Luxe Mar/Apr 2014

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ISSUE 27 MAR/APR14

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ISSUE 27 MAR/APR14

m ai m i e m ccoy ’ s swas h buckl ing s t yl e. Sp r i ng f ling s. fashion g e ne r at i o n s. Sta r c hef James Cl o se. p olo p onies . Jamie&Gennaro. s t ev e c r a m . Pa r ty p eo pl e. Writers in th e knoW. Cultural musts.

Ch a r i ty c ha l l e n ge s . g ol f. Luxe l ap s . h ip h otel s . Bi g names. Lu xe.

WHeRE SOLD

welcome

contents 8>> Polly talk ISSUE 27 March/`April 2014 I have a bit of colleague-envy. Much as I love mine you can’t really compete with Maimie McCoy can you?

Our cover star is currently smouldering, spying and conniving in the TV series The Musketeers on Sunday nights.

She is forced to spend her days amidst the four strapping, floppy-haired, leather-clad Musketeers. Tough job as they say.

Not that North Yorkshire’s Maimie is admitting it is anything other than a riot of fun. And let’s hope that later in the year when she gets married near Yarm she will bring with her the ultimate guard of honour, ideally complete with leathers. Sure her groom would approve.

So our Luxe is full of great springtime stuff and it’s been cheery to put together as we get to grips with all manner of green shoots - from new restaurant openings to fresh and flowery fashion.

Mother’s Day is looming so we had some fun getting mums and daughters to talk about their wardrobe habits - whether it’s a case of swap and share or ‘get off, it’s mine!”

I specially liked and identified with the mum who can’t stand the trauma of the trip to dingy Hollister; we’ve all been there, grappling with those phone-torches just to read the tags. Give me Fenwick any day.

Luxe life with design girl Polly Westergaard

10>> Do This Your handy weekend must-dos

16>> Steve Cram Local hero’s downtime secrets

18>> Maimie McCoy Talking corsets and cunning

26>> Generation fashion Wardrobe wars with mums and daughters

31>> Food Quarter Pages and pages of tasty food news

32>> House of Tides Yorkshire girl and lovely cover star Maimie McCoy is currently wowing us in The Musketeers on TV. Her luxe things in life include: vintage charms - especially two that belonged to grandma, Nars’ Dragon Girl lipstick and late-morning European films at The Curzon.

Tasting the new hot-spot

36>> Shephard’s pie Sports boy Ben takes to the kitchen

39>> James Close Star chef’s food adventures

40>> Masterclass Laybourne’s speedy soda bread

44>> Jamie comes to town Gennaro’s on the Italian beat

46>> Flower power Happy colour-clash clothes for spring

Here’s to some lovely springtime days - don’t forget we keep you luxed-up with ideas for the weekend every Thursday with Luxe Loves The Weekend - sign up if you haven’t yet!

70>> Luxe Local A seaside move? Whitby beckons

76>> Hayloft hideaway

Happy Easter

A slice of rustic for a weekend break

78>> Pony tales

www.luxe-magazine.co.uk/theweekend kathryn@room501.co.uk

Stylish Tuscany with the polo set

82>> Little Luxe Chocolate and bunnies are on Nina’s mind

The 501 team What puts a spring in your step?

Favourite hair columnists Gary Hooker and Michael Young open up a new salon in the region soon.

Their luxe things in life are: hairdressing ‘who we are, what we do’. Family and friends ‘who support and love us’. And dogs, ‘a huge part of our lives’.

84>> Top gun Dan Robinson tells it from the cockpit

88>> Luxe Laps Retro passion for a cool Cortina

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

98>> Parting Shot

Christopher March managing director chris@room501.co.uk The Gaggia’s first delivery of the day Bryan Hoare sales and marketing director bryan@room501.co.uk The thought of our new baby Editorial Kathryn Armstrong editor kathryn@room501.co.uk Tulips by the bucketful. The best bloom Fiona McLain fashion assistant Sunny day, perfect song, something making you smile Katharine Capocci sub-editor Clocks forward and lighter nights Design David Stubbs davids@room501.co.uk Espresso and a Berocca chaser Sarah MacNeil sarah@room501.co.uk Shopping for a spring wardrobe - and a new hairdo Photography Kevin Gibson info@kgphotoraphy.co.uk Firing up the barbecue Nicky Rogerson nicky@nrphotography.co.uk The daffs popping up

For advertising call the sales team on 0191 426 6300.

Emma McIntosh is manageress at Davidsons Jewellers in Newcastle.

A sporty type, her luxe things in life include a killer workout at the Crossfit gym, a trip to Copenhagen to spend hours in quirky boutiques - and cloudberry liqueur - ideally sipped in Helsinki!

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, February 2014.

Sales Lisa Anderson senior sales executive lisa@room501.co.uk The prospect of seeing Robbie Williams in concert Debi Coldwell senior sales executive debi@room501.co.uk Weekends at the beach with our new pup, Cooper

luxe is published bi-monthly by room501 Ltd.

Our partners

MAR/APR14

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LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Sexy suds Who knew a bath could be so cool, clean and current?

Such a ‘want one’ tub there never was. Biarritz Brushed is a foamingly fabulous showstopper. £2,095. www.castironbath.co.uk

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MAR/APR14

Tecaz www.tecaz.com

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am - 6pm Saturday: 9am - 5pm Sunday: 10am - 4pm

LUXE LIFE

CREATING BEAUTIFUL SMILES at Greenfields House

CLEVELAND COSMETIC & DENTAL IMPLANT CLINIC

Polly Westergaard

Polly is the mastermind behind Westergaard Designs, designing and selling home and gift ware. She is best known in the region for her Geordie range of ‘Why Aye’ products. Polly also works for Design Network North.

• Cosmetic Dentistry • Dental Implants Luxe people >> You can’t beat family and friends, especially the very recent addition to our family of my rather lovely daughter Isabella, who is just perfect (and that’s not just me being biased).

Luxe places >> For a weekend > My father’s family are Danish so after visiting Denmark every year as a child, I still can’t get enough of it. Copenhagen would be my preferred weekend destination with a trip to the magical Tivoli and a visit to Illums Bolighus, a Danish design store which epitomises the way that design is a big part of Danish culture.

For a long holiday > Right now I could really do with a bit of winter sun. I wouldn’t say no to a holiday back to my honeymoon destination of Bali, a great combination of relaxing by the pool or on the beach with a cocktail, but with an aspect of activity to keep us on our toes, such as surfing and white water rafting or climbing volcanoes to see the sunrise.

For a treat > Snowboarding somewhere with great snow and a lovely chalet filled with family and friends to retire to, for vin chaud. If we are talking luxury then this chalet is likely to have a sauna and hot tub too, the perfect way to unwind after a hard day on the slopes.

Now that’s what I call a treat.

Luxe relax >> Best food > You can’t beat a roast dinner cooked by my parents, with a big helping of my dad’s Danish red cabbage and plenty of stuffing, all smothered in gravy. It’s a culinary delight wrapped up in the taste of nostalgia.

Best wine > When it comes to wine I have a sweet tooth, so something pink and sparkly or a nice prosecco.

Favourite restaurant > I always think I should eat out more often, but when I do manage to treat myself to a meal out my favourites are Blackfriars and David Kennedy’s Food Social, both in Newcastle.

Perfect weekend > A weekend filled with family and friends, some fresh air and a lovely walk on the beach with the dog followed by a nice meal with good company.

LUXE DOWNTIME MEANS >> Quality time spent with the family, clearing my mind of all things Westergaard Design-related (which is not so easy to do).

Best telly > I don’t watch much, and when I do, I tend to have half an eye on the telly and half an eye on my emails, or putting mugs in boxes, but I do love a bit of Grand Designs.

Best book > The Book Thief. The story of a young girl living in Germany during the Second World War, with the social pressures of the Hitler youth and the dangerous befriending of a

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Jewish man hidden away in her adopted family’s basement. And all this narrated by Death, what more could you want from a book?

Best sounds > The sound of singing, as this usually means I am surrounded by family, who I am sure think they are living in a musical as they break into song at every opportunity.

LUXE SHOP >> Best shopping city > As I have already mentioned Copenhagen, I will pick another city close to my heart. As I am not a big shopping fan, a retail trip to London where I spent the first 18 years of my life will always be accompanied by a visit to family and old school friends, which makes the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street and Covent Garden a little more bearable.

Favourite shop > As previously mentioned, Illums Bolighus in Copenhagen. A high street store selling lovely designs for the home.

Luxe retail treat > Another pair of brogues to add to the collection.

Best buy > My home - at the time of purchase the décor had not been updated since the 1950s, with no central heating for the first nine months which happened to be over one of the coldest winters for years. With time we have transformed it room by room into our family home as well as the place to do the lion’s share of running my business. It’s a never-ending project and there is still plenty to do.

Luxe party >> A memorable night out > As an ex-rugby player there have been many memorable nights out with various forms of hideous fancy dress, from pirates to Smurfs. We would usually visit the watering holes that most would choose to avoid and relax in the company of good friends, knowing that we all look as stupid as each other. These nights would mostly involve lots of dancing and the odd bit of karaoke.

Perfect party > A garden party on a warm summer evening, with a barbeque and free-flowing Pimms, some good music and lots of dancing.

Best dress > You don’t often catch me in a dress, so there aren’t many to choose from, but one of my favourites was an absolute bargain costing only £15 in the sale in Joy, but I love it. A 50s strapless circle dress, with chunky turquoise and dark brown vertical stripes (my wardrobe is half full of striped garments; I can’t get enough of them).

Dinner date > A meal out with my partner - which is becoming increasingly far and few between with the arrival of our daughter, so an Indian takeaway is the next best thing.

Your luxe thing in life >> My brand new daughter Isabella.

MAR/APR14

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culture up

Bow, Durham School

Stay in >> go out >> enjoy

Day School . Girls and Boys . Age 3-11

Time to get your springtime mojo moving. Here’s your cultural round-up

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26 March

MARCH Rambert dance company brings its Rooster back to Theatre Royal to thrill you in the aisles as modern dance gets a Rolling Stones soundtrack in Christopher Bruce’s dazzling performance. An amazing orchestra – and see too the new works by acclaimed choreographer Barak Marshall. With Rambert the surprises are always good. www.theatreroyalco.uk

SUPPLIERS OF UNIQUE AND STYLISH FITTINGS

The UK’s best-selling classical artist Russell Watson hit the Sage stage following on from the album ‘Only One Man.’ Hear new songs, written specially for Russell Watson, by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, the writers of ‘Les Misérables’ and ‘Miss Saigon.’ www.sagegateshead.com

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MARCH

For those looking for an alternative Mother’s Day plan? Take tea in Six’s Viewing Box, located at the front of the BALTIC art gallery – breathtaking views included.

The enticing cake stand of treats includes a selection of seasonal finger sandwiches and sweet miniatures including banoffee trifle and treacle tart as well as fruit scones with local jam and clotted cream. Champagne Afternoon Tea is £19.95 or cocktail tea, £22.95. www.sixbaltic.com

Image: Hugo Glendinning

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MARCH

The V&A Museum of Childhood exhibition, Magic Worlds, comes to Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle until June.

The exhibition will delve into the captivating world of magic, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the imaginary and fantastical realms of witches, wizards, fairies, elves, dragons, magicians and illusionists.

Visitors will also be able to don a fairytale costume, brew a magic spell in a cauldron, or go down a slide – and that’s also for the grown ups.

The exhibition dips into the magical worlds of Harry Potter, Cinderella, the Lord of the Rings, Aladdin and more. www.greatnorthmuseum.org.uk

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The original blonde bombshell has landed in Newcastle at a must-see exhibition. Marilyn Monroe: A British Love Affair shows photographs from the National Portrait Gallery including Antony Beauchamp’s poses of Monroe taken in 1951 wearing a yellow bikini and Baron’s portraits of Monroe bathed in Californian sunlight taken in 1954. Norma Jean Mortenson – to use her real name – is at the Hatton Gallery until 17 May. www.twmuseums.org.uk

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Saturday 10 May 9.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.

EYFS

Early Years Funding Scheme

Tel: 0191 386 4783

APRIL

enquiries@durhamschool.co.uk

www.durhamschool.co.uk

Stravinsky will set the stage alight as Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre brings Michael Keegan-Dolan’s thrilling dance theatre double bill of The Rite of Spring & Petrushka set to Stravinsky’s music to Northern Stage. www.northernstage.co.uk

Durham School (1414 - present)

@dunelmia

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE WWW.SARAHBOWENLIGHTING.CO.UK 63 - 65 HIGH STREET | GOSFORTH | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE3 4AA TEL: 0191 285 3671

Year” e h T f o auranfotr four consecutivreioyteaFrlas vours Awards. f “Rest r s

MARCH

Wynyard Hall has good treats in store for mums - a French and facial in the spa for £50 or a facial, gift and afternoon tea for £80.

Both deeply therapeutic in every way and much-loved by mum. The offers run from 29 March to 6 April.

The hotel is also holding its super-springtime event, Blooms and Bubbly, on April 3 which would make a nice treat for mum too.

Fizz, flowers, a style consultation and a lovely lunch. £35pp. All very nice ways to say hello to springtime.

Details www.wynyardhall.co.uk

the He Award rs o WinthneeFlavours of Hamarbelentoown proud sponsors of at

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Now on

Now on

JUNIOR OPEN DAY

Be spectacular – see sunglasses and iconic specs created by Goldsmith for the stars across decades – the company used to send batches to the Royals when they headed to the ski slopes. It’s on at Sunderland Glass Centre. www.nationalglass centre.com

e 2010. W

Mothers day At Chapters

Food & WINE Evenings

Sunday 30th March

“Not All Chardonnays are the same!”

12.00pm to 4.00pm Treat your Mother on this special day.

Chapters Hotel & Restaurant is the perfect place to bring your Mum & enjoy a delightful meal in beautiful surroundings.

£25.00 www.facebook.com/ChaptersHotel

Friday 4th April

We let Chardonnay take the limelight and show how the winemaker can use this as a blank canvas to highlight their skills and the character of the vineyard.

£49.95

This includes the course & specially selected Dinner.

If you are looking to stay over please ring for availability for our special Wine Tasting Gourmet Night:

£185.00 £195.00 Executive Double Room,

Standard Double Room, Dinner, Accommodation and Full English Breakfast for 2

Dinner, Accommodation and Full English Breakfast for 2

www.twitter.com/ChaptersHotel

MONDAY - SATURDAY 11.30am - 2.30pm & 5.30pm - 10.30pm | SUNDAY - 12.00pm - 4.30pm MAR/APR14

MAR/APR14

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DO THIS

EXCLUSIVE STOCKISTS OF

4-6 APRIL Everyone loves Prefab Sprout – and the start of the Jazz Festival in Gateshead includes an ‘exploration’ of their finest sounds by acclaimed musicians Django Bates, Joakim Milder and the Norrbotten Big Band. Not to be missed. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, what is the UK’s largest jazz festival returns to Sage Gateshead bringing jazz from across the globe. Filling every corner of the building over three days, this year’s highlights include GRAMMY award-winning Esperanza Spalding – hailed by the New York Times as ‘one of the greatest musicians in jazz history’. Together with GRAMMY award-winning saxophone giant Joe Lovano, GRAMMY winner Jack DeJohnette and Argentinean pianist Leo Genovese they form something of a jazz super group, The Spring Quartet. Other key players include Robert Glasper and Bill Frisell and Courtney Pine. www.sagegateshead.com

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8 APRIL

APRIL

Floppy white shirts at the ready – the famous Lobster Ball brings fabulous 80s boys ABC to the North East. Relive the Lexicon of Love with Martin Fry in his shiny suit.

The event at Hardwick Hall includes The Sally Army, fronted by lead vocalist and X-Factor bootcamp finalist Sally Dawson. Sally and her six-piece band play the classics from divas young and old, such as Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin and Adele.

The Lobster Charity Ball will also inject some local flavour with North East entertainer Jerome Remblance and compere Brendan Healy. There will be a catwalk with fashion show by Woven and the award-winning chefs from the Rib Room Steakhouse & Grill will be preparing a unique four-course Lobster Surf & Turf menu for the evening and guests will be welcomed by a Taittinger Champagne and lobster canapé reception.

All funds raised on the evening will be donated to Norton-based charity Daisy Chain who support children and families affected by autism. Gold tickets are priced at £140+VAT per person and are expected to be highly sought after.

For further information or booking please contact the events team on 01740 620253 or email info@hardwickhallhotel.co.uk

Bold, beautiful and memorable – Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake is a landmark piece – remember that soaring final moment in the film Billy Elliot? Spectacularly known as one of theatre’s greatest events, it is a production that ticks one of your boxes this year. It turned tradition upside down and is more than glorious. www.theatreroyal.co.uk

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Simply beautiful bathrooms...

APRIL

Marmite he may be but Gary Barlow will be spreading his musical love for an adoring audience at Metro Radio Arena.

Expect screams of the HRT afflicted. www.metroradioarena.co.uk

• The regions leading bathroom specialists offering unrivalled expertise/product choice and a complete design / supply and install service.

• 65 beautiful displays to view • Over 40 years experience, we are a family run business Unit 4D, Airport Ind Est., Kingston Park NE3 2EF, 0191 271 5800. www.thebathroomstudio.co.uk

Brilliant tomorrows start here An exceptional education within a unique learning environment.

Join us at our Junior School Open Morning, 25th March, to find out why.

Please contact us to book your place.

LUXE LOVES

Newcastle High School for Girls T 0191 201 6511 E j.howe@cnh.gdst.net newcastlehigh.gdst.net

Head in the clouds Leave your cares – and the kids – behind and float away in the Stingray Air Tree Tent, a must for harried mums, maybe even the kids. A three-person portable treehouse hammock that can be suspended at any height. £475. www.bigfire.co.uk

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Junior School Open Morning Tuesday 25th March 10.30am

Leading girls’ education Registered charity no. 306983

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DO THIS

WEALTH MANAGEMENT with JOHN DANCE

For the last year or so at Vertem we have been running overweight positions in commercial property via open-ended property funds. Bizarrely, this represents and represented a complete reversal of strategy for us, having previously had virtually no property exposure in portfolios since we formed the business in 2010. At that time post-credit crunch catalysts were still at play, a lot of ‘stock’ remained available for sale and with plenty of finance deals that had been agreed pre-credit crunch due to be refinanced we expected more supply was yet to hit the market. That certainly proved to be the case in 2011 and 2012, capital declines offset much of the returns delivered via income. But most of the pain caused by that refinancing cycle was through the system by early 2013 and the market dynamics changed.

We have been running additional exposure to property as a replacement to the fixed income sector where we have had underweight positions and will probably continue to do so for some time. Part of the rationale behind that was due to a belief that the economic stimulus and quantitative easing that have supported bond prices since the credit crunch would be wound down. That is an event that came to pass last year, with the Federal Reserve in the US ‘tapering’ its bond buying programmes in December have flagged up the idea in the spring.

With the latter point likely to eventually lead to rising yields and thus falling capital values in the fixed income space we looked elsewhere for stable capital values and a predominantly income-based return, the return dynamics normally associated with bonds. The first obvious pointer to use property as an alternative was the array of opportunities in the commercial property space where you could lease a property to a company for higher rates than you could achieve by lending to the same corporate via their unsecured bond issues. A need for liquidity is about the only reason we could muster to understand why investors would demand a lower return from a given corporate on an unsecured asset than from a property backed asset.

My colleague and co-founder Gary Stockdale describes property as the “space in which the economy operates” and this is a very good point. We are seeing continuing improvements in the UK economy and this is having a positive effect on commercial property prices and should continue to do so. The credit boom fuelled super normal returns seen in capital values before the credit crunch are unlikely to ever be repeated but in the short to medium we expect continued growth in capital values.

Part of this view comes from our own research and analysis of the direct equity space.

On the London Stock Exchange there is a vast range of Real Estate Investment Trusts and Property companies, most of which our research team analyse. What has become quite clear to us in the last 12 months or so is that especially outside of London, surveyors are potentially being very cautious in their valuations. Many of the companies that are reporting on the exchange are highlighting that they have sold properties at significantly higher levels than their previous book value, a sign that market buyers are paying more than valuation levels dictated by surveyors.

This gives us confidence that open-ended property funds have some valuation catch up opportunities as it stands already and alongside the current economic conditions (the UK is forecast to deliver one of the best GDP growth rates of the western world in 2014 and 2015) in our opinion will deliver stable capital returns. We are using funds that can give us exposure to the regions, where we expect demand to increase, especially in the warehousing sectors as supermarkets develop more customer fulfilment centres for their online offering and where growth in online shopping in general will lead to more demand from courier networks.

So in a future environment where we believe bond yields will rise and thus affect investors’ client capital we believe commercial property exposure via actively managed funds can not only protect capital whilst providing income, but actually deliver a meaningful return and is a much more sensible place to be than fully invested in fixed income.

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19 April APRIL

The super-fabulous Moorbennhall charity ball promises to be one of the region’s most full-on and fun events of the year.

At Ramside Hall the entertainment includes Britain’s Got Talent - Faces of Disco and The Manhattans. Much dancing and fun in the style of ‘Filthy Rich and Fabulous!’ All of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Grace House North East Children’s Hospice and the Gem Appeal. Tickets on 07742619759/ 07731945233. www.arconline.co.uk

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APRIL

See and hear rare performances by one of Britain’s most celebrated composers live in concert with the Michael Nyman Band as they return to Sage Gateshead. Hear some of Michael Nyman’s most familiar compositions from film scores, as well as new compositions to accompany a selection of films that he has himself made over the last five years.

This show will feature music from the Greenaway soundtracks, and films directed and scored by Michael Nyman. This will be the first time the films will be performed live in the UK to a live soundtrack. Featuring music from ‘The Draughtsman’s Contract’ and ‘The Cook, The Thief, his Wife and her Lover,’ including a special 20th anniversary performance of music from ‘The Piano.’ www.sagegateshead.com

St Matthew Passion. Bach’s unprecedented and profound work has more than outlived its creator. This most communicative of Bach’s works tells the Passion story through music that is affecting and inspiring. Thomas Zehetmair conducts Royal Northern Sinfonia to mark Easter Saturday 2014 with Bach’s monumental masterpiece. www.sagegateshead.co.uk

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April 26

More good food and theatrics on the menu in Harrogate with the first BBC Good Food Show in Harrogate. It will host live sessions from TV favourites James Martin, Mary Berry, John Torode and The Hairy Bikers in the 950-seater Supertheatre which will occupy the Edwardian grade II listed Royal Hall. www.bbcgoodfoodshowspring.com

APRIL

Top TV chef Simon Rimmer will be serving up a treat at the Bishop Auckland Food Festival this spring. The free festival in the Vale of Durham is a celebration of the North’s finest food and drink and showcases the best in home-grown and handmade produce from around Durham and the wider region. Simon, who co-hosts Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, is set to showcase his talents during the festival with several live cookery demonstrations.

Also showing off his skills will be foraging expert and ex-head chef at River Cottage, Mark Lloyd, whose recipes have been inspired by a true ‘farm to fork’ ethos. For junior cooks, CBeebies stars Stefan Gates and Katy Ashworth will cook up some fun at the inaugural Bishop Auckland Food Festival Kids’ Club.

The free event takes place in the Market Place, Town Hall and the grounds of Auckland Castle on Saturday, 26 and Sunday, 27 April. www.thisisdurham.com/whats-on/ bishop-auckland-food-festival-p605711

30 April The real War Horse production is worth booking – heading for Sunderland Empire, it is a spectacular show and a treat to come to the region. Based on the novel of the same name by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse will run at the High Street West venue for three weeks. Durham-based singer Bob Fox, who plays Songman, is among the cast, as well as former Durham University student Helen Macfarlane who plays a young Joey.

0844 871 3022 www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland

May Herring lasses make their way down the North East coast in a play which shines a spotlight on the unsung heroines of the fishing industry.

Get Up And Tie Your Fingers, by Ann Coburn, is set against the Eyemouth fishing disaster of 1881, the worst fishing disaster Britain has ever seen, in which 20 ships and 189 men were lost.

Now the show, co-produced by Newcastle-based theatre company The Guild of Lillians and The Customs House, South Shields, is preparing for a three-month tour following the route of the herring fleets from Scotland to the south coast of England with a fictional account of three women who watched the disaster unfold.

The tour will be in South Shields and Hartlepool and is part of Follow the Herring – an artwork of a life-sized wooden fishing boat, swathed in knitting created by men and women from across the UK. You can even knit a herring to be part of it. www.customshouse.co.uk/followtheherring

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MAY

Get ready to sing from your seat as the nation’s favourite choirboy Gareth Malone and his Voices play Newcastle City Hall This live tour, and his new album “Voices,” follow a period of personal and professional triumph for Malone which saw him topping the album and single charts with the Military Wives, and a Christmas No.1 hit. He’s started a nationwide revival in community singing. Have fun and be inspired! http://www.eventtravel.com/Gareth-Malone-Tickets-The-Live-Tour2014?agentCodeWeblink=AF2299

April

Heading to Edinburgh? A magical art installation that has captured the imaginations of thousands of people across the world is making its first appearance in Scotland. Field of Light illuminates Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square until 27 April.

Previously shown at the V&A Museum in London and Eden Project in Cornwall, the installation will be specifically designed to suit the gardens, with thousands of acrylic stems gradually lighting up as darkness falls.

Field of Light was initially conceived over twenty years ago while Bruce Munro travelled through central Australia. He became transfixed by the energy that radiated from the red desert and since then has spent years developing the supporting technology to enable the most effective use of fibre optics in conveying his concept. Harvey Nicks’ rooftop restaurant offers the perfect vantage point too!

LUXE LOVES Doing the pots You can buy this for mum – but please don’t make her use it. Pretty cotton tea towel printed with pastel florals tells it as it is. A cute Mother’s Day gift, £7 www.berryred.co.uk

26-27 April T: 0191 341 0280 E: johnd@vertem.co.uk W: www.vertemassetmanagement.com The Gresham, 92 Osborne Road, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 2TD

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The world-famous MAKER FAIRE returns to the UK for a weekend of robots, garden shed inventions, the occasional fireball and lots more. Some 300 makers will present their interactive projects alongside playful performances, installations and workshops. www.makerfaireuk.com

MAR/APR14

MAR/APR14

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Treat her this Mother’s Day

LUXE LIFE

STEVE CRAM

Athlete, commentator and fund-raiser, Steve Cram is one of the region’s best-known faces, recognised as one of the finest athletes of his generation. He’s at the helm of this year’s Sunderland City Festival of Running on May 4 which includes a 10k run and half marathon.

Luxe people >> My partner Allison and grown-up ‘kids’ Josie and Marcus and two cats, Arca and Taz.

with friends in the evening. Sunday morning up to Kielder Water for a run or bike ride and then a lazy afternoon chilling at home.

Luxe places >> For a weekend > Home in Northumberland. I travel so much I look forward to a lie-in, in my own bed.

For a long holiday > The Caribbean for a two-week, do nothing, break. But anything longer I’d probably go for an African adventure, it’s such a stunning continent and there is lots I’d still like to explore!

LUXE DOWNTIME MEANS >> A run if I can... and my body lets me. I also love to mess around in the garden. My chainsaw is a perfect ally when I need to de-stress!

Best telly > Historical documentaries or a good drama. I hate soaps, reality TV and talent shows.

Best theatre > Very rarely get to go. Have been to the odd show in London, but not very often.

Best book > I’m a big fan of the late (and sadly missed) Iain Banks. The last of his I read was Stonemouth. On recent travels I’ve been devouring the Jo Nesbo series.

Best sounds > Don’t really have a preference. I favour a bit of punk, 80s, modern romantics. In recent years the Kaiser Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys, but Blondie will always have my heart!

Luxe relax >> Best food > Anything that’s not cheese. I love trying new things on my travels and have too many favourites to mention.

Best wine > I’ve probably had some fantastic wines without even realising it. Any Marlborough sauvignon blanc goes down very well and South African pinot noirs are never shabby.

Favourite restaurant > Il Piccolo in Corbridge, it’s my second home.

Perfect weekend > A lie-in Saturday morning, off to the football to watch my team win in the afternoon. Meal out

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Luxe shop >> Heathrow Terminal 5 is my regular ‘mall trawl.’

Best shopping city > New York or Singapore. You can get ANYTHING in both cities and they’re just fantastic to

Sunday 30th March

walk around Favourite shop > Niketown... what else do you need?

Luxe retail treat > Sounds a little bizarre, but I’m at my happiest wandering around a good garden centre.

Best buy > My chainsaw.

Luxe party >> A memorable night out > Can’t remember, surely that’s the point? I’ve tried to recreate this a few times - a great meal in the Latin quarter of Paris followed by a crazy cavern cabaret in a tiny venue called Les Trois Mailletz near Notre Dame. www.lestroismailletz.fr Perfect party > Family and friends in the garden enjoying a summer BBQ, great music, superb wine and a stunning sunset.

Favourite item of clothing > My Nike running gear!

Dinner date > If Katie Melua is unavailable then Allison, my partner, Daley Thompson, Eddie Izzard and close friends.

Your luxe thing in life >> Every day needs to be different and there are still many places I want to visit and experience. So don’t slow down! www.sunderlandcity10k.com

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romping home

I was in the pub with my godmother who is obsessed with D’Artagnan – and the women in my pilates class all talk about the boys – yeah, they’re not bad to look at. The whole job is a lot of fun.

romping home

Something about

Maimie Her name’s Milady and she’s no stranger to a musketeer’s bed. No wonder actress Maimie McCoy is having the time of her life. We caught up with her as she swapped corset for cosy pub on a visit home to North Yorkshire Maimie McCoy is the envy of her chums in pilates class. The envy of many a woman in the UK come to that.

The day job currently finds her laced into a corset, perfecting a conniving glance then striding into mischievous character alongside her four swashbuckling musketeer co-stars.

As the sexy, murderous Milady d’Winter 34-year-old Maimie is revelling in a meaty, devilish role that sees her allied with the charismatic Peter Capaldi and bed-hopping with sultry Athos.

It’s a key role in the Sunday night BBC1 hit series that is giving Mr Selfridge a run for his money – and one that marks a turning point for Maimie, especially now that it has been commissioned for a second series.

She is loving being Milady, a woman “with fire in her belly” who is about as good as it gets when it comes to female characters, a woman considered by some to be author Alexander Dumas’s finest literary creation. Beneath her aggression and cunning she is a richly mysterious character.

“I was in the pub with my godmother who is obsessed with D’Artagnan – and the women in my pilates class all talk about the boys – yeah, they’re not bad to look at. The whole job is a lot of fun and we’re all putting heart and soul into it,” she smiles.

We catch up with Maimie (christened Mary and still called it by her close family. The ‘Maimie’ from when brother Rory couldn’t pronounce it properly), as she prepares to head for Prague to film the next series of Musketeers.

She has just spent a few months in Wales on the film, Set Fire to the Stars, about Dylan Thomas. A low-budget film shot in black and white which attracted big names including Elijah Woods and Celin Jones.

She’s made the journey to Crathorne near Yarm to catch up with parents Eugene and Barbara McCoy at home above the shop at Crathorne Arms pub (of which more on page p48).

She was brought up at Staddlebridge near Stokesley where the family ran The Tontine. She went to Stokesley School and after graduating in London embarked on an acting career which has seen her in a number of solid roles – including the series Personal Affairs and Victoria Wood’s

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MAR/APR14

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drama, Loving Miss Hatto – but never the breakthrough – until now.

“A second series of Musketeers is good – I’ve never had job security so there’s something very attractive in knowing what you’re doing for a year financially,” she admits.

Some of the coming months will mean a bit of wedding planning – she is getting married later this year with celebrations at the family pub – and no doubt godmother is hoping her fellow cast members will be among guests.

Mary is marrying actor James Buller – he played Clara’s dad in the Dr Who Christmas Day special last year.

“There’s a lot to do, a lot to manage and we’re a bit restricted on time but I am really excited about it – I can’t think of anything worse than spending two years or more planning a wedding – I would just get bored.

“It has been great coming back home for a bit – I was here last year – we had to say goodbye to a place that had been my parents’ home for 37 years but it is wonderful to see them settling in to the new pub and I think they have been surprised at the love and loyalty of their customers. The wedding will be great.”

Growing up in the hospitality trade means that Maimie can turn her hand to many things in the kitchen and to keep herself sane – financially and mentally – between auditions, she set up a business called Mary’s Tea Parties. This was a few years back – before the whole baking thing went ballistic.

“The idea was vintage tea parties when no-one else was doing that. My USP is that it is about the food. Lots of people style it up but I don’t like to be too twee.”

She serves up the very traditional elements of an afternoon tea, and can even be a bit scathing: “I mean, where does a chocolate-covered strawberry come in to afternoon tea?”

Lovely things like a delicious spread of finger sandwiches, scones, mini pastries and cakes galore will be served up on one of Mary’s beautiful vintage tea sets. Think Raspberry “fantasy” cake, or delicate lavender shortbread stacks.

When we speak she is making plans for one of her parties – and reckons that she hasn’t been ‘spotted’ yet. But will she be tempted on to some kind of celebrity bake-off? >>

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romping home

Extend the Weekend at Wynyard Hall

I hate being me in front of the camera, I like being someone else, that’s the whole point of being an actress

Have you got Sunday night blues or Monday morning dread?

She’s already done Saturday Kitchen – James Martin is a long-time friend of the McCoys. Does Mary Berry beckon?

“I hate being me in front of the camera, I like being someone else, that’s the whole point of being an actress,” she laughs.

“It’s so competitive on the Bake-off and the skills people have are just amazing, I don’t think I could compete, I’d really have to train up – but I adore watching it.”

The creativity of her tea party business has helped her through the undeniable tough times of an actor’s life.

“It was a combination of things – I was doing a lot of non-acting work and I needed something creative to do to keep my soul alive and do something which was mine.

Three or four years ago no-one else was doing it.”

Cakes and parties will be on hold for a while as Maimie heads off to Prague for the next series’ filming. The day after we speak she is off to a cast dinner to meet new actors in the next series.

She can at last relax for a while professionally and feel the buzz of a role that’s right for her.

“Being successful, making a living doing something you love is a positive and lovely thing. I’ve been climbing a ladder, trying things and when you don’t get them you are gutted.

“This is the tricky part – you have this sense of striving all the time for something, there’s always another job to go for.

There is constant rejection and you have to find your peace with that. You have to become resilient and be able to deal with that ‘no, no, no’ and having the door shut.

“It is so lovely now that I have this job for a year and that people recognise that I am good enough to play certain parts. It feels like a turning point.

“This is a great role to have under my belt, it is great working with people like Peter Capaldi, who has had a fabulous career.

“I certainly want to be doing more film work and dramas across the board.

Her heroines are actors Cate Blanchett, Emily Watson and Kristin Scott Thomas.

She loves strong women characters, “I love The Bridge and the strong band of Scandi actresses who play flawed women. It is great to see women on screen whose personal life suffers because of their commitment to work.

“I love to watch those actors who are brave and raw and seemingly not vain and who hold a mirror up to life.

“I love being Milady – I read it from her perspective, and as a female presence, she is so incredibly powerful and has such a driving force of hatred and vengeance mixed with vulnerability, I thought that was particularly exciting. I also just loved the wit of the show and depth of the characters – I feel like you sort of hadn’t seen that before with other adaptations of The Musketeers.”

The series is filmed in Prague, a place Maimie loves. “Some of the locations were absolutely spectacular. We don’t have those kind of buildings here in the UK, they just have such

20

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grandeur to them. The hallways and ceilings were just breathtaking, and they really add to that authenticity of the show – there are no wobbly sets! The set that was built at Doksany, which was half real and half set, was amazing – you could walk around the streets of it and you felt like you were in Paris.

“I shot one scene on top of a hill, and they had searched for miles to find this one particular tree and this one branch which was perfect for that scene. At first you think, surely we could have just used any tree – but it did exactly what it needed to do. That’s a testament to the level of detail that came in from every angle.”

The camaraderie on set is, says Maimie, “what you always want to have but you never quite know if that’s what you are going to get.

“It’s such a long time, and we are all there together particularly the four Musketeers and the crew who were living there solidly for seven months. You have to have fun and get to know each other very well. You are thrown into this sort of little bubble which you exist in for that length of time so it’s a very shared experience. It’s what I love about the job – I love that little team and family you create in whatever time period you have on set – it’s really vital. It really comes out in the show too.”

Maimie’s Milady is a damaged creature – what she loved in the original novel is that there were a lot of animalistic references about her being a panther and a tigress when enraged.

“She is a survivor in the truest sense, she has nobody to rely on. She’s really clawed her way up into a very powerful but still vulnerable position working for the cardinal. He is still in control, but she has a great amount of influence over him, and is a great asset of his. She can never really relax because she knows that he can dispense of her – she’s

constantly one foot forward and has to have eyes in the back of her head – there’s a sharpness to her that she can’t let drop, which makes her fascinating and formidable.”

A very meaty acting challenge – and a long way from a slice of lavender shortbread.

With Milady under her belt – or should it be corset, you can’t really believe Maimie will be scared by a bake-off challenge.

A FA MILY AFFAIR Maimie’s siblings are a pretty successful bunch in their own right. Brother Eugene Jnr is also an actor, starring in the sellout production of American Psycho at London’s Almeida Theatre.

He enjoyed acclaim in the West End run of The Jersey Boys and is about to start in The Pyjama Game in the West End. Older brother Rory followed his parents into the restaurant business. He owns the popular Ducksoup restaurant in London’s Soho and is opening a second in Hackney. He worked with restaurateur Mark Hix. “We are a close family and try to get together as much as we can in London,” says Maimie.

“Of course Rory is always in the restaurant and Eugene in a show – even the other night I couldn’t get a table at Rory’s – but the food is delicious!

“We’ve all been working hard to get to the stage where the hard work is paying off and being successful at what you love is good.”

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MAR/APR14

LUXE LIFE

Gary Hooker & Michael Young Hair stylists Gary Hooker and Michael Young are faces as familiar as it gets in the North East with a string of successful salons and an awards cabinet to die for. Luxe columnists of course, they are also about to expand further still with a new salon opening in Ponteland next month.

Exciting times for the boys, who live between Ponteland and a much-loved house in Spain.

Luxe places >> For a weekend > Actually, Newcastle. A weekend with friends, it doesn't get much better than that.

For a long holiday > Our place in Spain, home from home, we love it!

For a treat > Barbados, a bit far to go to make it a regular hot spot, but we love it and have been several times over the years.

Luxe relax >> Best food > We both love Asian food.

Best wine > Cloudy Bay chardonnay (Gary).

Favourite restaurant > We would have to say Cafe 21, consistently great.

Perfect weekend > No work! Saturday night with friends, followed by a chilled Sunday at home spending time with our ten dogs (Michael).

LUXE DOWNTIME MEANS >> Switching off completely, I show my dogs so that’s real escapism for me (Gary).

Best telly > Ooh it would have to be Breaking Bad at the minute, totally hooked (Michael).

Best book > I love autobiographies, I get totally engrossed in them (Gary).

Best sounds > That’s a tough one! We listen to such an eclectic mix of music, I’m loving the Pharrell track ‘Happy’ right now (Michael).

LUXE SHOP >> Best shopping city > It would have to be London.

Favourite shop > Selfridges in London, we can spend all day in there!

Luxe retail treat > Another Tom Ford fragrance, think we have them all now.

Best buy > The iPad Air, goes everywhere with me (Michael).

Luxe party >> A memorable night out > We recently went to Kenny Atkinson’s new restaurant, House of Tides, and it was amazing, well worth a visit.

Perfect party > Summer’s evening, outdoors, cool tunes, great friends, lots of drink.

Dinner date > Well it would have to be a double date wouldn’t it, so for that reason we’d invite the Beckhams round to our place.

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Events galore

There’s a spectacular calendar of events planned for South Tyneside throughout 2014. From live music events and family fun days to one-off unique celebrations, there is something for everyone Littlehaven opening celebrations 5 April, 2.30 – 8pm Set against an idyllic backdrop of the North Sea at the mouth of the River Tyne is the brand new Littlehaven Promenade and Seawall in South Shields.

Come along on Saturday 5 April to join in the official opening day celebrations. Take a stroll along the contemporary-style promenade while admiring the bespoke public artwork and prepare to be amazed by dancers, unique performers, gymnastics, a traditional Punch and Judy show, children’s treasure hunt plus local musicians. On Littlehaven beach there will also be a host of adventurous activities including kite flying, water sports and much more still to be announced. This action-packed day of family fun will kick off at 2.30pm with live entertainment throughout the day and as the sun sets a spectacular fireworks and dazzling light show set to music will light up the sky.

Keeping The Passion alive this Easter!

18 April, 11am-2pm South Tyneside will be at the centre of UK Easter celebrations this year as The Great North Passion will be broadcast live by the BBC from Bents Park, South Shields on Good Friday, 18 April. The BBC in partnership with The Cultural Spring will re-tell the Passion Story, marking the last moments of Christ’s life. This unique event will see bespoke shipping containers brought together to form a huge

Littlehaven Promenade lights up at night. Right, The Sail artwork

cross-shaped installation in Bents Park. Gates open at 11am with the live broadcast between 12 noon – 1pm. This free event boasts an unrivalled programme of activities and entertainment to enjoy. From a special performance of poetry performed with a 1000-strong choir, an appearance by international opera star Graeme Danby, art installations, photography, a procession of witnesses, contemporary dancing and a range of live music.

Enjoy a stroll along the beautiful coastline, taste award-winning fish and chips or ice cream and if you haven’t already join in the fun at Haven Point where you’ll find leisure waters, flumes and splash pools. www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk

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wardrobe wars

Generation fashion

Ever pinched your mum’s favourite shoes, gran’s retro handbag or screamed, “you’re not going out in that” to a teen? As Mother’s Day looms we style spy across the generations The Roseberry/Adamson women are a smart and fashion-savvy bunch. Marian Adamson, 73, and daughter Helen Roseberry, 46, work alongside one another in the family business, Ramside Estates which includes Hardwick Hall and Ramside Hall hotels in County Durham. Helen’s daughter Lauren, 19, is a fashion design student and Jordan, 21, is studying business and Spanish in Leeds.

Marian knows that age means nothing when it comes to style – she admires Mary Berry and Grace Kelly, both of whom aged with some style. She loves a shopping session with Helen at Corbridge or Newcastle and their favourite haunts are JulesB, Fenwick and Escada. She has a much-loved Louis Feraud outfit that comes out time and again – and treasures a beautiful 1950s evening dress that belonged to her own mother, Freda Coleman. Helen wore it on the Queen Mary she and Marian sailed back from New York.

She loves the glamour of an evening dress – but isn’t a fan of leggings!

Marian buys wisely, she has ‘plenty’ of shoes and bags but they are brought out time and again.

Her granddaughters think she’s a style icon.

Says Lauren: “She always looks great – especially her Louise Kennedy dress. I don’t buy clothes for her but when we shop together we help each other choose.”

Helen was a fan of Princess Diana’s style and loves a bit of designer shopping – especially for her guilty pleasure of handbags (“too embarrassed to say how many!”).

She likes a spending spree in London, Leeds or Newcastle where her favourites are JulesB, Fenwick and Karen Millen.

Her favourite item is a leather gilet that comes out time and again – and she and Marian share similar tastes in some things, “We swap hats and fascinators. Often mum and I spot the same things even when we shop separately.”

When it comes to the girls she remembers banning Jordan from wearing some Barbie hotpants to go to a concert.

“These days she looks great in a Zara jumpsuit with big earrings but I hate the student uniform of pyjamas and Uggs to go to the supermarket,” says Helen.

Lauren, says Helen, “looks fab in her All Saints leather jackets with printed leggings and heels. It is easy to buy things for her – she looks good in anything”.

Lauren is studying fashion design so clothes are her life at the moment. She loves the look of Little Mix and Beyonce.

Her best fashion buy is a red Animo riding jacket as well as a much-loved French Connection fur-lined coat. Her favourite shopping haunts are All Saints and Topshop and shopping heaven is a full day in Harrods.

“I might borrow mum’s tights but that’s about it – I like buying clothes at Christmas for mum – and I help my dad choose for her.”

Jordan lives in Leeds so gets a nice Harvey Nicks fix whenever she fancies. She’s a fan of Beyonce’s style.

Her shopping favourites are Zara and

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Full Mouth Detox Glammed up >> The girls gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ramside Hotel – here’s what they wore... Marian: Escada beige evening dress, previously worn at her son’s wedding. Helen: Pink and black satin evening dress by Talbot Runhof. Lauren: Bronze sequin evening dress, LA Femme from Pears Boutique, Durham. Jordan: Gold sequin evening dress

by LA Femme from Pears Boutique, Durham.

Topshop and the ultimate day out would be heading to London for cocktails and a shopping spree.

One of her favourite items is a leather jacket with a studded cross on the back – and her backless Zara jumpsuit.

“I swap clothes with Lauren but we have different styles – she is more quirky and fashionable whereas I dress more glamorously. I think Lauren looks good in her jeans and Barbour jacket with military boots (that were mine!).

She looks great in a Zara jumpsuit with big earrings but I hate the student uniform of pyjamas and Uggs to go to the supermarket!

Property manager Pauline Burnard, 51, lives in Jesmond. Daughter Olivia is 16 and goes to Church High School.

Pauline likes the style of Lisa Snowdon and her own favourite fashion buy is a Karen Millen denim jacket.

She and Olivia like a shopping spree in Fenwick as well as loving the chance of a mooch around Selfridges – but Pauline’s least favourite shop is Debenhams. Closer to home they like JulesB. Their best shopping day would involve a day out in London.

Pauline likes to see Olivia in her Zara skirt with black over the knee boots and a jumper – but hates the onesie!

Pauline’s ‘again and again’ outfit is a

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wardrobe wars Stylish >> Pauline in Karen Millen dress and daughter Liv in fave black jacket, denim shirt and black jeans black Ralph Lauren padded jacket that’s now six years old and the only thing Olivia has banned her from wearing is a Baker Boy cap.

“I often buy Liv clothes as I have a good idea what she likes; if she wants to change it I’m OK with that. I think I have good taste but don’t we all? I prefer quality to quantity and always consider if I can team an item up with something I already have. I rarely random purchase as they are never the best buys.”

Olivia rates Millie Mackintosh for her fashion style and her own favourite items are a black fur coat and an All Saints embellished dress.

Her favourite shop is All Saints and least favourite River Island – her time and again item is a pair of black skinny jeans.

She likes her mum in a Karen Millen cream leather jacket, black skinnies and black boots. She doesn’t like mum’s Baker Boy hat which comes out when it’s raining. “She says it’s more convenient than an umbrella. We swap scarves, bags, jumpers, jackets and the only thing I would buy her would be accessories - or something I know I could borrow in time!”

From the North East to London for £12,500 Diana Frost is 52 and from Gosforth.

Daughter Annabel, 13, is a pupil at Central Newcastle High School.

Diana is a fan of Kate Middleton’s style, whether ‘royal’ or just walking the dog.

“Elizabeth Hurley looks fabulous in anything she wears, and is amazing for her age.”

Definitely a ‘casual’ girl, Diana spends her days in jeans and stocks up on M&S cashmere jumpers and cardigans, “which seem to go with anything and last forever.

“I bought a black and white monochrome dress from Zara a few years ago which comes out time and time again. I am not particularly comfortable wearing dresses as I much prefer being casual in jeans and boots!

“My favourite shop is definitely Zara. It’s a shame we don’t have one in Newcastle as I detest the Metrocentre! I adore Fenwick’s; it’s an institution in Newcastle. There are so many brilliant in-store concessions. I particularly like Mint Velvet and Reiss.”

There are the odd shopping battles with Annabel.

“I am not a great fan of Primark and I don’t like visiting Hollister as it makes me feel so old when I have to put my reading glasses on and use the torch on my iPhone to see anything,” concedes Diana.

Best shopping occasions for Diana involve catching a train to Edinburgh with friends and finishing on the top floor of Harvey Nichols with a glass of champagne. Of Annabel’s style, she says: “She is lucky to be tall and slim and looks great in most things - either a summer dress on holiday,

or in her jeans and Ugg boots. But she has quite a strange collection of granddad-style cardigans and a pair of Union Jack leggings which she wears with everything (I think I have thrown them out!).

“Generally I reckon she thinks the majority of my clothes are awful – she once banned me from wearing a Hollister skirt which I bought and packed for a holiday in Turkey – she removed it from my suitcase before we left, unbeknown to me. She was probably right though, I was too old for it!

“Annabel has her own individual style of fashion which is quite quirky, so I find it quite hard to buy her clothes when she is not with me. She either likes something or she doesn’t, there is no in-between, it’s very easy to get it completely wrong.”

Annabel’s style icon is Cara Delevingne and her favourite shopping haunts are Topshop and River Island.

She says: “My least favourite shop is Next. I have received many gift cards from there but it is just so average and old. They never seem to get anything right.”

Her ultimate shopping day out would be a trip to London for Victoria’s Secret and Forever 21.

She says the best thing her mum wears is “a blue flowery dress from Zara – but sometimes we fight if she wears something really awful.”

She loves a go-to cardigan from House of Fraser which is turquoise in the middle with cream stripes – as for those leggings, “yes, Mum refuses to go out with me when I am wearing them.”

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I am not a great fan of Primark and I don’t like visiting Hollister as it makes me feel so old when I have to put my reading glasses on and use the torch on my iPhone to see anything.

Looking good >> Diana in her favourite Zara dress and daughter Annabel in her statement casual look

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MAR/APR14

Behind the scenes at this museum you won’t find dark cupboards and dust.

Think instead a backstage area that’s airy, bright and white – with gold, precious metals and colourful stones just waiting to burst through the bareness.

In Middlesbrough, the contemporary art gallery, mima, is about to unleash the contents of the bright white drawers that have been hiding one of the country’s best-kept art secrets.

The gallery boasts one of the most comprehensive contemporary jewellery collections in the UK and this summer a dedicated new gallery will open to showcase the striking pieces. mima and Teesside University are working together to make Middlesbrough an international destination for jewellery lovers, making the most of the unrivalled modern jewellery collection which has been collected over the past fifty years.

Two new jewellers-in-residence, Gemma Draper from Barcelona and Janet Hinchliffe McCutcheon from Middlesbrough, are at the helm of the project which also aims to create opportunities for people to get involved in jewellery events sharing their expertise, skills and passion for decorative adornment.

They are working to develop the new permanent exhibition in a new gallery space in mima which will be open to the public by summer.

It will display the collection which comprises over 200 objects and represents artist-made jewellery from the 1970s onwards – comparable to those held by the Crafts Council, the V&A Museum and the National Museums of Scotland. The new display will be the first time that such a comprehensive selection of this work has been seen by mima visitors.

Senior curator at mima, James Beighton, says: “When I speak to jewellery experts around the world they have all heard of Middlesbrough’s jewellery collection, but few of them have ever made the journey to visit it in person. This project will put that right, making Middlesbrough a prime destination for jewellery enthusiasts, while revealing some of the treasure in our collection to visitors on our doorstep.”

The collection features the work of significant artists whose pieces are made from a wealth of materials – Perspex, gold, paper and concrete among them.

These are some key pieces:

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www.fq-magazine.co.uk

statement pieces

THE BEST OF NORTH EAST FOOD & DRINK MAR/APR 2014

Jewels in their crown

Striking contemporary jewellery is coming out of the closet. Prepare to be dazzled

1. Gold cage bracelet Giovanni Corvaja, Bracelet, 1999 Giovanni Corvaja is interested in the mythology and mystic of gold. A passion is researching ideas of the Golden Fleece, creating objects in gold that feel like they are made of fur. This bracelet is woven through with a fine gold thread that the artist has pulled by hand to one fifth the thickness of human hair.

2. spiky bracelet Colette Hazelwood, Spiky Bracelet, 1994 Colette Hazelwood’s work has been seen all over the world including on the Franco Francesca catwalk at Milan fashion week in 2004. Hazelwood was one of the first artists to work with mima, working with a group of

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visually-impaired residents of Middlesbrough to design their own jewellery.

3. paper twist necklace Nel Linssen, Necklace 1992 Nel Linssen is renowned for her use of folded paper in her jewellery, a material that she has made her own. The paper is folded, cut and carved into form, and threaded with elastic to make a piece of jewellery that has real weight and presence whilst also moving fluidly with the body of the wearer.

4. Concrete neckpiece Keppa Karmona, Present for Ophelia, 2009 (entered collection 2009) This piece was made for The Sting of Passion, an exhibition in Manchester and is

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Mojito cupcakes on the yummy mummy menu in Alnwick

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Striking >> Chloe Lawrence from mima in Maria Blaisse neckpiece

based on the character of Ophelia from Hamlet, The necklace references the madness of Ophelia (Hamlet’s present to her) and the use of concrete gives the object an incredible weight (enough to carry Ophelia beneath the water). The glass shards are vicious and seem to pose danger not only to the wearer, but also to anyone who dares to approach them.

5. Resin ring Adam Paxon, Squirming Ring with Tail, 2003 Adam Paxon has become renowned for his use of acrylic, resin and other plastic in his jewellery, a material that he treats with the same preciousness as gold and diamonds.

Much of his visual sensibility comes from his background as a prop designer for film, including working on Judge Dredd’s helmet in the film starring Sylvester Stallone.

6. Head-dress Mi-Ah Rodiger, Crown Jewel, 2013 Mi-Ah Rodiger is one of a younger generation of jewellers who is making waves at the moment with her visual approach that references contemporary sci-fi and an amazing handling of material ranging from precious metals and stones through to resins and silicone which feel uncannily natural, almost like the skin upon which they are worn.

7. Neckpiece (main picture) Maria Blaisse uses traditions of textile techniques and natural dyeing of fibres to influence her work. The neckpiece came into the collection in the 1980s and was part of the Cleveland Craft Centre collection. www.visitmima.com

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Stirring things up

MAR/APR14

House of Tides opens up James close on his food travels cooking comfort food with Ben ShephArd cocktails with a kick Eugene McCoy’s country seat a sourdough masterclass with terry laybourne Pasta with Gennaro at Jamie’s new city hotspot MAR/APR14

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dining

Drink

with Robin Winterschladen This month we’re gearing up for St Patrick’s Day, toasting mums with a sparkle and thinking Spanish sunshine for Easter.

Jameson Irish Whiskey In 1780 master distiller John Jameson discovered that distilling his spirit three times created a wonderfully smooth, well balanced whiskey. Since then Jameson have followed this time-honoured tradition in crafting their world-famous whiskeys.

The Tide is high Kenny Atkinson’s much-anticipated House of Tides restaurant has opened its doors in Newcastle. Kathryn Armstrong goes with the flow Pity poor Kenny in many ways. His all-singing-all-dancing arrival on the restaurant scene in Newcastle has meant the spotlight shining big style on his bold culinary adventure.

Here’s a man who wants to give the people of Tyneside a bit of what Sat Bains has given to Nottingham and Martin Wishart to Edinburgh.

He wants to make a serious food mark on the city, but the gamble is whether the city is up for it too.

The packed house when we take a table on a miserable February Wednesday night suggests that the people are indeed ready.

Novelty value packs them in of course. The new kid on the block will always see the bookings bulge at first. House of Tides has been a long time coming, or it seems that way.

People have been talking about it for months but its stunning listed home close to the swing bridge on the Quayside was troubled with planning issues.

Now the doors are open, people are keen to see what all the fuss has been about and whether it delivers after all the hype.

I’d say so. The building has been renovated with discretion and style. The look is pared back and rustic, letting

gorgeous original features do the talking – in much the same way as great ingredients do in the dishes prepared upstairs.

Flagged floors, muted heritage paint colours, lashings of lovely wood and bare brick and stone walls create a lovely atmosphere – the place is big, it’s old but it’s warm and cosy at the same time.

The bar area has a couple of nice sofas – and a fab antler light-fitting but there’s a sparseness to the front bar area downstairs.

However, we bag the sofas and peruse the menu which feels like it should have a fanfare – Kenny A back in the kitchen, ta dah! The cooking is about seasonality and the tasting menu. There’s an eight-course Winter tasting menu, £55, and vegetarian version. That’s it.

It’s a bold move not to offer a la carte, though ‘shy bairns’ can opt for three of the eight courses at £40.

As someone who’s not a huge fan of the tasting menu – I can always do without the desserts – I was in two minds about whether to opt for the three-courser, but then was too tempted by the five non-dessert courses remaining.

And in the interests of research and all that.

We’d nibbled on Kenny’s now-infamous ‘soil’ – baby leeks

Doing it local with some rich pease pudding, we were delivered of lovely slabs of rare beef which had an intense flavour, so succulent and richly indulgent deep fried then dusted with a posh ‘soil’, truffle. Witty and fun to look at, I wasn’t so thrilled by eating the entire end bit of the leek – it all made me think of farmyard textures and tastes.

The lovely slow-cooked lamb croquette alongside with its pea dip was amazing however.

So we hit the eight courses. Things I loved best: butternut squash soup, dreamy and sweet with meaty little savoury nuggets of chestnut mushroom and salty pork. A decent sized portion too – more than a mean espresso-cup’s worth. This would definitely go on my three-courser.

Followed by Kenny’s famous mackerel with sand carrots, fennel and orange. Lovely balance of flavours on the plate, a refreshing and light course this – loved the kick of the crispy little smoked eel croquette.

Next came the seabass. Vying as my favourite dish of the night. It looked lovely – I loved the deep rustic bowl it arrived in – the food display mouthwatering in itself. A neat chunk of seabass was bathed in a lovely, creamy

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broth of intense stock-based sauce with coriander flavours and swimming alongside were sweet mussels. A definite keeper!

I was a little disappointed by the next course of duck although always a bit thrilled to have some foie gras on my plate. The duck came as a pressed, terrine-style affair with some flavours of hazelnuts and parsnips alongside.

Beautiful to look at definitely. We were half-way through our taste journey and enjoying the ambience of the place as much as the re-filled baskets of fresh bread and butter.

Staff were young and trying hard - Kenny is trying to get a team of keen locals and apprentices who will stay the course and learn their trade, rather than heading off to London. They’re not yet as polished as they might be but one girl serving us really shone in confidence and attitude.

Arriving next at the table was a superb dish of beef fillet.

Doing it local with some rich pease pudding, we were delivered of lovely slabs of rare beef which had an intense flavour, so succulent and richly indulgent. There was just the right amount of meat here at this point in the menu and the dish was really heightened by the dense smoked bacon chunks served alongside with whips of celeriac. In fact I might have forgone the previous course to really savour this beef. Definite one for the top three – nice as we’d switched from the neat house Chilean sauvignon to a juicy glass of regional French house red for the pleasure.

By now we faced the desserts. I rarely even go there – so my pudding-loving pal was going to assess the selection.

It’s a rhubarb time of year of course and this fine ingredient arrived in a portion that seemed large compared to the delicacy of those that had gone before.

Rhubarb cooked with ginger for a syrupy sauce and topped with a vanilla cream. This we left. The rhubarb a bit too crunchy and the mixture all a bit sloppy and somehow slapdash and unrefined.

The next plate, one for the chocoholic, which I am not, was a slab of dark chocolate with pear, red wine, pistachio and meringue wafers. More delicate to look at and a better balance of flavours but not wow.

We did enjoy the slate plate of cheeses with good crackers and a lovely, intense fig jam/chutney.

So we emerged happy. With eight courses there are always going to be favourites and the also-rans. Outstanding: beef, butternut squash and seabass. Those my ‘shy bairn’ specials. Close runners-up, mackerel, duck and cheese.

Such is the risk of the tasting menu. But certainly a food adventure more than just a ‘meal out’.

House of Tides, Quayside, Newcastle www.houseoftides.co.uk

MAR/APR14

A precious bite A truffle hunt by limo – Bryan Hoare has a luxe Italian encounter with this most precious foodstuff Our new best friends are Baldo and Edzara. They are more than just dogs, they are truffle-hunters in the Tuscan countryside and their finds are priceless.

The hounds are to be our guide to the secrets of the truffle, one of the most prized foodstuffs in the world.

We meet these canine hunters at their rural home. We arrive in some style, having been delivered by chauffeur-driven limo from our base in Siena.

We’re welcomed to Berni Valentino’s farm some 40 minutes away in the commune of San Giovanni d’Asso.

Driver Michael speaks good English and explains that we are in the true homeland of the white truffle, a hilly green area in the south of the province of Siena.

We’re greeted by Elena who with her husband and father-in-law Gianfranco run a smallholding producing wine, olive oil - and the beloved truffle.

We don walking boots and head off with Gianfranco, Baldo and Edzara. Gianfranco and his family have been truffle producers for over 30 years working around 20 hectares of their land. The dogs are trained for truffle hunting by initially using a small ball as the ‘prize’, hiding it so they can find it and then progressing to hiding small pieces of truffle which they seek out blindfolded.

We trekked for a good 30 minutes into the hills into what appeared at first glance to be a muddy woodland area. As the dogs get increasingly excited Gianfranco calls them into action with a series of commands and whistles. Sniffing and scratching their way through the undergrowth they stop from time to time – ‘truffle alert!’

We’re suddenly stopped in our tracks by both dogs sniffing an area of ground and scratching with their paws.

Knowing we might be in with a shout Gianfranco prompts the dogs to dig. If they dig with a single paw it’s likely there’s no truffle but use both and a truffle is near.

The dogs’ obedience is inspiring – knowing how hard it is just to get our own crazy cocker to sit still at home. The control is there for business preservation, an overzealous dog could result in a damaged truffle.

Gianfranco takes over, digging into the mud about three inches deep and there we had it! A three-inch white truffle.

It was a sight and smell to behold – that earthy fresh truffle smell particularly pungent yet fragrant.

The truffle swiftly disappeared into Gianfranco’s pocket

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and we continued on to find three more.

One of the restaurants he regularly supplies is Giorgio Locatelli’s Locanda Locatelli in London. He sends between 300gm - 2kg a week to the UK. Freshness is key, from hunting at 6am, the truffles head to Florence airport, arriving in the UK by 4pm to be served in some of London’s top restaurants from 8am, a little over 24 hours later.

We returned to the humble family farmhouse for some lunch and to a welcome that was warm and inviting, the table laden with home-cured meat from the farm, wine from the vineyards and, of course, truffles.

We sampled some of their finest truffles in a five-course lunch which included bruschetta with garlic oil and truffle butter, an Italian soufflé with spinach, pasta simply but generously topped with truffle shavings, dessert and a local cheese board. Some 80% of the meal was from the farm or surrounding area.

At lunch we met more of the family and learned that Gianfranco is the vice president of the National Italian Truffle Association and his son, following in his footsteps, had just returned from an interview with an Italian news programme on truffles. You really understand the passion the family have for their homemade products and truffles.

For Gianfranco hunting is about the art of preserving a traditional skill to be handed down to his family and generations to come. It was a privilege to be absorbed into the family for the day and enjoy a gourmet adventure and a humbling taste of rural Tuscan life too.

Factfile The truffle hunt was organised by The Grand Central Hotel, Siena close to the Piazza del Campo and Piazza Salimbeni.

The truffle-hunting experience includes a traditional truffle-based feast at the farm afterwards. The package also includes two nights’ B&B accommodation at the Grand Hotel Continental. From £505 per person. www.royaldemeure.com/grand_hotel_continental/ eng/5_star_hotel_siena.html

Jameson Irish Whiskey, £23 This whiskey has a light floral fragrance on the nose and a perfect balance of spicy, nutty and vanilla flavours with hints of sweet sherry. A lovely, smooth, well-rounded whiskey for drinking either neat, on the rocks, with water or your favourite mixer.

Jameson Select Reserve £37 Select Reserve has a high proportion of carefully selected pot still whiskey blended with small batch grain whiskey before being matured in flame charred bourbon barrels. A burst of flavours are produced from the combination of the fruity sweetness from the grain with vanilla, toasted wood and spices from the pot still whiskey and bourbon barrels. Rich and smooth.

Jameson Gold Reserve £58 This is a creative blend of three different aged whiskeys, a high proportion of which has been distilled in pot stills. One of the whiskeys has been aged in virgin oak barrels, producing a smooth whiskey with complex characteristics. The others are aged in bourbon and sherry casks, which add a honey toasted sweetness with hints of spice and a long finish.

Laurent-Perrier Champagne Offer £49 Mum will love this - Laurent-Perrier Brut Rose Champagne NV. Normal price £55, offer, £49 Possibly the most recognised rose champagne. Aged for at least four years before release, it is fresh, clean and slightly sharp with intense flavours of strawberries, raspberries, cherries and blackcurrants.

Sunshine touch Torres Spanish Wines Torres is one of the most recognisable Spanish wine names and is the UK’s leading Spanish brand.

Gran Vina Sol Chardonnay 2012 Normal Price £9.49 Offer £7.49 Gran Vina Sol is composed of 85% Chardonnay and 15% Parellada. It has intense fruit aromas of ripe peaches, is quite full flavoured with a touch of light elegance from the addition of Parellada and has hints of vanilla from its short ageing in oak. A good accompaniment to seafood, chicken and pork dishes.

Gran Sangre de Toro Reserva Normal Price £9.99 Offer £7.99 The best Garnacha (60%), Carinena (25%) and Syrah (15%) grapes from Catalonia are used to produce this wine, which was first made in 1960. Matured in oak casks for 12 months it has intense, ripe, fruity aromas reminiscent of blackberries, is full bodied and rich with a background of fine spices and a long finish that is velvety and smooth. Drink with hearty and spicy meat dishes.

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There are a lot of foodies on the doorstep and local producers, like Turnbull’s, Swallow Fish in Seahouses and Craster kippers

Country stirrings A new cookery school in Alnwick is stirring things up on the kitchen front.

Katharine Capocci dons her pinny for a session A heady combo of prosecco, jam and cream scones, and Mojito cupcakes has the participants in today’s Outcook cookery class in sugar-fuelled seventh heaven.

As well it might. Us ladies have just watched expert demos on the savoury and sweet bits and bobs needed for perfect afternoon tea. The atmosphere at our cook school is decidedly relaxed and convivial, the fizz helping to lubricate the jolly mood.

We’ve learned how to make Bendy biscuits (a first for me, these being delicious malleable biccies created using treacle and spices), piped icing (sassed up with alcohol) onto cupcakes, cooked blinis (topped with Robson’s smoked salmon and crème fraiche) and unearthed that old retro culinary fave, curried eggs (surprisingly great!).

Followed by the best bit, everyone sitting down together to tuck into splendid afternoon tea, cucumber sandwiches and all, with pots of tea and coffee – and a little more Prosecco.

The source of the afternoon’s merriment is the new Outcook Home Cookery School, an offshoot of kitchens and bathrooms business, Outlook Home Enhancement Centre, located above the company’s premises in Bondgate Without in Alnwick, Northumberland.

Launched by local businessman Ben Keenan, 35, who took over his father’s home improvement business, the aim is to use local food producers and suppliers where possible. So meats, for example, from the town’s Turnbull’s butchers, sixth generation family butchers, and cookware from House and Home, both feature.

The state-of-the-art Caple kitchen space is equipped with eight cooking stations, and is all high-spec gadgets, steam ovens and beautiful granite tops. The adjacent seating area - used for tucking into the goodies – is snazzed up with twinkly fairy lights.

Ben, who’s married to Julia, 30, has popped in to the afternoon tea class, their gorgeous daughters Felicity, two, and Emmie, six months, in tow, to say a quick hello. He says: “I hope that the school will give people something fun and different to do while arming them with new skills and enthusiasm for cooking.”

That’s a sentiment echoed by Julia, who’s also come along to today’s workshop. Julia, who’s still on maternity leave from her job as a teacher at a primary school in Blyth, is quite the dab hand at icing cupcakes and blini cooking.

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Sugar-fuelled seventh heaven thanks to prosecco and a Mojito cupcake The pair, who live in the town, are really keen to further enhance Alnwick’s reputation as a gastro hub, already famed for its annual food festival, held in September. In recent years given a certain je ne sais quoi by regular appearances of celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

With so much great produce on the doorstep, Julia and Ben wanted to provide a stylish setting where people could come and expand on their kitchen repertoire in a relaxed environment, with professionals at the kitchen helm.

Julia’s always been interested in food, helped in part by her half-Spanish background. Her parents also own the fish and chip shop, Pinnacles, in Seahouses – a favourite of the Hairy Bikers and actor Robson Green.

Julia says: “My mum being Spanish I have always been

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Bendys Emma Whittingham, left in chef whites, explains this recipe was passed to her aunts from their mother during their time at Acklington Mill. “I probably encountered my first Bendy at around three years old. I would wait at the kitchen table patiently until they were removed from the stove.” Once cooled, Emma was allowed to bend and mould them. Left-over Bendys were taken home as a weekly treat.

Ingredients (makes about 20 biscuits) 2 and a quarter cups plain flour 2tsp baking soda Quarter tsp salt 1 tsp ground cinnamon One and a half tsp ground ginger Half tsp ground cloves 12 tbsp butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 large egg Quarter cup treacle Method Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves into a large bowl. Soften the butter and brown sugar until smooth, add the egg and the treacle.

Incorporate the flour. Make into two-inch cookie shapes and space two inches apart on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Bake for 12-16 minutes at 180C.

interested in food in a family setting. Food’s always been a big part of family life; we always sat down to big meals.”

The Outcook classes which have proved a hit with gastronomes include a tapas theme (dishes included chorizo in red wine, and chicken and mushrooms in creamy sherry sauce), Valentine’s night curry and chapati making contest, and a pheasant plucking demo (try saying that quickly!) by Emma Whittingham, the game expert and chef, who’s going to be taking most of the classes.

“And everyone got a pheasant to take home afterwards!” adds Julia.

Emma’s dug out an old family recipe for Bendys for today’s afternoon tea. Emma, who also does private cheffing and is author of the Game On Northumberland recipe book, featured in these pages a few months back.

Julia says: “We had this space and it was a bit redundant and we thought what’s missing from Alnwick.

“We already work with kitchens and it adds something to Alnwick. It’s another reason to come to the town.

“There are a lot of foodies on the doorstep and local producers, like Turnbull’s, Swallow Fish in Seahouses and Craster kippers.

“The courses are a chance to have a go yourself and make a few friends. And we have found it’s very relaxed - it’s home from home. It’s not too formal.

“We’ve had children’s cooking sessions for half term, themed big chef, little chef. And our meet the butcher class was a big success. The plan is to bring in guest chefs too.

“People are chatting on Twitter. We’ve had a huge amount of interest from women and men. And we’ve had people contact us, like the Young Farmers.”

Julia and Ben hope the workshops will also appeal to hen parties, as treats for Mother’s Day and even team-building exercises where corporates can ditch the suits and bond over flour and sugar.

“The aim of Outcook is to bring inspiration and skills to people with an appetite to learn to cook better and cook more interesting dishes,” says Ben. Outcook, 37 Bondgate Without, Alnwick. Tel: 01665 603812 or visit www.outcook.co.uk Afternoon tea class costs £35 and full-day classes £85.

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Ben’s food life A childhood food memory: The Sunday roast. It was the chance for us to all get round the table together – my dad worked long hours so being together for this meal at the weekend was a big deal. By contrast, my kids really love Japanese food, the fact that it is so exciting and different.

The last meal you ate: Fish and chips from Whitley Bay after my Speedflex marathon! Got to get the calories back up. Massive portion, couldn’t eat it all!

Restaurant you return to time and again: Petersham Nurseries is close to where we live and is an incredible place.

Great surroundings, chef and restaurant. I like Jamie Oliver’s trattorias too.

Memorable meal: I was lucky enough to be invited to one of the Heston Feasts that were on TV. It was a 70s-influenced meal and it was one of the most extraordinary experiences ever. It was like being at a circus – edible paper, gases to inhale – we just marvelled at what he was able to do. I am reading his book at the moment and took my parents to the Fat Duck – amazing.

Inspirational chef: Jamie Oliver for what he has managed to achieve with his foundation. He has changed a lot of views and made people think – quite inspirational.

Favourite drink: I’ve done dry January so am ready for a nice cold pint of lager.

Favourite ingredient: Tomatoes. I could eat them all day. I loved Heston’s magical popping candy too!

Favourite meal: A good burger. Nothing quite like a proper burger, the cheese, the relish, the fries.

Last meal: Ice-cream!

On the menu: Spicy Shephard’s Pie What it’s got going for it: a twist on this traditional comfort food meal with spices added to the lamb for a bit of kick The trick: adding a little saffron to the mash adds something different to the flavour

Ingredients

The last meal I ate was fish and chips from Whitley Bay after my Speedflex marathon!

Serves 8 3 tblsp oil 3 onions, diced 2kg lamb mince 3 carrots, diced 1 stick celery 2 baby leeks Salt 1 tsp chilli powder (to taste) 1 tsp garam masala 2 dstsp Worcester sauce 1 glass red wine 1 glass stock Pinch chilli flakes 1 dstsp tomato puree 12 large potatoes Pinch saffron Paneer cheese

Method Add the onions and vegetables to the warmed oil in the pan and lightly fry for five minutes until soft. Add the lamb mince and brown. Add the remaining ingredients and cook gently for 15-20 minutes. Retain the stock as you can keep adding the stock to the mixture if it gets too dry. Adjust the seasoning to suit. You should have mixture that is reasonably solid – it does not want to be too runny.

Peel and boil the potatoes for 20 minutes or so until they are ready to mash. Use a potato ricer to get the potato really smooth.

Mix a pinch of saffron with a little water then add this to the potato – it will make it a soft yellow colour and give a distinctive flavour.

Put the mince mixture in a casserole dish and top with the mash. Grate a little paneer cheese on the top then cook in the oven at 200C for about 25 minutes until the pie topping is browned.

Curry classroom There could really only be one thing on the menu for TV presenter and charity whizz Ben Shephard – the ultimate comfort food with a spicy twist Ben Shephard is one of those bright, perky people who, Tigger-like, exude an enviable supply of energy.

True, the sporty stuff is his thing – as a presenter with Sky Sports Goals on Sunday, a tireless fund-raiser and devoted West Ham fan – not to mention keeping up with the antics of sons Jack, seven and Sam, eight.

The pitch, the gym, the open road are more familiar territory than the kitchen stove, he readily admits, even after spending a good few months last year presenting What’s Cooking with Lisa Faulkner.

Excitedly, he’s just been signed up as one of the presenting line-up for ITV’s

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new-look breakfast programme alongside Susannah Reid. He’s a nice face to wake up to!

We catch up with 39-year-old Ben at Peace&Loaf in Jesmond where he is going to hit the kitchen to cook up a spicy version of Shephard’s Pie. As ever, Bob Arora, owner of Sachins and part-owner of Peace&Loaf, is taking today’s curry class.

Ben’s a regular visitor to Newcastle as a fund-raiser for the Freeman Hospital’s CHUF charity which is close to his heart.

The reason? Ben’s school pal and best friend (their mums were midwives together) Ivan Hollingsworth founded the charity Seb4Chuf after his son Seb was successfully treated for heart

problems at the hospital.

The pair have raised thousands of pounds for the on-going charity campaign to secure the future of the heart unit.

In 2010, Ben and Ivan ran the Coast-toCoast Challenge, raising over £120,000 for the CHUF in a 145-mile run that took them five days.

The day before we met, Ben had joined Ivan at Speedflex in Jesmond and burned ten thousand calories in a charity challenge alongside Welsh rugby captain Tom May. It had been a long and gruelling challenge – rewarded at the end of the day by a well-earned fish and chip supper at the coast.

You might expect Ben to feel a bit worn

out and rest-ready but though slightly achey after those exertions, he’s full of energy and enjoying his Geordie break.

“I’ve played up here in a celebrity match at St James’ Park. I’ve played there twice now and as someone who loves his football, that has been amazing.

“I am really happy to support CHUF when I can – I am a dad myself and when Ivan and Nadine had Seb it became apparent how ill he was – the hospital saved his life and now he is a confident little five-year-old boy.”

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

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people

Chef’s table with James Close It’s a scallop time of year in the kitchens at Raby Hunt where menus are changing with the seasons We headed off to the slopes for some January skiing – find me a chef who doesn’t need to run away in January.

We flew to Geneva from Newcastle then about an hour’s journey to our destination. Weather brilliant, great big blue skies and a lot of fun getting Harriett on a toboggan for the first time.

I’d planned a trip to Ferme de Montagne, a well-known restaurant in Les Gets run by two English guys. It is in an amazing setting – it was good but didn’t blow me away.

We did enjoy a lot of raclette, fondue and about as much après-ski as you get with a baby on board. Les Gets is a great place for families though. I really recommend it.

Local hero We love Mordon Blue, a cheese from Parlour Made near Sedgefield. Village Farm Dairy is a family farm run by Neil and Carol Peacock. The dairy herd consists of 120 Holstein /Friesian cows, all of which were all born on the farm.

The couple decided to diversify into handmade artisan cheese made using their own farm assured milk. The fresh morning’s milk is piped no further than 20 feet from the milking parlour into the cheese vat in the new purposebuilt cheese dairy, where cheesemaking begins.

This is very much a family business – Neil milks the cows, Carol makes the cheese with children Joe and Georgia helping out on weekends and school holidays.

Mordon Blue was a Bronze Medal winner 2012 at the British Cheese Awards, a blue-veined soft cheese with a mild flavour and creamy texture. This young cheese will also develop a stronger flavour over time if preferred. www.parlourmade.co.uk

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In season

A bit of maitre d’ magic Eugene McCoy and seafood pancake. Words that go together like gin and tonic.

Glorious then to see this much-loved dish happy in its new-found home, The Crathorne Arms near Yarm Eugene McCoy and wife Barbara are at the helm of their new white-washed village pub venture where they’ve been ensconced since last autumn after a tumultuous couple of years. They left behind The Tontine, just a few miles down the A19 where Eugene made his name, brought up his family and found a world-wide following of fans who were drawn to his eccentric way of combining the best food and wine with flamboyant service and style.

Now, he is sprinkling his maitre d’ magic over the flagstones of this characterful pub with a gastro twist.

A few steps in and, eyes right, a big squashy sofa with threadbare bits among the lived-in cushions. You don’t have to be asked to sink right in. Then a champagne cork pops and the lazy afternoon begins.

The McCoy welcome is everywhere. A hand-written sign on the bar tempts with an invitation to grab a stick of celery and indulge in a bloody Mary.

There’s a canoe in one alcove acting as a set of shelves.

Well-loved Lloyd Loom chairs are dotted about and frilly lampshades which shouldn’t work, but do, take their place in the dining rooms.

There are hints of home everywhere – in fact, Barbara and Eugene, who are now living above the shop, have raided their own belongings to furnish the pub’s rooms with meaningful artefacts. Paraphernalia is the word.

The eccentric touches they stamped on The Tontine are in-situ once again. The place welcomes you, gives you a

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familiar hug and invites you to sit down and relax.

Vintage wine posters, a stained menu from Maxim’s and kitsch bits of china dot the walls and surfaces.

In one frame there’s the priceless Jimi Hendrix poster from the days when the McCoy brothers magic-ed the guitar man to a gig at the famous Kirklevington country club. That was where the people of North Yorkshire and Teesside first experienced the joys of fine music to a menu of a juicy, bloody char-grilled sirloin and – shock – strawberries in a salad!

Which brings us back to the seafood pancake.

One of those dishes that screams McCoys like nothing else.

Had to try it, in a friends-reunited kind of way.

For a midweek lunchtime, the place was nicely busy. The bar has separate sections with wooden tables, a jumble of candlesticks and pretty china. Real butter and French bread for nibbling.

On the menu you’ll see words like homemade piccalilli, bubble and squeak, scrumpy fried onions and

beef and Guinness pie – with oysters.

Classics with a twist, says Eugene, who knows, if anyone does, what the people like and will keep coming back for.

That pancake – a piece of perfection for a mere £8.95. The key is the sauce which is light, creamy and with the deft touch of a mustard kick. The fluffy crepe envelops a flavoursomely fun-packed filling of salmon, white fish and succulent prawns – really substantial and moreish with its cheesey kick. It’s real comfort food in the best sense.

This place might be new to the McCoys but it’s like they’ve never been away. Their timeless style fits now as much as it did in the Tontine heyday; after all, superb food and good times have always been at the heart of what Eugene does.

As spring and summer approach, there are great plans for the outdoor courtyard space and for live music inside.

Let the gourmet good times roll.

Crathorne Arms, Crathorne Village, nr Yarm.

Tel: 01642 961402

The McCoy welcome is everywhere. A hand-written sign invites you to make-your-own bloody Mary MAR/APR14

Here at Raby Hunt I love the change of season and that start of new ingredients, more colour on the plates – we’ve had violas on there already.

Dishes become that bit lighter and there’s a good choice of seasonal new ingredients popping up. A real favourite of mine are morel mushrooms, definitely my favourite for this time of year. Early ones are really expensive but they get cheaper by the end of March.

They have such a distinctive earthy flavour and colour and they work like a sponge, absorbing other flavours. I poach them to keep them moist – I am serving them in a dish with suckling pig, celeriac, morels, miso and Japanese spice.

@samphiresalsify Food blog and tweets from an actor who eats in London and beyond when not looking for work. Good fun and buzzy about places and trends. www.samphireandsalsify.com

Been there A trip to Yorebridge House at Bainbridge in the dales was really memorable – as a great destination that really feels away from it all and as somewhere good to eat.

The setting is beautiful – we bubbled away in a room with a hot-tub and amazing river views. Daniel Shotton is head chef there, making a real impact with the food. I loved his Gressingham duck with purple sprouting broccoli, confit duck gizzards and duck leg boulangere. Also good Whitby crab with pickled mouli, compressed apple and boiled quail’s egg.

Get away Sweet scallops It is a great time for scallops. I get them from Guy Grieve who runs the Ethical Shellfish Company in Mull with his wife Juliet. Working as a scallop diver, Guy was shocked to see the damage that is being done to our fragile marine environment by invasive fishing methods. He set up his fishing company with a difference, which pledges to support fishermen using sustainable methods.

I like his scallops because they are really sweet and light - they don’t spend time sitting in salt pools before being sent out. At their freshest, scallops are really sweet.

Cooking them is so simple. Just pan fry them on a high heat to get some colour, add butter and a dash of lemon juice to make an emulsion in the pan. Just brown on one side then turn them over and remove the pan from the heat, they will cook through with the residual heat.

Really nice served with some spring English peas and chorizo. www.ethicalshellfishcompany.co.uk

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With Harriett Close, aged eight months So I found myself at a hotel called The Samling in somewhere they call the Lakes. It looks like someone’s house from the outside and I thought it might be a bit whispery and not at all the place where youngsters like me hang out.

Think Daddy was a bit anxious about this too - he even offered to put us in a room on our own for dinner if my presence was too much for the other guests (even with my best dress on). Happily that didn’t happen and we were given a very warm welcome in the dining room by the staff (who were pretty young themselves) and other diners.

I had beetroot. ‘Flavours of beetroot’. What a lovely, pretty colour that food is! Not the perfect finger food though – I bet you can imagine the state of the best dress now.

resembling a proper restaurant kitchen after getting planning permission. It will double our cooking space – and we’ll get the big green egg barbecue into the kitchen rather than outside. I love the thing – we use it to finish off the meat and fish and just give that slight charred flavour to dishes.

Edinburgh is a favourite city of mine and such a great place to eat. If you’re hopping on a train head for these signature dishes.

Posh nosh: Castle Terrace – try the ox tongue with spelt risotto www.castleterracerestaurant.com Pub: Scran&Scallie – Tom Kitchin’s Wagyu burger Scranandscallie.com Bistro: L’escargot Bleu – the ultimate beef tartare prepared at your table www.lescargotbleu.co.uk

Enjoying a glass of

And we’re off

Sake works really well with chocolate desserts. Our Siraume Japanese rice wine is proving a hit with diners who like something a bit different with dessert.

Looking forward to some time out at the Northumberland coast soon. We have a family caravan up at Beadnell which is one of the best places in the world – I love heading to Seahouses for supplies of crabs, lobsters and a kipper or two.

In the kitchen Here at Raby Hunt we are unrealistically excited about moving from our container crate kitchen to something

www.rabyhuntrestaurant.co.uk

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Masterclass

with Terry Laybourne Bread-making doesn’t have to be a lengthy process. Soda bread is yeast-free and time-friendly. Keep it simple served with good butter, smoked salmon and oysters

Soda bread makes 1 loaf

10

Ingredients Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.

Cut a deep cross into the top of the dome.

250g wholemeal flour, 125g self-raising flour, 125g pinhead oatmeal, 60g bran, 30g wheatgerm, 1 tsp salt 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda, 2 tbls treacle, 600ml buttermilk

11 Bake at 180°C for around 50 minutes until bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Then cool on a wire.

1 Combine flours, oatmeal, bran, wheatgerm, salt and bicarbonate of soda in a bowl.

2 Stir together until the ingredients are evenly distributed.

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Serve with lovely salted butter and smoked salmon or half a dozen Lindisfarne oysters.

mix it

3 Add the treacle and mix.

With George Liddle The Architect

Keeping it local - a taste of the Tyne Recipe

4 Pour in the buttermilk and stir with a spoon.

7 Turn out onto a well floured surface (but be careful not to over-flour the dough) then knead.

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5 Mix with your hands until you have a moist dough.

8 Once the surface is smooth, mould the dough into a dome shape.

100mls Grainger Ale Fentimans Ginger Beer 10mls Alnwick Rum Fresh mint (crushed) Lemon juice (dash) How to make the cocktail Glass: Highball

6 Make sure there are no dry spots in the dough and that all the ingredients are well mixed.

Method

Grainger Ale. Shake 10mls Alnwick Rum and crushed mint with a dash of lemon juice. Gently stir the ginger beer into the highball glass. Top off with the shaken rum and mint.

Garnish: with a Maynard’s Wine Gum www.hotelindigonewcastle.co.uk/ the-grainger-lounge

Fill the highball glass with ice, add 100mls

9 Place onto a baking tray and dust with flour.

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Meet the chef

Veg patch

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

with Karen Phillips Hurrah, sun’s out and green shoots are popping up...

There is always a skip in my step at this time of year: everything looks fresh in the garden; new green shoots are popping up everywhere and paper-thin blossom is abounding. Plants aren’t the only ones to respond to longer days; scientists have studied spring and discovered that when ‘spring is in the air’ the love hormones rocket!

Jobs outside…

As soon as a rash of weed seedlings can be seen on the soil it is time for direct sowing to begin of carrots, salad crops, radishes and turnips.

Potatoes: The ‘chitted’ potatoes have stumpy little eyes now and are traditionally planted out at Easter. Since that varies by as much as three weeks from year to year, I take it as the first 2 weeks of April. Dig a trench and plant them deep to protect them from cold weather. As soon as shoots appear earth them up to protect further from any late frosts and be ready to throw over some fleece if a cold night is predicted.

Jobs in the greenhouse…

Rich pickings...

Spinach: Spinach bolts as a result of long day length so any spring sowing prior to midsummer’s day will very quickly produce a lovely spike of flowers at the expense of leaves. There are two ways to overcome this problem: sow perpetual spinach beet instead but it has tougher leaves only suited to cooking; or sow spinach seed at midsummer for an autumn crop and then again in August/ September and cover with fleece for an early spring crop.

The crop sown last autumn is now being harvested as young leaves for use in salads and as older leaves in Spinach and Manchego Empanadas.

Salad leaves: Cold frames were placed over a late sowing of salad leaves and oak leaf, emerald leaf and deer’s tongue lettuces have looked as pretty in the veg bed all winter as they have on the plate.

Asparagus: I have never forgotten being told at a dinner party by an eminent doctor that asparagus gets into your bloodstream within three seconds of eating it! Of all the things I shall miss when we move house my maturing asparagus bed is high on the list. Dipped into a runny yolk; served atop chopped eggs with a drizzle of truffle oil; or wrapped in parma ham and encased in puff pastry: this is one vegetable that I’ll not live without.

Forced rhubarb: And how can we still be eating forced rhubarb I hear you ask? This has such a short season and differs so much from its summer green rhubarb garb that a way of preserving those ‘Barbie-pink’ stems had to be found. Eureka! Stems were cooked gently with a small amount of water, sugar and star anise; they were well drained (preserving the juice) and placed in sterilised jars; the juice and star anise was rapidly boiled to form a thick syrup which was used to fully cover the rhubarb. The jar was sealed and now I can enjoy rhubarb and star anise custard tarts whenever my heart desires.

Pumpkins, squashes and courgettes can be sown two seeds per pot; once germinated, sacrifice the weaker seedling and leave the more vigorous one to grow on. If you don’t possess the killer instinct only sow one seed per pot and pray you haven’t sown ‘the runt of the litter’ since all seeds vary in vigour (apart from expensive F1 seeds).

No family needs more than one courgette plant, or at a push two if you fancy different coloured varieties, so remember: just because you have a packet of seed it doesn’t mean you have to sow it all at once. It can still be sown the following year/two if you store the packet in a envelope in the salad drawer of the fridge.

Perilla: I’ve tried growing this decorative Japanese herb before and not had any success but this year I have chilled the seed in the fridge for a month prior to sowing to hopefully overcome its dormancy. I’ll keep you posted.

Squash or pumpkin – what should you sow? The answer is definitively squash. Pumpkins: the round, orange varieties that we see at Halloween are not much use in the kitchen so only grow one if you want to win a prize at your local show or impress young children; much better to grow one of the array of tasty squashes that come in many weird and wonderful shapes and sizes. My favourite winter squash i.e. those with a hard enough skin to store through winter, is an onion squash: it’s a small, 1.5kg orange squash with a flavour reminiscent of chestnut when cooked and best of all it ripens in 80-95 days. All squash need lots of growing space and nutrients but don’t despair if space is limited because this is a vine squash and can climb up a tepee of canes and string.

Upcoming events @Widehaugh House Bread Basics - 11 April 2014 This hands-on course discovers the pleasures of breadmaking from sourdough through to focaccia.

Depart with recipes, your own warm, hand-made breads and your very own sourdough starter.

Includes morning coffee and lunch, £95 Grow your Own Cut Flowers - 30 April 2014 Tubs of tulips, goblets of gladioli and buckets full of blooms - this course provides all the info needed to start growing your own cut flowers.

Includes morning coffee/cakes and lunch, £75 The Town Gardener - 1 May 2014 Small plot – big ideas! Don’t let the size of your plot limit your creativity. Choose plants that earn their keep and learn low maintenance ideas to create colour and impact in a small place.

Includes morning coffee/cakes and lunch, £75 The Virgin Gardener - 2 May 2014 Daunted by your garden? Don’t know your daffodils from your dahlias? Unravel the mysteries of propagation & pruning.

Includes coffee/cakes and lunch, £75 Eastern Promise - 8 May 2014 Discover the delights of Asian cooking on this interactive workshop. In the morning you’ll use the influences of Asian cooking to create a tropical flavoured lunch, whilst in the afternoon you’ll discover how easy it is to grow hard-to-find Asian ingredients at home. Depart with recipes, seeds sown and the confidence to create an Asian Banquet at home.

Time: 10am – 3pm. Including morning coffee/cakes and a 2-course lunch, £80 Beginner’s Veg - 9 May 2014 Never sown a seed in your life? Starting with how to set out a vegetable plot, this course will cover all aspects of basic vegetable growing and get you producing all manner of expensive-to-purchase veggies from rocket to sugar snap peas.

Includes coffee/cakes and a two-course lunch, £75 The Herb Garden - 20 May 2014 If you’re a keen cook you’ll be contributing to the £46 million spent on herbs annually in the UK! Do it yourself and save money.

Includes coffee/cakes and lunch. £90

Looking ahead Next issue we’ll be dithering over which beans are best to grow; looking at simple solutions to some common pests you may encounter in the veg plot; and gorging on a glut of home-grown goodies.

Pots & Containers - 21 May 2014 Learn how to ring the changes with suitable plants for all the seasons: bowls of bulbs for spring; colourful containers overflowing with flowers for summer; and showy evergreens to cheer us through the winter. Bring along a favourite container and learn how to plant it up for a stunning summer display. This practical workshop includes a demonstration of how to plant up a hanging basket.

Includes morning coffee and lunch, £85

Vin ce Pud du

Che f, Lucia’s Italian Kitchen

in the mix Childhood food memory?

Helping my “Nonna” make fresh pasta like ravioli and baking lovely fresh flavoured bread.

I still remember that smell of her homemade cooking.

Favourite family dish?

My family dish would be “Maialetto al mirto”, a hog roast with myrtle. All of the family come together for a long family meal and enjoy some lovely local wine.

A meal that inspires you?

I get inspired by fresh ingredients. The freshest ingredients make incredible dishes and it’s up to the chef to create a dish that brings the best out of those ingredients.

A wine that inspires you?

Gavi Di Gavi is a great wine from the Piedmont region of Italy. It is absolutely fantastic with some fresh sea bass and after work too!

Inspirational chef?

Michel Roux and Jamie Oliver.

Last meal?

It was Valentine’s week, so I treated my beautiful partner to a good meal, cooked and prepared especially for her. We had a shellfish platter to start then a seafood fregola - a typical dish of Sardinia.

Your last food and wine would be?

Seafood fregola and a great bottle of Gavi Di Gavi. A perfect combination.

Favourite food and wine city?

Apart from any city in my home country I would say Paris offers great dining experiences.

Favourite ingredients?

I’ll have to admit my favourite ingredients are pasta and fresh seafood – there is nothing nicer!

Tel: 01642 782 242 www.luciasitaliankitchen.co.uk

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

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

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Ian Turner

Joe Taylor

Sous Chef CHAPTERS HOTEL & RESTAURANT

Head Chef Brasserie Hudson Quay

The best dish your mum cooked?

Roast dinner - it’s always been a family favourite.

Guilty pleasure snack? Anything savoury really but I love having chorizo, salami and olives in my fridge at home, but they don’t last long.

What ingredient excites for spring? I can’t wait for rhubarb to come back into season. I love it.

What’s your favourite thing to do with eggs? They are so versatile but I don’t think you can beat a good fried egg.

Best meal recently? That’s easy it’s got to be my mum’s Christmas dinner.

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

The best dish your mum cooked?

Every Monday night mum would cook the family a scone pizza.

Guilty pleasure snack? Doritos dipped into cheese savoury finishing with a pack of Haribo Starmix.

What ingredient excites for spring?

I’m really looking forward to fresh asparagus and podded peas.

What’s your favourite thing to do with eggs? I love creating light, sweet soufflés – we currently have a banana soufflé on the menu.

Best meal recently?

The Feversham Arms in Helmsley – they have a great seasonal tasting menu.

Lee Hardy

Paul O’Hara

Head Chef LOTUS LOUNGE DURHAM

Executive Chef ROCKLIFFE HALL

The best dish your mum cooked?

Simply fresh tagliatelli pasta, crisp pancetta, black pudding & parmesan (I want some now).

Guilty pleasure snack? Roysters T-bone steak crisps, no other crisp compares.

What ingredient excites for spring?

I really love garlic spears; a great dressing in spring is green chilli, garlic spears and peanut.

A favourite thing to do with eggs?

Deep fried egg yolks with crisp asparagus & Yorkshire ham.

Best meal recently?

It would have to be at Vallum Farm, amazing fresh ingredients that are grown on-site.

The best dish your mum cooked? Corned beef hash - great comfort food and where my love for cooking was firmly founded!

Guilty pleasure snack?

Really good pork scratchings.

What ingredient excites for spring?

Asparagus, lamb, Jersey Royal potatoes and purple sprouting broccoli.

A favourite thing to do with eggs?

Cover soft boiled eggs with a smoked salmon mix, coat in breadcrumbs, deep fry and serve with curried mayonnaise.

Best mealrecently?

Lamb’s liver and veg – cooked up by Sam Taylor, our chef in The Clubhouse.

Tel: 0191 384 1999 www.lotus-lounge.co.uk

Tel: 01325 729 999 www.rockliffehall.com

Craig Gordon Barrack

Victoria Vassallo

Junior Sous Chef HOTEL INDIGO

Head Chef CHAPTERS HOTEL & RESTAURANT

The best dish your mum cooked?

I lived with my dad and the best dish was his venison spaghetti bolognaise.

Guilty pleasure snack?

I love cheese scones.

What ingredient excites for spring?

I’m looking forward to wild garlic as I go walking down Jesmond Dene picking it.

A favourite thing to do with eggs?

My dad breeds quails so I often get some eggs from him; I love pickling them.

Best meal recently?

Cellar Door in Durham. Seared venison, sticky red cabbage, crispy haggis, parma ham and bacon.

The best dish your mum cooked?

Oven-baked chicken, stuffed sourgettes and potato – it is very popular in Malta.

Guilty pleasure snack?

Honey-roasted nuts. Once I open a packet, I have to finish it.

What ingredient excites for spring?

It is a lovely season for new ingredients, but my favourite is asparagus and Hollandaise sauce.

A favourite thing to do with eggs?

Throw them at my husband.

Best meal recently?

In Malta at the Black Pig Restaurant.

It really is a treat, a food experience.

Tel: 0191 300 9222 www.hotelindigonewcastle.co.uk

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

Tel: 01642 261166 www.brasseriehudsonquay.com

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people

Chef Gennaro Contaldo famously taught Jamie Oliver how to cook Italian.

Katharine Capocci caught up with Gennaro ahead of the launch of the new Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Newcastle

Masterchef Gennaro Contaldo is one of these people you instantly warm to.

It’s all down to the mix of expert cooking skills, on show the lunchtime we meet, and a real passion for life, served up with a very large side order of utterly charming chat.

We talk as the expressive Italian is currently in his element knocking up a pasta dish on the hoof at the brand new Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Newcastle.

Into a pan goes diced garlic, olive oil, pancetta, a handful of wild mushrooms, the fresh egg pasta simmering, the finished dish garnished with tomatoes and parsley.

It’s all served up in four minutes flat – and all the while the lovely Gennaro has great easy banter with the chefs buzzing around him in the open kitchen. It is the most wonderful dish, comprising super-fresh ingredients, the pasta slightly al dente – and even better savoured alongside the view from the first-floor restaurant of Grey’s Monument and Grey Street. Very wow.

The eaterie, restaurant number 35 in the UK side of Jamie’s Italian chain, occupies the former Newcastle United store in Monument Mall. The handsome curved building with big picture windows has prime position in the city centre.

The ground floor with its outdoor seating area is geared more towards drinks, casual dining and pizzas. It has an industrial-style feel to the décor, with exposed pipework, reclaimed wood cladding, very comfy retro-style leather banquettes, sofas and chairs, and a magnificent bar constructed from railway sleepers.

Upstairs is more formal restaurant with seating for about 210, the open kitchen on view one side, the city vista the other, and hanging up are bunches of garlics, giant salamis and prosciuttos.

It’s a really great fit, the industrial and contemporary mix, with a light and bright attractive feel. It undoubtedly occupies a showpiece spot in town.

Dishes on the menu include sharing planks of cheese, vegetables and meats, pizza, pasta freshly made every day, steaks, the Jamie’s Italian burger, fish of the day, and an award-winning kids menu. Or you could simply sip a bottled Moretti or a glass of rose while soaking up the city views.

In fact Jamie and the team waited two years to find the perfect location in Newcastle.

And Gennaro is keen to point out that each restaurant (“it’s a collection of restaurants, not a chain”, he says) has its own feel and its own identity.

Gennaro, 65, in his clogs and stripy blue and white apron over his chef whites, the hair still black, slicked back, could chat away all afternoon. He’s in Newcastle for a couple of days to check out progress at the new Jamie’s Italian, ahead of its opening, and has been involved in training up staff and checking all is tip top.

The week before he was in town too for staff training days when the team were shown how to make antipasti, Jamie-style, and sat in on a masterclass in butchery.

The Italian, who hails from Minori on the Amalfi coast, but is based in London, says: “I just love Newcastle, I love it. I feel at home – it’s so friendly. Jamie asked me to give all his love to the Geordies.”

Gennaro, clueless as to who these mystery Geordies were, explains: “I thought somebody here was called Geordie. So I phoned and asked him, who is this Geordie?

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The Gennaro & Jamie show

Fixer >> Gennaro in Jamie’s new Newcastle restaurant

“We were looking at Newcastle for a long time. We wanted the perfect spot.”

And as for those views down Grey Street: “One of the most impressive streets in Europe,” Gennaro declares.

One half of BBC TV’s Two Greedy Italians (his famous mate Carluccio’s restaurant is just down the road), Gennaro and Jamie are great friends from way back when.

He’s known Jamie since he was a teenager when Gennaro was working at Carluccio’s Neal Street Restaurant in London and Jamie turned up looking for a job. He mentored and taught him how to cook Italian food.

“He stayed under my wing. I showed him how to cook pasta, fish, herbs, everything.”

Gennaro, who has a string of cookbooks to his name, and is a regular on TV cooking shows, then went on to open his own feted restaurant, Passione, in London, which he ran for ten years.

He doesn’t like to formalise his professional relationship with Jamie by calling himself a business partner, preferring instead to be known simply as his friend.

“I have six children, including Jamie. He calls me his London dad. We are very very close.”

For all he’s a pensioner, Gennaro’s still going strong and his energy is undiminished. He’s

still closely involved with Jamie’s projects and trains chefs and helps design the menus for Jamie’s Italian chain.

“I’m very very proud of Jamie. Jamie makes sure he looks after me. Jamie speaks to me every day, even when he’s away.”

Gennaro says of the latest Jamie’s Italian.

“It’s about minimum ingredients, maximum passion, using fresh, seasonal ingredients and affordability too.

“We have a wood-fired pizza oven and all fresh ingredients. Everything is sourced locally, the fish, meat and vegetables. And

95 percent of our family (staff ) are locals.”

He discovered the delights of the city’s indoor Grainger Market too on his latest visit to town. “I love it. People were very proud to show their produce. I saw passion and love. I saw a butcher in there and he was showing me the sausages and the pease pudding. I’m going to buy it!’

He adds: “I’m 65 years young and the oldest in the company. I enjoy it. There’s a lot of work but I’m working with a family.”

Jamie’s Italian, Monument Mall, Newcastle, NE1 7AL. www.jamieoliver.com/italian

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in bloom Clash: Sportmax Code trousers, £130, Paul Smith jumper, £175, Vivienne Westwood sunglasses, £135, all Fenwick.

Flower Power Embolden your brights with fabulous flowers and clash your colours like crazy. Seems spring has sprung.

(right) Grace: Ted Baker dress, £189, Ted Baker bag, £68.99, Psyche. Shoes, £180, L.K. Bennett, Fenwick.

Beth: Ted Baker trousers, £118.99, top, £128.99, Ted Baker bag, £178.99, Psyche. Shoes £195, L.K. Bennett, Fenwick

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SHEER CLASS

in bloom

TREND WATCH with Catherine Newton

Gone are the days where there is only one key colour palette or a single must-have hemline for a fashion season. The only rule this season is to inspire.

Here are the most note-worthy trends for spring/summer.

White on white An eternally chic and universally flattering trend. Different interpretations of the all-white trend are testament to the versatility of this look. An all achromatic style needn’t look bare, add intrigue to your outfit by playing with texture and silhouettes. Try different fabrics such as lace, leather and sheer panelling. Look to Calvin Klein’s seemingly pared back style which includes exposed zips, frayed hems and precise origami folds; these add a touch of edge to a classic look. Over at Stella McCartney, separates come in the form of giraffe print sheer panelling and tailoring. For a more feminine take, update an all-white look with Moschino Cheap and Chic dress, below left, £399.

Standout shades Vibrant hues take over many of the collections with standout shades that verge on neon. Ralph Lauren’s take on the trend translates to lime green 60s style minidresses and cobalt blue ball gowns, pairing the looks with minimal black and white accents. Joseph’s take on paintbox colours comprised of lemon yellow shift dresses (pictured, £385) and tangerine orange jumpsuits, all in clean and simple lines. Adapt the trend by focusing on one hue in varying tones and choose understated, classic separates such as an edgy leather jacket.

Sheer delight Perhaps the most seductive trend of the collections comes in the form of sheer shapes and transparent fabrics.

Layers of organza and transparent lace were seen at Fendi and Burberry Prorsum, bringing a lighter touch. Layering is crucial to this trend, especially for the more reserved.

Don’t restrict it to after-dark dressing, Theory’s transparent separates suggest keeping sheer panels to your sleeves or slipping something under a silk white shirt, to create a demure daytime look that anyone can master.

Into the fold Pleats are back. Dior took hold of the asymmetric look with ladylike skirts with sideway pleats while Christopher Kane has a different spin on the trend by using inserts of soft mint chiffon pleats to peep out of his pure white slip dresses. Paul Smith’s Black Collection interprets pleats with a monochrome, silk dress (£350) which has a contemporary touch on the trend and is perfect for any summer occasion.

Catherine Newton is Head of Womenswear at Fenwick, Newcastle

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Right: Patrizia Pepe dress, £318.99, Psyche. Shoes, £195, LK Bennett. Mulberry Lily, £750, both Fenwick Above: Joules shirt, £49.95, trousers, £53.99, Psyche.

Mulberry Lily, £750, both Fenwick

CREDITS: Photography: Kevin Gibson www.kgphotography.co.uk Styling: Fiona McLain Models: Beth and Grace, Tyne Tees Models www.tyneteesmodels.co.uk Fashion assistant: Victoria Bainbridge Hair&Make-up Victoria Forshaw www.pinspetalspowder.co.uk With thanks to the Construction Skills Department, Middlesbrough College. www.mbro.ac.uk Wallpaper: Sanderson Early Tulips. www.croftinterios.co.uk Stockists: Fenwick, Northumberland Street, Newcastle 0191 232 5100 www.fenwick.co.uk Psyche, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough 01642 888333 www.psyche.co.uk

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in bloom

booti-ful

LIVE TO SHOP This month, the Hunter man from Middlesbrough kicks the catwalk and we tune in to a Seventies hustle

Makes you proud to be British! It’s official. Our fashion industry is contributing billions to the economy. We’re making a fantastic impression overseas – with Northern designers playing a hugely prominent role.

Included among them, of course, our very own Barbour, and Hunter, now headed up by Middlesbrough-born Alasdhair Willis, whose other half is of course the uber-stylish Stella McCartney.

As the south of the country endured those terrible floods, Alasdhair Willis, of Hunter, sent models splish sploshing down the runway, for his very first show.

And with perfect timing they were appropriately dressed, in Hunter wellies – of all styles and colours – and acid bright Duffle coats, moody black parkas, and puffa jackets.

If Kate Moss first gave a lift to the humble Hunter boot at Glastonbury, it’s now reached stellar heights, if you’ll pardon the pun Ms McCartney.

High-heeled wellies – I can just see my farmer Dad, rolling his eyes – but hey – they work!

Rag n Bone wellies, short boots, Chelsea boots, floral rubber boots, Union Jack boots. And the ultimate rock and roll wellie – Original Skyfall.

Inspired by the decoration on a highly sought-after electric guitar, these bad boys boast bold white painted swirling stripes over black.

Each boot is a one-off – they totally rock – and if you’re a festival-goer I’d order them now. Or even for the hills and beaches of Northumberland. Hunter boots never looked so

STRIKE A POSE Puffa jacket and hip Hunters at London Fashion Week good. Meanwhile, North Yorkshire’s Christopher Bailey is exceeding expectations with his new collection – in a totally different vibe for 2014, he’s embracing the Bloomsbury look for Burberry.

Exquisitely painted oversized carpet bags, in wacky florals.

Floral handpainted sheepskin cropped jacket, and long leather trenches. And beautiful Edwardian-looking shoes,

with WENDY GIBSON hand-painted in floral designs, like collectable art.

It’s Arts and Crafts meets Brit design, and it’s fresh, beautiful, and very now.

Barbour continues its refreshing of the brand with lots more collaborations, including some very stylish smart phone cases, with those signature Barbour details.

Great if you have one of the phones of the moment, Samsung – who have now well overtaken Apple in sales – and are struggling to find a decent cover for your phone.

Pure Cashmere, homegrown, from Harrogate continues to produce beautiful and affordable pieces, perfect for this transitional time of year, with the softest, prettiest new slouchy boyfriend jumpers and cardigans in sherbert and sorbet tones, of raspberry, ice blue, apricot, and jade greens.

And best value bags this season, their new totes. They are a classic in the making. Understated, but cool.

If you loved American Hustle at the movies – well now is the time to get your very own fedora, flares, fringing and even jump suits, and work that seventies look!

You may even be able to save a small fortune, if you raid the back of your wardrobe. I’ve just dug out some highly over-the-top Roberto Cavalli, embroidered flare hipsters I could never bear to ditch – from ten years ago – which just reinforce the philosophy of never throwing anything out.

Have to Love, Gosforth is currently selling the highly affordable Finders Keepers jumpsuit – at just over a hundred pounds, as worn recently by Jessica Alba. It’s very Seventies, very Studio 54, and very on trend.

Grace: Green Joseph top, £199, Fenwick. Sportmax Code trousers, £130. Mulberry, £750, all Fenwick.

Beth: Pink Moschino dress, £395. Vivienne Westwood sunglasses, £135, L.K. Bennett bag, £275, all Fenwick

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SHINE ON

LUXE LOVES

Strut your stuff and get down to intu Metrocentre. FashionLIVE! is back again showcasing the latest Spring/Summer ‘14 looks and trends from all of our favourite fashion retailers. If you think you have what it takes to be a Style Hero just visit intumetrocentre.co.uk/fashion. We’ve seen all the latest gear and believe us, you’re going to look sooooooo fab this summer!!

Striking a light

Shine a statement luxey light with these striking hand-blown Murano glass pendants in super retro shades of orange, purple, smokey grey and white. Light shimmers through the hand-blown glass, sending us into the world of Mad Men. £2,850. www.kolarz-uk.com

3 - 4 - 5 and 6 April. Town Square. intumetrocentre.co.uk Fashion LIVE ‘14, in association with HELLo! Magazine.

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MAR/APR14

CURLY GIRLS

BRITISH HAIRDRESSING AWARDS WINNER 2013

a e r a h t w G ro

r sh of colou la p s a d n a ncy re-style u o b a h it ing w tyle for spr s e h t p u Loosen

Think loose curls, soft blondes and natural texture

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Stop the press! May 2014 will see the latest addition to the Hooker & Young salon group open in Ponteland. We’re so exited to be opening our fifth salon which will offer the very best in luxury hairdressing and beauty.

2014 is shaping up to be a pretty busy year for us so far. As I write we’re in New York shooting some new imagery for A/W 2014. Then it’s straight back to London for another photoshoot before flying to The Netherlands to do an industry hair show to an audience of 2000 hairdressers.

Busy, busy is how we like it - and we love salon time when there’s a new season and spring in the air.

How’s this for a fresh and relaxed style? Think loose curls, soft blondes and natural texture to get you looking effortlessly fabulous!

NEW SALON IN PONTELAND OPENING SOON Like our Facebook page for latest trends and special offers Darlington 01325 468 994 Gosforth 0191 217 0217 Jesmond 0191 281 6714 Wynyard 01740 644 690

www.hookerandyoung.co.uk Facebook/hooker&young Twitter @hookerandyoung MAR/APR14

work-it

LUXe loves

Reformed characters

Reformer pilates did it for Pippa. Now the yummy-mummy VIP fitness favourite has hit Durham

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Pilates is about more than just a pert posterior, but let’s face it, devotee Pippa Middleton has done more than most to make it the go-to fitness regime of the moment.

Reformer pilates involves performing body conditioning and strengthening moves on a special bed – the Reformer. Safe and effective, it is indeed credited for creating Pippa’s toned bum, which stole the show at Prince William and Kate’s royal wedding in April 2011.

She’s not the only celeb to favour reformer – other fans include Andy Murray, Tiger Woods, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna.

Now the new boutique gym, Shaping Futures in Durham, has installed a Reformer studio which is already pulling in the yummy mums who love its celebrity style and genuine results.

At the helm is Leila Bramwell owner of the gym, which also provides a host of classes and bespoke gym packages in the studio.

The new gym in Hawthorn Terrace in the city centre is within an historic building which was once an organ factory.

Close attention has been paid to the look and atmosphere of the gym to reflect its heritage.

While equipment and classes are as modern as they come, the characterful original walls, windows and architectural features give the gym its unique boutique feel.

It is a welcoming, unthreatening place with members of all ages who have programmes geared to their needs, including the reformer sessions.

“Reformer works the body’s 650 muscles all at once in a controlled, safe way,” says Leila.

“It allows the muscles to stretch but they won’t jolt and the body stays balanced so it is safe for everyone – from a 70-year-old lady to a teenager,” she says.

Sportsmen like Ryan Giggs and David Beckham (Victoria is a Reformer fan too) have maintained their fitness levels with yoga and pilates – the key is the ‘core’.

“Pilates is great for your body because it gets deeper into the muscle and helps you get a longer and leaner body.

“Reformer is a stabilising bed which takes it to another level and produces even better results – and quickly. It brings the whole exercise full circle because your body is working against something instead of using no equipment.”

Invented by Pilates founder Joseph Pilates, the reformer is a bed-like frame with a flat platform on it, called the carriage, which rolls back and forth on wheels within the frame. The carriage is attached to one end of the Reformer by a set of springs. The springs provide choices of differing levels of resistance as the carriage is pushed or pulled along the frame. The carriage has shoulder blocks on it that keep a practitioner from sliding off the end of the reformer as they push or pull the carriage.

At the spring end of the reformer there is an adjustable bar called a footbar. The footbar can be used by the feet or hands as a practitioner moves the carriage. The machine also has long straps with handles on them that are attached to the top end of the frame. They can be pulled with legs or arms to move the carriage as well.

Body weight and resistance of the springs are what make the carriage more or less difficult to move.

april spa offer

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package price ONLY £80

Reservations, telephone 01661 855 725 Matfen Hall Spa, Matfen Village, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 0RH Discover more at www.matfenhall.com Not in conjunction with any other offer. Subject to availability.

award winning Satinjet technology and performance at an amazing £99! visit our showroom to see it in action along with other innovation for your bathroom.

Sportsmen like Ryan Giggs and David Beckham (Victoria is a Reformer fan too) have maintained their fitness levels with yoga and pilates – the key is the ‘core’.

MAR/APR14

The Reformer’s versatility means that exercises can be done lying down, sitting, standing, pulling the straps, pushing the footbar, perched on the footbar, perched on the shoulder blocks, with additional equipment, upside down, sideways and all kinds of variations.

In the gym Leila gives us an example of just a few of the moves – she’s at a pretty extreme level of fitness and makes it look simple but her flexibility shows how the reformer can train many parts of the body in different ways.

Joseph Pilates designed the machine to help the recovery of injured soldiers – using elongated straps helped stretch their muscles. The system was – and continues to be – adopted by professional ballet dancers.

“It keeps muscles in balance, so it is a natural way of exercising,” says Leila.

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“I have clients who have suffered a slipped disk and even someone who broke her back, using the Reformer.

“It is not a case of the machine doing the work for you, it makes the body work three times harder than it otherwise would.

“We are talking about the famous benefits of pilates including overall strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. These things lead to better posture and for many, relief from pain associated with physical imbalances such as back pain. When we talk about strength building and Pilates, muscles of the core, are paramount. Flat abs, strong backs, toned buttock and thighs are all results.”

Reformer classes at Shaping Futures are £20. A range of packages are available.

Details on 0191 386 4865 www.shapingfutures.co.uk

£99

...better by design 10 Stirling Court, Eleventh Avenue North, Team Valley, NE11 0JF

www.h2obdc.co.uk 59

news on hues

BEAUTY WATCH with VICTORIA LEES

Beauty:update Beauty update… the new shades

See the light >> Clarins’ Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base, £26, really is wonderful stuff, imparting luminosity and eliminating imperfections. Apply alone on top of your regular day cream or mix with your foundation. It comes in Rose, Champagne and Peach shades.

Luscious lips <<

When beauty is the last thing on your mind…

Periods of ill health are an inevitable and unavoidable part of life whether you catch the latest bug going around or something more serious. And how we look can be directly linked to how we feel.

When we are unduly stressed or unwell, the skin’s natural functions are affected and you may experience some surprising and unwelcome side effects, such as drier skin, more sensitivity than usual or sore, itchy and irritated patches. Some medications and treatments can make things even worse, so what can we do to minimise discomfort when you are suffering a bout of ill health? Here are my five top tips:

Put a spring in your step with Clarins’ new Opalescence collection. Pucker up with cheery new colours in the Joli Rouge Brilliant Sheer Shine Lipsticks range, £18.

These provide luminous colour and are deeply moisturising, leaving lips soft and very shiny. New additions come in Tropical Pink, Coral Tulip and Pink Orchid.

1. Be gentle >> Select a skincare range designed for sensitive skin. These ranges normally have little or no fragrance and calm and soothe irritated skin.

Brands such as Murad and Simple are ideal.

GO-TO HUE >> Check out Bobbi Brown’s stunning new Nectar & Nudes collection, with zingy shades ranging from apricot nectars and fresh pink corals to peaches.

We’re especially loving the limited edition Nectar & Nudes Eye Palette, £37.50, featuring six totally wearable colours in shimmering nectars, soft taupes and rich brown that flatter all skin tones.

Available from counters regionwide.

Lip treats >> A Tom Ford lippy is a new-season treat if ever there was one. Do a price-per-wear and it’s a great buy, they do have staying power. Bold or subtle, our picks for the season – Incorrigible for when you’re feeling sunny and In the Buff for a more neutral moment. £36 on counter at Fenwick.

2. Be safe >> As your immune system is working overtime you may be more susceptible to bugs so ensure you are careful to wash any flannels or makeup brushes used daily.

Sweet shimmers <<

3. Be hydrated >> Ensure you drink plenty of water and eat plenty of water-rich foods such as fruit and vegetables.

This will not only aid your recovery but also keep your skin cells hydrated, easing that tight, dry feeling.

Liking the look of Autograph Pure Colour Powder Highlighter in Pink Shimmer, £12.50, from Marks and Spencer.

4. Be comfortable >> If you are finding your lips, nose, elbows and feet are so dry they are almost cracking, smother them in a rich balm before bed.

5. Be pampered >> At a time where relaxation and pampering is needed most, think about a spa day. It could be just the tonic you need if you’re suffering or recovering from the effects of illness.

Consultations and advice are done privately and can even be handled before you arrive to ensure you get the best treatment with the therapist best suited to your needs. A great website which recommends spas that cater for ‘recovery retreats’ is spabreaks.com Wishing you a happy and healthy 2014

Victoria is based at The Spa, Rockliffe Hall.

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Skin marvel << A new splash-out product from Darphin is an SOS essential – super-treaty lift-in-a-pot contouring cream from Darphin. A first and a bit of a miracle.

Stimulskin Plus Reshaping Divine Serum, £159, incorporates Push Up Technology with hyaluronic acids which work together to target the contour of the face and help redefine and smooth. It promises to find and define those cheekbones that are hiding! A real feel-good product if you’re in the run-up to a special day. www.darphin.co.uk

Oldie but goodie Elemis Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules have been released in limited edition super-sized (and very pretty) pots to celebrate their 10th year.

These day and night skin detoxing rose and lavender capsules smell wonderful and are jam-packed with powerful ingredients to leave the complexion plumped up. Limited edition supersize capsules, £79.50, from selected John Lewis and Debenhams’ stores and www.timetospa.co.uk

MAR/APR14

FIGHTING FIT

COMFORT ZONE

FITNESS! with Leila Bramwell

Stress Our lives these days are so stressful. We spend more hours working than most European countries and we put so much more pressure on ourselves than we used to.

Life becomes a balancing act of keeping the family happy, paying the bills and, of course, the pressure of looking good is so much higher than ever before.

Stress is the immune system’s worst enemy. When you become stressed your body’s ability to fight germs is compromised by physical and mental tension.

Over time high levels of stress hormones dampen the immune system. So if you are wondering why you have had a cold that has lasted for a long time or a cold-sore that just will not go, try changing your life only a little and stay clear of the pharmacy.

Here are a few things that can help turn your life around from a roller coaster ride which just wont stop to a calmer and happier you.

LOVE THE SKIN YOU’RE IN >> We're intrigued by the prospect of a drink being able to make your skincare dreams come true.

I recall chatting to TV make-up guru Mikey Phillips when he was at Wynyard Hall recently and he was raving about power-packed collagen drinks.

He swore by them for making his skin look fabulous.

They seem to be the latest weapon in the armoury of facelifts and injections, albeit much less painful. Most Brits associate collagen with lip injections but women are drinking it instead. In China the drinks are particularly popular.

Sales of collagen-enriched drinks, powders and tablets are growing rapidly – though it could be that eating more vegetables and fruits may be helpful too in the skincare battle because of their antioxidants.

In a recent study conducted by Mintel, researchers found that most European women take vitamins and supplements to boost their health. However, not many of us actually take anything to improve our skin from within. That could be because most formulae aren’t that great to taste.

Skinade is one of the market leaders in the UK, a 150ml peach-flavoured drink that packs a punch for your skin. Each bottle contains 7,000mg of hydrolyzed marine collagen, omegas 3 & 6 (from organic flaxseed oil), MSM (natural organic sulphur), calcium ascorbate (special form of vitamin C), l-lysine, a complex Vitamin B structure with a 35 calorie-count.

Of a study of 122 people, 96pc of participants taking Skinade for 30 days said skin was more hydrated and more radiant. As far as wrinkle-reduction goes, a double blind placebocontrolled study published in Germany showed a reduction of wrinkles in the skin, 65pc more pro-collagen, 18pc more elastin and a maximum reduction in eye wrinkle volume of almost 50pc of those taking 2500mg to 5000mg of collagen - Skinade contains a 7000mg dose of collagen. A 30-day course costs £90. www.skinade.com

Yummy, mummy <<

1. SLEEP – Of course there are obvious things that we can do like get a good eight hours sleep.

Nice one for Mother’s Day, Origins’ Touch of Youth gift box contains some skin do-gooders.

Plantscription™ Anti-aging serum is a luxey liquid which helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Anti-aging cleanser works to dissolve impurities leaving skin looking radiant, smooth and youthfully alive while Youth Renewing Night Cream replenishes dehydrated skin and works to reverse the signs of ageing while you sleep. £49 on counter.

2. MEDITATE – Research has shown that as little as 10 minutes of meditation a day reduces the physical symptoms of stress. The best time to do this is first thing in the morning. So just set that alarm clock 10 minutes earlier and you can help yourself have a calmer day.

3. OUTDOORS – Take time out and enjoy the fresh air. Walk, run, cycle, roller blade, in fact anything you enjoy. Keep the iPod off and go somewhere quiet with little or no traffic. Listen to nature and breathe.

4. Join a PILATES or YOGA class – Both of these help reduce stress as it slows you down allowing you to take time to breathe and focus your mind only on you and your body.

5. HAVE FUN – With your partner or friends. Join a class that will make you burn serious calories while having a laugh. Not only will it help you look good but endorphins will help you feel better and help you relax and de-stress.

6. EAT CLEAN – Studies show that people can cope with stress better when they have a healthy diet and drink less caffeine and alcohol. This helps with quality of sleep so we have a better coping mechanism to deal with stress.

Stress causes people to gain weight or lose weight, develop skin conditions, it can cause mood swings and also can make you become depressed. Taking time just for you and doing some of the above will help alleviate the symptoms.

Nail notes >> Fascinating fact – the French manicure was invented in Hollywood as a ‘catch-all’ to save actresses having to keep changing their nail colour to go with their on-screen outfits.

Clever idea, eh? And the man behind this brilliant little idea was Jeff Pink – was there ever a better name for a varnish supremo? ‘The French’ time-saving manicure accentuated the nails without ever upstaging the outfit and today it is still loved by all. It made Jeff some kind of nail-god and his brand, Orly, pretty much leads the field when it comes to nails with a huge range of polishes in colour, shimmer, sparkle and shine. The range has just found a new home at Rockliffe Hall’s Spa and the colour spectrum is phenomenal – a match for every outfit, from bold bikini to bride’s mum. www.rockliffehall.co.uk/spa

In health and happiness Leila Bramwell www.shapingfutures.co.uk Good health in 2014 Leila Bramwell

Polish perfection >> In Health and Happiness Leila Bramwell www.shapingfutures.co.uk Pilates and Fitness Studio, Durham City

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Above >> Tom Ford Incandescent is a catch-all neutral, £26. Autograph. Ultimate Wear Nail Colour in Sun Gold, £6, Marks and Spencer.

Below >> Bobbi Brown new-season Bare Peach Glitter Nail Polish to layer over Nectar Nail Polish, both £11.

MAR/APR14

In the pamper zone

A trip to Slaley Hall Club & Spa in Northumberland is just the tonic for stressed-out souls in need of a little soothing, as Katharine Capocci discovers Turning into the grounds of Slaley Hall is one of those definite ‘aaah’ moments. With its green and serene setting, it feels like you’re embarking on a real get-awayfrom-it all adventure.

Sweeping through the 1000-acre grounds past the championship golf course and with the elegant Edwardian mansion coming into view, I could almost feel the tension seep out of knotted shoulders.

In need of a spot of pampering and a tranquil setting, the newly-refurbished spa made a welcome sight for sore eyes.

The spa has recently been revamped and now offers nine treatment rooms and a sumptuously decorated relaxation area with calming muted blue and grey colour scheme. The new dual treatment room is ideal for pamper time for two.

The spa offers the full range of treatments including facials, massages and pedicures using luxe products including divine-smelling ESPA, Jessica and St Tropez.

From the moment you enter the tropical pool room, it really is a case of you leave your cares behind. This is comfort zone time.

It’s a toasty temperature that just induces you to relax.

Whatever floats your boat – bubbly time out in the Jacuzzi or the super-soothing heat of the sauna and steam room – it’s all about indulgent pampering.

Not forgetting, of course, there’s also a juice bar and state-of-the-art gym for those more energetic bods.

My guest and I were trying out the Spa With Me In Style package – an absolute bargain at the special price of £59

MAR/APR14

per person or £99 for two. This normally costs £132 but is on offer until at least the end of April.

This includes full use of the spa facilities, afternoon tea with a glass of prosecco and a 55-minute treatment.

Afternoon tea was a treat in Duke’s Grill with its deep burgundy sink-into-me seats and views of the grounds.

Tables dressed in pristine white table linen were just perfect for treat time.

We indulged with finger sandwiches with the crusts off (naturally), jam and cream scones and sweet creations like nutty flapjacks, coffee choux buns, lemon slices and bite-size meringues, with breakfast tea and prosecco.

Treatment time and my parched and peaky complexion was crying out for a pick-me-up. My ESPA Skin Solutions Facial was just the ticket – 55 minutes of full-on pampering.

Rituals of cleansing, exfoliating, mask and massage had skin feeling quenched and plumped up. I especially loved the

Regenerating Face Treatment Oil with frankincense used in the facial massage. Simply delicious aromas.

My friend’s ESPA deep muscle massage with hot stones was a deep-heat treat. Neck, shoulders and back (as well as the backs of legs) felt the benefits of a powerful kneading. She’d never tried hot stones before and could really feel the relaxing effect of the heat on tight muscles.

All afternoon we were extremely well-looked-after by the attentive team of well-trained, experienced therapists.

Chill-out time back in the relaxation room marked the end of our pamper visit. A therapeutic and deeply relaxing experience all round.

Slaley Hall Club & Spa, Slaley Hall, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 0BX. Tel: 01434 673 193. Find out more on the spa’s wide range of packages online. http://www.devere-hotels.co.uk/slaley-hall

Whatever floats your boat - bubbly time in the Jacuzzi or the super-soothing heat of the sauna and steam room - it’s all about indulgent pampering.

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paintbox time

TREND WATCH with Bryan Middleton Forget matchy-matchy, colour clash adds some dash to bring in the spring >> Balance: Grey tones calm a loud interior or add a colour pop with something zingy. The Jackson lamp looks great in a row, £59, www.made.com

Maybe it’s a reaction to a few years in the grip of a recession but when it comes to interiors it seems to be a time to let the brightness in.

Bold pinks, electric blues and zingy citrus shades with a definite hint of the 50s, are creeping into our homes – and we’re inviting them in with a smile.

Maybe we’ve just had enough of drab greys and po-faced ‘tones’ and want to feel a smile creeping on to our face when we walk into a space that feels a bit cheery thanks to a chirpy yellow wall or a bold newly-upholstered armchair.

Upcycling is a big thing these days – the trend for taking an old, revived piece of furniture, bringing them back to their glory days then throwing a curve ball with a dazzling piece of fabric for upholstery.

Feels like spring has sprung.

>> Right: Orange Huatuclo chair, £239, www.boqa.fr.fr

>> Top: Pink room set, marksandspencer.com

>> Zippy: Cushions made from sumptuous Designers Guild velvet with edge piping.

Available in nine different colours from raspberry to ivory. £32, www.oliverbonas.com

>> Left: A bright background with Yellowcake emulsion, www.farrow-ball.com

Unique designer furniture on display

Middleton Design DURHAM

• Kitchens • Bedrooms • Interior design service

• Curtains • Fabrics • Wallpapers • Commissioned furniture www.middletondesign.co.uk 66

www.greatlook.co.uk 0191 4913836

Station House, Durham City 0191 384 3884 MAR/APR14

10th Avenue West | Team Valley | Gateshead | NE11 0HL | Opposite Retail World

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Woodlea Manor POA Fine & Country Durham and Tees Valley 19a Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HL. 0191 678 2191 www.fineandcountry.co.uk

MAR/APR14

Tel: 01642 612 204

www.aanco.co.uk

Windows, Doors & Conservatories

SHOW VILLAGE

(Next to Court Homemakers)

Portrack Lane, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 2RB

Nine Consevatories /Orangeries and Bi-Fold Doors....

Wake up, pad downstairs and dive in for your healthgiving 20 lengths before breakfast

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?... THEN VISIT OUR SHOW VILLAGE

balcony, which is replicated at the other side of the house in the second bedroom, making a fabulous guest suite.

The glamorous family bathroom has a step-up built-in bath.

The single-storey, spacious annexe has a large reception room, a double bedroom, bathroom and kitchen – perfect for a family looking for separate accommodation for a teen or granny.

The village of Lanchester is eight miles west of the city of Durham. The village centre has a number of pubs and a small shopping centre.

Create the Envy!..

Forget the trek to a health spa. If you’ve got a million or so to spare, you could live the spa life without ever having to change from the bathrobe.

The nicely luxurious Woodlea Manor in Lanchester, County Durham boasts a stunning pool, sauna and spa. Such a pampering thought – wake up, pad downstairs and dive in for your health-giving 20 lengths before breakfast.

Woodlea Manor is a grand mansion set in a stunning landscape between Satley and Lanchester with interior details and features on an impressive scale.

Your very own ‘leisure wing’ is one of the show-stopping features of this honey-coloured stone property.

The inviting 16m swimming pool area has dedicated his and hers changing and shower rooms, a solarium, gym and relaxation area with doors leading outside, as well as a fullyequipped games room and bar.

In the grounds there’s an annexe with separate living accommodation.

The grounds with stabling are impressive and well cared for.

The south and east facing gardens include lawns, trees and a natural pond, with fabulous views to the front and woodland at the rear.

Private and secure behind electric iron gates and stone walls, the property is approached via a sweeping, cobble block drive that leads to the imposing entrance, an extensive parking area and on towards outbuildings and stores.

Beyond the stone steps and columns of the grand entrance is a large reception hallway with polished tiled flooring leading right and left to the main reception accommodation.

To one side is a sunny drawing room that leads open-plan into a garden room with French doors to a stone terrace – a pretty perfect entertaining space as part of the leisure wing.

To the right of the hallway is a formal dining room with a feature fireplace containing a multi-fuel burner and quiet, light-filled sitting room, also with a multi-fuel burner for cosy winter nights.

Behind here is the fabulous breakfasting kitchen, a dream for a masterchef in the making with cream units with granite worktops to three sides, a central island with breakfast bar and terracotta flooring.

Doors lead to a courtyard patio area for outdoor dining.

The central staircase leads to a galleried landing and five large double bedrooms, three of which have luxury en suite bathrooms with free-standing baths.

The master suite also benefits from fitted wardrobes and a

- ORANGERIES

A country spa to call your own. Dip into a deeply luxurious Durham des-res

Est. 1979

- BI-FOLD DOORS

Jump into this

© Solidor Ltd.

- DOORS

GRAND DESIGN

destination sand

Properties >> Many and varied. The land of the revived fisherman’s cottage, the grand Edwardian terrace and the beach hut. All increasingly at a premium as folks who love to be beside the seaside decamp to their dream home.

You can find characterful cottages or really quite grand properties close to a town centre that has lots of life about it – sometimes too much when it comes to bank holidays. Out of season it is a good place to be, making it an easy second-home choice, especially for those living in the Tees Valley – about a 45-minute drive.

destination sand

Whitby

Actor Bill Nighy is fan of Whitby, recently spotted tucking into fish and chips on a visit to the charming North Yorkshire coastal town.

The sort of place where you wonder if a seaside home and a longer commute might just be worth a move

Rob Green runs Green’s Restaurant just by the swing bridge in Whitby. He lives in the town with wife Emma and son Alfie.

Three good things about living here >> 1. Living next to the sea with beautiful countryside just minutes away 2. The wealth of local food - fresh fish from the sea, game from the moors, outdoor reared meats from local farms and great cheeses from small artisan producers 3. Whitby retaining its local charm, while a lot of other seaside towns are changing and becoming very commercial Places to take visitors >> 1. Take a ride on the steam train through the Yorkshire Moors to Pickering 2. Take a trip to the Fortune kipper house on Henrietta Street, an amazing family-run business 3. Take a fishing trip out to sea with all the family - great fun (I can recommend the boat Libby)

Stroll >> The land of the good walk. The Cleveland Way marches across the clifftops from Whitby to its end at Robin Hood’s Bay and is a brilliant, gusty, feel-good trek.

Wander the sands from Whitby to Sandsend, always brisk and bracing with good rockpooling stop-offs.

Or follow the River Esk and head from coast up country to pretty Ruswarp.

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with DUNCAN YOUNG

my local

Well connected >> A bit weather-dependent. There’s a moors road and a coast road to take you to Whitby but both suffer in the winter. Other times of the year they make the journey pretty easy and the sweep of coastline at Lythe Bank as you dip down into Sandsend and see the waves and Whitby Abbey is one to gladden the heart.

You can take a train from Teesside (or Darlington) along the coast to Whitby train station. Or even do it in nostalgic steam engine style from Pickering – maybe a commute too far!

Shop >> Whitby is really on the up when it comes to shopping. It has the stamp of cool running through it like a typeface in a stick of rock.

What’s nice is that it is also still a little bit unspoilt.

People who live and work there can be a creative bunch, drawn to the place, so there’s a nice marriage of the traditional and modern.

There are some funky clothes shops – especially if you’re into your Goth! But that’s not all – find cool grown-up labels like Nougat, Avoca, Noa Noa at the lovely browse-about Shepherd’s Purse in Church Street. This place is also home to a hippy-chic and wholefood deli and emporium – that’s the right word – selling a great range of teas, herbs, spices, dried goods, fabrics, flowers, cheeses and skincare products.

You have to take a look at Fortune’s the ages-old traditional kipper smokery and bring some newspaper-wrapped delicacies home with you.

property watch

In-the-know secret >> The date of Easter changes each year, falling any time between 22 March and 25 April, but as many people enjoy the family fun trail around Whitby Abbey this Easter, how many know that its date was agreed on the very site on which they stand? www.greensofwhitby.com

property: three to choose Stunner A stunning Grade II listed Georgian townhouse for £500,000. Not even a project – it’s been restored to its former glory making the most of its original features throughout then given some real contemporary oomph. Amazing arched Georgian sash windows and five floors of luxe. A cool B&B at the moment. Grab it for your next career move!

£500,000 Bridgefords Hammonds the Whitby Jet specialist has a fascinating history making exquisite jewellery from this precious gemstone that is only found on the cliffs and beaches in Whitby – the shop near the 199 steps beneath the abbey has an interesting mini-museum, workshops to watch – and a lovely tearoom upstairs.

Plenty of cool interiors and gift shops as well as plenty for the surfy set.

A quirky place to spend ages mooching is The Stonehouse Emporium in Skinner Street

– which is all about ‘real’ vintage – very covetable bags, dresses, accessories from the 1950s, before and after. A brilliant collection of vintage magazines like Vogue, Harpers and The Face. Vintage film magazine, musical instruments – on it goes! eat and drink >> Ooh, spoilt for choice. Kippers we have already mentioned. The Magpie Café is usually mentioned as the star of the show when it comes to fish and chips but to be

fair, It is quite hard to find bad fish and chips in Whitby where the boats land daily and fresh fish is a staple.

The hotels and restaurants have upped the game now that Whitby is a foodie destination in its own right and there are some real stars.

We rate Green’s of course – chef Rob Green is a Whitby legend with his lovely, award-winning restaurant serving up the best from the boats with a classic tradition and a bit of wit. A smashing cut-above place.

For a crab sandwich after a bracing walk and with a die-for location, the glorified beach hut that is the Sandsend Café takes some beating. Your Whitby crab sandwich comes on ordinary white sliced loaf loaded with fresh crab meat.

For hearty dining, Humble Pie & Mash in Church Street does what it says on the tin – and Ditto in Skinner Street is getting rave reviews for its modern bistro dishes.

Botham’s is the coastal version of Betty’s when it comes to tempting tearooms. The Skinner Street shop and tearoom is very retro and serves up tea-time favourites – we have great memories of munching Botham’s lemon buns outside our seaside beach hut as kids.

MAR/APR14

Mill dream Grade II listed former Mill House set within grounds down to Cockmill Beck on the outskirts of Whitby. This sandstone property built in the early 1800s has a really cool move-in interior and there’s a summery country garden outside.

£375,000 Bridgefords

Something fishy This modern harbourside apartment within sniffing distance of Magpie Café is opposite the fish quay if you want early-morning action.

Right in the heart of Whitby, it’s clean and contemporary with brilliant views from its outside roof terrace.

£199,000 Jacksons MAR/APR14

A SPRING CLEAN No sooner have people returned from skiing in The Alps to find there’s an opportunity to reflect upon the climatic changes taking place in the housing market, as well as the weather itself.

The sight of snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses in our gardens signifies the changes that lead us into spring and, traditionally, for estate agents, the busiest time of the whole year.

The recovery of the housing market has already been well recorded so we’re all gearing up for an extremely busy period over March and April.

There are some important tips for many home owners to consider in order to maximise the value of their homes and encourage a greater number of viewings and, effectively, a quicker sale.

Most properties vary between 5 and 10 per cent in value, depending on the presentation and level of detail that clients have taken to prepare their home for sale.

1. The first and most important issue is to de-clutter houses to ensure that only the vital pieces of furniture needed within a room are kept. This enables buyers to see how large a room is, how well decorated and to appreciate some of the building’s features.

2. The period of the property should be reflected in any improvements carried out and we have seen many examples in recent years of bad improvements devaluing homes. A 1950s detached house in Gosforth was sold by my company a little while ago and had brand new plastic double glazed windows, finished in a wood effect, which the majority of buyers did not like and which was not in keeping with the original era of the house. As part of their purchase the new buyers insisted that the windows were replaced to be more in keeping with the original style of the house.

I also remember a very modern, minimalist and somewhat clinical white kitchen being put into a Victorian period house to ‘help it sell’.

The reality was that it didn’t! The new kitchen went onto the skip two weeks after the new owners moved in.

3. The importance of gardens and external areas remains extremely relevant and a good spring clean can assist tremendously. Cleaning the leaves from last year’s autumn fall, turning over the borders and carrying out essential maintenance will help a property look attractive, as will external lighting, which is becoming increasingly important to many buyers.

4. Internally, efforts should be made to clean a house thoroughly and, where possible, re-grout tiles, steam clean carpets and redecorate any areas of damage to walls and ceilings.

The more welcoming the house appears during a viewing, the more likely you will receive a second viewing and an offer.

This is why scented candles and room scents can be very useful, especially when the house has a lot of pets.

Homes should always be friendly, warm and welcoming, as well as neat and tidy, yet still have a lived-in feel and not always look like a show home.

I think many people in the UK will be ready for a period of dry and sunny days and I hope that the warmer weather will encourage more home buyers to have greater confidence in the housing market, enabling people to move more freely.

Values are beginning to change in certain areas of the region and it is essential that you have good professional advice from an estate agent who can update you on the current climate.

At Sanderson Young we are enjoying a spell of brisk and strong demand. If you are thinking of buying or selling please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0191 223 3500.

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

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THE WYND WYNYARD

THE GRANARY, BYERS GARTH, DURHAM Since under going conversion into exclusive homes, the small development of barns at Sherburn House has proven to be a popular and sought after choice for families. With wide ranging views of the open countryside that surrounds it, yet just a few minutes from Durham City, it is little wonder that owners say Byers Garth offers a superb best-of-both-worlds option. The Granary is a threebedroom detached property built in stone. Original barn openings have been retained as part of its rural character yet inside this is a stylish, contemporary home. The ground floor is light and spacious, comprising a generous lounge with room for dining, a study or playroom, a tiled reception hallway, cloakroom/w.c and a breakfasting kitchen. The lounge is a lovely room with exposed wood flooring and a log burner-effect stove set in an inglenook fireplace. The kitchen is fitted with oak units and granite worktops and comes with a range cooker. To the first floor there are three double bedrooms en-suite and family bathroom with free standing bath. The property has a private and enclosed garden, which is ideal for young children, and there is private parking for up to three vehicles. Sherburn House lies to the quieter south east of Durham, yet is minutes away from access to the A1(M) at Bowburn, making it an ideal location for commuting to Durham or further afield. The shopping, restaurants, leisure facilities and schools of the city are within a short drive, while returning home brings a sense of peace and a taste of life in the country.

Considerable interest is expected to be generated by the arrival of 7, The Wynd on to the market. Situated in one of the most sought after locations within exclusive Wynyard village, this is an exceptional, south facing family property built on large scale on a superb plot.

With woodland to the front and the golf course at the back, it is a beautiful position enhanced by a landscaped garden offering privacy as well as peace and quiet. This individually designed, high quality home offers extremely generous and versatile accommodation comprising three reception rooms, a large kitchen, home office an outstanding sun lounge on the ground floor and five double bedrooms, three bathrooms and a sauna upstairs. A block paved drive leads through a private gateway to the imposing frontage with private parking area and triple integral garage. Built on a large scale, all the rooms are of generous proportions and lead off the central hallway with its sweeping staircase. Typically the heart of the home, the large kitchen has Corian work surfaces, a centre island, space for every day dining and relaxing and French doors, which can be swung open to an outdoor decked sun terrace and the attractive rear garden with lawns and established borders. 7 The Wynd is the perfect forever home in which to lay down family roots and enjoy a lifestyle in a rural setting yet still within easy reach of town and main transport links.

Contact: 01740 645 444

WELLINGTON DRIVE WYNYARD

WELLINGTON DRIVE WYNYARD

• A unique three bedroom, detached home with the heart of Wynyard Village • Superb accommodation that has emerged following significant improvements • An extension, together with a revamped layout, has provided what many buyers seek today • Excellent open plan living space that is light and bright and with direct access to the garden • Low maintenance gardens to the front and back with decked areas for outdoor dining, and views of the village cricket pitch • Particularly special feature is at the back of the house, where a substantial orangery-style extension has been added

Contact: 01740 645 444

£440,000 Contact: 01740 645 444

Newcastle 0845 459 6000

Durham 0191 384 2277

Wynyard 01740 645 444

residing@fineandcountry.com

info@durhamfineandcountry.co.uk info@wynyardfineandcountry.co.uk residing@fineandcountry.com cumbria@fineandcountry.com

Tyne Valley 0845 459 6000

Contact: 0191 384 22777

£979,000

THE GRANARY WYNYARD

• A substantial, detached family home built on a palatial scale • With five bedrooms, three reception rooms, a home office and an open plan dining kitchen • Upgraded to an exceptionally high standard and the versatile accommodation is beautifully presented • The kitchen is fitted with attractive French oak units, granite worktops and quarry tile flooring • The columned portico leads into a porch with useful cloak cupboards and on into the reception hallway • Generous lounge has a feature fireplace, timber flooring and wooden shutters, which are replicated across the hallway in the family room

...300 offices worldwide

£295,000 Cumbria 0845 872 5453

£320,000

YEW TREE COTTAGE CASTLE EDEN

• A transformation has taken place to create a superb family property at 94 Wellington Drive • This four bedroom detached house has under gone significant improvement providing the ideal open plan family space • Refurbished family bathroom and en-suites • Deceptively spacious from the outside with high quality fixtures and fittings and rooms that function to meet the needs of a modern family • A large decked sun terrace runs the width of the rear of the property having access from both the breakfasting kitchen and lounge • Landscaped rear garden with woodland backdrop, established borders and summerhouse to the rear, ample parking and double garage

Contact: 01740 645 444

Lakes 01539 733 500

Northumberland 0845 459 6000

sales@fineandcountry-lakes.co.ul

info@durhamfineandcountry.co.uk

• A unique property in the idyllic and rather grand and historic setting of the original 18th century Castle Eden • Presents an opportunity to live in a country home of great character and interest • Combined with modern comforts and good access for easy commutes around the region • Cottagey in style with period features that contribute to its warm and welcoming feel • Full of charm both inside and out, it is set in a stunning, sunny garden that is enclosed by mature trees with a backdrop of the grade II listed Gothic-style castle • Castle grounds location with an abundance of beautiful walks on the door step provided by the adjacent Castle Eden Dene and Cycle path

£389,950 Contact: 0191 384 2277

£325,000

www.fineandcountry.com Head office: 121 Park Lane, Mayfair, London WIK 7AG.

SELLING THE REGION’S FINEST HOMES

Jesmond

SELLING THE REGION’S FINEST HOMES

Lauder Grange

Prospect Hill, Corbridge

A rare opportunity to purchase a highly individual, luxurious and unique home. Located in the heart of Jesmond, the property represents one of Newcastle upon Tyne’s finest town mansions. This very elegant, four storey, detached family house is set in approximately 1 acre of south facing landscaped gardens and woodland, and accommodates a bespoke open plan Poggenpohl kitchen, six double en-suite bedrooms, four stunning large reception rooms and a full size pool and leisure suite.

A highly impressive detached house with outstanding views over its stunning grounds of 5 acres, and the Tyne Valley. Built in the 1870s this fine ‘gentleman’s residence’ has been extensively and luxuriously upgraded in recent years and has a great deal of style.

Accommodation includes four principal reception rooms, a superb master bedroom suite, six further bedrooms, two further bathrooms and an extensive basement with the potential to create a state of the art leisure/media wing. EPC Rating: F

Price Guide: £4.5 Million

Price Guide: £2.25 Million

Bolbec Chase

Graham Park Road

Reflecting the equestrian history of this magnificent former stable block, Bolbec Chase was purchased by the present owner in 2000 and has been extensively rebuilt and remodelled to create this luxurious country house. Originally built in 1890 this impressive property has stunning architecture and is situated in private grounds of circa 9.5 acres. It has five bedroom suites and seven reception rooms whilst externally there is a triple garage, a stable block, two grazing paddocks and a four bedroom Lodge. EPC Rating: C

A fabulous detached family home with a great deal of style and character located in the heart of Gosforth. With period fireplaces, tall ceilings and bay windows, the proportions of the rooms are grand and the three storey accommodation includes seven bedrooms and three reception rooms as well as a large family kitchen and breakfasting room with brand new Aga. Externally, there are open lawns, stone flagged terraces, a barbecue, a semi circular drive and double length garage. EPC Rating: D

Price Guide: Price on Application

Price Guide: £1.3 Million

Whalton Park, Gallowhill, Morpeth

West Thirston

Gosforth

South Lodge

Felton, Northumberland

Belle Vue Lane, East Boldon

A beautiful, detached stone built country house, believed to have been constructed circa 1820 under the design of John Dobson. This magnificent, six bedroomed Georgian property has been extensively refurbished to the highest of standards, re-instating plaster ceilings, restoring wood furniture and panelling and refurbishing the rooms with beautiful interior design. It sits in majestic grounds of circa 8 acres which include a walled garden, woodland, a paddock and extensive stabling. EPC Rating: F

This very grand Grade II Listed detached country home was built in 1907 and is a fine example of ‘Arts & Crafts’ architecture. This impressive, six bedroom, four reception room property has high ceilings, cornice detailing, stylish fireplaces, and lovely windows with stone mullion surrounds. South Lodge sits in magnificent grounds of just under 5.5 acres with large open lawned areas, stunning trees, a water garden, four paddocks, stables, a range of outbuildings and a two bedroom cottage. EPC Rating: F

Price Guide: Price on Application

Price Guide: £1.25 Million

From Sanderson Young

From Sanderson Young

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

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

breadwinners

get out there

PLOT with Will Quarmby, Hampton Court Flower Show gold winner Seems a good time to think spring thoughts of outdoor living

Hayloft hideaway Fresh air and raspberry wine prove just the tonic on a weekend break in a luxe Lincolnshire bolthole, says Katharine Capocci A tipple or two of raspberry wine and an afternoon’s stint of bread making set the rustic tone on a weekend away in rural Lincolnshire. The fruity little number, nestling in the welcome hamper at our hayloft hideaway, slipped down very easily. A little too easily, if I’m honest…

But it made a great accompaniment to the home-made bread rolls and pizza, lovingly kneaded by ourselves, under the expert guidance of our friendly hostess Sherry Forbes.

You know it’s a weekend well spent when you arrive home feeling like you’ve crammed a week into three days.

Giddy on all the fresh air and country pursuits, our Lincs getaway was a fine rural fix for us city dwellers.

Just two and three-quarter hours’ drive from Newcastle and we were there, easing ourselves into Lincolnshire life, like we were locals. Our cosy base was The Hayloft, part of the eco-friendly Manor House Stables, a gorgeous bolthole in the village of Martin, about 12 miles from the city of Lincoln.

Our home from home was a sight for sore eyes. Part of a restored, award-winning 18th century stables, The Hayloft occupies the top floor of the restored stables and comfortably slept our family of four.

I have to say our teenage kids especially loved their sleeping quarters – a bed built into the wall of the open-plan living room/ kitchen. Rustic it may have been, but it has all the luxury add-ons, like an extremely well-equipped kitchen, wood-burning stove, even a mini sauna, and beautiful décor.

The smart Edwardian town of Woodhall Spa was the go-to fashionable place for wealthy Edwardians for its woodland setting and treatments at the baths 76

Wooden floors are covered in braided wool rugs and sink-into-me sofas invite you to linger a while with a book and a glass of that raspberry wine to hand.

The bathroom with its deep copper spa bath, sauna for one, and power shower, is a very relaxing space.

Our welcome hamper was packed with some of the county’s famed produce, including freshly-baked bread, biscuits, local eggs and tasty plum bread, while the fridge was handily stocked with Lincolnshire sausages, bread and milk. Owner Sherry lives next door to the self-catering accommodation and one of the big plus points about staying here is the range of courses and workshops she offers.

These range from gardening and cookery, such as bread-making and jam making, to crafty workshops on knitting and making your own bath and beauty products.

Her excellent bread-making courses are held in the big farmhouse kitchen of her own home - and this was a definite highlight of our visit. It was something we could do as a family and have a laugh about, and the finished products were utterly delicious.

Probably only because we followed Sherry’s recipes to the letter.

Our girls loved the novelty of kneading and shaping their own bread rolls into tiny loaves and then the creative bit of scattering pizza bread bases with myriad toppings.

We then shared the pizza supper with Sherry in the charmingly rustic part of the accommodation originally used for stabling the horses, with more of that raspberry wine!

It wasn’t all food and drink though – we also did a fair bit of exploring of local villages and towns. Fans of the great outdoors will be spoilt as it’s close to the Wolds, coast and fens in an area renowned for good walks, cycling (it’s very flat), bird watching, golf and angling. The whole area is also big on aviation history and RAF Coningsby is nearby.

We made a beeline for the smart Edwardian town of Woodhall Spa, a few minutes’ drive away. It was the go-to fashionable place for wealthy Edwardians for its woodland setting and treatments at the baths.

It’s still a go-to place with its array of eateries and shops and its brilliant quaint little Kinema in the Woods. The cinema started life as a sports and entertainment pavilion in the late 19th Century.

Those wanting to walk off the excesses from indulging in lovely Lincolnshire foods will find many waymarked paths in the area, including the Spa Trail, dotted with innovative sculptures. Made up of three miles of flat surfaced path and bridleway between Horncastle and Woodhall Spa, the trail is also part of the Viking Way long distance trail. There’s also Jubilee Park in the town with its heated outdoor swimming pool and the park is worth a stroll around with its picnic area, bowling green, cricket field and tennis courts. We enjoyed afternoon tea at the town’s Petwood Hotel, which has a fascinating history and served as the officers’ mess for the 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron in the Second World War. Make time for a stop-off in Lincoln on the

FACT FILE>> >> Manor House Stables in Martin, Lincs, is available for short breaks and weekly hire. Prices start at £300 (Bothy, sleeping up to 3) and £330 (Hayloft, sleeping up to 4) for three nights’ self catering.

For full details of the accommodation and prices visit www.manorhousestables.co.uk or call 01526 378717. www.visitlincolnshire.com way back, if you’ve not visited. It’s got a good choice of shops and eateries – and the Cathedral Quarter and magnificent cathedral are well worth exploring.

Armed with jute bags full of home-made breads, we headed back home, vowing to make a winter visit to the Hayloft, just to try out that wood-burning stove and sauna.

Whilst The Brits are well known for complaining about the weather it’s been with good reason this year, the wettest winter on record, EVER. It has been unusually mild, yet not without relentless rain. The good news is spring is on the way, with the promise of much more settled weather.

Whilst we wade through this drab weather it seems appropriate to bring a glimpse of light to these still dismal days and share with you a project we were involved with last year.

Our brief was to design and construct an outdoor dining area and a sunken seating area with a fire pit.

The clients wanted a space in which they could entertain friends and family and enjoy toasting marshmallows with the children. A task that might be deemed enviable by many, this area had to be carefully considered.

Both areas would be overlooked from the kitchen window. With the outlook beyond being of a large pond regularly visited by wildlife, this view couldn’t be spoiled.

The back of the fire pit needed a chimney to ensure it took all of the smoke out and away from the seating area so the starting point was to measure the resulting height restrictions as we didn’t want this to obstruct the best view from the kitchen.

Another consideration was that we did not want the chimney to loom over the sitting guests so much so that they wouldn’t be able to relax when enjoying the fire.

The main advantage of having the space close to the kitchen means that it is also functional.

This is always important when considering a dining area as inevitably if it’s too far from the house it won’t get used, it has to be easy to top up, refill and serve from the house to any dining area.

As the main house was built from red brick and the surrounding pathed areas were Yorkshire stone, materials had to be cleverly considered.

We needed to be sympathetic to the original construction and try not to impose anything on the space that would look out of place and detract from view of the garden.

We decided to combine York stone seats with a rendered face and a gravelled dining area.

This meant that we kept similar colours and tones but meant that different textures were introduced with gravel which softened the whole area. We used a red brick for the chimney and wall to visually link in with the house.

The planting scheme was kept simple with the use of block planting, the bed next to the seating area was planted at head height with lavender to add a splash of colour and to bring some scent to the space.

Lavender is well known for the relaxing effect of its perfume apt for such an enviable environment.

Three for outdoorsy style >> Tray good> Apples tray, £13.95 www.dotcomgiftshop.com

Main picture, the Hayloft, and top right, Tattershall Castle is worth a visit. Above left, bedroom in the Hayloft, and right, Manor House Stables

MAR/APR14

Clients wanted a garden dining space where they could entertain friends outdoors and toast marshmallows with the children

Shine > Anchors Ahoy glass lantern, £10 Paperchase

Clean up > Pear PVC fabric, £15m John Lewis

MAR/APR14

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sunshine days

sunshine days

Pony tales

Polo ponies, vineyards and ‘Tuscan Mama’ in the kitchen. Kathryn Armstrong shares the Italian countryside with some fine stablemates

Waking up to the gentle sounds of polo ponies on their first exercise session of the day is a different way to say hello to your holiday.

Glance from the window as the already fierce summer sun wakes and hear the sprinklers set to full on their mission to keep one of the finest polo fields in Italy in pristine condition.

This is La Martina. One of the most prestigious polo estates in the country, topping our equivalent in the UK, Cowdray Park.

I am no polo player. We’re here to stay at the polo club’s on-site accommodation, Relais La Martina, part of the vast Sesta estate on the outskirts of Siena with a huge wine-making operation.

As well as polo, there are vineyards and the promise of the ultimate in rustic Tuscan cuisine.

In summer the heat means that many of the top class polo ponies have decamped to the cooler climes of the Swiss mountains.

But still there are plenty of fine ponies stabled here and it is fascinating to see them in training at such a high level. You can tour the stables and ride the ponies around the estate, playing out the polo dream.

Or, in the heat you can just lounge by the pool, have a game of tennis or explore the local towns and villages.

Relais La Martina is about half an hour’s drive from Siena. We visited at the time of the famous Palio horse race when the streets go a bit mad with rival communities parading their horses through the narrow, winding streets.

It’s an ancient and fierce rivalry, certainly not something played out for the tourists. In the run-up to the race itself a trip to the city will

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Lush: Relais La Martina accommodation and restaurant overlooks the polo field

Bistecca Fiorentina must be on the bone (a T-bone), with the amazingly tender fillet attached and no thicker than “two fingers” find you face to face with a throng of team supporters singing and flag-waving as they follow their rider and horse through the streets. It’s all a bit crazy and impromptu, very atmospheric and hot-headed.

Siena is of course one of the jewels in Tuscany’s crown, smaller than Florence and at its heart the famous Campo where the ancient Palio race is run. Tickets for this were running at around euro 100 when we

were there – or you can choose to set off early, take a punt, head to the campo and wait. A good eight hours – in shade-free 100 degree heat? We headed back to the pool.

Maybe next time.

At Relais La Martina, much is made of the regionality of cuisine. In the rustic restaurant with its terracotta floor, wrought iron furniture and dark wood fittings, the menu was the stuff of dreams.

And making them come true was ‘Tuscan Mama’ in the kitchen – just she and one helper it seemed – and this for a restaurant teeming with locals most nights.

The dishes often recognisable from our own – everyone’s – foray into Italian dining. But the sum of the parts so different in situ.

The local pasta is Strozzapreti, a name to conjure with – “priest-strangler.” No one’s exactly sure where the name comes from.

Some think it’s because priests loved the pasta so much, they ate too quickly and choked.

Fair enough, having tried it with Mama’s dreamy duck ragu. A few times.

And the bruschetta – to us, a bit of bread with topping. Tuscan Mama took it to the level of art form, every day succulent new and delicious toppings – garlicky courgette, chicken livers and the juiciest ripe tomatoes, definitely the big miss when we got home.

A grand bistecca Fiorentina was brought to table one night – you buy by weight and certain rules must be obeyed. Of course Mama had it to perfection. It must be eaten rare. That means not just blushing pink inside, but bloody. To ask for it to be cooked longer dishonours this beautiful, lean meat, which would only turn into something the texture of an old leather boot the longer it cooks.

The bistecca must be on the bone (a T-bone), with the amazingly tender fillet attached and no thicker than “two fingers” deep. A hunk of meat weighing over a kilogram arrives to be shared at the table. It must be cooked over burning hot, red coals.

And – no sauce. Just salt, some freshly cracked black pepper, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

The pattern of dining is becoming obvious – bruschetta, raw meat and ultimate ragus – memorable too, Mama’s tagliata, sirloin strips with just rosemary and rocket. Not

MAR/APR14

forgetting a plate of pork, do I need to go on?

Suffice to say much walking, swimming and tennis was called for in the day. On site at Relais La Martina is a huge glass-walled gym with inspiring views for guests – and polo players in training.

A few kilometres from the polo club is the Villa A Sesta wine estate, set within the enchanting scenery of the Siena hills. This is the heart of Chianti Classico.

The area is dotted with medieval villages, castles, churches and several hamlets scattered in the surrounding hills of vineyards and olive groves, creating that much-loved Tuscan landscape The 'winery is situated in the heart of the Chianti Classico Gallo Nero, one of the most renowned areas of Tuscany, and has an important agricultural production of wine and olive oil.

The predominant grape variety is Sangiovese, based mainly on the wine Chianti Classico. You can tour and taste on a visit to the impressive new winery and visitor centre.

The ageing of the wines takes place exclusively in French oak barrels and barriques. The annual production is around 250,000 bottles of Chianti Classico DOCG “Il Palei” Chianti Classico DOCG “Reserve,” Toscana IGT “VAS” and DOCG Chianti Colli Aretini “Ripaltella.”

Close to the vineyard is the Villa Casanova, part of the La Martina estate. A typical Tuscan homestead from the early 1800s located in the unmistakable Chianti Classico countryside, it is a short distance from the town of Castelnuovo Berardenga, on the Via Chiantigiana – a rural route that runs from

Dreamy: Luscious bruschetta served up by Tuscan Mama at La Martina

start to finish through the renowned vine-growing and wine-making region.

The newly-renovated villa is reached by a drive through vines to its grand hilltop position with stunning, stretching views.

Contemporary and stylish in design it is a favourite with Italian designers.

The traditional stone villa has two buildings – one with an en-suite bedroom and separate kitchen and dining area with outside terrace to make the most of those views.

The main house has a first-floor lounge with

floor-to-ceiling windows to capture the changing light across the fields and to the rooftops and domes of distant Siena.

The interiors are typical of Tuscan rural architecture, with floors in handmade Florentine red brick and exposed-beam ceilings. There’s also a pool and

private wellbeing suite.

The town of nearby Castelnuovo Berardenga was a real find. Full of medieval atmosphere and striking buildings – including a stunning villa – it was where footballer Wesley Schneider was married.

At night the buildings are bathed in soft lights and there are lovely restaurants for outdoor dining. The locals gather at the ubiquitous café bar where you could buy a ‘round’ of fabulous ice-cream, an Aperol spritz, espresso and beer for less than five euro – our biggest and most unexpected bargain of the stay.

Another day we made a journey to the ‘big town’ – Arezzo – which had everything a family needs – some culture, a grand square and ancient buildings – plus ‘real’ shops for teens and their holiday spends.

Piazza Grande is the show-stopper here.

Built on a slant and surrounded by a jumble of palazzos, towers and churches in medieval and renaissance styles, this is the focal point of Arezzo’s famous antique fair and the venue for the Giostra del Saracino, a medieval jousting contest between the eight districts of the town, which happens twice a year in June and September.

Jousting, the Palio and polo. Horses featured heavily in this memorable holiday somehow.

Pipped at the post by Tuscan Mama perhaps.

The main house hiding between the vines has a first-floor lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows to capture the changing light across the fields to the towers and domes of distant Siena

Villa Sesta estate >> Above, Villa Casanova and, above top left, the estate winery. Below: rooms at La Martina. Right, the Campo, Siena.

FACT FILE>> >> Villa Casanova www.oliverstravels.co.uk 0800 133 7999 >> La Martina www.relaislamartina.com/engristorante-la-martina.html info@villasesta.com 0039 055 998275

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Xxxxxxxx LUXE LOVES

isle be back

Stylish stop-over Sun, sea and a swish design hotel make for an idyllic Istrian break in Croatia, as Katharine Capocci discovers Dipping travel-worn tootsies in your own sunken outdoor Jacuzzi is the perfect chilled moment on arriving at the Hotel Lone in Rovinj, just an hour or so after touching down at Trieste airport in Italy.

Catching the last of the day’s rays and taking in the infinity pool effect on the balcony while gazing out over manicured gardens with accompanying backdrop of pine trees, the sighs of contentment emanating from my balcony could be heard until dinner.

This may have been a debut visit to Croatia for me, but it’s seemingly the hot destination at the moment. And it’s easy to see why; the stunning indented Istrian Riviera really is picture postcard, with its blue skies and azure waters.

It helps, of course, being based at Hotel Lone, the striking award-winning design hotel, with quirky architecture reminiscent of an ocean liner, in homage to its Adriatic location.

LUXE LOVES A linen moment

The stunning indented Istrian Riviera really is picture postcard, with its blue skies and azure waters.

A girl’s best friend. The linen scarf. Especially in the softest slubby colours. It’s spring so we can put the woollies away and break out a paintchart’sworth of linen loveliness. £34. www.thelinenworks.co.uk

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The terraces of the funky hotel are fashioned like the decks of a luxury liner, in dazzling white, and all set against the greenery of the Golden Cape forest.

Sleek and swish inside, the five-star hotel, built in 2011, has a very cool vibe. In addition to 12 suites, it has 236 boutiquestyle rooms and has won a clutch of awards already. Check out its suspended giant metal cloud-like sculpture, called Room for Running Ghosts, dominating the atrium area and accompanying displays of Croatian modern art; even staff uniforms, curtains and bedding have had the cult Croatian designer treatment.

Multi-award-winning it may be, with design at its very core, but this isn’t a case of style over substance. The hotel is light and bright, functional and chilled.

There’s also the state-of-the-art spa area, all modern clean lines and a comfort zone you’ll be very reluctant to drag yourself away from. Only perhaps to potter out into the gardens and take a pew on the sun terraces by the sprawling multi-level outdoor seawater swimming pool. Bonechillingly cold when we visited late September, but invigorating all the same!

The hotel is metres away from the sea and a ten-minute stroll from the centre of the medieval Rovinj, one of the most picturesque towns on the Adriatic, with distinctly Venetian feel.

Based at Hotel Lone and in such a picturesque spot, the temptation would be to indulge in all the hotel and its surrounds has to offer without wandering very far. The pick of eateries, for example, includes fine dining at Restaurant L, the hotel’s a la carte eaterie, where diners can feast on the likes of scallops, crisp pork belly, spicy Thai soup, breaded rabbit saddle and apple trifle with caramel custard, Calvados cream and cinnamon doughnut.

Or there’s always spa time, elevated into an artform, courtesy of the Wellness retreat with its pool, saunas, gym, and whirlpool rooms; as well as bike rides and walks along the

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Golden Cape forest/coastal path.

There is masses to discover on the doorstep, though, and foodies and outdoor enthusiasts alike will not be disappointed.

We walked into Rovinj, skirting round the waterfront, for a guided tour of the historic quarter. We then took a boat ride in the Adriatic Sea on board a batana (five of us crammed onto this tiny traditional vessel!).

Well worth it, though, for the iconic view of the town from sea. You could almost believe you’re in Venice (which is in fact just a few hours’ boat ride away with daily services operating).

A mosey round the hilltop church of St Euphemia with its bell tower, modelled on St Mark’s in Venice, is a must. While the Old Town is charming with its mix of Venetian architecture, piazzas, cobbled streets and array of restaurants.

The regional gastronomy is most famous for Istrian cured ham and goat’s cheese, as well as numerous kinds of homemade pasta, the Istrian ‘manestra’ soup, white truffles, olive oil and fish specialities.

Lunch at Kantinon, a newly-revamped tavern in the town, was epic - just a simple kind of tapas feast featuring the freshest of dishes, including excellent prosciutto, goat’s cheese, marinated sardines and carpaccio of sea bass followed by mains of octopus stew, braised cuttlefish with peas, beef stew with gnocchi and monkfish fillet with clams, polenta and Istrian sausage with sweet ending of creme caramel and cheese board with honey and milk caramel sauce. These all savoured at the restaurant’s only coveted outside table, overlooking the harbour and each course matched with wine. Divine!

On the subject of wine, the area is making a name for itself, helped by the winning combination of fertile earth, sun and sea. So it seemed only fitting to squeeze in a wine tasting at one of the wineries, ours being the Matosevic wine cellar at Kruncici, where we got a tour of the cellar and an introduction to some corking Istrian tipples.

A full-on day but there was more to come with dinner that night at next-door hotel,

the Monte Mulini, the sister hotel to the Lone, both owned by the Maistra group.

This has a more grown-up feel, and is a chic establishment regarded as one of the finest five-star hotels in Rovinj, popular with jet-setters.

It’s also where you’ll find one of Croatia’s most acclaimed chefs, Tomislav Gretic.

Dinner in the cosy and characterful environs of the Wine Vault restaurant was certainly an experience to be savoured. Foie gras, Argentinian beef and molten chocolate pudding were all exquisite, and each course paired with wines, with legendary local grappa to finish us off…

Another evening and another outstanding

dinner. This one a seafood feast at Batelina restaurant, near Pula, which was little short of amazing.

Dish after dish of tasty seafood specialities made this another gastro highlight of the break. Sardines, red snapper and squid among the seafood delicacies served up at this critically-acclaimed restaurant.

If there’s only one restaurant you visit, make it this one!

This may have been a flying visit to Croatia but it was so memorable and big on experiences, particularly knockout gastronomic ones. I was utterly charmed.

Shipshape: Top left, Rovinj. Above, Wine Vault restaurant at Hotel Monte Mulini. Below and left, Hotel Lone and spa

FACT FILE>> >> Katharine was a guest of Hotel Lone, Rovinj, and flew outbound to Trieste from Stansted with return flight from Pula with Ryanair. Check out also local departures from the North East to Pula in Croatia, about 40 minutes from Rovinj. >> Rates for a standard double room at Hotel Lone start at 128 Euro per night, including breakfast, WiFi, access to the Wellness & Spa Centre, and VAT. For further information visit www.lonehotel.com/en or call +385 (0) 52 800 250. >> She travelled by train from Newcastle to Peterborough with East Coast and then onwards with CrossCountry trains’ Peterborough service to Stansted Airport. East Coast Standard Advance returns, booked online at www.eastcoast.co.uk, between North East stations and Stansted Airport start from £29.40. Times and fares also on 08457 225225. More info on CrossCountry trains at www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk >> Katharine stayed overnight at Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted Airport. Rates from £70 including breakfast. The hotel is directly connected to the airport via a two-minute covered walkway, making it very convenient for flying. It houses 500 comfortable, well-designed rooms, a wine tower, fitness centre and two restaurants. www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-stanstedairport

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Kids 1st Bowesfield

SPRING INTO 2014

hello!

with Nina Robinson

Things are turning bright yellow and springy as I get my bit-warmer wardrobe out For smaller members of the girl species like me there are key times of the year to be aware of. We have done the Christmas thing and I have been a very good mermaid ever since (which you will know all about if you are a regular).

So good that I hope my friend the Easter bunny will have been listening and watching hard.

Only a few weeks to go until the big Easter holiday when l try and have chocolate for breakfast every day. Mummy less keen on that idea for some reason - I will be letting her have chocolate for Mother’s Day breakfast though - that’s the kind of cool girl I am!

Love little luxe

Nina’s: diary

Easter thrills and mum treats… of a choccy kind.

You’ll be licking your fingers with these treats

> Yippee - the promise of sunshine.

Look, sunglasses, stripes and happy, beachy tops and bottoms. Mini Boden www.boden.co.uk

A bit of a bunny vibe > Bunny purse, £7, It’s Vintage Darling.

020 7684 3709 or 0796 000 1357

Mother’s Day lunch and afternoon tea are tasty ways to treat a lovely mum. Ramside Hall’s four-course lunch includes a gift for mum, £24.95, or £12.50 for kids. Afternoon tea, £14.95. www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk

April 19 Jesmond Dene House has an Easter-themed trail. Mums and dads can explore the surroundings of Ouseburn Park with prizes up for grabs. www.jesmonddenehouse.co.uk

At Kids 1st we look after your child as our own, delivering the highest quality of childcare in a safe and secure environment.

Opens July 2014

Here are just some of the reasons that you will love Kids 1st Bowesfield:

Nina:loves

MARCH 30

When only the best is good enough for the little one in your life.

> Wood&woolly bunny, £15 www.johnlewis.com

• • • • • • •

Purpose-built nursery Nutritious, homemade meals Dedicated Pre-School Large, exciting outdoor play areas CCTV and Fingerprint Security French and Dance classes Coffee to Go Breakfast Service

But don’t take our word for it... come along and see for yourself.

April 19 York Cocoa House is offering the ultimate Easter egg experience… an Easter Egg Master Class. Teaching you how to make your own moulded Easter eggs and truffles to fill your egg. Classes run on four different dates and are available for children, adults and groups. www.yorkcocoahouse.co.uk

April 19 > Bunny egg cup, £8.50 www.lauraleedesigns.co.uk

Easter Eggstravaganza is a fun-filled day for families at Bowes Museum. Offering a range of activities from creating Easter cards, Easter baskets, window decorations and a chance to explore the museum and participate in an Easter egg hunt. The event is on 19 April. www.thebowesmuseum.org.co.uk

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There can only be one winner as The Hare and The Tortoise take to the starting blocks for ARC’s Easter family show. Your bunch of bunnies could win a family ticket (four people) to witness the race to end all races between The Hare and The Tortoise.

Join the famous commentator Chris Canary for the sporting event in the entire animal kingdom’s diary: why is that un-hurried herbivore so sure that she can beat nature’s speediest ego-on-paws? Who will win and who will you cheer for?

The hare-brained Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company return to Arc in April with an up-to-date, Olympic-sized re-write of this world-famous fable. See amazing puppets, music and surprises in an enchanting show for everyone aged three and above!

To enter go to www.luxe-magazine.co.uk/competitions and add your details. Entries by 25 March 2014.

• The Hare and The Tortoise runs Tues 1 – Thur 10 Apr. Family ticket, £32. Book on 01642 525199 or at www.arconline.co.uk

Preston Farm Business Park

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The race is on…. win a family ticket for the Hare and The Tortoise

Easter and the idea of freshly-laid warm eggs for breakfast? Designer tents and lots of fresh air and friendly farm animals.

With Easter breaks in mind, stylish glamping in the The Scottish Borders fits the bill. At Chesters Estate near Jedburgh, Edinburgh, Feather Down’s first Scottish Country Retreat has pinned down the tentpegs.

A private colony of tents is buried away in the woods close to a beautiful two-acre walled garden with its own croquet lawn and vegetables that are yours to pick.

Fab for family groups, hours of fun can be had exploring the peaceful grounds of this private 18th century estate where a real-life boys’ and girls’ own adventure awaits.

In the tents find cosy bedrooms all warmed by a wood-burning stove.

Children usually make straight for the ‘secret’ elevated sleeping space, between the main area and the double bedroom, with small wooden hatches opening onto both. A firm favourite is of course the private hot tub next to each tent to make sure you enjoy the great outdoors with bubbles.

The estate itself is full of nooks and crannies and is home to more than 1,000 sheep, 100 cows, roe deer, pheasants, partridges, buzzards, rooks and myriad rabbits. www.featherdownfarms.co.uk

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Kinsler & Partners

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Afternoon tea with the Easter bunny - yes please! Or treat a lovely mummy to Mother’s Day lunch on March 30, she will be so excited. All at Whitworth Hall near Spennymoor. www.bw-whitworthhall.co.uk

Away days

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April 18-21

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Bowes

From Easter egg hunts to Easter games, Crook Hall in Durham has lots of Easter fun. Set on six acres of land, the 13th century house is just a short walk from Durham Market. www.crookhallgardens.co.uk

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Centre for Life will be hosting a chocolate workshop so you can have the chance to see the science behind how chocolate is made. Entry prices are included in the price to the Centre for Life. www.life.org.uk

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April 18 – 21

Kids 1st Bowesfield Cygnet Drive, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3DZ

bowesfield@kids1st.net Also located at Wynyard Park.

The Highest Quality Childcare Provider in the UK 2011 - 2013 Nursery World

0191 461 8877

kids1st.net

Kids_1st

OCEANS APART

see spexsy

fight and flight with Dan Robinson Former fighter pilot-turned-business boss, Dan suffers the extremes of high-adrenaline kicks and boardroom humiliation

“Raptor Check Main”… “Raptor 2!”.

I looked to my left, straining to stay visual with my wingman. The early morning sun rising over the Atlantic glinted against the iridescent paint that adorned these machines, machines designed with a deadly intent. I eased the throttles forward and gently raised the nose 45 degrees up above the horizon. Propelled by 70,000lbs of thrust, I soared effortlessly upwards, the nose of the aircraft piercing sun-split clouds, as I raced towards the heavens. Only occasionally would I catch the reassuring glimpse of my wingman, a couple of miles away off my left wing tip.

I pinched myself as the nose pointed east across the Atlantic, towards my home in the North East of England.

I contemplated the journey that had brought me to this moment.

Since the age of 14, I’d worked tirelessly to achieve my boyhood dream of serving as a Royal Air Force Fighter pilot and here I was, 15 years later, a boy from Hartlepool in control of the most advanced combat aircraft on the planet, the F-22 Raptor.

It was America’s latest Stealth Fighter and I was lucky enough to be the only nonAmerican in the world to fly it.

Pushing these thoughts from my mind, I rolled upside down. Hanging weightless in my straps, I looked down upon the world and I exhaled. I loved these moments.

They were rare moments of solace and of calm in my life.

They were moments in which I felt truly free and at peace. A pause in time destined to be shattered by the fury of aerial combat.

They wouldn’t last for long. “Raptors, turn in, fights on!” It was time to fight. It was time to kill.

People often ask me what it’s like to have flown fighters. It happened to me just the other day. I had just driven myself from Hartlepool to Newcastle for an important meeting with a key client. As I was pulling out of my drive I reversed into my neighbour’s car and badly scratched the first car I’ve owned in over four years.

On my way to the meeting, I hit some road works and had to make a detour. I got lost three times and was 15 minutes late for the meeting. As I rushed to get out of my car, I winced as I heard the dreaded sound of my trousers splitting right down the length of my backside.

I had no option but to continue to the meeting and do my best to avoid the inevitable stares. I failed miserably. It was like a comedy sketch from Only Fools and Horses. It was awkward. It’s still awkward.

Given what had just happened, I laughed at the irony of the timing of the question.

However it caused me to reflect on a time which has long since passed but was a period in my life when I was at least capable of getting myself from point A to point B without exposing my undies to innocent bystanders.

Flying jet fighters was a defining chapter of my life but to be honest, whilst I understand the inevitable curiosity, I always dread the question. Not because I mind talking about

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Top Gun >> Dan flew the latest US Stealth Fighter, at the time the only non-American in the world to fly the extreme machine it, on the contrary. Rather I just never seem to have the verbal fluency to be able to articulate the experience well enough.

The sonnet ‘High Flight’ has become a mantra for fighter pilots worldwide.

The line, “I’ve put out my hand, and I’ve touched the face of God” goes some way to capture the spiritual essence of flying fighters and a freedom that is undoubtedly spiritual. Man and machine working in perfect harmony.

However, whilst the thought of flying often fills us with romantic notions, flying fighters is a very different act. Of course there is the beauty and the spirituality but always, lurking in the background is the ever-present reminder of the intent of these machines. It is, ultimately an undertone of violence. You see flying for a fighter pilot is merely ‘how we get to work’.

The demands placed on the modern-day fighter pilot are immense. You are single

To fly fighter aircraft is the ultimate test that stretches you to the very limits of your ability as a human being, in every sense.

Complex, thrilling, stressful, terrifying and lonely

handedly required to process, prioritise and manage multiple inputs in very rapid succession under extreme pressure and discomfort. Let me try to explain...

Imagine if you will, a family weekend drive in the countryside to meet a friend. This friend has set out from home in the opposite direction and is driving to meet you midway. Sounds relaxing, right?

Relatively simple? So you set out and suddenly you are confronted with the inevitable road works and have to re-route to your destination without stopping.

However you must make it on time, to the second. Stress levels up?

Now what if I ask you to hold a conversation with your husband or wife at the same time. Becoming more stressful?

Well let’s add in an entirely different conversation with an irritating parent sitting in the back seat… Starting to sweat? So now it’s time to play a computer game, let’s say Tetris and it’s on several different screens at once. At the same time I’m going to ask you to play a game of chess, a game that you have to win!

Did you just miss that turn? Are you going to be late? What did your husband or wife just say? Why can’t I control these damn bricks in Tetris? What was my opponent’s last chess move? How do I counter?

Now just for laughs, let’s just say that your car happens to be a Formula 1 car and you are driving at the limits of its ability.

However this Formula 1 car travels at speeds well in excess of 1000mph. Now let’s throw in a little bad weather and call it night time too. How are we doing?

No problem I hear you say. I’ve got this.

Well let’s just imagine you have still got this

and you are still on track to meet your friend. You spot him in the distance and just as you begin to breathe a sigh of relief, it dawns on you, the person who is driving in the opposite direction is in fact, not your friend at all. He’s just gone through the same ordeal you have, he’s not in the best of moods and to cap it all, he’s trying to kill you! Are you ready to fight? Good. Well strap yourself in because you are about to ride the most violent roller coaster in the world… enjoy, but don’t forget, save some fuel as you’ve got to make it all the way home again too!

To fly fighter aircraft is the ultimate test. A profession that stretches you to the very limits of your ability as a human being, in every sense. It is complex, stressful, thrilling, terrifying and lonely. It is both mentally, taxing and physically exhausting, and yet, in those very rare moments when you get it right, it is completely and utterly wonderful.

Perhaps the ultimate rush for any Type-A adrenaline junkie.

I think back fondly to those days when I was capable of tying my own shoelaces and not splitting my trousers in public. The time passed in a blur but the experience of strapping myself into the most advanced combat aircraft on the planet has shaped my life in ways that I will carry with me forever.

So what’s it like to fly Fighters? Simply the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

LUXE LOVES Velvet gazing

Dan is chairman and chief executive of Gus Robinson Developments in Hartlepool and divides his time between New York and Hartlepool

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We have pretty much fallen in love with these velvet Ray-Bans – so very on trend with that daring wintry fabric given a beachy overhaul. An array of lush colours to literally see you through the summer. £104, www.sunglasses-shop.co.uk

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LUXE LIFE

SWING OUT

golf:kit

GOLF coach with John Harrison

Stop off for a bit of springtime shopping to get match fit for the fairway

www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Emma McIntosh

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tend to go for follows those guidelines. My favourite meal at the moment is steak with sweet potato fries.

Best wine > I don’t tend to drink a lot but on occasion I do like a nice glass of Chilean merlot or Spanish rioja.

Favourite restaurant > I hit the gym at 6:30am so I like to visit Love Lunch Deli for breakfast before work. It’s a lovely place focused on clean eating. My other favourite place to eat of an evening is Osaka, which is (a little too conveniently) opposite our jewellery shop.

Perfect weekend > A Saturday off would be nice…

Downtime means > I spend most of my free time at a Crossfit gym. Every workout is different and can range from lifting weights to gymnastics to running a 5K. There is nothing better than throwing down a workout with all of your friends.

Best telly > I never have time to sit down and watch it.

Hooray for catch-up TV! I love watching sporting events like the Tour de France, the 2012 Olympics and this year’s Winter Olympics.

Best sounds > The barbell hitting the floor after lifting a personal best clean and jerk!

Luxe shop >> Best shopping city > Copenhagen. The city is full of quirky

Men’s Dark Slate Train Soccer World M Polo Pq, £78.99

sleek shady Strike a pose in springtime shades.

Oliver Goldsmith aviators, £295.

Stockists 020 74600844

Emma McIntosh is the manageress at Davidsons the Jewellers in Newcastle’s Grey Street

LUXE PEOPLE >> My family and friends and all my colleagues; I’d be lost without them.

LUXE PLACES >> For a weekend > Lincoln. I went to university there. It’s a beautiful place and always great to catch up with old friends.

A long holiday > I love snowboarding, so the perfect long holiday would be up a mountain somewhere. Morzine last year was fantastic; I’d love to go back.

A treat > A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit the Lapponia workshops in Helsinki. It was Lapponia Jewellery’s 50th anniversary; they took us to Kemi in the north of Finland to celebrate, where we spent the day ice fishing, riding sleighs pulled by reindeer and sleds by huskies. In the evening we rode snow mobiles across the frozen sea to the Snow Castle. I met all the Lapponia artists whose work I have admired since the beginning of my jewellery career.

It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and such a wonderful treat.

LUXE RELAX >> Best food > I follow a mostly Paleolithic diet, so the food I

HENRI LLOYD, Men’s Blue Finn Regular Fit Zip Polo, £63.99

step out TXYCR Y chino, £80.

Gant blue cheer-up

Lacoste L!ve, Men’s White Colour Block Polo, £73.99

All from Psyche, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough. The store has just launched a new-look online store featuring a sleek and sophisticated homepage with updated mobile and tablet responsive design. www.psyche.co.uk

Hugo Boss Green. Men’s Green Paddy Modern Fit Polo. £73.99

Polos: our fab four

boutiques. I could spend hours shopping there.

Favourite shop > Davidsons the Jewellers, of course!

Luxe retail treat > What could be more of a treat than jewellery! My recent obsession is Baccarat Crystal from Paris.

LUXE PARTY >> A memorable night out > Drinking Cloudberry liqueur in Helsinki after the banquet at the Snow Castle, I’ll never forget it.

Perfect party > I wouldn’t care where, just as long as I’m surrounded by my nearest and dearest.

Best dress > What lady doesn’t own a LBD? Mine is by Damsel in a Dress. It fits perfectly and always looks the business.

Dinner date > This is the toughest question! I’d happily date any of the following: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jason Momoa from Game of Thrones or Michael Fassbender.

YOUR LUXE THINGS IN LIFE >> My cat, Jaffa, and the wonderful community at Reebok Crossfit Tyneside. They have supported me at my worst and celebrated with me at my best.

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PLAY & STAY >> This is one dreamy golf getaway. Lush lakes of Switzerland at Hotel Eden Roc in Ascona, winning numerous awards as Switzerland’s best holiday hotel. On the waters of Lake Maggiore, scenery and surroundings are serene, elegant and restful.

Unrivalled gourmet cuisine, peace, quiet and a private bathing area near a panoramic landing stage. We want to run away there right now. Not a place for a golf lads’ break but a nice couples’ getaway where the non-golfers can spa their days away. A special break running this year includes: Three nights including breakfast buffet, resort dining, two green fees for the golf courses Patriziale in Ascona and Gerre in Losone, golf gift, spa massage, Eden Roc Spa entry, and shuttle from/to Locarno train station plus bike rental, £771 pp. www.edenroc.ch

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In the North East we can, for once, say we have been fairly fortunate with the winter weather with no prolonged spells of closure or snow. Certainly more than can be said for our friends in other parts of the UK. Spring is just around the corner for us all, which means the start of the season is thankfully fast approaching.

This is certainly something all golfers celebrate and look forward to, but especially those of you who have chosen to hibernate over the winter months.

It is the perfect time to start getting your game into shape with a course of lessons but also a chance to look deep into your bag to see if you have the right equipment that’s working correctly for you.

Last week I was going through one of my client’s yardages ready for the oncoming season, and I found that he had three clubs in the bag that had different flights but went the same overall distance.

When we talked about it he was a little confused about how his rescue/hybrid clubs fitted in amongst his long irons and fairway woods.

Depending on your club head speed you should have a gap of between 10 to 14 yards between each club so a loft difference of approximately 3 to 4 degrees would be correct. A slight increased gap between your higher clubs is fine as it is easier to manufacture shots with the clubs that have more loft.

Just for interest this is what I carry in my bag; 10.5 degree driver 15 degree 3 wood 19 degree hybrid 3- pw irons 52 degree SW 58 degree SW This set make-up would be pretty much normal, apart from maybe the driver, fairway woods would be more lofted and the 3 iron replaced with a second hybrid around 23 degrees for most amateurs.

If you feel you need some advice you could book an appointment at an equipment demo day, where you can try all the relevant clubs with instant feedback on distances from the computer on site.

We have regular demo days at Matfen Hall with a number of the leading manufacturers running throughout the year.

For more information call us on 01661 866400.

If you are looking at investing some of your money in some new clubs this can be a good time of year to do so, with all the latest equipment starting to appear in your local pro shops.

If you’re looking for a bargain you might also find last year’s clubs at a reduced price so definitely worth a visit to see what they might have!

Use this time of year wisely and you will hopefully see the benefits in your game during the main season.

Happy 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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Gasp-worthy

gasp again

Street-racer Want to feel like a racing driver? The time is now. Graham Courtney slips into Aston’s new N430

Aston Martin is going back to its racing roots. Over the years, Aston has used the letter N for its racing cars. The most successful of recent years was the N24 named after the Nürburgring 24-hour event. It was a GT Series racer. The N24 was also made available as a road car. Which brings us nicely to the N430.

In a nutshell, this car is a V8 Vantage which has had a few modifications. The first, and most obvious, are the styling tweaks. At this point, it’s probably worth studying the photo.

You will now either love the look of this Vantage and feel a rush of patriotic sporting pride and read on... or that will be the end of that because you think they’ve ruined a perfectly handsome car.

You can get the N430 in either Coupé or Roadster form. Prices start at £89,995, which makes it around 10 grand less than the V8 Vantage S, which is brilliant because the N430 4.7 litre engine is the same as the one found in the more expensive S. model.

Aston Martin wants to let buyers have the chance to experience the sort of sensation you get from their GT4 racers. One way to do that is to install various weight saving features like Kevlar seats and ten-spoke forged alloy wheels. These changes already mean you’ve saved 20kg.

So, it’s a street legal racing car. No surprise then that the new V8 Vantage N430 is capable of 190 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds. Power is fed to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox; with the option of a close-ratio seven-speed auto. You also get what Aston Martin refer to as...’a rousing sports exhaust.’ I’ll let you imagine the growl you get when driving off.

Of course, Aston Martin couldn’t leave you sat in a stripped out interior. There is still plenty of quality material and gadgetry scattered around the cabin. The driver instrument panel is a work of art. The leather is sumptuous.

I love the Aston Martin Vantage, no matter which one you go for. The N430 is more hard-nosed when it comes to the driving experience and, let’s say, the green paint with yellow trims will polarise opinions. You can get other colours, but that sort of defeats the object. I reckon the Vantage is one of the best of the Aston Martin range. They’re all wonderful to sit in.

Pocket rocket

There are times when you need to compare and contrast. We want to keep things exclusive, high on quality and with a boatload of fun, but there are times when a big muscle car like the Aston Martin N430 doesn’t quite fit

There is plenty of quality material and gadgetry scattered around the cabin.

The driver instrument panel is a work of art. The leather is sumptuous

Try this for size. The Lotus Exige S Roadster is best described as… well… a hooligan. It’s a pocket rocket.

The Lotus factory in Norfolk has upped the number of new models arriving in Lotus showrooms. The latest to break cover is the Lotus Exige S Roadster. If open top thrills are what floats your boat, this car will definitely hit the mark. It’s a stunner.

There’s nothing subtle about the mid-mounted 3.5 litre V6 engine. It sounds marvellous and, as you’d expect in a lightweight racer, the performance is staggering. In fact, off the mark, it is quicker than the Aston Martin. 0-60 takes a mind blowing 3.8 seconds. You’ll think this is nuts, but it actually feels quicker. Read the next sentence and, by the time you get to the end, you’ll have passed the 60mph barrier. Build the revs, lift the clutch, floor the throttle, flick the gears. Bingo. 60. Oh, and if you’re interested, 0-100mph takes 8.8 seconds.

Top speed is 145mph. Granted, these figures, if you go for them, won’t do a lot for your fuel consumption. For the record, you might crack 30mpg, but, hey, what’s the fun in that.

The Lotus Exige is a true driver’s car; it seems to fit like a glove. The handling is everything you would expect from a Lotus. It’s pin-sharp, wonderfully controlled and surprisingly compliant at town speeds. It would keep pace with the N430 until the top-end speed ran out.

Gone are the days when sitting in a Lotus was like being dropped into an empty biscuit tin. The interior is nicely trimmed and you get things like an MP3 / CD player and central locking; you can even go to air conditioning and heated seats which, to be fair, if you are a fresh air freak in the wintertime, may come in handy.

It costs £58,580. The driving sensation in the Lotus Exige S Roadster is like nothing else in the price range. Evo Magazine last year voted the Exige Roadster as joint winner of their roadster category. The other car was a Pagani Huayra which would set you back a further £700,000. The Lotus really is that good.

Any drawbacks to the Exige? Ladies, it’s probably a good idea not to wear a short skirt when you get in/out of the Exige. Anything else? Nope.

This little Lotus is a thrill-a-minute fire cracker. Perfect for a sunny spring day blast.

This little Lotus is a thrill-a-minute fire cracker. Perfect for a sunny spring day blast

CONCENTRATED LUXURY P R E M I U M VA L U E from Lexus STARTS FROM JUST

109 £399* 13%

G/KM CO2

PER MONTH

BIK

COMPLIMENTARY LEATHER UPGRADE

P R E M I U M VA L U E from Lexus FROM

AVAILABLE FROM JUSTJUST STARTS FROM

FROM

82 £399 £219 10% 109 13% PER MONTH BIK *

G/KMCO CO22 G/KM

PER MONTH

BIK

Take a test drive at: LEXUS NEWCASTLE 22 Benton Road, Newcastle NE7 7EG 0191 215 0404 www.newcastle.lexus.co.uk New CT 200h prices start from £20,995.00. Model shown is CT 200h S £20,995.00. *For Business Users only.

Initial VATM applies.

P R rental E MandI U VAAvailable L UonEsales of new CT 200h S grade when ordered, registered and financed between 8 January 2014 and 31 March 2014 through Lexus Financial Services on Lexus Connect Contract Hire. At

Lexus participating Lexusfrom Centres.

Advertised rental is based on a 4 year non maintained contract at 10,000 miles per annum with an initial rental of £1,314.00 + VAT. Excess mileage charges apply. Other finance offers are available but cannot be used in STARTSwith FROM JUST conjunction this offer.

Terms and conditions apply. Indemnities may be required. Finance subject to status to over 18s only.

Lexus Financial Services, Great Burgh, Burgh Heath, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5UZ. Subject to availability. Lexus Centres are BIKMPG figures quoted are sourced from official EU regulated test results. They are independent of Lexus Financial Services. The provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect actual driving experience.

£399

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CT 200h S fuel consumption figures: urban 78.5 mpg (3.6L/100km), extra urban 80.7 mpg PER MONTH G/KM CO2 (3.5L/100km), combined 78.5 mpg (3.6L/100km). CT 200h S CO2 emissions 82g/km.

COMPLIMENTARY LEATHER UPGRADE

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sneaky speedster

luxe laps

Hidden gem

Colin Jarvis Colin Jarvis from County Durham is a man who loves a retro classic. His baby is a pampered Mk1 Cortina – bet it makes you go, “Aw, we had one of those...”

First love Well I was born in the 1960s and as a little boy I always loved the Mk1 Cortina.

There was something about the shape of the back lights; I loved the Cortina and I remember telling my mother I would get one when I grew up. Her response was to say that by then there would be no Cortinas left.

First car A Mk 1 Escort. I can’t say I loved it, but it was cheap, cost me £40 and I remember thinking how will I manage to pay for it! How times have changed. It was 20 years later walking though Sunderland and seeing a Mk1 Cortina parked up that I knew the time had come to have one.

In the garage now I have two Mk1 Cortinas and I drive a Mercedes C class so I feel very lucky. If the Cortina drove like the Mercedes I’m sure I would take it out more.

Captain Slow or Jeremy?

The Cortina drives very well and would do a steady 70mpg but I tend to stay about 55 as I find it much better on fuel if I keep it to that.

Road trip Last year we did a road run from Land’s End end to John O’Groats for Cancer Research. The Cortina drove very well. It was something that the three of us will never forget, we saw some nice places and met some lovely people, Track of your tyres In the Cortina you will find music from the 1960 - lots of it, modern music just does not sound right in the Cortina.

In the glove box The usual stuff – but as for being clean – that’s a given.

There was something about the shape of the back lights of the car that made me love the Cortina

So, we’ve got a shouty Aston Martin and a nutcase of a Lotus, but there are times when it’s nice to have all of that performance and fun without a shouty foghorn on the roof to attract attention

That is exactly how I feel about the Audi S3; understated to look at but seriously quick. 0-60 takes 4.8 seconds and the top speed is limited to 155mph. In other words, in terms of the 0-60 dash in the real world, there’s a fag paper of distance between the Aston, the Lotus and the Audi when hurtling off the line. Don’t forget, this Audi has 4-wheel drive so there’s a good chance that, in wet conditions, the Audi will be the quickest.

There are three versions of the S3 currently available. There’s the 3-door hatchback, 4-door saloon and 5-door Sportback, and there’s a cabriolet just around the corner.

The hatchback costs £30,640; the Sportback is a further £600, while the saloon comes in at £33,240.

We’re looking at the hatchback here. The 2.0 litre turbocharged engine develops 300bhp and delivers effortless performance. This helps with fuel economy; 40mpg is the combined consumption figure. You can either have a 6-speed manual gearbox or 6-speed auto.

Handling is spookily surefooted thanks to the quattro transmission, lowered suspension and fat tyres. Put it this way, to

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make the car go off line, you need to be doing something seriously stupid. Under normal conditions, this S3 will continue to corner long after your courage has run out.

Audi is also conscious of making the Audi S3 sound good. 4-cylinder engines aren’t normally the best for this (6, 8 or 12 is where it gets tasty) so they’ve fiddled with the exhaust to give you a deep growl. One extra is Adaptive Magnetic Ride suspension; don’t bother with it; even though this is a car set up for sporty driving, the ride is remarkably compliant.

Thankfully, everything else about the S3 is pure A3. You get a wonderfully crafted interior, extremely comfortable seats, and a feeling of quality and solidity which has left behind the likes of German cousins BMW and Mercedes. There’s plenty of room for four adults and the boot is a decent size too. There’s plenty of standard kit including Bluetooth, USB, heated seats, climate control etc to make this car look like decent value.

Okay, it ain’t cheap, but if you stack it up against similarly rapid cars, of a similar size, the S3 starts to look like a bit of a steal.

Civilised and rapid: just the way I like ‘em.

Audi’s cheeky S3 interloper makes a dash from 0-60 that gives the flash guys a real run for their money.

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social life

social life

In association with:

Percy Hedley Foundation art auction, Holy Biscuit, Newcastle

luxe:looks

Rockliffe Hall Spa, Orly Nails Ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Evening

Above > Michelle Strong, Marie Watts, Jo Bulman

Above > Mark Beech, Mary Gallen

Above > Andrea Kelly, Sarah Cultman, Tanya Baker, Kay Purdue

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!

Bowes Museum Gavin Turk exhibition opening

Above > Kirsty Dulling, Ruth Turner

Digital Leaders North East Salon, Newcastle Above > Brian Luke, Sylvia Luke, Ian Moore Above > Sylvia Luke, Sheila Coltsman

Above > Adrian Jenkins, Gavin Turk, Greville Worthington

Above > Beverley Cartwright, Douglas Cartwright

Above > Alex Shiel, Gary Coyle

Above > Julie EllisonHutton, Kim Wilson

Above > Michael Curtis, Daryn Robinson, Caroline Gerrard

Above > Julie Hollingsworth, Laura Hollingsworth, Julie Richards

Above > Dan Siddle, Laura Sharpe Above > Fred Wyrley Birch, David Barker

Above > Marie Watts, Julie Calvert Above > Kathryn Armstrong, Liz Holmes

Above > Rebecca Chambers, Rachel Wilson, Maureen Simms Above > Margaret Pounder, Sylvia Johnson, Chris Johnson, Vanessa Mussell, Carol Heaviside

Above > Mia Chapman, Robin Knowles Above > Bryony Parish, Jaime Westwood

Tyne Rowing Club Winter Ball, Gosforth Marriott Hotel

Above > Paul Lancaster, Alison Freer

Above > Frank Harrison, Pauline Harrison

Above > Sam Dolkin, Nicole Dolkin Above > David Jeffries, Dave Sharpe Above > Fraser Wright, Clare Demaulpied, Paul Farnaby, Robinia Farnaby

Above > Lord Eccles, Sir Mark Wrightson

Above > Charlie Dobson, Amy Fuller, Owen Stratford

Above > John Mulholland

Above > Kirsty Buxton, Laura Maddock

Above > Colin Percy, Liz Bray

Above > Vicky Lloyd Kate Baucherel

Netting Event, Sloanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar, Darlington

Above > Sue Flintoft, Jackie Trodden, Carol Miller Above > Tom Hill, Louise Purdy, Richard Purdy

Above > Olivia Capocci, Lizzy Fuller, Molly Hall, Snigdha Sen

Above > Judith Thompson, Paula Griffiths

Above > David Robinson, Alan Denton

Above > Amy Allum, David Jinks, Andrew Corry

Above > Amy Allum, Kate Baucherel, Charlotte Nichols

Above > Amy Allum, Katie Blundell, Sue Thompson

Above > Sally Pelham, Charlotte Nichols

Above > Janice Burrows, Trisha Jane, Marilyn Heath, Celia Beedel Above > Nick Dent, Sue Thompson

Above > Chris Barwick, Claire Hughes

Above > Alex Leigh, Tom Hutchinson

In association with: Above > David Harper, Erin Above > Erin Walden, James Lees Walden, Sue Thompson, Chris Hogg

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Above > Sam Elliott, Amy Allum, Erin Above > Charlotte Nichols, Sue Walden, David Harper, Sue Thompson, Thompson, Sam Elliott, Amy Allum, Erin Walden Charlotte Nichols, Rob Skene

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social life

social life

Fairs Cup reunion dinner, Hilton Hotel, Newcastle-Gateshead

Above > Bryan Robson, Bob Moncur, John Craggs, Frank Clark

Above > John McNamer & Alan Foggan

The Grange Launch Party, Blagdon Estate

Burns Night Supper, Newcastle Falcons

Above > Marian Sharp, Judith Martin, Harry Sharp, Ann Norman

Above > Andrea Bradford, Penny Dane, Irva Nicholson

Above > Keith Waite, Dave McGuckian, Hugh Lamont, Michael Mullaney

Above > Catherine Greer, Jackie Marston, Norrie Oswald

Above > Chris Dane, Sarah-Jane Scott, Dave McGregor

Above > Mark Wood, Jemima Wood

Above > Pamela Grieves, Graham Grieves

Above > Willie McFaul, Geoff Allen

Above > Ollie Burton, Keith Dyson

Above > Jan Brewis, Laurence Shepstone, Lesley Clarke, Jane Shepstone, Stephanie Rowe, Lynn Rowe

Above > Nigel Mark Antonio, Martin Wrigglesworth, Paul Wappat

Above > Jill Parkin, Helen Lamont, Hugh Lamont, Howard Walker, Anne Walker, Richard Abbott-Brailey, Sue Mawson

Above > Paul Gillie, Zoe Gillie, Robson Phillipson, Michelle Cairns, Joanne Bethell, Penny Dane

Above > Paul Kirk, Paul Wappat, Penny Dane, Lee Matthewson

Butterwick Hospice Silk Ladies Lunch, Worsall Village Hall nr Yarm

Above > Keith Dyson, Bob Moncur

Above > Camille Moncur, Ann Scott

Above > Paul Short, Wendi Annand, Clare Short, Audrey ShortÂ

Above > Ian Connaghan, Harry Sharp, Neil Thaine Above > Beryl Baines, Alison Boardman

Valentine Ball, Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle

Butterwick Corporate Breakfast, Brasserie Hudson Quay, Middlesbrough

Above > Penny Dane, Robson Phillipson, Viscount Matt Ridley, Julie Phillipson, Paul Wappat

Josieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dragonfly Ladies Lunch, Matfen Hall, Northumberland

Above > Ann Laidler, Mona Hindhaugh

Above > Yvonne Adams, Victoria Rogers

Above > Kim McDiarmid, Allison Wallis, Andrea Ponting, Claire Richardson, Wendy Swan

Above > Janice Blake, Pam Cotterill, Megan Patterson, Jane Rollins Above > Neil Ewen, Lilly Ewen

Above > Neil Hutchinson, Kate Embleton

Above > Carrie Wilson, Steven Fletcher

Above > Andrew Duncan, Darren Rudd, Juan Marin

Above > Dee Moore, Angie Gibson, Valerie Firth-Morgan

Above > Silvia Proud, Maureen Cass

Above > Angela Carlin, Marilyn Dawson

Above > Adam Brown, Andrea Brown

Above > Kathleen Scott, Delia Groarke, Jennifer Bentley Above > Michael Pritchard, Karen Richardson, Martin Cannon, Julie Cannon

Above > Pam Barnes, Eric Barnes

Above > Jackie Firth, Chris Pickles, Ray Laidler

Above > Mick Stephenson, Christine Stephenson, Keith Symington

Above > Jean Goldsmith, Linda Flintoff, Maggie Carruthers

Above > Glen Floundry, Maura Floundry

Above > Doreen Howes, Sandra Gillott, Joan Smith, Ann Finley

Above > Jane Dennison, Jackie Grove, Sarah Hogg

Above > Theo Armstrong, Maureen Armstrong, Glenda Henderson

Above > Diane Casey, Maureen Wyatt, Sue Scott, Lyn Rogers Above > Daniel Davies, Gemma Davies

Above > Cheryl Buchanan, Barry Buchanan

Above > Christine Hardy, Charles Tighe, Anne Cooling, Lisa Coggin

Above > Scott McDonald, Joseph Bell, Brian Goodlad, Tom Warnock

47-48 Eldon Garden, Newcastle T: 0191 232 0788 www.richardsintonjewellers.com

In association with: 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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Above > Alison Nelson, Janet Greenwell, Val Kelly, Lesley Munro

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Be bold, be scared, be challenged Fancy a charity challenge to see you through the year? Here are a few to inspire

Warrior Beach Assault >> Date > March 29 Location > Whitley Bay Promenade and beach What is it > A 10k course with physical and mental obstacles to negotiate along the way. Open to anyone wanting to raise funds for their own particular charity with the main focus support for a new veterans’ centre being built at the Elms West, Sunderland. A target of £200,000 has been set to help complete the project which aims to help those leaving the services cope with a return to civilian life.

Entry > Entry for the event is £49 per person and anyone interested can sign up at www.beachassault.co.uk.

If you need a recipe for the ultimate weekend then we’re just a click away.

Every Thursday Luxe Loves The Weekend brings you a bite-sized version of Luxe with ideas for days out, great walks, hip stays, cultural happenings, places to eat and treats to cook up.

Boom Banger Rally MarrakeSh Express >> Date > April 13 Location > Europe-wide!

What is it > Team Butterwick is heading to the sun.

Navigate your way through beautiful countryside and cosmopolitan cities. Take in the sights and sounds of Barcelona and Marrakesh. The premise is simple – buy a car for under £250, customise your banger to stand out from the crowd then hit the road with dozens of other teams on the journey of a lifetime.

Entry > £350 per team. In aid of Butterwick Hospice. www.boombangerrally.co.uk

CLIFF JUMP >> Date > April 26 Location > Howick, Northumberland What is it > The cliff jumping challenge was inspired by the exciting sport of coasteering, which is a combined rock and water activity involving an invigorating blend of cliff jumping, sea level traversing, rock climbing and adventure swimming. As part of the activity, supporters progress from smaller jumps to the final 40ft drop. St Oswald’s Hospice, Gosforth is one of the first charities in the region to offer cliff jumping as a fundraising event.

Entry > To sign up to Cliff Jumping contact Emma Thomson on 0191 246 9123, email fundraising@stoswaldsuk.org or visit www.stoswaldsuk.org/life.ist

Cooking up a cool weekend A slice of inspiration to PC, iPad or phone every Thursday.

And it’s fabulously FREE to sign up.

Italian cycle challenge >> Date > June 4-8 Location > Italy What is it > The Italian Challenge is an epic cycle ride from the Mediterranean coastline of Italy to the Adriatic. Cross the Tuscan Hills and the Apennine Mountains before visiting the mountain. Ideal for the amateur cyclist who fancies a challenge, this event is a fantastic opportunity to experience beautiful scenery, enjoy team camaraderie and raise funds for the SAFC Foundation of Light.

Entry > Cost £1500. Contact harry.hall@safc.com or call 0191 5515191.

Chuddy Baller 2014 >> Date > May 15 Location > UK-wide What is it > The Great North Air Ambulance has been chosen as a charity for the very first Cumbrian gumball, known as chuddy baller. This event is a race going around the whole of the Britain starting and ending in Cumbria over four days.

The adventure is approximately 2000 miles covering all sorts of Britain’s top attractions.

Entry > You need to drive a car worth less than £500 and raise at least £100. www.chuddyball.com

Lambton Run >> Date > June 29 Location > County Durham What is it > The 10k run is designed for both competitive and non-competitive runners, while the 3k, offers a fun run for families and young children. Organised to support Foundation of Light, the official charity of SAFC. Courses run through the grounds of the Lambton Estate, County Durham, which is the setting for BBC drama The Paradise.

Entry > Entries from £12 per person for the 10k and from £6 per person for the 3K. www.foundationoflight.co.uk

COLOUR RUN >> Date > July 20 Location > Sunderland What is it > The Color Run, known as the ‘Happiest 5k on the Planet’, is a new style running event.

Runners are doused head to toe in vibrant colours at each kilometre of the race. The only rules are that each runner begins the race dressed in white and ends up covered in vibrant colour.

Entry > £25 entry www.thecolorrun.co.uk/Sunderland

Ride the Tour de France >> Date > June 7 Location > Yorkshire What is it > Ever wondered what it would be like to be part of the leading peloton during a stage of the Tour de France? Join a team of 15 cyclists and saddle up for Butterwick Hospice. Beginning in Ripon and winding through the Yorkshire Dales, this 98-mile section of the Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France combines challenging climbs with spectacular scenery.

Entry > £49 + £300 minimum sponsorship. www.butterwick.org.uk

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Great North Swim >> Date > June 13 - 15 Location > Windermere, Lake District What is it > Do like Davina. Open-water swimming is an exhilarating challenge. From first-timers to Olympic champions you can choose from half-mile, one-mile, two-mile and 5km courses, safe in the knowledge expert safety kayakers are with you every stroke of the way.

Starts and finishes on dry land.

Entry > £21 www.greatswim.org

RACE THE SUN >> Date > August 30 Location > Cumbria What is it > A team challenge set in the Lake District. Teams are challenged to cycle 50 miles, climb Helvellyn and canoe Lake Thirlmere. Starting at sunrise and finishing by sunset - Racing the Sun! Funds will support the work of Action Medical Research funding work to offer hope to thousands of families dealing with the trauma of a baby born too early, or affected by disability and devastating disease.

Entry > £195 www.actionforcharity.co.uk

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p nu Sig Now

sweet charity

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

parting SHOT

Park free after 5pm in Newcastle.

Park free after 5pm Mon-Sat in the Council multi-storey car parks Shop late â&#x20AC;&#x2122;til 8pm Mon-Fri and 7pm Sat For further information on participating car parks and shops visit:

getintonewcastle.co.uk

Melting moments> As if you need reminding that the cocoa-loveliness of Easter is on its way, photographer Kevin Gibson has been playing chocolate games in the kitchen. www.kgphotography.co.uk

Some stores may vary

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