll he collected from Damon Albarn. Sir Paul McCartney's son James told me how "proud" he is of his dad's achievements. Jerry Hall chatted to me in the loos about her new short hairstyle which she told me she loved: "It's so much easier to maintain but I do miss my long hair."

Abbey Crouch was also at the event with hubby Peter and the couple were in their element asking music stars such as The Arctic Monkeys for photos.

I have been attending a lot of fashion events. First was a party to celebrate the latest collection for Pia Michi. Michelle Heaton and Liz McClarnon were among some of the glamorous ladies in attendance.

I was sat just behind TOWIE girls Sam and Billie Faiers on the FROW at the F&F fashion show held at Somerset House. Also at the event was the stunning Lucy Meck and Amy Willerton who gave me their tips for getting a figure like theirs - although I think genetics have a lot to do with it.

Sadly the event was also the last time Peaches Geldof was seen in public and following her death I was asked by the likes of Sky Television and Radio 4 to talk about what happened. That evening there was no sign of the tragedy that was to follow. Peaches looked well and happy and that last image is how I shall remember her.

Peter Crouch found time to chat

Damon Al barn selfie

Amy Willerton chats to Sarah on T V SARAH ROBERTSON IS DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR AT OK! MAGAZINE. A GEORDIE LOUDMOUTH LIVING THE DREAM IN LONDON, FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER @SARAHROBERTSON5

Sarah with T OW IE’S Lucy Meck may

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Society

O UR SO C I ET Y EDITO R H E L EN S TO R EY TELLS U S A LL AB O U T HE R FA BU LO U S LIFE. T H IS ISS U E I T ’ S AL L A BO U T P LA NNING OUTFITS FOR T H E H AV E A HE A RT GO LF DAY, AN TON D U B E K E, T H E C H ELTE NHA M GO LD CU P AN D MOV I N G H O U SE .

I

AM swooning over uber-fab clothes while I write this month’s column, sipping bubbly and eating strawberries dipped in chocolate. I have just had the most-dreamy afternoon with ‘wardrobe mistress’ and stylist Nisha Vedhara in the Love Niche Studio, Newcastle. Nisha is designing all my outfits for my brother in law Graham’s ‘Have a Heart’ golf day and evening for CHUF with Lee Westwood and Ant and Dec. Let’s just say NEON! Nisha is calling it “Helen’s Story” and I feel very spoilt #excited!

The highlight of this month HAS to be Cheltenham with my sister Andrea and Graham. I adore racing and Chel is the pinnacle. Fun, a little flutter and the perfect view from the Wylie’s box. I found myself languishing in the owners and trainers ring in a warm but stylish coat, accessorised with a Hermes scarf and hat with a vintage antique brooch. Gucci and D&G seem to be the race-goers choice, stirrup and horse ‘bits’ as embellishments.Very appropriate. Andrea and Graham’s horse Boston Bob raced in his black and gold silks and romped home with the biggest race of the day, The Grade 1 Melling Chase. The cup is worth an eye watering £200k (yes I know HOW exciting !).

Two wonderful lunches out with the girls that were a real highlight, Jamie’s new Italian and The Treehouse in Alnwick both totally different but highly recommended. The food was simply perfect, excellent service with wonderful company (editor of Ladida, the inimitable Lady Liz who regaled me with stories of her fashion days in London, very The Devil Wears Prada). The Treehouse was DIVINE. This month I met television personality and Fitness God Jessie Pavelka, who is extremely gorgeous. We met at a gathering of like-minded sports people whose aim is to battle the bulge and train the mind to be positive and focused. I won a signed print bought by my good friend Claire HELEN G E T F I T T E D F O R A Lawson. I floated out of the GLAM G OW N AT LOVE N I CHE conference feeling uplifted, STU D IO F OR T H E C E L E B motivated and #smitten ! (I even GO LF DAY managed a cuddle and a kiss shhh). may

H ELEN AND SIS T ER ANDREA W YLIE W ITH FRI ENDS I N THEI R P RIVAT E BOX AT CH ELT ENH AM

Big thanks to the beautiful Irene Roozbayani from the MAC counter at House of Fraser, Metrocentre, as I am currently puckering up with Persistent Peach lipgloss. It’s quite subtle so I can wear it in my role as a PT at Speedflex .. it seems to stay on through thick and thin. Perfect busy mum and social girl’s choice.

We had a wonderful family night out seeing my favourite Strictly Come Dancing pal Anton du Beke. His show Ballroom to Broadway made me feel like enrolling for samba classes and we H ELEN ENJOYS THE quaffed wine and nibbles amongst CH AMPERS AT THE RACES the sequins and dreamy dresses.

But THE big family highlight was Granny P’s homemade cake for my daughter Edie’s school fair. We won! And of course we fell about laughing when we met two pigeons called Ant and Dec. Uncle Graham couldn’t help texting the boys and putting on a bet. I think Ant won on this occasion, I can’t wait to tease him at the CHUF golf day.

Well it’s time to sign off till next issue, when I shall tell you all about the excitement at Close House and the Marriott Hotel with Jonny Wilkes, Clare Balding, Alan Shearer .. so many celebs and so much excitement.

I also can’t wait to tell you about next year’s Monaco Grand Prix and what to wear on racing driver Eddie Irvine’s yacht and the VIP Bonbar night out with the girls (and the girls with blue hair). Phew I may need a glass of champagne to get through this…

Helen x

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TH I S I SSU E RO C K’ N ’ RO LL S U N NY MEETS ST EP H E N S U TTO N A ND LOTS OF C EL EB R I TY FRIE NDS TO RA IS E M ONEY F O R T H E TE E NAGE C A NCE R TRUST.

S UNSHI NE

TH E ROCK N ROLL DOGGIE

Russe ll Brand

C omedian Jason Man

ILLUSTRATION: SIMON DONALD

ford

David Tennant Hello Dear Readers. Rock’n’Roll Sunny here!

My lovely dog walker, Jackie, had the unmitigated cheek to go away on holiday, so I had to go and help my Mummy at work like a good little boy (yeah right).

First up was the annual week of shows at the Royal Albert Hall my Mummy has been helping to organise for 14 years, they raise money for that most Rock’n’Roll of charities, Teenage Cancer Trust.

This year, The Cure, Ed Sheeran, Paolo Nutini, One Republic and Jason Manford and John Bishop performed. But EVEN better than that, we met a young lad called Stephen Sutton, he is 19 and has terminal cancer, not that he lets that stop him.

In his own words, he put the FUN in Fundraising, and the last time I looked that Fun was around £3 million pounds. Jason Manford has been helping him with his Twitter campaign #thumbsupforStephen, which has had the support of David Beckham, Coldplay, David Tennant, Benedict Cumberbatch, Steve Coogan, Simon Pegg, Ronnie Wood and of course yours truly. Stephen is Awesome!

Secondly, I went to the Music Week Awards.

Anyone who is anyone in the Music Industry attends.

It was decided this year, that due to his tireless campaigning for Teenage Cancer Trust, that most Mic Swinging of Rock Stars, Roger Daltrey CBE, received the Outstanding Contribution to Charity award, presented by The Modfather himself, and

Paul Wel ler, Mummy & Roger

Benedict Cumberbatch

my good friend Paul Weller. Of course, my Mummy made a total fool of herself again, here she is sitting in middle of them, when everyone knows it’s me they want to hang out with.

The amazingly cool British film director, Shane Meadows of This Is England fame, even made a special film for the event. He has asked me to be in his next movie, which I am considering. Talking about movies, I have a cameo role in the latest British gangster movie, Long Time Coming, with Stephen Berkoff. I will be the new Bill Sikes’s Bullseye. I have been rehearsing my menacing growl.

I will be having tea with some mystery guests soon, so keep ‘em peeled for that.

Now, I’m back at Grandma and Grandad’s in Newcastle while Mummy flounces off to Italy (again). Anyway I get reet spoilt here, so arriverderci Mummy! And I get to hang out with our new addition to the family, baby Mika.

Be Sunny People x Read more exploits from me on Twitter @rocknrollsunny

Daltrey

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TO DONATE TEXT THE WORD STEPHEN TO 70500 TO DONATE £5 TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT STEPHEN’S STORY AND TO DONATE TO THE TEENAGE CANCER TRUST VISIT WWW.JUSTGIVING.COM/STEPHEN-SUTTON-TCT 2014

Society

NEW LAUNCH Newcastle’s newest dining, drinking and entertainment venue, Bonbar held launch parties over three days.

VIPS, corporate guests and North East glitterati sipped on fizz and feasted on a selection of tasty canapes while being entertained by live music.

BONBAR, THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS, FENKLE ST, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE1 5XU (0191) 232 8695 WWW.BONBAR.CO.UK

Society

CATWALK CHIC PHOTOGRAPHY SABINA RUDNICKA

Spring/Summer looks from Love Niche Studio in Newcastle were showcased at a special fashion evening at Jesmond Dene House Hotel.

Guests were wowed by slinky separates, colourful cruise wear and stand-out-from-the-crowd frocks, perfect for a hot summer evening in Monaco.

To view more amazing styles from Love Niche visit www.love-niche.com.

LOVE NICHE, 21 CLAYTON STREET, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE1 5PN (0191) 261 1515 / 07592 925 822 WWW.LOVENICHESTYLE.COM

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L-R: Penny Dane, Robson Phillipson, Viscount Matt Ridley, Julie Phillipson and Paul Wappat

L-R: Mark and Jemmima Wood

L-R: Nigel Mark Antonio, Martin Wrigglesworth and Paul Wappat

L-R: Pamela and Graham Grieves

Society

GRANGE RECEPTION Viscount Matt Ridley cut the official ribbon to open The Grange Bed and Breakfast establishment in the newly restored Shotton Grange, the former home and birth place of Viscount Ridley. In an event, which took place on Viscount Ridley’s birthday, the Grange has opened its doors for business and welcomed distinguished guests and neighbours over for Champagne and canapés and a sneak preview of the beautiful property.

The property, set in the picturesque surroundings of the Blagdon Estate, has been lovingly restored by business owners Paul Wappat and Penny Dane.

The building has now been transformed into a chic country style guest house and even has its own resident hare, aptly named Ridley, living on the premises.

THE GRANGE BED AND BREAKFAST, SHOTTON GRANGE, GREAT NORTH ROAD, BLAGDON, SEATON BURN, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE13 6DF (01670) 789 666 / 07590 296 423 WWW.THEGRANGEBANDB.CO.UK

L-R: Paul Kirk, Paul Wappat, Penny Dane and Lee Mathewson

L-R: Paul and Zoe Gillie, Robson Phillipson, Michelle Cairns, Joanne Bethell and Penny Dane

L-R: Catherine Greer, Jackie Marston, Norrie Oswald

L-R: Chris Dane, Sarah-Jane Scott and Dave McGregor

Society

ELEVATED FASHION A sell-out audience attended Elévon, a fashion event showcasing some of the nation’s finest emerging designers and stylists.

The event at Newcastle Civic Centre featured a catwalk show of the hottest new home-grown design talent and a Stylist Search’ competition.

Event organiser Rita Roushdy of Elévon said: “Experiences were had, business cards were traded, and connections were made. This was Elévon’s second successful fashion showcase in the region and we can’t wait for the next one.”

Travel

Lake

heaven C HA M PAG N E AND W INE TA S TING C A N B E AN E X HA U S TING BU S INE SS DO N C H A K N OW, S O W E S E NT O U R QU E E N O F F I Z Z, AN G ELA M E TC AL F E , F O R S O ME S E RIO U S TLC IN FA B ULO U S G RA S ME RE . S HE OFF E R S H E R SPA RK LING V E RDICT…

H

AD a bad week? Transport yourself to Grasmere, check in and get yourself straight to the spa! Aaaaand relax.

Award-winning and we can see why… It’s the attention to detail at Rothay Garden which makes this such a lovely place to stay. From the tray in your room which has a cafetiere and real coffee (massive Brownie points from me), the nicest smellies in the bathroom, to the warm and attentive service from the staff. Situated in Grasmere Village within the Lake District, every valley may be explored with just a short journey. If walking is your ‘thing’ then it’s the perfect base. I opted for lazy and was equally pleased, with a shopping trip to nearby Keswick and a wonderfully relaxed wander through the village to the lake. I felt the need to wander. In fact I needed to wander lonely as a cloud and found myself at the grave of Wordsworth himself, after traversing the

daffodil walk. It was snowdrops when I stayed but with the promise of lots of daffs poking through already. Located on the edge of Grasmere, Rothay Garden Hotel & Spa offers a different way to enjoy the serenity of the Lake District. Without it losing its original

19th century charm, the hotel sleeps guests in well thought out rooms and suites, bedrooms have queen or king-size beds and either face the river or the garden, with a balcony or a patio for sun loungers (some are converted loft spaces, mine was over the river), with fine views of nearby fells, from Loughrigg to Helm Crag. A contemporary alternative to cosy, creaking inns, this luxe hideaway boasts state-of-the-art relaxation facilities and thoroughly up-to-date dining. Long lie-ins and leisurely strolls along the grassy banks can be followed by luxurious ‘me time’ at The Riverside Spa. Perhaps Rothay Garden’s most sparkling asset - this natural, light-filled sanctuary is wonderful for hydrotherapy and snoozing time on the heated infra-red loungers. There is even a warm pebble walk for those aching feet and an aromatherapy room for a pre-dinner ‘chillax’ The spa is flooded with natural light, from full-length windows which open onto the garden. The focal point is the large jacuzzi which overlooks the river and rolling fields. Chris Carss, the hotel’s owner, has been here since 1990 alongside Head Chef Andrew Burton, and their passion shows. Unlike a traditional hotel restaurant, the two-rosette Garden Restaurant at Rothay Garden is an attraction in its own right, with its contemporary furniture, clean elegant lines and great views overlooking the hotel’s two acres of gardens.

Changing nightly, the menu is an homage to locally sourced, seasonal produce, the dishes presented with flair and confidence. I chose the beignets of scallops and haggis to start after working myself up into a frenzy of indecision when I also spotted saddle of rabbit. The same may

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happened with my main course. I resorted to a thoroughly Libran moment and asked the charming Maitre D’ to choose for me. The fillet of beef was melt-in-the- mouth tender, with just a hint of smokiness, but not enough to cover the taste of the beef itself. Deep joy, it

actually tasted of rather good beef! The wine list is pretty comprehensive and I’d defy even the pickiest wine fetishist not to find something they fancied. Lebanon? Eh. Rhone?

Absolutement. Germany? Naturlich. Oz? Fair dinkum. Best value on the wine list are top end Champagnes, which are, incredibly, at retail prices, so if you do fancy making that grand gesture, doing it here just makes great sense.

TAST I N G N OTE S Rothay Garden Hotel & Spa Broadgate, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9RJ (015394) 35334 www.rothaygarden.com

Travel

Deliciously Yorkshire S PRI N G I S I N THE A IR S O W E S E NT OUR TRAVEL ED ITOR CAT HARINE HEWITSO N F O R S O M E F UN A N D G A ME S A ND FA BU LO U S FOOD IN TH E H EART OF TH E YOR KSH IRE CO U N TRYS I DE…

T

HE Coniston Hotel and Country Estate, set in 1400 acres of gorgeous Yorkshire countryside, lies in a small village just outside of Skipton and is close to Dales gems such as Gordale Scar and Malham Tarn.

We kicked off our stay at the hotel with a pre-dinner tipple at the Huntsman's Lodge, a huge open expanse which still managed to be cosy with its tartan carpet, comfy tub chairs, and - the room’s pièce de resistance - a roaring open log fire.

After our drinks we moved through to Macleods restaurant, a more formal space with intimate candlelit tables. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco which arrived with a wooden platter board of tasty mini quiche Lorraines and fishcakes.

To start I opted for the carpaccio of beef with a horseradish cream, which was nicely balanced with peppery rocket leaves. My partner, Michael, chose the seared scallops served with cauliflower purée, herb jus, lemon foam and samphire. I didn't get a look in, but he reported that they were expertly cooked.

The mains menu features a good selection of hearty game dishes which was right up our

street: Michael had estate wild duck with smoky bacon mash, roasted root vegetables and sloe gin jus, and I chose the venison medallion with shards of air-dried parma ham, leek and

TAST I N G N OT ES The Coniston Hotel Coniston Cold, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 4EA (01756) 748080 www.theconistonhotel.com

thyme rosti and blueberry jus. At first it seemed like there wasn't going to be enough jus on my dish, but the venison - cooked rare - was so plump and juicy it didn't need it. Both dishes came with garden vegetables which were cooked al dente.

For dessert I had the rich chocolate tart with orange sorbet and Grand Marnier syrup and Michael went for the cheese board: a vast selection of Yorkshire and Lancashire cheeses, a big wedge of Dundee cake, chutney and a glass of port. Afterwards, with our full tummies, we retired to the cosy Macleod's bar to sit in front of the roaring open fire with a G&T and a glass of port - a perfect end to a lovely meal.

The Hotel offers 71 classic, super ior and luxur y rooms. We stayed in a spacious luxury room on the

first floor, with a huge bed, seating area and a balcony overlooking the lake. A short drive up a track leading from the hotel took us to the estate's Premier status CPSA-accredited clay pigeon shooting ground where we were booked in for an hour beginner’s session.

Our lovely instructor, Phil, got us kitted up and showed us the ranges.

He was especially patient with the fact that I was struggling to even hold the weight of the 12 bore shotgun, never mind fire it.

By the time we moved from the starter range to the springing teal, we'd started to get the hang of it. I'm sure it was Phil's expert tuition that helped me get a perfect clean shot on my very last round.

As well as the shooting range, the Coniston estate offers a Landrover experience, fishing, golf, falconry and archery.

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Travel

Feature

Wish you were here ?

L A DI DA’ S C ATH AR I N E H E WI TS O N C H E CK S O U T THE S IX M O ST LU X URIO U S INT E RN AT I O N A L D E S T I N AT I O N S GU A RA NTE E D TO M AK E YO U THE E NVY O F YOU R F R I E N D S …

The Plaza New York It has been said that “nothing unimportant happens at The Plaza.” That’s a good enough reason for us to splash our cash on a luxury suite at this New York landmark, and a key backdrop to the ‘The Great Gatsby’. For classic Manhattan glamour, the Louis XVstyle Royal Plaza Suite boasts 24-carat gold taps and views of Central Park.

The Royal Suite costs from around $30,000 per night plus taxes and charges. theplazany.com

Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi This spectacular hotel is well-known for its rather hefty construction price (reported to be over $3 billion), and it's clear that no expense has been spared in its palatial interior, which is furnished with mother of pearl reliefs, marble columns and over 1000 chandeliers. In a finishing touch of absolute decadence, it's home to the world's first ever Gold-to-Go unit: a gold 'vending machine', dispensing souvenirs such as gold bars at real time market prices. Six of the hotel's suites are reserved for Emirati royalty; we'd be happy to settle for one of the sumptuous Coral, Pearl or Diamond Palace suites.

Palace suites start at AED 16,000 per night plus taxes.

The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Florence Up until 2008, Florentine nobles resided in the romantic Palazzo della Gherardesca, a 15th century palace that is now home to a Four Seasons hotel. With hand-painted vaulted ceilings by Franceschini, plush velvet and brocade period furnishings and truly stunning views of the luscious 11-acre botanical and sculpture gardens which surround the palazzo, the Royal Suite would be our chosen residence in this magnificent hotel. It is rather like stepping back in time to a Renaissance dream world.

The Royal Suite starts at €15,500 per night.

Raj Palace, Jaipur An Indian princess decided to restore the Raj Palace back to its former splendour in the ‘90s, transforming it into an opulent hotel adorned with lashings of gold, mirrors and gigantic chandeliers. The four-floor Maharaja’s Pavilion is the height of extravagance; once reserved for rich Indian princes, this accommodation boasts its own museum of royal treasures and antiques and a private entrance so you won’t need to mingle with the palace’s other guests.

The Maharaja Pavilion costs $15,000 per night plus taxes and charges. rajpalace.com

Burj Al Arab, Dubai Rising from the Arabian Gulf on a man-made island, and with 360 degrees of unspoiled views, the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab is often considered one of the world’s most luxurious hotels. It takes the concept of luxury to the next level: the lavishly-decorated Royal Two-Bedroom Suite comes with a rotating four-poster bed and Majlis lounge for entertaining, and guests are presented with 24-carat gold-plated iPads which act as a virtual concierge. The extravagance is certainly not confined to the bedrooms, for example the Junsui lounge’s ceiling is encrusted with 29,000 Swarovski crystals to emulate the Milky Way. The Royal Suite starts at around AED 29,650 per night.

Aman Canal Grande, Venice Housed in a 16th century palazzo on the city’s iconic main waterway, the hotel is a stylish blend of contemporary and Venetian opulence. The dining room allows guests to appreciate the splendour of La Serenissima while tucking into Italian and Asian cuisine, and if you choose the chinoiserie-style Alcova Tiepolo Suite, the ceiling is adorned with the renowned 18th century artist’s glorious Rococo frescoes.

The Alcova Tiepolo Suite starts at €3,500 per night plus taxes and charges. amanresorts.com may

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