The Cheshire Magazine April 2016 by Runwild Media Group

L I V E B E A U T I F U L LY

Aboda Carrwood DPS 03.indd All Pages

NORTHERN DESIGN AWARDS WINNER - BEST LUXURY NEW BUILD HOME 2015

SHORTLISTED FOR REGIONAL RIBA AWARD 2016

60 CARRWOOD / AN AWARD WINNING LUXURY HOME FROM ABODA LIVING ABODA Living specialises in luxury residential property creating properties of true architectural distinction. Building both speculatively and by client appointment, always using the finest materials to offer beautifully crafted and practical living spaces youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be proud to call home. Situated in Hale Barns, this unique contemporary home is presented to the market completed and ready to move in to. The ground floor includes a large open plan kitchen fitted with

Siemens appliances and informal living space, a walk-in pantry and separate utility room, dining room, lounge and study. Upstairs there is a master suite with large terrace, dressing room and generous bathroom, with a further 4 ensuite bedrooms all with either fitted or walk-in wardrobes. To the outside there is a large south facing terrace leading to landscaped gardens with views across open countryside at the rear, a triple garage, extensive driveway, all enclosed with a stunning contemporary style gated entrance affording excellent privacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIEWINGS PLEASE CONTACT PHILLIP DIGGLE AT GASCOIGNE HALMAN / 176 ASHLEY ROAD, HALE, CHESHIRE WA15 9SF

RIBA AWARDS / WINNER MSA DESIGN AWARDS / WINNER NORTHERN DESIGN AWARDS / WINNER

MEN PROPERTY AWARDS / WINNER ROSES DESIGN AWARDS / SILVER

m PDIGGLE@GASCOIGNEHALMAN.CO.UK O 0161 929 8118 W WWW.GASCOIGNEHALMAN.CO.UK

02/03/2016 12:17

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

CVS MayfairMagazine Advertorial VPOS DPS 091015.indd All Pages

09/10/2015 16:15

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

From the

Editor

EDITOR’S PICKs #1 Bags of fun (p.124)

#2 The first hydrogen powered car (p.100)

#3 Linley’s Henley watch tower (p.132)

hen the fashion shows present their latest collections, it’s officially time to get excited about the new season. And I’m not just talking about clothing... This month we’ve got the latest catwalk colours, styles and trends covered (p.38/p.74), as well as all the latest launches, from swimwear to wristwear. We visit our top style icons for a little trip down memory lane (p.32) and chat with the very lovely Fanny Moizant, co-founder of Vestiaire Collective, about making the most of unused designer goods (p.40). But we’re also ready for the season ahead, from a look behind the scenes of the new series of Home Fires (p.48) to the ultimate holiday destinations for the year ahead (p.112). And, as the sun begins to share its rays with us, we have the top horticultural days out to look forward to (p.156) and the dishes at their most delicious this time of year (p.20). Yes, we’ve oodles of style inspiration, but there are also a couple of other inspirational stories I’d like to draw your attention to. The first is Dame Sarah Storey’s, the most decorated paralympian of our time (p.44). The second is the very glamorous Rachel Mamelok, who shares with us the very personal story of her battle with breast cancer in the run up to the second annual Pink Ribbon Ball (p.88). Be full of the joys and colours of spring. Be inspired.

Louisa Louisa Castle Editor

Proud to support: Variety – The Children’s Charity The Pink Ribbon Ball, Manchester & Breast Cancer now the babygrow appeal, countess of chester hospital

Artwork with ALL locations_Layout 1 04/03/2016 15:29 Page 1

London • Liverpool • Manchester• Altrincham • Chester • Southport www.davidmrobinson.co.uk

Investment PLANNING

Retirement Planning

Tax & Estate Planning

“It’s more about you than your money” Phil Illingworth

Jonathan Seddon

THE OLD SCHOOL, HIGH STREET, TATTENHALL, CHESHIRE. CH3 9PX TEL: 01829 771707 WEB: WWW.ILLINGWORTHSEDDON.CO.UK Illingworth Seddon Chartered Financial Planners represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

118

048

020

031

092

102

Contents

178

April 2016

Features

collection

travel

031 | The style file We salute the risk-takers and celebrated leaders of fashion 038 | SS16 Trend report All you need to know about this season’s catwalk action 040 | Green sleeves Vestiaire Collective is Ebay meets Net-a-Porter; fabulous 044 | Anything is possible Dame Sarah Storey talks medals and motherhood 048 | Behind the scenes We chat to the cast and crew of locally-filmed Home Fires

064 | Watch news Stunning state-of-the-art timepieces for him and her 068 | Jewellery news A full round-up of all the latest in style and sparkle

110 | Travel news 112 | Extraordinary places to visit Your 2016 bucket list includes Bora Bora, Indonesia and India 118 | Inside Ibiza World-renowned clubbing isn’t all this beach idyll has to offer 122 | Weekend away Join us for a Viking River Cruise along the beautiful Danube

regulars

fashion & beauty 072 | Fashion news From essential accessories to new trends, it’s all here 074 | A modern classic Fall for sharp tailoring and stunning sweeping gowns 082 | Beauty news New treatments, products and all the latest news 084 | The right ingredients Jeff Murad gives his top tips for healthy, beautiful skin 088 | Rachel’s story We meet a Pink Ribbon Ball committee member and breast cancer survivor 092 | A sense of occasion Emilia Wickstead talks sophisticated silhouettes

008 | Editor’s letter 012 | Contributors 015 | My life in Cheshire Retail director of truKitchen, Tracy Mackey, talks Cheshire 016 | Notebook This month’s local events, news and best new products 020 | Food & drink Get to know executive head chef at The Mere, Kevin Clark 025 | Local scene motoring All the glamour and gossip 100 | Motoring news 029 | As I was saying... The latest developments Melissa Porter on marching to from the automotive world the beat of your own drum 102 | Looks can be deceiving The Bentley Continental GTC V8 S is full of surprises art 106 | Zero to hero 052 | Art & culture news The FFZero1 is about as 054 | Prize lots futuristic as you can get 056 | Taylor Talks Liz meets actress Runa Lenska 108 | Technology central What’s hot in the world of 059 | State of the art gadgets, games and geekery Why modern art is for us all

FAMILY 124 | Kids’ news The very latest for little ones 127 | The classroom 129 | Mum’s the word The Linen Works launches its first mother-daughter collection

homes & interiors 132 | Interiors news 138 | A total transformation Janey Butler Interiors turn an ageing Knutsford building into a sleek new flagshop store 153 | The minimalist makeover The experts at Safestore self-storage share top tips for keeping your home clutter-free 158 | The gardener’s guide to 2016 Our pick of this year’s very best horticultural extravaganzas from right across the country 164 | Hot properties The best of Cheshire’s homes 166 | Samujana state of mind Your passport out of the ordinary into the awesome 170 | Overseas property These stunning properties will have you yearning to emigrate

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

april 2016 s issue 028 s

Editor Louisa Castle Deputy Editor Gemma Knight Editorial Director Kate Harrison Theatre Editor Natalie Anglesey Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong Production Hugo Wheatley, Danny Lesar Alice Ford, Jamie Steele Advertising Managers Kayleigh Penswick, Kathryn Otto Danielle Mullen Brand Ambassador Keely Barrett General Manager Fiona Fenwick Publisher Giles Ellwood Executive Director Sophie Roberts

The

contributors MELISSA PORTER Best known for her BBC prime time appearances, property developer Melissa is a self-confessed people junkie and certified coach and mentor. She hopes to bring a little fun and a lot of life to her new column As I was saying...

RICHARD BROWN Richard is deputy editor of Collection, our dedicated watch and fine jewellery section. He specialises in men’s style, culture and finance. Each month he brings us all the latest developments from the world of timepieces.

CRISPIN HARRIS Crispin’s role as deputy chair of national estate agents Jackson-Stops & Staff gives him unparalleled access to knowledge of property trends and issues, as well as an accurate and up-to-date global view of the property industry.

JENNIFER MASON Jennifer started out in luxury fashion marketing and has since worked as a writer in the UK and Dubai, specialising in motoring, travel, lifestyle and local features. Her time is spent reading and obsessing over the latest Formula 1 results.

Iain Warde Iain is a self-confessed geek, having worked in computer gaming and tech magazines since the creation of Pac-Man. He is also a huge petrolhead who spends his spare time marshalling at Oulton Park and around the UK.

phillip WATERMAN Phillip has more than ten years’ experience at a wide variety of publications, including the Telegraph, and has also been involved with campaigns for Specsavers. This month, he shoots sharply tailored suits and sweeping gowns.

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

Proudly published by

RUNWILD MEDIA GROUP

www.rwmg.co.uk Runwild Media Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Runwild Media Ltd. takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. DISTRIBUTION The Cheshire Magazine is the largest circulated luxury publication in Cheshire, delivered to selected homes in over 20 postcodes, plus businesses, newsagents and retail outlets. ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Kayleigh Penswick:+44 (0) 784 1199 699 k.penswick@runwildgroup.co.uk Kathryn Otto:+ 44 (0) 797 1981 721 k.otto@runwildgroup.co.uk Danielle Mullen: +44 (0) 796 6159 812 d.mullen@runwildgroup.co.uk

Members of the Professional Publishers Association

cover On the

From ‘A Modern Classic’; see page 77 for details, stockists and prices. Image courtesy of Phillip Waterman (phillipwaterman.com)

Also published by

STONE & MORE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Since 1989 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

If you thought we only sold stone... think again. We now stock an extensive range of porcelain and decorative tiles alongside our natural stone.

Order online at: mandarinstone.com or visit your local showroom: 67-69 Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5BQ 01625 531 343

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

My life in CHESHIRE Tracy Mackey, Retail director at truKitchen

H “I think it’s Cheshire’s residents who make it such a special place.”

aving started her career as a kitchen designer’s assistant at the age of 17, the last thirty years have seen Poynton native Tracy rise to become one of Cheshire’s go-to women in the world of exclusive, prestige kitchen design. Having worked her way up through the industry, it was just three years ago that she met managing director of luxury bespoke brand truKitchen, Richard Nelson, and a meeting of minds ensued. “We discovered that we were both very passionate about what we wanted within the kitchen industry, and decided to open an exclusive prestige showroom in Wilmslow,” she explains. “We’re an enthusiastic team. I truly believe that achieving the right result for our clients takes a combination of intricate product knowledge, unfaltering listening skills and an appreciation that working in someone’s home is a truly intimate process. People need someone they can trust, someone who can guide them through the development process and understand the intricacies involved in complete project management. My role is to be that guide; assessing architectural drawings, liaising with builders, providing a schedule for installation and ensuring the plan stays on track. I really enjoy all aspects of my job – from design to selling and project managing – but it’s such a great feeling when we present a finished space to a client and they’re beaming from ear to ear at the fantastic home we’ve helped them create. I’m hoping that, in the coming years, the business will continue to grow, becoming an even greater success with a reputation as one of the most highly-regarded prestige showrooms in the North West.” Tracy grew up in the picturesque Poynton area, just south of Stockport, and is passionate about the things she believes make the North West the wonderful place it is. “I think it’s Cheshire’s residents – many of whom are our clients, and who generally are hardworking, successful business people – which make it such a special place,” she says. “Wilmslow is such a lovely town, and we often go to one of our local pubs, the Coach and Four, for team building meetings with staff. When I’m at home, I tend to spend time with family and friends, socialising and walking in the beautiful countryside.” 56 Alderley Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 1NY (01625 533111; trukitchen.co.uk) 15

GAME, SET, MERE We’re already getting excited about the 2016 Boodles Classique tennis tournament at Mere Resort & Spa this June. Well-established on our social calendar, we look forward to great food, company and entertainment, whatever the weather. Peter Fleming, half of the best doubles partnership ever (with John McEnroe), spoke with passion at the launch, and we look forward to seeing him on court with other greats Leconte, Ivanisevic and, last year’s favourite with the ladies, El Aynaoui. The Classique, 15-17 June 2016 (theclassique.co.uk)

NOTEBOOK

April

was the 250th most common name for

a baby girl last year

April 1969

saw Concorde’s

maiden flight VAT was

first introduced in Britain on

1 April 1973

Stirling Moss won his first Grand Prix at

Aintree

in 1955

For the next 24 hours,

#JOSHFEST The Joshua Tree, the charity which supports Cheshire families living with cancer, is celebrating its ten year anniversary with a family friendly festival at Marbury Park on Saturday 30 April, as well as the annual family silly socks 2.5k fun run. There will be live music, activities, games and handmade trader stalls. Plus, the charity is attempting to break the record for the number of Joshuas in one place! This is just one of ten challenges The Joshua Tree will be running throughout its tenth year. Another is a fundraising skydive on 25 June at Whitchurch airfield, which will see Cheshire jumpers – from head chefs to teaching assistants – support the charity. Register your interest or to support any of the above visit thejoshuatree.org.uk 16

TRUST NO ONE.

*locks self in kitchen cabinet* @taylorswift13 on April Fool’s Day

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

5 top picks for the changing of the clocks #1 Clock Plate Clocks, £39 (in-spaces.com)

#2 Antique clock wall sticker, £42 (spincollective.co.uk)

A GIN-NESS WORLD RECORD

he Botanist has gained a GUINNESS WORLD RECORD title after hosting the largest gin tasting event across its venues. The evening saw more than 800 people simultaneously taste a variety of gins from all over the UK. Following the tasting, there was a huge gin party to celebrate the attempt, which included gin cocktails, live music and nibbles. The attempt came after the recent introduction of a gin list on The Botanist and Trading House’s menus – gin lovers unite! (thebotanist.uk.com; thenewworldtradingcompany.com)

#3 Iron clock coffee table, £265 (hoipolloigifts.co.uk)

PURCHASE OF THE MONTH Groovy Magnets

#4 Modern cuckoo clock, £139 (4living.co.uk)

Animal printed magnetic wallpaper, from £41.50 (sistersguild.com)

#5 Digital grandfather clock, £9,960 (touchedinteriors.co.uk)

Q&A... LES ROUTIERS San Carlo’s Gran Café (the one in the beauty halls of Selfridges, Exchange Square) has been named Café of the Year 2016 in the prestigious Les Routiers Awards. And to celebrate, the European-style café is introducing a fabulous new Gran Café Afternoon Tea (£15.95 per person, or £25.95 with champagne) complete with Mr Selfridge chocolate éclair and mini melanzane parmigiana (our editor’s favourite). Delicious! (sancarlo.co.uk; selfridges.com)

NOTEBOOK

Food & Drink PURCHASE OF THE MONTH

JASMINE & MELISSA HEMSLEY Cookbook writers and caterers for the A-list

What made you start Hemsley & Hemsley? We started a bespoke service aimed at helping people with their digestion and became private chefs and wellness coaches. We were people’s ‘food fairies’. Then we were asked to contribute to Vogue.co.uk and we developed our book to champion good food. What’s your favourite ingredient and why? Coconuts! They remind us of our father, he’d spot them for sale on the local high street, struggle to open the blessed things and then give the remains to the grateful birds in the garden. Do you have any advice to people out there? May the rest of your life be the best of your life, and do what you love, love what you do.

GOLD STANDARD The design icon 50S retro styled FAB fridge from Smeg is now available in gold and comes with a logo made with Swarovski elements. It’s got the same technological heart as the rest of the range, just a new shining and exclusive look. £1,593.42 (arredatutto.com; smeg.com) 18

The Art of Eating Well, Good + Simple is available at Selfridges (selfridges.com) The sisters will also be launching their first day-tonight cafe at Selfridges, London this month.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

SPOTLIGHT ON... HONEY AT GOTHAM HOTEL WORDS: LOUISA CASTLE

s you know we have been lucky enough to work closely with the team at Hotel Gotham since its launch. But this was the first time I had dined here – despite being a regular for drinks in the exclusive Club Brass Bar. As a venue it can do nothing but impress. You’re in the heart of the city, looking down through the arched windows, watching people going about their business. But you’re also in a little bubble quite far away. Guided by Peter, our welcoming maitre d’, we chose from his recommendations; to commence, scallop and octopus and duck liver parfait; to follow, Indian spiced lamb and duck breast; and finally, malt. A warming selection of dishes for a cool spring day. Indulgent and smooth, the parfait served with pistachio purée was a pâté-lover’s delight, and the octopus and scallop deliciously tender and fresh in flavour (not a single rubber sensation to be chewed). The spices in the lamb sent the taste buds into memories of sultry Indian nights without overpowering. And the duck breast, paired with a delicious Malbec which appeared almost black in the glass, was rich and earthy thanks to the mushroom jus.

There’s no denying it was a hearty meal, with little over-zealousness in the presentation, which can so often be the case in this type of establishment. Our finale, simply called ‘Malt’ was one we shared: a deconstructed Malteser with honeycomb and white chocolate. A thoroughly satisfying end to the meal. Whilst some critics do not ‘get’ the styling of the hotel, we are fans of the quirky décor and story which has been created. The Gotham team has stuck to its guns and has a well-earned reputation, with the hotel commanding an excellent occupancy rate. In contrast to the Inner Sanctum suites, Honey is simple and sophisticated, letting the food and location do all the talking. Next time, we’ll not confine ourselves to our cocktails in Club Brass Bar, we’ll dine and drink at Hotel Gotham. And, very possibly, we’ll have to create our very own special occasion so we have an excuse to take over the private dining room. Maybe Lady Didsbury will join us... Honey Restaurant, Hotel Gotham, 100 King Steet, Manchester, M2 4WU (0843 178 7188; hotelgotham.co.uk) 19

DRIVEN Kevin Clark is the executive head chef at The Mere Golf Resort & Spa. New to the area, he’s no stranger to golf or great food

he first thing Kevin imparts as we sit in the lush green grounds, is that he only studied cookery at school because he needed something to fill his timetable and thought that cookery would help him be that bit more domesticated when he finally left home. That and he had his eye on a new putter. On leaving school, he took a job washing pots at a local hotel just outside Perth in Scotland. The hotel’s chef saw potential in him (aged 17) and took him under his wing, sending him to cooking school to get some professional training. Already aiming high, after studying at college, Kevin worked within a number of hotels and went on to become commis chef at the Savoy Grill in London before progressing to chef de partie. He then went on to work at The Ritz, Gleneagles and Luton Hoo, where he was head chef, before moving north at the end of last year. He quotes the ‘can do’ attitude as one of the persuading factors to move to Cheshire, that and the golf course, which is never far from his mind, when he has the time. When he’s not cooking for the resort or playing golf, Kevin can be found out and about walking his dogs, swimming (20 laps per day), or relaxing with some music. Kevin’s food utopia is pan-fried scallops, fish on the bone (which his wife hates!), cheese and port. So watch out for these

specialities on the menu! Joking aside, Kevin has ambitious plans for The Mere, including re-vamping the menus across all outlets, developing his kitchen brigade and supporting local businesses by using locally sourced ingredients. He’s already making an impact sharpening up the club menu and introducing a gentleman’s afternoon tea and free-from range, and I’m sure there’s more to come. Before our chat draws to a close I am keen to pick his executive chef brains as to what we should be eating this season. Leeks and Savoy cabbage is his answer, with a little more explanation: “Leeks and Savoy cabbage are at their best right now. Leeks are not only packed with antioxidants and vitamins, they’re extremely versatile. Add chopped leeks to mashed potato for an extra vitamin kick, or use them to make nutritious soups.When choosing your leeks, they should be bright, clean and fresh-looking. Check that the tops are not dry, and wash them thoroughly before use to remove the sandy soil they’re grown in. “Savoy cabbage is perfect for those watching their weight this season! Stir-fry shredded cabbage with garlic, ginger and sesame seeds, and serve with lightly grilled chicken or salmon. Or poach the leaves until soft, and fill with a delicious combo of mushrooms, walnuts and stilton. When choosing your Savoy cabbage, it should be wrinkly to the touch, crisp and fresh” Thank you Kevin, we’re off to the shops. And if we can’t find what we need, we know where to go. (themereresort.co.uk)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Classic Shepherd’s Pie with a twist

(serves 4-6) Ingredients: 2 lamb shanks Olive oil 1 carrot, diced finely 2 celery sticks, peeled and diced finely 1 large onion diced finely 4 cloves of garlic chopped 2 sprigs of rosemary 2 sprigs of thyme 2 cloves of cinnamon 2 bay leaves 100ml cider 650ml chicken stock Pearl Barley 150g pearl barley 500mls chicken stock 1 onion, finely diced Wholegrain mustard, salt and pepper Mashed potato 1-2kg King Edward potatoes 100g butter 100ml milk 6 spring onions, finely sliced 100g cream cheese Method: 1 Dust the lamb shanks in seasoned flour 2 Pan fry until golden brown and leave to one side

3 In a thick bottomed pan gently sauté half of the root vegetables, garlic, cloves and bay leaves until the vegetables start to soften; add the lamb shanks and the chicken stock 4 Bring to the boil and skim off some of the fat 5 Braise in the oven until the lamb becomes tender and falls off the bone (approx. 3.5hrs at 140’c or gas mark 2) 6 Soak the pearl barley for 20 minutes and wash thoroughly 7 Sweat off the onion until soft, add the pearl barley and chicken stock 8 Cook the barley until tender, adjusting the liquid as required 9 Remove the lamb from the oven, remove the lid and rest until cool enough to handle 10 Flake the lamb into a dish with a fork, ensuring none of the cartilage is added 11 Pass the cooking liquor through a sieve, keeping the liquid 12 In a thick bottomed pan add some more olive oil and sweat off the rest of the root vegetables and garlic till soft, with no colour 13 Add cider and reduce until any liquid has gone 14 Pour in the reserved cooking liquor and slowly reduce until you get a nice thick red wine sauce 15 Add the pearl barley, the flaked lamb shank and the wholegrain mustard to taste 16 Place into a casserole dish and leave to cool overnight For the mashed potato: 1 Cover the potatoes in water and bring to the boil, adding salt to taste 2 Cook until soft and mash until smooth 3 Then add the butter, milk, spring onions and cream cheese 4 Replace the lid and leave to stand for 10 minutes 5 Mix all the ingredients with a wooden spoon 6 Check the seasoning and spread over the top of the lamb Bake in a moderate oven for 30-35 minutes until golden brown at approximately 180°C or gas mark 4.

CHESMAG_Tent_210x297_V.indd 1

04/03/16 12:00

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

Local scene

News of this month’s events come from far and near as we celebrate, raise money and enjoy life

Love is in the air Toll Optometrist, Altrincham Clients and guests gathered to celebrate the launch of the 2016 Chanel Eyewear Peal Collection, the first in the country to unveil the newest additions to the range. Alongside champagne and canapés the practice was transformed into a Chanel Boutique for the evening and there was definitely a lot of love in the room. (Toll Optometrist, 9-11 Ashley Road, Altrincham; optisavers-online.co.uk)

Ladies’ lunch The Abode Hotel, Chester Chester Business Club held their inaugural ladies’ charity lunch in aid of The Neuro Therapy Centre, Chester last month. It was a complete sell-out raising over £2,500. (chesterbusinessclub.co.uk)

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Colour therapy Lynette Page Makeup Artistry, Knutsford Lynette Page joined forces with Gusto to launch her skin care range at their salon last month. Building on the popular make-up range, Lynette has turned her attention to skin preparation with this new product launch. Whilst ladies (and we spied a few gents too) enjoyed fizz, canapĂŠs and makeovers, money was also raised for Claire House on the night. (lynettepage.com; gustorestaurants.uk.com)

Digging deep Muscat, Oman Although not local, this story does include a local lad as Sir Ben Ainslie sails the Land Rover BAR team to a win in the Louis Vuitton Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup World Series regatta in Muscat. After dominating the first day of racing, a nail-biting Super Sunday saw the team come from behind to claim the title, placing them third place overall in the rankings. Having won the Series last year in its first season, hopes are high. The next leg takes place on the Hudson River, New York, this May. (landroverbar.com; americascup.com)

WINTER SALE!

FREE CHEESE COURSE Y

OUR

RES

TER

AKE

.CO

TO M

.UK

WHEN DINING FROM THE TABLE D’HÔTE OR AMAZING GRAZE MENU

ER VA

TION

PLEASE

W T I S I V CALL 01244 439 435 OR

O B A . WW

E ED C H

CHESTER

Complimentary cheese course when you dine between Sunday – Thursday until 24th March 2016, subject to availability and not available in conjunction with any other offers. A minimum of two courses must be purchased.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

A s I w a s s ay i n g . . .

Porter vs. Jones Worn out keeping up with the Joneses? Our new columnist, Melissa Porter, checks out the stresses and strains of keeping up with the latest trends

’m thrilled to introduce myself to you as your new Cheshire columnist and my warm intention is to create a thought provoking and fun column. This month I’m curious about your views on the Joneses. Do you feel pressure to keep up with them or the latest trends? My son, Pierce, and I were recently in LA at a kids’ club and he’d chosen to have his nails painted. Another child in the group found his choice of activity most amusing and began laughing. It turned out the young boy believed it was only appropriate for girls to get manicures. OK. To judge another human assumes you are better than other. This inferior and superior positioning breeds a belief that the world is filled with some more and some less competent individuals. I don’t buy this ego-fuelled theory. We each possess a unique set of equally valuable ways of being and doing. A view my recent date will likely disagree with. Picture the scene. I’m enamoured enough to take a trip with him. He’s irreverent, has an

“It’s a rare weekend and I get a well-deserved chance to play dress up” excellent work ethic and is a skilled and kind philanthropist who loves kids. TICK. TICK. I’m excited to be eating at Yacht club de Monaco, overlooking the bobbing bateaux. It’s a rare weekend I get a well-deserved chance to play dress up away from my usual life as a single mum. On this evening, we’re attending an investor dinner with a group that included a mix of his pals

so I decide to wear my new Emanuel Ungaro cobalt blue floor length evening dress. The energy of this event is intoxicating and intimate. Up until my date compliments my apparel efforts, asking where I’d bought it. Cue the dark piano music. TK Maxx! He balked then asked I not share these details at our dinner. TOCK. Our world doesn’t need more judgy types who feel superior or inferior. We need more lovers. More boys content to sport pink nails that inspire others to do what they fancy and to encourage a supportive, collaborative smile from the face of others. I urge you to congratulate the Joneses on their new shiny Sunseeker vs. to judge them or yourself. Then to move on to the more important work of enriching your life so that each day is fulfilling and fantabuluous. Especially when donning TKMaxx last season in the South of France! Melissa is a professional certified transformational life coach. (melissaportercoach.com)

A stylish and genuine bar serving beautiful food and drink all day long.

Private rooms available to hire ideal for meetings, private dining & special events Banyan Bar and Kitchen, opened within the redeveloped Corn Exchange, Manchester in October 2015. With a sumptuous all-day offering using fresh, local ingredients, beautifully cooked and catering to all tastes and occasions, Banyan has already made an impact in the city centre. Breakfast. Brunch. Lunch. Dinner. Sunday roast.

Dear Resident

n Readers of , the door. O zine a ts its foot in ge ag , ol. M ng ho e ti Sc ir oo h ng sh Ches rsuits, n Shooti food ff st country pu West Londo o te to ea % g 0 gr in 2 s ad n’ e m autu fth by he will receiv r mmer, one of lorious Twel wit.h uEsvefo opping and e midst of su g brates the G th le in ce in in s d n ip ill chipping, ch en Ph by dwh 13. es oo at w te br o op u five, Henry H Qge ees cele hool on page time pa ng Bethan R ’s Flower Sc hi . ck et rs lo m pe the first ck so m la is B ha l hich Judith st loca m though, w ensembles at Cheshire me of the be bloo us so ll eo fu up rg in d go ill un BANYAN, MANCHESTER st to ro we r stems in owers are on page 16 ture’s slende st art Magazine Fl hich is why torturing na Exchange Square, M4 2TR e day, wManchester, of the greate

A I V A R BELG

one generally order of th ng looks at ch assesses are still the ny Armstro ho ldwell-Fren nt au A And picnics C 0161 832 4798 so , vy E ge ta nd ri A . he n) ’s ia seve rt of Belgrav hnson (page ne). ill a huge pa with Peter Jo is starcinspirations.com/banyan-manchester w tion (page ni ie bi rv hi te ex in th Finally, art an or w in d ep H ha ra er area’s ev test Barba s by dealers the the Tate’s la and update l your news al h gravian. it el w t eb ac th get in cont tweet us @ , to ly te ve ti ta si na he er se do not .co.uk. Alt

l a n r u o J s t iden

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

The style file Fashion comes and fashion goes. We salute the risk-takers turned celebrated leaders of fashion. From the ‘King of Cool’ to the ultimate in elegance, here are our essential fashion icons

TWIGGY

NAOMI CAMPBELL

irst let’s define our parameters, what makes a style icon? An icon is defined as ‘a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration’. Google ‘fashion icon’ today and see what comes up: everyone from Kardashian to Westwood. It’s a hot topic and one which

STEVE MCQUEEN

JACKIE O ultimately comes down to personal opinion. For the purpose of our highly un-scientific top five, we’ve based it on two key themes: originality and longevity. We’re sure you’ll have your own opinions, but we hope it inspires the same heated conversation which has been banded around the floor of our office.

Clockwise: steve mcqueen (silodrome.com); jackie onassis (vogue.com); naomi campbell (smallstepsproject.org); twiggy: thepower of pink (heristoria.com)

TWIGGY

he world’s first supermodel and face of the 1960s, no fashion round-up would be complete without her. Twiggy, real name Lesley Lawson, rose to fame thanks to her thin build, large eyes, painted eyelashes and pixie crop; hence her nickname. This year she celebrates her 50th year in modelling.

“There’s no need to dress like everyone else. It’s much more fun to create your own look.” She modelled around the world, featured on the covers of Vogue and Tatler by the age of 17 and album covers (most famously with David Bowie), and her photograph was put into a time capsule that was sent into outer space. Now aged 66, Twiggy has revealed that she didn’t like how she looked and thought the world had gone mad. But her appeal stretched across continents and industries. Today her style is less miniskirt and more tailored jacket and skinny jeans. She names Katharine Hepburn as her style icon “who brought polo necks

clockwise: on the cover of french vogue, 1967 ; twiggy wears her m&s ss15 styles (marksandspencer.com); twiggy portraits, 1967 (bert stern (staleywise.com)

and trousers into fashion. That is so much sexier than a low-cut dress with everything hanging out.” The girl next door who’s modelled for all the greats, Twiggy’s remained a prominent figure in the fashion and beauty world, most recently for Marks & Spencer. She’s even been immortalised on their shopping bags.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

STEVE MCQUEEN

rom the tailoring in The Thomas Crown Affair to those aviators and racing jackets, Steve McQueen is famously known as ‘The King of Cool’ and who are we to argue? Cool doesn’t go out of style. Men wanted to be him and women wanted to be with him. It doesn’t get better than that. Looking every bit the millionaire businessman one day to pulling off the notoriously difficult double-denim, he is responsible for many essentials in the modern gentleman’s wardrobe. All the while maintaining his nononsense personality. Even with a rugged look under the bonnet of his beloved Porsches, McQueen made sure his clothes fitted well, which is one of the reasons his style is replicated so often today, and why so many brands will pay millions to be a part of it. He was the first man to appear, effortlessly, on the cover of Harpers Bazaar in 1965, and the TAG Heuer Monaco

watch famously worn by McQueen in Le Mans has become an iconic chronograph in its own right, thanks to its cool owner. His reach still inspires sports coats and aviators and designers today (Michael Kors lists him as his personal style icon); last year Barbour launched its own McQueen collection too. Recreating his style may be something many are close to, but capturing his attitude is something much harder. Mr Beckham is close on his heels...

“I live for myself and answer to nobody.”

clockwise: STEVE MCQUEEN (COURTESY OF BARBOUR.COM/UK); ON THE COVER OF HARPERS BAZAAR, 1965; STEVE MCQUEEN TAG HEUER MONACO CALIBRE 11 CHRONOGRAPH (TAGHEUER.COM)

JACKIE O

don’t think you’ll be able to find many people who would disagree with Jackie O’s position as bona fide fashion icon. The former First Lady was always effortlessly chic, and politics was never as fashionable as when Jacqueline Kennedy was in the White House. She was a fan of imitating art through her fashion choices and loved to wear designer clothing from Chanel, Givenchy and Dior. During her initial year as First Lady she reportedly spent

“Pearls are always appropriate.”

clockwise: Jackie with president kennedy (X80002); ON THE COVER OF TIME MAGAZINE, MAY30, 1994 ; AT HOME (EXECUTIVE-WOMEN.COM)

$145,446 on her wardrobe, $45,466 more than her husband’s annual salary as president (which he donated to charity). Most well known for her A-line dresses, pillbox hats and pastel blouses and suits, throughout the 1970s her style evolved into wearing more separates and those oversized shades (she has been quoted as saying she liked the opportunity they gave her to watch people). Whilst her clothes were designer, her style was easily translated to American women and became affordable and attainable. She was also associated with a lifestyle; of manners and style, art and literature. She is a Gucci icon and style muse for many in the fashion world today.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

NAOMI CAMPBELL

ove her or be wary of her diva-ish tendencies, Ms Campbell broke racial barriers as the first black woman on the covers of British and French Vogue, pushing the fashion door and refusing to be ignored (with a little help from her friend and mentor the late Yves Saint Laurent, who threatened to remove all advertising after it refused to use Naomi or any other black model on its cover). At a time when supermodels were the ‘super-six’, she joined the clique of massively famous names and dominated the media and runways. Her anger management issues appear to have calmed in recent years (although she always recovered from them stronger), as her name is more associated with her age-defying beauty, ‘that fall’ and campaigns for the likes of Ralph Lauren and Yves Saint Laurent. Not to mention the risqué shoot for Madonna’s books Sex and Playboy. Always classy and ‘well put together’, whilst there are many things you could say about Campbell, there’s no denying she’s an iconic figure in the fashion world and in popular culture in general - she has influenced celebrities such as Usher and Flavio Briatore and worked with Nelson Mandela from 1997 until close to his death.

‘I like words like

transformation, reinvention and chameleon. Because one word I don’t like is predictable”

clockwise: on the runway for jean-paul gaultier in paris, ss15; on the cover of vogue 1989; supporting small steps project (smallstepsproject.org)

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

ONES TO WATCH:

2 #1 Kate Middleton Ever since she was spotted on the arm of Prince William, the ‘Kate effect’ took hold with sales of clothes she dons selling out within hours - who can forget the royal blue Issa dress she wore for her engagement announcement? She has become an ambassador for British fashion and connects the high street and designer effortlessly. #2 Michelle Obama Earning comparisons to Jackie O, Obama’s style is classic and sophisticated. Read her book

4 “Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style”, and she reminds us that while style can certainly be expressed in the way you look and what you wear, it is inextricably bound up in who you are and what you believe in. #3 Eddie Redmayne Shooting to worldwide fame after the Theory of Everything, Redmayne is stylish yet modest [which probably stems from his past life as a Burberry model] and loves his suits. And, let’s be honest, there’s nothing better than a man in a well-fitting suit.

5 #4 Alexa Chung With a Mulberry bag named in her honour and multiple British Style Icon awards under her belt, there’s no denying that Chung has already wowed us with some beautifully pulled together looks, staying ahead of trends and adding her own twist. #5 Idris Elba With acting fame come magazine covers for Elba. After the success of Luther and Golden Globe nominations, he landed a mention in Vanity Fair’s international best dressed list, mastering the cockney boy sophistaction with gusto.

left to right: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arriving for the premiere of “War Horse” at the Odeon Leicester Square, London, 2012 (Steve Vas / Featureflash / shutteerstock.com); michelle obama, a life by peter slevin (amazon.co.uk); eddie redmayne, the danish girl (eddieredmayne.net); Alexa Chung at the House of Holland catwalk show as part of London Fashion Week SS13, London. (Henry Harris / Featureflash /shutterstock.com); LOS ANGELES - AUG 4: Idris Elba at the World Premiere of Takers, held at the Arclight Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles, California on 4 August 2010 (Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com)

Pretty Pastels F O R T H E J U S T- C A N ’ T- R E S I S T S

Fall in love with spring’s new f e m i n i n e t r e n d at C h e s h i r e O a k s Designer Outlet LINKS OF LON DON RRP £170 / Out l e t £ 7 5

Add a touch of metallic cool to feminine pastel looks, with accessories in bronze or silver shades.

L I N KS OF LONDON RRP £105 / Outl et £ 7 0 C OAST RRP £139 / Out l e t £ 9 3

On the SS16 catwalks, delicate pastel looks ruled. Think embellished tops and full skirts, in a dreamy

C OA C H RRP £2 80 / Outl et £ 17 9

palette of petal pink, white and dove grey. Take your cue from our pick of must-have designer pieces KUR T GEIGE R RRP £99 / O ut l e t £ 5 9

all for up to 60% less.

GETTING HERE

We’re located just north of Chester - find us off junction 15 of the M56, close to Ellesmere Port.

F UR LA RRP £353 / O ut l e t £ 229 TE D B A K E R R R P £ 1 6 9 / O u t l e t £99

cheshireoaksdesigneroutlet.com

J i g saw RRP £1 4 9 / O u t l e t £74

Garden party

lce & Gabbana

tead, Erdem, Temperley, Do

trantzou, Emilia Wicks , Calvin Klein, Mary Ka

een

From left: Alexander McQu

Embrace spring and all its natural glory with the return of florals. From delicate embroidery to graphic patterns, expect to see blooms everywhere this season in bold colours and clashing textures. Find trippy, cosmic styles at Calvin Klein and ditsy botanical motifs at Erdem.

TREND REPORT B y A m el i a Ma y e s

From left:

CĂŠl

n Dio ine, Christia

ickstead, r, Emilia W

n, Oscar

J.W.Anderso

Throw some shapes away from the dance floor with this daring, structural trend. They might have last been acceptable in the eighties, but exaggerated shoulders are back. 3.1 Phillip Lim embraced the trend with subtle sleeve decorations, while Christian Dior and CĂŠline went all out with structured volume.

iu Miu

lip Lim, M

, 3.1 Phil de la Renta

dy arm can

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

From left: Alexander McQu

een, Michael Kors, Erdem

RUFFLE UP

, Gucci, Mary Katrantzou

, Giamba, Oscar de la Re

nta

Valentine’s Day may be over but romance is still lingering in the fashion world. Structured tiers, frills and layers in bold hues and soft nudes were seen across the catwalk. Michael Kors embraced its inner Latino with layered ruffles, while Gucci opted for floating frills.

From left: Christian Dior,

GET IN LINE

From left: Chane l, Shine bright this season, with glittering evening gowns, cropped jackets and midi skirts in sparkling silver. Sheer fabric, cut outs and mirrored designs in the metallic shade made their way onto the catwalk, with Temperley and Saint Laurent standing out with their take on high shine.

lvatore Ferragamo

kiel, Dolce & Gabbana, Sa

l, Max Mara, Sonia Ry Jonathan Saunders, Blugir

Amanda Wakel

ey, Marc Jacobs ,

Thick, thin, horizontal and vertical; you’ll find every variation of stripe on this season’s catwalk. Monochrome lines and bold primary colours inject a youthful edge to the graphic trend. Stand-out styles include Max Mara's candy-cane stripes and multi-coloured designs by Jonathan Saunders and Salvatore Ferragamo.

SILVER LINING

Saint Laurent,

Temperley, Hug

o Boss, Erdem

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

Green Sleeves Like a hybrid of eBay and Net-A-Porter, Vestiaire Collective is giving unused designer goods a new lease of life. Co-founder Fanny Moizant tells Ellen Millard why recycled fashion is this year’s hottest trend

e’ve all experienced that rare feeling of joy when finding a stowaway £10 note in an old pair of jeans, but locating enough cash in your wardrobe to subsidise a pair of Jimmy Choo’s is surely a discovery as rare as stumbling upon a hidden treasure chest. Not according to Fanny Moizant, one of the cofounders behind Parisian designer re-sale site Vestiaire Collective, who believes our unworn items are a gold mine waiting to be tapped. “Practising the one in, one out strategy [with your wardrobe] is very clever, because you always end up getting extra money for your fashion just by selling what you have at home,” she tells me. “There’s no point keeping your space and your wardrobe cluttered with things you don’t wear any more.” This is the ethos behind Vestiaire Collective, a luxury online portal that allows you to upload and sell your designer cast-offs to an online community. It’s the product of six co-founders who all had the same idea at the same time. While Moizant’s business partners were interested in selling their unused clothes, her idea came from simply looking for a new way to shop, which she happened upon after reading an article about bloggers selling their unwanted clothes. Having started out working in her mother’s clothes shop as a teenager and later for a homeware brand as an adult, Moizant jumped at the chance to combine her love for business and fashion. Her brother introduced her to one of the

co-founders, and together along with four others they created the collective. Seven years later, Vestiaire has more than 100,000 new members every month, joining an international community of four million. The headquarters in Paris has expanded to include offices in New York, London – where Moizant now lives – and Berlin. Three thousand new items are submitted every day, with the curation team turning away roughly 30 per cent of submissions. “The reason that we have the curation step is because at the time [that we launched] the existing reselling sites were quite a bit… how do you say? ...painful,” she tells me. “There were so many things that you ended up just spending your time trawling through for great items, so from day one we wanted to have a very curated offer and inventory, and to take only the good pieces that the community was willing to buy.” If your item makes the cut, it’s posted on the website where anybody in the world can buy it. Once purchased, the item is shipped to the site’s headquarters in Paris, where it’s taken through a quality control procedure to check size, condition and colour, as well as brand authenticity. The entire process, from the moment you make your order to when it’s delivered to your door, takes roughly eight days – not bad, considering those last season Manolos could be travelling through several different countries. Unsurprisingly, the best sellers are the big-name

brands. The Hermès Birkin bag won the prize for the fastest-selling item ever when it was snapped up in a mere 17 seconds – faster than tickets to see Adele, I muse. “At the time we had a manual process to put every item online, and the person in charge had just put the bag on the website. When she checked the page she was like, ‘What? Where is the bag?’” Moizant laughs. “Then she discovered that it wasn’t a bug, but that the bag had sold out immediately!” The Chanel Boy and 2.55 bags also top the best-sellers list, along with Acne Pistol boots and Chloé’s Faye bag. “The best sellers are a mix of iconic pieces that most girls dream of,” Moizant smiles.

For those looking for something specific, the One That Got Away service allows you to post your most sought-after item in the hope that Vestiaire’s online community might be able to find it for you. On Moizant’s personal wish list is a pair of Céline gold-plated brogues that she has narrowly missed out on on several occasions, but she says she still owns her first Chanel bag, which she bought through the website. “It’s a navy blue one with a pompom that I absolutely love,” she says. “I still own it and will keep it for a while.” When we speak, the service has been temporarily put on hold to make room for Vestiaire Collective’s annual Wardrobes for Women sale, a 12-day charity event for which famous faces like Emma Watson,

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

Keira Knightley, Diane Kruger and Charlotte Olympia Dellal auction off their unwanted possessions to help support women survivors of war who are working to rebuild their lives. “It’s a pity when beloved clothes sit dormant in my closet, so I am thrilled to be a part of Wardrobes for Women to give these clothes a new life,” Knightley said at the time. Among the items that went under the hammer was a gingham Derek Lam dress previously owned by Watson, Knightley’s floral Valentino bag and a polka-dot DVF blazer from Kruger. “The charity sale is something we do every single year. It is important to us to give back,” Moizant tells me. “Most of the time the charity that we pick is dedicated to women. It’s very interesting for our community to access those very rare pieces while supporting a good cause.” When it comes to her own style, Moizant likes to

keep things simple. “Less is more. You don’t need to do too much, you just need to have one strong piece, and the rest should be low-key,” she says. Despite this, she admits that her style has adapted to London’s quirkier fashion sense since moving to the capital. “UK women are bolder compared to the French, who are more classic. I love those strong looks, which are very feminine I think; [British women] wear skirts and dresses more than in France. I really like that side actually. It’s had a big impact on the way I dress,” she admits. “Right now I’m really in love with Christopher Kane, and I recently bought his pleated shiny skirt that I’m wearing with a basic sweater.” Not only has London made an impression on her wardrobe, but Moizant believes the capital has given her a more positive outlook on life, too. “There’s an energy here that unfortunately we don’t have any more in Paris,” she tells me. “The creativity; the mix of different cultures; the people, who are really open-minded and positive; it’s a really refreshing state of mind.” While Moizant now heads up the UK office, the rest of the world is getting a slice of Vestiaire Collective’s pie, too, with new branches opening in Madrid and Milan this year, and plans for American expansion in the pipeline. It looks like global domination is the end goal, and my guess is it’ll succeed – after all, who doesn’t like a bargain? A survey Vestiaire conducted found that five per cent of women have the resale value in mind when they buy something new. “It’s an emerging trend, and although it’s still small, it does show that there’s a shift in the behaviour and mentality of fashion lovers,” Moizant explains. “You might buy a £500 pair of shoes, but you know you’re going to get at least half or more back. You’re not spending more money; you’re just recycling the money that you’re sat on every day.” Calculation has never been my forte, but it’s safe to say that Moizant’s is a maths lesson I am happy to get on board with. (vestiairecollective.com)

All images courtesy of Vestiaire Collective

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

Anything is

possible Dame Sarah Storey talks about medals, motherhood and motivation with Natalie Anglesey

ame Sarah Storey is the most decorated female paralympian in the country. She ranks as 21-time world champion (six in swimming and 15 in cycling), 21-time European champion (18 in swimming and three in cycling) while also holding a total of 73 world records. She has won 11 gold medals, in both her chosen sports, as well as 8 silver and 3 bronze medals for swimming. Born Sarah Bailey in 1977 in Withington Hospital, without a functioning left hand – her arm had become entangled in the umbilical chord in the womb – no-one could have foreseen the role model she’d become in national and international sport. “My parents never brought me up to think of myself as a disabled child,“ Sarah explains. “Mum was a nurse and dad was an organiser of North West swimming clubs. I was good at swimming and, when I was bullied at school, I became really driven, and began competing seriously when I was about fourteen. Getting up early to train before school was great discipline which has always stood me in good stead.” Sarah began her paralympic career as a swimmer by winning two gold medals, three silver and a bronze in Barcelona in 1992. She continued swimming in the next three Paralympic Games before switching to cycling because of a serious ear infection. In 2007 she married her tandem pilot and coach Barney Storey. “Barney is far more than my coach,” Sarah beams proudly. “He co-ordinates the team that trains me

physically and mentally to maintain my standard of fitness. Brazil is on the horizon and I want to be fit enough to qualify. He’s also extremely truthful which is so important when you’re training.” The Storey family love living in Disley and Sarah spends much of her time training in the beautiful Cheshire countryside. In 2013, she had her baby daughter, Louisa Marie. “We’re a very active family. I must admit when Louisa was born, it was complicated coping with feeds on the way to compete, but it’s getting easier. She’s nearly two and a half now and my mother tells me she’s just as

left with olympic gold medals and above naming the class 395 train to commemorate the 2012 olympics

dame sarah storey at buckingham palace; below with husband barney

active as I was at her age. My mum comes with us to events to help look after her while I’m competing which is really useful. Being so involved in sport means you have to travel and it’s important we stay together as a family.” At the 2008 Paralympic Games, her fifth, Sarah won the individual pursuit. She also competes against non-disabled athletes and won the 3km national track pursuit championship, eight days after taking the Paralympic title, which she defended in 2009. In 2014 she added a third national track title. Becoming the first disabled cyclist to compete for England at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, against non-disabled cyclists, was a proud moment for Sarah. She was also the second paralympic athlete overall competing for England at the Games. In London’s 2012 Paralympics Games she won Britain’s first gold medal in her event and went on to win three more. After Sarah’s OBE, she was awarded an MBE following the Beijing Games. In 2012 she was awarded an honorary degree by Manchester Metropolitan University and, following the 2012 London Games, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the

British Empire (DBE). Yet she remains the most unpretentious person you could wish to meet. “It’s lovely going to Buckingham Palace with the family and although I’ve received awards from several royals, including The Queen, Prince Charles was the most chatty because I was eight months pregnant and so was Princess Kate – so we engaged in some baby talk!” In 2014, Sarah and Barney founded the Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International women’s amateur cycling team, supporting the charity Boot Out Breast Cancer. “The team fielded squads in the 2014 and 2015 British road race seasons. We helped to raise awareness but have also raised £400 million so far.” Sarah and I meet at the launch of the Adidas Evil Eye halfrim pro sunglasses, and the announcement that Adidas has formed an ambassador partnership with UCI professional women’s cycling team Podium Ambition. This highly successful team scored 33 individual race victories in 2015, as well as taking the Tour Series Team title. The team has reigned as champions for the past two years and the 2016 team line-up includes Sarah, who is currently in training. As well as mentoring the younger members of her professional team, Sarah’s also hoping to achieve her dream of competing in her seventh Paralympic Games in Rio this summer, subject to selection. She’s already sustained several injuries during her sporting career. “I’ve broken a collar bone among other arm and leg injuries. But while competing, you learn to shut out the pain at the time and focus solely on your goal. I don’t think about anything else outside my little bubble. Afterwards when I see footage of me on the podium, waving as I receive an award with the National Anthem playing, sometimes I can’t actually enjoy it at the time because I’m often still in that bubble.” Sarah will know if she’s included in the team on the road to Rio on 21 June. In the meantime, does she have advice for youngsters hoping to follow her example? Her reply is as straightforward as the athlete. “Just remember – anything is possible!”

The simple solution to your complex divorce

“ I fully appreciate the way Caroline went the extra mile in dealing with my case ”

“ If anyone needs legal advice I doubt they could do better than using this excellent law firm ”

Divorce | Finances Settlements |

We have a variety of funding options available.

Private appointments from 8am – 9pm weekdays and 9am – 12noon on Saturday mornings

1 7 C e c i l R o a d , P r o g r e s s H o u s e , H a l e , A l t r i n c h a m , C h e s h i r e , WA 1 5 9 N Z C a r d i n a l H o u s e , 2 0 S t M a r y ’ s P a r s o n a g e , M a n c h e s t e r, M 3 2 LY

www.bpslaw.co.uk | 0161 926 1430

Behind the scenes Keely Barrett visits the Bunbury set of ITV drama Home Fires’ eagerly anticipated second series to meet some of the hardworking crew and get a glimpse behind the scenes

nspired by Julie Summers’ wartime novel, Jambusters; The Story of the Women’s Institute in the Second World War, the six-part ITV World War II drama Home Fires follows the lives of the inspirational women left behind in rural Cheshire as they unite to survive the challenges of Britain’s darkest hour. Starring such big names as Samantha Bond, Claire Rushbrook and Daniel Ryan, the first series was broadcast last year to great acclaim, with the second series starting production across

Cheshire last September – making a home for its cast and crew in beautiful Bunbury Village, which doubles as the show’s Great Paxford. My visit to the set was particularly special since, as a Bunbury local myself, most of the people the crew mentioned in their thanks are friends of mine, and my family and I have had the pleasure of watching the filming unfold on our doorstep over the past year and a half, my children totally in awe. I was welcomed with open arms by

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Art & Culture

everyone (when they talk about the warm atmosphere on set, they’re not kidding), then shown into the bustling catering bus to meet some key members of the crew and get their take on this hugely successful production.

Jessica Dove, Location manager A typical day of filming would be 8am until 7pm, and the locations team is always first in and last to go! Finding the perfect location is always a complicated process, starting when we get the script and then begin discussions with the production designer and director. This series the area of filming has been broadened, meaning that we film in Bunbury village, which is used as Great Paxford, and have also expanded to Chester city centre with its lovely terraced housing, as we wanted a contrast of country, farmland and housing. My favourite location for this shoot would have to be Bunbury. One of our main characters, Steph, is a farmer’s wife, so we had lots of opportunity to

show the beautiful landscapes in and around the village, and we found it a great challenge to turn the area into a 1940s village whilst daily life carried on for the locals. Getting to know the locals was a real treat and everyone was so welcoming. As you may know, we used the village butchers (Burrows) for filming and got to know the Burrows family quite well – although for this series we actually ended up recreating the inside of the butchers on a set near Aldford, so as to reduce disruption for Burrows and their customers. I particularly love the foodie side of Bunbury: my favourite places to eat there are The Yew Tree, Cholmondley Arms, The Dysart and, of course, The Pheasant Inn, where the views are just amazing. We’ve all really been welcomed by the local community, and also by the local council, who’ve been very film-friendly, and without whose help we just couldn’t have done it. Obviously this kind of production affects roads, traffic, school buses and even rubbish collections, but they were so forward-thinking and nothing was too much trouble.

Art & Culture | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Louise Sutton, Producer I oversee the whole show, from concept to delivery, as well as making sure we’re on budget. I didn’t produce the first series, so had to quickly get to grips with everything in order to pick up where things left off going into the second, especially as I really wanted the script and characters to evolve and to work out how best to bring the shoot to life – which I really think we’ve achieved.

“Claire Rushbrook is really the life and soul of the party... but everyone gets on so well” Obviously I knew Bunbury and Cholmondeley worked as locations, so we’ve continued using these areas, but we have also brought in some new things for series two, including The Cottage Hospital and a factory which was purpose built for filming. The biggest challenge, funnily enough, was mobile phone coverage – as you know, the signal here is very on-and-off, so to co-ordinate and keep contact with everyone has proved a challenge.

Sam Marshall, Hair and make-up This is my first season working on Home Fires, and I head-up a team of four other hair and make-up stylists which looks after the show’s leading ladies. I look after Samantha Bond and Claire Rushbrook, and then between us we look after the men and other characters. My main inspiration for each look comes from researching the internet, other

characters and books, and it’s a lovely atmosphere; Claire Rushbrook is really the life and soul of the party; she’s very funny and keeps everyone smiling, but to be honest everyone gets on so well.

Julie Summers, Author of Jambusters Today is the third time I’ve visited the set since production of series two started, and I really enjoy popping down to see everyone and watch a bit of filming. I’m so happy that Cheshire was found for this TV series, and having lived in the surrounding areas, I know we have some of the country’s most amazing scenery, landscapes and history – which is really my passion. The war affected Cheshire massively, so the countryside is really steeped in the history of that period. So far the show has unfolded just how I hoped it would, and how it comes across in the script is exactly how it plays out on screen. My book Jambusters is based on a true story, and obviously Home Fires is made to reflect so many aspects of real life.

Melissa Cook, Wardrobe We have a huge array of costumes for the cast of this show – 350 outfits in total, and the cast even wear 1940s underwear – nothing is missed. We hire 95 per cent of the clothes from Angels Costumes who you may recognise as they recently won the BAFTA for Outstanding british Contribution to Cinema (as you can imagine buying in all the outfits would be a huge expense.), and the rest are made in London. Homes Fires will return to ITV in April (itv.com)

Something Stirred By Vivien Walters

Castle Park Arts Centre One for animal lovers, next month the Association of Animal Artists’ (AAA) Anniversary Exhibition comes to Frodsham’s Castle Park Arts Centre for a fabulous private viewing open evening. The association’s annual competition judge, artist Paul Dyson, will be in attendance, along with many of the artists who are exhibiting, and during the event the winners of the category awards and the recipient of the brand new award, the Two Rivers Paper Company Sketchbook Prize, will be announced. The sketchbooks will also be on display all weekend, so members of the public can see the working processes of artists, who are encouraged by the AAA to develop their observational and drawing skills as part of good practice. Set to be a fascinating evening, this is one to make a note of in your diary. 8 April, 7-9pm, free entry and refreshments, Castle Park, Frodsham, WA6 6SE (castleparkarts.co.uk)

Arts & Culture Gemma Knight brings you not-to-miss shows and news from Cheshire’s thriving arts scene

Hallé and Ryan Wigglesworth at Chester Cathedral The world famous symphonic ensemble Hallé and young rising-superstar conductor Ryan Wigglesworth will be playing in Chester’s beautiful cathedral this April. Ryan Wigglesworth is increasingly considered one of Britain’s leading classical conductors, and will lead the orchestra in a programme which will include Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 19 (in F major, K 459), Beethovan’s Overture: Leonore No. 2 (Op. 72a), and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2 (The Little Russian, in C minor). 16 April, from 7:30pm, tickets priced £15-£25 (01244 500 959; chestercathedral.com) 52

Ryan Wigglesworth

literary itinerary

Frida Kahlo is one of the most truly original and inspirational figures of the 20th century, with her rainbow wardrobe, legendary hair and penetrating gaze. First and foremost, she was an artist renowned for her striking and often surreal selfportraits, which were candid about the struggles she faced during her life. Kahlo’s huge influence on politics, feminism, art and fashion has steadily grown and her innovative style permeates all aspects of culture, in such a rare way that the word ‘icon’ is the only way to describe her. Assouline has published a kaleidoscopic tome dedicated to her remarkable and fashionable life. As potentially one of the least mainstream, but most important revolutionaries, this is one for the collection. Frida Kahlo: Fashion as the Art of Being, £130, by Susana Martínez Vidal, foreword by fashion journalist Lynn Yaeger, published by Assouline. Available at Maison Assouline, 196a Piccadilly, W1J and Assouline at Claridge’s, Brook Street, W1K (assouline.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Art & Culture

Kaiser Chiefs at Forest Live

the kaiser chiefs - image courtesy of DANNY NORTH

The Kaiser Chiefs are the latest band to announce dates as part of Forest Live, where acts perform in spectacular woodland settings around the country as part of a summer concert series promoted by the Forestry Commission. Their set will take place on Sunday 3 July in Delamere Forest, near Northwich, and are guaranteed to be a once in a lifetime experience. Frontman Ricky Wilson said of their planned gig, “As a band we’ve always loved to play outdoors; we’ve done fields, parks, farms, rooftops, beaches and back gardens, but this will be the first time we’ve played in a forest. If you go down to the woods this summer, you’re sure of a big surprise. We’re really looking forward to being part of Forest Live.” Tickets £38.50 (plus £4.35 booking fee) (03000 680400; forestry.gov.uk/music)

the day of the lord by marcus usherwood

Revelation at the Grosevenor Museum An exhibition of paintings by the Chester-based artist Marcus Usherwood is currently underway at Chester’s Grosvenor Museum. Entitled ‘Revelation: The Art of Marcus Usherwood’, the exhibition features work ranging from apocalyptic visions of roaring flames and billowing smoke, to serene images of stillness and peace, providing an overview of his paintings’ subject matter and an ideal way to support this excellent example of local talent. Until 17 April, Grosvenor Museum, 27 Grosvenor St, Chester, CH1 2DD (westcheshiremuseums.co.uk)

event horizon by marcus usherwood

Art & Culture | The CHESHIRE Magazine

PRIZE LOTs

1 #1 Thoughts on the Té Hé Gla, Blé Gla and Gbona Gla by Stanley Faraday Pinker Stanley Pinker was born in South West Africa and began his artistic training in Cape Town before moving to Europe in 1951. Pinker’s work overflows with influences: this particular piece is a complex amalgamation of ideas, found objects and different media resulting in an intricate yet playful composition. Estimated value £80,000-£120,000, Bonhams, 16 March (bonhams.com)

#2 Los Caprichos by Francisco de Goya y Lucientes In contrast to the usual light-hearted nature of capriccios, Los Caprichos by Goya is a series of 80 darkly satirical etchings about 18th century society. This particular treasure is one of the early copies of

the first edition which was produced in 1799 and considering its age, it is in remarkable condition. Estimated value £150,000-£250,000, Christie’s, 15 March (christies.com)

#3 A Rare Military Honour Group This rare military honour group was awarded to Sergeant Denys Walter Chapman, a pilot who flew during WWII, although one of the Distinguished Flying Medals was awarded to his navigator Sergeant Kenneth Leach, following an attack by enemy aircraft while on a reconnaissance mission. Also included in the lot are Chapman’s other medals; the Defence Medal, the War Medal, the Atlantic Star, the 1939-1945 Star and the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. Estimated value £6,000-£10,000, Adam Partridge, 14-15 April (01625 431 788; adampartridge.co.uk)

Limited Edition collectable artwork by acclaimed artist

Alberto Martinez Cuban-born artist Alberto Martinez has created these wonderful (or should we say F.A.B!) paintings to celebrate the timeless Thunderbirds franchise. Each colourful work of art is littered with nostalgia and intricate references to the series, its characters, and of course its truly British heritage.

Martinez has become renowned for his vibrant, surrealist creations, that invite the viewer into a world where not everything is quite as it seems. These painting are no exception, offering a jigsaw puzzle of cleverly placed objects and symbols - each with their own fascinating narrative and hidden meaning. Why does Parker have a football? Well, the series concluded originally in 1966 - a year we celebrated a win in the football world cup. This is one small example of the many hidden joys that can be uncovered in each piece - To learn more visit the website shown below.

‘Lady Penelope

Limited edition of 295. Framed giclee on canvas. Image size 24” x 17”. £495 Original framed oil on canvas also available. Image size 27 x 19.5. POA.

Thunderbirds is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to the new ITV series ‘Thunderbirds Are Go’ and has recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary year. These paintings are an official, licensed product, adding to their collectable value. Both paintings are offered for sale and on display at Bailey Arts, Dagfields Farm, Crewe Road, Walgherton, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 7LG Tel: 01270 842882 E: gallery@baileyarts.co.uk

‘T2 - International Rescue’

Limited edition of 295. Framed giclee on canvas. Image size 24” x 17”. £495 Original framed oil on canvas also available. Image size 27 x 19.5. POA.

For further information visit

www.blutulippublishing.com/thunderbirds

TAY L O R TA L K

LOOSE WOMEN

This month Liz Taylor meets acclaimed Polish actress Rula Lenska to talk family history, philanthropy and growing old gracefully

’m a loose lady! And I’m not the only one. Yes, I have been invited on a panel of other ‘loose ladies’ in a fundraising event next month for Cheshire Ladies Philanthropy Club. Sitting beside me will be the charming Rula Lenska and, as I wait for her to join me for coffee, I am intrigued by this Polish aristocrat actress. Rula breezes into the restaurant with casual charm and a huge smile, “so delighted to be here” is her opening line “is the coffee good in Cheshire?” She’s my kind of lady.

Rula, it’s wonderful to meet you and welcome to Cheshire! Is this your first visit to the area? No, but I honestly can’t quite remember when I was last in this beautiful part of the country. I am delighted to be back though. I adore London but I suppose at heart I am more of a country girl. I lived for 16 years in Buckinghamshire and I do miss being surrounded by the open spaces and fresh air. Those beautiful walks in the woods… and general peace!

I’m so looking forward to being a panellist with you later this month. Why did you decide to get involved alongside all your other charity work? I am a strong believer in philanthropy. I was asked by a dear friend to take part, and couldn’t resist. I love ladies’ gatherings and love the idea of a sort of ‘Loose Women’ panel – chatting about life.

You have a fascinating family history. How important is your Polish heritage to you today?

Very important and, with age, it gets more so. I speak Polish fluently and go back often – it’s my spiritual home, I guess. My parents were adamant that I should grow up with a deep knowledge of my heritage, which I hated as a young person, but am now so grateful for. My mother in particular had a ghastly second world war and both my parents came to this country as refugees. They had to rebuild their lives completely and could talk about their experiences endlessly. I heard some interesting, amazing and difficult stories – but all so important.

Your career has seen you work extensively here and in the United States. Do you prefer the thrill of going on stage every night or being part of a TV series or film?

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

staying with his Babi (Polish for granny). It makes me feel very honoured!

I always think that you are one of those super-stylish women – and yet make it look effortless and natural. Is there a ‘look’ that you try to achieve?

Thank you. I don’t think of myself as super-stylish, but I think I have a sense of style and know what suits me. As a younger person I was flamboyant, now less so. I have a horror of appearing as ‘mutton dressed as lamb’! There is something about proportions which I think is important and of course with age, comfort is meaningful. I like to look elegant but I am not a follower of fashion. I sort of adapt what I feel suits my stature and personality.

Do you have any wonderful projects lined up for this year that you can share with me? I love all the various forms of the business, but my great love is theatre. I love the rehearsal period and the coming together of the stage family, along with the ability to manipulate the audience and the growth that comes from performing night after night. It’s wonderful.

What three pieces of advice would you give to any aspiring actor starting their career? Unless it is the only dream – don’t! It’s a tough business and much more so than when I started. Since our union is no longer a closed shop, you have to have the hide of a rhinoceros but at the same time retain vulnerability. Believe in yourself and never stop learning from those around you. Always remember that 75 per cent of the business is luck – and try to enjoy yourself!

I have just finished filming an episode of Inside No.9 – the huge cult show which I think will win awards. A totally genius concept and it’s great fun – in the style of Tales of the Unexpected. This summer I am going to the Edinburgh Festival with a sort of spoof on the

“As a younger person I was flamboyant, now less so. I have a horror of appearing as ‘mutton dressed as lamb’!”

I’ve read that family is incredibly important to you. How do you find being a grandmother?

Eurovision Song Contest, which I hope may transfer to town. I am also busy with book recordings and am working on a one-woman show about Rita Hayworth. I also plan to see the gorillas in Rwanda and to go to China to see the Bear Rescue Rehabilitation Centres – rescuing these beautiful animals from the hideous bear bile trade.

I absolutely adore being a grandmother – family is paramount to me. It is where you learn so much about communication and experience. My grandson and his zest for life are like a shining beacon in my life. I often have him to stay with me and it is the best rejuvenating treatment in the world. We have a great relationship and he loves

‘Loose Ladies’ will be appearing at the Cheshire Ladies Philanthropy Club Annual Lunch, Mere Resort & Spa on Thursday 14 April, 2016. Tickets are priced at £40 per person and are available from Pauline Middlehurst (pauline@normanshall.co.uk; 07515 915162; tlc-ltd.co.uk)

SA LE

www.boothsfurnitureltd.co.uk

Are you sleeping comfortably?

TEMPUR MATTRESSES IN STOCK! FREE 24hr DELIVERY

Tempur Original

A supportive, firmer feel mattress

Tempur Cloud

A supportive, softer feel

Tempur Sensation

A supportive, traditional feel

Buy online at www.boothsfurnitureltd.co.uk Freephone: 0808 6-16 Church Street | Eccles | Manchester | M30 0BL

178 7195

Email: sales@boothsltd.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Art & Culture

CLOCKWISE: FABULOUS PENELOPE BY ALBERTO MARTINEZ; honey rose BY TERRY BRADLEY; T2-INTERNATIONAL RESCUE BY ALBERTO MARTINEZ; dream lover BY TERRY BRADLEY

STATE OF THE ART Art is a subjective thing, and the cornerstone of many debates over dinner. Ultimately, you either like it, loathe it or youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ambivalent and those with a bit of creativity in them can appreciate it but still not like it. Graham Finch dispels some of the myths and offers Louisa Castle a helping hand at the start of her collection

am lucky. I have been brought up with art, sometimes to the typical teenage grunt as I’m dragged around yet another gallery in Florence. But I have some of my mother’s artistic genes in me and, thanks to those cultural long weekends at home and abroad, I can appreciate something beautiful when I see it. According to Graham, I am joining a group of growing people who are venturing into collecting contemporary fine art. I say collecting – my husband and I returned from a trip to New Zealand with two beautiful Ivan Clarke prints. It’s a start. “Contemporary fine art is one of the areas in the art world which is the most exciting and in which there is most opportunity,” begins Graham. “It is estimated that only four per cent of the adult buying population will buy what it classed as contemporary fine art. But we’ve all bought a picture from the big department stores. “The difference is that pictures are unlimited, open editions, done by a faceless artist and reproduced. There’s no story. With contemporary fine art you have a living artist with a story. It comes to life. And you have the originals or limited editions, which will only be a certain number, certified and signed by the artist.” Graham hasn’t always been in the art world. “Gosh no, I was in the corporate world for many years and guilty of being a ‘pictures’ man. Now I’m slightly embarrassed. The day you take your first real piece of art home you become a bit of an art snob – something I never thought I’d say about myself,” he laughs. He’s right though; there’s a quality and richness about a piece of art, one which, if I hadn’t experienced it very recently myself, I probably wouldn’t understand. I think I may be becoming a snob too... On the subject of which, what of art galleries and all the jargon? I’m thinking Pretty Woman-esque scenes in minimalist white spaces. “Oh that’s all changed and I think there’s a little misconception of the galleries. We’re really quite friendly. I liken it to the wine market ten years ago. It came from France and as red, white or sparkling. Until the supermarkets opened it up and became more accessible and fun. Less elitist.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Art & Culture

T2 - iNTERNATIONAL RESCUE BY ALBERTO MARTINEZ

Art & Culture | The CHESHIRE Magazine FABULOUS PENELOPE BY ALBERTO MARTINEZ

“Art is a stable platform. We’ve been doing it since we were cavemen. The industry isn’t going anywhere.” It’s the same with contemporary fine art, please don’t be intimidated. “If you taste nice wine, you drink it. If you see a piece of art that captures you, buy it. So many over-intellectualise the mission. My advice would be to please just enjoy it. “And it’s not all about the money either. That’s another thing which puts people off. Contemporary fine art can be affordable and accessible. There’s lots of information out there about the artists themselves, meaning that the movie stars of our industry are accessible. And that’s because they love it and that’s what you’re buying. “We’ve got two great artists we’re working with at the moment; Alberto Martinez and Terry Bradley. Both of them have amazing stories and styles which add to their work. Alberto with his intricately crafted and personalisable canvases and Terry with his edgy, body-art inspired pieces. More often than not you’re liaising directly with them.” That may be all well and good and I completely buy it. But art is for investing in, isn’t it? “It depends what you mean,” Graham explains. “Fine art, yes, is about return on investment – your Rembrandts and Monets. And yes, to a certain extent, if

you buy contemporary fine art, you are investing in a piece of art, so it may increase in value, or it may remain stable. But you’re investing in a rich piece of artwork which you will enjoy for many years. “Art is a stable platform. We’ve been doing it since we were cavemen. The industry, a small cottage one, isn’t going anywhere. And in this modern age of technology where we can be slightly obsessive and isolated, art can be an influential part of life in society and grass roots education. “Artists themselves are always pushing boundaries. The Impressionist movement was driven by the fact that tubes for storing oil paints were invented and artists no longer had to sit in one place, they could travel and paint. Those inventions and innovations will keep happening, it’s the nature of the industry. Like our new lighting system you can see utilised on Terry’s work, as long as it blends seamless and enhances the art it’s fine by me.” I leave my meeting with Graham captured by his passion for the world of art, and slightly smug that I have already joined this new wave of art collectors, even though I didn’t know it. We were buying something rich and full of life, which we fell in love with and which captured us emotionally. And it has changed the way we look at art. Does this make me an art snob? Probably. Graham Finch is director of Blutulip Fine Art Publishers which shows at partner gallery, Bailey Arts (01270 842882; baileyarts.co.uk; blutulippublishing.co.uk)

Watch news w o rd s : r i c h a rd br o w n

Inside SIHH 2016

n luxury watches, few brands are independently owned. Rolex, Patek Philippe and Breitling remain autonomous. The rest of the big boys are owned by huge parent companies. Each January, the brands held by the Richemont Group showcase at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, or SIHH, which takes place in Geneva. Amid the abrasive and the kitsch, the haughty and the heinous, these were the timepieces that most stood out in 2016.

Panthères et Colibri, POA, Cartier

Black Velvet, £44,600, Roger Dubuis

Ladies’ high jewellery watches

Secret Heart, £64,000, Roger Dubuis

Dragon Mystérieux, POA, Cartier

Limelight Stella, £24,500, Piaget

Lady Arpels Ronde des Papillons, £89,500, Van Cleef & Arpels

Roger Dubuis welcomed guests with a red carpet reception and models dressed by Alexander McQueen and Maison Margiela. Its Velvet Diva collection was designed to turn heads, but it was the more understated creations within the range, particularly the Black Velvet (£44,600) and Secret Heart (£64,000), that shone the brightest. High jewellery timepieces stole the show at Cartier. The diamond-scaled dragon on the brand’s Dragon Mystérieux (POA) wrapped itself around an hour and minute hand seemingly suspended in mid-air, while the Panthères et Colibri (POA) possessed a crown that, when pushed, ushered out a young panther from beneath its mother. Continuing its movement, the panther progresses to chase away a hummingbird, which flutters to the top of the dial where it acts as a power reserve indicator. Very smart indeed. Piaget’s timepieces were a more pared-back affair. The elegant, quartz-powered Limelight Gala (from £27,700) is set with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds and is available with either a white gold or pink gold Milanese strap. If mechanical means more to you, then the Limelight Stella (from £24,500) is equipped with Piaget’s in-house, automatic Caliber 584P movement. The watch’s moon phase indicator requires one correction every 122 years. No one could deny the intrinsic beauty of Van Cleef & Arpels’ Lady Arpels Ronde des Papillons (£89,500). From under a collection of layered, mother-of-pearl clouds, three butterflies emerge to display the minutes of the hour. At the bottom of the dial, a white-gold swallow indicates the hours of the day. Delicate, delightful and, at 38mm in diameter, not too extravagant for delicate wrists.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Collection

Best in

Show Among the hordes of celebrity ambassadors patrolling the show, the following stars proved to be the real showstoppers Parmigiani Fleurier’s Tonda Chronor Anniversaire, £103,000 Possibly the best-looking watch of SIHH 2016, Parmigiani Fleurier’s Tonda Chronor Anniversaire celebrates the brand’s 20th anniversary by including the company’s first in-house integrated chronograph – a hugely impressive feat for such a small, albeit brilliant, manufacturer. Audemars Piguet’s Supersonnerie, CHF520,000 Thanks to three patents, eight years of research and 478 parts, AP has created the most clear-sounding minute repeater of all time. Not only does it chime with absolute purity, but it also houses a tourbillon chronograph. MB&F’s HM6 SV, £300,000 When you’d actually wear it, we don’t know, but when the HM6 SV comprises a flying tourbillon and 11 pieces of sapphire crystal – one of the most difficult materials with which to work – there’s no denying MB&F AS the ultimate master of the avant-garde. Van Cleef & Arpels’s Midnight Nuit Lumineuse, POA Spread across the diamondset dial of the Midnight Nuit Lumineuse is the Unicorn constellation. Activate a pusher and six of the stars light up. Powered by an electro-mechanical movement, it’s something that has never before been seen in watchmaking.

Geophysic Universal Time, £18,300, Jaeger-LeCoultre

Timezoner Chronograph, £9,450, IWC

4810 Orbis Terrarum, £4,500, Montblanc

Time travellers Whether it was GMTs, world-timers or pilots’ watches, time travel was the overriding theme of SIHH 2016. Perhaps most significant of all was IWC’s Timezoner Chronograph – the first watch to allow its wearer to set the time zone, as well as the date, simply by rotating its bezel. Purists may not appreciate its cluttered dial but, by offering clear legibility and a flyback chronograph function, the Timezoner, unlike most world-timers, could actually be used for the purpose it was intended. Other noteworthy world-timers included Montblanc’s 4810 Orbis Terrarum and Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Geophysic Universal Time. The former features a coloured dial below a transparent map that rotates so that you can distinguish night from day. JLC’s is the only world-timer to sport a deadbeat seconds hand, meaning that it ‘jumps’, rather than glides, between seconds. The result is a ‘truer’ representation of time.

Value for money For watches that won’t require a remortgaging of the house, look towards Montblanc, Cartier and IWC. Cartier’s Drive was something of a sensation. Bolstering what is already Richemont’s biggest brand, the completely new timepiece was a lesson in masculine watch design. The vintage-inspired pieces feature a cushion-shaped case and come equipped with an in-house movement. Expect the Drive to fly off jewellers’ shelves when it’s released in June. Equally buzzworthy was IWC’s Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII, the latest in a long line of legendary pilots’ watches. A return to its roots, with its uncluttered dial and ergonomic design, the watch will find favour among IWC purists. The Mark XVIII is 40mm in size and you can opt for either a black or silver dial. Pilot or not, at £3,190, it’s a handsome investment for any wrist. Continuing to evolve under the stewardship of CEO Jérôme Lambert, Montblanc presented the Chronométrie Collection Twincounter Date. Powered by a brand new Montblanc movement, the 40mm piece has a 38-hour power reserve and is water-resistant to 30 metres. Smart, sharp and sporting a self-winding, in-house calibre, the watch is a snip at £2,155.

Pilot Watch Mark XVIII, £3,190, IWC

Chronométrie Collection Twincounter Date, £2,155, Montblanc

Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition ‘Le Petit Prince’, £3,190, IWC

Drive de Cartier, £4,550, Cartier

With over 70 years of jewellery manufacturing experience, we only use our own skilled craftsmen to perfect each beautiful piece. Our diamonds are sourced from the most trusted houses in Antwerp.

Exclusively yours xxx

bespoke jewellery designed and manufactured in our Chester store

01244 329923

Northgate Street, Chester CH1

www.carlchristopher.com

High Street, Congleton CW12

exc l usive ly y o u r s

Ormskirk Street, St Helens WA10

High Street, West Glossop SK13

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Collection

TWICK TWOCK

e are completely besotted with fledgling luxury watch brand O.W.L and their trademark sleek, vintage style. Founded by Annette Allen (who is also the brand’s designer) in 2013, O.W.L draws inspiration from its British heritage, crafting collections to reflect beautiful antique details from old villages, wooden church pews, great stately homes, sumptuous traditional fabrics and old leather-bound books. Both unusual (we constantly get asked about ours) and versatile, they strike a perfect balance between neat and elegant – and each watch comes packaged in a gorgeous antique-inspired luggage case, meaning they’re ideal as gifts. We much prefer to keep them for ourselves, though. (owlwatches.com)

Jewellery news

WORDS: OLIVIA SHARPE

Romancing the stone The story of Tiffany & Co.’s now world-famous diamond engagement ring, the Tiffany Setting, begins with the American jeweller’s founder, Charles Lewis Tiffany, who set out in 1886 to create a ring that highlighted the beauty of brilliant-cut diamonds. 130 years and countless proposals and film appearances later, he

certainly succeeded in his mission. Fittingly, Tiffany & Co. has chosen to mark this impressive milestone with a year-long celebration. This will involve a brand new campaign which, rather than relying on models or celebrities as endorsements, will instead feature the company’s skilled artisans who are responsible for the rings’ creation. (tiffany.co.uk)

New Hue So fast-paced is the jewellery industry today that if you stand still for a second, you will almost certainly get left behind. This is something Pomellato understands only too well, as the Milanese jeweller never appears to rest in its constant pursuit to innovate its pieces. And nothing illustrates this better than the brand’s signature Nudo pendant collection, which has been reinvented once again for 2016 with a new rose gold chain to be worn with one of any six coloured gemstones. Nudo pendant with rose gold chain, £1,320 (pomellato.co)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Collection

I promise to love you Top of the Game Before becoming the founder of one of the pinnacle French fashion houses, a young Christian Dior spent his childhood playing games in the gardens of his hometown of Granville. Jewellery designer Victoire de Castellane has once again chosen to capture this idyllic part of Christian Dior’s history in her latest collection, christened Granville. Made up of 12 unique pieces, each one tells the story of childish outdoor games with the vivid rainbow of coloured stones: green beryl, peridot, aquamarine, tanzanite, chrysoberyl, pink tourmaline and rubellite all play lead roles. Granville collection, POA (dior.com)

“She [Tracey Emin] been my friend for 30 years and she made me the ‘I promise to love you’ neon sign for my store in Beverly Hills. One day I said to her, ‘Let me have a go at seeing what I can come up with out of your work and our relationship’.” Stephen Webster’s collaborative collection with artist Tracey Emin captures her neon works with the jeweller’s expert craftsmanship, Webster has created a range of pieces that use gold and diamonds to spell out Emin’s trademark handwriting, with declarations including ‘With You I Breathe’, ‘Love’ and ‘More Passion’. I Promise to Love You, £400-19,000, Stephen Webster (stephenwebster.com)

A touch of sparkle 2015 saw a record year for jewellers Steven Stone, as the business went from regional to national then international, now boasting showrooms in Hale, London and Palm Beach. Due to the demand of online business, Steven Stone will shortly be unveiling a new state of the art website, giving customers the ability to buy a pre-set engagement ring, then have the ring sized and delivered the very next day, so long as the order is completed before 3pm. This ever-growing selection of pre-made pieces will give customers more flexibility for those purchases made in a hurry, with no additional cost and the same Steven Stone lifetime warranty. (stevenstone.co.uk)

An engagement ring taken from Steven Stone’s Ready to Wear Collection: Platinum Round Brilliant Cut, Cut Down Set Halo Diamond Ring, 0.50ct, G, VS2 - GIA Certificated, £3,000

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

FRENCH

Fancies

almain for H&M is old news; this year itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about Carven, which has designed a capsule collection for French e-tailer La Redoute. Taking inspiration from the air hostess uniforms produced by Madame Carven in the 1960s and 1970s, Carvenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative directors Alexis Martial and Adrien Caillaudaud have designed an elegant collection of clean-cut trousers, belted dresses and A-line skirts. Navy, black and cream are prominent shades, while flashes of red, khaki and pastel tones add a pop of colour to the collection. (laredoute.co.uk)

®®

COLLECTIONS FROM Marc Cain Joseph Hale Bob Twin Set She’s So by Malene Birger D.Exterior Diane von Furstenberg High Airfield Class by Roberto Cavalli Annette Görtz Paul Smith Paul Riani Laurel Patrizia Pepe 7 For All Mankind Jeans AND MORE

®®

50A High Street, TARPORLEY, Cheshire CW6 0AG Tel. 01829 733251 www.sibelle.co.uk info@sibelle.co.uk www.facebook.com/si.belle.tarporley Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 – 5:30 and Saturday 9:30 – 5:30

Evenings & Sundays by appointment.

image courtesy of Jimmy Choo / Txema Yeste

No shrinking violet They say good things come in small packages, and when it comes to handbags, our shoulders would definitely agree. Jimmy Choo has introduced the Lockett Petite: a sleek, structured and more compact version of the original style, with the addition of a gold cross-body chain. The new size by no means diminishes the bag’s impact; the Californiainspired collection is characteristically flamboyant and features a rainbow of metallic and palm prints that pack a major sartorial punch. Lockett Petite, £895, Jimmy Choo (jimmychoo.com)

Purrfect pairing When two brands unite, our curiosity is always piqued by the treasures that their love child collection may contain, which is why we’re particularly excited about this collaboration between two highly individual brands: Agent Provocateur and Charlotte Olympia. Agent Provocateur’s indulgent lingerie is given a new playful and feline personality with Olympia’s trademark spiderwebs and Kitty faces. We’re wild about this Caught in Charlotte’s Web lingerie set, it will transform you into a pin-up goddess in an instant. Caught in Charlotte’s Web Bra, £295 and Brief, £345, Charlotte Olympia X Agent Provocateur (agentprovocateur.com)

Fancy footwork Shoe craftsmen Gaziano & Girling has recently expanded its repertoire to accommodate women, allowing customers to choose from a range of fabrics and even customise the stitching. There are few things more satisfying than a completely unique pair of shoes – Tony Gaziano and Dean Girling may just be the most popular men in town this month. Prices range from shoes in normal calf/suede £795 to shoes in alligator £4,995, Gaziano & Girling (gazianogirling.com)

Universally stylish Finding the perfect pair of sunglasses can be a tiresome process, especially when shapes, colours and sizes change with each new season. We believe however, that Victoria Beckham’s new pieces of eye candy are destined to become this year’s super shades. The frames are comparable to a classic Wayfarer style but are just a touch oversized, with a slight cat eye flick, and come in a range of flattering neutrals. The glasses are both stylish and strong – they are handmade in Italy and use Zeiss lenses – which is useful, as we predict that you’ll be keeping them to hand well beyond the summer. The VB sunglasses, £275, Victoria Beckham (victoriabeckham.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

Star quality

The Italian Job Hugo Boss has taken inspiration from the superb craftsmanship of Italy for its innovative line of accessories, the Made in Italy collection, which includes this Signature briefcase – a sleek day-to-day partner in crime. The collection is made entirely in Italy and each piece is finished with the brand’s individual touch: for example, this particular style is also available in red and green – a must-have for the bold, modern man. Signature briefcase, £600, BOSS (hugoboss.com)

Following on from the success of her sumptuous cashmere jumpers for women, Amanda Wakeley has designed a capsule collection for men, which features both a crew neck and V-neck in a selection of adaptable colourways. The covetable designs are named after two handsome stars, Humphrey Bogart and James Dean – just make sure your other half’s eyes don’t wander into your wardrobe. Cashmere sweaters, from £375, Amanda Wakeley (amandawakeley.com)

Beach babe We can’t stop browsing the Beach Café website – an absolute feast of designer swimwear and accessories from such gorgeous, sought-after designers as Melissa Odabash, Anna Kosturova, Seafolly (complete with a sun-kissed Gigi Hadid-fronted ad campaign), PilyQ, Pitusa, Dodo Bar Or and Eberjey. There’s everything from beautiful bikinis, kaftans, playsuits and sarongs to shoes, hats, bags and activewear, making the website a total treasure trove, and there are even style advisors on hand should you need a bit of guidance. Needless to say, we plan to hit the beach in style this summer. (beachcafe.com)

Palm Springs At the turn of a season, it can be difficult to select the day’s attire. This reversible, silk Hermès scarf adds instant zest to an outfit and, due to a new, neater size, can be tucked away if the weather seriously turns. Rameaux print scarf, £160, Hermès (hermes.com)

A modern

classic Make a lasting impression this month with sharp tailoring and sweeping gowns that will lend you an enduring look of unparalleled sophistication p h o t o g r a p h y: P h i l l i p W at e r m a n s t y l i n g : D E B ORAH LATO U C HE

Blazer, £750, Pringle of Scotland The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars (pringlescotland.com). Shirt, £200, John Varvatos (johnvarvatos.com). Trousers, £300, Wooyoungmi (wooyoungmi.com). Glasses, £115, Calvin Klein (marchon.com)

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

ABOVE Jacket, £995 and shirt, £550, both Burberry (burberry.com)

RIGHT Him: Jacket, £960 and trousers, £380, both Etro (etro.com). Shirt, £155, Richard James (richardjames.co.uk). Socks, £14, FALKE (falke.com). Shoes, £695, Christian Louboutin (christianlouboutin.com) Her: Gilet, £3,995, Hockley (hockleylondon.com). Skirt, £850, Roksanda (roksanda.com). Shoes, £570, Salvatore Ferragamo (ferragamo.com). Ring, £179, Joubi (joubi.co.uk). Clutch, £268, Kate Spade (katespade.co.uk)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

ABOVE Shirt, £99, Tiger of Sweden (tigerofsweden.com). Blazer, £995, Bally (bally.co.uk). Trousers, £244, Pal Zileri (palzileri.com). Shoes, £795, Christian Louboutin (christianlouboutin.com). Glasses, £188, Salvatore Ferragamo (marchon.com)

LEFT Dress, POA, Luisa Beccaria (luisabeccaria.it). Clutch, £340, Kate Spade (katespade.co.uk)

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

ABOVE Suit, Richard James, £1,245 (richardjames.co.uk). Shirt, Etro £480 (etro.com). Jumpsuit, Rosanda, £1,475 (net-a-porter.com). Ring, Bibi Van der Velden, £2,340 (bibivandervelden.com). Bag, Christian Louboutin, £895 (christianlouboutin.com)

credits Hair: Elliot Bssila at Terri Manduca Make-up: Neusa Neves at Terri Manduca using Dermalogica and Elizabeth Arden Models: Gem and Benjamin at IMG Models Photography assistant: Kevin Baker Styling assistant: Sara Leone Shot on location at The Baglioni Hotel, London

Labels

Marie Mero Michaela Louisa Oui Olsen Leo & Ugo and many more Caroline Biss (Exclusive to Sandbach) Tuzzi (Exclusive to Tarporley)

Elegance of Tarporley, 57 High Street, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 0DP

Tel: 01829 733595

Elegance of Sandbach, 10 Congleton Road Sandbach Cheshire CW11 1HJ

Tel: 01270 765068

This dress is available in our Sandbach shop

Beauty news Photography: Burberry SS16 beauty campaign

Lace up We’re used to seeing pastel shades and floral prints cropping up on the catwalk when SS16 rolls around, but there were no telltale signs of spring at Burberry this season: it has chosen a decidedly autumnal theme for its latest collection. The label’s new make-up range, Velvet and Lace, mirrors the ready-to-wear line with black cherry nail varnish, nude gold eye shadow and oxblood lips. From £15 (burberry.com)

California dreamin’

Smelling like roses Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a bouquet of roses and nothing says ‘I love myself’ more than Dolce & Gabbana’s latest fragrance, Dolce Rosa Excelsa. The seductive floral scent encapsulates the beauty and romance of its namesake flower with the inclusion of two noble rose notes: the African dog rose, which makes its debut in perfumery in this fragrance, and Turkish rose absolute. These have been perfectly blended with the sweet notes of neroli leaves, papaya flower, white waterlily and white daffodil. Dolce Rosa Excelsa eau de parfum, £77 for 75ml (dolcegabbana.com)

Early spring in California is the inspiration behind Chanel’s latest collection, which includes a range of warm shades reminiscent of a sunrise in Los Angeles. A new blusher palette, Sunkiss Ribbon, combines fuchsia, coral, copper and light pink shades set in a criss-cross pattern. Blend together to create a sun-kissed effect that wouldn’t look out of place on the streets of Long Beach. £44 (chanel.com)

The glow getter When designing its new make-up line, Clarins set out to produce a range that would brighten complexions and give skin a warm tint. Cue its Instant Glow collection, comprising a limited-edition Natural Glow eyeshadow palette of five metallic shades in gold, nude, rosy pink, bronze and charcoal, a rose cream blush and four new shades of its Rouge Eclat Age-Defying lipstick. £33 (clarins.co.uk)

Photography: Clarins Instant Glow Spring make-up model 2016

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

Candle in the wind

TREATMENT OF THE MONTH

Most of us prefer our make-up under a soft evening glow as opposed to bright, unforgiving daylight and now – thanks to Laura Mercier’s new Candleglow Soft Luminous foundation which has been created to capture the warm ambience of a candlelit room – you can show your skin in its best light. The ultra-lightweight formula, available in 24 shades, has been embedded with a blend of radiant-pearl mica that effectively mirrors the warm glow of just lit candles and enhances skin’s natural complexion without masking it. It also contains purified water to boost hydration, and Vitamins C and E as essential antioxidant protection. Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation, £35 (lauramercier.com)

massage on-demand WORDS: IAIN WARDE

If you’ve not yet heard about Urban Massage, the mobile app that brings massage to wherever you are, then pay attention. Having made a splash in London, the app has recently launched across Manchester and Cheshire, bringing soothed muscles and scented oils into the world of on-demand. Having had massages for the past two years for various sporting related injuries, my wife recommended the service, which offers professional massage therapy in the convenience of people’s homes, hotels and offices without the need for advance booking. I downloaded the app on my Android phone (also available for iPhone) and within a matter of minutes had booked a 1hr sports massage with Antoinette. Upon arrival she set up in our living room and, after a brief consultation, began the massage. I was positively surprised by the service; she was very professional, chatty and answered all the questions I presented her with, which puts you at ease as it can be a strange experience having a massage in your own home. Afterwards she even gave me some stretching tips to help me with my back. I will be using them again and can highly recommend the ease of booking and professionalism. (urbanmassage.com)

loves

Box clever

Birchbox is the New York City-based online service that sends a box of selected samples of make-up direct to its subscribers each month – and ever since it took London by storm last year, we’ve been waiting with bated breath for it to venture up north. And now, at last, that moment has arrived. Coming to the beauty hall of Selfridges Trafford from 20 March until 9 April, a pop-up will allow you to Build Your Own Birchbox by handpicking six deluxe beauty treats of your choice to fill up your exclusive “Birchbox at Selfridges” (£15). Perfect for discovering new products, all the brands on offer (including Benefit, Ole Henriksen, Laura Mercier and Percy & Reed) have been carefully curated by the Birchbox and Selfridges teams so you can experience the full Birchbox product trial experience.

Mirror, mirror Nothing says feminine, practical and chic like a beautifully antique-style compact – a crucial piece of handbag kit which the Charles Mallory brand have perfected to a fine art. Their delicate, pretty compacts hark back to a time of quintessentially British accessories, taking inspiration from the various different stages of design and beauty – Art Nouveau and Art Deco, for example – to create pieces to suit every woman’s individual style. And the packaging is almost as beautiful as the compacts, so they make an ideal gift too. £79 (charlesmallory.com) 83

The right

ingredients How many times do we take note of what is in our skincare products? And actually understand what we are looking for? Jeff Murad identifies some key ingredients to look out for and offers his top tips for healthy beautiful skin every day

s wedding season begins, whether bride, groom or guest, you want to look and feel great. But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave it until the last minute to get your skin in shape, as you ideally need to give yourself six months to fully embrace a healthy nutritional plan and get into good skincare habits to achieve healthy beautiful skin.

For bright and beautiful skin look for Vitamin C Most brides want to have bright and beautiful skin on their wedding day. Indeed, most people strive for bright and beautiful skin everyday, and Vitamin C is well established as a good ingredient for brightening the skin and fading pigmentation and age spots. Since there is a limit to how much Vitamin C the body will absorb from food, it is important to bypass the body and deliver this potent nutrient directly to the skin. Applied topically, Vitamin C benefits the skin by locking in moisture to keep it hydrated. It also promotes collagen

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

production for a softer, plumper skin while brightening a dull complexion to reveal a radiant glow. Vitamin C can be found in a range of products from cleansers and serums to masks and moisturisers. If pigmentation is a concern for you, it is important to make sure that you are using a broad spectrum sunscreen daily that blocks both UVA and UVB rays, to prevent it worsening. From our range, my recommendations would be Essential-C Day Moisture SPF30 for daily protection and brightening and Intensive-C Radiance Peel, an intensive treatment mask with Glycolic Acid and Vitamin C to reveal a brighter complexion.

For smoother, younger looking skin look for Glycolic Acid Glycolic Acid is a popular anti-ageing ingredient in skincare and my father, world renowned dermatologist Dr Howard Murad, founder of Murad skincare, was actually the first to use this ingredient in his skincare formulations 26 years ago. It’s fantastic to help you get a smoother looking skin which is great for that youthful boost. Our Glycolic Acid comes from sugar cane and helps remove the dead layers of skin that can lead to a dull, lacklustre complexion including fine lines, rough spots and even breakouts. It also helps hydrating ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin and work harder. It accelerates the movement of fuller, hydrated skin cells to the surface, replacing the drier skin for a younger, softer-looking skin. The more hydrated your skin is, the less visible your fine lines and wrinkles will be. My recommendation is AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, a sophisticated formula that softens and hydrates the skin for a more youthful complexion.

Banish breakouts with salicylic acid It’s not surprising during stressful situations, like planning a wedding, that breakouts are a common occurrence. Stress actually stimulates the adrenal

glands which leads to an increase in sebum production, and as a result, frequently leads to breakouts. Every bride will want to keep breakouts at bay on the big day, so I recommend looking for products with the ingredient salicylic acid which can penetrate beneath the skin’s surface to exfoliate dead skin cells within your pores and hair follicles. Salicylic acid also helps speed up cell turnover, which keeps pores clear and prevents future breakouts. This powerful blemish-busting ingredient can be found in cleansers and spot treatments. My suggestions are Advanced Blemish & Wrinkle Reducer to help improve the appearance of blemishes and fine lines in one hit and Time Release Blemish Cleanser is great to use daily to keep skin healthy, hydrated and blemish free. Overall proper nutrition is important for healthy, blemish-free skin, so try plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin A to help normalise the turnover of dead skin cells, a key factor in breakouts, and don’t be afraid of oil. The truth is, all skin types need healthy oils to look their best. Foods such as avocado, salmon, black cod, and walnuts contain beneficial oils that keep the complexion well-nourished and stop the skin drying out or breaking out. For healthy, strong, beautiful skin, another of Dr Murad’s favourite foods to eat is eggs, which contain lecithin, a vital nutritional component that your body needs to repair tissues, because it allows the body to build healthy new cells with strong cell membranes. He is also a fan of super foods goji berries and pomegranates, both packed with anti-oxidants. My last piece of advice is to relax. To help you get a full eight hours sleep the night before your wedding, use topical and internal products with ingredients such as melatonin which can enhance your ability to get to sleep and improve your skin’s repair cycle. This will also enhance your overall wellness, helping you to wake up feeling alert and with healthy, beautiful skin. Jeff Murad is vice president of new product development at Murad (murad.co.uk)

ANNUAL LADIES LUNCH The Mere Resort & Spa Thursday 14 April, 2016 Doors open at 10:30am for shopping, followed by drinks reception, lunch, fashion show from RUNWAY and our very own Loose Women. Hosted by Julia Somerville. ÂŁ40 a ticket Please contact Pauline Middlehurst, Pauline@normanshall.co.uk / 07515 915162

In aid of

PINK RIBBON BALL

RACHEL’S STORY With just one month to go to the Pink Ribbon Ball we speak with committee member and breast cancer survivor Rachel Mamelok about family, humour and fighting back

hen Rachel joined the Pink Ribbon Ball committee she had no personal connection to the disease, she just wanted to support a good cause. One month later she discovered a lump in her breast and went for a check-up. “I’d had five lumps in the past ten years, so for me there were no concerns, but I took it seriously and got it checked out. I had a biopsy and went in for the results without an iota of worry. I should have guessed there was something out of the normal as I was escorted by a breast cancer nurse, but I still wasn’t worried. “I think the consultant must have been talking about tumours for about five minutes and it still didn’t register. I even asked him if I could still go to Majorca at the weekend! I was in shock but there was no melt-down moment. This was the Wednesday and they wanted me in for a lumpectomy on the Saturday. “When I got the results I had mixed emotions as the results seemed to give with one hand and take away with the other. The cancer had not spread. But it was at Stage 3 and was very aggressive. It was also a quite rare type – triple negative.” This is a breast cancer without receptors for oestrogen, progesterone or the protein HER2, which can stimulate the cancer to grow. Triple negative breast cancer is found in about 15 per cent of cases and occurs more commonly in women under the age of 40. “Because of the nature of the cancer, blasting it

with chemotherapy was the most effective option. I thought it was going to be six treatments but I misunderstood what the consultant was telling me. It turned out to be 16. Followed by 20 radiotherapy sessions to make sure there were no stray cells. I do remember thinking that really wasn’t fair. “But my oncologist, Greg Wilson, had just come back from a conference in the US with a new treatment plan. Instead of chemotherapy every three weeks it was to be every week. I remember

“I think the consultant must have been talking about tumours for about five minutes and it still didn’t register. I even asked him if I could still go to Majorca at the weekend.” him saying ‘this will save your life’ and, at the end of the treatment, I would have a recurrence rate equivalent to that of any normal woman. “I don’t think he’d ever met a woman so eager to start! Nothing was going to stop me. My goal, all along was to make it to my daughter, Chloe’s, graduation in New York.” Treated at The Alex but under The Christie Hospital, Rachel’s attitude was full of fight and positivity which carried everyone around her.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

rachel mamelok portrait, feb 2016 (tom fraud. represented by factory311)

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

rachel’s look good, feel good for cancer campaign (tom fraud. represented by factory311)

“I’m pretty sure I drove my oncologist mad. I refused to have the stomach injections to keep my white cell count up. I never thought I’d brag about my white cells but the war was in my head and I was going to win it. “It was my chemotherapy nurse, Nicky, who eventually broke me. I hadn’t cried. She always said I came in for my treatment as if I was going out for a party. But she really cared and wanted to make sure I knew what was going on. She had me blubbing like a baby. One thing that will always stay with me is that she told me ‘this is going to make you a better, stronger person’. At the time I thought ‘that’s easy for you to say’ but it has made me stronger, and I want to make a difference. “I did lose my hair very quickly and there was a lot of humour on that front, not to mention the quest for the perfect wig. But it was that dark humour that got me through. Treatment was always on a Friday and my amazing girlfriends would be by my side for the seven hours. One treatment makes you feel a bit like you’ve had too much to drink and we’d joke ‘here comes the wine’. That and my son Max, periodically stroking my head to check for re-growth. “I always had plans too, trying to keep normality.

I trained twice a week with my trainer, Glenn Wiliams [who also worked with Russell Watson after his tumour] as I’d read that statistically 20 minutes’ exercise a couple of times a week will help keep everything going. “I can’t tell everyone else what to do or how to fight it. I’m often asked. I had to do what was best for me. I never had a negative thought. I was very much focused on ‘this is nine months of my life and I will get through it’. And I was also really open. I told my nearest and dearest but also put my cancer on Facebook. I didn’t do it for the attention, don’t think that. I did it to stop the Chinese whispers and let people know it was ok to talk about it. I wasn’t hiding and I wasn’t losing this fight. “What really helped me was the tight group of friends and my family who were always there to support with whatever we needed. I have to mention my husband John who just took over running the house and everything – he turned into Mr Mum. And my children, Chloe, Ella and Max, who got right alongside me in beating it. Out of it all, we had one

“This is going to make you a better, stronger person.” of the nicest Christmases together. The girls even attempted to cook (I couldn’t help interfering). “Today, I am as much at risk as every other woman. I am checked every three months and life is good. When I look back, it was scary, but you’d just do it again if it happened. Women are brave, I can vouch for that. I’ve spoken at several events about battling and surviving cancer and worked with photographer Tom Fraud on a campaign about looking good and feeling good for cancer, which I can’t believe he persuaded me to do as I was still wearing my wigs. “I speak to ladies about my story and something which always sticks with me is when a friend of mine, whose mum had died of cancer, came up to me and said ‘you’ve taken the fear away. If it happens I can do it’. That was not my intention but I’m so pleased there’s positive coming out of my story.” There are a few tables still available for the Pink Ribbon Ball Manchester 2016 on Saturday 14 May (pinkribbonball@breastcancernow.org; 020 7749 4106)

DISCOVER A VERY SPECIAL COLLECTION OF HOME FRAGRANCE AND BATH & BODY PRODUCTS INSPIRED BY TEA

DARJEELING

YERBA MATÉ

BLENDED FOR POSITIVITY

B L E N D E D F O R F O C U S & C LA R I TY

Discover Yerba Maté, a fresh, stimulating aroma, inspired by the steeped leaf infusion of Argentina and South America. Evoking the wild solitude of the Pampas grasslands, Yerba Maté will sharpen your senses and free your thoughts with enlivening petitgrain, a shot of maté, guaiac wood and vetiver. This is pure energy. Yerba Maté joins Darjeeling, our original aromatic infusion, blended for positivity with zesty lemongrass, citrus and warm nutmeg, layered over a rich black tea base. Both blends are captured in candles, room diffusers, bath & shower, hand cleansers and body hydrators, infused with potent natural botanicals. These are scents to surround yourself in. Every day. Every place. From lounge to bath, work space to holiday.

DISCOVER MORE AT T-LONDON.COM

TL DJ YM advert-AW 14.1.16.indd 2

15/01/2016 06:58

A Sense of

Occasion Lauren Romano meets the go-to designer for feminine formalwear, Emilia Wickstead, to talk starting out, sophisticated silhouettes and Swarovski crystals

he phrase ‘crimes against fashion’ doesn’t quite cover some of the atrocities that get debuted when convention decrees we don our Sunday Best. No other dress code (apart from the everambivalent ‘smart casual’) causes as many fashion faux pas. You can play spot the meringue/shiny satin monstrosity with almost every wedding album in existence. And Royal Ascot wouldn’t be Royal Ascot without someone, no matter how instinctive their inner style gauge usually is, turning up looking like they’ve raided the costume department from Absolutely Fabulous. Not only do designer Emilia Wickstead’s clients attend the usual slew of weddings and parties, their diaries are filled with state banquets, Royal Box seats at the Wimbledon final and red carpet photocalls, so getting it wrong is not an option. Since showing her first ready-to-wear collection at London Fashion Week in 2012, the New Zealand-born designer has been the go-to for the trickiest of couture conundrums: occasionwear. In Wickstead’s atelier banished are the trains, the frills and the fuss usually associated with anything traditionally from that ilk. In their place a modern, but vintage-looking

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

Portrait by Rebecca Reid; Catwalk photos by Yannis Vlamos; Backstage photos by Jason Lloyd-Evans

silhouette has enticed everyone from the Duchess of Cambridge and Samantha Cameron to Diane Kruger and Alexa Chung. Nipped in waists and full circle skirts in pretty pastels are part of the Wickstead DNA, but unexpected twists pull designs out of prim and proper territory. For SS16 Wickstead has played with proportions, incorporating blouson sleeves, puff ball shorts and ballooning shapes, alongside crop tops and streamlined capri pants. Her trademark pastels have been infiltrated by chintzy clashing florals, geometric patterns and candy cane stripes, overlaid here and there with a scattering of sparkling crystals. Wickstead is one of six London-based designers who have been selected to join the latest edition of the Swarovski Collective. Founded in 1999 by Nadja Swarovski in collaboration with Isabella Blow and Alexander McQueen, the Collective was established to push the boundaries of crystal use in

fashion, and has supported the likes of Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler and Marios Schwab over the course of its 16 years. This season Wickstead has frosted satin collars with chequered sparkles, beaded floral silk jacquards with flowers and embroidered eye details onto the hems and sleeves of dresses and skirts. “The eyes were inspired by the 1940s George Cukor film The Women,” Wickstead reveals. “The entire film is shot in black and white, but there’s a mini fashion show in the middle that is depicted in colour. One of the characters wears a blouse that has an eye motif on, which is where the idea came from.” I get the impression that Wickstead is

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

not overly fond of the ladylike tag that has been tacked countless times to her look. “There’s something very romantic about our silhouettes because we’re mixing traditional with contemporary. We combine the sumptuous with intricate beading that adds punch to delicate shapes,” she says in her upbeat way, skirting the question. “Collaborating with Swarovski gives a bit of a twist, an element of adventure somehow to my designs.” The proportions of the collection are certainly designed for the adventurous. Playful amorphous garments billow and balloon in ways that might not altogether be described as flattering, but the oversized is cleverly balanced

“There’s something very romantic about our silhouettes because we’re mixing traditional with contemporary” out with a gymnastic element of razor backs and crop tops. “It’s essentially about mixing tradition with a sort of modern and athletic sensibility,” Wickstead explains. Old-world couture and femininity are constant sources of inspiration for the designer, whose own boutique on Sloane Street could be modelled on a Dior Salon of old. It offers ready-to-wear garments as well as a bespoke service and a made-to-order collection where women can choose from a selection of fabrics and colours. Made-to-order is the very cornerstone of the Wickstead brand. After graduating with a BA in Fashion Design and Marketing from Central Saint Martins, rather than scrimp her way to making a collection, Wickstead ditched the catwalk to set up

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

shop in her living room. Despite having placements at Giorgio Armani, Proenza Schouler, Narciso Rodriguez and American Vogue under her belt, she got an unlikely job on the door at Mahiki nightclub. I wonder if she ever bumped into the Duchess there when she was still K-Mid, but she seems reluctant to do royal talk. Nonetheless, the job and a loan from her boyfriend (now husband), gave her the financial injection she needed to start inviting friends round to her flat where she put on fashion shows. Wickstead took fittings and set up a home atelier and, when the recession hit, she took a brave punt, going in with a low bid for a shop on Cadogan Place in Belgravia. “Maybe that’s what saved me, starting backwards,” she muses. “I really got to know what my customer wanted, what sells and what doesn’t. I started with retail, which is a huge eye-opener to anyone setting up a business, because at the end that’s what you want to conquer really.” She describes her customer as the most modern woman in her circle. “I love using the word alluring,” she smiles. Wickstead is her own greatest ambassador, and wears her designs everyday unless she’s on Mum duty at the weekend when it’s jeans and a jumper. With two small children, she understands the difficulties of juggling motherhood with a career. After the birth of her daughter Mercedes in 2012, she was reportedly back to work the next week, preparing for Fashion Week. “I feel like I’ve basically been pregnant for the last few years – putting together collections and then giving birth two weeks later. It is very challenging, but as a woman your career doesn’t stop for that, especially when you have your own business.” Despite the sleepless nights, Wickstead insists that her creativity is inspired by what surrounds her and family plays a big part in that process. “Having said that, time was the greatest gift given to me during the last collection,” she confesses with a laugh. “Oh, and crystals.” (emiliawickstead.com; swarovskicollective.com)

True Luxury...

...without the price tag

DISCOVER THE PERFECT ENGAGEMENT RING WITH OUR BEAUTIFULLY UNIQUE 2016 BRIDAL COLLECTION, LOVINGLY CRAFTED BY OUR MASTER JEWELLERS SINCE 1937. SPECIALISTS IN GIA CERTIFICATED DIAMONDS IN HOUSE DESIGN TEAM & GOLDSMITH

150 ASHLEY ROAD, HALE, WA15 9SA

STEVENSTONE.CO.UK

HALE - LONDON - PALM BEACH

Tel: 0161 233 9977

CARDEN MEMBERSHIPS

Join a membership you truly deserve. Escape to the country and play two championship golf courses endlessly. Work-out in the Technogym equipped gym before relaxing in the hydrotherapy pool. All of this and extra hotel beneÞts are yours at Carden Park Hotel. Enjoy a golf membership for less than £20.00 per week or a leisure membership for less than £10.00 per week.

Carden Aktiv Retreat 25th - 27th April Start your Summer Þtness regime at the bootcamp with a difference. Enjoy onsite activities, exercise sessions and learn top tips on healthy eating.

Carden Park Hotel, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 9DQ 01829 731594 reservations@cardenpark.co.uk cardenpark.co.uk T&Cs apply

hotel golf spa

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

REBEL with

A cause

rivate White V.C. is a brand with a strong, rebellious identity, with its northern heritage, dirt bike riding creative director, Nick Ashley, and all-round rock and roll demeanour. In true pioneering style, their new collection introduces the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first environmentally friendly fabric which is water proof and crease proof, making it the ideal base for their spring/summer hero ensemble: a seven piece travel suit. (privatewhitevc.com)

Motoring news words: Iain Warde

Hydrogen bomb Riversimple Movement has unveiled the Rasa, a road-legal engineering prototype of its first two-seater hydrogen powered road car. Supported by a ÂŁ2m grant from the Welsh government in 2015, every aspect of the Rasa has been tailor-made and interrogated for lightness, strength, affordability and safety, to produce a vehicle that will maximise hydrogen as a fuel source and minimise pollution. The car will be offered to motorists through its unique sale of service model. For a fixed monthly fee and mileage allowance, similar in expenditure to leasing and running a new family-sized hatchback, the company will cover all repair, maintenance, insurance and fuel expenses. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit like a mobile phone tariff, but customers will never actually buy the car and experience the burden of depreciation; they will simply exchange or return it at the end of the ownership period. Â With a total kerb weight of just 580kg (nearly half of a small car), it features a carbon composite chassis and only 18 moving parts in the entire powertrain. When the vehicle is in motion, hydrogen passes through the small 8.5kW fuel cell, where it combines with oxygen to form water and electricity to drive the motors positioned in each of the four wheels. More than 50 per cent of the kinetic energy produced under braking is recovered and turned into electricity to boost acceleration via a bank of supercapacitors. The result is a range of up to 300 miles on 1.5kg of hydrogen, estimated fuel economy equivalent to 250mpg, and a top speed of 60mph. (riversimple.com) 100

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

Future proof

All about speed This year’s family-friendly Cholmondeley Pageant of Power is shaking things up with a new name and a host of exciting features. The ninth staging of the event will be held under a new name encapsulating its roots: Cholmondeley Power and Speed.

The new four-cylinder diesel unit OM 654 marks the debut of a ground-breaking family of engines from Mercedes-Benz. Exemplary efficiency and emissions ensure that the premium diesel is future-proof while underlining the key role to be played by the diesel engine in achieving the challenging global climate targets. The first all-aluminium four-cylinder diesel engine from Mercedes-Benz celebrates its world premiere in the new E-Class E 220 d in spring 2016. The new family of engines embodies over 80 years of Mercedes-Benz diesel know-how. The new premium diesels are more efficient and powerful, lighter and more compact - and they are designed to meet all future global emissions standards. (mercedes-benz.co.uk)

From 10-12 June, visitors will be invited to celebrate supercars past, present and future, such as the 1969 Lamborghini Miura, 1973 Porsche 911 2.7 RS Touring, 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish and 2016 McLaren 650S present at the launch. From stunning displays to thrilling on-track action, attendees will be able to get up close and personal with some of the most powerful, eye-catching and revered supercars and bikes in the world. The 2016 staging of the event will also feature the inaugural Motorshow Live. Taking place on the Friday, this all-new element will give car manufacturers the opportunity to demonstrate their latest models on track while enabling guests to test drive in a unique racing environment.

The motor car has the unique distinction of currently being the most recycled product in the world. Up to 95 per cent of retired automobiles are recycled every year

(cpop.co.uk)

Middle Eastern promise The first owners of the Aston Martin Vulcan travelled to Abu Dhabi last week to receive world-class tuition from an elite team of drivers, led by Aston Martin Racing works’ driver Darren Turner. There is no question that the track-only supercar demonstrates Aston Martin’s flair for design, and now a select group of owners has had the opportunity to use the Aston Martin Vulcan for its intended purpose – as an exhilarating 820 bhp supercar, engineered exclusively for extreme performance on-track. The customers received tuition in the V12 Vantage S road car and the Vantage GT4 race car, before heading out onto the iconic Formula 1 circuit in their own Aston Martin Vulcan, powered by a potent 7.0-litre V12 engine. (astonmartin.com) 101

Looks can be

DECEIVING It may look similar to the rest of Bentleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soft-top range, but the Continental GTC V8 S benefits from more than just a face lift. Liam Bird discovers how modest changes make all the difference

102

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

103

Car: Bentley Continental GT V8 S Engine: 3993cc twin-turbo V8 32V petrol

“T

Power: 521 bhp @ 6,000rpm

hat’s one is the grille: black Torque: 502 lb ft @ 1,700rpm of the mesh replaces Transmission: ZF 8-speed automatic with Quickshift nicest chrome. But you and 4WD Bentleys can almost bet Performance: 0-62mph 4.5 sec I’ve ever seen,” whispers some well-heeled Max speed: 191mph a colleague, as Keith, owners will spec a MPG: 25.9 combined Bentley’s ever-affable shiny one, if they’re delivery driver, wheels a allowed to. CO2: 254g/km bright red Continental GTC A new, subtle, front Price: from £152,900 V8 S out of his transporter and splitter, fitted to reduce into the morning sun. He then front-end lift, sill extensions adds, “But, what makes this one and a rear diffuser, all finished different from the last one that arrived?” in gloss black, together with some It’s a fair question. To the more casual observer discreet badges on the front wings, point out the the GTC V8 S does indeed look little different S models. And, if the wheel arches, as in our case, from any other soft-top member (GTC) of are filled with 7-spoke 21-inch rims, the optional Bentley’s Continental range. To those in the know, Mulliner pack has been fitted as well. however, distinguishing a V8 S Continental from its S models sit lower too, albeit by just 10mm, as a larger 6-litre W12 brethren is easy. result of their stiffened suspension, firmer bushes, For starters, on the V8s, the winged badges on and revised damping. Bentley’s chassis boffins have the boot-lid and the nose have a red background also tweaked the steering in order to make it, they say, rather than the more usual black one, and the oval more responsive, more sporting, and more precise. exhausts have been pinched at their middles so as Of course, not all of the upgrades are merely to shape them like figure 8s. The biggest giveaway cosmetic; the engine’s also been fettled. The

104

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

4.0-litre twin-turbo now produces 521bhp (up from an already generous 500), and a gargantuan 502 lb ft of torque that makes itself available from a somewhat relaxed 1,700 rpm. Delivered to all four wheels via the Continental’s 8-speed close-ratio automatic gearbox, that heavy-hitting combination means, whatever the situation, whatever the gear, the GTC V8S’s performance feels effortless. Overtaking anything is contemptuously easy, and the (optional) sports exhaust’s accompanying 8-cylinder-symphony, that ranges from muted American muscle-car woofle all the way up to hard-edged piston-engined fighter-plane, is, quite simply, intoxicating. You can opt for a bespoke Naim for Bentley digital hi-fi system, but with GTC’s four-layered roof folded back, on your favourite road on a sunny day, the tunes you can play with your right foot and the slender column-mounted paddle-shifters render it virtually superfluous. However, should you not be in the mood for grabbing the GTC by the scruff of its neck, it’s also supremely capable of playing the long-distance GT card just as well. When cruising, thanks to what’s

known as cylinder de-activation, the V8 S runs as a V4. The result, a near 3-tonne car that sips, rather than slurps, its unleaded. Granted 25.9 mpg is hardly anything to shout about, but even if your budget does stretch to a Bentley, unless you’ve also got shares in petrochemicals, any extra mpg,

“Overtaking anything is contemptuously easy” however it’s derived, can only be a bonus. So, then, what of the associated costs of the GTC V8 S? Well, even before you’ve perused the option list, prices start at £152,900. Add extra luxuries and you’re soon looking at the kind of prices that would bag a nice little two-up-two-down somewhere. Nevertheless, no other bespoke-built, fourseater, leather-lined, 191mph convertible I can think of is quite so capable of making you look like a million dollars. (bentleymotors.com)

105

zero to hero Words: Jennifer Mason

egardless of whether or not Bruce Wayne is going to come popping out of it, the newest and hottest electric concept by US-based company Faraday Future, the FFZero1, is about as futuristic as you can get. FF stresses that this is not a model that it will ever put into general production. Rather, it’s a one-seater race car designed to showcase the capabilities of the company’s Variable Platform Architecture – a scalable electric battery system that could theoretically be adapted to fit any size vehicle. The Tesla rival has promised that the concept will “spearhead a complete revolution in the way we drive”, by building a clean energy-driven car from the ground up. Vive la revolution, judging by its reception. From its all-white interior to the space-age ‘UFO line’ hugging the car’s contours, the FFZero1 screams ‘out of this world’. While this version of FF’s vision of the future might not make it to our driveways, it’s clear that the brand looks set to be a game-changer. If what it eventually put into production looks half as cool as the FFZero1, we foresee a huge spike in EV sales. Who knows? It might not be Batman’s transport of choice but could the FFZero1 be the clean-energy superhero the world has been waiting for? (faradayfuture.com)

106

The power The FFZero1 boasts 1,000bhp through four quad-core motors and will reportedly do 0-60mph in less than three seconds, with a scorching top speed of more than 200mph. All on paper, of course, but we’ve no doubt the boffins at Faraday Future can back up their claims

High tech

The brains

The FFZero1’s power comes from the brand’s new Variable Platform Architecture (VPA), which features a new battery structure, arranged into modular strings and centrally placed for integrity

The steering wheel allows for integration with the driver’s smartphone for remote vehicle set-up, customised configurations, modifiable power outputs, and real-time data visualisation and interaction

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

Space age Faraday Future reportedly consulted NASA in the quest for the perfect seating position (45 degrees, if you were wondering) and we hear that the headrest even has a special port to pump air and water into the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crash helmet

Looks matter The conceptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aerodynamic integrated tailfin provides directional stability and improved aerodynamics. It also serves as a digital canvas to display vehicle charge level, driver name and track position

107

Technology central words: Iain Warde

GADGETS GALORE Our homes are our castles, we spend more time at home than anywhere else, so why would you not want to kit it out with the latest tech and gadgets to make your life easier? Here are some of the upcoming releases for 2016.

USP: Do you really need one? If you love wine then the answer is yes. Yes you do. £375 (10-vins.com/d-vine)

D-Vine

-Vine is to wine as Nespresso is to coffee. Insert the tube of wine and the machine will get it to the perfect temperature and do the decanting for you. Like pods for an automated coffee machine, the D-Vine requires owners to use specially designed 10-centilitre bottles, which contain a particular wine of choice. From rosé and Saumurs to Pomerols and Bordeaux.

OTHER RELEASES

Neeo Smart Remote Compatible with over 30,000 devices, the Neeo smart remote is the perfect addition to your smart home. Control your TV, lighting, heating and more with one button. USP: 3 minute setup, 1 button to control everything £240 (neeo.com) 108

Airmega Because the air in our homes can be more polluted than the air outside, it’s very important to keep it in check. Equipped with built in sensors, the Airmega air purifier can detect the air quality and optimise the filtration process accordingly. Using the app, you can view the results of the air quality as well as the historical data. USP: Controlled by app, very quiet when running. £TBC (airmega.com)

LG Hom-Bot Turbo + We’re sure to see more app-enabled robot vacuum cleaners in 2016... Pull out your phone, snap a picture of a dirty spot in your living room, the vacuum will hurry over and get to work. There’s no word on the price just yet, but we expect that it won’t come cheap, given that the previous Hom-Bot models retailed for £540. USP: SMART cleaning, effortless and simple to use £TBC (lg.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Technology

App: Morecast Game Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls We are not usually ones for saying buy games which you’ve already played or owned – but whether or not you’ve played Heavy Rain or Two Souls, you’re in for a treat with the imminent release of this bundle. Both games are standout titles that give players the power of choice. How these stories branch and end is totally up to the decisions they make and the actions they perform. Hugely popular on PlayStation 3, they have now been visually upgraded and brought together for fans to relive, and newcomers to enjoy for the first time. £29.99 (amazon.co.uk)

This is our current favourite weather app because it has one of the best-looking interfaces, with a clear and sensible layout. It’s also one of the most advanced apps of its kind, featuring such options as side-by-side weather comparisons for two cities, and accurate weather information for a particular route or journey. MORECAST is the right way to make a smartphone weather app and, best of all, it’s free. Free, Android

The average 21 year old has spent 5,000 hours playing video games, sent 250,000 emails, instant messages and text messages, and has spent 10,000 hours on a mobile phone TIME MACHINE Made from original parts from throughout the decades, we love these steampunk clocks made to commemorate Alan Turing’s work at Bletchley Park during WWII and inspired by the Enigma machines. The clocks started life as a 1940s resistance box and are the brainchild of an independent artist creator in Staffordshire. Turing Nixie clock, £850 (bad-dog-designs.co.uk)

109

Travel news Sail away If you’re looking for an alternative holiday for the family or with friends then this luxury week on a superyacht cruising around the French Riviera is perfect – well we think so. Fly to Nice – one of our favourite places in the world and easily one of the most beautiful – and be taken to your yacht, crew and home away from home. Head to Cannes , Cap Ferrat, St Tropez and Monaco for some fabulous scenery, restaurants and memories – restaurants and moorings booked along the way and, with the champagne on ice. Let out your inner Bardot! Prices for SuperYacht Firefly (pictured) including five crew is £5,875 per person based on 8 people sharing, plus expenses (cheshireyachts.com)

loves

Minibreak de jour Castelbrac is a French seaside holiday with a difference – a five-star boutique hotel set in a 19th century villa in Dinard, France, perched on the clifftops of the dramatic Brittany coastline. Composed of three buildings, Castelbrac offers panoramic views of the bays of Vicomté, Solidor and the ramparts of Saint Malo, as well as 25 classic rooms and suites, a spa, lap pool and an appropriately acclaimed eatery. The area itself, Dinard, was transformed into a luxury seaside resort at the end of the 19th century with the construction of stunning Belle Époque villas nestled against the cliffs. It was during this time that Castelbrac was built by an aristocratic English family, and has remained a prestigious part of the area’s history for the past 130 years. From €270 (castelbrac.com) 110

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

Spring into action

Long haul vs short haul Baroque and roll Italy’s rustic region of Puglia has plenty to offer those looking to escape it all, including this beautiful 16th century masseria just outside of Lecce. Set in 60 hectares of olive groves, the nine-suite bolthole has been restored to its former glory with vaulted ceilings, frescoes and tranquil gardens. Masseria Trapana has also partnered with a number of exclusive beach clubs, with cooking classes set to be introduced later in the year, as well as in-room massages and reflexology. From £284 (trapana.com)

Horsing around Equestrian themed spa treatments might not be a typical feature in most beauty routines but, almost next door to Ascot and itself a famed polo venue, country retreat Coworth Park hardly needs an excuse to make them so. This year they’re launching a set of packages to reflect this equestrian heritage, including such treatments as ‘Firm and Tone’, to streamline, refine and firm body contours and detoxify, and the ‘Hard as Hooves’ gel polish manicure/pedicure, which looks after the health of the nail whilst providing enduring, flawless colour. Sounds like a good excuse for a weekend away to us. (dorchestercollection.com)

Short haul Witness the fitness

Villa specialist and concierge service Dynamic Lives is giving clients the opportunity to create their own health retreat in Ibiza. Dubbed the ‘DIY detox’, guests can choose to stay in modern condos or 100-acre vineyard estates and request the services of personal trainers, swimming instructors and yoga teachers. Collagen-boosting facials and anti-ageing skin peels are all available, while chefs are on hand and even offer clean-eating and vegan regimes, upon request Villas from approximately £7,000 per week (dynamiclives.com)

Kicking it Back by popular demand, beautiful Sardinia retreat Chia Laguna’s second Football Academy will run from May 28 to June 4 and July 2-30 this summer, giving kids aged six to 16 the opportunity to hone their ball skills with the professionals. While families kick back and relax in one of the most beautiful settings in the Mediterranean, restless children can take part in an unforgettable premier football coaching experience with some of their heroes, with sessions delivered over the course of a fun-packed five-day week by premier league footballers Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson accompanied by top coaches. (chialagunaresort.com)

Long haul Alive and kicking

In Thailand, a country of luxurious hotels and retreats, Panacea has held its own in terms of column inches. Each villa in the Koh Samui resort comes complete with ten private staff, tropical gardens and a swimming pool. Named after the Greek goddess of healing, the newly launched Retreat of Champions is a five-day fitness package dedicated to Muay Thai and kickboxing; guests can train on a hilltop overlooking the Gulf of Samui, and in the two stadiums designed for the ancient martial art. From THB 41,000 (approximately £751) (panaceasamui.com)

111

Extraordinary

Places

to Visit in

2016 From dramatic Himalayan peaks to the dazzlingly azure waters of Bora Bora, Sarah Siese uncovers the most innovative and exclusive holiday experiences the world has to offer

112

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel images courtesy of aman

#1 Desert delights

Amangiri, Utah, USA

Anyone who visits this remote hideaway would agree with the pertinence of these words from The Little Prince: “I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams...” Within the luminous canyons of the American Southwest, in a protected valley, Amangiri offers adrenaline-fuelled adventure and hypnotic stillness among dramatic, outsized landscapes. Derived from the Sanskrit words for peace and mountain, Amangiri inspires energetic explorations and serene wonder in equal parts. The magnificent Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and Monument Valley are all within easy reach, and the surrounding landscape – on Amangiri’s 600 acres and

beyond – showcases a stark natural beauty. Reflecting the holistic principles and healing traditions of the Navajo, the spa aims to restore your inner equilibrium using the four elements of life and destruction – earth, wind, fire and water. Heaven on Earth offers seven nights from £3,815 per person, in a Superior Suite, including international flights (heavenonearth.co.uk)

113

four seasons resort bora bora © John sinal photography

#2 Find a pearl in Tahiti

Bora Bora

Powder-soft sand, sky the colour of forget-menots, a kaleidoscope of coral and fish in sparkling lagoons blend seamlessly with forest-clad mountains; the 118 islands and atolls of Tahiti in the South Pacific epitomise the world’s idea of paradise. The name Tahiti is commonly (and incorrectly) used to describe the whole of French Polynesia; it is in fact merely the largest island and home to the capital, Papeete. Taking full advantage of its magnificent setting on a private motu (islet) in Bora Bora’s turquoise lagoon, the views from Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora stretch across dazzlingly azure waters towards the verdant peak of the majestic Mount Otemanu, enough to cause even the most well-travelled visitor to linger admiringly. Perched on stilts over a shimmering lagoon, the romantic bungalows have ingenious glasspanelled floors, creating a fishy kind of Tahitian television – it’s all going on down there. Indoor pampering treatments use local ingredients, including the prized monoï (coconut oil with tiare) and black pearl powder. The Turquoise Holiday Company offers nine nights to Bora Bora via an LA stopover from £4,495 per person including flights (01494 678 400; turquoiseholidays.co.uk)

114

image courtesy of four seasons resort bora bora

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

#3 Trekking in style

Shakti Himalaya, India

If you’re captivated by the idea of visiting remote regions of northern India in search of space and peace, Shakti Himalaya will suit you down to the ground. It has worked tirelessly to sophisticate four wilderness houses – far-flung hide-outs removed from the noise and clutter of the modern world, with compelling views across the peaks. Walkers wander carefully chosen and graded paths, safe in the hands of charming, well-spoken guides. Upon returning to a cosy village house, relax and rejuvenate by means of gourmet cooking, fine wines, a crackling fireplace, and beds dressed in fine linen and pashmina blankets. This isn’t refuge walking with hordes of other ramblers, and it isn’t trekking between basic huts on well-trodden, often litter-strewn trails. It is Himalayan exploration in the lap of elegant-cum-rustic luxury, unparalleled in terms of comfort, fun, adventure and exploration levels. Its pioneering approach invigorates, ensuring that visitors really get under the skin of this outstanding landscape and experience it like no other. Cazenove+Loyd offers seven fully inclusive nights at Shakti Kumaon and Shakti 360° Leti from £4,800 per person (020 7384 2332; cazloyd.com)

image courtesy of shakti 360° leti

115

#4 The perfect beach

Sumba Island, Nihiwatu, Indonesia

Our little blue planet is heavily populated and it is rare to find a spot that offers real escapism in the truest sense of the word. The latest place to win over our hearts and minds is new-to-the-books Sumba. Just over an hour’s flight from Bali, it’s roughly twice its size but home to a tiny population. Part of Nusa Tenggara Timor, the isolated location means little has changed over the centuries, with the exception of Nihiwatu, a gateway to Sumba’s wildness that blends luxury with local rustic touches. The vision – to create a resort that encompasses Sumbanese culture and local community – has proved both successful and popular. This is a place to bury your mobile phone in the depths of your suitcase and embrace nature, culture and local Sumba life. Trek through jungles, picnic at waterfalls, ride along the beach, surf with pros, learn to spearfish, visit villages and enjoy (free) diving. Once this has worn you out, immerse yourself in the jungle spa before doing it all again the next day. The Turquoise Holiday Company offers seven nights at Nihiwatu from £5,995 per person in a Kanatar Sumba one-bedroom Duplex Villa on a full-board basis, including flights (01494 678 400; turquoiseholidays.co.uk) Nihiwatu

116

loisaba

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

5 loisaba

#5 Sleeping under the stars

Loisaba, Kenya

The Loisaba Conservancy is outstandingly beautiful, with wildlife galore and accommodation (recently refurbished) beyond anything you’d imagine in the bush. Experience Africa’s world-class game drives, colourful bird-watching and expertly guided walks; there’s true Kenyan up-country life, rafting down the Ewaso Ng’iro and Ng’are Narok rivers, mountain-biking across country, and even camel-riding through the wild canyons with the local Laikipia Maasai tribe. Breakfast on the riverbank is one of those sublime African moments and, if you’re at one with nature, sleep out under the stars in the unique star beds, among a kopje of rocks in one of the valleys overlooking the Kiboko waterhole. Eight kilometres further south on the banks of the Ewaso Ng’iro, steel yourself for being cantilevered over the rapidly flowing river, reached by footbridge from the opposite bank. Cazenove+Loyd offers six nights full board at Loisaba including domestic and international flights from £2,760 per person (020 7384 2332; cazloyd.com)

117

ibiza town (andrezej kubik / shutterstock.com)

Inside Ibiza Ibiza is hard to sum up in a few words, famous for its world renowned club scene it also has stunning coastlines, food and style. George Burdon gives us a quick guide to his favourite Ibiza hotspots

118

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

he Cheshire Magazine recently featured the world’s most expensive restaurant; indeed we’ve seen it on Eamonn and Ruth: How The Other Half Lives. It’s definitely one for the bucket list, but my love affair with Ibiza, and regular visits with my family and for business have built up the following little black book of dining: In 2015 the Adrià brothers who were behind the famous Spanish restaurant, elBulli, opened their

latest endeavour, Heart Ibiza. This incredible concept restaurant was to create a fusion of the finest food, music and art. Working with Cirque du Soleil, the Supper Club provides unique performances, live art installations, live bands and electronic music. This is somewhere to head for an adventurous and exquisite dining experience and the gastronomy is a fusion of cultures, using the finest local ingredients. There are exhibitions and artwork on display, including two

119

Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine

villa lomas

villa coco

pieces by Takashi Murakami, digital art by Miguel Chevalier and other artists. Guests can enjoy sitting on the terrace for lunch and take in the scenery, or sit inside and revel in this stand-out experience. For nature lovers it has to be La Paloma. It’s been a favourite for a good few years now and is a countryside café positioned in San Lorenzo, a village in the middle of the island. They serve freshly homemade bread made along with salads and smoothies. Many of the dishes on offer are created using fresh ingredients from the restaurant’s on-site organic vegetable garden surrounded by an orchard of orange and lemon trees. In winter the intimate dining room is warmed by the ambient firelight and has been a secret lunch spot for stars such as Sienna Miller and Jade Jagger. Then there are the spectacular cliff faces of Sol Den Serra and the Amante Beach Club. The rocks are illuminated at night, transforming the secluded cove into a magical gourmet spot on the island. From every level there is a striking sea view accompanied by the clear sound of the waves crashing on the

shore. The incredibly private and romantic Amante Table is set for two within a Balinese hut; this includes a specially designed menu and your own waiter all night. Started by three friends with a deep love for Ibiza, the Can Domingo restaurant in San Josep has a setting that is as natural as its ingredients, with guests seated beneath a canopy of olive and fruit trees and surrounded with the fragrance of blossoms. This restaurant stays true to the heritage of Italian fine dining, whilst catering to modern taste buds. The owners all share a passion for jazz music and so each Saturday night from the end of June until the end of September sees live music in the romantic garden setting, gently adding to the already relaxing atmosphere. And finally there’s the much-loved Cotton Beach Club which sits 40 metres above sea level over the picturesque southwestern shores of Cala Tarida with breathtaking views. This striking venue includes a panoramic terrace restaurant, beautifully styled indoor dining area, a rooftop sunset terrace and a very rare, sandy private beach. With a seat on the terrace you can watch the sunset as day turns to night Ibizan style with live music, perfectly created cocktails and an extensive wine list, with candlelight and indoor and outdoor fireplaces crackling on cooler evenings. In my experience, villa living is the way to stay in Ibiza. It allows you the comfort and refuge of your own space, with everything at hand. And there’s a villa to suit every stay. From the stunning Villa Lomas, nestled in lush pine and eucalyptus forest for romantic nights and lazy days, to the super luxurious Villa Coco, which is incredibly private but with easy access to Ibiza’s vibrant night life. But I’m hazarding a guess you may not want to leave the villa! (heartibiza.com; palomaibiza.com; amanteibiza.com; candomingoibiza.com; cottonbeachclub.com)

George has spent nearly 20 years travelling around the globe exploring properties and destinations since leaving his native New Zealand. He now lives in Cheshire with his wife and two small children and runs Dynamic Lives, a luxury villa specialist, offering tailor-made luxury villa holidays and VIP corporate trips. (dynamiclives.com) 120

Forever at your service

As multi award-winning creators of The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, we're delighted to have acquired our second Cheshire hotel. The Stanneylands, a hotel with an amazing history and reputation in this great region - a true Cheshire Country Classic. The team are thrilled and passionate with the plans for this highly respected Cheshire Country House, and are looking forward to bringing a whole new level of hospitality to its already stunning reputation for dining.

The Stanneylands - forever at your service.

ELEGANTLY RE-IMAGINED & RECONSIDERED. Afternoon Tea • Sunday Lunch • Weddings • Celebrations

FROM THE CREATORS OF

@Stanneylands

/stanneylands

Call 01625 525 225 or visit stanneylands.co.uk The Stanneylands, Stanneylands Rd, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 4EY

Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Weekend away

… Budapest to Vienna with Viking River Cruises WORDS: GEMMA KNIGHT

he Romantic Danube cruise sails from Budapest to Nuremburg in eight days – although, with only a long weekend to spare, my guest and I were only able to go as far as day three; Vienna. This actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the way this complication was dealt with serves as perfect illustration of the individually-tailored and impeccable organisation which characterises Viking. Bespoke airport transfers and flights were arranged to make sure our return journey was every bit as smooth as the remaining 178 guests’ would be, and every staff member had been briefed – knowing our special circumstances, names and travel arrangements on sight. Impressive. But, of course, a cruise is not only about efficiency and attention to detail (excellent qualities though they are) – it is first and foremost about relaxation and enjoyment, both points upon which the Romantic Danube cruise delivers to luxuriously high standards. The setting itself is spectacular (there’s a reason Viking use the Budapest skyline in their adverts), and even on a cool November day the clear blue skies and sunshine made an idyllic backdrop for our welcome to the ship – a crisp glass of wine (or three) on the sundeck complimented by an endless parade of fresh, delicious lunch fare. This beautifully set the tone for our trip – stunning views, impeccable service and, of premier concern to any discerning foodie, really genuinely excellent grub. Already, they’d won us over. Our stateroom was beautiful; cleverly designed to feel more spacious than it really was, with lots of

storage, a welcome bottle of local fizz and a veranda affording yet more of those sumptuous views across the river. Fresh fruit was left for us daily, though the temptation of the buffets and á la carte menus regularly lured us from it. Every meal was sensational and, more importantly, the fare was healthy and light – an excellent way of avoiding the stressful over-eating compulsory on many a cruise. Menus also include many local options, meaning that eating aboard feels more like an extension of the destination than a retreat to the bland and familiar. Though there’s no shortage of wine on the ship, there’s also no corkage charge should you wish to bring back your own tipple from the day’s excursions. And oh what excursions they are. Our fellow cruisers were mainly retired American couples, but all welltravelled and keen to explore, making for enthusiastic and entertaining companions during our meanderings through Budapest and Vienna, almost all of which are included in the price of your cruise and vary from city walks and markets to historic visits, concerts and night cruises. All are optional, and you’re welcome to wander off and do your own thing if you start to feel too much like a Pied Piper’s mouse. Needless to say, it was with heavy hearts that we parted prematurely – though with minds resolutely made up to return for the full itinerary at a later date, and in no doubt that this is a company well deserving of its reputation for quality and class. Viking River Cruises offer regional departures, and flights are included in the price of your cruise (vikingrivercruises.co.uk)

“This is a company well deserving of its reputation for quality and class”

122

Kids’ news Slumber party Bunk beds are so last year, as the cabin bed creators at Noa & Nani have proved with the latest addition to the brand’s furniture collection. The space-saving Isabella Day Bed comes equipped with a chill-out sofa, (perfect for hosting Mr Penguin’s birthday party), a comfy single bed and an extra pull-out bed for those all-important girly sleepovers. Once the midnight feasts are done and dusted, the additional bed doubles-up as storage space, tucking neatly away. £159.99 (noaandnani.co.uk)

124

Spring in their step

Caps off

From crazy zigzags and paint splashes to military-style jackets, floral garlands and tribal stripes, Stella McCartney’s new SS16 collection draws inspiration from an eclectic array of sources. The animal kingdom is well represented throughout the range of dresses, dungarees and T-shirts. Look out for the butterfly dress that comes complete with a delicate set of wings, or the fun, fringed octopus beach poncho to make a statement on the sand. From £31 (stellamccartney.com)

Mr Men has partnered with Lucky Seven Caps so kids can channel their favourite storybook character and customise a sunhat to match. Choose from three Mr Men and Little Misses, a range of colours as well as the style and shade of the side-leaf decoration. Squish-proof and double stitched for extra support, this sturdy cap will keep heads protected from the spring sunshine as kids don Mr Tickle or Little Miss Sunshine for a day of exploring. From £35 (luckysevencaps.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

MR HENDRIX leashed

S New arrival Buying for newborns can be tricky, especially if you’d rather steer clear of baby grows and bibs. For those in need of some inspiration, iCandy has curated a range of gifts designed especially for the tiniest of tots with The Newborn Gift Set, which features six accessories. A fruit clip toy, hat, soft rattle, matching mittens and booties and a satin ribbon tape measure are presented in an adorable mini suitcase that doubles as the perfect keepsake memory box. The gender-neutral soft grey set comes in either cotton or cable knit, finished with a Pima cotton lining for ultimate baby comfort. £50 (iCandyworld.com)

Bags of fun Make tidying up tantrums a thing of the past with Tellkiddo’s new storage bags. These fun and simple sacks are sturdy enough to store toys, sports equipment or arts and crafts clutter. The reusable bags feature adorable animal faces and stand upright, so you can chuck in train sets and toy cars with ease – a perfect tidy-up solution when unexpected guests come round to call. £27 (nubie.co.uk)

weet April showers mean May flowers, birds singing and the sun setting later and later, leaving us plenty of time to get outdoors. Cheshire has a great deal to offer, so why not take part in the Starlight Walk for East Cheshire Hospice? Or bring your little ones to Tatton Park and see if you are lucky enough to get a glimpse of the lambs being born. Maybe you’ll be making dinosaurs with Macclesfield Museum, or heading to Cholmondeley Castle, who are committed this year to encouraging children to take part in gardening activities such as seed sowing, planting, harvesting vegetables and encouraging wildlife into the garden. Whatever you decide, April in Cheshire has it all. Anji and I have been spending a lot of time walking in Delamere Forest, so what a treat it was for me when Anji stopped off for a bite to eat at The Fishpool Inn, a true taste of rural Cheshire owned by the Nelson Hotel group. The original 18th century sandstone building underwent a £2 million restoration in 2013, resulting in a unique and atmospheric setting which fuses rustic charm and stylish decor amid a backdrop of true heritage and character. A well-deserved winner of the much sought-after ‘Best New Pub’ accolade in the UK’s Publican Awards, their extensive menu is backed up by generous portions – and they even made me my very own dish of chicken to enjoy while Anji tucked into her vegetarian chilli. The cultural heritage of Cheshire has been carefully and lovingly captured throughout the inn, with pictures and memorabilia from the Cheshire Polo Club, and fishing rods and reels from the Knowsley Estate from 1928. The passion for horses is also cleverly captured by the bar area, where the seated booths are discreetly sectioned by stalls fashioned from those at the nearby Duke of Westminster Grosvenor Estate. With warm staff and a welcoming atmosphere, this is also the perfect place to come with your furry friends, and my paws will definitely be stepping over their threshold again very soon. We are so lucky to have so many activities going on this spring in Cheshire, so be sure to come and say hello if you see me out and about enjoying them! Until next time, love and licks

Mr Hendrix

xxx (facebook.com/mrhendrixandfriends; thefishpoolinn.co.uk)

125

APRIL 2016 s Issue 028

Home Just fires

£38 Behind the scenes as we prepare for the second series

a year

Ultimate holidays Where to go and what to do this year

The spring

FASHION EDIT

Interviews, trends and inspiration for the season ahead

RUNWILD MEDIA GROUP

£4.00

Subscribe to The Cheshire Magazine for just £38 a year and receive the latest in luxury lifestyle directly to your door each month.

• Exclusive interviews • Local news and events •Art, auctions and culture • Fashion, style and luxury goods • Interior design and property • Luxury travel and motoring To subscribe, please visit rwmg.co.uk/subscribe now

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

The classroom Ta Da

Sponsored spelling The NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) recently visited the Firs School, Chester to run assemblies for Years 1-6 about keeping safe, and the difference between good and bad secrets. Years 5 and 6 also took part in interactive workshops with the NSPCC as part of their ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ programme aimed at primary school children. All pupils involved in the assemblies took home a sponsored spelling form to raise as much money as possible for such a great cause. A grand total of £2,464.60 was raised and children were delighted to receive badges as their reward for working so hard. (firsschool.net)

A new adventure Lego fans will be pleased to hear there’s a new 4D movie at Legoland, Trafford Centre. Promising to reunite characters from the original movie in a 12-minute extravaganza of wind, water, smoke and lighting, it’s a perfect excuse to make your first trip or, for the seasoned veterans, to gather up your brood and revisit. We agree, everything is awesome. (legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk)

12-year-old Macclesfield cartoonist Christian Beeston has turned an age-old joke on its head to win the British Cartoonists’ Association’s Young Cartoonist of the Year competition. The King’s School pupil was the youngest entry from over 500 submissions nationwide in a competition open to 18 year-olds and under and judged by the cartoon glitterati of the national press. His winning entry features a rabbit pulling a man out of a hat and has only four letters of writing ‘Ta Da’, the impact all stemming from the absurdity of the image. Christian, who is also a flying winger on the King’s School under-13 side has been drawing “for as long as I can remember,” and admits to being something of a doodler. “I just love drawing. I find it very relaxing just playing around with some pens and paper. I do most of my drawings in connection with school work as I don’t have much time at home.” The winning artwork, along with runners up, will be displayed in The Cartoon Museum’s Young Artist’s Gallery for the next year. (cartoonmuseum.org)

127

Ladies lunch

Gusto, Alderley Edge Thursday 28 April, 12noon to 3pm Gusto Alderley Edge invites you to join them and the Pink Ribbon Ball committee for a glamorous ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lunch raising much needed funds for the work of Breast Cancer Now. Tickets are priced at ÂŁ40 and include a delicious three-course lunch with welcome prosecco as well as a little fun and fashion.

We believe that if we all act now, by 2050 no one will die from breast cancer.

For tickets contact Kim Thompson at Gusto Alderley Edge 01625 583 993

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

MUM’S

THE WORD

elve into the family photo albums and most daughters will come across a photo of themselves feeling all grown-up clomping around in mum’s high heels, a red lipstick covered grin spread from ear to ear. The Linen Works is celebrating the compulsion to raid mum’s wardrobe for dressing up with its first mother and daughter collection for SS16. Brought to life by founder Larissa Cairns, the pure Belgium linen designs are inspired by her grandma’s dress-making and the timeless smock dresses, classic blouses and skirts in a simple colour palette of marl grey, light pink and white, will look as good on tiny people as they do on their mums. From £120 (thelinenworks.co.uk)

129

Is it time you had a second opinion on your investments?

TheSecond OpinionService Understanding Investments

To discuss your options, call 0808 168 5866 for a complimentary meeting.

9-11 Salop Road, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 2NR Hilliards Court, Chester Business Park, Chester, Cheshire, CH4 9QP Email: info@harteywm.co.uk Web: www.harteywm.co.uk Freephone: 0808 168 5866

Registered in England and Wales No: 8288660. Registered Office: Salop House, Salop Road, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 2NR. Hartey Wealth Management Ltd is authortised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

homes and

interiors showcasing the

finest HOMES & PROPERTY IN CHESHIRE AND BEYOND

Samujana state of MIND Leave the ordinary behind with your very own luxury villa on the Thai island of Koh Samui

an eco friendly villa in pisa, italy. Available at a guide price of £2,715,440 through Italy Sotheby’s International Realty (sothebysrealty.com) see page 170

Homes & interiors news Atelier view with Pelide table, Photo: Philippe Kliot, IMAGE COURTESY OF Achilles Salvagni

A modern legend Achille Salvagni, suitably named, is deeply influenced by the traditional civilisation of Rome and the Latin language. His objets d’art are steeped in Roman heritage, and his winter collection sees three new cabinets designed with ancient fabrics, mythological labyrinths and gladiator shields in mind. Despite his historical references, his designs are distinctly contemporary and each one would easily make a striking addition to any home. Achille Salvagni Atelier (achillesalvagni.com)

Finishing touch Cult perfume connoisseur Frédéric Malle has introduced a potent linen and sheet spray to his collection of inspired fragrances, that is guaranteed to make your slumber a bed of roses. Dans mon Lit consists of rose water extract collected using the method of steam distillation – all we need now are dreams as heavenly as Frédéric’s scents. Dans mon Lit, £70, Frédéric Malle (fredericmalle.com)

132

Wall to wall Graham & Brown is celebrating the golden era of pattern with a ’70s-inspired capsule collection designed by Kelly Hoppen MBE, 40 years after she began her career in interior design. Groove is a contemporary wallpaper in a stylish metallic monochrome palette, while Twist is a bolder take on the disco era, with a geometric diamond pattern. The daring designs would make a sensational feature wall, complemented by minimal modern furnishings. Glitter balls are optional. Twist and Groove, £55 per roll, Graham & Brown (grahambrown.com)

Homes and Interiors

Time for a change As we approach spring, the sky will become a little bit bluer each day. This seasonal change is reflected in LINLEY’s new range of home accessories, which features an expanded Henley triangle collection in shades of aqua and citrus. A stunning new edition for S/S16 is the Henley watch tower, handcrafted from sycamore and finished with a cool yet luxurious turquoise blue birch veneer. The tower also contains a silver plaque that can be engraved for a personal touch. Henley watch tower, £3,950, LINLEY (davidlinley.com)

Harveys Furniture (@HarveysHQ) Brash, bold and bags of fun – the neon trend looks bright in 2016

#interiorstip Amara (@AmaraLiving) “Like the Little Black Dress, invest in good basics like a well-made sofa or bed...” - Sallyanne Holmes

W e b w at c h : For wooden workdesks we love…

bordercraft.co.uk maisonsdumonde.com pamono.co.uk

“In Japanese houses, the interior melts into the gardens of the outside world.” Stephen Gardiner, British architect (stephengardiner.co.uk)

Sink or Swim Drummonds has collaborated with interiors architect Martin Brudnizki, resulting in a harmonious blend of the traditional and the modern. For the new Tyburn bath, Brudnizki has pushed the Drummonds’ aesthetic into a more contemporary direction by refining its typically Victorian elements. While its exterior is symmetrical, the inside has an asymmetric design with two opposing shaped ends – one sloped for reclining and one more upright – thereby lending itself to a more comfortable bathing experience. Brudnizki has even deviated from Drummonds’ use of enamelled cast iron, instead opting for a marble casting. From £4,985 (drummonds-uk.com)

133

Homes and Interiors

Homes & interiors news

BUYING PROPERTY WITH LAND W O R D S : C r i s p i n H a rr i s , M R I C S , J a c k so n - S t o p s & S t a f f

hose that crave space do so for a variety of reasons including additional privacy, a space in which their children can play free from outside danger, land for their horses or dogs, as a means to raise some income, and now it can be a way to reduce stamp duty: as long as there is a mixed use to your property. Major changes to the way stamp duty is calculated came into effect a little over 12 months ago, and these changes have a greater impact on the amount of stamp duty paid, depending on the use of your property. For residential property a new banding system is now in use: £250,001 to £925,000 paying 5 per cent; £925,001 to £1,500,000 paying 10 per cent; and those above paying a whopping 12per cent or, alternatively, 4 per cent on mixed use properties. Mixed use refers to a property that has both residential and non-residential elements, including: commercial property; agricultural land; forests; any other land or property, which is not used as a residence; or six or more residential properties bought in a single transaction. How could this save you money? Here’s an example: one of our current properties on the market – Blackden Manor in Goostrey – sits in around 28 acres of land. As the property is in the highest stamp duty tax band, potential purchasers could be been liable for 9.7 per cent stamp duty (around £363,750). However, as a proportion of the property’s land is rented out to a local farmer for cattle grazing (mixed use), buyers should pay only 4 per cent in stamp duty (around £150,000) – an impressive saving of £213,750. This is subject to acceptance by HMRC. Buying a property with land that is rented out could now become more popular due to the dramatic savings it could mean for purchasers. Even those who are not interested in owning land may now consider a larger plot, solely to reduce their stamp duty liability. Certainly food for thought, although of course this is an illustrated example, and anybody looking to purchase a property would need to take specific legal advice. (jackson-stops.co.uk)

134

Future imperfect Even the smallest things can make a big difference, as affirmed by Fired Earth and its latest range of eye-catching tiles. Inspired by geometrical patterns, the company’s new Futurism collection, available in stores now, comprises slightly angled tiles that make an understated yet effective statement when mounted. Available in seven versatile shades – from neutral beiges to dusky pinks and sea greens – there’s also plenty of room to play around with colour and make your tiling more of a talking point in your home. £79.46 per square metre, Fired Earth (firedearth.com)

Architecture In Glass & Feature Staircases Glass Balconies • Frameless Glass Doors, Walls & Floors • Architecture Aluminium • Glass Verandas

www.alldiverso.co.uk • The Studio • Heather Lane

01433 69 55 77 • info@alldiverso.co.uk • Hathersage • Derbyshire • S32 1DP

The Old Stables, Capesthor ne Hall, Nr Alder ley Edge , Cheshire . SK11 9JY By Appointment

W: j a n e y b u t l e r . c o . u k E: hello@janeybutler.co.uk T:

01625 861935

Janey

b u t l e r i n t e r i o r s wo r k i n g i n c o l l a b o r at i o n w i t h t h e i n t e r n at i o n a l a w a r d w i n n i n g designer Eric Kuster

B r i n g i n g to yo u r h o m e s interior architecture unique, individual style and design.

Homes and Interiors

BEAUTIFUL THINGS

Coming up roses Nobody does print quite like the Designers Guild, which offers an explosion of pattern and colour every time it launches a new collection. This season is no different, with the brand looking to Parisian haute couture from the 1950s for inspiration. With a focus on luxurious fabrics, the Couture Rose collection comprises silk, brocade and taffeta curtains and beaded wallpaper in bold florals, botanical prints and bright colours not for the faint-hearted. Wave goodbye to the magnolia colour schemes of seasons past and brighten up your home with the labelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fleur Sauvage and Nymphaea prints. (designersguild.com)

137

INSPIRATION

A TOTAL TRANSFORMATION 138

Homes and Interiors

Janey Butler of Janey Butler Interiors and Llama Property Developments explains how she transformed an ageing Knutsford building into the sleek, modern flagship store of estate agency Stuart Rushton

s a company, we are renowned for our luxury, residential interiors. However, we recently expanded our portfolio into the commercial sector, taking on a project which involved the total renovation of number 35 King Street, Knutsford, in collaboration with Llama Property Developments. The property has been transformed and is now the flagship store for Stuart Rushton Estate Agents. One of the top estate agents in Cheshire, he approached us around June 2015 with a simple brief: â&#x20AC;&#x153;To create our new flagship showroom/officesâ&#x20AC;?. The space had to be a functional working space,

139

INSPIRATION

but also a beautiful environment for the company and their customers. From this brief, a detailed design was prepared to produce a stylish, contemporary, inviting space. In addition, we wanted to achieve something new, with more of a showroom/homely feel to it rather than the normal formal office layout. In order to fulfil this, we specified some of our signature bespoke furniture design within the project, including the luxury brand Linteloo, with whom we collaborate. There were many challenges along the way, as the property dates from the 1840s and falls within a conservation area. It was formerly used as a ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fashion shop, though it had been empty for some time and had developed lots of damp issues, including a leaking roof and ground water basement problems, not to mention a very dated interior. The aim was to preserve the

140

â&#x20AC;&#x153;From this brief, a detailed design was prepared to produce a stylish, inviting, contemporary spaceâ&#x20AC;? beauty of the old building, enhancing and repairing the exterior and giving the interior of the property a unique and contemporary look. During the process we always spend a lot of time getting to know our clients. We feel it is essential to understand their needs and what they want to achieve. For this particular project, it was also important to spend time getting to know their business/staff levels and requirements so that our design and the end result surpassed anything they could have imagined. This attention to detail combined with our talented team of craftsmen and

Homes and Interiors

141

Homes and Interiors

INSPIRATION

women enabled us to turn our design concepts and vision into reality. On this project, we especially loved the finished design for the new managing director’s office. This space features a stunning frameless glass wall, complete with an incredibly large section of naturally curved oak, which was designed and made into a stunning desk to go through the glass wall. This created an amazing effect and focal point on the ground floor. When it comes to the fine details for projects, we love to source unique individual pieces for all of our design concepts. This was especially true with regard to the choices of fabrics and materials for this particular project. Also, by consulting with clients fully along the way, the end result is much more personal

“Attention to detail combined with our talented team enabled us to turn our design concepts and vision into reality” for them. We added finishing touches including exceptional faux planting, orchids and bespoke artwork to the overall scheme, all of which enhance the inviting feel we wanted to achieve. The client was thoroughly delighted with the finished product, as were we. The space is functional and timeless and yet is a break with the ‘norm’ when it comes to commercial office environments. Staff and clients alike enjoy the light-filled building, improved layout and beautiful design-led furnishings. (janeybutler.co.uk; llamadevelopments.co.uk)

142

Make yourself at home Breathe fresh air into a room with chalked woods and wholesome textures. The Suffolk 4ft dresser hand-painted in Shell: £2,365, Wardley table: from £950, Montague Lloyd Loom dining chairs hand-painted in Snow: £250, Corinium serving platter: from £18, Charlton vase: from £70, and Lamorran serving bowls: set of three £55

Create your own deigns at neptune.com Neptune Wilmslow, SK9 1BJ, 01625 535255, info@neptunewilmslow.com

jackson-stops.co.uk

Wilmslow An exquisite modern family house with fabulous views sitting in 2 acres.

• 2 reception rooms • study • playroom/snug • 4 bedrooms (2 en suite) • bathroom • outbuilding with gym, conservatory & garaging • paddock • stabling • approximately 2 acres • EPC – E Guide Price: £1,350,000

Swettenham An impressive detached barn conversion sitting in a quiet idyllic position on the outskirts of Swettenham.

• dining hall • 4 reception rooms • breakfast room • 5 bedrooms (2 en suite) • bathroom • garaging • paddock • in all just under 7 acres • EPC - D Guide Price: £1,295,000

People Property Places

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk

Offices in London and across the country

Alderley Edge A magnificent original Alderley villa with a stunning bespoke interior nestled in wonderful mature south-facing gardens

• 3 reception rooms • study • kitchen • breakfast room • cinema room with second kitchen • 5 bedrooms • 4 bath/shower rooms • garaging • just over half an acre • EPC – E Guide Price: £2,500,000

People Property Places

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk

Offices in London and across the country

jackson-stops.co.uk

Mottram St Andrew A captivating Grade II Listed cottage with a stunning interior nestled within the grounds of Mottram Hall.

• 2 reception rooms • study • 3 bedrooms (1 en suite) • bathroom • garaging • stables • gardens Guide Price: £799,500

Combs A delightful stone farm house with breathtaking views over the Peak District.

• 2 reception rooms • study • breakfast room • 4 bedrooms (1 en suite) • bathroom • garaging • just under half an acre • A further 5.25 acres is available by separate negotiation • EPC - E Guide Price: £745,000

People Property Places

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk

Offices in London and across the country

Mottram St Andrew A contemporary, cutting edge, bespoke 5 bedroom house with a breathtaking interior, nestled in over 5 acres

• 3 reception rooms • study • media room • 5 bedrooms (3 en suite) • family bathroom • wine cellar • leisure suite with indoor/outdoor pool, steam room, Jacuzzi, gym, wet room • studio with kitchen & en suite • garaging • in all about 5.31 acres • EPC – C Guide Price: £2,395,000

People Property Places

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk

Offices in London and across the country

jackson-stops.co.uk

Broadbottom

A breathtakingly beautiful wisteria-adorned south facing house set down a private no-through lane.

• 3 reception rooms • 4 bedrooms (1 en suite) • bathroom • garden/media room • garage • gardens • EPC - F Guide Price: £550,000

Marton

Brereton

An attractive and spacious family house with extensive gardens within Marton village. A delightful period cottage with lovely south east facing gardens.

• 2 reception rooms • conservatory • 4 bedrooms • bathroom • garaging • gardens • approx 3.33 acres available separately • EPC - F

• 3 reception rooms • 4 bedrooms (1 en suite) • bathroom • study/bed 5 • garaging • gardens • EPC – D

Guide Price: £495,000

People Property Places

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk

Offices in London and across the country

Mobberley A truly stunning Grade II* Listed Queen Anne Manor House with picturesque gardens.

• 4 reception rooms • study • breakfast room • garden room • 6 bedrooms (all en suite) • garaging • small lake • in all over 1 acre Guide Price: £2,295,000

People Property Places

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk

Offices in London and across the country

jackson-stops.co.uk

Ashley A delightful farm house just minutes from Hale set in approximately 1.5 acres.

• 3 reception rooms • study • 5 bedrooms (2 en suite) • bathroom • 1 bedroom annexe • 2 bedroom semi-detached barn • garaging • stables • manege • pond • approximately 1.5 acres • EPC – E Guide Price: £1,650,000

Hale Barns A fabulous detached house with exciting planning permission. Proposed: • 3 reception rooms • snug • study • 5 bedrooms (4 en suite) • bathroom • garaging • gardens • EPC – F

Guide Price: £1,285,000

People Property Places

Hale Barns A delightful cottage close to open countryside.

• 2 reception rooms • 3 bedrooms (1 en suite) • shower room • parking • gardens • EPC – E Guide Price: £495,000

Hale 0161 928 8881 hale@jackson-stops.co.uk

Offices in London and across the country

Hale An individual detached family house on one of Hales most sought-after roadways.

• 3 reception rooms • 5 bedrooms (3 en suite) • additional bedroom suite with lounge area • garaging • gardens • EPC – C Guide Price: £2,500,000

Bowdon A superbly presented family house offering excellent accommodation with an array of technology

• 2 reception rooms • study • cinema • 6 bedrooms (4 en suite) • bathroom • garaging • just over 1/3 of an acre • EPC – C Guide Price: £2,500,000

People Property Places

Hale 0161 928 8881 hale@jackson-stops.co.uk

Offices in London and across the country

Picture your perfect HOME...

We specialise in bespoke house building and the renovation, extension and refurbishment of town and country period homes.

Please call us to discuss your project in complete confidence 2015 Award Winners

01704 841 831 www.tricklebank.com

Homes and Interiors

RECREATE THE LOOK

The minimalist

makeover We ask the experts at Safestore self-storage for their top tips to help keep your home clutter-free in 2016

153

RECREATE THE LOOK

hen spring arrives, getting more organised at home is inevitably high on most of our to-do lists. We’d all love to come home to a sleek, spacious living area that looks fresh and practical, but minimalist living is always easier said than done and, if left unmanaged, everyday clutter can quickly take up valuable space. Nevertheless, however large your home may be, there’s always room for a little extra storage, so why let clutter rule your world? Underneath that messy room is a minimalist modern interior just waiting to get out, and all it takes to turn a no-go zone into a show home are a few clever ideas and a few hours of hard work.

Or add a clever cut-out in your worktop, so you can effortlessly sweep peelings and discards straight into the bin below.

#2 Clean up your bathroom cabinets In a perfect world, your bathroom should be a haven of peace and calm, with a place for everything. And just like in the kitchen, the key to creating a modern minimal look in here is to reduce the number of items on display. You can do this by beefing up your bathroom storage, removing the things you don’t need,

#1 Cook up some extra kitchen storage If there’s one room in the house that needs smart storage, it’s the kitchen. From pots and pans, to crockery, cutlery and food, your kitchen is home to hundreds of different items, so it pays to be organised. If you’re on a budget, old desk-tidies and even jars are a great way to keep odds and ends in one place. And with a little TLC, an old slatted wardrobe door can become an eye-catching way to hang cooking utensils. Why not drape a shoe organiser inside a tall cupboard door too and stop cleaning products from hogging the space under your sink? If you have the luxury of redesigning your layout, consider custom cabinets that slide out over your worktop to store pasta, rice and flour. Or hidden storage that makes use of ‘forgotten’ spaces – like the kick-panels under your cabinets. Add some fold-away stools under a worktop and create a pop-out breakfast bar.

154

and by being smarter with wall and floor spaces. Hanging wicker baskets from your towel rails is an easy way to store towels and toiletries, and if you don’t want toothbrushes on display, just add a few notches inside your bathroom cabinet. You can also add a shelf above your door frame and keep delicate items out of reach, or add a strip of magnet tape inside the bathroom cabinet to hold everything from hairpins to clippers and tweezers.

#3 Tie up the loose ends From laptops and iPads, to mobile phone chargers and broadband hubs, our living spaces are crammed with gadgets and technology – and that means mountains of cables. Wires not only look messy, but can quickly become tangled, so tame the electrics under the TV with a few cable ties. A simple wire basket attached under your worktops or desks is also a neat way

Homes and Interiors

155

Homes and Interiors

RECREATE THE LOOK

156

to keep adaptors and sockets off the floor and keep your rooms cable free.

normally end up in landfill, you’ll be saving the planet too.

#4 Get creative with clutter

#5 Send big stuff packing

While you can buy ready-made boxes and containers to keep odds and ends out of sight, there’s nothing to stop you getting creative when it comes to storage. Box off the narrow area behind your doorframes with a tall piece of wood or an old draining rack to create space for wrapping paper, ironing boards and vacuum attachments. Once you start thinking, there’s no end to the ways you can create your own storage, and by using stuff that would

If you’ve de-cluttered and re-organised every room and you’re still not living in a minimalist paradise, have a think about sending the things you don’t use to a storage company. A self-storage unit is ideal for clearing out rooms or storing larger items like furniture that take up valuable space, and once that sideboard is out of the picture, you might find that you didn’t need it after all. (safestore.co.uk)

STANHOPE: RIBA WINNER / MSA WINNER / MEN WINNER / ROSES SILVER

CARRWOOD: WINNER BEST LUXURY NEW HOME - NORTHERN DESIGN AWARDS

NORTH ROAD MSA DESIGN AWARDS WINNER - ONE-OFF HOUSING (UNBUILT) 2015 NORTHERN DESIGN AWARDS WINNER - ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN CONCEPT 2015

L I V E B E A U T I F U L LY WE DON’T DESIGN AND BUILD HOUSES / WE CREATE AWARD WINNING HOMES ABODA Living specialises in luxury residential property creating properties of true architectural distinction. Building both speculatively and by client appointment, always using the finest materials to offer beautifully crafted and practical living spaces you’ll be proud to call home. With no two houses ever the same, our aim is to provide a genuinely unique home for each client.

From initial brief to completion ABODA Living approach every aspect with expert professionalism. The multi-disciplined service incorporates plot identification, design, planning, property development, construction and project management, all orchestrated with ABODA Living’s smooth efficiency and attention to detail.

TO DISCUSS CURRENT PROPERTIES, OR BESPOKE REQUIREMENTS CONTACT: RIBA AWARDS / WINNER MSA DESIGN AWARDS / WINNER NORTHERN DESIGN AWARDS / WINNER

Aboda Brand A4.indd 1

MEN PROPERTY AWARDS / WINNER ROSES DESIGN AWARDS / SILVER

m INFO@ABODALIVING.CO.UK O 0161 929 8186 W WWW.ABODALIVING.CO.UK

24/11/2015 10:49

gardens

The gardener’s guide to 2016 With events right across the UK, why not improve your gardening skills this year with an excursion to one of 2016’s many horticultural extravaganzas? Our pick of the crop will soon have your diary in full bloom

hen it comes to gardening, we could all do with a little inspiration now and again – whether it be from the ultimate authority, the Royal Horticultural Society, who’ve been guiding green fingers since 1804, or from one of a whole host of regional fairs, shows and farmers’ markets. With fabulous atmospheres, colourful displays and lots of helpful tips, they’re the perfect day out for families, novices and experts alike.

MARCH March 11-13 Edible Garden Show and Good Life Live, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire This wonderful event is dedicated to grow-yourown inspiration, perfect if you’re considering starting your own vegetable or herb garden and need a bit of expert guidance. (0871 230 3451; theediblegardenshow.co.uk) March 20 Plant Hunter’s Fair, Dearnford Lake, Shropshire The plant hunter’s year begins at the organisations first fair of 2016; a wonderful day out full of inspiring ideas and reduced-rate plants for sale, meaning you can easily stock up for the year ahead. (01270 811443; planthuntersfairs.co.uk)

158

a bird in deborah nagan’s garden at the chelsea fringe

March 19-20 Falmouth Spring Flower Show, Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall The 106th occurrence of this iconic event gives visitors a chance to enjoy armies of daffodils, beautiful spring blooms, rare and exotic flora and local trade stands. (01326 313553; falmouth.co.uk) March 20 Rare Plant Fair, The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset The first Rare Plant Fair of the year takes place at one of the country’s most spectacular gardens – a place full of secrets, stories, stunning scenery and 14 acres of incredible grounds, including the well-pools from which the city takes its name. (0845 468 1368; rareplantfair.co.uk)

Homes and Interiors

March 30-April 6 The Children’s Potting Shed, National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire The Arboretum is an enormous collection of (mainly military) memorial gardens which hosts activities throughout the year – in this case, a week of children’s activities including plant pot decorating and planting poppy seeds to take home. (01283 245100; thenma.org.uk)

APRIL April 2-3 Spring Flower Show, Boconnoc House, Cornwall Part of the Cornwall Garden Society’s yearly programme of events, this famous early showcase for Cornish talent, gardens and home-grown produce is the perfect way to spend a sunny spring day. (07734 366504; cornwallgardensociety.org.uk) April 15–17 RHS Flower Show, Cardiff One of the Royal Horticultural Society’s legendary flower show extravaganzas, the Cardiff contingent’s rainbow of plant displays completely takes over Bute Park, complimented by the dramatic backdrop of Cardiff Castle. (0844 338 7502; rhs.org.uk)

enthusiasts and families alike, including a great line-up of live music, local food and top-quality gardens. (tobygardenfest.co.uk)

M AY May 5-8 RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Worcestershire Another RHS spectacular, this festival features stunningly intricate show gardens, Floral Marquee food demonstrations, advice, talks and even children’s activities. (0844 338 7502; rhs.org.uk)

the vogue show garden at the rhs flower show tatton park

tim bushe’s elephant topiary at the chelsea fringe

April 29-30 Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival, Powderham Castle, Devon Hosted by the popular television gardening expert Toby Buckland, this brilliant festival is for plant

159

Homes and Interiors

gardens

taking place at Wiltshire’s beautiful Bowood House and including all the usual specialist nurseries, live music, local food and expert speakers. (tobygardenfest.co.uk) June 24-26 Grow London, The Contemporary Garden Fair, London Bringing together the worlds of horticulture and contemporary design, the fair is full of ideas on how to transform your outside space and, this year, also includes a curated selection of contemporary designers and craft makers. (020 8246 4846; growlondon.com)

J U LY

a colourful flower bed at the rhs chelsea flower show

May 21-June 12 The Chelsea Fringe, London A flower festival with a difference, this alternative event celebrates community growing through outdoor performance, botanical art, walks, talks and events. (chelseafringe.com) May 24-28 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London Internationally regarded as the pinnacle of horticultural excellence (and quite rightly so), its innovative show gardens by the world’s leading designers and the finest displays of plants are well worth a visit if you’ve never been (0844 338 7502; rhs.org.uk)

July 20-24 RHS Flower Show Tatton Park Set in the gorgeous grounds of Tatton Park, this annual spectacular is a perfect family day out featuring show gardens, the Floral Marquee, talks, demonstrations, advice, tradestands and exhibitors, all wrapped up in a vibrant carnival atmosphere. (0800 358 0058; rhs.org.uk)

AUGUST August 18-21 Southport Flower Show, Victoria Park Kicking off with a gala evening, this local extravaganza includes amateur growers, chef demos, competitions, a food festival, show gardens and celebrity guests – not to mention Ladies’ Day on 21 August. (01704 547 147; southportflowershow.co.uk)

JUNE June 5-6 Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival, Bowood House, Wiltshire Another of Toby Buckland’s festivals, this time

a cake stall at the chelsea fringe

160

RESIN BOUND DRIVEWAYS

Botanica Resin Bound.... At BRB we pride ourselves on the design and installation of beautiful resin bound driveways. This product has all the aesthetical beauty of a quintessential English gravel driveway, combined with the lowest maintenance of all the other surface choices. It is tough, durable and completely permeable. A Botanica Resin Bound Drive will enhance the look of any property and continue doing so for many years to come. The product comes with a 18 year guarantee that covers cracking, oil stains, loose stones and UV discolouration. Resin bound gravel can be laid directly over suitable tarmac drives or installed from scratch.

GARDEn DEsIGn BOUND DRIVEWAYS BotanicaRESIN Garden Design is an award winning cheshire-based garden design and landscaping company, with over 20 years experience in creating exquisite and classical Resin contemporary Botanica Bound....gardens At BRB in we cheshire and the pride ourselves surrounding on the design and counties. ourofin-house designer installation beautiful garden resin bound will work with you every step of the driveways. This product has all the way, from the concept stage through aesthetical beauty of a quintessential toEnglish the completion of thecombined garden with gravel driveway, the lowest maintenance of allfinest the other build. we strive to offer the of surfacewith choices. It is tough, durable services outstanding quality andand completely permeable. Botanica Resin attention to detail. In theA past 20 years Bound Drive will enhance the look of Botanica has built a reputation as one any property and continue doing so of cheshireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest garden design and for many years to come. The product build companies. comes with a 18 year guarantee that covers cracking, oil stains, loose stones and UV discolouration. Resin bound gravel can be laid directly over suitable tarmac drives or installed from scratch. BoTAnIcA GARDEn DEsIGn Cable Road, Hoylake, Wirral. CH47 2AY 0151 632 0909 07779 024 853 info@botanicagardendesign.com www.botanicagardendesign.com

Approved Installer of the year 2015

Winner Botanica Resin Bound Driveways

BoTAnIcA REsIn BoUnD DRIVEwAys Cable Road, Hoylake, Wirral. CH47 2AY 0151 632 0909 07779 024 853 info@botanicaresinbound.co.uk www.botanicaresinbound.co.uk

New showroom opening soon in Bollington Cheshire

t: 01704 544 222 e: info@portraitpools.com w: portraitpools.com

HOT PROPERTY our SHORTLIST OF top properties on the market in and AROUND cheshire

Noah’s Ark Great Budworth

Noah’s Ark is a house you just can’t help falling for! This old English, Grade II Listed gem is believed to date from the 17th Century, constructed of timber-framed elevations, with a slate roof and pretty window boxes set into the original style windows. The house is crammed full of charming original features, giving each and every room a delightful character of its own. The rooms are beautifully decorated, light and spacious, with features at every turn, such as exposed beams, solid oak latch doors, exposed brickwork/ sandstone and attractive fireplaces. The more modern fittings only serve to mirror the quality of the period features, with a magnificent granitetopped kitchen with top class fittings and second-to-none bathroom. To the side is a beautiful walled courtyard garden, providing the perfect al fresco

164

area with covered seating. Accommodation includes an entrance hall, two reception rooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, a utility and pantry, three bedrooms, a family bathroom, a stunning walled courtyard garden and a timber storage shed. Great Budworth, often referred to as the most picturesque village in Cheshire, is well known for its attractive high street, made up of stunning period houses. The village is thriving, with a good hotel/pub ‘The George & Dragon’, a post office, well respected primary school, church, ice-cream farm and sailing club. The M6 (J19) and M56 (J10) provide access to the national motorway network, whilst the A556 trunk road provides access to Chester and Manchester. The nearby town of Knutsford provides excellent shops, facilities and eateries. On the market at a guide price of £350,000 through Jackson-Stops and Staff, 8 Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AA (01625 540340; jackson-stops.co.uk)

Homes and Interiors

The Quinta Swettenham

The Quinta is an exemplary historic Victorian country house, the former rectory for the church of the quintessentially English village of Swettenham, nestled in approximately three acres of superb gardens and offering 6 bedrooms plus a two bedroom annexe. The house itself exhibits all of the stunning period features expected of a Victorian country house, with its impressive three storey elevations, punctured by large picture windows with stone dressings, all surmounted by a slate roof. This impressive exterior is only amplified internally, having high ceilings, ceiling roses and cornicing, with each room being very light and generous in proportion. The current owner has

meticulously restored and extended the house with a sympathetic and exacting eye, a no expense spared mantra being evident throughout. The original cast iron fireplaces, Minton tiled floor, high skirtings and mahogany carved staircase are inventively fused with the latest 21st century fittings, 24/7 live video surveillance and security system, bespoke handcrafted kitchens and bathrooms, with an equally welldesigned hand crafted Victorianstyle orangery to the rear. The former rectory is part of our heritage as it was owned by the world-renowned physicist and radio astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell, OBE, who lived in the house from

1948 until his death in 2012. He established the nearby Jodrell Bank Observatory and also created the Lovell Quinta Arboretum. The house has large expanses of level lawns, with mature trees giving the gardens a real feeling of grandeur. There is a large stone terrace, accessed off the orangery and drawing/dining rooms, with a stone and cobbled courtyard to the rear. The gardens back onto the Lovell Quinta Arboretum and rolling countryside, and planning permission for an outdoor pool has been approved. Price on application. On the market through Jackson-Stops and Staff, 8 Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AA (01625 540340; jackson-stops.co.uk)

165

PROPERTY PICK

Samujana

state of mind We discover Samujana Island, a beautiful development in Koh Samui, Thailand, that’s been billed as ‘a passport out of the ordinary into the awesome’

ocated in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui is the third largest island in Thailand and only a 45-minute flight from Bangkok and Phuket Island, making it just accessible enough to get your brood there easily, while still managing to feel a million miles from anywhere. Poised on an intimate hillside overlooking a coral cove with private beach access, Samujana is located on the north-eastern

166

coast of the island, mere minutes from the airport and the beaches of Choeng Mon and Chaweng. Designed and created by the multiple award-winning Gary Fell and considered Koh Samui’s most exclusive villa estate, the development seamlessly blends contemporary luxury with modern Thai architecture. Fell began with the idea of preserving the incredible site, building the villas around the nature he encountered, meaning that several of the villas

Homes and Interiors

167

Homes and Interiors

PROPERTY PICK

have mature trees and rock formations incorporated either into the living areas, gardens or pools, while the whole development has an air of cool, calm exoticism guaranteed to lull even the most tense of us into a state of relaxation. Villas have between three and six bedrooms, and each one is uniquely sculpted and individually furnished, with open concept outdoor/indoor living spaces â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the idea being that the commingling of the inside and out encourages residents to embrace the tropical way of life. Each villa has an infinity-edge swimming pool with perfect sea and hillside views, and many also boast courtyards with water features and specially constructed ventilation and landscaping to provide plenty of shade and privacy. Residents have access to a tennis court, gym equipped with the latest fitness equipment, yoga pavilions and a full size Thai boxing gym, while thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also an 18-hole golf course moments away from the development. The

168

Gulf of Thailand is also world-renowned for its underwater activities, widely considered to offer one of the best diving experiences in existence, and one which often includes sightings of the amazing whale shark. Available through Prime New Developments, prices begin at $1,350,000 USD for a three bedroom villa up to $5,000,000 USD for a six bedroom villa (+44 (0) 20 3327 2750; primenewdevelopments.com; samujana.com)

DAVID GRAHAM D E V E L O P M E N T S

WITHOUT COMPROMISE David Graham Developments has built an exceptional reputation over the last 26 years. His dedicated team have renovated, redesigned and constructed some of the finest inspirational homes across Cheshire and the North West region. New Build

Glass Architecture

Renovation

Bespoke Cabinetry

Discover the bigger picture W W W . DAV I DG R A H A M D E V E L O P M E N T S . CO. U K +44 (0)1244 470 501

Home Automation

overseas property

we’ve picked OUR FAVOURITE properties from AROUND THE WORLD for your viewing pleasure

ITALY

Eco-friendly Villa, Pisa Nestled in the exquisite hills of central Tuscany, this ten bedroom property includes six hectares of olive grove and fruit orchards along with a breath-taking infinity pool with mother-of-pearl mosaics. The pool stands on the edge of a hill with stunning views. Key renovation features of the property include: “Zero footprint” concept: an all-electric setup has been implemented so as to discard the use of fossil energy. In order to

170

minimize running cost and to balance energy consumption, a solar power plant producing more than 30 megawatts per annum has been built on-site. This, combined with advanced green technologies, has allowed this property to be awarded the much sought after energy performance certificate “A+”. Available at a guide price of €3,600,000 (£2,715,440) through Italy Sotheby’s International Realty (+39 055 0751888; sothebysrealty.com)

Homes and Interiors

SWITZERLAND

Chesa Cherina

Spanning over two acres of land, Chesa Cherina is set on St. Moritz’s Suvretta slope. The estate’s five-level chalet and detached guest house offer ten bedrooms and ten bathrooms and boast incredible views of the surrounding Swiss Alps. The home also offers an array of luxurious amenities, including a gourmet kitchen, supreme wine cellar, elevator, garages for seven cars as well as an outstanding wellness area located on the lower level, complete with a large swimming pool, Hammam, fitness centre and a massage room. Price on application, on the market with Christie’s International Real Estate (+41 (0) 91 751 3106; christiesrealestate.com)

2 171

Homes and Interiors

overseas property

PORTUGAL

Stylish Villa, Quinta do Lago One of the more modern properties available on the Quinta do Lago resort, this villa is minutes away from fabulous golf courses and sandy beaches. Located in a peaceful location, it boasts a modern contemporary design with picturesque views and landscaped gardens. Five bedrooms provide generous accommodation while reception areas encourage family living. The ample terraces, featuring an outdoor barbeque area, provide a wonderful setting for al fresco dining. There is also a large outdoor swimming pool and volleyball court. Available at a guide price of £2,500,000 through Quinta do Lago Real Estate (+351 910014622; quintadolago.com)

ITALY

Casa Colonica Sulle Colline Lucchesi, Lucca

Nestled amongst the hills of Lucca, this 8 bedroom property is a hidden treasure. Surrounded by approximately 11 hectares of land filled with olive trees and woodland, this is a magical outdoor space. Incredibly, a mill originating from the 18th century has remained intact, and is located near the onsite wineries. The property is a short distance from the medieval town of Lucca, where visitors can bike around the ancient walls as a romantic afternoon activity. On the market at a guide price of €1,200,000 (£905,069) with Italy Sotheby’s International Realty (+39 055 0751888; milan-sothebysrealty.com)

All Prices And Exchange Rates Correct At Time Of Print

172

ANDORRA

Xalet Can Orobitg

Located in the quiet exclusive residential area of Sacalma in Escaldes-Engordany, this stunning villa enjoys beautiful views across mountains and valleys. Those who are retired can benefit from Andorra’s residency plan – where one only needs to invest €370,000 into immovable property in Andorra to gain passive residency. The villa is spread across five floors and features a lift for those who may have trouble with stairs. Five bedrooms provide flexible accommodation while high ceilings and large windows create open spaces which lead on to terraces designed to appreciate the natural surroundings. On the market at a guide price of €3,500,000 (£2,640,011) with Andorra Sotheby’s International Realty (+ 376 872 222; andorra-sothebysrealty.com)

Cheshire magazine ad (49616)_Layout 1 01/02/2016 14:33 Page 1

Luxury living in the finest locations

Chatsworth Park

Cheerbrook Gardens

Off Rope Lane, Shavington CW2 5DA

Off Cheerbrook Road, Willaston, Nantwich CW5 7EN

Chatsworth Park is located in the sought after village of Shavington, near Crewe. This superb new scheme offers a collection of stunning 3, 4 and 5 bedroom family homes, all built to a high specification.

Cheerbrook Gardens is a charming residential development offering a range of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom family homes situated in a prime location in Willaston, just three miles from Crewe and two miles from the market town of Nantwich.

With the railway town of Crewe just two and a half miles away, residents of Chatsworth Park will benefit from the twice weekly indoor and outdoor markets, a variety of local shops, bars and restaurants and two shopping centres with all the leading national retailers being represented.

The village of Willaston boasts a vibrant local community and provides all the local amenities you would require. The development is ideally situated for commuters travelling to Wales or around the North West, with easy access to the M6 and beyond.

Prices from £181,950

Prices from £179,950

For further information contact the Sales & Marketing Suite open Thursday to Monday inclusive 10am – 5pm Telephone 01270 567277

For further information contact the Sales & Marketing Suite at our Four Oaks development at Oakmere CW8 2HB open Thursday to Monday inclusive 10am - 5pm

• Buy with as little as 5% Deposit using the Government backed Help to Buy* scheme. • Part Exchange* and other schemes available.

Backed by HM Government

Part Exchange

“Pride in the Job Award” Winner

Telephone 07747 840622 Tuesday and Wednesday please contact Head Office on 01925 885400

CALL IN AND VIEW OUR STUNNING SHOWHOMES *On selected plots only. Subject to status and Help to Buy qualification, terms and conditions apply. Ask Sales Executive for full details. Prices correct at time of going to press. Photographs for illustrative purposes only.

www.wainhomes.net

Cheshire and Manchesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leading Independent Estate Agents Visit our new web site www.jordanfishwick.co.uk

Stamford Road, Bowdon Guide Price ÂŁ1,495,000 Wilmslow and Alderley Edge Office 36/38 Alderley Road, SK91JX Sales: 01625 532000 Lettings: 01625 536300 E: wilmslow@jordanfishwick.co.uk

A beautifully presented Victorian 7 bedroom Semi-Detached family home set in the heart of the Bowdon Conservation Area and built in 1874. Positioned on probably one of the most desirable roads in Bowdon the house is set well back from the road and is a most attractive period property constructed with a distinctive brick facade. Offering remarkable family living space extending to approximately 3900 sq ft, arranged over Four Floors including Cellars.The property has a wealth of original features retained that includes sash windows, high corniced ceilings, internal panelled doors and some delightful fireplaces, yet has been updated and improved to a high specification Hale Office 172 Ashley Road, WA15 9SF Sales: 0161 929 9797 Lettings: 0161 929 9898 E: hale@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Didsbury Office 757-759 Wilmslow Road, M20 6RN Sales: 0161 445 4480 Lettings: 0161 434 5290 E: didsbury@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Macclesfield & Prestbury Office 84-86 Waters Green, SK11 6LH Sales: 01625 434000 Lettings: 01625 502222 E: macclesfield@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Sale Office 95-97 School Road M33 7XA Sales: 0161 962 2828 Lettings: 0161 976 5080 E: sales@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Park Drive, HALE Guide Price ÂŁ2,950,000 Glossop Office 44 High Street West, SK13 8BH Sales: 01457 858888 Lettings: 01457 858888 E: glossop@jordanfishwick.co.uk

A wonderful example of a handsome detached Edwardian residence with a wealth of original features retained, yet modernised to an exceptional standard, nestling in beautiful mature private grounds of approximately three quarters of an acre. The accommodation is immaculately presented and has been enhanced by the addition of a self contained suite and delightful orangery. The kitchen has been hand crafted and custom built by Mowlem and forms the hub of this stunning family home. The grounds are extremely private and the long shingled driveway leads to the double garage.

Chorlton Office 410-412 Barlow Moor Road, M21 8AD Sales: 0161 860 4444 Lettings: 0161 860 4444 E: chorlton@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Manchester City Centre Office 217 Deansgate M3 3NW Sales: 0161 833 9499 Lettings: 0161 833 9499 E: manchester@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Salford & Media City Office City Point Unit 2, 156 Chapel Street M3 6BF Sales: 0161 833 9499 opt 3 Lettings: 0161 833 9499 opt 2 E: salford@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Northern Quarter Office 45 Tib Street M4 1LT Sales: 0161 833 9494 Lettings: 0161 833 9494 E: nor thernquar ter@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Cheshire and Manchesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leading Independent Estate Agents Visit our new web site www.jordanfishwick.co.uk

Hill Top, Hale Guide Price ÂŁ2,650,000 Wilmslow and Alderley Edge Office 36/38 Alderley Road, SK91JX Sales: 01625 532000 Lettings: 01625 536300 E: wilmslow@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Mulberry House is a spacious detached family residence, constructed for our vendors own occupation in the late 1980s, offering expansive accommodation arranged over three floors and extending to approximately 8,000 sqft! Boasting six bedrooms and four bathrooms the accommodation throughout is spacious and well planned on what can only be described as one of Hale Villages Premier roads. Externally there are mature manicured gardens, off road parking for numerous vehicles and an underground triple garage .The property has been consistently updated since its construction just over twenty years ago

Hale Office 172 Ashley Road, WA15 9SF Sales: 0161 929 9797 Lettings: 0161 929 9898 E: hale@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Didsbury Office 757-759 Wilmslow Road, M20 6RN Sales: 0161 445 4480 Lettings: 0161 434 5290 E: didsbury@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Macclesfield & Prestbury Office 84-86 Waters Green, SK11 6LH Sales: 01625 434000 Lettings: 01625 502222 E: macclesfield@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Sale Office 95-97 School Road M33 7XA Sales: 0161 962 2828 Lettings: 0161 976 5080 E: sales@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Chesham Road, Wilmslow Price ÂŁ925,000 Glossop Office 44 High Street West, SK13 8BH Sales: 01457 858888 Lettings: 01457 858888 E: glossop@jordanfishwick.co.uk

This spectacular five bedroom, three bathroom detached family home is beautifully presented throughout and has been lovingly modernised by the current vendor to create stunning accommodation.The property is situated within an extremely desirable South Wilmslow location and boasts fabulous open aspect views over fields to the rear.To the front there is a driveway providing off road parking and leading to the single garage.To the rear there are well tended gardens which are clearly cared for and reversing onto open aspect field.This striking home MUST be viewed internally to fully appreciate whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on offer!.

Chorlton Office 410-412 Barlow Moor Road, M21 8AD Sales: 0161 860 4444 Lettings: 0161 860 4444 E: chorlton@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Manchester City Centre Office 217 Deansgate M3 3NW Sales: 0161 833 9499 Lettings: 0161 833 9499 E: manchester@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Salford & Media City Office City Point Unit 2, 156 Chapel Street M3 6BF Sales: 0161 833 9499 opt 3 Lettings: 0161 833 9499 opt 2 E: salford@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Northern Quarter Office 45 Tib Street M4 1LT Sales: 0161 833 9494 Lettings: 0161 833 9494 E: nor thernquar ter@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Homes and Interiors

BEAUTIFUL THINGS

STRENGTH OF CHARACTER Loved for its humble beginnings, resilient nature and tactile finish, concrete interiors are set to be a leading design trend for 2016. First seen in Neptune’s SS15 collection, the Hudson outdoor dining table was an instant sellout, and this season it’s back, now in four brand new guises: coffee, console, side and a new dining table shape. Each of Neptune’s hand-made Hudson designs is a work of solid teak and stone, with innovative composite stone blended with concrete, fibreglass and plant kernels to create a material with all the qualities of concrete without the impractical weight. Hardwearing enough for outdoor living, but stylish enough for indoors, these tables are guaranteed style statements wherever they’re placed. Unit 6 Millbank House, Bollin Walk, Wilmslow, SK9 1BJ (neptune.com)

178

The Old Stables, Capesthor ne Hall, Nr Alder ley Edge , Cheshire . SK11 9JY By Appointment

W: j a n e y b u t l e r . c o . u k E: hello@janeybutler.co.uk T:

01625 861935

Janey Butler Interiors I n t e r n at i o n a l A w a r d W i n n i n g D e s i g n e r