APRIL 2018
ANYONE FOR GIN?
iv sion PRICELESS
NEWPORT'S ONLY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
THE POD
LACOSTE
SAVE OUR SPECIES
RICO
NEWPORT'S HOTTEST ENTREPRENEUR
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE
WALES
to our vision Our regular readers will see that, as all good companies should, we have evolved. We have gone square! After carrying out some market research we spied a gap in the market – namely that whilst; Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire all have luxury lifestyle magazines Newport did not. Enter Newport Vision……. For our maiden voyage in our new guise we have been to Newport’s latest hot spot The POD. We had heard that it was the place to head but it exceeded even our expectations. Read on for more details. Featured on our front cover is Newport sports personality and entrepreneur, Rico. We caught up with him before he jetted off to France recently and you can read more about him and his future goals inside.
Welcome to the April edition of Newport Vision. We are delighted to present our first Wedding Supplement full of beautiful venues and suppliers in our area as well as a Lust List and a Hot or Not page for your 2018/19 Wedding. Although we are an independent magazine, relying on advertisements to cover our running costs each month, we nonetheless dedicate pages to start-up businesses and local charities. This month we sat down with Wendy Hobbs, Ambassador for Newport based charity The Dreams and Wishes Foundation. We would also like to remind our readers that The Anthony Hard Memorial Golf Day will take place on Sunday 20th May from which all proceeds will be donated to Brain Tumour Research.
We have been overwhelmed with the way in which Newport has embraced our magazine and we would like to thank you for inviting us into your homes, business and communities. We look forward to gracing your coffee table. If you are looking to attract an aspirational audience Newport Vision is the place for you. We print 15,000 copies of this magazine in addition to our online presence. Lela & Emma The Left Hand & The Right Hand
Being square has never been so cool Advertise with us Newport vision: 01633 771 777 e-mail: info@newportvision.co.uk www.newportvision.co.uk We’re social! Follow us on
CONTENTS 10 12 13 14 17 20 28 30 32 35 36 40
Food Review The Pod
FOOD REVIEW
RICO ZULKARNAIN
Schools Mission Uganda Save our Species Interview Rico Zulkarnain Competition Wedding Supplement Part 1
10
Charity Dreams & Wishes Hot Yoga
WEDDING SUPPLEMENT PART 1
Travel Review Dubai Recipe International Convention Centre Wales Interior Inspiration
20
14
CONTENTS 30
DUBAI
HOT YOGA INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS
32 ICC WALES
40
36
WE
CIS/TAX REFUNDS
WE DO THE WORK, YOU RELAX
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CIS
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TH PO
WHAT THESE GUYS ABOUT ALCOHOL, M PAIRING ISN'T WORT
10 NEWPORT VISION APRIL 2018
E D
DON'T KNOW MIXING AND TH KNOWING The local buzz surrounding The Pod, a chic dining and drinks offering based in unique premises on Clarence Place, prompted our visit on a windswept early evening in late March. Notwithstanding the weather the warm industrial décor, provided by So Exclusive Interiors, creates a welcoming ambience inside and it is hard not to notice the tables made from steel girders, the light fittings and the contemporary cow patterned seating. The bar (or more specifically the custom made concrete topped bar) leans towards a wide array of tempting cocktails, craft beers and ciders as well as organic coffee. We sampled The Pod IPA which is made by the Coast to Coast Brewery exclusively for The Pod and which has the customary hoppy taste of an IPA albeit with a pleasant fruity finish.
Next came a selection of cocktails which included; an Elderflower Cosmopolitan, Gin Ginger and a Mojito all of which were aesthetically pleasing and all too drinkable. After whetting our appetite the focus turned to the recently introduced Small Plates. Mark, the Head Chef, told us that the aim of the menu is to provide a food offering which uses locally sourced ingredients to create homemade dishes that compliment the bar. First up were the Shepherds Pie Croquettes made using slow cooked lamp wrapped in breadcrumbs and served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes. These were followed by Halloumi Lollipops which we could have happily eaten by the bucketload. The Smashed Avocado & Lime Dip was excellent – it had a clean refreshing taste that was complimented perfectly by the homemade tortilla chips but perhaps our favourite of the dishes that we tried was the Crispy Chilli Beef which was served with a vibrant salad on a bed of boiled rice. We should say that this was perhaps not the takeaway fayre that you might be picturing. The beef was well seasoned and was more of a jerky style that was incredibly moorish. We also tried The Pod’s version of cheeseburger and chips and, unexpectedly, this came in the form of melt in the mouth dry aged beef sliders and triple cooked chips which were as impressive as the description suggests.
Moving forward The Pod intends to expand its focus on Corporate and Networking Events as well as providing a Cocktail Masterclass. On the 21st April they will be hosting a Peaky Blinders themed evening (‘by order of the Peaky Blinders’ we assume…) as well as focusing on the now regular Gin and Jazz evenings. We are well informed that Sunday Lunch at The Pod is an equally impressive occasion which we look forward to reviewing in a later issue. Finally, we must thank Paul Young, who owns The Pod along with his business partner, Oliver Mason, for making us feel very welcome during our visit and
for providing us with an informative insight into both the menu as well as their plans for the future.
Keep your eyes peeled for further development, during the summer months, which will allow guests of The Pod to take advantage of the riverfront setting for some alfresco dining. As of next week, The Pod reveals it's Brunch/Lunch menu and a Bottomless Brunch menu. Fried chicken and waffles, breakfast burritos and smoked salmon to name just a few dishes on offer. Keep an eye on social media for the launch, we're sure it won't disappoint.
CONTACT 01633 535440 hello@thepodnewport.co.uk www.thepodnewport.co.uk Twitter @ThePod Newport Instagram @thepodnewport LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 11
in Year 4 surpassed this amount, despite the rain, walking a total of 1.368 million steps! This was an amazing achievement and a great number to add to the current total. The school were originally aiming to raise £500 for Namunsi Primary School, through sponsorship, and have already gone beyond this target! Namunsi Primary will use any funds raised to buy a range of equipment such as sports clothes, football goal posts, musical instruments and maybe even some windows and doors, or solar panels! If you would like to help the children with their project, raising funds for the school in Uganda, donations would be gratefully received and can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/mpps-to-mbale
Year 4’s ‘Mission Uganda’ at Mount Pleasant Primary School. At Mount Pleasant Primary School, the Year 4 children have been learning all about ‘Our Wonderful World’. The theme kick started with the children boarding ‘Mount Pleasant Airways’ am aeroplane set up in the school, by the staff. Some of the children said they wanted to learn about different countries and we started with Uganda. The children were lucky enough to make a link with Namunsi Primary School in Mbale, Uganda. They sent letters out and were delighted when they 12 NEWPORT VISION APRIL 2018
received a letter each back! Hearing about how little the children had in their school encouraged the children of Mount Pleasant to think what they could do to help. They decided that we should try and ‘walk’ to Uganda. The children worked out that the school we linked up with was nearly 6500 away. This meant that, to walk to Uganda, would be 13 million steps! The children’s challenge was set!
So far, the children have walked over 3 million steps, with the individual record being over 20,000 steps during the school day. Each day, eight children wear step counters, which the school purchased for the project. The children with the step counters then add up how many steps they have managed to do that day. On the last day of the Spring Term, the children also held a ‘Stepathon’ to see if they could reach 1 million steps between them in a day. The 60 children
SAVE OUR SPECIES WITH
LACOSTE
One of the world’s most famous logo leaves it’s historic spot to 10 threatened species. The number produced in each series corresponds to the remaining population sizes in the wild. 1,775 Polo’s available online to support ICUN’s Save Our Species program. THE VAQUITA - 30 SPECIMENS THE BURMESE ROOFED TURTLE - 40 SPECIMENS THE NORTHERN SPORTIVE LEMUR - 50 SPECIMENS THE JAVAN RHINO - 67 SPECIMENS THE KAKAPO - 157 SPECIMENS THE CAO-VIT GIBBON - 150 SPECIMENS THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR - 231 SPECIMENS THE SAOLA - 250 SPECIMENS THE SAMATRAN TIGER - 350 SPECIMENS THE ANEGADA GROUND IGUANA - 450 SPECIMENS
LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 13
What do you get if you cross an International Futsal Player with a Singer/Songwriter and then you throw in a Fashion Designer for good measure?
Rico
Zulkarnain 14 NEWPORT VISION APRIL 2018
What do you get if you cross an International Futsal Player with a Singer/Songwriter and then you throw in a Fashion Designer for good measure? A red carpet event? A line-up on the couch of Soccer AM or a packed and interesting Uber? Nope, the answer is a multi-talented, passionate and focused individual from Newport. I kid you not. Whilst talent was being given out and some of us were stood behind the door, Rico Zulkarnain was front, back and centre taking home with him everyone else’s share! But what surprised us the most? Rico has to be one of the most grounded, modest and down to earth people we have met. He has such a positive and spiritual energy and when talking to him you can’t help but be inspired by his drive, what he has achieved and his plans for the future. Rico spent time with us at Newport Vision filling us in on his journey to date and his plans. As a youngster his love was always football, from the age of 9 he would spend hours playing for his local team. At the age of 12 he played for Newport County and at 13 for Cardiff City. However, football wasn’t his only passion, from his humble upbringing Rico had an ambitious streak which meant by the time he had reached his 20’s he had not only received a scholarship but had worked as a Sports Development Officer, worked with troubled teens and with help from the lottery fund he opened several businesses.
AS A YOUNGSTER HIS LOVE WAS ALWAYS FOOTBALL, FROM THE AGE OF 9 HE WOULD SPEND HOURS PLAYING FOR HIS LOCAL TEAM. LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 15
Whilst most are still deciding what career path they want to follow, Rico had already started dabbling in music in the studio he helped set up at the YMCA, in filming by forming a media company where he would make short films in Newport, Cardiff and Birmingham, as well as setting up businesses that focused on teaching street soccer, skills and the rental of inflatable arenas. This young entrepreneur was not only focused on living a purpose driven life but decided he wanted to leave his mark and a legacy. Believing deeply that when you find your passion and your purpose, you never spend a day working he continued with football and whilst playing a Street Soccer tournament in Denmark he came across Futsal which for Rico became an instant passion, for him it was all of the best bits of football. He set himself a goal of becoming the first Welsh Professional Futsal player in the next 12 months, he worked so hard that he achieved his goal within 6. The next 4 years Rico went from strength to strength in the Futsal World being dubbed the Gareth Bale of Futsal. Not only is Rico the only Welsh professional futsal player in history and the national team top goal scorer but also won the Elite League with Cardiff University in Wales, the Indonesian Futsal Super League whilst living in Jakarta for 6 months, the USA World Futsal Championships and both the Nike SFL and National FAFL Cup with Australian team 16 NEWPORT VISION APRIL 2018
Claremont Cambio Cumbre as well as being the first European player to be signed and compete in Dubai playing with the likes of Falcao and Ricardinho. Malaysia, Brunei and India are also countries that Rico has been fortunate enough to travel and compete in but when it came to launching his second clothing line he knew he wanted to launch it from home in Newport.
in a pop-up store in Newport which saw hundreds of people visiting over the 4 days it was open, including Futsal players from Bristol.
January 2018 saw the Launch of Rico’s conceptional streetwear range from FTSL Worldwide (FTSL not only being an abbreviation of Rico’s beloved Futsal but also standing for Freedom, Truth, Soul, Love)
He’s currently in France playing for Toulon, where once again he is thriving.
You’d think he’d be close to retiring but no, he trains up to 5 and a half hours each day, meditates to keep a clear mind and enjoys yoga, motivational and self-help books and podcasts from the likes of the world renowned Jim Kwik.
ALL HE TRULY HOPES TO DO IS MOTIVATE, EDUCATE AND INSPIRE.
Whilst Rico says that all the experiences he has had have led him to this moment, all he truly hopes to do is Motivate, Educate and Inspire. Well we certainly can’t wait to see what the future holds for Rico wherever his journey takes him. Instgram: @ricozulkarnain9
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Plan your perfect wedding with our fantastic local suppliers
LUST
Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque Rosé 2006 Harrods £230.00
LIST Louis Roederer Brut Premier Blanc NV (37.5cl) Harrods £25.00
Back Bling With backless dresses being a classic favourite for many brides, this custom made backdrop necklace is the perfect piece to complete the look. Etsy £50.25
Heavenly Souls Luise Bridal Jewelled Flat Point Satin Shoes. Very £32.
DreamAngels Bridal Robe Victoria's Secret £58.58
Sisley Sisleÿa L'Integral AntiAge Eye and Lip Contour Cream Harrods £138.00
The Perfect Distraction Keep your miniature’s distracted with t hese Children’s Personalised Wedding Activity Packs for £1.80
You and your Bride Tribe! No wedding is compete without the Bride’s besties at her side on her big day, and these gorgeous personalised prints make the perfect keepsake! Etsy £10.99
Hot Wedding Trends 2018 GOLD, BLUSH PINK & NAVY
Set your special day apart from the rest, with inspiration from the emerging 2018 wedding trends.
JENNA
MCDONNELL Jenna Mcdonnell is an award winning hair and make-up artist who also holds the Guinness world record for the fastest bridal hair stylist in the world!!. based in Newport she also travels to destinations all over the globe! Jenna is soon to expand her business on Chepstow Road by opening a bridal emporium ...a one stop shop for all your bridal needs! Tel: 01633 273955 www.jennamcdonnell.co.uk jennamcdonnell@hotmail.com
AWARD WINNING MAKE-UP
Cefn Tilla Court is a privately owned Grade II* listed country estate located 4 miles from the picturesque village of Usk in Monmouthshire. Situated in 128 acres of rustic woodland,exquisite gardens and rolling fields, Cefn Tilla Court offers two locations to host the most exclusive weddings: the Great Hall and a well-appointed luxury marquee. With the variety of scenery on the estate, your wedding is guaranteed to be as unique as you are. Find out more about our venue at cefntilla.com We also offer you beautiful holiday cottages,clay pigeon shooting and glamping hut experiences. Llandenny, Usk Monmouthshire NP15 1DG 01291 672 595 rob@cefntilla.com
Cefn Tilla Court for a wedding as unique as you are.
WEDDING PLANNING, DESIGN & EVENT MANAGEMENT
Specialising in organising weddings for busy professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners. I help those who simply don’t have enough hours in the day. Contact me today to arrange your complimentary consultation. www.carolynlouise.com hello@carolynlouise.com 07773792611
RSVP My Invite is a website set up to help you
manage your guest list in one easy place for that special occasion! You can access your dashboard via your mobile, laptop, tablet or computer! Create your own webpage for your guests to log on and RSVP online and we have designed RSVP My Invite to work effortlessly with any traditional paper or digital invitation. Just add the created URL to your RSVP card or digital invite and away you go! Sign up is absolutely free and you’ll receive 50 free RSVPs! But fear not, if your list tips over the 50 scale, you can upgrade to our Premium Package at just £20 and receive unlimited RSVPs. There are online organisation tools to assist; seating plan tool, upload/download guest list, customise questions/menu options on your RSVP, e-mail alerts, sub events and much more! Visit www.rsvpmyinvite.co.uk for more details. Company Registration No. 10603054
SCARLET Scarlet is an experienced wedding singer with a distinct jazzy vibe.
Fall in Love with Celtic Manor
Book your exclusive venue tour with us and receive a complimentary glass of prosecco! Call our Wedding Coordinators on 01633 410 710 and quote ‘Celtic Weddings’ to arrange your appointment.
Bringing the old and the new together, Scarlet has a large repertoire but is willing to take requests within reason. tel: 07702280040 email: sthomasperry@ yahoo.co.uk
We are an established bridal boutique business with more than 30 years experience. We stock fabulous designer labels and also have a label exclusively for Do You Believe designed by the owner Helen Thomas-Powell. We also have a large bridesmaid and prom collection. Customer service is paramount and we offer a full alteration servicealong with bespoke accessories. 121 Stow Hill, Newport, NP20 4ED T: 01633266348 E: info@doyoubeliveuk.com W: www.doyoubelieveuk.com
tel: 01633 678 888 mob: 07756 251 074 cherylmarsh@hotmail.co.uk www.alldovedup.com If your wedding is more Punk than Pomp, more Cocktails than Fairytales, more Raving than Shaving, more Juxtaposition than Tradition then Owen Mathias may just be your man. It will be an occasion special enough to make you want to save it forever, so why settle for dull photos?� www.colourphotography.co.uk www.owenmathias.com 07990828196 02921155268
Sweetylicious - all things sweety 07756251074 or 01633678888 cherylmarsh@hotmail.co.uk www.sweetylicious-sweet-carts.co.uk
YOUR
Invited Wedding guest inspiration for 2018
Needle & Thread Meadow Embroidered Tulle Cropped Top asos.com £125.00
Frock And Frill Premium 2 In 1 Midi Pencil Dress With Embellished Skirt asos.com £135.00 Gucci belt mini dress flannels.com £1,620.00
SOMETHING BLUE
Bronx and Banco Rainbow Tulle Maxi Dress asos.com £420.00
Juno Wide-Leg Jumpsuit Reiss £250
Ted Baker Areea Midi Dress in Peach Blossom Print asos.com £179.00
Camilia Asymmetric Indigo Dress Reiss £185
Ted Baker Valtia Full Dress in Chatsworth Jacquard asos.com £239.00
Victoria by Victoria Beckham Flounce Dress flannels.com £550.00
Dreams & Wishes is a charity dedicated to making the dreams and wishes of seriously ill children and their families come true. My name is Wendy Hobbs, I am an Ambassador for Dreams and Wishes, Author of the ‘Claudia Quash Series’ and a Lawyer. Dreams and Wishes, an award-winning charity, was founded in 2011 by Mr Tony Curtis MBE, who is also the Chairman of the charity. The charity is dedicated to making the dreams and wishes of seriously ill children and their families come true. The charity is unique in that we are 100% Volunteer based and 100% of every penny raised with No deductions, goes to seriously ill children and their families. Since our launch, our volunteers have been working tirelessly to help thousands of families going through a very difficult time, helping to create life-long happy memories and provide vital support throughout the child’s illness as well as putting as many smiles on their faces as possible. Our fundamental aim at Dreams & Wishes is to connect with the community, schools and businesses and inspire people to join us at our fundraising events, or to help and encourage them to organise their own events to improve the lives of families whose children can often spend years in and out of hospital. We understand that every child is unique with their own dreams and wishes, so it is our aim to make sure that every child we work with is able to fulfil their dream. Some children want to meet their favourite TV stars, fly in a helicopter, visit Legoland, have a holiday, or to just have their own playhouse. However big or small the wish, the charity do everything possible to make it happen.
28 NEWPORT VISION APRIL 2018
‘The Claudia Quash Series' ‘Claudia Quash: The Spell of Pencliff’ and ‘Claudia’s Special Wish’ My debut novel, ‘The Spell of Pencliff’ has received a book award and some amazing amazon reviews. I wrote ‘Claudia’s Special Wish’ a beautifully illustrated magical Christmas book for the charity, and it was designed to inspire children to never give up on their dreams, give parents hope and provide details of the charity. The ‘Claudia Quash Series’ has enabled me to connect with many local businesses who have ordered copies and at my suggestion donated them to schools in order to help the community, and I have donated the funds to the charity to help grant more special wishes. I am always happy to visit schools, inspire children’s writing, read the ‘Claudia Quash Series’ and explain the publishing process. 'The Claudia Quash Series’ has been a great success, and it has raised thousands of pounds for the charity and helped to grant more special wishes for very ill children. I have read the ‘Claudia Quash Series’ to the children at the hospital and distributed copies to the wards.
'The Claudia Quash Series’ has been a great success, and it has raised thousands of pounds for the charity
The books have helped children to pass the time, encouraged reading and writing skills, sparked their imaginations, and opened doors to all kinds of new worlds for them. I read, ‘Claudia’s Special Wish’ to the children on our annual trip to London, in the House of Commons and in December 2017 inside 10 Downing Street. I have been delighted to be invited to do ‘Claudia Quash Series’ charity
A trip to The Harry Potter Studios was hugely successful and created very special memories
book-signing events at book-shops, John Lewis, Cardiff, Marks and Spencer, Cardiff, Waitrose, Cardiff, the Tenby bookshop, West Wales, and pop-up events at Banks in Cardiff and Newport which has raised more funds for the charity and the awareness of the charity's wonderful work. Annual London Trip to the House of Commons and 10 Downing Street. 2017 ended on a high note for Dreams and Wishes Charity, with ITN news covering the charity’s trip to the House of Commons, in the presence of ‘The Speaker of the House of Commons’ and ‘The Secretary of State for Wales’ who stated that seeing the smiles on the faces of the children had made his Christmas. We took 18 children undergoing treatment and their families, and Father Christmas joined us and gave out presents to the children.
The day ended with a trip to 10 Downing Street where I read, ‘Claudia’s Special Wish’ and I gave the children a signed copy to take home and a silver bell to ring at certain points in the story to make it more magical. Dreams and Wishes Events The charity is especially proud of the events that they have arranged which help to put many smiles on the faces of the children and their families. Recently, they took a coach full of families to the World Wrestling Entertainment, and to Disney on Ice, and they arranged a meet and greet at both events at Motorpoint. The Kidzania trip was also very popular and the children thoroughly enjoyed living out their wildest dreams with real life role-play activities. The Harry Potter Studios was a hugely successful trip, and the charity arranged for two of the children to open the ‘Doors to the Great Hall’ of Hogwarts which created a very special memory.
St David's Day It was a great honour to be invited to 10 Downing Street, on St David’s Day for tea. At the event I met, Alana Spencer, Winner of ‘The Apprentice’ who offered to make a very special cake for the charity. I auctioned every slice at Howells Solicitors, Cardiff, who support the charity, and I was delighted to raise more funds for families going through a very difficult time. British Vogue I was delighted to be invited by, volunteer for the charity, Jayne Pierson, international awardwinning fashion designer to shoot her new collection at British Vogue, and film a fashion film which mentioned Dreams and Wishes Charity. This will help to raise our profile, and promote the charity’s good work as the film is being premiered throughout the world at international film festivals. If you would like more information about the charity, or to help grant more special wishes, please contact me.
Cardiff Life Awards I am thrilled that Dreams and Wishes recently won ‘Best Charity’ of 2018, at the prestigious, Cardiff Life Awards, at The City Hall Cardiff. Also, they are finalists at The Regional Awards. Social Media The ‘Claudia Quash Series’ are available on Amazon, Kindle, and as an Audiobook. Website www.wendyhobbs.com Twitter @WendyFHobbs Email wendy@dreamsand wishescharity.org Dreams and Wishes www. dreamsandwishescharity.org
LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 29
HOT YOGA
HEALTH Although Newport as a City is well and truly making it’s mark with it’s increasing variety of facilities, the one thing that most of us will agree is lacking, is the heat! or is it?
We caught up with Suzie Latham of Hot Yoga Health to find out more about the craze that is taking over in most cities worldwide, as well as right here in Newport.
and after teaming up with his daughter Suzie, they embarked on creating a purpose built Hot Yoga Studio in the heart of Newport and we are so glad they did.
After sharing her newly found love of Hot Yoga, firstly with her sister Louise and then her father Geoff, the Latham trio quickly became regular attendees at local classes in Bristol, which is where Suzie was living at the time. Their initial fears of “I won’t know what to do, everyone will be fitter than me, what if I can’t handle the heat and I’m sick in the studio!” quickly vanished and they enjoyed a welcoming atmosphere with supportive staff and quickly began to feel the benefits. Geoff, a Newport Resident, founded Hot Yoga Health
The purpose built Hot Yoga studio, located in the heart of Newport, is a light and airy space. It is large enough to accommodate 30+ people and is equipped with a state of the art heating system.
30 NEWPORT VISION APRIL 2018
Suzie explained “Our signature Hot 26 classes are heated to 40*C. Air is pulled directly from outside the building, is filtered, heated and then pumped into the studio. Stale air is then extracted via the vent to the rear of the room. So, there is a constant supply of fresh, filtered air being introduced making a healthy environment in which to practice and means the atmosphere in the room whilst warm and humid is not oppressive.”
A welcoming atmosphere with supportive staff and quickly began to feel the benefits.
Whilst more and more individuals are consciously looking for new ways to exercise to tone and lose weight, Suzie excitedly told us about additional benefits that the Hot Yoga Health members were experiencing. We were surprised to find out that the benefits of Hot Yoga can include the following: • Works all the muscle groups from top to toe • Aids digestion and facilitates weight loss • Improves posture and flexibility • Helps remedy sporting injuries • Reduces back/knee pain and alleviates stiffening joints
• Rejuvenates skin • Eradicates cellulite nd scar tissue • Increases energy levels • Boosts immune system • Relaxes the mind and body and relieves tension • Increases sense of wellbeing • Relieves symptoms of menopause This fantastic and inviting studio simply has everything. Fantastic facilities, a welcoming and supportive team that is experienced and knowledgeable, a ‘per class’ rate as well as membership and a free car park.
But don’t take our word for it, why not give it a try?... but be warned, it is highly addictive! Contact hello@hotyogahealth.uk www.hotyogahealth.uk
LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 31
So here at Newport Vision we were looking for a couple of days away in pure, unadulterated luxury, and to start our travel review page off with a bang we thought we’d make our first feature about Dubai.
DUBAI
TRAVEL REVIEW 32 NEWPORT VISION APRIL 2018
With miles of golden sand, the infamous manmade island in the shape of a palm tree, extravagant malls, five-star resorts and the world’s tallest buildings our trip to Dubai ticked every box. So in March, whilst the snow thawed a week after Storm Emma hit Newport and the rest of the UK, we quickly packed our cases, whizzed down the M4 to Heathrow and boarded our Royal Brunei flight, direct to Dubai. We arrived in Dubai on the Monday morning at 4am and spent our first day and evening at a stunning apartment next to The Palazzo Versace. As it was 32 degrees and we were tired due to the night flight, we thought it only fair that we climatise by spending the large majority of the day at the pool. It was an extremely hard day with repetitive lifting, the alcoholic cocktails and suntan oil have a lot to answer for! By 6pm we decided to venture out and went to Dubai Mall, the shops were a huge temptation but as we had promised this would be a holiday for us with no children we decided not to waste our time in shops, so as
we walked through the Mall to the Aquarium we did an alternating window shop whilst taking it in turns coaxing each other out of the doorways of designer shops - we had to stay focused! Our evening meal was at the side of the Fountains and what a beautiful site that was! As the fountains danced and lit up to music, welcoming us to Dubai, the Burj Khalifa was our beautiful backdrop. More heavy lifting commenced (this time, no suntan oil in sight). Day 2 - The Habtoor Grand, we stayed here on recommendation due to it’s close proximity to The Palm, Jumeirah Beach Walk and The Marina and we were not disappointed. It’s grand entrance and reception area welcomed us in and the staff were at hand to check us in and take our luggage to our rooms. Our beautiful room gave us a seaview as well as the tennis courts and infinity pool. Cases thrown open, a quick change of clothes and we were out again, this time to enjoy a desert safari. Images of The Sex and The City girls walking elegantly in the desert
come to mind but this is not what we were after - A 4x4 being ragged around the sand dunes with the promise of fun and imminent whip lash is what we were after - and we loved every minute of it (imagine rushing the kids to school on a morning when your alarm doesn’t go off, minus kids, but the addition of huge sand mountains in the place of Ridgeway’s hill and you are half way there). Amazing fun and an experience we’ll never forget - although this should come with a - Strictly not after a night on the lash warning! The evening was spent at The Meat Co. at The Madinat before taking a walk around Dubai Marina, absolute bliss.
Day 3 - Was started on the beach of The Habtoor Grand at Andreea’s under our own cabana next to the pool. We spent a couple of hours contemplating just how hard life was before going next door to Zero Gravity where we partied with a Kir Royal in hand - at this point we have got used to living the life of luxury, relaxed to a point where the words ‘return to work’ were no longer in our vocabulary and our children were a distant memory (ok we still missed the children - but almost!). Another quick change and we were taken to Villa Beach Restaurant where our table was perched charmingly on the beachfront with The Jumeirah Hotel on our right and opposite us was the breath taking Burj Al Arab. We wined and dined
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WE WERE IN PARADISE all evening as the Burj’s lights changed colours and the waves lapped on the shore close to our table, our night couldn’t have been more romantic, we were in paradise. Day 4 - Eggspectations on JBR Walk is where we over indulged in an amazing breakfast before heading to Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis on The Palm, to spend our final day. Again, little thought was put into our itinerary as a huge breakfast before a waterpark isn’t the greatest idea we have had but we struggled on and spent time enjoying the day. We decided to watch the sunset on jet ski’s before we changed, picked up our cases and headed back to the airport.
As we arrived in Heathrow we were greeted once again by the bitter cold that slapped our tanned faces and we drove back down the M4 with The Beast from The East, part 2, hot on our heels! So how was our mini break to Dubai? Amazing - yes?, Expensive? - yes, but didn’t break the bank, Would we go back? You just try and stop us!
SPICY CHIPOTLE CHICKEN BOWL WITH CHUNKY GUACAMOLE RECIPE
List Of Ingredients 250g skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into large, bite-sized pieces 1 tbsp chipotle paste juice of 1 lime, plus extra wedges to serve salt and pepper ½ tbsp coconut oil 2 red peppers, de-seeded and cut into bite-sized pieces large dollop of soured cream 1 tbsp grated cheddar cheese paprika, for sprinkling For the guacamole 1 avocado, de-stoned and roughly chopped 1 tomato, de-seeded and finely chopped ¼ red onion, finely chopped 2 tbsp coriander, chopped, plus extra for garnish juice of 1 large lime 1 red chilli, de-seeded and finely diced Serves: 1
Method 1. Preheat the grill to medium. 2. Chuck the chicken in a bowl with the chipotle paste and lime juice and season well. Toss to coat evenly, then place the chicken under the grill. 3. Cook for 5–6 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Check by slicing into one of the pieces to make sure the meat is white all the way through, with no raw pink bits left. 4. Meanwhile, melt the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the peppers and cook over a high heat for 6–8 minutes, or until tender and lightly charred at the edges. 5. Mash together all the guacamole ingredients in a bowl until fairly well combined but still chunky. Season.
The Fat-Loss Plan: 100 Quick and Easy Recipes with Workouts by Joe Wicks Published by Pan Macmillian.
6. To serve, place the peppers, chicken and guacamole in a bowl, top with the soured cream, sprinkle with the grated cheese and paprika and serve, topped with coriander and wedges of lime.
THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE WILL GIVE WALES A REAL BOOST ON THE WORLD STAGE FOR BUSINESS EVENTS.
36 NEWPORT VISION APRIL 2018
International Convention Centre Wales The new International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) will open in the summer of 2019 and provide a real beacon attracting global business events to the country. A joint venture partnership between Celtic Manor Resort and Welsh Government with a total development cost of £83.7m, ICC Wales will be capable of accommodating up to 5,000 delegates with a total floor space exceeding 26,000 square metres. The new facility will open for business in June 2019. The centre will house a 1,500 seat auditorium and separate exhibition hall which, at 4,000 square metres, will provide the largest pillar-free ballroom in Europe, capable of hosting 2,400 people for a gala dinner. Celtic Manor Resort Chairman Sir Terry Matthews said: “This International Convention Centre has been many years in the planning and I am delighted that we are now in a position to deliver this facility that will be such an asset to Wales.
The Celtic Manor Resort has already established a reputation as the UK’s No 1 Conference Hotel but this new centre will be a real game-changer.” Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates added: “This will be a major asset for Wales, enabling us to compete with any venue in the UK and indeed Europe to attract and host key events that make a huge contribution to the economy. It will place Wales firmly at the forefront of business tourism destinations and I am delighted it is being delivered in partnership with the Welsh Government.” As well as the auditorium and main hall, included in the detailed designs are five divisible meeting rooms that will create a further 12 flexible spaces, breakouts at all levels to outdoor networking spaces, state-ofthe-art technology with fully integrated audio visual facilities and fully serviced client offices, green rooms and production facilities.
A 2,500 square metre plaza will welcome visitors to the new centre and provide additional networking and exhibition space. There will be HGV loading bays direct to both the auditorium and main hall, and 700 car parking spaces will be created under the facility with direct access to the ICC Wales arrival atrium. The existing Celtic Manor Convention Centre, with its 1,500-delegate Caernarfon Suite, will continue to operate fully during construction of the new facility and its meeting rooms and amenities will complement ICC Wales when it opens. ICC Wales Contact Details: Website: iccwales.com T: + 44 (0)1633 410 200 Enquiries: leadtheway@ iccwales.com
LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 37
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So you have a neutral palette in your room from 2017 but are looking for a change that screams 2018 - why not easily update to this season's trend without making major changes? Try our Tropical Gold Geometric look. Add a couple of big leafy plants with these key pieces and you are away!
GOLD LEAF
Carrara Coffee Table £199 Dunelm
Set of 4 Metallic Hexagon Placemats and Coasters £24 Next
Paste The Wall Gold Line Geo Wallpaper £28 Next
12 Piece Angular Dinner Set £55 Next
Fransen Peacock Chair £249 Dunelm
Wild Wood Light Up Globe £90 John Lewis
APRIL 2018 April 14th A Mothers Ruin: A Cabaret about Gin @ The Riverfront April 15th Family Fun Day @ the Serrenu Centre, Rogerstone April 21st Peaky Blinders Night @ The Pod April 21st The Carpenters Experience @ The Neon April 28th Incredible Michael Jackson Tribute Act @ The Friendly Fox, Bassaleg April 29th ABP Newport Wales Marathon @ Newport May 11th So 80’s Summer of Love @ Tiny Rebel, Rogerstone
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