Luxe July August 2014

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ISSUE 29 JUL/AUG14

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ISSUE 29 JUL/AUG14

r i ch a r d k i lt y ’ s s peed d ate. Bl o o ms & bub bl y. Eat with L aybou rne.

R a y m o n d Bl a n c . S tunning fas h ion. Co o l c akes . a Gasp-worthy home.

Pa r ty p e o p l e . W r iter s in th e knoW. Cul t ural l i f e. golf. Luxe laps. ci t y s tay s. Bi g n ames . Lux e.

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contents 8>> simple mind iSSUe 29 JUL/AUG14 It’s been a swoony few weeks in luxe land - is it possible to have a crush on a house?

On our fashion pages you’ll understand what I mean - we spent some very lovely hours at The Pavilion near Berwick on a shoot - and for a while pretending this James Bond palace of a place was ours to keep. The pictures are amazing - starring lovely Ashley Gittins who was crowned Miss Newcastle earlier this year.

On the subject of crushes, think I’ve got a bit of one on Jim Kerr. I remember seeing Simple Minds a couple of decades back (ouch)... I didn’t forget about him so talking to him about his luxe things in life was something of a luxe thing in mine - we’re both getting on a bit so it shouldn’t have been a surprise that a significant topic of conversation was Radio Four and holidays in Italy, very rock and roll.

Richard Kilty’s life has definitely gone into the realm of stadium stardom; you’ll be seeing a lot of him over the next few weeks as the Commonwealth Games kick in. His story is the stuff of dreams and he really deserves to enjoy the success - give him a cheer.

We’re nicely settled into summer so we’ve also got a lot of lovely ideas for food and flowers to help you enjoy summer to the max - hope yours is smashing and that you enjoy looking at luxe from the comfort of a designer deckchair.

Jim Kerr talks rock n’ R4

10>> summer sorted Delicious ideas for days out

16>> grown-up festivals Nice food, no mess fests

20>> rocket man Richard Kilty on the blocks

27>> at home with Blanc Raymond’s food life at Le Manoir

32>> sweet girl Lottie bakes some treats

34>> pete feels the heat Sweet girl Lottie Rodgers has opened a cake shop in Stokesley that’s a nod to the quirky bakeries of Notting Hill.

Her luxe things in life are: peony roses - a girl can never have enough, a comfy deckchair, sun on your face and a good book - and Jo Malone Roses Cologne, a voluptuous blend of roses and violet leaves.

Telly man cooks a vindaloo

36>> masterclass Terry Laybourne’s truffles

38>> green feast Best of the allotment

42>> Luxe fashion All white in a dream destination

56>> summer beauty Loving the rays

60>> country garden Carl Banks’ cottage garden

66> Luxe Local

Don’t forget to sign up for Luxe Loves the Weekend to continue the pleasure every week www.luxe-magazine.co.uk/theweekend

Let’s move to Rothbury

82>> Little Luxe

Twitter: TheLuxeMagazine

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

Kathryn Armstrong Editor

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

Kathryn@room501.co.uk

ThE 501 TEam I’d get a gold medal for... christopher march managing director chris@room501.co.uk Buying jeans - I love them

86>> Va Va Vroom Jim Kerr is our new luxe best friend.

The Simple Minds frontman talked to us in the run up to headlining at Hardwick Live Garden Party.

His luxe things in life include: Asian food, particularly dim sum, Diesel jeans and a weekend anywhere in Italy.

Luxe laps. Test drives of nice motors and insightful words from petrolheads

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

98>> parting shot

Bryan hoare sales and marketing director bryan@room501.co.uk Early hours nappy changing EDITorIaL Kathryn armstrong editor kathryn@room501.co.uk Taking it to the wire Katharine capocci sub-editor Hollow legs - and the ability to munch three-course meals Fiona mcLain fashion assistant Wine tasting DEsIgn David stubbs davids@room501.co.uk Being a font geek sarah macneil sarah@room501.co.uk Juggling work, kids and partying sophie murphy sophie@room501.co.uk Forcing more clothes into the wardrobe phoTographY Kevin gibson info@kgphotoraphy.co.uk Sunday morning bacon sarnie-making nicky rogerson nicky@nrphotography.co.uk The ability to sleep anywhere, any time

For advertising call the sales team on 0191 426 6300.

Pete Graves is a familiar face to sports fans as a presenter on Sky Sports. He’s a curry fanatic and cooks one up on our food pages.

His luxe things in life are: sport on telly, despite the day job, a spot of opera and world music. The simple pleasures of a bottle of red and some olives in the garden.

room501 Ltd, Spectrum 6, Spectrum Business Park, Seaham, SR7 7TT 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 ©2014 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, July 2014.

saLEs Lisa anderson senior sales executive lisa@room501.co.uk Cocktail drinking Debi coldwell senior sales executive debi@room501.co.uk Yorkshire pudding making - 36 every Sunday

luxe is published bi-monthly by room501 Ltd.

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Spire Washington Hospital is offering free mini appointments across the North East. Come and meet one of our Consultant Cosmetic Surgeons and ask any questions you may have about cosmetic surgery: 12 July Stadium of Light, Sunderland 26 July St. James Park, Newcastle 20 September Radisson Blu Hotel, Durham 27 September Rockliffe Hall Hotel, Darlington 11 October Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle 29 November The Hog’s Head Inn, Alnwick Mini appointments are an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about cosmetic surgery and are not a formal out-patient consultation. If you wish to proceed to surgery, a full out-patient consultation will be required.

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LUXE LIFE

Jim Kerr Simple Minds front man Jim Kerr brings his band to the region this September to headline the Hardwick Live Garden Party music jamboree. He’s no stranger to the shores – Whitley Bay was his boyhood holiday destination and he has fond memories of Roker Park and Newcastle City Hall Luxe people >> I’d have to say guitar man Charlie Burchill, he’s my best friend. We can be having a bawling match in the studio then the next minute meeting up for lunch. We stay grounded because we have been through it all together.

Luxe places >> For a weekend > I am a huge fan of Italy – I was lucky enough to go there as a child and it was like seeing the world in colour. I’d go to Rome or Florence.

A long holiday > I love Asia, Japan, Bali and Australia A treat > A trip to Scotland! There are some stunning little B&Bs on the islands with amazing seafood.

Luxe relax >> Best food > I’m not a meat eater – I like Italian and Thai food and really we’re ruined – we get spoilt staying in nice places and eating good food. I’m not a bad cook myself.

Best wine > I don’t drink – a Scotsman who doesn’t drink!

Tried it, didn’t like it.

Favourite restaurant > We were staying in a hotel in London with a restaurant called Ming Jiang, an upmarket Chinese – I love dim sum. In Glasgow there’s a restaurant called Gamba that’s great.

Perfect weekend > I like to cram a lot of things in – I am a

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walker, a hiker. If I am in Glasgow then I will be up early and within 45 minutes be in the middle of nowhere. I walked up Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh the other day. I like to see what’s going on culturally – exhibitions, football – and I am a great fan of the Citizen’s Theatre, Glasgow for avant garde productions.

Best telly > Breaking Bad, House of Cards – the catch-up stuff. I think the BBC still does amazing stuff, even though it gets some stick.

Best book > I am reading Rod Liddle’s book, Selfish Whining Monkeys: How We Ended Up Greedy, Narcissistic and Unhappy. It’s really making me laugh – frank talking with tongue firmly in cheek.

I am a radio man, I heard Rod on Radio 4’s Start the Week talking about the book. I like podcasts – often when you’re travelling and there’s an hour’s plane delay you can just switch on and listen to people’s stories – radio if vivid.

Best sounds > I still listen to the stuff I always did. Stones, Doors, Who but new things all the time – listening to The Churches at the minute who I really like and Future Islands.

Luxe shop >> Best shopping city > London Favourite shop > A shop called Wholefoods – one has just opened in Glasgow.

Luxe retail treat > I am a gadget man, laptops, iPod, headphones.

Best buy > Definitely a house in Dublin I bought – I sold it for a stack!

Luxe PARTY >> A memorable night out > When we first went to America we went to Hollywood and there would be people there like Stevie Wonder and Joan Collins at parties.

Probably the most memorable was spending Hogmanay at Bruce Springsteen’s house where producer Jimmy Lovine took us.

Perfect party > There’s always a party on tour, it’s always someone’s birthday – but I think I’d head to Sicily – I’ve got a hotel there called Villa Angela in Taormina on the east coast of the island of Sicily, a stunning location.

Best outfit > I like Italian stuff, the best design and quality, and Diesel jeans.

Dinner date > Rod Liddle at the minute!

Your luxe thing in life....

Good health www.hardwicklive.co.uk

JUL/AUG14

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Stay in >> go out >> enjoy Oh we do like to be beside the seaside... and the festival, concert hall, gallery - here’s our summer must-do plan 1 AUGUST Celebrate summer in style with a party in the park at Gibside. Bring your deck chairs, picnics and party hats for a street party on a Georgian scale on Gibside’s grand Avenue.

Enjoy an evening as a guest of George Bowes with live music, tasty food and real ale bar, family entertainment, garden games and prizes for the best posh picnic! www.nationatrust.org.uk/gibside

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AUGUST

Glorious day for glorious game on the menu at The Feathers, Hedley. The Feathers will be serving grouse shot on the Allendale estate at East Allenheads. Eating young same-day grouse is a rare treat - a privilege that you should try once. Four-course dinner £38. www.thefeathers.net

2 & 9 AUGUST

19-20 JULY We love the sound of The Great Seaside Vintage Fair, all deck chairs and saucy postcards – happening at Whitby Pavilion, West Cliff, Whitby, 9.30am-4pm, both days.

Get your own seaside vibe with these cool French stripe wooden frame deckchairs, £75 at Re, Corbridge www.refoundpbjectscom

20 JULY The cycling frenzy continues as cyclists return to the Durham Dales for the third staging of the Etape Pennines cycle race.

The event quickly established itself as one of the toughest rides in the UK following its debut in 2012 and was hailed as “beautiful but brutal” by Cycling Plus magazine. It challenges riders to 78 miles and over 2,000 metres of climbing – thrilling for both riders and spectators alike. Starting in Barnard Castle, riders will soon find themselves riding through the stunning Durham Dales countryside before an uphill section that leads to Blanchland, and the iconic moorland the race has become renowned for. www.etapepennines.co.uk

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JULY

Author Jane Torday chronicles the flamboyant life and words of her father, Roger Mortimer, The Times racing correspondent for 30 years, in a new book, ‘Dear Jane - My Father’s Life and Letters’. She will be full of lively anecdotes at a lunch at Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland. Tickets, £25, include tea or coffee and a two-course lunch with a glass of wine. Call 01434 675469.

Farne Islands Supper Club is a unique dining experience in a location second to none; The Lighthouse Garden on the Farne Islands. Diners join each other at a long table to be served a culinary delight devised by Anna Hedworth of the renowned Grazer Supper clubs in Newcastle. £99pp.

Book on 01289 389 244

5-6 AUGUST Vintage fairs are a nice moochy pastime, especially when they take place in pretty places – head to Richmond Town Hall on the 5th and Barnard Castle’s The Witham the following day and get excited about teacups. www.vintagefairsuk.co.uk/Vintage-FairListings.html

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AUGUST

Sadly Benedict’s not coming but be thrilled nevertheless

by Sherlock in the sunshine in a performance at Belsay Hall, Northumberland. Gates open for you and your picnic at 6pm.

Tickets 0870 333 1183

10-15 AUGUST The National Theatre’s multi award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time comes to Sunderland Empire as part of a major tour of the UK and Ireland.

Christopher, fifteen years old, stands beside Mrs Shears’ dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion.

He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington. The book by Mark Haddon won more than 17 literary awards. www.atgtickets.com/Sunderland

26 JULY

The Tynemouth Classic VW Rally returns for its fourth year with hundreds of classic (pre-1984) VW Camper Vans, Beetles and other VWs converging on Tynemouth. The famous Coastal Cruise will take place later in the day with all the classic VWs departing in convoy.

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AUGUST

Retro mum-dancing order of the day as Texas, All Saints and Gabrielle line up for Soundwaves at South Shields. The seaside venue is Bents Park and tickets are a purse-friendly £30 with a buy one get one free in July. www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk

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ALL SUMMER Are you hiding a Gareth Malone at home? Bring out the talent at Sage Gateshead Summer Schools. From singing to conducting, creating a band to playing instruments there are loads of courses on offer for all ages and abilities. All part of the Festival of Youth Orchestras season from 28 July to 1 August.

Folkworks’ annual Summer Schools in Durham run from 11 to 16 August with a week of inspirational folk music, song and dance participation.

Summer Sing season in partnership with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain in late August has a range of courses to choose from. The Youth Summer Sing with composer and conductor John Rutter at Caedmon Hall, Durham on Friday 22 August is perfect for experienced singers aged 16-22.

At Sage Gateshead, junior singers aged 8-11 years can take part in 5 days of summer singing from Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 August and 12-to-15-yearolds have their own Teen Summer Sing session on Saturday 30 August.

See more at www.sagegateshead.com

12-13 AUGUST JULY

Jolly race days - July 26 Collingwood Insurance Beeswing Ladies’ Day, Newcastle Racecourse www. newcastle-racecourse.co.uk

Lick lively at the Ice Cream Festival at Alnwick Garden – two days of a flavoursome mix of fabulous tastes with the chance to indulge in a variety of flavours. With a mix of local ice cream producers as well as those from further afield you’re in for a taste treat. Live entertainment, games and activities. www.alnwickgarden.com

JUL/AUG14

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August

A girly afternoon of shopping, pampering and indulgence is on offer in aid of a leading North East charity.

Handbags and High Tea event takes place at Macdonald Linden Hall Golf and Country Club, Longhorsley with shopping, cakes and beauty treats. Tickets are £15.95 each which includes the tea and a goody bag for all attendees. All proceeds from the day will go to Hope 4 Kidz. For more information or to book tickets contact Hope 4 Kidz on 0191 534 7788 or email vivien.watts@hope4kidz.org.uk.

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August

Wine and nibbles astronomy sounds good to us – it’s being served up at Kielder Observatory. Early evening for the ‘grown ups’ offers you the chance to view the skies from world class observatories, and enjoy nibbles beneath the stars. At sunset, the planets and constellations all pop in to view as the night progresses.

Bring your own choice of tipple. www.visitnorthumberland.com/ star-gazing-events/wine-nibblesastronomy&ssid=758949

30 & 31 August The NE1 Zapcat Grand Prix powerboat racing hits the Tyne. A thrills and spills powerboat race on a tight course mapped out between the Tyne and High Level bridges. Teams from all over the UK travel to Newcastle to compete in the event which now has a firm place in the UK Zapcat league championships.

The event attracts hundreds of spectators who crowd the Quayside to get the best view of the high-speed action, which is often likened to Formula One racing on water.

16 AugusT

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Castle Howard’s Great British Proms Spectacular with the English National Orchestra will be performing works by many of the world’s greatest composers with star guests from the classical world performing. 0844 318 7000 www.castlehoward.co.uk

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August

Be scared – The Woman in Black will make you shiver at an outdoor screening at The Bowes Museum with Picnic Cinema. Bring a picnic (and your tent, if you dare) and enjoy the fantastic atmosphere in the beautiful grounds of the Museum. For tickets & further info see www.picniccinema.co.uk

20-23 August Showtime – Bake-off glories and giant vegetables – see the best at…

August 20 Egton Show www.egtonshow.co.uk August 23 Wensleydale Show www.yorkshire.com/whats-on/ Wensleydale-Show/1181593

20-23 August Ebor Festival, York www.yorkracecourse.co.uk

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Jazz vocalist Claire Martin will be wowing Sage, Gateshead as smooth-sounds winner of seven British Jazz awards including best vocals and is known as the first lady of British jazz. The show will combine popular classics mixed with her passion for the Great American Songbook performing songs such as Kurt Weil’s ‘My Ship’ and Lennon/ McCartney’s ‘She’s Leaving Home.’ www.sagegateshead.co.uk

25 August Glendale Show www.glendaleshow.co.uk

All summeR

We love Dan Bennett’s striking patterned paintings celebrating nature - his bright colours celebrate flowers, seed heads and underwater scenes. His works are contemporary classics, full of summery life and colour and you can see them at Balman Gallery in Corbridge. Town Hall Buildings, Princes Street, Corbridge, Northumberland NE45 5AD. www.balmangallery.com

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August

Afternoon Tea at The Movies is happening at Beamish Hall in County Durham – on the big screen is Cliff Richard’s Summer Holiday with afternoon tea rather than popcorn to accompany. The day starts at 2pm and is in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. www.beamishhall.co.uk

September

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September

Smooth sounds and the ultimate food - US soul legend Alexander O’Neal headlines the 11th annual Oyster Festival at Hardwick Hall Hotel. The festival has become one of the most anticipated events in the region since it was established in 2003, bringing together top billing entertainment, fine food, free-flowing drinks and great company. Alexander O’Neal had success with hits such as Saturday Love, Criticize and If You Were Here Tonight and is regarded as one of the greatest singers from the 80s soul era.

Also on the bill is Terry Alderton, one of Britain’s most exciting comedic talents who has worked with Joan Rivers, Michael McIntyre and Eddie Izzard. Festival favourites the Wildcats of Kilkenny and JJ Galway band will also perform and guests can indulge in signature Fruits de Mer menu, local oyster stalls and free-flowing drinks all day.

Tickets £140+vat per person. Bookings 01740 620253 or email info@hardwickhall. co.uk

All summer The North East’s National Trust gardens are out to surprise. Did you know Gertrude Jekyll designed walled summer garden at Lindisfarne Castle? See a Grade I registered landscape at Gibside and Europe’s largest rock garden at Cragside. Other places offer kitchen gardens, parterres, wildlife gardens, herbaceous borders, rose gardens, historic nutteries and acid-loving gardens filled with rhododendrons and azaleas plus a glorious laburnum arch at Seaton Delaval Hall. To find out full details of the gardens to visit this summer and their opening details see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/northeast

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DO THIS

WEALTH MANAGEMENT WITH JOHN DANCE

SHOULD BOND INVESTORS FEAR POTENTIALLY IMMINENT RATE RISES? ...ASKS JOHN DANCE, CEO AND CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER AT VERTEM ASSET MANAGEMENT. Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, has spent most of 2014 suggesting that interest rate rises could occur sooner than most of us previously expected and has supplied us with a variety of healthy economic growth indicators to justify why. At his Mansion House speech in mid-July, Mr Carney said that ‘rate rises could happen sooner than markets currently expect’ which led to an instant and dramatic change in interbank lending rates and predictions that rates would rise this year.

Less than a fortnight later he countered his previous comments with the suggestion that there was more spare capacity in the labour market than previously thought and that this could be absorbed before needing to increase rates. Such inconsistent guidance over a small period of time has done nothing to help City analysts accurately predict when rates may start to creep higher. Of more relevance is the fact that they similarly haven’t helped savers and investors overcome the uncertainly of rate rises in their portfolios.

A rate rise would of course be good for cash savers, but a rise from 0.5% to 0.75% is hardly going to make anybody that much better off. For bond investors the dynamics are slightly different as increases in rates lead to increases in bond yields and these are created by a fall in the capital value of the bonds themselves. Predicting when rates and yields may increase and which bonds to invest in have been on bond investors’ minds since rates first hit these super abnormal lows in 2009 - and more so than ever this year.

Investment theory and common consensus dictates that being positioned in short dated bonds rather than longer dated issues provides greater protection to the capital declines associated with rate rises and yield increases. But this is not always the case and to date has not worked so far this year.

As the chart below shows, since the end of 2013 the short end (shorter dated until maturity) of the yield curve has seen yields rise and thus capital declines, whilst the longer end of the curve has seen yields compress lower and thus generate capital increases. Part of the reason longer date rate and yield expectations have fallen is that Mr Carney has also suggested that in the long term, rates of around 2.5% may become the new norm.

Our favourite hotspots for hunkering down with the hamper this summer include these National Trust favourites:

EAST RIDDLESDEN HALL, WEST YORKSHIRE The intimate gardens of the 17th century hall with their herb border once used to make home-grown medicines are the perfect place to relax and unwind. Walk the new Riverside trail along the River Aire. On 19 August grab your rug, chairs and picnic as the hall plays host to an outdoor theatre production of Romeo and Juliet.

Do try and get to Bodyworlds at Life in Newcastle – it is spectacular – and the kids will love it, especially as it is all REAL! Gunther von Hagens’ journey through the human body brings together a collection of real human bodies, specimens and organs which have been willed by donors and preserved through plastination. Awesome in the real sense of the word. www.life.org.uk

NORTH YORK MOORS AND COAST, NORTH YORKSHIRE Ravenscar on the high Jurassic cliffs between Scarborough and Whitby is a grand place to picnic. Footpaths take you to all corners of Ravenscar and fossils can be found a couple of miles north where there is access to the beach at Stoupe Brow.

ROSEBERRY TOPPING, REDCAR AND CLEVELAND Roseberry Topping isn’t one of the UK’s highest hills, but it is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive with its jagged half cone summit. On 3 August National Trust staff will be hosting the annual Tea on the Topping event between 10.30am-3pm. For £2.50 you can indulge in a reviving cup of tea and slice of cake – your reward for climbing the 1,049ft (320m) to Roseberry’s summit.

SOUTER LIGHTHOUSE AND THE LEAS, TYNE AND WEAR

The reality is that rate rises and yield increase do not necessarily have to cause an issue for bond investors, but that their positioning on the yield curve is of vital importance depending on when rate rises eventually come and how they compare to previous expectations. So whilst there is no need to fear rate rises, there certainly is a need to navigate them carefully.

As well as being active in yield curve positioning for some years now in portfolios, we have also been active in investing in asset backed securities, senior loans and floating rate notes for some time, long before the current bandwagon started gathering momentum.

ALL SUMMER

The Leas is the coastal green lung between Newcastle and Sunderland. The steep limestone cliffs sculpted by the North Sea into strange shapes are home to an abundance of noisy birdlife from kittiwakes to fulmars, cormorants and razorbills.

Take a stroll along this 2.5-mile stretch of North East coastline and then refuel at the Souter Lighthouse Galley cafe which offers a warm welcome and traditional dishes such as panackelty and singin’ hinnies.

More details www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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OCTOBER

If you’ve never seen Kate Rusby live – do it!

Yorkshire’s Kate Rusby is a wonderful, wistful folk vocalist who sings with vivid emotion and stunning tunes.

And she’s very funny in between! She is bringing her autumn tour to some parts of the UK not visited for a while, including Whitley Bay Playhouse. The crossover appeal Kate enjoys is unprecedented for a folk singer.

0844 248 1588 or book online at www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk.

NOVEMBER John Dance is CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Vertem Asset Management.

Call 0191 341 0280 or email johnd@verterm.co.uk Visit www.vertem.co.uk

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Get in early - wine man Oz Clarke is returning to the North East with a dinner hosted by The Newcastle Wine School at Jesmond Dene House on 13 November. A five-course dinner will include wine tasting as Oz shares some of his wine adventures, £95 per person. The menu has been created by head chef Michael Penaluna and the matching Bordeaux wines will be specifically chosen by Oz. www.jesmonddenehouse.co.uk

JUL/AUG14

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DO THIS

Festivals for the grown-ups >> Stylish sounds, arty touches, a spot of glamping and platefuls of the best street food - some luxe places to pass your summer days Galtres Parklands Festival >>

Deer Shed >>

25-27 July, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire

22-24 August, Duncombe Park, Helmsley, North Yorkshire

If the music scene is more your vibe then head to Galtres Parklands Festival in Yorkshire with a host of headline acts playing over the three-day festival. Acts include The Levellers, Human League and Bellowhead. Set in open parkland space with trees as far as the eye can see, this beautiful spot of the Yorkshire countryside is a sight for sore eyes.

As this year marks their tenth birthday this will see the launch of the new rock stage, headlined by The Virginmarys on Sunday night, with RSJ, A Joker’s Rage, Bull, We Could Be Astronauts and many more. The weekend will also welcome the return of the Hull Stage which features the best local talent from East Yorkshire.

The Firkin Stage next to the beer tent will have a few open mic slots over the weekend, so bring your guitar, ukulele or violin and show the crowds what you can do. Bucking Bronco Rodeo and vintage dodgems are guaranteed to keep kids of all ages entertained and for those who like to do the odd spot of shopping have a look round the many stalls that are going to be at Parklands festival including Brazilware, Bean Creative and Andromeda Clothing stalls.

Kendal Mintfest >> 29-31 August, Cumbria

Visit www.galtresfestival.org.uk

Alnwick Castle >>

Simple Minds, Saturday 16 August, The Pastures Alnwick Gardens Scottish rock band Simple Minds return to Alnwick Gardens this year for a concert, performing many of their Top 20 UK hit singles including favourites such as Don’t You (Forget About Me). With 35 years performing behind them they are sure to entertain the crowds as they entertain in this stunning location. Gates open at 5pm on the night and a fantastic display of fireworks will bring the evening to a close at 10.30pm.

Tickets are available from www.kalmusic.co. uk or by phoning the Alnwick Playhouse on 01665 510 785 or Berwick Maltings on 01289 330 999. Tickets can also be bought in person from Alnwick Gardens and Alnwick Castle.

On Sunday 17 August the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will present “The Alnwick Family Proms Concert” full of film scores and popular classics with the traditional Proms flag-waving finale. The concert will also commence with an aerobatic display by an original WWII Spitfire and the RSNO play pieces associated with this wonderful aircraft.

Tickets are on sale from the 1 May and are available from www.kalmusic.co.uk. Ticket prices and all other details are available on the website.

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The sleepy town of Kendal comes alive in August with the return of the ever-popular Mintfestival. Performers, acrobats and musicians from around the world take to the streets to put on a variety of shows to entertain visitors of all ages. Parks and public spaces will become a display of amazing talent and entertainment as artists, dancers and performers take centre stage to entertain crowds during this three-day extravaganza.

Each year the Kendal Mint Festival ensures that different spaces are used all over Kendal bringing the town together and ensuring a new venue is explored. This year “The Old Factory”, once an old industrial space, has been transformed into a new “cultural hub” which will provide an epicentre for talented acts to display their performances.

If World Music is more your thing then head over to the World Music Stage in The Brewery Arts Centre and let your ears sample musical delights from all over the globe.

Always guaranteed to get a laugh, the late night comedy cabaret in the Brewery Room just might get you laughing your socks off.

This year looks set to be bigger than ever with over 45 companies arriving from the UK and Europe to perform including; Acroja, Mark Brew and Nino Silva, La Campagnie De Fo’s La Menagenie and Full Stop Acrobatics. Also included in this year’s festivities is a new show for under 5s from Peut Etre so youngsters get to join in the fun too.

If the weather is nice be sure to pack a picnic or sample some local culinary delights on offer throughout the weekend. Live music acts will be performing in the Brewery Gardens on Saturday evening and all day Sunday. Most of the festival is free and booking for ticketed shows is open.

Visit www.lakesalive.org for more info

SummerTyne Americana Festival >>

18-20 July, The Sage, Gateshead A sizzling gumbo of the Latin American spirit makes its way to the banks of the river Tyne for the Summertyne Americana Festival this July. A host of Americana legends will take centre stage at the Sage Gateshead to perform a musical feast of Latin American music.

Currently running for its 5th year in a row, the family-friendly arts, music and science festival is back for more fun-filled entertainment with this year’s theme being “Time Travel”. Expect lots of exciting science-themed workshops using crazy inventions and ideas, guaranteed to get kids exploring.

This is very much a family-orientated festival with children being the main focus of all the events and activities happening throughout the day. Workshops, performances and events are aimed at making sure all the family joins in and that there is something for everyone.

Some of the activities on offer include: Eight tons of play sand, The Cardboard City which returns with bigger and better boxes this year, Rounders England as well as plenty of Sport Field based activities including swingballs, hula hoops and space hoppers. There is plenty to keep kids of all ages occupied.

The site opens around lunchtime on Friday 19 July with Saturday being the main focus of the festival. During the day there will be three music stages providing an array of musical entertainment with acts such as Johnny Marr, British Sea Power and Willy Mason. Friday night opens the show with a cabaret performance in Big Top and headline acts on the main stage.

Take it easy on Sunday with coffee and newspapers, whilst the kids are kept busy in organised kids’ sports and live ambient electronica cafe in the Big Top. Take a stroll round the crafts market and watch in awe at the birds of prey display. The festival site will close late on Sunday afternoon.

See website for ticket prices www.deershedfestival.com

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival >>

19-28 July, Various venues around Edinburgh

Headline acts include Booker T Jones, The Jayhawks, Bettye Lavette and the Summertyne Strings Orchestra. One of the most popular features of last year’s festival, the free outdoor stage, returns again this year so audiences can sit back and enjoy the soulful sounds of Latin American The outdoor stage is free but ticket prices vary for events held in the Sage.

Mardi Gras, Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Van Morrison and Davina and the Vegabonds descend on Scotland’s capital this July for a celebration of jazz music in this historic city.

The festival, which was set up in 1978 by banjo player and guitarist Mike Hart, had one initial focus; the celebration of traditional jazz for audiences around the city. Nearly 40 years later this policy remains the same and organisers vow to concentrate on musical excellence and to encourage spontaneous creativity to make music on the spot in Edinburgh.

Included in the event is Edinburgh’s Festival Carnival on Sunday 19 July which is a free event. It includes Parade from The Mound to west Princes Street, non-stop performances at Princes Street Gardens and music and carnival acts in The Grassmarket.

Visit www.sagegateshead.com/tour-dates/ summertyne-americana-festival-2014

Visit www.edinburghjazzfestival.com as prices vary per event.

JUL/AUG14

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LUXE LIFE

Paul Shriek In the 1980s Paul Shriek dressed the fashion hungry of Newcastle with designs that found their way to Topshop and his own shop. As fashion consultant for music programme ‘The Tube’ he achieved ‘enfant terrible’ status.

Today Paul works alongside Matt Fox and together they are known as Fox and Shriek creating costumes for the theatre industry, making outfits for among others, Welsh National Opera, Scottish Dance Theatre, the National Dance Company of Wales, and The Ballet Boyz.

Later this month in Newcastle they will unveil a new glamorous Haute Couture Womenswear A/W 14 collection.

Luxe people >> Only a handful of people know the ‘man behind the mask’. These individuals know who they are and provide constant support and loyalty every day in my life. I learned a long time ago that the personality who is Paul Shriek can be a strong light and it has, believe me, attracted all types over years but the true ‘family’ around me know me and I am loyal to them always. My life always looks full of high glamour but in reality I am driven in my working life and protect my privacy.

Luxe places >> For a weekend > I have been told that this is the time of the week most people relax – haha not for me! My world revolves around whatever project I am doing at that time. I know 9-5 is not for me and never could be again.

A long holiday > I have never had one, not interested. A waste of time. My life creates opportunities that most people would class as ‘escape’. I live in a constant ‘holiday’ of visual and rewarding encounters that no brochure could ever fulfil. However I carry my

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passport at all times… you never know.

A treat > Travelling by first class rail, I never do cattle.

Luxe relax >> Best food > I prefer to pick from a selection so I think Asian fusion is a favourite, however I do enjoy real home-cooked traditional meals. I buy fresh artisan bread my close friends laugh as I often don’t eat it.

Best wine > I’m a cocktail darling at heart - a Dark Star or a classic Cosmo - but recently become partial to a Violet Martini all served expertly to me at the City Tavern, Newcastle.

Otherwise, I have simple tastes - a bottle of Sancerre or a Peroni served chilled would suit.

Favourite restaurant > The Tivoli, Fenwick. I have sashayed through those tables since the mid 1960s when my Mam used to take me shopping. It is a timeless pearl of ‘old school’ dining that hopefully will never close.

I have laughed, cried, entertained and people watched for hundreds of hours over the years and always have been looked after by the ‘Girls’ to perfection they ‘are’ the Tivoli and I salute them all and say thank you.

Perfect weekend > Catching up with close friends and switching my head off from the circus that can be the world of Paul Shriek.

Downtime means > I must be ill as this is not part of my life.

Best telly > I am currently hooked on Fargo and Penny Dreadful. Have to always watch the News at Ten and Question Time - a reality check is always a good thing.

Best book I have a library at home and it is ever expanding. Books are one of the most important resources to me. I adore books, they are real and should be cherished. The Keel Row Bookshop in North Shields is a luxury to me where I can have that ‘Mr Benn’ moment, discover new worlds and take them home to add to my collection.

Best sounds > Whatever inspires me in any given project. I have a sponge-like attitude to music which is constantly evolving. I buy from film soundtracks to opera to retro disco etc. Having a chameleon-like personality I never stay in one genre.

Luxe shop >> Best shopping city > London

Favourite shop > Fenwick. I think it is in my DNA and TK Maxx everywhere! I’ve been in one in every town I have visited.

Luxe retail treat > I collect vintage Pelham Puppets.

Best buy > Leather brogues, Cardiff TK Maxx, quality shoes always. My Mam taught me that one, look after your feet.

Luxe PARTY >> A memorable night out >> Horse Meat Disco.

I love them - they evoke memories of the first time I heard the tracks in the Seventies - and they still get me on the dance floor.

Perfect party > Anywhere with close friends, we create the party.

Best outfit > I live in jeans so each season I find the fit and buy three pairs as I know I will only be wearing them and no other trousers.

Dinner date > Now that would be telling.

Your luxe thing in life >> Making sure that my ‘family’ of close friends are protected, safe and happy… they are, after all, my luxury. www.foxandshriek.com

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19

up to speed

Rocket man

He’s one of the fastest men on earth so all eyes will be on Richard Kilty for a precious few seconds when he competes for Commonwealth Games glory this summer. Kathryn Armstrong caught up with the Teesside Tornado

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This rocket of a man is fresh from a night swanning about with his new best friend, Elton John.

For the superstar’s people are now his people and naturally, when Elton played the North East earlier this month Richard Kilty had a ringside seat and a couple of hours of dressing room chat.

All more than a bit surreal for the 24-year-old sprinter, whose life is the stuff of a movie, spanning despair to the ultimate triumph in little more than a year.

Richard Kilty’s is a face that might not be so familiar now but in a couple of weeks’ time when Commonwealth Games coverage kicks in, his will be the one to watch.

In the athletics stadium his face will dominate those giant screens with as many fans screaming for him as there were for Elton - and indeed, the musician has told him he’s likely to be there watching Richard’s milestone race.

Elton’s Rocket management company already have Olympic cyclist Laura Trott on their books and were looking for a track star to join the line-up.

Bullet-fast, Richard shook his sport at the start of the year when after missing out on the Olympics and almost quitting the track, he came back and broke a world sprint record for the 60m at the World Indoor Championships in Poland.

It brought him after-party glory and home-town hero status in Stockton with a welcome-home bash at Yarm’s Lotus Lounge. Not only that but much-needed cash reward and opportunities he could once only dream of.

More importantly, that win gave Richard the belief that in Glasgow he can grasp the dream to become only the second white athlete, after the Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre, to break 10

seconds for the 100m.

We catch up with him at Tees Barrage - but only just - the scheduled meeting is delayed because Richard has to do a drugs test - every day he has to be available for one specified hour so that the authorities can turn up and test him they just happen to choose the time of our planned appointment.

Once the routine test is done though, Richard is ready to talk. His story is an astonishing and humbling one. He is driven and incredibly articulate about his struggle and is only now beginning to take in the enormity of his new-found status as a sporting superstar.

By the time you read this, his new MG will have been delivered as part of a sponsorship deal.

He will have taken yet another delivery of kit from Nike – they snapped him up after the World Championships and he will be shopping for the BMW he dreamt of as a little boy.

“I’ve suddenly found people want me – I am on billboards and I am Elton John’s VIP guest – it’s crazy. It is amazing how my life has changed.

“I have always had the dream – to be the one who won gold. It has always been there in my mind. You have to have the dream, not everyone is going to be a world champion but I was blessed with fast legs and used them to shock the world.

“I had something to prove and I proved it – at the World Championships the fastest runners in the world were looking at me and asking ‘who’s the white guy who can run?’

“I could not believe that my life had changed forever in 6.49 seconds.”

Those magical moments marked an extreme turnaround in fortunes for a boy who spent some of his childhood in a hostel for the homeless, nearly going into foster care and who was on the breadline after missing out on selection for the 2012 Olympics.

He continues the story: “When I was at school I

was fast and won on sports day but I went to a new school at seven or eight and was really scared at my first sports day.

“My legs were like jelly at the start of the race and my heart was thumping. I won and I remember the teacher – Mrs Edmondson at Pentland Primary in Billingham – saying she had never seen a kid run like that at sports day – she took me under her wing and took me to county and schools sports days at Clairville Stadium. I remember the adrenaline of those days even from being so young – even now I can still remember the smell of lunch and the feeling of nerves on the days we were going to the county sports – we’d have lunch early in the hall, going to that stadium was what I lived for.

As a teenager he continued his training – it was an escape from a tough life.

“I lived in a hostel for a time – there were four of us in one bedroom – it was a dirty, smelly place. As a kid it was embarrassing to be poor and I didn’t tell my friends where I lived.

“But inside of me there was always this vision of one day going out there and being ‘the one’”.

The turning point for Richard’s ambition came watching the Sydney Olympics when he was a teenager. He put everything into training and competing, making the most of those God-given fast legs.

By the time the 2012 Olympics came round he was a contender. He was training with Linford Christie, had run 10.23 for the 100m and was sure he could qualify for the Olympics. Then six weeks before the trials he tore his hamstring and saw his sponsors – and any hope of making the Games – disappear.

“I should have been selected – my times were right, I had had an injury but I was ready.

Controversially I wasn’t selected – I still do not know why. Relationships between team managers? I couldn’t see why and still don’t know.

“I lost funding and for five months just quit completely. I’d gone to university to study sports sciences at Loughborough but I dropped out because the student lifestyle just did not work with an athlete’s training.

“I couldn’t pay my rent and slept on Dad’s sofa.

I had worked so hard with running and training but after not getting selected I thought I was fighting a losing battle. I even went to join up for the Army. “ One day a run by the waters at Tees Barrage brought him a jolt of clarity.

“It just hit me – I have been blessed with this talent and have had one unlucky year – if I quit, then it has been a waste of ten years.”

Richard couldn’t afford to move to London to train so he decided to take matters into his own hands.

“I have the talent, the legs and the surroundings – I ran up hills, on the dunes at South Gare and along cycle paths – real hard, old-school training. I teamed up with another athlete, Chris Tomlinson, who does long jump and we’d push cars around Teesside Park to get our strength up “During those eight months I ran 10.1 seconds for the 100m and my indoor running was really quick. I qualified for championships in Moscow which meant I earned some money and could do more training. “ The course was set for the World Indoor >>

JUL/AUG14

UP TO SPEED

JUL/AUG14

21

up to speed

I wasn’t heard of on the world stage at all - there was this feeling of ‘who is this white kid who has come from nowhere?’

Championships in Poland. Richard’s achievement in qualifying for the finals was sweet.

“This was my opportunity to change myself and to prove everyone wrong.

“I ran a personal best of 6.53 for the 60m against class opposition and there was the feeling of ‘who is this white kid who has come from nowhere?

“I wasn’t heard of on the world stage at all – that meant by the time the final came there was no pressure on me. In the hour between the semis and the final I went and had a half-hour sleep, I knew that if I could sleep then I was relaxed enough and could take on the race.”

Richard paints the picture of the build-up to that final in the most minute detail – the race may have lasted just six seconds but he can talk about the memory of it for much longer.

He lined up against some of the greats – the money was on the Jamaican Nesta Carter, the fifth fastest 100m runner in history, “Marvellous” Marvin Bracy and Dwain Chambers, 2010 world champion.

It’s the most fiercely intense race in the world. Just a few seconds for a crowd to watch and milliseconds making a difference between glory and defeat.

That track is a primitive place. You just have to watch the athletes before they take to the blocks. Panther-like, they are lean and ready to spring; there is pacing, there are stares, there is the psyching-out. It is the ultimate pressure spotlight, played out on a massive screen to a huge audience.

“You are under the canopy in a holding area, there are a few steps and a small exit – you can feel and hear the crowd.

“For that final the pressure was off because just being in the final had made me a hero – but I knew I was ready. My mind was empty – the others will try and psyche you out,

22

they might chant, stare, shout at themselves.

“You hear the commentator say “here’s the big one, the one you’ve been waiting for” and we go on to the track. The roar is incredible and you feel your heart will burst.

“Twenty thousand people were chanting my name. I knew what I was there to do. The gun goes and you just react without thinking – you have the others in your peripheral vision and you know you are ahead.“ When he ran that world-beating race, six athletes were separated by just 0.04sec. Richard’s chest shaved the line first and he responded with a Tarzan-like chest-beat of triumph. Life had changed in 33 strides and 6.49 seconds.

“I thought, this is the moment I have shocked the world!”

“I clutched my head and only when I saw the board did it really hit me – you do your laps of honour – someone threw me a cuddly bulldog – then you have to get drug tests and do interviews but it doesn’t sink in for a long time – still hasn’t really!

“In the athlete’s village they called me ‘The Hype Machine’

– I was the first white guy since Allan Wells in 1980 to be so successful in sprint. The guys had waited up for me to party – I had a couple of vodkas!”

And then life changed completely. Even now, his track schedule has meant he’s not really had time to sit back and reflect on that life-changing race. Now he’s looking to events like BBC Sports Personality and invitations galore come every day. He loves it but never takes any of it for granted.

“Now I fly first class, stay in great places and have the money to do anything – before I was a raw kid who was hungry for fame and now the others are running.”

His sights are on Commonwealth Games glory – and he’s ready, full of confidence and fearlessness.

“When people try to get into my head on the start line I just laugh and I think, ‘You can’t break me.’ I’ve seen things and had to do things which other people haven’t.”

L ining up in Glasgow >> The sporting summer continues as North East athletics hopefuls line-up for Commonwealth glory in Glasgow this summer.

Going for gold will be Olympic finalist Laura Weightman from Morpeth who competes in the 1,500m, Sonia Samuels from Wallsend in the 10,000m while Alyson Dixon of Sunderland takes part in the marathon.

Track man Niall Flannery from Cullercoats takes on the 400m hurdles and at 60m, 100m and 4x100m relay there’s Richard Kilty.

Long jump hopeful Chris Tomlinson from Teesside competes on field as does Gateshead’s Sally Scott in the pole vault.

Jade Jones from New Marske will line up in the 1,500m wheelchair competition.

JUL/AUG14

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LUXE LIFE LUXE PEOPLE >> Starting the business I’ve moved back in with my parents and have never felt more fortunate than I do now knowing I’ve got such a supportive family. Everyone needs at least some constants in their lives when they venture into the unknown.

I also met my girlfriend whilst I was working at a show and we’ve now been together for a year. I also had a lot of support from Business Northumberland setting up.

LUXE PLACES >> For a weekend > The North East coastline is somewhere I find absolute heaven. With memories of walking on Alnmouth beach with my grandparents to the days when I used to visit family friends in Bamburgh and more recently staying with university mates in Beadnell, I’ve always loved going back whenever I can.

A long holiday > I’d happily trade two weeks on a beach for a week skiing. Otherwise, I’d enjoy spending more time in South America exploring the traditional Incan methods in the farming and breeding of alpacas. I’m in the process of collaborating with various alpaca yarn suppliers in Peru ultimately this should allow me to make some trips.

A treat > There’s an amazing hotel on the Isle of Skye, Kinloch Lodge which is owned and run by Claire MacDonald.

Described as one of the ‘1000 things to see before you die’ among many other accolades, it sounds like the ideal location for an unforgettable experience.

LUXE RELAX >> Best food > I do love seafood and enjoy eating it at any opportunity. I’ve fond memories of watching a fresh catch being prepared and barbecued in front of me when I was in Greece. I do really enjoy some rare fillet beef so would never pass that up either!

Best wine > I am quite keen on finding a good buy and on one occasion, found a red called Chateau Bois Pertuis in Waitrose on offer. It tasted as though it should have been far more than the price I paid for it, so I’d happily choose that again over any others.

Favourite restaurant > I’ve had dinner at Blackfriars in Newcastle recently and having heard many great things, it didn’t disappoint! Hearty Northumberland food in an incredible venue.

Perfect weekend > I really enjoy going to the theatre and although it’s not as often as I’d like these days, if I could combine a dinner party with some close friends and an evening at the theatre, a game of golf or tennis and a traditional family Sunday lunch then I’d be a very happy man!

Downtime means > In winter, you’d fine me reading and listening to music or enjoying a bracing walk. During the summer, hopefully I’d be playing some cricket, golf or tennis.

Best telly > I’m not that keen on TV but recently, I did watch the Fox series Vikings, I’m more interested in historical documentaries or dramas.

Best book > I recently finished The Hare with the Amber Eyes which I enjoyed hugely. Typically, I read quite a lot of period fiction such as Wolf Hall but am always keen to pick up a novel from contemporary authors such as Zadie Smith.

Best sounds > I’ve been in love with music for as long as I can remember but since moving back North have enjoyed some peace and quiet which not only heightens my concentration, but also allows me to enjoy the sounds of local wildlife which I’ve haven’t been able to experience during my time in London.

LUXE SHOP >> Best shopping city > Rome Favourite shop > I love Fenwick – their buyers are always on top of their game!

Luxe retail treat > I’m all for sustainable fashion and only buy pieces that I love and are well made.

HUGO DOUGLASS When the city lost its lure Hugo moved back home to Northumberland to set up his luxury alpaca knitwear company, Plum of London Best buy > Presents I’ve bought for others which exceed their expectations. The piece of jewellery my brothers and I gave our mum for her 60th springs to mind.

LUXE PARTY >> A memorable night out > The surprise birthday present I received from my girlfriend. Dinner at an incredible restaurant, followed by West End theatre tickets and finished off with a few drinks in an innovative bar.

Perfect party > Given my age, weddings are a regular occurrence - they offer the opportunity of a celebration like no other!

Best outfit > I have a jacket from Loro Piana which is pretty special.

Dinner date > Marcus Aurelius.

Your luxe thing in life > To make it a success. www.plumoflondon.com

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THE BEST OF NORTH EAST FOOD & DRINK JUL/AUG 2014

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EAT! PREVIEW HOT STUFF WITH PETE GRAVES TERRY LAYBOURNE TRUFFLE MASTERCLASS LOTTIE’S VOLUPTUOUS DELIGHTS PLUCKING THE BEST FROM THE GARDEN SUMMERHOUSE INSPIRATION CHEF’S TABLE WITH JAMES CLOSE

dining

Art of the matter The season’s best produce is the promise of the cultured menu at Artisan in Newcastle. Kathryn Armstrong dines It feels like an occasion just being in Artisan, surrounded as you are by the loveliness of exhibits in the adjoining Biscuit Factory Gallery.

In its new incarnation, the restaurant, which you might remember as Food Social, breathes in the culture from its friendly neighbour now that walls have been opened up to let light and exhibits shine though.

This alone doubles up the talking points as your cultural wish list lengthens with every glass of wine.

The restaurant’s new look softens what is a cavernous space thanks to deep colours, low furnishings and eye-catching, large-scale artwork.

It’s a nice place to be and soon gets buzzy this early Thursday evening with diners avoiding England’s second World Cup game. Yes, we were definitely the victors on this occasion. Andrew Wilkinson is at the kitchen end of things and his food is very good – so too are the staff here, knowing their stuff to the Nth degree.

There’s art on the plate to be sure – the gallery surroundings seep on to the plates with dishes that are beautifully presented, elegant and abundant in seasonal detail.

We started with an off-menu special of chargrilled mackerel and the menu’s North Shields fish soup.

That’s one fine char-grill in the kitchen, the taste was perfect. The slight smoky char tasted magical against the soft, fleshy fish – the best bit of mackerel I’ve had – been dreaming of it since.

Likewise the soup transported us back to France – the dense, smooth fish soup full of flavour from a stock that had been in a marathon not a sprint, adding that all-important punch and intensity to a classic dish – and it’s always fun to play the rouille, garlic and croutons dipping game with it.

My main course was also a special – flavours of pork. It’s a while since I ate pork belly – think I overdid it when the novelty of this long lost cut returned to restaurants a couple of years back.

This chunk was a reminder of what I was missing – and how when a slab of pork belly is good, it’s very good.

That combination of silky fat, juicy meat and the crunch on top, perfect. Homemade black pudding alongside was a dark delight - sweet and gently crumbly with a soft spice hit of cinnamon.

Husband ordered hake with chorizo, romesco, gremolata and grilled salad onion. A fine slab of fish cooked to soft translucency in the middle. The freshest of ingredients alongside made the dish really sing, the gremolata with herby, garlic and lemon adding much summery life to the plate. Every forkful of this combination made you feel good, which is what food should be all about.

We got excited about the vegetable offerings too – spring cabbage dukka – the combination of softly stirfried leaves and the cumin-based South African spice mix making a really different side dish.

A bowl of peas, mint and little gem also the perfect side with my rich pork belly dish.

We liked the after-dinner tipples list alongside the dessert menu, didn’t succumb this day but it looked impressive, Pedro Ximinez tempting as it was. Ice-creams in fabulous flavours always signal a devoted kitchen – rosemary ice-cream a first for me – very punchy and ginger and elderflower varieties nicely off the norm – lovely stuff. As for mango and lime sorbet, a real perky spoonful.

We delved also into a luscious crème brulee with Armagnac prunes.

These are inspiring and exciting dishes to look at as well as to eat. There is a quiet and artful dignity about the place, a sense that they know they are doing a good thing and you’re the lucky ones to be there – some great value early-evening menus on offer too.

We ended the night stuffed, but happily so – unlike the England team that night. www.artisannewcastle.com The Biscuit Factory, stoddart street, newcastle, ne2 1An. 0191 260 5411

early evening set menus 5.30-7pm, £18.50 three courses. A la carte starters from £5.50, main courses from £13.50, desserts from £4.50. The next seasonal gourmet night is July 30 ‘summer harvest’ - a just-picked vegetarian collection

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Chef’s table with James Close Michelin-star chef James from Raby Hunt is inspired by the garden’s sunshine shoots Summer’s here and my Big Green Egg really comes into its own. True, I am fairly evangelical about this thing, what many would call a barbecue, but to me the ultimate.

A barbecue is for life, not just for summer and BGE has been a fond fixture in the kitchen here at Raby Hunt pretty much since we started. The difference? The Big Green Egg is made from clay – this helps whatever is being cooked to really retain moisture. We use it for many things on the menu; it imparts a different flavour to vegetables as well as meat - and I’ve been using it to smoke my own chicken, which was spectacular! The plan is to smoke other birds, pigeon, quail, things that would sit well on our menu. My technique with the chicken is to roast it to a high temperature. The barbecue cools then I put smoking chips in and the chicken stays in the egg (!) for three to four hours to allow for the smoking process to happen. The results are great – I can’t recommend the BGE enough – it works pretty fine on sausages and burgers too – we had a staff barbecue on it recently!

Summer’s harvest The abundance of summer produce prompted me to create a dish that was like a walk through Vallum Farm.

Grower Ken Holland is the go-to veg man at Vallum in Northumberland who most chefs in the North East and an increasing number nationwide seek out for obscure varieties to adorn their plates and thrill their palates.

The dish features 25 different vegetables, I kid you not.

Lurking in that ingredients list are baby turnips, varieties of beetroot, beet and pea purees, crispy kale, fennel, nasturtium… on it goes. I created a crispy scallop crumb that we add to the dish for some texture and another flavour. The result is a delicate dish that really makes the most of the abundance and freshness of produce at this time of the year. The ladies like it.

Local hero We call him the coffee dude. Andrew Henley is the man behind Railtown Coffee, based in Darlington. He is as passionate as it gets about his beans and determined to get bean to cup via roaster in less than four weeks for us.

We work on the basis of seasonality and freshness here at Raby Hunt and he applies that ethos to the gathering and roasting of beans that we use for our filter coffee.

We wanted the way we serve coffee to reflect everything else we do in the kitchen – so we can guarantee pure flavour and a very specific taste to our coffee. We use coffee harvested from small single estates, artisans you might say. They are sent over and then roasted to our specification. The resulting flavour is full of personality rather than the wham bam of an intense espresso. There’s a lightness and complexity to the flavour that makes it like a digestif after dinner. Andrew, who owns West Park Café in Darlington where he serves up his coffee, also supplies to cafes in the area, including Olivia’s in Stokesley. Worth sharing a coffee with him.

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and chefs from Box Tree, Ilkley and Black Swan, Oldstead, was the opening of The Man Behind the Curtain in Leeds.

Chef is Michael O’Hare, for whom the phrase ‘larger than life’ was invented.

The flamboyant blonde, rock-loving chef is as wacky as it gets in some respects – on the plate his food looks like a work of art and presentation is all.

He worked at Noma in Denmark and his new Leeds place is above Flannels in Leeds. There were many highlights in the tasting menu - amazing pea veloute, a veal dish dedicated to chef Bernard Loiseau.

Langoustine in mussel consommé with parsley oil was served in little spoons attached to a spoon ‘tree’ – all very spectacular.

Very different, very inspired and a product of dedication.

Lots of chefs late into the night, yes it got messy. I walked out and it was 5am, too light too soon!

Ingredients We’re going a bit crazy with elderflower foraging at the minute. Opposite the restaurant there’s masses of the stuff and we’ve been making five batches of luscious cordial every week to stockpile. I’ve been playing with oyster and elderflower. I slow-cook oyster then serve in the shell with some of the cordial and with some of the flowers, adding a touch of gooseberry liquid. Something unexpected, people love it. If you want to try your hand at the more conventional cordial, here’s our not so best-kept secret of a recipe.

Raby’s Elderflower Cordial Makes 2 litres 25 elderflower heads (picked on a warm sunny day in their prime) 1 orange zest 3 lemon zest Pour 1.5 litres of boiling water over the above and allow to infuse at room temperature for 24 hours.

75g orange juice 75g lemon juice 1kg caster sugar 4g citric acid 4g tartaric acid Pass infusion through muslin into sauce pan. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 2 minutes. Pour hot syrup in to bottles and seal.

Bib Gourmand With Harriett Close I am trying to get to grips with utensils at the minute, having a decent crack at it but hands so much simpler. I loved staying at The Star where my favourite thing was the beef with its runny red juice at my Sunday lunch.

Daddy had something called a parfait for his pudding which looked just like an ice-cream sandwich – I pinched all of his homemade lemon juice because it was so very juicy, even though it did make me pull a bit of a funny face!

Cheeky stopover We seized on a lovely sunny Sunday and headed for The Star at Harome recently.

Always a great place, I love what Andrew Pern does and we were soon settled in the garden with a bottle of English fizz, a really impressive Bloomsbury Brut from Ridgeview. As the fizz went down we knew we were meant to stay and booked in for the night – in a room with its own pool table, thanks.

The nice place about The Star is that you can start off at the cosy pub end of things then move on to the cocktail bar outside as the mood – and weather – takes you. We settled in fine – and after a hearty walk even managed to then head to The Pheasant to eat later.

Chefs’ night out A chefs’ night out isn’t always a busman’s holiday. We tend to go berserk when we’re let loose – it must be the thrill of being let out of the kitchen at night-time with other chefs.

The occasion for me gathering alongside Kenny Atkinson

Yorkshire’s Top Three Black Swan at Oldstead, above, really gets my vote for a superb Sunday lunch, somewhere with cracking food but also an atmosphere that makes you want to stay put for a while. Van Zeller in Harrogate is a good place for a bit of a best-clothes day out of lunching in the cultured surroundings of Harrogate. The place itself is in very desirable courtyard and you’ll be wowed by the greatvalue lunch tasting menu.

Wensleydale Heifer ticks my box when the kids are in tow and gutsy food is needed. Fish and chips there takes some beating and the place is really relaxing and good-humoured.

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people

Manoir born Raymond Blanc’s Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is a place of pilgrimage for many a food lover. Kathryn Armstrong paid a visit There’s a moment during breakfast when you see a tidy parade of chefs in the whitest of whites clutching baskets against their striped aprons and striding purposefully to the walled kitchen garden.

Maybe it’s just theatre for the guests munching on the Manoir’s perfect still-warm patisserie; there must be a back gate, but it’s a nice touch.

For the chefs, the daily ritual of seeing what has sprouted in the soil beds and polytunnels behind the honeycoloured stone walls of the ultimate kitchen garden must be the source of inspiration.

Who knows if there are ever culinary fights among the nasturtium leaves and lemongrass crops but the proximity of garden to kitchen is something to behold.

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is absurdly picture-perfect in its honey-coloured stone coat nestling among lavish gardens.

Manicured, pruned and pampered, the hotel, gardens and consequently, food are perfect.

Arriving in Oxfordshire on a Sunday afternoon, a gorgeous silver Aston Martin DB5 sits on groomed gravel at the door of the hotel. We’re welcomed by director and general manager Phillip Newman Hall.

After some polite ‘good journey?’ chat it turns out he knows our neighbours which is a bit surreal. Phillip was general manager at Crathorne Arms near Yarm and knows the North East well. Fancy. Small world and all that.

He’s at the helm of one exceptionally well-oiled machine here where staff and guests seem to glide effortlessly through the corridors of this fine mansion.

All is polished to perfection, literally and metaphorically.

On the way to our room in the courtyard we brush past lavender bushes and pungent aromas fill our walkway as though we had our own personal ‘fragrancer’.

Le Manoir’s rooms are in the main house and courtyard rooms. We are welcomed into Jade, inspired by Raymond’s travels to the Far East.

Jade, silk and dark wood make for a dramatic space which is divided into a sitting area – with a Madeira-filled decanter and handmade chocolates awaiting – and a bed on a raised platform. It is a room in which to enjoy coveted ‘room time’ with a TV that slides down from the ceiling over the bed at the press of a button.

A two person steam room is in the corner of a huge bathroom – a call to reception delivers up the aromatherapy oils of your choice to make the experience complete. It feels very luxe indeed.

We walk the gardens. You have to ‘do’ the gardens. Even if you don’t have a Monty Don bone in your body, you will be inspired to get busy with the herb pots on your return.

The kitchen garden is stunningly laid out with as you might expect abundant and perfectly sculpted herbs, vegetables and fruits.

By a small beck we find wild garlic riches – masses of the

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The kitchen garden is stunningly laid out with abundant and perfectly sculpted herbs, vegetables and fruit stuff – which we will feast on later. This is also La Vallee de Champignons Sauvage, a mossy damp area which is the fungus friend. Planted in 2008, this is where different varieties of fungus to serve the restaurants and cookery school thrive.

Summer flowers make their appearance on plates – a favourite is blue borage – a drinks’ garnish with its cucumber flavour. Other popular flowers are calendula, blue chicory, salad rocket flowers and spicy radish.

Courgette is one of the most important crops – bright

courgette flowers are stuffed to adorn the plate – more than 150 a day are picked and stuffed at their growing best. Tomatoes feature heavily and are something of a passion for Raymond. Varieties Marmande, Costoluto Fiorentino, Couer de Boeuf add jewel colour. Black varieties add a different depth of flavour again.

I experienced the best of them with a vegetarian breakfast where tomatoes and mushrooms played centre stage and those cheerful, bright tomatoes really did make the day start with a sweet, flavoursome song.

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Raymond Blanc

Summer flowers make their appearance on plates - a favourite is blue borage with its cucumber flavour But that was the morning after the night before. And that had seen us experience the signature ‘Decouverte’ tasting menu, a seven-course food adventure inspired by the seasons and those gardens.

It was a delight to say the least. Every plate a picture in itself and served with the discreet choreography of supreme level staff, the place feeling relaxed and unstuffy nevertheless.

Highlights: silky confit of salmon, elderflower, garden radish, yuzu cream – yuzu an aromatic citrus fruit. The delicate balance of flavours so light and elegant.

Next, pasta - agnolotti of goat’s cheese, honey, artichokes, olives. Sharpness, sweetness and melting textures.

My favourite - Cornish sea bass, Scottish langoustine, smokey mash, star anise jus. Smokey mash, whoever invented that to serve with sea bass was genius surely, deserving a star themselves. The sweetest langoustine and fine bass, melt in the mouth memorable.

Summer on a plate next with a dish of Pyrenean milk-fed lamb, a beautiful piece of velvety soft pink meat with a gentle flavour. This is where the garden’s wild garlic mound came in to play with the punchy addition of wild garlic flavours alongside just–plucked asparagus and more vegetables.

Next, strawberries made an appearance – sweet Gariguette strawberries a refreshing taste of summer, touched with a powdering of Szechuan pepper.

The decadent end came with textures of coconut and Ghana chocolate Grand Cru. Meltingly perfect. Indulgent, rich and deep.

The restaurant was packed with happy people, some celebrating big occasions – you can tell these days as they ask for photos taken by iPad. There’s a spirit of food joy, of being part of a privileged party and that is certainly brought to life in the morning at breakfast where the breads, pastries and charcuterie are faultless and frighteningly, ‘come again’.

We check out and literally bump into David Seaman as he

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leaves the hotel to climb into his black Range Rover.

Then we have another quick tiptoe through the lavender walk and waft on our way, via the garden centre.

The wines Our young sommelier was a star, full of verve and passion for his job and ready with chat about the wine suggestions: which included: Alsace Riesling Grand Cru Rosacker 2009 Domaine Mittnacht Frères, Rhone Viognier les Vignes d’à Côté 2012, Yves Cuilleron 10X Pinot Noir 2011 Ten Minutes by Tractor, Mornington Peninsula, Australia Bordeau Lalande de Pomerol 2009, La Fleur de Boüard Bordeaux Les Lions de Suduiraut 2009, Château Suduiraut Full details on www.belmond.com/le-manoir-auxquat-saisons-oxfordshire

Factfile Raymond Blanc Cookery School is in the grounds of the Manoir and a series of courses run throughout the year – from kids’ cookery to Blanc Vite, based on Raymond’s ‘fast food’ book.

We love the sound of The Hungry Frenchman and Maman Blanc courses which epitomise the spirit of the grow it, eat it philosophy.

There are also one-to-one courses available – all these from the team led by head tutor Mark Peregrine.

‘Behind the scenes’ tours and guest speaker dinners also run throughout the year.

Full details on www.belmond.com/le-manoir-auxquat-saisons-oxfordshire

Raymond Blanc is known and loved as one of the best chefs in the world. He’s been a force in Britain’s food revolution over the last 20 years.

Self-taught, he was inspired by his French culinary background and watching his mother in the kitchen.

He opened his own restaurant at the age of 28, ‘Les Quat’ Saisons’ in Oxford, and within just one year the had reached Michelin Star status.

In 1984 he created hotel and restaurant, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons – the only hotel restaurant to have achieved and maintained two Michelin status for 29 years and the only property outside of London to sustain 5AA Rosettes for that period of time.

Raymond tells Luxe about his life in food.

A childhood food memory > At an early age I was an experienced hunter-gatherer, inspired by my mother and father. I have fond memories of exploring the great outdoors with my brothers and it has long been my vision to have plenty of outdoor space to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs.

A favourite family dish > I enjoy simple and wholesome food such as Morteau saucisson, Comte cheese, homemade preserves and crusty bread. I do have a very sweet tooth and love to prepare îles flottantes (floating islands), made with poached meringue, real vanilla cream, topped with caramel.

A meal that inspired/s you > Maman Blanc’s seamless ability to make a fantastic meal for the family from the produce we collect locally or pick from the vegetable patch is completely inspiring. I will always remember a casserole she used to make, with the freshest vegetables pulled from the garden.

We grow as much of our own vegetables, salad leaves and fruit as we can.

A wine that inspires you >There are so many inspiring small French producers that it would simply be impossible to choose!

A restaurant/ wine list you return to > I like to try new restaurants. I spend a lot of time in London for work and meetings so I enjoy eating in town. My favourite restaurant at the moment is Texture. This is a fantastic restaurant created by Agnar Sverrisson and Xavier Rousset - both used to work at Belmond Le Manoir. The menu combines British produce with ingredients from Sverrisson’s native Iceland and naturally Xavier has created an incredible wine list. A fantastic evening out.

An inspirational chef > Maman Blanc of course. I would call her a great cook – but not a chef. Also, I think it would be wrong of me to talk of Maman Blanc without talking about my grandmother, Germaine. She had amazing culinary talents which were respected throughout the region. She passed on this cooking DNA to Maman Blanc, who passed it on to me, the first male chef in the family. We are launching a course in The Raymond Blanc Cookery School dedicated to spreading Maman Blanc’s philosophy on simple, rustic food.

The last wine you drank and food you ate > I eat most days in my office at Belmond Le Manoir - and today, in fact, the young children on the Children’s Cookery course have created a delicious fish pie which I enjoyed. I drink water with lunch and an espresso to follow. It’s always nice to start an evening with a glass of Laurent-Perrier.

Your last food and wine would be > There is absolutely nothing better than freshly picked produce that has been lovingly cultivated. The tastes are just perfect. I also love fresh bread with some butter and homemade jam is wonderful – simple yet delicious!

Favourite food and wine city: I love going to Paris the restaurants are thriving, with hugely talented chefs and hundreds of excellent bistros. For me, Paris is about celebrating food.

Favourite ingredient: Garlic.

The wine or dish you would pass on to your children: Tarte tatin. As a child I had to sit with the grown-ups at the dinner table and what made the endless adult talk worthwhile was the beautiful tarte tatin that my mother would always make. I love the pudding now just as much as I did then!

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Dream toppings Young businesswoman Lottie Rodgers brings a voluptuous big city slice of cake-stand style to North Yorkshire Muddy music festivals and living life out of a rucksack are about as far away as it gets from a strawberry scone and chintzy floral cushion cover.

Lottie Rodgers has managed to combine both however.

The lure of her comforting cake, flowers and crafts palace was the dream as she spent 18 months as a festival organiser saving up to make it happen.

Now people can’t get enough of Lottie’s Voluptuous Delights, her artful high street bakery in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, which bring a very moreish slice of Primrose Hill to the market town. It is way more stylish than your average tearoom thanks to Lottie’s injection of some Camden cool in menus, surroundings and inspiration.

It is a bold adventure for Lottie, who is still just 19 but who epitomises the entrepreneurial spirit of a gutsy new generation of school leaver ready to get on with it.

She explains: “I went to do AS levels at sixth form but it just wasn’t for me. I decided to head for London and I got a job with a company organising music festivals – I really love music and wanted to be involved in that industry.

“I was based in Camden and Covent Garden and for 18 months I was on the road looking after bands and the people they brought with them – for festivals like Leeds, Latitude, Glastonbury and Hackney Weekender.

“I’d be looking after artists like Bonnie Veer, who was amazing, and Eminem – he rocked up with a staff of 80 people and I would be sorting them out – they would all have different food needs and it was my job to see to everything. Eminem needed a box of £600 Havana cigars

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in the dressing room.“ I was basically on the road for 18 months but all the time I knew I would be back in Stokesley with my friends.

“My favourite things are tea and cakes – and music – so I spent an awful lot of time in cafes sitting with a cup of tea and reading and just people watching or chatting.

“I loved the Primrose bakeries and the Hummingbird Café and was inspired to do something like this in Stokesley which I thought was ready for something a bit quirky!

“I was faced with the choice of staying in London and making a career there or coming back to friends and joining up with them to do this – now I work with my friends and we all bring something different to the place.

“My dad is a self-employed joiner so he helped with the shopfit and I had a really encouraging landlord. My mum is really creative and we’ve loved being involved in getting the place going. We worked with our friend Vicky Trainor who is a stylist to get the look for the place.

“I would love to have more cafes – I see it as a trendy version of Bettys! Our whole idea was that it would be a place that gave you a hug as you walked in – from the smells to the chatter and friendliness of the place.

“People have been really welcoming – they have brought in vintage tea sets and we are getting customers of all ages which is lovely because it feels like a community – older ladies bring their knitting, young people come for a milkshake and cake and families come in – then on Friday nights we have jazz and cocktails.

“When we designed the café we made a big comfy window

seat so people come and sit and there is always someone there to strike up a conversation over your teacup.

“I wasn’t daunted by setting up a business – I have friends who will be leaving uni with £30K of debt and trying to find a job in a big city which is full of people like them – I just thought go for it, I put in 18 months of hard work leading up to it – working 14-hour days, hard, demanding work.

“I always wanted to do this – I feel like we have created a really community with what we are doing. “ Two bakers are up at the crack of dawn making cakes and scones fresh every day – such as today’s offerings of strawberry and lemon drizzle scones, lemon and blueberry scones and rosewater and pistachio cakes.

Alongside, Lottie has a huge selection of teas for sale and gets coffee from Monmouth Coffee. Her dairy products come from a friend’s farm in nearby Rounton village and stunning homegrown flowers adorn the tables – from locals Darling&Green.

For now the adventure is really paying off – baby showers, girlie gatherings, wedding breakfasts are all being booked - people can’t get enough of the quirky vintage style of Lottie’s. The mud fields of festivals are a long way away – but a pop-up Lottie’s might just go on the road – what festival-goer wouldn’t welcome the hug of a hot buttery scone when welly-chafe gets too much?

Lottie’s Voluptuous Delights, 59 - 61 High Street, Stokesley 01642 956200

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Berry delicious treats STRAWBERRY LEMONADE ICED TEA – or a cheeky cocktail! Leaf tea blends into a delicious and refreshing sparkling iced tea. Add a little vodka and you have the perfect summer cocktail.

(Make 4 cups) What you need: 8 tsp strawberry lemonade tea (sold in the tearoom) 900ml boiling water Sparkling water 2 lemons Strawberries Ice Vodka (for tea cocktail) What to do...

1. Brew your loose leaf tea for at least four minutes.

2. Strain and place in the fridge to cool. Alternatively you can put the steeping tea in the fridge overnight and strain tomorrow (for an extra strong taste).

3. Slice lemons and strawberries.

4. When ready to serve pour half tea, half sparkling water over a glass full of ice and garnish with slices of lemon and strawberries.

5. Add 50ml vodka per glass for tea cocktail.

6. Stir well and enjoy!

For an extra special touch serve in champagne flutes or for a summer party make up a pitcher or two.

ETON MESS CUPCAKES These summery cakes will brighten up any picnic or afternoon tea, there’s nothing on earth quite as delicious as an English berry.

What you need: (Makes 12 cupcakes) Cupcakes: 125g strawberries 1 tsp baking powder 25g cornflour

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210g self raising flour 4 large organic eggs 225g golden caster sugar 225g unsalted room temperature butter Strawberry Cream Topping: 2.5 tbsp icing sugar 425ml double cream 100g fresh strawberries 1 tsp lemon juice Crushed meringue What to do...

Preheat the oven to 160C fan/350F Line a 12-hole muffin tray. Cream the sugar and butter until fluffy and light, add the eggs and vanilla and mix.

Gradually add the flours and powder beating well at each stage. Gently fold in the strawberries equally through the mixture.

Divide evenly between the muffin cases and bake for around 20 mins.

Remove from the oven and cool for 10 mins in their tray and then pop on a wire rack to completely cool. Whip together the cream and icing sugar until fairly stiff. Blend the strawberries and lemon juice to form a pulp, gently mix the strawberry pulp and cream but don’t overmix. Lovingly spread the delicious strawberry cream over the cupcakes and sprinkle with crushed meringues and sliced strawberries.

SUMMERY CAKE What you need: 175g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing (3/4 cup) 5 tbsp double cream 1 tsp vanilla extract 225g plain flour 100g ground almonds 1 tsp baking powder

200g golden caster sugar 5 large free range eggs 400g strawberries, half roughly chopped and half sliced 4 meringue nests, roughly broken up Icing sugar to dust What to do...

Preheat the oven to 160C/ 325F/ gas mark 3. Butter a deep 8 x 12” tin. Line the bottom with parchment paper.

Whisk together the flour, almonds and baking powder.

Melt the butter. Whisk in double cream and vanilla. Put sugar and eggs into a large bowl. Beat with an electric whisk for about five minutes, until thick and foamy. Pour in the butter mixture. Mix lightly. Add the flour mixture and whisk briefly until even. Stir in the chopped strawberries. Pour the batter into the prepared tin. Level off the top. Scatter the sliced berries over top along with the meringue pieces. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes until risen and golden brown. A skewer should come out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for about 20 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.

Note: This cake is best eaten on the day so the meringues don’t go soggy!

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curry classroom

Pete’s Food Life: A childhood food memory: My Dad’s ‘Cheese Dreams’ – these are basically a fried cheese sandwich – like a toastie but fried. White bread, fried in oil, we had them when my mum was out – obviously. My mum cooked us real dinners – and a great Sunday lunch.

The last meal you ate: Porridge with blueberries and banana - I’m quite health-conscious, I go to the gym and as a presenter I have to look and feel healthy and fit. Last night it was my wife’s lasagne and salad.

Restaurant your return to time and again: Valley in Corbridge, Saathi in Hexham and Sachins; there’s a pattern emerging!

A memorable meal: Bofinger Brasserie in Paris – a very traditional restaurant. I had a very traditional French casserole and proposed to Steph.

We went to The Ivy for our anniversary and I had steak tartare which was amazing.

An inspirational chef: The three women in my life! My wife is a whizz with mince, my mum’s food was the benchmark for good family cooking and my mum-in-law does a demon gammon.

Favourite drink: I present the Republic of Ireland games on Sky so Guinness features heavily! After a match I’ll have a Guinness, a Jameson’s and put the Pogues on. I love red wine too.

Favourite ingredient: Chillies! With everything.

Favourite meal: I sometimes crave a doner kebab – reminds me of my uni days in Manchester.

Your last meal: Starter would be one of Dad’s Cheese Dreams, then the curry we just cooked – so good! The coffee with whiskey for me – keep it simple.

Hot under the collar Sports presenter Pete Graves has chilli running through his veins, making him the perfect candidate for a hot kitchen session If there was breathalyser equivalent for chilli detection, Pete Graves would be well and truly off the scale.

His middle name might well be ‘chilli’. He genuinely can’t get enough of the hot stuff and a curry for breakfast isn’t unknown.

He’s used to getting hot under the collar as the adrenaline kicks in under the spotlight as a presenter on Sky Sports TV but when it comes to food it’s the ferocity of an intense curry that really makes him sweat.

Perfect candidate then for a spicy session at the hob and a lesson in the unexpected as Pete, 32, stepped up to the spice trays with Sachins’ Bob Arora in the Curry Classroom in the Newcastle restaurant.

Today’s recipe - a pork vindaloo. Pork we hear you say – you won’t see that on an Indian restaurant menu surely.

Bob begs to differ: “Indians in the south of the country eat pork and beef where it is predominantly a Christian country. Pork was brought over by the Portuguese and spices were used as a marinade and preservative on meat on those journeys.

“We don’t actually have a vindaloo on the menu at Sachins because people are scared of it – I’m not a fan of very hot

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curry myself, but we will see that it is about flavour rather than blow-your-head-off heat,” he assures.

Pete’s a blokey guy, can talk about any sport and the curry-and-pint chat of the sports fan is his first language.

He leaves wife Stephanie and children William, two and Poppy, eight months, at home in Tyneside on a Thursday and heads to London for the sports shift at Sky until Sunday night. It’s an intense workload, prepping for interviews or heading to an outside broadcast but sports-mad Pete loves it.

“Irish curling, hockey world cup, darts, you name it, I’ve done it,” he laughs.

“It can be intense – but it is all about making sure you have the right questions ready, that you get the best out of your guests – and avoid the cliches.”

As for food, “We have catering trucks if we’re doing outside broadcasts and the Sky canteen is OK – they’ve bought in an extra stash of chillies for me – I don’t mind them on a breakfast omelette! I would eat curry three times I day if I could.”

Pete, from Corbridge, got his first taste of real curry when as a schoolboy he went to Sri Lanka where his sister was working on a charity project during a gap year.

“It’d be 6am and we’d be up for breakfast which was curry – I’d find myself waking up and really looking forward to it – never looked back since!

“Then I went to work at the Valley Junction Indian in Corbridge and I love going back there – and to Saathi in Hexham, I eat a lot of curry.

“The meal I cooked for Stephanie was a king prawn saag – I’m no great shakes in the kitchen but I like cooking a curry and I use all the different spices to make it – it means that you never really get the same thing twice though, some are great, others not.”

Sachins, Forth Banks, Newcastle.

Tel: 0191 2324660. www.sachins.co.uk

We have catering trucks and the Sky canteen is OK they’ve bought in an extra stash of chillies for me JUL/AUG14

Pete’s Perky Pork with Tikka Balls What it’s got going for it: A vindaloo not to fear – lots of chilli flavour but it doesn’t go for the burn. Your eyes might water a bit but you won’t weep buckets. Vin and loo translate as vinegar and garlic in Portuguese.

The secret: Flavour rather than heat makes it intense but not painful!

Ingredients Serves 4 For the vindaloo & marinade: 4 pork loins, cubed Half clove garlic 1 inch piece ginger 6 tsp white wine vinegar 12 red chillies Masala sauce: 5 large onions, diced Pinch cloves Pinch peppercorns 3 green cardamom pods 2 inch cinnamon stick 2tsp coriander seeds 2 tsp cumin seeds

Method Place the chillies in hot water for five minutes to soften them then drain and whizz in a blender. Add the marinade ingredients together and then pour over the cubed pork. Leave for ten minutes (better still, overnight). In a grinder whizz up all the dry ingredients. Sweat the onions in a pan until they are soft and slightly caramelised. Add the dry mixture and cook gently for five minutes. Add the pork mixture to the onions, including the marinade mixture. Leave to cook gently for 15-20 minutes until the pork is cooked through. Add a small amount of water if

JUL/AUG14

the mixture is too dry. Once it is cooked, remove from the heat and add a tsp of turmeric and a pinch of salt. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with rice and naan bread. Yoghurt added to the curry will calm it down a bit if it is too hot!

Pork Tikka (‘Tikka’ means ‘small bites’ )

Ingredients Serves 4 3 small boiled potatoes, grated 2 loins of pork, minced Pinch salt Quarter tsp turmeric Quarter tsp garam masala Breadcrumbs Flour Fresh coriander Egg for coating

Method Mix the dry spices, pork and potato together then shape into small balls (ping-pong size). Roll them in flour then coat in egg and roll in breadcrumbs. Heat some vegetable or sunflower oil and deep fry the tikka balls for about five minutes until crispy.

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Masterclass with Terry Laybourne

Chocolate truffles in any shape or form are a decadent treat. Adding a glug of your favourite whisky elevates them to even greater heights. Try these out on your dinner party guests and see them swoon

1 Bring the cream to a boil

2 Pour half of the cream over 440g of chocolate and allow to stand for a few minutes

Chocolate truffles 220g UHT whipping cream 940g Milk chocolate couverature Unsalted butter 20g 50ml Whisky - my current favourite is The One (www.lakesdistillery.com) Creative powder (available from cake decorating retailers)

5 Check the temp and adjust to 32°C before mixing in the butter. Transfer to a clean container, cover and refrigerate overnight

7 Gently melt the remaining chocolate in a microwave on defrost setting, stirring from time to time. Ensuring the temp doesn’t exceed 35°C

9 Once set, dip a dry pastry brush into creative powder and dust the truffles gently to give a golden shimmer

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3 Add the remaining cream and mix with a spatula until smooth

4 Add the whisky and mix again

6 Next day, cut the truffles using a melon baller and lay them on to greaseproof paper – return to the fridge

8 Roll each ball by hand, coating with the melted chocolate. Transfer to greaseproof paper to set at room temperature. Do not refrigerate until the chocolate is fully set

10 Serve in a whisky tumbler or package in a little rolled acetate tied with ribbon

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We’ve had the Naked Chef, starring Jamie Oliver, and now intrepid foodies are being invited to take their place at table for the Naked Feasts…

For any food lovers out there who fancy getting fresh and embracing the great outdoors for culinary adventures with a difference, then the novel EAT! NewcastleGateshead dining experiences could just tick your box.

These particular adventures, it must be said, are not about getting naked in the literal sense (as in the divesting of clothes) but rather about getting back to nature. As in peeling back the ceiling, stripping back the walls and feasting like nature intended.

Diners are invited to take their place at the giant communal table for one of eleven themed feasts inspired by family, community, history, art and summer - all prepared by the best up-and-coming North East chefs.

Locations include the rooftop of The Vermont Hotel, the Toffee Factory, a Byker community garden, an orchard at Rising Sun Farm and for one very special evening, Dunston Staithes – the largest wooden structure in Europe - will open to the public following a 30-year closure for a dinner experience high above the Tyne.

Supperclub chef and food blogger Anna Hedworth will create a menu of dishes inspired by the Staithes’ 120year history.

Chatting to festival director Simon Preston in the bright and cheery setting of the ground-floor café at Baltic, Gateshead, his enthusiasm for all things food and the North East, is as-ever infectious.

The freelance food consultant, who divides his time between Edinburgh and Newcastle, has been at the helm of the festival, developed and produced by NewcastleGateshead Initiative, since 2005.

He says of the festival, newly split into a summery EAT! OUT and EAT! IN winter celebration (planned for February next year): “EAT! keeps moving forward and has always been innovative. I’m excited about it.

“EAT! OUT is about the outdoors and being out and eating outside.

“The Naked Feasts are the backbone event of the festival.

The common theme is the table for 60 people. There are some amazing locations.”

And some innovative themes too, including a familyfriendly Mad Hatter’s Tea Party with Beckleberry’s and a Feast of Science linked to the Body Worlds exhibition showing at Centre for Life, titled An Offally Good Adventure!

The idea behind the Naked Feasts is that good food tastes better when eaten outdoors. And when it’s the best local produce cooked by some of the North East’s most talented chefs in iconic locations, then appetites are well and truly whetted.

The Naked Feasts run from Friday 8 – Saturday 16 August and are just some of the tempting ingredients making up the summer programme.

Simon has seen some big changes in attitude to food in the North East over the years. “When we first started EAT! in 2005 there was limited food culture. There was very little celebrating of our food culture so EAT! was a trailblazer. Now there’s so much going on and pop-ups and workshops and schools. I would like to think EAT!’s played its part in creating that vibrancy.”

Other festival highlights include EAT! OUT’s trip to the coast and countryside for a series of fishing and foraging

Alfresco feasting The EAT! festival is back with a tempting smorgasbord of treats. Katharine Capocci gets a taste of what’s to come from festival director Simon Preston workshops (Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 August) led by wild food experts. Chopwell Woods, Gateshead and Rising Sun Country Park, Newcastle, provide the locations for the foraging events that feature butchery demonstrations and outdoor cooking. Fishing workshops at Tynemouth Pier give novices an opportunity to catch their supper and the historic North Shields Fish Quay will be opening its doors to the public for a rare opportunity to

watch the early morning fish auction.

The Kids Cook School @ Fenwick (Thursday 7 – Thursday 15 August) invites budding bakers to don their chef’s whites for a series of cooking classes every morning and afternoon. The mouth watering creations can be enjoyed at the giant EAT! kitchen table or taken home in a goody bag for the whole family to enjoy.

The EAT! OUT Food Heroes Festival (Friday 15 – Sunday 17 August) starts in dramatic fashion with local chef Gareth Kyle’s attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest chef demonstration. There will also be a Food Heroes Market featuring a handpicked selection of the North East’s finest food and drink producers as well as innovative street food stalls, local craft ales and some fun foodie activities for all the family.

The EAT! Gold Awards will crown the top ten products at the Food Heroes Market and Newcastle Food Charter will launch its awards (taking place in February 2015 at EAT! IN) as part of the weekend celebrations.

EAT! Street will deliver the very best street food from the North East’s restaurants and traders.

For more information about EAT! OUT, visit www.eatnewcastlegateshead.com.

EAT! OUT’s sister event, EAT! IN, takes place from Saturday 21 February – Monday 2 March 2015 and sees the events come indoors for more adventures in food and drink.

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Veg patch with Karen Phillips Glorious summer is finally here and all those hours spent in spring are paying dividends with a bumper harvest from the veg patch. It’s easy to get daunted by the volume of produce so how do you use up a glut without anyone noticing that they’re eating the same vegetable each evening?

Rick Pickings

Peas Yes, I know peas can be easily frozen but life really

Much of your harvest vegetables can be blanched in boiling water for two minutes, refreshed in iced water, drained and then frozen for use in the leaner months of winter, but several vegetables and fruits either have too much water content and turn to mush on freezing, or are simply too time-consuming and uneconomical to freeze in large quantities.

is too short for that when a bag of peas, field-frozen within half an hour picking, can be found in any supermarket freezer. Better to eat the peas raw or use the time saved to make this lovely soup which is my version of the one I relished at ‘The Lord Crewe Arms’ in Blanchland a few weeks ago.

Lettuce Seed is much like hobnobs: although tempting to do so you don’t need to eat/sow the whole packet once opened; but if you got overexcited and sowed the whole packet of lettuce seeds and now have salad coming out of your ears here are my favourite recipes for using up a surplus of salad leaves in the kitchen. Now I am a sociable girl and will happily share my dinner with anyone but I draw the line to sharing my plate with a slug!

The golden rule: Wash 3 times in water before eating.

The way to get loads of lettuce leaves used up is to add lots of interesting toppings. Warning: there is no hint of diet about any of the salads!

1. Farmer’s salad - This is a substantial meal; hence the name! Mix dressed, salad leaves with sautéed, sliced new potatoes, crispy bacon bits, fried black pudding broken into chunks and top off with a poached egg - for some reason this is my rugby-playing son’s favourite.

2. Roquefort, pinenut and pancetta - This regularly features in our household and the full recipe was printed in Luxe last year but in essence: mixed and dressed salad leaves; halved black grapes; crumbled Roquefort cheese; sliced and oven-baked French baguette crouton; crispy pancetta and toasted pinenuts.

The saltiness of the cheese combined with the sweetness of the grapes is divine and even fussy, teenage daughter eats this.

3. Bulgogi – This starter serves 4 people and stretches a small amount of steak a long way and is great way of using up ‘Little Gem’ lettuce. It is taken from an excellent recipe book: ‘Spices’ by Manisha Gambhir Harkins.

Place 500g of sirloin steak in the freezer for 1hr – this enables it to be sliced extremely thinly. Marinate the slices in 2tbsp soy sauce, 1tsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tsp sugar, a crushed garlic clove, 1tbsp grated fresh ginger, 1-2 chopped chillies (whatever strength you fancy - my favourite are ‘Lemon Drop’ or ‘Ring of Fire’ chillies) and 2 chopped spring onions; mix well and leave in the fridge for several hours.

When ready to eat, sear the steak strips briefly on both sides on a very hot griddle, working in batches. Serve with a plate of ‘Little Gem’ lettuce leaves for people to roll up their steak in – no forks needed! For a more substantial starter some cooked rice can be added to the little parcels.

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Pea and Lovage Soup 500g peas in the pod – they can be larger, older peas 1 head of lettuce, shredded 4 lovage leaves 1 onion 100g butter 700ml veg stock Cream/yogurt to serve Soften the onion in the butter then add the shelled peas and lettuce and soften but do not allow to colour. Add the stock and simmer until the peas are just tender, adding the lovage leaves a minute before the end of cooking.

Liquidise the soup, or pass through a sieve, until smooth.

Season to taste and serve with a swirl of cream. So that’s the soup and main course sorted, now what about some pudding?

These two wonderful cakes transform a glut of their respective fruit and vegetable into something splendid.

Both can be served with ice cream or custard for dessert or enjoyed with a cup of tea the following day.

Courgette Loaf An adaptation of a superb Mary Berry recipe; make people guess what the pretty flecks of green in the cake are. The clever use of buckwheat flour ensures the cake stays fresh for a couple of weeks when stored in the fridge.

3 eggs 300ml sunflower/rapeseed oil 200g caster sugar 400g courgettes, grated 175g plain flour 175g buckwheat flour - or use 350g of gluten-free flour instead of both flours 1 tsp baking powder 2tsp bicarbonate of soda 1tbsp ground cinnamon 175g raisins 150g walnuts, chopped Place all the ingredients in the mixing bowl and beat well to make a thick batter. Pour into 2 lined 1lb loaf tins and bake in preheated oven 180C for 1hr until a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out cleanly. Cool for 10 minutes before turning onto a rack to cool completely. One cake can be frozen and the other wrapped and stored in the fridge until eaten sliced and buttered. Now all this cooking may have caused you to forget that there is still time to get some last crops sown before the end of summer.

Summer Rhubarb Cake This recipe is adapted from one of the best cookbooks a veg grower can get their hands on: Sarah Raven’s Garden Cookbook.

1 large stick/2 small sticks rhubarb, 500g 60g unsalted butter 60g light muscovado sugar 125g unsalted butter, 175g caster sugar 3 medium eggs 175g self-raising flour, sifted 1 tbsp milk Melt the 60g butter with the 60g sugar in a large, non-stick frying pan with an ovenproof handle, or use a shallow metal casserole pot. Remove from the heat and slice the rhubarb and use to cover the base of the frying pan. Preheat the oven to 180C. Make a cake using the rest of the ingredients, creaming the butter and sugar, adding the eggs gradually whilst still beating and then folding in the flour and finally the milk. Gently spread this mixture over the rhubarb. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from the oven and leave in the pan for at least 20 minutes before turning out upside-down onto a plate, so the rhubarb is on top. Dust with icing sugar before serving if you wish. This is great cake to make and then take on a picnic still in the pan, particularly if it is in a casserole dish that comes with a fitted lid.

Seeds to sow Lamb’s lettuce (corn salad, salad mache - whatever you call it) is expensive to buy but so easy to grow, coping with any weather. Baby turnips - with names like ‘Snowball’ they are great served alongside carrots.

Rocket – wild rocket has a better taste and is less troubled by pesky flea beetle. Chervil – this really hardy herb is great for growing over winter. Winter radishes are stronger than breakfast radishes but are great to cook with.

Looking Ahead Next time we’ll be picking damsons; preparing a list of soft fruit to order barerooted; and savouring the sweetness of our autumn raspberries.

Karen runs Widehaugh House cookschool and gardens, Hexham www.widehaughhouse.co.uk

JUL/AUG14

Meet the chef

The people behind the region’s favourite restaurants share their kitchen secrets and culinary inspiration Ian Turner

Tony Jones

sous Chef CHAPTERS HOTEL & RESTAURANT

head chef BRASSERIE HUDSON QUAY

Ingredient I’m loving at the moment?

Gooseberries are top of my list at the moment - a gooseberry fool with Greek yoghurt.

Picnic favourite? You cannot beat a good jam sandwich - always brings back memories from when I was a kid out with the family.

Do you wash chicken breasts before cooking them? No. Top tip for a summer lunch?

I love mixing some mint and coriander into salads to liven them up.

Sit back in the garden with a glass of?

An ice-cold glass of cider. Nothing is more refreshing.

Ingredient I’m loving at the moment?

Anything that was pulled out of the ground the day before - summer vegetables are amazing.

Picnic favourite? A homemade cheese savoury baguette with plenty of Wensleydale cheese and red onion.

Do you wash chicken breasts before cooking them? Brasserie Hudson Quay’s chickens come in whole, we prepare and French trim the breasts.

Top tip for summer lunch? Don’t complicate it! Summer is the season of fresh ingredients that are sometimes best served raw.

Sit back in the garden with a glass of? A bottle of Bachata, a Cuban rum flavoured lager.

Tel: 01642 711888 www.chaptershotel.co.uk

Tel: 01642 261 166 www.brasseriehudsonquay.com

Bob Arora

Tony Sarton

head Chef SACHINS

executive chef SOHE

Ingredient you’re loving at the moment? Experimenting with new ingredients to appear on our menu soon, specifically crab and stone bass.

Picnic favourite? Has to be strawberries and cream.

Do you wash chicken breasts before cooking them? No, thankfully never have but definitely not after seeing the issues with Campylobacter.

Top tip for a summer lunch? Tandoori chicken tikka Caesar salad; simple yet delicious!

Sit back in the garden with a glass of?

Grey Goose vodka and coke.

Ingredient you’re loving at the moment?

Secreto de Iberico, a cut from the shoulder of Iberian pig that has been popular for quite some time now in Spain.

Picnic favourite? Cured meats and baguettes spread with grated fresh tomato and garlic.

Do you wash chicken breasts before cooking them? I find that a more effective way to spread germs around the kitchen is to bring a dog in. Not only are they better companions then chicken breasts but can fetch my plates!

Top tip for a summer lunch? See picnic answer. Or if pushed for time (like me) then poached eggs and warm smoked mackerel.

Sit back in the garden with a glass of? I’m very partial to a Brouilly or a Cuba Libre.

Tel: 0191 261 90 35 www.sachins.co.uk

Tel: 0191 281 6161 www.sohe.co.uk

Titu Akthar

Victoria Vassallo

Owner and chef ORANGEGRASS RESTAURANT

head Chef CHAPTERS HOTEL & RESTAURANT

Ingredient you’re loving at the moment? Kaffir lime leaves, which are delicious in stir fries, soups, etc. It’s an ingredient we use a lot in Thai cuisine.

Picnic favourite? Thai-style spicy chicken wings – just delicious, fingerlicking good!

Do you wash chicken breasts before cooking them? No. Top tip for a summer lunch? Yam Gai which is crispy chicken salad with lemongrass, spring onion and roasted chilli. Tastes wonderful, is light and packed full of flavour.

Sit back in the garden with a glass of?

Rubicon mango. I don’t drink alcohol, so this is my tipple of choice!

Ingredient you’re loving at the moment?

Salt roasted golden beetroots. We have included them in one of our new starters – Bleikers smoked trout salad, golden beetroot & balsamic syrup.

Picnic favourite? A Maltese favourite summer dish - a rice salad with peppers, peas and mint.

Do you wash chicken breasts before cooking them? No. Top tip for a summer lunch? On a sunny day, I love a warm salad of pancetta and black pudding.

Sit back in the garden with a glass of?

Of course it would be a glass of Bollinger.

Tel: 0191 455 8555 www.orangegrassltd.co.uk

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Dave Coulso n

Head Ch ef at Peace & Lo

af

in the mix Childhood food memory?

Fish finger sandwiches lathered in tomato ketchup; yum!

This reminds me of sitting around the kitchen table with the family as a youngster; good times.

A meal that inspires me?

The Fat Duck tasting menu, the desserts were the best I’ve had; top-class cooking.

A wine that inspires me?

I don’t drink wine but I love a good, old Foster’s lager.

Inspirational chef?

Terry Laybourne, simply because of his business and work ethos, he’s a great all-round guy and the quality of his food is absolutely fantastic!

Last meal?

L’Enclume – I couldn’t pick out one bit that stood out more than anything else because the whole meal was exquisite, and faultless techniques were original and inspiring.

Your last food and wine would be? – Mince and dumplings and Foster’s – traditional classics, what I like to call comfort food and drink! Can’t fault it.

Favourite food and wine city?

London for the culture of food. They’ve got the best chefs there, too (aside from Bob Arora and I in Newcastle, of course!)

Favourite ingredients?

Salt; most people probably shudder at that yet the majority use it daily. It adapts the flavour of food and can change a dish entirely. It’s such a natural ingredient and used well it’s great, Tel: 0191 281 52 22 www.peaceandloaf.co.uk

Tel: 01642 711 888 www.chaptershotel.co.uk

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People

The man who eats shoots and leaves Chef Gareth Kyle faces a busy summer – getting goodies from the garden on to the plate – and aiming to break a world record. Kathryn Armstrong ventures into the garden Gareth Kyle is having a Mr McGregor moment. He’s pottering in a glasshouse that the Beatrix Potter character would be proud to call his own.

The sun streams in and Gareth places down a wooden platter whereupon sits a terracotta plant pot filled with the most vibrant orange baby carrots you’ve ever seen.

Peter Rabbit’s favourite – crunchy radishes – add a different splash of spring colour in a dish that probably is a bit too good for bunnies.

The place is Bradley Gardens which nestles on the south side of the Tyne Valley near Ryton and Wylam.

It is undergoing a transformation of sorts, having been taken over by the people who run Bridgewater Interiors and who want to work a bit of a River Cottage or Ballymaloe magic there.

There’s a lot of play with – beautiful surroundings that sing

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‘English country garden’ as loudly as it is possible. An original Victorian glasshouse dominates the grounds and is where the café serves up treats using produce from the walled kitchen garden.

Owner Mark Robinson is set on it becoming one of those go-to places where you can eat lovely things, waft through the lavender – and yes, shop! Outbuildings have already been transformed into stores showcasing room settings, paint, kitchens – and selling luscious candles and crocks.

You’ll take something home, I guarantee.

Gareth’s part in all this is serving up a slice of the outdoors at pop-up restaurants in the conservatory.

He has done one already and more are planned this summer. His other summer adventure is a world record attempt during the Eat! Festival.

His challenge? The longest-ever cooking demo with a target of 36 hours. He’s faced the MasterChef judges before so perhaps that’s less daunting than it sounds?

JUL/AUG14

Drink

with Robin Winterschladen Local gins The gin revolution is still gaining momentum, with small micro distilleries around the country producing wonderful small batch gins using their own carefully selected choice of botanicals. In Fenwick we have over forty gins and the most exciting new additions have been from two new local distilleries in Durham and Low Fell.

The Durham Distillery The Durham Distillery produces small batches of a few hundred bottles at a time in their 400-litre copper pot still.

Durham Gin 40% ABV 70cl £27 Durham Distillery use only three ingredients in their gin: a secret blend of ten botanicals, water drawn from a natural spring in Durham City and a pure grain spirit.

The botanicals – a mix of herbs and spices sourced from around the world, including juniper from Italy - include some unusual ingredients, such as pink peppercorns, celery seeds and elderflower.

On the nose it is soft and slightly floral with a subtle mix of juniper, elderflower and pink peppercorns.

There is a mix of traditional gin flavours on the palate, comprising orris, angelica and hints of cardamom, with notes of citrus from orange and lemon peel and coriander seeds.

Durham Gin Fruit Summer Cup 20% ABV 70cl £19.49 This special edition has been created by blending a selection of local fruits – raspberries, plums, gooseberries, blackberries and redcurrants - with Durham Gin and then redistilling. A little bit of juice is also added to give it a lovely pink tinge. Mix with chilled lemonade and add some fresh fruit slices to make a very refreshing summer drink.

“Seemed like a good idea at the time,” laughs Gareth.

“The plan is to cut it into shorter demos to suit the time of day – dishes for early risers, after the pub, shift workers, so there are a lot of smaller demos during the time, more manageable.

“The actual location in Newcastle city centre is under wraps for now but the plan is coming along!

“I’ve got a three-month-old, Jack, so I am getting used to having no sleep all night, it’s good training.”

Gareth is a former MasterChef Live winner, a self-taught chef whose passion for food was evident from an early age - he used his pocket money as a paperboy to buy a lobster and make a lobster thermidor.

“I always really enjoyed cooking – my dad would have Keith Floyd on the TV and he showed a very different way of cooking.”

He left the day job in financial services at Christmas and has a steady stream of food ventures going on – popping up here and there and working on projects like the Urban Night Feast and with Riley’s Fish Shack.

“I think the move to street food and pop-up ventures has democratised food, made it accessible and brought it to a fresh new audience.”

Gareth held successful pop-ups at Saltwell Towers and The Hermitage in Whickham.

His menus are all about fresh, just-picked vegetables, well-sourced meat and very much inspired by seasons.

He serves up tender scallops and prosciutto with green apple and a sweep of zingy fresh green apple puree. “I like the slightly sour notes of the apple kicking in against the

JUL/AUG14

Peter Rabbit’s favourite – crunchy radishes - add a splash of spring colour in a dish that’s too good for bunnies sweet scallop,” he says.

A chilled pea soup is the garden in a bowl - and buttermilk snow sorbet adds a finishing touch.

The garden’s harvest of those carrots and radishes bring crudites to another level.

As a summery lunch centrepiece, Gareth serves up spring lamb with a Moroccan influence – spiced and served pink with yoghurt and dressing with pomegranate seeds and syrupy molasses. Alongside are fennel flatbreads with their aniseed hit.

Sprinkled over the dishes are those shoots and leaves from the garden – or polytunnel – delicate edible flowers that put summer on your plate in every sense.

“This time of year is so great in the garden, it’s easy to get creative and make the most of amazing produce.”

The Northumberland Gin Company The Northumberland Gin Company produces its gins from carefully selected botanicals and a premium neutral spirit. The botanicals are put in a giant tea bag then steeped in the spirit for several days before redistilling in very small batches to produce between 50 and 100 bottles at a time.

SteamPunk Gin 40% ABV 70cl £29 This gin is produced from a recipe first developed in 1892, which was highly sought after by gin palaces all over the country. There are eight botanicals used to give it its distinctive taste; the result is a wonderfully smooth gin with juniper, cardamom and citrus flavours all melting together in perfect harmony.

Hexam Grand Cru 40% ABV 70cl £39 A deluxe gin produced to an old recipe, which again is delightfully smooth with a refreshing hint of citrus.

Prudence – Rose Scented Gin 20% ABV 50cl £22 A lovely, delicately perfumed gin, best served with ice in a long glass topped up with chilled tonic or soda and garnished with a sprig of mint.

Florence – Parma Violet Scented Gin 20% ABV 50cl £22 A wonderfully fragrant gin, with the delicate flavour of Parma violet sweets. Best served in a long glass with ice topped with soda and a strawberry garnish.

Robin is wine buyer at Fenwick, Newcastle

Gareth’s Bradley Gardens pop-up is on July 19 www.garethkyle.co.uk www.bradley-gardens.co.uk

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coastal cool

ou’ll y t u b er… u n and/W m m m u t A rs au ite foy of it in es hit theof h w ve nt ne ad We loeeing ples pale sh ded to ouses on g be s er too a Luxe hea each ho stunnin s. wint ctions. autiful b to team ounding collemost be st coast ous surr the North Ea sumptu lose. the hes with t come c clot doesn’ Envy

n o h c a e l B each b e th

Biondi Bandeau one-piece, £245, MadLo&Co, Gucci sunglasses, £219, Psyche

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JUL/AUG14

coastal cool

White Pompom dress, £135, Pily beaded bottoms, £155 (part of set), MadLo&Co. Sunglasses as before

Finders Keepers jumpsuit, £113, Psyche

French connection knitted dress, £96.99, Psyche

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Coastal cool

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coastal cool

TREND WATCH with Catherine Newton

Left, Broderie dress, £50, Yumi, House of Fraser, IntuMetrocentre; Above, Victoria Beckham pleat shirt, £295, Fenwick; Below Left, Sportmax sweater, £245, French Salon, Fenwick, Citizens of humanity jeans, £205, Fenwick; Below Right, French Connection sleeveless shirt, £93.99, Psyche, jeans as before

Summer is here and for many of us that can mean only one thing: it’s time to hit the beach!

Swimwear Vintage make-over time. High-waisted briefs, halter-neck swimsuits and navy and white nautical tones all nod to the 1950s and 60s. A really easy-to-wear trend because the cut is just so flattering! Go to Jets or Ted Baker for this trend.

If you’re feeling brave and you want to go for something a little louder then choose a heavy pattern or a bright colour. Geometric prints and neon colours are key looks in swimwear this season and you can find some gorgeous pieces in the SS14 Seafolly collection. My favourite piece (pictured) merges both trends; a halter neck one-piece with a scoop back. Perfection!

Daywear When you’re out and about on holiday you will need something that you can throw over the top of your swimwear; this season the playsuit is everyone’s must-have. Alternatively, choose an easy-to-wear day dress, remembering that light fabrics and colours are important in this trend – think about the heat of Morocco or Dubai. Cornflower blue, white and navy are the colours in billowing silk, puckered linen and cotton.

Eyewear From Céline and Marc Jacobs to Dior and Jimmy Choo there are so many stylish brands on the market. Each season sunglasses seem to get larger and this season is no different. Invest in a pair of over-sized sunglasses and you will not only be on trend but eyes will be protected from damaging UV rays.

I don’t think you can go wrong with a classic brand: I prefer a Ray-Ban Aviator or a pair of foldable Persol sunglasses.

Footwear Footwear has gone seriously Seafolly Mod Club minimal this season. The One-Piece Swimsuit, £94 humble Birkenstock has made a comeback and now finds itself at the top of every fashionable wish list, accompanied by sliders and the ever-chunky flat-form. For glam think sleek espadrilles for a touch of glamour. I love Russell and Bromley’s gorgeous leather ‘Coco-nut’ espadrilles in tan or silver.

The bag Beach bags are now big news in the fashion world and you will find gorgeous designs by a range of fashion houses including APC, Jil Sander and Anya Hindmarch. If you’re going for a designer piece choose something that you can use day to day too.

For something sensible I would recommend a Longchamp Le Pliage bag. This style neatly folds away and comes in lots of sizes, including an on-trend rucksack version. If you want something a little bolder select a Michael Kors Jet Set Tote in a bright colour like vintage yellow or palm green.

For expert help and advice on curating the perfect holiday wardrobe book an appointment with the in-house fashion stylist on 0191 232 5100.

Catherine Newton is Head of Womenswear at Fenwick, Newcastle

JUL/AUG14

45

Hoo

coastal cool

Above, jumpsuit, £455, Theory, French Salon, Fenwick, LK Bennett silver heels, £180, Fenwick; Below, True Religion jeans, £159, IntuMetrocentre, open-back top, £58.99, Psyche, Dune clogs, £65, Fenwick

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Hooker & Young Luxe Ad_Layout 1 13/06/2014 13:30 Page 1

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coastal cool

Phase Eight white linen sweater, £49, House of Fraser, IntuMetrocentre

Wool coat, £795, sweater, £245, trousers, £199, all Sportmax at French Salon, Fenwick

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Linen robe, £120, The Linen Works, Autograph bra, £27.50, Marks&Spencer, IntuMetrocentre

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coastal cool

Credits: Model: Ashley Gittins, newly-crowned Miss Newcastle 2014 www.tyneteesmodels.co.uk Photography: Kevin Gibson www.kgphotography.co.uk Hair&Make-up: Victoria Forshaw www.pinspetalspowder.co.uk Styling: Fiona McLain Stockists: Fenwick, Newcastle www.fenwick.co.uk IntuMetrocentre www.intumetrocentre.co.uk MadLo&Co www.madloandco.com (to obtain 10pc discount on orders use code: luxe) Psyche, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough www.psyche.co.uk The Linen Works www.thelinenworks.co.uk

Beachy pleasure palace Haven’t we all lusted after a Venice Beach party house where the sand is a step away from the front door and a glorious sunrise and sunset come as part of the package? Where picture windows make views breath-taking whatever the weather and where the balcony is a place to linger – whether it’s a champagne glass or a coffee cup in your hand?

Coldingham cove just a few miles from Berwick is the place to find all this. True, the LA weather is not a certainty – but just being at The Pavilion more than makes up. This stunning house perches over the perfect beach cove with its rockpools, sandy beach and ocean vista. A dramatic Welsh slate wall runs the length of the house where the feel is industrial against its beachy backdrop – steel, glass and concrete give a contemporary feel. There’s more than a touch of Bond den about the house – with high-spec fixtures and fittings, a suspended fireplace and wraparound sofas.

Sumptuous fabrics and stroke-me linens are opulent and luxurious. Outside the look is an ultra sleek and contemporary façade and it’s difficult to imagine a more sought-after location on the UK coastline. The house has been built on the site of a former Edwardian Beach Pavilion, a hillside perch commanding far-reaching coastal views, and guests can follow the private path down to soft golden sands and a surfer’s paradise at the sea below. The Poggenpohl kitchen will delight or you can send out to nearby Eyemouth for fish chips or lobster to go! Guests can wash the sand away in Villeroy and Boch ensuite wetrooms before wrapping up in White Company linens.

The Pavilion has just been made available as a rental property and there is some availability this summer - £3,500 per week.

Book through www.coastalretreats.co.uk

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JUL/AUG14

intu.co.uk/metrocentre

Boss @ House of Fraser

Tucci

Oasis

Next

Coast

Lambretta @ TK Maxx

for fashion

If fashion is your thing then we’ve got the region’s biggest selection of shops with thousands of brands to keep you happy. With everything from designer labels to cutting-edge high street fashions and purse-friendly favourites, intu Metrocentre has got it all. If entertainment is more your thing then we have the only IMAX cinema in the region and more restaurants and coffee shops to satisfy your appetite. Whatever the weather, whatever you’re looking for, intu Metrocentre, it’s a great day in.

Don’t forget to keep up to date with everything at intu Metrocentre on Facebook and Twitter @intuMetrocentre.

JUL/AUG14

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luxe life

Charlotte DODDS is from County Durham and now lives in London. A professional makeup artist, she launched the product Skinade a year ago in London and now supports local stockists in the region selling the collagen and micronutrient drink. Charlie loves the area and has had makeup work displayed in the BALTIC gallery. She is a keen singer and recently gigged with a funk and ska band at Newcastle Arts Centre!

LUXE PEOPLE >> My partner, family and friends - they rock my world and make me who I am today. I totally adore my awesome circle of people.

LUXE PLACES >> For a weekend > Out to the countryside or by the beach. I used to live in Tynemouth and it’s the best place to be when the sun shines!

A long holiday > Australia, having been once before I love it. Now my brother has just emigrated there I know I’m destined to head down under for a few shrimps on the barbie.

A treat > Got to be a spa day at Rockliffe Hall. I love it so amazing!

LUXE RELAX >> Best food > My other half is West Indian and I love the unique cultural flavours he brings to the table - second to none!

Best wine > Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc. Fruity and fresh with vanilla notes - you can’t beat it!

Favourite restaurant > Zen, Durham City - I often visit with my good friend and I love its pan-Asian cuisine which is full of authentic flavours.

Perfect weekend > A nice day out having lunch with the girls and heading home to get ready for a big night out

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on the Quayside. Obviously followed by a Sunday lunch at Babucho and a leisurely walk along the Tyne.

Downtime means > Relaxing. I work super hard and travel a lot so I love to spend time in the gym, pool and a steam to rid myself of all the stress of outside life.

Best telly > MasterChef, 4400 and love a bit of EastEnders.

Best book > Any true crime - I love a great true story!

Best sounds > Drake, Sam Smith, Emile Sande, Rebecca Ferguson, Maverick Sabre, Mary J Blige.

LUXE SHOP >> Best shopping city > London, Newcastle Favourite shop > Fenwick Luxe retail treat > Makeup is my life! Got to have loads of treats from Nars or Mac. Best buy > Skinade. Yes it’s my brand but this really works and stops ageing in its tracks.

LUXE PARTY >> A memorable night out > My 31st with 10 of my girls and a great night on the toon with cocktails and a splendid meal at Fat Buddha, a private table with slippers too.

Perfect party > Dancing, beats, sunset and no closing time - life is too short - dance like there is no tomorrow!

Dinner date > Being taken for a few cheeky cocktails in a posh frock then wined and dined of course.

JUL/AUG14

curls up

Say goodbye to sleek

Summer hair is all about freedom, movement and radiance... boho beach 54

Summer is finally here, and isn’t it marvellous?

Is it just me or is everyone simply happier when the sun is shining.

I think it’s to do with just being able to finish work, go home, kick off the shoes and have that long cold drink in the garden.

We’ve had lots to celebrate lately, winning Hair Magazine’s “I Want That Hair” award and being nominated for British Hairdresser Of The Year 2014.

If that weren’t enough, June also saw us open the doors at our new Hooker & Young salon in Ponteland. The response has been fantastic and the lovely people of Ponteland have welcomed us with open arms.

The boutique-style salon offers a luxury hairdressing experience where the creative team are on hand to offer you expert advice or simply just show you around while sipping a glass of bubbles.

We’ve also got treatments such as HD brows, Essie nails and the new LVL lashes that give you curl and colour. The beauty side to the salon will be launched in the next few weeks - so watch this space…

Summer hair is all about freedom, movement and

radiance - supposedly effortless - boho beach.

If you have a natural wave or soft texture to your hair try using smoothing oils or defining creams to enhance your hair rather than remove the curl.

Everyone knows that all that hard work on creating a sleek smooth finish can be ruined in minutes when it’s hot or humid outside so opting for a more natural look ensures that your hair will look perfect all day.

Taking your look from day to night can be just as easy as pinning the front back or rolling everything around into a low side twist; this way you are still using the natural texture but bring a more cool evening feel to your look.

Celebs such as gorgeous model Cara Delevingne, Kate Hudson and Nicola Peltz are great examples of this hot summer trend at its best.

We’re off to Marbs in August for a well-deserved break so until next time, enjoy the rest of the summer.

Michael young and gary hooker run award-winning hooker & young, with six salons regionwide. see www.hookerandyoung.co.uk for salon details.

JUl/aUG14

all whitE

MOuTH MATTERS

Beauty:update Slick, soothing and shimmery, summer’s here

WITH MiKE hEaDs

FIx IT >> Aveda’s Stress-Fix Crème does as it says… a dose of calm, calm, calm in a big pot. A sumptuous, all-over body moisturiser with a stress-relieving aroma. Perfect for bedtimes and bad days. £36 on counter.

<< POuF! “Mirror, mirror on the wall who has the whitest teeth of all?”

We can all very quickly bring to mind a mental image of who we think has the whitest teeth from celebrities, friends, neighbours or family, but would we necessarily spare a thought as to how that whiteness had been achieved – I suspect not. Would you immediately start thinking, ‘‘Oh, he’s had veneers, crowns or bridges or she’s had tooth whitening’’ – why would you, unless you are thinking of lightening the colour of your own teeth? I use the word “lightening” because as all of us appreciate, there are many shades of white from the “OMG, I need my sunglasses to look at you” shade of white to the “wow, beautiful, natural” shade of white and many more shades in between.

Tooth whitening treatment, carried out by qualified dental professionals (dentists, hygienists or therapists), using recommended materials, is the safest thing that can be done to teeth apart from doing nothing at all. It can be used in many instances to whiten teeth rather than drilling the tooth down to place crowns or veneers, which can have long-term consequences for the tooth.

Tooth whitening, sometimes called tooth bleaching, is a process whereby a gel containing or producing hydrogen peroxide, the active ingredient, is placed against tooth surfaces to make them whiter. The simplest treatment is where a tray, similar to a thin gum shield, is filled with a tooth whitening gel and placed over the teeth for between 30 minutes and several hours. Other treatments, normally called Power Whitening use LED lights (not lasers as most people think) to speed up the whitening process, and a full course of tooth whitening can be completed in a couple of hours.

Prior to any course of tooth whitening, a professional dental assessment should be undertaken as some people may be unsuitable for tooth whitening due to dental decay, gum disease or sensitivity.

FACT - Did you know that since October 2012, it has been made illegal throughout Europe for a non-dentally qualified person to provide tooth whitening to another person. So if you see adverts from beauty clinics, hairdressers or tooth whitening studios that are not working in conjunction with a dental professional, they are working illegally and you should not seek tooth whitening treatment from them.

FACT - Did you know, there are many different agents that will make teeth whiter but a significant number of these, many bought off the internet or used by non-qualified providers, contain high concentrations of acid which strips the surface off the teeth, initially making them look whiter, but due to the damage to the tooth surface these teeth will stain very much more easily and, after repeated applications, the tooth surface becomes so damaged that the tooth/teeth will need to be crowned or veneered.

So, “Mirror, mirror on the wall who has the whitest teeth of all?

“If you are really concerned, give your dentist a call!”

Mike is Practice Principal at Cleveland Cosmetic and Dental Implant Clinic www.clevelandcosmetic.co.uk

56

Have loads of fun playing with this shimmer dust bronzer – cheekily decadent with its powder puff applicator and just £14 from Autograph at Marks and Spencer.

LuSTING AFTER >>

<< BLuE HuE Get the summertime blues – we love these nail colour shades from Crabtree&Evelyn, gorgeous with tanned toes and just £6 a pop!

If you loved The Trip in Italy for its food pleasures if not the glory of Coogan and Brydon, then you will be floating at the thought of the new Tom Ford fragrance range which is inspired by the gorgeous Italian coastal towns where the pair lunched so well. This summer’s new Neroli Portofino Collection adds two new fragrances – Mandarino Di Amalfi and Costa Azzurra.

Mandarino is a blend of hillside lovelinessingredients such as tarragon, spearmint, blackcurrant bud showcased with mandarin fruits, bergamot and grapefruit. A basil-limoncello cocktail they promise – we’ll have one!

Azzurra mixes seaweed and salt-baked wood notes dipping into a combination of armoise, juniper berry, myrtle, basil and French lavender with deep citrus and resin from the lentisque shrub and vetiver oil - carnally rich they promise.

And of course it all looks specially lovely on the dressing table in luscious blue bottles, 50ml, £142. On counter from mid-July in Fenwick.

<< BESPOKE BEAuTY A radiant, healthy glow in a daily golden drop of made-to-measure self tan. Clarins shakes up the self-tan world with RadiancePlus Golden Glow Booster. You just add a few drops to your regular day or night cream in the palm of your hand. This allows the self tanner to develop evenly on the skin without patchy, uneven results. £18 on counter.

<< SAND WASH >> About as lusciously beachy as it gets, Raw Sugar collection from Bobbi Brown includes limited edition shades of bronzers for subtle glow. To get it right, apply bronzing powder with a brush where the sun normally hits your face: forehead, cheeks, nose and chin.

The collection includes lush lips, with the new shades of Bobbi’s tinted lip balm and polish it off with Golden Beige and Raw Sugar nails.

JUl/aUG14

SLALEY

HALL

SUMMER LOVE SPA PACKAGE 55 minute experience includes: • BESPOKE ESPA FACIAL • NECK, SHOULDER & SCALP MASSAGE • FULL USE OF THE FACILITIES • TOWEL, ROBE & SLIPPERS • USE OF RELAXATION ROOM • FREE LOVE YOUR SKIN GIFT*

Up inclugdrade 25 mi es a n u t e massa back only g£e for 20

for only

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0871 222 4688

shspa@devere-hotels.com www.devere-hotels.co.uk/slaleyhall Slaley Hall, Slaley, Hexham, Northumberland NE47 0BX Terms and Conditions apply. *Subject to availability & while stocks last. Offer available to book until 30 September 2014 and can not be booked in conjunction with any other discount or promotion.

Calls to 0871 numbers cost 10p per minute plus network extras.

CREATING BEAUTIFUL SMILES

CLEVELAND COSMETIC & DENTAL IMPLANT CLINIC MULTI NATIONAL AWARD WINNING PRACTICE • • • •

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www.clevelandcosmetic.co.uk

JUl/aUG14

57

GETTING SALE SAVVY

LIVE TO SHOP WITH WENDY GIBSON

BAGSIES >> Off on your jollies? We like all things Aromatherapy Associates and limited edition beauty bags are hand-luggage friendly. Two sizes, large for bodycare stuffs, £20, or smaller £14, for makeup.

Natty filled bags include The Weekender, £24, the ultimate bag of mini essentials Revive body gel, Renewing Rose wash and cream plus De-Stress gel. www.aromatherapyassociates.com

<< BODY BEAUTIFUL Frangipani Monoi Body Cream is a new addition to Elemis’ multi-awardwinning Frangipani Monoi range. The indulgent cream is scented with the warm, exotic fragrance of frangipani flowers and made with macadamia oil and Tahitian monoi oil. The cream is out in August and costs £24 from www.timetospa.co.uk

SHIMMER >> July and August are strange months for us fashionistas.

Shops that can look like they’ve been turned over, or trampled by a herd of baby elephant, with messy sales racks and the temptation to buy something smaller, or larger, or more outlandish, than you need – simply because it’s a bargain!

I well remember my early days on screen at the BBC, not long out of student land, with my monthly pay cheque burning a hole in my pocket and heading off to Fenwick French Salon intent on getting the Mondi horse print jumper, or Escada coat I’d seen Princess Diana wearing, that was now within my reach, on sale! And ending up with the most beautiful coat, size 16, many sizes too big – that I would, sadly never ever wear! But I also bagged bargains that did fit, and that I still have to this day.

Generally I plan for the sales with forensic efficiency, and detachment. Watching my favourite websites, talking to assistants, and watching the press, and my email inbox.

Quality is my motto – and the sales are a great chance to get beautiful leather bags from Anya Hindmarch at sensible prices, as well as leather jackets from Burberry, and even benefitting from reductions in jewellery prices at those class acts Annoushka London, and Astley Clarke.

Sales are also a good chance to stock up on the basics. Hush Uk have some of the best fitting T-shirts and vests. The white sheer crew tee, a multiple purchase for me. The perfect staple with jeans, along with their Chanel inspired knitted jackets in pink or blue. And an annual repurchase, their celebrated, slouchy yet chic, Bridget Jones-style pyjamas, in vintage rose, or coral print. Perhaps one of their best-kept secrets though, is their gorgeous underwear, including English lace knickers and bra sets, in classic navy and cream, and va va voom bedroom red!

Away from the sales, Beulah London, though barely three years old, is really making its mark.

The fashion brand of choice of many of the young royals, actresses, models, and singers, it’s for the classic English rose, though its roots are inspired by the plight of the women in the slums of India.

The two women behind the Beulah label were so moved by the life and hardship experienced by some women in the slums of Delhi, that they vowed to help, through their Beulah fashion label. And those ethics, this season are translating into beautiful summer dresses to wear to weddings, the races, or just for a grown up evening out, or date night.

Standouts this season are the Sabitri in multiple different fabrics and colours.

If you need red carpet glamour for a ball, then the Aurora gathered evening dress is the one to go for. In block-colour coral, or coral and blossom print.

It’s A-list Holywood in chiffon, with simple plunging v-neck, gathered bodice, and sweeping Gone with the Wind train.

More affordable is the Shibani cornflower blue scarf – sported by Wags at many a Wimbledon tennis match, featuring the Beulah butterfly logo.

And the Felicity shirt, in fragile leaves print, is a gorgeous trans-seasonal piece to take you into autumn... see you then!

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

58

Nude with a bit of help. Let it glow with Nourish Golden Glow illuminating Face Shimmer £14.95.

Golden mineral powders lift and define the skin for that sun-kissed summery gorgeousness.

LUXEY GLOW >> Soleil de le Mer gradual face and body tanners are about as luxey as it gets when it comes to pre-holiday prep. From the Crème de la Mer people, these promise an easy way to get skin in beach-ready condition with a gentle, even glow and deep hydration, £65 0n counter, Fenwick.

OIL THE WHEELS >> Crack open a new sun spray for your jolly hols. Clarins’ new Sun Care Oil Spray 30 UVA/UVB is a transparent dry oil for the hair and body. Both nourishing and beautifying with a woody/fruity fragrance, it costs £18 from Clarins counters.

<< HAPPY NOW This zingy cleansing scrub definitely puts a spring in your step. Origins’ GinZing is a two-in-one facial product that cleanses and exfoliates to “wake up” weary faces. It smells fab thanks to a grapefruit, lemon and spearmint essential oil blend. £18.50 on counter.

<< STUFF OF DREAMS Chanel’s Les Beiges collection really does the business – a new soft healthy glow fluid, £34, gives a dewy glow to the skin – more than tinted moisturiser but not quite foundation, it’s perfect for summer with a lovely shimmer to the skin. Part of a beautiful collection to elicit real handbag envy on the sun terrace and beyond, which also includes a multicoloured compact, £39, with three shades that work on their own as highlighters or blush or swoosh them together with a chunky brush for an all-over bronzer effect. On counter now.

FULL ON >> Aveda’s hero haircare range Invati is a real boost for thicker, fuller locks. New perfecty portable sizes mean you can ensure hair beauty on your hols and maintain your beauty regime however far you fly. Invati uses a system of 97pc naturally-derived ingredients, featuring turmeric as its hero agent - said to reduce hair loss by up to 33%. Products from £7 on counter.

SPRITZ-EASY >> Perfect for race day purses to match the outfit, Mia is the latest addition to Ted Baker’s purse sprays. Top notes of lemon, raspberry, and blackcurrant are combined with a base of warm patchouli and golden amber. £15. Also from TB, cute nail colour pairings, including iridescent Silver Lining and Delightfully Dusk.

Duos £8.50 each from Boots and Ted Baker stores.

JUL/AUG14

WITH victoria lEEs

luxe summer Whether you’re jetting off to exotic lands or soaking up the rays in the back garden, the feel of the sun on your skin is one of the most pleasurable sensations known to man, not to mention the benefits from the increased Vitamin D levels and the general feel-good factor that a little sunshine can bring. In this age of information we are also all too aware that too much sun is a bad thing which can cause sunburn, accelerated skin ageing and, most seriously, melanomas.

But, with a little planning and preparation, all you have to worry about is tan lines!

OLIVERS Dental Studio

30 Years of Fabulous Award WinningService……

New patients welcome

BEFORE YOu GO >> A full body exfoliation is key for preventing prickly heat and to get your skin looking great.

Either have a scrub done professionally at your local spa or salon or look for a product which contains AHAs (skin sloughing fruit acids) as well as grains for a deeper exfoliation.

I love Fruity Peel by Comfort Zone as it smells divine and is so quick and easy to use.

Tan maximisers are a worthwhile investment if a golden, long lasting tan is your aim. Ideally use twice daily for up to two weeks before you go for a more intense prolonged tan.

IN THE SuN >> Apply your protection early and often. I’m a factor 30 girl myself but each to their own, just make sure that your sun cream is broad-spectrum which ensures you are protected from both the ageing and the burning effects from the sun.

Aftersun creams and lotions are not just wonderfully cooling but also essential for keeping the skin hydrated and nourished which will prolong your tan and prevent unsightly peeling. On the subject of hydration don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Piña Colada doesn’t count!

HOME SWEET HOME >> Don’t just sling your aftersun in the cupboard for next year, keep using it for the next two weeks. It will be specially-designed to keep sun parched skin looking and feeling its best. Gradual tanning lotions come into their own post-holiday to gently keep your tan looking great. Just apply as you would a body lotion, every other day is usually enough and, from my own experiences, I can wholeheartedly recommend wearing gloves for application!

Have a happy, safe and fun summer.

Tooth Whitening Dental Implants Porcelain Veneers Hygienist Service Denplan Care Onsight Parking

Invisible Braces Smile Makeovers Children’s Care Smile Advisor Service Emergency Tooth Crisis Clinic Wheelchair Access

Contact us 24/7 365 Days A Year, Even Sunday

Call us now on:

0191 543 7513

27 Durham Road, East Herrington, Sunderland, SR3 3NQ

Victoria is based at The Spa, Rockliffe Hall

JUl/aUG14

www.oliverdental.com 59

xxxxxxxx

rambling roses & sexy shrubs Carl Banks divides his time between his Yorkshire country cottage and a rustic French coach house – both pretty much picture-perfect, as he tells Kathryn Armstrong

North Yorkshire is at its sunshine best the morning we catch up with Carl Banks.

It’s a dazzlingly bright day, one of those that even in June still comes as a bit of a shock to the system.

Carl’s village home is called The Byre, a former farm building on one level with an abundant country garden patio. Today the scent of lavender and herbs hangs in the stillness and a linen-clad Carl brings a bottle of chilled rose to the table in the sun. Sorry, which country are we in?

The sun-baked scenario is a frequent one at Carl’s other home – a renovated 19th Century coach house in the Dordogne that’s bathed in sunshine for much of the year.

Rarely is that French life replicated so spectacularly in the oft-chilly North but today is one of those days to indulge.

Garden designer Carl should of course be able to rise to the occasion when it comes to getting a garden looking gorgeous.

Flowers, planting and design, interior and exterior are his thing. He’s an avid collector and salerooms are his second home. He collects vintage and antique everything – his dining table is piled high with a selection of glassware that will be creatively filled with an abundance of flowers for a friend.

In North Yorkshire Carl’s neat cottage with its courtyard layout has its own sense of the French rustic – the walls are thick stone, ceilings beamed, floors flagged and windows small. Mix and match well-worn armchairs collected from salerooms are full of character and sit on antique rugs.

Lovely artworks line the walls. “I see things and I like them and I buy them – they’ve got some history and they might not be worth much but they are nice to have around,” he says.

Eclectic is the case with Carl’s house, it has loads of personality with well-chosen pieces

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that are there because they’ve got as much character as the house they inhabit.

Outside the garden is a lovely private terraced patio with the central focus an arbour that Carl had built from railway sleepers he bought for £10 each ten years ago – they had been at Stockton railway station.

The weathered structure looks as though it has been there for decades now that luscious planting has swathed it in an abundance of flowers including Carl’s favourite white roses.

White and soft blues are preferred colours in the garden – white lavender adds that hint of French and elsewhere there are delicate violas mixed with pungent herbs.

“Buy plants with texture and scent, they are sexy as you brush past them – especially if the fragrance reminds you of someone. In hanging baskets add mint, thyme, sage or salvia, it smells like pina colada!”

Carl loves old English heritage plant varieties and his advice is if you see a plant you love, buy it – don’t worry about where it is going to go. His driveway is testament to this horticultural shopaholic tendency, piled high with plants waiting for their moment of glory.

“I was very inspired by the garden designer Giles Gilbey who I worked alongside at

If you see a plant you love, don’t worry about where it is going to go

Norton Conyers; he was the head gardener.

“The approach to the English country garden is a relaxed one – let the plants do their thing – formal gardens are hard work, you don’t have to be precise.”

In his French home, the garden is very much based on the English garden principle.

Favourite flowers dominate, “Lots of white roses, a lot of white lavender, allium, wisteria, soft iris, sage – it is very calm,” he says.

That serenity fits with the French way of life in Coux et Bigaroque, the Dordogne village where he bought the old coach house ten years ago.

It’s an easy hop from Leeds Bradford airport to Bergerac to get there. Carl literally stumbled over the house when he was visiting the town.

It was unrestored and unloved – he asked someone about it and that turned out to be the owner of the house – the rest is history.

“It was an old coaching inn on what had been the main road between Paris and Bordeaux – it was rented out as two gites and I had them knocked into one building.

“I hired a project manager – I have very ‘petit’ French myself – and I would recommend anyone to do that – he charged 10pc of the bills and it was all pretty straightforward. It was all done quickly – people warned that it would be months but there wasn’t a huge amount of construction – just the heating system.”

The house is the stuff of dreams for those who long to escape to France – soft painted woodwork, that bountiful garden and inside there is a kitchen, dining room and ‘salon’ as well as two en-suite bedrooms.

“I caused a stir when I painted the exterior Farrow&Ball Brassica – it’s nicely fading now though,” he laughs.

“The stone of the house is the same as the Yorkshire house – but of course the weather is better in France – all year round there are bright skies and that

is the draw of the place.”

The style of the house is light and airy with painted furniture sitting alongside period pieces and more of those saleroom finds.

Carl had a loft room bedroom created and made two first-floor rooms into a master suite. Downstairs an annexe which had been let as a gite was incorporated into the main building layout.

Walls are left pale and simple with country linens and original beams adding much character and style to the house. Sofas and chairs are sink-in comfy to suit sunny days and by-the-fire winter moments.

A stunning cherrywood feature staircase dominates the house and the wooden floors are softened by sisal rugs and flooring. In the main sitting room there’s a fireplace set into a honey-coloured stone wall with rough-hewn alcoves.

Throughout the house there are antique tables with vintage lamps and the walls are covered with paintings and mirrors to the rooms in light – downstairs beams have been painted white to add more light.

The patio is another room in itself with beautiful planting and outdoor table and chairs for dining – it’s a well-used spot. The world is put to rights over long, lazy lunches here says Carl.

“The pace of life is so much more laid back – in England we are always rushing and we do have a 24/7 culture. In France the long family Sunday lunch is sacred. Shops close and there is a respect for the work/life balance. You start work at eight, have a two hour lunch then are back and work another four hours, there’s not a feeling of racing around.

“Everyone is self-sufficient with their hens in the garden and they just buy what they need to eat that day, it’s quite simple.

“I love being there – I think myself really fortunate to be able to go – I never take it for granted and I still pinch myself and think how lucky I am.”

JUl/aUG14

RICH PICKINGS

The central focus of a terraced patio is an arbour that Carl had built from railway sleepers he bought for £10 each

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Water place to stay

Reviving a stunning stable conversion in North Yorkshire has been a real labour of love for Vanessa Thompson who gets clever with designer furnishings and saleroom bargains

Vanessa Thompson has an eye for a bargain and a fine touch with paintbrush and sewing machine in equal measure.

They’ve all served her in good stead for a restoration project on a water tower that has been transformed from her parent’s home into a rental property that works as a party palace or hideaway retreat.

The house, built around 1880, with its original water tower, is the converted stables of neighbouring Smeaton Manor, a country house designed by renowned Arts & Crafts architect Philip Webb just outside the village of Great Smeaton close to Darlington and Yarm.

Vanessa and her family lived in adjoining buildings and when her parents died, she took on the task of reviving the Water Tower to use as holiday rental property.

It has been a labour of love which she set about on something of a budget. The property was renovated and in good order but needed an injection of TLC and a full transfusion in terms of designer paint shades to bring it to life and make it the cosy home-from-home that Vanessa wanted to create for guests.

“It was not about it becoming a showhome,” she says.

“I wanted it to be comfy and not too perfect but my mum had got so far with it and had given up really. It needed jazzing up and brightening.”

The house is surrounded by fields and looks west to the Yorkshire Dales with far-reaching views and lovely sunsets.

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As a holiday escape it is perfectly positioned for all parts of Yorkshire and its size means it is fabulous for girlie gatherings, big birthdays and family celebrations.

It has six bedrooms and Vanessa has turned her hand to the soft furnishings for all of them. She has a background in dressmaking and soft furnishings but has only recently been able to put that talent to use in her own home, as she explains.

“My husband Graeme was in the Army so we have moved many, many times and always lived in accommodation that came furnished.

“When it came to this house, it was like we were living in two places at the same time – furniture got swapped from our own house to the Water Tower to see if it worked.

“I was also doing it on something of a budget so I would live in salerooms! I would come home with a £3 table from here or find something that I thought would work with a coating of Farrow&Ball paint.

“I painted all the rooms myself and I brought all mum’s Emma Bridgewater pots for the kitchen to display and use. I bought the dresser in the kitchen for £30 and painted it – and the huge table was another project.

“I had an old church pew which I wanted for the kitchen – I got a load of tongue and groove wood and asked a local joiner to make me a table to go with the pew – using an old mahogany table as the base, then I painted the top of it, it’s huge and a real place to gather.”

The kitchen with its hand-painted units and Aga has a full-length window overlooking the countryside, it’s a really sociable room.

The layout of the house is unconventional – there are two hallways and at one end of the house a spiral staircase connects a games room with TV and slouchy sofa to an upstairs bedroom. At the other end of the house, off the boot room and kitchen is a separate room accessed by its own staircase.

“That had been the au pair’s room, it is very secluded. By the time I got to decorating it, I had run out of ideas, she laughs.

“So I just went with pale walls and floors and painted it all – it is one of my favourites because it has been transformed and is so light and airy,” says Vanessa.

Outside there is a wonderful, sheltered patio area where Vanessa has installed a stylish table and chairs – each with their own cushions and blankets for chilly nights.

Lovely lanterns, candles and colourful planters add a stylish look. In the sunshine, the courtyard is a real suntrap and a place to linger for hours and hours.

You enter the house via a boot room with seagrass flooring, a bench and Vanessa’s £3 saleroom bargain table.

“That room used to be such a dumping ground, filled with clutter but now it is a really nice entrance to the house – there’s a separate utility and storage area off the kitchen.”

Every room has been repainted by Vanessa and new fabrics created throughout – not all

new, but many have been ‘re-purposed’ from furnishings she already owned – being a whizz on the sewing machine obviously helped things.

Sumptuous furnishings and fabrics are from The White Company, vintage Cath Kidston and a design and fabric company Vanessa loves called Peony&Sage based in Berwick.

“In one of the rooms I got inventive and salvaged old curtains to make bed throws – you realise that you have lots of things that taken out of one house or room can be gathered and changed to fit another and look completely different.”

JUL/AUG14

staBlE stay

I had an old church pew which I wanted for the kitchen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I got a load of tongue and groove wood and asked a local joiner to make me a table top to go with the pew

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stay awhilE

What’s near

The Water Tower has a great location. Set between the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, and less than an hour’s drive to the coast and York.

The Water Tower is just a few minutes away from the market town of Northallerton and wonderful Bettys Tearooms and Lewis & Cooper’s Food Emporium.

Just a short drive through Richmond takes you into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales proper.

Head up towards Reeth and on towards Hawes in Wensleydale.

eat at >> >> >> >>

The The The The

Bees Wing, East Cowton - www.thebeeswing.weebly.com Bay Horse, Hurworth - www.thebayhorsehurworth.com Orangery, Rockliffe Hall - www.rockliffehall.com/dining/restaurant Black Bull, Moulton - www.theblackbullmoulton

Vanessa’s top tips >> Make friends with a local joiner who can create your vision >> Be inventive – re-use and recycle – take things out of their ‘normal’ surroundings and think how they work elsewhere. >> Visit salerooms – Tennants in Leyburn and Northallerton Auction Mart are good. >> Brown furniture is really cheap at auctions – buy it and paint it up. >> Be inventive – see what you’ve got hiding in cupboards – colours that tone will work. together in a room – such as a blue and white bedroom, they don’t have to match.

The Water Tower is perfect for an escape that’s close to home yet feels a million miles away.

A really short hop from Teesside or less than an hour down the A1 from Tyneside, it’s location in private grounds means you are instantly away from it all.

It’s a superbly social setting that works for all ages – our gang of ten headed there on one of the sunniest weekends of the year so we did little more than soak up the sun in the courtyard for two days.

Having said that, a couple of brave souls

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ventured for an outdoor swimming session at nearby Ellerton Lake.

The safe grounds – and Vanessa’s horses – make it very child-friendly and there is masses of run-around space for little ones.

Older kids will just choose to hole up in the games area with its X-Box, pool table and big TV. Job done.

On arrival at Water Tower, there’s a cheery welcome with lovely scones, jam and tasty treats set out on the Emma Bridgewater crockery – as well as fresh eggs. We thought we would burst the fridge with our abundance of fizz, cheese and food treats but there was ample space for everything.

We played with the Aga – the girls queued up for their turn to make bacon and egg breakfasts – and then really just returned

to our positions at the convivial courtyard table.

We were so relaxed that even the lure of great pubs nearby couldn’t stir us from the hug-me surroundings of our weekend home.

Pjs stayed on way too late, newspapers were delved into and coffee poured.

It was the extreme of chilling-out, with great sleep enjoyed in soft sheets after deep baths.

And yes, at some point there was an embarrassment of bad dancing in the kitchen – but in our secret playtime palace, only we were party to that!

water tower is available to rent through www.gorgeouscottages.com

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lUXE lOCAl

Wooler If the really wild outdoors appeals, Wooler could be your idea of remote perfection

PrOPErTIEs >> Gosh it’s got it all – low-slung stone farmsteads, characterful town centre cottages, impressive estates built with a sturdy hand – and even some shepherd’s huts for the glamping types. This is a remote part of the country but one with a strong heart, spirit of community and resilience. There are plenty of holiday and weekend properties in the town because of its proximity to the best bits of Northumberland but it retains a thriving community. Its market was originally established in 1199 and while sheep and cattle are no longer traded in the town centre the market continues to this day.

CONNECTED? The A1 is on your doorstep – not the speediest of routes at this section – the annoyingly slow bit to be honest, with Newcastle and Edinburgh little more than an hour in either direction, which isn’t bad. Your ‘big town’ is Berwick or Alnwick. You’re about as beautifully connected as you could be on foot though – the Cheviots and Northumberland National Park on your doorstep and miles of brilliant coastline just a few miles away. This is fresh air central. sTrOll Oh you’re spoilt for choice. Wooler is the gateway to the Cheviot Hills and the stunning Northumberland National Park. The Cheviots are just a stone’s throw away and are ideal for walkers, climbers, mountain biking and horse riding. The foothills have quiet backroads and bridleways combined with spectacular views to take your breath away.

Serious walkers looking for a challenge can head for some of the most rewarding hill walking in the country.

Nearby Belford is the start of an 8-mile walk to St Cuthbert’s Cave. “Cuddy’s Cave” (as it is known locally) is an overhanging outcrop of sandstone rock, supported by an

serious walkers looking for a challenge can head for some of the most rewarding hill walking in the country

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isolated pillar of stone. It is reputed that the monks of Lindisfarne brought St Cuthbert’s body to this place in AD875 following the Viking raids on the Holy Island. A beautiful walk ending in a peaceful location for a picnic with stunning views. sHOP Today a deli, butchers and grocers are amongst an abundance of local stores. You’ll also find independent stores catering for the arty types drawn to the peace and quiet of the area.

“Watch this space” is a studio housing a selection of Northumberland and Glendale craft artists’ work and there are workshops from March and throughout the summer. Try your hand at jewellery making or shabby-chic painting techniques.

Gear for Girls in the High Street is the only outdoor shop in Britain to concentrate purely on clothing for women, fit women that is. Get kitted out for climbing, walking, running, cycling, gym and yoga in brands such as North Face, Patagonia, Prana, Mountain Hardwear, Salomon, Rab, Merrell, Keen, E9, Blurr, Moon, Barts, Sportjock, Shock Absorber, Striders Edge, Ronhill and Icebreaker. www.gearforgirls.co.uk For food and picnic-packing, make a trip The Good Life where health foodstuffs and local produce take centre stage and for gifts, Florian is the place.

EAT&DrINK If you fancy a foodie trail then you’re close to some note-worthy producers – Doddington Dairy with its exceptional ice-creams is on the doorstep at Wooler for a tour and a taste. The aforementioned Cuddy’s Cave appears in fromage form – its namesake is made by Doddington Cheese – a smoked version is made in Jedburgh and there are many delicious varieties to pack for a picnic.

Sunday Times reviewer AA Gill famously paid a visit to Milan Italian restaurant in Wooler, giving it a more than muted review. It’s a bums-on-seats Italian basically, fine to fend off pizza hunger but much loved and cherished by locals for its welcome and hearty food. Go back to the smoke, Gill.

New to the High Street is No.1 Hotel & Wine Lounge, fashioned from an old pub and quickly becoming the ‘in’ place for good tapas, wine and atmosphere.

Take a trip to Anglers Arms at Weldon Bridge near Rothbury for a Craster kipper salad and Longframlington sirloin on the menu – and dine in the old railway carriage. The Red Lion at Millfield is in the AA Good Pub Guide and lists its local suppliers. You’re not far from Ford&Etal where The Old Dairy Restoration Coffee shop is a Luxe favourite. It serves up the best coffee for miles round - and has a champagne bar from which to admire fab views. In its home-made and lovely menu you might find ham and egg picnic pies along with Lady Waterford’s wood pigeon pie, while soups can be a full-on vegetable or a more delicate sweet potato and coconut.

JUL/aUG14

HOME TIME

my local Barbara Huddart runs Glendale Communications based in Wooler and has lived in the area all her life: Three good things about living here >> 1. For me it is my home town. I grew up on a farm overlooking Wooler, went to my first school here, and got married here.

2. There’s a magnificent drive, cycle or walk to work from which ever direction you are travelling - Wooler is quite literally in the shadow of the Cheviot Hills.

3. This is probably the most stress-free place to both work and live. It is a traditional market town with masses of free parking, bespoke shops and lovely picnic areas to eat your lunch on a sunny day.

Three places to take visitors >> 1. For a walk up the Langleeford Valley in the Northumberland National Park or up Humbleton Hill.

2. Ford and Etal Estate, with its steam train, Lady Waterford Hall, Heatherslaw Mill and Etal Castle.

There are many antique shops and centres within five miles of Wooler, including Powburn, The Glendale Antiques Centre and Ford Village An in-the-know secret >> The Doddington Dairy honesty box for their wonderful cheeses, or ice cream.

Three miles along the road at their farm at North Doddington.

property: three to choose The Pastures A new-build that doesn’t look it – The Pastures was started in 2000, built in local Doddington stone and a cone’s throw away from Doddington Dairy. Built on four levels with much luxe detail like an Inglenook fireplace and Aga. Space too for a swimming pool should you wish to take the plunge.

POA www.aitchisons.co.uk

The pleasure You certainly make the most of the surroundings at Weetwood Hall, a Grade II listed, seven-bed home nestled in Glendale Valley overlooking the Cheviots. On the River Till, it’s close to Wooler and dwarfed by its mighty surroundings.

Lots of lovely wood inside and a cosy character. Lots of house for your money.

£750,000 www.smithsgore.co.uk

The project

property watch with DUNCAN YOUNG

The Power of Gardens Traditionally, the majority of buyers have always regarded the kitchen, the bathroom and interior design as being the most important factors when choosing which property to buy and whilst those areas are a significant feature of any property sale, we now believe the exterior of a house to be equally important. The North East of England has a limited climate and a relatively short window for us to be able to enjoy our outdoor spaces, but when that time exists throughout the months of June, July and August, many of us focus on spending time in the garden. We have seen successes with property sales emerging from those that have invested time, money and personal hard labour into their outdoor space. The creation of all-weather patio terraces and al fresco dining areas is extremely important and we are now viewing many more houses which have outdoor tubs and spa Jacuzzis, as well as ‘African-style’ huts which can be internally lit and heated for all-year-round use. Circular fire pits become a feature within the centre of such huts and blinds can often be pulled down to protect and keep dry sitting and eating areas.

It is not unusual now to see properties where between £50,000 and £200,000 have been invested in their garden areas, which may include electric gates and privacy walls to ensure that they have sufficient seclusion from their neighbours. Materials such as slate and stone can provide stunning paths, hard-standing areas and patios and increasingly a number of the gardens that we feature are beautifully lit. The lighting of an external space is equally important to the interior, with LED lights, pavement uplighters and feature lighting which may be colour changed, set into trees which can create a tremendous impact during the dusk hours.

Whilst the requirement for a family lawn will never recede completely, increasing numbers of home owners are creating ornamental French-style parterres with box hedging and stunning beds of lavender and roses, which give beautiful scent to the surrounding terraces.

A well landscaped, designed and planted garden can create a tremendous impact for a house and whilst these will always be appreciated during the summer months, increasing numbers of houses have created outdoor space which can be used equally well in the spring and the autumn.

The fashion at this current time is to ensure that houses enjoy the outdoor space as much as possible and increasing numbers of properties have glass curtain walling which folds back to reveal the garden from the kitchen, living and dining areas. A minimalist design of some of the architecture very successfully creates the impression of the garden coming into the house, which is equally important on a blue winter’s morning as it can be on a sunny summer’s day. There is no doubt that barbecues and more formal al fresco dining is extremely popular and many properties with outdoor kitchens create tremendous wow impact with prospective buyers and assist the sale of many houses throughout the region.

I hope that the current confidence in the housing market continues to shine throughout the summer and for those who enjoy good outdoor space, please continue to invest as much time as possible to ensure that you present this area to its best potential. Such investments will create increasing demand for your home and when you are selling that property it will give you a distinct advantage against other properties where less investment has been made in the garden.

Confidence in the housing market is strong and many more houses are selling on a regular basis. Here at Sanderson Young we hope that everybody has a great summer and if you are looking to move then please do not hesitate to give us a call.

Milburn Hall sounds grand – and it could be with some TLC. A not-bad project for those with holiday home ambitions! Single-storey, two bedrooms and lots of grassy land outside. Imagine it with some Farrow&Ball love thrown in.

£175,000 www.sandersonyoung.co.uk Duncan G Young Dip.Est.Man.FNAEA, Managing Director, Sanderson Young duncan.young@sandersonyoung.co.uk 0191 223 3500

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SELLING THE REGIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FINEST HOMES

Felton

Morpeth, Northumberland Believed to have been constructed circa 1820 under the design and specification of John Dobson, is this beautiful detached, stone built, country dwelling. This magnificent Georgian house was purchased by the current owners in 1996 and since that time has been extensively modernised, updated and refurbished. The house sits in majestic gardens and grounds which extend to circa eight acres.

Price Guide: Price on Application

Broomshiels Hall Satley, Durham

Broomshiels Hall is a significant and impressive country residence. The Hall is fabulously located in a mature garden setting and attached to another property at one corner, forming a beautiful and peaceful hamlet of properties. Broomshiels Hall is situated in a heavenly location at the end of a long drive amongst a stand of mature and most impressive beech trees.

Price Guide: ÂŁ1.25 million

From Sanderson Young All confidential enquiries to 0191 223 3500 or email: duncan.young@sandersonyoung.co.uk | www.sandersonyoung.co.uk

SELLING THE REGION’S FINEST HOMES

The Grove Hartlepool

This outstanding, completely refurbished, detached family home provides one of the very best of its kind within the North East, situated in what is widely acknowledged as one of the regions premier tree lined addresses. The owners are justifiably very proud of the presentation of this house, which combines traditional period features with modern technology and superb interior design.

Price Guide: £999,999

Flambard

Leazes Road, Durham A superb opportunity to acquire a fabulous detached house which enjoys an elevated position set back from Leazes Road in the heart of Durham City. The property has a beautiful view to the south looking towards the city of Durham and the university playing fields in the distance. Since the current owners purchased the property in 2012 it has been extensively renovated, refurbished and modernised.

Price Guide: £885,000

From Sanderson Young All confidential enquiries to 0191 223 3500 or email: duncan.young@sandersonyoung.co.uk | www.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.

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local, regional, national and international specialists in property marketing ROSE COTTAGE WYNYARD Rose Cottage is an extremely well designed forever home with every luxury feature in a most peaceful and tranquil setting. The property opens into a welcoming hallway with a sweeping curved staircase with bespoke wrought iron balustrade. To the right is a study and a comfortable, dual aspect lounge with a feature fireplace and bi-fold doors leading to the private rear garden. The remainder of the ground floor is laid out to provide fabulous open plan living space incorporating a family room with twin alcoves and fitted storage, a high end dining kitchen and an orangery with sky lantern roof and monochrome tiled floor. The sumptuous kitchen is worthy of special mention having been designed and fitted by prestigious company Clive Christian with a centre island incorporating a Belfast sink, marble worktops, an extensive range of painted timber and oak units, signature chandeliers and an Aga. Upstairs the five bedrooms are all doubles, three benefiting from their own en suite facilities and a further two sharing a Jack ‘n Jill bathroom with a vanity unit and tiled walk-in shower. Rose Cottage stands in its own grounds with gardens to all sides set against a woodland backdrop. With a wall at the front, it is enclosed and extremely private.

Contact: 01740 645 444

SPRING BANK WOOD WYNYARD

£1,075,000

EGERTON ROAD HARTLEPOOL

• Springbank Wood is a unique and very attractive property with excellent kerb appeal and located on a very generous plot at the heart of Wynyard village.

• The detached, four-bedroom house is a superb family home with plenty of enclosed outdoor space for children and more formal sitting and dining areas for adults to enjoy • The breakfasting kitchen boasts timber units and French doors opening to a stone flagged outdoor terrace and the rear garden beyond • There is as an elegant, dual aspect lounge, also with French doors leading onto the terrace, and a lovely, triple aspect sun lounge extension that leads out to a further patio at the side.

• Inside, the layout offers superb opportunities for entertaining. The property also benefits from a detached double garage and block paved parking area

• 21 Egerton Road, Hartlepool, offers the ultimate in contemporary design with every modern comfort and the latest in home technology resulting in an outstanding family property.

• Built to an exceptional standard in a very sought after location, it is a unique four-bedroom dwelling with light, spacious rooms and high quality fixtures and fittings and is beautifully presented in turn-key condition • The ground floor is laid out to suit modern living with a formal, quiet lounge and substantial open plan space for living, dining and family life with French doors leading out to a stone paved patio.

• At the heart of the space is a highly desirable kitchen with a central island and breakfast bar and fitted with stunning high gloss units, Silestone worktops, mood lighting and a range of high end Siemens appliances.

Contact: 01740 645 444

£344,950 Contact: 0191 384 2277

Newcastle 0845 459 6000

Durham 0191 384 2277

Wynyard 01740 645 444

residing@fineandcountry.com

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Tyne Valley 0845 459 6000

£595,000 Cumbria 0845 872 5453

Sales & Lettings North East creative and intelligent marketing of individual and country property

...300 offices worldwide ST GEORGE HOUSE, GLEDSTONE WYNYARD Located in the exclusive Wynyard development this Architect designed, seven bedroom individual home built by the present owner, offers an impeccable high standard of specification rarely found. The property, which is accessed via remote electric gates with video intercom connection to the house, boasts many features throughout such as sound entertainment system with individual controls to each location, TV and Satellite distribution and data point provision. A contemporary open plan kitchen with travertine flooring features high gloss units and American walnut work tops along with a complete range of built in Neff appliances. From the family room, an orangery has French doors opening on to a large Indian Sandstone terrace with views over beautiful landscaped gardens. The ground floor also offers a spacious formal drawing room with a bespoke Inglenook fireplace, formal dining room, study, large utility room and a temperature controlled wine cellar. To the first floor a luxury self contained apartment with kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living/dining space has access from a separate staircase to the outside. St. George House boasts a master suite with en suite with facilities reminiscent of a luxury spa to include a large sunken Jacuzzi bath with woodland views, Nordic sauna, and a Jacuzzi steam/shower cubicle. This fabulous home offers the space and versatility in its room layout to meet the requirements of any discerning family in a convenient, exclusive location. EER C76

Contact: 01740 645 444

THE HERMITAGE, CHESTER-LE-STREET DURHAM

HAWK RIDGE, NINE ACRES, HART VILLAGE, HARTLEPOOL

• 19th century mansion with a range of communal facilities including orangery, heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, tennis courts and a gym.

• 188sqm 2 bedroom duplex apartment with a stunning 30ft lounge featuring a handcrafted oak fireplace • 70 acres of park and woodland and a private garage

Contact: 0191 384 2277 Lakes 01539 733 500

Northumberland 0845 459 6000

sales@fineandcountry-lakes.co.ul

info@durhamfineandcountry.co.uk

£1,095,000

• A substantial, four-bedroom detached family home surrounded by open countryside • Energy efficient features include an air source heat pump for hot water and underfloor heating combined with a design that makes the most of its rural location.

• Light and spacious family accommodation with bi-fold doors from the sun lounge and dining room to bring the garden indoors • Double doors at the entrance to the dining room provide views of the garden through the house from the hallway and front door.

• Two reception rooms and a fully glazed sun lounge off the main living • No chain

£350,000 Contact: 0191 384 2277

£370,000

www.fineandcountry.com Head office: 121 Park Lane, Mayfair, London WIK 7AG.

FRESH AIR FEELING

TREND WATCH with Bryan Middleton Summer breezing with ideas for making the most of outdoor spaces and spill-out rooms

We’re slap bang into summer but in this country you have to accept that ‘outdoor living’ means being able to swiftly head indoors when one of those summer deluges strikes.

Still, there’s nothing nice than living that leftover holiday dream of outdoor dining – and now that bi-fold doors seem increasingly to be an interiors ‘must-have’, it’s easier than ever for family life to ooze outside.

You don’t have to go down the dedicated ‘outdoor furniture’ route – often upcycled and painted furniture can add charm, especially to established, cottage and countryside gardens.

The way to make outdoor living work is the cheat’s way – lots of candles, sparkly lights and a firepit, which will keep everyone snug and sing-a-long into the early hours.

>> Snuggle: Grey stars blanket, £49.95 www.notonthehighsteet.co.uk >> Light up: Leather and stainless steel lanterns which look striking clustered together on the floor, £49.95-£139.95 www.nordichouse.co.uk

>> Stay a while: Henley by Kettler: dining armchair £125, straight-side chair £100, dining table £649, trolley £299; Sophie Conran for Portmeirion, tealight holders, £30, pasta bowl £13.50; linen runner, £25; carafe £30, www.johnlewis.com >> Feel the heat: Verona firepit, £279 www.marksandspencer.com

>> Lounge: Linen pouffe, £125 www.bodie&fou.com >> Sit down: Bench painted in Brassica and raised border, Calke Green. www.farrow-ball.com

>> Welcome: Personalised firepit sign, £38, www.notonthehighstreet.co.uk

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JUL/AUG14

Nine Consevatories /Orangeries and Bi-Fold Doors....

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?... THEN VISIT OUR SHOW VILLAGE

Create the Envy!..

- ORANGERIES

www.aanco.co.uk

Windows, Doors & Conservatories

Est. 1979

- BI-FOLD DOORS

Tel: 01642 612 204

Portrack Lane, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 2RB

SHOW VILLAGE

(Next to Court Homemakers)

© Solidor Ltd.

- DOORS

breathe easy

Bluffing the blooms Veg patch supremo Karen Phillips does it in the flower bed too – here’s her bluffer’s guide to making your garden smell like the Jo Malone counter in Fenwick 1. Philadelphus (Mock Orange Blossom) If you only have room for one shrub then plant this one. This scent is captured in many upmarket scented candles but you won’t believe how far the fragrance travels in the garden. Left to its own devices this plant can get overly large for the garden and then flower only at the top of the bush so as soon as it has finished flowering prune one third of the oldest stems to near ground level each year, cutting just above a strong bud – do not make the mistake of many people who see it getting out of hand in spring and hack it back forgoing all chance of flowers that year. My favourite variety is ‘Belle Etoile’ which has white flowers with a purple eye; ‘Aureus’ has white flowers and yellowish leaves, ‘Virginal’ has double white flowers.

of small, perfumed pink rosettes then you’ll love it.

2. Old-fashioned Roses When I first started gardening I hated roses because I had grown up with hybrid tea roses: over-large blooms in brash colours.

Thankfully, my neighbour in Gloucestershire introduced me to the local rose farm that specialised in old-fashioned roses and I was hooked. It was like meeting a whole new family: Charles de Mills; William Lobb; Ferdinand Pichard, Souvenir de Malmaison, Souvenir de Dr Jamain, Louise Odier… the names alone conjure up images of romance, hazy summers and times gone by.

These are my top five scented roses, beautiful and robust.

Ferdinand Pichard: Like raspberry ripple on a bush – stripy crimson and white flowers.

Blanc Double de Coubert I have this growing near my washing line and enjoy whiffs of the heady fragrance whilst pegging out laundry. Sniffing the beautiful large, white blooms is like sticking your nose in your grandma’s powder puff!

Roses are followed by ornamental hips.

Chapeau de Napoleon: With rose buds shaped like a tricorn hat; hence the name, this moss rose smells of pepper when you rub the buds. The flowers open pink, with tightly packed petals and fragrant.

Roserai de L’Hay: This one forms a large shrub with bright green leaves and can be used as a hedge. It has very fragrant crimson blooms, like a crumpled tissue and these are followed by large orange hips that remain over autumn and winter until the birds have eaten them.

Paul’s Himalayan Musk: This one is a rambler (rampant climber) so make sure you pick a large tree that can support the weight. It needs pruning by removing a third of the oldest stems each year to the ground. If you like a neat and tidy garden it is not for you but if you relish a vast sea

4. Nicotiana Many white-flowered plants are pollinated by moths at night hence are scented to attract them. Sow annual Nicotiana sylvestris in late spring and you’ll enjoy scented trumpets of white flowers on five-foot plants. Beware when sowing though: the seeds are tiny and come in packets of 1000 – nobody needs that many plants so only sow a pinch of seed at a time. There are other colours of Nicotiana: lime green, crimson and ‘sensation mix’ – and all make great cut flowers since the more you pick, the longer they will continue to flower.

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3. Choisya (Mexican Orange Blossom) This well behaved shrub deserves a place in any garden: glossy, evergreen leaves with clusters of white flowers appearing in late spring/early summer. The scent comes from the stems rather than the flowers and has woody undertones. It is always used on our cut flower courses, whether in posies, as place settings or used to bulk out larger vases of flowers. Choisya ternata ‘Aztec Pearl’ has finely divided green leaves and flowers profusely; whereas ‘Sundance’ is a yellow-leaved form that is slightly less hardy and needs careful positioning otherwise it can look a bit jaundiced next to other plants in the garden.

A rose that’s like raspberry ripple on a bush, what’s not to love...

5. Sweet peas No list of scented plants would be complete without sweet peas but interestingly the scent of this common garden flower has never been successfully synthesised in the lab. Young plants can easily be bought in spring but if you sow your own from seed then you can choose the best scented varieties; either sow in autumn and overwinter in a cold frame or sow in spring for later flowers. Sweet peas like to be planted out in rich soil so if your soil is poor add homemade compost to the planting holes and feed weekly with tomato food. Keep picking then flowers will keep appearing. My favourites: Matucana – one of the most fragrant with two-tone purple flowers on shortish stems Lord Nelson – a deep blue Flora Norton – clear light blue with a superb fragrance Prince Edward of York – two-tone deep pink/ pale pink with an amazing scent Karen runs courses on ‘How to Grow Cut Flowers’ at Widehaugh House cookschool and gardens, Hexham www.widehaughhouse.co.uk

JUL/AUG14

get out Xxxxxxxx there

PLOT with Will Quarmby, Hampton Court Flower Show gold winner Never mind the weeds, get the barbecue lit…

We have recently been enjoying some great summer weather which when mixed with rain and the right temperatures has allowed our normally small weeds to grow into to some kind of super-strength triffids.

I’m sure we’re not alone! They have proved quite a challenge to keep on top of this year and despite tackling them with some highstrength weed killer they seem to have come back even stronger than before.

I’m not particularly enjoying that kind of garden I have to admit – especially as we’re also in the midst of setting up a new business, mixing our love of design with food and great coffee. Have a look at www.quarmbys.co.uk However, I’ve diverted my time in the garden

to the vegetable plot rather than tackling the second round of weeds.

I have tried to make sure the vegetables thrive and are as productive as possible and have also built a new home for the bantams that continually get harassed by the bigger chickens.

We’ve made an effort to try to enjoy the garden as much as possible. We have been dining outside which always seems like a nice idea to start with.

You get the barbecue going, spend twenty minutes taking the appropriate utensils from the kitchen to the table, finally sit down, only to find the chicken is under-cooked and the sausages are burnt, the sun has gone in and the temptation of the obligatory blue trampoline has proven too much for the

BLOW THE BUDGET >> >> Left - Mod pop Bold white and modern for a wow-factor garden, Qui Est Paul? Ublo 4-piece lounging set £1,399; planter £339, www.johnlewis.com

children who have got bored and left the table.

Our existing table and chairs which admittedly were looking a little tired and unloved, have now been relegated to the garage and we have started on our hunt for our new dining set.

Trying to find the right one has taken a little longer than expected due to our time constraints and choosing the correct garden furniture can really change the way you use the garden whether you have a Victorian terrace or a converted barn, the right choice will complement the whole space.

We are now three weeks into the search and still haven’t found the right furniture fit for the job. Although I have come across some great ideas. high with cushions – this bench is painted in Farrow&Ball Churlish Green. www.farrowandball.co.uk >> Right - One for stylish dining Abinger dining table and chairs, £3,250 www.notonthehighstreet.co.uk

>> Top - Paint job Get a basic bench or chairs and give them some pzazz with paint then pile

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LUXE LOVES A sofa with a story The textile designs of Yorkshire artist Sheila Bownas have been rediscovered since her death in 2007. In the 50s and 60s she worked on numerous commissions for Liberty of London, Crown Wallpapers and Marks and Spencer.

Her archive has been revived and Teessidebased furniture-maker Garry Smith from Parlour was commissioned to make a bespoke sofa to complement the textile designs.

‘Edwin’ is inspired by the versatile daybeds of the 1950s. It uses solid walnut which pairs beautifully with a range of linens from the Bownas library and a plain textured weave. A celebration of design heritage and present-day British craft, the Edwin sofa is made to order and also available in grey or olive yellow, £2,400. www.sheilabownas.com/store/edwin-sofa

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JUL/aUG14

Simply beautiful bathrooms by the bathroom studio

• New brands and products now available • Visit our stunning showroom with over 65 displays to view and experience unrivalled expertise and product choice • Family business with over 40 years experience in the industry • Complete design / supply and installation service available

Offering superior solutions for your bathroom Unit 4D, Airport Ind Est. Kingston Park NE3 2EF 0191 271 5800 www.thebathroomstudio.co.uk

fun on the run

in

London

SUMMER STYLE

Outdoor cinema, perfect picnics, rooftop drinks and tea with a fashion twist - cool things to do if you’re heading to the city this summer

Skylight cinema Royal style The Queen, Princess Margaret and Diana, Princess of Wales. They changed regal fashion forever. Kensington Palace plays host to an exhibition detailing each woman’s style in full. Tickets are included in palace admission; Adults £16.50, children go free ww.hrp.org.uk

Bliss-out Love a wedding frock? Society’s obsession with ‘the dress’ is explored at the Victoria and Albert Museum’s exhibition, Wedding Dresses 1775-2014. See gowns from designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang, as well as the gowns of celebrities including Dita Von Teese and Gwen Stefani.

Tickets from £13.40 www.vam.ac.uk

Barefoot city When your toes get hot in the city, head for a barefoot walking trail or sip cocktails in a gin&tonic garden in Kew Gardens, perfect for summer city solace. £15, www.kew.org

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Watch a movie under the stars at a series of summer cinema outdoor pop-ups from trendy Shoreditch to stylish Kensington.

Rooftop Film Club offers everything from The Graduate to Casablanca to Anchorman and kiddy favourites.

Tickets start from £13 www. Rooftopfilmclub.com

Outdoor cinema One of the most beautiful alfresco cinema locations is Somerset House in London.

Every August, a two-week film festival brings together classic movies, new releases and avant-garde favourites; this year the programme runs from 7 – 20 August and includes Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Wes Anderson’s classic The Royal Tenenbaums. www.somersethouse.org.uk

On the buses A vintage London double decker bus tour with added afternoon tea treats. See the sights as you sip tea and munch on macarons, mini cupcakes, sandwiches and more! www.bbbakery.co.uk/our-bakeries

Seat of power Whatever your politics literally live the champagne socialist life in the Houses of Parliament. You can have afternoon tea in the elegant Terrace Pavilion of the House of Commons, with views over the River Thames.

The tea serves up treats such as citrus-marinated Scottish salmon with cream cheese, lemon curd and chives on a mini bagel and Valrohna chocolate delice.

Tea costs £27 in addition to the cost of the admission ticket. www.parliament.uk/visiting

Fashion feast

Chop chop

The Pret-a-Portea at London’s Berkeley hotel is a fave for fashionistas: every season the hotel launches a new afternoon tea that takes its inspiration from the latest catwalk styles. From Miu Miu handbags to Christian Louboutin heels, with Prada coats and Victoria Beckham dresses all delicately playing a double role as cakes, macaroons and mousses. £41 per person www.the-berkeley.co.uk/fashion-afternoon-tea

Join butchery classes at The Ginger Pig in central London’s Marylebone.

You will learn all aspects of cutting meat, the ageing process, how to make salami, cured meats and sausages.

All the London classes are held at the Ginger Pig’s Marylebone shop – it also has a stall in Borough Market, close to London Bridge. www.learnbutchery.co.uk

JUL/AUG14

fun on the run Go girls

VERY HIGH TEA If you like a serious view with your snacks, Aqua Shard, sky high at The Shard, offers food to linger over from dawn to dusk. Try a ‘Morning Elixir’ cocktail - Kellogg’s cornflake and almond milk syrup, raspberries, Chambord, Cariel vanilla vodka, egg whites, mandarin bitters or afternoon tea with vanilla and raisin or orange blossom scones served with Jersey clotted cream and Garlando’s fragrant homemade jams: strawberry and Tahitian vanilla; apple, lime and Earl Grey jelly and raspberry and lemon thyme. Afternoon tea with a glass of Veuve Clicquot, £40.

Or whizz your way to the top of The Shard – a dramatic and awe-inspiring experience for sure. Choose a clear day and yes, gaze for miles. www.theviewfromtheshard.com/

Bond motoring See a host of iconic Bond vehicles at The London Film Museum. The most up-to-date collection, including the one-third scale model of Agusta Westland’s AW101 helicopter used in Skyfall. Iconic cars from the Bond vehicle chases will also be on display, including the Aston Martin DB5 from GoldenEye, 1995. www.londonfilmmuseum.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

Perfect

picnics

Picnic in Green Park with gourmet hampers and someone to perfectly place your rug on the grass. Dukes Hotel’s British picnic is especially created by head chef Nigel Mendham. Hampers can be delivered to your desired picnic location at a time to suit, with a private butler to send out the picnic.

Feast on: chicken, pepper and chorizo brochette, ‘pigs in blankets’ with honey mustard, poached salmon, cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, home-made shortbread and strawberries and cream.

Picnics from £32. www.dukeshotel.com.

Posh PJs on for a night in sleep-in rollers with a Benefit goodie bag and a pink hat-box brimming with snacks. The ‘Girl’s Night In’ package at Knightsbridge’s Berkeley Hotel is a decadent, Diptyquescented stay. Cocktails, manicures, movies and no men! The perfect girly pampering stay. You even close your eyes beneath a silk eye mask embroidered with your initials.

The ‘Girls’ Night In’ at the Berkeley from £630 including English breakfast for two people. www.theberkeleyhotel.co.uk

Nail it Cockpit-cool nails polished to perfection in the first class cabin of a 1970s aeroplane? At MW nails pick from the signature Captain’s Cockpit, a 70-minute manicure boasting exfoliation, massage, moisturisation and a 14 day polish. It’s passport-free 100pc escapism!

Manicures £25 per person, Captain’s Cockpit £69. www.MWnails.com

Glitz it up

It took 15 months to make the world’s largest Chanel store on New Bond Street.

Coco would be proud. Breathtaking as soon as you step inside as you’re greeted by a floor-to-ceiling giant pearl necklace and a deer sculpture encrusted with 200,000 silver rhinestones. The ground floor features a ‘bag bar’, where you can browse the quilted glossies from a tweed chair.

158-9 New Bond Street. www.chanel.com

prize draw, judged by owner Mark Hix. All will love the high standard of kids’ food available, something Hix is passionate about; how about buttermilk-fried chicken with a lettuce heart salad and ground rib steak burger? www.hixsoho.co.uk

Night skies See the city’s bright lights from the new Emirates Air Line cable car. It stretches across the River Thames between the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks.

See St Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin, the Shard, The O2, the Thames Barrier and the Olympic Park flying 90 metres above the Thames. www.visitbritainshop.com/world/traveltransport/london-transport/product/ london-visitor-oyster-card.html

War stories Shop it Soho used to be famous for its seedy sex shops, today it’s packed with must-visit stores. Shop for top-quality lingerie at Maison Kiss Kiss (maisonkisskiss.com), choose from a selection of mouthwatering chocolates at County-Durham chocolatier Paul A Young (www.paulayoung.co.uk) or head to the Carnaby Street area for Lucy in Disguise, run by songstress Lilly Allen and her sister, which stocks vintage fashions like jewelled flapper dresses and sequinned gowns at prices ranging from £30 to £4,000. lucyindisguiselondon.com

Eat well Foodie grown-ups can have a Hix fix in Soho while their ‘kids under ten eat free’ with them. Kids will love the Art and Food Club.

They simply draw a picture of their experience at Hix and are entered into a

Remembering the anniversary of the outbreak of war is a key part of this year.

Imperial War Museum (IWM) opens striking new permanent First World War Galleries on 19 July to mark the start of the centenary of the First World War. Experience the sights, smells and sounds of a recreated trench, see what life was like at the front with the Sopwith Camel fighter plane and Mark V tank looming above, learn of the terrible strain the war placed on people and communities and discover the role that women and children played on the home front. www.iwm.org.uk/ww1

Shakespeare in

style

Try a backstage tour and private box at Shakespeare’s Globe in the richly decorated and historically authentic Gentlemen’s Rooms with premium views of the stage, champagne served in your box and a pre-performance meal with wine in the Brasserie. www.shakespeares-globe.org/theatre/ hospitality

On the buses

Shakespeare’s Globe

JUL/AUG14

Let it be When tired, achy legs and teary shopped-out mums and daughters need respite, Lush Spa’s central London base comes to rescue in a unique way, as Charlotte Armstrong reports: When I find myself in times of trouble... (which is a lot), I tend to look for something which will nurture my poor body back to health.

I am pretty talented at the ‘burning the candle at both ends’ business. So when I heard about the Lush Spa’s new treatment ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ it sounded perfect for wiped-out, city-living me.

And also as a fine pick-me-up for anyone hitting the city and inevitably ending up dazed and exhausted by partying, treading the pavements, bag-carrying for just soaking it all up.

The Spa is in the Lush, Kings Road – yes, smell it a mile away. With a premassage consultation the treatment is tailored individually. For me, it was a case of my poor danced-out legs needing some extra love.

The spa room was candlelit and cosy-warm and I was given oversized striped pyjamas – warmed, how lush is that – before an hour of massage-heaven.

The Beatles join you with gentle Fab Four classics playing as you lie there, which is something a bit different.

During the treatment the whole body is stretched and kneaded, ribbons are even incorporated for an extra stretch.

So relaxing I could have happily stayed all day.

A reworked cover of a Beatles album lulled me into a sleepy state. After a meditation session at the end of the treatment I revived my bed hair and was greeted with a cup of tea and biscuits to bring me back to reality.

This treatment is a must for a weary body and mind, it leaves you invigorated and a weary mind zingy and ready for action – and even gives you an unexpected dewy glow.

Lovely friendly staff and amazing serene atmosphere, a great pick-me-up when it all gets hot in the city.

The treatment is £85 for 75mins. www.lush.co.uk/products/treatments

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PHEW ViEWS

C O M PE T I T I O N C HEVA l QUAY s >>>>

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Win a two-night stay at Cheval Three Quays at the Tower of London Cheval Residences - a leading provider of luxury serviced apartments in London is delighted to offer one lucky Luxe magazine reader a two-night stay in a one-bedroom serviced apartment at Cheval Three Quays.

Situated next to The Tower of London, in one of the city’s most historical locations, Cheval Three Quays is a stunning new collection of luxury serviced apartments on the north bank of the River Thames, which opened in March 2014.

The 159 spacious and elegant studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses are arranged over 9 expansive floors, offering flexible city living whether for one night, one week or even one year. Each apartment, designed to allow guests the space and comfort to create their own environment, has dramatic floor-toceiling windows offering unobscured views of the River Thames, the Tower of London, City Hall and the Shard.

Every detail has been carefully considered to create the ultimate luxury experience, from the textured chenille, velvet and silk rugs to the avant-garde inspired Gaggenau appliances and Italian Dada kitchens.

Lust-after apartment living in London lets you play at luxe living. So Kathryn Armstrong tries a breath-taking breakfast view

Hotels are lovely but a staycation in an apartment lets you enter the world of pretend for a little while at least.

A light-flooded, city-central riverside apartment couldn’t be more different from my real home in every sense, so ‘vacationing’ at Cheval Three Quays meant fun-time make-believe.

This is the land of white, shiny and sleek and a location to die-for.

The newly-opened apartments overlook the Tower of London and the Thames – from your wrapped-around glass and chrome balcony the folks below look like scampering ants doing their guidebook

thing of tearing from sight to mustsee sight.

I created a one-night-only persona for self – successful singleton with hot-shot city career and wardrobe of immaculate dry-cleaning at hand at all times.

Someone with an uncluttered ensuite whose life was accompanied by soulful surroundsound at all times.

A life where someone else cooks at all times and the fridge is home only to some Epoisse, prosecco, Parma ham and good coffee.

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It worked. I was hooked. I wafted mostly robe-clad and barefoot from room to very calming and elegant room.

The stunning floor-length windows with views of Tower Bridge, The Shard and Thames make it a very easy place to stay put and let the sights come to you. In the midst of big city goings-on, it is a retreat, albeit one with a couple of World Heritage sites on your doorstep.

My stay was short but it would be a great city pad to base yourself for a longer stay, especially with a family in tow – the apartments have up to three bedrooms.

You’re just a short hop from a cool part of town – with Borough Market, the Tate Modern and The Globe a short stroll.

There’s 24-hour concierge service and housekeeping to look after you.

The apartments are super-comfy with lots of space and stylish furnishings – think loafing sofas and funky chairs. All the tecchy musts are there too – iPod dock and large flat screen television on the wall.

You can nip to the local delis – or Borough Market – and play in the high-spec kitchen with its stone surfaces, shiny chrome fittings and gadgetry galore.

Bedrooms and bathrooms echo the spec.

You’ve got views from your bed, workspace and then glossy bathrooms with walk-in

showers. There’s masses of storage and kit – ironing boards, washing machine, etc in the utility area.

One of the nicest things about a serviced apartment is the ‘please yourself’ kind of break.

My two London-living nieces came to stay – they played that ‘pretend’ game too.

After a night out, we arrived home, opened our fizz and spent much of the night on our balcony, taking in the sights and sounds of the unsleeping city around us, revelling in the buzz of city goings-on.

That kind of thing makes a stay memorable, even when you’ve got to burst your bubble and return to life in your wee cottage.

fAC T f I l E > > Cheval Three Quays has 97 serviced and 62 extended stay apartments.

Prices start at £1,848 for a one-bedroom apartment for seven nights including taxes - which equates to £132 per person per night, based on two sharing. A deluxe three-bedroom river-view apartment accommodating six people starts from £4,800 for seven nights, equating to £114 per person per night. www.chevalresidences.com

At the heart of Cheval Three Quays is a dedicated team of professionals on hand to support the guests in all their everyday needs as well as assisting with those last-minute special requests, from making personal travel arrangements, taking care of laundry to booking front row seats at the latest West End show. A decadent welcome hamper also ensures guests have all the basics and some added luxuries they need upon arrival.

To make an enquiry or to book online please visit www.chevalresidences. com/reservations Prize is for up to two people in a one-bedroom apartment for two nights. Prize is subject to availability, not available on 31st December and must be redeemed before the end of February 2015.

To enter go to www.luxe-magazine. co.uk/competition and add your details or alternatively email prizedrawluxe@gmail.com Entries by 1 september 2014.

JUL/aUG14

LUXE LIFE

Kirsty wade

Kirsty grew up in Northumberland and after a brief spell in West Yorkshire at university she has now settled in the Tyne Valley with her husband Anthony and children Charlotte and Izzy. She co-runs the family business Wade Opticians with her father and mother and runs two hairdressing salons, Ascend Hair in Prudhoe and Durham with her mum Luxe people >> My family. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the support of my parents. My two girls are my reason for working as hard as I do, and my husband who deals with the rollercoaster of being married to a working mum!

Luxe places >> For a weekend > Edinburgh is close enough for a quick escape but feels like a different world.

A long holiday > Barbados. We spent every family holiday there when I was younger and it feels like a second home.

A treat > Seaham Hall - Anth and I had our ‘minimoon’ there and it was so relaxing.

Luxe relax >> Best food > I am vegetarian so most things green and cheesy.

Best wine > Rioja Favourite restaurant > Bistro 21 in Durham. They have a full vegetarian menu so hubby can have steak and I have a choice of more than one dish.

Heaven!

Perfect weekend > I swing between a lovely day out with the girls to a National Trust property and a child-free weekend with lie-ins and fabulous food.

The reality is usually the former!

Downtime means > We like to take the girls out as much as possible so lovely places, food and great company.

Best telly > Any costume drama.

Best book > My notepad that contains my entire life.

Best sounds > Bit of a mixed bag from classical to Disney’s Frozen.

Luxe shop >> Best shopping city > London Favourite shop > I tend to do loads of online shopping but I spend at least half of my holiday in Louis Vuitton in Barbados.

Luxe retail treat > Having my Shellac done and my roots when I can get an appointment in my own salon!

Best buy > My car - it’s big and automatic as I do so many miles doing the school run and going between the branches!

Luxe party > Family ones at the moment!

Best outfit > One from Coast that my husband treated me to after I had Charlotte. We really couldn’t afford it at the time but I couldn’t find anything that looked nice and it still looks fab.

Dinner date > Usually with my friend Caroline. We are both opticians so talk eyes all night.

Your luxe thing in life....

Financial security. After both returning to university at 25, my husband and I lived on nothing. Being able to treat my children without fear of my card being declined still feels amazing.

JUL/AUG14

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liTTle luxe xxxxxxxx

HELLO!

with Nina Robinson

The big people at luxe have decided to give us little people a space of our own When it comes to holidays, my mum and dad’s idea of fun doesn’t always match up with mine. And – though I can’t understand it – they aren’t always as excited by my love of all things loud, flashing and sugary. Finding a place we can all agree on can be tricky so we like to do our homework. Tweedswood, a lovely little cottage near Melrose in the Scottish Borders is as close to perfect as we have come so far! love little luxe

Tweedswood so what’s so great about it? Here’s my list: 1) First thing’s first – it’s really cosy and really gorgeous which made mum and dad really happy! Mum went on and on about the colour palate, textiles and tartans and dad loved all the books and artworks. So that’s them sorted.

2) Moving on to the little luxes amongst us… there’s fun inside and out. One of my favourite things was a hole in the tall hedge at the bottom of the huge garden that leads to a field full of lambs and sheep.

3) There’s also a wooden fortress in the garden. It’s a hideout for ladybirds and you can see miles of rolling hills and fields from the top.

4) There’s a giant toy box on the landing, filled with dressing-up outfits and games so there’s plenty to do if it happens to be a rainy day or if everyone fancies a lazy day.

5) The windowsills in the thick walls are so deep that you can climb into them and lie inside to read your book or draw a picture.

6) Each child gets a bedtime basket at the foot of their bed, containing a book, hot water bottle and a cute teddy.

7) There’s a proper fire in the living room and logs to burn!

8) There are loads of lovely places to visit nearby. We went to Abbotsford, Sir Walter Scott’s house - here I am outside - we went for cakes in Melrose and there are lots of nice walks by the River Tweed.

I was especially pleased to find out Tweedswood wasn’t too far from home and it was such a pretty drive that I didn’t feel travel sick on the way. We set off after mum and dad finished work one Friday evening and I couldn’t believe we drove from England to Scotland so quickly.

The sun was going down as we arrived in the tiny village and I could see fairy lights twinkling through the windows of the cosy cottage, which made me feel excited because it looked magical. Mum and dad said they felt pretty magical too when the gentle sound of music greeted them as they opened the front door and after crossing the tiles warmed by the under-floor heating, discovered a bottle of wine waiting in the fridge find out more at www.countryretreatsuk.com

Back to school If you’re after a spot of school-shopping, here’s a diary date for later this year.

Plans for the relocation of Red House School in Norton to a site in Wynyard have taken a step further and an open day to look at development plans is being held on September 20 from 10am-1pm.

The new school, which will be located south of the A689, opposite the Wynyard Business Park entrance, will offer state-of-the-art teaching and sports facilities as well as a new sixth form.

More details or register an interest by contacting Claire Bellerby, head of admissions on 01642 553370 or email claire.bellerby@redhouseschool.co.uk

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Nina:loves

Don’t play with your food say the grown-ups – but at BALTIC you can do just that – on the August Bank Holiday weekend. I can’t wait for the jelly joy of Jelly-Fun Desserts in BALTIC Kitchen. The ground floor eaterie will be serving colourful jelly desserts which can be stacked or cut into pieces to make a unique work of art. My plan (with grown-up help) is to post it on Instagram using #mybalticvisit. www.balticmill.com

A girl can’t have too many jewels – might be persuading Mammy to buy me some baubles from the new Boden book – yum www.boden.co.uk

Hmmmm. I know it might not last through a rainy night at the seaside but I can see myself in this den, made from fab wallpaper and fabric printed with scampering bunnies and woodland friends. Paper, £70 a roll and fabric £48. www.hibouhome.com

JUL/AUG14

LOVED UP MAGAZINE

&

luxury wedding and lifestyle event

SUNDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2014 AT HILTON NEWCASTLE GATESHEAD Come and share a very luxe day out with dazzling catwalks, food demos, pop-up shops and designer showcases. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about big days and lavish lifestyle. To be part of it call 0191 426 6300 or email debi@room501.co.uk or lisa@room501.co.uk

oceAns APART

THE BRAZILIAN BEAT with Dan Robinson No stranger to Brazil, Dan meets the locals - at gunpoint

Well, we’ve lived through it again. Every four years the country comes to a grinding halt as we embark upon our usual routine of the self-inflicted torture that is following the national football team.

By the time you read this article, we know the England team will be reflecting on a South American holiday cut short.

We find ourselves in the midst of the inevitable analysis that normally follows and come up with the same old conclusion that we need a different manager.

It would have been nice for the England dream to stay alive just a little longer than usual, not least for fans who had saved hard to travel to Brazil.

Whilst I would normally feel sorry for the fans who travel across the globe to support our boys, this time, something is different.

This time, the World Cup is in Brazil and Brazil, I can tell you from personal experience, is simply magical.

When I was a small boy, my dad used to tell me stories about his adventures across the world. After finishing his electrical apprenticeship, he joined the Merchant Navy as an electrical engineer and he sailed the world.

He would talk of adventures through raging seas, of stricken ships full of cargo, of smuggling cameras out from the former Soviet Union, tucked into his socks and hidden beneath his flared trousers.

He had a pet monkey called Volt that used to jump from railing to railing as the ship pitched and rolled during storms, everyone except dad terrified that he would fall overboard… but he never did.

Of all the places that he described to me, none captured my imagination more than Brazil. He would talk of his trips there with such fondness and describe a country to me that despite enduring significant hardships, was beautiful in its scenery, its people, its culture, its music and its food. I imagined a country that welcomed foreigners with open arms, a Caipirinha and a game of football on the beach.

In 2008 I made my first visit to Brazil to the city of Fortaleza. Fortaleza is the fifth largest city in Brazil and the state capital of Ceará located in North Eastern Brazil.

I was there to look at some land that was for sale on one of the many beaches that surrounded the city. It was an amazing introduction to the country but it was not quite what I was expecting. The beaches were amazing, the food incredible (especially the many exotic fruits, some of which I’d never even heard of ), the people were both curious and friendly and there was a simplicity to life that was really compelling.

Brazil has attracted a lot of publicity during the past decade as it is a country with

country of contrast >> Dan, above, spent months exploring Brazil significant natural resources and it is beginning to find its way in the world. Quite rightly, developed nations are recognising the opportunities that exist in Brazil.

Yet despite the many wonderful characteristics of the country, there is also an undertone of social tension that can be felt immediately. We’ve seen that on the news juxtaposed against the celebrations of the World Cup - the protests and riots that are happening daily on the streets of Brazil.

You see, despite the many wonderful virtues that Brazil enjoys, there is also the inevitable gulf in wealth and opportunity that exists in any developing nation.

Despite a high tax system, there is a crippling lack of infrastructure, health care, and even basic housing and clean water in many parts of the country.

All of the normal problems you would associate with a developing nation.

The problem however, and the real cause of tension throughout the country, is the view that despite the high taxes, through political corruption, there is a chronic lack of investment in the infrastructure needed to support the nation and that government officials from every level, are ‘on the take’.

I speak from experience.

During my first trip to Brazil one evening, I was returning from a beach to the South of Fortaleza and as I was driving through the outskirts of the city, I was pulled over by a police car. Confused, I stayed in the car until

I’ve certainly never been mugged in a more friendly way than by those Brazilian police officers 84

the three police officers summoned me to get out. As I got out of the car, I was held, (at gun point) against the side of the vehicle and essentially, ‘mugged’. The funny thing was that despite the malevolence of the act, they were very friendly in their approach.

I’ve certainly never been mugged in a more friendly way than by those Brazilian police officers. They were almost apologetic as they took every last note from my wallet.

They then told me to be careful and waved goodbye with big grins on their faces. Had I not wanted to kill all three of them, I could have almost shared a beer and watched a game of football with them.

And yet despite this curious experience, I fell in love with Brazil. I was hooked. I vowed to return to this astonishing country.

By 2013 I had visited Brazil twice more and had been training for four years in a martial art that originated in Brazil. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial art whose central theme is the skill of controlling a resisting opponent in ways that force him to submit. Due to the fact that control is generally easier on the ground than in a standing position, much of the technique of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is centered round the skill of taking an opponent down to the ground and wrestling for dominant control positions from where the opponent can be rendered harmless. After leaving the RAF, this became my passion.

At the start of 2013 I was lucky enough to

travel to Brazil to train with one of the very founders of BJJ. This time I travelled to the paradise of Florianopolis intent on staying for a couple of months to work on my Jiu-jitsu, my surfing and my Portuguese. Eight months later, I was still there, completely in love with the country and culture.

Florianopolis is an island in the south of Brazil. Dazzling beaches and rainforests await visitors.

The waves are some of the best you can find in the country and the people are some of the friendliest. They are also completely and utterly in love with football. Unlike our long-suffering fans here at home however, they are used to celebrating success and that brings us neatly back to the World Cup. Brazil is a country with an unrivalled pedigree, passion and obsession for football. In Brazil, they use the expression “futbol arte” to describe the type of soccer that made the country’s world champion team of 1970 so easy on the eye.

Be under no illusions, there are many, many problems in Brazil but because of the wonderful array of natural resources, a beautiful climate, and a genuine ‘Joie de vivre’, the people there appreciate the simple things in life done well.

If the national football team plays the beautiful game the way the nation expects, a few moments, the nation will do what it does best… celebrate life.

I know that all of our fans will enjoy that!

JUL/AUG14

in THe sWinG

golf:kit

GOLF COACH

Inspiring places to play and the kit you love

WITH JoHn HARRison

Pádraig Harrington Golf is a range created in Ireland in collaboration with the former Open winner and Dunnes Stores.

The collection includes wool trouser, £50, cotton cashmere slipover, £26 and sweater, £43, with polo shirts, £26.

Order online for UK delivery at www.dunnesstores.com

PADRAIG POSE >>

BEST BAG >> The new Gotham Aquatech bag is a completely new take on waterproof bag design. Designed to reduce the amount of leaky zips it’s a take on Batman’s cape, the two main zips allow the larger pockets to expand once opened, exposing a generous and easy-to-access space and more internal pockets.

Gotham is also a lightweight design, weighing less than 5lbs – and comes in Batman black, £249. www.ogio-golf.co.uk

TRACKING >> Inspired by your sporting heroes? Jawbone UP24 helps you to achieve your fitness goals.

The wristband tracks activity and sleep and wirelessly connects with your iOS or Android device, alongside fitness apps to help you learn about your fitness levels. £124.95 www.johnlewis.com

SOFT SHOE SHUFFLE >> Polo Ralph Lauren Vaughn Canvas Trainers, Grey and Orange, £72 www.johnlewis.com

PLAY & STAY >> Mauritius is a fabulous island, golf or not, but ramp up the experience with a helicopter view of the course and the island before you play.

Accompanied by a Four Seasons Golf Pro, board the helicopter from the east coast of Mauritius to fly north-east over the nearby Bernhard Langer course of Le Touessrok and the links course at Constance Belle Mare Plage.

During the flight, the pro will offer insights into each course to explain the various technicalities and challenges players face. Then you fly south to the course at Heritage Golf Club in Bel Ombre for golfing insights from the air.

As part of this new package, golfers are offered the chance to play three rounds with a Four Seasons pro for one-on-one coaching and feedback choose your preferred course based on the aerial insights of the helicopter flight. The Up in the Air golf package is available to all guests of Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita at a price of 2,760 EUR. email Golf.

Anahita@fourseasons.com www.fourseasons.com/mauritius/golf

JUL/AUG14

They say in golf: “The long game dictates how high you score, the short game dictates how low you score” which are both very true statements. If your long game is terrible and you are losing balls or hitting into the deep rough you will definitely score high, but if your long game is steady it is then all down to your short game to make you score low. This was really shown to be true last week where Martin Kaymer won the US Open with a great short game that made him stand head and shoulders above everyone else in the field.

So let’s have a more in depth look at one aspect of your short game and that is pitching. The system I use is SEE IT, FEEL IT, DO IT. SEE IT - when I get to my ball I analyse a number of things before I decide what type of shot I will play. How the ball is lying, the flight I have to hit the shot, the ground conditions, wind direction, numerous things that will all affect my shot.

FEEL IT - once I have digested all the above information I can the choose my club and start to make some practice swings. These practice swings are probably the most important thing I will do in the whole process. I am trying to rehearse exactly the stroke I am going to make when I execute the shot and the backswing should be of the correct length. Remember the length of the backswing dictates how far we hit the shot, not the length of the through swing, this keeps the swing at an even pace with no sudden accelerating movements of the hands or body.

I am feeling the strike, i.e. how the club makes contact with the ground whilst also keeping a smooth rhythm and I will probably take 3 or 4 practice swings before I actually then play the shot.

DO IT - once I am sure I have felt my best practice swings I will play the shot relatively quickly from that point. We have a maximum of 7 seconds before the feel of those practice swings will leave me so no hanging around allowing negative thoughts to enter my head.

I find that if I stick to this process rigidly it really helps me to pitch with freedom and gives me great feel for the shot and gives me the most consistent results. Of course the next issue is then holing those putts!

A lot of these processes I witnessed during the English Senior Men’s Amateur Championship which was held a couple of weeks ago with us at Matfen Hall. It was no coincidence that the majority of players near the top of the leaderboard all had very deliberate pre-shot routines and followed a similar pattern to what I have just described. Someone who did that and also held the putts was Stephen East who birdied the last three holes to lift the trophy in his first senior event.

Try incorporating these ideas into your game and hopefully you will also see some positive results.

Good golfing.

John Harrison, European Senior Tour player and Matfen Hall Head Professional, Matfen Hall Hotel Golf and Spa www.matfenhall.com tel: 01661 886400

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luxe lAPs

HUGH THOMPSON

Hugh Thompson is a senior manager at Lloyds Bank. Outside of work he’s a loyal Arsenal supporter, plays cricket for Whitley Bay and is always looking for time to improve the golf handicap cHildHood cAR cRusH >> McLaren F1. Think I was seven or eight years old when it was made. Fantastic car, gull wing doors, a street legal F1 car! If only.

In the garage now - Audi S3. The sheep in wolf’s clothing. if You could oWn AnYTHinG >> Hmmm difficult... I’d love an RS 7, a super cool car cAPTAin sloW oR JeReMY >> Jeremy, with better trousers TRAcks of YouR TYRes >> Some loud noisy rock! Something with a good guitar and loud drums.

RoAd TRiP >> Start in the sun-plashed coasts of the French Riviera, a circular route will take you up through the French Rhone-Alps region, through dozens of mountain passes, past the high Alpine lakes of Switzerland, and south again through Italy’s Lake Como and Ligurian Alps district – I would love to do that!

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WHo WiTH >> James Hunt. Some boy him. Anyone who used to dine at expensive Mayfair restaurants with his pet Alsatian, Oscar, must have some stories to tell.

MeMoRABle MoMenTs >> Out of the car, sat on Fraser Island watching the sun rise with a wild dingo fast asleep ten feet away from me waiting to be fed!

WHAT’s in YouR Glove Box Right now, my iPod, with all sorts on. Currently listening to Nickelback.

HoW cleAn is YouR cAR >> Spotless - thank you Jeff! scARY MoMenTs >> A different mode of transport but as scary as a journey gets - landing sideways at Bangkok airport en route to Australia in what can only be described as a hurricane!

Genuinely thought I was going to die. It’s now harder to get me on a plane than Mr T!

JUL/AUG14

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North East

The new home for Newcastle Audi is now open.

Expect excellence.

When you choose Audi, you choose excellence, and that excellence isn’t just confined to our cars. That’s why we’re delighted to welcome you to our brand new state-of-the-art centre on Scotswood Road, Newcastle.

It’s all the world-class customer service you’d expect, and then some.

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

22111 JA Audi 342x245 Luxe.indd 1

26/06/2014 14:03

M People

Graham Courtney’s got the music in him as he raves about the chart-topping glory of BMW’s new kid on the block

Do you listen to the radio when you’re in the car? Perhaps you fire up the CD player or use an MP3.

Either way, most people at some stage will hear some music before they arrive at their destination. Now, am I the only person who, upon hearing the final song, can’t get it out of their head for the rest of the day?

In the early 1990s there was a really good band who had hits with songs like Moving On Up and How Can I Love You More. They were called M People. Well, I am an M People (person… stay with me on this!)

Yep, I like the band, but there’s another sort of M that really gets to No.1 in my charts.

The latest range of BMW M cars is nothing short of brilliant, and I particularly like the new BMW M4. Of course it’s just a sleek BMW 3 Series, but those cunning Germans decided to cream off the coupé and convertible and thought long and hard about a new name. They came up with BMW 4 Series; a stroke of genius.

All of the 3 / 4 Series M cars come with a 3-litre, 6-cylinder, twin turbocharged engine which produces 425bhp. The old M3 had a whacking 4.0 litre V8. You can tailor the suspension, the steering and throttle response, and also the way the 7-speed automatic gearbox (if you opt for it) selects its cogs. You really can tune this car to your driving style.

M cars are all about performance and having some fun, but you can’t hurtle around the place all of the time.

This is where the M4 I tried really impressed. When driving from home, through town and into Newcastle for a meeting, the M4 was as docile as a mouse. Okay

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the suspension is a tad firm but it isn’t harsh and never gets uncomfortable. You may decide to go for the wider, lower profile tyres, but in my experience all this does is improve the roadholding very slightly yet totally ruin the ride quality. Stick with the standard boots.

0-60 takes 4.1 seconds; top speed is limited to 155mph; go easily and you’ll manage to get close to the manufacturers quote of 34mpg. Have some fun and you won’t get near it. The big difference though between this M4 and its predecessor M3 Coupés, is that the revs are useable from low down in the range.

Power is available from 1500rpm; previous models only came alive when you got beyond 4000rpm. All of this makes for very civilised motoring. The decent fuel economy is purely down to the fact that you don’t need to use a lot of revs to make progress.

The interior is a designer’s delight. The seats are firm yet comfy. The ones in the back will cope with a couple of adults too, although if you prefer easier entry, go for the M3 which is the identical car apart from having four doors. The M3 doesn’t look as good though.

Is it worth £56,000? You bet it is, and if previous M models are anything to go by, this new M4 will hang onto its value. The car is loaded with kit as standard.

The BMW M4 has a lot to live up to. The old M3 was up there with some of the truly great sporting cars. If anything, it is now a M car for the real world. You can take it to the track or you can take it on the school run. Some aficionados will feel that the M4 is too refined, too quiet, too soft around the edges. I disagree; I reckon it’s now one of the most appealing, handsome cars currently available. It’s also well priced.

It can’t fail.

The latest range of BMW M cars is nothing short of brilliant, and I particularly like the new BMW M4

MovinG on uP

JUL/AUG14

Go kindlY

UBER ULTRA

It’s interesting that on almost exactly the same day as BMW unveiled the M4 hooligan, their German counterparts, Audi, had a seriously sensible head on

The A4, A5 and A6 Audi ranges have been expanded to include models badged as ‘Ultra’. Initially, only the Audi A6 Saloon was included in this list, but now the A6 Avant Ultra has arrived in the UK. And it is ultra brilliant.

‘Ultra’ stands for ‘ultra efficient’, something that we all welcome today especially when you arrive at a petrol station and you think they’ve put the decimal point in the wrong place, but it can frequently be unwelcoming when a company adds something to an already great car. It’s unwelcoming because they usually make the once great car rubbish, so when Audi announced they were launching a range of cars that would be more economical and kinder to the planet, you could see Audi lovers wince. Many of them predicted bad things.

You would assume that greater economy and fewer emissions would mean a drop in performance. Wrong! Audi have worked hard on their 2.0 litre turbo diesel engine so that it now produces more power (up from 175bhp to 187bhp) but uses less fuel with a saving of up to 14pc. You can now achieve a shade over 64mpg. CO2 emissions drop from 135g/km to 119g/km, which means

you’ll be £28 a month better off if you pay company car tax and save a hefty chunk when it comes to road tax.

In terms of performance, this Audi A6 Avant Ultra will hit 60mph in around 8.5 seconds which is an improvement from the previous car’s 9 seconds.

Overall, these are truly outstanding figures and are a minor nail in the coffin of those cars that rely on hybrid technology. Audi has proved that less really can mean more.

We tested the A6 Avant Ultra. It’s £2,000 more expensive than the saloon but in terms of practicality it’s well worth it and comes with exactly the same mechanical upgrades. We also reckon it looks better.

The ride hasn’t changed either. You still get exactly what you expect when driving an Audi; a car that’s solid, great in the corners, will last forever. It should be totally reliable as well.

The 7-speed S Tronic gearbox comes as standard and is a delight to use. It’s far superior to the old CVT ‘box. You can either let it change gears by itself or you can do it via paddles behind the steering wheel.

Prices start at £32,340, making the Audi A6 Avant Ultra not only one of the best company cars around, but also one of the best family cars. It’s über good.

Greater economy and fewer emissions equals a drop in performance. Wrong!

COMPACT DIMENSIONS. LAVISH SPECIFICATION.

LEXUS NEWCASTLE

0191 215 0404

www.newcastle.lexus.co.uk

New CT 200h prices start from £20,995. Model shown is CT 200h S £20,995. *For Business Users only. Initial rental and VAT applies.

Available on new sales of CT 200h S when ordered, registered and financed between 1 July 2014 and 30 September 2014 through Lexus Financial Services on Lexus Connect Contract Hire. Advertised rental is based on a 3 year non maintained contract at 10,000 miles per annum with an initial rental of £1,314 + VAT. Excess mileage charges apply. Other finance offers are available but cannot be used in conjunction with this offer. At participating Lexus Centres. Lexus centres are independent of Lexus Financial Services. Terms and conditions apply. Indemnities may be required. Finance subject to status to over 18s only. Lexus Financial Services is a trading name of Toyota Financial Services (UK) PLC. Registered Office: Great Burgh, Burgh Heath, Epsom, KT18 5UZ. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The MPG figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results. They are provided for comparability purposes, and may not reflect actual driving experience.

CT 200h S fuel consumption and CO2 figures: urban 78.5 mpg (3.6 l/100km), extra-urban 80.7 mpg (3.5 l/100km), combined 78.5 mpg (3.6 l/100km), 82g/km CO2 (11% BIK).

JUL/AUG14

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ToP THis

Top it all We Brits love open-top motoring, here’s a thousand reasons why

Bearing in mind the sort of weather we enjoy (?) in this country, it’s a tad surprising that we Brits buy more open top cars than any other country in Europe. I suppose it’s in our driving DNA. Another reason is that you can actually have too much sun.

If you’ve ever hired an open top car in Spain during any time from May to October, you’ll know the problem. Things are great when you’re driving along, but when you stop you realise that the top of your head, tip of your nose and tops of legs and arms, have fried. In the UK, we can more or less drive along with the roof down all day every day.

And that’s why Mazda has looked favourably on the UK when launching a special limited edition MX-5 Roadster Coupe, celebrating 25 years of production. Only 1000 of these cars are being built and 750 of them are coming our way because, says Mazda, of our “enduring love affair with open-topped motoring”.

So what do you get in this 25th Anniversary limited edition? Well a lot is the answer. On the outside you get a special paint job called Soul Red Metallic. It looks stunning. There are black door mirrors, power-operated retractable hardtop roof, 17-inch black alloy wheels, and a chrome exhaust trim.

On the inside, you get heated, leather trimmed seats which, like the steering wheel, gearlever and handbrake, features smart red

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stitching. There are Brilliant Black rollover bar covers and a 6.1 inch fully integrated, high res, Alpine sat nav which is exclusive to UK cars. There’s also climate control, air conditioning, electric windows and cruise control. In other words, for the price of £22,995, it’s loaded.

Not only does the MX-5 look the part, it drives superbly. It’s massive fun. The 2.0 litre petrol engine is a cracker, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. In the corners, it’s flat and neutral but not so stiff that you’ll arrive at your destination with loose fillings.

The revised, front suspension has tightened up the steering and the traction control allows you to be naughty when you want but takes control when you get a bit carried away.

0-60 takes under 8 seconds; top speed is 135mph; fuel consumption is mid 30s which is disappointing and reflects the age of the car. That is also why a brand new MX-5 isn’t too far away. It’s due to arrive next year. You can guarantee that it’ll stay very true to the current car because Mazda won’t want to change a winning formula.

Which is why the current formula of MX-5 + 25 works nicely. It adds up.

Overall the Mazda 25th Anniversary MX-5 is a smashing car. It’s good value bearing in mind all of the equipment included as standard. It handles and rides better than any other MX-5 and still looks snappy. There might be more sophisticated ways to arrive at your destination, but you’ll have the biggest smile.

Soul Red Metallic is the serious paint job that sets the standard for this snappy limited edition motor

JUL/AUG14

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SOCIAL LIFE

In association with:

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!

Miss Newcastle, Civic Centre, Newcastle

Above > Ian Douglas, Gail Douglas

NE1 Newcastle Fashion Week, Rox Royalty Event

Above > Sarah Lane, Harriet Lane Above > Lousie Gill, Laura Milton, Alan Street

Above > Sufri Weithers, Rachel Weithers

Above > Zara Augiar, Emma Millen

Above > Claire Clark, Gayle Middlemiss, Kelly Stobbs

Above > Gemma Oliver, Steven Oliver

Above > Sharon Lewell, Allison Lamb

Right > Steve Furnell Karen Wight, Metro Radio

Above > Kim De Vestel, Joe Mulcahy, Rio Beadie, Jessica Robertson

Above > Ashley Atkinson, Ann Walker, Natasha Zanan

Above > Charissa Rae, Rachel Linton

Above > Pam Royle

Above > Toni McLoud, Suzi Hall, Claire Davis

Above > Helen Barbour

Tees Valley Community Foundation Anniversary Dinner, Crathorne Arms, Crathorne, nr Yarm

Above > Hugh McGouran, Shelagh Bourke, Professor Eileen Martin

Above > Kevin Bourke, David Kirkby, Andrew Hackett, Richard Wilde Above > Alex Warham, Rebecca Topping

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Above > Keil Kenley, Professor Eileen Martin, Aulay Mackenzie Above > Bill Scott, Liz Scott

Above > David Sole, Sue Sole

JUL/AUG14

sociAl life

Falcons End of Season Ball, Hilton NewcastleGateshead

Rockliffe - Ladies Lunch, Tanni Grey-Thompson

Above > Helen Thielmann, Sheila Barnes, Clare Short

Above > Jessica Williams, Toby Bridges

Above > Sam Donovan, Becky Taylor, Lesley Henderson, Chris Henderson, Laurie Mawston, Above > Gail Hull, Steve Richardson Chris Hull

Above > Bill Ward, Bob Nicholson, Pam Nicholson, James Thew

Above > Duncan Edwards, Pete Graves

Above > Kev McShane, Laura Stabler, Andy Ramshaw, Sue Ramshaw Above > Darren Youill, Dale Hunter

Above > Wendy Benson, Georga Spottiswood, Linda Bernside

Above > Angie Wilson, Tanni Grey-Thompson

Above > Kathy Hunt, Lorraine Ward, Mary Carr

Above > Betty Adamson, Elizabeth Davidson, Kathryn Harker

Above > Dorothy Wellburn, Linda Hornsby, Ann Whitewick Above > Jean Bell, Jill Marshall

Above > David Brookbanks, Becky Madelay

Heart FM Launch, Pitcher&Piano, Newcastle

Above > Amanda Vaughan, Adam Dickinson, Gary Philips

Pol Roger Dinner, Jesmond Dene House

Above > Nick Heart, Simon Jamieson, Jeff Jamieson Above > Jennie Collingwood, Helen Crowther

Above > Marie Christopher, Martin Lindsay, Jonathan Dodgson

Above > Lisa McGeary, Steve McGeary

Above > Lesley Allan, David Allan

Above > Bernard Connolly, Petra Connolly

Above > Lee Read, Raj Mander

Above > June Raines, David Raines

Above > Ros Dougal, John Dougal

Above > Lisa Shaw, Mark Wright, Gary Phillips

Above > Sue Parker, Debra McDonald

30S A L E TH

Eldon Garden, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RA

T 0191 232 0788

www. r icha rds into njewe l l e r s .com

JUL/AUG14

ANNIVERSARY DIAMOND

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SOCIAL LIFE

Teesside University Gala Dinner, Middlesbrough

Latimer Hinks Charity Ball, Wynyard Hall

Above > Ken Home, Judy Home, Above > Alan Smith, Professor Jackie Hodgson, Dean Hodgson Graham Henderson, Joan Henderson

Above > Claire Coates, Ian Little, Liz Armstrong

Above > Philip Thomas, Helen Thomas

Above > Dr Aulay Mackenzie, Tina Hannon, Juliet Amos

Above > Lois Robson, John Robson, Julie Liddle

Above > Andrea Tobin, Helen Thomas

Above > Danny Laws, Kerry Laws

Above > Steve Palmer, Natalie Palmer

Above > Damien Neilson, Nicola Neilson

Above > Rebecca Stafford, Diane Quayle, Helen Russell, Robyn Brannigan

Above > John Hart, Mandy Hart

Above > Liz Scott, Bill Scott

Above > Professor Graham Henderson, Michael Lavery Above > Jonathan Blackie, Shahda Khan

Above > Bianca Robinson, Andy Preston, Junior Masandi, Emily Bentley

Above > Laura Woods, Professor Nashwan Dawood, Professor Cliff Hardcastle

Above > Malcolm Page

County Durham Community Foundation Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lunch, Radisson Blu, Durham

Above > Sue Snowdon, Barbara Gubbins, Lisa Shaw

Above > Kay Nichol, Vera Codling

GNAAS Enchanted Forest Ball, Wynyard Hall

Above > Jess Wright, Kevin Wright Jan Wright, Samantha Gamblin

Above > Paul Joyce, Sue Joyce, Karen and Brian Laverick Above > Julie Steward, Jay Steward

Above > Lesley Taylor, Lisa Shaw, Marie Taylor, Sue Snowdon and Barbara Gubbins

In association with:

Above > Audrey Harvey, Edith Howse

Above > Rachael Pattinson, Phil Metcalf, Vicky Cumming

Above > Sal Gray, David Gray, Emily Scott, Natalie Gray

Above > Brian Jobling, Claire Jobling 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 Ltd, Spectrum 6, Spectrum Business Park, Seaham, SR7 7TT

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sociAl life

Sunderland Festival of Food, Gourmet Launch Dinner, Quayside Exchange, Sunderland

About > Lisa Anderson, Jonathan Miles, Jackie Marston, Chris March, David Stubbs, Debi Coldwell

Above > Lesley Craggs, Zoe Channing, Dean T Huggins Above > David Harker, Lesley Craggs

Above > Linda Bodsworth, Steve Bodsworth

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ANNIVERSARY

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Above > Liam Howley, Kerri Netherwood, Susan Dash, Robert Dash

BQ Emerging Entrepreneur Dinner in partnership with Gateshead College, Hilton NewcastleGateshead

Above > Zoe Farrington, Judith Doyle, David Carr, John Dickson

Above > Karl Pemberton, Becky Pemberton

SALE Certificated Diamond Ring

Above > Mark Easton, Andrew Wilson, Jonathan Lamb

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Above > Alex Blackie

Wade Opticians Oakley day

Above > Jo Pearson, Sharon Bainbridge

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1984

£11,285 SALE

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Josie Dragonfly Trust Ladies’ Lunch, Matfen Hall

Above > Lynn Allacker, Alison Wallace, Clare Richards, Karen Bousfield

Above > Iris Melrose, Val Telfer, Sarah Cuthbert, Vivienne Hollyoak, Karen Formosa

Above > Kirsty Wade

Above > Nicky O’Conner, Above > Martyn Duffy, Matt Roney Sarah Alexander

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Above > Margaret Hunter, Gwynneth Nicholson, Irene Hutchinson

Above > Avis Harding, Sharon Rudd, Ruth Liddle, Marion Arthur, Lesley Wilkinson

Eldon Garden, Newcastle T 0191 232 0788 www.richardsintonjewellers.com

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luxe loves

LUXE LOVES Sitting in style Those of you with a thing for the Paul Smith stripe will more than love the collaboration between Mr Smith and Scandi furniture folks Carl Hansen & Son. Sink into those signature stripes, chair ÂŁ249. www.carlhansen.com

LUXE LOVES Lattice loveliness Diamond and 9ct gold lattice pendant by London Road, ÂŁ950, from Davidsons the Jewellers, Newcastle www.davidsonsthejewellers.co.uk

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SWEET CHARITY

Doing their bit Charity goings-on and fund-raising fabulousness Racey >> Fancy a night at the races? Raise cash for the Percy Hedley Foundation’s first evening of fun and frolics at Newcastle Gosforth Park on August 7. Tickets are available for tables of ten which includes a three-course meal and wine. There will be seven races on the night. Sponsorship opportunities are available. To find out more call Maria Hallett on 0191 238 1302 or email m.hallett@percyhedley.org.uk All funds raised at this event will go towards the Capital Appeal to support more disabled children.

Goalden giveaway >>

SMILE >> ONE of the world’s best James Bond tribute bands and a terrifying ‘Jaws’ look-a-like will be two of the star attractions at a glittering charity ball in September.

The sumptuous Diamonds & Dinner Jackets event is being hosted by St Benedict’s Hospice, based in Ryhope, Sunderland, as it celebrates its 30th anniversary and raises funds for a minibus for those living with life limiting illnesses and their families.

The Bond-themed event will take place at Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham, on September 26, and will include an arrival drinks reception and a four-course gala dinner.

Entertainment will be from the 12-piece Q The Music band with tunes such as Diamonds are Forever, Goldfinger and Skyfall on the menu!

The 7ft 3ins tall ‘Jaws’ impersonator, Gary Tiplady, will also be attending the ball and guests will have a chance to have their picture taken with him; play roulette or cards in the Casino Royal corner or bid for a diamond ring and luxurious spin in an Aston Martin DB 9. Ticket details 0191 512 8435/36

High flying >> Hundreds of people helped raise £14,204 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) at its annual North East ball.

Money raised at the Enchanted Forest Ball, held at Wynyard Hall in County Durham, will go to support the charity’s three aircraft which fly around 1,000 missions every year.

The 275 guests were treated to threecourse dinner and entertainment from Darlington Operatic Society and the New York Brass Band.

The money was raised through ticket sales, donations on the night, and the proceeds from the raffle and tombola.

The ball was hosted by GNAAS patron Pam Royle and among the guests were the owners of Wynyard Hall, Sir John Hall and Lady Mae.

Spring thing >> County Durham Community Foundation hosted their biggest ever ‘Women’s Spring Lunch’ with over 180 guests attending the Radisson BLU in Durham.

Hosted by Lisa Shaw, of Heart Radio, the sell-out event, saw women from all sectors coming together to network and learn about philanthropy over a relaxed lunch.

Speaker was the first female Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Sue Snowdon, a former

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teacher. She spoke to guests about her roots and career path, including teaching in the more challenging parts of the county and the issues faced with living in a rural community.

All proceeds went towards the work of County Durham Community Foundation which provides grants to community groups and individuals within County Durham and Darlington, making a difference to the lives of local people.

Have a (beach) ball >> You don’t have to wear a cossie or accessorise with a bucket and spade but the beach is a key player at the CHUF Beach Party at NewcastleGateshead Hilton on July 24. Dress code: shirts and shorts, frocks & flipflops!

The sun will be out whatever the weather for this sunny fund-raiser for the Freeman’s Children’s Heart Unit Fund. Tickets, £75.

Details and tickets: email Nadine at seb4chuf@live.co.uk

Trek it >> Fancy a trek? Marie Curie Cancer Care in Newcastle will be taking to the Canadian Rockies in September 2015 for a charity challenge and are looking for willing walkers to join them. Participants are fundraising for the Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle. Call 0191 219 1205 to hear more about the trek!

Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation handed over a £10,000 Goalden Giveaway to deserving causes in the Tees Valley. Representatives of the Foundation’s patrons, who have helped raise more than £600,000 for Teesside good causes in just three years, presented the cheques. Receiving the biggest share of the Boro-backed Goalden Giveaway were Middlesbrough Powerchair Football Club, who received a cheque for £2,500.

Also receiving cash but unable to attend the event were Daisy Chain - £750 to provide activities for children with autism and respite for their families in Teesside, and Child Deaf Youth Project - £750 to support running weekly North Ormesby youth clubs providing educational and social activities, with deaf youth workers.

Foundation chairman, Andy Preston, said: “It’s heartwarming to know that the Foundation is giving champions of the local community a real boost, as part of our ongoing commitment to making Teesside a better place in which to live, work and do business.”

For more details about the Philanthropic Foundation, visit www.teessidecharity.org.uk

Lunch with Gyles >> North East Ladies Day is always a great day out, raising money for good causes across the region. This year the fun happens on September 17 at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield where guest speaker will be Gyles Brandreth.

The day starts with a bubbly reception followed by four-course lunch, fashion show, draw and tombola. From 10.30am. £45.

This year charities supported will include • Ellen Timney Foundation • Henry Dancer Days and • South Cleveland Heart Fund Contact Jean Nevins for ticket reservations.

Mobile: 07542 153457 Email: nlunch@btinternet.com www.neladiesday.moonfruit.com

Book in >> Get your autumn social life sorted – the Paul Skerritt Band will be centre stage at the fourth Dragonfly Ball to raise funds for children’s cancer charity Josie’s Dragonfly Trust at the Discovery Museum, Newcastle, on November 8. Proceeds from the ball will help Josie’s Dragonfly Trust to continue brightening the lives of children and young people living with cancer.

Tickets for the ball are £75 each and can be purchased either individually or as tables of 8, 10 or 12. They are available by emailing jane.d@josiesdragonfly.org or by calling 01434 602043.

Oyster feast >> ONE of the region’s leading events will team up with a North East charity to raise significant funds for palliative care.

Organisers of the annual Oyster Festival at Hardwick Hall Hotel in September have announced this year’s nominated charity will be Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland.

The hospice provides palliative care services to the Durham Dales and Sedgefield areas and cares for more than 650 patients and their families each year. Hospice services are free of charge so fundraising is essential money raised at the Oyster Festival will go directly to patient care and services.

John Adamson, managing director of Ramside Estates is behind the event: “The Oyster Festival is the perfect opportunity to get dressed up, have a great time with friends and colleagues and give a little something back to the local community.”

The festival has raised close to £500,000 for regional charities since the first event in 2004. The 11th annual Oyster Festival will take place at Hardwick Hall Hotel on Friday, September 19 and includes performances from 80s soul legend Alexander O’Neal, comedian Terry Alderton and festival favourites Wildcats of Kilkenny and JJ Galway Band.

Book on 01740 620 253 or email info@ hardwickhallhotel.co.uk

Tasty sum >> Hundreds of guests helped to raise more than £23,000 for charity at one of the most glamorous events in the region. The annual Lobster Charity Ball, at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield, raised funds for Daisy Chain which supports children with autism and their families. Guests enjoyed performances from 80s group ABC led by Martin Fry, six-piece band The Sally Army and local entertainer Jerome Remblance.

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parting SHOT

Rich pickings>> What says summer better than a berry? Succulent strawbs captured in their ripe, red glory by Kevin Gibson www.kgphotography.co.uk

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shop longer.

feast bigger.

stay later.

Shop late ’til 8pm Mon–Fri and 7pm Sat. Park free from 5pm Mon–Sat in Council multi-storey car parks.

Newcastle. Get more from your day.

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27/06/2014 09:14