Luxe Issue 64 Aug/Sep 2020

luxe magazine £5.00

ISSUE 64 AUG/SEP20

£5

luxe-magazine.co.uk ISSUE 64 AUG/SEP20

LO C A L H E RO E S . Oc e an advent ures . COOK W ITH CH R IS BABER. Joyful m om e n ts . H O M E C O MF ORTS . Ki ds c l ub. M IG H T Y M OTORS. Beautiful E s c a p e s . PR I M E P RO PERT Y. Co o l creat i ves. G OL F. Wow i n teriors. HAPPY C AM PI N G. Bi g n a me s . LUX E.

WHERE SOLD

The north east’s first in bespoke affordable interiors 10TH AVENUE WEST | TEAM VALLEY | NE11 0HL | 0191 491 3836 OPPOSITE RETAIL WORLD G R E ATLOOK . C O. U K

WELCOME

ISSUE 64 AUG/SEP20

contents 6>> Do this Time to fill those diaries

16>> Our picks 10 things Luxe is loving this season

18>> Fashion edit Oh, how lovely it has been to be back filling these pages with a sprinkling of Luxe.

Whether you’re a long-time reader, you regularly check in for a digital dose; or whether Luxe has dropped through your door for the first time, we hope this issue brings a bit of joy after drifting off track for a little while.

In our last issue it felt legitimate to be packing up for our next getaway, filling our summer diaries and planning the perfect garden party. Much of this, of course, was put on pause, but what this unusual time has given us is, in fact, time - time to focus on ourselves, time to set new goals, and time to remember what is important.

It’s been something of a blessing to stop, slow down and bring a bit of time back into our lives - that and a whole load of new talents and technology mishaps!

But as the days float on by and we start to move in the right direction, there’s never been a better time to curl up with a cup of coffee (or something stronger), hunker down and hear about the people and places that make us proud to call the North East home.

From our lovely local heroes and charity champs, to a glorious guide to ‘living beautifully’ and exploring the natural world on our doorstep, we’ve never appreciated our region more.

So, as the world slowly wakes from its slumber, let us guide you through the good stuff - covering everything from health, beauty and fashion, to summer staycations, mighty motors and some seriously inspiring North East folk!

Stay safe and take care.

Remember to check in with us online at luxe-magazine.co.uk See us on social at: Twitter: @TheLuxeMagazine Instagram: @theluxemagazine Facebook: @luxemag

THE LUXE TEAM Christopher March publisher chris@remembermedia.co.uk

The wild side with Barbour

28>> Joyful moments Join ‘the joy ride’ with Life & Lillies

34>> Local heroes Lissa Foley-Hughes is an expert in the ‘art of living beautifully’. Her new venture, Life & Lillies, is all about empowering women to bring joy and adventure into their lives. Her luxe things in life include: her morning ritual - starting with a good cup of coffee, the people who have given their time and knowledge to get her to where she is now, and her job.

For Lissa, it all comes down to sharing her joy with others.

Cheers to our Luxe champions

40>> Takeaway treats How to eat in style at home

42>> Yes chef Getting to know Chris Baber

52>> Country escape Beautiful Yorkshire adventures await

54>> Happy campers Park and pitch with Yorkshire Vehicle Hire

58>> Finding home A new, Northumberland chapter

62>> Cool creatives Introducing hey ho & co

67>> Calm kids Mindful moments for little ones

72>> At the wheel Bob Arora takes to the roads

76>> Superhomes Swish homes for supercars

Chris Baber is the new face of the M&S ‘Cook With’ and ‘Fresh Market Update’ campaigns. He’s a North East chef with home comforts and his hometown of Hexham at the centre of everything he does in the kitchen. His luxe things in life include: hikes in the glorious great outdoors, catching up with friends over food and getting out on the golf course.

EDITORIAL Elysia Fryer head of content elysia@remembermedia.co.uk Matthew Thomas editorial matthew@remembermedia.co.uk

Our partners

SALES Debi Coldwell director debi@remembermedia.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Gibson info@kgphotography.co.uk Nicky Rogerson nicky@kgphotography.co.uk DESIGN David Stubbs creative director dave@remembermedia.co.uk If you wish to advertise with us please contact our sales team: Debi Coldwell: debi@remembermedia.co.uk / 07910 918366

Remember Media Ltd, Enterprise House, Kingsway, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, NE11 OSR remembermedia.co.uk All contents copyright ©2020 RememberMedia Ltd. 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, photographs, artwork or advertising materials while in transmission or with the publisher or their agents. All information is correct at time of going to print, August 2020.

Sophie McIntosh is the brains behind hey ho & co - a creative business by the coast. The Saltburn shop and studio, just a stone’s throw from the waves, is home to a creative community of likeminded designers and artists. Sophie’s luxe things in life include: her garden, wildlife, nature and the great outdoors, and sharing her experiences and passions with her young daughters.

luxe is published bi-monthly by Remember Media Ltd

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk

3

SUBSCRIBE

bring some luxe into your life luxe magazine

luxe magazine

£5.00

£5.00

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE OF YOUR FAVOURITE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 59 JUL/AUG19

ISSUE 61 NOV/DEC19

£5

£5

WHERE SOLD

WHERE SOLD

luxe-magazine.co.uk

luxe-magazine.co.uk

ISSUE 61 NOV/DEC19

ISSUE 59 JUL/AUG19

H OT H O ME MA KE OV E R S . Se a s o n a l f e a s ts . R E S T A N D R E T R E AT. Su m m e r s ty le . S T UN N I N G H O ME S . Pa r ty pe o ple . W R I T E R S I N T H E KN OW. A r t lif e .

O UT DO O R E S C A PE S . Lu xe la ps . H I P H OT E L S . Big n a m e s . LUX E .

H O ME C O MF O RTS . Fe s tive h a ppe n in g s . E AT W I T H MICHAEL W IGNALL. C o o l c lo th in g . S PA T I ME . C h r is tm a s c ove re d. DI S C OV ERING D ES S ERTS .

Pa r ty pe o ple . A C O O L C OA S TA L C O N DO . C ity bre a k in g . A DVENTURE CALLS .

Me g a m o to r s . MA N KI T. Big n a m e s . LUX E .

Delivered to your door

FOR ONLY £22 Promising a stylish snapshot of life in the North East, all year.

Subscribe at:

luxe-magazine.co.uk/subscribe/magazine or call 0191 500 7860

S AV E 2 5 % WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE

LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Midas touch Bring a bit of brass beauty to your bathroom with Crosswater’s refined MPRO collection. Our very own interiors expert, Kerry Lockwood, has used Crosswater to create a classic space with a contemporary, industrial aesthetic. £4,800. crosswater.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk

5

BOOK CLUB

Luxe reads If you have an eclectic palette but little time to cook, Rukmini Iyer’s new cookbook is for you, says Luxe book columnist, Dawn McGuigan…

Dawn McGuigan is a life-long bookworm, based in Houghton-leSpring. She studied English Literature at Northumbria University and has been running her Book and Brew book club since 2015. She has shadow judged at the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Man Booker Prize and has appeared on BBC Radio 2’s Book Club.

THE ROASTING TIN AROUND THE WORLD RUKMINI IYER The Roasting Tin Around the World is a collection of 75 global one-dish dinners designed for busy people. Inspired by Iyer’s travels across Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Russia, India and the USA, each dish is packed with flavour but is simple to put together.

The recipes range from family favourites to flexitarian delights, offering speedy weekday meals and more luxurious fare to savour over weekend dinners. Dishes like Korean-style aubergines, slow-cooked pork pibil and the African-inspired chermoula roasted tuna, will raise your culinary game without raising your blood pressure in the kitchen.

This is a hassle-free approach to global cuisine. Preparation is quick on even the most ingredient-rich recipes and the washing up is minimal as everything is cooked in a single roasting tin.

If you’re nervous about trying new dishes, this is a great way to ease yourself into producing tasty meals that take you out of your culinary comfort zone.

Want to try one of Iyer’s delicious recipes? Take a look at this fabulous South American dessert to liven up your dinner table…

PEACH AND DULCE DE LECHE CAKE WITH MERINGUES AND CREAM [Serves 8] In Uruguay, the original version of this cake is known as chajá – layers of light, fluffy sponge soaked in peach syrup, whipped cream, dulce de leche, peach slices and crumbled meringue. Iyer’s version incorporates the dulce de leche and fresh peaches into an olive oil cake - serve it warm out of the oven, with crème fraiche or lightly whipped cream. Prep: 15 minutes. Cook: 25 minutes Ingredients 225g olive oil 225g dulce de leche (you can use tinned Nestlé caramel, sold next to the condensed milk) 50g caster sugar 4 free-range eggs 225g self-raising flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 3 under- to just-ripe peaches, thinly sliced To serve 175g dulce de leche (this is the remaining caramel in the tin) A handful of crushed shop-bought meringues Crème fraîche or lightly whipped cream Method Preheat the oven to 160°C fan/180°C/gas 4. In a food processor or by hand, mix the olive oil and dulce de leche together with the sugar then beat in the eggs. Fold in the flour and baking powder, then pour into a 26cm by 20cm roasting tin or dish.

Arrange the sliced peaches over the batter, then transfer to the oven and bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown. Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes.

Melt the remaining dulce de leche in a pan until smooth, then drizzle this over the warm cake. Scatter with a handful of crushed meringues, then serve with crème fraîche or lightly whipped cream.

The Roasting Tin Around the World – Global One-Dish Dinners

by Rukmini Iyer is published by Square Peg. RRP £16.99 Photography by David Loftus and Ula Soltys

6

luxe-magazine.co.uk

Stay in >> go out >> enjoy Diary dates for late summer fun. Matthew Thomas guides us through some cultural fun across the North East and online…

5-9

AUGUST

Gather the family and drive your way into the theatre for an afternoon of movie magic. At The Drive In brings the big screen to Newcastle Airport this August, showing childhood classics such as Toy Story and The Lion King as well as musical sing-a-longs including Grease. Enjoy hours of entertainment with stand-up comedy, bingo and games before the movie begins. atthedrivein.seetickets.com

THROUGHOUT AUGUST

FROM 13 AUGUST

There is nothing more quintessentially British than an afternoon tea in the stunning confines of a whimsical walled garden. A hidden 18th century gem nestled in the Tyne Valley, Bradley Gardens is a botanical nursery like no other. From the ‘Confectioner’s Tea’ at just £13 per person, to a decadent ‘Sparkling Afternoon Tea’ from £19.50 per person, settle in amongst the beautiful blooms and enjoy the ultimate afternoon tea treat this summer. bradley-gardens.co.uk

Don’t miss out on The Bowes Museum’s family workshops this summer. Throughout August, you and your clan can sail the canals of Venice and make sparkly masquerade masks with the Voyage of Splendour and Festivity, or be inspired by the museum grounds and make a clay bug-house with artist, Jilly Johnston. So, whether you’re immersing yourself in European culture or learning about insects and bugs, The Bowes Museum has the school summer holidays sorted. thebowesmuseum.org.uk

FROM 10 AUGUST Calling all culture-vultures! Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ world-class culture venues are reopening their doors - and they’re packed full of good stuff for families to enjoy throughout the back end of summer, autumn and beyond.

Get these dates into your diaries, and get set for a safe and enjoyable trip into a world of North East culture. Arbeia South Shields Roman Fort and Segedunum Roman Fort Wallsend will be open from 27 July, with the Laing Art Gallery opening on 10 August, South Shields Museum & Art Gallery opening on 13 August and Stephenson Steam Railway opening 21 August.

Shortly after, the Shipley Art Gallery will open on 25 August, the Discovery Museum and Great North Museum: Hancock will reopen on 1 September and the Hatton Gallery and Tyne & Wear Archives later in autumn 2020. twmuseums.org.uk

3-31 AUGUST We’ve got a food-fuelled summer ahead of us, thanks to the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme offering a fantastic 50% discount on restaurants across the country from 3 - 31 August. Foodies can dine out every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, receiving up to £10 discounts per diner. Some of our favourite regional restaurants taking part in the scheme include: Cena, Chadwicks Inn Malbty, Fuego, The Impeccable Pig and The Milbank Arms. gov.uk

THROUGHOUT SUMMER The Alnwick Garden is the perfect day out destination for the whole family this summer, and we’re delighted to see it back up and running in all of its floral glory. From roses to rhododendrons, primroses to petunias, Alnwick Garden is a horticultural hub that will charm and inspire all members of the family - perfect for soaking up the summer rays. alnwickgarden.com

AUG/SEP20

DO THIS

FROM 5 SEPTEMBER One of our favourite sweet spots has just announced that their much-loved chocolate making workshop will be back up and running from September. La Chocolatrice has made big chocolatey waves in the city’s food scene since opening up last year, and we can’t wait to get back to making and tasting delicious choccy treats. lachocolatrice.co.uk

12

14 AUGUST 5 SEPTEMBER Heads-up music lovers - the UK’s very first socially distanced festival is heading to Newcastle Racecourse this summer. With a cracking line-up of music icons and comedy favourites, Virgin Money Unity Arena is the first of its kind and a foray into a brave new world for the arts and culture sector. DJ icon, Craig Charles kicks proceedings off with a bass-centric set on Friday 14 August, The Libertines take to the stage on Saturday 29 August and Maximo Park round off a star-studded festival with a must-see gig on Saturday 5 September.

And with side-splitting stand-up shows expected from the likes of Jason Manford, Jimmy Carr and Bill Bailey, you won’t want to miss this unique outdoor festival, heading to the North East this summer. virginmoneyunityarena.com

3

SEPTEMBER

One of the tastiest events by the coast is back in action this September, and there’s never been a better time to fill the cupboards with local goods. Round up your foodie friends and head over to Saltburn Farmers’ Market for a day getting to know some of the region’s finest independent traders, and treating those taste buds while you’re at it. Go here for treats, trinkets and tasty delights. saltburnfarmersmarket.com

UNTIL 12 SEPTEMBER It’s Proms season and there’s no need to miss out this summer. Hear a wide range of classical music with BBC Proms 2020 virtual performances as they are broadcast on TV, radio and online. This year’s programme celebrates the past, reflects on the present and explores the future, bringing the BBC Proms atmosphere to your home with a click of a button. Don your best patriotic attire, wave your flag and bring the Proms to your garden this year. bbc.co.uk

Book It Now >> 17 OCTOBER After the success of the Super Health Brunch as part of Middleton Lodge Estate’s Wellness At Middleton Series, the team is offering an Empowered Menopause Workshop on Saturday 17 October. The workshop will be headed up by Kate Airey, who will talk through the optimal nutrition and lifestyle habits that will help move you towards an empowered menopause. Complete with a healthy brunch and an inspiring, nutritional talk from Kate, this wellness morning is sure to help you relax, recharge and leave with a completely new - and positive - mindset. middletonlodge.co.uk

18

Time to unplug, unwind and switch off for the ultimate Wellness Retreat at Swinton Bivouac. This unique two-night getaway is set in off-grid tree lodges in the Yorkshire Dales, and is the perfect place to escape after the rush of summer.

Swinton Bivouac is the ideal spot to relax, recuperate and recharge with a tranquil programme of sound baths, mindfulness forest walks and reiki drumming around the campfire. Set on the edge of the Dales, this retreat comes complete with sweeping views of scenic woodland, and is just moments away from many country walks and the likes of Druid’s Temple for the adventurers amongst you. swintonestate.com

If you’re not quite ready to venture out, you can visit some of Yorkshire’s finest attractions from the comfort of your own home with Welcome To Yorkshire’s Virtual Tours. Apollo 3D have created premium tours of some of Yorkshire’s leading attractions, from the tranquil views of Almscliffe Crag and the aromatic kitchens of Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School, to the fascinating Yorkshire Wildlife Park and the charming Holdsworth House. yorkshire.com

Missed your museum fix in recent months? Having had a phased reopening in place from July, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens is back up and running, offering plenty of art, culture and inspiration for the people of Sunderland, the North East and beyond. The ‘Received Wisdom’ exhibition has been extended to 1 November, meaning you can still get a glimpse of this thought-provoking, artistic showcase.

‘Received Wisdom’ presents a body of work by artists working in their later years, challenging ideas about what is expected of us at different stages in our lives. sunderlandculture.org.uk

15

NOVEMBER

Comedy heavyweight, Jimmy Carr, returns to Newcastle this winter with a side-splitting new show. He has become a household name through regular appearances on 8 Out of 10 Cats and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, and now he’s rolling into the O2 City Hall as part of his UK tour. He’s been nominated for comedy’s most prestigious prize ‘The Perrier Award’, he’s bagged himself a Royal Television Society winners award and he’s guaranteed to make you laugh from start to finish this November. Don’t miss it. academymusicgroup.com

OCTOBER

NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME >> While we eagerly await the return of theatres, all the drama of the National Theatre stage has fled online and it’s available for virtual streaming. Taking inspiration from the success of their NT Live productions, the team have taken things a step further by putting some of their most successful theatre shows on YouTube. Released weekly on Thursdays, National Theatre at Home has so far reached over nine million households and has showcased the likes of Jane Eyre, A Streetcar Named Desire, Small Island and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With plenty more theatre, interviews and exclusive content waiting in the wings, National Theatre at Home is a must for your virtual culture fix. nationaltheatre.org.uk

UNTIL 1 NOVEMBER

The team at Rockliffe Hall Golf Club have been working with the Great North Air Ambulance Service to host another charity golf day, offering the perfect opportunity to tee off with a team of friends or colleagues, for a great cause. The day starts with a bacon roll before 18 holes of championship golf, followed by a two-course dinner and presentation in the Clubhouse. rockliffehall.com

AUG/SEP20

VIRTUAL TOURS OF YORKSHIRE’S FINEST >>

20 - 22 SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER

Time to embark on a spectacular journey through classic and new age Italian wines at Dobson & Parnell. Pencil in the date and dive into a world of award-winning wines, served alongside five delicious courses, created by the restaurant’s chef patron, Troy Terrington. Enjoy a glass of fizz on arrival, followed by five courses and five matching wines for just £65pp.

The ideal date night in Newcastle this September. dobsonandparnell.co.uk

Virtual culture fix >>

NORTHERN BALLET - DIGITAL DANCE >> Bring the world of dance to your living room this summer. Northern Ballet’s dazzling dance platform is up and running, showcasing all of the ways you can watch Northern Ballet in the digital world. From full-length films, popular ballets and exciting sequences by up-and-coming choreographers and filmmakers, Northern Ballet’s Digital Dance is the best place to experience some seriously dazzling dance on the big screen. northernballet.com

3-6

FEBRUARY

2021

Sparkling costumes, Tchaikovsky’s spellbinding score and a story lifted straight from the pages of a classic fairy tale. Head to Newcastle’s Theatre Royal next February and follow Clara on a glittering journey through the worlds of her imagination as she drifts off to sleep on Christmas Eve. She meets the dashing Nutcracker Prince, takes on the larger-than-life Rat King, and is whisked into the luscious land of sweets by the Sugar Plum Fairy. Enjoy a visual feast for the eyes and ears as Scottish Ballet takes you and your family on a fantastical adventure at the theatre. The perfect post-Christmas treat. Book it now. theatreroyal.co.uk

luxe-magazine.co.uk

7

GOOD STUFF

Sweet charity Doing good things in the North East, our charity round-up... round-up

TOUR DE CHARITY >> North East native, Keith Farquharson, has raised over £5,000 for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation after completing all 2,082 miles of the 2018 Tour de France route at his home in Heaton, Newcastle. Despite having stage 4 bowel cancer himself, Keith converted his beloved road bike to a static bike, complete with a turbo trainer and a special simulator to help replicate the terrain and gradient of the Tour de France route. sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk

FAMILY FIRST >> Daisy Chain, a local charity supporting families living with autism, has reopened its services after having to close its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The day centre, farm and recently refurbished sensory play area in Norton has undergone all relevant health and safety adaptations to allow families in the Teesside area to return to the much-needed services. Neeraj Sharma, Chief Executive of Daisy Chain, said: “We’re delighted that we can welcome back families to our services to start providing much-needed respite following the pandemic. I’d like to thank players of People’s Postcode Lottery, their continued support has meant that we have been able to reopen our doors to provide autism services to Teesside families and individuals.” daisychainproject.co.uk

SUPPORT FOR KIDS >> A North East businesswoman has made a staggering £50,000 donation to a children’s charity during the coronavirus pandemic.

Helen McArdle has donated funds to Children North East after an appeal for donations. Despite having to suspend most of its regular fundraising work, Children North East successfully launched new services during the lockdown period to carry on its work of supporting vulnerable children and families in the region.

With activity packs made available to help children learn at home, computer vouchers for pupils to access tablets for school work, and a new helpline created as a support network for those in need, Mrs McArdle’s donation brings the money raised to support these projects to a whopping £75,000. children-ne.org.uk

PUTTING BACK INTO THE REGION >> Back in July, The Sir Graham Wylie Foundation was the official charity partner for the Betfred British Masters 2020. The renowned sporting event, which took place at Close House from 22 - 25 July, was hosted by former world number one, Lee Westwood OBE, a patron of the Foundation. The European Tour launched its Golf For Good initiative at Close House, and across the six-week UK Swing of the Tour, is set to distribute £500,000 to charities local to the tournament venues. “I’m extremely proud the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation was once again the official charity of the Betfred British Masters,” said Graham Wylie. “It means a lot to our community in the North East to have the support of the European Tour, especially the Golf For Good initiative this year during these tough times, and of course the unwavering commitment shown by our patron Lee Westwood in his support for our Foundation.” sirgrahamwyliefoundation.org.uk

GETTING CREATIVE >>

HELP FOR HOME LEARNING >>

GETTING THE MILES IN >> We may not be lining the streets of South Shields seafront this September to cheer runners over the finish line, but it’s not too late to join the official Virtual Great North Run. The virtual event will see runners all over the world complete 13.1 miles on Sunday 13 September, the day the 40th staging of the iconic half marathon was scheduled to take place. It is free to enter and open to everyone, regardless of whether or not you had a place in this year’s event. Participants are encouraged to raise money for charity. You might not have thousands cheering you along the way, but it’s the perfect time to get out running, challenge yourself - and most importantly, be your greatest. greatrun.org/great-north-run

8

luxe-magazine.co.uk

The team at Newcastle NE1 Ltd teamed up with Newcastle City Council during the pandemic to help support children’s home learning. Laptops and broadband equipment were handed to a number of pupils who would not otherwise be able to access online learning.

A call-to-action was put out to get further support from businesses and organisations. A tremendous appeal quickly spread across the city, with businesses donating kit bags for young people to keep laptops safe. The work will carry on throughout the school summer holidays, setting young people up for a fresh start in September. newcastlene1ltd.com

During the pandemic, our friends at Barbour pivoted the day job and helped produce PPE garments to support the fight against COVID-19. Working with the Royal Victoria Infirmary and other North East Trusts, the Barbour factory workers in South Shields turned their hand to making gowns and scrubs to support frontline medical staff in urgent need of protective clothing.

Chairman, Dame Margaret Barbour said: “Everyone has a role to play in fighting COVID-19 and I wanted my daughter Helen and I to play our part by turning our South Shields factory over to produce PPE products for the NHS. I would like to thank Professor Sir John Burn and the Newcastle Hospitals and Northumbria Healthcare Trusts for their guidance and assistance in helping us facilitate this.” The factory, which is usually the home of wax jacket creation, is no stranger to adaptation.

During both World Wars, Barbour pivoted quickly to help make military garments to assist in the war effort. Great work! barbour.com

AUG/SEP20

ADVERTORIAL

A PANDEMIC FINANCIAL PLAN FOR ALL THE FAMILY Help create a safe financial future for yourself, your parents and your children during the coronavirus pandemic Members of the sandwich generation, those individuals in their 40s, 50s and 60s who are bringing up their own children while also providing care for their parents, face increased financial strain in the best of times. Pulled in different directions, they are also trying to save for their own retirement during a critical period in their working life.

In the current coronavirus crisis, the sandwich generation is facing additional challenges, with the pandemic impacting jobs, businesses, schools and home life.

It’s the perfect storm of financial, emotional and time pressure. You might be in a senior role at work and have to juggle management responsibilities with the challenge of working from home. Or you might have been furloughed from your current role and face the prospect of a cut in income. Added to this, there are concerns about the performance of your pension and other investments given recent stock market falls.

So, amid this perfect storm, what can members of the sandwich generation do?

A financial adviser can help to work out your priorities and put a plan in place to build wealth for the future. In the meantime, here are some tips on how to support your parents and your children – while also taking care of yourself.

HOW TO HELP YOUR PARENTS Whether your ageing parents live with you, by themselves or in a care home, this is an anxious time. And while money is

never an easy topic to talk about, having a conversation will allow you to plan for this period of uncertainty more effectively.

Do you have a clear understanding of your parents’ assets, income sources, living expenses and debts? Do they have life insurance or long-term care insurance?

Are they claiming all the benefits they are entitled to?

Involving a financial adviser at this point can remove emotion from the equation and restrict the discussion to the facts and figures – for example, if you need to adjust your financial plan due to a change in circumstances caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Talk to your parents about financial scams in order to help prevent them from falling victim to online or telephone fraud. Keep in regular contact (via phone or digitally) and make sure they’re aware that you’re happy to discuss any money concerns that they may have.

And though it is a difficult subject, it’s important to check that your parents’ affairs are in order. Will creation and legacy planning will be front of mind for many people during this time of uncertainty, and it’s worth taking a look to make sure everything is up to date. Also note whether they’ve specified who can legally take control of their finances should they become unable to make decisions on their own.

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN Whether your children are younger and home from school, or older and back living at home after their university has closed, or they have been laid off from their job, they will likely need increased emotional – and possibly financial – support.

Thinking about money as a family, rather than each generation trying to manage

alone, is a great place to start, and has the added benefit of introducing younger generations to financial planning.

Ask yourself: what are you currently paying for childcare or schooling? Are you saving for a child’s education, or to help with a first-home purchase? Are loans and gifts to your children being structured in the most flexible or tax-efficient way?

The impact of the coronavirus may change the answers to these questions, and a financial adviser can help you identify what to prioritise and how to adapt to current circumstances if needed – while still saving for the future.

Pensions and Junior ISAs are great opportunities to give children a financial head start, and it’s worth contributing even in times of volatility.

Pensions and Junior ISAs are great opportunities to give children a financial head start, and it’s worth contributing even in times of volatility. In the Budget in March, the annual allowance for a Junior ISA was more than doubled to £9,000. A parent or guardian must set up the Junior ISA, but anyone can pay into it, and there is no tax to pay on any income or gains.

And even small contributions into a child or young person’s pension can make a big difference over the long term.

HOW TO HELP YOURSELF Remember, to continue caring for your children and your parents, you need to take care of yourself.

It can be tempting to try to predict the future, or react to events as they happen.

Talking to a financial adviser can help you make a financial plan in a calm, rational way, rather than reacting to news stories or your own emotions. Putting the right plan in place will allow greater opportunities to build wealth over time – fulfilling your retirement plans while still supporting other generations.

If you can, continue contributing to your own pension and savings. Sacrificing saving today could result in financial strain tomorrow. In addition, life insurance and financial protection are relevant now more than ever – we may not like to think about death, serious illness and long-term sickness, but they’re especially important if others rely on you financially.

Use your time in lockdown to give your budget a spring clean. Are there monthly costs that you could eliminate or reduce?

Are you using available tax breaks? You may even find there is an opportunity to make the most of a fall in share prices and invest for the future.

When markets have dropped, it can be a good time to save and invest. It may seem counterintuitive, but you are buying cheap stocks.

Look after you and yours. If you have any questions or concerns about intergenerational financial planning, just ask a financial adviser. They’re there to help.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested.

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.

Will writing involves the referral to a service that is separate and distinct to those offered

by St. James’s Place and is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact Patrick McLaughlin on 0191 5482830 or email Patrick.mclaughlin@sjp.co.uk The Partner is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the title ‘Partner’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk

9

SAY CHEERS

T H E LU X E LOW D OW N : B E N C L E A RY GETTING TO KNOW YOU >> Name Ben Cleary Title Founder and GM at Full Circle Brew Co. Where is home? Ryton, Tyne and Wear.

Three reasons you love where you live?

It’s just a stone’s throw from the city and has great walks for dogs.

THE DAY JOB >> What do you do for a living? I run Newcastle’s newest brewery, Full Circle Brew Co., which also houses my wine and craft beer shop, The Pip Stop.

A day in the life of you? My life is currently consumed by building my business, but family life is also very busy at the moment.

I have babies coming out of my ears... with a two-year-old daughter and two new arrivals (twin girls), we are in full nest mode at home and I am completely outnumbered!

Any recent, ongoing or upcoming projects or achievements we should know about?

We are soon to receive our new 6,000 can per hour (cph) canning line, which we aim to use to contract can for others in the local area. We’re also looking at hosting weekly and monthly workshops

10

luxe-magazine.co.uk

and events in our brewery tap room.

What does downtime mean to you?

Downtime isn’t a thing for me, but when I do get the odd minute, I spend time with my family and friends and watch ‘easy’ TV programmes.

LESSONS IN LIFE >> What did you want to be when you were growing up? I always wanted to be a race car driver.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you? You don’t have to be the cleverest cookie in the box; work hard, think smart and success will come.

What is your greatest fear? Not being successful.

Which living person do you most admire and why? I’d have to say one of my directors, Adam Black. He is my unofficial mentor and when I seek advice, I always end up leaving his room with more questions answered than I had to ask.

LIVING LUXE >> What is top of your bucket list? To do a

You don’t have to be the smartest cookie in the box; work hard, think smart and success will come

two-month US road trip - Route 66 on a Harley Davidson.

What is your most treasured possession?

My bottle opener keyring that is always attached to my keys in my pocket. It has saved me so many times at parties.

What does the weekend mean to you? Time with my wife, my daughters and my friends.

A memorable holiday? I was lucky enough to go on a buying trip to Bordeaux with our parent business, Lanchester Wines.

While we were there, I surprised my wife with our engagement.

Best dress? It’s got to be a full merch outfit during the day - there’s nothing better than a walking advert. Best dress would be a waistcoat and shirt combo, with some jazzy socks, of course.

Who would be your top three dinner guests and why? Richard Branson to pick his brains on being a serial entrepreneur. As a

food-lover, I need a chef in there - Gordon Ramsay is the obvious choice as I imagine he tells a great story. Chris Pratt for humour.

The last place you ate? A while ago now, of course, but it was The Patricia in Jesmond, the Sunday lunch is incredible!

The last book you read? Rich Dad, Poor Dad! A cracking read that really gets your creative juices flowing.

The last thing you listened to? ‘That Peter Crouch Podcast’ is well worth a listen. Album would have to be my favourite of all time, ‘By The Way’ by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The last thing you watched? Brooklyn 99… easy TV that I can watch again and again.

Your three luxe things in life? Taking the hound for a walk on the beach, going wakeboarding and making something challenging in the kitchen for friends. fullcirclebrew.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

Bringyour bubble to our bubble...

Rockliffe Hall has been awarded the AA Covid Confident shield and the ‘We're Good to Go’ kitemark by VisitBritain. We have also developed a Healthy Hospitality Charter which is our commitment to keeping guests safe on resort.

Autumn breaks are on sale now, from £180 per night.

www.rockliffehall.com

Hurworth-on-Tees Darlington County Durham DL2 2DU +44 (0)1325 729999 enquiries@rockliffehall.com

OCEAN ADVENTURES

Into the blue

The Ocean Revival team were due to set sail from New York to London in May, but the world had other plans, as North East crew members, Joel McGlynn and Ian Clinton tell Elysia Fryer...

LUXE: What can you tell us about Ocean Revival?

JM: We started planning the row back in September 2018. A bunch of us got together and started to have a think about a big challenge we could set ourselves. We decided we wanted to do an ocean row, so we did a bit of research and came across the 3,700 mile Atlantic Row - also known as ‘the world’s most dangerous row’. It sounded like a bit of us, so we looked into it and the rest is history.

We wanted to do it for charities that were close to our hearts; the first being The Royal Marines Charity because we’re all either currently serving or former serving Royal Marines. For the second one, we wanted to link it to the oceans. After watching quite a few documentaries on the issues regarding plastic pollution, we did some digging and came across Plastic Oceans UK. Everything just spiralled from there and it’s got progressively bigger and bigger. We were due to set off this spring, and of course, the whole thing got cancelled.

IC: We were very close to getting the boat shipped out to New York; we were literally a week away. The boat was with our shipping provider in London, packed and ready to go, but they held off because of what was happening.

As far as we were concerned, we were going, we were getting ready to say goodbye to our families, the training had come to a head, and we were pumped up, ready for the challenge. We were so lucky they didn’t ship it.

JM: We were due to fly on 4 May, with the plan to set off on 15 May. You have to wait for a weather window, so you can’t just cement that date, but that was the rough plan. Everything is weather dependent, but you’re looking at 60-80 days to complete the challenge. It’s tough work - the only time that you get a proper break is if there’s a big storm, in which case you batten down the hatches and climb down to hide out in your pod. But even then, it’s not a real rest because, as you can imagine, if you’re inside a boat getting absolutely smashed by the waves, you’re not really going to sleep that effectively - but I guess that’s just part of the challenge.

LUXE: Have you got a new date for the challenge?

IC: This summer has given us a chance to

12

luxe-magazine.co.uk

enjoy some unexpected family time. Of course, it’s frustrating having to push everything back, particularly when you’ve been working towards something for such a long time, but we’ve just been concentrating on our health and happiness at home as we begin to build up again ready for the same time next year.

Joel and I have looked into running an ultra marathon, just to keep momentum going.

We’re thinking of running the Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Trail from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay, with the aim of running 190 miles in three days.

But for now, we’re just starting to build momentum as a team again, get our heads together and plan for a big push in 2021.

It’s important for us to keep on top of the boat and make sure we’re ocean ready.

JM: Hopefully, it means we all get the chance to do some more fundraising.

We’ve already reached the £50k target, so that’s taken the pressure off a little, but we want to continue raising awareness for our charities while concentrating on becoming better ocean rowers with a better chance of a successful crossing next May. LUXE: You were so close to the start of an epic row. How has the setback affected the team’s morale?

JM: It’s very strange at the minute because it was such a huge build up, we were really motivated and energised, and then when it gets stripped away from you, naturally you feel a little bit deflated.

It’s bizarre to think that, at the time of speaking, we’d literally be in the middle of the North Atlantic, but we’ve just had to move on and look to the future.

It’s actually been quite refreshing to have a bit of time away from the boat, because the past two years of our lives have been totally consumed by it - it’s been constant, which is fantastic, but at the same time, if you’re going to take a little break, then why not do it now and enjoy it.

IC: It wasn’t just preparing for the row, it was all of the other bits in between. A lot of it was about raising money for charity and raising awareness about how we can help save the oceans. So, on top of the physical work, we’ve done all kinds of fundraising and educational support including school visits and workshops.

JM: It has been very hectic. We’ve had charity event after charity event after charity event. We’ve raised over £50k for The Royal Marines Charity and Plastic

Oceans UK. It’s been wonderful to see.

Our last social event as a group, before the COVID outbreak, was back in March at our Black Tie Charity Gala. It was a great way to showcase our sponsors and charities, and we added a big chunk to the fundraising pot through live auctions and ticket costs.

LUXE: Why did you decide to take on ‘the world’s most dangerous row’?

IC: I used to row competitively for the River Tees Rowing Club, but only for a year or so; but river rowing is very different to ocean rowing, as we’ve found throughout training.

There’s only one guy in the team who has rowed across an ocean before and that’s Matt Mason, our captain.

JM: We’ve all bee involved in expeditions in the past. Being in the Marines, you’re always out there doing some big challenge to push you out of your comfort zone.

So for us, it was just about finding the right challenge - and weirdly, rowing an ocean is actually something you can pick up reasonably easily. It’s not like climbing a very technical mountain where you’ve got to get years of experience behind you; there are many people who have taken to the oceans before, who don’t necessarily have a background in rowing.

We had the confidence that we could learn it, and we’re ready for the challenge - despite having to wait another year to get going.

JM: We’ve literally got the world’s knowledge in our pockets. All we’ve got to do is fire up our phones, acquire some of this information, make sure it’s accurate and then share that knowledge. Ocean Revival has given us a platform to educate others, and that’s what this is all about. Going forwards, don’t get me wrong - we’re devastated about the delay - but think about how many more people we can inspire between now and then. oceanrevival2020.com justgiving.com/fundraising/ocean-revival-2020

LUXE: It’s great to see ex and serving Marines supporting The Royal Marines Charity. Why did you choose to support Plastic Oceans UK? JM: I’ve met so many eco-warriors doing this. It’s really good to see actually.

I’ve always been passionate about the environment - not necessarily plastic pollution, but once you start looking into it, you can’t help but divulge into it.

I remember, during my research, getting to the point where I thought, ‘oh wow this is actually something that we can do something about’. It’s just about making conscious buying choices. If we can all make those small incremental changes, it’ll make a huge impact, and these are the things we’re trying to teach people.

IC: It’s also been fascinating to learn how much the ocean gives us. Our waters are essential for the planet to operate.

We wouldn’t be here without the ocean and the depth of knowledge out there is just incredible.

AUG/SEP20

Paid Advertising

ADVERTORIAL

Deneholme, Norton Village Deneholme is a stunning Grade II Listed Georgian townhouse by Future Developments, sitting in the heart of the lush, leafy high street of Norton, Stockton-on-Tees. Tastefully refurbished using high-end, contemporary fixtures and fittings, this four-bedroom home oozes charm and character and is currently on the market with the added benefit of no onward chain

The ground floor comprises a traditional entrance hall, living room with stone fireplace and bay window, open-plan kitchen/family room, pantry, utility room and WC. On the first floor you will find three bedrooms and a family bathroom, with the master suite, en-suite wet room and dressing room on the second floor.

The property also benefits from an enclosed rear garden with patio and grassy area.

The kitchen/family room forms the heart of the home, complete with oak flooring, front aspect bay window and inglenook fireplace. The kitchen itself boasts a range of fitted base and wall units with contrasting granite work surfaces and

centre island for socialising and entertaining.

Premium appliances include double oven, microwave, hob, extractor canopy, fridge and wine cooler.

Upstairs, the luxury bathroom suite comprises side fill oval shaped bath, wet shower area, wash hand basin and low-level flush WC. Other highlights include the master bedroom with vaulted ceilings incorporating two Velux roof windows, a contemporary en-suite and dressing room.

The property is as impressive outside as it is inside. It is finished to a high standard externally, with beautifully bay windows to the front and an enclosed garden to the rear. The lawned garden is the perfect spot for entertaining outside, with a

The property is as impressive outside as it is inside. It is finished to a high standard externally, with beautifully bay windows to the front and an enclosed garden to the rear

14

luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

ADVERTORIAL

This home also benefits from the latest in modern technology, including a Loxone Smart Home Automated lighting control, a music system throughout using Lithe Audio and plenty of Wi-Fi access, giving seamless internet connection from one room to the next.

Georgian-style terrace patio and walled boundaries offering security and privacy from all angles.

This home also benefits from the latest in modern technology, including a Loxone Smart Home Automated lighting control, a music system throughout using Lithe Audio and plenty of Wi-Fi access, giving seamless internet connection from one room to the next. The property also boasts internal and external CCTV and several television points offering endless possibilities when it comes to fitting media throughout the home.

4 Bedroom Townhouse for Sale: High Street, Norton POA

Tel: (01642) 506 800 harveybrooks.com

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk

15

GET THIS

Watching >> THE RUNAWAYS The Runaways is a heartwarming film following the adventures of three children and their donkeys in a chase across the North York Moors. It stars Mark Addy, Tara Fitzgerald and recent BAFTA winner, Molly Windsor. Mark Addy plays father to a family that run the local donkey ride on Whitby seafront. When tragedy befalls the family, his three screen children run away. The subsequent adventure tests their sibling bonds and love. You’ll see plenty of amusing scraps, but heart-breaking moments, too. And of course, the scenery doesn’t look too bad either. A film that’s sure to leave you feeling proud of our glorious countryside. therunaways.film

10 things luxe loves

COURGETTE, FETA, MINT & LEMON SALAD BY COOK HOUSE Courgette, Feta, Mint and Lemon Salad

by Cook House [Serves 2] Try this vibrant, vegetarian dish for BBQ season from our friends at Cook House, Ouseburn.

Ingredients 2 courgettes 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste Juice of 1/4 lemon

16

luxe-magazine.co.uk

CHARLOTTE TILBURY BEAUTY LAND WAND GOLDGASM Enhance that sunkissed glow with Charlotte Tilbury’s ‘Goldgasm’ Beauty Light Wand - the ultimate summer makeup accessory. This gorgeous, golden liquid highlighter is easy to use and instantly lifts the skin’s luminosity.

Dewy, glossy and drop-dead-gorgeous. £29. charlottetilbury.com

Reading >> THE SWITCH, BETH O’LEARY This book will make you laugh, cry and forget about all that’s going on in the world as you delve into the very contrasting lives of Leena and her grandmother, Eileen.

Looking for a change in lifestyle, the pair decide to swap places for eight weeks.

Leena finds herself in a sleepy Yorkshire village and Eileen sets up home in a trendy Shoreditch flatshare. It’s safe to say things get very interesting, very quickly. A feel-good story celebrating the unpredictability of life… you won’t be able to put this one down. waterstones.com

10 things Luxe is loving this season...

Kitchen inspo >>

Pampering with >>

50g feta cheese 1 handful of chopped mint Sprinkle of toasted pine nuts Method Shave the courgette into wafer-thin ribbons with a vegetable peeler and place into a bowl.

Add the olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice and mix together.

Scatter the courgettes onto a serving plate, then crumble the feta over the top and add chopped mint and a few toasted pine nuts to bring some texture. Serve.

Listening to >> HAPPY PLACE PODCAST If there was ever a time we were all in need of a ‘HAPPY PLACE’, it is now. Cue Fearne Cotton... This good-for-the-soul podcast removes us from the pressures of fast-paced life; talking things through to help unlock that inner happiness.

Fearne chats to some seriously inspiring individuals who have made a positive change - finding a way through and looking at life in a new light. Recent interviewees include Freya Ridings, Alicia Keys, Daisy May Cooper and local favourites, Chris and Rosie Ramsey. officialfearnecotton.com

AUG/SEP20

GET THIS

Living by >> DEEPAK CHOPRA “If you restore balance in your own self, you will be contributing immensely to the healing of the world.” chopra.com

Following >> &MEAD The life of a tiny atelier by the sea, &MEAD is a creative corner of Instagram, offering lovinglymade home interiors and goods to let your space bloom a little more beautifully. Scroll through this idyllic feed and be inspired by far flung travel, local hideaways and some of the coolest crafty stuff we’ve seen on Insta. instagram.com/and.mead

In our basket >> BALI BASKET RATTAN HANGING BALL CHAIR Bring Bali vibes to your garden this summer with this super chic Cielshop Rattan Hanging Ball Chair. This egg-shaped basket offers the ultimate hideaway to curl up with a book and a glass of the good stuff. An ideal way to bring a bit of beach club style to your outside space. £595. cielshopinteriors.com

Perfect scent >> NEOM ALL DAY CALM WELLBEING POD COLLECTION The key to wellbeing is finding your calm. One way that sure does work for us, is the power of scent - and for that, we’ve got NEOM’s Wellbeing Pod to thank. This all-encompassing collection, comprising: Scent To Sleep Tranquility, Scent To De-Stress Real Luxury, Scent To Calm & Relax Complete Bliss and Sensuous Essential Oil Blends, is the perfect tool to help you drift away to a clear, calmer space. £150. neomorganics.com

Dreaming of >> A LITTLE BIT OF ADVENTURE… Throwback thoughts to tropical climes and Sri Lankan adventures. We’re dreaming of days spent roaming the tea estates, practicing yoga under the stars and heading off on a water safari. Head over to Wilde & Co.’s website and plan ahead for wild and wonderful Sri Lankan escapes in 2021. Beautiful breaks to bookmark for future travel. There’s nothing a bit of wanderlust can’t fix. wilde-and-co.com

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk

17

OUT & ABOUT

18

luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

OUT & ABOUT

>> Ennerdale Overshirt, Barbour Fogle Endicott Wax & Barbour Fogle Wickham Dress

Wild things All things wild and wonderful. Enjoy the great outdoors in a style-savvy way, thanks to a stunning new Barbour collection by adventurer Ben Fogle and his wife Marina

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk

19

OUT & ABOUT

>> Barbour Fogle Washed Casual

20 luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

OUT & ABOUT

>> Barbour Fogle Wickham Knit

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk

21

OUT & ABOUT

>> Barbour Fogle Ireby Shirt

22 luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

BRITISH COLOURIST OF THE YEAR

WE’RE BACK! WE’VE MISSED YOU & CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!

Gosforth 0191 217 0217 Jesmond 0191 281 6714 Ponteland 01661 821 004 Wynyard 01740 644 690 www.hookerandyoung.co.uk Facebook: hooker&young Twitter: @hookerandyoung Instagram: hookerandyoung

STYLE GUIDE

TREND WATCH

with Kate Rose, founder of lifestyle brand, Tutti&Co Slowing down, silky sleepwear and enchanting strolls...

Well, I don’t think anyone was quite prepared for the turn of events since my last column. Life for most of us has changed beyond recognition. One positive change, however, is the slower pace of life which, as a family, we are really appreciating. It has been a time to pause and consider - and I hope for many, this will be the start of a positive work-life balance…

Visiting…

Loving…

As we will most likely be spending summer in the UK, I’m always on the lookout for new experiences and exciting places to visit as a family. If you haven’t already tried, you must plan a day trip to Hareshaw Linn.

Situated just outside Bellingham, you can take a magical walk through the ancient woodland, crossing six bridges, reaching a beautiful waterfall. Take a swimsuit for a splash through the waterfalls and pack a picnic to enjoy beneath the trees. You might even spot a red squirrel, woodpecker or badger. northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/ walk/hareshaw-linn-walk

The new great day glow moisturiser from NEOM with SPF 30. This lightweight natural moisturiser is packed with effective goodness, natural extracts and ingredients, balanced with the perfect amount of essential oils to minimise the appearance of pores, giving the skin a natural glow. The perfect daily sunscreen to pop in your summer handbag. £40. neomorganics.com

Wearing…

Must have...

The Lounge & Sleep Collection from Tutti & Co. PJs are possibly my favourite item of clothing; it has been a desire of mine for many years to create a range with a Tutti flair. In a time where we have had the chance to pause and reflect, we now continue with a slower pace of life, with a thoughtfully designed collection of lounge and sleepwear to add to the vibe. Let’s face it, it’s pretty much what we have all been wearing daily these past few months. Available in four designs, the range draws inspiration from our natural surroundings with soft prints and hand stitched cuffs and hems. The perfect treat as we head into the cosy months. £49. tuttiandco.com

24 luxe-magazine.co.uk

Like most, my lockdown wardrobe has changed rather dramatically. Comfort is first on the agenda when looking for pieces for my new casual wardrobe. My days are spent between juggling kids, work, site visits and virtual meetings, so I need effortlessly relaxed outfits.

I’m loving the new collection from Massimo Dutti, particularly the knit trouser, jumper and overcoat combination. This will be the most worn outfit in my wardrobe over the coming months, each piece mixing with items in my wardrobe for different looks. Try teaming a crisp white shirt with the knit trousers and sneakers for a smart casual look, tuck the jumper into mom jean for a casual weekend vibe, or dress the knit overcoat with a bodysuit and leather trousers for a dinner date. massimodutti.com

New projects…

I’m currently involved in three exciting house renovations. You can follow the journey with weekly progress posts on Instagram: @kateroselifestyle.

AUG/SEP20

LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES A skin thing Hydration, hydration, hydration. Give your skin the gift of CHANEL’s new HYDRA BEAUTY Camellia Repair Mask. Its rich, creamy texture immediately soothes and hydrates overworked skin. The perfect pick-me-up to help you feel confident when returning to work. £52. chanel.com

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk 25

SHAPE UP RED VALENTINO Gingham Pussy-Bow Blouse, £329, farfetch.com

LORO PIANA Houndstooth Wool Trench Coat, £3,495, net-aporter.com

BOTTEGA VENETA EYEWEAR Brown Tortoiseshell Check Square Sunglasses, £285, brownsfashion.com

GET THE LOOK

BRUNELLO CUCINELLI Sheer Checked Dress, £2,870, farfetch.com

Check mate Time to check out the wardrobe pattern of the moment...

BURBERRY White Salmond Vintage Check Panel Sneakers, £350, brownsfashion.com

BURBERRY Black Vintage Check Chelsea Boots, £520, brownsfashion.com

PALONES Nancy Checked Ruffle-Trimmed Midi Skirt, £130, harveynichols.com

GUCCI Prince of Wales Checked Wool Flared Pants, £980, net-a-porter.com

PRADA Checked Wool Trench Coat, £2,735, net-a-porter.com

26 luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

www.charlesclinkard.co.uk

EXPERIENCE THE Unforgettable

Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 3ET | +44(0) 1765 620070 | hello@grantleyhall.co.uk www.grantleyhall.co.uk

HAPPY DAYS

The joy ride

Listening to yourself and joining ‘the joy ride’ is what will bring you home, says Lissa Foley-Hughes. Elysia Fryer catches up with the founder of Life & Lillies, on a mission to help women bring joy, fun and adventure into their lives, amid very uncertain times

It’s a busy, deadline-looming Friday.

Things seem to be cranking up a gear as the world starts to wake up again. The rush of back-to-back Zoom calls and busy weekend plans are creeping through those mindful, weekend thoughts.

I started the day with a sunrise yoga practice on the beach, putting me in a positive mindset, ready for a productive day of list-ticking and deadline hitting.

But as time ticks on and the 5 o’clock Friday rush approaches, it’s easy to fall back into the rush of day-to-day life. I’ve got a 3 o’clock call to squeeze in before a flurry of emails fall in and thoughts turn to how many dinner dates and brunch plans I can squeeze into one weekend.

Luckily, for me, the conversation I’m about to have with Lissa Foley-Hughes, founder

28 luxe-magazine.co.uk

of Life & Lillies, is one that I can take into the final moments of my working week.

A positive influence and a refreshing look at how you shouldn’t let life run away with you.

I fire up the Zoom call and a big beaming smile is waiting on the other side. A bright and buzzy Lissa, fresh off the back of a week with the dogs in the Lake District.

Lockdown restrictions are gradually being lifted and life as we know it is looking up.

But as I chat about recent events with Lissa, we both agree that it’s important we continue to give ourselves the time to breathe - time to reflect and understand what it is we want from life.

Like many in lockdown, life looks a lot different for Lissa, but much of what she has achieved in recent months comes down to years of research and realisation. Let’s go back to the beginning…

“Yogalillies was my original baby,” explains Lissa.

“That was 15 years ago now - wow! It was my first outing into the wellness world.

We were the first dedicated yoga studio to open in Newcastle,” she adds.

“I guess into about year 10, I started to suffer a lot from burn-out. I didn’t realise that at the time. I didn’t know what it was because nobody talks about that in the wellness industry. There’s this pressure that you should have it all sorted out in your own head - your job is to teach it to others.

“It started my exploration into why I was feeling so... the only way I can describe it is ‘blah’. I’d ticked everything off - success, business, helping people, meaningful life - all of those things that society says you need to feel like you’re living a really good life - but inside, I was very... joyless, shall we say.

“So, I wanted to find out why I was feeling that way. There wasn’t much literature out there, so I did what everybody says you should do and took a trip somewhere.

I escaped for a little while to Italy. I went on a creative retreat and whilst I was there something just shifted inside. It felt like I was back to me again.”

It was the lightbulb moment we all hear about. That moment in time when it all ‘just clicks’ into place; right where it should be. But admittedly, for Lissa, she had experienced this moment several times, for many different reasons, but this time it just felt different. A time to really change and listen to that ‘joyful’ voice inside.

“When I came back home after that I started to do a bit of coaching - mind work that I’d never really explored on my spiritual yoga path. It wasn’t really something that was prevalent in the yoga world.

AUG/SEP20

HAPPY DAYS understanding of what it is I was going through. And I think creativity is a great way of building community.

“Through my painting and journaling, what I’ve discovered is that, as human beings, creating is what we’re supposed to be doing. Everything is creation. And it’s not just about the glitter, it’s about having the power to create our lives.”

Life & Lillies is about celebrating the ability to live freely. To seek happiness and to let joy take control of our lives. Whether it’s one-to-one coaching, a creative workshop, or an idyllic retreat in France or Italy, Life & Lillies is based around community and shared experiences.

“Whether you’re a mum, a dog owner, a wife, or a business owner… your identity just gets lost in the rush of day-to-day life,” Lissa explains.

“Life & Lillies is about taking some time to find yourself again.

“What I’ve discovered is that a lot of women don’t know what brings joy to their lives anymore, so it’s about excavating what it is that brings them joy, then putting things into practice.”

Lissa explains that we spend much of our time looking to others and wasting our energy on worrying about what happens next. But in reality, although speaking to friends and family and seeking guidance from mentors is helpful, the wisest person in your path is yourself.

“But the hardest part is listening to

“My previous career was very much about the power of the body and the breath, rather than the power of the mind. So, the more I started researching into this realm of thoughts, I started to discover more and more women of a certain age - starting to get into their 40s - are all going through this very similar thing. They’ve got the children, the house, the husband, the business, the career, and you get to a certain point where society tells you you should be happy now - you’ve got everything. But there’s still something inside that triggers the ‘is this it?’ thoughts.

“I discovered that it’s called a transition.

It’s not a change, it’s a transition that we go through. It’s not an external change that we need anymore, it’s an internal change.

We need to get back to who we are, what lights us up, and most importantly, what brings us joy.”

The Italy trip helped Lissa change direction, and once she had made that leap of faith, it was time to bring those positive changes into daily life.

“Starting every day with intentional joyful practice is what changed me. I knew what I needed to do, I just needed to put it into practice to help me get my mojo back.

“Joyful practice is all about cutting out the noise. For me, it was time to stop seeking outwards and start going right back within to what it is that brings me joy. Once you know what that is, it’s then allowing it in.

We all know what lights us up and we all know the emotions that joy brings, but allowing it is the difficult thing.”

And it isn’t something that ‘just clicks’ - it takes time, research, guidance, mentoring, and sometimes a good bit of ‘being in the right place at the right time’. For Lissa, Italy is a place that makes her feel at home. It makes her feel comfortable and confident in her own skin, and thoughts.

“Italy is a place that really brings out my creative side,” says Lissa.

“And I think that’s why it helped me in my journey to where I am now - that, and spending a lot of time outdoors with my two dogs.

“But also, there was a lot of educating

AUG/SEP20

involved. I studied spiritual texts, I interviewed women and I delved deep into how the mind actually works.

“So the next step was, once we learn how to calm our thoughts, what do we do? We’re extremely stressed - something is missing in our lives - so we go and do yoga and meditate. But then, after we leave the studio, we’ve made those changes, but our thoughts are still the same. So, we’re still stuck in this cycle of, I’m stressed - I’ll fix it - I’m stressed - I’ll do yoga. Yes, that helps to a certain level, but we need to know how to make the final changes we need, and that all comes down to the mind.

“Our thoughts are our reality. We become our reality. We can put a bandaid on, but to really understand that we have the power to change how we think, we need to be on board - on the ‘joy ride’. Then we can then change our reality.

“I looked at in-depth studies in metaphysics, history, coaching, therapy - just talking and understanding. I guess I’ve always been a seeker.”

What is so fascinating about Lissa is that she found herself in a position, became aware of it, studied it, and did something about it. Yes, it may have taken some time to get to where she is now - her new Life & Lillies journey - but having the drive and confidence to change your path and ‘do the do’ is really inspiring.

“I guess I was the experiment for my own path,” she laughs.

“I’d done the yoga, put myself through creating a studio - helping everybody else ticking the boxes for living a fulfilling life, but it got to a point where I forgot about joy. I thought to myself, ‘this is meant to be fun - this life that we’ve been given, this beautiful gift. It’s meant to be joyful, it’s not meant to be a struggle’.”

So now, life is about giving back to people in the same position she found herself in.

“I created Life & Lillies because everything I do comes from a deep desire to connect more with people. Five years ago when I was struggling with this, it’s a place I wish I had known about.

“I was searching for community, to get an

To really understand that we have the power to change how we think, we need to be on board - on the ‘joy ride’. Then we can change our reality

yourself,” she says.

“Sitting with who you are for a while and cutting out the noise is the best way.

That’s what happened when I was in Italy.

“We are like computers, there are only so many files that can stay open until the computer crashes. It’s the same with the mind, but I think when you start opening up your creative side and enjoying nature, you become more open to what it is you actually need.”

Looking at Lissa’s new business venture, the lockdown period seems like the perfect time to launch, but it wasn’t an intentional move, she tells me. It’s been bubbling for a while.

“I think, because of COVID, we have realised that we can pretty much do whatever it is we want to do.

“I think now, with the online world, we can start our own businesses - we don’t need that much funding now. Values have changed. Reinvention is the word that keeps coming up in my meditations, and I think it’s down to us to do it now. I’m aware it takes a lot of courage, but if you’re passionate about something, it is always possible.”

The response to Life & Lillies has been huge - because of Lissa’s previous Yogalillies community, but also because of the time, research and personal commitment that has gone into this creative new concept.

“When I have started a business or a project, it’s always been at a time when I really needed something. The studio came about because I really needed yoga in my life. I didn’t want to go to the gym anymore, I wanted to create a community.

“And I think it’s exactly the same concept with Life & Lillies. I want to nurture women as we start to move through this change.”

When she’s not painting, journaling or exploring the North East countryside, Lissa has plans in the pipeline for 2021 retreats, with the first set to take her - and her creative community - back to where it all began, in Italy.

“2021 is all about the retreats, but for now, I’m hoping to get back to workshops between the coaching, which is available now. My ‘Joy Ride’ community is proving very popular.”

It’s been quite the learning journey for Lissa, and now it’s all about sharing that experience to help others. Sharing joy...

“I start the day with, ‘how can I feel joy today?’ - if you set that intention in the morning, your brain starts to look for joy.

I find my own joy by painting, coming up with new creative ventures that I can get excited about, and getting out in nature with the dogs.

“We have the most beautiful beaches, countryside and woodlands here, so I like to make the most of that. I’m definitely a forest person. It’s that old cliche of ‘tree hugging’ - but honestly, I’m like a madwoman, put me in a forest and everything just becomes more clear.

“We live in Whickham, so we have Chopwell Wood, Slaley Forest and Kielder all nearby - I love going off-piste a little. With two Irish Setters, you’ve got to let them go. We follow the deer tracks, so we go wherever the deers wander off to. We usually end up at the top of a mountain or by the river.

We don’t always know where we’re going.

“Everyday you can find something new, and that’s what I love most about being out and about in nature. Life’s a journey after all.”

This 3 o’clock call has quite literally led to an unexpected ‘joy ride’ - a weekend awakening, and a positive light at the end of this very uncertain tunnel we find ourselves in. Time again to slow down, love more, worry less and enjoy the journey. lifeandlillies.com

luxe-magazine.co.uk 29

PRESS PAUSE

Finding space

Soul soothing summer reads…

Forget the brain-teasing drama of crime thrillers and the sickeningly sweet, heart-racing nature of romance novels, try something different this summer and settle into these soulsoothing reads instead. They will soften your experience of life and open your mind to a sense of something bigger than your day-to-day existence.

OLD MASTERS >> Old, sometimes ancient, philosophical writings have influenced us as people throughout time and the messages contained within them rarely seem to date. The wisdom shared in these texts can be reimagined to provide comfort and guidance in the midst of a fast, full and complex modern life: Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu: A classic Chinese text, written over 1,500 years ago by the man considered to be the father of Taoism (or ‘living in harmony with the way’). You can find many translations in print, all a little different, all worth a read.

The Prophet — Kahlil Gibran: Almost one hundred years old, this book is a sequence of poetic fables that offer an alternative take on universal aspects of life, such as work, love and time.

MODERN-DAY SAGES >> A handful of special poets manage to write in a way that enables the reader to consider the big, often existential questions in a gentle and somewhat ordinary manner.

Try reading anything by David Whyte, a living poet who writes, and speaks (try finding his stunning audio pieces) in a way that touches the soul, deeply. A good place to start is ‘The House of Belonging’ or ‘The Bell and the Blackbird’ though all of his work is beautiful.

John O’Donohue also wrote about the ordinary in a very magical way. His work is rooted in Celtic spirituality, though it is very accessible and because of its grounded nature, is particularly supportive in times of turmoil or big life-transition.

Kent Nerburn manages to somehow elevate the ordinary into something sacred, inviting us to consider the beauty of possibility in our everyday lives. ‘Small Graces’ is a particularly special book with something in it for everyone.

SOUL-STIRRING POETRY >> All of these poets write short pieces that will simultaneously calm you down and wake you up. They write of the breadth of life - love and loss, the land, big questions, tiny blessings, pain, joy. All of it visceral, all of it elemental and coursing with energy.

All of it deeply rooted in the confusion, wonder and of course truth in what it is to be alive: Victoria Erickson - ‘Edge of Wonder’ and ‘Rhythm and Roads’ Nayyirah Waheed – ‘Salt’ Rupi Kaur – ‘The Sun and her Flowers’ and ‘Milk and Honey’ Nikita Gill – ‘Wild Embers’ Beau Taplin – ‘Bloom’ and ‘Words of You’ You’ll find all of these poets on social media too, which is a great way to test out their content.

I wish you a safe and peaceful summer.

Take care for now, Laura

You can mediate and practice Yoga Nidra with me at my new podcast ‘Calm Down, Wake Up’. Find us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or come and connect with me on Instagram: @laura.beckingham

30 luxe-magazine.co.uk

Little moments Reforming routine and tackling those back to school blues September 2020 will definitely be significant for families. The prospect of sending your children back to school may be daunting for both you and them, especially after such an extended break.

For most children, they haven’t stepped inside their school since the end of March and when they return, it won’t be the same as they remembered. Children may well be carrying around a mixed bag of emotions in the lead up to their return to school. Initially, some may appear excited, others withdrawn, and some angry that they have to go back to formal education. Children may have concerns about rekindling friendships, remembering the rules and routines, or focusing on their work again.

So, how can we prepare our children and set them up for success? The first thing I would say is take your child’s lead. Invite them to tell you how they feel about the return. Don’t plant the anxiety seed by asking ‘are you worried about going back?’ - but do give them ample opportunities to talk.

I always advocate acknowledging, naming and validating your child’s feelings. For example: “From what you’ve said, it sounds like you’re feeling nervous about going back to school because you haven’t been there for a while. I completely understand. I felt like that about going back to work. What would make you feel better?”

Try hard not to dismiss their feelings by telling them not to be silly or that they have nothing to worry about.

Be mindful of nonverbal cues denoting anxiety, such as regression with sleeping habits, toileting, eating habits or mood swings, or physical ailments such as a bad head and sore stomach. Your children may need extra reassurance at this time, so be readily available for extra cuddles and one-on-one time.

Be positive yet truthful. You can have factual conversations about how it is rare that children become ill from COVID-19 and how staff will be there to look after them as best they can. In addition, show them how they can keep themselves safe, too. Giving children ownership is a way of increasing self-esteem. Remind them again about the importance of hand washing, physical distancing and coughing or sneezing into their elbows.

Corrina Atkinson Photography

A few weeks before the return, try to introduce the school routine at home. Reinstate sensible bedtimes and wake-up times. Eat meals and have snacks at the same time they would on a school day. Try on uniforms and PE kits. If you have younger children, make PPE for dolls and teddies so they become accustomed to it. If your child is especially anxious, reach out to the school and ask them for a phone call - or if possible, a walk-around video so you can see the changes.

Preparation is key in helping children feel safe and secure.

Finally, be gentle and kind with your child, the school and yourself. We’ve all been in the same pandemic storm but in very different boats. If you are feeling overly concerned, your stress will trickle down to your children, regardless of how well you try to disguise it.

Make sure you are looking after yourself and get support if you need to, because your children are relying on you to be their strength.

Nadia x Nadia McSheffrey is founder of The Tranquil Treehouse.

Nadia works with parents to help them be the parent they want to be and find tranquillity in their family lives.

She also works with children and teachers to support their own emotional wellbeing.

For more information and daily parenting support, follow her at: thetranquiltreehouse.com and on Facebook and Instagram @tranquiltreehouse

AUG/SEP20

YOU BUT BETTER

10 of the best beauty products for DIY pampering at home For a while, we’ve been chefs, teachers, stylists and cleaners, among many other things.

Lockdown life also forced us into finding our feet with our own at-home beauty regime.

Here are 10 products we’ve been loving in lockdown...

We are back!

LOVELY LOCKS >>

SILK TOUCH >> SEAMS is a handbag-must. Originally created for couturiers and seamstresses, it’s a brilliant go-to to help soothe and moisturise. The Silk Touch Hand & Nail Oil helps to achieve healthy cuticles, soft skin and nourishing nails. The Silk Touch Hand & Nail Oil £22, seamsbeauty.co.uk

MONPURE focuses on the unsung hero of healthy hair the scalp. From a stimulating scalp mask and clarifying scalp scrub, to follicle boosting serum, hydrating scalp serum and strengthening shampoo and conditioner, a MONPURE hair kit gives your luxe locks plenty of love.

Nourish & Stimulate Scalp Mask - £63, Clarifying Scalp Scrub - £63, Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum - £96, Hydrate & Soothe Scalp Serum - £96, Strengthening Silk Protein Shampoo - £36, Strengthening EssenceConditioner - £36, monpure.com

VERY BERRY >>

DARE TO DREAM >>

The perfect exfoliating mask for resurfacing, smoothing and brightening the skin.

Use once or twice every week to achieve a lighter, brighter and beautifully fresh complexion.

MONAT Berry Refined Scrub - £54, monatglobal.com

Struggling to slip back into your normal routine? NEOM’s Time to Sleep set ensures a great night’s sleep - and then some! Infused with lavender, chamomile, ylang ylang and cedarwood, this dreamy duo is designed to help you drift away with ease. NEOM Time to Sleep £50, beautybay.com

STROKE OF MAGIC >> There’s no doubt about it, these brushes will change your beauty regime forever.

This super set gives you the tools to put the fun back into makeovers. Soft and seamless, the brushes work wonders all over the face, from foundation application, to concealer, eyeshadow and lip lining.

Elite Black 3 Brush Set £76, net-a-porter.com

THAI FUSION >> Jo Loves’ new Mango Thai Lime fragrance celebrates Thailand’s most vibrant culinary flavours.

Packing in the punchy aromas of mango, kaffir lime and black pepper, this scent is enough to whisk you away to warmer climes with an explosive burst of sweet, sharp and zesty flavours.

Mango Thai Lime 100ml £115, joloves.com

GOLDEN GLOW >> Can’t get away this summer?

This skin saviour will bring the holiday to your home. A lotion that works to hydrate and bronze your complexion over time, gliding effortlessly onto the face to defend the skin from environmental aggressors while giving a bronzed radiant look. SISLEYPARIS Self-Tanning Hydrating Facial (60ml) - £97, spacenk.com

PLUMP & PROTECT >> Cult Beauty is now stocking Kate Somerville, and it’s the news we’ve all been waiting for. The serum is developed to calm redness and irritation, retain moisture, plump and protect the skin from pollutants. It will transform your skincare regime just in time for summer. Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Serum (30ml) £70, cultbeauty.co.uk

PURE & SIMPLE >> This ESPA duo work together in perfect harmony. You’ll feel like you’re bathing in the ocean as you soak in the Grounding Crystals, perfectly followed by a deep cleanse using the Purifying Polish - an exfoliating balm harmonising ancient rituals to revitalise the mind, body and soul.

A must-have pamper pair this summer!

The Grounding Crystals - £35, The Purifying Polish - £54, espaskincare.com

AUG/SEP20

EFFORTLESSLY FLAWLESS >> Giving an effortless, flawless look for the summer months, Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30 is a perfect go-to for a dewy, no-makeup-makeup look. A good-for-you hydrating complex made up of macadamia and kukui seed oils that help keep skin hydrated all day long.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF30 (50ml) - £35, harveynichols.com

And we are ready to give you the treatments you deserve after lockdown. Before we get into it though, I would just like to wish everyone health and happiness, and I hope the past few months haven’t been too hard on you. It’s been a rough ride, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel Here at the novellus aesthetics, we want to bring back a little normality to your lives (safely, of course) and give you those long-awaited treatments that you’ve missed.

We’ve had hundreds of messages from you, asking us which treatments are best for dull, post-lockdown skin, so here’s our top recommended treatments; First up, our Perfect Peel is a perfect (pardon the pun) way to turn your skin around for a post-lockdown glow. This treatment will revitalize skin with a deep, below surface peel to brighten, smooth and give you that summer radiance. Over the course of 5-7 days, the top layers of your skin peel off revealing fresh, beautiful skin beneath, so while many of us are working from home, why don’t you take advantage now!

Another of our favourite treatments for glowing skin is Microneedling, a multipurpose, impactful skin treatment that can treat a range of concerns, from ageing or acne scarring to hair loss. If you’re wanting something a less invasive, but still powerful, a great treatment is Dermaplaning, which helps to improve the texture of your skin, giving it a youthful glow.

Another option, if you’re uncomfortable coming in for treatment right now, is our tailored skincare regimes. We stock a range of cosmeceutical skincare, with active ingredients to target many different skincare issues and to maintain excellent skin health.

We are offering virtual skincare appointments over video call and shipping products out, so if you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Please remember that all skin-types are different. At novellus, we create bespoke skincare solutions for each of our patients, to make sure that you get the most out of your treatment. Book your consultation today with our team of medical professionals, and create your own bespoke package.

Dr Steven Land novellusaesthetics.co.uk 0191 695 0450 1 Benton Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 1QU @NovellusAesthetics @novellus_ncl

luxe-magazine.co.uk

31

LUXE LOCKS

Ha

ppy

After 15 long weeks of lockdown, hairdressing salons are back in business.

Hooray!

Who’d have ever thought that anyone could go that long without a hairdo?

In recent weeks, hair stylists across the land have been faced with the challenge of dealing with post-lockdown hair disasters.

With widespread news of box dyes getting thrown on and DIY hair cuts, we were all set to face the most challenging time of our careers. However, we are beyond thrilled to report that the vast majority of you gorgeous people have steered well away from the kitchen scissors and box colours, managing more than three months - actually closer to six in some cases - without the desperate need to get creative.

32 luxe-magazine.co.uk

a d hair

It’s like music to our ears and has truly made these first weeks back in the salon an absolute joy. Not only has it been wonderful to see you all, but also very rewarding getting you back to your former glory.

For those who did take the DIY route, then let’s just say you learnt the hard way! Or shall we say, your husband did, as from what we’ve witnessed, there seems to be a hot new fashion trend for men. Very short, square hairlines and wonderful patches of skin scattered throughout - almost leopard print-like. Very fetching indeed. However, we’re not sure this trend will be catching on anytime soon.

On a serious note, everyone has been wonderful and simply loved being back in the salon. With two-metre social distancing between salon chairs, our team wearing

visors, clients wearing face coverings and hand sanitisers scattered throughout the salon, we’re back up and running with all safety measures in place.

When we opened the doors on Saturday 4 July it felt like Christmas morning. Our teams were super excited to get back to doing what they love and the clients were delighted to be back in the salon chair, chatting and being pampered.

The positive energy and good vibes have continued well into July and August, and we’re just loving having everyone back getting lovely locks.

We definitely feel clients all over the UK have a newfound love for their hairdresser!

They say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Well, there’s never been a truer word spoken.

Long may these happy hair days continue!

s y

Michael Young and Gary Hooker run Hooker & Young, with four salons across the North East. hookerandyoung.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

Pure Inspiration • Well known & trusted brands • Biggest showrooms in the North East • FREE computer aided design, planning & Survey • Free Silestone or Granite worktops on Signature rigid built kitchens • Over 250 bathroom & Shower suites and 50 kitchens on display at each store • Over 35 years experience • Just arrived - Beautiful new Heritage displays • New in store - 1000’s of designer tiles Norham Road, North Shields, NE29 7TN • Tel : 0191 257 6511 Portrack Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2HG • Tel: 01642 670 100 Tecaz Echo House, Pennywell Ind Est, SR4 9EN • Tel : 0191 534 7733 Opening hours: • Monday - Friday : 9am - 6pm • • Saturday : 9am - 5pm • • Sunday : 10am - 4pm •

www.tecaz.com

DOING GOOD

Unusual times call for exceptional people.

Luxe uncovers just some of the uplifting community stories that make us proud to call the North East home...

Our luxe local heroes Now is a time we will never forget. A period we will look back on in years to come, bringing back all kinds of memories and emotions. A story we will tell our grandchildren and our grandchildren’s children. It sure is one for the history books.

Over the last four or five months, we have been living in a devastating global pandemic, and it has been a test for all of us - whether it has been health problems, financial difficulties or business concerns. We’ve been riding this very unusual wave together; and if there’s anything positive to come out of these strange times, it’s the incredible community spirit we’ve shared along the way.

Up here in the North East, that’s something we’re incredibly proud of, regardless of the situation we find ourselves in; but throw in a global challenge, and it’s how we respond that goes down in history.

So, with that in mind, we’ve put our Luxe heads together to round-up some of the inspiring people from across the region who have been doing their bit to support the local community and help fight the pandemic.

From healthcare heroes and charity champions, to saviour chefs and inspiring sports stars, we’ve had it all - and there are nowhere near enough pages in this magazine to celebrate all of those wonderful people who have pivoted to provide support for our people.

Elysia Fryer caught up with some of those superstars…

We’ve put our Luxe heads together to round-up some of the inspiring people from across the region, who have done their bit to support the local community

34 luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

DOING GOOD

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk 35

XXXXXXXX DOING GOOD

Healthcare hero >> Name: Angela Cobb Location: County Durham

The day job…

Matron for Infection Prevention and Control at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Life in lockdown…

I imagine, like everyone else, the biggest change was being unable to meet family and friends in person, but we managed to keep in touch via technology. Working for the NHS, I have been lucky enough to continue doing my job through the pandemic, however we’ve had to adapt to some significant changes, including rapidly changing ways of working and implementing new practices to support national guidance.

Doing my bit…

My role involves leading on infection control

practices across the organisation. This includes effective hand hygiene, maintaining cleanliness standards and the education of all staff in the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) - all absolutely essential in reducing the risk of transmitting COVID-19. I feel great pride in the response from all staff and clinical teams who have worked tirelessly to maintain safety by preventing the risk of cross-infection.

Three life lessons from the pandemic…

- It is essential to have a clear message, which cannot be misinterpreted.

- Effective leadership is vital in times of crisis, to reassure both public and workforce confidence.

- Everyone now has a far greater understanding of the importance of hand hygiene as a preventative measure to maintain health.

Charity champion >> Name: Sergio Petrucci Location: Sunderland

The day job…

Founder & Charity Ambassador, Red Sky Foundation.

Life in lockdown…

It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, to be honest. At first it felt like an unauthorised holiday - albeit not being able to go anywhere - but then the sadness of it set in, paired with the upset of not being able to see friends and family. While everyone was out buying toilet rolls, we bought a pizza oven and hot tub and used the time to really enjoy our home as a family, remembering that the simple things in life are the most important.

Doing my bit…

The Red Sky Foundation is a charity that supports the children’s heart unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, as well as other district hospitals across the North East. We are also keen to help increase the number of defibrillators in public areas and schools around the region.

I heard about an appeal that went out from Sunderland Royal Hospital, addressing that there weren’t enough defibrillators to cope with the amount of COVID-19 patients being admitted to the wards. So, with ticket and

36 luxe-magazine.co.uk

sponsorship money raised from our Red Sky Ball fundraising event, we bought over £23,000 worth of defibrillators to ensure patients had the best chance of survival.

When this is all over, the hospital will return them to me and I’ll be looking to partner with North East companies to ask if they’d like to sponsor the machines so they can be put into the community.

Three life lessons from the pandemic…

- Be kind and respect people’s space.

- Love thy neighbour.

- How to make awesome stonebaked pizzas.

AUG/SEP20

DOING XXXXXXXX GOOD

Passion project >> Name: Samantha Holden Location: Yarm

The day job…

I work front of house at Labman Automation in Seamer, near Stokesley. Answering phone calls, greeting clients and visitors, admin work and helping out where I can around the factory. At the beginning of the pandemic, I took on the role of Volunteer Coordinator at Labman.

Life in lockdown…

It’s been tough. I’m the kind of person who needs to be busy. I love travelling up and down the country with my son visiting history museums, and I really love my job.

Doing my bit…

Labman started a not-for-profit project making visors for the NHS and I knew I wanted to play my part in any way possible.

The plan was to get an army of local volunteers together to help make 80,000 Labmask visors.

I don’t think I quite knew what I was letting myself in for as Volunteer Coordinator because when we sent out the call-to-arms, my inbox was flooded! Quicker than I could answer one email, another three appeared.

At the start I was taking phone calls from desperate nurses begging us to supply them with PPE. It broke my heart to hear their stories, but I knew we were doing everything we could to help. It was a huge team effort with people from all over Teesside offering to help and we quickly reached our target of 80,000 Labmasks.

The need for more was still there so we decided to continue, and in the space of

six weeks we made 250,000 visors, all of which went straight to hospitals and the care sector in the North East. I couldn’t be more proud to have played my part. My background is in acting and singing, and this is certainly the best part I’ve played!

I’m also a vintage singer and VE Day should have been one of the busiest days of the year for me, but of course, I had a lot of work cancelled so instead I gave the volunteers a little concert as they made the masks. My way of saying thank you.

Three life lessons from the pandemic…

- The majority of people are good - the number of volunteers who gave up their time to help at Labmask astounds me, and it shows me that community spirit is still there in times of need.

- There’s so much beauty on our doorsteps.

Not being able to travel as much has meant we’ve discovered some beautiful walks and stunning outdoor spaces close to home.

- I love my job - I’m so proud to say I work at Labman.

Keep it up >> Name: Ben Gibson Location: Darlington

The day job…

Professional footballer and ambassador for Teesside Hospice.

Life in lockdown…

I’m going to be really honest, I’ve quite enjoyed it. Luckily I live in the grounds of Rockliffe Hall and so I still have the football pitch at my disposal, along with some amazing places to walk with the dog.

Doing my bit…

When I was young my Nanna passed away at Teesside Hospice, and for years growing up, my family spoke of the amazing care and attention that she had received. In recent years, I’ve worked closely with the hospice and I’m now incredibly proud to be an ambassador. So, in the midst of the pandemic, I wanted to show my support - this is when we launched the 26 Keep Up Challenge. The challenge was set the day before 26 April (London Marathon day), which was, of course, cancelled due to COVID-19. My task was to try and come up with some form of fundraising idea sticking to the Government social distancing guidelines - using the number 26 - the date of the event and the number of miles in the marathon. I came up with the challenge as I thought that it was something everyone in homes across Middlesbrough could have a go at. It didn’t matter if you could do 26 or not, you would just have a go, have a bit of fun and pass it on. It was all about having a laugh, sharing content on social media and hopefully putting a smile back on people’s faces, along with raising awareness and vital funds for the hospice.

Three life lessons from the pandemic…

- It’s always good to have something to focus on. Set out a plan and productivity will quickly follow.

- Live a clean lifestyle. Being mindful when it comes to your health is a great way to boost the immune system.

- Talk - pick up the phone or the laptop and check in with loved ones.

It’s easier to overcome obstacles together, nobody should ever be alone.

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk

37

DOING GOOD

A stitch in time >> Name: Jen Legg Location: Maltby

The day job…

My salon, The Edge Hair & Beauty in Middlesbrough, has been my baby for almost 30 years, but around six years ago I took up a new hobby and started sewing, with the aim of making most of the clothes I wear. Today, I wear #MeMade every day and this has led me to inspire others to take up sewing.

Two years ago I opened TeesCreatives Sewing School. This, like my salon, has been hugely affected by COVID-19, but along with my sewing friends, we’re plotting a plan to come back stronger, and we’ve been pivoting to do our bit for the local community in the meantime.

Life in lockdown…

fundraiser and started to make scrubs for local GP surgeries. I added a personal touch by embroidering ‘you are loved’ in the facing of the scrubs. It felt great to be able to give something back during such uncertain times.

I’ve also been making Sunday dinners for an elderly neighbour and enjoying live painting sessions with my friend Katie (@klbdesignhouse). I cut my work up into postcards and have delivered over 50 to neighbours and friends to help brighten their days.

Three life lessons from the pandemic…

- ‘Health is wealth’ has always been my motto, but it’s been totally reinforced.

- Always make time for family and friends - even if it’s over the phone.

- If it doesn’t happen today, there is always tomorrow.

Creativity has been my main focus, spending much of my time sewing my #MeMade wardrobe. I have also been decorating, gardening and upcycling items from our home.

Doing my bit…

A client invited me to make sewing scrubs for James Cook University Hospital via the Facebook page. When I read they needed black scrubs for the clergy, this broke my heart and I knew I needed to help. So I set up a

The whole package >> Name: Nigel McMinn Location: Gosforth

food parcels to those in need throughout the lockdown period.

The day job…

Three life lessons from the pandemic...

I’ve worked in the automotive industry for 25 years - mainly running car dealerships.

I’m currently focusing on a more innovative, technology-based business in the same sector. I’m also a volunteer at the Royal Grammar School Newcastle, helping to raise vital funds for bursary students.

Life in lockdown...

Aside from the health concerns and widespread financial pressures that most of us have experienced recently, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being ‘locked down’ at home with my family. Having time to really commit to my philanthropic projects has also been wonderful.

- People are kind and generous at heart.

A crisis creates unity and community spirit.

- We’ve proven that we can all do a lot of the ‘do’ remotely - something I hope going forward will create less wasted time and pollution from unnecessary travel, less s tress and a better work-life balance.

- A period of abstinence is healthy to reset our appreciation of the simple pleasures in life.

Doing my bit...

At the start of the year I volunteered to help the Royal Grammar School Newcastle raise funds to support bursary students. Their fees are paid by generous private donors who recognise the vital role the school plays in nurturing the region’s brightest young people, and the value those students bring to the school and the wider North East. They are the people that go on to be the clinicians, professionals, community leaders and employers of the future.

In recent times, the financial pressures have hit some of our bursary families hard, so the wider RGS community pulled together to provide and deliver regular

38 luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

DOING XXXXXXXX GOOD

A helping hand >> Name: Jon Chadwick Location: Durham

The day job…

I’m the Managing Director at Durham Distillery.

Life in lockdown…

Lots of cooking, cycling, and blogging.

I also used the time to learn something new, so I signed myself up to an online art course. Now, I have a Certificate in Modern Art with the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Doing my bit…

Our team at Durham Distillery switched to make hand sanitiser for the NHS. I worked for the health service for 13 years before I completely changed my career, so it was an honour to be able to put something back, particularly during such uncertain and unnerving times.

Three life lessons from the pandemic…

Something sweet >> Name: Helen Doyle Location: Ryton

The day job…

Pastry chef at 21 Hospitality.

Life in lockdown…

My lockdown motto was to ‘take one day at a time and keep in contact with family and friends’. I tried to enjoy a good walk every day, help people whenever I could and concentrate on the stuff that makes me feel good. There was very little homeschooling in our house - just lots of cuddles, kisses and a much-needed glass of wine at the end of the night.

Doing my bit…

21 had the honour of being asked by Hairy Biker, Si King, if we could make a cake for the opening of the Nightingale Hospital in Washington. Terry Laybourne asked if my sous chef Stef and I would do it. We both jumped at the opportunity. If our cake could bring joy during these times, then it was the least we could do. It was breathtaking when we arrived at the hospital with the finished cake. My little boy, Alfie (3), reassured me that the cake was going to make everyone better. If only that was true…

We also tried to do some community stuff at our local pub, Ye Olde Cross Inn. They have a food bank drop off point, so we gave food every week. Oh, and we posted notes through the doors of our neighbours, asking if anyone wanted pizza from our pizza oven. Each pizza was delivered by Alfie, and it’s safe to say, he was a busy boy! On VE Day, we did a similar thing with scones - a lovely, patriotic treat for our local community. Plenty of smiles on faces.

Three life lessons from the pandemic…

- Slowing down a little is not a bad thing.

- The NHS have always been amazing to me, but now I just can’t get my head around how unbelievable they are. Also, the delivery drivers, supermarket workers and carers… we are so lucky to have such amazing people around us.

- How little we really need. Enjoy the things you love.

AUG/SEP20

- The North East is a special place with a huge sense of community. That has helped us get through the last few months, and we need to keep that sense of community as we begin to rebuild.

- Positive energy helps to make a positive change. In times like these, leaders need energy to be able to help organisations adapt and grow so they can come back stronger.

- Never take our fantastic North East food and drink scene for granted. It’s so good to be back out enjoying our restaurants.

Caring for the community >> Name: Imran Khaliq Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

The day job…

Director at The Gainford Group - hospitality, hotels, healthcare and childcare.

Life in lockdown…

I’ve tried to keep as busy as possible with lots of reading at home and plenty of walking/cycling when able to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

Doing my bit…

The community is at the heart of everything we do at Gainford Group, so right from the beginning we wanted to do as much as possible to ensure the people around us were staying safe and coping with the unusual lifestyle changes. I volunteered to work with the team at Newcastle Food Bank, and as a business, we donated £10k to help fund supplies. We also worked with Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter and offered hotel rooms to accommodate NHS staff between shifts at local hospitals.

Three life lessons from the pandemic…

- We are better together. Lockdown has brought our community together like never before - the support we have given each other throughout these difficult times has been amazing.

- The importance of friends and family. This period has taught me not to take things we do together for granted.

- From a young age, growing up in my family’s healthcare business, I always knew the value and importance of those in the healthcare sector. In these unprecedented times, it has highlighted more than ever how hardworking and important our NHS and key workers are to us all. They are the real heroes.

luxe-magazine.co.uk 39

EATING IN

H o

m ort e f m c o s

THE BAY HORSE, HURWORTH

If getting dressed up for a date around the dinner table at home is your preferred way to celebrate a special occasion this summer, we’ve got a luxe list of top North East restaurants still serving up the goods to-go…

For fine country dining…

What’s on the menu: Enjoy ‘Date Night At Home’ every Saturday with The Bay Horse, Hurworth. Foodies can enjoy restaurant-quality food from the comfort of the home kitchen with two three course meals and a bottle of wine. The menu changes weekly and includes dishes such as ham, spinach and cheese soufflé, pot roasted chicken, beetroot and mozzarella wellington, white chocolate mousse and rice pudding.

Need to know: Orders must be placed via Facebook Messenger and new menus will be announced at 7pm the Saturday before. All food is prepared on site for foodies to heat up and enjoy at home. thebayhorsehurworth.com

THAI BAY, SUNDERLAND For tasty Thai dishes…

What’s on the menu: Serving some of the finest Thai food to Sunderland and surrounding areas, Thai Bay offers everything from soups and sharing platters, to curries, noodles and house specials.

Need to know: Head over to the Thai Bay Sunderland website, select your dishes, pay online and the team will bring your sizzling supper to your doorstep. Tuesday – Sunday, 5pm – 9.15pm. thaibaysunderland.com

FOURTEEN DROPS, YARM

BLACKS CORNER, EAST BOLDON

For drinks and nibbles…

What’s on the menu: Whether it’s cheese, charcuterie, takeaway nibbles or wine, Fourteen Drops has you covered. This chic wine bar has reopened its doors on Yarm High Street, but the team is still doing its bit to bring wines to your door, should you wish.

Need to know: Delivery and collection available. Head over to the Fourteen Drops Facebook page for more information. facebook.com/fourteendrops

For cheese and wine…

What’s on the menu: Fridays are for cheese and wine at Blacks Corner. Celebrate that weekend feeling with ‘click & collect’ cheese and charcuterie bundles – the perfect end of the week treat. New cheeses will be added to the offering, sometimes with wines to match.

Need to know: Head over to the Blacks Corner Online Shop where you’ll be able to select your weekly bundle for collection. blackscorner.co.uk

FIVE HOUSES FARM SHOP, CRATHORNE For luxe lunch on the go…

What’s on the menu: The guys at Five Houses Farm Shop & Kitchen in Crathorne are providing us with the goods when it comes to picking up deli delights. Whether it’s pies and pastries for a picnic hamper, or a freshly-prepared hot or cold sandwich from the counter, there’s something to luxe up any lunch date.

Need to know: Visit this quaint country farm shop Monday - Saturday, 7am - 6pm for some lush local treats. facebook.com/fivehousesfarmshop

40 luxe-magazine.co.uk

ZEN, DURHAM For Asian-fusion food…

What’s on the menu: Zen To Go is a Durham favourite when it comes to enjoying authentic Asian food at home.

From hearty family curries and sensational set menus, to noodles, classic Asian dishes and small plates, there’s something for all tastes and occasions.

Need to know: Zen To Go’s Keep Calm and Carry Out menu is available Monday - Sunday, 11am - 9.30pm.

Order in advance to avoid disappointment. zendurham.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

WINE TIME

Happy hour

SACHINS, NEWCASTLE For punchy Punjabi flavours…

What’s on the menu: Add a bit of fire to your home menus with Sachins’ three-course ‘Heat and Eat’ experience. Enjoy everything from poppadoms and pickles to chicken tikka, lamb rogan josh, black eye beans and peshwari naan. All of your Punjabi favourites, enjoyed from the comfort of your kitchen table. A great way to get the gang around the table for an indulgent weekend supper.

Need to know: Pre-order by emailing: info@sachins. co.uk. The ‘Heat and Eat’ menu is available for collection from Thursday – Saturday from 4pm. sachins.co.uk

The wine guys at Chadwicks Inn Maltby guide us through a summer of grape expectations with five wines to enjoy with your barbecue...

21, NEWCASTLE

THE PATRICIA, JESMOND For something special…

What’s on the menu: The Patricia At Home brings delicious weekly-changing menus for two people, or for one person to eat over two days. Expect to find some of the restaurant’s best-loved meat and veggie dishes, as well as extras including pasta sauces, anchovies and wine pairings.

Need to know: The Patricia At Home menu changes weekly, so keep an eye out for your favourite dishes. Orders are available for collection only on Thursday and Saturday between 1pm and 3pm. Orders are to be placed in advance via the restaurant’s online portal. the-patricia.com/tpah

For contemporary, bistro bites…

What’s on the menu: Bring a bit of 21 to your home with a creative, kerbside collection service featuring some of the best bits from 21 Hospitality Group’s restaurants. The weekly-changing, seasonal menus include homemade bread and olives and sharing starters, with a choice of signature main meals and desserts. Those with a sweet tooth should check out the Afternoon Tea at Home offering too.

Need to know: Head over to the 21athome.co.uk website, check the calendar, choose a slot and make your order. Complete the experience with 21 at Home wine and beers. Prices vary. Dishes will come with detailed cooking instructions, so you can re-create your own 21 experience at home.

21athome.co.uk

STABLE HEARTH, DARLINGTON For a fired up feast…

What’s on the menu: Fancy something fired up? There’s no better place for pizza-lovers to get a slice of the good stuff. Stable Hearth is doing its bit to lift spirits with doughy delights you won’t want to miss. Start with an Italian antipasti platter before tucking into tasty toppings, pasta dishes, salads and seasonal sides.

Need to know: Open Thursday to Sunday. Keep your eyes peeled on the Facebook page for weekly specials.

Order from 10.30am on Thursdays at: 01325 730400. facebook.com/stablehearth

Magpie Estate ‘Wishbone’ Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SE Australia (Shiraz 75%, Grenache 15%, Petite Sirah 7%) 14% ABV

An Aussie Shiraz is always a great BBQ wine and this one is perfect. Hints of plum and black cherry with warm toasted spices.

Cline ‘Old Vine’ Zinfandel, California, USA (Zinfandel 100%) 14% ABV

This weighty Zinfandel offers up big, bold flavours of summer fruits, five spice and clove, yet subtle tannins.

Chateau Pineraie ‘Tradition’, Cahors, France (Malbec 85%, Merlot 15%) 13% ABV

From the spiritual home of Malbec, this wine is nicely balanced between fruit acidity and tannins and offers all you would expect from a Malbec to go with your BBQ steak.

Domaine Des Escaravailles ‘La Ponce’, Rasteau, France (Grenache 80%, Syrah 20%) 14.5% ABV

A personal favourite of ours and a real go-to BBQ wine. Dark blackberry fruits, warm peppery notes with hard herbs such as rosemary - with slight hints of wet leather.

Marchesi di Gresy ‘Monferrato’, Piemonte, Italy (Merlot 100%) 13% ABV

This beautifully rich Italian red offers a cascade of flavours, from forest fruits and toasty oak to vanilla and aged balsamic. This wine has everything for all your red meat needs. chadwicksinnmaltby.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk

41

SOUL FOOD

Whether it’s hearty comfort food, local produce or spending time with his parents in Hexham during lockdown, home is where the heart is for North East chef, Chris Baber

Keeping it real You may have seen him on the TV, you may have come across him on Instagram, or you may recognise his face from local fashion campaigns from his modelling days.

However you see Chris, the words humble and homebird spring to mind, as we catch up during lockdown over Zoom.

At the time of writing, Chris is enjoying life in his hometown of Hexham - the place where we grew up and spent much of his life before chasing his dreams in the big smoke.

“I’m loving lockdown life in Hexham at the moment, but I’m usually based in London.

I love it down there, but at the start of the pandemic, I just wanted to be around the family,” Chris explains.

“And to be able to enjoy the outdoors in Northumberland is just an absolute joy,” he adds.

Chris and I share stories about returning to our hometown and remembering why it

42 luxe-magazine.co.uk

will always be home. He talks about his childhood and, although life has presented many different career moves over the years, it’s clear that food has played a pivotal role in his journey to now.

I mean, it’s a pretty big part of all of our lives, of course, but for Chris, it was his calling - something that has shaped him as a person.

“I always had a love and passion for it,” says Chris.

“A feeling I’m sure many chefs and foodies will share; but I remember, as a child, coming in from school and wanting to make dinner for my parents.

“For me, it was always about reaction.

Seeing smiles on faces and getting around the table at the end of the day, there’s just nothing better.”

Having worked in busy kitchens, upscale restaurants and even putting a competitive head on for a TV cooking show, home is still where the heart is for Chris.

“It’s all about home cooking for me,” he says, with a smile.

“It’s something that has always been instilled in me, and I guess that’s where my love of food came from.

“It was more, what can I do at home to create a nice family experience? What can I do with these raw ingredients? I’ve always been obsessed with it.

“But I never had the urge to go out and work in a restaurant, to be completely honest. I loved to cook at home, but I never really expected it to go any further.

“It sounds a bit of a cliche, but my mum says she always said I’d make money from food, but for me, it was never really part of the plan.”

Fast forward a few years, a couple of sales jobs, a modelling career and a catapult moment on TV (we’ll come back to that), here he is, the new face of Marks & Spencer, encouraging people to cook at home - and enjoy every minute of it.

There’s never been a better time to tap into the culinary imaginations of the nation.

During lockdown, many of us have spent more time at home, more time with our

families, more time scrolling through social media, more time seeking out inspiration.

For Chris - pandemic aside - it’s been a great time to educate and inspire. Food is our friend, and we should enjoy it!

“When I was younger, living in Northumberland, the food scene wasn’t what it is today - and with no social media, it was difficult to share your thoughts and ideas with the wider world. I wasn’t quite sure how I would go about beginning a career in food that didn’t involve serving it on a plate in a restaurant.

“But with the evolution of social media, we’re in a great place to share, inspire and ultimately create kitchen confidence in homes across the country.

“It all started because my friends would say to me, ‘Chris, stop texting me pictures of your food!’

“So I joined Instagram, which gave me a platform to start sharing my recipes. What I love most about it is I’ll get a message from someone I don’t know saying ‘I made this with the kids last night, they ate all the

AUG/SEP20

SOUL FOOD veg, they loved it’ - that, for me, is what I crave. Motivating others is my motivation.”

So, how did Chris find his place in the food world? How do you go from big foodie to big foodie figure? How does a successful Instagram page turn into a following of over 130k, an M&S contract and a cookbook on the horizon? How did he go from household cook to household name?

Chris’s catapult moment came in 2016 when he took part in BBC One cooking competition, Yes Chef. He went on to win the show, fighting off thousands of other applicants and contestants.

“That was the pivotal moment for me. I’d been sharing recipes on Instagram for about a year. I was doing alright, I had about 10k followers, but then I got a message from a guy who invited me to join a home cooks competition.

“I thought, ‘why not - I’ll give it a go’. The show was like a stripped-down version of Master Chef. On the application they asked me who my favourite chef was and I’d said Atul Kochhar. You had to come up with a signature dish on the day - I’d actually based mine on one of his recipes.

“I just loved curry. It was something I always used to love making at home experimenting with spices and getting the whole family around the table. Atul, at the time, was a total icon. You’d see him on Saturday Kitchen - he was the first Indian chef in the UK to have a Michelin star. And I just loved watching him on TV because he’s such a nice guy.

“I turned up for filming in Manchester and they said, ‘today’s guest judge is Atul Kochhar’. At the time, I’m living in Hexham, I’d never seen a celebrity - never mind one of my idols. He walks in the room and I just remember him looking at the ingredients on my worktop. He looked up at me and said, ‘well I know what you’re going to be making today’.

“I thought to myself, this is either going to go really well, or be the worst thing I’ve ever done in my life. Anyway… I made this coconut, pan-fried sea bass curry and I just remember being so nervous to take it over for him to taste. It was just bizarre, the whole thing.

“He ate some, looked at me and said, ‘you’ve absolutely nailed it’. I’ll never forget the words. It totally changed my mentality and boosted my confidence.

“I went on to win the show and afterwards Atul gave me his details so we could keep in touch. I thought I’d never hear from him again, but sure enough, I was back up in Hexham and the phone rang; he asked me to stop whatever I was doing to go and work with him in London.

“I’d never taken any risks in life. I lived in Hexham until I was 25. I didn’t go to university. I’d never been travelling. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. And I just thought, ‘do you know what, I love food, I’ve won this TV show, my hero is calling me up, what have I got to lose?’. So I packed up and was working in his restaurant in Mayfair within weeks.

“It was a whirlwind experience that totally changed my life.”

Following his TV success, Chris trained with Atul at Benares, his contemporary Berkeley Square restaurant. It was here when the homebird from Hexham really got to grips with life in a commercial kitchen.

“It was absolutely bonkers,” Chris laughs.

“I’d never envisaged working in a restaurant, but I needed to elevate my skills and embrace every minute of it. Atul really is a gentleman - we’re still close friends he really took me under his wing and threw me in at the deep end. I genuinely learnt so much. It was the hardest work I’ve ever done, but there was just this

AUG/SEP20

adrenaline buzz, I loved it.

“After six months or so, I was at a point where I’d learnt a lot, and I was serving this Michelin-starred food on a plate, but what I was missing was that connection with the customer. It really made me realise what it is I love about food, and it’s inspiring other people to cook at home. I’ve got so much respect and admiration for restaurant chefs, but I made the decision to leave Benares because I was at the stage where I either started climbing the ladder there, or I took the plunge and pursued what it is I’m really passionate about.”

Chris is a big believer in going back to basics. There’s no doubt about it, as a country - and as a region - we’ve got tons of top restaurants and bucket-list experiences at our feet, but if being in lockdown has taught us anything, it’s that we shouldn’t be afraid to strip things back a little and work on what we already know.

We’re all creatures of habit in our own ways - and if we can avoid creeping out of comfort zones, we will - whether that’s in work, health, fitness, food or relationships.

But what Chris is trying to do is to take our daily lifestyle and work on it. Mixing up our weekly menus. Thinking about what we love to eat at home. Making it happen - and making it fun!

“The first step is to achieve kitchen confidence,” explains Chris.

“I cooked at my home for years. My parents, yes they could cook, but I wouldn’t really let them, you know, because it’s what I loved to do. When I left home, my dad started using all of my recipes - and he’d gone from never really cooking, to now, telling me what to do. It’s really just about challenging yourself and proving you can do it. It’s an education thing, I guess.

“I want to make food accessible and affordable. I want to inspire people to fall in love with food and the taste, but also the process of making it - bringing people back around the table, and enjoying the whole experience.

“My food is pretty simple, but it’s food you want to eat for dinner. It’s a proper meal.

That’s what I’m all about.

“The lockdown period has been an exceptional time on social media for me.

People have been at home, they’ve had more time to explore new recipes and be a little bit creative.”

As well as his vibrant Insta feed, Chris has been working with food champions, M&S, on a campaign that shares his honest, home cooking principles.

“The real reason I’m there is to come up with recipes that people want to make at home for dinner. It’s all about making home cooking easier and more accessible. Giving people that inspiration every week using the best quality ingredients from M&S. “We’ve launched a new cookbook too, which includes a range called Cook With focusing on products designed to make cooking easier. Things like curry paste and spiced rubs. The whole book is based on recipes using easy-solution products.

Ways to liven up midweek meals.

“Alongside the cookbook, I’ve been creating weekly recipes using fresh M&S products and other stock cupboard ingredients from the store. The Fresh Market Update has been running on ITV. We visited six of M&S’ British food producers - everything from strawberries and raspberries, to Scottish salmon and Isle of Wight tomatoes. It was really just to show people where this amazing produce comes from. I’d be there, on the farm, cooking and sharing recipes.

“It’s all about giving people inspiration and changing people’s perceptions of M&S as a ‘special occasion’ shop.

“It really is my dream job, and I’m so >>

I want to inspire people to fall in love with food and the taste, but also the process of making it - bringing people back around the table, and enjoying the whole experience

Fakeaway favourite >> Lamb Rogan Josh Recreate this curry house classic at home Serves 4 Ingredients 1 tbsp oil 1 cinnamon stick 5 cardamom pods, cracked 1 bay leaf 4 lamb steaks, diced into 1inch pieces 5 tbsp natural or Greek yoghurt 3 onions, finely sliced 4 cloves garlic, grated 2 inch ginger, grated 2 tbsp garam masala 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp chilli powder 4 level tbsp tomato purée 400ml water To serve Lemon and coriander

Method Heat the oil in a large pan.

Mix the lamb with 1 tbsp of the yoghurt and plenty of salt and pepper. Set to one side.

Add the cinnamon, bay leaf and cardamom to the pan. Let it sizzle for 30 seconds then add the onions with salt and pepper. Cover loosely and cook for around 10 minutes until dark golden (add a splash of water if it becomes too dry).

Add the ginger and garlic along with the lamb and cook for 3-5 minutes until the lamb is sealed.

Add the spices and tomato purée (saving 1 tbsp of the garam masala) and cook for 2 minutes.

Add the water, cover loosely and simmer for around 30 minutes until you have a thick, almost dry sauce. Check the seasoning, you may want to add the remaining garam masala and more salt to taste. Serve and enjoy.

luxe-magazine.co.uk 43

SOUL FOOD

There’s some incredible seafood in the North East.

Our coastline is unbelievable. The food scene up here has changed a lot in four years

and I’ll enjoy the process, but actually, what’s missing is someone sitting at the other side of the table to share it with.

“I’m blown away by incredible food and I have so much respect for some of the chefs and restaurants in this country, but I’ll be more than happy eating incredible fish and chips back home - with loads of salt and vinegar, out in the fresh air. You’ve just got to get the balance right, haven’t you?

“Sometimes the simple things in life are the things that make you happiest.”

So, what’s next for the 29-year-old, home-taught chef? A post-pandemic world is calling for dinner parties with old friends, exciting M&S campaigns and working towards the launch of his very own cookbook.

“At the moment, I just can’t wait to get my friends around the table again - just a catch-up over a curry - something low and slow in the oven.

“Following that, I’m sure I’ll be heading back to London in the not too distant future, where I’ll be doing more work with M&S and I’ll be looking into producing my own cookbook. I just want to make sure the time is right - maybe next year.

“I’ve actually been flat out working in my home kitchen in Hexham. Seeing me in my family kitchen just seems to resonate with people. It’s worked really well in recent weeks and months - but I’m looking forward to getting back in amongst it and getting some new projects underway when the world goes back to normal.

“See you on the other side, and remember - kitchen confidence is key.” chrisbaber.co.uk grateful that my very varied career moves have led me to this place.

“One thing I’ve always lived by is, if it doesn’t feel like me, then don’t do it. And right now, I know what I’m doing is me. It’s what I love, and I hope that comes across in my work.”

Whether it’s family feasting, weekend fakeaways, one-pan wonders or easy mid-week meals, it’s clear that Chris’s food comes down to sharing, socialising and switching off for quality time in the humble home kitchen.

It’s all about comfort food and the concept of a shared experience with loved ones.

That’s why we host dinner parties after all, right? A chance to relax, catch-up and share stories and ideas over a home cooked meal. Bliss.

But after spending time with some of the country’s top chefs in some of the finest fine dining restaurants in the country, why does everything lead him back home?

“I think it all stems from my own home my upbringing; the familiarity and the fond memories,” Chris smiles.

“One of the things I love most about where

44 luxe-magazine.co.uk

I’m from is the sense of community - and that goes for my family life as well as within the wider community in Northumberland.

“Growing up, it was always about getting the whole gang around the table. Everything was based around socialising and sharing good, local food - which we are so very lucky to have a lot of in this region.

“There’s some incredible seafood in the North East. Our coastline is unbelievable.

“The food scene up here has changed a lot in four years. My favourite place at the moment is Whitley Bay’s Spanish City.

Trenchers, the fish and chip restaurant there, is just incredible. Locally-caught fish and chips, a squeeze of lemon, enjoyed outside on the beach… there’s just nothing better!

“I’ve travelled a little bit with food and I’ve eaten out at some amazing restaurants in London, but do you know what? I haven’t missed it at all during lockdown, because I think for me, it’s all about the experience, and I’m just loving being home at the moment, putting my energy into cooking for my family.

“When I’m in London, I’ll make my dinner

Chris’s top tips for kitchen confidence Have fun with it: Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. For me, I love having the music on in the kitchen - I have it absolutely blasting. Get the family involved, do it together. Try and enjoy the process.

Be excited by your menus: Plan to eat meals that really excite you. Think about the stuff that you like eating in restaurants, spend a bit of time researching new recipes and give it a go.

Don’t stress: It’s not always perfect, but that’s how we learn. Atul used to say to me, ‘Chris, it’s only your dinner’. If things go wrong, have a laugh about it and move on to the next challenge.

Family focus: For me, good food is served best in good company. Old fashioned family time is the best medicine - get around the table and catch-up over some delicious, home-cooked food. There’s honestly nothing better.

AUG/SEP20

FRESH START

FOOD MATTERS with chef Michael Wignall…

Local dinner dates, new seafood plates and flourishing foraged goods...

We were delighted to reopen our doors on 17 July following the closure due to COVID-19.

Even though we are now living in very different times, we want the experience at The Angel to be as memorable as always, and so we have put some extra precautions in place to keep our guests and our team as safe as possible.

During the closure we have been able to continue with the refurbishment of our beautiful building. This has enabled us to upgrade our offering and improve our facilities including utilising the bar and our outdoor terrace.

As always, we will offer lunch and dinner from Thursday to Monday, with an a la carte and tasting menu available.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us during the closure, it means the world to us. We are so happy to be back.

MY FOOD TRAVELS >> We so missed exploring and eating out during lockdown. As soon as it was announced that hospitality could start

to reopen, we booked tables at the Parkers Arms in Newton-on-Bowland and The Star Inn at Harome. As always, a warm welcome awaited, followed by fantastic food. Very well thought out precautions had been put into place, which made us feel safe and comfortable.

ON MY PLATE >> Like many during lockdown, we made a conscious effort to utilise the fresh herbs

and vegetables available from the garden.

And of course, I had time for lots of foraging in local hedgerows and moorlands including watercress, sweet cicely, woodruff, yarrow, wild fennel and reindeer moss.

Wild garlic was in abundance this year we used the scapes and buds for pickling and leaves to make oil, which we freeze down in small batches and are now using in the kitchen.

We have a fantastic turbot on the menu

at the moment, using the wild garlic oil we foraged in the spring. It’s great to see hand-picked produce coming to life on the plate in the restaurant again. That’s what it’s all about. I also spent many hours perfecting my kombucha, flavouring with some of the foraged ingredients.

English berries are now in abundance, but it’s a bumpy year for English strawberries, due to the early warm weather - and no Wimbledon!

puff up immediately. It takes 10-15 seconds to cook.

Remove from the oil with the tongs and place on to kitchen paper to drain.

Lemon sole Place your fillets, skin side up on a lightly buttered non-stick tray, then place a light buttered silicon paper on top of each fillet.

Set aside at room temperature until ready to cook.

Seaweed butter Reduce the fish stock by half and add the 10g of cream. Remove from the heat, add the dulse seaweed seasoning and whisk in 100g of diced unsalted butter. Add the butter cube by cube, slowly (the idea is to emulsify the sauce, so take your time with it). Check your seasoning, may need a little sea salt and a squeeze of lemon or lime.

Or you can always put a couple of drops of good quality white wine or cider vinegar.

TRY THIS >>

Lemon sole Serves 4 Ingredients 4 lemon sole fillets (get your fishmonger to scale and fillet for you) 100g tapioca pearls 3 sheets of nori seaweed 300ml of sunflower oil (for frying) 100g samphire 100g sea aster (use 4 leaves of baby gem if you can’t get sea aster) 150g unsalted butter 10g dulse seaweed seasoning

AUG/SEP20

10g whipping or double cream 150ml of fish stock Method

Tapioca cracker For the tapioca cracker, put 500g of water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the tapioca and cook for 18-20 minutes until cooked and transparent.

Strain off the water and place the tapioca into a blender, whilst still hot.

Add the 3 x Nori sheets (you can cut these up to make it easier to blend) and blend on

high speed for 3 minutes or until fully incorporated.

Once blended and still warm, spread the mixture thinly onto silicon paper, as thin as you possibly can (1-2mm in thickness).

Place on a tray or wire rack and allow to dry for at least 24 hrs in a warm place (you can put in a fan oven set at 60°C).

Once dry and crisp (it should feel like a sheet of thin plastic), heat the oil in a small saucepan to approx 200°C, break the tapioca sheet into a few pieces and with some tongs fry one piece at a time. Do a tester first with a small piece, it should

TO FINISH >> To finish, place the lemon sole fillets on the lowest point of the grill, with the paper still on top and lightly grill for 3-4 minutes (until the fish looks white in colour), remove and leave to rest, to allow the fish to finish cooking.

While the fish is cooking, lightly warm the seaweed butter, whisking occasionally.

Add the samphire, sea aster or lettuce to lightly wilt.

Lightly season the fish, with a small amount of sea salt, carefully lift onto the plate.

Spoon around the seaweed butter and sea vegetables and place the nori crisp onto the fish. angelhetton.co.uk

luxe-magazine.co.uk 45

WEIGH TO GO

THE ONLY WEIGH OUT:

feeding the community Elysia Fryer checks in with Mary Elizabeth Webb and Adam Carroll, the friendly faces behind Stokesley’s new plastic-free supermarket…

What can you tell us about The Only Weigh Out? The Only Weigh Out is a convenient plastic-free, zero-waste supermarket. The idea is to bring your own container and pay by weight - buying as little or as much as you need, at competitive prices.

We sell almost 300 products including herbs and spices, dried fruits, pasta and rice, lentils, grains and pulses, flour and baking goods, free-range eggs, cereals, loose leaf tea and coffee beans, nuts and seeds, oils and vinegars, award-winning honey, soaps, shampoo bars, household cleaning goods, toilet roll, sweets and more.

We aim to source as locally as possible and continually try to support as many local suppliers as we can. Our greatest intention is to make sure our store is as convenient and affordable as possible, so we incorporate both organic and non-organic products as we believe buying plastic-free should be accessible to all.

You’re a relatively new business, what measures have you had to put in place to ensure local people can get their essentials

46 luxe-magazine.co.uk

without having to brave the big supermarkets?

Our utmost concern is to protect our customers, so we quickly adopted a proactive approach and closed our doors before the lockdown was officially implemented. Although this resulted in an initial loss of turnover, it afforded us time to formulate a plan to ensure that our customers - and those most vulnerable were protected and able to get what they needed from us without risk.

We created a website whereby people could order what they need from us online and either collect it or have it delivered. In order to ensure safety in collection, we built a counter out of the front of the shop, which was generously completed by Labman Automation, who donated a protective Perspex screen. We also created a ‘TS9 Support Group for Self-Isolated People’ to connect everyone within the postcode so that they can help each other through the unnerving times.

How are you ensuring a safe working environment?

When we’re not at the store, myself and my partner Adam have been self-isolating to

make sure we don’t get the virus, ensuring we can still provide a service to our customers. If anyone pays at the door, we encourage people to use contactless (where possible). When delivering, we sanitise our hands before dropping products at each house, ring the doorbell, step back and wait to ensure the customer has received their goods.

You recently won Britain’s Most Innovative Small Business award at The Telegraph Lockdown Awards. What does this mean for a new, local business - particularly in such uncertain times?

We received a phone call from The Daily

Telegraph in May, who informed us that several people had nominated us for ‘Britain’s Most Innovative Small Business’ and out of the top 50 chosen in the country, we were shortlisted in the top three.

We couldn’t believe it when we found out we had won! We were absolutely speechless - particularly since we had only been up-and-running for four months. The nicest thing about it is that our customers have recognised how important it is to us to keep them protected and I think that’s the nature of community; you know everyone by name and you look after those around you. That’s what’s missed in the supermarkets. By creating this safe service, we have gained

AUG/SEP20

WEIGH TO GO

We aim to source as locally as possible and continually try to support as many local suppliers as we can

many new customers. Through being able to see everything online, they have realised the huge range of products we offer.

There are millions of people all over the world who have been unsung heroes and so many have looked after their neighbours.

That’s the greatest thing for us, that people are rediscovering the meaning of community - and we are just fortunate that our efforts were noticed.

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us before and throughout the pandemic. We are so fortunate to have been able to appease the difficulties people have faced, in any means whatsoever.

What kind of feedback have you had from the local community?

The feedback we have received since we opened our doors is absolutely incredible.

Not only the overwhelming positivity and gratefulness, but the level of sincerity and concern people have for us as a business, is just wonderful. We are ever so lucky to be a part of such a wonderful community here in Stokesley - and I think during times like these, you really appreciate the people around you.

AUG/SEP20

Can you give us a simple store cupboard recipe for our readers to try at home?

Here is one of the wonderful recipes from Elizabeth Homan from Barefoot Kitchen CIC in Middlesbrough - a social enterprise inspiring communities in the Tees Valley through food growing, cooking and sharing, from plot to plate. Enjoy!

Walnut, sage & pea risotto >> This is a fantastic, simple recipe that can be easily doubled or halved. When cooled, it can be kept for three days in the fridge.

Leftovers can be made into arancini - balls of risotto dipped in breadcrumbs and fried - lush! To make it vegan, simply miss out the parmesan and replace the butter with a dairy free alternative. The walnuts, sage and peas can be substituted for other seasonal produce.

Ingredients Dried Arborio rice 1 glass of white wine (optional) 2 tsp dried sage (or a small handful of fresh sage, chopped finely) Handful of walnuts

Glug of oil Fresh 1 white onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 small glass of white wine 1.5 pints of hot veg stock Handful of frozen peas Good grating of parmesan cheese (optional - or can be replaced with cheddar) Knob of butter Squeeze of lemon Method In a pan (don’t worry about what type of pan - I’ve cooked risotto in frying pans, saucepans and a wok in the past), add a glug of oil followed by the onion and gently cook down until softened. Add the garlic and stir through.

Next, add the rice, stir through, turn the heat up and slowly pour in the wine.

Once the wine has almost evaporated, stir through the sage. Slowly add the hot stock, just covering the rice.

Turn the heat low and let the risotto gently bubble away until the rice has absorbed nearly all of the stock. Pour over more hot stock. Keep repeating this process until the rice is cooked through and you have

a fairly loose risotto. On the last addition of stock, add the frozen peas.

Meanwhile, bash up the walnuts and pop into a dry frying pan over a medium heat, then stir continuously so the nuts do not burn. When lightly toasted, remove from the heat. Add the nuts, parmesan, butter and lemon to the risotto and stir through until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve up with crusty bread and a bowl of seasonal salad.

For more environmentally-friendly foodie inspiration, visit: barefootkitchencic.com What’s next for The Only Weigh Out? We are very excited to begin our next chapter. With the help of the exceptional chef and food knowledge wizard, Elizabeth Homan of Barefoot Kitchen CIC, we are going to be offering recipe boxes to enable people to reap the full benefits of our products. We have some surprises coming up and can’t wait to share them with everyone.

We are also going to be selling wines, beers, chutneys and jams very soon.

Stay tuned, Stokesley. theonlyweighout.co.uk

luxe-magazine.co.uk 47

SUMMER INSPO

Savouring the seasons WITH KAREN PHILLIPS

If, like me, you experienced the rollercoaster of emotions of life in lockdown, then read on for some new survival strategies to boost you through the rest of summer PINEAPPLE PICK-ME-UP >>> This fabulous little cocktail sure does pack a punch. The sunshine colour lifts the spirits, and even if the rum is excluded, it makes a very merry mocktail. I can always remember being told to sniff the base of a pineapple to assess the ripeness before purchasing, but in these days of social distancing that’s a total ‘no-no’. A sure-fire way that shouldn’t offend anyone is to surreptitiously tug on a spiky leaf; if it comes off easily then your pineapple should be fragrant and sweet. Another top tip for this tipple is to peel your root ginger using the edge of a teaspoon.

Ingredients 2 large sweet pineapples Root ginger (thumb-sized chunk, peeled) Light rum Soda water Viola flowers to decorate (optional) Method Peel and core the pineapples and then, if you have a juicer, juice them with the peeled ginger or in my case, whizz up in a blender and then pass through a sieve. The juice can be used immediately or chilled for up to eight hours in the fridge. To make each

cocktail use 50ml of juice and 2-3 tbsp of rum, poured over ice then topped up with soda water and garnished with flowers.

SOURDOUGH FOUGASSE WITH BASIL & HALKIDIKI OLIVES >> Many of us have been trying new things and challenging ourselves this summer, and judging by the number of cane proving baskets that we have sent nationwide, a lot of people have been mastering sourdough: a delicious bread that’s more digestible for the gut, but needs long, slow proving. I’d spoken to a friend and, after 12 weeks of daily sourdough bread, she mentioned needing a change, so this olive fougasse made use of the dough but provided a different loaf. Plus, the added benefit of using leftovers as bruschetta, topped with goat’s cheese and melted in the oven then slathered with chilli jam. 1 quantity of sourdough: makes 3 x medium fougasse.

Ingredients 1kg flour (750g strong white, 250g Gilchester’s wholemeal flour, 50g of dark rye flour) Handful of pumpkin seeds 700g warm water mixed with 200g of ripe levain (made from a tablespoon of your sourdough starter and equal quantities

of flour and water, which has been left to mature at room temperature until a teaspoon dropped into a glass of water floats) 20g sea salt 1 jar of pitted olives, drained Fresh basil leaves, pounded with extra-virgin olive oil Method Mix the initial flours, levain and water by hand in the bowl until no dry bits remain, then leave for 30 minutes before 20g of sea salt (mixed with a small amount of warm water) is squeezed into the dough using fingers. The whole dough will come together quickly in the bowl with no kneading.

During the bulk fermentation, over four hours, fold the dough every hour. Add the jar of drained Halkidiki pitted olives and basil on the first folding.

When the dough is puffy and light, tip out onto a lightly floured work surface and cut into three. Roll each third into a ball and leave covered to relax for 20 minutes before each ball is shaped.

After 20 minutes, take each ball and pull the front towards you, then fold it back over onto the dough. Pull each side and finally stretch the back and fold over to close the envelope.

Roll the whole thing towards you so the seam is on the bottom then place on a well-floured linen tea towel and flatten it to a 11/2 inch rectangle. Cover loosely with cling film or another floured tea towel and leave to rise for 2-3 hours.

Preheat your oven to its max setting (240°C)

and place a heavy baking tray in to heat up.

Place a roasting tin in the oven filled with some water on the floor of the oven.

Flour a wooden board well and flip or roll a fougasse onto it then slide onto the hot baking tray and bake for 15 minutes. Peek in the oven and turn if necessary and bake for another 5 minutes if required.

Remove from the oven and brush with olive oil whilst hot. Repeat with the other two fougasse.

RICH PICKINGS FROM THE GARDEN >> It’s a joy at this time of year to visit the veg plot and reap the rewards of all your hard labour in spring.

Pea tips tossed into the overflowing salad bowl of homegrown leaves.

Courgette flowers picked for topping anchovy and gorgonzola focaccia.

The first new potatoes, nutty and sweet dipped in melted butter.

Just perfect.

JOBS IN THE GARDEN >> Now is the perfect time to sow Florence fennel and spinach without the risk of bolting - both bolt as a result of long days, so waiting until after 21 June pays dividends.

Keep sowing short rows of salad leaves, radishes and turnips as soon as the leaves of the first sowings are seen and you’ll have fresh supplies until the first frosts. It is worth seeking out a winter salad leaf that will take you into the colder months, as well sowing some chervil and lamb’s lettuce.

UPCOMING COURSES @LINNELS FARM THE SAVVY STUDENT 3-DAY COOKERY COURSE >> 24 - 26 AUGUST & 2 - 4 SEPTEMBER This three-day, hands-on cookery course will teach you how to make delicious, nutritious meals with minimum mess. With the emphasis on one-pot wonders and making the most of inexpensive food, you’ll depart with cookery skills and a repertoire you can cook within the confines of any student flat. Please contact us for a full itinerary.

INTRODUCTION TO BEEKEEPING - NORTHUMBERLAND HONEY CO. >> 28 AUGUST Spend an informative morning learning the theoretical aspects required to step into the world of beekeeping with confidence. In the afternoon, the course will migrate outside with all bee suits and protective equipment provided. You’ll get up close to the bees and learn the basics of bee handling, husbandry and swarm control - putting the morning theory into practice. The day will close with a honey and mead tasting.

For further details and to book, visit: linnelsfarm.com

48 luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Easy breezy This beautiful, billowing midi dress by My Sleeping Gypsy is effortlessly romantic – and the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe. Think statement sleeves, intricate embroidery and an easy breezy, powder pink palette. £502. mysleepinggypsy.com

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk 49

A DOG’S LIFE

POSH POOCHES with Alfie, helped by Elysia Fryer

Leading the way

Pawsome reads >>

Alfie has loved nothing more than having the whole gang together at home during lockdown; but as the world begins to slowly wake up again, it’s time to pick up the paintbrush in our poochy pads and prepare for a brilliant back end of the year.

The sunny season brought beach strolls, hilltop hikes and picture-perfect picnics, but as we approach the end of summer into September, there’s never a better time to catch those final rays in the garden, hunker down with a good book and make sure the rest of 2020 counts. With that in mind, and to fill in the time between puppy visits from his new friend Rupert the fox red Cockapoo, Alfie has picked out five of his favourite coffee table books featuring cute canines, and all the kit for a cool new poochy pad makeover.

Enjoy!

Cool coffee table books featuring cute canines...

Alfie, your Luxe pooch x

Alfie loves: << MINEHEART Bernard Dog Art Print, £104, mineheart.com

Whether it’s a bootroom, a utility room or a porch, Alfie has sniffed out some stylish kit for a Pinterest-worthy poochy paradise.

SWEATPEA & WILLOW >> Dachshund Cushion Stone, £55, sweetpeaandwillow.com

BE MORE DOG - LIFE LESSONS FROM OUR CANINE FRIENDS >>

by Alison Davies People often say “we don’t deserve dogs”.

They are incredible creatures that bring so much love, joy and companionship to our daily lives. This ‘life lesson-style’ book by Alison Davies teaches us how to live a happier, healthier and more courageous existence through the eyes of our pooches.

DOGS GODS >>

by Tim Flach Dogs Gods tells the tale of our oldest and most faithful furry friends. They entertain us, they protect us, they teach us how to love and they bring so much happiness into our lives. This book shows us new ways of living through our much-loved pets - with a few laughs along the way!

CANINES OF NEW YORK >>

by Heather Weston If, like me, dogs and New York City are two of your favourite

<< LABONI VOGUE Velvet Dog Bed, Rose Velvet, £750, cuckooland.com

ARTISANTI >> Toba Rattan Dog Kennel, £225, artisanti.com

Luxe Pooch Q&A

things, this book is for you. Canines of New York is a visual celebration of the Big Apple’s vibrant dog community. More than 500 photographs of the hottest hounds to grace the city streets. One of the finest coffee table books around!

DOG PEOPLE >>

by Sandra Müller This book will brighten up any dull day.

Whether it’s Great Dane Holly as a couch potato, or Gismo riding a Harley, there’s something oh-so wonderful about our pooches posing as ‘hoomans’. Pure brilliance.

UNDERWATER DOGS >>

by Seth Casteel Simple but oh-so wonderful.

‘A dog’s leap, a splash, and then a wet head surfacing with a ball, triumphant.’

More than 80 lively pooch portraits are guaranteed to put smiles on faces when flicking through this masterpiece

by Seth Casteel. Pure, playful and utterly priceless.

in the afternoon. Plenty of walks, tail-wagging friends and some tasty human treats when I’m a good boy.

myself. A curly blowdry, a mani-pedi and a cool cologne to top it off. I’m summer ready!

Meet Rupert, the fox red Cockapoo. He’s a ginger bundle of joy - bringing plenty of cuddles, kisses and cheeky behaviour. He’s a North Yorkshire native and can be seen brunching in local villages, finding his feet in the North York Moors, or dipping his paws in the sea at Saltburn.

DOGGY DOWNTIME >> When the humans are out, I swap my bed for the big comfy sofa, surrounded by cosy cushions and some of my favourite teddies. It’s my favourite place to snooze and gaze out of the window until they come home for cuddles.

DOG’S BEST FRIEND >> Alfie the smiley Golden Retriever and Bella the lovely Labradoodle are my best friends. I go to their poochy pads at least once a week and it’s a total treat. We play in the garden, leap through the fields and keep the humans busy at all times.

LUXE WALKS >> My legs may be little, but I do love a good hike up my local hill, Roseberry Topping. I like to get out nice and early so I can perch at the top and watch the world wake up beneath me. It’s my Pride Rock place!

HOUND HABITS >> I’m still a pup, so my cheeky streak isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I’m a total teddy bear, but when I’m not cuddling, I’m usually chasing birds in the garden, showing them how it’s done in virtual yoga classes, or sniffing out what the humans are cooking for tea.

POOCH’S PERFECT DAY OUT >> I recently went camping in the North York Moors with my family. I got my paws sandy on Scarborough beach in the morning, then ventured into the enchanting Dalby Forest

PUPPY PAMPER >> I had my first puppy pamper this month and I’m looking kinda cute, if I say so

FONDEST DOGGY MEMORY >> We spent a sunny summer’s day in the Lake District, where we chased waterfalls, dipped my paws, leaped through the fields and lived it up with a poochfriendly picnic on Lake Ullswater.

PUPPY A-LISTER >> Cheeky, loyal and totally lovable - it has to be Ron Weasley. It might have something to do with the ginger hair, too.

Don’t forget to get in touch and send in pics of your pooch for our next issue via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram… facebook.com/luxemag

50 luxe-magazine.co.uk

@theluxemagazine

theluxemagazine

AUG/SEP20

FEELING GOOD

ON THE HOOF with Deborah Smith

BOWEN THERAPY >> I’m a recent ‘convert’ to Bowen therapy for the horses - and Sarah-Ann Stoker, a mobile equine practitioner covering the North East - was highly recommended to work with Oli, who had a few sore muscles and definitely needed some R&R. The Bowen technique is a simple remedial muscle manipulation therapy, treating not just the symptoms but the whole body; all very holistic and gentle. It is subtle and very relaxing, so much so that Oli loves his sessions. Never one to miss out, Strider is now also having them. What a chilled-out pair they are and with competitions beckoning, it’s great to have the boys both in peak condition.

You can reach Sarah-Ann on: 07719 163089 or on Facebook at: @sastherapy.

AUG/SEP20

Tracy Kidd Photography tracy@tracykiddphotography.com

2020 has turned out to be a very different year for all of us and I’ve been feeling so fortunate to live out in beautiful Weardale with lots of wide, open spaces to ride with Oli and Strider.

With ‘organised’ events and competitions only now starting to get going again, I’ve been using some of this quieter time to focus on the horses’ fitness and general wellbeing...

THORPE FARM EQUINE FITNESS & REHAB >> Horse health is now a huge business, and several new centres have set up in the last few years to cater for a wide range of clients. Thorpe Farm Equine Fitness and Rehab in North Yorkshire is building itself an excellent reputation and offers a wide range of equine therapies, working alongside owners, vets and trainers to help clients get the most from their horses and assist recovery from injury.

I popped in one day to meet Amy Fife, who set up Thorpe Farm in December 2018, with her husband Tom and his parents Marjorie and William. Originally, this started as a racing yard, with gallops and a water treadmill added in 2019. The fitness and rehab business evolved as a natural progression, and Amy has been running this full-time since January 2020. The salt chamber was installed this spring; it’s a fabulous setup and I can see why they’re busy with all types of horses visiting for the day or staying for a full rehab programme: from ponies to top-level competition horses.

The facilities at Thorpe Farm are superb as you turn in, the gallops run alongside the drive: they are immaculate and well-maintained, with a top-of-the-range Andrews Bowen surface. The water treadmill, solarium, theraplate and salt chamber are all housed in a huge open barn complex so there’s plenty of light and a comfortable, relaxing environment for the horses.

Amy’s eventer, the very handsome Boo, who has come back to full fitness with the help of the facilities, showed off the water treadmill as he marched his way through one of his regular sessions. Watching Boo on the water treadmill for twenty minutes

was fascinating and I can see how this helps build fitness and condition. I’m looking forward to a return visit with Oli and Strider.

To find out more and to book, visit: thorpefarmrehabandfitness.co.uk or contact Amy directly on: 07817 720449 or amyannelawrence@gmail.com FMBS THERAPY SYSTEMS >> Thorpe Farm’s water treadmill comes from FMBs Therapy Systems. By coincidence, I’ve been trying out FMBs Activo-Med Combi Pro II Therapy rug and I’ve been very impressed with the results.

The FMBs Combi Pro II combines powerful Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy (PEMF) with deep massage. It can be used daily

to support performance as part of your warm up and cool down routine. It is excellent for horses in rehabilitation, or with specific stiffness, injuries or general maintenance. I’ve been using it with Oli and Strider as part of their everyday routine - before and after work - and they love it.

There is a longer sixty minute programme for rest days and they both have a good sleep during this. The FMBs team are incredibly knowledgeable and happy to advise to ensure you can fit and use the rug to get optimum results. Mine is already in use every day; I wouldn’t be without it now.

For more information, visit: fmbs.co.uk or contact Laura Austin at: laura@fmbs.co.uk

luxe-magazine.co.uk

51

GORGEOUS GETAWAYS

SLOW DOWN, ESCAPE & JUST BE Happiest when lost in the countryside. Beautiful Escapes is all about inviting guests to fall in love with Yorkshire. “We live and breathe Yorkshire and we’d love to share it with you,” says mother-daughter team, Angela and Charlotte…

LUXE: Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves and your journey to Beautiful Escapes?

BE: Yorkshire is simply the best. For us, there is no better place to be. I (Angela) have spent my whole life here. I was born here, I grew up here, and I brought up my own family in this wonderful county of ours.

I love it. So when I reached a point in my life - about two years ago now - when I had the time to pause and think about what might be next, it felt really special to have the time to walk by the coast, amble across the moors and mooch around our wonderful market towns.

It struck me that it was a rare moment. In the busy lives we all lead, it seems so much harder to stop and just be. I knew then that whatever path I took next, it would have to take me to something I love doing, like breathing new life into properties for them to be enjoyed by the next generation. But more importantly, I wanted to share my love of being here - in Yorkshire - with the space and the pace to just be.

LUXE: What did you do before and what made you make the jump?

BE: Alongside a successful career in the corporate world, my passion has always been property development - from building houses to renovating listed buildings, this is where my heart is happiest,

52 luxe-magazine.co.uk

I wanted to share my love of being here - in Yorkshire - with the space and the pace to just be

especially in my native Yorkshire.

As a holiday cottage owner, I understood the ins and outs of this market, so after I left corporate life and was thinking about my next move, it seemed natural to combine my love of property with my passion for Yorkshire.

My daughter Charlotte is a successful photographer and marketeer, and she too was keen to get involved in the new venture. Her work takes her all over the country, but Yorkshire remains her favourite place to be.

That’s how Beautiful Escapes evolved. The more we thought about it, it just felt like a step in the right direction, working collaboratively with holiday homeowners to curate a portfolio of Beautiful Escapes for people to enjoy at their leisure.

LUXE: Your corporate world and Charlotte’s creative world collide in this business. Was there always a plan to work together?

BE: We have always chatted about ideas to work together and when Beautiful Escapes evolved after we purchased another holiday property, it seemed like the natural next step to combine our experience and expertise. It’s a very special thing to have a mother-daughter team, and we’re so excited about what’s in store in the near future.

LUXE: Where can we find BE properties?

BE: Our properties are spread across Yorkshire, so you can find your perfect escape whether your ideal location is a

stone’s throw from the beach in a fishing village, set atop rolling moorland, or in a historical market town in the heart of the Dales.

LUXE: What makes a BE property?

BE: They must have that extra sprinkling of magic we know our guests are looking for.

A picture-postcard location, a bit of history and stunning interiors. We visit every property and work closely with our owners to create the perfect Beautiful Escape - so there’s definitely an element of consistency across our portfolio.

LUXE: Your favourite property features?

BE: Each property has its own unique features, which make it a perfect fit for Beautiful Escapes. All have cosy fireplaces to snuggle up by after a long day exploring, some have hot tubs for a romantic retreat, others have their own private walled gardens with meandering paths - and there’s even one set by a millrace.

LUXE: How is the Yorkshire staycation market looking right now?

BE: We are all ready for that much-needed break, a change of scenery and some space to explore away from home. Now we are allowed to travel once again, we are really enjoying welcoming visitors back to Yorkshire. We have worked closely with our property owners to ensure that the correct deep cleaning procedures are in place and offer contactless arrival where possible. We have also listened closely

AUG/SEP20

GORGEOUS GETAWAYS

to guests and understand that they are anxious about what might happen if they were prevented from travelling or if they needed to cancel. Every booking with Beautiful Escapes is automatically covered for free cancellation for any reason including COVID-19.

LUXE: How can a BE guest enjoy the ultimate Yorkshire staycation with you?

BE: From the moment you book, we offer a bespoke concierge service to connect you with brilliant Yorkshire people for whatever you need during your stay.

We have been making connections with superb local suppliers so that our guests can really experience this wonderful county we call home.

From hiring one of Yorkshire Vehicle Hire’s Land Rover Defenders, to having a wonderful Italian chef, Rosalind, make you a sumptuous dinner or host a private cookery class. If you would like to mark a special occasion during your stay, The Wilde Floral can deliver a stunning arrangement or decorate the property ready for your arrival. Firth & Co. will deliver wine for your arrival and can provide a tasting evening, too. If you want to relax and unwind or go on an adventure, we can organise yoga, guided climbing, walking routes and much, much more. And of course, each property owner makes sure your stay starts with a beautiful welcome hamper filled with goodies.

AUG/SEP20

LUXE: Your ultimate Yorkshire day out?

BE: Starting in the pretty market town of Helmsley, stopping off at Mannion & Co for a tasty breakfast to set us up for the day.

Then we would enjoy the drive over to the coast through the North York Moors National Park. Pulling up on top of the hill of Robin Hood’s Bay, we would walk across the cliffs to Ravenscar for some of the most spectacular views. We’d finish the day by heading back inland to The Black Swan at Oldstead for a beautiful dinner by Tommy Banks.

LUXE: Three places to take visitors?

BE: - A day trip to the little fishing village of Runswick Bay. - The majestic Castle Howard is one of our favourite stately homes.

- The beautiful Dales - a day spent rambling and taking in the wonderful scenery, visiting the local markets, stopping off in Middleham to watch the racehorses on their way to the gallops.

LUXE: An in-the-know Yorkshire secret?

BE: If you are a foodie, we have the most wonderful fish and chips from the coast and more Michelin star restaurants than anywhere else in the country - oh, and farmers’ markets offering the very best local produce. Perhaps not so secret and we are a little biased, but we think the people really are the best here in Yorkshire.

We have been making connections with superb local suppliers so that our guests can really experience this wonderful county we call home

beautifulescapes.co.uk

luxe-magazine.co.uk 53

COOL CAMPER

P ITC H P E R F E CT Luxe gears up for an outdoor adventure in Yorkshire Vehicle Hireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Defender 110 XS Camper. Time to drive up the ultimate Yorkshire adventure...

54 luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

COOL CAMPER

Like many in the height of the pandemic, many cancelled getaways later, we found ourselves dreaming up the good stuff. But instead, the reality was bygone beach breaks and silent cityscapes.

So, as lockdown restrictions started to ease, we found ourselves in search of something a little different for our summer staycation.

How can we get out and explore what’s on our doorstep, but from a completely different vantage point? Cue Yorkshire Vehicle Hire - a business rooted in getting out and about in the wild and wonderful Yorkshire countryside.

Driving a Land Rover Defender is an adventure in itself, regardless of your final destination. But the beauty of this cool camping concept is, the final destination is in your hands.

There’s nothing quite like cranking up the gears and winding your way over the moors.

Throw in a challenging terrain and a few rattly windows, and you’ve cracked the authentic Defender experience. Pair that with the ability to park up and pitch for the weekend, and we’re on to a winner.

The guys at Yorkshire Vehicle Hire not only know a thing or two when it comes to the wonderful world of Land Rover, but they’re also masters in finding a gap in the market and filling it - with a rather funky Defender twist.

Their most recent venture brings the biggest adventure to date - rooftop camping on top of a Land Rover Defender 110 XS. Taking the Defender experience and quite literally

There’s nothing quite like cranking up the gears and winding your way over the moors. Pair that with the ability to park up and pitch for the weekend, and we’re on to a winner

making a weekend of it!

Admittedly, we’re not your usual camping types, but luckily our YVH pals are clearly experts in their field. They’ve thought of everything, and it sure does make our lives easier.

Simply pull up in the 110, pop up the TentBox and you’re good to go. An outdoorsy adventure awaits…

AUG/SEP20

We’re trying out the Defender Camping experience as a post-lockdown, on-the-road staycation. Up and over the moors we go, the rugged charm of the vehicle perfectly accompanying the magnificently rugged Yorkshire landscape.

The beauty of this beast is that you’ve got everything you need in the boot. Pull up mid-journey, pop up a deck chair and take in the views as you enjoy a cup of Yorkshire tea, or stock up on weekend goodies en route, swinging by foodie market towns such as Helmsley and Malton.

After a scenic sunset drive from one edge of the North York Moors to the other, we pitch up at our Pickering campsite. Set-up is as smooth as can be. The TentBox quite literally pops up from nowhere, creating a sturdy camping cabin complete with mattress and ladders. It’s like Christmas morning working our way through the handy kit list.

You’ll find everything - including the kitchen sink - in the boot! Everything from cutlery and crockery, to a Safari Chef stove, table and chairs, cleaning equipment and proper Yorkshire treats to get the weekend off to a flyer.

An Igloo 120-hour cool box, side awning and cosy blankets complete the perfect set-up as the sun sets over the Vale of Pickering and we settle in for an evening of Defender-style stargazing.

The side awning is set up like a tent, so there’s no need to pack it away when retiring up the ladders to your cosy, rooftop cabin.

Venturing out for the day is no problem - simply pack everything back into the storage containers and you’re ready to hit the road after a BBQ breakfast.

As the name suggests, the friendly faces at YVH know a thing or two about good old Yorkshire too, so recommendations on where to stay, eat and explore will go a long way.

From the North York Moors and the depths of the Dales, to the Lake District, Northumberland and beyond, there are plenty of big, beautiful open spaces to explore, just a stone’s throw from YVH HQ. Our Pickering staycation means we’ve got the best of both worlds when it comes to exploring the coast and country. Whether it’s a ride out to the beautiful beaches surrounding Scarborough, or an inland

adventure into the ever-so enchanting woodlands of Dalby Forest, you’ll find plenty of picture-perfect spots to walk, ramble, ride, or relax with a picnic.

YVH’s Defender Camping experience really does bring a truly unique staycation to the market this summer. It’s the perfect way to help bring out your inner adventurer whether it’s a couple’s getaway, a family vacay, or a thrilling escape from the rush of everyday life. It’s a place where you can switch off with four wheels firmly on the ground.

The business itself was born from a passion of Yorkshire, Land Rovers and adventure.

Defender Camping ticks all of those boxes, and then some!

The 110 XS has five seats, plenty of boot space and drive-away awning to make days out in the Defender that little bit easier.

The TentBox sleeps two adults, with space for a little one if you don’t mind a snug staycation. Four-legged friends can join the adventure, too.

From £125 per night, three nights minimum rental applies (March - October). yorkshirevehiclehire.co.uk/rooftop-camping

luxe-magazine.co.uk 55

COOL CAMPER

Lake District >> LOW WRAY CAMPSITE Where is it? This National Trust campsite on the western shoreline of Lake Windermere is an idyllic spot for exploring the Lake District and all it has to offer.

Make this your home for your Defender adventure and explore the likes of Beatrix Potter’s garden at Hill Top, or Allan Bank at Grasmere.

Why do we love it? A stunning site with plenty of space to choose from. Whether it’s a spot with woodland views, a waterfront pitch or an escape in the meadow, you’re sure to be surrounded by serene countryside with first-class facilities on hand at all times. Don’t forget to get out on England’s largest lake, not far from the Low Wray site. Dog friendly.

BOOK IT NOW: 015394 32733 nationaltrust.org/ holidays/low-wray-campsite-lake-district

GREAT LANGDALE CAMPSITE

Yorkshire Vehicle Hire’s top campsites

Where is it? Everything we know and love about the Lakes, in one campsite. Great Langdale is set beneath the towering Langdale Pikes close to Ambleside.

Why do we love it? Another National Trust site, Great Langdale is all about relaxing and taking in the dramatic backdrop. Go here for walks aplenty, cycling routes and holidays with the whole gang. With newly-refurbished shower blocks, toilets and washing areas, you’ll feel right at home at Langdale.

BOOK IT NOW: 015394 32733 nationaltrust.org/ holidays/great-langdale-campsite-lake-district

You’ve bagged your Defender, now where to camp? Let YVH help you plan your Defender Camping adventure with some top campsites across Yorkshire, the Lake District, Northumberland and beyond…

Northumberland >> KIELDER CAMPSITE

BUDLE BAY CAMPSITE

Where is it? With Kielder Water and Forest Park on the fringe of the site, this Northumberland camping spot is great for family staycations. A stunning, Scottish Borders location sitting in the National Park and Nature Reserve.

Why do we love it? Stargazing from your Tent Box is an absolute must at this site – sitting in the centre of the Dark Sky Park. This unique location comes with heaps of activities for families – everything from red squirrel trails and mountain biking, to long quiet dog walks and water sports.

You’ll never be stuck for something cool to do here. Dog friendly.

BOOK IT NOW: 01434 239257 kieldercampsite.co.uk

Where is it? Budle Bay boasts a breathtaking location near Bamburgh Castle. Sitting in a picturesque tree-lined valley with a pretty river flowing through, it’s the ideal spot for quiet camping in one of the most idyllic coastal areas in the country.

Why do we love it? Pitch up by the stream, on the hill or close to the on-site facilities at this peaceful, picture-perfect campsite in Bamburgh. If the fact that Budle Bay sits in Northumberland’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty isn’t enough to draw you, its stargazing opportunities, wildlife and nearby golden sandy beaches will. A beauty of a spot, ideal for exploring coast and country in your Defender.

BOOK IT NOW: 01668 214598 budlebaycampsite.co.uk

Yorkshire Dales >> KETTLEWELL CAMPING

MASONS CAMPSITE

WHERE IS IT? Sitting in an enviable location in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the Kettlewell Camping site is close to Kettlewell village, boasting beautiful views across the Upper Wharfedale valley. The site is just 14 miles from Skipton – the gateway to the Dales.

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? This place screams friendly, village charm – and breathtaking views out over the National Park. The facilities are first-class and the nearby pubs, tearoom and bistro are great for when you’re looking to venture out at mealtimes. Dog friendly.

BOOK IT NOW: 07930 379 079 kettlewellcamping.co.uk

Where is it? Masons Campsite is surrounded by glorious countryside, sitting in the village of Appletreewick, on the banks of the River Wharfe. The historic site of Bolton Abbey is located nearby, as are the many trails and picnic spots of the Yorkshire Dales.

Why do we love it? A picture-perfect pitch to say the least! This family site is the ideal base for exploring all that the Dales has to offer. Whether you’re hiking, cycling, village-hopping or just hitting the roads in your Defender, there’s plenty to do with Masons Campsite as your base. Dog friendly.

BOOK IT NOW: 01756 720 275 masonscampsite.co.uk

56 luxe-magazine.co.uk

North Yorkshire >> VALE OF PICKERING CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK

COTE GHYLL CARAVAN PARK & CAMPSITE

Where is it? This five-star holiday park is a family-run site sitting in a quiet spot surrounded by rolling countryside in the quaint Yorkshire village of Allerston, near Pickering.

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Location, location, location. This campsite is perfect for exploring the coast and country – as well as some of the region’s must-visit market towns including Malton, Pickering and Helmsley.

The facilities on site are great, and there’s plenty of space to pitch up in your Defender and enjoy the great outdoors. Dog friendly.

BOOK IT NOW: 01723 859 280 valeofpickering.co.uk

Where is it? Sitting at the foot of the North York Moors in Osmotherley, Cote Ghyll is an idyllic spot to camp – Defender style.

Why do we love it? Great for families, you’ll find beautiful views, plenty of cycle paths, wonderful wildlife and top-class facilities.

The friendly faces always offer a warm welcome, and are happy to help you plan your weekend in the countryside. With the Cod Beck stream flowing through, it’s the perfect place to play, paddle and enjoy the parkland. Dog friendly.

BOOK IT NOW: 01609 883425 coteghyll.com

AUG/SEP20

GET TO KNOW

T H E LU X E LOWD OW N

J E N I S M IT H

Jeni Smith is a networking strategist and founder of Networking KnowWho. During the lockdown period, her brand new networking business flourished as organisations pivoted to stay in touch virtually. Her ‘how to build professional relationships from home’ course has got off to a flyer, she tells us as we catch up about her luxe things in life...

GETTING TO KNOW YOU >> Name Jeni Smith Job title/career? Networking Strategist and Founder of Networking KnoWho Where is home? Durham Three reasons you love where you live? The history, the countryside and the people.

THE DAY JOB >> What do you do for a living?

I teach networking skills and create networking strategies. Having launched my business during lockdown, it’s been an interesting time to say the least, but I’m pleased to say it’s been a really positive one, too.

I get to work with lots of amazing people and help them on their own journey to success by improving their networking skills, relationships, techniques and get them to think strategically about their professional networking activities. I could talk about networking all day so I’d better leave that one there!

A day in the life of you?

I’m usually up early to get ready for the day while my husband takes care of our 10-month-old. We swap at 7am so he can get ready, then I retreat to my office in the loft where I spend the rest of the morning working.

Work usually consists of writing, delivering, training, Zoom calls, filming/editing - and lots of coffee.

After lunch I get to spend time with Juno, my daughter.

Playing games, watching the Wiggles, taking lots of walks with audiobooks, and generally trying to entertain her whilst simultaneously keeping her alive.

Before I know it, it’s dinner then bed time for Juno, followed by some more work if needed and/or ice-cream and some mind-numbing TV. Any upcoming or ongoing projects we should know about?

One of the interesting diversifications that’s come out of lockdown for me has been the exploration of pre-recorded networking training. I’ve recently launched my first online learning course; ‘Remote Business Networking: how to build professional relationships from home’, via the international learning platform, Udemy.

It’s a really exciting way of sharing knowledge and it opens up a whole new world of learners, so I’m really excited to see where that goes.

What does downtime mean to you?

Silence. Taking a nap. Those are absolute luxuries at the moment, so are always greatly appreciated.

LESSONS IN LIFE >> What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Everything! An astronaut, a ballerina, a singer, a doctor...

I wanted to try it all, and I guess I still feel that way now.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

It’s not a rehearsal. You don’t get to do it next time there is no next time, so do everything you possibly can in the time you have.

What is your greatest fear?

Unfulfilled potential.

Which living person do you most admire and why?

It has to be Jacinda Arden. She’s the epitome of what a leader should be: strong, empathetic and above all, she listens. She banned plastic bags in New Zealand because so many children wrote to her worried about the impact on the environment. Following the Christchurch massacre, not only did she show compassion and love, she showed strength and took action by making most semi-automatic weapons illegal within a month. And how she responded

AUG/SEP20

to COVID-19 I believe will go down in history as one of the most outstanding acts of leadership a country has ever seen.

LUXE LIVING >> What is top of your bucket list?

Getting my PhD. I’d love to do my professional doctorate.

What is your most treasured possession?

My blankets. Yes, I still have my comfort blankets from when I was a child, and no I’m not sorry.

I love them.

What does the weekend mean to you?

Family time, adventures and visits to a National Trust site with coffee and scones.

A memorable holiday?

Me and my husband went to Bali on honeymoon, although it was almost two years after we got married (life got in the way), and it was just the most amazing adventure. Dave hadn’t done the ‘traveling thing’ before, whereas I’d lived in Fiji when I was 18 with nuns and back-packed my way home. We only booked our flights and a place to stay the first few nights, then just figured the rest out once we arrived. It was so much fun to have that freedom to explore a new country in that way, moving from place to place for three weeks was brilliant, and a holiday I’ll never forget.

Best dress?

Has to be my wedding dress.

A Ronald Joyce lace gown with open back and pearl detail.

Amazing!

Who would be your top three dinner guests?

Leonardo Da Vinci, my Dad, and Jesus.

The last place you ate?

We were lucky enough to spend the week pre-lockdown at Centre Parcs in Nottingham, so the last place we ate out was the Pancake House there. Since then it’s been the kitchen table, breakfast bar or in front of the TV with a takeaway.

The last book you read?

I’m currently reading ‘Surrounded by Idiots’, which is about communication and personality styles. Before that it was ‘12 Rules for Life’ - a brilliant mixture of philosophy, religion and humour that I’d highly recommend.

The last sounds/music/ podcast you listened to?

Apart from having the radio on in the kitchen (I’m a Smooth FM kinda gal) and listening to audiobooks, my current musical repertoire consists of cartoon theme tunes and the Wiggles.

The last series/TV show/ movie you watched?

I’ve loved Normal People, Hollywood and Killing Eve. Three luxe things in life?

Adventures, restaurants and CHANEL. networkingknowho.com

luxe-magazine.co.uk 57

NEW CHAPTER

Home w ar d bou n d “It felt like coming home to a place I’d never been before”, says Rachel Rist, a lockdown buyer making a blind move from Buckinghamshire to Northumberland. Elysia Fryer finds out more...

I’m catching up with Rachel Rist in the height of the lockdown. With so much uncertainty in the world, it’s oh-so refreshing to speak to someone so sure of their future.

Rachel, 63, has recently retired from 40 years in the education sector and has had her sights set on ‘winding down’ for some

58 luxe-magazine.co.uk

time now. Buckinghamshire is home, but she’s been in search of something completely new as she settles down for her next chapter.

There’s no fun in comfort zones, right?

“I’m so thrilled my next chapter makes a story for you,” Rachel smiles.

“For me, it’s just what I had to do, but I guess - particularly in the strange

times we find ourselves in - it is quite an unusual thing.”

In the new virtual world we’re living in, Rachel and I joke about the ‘ultimate online shopping experience’ - and we agree that this one tops the list.

A chance online meeting at the beginning of lockdown brought West Chevington Farm to the attention of house-hunting Rachel.

West Chevington Farm is a Platinum Homes development, merging country life with contemporary living - right beside the seaside. A total box-ticker for Rachel.

The 21 luxury homes are built on a National Heritage Listed Georgian farm, close to the pretty-as-a-picture Druridge Bay in Northumberland, near Morpeth. It’s a place worlds away from Rachel’s Buckinghamshire home; but somehow, paths were crossed and she’s now counting down the days until she calls her beautiful barn-style house a home.

“I live in an estate house in Buckinghamshire. I put it on the market on 13 March and sold it four days later just before the lockdown,” Rachel explains.

“Which I was obviously delighted about, but when lockdown hit, I was concerned about finding my forever home.

“My original plan was to retire in Devon or Cornwall. I knew I wanted to live by the beach - I’m my best me by the sea.

“I was looking online for something a little different - something special for me and my dogs. Having lived for most of my life in an estate house, I knew I wanted something special. I wanted a house that wasn’t a box.

“I just didn’t feel a connection with any of the homes I was looking at in Devon and Cornwall, so I started expanding the search.

At this point, West Chevington popped up, I clicked on the website and thought, ‘oh, this looks a bit special’.”

With an adult son who has left home and a very open mind - Rachel was in the enviable position to be totally flexible.

Location wasn’t such an issue, as long as it felt right.

“I liked the West Chevington development because, first of all, it was near the sea, and secondly, I loved the design and the flair of the houses,” Rachel smiles.

“I liked the idea of a community starting together,” she adds.

“I’m starting a whole new life in my

retirement. I love the idea of starting something completely new from the beginning, with some other likeminded people around.”

Bungalows and barn-conversions were top of Rachel’s search criteria. Throw in vaulted ceilings, oak beams, an open-plan kitchen and the sound of crashing waves and we’re on to a winner.

“I looked at the specification for The Byreman and I thought, ‘wow, this is exactly what I had in mind’.

“I’m all about contemporary interiors. I’m a huge fan of Grand Designs, and watching a lot of it over the years, I realised I love really simple design - lots of glass, lots of oak, lots of space. So I liked the idea of something that was, to me, my very own ‘Grand Design’.”

So, with the house ticking all the boxes, it was time for Rachel to do a bit of research into the local area.

“I’ve got family in Scotland. My brother lives just south of Edinburgh. I said to him, ‘I’ve looked at this house in Northumberland and I really like it’... and he said, ‘you are going to love the area - it’s beautiful’.

“But I’m ashamed to say, I knew hardly anything about the North East. I really didn’t.

“I fired up Google Maps - toured the area with ‘street view’ and chatted to my family.

I very quickly learnt that it had two things: beautiful beaches and plenty of space. For me and my dogs, there’s nothing more we could wish for.

“The idea of walking the dogs on the beach really appealed.

“So that, paired with the beautiful homes at West Chevington, just made me feel so excited about the prospects of upping sticks and moving to Northumberland,” Rachel says, with a huge smile.

“I looked at the specification, I looked at the floorplan, and I just thought, ‘I don’t even need to go there!’

“I just had this feeling. The only way I can describe it is, it felt like coming home to a place I’d never been before.”

A homeowner’s fairytale if there ever was one. You hear about these moments on the TV, but until you see the beaming face (albeit over Zoom) of a person so sure of their next move, you won’t believe it.

A very excited Rachel called the Platinum

AUG/SEP20

NEW CHAPTER

At one stage, about six months ago, I was thinking, ‘I can either have a beautiful home, or I can live in a beautiful place’ - I didn’t think I was ever going to be able to find a beautiful home in such a beautiful place

Homes team at West Chevington and reserved her forever home without visiting the site. A massively life-changing decision, but not a difficult one at all, she tells me.

“It just felt right,” she smiles.

“The place felt right, the community felt right - everything just seemed to come together,” she adds.

“It’s a huge lifestyle change for me, but I’m so excited about it. I’ve been used to living a very, very busy life. I didn’t want to go on living in the same house and area, but leading a different life. I wanted a completely new life, so that’s why I felt the need to move.”

A week before our catch up, Rachel was able to make the trip up north to visit West Chevington. What was, at first, a bit of a surprise, turned out to be everything she’d imagined and more.

“It was very surprising at first because they hadn’t told me until I arrived that my house hadn’t actually been built,” Rachel laughs.

“I was expecting to see a house about six weeks away from completion. So it was a bit confusing when I pulled up and there was nothing on my plot.

“But the project managers met with me and all I can say is, they absolutely brought the building to life. They described where it was, they mapped it out for me, and they told me that I could change anything I wanted - if I wanted a window in a different place, the en-suite moved - whatever it was, they were happy to do it for me. So that, to me, felt an enormous privilege. I never, ever thought that I’d be in the position to have

AUG/SEP20

a say in how my next home looked.

“How many people get to meet the people who are building their house? These are artisan houses, made by real craftsmen.

There’s nothing like my house anywhere else - and for me, that’s really special.”

It’s a shared vision. A home built from the heart.

Having fallen in love, not only with the house, but the area itself, Rachel was delighted to hear that the buildings are being made from local stone excavated from the land - once a Saxon farm.

“It was wonderful to chat to the team and get a feel for the area’s history and heritage,” says Rachel.

“I feel so very lucky to have these fantastic people build my forever home. This house is created with love - it’s not just a building site. They’ve not just been thrown up. It’s going to be a really special ‘Grand Design.”

With an estimated moving date of late October, Rachel has her sights set on Christmas at West Chevington.

“I’ve been thinking about my dream home for years - planning my retirement, wondering where I’ll go. At one stage, about six months ago, I was thinking, ‘I can either have a beautiful home, or I can live in a beautiful place’ - I didn’t think I was ever going to be able to find a beautiful home in such a beautiful place.

“When I saw the vaulted roof with oak beams and the floor-to-ceiling windows, the first thing I thought was, ‘well, I’m having a real Christmas tree this year!’

“I’m also having a log burner. I just love

the idea of coming in from the beach and cosying up by the fire. My interior style is very hygge - I love sheepskin throws, flickering candles, knit blankets. Roll on winter in my forever home.”

Rachel has spent much of lockdown, not only mapping out where her furniture will go in her new home, but mapping out what retirement might look like by the seaside.

“When I visited, there was one road as we headed towards West Chevington… we came over the hill and I could see the sea.

I took a deep breath in and thought to myself, ‘gosh, I’m home!’.

“It just felt really special. Your home is the backdrop to your life, it’s not just bricks and mortar - and that’s just as much about

the location as it is the interiors.

“I’m heading north to reinvent myself in my retirement,” explains Rachel.

“It’s time to rediscover me - and I couldn’t think of a better place to do it.

“I am honestly so, so excited about this next chapter. It’s everything I’ve been dreaming of for the last 20 years. Who would’ve thought my next move would take me to Northumberland?”

“I have this really romantic idea of me walking the dogs on the beach, the sun setting in the distance.

“A beautiful home in a beautiful place.

I am so lucky.” platinumhomesne.co.uk/west-chevingtonfarm

luxe-magazine.co.uk 59

INSIDER INSPO

HOME WITH HEART with Kerry Lockwood, interior stylist, blogger and content creator Summer nights, twinkling fairy lights and switching up your home decor with our home interiors guru Try this Shop your home! As we’ve been spending more time in our homes, you’re probably looking for a cost-effective way to switch things up a bit and revive a room. A great way to do this is by ‘shopping your home’. So swap the mirror above your mantle for a different style from another room in your home. Move a print from upstairs to downstairs, switch cushions, vases, lamps etc. It will totally change the way your space looks. Such a great way to bring a fresh new look to a room without spending a penny. Also a great excuse to have a deep clean.

My space...

We’ve been blessed with some amazing weather so far this summer, so much of our time has been spent enjoying the outdoors from the comfort of our own garden. Our new outdoor corner sofa has really made a difference to the space and how we use it. We’ve also added an outdoor rug to anchor the furniture along with cushions, festoon lights and a mirror to make the space feel more cosy. Creating an effortless blend between the inside and outside is really great for opening up the home during the warmer months. coxandcox.co.uk

Question time...

Best buy...

I love sitting out in the garden until late and making the most of these warmer summer months. The Mooni colour changing outdoor portable light with built-in bluetooth speaker is perfect for late nights listening to music while adding a warm glow and creating the perfect ambience. johnlewis.com

Q: Do you have any tips for creating a gallery wall? @josaphine via Instagram A: There really is no right or wrong when it comes to creating a gallery wall. The main thing to remember is that art is very personal, so display pieces that you love and that way it will all start to come together.

Firstly, depending on the size of your gallery wall, you have to have a good collection of artwork/prints/photos. Next you have to frame everything. I prefer to mix it up by using different coloured frames, juxtapose by displaying vintage prints alongside a piece of artwork that your kids have done and also mix large and small prints to curate a gallery which looks good to the eye. I then lay all the prints out on the floor and have a play around with the layout until I find one that I’m happy with.

Once you’ve planned it all, start to replicate the layout as you hang them on to the wall. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect, just go for it!

If you’d like me to answer your interior-related questions in the next issue, please post them on Instagram, make sure you tag me @kerrylockwood and use the hashtag #KerryxLuxemag You can read more about Kerry and her home at kerrylockwoodindetail.co.uk

60 luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

An outstanding home and linen store that exudes luxury living in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever-changing world. Here youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find everything from paint, luxury linens, furniture and beautiful decor to designer face masks and Aloe Vera scented hand sanitiser.

24 Grange Rd, Darlington DL1 5NG Grange Road Tel: 01325 355272

ARTY TYPES

Oh, hey!

Say hey to a super cool creative community in Saltburn. Elysia Fryer talks studios, sustainability and surfing with Sophie McIntosh, the brains behind the business Like many seaside towns we’re lucky enough to have here in the North East, Saltburn is effortlessly cool.

But there’s something oh-so refreshing about the creative community here. It’s not a huge network, but with likeminded individuals doing what they love most - in a place where they can bounce off one another it seems the only way is up.

“As a region - and country - we’ve been through some very strange times recently,” says Sophie.

“But in a small town like Saltburn, people really value that sense of community, so as we build ourselves back up again, we’ve got a huge support network. It’s so refreshing to see.” hey ho & co is the business you’ll see in the centre of town, but it was born out of Sophie’s first creative baby, hey ho print co - a social enterprise providing workshops and studio space in Saltburn.

“We started out as a print studio, hosting workshops and offering a creative space for artists and designers to flourish and grow,” explains Sophie.

“Then we got the opportunity to take on the shop in the old Station Buildings. It’s only small, but it’s a gorgeous space and just fits in perfectly with what we’re all about.

“Print is our bread and butter, but it’s really exciting to be able to offer something a little different. It’s been great to branch out into homeware. hey ho & co is lifestyle store really - a hub for all things cool and creative.”

Sophie is a trained graphic designer who’s

62 luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

ARTY TYPES

Like many seaside towns in the North East, Saltburn is effortlessly cool. There’s something oh-so refreshing about the creative community here artistic journey led her back to Saltburn the place she started her creative career.

She moved to Saltburn from Yarm at the age of 18 to attend art college and was consumed by the chic new environment she found herself in by the coast. The art, the architecture, the surfing - and everything in between.

“University led me down to London, where I spent a bit of time teaching, but there was definitely something I knew I was going to be doing with my future in Saltburn. I think because it had so much potential, I really wanted to be part of growing that.

“When I first moved here, there were lots of charity shops - which were great - but it didn’t have that edge just yet. It was like a bubble ready to burst.

“And I think, along with all of the other independent businesses, we burst that bubble just at the right time. It’s given everyone a bit of a leg up, and it’s an incredibly exciting time to work and live here.”

Just as that bubble burst, hey ho print co burst open its doors, and the rest is history.

“We’re as much about providing inspiration as we are about selling products. It kind of fits into the whole wellbeing thing. hey ho & co is a really calming space - just a stone’s throw from the beach. It’s a retreat - a place to relax and enjoy.

“We’ve got this huge gorgeous window that just lets the light in beautifully. It’s a really quirky space and it just comes to life when we fill it with our fantastic suppliers.

“People come in all of the time and just say, ‘I want my house to look like this’ that’s why we’re broadening the offering so people can take little bits and bobs home with them.”

Sophie took on the store in 2018 and has seen both sides of the business grow from strength to strength; but the lockdown period was a welcome break to differentiate between the two.

“We had a bit of time to pause and reflect, and decided the best way forward was to separate the shop and the studio.

“The print side of the business was always going to lead to homeware and interiors, so it all moulds together nicely, but it’s important that we don’t lose our identity.

AUG/SEP20

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? “The shop became hey ho & co, which meant we were able to branch out into the lifestyle stuff - plants, pots, candles, cushions, throws and what have you. This stock sits nicely alongside the printed products such as cards, wrapping paper and artwork.

“We also have some quite exclusive prints in stock at the moment. Work that you can’t get anywhere else in the North East, from the likes of Tom Pigeon and local creatives such as Susan Noble and Michael Lazenby.

“We like to support independents. It tends to be people we meet at print fairs or we come across on Instagram.”

The hey ho & co store is a great place to showcase such talent, but the studio is also a place to meet up-and-coming creatives, or help budding artists make their next move.

“We’ve just had a young graphic designer who really wanted to start doing his own prints, so he came to a workshop then started using the studio space. Now he has left his job and has started his own business. It’s those success stories that remind us why we do what we do. When you see someone’s talent grow from a hobby to a career, it’s just brilliant particularly when you’ve had the pleasure of being a part of the journey.”

Sophie’s hey ho print co workshops also >>

Visit us at www.nookdesign.co.uk to order your free brochure or call us on 0191 580 8550 to book a home consultation luxe-magazine.co.uk 63

ARTY TYPES ideas, and people love that.”

Away from work, Sophie’s lifestyle shares many of the same values of hey ho & co - cool, creative spaces and the joy of the great outdoors.

“When it comes to downtime, I love to get out on the surfboard. As a family, we’re always out and about - when we can, of course! We do a lot of gardening, so Crook Hall & Gardens in Durham is one of my favourite places. Since moving to Crathorne, we eat out a lot more around Yarm and Middlesbrough.

“We’re very connected with our base in Crathorne, so try to travel up and down the region as much as we can.”

Spending time between coast and country is what North East living is all about, and Sophie is doing just that. heyhoandco.uk | heyhoprintco.uk Instagram: instagram.com/heyho_and_co

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS BOTANICAL MONOPRINTING >>

HOUSEPLANT TERRARIUM >>

Taster session for beginners - £45 Tuesday 8 September, 9:30am - 12:30 Tuesday 6 October, 9:30am - 12:30

For beginners - £45 Sunday 6 September, 1pm - 4pm Sunday 4 October, 1pm - 4pm

BLOCK PRINTING ONTO FABRIC >>

HALLOWEEN SCREEN PRINTING: GLOW IN THE DARK TOTE BAG >>

Taster session for beginners - £45 Tuesday 1 September, 9:30am - 12:30 Tuesday 20 October, 9:30am - 12:30

For beginners and kids - £15 Friday 30 October, hourly sessions starting from 10am until 3pm

DRYPOINT & CARBORUNDUM >> Taster session for beginners - £45 Tuesday 22 September, 9:30am - 12:30 Tuesday 3 November, 9:30am - 12:30

welcome local businesses, those looking for new hobbies and child-friendly sessions, too.

“The kids love it. We host very hands-on workshops, usually with an interesting theme that can really spark their creativity.

They make t-shirts, bags, artwork… all sorts.

“What is also great is that we can point people in the right direction, whether it’s shoppers looking for some hands-on experience, or workshop pupils looking for art supplies. With both the store and the studio, we just want people to feel welcome to pop in for a chat. It’s really just a hub for all things creative. It has a real community feel.” hey ho & co is all about celebrating print, sharing creative designs and promoting sustainable shopping.

“All of our cards are recycled, all garments are generally organic, and all of the printing we do is with water-based inks, to ensure we are as eco as possible. All products are manufactured in an ethical way - that’s what we try and promote. It’s all about living a low impact lifestyle - with no compromise on loveliness.

“I remember when organic veg came into the shops and people thought, ‘oh my gosh, it’s so expensive!’ - but now, people are really conscious about it, they really want to invest in products that are better for the environment and it’s totally refreshing to see.”

Sophie and her young family have wandered a little further from the waves, settling down in the quiet village of Crathorne, near Yarm - but the beach is always going to be home for the business, she explains.

“We moved to Crathorne for the quiet life, as Saltburn is becoming more and more popular because of its vibrant social scene.”

But the cool, creative buzz of Saltburn is

64 luxe-magazine.co.uk

CHINE COLLE >>

Dates are subject to change under the current circumstances but updates can be found on the hey ho & co website and social media.

Taster session for beginners - £45 Thursday 17 September, 9:30am - 12:30 Thursday 15 October, 9:30am - 12:30

heyhoandco.uk or email: store@heyhorandco.uk

still very much part of everyday life for Sophie, with both sides of the business set up in the seaside town.

“People seem to be visiting our coastline from further afield now. Tourism has shot up and it’s really great for the area. We have people visiting from all over the country - really cool, designer types.

“We have a few clients from London who come in and say, ‘wow - I never thought I’d find anything like this in a tiny seaside town in the North East!’.

“I think what draws people here is the sense of community and the plethora of independent businesses. We’re quite a young community, so we’re all of a similar generation, which adds a real vibrancy to the town. It’s a place full of fresh

AUG/SEP20

LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Wheels in motion Add a bit of pedal power to your home interiors with this oh-so funky Pashley Bicycle Basin & Tap by Burlington. The bathroom is a great place to make a statement, and there’s no doubt about it, this unique addition will do just that. £2,169. burlingtonbathrooms.com

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk 65

GET BUSY

Kids club is calling

Why extracurricular programmes will excite, inspire and open up opportunities for your children...

As kids, many of us will remember joining a whole load of after-school activities. We’d dive in head first, get all of the gear, and we’d be moving on to the next thing within weeks.

It’s a tiresome task having to keep kids motivated away from the classroom, but there are so many long-lasting benefits to extracurricular activities even if not all avenues are pursued in the long term.

Here are some of the physical, mental and social benefits:

FINDING THEIR FEET >> By joining new clubs and having a go at new activities, youngsters are able to find their feet, discovering what it is that makes them tick away from the classroom.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE >> Sporting activities in particular can work wonders when it comes to promoting a healthy lifestyle for little ones. Find something they enjoy and they’ll be keeping fit without even knowing it.

kids entertained, but it also encourages drive and motivation. Whether it’s a team game, a personal goal, or just tackling the fear of stepping out of comfort zones, it’s an excellent incentive to try something new and get better at it.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES >> The opportunities are endless these days from ballet and basketball, to surfing, skiing and swimming, there’s plenty to keep kids entertained - and a quick Google will open up so many new adventures.

Who knew kids could join coasteering, mountaineering and wild swimming clubs?

SOCIAL SKILLS >> After-school clubs are a great way for young people to meet new people, make new friends and explore new social situations.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE >> It’s worth noting, even at an early age, extracurricular activities and personal achievements will contribute to a child’s growth - whether that’s moving from one school to the next, moving on to higher-education, or stepping into working life.

DRIVE & MOTIVATION >> Having something to work towards away from the classroom is a great way to keep

After-school clubs to check out in the North East >> SALTBURN SURF SCHOOL >> Saltburn Surf School’s Junior Surf Academy is great for youngsters new to riding the waves. A fun and safe environment for kids to start or improve their surfing while making new friends and staying active outdoors. saltburn-surf.co.uk KALMA MINDS >> Kalma Baby offers something for everyone, whether it’s baby yoga, junior yoga, teen mindfulness or autism-friendly sessions.

Yoga and meditation can help to ease the stress of everyday life. It can improve body awareness, self-control, flexibility, clarity and coordination. Kalma classes can be found in various locations throughout the North East, including Durham, North Tyneside, Gateshead, Northumberland, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Stockton, Yarm and Darlington. kalmababy.co.uk

66 luxe-magazine.co.uk

SKI SLOPE >> Silksworth Sports Complex & Ski Slope is the place to be for winter sport enthusiasts.

With three ski slopes available and various lessons led by high-qualified instructors, it’s the perfect place to practice at home before hitting the mountains when it comes to ski season. everyoneactive.com/centre/silksworth-sportscomplex-and-ski-slope NINJA FITNESS >> Got yourself a little warrior? Ninja Fitness is the ultimate challenge. Obstacle courses include everything from rock climbing and ropes, to monkey bars, hurdles and more.

Set up at the skate park alongside Sandhaven Beach in South Shields, it’s a great way for youngsters to let off some steam and challenge their chums to a fun-filled adventure fitness trail. playfitness.co.uk

HIGH TIDE ADVENTURE >> The High Tide Adventure Company is your kids best friend when it comes to getting out and about in the great outdoors after school. Based in locations across Northumberland, the Lake District, North Yorkshire and the Scottish Borders, these thrilling sessions focus on the wild things in life. From mountaineering and ghyll scrambling, to climbing and gorge walking, there’s plenty to keep youngsters busy in the fresh air. hightideadventure.co.uk ICE BEARS >> Little ones can learn to skate at Whitley Bay Ice Rink. With gentle group sessions for 2-6 year olds, your child could be the next budding figure or hockey skater. The Ice Bears classes are held every Thursday, 4.15pm - 4.45pm. whitleybayicerink.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

CALM KIDS

Using mindfulness in nature can have an incredibly calming effect on the mind.

Go outside with your child and either sit or lie on the grass together. Spend some time in silence watching the cloud formations

Mindful moments

The tools to help you find inner calm and tackle anxiety in children

The start of a new academic year can be stressful for many children, but this September will be challenging in so many additional ways.

When we tell our children to ‘calm down’ or ‘don’t worry’ this often exacerbates the situation. What they need is an emotional toolbox full of practical strategies to help them regulate their big, uncomfortable feelings.

Mindfulness has been proven to ease symptoms of anxiety and fortunately, many of the techniques are simple and effective.

Nadia McSheffrey from The Tranquil Treehouse, shows us five different ways for children to pause, reset and find their inner calm…

BE STRONG LIKE A TREE >> For this exercise, invite your child to stand up tall and ask them to push their feet into the ground, imagining that they are a tree and have roots planted into the ground.

Ask them to focus on each individual toe and root it into the floor. Ask your child if they can feel any sensations in their feet, legs or knees. Ask them to take a deep breath in and raise the arms above the head, looking up to the sky. Slowly breathe out and release the arms gently down.

USE YOUR SENSES >> Mindfulness means paying attention, in the present moment and without judgement.

This simple exercise helps children to consciously use their senses to be more mindful of their surroundings. Invite your child to be still and name five things they can see, without walking around or moving vigorously. Then ask them to name four things they can hear. You can take it in turns if you want to do this as part of a shared exercise. Then ask your child to name three

AUG/SEP20

Invite your child to tell you how they feel watching the clouds and if the shapes remind them of anything. Explain that thoughts in our mind are just like clouds passing over the sky. Just as they observe the clouds without judgement, they can observe their thoughts in a similar, gentle way.

My advice is to practice these techniques with your child frequently, so they are embedded into their daily lives. Children learn better and retain more when they are relaxed and happy.

When repeated often enough, your child will be able to rely on these tools when they are feeling stressed or anxious.

Encouraging children to find ways to calm themselves is key to developing their resilience, confidence and happiness.

things they can feel and two things they can smell. Finally, ask them to name one thing they can taste in their mouth. A full body scan using the senses can really help them switch off and just be in the moment.

HIGH FIVE BREATH >> Conscious breathing is one of the quickest ways to calm the mind and body. This particular breathing technique is effective because your child will be focusing on their breath, but also the movement of their finger. Ask them to put their dominant hand out in a ‘high-five’ motion. Then, with the index finger of the non-dominant hand, ask them to trace around the hand, starting with the thumb. As they trace up the finger, breathe in and as they trace down, breathe out. The slower the better for this exercise, but children breathe faster than adults, so let them go at their own pace. They can even add a little breath hold at the tip of each finger. After tracing the whole hand, your child should be feeling calmer and more relaxed.

TENSE & RELAX >> Progressive muscle relaxation is a powerful way to release physical and mental tension.

In this exercise, invite your child to tense a muscle group on the inhalation and relax them as they breathe out. Begin with tensing the muscles around the face and move all the way down the body to the feet.

This is a great activity before bed, especially if your child has lots of nervous energy and needs a physical outlet.

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS >> Using mindfulness in nature can have an incredibly calming effect on the mind. Go outside with your child and either sit or lie on the grass together. Spend some time in silence, watching the cloud formations - and after a while, begin to share your reflexions.

luxe-magazine.co.uk 67

KIT LIST YOU’VE GOT THIS >> Motivational mindfulness flashcards from Fearless Flamingo are a must to help blow away the back-to-school blues. A lovely little pack of positivity to take into each day particularly useful when getting back into a routine. Little Pack of Positivity (Mindfulness Flashcards), £18, fearlessflamingo.com

BOXED OFF >> PlanetBox is a fantastic brand for eco-friendly, stainless steel lunch boxes. Perfect for keeping on top of a balanced lunch when school calls again in September.

PlanetBox Rover, £47.95, littleacornstomightyoaks.co.uk

READY TO LAUNCH >> Get set for out-of-this-world school lunches with this Space Lunch Bag by Sophie Allport. Sophie Allport Space Lunch Bag, £21, sophieallport.com

Back to school Cool kit that will help you get September off to a flyer...

ANIMAL KINGDOM >> Get set for school and do your bit for a wildlife charity with this stunning, cheetah print Sophie Allport rucksack in forest green. By purchasing this item, you’re contributing to Zoological Society of London’s vital work protecting animals and their habitats around the world. Sophie Allport Cheetah Rucksack, £30, sophieallport.com

CHECK THIS >> A must for teens getting set to return to school. This ‘Old Skool’ Vans backpack features one large compartment with a laptop sleeve, front zip and organiser for quick access when moving from lesson to lesson.

Vans Old Skool III Backpack, £30, vans.co.uk

BAGS OF STYLE >> For style-conscious school kids. This Holographic Drawstring Backpack by Danish brand, Rains is practical, water-resistant and is designed with chic convenience in mind. Rains Holographic Drawstring Backpack, £100, libertylondon.com

CUTE & COMFORTABLE >> These Lelli Kelly school shoes are cute, comfortable and clear winners when it comes to finding something between fun and functional. Lelli Kelly Bonnie Unicorn Girls School Shoes, £57.90, charlesclinkard.co.uk

68 luxe-magazine.co.uk

STAY HYDRATED >> Klean Canteen vacuum insulated water bottles are great for keeping hydrated at work or school. They’re sleek, versatile and easy to carry. Fill with water, coffee or tea - and you’re good to go. Klean Kanteen Insulated TKWide 20oz (592ml), £29.95, kleankanteen.co.uk

RAY OF SUNSHINE >> Bring a little sunshine to school days with this super cute Yellow Weaver Clutch Pouch by Postcards Home.

Whether it’s used as a pencil case, a wallet or a place to safely store your keys, it’s a fun and functional addition. Postcards Home Yellow Weaver Clutch Pouch, £32, postcardshome.co.uk

BEST FOOT FORWARD >> Dr. Martens school shoes will ensure comfort and class, and will combat the harshness of the school playground.

Featuring a gum rubber, air-cushioned sole, these Everley Junior shoes are sure to last. Dr. Martens Everley Junior 3 Eye Boys School Shoes, £60, charlesclinkard.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

TROPHY TIME

T H E LU X E LOWD OW N

BRIAN HUGHES Three months after what should have been the end-ofseason presentation at the Gold Cup, Brian Hughes has finally lifted the champion jockey trophy - at his home in the North Yorkshire village of Carlton-in-Cleveland, where he lives with his wife Luci and young children.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU >> Name Brian Hughes Title National Hunt Jockey Where is home? It was County Armagh in Northern Ireland, but now home is Carlton-in-Cleveland, North Yorkshire.

Three reasons you love where you live? It’s a beautiful, friendly village. We have been lucky enough to build our own house, so we made it exactly what we wanted. Carlton is a handy village for access to main roads, which is important as I travel a lot with work.

THE DAY JOB >> What do you do for a living? To put it simply, I ride race horses over jumps.

A day in the life of you? A normal day would involve getting up anywhere between 4am and 6am, riding out, then driving to the races for around six rides, then home to watch replays and prepare for the next day’s racing.

Any recent, ongoing or upcoming projects or achievements we should know about? I have just become Champion National Hunt Jockey for the first time, which I am incredibly proud of. The season came to an early end due to COVID-19, so I’m currently spending time at home with my family, which is a great way to celebrate my recent achievements.

After the rest, I’m looking forward to getting back to riding winners and trying to defend my championship.

What does downtime mean to you? Usually, there’s not much time for downtime, but it’s great to be able enjoy a bit of time off with my wife and children.

LESSONS IN LIFE >> What did you want to be when you were growing up? A jockey, always.

AUG/SEP20

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

To treat people as you would like to be treated.

What is your greatest fear? I don’t have any fears for myself, to be honest. Whilst my family are healthy, I’m happy.

Which living person do you most admire and why?

It would have to be AP McCoy, because he was at the top of his sport for every year of his career, which shows just how dedicated, determined, talented and professional he has been, which hasn’t been reflected in any other sport.

LIVING LUXE >> What is top of your bucket list? It was to be Champion Jockey someday, now that I’ve done that, it’s to do it again!

What is your most treasured possession? My children.

What does the weekend mean to you? Lots of good racing and to be as busy as possible, hopefully riding winners.

A memorable holiday? Our honeymoon… four failed landings at Madeira Airport, diverted to Tenerife - spent one night there and then flew home!

Best dress? I don’t worry too much about what I look like.

I’m happiest when riding winners, so I guess that would mean it’s a set of racing silks.

Who would be your top three dinner guests and why?

Just my wife and close friends. Time spent at home is very valuable, which I’m sure we’ve all learned in recent months.

I’m not too bothered about meeting celebrities.

The last place you ate? My kitchen table, as we’ve not been out and about much recently. During normal life, we rarely eat out as I’m usually too busy on the road, but I do enjoy a steak at Tomahawk Steakhouse in Potto.

The last book you read? I’m not a big reader, but I did read McCoy’s first autobiography when I was about 16.

The last thing you listened to? I’m not fussy when it comes to music, but Radio X is my choice of station.

The last thing you watched? I enjoyed watching Poldark.

And finally, your three luxe things in life? My wife Luci and my two children, Rory and Olivia.

luxe-magazine.co.uk 69

TAKE A TOUR

DRIVING INTO THE FUTURE:

Hyundai Silverlink

How buying a car, shopping at the showroom or booking in for a service looks in the ‘new normal’. Follow our virtual tour of Hyundai Silverlink…

The health and wellbeing of all staff and customers is at the forefront of business for the team at Bristol Street Motors Hyundai Silverlink. Several measures have been put in place to ensure buying a car is a safe and stress-free experience amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Hyundai Silverlink’s General Manager, Jeff Aynsley, guides us through the dealership...

WELCOME DESK >> The first thing you will notice as you enter the dealership is that you will be greeted by the friendly faces on our welcome desk.

One of the managers will be available and on hand to explain to you exactly what the

new layout of the showroom is and how you can safely get around the building. You will then be directed to the relevant department.

We have social distancing measures in place throughout the dealership, with markers on the floor and clear signage for all staff and customers.

SERVICE DEPARTMENT >> We have social distancing measures in place throughout our service department.

We also have a contactless key-drop system and perspex screening.

SHOWROOM >> There are fewer cars in the showroom than normal, so we can ensure there’s sufficient space to move between. We have spaced the cars to maintain social

One of the managers will be available and on-hand to explain to you exactly what the new layout of the showroom is and how you can safetly get around the building 70 luxe-magazine.co.uk

distancing and have added arrows on the floor to guide customers in a logical, clockwise direction throughout the showroom. This means you can still browse, but in a safe and secure way. All vehicles are locked and fully sanitised. If a customer would like to look inside a car, our staff are on hand to open up and sanitise before and after viewing.

STAFF & CUSTOMERS >> All of our colleagues are temperature tested every day as they enter the business. All customers and staff have access to free PPE, hand sanitiser, face masks and gloves, should they be required.

VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS >> For any customers not wishing to visit the

AUG/SEP20

TAKE A TOUR

We are now able to offer a virtual presentation where you can see all features and benefits of the offer, before making a decision in the comfort of your own home

dealership - or those unable to - we are now able to offer a virtual presentation where you can see all features and benefits of the offer, before making a decision in the comfort of your own home. Our sales team are on hand for any further questions and/or specific requirements.

HANDOVER >> So, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve concluded a sale with the customer; whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next? We will do a virtual handover and send you a video recording of us showing you the controls and various features and benefits of the vehicle.

The handover itself is done without any contact at all. When a customer comes into the dealership to collect a car, it is prepared in advance, sanitised and will be left in the handover bay for customers to drive out, perfectly safely.

THANK YOU >> Thanks for taking the time to let us guide you through our showroom. Hopefully it will give you some reassurance that we are doing all we can to ensure the safety of colleagues and customers.

CONTACT US >> Bristol Street Motors Hyundai Silverlink, Silverlink Business Park, Middle Engine Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE28 9NZ 0191 639 6433 bristolstreet.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

HEAD OVER TO THE LUXE WEBSITE FOR A FULL VIDEO TOUR OF THE BRISTOL STREET MOTORS HYUNDAI SILVERLINK SHOWROOM: LUXE-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

luxe-magazine.co.uk

71

TEST DRIVE

AT THE WHEEL

with Bob Arora

In charge Hyundai’s all-electric Kona takes pride of place in today’s world, says Bob Arora...

Considering they have only been selling cars in the UK for less than 40 years, it’s absolutely incredible to see the number of Hyundai vehicles on the road today.

I vaguely remember them being launched.

They had the best warranties, they were always cheaper than their competitors, and they were filled with specifications that would normally be a cost option on competitor cars. This was always the selling point for me.

I remember one car in particular, the Hyundai Coupe. It not only looked good, but it was very nice to drive, too. It had that sporty look and was reasonably priced.

It sold amazingingly well and introduced lots of new customers to the brand.

38 years on, Hyundai now has some incredibly stylish cars. Backed by great warranty and competitive pricing, it’s easy to see why they’re doing so well.

Actually, the last car I drove before lockdown was the amazing Hydrogenpowered Hyundai. This car was a great alternative to a traditional petrol or diesel-powered car - and a definite nod to the future.

Recently, I’ve been driving the brand-new, all-electric Hyundai Kona. Once again, the Koreans are showing the class leaders, Tesla, that they have the technology to take them on at their own game.

Apart from the front grill and the funky alloys, the all-electric Kona looks like the other Kona cars in the range, which are also available in petrol, diesel or Hybrid. As with other electric cars, this one is extremely quick up to about 60mph. When I say quick, I mean literally supercar quick. Unsuspecting boy racers sitting at traffic lights don’t stand a chance.

The electric Kona has two battery options -

the standard 39kw battery, which is good for 158 miles, and the alternative 64kw battery pack, which gives you a real-world driving range of 259 miles. The average driver does around 12,000 miles per year, so most drivers will be suited to the larger battery pack. Factor in the Government grant and no road tax, and these electric vehicles begin to make more sense in today’s world.

Charging time is pretty impressive, too. If you charge the car at home with a wall charger, it’ll be fully charged in just eight hours. If you use a rapid charger, you’ll get up to 80% charge in around 75 minutes.

So, if you’re out and about at the shops or the motorway services, by the time you’ve stretched your legs and finished your coffee, the car will be nearly fully charged. There is also the option to use a normal three pin plug, which will take 24 hours to charge.

As you’d expect, the car has Isofix seats, as well as plenty of leg and head room in the rear, and a decent sized boot. With the batteries located underneath the seats, the floor is slightly raised compared to the other Kona models.

The range-topping car I drove has pretty much every conceivable gadget you could think of. From Krell speakers and wireless charging, to heated seats and steering wheel, blind spot warning, reversing camera and plenty of airbags, it’s safe to

The range-topping car I drove has pretty much every conceivable gadget you could think of

say this is a well-equipped motor.

The middle of the dash is dominated by an infotainment screen. This controls all of the media, phone and sat nav features.

The heater controls are separate from the infotainment system, which is much easier to control when you’re on the move.

The car doesn’t have a gear lever, and you can only select drive, reverse, park and neutral. Behind the steering wheel there are paddles, which I assumed would be for changing gears, but they actually control the regenerative braking, so you can choose three levels. After trying all three, I personally preferred the third setting, which makes the car brake quite heavily when you lift off the throttle.

The car can be driven in three modes; eco,

comfort and sport. My preferred driving mode was the comfort setting, as it was a smooth ride and a good balance between eco and sport. In sport, the throttle response is much sharper, the steering is more direct and the best bit for me was that the dials go red and look super sporty.

Driving the car in sport around tight country roads makes you realise it really isn’t set up to be thrown into corners.

That aside, if you’re looking for a funky looking car that is in demand, for the price, you really can’t go wrong with the Kona.

Get your name on the waiting list and you won’t be disappointed.

Car supplied by Bristol Street Hyundai, Silverlink

STAY TUNED ON THE LUXE WEBSITE FOR THRILLING VIDEO FOOTAGE AS BOB GETS BEHIND THE WHEEL: LUXE-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

72 luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

NEW DRIVE

Back into the swing of it

GREEN DAYS Our luxe guide to golf days, overnight stays and local praise...

TEEING OFF: HOME & AWAY >> CLOSE TO HOME Close House, Heddon-on-the-Wall Close House has put the North East on the global golfing map once again, hosting the 2020 British Masters earlier this summer. The course looked as glorious as ever on the big screen, and it’s back open ready to welcome golfers from across the region and beyond. A fantastic opportunity to play on one of the world’s greatest green stages, just a stone’s throw from Newcastle. closehouse.com Rockliffe Hall, Hurworth-on-Tees Just can’t get enough of the Masters action? Rockliffe Golf is inviting all amateur golfers with a handicap of 5 or under to join the Northern Golf Masters 2020. This event, in the diary for Sunday 4 October, is the ultimate chance to be named the best amaetur golfer in the north, inviting club golfers from across Teesside, County Durham, North Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Northumberland and Cumbria. Entry fee is £35 per player, with prizes awarded for first, second and third place. rockliffehall.com

is back open, offering the same award-winning experience while meeting the highest standards of cleanliness across the complex. With plenty of day trip and staycation packages available, it’s the perfect break for couples, families and golfing groups. thebelfry.com Oulton Hall, Leeds Don’t miss QHotel Group’s reopening offers at its seven golf venues across the UK, including the magnificent Oulton Hall near Leeds. ‘The Great British Breakaway’ package includes a luxury four-star overnight stay with breakfast, 36 holes of golf, a bucket of beer on arrival and a packed lunch for each guest, with prices starting at just £93 per golfer. Too good to miss. oultonhallhotel.co.uk

LULULEMON >> Commission Short 9” Oxford, £78, lululemon.co.uk

UNDER ARMOUR >> Performance 2.0 Stretch-Piqué Golf Polo Shirt, £35, mrporter.com

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST >> WAY TO GO, WYNYARD Huge shout out to our friends at Wynyard Golf Club, who, in recent months, have raised vital funds for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust General Charitable Fund. Member contributions have helped the Trust massively. A wonderful token to the NHS and our local healthcare heroes. wynyardgolfclub.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

LULULEMON >> Commission Slim-Fit Shell Golf Trousers, £120, mrporter.com

BOGNER SPORT >> Hanno Polo Shirt in Neon Green, £125, bogner.com

It’s been a very busy couple of months at Close House since golf was allowed to resume. The weather has been kind, both courses are in excellent condition and we hosted the British Masters at the back end of July.

It’s great to see the sport taking off again, but like anything, it always takes time to get back into the swing of things. Lots of my clients are struggling with consistency at the moment.

I always encourage players to develop a consistent pre-shot routine including alignment, practice swing and visualisation of the shot. If you watch professional golf you will notice the players routines are exactly the same every time.

AWAY DAYS The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield One of the country’s best-loved golf resorts, The Belfry,

Kit list >>

Close House is back in business and as busy as ever, says the club’s golf pro, Sally Hinton-Lewis...

SUPPORTING SUPERSTARS AT SLALEY Throughout the month of June, Slaley Hall Golf Club in Hexham set aside three complimentary tee times every Thursday, reserved especially for local key workers. General Manager, Andrew Fox, said: “Offering up complimentary golf to local key workers who have been on the front line during this incredibly tough period was the least we could do.” slaleyhallhotel.com

The first step should be the practice swing. This should be relevant to the shot you are trying to play. Clipping the ground to find the low point with irons, just above the ground for the driver. For short game shots, use the practice swing to judge the length of the swing.

Next up, alignment. The best way to get lined up is from behind the ball. Pick a point along the target line and line up your club first. Then try to align your body parallel to the club and the target line.

Finally, visualisation. You must be able to visualise the shot from behind the ball. Imagine the ball landing in the middle of the fairway, next to the pin or rolling into the hole.

You should practice your pre-shot routine so that it becomes second nature. It should be something you can rely on to keep you calm when under pressure.

Enjoy the rest of the British summer. Happy golfing!

Whether you’re new to the sport, looking to get back into golf, or want to make 2020 the year for improving your game, get in touch with the PGA Golf Academy today on: 01661 852255 or sally.hintonlewis@closehouse.co.uk.

luxe-magazine.co.uk

73

BIG BUYS

ORIBE >> Shampoo For Magnificent Volume, 250ml, £31, mrporter.com

POLO RALPH LAUREN >> Polo Bear-Embroidered Crewneck Wool, £349, selfridges.com

MICHAEL KORS >> Crossgrain Leather Belt, £80, michaelkors.co.uk

MICHAEL KORS >> Archie Sunglasses, £175, michaelkors.co.uk

MAN KIT

Scarlet statements Cool kit for your late summer wardrobe...

JOHN ELLIOTT >> Hemi Oversized Shirt, Paloma Check, £349, selfridges.com SELETTI WEARS TOILETPAPER >> Upholstered Wooden Armchair - Revolver, £950, amara.com

BREMONT >> Oracle II Automatic 43mm Titanium Watch with Rubber and Kevlar Straps, £4,395, mrporter.com

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN >> Intarsia Logo Jumper, £690, farfetch.com

MONCLER GENIUS >> 5 Moncler Craig Green Coolidge Colour-Block Quilted Shell Hooded Down Jacket, £1,260, mrporter.com

74

luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Cool case Our suitcases may have been collecting dust in the early summer months, but now might be the perfect time to bag yourself a new one. These funky Floyd travel cases are a must for style-conscious jetsetters. From ÂŁ340. matchesfashion.com

AUG/SEP20

luxe-magazine.co.uk 75

COOL CAVE

Garage grandeur A supercar is best placed in a ‘superhome’ says Scott Stewart, Design Director at Hypercave - creating luxe homes for mighty motors

76 luxe-magazine.co.uk

It’s true what they say, your car is an extension of your personality - but for many of us, our trusty steeds are left roadside, ambling on a busy street of perhaps packed into a cluttered garage.

Step forward, Scott Stewart, Design Director at Design North - the creative business behind an exciting new venture, Hypercave.

Scott and his team - from their base at Hoults Yard, Newcastle - are on a mission to transform garages into cutting-edge motoring ‘hypercaves’. Taking the ‘man cave’ concept and giving it a mighty motors twist.

Hypercave is all about changing the way the motoring world stores its wheels, introducing uber-luxurious, ultra-modern spaces for petrolheads across the North East, the UK and beyond.

Design North is a Newcastle-based interior architecture and design business, backing

some of the city’s most high-profile projects including The Catalyst at Newcastle Helix, END Clothing’s uber cool HQ and an exciting new mixed-use development in the heart of the city on Collingwood Street.

They are big business in the region when it comes to top-end interior design projects, and Hypercave is already proving a catalyst for creative ventures further afield and even overseas.

This exciting new creative concept was brought to life after Scott was asked by a friend of a friend to design the interior of a garage in the south of France. The dream destination for a supercar superhome.

“The client had this huge selection of supercars,” Scott explains.

“He wanted his garage to reflect how special his collection is,” he adds.

“The car collection was stunning, with a mix of modern-day hypercars including Porsche 918s, LaFerraris and Bugatti Chirons.”

His passion for powerful motors was backed

by his love of comic books, so this was an obvious starting point when it came to setting up the moodboard. Supercars and superheroes - the perfect match.

“The idea is to create very individual spaces based on the client’s cars, hobbies or interests,” says Scott.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to create something truly unique - these spaces are head-turners in so many ways, and giving a supercar a home that reflects the out-of-thisworld nature of the vehicle just makes so much sense.

“It’s really exciting to chat to clients about what it is they want out of the space. Some like the idea of having break-out areas to sit, relax and admire their vehicles, some are keen to install all the latest mod-cons, and some are happy to take on our suggestions. But what is really great about this side of the business is that no two days are the same, and no two clients’ ideas are the same. We have so much room

AUG/SEP20

COOL CAVE

Taking the ‘man cave’ concept and giving it a mighty motors twist. Hypercave is all about changing the way the motoring world stores its wheels, introducing uber-luxurious, ultra-modern spaces for petrolheads across the North East, the UK and beyond for creativity. It’s about stepping into the client’s imagination and quite literally, bringing it to life.”

An incredibly successful first project opened up a gap in the market, encouraging the Design North team to form a new brand dedicated to these distinctive designs.

Hypercave was born and Scott has been blown away by the interest from clients both home and away.

“One concept we’re working on at the moment back in the North East is going to have a sci-fi look based on the evolution of the electric supercar - or hypercar. We’re working with a glass material which throbs with light. It’s a real space-age concept and it will be amazing.”

Scott and his team at Design North have

AUG/SEP20

never shied away from modernistic collaborations. In fact, it’s their forte.

From designing uber-sleek interiors for the ever-evolving, state-of-the-art Newcastle Helix site, to collaborating with expertly curated luxury menswear retailer, END Clothing.

With notable regional and national awards behind them, Scott and co-founder Jacqui Martin are no strangers to pushing interior design to its working limit.

With a number of projects in the pipeline back home, further afield and overseas, we’re excited to see how Hypercave brings a whole new dimension to supercar dens. instagram.com/hypercave1.0 design-north.co.uk

luxe-magazine.co.uk

77

PARTING SHOT

Chasing rainbows>> The greater the storm, the brighter the rainbow. Hang on in there! Captured by Nicky Rogerson at bank studio.co.uk

78 luxe-magazine.co.uk

AUG/SEP20

There’s A New name VOLVO IN THE NORTHEAST

Volvo XC40 T3 Petrol Momentum

Volvo XC60 D4 Diesel Momentum Auto8

Volvo XC90 B5 Petrol Hybrid Momentum Auto8

£291per month

£420 per month

£599 per month

£291inital rental.

£420 inital rental

£599 inital rental

STONEACRE - THE NEW NAME FOR VOLVO IN THE NORTHEAST Many of you will have been buying your new and used cars from Mill Volvo for decades. Now things are about to get even better.

There’s now a new name above the door. The North East Mill Volvo dealerships will be known as Stoneacre Volvo Newcastle, Stoneacre Volvo Sunderland, Stoneacre Volvo Stockton and Stoneacre Volvo Harrogate. Stoneacre represent 26 different brands of car, van and motorcycle manufacturers and have 102 locations across the UK. Here in the North East you’ll already recognise the name from their Aston Martin, Kia and Suzuki dealerships. Head into North Yorkshire and you’ll find their Ford, Mazda and Peugeot dealerships. And when it comes to used cars, Stoneacre regularly has over 6000 models to choose from. Oh, and you’ll be glad to hear that Stoneacre, just like the Mill company, is another family-run business with family values.

To find out more visit www.stoneacre.co.uk/dealerships-mill-north-east

Stoneacre Volvo Newcastle Scotswood Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 6BZ 0191 274 8200

Stoneacre Volvo Sunderland Wessington Way Sunderland Tyne and Wear SR5 3HR 0191 516 2800

Stoneacre Volvo Stockton Avro Close, Preston Farm Business Park Stockton, Durham TS18 3SG 01642 673251

Stoneacre Volvo Harrogate Grimbald Crag Road, St James Retail Park, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire HG5 8PY 01423 798600

FUEL ECONOMY FIGURES FOR THE VOLVO RANGE IN MPG (L/100KM): URBAN 14.1 (20.0) -57.7 (4.9) EXTRA URBAN 28.8 (9.8) - 83.1(3.4) COMBINED 20.9 (13.5) - 74.3 (3.8) CO2 EMISSIONS 322 - 99G/KM. Fuel consumption figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results. All deals above based on 48 month Personal Contract Hire based on 8,000 miles per year, excess mileage charges apply All offers subject to terms and conditions and are as part of a Stoneacre finance plan. Finance provided subject to status, written details available on request. Models shown are for illustration purposes only. Ask for details. Cars may be in group stock.

Stoneacre operate as an Independent finance Introducer from a panel of lenders. Stoneacre do not charge a fee for introduction to a finance provider however we may or may not receive a commission. Offers correct at time of going to press, but may be subject to change. Subject to Your status, if after signing the Purchase Order You sign a Finance Agreement with a Finance Company in relation to the Vehicle, the terms of the Finance Agreement will replace this Supplier Agreement. The standard terms of the Finance Agreement will be stated on the Finance Agreement form that You will be asked to sign. Decidebloom Ltd t/a Stoneacre, Omega Boulevard, Capitol Park, Thorne, DN8 5TX, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Our FCA number is 308726. You can verify this by visiting the FCA website or by contacting the FCA on 0854 606 9966.