La di da - Issue 5 by La Di Da

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SUMMER 2014

A DAMNED FINE READ FOR N O RTHER N HI G H SO C I ETY

£2.50 WHERE SOLD

THE TRU E A LCHE MISTS D O NOT CHA NGE LEAD INTO GOLD ; THEY CHANGE THE WORLD IN TO WO RD S

Image Kings HOOKER & YOUNG GO LA DI DA

24 Carat Gold Facials

THE POSHEST FACIAL IN THE WORLD

Gent

ALL HAIL THE URBAN DANDY

The Fashion Fabulous Afternoon Tea & Cocktail Guide FEED YOUR INNER HEDONIST

Decade n t DRESSES THE PARTY LOOKS FOR HIGH SOCIETY

ISSU E 5

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SUMMER 2014

LA DI DA MAGAZINE CLAVERING HOUSE CLAVERING PLACE NEWCASTLE NE1 3NG (0191) 466 1028 EDITOR LIZ LAMB (FASHION & BEAUTY) QUEENIE@LADIDA.CO.UK EDITOR LINDA JANE WESTPHAL (INTERIORS) YOURMAJ@LADIDA.CO.UK ADVERTISING DIRECTOR MARK BURNS CASSELL LORDMARK@LADIDA.CO.UK ADVERTISING DIRECTOR DONNA FEENEY LADYFEENEY@LADIDA.CO.UK ADVERTISING DIRECTOR LISA SUNDIN LADYLISA@LADIDA.CO.UK WE ARE A FABULOUSLY FRIENDLY BUNCH HERE AT LA DI DA TOWERS AND WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU...TWEET US AND FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

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SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIPTIONS@LADIDA.CO.UK DESIGN CURIOUS 12 WWW.CURIOUS12.COM ©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.

elcome to our GOLD issue. We wanted to create something extra special and luxurious as we approach our first birthday to celebrate all the fabulousness of the North East, we hope you like it! Thank you for your fantastic support, it has been overwhelming to find out how much you love La Di Da. And we’ve acted on your feedback and are now going to be available on the shelves of the very finest retail establishments. We’re feeling very summery here at La Di Da Towers and daydreaming of

divine dresses, well dressed gentlemen and long idle afternoons spent drinking gorge cocktails and eating uber fashionable Afternoon Teas. Check out our guide to all the very best places to go and the very best clothes to be seen in. Finally we love a good party so we will be celebrating our birthday with a VIP pamper room at the amazing Hardwick Live festival. If you’re heading down there, do come and say hello and let us spoil you. chin chin

A DAM NED FINE REA D FOR NORTHERN HIGH SOCIETY

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OUR COVER SHOT

Beach to Bar Fabulous

PHOTOGRAPHY JADE TURNBULL

She has the clothes, the style and the body. Society Editor and Model Helen Storey gives her top tips for looking fabulous on the beach and in the bar

STYLIST LIZ LAMB DRESS VIVIENNE WESTWOOD AT CRUISE MODEL LIA SUNDIN AT HEADLINE MODELS LOCATION MATFEN HALL

25-30

47-51

Ladylike fashion inspiration for high society occasions

Decadent and utterly delish, you won’t be able to resist.

37-40

64-65

Men’s fashion that will make you look fine and dandy

The king of the property scene Duncan Young tells all

Ladies Who Lunch

Gent.

Afternoon Tea and Cocktails

The Midas Touch

WITH THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

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20 duke street, darlington, dl3 7aa

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HAIR HOUNDS FRO M PA M P ERIN G AND P OOC H E S TO C E L E B C L IE N TS A N D A J ET S ET L IF E S T Y L E , H O O KER & YO U NG AR E ONE O F TH E UK’ S M OS T P ROMIN E NT H AIR D R E SS ING D U OS. LIZ LAMB MEETS THE M ON T HE DAY I T ’ S AN N OU N C E D T HE Y AR E NOMINATED FOR B R I T I SH HAI R DR E SSE R OF T HE YE AR .

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“We wanted a b out ique-style exper ience. I t’ s ab ou t great hair, great ser v ice and a g reat expe rie nce. ”

HERE’s a dog dressed in diamonds, a table laden with afternoon tea treats and a fashion team working themselves into a frenzy to create the perfect shot. Muffin the Bulldog is perched at the dining table enjoying the moment as our glamourous groomer Helen attends to her every whim whilst combing her coat with a designer dog brush. In the midst of all this madness are award-winning hairdressers Gary Hooker and Michael Young who have brought along 11 of their prized pooches for our photo shoot. The duo have just been nominated for British Hairdresser of the Year, the only hairdressers outside of London to make the grade. It’s a huge deal. Previous winners include Trevor Sorbie, John Frieda and Nicky Clarke, all hairdressing legends

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and household names. “It’s our seventh year of being nominated and the awards are so prestigious, it’s like being nominated for an Oscar, it’s the hairdressing world’s equivalent,” says Michael “There have been so many major names who have won it in the past, just to be part of the line-up is a huge accolade. “Will we win it this year? I hope so.” Hooker & Young have long been synonymous with luxury hairdressing, offering a high-end experience alongside first rate customer service. After forging a name for themselves in the North East the pair are now in demand across the UK and internationally, regularly travelling abroad to headline hair shows and judge major hairdressing events. They also recently won Hair Magazine’s I Want That Hair.

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“When we are asked to headline shows that have previously been headlined by Trevor Sorbie and Sassoon it’s just amazing,” says Michael. “We have people asking to have their picture taken with us and sign photographs.You think it’s a p*ss take at first but it’s not. I feel embarrassed saying it as we don’t see ourselves like that.” “The last world tour we were on we were mobbed for an hour. It was crazy”, adds Gary. Their jet set lifestyle takes them across the world; they recently returned from a holiday with Andrew Barton, a former British Hairdresser of the Year and resident hairdresser on the hit TV show 10 Years Younger. “When we first set up Hooker & Young, we knew we wanted to offer a luxury experience,” explains Gary. “We wanted a boutique-style experience. It’s about great hair, great service and great experience.” Their ethos has served them well. They now have salons in Jesmond, Gosforth, Wynyard and Darlington and recently opened in Ponteland where, alongside hair services, they have a beauty salon offering HD brows, LV Lashes, Essie nails and a VIP area for celebrity clients. Despite their hectic work load and international travel, the duo still cut hair themselves and have a whole legion of loyal customers. “We now have generations of families coming to us. We have women who have come to us for years whose daughters come to us, then they have children, then they come to us too. It really is fantastic,” says Michael. The couple recently relocated from Wynyard, where they had lived for 13 years, to move to Newcastle and are enjoying city life. “Our favourite restaurant is Café 21,” says Gary. “We love House of Tides too and love popping along to our local The White Swan and

“We now have ge ne rat io n s of fami lie s co m i ng to u s” Fratellis in Ponteland which is just near the new salon.” As well as hairdressing, their other passion is dogs. Gary is the UK’s most successful Great Dane breeder. “I love competing and I love winning,” he says. They have 13 dogs all with fabulous names. There’s Great Danes called Bailey, Angel and Lilly, Puddle and Pickle the Pugs, Muffin the Bulldog, Mini Dachshunds Daisy, Daphne and Dimple, an Affenpinscher called Jelly, Chacha the Italian Bolognese, Mini Schnauzer Alfie and 18 year-old Barney - breed unknown! They used to keep donkeys too. “I love the outdoor lifestyle and getting up to feed the hens and dogs,” says Gary. In November, Gary and Michael will discover if they are to be finally crowned British Hairdresser of the Year and put the North East firmly on the map. “It’s taken a long time for us to be recognised as a duo but we’ve done it. We’re like the Ant and Dec of hairdressing,” laughs Michael.

To fi nd ou t more abou t Hooker & You n g v i s i t w w w. h ookera n d you n g. co. uk F i nd t h em on Tw i t t er @ Hookera n d You n g Loc ati o n : C l o s e H o use H o t e l w w w. c l o se h o us e.co.uk P hot ograp hy : Chr i s Davi s at Sp e c ular w w w.specu la r.v iewb ook.com ass i s t e d by R i c h a rd Wy l i e D og acce ss or i e s , d re ss and blaze r : Love Ni c he w w w.love-niche.com H a i r & Ma ke up : M i c h e l l e Fow le r H ai rd re ss i ng at T he Arc h w w w.t he arc hnewc as t le.co.u k BM W X5 S p o r t sup p l i e d by L l oyd s N ewc as t le w w w.lloyd s newc as t le bmw.co.uk Fas hi on assista nt: Rio Bea die

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Touch of Class SIR HUGH BL AC KETT A N D LADY BLACKETT H AV E A N IL LU STRI O US P ED I G R EE, TH E FA BU LOUS M AT FEN H ALL A ND A V ERY ARISTOC RATI C P O O C H C ALLED SYBI L. L I N DA J A N E W EST P HAL FI N D S O UT MORE A BO UT O N E O F T H E REGIO Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LEA D I N G FAM I LI ES...

he Greek meaning of the word aristocracy is 'rule of the best'. And on meeting Sir Hugh Blackett and his wife Lady Blackett, one would have to concede that their ancestral home, Matfen Hall, one of the region's leading hotel, spa and golf destinations, is in formidably good hands. They may have a fabulously posh pooch named, with tongue firmly in cheek, Sybil, after the indomitable owner of iconic TV comedy Fawlty Towers, but that is very much where any resemblance to that particular hotel ends. In fact, given the care and attention to detail lavished on Matfen Hall Country House Hotel, not to mention the significant investment over the last 10 years, it is surprising to learn that they were rather reluctant owners when Sir Hugh inherited the hotel in the late 1990's. "We looked at various options when we took over Matfen Hall, including renting it out," explains Sir Hugh. "But in reality the only way to make it pay was as a country house hotel. Neither of us had any experience of running a hotel so it was a steep learning curve but we have always had tremendous staff

Sir Hugh and Lady Blackett, owners of Matfen Hall

and a belief in quality and excellence and that has stood us in good stead." Take a look around Matfen Hall today, all gorgeously decorated rooms, historical features, stunning views and state of the art spa and golf facilities, and it can compete on a level playing field with any of the major country house hotels in the region, despite being independently owned, unlike many of its competitors. But then the Blacketts are not just any old family. With a pedigree stretching back centuries, they are a family of high achievers. The Blackett baronetcy was originally created for William Blackett in 1673. He was elected Sheriff of Newcastle in 1660 and later Mayor before being elected to Parliament in 1673 and created a baronet by Charles II. In 1675 he bought Anderson place, which was summer

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known to be the largest house and grounds within a walled city in the country. It was later developed in the 19th century into the modern city centre of Newcastle, impressive local roots indeed. His children went on to build some of the region's finest houses, including Newby Hall in Yorkshire and Wallington Hall. Matfen Hall was completely rebuilt in 1832-6 on the site of an earlier Jacobean house by Sir Edward Blackett, the sixth baronet, and parts of the Jacobean house, dating from 1690, still survive as does the original lintel stone with the family motto of the Douglas family who built the earlier house. Sir Edward Blackett's initials can be seen in many parts of the house, including the fabulous stained glass windows in the Great Hall. This clearly amuses the Blacketts, whose

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Aristo Pooch It ’ s s o i mp or t an t to get t h i ng s exact ly r i gh t

Lady Sybil Blackett, named after the iconic Fawlty Towers character

dry sense of humour and understated approach is a world away from such showy practices. The changes they have made to Matfen since they took over have been significant and all the more impressive considering the fact that neither Sir Hugh nor his wife has a background in hotel management. However, what they do have, is impeccably high standards and an eye for detail. "We still learn something new every day," explains Lady Blackett. "But we gain a lot of satisfaction from the lovely feedback we receive. Expectations have grown steadily over the last few years amongst hotel guests and we must live up to their expectations. It's so important to get things exactly right." Lady Blackett originally worked in London for a decorator and a designer and has a real passion for interiors and it shows. Her flair can be seen throughout Matfen's rooms which manage to offer a wow factor without losing warmth. It feels less like staying at a hotel and more like staying at the country mansion of someone with extraordinarily good taste and fantastic facilities. "People like the individual touch. We try to make Matfen friendly without being too grand. People want quality and are not

prepared to settle for second best." As well as the acres of beautiful gardens and stunning views, the interior of Matfen Hall is breathtaking. Stylish, individual but relaxed with an authentic feel of an ancestral home complete with family photos, historic prints and stained glass window in the Great Hall. The wealth of reception and dining rooms make it particularly popular as a wedding venue. Brides sweep up a gravel drive to the House's original entrance which offers a picturesque and very grand backdrop for wedding photos. The Great Hall is perfectly stunning with its huge stained glass window and fabulous stone arched fireplace, yet intimate and the perfect venue for a wedding service or reception. In fact, Matfen has a multitude of amazing rooms to relax or entertain guests in. These include the stunning Library restaurant, lined with books and secret passageways, the beautiful Print Room, all dark red walls and breathtaking black and white prints, and a large and opulent dining hall which includes a fireplace originally built for Queen Victoria, but considered a little too risqué for her very Victorian tastes. Add in a rather fabulous lounge, which feels like an elegant London Gentleman's Club,

with huge windows offering views of the surrounding countryside and a light, airy conservatory, where you can enjoy divine cocktails in the sun, and it's easy to see why Matfen Hall has become such a popular place to enjoy a weekend spa and golf break or a rather elegant Afternoon Tea. The hotel has now entered its second phase of expansion with a significant investment into its golf and spa facilities. This includes refurbishing the 53 bedroom hotel’s fitness suite with the very latest state of the art Technogym equipment which is seriously impressive. The beautiful spa facilities have also been improved further with the addition of a luxurious new thermal suite. And the changes don't finish there. Matfen has also strengthened its team with some new appointments including the highly experienced Glen Snaith, who has taken the helm at its renowned two AA rosettes Library Restaurant, and ex Rockliffe alumni Paul Walker as Operations Manager. "It's been a long, tough exhausting journey to transform Matfen into what we see today," says Sir Hugh. "Our latest investment is significant and it means that our spa, golf and gym facilities are some of the best in the region. It's important to us to keep our standards high and continue to strive for excellence so our guests have the very best experience." Their hard work is clearly paying off. Matfen, under their care, has been transformed from a neglected ancestral home into a fabulous hotel experience with buckets of flair and personality.

PHOTOGRAPHY JADE PHOTOGRAPHY WWW.JADEPHOTOGRAPHY-ONLINE.COM summer

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Feature Health

Health expert Babi Chana shares her three top tips for feeling and looking fantastic... B ABI CH A NA B SC NUT MED IS AN EXPE R I E N C E D N U T R I T I ON I ST, B I O CHE MI ST, PRACTITIONER A ND LEC T U R E R . SHE WOR KS C LOSE LY W IT H P R E VE N TATIVE NUTRITION EXPE RTS P HAR M A N OR D. SHE I S A L EADI N G E XPERT IN DIETA RY SUPPLE M E N TS. There’s nothing like dressing up for a special occasion. A new dress or a sharp suit feels great. Moisturisers, makeup and manicures give us a boost too, but what about what’s inside? How do we stop our bodies from spoiling the fun? If you’re uncomfortable, run down and gaining weight, you can turn to nutrition. Here are my three favourite nutrients to get the inner-you ready for the social season.

1. Moisturise from the inside out Dryness of the eyes, mouth and the skin will affect us all throughout our lives. The chance of developing debilitating dryness increases as we get older (especially for women) or if we work in artificially lit, air conditioned offices. Medication, makeup and environmental pollutants also make matters worse. It's common to approach these problems with a topical remedy such as creams or drops. This merely masks the symptoms and doesn't solve the cause. For those who want to avoid lotions and messy drops, there is a solution, and it's been around for over 1000 years. Sea buckthorn oil is extracted from the berries of an ancient plant found mainly in harsh, mountainous areas of the Himalayas. Originally a traditional medicine, its properties have since been studied by scientists and its a potent 'superfood'. The oil contains betacarotene, plant sterols, omegas 3,6,7 and 9, plus over 200 bioactive compounds. It's the omega-7 content that makes it special. This rare fatty acid nourishes the mucous membranes that line our eyes, nose, mouth, skin, and internal tracts. The membranes are our protective shield against bacteria, infection and dryness. As we age, take medicines, suffer stress and contamination, the mucous membranes degrade and we feel the effect, especially in our eyes and skin. Taking high quality sea buckthorn oil capsules is proven to restore the health of mucous membranes within weeks and relieve uncomfortable daily dryness. Choose a product backed by research and strong customer recommendation. Visit www. omega7.co.uk for more information.

2. Control your cravings to lose weight Sweet tooth? Weakness for junk food? According to the British Medical Journal, a third of UK adults have high blood sugar - a disaster for public health and for the waistline. As well as being a cake and chocolate loving nation, millions of us have unknowingly increased our sugar intake in an attempt to avoid allegedly harmful fats. Carbohydrate-rich (high GI) foods such as white bread, pasta and pastry are effectively 'sugar bombs' that release harmful amounts of glucose into our bloodstream. High blood sugar causes damage and increases the risk of diabetes, even in seemingly slim people. These sugar 'spikes' caused by snacking and excess carbs leave us feeling sluggish or hungry, which leads to cravings for instant energy from sugar. Excess sugar piles on the pounds, making the cravings worse. In addition to regular exercise and a low GI diet, rich in vegetables, nuts, seeds and lean meat, we can increase our intake of a simple mineral - chromium. Modern diets lack chromium due to food processing and farming methods, but it's vital for channelling sugar out of the blood, working with insulin to reduce the peaks and troughs of glucose that trigger cravings and cause harm. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have approved Pharma Nord's ChromoPrecise organic chromium yeast for blood sugar control, confirming it as up to ten times better absorbed than all other common forms on the market. Take one Bio-Chromium a day to help kick your sugar habit and cut excess calories. Check out www. bloodsugarcontrol.info. summer

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Actress Linda Lusardi chooses Sea Buckthorn for dry eyes and skin ChromoPrecise tackles high blood sugar and cravings.

3. Boost your energy By far my favourite choice for an energy boost is coenzyme Q10. This vital nutrient is the 'spark plug' that triggers our conversion of food into energy inside every one of our 100 trillion body cells. The more hardworking the cell, the more Q10 it needs. Muscles (including the heart) require huge volumes of Q10 to function normally. When Q10 is low, we get aches, pains and fatigue. We make Q10 in our own bodies, but the older we get, the less Q10 we make. Low Q10 is a factor in the ageing process. Exercise and cholesterol-lowering medications also deplete our Q10 reserves. There are Q10 supplements which have been proven to raise our Q10 levels and improve energy production. This is more effective than caffeine as the Q10 is readily used by the body. Taking 60-100mg of Q10 daily will replenish levels effectively, as long as you choose your capsules wisely. A researchbacked, pharmaceutical grade product, such as Bio-Quinone Q10 is vital as cheap Q10 supplements degrade quickly and cannot be well absorbed by the body. Find out more at www.Q10.co.uk.

This team have made me feel amazing! Alexandra

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Beauty

The World’s

Facial? WORDS: LIZ LAMB PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD POWAZYNSKI WWW.RICHARDPOWAZYNSKI.COM

WANT TO FE EL LI KE A M I LLI O N D OL L AR S ? T H E N T R E AT YOU R S E L F TO O N E OF THE WO R LD’ S M O S T LU X U R IOU S AN D E X P E N S IV E FAC IAL S .

tre ats the s k in to t he lux u r iou s s e ns at io n of champag ne bubbles

he 24 carat champagne facial is the brainchild of La Di Da columnist Dr Esho who wanted to create the ultimate in luxury beauty treatments. As the name suggests, this uber luxe experience features gold and expensive champagne so it’s no wonder it’s causing a stir among celebrities eager to try it for themselves. Karen Barber of Dancing on Ice loves it and the stars of Towie and Hollyoaks are also on the waiting list for the posh pamper treat which was launched at a lavish party at Rox in Newcastle. Dr Esho, of Le Beau Ideal, who was recently crowned Best Cosmetic Doctor 2014 by the Good Surgeon Guide, wanted to give fashionistas an ‘experience’ not just a treatment. He explains: “The 24 carat gold champagne facial is an opulent, unique and effective facial for all skin types and embodies the ethos “not just a treatment,

but an experience”. “It is designed to smooth, brighten and purify the skin instantly leaving you with long lasting results. Beautifully complimenting this is the ultra-exclusive Gout de Diamantes champagne that clients will indulge in before, during and after the facial all within a bespoke luxury setting.” The facial begins with an aromatic honey and papaya enzyme mask to cleanse the skin and calm the mind with a warm nurturing sensation. Next a citrus and rosemary clarifying mud mask is applied to open the pores and gently draw out impurities, and the effervescent citric acid resurfacing mask exfoliates and smoothes. The mask is then activated with a copper and botanical refreshing mist that aids collagen production and treats the skin to the luxurious sensation of champagne bubbles. To finish Le Beau 24k gold leaf dust is blown gently into the air, settling onto the client’s face making them feel like a million dollars.

THE COST? £500 BUT GO ON, YOU’RE WORTH IT. *To see photographs of the 24 carat gold champagne facial launch party in Newcastle turn to our Society pages on P94 summer

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BEACH TO BAR

W HE TH E R YO U ’ R E PA RT Y IN G IN I BI Z A THI S S U M M E R , H IT T IN G T H E B EAC H I N B A RBA D OS I N W IN T E R O R J E T TI NG OFF TO D U BA I I N T H E N E W Y E A R , W E’V E GOT I NS I DE R T IP S O N H OW TO LOOK HOT ON TH E B E AC H A L L Y E A R ROUND. O U R S OC I ETY E D ITO R A N D F ITNESS TR A I NER HE L E N S TO R E Y SHA R ES HER SECRE TS .

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1 Do Squats! Glutes, quads and hamstrings are primary muscles, the biggest muscle groups in the body. The more muscle you have the more calories you will burn. Never miss out a leg day!

2 Hook up with a training buddy. You can motivate and encourage each other when one of you is feeling below par. 3 Mix your exercises up.

I like to change what I do from week to week. This avoids the dreaded plateau. Exercise intensity is a key to making progress. As your body becomes accustomed to a specific workout, you hit a plateau. To resume progress, increase the intensity. For example, switch from walking to power walking or from lowintensity biking to higher-intensity jogging.

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Drink plenty of water! We are made up of 65% water. Helen's Beach Beauty recommendations... Face and Body Foundation £21.50 Mac

Helen Storey is a Fitness Trainer at Speedflex Newcastle www.speedflex.com

4 I always keep healthy snacks at home and in the car. Cashew and almonds are my favourite. Many of the nutrients contribute to the maintenance of a healthy heart. Almonds are rich in magnesium, which is critical in preventing heart attacks and hypertension. Also a quality cooked chicken is a must. 5 Be prepared with food.

On Sundays I will cook all my meals for the week. Mostly consisting of chicken (sounds boring I know) All meals are portioned so I can’t overload if I’m feeling greedy.

6 Avoid fruit. There’s lots of

7Good fat.

I try and avoid dairy wherever possible but when I do treat myself to a latte I’ll always have full fat milk. Semi-skimmed and skimmed cows’ milk contain 1-1.5 per cent and 0.1 per cent fat respectively, so unless you drink gallons of the stuff, switching to semiskimmed or skimmed is unlikely to make any great impact on your fat intake. Furthermore it’s less nutritious than whole milk. That’s because the cream contains the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K - important, among other things, for strengthening immunity to infections, neutralising the effects of damaging free radicals and keeping bones healthy.

sugar fructose in fruit. Fructose is only processed via your liver. Likelihood is that your liver will repackage the excess fructose as fat, saving for a later time. summer

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Feature in association with

M i x you r exercises u p. I l i ke to change wh at I do fro m we ek to week . T h i s avoids the d re ade d pl ateau.

8 Sitting at a desk all day?

Try sitting on a Swiss Ball at your desk. It improves core stability as you’re constantly using your abdominal muscles. Stronger Ab muscles protect the lower back and promotes better posture.

9 Drink plenty of water!

We are made up of 65% water. Our bodies need water for most body functions. It has

many benefits including maintaining the health of every cell in the body, aids digestion, moisturises the skin to maintain its texture and appearance and carries nutrients and oxygen to cells.

10 Push yourself. Your mind will give up before your body does. There’s always 20% left in the tank! Use it!

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W ! TS UC OD PR

E ES

THE POWER OF PROVEN NUTRITION

Top picks to look and feel good this summer.

Debilitatin g dryness?

Sugar cravings?

MOISTURE FROM INSIDE • Award-winning source of sea buckthorn oil. • Rich in omega-7 to sooth dry eyes, mouth skin and more. • Contains a vegan source of omegas 3, 6 and 9 plus plant sterols. • Backed by research and made to pharmaceutical standards.

Need energy?

KICK YOUR SUGAR HABIT! • Contains EU approved ChromoPrecise organic chromium. • Independently verified for up to ten times better absorption. • Helps to maintain healthy blood sugar levels - great value. • Normal blood sugar reduces sugar cravings.

If you don’t know Pharma Nord, you don’t know supplements. We have made natural nutritional products to pharmaceutical standards for over 30 years. We supply hospitals, pharmacies, health food shops and practitioners. Our blister packaging protects our highly bio-available ingredients from the atmosphere - throw your jars away!

For nutrition advice and to order call 0800 591 756 or visit www.pharmanord.co.uk.

GET YOUR SPARK BACK • Q10 levels decrease with age and exercise. • Q10 is vital for energy metabolism and immune health. • Bio-Quinone Q10 has proven absorption, safety and research. • Gold standard formula. Visit www.Q10.co.uk for more information.

Your chance to win! Two lucky LaDiDa readers will win a set of the three products featured above. To enter, return the coupon below or email ‘LaDiDa’ to feedback@pharmanord.co.uk. Name

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Beauty

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Feature Beauty

C H AN T E C A I LLE N A N O G O L D E Y E E N ERG IS ING RECOVER M A S K TO RE S TO R E R A D I A N CE TO TI R ED EYES £ 1 8 5 H A RROD S . CO M, S PACE N K & F EN WI CK

A n embellis hed gold eyebrow is a key trend for AW 14 as seen at Mac

CL I NI QU E CHU BBY STI CK SHADOW TI NT FOR EYES I N GRANDEST GOL D £17 BOOTS

C HAR LOT T E T IL BURY LU X U RY EYE PA L E T T E IN G O L D EN GOD D E SS £38 C HAR LOT T E T IL BURY. CO M

YVES ST L AU RENT HI GHL I GHTER £25 JOHN L EWI S NEWCASTL E

D EBOR AH L IPPM AN N , BO OM BOOM POW N A I L VARN IS H £18 LOOKFAN TAS T I C . CO M

RE P RO F UM O, DECORATED WI TH 24K GOL D, 5 0 M L PARF UM £ 1 2 5, BI G GLOBE £635, M EDIUM G LO BE £ 2 95, CYL I NDRI C BOX £150 F O RT NUM ANDM AS ON.COM

V ER S ACE O UD O R I EN TA L £ 1 3 0 HA R RO D S.CO M

MODEL AND LIFESTYLE SHOTS COURTESY OF MAC MACCOSMETICS.CO.UK summer

2014

SHOPPING NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD...

WITH UP TO 50% OFF ALL YOUR FAVOURITE BEAUTY BRANDS AT NOW OPEN AT DALTON PARK

Dalton Park, Murton, County Durham SR7 9HU Telephone: 0191 5266500

www.dalton-park.co.uk

Fashion Feature

ALL PRODUCTS BY PANDORA. PANDORA PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE AT WHITTAKERS JEWELLERS, YARM, WWW.WHITTAKERSJEWELLERS.CO.UK

DISCOVER THE NEW COLLECTION

51-53 High Street, Yarm, TS15 9BH,01642 788088 www.whittakersjewellers.co.uk Be inspired at pandora.net

summer

2014

AWARD WINNING HAIRDRESSING

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Darlington 01325 468 994

Dalton Park, Murton, County Durham SR7 9HU Telephone: 0191 5266500 Gosforth Jesmond Ponteland www.dalton-park.co.uk 0191 217 0217 0191 281 6714 01661 821 004

Wynyard 01740 644 690

Feature

Lunch Ladies Who

Dahling!

Sarah (left) wears Dolce & Gabbana floral dress £1280 and YSL bag, both Cruise Newcastle. Lia (right) wears Untold Jasmine floral dress £125, House of Fraser at Intu Metrocentre, orange Dolce & Gabbana bag £1198 summer

2014

Fashion

opposite Li a we a rs DV F t ri bal p r i nt d re ss £ 4 5 3 a n d b l ue G ucc i c lut h bag £ 7 8 5 , b o t h C r ui s e Newc as t le

this page LEF T Sarah we ars Alexand e r M c Q ue e n d re ss £ 6 8 0 at Cr ui s e Newc as t le

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Fashion Feature

27 summer

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Fashion

LEF T Li a we ars Victoria Be c k ham yellow check d re ss £ 1 5 5 0 Cru ise Newc as t le ABOVE S arah (lef t ) wea rs b lu e Alexand e r McQu een d re ss £ 6 8 0 Cru ise Newc as t le a nd Lia (r i ght ) we ars tea l la ce d re ss P has e 8 a t I ntu M e t roce nt re

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2014

Fashion Feature

Li a wea rs Viv ienne We stwood dress ÂŁ490 Cr uise Newca stle

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Feature

Sa ra h wears blu e d ress , as b efore

credits Sho o t D i rect o r : Li z La m b P ho t og raph y: J a d e Tu r n b u l l www. ja de ph o tog ra p h y - o n l i n e . co m Mo del s : Lia Su n d i n a t H e a d l i n e Mo d e l s and Sa ra h- J ea n H e n d e rs o n MUA an d H ai r: M i c h e l l e Fow l e r o f T h e A rch, Arch 4, We st g a t e Ro a d , N ewc a st l e . Te l : 0191 222 0 0 8 0 Fa s h i o n A ss i s ta n t : R i o B e a d i e Flowers : K a tie B e n n e t t N a t t ra ss F l owe rs www. fl owe rs by n a t t ra ss. co m Loc at i o n : M a tfe n H a l l , M a t fe n V i l l a ge , No r thu m ber l a n d 0 1 6 6 1 8 8 6 5 0 0 St o c k i s ts : C r u is e , P r i n ce ss S q u a re , Newca s tl e www. c r u i s e fa sh i o n . co . u k Ph a s e 8 I ntu M e t ro ce n t re , Hou s e o f Fra s e r I n t u Me t ro ce n t re

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2014

Fashion Feature

Jimmy Choo Abel Glitter Heels, £375 Cruise Newcastle

Gold ‘X’ Ring by Amanda Li Hope £1850 Sable & Ox

Michael Kors large shoulder tote £329 Jules B

Alexander McQueen skull ring £195 Cruise Newcastle

All that Glitters is

GOLD.

Phase 8 Luna Sequin dress £350 John Lewis Newcastle

Skirt £19 9 Autograph at Marks and Spencer

Terry De Havilland Gold Margeaux wedges £495

Michael Kors Women’s Lexi ngton Mini Watch, £185

Vivienne Westwood Zita Pendant Necklace, £69 Van Mildert

Gold lace dress £170 Adrianna Pappell Chanel Vintage 1996 CC Clutch Bag, £999 Cruise Newcastle summer

2014

Tiffany aviator gold turquoise sunglasses £255 Vision Express

Fashion

L A D I DA HAS BEEN PARTYI NG I N LO N D ON AFTER BEI NG I NV I TED BY T WO M AJ OR HI GH STREET BRANDS TO SE E THEI R LATEST OFFERI NGS. IN V IT E S, WE COULD NOT REFUSE, OBV I OUSLY!

CHRIST M AS I N JU LY

ne of our fave high street labels Next showcased their Christmas collections in the beautiful surroundings of One Marylebone. Fashionistas dined on delicious canapes and mocktails as models including supermodel Jourdan Dunn sashayed down the catwalk in party frocks, super fine knits and faux fur animal print jackets. This Christmas we’ll be wearing fluffy knits embellished with sequins, separates in baby pink and grey, gold and black figure-hugging party dresses and printed blouses in black and red. Accessories include black and white paint stripe print shoes and over-theknee boots in tan.

NEXT HAS STORES THROUGHOUT THE NORTH EAST. FOR LOCATIONS VISIT WWW.NEXT.CO.UK LIZ LAMB

STAND FO R SO M ET H I N G

ber cool footwear brand Dr Martens held a party to launch their AW14 Stand for Something campaign. Held at the Exposure Gallery on Portland Street, guests were treated to an exclusive preview of the new campaign and video. Punk poet John Cooper Clarke performed to the well-heeled masses before a DJ entertained the crowds. The AW 14 campaign features people of all ages and backgrounds who all #StandForSomething and believe wearing DR M’s is less a fashion statement and more about self-expression. Shoppers at Dr Martens’ stores including Newcastle will be encouraged to upload their own images of themselves wearing their trusty Docs.

DR MARTENS, GRAINGER STREET, NEWCASTLE WWW.DRMARTENS.COM RIO BEADIE

summer

2014

Fashion Feature

VI VI E N N E WEST WOOD BOUT IQUE, HOOD ST REET, N E WCA ST LE

ASHIONISTAS headed to the Vivienne Westwood boutique for a quintessentially English tea party. Models presented the latest looks from the SS14 Red Label and MAN collections while guests were treated to British gin and tonics, miniature sandwiches, macaroons and refreshing iced tea served in vintage china. The collection is influenced by some of Vivienneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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2014

favourite artists, examining not only their art but also their work clothes from photographs and self-portraits; which translate into the key silhouettes and prints for the collection. The collections are available in the Newcastle boutique alongside other Vivienne Westwood key womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lines, including Gold Label and Anglomania, as well as jewellery, accessories and fragrance.

Fashion

Day in the life of... M ake Up artist Jo L eve rs uch E V E R WAN TE D TO KNOW WH AT ’S IT ’ S L I KE B E HI N D T HE SC E N E S F O R A TOP MAK E UP A RTIST? LA DI DA TAL KS TO JO L EVER SUC H F OR A SN E AK P E AK INTO H ER RATH ER FAB U LOU S L I F E . WE C ATC H U P W I TH HE R AFTER A CELEB F ILLED DESI G N E R HAN DB AG C HAR I T Y SOIREE IN LON DON . . . .

9am I arrived in London last night from

Darlington so I have plenty of time to go through my make up bags and decide what products to take with me to the event. At home I have a whole room dedicated to make up so editing what I take to shoots and events can be quite a challenge. I have been asked to attend the event on behalf of Canadian make up icon Ariane Poole. I often work with her and she is a keen supporter of the annual Bag Ladies soiree which is held by BAAF, the British Association for Adoption and Fostering. It is hosted by BAAF patron and celebrity hair stylist, Andrew Barton, who hails from the North East. Circumstances beyond Ariane’s control means she is unable to attend so I have been lucky enough to step into her shoes and am thoroughly looking forward to it. It’s such a worthwhile charity. I have friends who are adopted so I am aware of the immense amount of good work that BAAF undertakes finding children loving homes.

11am

I am at the Charlotte Tilbury counter in Selfridges, London. I just couldn’t resist my spiritual home! Charlotte Tilbury is one of my favourite brands and I wanted some new colours and products for tonight. I will take a mixture of her products and Ariane’s. Both are quality products and long lasting and will suit tonight’s audience of high flyers. While I have a few hours to kill, I also pop to see the Wallace Collection which is stunning and treat myself to a fabulous lunch.

4pm

I arrive at the Royal Bank of Scotland building in the City of London which is very impressive with lots of glass lifts and stunning architecture. We are based on one of the highest floors and have a balcony with a stunning view of London and the iconic Gherkin building. I have a chat with Andrew, singer Clare Grogan and Mark Heyes, the celebrity stylist, who appears on TV show Lorraine, and we set up our stands. The guests can have free make up

advice sessions and donate to the BAAF charity. This is followed by a silent and live handbag auction.

5pm My stand is all set up and I just have

time to take a look at the handbags which are going to be auctioned.Victoria Beckham has donated four and I fall in love with her shoulder bag in tan and orange. Burberry has donated the gorgeous Dinton Tote and Jane Bruton, Editor of Grazia, has sent the perfect day-to-evening black quilted leather bag by Karl Lagerfeld. There is also a very fashion forward ivory number from hot new label and Olivia Palermo favourite AEVHA and beautiful Anya Hindmarch bags.

6.30pm The doors open. All you can hear is

the excited chatter of the very glamorous guests and the popping of champagne corks. I have a busy few hours offering make up consultations. The majority of the consultations are with ladies who want tips on how to get their make up to stay looking fresh all day. As busy city executives, the ladies spend their work days rushing from meeting to meeting but have to stay looking groomed. Primers are the key to keeping make up looking good 24/7 and Ariane Poole has an excellent range of primers so her products prove very popular.

11pm

The handbags are all sold and the bidders have been very generous. It’s another successful fundraiser for BAAF and I have had a fabulous day. Back at the hotel I clean all of my brushes and kit and prepare to head back home. The week ahead holds more make up lessons, a film shoot and a photo shoot and some fabulous brides. The life of a make up artist is always varied and the hours are often long but I wouldn’t want to do anything else. It really is rewarding seeing my clients’ faces when they look in the mirror after the make over and seeing how confident it makes them feel. That gives me great satisfaction. summer

2014

PHOTOGRAPHY LUCIA REED

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ADOPTION AND FOSTERING CONTACT WWW.BAAF.ORG.UK TO BOOK MAKE UP AND BRIDAL SESSIONS WITH JO WWW.MAKEUPBYJO.CO.UK

Fashion Feature

My style. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY GAYNA MILLICAN

NAME:

Anna Parkin

J OB TI TLE:

Owner of Two Touch Promotions

Anna adores her Kurt Geiger and Dune shoes

About me: I’m known as the no-nonsense boss from Geordie Shore but there is a lot more to be than that. I own and run Two Touch Promotions which I set up in 2007, the same year my gorgeous daughter Mya was born. It wasn’t easy bringing her up on my own whilst running a business but I’m living proof hard work pays off. Two Touch Promotions is a promotional staffing agency that ranges from corporate events down to topless butlers. I’ve also more recently set up Geordie Tours which focuses on personal events like birthdays and stag or hen do’s.

My Style: I like classic, timeless pieces

Favourite designers: Michael Kors for accessories, Carvela and Kurt Geiger for shoes, Roberto Cavalli for clothes Favourite high street stores: Massimo Dutti and Zara Labels I love: Joseph My fail-safe outfit: white jeans, heels and a Joseph top Outfit I feel amazing in: Karen Millen Champagne dress Fave accessories & why: My Citrine oversized teardrop necklace … Citrine is a joyful stone with bright energy which lights up many aspects of lives of those who work with it. It has energies of good fortune and good luck. Citrine is a premier stone of manifestation, imagination, and personal will. summer

2014

gent.

Yorkshire Gold

T H E AWAR D WI NNING BRA SS C A S TL E B R EW E RY IS MA K ING WAV E S I N T H E WO RLD O F B E E R WI T H A H E A DY BRE W O F AWAR D WI NNING BE E RS A N D I TS OW N CO MMU NITY O F B EE R AF I C I O NA DO S . LA D I DA’ S B EE R NA Z I AN DR E W S M ITH PAYS A VIS IT … Brass Castle - the name just sings Yorkshire and beer at first glance, and it makes one think that it must have been here forever. But the award winning Brass Castle is only a nipper, born in 2011 in Pocklington; the name simply comes from the street, Brass Castle Hill, where the brewery started – in a garage. And the roots of their name, as practical and unpretentious and Yorkshire as they come, neatly sums up the ethos of the brewery and the team behind it. They have now relocated to somewhat grander surroundings and are based in Malton. The brewery’s new location provides a must visit experience for lovers of beer. It shares a building with Yorkshire Real Ales (a beer shop which sells only Yorkshire beer ) and Yorkshire Homebrew. Downstairs is a bar and a courtyard, ideal for standing around discussing beery topics and less important world affairs. The newly opened Brewhouse Tap Room features a retro jukebox and a range of great beers on tap. Despite their new beginnings, they have already developed 14 core beers. I haven’t tried them all, but those I have, have not failed to please. There are Saffron flavoured Belgian blondes, Belgian Wits, Smoked Porters, Hazelnut Milds as well as Best bitters in the range.

Phil Saltonstall, Head Brewer

BAD KITTY – VANILLA PORTER 5.5% We waxed lyrical about porters when we met. It’s not a style I rave about but this one wins awards and is much sought after up and down the land. As you’d expect, its dark, a mahogany colour with a slight beige head. It’s delightfully composed, with a velvety texture, an ever so slight oiliness that helps reinforce the chocolate and vanilla that punches at your nostrils. BEER NAZI VERDICT So porters aren’t my thing, and it’s because I often find them too grainy but there is no graininess, its complex but unpretentious – the presence of (proper Madagascan) vanilla works with the malts to deliver something of a delight, slightly sweet with a soupçon of Milky Way (man size). I could easily see this in a restaurant as much as bar, such is its appeal.

BRASS CASTLE LAGER 5.3% AV

A good English lager is often hard to find, mainly because it takes time, effort and the clean palate of a lager means there is nowhere to hide a mistake. As soon as I found out its flavors are driven by Vienna malt I became excited, and after meeting them, I shot off to a local hostelry to try a pint in the sunshine before trying the bottle version – both were spot on. It’s thicker in the mouth than most lagers and the sweet Vienna malt is full flavor, balanced with noble Hallertau bitterness. BEER NAZI VERDICT It’s lagered for six weeks to clean, condition and (err) lager it – and it’s worth the summer

2014

wait, it really is. My only complaint would be strength – I wanted to guzzle it down, and strength could create an issue around pint four on a hot day, but then we all have our crosses to bear….

SUNSHINE IPA: 5.7% A west Coast IPA style, using a potent combination of Chinook, Galaxy and Magnum hops. It’s hoppy, with the right level of carbonation and bitterness – the piney, mango and grapefruit flavors are balanced with an undertone of biscuit and slight toffee from the malts. BEER NAZI VERDICT With a bright white head, an amber colour and loads of tropical/citrus flavours I can see what prompted the name.

“ T he brewe r y ’ s new lo c atio n prov ide s a mus t vis i t ex p e r ie nce fo r love r s of b e e r. ”

TAST I N G N OTE S Brass Castle Brewery 10 Yorkersgate, Malton, YO17 7AB www.brasscastlebrewery.co.uk

Feature gent.

gent. grooming

fashion

my style

P OSH MO U S TACHE WA X P3 8

S UM MER LOOKS FOR THE MOD ERN GENT P 39

BAR MANAGER S H A R ES H IS STYLE SE CR ETS P40

PHOTOGRAPHY GASP WWW.GASPPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK 07815 200216 MAKE UP JO LEVERSUCH MAKE-UP BY JO WWW.MAKEUPBYJO.CO.UK 07815 835211 HAIR HAIR BY JAMES REID CLOTHING WOVEN, DURHAM WOVENDURHAM.CO.UK summer

2014

gent.

THE WORLD’S

POSHEST NE ED TO KEE P YO U R M O U S TAC H E PR EEN ED AN D P E R FE C T ? T HE N T H E N EW WA X F ROM HE R I TAG E B R A ND BEA U F ORT LO N DON COU L D BE JU S T FO R YOU.

ormulated and hand crafted in Great Britain, the brand, who create elegant grooming tools for the modern gent, have created a ‘technical’ Moustache Finishing Wax designed to withstand extremes of temperature and humidity without losing hold. Combining Somerset Beeswax, Argan Oil from Sidi Kaouki, Morocco, Brazilian Orange Peel wax and Ghanian Shea butter, the formulation contains some of the finest ingredients from around the globe.

The brand is the brainchild of Leo Crabtree, a drummer with The Prodigy, who has a passion for tradition and a very British obsession with the sea. A naval family history and a requirement for efficacious, luxurious products inspired him to create BeauFort London - a brand that combines heritage with modern performance. Crabtree says, “Developing our flagship Moustache Finishing Wax with designers, scientists and traditional British craftsmen has allowed us to produce products that are as luxurious as they are efficacious. They are designed to be enduring, elegant and versatile.” Delicately fragranced with the brand’s distinctive ‘Amyris’ blend, the warm notes of vanilla, caramel and exotic woods combine

subtly with the natural citrus scent of the wax. BeauFort London has created a bespoke refillable case that will last lifetimes. Pocket sized and lightweight, it absorbs body heat, gently softening the wax to allow for convenient re-application when and wherever the situation dictates. Carved from solid Aluminium, the innovative swivel opening case is manufactured in the same city that produced the E-Type Jaguar, in a workshop that creates precision engineered parts for the motor sport and aeronautical industries. The case is presented with two refill cartridges, one loaded, and one for future use. Also supplied is a hardened steel, uniquely triangular section ‘sailmaker’s needle’, designed to eject the used cartridges.

BEAUFORT LONDON MOUSTACHE FINISHING WAX IN ALUMINIUM REFILLABLE CASE WITH ADDITIONAL WAX REFILL AND STEEL SAILMAKER’S NEEDLE IS £80. ADDITIONAL REFILLS ARE £15 FOR 5ML. THE MOUSTACHE FINISHING WAX IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.BEAUFORTLONDON.COM summer

2014

Feature gent.

LO O K S U P E R S T Y L I S H A N D S O P H I S T I CAT E D T H I S S U M M E R W I T H S E PA R AT E S A N D AC C E S S O R I E S F R O M O N E O F T H E N O RT H ' S B E S T GENTLEMAN'S OUTFITTERS

All c lot he s by Woven Du rha m, T he G at e s Fra mwellg a te Bridge, Dur ham DH 1 4SJ 0191 374 1002 w w w.wove nd urha m.co.u k w w w.face book.com/ woven.du rha m

THE

MODERN GENT

summer

2014

gent.

My style. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY GAYNA MILLICAN

Nige Wood AGE: 29 J O B T IT L E : Manager at Bonbar Newcastle www.bonbar.c o.uk N A ME:

My style: I prefer a casual style but with subtle hints of nostalgia with a retro feel. Don’t be surprised to see me wearing a classic pair of 80s sneakers and a Joy Division tee. Favourite Designers: Armani, Marc Jacobs, Hugo Boss, Paul Smith Favourite High Street Stores: END, Replay, Urban Outfitters, Fave Labels: Replay, Adidas Consortium, Puma McQueen, Worn By, Canada Goose Fail Safe Outfit: A slim fit tee, nice pair of jeans and a pair of classics. Outfit I feel amazing in: I love a three piece suit and a smart pair of shoes. Fave Accessories: My aftershave and shoe collection. An aftershave is a statement, it’s not just about smelling good. My shoe collection takes me back to my childhood. I still get the same excitement now as I did back then.

About me: I’m originally from Edinburgh but I moved to Newcastle around five years. I’ve always worked in hospitality, starting off at the Famous ‘Penny Black pub’ with my father. This was my first introduction to the industry and I’ve never looked back since. I have managed some of the most reputable bars, restaurants and late night venues in both Scotland and the North East. I have recently embarked on a new challenge at the fabulous Bonbar at The Assembly Rooms in Newcastle. summer

2014

Feature

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Feature kids

FAMILY DINING

FA BULOUS MU S T-H AVES FO R LITTLE O NE S

WHERE:

Pizza Express, Skinnergate, Darlington (01325) 488771

VENUE:

The restaurant is roomy with a huge glass window overlooking the street-perfect for people watching and there is plenty of room for little ones.You can also see your meal being prepared at the kitchen island. My son Henry, aged 2, loved watching the chef making pizzas.

WORDS LIZ LAMB

WELCOME:

The manager was friendly and helpful and chatted and joked with Henry. He also brought over crayons and colouring in paper to keep him occupied.

MENU:

We visited on a lunchtime. Pizza Express operates an Express Lunch menu Monday to Friday which you can eat in or takeaway. It features lunch-friendly portions at affordable prices with mains ranging from £3.45 to £5.95.

FOOD:

We chose from the new Piccolo menu for Henry’s lunch. It’s been developed with the Children’s Food Trust to give youngsters healthier options. Henry tasted doughballs for the first time and loved them. He then devoured a plate of spaghetti Bolognese which ended up all over his face and the floor to much amusement. For dessert he had a rare treat of vanilla ice-cream with raspberry sauce. His meal was rounded off with a bambinoccino (frothed milk with a sprinkling of choc powder). A bargain at £6.50 for 4 courses.

Little Bird by Jools Retro Py jamas £12 Mothercare

GROWN UPS:

I opted for a Pollo salad (£5.25) from the Express menu. The salad comes with goat’s cheese, which I asked to be replaced with mozzarella, chicken, leaves, olives, crouton and tomatoes and warm mini dough sticks. It was gorgeous and just the right portion for lunchtime.

Baby K Bookends- VIP £12.99 Mothercare

My husband chose a Sloppy Giuseppe pizza (£9.85) featuring hot spiced beef, green pepper, red onion, tomatoes and mozzarella from the main menu. Needless to say it didn’t last long on his plate.

VERDICT:

Very family-friendly. The manager was great with Henry and we didn’t feel at all uncomfortable if he was being a little noisy or slopping food down himself. We loved the menu option for Henry and the colouring paper and pens was great for keeping him amused.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Jeans and braces Baker by Ted Baker Boys £26 Debenhams

* P izza E x p re ss a ls o ha s re s t a ura nt s i n D ur ha m , G a t e s he a d , G o s fo r t h, J e s m ond , Newc a s t le c it y ce nt re, Te e ss id e Pa r k, No r t ha lle r t o n a nd Ha r rog a t e. Fo r a f u l l l i s t s v is it www. p izza ex p re ss . co m

Ecru Floral Dress, from £9.50 Next

9/10

The Tonteenies is a new initiative for children launched by The Cleveland Tontine hotel in North Yorkshire. Under 12s can sign up to the website and will then receive a member’s pack in the post with badge, loyalty card and colouring items. When they dine with an adult, each child gets a sticker in their loyalty card and when they have three they receive a cuddly toy. All Tonteenies will receive a free mocktail when they dine and can take part in special events throughout the year. Visit www.clevelandtontine.co.uk for more details summer

2014

Promotion

F ROM POSH WE D D INGS TO K I D S PA RTI E S , CO RP O RATE DO’S A N D F IV E STA R H OTEL S , CO N FE C TI O N ERY COMPAN Y P IG N MIX IS TH E N E W G O -TO P L AC E FO R SWE E T IE T R E ATS, A S L I Z L A M B D I S COVERS .

EMEMBER Parma violets, black jacks and love hearts? These retro lovelies are back in fashion and are one of the biggest sellers at Pig n Mix, a company which supplies sweets to highprofile firms, five star hotels as well as weddings, corporate and charity events and children’s parties. You can choose whichever sweets you desire. From Haribos to cherry lips, cola cubes, jelly beans and fudge to bon bons in every flavour, pink pigs, fruit salads and chocolate coffee beans, every sweetie imaginable is on the menu. “I have one of the biggest selection of sweets around,” says Stewart Bailey, who set up the business just a year ago. “Haribos and retro sweets are by far the most popular sweets. I do a lot of them for hotels and VIP launches and they are very popular with weddings. “For kids parties I do clear cones filled with chocolates or Haribo sweets, depending on the age of the kids. Or mums might want pink pigs or white mice or a mixture. “The clear cones are great as the kids can see the sweets and they are really easy to handle.” It seems parents, wedding couples and businesses, can’t get enough of Pig n Mix’s sweet treats. They currently supply Seaham Hall Hotel

who offer three jars of sweets in all their hotel rooms for guests to enjoy and they are currently in talks with other major hotels in the region. Pig n Mix’s services are also in demand at VIP launches such as a recent event at Benfield Motors in Sunderland who wanted a sweet stall for their guests. Stewart, who worked in management at Caterpillar and Northern Rock, before setting up Pig n Mix also provides sweets for charity events. Recently, he kindly donated over 400 boxes of sweets for the recent Children’s Heart Unit Fund event, organised by millionaire Graham Wylie, at Close House and the Gosforth Marriott. Weddings are also big business for the sweet company. Retro sweets are proving popular as favours for guests and many brides and grooms also want a sweet stall at their big day. “The business celebrates its first anniversary in September and it has been a huge success,” says Stewart. “Everyone’s crazy about sweets.”

I have o ne of the b i gge s t selec tio n of s we e t s around

TO GET YOUR SWEETIE FIX CONTACT PIG’N’MIX ON 07900 072578 FOLLOW ON TWITTER @PIGNMIXSWEETCO WEBSITE WWW.PIGNMIX.CO.UK IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

summer

2014

Feature kids

Family Day Out...REVIEW

The Alnwick Garden

EDI TOR LI Z L A MB A N D FAMILY HE A D TO A LN WI C K GA RDENS F O R A DAY O UT

’M ashamed to say I’d never been to Alnwick Gardens until now. Despite it being on the doorstep, for one reason or another, I’d never ventured there. So, with sunny weather on the horizon and a toddler in tow we headed to this North East family fun spot which is marketed as the ‘world’s most extraordinary garden.’ I’d heard that children can have fun with water at the gardens so I made sure I packed an all-in-one waterproof for my son Henry. When we arrived we walked through the entrance to be greeted by the Grand Cascade, the country’s largest water display, set in the hill side. The cascade is the garden’s centrepiece and is truly stunning. There were lots of families enjoying the sunshine. Children were running around on the grass in front of the water display while others were enjoying a picnic, having a cuppa in the cafe or queueing for the poison garden. Henry wasted no time in getting involved. He made a beeline for a set of tractors in front of the water display. It was time to get the waterproof suit on! There was lots of other children playing on the tractors and Henry had a great time navigating the tractor around the floor, driving into the waterfall and getting very wet. Henry cried when we took him off to go and explore the Serpent Garden but his tears

didn’t last long. There was plenty chance to get wet again at the Torricelli, an interactive water sculpture which fills slowly until its ground jets spring to life. He had great fun running around the other water sculptures and exploring the nooks and crannies amongst the topiary. At lunchtime we headed to the Pavilion Café where we found a great selection of hot food and sandwiches alongside a patisserie and a Krispy Kreme counter. My husband enjoyed slow pulled pork with sausage stuffing, bacon, onion and cabbage, and roast potatoes (£7.50) while I opted for homemade quiche, salad and wedges (£5.95). We got a lunchbox for Henry which contained a sandwich, yoghurt and fruit.You can pick five items for £4.95. After lunch, we headed up the steps of the Central Cascade where several children were having fun running through the water which was shooting over their heads. Up the steps is the ornamental garden which features European plants in geometric beds. After walking around trying to identify the different plants we headed to the Poison Garden. There was a queue but it went down fairly quickly. It was worth the wait. The garden features a display of deadly plants and it was fascinating to find out more about them. summer

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family Dining Café Tirreno, 45 Bondgate Without, Alnwick NE66 1PR 01665 605455 Open 9am to 9pm This is a fabulously, friendly eaterie which welcomes families. It’s small but has a great atmosphere. For starters we dined on bresola (£5.95), cured top beef served with leaf lettuce and seasoned with Marie Rose sauce (£5.95) and bucce di patate (£3.95), deep fried potato skins served with garlic mayo and tomato ketchup dips. Mains were Gnocchi sorrentina (£5.95), an oven baked dish with tomato, basil and mozzarella cheese and Al Forno pasta (£5.95), a béchamel sauce with spicy sausage, peas and cheese. Children can dine on any pizza/pasta dish with ice cream and cordial for £5 so Henry tucked into spaghetti Bolognese followed by Nutella ice cream. This is a great place for an affordable meal in a friendly, welcoming environment. The café now serves breakfast with toast, muesli, smoked salmon and free-range eggs and bacon and sausage sandwiches all on the menu.

After a full day at the gardens, it was time to take a very tired toddler home. Unfortunately we didn’t get chance to explore the whole area or make it to the castle so can’t wait to go back soon. La Di Da Verdict: 9 out of 10

9/10

VI S I T WWW. A LNW I C KGA RD E N. COM FOR M ORE D E TA I L S

Treat yourself this Christmas... Christmas Parties - £26.50 per guest

Christmas Day Lunch - £78 per guest

Festive Period Dinner, Bed and Breakfast from £129 for two

An eight-bedroom design hotel, restaurant and bar in the heart of Darlington www.houndgatetownhouse.co.uk 01325 486011 info@houndgatetownhouse.co.uk

L A D I DAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S GU I D E TO

Fashion

Fabulous AFTERNOON TEA & C O C KTA I L S

" T he re are few hou rs in l ife more agreeable th an the hour de d ic ate d to t he ceremony known a s af ternoon tea. " H E N RY JA M E S, T H E P O RT R A I T O F A L A DY

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L A D I DAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S GU I D E TO

THE ART OF

Afternoon Tea.

Wh i le away s u n ny af ternoon s with good convers ation, he ave nly af te rnoon tea s and d iv ine cocktail s .....

Let them eat cake If you're going to sin, sin gloriously and Cleveland Tontine's divine Afternoon Tea is enough to tempt anyone. Pure gorgeousness on a plate, these fabulous confections will make your afternoon truly special, ideal for a decadent Afternoon Tea with fashion fabulous friends or to celebrate a special birthday. WWW.THECLEVELANDTONTINE.CO.UK

Champers & Afternoon Tea Houndgate Townhouse is channelling Downtown with a dash of fashion for its Afternoon Tea. Delish finger sandwiches, unctous brownies, and a homemade gourmet sausage roll are just a few of the treats on offer as well as scones, jam and clotted cream. Our fave are the coffee macaroons from new patisserie star and ex Rockliffe alumni Linda Robson. Accessorised with a glass of bubbly for a perfect indulgent afternoon. WWW.HOUNDGATETOWNHOUSE.CO.UK

Cocktail Royalty Newcastle cocktail cognescenti will already know that Hotel Indigo Newcastle's fabulous George Liddle is an international cocktail award winner many times over. His cocktails are the stuff of legend and particular faves of the La Di Da team. Try the Royal Temptation cocktail, George won a global International cocktail competition with the Royal Temptation with good reason. Served with a Mint Matchmaker stirrer and crumbled Aero on the top, its absolutely divine. WWW.HOTELINDIGO.COM/NEWCASTLE

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A F T E R NO O N T E A & C O C KTA I L S

Afternoon Tea Cocktails AT LA DI DA WE LOVE AFTERNOON TEAS. BUT WE ALSO LOVE DIVINE COCKTAILS WHICH FEEL ESPECIALLY DECADENT WHEN WE PARTAKE OF THEM IN THE AFTERNOON. AND, AS FOOD PAIRING WITH COCKTAILS IS HAVING A SERIOUS MOMENT, WE DECIDED TO COMBINE TWO OF OUR FAVOURITE THINGS AND ASKED HOUNDGATE TOWNHOUSEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SUPER TALENTED MIXOLOGIST JAKE STONE TO DESIGN COCKTAILS BASED ON THEIR SIGNATURE AFTERNOO N TEA. THE RESULTS WERE JAWDROPPINGLY GOOD...

JA M JA R This is Victoria Sponge in a glass. Mary Berry would approve. Method Shake and then strain In a Boston glass filled with ice add 50ml Kraken spiced rum, 40ml vanilla syrup, the juice of half a lemon, 50-60ml of strawberry puree. Shake then pour over crushed ice and garnish with Vanilla pods.

E A R L G R EY M A RT I N I

C UC U M B E R G I M L ET

Method Shake, double strain

Method Shake and strain

In a Boston glass filled with ice, add 50m Bombay Sapphire, 25ml strong earl grey tea, 25ml Gomme and an egg white. Shake hard then double strain in a chilled martini glass, garnish with a lemon strip on a teabag style tab and string.

In a Boston glass filled with ice, add 37.5ml Ciroc vodka, 25ml Cointreau, a dash of Gomme, the juice of half a lime and approx 100ml of a mint infused cucumber puree. Pour over cubed ice and garnish with cucumber in the drink and on the rim of the glass.

Jake Stone, Houndgate Townhouse

All measurements are approximate and depend on taste, so have fun and experiment. PHOTOGRAPH BY CARLA WHITTINGHAM

Classic English Elegance

For a traditionally fabulous Afternoon Tea try Matfen Hall's classic Afternoon Tea in the very elegant Library restaurant. It includes a selection of Finger Sandwiches including cream cheese and cucumber, smoked salmon, Northumberland ham and English mustard, Matfen estate egg, cress and mayonnaise and scones with clotted cream and fruit preserves, assortment of afternoon tea pastries and cakes and a pot of tea or coffee.You can also try their amazing cocktails for a bit of added decadence.

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WWW.MATFENHALL.COM PHOTOS BY JADE PHOTOGRAPHY

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L A D I DA’ S GU I D E TO Jawd roppingly go rge co ck t ails , a rat he r fabulou s take on A f te r no o n Te a and delis h A s ian in s pi red lu nches . Lind a Jane We s t ph al find s ou t why S ohe ha s beco me T H E place to h ang ou t fo r t he No r t he r n gl i tterati ….

ou could be in Chelsea Dahlings. Cocktails so pretty you hesitate for, all of, 10 seconds before tasting the heady complex and quite frankly delicious concoctions.Yummy, oozingly good, Afternoon Tea with a delicate Asian twist. And Asian inspired dishes that offer sophisticated fine dining presented with a knowing nod to tableside theatrics and big, big flavours. So it’s no surprise that the great and good of Northern High Society have been travelling from far and wide to visit the new opening in the rather fashion fabulous Jesmond. With wow factor interiors and a location just a few Louboutin clad steps away from the chi chi Jesmond boutiques, Sohe has quickly become the place to hang out for a fabulous afternoon with friends or a memorable business lunch which is guaranteed to impress. With a relaxed vibe and impeccable service, spending hours just chilling in the casual opulence is a must. The team behind Sohe, owned by the Cairn Group, is stellar and it shows. We chat over divine cocktails with the A team who have helped create the most talked about launch on the Northern Social Scene.

Sohe has quickly become famed for its mouthwatering cocktails

Mi xi ng i t u p. . . SARAH HARKER IS GENERAL MANAGER OF SOHE AND IS A WINNER OF THE PRESTIGIOUS KRAKEN BLACK SPICED RUM COCKTAIL COMPETITION. SHE GIVES US HER TAKE ON ALL THE LATEST TRENDS IN THE WORLD OF MIXOLOGY… Summer is here, and although the world cup didn’t go our way, there’s still plenty to celebrate… Like cocktails! And when it comes to cocktails we see tastes tend to veer toward the lighter side. Simpler cocktails with fresh fruits and light spirits are big. If the sun is shining people don’t want to wait for ages for a cocktail, they want to be outside enjoying it with a cocktail in hand. And a perfect one for sitting out in the garden on those summer evenings is a chilli, ginger and lime mojito! One trend in cocktails that continues to grow is infusing and recycling and I don’t mean mixing a load of left-over drinks together! Savoury cocktails have been trendy for a while, but we’re seeing people upping the infusion ante with ingredients such as seaweed, caviar and more recently, fungus! Now I wouldn’t recommend fungus if you’re trying it at home for the first time, but infusing spirits with flavour is a great way to experiment and turn any ordinary spirit into something extraordinary. Think of yourself as a chef almost as infusions are more about culinary creativity than science. A simple but extremely tasty one to get you started is to re-use your old teabags. Earl Grey and Lady Grey are ideal. And when you get more confident you can try layering flavors for more complex blends. Remember re-use and infuse! Personally my favourite cocktail to enjoy when the sun is shining (ok who am I kidding, any time of year actually) is a refreshing Tom Collins. It’s a classic gin sour made from gin, lemon juice, sugar and carbonated water. It’s also part of one of my funniest cocktail memories. I was in a bar (which will remain nameless) and asked for a Tom Collins! After waiting what seemed like an eternity for my drink the bartender came back to me said: “He’ll be with you in a second.” What are the chances of the bar manager being named Tom Collins who then came over and asked me ‘can I help?’ Greatest moment of my life but I never got the drink in the end!

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A F T E R NO O N T E A & C O C KTA I L S

Cocktail Masterclass SANTI-GOLD SUNSET • 50ml Tequila • Watermelon Agave Syrup • 6 cubes of ice • 4/5 cubed watermelon ice cubes • 15ml lime

Sohe’s Sarah Harker gives La Di Da the inside skinny on how to recreate one of Sohe’s most popular cocktails this summer, the Santi-gold sunset, which is a twist on the Spanish classic Paloma cocktail. • 50ml Pink grapefruit juice • Dash of soda & top with watermelon syrup • Grapefruit rind, fresh Marigold flowers and watermelon sail to garnish

Method Add spirit, lime, syrup and grapefruit juice. Stir, and alternate watermelon cubes and ice cubes to fill. Top with soda water and add garnish and water syrup.

By Royal

App oi n t me n t “ I ’m pa s s io n ate ab ou t wh at I do and I love t hat eve r y d ay is d i f fe re nt , ”

Award winning Executive Chef Tony Sar ton

Sohe’s fabulous Asian take on Afternoon Tea

ony Sarton’s standards are high, seriously high as befits someone who started his career with placements at Buckingham Palace, The Ritz and The Old Bailey. As Executive Chef at both Sohe and at the acclaimed Twenty Princes Street restaurant in Edinburgh, his hard work and passion was recently recognised with a coveted Chef Medaille D’Or at the recent Scottish Hotel Awards. A graduate of the respected Exeter School for Catering, where many of the country’s top chefs have trained, he is a man with a passion for food. “To receive the Chef Medaille D’Or is amazing. I’m passionate about what I do and I love that every day is different,” says

Tony. “Although I’ve devised an extensive menu of dishes, they’re different each time I create them. I’m always refining and tinkering with the dishes to improve them, and experimenting with possible new creations and flavour combinations. And it’s this experimenting with different textures, flavours and fresh locally sourced ingredients that has earned him a reputation as one of Edinburgh’s most exciting gastronomic talents. A talent that is now turning its attention to the North East, as Tony joins the team at Sohe as Executive Chef. Both Twenty Princes Street and Sohe are owned by leading hotel, bar and restaurant operator The Cairn Group who have given Tony free rein to inject his own culinary

flair into the recently opened Sohe. “Sohe is an amazing restaurant with such a unique vibe and I’m working with the team here to develop inventive and eclectic dishes that not only push the culinary experience but also complement what has already been created.” Working closely with Sohe General Manager Sarah Harker, Tony is producing a menu that reflects the vision and vibe of Sohe for a unique food and drink experience that delivers on many levels. “The whole dining experience is essential from the moment diners walk through the door we want to create a fusion of the senses in order to provide them with a high energy, sophisticated, yet sense inspiring dining experience.”

SOH E , 9 7 -1 0 3 OSBORNE ROAD, JESMO ND (0191) 2818161 WWW.SO HE.CO. UK MONDAY – SAT U RDAY 12NO O N – 11P M, SUNDAY 12NO O N – 10P M

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EVO KI N G TH E GOL D E N AGE OF T R AV E L W IT H 1930’ S S P L E ND OU R , T H E N ORT H E R N B E L L E R EC R EAT ES T H E E L E GAN C E AND COMF ORT OF TH E WO R LD’ S F INE S T T R AIN T R AV E L . E D ITOR L I Z L A MB WAS INV IT E D ON B OAR D F OR AN E XC LU S IV E R E V IE W.

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Food & Drink

T’S 7am and I am dressed in my best frock and heels, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Northern Belle at Darlington Railway Station. There are dozens of others passengers on the platform. Amongst the grey suits and casually-dressed commuters everyone can tell who has a ticket to board by their fancy attire. As the Northern Belle pulls slowly into the station, everyone stops and stares at the beauty of this amazing locomotive. It’s been a long-held dream of mine to travel on the Orient Express. Though the company has since rebranded as Belmond, their offering is exactly the same. It’s like stepping back in time. A red carpet is laid out on the platform while impeccablydressed train staff in gold and aubergine uniforms welcome us on board and show us to our carriage. The carriages-named after British stately homes or castles-are the ultimate in luxury. There are mosaics on the ceilings, marquetry panels on the walls and opulent furnishings gracing the chairs, all created by the UK’s leading craftsmen. We are in Warwick carriage which is inspired

by the soaring towers of Warwick Castle. On the table is the finest silver cutlery, a fine china tea set and a vase with an English rose and Scottish thistle-a nod to our journey through England and onto Loch Lomond. The train departs and we travel to Durham and Newcastle picking up more passengers before travelling through Northumberland. We sit back, relax and enjoy the view. A train steward brings coffee before brunch is served. We dine on a delicious crumpet topped with smoked salmon and caviar and wash it down with champagne buck’s fizz. Everyone is friendly. We chat to other passengers in the carriage and those passing through. Many are here on a romantic break with a loved one, some are celebrating a wedding anniversary or a special birthday. Time seems to whizz by and before we know it we are at Helensburgh Upper train station where we depart and board a bus to Balloch, on the shores of Loch Lomond. After arriving, we then board a boat for a tour of the Loch. Tea, coffee and shortcake are served while a travel guide gives us a history of the area. We travel to the picturesque village of Luss,

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where we have the chance to explore. It’s then back on the bus and onto the shopping complex at Loch Lomond where we spend a couple of hours browsing and sitting by the Loch. Back on board the Belle, a steward serves us a glass of chilled champagne before we dine on a three course meal and enjoy a half a bottle of wine. Everyone is in good spirits. Passengers pop into each other’s carriages for a chat and new friendships are made. As we pull into Darlington station, I am a little weary but happy. Another wish ticked off my bucket list. It has been an amazing and extremely stylish adventure. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BELMOND NORTHERN BELLE VISIT WWW. LUXURYTRAINJOURNEYS.COM FROM AUGUST TO OCTOBER CHILDREN CAN TRAVEL FREE ON THE NORTHERN BELLE. OUTINGS INCLUDE A VISIT TO CHESTER ZOO, LONDON SIGHTSEEING AND A MAD HATTER’S AFTERNOON TEA.

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HIP HANG O UT

SU M PTOUS SU R RO UN D I N G S , B ES P OK E COC KTA ILS A ND A FI R S T- C LA SS SERV IC E, TI GE R H O R N S BY I S T H E NO RTH’S NEWES T CO C KTA I L C LU B .

oused in a Grade II listed building on Newcastle’s Quayside, the former home of 80’s nightclub Julie’s, Tiger Hornsby is no ordinary drinking establishment. An opulent interior inspired by the building’s late Georgian/ early Victorian heritage alongside an innovative approach to drinks and service, Tiger Hornsby is an upmarket cocktail club that prides itself on detail. A dark blue frontage with beautiful teal canvas canopies and outside seating welcomes guests to the venue. Once inside, rich dark velvets, brass fixtures and heavy traditional lamps sit alongside contemporary furniture, neon wall signs and modern fixtures. Designed to feel like a home from home, bookcases and cabinets adorned with ornaments and trinkets that represent the muse for the venue, Ms Tiger Hornsby, a mysterious socialite who frequented Julie’s. Luxury furniture upholstered in fabrics from Mulberry, Cole & Son and Osborne & Little with heavy velvet blinds over the etched windows keep the decor dark and sexy, even on the

lightest of evenings. Tiger Hornsby is the brainchild of Rachael Frame who has used her extensive knowledge as an events manager in London to create a high-end drinking destination. If anyone knows how to throw a fabulous party it is Rachael. Working for global drinks firm Diageo, who own brands such as Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Guinness, Rachael threw luxury parties at London’s hippest hangouts including The Ivy, Mahiki, Annabel’s and The Brompton Club. “They are iconic venues and the parties were fantastic”, explains the 35-year-old from Ponteland. “They had an old school glamour about them and the attention to detail was amazing. Everything was thought about from the moment you arrived to when you got the taxi home. “I thought, if I can create that with venues, I can do it with my own club.” Tiger Hornsby will provide a diverse range of drinks. There will be old-fashioned cocktails with a modern twist, beer and cider-based cocktails and craft beers from around the world, including regional varieties. There will be lager and ale on summer

TYNESIDE ENTREPRENEUR RACHAEL FRAME tap, a variety of good quality wine and a strong selection of Champagne and Prosecco served in crystal glasses. For those watching their figures, healthier cocktails will also be served. In order to avoid a huge queue for cocktails, many of the drinks will be pre-prepared in cutglass urns that will line the bar. A team from Diageo has travelled from London to help Rachael create the highest standards with her drinks offerings. Though food will not be on offer, Rachael is talking to local caterers about offering unusual canapés and nibbles that can be paired with drinks. Music is provided by local and national DJs with a laidback lounge feel and an Ibizan influence. Sets will be interspersed with 80’s soul music for a retro feel that nods back to days of Julie’s. “I just want to offer something different,” says Rachael, “It’s all in the detail and I’ve worked very hard to create an amazing venue.”

I jus t wan t to offe r s ome th i ng d iffe re n t

TIGER HORNSBY IS DUE TO OPEN AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND. FOR THE LAT EST NEWS AND TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON THE OPENING EVENT VISIT WWW.TIGERHORNSBY.CO.UK

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Food & Feature Drink

WORDS LIZ LAMB

SO Sohe Special

t’s easy to see why. Housed in a Victorian property, the interior has been completely remodelled to give a laidback, stylish vibe with an island bar serving up bespoke cocktails to serve a variety of taste buds. The restaurant is inviting and spacious with an area at the back that features a wall lined with plants and a conservatory roof which floods the space with light. For those who wish a more intimate setting Sohe also recently opened a private dining area off the main bar which can accommodate 12 diners. When I and three friends needed somewhere to go for lunch, Sohe was top of the list. The eaterie offers Asian fusion dining inspired by street food from the Southern and Eastern hemispheres.

EV E RYON E I K NOW S E E M S TO B E R AV IN G AB O UT S O H E. FROM AMAZ IN G COC K TAIL S TO D E L IC IOUS F O O D AN D UB E R - S T Y L IS H S U R ROU N D INGS , T H E R E IS A R E AL B UZZ A B OU T T H E L AT E S T AD D IT ION TO OS B O R N E ROAD. There is a good range of starters including Tempura baskets, Sohe Sushi and Japanese Miso broth alongside the tastiest-sounding salads I’ve ever heard of-Crisp 5-spice duck, watermelon and cashew nut salad for one. We opted for a Dim Sum basket (£8.95 for 12) and a mixed Tempura basket (£8.25) to share. The Dim Sum basket featured handmade Asian dumplings of chicken, pork and seafood with soya, chilli and coriander drip while the Tempura basket offered a mixture of prawn, squid and Asian vegetables alongside dashi and soy dressing, spring onion and radish salad and lime and wasabi mayo. Both starters were absolutely delicious and it was great way to kick off the meal. It is such a social way of eating-we all tucked in, trying different pieces of food, recommending our favourites and generally having fun tasting everything for the first time. If you go with a group of people I’d definitely recommend starters to share. On the afternoon we visited it was a lovely and sunny and there was a real buzz about the place with plenty of diners enjoying the food and even the odd cocktail, which I can definitely recommended. When it came to mains, I was swayed by the Massaman lamb rump curry with a chick pea and tomato sauce (£12.95) and a side order of steamed Thai rice (£1.95). I’d been assured by summer

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the waitress that it was a mild curry and it was, but there was a definite kick to it, so it’s a dish that can still be enjoyed by those who like something hot. The quality of the lamb was excellent. The meat was soft and tender and packed with flavour while the rice was perfectly fluffy. My friends all opted for different mains choosing Indonesian beef rendang (£12.95), Oriental Gressingham duck platter (£18.95) and Thai Green curry with beef (£16.95). All the dishes were a success and got a firm thumbs up. The use of fresh ingredients and good quality cuts of meat were evident in all the dishes. Despite our mammoth starters and mains, we decided to sample desserts but chose two to share between the four of us. We tucked into Vietnamese coffee and chocolate tart and a mango and coconut and crème brulee. The brulee won the battle of the desserts. It was absolutely divine and wonderfully refreshing after the spicy food. It’s one of the best desserts I’ve tasted recently. Sohe proved to be the perfect spot for lunch. Now we can’t wait to go back for dinner and those all important cocktails.

TAST I NG N OTE S Sohe, 97-103 Osborne Road, Newcastle NE2 2TJ (0191) 281 8161 www.sohe.co.uk

Food & drink

Fabulous Food

IT’S PUKKA!

JA ME S COO P E R HE A D C HE F AT T H E C L EV ELA ND TO NTINE

t’s been an exciting couple of months here at the Tontine with the launch of our new Bistro menu in June. The new menu has been a long time in the planning so it feels great to finally be cooking from it. Customers can choose from bistro classics such as Moules Mariniere and Yorkshire reared rosette of lamb; they can go for something from our Chef ’s Menu or have one of our famous steaks from the grill. We have even put the Tontine Seafood Pancake on the new menu, back by popular demand! Nothing has changed in terms of ethos. We concentrate on using only the best, locally sourced ingredients with the produce of North Yorkshire firmly at the heart of all our dishes. Since the AA 5 Gold Star Award and the AA Breakfast Award in May, we are even more conscious of keeping our standards consistently high. Our customers are a pretty discerning bunch so it’s really important that our food is exceptional each and every time they eat with us. There is always something going on at the Tontine from Ladies Lunches and business dinners to monthly Steak Nights, weddings and parties. Over the summer we’ve been doing demonstrations at some of the food shows in the area which is good fun and gets me out of the kitchen for a change. It’s great to see people’s reactions first hand when they taste the food and feedback on the dishes from the new menu has been excellent. As for what comes next, watch this space, so much has happened in my first two years at the Tontine, I can’t think much beyond tomorrow.

JA M E S COOP E R HAS B EEN HEAD CHEF AT THE CLE V E L A ND TONTI NE FOR TWO YEARS AND I S V ERY MUC H TH E M A S TE R O F HI S OW N KI TCHEN. HE HEADS A D E D IC ATE D TE A M MADE UP OF YOUNG, PASSI ONATE C H E FS A ND S E A S O NED PROFESSI ONALS, WI TH THE LONGE S T S E RV ING MEMB ER OF STAFF HAVI NG B EEN IN TH E TONTINE KI TCHEN FOR 33 YEARS. WI TH A BU S Y E V E N TS PROGRAMME AND A RAPI DLY F ILL I NG BOOK I NGS DI ARY, DON’T LEAVE I T TOO LAT E TO M A K E A R E S E RVATI ON. JAMES AND HI S TEAM ARE READY FOR YOU. TO BOOK A TAB LE CALL ( 01609) 882671

WORDS: LIZ LAMB

AMIE Oliver is one of the nation’s best-loved chefs but can his Newcastle eaterie live up to the hype? I booked a table for three for lunch to find out. The restaurant itself is fantastic inside, very rustic and urban with steel and distressed wood features. There’s a cocktail bar at the entrance with a relaxed seating area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Grey’s Monumentperfect for people watching- while upstairs there is a further dining area where you can see the chefs and kitchen staff in action. Gennarro Contando, Jamie’s righthand man and a famed chef himself, told me I must try a cocktail when I visited so, of course, I had to oblige. Alex, our waiter who usually works in the York branch, recommended Rossini (£6.60), a blend of Prosecco with fresh raspberry puree, which we all enjoyed while looking at the menu. I was pleasantly surprised by what was on offer. There are plenty of pizza and pasta options, alongside mains such as lamb lollipops and Turkey Milanese. For starters we decided to share a crab and avocado bruschetta (£5.25). The dish was served on a wooden platter and consisted of sourdough topped with Devonshire crab, avocado and yoghurt with apple, chilli, mint and lemon (£6.50). It was delicious and a perfect serving for three of us as a prelude to our mains. Four our next course I opted for the prosciutto and shaved pear salad (£10.95) while my friends chose the summer

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baked Shetland salmon (£11.75) and Ling, which was on the specials board (£13.95). The ling was served on a bed of curly kale with a buttery lemon and caper sauce while the salmon came with lemony Westcombe Dairy ricotta, balsamic-roasted vegetables and a zesty, crunchy salad. Both fish dishes were excellent and we were all pleasantly surprised by the attention to detail and the quality of the ingredients. For desserts, I tucked into one of the biggest slices of lemon meringue pie I have ever seen (£4.95). It was a tutti frutti version with limoncello and pistachio crunch. It was divine, definitely my dessert of choice. My friends enjoyed yoghurt ice cream (£4.90) topped with seeds and nuts while the other opted for full fat ice cream with fruit and butterscotch sauce. Every last bite was devoured and we all agreed what a great lunch it had been. The food and service was excellent and the restaurant is family friendly so we all vowed to bring the children next time we visited.

TAST I N G N OTE S Jamie’s Italian Monument Mall, Newcastle NE1 7AL Tel: 0191 5000 858 www.jamieoliver.com

Food & Drink

SE AHA M HAL L HOT EL SEAHAM, CO UN T Y D U RHA M

WORDS: LIZ LAMB

IN ITS H E YDAY S E A HA M HA LL WA S TH E H OTEL TO GO TO.

host of celebrity clients from Oasis to Ruby Wax and Nadine Coyle of Girls Aloud checked in, esteemed journalists left London to write about it and the spa was voted one of the best in the world. It was the only five star hotel resort in the region and could do no wrong. But then Seaham Hall suffered a rocky couple of years, the restaurant lost its Michelin star and the hoi polloi found somewhere new to hang out. Thankfully, under new ownership again and with an extensive renovation project completed, the hotel has returned to its former glory. It was recently awarded five AA star status and the hotel restaurant, Bryons Bar and Grill, has also been granted two AA rosettes. It’s great news for Seaham which has

effectively had to recreate the brand from scratch. I’d visited many times in the glory days so it was with slight trepidation I booked an overnight stay with a friend.

“ ...the hotel h a s retu rned to its former glory.” Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed. I’m happy to report that the hotel is back to its best. On arrival, we checked into in an Executive Suite which had a lounge and bedroom area as well as a large bathroom with views over the hotel gardens. After enjoying a bottle of fizz, we headed to the Serenity Spa. The spa has a pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor hot tubs, gym and ice fountain, to name a few. There is also a range of treatments available using luxury French brand Darphin and old favourite Elemis. Unfortunately there were no free treatment slots at the spa. When booking your stay, it’s worth booking your spa treatments at the same time as it gets booked up fast. We headed straight for the sauna and steam room before cooling off in the pool. It was the perfect way to wind down before dinner. After a quick change, we headed to the bar where we sampled cocktails; a Rinzy summer

2014

Raspberry and a Black Berry, both equally delicious. The bar is stunning and oozes luxury. We dined on a week evening and there was a great atmosphere. For starters, we dined on salt baked beetroot salad with sunflower seeds and sour cream (£8) and English rarebit soldiers with pickled grelot onions (£6). Mains were roast halibut, spring vegetables and mussel and whisky chowder (£28) and 8oz fillet steak with hand cut chips, balsamic glazed onion and confit tomato (£30). The food was exceptional, especially the steak, which was succulent and tasty. It’s quite a large portion too so could easily be shared. There was no room for desserts but you can choose from delights such as tea cup trifle, rum baba and lemon tart. We retired to bed, relaxed, well-fed and happy. Seaham Hall is back on top!

TAST I NG N OTE S Seaham Hall Hotel County Durham, SR7 7AG www.seaham-hall.co.uk

Food & Drink

ANGELA M ETCALFE IS TH E D RIN KS B UY ER FOR ICO N I C D ELI LEWIS AND COOPER BAS ED I N NORTH ALLERTON AND YARM WWW. LEWISAN D COOPER. CO.U K

Queen of fizz

SUMME R D RINKI ES…. W E H AV E P E R S U A DE D O U R FA BU LO US Q UE E N O F F I Z Z TO LE AVE THE W INE CELLAR A N D V E N T U R E OU T FO R S O ME A L FRESCO T IPPLES F O R T HE U LTIMATE LU XE P I CNIC. H E R E ’ S H E R P I CK O F THE BE S T S U MMER D R IN K PA I R I N G S …

entatively looking out of the window, I find the sun shining yet again. I, therefore, declare summer is happening this year! This, of course, means impromptu socialising and ‘al fresco’ dining will be launched into with all the enthusiasm we can muster, due to the past couple of summers being cancelled because of a no show from the golden orb. Get your fridge filled with some easy, no cook, essentials like chorizo, olives, cheeses and cured meats, make space for a couple of Sherries, and Tapas may save your reputation for spontaneous fabulousness. Go for a Fino or Manzanilla. Both are bone dry and the perfect partner for a lazy day when the urge to become more ‘Mediterranean’ is only to be encouraged. Even foods which swiftly manage to kill most wines, like eggs and smoked mackerel, become harmonious when served up with a chilled Fino. The best picnics are often the simplest, crusty bread, lashings of butter and cheese, cheese and a bit more cheese, sling in a few staples from your al fresco stores, a punnet of strawberries and you’re almost ready to go. Almost, because you’ve forgotten the fizz!!!! Prosecco is probably the easiest of crowd pleasers, and shouldn’t cost you a fortune, either. There are some pretty pants ones out there but the ones to look out for are CLEAN. Fresh, green apples and pears, no bitter acrid taste, a soft hint of sweetness (but not cloying), and a gentle sparkle, not an aggressive fizz. Pop a strawberry in the bottom and you’re in heaven. Cava is also a good picnic pal, but you do get what you pay for. Try to summer

find some with Pinot Noir or Chardonnay in the blend, it just nudges it up a level and takes away the bitter edge Xarel-lo can impart. If you plan a Spanish Paella party, add a sprig of saffron to each glass, it imparts a subtle savoury warmth and makes it perfect for this dish. Remember not to discard the cooked on Paella from the bottom of the pan. That’s the best bit! Cider can be a great alternative to wine, if you get a decent one, and there are many on the market now, so no excuses. Shoot that Woodpecker with a Strongbow and pop out for one of the many craft Ciders and Perry’s we can now find on the shelves. Normandy Cider is probably the most elegant style. Light and pretty and sporting a Champagne type cork, this works so well with shellfish, particularly mussels – use a splash in your marinière instead of wine to transform this simple dish.

The bes t pic n ic s are often t he s imples t, c ru s ty bread, lashi ng s of bu tter and cheese Do beware, however, those crafty monks at Ampleforth Abbey, make a stunningly good cider. It tastes like the best apple juice ever, with just a touch of petillance, but contains an obscene amount of alcohol! I tend to drink this as I would wine, and if I’m not having it with a pork dish, it makes a feast of a Yorkshire cheese board.

2014

Riding Column

CLAIRE T HORBURN IS D IR ECTOR OF IM PACT PR & M AR K ETI N G WWW. IMPACTPR-M. CO. UK

riding.

Products from the Supreme Products range

Supre me Pro duct s i s t he equ i ne an swe r to a de par t me n t s to re b e au ty h al l . Claire and her n ew love, Comet

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder AN D S O REA D E R , I HAVE M Y N EW H ORSE.

gentle giant, standing at well over 17 hands, my appropriately named Millennium Rocket is not only the colour of the moon, it’s as though he has the same surface area, too. I’ve bought Millennium Rocket – or Comet, as he is called at home - to campaign in ridden hunter classes. ‘Do you have to jump big jumps?’ Asks the Other Half, when nonchalantly enquiring what it is I will actually have to do at these horse shows I go to with Comet. “No,” I explain patiently. “We have to show he is well suited to the job of a horse for hunting, go nicely in the show ring and give the judge a polite and wellmannered ride.” “So you don’t jump.You just go round and round in circles. I can’t see the point of it,” he harrumphs. The just going around in circles involves traipsing off to clinics

with various instructors and practicing our homework to make Comet ‘dance lightly on his feet’ a considerable feat given his bulk. It’s proving harder than the OH clearly believes it to be. And that’s the just the riding. As well as behaving like an impeccably mannered show horse, he has to look the part too. “But do you really want a grey?” Long Suffering Riding Pal had asked me, casting her critical eye over photos and videos of Comet before I’d bought him. I’ve always had a soft spot for grey horses. And Comet with his noble, dark eyes and striking dapples ticked the boxes for me. Until, that is, I faced transforming the mud encrusted, yellow tailed creature before me into a pristine Ariel-white swan. Thankfully, there is an astonishing range of equine beauty products to give power to my elbow. Supreme Products is the equine summer

answer to a department store beauty hall. Founded by Sarah Turnbull, who is based in Yorkshire but hails from Newcastle, Supreme Products offers a cornucopia of products to transform even the scruffiest of Thelwells into glossy steeds. Having been brought up with ponies all her life, Sarah spotted a gap in the market for presentation products for horses and ponies. “In the early 90s we had ponies produced by the Stanley Grange Show Team based at Great Ayton and later by Emmersons Show Team at Stokesley. When we started, there was a huge gap in the market for presentation products for horses and ponies – people would use Baby Oil and boot polish. We spotted the gap and started with eight products which has now grown to 35 in the Supreme Products Professional Collection – our flagship range.”

2014

Gold packaging encases lotions and potions from detangle and shine sprays to tail sparkle and hoof gloss. And while you won’t find this season’s neon shades, there is makeup in horsey hues like chestnut and palomino. There are implements and gadgets to create striking quarter marks on regal rumps while fake tails and forelocks are on hand to give the impression of thicker, fuller hair on follicly-challenged equines. With Sarah’s guidance, I’m armed with Cover Magic in white, Glistening Oil, and an alarmingly violet-coloured shampoo worthy of any blue-rinse set .I get to work massaging a pungent mane and tail builder into Comet’s scrubby locks. A yoghurty leg and body whitener is painted onto Comet’s legs before encasing him in leg bandages and a Usain Bolt-style Lycra suit to keep my newly pristine steed clean. “More horse paraphernalia.” The OH snorts as Vince, the postman delivers a fetching horsey onesie for Comet, complete with ears and a full tummy cover, in a blue and white fluffy sheep print. I haven’t quite succumbed to a fake tail yet for Comet. Maybe Sarah will do one in my shade?

Country

TH E CLA GA ME FA I R H A S BECOME THE MUS T ATTEND FOR TH E FI N E AN D FA BULOUS . S O WH O BETT ER TO SE N D TH A N AN G ELA M ETC A L FE , Q UEEN O F A LL T H I N G S COU N TRY FA B ULO US ? SH E DO NNED H ER PAN AMA HAT, PAC KED H ER TENT A ND WEN T I N … .

Game on...

f hunting, shooting, fishing or farming are your thing, the ‘go to’ event of the year has to be the CLA Game Fair. The CLA Game Fair began life with an informal conversation between two game-rearing specialists more than half a century ago, the first being held in 1958. It cost £800 to stage and had 8500 visitors and was conceived as a new kind of social event to bring together the shooting and landowning interests of the British countryside. Nowadays, the scale of this event dwarfs its humble beginnings, this year’s event being held in the Capability Brown designed grounds of Blenheim Palace, home to the Duke of Marlborough. A world where Panama hats are worn with aplomb, wellies summer

2014

have been worn with summer dresses long before Glastonbury made it chic, and checked shirts are de rigeur. This is the place Marchionesses and celebrities brush shoulders and jostle for tables in the Members Enclosure, with farmers, gamekeepers and fashionistas. There were celebs to be seen, shotguns to be longingly caressed, dogs to be admired and petted, Gin to be sampled, myriad foods to be consumed, and tweed. Boy was there tweed. From old school practical tweed, right through to the best the British fashion industry has to offer. Some of the most fabulous came from Dubarry’s new collection. This is the tweed you want to wear with a tiara! From structured tailoring to the chic chi two pieces,

beautifully made and all perfect with a pair of their trademark, leather, waterproof boots. Their stand was shabby chic at its most opulent, and the Champagne flowed generously. Trying on the boots was almost a sport in itself as you had to negotiate - and sometimes hurdle- Jack Russells, Labradors and even an occasional Dandy Dinmont, however, the chaps on the stand had been forced by some head-office genius, to wear, not only splendid tweed jackets and waistcoats with their boots, but thigh hugging white jeans. I’m ashamed to say, thoughts of Mr Darcy crossed my mind. The layout is huge. If you can do the lot in one day, I take my Panama off to you. The areas are set out, so that if you do have a master plan you can

Country

A world where Pan ama hat s are worn wi t h aplomb, wel l ies have been worn wi t h summer d res s es long before G l a s tonbury made it chic, and checked s h irts are de ri geur.

refer to a map and signposts and find yourself in Gunmakers Row or The Fishing Village, doing a spot of clay shooting or fly casting. If your desire is to shop ‘til you drop, you’ll be in heaven. Rainbows of Hunter wellies brush shoulder with Barbour and Beretta. Craft areas abound and will leave you wondering why you had never thought of doing ‘that’ with used cartridges and feathers!

TOP GUN

ANGELA METCALFE TA K ES CH AM PAGNE AFTERN O O N TEA WITH PURD EY AT TH E CLA AN D FIND S OUT MOR E AB O U T TH E LA D I DA G UN M AKER S

n my last visit to Champagne, whilst having a sumptuous feast chez Pol Roger with Hubert de Billy, we got chatting about guns. Not just any old guns, either. Hubert took me off to see his beautiful pair of Purdey’s, which had been his fathers. We also discussed my favourite Darne (sliding breach, thing of beauty), which was a bit of a paradox. French gent with his British beauties, English lass with her French fancy. Some things in life are inspirational, some aspirational. Purdey guns are a bit of both. Celebrating their bi-centenary this year, Purdey are the makers of some of the most sought after shotguns in the world. Walking into their stand at the Game Fair I did a quick calculation and worked out that I was surrounded by over £3,000,000 worth of the most beautiful guns I have ever seen. A bit like The Queen, you don’t even need their Audley Street address to send them a letter (or cheque), just write, Purdey, London and it’ll get there. It all started in 1814, when James Purdey the Elder opened in a

summer

2014

small shop in Princes Street, off Leicester Square. Queen Victoria ordered her first Purdeys in 1838: a pair of pistols, as a royal gift to the Imam of Muscat. Her eldest son the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, granted his Royal Warrant to the founder’s son, James Purdey the Younger, in 1868. Each succeeding monarch since then has placed their faith in Purdey’s, including our present Queen. Every Purdey ‘Best’ gun is handmade in London, today as they always have been. Their stockers, actioners and engravers still hand-craft their own tools at the beginning of their apprenticeship, before using those tools to create the world’s finest guns.

Country

Shooting stars... U BER S T YLIS H SHOOT ING LOOK S TO GET T HE S EASON OF F WIT H A BA N G . . . . WORDS: LINDA JANE WESTPHAL

ant to cut a dash on the field? Stylish shooting wives and girlfriends (SWAGS) are fond of a statement hat. Try an enormous and very glamorous fur hat that will make you stand out for all the right reasons from Jonny Beardsall or look chic with a Trilby from Really Wild Clothing. Keep snug with luxurious cashmere round neck jumpers, we like the selection at William & Son. Marry with a modern looking tweed, such as a pale green with a pastel pink check.You might want to take a look at the really rather nice Field Coat Moss Rose Multi from Really Wild Clothing or their Heather Multi Tweed. For a simple but classic cotton shirt, opt for a check or white with an Edwardian style pleated front. William & Sons have a fantastic Blue and Navy large check. The right accessories are vital to complete the look. For cashmere stockings in pretty pastels teamed with traditional garters, try Westley Richards. Long elegant calf hugging leather boots add real glamour, we like the Seville Leather Boots in Chocolate from Really Wild. For the shooting Gent make sure the tweed pattern of your flat cap differs from your suit, only estate staff wear head to toe matching tweed. Take a look at the Hereford Tweed from Really Wild Clothing

for a stylish take on the style. A cheery silk tie brightens a dreary day. We like the Grouse Print from Holland and Holland. And a waistcoat always looks the part. Choose a contrasting tweed to your jacket and breeks to add interest. Really Wild Clothing has some great looks as well as dashing Breeks and Sports Jackets. For shirts, Cordings Tattersall check shirts are always popular amongst the shooting set. Think quality leather accessories. Pick up a handmade cartridge bag from Croots as well as stylish Gun Slips. And don’t forget to keep out the chill with a Hipflask filled with the King’s Ginger liqueur and practical Wellington Boots from Best Boots. A smart pair of suede loafers to change into for lunch is a must. And of course, the right gun is essential. Holt’s Auctioneers offer fine modern and antique shotguns. Those in the know scour the auctions for the best firearms with money can’t buy provenance. For elite shooting take a look at the Royal Berkshire Sporting Agency for premier grouse, partridge and pheasant shooting (www.rbss. co.uk).

GET T HE LOOK www.reallywildclothing.co.uk www.jonnybeardsall.com www.hollandandholland.com www. purdey.com

www.crootsengland.co.uk www.williamandson.com www.westleyrichards.com www.bestboots.com summer

2014

Business

MODEL

Business Feature

OU R COV E R S TA R, SU CC E SSF U L MOD E L, L I A SU NDI N IS M OR E T HA N JU S T A PR E T T Y FAC E . L A D I DA C HATS TO TH E D IR E C TOR OF HE A D L INE M O D E L S F OR T HE INSID E SK IN NY..........

What was the idea behind Headline Models? It was set up two years ago by my co director Simon Robertson who also owns One Voice Productions. The idea behind Headline is to prioritise the welfare and happiness of all the models, which really appealed to me. I have worked as a model from an early age and I am passionate about treating models with respect and care. At Headline, we work really hard to find and create opportunities which allow each individual to flourish as a model and as a person. The agency has gone from strength to strength and I am delighted to become a director. Every week we are discovering new talent across the north east and creating new relationships with fabulous clients and companies. Tell us all about your exciting plans? “We have a lot of plans for Headline in the future, however, the most exciting is our events in association with Miss Great Britain. We are proud that Headline Models

will be running Miss Sunderland 2014 and Miss Newcastle Great Britain 2014. These pageants appreciate and value beauty, poise, personality and the talent of young women across the north east. And we aim to bring together some fabulous faces within the industry for a night of extravagant entertainment.”

What makes Headline different from other agencies? We are different in our approach to our models. We allow models freedom within the industry with very few restrictions. I encourage all models to recognise that it’s only human not to be perfect and that you must celebrate every unique imperfection.

How has your experience of being a successful model shaped Headline? “I have learned a number of different skills that I use as director at Headline. Simple tools of the trade allow me to assist our models on shoots and advise our girls on everything from posing to increasing their modelling profile. However, most importantly, it has taught me that modelling is a complex and beautiful art form, which would be unattainable without the skilful contributions of publishers, makeup artists hair stylists and photographers. Due to this I maintain close and strong relationships with notable figures in the agency so that we can all work harmoniously and beneficially within the industry.”

we s trive to fi nd and c reate opp ortuni t ies to al low each i ndi vidual to f lou ris h a s a model and a s a pers o n

WWW.HEADLINEMODELS.CO.UK

LIA WEARS TALLULAH LOVE WWW.TALLULAHLOVE.COM . PHOTO BY JADE PHOTOGRAPHY WWW.JADEPHOTOGRAPHY-ONLINE.COM summer

Models should never underestimate themselves by comparing themselves to others, it’s individual differences that make us unique and beautiful.”

2014

Business

T HE M A N WIT H T HE MID AS T OUC H ...

AS DUN C AN YO UN G C ELEBRAT E S HIS 5 0 TH BI RTHDAY, THE ENTREPR E N E UR I S I N REFLEC TI V E MOOD. I N A CAN D ID I NTERV I EW, HE TELLS L I N DA JANE WES T P H AL ABOUT THE HI GH S AN D LOWS OF THE LAST FEW YEA R S ……..

f Duncan Young had a theme tune to sum up his life, it would be Happy by Pharrell Williams. A naturally gregarious soul, the essential DNA that runs through his life is his desire to make people happy. Whether it’s securing the ideal £5 million property for one of his clients, making sure customers enjoy a fabulous experience at his Gosforth Bistro or organising the party to end all parties for a few hundred of his closest friends, he will achieve it with aplomb and give it 150%. Indeed, when we meet Duncan, he is about to jet summer

2014

off to his second home in Corfu for his 50th birthday party which is such a lavish event that it would make Elton John green with envy. Two hundred of his closest friends and family are flying into Corfu for a week of celebrations culminating in the party itself. Three bands, a Nikki Beach DJ, fireworks and water taxis, it’s not your average party. But then Duncan isn’t your average estate agent. And he has plenty to celebrate. Not only is it his milestone 50th this year, but it’s also his company’s 15th year of business. Sanderson Young has

Business Feature

become one of the leading estate agents in the North East with a stellar client base. His revolutionary ‘lifestyle’ approach to buying and selling the finest properties in the region has seen the company grow from selling 30 properties a year with six staff to a team of 65 selling on average 1000 homes a year. As he dreams about owning an Aston Martin one year and excitedly prepares for a birthday meal at the world’s top restaurant Noma in Copenhagen, it would be all too easy to presume he’s never struggled in his life. Yet, a few short years ago, he faced financial ruin when the economy and property market collapsed in 2008 and he lost £500,000 in four months. “There was a big change in the business when the property market crashed. For two years I didn’t sleep, I was so worried about the market and the business and what we needed to do,” he admits. For a man who loves to make people happy, the thought of what would happen to his family and staff if his business failed must have been truly terrifying. “I had to borrow from friends, from family, from the bank, you do whatever it takes to survive. I was lucky that people believed in me. It gave me focus, I told myself ‘you can do this, you can come through this’. “As an entrepreneur the biggest lesson I learned was cash flow.Your business might be profitable, you might be really successful, but if you don’t have money in the bank it means nothing. It was a really tough time. I remember saying to my accountant, ‘how do I get off this treadmill’ and he said ‘you don’t, you just keep going’.” To anyone who has met Duncan it will come as no surprise that people had faith in him to turn the situation around. But it’s also testament to his business philosophy which is very much based on being kind and looking after each other. “The best business advice I have ever had is leave something in a deal for someone else. You can screw the last penny out of someone but they will remember it,” he says. “Everyone goes through a trough at some time and just when you need them, they won’t be there. The best business people I know look after other people. I gauge business people by how

they treat other people.” A natural entrepreneur, he bought his first house and car at the age of just 17, Duncan spent 15 years in corporate life, soaking up lessons in marketing, human resources and the property market itself. But his desire for excellence and out of the box thinking always marked him as a man who was going to be firmly in control of his own destiny. The launch of Sanderson Young was a breath of fresh air in a staid marketplace and created

combination of passion for pleasing his clients mixed in with an abundance of charisma is hard to resist and it’s easy to see why he can make things happen. A natural mover and shaker, he says he hopes to retire and take it easier at 60. But it’s unlikely he will be opting for the quiet life. A passionate gourmand, he is thoroughly enjoying building up his fabulous café in Gosforth High Street and plans to invest £60-70,000 this year to turn it into more of a bistro dining experience. As he heads off to Corfu for his party, he promises that on the night he will be the last man standing. It’s an apt metaphor for a true survivor and entrepreneur as he approaches his 50th and reflects on how far he has come.

“ FO R TW O YE ARS I DI DN ’T SLE E P, I WAS SO WORRIE D..” an immediate buzz. With his formidable insight into how people think married with his natural desire to make his clients happy, the business quickly grew. A large part of the estate agent’s business is driven by ‘secret’ properties, properties that are kept in Duncan’s ‘bottom drawer’ and never publicly marketed. “We have more sales off the market than on. People approach me privately and let me know they want to sell and I use my contacts to find a buyer for them. I am also contacted by people with multi million pound budgets who want a very particular type of property and I will find it for them. These homes are often never put on the market.” Duncan carefully monitors how many properties are sold within 40 or 50 miles of Newcastle over a million pounds. Sanderson Young, he estimates, sell 70-75% of these, many of which are never actively marketed. His success in building up this side of the business is down to tenacity, hard work and an incredible contacts book. He will move mountains to get exactly the right property for his buyers and to make them happy. “I have flown around in helicopters to find the right house,” he says. “I have written to Dukes and Lords and Sirs and said ‘So sorry to intrude but my buyer wants to buy a house like yours’ and it’s surprising how many will let you view it.” It may be surprising to Duncan but his summer

2014

D UNCAN'S AV E R AG E DAY

4.30am I head into the bath answering all my emails. I am always dropping my blackberry in the bath. I am on my third blackberry this year much to my IT department’s annoyance! 7-8am I have a training session with my personal trainer.

8-9am I am in the gym. 9-9.30am I walk the dog with my wife Alison and we spend the time catching up. 9.30-10am My first appointment is booked in at the office. 10am-5pm The day is spent with appointments and catching up with clients. 6pm-2.00am I am out every night socialising with clients and friends, often not getting into the early hours. Favourite haunts are Sohe and Café 21.

www.aston.co.uk

INVEST IN AN ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE LEGEND! SALES

R E S TO R AT I O N

PA RTS

SERVICING

“Precious Metals” - A fresh interpretation of Aston Martin art Aston Workshop is collaborating with sought-after Newcastle artist Kevin Day to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Aston Workshop. A series of around 15 paintings and sketches will be created featuring the early pre-war cars through to the famous DB4, DB5, & DB6 and on to the modern super-car era. Limited edition prints of each painting will also be available from our dedicated art website: astonart.com The first paintings have now been completed and an exhibition entitled “Precious Metals” will take place at Aston Workshop between 5-17th October with a preview evening on the 4th by invitation only. “His work really stands out, it’s really different,” says Clive Dickinson from Aston Workshop. “He produced a painting for one of our customers and we approached him about the possibility of a collaboration. This is the first time Kevin’s work has featured cars so prominently.” Red Row Beamish Co.Durham United Kingdom DH9 0RW Telephone +44 1207 233525 Fax +44 1207 232202 Email: sales@aston.co.uk

Motoring Feature

The Art of

Astons

WHE N ACC L AI M ED A RTI S T K E V IN DAY DE C I DE D TO US E C L A SS I C ASTON M ART I N S A S A B AC K D RO P TO SOM E OF HIS WO R K , H E D I D N ' T R E AL I SE HE WA S S ETTI N G TH E WHE E L S I N M OTI O N TO A VERY SP E C I AL P ROJEC T. L IN DA J A N E WESTPHA L F I ND S O UT M O R E. . . . . . . .

lthough he lived nearby, Kevin Day had no idea that the Aston Workshop even existed. One day, when he was out running, he spotted the Aston Martin sign and was intrigued. “I couldn’t believe that this amazing place full of Aston Martins was just down the road from me, in the middle of nowhere,” he recalls. “It all felt very James Bond.” However, it was many years later that he finally entered the hallowed workshop. Originally intending to use the Astons as a backdrop for his Precious Metals collection, which features aircraft and trains in the background of his scenes, he found himself increasingly fascinated by the cars. “They were just supposed to be a backdrop but they developed a life of their own and I found that they increasingly came to be the central subject of the paintings themselves,” he explains. Aston Martin art has become very popular and the team at the Aston Workshop fell in love with Kevin’s art when they saw a commission he had undertook for one of their customers. A collaboration was born and the exhibition of his work will be showcased in a unique exhibition which will be held in the state of the art Aston

Martin reception at the Workshop’s Beamish showrooms in October. It forms the latest collection in Kevin’s Precious Metals series. The paintings and works will range from £2,000 up to £4,500 and will no doubt trigger a series of private commissions for Kevin, when Aston aficionados see his beautiful work. Kevin is naturally modest but it is a significant achievement for an artist to be able to make a living from his work and he has become one of the North East’s most recognised talents. Born in South Shields, his talent was nurtured and encouraged by his mother and grandfather who were also talented artists but who had never pursued it as a career. After gaining a diploma and four years of studying design and illustration, Kevin says he struggled to find his true direction in art. Instead, he started a career as a professional musician playing guitar in a band. After leaving his music career, he resorted to getting a steady job where he ended up working as a delivery driver for a number of years to pay the bills so he could continue to paint and in 2004 he made the decision to concentrate more seriously on painting. Previous work mostly involved paintings of landscapes, however, his work has developed into figurative paintings and, in particular, focusing on the combination of people in scenes and considering the relationship between the two. His work sees him incorporate influences from music and film as well as artists such summer

2014

as Sargent, Rembrandt,Vermeer and Hopper and he has won many awards. He also has a growing international reputation and his work is in increasing demand from collectors. “My work can best be described as figurative narrative,” he says. “It’s all about capturing a moment in time and transforming it into an all embracing statement.” Kevin loved painting and drawing all of the Astons, His favourites were the cars from the 1970s which he would dream about as a young boy. Little did that child know that these fantastic cars were on his very doorstep and that one day he would be able to bring them to a wider audience through his talents.

WWW.A RT I S T K EVDAY. CO. U K

North East

The new home for Newcastle Audi is now open. Expect excellence. When you choose Audi, you choose excellence, and that excellence isn’t just confined to our cars. That’s why we’re delighted to welcome you to our brand new state-of-the-art centre on Scotswood Road, Newcastle. It’s all the world-class customer service you’d expect, and then some.

Newcastle Audi Scotswood Road (city centre end), Newcastle NE4 7NL Tel: 0191 226 1144. Visit northeastaudi.co.uk

Motoring Feature

Audi aciously Good V I P CU S TO MER S ATTE NDI N G TH E LAUNCH OF BENFIELD’S NEW £7 M I LLI O N A U D I DE A LE RS HIP O N S COTSWOOD ROAD, NEWCASTLE WER E TR EATED TO S O ME CU LINA RY DELIG H TS, FANTASTIC ENTERTAIN M ENT AN D AN ILLU S TRIO U S D ISPLAY OF AUD I H ER ITAG E VEH ICLES.

ver 300 customers,VIP’s and celebrities attended the event and the launch celebrations and new showroom went down a treat. World champion ‘mixologist’ George Liddle, from Hotel Indigo, mixed up some special cocktails for guests to add some special fuel to the celebrations and Michelin star chef Kenny Atkinson, from House of Tides restaurant, provided the exquisite food on the night. After a 12-month build, the new flagship Audi development officially opened its doors to customers on the 9th June 2014, which aptly coincided with the start of the world famous Blaydon Races… which headed past the dealership later that day. The landmark 35,000 sq ft development on a 4.5-acre site is one of the largest Audi dealerships in the North of England and the first in the region to feature the latest Audi brand concept. Mark Squires, Benfield’s Chief Executive, said, “I am enormously proud of our new Audi development. With its stunning modern design, beautiful showroom and unrivalled customer service and aftersales facilities, I believe it is the most impressive motor retailing site in the North of England. “It underlines Audi’s standing in the prestige car market by making a powerful statement about what the brand represents through stunning design, the latest in technological innovation and a genuine desire to deliver a world class experience for customers. “Customers will love the new showroom facilities, our customer lounge and the all-new Audi car configurator room, the first outside of London, as well as the biggest choice summer

of Approved Used Audi models we have ever been able to offer in Newcastle. “From facilities which were beginning to tire, compared with our North Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside centres, the new Newcastle Audi will become the proud flagship for North East Audi.” The new state-of-the-art development replaces the present Audi dealership on Scotswood Road and has space for display of up to 19 new models and up to 79 Audi Approved used cars. The overall development also includes a full aftersales facility, a 19 bay Workshop with advanced diagnostic equipment, dedicated customer car parking, a private lounge area to configure you perfect Audi and a ‘Quattro Lounge’ with free Wifi and refreshments. Jason Cranswick, Head of Customer Quality and Network Development for Audi UK, added: “The Benfield Group is one of our key business partners and demonstrably shares our ambition to offer all customers a consistently premium purchase and ownership experience. With Benfield’s help we have created a hub for Audi in the North of England that not only provides the increased sales and service capacity we need to do justice to our growing range now, but also takes into account the additional challenges our plans for future expansion will also undoubtedly pose. Newcastle Audi combines the very latest architecture and facilities with state-of-the-art technology direct from the groundbreaking Audi City in London. We’re confident that this tour de force is equipped to meet the needs of our customers for many years to come.” WWW.DRIVEBENFIELD.COM

2014

Cooper Group

The Ultimate Driving Machine

DRIVE BOLD. UNLEASH STYLE. THE NEW BMW X4. The BMW X4 cuts a striking figure, wherever and whenever you drive it. Its bold design successfully merges two elements that have never been merged before in this segment: X-typical power and the aesthetics of a classic coupĂŠ. With high-performance BMW TwinPower Turbo engines and standard equipment such as Variable Sport Steering and Drive Performance Control, the BMW X4 demonstrates its impulsive character to the full.

For more information on the new BMW X4 and to arrange a test drive^, call your nearest Cooper dealership today.

Cooper Teesside 01642 693537

Cooper Durham 0191 448 7968

Cooper Sunderland 0191 448 7969

Official fuel economy figures for the BMW X4 range: Urban 42.2-47.9mpg (6.7-5.9l/100km). Extra Urban 49.6-60.1mpg (5.7-4.7l/100km). Combined 46.3-54.3mpg (6.1-5.2l/100km). CO2 emissions 159-131g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. BMW EfficientDynamics reduces BMW emissions without compromising performance developments and is standard across the model range. ^Test drive subject to applicant status and availability.

Motoring Feature

Style WORDS CHRIS RUSSON

EXING up SUVs has become something of a BMW speciality. First was the X6, a different take on the X5 which was the Bavarian brand’s first 4x4. Now comes the X4, smaller yet similar in design and based on the X3 which itself has just been given a new look. Priced from £35,590 for a 2.0-litre diesel the X4 is £1,500 more than a similarly powered X3 and it’s aimed at those who want to get noticed. With a pronounced front incorporating four large air scoops, pronounced wheel arches and a sharply sloping roof line running into a chunky rear the X4 makes a mark in no uncertain terms. It’s slightly longer than the X3 and there’s a fraction less headroom in the rear but it is still a comfortable four seater – five at a pinch and that’s down to the rear seat armrest and bolster. The coupe-like body style also reduces boot space but at 500 litres it is still plentiful for a family’s needs. Fold the rear seats – which split on a 40-20-40 basis – and maximum capacity is 1,400 litres, 200 less than then X3. BMW classifies it as a sports activity coupe and with automatic four wheel drive the X4 has plenty of ability. Hill descent control is standard and there’s a good amount of ground clearance but most will never venture off road. The line up features three engines, all diesels with more expensive versions using 3.0-litre six cylinder engines developing

substance LA D I DA P UTS T HE NEW BM W X 4 TO T HE T EST AND FIND S OUT IT D RIVES AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS. . . . either 258 or 313bhp. We tried out an X4 in M Sport trim and powered by the midpowered 30d engine which costs from £45,453. With extras including 20-inch alloys, a very useful head up display and BMW’s upgraded media and sat nav, plus a surround view camera system, the car actually tipped the scales at £55,248 putting it in the same league as a top end Range Rover Evoque and the new Porsche Macan. On the road there are no complaints. The engine does the job admirably and with the benefit of multi-mode drive settings the X4 can be configured for sporty work or absolute economy. An eight speed auto box – with

summer

paddle shifters – is standard and for a car of such proportions the ride is accomplished with little roll through corners. It is also frugal. We managed to average 39 to the gallon while BMW claims an official figure of 47.9mpg with emissions of 156g/ km and that’s with an athletic 0 to 60 time of 5.8 seconds. Inside, the X4 feels roomier than its counterparts and while the layout of the dash is the same as on the X3, features such as the automatic activation of the parking brake and the quality of the on-screen graphics and camera images were impressive. So was the head up display which delivers speed limit information, the vehicle’s speed and sat nav information – well worth its

2014

£895 option cost. BMW now has five sport activity X vehicles in its line up and of those it’s the ones with the even numbers which are the most adventurous in terms of design. An X2 version of the X1 is on the cards but for the time being

t he X 4 m ake s a mark i n no unce rtai n te rm s the more compact proportions of the X4 which will be tasked with making a mark among those who want some style with substance on four wheels.

Property

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.

T H E COAC H H O U S E

his 4-7 bedroom detached house is in uber swanky Low Worsall,Yarm. A generous detached character property, it’s set in its own grounds with leisure facilities and a fantastic six acre paddock. You approach via a private driveway and the Coach House is well positioned within mature grounds. This gives the feel of a country mansion yet is in close proximity to the fabulous boutiques and bars of Yarm. The Coach House has up to seven bedrooms and multiple reception rooms with the addition of a Pool room and conservatory. As well as a pool room, there is a wet changing room, sauna and shower and gym. Our favourite features include the bedrooms which overlook the pool and the garden, giving guests a fabulous outlook. As you would expect with a home of this nature, there is a double garage and a garden outbuilding. Even better news is the fact that this home comes with almost free heating! The heating is via a neighbour’s biomass boiler. This is based on a 20 Year Contract pre agreed and stays with the property, an estimated saving of £9,000 per annum, a tidy sum which can be set aside for a luxury holiday in the sun, although leaving this home might prove a wrench.

4-7 BED ROOM DETACH ED H OUSE, LOW WOR S A LL, YARM, TS15 9PG P RICE £1,250,000

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2014

Property Feature

B LUE CEDAR LO DG E G U I D E P R IC E ÂŁ 9 0 0 ,0 0 0 5 B E D RO O M DE TACHE D H O U SE , AIS LA BY, E AG L E SC LIFFE , STOC KTON - O N -TE E S , TS1 6 0Q N

ou approach this fabulous home, set in eight acres, via a sweeping driveway, making it very Downtown Abbeyesque. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s situated in the prestigious village of Aislaby, just outside Yarm and is a five bedroom detached Equestrian property. It comprises four paddocks plus a small pony paddock, five Stables and Store/Tack room and an all-weather turn out. The family home itself has generous sized accommodation with large gardens, double garage and large circular gravelled

driveway accessed via the electric gated drive. Particular highlights of the property are the barrelled ceiling on the first floor and the huge scope for further development if required (subject to the normal permission). The house offers a reception hall, living room, garden/dining room, a fantastic large kitchen and breakfast room, utility room and ground floor cloakroom. A large landing leads to five bedrooms with ensuite and walk in wardrobe leading into the master bedroom.

AL L PROPERTI ES AVA ILA B LE FROM B R ID G FOR D S ESTATE AG EN TS, YA R M . 01642 337 776 / 01642 386349 WWW. B R ID G EFOR D S. CO. UK/ PR ESTIG E

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2014

Top Designer Names backed by excellent service...

For an unrivalled choice of the top luxury ranges call into our beautiful showroom or shop online. Our designer brands include: Burgbad Bauhaus Vitra Hansgrohe Victoria and Albert

Matki Bisque Crosswater Kohler Samuel Heath

Free national delivery if you buy online 6-8-10 Baltic Road, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE10 469

Call 0191 469 6999

www.ptranson.com

Interiors Feature

Divine BAT H RO O M S

SPLASH OUT ON FABULOUS BATHROOMS FOR THE ULTI MATE WOW FAC TOR.....

ABOVE FASHION FABULOUS AND VERY CHIC LOOKS FROM BURGBAD

BELOW THE ULTRA STYLISH STILLNESS AND TERRACE RANGES FROM KOHLER

GET T H E LO O K www.ptranson.com

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2014

Suppliers and Installers of Luxury Bathrooms and Hot Tubs Est: 1969

Jacuzzi Hot tubs... Anything else is just a Hot Tub 10 Reasons

to buy a Jacuzzi Hot Tub!

Spend more time with your family

Your Jacuzzi hot tub will last for years

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ABS Ideal Homes, Great Lime Road, West Moor, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE12 7NJ

Call us on 0191 268 5003 /absidealhomes

@ABSsince1969

Interiors Feature

tubs Posh

And when you move home you can take your Jacuzzi with you. That’s presuming your buyer hasn’t fallen for it, as Jacuzzis tend to have that effect. “Once people see a Jacuzzi, they just fall in love with it, it’s like looking at a luxury car,” says Sally. “It really adds to your quality of life in many different ways and once people see them and what they can do, they’re hooked.”

J AC U Z Z I S AR E THE RO LLS ROYCE OF H OT TUB S SO IT ’S N O WO N D E R T H EY HAV E BE CO ME THE MUST H AVE FOR TH E G R EAT A N D G O O D O F NO RTHE RN H IGH SOCIETY. LINDA JA N E W E S T P H AL FINDS O U T MO RE. . . .

f you like the finer things in life, you may just want to check out the latest range of Jacuzzis. Not only are they super stylish, adding a wow factor to your home, but their bespoke features means you can have it customised to suit your every need, providing you with your own perfect spa to relax in at the end of a hectic day. In fact, Jacuzzis are fast becoming the de facto ‘must have’ for the fabulous homes in the North East, as busy executives are increasingly stepping into bespoke Jacuzzis to de stress after work and commuting have taken their toll. From rainbow waterfalls, sculpted customised seats and jets adapted to suit your exact requirements, Jacuzzis deliver the ultimate treat at the end of a long day. Sit back, relax and let a gallon of hot water massage your neck and shoulders until you feel brand new and sparkling again. “A lot of people think it’s a giant bubble bath,” says Sally Weston from ABS Ideal Homes, which has seen sales of Jacuzzis rocket over the last few years. “But they reduce aches and pains and stress levels. Many of our customers are business people who live high powered lives and they are also becoming increasingly popular with families.

Sally says the current interiors trend is for an open kitchen and family room and, as part of the trend for bringing the ‘outdoors in’, using the same floor tiles inside and out with a hot tub to complete the look. “It’s ideal because children can use the tub but the parents can see them while they’re in the kitchen,” she explains. The latest 400 Collection of Jacuzzis offers the ultimate in state of the art performance and design whilst the stylish 200 entry level range is most popular with families. Jacuzzis invented hot tubs 50 years ago and the design engineering and knowledge behind them means they offer a formidable choice of features. With 33 in the range, the team at ABS work with customers to select two or three models they can try to suit their exact requirements. The Jacuzzis are then customised to suit your needs, whether pleasure or health or both. All the jets are positioned individually, seats are sculpted to provide the most comfortable body position and the pumps can even be softened so they don’t have high noise levels. You can even increase the wow factor with features such as coloured waterfalls for added fabulousness. summer

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With 33 i n the range, the team at ABS work with customers to select two or three models they can try to suit their exact requirements. The Jacuzzis are then customised to suit your needs, whether pleasure or health or both.

GET T H E LO O K www.absidealhomes.com

K C

Morpeth Kitchen Company I n no v a t i o n

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I n sp i r a t i o n

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Whether you're looking for bespoke handcrafted design or modern sleek elegance Morpeth Kitchen Company will inspire you to turn your dreams into reality B1 Whitehouse Farm Centre, Stannington, Morpeth Northumberland NE61 6AW Tel: 01670 789 599 • Web: www.morpethkitchens.net

Interiors Feature

Sumptous Summer house

E L E G AN T AN D GRA ND S U MME R HOUSES AR E M A K I N G A B I G CO ME BACK . G EO RGE BOND S H OWS L A D I DA A RO U ND O NE O F H IS FAVO UR I T E P ROJE C TS O N THE E DG E OF TH E S T U N N I N G L A K E W INDE RME RE …

Before

ummer is a time for family and friends and one of my favourite projects has been the restoration of a fabulous, very grand house into a summer apartment in the Lake District for a family from Northampton. Usually I spend a lot of time overseas for clients designing their second or third homes or summer homes, so it was fantastic to have a summer house project in one of my favourite parts of the world, the Lake District. The house was originally built for a wealthy Liverpool Merchant as his summer house in the early 19th Century and it has acres of land looking out over Lake Windermere. Gradually it fell into disrepair and was requisitioned in both the first and second world wars before being sold by the Merchant’s family. It ended up being a reform home for boys and had been neglected over the years and was very far from being the once grand old building that it had been. My clients had bought an apartment in the building with six acres of gardens as a summer holiday home. They had been big fans of my TV work and their brief was simple, “gut it and do what you want to do with it, we love your work and we know you’ll do it justice,” which

was flattering and daunting at the same time. As it was a listed property we had to be creative about how we worked with the building and incorporated the elements that they needed into the space whilst respecting the history. And there was quite a lot of internal restructuring to do such as creating a bathroom for their little boy from a cupboard in his room and reformatting features so they worked for a 21st century lifestyle. In terms of décor, everything was new. New floors, lighting, bathrooms and kitchen but the style was in keeping with the history of the building. We wanted to return the apartment back to its original glory. Colours were kept warm but neutral, allowing the dramatic and beautiful landscape and lake to really stand out. The family were delighted and loaded up their car with champagne and smoked salmon and headed up to the Lakes to meet us there for a fabulous celebratory picnic. They love the place and spend a lot of time there. It gives me enormous satisfaction to see a beautiful home returned to its former glory and to know that such a lovely family get so much pleasure from it.

After

THI S FA BULO US H O U S E O N LAK E W I N D E RM ERE WAS O R I G I N ALLY BUILT F O R A LIVERP O O L M ERCH ANT AS H IS S U MM ER H O M E

T H E H O USE DÉCO R WAS IN K EEP ING W IT H T H E AG E O F T H E BUILDING AN D ITS LIS T ED STAT US . WARM BUT NEUT RAL CO LO URS ALLOW ED T H E DRAM AT IC SET T ING TO S H INE

G EORG E B ON D IN TER IOR S (0191) 281 7799 EN QUIR IES@G EORG EB ON D. TV

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THE HOU SE HAD FAL L EN I NTO DI SREPAI R AFTER BEI NG REQU I SI TI ONED I N WW1 AND WW2

2014

Interiors

I N TRODUC E A S T YL I S H H I N T OF S PAR K L E T HI S WINT ER AN D WO R K METALL I C TO U C HE S I N TO YOUR H O M E W I T H OR N ATE F URNI T U R E AN D DECORAT I VE H OM EWARES.

Make a Statement...

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2014

Interiors Feature

Ravenna Platinum Sequinned Cushion, £45

Aluminium Deer Head, £65 Metal Lantern with Mosaic Base (set of 2), £149

...with

Citadelle Console Table, £829

metallics Palazzo Maxi Plus Sofa, £3,145 Mercury Sphere Lamp with Shade, £159

Langan Chandelier Small £425 Aquilla G ilt Sequinned Cushion, £39.95

Venus Tube Table Lamp, £155

Lounge Pendant (Chrome), £99

ALL ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM BARKER AND STONEHOUSE WWW.BARKERANDSTONEHOUSE.COM summer

2014

Arts & Feature Culture

FA NCY PARTY I NG WITH TH E JACK SONS ? I N D ULGI N G I N FABULOUS FOOD A ND S A M P LI N G WO NDROUS F IZ Z ? WE HAV E JU ST T H E MUS T GO FESTIVA L FOR YOU AND I T ’ S R I GHT HE R E O N THE DOORSTEP...

K. La Di Da is all of an excitement. County Durham has its own fabulous festival and with a line up including The Jacksons, yes you did read that right, THE Jacksons, Simple Minds, Adam Ant and Scouting for Girls to name but a few, we have pronounced it THE must attend festival. And that’s before we’ve even got onto the fact it has its own Mojito tent. And Champagne Tent. And Pimms Tent, Cider tent and Craft Beers. Oh and not forgetting the La Di Da VIP Pamper Marquee full of award winning stylists and beauty professionals all ready to make you look festival fabulous. An amazing array of delish festival food, the finest drinks known to humanity and a Tattinger air balloon offering rides for a nominal amount with all donations going to the Daisy Chain charity. It’s going to be the party to end all parties, in a fabulous way, natch. Plus there are lots of super child friendly activities lined up so the little ones can enjoy all the fun as well. All in all, the Hardwick Live Garden Party is set to be a glorious weekend in the sun which will put Glasto to shame. The grounds of Hardwick Hall, near Sedgefield, TS21 2EH, is where the international music glitterati will be hanging out this September. Running from the 12th and 13th September, tickets are going fast and with good reason. Not only are the legendary Jacksons flying in to headline the Saturday night to perform a rare UK date, but the line up also includes guaranteed storming performances from the iconic Adam Ant, the incredible Steve Harley and the Cockney Rebel, Hugh Cornwell from The Stranglers and many more as well as incredible new talent Emma Garrett, 90s

Just the

Ticket

Britpop heroes Dodgy, Kenny Thomas with a 10 piece band...the list goes on. The new Friday night heralds the arrival of the SIMPLE MINDS incredible Simple Minds who will be joined by one of the UK’s most successful bands of the last decade, and four times Brit nominees, Scouting for Girls. Simple Minds will blast out ‘Don’t you forget about me’, Scouting for Girls ‘She’s So Lovely’, The Jacksons ‘Can You Feel It’, Adam Ant will ‘Stand and Deliver’, Steve Harley with ‘Come up and See Me (Make me Smile)’, Hugh Cornwell, former The Stranglers frontman with ‘Golden Brown’ and many more hit after hit. Tickets are available for either Friday Night (£36), Saturday all day and night (£49) or the weekend.(£79). And why not go for the whole festival experience and indulge in some glamping in the gorge grounds of Hardwick Hall in Baby Yurts and Bell tents. And glamping it will be, they come fully furnished with sheepskin rugs, fairy lights, small table, double airbed with fresh linen and a complementary bottle of house champagne on arrival. Re-live the night before over a Full English breakfast each morning which is delivered to your Yurt. Add in the free private parking and free after show party tickets and you will be living like an international rock star for the

THE JACKSONS

weekend. Want a truly special experience? Try the Gold tickets (£119) which are available for Saturday. It includes an amazing and very luxe Gala buffet, use of the hotels bars and posh loos, free VIP parking and more. An ideal opportunity to entertain clients and have an amazing day yourself. And who knows who you could be mingling with in Hardwick Hall? We think it’s set to be celeb central, giving you access to the great and good of the boutique festival scene. Excited? You should be! This is the must go to garden party of the season. All you need to do now is get your tickets, plan your outfits and prepare to party. See you there!

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.HARDW ICK LIV E.CO.U K summer

2014

Arts & Culture

I'm a passionate Yorkshire Lass; I have a garden full of Yorkshire white roses, and only ever drink Yorkshire Teaâ&#x20AC;?

Diva

Yorkshire

S H E'S B E E N R E QU E S TE D BY ROYA LT Y, DU B BE D THE K Y LIE O F OP E R A A N D HAS FEATU R E D I N BR ITIS H VO GU E , BUT YOR K SH I R E LASS A NNE T T E WA R DE LL' S PERF E C T LY C L AD FE E T AR E S T I L L P L A N T E D FIR MLY O N T H E G RO U N D AS LI N DA J AN E W E ST P HAL F I N DS O U T. . . .

PHOTOGRAPHER TRACEY GIBBS

abulously glamorous and with a talent to die for, Annette Wardell's nickname the Kylie of Opera is rather apt as this petite beauty is, much like her Australian namesake, resoundingly down to earth. She may have sung in front of royalty and performed to audiences as big as 280 million but, after a performance, you can find Annette catching up with a copy of the Dalesman, a beer and a packet of Walkers Pickled Onion crisps. Born in Scarborough and brought up in the North East, Annette didn't see her first opera until the age of 16, yet she has quickly summer

2014

established herself as the supreme soprano with a truly world class voice. Her ability to effortlessly interpret the musical spectrum from opera to Lady Ga Ga in her own very individual style has made her a favourite with audiences all around the globe. Annette credits her success to her down to earth Northern roots. "I was brought up surrounded by rock and roll, mum and dad were huge Elvis fans and the closest my Mum ever got to the piano was when she was doing the dusting," she laughs. "But my Mum and Dad were incredibly supportive and sacrificed endlessly to send me to music lessons. We weren't particularly well

Arts & Culture

off and I was brought up with a great Northern work ethic and I think that this has always inspired me to work hard and never give up." Annette had her first piano lesson at the age of four after her parents caught her bashing away on her Auntie's piano. Her teacher, Pat Walton, picked up on Annette's singing talent and her local school at Brotton were incredibly supportive. The prestigious Royal College of Music in London followed. Most teenagers would be daunted to head down to London at just 16, and it was a particularly difficult time for the family as Annette had just lost her father. But with her trademark positivity and can do attitude, Annette thrived, quickly making friends and falling in love with the hustle and bustle of the city. "Losing Dad made it a little more challenging being away from my Mum. However, we both pulled through and made it work. It was the best thing for my career, and that was paramount for my Mum. "I have been blessed with an amazing Number 2 Dad, John, whom my Mum later married, and both he and my Mum couldn't be more encouraging. They're total groupies, travelling all over the country and the world to see me perform. I smile every time I look out into the audience and they're there, bursting with pride. I wouldn't be where I am today without all three of them." London was followed by the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester and Annette's career quickly took off. Her first Operatic roles included Cis in Sir Peter Hall’s awardwinning Glyndebourne production of Albert Herring, also starring Alfie Boe; and her Barbican Hall debut as Zerlina in Mozart’s 'Don Giovanni'. Cast as the perfect teenage boy, Annette made her Holland Park debut as Cherubino in another Mozart masterpiece 'Le Nozze Di Figaro' (Marriage of Figaro). Since her spectacular beginnings, Annette's performances have been acclaimed around the world and she has become one of the most sought after Opera performers around. She has also become a great favourite of the Royal Family, performing for them at their very special request. She first sang for the Royal Family at music college for Prince Charles and has subsequently been invited to perform for various royals in all the major palaces and stately homes. "It's always great fun meeting the Royals and seeing behind the scenes in these amazing

places. It's quite a buzz," she says. "The repertoire they love is usually classic operatic arias Beauty Notes such as Puccini and It's very important to look after yourself in Mozart and I always this business; singing is a very physical job, and love singing a little although I'm so not a gym bunny, (yoga's my bit of twiddly thing), I like to keep in good shape. coloratura, my party I must admit to being very girlie with all my pieces!". lotions and potions! At the moment these are Her performances lovely washes and creams from Neal's Yard and went down so well REN and I'm a big fan of Chanel red lipsticks that she even earned which are my trademark! I'm always very herself a kiss from kindly complimented on my smile, and I owe Prince Philip but those pearly whites in no small part to the her scariest Smile Spa in Stockton-on-Tees. performance to date My own dentist recommended Simon and his was singing at her lovely staff when some cosmetic work was friends' wedding. needed. He's built himself a formidable "I think that my reputation in this field, and we felt that he was most nerve racking the right man for the job! He transformed my performance was teeth into the twinkly set of gnashers you see not in front of the today. I'm a big smiler, and now feel ultra largest nor most confident doing just that at every opportunity. famous audience. It As Will Ferrell said in the film Elf (one of my was in front of the favourite films!) 'Smiling's my favourite!'. most special. My lovely friends Rachel and Gavin asked if I would sing at their wedding, and I was “ I’d love to p erform more thrilled of course. What an honour. The nerves came from wanting to sing so, so well on their in my home county. . . ” special day, and be the very best that I could dinner at Alessis in Saltburn. I'm almost totally for them. I cried, of course, which made the vegetarian, but I can never resist fish and chips singing even more difficult, but it was the at The Magpie in Whitby either, and a good most fantastic day," rummage through the towns vintage shops." Nicknamed 'Yorkshire' amongst her London With a performance lined up in Harrogate colleagues, Annette gets home to her beloved next year, Annette is looking forward to home county as often as she possibly can. performing in Yorkshire. "I'm a passionate Yorkshire Lass, and miss it "I'd love to perform more in my home county, such a lot living down here in London. I have in front of my home crowd, but apart from a garden full of Yorkshire white roses, and that, I think that I'm very happy with my lot. only ever drink Yorkshire Tea. There are some stunning opera houses and "As soon as the train pulls in to York station, I venues that would be really exciting to know that I'm home. I take a walk along the perform in-The Met, La Scala - but for me, beach at Saltburn, drive through the Dales to it's the audience that makes a performance, visit Robert Thompson 'The Mouseman's ' and a Yorkshire audience has just got to be the workshop and stop off for a fabulous Italian tops. ANNETTE’S NEXT P ERFO RMANC E IN YO RKSHIR E WI L L B E WI T H THE NATIO NAL SY MP HO NY O RC HESTRA NEXT Y EA R I N H AR ROG AT E . TO FIND O UT MO RE ABO UT THIS AND FUTURE P ER F OR M AN C E S C H E C K O UT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.ANNETTEWAR D E L L . COM summer

2014

Arts & Culture

Alter AC T IN G UP PA U L BAGU L E Y IS A HIGH LY SO U G HT A FT E R SU RG EO N BY DAY AN D A P RO LIFIC A ND R E S P EC T E D A U T H O R AN D ACTO R BY N I G H T. L A D I DA E X PLO R ES H I S A LTE R E GO. . .

PHOTO BY CARLA WHITTINGHAM

Ego...

ou don’t normally associate creativity with the medical profession, perhaps rather unfairly, but when that individual is a very eminent plastic surgeon who undertakes reconstructive surgery, artistry and a strong visual sense definitely come as part of the package. When you talk to renowned surgeon Paul Baguley, who is a keen writer and award winning actor in his spare time, the connection that informs his love of both his work and his hobby becomes immediately apparent. “I am a real people person. I love hearing my clients’ stories and seeing the journey they are undertaking and writing for me serves the same purpose,” he explains. “What informs my life, my work and my writing and acting, is wanting to share and tell stories and find out what drives people, what makes them happy, why they decide to do what they do. I am an intensely curious person because I genuinely like people and I have been since an early age.” Paul started acting at the age of eight, inspired by his father who was also a keen actor. He has been in a host of stage productions and has won awards for his performances. It’s a skill which comes naturally to him and he is

" W h at informs my li fe, my work and my writing and act i ng , is wan ting to s h are and tell s tories and find out what d rives people....... . . . . " currently working on a production of Educating Rita with the actress Sarah Martin. He has played such prestigous roles as Hamlet and starred in acclaimed productions of classics such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. He is also a prolific writer and has written novels, screenplays and plays. Many of these are informed or influenced by his hospital background. “I have been writing since I was very young and I have bursts of intense writing,” he explains. “I have written a book Goddesses which is based on surrogacy and genetic engineering. It was picked up by an American publisher who edited it and prepared it for publication but it fell through. A lot of my writing is influenced by the people I meet in hospital and the things that I see.” His first set of five plays follows five people’s lives dealing with major life events. One of these, Dandelions, was inspired by one of his young patients, Solveig van Slike, who made a lasting impression on him. He first treated her when she was just 9 months old and suffering from Leukemia. “There was one day in the hospital when I was told that Solveig wanted to see me. I kept getting called away. When I finally got down summer

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there I was given an After Eight mint that she had held for two hours waiting for me to come and see her. She was an absolutely lovely child and sadly passed away. She is often in my thoughts and inspired me to write Dandelions for her.” Paul regularly fundraises in Solveig’s memory and it’s one of many charity fundraisers he undertakes. A naturally positive person, he is driven by a desire to make people’s lives better rather than financial gain and this theme of redemption and discovery is explored through much of his work as well as the struggles of normal people. “Many of my patients say to my team ‘oh he’s so normal’ and ‘he’s just like us’ which I think is a very good thing. I sit down and talk to my clients about their lives and my life, I don’t believe in keeping up a clinical barrier. If you can’t sit down and have a proper conversation with people and get to know them, how boring would life be?,” he says. It’s a philosophy that serves him well whether it’s award winning surgery or award winning acting and writing. As far as Paul is concerned, it’s all about the same thing, allowing him to connect, engage and make a difference to people’s lives.

Feature Travel

WORDS: LIZ LAMB

GREAT PLACE FOR A CUPPA

WINDSOR OF THE NORTH

HERE IS so much to do in Alnwick, the North’s equivalent to Windsor, that an overnight stay is a must. We checked into The Plough, a double-fronted character property, which is a short walk to the market place and close to Alnwick Playhouse and Barter Books. Manager Michael Bateman greeted us in the car park and carried our bags to the room-a lovely gesture as we were weary after a day at Alnwick Garden. Our room had a contemporary feel, it was small but had enough space for a family of three. We loved the homemade biscuits presented on a slate with the words ‘sleep, eat, relax, enjoy’. It was a lovely welcome as were the chocolates from Alnwick chocolate spa-Henry loved the chocolate sheep! After our babysitter arrived, my husband and I went downstairs to the hotel restaurant. The Plough serves food in the bar and downstairs restaurant and there is also a dining room upstairs. We enjoyed a couple of drinks, including an English Prosecco on tap. For starters my husband dined on pork, black pudding and apricot (£6.95) while I enjoyed pan

seared scallops with haggis and butternut squash puree (£9). Both were well presented and tasted wonderful. For mains we enjoyed pan fried chicken, sticky chorizo sausage, Mediterranean vegetables and a spicy tomato sauce (£12.95) and a rump of spring lamb in a Mint Jus (£17.95). A side of broccoli, asparagus and carrots was also served. We were hugely impressed with both the presentation of the food and the quality of the dishes. If you haven’t eaten here yet, then you must visit soon-we couldn’t recommend it enough. After a pleasant night’s stay, my husband enjoyed a cooked breakfast in the main dining room. The breakfasts are themed with names such as The Northumberland, The Bamburgh and The Alnwick with different variations. I opted for fresh fruit, yoghurt and a Plough pick me up-fresh orange juice with mango puree and steam ginger. It was a great start to the day. The Plough is under new management and owned by the same people behind the Jolly Fisherman, in Craster, another pub famed for its fantastic food. It’s easy to see that they pride themselves on serving amazing food and are very welcoming to families We can’t wait to go back.

T H E PLOUGH, B ON DGATE WITHOU T, AL NWI C K , NORT H U M BERL A ND NE66 1PN WWW.TH EPLOU GH A L NWI C K .CO.U K

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Any trip to Alnwick should include a visit to Barter Books, which is housed in a larger converted railway station. You can sit and drink tea while browsing thousands of books. My son Henry loved the children’s section where there is wooden train for kids to play on. The miniature railway mounted above shopper’s heads was also a hit. We stopped for cream tea in The Blue Room, formerly the 1st class ladies’ waiting room. A pot of tea, with delicious home-made scone, clotted cream and jam was £3.60. Henry loved Olly’s fruit cake, made to a secret family recipe (£2.80)

BA RT E R B O O K S . CO. U K

LUNCH DATE: Café Dolcella is a quaint Italian café in the market place. Dine al fresco on the pavement and watch the world go by while sipping Italian coffee. Indoors there is also seating. The café, run by friendly, happy staff, has a selection of sandwiches, Italian desserts and delicious Spurelli ice-cream. Italian cocktails and Prosecco. We popped in for lunch and ordered tuna and cheese Panini while my husband enjoyed gorgonzola and spicy sausage. Henry only had eyes for vanilla ice cream with monkey sauce. The ice cream is divine-we enjoyed jammie dodger and rum and raisin, made with Alnwick rum. Dogs and children are welcome.

Travel

PARROT CAY BY COMO, TURKS & CAICOS

LA DI DA says ...

I N NE E D O F A N E S C A PE TO A FAR AWAY PLACE TO R ECH ARG E YO U R BATTE RIE S A ND NURTUR E YOUR INNER GOD OR GOD D ESS? TRAV E L E DITO R CAT HARINE HEWITSON SOURCES SOME OF THE MO S T LU XU RIOUS WELLB EING R ESORTS ON TH E GLOB E.

Parrot Cay by Como, Turks & Caicos

Esperanza, Mexico

It takes a 35-minute speedboat journey (so James Bond) to reach the fabulous Parrot Cay by Como resort, hidden in a series of small cays (‘caicos’ means ‘string of islands’) in the Northern Caribbean. The Como Shambhala spa, where peaceful, pared-down neutrals compliment the island’s two-mile white sand beach, is the perfect place to rebalance the mind, body and soul. Choose from a wide range of massage and Ayurvedic treatments, or perhaps a five-hour yoga session overlooking the ocean will help you feel that little bit more rejuvenated. Fly to Providenciales International Airport with United Express. Terrace rooms start from USD$500 per night with breakfast. comohotels.com/parrotcay

This luxury resort on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico’s Cabo San Lucas has a significant focus on wellbeing. Esperanza offers complimentary sunrise and candlelit yoga, fitness classes and an award-winning spa which uses naturally-sourced ingredients indigenous to the area, such as aloe, lime, hibiscus and desert clay for perfectly purified skin. The resort overlooks the glistening Sea of Cortez, where whales can be spotted from January to March for a true ‘at one with nature’ experience. Fly to San Jose del Cabo International Airport with United Express from most US major cities. One-bedroom villas start from around USD$1675 per night. esperanzaresort.com

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Travel

Cheval Blanc Randheli, Maldives Set in the secluded lagoon of Noonu Atoll in the Indian Ocean, the Cheval Blanc Randheli boasts its own dedicated spa retreat island. Sail up in a traditional Maldivian dhoni boat to experience a range of harmonising Guerlain treatments designed around your holiday experience, such as a the jet-lag facial or after-dive massage. Back at your hotel room, Maison Randheli’s team of ‘alchemists’ will be on hand to tailor-make blissful experiences such as moonlit yoga or a catamaran ride to a deserted island. Fly to Malé Airport with British Airways, Emirates or Qatar Airways. Island Villas start from USD$1300 per night with breakfast based on two sharing (excludes taxes and service charges) chevalblanc.com

Six Senses Yao Noi, Thailand The picturesque Six Senses resort on the island of Ko Yao Noi, with stunning views of the limestone pinnacles that puncture the surrounding Phang Nga bay's azure waters, is set amid the treetops in lush tropical woodland. Using only natural and ethically sourced products, the Six Senses spa offers a range of traditional, Asian and sensory techniques which promise to elicit a deep sense of calm. When night falls, watch a movie on the beach under a blanket of stars. Fly to Phuket International Airport with Qatar Airways, Emirates or United Express. Villas start from around £400 per night based on two sharing (excludes taxes and service charges) sixsenses.com

Le Mas Candille, France A little closer to home is the 5* Le Mas Candille on the French Riviera, surrounded by olive groves and fragrant lavender gardens in the hillside town of Mougins, where Picasso spent his final years. Work your way through the treatment menu at the Shisheido spa, where holistic Western-meets-Oriental techniques promise radiant, supple and youthful skin. And if the relaxing lark all gets too much, throw on your finest gown or tux and hit the casinos on La Croisette in Cannes, just a ten minute drive away. Fly to Nice Cote d’Azur Airport with British Airways, KLM and United Express. Superior suites start from €1,195 per night. lemascandille.co.uk summer

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First class travel for first class people Friendly personal service and free seat reservations Tickets posted to your door at no charge When you’re doubtful the internet can understand your needs, phone

01642 200140

The Rail Concierge Eaglescliffe has 34 direct trains a week to London King’s Cross with Grand Central at 125mph

Tickets supplied for corporate customers, individuals and groups •

Free wifi and refreshments

We book from any origin station, even Metro •

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2,500 UK destinations, all rail companies •

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All fare options

Railcards and Oyster cards (for London) supplied Rail Concierge can also book standard class •

www.nationalrail.com Rail Concierge is based at Eaglescliffe Railway Station, Station Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton on Tees TS16 0BT and is a trading name of Chester-le-Track Ltd at Chester-le-Street station.

Travel

INDEPE NDEN T S TATI O N M A S T ER A L EX NEL S O N REVEA LS HIS FAVO UR I T E P LAC E S TO T R AV E L BY T R AIN .

ight Port Sunl

TRAVEL FAVES

Oban

STUNNING SCENERY

Country Life voted the line between Durham and Berwick the most scenic in Great Britain a few years ago. This included Chester-le-Street, my own station, so I happily endorsed the decision, but quite honestly there are many lines in Scotland which far surpass the East Coast Main Line and the line from Glasgow to Oban is a particular favourite. The steam train Jacobite runs between Fort William and Mallaig, also served year round by conventional trains, and the line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh also competes for top honours. Many Scottish cities are worth a visit but amongst the best are Dunfermline, Stirling, Perth and the town of Pitlochry. Many times I have woken up in the Atholl Palace Hotel at Pitlochry to enjoy the crisp mornings and superb views before a full Scottish breakfast. Another favourite is the Old Town of Edinburgh, especially the area around the Grassmarket south of Edinburgh Waverley.

FABULOUS VILLAGE:

Port Sunlight in the Wirral is the best planned village I know, even predating the Garden Cities Movement. Outside the Unilever soap factory, it was created 125 years ago to provide high quality housing for the factory workers, plus the Lady Lever Art Gallery. No two houses in the village are identical and a walk between Bebington and Port Sunlight train stations is a visual delight, only 15 minutes by train from Liverpool Lime Street. I enjoy scrambled egg on toast with added bacon at the Edwardian tea rooms opposite Port Sunlight station.

o Llandudn

Pier n Steam trai Jacobite

SEASIDE RESORTS:

I have a particular propensity for resorts I went to as a boy on family holidays, when my father calculated that from our home in Kent the car would not reach Scotland. We went in different years to St. Agnes in Cornwall (no longer linked to the railway), to Llandudno in North Wales, an elegant seaside resort whose station has been refurbished. We also went to Tenby in Pembrokeshire which I revisited by train a few years ago and had a whole week using the rail service, two feet, and local buses to explore the area.

ALL IMAGES EXCEPT PORT SUNLIGHT COURTESY OF VISITBRITAIN.COM summer

HIDDEN GEM:

Even terminals in the Capital have their secrets. There are users of Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cross, London who have not yet discovered the Parcel Yard pub on the upper level between platforms 8 and 9. A great place to try real ale before returning to the North East.

ALEX NELSON IS AN INDEPENDENT STATION MASTER IN THE NORTH EAST AND RUNS CHESTER LE STREET AND EAGLESCLIFFE STATIONS. TO BOOK TRAIN TICKETS VISIT NATIONALRAIL.COM

2014

Society

O UR SO C I ET Y EDITO R H E L EN S TO R EY IS A MOD E L , F I T N ESS TRA INE R A ND S O CIALITE W HO L I V E S A J E T- S E T LIFE S TYLE .

was very busy helping out with this year’s CHUF event, which is a charity very close to my heart. The Have a Heart Golf day aims to raise much-needed funds for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. My brother-in-law Graham Wylie is patron of the charity alongside Alan Shearer and Ant and Dec. My four-year-old niece Kiera, daughter of Graham and my sister Andrea, had life-saving surgery at the hospital when she was baby. A golf day was held at Close House Hotel where celebrities including Jeremy Kyle, Clare Balding, Anton du Beke, Les Ferdinand, Lee Westwood as well as Ant and Dec competed on the golf course. My day was spent directing celebs to the media, grabbing pictures of all the generous freebies for the party bags and making sure everyone had a great time. At the evening reception at the Gosforth Marriott I managed to find time to have my photograph taken with Ant and Dec who had brought their BAFTA awards along.

They are such sweethearts and didn’t mind having their picture taken with virtually everyone in the room. I was very lucky to be given all my outfits for the event from Nisha at Love Niche. The star of the show was a custom fit shocking pink dress. I felt amazing in it. Dancing with Anton Du Beke was the highlight of my night. He quite literally flung me around the dance floor. He had me in such a tight hold I couldn’t go wrong!

Helen x TOP TO BOTTOM: Jeremy Kyle with wife Carla Germaine Helen dancing with Anton Du Beke Helen with a showgirl Helen with brother-in-law Graham Wylie Our Society Editor rubs shoulders with Ant and Dec Clare Balding and partner Alice Arnold

To see more society photographs from the event turn to page 98. For more information on CHUF or to donate visit www.chuf.org.uk

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Society

Ant and Dec with their Baftas

orget the World Cup. For the Party Princess only one sport matters and that's Polo: The Sport of Kings. When polo season kicked off this summer I was very lucky to be a guest at the Cartier Queen's Cup. Her Majesty was there, but while I sadly did not get to meet the Queen, I had a wonderful gossip with the other queen of Polo - Jilly Cooper. Jilly was on fine form and over a glass of champers told me she's a massive fan of Showbiz mags. Always good to meet a loyal reader! Watching the very handsome polo players do their thing was Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary in Downton Abbey. The actress admitted it was her first polo match and she 'loved meeting the ponies' but just giggled when I brought up the dishy players. The star was also allowed to model some Cartier jewels. Lucky thing! As well as the polo I've also been enjoying the delights of Wimbledon. Dubai Duty-Free presented the WTA PreWimbledon party held at one of my favourite London haunts - Kensington Roof Gardens. Guests including Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova enjoyed a delicious barbecue and amazing cocktails as they took in the beauty of the rooftop gardens. Also in attendance was racing driver Mark Webber who looks a little like the actor Rupert Everett. I caught up with the latest recruit to Simon Cowell's X Factor team - Xtra Factor presenter Sarah-Jane Crawford who told me how 'lovely' Geordie judge Cheryl Cole has been to her. Sadly she refused to say who she thought was winning the fash-off between Cheryl and Mel B but I did catch her in deep conversation with Topshop heiress Chloe Green so watch this space! Of course celebs haven't just been hanging

out at sporting events. This year's Glamour Women Of The Year awards boasted A List stars Samuel L Jackson and Dame Helen Mirren. I overheard the regal looking actress say how much she was enjoying the vodka cocktail she had at the bespoke bar. Held in a beautiful marquee in Berkeley Square Gardens, the event honours the most inspirational women of the year. I wore a dress by Coast which attracted compliments from Amanda Holden. The TV presenter had just met Cheryl's new French husband at a private dinner at The Chiltern Firehouse, and told me he is 'very handsome', but claimed she didn't fancy him because her own husband Chris is 'a sex god'. At the Radio Academy Awards, Mel C spilled the beans on Victoria Beckham's 40th saying she was the wildest out of all the guests. Myleene Klass shimmered in a dress from her own collection, but joked: "My children help me design my dresses and Amanda Ho lden was love ly normally there's a six-year-old's choice all over it, like yellow sequins." But my favourite party of the year so far was CHUF Have A Heart. Ant and Dec even let me hold their TV BAFTA. I was very tempted to run away with it but this Party Princess wants to earn her own award one day!

At the polo with Miche lle Dockery aka Lady Mary

Go ssi ping wit h Jill y C ooper

Gorgeous Michelle Keegan

SARAH ROBERTSON IS DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR AT OK! MAGAZINE. A GEORDIE LOUDMOUTH LIVING THE DREAM IN LONDON, FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER @SARAHROBERTSON5 summer

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Feature

Society

LUXURY FACIAL LAUNCH: The fine and the fabulous turned out for our columnist Dr Beautiful’s 24 carat champagne facial launch. Glamorous guests included MTV’s Ex on the Beach star Ashley Cain who made a special visit to the exclusive party, held at Rox in Newcastle, for the unveiling of the luxury treatment which has already attracted fans such as Dancing on Ice’s Karen Barber and reality TV star Amy Childs. Dr Beautiful, aka Dr Esho, runs luxury aesthetics company Le Beau Ideal which operates satellite salons in Newcastle, Harley Street London, Manchester and Leeds. Around 80 specially invited guests enjoyed Gout De Diamants champagne while feasting on Thai fusion canapés by SOHE restaurant in Jesmond. Each gift included a limited edition onyx black Swarovski and gold bracelet created especially for the event by designer Kayleigh Falcus. Entertainment was provided by legendary DJ Munro and Lady V on the saxophone who kept the atmosphere electric whilst guests were entertained by an elegant dancer in a champagne glass. Dr Beautiful gave a live demonstration of the luxury facial which ended with 24 carat gold leaf dust being blown onto the face of stunning model Gayna Millican. The party continued at Newcastle hot spot Bonbar.

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Feature

Society

BELSAY HORSE TRIALS GORGEOUS sunshine guaranteed a great turnout for the Belsay Horse Trials, set against the beautiful backdrop of Belsay Hall in Northumberland. Over 6,000 visitors attended the weekend event to watch 500 competitors take part in dressage, show jumping and cross country. Barbour, who is celebrating its 120th anniversary, was the main sponsor of the event. A further 44 regional businesses also supported the event including Benfield Motors, Bond Dickinson, Brewin Dolphin and Cussin Homes. Helen Barbour, vice chairman, said: “Belsay Horse Trials is an excellent opportunity for us to support an event in our home Northumberland particularly this year as we celebrate our 120th anniversary.” Laura de Wesselow, who organises the event with husband Peter, and co-organisers Edward and Jane Pybus, said: “We had a fabulous weekend, brilliant competition, brilliant people, a fun and friendly atmosphere and, of course, brilliant weather, who could ask for more?”

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Society

CHUF Have a Heart Golf Day at Close House Hotel and fundraising ball at The Marriott Hotel, Gosforth CHUF is fundraising to build accommodation for parents whose children are receiving treatment at the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. Over £200,000 was raised at the event. Graham Wylie, whose four-year-old daughter Kiera had life-saving surgery at the hospital, said: “I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of people here in the North East.” Helping to make the event a success were sponsors : Fentimans, Flow Digital, Hooker & Young, Le Beau Ideal, Pig N Mix Sweetie Company, Bonbar Newcastle, Close House, Love Niche Style, Grosvenor Casino, Juliet Immaculate Vodka, ROX Jewellery, Arbonne UK and Benfield Motors sponsored the event. Photography by Harkness Photography harknessphotography.com

Society

ASIAN INSPIRATION Jesmond’s latest dining sensation opened with a stunning launch which showcased its unique offer and top class standards and to die for interiors. With amazing Asian inspired eats from acclaimed chef Martin Moore and team and handcrafted cocktails from award winning General Manager and Cocktail impresario Sarah Harker, Sohe made a real wow factor debut which has translated into a ‘must visit’ buzz amongst the fabulous folk of Jesmond and beyond.

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S U M M E R M E A N S O N LY ONE THI NG-FESTI VALS. OUR RO C K’N’ROLL D O GG I E SU N SHIN E HITS GLASTONBURY, DOWNLOAD, SON IS PHE R E , A N D O U R V E RY OWN MOUTH OF THE TYNE FESTI VAL.

SUNSHINE

T HE ROC K N ROL L DOGGIE

With Iron Maiden’s mascot Ed the Head

Thumbs up for Steven

ILLUSTRATION: SIMON DONALD

IT’S that time of year when I am rolling out my tent, wellies, hat and shades and Rock’n’ro ll is exhausti ng heading for the muddy field of the British Festival Season. I love to look my best so thanks to the lovely peeps at John Paul Pet, a luxury pampering range for pooches, I was looking fine, smelling divine and ready to rock. First up was Download with the mighty Aerosmith, I see myself as a kind of dog version of the singer Steven Tyler. Best of all was the mass ‘Thumbs Up for Stephen’ on the main stage, Me with my pamper kit 60,000 people paid tribute to inspirational teenager Stephen Sutton, who had his Download tickets before he died. I had to get my paws out of my wellies for this! Their band of brothers- musicians, managers etc, the Heavy Metal Truants, cycled from London to Download to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust, where mummy works. Glastonbury was cool and I’m in love with Dolly Parton, she even offered to adopt one of my old drinking buddies, Dolly, the dog who was left behind. Clearly she had a massive hangover and was found summer

wandering around the site, still she ended up in Happy Landings Handsome boy Shelter, it’s like the Priory for Dogs, silly old bitch can’t take her drink anymore, the dog of course – tee hee. At Sonisphere, I caught up with my very favourite heavy metallers Iron Maiden. My Mummy worked for them for 10 years so I got backstage access, the works. Check out the pic of me and my mate Ed the Head, Iron Maiden’s Mascot. I’m doing my best Gene Simmons from KISS impression. They even staged a ‘Dog Fight’ with Maiden’s singer Bruce Dickenson flying his very own Fokker , I said Fokker! The same model as the infamous Red Baron. And then he went and played a 2 hour set, what a legend. Run to the Hills……………howl. And then to wind it all up I caught up with Paul Weller at Tynemouth Priory. It was such a great concert and as you know from previous instalments, Paul is actually a big fan of mine. He wanted me to do some backing vocals but unfortunately from all the singing along to Jolene and 9 til 5 with Dolly my voice was a bit Grrrruff. So here I am tucked up in my bed at home with Mummy waving a bottle of JP Pet at me again. OK Mummy, as Dolly once said, Here You Come Again…

Be Sunny People x Read more exploits from me on Twitter @rocknrollsunny

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Posh Pooch

M E E T M U FFI N THIS ADORABLE BULLDOG BELONGS TO HAIRDRESSERS GARY HOOKER AND MICHAEL YOUNG AND SHE WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW AT OUR PHOTO SHOOT. SHE LOVES CAKE, ADORES DIAMONDS AND IS A NATURAL IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA. A PERFECT POSH POOCH! PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRIS DAVIS AT SPECULAR WWW.SPECULARVIEWBOOK.COM summer

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