Luxe jan feb 2013

£5.00 luxe magazine

ISSUE 20 JAN/FEB13

£5

M A R K B E N TO N F RO C KS OUT. Dat e ni ght s . ARTIS AN B AKING. Art life. FAST C A R S. Pa r ty p e o p l e . LOV E S H ACKS . Gi rl b ut cher. ULTI MATE CRU ISING. Sp a re - f u e l . H I P H OTEL S . Ho l l yw o o d gow ns. LUX E.

WHERE SOLD

W O R L D C L A S S T R AV E L L E R S

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Manufacture Breitling Calibre B05, officially chronometer-certified by selfwinding chronograph. Universal time function enabling permanent readings of the time in all 24 timezones thanks to a patented mechanism and a supremely user-friendly crown-operated correction system.

Comfort and elegance for first-class travellers. Signed Breitling.

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WELCOME

contents 6>> Luxe life ISSUE 20 JAN/FEB13 Start as you mean to go on? Three days into January I found myself getting skin-shrivelled in the bubbling hot tub of a spa. This, I resolved was my new year’s resolution - a spa a week.

It’s not quite happening but I decided, and all sane people agree, that resolving to do life-affirming nice things is by far the best way to ensure resolutions are kept.

The plan, as well as the no-gym spa: do things like read more books, make more time for good friends and basically, just factor in the fun.

I have discovered the podcast back library of Desert Island Discs for my kicks (very Saga I know - but try it, you’ll be hooked). Just knowing what a podcast is feels like I’ve ticked some kind of self-improvement box.

It’s a ‘taking stock’ time of year when navel-gazing is thoroughly encouraged.

So have a crack at it - book three things; trains, theatre, a day at the races. In my experience if they get in your diary then they stay there and you do them.

Gather your mates and make it happen. Crickey, I sound like Oprah.

Hot ticket ? Hairspray - not seen it but having spoken to our cover man Mark Benton, I will be making the trip to Sunderland Empire just to see him in his dress. Come wine-tasting at BALTIC with us - or we’ve got a LovedUp wedding fair planned if nuptials are on your radar.

My 2013 is going to involve a treat for you too - a bit of luxe for the weekend.

From March you will be able to get a weekly digital digest of luxe. A ‘something for the weekend’ snapshot of good ways to spend your days off.

Goes without saying it won’t be too stressy - nice places, ideas for eating, cool events. Things we know you’ll like.

Make sure you register - see page 5.

Head teacher Hilary French.

10>> Do this Cultural look ahead for 2013.

17>> Date night Passionate places for love.

18>> Man in a frock Mark Benton talks Hairspray.

22>> Hour by hour How busy people fill their days.

25>> Food quarter Our gourmet adventure starts here.

27>> Pig out Karen Wight co-presents Metroradio’s breakfast show and gets a spice masterclass in our food pages this edition.

Her luxe things in life: Cosmetics and lovely creams, especially Liz Earle cleanse & polish cloth.

Extravagant wrapping paper and cards and her Dolce Gusto Piccolo pod coffee machine.

North Yorkshire dining adventure.

28>> Girl butcher Knives out for Charlotte Harbottle.

34>> The legend Terry’s famous Scotch egg recipe revealed.

40>> Love stuff Love-me gifts and mini-break fashion.

44>> Hollywood gowns Costumes from the movies come North.

56>> Jump in!

Taking the waters at region’s newest spa.

68>> Luxe Local We check out nice-to-live places in the region.

74>> Love shacks Gorgeous destintions for smooch-time.

Kathryn Armstrong, Editor

76>> Luxey cruising The ultimate in floating luxe.

82>> Little Luxe Kathryn@room501.co.uk www.luxe-magazine.co.uk Twitter @TheLuxeMagazine

Bob Arora is everyone’s favourite curry man. He’s organising the StreetSpice food festival in Newcastle later this month.

His luxe things: Rossini’s restaurant, Barcelona. Terminal 5 at Heathrow for the efficiency of it.

Cars, cars, cars.

With Nina Robinson, our pint-sized shopping and culture diva.

85>> Tee Off Tips for the tee. Places to play and kit to buy.

90>> Luxe Laps Go-faster fortunes of petrolheads.

92>> Luxe Looks Our must-read people-spotting social diary.

98>> Parting Shot

THE 501 TEAM Your 2013 hopes in three words Christopher March managing director chris@room501.co.uk Posh new house Bryan Hoare sales and marketing director bryan@room501.co.uk Ringing the changes EDITORIAL Kathryn Armstrong editor kathryn@room501.co.uk Beaches, buddies, Blondie.

Fiona McLain fashion assistant Adventure, clarity, fun DESIGN David Stubbs davids@room501.co.uk Divide and conquer Kev Waddell kevin@room501.co.uk Money, money, money

Libby Crumpton is owner of Jewellery By in Stokesley. She shares her life in our Hours in the Day feature. Her luxe things: Mulberry and French Connection shops.

New year on a boat in Sydney Harbour watching the fireworks.

Being holed up in a Welsh farmhouse with friends and family.

SALES Lisa Anderson senior sales executive lisa@room501.co.uk Love, laughter, happiness Debi Coldwell senior sales executive debi@room501.co.uk Health, love, happiness

For advertising call the sales team on 0191 537 5720.

room501 publishing Ltd, Publishing House, 16 Pickersgill House, Quay West Business Park, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear SR5 2AQ www.room501.co.uk room501 was formed from a partnership of directors who, combined, have many years of experience in contract publishing, print, marketing, sales and advertising and distribution. We are a passionate, dedicated company that strives to help you to meet your overall business needs and requirements. All contents copyright ©2013 room501 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, January 2013.

luxe is published bi-monthly by room501 Ltd.

Our partners

JAN/FEB13

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LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Perfect timing Inspired by colour swatches, these zingy clocks offer a timely spot of cheer in the dull winter days. By Danish designer Rasmus Gottliebsen, ÂŁ35. www.carolinemcgrath.co.uk

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JAN/FEB13

es nch 7th Lau rch Ma

Ready to live a luxe weekend?

We know you love your doorstep dose of luxe magazine – so for the days in between we’re launching a digital weekend digest to make sure your downtime is as luxe as possible.

Luxe loves the weekend will be your weekly at-a-glance edit of cultural, gourmet and outdoorsy goings-on in the region - an indispensable ‘Do This’ guide to help you plan your time-off.

We’re in the know when it comes to food, culture and events where you are so we’ll deliver a snapshot of what’s going on and where you need to be for the luxe things in life.

AWAY FROM IT ALL BOOK IT NOW WEEKENDING TIME-OUT STROLL BIT OF CHAT FEAST - STAY IN FEAST - EAT OUT

Register to receive our weekly free email update at www.luxe-magazine.co.uk/theweekend JAN/FEB11

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LUXE LIFE

HILARY FRENCH Hilary French is Headmistress of Central Newcastle High School and President of the Girls’ Schools Association 2013. She was born in Low Fell and went to school in Newcastle before going to Oxford University.

LUXE PEOPLE >> All the people - girls, staff, parents, Old Girls and Friends - in the Central High community.

They are fantastic to work with and make each day fun, stimulating, sometimes challenging but always worthwhile.

LUXE PLACES >> For a weekend > At home in Durham but free from chores and with time to enjoy the city.

Long holiday > Any city because I love exploring the major sites (cathedrals, galleries etc) and the nooks and crannies which all cities have and which reveal so much about the history and culture of the people who live there.

Treat > Time at a luxury spa hotel with my daughter so we can relax, be pampered and catch up.

LUXE RELAX >> Food > Raspberries in any shape or form.

Wine > Always white, sometimes sparkling, my tastes change but currently a chilled sauvignon.

Restaurant > Pan Haggerty, Newcastle.

Perfect weekend > Time spent with friends and family talking, playing board games, enjoying leisurely meals.

Downtime means > Being able to indulge my passion for reading, listening to music and just enjoy the beauty of the North East.

Best TV > Morse, Lewis, George Gently.

Best book > The Secret Garden.

Best sounds > Jacqueline du Pré, Sibelius LUXE SHOP >> Shopping City > Edinburgh.

Shop > John Lewis and Fenwick.

Retail treat > Anything cashmere.

Best buy > The tickets we got through the ballot for the men’s tennis finals at Wimbledon. It was one of the best days of my life. I loved the atmosphere at Wimbledon, in London and the way our country enjoyed celebrating such a wonderful summer.

LUXE PARTY >> Memorable night out > A Cirque du Soleil performance in downtown Disney, Florida.

Perfect party > A small one – I far prefer to spend time with a few close friends.

Best dress > I had a beautiful blue and white striped cotton dress when I was seven or eight.

It had a big sailor collar - I loved it!

Dinner Date > Bradley Creswick, the Leader of the Northern Sinfonia. He visited Central High a few days ago and was inspiring. I would love the opportunity to talk to him about his life and thoughts on music.

LUXE THING IN LIFE >> People: they are all different but fascinating and wonderfully kind, supportive and generous.

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JAN/FEB13

LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES A spring flutter Add a sense of the summer garden to your tabletop with these gorgeous bone china plates that actually look as good on the wall as they do beneath a seabass. ÂŁ16 each at RE, Corbridge. www.re-foundobjects.com

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JAN/FEB13

Newcastle’s open late so shop ’til 8pm.

Shop late ’til 8pm Mon – Fri and 7pm Sat Park free after 5pm Mon – Sat in the Council multi-storey car parks For further information on participating shops and car parks visit:

getintonewcastle.co.uk

Delivered by

DO THIS

ART! WITH GODFREY WORSDALE

Stay in >> go out >> enjoy What to book this year? Katherine Weir and Fiona Lawson guide us through 2013’s cultural goings-on.

FEBRUARY

The director of BALTIC, Gateshead, casts a cultural eye over the region.

If fiddles do it for you then head to Sage to hear one of the world’s finest fiddle bands - Frigg from Finland. Promising audiences. “a hair-raising, voice-losing, heart-burstingly beautiful gig full of traditional Finnish tunes with Norwegian detours”, Frigg will delight with a freewheeling, feelgood style of music – Nordgrass, fusing Nordic folk and American bluegrass. www.thesagegateshead.org

FEBRUARY

Marcus Coates, Turtle Mountain, 2012 Workplace Gallery in the old Post Office in Gateshead continues to present an innovative and exciting programme of exhibitions, often featuring some of the most important artists living and working in the North East of England. The gallery is becoming something of a phenomenon, not only because of its commitment to operating an ambitious selling programme so far from the epicentre of London’s commercial contemporary art scene, but also for its increasing prominence at many of the world’s most significant art fairs.

The gallery’s current exhibition, 185x49x29cm, features Marcus Coates’ most significant solo presentation at Workplace to date. The exhibition is in three parts and each demonstrates the artist’s incredible facility for reconsidering our shared mechanisms for categorising the world around us. All the Grey Animals, 2012, makes a representation of 80 different creatures, all characterised by a human inclination to identify them initially by their colour. Coates extends this by simply substituting a simple grey cuboid form representative of each creature’s outer dimensions.

The exhibition’s title evolves when the artist applies this categorisation upon himself, and a white box stands of a visual metaphor the Coates’ own carefully recorded height x width x depth.

Elsewhere in the exhibition we see two film works, both of which deal directly with the true nature of experience and place. In Turtle Mountain, 2012, the artist films himself, filming himself in the Rocky Mountains whilst desperately trying to capture a spiritual moment of being at one with nature. However, in The Trip, 2011, Coates produces a powerfully moving work where this profound experience is set at a remove from the first-hand experience. The artist undertakes a journey to the Rainforest on behalf a hospice patient, who has created instructions for the artist to carefully follow. The film captures the interactions where the patient is able to find out how his imagined world was reflected in his surrogates actual experience.

For further information www.workplacegallery.co.uk

Godfrey Worsdale is Director, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art

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Clink your glasses and raise the roof as Stockton’s ARC and Cleveland CAMRA beer sampling extravaganza, Ale and Arty returns for 2013. Spanning three days from 21 to 23 February, enthusiasts will have the pick of over 70 ales, lagers and perry. A sterling line-up is firmly in place for those who like to dabble in multi-tasking, scintillating the taste-buds, and eardrums at one fell swoop.

Fast rising stars on the UK and international music rung, Giles Robson and The Dirty Aces, pictured above, kick off festivities on Thursday, followed by Andy Askins’ wickedly inspired patter, pitted with Irish charm from Andrew Ryan in one of the most anticipated Catch 22’s of the year on the Friday. Mike McGrother’s new band of Rogues will make you laugh, cry, dance and sing as they join Ale fans for the Saturday night performance.

ARC Box Office 01642 525199 or www.arconline.co.uk

FEBRUARY Comedy from Katherine Ryan in the show, Nature’s Comedy at ARC, Stockton. Subjects covered include; “Being divorced in my 20s, being Canadian, living in England, bears, relationships.” It’s got it all.

01642 525199 or www.arconline.co.uk

FEBRUARY The touring art show Artists Rooms arrives at Hatton Gallery, Newcastle on February 22 until May 22 with a stunning show of works by American artist Ed Ruscha.

The Los Angeles-based artist is often lauded as one of the most consistently inventive painters of the past half century, and this pop art-inspired show displays some of the best examples of his wry take on American life.

Featuring early drawings and key paintings together with examples of the artist’s books, printmaking and photography, the exhibition will include a wide variety of works covering over 40 years of his remarkable career.

Julie Milne, Chief Curator for Art Galleries says: “We are delighted to be exhibiting the work of this major artist.

It is fitting that Ruscha’s work is showing at the Hatton as he has cited artist Kurt Schwitters as an influence, and Schwitters’ internationally significant Merzbarn Wall is on permanent display in the Hatton Gallery.”

For more details visit www.hattongallery.org.uk.

FEBRUARY The new version of the Brothers Grimm classic fairytale Rapunzel hits Northern Stage, Newcastle as part of Ballet Lorent’s national touring programme. Written by Carol Ann Duffy and Co-produced with Northern Stage, it is a Sadler’s Wells and New Writing North commission in association with Durham Book Festival.

Inspired by the dark themes central to this fairy story: a woman’s longing for a child, promises and deceit, sexual jealousy, loyalty, loneliness, vengeance and redemption. Liv Lorent says; “Most of us remember Rapunzel’s hair and the tower, but we’re a bit hazy on the rest of the story. It has been told again and again and reinterpreted for children of today through versions like Disney’s Tangled, but we’re telling an older, slightly darker version, more akin to its Grimm tale origins. We’ve included a part of the story which is usually neglected and telling it through the eyes of different characters.” www.northernstage.co.uk

FEBRUARY The Rocky Horror Show, created by Richard O’Brien who wrote the book, music and lyrics is a rock’n’roll musical that is hair-raising, scandalous and most importantly, fun! Not for the faint-hearted, this frivolous show is a celebratory 40th anniversary reproduction of the classic original. Expect to be time-warped back over to the Frankenstein Place party. Sunderland Empire. www.rockyhorror.co.uk

21-23 FEBRUARY Following Girls Aloud’s recent revival and new album celebrating ten years of their stardom, the Pandora-sponsored nationwide reunion tour comes as no surprise.

Expect to see numerous chart-topping, sweetheart hits packed in to three consecutive concerts in February, so advanced booking would be wise if you are to be in with a chance of seeing “wor Cheryl Cole”. www.metroradioarena.co.uk

JAN/FEB13

Luxury THE SIXTH

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at

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ANTIQUES DEALERS FAIR

WEEKEND

LIMITED

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ELEGANT NEWLY REFURBISHED SHOWROOM AT SUPPLIERS OF UNIQUE AND STYLISH FITTINGS

Come and buy at the finest quality antiques and fine art fair in the region

8 - 10 MARCH 2013 Friday 11.00 - 6.00 Saturday 10.30 - 6.00 Sunday 10.30 - 5.00

TWO FOR ONE WITH THIS ADVERTISEMENT Enquiries: 01797 252030 www.lindenhallfair.com

JAN/FEB13

63 - 65 HIGH STREET | GOSFORTH NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE3 4AA | TEL: 0191 285 3671 www.sarahbowenlighting.co.uk

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DO THIS

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

LANDSCAPE

WITH COLIN SMITH MOVIE TIME

Osborne attacks pensions pots following Autumn Statement.

George Osborne’s recent Autumn budget statement passed with just a few surprises recently. Perhaps the most surprising of all of the new proposals was the further reduction in the Lifetime Allowance - the amount that an individual can accrue in pension plans throughout their working lives.

It is perhaps easier to attack this area of the budget as it’s not something which effects an individual’s everyday circumstances like the rate of income tax does. The change in the Lifetime Allowance will be most relevant to high earners or those lucky enough to be in final salary schemes and both will need to be particularly wary about the effects of the reduction on them.

WHAT ARE THE CHANGES? The Lifetime Allowance is the amount an individual can build up within a pension scheme during their lifetime. When retirement is reached, any amount of pension savings in excess of this allowance will attract a tax charge at the penal rate of 40%.

Prior to April 2011, the Lifetime Allowance increased every year and had reached £1.8 million. This was then reduced to £1.5 million from last April. During his recent budget statement, George Osborne announced that the Lifetime Allowance would be reduced further still, to £1.25 million from April 2014. This may sound like a large amount, but if you are in a final salary scheme you may be surprised how easy it is to reach this sum over the years.

HOW WILL THIS IMPACT YOU? People in final salary schemes will need to be careful. A final salary scheme is provided by an employer and pays a fixed level of income throughout retirement, based on your salary in the years running up to retirement and your overall length of service.

For an individual receiving a pension from a final salary scheme, the amount which is tested against the Lifetime Allowance is calculated as follows: • The value of any pension commencement lump sum paid, plus twenty times the starting income level.

For some individuals who are in well paid positions and who have also been members of final salary schemes for some time, this new allowance can be unforgiving. It could be that the majority of a pension commencement lump sum ends up being owed in tax!

Let’s consider an example. An individual retires in 2015 and receives a pension commencement lump sum of £100,000, alongside an annual pension of £70,000, having been a well paid company director for some time.

When he retires, the Lifetime Allowance is £1.25 million but the value of his pension is £1.5 million. As a result of this the individual in question would have a tax charge of £100,000 - equivalent to the entire value of his pension commencement lump sum.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? As part of the budget statement, the Government has announced that some form of ‘protection’ will be available for individuals who are likely to get caught by the new rules.

Specific details of this protection remain elusive though. If you have a pension pot in excess of £1.25 million, it’s likely that you will be able to apply for some form of protection in advance of April 2014. This may mean that your pension is exempt from this new lower limit, to some extent at least.

Keep your pension portfolio and the interaction with the lifetime allowance under review.

It’s also important to keep abreast of announcements regarding provisional protection – this protection can be highly valuable.

Colin Smith, Senior Manager, Wealth Management, Dickinson Dees law firm T: 0844 984 1500 W: www.dickinson-dees.com

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The Customs House, South Shields hosts Any Given Sunday, four speciallythemed movie nights running every Sunday. Showcasing classic films, with an added-value twist, the events will transform movie screenings into a great value-for-money social experience, presenting food and drinks offers, triple plays and other special additions. The themed nights include ‘Sunday Roast’ which brings you lazy Sunday films, topped off with a hangover-banishing roast sandwich, and salty tatties for £10.

‘Cult Club’ which offers the unsung, nostalgia stirring movies for £10 including a pint, ‘Girls’ Night In’ which offers you a ticket to a chick flick and a light two course supper for £10, and ‘3easy Does It’ which gives you three films for the price of two plus a snack for £15. What better way to spend a Sunday! www.customshouse.co.uk.

Running until April 28th, the Bowes Museum will be showing the major exhibition, Rokeby: Walter Scott & Turner in Teesdale. Stunning landscapes that were inspired by an epic poem form the basis of this collection.

Marking the bicentenary of the publication of Scott’s poem, Rokeby, it explores the relationship between literature and art, examining the poem’s role in attracting artists such as Turner and highlighting the importance of the dale in the development of landscape painting in Britain. The exhibition includes paintings from the British Museum, Tate, regional galleries and the Museum’s own collection. ww.thebowesmuseum.org.uk

FEBRUARY Head off on a romantic mini cruise to Amsterdam. Cruise overnight and woo your other half with a 3-course à la carte meal in one of the onboard restaurants, a drink in the bar and live entertainment. Perhaps enjoy a romcom movie in the cinema. The following day head off for a romantic stroll along the tree lined canals of Amsterdam, browse the boutique shops and fall in love with the lively street cafés before heading back to the ship for your return journey. Includes 2 nights in an en suite cabin based on 2 sharing, 1 breakfast per person, a 3 course à la carte meal and bottle of sparkling wine and return coach transfers to Amsterdam, plus approx 5 hours in Amsterdam. £199 for two people. Departs Newcastle on 13, 14 & 15 February. www.dfds.co.uk/miniprice

FEBRUARY James Arthur comes home – see the X Factor top seven finalists perform on The X Factor 2013 Live Tour this year. James Arthur, Ella Henderson, Jahmene Douglas, Rylan Clark, groups Union J and District3 will be performing classic songs and viewers’ favourites from the TV series. Winner James says; “A year ago I was busking in the street and playing in my local pub, so knowing that I’ll be performing at arenas is totally mind blowing. I can’t wait”.

0844 493 6666, www.metroradioarena.co.uk

MARCH This spring Northumberland Theatre Company will tour the North East with 4scene, a quartet of new plays written by local playwrights. Themed with passion, politics, power and pleasure, these four short, very different, enthralling new plays which will showcase some of the best and up-and-coming British theatre writing talent to bring a terrific evening of theatre, performed by just six actors. Comic, heart-warming, passionate and full of energy, 4scene’s four half-hour plays will explore life in all its guises – be prepared for a roller-coaster ride of emotions and plenty of laughter! Venues in Alnwick, Ashington, Whitburn, Morpeth and many others. www.northumberlandtheatre.co.uk for further information and venues.

JAN/FEB11

Short Breaks at Springfield House Relax in luxury at Springfield House and enjoy a short break exclusively for the over 60s.

Springfield House is a luxurious 69 bedroom retirement community located on Durham Road in the heart of Low Fell. Throughout the spring we are offering a number of short breaks exclusively for the over 60s.

Springfield House by day features an extensive range of leisure activities and entertainment including sightseeing in the North East, walks along the beautiful Northumberland coastline, visits to galleries and museums, cookery classes, wine tasting, flower arranging demonstrations, afternoon social dances and slightly less strenuous activities such as quizzes and traditional pub games.

Taking an even more leisurely pace, let us take you down memory lane with an afternoon of movies and popcorn. At the end of a busy day you can enjoy a delicious three course meal including wine followed by entertainment.

If you simply need rest and recuperation after a busy Christmas, Springfield House offers luxurious bedrooms looking out onto the landscaped gardens and pampering in the Wellbeing Suite.

Included in the price of every break at Springfield House are all of your meals and refreshments and 24 hour care support where needed.

When staying at Springfield House for a short break

you can relax in the knowledge that all of your needs are being cared for, so all you need to worry about is enjoying yourself.

Facilities at Springfield House include: • • • • • • • • • • •

The Orangery Restaurant The Tea Rooms Wellbeing Suite Gym Events Suite with Bar Hair and Beauty Salon with nail bar Internet Café (free 24 hour service) Ensuite bedrooms with shower Plasma television in bedrooms Beautiful landscaped gardens Communal television lounges

Themed Short Breaks at Springfield House Spring 2013 • Valentines Break • St Patricks Celebration • Easter Relaxation • May Day Spring Break Other dates are also available on request throughout the year.

To find out availability or to book a short break at Springfield House please call: 0191 478 2141

The Wellness Factor New Spa Experiences at Rockliffe Hall to kick-start your wellbeing for 2013.

Spa is about feeling good inside and out; about time to re-energise as well as time to celebrate.

It is happiness, enjoyment, positivity and learning new lifestyle skills. Spa is exceptional.

CHILL OUT SPA SUNDAYS

VITALITY WELLNESS BREAK

WELLNESS FACTOR 2-NIGHT SPA BREAK

Sunday 10th February, Sunday 14th April and Sunday 19th May 2013

Sunday 10th until Monday 11th March 2013

Sunday 21st until Tuesday 23rd April 2013

Enjoy a one night Spa break to detoxify your body and relax your mind, and join Atul Shah Bsc BPhar; Nature Cure Practitioner and registered Naturopath for a unique and holistic approach to health during your stay.

From £195 per person

The Wellness Spa break is an exciting new 2-night full board getaway designed to nurture you to be fitter and healthier with a positive outlook and to kick-start your wellbeing for 2013. (with no scales in sight, we promise!) from £495 per person

Your Chill Out Spa Sunday includes an introductory meditation session; workshop; use of all Spa wellness and bathing facilities; a two course lunch in The Brasserie by Atkinson and a 45 minute holistic treatment. £95 per person

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

JAN/FEB13

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DO THIS

APRIL

MAY

The Italian pianist and classical musician Ludovico Einaudi is plays a rare performance at Sage, Gateshead, demonstrating a talent from the man behind many a film soundtrack including Black Swan and This Is England. Einaudi’s catalogue of beautiful compositions is breath-taking and unmissable. www.thesagegateshead.org

The ever-popular Evolution Festival returns in May with two full days of both local and internationally-acclaimed music. Last year saw the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Deadmau5 and DJ Fresh storm the stages at Spillers Wharf and Ballast Hills. Despite the music acts for 2013 being as-yet unconfirmed, the Bank Holiday weekender never misses a beat. www.evolutionfestival.co.uk

MARCH The ever popular Luxury Antiques Weekend at Linden Hall returns to Northumberland for the sixth consecutive year, organised by The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited. It all happens at Linden Hall Golf & Country Club, from Friday to Sunday.

Visitors come from far and wide, from north of the Border to all parts south, to enjoy a day’s antiquing at this boutique-style event with some 20 specialist dealers exhibiting. It is the perfect place to explore the wide range of antiques ranging from 18th century paintings to jewellery, antiquities, town and country furniture, antique Persian carpets, glass, 19th century sculpture as well as contemporary fine art and sculpture.

Highlights include an oil on canvas by the marine and landscape painter, John Scott (1802-1885) who lived at South Shields. His marine works were highly regarded and achieved high prices when sold in auction. ‘The Maranham off Dover’, signed and dated 1870 has a price tag of £8,950 from John Nicholson & Dunelm Fine Art of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Local antiques dealer, Graham Smith Antiques of Newcastle upon Tyne, is bringing an interesting range of furniture including a a William IV mahogany three-door breakfront secretaire bookcase, c1820, priced at £7,950 and a quirky table lamp of a bronze polar bear cooling his feet on an iceberg, signed T. Cartier, c1920, selling for £625. Two charities are benefitting from this year’s event – The Art Fund, the national fundraising charity for art and St Oswald’s Hospice in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Tickets, £5. www.lindenhallfair.com

APRIL The world-famous MAKER FAIRE returns to the Centre for Life, Newcastle for a weekend of robots, garden shed inventions, the occasional fireball and lots more. 300 makers will present their interactive projects alongside playful performances, installations and workshops. Maker Faire creator, Dale Dougherty, one of Barak Obama’s “Champions of Change”, will open the event and oversee the weekend’s activities. www.MakerFaireUK.com

JULY The writings of the Lindisfarne Gospels are considered to be one of the greatest feats of human creativity and craftsmanship and they hold a very special place in the history of the North East. This summer the Gospels will return to the region as part of an exhibition in Durham displaying all manner of medieval artefacts and the significant meanings and history they behold. www.lindisfarnegospels.com

MAY Madness?

In Suggs: My Life Story the Madness frontman takes to the stage in a hilarious, yet moving, one man tour de force playing to rave reviews. The death of Suggs’ beloved cat on his fiftieth birthday triggers a personal quest to discover what happened to the father he never knew.

Stunned by what he learns Suggs is taken back to his childhood on the tough streets of 1970’s Soho and his first appearance on Top Of The Pops at the age of eighteen. Is it a play? Is it stand-up comedy? Is it Music Hall? Whatever it is hold on to your seats as Suggs takes you through his failures and successes. The show also comes with the added bonus of musical accompaniment and uncalled for interjection, from Deano his loyal manservant-cum-pianist.

0844 277 2771 or www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk.

JULY Following great reviews of ‘Psychedelic Pill’, Neil Young & Crazy Horse play first dates here since the summer of 2009 which included triumphant headline sets at Glastonbury, the Isle of Wight festival and Hard Rock Calling, as well as his first UK dates with Crazy Horse (Frank ‘Poncho’ Sampedro, Billy Talbot and Ralph Molina) since 2001. ‘Psychedelic Pill’ opens with ‘Driftin’ Back’, a gripping, 27-minute epic which starts with an acoustic intro before it pokes down pathways that have been hinted at before, but never fully explored. Two other songs on the album touch in similarly expansive musical territory, the elegiac ode ‘Ramada Inn’ and the spirited prayer of ‘Walk Like A Giant’. 0844 493 6666, www.metroradioarena.co.uk

IPAD ART

APRIL The Sage – International Jazz Festival Gateshead International Jazz Festival, the largest UK festival held under one roof, will take place in the spectacular surroundings of The Sage Gateshead 5 - 7 April. Headline acts include the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Lighthouse, Phronesis, Christine Tobin, Ruby Turner and The Brand New Heavies. North is a key theme for the festival, interpreted in various ways. Saturday night’s Hall One concert presents two jazz suites inspired by the North East of England – ‘Northumbrian Sketches’, written in the 1980’s by Newcastle jazz musician/composer Ian Carr in its first ever North East performance, and ‘Songs to the North Sky’, written in 2012 by Tim Garland, resident in the region. Both will be performed by Northern Sinfonia orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, with jazz soloists Tim Whitehead and Henry Lowther plus award winning trio Lighthouse, featuring the award-winning pianist Gwilym Simcock. Sunday afternoon will also see and hear the concourse of The Sage filled to its iconic roof with the sounds of over 100 saxophone players in the culmination of the North East’s own version of Saxophone Massive, the now well established mass participation project for sax players of all ages and abilities playing under the guidance of the project’s originator and Gateshead International Jazz Festival’s regular Andy Sheppard and guitarist Chris Sharkey.

0191 443 4661 www.thesagegateshead.org/gijf13 JUNE Rihanna’s Diamond World Tour brings the global superstar to the North East this year on her Diamonds World Tour promoting the release of her 7th album ‘Unapologetic’. The Stadium of Light will not only be graced with her presence but also that of support act David Guetta, the world-renowned French DJ. www.safc.com/hospitality-and-events/ concerts-2013

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A Brush With Hockney - The White Swan Inn The White Swan Inn in Pickering, North Yorkshire has launched a new mid-week break which looks set to become the ultimate art lover’s retreat. The hotel is offering guests the chance to walk in the footsteps of David Hockney and explore the countryside that so inspired the famous artist. The David Hockney experience includes a two night mid-week stay at The White Swan Inn where guests are invited to tour the local sights cherished by Hockney and can book the hotel’s iPad, featuring the new Paint application, endorsed and used by Hockney himself. With this guests can tap into their own creativity by capturing the unique and beautiful countryside of the North Yorkshire Moors, which surrounds the cosy inn. It is this very countryside which inspired this year’s ‘David Hockney: A Bigger Picture’ exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, celebrating the artist’s return to his Yorkshire roots. A keepsake David Hockney book will be given as a memento to all guests of the experience. The Hockney mini-break is £199 per room, per night, including dinner, bed and breakfast. www.thewhiteswan.co.uk

OCTOBER Cirque du Soleil is limbering up to bring its awe-inspiring production Alegría to Newcastle. Alegría is a classic Cirque du Soleil production that has received international acclaim and wowed over 10 million people worldwide since it premiered in 1994 in Montreal. Alegría is a Spanish word that means happiness, joy and jubilation and features an international cast of 55 performers and musicians from 17 countries and showcases breath-taking acrobatics. See fire-knife dance, artists manipulate flaming knives around their bodies, while Power Track showcases a brilliant display of synchronized choreography and tumbling on a trampoline system magically concealed under the stage floor. 0844 493 6666 www.metroradioarena.co.uk

BEYOND BAGPUSS – AN ARTIST’S JOURNEY Artist Linda Birch, who illustrated Bagpuss and The Clangers, exhibits her work at the Bowes Museum, where she holds regular painting classes. Beyond Bagpuss – an Artist’s Journey is an exploration of her paintings and illustrations, from her early days of working with legendary animators Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate – which included drawings of the first nipples (on mermaids!) to be shown on the BBC – through her long career as a painter, teacher and writer. Featuring work from Bagpuss, along with her artwork from the BBC’s Jackanory the exhibition will outline her 40 year career, plus around 40 other works including new paintings. www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk

JAN/FEB13

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LOVED UP MAGAZINE

JOIN THE LOVED UP PARTY If weddings are on your mind this spring it’s time to get all loved up and luxey.

Loved Up is luxe’s sister magazine – the baby sister getting married you might say.

In May we’re bringing together the best of the two gorgeous worlds of weddings and luxury for LovedUp @ Newcastle Racecourse, May 5-6.

This fabulous wedding event will be an exciting showcase of all the things that make a wedding unique. From stunning gowns to dramatic flowers, inspiring themes for the day and the best in hairstyling and beauty.

We’ll be bringing together people in the know from across the region who are spot-on when it comes to bringing the latest wedding trends to the region’s brides.

As part of the two-day spectacular in Gosforth, you can join us for the Luxe VIP Event.

On Sunday May 5 from 10am – 12noon Luxe will host a VIP Champagne Event which will include an exclusive designer catwalk show and the chance for brides-to-be to have their own preview of exhibitors before the fair opens at 12noon.

THROUGHOUT THE DAY THERE WILL BE DEMONSTRATIONS INCLUDING: ~ Event styling ~ Hair and make-up ~ Cake decoration Newcastle Dance Centre will also be on hand to help you create a first dance that will give you a memory to last a lifetime, Entertainment will be provided by Jason Isaacs, known internationally for his stunning vocals, exuberant showmanship and love of Big Band Swing.

WIN A DESIGNER GOWN The dress of your dreams could be yours.

LovedUp@NewcastleRcaecourse has teamed with wedding dress designer Alfred Angelo to offer a bride-to-be a stunning gown from the new season’s designer range.

Full details at the event.

SPONSORS

RACECOURSE SUN 5th & MON 6th MAY

For suppliers this promises to be the premier wedding showcase in the North East this spring, the ideal opportunity to make a noise about your products and services to hundreds of brides-to-be.

We have space for approximately 70 exhibitors from a wide range of wedding related companies, as well as various demonstration options throughout the day, including makeup application, table-dressing displays and fashion shows.

If you are interested in exhibiting and would you like to be part of the wedding fair that’s daring to be different contact Debi or Lisa on 0191 5375720 or Joanne on 0191 2362020 for more information.

WIN

A £7000 WEDDING

PRESENTS

LOVED UP@ NEWCASTLE

BE PART OF IT

AT CLOSE HOUSE FOLLOW US ON: LovedUp2013

LovedUp2013 at Newcastle Racecourse

To book tickets www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk/loved-up/

All couples attending the event will have the opportunity to win a reception wedding worth more £7,000 at Close House Hotel & Golf Club

DATE NIGHT

Hotdates

Imogen Nicholson gets to grips with some nice ideas for coupley stuff this Valentine’s Day. UNTIL 17 FEBRUARY JIM SHAW ‘THE RINSE CYCLE’ EXHIBITION, BALTIC CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, GATESHEAD Gallery gazing is a loved-uptreat, Art lovers looking for a more original Valentine’s date can call in to BALTIC to explore the weird and wonderful world of Jim Shaw. Having spent many years finding and collecting paintings by anonymous artists Shaw’s ‘The Rinse Cycle’ exhibition now numbers around 100 works including found photographs, drawings and even a theatre backdrop. The rooftop restaurant is a pretty memorable place to dine in style too. www.balticmill.com

6 > 9 FEBRUARY THE NUTCRACKER, THE THEATRE ROYAL, NEWCASTLE Be romanced by the fantastical world of The Nutcracker as the award-winning company Scottish Ballet brings one of its most successful shows ever back to the Newcastle Theatre Royal.

Featuring backdrops inspired by the glamour of the 1920’s, the vibrant colours and dream-like creations of the German Expressionist painters of the era it promises to be a thoroughly luxey date. Tickets from £10.50. www.theatreroyal.co.uk

THE LOVEBIRDS SPECIAL, SEAHAM HALL

BALTIC

7 FEBRUARY BRENDAN COLE LICENSE TO THRILL, THE SAGE, GATESHEAD If your other half is a Strictly fan then we may have found the perfect pre-Valentine’s date for you. Brendan Cole and his cast of 20 musicians and dancers will be treading the floor-boards of The Sage Gateshead in his brand new show, License To Thrill. Promising to be a spectacular evening of ballroom magic and latin excitement, this live dance extravaganza will get feet tapping. Ticket prices range from £29.50 - £34.50. www.thesagegateshead.org

THE ROMANTIC SYMPHONY THREE

10 FEBRUARY VALENTINE’S MUSIC IN THE CHAPEL, GIBSIDE Enjoy a chilled day of atmospheric music celebrating Gibside’s lovers of past and present in the candlelit chapel before sampling a special Valentine’s lunch menu for couples in the Potting Shed Café. Free event, normal admission charges apply. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside

THE ROMANCE PACKAGE, HOLBECK GHYLL

VALENTINE’S SPA ESCAPE, ROCKLIFFE HALL

14 FEBRUARY VALENTINE’S SPA ESCAPE, ROCKLIFFE HALL, DARLINGTON Spend some quality time together at Rockliffe Hall’s Valentine’s Spa Escape and make relaxation and indulgence your top priority. Your overnight stay will include a 45 minute couple’s Mud Rasul treatment and a 45 minute warm oil massage each in the double treatment room as well as full use of the spa and wellness facilities. Dine from the special four-course menu at the Brasserie by Atkinson and enjoy an a la carte breakfast before your departure.

From £245 per person. www.rockliffehall.com

years and offering services such as a private butler and a fleet of supercars for hire. The Romance package includes a bottle of champagne on ice, handmade truffles and red roses. Plus for those willing to brave February’s frosty temperatures, Holbeck Ghyll will treat you to a gentle cruise on Lake Windermere. Prices start at £110. www.holbeckghyll.com

14 + 16 FEBRUARY

14 > 16 FEBRUARY

CUPID AT THE CASTLE, LUMLEY CASTLE, DURHAM Romance your loved one in the fairy-tale setting of Lumley Castle. The Cupid at the Castle package includes champagne and chocolates in your room upon arrival, a three-course dinner in the historic dining room and a hearty breakfast before your departure. Priced 14 Feb - £99.50 per person, 16 Feb - £124.50. www.lumleycastle.com

SPA BREAK, THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS, NORTH YORKSHIRE Situated on the Duke of Devonshire’s 30,000 acre Bolton Abbey Estate in the Yorkshire Dales, The Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel offers 40 individually designed room, ideal for a romantic getaway. Dinner in The Devonshire Brasserie and Bar as well as a 30 minute facial or massage each. What’s more, for those forgetful romantics, six red roses will be placed in your room. £330 per couple. Gourmet lovers who prefer gastro delights to the traditional flowers and chocolates can dine at the Michelin Star restaurant, the Burlington both nights during a stay and enjoy three courses of your choice the first night and the 10 course Menu Prestige the second. Included within the price is a bottle of Champagne to enjoy in your

14 FEBRUARY THE ROMANCE PACKAGE, HOLBECK GHYLL, THE LAKE DISTRICT For sheer luxury Holbeck Ghyll may be the place for you.

Situated between Ambleside and Windermere the hotel is a popular celebrity haunt having held a Michelin star for 13

BRENDAN COLE - THE SAGE

room when you arrive. £330 per couple. www.thedevonshirearms.co.uk, www.thedevonshirearms.co.uk

14 > 17 FEBRUARY THE LOVEBIRDS SPECIAL, SEAHAM HALL, COUNTY DURHAM Designed for couples who really want to have a romantic and enchanting day out around St Valentine’s Day, the Lovebirds Special features an invigorating Rasul Mud treatment for two, a two-course meal at the Ozone Restaurant and full use of all the Spa facilities between 9am to 5pm. There’s also a glass of champagne for you. £135 per person. www.seaham-hall.co.uk

15 FEBRUARY THE ROMANTIC SYMPHONY THREE, THE SAGE, GATESHEAD If your idea of a perfect date is something more on the classical side then visit The Sage for a performance of Schumann’s Rhine-inspired Romantic Symphony Three by Conductor Thomas Zehetmair and the Northern Sinfonia.

Ticket prices range from £10 - £32. www.thesagegateshead.org

THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY >>

Rothay Garden in Grasmere, current Westmorland Hotel of the Year, has teamed up with leading Grasmere chocolatiers Cocoa Hearts to create a bespoke package during February. The special Romantic Break is available in any of the hotel’s twelve stunning suites, from the luxurious Riverside Suites, located adjacent to the babbling river Rothay, to the designer Loft Suites on the second floor of the hotel. During February you will receive a half bottle of Louis Roederer champagne, a Cocoa Hearts Valentines box of heart-themed chocolates and a single red rose in a presentation bag. Bookings 01539 435334. www.rothaygarden.com

JAN/FEB13

17

MAKING HIS MARK

How to rock a frock

Mark Benton’s a professional northerner with an accent that’s never far away from a TV show, radio programme or theatre near you. He’s just left primetime TV to spend a few months in a frock and is very excited at the prospect, as Kathryn Armstrong discovers.

It’s really hard to be far from Mark Benton’s accent if you’re watching television.

In fact especially if you’re watching TV. He is king of the voiceover. That might mean extolling the virtues of a breakfast cereal bar or even an electronic cigarette in his unmistakeable Tees tones. Over on the other side chances are he’s embroiled in a heart-to-heart in the corridor in his now familiar role as hapless teacher Chalky in the hit series Waterloo Road.

Then there’s the Nationwide ad. It was some years ago that he featured as the startlingly frank bank manager with his, ‘it doesn’t work like that’ slogan. It gave him a huge profile which even today follows him.

One thing for certain, it’s difficult to miss the exuberant Mr Benton, owner of probably the most famous Teesside accent in the nation, or at least in the line-up alongside Vic and Bob and latterly X-Factor’s James Arthur.

It is an accent once described as, ‘not pretty, but it gets the job done.’ You could say the same about the loveable Mark.

And though Mr Arthur might have had the

18

glamorous Nicole Sherzinger on his arm for much of last year, Mr Benton can boast his own very sparkly date – alongside classical singer Katherine Jenkins.

Yes, hardly a predictable match. To say beauty and the beast is being a tad mean but Mark, 47, has excelled in the role of Mr Toad in the past, albeit Alan Bennett’s fine version on stage in Newcastle. He is a big guy, professionally dishevelled and an unlikely contender for Strictly or some such reality show (give it time though, he has been approached).

He scrubbed up as master of ceremonies for the prime slot Steppin’ Out, shown just before Christmas. The cabaret show saw Katherine Jenkins performing a number of songs and dance routines including the Argentine Tango, Tap and Viennese Waltz.

He was awestruck by her voice; “Not exactly my kind of music – I am fond of everything from ‘big noise’ to acoustic to John Martyn but Katherine was amazing – on stage she was just perfect, it was great fun to do”, he says.

And watching the diva in action was perhaps the perfect prelude to the latest

diversion on his varied, vibrant and characterful career path.

We catch up with Mark in an old school in Pimlico as he settles into rehearsals for his spring theatre biggie.

Having closed the classroom door behind him in Waterloo Road (he will be on screen during the current series), Mark has turned his talent to something of a first - musical theatre and the iconic role of Edna Turnblad in the hit musical Hairspray which comes to Sunderland Empire in March.

For a character actor the role isn’t too far of a leap, nevertheless Edna is a stand-out character the role will thrust Mark right into

‘what the hell’. I’m having a lot of fun.”

The thrill of getting scared out of his wits by something new clearly drives him. He has done dozens of theatre and screen roles, managing somehow not to be typecast into what he was once warned might be an acting career made up of roles as a ‘copper or a prison inmate’.

He has said he gets drawn back to theatre time and again; “When you don’t do theatre for a while you get scared, you think ‘I can’t do it, I can’t learn all my lines’ - so you get back and do it.”’

Mark boasts some 25 years or more as a presence on stage, film and television. His

On the subject of cuts to arts budgets he joins the forceful outcry of his fellow actors; “It is really important that people see and hear live theatre”. the spotlight. In a dress. Certainly a new direction for Mark who you’d think would have been a dead cert for a panto dame but has never reached those dizzy heights.

Michael Ball made Edna his own but Mark has resisted watching Ball’s version so he can put his own stamp on Edna, and he is unfazed and rather excited at the prospect. His CV reveals a man who likes a challenge and doesn’t like to get stuck in a rut of a role.

He’s in the midst of dress fittings and singing lessons, inspired by Ms Jenkins and says the role typifies his attitude of ‘variety is the spice of life’.

“The opportunity came up and I thought,

stint as blundering teacher Daniel Chalk in Waterloo Road followed numerous parts in dramas including Inspector George Gently, Land Girls, The Fixer, Hustle, Britannia High, Personal Affairs and Doctor Who, as well as big screen outings in major films Redemption Road and The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus.

He has worked with the greats such as Mike Leigh and is an experienced stage performer who has worked at the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Donmar Warehouse, among others.

His big screen debut came with Mike Leigh’s Career Girls in 1997. “Mike Leigh is a genius.

“What working with Mike taught me was as >>

JAN/FEB13

MAKING HIS MARK

JAN/FEB13

19

MAKING HIS MARK long as you start from the truth you can go anywhere, be any character. That job was brilliant”, he said at the time.

Born in Guisborough, his childhood was spent in working class Grangetown in Middlesbrough where the world of theatre and acting was made real for him by his actor uncle, Michael Gunn. “I used to see my uncle come back from drama school and think I wanted to be like him”, says Mark.

“At school I was really into youth theatre – I think I was a bit of a joker and I just loved drama. My mam and dad were behind me all the way – you never got a careers talk about being an actor but my parents gave me the choice to do what I wanted. I got to live out my dream and I am blessed because of that.”

Mark got into RADA. “I thought, to hell with it, someone’s got to get in.” He describes it as a “life affirming” moment. “For me, it was ‘oh God, I can act’.”

It might have been a terrifying culture shock but there were people from all walks of life alongside him and never any pressure to change that unique Teesside accent. Today it’s the most recognisable tool of his trade.

“They never said lose the accent – it was recognised as something that would benefit me. They said people would want me for the accent and not to lose sight of that. They were right.”

Some 25 years on and he’s never returned to live in the North East but nor has he become a ‘softy southerner’. He numbers among his chums in the profession Teesside actors Bill Fellows and Elizabeth Carling.

“I love working up here – I have been at ARC, Stockton, filmed George Gently up here, worked at Northern Stage and I love Live Theatre, even though I did have to wear a Newcastle United shirt on stage there – I work here whenever I get the chance.”

He’s passionate about the job and the need to support live theatre in the region. On the subject of controversial cuts to arts budgets he joins the forceful outcry of his fellow actors and directors; “It is really important getting people into theatre, to see and hear live theatre.

“Once they get to see how exciting it can be then they are hooked, especially children.

“I did Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Lyric with some schoolkids in the audience. One came back at least four times to see it – it was magical and exciting and that is when it is so brilliant for me.”

Though he is a well-loved actor, Mark is not one to court the limelight, that’s the Teessider in him, ever so slightly embarrassed at his good fortune.

Home is an old house in Rye, East Sussex where his wife Sarah has a shop filled with art, vintage finds and cool things.

They have three children a teenage boy (into hip-hop, wants to be a DJ), and two girls and he is master of the school run when it fits around filming. He often chooses work that the kids will enjoy – the series Scoop and Britannia High cases in point. For the most part they don’t see that much of what he’s up to, only the eldest watches Waterloo Road.

Hairspray is on tour this spring, starting in Manchester. Touring is the tough stuff when it comes to being away from his family.

He hopes his ‘solid’ mates from school will get a bus up to see him as Edna in Sunderland. His dad is still around and Mark remains in touch with many of his old school buddies so there should be plenty of support for the man in a dress.

It’s a challenge Mark relishes; “It is a big feel-good production, a completely new adventure, as an actor I like to keep people guessing. This is going to be a lot of fun.”

Hairspray Sunderland Empire March 4-9 www.atgtickets.com

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LUXE LIFE LUXE PEOPLE >> My wife and kids, my dad, my sister and brother. Bill Fellows and Michael Hodgson who are Middlesbrough actors extraordinaire.

Best telly > West Wing, Braquo, Spiral.

Best book > Anything by David Gemmell.

Best sounds > Mastodon, John Martyn, Ministry.

LUXE PLACES >> For a weekend > Paris.

Long holiday > Maldives. a treat > New York or Haverton Hill.

LUXE SHOP >> Best shopping city > London.

Favourite shop > Lion St Store, east Sussex – amazing!

Luxe retail treat > Anything from the above.

LUXE RELAX >> Best food > Liver and bacon or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Best wine > Yuk! Favourite restaurant > Sassari, Middlesbrough or Trattoria Italiano, Bexhill.

Perfect weekend > With the family, featuring a roast dinner and Match of the Day. Downtime means > What’s downtime?

LUXE PARTY >> A memorable night out > Tonight.

Perfect party > Classic rock and fudge.

Best dress > Some lovely ones in Hairspray.

Dinner date > Atilla the Hun. YOUR LUXE THING IN LIFE >> Playing guitar when I get the chance.

JAN/FEB13

YOUR WORLD, OUR ART Contemporary art from the country’s finest artistic talent, chosen by Castle Fine Art for you.

61 - 67 Grey Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 6EF | 0191 233 2200 newcastle@castlegalleries.com | castlegalleries.com |

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PASSING TIME

Hours in the day

A new year makes us look at where the time goes - and sometimes have a re-think. We all wish there were more hours in the day but have you ever totted up where yours go?

We asked some busy people to reveal their day, hour by hour.

Libby Crumpton runs Jewellery by, in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, with partner Chris Hulbert. They’ve just been named one of the top 50 inspiring independent jewellers in the UK and Ireland.

The business prides itself on offering the best in British design and exposing its customers to one-off collections they wouldn’t come into contact with elsewhere.

Jewellery by, High Street, Stokesley www.jewelleryby.co.uk

1 hour » Woken up at 7ish by Poppy and Daisy, my two hungry cats, either by being head butted or sat on. Feed the cats followed by a short morning workout, usually a run or a cross trainer session (weather dependent) in preparation for a half marathon in 2013.

Have breakfast and watch morning news.

45 mins » Shower, dress and attempt to tame my wavy hair, often a lengthy process which I don’t have time for!

10 mins » Leave the house, hopefully without forgetting anything, and head for the shop in Stokesley.

Camilla Hornsby has recently opened Chunky Rainbows childrenswear and gift store in Corbridge. She is mum to Eleanor, four. Her partner, Richard is a chef.

Chunky Rainbows Old Bakery Yard, Corbridge www.chunkyrainbows.com 45 mins » My alarm drags me from peace at 6:45 but I invariably make the most of the snooze function until 7:30.

30 mins » Wake Eleanor, my gorgeous 4-year-old. This is a task in itself as she’s quite possibly the original Sleeping Beauty and spends a good few minutes declaring that it is, in fact, NOT ‘get up time’ but ‘snuggle time’. Serve her dippy eggs and soldiers off Disney princess crockery then feed Levi and Willow, our adorable, mischievous kittens.

20 mins » Shower, tame unruly head beast, dress. Repeat taming of the hair and dressing of mini-me.

25 mins » At 8:40am, assuming we’re not running late, which we often are, I load up the car with PE kit, reading folder, Lucy (the school toy dog we were supposed to entertain for the weekend) and child. Not forgetting of course my make-up bag, I’m never organised enough to apply it before getting to work.

1 hour » Arrive at Chunky Rainbows, the children’s gift and toy shop I recently opened. Make coffee, apply make-up and set up shop for the, hopefully, busy day ahead.

2 Hours » Check e-mails and Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

22

1 hour » Open Jewellery By, dress any displays and prepare the shop for opening and the day ahead. Check emails and process any internet orders.

3 hours » Read trade magazines to keep up to date with industry trends and developments like the current sky high precious metal prices!

Liaise with our designers on current collections and future projects. The nature of our handcrafted jewellery collections and our focus on the designers means we need to be organised and plan ahead for any event or key dates as we need to allow time for jewellery production. Research new designers and collections based on customer feedback and requests.

30 minutes » Either myself or my partner Chris nip out to get lunch. If I go, what should take five minutes takes 30 as I generally get sidetracked and wander into the bridal shop next to us for a chat and a browse of the dresses – not that I need one just yet.

1-2 hours » Whether it be advertising, trade events, press requests or a PR meeting there is someone in most days so we will have a catch up over a green tea. We spend time brainstorming business strategies, marketing, any future events or collaborations with other local businesses.

2-3 hours » Follow up on emails and internet activity. As many of our items are one-off, we have to ensure our internet site is an accurate reflection of the product we have available as we don’t want to let our customers down. Paperwork, paperwork, filing and more paperwork, my least favourite jobs. Even working with gorgeous collections of jewellery can have

and any other social media procrastination enabling ‘apps’ I am currently hooked on. Update all of our social media with the day’s new arrivals and word of up-coming special events.

25 mins » Lunch time! Often these days brought to me by my partner’s lovely mother, in the form of home-made soups. I think she’s trying to start my health kick!

20 mins » Have a bit too much fun rearranging displays of toys and children’s clothing, cooing at all the ‘teeny weeny’ pieces. The novelty of tiny little sheepskin slippers certainly hasn’t worn off yet.

2 Hours » Update stock portfolio and order more beautiful pieces accordingly.

Spend some time searching for new and inspired designers of gifts and toys, I’d hate to be missing out on something. Then more often than not I have some advertising, Chunky Rainbows birthday parties or private shopping events to plan.

15 mins » Already it’s time for school pick up. Collect Eleanor, along with a rainforest-worth of papers, paintings, drawings, handwriting practise and ‘pay your dinner money’ reminders. Must remember that tomorrow.

2 Hours » Little Eleanor comes back to Chunky Rainbows with me and usually requests to make a bracelet at our ‘Bear Bar’,

its downside.

Any work fits around serving and helping our customers, guzzling peppermint tea and appointments for bespoke jewellery projects.

These projects are often the best bit of the day, helping customers create something they have been involved with.

1 hour » Close the shop and head home for dinner created by our in house chef, my partner Chris. Whilst he slaves away I feed the ever hungry cats and give my inner domestic goddess a chance to shine.

1 hour » Post dinner is a TV wind-down and relax or as my large family is dotted around the UK, there are often lengthy telephone conversations to be had.

1 hour » Most weekday evenings see me at pilates or a local fitness class. I plan to do a charity trek in 2013 (I have trekked the Great Wall in China and loved it) as well as a half marathon so both are good preparation.

Some evenings are spent at the cinema, stand-up comedy shows or at a music gig – a shared passion of ours (we met at a music festival). If we do any of these it generally takes me up to bedtime.

30 minutes » Bath or shower depending on evening plans, if any.

2 hours » I am more of a movie fan than the TV so we often put a film on in the evening whilst I do social media for Jewellery By – Facebook, Twitter, blog articles and internet networking. We have met some fantastic people through these mediums.

30 minutes » Get ready for bed and attempt to read but often have a cat wanting some attention, this generally means more headbutting. Fall asleep.

7-8 hours » sleep

providing there’s room for her amongst the other girls whose mothers have brought them to spend their pocket money making bracelets after school. Other times we’ll read her latest school book, or she will just hide through the back with a DVD (Sleeping Beauty, naturally) and have as many clementines as she thinks she will get away with.

1 hour » Sweep floors, shut shop and arrive home, often to find my lovely partner (who fortunately, for happens to be a chef at The Angel) has made something fabulous for tea. Fish pie today, yum!

Feed kittens prior to eating in an attempt to keep them away from the fish pie!

1.5 hours » Mummy/Eleanor time.

Reading stories, playing Sylvanian families and a bath. Then time to tuck her up and wish her sweet dreams.

1.5 hours » Hit the study to actually complete all the dull admin tasks I started or thought about starting, whilst in the shop, but was dragged away from by something far more entertaining. A delivery, a new party booking, even a bird flying by, anything is more entertaining than trying to file receipts.

2 hours » Watch a DVD (Game of Thrones box set currently) with the chef and head to bed!

8 hours » to Sleep... bliss

JAN/FEB13

PASSING TIME Gillian Firth is development manager at Newcastle’s Live Theatre.

She lives in Gosforth. www.live.org.uk

Monique Crockett is Brand Development Manager at the Northumberland Cheese Company. She lives in Jesmond with husband Alex. www.northumberlandcheese.co.uk, Tel:01670 789798.

20 mins » Wake up through putting my alarm on several snoozes from 7am 30 – 40min » Get up, shower (if I haven’t the day before), get dressed, eat a bowl of cereal and walk out of the door with my husband.

30 min » My husband and I share one car as we work close to one another. We love a bit of Chris Evans and Dean Martin (How D’Ya) first thing in the morning.

Our morning drive is accompanied by discussing our day’s plan, sipping on coffee from a travel mug and listening to Radio 2.

30-40 min » Arrive at the cheese farm on the Blagdon Estate where I spend the first part of my morning checking emails and social media for anything urgent I need to follow up on straight away.

2 hours » A meeting with my dairy and retail managers to discuss the next couple of months’ targets and key pushing areas. With a newly revamped Tea Room in the process for mid-January, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day approaching, there is a lot to cover.

1 hour » Put together and price a Valentine’s hamper as well as finalise a menu for Valentine’s Day. Being a month of love, we will aim to sell heart shaped cheese.

1 hour or so » Writing a press release about the new launch of our tea room, speaking to a magazine about advertorial opportunities and contacting our PR agency to finalise the launch party.

20 min » Eat some lunch whilst researching ideas around cheese for social media. Lunch is always something warm from the Tea Room (jacket potatoes

JAN/FEB13

with cheese and ham or our famous Cheese Soup are my favourites) – a hearty lunch keeps me going for the next few hours.

1 hour » Respond to emails and put something on our social media regarding the largest slice of cheese. I like to make the topic of cheese interesting for our followers. I also start to put together this month’s e-newsletter which I build through Campaign Monitor.

2 hours » Leave the farm to head into Jesmond for a meeting with a cottage company about using our products in their cottages. We brainstorm ideas, discuss the target market and come up with a few examples to trial.

2 hours » Head home and respond to any urgent emails on my work phone and spend a couple of hours editing photographs I took of a wedding over the weekend. In my spare time I am a freelance photographer, in particular focusing on weddings, PR and events.

1.5 hours » Head to David Lloyd where I enjoy taking part in a gym class to relax and boost my endorphins (RPM on either a Tuesday or Thursday and Aqua on Wednesday are what I enjoy the most).

2 hours » Head home, eat some supper and watch the evening news. Occasionally head out for dinner instead. I don’t usually make it up much past 9pm, so I head to bed to have a brief read of a local magazine or fall asleep listening to an audiobook – The Fry Chronicles at the moment.

9 hours » I love to have a good night’s sleep so that I can focus and keep my energy up during the day.

1 hour » Woken from my slumbers at 7.30 by the radio. Quick dash to the kitchen for the first of far too many cups of tea which I drink while listening to the Today programme and checking home emails.

30 minutes » Shower, hair…decide what to wear depending on how corporate or arty the day ahead is. Dress, breakfast, another cuppa and out.

1 hour » I’ve started walking to work if the weather is reasonable, this morning via the dry cleaners to drop clothes off. It takes about an hour from Gosforth down to the Quayside via the Town Moor. It helps clear my head for the day ahead and gets me 60 minutes of exercise in without even trying.

15 minutes » Call in to Fenwick to buy present for honorary niece’s 19th birthday.

1 hour » Arrive at work, Live Theatre on the Quayside. Have another cup of tea while I scan the business news to see if any of our corporate partners have been up to anything.

Then the Guardian online, mainly for the arts coverage. And on to the emails. I can usually deal with anything urgent, or send it on to someone else to sort, in an hour or so. In my job no two days are the same, which is one of the many things I love about it.

2 hours » Today I’m spending the morning on the new friends’ scheme we’ve launched to coincide with Live Theatre’s 40th birthday in 2013. This includes proofing the new season brochure to make sure all our best friends get a mention.

Checking in on progress with the phone campaign; I’ve drafted in some of Live’s most popular actors to phone regular customers to tell them about the scheme. And I must get a letter in the post inviting our good and best friends to the season launch in January.

1.5 hours » Bit of a treat today, I’m having a lunch meeting in Caffe Vivo with John Conway, whose company Potts Print UK sponsor comedy gigs and Live Lab events at the theatre. We’re very lucky to have such a great restaurant under the same roof, the food is fantastic and there’s always a buzzy atmosphere.

It’s a welcome change from the more usual home-made soup heated up in the microwave

and the Guardian quick crossword. The main subject on the agenda is the programme for the forthcoming birthday year. It’s all part of the service to give corporate partners and sponsors the heads up about what’s coming up in the theatre. I get to know what individual people like so can suggest plays to fit.

4 hours » This afternoon it’s all about the education department. We are very proud that all the company’s education and outreach work is delivered free of charge to the young people taking part. Which means I need to raise around £180,000 each year to add to the core funding we receive.

We’re developing a plan to start touring issue-based plays into schools in 2013. My role in the team is to find likely funding sources, research and submit applications.

This can be quite a lengthy process so I often need to start writing the applications before the planning stage is over. Tricky.

Leave the office.

I often have to go to work related events in the evening, this may be entertaining guests at a Live Theatre production, going to see an interesting piece of work at one of the other venues in the city or maybe accept an invitation from one of our corporate partners; The Port of Tyne Reflect Awards at Baltic recently were huge fun.

3 hours » But tonight I’m having a quick glass of wine in the Broad Chare with people from work, then up to meet friends at the Tyneside Cinema for the early show.

A gem of a place. If you don’t go there, you should.

15 minutes » Phone sister who had left a message earlier in the evening.

2 hours » Home by bus and finally something to eat. I’d like to say at this point I watch an improving documentary, but I’m far more likely to watch some American crime drama or other on catch up TV. 30 minutes » Off to bed with the last cup of tea of the day and attempt to read a few pages of my book group book, The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje, but probably fall asleep before the end of a chapter.

7 hours » sleep

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LUXE LIFE

ANDY SCAIFE Andy Scaife is Chairman of the newly-launched Newcastle NSPCC Business Board which aims to raise the charity’s profile among the business community in the North East, engaging support from local businesses, and assisting in fundraising activities.

Andy, is also Managing Director of Quantum Pharmaceutical and previously he worked at KPMG as the Head of Corporate Finance in Newcastle. He lives in Gosforth.

LUXE PEOPLE >> I love spending time with my wife and boys – Minna, Harry and Jack, identical twins aged seven. The boys are at a brilliant age, with great sense of humour and a lot of energy. Being with them is very full-on but, paradoxally, also very relaxing.

I love spending time with friends and family, relaxing, socialising and laughing.

LUXE PLACES >> for a weekend > A place which I have recently got to know is Finland (through my wife) and, in particular, Helsinki. It’s a lovely city, very cosmopolitan with great restaurants, cool bars and brilliant shopping (if you like that sort of thing). It is very different in the summer and winter but I love it in the winter, it’s so different to the UK. I’ve recently visited and it was -10 degrees, and there was at least a metre of snow and the city was functioning perfectly normally. It’s beautiful. a long holiday > Definitely the Far East. I was fortunate enough to go there at the start of 2012 on our honeymoon. We did Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. I loved the buzz (which is an understatement) of Bangkok but the jewel in the crown is most certainly Laos – it is much less touristy than both Cambodia and Thailand. It is beautiful and tranquil, the food is excellent and the people are wonderful. I would recommend it to anyone. a treat > Doing Paris in luxury. Stay at the Four Seasons – just off the ChampsElysées. Eat pretty much anywhere (as long as you are off the tourist trail) but there is a wonderful little restaurant just next to the Louvre called Le Fumoir.

Take a night time boat trip and dine along the Seine – the best is Yachts de Paris.

Do all of the sights, buy queue-jumpers. April/May time is best.

LUXE RELAX >> Best food > I love Asian food. My perfect meal would be fresh spring rolls, followed by a Cambodian curry and rice. Ultimately, though, I’m a dessert man – and the best dessert in the word is my mum’s banoffee pie.

Best wine > I’ll drink most wines and all colours. One of my favourites at the moment is a red from Lebanon – Chateau Musar 2004. It’s very unusual and perfect with some strong cheese or dark meat.

Favourite restaurant > For the all-round experience it has to be the restaurant at the top of the Lebua hotel in Bangkok, Sirocco. It is the highest alfresco restaurant in the world. The service is excellent, the food is good and the views are amazing.

It is pretty expensive though and you need to be careful with the decimal points – I accidently bought a bottle of wine there once which was actually 10 times more than I thought. Ha ha.

Perfect weekend > A night out with the boys on Friday, starting off with a few beers in Gosforth and then heading in to town for more drinks and dancing into the early hours. Saturday would start with a leisurely breakfast with my wife and kids, followed by a round of golf and then dinner at Adriano’s with the family. Sunday would be relaxing, playing the boys at Xbox then watching football on TV. Downtime means > Spending time with the kids, golf, socialising and best of all, snuggling up on the sofa and catching up on TV with Minna.

Best telly > I don’t get to watch a great deal but at the moment I’m watching Homeland and, for some unknown reason, I am really in to Man vs. Food – watch it - it is crazy. But if I could only watch one program, it would be Red Dwarf and one film, it would be the Goonies. I know, I am so very highbrow.

Best book > I enjoy reading factual books of all types – I’m currently reading a book called Planet Earth, A Beginner’s’ Guide.

Best sounds > My musical taste is totally eclectic. This is to the point where I often get hassle from my family and friends for liking pop music. Basically, I like anything that you can dance to. At heart I love Brit Pop. That was my era.

LUXE SHOP >> Best shopping city > I do enjoy browsing food halls, delis and markets. Particularly overseas but, generally, shopping is wrong. Best shopping city is the internet!

Favourite shop > Everything in one place – Amazon.

Luxe retail treat > I love buying clothes. Not that I do it that often. In particular I enjoy buying really nice work shirts – sad but true.

Best buy > My wife would say her engagement ring. I reckon it was my golf clubs!

Just bought a great chair from BoConcept – love that store.

LUXE PARTY >> A memorable night out > Mostly mad stag dos or lads’ weekends.

More recently it has to be last new year’s eve – my wedding day and what a party.

Perfect party > Family and friends, buffet food and alcohol. A lot of dancing.

Best dress > I wore a tartan mini-skirt on my stag do.

Dinner date > It has to be Will.i.am. I think it would be fascinating – the guy is bonkers! Having said that, he is talented and I bet he has some stories to tell.

YOUR LUXE THING IN LIFE >> Golf, followed by dinner and at night a Loch Lomond. You can’t get better than that!

For further information about the business board contact Madeleine Griffith on 0191 261 9799 For more information about the NSPCC visit www.nspcc.org.uk

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JAN/FEB13

www.fq-magazine.co.uk

THE BEST OF NORTH EAST FOOD & DRINK JAN/FEB 2013

MEAT AND GREET Butcher Charlotte Harbottle doing it for the girls

CREATING THE BEST ARTISAN LOAF PEOPLE RADIO’S STEVE AND KAREN GET A CURRY MASTERCLASS DINING THE BEST YORKSHIRE BEEF SIP A WINE & ART TASTER COOKING PASSION FRUIT TART GARDEN HEALTHY GREEN DETOX CELLAR POTATO VODKA ANYONE? MAKE THE ULTIMATE SCOTCH EGG FORAGE DIY SAP SPIRITS JAN/FEB13

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Liking the sound of...

Quite a bit of food excitement in the region of late... take a bite.

Wine & art

@ BALTIC In association with

The fine things in life - the best wine in hand and the best of art in sight.

Join us for An Evening of Art & Hamish Wine in the Anderson stunning surroundings of BALTIC, Gateshead.

Your guide for a journey of discovery into fine wines and contemporary art.

Will be Hamish Anderson, Sommelier and Wine Buyer for Tate galleries.

He will be your guide through a wine tasting of six specially chosen wines on BALTIC’s showcase Level 5 restaurant, where you can also sample a selection of canapés prepared for the occasion by the chefs from Six, BALTIC’s rooftop restaurant.

The evening will also include a private guided tour of the David Maljkovic exhibition, which opens that day, by BALTIC’s Alessandro Vincentelli.

Hear about the artist, his career and the works being presented as part of Sources In The Air. The evening will conclude with a glass of fizz in Six’s Viewing Lounge, where you can relax and enjoy the stunning city views.

For those who would like to dine afterwards, Six restaurant offers a special private late supper on Level 5.

Friday 15 March 2013.

7-8.30pm Wine tasting and VIP exhibition Tour: £28.50 Bookings on www.eventbrite.com

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead, NE8 3BA, United Kingdom

A night with Marco?

The Kitchen’s favourite hothead, Marco Pierre White makes a return to the Stadium of Light for another installment of Marco’s Black Cats’ Kitchen.

Last year’s hugely successful event saw the chef host an evening of cooking and entertainment at the home of Sunderland AFC, joined by Sunderland’s first-team players, who prepared a three-course meal for a packed audience.

On February 27 he will again put members of Martin O’Neill’s side through their paces in the kitchen, with each player cooking a different course, featuring the finest regionally-sourced produce.

Guests will also vote for their favourite course during an exclusive question and answer session featuring the Michelin-starred chef and his guests.

Tickets for the event are priced from £100 per person and are available by calling 0871 911 1500 or emailing conf@banq@safc.com The Chinese New Year - One tasty event that really gets our mouths watering. The date is Feb 10 when the lanes of Newcastle’s China Town will be alive to the rather fab sights, sounds and smells of the traditional festival. The mighty dragon takes centre stage from noon on the 10th and during the celebrations there’s the chance to feast on some of the best food in the country from restaurants, street stalls and the like. The entire weekend will be full of the flavour of the festival as we enter the Year of the Dragon.

Details and download a brochure on www.newcastlegateshead.com Shack up - The fabulous Rileys Fish Shack pops up all over the place this spring with fun, inventive eating events. On Feb 23 there’s a feast at the Low Lights Tavern in North Shields with a Surf and Turf night – chargrilled seafood from the boats and the finest Northumbrian beef. £20. The following week they hit StreetSpice festival in Newcastle then in May you can catch the shack at the Tynemouth Food Festival. Great super-fresh food served up with a funky flourish.

Get details on www.rileysfishshack.com Great to see chef Alan O’Kane grabbing a third AA rosette for his food at Wynyard Hall - Alan is well known for his fine cooking - at Sidney’s in Tynemouith and Fisherman’s Lodge in days gone by - so he has a loyal following in the region.

Quality ingredients are what he is all about and some exemplary cooking in Wynyard’s fine surroundings.

There is a classic background to his dishes with contemporary flourish, often using the best local and seasonal produce.

Examples of dishes from his kitchen include; salt-baked artichoke with parnsip sponge or curry-scented sea bass served with califlower bhaji, cumin veloute&golden sultanas.

He also holds regular cooking demos and lunches at the hall. www.wynyardhall.co.uk Better cheese please Sometimes a bit of cheese and a glass of red soothes the journey – at least that’s what folks at East Coast hope with the addition of a new platter of local cheeses on its dining cars. Bit sad to see there’s not a North East or even Yorkshire chunk on the menu though.

They have the advantage of course of everything being local when you take in a couple of hundred miles a journey. New varieties served as part of the evening meal menu in First Class include: Whitefriars Cheshire cheese, Shropshire Blue, Vale of Camelot matured Cheddar

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All nice in themselves but we suggest the tasters head to Shepherd’s Purse, Doddington’s or Northumbria Cheese in our neck of the woods to find cheeses that really do match the view from the railway carriage window. We bet you can see the cows from your seat. www.eastcoast.co.uk/on-board-our-trains Burger glory - LTSO has always had a thing about burgers.

They are a food story all of their own. Not to be messed about with too much.

We’ve been fans of Gourmet Burger Kitchen for a while – and the nearest meant a trip to York so were pleased to see a branch pop up at the Metrocentre’s food court. Look at the place these days, champagne bar, Wagamama – shop, chat and eat has never been so easy.

So we dived into the GBK menu to see if met our Sunday lunch needs. We know to steer away from the habanero chill burger from a past experience – funny for us but not for the poor chap we were with who has never endured such a weepy, mouth-watering flush.

We liked a lot the chicken skewers which we munched while we waited – they were very succulent indeed and nicely spiced. Lime milkshakes and an Oreo one were sizeable – actually the Oreo a bit overwhelmingly thick to be honest but the lime version definitely on the money. Our choice of burgers included a bespoke avocado and blue cheese burger – cheese on the side in a little pot to slather as you liked. The burgers have that charred flavour that makes a good burger and these were nice and juicy pink in the middle.

A good depth of flavour and meld of relish not overpowering that gutsy beef taste. The order included fries, naturally – you can’t beat the chilli sauce side for dipping, sweet and come-again.

We’d just watched Pulp Fiction so the special of a Burger Royal made us chuckle. This one sourced with meat from the royal estates no less.

The burger tour de force was The Mighty which consists of two beef patties, aged Cheddar, crispy bacon, garlic mayo, salad, relish and dill pickle. Could also be named the ‘teenage boy dream burger’. There was a Man v Food thing going on here. It was a beast of a meal to the lesser-belly outsider but was voted one of the best burgers ever by the lad himself.

GBK is place that does what it says on the tin as it were. It’s family friendly and it’s fun. Burgers taste good and the frenzied kitchen does its stuff well. Staff are uber-efficient and smiley. if you’re going to go mainstream with a burgers and a movie kind of day then this is how it’s done.

Burgers from £6.95 each, The Mighty, £11.95. Shakes, £4, fries, £3.25, chicken skewers, £4.25 Yellow Quad, MetroCentre, www.gbk.co.uk Artisan everything Destination of the moment, Vallum Farm in Northumberland which is the go-to foodie, arty and fresh-air destination everyone’s raving about for a delicious day out. Chef Dave Kennedy has pitched up at the premises with his latest food venture and on hand are some of the North’s best-known food folk – from baker Murray Rhind to smokery specialist Bernard Lynch and ice cream artisan Vicky Moffitt.

Nearby in a polytunnel or just generally getting his boots muddy is Mr Veg himself, the legendary Ken Holland. Kennedy heads up the food operation at the newly restored Old Cow Barn, one-time milking shed and certainly the centre of what’s becoming the North’s version of the River Cottage. It is something of a co-operative in ethos with the team working together and supplying one another.

The whole ‘field to plate’ existence really happens here – you can see it in action and taste the results. www.vallumfarm.co.uk

JAN/FEB13

dining

Pig out in Yorkshire Ginger Pig is one of the most famous names in meat in the UK and only on the menu at one restaurant in the region.

Kathryn Armstrong gets the beef.

The White Swan in Pickering has plenty to offer before you even get near the kitchen.

A traditional coaching Inn packed with character a-plenty in the main street of a no-nonsense North Yorkshire market town.

Inside all nooks and crannies, creaky floorboards, real ale and roaring fires.

Perfect for a winter hole-up.

Out back it goes on-trend and muted paint colours with rooms in converted stone outbuildings that offer all the mod-cons necessary to soothe the weekend break set.

Flat-screen telly, underfloor heating, glorious bathrooms and beds layered with luxurious brochure-perfect sheets, throws and cushions.

A welcoming residents’ lounge called The

to the hotel, called Feast.

Goes without saying that Ginger Pig sausage and bacon is on the breakfast menu.

But at dinner the big guns come out – in the form of a rather splendid roasted rib of Longhorn beef.

But first - the starter. A tart of seared pigeon and Jerusalem artichoke served with wild mushrooms and pan jus. The pastry was thin and crisp, slightly sweet and buttery. The rare pigeon tasted nutty and gamey and combined with the creamy bitterness of artichoke made for a flavour combination new to me – and all the more delicious for it.

Chef had brought out his splendidly

A hefty slice of beef rib was the size of the plate with a decadent layer of melting fat Bothy is a raftered conversion with lots of squash-in sofas, coffee on tap and inviting plates of home-made cakes and biscuits to see you through an afternoon.

Pickering itself has much to offer – a great flea market for bargain-spotting, antique shops to give Bargain Hunt a run for its money, the North Yorks’ Railway for a spot of steam train nostalgia and a castle all of its own. There’s a Hockney trail too for art lovers.

We have a focus on the food though. The White Swan is the only place you can feast on produce from the famous Ginger Pig farm and butchery, based just up the road at Levisham.

The farm’s produce is feted by the London foodies – it all started when ‘accidental farmer’ Tim Wilson inherited three pigs – Milly, Molly and Mandy – some 20 years ago.

He now farms over 3,000 acres in North Yorkshire and after starting out with a stall at Borough Market, now supplies five London butchery shops and just a handful of the capital’s best restaurants.

Beef, pork and lamb come from freeranging Longhorn and Galloway cattle, Tamworth, Old Spot, Berkshire and Middle White pigs and Blackface, Swaledale and Dorset sheep. 300 acres of barley, oats, wheat and fodderbeat feed our animals, covering as much of the food chain as possible.

In Yorkshire, The White Swan is the only place you can dine on Ginger Pig produce thanks to a long-standing partnership between the hotel’s owners and Tim Wilson.

You can also buy at the hotel’s fine deli next

JAN/FEB13

triumphant rib of beef to show to us before he carved it – a marvellous specimen. On the plate this was all about the simplicity of quality ingredients. Our hefty slice of the rib was almost the size of the plate – nicely crusty on the outside shading effortlessly to perfectly pink in the centre. Meltingly delicious with the depth of flavour of a long-hung beef. The layer of melting fat creamy and decadent. You shouldn’t but you have to. The dish was an homage to the beast no doubt about it. Served with roasted root veg, fondant potatoes and dark onion gravy it more than proved the adage that less is more. A good Yorkshire plateful of perfection this.

The cheese plate held the promise of more good stuff – among local cheeses the great Mrs Bell’s Blue. They say they like to keep it simple in the kitchen and you can do that if your raw materials come this good.

There are plans to offer Ginger Pig weekends at the White Swan this year – these will include a visit to the farm seven miles away and dining on produce from the farm. Butchery courses are also available.

Sounds like the perfect place to pig out in some style.

The White Swan Pickering Sunday lunch roast £12.95 Dinner rib-eye £23 Starters from £5.25 Desserts, £6.95 www.white-swan.co.uk Market Place, Pickering North Yorkshire YO18 7AA 01751 472288

Elegant dining in a wonderfully unique restaurant Argent D’Or is the exquisite restaurant located within the heart of Close House. Enjoy sumptuous French cuisine with a British twist in beautiful surroundings. With a menu to match the decor we are sure you’ll find Argent D’Or to your taste.

To book your dining experience call 01661 85 22 55 or visit www.closehouse.co.uk CLOSE HOUSE HOTEL & GOLF, HEDDON ON THE WALL, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE15 0HT When travelling to Close House using a SAT NAV please use NE41 8BL

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people

Cutting edge Being a girl and being a butcher has made Gosforth’s Charlotte Harbottle one of the country’s brightest young foodies. She’s just opened her own shop in Newcastle and the knives are out.

Charlotte Harbottle loves nothing more than donning a chainmail apron and sharpening her knives to get to grips with some prime cuts.

And while she love the bloody end of her trade, she’s been at the glam side too; “Your game pie Mr Firth?”

She has learned her trade with the best there is in London and it has been a tough apprenticeship.

A day that starts at 5am, finishes at best 14 hours later and involves much blood and unmentionable animal parts, is certainly not typical for a newly married 24-year-old.

But Charlotte is a new breed. Officially one of the country’s ‘bright young foodies’, having been shortlisted as such in awards of the same name last year. She is passionate about life as a butcher and on the up in terms of career as she realises a dream, opening her first shop.

Charlotte’s Butchery is open for business in Ashburton Road in Gosforth. Chef Terry Laybourne did the ribboncutting honours, recognising Charlotte’s drive and passion for the unconventional life she’s chosen.

She is on a mission to put good meat on plates and extol

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the virtues of lesser-known cuts with a current and realistic ‘head-to-tail’ approach that falls neatly into today’s attitude to food.

It will be an honest approach – she needs to keep the customers who are loyal to the shop she has taken over from a long-time, traditional butcher.

So she will be as happy to sell one chop or two sausages to a pensioner as she is a foodie his marbled rib-eyes. In fact, the whole customer service side of what she will be doing gives her a buzz.

Charlotte’s background in butchery came about when she needed to find work to supplement her theology degree at York University. She worked for a butcher and had something of a meat epiphany.

Back home in Gosforth, she spent some time working with and learning from the experts at George Payne in Gosforth and Stewart & Co in Jesmond but because of her degree wasn’t eligible for a conventional apprenticeship – so she headed to London.

As her enthusiasm for meat and the butchery process

developed her blog, ‘girlbutcher’ was getting noticed.

She worked at O’Sheas in Knightsbridge; “A shift of 3am to 11am wasn’t unusual”, before getting a call from Danny Lidgate, one of the country’s foremost butchers, the fifth generation owner of Lidgates in Holland Park who offered Charlotte a job.

Butchery is rarely a girl’s career choice. Charlotte’s passion for the subject, her love of customer service, willingness to learn and hard graft meant she shone in her maledominated world.

But it’s fair to say that some old-timers didn’t know what to make of her presence at the butcher’s block.

“There was one old boy at Lidgates who spoke to me for the first time on my last day – they didn’t know what to make of me.

“It was funny because in the shop we had a lot of celebrity customers – it is in Holland Park.

“Colin Firth came in for a game pie – one of the guys asked me if I should warn him the pie was £40 , having no idea who he was – I said it would probably be OK! “I think from the start they wondered what I was about and there was a bit of a ‘who does she think she is’ attitude – I learned so much, it was a brilliant training ground for me. I was a loud northern girl who wanted to be a butcher –and they were very supportive!”

The customer base of Lidgates meant many well-known faces were regular customers.

“Lily Allen bought osso bucco, Paloma Faith pork loin.

James Corden, Damon Albarn and Harry Enfield were customers. So was Gary Lineker – he only ever bought mince!”

Lidgates is probably the most upmarket butcher in London and Charlotte laughs when she says that the new shop is costing her as much as Lidgates takes on a good Saturday.

But she has no plans to hike prices for the sake of an ‘artisan butcher’ tag.

“I have called it Charlotte’s Butchery rather than butchers because I hope to redefine what I offer”, she says.

“It is about the meat and offering people meat which I know is traceable with cuts that are affordable and being able to show people how they can be cooked.

“I will be making my own sausages and mince. My beef will be hung for four weeks and I would like to be able to offer

JAN/FEB13

heritage pig breeds – particularly Gloucester Old Spot. I’d like to team up with a supplier called Anna’s Happy Trotters in East Yorkshire run by a woman farmer – there is something I like about the idea of the female suppliers working together.

“I am not a feminist but I am in a male dominated world certainly and it is exciting times for women in the industry – my mum is an agricultural consultant and so she knows the farming world well.

“I had a great, great grandfather who was a butcher and we have this photograph where his wife in the background – that is what happened – the butcher’s or farmer’s wife would know just as much about meat and cooking it but it was not seen as their ‘job’ – that is the role women had in the past.

“Frequently men are butchers but they never cook the meat – I cook a butterflied leg of lamb so I know it needs to be flat to be able to cook properly – a butcher is not necessarily going to be aware if they don’t cook themselves.”

Charlotte will get her meat from trusted suppliers – including she hopes, Ingram Valley lamb from Cumbria and seasonal local game from Northumberland.

“I want to educate people about where their meat is from and ensure traceability – if they want to know. It is about being able to utilise as much of the animal as possible and be able to provide what customers want. I plan to do my own bacon and use a small sausage maker so I can make batches to order.“ She practised what she preaches for her own wedding in Gosforth last year when the church hall reception was a feast of local produce with hampers on every table filled with homemade treats like scotch eggs, Charlotte’s chicken liver pate, dad’s homemade pease pudding, real ham – the lot!

She typifies the ‘young British foodie’ who is keen to revive the spirit of traditional food, service and authenticity.

I am not a feminist but I am in a male-dominated world and these are exciting times

With this in mind she plans to fill her shop with recipe books so people can linger and learn about different cuts of meat and their origins.

And, speaking more technically, in terms of butchery her aim is to utilise the forequarter of the animal; “Butchers always say you can’t sell meat from the forequarter of the animal but you can once you explain how to cook it.”

She favours cuts like hand of pork, rolled rump as a roast joint of beef, short rib and beef shoulder – cuts that are made for long, slow-cooking.

“I like to eat a cut called onglet which is beautiful – really tender – but it is often thrown away with offal. Bavette is another fabulous cut – bash it with a tenderiser and it cooks really well. Any meat from a lesser used muscle will be more tender. People just need to get to know about it – there had been this whole ‘foodie’ revolution but I predict that there will be a real revolution about meat.”

Charlotte may be riding high in terms of her own profile in the food world but she won’t ever forget her basics. She is no food snob: “I will still be selling a bag of mince and passing it over the counter so people can feel the weight! “ Charlotte’s blog is girlbutcher.blogspot.com

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JAN/FEB13

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29

larder

The rise of the loaf Sourdough, black pudding, rye and the rest. Seems we can’t get enough of artisan bread.

Bake bread and the people will come. And they do. The mere mention of Zen Baker’s black pudding loaf, treacle bread or sourdough has mouths watering and queues growing at farmers’ markets across the North East.

As the bakery’s name suggests, breadmaking is a spiritual affair for Adam and Vicki Cargill whose fledgling business is growing as fast as their dough can rise.

They can cook up more than 180 loaves, dozens of cakes and numerous scones for the markets they serve at weekends.

So you might be a bit surprised to see where the nerve centre of Zen Baker actually is.

The name might suggest a rustic surroundings, bucolic buildings and a rural landscape but closer to the truth is a semi on an estate in Kibblesworth near Gateshead.

Not your ordinary semi mind you. The garden overlooks fields and countryside into the distance and is home to hens happily supplying eggs - which are of course perfect for poaching and serving on top of a slice of fresh-from-the-oven toasted black pudding bread.

Toddler Maya is in charge of egg collecting and with her parents is chief taster for new recipes and bakery ideas.

They are in their way living a dream that is a long way from their previous careers in the IT industry. And one centred on the recently acquired small professional oven which sits in their kitchen next to a hefty mixer and dough hook.

Thursday nights sees the house transformed into bakery central as the pair mix, knead and bake their way to bread heaven.

The oven will bake around 16 loaves at a time so it doesn’t take too much imagination to work out their full-on shift pattern as they prepare supplies for their weekend farmer’s market stalls and deli outlets.

And just imagine the heavenly aromas.

It’s most definitely a labour of love for Adam and Vicki.

Adam, who is from Boston in the States, has lived in the UK nine years. Both he and Vicki

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Thursday night sees home transformed into bakery central as the pair mix, knead, bake are keen cooks and loved baking for friends and family. when they had Maya they realised that a different way of life might be possible.

Vicki completed a patisseries course at Newcastle College for a year and they left their IT worlds to start Zen. “Adam worked for an IT standardisation business, laughing as he says: “As boring as it sounds”.

He was regularly working abroad and missed being with Maya. They took the plunge to develop the business and are thrilled with the way it has changed their lives.

“I thought, I don’t want to do this when I

was travelling and only seeing Maya at bedtimes or was away for days on end.

We are passionate about food and really we thought when we had Maya that we wanted to do something more honest and something that would have an impact on our immediate community”, says Adam.

“Economic times are tough so people think about how they want to spend their money and what they want to buy. They like the idea that they are buying something from us that we have taken pride in”, says Adam.

“It is so gratifying for us to make something that we then put out on the stall then get an immediate reaction from. For me that connection with people, having an

interaction is so personal and is what it is all about.

“What we make is ‘real’. Water, flour, salt and yeast, that’s it. Additives and preservatives are not necessary but they are what have lead us to the bread we are offered in supermarkets. For that reason we get lots of people buying our bread who have suffered from intolerances – we have bread made with different things – like spelt or rye or sourdough that people with ‘dickie bellies’ can and do eat.

“There’s this propensity for the British to eat sliced white bread but people like ‘real bread’, the smell and taste of it.

“Our bread is made by us, shaped by us, kneaded by us with a lot of attention to detail, respect and pride for the end product. These are characteristics that make any good food.”

Breads change with the season – though

JAN/FEB13

there would be a riot if the popular black pudding and caramelised onion bread didn’t show up on Saturdays.

Spiced loaves and teabreads are popular in the winter months and Vicki and Adam had great success with a loaf made from smoked flour recently.

They got the smoked flour from a mill in Anglesey in Wales and called it Smoky Mountain, also adding local smoked sea salt to the recipe.

“It added real depth to the flavour – we’re waiting for another batch of the smoked flour”, says Adam.

“We research, we experiment and we get people to taste. We get feedback about our sweet breads being used for bacon sandwiches – we tried out treacle bread as eggy bread which was amazing!”

Zen uses flour from Gilchester Organics in Stamfordham; “They are really passionate and knowledgeable about what they do”, says Adam. The bakery was recently named one of the first fifty bakeries around Britain to adopt The Real Bread Loaf Mark.

This was launched in September 2011 by Real Bread Campaign ambassadors Tom Herbert and Andrew Whitley to offer an at-a-glance assurance from a baker that a loaf was made without the use of any processing aids or other artificial additives.

Bread guru Adam adds, “All of the loaves we bake are what the campaign calls Real Bread. Of course, our regulars know and love the taste of our natural loaves, but now The Loaf Mark makes it easy for other people to see that we’re baking an honest crust.’

The ‘zen’ moments come at what a

Three of the best bakeries CLERVAUX, CONISCLIFFE ROAD, DARLINGTON Great bread baked on site at a project that is part gourmet, part charity and affiliated to an organic farm on the outskirts of Darlington which supplies the café produce. Lovely black pudding bread. www.clervauxbakery.com ALLENDALE BAKERY CAFÉ is part of the Allen Mill Regeneration site, in Allendale, Hexham, The café is open every day of the week and Allendale Bakery creates real breads and bread-making courses. Products include beer bread using ale from neighbouring Allendale Brewery. www.allendalebakery.com THE FRENCH OVEN in Newcastle’s Grainger Market bakes all day and night to create hand-made breads and bakery products. The place looks fantastic too – checkout the macarons! Items are made individually and by hand without additives or preservatives and loaves contain just four ingredients. frenchoven.webs.com

non-baker might think is the most frenzied of times.

Says Vicki; “It is about creating something beautiful for someone. When I am kneading the bread there is calm and it feels therapeutic – that is my ‘zen’ moment. And Adam: “For me the process is repetitious enough to allow me to zone out. Your mind is free enough to focus on what you need to do. Zen Baker is about putting thought and care into something for someone else.”

Products available at Mmmm deli in Grainger Market, Newcastle or see www.zenbaker.co.uk for farmer’s markets. www.zenbaker.co.uk www.realbreadcampaign.org

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MONDAY - SATURDAY 11.30am - 2.30pm & 6.30pm - 10.30pm | SUNDAY - 12.00pm - 4.30pm JAN/FEB13

31

Curry classroom with Bob Arora

If a jar of curry sauce is your speedy supper standby – forget it now.

In the first of a series of celebrity spice masterclasses, Bob Arora, owner of Sachins in Newcastle will be showing some well-known faces the tricks of the trade when it comes to making authentic curries.

We start with Steve Furnell and Karen Wight, presenters of the breakfast show on Metroradio.

ON THE MENU Murgh Kashmiri: Roughly translated as chicken in an onion-based curry sauce.

What it’s got going for it: Easy to make, only uses a couple of teaspoons of oil, so it’s a healthy one.

The trick: The sauce is onion-based. Sweat the onions and keep adding water to the mixture to create the sauce which becomes rich and sweet.

Bob Arora owns Sachins, Forth Bank, Newcastle www.sachins.co.uk

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Murgh Kashmiri Ingredients Serves 4 - or 2 hungry people 2 tsp Vegetable oil A chunk of ginger – chop it into big pieces to infuse the oil.

1 tbsp Shredded ginger - to add later 3 Gloves of garlic - whole 2 Medium onions - finely chopped 3 Black cardamom pods 300ml Water 1/2 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder 1/2 tsp Haldi (turmeric) 1 tsp Paprika 1 tsp Black pepper Salt 1 Whole green chilli (optional for colour and more heat) 3 Chicken breasts or 6 chicken thighs, chopped 2 tsp Double concentrate tomato puree Fresh coriander

Method Heat the oil in a deep frying pan. Add the chunks of garlic and ginger and let them infuse in the oil for 2-3 minutes.

Add the onions to the oil then the cardamom pods. Soften the onion and keep stirring. Add about 50 ml water and keep stirring the onions – keep

adding water (to around 80ml) to keep the onions moist but not too runny. This is the base of your sauce.

As the onions sweat they release more sweetness and flavour.

Keep stirring and add about 25 ml of water three more times, continuing to stir the mixture. The onions will be slightly caramelised and smell wonderful.

Add the turmeric, chilli powder, and, if you want more heat and colour, the green chilli – just snap it into pieces.

Add paprika and black pepper and a pinch of salt.

The mixture will start to look like a paste in texture. This is fine.

Now add about 50ml of water. This added to the paste makes your sauce. Then and the tomato puree.

Add the chicken – you do not need to brown the meat – it will absorb the flavours better if just added to the sauce.

Add the shreds of ginger (remove the big chunks used earlier if you like).

Cook the chicken and sauce for about ten minutes.

Sprinkle chopped coriander on top then serve with naan bread and rice.

JAN/FEB13

The hottest ticket in town Street food is the biggest thing in food at the moment and you can get your fill with StreetSpice@Life.

As the onions sweat they release more sweetness and flavour.

Bob and Neeta Arora, owners of Sachins, are the brains behind StreetSpice@Life, a vibrant and eclectic three-day spice food festival in February.

The event will be a favourite with foodies – and has already attracted scores of curry and street food experts.

But it has a serious and heartfelt message too, raising much-needed cash for Brain Tumour UK. Neeta Arora’s brother-in-law, Kuly Ral, died from a brain tumour last May aged just 35. The family thought it would be fitting to help out such a worthy cause and will be donating any funds raised from the festival to the charity.

Geeta Ral, 31, of Gosforth, who was married to the music producer Kuly from Urban-Bhangra group RDB, says; “Kuly would have absolutely loved this festival, it would have been right up his street. He was always travelling and trying new things, so I know he would be very excited by this.”

Kuly, who was father to Priya, three, was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2011, but despite undergoing radiotherapy and travelling to Texas in America, to try alternative treatments, sadly he couldn’t be cured.

Geeta Ral said: “That’s why we want to raise as much cash as possible for Brain Tumour UK, the restaurant will be donating all proceeds from the festival to the charity, and other stall holders can do so if they wish.”

Street Spice will take place in a huge marquee outside Centre For Life in Times Square, Newcastle.

The event will be kicking off on Thursday, February 28, from 4pm to 10pm, continuing on Friday, March 1, between 4pm and 10pm, before culminating on Saturday.

Hundreds of spice food experts will gather together to create a fusion of different tastes, cultures and experiences – a must for gastronomes everywhere.

The event will play host to some of the finest chefs from around the country, with everything from Bollywood dancers to authentic food demonstrations.

Already lined up are The Hungry Gecko, Rib Man, the award winning Manjits Kitchen, Sachins, El Kantina and Dosa Hut. For more information, follow @ StreetSpice_Ncl on Twitter, for ‘Streetspice’ on Facebook, or visit www.streetspice.co.uk

Steve and Karen’s food life THE LAST THING YOU COOKED Steve: Chicken and mushroom pie from the Hairy Bikers pies book.

Karen: Lasagne, long-cooked sauce.

Delicious.

had the best burger ever at the Ridley Arms in Stannington.

Karen: In Vegas for my brother’s 40th birthday at Binyans Steakhouse – amazing place, amazing steaks.

FOOD TELLY FOOD TRAVELS Steve: Japanese food. I went there and loved the food –no idea what I was ordering or eating much of the time but it was great. I like Japanese restaurants over here but they’re not the same. I like a bit of sushi.

Karen: I went to Goa and had some wonderful food – we did a cookery course when we were there which was fascinating and inspired me!

FOOD MEMORIES Steve: Findus crispy pancakes when I was little – didn’t have them often but they were great. I might add that my mum would usually cook us ‘proper’ food. A big treat was ‘gong out’ for sit-down fish and chips at Gil’s chippy in North Shields.

Karen: Grandma used to work in a bakery and she would bring back freshly made Eccles cakes.

Steve: Masterchef Karen: Saturday Kitchen

BREAKFAST Steve: I am up at 3.30 am so we fit in an extra meal to everyone else. It is easy to pick at rubbish but we’re trying to change our habits and pick at fruit now. Cherry tomatoes a current favourite.

Karen: I bring fruit and water in and like to have bowls of grapes or strawberries to pick at. Trying to avoid the McDonalds run is hard.

WHO WOULD COOK YOUR FANTASY DINNER PARTY Steve: My grandma! She made the best Sunday dinner with vegetables from the garden that tasted like real vegetables.

Karen: James Martin

DINNER LOCAL A GREAT MEAL Steve: Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse in New York. Bigger, better, tastier – amazing. I

JAN/FEB13

Steve: Cafe 21 for an 8oz fillet Karen: I love Gusto on the Quayside and Il Torero.

33

Masterclass

with Terry Laybourne The Broad Chare’s runny-yolked Scotch egg has achieved legend status. Dare you give it a go?

The Broad Chare’s Scotch Egg For the opening of The Broad Chare pub on Newcastle Quayside, Chef Chris Eagle designed this Scotch egg as a bar snack to pair with our house ale, The Writer’s Block. In the subsequent 18 months both have acquired almost cult status. Hot, crunchy and unctuous; the real secret of the egg’s success is its soft, runny yolk. Now the secret’s out.

7

Medium free-range eggs

1/2tsp

Chopped fresh rosemary

225g

Haggis (steamed for 40 minutes and cooled)

1/2tsp

Chopped fresh thyme

1tbls

Chopped fresh sage

225g

Best quality sausage meat

100g

Plain flour

1/2

Medium onion, finely diced

1tbls

Milk

120g

Unsalted butter

100g

Natural breadcumbs

1 Plunge 6 of the eggs into simmering, salted water and cook for 6 minutes.

5 Weigh the mixture into 6 x 75g portions and flatten each between 2 sheets of cling film to a thickness of around 4mm.

8 Preheat a deep fat fryer to 190°C and cook the eggs for 4 minutes before removing to a tray lined with absorbent kitchen paper.

34

Salt and freshly milled pepper

2 Lift out the eggs to a bowl of iced water and peel very, very carefully (the eggs are still quite delicate).

6 Remove the top sheet of cling film and use the remaining sheet to help wrap the mixture around the egg; ensuring there are no gaps – chill well.

9 Carefully cut in half with a sharp serrated knife and serve immediately.

3 Sweat the chopped onion slowly in butter with a pinch of salt until very soft and transparent; add the chopped herbs and cook for a further 2 – 3 minutes. Remove to a plate and chill.

4 Place the sausage meat, haggis and onions into the bowl of an electric mixer and mix together very gently until nicely amalgamated – check the seasoning.

7 Beat the remaining egg with a tablespoon of milk then pass each of the wrapped eggs first through flour; then the beaten egg/milk and then finally roll in the breadcrumbs.

10 Serve hot with a nice hoppy pale ale; ideally The Writers Block.

Note: Ensure that the sausage meat mixture is well chilled before attempting to wrap the eggs.

The eggs will hold quite well after frying but don’t cut in half until the very last minute.

JAN/FEB13

Tasting the wild

Food foraging with Chris Bax Tapping the sap At a time of year when there is not a huge array of exciting things to find for free in the wild, Birch trees offer us an opportunity for a post-Christmas detox! Although raw birch sap does not taste of anything much (like very fresh, very slightly sweet water) it is packed full of goodness and has been used as a spring tonic for generations. But if you are not looking for a healthy tonic and fancy something a bit more fun you can process the sap into syrup by boiling (a bit like maple syrup) , but we think the best use for it by far is Birch sap wine.

Birch sap wine was introduced to Britain from the Baltic and is still commercially made on a small scale in Scotland. Writing in 1718, Ned Ward, author of ‘The London Spy’ described it as “Wine drawn out of a birch tree… drinks almost like mead, and makes a man’s mouth smell of honey.” We find that it has a character very like white port and chilled makes a nice aperitif, especially with a few olives.

The best time to tap a tree is when the sap is ‘rising’. The season is at its peak just before the first leaf buds burst in Spring and an old bit of folklore says that ’you should tap the birch when the buds on the

willow are the size of a squirrel’s toe!’. If you find this measure inconvenient, and most people do, it is usually about the first two weeks of March!

If you are going to try your hand at sap tapping you need to do it legally and sustainably so follow some simple rules.

• It is vital that you get permission from the owner of the tree before you start.

• You should only tap larger trees with a diameter of 25cm or more.

• Each tree should only be tapped once every two years to avoid causing long term harm.

The easiest way to get a good yield of sap is to use a length of plastic tubing, with a diameter of 10mm-15mm. You can buy this from brewing shops and DIY outlets. You also need a drill , a drill bit of the same diameter as your tubing and a clean container to catch the sap in ( a brewing demijohn is perfect).

Drill a hole about 3cm deep into to tree, about 2 feet up from the base. (People often drill too deeply into the tree and there is no need for this as the sap is running quite close to the surface). You will almost certainly see the sap start to ooze out straight away, so quickly plug the hole with your tubing. Place the other end of the tube into the demijohn at the base of the tree and put some cloth or cotton wool in the mouth of the demijohn to help stop contamination from insects etc.

At the peak of the season you could have a gallon of sap overnight, but it may take two nights. Do not take more than one gallon per tree.

When you have your sap it is important to plug up the hole in the tree to stop the flow of sap and to help the tree heal itself.

Tightly plug the hole with a piece of wood, cork or a small amount of clay and make sure it is well sealed.

Your fresh sap will only keep for 3 or 4 days in the fridge so it is best to drink it or process it fairly quickly after harvest.

You can also tap the sap from Sycamore and walnut trees and use it in the same way. www.tastethewild.co.uk

Birch sap wine Ingredients 1 Gallon of Birch sap 2 1/2 lbs Sugar Zest of 2 lemons 1/2 lb Raisins 1 tsp Brewers yeast You can also add 1tsp of yeast nutrient which does help the whole thing along but is not vital.

Method Boil the sap with the lemon zest for 20 minutes. Poor into a clean bucket containing the sugar and raisins and stir until all sugar is dissolved. When the liquor has cooled to 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) add the yeast and yeast nutrient. Cover with a cloth and leave in a warm place 65-70 degrees F for 4-5 days stirring daily.

Strain into a demijohn, fit an airlock and leave in a warm place until fermentation has finished (approx 10 days). Bottle the wine using siphon tubing taking care not to suck up the sediment in the bottom of the demijohn. Cork the bottles and keep for 3 months before drinking.

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JAN/FEB13

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35

Rich Pickings…

Lamb’s Lettuce: It’s hard to believe that this delicate leaf withstands all that winter has to throw at it. Thrown on top of a cooked pizza, teamed with poached eggs, or simply mixed with sliced, roasted hazelnuts and dressed with a good extra virgin olive oil, it’s an easy way to fit some greenery into the carbohydrate-laden winter diet.

Spinach: This plant naturally flowers around the longest day so a late summer sowing avoids the problems of bolting and provides a valuable winter crop. Spinach and feta filo parcels flavoured heavily with dill or even crushed pink peppercorns make tasty tapas.

Parsley: Flat-leaved parsley is a biennial plant so will naturally produce less leaf, more hollow stems and ultimately seed in its second year, but by simply allowing some of those plants to self-seed I always have a copious supply of parsley even over winter.

Syrian Lentil and Parsley soup (Addas bi Husrem) is the rare combination of comfort food with health cleansing benefits – perhaps timely after recent over-indulgences.

Pickings may be thin on the ground at this time of year but make the most of vacant ground on the veg plot by sprinkling garden lime over the area where you plan to plant your brassicas next season. Over time the soil in the veg plot becomes more acidic via the addition of manure so liming the soil has several benefits: • it breaks up heavy clays soils over winter.

• it ‘sweetens’ the soil – makes it less acid enabling availability of all plant nutrients.

• it provides an environment that is inhospitable to clubroot: the bane of brassicas.

Veg patch with Karen Phillips Forget Zumba: it’s time to work off some of those excess winter calories in the garden and get a head start on spring.

Jobs outside…

Pruning fruit trees Vines: Now is the perfect time to prune the grapevine given to me several years ago by a group of students as a leaving present. It’s trained up the front of the house, not for the fruit (it’s too cold to produce great dessert grapes outside this far up North) but for the ornamental leaves. During the summer the leaves get blanched and stuffed with savoury rice on our cookery courses whilst any remaining provide spectacular autumn colour. Vines can only be hardpruned in midwinter when the risk of sap bleeding from the cuts is minimised. During the growing season any additional unwanted growth can be regularly pinched back (using finger and thumb which aptly limits the pruning to only young growth).

Apple Trees: The dwarf apple trees, planted about five years ago, are starting to produce good crops. Each year the branch leaders are cut back by a quarter of the previous year’s growth and the laterals to 4-6 buds; the 3D’s of wood (diseased/dead/ damaged) are removed completely, along with any crossing branches.

For detailed information the RHS Pruning & Training Manual is indispensable.

Jobs in the greenhouse…

• Modular sowings of vegetables such as beetroot, spring onions, turnips, and round carrots can start in February and be planted out in clumps a few weeks later for an early crop • Don’t forget to order your seed potatoes for chitting.

Forcing Rhubarb: My terracotta rhubarb forcing pot (an upturned dustbin will do just as well) has been in place since New Year in preparation for making

36

Lamb’s lettuce withstands all that winter has to throw at it. Fresh greenery for dark days Come and join us PRUNING MASTERCLASS 1st February Half-day workshop to learn the tricks of the trade: when to prune, how to keep shrubs restricted, renovating old plants, and pruning to maximise fruit or flowers.

Time: 10am – 1pm. £35

PRETTY ROSE CUPCAKES 14th February A one-day workshop with Bernadett Szucs: Gold Award winner from ‘Dreamworld Cakes’. Learn how to decorate with butter cream, make sugar roses and leaves, and ultimately achieve the perfect finish. Depart with recipes and 6 of your own creations.

Time: 10am – 4pm.

Including morning coffee/cakes and a 2-course lunch. £80

vegetables to harvest over a longer season and avoid the gluts coinciding with your summer holiday? This course covers different growing methods and utilises new varieties of seeds and plants to prolong the short growing season in Northumberland and avoid that bare earth scenario.

Time: 10am – 3.30pm. Including morning coffee/cakes and a 2-course lunch. £75

BEGINNER’S VEG

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES: VEG GROWING PART 2

26th March Never sown a seed in your life? Starting with how to set out a vegetable plot, this course will cover all aspects of basic vegetable growing and get you producing all manner of expensive to purchase veggies from rocket to sugar snap peas.

Time: 10am – 3.30pm. Including morning coffee/cakes and a 2-course lunch. £75

27th March Grown the same thing each year? Want to expand your repertoire and have

For full details of all our courses visit: www.widehaughhouse.co.uk

Rhubarb Schnapps. This wonderful concoction was first tasted courtesy of a good friend after a very wet (underwear wringing wet!) summer bike ride. It could be made at any time of the year but in order to attain the delightful pink hue it needs to be made with forced rhubarb.

After your rhubarb has been forced for a couple of months, take a peek beneath the pot and hopefully you should have many long, pink light-starved stems.

Don’t force the same rhubarb plant each year since the plant needs 2-3 years to recover.

Rhubarb Schnapps • Cut 1kg of forced rhubarb stems into 2cm lengths.

• Place in a large sterilised bottle/ preserving jar with 300g of granulated sugar.

• Top up with 1 litre of vodka.

• Seal and then shake to dissolve the sugar.

• Keep in a dark place and contain your impatience for at least 2 months, whilst periodically shaking the bottle.

• Strain into a clean jar and enjoy the delightful pink liqueur neat or mixed with fizzy water or tonic.

Looking Ahead Next issue we’ll be sowing some unusual vegetables, preparing an asparagus bed ready for planting, and growing a multitude of salad crops in guttering in the greenhouse.

JAN/FEB13

Spice up the New year!

Spicy pleasures with Maunika Gowardhan

Stacie Stewart Well Christmas is long forgotten and we all seem to aiming for the “half stone” holy grail of weight to drop off but we shouldn’t deny ourselves completely in these early months. I cheat my way through late winter by swapping foods, such as cream and crème fraiche for fat free greek yogurt, it’s a wonderful substitute in curries, dressings and as accompaniments with cakes, such as this recipe.

I’m excited also about the launch of Food Glorious Food, Simon Cowell’s new TV cookery talent show on which I’m a judge. It begins at the end of February on ITV. My first cookery book, Stacie Bakes is also released around the same time and will be available from all good book stores - very exciting!

If like me you love the best of both worlds, looking decent while enjoying good food, I can really recommend Steven Shaw who I’ve been doing bootcamp and personal training with. Check him out on twitter, @sportstherapypt This recipe for lemon and pear cake is perfect for the season as it can be eaten warm or cold, warm I would serve with a good splodge of custard, cold with a similar splodge of the aforementioned fat free Greek yogurt.

Lemon and Pear Cake You can make this cake in either a 2lb loaf tin or an 8 inch round tin. Grease and line them ensuring the cake won’t stick.

Ingredients Serves up to 8 250g Butter 250g Caster sugar 4 Eggs 50g Plain flour 200g Ground almonds Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons 2tbsp Greek yogurt 4 Ripe pears peeled, cored and chopped into chunks 1tbsp Cornflour Icing sugar to dust

In my view, nothing makes this month better than indulging in comfort food.

Growing up in Mumbai; the climate wasn’t just humid but also by the end of the year had a chill in the air. What made it all the bearable to get through was a big bowl of curry, lentils or even spicy flat breads.

My favourite part of colder months undoubtedly has to be cooking spicy meals with substance. Rich curries, stews and breads all make winter that much more bearable. Sipping a bowl of warm stew huddled up in front of the telly to me spells comfort.

There is such diversity in lentil based Indian dishes from each region. From a regular Tadka dal, to Bengali cholar dal, to a simple Maharashtrian varan or a typical south Indian sambar.

Each region has their own unique take on dishes and south India is no different. Huli is a Karnataka stew made with vegetables, split pigeon peas and a spiced coconut paste. The consistency is much thicker than your regular lentil curry and the combinations of tamarind & jaggery lend to that delicious flavour making it ever so moreish.

I guarantee you nothing beats a warm

JAN/FEB13 LUXE section2.indd 37

For more information subscribe to my cookery blog www.cookinacurry.co.uk or follow my food chat on Twitter. If you have a blog, deli or food news you’d like to share with me email me on info@cookinacurry.co.uk

Kannada Huli (Southern Indian Spiced stew with onions & potatoes) For this recipe of south Indian spiced lentil stew you need to made a pudi/spice powder also I’m using toor dal/split yellow lentils which cook well still holding their shape and are perfect to get that thick curry consistency. You can find grated coconut in a lot of Asian grocers and it is also available frozen. You can swap it for desiccated coconut although make sure to soak dried coconut in some warm water before using. I have used shallots for this recipe as they are slightly sweeter yet with a pungent flavour. Also they are perfect to add whole in the curry too.

Ingredients 150gms

600ml 1/2 tsp

Method Pre heat the oven to gas mark 4 (º180).

Beat the butter and sugar until creamy.

Add the eggs one at a time followed by some of the plain flour to keep the mix smooth.

Add the remaining flour and almonds and gently mix.

Toss the pears with the cornflour and fold into the mix with the lemon zest and juice, followed by the yogurt which makes the cake incredibly light.

Fill the tin and level the batter so the mix is nice and even.

Pop the cake into the oven for 45 minutes until golden and springy to the touch, the loaf might take a little longer, if you find the cake is browning too quickly simply add a sheet of tin foil over the top to stop it colouring more.

Serve thick slices.

For a really quick icing beat lemon juice into icing sugar until a runny paste forms and drizzle over the cake.

bowl of Huli with steaming rice & a dollop of ghee. My mother would most certainly approve!

As part of my job I am always on the lookout for foodies, bloggers and brands.

One such exciting food blog is Harriet Southall and her fab pictorial blog ‘Harriet Taste North East’ From pulled pork to a lazy Sunday roast lamb with mint stuffing this blog is worth a read if only to drool at the images she captures.

This year is undoubtedly going to be a busy one with some exciting collaborations with food brands, cookery events and pop up kitchens. Also I am looking forward to updating my blog with more family recipes alongside recipes that I regularly cook at demos & my cookery classes. More love to ‘Cook in a Curry’ from Sainsbury’s Magazine and Delicious Magazine last month with a mention and a feature of some Indian recipes from my food repertoire.

2 tbsp 1 tsp 5-6 6-8 sliced

1

Split yellow lentils - toor dal (soaked in water for 15-20 mins and drained) Water Turmeric powder Pinch of salt Vegetable oil Pinch of asafoetida Mustard seeds Curry leaves Shallots peeled and thinly (leave 3 whole to add to the curry later) Medium potato chopped into cubes

1 1/2 tbsp Jaggery grated 2 tsp Tamarind paste (add a little more if want a tangy taste) 3 tbsp Grated fresh coconut Fresh coriander for garnish For the pudi/spice powder: 1 tsp Vegetable oil 5 Dried red chillies stalks removed and deseeded 1/4 tsp Asafoetida 1/2 tsp Fenugreek seeds 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds 1 tsp Coriander seeds 1” Cinnamon stick broken 2 tsp Urad dal (split black lentils) 1 tbsp Roasted chana dal (bengal gram)

Method Put the lentils, water, turmeric and salt in a heavy bottom saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer and cook for 15-20 mins until the lentils are tender.

To make the spice powder; heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the chillies, asafoetida, fenugreek seeds along with the cumin and coriander seeds. Fry for 2 minutes on medium heat. Now add the urad dal. Fry for a further couple of minutes on a low flame. As they start to change colour turn the heat off. Cool the mix and grind in a coffee grinder until fine. Add the grated coconut to a blender along with the spice powder and a splash of water. Blend to a fine paste and set aside.

In separate saucepan heat oil add the asafoetida and mustard seeds. As they start to crackle add the curry leaves frying for a few seconds. Now add the sliced shallots and fry for 2-3 minutes.

Add the cubed potato and some whole peeled shallot if you wish and fry for five mins. At this stage add the cooked lentils along with the coconut spice paste. Stir well and bring to a simmer making sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Add a little more water if it’s too thick. Add the jaggery and tamarind paste. Season to taste.

Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with hot rice and a dollop of ghee.

37 28/01/2013 11:44

dinner a deux

Glorious food He was the man behind the best breakfasts on Tyneside and she has a truly global food inheritance. The result - a vibrant food marriage.

When it comes to cuisine, you’d have thought we’d been there, seen it, done it here in the North East.

But there’s something new to get excited about in Tynemouth with the arrival of a distinctly different eating place - a new fusion café in the true sense of the word, offering a unique twist on a host of exotic global cuisines.

The quirkily named Dil and the Bear promises a joyous marriage of sunny and exuberant flavours and inventive combinations from such disparate but colourful culinary cultures as Cuba and Barbados to Dubai and Venezuela.

The eatery is the brainchild of well-known North East chef Sam Storey who once ran the multi-award winning Belle and Herbs Café in Newcastle, and former interior designer Dilaila Galbraith.

Belle and Herbs served up arguably the best-ever hangover-curing breakfasts with a mouth-watering array of breakfast dishes that took the word brunch to a new level.

In Tynemouth the excitement is palpable from the native foodies - the eclectic menu reflects Cuban-born Dilaila’s multi-cultural upbringing which courtesy of her Geordie father’s oil industry background took her from her birth country to Northumberland, Spain, Switzerland, the West Indies, Middle East and South America.

Hence, diners can expect to find everything from mouthwatering homemade patisseries to daily changing seasonal soups like Cuban inspired black bean unusually garnished with sour cream, avocado and coriander; smoked salt beef, radicchio and crispy shallot sour dough sandwiches; hot haloumi and roasted vegetable paninis; light bites such as South American-style salmon ceviche with refreshing lime and fragrant passion fruit and pepped-up casseroles.

The café is also offering a novel Chelsea Bun-style breakfast sandwich packed with home-made black pudding, bacon, an omelette and confit tomato sauce embellished with wild

mushrooms ideal for friends and couples to tear and share.

Dil and the Bear (Dil is a corruption of Dilaila and ‘the bear’ is the nickname of Sam’s baby son Eddie) is bringing a new lease of life to the former Barclays Bank building which has long lain empty on Tynemouth Front Street.

Dilaila, who worked as an interior designer for Dubai’s ruler Sheik Mohammed, has swapped her home making skills for home baking after she and Sam decided to pool their extensive culinary knowledge and skills to bring the North East this one-off dining experience.

The business partners, both 43, first met briefly over a cup of tea at Belle and Herbs some years ago before unexpectedly bumping into each other again when Dilaila ran a Cuban paladares as part of the annual Eat! NewcastleGateshead

Dilaila’s zesty food reflects the improvised dishes she and her siblings grew up eating after her father and Cuban mother moved to Seaton Sluice in Northumberland in the mid-1970s.

“My mother thought British food was very bland. While the food served in the Cuban tourist resorts doesn’t have a good reputation that eaten in people’s homes is very different. It uses a lot of garlic and lemon and has very robust and sensual flavours.

“My mother began experimenting and bringing a Cuban touch to our meals.

“As a child we moved around a lot as a family and lived in many interesting places. Each time my mother would re-invent the local cuisine and put her own touches to it.

“I have inherited that skill and desire to push the gastronomic boundaries and my food reflects all those cultures that have influenced me. I can’t cook a simple straightforward roast; nothing on the food front is ever as it seems with me.”

While in Dubai, Dilaila worked with Marks & Spencer helping revamp their café menus and also briefly set-up her own catering company which worked with many multi-national corporations.

Now back living in Tynemouth for the past year, she has most recently been winning praise making stunning gingerbread houses to order.

She and Sam hope Dil and the Bear will come to define a new blueprint for perfect understated dining here in the North East.

Dil is a cafe and restaurant geek, well travelled with a love of good food food festival, of which Sam is on the steering group.

A craft baker by trade, he was looking to open another fun and funky café serving innovative, home-cooked food.

He feels it was meant to be. “Our first meeting wasn’t that auspicious. Our drinks menu at Belle and Herbs said we served any and every tea and Dil, who was back in the UK on holiday from Dubai, asked for a cup of rose petal. “I had to admit I had never heard of it and that we didn’t have it.

She said she’d bring me some back from Dubai, but by her next trip home Belle and Herbs had closed. “Then as part of Eat! I went to the Cuban paladares, saw a packet of rose petal tea and we both looked at each other and went ‘it’s you!’

“Dil is a café and restaurant geek and well-travelled with a love of good food. It’s been a meeting of minds at just the right time. Like me, she doesn’t do structured cooking.”

Dil and the Bear 18 Front Street, Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear, NE30 4DX. Tel: 07817 515 251

Passion Fruit Curd Tart with Vanilla Mascarpone This silky smooth and zingy tart will be on the menu at Dil and the Bear in Valentine week along with passion fruit meringues and passion fruit and lime salmon ceviche.

Dilaila’s says; “When I lived in Venezuela we used to drink passion fruit juice all the time.

I love passion fruit curd and thought these tarts would make a lovely and refreshing end to a romantic meal.”

Ingredients (Makes 10 tarts) Passion Fruit Curd (Makes 1 x 350ml jar) 11+4 Passion fruit (4 extra to be used later for the tart topping) 2 Large eggs 2 Large egg yolks 150g Caster sugar 100g Unsalted butter Sweet Pastry 165g Plain flour, sifted 50g Icing sugar Grated zest of 1/4 orange or lemon Pinch of salt 90g Unsalted butter, cubed Yolk of 1 small egg 1tbs Cold water Little melted butter Cookie cutter Bun tin 10 muffin cases Baking beans

38

Vanilla mascarpone 1 tub Mascarpone 1/2 Vanilla bean seeds removed

Method Passion Fruit Curd: Take the pulp out of 10 of the passion fruit and strain and retain the juice. Throw away the pips.

Beat the eggs, eggs yolks and sugar together until light and creamy. Melt the butter on a low heat. When melted stir in the egg mixture and the passion fruit juice.

Cook gently stirring continuously until thickened and remove from the heat.

Meanwhile remove the pulp from the 11th passion fruit and whisk the juice and the seeds into the egg mixture. Allow to cool slightly and pour into a clean and sterilised glass jar. Refrigerate.

Sweet Pastry: Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/gas mark 2.

Mix the flour, icing sugar, zest and salt together in a food processor. Add the

butter and mix until the pastry looks like course breadcrumbs.

Add the egg yolk and water and mix until the dough comes together.

Remove the dough from the food processor and knead for one minute. Roll out into a thick disk and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Once chilled, roll the pastry out to a thickness of 2-3mm and cut into 10 discs using a cookie cutter to the size to fit your chosen bun tin.

Brush the tin with the melted butter and shape the pastry discs into each cup. Prick

the pastry bases, line with the paper muffin cases and fill with the baking beans. Bake blind for 15 minutes. Remove the paper cases and beans and cook the pastry cases for a further 10 minutes or until golden.

Once cool fill each pastry case two-thirds full with the passion fruit curd. Top with pulp (including the seeds) taken from the four extra passion fruit.

Vanilla mascarpone: Mix the mascarpone with the vanilla bean and serve with the passion fruit tart.

JAN/FEB13

mix it

Drink

with Robin Winterschladen

With George Liddle

Plenty of long, cold nights loom before spring arrives so why not enjoy a glass of rich warming Aussie red or a marmalade vodka by the fire?

YALUMBA AUSTRALIAN WINES Yalumba, which is aboriginal for “all the land around”, was founded in 1849 by Samuel Smith who had left Dorset to start a new life in Australia. Five generations and 160 years later Australia’s oldest family owned winery is recognised worldwide for the quality of its wines.

Yalumba Patchwork Barossa Shiraz 2010 £12.99 The Barossa Valley is probably Australia’s most celebrated wine region, renowned for the quality of its red wines in particular. Patchwork Shiraz is a blend of wines from a selection of high quality but vastly different vineyards. The result is a very dark, dense, purple wine with aromas of plums and berry fruits. It is a very full bodied wine, presenting a richness of ripe fruit flavours balanced with fine acidity and soft rounded tannins.

Jansz Tasmania Premium NV Cuvée Sparkling Wine £13.99 Jansz was established in 1986 in North Eastern Tasmania as a dedicated producer of prestigious sparkling wines. Jansz were the first Tasmanian winery to use the traditional Méthode Champenoise (where the wine is fermented in the bottle).

The Premium Cuvée is a blend of 58% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 2% Pinot Meunier from several vintages that are given extended ageing on the lees. Fine persistent bubbles with aromas of nougat and roasted nuts are produced and delicate flavours of strawberry and citrus fruits are balanced by a fresh crispness and a soft lingering finish.

CHASE DISTILLERY William Chase, a farmer with over 20 years experience growing potatoes, founded Chase Distillery in 2004. Having previously launched Tyrrells crisps he was inspired to begin production of potato vodka after a visit to a boutique distillery in the USA. Chase Distillery has come a long way since then; along with their original vodka they now make a selection of other vodkas gin and liqueurs.

Chase Potato Vodka 70cl £37 Made from King Edward and Lady Claire potatoes, it is distilled three times in a copperpot still, then twice through a 70 foot high column still. The result is a very smooth, velvety spirit with the taste of buttery mashed potatoes. Best served neat and chilled. It was voted Best Vodka in the World in 2010 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Chase Marmalade Vodka 70cl £37 Initially this was a one-off limited edition of a thousand bottles but was so popular it has now become a permanent addition to the range. Chase Vodka is marinated with the finest Seville orange marmalade in the copperpot still before being distilled again. The vapours then rise through fresh orange peel. The result is a clear spirit with a golden hue, strong aroma of orange zest and a rich bitter-sweet flavour with a warm and velvety finish. Enjoy neat and chilled or over ice with tonic.

Williams Gin 70cl £37 Organically grown apples from Chase’s own orchard are first crushed and fermented into cider, which is then distilled into vodka. The vodka is next redistilled into gin by infusing eleven carefully selected wild botanicals and using naturally pure water from a local aquifer.

Along with juniper, other botanicals used include coriander, orange, lemon, liquorice, hops, elderflower and Bramley apple. The result is a delicious gin that is full bodied, sharp but fruity. Garnished with a slice of Bramley apple it makes a great G & T. Robin Winterschladen is Wine Buyer for the Wine Shop at Fenwick Newcastle.

Enjoy great local food and stunning panoramic views at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art’s iconic rooftop restaurant

Six, 6th floor, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art 0191 440 4948 • eat@sixbaltic.com • www.sixbaltic.com Opening Hours Monday to Thursday: 12–2:30pm and 5:30–9:30pm, Friday and Saturday: 12–2:30pm and 5:30–10pm, Sunday: 12pm – 4pm

JAN/FEB13

Show you care this Valentine’s Day with a shake of your cocktail mixer.

Try the luscious Indigo Kiss.

In mere minutes you’ll have something to enjoy while you wait for dinner to be ready.

Have fun with this cocktail, carve fruit into heart shapes or garnish with chocolate covered strawberries if you prefer.

The Indigo Kiss is light on the alcohol but the bouquet is anything but light. In here we have a mix of the complex flavour of lychee liqueur (with more vitamin C than an orange or lemon), luscious pomegranate juice, rose water for a little herbal sweetness (it is used to flavour desserts like the classic Turkish Delight) and a dash of Midori made from Japanese Yubari melons.

Mix it up with your special someone and watch the sparks fly.

Indigo Kiss Recipe 60ml 30ml 60ml 30ml

Lychee liqueur Pomegranate juice Rose water Midori liqueur

Method 1. Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice.

2. Stir well.

3. Strain into a stemmed glass or over ice in an old-fashioned glass.

4. Garnish with a rose petal and lime wedge.

Finish with a dash of lemonade.

Happy drinking.

Prize Draw

Win dinner, an overnight stay and champagne breakfast for two in the luxurious Apartment Suite at Jesmond Dene House In a quiet woodland setting yet minutes from Newcastle city centre, Jesmond Dene House offers understated luxury, contemporary style and award-winning food.

Recently awarded The Good Hotel Guide ‘City Hotel of the Year 2013’, the Arts and Crafts boutique hotel is offering one reader the chance to win a luxury overnight stay at the hotel. Relax in the gorgeous Apartment Suite with its own private staircase and roof-top terrace and dine in the 3 AA rosette restaurant where you can sample some of the delights created by Head Chef Michael Penaluna and his team for the new House Menu. Maybe try ‘Grilled Langoustines with Roast Garlic Mayonnaise’ or ‘Aged Flat Iron Steak, Bernaise Sauce and Heritage Potato Chips’.

Champagne breakfast in your room can then be followed by a leisurely stroll round the gardens and through Jesmond Dene or a relaxing coffee by the fires in one of the hotel lounges.

• • • • •

Prize is for two people to have a one night stay in a Suite Prize includes Dinner in the Restaurant from the House Menu Prize includes Champagne breakfast in the Restaurant or your room Prize must be taken by 30th June 2013 Prize does not include beverage or extras which should be settled upon departure

To enter go to www.luxe-magazine.co.uk/competitions and click on the Jesmond Dene House link.

39

SO LOVED-UP

FOR THE MODERN ROMANTIC

FOR THE TRADITIONALIST Lanvin pearl necklace, £565, www.harveynichols.com

FOR THE COMFORT QUEEN

Bodysilk Rasin Bandeau £85, Hipster £45, www.myla.com

Alex Monroe ‘Dream of Me’ Spinner Necklace, £165, www.alexmonroe.com

Olivia Von Halle Coco in Cream Pyjamas, £330, www.gift-library.com

FOR THE SWEETHEART

Lillith Blush Robe £475 www.myla.com

Pashley Poppy Blush Pink Bicycle, £450, www.pashley.co.uk

The Cambridge Satchel Company Red 13” Classic Satchel, £98, www.cambridgesatchel.co.uk

Gifts for

Love

Imogen Nicholson is in the pink for a hearty, loved-up shoparound

FOR THE TRADITIONALIST Anya Hindmarch iPad Cover in Nylon Trifle, £150, www.gift-library.com

Valentine Love Heart Leopard/ Red glitter ballet pump, £140, www.frenchsole.com

Anya Hindmarch, Red studded Heart Miami in Velvet Calf, £175, www.gift-library.com

FOR THE MINIMALIST

‘Oh Darling Let’s be Adventurers print,’ £18.50 un-framed, £55.50 framed, www.fifiduvie.com

FOR THE EXPLORER/ JET SETTER

FOR HIM

Hunter Original Tour Wellie Boot, £79, www.style-passport.com

40

Turnbull & Asser Striped Cotton Pyjamas, £295, www.mrporter.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs Too Hot to Handle Small Tateossian RT Skeleton Movement Cufflinks, £150, www.gift-library.coom

Turnbull & Asser Brushed Cashmere Scarf, £225, www.mrporter.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs Too Hot to Handle Small Leather Tote, £375, www.harveynichols.com

Carre Royal Red Leather iPad case, £81, www.style-passport.com

JAN/FEB13

Make a

VALENTINE’S WISH

53 High Street, Yarm, Cleveland, TS15 9BH 01642 788088 The White Rose Shopping Centre, Leeds 0113 2291234 Be inspired at pandora.net

Handcrafted collections by contemporary designers

69-71 HIGH STREET STOKESLEY NORTH YORKSHIRE TS9 5BQ T: 01642 913937 www.jewelleryby.co.uk

JAN/FEB13

41

BREAKAWAY

In the mini-break mood we think layers, lazy Sundays and laid-back chic for a weekend of romance.

Luxe in Love Red dress, Joseph, £289. Leopard platforms DVF, £195. Glitter clutch, Anya Hindmarch, £495.

Bracelets, £75, £52. All Elan, Grange Road, Darlington.

42

JAN/FEB13

WWW.JULESB.CO.UK

WWW.JULESB.CO.UK

NOW ON! WWW.JULESB.CO.UK

Ladieswear: Osborne Rd, Jesmond, Newcastle. T: 0191 281 7855

Stramongate, Kendal. T: 01539 723 874

Menswear: Acorn Rd, Jesmond, Newcastle. T:0191 281 7855

High St, Yarm. T: 01642 785 648

Finkle St, Kendal. T: 01539 723 874

BREAKAWAY

Karen – red dress Joseph as before.

Anthony - tweed jacket, Remus, £215, cords, Hugo Boss, £135, knit, Paul Smith, £120. All The House, Yarm.

competition WIN A PAUL SMITH MESSENGER BAG WORTH £300 FROM PSYCHE Psyche is giving one lucky LUXE reader the chance to win a fantastic Paul Smith messenger bag worth £300 to celebrate the launch of the exclusive new Paul Smith in-store boutique.

The multi-award winning retailer has recently unveiled an exclusive new £30,000 Paul Smith boutique within its 35,000 sq ft flagship store in Middlesbrough.

The new area is the culmination of a year of extensive refurbishment and expansion within the striking Psyche building. A total of seventeen shop-fit installations have been added to the store in an investment exceeding £328,000 which spans three floors.

Psyche is the UK’s largest independent stockist of Paul Smith and offers a wide collection for men and women both in-store and online.The British fashion brand designed the bespoke shop-fit to create a unique shopping environment which represents the brand’s signature flair and attention to detail.

The boutique has a distinctively modern feel with light wood and polished marble flooring contrasting with industrial steel fittings and an oversized glass podium taking centre stage - providing the perfect showcase for the new Spring Summer ‘13 Paul Smith Collections now available in store.

44

For your chance to win this prize, got www.luxe-magazine.co.uk/competitions Fill in your details and submit your entry. Competition closes February 28, 2013.

JAN/FEB13

Anthony - jeans, Boss, £155, sweater, £89, gilet, £119 both Ted Baker, The House.

Karen - jeans, Helmut Lang, £175. Elan/JulesB. Sweater, £235, Helmut Lang.

Fur snood, Yves Salomon, £155. Bag, Depeche £165. All JulesB. Coat by FWM, £379, The House. Suede wedge trainers, Ash, £197, Elan.

JAN/FEB13

45

BREAKAWAY

Skirt, £279, sweater £107, Vivienne Westwood. Wool coat, Fenn Wright Manson, £379, The House,

Grey oversized cashmere drape poncho, £219, lace print jeans Helmut Lang, £175, JulesB

46

JAN/FEB13

BREAKAWAY

Anthony - pull-ons, £35 FatFace.

Karen - shorts, £18, FatFace.

Cashmere sweater, 360Cashmere, £239, Elan.

NEW SPRING COLLECTIONS

NOW INSTORE AND ONLINE ALL AUTUMN/WINTER STOCK AT LEAST 50% OFF

MICHAEL KORS SAFFIANO LEATHER BAG £310

PAUL SMITH RUBBER SOLE BROGUE £185

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD 2 BUTTON POLO SHIRT £90

PAUL SMITH PANSY PRINT JERSEY DRESS £190

OTHER EXCLUSIVE BRANDS - FOR HIM

OTHER EXCLUSIVE BRANDS - FOR HER

ARMANI JEANS - BOSS ACCESSORIES - BOSS BLACK CASUAL - BOSS BLACK LABEL BOSS BODYWEAR - BOSS GREEN LABEL - BOSS ORANGE - ETON SHIRTS HUGO - PAUL SMITH ACCESSORIES - PAUL SMITH JEANS - PAUL SMITH SHOES POLO RALPH LAUREN - PS PAUL SMITH - REMUS UOMO - VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

BB BUSINESS WARDROBE - BERNSHAW - BETTY BARCLAY - BETTY NOOS BOSS BLACK LABEL - BOSS ORANGE - BOSS GREEN LABEL - FROCK ART - DKNY - DKNY ACTIVE FENN WRIGHT MANSON - OUI MOMENTS - PAUL SMITH ACCESSORIES - PAUL SMITH BLACK LABEL PAUL BY PAUL SMITH - PAUL SMITH SHOES - VIVIENNE WESTWOOD - UGG BOOTS MICHAEL KORS - TED BAKER - VERA MONT

www.thehousedesignerwear.co.uk 69 THE HIGH STREET, YARM TEL: 01642 790852

JAN/FEB13

MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9.30-5.30 SATURDAY 9.00-5.30 SUNDAY 10:30-4:30

47

SHOP CHIC

LIVE TO SHOP WITH WENDY GIBSON

Wendy heads Stateside to check out the best the Big Apple has to offer.

Three hours sleep before a transatlantic flight isn’t the best preparation for a whistle stop, girls’ shopping trip to New York.

It was ten years since my last visit, and I’d heard all the horror stories of recent years, about long waits at customs, and rude and snappy officials. Not the case. Or not for us, arriving into Newark airport, certainly. The little brother to JFK – and much closer to Downtown, where we were staying – it was clearly tourist friendly, and making an effort.

And whether it was the sight of three North East blondes, done up to the nines, or just a customer focussed approach! - I had possibly my fastest ever experience through customs, and bag pick up. In just over half an hour we zipped through customs – smiles nearly cracked by officials! - and were cruising across the Hudson, all eyes fixed on that iconic Manhattan skyline, heading for our base for the next four days, 60 Thompson.

It’s the kind of place you can easily imagine Carrie and Big enjoying an assignation. Very Sex and the City.

60 Thompson is also smack bang in one of the friendliest, and most characterful parts of New York, Soho. Blessed with a real village feel, lots of low rise brick buildings, with freshly painted zig zagging metal firescapes on the outside – you feel like you’ve just parachuted into an episode of “Friends”.

It’s full of hip shops, corner street cafes, and art galleries. And you’ll find a scene worth photographing at every turn. Yes, you’ll find big name European designers, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, and household American names - but also lots of smaller independent labels too, like Rag and Bone, Maje, and Isabel Marant.

Armed with “The Knowledge”, we started out locally. Just round the corner from our base at 60 Thompson, you can strike out onto West Broadway with everything from Missoni, to Elie Tahari, and American classic DKNY. And two blocks across, is Mercer Street, whose Ugg shop was doing storming business in the crisp, cold, winter weather. Tons more choice than at home, and my choice the fingerless sheepskin gloves, biker boots, and seriously toasty slippers. Much needed after hours of shoe leather on sidewalks.

We quickly slipped into the habit of brunch at the famous Cupping Room cafe on the corner of Broome Street and West Broadway. French toast, waffles, fruit platters – what’s not to love! And great fuel before a full day pounding the side walks. And right next door, is the newly opened Tucker shop. Quirky jewel bright shirts, and separates, Tucker is the shirt of choice to wear with skinny jeans, and features heavily at home on websites such as Donna Ida. Elizabeth Street and Prince are more happy hunting grounds for the dedicated shopper.

Rag and Bone – the brainchild of two Brits, but which opened first in the Big Apple, featuring Kate Moss as its muse – is a total must. Some of the best fitting jeans, softest leather jackets, and flattering t-shirts. American favourite Tory Burch, has her main store on Elizabeth street. Cute leather clutch bags, gold cuffs with the signature Tory Burch logo, and a great range of clothes and boots. One block over, Haute Hippie was to die for.

A little thing like three hours sleep, and jet lag was not going to stop me enjoying a great dinner. And Balthazar did not disappoint. A New York favourite of the glitterati, it’s often frequented by Posh and Becks, and has outstanding food, and a really special atmosphere.

You could be in Paris, not New York, and the signature dishes, are the impressive seafood platters on ice, moules frites, and of course escargots. Delicious!

You can’t come to New York and not hit Madison and Fifth Avenue – home to Saks Fifth Avenue, Maceys, and of course Tiffany! Here the pace, the noise, and the atmosphere change up a gear. And it’s more the New York I remember. Michael Kors is another uptown favourite - definitely worth buying stateside rather than at home, as they offer so much more choice here, plus your dollar goes further.

If you’ve the energy to go eat dinner after all that shopping, another recommendation would be STK – in the Meatpacking district, just a hop and a skip from Pastis - with the best steaks in town.

And so it was that on the last day of our trip, with the taxi waiting down below, we sat in the rootop bar of Jimmy’s. We’d seen it earlier in the week on the Real Housewives of New York and now just four days later, here we were enjoying cocktails, in the glass cube, on the roof, and looking out across the skyline of New York.

Exhausted, but exhilarated, we may not have bumped into Big, but we had definitely enjoyed Shopping in the City!

As well as being a shopping supremo, shoe-a-holic and general lover of all things luxe, Wendy Gibson is a broadcaster, presenter and event host in the North East.

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Cardigan, £199, Alice Temperley at Barbour. JulesB.

Credits

Photography: Kevin Gibson www.kgphotography.co.uk Models: Karen Harding, Anthony Welsh www. tyneteesmodels.co.uk Styling: Fiona McLain Hair: BePremierHair 29 Blackwellgate Darlington DL1 5HG 01325 48 33 33 www.BePremiereHair.co.uk

Stockists

Elan, 4 Grange Road, Darlington JulesB, Osborne Road, Jesmond, High Street, Yarm www.julesb.co.uk The House, High Street, Yarm www.thehousedesignerwear.co.uk www.fatface.com Some prices may change due to sale.

Location

Middleton Lodge.

Middleton Lodge is a charming private country mansion in North Yorkshire. Set in 250 acres of private parkland, it was built in 1780 by architect John Carr of York. For over 30 years this impressive Georgian mansion has been home to the Allison family who have dedicated themselves to restoring the Estate to its former glory.

Over the last few years Middleton Lodge has become one of the country’s most unique settings for large and intimate weddings, corporate events and for special celebrations.

More recently the Cellar Door Supper Club has been launched offering regular gourmet dinners for guests to enjoy with top class cuisine from the Lodge’s head chef, Robert Taylor, recently seen on Masterchef. Set in the original wine cellars, The Cellar Door Supper Club boasts fine wines, mouth-watering menus and promises an evening of great company in a location unrivalled and packed with atmosphere. www.middletonlodge.co.uk

JAN/FEB13

RED CARPET

TREND WATCH WITH CATHERINE NEWTON

A new season approaches and for spring 2013 it is already clear that sharp tailoring is leading the way in womenswear.

Hollywood’s wardrobe

As the Oscars loom Katherine Weir gets up close and personal with some stunning movie costumes coming soon to an exhibition near you.

Red carpets are on our mind at this time of year so it’s timely that Woodhorn Museum in Ashington is about to peep behind Hollywood’s wardrobe doors to showcase film costumes worn by the industry’s acting elite. Johnny Depp, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, corsets and all - are revealed.

It’s all about showing the stunning craftsmanship of British designers says curator, Yvonne Hellin-Hobbs.

GET SUITED This season’s suit will be the most versatile and hardworking item in your wardrobe so now is the time to invest.

Tailoring has transformed from the oversized and androgynous shapes of AW12 into a more feminine and delicate SS13 silhouette. From business classics that will be stylish in the city, to casual cuts that are perfect for a day out and party pieces that will replace Christmas’ LBD, the suit is the new day to night staple.

With styles ranging from vibrant prints and neon patterns to shocking reds and sugary pastels, this season’s tailoring will cater to every taste. For SS13 Joseph has focussed on an aquamarine palette of geometric prints based on the home of French painter Jacques Majorelle.

Majorelle’s world renowned garden was full of mosaics in a colour that became known firstly as ultramarine blue, and latterly as majorelle. This intense mosaic print has been transferred onto Joseph’s new season collection, including a stunning silk tuxedo blazer. This jacket is the perfect piece to take you through the cooler spring months into warmer summer weather.

Similarly Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood have both released tributes to the suit jacket. Paul Smith has focussed on a range of delicate pansy print jackets, whilst Vivienne Westwood has created a neon green version with signature accentuated shoulders as part of her Anglomania collection. This trophy jacket will be the stand out piece in your wardrobe, and can be relied upon to dress up any tired outfit.

The new look suit trouser is tailored and cropped at the ankle. The ‘ankle grazer’, as fashion circles are labelling it, was championed by Raf Simons’ in his inaugural collection for Christian Dior. Variants of this Parisian pant are available from Max Mara (the Bali trouser, £185) and Marella (the Penna trouser, £110); both designs flatter the figure as they incorporate a slim fitting leg and a slightly higher waist band. Again prints and patterns feature heavily in suit trousers so don’t be afraid to pick something loud.

To complete the look a silk shirt is essential; look to new German label Set for a fashionable take on this trend. The pleated detail on their silk shirt has a loose and billowing shape that adds balance to the slim cigarette style ankle grazer.

Simply slip on some high court heels to show off those ankles and you’re ready for SS13.

Catherine Newton is Head of Womenswear at Fenwick Newcastle

JAN/FEB13

‘Dressing the Stars’ focuses on the British costume designers who have won, or been nominated for American and British Academy Awards for the garments they have painstakingly designed.

“The attention is always focused on the stars of the films, leaving hard-working designers in the dark,” says Yvonne.

“I wanted to bring together a collection that would show off the work they were praised for. I think the big hook with an exhibition like this is that the general > Above, Colin Firth in the King’s Speech. > Below, gown worn by Keira Knightly in The Duchess, designed by Michael O’Connor. (City & Islingotn College). > Right, Jack Sparrow outft from Pirates of the Caribbean designed by Penny Rose (Propstore).

public get to see the actual costumes from the film, worn by their favourite actors. People get photos taken with the costumes as if they were next to the actor themselves.”

Having worked as a costume technician for over twenty years, on huge productions such as Batman, The Fifth Element, Alien 3 and Sense and Sensibility, Yvonne has hands on experience of dressing the stars and her connections within the film industry have made the exhibition possible.

“I loved working on Sense and Sensibility as the costumes were so lovely,” explains Yvonne. “When the clothing is beautiful, it really makes the job so much better. I remember having all the actresses lined up in their corsets so I could lace them up one by one. As wardrobe mistress, I dressed all of the leading ladies in the period costumes designed by the hugely talented, John Bright.”

Researching the costumes that had been awarded or nominated, Yvonne found that the history spanned further than she had imagined. “When I found out that the first costume Oscar was awarded as far back as 1949 for the costume worn by Lawrence Olivier in Hamlet, I knew this would be an interesting collection. From there the search began and I ended up with 40 costumes from film industry.”

As well as Lawrence Olivier, the ‘Dressing the Stars’ collection includes costumes worn by Keira Knightley, Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Orlando Bloom, Johnny Depp and many more stars. Yvonne has even managed to secure Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter’s costumes from The King’s Speech which she says sparks a lot of interest.

“It’s always a worry that I won’t be able to get the costumes again for a certain exhibition as they can be rented from the film studios at any point,” explains Yvonne. “Some of the costumes in this exhibition are from private collectors, such as the Pirates of the Caribbean costume worn by Johnny Depp. It was only when I was in the office of the British collector who owns this costume, enquiring about hiring another costume of his, that I noticed the Jack Sparrow costume standing in the corner. I knew it would attract a lot of attention.”

Given the delicate nature and value of the costumes, no touching is allowed at the exhibitions, with the Jack Sparrow costume from Pirates of the Caribbean even being kept under glass. “Once used for the films, these costumes rarely get to be seen in public which makes the experience of viewing the collection so unique,” says Yvonne. “It gives the audience the chance to get close to the garment and see how intricate the detailing is.”

With names in costume design such as Anthony Powell who won three Oscars - one of which was for Death on the Nile whose costume, made for Bette Davis, appears in the exhibition – and Phyllis Dalton who won two Oscars, this is the who’s who of famous British designers. Phyllis Dalton’s work is also showcased in the collection with her Oscar winning creation in Henry V worn by Richard Branagh.

Yvonne is looking forward to getting things set up at Woodhorn Museum for the opening on Saturday February 16.

“Woodhorn is a great space with lots of rooms that work well for the exhibition, as the public can move from room to room exploring each costume. This will be a great family day out with dressing up costumes for the kids, and there’s even talk of a Jack Sparrow impersonator too!”

Woodhorn Museum and Northumberland Archives QEII Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF Tel 01670 624455 (624478 direct) www.experiencewoodhorn.com

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Ring the changes

DAZZLE

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Is there ever a better time to change something about yourself than a new year?

We’re all looking for that new start, fresh approach or exciting change. So if a house move seems a little extreme, a whole new wardrobe a little pricey then consider a bit of an image overhaul courtesy of a new hair do.

There really is no better tonic than a new hair look to make you feel brand new. Hair colour in particular is such a fantastic way of reinvention and done in the right way can leave you feeling confident and empowered, ready to take on the world.

Hair colour became really exiting in 2012 with some super cool colour combinations and

techniques bringing a whole new confidence to the way we look at hair colour. With TV faves like Fearne Cotton, Caroline Flack and Kelly Osbourne all showing that dip dyes and pastels can be super cool, it really does look like 2013 is going to be a colourful year for hair.

Our two gorgeous models show how different doesn’t always have to be dramatic.

Contrasting colours can blend together to create a subtleness that can look really beautiful. It’s all about placement of colour and of course choosing shades that will ultimately suit you and your personality. A

good make -up artist will always say the secret to great eye makeup is blending and colour selection, well it’s pretty much the same with hair colour.

A good colourist should be able to advise you on the right shades and placement to give the desired effect. Blondes are a great canvas to play around with pastels but do be aware that this kind of colouring does require regular salon visits to keep it looking fresh. Brunettes are a great canvas for richer, deeper tones like copper and violet. The key to great-looking, long-lasting colour is great condition so a fantastic home care regime is vital.

Kérastase Chroma Captive will help capture colour pigments and protect the colour intensity ensuring that you get long lasting, gorgeous colour.

So don’t put it off any longer; let’s start 2013 with a bang!

Michael Young and Gary Hooker run award-winning Hooker & Young, with six salons regionwide.

See www.hookerandyoung.co.uk for salon details.

JAN/FEB13

DAZZLE

JAN/FEB13

51

Hoo

GET GORGEOUS

BEAUTY WATCH WITH VICTORIA LEES

Spa Time – take the plunge There are many different trains of thought to explain where the term ‘spa’ originates- my personal favourite is that it’s an acronym for Salus per Aquam (health through water.)

The health benefits of ‘taking the waters’ whether it be floating in the Dead Sea, Turkish baths or visiting thermal spa towns- such as Harrogate or Bath- have been enjoyed for centuries and have been made more accessible by the many spas that have opened in recent years.

For each wellness goal you may have there is a luxury spa solution and a home spa alternative:

Beauty:update

‘Tis the season of revival, renewal and rosy cheeks

>> Blush > This little beauty munchkin gets a regular mention on these pages but it is timely to make it a beauty resolution to have one in your bag. Pot Rouge from Bobbi Brown works on lips, works on cheeks. A nice matt lip colour in a pot that lasts and lasts. The best £18 you’ll spend. Seek it out on Bobbi counters in Fenwick, House of Fraser. >> Botanic bliss > Something a bit different – fragrance with a hearty hint of the season to come. Liz Earle Botanical Essence No. 15, 50ml £45. John Lewis

WELLNESS GOAL Boost circulation to increase delivery of nutrients and oxygen to every cell Luxury Spa: the thermal suite- saunas and steam rooms boost wellness, aid sleep, open pores and bring toxins to the skin’s surface, whereas cold experiences such as drench showers and ice fountains help increase immune function, reduce inflammation and alternating hot and cold has many health benefits including relief from fatigue and aiding circulation.

Home Spa: supercharge your cleansing routine by using a warm flannel to remove facial cleanser then splash with ice cold water to tighten pores and firm the skin. My top tip for improving the look of cellulite is to blast thighs with ice-cold water at the end of your morning shower - wakes me up a treat every time.

>> Berry good > A Jo Malone body crème is money well spent. Blackberry and bay a lovely smell – pulled through a hedge backwards – in a good way? Loads of fragrance and staying power. £48 at Fenwick, Newcastle. >> Rose glow > Not exactly beauty but nice to be surrounded by the fragrance of love in the form of the classic Diptyque rosescented candle, £38 at SpaceNK, Grainger St, Newcastle >> Smooch > Give it some lip on Valentine’s Day, Guerlain KissKiss Gloss, £21 at Fenwick, Newcastle.

WELLNESS GOAL Detoxification and absorption of vital minerals Luxury Spa: mud-wrap or mud rasul ritual. Spa mud treatments are popular for their detoxifying properties with the added benefit of leaving skin glowing.

Home Spa: turn your bath into a Dead Sea float. We don’t always get all the minerals we need from our diets through modern farming methods and over-processed foods, but a great relaxing way to boost mineral intake is to simply throw a couple of handfuls of Dead Sea salts in your bath.

The skin is able to absorb precious minerals. I love Heavenly Hydration Dead Sea bath salts by Spa Find. The 100% natural sea salts relieve aching joints and muscles. You will find your skin feels wonderfully smooth as there is a natural exfoliating action and dry skin is nourished. Rub in some body oil while your skin is still damp for super silky skin. Drink plenty of water and to have plenty of rest after your bath.

>> Glow > Nothing sounds nicer than a collection of brightening products to give your skin a bit of glow in these dark days.

Bobbi Brown brings two newbies to the counter; tinted eye brightener and brightening powder will do wonders for partied-out skin. Pale, shimmery eye and lip colours for a natural glow. Eye cream, £19.50, powder, £40. On counter now.

WELLNESS GOAL Soothe aching muscles and aid relaxation Luxury Spa: massage by a skilled and experienced therapist can release feel good endorphins, knead away tensions and help with any number of injuries.

Home Spa: couples massage tuition. Imagine coming home after a tough day and receiving a blissful massage from your partner or having the skills to be able to offer relief from aching muscles to your loved-ones. Some spas- such as Rockliffe Hall’s- offer instruction workshops that teach effective massage techniques and tips including which oil is best for relaxation, invigoration or to ease tension.

Victoria is based at The Spa, Rockliffe Hall.

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JAN/FEB13

Hooker & Young Luxe Ad Artwork

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The Reinvention Package includes: An in-depth consultation, luxury cut and blow dry, Kerastase Ritual to restore and revitalise your hair and a signature colour service.

To make an appointment and reinvent yourself call your nearest salon today and quote ‘Luxe Reinvention Package’.

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www.hookerandyoung.co.uk facebook/hooker&young Twitter @hookerandyoung Please note: This offer excludes a full head of highlights, this can be added to the package for an extra £20. Excludes colour correction.

Available Monday - Thursday, January 2013 with selected stylists.

REVIVAL TIME

FITNESS! WITH LEILA BRAMWELL

So, most of us have made a new year’s resolution to lose weight or get fit or both.

Most people understand there is no real ‘quick fix’ to weight loss, not if you want to keep it off. Aim to lose around three to six pound the first week and one to three pound each week thereafter. Any quick weight loss scheme that is not professionally monitored by a physician or nutritionist is dangerous and can lead to serious health issues. There are so many ‘quick weight loss’ scams out there as so many are after a ‘quick fix’. The majority of these are not designed for your best interest but designed to make money. It’s a vicious circle, lose weight quick- can’t keep it off- do it again and so on and so on. So if you lose weight slowly it will come off and will be a lot more likely to stay off.

Getting fit or fitter of course is different; you can improve your fitness fast with high intensity workouts. For a long time people have believed that steady long distance runs or long steady workouts that keep your heart rate at a fat burning level for longer helps burn fat more efficiently, therefore are the best way to train to lose weight.

However more research suggests that short, intense bursts of intense exercise are the way forward. High intensity sprinting for example can benefit your health and your sporting performance. Sprints lasting between six and 30 seconds are intense but very effective. Sprints more than 30 seconds have no more benefit and could result in injury as it adds too much stress on the body. It’s a good idea to start with short sprints first to prep your body and mind, then increase up to 30 seconds. You can aim to go up to 10 - 12 short sprints or 5-6 longer ones. For six second sprints you would aim to recover over 1 minute, but for a 30 second sprint should take 3-4 minutes to recover. The recovery is important as you need to allow the ‘fast use fuel system’ in your muscles to recover to keep your training at its best and most efficient. You can apply these rules to swimming, cycling and also rowing.

So if you eat smart and train smart and remember that small steps lead to big things then you will be a whole new you, who can achieve great things in 2013.

Beauty:update But the spring back into party-ravaged skin.

>> Relax > Frownies wrinkle reducing products have been associated with beauty and Hollywood for nearly 120 years. Icon beauties like Olivia de Havilland, and stars like Rene Russo, Raquel Welch have referred to Frownies as their beauty obsession.

Anti-ageing pads pads train muscles by forming a splint. This holds facial muscles smooth and flat overnight while skin cells reposition themselves. Better than Botox! £18.50 a box (8-16 weeks supply) www.frownies.co.uk >> Rosy glow > Indulgent treats with Japanese rose inspired Korres treats. Valentines Gift Set, £20 www.ASOS.com

>> Pout perfect > Lovely lip shades with Dior Lip Expert Palette £46.80 on counter in Fenwick and John Lewis, Newcastle.

HOVER SQUATS GLUTES, QUADRICEPS, CORE • Go down on all fours, hands under shoulders and knees under hips, tummy pulled in.

• Take knees off and hover them approx 2 inches off the ground, keeping weight even in toes and hands.

• Push off from your toes and come straight up into a squat with knee over ankles, chest up and arms up.

• Place hands back down on floor and return to start position.

In health and happiness in 2013 Leila Bramwell (Shaping Futures) Pilates and Fitness Studio in Durham City www.shapingfutures.co.uk

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>> Eyes&lips > Origins Lip Remedy, £14, gets you kissable with intensive lip treatment to prep and soften the lips. Great to use under lipstick as it sinks in immediately and doesn’t leave a greasy residue. GinZing Brightening Mascara, £17 to lengthen and lift to finish off any makeup look with thick and sultry lashes. On counter in Fenwick, Newcastle.

>> Stella’s newbie > Lily is the newest fragrance from Stella McCartney. Lovely romantic bottle and a sweet as you like smell. from £44. www.selfridges.com

JAN/FEB13

>> Smile > New year, new wrinkles? Nothing like a new date to focus your mind on your skin. Timely for a new skin regime perhaps?

The people at Origins do it the natural way with a new anti-ageing range called Plantscription. There’s a cleanser with the anti-ageing ingredient anogeissus that claims to do the dirty work alongside nice things like jasmine flowers and soothing aloe vera. Treatment lotion has a milky texture that penetrates skin on contact to deliver softening and conditioning benefits, much like a skin cream. Exclusive to John Lewis now and nationwide from March. £25 each.

Welcome to Durham City Smiles...

Cosmetic and general dental services

We treat all our patients with COMPASSION. We are AWARE that this is not everyone’s favourite place, so at all times we try to RESPECT our patient’s wishes and fully involve them in all treatments decisions. And in everything we do we strive for EXCELLENCE in our practice, and our patient’s experience of it.

by Graeme Dentith The Crossgate Centre, Crossgate, Durham DH1 4HF Tel 0191 384 4447 www.durhamcitysmiles.co.uk JAN/FEB13

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RE-FUEL

WIN A SPA DAY FOR TWO AT THE NEW GARAGE SPA AT THE MORRITT COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL The Morritt Country House Hotel is pleased to announce the launch of its new spa, The Garage, an ancient stopping station which has been transformed into the ultimate haven for rest and relaxation.

To celebrate its launch, the Morritt is offering luxe readers the chance to win a spa day for two, including a spa treatment, two course lunch and full use of the spa facilities. The lucky winner and their guest will be treated to a day of pure indulgence and the opportunity to sample the innovative and unique spa facilities at The Garage Spa. Guests will be invited to step into the Shepherd’s Hut log sauna, a first in the UK, set in the beautiful Secret Garden complete with hanging pods with fur throws for some back to nature relaxation. Indoors, they will dip in and out of the hot tubs, feel the warmth of natural stone in the herb scented steam room feel the benefits of the salt room’s aromatherapy-infused salt block wall.

Included in the prize is a luxury Lava Shell massage. Heated natural Tiger Clam shells are worked over the body, easing out tight knots, smoothing the skin and enveloping guests in a blanket of warm and comforting stress-free calm.

A wholesome and freshly made two course lunch will be served as guests relax. The menu has been specially created for The Garage and features the very best in locally sourced ingredients. www.themorritt.co.uk To enter go to www.luxe-magazine. co.uk/competitions and click on the appropriate entry form. Fill in your details and press send. Entries by February 28th.

Terms and Conditions: Prize is valid for redemption until the end of March 2013, subject to availability. Prize includes a Lava Shell massage per person, 2 course lunch and full use of the spa facilities for 2 people.

Reader Offer The Morritt Hotel is offering luxe readers a complimentary room upgrade and use of The Garage Spa facilities for those booking a two night stay before 31st May 2013. Book direct through the hotel by calling 01833 627232 and quoting “LUXE MAGAZINE”. Offer is subject to availability. Previous bookings cannot be amended.

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Fine-tuning Let’s face it, new year demands a full body MOT so the aptly-named Garage Spa in Teesdale seems the perfect place to check in.

The opening of The Garage Spa is perfectly timed. After all, the season of excess can leave us flagging.

Mind, body and spirit exhausted and in need of metaphorical oil-change to get us revved up for the year to come.

The Garage can offer timely expertise in a Refuel facial, a classic MOT facial or yes, even its own Oil Change facial for younger skins.

The Garage is at The Morritt Arms, Greta Bridge near Barnard Castle – only ten minutes from the A1 at Scotch Corner.

The Inn has a fine history of sustenance for the traveller and the addition of the impressive spa which owners Barbara Johnson and Peter Phillips have invested £1.6m to create, continues that offering.

You will guess from the name that The Garage was the former garage for the hotel – in past times vehicles from carriages onwards would be kept there.

Today it opens as one of the most impressive and welcoming spas in the region – and it makes you go ’aah’ as soon as you step inside.

Barbara designed the spa and knew she wanted a place that was super-relaxing and unstuffy. She’s gone the extra mile in attention to detail so you notice the lovely textures, wood and fabrics throughout.

Lovely grey London Tube-style wall tiles in slate grey are a nice feature throughout.

There’s a lot of warm wood detail on walls and floors while furnishings are in muted colours and slubby plaids with accessories like furry footstools.

Individual changing rooms have their own old-fashioned water closet-style loos, shower and a hairdryer.

In the spa itself you wind your way through a salt room, steam room and chunky hot tubs – some metal, some wooden.

The place isn’t vast in scale but more of a warm, welcoming cocoon. Gym and workout are dirty words here. It’s something of a pleasure palace and you will want to linger.

We especially liked the outdoor area which is a bit wow.

There’s a traditional shepherd’s hut transformed into a sauna which is gorgeous, quirky and unexpected. An outdoor hot-tub and some suspended chairs – it’s all very sociable an user-friendly and you know it’d

be a great place to come with your buddies.

On the first floor there’s also a couples’ treatment room which has an adjoining chill-out terrace.

The day treatment packages go by the names; Country Lane, Coastal Road, Scenic Route and Off Road - boys can opt for The Stirling. These include two treatments and use of the spa.

A nice touch is a range of products used in the spa that have been designed by Barbara and her team and are cleverly packaged in the signature Garage-style.

The first few days into January seemed a good time to try a Refuel facial.

This one uses rose-based ingredients which are something of a skin super-power, bringing skin back to life and energising dull and fatigued skin.

A very thorough neck and shoulder massage was really effective at getting rid of the stresses too.

JAN/FEB13

The range of body treatments offers something new in terms of treatments – from the Racing Green tea body polish to a Gleaming Gold Champagne body wrap.

We loved the idea of the Paint Shop, fitting nicely with the garage theme – this is where you can have your nails done to chip-free perfection in a variety of finishes.

This place is a real find; somewhere new and unusual for the region in terms of spas – it feels restful and retreat-like but is nicely cool

and contemporary so you feel like you’re in on a bit of a secret. » Day packages from £140 per person which include two treatments. » Half day spa session on its own with lunch or afternoon tea, £45. » Champagne evening spa session £79 for two.

For Details www.thegaragespa.co.uk

A nice touch is the range of products used in the spa which have been designed

by Barbara and her team and are cleverly packaged in signature Garage style.

HISTORY ’S LOG BO O K >> Barbara Johnson’s approach as a ‘custodian’ rather than owner of the Morritt is evident in the hotel and bars itself as well as The Garage spa.

In the main building she has carefully renovated the parts of it with more than a little tlc.

The place is steeped in character – Dickens mentions Greta Bridge in Nicholas Nickleby, having visited in 1839 researching the book.

At the end of the 18th Century and beginning of the 19th Century, famous painters such as Turner and Cotman painted many of the beauty spots in and around the Greta. The association of art with The Morritt is clearly demonstrated today with the unique mural of Dickensian characters in The Dickens Bar. In 1946 Jack Gilroy, a well-known portrait and landscape artist completed the mural in just eleven days as a favour to Major Morritt whom he also coached as an amateur artist.

A contemporary version of the mural has since been added in an adjoining bar with hand-scripted quotations form Dickens’.

A ballroom was added in 1930 and has seen local weddings and dances for generations ever since.

More recently an atrium and conservatory has been added and was notably the venue for home secretary William Hague’s 50th birthday bash!

JAN/FEB13

Save £10 on a Cut & Colour when you bring this advert to the salon

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CREATURE COMFORT in association with

www.greatlook.co.uk

Spider man

The work of furniture designer Malcolm Lewis is not for the faint-hearted with macabre inspiration from spiders to horror films.

A step inside Malcolm Lewis’s home makes your eyes widen and senses sharpen.

From outside it is pretty ordinary but what lies within is certainly thought-provoking.

Spiders, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and even his dead cat’s ashes all have their part to play in Malcolm’s provocative craftsmanship.

Wood is Malcolm’s thing. Really beautiful pieces of wood that have been shaped crafted and buffed into artworks that are both functional and funky.

He has spent the past two years in a neat

58

shed, the size of which you would not believe, at the bottom of his garden, honing his art form and creating gallery-worthy pieces which have just been launched to the design world.

His story is a fascinating one which takes in an unremarkable education and working life until his late twenties when Malcolm realised just what was possible with a piece of wood.

After embarking on a bricklaying course he did some joinery work and that was, as they say, the lightbulb moment.

His obsession with wood, carving and design has seen him design furniture pieces which

Spiders, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and even his dead cat’s ashes all have their part to play in Malcolm’s provocative craftsmanship.

JAN/FEB13

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They caught the eye of Balman Gallery in Corbridge which is one of the first places to show Malcolm’s Arachnacab wooden cabinet.

The wooden storage cabinet stands on metal spider-like legs and makes for an instant talking point.

The same is true for pretty much everything inside of his house – it is furnished with mirrors, cabinets wardrobes and tables all designed and made himself.

His first work was carved wooden ceiling coving. His light switches have wooden surrounds and the ceiling rose that holds a designer light is hand-carved wood with a metal stitching effect. This he says was

inspired by Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

His fascination with spiders doesn’t extend to being able to catch one creeping across the floor but he is intrigued enough by them to be inspired to make a number of items in the range – including his Arachnatab – a thick eight-legged wooden-topped dining table.

“I was always good at drawing and had a wild inspiration, drawing creatures and aliens – that has seeped into what I do now I suppose”, says Malcolm.

The grand mirrors he designs and makes are slightly more conventional – he is currently working on a commission for one for a restaurant in Ponteland. They are huge works which would dominate a hallway and he >>

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Unit 4D, Airport Ind Est. Kingston Park NE3 2EF 0191 271 5800

www.thebathroomstudio.co.uk JAN/FEB13

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CREATURE COMFORT in association with

www.greatlook.co.uk

used panels of different woods as the mirror surrounds to make every piece different.

Some have wood inlays and others have glass pieces worked into the wood.

Different techniques create differing effects – sand-blasting, pitting and ageing for example.

Recently he has been trying to replicate the effect of weathered rocks in wood on pieces.

Malcolm works predominantly in American white oak, brown oak burr or black walnut, frequently travelling the country to source the best pieces.

He shows us a piece of brown oak burr in his workshop. It almost fills the side of the building. It will make a stunning table top.

‘Burr’ is a piece of wood with wavy sides that makes a uniquely shaped piece of furniture because of the shapes. The burr is a form of ‘scar tissue’ on a tree.

It can be intricate and painstaking – it can also be dangerous work – Malcolm almost lost a finger when it was sheared to the bone in an accident with a sander. His forefinger was ground to the bone and he needed three operations to save it.

A keen cyclist as well as a furniture-maker, he was off his bike as well as work machinery for three months.

Aside from that interruption, he has been working at full pelt for the past two years,

supported by his girlfriend Helen, in order to be able to create range of pieces that he hopes people will love as investments in their own right as well as functional pieces of furniture in their home.

From start to finish a cabinet or table takes around two weeks to make in Malcolm’s workshop.

He uses lights in his designs to create unusual light fittings – such as one inspired by 1950s sci-fi.

“I hope they will be pieces that people love and want in their homes – they will gain in value and they will change as they age – that is what is so beautiful about a piece of wood.

“I am really excited that now there is a good range of pieces for people to see – I am proud of what I have made here.”

We walk back through the house where a three-legged cabinet sits in the corner of the room. It houses a small wooden box and therein lie the ashes of Lucky, Malcolm’s cat which died aged 23. This a bespoke and very fitting resting place.

Malcolm’s work range from £300 for a small mirror to around £3,000 for Arachnacab in scorched American oak with wire stitching.

Lightswitch surrounds from £30. www.lewisdesigns.eu

It can be intricate and painstaking - it can also be dangerously creative Malcolm almost lost a finger in an accident with a sander.

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JAN/FEB13

STEPPING UP IN STYLE

Based in Blaydon, A WOOD IDEA are specialist suppliers of quality joinery products to retail and trade clients. We have an extensive range of hardwood flooring, doors, staircases & garden decking. A full installation service is available on all products.

A WOOD IDEA can also supply made to measure doors and frames.

So if you have A WOOD IDEA, call into the showroom and see our range.

“Now that’s a Wood Idea”

A Wood Idea Unit 4, Blaydon Trade Park, Toll Bridge Road, Blaydon, Tyne & Wear. NE21 5TR

T 0191 414 1300

F 0191 414 1306

www.awoodidea.com

THE RE-VAMP in association with

www.greatlook.co.uk

Getting cross with chrome Got a new year decorating bee in your bonnet?

Here’s one task interior designer Allison Thambyrajah took to with gusto.

The task? A £10,000 budget to transform a characterless house with a touch bachelor pad overload into a contemporary family home.

The client? Single dad and businessman David Nixon with two teens whose home was more ‘lads’ night in’ than,

‘call in for coffee’.

The evidence. Black furniture – and lots of it. You know the type. Black leather sofas, black coffee tables and audio units – all on an unfriendly blank canvas of pale walls unchanged since the three-storey house was built a few years ago.

In itself the townhouse property just outside of Yarm had plenty going for it – unusual sweeping curved walls in the

hallway, leading to the first floor dining room, kitchen and sitting room.

“But it was a case of going from one extreme to the other”, says interior designer Allison, who runs Original Interiors with her sister, based in Yarm and York.

“There was much high-end black gloss, silver and chrome.

It was bachelor classy”, she says tongue firmly in cheek.

The brief was to take a £10,000 budget to re-vamp the house, give it a different, more welcoming and contemporary feel, create new bedrooms for the children and buy new furniture.

Allison is a fan of Farrow and Ball paints and used them as a starting point for the rooms with a palette that >>

“There was much high-end black gloss, silver and chrome. It was bachelor classy”, says Allison, tongue firmly in cheek.

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JAN/FEB13

A showroom you can’ t afford not to visit!

Introducing our unique designer furniture .

• Kitchens • Bedrooms • Interior design service

• Home Cinema • Lounge/dining furniture • Lighting

10th Avenue West | Team valley Trading Estate | Gateshead | Opposite Retail World 0191 4913836 www.greatlook.co.uk

THE RE-VAMP in association with

www.greatlook.co.uk

>> The black and chrome lad’s pad before the makeover, above and below.

incorporated chalky greys and blues for a hint of a coastal theme.

She invested in quality fabrics from her favourite designers such as Biggie Best and Vanessa Arbuthnott for key blinds and soft furnishings then accompanied David on shopping trips to buy items both high street and designer to feature in the schemes.

The change has been a dramatic one. The house has a breezy modern flow to it with the complementary colours creating a feeling of space and style.

In the hallway, which had been very much a dumping ground, she started with F&B’s Blue Gray shade. The oak floors and fittings worked well with the muted shades and Allison added a console table, dramatic mirror and baskets for storage to make an impact in the space.

Moving to the kitchen and dining area she used the shade Light Blue on the walls. An oak table from Barker and Stonehouse was a new buy with new chairs with cushions in a linen fabric by Concept to reflect the overall coastal-cool theme. These tied in with new roman blinds in the rooms.

The main sitting room was given a laid back new look. Out went those jaded black and chrome pieces and in came calm, coastal and chic.

The walls were painted Light Gray and the L-shape of the room meant a small section could be separated off to almost make for a chill-out area. This is where the gorgeous tan leather lounge chair makes its impact – an Ipad movie chair all its own – still a nod to high-end modern but adding warmth with its rich tan leather rather than turn-off black.

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“Although this is one room, that chair is a bit separate so everyone can be doing their thing but not necessarily all sitting looking at one another”, says Allison.

“There is still chrome and silver in the room but now it is a more sophisticated and muted look – the lamp from Cinnamon Bay Interiors in Yarm makes a real impact for example.“ David bought new pale grey-beige sofas and side tables from Barker and Stonehouse and for the windows, Allison went for a fabric from the Biggie Best range.

On the third floor the master bedroom has been a pale cream colour – the bed was ‘a keeper’ so Allison went for scheme with a hint of Swedish – painting walls with Oval Room Blue and using fabrics by Vanessa Arbuthnott in this rooms and the huge en-suite. The mirror was from Cinnamon Bay. The bedspread is a story in itself. It was from Laura Ashley and the perfect shade for the room – but beading details was a touch too much for David, ‘too feminine’ – so Allison ended up chopping off some 500 or so beads from the cover.

The children’s rooms were small and basic in their dimensions but for 12-year-old Abbie there was a romantic feel to the

furnishings with an antique dressing table and mirror and a soft vintage theme. Walls painted in Mizzle shade and the curtains made up in silk fabric by Trade 80 with the bed cover from Laura Ashley.

Kyle’s room is a bit of teen boy heaven. Walls in Manor House Gray and a blind made from Concept fabric. Target duvet and throw from Debenhams.

Says Allison; “The house was completely transformed throughout. It was case of savvy shopping – using good paints and fabrics then heading to the high street and to outlet stores to get the bargains.

“TK Maxx was a revelation for David – it is a great place to find home accessories but then it is about putting them with dramatic pieces like the leather lounge chair and the statement lamp which give a designer look to a place.

“The place is far more welcoming for the whole family now, a place that they love to come to and spend time in.

“Rooms have character and purpose and a bit of style – it feels like a home and definitely not a bachelor pad.“ www.originalinteriors.co.uk

It was case of savvy shopping – using good paints and fabrics then heading to the high street and to outlet stores to get the bargains.

JAN/FEB13

THEXXXXXXXX BEASTIES

TREND WATCH with Bryan Middleton If you’re wondering where home trends are heading this spring, then just think gardens, dusty sheds and Darwinian drawings. >> Made.com has collaborated with Jimmie Martin, the luxury interiors brand to create quirky and unique pieces. The Relic Collection includes sumptuous wall hangings and cushion covers, crafted in the UK out of linen and cotton.

Wall hangings, £79, cushion covers, £59. www.made.com

>> (far left) Lloyd Loom of Spalding Belvoir chair, £319. www.lloydloom >> (left) Pipit double duvet cover £50, pillowcase £10. www.johnlewis.com

You may or may not be emerging from winter as you read this. At the time of writing the day is glorious, if chilly. When the sun is out it is easy to think of spring and that’s what new season interiors are all about.

The aftermath of rain-soaked, soggy fields makes us think about the countryside around and our natural resources. Design trends reflect this with a definite botanical feel in terms of fabrics prints which reflect the natural world and attention to detail. All those things lurking in the long grass.

We’re back in the era of those Victorian thinkers. The attention to detail in painstaking drawings reflecting flora and fauna around them. This is the opposite of bling. A reflective take on your surroundings that makes you think of people like William Morris.

There is much attention to detail in the minute detail of prints and accessories that will take their place in homes this spring.

They team with rustic furnishings and soft, chalky paints for this look with sometimes unexpected earthy colour hues.

It is a theme than plays on the idea of home as a soothing place, which it should be, and emphasizes the simplicity of natural materials.

Middleton Design >> Folia Collection by Harlequin features a wonderful array of botanical print fabrics and wallpapers that are perfect for creating a refreshing spring look. Leaf trails, beautiful berries, shapely fruit and nostalgic floral motifs are delicate in detail but immense in character. This collection can be incorporated into almost any scheme from shabby chic and elegant luxury to contemporary and traditional interiors. To create an authentic look, pair these botanical prints with lightly distressed wood furniture. This enhances the natural element brought to the design through the foliage prints, and creates a look that is light and fresh; perfect for spring. Folia fabrics start from £37 per metre and wallpapers from £39. www.harlequin.uk.com

DURHAM

JAN/FEB13

C ommi ssi on e d f u r nitu re • Cu r ta in s Fa br i cs • Wa l l pa pe r s Station House Durham City 0191 384 3884

www.middletondesign.co.uk

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LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES A perky print Caffeine-heads out there, sip on this statement of intent. Given Enough Coffee I Could Rule The World. We heartily agree and are half way there.

Print from Life and Lemons, ÂŁ25 www.culturelabel.com

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JAN/FEB13

FEATHERED FRIENDS

PLOT with Will Quarmby, Hampton Court Flower Show gold winner So much rain has made gardening a drag - so turn your attention to the birds.

BIRDS IN THE GARDEN >> I feel it may have been more appropriate this year if Santa had ridden around the world on an Ark rather than a sleigh.

No-one it seems has escaped the torrential rain over the past months and our gardens have become more like paddy fields than lawns.

With this in mind I thought I’d take the opportunity to write about our feathered friends who, whatever the weather, will be kept busy foraging for food amongst our trees and hedgerows. Many gardeners want to try to encourage birds into their gardens. Whilst it’s true that they can cause damage, they can also help, because they have an enormous appetite for quantities of insects and pests. I do not claim to be a specialist in ornithology, in fact, far from it but if you’ve been following my articles you will know about our brood of hens, and for Christmas my wife received two ducks to add to the mix. These two are fonder of the green stuff than of their feed which is proving somewhat difficult with all the mud where once grass stood. However, our local greengrocer does spoil them by saving the outer cauliflower leaves for them once a week!

ROUENA & EIDA >> So, how can we help the smaller of the species to flourish in our gardens? Planting native plants helps enormously but you do need use your commonsense when selecting them.

Woodland trees such as oaks and beech will be too large for smaller gardens and would take decades if not centuries to establish, so if choosing new trees, think about smaller native tree forms such as mountain ash ( sorbus aucuparia), silver birch (Betula Pendula), hawthorn (Crataegus) and holly (llex).

Ornamental trees such as cherries (prunus) and crab apples (Malus) also fit the bill of a good food source for birds. I went as far as leaving a dead fruit tree (that we inherited with the garden) in place simply because it would encourage a woodpecker or two. It is a great spot for the birds to perch, and for me to enjoy watching them. My wife took it upon herself to get crafty and made a very successful bird feeder which is cheap and easily replicated by following these simple steps: • Get an empty inner cardboard tube from a toilet roll or kitchen towel • Get some peanut butter (we had some value stuff knocking about) and coat the outside of the roll with it • Spread some bird seed over a chopping board or suitable surface and then roll the peanut butter coated cardboard tube ensuring it is evenly coated in the seed. It may need patting down a bit.

• Find a suitable place to hang it – this is where the dead tree came into it’s own! I think my wife was relieved to find something practical to use it for as she was pretty unimpressed with her line of apple trees being interspersed with a dead one!

Not everyone has the luxury of a large back garden but if you do have the space, you can plant a native hedgerow on your boundary, which if left untrimmed, will give birds a really good habitat to nest and feed in.

Plants include: wild privet (Ligustrum vulgare), dog rose (Rosa canina), Guelder rose, and hawthorn. If your garden needs a formal clipped hedge, beech, holly and hornbeam all make good hedges and are natives which can provide a home for birds, but not the source of food and nectar that an unclipped hedge does.

If space is at a premium you can try training climbing plants up walls and fences, and by planting shrubs at the base you can turn them into a living boundary, providing cover and nesting sites that are unavailable on unplanted vertical surfaces. Ivy is particularly valuable as it flowers in autumn, but you may not want to plant vigorous forms against house walls, since it can damage mortars.

In your borders and flowerbeds use plenty of native plants where possible: foxgloves, teasels, red campion and meadow

JAN/FEB13

TH RE E LU XE BIR D FE ED ER S >> bird feeder, right, This contemporary Danish designer ional aspects funct and n desig rn with its sleek, mode d steel and is stunning. Made of powder coate lling of the eating designed to ensure automatic refi magnetic roof it area and fitted with a removable on the market. must be one of the most innovative Green, Black Available in 4 colours: White, Lime or Purple.

£39.95, www.nordichouse.co.uk

exquisite metal Brighten up your garden with these Kashmir in ed paint hand lly bird houses. Skilfu in their providing employment for artisans own homes.

£14.95, www.barley-sugar.co.uk

er’s fluro vibe.

Shockingly on-trend for the summ - will it scare pink t brigh in e Hous Qui Est Paul Bird the birds?

£45, www.johnlewis.com

>> Above: Contemporary Danish Bird Feeder >> Left: Eva hand painted bird house >> Below: Qui Est Paul Bird House

Whilst it’s true that birds can cause damage they can also help because they have an enormous appetite for insects and pests

cranesbill can all be planted in ornamental areas. Plant ornamental herbaceous plants, including ones that have a good seedhead, and plan for season long attraction: aubritea, sunflowers, scabious, wallflowers, michaelmas daises, sedums. In autumn, don’t be too fastidious in tidying up your borders. Leaving seedheads on plants looks good in frost, and provides a source of food throughout winter for birds. Cut back in early spring - late February - when the new season’s shoots are emerging from the base of plants. Garden debris can also be used by birds for nesting.

Pest Control: Many birds eat a variety of insects, including aphids, mosquitoes, spiders and other bugs that may not be welcome in your garden. Attracting birds encourages them to take advantage of this natural food source, eliminating the

need for harsh chemical insecticides.

Weed Control: Finches, towhees and sparrows consume great quantities of weed seeds, making them effective landscapers to help control unwanted plants. Planting seed-bearing flowers for birds can also give them a natural food source to enjoy without needing frequent feeder refills As a postscript, it might go without saying but when you introduce food into the garden there may be other animals who will try their luck! My 92-year-old grandmother is pretty deft with her Super Soaker 50 when it comes to defending her birds’ food from the squirrels. It never fails to bring a smile to my face imagining “great granny” wielding this little beauty around!

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LUXE LOCAL

Helmsley This chocolate box North Yorkshire town is a real pull for the weekend break crowd.

Trendy hotels, foodie retreats and wilderness miles to explore from the doorstep.

PROPERTIES >> Atiny honey-coloured terraced cottage or a country estate. Both on the doorstep in these parts. It really is a lovely part off the world and properties are well cared for and sought-after. Prices reflect the loveliness of course. Second homes and rentals are snapped up.

There’s a fair bit of Farrow & Ball lavished on the doors and window frames of the pretty cottages that line the streets around the central square which is the hub of the market town. A river runs through the centre of the

distinctive range of ladieswear and is well known for it own range of merino wool knitwear which is completely designed and produced in Yorkshire. Browns is a mini department store with a good selection of Joules clothing for country-set folks.

Carters Country Wear specialises in ladies’ and men’s shooting and country wear. Plus fours and beyond.

Find nice home things at Indigo opposite the church and Peter Silk interior design – if stags are your thing this is the place. Strange but true, Find a selection of beautifully

town and a castle stands guard over it all.

Duncombe Park is the country estate on the edge of the village.

crafted hand-made stags head plaques/coat hangers that can be covered to match your existing scheme - just supply the fabric!

Saltbox Gallery is an independent craft gallery run by jeweller Louise Dwyer and artist blacksmith Matthew Dwyer. The gallery showcases contemporary fine art and craft including ceramics, glass, jewellery, metal work and sculpture. Matthew has worked as an artist blacksmith for over twenty years and now lives and works near Helmsley where he designs and makes metalwork pieces by hand.

Browse for ages in the Cut Price Bookstore which has up to 80% off all books. Also stocks a great range cards, games and gifts.

A new courtyard area has nice shops

CONNECTED >> Not very. Which is part of the charm. About an hour in each direction will see you in Teesside or York – half an hour or so to the coast at Scarborough. No local rail service.

SHOP >> Lots of shopping loveliness which is why it’s a good spot for a weekend break – much scope for mooching. Fashion-wise Pennita is a good start for posh frocks, race-day outfits and wow-factor one-offs. Nice personal service and stylish surroundings. Millers sells

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including Sienna gifts and Cotton House coffee shop and deli.

Great food to pack your hamper – head for Hunters for deli treats galore, Cinnamon Twist bakery or hand-made chocs and fine teas at The Black Swan patisserie.

STROLL >> The town itself is very stroll-able and pretty.

Head for the castle and you get a great view of the place and its surroundings too – it is an English Heritage property and good for rambling, especially if you take the kids

major employer during most of its history, but following the First World War, it was leased as a commercial enterprise and was run as such until 1984 when it fell into dereliction. The restoration began in 1994 to restore the garden back to its original Victorian beauty and productivity. Now there’s much to see – and a sweet coffee shop to linger.

EAT AND DRINK >> Plenty of choice –from traditional fish and chips to gourmet dining at great gastro pubs

From the castle you get a great view of the town and its surroundings – the English Heritage property is good for rambling, especially if you take the kids along and buy them a sword. along and buy them a sword.

Wander farther afield to the lovely Rievaux Abbey and Terraces – just a couple of miles north of Helmsley – a rewarding and easy walk.

Helmsley Walled Garden nestles between the Grade One listed landscape of Duncombe Park and Helmsley Castle. The garden was a

and good restaurants. The Black Swan and Feversham Arms (below) both boast excellent restaurants, fine-dinining and traditional. The Hare at nearby Scorton is a well-known and popular gastropub.

Harome is a few miles north and home to The Star and Pheasant pubs with chef Andrew Pern at the helm.

JAN/FEB13

LUXE LOCAL

my local Chris Parkin is a hotelier who runs Carlton Lodge in Helmsley, He is a town councillor, married with two children and passionate about Helmsley. He is a board member of Tourism Association North Yorkshire and secretary of Helmsley in Business.

Gourmet > Plenty of picnic-basket gourmet stops

This is a place for foodie relaxation and replenishment. Artisan food stores and plenty of great gastro dining stop-offs make it a come-again spot.

Three good things about living in Helmsley >> • On the edge of 500 square miles of glorious wilderness - the North York Moors national Park which is fantastic walking country.

• Wonderful village.

• Individually owned shops.

3 places to take visitors • Cow House Bank for a spectacular vista • Helmsley Arts Centre which is a fantastic, eclectic facility • Porters Coffee House for the best coffee and ice cream in the North And an ‘in the know’ secret >> The Town is divided; one half is in the National Park, the other half in Ryedale. www.thisishelmsley.co.uk

property: three to choose Copious character Aching with mouthwatering period details, this two-bedroomed cottage in Bondgate has beams, flagged floors, an Aga, cottage garden and a cast iron bath for when you’ve done with the green-fingered bit.

Super-cosy and bucketfuls of charm right in the centre of town.

£335,000 www.cundalls.co.uk

Contemporary chic A clean, contemporary look for this high street property built in traditional honey-coloured stone. Neutral and bright, it has a spanking new bathroom and a patio courtyard to call your own.

£295,000 www.rounthwaite-woodhead.co.uk

Mill around Picture-postcard loveliness in Ampleforth just a few miles from Helmsley and best known for its school. Five-bedroom detached Watergate Mill had character and a contemporary feel with a grand kitchen as well as dining room with original range. Nice sunroom and charming gardens.

PROPERTY WATCH WITH DUNCAN YOUNG

A REAL SHORTAGE OF HOUSING I had my first experiences in estate agency in 1980/1981. In those days we advised and acted for a number of property developers who would traditionally build a small show village of houses as an example of what could be available to buy.

These show villages were fully constructed with show homes, which were furnished to a high standard and some were available to those who would commit early, with ‘free carpets’ or a sophisticated and integrated split level oven!

In the last six to seven years, builders have stopped constructing houses in the hope that they will sell and, in most cases, have only been constructing to order. The reality was that in 2007 and 2008 many of the builders were going through a torrid time with the devaluation of their land banks.

I have never known a time in my career when so few houses have been built and we are regularly told in the press by many economists that this will undoubtedly lead to future problems.

Housing studies, population studies and census information clearly identifies the need for greater housing stock in the near future. Our population is living longer, we have historically encouraged greater immigration and, regrettably, more families than ever before are divided and live in two homes. This, combined with the need to have second and third holiday homes, creates a very significant increase in the demand for housing.

There have been many examples recently where we have seen rental income outstrip the cost of a comparative mortgage. These examples are becoming ever more frequent and in many popular areas of the North East a rent can be anywhere between 20 and 30 per cent higher than a mortgage would be, assuming a 20 or 25 per cent deposit. I can only see this situation getting worse in the future.

I am pleased that for the first time in seven years my company is now being employed on a number of sites throughout the region to market and sell new homes, which is the lifeblood of our industry. In Alnwick the much awaited development by Cussins Homes, called The Limes at Swansfield Park, will provide some outstanding modern houses in an elevated position overlooking this historic market town. The mix of 72 units, which will create beautiful living in two, three and four bedroom properties, should be constructed over the next 18 to 24 months.

In the Ouseburn Valley, close to the Quayside, we will finally see the first beginnings of residential development in an area where we were advising 10 to 15 years ago on possible new build schemes. Igloo Homes have some amazing plans identifying modern family homes in what I am sure will become the new trendy suburb, comparable to Jesmond or Gosforth. The plans are very exciting and a marketing suite should be launched in early spring.

Some of our smaller developers have cherry-picked some beautiful sites in the suburbs of Newcastle, where semi detached, terraces and family apartments will all be built, converting former schools and offices, as well as, in one case in Gosforth, a Magistrates Court! All of these sites will create fabulous opportunities for beautiful homes and will be very welcome.

The economy is improving and the interest rates are no doubt going to stay low for a longer period of time than expected. Mortgage availability is increasing and even with smaller deposits we can now offer a comprehensive range and mix of competitively priced products, which should entice people out of the rental sector and into ownership. It is important that we have a fair mix between rental and sales if we are to continue to be price comparable and we can only do this by increasing the supply of new build properties.

Most economists now agree that 2013 will see a gradual improvement in the number of house purchases and that transactions will increase this year. We were fortunate last year to see a good increase within our own company, with over a 15 per cent rise in transactions year on year and we hope to repeat this again in 2013. It is, however, imperative that our clients who are selling property remain realistic about the values and keep away from the fictitious fairytale prices that were once thought to be realistic in 2006 and 2007.

We have invested heavily in the last 12 months in our new media and with our mobile website and our Sanderson Young App we can offer you a variety of property 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The interaction of our website and the alerts that our buyers receive create quick sales for houses which are popular and priced well from the very outset.

At Sanderson Young we are ready, willing and able to make a difference to the sale of your home this year. We very much look forward to hearing from you.

Duncan G Young Dip.Est.Man.FNAEA, Managing Director, Sanderson Young

£1,150,000 www.carterjonas.co.uk JAN/FEB13

duncan.young@sandersonyoung.co.uk 0191 223 3500

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SELLING THE REGION’S

FINEST HOMES

RUNNYMEDE ROAD Darras Hall Occupying a stunning garden site this magnificent modern mansion house has superb architectural design and is well set back from Runnymede Road. A supremely impressive and special home, designed and finished to a superb standard with stunning international fittings, fixtures and furniture, it has four double bedrooms, four reception rooms, and a substantial games room currently used as a professional gym but which could easily divide into two or three further bedroom suites.

Price Guide: £2.95 Million

VIEWLY GRANGE FARM Pity Me, Durham A highly impressive 17th Century, Grade II Listed farmhouse contrasting contemporary accommodation with period styling. In a very special setting, this five double bedroomed property is set within circa 7 acres and has a stunning leisure/cinema area, magnificent orangery and a leisure wing with large swimming pool. It has the benefit of a one bedroomed cottage and is well located on the outskirts of Durham with ease of access to Durham train station and Newcastle via the A1M.

Price Guide: £1.85 Million

From Sanderson Young

ALL CONFIDENTIAL ENQUIRIES TO 0191 223 3500 or email: duncan.young@sandersonyoung.co.uk

SELLING THE REGION’S

FINEST HOMES

OGLE CASTLE Ogle Ogle Castle, believed to be one of the oldest inhabited buildings in Northumberland, has a fabulous history and is beautifully built in stone.

Grade I Listed and set in approximately 5 acres of stunning grounds, it currently operates as a bed and breakfast and benefits from equestrian facilities and a grazing paddock. is very special nine bedroom country home is a secret gem and enjoys good accessibility to Ponteland and Newcastle International Airport.

Price Guide: £1.5 Million

THE GROVE Gosforth Believed to date back to the 1890s, this impressive three storey semi detached villa is located in a very popular residential area, known for its beautiful Georgian and Victorian properties. With six double bedrooms and three reception rooms it has been extensively renovated and has a great deal of style and character with high ceilings, fabulous cornicing and lovely fireplaces. Externally, the gardens are striking with mature trees and a separate sitting area and patio.

Price Guide: £1.375 Million

From Sanderson Young

ALL CONFIDENTIAL ENQUIRIES TO 0191 223 3500 or email: duncan.young@sandersonyoung.co.uk

Fine & Country iPhone App Download the Fine & Country iPhone App today to browse some of the finest properties worldwide. Featuring our unique lifestyle video technology, stunning imagery and a ‘near you’ search facility.

Download it now at www.fineandcountry.com

local, regional, national and international specialists in property marketing EDEN HOUSE TUDHOE VILLAGE DURHAM This stunning, stone-built property is bursting with character and period charm, and presented to a very high standard throughout. It offers the perfect balance between providing the space and layout of a substantial family home with the feel of a country dwelling, features include beamed ceilings, sliding sash windows and a log burning stove.

The double fronted property has a pretty cottage garden with glazed porch facing the village green, the current daily access has been adopted at the rear where the property is entered from a sunny, walled courtyard. The superb reception space comprises a delightful and comfortable dual aspect lounge as well as a welcoming sitting room that is both warm and cosy. At the heart of the home is a fabulous and highly desirable breakfasting/dining kitchen with bespoke wooden units and granite worktops providing a superb area for family dining & relaxation. There are four delightful bedrooms and three stylish bathrooms. The master suite benefits from having a dressing room and also boasts a fabulous full size en-suite.

To the front of the property is an Indian fossil stone patio, this area provides a great entertaining area where the sun shines from lunchtime until sunset, a perfect suntrap. To the rear a small curved wall frames the sunken Indian fossil stone patio and paths leading to the lawn area.

Contact: 0191 384 2277

IVY COTTAGE DURHAM ROAD, BRANCEPETH COUNTY DURHAM • Ivy Cottage is a quintessential English dwelling full of charm and character.

• The delightful Grade II listed home offers the desirable features of cottage living.

• It has a contemporary feel throughout, presented in fashionable neutral greys and other colours yet it retains many period features.

• The property boasts a delightful southerly facing courtyard which provides perfect al fresco dining/entertaining.

£575,000

HELME PARK COTTAGE HELME PARK, WEARDALE COUNTY DURHAM • Set in just under two acres of mature private grounds Helme Park Cottage provides an exquisite rural hideaway.

• Decorated in a traditional but modern style, the deceptively large four bedroom family cottage offers spacious and comfortable living accommodation.

• The property boasts a superb sized lounge with log burning stove, dining area and generous conservatory as well as an impressive master bedroom with en-suite.

• The extensive outside space provides massive potential opportunities to prospective buyers.

Contact: 0191 384 2277

£265,000 Contact: 0191 384 2277

Newcastle 0845 459 6000

Durham 0191 384 2277

Wynyard 01740 645 444

residing@fineandcountry.com

info@durhamfineandcountry.co.uk info@wynyardfineandcountry.co.uk residing@fineandcountry.com cumbria@fineandcountry.com

Tyne Valley 0845 459 6000

£379,000 Cumbria 0845 872 5453

PASSION PLACES

RUSTIC ROULETTES These eco-homes require a Stefan Grapelli soundtrack, baguette and vin rouge as your weekend accessory musts.

French roulottes for a touch of glam (ish!) camping in the Borders go by the cutesy names of Devanna, Karlotta, Gitana and Maharani and Rosa Bella. The joyful, wooden chill-out shacks offer a stylish and utterly different place to enjoy time out from everyday life. You can base yourself there for a yoga retreat too.

From £90 a night www.roulotteretreat.com

CITY HIP STAY A speedy shot of something stylish - Shoreditch Rooms is a new boutique hotel in East London. These luxurious rooms are the newest addition to Shoreditch House which has long drawn in hip Londoners and Soho House Groups media-savvy membership.

Now all of the House’s fabulous facilities are open for guests of their newly-opened lodgings. Head up to the roof-top to enjoy a pool-side cocktail, with views over the City, dine in one of the two great restaurants, take a pampering treatment in the Cowshed spa, blow off some steam in the gym and challenge your friends to a game in the bowling alley before a lively evening in the stylish Square Bar. www.shoreditchhouse.com

BLUEBELLS Bluebells is a gorgeous canvas cottage which is so beautifully and stylishly decorated that it is hard to believe you are nestled in a woodland spinney in the open countryside. It’s near Market Bosworth in the East Midlands with its far-reaching views of patchwork quilt fields and has an old-fashioned farm landscape. Inside, the cottage has been lovingly designed to create a nostalgic and tranquil atmosphere with chic little touches everywhere, from the whistling Le Creuset kettle to the claw-footed free standing bath. With no electricity, the hum-drum of the television is replaced by bird song, the whisper of the wind, and the sounds of the world. Aah. A flicker of candlelight, a trail of tea lights and the hanging lanterns offer complete escapism under the huge star-spotted skies.

From £692 for a week www.oneoffplaces.co.uk

JAN/FEB13

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CRUISE CONTROL

A dressy affair Cruise virgin Kathryn Armstrong sets sail on a caviar-on-tap luxury journey.

I am at the same time flummoxed and delighted by the dress code of ‘dressy pantsuit’. It seems an appropriately bizarre entry point into a whole new floating social world, not to mention a first foray into cruisewear.

To me dressy pantsuit means Hillary Clinton on a good day. Looking around the decks of the Seabourn Odyssey I can’t see her. I can see lots of smart, glossy people looking a lot younger than the cruise-going demographic I had in my head before sailing away.

Which is good. We’re on the Seabourn Odyssey sailing from Athens to Venice for a week. Cruise people tell me that once you’ve been on a Seabourn voyage you would be mad to try any other. In a week’s time I will heartily agree and rave about this five-start floating cocoon of luxury in a way I would never have thought possible.

I will also go home and really miss my 5pm deckside margarita, my mid-afternoon room service prosciutto and melon nibble – and be

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really sad to replace eggs Benedict or smoked salmon on the balcony with Special K for breakfast in the kitchen. And, yes, I might even mourn dressing for dinner.

Cruising is the polar opposite to my usual holiday. Normally our family will hole up in a place with a pool – event a tent by a lake – and wear the same clothes for week. Dressy pantsuit doesn’t come into it. I have never been fond of the ‘dress for dinner’ holiday where you have to smarten up the kids and be on your best behaviour.

Like I say, this cruise is the opposite. Best behaviour big-time. But it proved to be good fun; sociable, very stylish, if at times way beyond formal. But that’s what you buy into on a holiday like this.

Our kids were left behind on holidays of their own, so we were in the land of luxey coupledom. If you’re a clubby sort then you will love the environment. Although around half of the guests were British, the ship seemed populated by Americans who are great at doing that thing of popping to your table, asking to join you, then embarking on

a 20-questions session to suss you out.

One day someone even sought us out on a sunbed to get a definitive answer to something they’d asked the previous night about our jobs.

The Seabourn fleet is all about luxury and even before you join what becomes ’your Seabourn family’, you are ensconced – from the chauffeur-driven car from hotel to ship to the chilled cocktails circulated by white-gloved waiters while you wait to have your passport checked.

Once on board you’re whisked to one of the restaurants for the first of many, many glasses of champagne. Everything is included on a Seabourn cruise so there is no trace of cash or a wristband throughout.

Arriving at our suite, our butler brought us the soap menu – five soaps laid out on a silver tray. Yes you heard right - several to choose from, from Molten Brown to L’Occitane and more.

Chilled champagne awaited us to see us through those tricky unpacking minutes (a walk-in wardrobe provided for the cruisewear) and moments later a platter of caviar and smoked salmon canapés arrived to be enjoyed whilst we decided which drinks and spirits we wanted in our minibar for the week. Exhausting demands. Believe it or not,

they were never touched as drinks and cocktails were so readily available everywhere else without the effort of pouring yourself.

The ship had not even moved and we were hooked. We headed to deck for the sail-away party at around 5pm. Live music, heaps of cocktails and a dizzy atmosphere – and a hello from the man who would be our host for the week. If you’ve ever watched the US TV series, Modern Family and know the character Cam, then this was he. Superfriendly super-hearty, joyful and the patriarch of the ‘Seabourn Family’. Off we sailed into a whole new world.

The ships are small – around 400-450 passengers served by 330 crew, so customer service is everything. Staff really make an impact; they were efficient but also interesting, confident and capable, great at remembering guests who had been before or who became regulars at their bar or restaurant.

The itinerary for our cruise would take in the Greek mainland with access to Sparta and Olympia, Dubrovnic, and Venice. The smaller vessels have easier access to lesser-known cruise stop-offs and we loved Parga in Greece and the stylish coastal town of Hvar in Croatia.

At the different destinations the ship moors

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CRUISE CONTROL

FACTS >> Cruise only prices from £1,973 per person, based on two people sharing a suite, fully inclusive of all tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars and fully stocked mini bar.

For additional information contact UK Reservations 0843 373 2000 or visit www.seabourn.co.uk 7-DAY GREECE AND DALMATIAN DELIGHTS Ship » Seabourn Odyssey Departure Port » Piraeus (Athens), Greece Departure Dates » Jul 06, 2013, Aug 10, 2013, Sep 14, 2013 Ports of Cal » Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Gythion, Greece; Katakolon, Greece; Parga, Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Hvar, Croatia; Ravenna (San Marino), Italy; Venice, Italy

offshore and a tender takes you to the portside. These journeys usually have just a handful of people disembarking so you never feel that you are a heaving mass of cruisers descending on a town. As you walk from the tender to the portside you’re offered iced water, chilled flannels and a shaded canopy with chairs when you return to wait for the tender (never more than five minutes). It is a pampering experience throughout.

One day the Odyssey created its own watersports centre at the back of the ship with a pontoon and numerous watersports activites – from banana boats to waterskis, canoes and speedboats. A very sociable experience.

The days follow an effortless pattern – breakfast on the balcony, head for a sunbed for an hour or so with the papers or book.

Head off on the tender to explore whatever the destination – at Parga it was nice to explore the town, walk to quiet beaches and enjoy the simplicity of a Greek salad before swimming in the sea. In Dubrovnic we walked the walls and explored the museum: a sobering memory of the recent past conflicts in a building still peppered with gunshot.

Around 5pm was a favourite time of the day when a cocktail finds its way to your hand and the ship sails off. By 7pm the cocktail lounge is heaving and it’s time to meet up with fellow travellers for a martini before heading off to the night’s restaurant of choice.

The food was outstanding throughout. And the dress code a key player. Each day you’d get a daily bulletin about the activities on board – which might range from a talk about the day’s destination by a historian to a

JAN/FEB13

mid-afternoon quiz to a fashion show in the cocktail lounge. Even ballroom dancing lessons, of which we did not partake.

The bulletin would give details of the evening’s menus and appropriate dress codes with subtle differences. These ranged from ‘formal optional to ‘elegantly casual’ taking in ‘resort casual’ and formal. Phew. You could be ‘elegantly casual’ everywhere at any time in your ‘blouse and slacks’ – and this is where you could rock out in your dressy pantsuit.

To be fair, before we had travelled, a UK-based Seabourn representative had told us to just to wear what you would normally wear – the American obsession with interpretations of formality being lost on us.

On formal night I had a maxi dress moment – and giggled at being escorted to our table on the arm of a waiter – all very grown-up.

We were invited to tour of the ship’s

Chef’s Dinner was an eight-course tasting menu included white asparagus soup, pan roast turbot and fillet mignon. Accompanying wines were Pouilly Fume and cru class Margaux.

kitchen one afternoon with head chef Sean Emslie. The sheer volume of food created onboard is astounding. There are four restaurants; a relaxed patio grill for surf&turf-style food, a huge balcony restaurant with food themed to the travel destination, a formal main restaurant and a smaller ‘tasting menu’ restaurant.

The choice was fabulous - it would be a great gourmet adventure for a foodie couple as the choice was superb but food cooked and delivered to exceptional standards.

Sommelier-chosen wines are included but you can upgrade to a fine wines package as well.

Invitations to dine as a group with the captain or key crew members arrived a couple of times – it was good fun to meet other passengers – from the young honeymooning New Yorkers to Mid-west psychologists.

There were two memorable meals – one, the Chef’s Dinner – an eight-course tasting menu which included white asparagus soup with caramelised asparagus, duck confit with vanilla pear, pan roast turbot an fillet mignon. Accompanying wines were Pouilly Fume and cru class Margaux.

A second memorable food adventure was when we stopped for the port of Ravenna in Italy and went shopping with chef in the town’s markets.

His shopping cart included at least four full-sized Parma hams, numerous salami, bundles of fresh herbs, whole cheeses and anti-pasti jars. The stallholders thought Christmas had come. We went back to the ship for lunch and feasted on the lot – laid out buffet-style.

Evening entertainment on a cruise ship is the

stuff of legend - our personal favourite was the cocktail lounge and piano with its engaging Australian pianist.

We managed one show for the purposes of review – the Shirley Bassey ‘tribute’ performed by singer Paula Randell who had also been Cher and Tina Turner earlier in the week and was going down a storm.

At night there were always different choices of entertainment to suit your preference – comedy to acoustic guitar to ‘poolside’ flambe & disco’ and ‘popcorn movies under the stars’.

On the final sailaway, the style was cranked up a notch as the poolside deck became party central. Giant ice-sculptures filled with caviar were placed around the deck and guests served champagne or vodka as the entire ship’s company lined up and the Odyssey sailed for the last time. It was a spectacular, if slightly surreal affair but most definitely true to the extravagant signature style of the Seabourn fleet.

So did it convert us to the cruise life? Yes in terms of luxury, quality of food and service. It was unhurried and as flexible as you liked.

You could be sociable or not, there was no pressure to do anything or be anywhere you didn’t want to be.

Accommodation was good and the small size of the ship meant it felt like being in a small, rather exclusive hotel rather than the vast ‘small cities’ that other cruise ships carrying thousands of people looked like.

A Seabourn cruise is unashamedly upmarket and exclusive, designed to make you feel pampered and cosseted – it is definitely a nice way to travel and has left us feeling cosseted cruisers and pantsuit-savvy.

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LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES The leather weekender A soft leather biker jacket is one of those fine garments that’s a girl’s best fashion friend. It’ll take you anywhere and give a sassy edge to any outfit.

Quilted leather jacket is by Munich-based fashion house Set, £399 new to Fenwick, Newcastle.

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JAN/FEB13

GOING DUTCH

GLITZY DAYS Hip hotels with Debrah Dhugga Debrah heads to Amsterdam and a hotel with a fine cocktail of art, style and cool customers.

Museum and Hermitage are located just around the corner. If riding a bicycle around Amsterdam is too strenuous, ask Andaz Amsterdam to arrange for a private guided tour via salonboot.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT >> Based on the premise that a hotel should beat with the same heart as the city, the unique character of Amsterdam really shines through the hotel’s adventurous design.

Interior and product designer, Marcel Wanders is the man behind the hotel’s unique style which is unlike anywhere I’ve stayed before.

You get a modern flavour of Dutch history and local culture. Everywhere you turn there

is a piece of art, furniture, design that makes you take a second glance.

Throughout the hotel, Wanders played with various sources of Dutch inspiration - things like Dutch Delft blue, tulips and the colour orange. Part of the hotel’s overall design concept incorporates a unique video art collection that represents a diversion from “regular” art. The 40 unique works from various emerging and established video artists, such as Ryan Gander, Erwin Olaf and Mark Titchner, make Andaz Amsterdam the hotel with the largest video art collection in the world.

Amsterdam is stunning and you never have enough time. This one is a must to visit.

The unique character of Amsterdam really shines through the hotel’s adventurous design to create what is a very hip hangout.

THE FACTS >> Andaz Amsterdam, Prinsengracht Prinsengracht 587, Amsterdam, 1016 HT, The Netherlands www.amsterdam.prinsengracht.andaz.hyatt.com Rates from 270 Euro

Amsterdam is a brilliant destination from the North East – fast and easy daily flights from Durham Tees Valley and Newcastle make it a must-go city. This hotel will blow your mind! Schipol Airport is always a fun place to spend the euros too.

Andaz Amsterdam is on Prinsengracht, a real hotspot in central Amsterdam. It is buzzy, central and elegant. The canals are wonderful for night-time wandering, as peaceful or partyish as you like!

Who goes there: Andaz Amsterdam caters to a younger, ‘cool’ scene and anyone with an interest in design will be wowed by the place. The hotel is ideal for couples, friends or business travellers exploring Amsterdam.

The local ‘hip’ crowd come and dine at the hotel’s Bluespoon restaurant and sip cocktails in the bar (the Andaz Lounge) in the evening. It is a great place for people watching and just being there makes you feel so cool that you don’t want to leave.

COUPLES AND HONEYMOON TIME >> You know I love a spa. The Andaz Amsterdam is fantastic. It is city central but still manages to feel like a retreat away from it all. Or if the weather isn’t great the spa is a good place to hole up and chill out with a pampering. The Spa uses both June Jacobs and Perricone products – these are some of the signature

JAN/FEB13

treatments from both brands: JUNE JACOBS: Decollete - Using cranberries and anti-aging complexes to ensure visible results. This extremely gentle treatment, inclusive of exfoliation, a bust massage and a sculpting mask, leaves your skin feeling firmer, plumper and smoother.

PERRICONE: Restore – An intensive care and repair for deep skin damage. Treatment ramps up healing with serum applications and restorative massage.

LOCATION >> Set on the Prinsengracht (the site of the former Public Library), a part of the iconic ring of canals that was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010, Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht is centrally located in the bustling heart of the city.

Surrounded by the creative scene of the Jordaan district, as well as the adjacent “Nine Streets,” the hotel is in a perfect spot for exploring the charming neighbourhood, filled with Amsterdam’s main art galleries, unique specialty shops, trendy fashion boutiques, and stylish restaurants.

What to do round and about: Within a few steps from the hotel, you can find Amsterdam’s major attractions, like the Anne Frank House, West Church, the Royal Palace and the Red Light district. Also the city’s most famous museums, like the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk

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TOP MARKS

School report DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS WITH MRS LYNNE RENWICK HEADMISTRESS DHSFG where we provide a lively, friendly and caring community for girls from 3-18 years.

Our school dates back to 1884 and is based firmly on Christian principles, we encourage academic excellence and a lifelong love of learning.

PUPILS > 501 girls aged 3-18 years NUMBER-CRUNCHING > GCSE A* 41%, A level A*/A grades 50% UNIQUE BECAUSE > The only all girls’ school in Co. Durham. Small enough for every girl to be known, yet large enough to offer a broad curriculum: we are the only school in the county to offer Classical Greek along with 24 other A levels.

HIGH DAYS > Summer Ball, Cathedral Carol Service, St Cuthbert’s Day, Family Fun Day, Speech Day, Sports Day, Sports Presentation Evening. Movement Evening showcases dance and gymnastics.

EXCELS IN > Pastoral care and academic achievement – we ‘add’ lots of ‘value’ (our GCSE results are consistently the best in County Durham); lots of sport and performing arts opportunities; building leadership skills, confidence and a ‘can do’ attitude.

PAST PUPILS > Actress Wendy Craig, TV presenter Wendy Gibson.

PUPILS LOVE YOUR > Happy, family community, fun lessons and knowing that they are part of a team. They like the fact that it’s ‘cool’ to try hard at the High School.

PARENTS LOVE > Our inclusiveness: whether their daughters are academic high-flyers or more interested in performing arts or sport, we nurture their interests so they can be the best they can be. Parents like the fact that their daughters can’t wait to get to school and that we deliver what we say.

UNIFORM EDIT > Kilts and green blazer. Dark suits for Sixth Form YOUR BIG SCREEN ALTER EGO > Bond, Jane Bond: we’ve been around for a long time, but we keep up to date. Intelligent, confident, resourceful and active, with a clear sense of right and wrong. Licensed to thrill (groan) with the excitement of learning. We encourage girls to smash through the glass ceiling.

THE WIDE WORLD > Visits to Lesotho and Malawi help charities. Sports tours (Barbados, Sri Lanka), Ski trips, exchange visits to the States and trips to Paris, Germany and Iceland.

NOT ON THE CURRICULUM > There’s a huge range of activities on offer. We are also the largest centre for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and have our own Brownie Pack. Our Charities Group, led by girls, organises fundraising.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION > Annual productions in the Durham’s Gala Theatre - this year’s will be ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Six other productions are staged each year in our own studio and Junior House stages plays for every year group. The annual staff panto gives the girls a chance to ‘appreciate’ the acting talents of their teachers!

FINAL SCORE: > Over 30 girls are county players. In netball: U14 National Schools finalists, U14, U16 and U19 County Champions. Tyne and Wear Tournament winners. U14 County Hockey Champions. Our rounders team played against the England U14 team.

A Sixth Former won a silver medal in the 2012 Youth Winter Olympics (bobsleigh) and one of our gymnasts is on the GB team for the 2013 Youth Winter Olympics.

CYBER WORLD > Students use our Virtual Learning Environment; even if they can’t get in to school for some reason, girls don’t have to worry about missing work! Business Studies and Economics students can blog on wordpress and access a Twitter account - #Bizenomics.

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DURHAM SCHOOL WITH MR MARTIN GEORGE HEADMASTER

At Durham School all achievements and successes are valued and encouraged from the youngest pupils through to the Sixth Form, whether in the classroom, on the sports field, representing their country, performing on stage, achieving a grading distinction, or simply being interesting and polite young people.

PUPILS > 600 Co-ed Age 3 to 18 NUMBER CRUNCHING > GCSE: A*=20.4%, 46.9% A*/A. A Level: 55% A*-B Grades (2012).

UNIQUE BECAUSE > 600 years history of delivering educational excellence; the only All Steinway School in the North of England; 3rd Oldest Boat Club in the World; 5th Oldest Rugby Club in the World, the only school to have forged a unique partnership to expand into India.

HIGH DAYS > Every day! School performing at The Sage Gateshead in the House Music Competition; end of term services in Durham Cathedral; watching the 1st XV; cheering our rowers in the Durham Regatta; celebrating pupils’ successes, Speech Day and the Summer Ball.

EXCELS IN > Developing every pupil’s strengths and passions.

PAST PUPILS > Alexander Armstrong (Actor/TV presenter), Lord Justice Laws, Will Todd (Composer), Geoff Parling (current England Rugby player), Nicole Lamb (2013 Team GB rower), Grenville Sharpe (anti-slavery campaigner), Noel Hodgson (World War One poet).

PUPILS LOVE > The amazing House System; School Dinners;; proudly wearing the Durham School uniform and representing their House and their school.

PARENTS LOVE > Fulfilled and happy children; the family atmosphere; the outstanding education and the fabulous events organised.

UNIFORM EDIT > All boys wear charcoal grey trousers, white shirt, tie, navy jumper and navy blazer, black shoes and navy coat. Junior Girls, Reception to Year 4, wear a pale blue polo neck top with a navy tartan pinafore dress worn with navy tights and black shoes. Older girls wear a navy skirt, white shirt, tie, navy jumper/cardigan and blazer (Year 7 onwards wear spraggs), 6th form wear navy suits of their choice.

YOUR BIG SCREEN ALTER EGO > Batman springs to mind, mainly because former pupil, Michael Gough OD, played the role of Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s faithful valet.

THE WIDE WORLD > The first school in the North to expand globally with a partnership to promote outstanding education on an international level through the newly formed Durham Infinity International Schools Limited (announced January 2013). The partnership hopes to open the first school in India in 2014.

NOT ON THE CURRICULUM > Combined Cadet Force from Year 9 onwards; World Challenge expeditions to Borneo, Ecuador, the Galapagos Isles, India, Vietnam, Madagascar, Tanzania; Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme; Sledging and snowballing; dog walking; exciting evening and weekend activities programme.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION > Drama and Theatre Studies offered at GCSE and A Level; year round productions by all year groups.

FINAL SCORE > 1st XV unbeaten this season; pupils achieving county, divisional, national and GB status in rowing, water polo, hockey, cricket, skiing and rugby.

CYBER WORLD > Ensuring the e-safety for all of our pupils by helping them to understand the positives and negatives of the Cyber World and to empower them to keep themselves safe.

Contact Information

Contact Information

Durham High School for Girls Farewell Hall, South Road, Durham DH1 3TB 0191 384 3226 headmistress@dhsfg.org.uk www.dhsfg.org.uk

To find out more please contact our Admissions Office at enquiries@durhamschool.co.uk or 0191 386 4783 Ext. 2268 www.durhamschool.co.uk Facebook: Durham School (1414 – present) Twitter: @dunelmia

JAN/FEB13

LUXE LOVES

CENTRAL NEWCASTLE HIGH SCHOOL GDST WITH HILARY FRENCH HEADMISTRESS The leading girls’ school in the North East.

We offer a dynamic, forward thinking education through outstanding teaching, an innovative curriculum and an impressive extra-curricular programme.

PUPILS > 860 girls aged 3 -18.

NUMBER-CRUNCHING > GCSE A* - A grades 80pc A level A* - B grades 84pc.

UNIQUE BECAUSE > We are part of the Girls’ Day School Trust and focus entirely on providing the very best education for girls.

HIGH DAYS > Every day is an exciting adventure.

EXCELS IN > All areas including the Arts and Sport.

PAST PUPILS > Miriam Stoppard, Rachel Parsons, one of the first female engineers in the UK and Esther McCracken.

PUPILS LOVE YOUR > Ethos and welcoming, challenging yet supportive approach.

PARENTS LOVE > The self confidence we help their daughters to develop. Our new junior school.

UNIFORM EDIT > Purple tartan tunic and skirt for Juniors. Purple jumper and grey skirt for Seniors.

YOUR BIG SCREEN ALTER EGO > Mona Lisa Smile.

THE WIDE WORLD > Working in Africa to build and support a school, links with France, Germany and Spain.

NOT ON THE CURRICULUM > The annual portrait award, our Science Festival and our fabulous Dance Shows.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION > Grease at the Northern Stage, 13th – 15th February. Tickets available from the Box Office.

FINAL SCORE > National Swimming, Cross Country and Biathlon finalists as well as Regional Netball finalists.

CYBER WORLD > YouTube of Guinness World Record. Who says girls don’t do physics!

Contact Information For more information please contact our Admissions Manager on 0191 201 6511 or email j.howe@cnh.gdst.net www.newcastlehigh.gdst.net Central Newcastle High School GDST Senior School – Eskdale Terrace, jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4DS Junior School – Chapman House, Sandyford Park, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1TA

JAN/FEB13

LUXE LOVES A bright & beautiful bag Satchels are the coolest bit of baggage around.

Be bang on bag trend for spring with funky fluorescent Bohemia satchels. Perfect for an eye-catching handbag or school and university bookbag. £100 www.notonthehighstreet.co.uk

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XXXXXXXX MINI NEW YEAR

HELLO!

Nina’s:diary

with Nina Robinson

26 > 27 JANUARY >>

The big people at luxe have decided to give us little people a space of our own.

BIG GARDEN BIRD WATCH WEEKEND, GIBSIDE Count how many birds live at Gibside on the annual bird-spotting survey and give your garden birds a helping hand this winter by making a tasty feeder to take home. Free event. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Deep mid-winter is here and big and little luxes alike need plenty of fun distractions to keep the winter blues at bay. Cosy cardis, snug jimmy jams and well-equipped playtimes are the answer! Here are some of our favourite winter warmers. Enjoy.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND TRAIL, BELSAY HALL Enter the magical world of Lewis Carroll in this enchanting trail around the gardens at Belsay Hall.

There are six Wonderland characters to find along the paths that will lead you through the gardens. Complete the whole trail and win a prize and certificate at the end! Ticket prices: adult £7.70, child £4.60, family £20. www.english-heritage.org.uk

16 > 24 FEBRUARY >>

Love, little luxe x

Nina:loves

16 > 24 FEBRUARY >>

Beautiful bedrooms Just because we Little Luxes sometimes leave our bedrooms a little untidy from time-to-time doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the finer things when it comes to bedroom storage and accessories. Pretty Dandy is an online boutique that specialises in chic interiors and décor with a range for children that includes modern illustrated kids’ artworks by Norwegian design duo Darling Clementine, nightlights designed by 1960s pop artists and storage solutions such as this Dutch Townhouse cupboard, £130, available in aqua, blush or mint. The Dorm House Shelves, priced at £79.95 and £99.95 are surely the chicest way to store your trinkets and treasures. www.prettydandy.co.uk

>> Ej Sikke Lej plum fox chunky knit cardigan, navy fox chunky knit cardigan, both £49.99, www.nordickids.co.uk

>> Playsam Saab Roadster, £350, www.gift-library.com

>> Retro designer robot wall clock, £24.95, www.prettydandy.com Created by 1960s Pop artist Clifford Richards, this fun, retro clock is a great quirky addition to a little one’s bedroom.

Play day perfect

>> Mr Frank Fox picture, £28.95, www.prettydandy.co.uk Norwegian design duo Darling Clementine create adorable characters with a vintage feel in beautiful colours.

>> Pashley Pickle Tricycle, £445, www.pashley.co.uk

TIME TRAVELLERS GO…GRUESOME, WHITBY ABBEY Explore the gruesome side of history with hands-on activities and plenty of time travelling fun. Meet Thomas Turlis, the Public Hangman, equipped with gallows, ropes, and the other ‘tools’ of his gruesome trade.

Listen to him recount grisly tales of the Georgian period and follow the Crime and Punishment Trail.

Ticket prices: adult £6.20, child £3.70, family £16.10. www.english-heritage.org.uk

20 FEBRUARY >> GEOCACHING TASTER DAY, FOUNTAINS ABBEY AND STUDLEY ROYAL WATER GARDEN Join in with a digital treasure hunt, learn how to hide and seek geocaches and borrow GPS units to have a go yourself! Free event. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

22 > 23 FEBRUARY >> THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD, THE THEATRE ROYAL, NEWCASTLE The Gruffalo warned that nobody should ever set foot in the deep dark wood…but one wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s child ignores her father’s warnings and tiptoes out in to the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist…does he? Tall Stories Theatre Company returns to The Theatre Royal, bringing Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s awardwinning sequel to life in this magical, musical adaptation. Remember all adults must be accompanied by a brave and adventurous child. Tickets from £11. www.theatreroyal.co.uk

23 FEBRUARY >> ROMAN FINDS AND ARTEFACT EXPLORING, CORBRIDGE ROMAN TOWN-HADRIAN’S WALL Come along to Corbridge’s Roman Town near Hadrian’s Wall and handle some real Roman artifacts that are close to 2,000 years old! Find out more about the stories behind some of the finds and what they can tell us about Roman life. Ticket prices: adult £5.20, child £3.10. www.english-heritage.org.uk

24 FEBUARY >> RED KITE RAMBLE WITH A RANGER, GIBSIDE Join a local red kite expert to discover the secrets of Gateshead’s favourite bird of prey and how they were reintroduced to the Derwent Valley. Free event. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

10 MARCH >>

>> Marie Chantal boys’ cloud print pyjamas, girls’ cloud print pyjamas, both £48, www.gift-library.com

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MAKE THINGS WITH YOUR MUM, WALLINGTON Show your mum how special she is by making lovely crafts and flower decorations together. Remember to dress for mess! Free event. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

JAN/FEB13

LUXE LIFE

CAROLINE SMITH Caroline Smith is co-owner of NorthernBootcamp with her husband Dan. They operate a residential fitness and weight loss retreat, based on the Northumberland coastline.

They have just launched bootcamps designed for the entire family.

LUXE PLACES >> For a weekend > The west coast of Scotland. It has awesome scenery and huge mountains to run up and down.

A long holiday > New Zealand – undoubtedly the world’s biggest adult playground. Rivers, mountains, beach, surf and great snow in winter. Its a shame it’s such a long way away.

A treat > Rockliffe Hall. I love the gym and the spa, especially the ice room...oh and the amazing smoked haddock for breakfast!

LUXE RELAX >> Best food > Seafood in every shape and form, Done simply with just a squeeze of lemon juice. Or mussels with a simple tomato-based sauce. I love sweet potato too. I eat this almost every day and am yet to tire of it.

Best wine > Pinot Grigio. It’s a little uncouth, but I love an ice cube or two in there which helps to dilute it for me. I’m not a great drinker!

Favourite restaurant > A small place in Bamburgh called Blacketts. It’s the most understated restaurant ever. The food is fantastic and the service so good. Once, they opened just for me and my husband on a chilly night in January.

Perfect weekend > Up to watch a spring sunrise at 6am and a big cuddle off my daughter, then out for a run on Bamburgh beach with her in the pushchair. Back for breakfast and then family time in the swimming pool or at the beach. A quick gym session before dinner, then a BBQ with all our friends and family. A big walk on the beach the following day, an

JAN/FEB13

hour of circuits and then a cosy evening with a book or good DVD and plenty more cuddles.

Downtime means > Getting out for a run and ‘switching off’.

Best telly > My most guilty pleasure is – Poirot. I know.

Best book > Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom. I read this at a poignant time in my life and made me make some serious and dramatic changes. I have never looked back since.

Best sounds > The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and I also love the track ‘Love kick starts again’

by Example.

LUXE SHOP >> Best shopping city > Anywhere in France, because I’m a total fitness geek and they have an amazing store called Decathlon, which has just about every fitness item of clothing or gadget under the sun. There’s one in London too now. I have to rely on my friends to take me shopping for proper clothes!

Favourite shop > As above. For the same reason, and a little closer to home, Go Outdoors is great too. Fenwick allows me to get all I need in one shop. I do love Ted Baker.

Luxe retail treat > Shoes. Despite living in walking boots and trainers, I do love putting on a pair of high heels and a dress from time to time. So a new pair of killer heels is a retail treat.

Best buy > With size 3 feet I come about a shoe bargain quite frequently. I recently bought some children’s trainers for just £20. I was chuffed with those!

LUXE PARTY >> A memorable night out > I am an all or nothing girl, so nights out with the girls are probably memorable for others and not for me! However Dan and I celebrated our firth wedding anniversary recently with a stay at the Radisson in Durham.

After a big session in the gym, we walked to the champagne bar, where we shared a bottle of Moet Rose followed by a mojito or two and then a lovely dinner. We finished with a dance in the not so classy ‘Loveshack’ down the road.

Perfect party > An all day beach party. With games in the afternoon, drinks and bbq in the evening and a roaring fire and camp out on the beach for the night. With all of my awesome friends who I hardly get to see (unless they come on boot camp – many of them do). The more the merrier.

Best dress > If this is what I am most comfortable in, it’s shorts, vest and trainers. They’re easy to get about in and if I’m in shorts, it obviously means the weather is pretty good.

Dinner date > It’d be with Poirot. It must be the character, though. I have so many questions I would like to ask him.

Daniel Craig (as Bond) is also welcome to join us too. Oh, and Charlie from Charlie’s Angels. I would ask him for a job – the only other job in the world that could be better than mine!

YOUR LUXE THING IN LIFE >> I’m not huge on material possessions, so the most important thing is a quote that I try to remember every day. “If you are not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much room.” www.northernbootcamp.co.uk

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BOLDLY GO

MAN SIZE

NEW SHOES >> Bertie Braxton Storm 2, £115 www.dune.co.uk

WITH MARSHALL HALL

To talk about grooming feel free to contact Marshall on 0191 511 0288. Reds, East Herrington, Sunderland www.redshairandbeauty.com

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The January blues can be a good thing – honest! Here’s to some blue-sky thinking.

INDIGO DAYS

Ralph Lauren Denim&Supply denim print shirt, £85 House of Fraser, MetroCentre, Psyche, Middlesbrough.

Trying to get a handle on what guys are going to be doing with their hair this year is – to be frank – not easy.

Even the small army of male fashion experts that are stashed on my mobile contacts couldn’t be crystal clear either.

I have talked before about how popular styles in men’s hair evolve gradually; like fashion there always tends to be strong underlying trends – such as 50s, vintage or British tailoring – but with so many different hair types, individual takes and a constant evolution, with a haircut you can’t just reach into your wardrobe and change it for a new one on a daily basis. However, you can certainly play around with the way it is styled.

The strongest looks in both 2012 and most of 2011 were – and still are – inspired by vintage tailoring of the 40’s and 50’s. The great thing about these styles is that they work well with most types of hair, and there are many ways to style and create your own personalised look.

If you have fine to medium texture hair, then look to have the sides and back taken down very short, whilst leaving the top extremely long and disconnected. This will help give it a more individual look and allows you to style slicked back in a 50s inspired style, or with volume that only serves to enhance the disconnection from the sides and back. We covered a version of this style in depth in our article on updating the classics.

How you style your quiff really comes down to personal preference. You may want to keep your quiff slick and refined, because you dress that way on a daily basis. You may want more of an edgy Rockabilly inspired style, which means you will be looking for much more volume and a structured version.

It does seem that the current trend in male hair is extreme and almost brutal in appearance, matching the period of austerity prevalent at the moment. Embracing the overly masculine look can be refreshing – and what could be more brutal than having your hair cut short to the skin on the sides and back?

Instead of leaving a really long length on top as you would with a quiff, have the length cut shorter but long enough to enable you to wear it back, forwards or to the side by using a wax or paste. The top will look best if it’s cut shorter at the crown, moving to a slightly longer length at the front.

When it comes to styling product, for medium to thick textured hair use a wax – for a traditional finish there’s no finer product than L’Oreal Professionnel’s Bouncy Wax. Be careful to only apply a skim of this heavy wax or you will end up looking like Travolta in Grease!

Work the wax through the hair and try not to structure it too much – leave it looking a little bit undone, and you’ll be bang on trend for the spring season and beyond!

ALMOST BLUE >>

SCRUB UP >> Wash the winter grime away with some skin soothers for softies. These two newbies are man-friendly because they use butch words like ‘hydrix’ and ’ions’ in their names and sound like something from the garage rather than washbag.

Molton Brown Deep-Clean Mineral Ions Face Wash, 125ml, £18 Lancôme Men Hydrix Balm, 50ml £32,50.

CLASH THE BLUES >> Vintage chinos, £49, cashmere sweater, £99 www.boden.co.uk

JAN/FEB13

SHOCK OF THE NEW

golf:kit

Time for a shock of neon on the green with the latest look-at-me footwear.

SHOCKER >> Hot pink for the golf course this spring, who’d have thought it?

Something to bring a bit of pzazz to the game. Puma’s Golf Amp Cell Fusion 2013 will be the signature shoe of GP favourite Rickie Fowler and is packed with the very latest technology. It’s hot because of: Storm Cell weather protection taped seams for provide waterproofing as well as the very hi-tech lightweight ArchTec foot support, slow recovery Everfoam cushioning positioned at the heel and the shock absorbing cushioning.

A stepped outer frame and carbon fibre outsole creates a sturdy, durable golf shoe. Optimized flexibility and traction and the design of the sole is crucial in providing good grip and traction.

The hot pink Amp Cell, £149 exclusive to www.golfposer.com

GO GIRL >> Girls’ golf and pampering sounds like a good plan for 2013?

Women golfers can treat themselves on and off the course with a new break from Portugal’s Monte da Quinta resort for 2013.

Guests can luxe out with the Algarve venue’s ‘Women and Golf’ offer and enjoy a three-night stay including two rounds of golf and a range of attractive other benefits for £435.

Enjoy 18 holes of golf on the nearby Quinta do Lago North Course and Laranjal - named best lay-out at the 2011 Portuguese Travel Awards - with a free buggy included at the former.

After a hard day on the fairways, unwind in Monte da Quinta’s sumptuous Magnolia Spa with two massages during the stay as well as complimentary use of the resort gym, indoor heated pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, Turkish bath and sensorial shower, and a 20 per cent discount on any additional treatments.

In addition, and we like this one a lot, guests will receive unlimited house wines and beer during happy hour each day and also be treated to an evening meal with a free bottle of wine, while those people with energy to burn can enjoy a fitness session with one of the venue’s personal trainers.

Accommodation is provided in one of Monte da Quinta’s luxury suites and the package, which includes a buffet breakfast each day, can be taken at any point from March 1 until the end of October, excluding June, July and August.

Stay in one of 132 self-catering suites and a range of two and three-bedroom townhouses and spacious villas. All townhouses and villas come with private pools. www.mqresort.com

BLISTERING >> Callaway’s new line of X Hot Drivers and Fairway Woods has been adopted by some of the longest-hitting players on the worldwide tours, including Gary Woodland. The new line of X Hot Woods offer distance gains of 13 yards.

Callaway uses powerfully fast Speed Frame Face Technology that increases ball speed, saves weight and optimizes stiffness and stress distribution across the face for more efficient energy transfer. The new face technology promotes more – and more consistent – distance, even on off-centre impact. Also, by decoupling the face performance from the rest of the driver head, ball speed is boosted without sacrificing trajectory.

X Hot Drivers have the thinnest casting technology ever in the all-titanium head to create a lighter swing weight and overall configuration, a combination that benefits most players in terms of head speed and distance, especially golfers with an average swing speed.

From £189 www.callawaygolf. com/xhot.

PLAY & STAY >> GOURMET ON THE GREEN You play, you eat, you share the course with a legend. Abu Dhabi’s latest Gourmet Golf is planned for February this year.

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, the UAE’s first oceanfront golf course, hosted the most recent Gourmet Abu Dhabi festival’s Gourmet Golf event. Led by some of the region’s finest chefs, the players enjoyed an array of eclectic foods as they made their way around the picturesque course, designed by golfing legend and 9-time major winner Gary Player.

February 5-20 sees another golf gastro journey as part of Gourmet Abu Dhabi where golfers can indulge in fine cuisine and vintages.

It’s a grand affair - taste buds tempted by chefs from among others, The Hilton, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Le Royal Méridien, The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, Traders Hotel Qaryat Al Beri, and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club who put on a master class for discerning golfers. www.gourmetabudhabi.ae

JAN/FEB13

85

RANGE

Pace and grace in range

It’s difficult to be more than a couple of vehicles away from a Range Rover these days on the road, in a carpark, on the schol run. They are everywhere and there’s a new one - Graham Courtney loves.

And so another year dawns. The last one started with a drought and ended with everyone up to their knees in water. Winter was a non-event; summer didn’t happen. In this country, we don’t have a climate; we have weather.

Still, if the weather’s unpredictable, at least we can guarantee that here in luxe, we’ll be looking at some of the best cars around in 2013.

Very shortly, we’ll look at the new Mercedes A-Class and the latest flying machine to wear a Ford badge, but let’s start with arguably the best 4x4 SUV on the planet.

The new Range Rover has landed. It’s brilliant. Audi, Porsche and BMW can bang on about their vehicles competing with the Range Rover, but not one of them gets close to ticking all of the boxes.

Okay, the outgoing Range Rover wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t far off. The new model is lighter, quicker, quieter and more economical.

The weight saving means that a V6 diesel engine is now the entry level powerplant. It gives a 0-60 time of 7.4 seconds, a top speed of 130mph and a not unreasonable fuel return of just under 38mpg. Prices start at £71,295 which is a couple of grand more than the previous entry level V8 diesel.

The 4.4 litre V8 diesel continues in the new model, receiving a small increase in power, as does the supercharged 5.0 litre

V8 petrol model which provides an insanely quick time of just over 5 seconds for the 0-60 sprint. Believe me, in such a big vehicle, this time feels much, much quicker than the stopwatch shows. Body roll has been almost eradicated. The vehicle actually feels quite nimble despite weighing in the region of two tonnes.

All models come with a 8-speed automatic gearbox and all come loaded with gadgetry that make this car surefooted on tarmac and on the rough stuff. The interior is even more

luxurious than before. The craftsmanship is wonderful.

There’s an increase in rear legroom thanks to an extended wheelbase. You can also opt for two single, executive style rear seats rather than a 3-seat bench affair.

The Range Rover is the luxury SUV that all other pretenders must be measured by. Yes, it’s expensive; yes it can be thirsty.

Running costs will be high but, if you want a luxury sports vehicle than can go anywhere, there really is nothing like a Range Rover.

The new Range Rover has landed and it is brilliant. The others can bang on about their vehicles but they don’t come close.

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JAN/FEB13

GO FASTER

Ford ST-upendous

How many of you remember the heady young driver days of the XR3? Ford does it again with a ‘mind-blowing’ Focus ST. Not for the company car brigade. litre unit, but power has gone up and so has the performance.

0-60 takes 6.5 seconds and there’s a top speed of 154mph.

Fuel return isn’t so important in this type of car because drivers tend to be a tad more ‘enthusiastic’ but you can get close to 40mpg if you go easy.

The ride is on the firm side but it’s not as bad as you might imagine a performance hatchback would be. It tends to thump its way over manholes and patching in the road, but once you build up some speed, the ride settles nicely. The sporty Recaro seats are comfortable and multi adjustable, as is the steering wheel, which means you can’t fail to find the best driving position.

The perfect blend of day to day practicality and sporty fun.

It will amble around town, hustle along country lanes and blast down the motorway.

Y’know, I can’t remember whether we’ve ever featured a Ford in the pages of luxe. I think not. I’ve got nothing against them. Cars like the Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, S-Max etc are brilliant at what they do. It’s just that, well, the vast majority are bought new as company cars. This is a shame because they’d make perfectly acceptable purchases for the private buyer.

However, there is one Ford car that, if you are in the market for a fast GTi-esque type of vehicle, you should not shy

away from just because it has the blue oval badge stuck on the front.

The Ford Focus ST is utterly mind blowing. It picks up the baton from things like the XR3, Escort RS Turbo, RS200 (remember that one?) and those Fords fitted with a Cosworth engine.

It’s only currently available as either a 5 door hatchback or as an estate. A 3-door HAS to be in the pipeline, surely. I like the new, deep grille; it’s reminiscent of the Aston Martin grille.

The previous ST Focus had a heavy 5-cylinder 2.5 litre engine; this new version has a lighter, turbocharged 4-cylinder 2.0

There are three ST models starting at £21,995, making it £3000 cheaper than the benchmark VW Golf GTi. All of them come with the sort of goodies you’d expect in a top-of-the-range car.

The area where the Ford Focus ST really hits the bullseye is that it offers the perfect blend of day to day practicality and sporty fun. It will happily amble around town, loaded to the gunwales with family clobber, or it will hustle along country lanes and blast down the motorway.

This is one of the best fun cars currently available.

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87

SAFE BET

A moose-free zone

Mercedes new A Class is the head girl. Sensible, reliable, shines when it needs to, says Graham Courtney.

Mercedes have had a problem with their A-Class ever since the first one appeared in 1996. When it was launched to the media in North America, a couple of hacks were hammering along a deserted road when suddenly a moose ran out of the woods. The hacks swerved around the moose successfully. The only snag was that the car flipped over.

One startled moose; two very startled journos.

The new A-Class is very different. In fact, it couldn’t be more different from the original version. Whereas the 1996 and subsequent models looked very distinctive, the new A-Class, while looking smart, is rather anonymous (should that be anony-moose?) The front end is typically Mercedes with a prominent 3-pronged star, but in profile and from behind, well, it could be any five-door hatchback.

Prices start at £18,970. You get loads of really neat design features inside, many of which have taken their styling from cars high up the Merc range. For example, the air vents are similar to those in the AMG SLS. There are sports seats and a sense of deep quality throughout.

Equipment is something you’ll probably need to add to. The entry level A180 for example only comes with steel wheels.

Alloys are extra. Rather oddly, the equipment list informs you that the car has windscreen wipers, front and rear. Wow, whatever next.

Power comes from either 1.6 or 2.0 litre petrol engines or three diesel engines, 1.5, 1.8 and 2.1 litres. You can have manual or automatic gearboxes in most models.

The petrol engines are the ones to go for if you want smoothness because the diesel versions are rather noisy.

The ride is firm in all of the models and there’s quite a bit of body roll.

Performance is pretty good. The entry level A180 BlueEFFICIENCY will hit 60mph in just over 9 seconds. Top

88

If you ar expecting the same sort of driving experience you might get in the Audi A3 or VW Golf then you might be disappointed.

speed is 126mph. You’ll manage around 51mpg. The entry level diesel version does 0-60 in around 11 seconds. Top speed is 118mpg, but economy, according to Mercedes figures, is an impressive 74.3mpg. The price for the entry diesel model however, climbs to £21,225, which is starting to look rather expensive.

Overall, this is an okay sort of car with a premium pedigree.

If you rate the name of the car you drive as the number one priority, you’ll be happy. If you are expecting the same sort of driving experience that you’d find in an Audi A3 or VW Golf, you might be disappointed. Go for a test drive and judge for yourself.

JAN/FEB13

597

PERFECT BALANCE

THE NEW MASERATI GRANTURISMO SPORT The new GranTurismo Sport features a number of subtle revisions to further enhance and improve the performance of this outstanding car.

Available with either 6-speed, paddle-operated MC Shift manual or MC Shift Auto fully automatic transmission, the engine has been uprated to 460 horsepower. Suspension revisions improve the ride quality without affecting the superb handling balance. Inside the GranTurismo Sport features new front seats which not only improve comfort and support, but also allow for increased rear legroom. The GranTurismo Sport offers the optimum balance between performance and comfort and perfectly expresses Maserati’s Grand Touring philosophy.

The Maserati GranTurismo Sport MC Shift Auto is priced at £90,750 on the road. The Maserati GranTurismo Sport MC Shift is priced at £94,080 on the road. On the road prices include 3 year/unlimited mileage warranty.

For more information on the Maserati range, call 0191 211 2200 or email maseratisales@benfieldmotorgroup.com

Car shown Maserati GranTurismo Sport MC Shift Auto with metallic paint at £564 and 20-inch Anthracite Grey Astro design alloy wheels at £480. Official fuel consumption for the Maserati GranTurismo Sport MC Shift Auto in mpg (litres/100 km): urban 12.9 (21.9), extra urban 28.8 (9.8), combined 19.7 (14.3). CO2 emissions on combined cycle: 331 g/km.

Benfield Maserati Warwick Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1BB Tel: 0191 211 2200 www.maserati.co.uk maseratisales@benfieldmotorgroup.com

w w w. m a s e r a t i . c o. u k 5971 Benfield Luxe Magazine 342x245.indd 1

09/01/2013 16:40

LUXE LAPS

DARREN NICHOL

Darren Nichol, 40, is the owner and MD of Hadrian Architectural Glazing Systems which manufactures and installs structural glass facades, windows and doors. A draughtsman by trade, he has a passion for design and construction. He was brought up in the Tyne Valley and now lives near Hexham with wife Frances and daughter Anna, seven.

FIRST LOVE >> My first car was a Vauxhall Nova GSI which was the updated model of the GTE. It had a sprightly 1.6 fuel-injection engine and a sporty look which I loved. I used to think it was really fast but understand now that it was only fast enough.

CHILDHOOD CAR CRUSH >> Porsche were my dream cars and I had a huge picture of a 959 on my bedroom wall.

WHAT’S IN THE GLOVE BOX >> Man toys – torch, sunglasses, atlas.

TRACKS OF YOUR TYRES >> This year we drove across the Swiss Alps in the Z8 and I still can’t believe I got flashed by a speed camera on the autobahn. The car is fast but we still got overtaken by a beefed-up Cayenne when I was on the limiter at 155 mph.

We drove back via Belgium and watched the grand prix then drove to Amsterdam for some cultural enlightenment. Slept on the DFDS ferry back to the motherland and the car did us proud.

SCARY MOMENTS >> I have had a couple of prangs but nothing too scary in the sports car. I was involved in a more serious accident which was my fault in a Land Rover Discovery. I was unhurt but others weren’t so lucky – no fatalities but not my proudest moment. It has made me more cautious, as it should.

Apologies, for the record.

COULD YOU BE THE STIG >> In my mind, maybe but I don’t think I am up to his level. At a recent track day at Croft the instructor said, “You’d do well.”

I took it as a compliment – I would recommend track days to anyone, if you’re going to drive fast then do it in the right places. www.hadrian-group.co.uk

IN THE GARAGE NOW >> Too much my wife says! I am spoilt and justify them as investments as much as they are luxuries. I have a BMW Z8, a Ferarri 575 Maranello, Porsche 911Turbo and an old Mini Cooper.

IF YOU COULD OWN ANYTHING >> It would have to be a Porsche Carrera St or a 911 2.7 RS right-hand drive.

CAPT SLOW OR JEREMY >> As you get older you learn, after losing some points on your licence, that pure speed is not the only characteristic of a dream car. I have a BMW Z8 which I love for completely different reasons to my Maranello. I love to cruise in the BMW but the child in me always returns when I get behind the wheel of the Ferrari.

HOW CLEAN IS YOUR CAR >> As clean as a whistle – not cool to drive a dirty sports car.

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JAN/FEB13

NOW IS THE TIME TO CHOOSE THE ALL NEW, AWARD WINNINGVOLVOV40.

This stunning Volvo, one of the safest production cars on the road, can give you up to an amazing 78.5 miles per gallon. And this superb new Volvo can be yours from just £199 per month!

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The price is based on a V40 D2 ES FUEL CONSUMPTION IN MPG (L/100km) Urban 70.6/4.0, Extra Urban 83.1/3.4, Combined 78.5/3.6, CO2 94 g/km. Based on personal contract hire. All rentals and excess mileage rates

are inclusive of VAT and are subject to vehicle availability, credit approval, manufacturer’s price changes, volume related bonus and purchase through Volvo Car Leasing Supplier Network. The payment terms are 12 month(s) in advance £2,388, followed by 35 monthly payments commencing in month 2 payable by Direct Debit, with a mileage of 8,000 miles per annum. Vehicle returned must be in good condition and within agreed mileage, otherwise further charges will be incurred.

Excess Mileage 10.44p per mile. In the event of cancellation of an order, you will be liable for such costs to be confirmed to you in writing. All other terms and conditions are as per the Master Hire Agreement or Customer Agreement between yourselves and Volvo Car Leasing. Prices correct at the time of going to print, are subject to change without notice and do not take into account any variation to government taxes or charges arising after date of publication. Subject to availability at participating dealers for vehicles registered by 31/3/2013 or while stocks last. Not available with other promotions. Volvo Car Leasing Contract Hire is Provided by Lex Autolease Ltd, trading as Volvo Car Leasing, incorporated and registered in England with company number 1090741 & registered office at 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Car shown for illustration purposes only.

SOCIAL LIFE

In association with:

North East

luxe:looks

Break out the fizz. Time to get down to some people-spotting as we bring you our social snapshot of happenings across the North East. Eyes and teeth time!

It’s A Ball, Gisbrough Hall, Guisborough Alan Shearer Foundation Ball, Hilton, Gateshead Below > Ronan Keating, Alan Shearer Below > Ruth Taylor, Brian Gordon

Below > Alex Mortimer, Sonja Mortimer

Above > Kevin Cross, Linda Cross, Leanne Nellis, Graham Nellis Below > Paul Davies, Martin Jones, Carl Hodgson

Above > Moira Ashman, Joe McElderry, Angie Jenkinson Below > Tim Krul, Claire Hall, Jen Ameobi, Shola Ameobi

Above > Lainya Shearer, Graham Wylie, Andrea Wylie Below > Steve Howe, Cheryl Howe

Above > Richard Wild, Gill Wild, Mark Buckley, Allison Barron, Ged Barron

Above > Louise Davies, Michelle Forseter-Jones, Caroline Hodgson, Laura Gargett

Below > Elizabeth Schonewald, Caroline Buckley, Wendy Cunningham, Jan Coles Above > Freddy Shepherd, Lorelle Shepherd

Above > Ali Holmes, Jan Coles, Liz Boxall, Kirsty Kendal, Marian Elsdon, Lynsey Currie, Maeve Lynch

Brown Ale 85th Birthday Celebrations, Sandman Signature Hotel, Newcastle Below > Devonna Gaglardi, Oliver Vaulkhard

Below > Dominic Waugh, Lee Crawford, Miles Walker, May Goode, Steven Sixsmith

Above > Kathryn Sayers, James Wade, Rachel Morrison

Above > Kate Paul, Richard Routledge, Sharron Howey, Ashleigh Male Above > Helen Mitchell, Norman Mitchell

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JAN/FEB13

SOCIAL LIFE

Earthly Energy Group Dinner, Crathorne Hall, nr Yarm Below > Andrea Wearmouth, Angela Meloni

Rockliffe Hall 3rd Anniversary Ball, Hurworth Below > Pam Royale, Anna Heathcote

Below > Rachael Wearmouth, Mike Ratchford

Below > David Borjesson, Gregor Scheppelmann

Above > Paul Addison, Debbie Rocket, Steph Ferry, Anna Addison Below > Wendy Benson, Edward Benson

Above > Nathalie Carter, Emily Carter, Maisura Ishak, Khine Aye Above > Yotta Kavanicolas and Lauren Starling

Above > Trevor Franks, Hughie Carr

Above > Robert Starling, Alan Oliver

Foundation of Light Fashion Strikes, Sunderland AFC Below > Harry Brown, Phil Bardsley

Above > Liz Holmes, Sara Storm Below > John Murphy, Andy Robinson, Eddie Kovac, Stu Robson

Below > Louis Saha

Above > Dawn Huntrod, Dave Huntrod Below > Mike Walker, Graeme Storm

Above > Lee Cattermole, Phil Bardsley, Matt Kilgallon, Connor Wickham Below > Carolynne Poole

Above > Claire Elsworth, Daniel Chappell, Alison Contantine

Above > Lee Cattermole Below > Adam Johnson

Below > Sabrina Maycroft, Richie Maycroft Above > Fraizer Campbell

Above > Anthony Reeve, June Reeve

Above > Connor Wickham

Above > Max Bardsley, Phil Bardsley In association with:

North East JAN/FEB13

93

SOCIAL LIFE

NSPCC Business Board Launch, Biscuit Factory, Newcastle Below > Dave Stevens

Davidsons The Jewellers Online Launch Party, Newcastle

Above > Chris Rigg, Andy Scaife, James Allen

Above > Chris Rigg Below > Caroline Theobald

Above > Moira Davidson, Andrew Davidson

Above > Emma McIntosh, Jill Robinson

Below > Tina Geary, Helen Douglas, Emma McIntosh Above > James Allen, Janet Richardson, Chris Rigg, Ben Margetts, Madeleine Griffith Above > Andy Scaife Above > Sandra Hethrington, Julia Kennedy Below > Moira Davidson, Norma Wilkins, June Vannan

Love Niche Launch Party, Vujon, Newcastle

Below > Jessica Robertson, Phobe Dixon

Below > Tanveer Miah, Najibah Miah

Below > Tony Hyde, Eve Hyde Above > Gillian Rae, Hazel Wilkinson, Susan Oxenham

Above > Geoff Wonfor

Below > Jeff Lyall, Kate Harland

Above > Rosemary Hayward, Christopher Hayward, Tony Davidson

Above > Jonathan Turner, Paul Ferguson Above > Nisha Verdhara, Emma Brooks

Fifth Anniversary Fashion Show, The Wedding Dress Company, Corbridge Below > Viv Hutchinson, Stephanie Hamilton, Pat Wordsworth, Angela Forster, Gina Tomlinson

Below > Sue Fleming, Pat Wordsworth

Below > Kayte Simpson, Katie Mulholland, Kerry Bray, Angela Forster

Above > Clare Heaselden, Stephanie, Diane Fleming, Kerry Bray, Angela Forster Above > Kerry Bray, Diane Fleming

Above > Stephanie Hamilton, Clare Heaselden

In association with:

North East 94

If you would like your event featured on our Luxe:Looks pages please supply images on disk with full captions and your contact details to: luxe Magazine, room501 Publishing, Publishing House, 16 Pickersgill Court, Quay West Business Park, Sunderland SR5 2AQ

JAN/FEB13

SOCIAL LIFE

Percy Hedley Foundation Mistletoe Ball, Marriott Hotel Gosforth Below > Adele Adele Easton, Paul Easton

Below > Sarah Wilkinson, Wendy Peffers

Above > Nicky Swales, Stephen Miller, Carole Harder

Above > Stephanie Rosscamp Forshaw, David Garbott

Above > Claire Craw, David Craw

Below > Gavin Prior, Simon Tucker, Tanya Harding, Karen Carr, Tom Hedley, Adam

Below > Kate Hallett, Beckey Todd

Above > Laura McArdle, Mark McArdle, Claire McArdle, Daniel McArdle, Sean McArdle, Beth McArdle, Michael McArdle, Helen McArdle

Above > Gary Morrow, Nikki Morrow, Donna Scott, Neil Scott, Cheryl Howe, Steve Howe

Teenage Cancer Trust Christmas Concert, St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle

Above > Brendan Healy, Anna Foster

Josie’s Dragonfly Lunch, Hotel Indigo, Newcastle

Below > Ray Laidlaw, Jonathan Wallis Below > Jane Dennison, Ray Watkins, George Bond, Sarah Hogg

Below > Jan Brown, Lesley Wilkinson, Avis Harding

Above > Anna Emerson, Clare Richards, Helen Robinson, Sarah Grey

Above > Shauna Gallon Below > Ian Storey

Below > Launa Berry, Judith Allan

Above > Simon Davies, Jai McDowell, Tim Healy, Sam Hook Below > Jonathan Wallis, Charlie Hardwick

Above > Pat Portsmouth, Marion Arther, Sharon Rudd

Above > Debra Simpson, Hilary Protheroe, Pamela Robinson Below > Jude Hall, Steve Hall

Above > Lesley Skelly, Jenavieve Quale Above > Tim Healy

Above > Steve Walls

North East

The all new Audi A3. It’s arrived. www.northeastaudi.co.uk

Official fuel figures for the new Audi A3 range in mpg (1/100km): Urban 40.4 (7.0) – 61.4 (4.6), Extra Urban 58.9 (4.8) – 85.6 (3.3), Combined 50.4 (5.6) – 74.3 (3.8). CO2 emissions: 130 – 99g/km.

JAN/FEB13

95

DOING GOOD

Sweet charity Our round-up of people, events and organisations doing their bit.

ON THE RUN >>

FEEDING THE NEED >> The Cyrenians’ latest FareShare project in County Durham was launched with a meal cooked by Masterchef finalist David Coulson who is the Head Chef at Castle Eden Inn. The Cyrenians’ FareShare North East, receives donations from a range of suppliers including Greggs, The Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Ringtons, so helping minimise food waste by providing food surpluses to local voluntary organisations which then use it to cater for community groups and to provide food parcels for families in need.

The launch event was backed by local agencies including East Durham Trust, which supports over 300 voluntary groups in the Peterlee and the East Durham area, and also The East Durham Partnership, a social enterprise based in Horden.

David used only Fareshare North East produce to create the mouth-watering meal which included pheasant Thai curry, chilli con carne and a variety of Indian dishes.

Michael Shields, General Manager of FareShare North East said; “The help of many partners including East Durham Partnership and East Durham Trust have helped us to reach more - and support better - many of the region’s 5,000 charities and voluntary groups. This support for many, many people is at its most critical and basic – helping make sure they have enough to eat day to day. It’s a startling fact that today, right here in the North East there are people going hungry.”

ST OSWALD’S FASHION SHOW >> St Oswald’s charity shop in Cramlington raised over £1000 for the Hospice by hosting a ‘Four Seasons’ themed fashion show at St Nicholas’ Church.

The clothes which were featured in the show were donations which had been made to various St Oswald shops and were modelled by staff and volunteers.

Around 200 people attended the event, the money was raised through sales of the clothing and refreshments on the night.

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SHINING SHOW >> The annual Percy Hedley Foundation Mistletoe Ball, which this year took place at the Newcastle Marriott Hotel, raised over £70,000 to support disabled children, young people and adults in the North East.

Supported by main sponsor Helen McArdle Care the Traditional Christmas themed ball was hosted by Magic 1152 breakfast presenter Anna Foster, with local comedian Brendan Healy as the auctioneer extraordinaire.

Over 350 glamorous guests were entertained

by Jeff Dingle and the Moodswing Trio, and later in the evening by Party XS. The live auction, the main fundraising activity, offered exclusive prizes including a Suzuki Swift Sport car, generously donated by local businessman Steve Hodgson.

Triple Paralympic champion and former Percy Hedley pupil, Stephen Miller also spoke movingly about how the Foundation helped him in his early years. He said he simply wouldn’t have enjoyed the success he has without the help of physiotherapists at the charity.

To reserve a table at this year’s Diamond Ball contact Maria Hallett on 0191 238 1302 or email m.hallett@percyhedley.org.uk

Get fit and help others this spring at the Marathon of the North, Half Marathon of the North and Sunderland City 10k.

If you want to combine a 2013 get-fit resolution with a charity fundraising effort, then get the trainers on for Steve Cram’s Wearside runs.

Following the success of the inaugural Marathon of the North in 2012, Steve has added a half marathon to the programme of events that is scheduled for Sunday April 28. Add the annual Sunderland City 10k into the mix and around 6,000 people are expected to participate in this growing festival of running.

Steve and his organising team want to make it as easy as possible for charity runners to get involved in the three events. Not only are entry fees competitive, with three distances to choose from, there’s a run to suit every fundraiser, whether supporting official charity Cancer Research UK or another good regional or national cause. If you don’t want to run, you could still get involved by volunteering to help a charity staff one of the water stations on the route.

Many people who have signed up for a run on April 28 have already committed themselves to big fundraising efforts, but with three major events on the same day, there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved.

Entries for the Marathon of the North and the Half Marathon of the North are now being accepted at www.marathonofthenorth. com, and you can enter the 10k at www. sunderlandcity10k.com.

Your chance to get fit and do some good in the process!

For more information, contact Chris Lines on 07971 868329, chris@ rightlines.info or www. twitter.com/chrisjlines.

JAN/FEB13

DOING GOOD

TEA? >>

Competition Terms & Conditions

CLIC Sargent’s Great Mums Get Together is a fundraising event linked to Mother’s Day running 10 – 17 March 2013. It encourages mums to gather for a good reason and raise funds.

A great excuse for some girly gossip and a purposeful gathering and raises money for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children, young people and their families.

Details www.clicsargent.org.uk

STARRY NIGHT >>

A star-studded concert to raise money for a teenage cancer charity was staged last month at the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas in Newcastle with performances from Britain’s Got Talent winner Jai McDowell, NSPCC Christmas single singer Shauna Gallon and Emmerdale’s Charlie Hardwick.

The event was sponsored by Newcastle law firm Clarke Mairs and raised thousands of pounds for Teenage Cancer Trust, the only UK charity dedicated to improving the lives of 13-24 year olds diagnosed with cancer.

The concert also featured performances

by British tenor Ian Storey, Lindisfarne’s Billy Mitchell and include readings by Tim Healy, Ian Payne from ITV North East, Simon Davies the chief executive of Teenage Cancer Trust, Lord-Lieutenant Nigel Sherlock OBE and The Bishop of Newcastle the Right Reverend Martin Wharton.

CLUB TOGETHER >> A group of North East women created a fundraising calendar after discovering their lives had all been affected by cancer. The women met during boot camp fitness sessions on the beach. The Fitness with Grace Calendar was the brainchild of personal trainer Grace Stilgrove, from Whitley Bay, who hopes it will raise as much as £25,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

“The Macmillan nurses were truly wonderful when my mum Brenda was diagnosed with cancer of the gall bladder,” said Grace, 37.

“Mum was only 58 and she wasn’t just fit, she was athletic, but sadly she died shortly after her diagnosis in May 2009.”

Brenda’s legacy to her daughter had been a love of exercise and Grace started a personal training company, holding fitness sessions on the beach at Tynemouth and Seaton Sluice. www.fitnesswithgrace.co.uk

1. The prize draws are open to United Kingdom residents aged 18 and over, except employees and the immediate families of room501 Publishing, their agents, or anyone professionally connected with the prize draws.

No purchase is necessary.

All entries should be sent via the luxe website at www.luxe-magazine.co.uk. To enter choose the appropriate prize draw on the competitions page and enter your details not forgeting to hit the ‘send your entry’ button when complete.

Alternatively you can enter in writing to room501, luxe Prize Draw, Publishing House, 16 Pickersgill Court, Quay West Business Park, Sunderland SR5 2AQ.

ART CLASS >> Two art world giants have joined forces for a charity collaboration.

Len Tabner and Joe Cornish are working together for the first time to raise funds for Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team.

For the first time ever in his long, impressive career, artist Len Tabner has allowed a painting to be printed as a limited edition and sold to the general public. Looking over to Roseberry and beyond from the Wainstones Sunday 12 February 2102 – after snow, was entrusted to Joe Cornish, the respected landscape photographer.

Len Tabner always works on his paintings outside. The painting was started and finished next to the Wainstones on the North York Moors. It was mid-winter. Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team transported Len and all his equipment up to the inaccessible site.

And transported Len, his equipment and the finished painting back down again.

The original painting will be on display at Joe Cornish Galleries in Northallerton. The Galleries will remain the sole outlet for purchasing the prints.

Prints are £325. www.joecornishgallery.co.uk

3. The closing date for the receipt of all entries is February 28 2013. Only one entry per person, per draw. No third party or bulk entries.

4. Participants must supply the following personal details: name, address and contact telephone number. Participants must supply the full details required and comply with all rules to be eligible for the prize.

5. Responsibility cannot be accepted for incomplete, delayed, wrongly delivered, damaged, ineligible or fraudulent entries or those not received for whatever reason. Proof of posting is not proof of receipt. Prize must be accepted as offered. No cash alternative will be offered and the prize is not transferable. Value of prize is correct at time of going to press.

6. Winner will be the first entrant drawn at random by an independent person after the closing date.

7. Winner will be notified within 14 days of closing date. The winner is responsible for ensuring they are able to accept the prize as set out and in accordance with these terms. In the event they are unable to do so then the Promoter reserves the right to redraw the prize.

In certain circumstances prize draw winners will be required to collect their prize in person from the registered office address above and may be asked to provide proof of age and identity.

8. If the prize has not been accepted by the winner within two months of the closing date a redraw will take place.

9. To the extent permitted by law, the Promoter is not liable to any participant for any loss or damage suffered in connection with this prize draw.

10. Promoter's decision is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.

11. Entry implies acceptance of these rules.

12. The prize is subject to availability. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should circumstances make this necessary.

13. Winner’s shall bear any costs associated with their travel.

ROCKLIFFE’S THOUSANDS >> Rockliffe Hall, in Hurworth raised more than £7,000 at its Third Year Anniversary Ball in aid of its chosen charity for 2012, the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

Over one hundred Rockliffe Hall members and customers from around the North attended the event, hosted by ITV Tyne Tees’s and the GNAAS’s patron, Pam Royle. The money was raised thanks to the generosity of guests who bid for auction prizes such as cooking lessons and lunch with Rockliffe Hall’s director of food and TV chef, Kenny Atkinson, golf with PGA tour professional, Graeme Storm and the chance to spend the day with a BBC football commentary team at a Boro game at the Riverside Stadium.

Managing director of Rockliffe Hall, Nick Holmes, said: “Being able to support such a fantastic charity with so many events is a real privilege for me and the team at Rockliffe Hall. The Anniversary Ball proved a tremendous success- we’ve never raised such a lot of money at one event.”

We’d love to hear about your charity comings and goings.

Send details and pictures to kathryn@room501.co.uk JAN/FEB13

2. The Promoter is room501 Publishing Ltd. Registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Publishing House, 16 Pickersgill Court, Quay West Business Park, Sunderland SR5 2AQ. Company Registration Number is 6268770.

14. Winner’s name and county is available 14 days after closing date. Send an SAE marked prize draw results to the registered office address above or contact us by e-mail at sales@room501.co.uk 15. The winner may be required to take part in publicity resulting from any prize promotion.

By entering into this prize draw you agree to cooperate with us to publicise the results of any prize promotion.

16. The Promoter may use a participant's contact details to inform you of services, products or events that we believe may interest you. If you would prefer that we did not contact you about other services, products or events, please write to us at any time to the registered office address above.

17. The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions in circumstances arising beyond its reasonable control.

18. These rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

97

PARTING SHOT

Hey Babe >> Happy Valentswine Day from everyone at luxe. Photograph by Nicky Rogerson www.nrphotography.co.uk

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JAN/FEB13