Cheshire Magazine issue 3 by Runwild Media Group

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Regulars | The cheshire Magazine

From the

Editor I

t seems a very long time since I last wrote my Editor’s letter, and a lot has happened since. Christmas of course has been and gone, and hopefully all that horribly tedious de-toxing has too, now we’re into February. I make no attempt to de-tox, my will is weak and my desire for shortbread too strong. I did try to give up the drink though. I say try, and I mean fail. Ah well, better luck next year! While Christmas was rather mad, January has proven gently quiet. I’ve had a wonderful time getting out and about and meeting some of Cheshire’s most interesting people. Take Oli Webb for example. For a very young man he has a very wise head, apart from his insane desire to spend his days hurtling around racing tracks at eye-watering speeds, that is. He’s one of those individuals who has had a single ambition from a very young age, and has made it happen. At the complete other end of the scale, interior designer Rachel Bates had no intention of following the path she’s now on, and her work doesn’t induce heart-stopping adrenaline levels either. It does induce a deep sigh and a smile however; clients from the Lakes to London can attest to that. From fashion to food to nostalgia to news, this issue of The Cheshire Magazine is sure to keep you turning the pages. I hope you enjoy it.

Kate

Kate Houghton Editor Follow us on Twitter @TheCheshireMag

Collection | The mayfair Magazine

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Contents

March 2014

146 141

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Features

interiors

022 | Life through a lens We meet Amanda Berry OBE, CEO of BAFTA and proud Brit to the core 026 | No more Mr Darcy Colin Firth on moving from heart-throb to heavyweight 030 | National Treasure We indulge in a few Natural Curiosities with Sir David Attenborough himself 034 | Fruit of the Sea Meet Roderick Sloan, the man who brings sea urchins to the world’s finest tables 038 | The mechanics of beauty When is a watch not a watch? When it’s in MB&F’s gallery 044 | The accidental designer Rachel Bates is the darling of interior design 058 | Green Fingers The multi-purpose space you never knew you had 080 | Let’s hear it for the girls Cheshire’s contribution to legendary ladies of the world

042 | Interiors news 049 | Light my fire It’s time to discover the fireplaces of the future

regulars 008 | Editors letter 012 | Contributors 014 | Calendar Don’t let the rain keep you from our pick of this month’s best events 016 | Notebook Just what’s been going on at Cheshire’s most exciting spots so far this year? 018 | Local scene A round up of the region’s most glamorous people at its most stylish events

art 062 | Art news 064 | A well kept secret The world renowned artists calling our local galleries home 067 | Prize lots

collection 068 | Watch news 070 | Keeping it classic The modern man gives his style a timeless twist 072 | Jewellery news Cheshire’s prodigal daughter Chloe Moss and her self-made success 076 | All that glisters Is the gold standard still all it’s cracked up to be?

fashion & beauty 084 | Fashion news Luxury lingerie, exotic scents and the latest reincarnation of the LWS 086 | If the Choo fits We sit down with the man behind the mega-brand 098 | Beauty news 100 | The perfect frame Investigating the world of Semi-Permanent Make-Up

motoring 104 | Off the beaten track The sky’s the limit on a Land Rover expedition

108 | Porsche puts a tiger in the range The new compact SUV from the sports car super-brand 110 | Talent + commitment = success Oli Webb is on the right track and racing towards stardom

travel 120 | Travel news 122 | The art of skiing This Courchevel chalet is redefining piste chic 126 | Weekend away We pay a visit to the lovely Dewsall Court in Hereford 128 | Heaven on the Adriatic Explore Montenegro’s undiscovered riviera 132 | Explore...the Maldives Whatever your heart desires, the Maldives has it in spades

food & drink 134 | Food news Prepare to be hungry 136 | The stage is set Chef Aiden Byrne on cooking with a cool head 138 | Made in Cheshire The home of the humble ice cream van

family 141 | Kids news 144 | The classroom Swell with pride as we round up all the latest triumphs

property 148 | Property directory 162 | State of the market Mark Holden of Savills on spring buyers acting early

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Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

The contributors MARCH 2014 s issue 003 s

Editor Kate Houghton Editorial Director Kate Harrison Art Editor Carol Cordrey Collection Editor Annabel Harrison Assistant Editor Gemma Knight Senior Designer Lisa Wade Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong Production Hugo Wheatley Alex Powell Oscar Viney Client Relationship Director Kate Oxbrow General Manager Fiona Fenwick Communications Director Loren Penney Head of Finance Elton Hopkins Publisher Giles Ellwood Associate Publisher Sophie Roberts Managing Director Eren Ellwood

Proudly published by

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, over 300 businesses, as well as newsagents and retail outlets.

Members of the Professional Publishers Association

ELLE BLAKEMAN Elle is a journalist and editor based in London. She has previously worked at Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire and InStyle and specialises in luxury travel and fashion writing. She has a weakness for brownies and red lipstick.

RICHARD BROWN Richard is deputy editor of Collection, our dedicated watch and fine jewellery section. He specialises in men’s style, culture and finance. This month he brings us the latest from Jaeger-LeCoulture and A. Lange & Söhne.

GEMMA KNIGHT Gemma has a background in luxury freelance journalism and comes to Runwild following a stint working and living in China. She has an endless thirst for new places and specialises in lifestyle, culture and travel writing.

carol cordrey Carol is an art critic and editor. She organises the annual London Ice Sculpting Festival and is permanently on the art scene, bringing us her take on the latest happenings from the constantly evolving world of art.

mark holden Mark is a Director of Savills and Head of Office in Wilmslow covering Cheshire East, High Peak and Lancashire. His 30 year estate agency career has been based mostly in Cheshire, predominantly in the ‘Golden Triangle’.

matthew carter Matthew Carter is a noted freelance journalist who’s been writing about cars for most of his working life. A former editor of Autocar magazine, he is a serial car owner and, this month, talks about the brand new Porsche Macan.

EDITOR’S PICKs

#1 Leather sandals, Proenza Schouler, £395 (harveynichols.com)

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#2 Caspian tree-print dress, Mary Katrantzou, £990 (matchesfashion.com)

#3 Queen quilted leather jacket, Denham, £550 (blackwhitedenim.com)

cover On the

image: RACHEL BATES (PHOTO: Damian Brandon of DSB Creative)

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Wild wood With spring half-term upon us and the days finally getting longer, it’s time to wake from winter hibernation and see what Cheshire has to offer WORDS: GEMMA KNIGHT

Bizarre British popster Jessie J is the first artist to sign up for the Forest Live concert series, a programme designed to bring music to new audiences and benefit woodland around the country with ticket sales. This summer will see her perform in four woodland locations including our very own Delamere Forest, belting out a selection of multi-platinum hits and joined by an unannounced mystery guest. Exciting news, but be quick – tickets for this sought-after show don’t grow on trees! Delamere Forest, Cheshire (forestry.gov.uk/music)

15 – 23 February

All the fun of the farm

The

calendar

If you’re still trying to figure out what to do with the kids during the school holidays this month, we’d highly recommend paying a visit to Tatton Park’s Scarecrow Festival – a day out which promises to be as entertaining as it is unusual. For one week only more than thirty scarecrows will take up residence in the gardens and farm of this beautiful estate, with children able to play at hunting for the farmyard figures and even have a go at making one of their own. Tatton Park, Knutsford WA16 6QN (tattonpark.org.uk)

2 March

Market art

This month’s Knutsford Artisan Market guarantees its usual diverse assortment of goodies, offering everything from locally produced fine food and drink, to arts, crafts and live music, spread over more than a hundred dedicated stalls in the most picturesque of settings. Held from 11–4 on the first Sunday of each month, this communitybased event is the perfect excuse to get your whole brood together and bask in an afternoon of sights, smells and socialising. Princess Street, Knutsford WA16 6BU image © Mauvries

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

3 – 8 March

Thicker than water Willy Russell’s heart wrenching musical Blood Brothers is set to bring its sad and mesmerising magic to Crewe’s Lyceum Theatre this March. Set in the Liverpool of yesteryear, the production tells the tale of Mickey and Eddie, twins separated at birth then reunited with tragic consequences – and, if you’re in need of a bit of comfort food afterwards (as is very likely), we propose a visit to the theatre’s superb restaurant where the pork belly and lamb burger are certain to put the world to rights. Tickets from £27.50, Lyceum Theatre Heath Street, Crewe CW1 2DA (crewelyceum.co.uk)

this image: belle vue circus (provided with kind permission of Manchester Libraries and Archives); below: Lark Hill Place at Salford Museum and Art Gallery

21 - 30 March

Looking back

left: Image provided with kind permission of Manchester Libraries and Archives); far left: National Fairground Archive, University of Sheffield Library

This March the bi-annual Manchester Histories Festival returns with a more exciting line up of music, film, debates, talks, performances, walking tours and exhibitions than ever before. The 2014 festival, put on by wonderful independent local charity Manchester Histories, aims to uncover the hidden histories of the Greater Manchester area and get locals and visitors alike involved in the city’s heritage – a fantastic excuse for a bit of cultural indulgence and a great day out for one and all. Venues across Manchester (manchesterhistoriesfestival.org.uk)

28 February – 8 March

Ticket to ride

At long, long last, hit Beatles musical Let It Be is coming to Manchester – and certainly not before time. Having already played to an incredible 400,000 people on London’s West End, the show – which chronicles the band’s humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club and meteoric rise, as well as the madness of Beatlemania and later studio work – features more than forty of their best-known songs and kicks off a nationwide tour at Manchester’s Palace Theatre in February. We foresee dancing in the isles, so get your tickets now. The Palace Theatre, 97 Oxford St, Manchester M1 6FT (letitbeontour.com)

John Brosnan in LET IT BE

The notebook No gentle start to the new year here in Cheshire; here’s all the little gems we’ve been busy discovering over the last month words : kate ho u ghto n

Wedding bells After years of being inundated by requests from loved-up couples who have fallen head over heels for its beautiful landscaped gardens and delectable menu, staff at The Bells of Peover are raising a celebratory toast after being granted a civil marriage licence. General Manager André Sievers said: ‘It has long been our goal to gain this licence and establish the pub as one of the UK’s top wedding venues. We have always prided ourselves on the quality of the wedding receptions held here. Now we’re looking forward to sharing the whole of the special day with our wonderful brides and grooms.’ (thebellsofpeover.com)

The empty shop It’s taken a while, but at last those sad empty spaces along our high streets are finally filling up again. So what was Manchester Arndale up to with its Empty Shop pop-up? This quite brilliant idea, an award winning open source funded project, works in complete reverse to every other retail space. Every morning the space starts off completely empty, and throughout the day generous people enter with clothes to donate to homeless charity The Mustard Tree. Over a ten day period in January the charity collected clothes and will distribute them to those in need this winter or sell them on in their own charity shop. Genius. (mustardtree.org.uk)

Party for a King Over 200 guests recently gathered at the Mercure Hotel in Bowdon for the official launch of the first novel from lifelong historian Nigel Green. Helping Nigel celebrate were the Lord Lieutenant of Manchester, Olympic athlete Diane Modahl, Graham Brady MP, BBC presenter Becky Want and Felicity Goodey. The King’s Dogge, inspired by Nigel’s own fascination with Richard III, is a story that sheds new light on this much maligned King, coming as our awareness of the time is greater than ever, with the discovery of the King’s bones in Leicester and the recently televised adaption of Philippa Gregory’s series of novels. Written from the perspective of Richard’s closest advisor, the novel gives us a glimpse into a time when royalty was politics, and one man’s word ruled all. The question remains however… did he murder the Princes in the tower? Maybe. Maybe not. The King’s Dogge £7.99 (troubador.co.uk)

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

You heard it here first… The Sytner Group have long been established in Cheshire, bringing the world’s finest car brands to the area with Rolls-Royce Manchester, Bentley Manchester and McLaren Manchester… and now they’ll be joined by the rather fabulous Maserati. Launching the brand new Ghibli and new model Quattroporte at The Mere this month, we suspect they’ll have more than a few fans keen to add the car with the Trident grin to their collection.

A new chef in town Mere Golf Resort & Spa has appointed a new Executive Head Chef, in the form of Mark Walker. The two AA Rosette rated chef has spent over 15 years in the industry and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his new role, having worked in luxury hotels across the country. The Scotland born chef, who is passionate about provenance and incorporating local produce into his menus, says he is looking forward to the challenge of ensuring that The Mere’s dining experience is the best the region has to offer. As are we. (themereresort.co.uk)

Eat for life? I love a good excuse for a meal out, and this January Living Ventures restaurants handed me one on a plate, by adding £1 to every participating customer’s bill - all of which has been donated to North West Cancer Research. Tim Bacon, Managing Director of Living Ventures Restaurants Ltd said: ‘North West Cancer Research is a great charity that holds a place close to my heart. Given that the charity supports local cancer research projects we were keen to raise money.’ (nwcr.org)

Local scene

As usual, Cheshire hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been without its fair share of glamorous goings-on this month, with new launches, limited editions, and even a few sporting superstars making an appearance

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

ChloBo Men’s launch party Bar Lounge, Chester Well, the re-launch of ChloBo’s Men’s jewellery Collection was never going to be a quiet affair, was it? Accompanied by a whole host of her glamorous pals, Cheshire’s entrepreneurial prodigal daughter Chloe Moss celebrated in style at Chester’s oh-so-chic cocktail bar and restaurant, Bar Lounge, where the champagne flowed and the new collection was at last unveiled. Guests were met with Amaretto Sours and invited to peruse the new range, which included beautiful bangles and stacks in Chloe’s trademark style as well as some new surprises, with each lucky guest receiving their very own ChloBo Men’s Bracelet which doubled as their ticket to the event. The night raised a fabulous sum for charity, and even included goodie bags filled with treats donated by online boutique Young Threads, clothing brand Lucky West, My Bunjee (the company who make that clever little gizmo which makes dropping your phone all but impossible) and Wilmslow’s very own Oliver’s Chocolate Parties. Chloe even gave her personal seal of approval to the night’s proceedings on her blog, saying ‘the DJ was on top form and made sure that everyone was dancing through to the early hours, well it wouldn’t be a party otherwise!’ We just couldn’t agree more. (chlobo.co.uk)

Regulars | The cheshire Magazine

Jacky Tsai T-shirt customisation Harvey Nichols, Manchester Designer Jacky Tsai appeared at Manchester’s Harvey Nichols to customise 88 limited edition t-shirts from Menswear, with a specially created print for this event to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Horse. (harveynichols.com)

Number Cruncherz AJ Bell stadium International rugby stars helped to deliver ‘Number Cruncherz’, MBNA’s new money management classes for children. (mbna.co.uk)

The CH1 Chester BID Company Chester Cathedral More than 250 people gathered at Chester Cathedral last week for a business event where the team behind a drive to create a Business Improvement District (BID) in Chester outlined its vision for the future of the City Centre.

Harvey Nichols, Manchester T-shirt Customisation Area

Harvey Nichols, Manchester Jacky Tsai Live Customisation

Life through a lens

Think BAFTA is all red-carpet glamour and canapĂŠs? Meet CEO and all-round wonderwoman Amanda Berry OBE and think again w o r d s : e l l e b l a k ema n

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

manda Berry OBE is the sort of woman who makes me proud to be British. It’s not just that she’s amazing and British (although she is), but her enthusiasm for the talent produced here is nothing short of regenerative; I leave her office one step away from painting a Union Jack on my house while drinking tea, wearing tweed and pledging allegiance to the Queen. ‘It sounds like a cliché, but as a small island, we so over-deliver in the creative industries!’ says Berry with obvious pride. ‘And not just in film, but television, games, the music industry. It is quite extraordinary what it is in our make-up, our character, that does this.’

‘So many films, if you cut them down the middle, you’d find lots of Brits in there’ ‘It’s extraordinary – the craft talent we have, we have some of the best cinematographers, the best actors… We really do have some great people here. And it isn’t just about films that are made here, but about all of that amazing British talent that’s gone out around the world – be that director Christopher Nolan, or be it some of the wonderful technicians we have – you know we just have such talented individuals. So many films, if you cut them down the middle, you’d find lots of Brits in there.’ ‘I think that we are very good storytellers’, she says. ‘One of the things that is also great about the British film industry is that we can make low-budget films, but we can also be making films like Les Misérables or Rush – often there are films

that people think are not British, but absolutely the people behind them are British, and I think that’s what’s really appealing about our industry.’ It’s a reminder that being British is about so much more than the stereotype. Yes we are ridiculous in many ways (why do we still insist on separate taps for example?), but the melting pot of intellect, wit and self-deprecation, set against a backdrop of terrible weather and a genuine belief in “Sod’s Law”, is clearly a formula for some pretty impressive results. ‘I was in Cyprus recently, and my taxi driver said: “You Brits always talk about the weather!” And I said yes because I’m sure it’s part of our character! And it’s quite funny when you think about national characteristics – we do moan quite a lot here, but we’re really positive at the same time, and I think it’s just because we’re quite down to earth about things.’ Indeed, sitting in Berry’s office, I am surprised by how unassuming it is. She could clearly fill every inch of wall space with photographs of herself with a collection of A-list actors and directors at parties, or even the iconic BAFTA award itself, and yet the walls contain framed press cuttings documenting BAFTA’s incredible output: this is a woman in it for the love not the glamour. This time of year sees Berry and her team at their busiest, with a looming award ceremony for 2,000 of the film industry’s elite held at The Royal Opera House (although the official home is at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly – they just can’t fit 2,000 people in there). It’s hard to imagine now, but when Berry joined the company in 1998, the film and television awards were something of a damp squib. Severely lacking in funding and frankly interest, they took place after the Oscars, at a time when no 

All images compliments of BAFTA. Far Left: BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, BAFTA/Kevin Vucic Shepherd. Left: Amanda Berry, BAFTA/Ian Derry

 one was really thinking about film (as opposed to now, with “Awards Season”) and were only broadcast in the UK. Berry’s decision (in part) to move the awards ceremony from April to February, and to actively chase relevant commercial partnerships (BAFTA now has 25 prestigious partners, from EE to Audi), has been ultimately credited with turning it all around. Was this what she set out to do? ‘It’s really interesting I think because quite often if you think “I want to get to a certain stage…”, and you don’t get there, the sense of failure is huge. So we’ve probably taken quite small steps, which ultimately have become big steps.’ ‘I joined the year the awards separated, and although discussions had been going on for a long time, the real fear at the time was that the film awards wouldn’t survive without the television awards. I came in believing that the film awards were an incredible opportunity for BAFTA, and looking at the timing with members of the film committee, we started talking about where the film awards should be. And the feeling was that they needed to be before the Oscars, basically.’ ‘We spent about two years talking to the film industry here and flying out to the States and talking to the studios there, saying: “This is what we want to do. Talk to us about the issues you think it will create for you, and we’ll talk about the opportunities it presents for you.”’ Another thing that is hard to recall now but at the time was crucial, was the gap between the film releases in America and the UK. ‘That was another one of our biggest issues,’ says Berry. ‘Way back in the early 2000s, most films were released so much later here, so a film that might be released in December to qualify for the Oscars, say,

probably wasn’t opening here until April. Titanic, for example, wasn’t at BAFTA until a full year after it was acknowledged at the Oscars – by then everyone had forgotten about it! So we had to find a way to recognise films that the Oscars and the Golden Globes were recognising so that we were not out of kilter.’ ‘It wasn’t easy – in the early days we were having an award ceremony where people didn’t know the films! But now we’re at the stage where there is still a bit of a lag, but all films will be open by the time of the film awards.’

‘People say to me all the time, “It’s all about who you know” but I don’t agree’ ‘In that move, we made ourselves relevant to the global film industry and it opened up that window of opportunity when the world is really excited about film. The end of the year becomes absolutely packed with films opening. And that’s because of the Awards Season.’ Despite the excitement around what is clearly the jewel in the BAFTA crown, this annual awards ceremony is a mere drop in the ocean. ‘The thing about BAFTA is that we are so busy, and every year we add to it! It’s the nature of people that work here – we’re always pushing forward. ‘We have close to 7,000 members and produce around 250 events and nine awards ceremonies annually,’ says Berry. The iconic member’s club at 195 Piccadilly is host to innumerable industry and client events – it’s central location and heritage is clearly a draw.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

Plush red carpets line the corridors while beautiful framed black and white images of stars gone by cannot help but move you. Berry tells me that people can even get married there – which for film buffs must be the ultimate coup. ‘195 Piccadilly is a huge part of our business now, but we’re basically an educational charity, although people tend to just think of red carpets and champagne!’ A quick look at Berry’s to-do list and no one would dare accuse her of spending her time nibbling canapés and making small talk. Recent focus has been on “Breakthrough Brits” – a new initiative in partnership with Burberry to nurture and support the UK’s future talent, with a view to “turbocharge” the careers of those who are new to the industry. 17 judges from all areas of film, television and games – from Eddie Redmayne to Abi Morgan – will be mentoring those at the very start of their career, attempting to make a name for themselves. ‘The Breakthrough Brits is a massive event. We’re going to be mentoring 17 people, and that initiative didn’t exist until a few months ago’. It’s here that Berry’s inspirational belief in emerging talent becomes clear and she is very passionate about getting people into what is, for many, an impossible industry, from actors and directors, to set and video game designers. ‘People say to me all the time, “It’s all about who you know” but I don’t agree – I didn’t know anyone! I always say, “I’m a dry cleaner’s daughter from North Yorkshire and if I can do it, anyone can.”’ Well-timed modesty? She really must be a Brit. The 2014 BAFTA Film Awards will take place on Sunday 16 February.

THE NOMINATIONS Best film 12 Years a Slave American Hustle Captain Phillips Gravity Philomena

Outstanding British film Gravity Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Philomena Rush Saving Mr Banks The Selfish Giant

Actor Christian Bale (American Hustle) Bruce Dern (Nebraska) Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street) Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips)

Actress Amy Adams (American Hustle) Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) Sandra Bullock (Gravity) Judi Dench (Philomena) Emma Thompson (Saving Mr Banks)

Supporting actress Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine) Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle) Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave) Julia Roberts (August: Osage County) Oprah Winfrey (The Butler)

Supporting actor Barkhad Adbi (Captain Phillips) Daniel Bruhl (Rush) Bradley Cooper (American Hustle) Matt Damon (Behind the Candelabra) Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)

No more Mr Darcy From The King’s Speech to A Single Man, it seems Colin Firth has firmly put his rom-com days behind him. We meet England’s most-celebrated actor as his latest film The Railway Man is released, to find out why he is much happier with what he is doing now W O RDS : A D A M O ’ R E ILLY

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

e’s Mr Darcy of Pride and Prejudice, a leading light in Shakespeare in Love and The English Patient, the football fanatic in Fever Pitch, the softly spoken Brit-abroad teacher in A Single Man and, of course, George VI in The King’s Speech. There are few who can lay claim to so many iconic British roles as this 53-year-old from Hampshire, who now resides in Chiswick. Hugh Grant? Not a chance. But from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy to his latest, The Railway Man, Firth has done it with suave accomplishment and sophistication: he’s all stiff upper lip and side parting, and it has served him well. In recently released The Railway Man he plays Eric Lomax, a WWII British soldier who was tortured by the Japanese at the notorious Changi camp and, later, together with his fellow POWs, forced to work on the ‘Railway of Death’ between Burma and Siam. Shortly before Lomax’s death, Firth got to know the person he would play well. ‘It’s funny how you warm to some people, and Eric and I definitely built up a rapport. [We] became good friends and it became a matter of personal pride to be able to tell his story and those of so many soldiers who weren’t able to speak out or recount their experiences, and whose voices still have yet to be heard.’ ‘That was why I wasn’t sure I wanted to play the part because it became deeply personal and you want to be so truthful to the life of someone who you have come to know. It became a matter of honour and personal responsibility and, sadly, Eric died before he could see the film.’ ‘But his whole story is a triumph,’ says Firth. ‘This is a man who believed that he was going to die in 1942 and yet he survived to tell his story and share it with later generations on behalf of himself and all the other soldiers whose stories have has largely been forgotten.’

Indeed, Lomax’s pledge was to help other soldiers whose lives were affected by the torture and suffering they endured – it’s a battle that goes on today, away from the “big screen”, the red carpets and the paparazzi. Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky and costarring Nicole Kidman, The Railway Man film is an adaptation of Lomax’s autobiography of the same name. Firth believes his story still resonates today. ‘One of the things that Eric endured was a form of waterboarding. It’s not some gruesome torture technique of the past, it’s become part of how we do business in the West and all the revelations that have emerged in recent years. These are very alive issues. It’s not just about a forgotten moment in history.’

‘These are very alive issues. It’s not just about a forgotten moment in history’ Filmed in rural Australia, the filming process according to Firth was ‘bliss’, but he adds it was hard to put himself in a position of feeling like a tortured person when he was in a paradisiacal location, surrounded by very relaxed and chilled people… not that you’d know it from the final cut. For Firth, it’s the latest step in a prolific career. He was born in Grayshott, Hampshire in 1960, to two teachers, and became part of the “Brit Pack” of young British actors in the late 1980s – made up of Gary Oldman, Paul McGann, Rupert Everett – but found fame far later than many of his stable mates. It wasn’t until his famous portrayal of Mr Darcy that the much-clichéd ‘household name’ status was assured. His appearance in Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones’ Diary perhaps left him unfairly characterised as a lightweight actor. Now, following his Oscar-winning performance in The King’s Speech and his tender and tragic 

 turn as a mourning, devastated teacher in A Single Man, he has risen to become one of the most celebrated actors in the world. He has said in the past that he tries to avoid romantic leads nowadays, admitting he enjoys more roles that subvert expectations. His recent run of script choices certainly seems to support this, and backs the suspicion that he’s wary of being typecast. ‘You stand the risk of having those roles define you and prevent you from doing anything else,’ he offers. ‘I’m glad I’m able to

play many different kinds of characters and that audiences don’t just think of me as Darcy. Even though actors can be vain, most of us want to be appreciated for the substance of our work rather than how dashing we can look on screen.’ His portrayal of Eric Lomax is the latest in a long line of ‘tortured’ and conflicted characters that have helped put the heartthrob image to bed and establish Firth as a more serious actor. ‘I suppose I’m more drawn to these kinds of roles now,’ he says. ‘It’s also that a lot of projects

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are being developed that have sadder themes and which deal with loss or dislocation. I prefer those kinds of characters where you can explore many different layers and subtle things. ‘I like films that subvert expectations... Those rom-com roles often aren’t that interesting to me. You paint those characters more in broad strokes and it doesn’t always leave room to add more substance and complications. I’m much

‘I’m very attracted to heroism not written on a big superhero stage’

ALL IMAGES: THE RAILWAY MAN

more inclined towards looking for emotionally complex roles because that’s what fascinates me about human nature, and how men and women interact,’ he says. He says he now prefers roles that capture the ‘ordinariness’ of life: the tales of everyday people whose lives may seem like disappointments but offer huge potential for drama. ‘I’m very attracted to heroism not written on a big superhero stage,’ he puts it. While his Oscar-winning performance in The King’s Speech is regarded as a sort of ‘second breakthrough’ role, it was actually his turn in A Single Man that moved Firth towards more considered and complicated roles. This role in Tom Ford’s film debut has allowed Firth to pick and choose roles as he pleases: he’s under no pressure to work and is fond of sabbaticals. ‘The first thing I did after The King’s Speech was to take quite a lot of time off. I thought it would be kind of nice to take six months of not doing this. In the end I took almost a year out. It was time to reconnect with the more permanent aspects of my life.’ He now seems to have a marked preference for smaller films as opposed to big studio projects, but he tells us that it’s often his family life that dictates which roles he chooses. ‘I don’t really enjoy the idea of spending five or six

months away from my wife and children which is often the commitment you have to make if you’re working on a studio film. ‘Work is not the driving force in my life and I would rather spend more time at home than constantly living out of hotel rooms,’ he says. ‘I’m very comfortable with the kind of work rhythm I have now and I don’t want to work back to back on films because that wouldn’t be fair to my family and I wouldn’t enjoy being away from them. I enjoy being able to lead a normal life and taking an active part in raising my children. That’s my real world.’ Firth splits his home life between Chiswick, west London and his wife Livia’s native Italy. They live with their two children, Luca (born March 2001) and Matteo (born August 2003) and have been married for 17 years. The old romantic in him may not be as present in his films these days, but appears as soon as I mention Livia: ‘You want to be able to indulge in the romance and adventure of being together. It’s vital to grow together and experience different things as well as enjoying your time together without getting bogged down by daily aggravations. We’re also very fortunate in that we just enjoy each other’s company – we’ve always valued that so much that we don’t allow stupid things to get in the way.’ Next up Firth will be seen in the thriller Before I Go to Sleep, also co-starring Nicole Kidman, and the latest Woody Allen comedy, Magic in the Moonlight. In keeping romance off the big screen, Firth seems to have found his position in Hollywood. ‘The Railway Man’ is at cinemas nationwide.

National Sir David Attenborough has travelled the world over, yet as his new series David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities airs, he tells us why there’s still nowhere like home w o r d s : a d am o ’ r e i l ly

ir David Attenborough is not just an intrepid explorer, knight of the realm, and legend of broadcasting: he’s also a man of impeccable taste. In 60 years on the BBC, the 87-year-old has seen a sizeable chunk of planet Earth… but his favourite place of all? That would be back home in Britain. ‘I’ve lived in the same house for six years and it’s close to some beautiful parks with an

impressive slab of wildlife and some of the finest botanical spread of flora in the world,’ says Attenborough. He pauses for a second to think. ‘What else could you want? It suits me very well.’ The Isleworth-born broadcaster and certified national treasure has seen the world: from the polar regions, to the Baltoro glacier in Pakistan, to the Valdivian forests of Chile. That’s quite some compliment to our fair isle.

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Treasure As he approaches 90, his enthusiasm for nature’s magnificence shows no sign of abating, and he’s here today, at London Zoo, to talk about the return of David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities, back for its second series, on satellite channel Eden. Does he ever tire of endless travel, checking in and checking out of hotels, and the monotony of long flights to the other side of the world? ‘The best you can do is to shut your eyes, pretend it’s not happening and wait for it to be over!’ he says with a smile.

‘I always leave the house with a slight “Here we go again” feeling, but in two days’ time I’ll be out there watching meerkats coming out of their boroughs as the sun comes up over the Kalahari desert, and I think, “How can I be so lucky?”’ he grins. Certainly, Sir David has lived a blessed life, and seen some extraordinary sights (although, make no mistake, he’s worked hard for the privilege). Those sights he’s shared with the nation have educated us beyond comprehension – each story told in that 

from left: giraffe; elephant and calf; morpho butterflies; zebra, all by humble bee films

gentle, persuasive voice of his. He’s one of science’s most celebrated commentators and, to boot, one of television’s best-liked personalities. He’s also exceedingly modest. He says ‘about a million’ people could replace him when he finally embraces retirement (he says he wants to keep going until he’s 95, which means another eight years to look forward to). ‘It’s not really a question of the people,’ he says, ‘it’s whether the television editor and controller really want that kind of programme. There are a bunch of people who could do it; the only reason I’m doing it is because back in the 1950s I was in the right place at the right time. Zoo Quest was being filmed and naturalist Julian Huxley became ill so I filled in. The fact is there was no-one else at the BBC in 1954 who was particularly interested in animals, and I was just told to do it. So I went from directing the cameras to presenting the programme.’ ‘There wasn’t any competition… if I started now, there would be so many people who could do the job as well as me. I’m not complaining – I feel sorry for the people who want to do my job… sorry that I’m still around. They’re probably saying, “Why doesn’t he move over?!”’ he laughs. It may have been luck that started his career, but Attenborough’s achievements over the years have kept him as the voice and face of BBC nature. The Life series, which began in 1979, set the benchmark in quality for wildlife documentaries, but Attenborough has continued to climb to higher ground as a broadcaster, moving all the time with insightful documentary making and incredible technological advances as far as wildlife filmmaking goes. Watching Attenborough can, at times, feel like observing a classic sporting moment. His latest, Natural Curiosities, offers much of the same. ‘I think the series is different in as much as, for years and years and years we were making straightforward natural history programmes about animals and what they do and so on, but of course there’s much more to animals than that. For many animals, there’s a history – how were they discovered? What are

the myths and mysteries that surround them? And there are other aspects that, for one reason or another, we haven’t covered.’ ‘There are thousands of “couples” you can group by their curiosities,’ he says. He presses us on the similarities between a Komodo dragon and a greenfly. ‘Any suggestions?’ he asks, not waiting for an answer: ‘In both species the female can produce young without mating with males. ‘Next – there could hardly be a more common or garden creature than a greenfly, yet while she is producing young, that baby who is within her has within her a baby developing; so you have three generations all at the same time.

‘I’m proud to be British, but I’m prouder still to be a man of the planet, like we all are’ – David Attenborough This is why greenfly can suddenly appear in your garden in tens of thousands.’ Attenborough’s thirst for knowledge seems unquenchable and he remains passionate – nay starry-eyed – about the world around him. He’s certainly fascinated by how much the planet has changed since he was a student. ‘Science is proceeding at an extraordinary pace,’ he says, ‘but so much remains unexplored and unanswered.’ ‘When I was at university, nobody believed continents drifted around the surface of the Earth. Now such a fact is not only accepted, but forms the absolute basis for understanding volcanoes and tsunamis. You simply can’t make sense of the world now without knowing that sort thing.’ ‘That’s happened in my lifetime, along with the discovery of DNA… we didn’t know about DNA when I was an undergraduate,’ he says. Attenborough’s strays into conservationism are equally fixating. He’s a man who, in

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from top: david and platypus by humble bee films; yemen chameleon by humble bee films; david attenborough

interview, can spark passions one didn’t even know one possessed. ‘Since I started making television programmes there are three times as many human beings on Earth – we’ve tripled in size. And everybody wants houses to live in, schools for their children, and roads to travel on. And most of these things have to come from the natural world. But there’s less space for the natural world.’ ‘It isn’t necessarily a disaster, but what we need to do is to recognise what the problem is, and then we can be a bit more sensible about how we all move forward… economically, environmentally. We’ve got a chance to do that, but if we fail, we’ve spoilt the entire world.’ ‘I think people can sometimes turn their heads… is it a South American problem, is it a polar problem, but this is us all in it together. I’m proud to be British, but I’m prouder still to be a man of the planet, like we all are. I guess I have travelled so much that nationality doesn’t really come into it for me – my passion is for the world, for embracing the nature and the culture of as many different places as possible… although I admit, I will always come back to Britain!’ He talks about the need to save the rainforest and how ‘desperate’ it is that creationism is still so widely accepted. ‘I find it incomprehensible that people won’t look at evidence,’ he says, and he’s not that keen on kids having their heads stuck staring at iPads either. ‘When do you have time to think or to talk to other people?’ he questions. You can’t help but agree. There are a million fascinating stories you could ask Sir David about and even more he could divulge – he starts to tell us about the giant squid… ‘It’s about 50ft long with these giant tentacles!’ he says with relish – but it’s time for us to bid him farewell. I tell him to never retire and he smiles. ‘David, we’re heading back outside to see the giraffes,’ says an assistant at the zoo, leading him out to the enclosure. ‘Oh, good!’ he replies excitedly, with all the enthusiasm of inquisitive schoolboy seeing nature’s wonders for the very first time.

FRUIT OF THE SEA Sea urchins are the new nautical delicacy taking the world’s Michelin-starred restaurants by storm. Curious to know how these prickly delights go from seabed to silver salver, we spoke to the ‘Mad Scot’ himself, Arctic diver Roderick Sloan w o r d s : g emma k n i g h t

etting up at the crack of dawn and plunging into the icy Norwegian Sea for hours at a time might not seem the actions of a completely sane person – and, to be honest, I’m not sure veteran sea urchin diver Roderick Sloan would disagree. Originally from Dumfries and Galloway, a quiet, weather-beaten region in the South West of Scotland, his childhood was always destined to

instil a life-long love affair with the sea. ‘As a child I would go visit my auntie Jan on the Solway Firth,’ he explains, ‘and we’d go pick shells, cockles, periwinkles, fish and then we’d have competitions about identifying them.’ He laughs, adding wryly ‘The eating part came later.’ With this in mind, his chosen profession doesn’t seem quite so unexpected – although it’s certainly still an unusual one. Roderick’s

‘The best part of my job is showing virgin sea-urchin-eaters out to sea day – which, in arctic Norway where he lives and dives, is often entirely devoid of sunlight – begins at 6.30am when, having breakfasted with his family and packed his kids off to school, he heads off for a morning meeting with his team, followed – weather permitting – by six hours out at sea spent wetsuit, flippers and air tank-laden, diving down to the rocky seabed to harvest the latest crop of prickly little sea urchins. Unless it’s Tuesday, when he’ll be up at midnight so as to have the urchins picked up, packed and dispatched by 8am, journeying

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towards the various chefs and restaurants to which he supplies. It’s certainly not an easy career choice, and I’m understandably curious to know what drew him to such a niche vocation. ‘Initially if I’m totally honest it was the idea of making a lot of money,’ he admits. ‘The reality however was very different. My Norwegian brother-in-law came to me with the idea and I then persuaded my wife to move back to the Arctic, where she was originally from. In the following years the sea urchins, shells and diving have just become part of me I think.’ I won’t dispute this, particularly after hearing the incredible enthusiasm and affection which overtakes him when he starts

utterly commendable. The temperature of the water in which he dives often dips below freezing, with the air temperature hitting minus 13 and the small fishing boat in which he and his chief diver travel regularly caked in ice. Added to this is the inevitable danger which accompanies any profession involving the sea. ‘We try and mitigate the risks as much as possible,’ he says. ‘The diving is not the really terrifying thing up here, it’s the weather. It can go from a mill pond to a howling gale with four meter waves in a matter of minutes - those are the days I hate the most. The worst day at sea for me was when we picked up a new boat eight years ago and we ended up trapped in huge seas for four hours while we inched our

and cracking an urchin with them. Fresh from the sea, in the brisk cold’

ALL IMAGES BY KAROLINE O. A. PETTERSON PHOTOGRAPHY

to talk about the creatures themselves. ‘These are some of the oldest organisms on the planet; these guys were here with the dinosaurs, for hundreds of millions of years, probably.’ He gushes, almost childlike in his fascination. ‘DNA-wise, in the human genome programme sea urchins were the first to be mapped – and just imagine the caveman who was the first to eat sea urchin! The blackish green shell splits and reveals this amazing golden-yellow coral, and the taste... It’s simple, salty, astringent iodine sea, followed by maple syrup sweetness. The best part of my job is showing virgin sea-urchin-eaters out to sea and cracking an urchin with them. Fresh from the sea, in the brisk cold.’ His excitement is endearing and, considering the incredible hardships associated with the job,

way back to the safety of the port. It was the kind of day which makes you think about life and how small we really are.’ Facing considerable odds, dangerous 

‘I have very strong views on sustainability and labelling and I believe we need to re-think the way we do things now’ – Roderick Sloan

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conditions and gruelling schedules, a ‘really bad year’ in 2008 almost convinced him to give up on his vision for good. Luckily, as it often does, fate stepped in when he was invited to cook sea urchins at a food festival in Stavanger, a city in Southern Norway. ‘I only did it because I had promised to do so, but I met Christopher Sjuve, who is one of Norway’s best food writers, and we became firm friends over the weekend.’ Sjuve was so impressed that he suggested René Redzepi, the Danish chef and co-owner of two-Michelin starred restaurant Noma in Copenhagen, should contact Sloan. ‘Rene called me that autumn and from there we developed a strong relationship.’ Roderick explains – putting it mildly, since it was this relationship which lead to him becoming chief urchin-supplier to the up-market eatery and others which soon followed suit. Quite a boost for a small fishing business and one which, funnily enough, kept Roderick from throwing in the towel. Having said that, it definitely isn’t the money which keeps him doing what he does. He says himself that ‘Norwegian society is one of the best in the world’ and, though his family think he is ‘slightly mad’, the job has provided obvious perks such as being able to give his brother and sister-in-law a meal at Noma as a wedding present and gaining a platform from which he is able to become politically involved in the on-going issue of sustainability. ‘I have very strong views on sustainability and labelling and I believe we need to re-think the way we do things now,’ he tells me. ‘I keep very good records of where I harvest, how much I take and when, I don’t re-harvest for about 5 years and we only harvest a very select group of sea urchins, a specific size. These are not the main breeding group, and we see when we go back to earlier sites that the smaller sea urchins

we leave behind thrive with the lack of competition. That said, too little is known about the sea urchins, and in Norway they are seen as the culprits for devastating the kelp forests, where the coastal cod breed and hide as small fry. There are several projects on the coast where they want to eradicate the sea urchins to bring the kelp forest back by dumping 200 tonnes of lime in the sea.’ For Roderick Sloan, however, the future looks bright. ‘I am going to Brussels to talk about seafood to politicians in the early summer’, he says – something which has at last helped his mum understand what he does and ‘feel like I finally got somewhere’ – and he soon hopes to branch out and supply to restaurants outside Scandinavia. ‘Just now we’re focusing on London,’ he explains, although after that it seems he has the North in his sights. ‘I met Mary-Ellen McTague of the Aumbry restaurant in Manchester at MAD [an annual food festival] last year, and she pestered me for a year to try to get sea urchins to her,’ he recalls with a laugh. He may be laughing, but after his description of the little delicacies we’re aching to try them and, with his lovingly sourced urchins tipped as some of the world’s best, we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed that it won’t be long before they’re making a splash at a Cheshire-based eatery near us. LEFT: RODERICK SLOAN (PHOTO: KAROLINE O. A. PETTERSON PHOTOGRAPHY)

THE Mechanics

of beauty

Revolutionary watch brand MB&F have always been about radical design, so it stands to reason their newest venture is a gallery dedicated to the wild world of mechanical artistry. Gemma Knight speaks to founder Max Büsser about entrepreneurial spirit, artistic flair and just what makes MB&F tick

orological pioneer MB&F’s objective is a simple one; to revolutionise the high-end watch-wearing market by contributing a radical new timepiece each year, crafted with the help of some of the world’s most revered and devoted artisans and designed as micro-mechanical sculptures first, timekeeping devices second. So far, under the expert guidance of visionary Swiss founder Max Büsser, they’ve certainly succeeded in their mission, unveiling such revolutionary pieces as the HM4 Thunderbolt (with dials in the shape of sleek, metallic jet turbines) and the HM3 Frog (with bulbous, amphibian-esque hour and minute domes) - watches which well and truly secured MB&F’s place amongst the rebellious horological elite. For a man who didn’t know what a Rolex was until he was eighteen, Büsser might initially seem an unlikely doyen for a timepiece super-brand. Nevertheless, after rising through the ranks at the prestigious Jaeger- LeCoultre for seven years, then revolutionising the once-waning Harry Winston as Managing Director of their Rare Timepieces division, Büsser was convinced the time had finally come to indulge his more rebellious visions. ‘Creating MB&F did not happen overnight,’ He explains when we meet at last, a thoroughly charismatic figure with a cut-glass command of English tinged with the faintest trace of an

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Indian accent, no doubt inherited from his Asian-born mother. ‘The idea matured over several years, while I was managing Harry Winston Timepieces. One thing was clear in my mind from day one: I wanted absolute creative freedom, and this could only happen without any external shareholders. I invested my entire life savings, but that was far from enough to start a new brand. So I toured the world with a rough prototype and explained my dream to some of the key retailers I had worked with for 15 years, asking them to order a few pieces, and make a prepayment of 30% two years in advance. Six of those retailers were crazy enough to accept, and we have remained absolutely independent since. We have gone through some very tough times, but those hard times have just made our small team tougher and more reactive.’ Max Büsser and Friends (MB&F) might seem a strange name for a brand, but serves to perfectly acknowledge an ethos utterly dedicated to collaboration, with every piece made in partnership with other inventive minds

in order to create an ever more original, boundary-pushing outcome. Now, in the grand and ground-breaking tradition of the MB&F name, Büsser and Friends have opened the M.A.D. Gallery in the heart of metropolitan Geneva, a concept store housing a collection of kinetic sculptures (otherwise known as Mechanical Art Devices, hence M.A.D.). The gallery includes all MB&F’s own creations, from the Horological Machine No.1 (HM1) to the new Legacy Machine No.2, as well as a selection of carefully-curated devices from around the world. ‘People can walk in [to the M.A.D. Gallery] and really experience the brand,’ Max explains in an online video. ‘While creating MB&F we thought we were completely unique, then we realised that out there in the world there are people who create machines in their own parallel environments who are considered as aliens in their worlds. And so the M.A.D. Gallery is about capturing and getting together all these aliens who feel alone out there because they create machines in a world of practicality.’ 

‘The M.A.D. Gallery is a very inspiring place to work’ – Max Büsser, MB&F founder ‘[The M.A.D. Gallery] is a very natural and logical extension of the MB&F philosophy, since we’re simply bringing in more Friends to expand our activity in the area of Mechanical Art,’ Max tells me. ‘It was obvious we weren’t going to create just another self-centred watch boutique. We had no idea what we were doing and whether anyone would pay attention, but the evolution has been amazing.’ And he couldn’t be more right - in the two years since it opened the gallery has been an astronomical success, welcoming over 10,000 visitors and selling hundreds of pieces of art as well as many of MB&F’s own timepieces. A second gallery is already set to open in Taiwan this April, while a subsequent project is underway in the Middle East, tapping in to two incredibly innovative emerging markets which no doubt identify immensely with MB&F’s forward-looking approach. But what do projects such as the M.A.D. Gallery and the promotion of mechanical devices as bona fide pieces of art mean for the increasingly creatively-stagnant watch industry? Perhaps naively, I had assumed that the emergence of highly innovative brands like MB&F signified

a glimmer of hope, but Büsser isn’t optimistic. ‘I unfortunately have little hope for the industry, which has become a shareholder and marketing-driven system,’ he says. ‘But if our gallery can show people that machines can be an art form, and that there are amazing creators behind each of those machines, then I’m a happy man.’ And, while the M.A.D. Gallery ethos of independence and originality might not be rubbing off on the industry as a whole, it’s certainly making its mark on MB&F. Thanks to the added opportunity for collaboration the gallery offers, MB&F has found its own ideas about mechanical art increasingly influenced, while the range of Friends on offer as potential partners has certainly never been greater. ‘The M.A.D. Gallery is a very inspiring place to work, and the encounters I make with all the creators we curate are incredibly stimulating.’ Max explains, adding with notable excitement that this year will see the first example of cross-pollination between MB&F’s watches and one of the gallery’s exhibiting artists, ‘probably the first example of many more such collaborations in the future.’ This is an ideal case in point, showing that while MB&F and the M.A.D. Gallery might not be single-handedly salvaging the commercial timepiece industry, they are certainly pioneering an exciting new reincarnation which has already gained a truly remarkable and loyal following. The age of the independently innovative timepiece might be coming to a close, but the world of the Mechanical Art Device is hot on its heels and, without doubt, ready to dawn.

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Interiors news We have a true feast for the eyes this month, with a stunning selection of timeless touches guaranteed to get you feeling creative this spring

Softly does it Pictures alone do not do the Ruby + Ed Natural Cloud hot water bottle cover justice – it has to be felt to be believed. Covered in the softest, furriest of material and adorned with a silky, satin-effect bow and chunky wooden buttons, we simply didn’t know bedtime accessories could be this luxurious. We suggest curling up in front of a roaring fire, hot water bottle in hand, and pairing it with the gorgeous brand’s matching Snuggle Boots to be sure you’re kept warm from head to toe. (rubyanded.co.uk)

FINISHING TOUCH Now you can even add a personal stamp to your lamp with Lee Broom’s engraving service. His Crystal Bulb Table Lamp, inspired by the crystal pattern of whisky glasses, is the ideal addition to your coffee table. Table Lamp, £220 Lee Broom (leebroom.com)

Wall to wall French couturier Jean Paul Gaultier has unleashed yet another dazzling display of prints, styles and colours with his second home collection for textile house Lelièvre. Aptly named Le Défilé (the catwalk show), the eight mesmerising prints are reminiscent of his signature designs on the Parisian runway. This supple linen is available in indigo, black or sepia for a textural touch to any wall – we love the digital print of Vagabond. From £78 per metre (lelivre.eu)

Knock on wood Titchmarsh & Goodwin, the almost 100 year-old purveyors of hand-crafted fine English furniture, have recently come to our attention once again with the launch of their new flagship store in London’s chic Chelsea district. Stocked at only seven exclusive retailers within the UK, we were subsequently thrilled to discover that their sumptuous pieces can be bought in our own fair town of Warrington, giving Cheshire residents access to their brand new modern ranges and esteemed established collections without even leaving the county. R.E Forster, Grey Street Warrington WA1 2PH (titchmarsh-goodwin.co.uk)

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Coming up roses With Mothers’ Day fast approaching (though not until 30 March, for those of you now starting to panic), it’s time to let mums the nation over know they’re appreciated. Those of you tempted to say it with flowers will know all too well the difficulties of having bouquets delivered (cue crushed petals and wilting leaves), so it’s lucky that Bloom & Wild have come up with the perfect solution – bouquets of fresh, long-lasting flowers delivered straight through the letterbox. Their patented bespoke box means flowers can be delivered anytime, and all arrangements are even designed by McQueen’s and Claridge’s trained florist, Vanessa Birley. (bloomandwild.com)

Green with envy Twenty times rarer than diamonds, emeralds really are a girl’s true best friend. This glamorous new book is filled with stunning illustrations and fascinating stories about the gemstone. From Cleopatra to Empress Josephine, Emerald showcases over 200 pieces, many never seen by the public before – perfect for your coffee table. Emerald, £75, Thames & Hudson (thamesandhudson.com)

Lounging around ‘I’m not looking for something new, I’m looking for timeless,’ says acclaimed interior designer Anna Dodonova. The contemporary Baxter collection, straight from Italy, which is stocked in her Anna Casa Interiors showroom, undoubtedly lives up to this mantra. With butter-soft leather, rich textures and neutral colour palettes, the brand offers some of the most luxurious furniture on offer; guaranteed to transform any room in your home and stay with you for many years to come. Bergère Longe, £6,785 (annacasa.net) 43

The

accidental designer 44

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Rachel Bates didn’t set out to be one of the most sought after interior designers in Cheshire, in fact, she didn’t set out to be any kind of interior designer at all Wo r d s : Kate Ho u g h to n

itting in Rachel’s studio in Mottram St Andrew, I find it hard to concentrate on what she is saying, dazzled as I am by a myriad of sparkles, an array of colours and a spectacle of accessories that are quite clearly calling my name. Finally I focus, agree that one sugar would be perfect, and return to my gazing around. For a tiny space, there’s an awful lot to look at. Rachel meets clients here, negotiates with design house representatives and each Friday opens the doors to anybody seeking the perfect finishing touch for their home. Personally I have my eye on a set of gorgeous shell napkin rings, but haven’t yet

‘I have a very clear vision of how I want my home to look; I’m what you might call “traditional modern!” – Rachel Bates

decided which set I love best, a common problem I suspect. Rachel, slender, elegant, warm and chatty, splits her time between homes in Mottram and London, juggling briefs from clients with all kinds of demands with completing the interior of her own self-build property. ‘It’s taken years.’ Rachel laughs. ‘Mainly because what I was doing with my house attracted the attention of friends, who started asking me to undertake projects in their homes. Every time I said yes, it postponed work here… but I’m not complaining.’ Rachel started her career in London, with the Good Housekeeping Institute, where her natural creativity balanced well with her tight attention to detail, but decided very quickly to move on to something new, as ‘the money was rubbish!’ 

‘I talked my way into a PR job with a PR agency in the City, looking after some of the world’s biggest names in banking… but it was a big mistake, I hated it. Just as I was about to throw in the towel, they decided to expand into a new floor of the building, and create a conferencing and hospitality suite. I could see exactly how it should look and exactly how clients should be looked after, so I went to see the partner in charge to ask if I could run it. I took a cost projection for the re-fit and estimates for catering and client care. He was rather taken aback, but gave me the job. ‘I loved this job, but it was not long after that I met Justin. Coincidentally we were both from Cheshire, and just as we got engaged he moved to work for a bank in Liverpool, so I followed him north.’

furniture, but update it with contemporary fabrics. I love to mix in colours that you wouldn’t find in a country house, but use country house style furnishings and lighting. Interestingly I am most often asked to create very contemporary living spaces that are quite different from my own home. Being that at the start my clients only had my home décor to go on, I am quite amazed at the leap of faith they had in me.

‘At first I would offer my advice and sourcing services for free, but it soon started to snowball and eventually I set myself up officially’ – Rachel Bates ‘After our marriage, Justin and I started to build our own home. I realised quickly that I needed to work closely with the architect and project manage it myself, to ensure that when it was complete I would have no frustrations over lighting or media placement. It was so exciting to then be able to set about the cosmetics, after spending so long on the bare bones.’ Rachel started with her kitchen (as does any sensible woman) and didn’t for a moment consider using an in-house kitchen designer, already knowing exactly what she wanted. The kitchen is now used by the kitchen manufacturer in their brochures as an example of how to do it beautifully. ‘I have a very clear vision of how I want my home to look; I’m what you might call “traditional modern”. I love traditional

‘At first I would offer my advice and sourcing services for free, but it soon started to snowball and eventually I set myself up officially.’ Before her studio was ready, Rachel would meet with design house representatives in her kitchen, and give them a tour of the house to show them her style. This led to a relationship with internationally renowned interiors specialist Nina Campbell that has benefitted both parties. ‘I was asked by Nina’s representative if I would

The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

host an event for her, where she would showcase her new range. It was a bit mad; I invited around 150 guests to three sessions, but it went really well. We plan to run more events in 2014 and she has now invited me to design something very exciting for her store in London when she re-opens the doors in March to reveal a fabulous new boutique and showroom.’ Rachel’s first clients came from their circle of friends and Justin’s clients in finance. A demand for studies and home offices led into sitting rooms, bedrooms and now entire properties and as word has spread Rachel is working on homes from Lancashire to London. Every home she touches though has one thing in common. ‘I use many fabulous Continental and American brands but I am very focussed on using British designed fabrics and accessories in my work. We have so much talent here, and we

need to support it. There’s a lighting company in Chester, Brabin & Fitz, who create the most astonishing lights, works of art in their own right. I love new designers like Barnaby Gates and Emily Bond; a little bit quirky, terribly British. For me, a fabulous British designed piece – a Porta Romana lamp, an antique mirror, a stunning glass bowl, a finishing touch of any sort – is worth investing in over and above the wall coverings or soft furnishings. These are pieces that become heirlooms, whereas everything else can, and should, be updated and changed over the years.’ It’s perhaps exactly because Rachel didn’t set out to be an interior designer that she has become so successful so quickly. ‘I listen to what my clients want, and deliver it. I have no desire to imprint my own personal style on their lives. Interior design done well will create a beautiful space that can be lived in, not just looked at.’ (rachelbatesinteriors.co.uk)

The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

Light my FIRE With cold nights and chilly days set to continue well into the New Year, there’s never been a better time to cosy up with the new generation of statement fireplaces WORDS: GEMMA KNIGHT

hilly winds, frigid rain and that horrid post-sunset dampness which creeps in as shadows grow long – and that’s just the British summertime. We are, it must be said, a garden party-loving nation with rather un-al fresco-friendly weather, but we certainly don’t let that stop us. At the first sign of a dry evening and a glimmer of post-6 o’clock sun we throw ourselves into the great outdoors, with endless nippy soirees held on patios, decks and roof gardens across the land. Luckily, the age of the statement fire piece has dawned and, with it, the days of gripping warm burgers with numb fingers are coming to an end. Leading the charge is artist Cathy Azria and her collection of outdoor ‘fire sculptures’, clever bespoke designs aimed at turning your outside space into a warm and inviting ‘outdoor room’. Her designs include Planes, steel plates stacked against each other to create a geometric sculpture, and Fire Pit, intended to look like a traditional bonfire but made from durable steel. But gorgeous contemporary fireplaces aren’t just for the outdoors. No longer only a feature of practicality, a whole host of indoor brands designed as pieces of art are hitting the markets, guaranteed to add extra aesthetic value to any room – not to mention raising the temperature. We particularly love the latest range from Fireplace Superstore in Stockport, with special mention going to their wood-burning stoves, and stylish, sleek marble surrounds. And then there North West Fireplaces, with their chic and contemporary range of hearths, not to mention their modern, free-standing stoves and glassfronted tunnel pieces, guaranteed to please those with a yen for truly cutting-edge style statements and achingly innovative design. The fireplaces of the future are here - and we can’t wait to bask in their warm, stylish glow.

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The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

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Interiors | The cheshire Magazine

man chairs The armchair: the living room staple that’s with you through good television and bad. Whether it’s stylish, simple or a statement – be sure to pick your seat wisely

7 52

C O M P I L E D B Y : A imee L atime R

6 8 9

#1 soft Plush quilting creates a softer feel than traditional leather for hot days without sticking. Magica Lounge Chair, £1,820 Bonaldo (luxdeco.com) #2 stylish A stylish lounge chair in antique leather with polished stainless steel and a distinctive cupped base. Carlotta Chair, £1,925 (andrewmartin.co.uk) #3 bold A lot of effort and hand-sewn, hand-coloured and wax-finished cowhide went into this chair. Monochrome Tank, £3,345, Fleming & Howland (chesterfields1780.com) #4 traditional Upholstered in aged leather, this traditional armchair nods to heritage design. Highbury Estate Armchair, £2,250 Eichholtz (luxdeco.com) #5 designer Aesthetically simple but contractually complex, this chair’s frame alone is made from 130 parts. Director’s Chair, £6,000, David Linley (davidlinley.com) #6 bachelor Inspired by fighter jets, this chair has a shell of riveted interlocking aluminium panels. Aviator Tomcat Chair, from a selection, Timothy Oulton (timothyoulton.com) #7 Brightening Available in 14 colours, this tub chairs can add colour to a room without the need to paint. Velvet Tub Chair in Dusk, £445 Oliver Bonas (oliverbonas.com) #8 reclining A Sunday morning-friendly chair – pull the lever, lean back, relax and put your feet up in style. Soho Recliner, £1,085, Halo (haloliving.co.uk) #9 keep - forever This club chair is supremely comfortable with its deep seat and chunky armrests. The Henry Club Chair, from a selection, Stuart Scott (stuartscott.co.uk)

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Letbe there

light

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Interiors

One of the world’s oldest crystal houses, Baccarat celebrates its 250th anniversary words : k ate raco v olis

‘H

ere is a kind of wizardry, impossible to associate with a particular century, borne upon the wind,’ so said-respected French fashion journalist Laurence Benaïm of fine-crystal brand Baccarat. ‘The brilliance and clarity of each piece expresses, in an individual way, the splendour of the art of living.’ This year, this beloved brand celebrates 250 years of producing stunning pieces at their factory in Lorraine, France, gathering many famous fans along the way.

‘Here it is a kind of wizardry, impossible to associate with a particular century, borne upon the wind’ ‘In the end, the chandelier always appeared to me to be the principal actor,’ said writer Charles Baudelaire. ‘When I was a child, the chandelier was always the thing that I found most beautiful in a theatre, and I still feel that way today. It is a beautiful shining object, crystalline, complicated, circular, and symmetrical,’ he wrote, quickly getting to the heart of what the brand is about – perfectly formed works of art that beautifully refract light, whether in the form of a tumbler, or a grand chandelier. Of his own experience, fashion designer Christian Lacroix said: ‘As far back as I can remember it was a name that was familiar and rather glamorous at the same time. As a child I was curious about everything, and this name raced around my mind, conjuring images of 

luxury and festivity, mixed with card games (I had seen engravings titled ‘The Tric-Trac and Baccarat Players’ and red roses. I perceived it as a sort of palace made of glass and crystal. Much later I was able to approach this palace, which is, in reality, such a beautiful house. My head was full of projects...’ Until now, the French brand’s history has remained largely unexplored by the public in any great detail – although its famous origin from 1764 is a well-known occasion, when King Louis XV authorised a glassworks factory to be established in the small village of Baccarat in Lorraine, France. In 250 years, its history reads like an epic, and a glamorous one at that. Baccarat’s pieces have decorated the tables of royals, starting in 1823 when King Louis XVIII commissioned a glassware service, and adorned ballrooms and dining rooms. In fact, almost for any room you can think of, Baccarat has created an object to go with it. In 1897, Candelabras were made for Czar Nicholas II, consisting of 3,320 individual pieces of crystal. Employing 22 meilleurs ouvriers de France – a prestigious title awarded to only the finest craftsmen in the country and the greatest number to work for one company in France – and a maître d’art, should aid in convincing you. Among the many more momentous occasions from the past 250 years, is the year in which it began to make coloured glass – a first in France at the time in 1839. Less than a decade later in 1847, Baccarat created its signature vibrant scarletcoloured crystal, which has become the signature colour of the brand. Particularly decadently, this colour achieved by carefully adding pure 24-carat gold powder to clear crystal. The technique, known quite romantically as rougissage à l’or, is said to be perfected,

unsurprisingly, only by experience. The rich, pomegranate colour is featured in much of the maison’s collections, and when you next see one of Baccarat’s dazzling chandeliers, look for the single red crystal among the hundreds or thousands of clear ones. This elegant and subtle feature was introduced in 1993 to give its pieces a trademark of sorts and it has become a signature feature for the brand. During the same period that the Baccarat red and coloured crystal was created, the company created another iconic collection: the

‘Baccarat’s pieces have decorated the tables of royals, starting when King Louis XVIII commissioned a glassware service’ Harcourt, which is the oldest design that Baccarat still produces. The collection was inspired by a commission from King LouisPhilippe from 1840, when he ordered a formal chalice with six facets and finished with a red crystal button. A long list of Harcourt pieces were created for dignitaries and important religious and political figures, including Napoleon III and Pope John-Paul II. Some connoisseurs today may agree that the only way to drink Champagne is out of one of these weighty glasses, as the guests who gathered in the ballroom at Claridge’s last month to celebrate the anniversary did. So just how does a brand as historic and tied to its heritage as Baccarat stay relevant? How could it keep up with the new, more contemporary designers of today? The answer is rather

previous page: © Yves Duronsoy, Zenith Alvorada. this page, left: Vase Spirale. right from top: Patrick Schüttler-Flacon, Rainier, Grace.Kelly; Verriers, manufacture Baccarat, vue intérieure de la halle à chaud 1887; Publicité perfection & audace; B bar Umeda Japon. all baccarat, from baccarat 1764: two hundred and fifty years (rizzoli)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Interiors

simple: it hired them. As early as 1916 saw the brand’s first collaboration between artist Georges Chevalier, who revolutionised the manufacturer’s design. It was a marked leap into the future at the time, and ever since, and Baccarat has made a point to venture into new territory. Throughout the more recent decades, design heavyweights including Marcel Wanders and Philippe Starck have designed for the iconic institution. Starck recreated several pieces for the Harcourt collection, injecting his own personality into the historic pieces, such as by placing the classic glass upon a roughly formed base, rock-like in appearance, in the piece named Hell Paperweight from the Harcourt Darkside collection in 2005. A jewellery collection was also introduced in 1993, placing the perfectly formed crystal in elegant pieces, including rings, pendants and earrings. But much is still to be discovered. Murray Moss, one of the authors of Baccarat 1764: Two Hundred and Fifty Years posed some interesting questions, in pursuit of defining the brand. Is it the manufactory, the actual town of Baccarat, or ‘something more elusive – a company striving for divine perfection?’ He recalls how Baccarat has been witness to tremendous changes, having been established at the same time as the industrial revolution, and then how it carved its own niche, working with the rapidly evolving technology to create crystal so magnificent that it became an art form. There are still great mysteries to unravel from the technical side and unchartered territory for its future in design. Starck knows this all too well: ‘After a few wonderful decades working with Baccarat’s geniuses in the art of crystal, everything still affirms for me that crystal, that unofficial package of mathematical equations, possesses the same richness that mathematics, as a whole also contains,’ he says. ‘The fact that our experts still do not know whether crystal is a solid or a liquid fills me with happiness.’ Baccarat 1764: Two Hundred and Fifty Years, £55, is published by Rizzoli and is available now (rizzolibookstore.com; baccarat.com)

Green

fingers

The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

Don’t underestimate the humble garden, says Liz Ackerley, winner of last year’s Grand Designs Live Garden Designer of the Year award. She tells Gemma Knight why outside space is far more than flowerbeds

like my garden, but there’s a reason that landscape architect and designer Liz Ackerley is a national pioneer in the art of garden design, and I’m not. Liz, director of the Manchester-based Poppyhead Consultancy, is truly a visionary when it comes to developing outside space to achieve its maximum potential – a potential which, I’ll freely admit, I had drastically underestimated. ‘The underlying purpose of a garden is to provide additional rooms,’ she explains. ‘It’s just as important as the internal space as it should be an extension of the house with a variety of functions; sitting and relaxing, entertaining friends, playing or growing flowers, fruit and vegetables.’ Really, though, it should come as no surprise that Liz is so methodical and insightful when it comes to her chosen profession. She was originally a biological scientist (retraining fourteen years ago as a garden designer then chartered landscape architect), a factor which undoubtedly contributes to her logical and precise approach. Added to this, she avoids the all-too-common megalomania characteristic of many a designer by maintaining an encouragingly balanced attitude towards collaboration, saying ‘it’s important that the clients are actively involved in the process and I always ensure that there is a detailed brief that captures their ideas, needs, and functional requirements’ – though she admits she does prefer some degree of creative autonomy and is ‘certainly not one for “design by committee”!’ But overall, as ever, it seems her ability ultimately comes down to passion. She particularly loves the variety afforded by her job, and the fact that it ‘was the natural choice, combining science, art and design; all the things I love.’ This enthusiasm shines through in her work, not least in the Garden Designer of the Year award she was given at last year’s Grand Designs Live event in Birmingham. Her entry,

The Gourmet Retreat, was by turn kitchen, living room, allotment and party venue - a perfect synopsis of the way in which gardens

‘It was the natural choice, combining science, art and design; all the things I love’ – Liz Ackerley should be as multi-functional as they are beautiful, with many features having multiple uses. ‘For example,’ Liz explains, ‘the raised beds were mesh gabions containing washed pebbles and bug hotels, and they also tripled up as seating. The wall was clad with black composite decking and incorporated herbs as well as a water feature, while a metal pergola defined the seating area with overhead metal wires, as well as providing an area for climbing fruit and vegetables.’ 

all images courtesy of liz ackerley poppyhead consultancy

Interiors | The cheshire Magazine

all images courtesy of liz ackerley poppyhead consultancy

It goes without saying that Liz is an inherently creative person with her own very definite ideas about style. ‘My design style is contemporary and modern with a little bit of a twist’ she says, ‘clean architectural lines, natural or simple materials and dynamic planting design.’ It’s an approach that Liz defines as ‘soft minimalism’, tempering rigidity with imaginative planting

‘She became the only garden designer in the North West to have won a Small Business Sunday award’ and achieving a smooth, relaxed finish. With her ‘strong views on aspects of garden and landscape design’, Liz knew it was only by setting up her own business that she’d be able to stay true to her design ethos - though she’s the first to admit that it hasn’t been easy. ‘I had always wanted my own business and to be a master of my own destiny,’ she says. ‘At first it’s a little overwhelming and you need to be very disciplined about how you spend your time. Being strategic, entrepreneurial and having a handle on your business focus can be

challenging. I think the biggest thing is to ensure that you are always driving the business forward with a strong sense of where you’re going. ’ Luckily, it was her diverse range of skills and experience coupled with sheer determination which allowed her to make it a success, an achievement recently rewarded when she became the only garden designer in the North West to have won a Small Business Sunday award, Theo Paphitis’ promotion of fledgling companies via the medium of Twitter. ‘As a small business it is really important to have a forum and community to bounce ideas off and the SBS network is a great way of doing that,’ she says. ‘It’s given me confidence to move forward and not be afraid to push myself towards new contacts and opportunities.’ Clearly, Liz is doing something right, and it seems that promoting the garden as an extension of the home – used not just for flowers and barbecues, but as a hugely adaptable, multi-purpose space – is a huge element in her revolutionising the idea of the outdoors. We’re thoroughly inspired by her neat, eclectic style and Japanese aesthetic although, all things considered, we could probably take or leave the bug hotels. (poppyheadconsultancy.com)

Making it clearÂ° Specialist family law services

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ÂŠ DWF LLP 2013. DWF LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC328794. DWF LLP (registered number OC328794) is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Art news

It’s a new year and there’s plenty going on in the art world. Whether it be close to home or further afield, we have all the latest for those with a fondness for fine things W O R D S : G E M M A KN I GH T

Raising psalm eyebrows Just last November, art history was made at the New York branch of renowned auction house Sotheby’s when the first book ever to be printed in America sold for a record-breaking $14.2 million – the most for which a printed book has ever sold and almost one hundred times the price achieved by the last copy to be auctioned in 1947. The Bay Psalm Book, first printed in Massachusetts in 1640, contains psalms translated into English and was previously owned by the Old South Church in Boston, who auctioned it to benefit its mission and ministries. It was bought by the lucky David Rubenstein, who plans to have the piece of literary history exhibited at libraries across the US.

Fair enough This March heralds the return of the Cheshire Oaks Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair, a fantastic event which unites collectors and dealers with an eclectic selection of vintage postcards, stamps and ephemera. The event hosts more than 120 stalls and is conveniently located, competitively priced, and ideal for the hardcore antiquer and browsing beginner alike. 16 March, Stanney Lane, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 9DB (vandafairs.com/cheshireoaks)

The art of good service If you haven’t yet discovered Baron Fine Art, tucked away in the pretty lanes of central Chester, it’s about time you were introduced. Boasting probably the most extensive range of high-quality 19th and 20th Century watercolours in the North of England, this little gem offers a fantastical personal service for those seeking to invest in fine art, provided by a husband and wife team with more than thirty years’ experience in the art world. They’re LAPADA accredited, friendly to a fault and well worth a visit. 68 Watergate Street, Chester CH1 2LA (baronfineart.com)

Antique appeal Returning for its 26th prestigious year, the Chester Antiques Show will be coming to the County Grandstand this month, certain to boast its usual plethora of high-quality exhibits and guaranteed to attract collectors from across the country. Amongst the stunning titbits on offer will be furniture, glass and bronze sculpture, Art Deco clocks and period lighting, 19th and 20th Century watercolours, paintings by artists from the North West, Early English pottery and, of course, a huge variety of silver jewellery. With each piece carefully vetted for authenticity and a venue which offers a choice of three fabulous restaurants, this is certainly a day out not to be missed. 13-16 February, County Grandstand, Chester racecourse CH1 2LY

The cheshire Magazine | Art

Q&A with… Liverpool born and bred artist Robert Jackson Q. Why are you so driven to create art inspired by water and the sea? A. Perhaps it’s my genes as at least three successive Jackson generations worked on rivers making boats and my great grandfather John Henry from Saltash was also a deep sea diver. On a formal level, moving water offers me the challenge of trying to record the flow by representing a suggestion of movement, like the study from life of the mighty power of Niagara Falls or the churned up patterns in the wake of a ship and, of course, whilst the sun is setting, which represents a difficult challenge of changing light. The depth of water also offers an analogy of the unconscious. I metaphorically draw from unknown depths when I close my eyes and scribble fast and furiously and once opened I try to see within the chaos some kind of order and a common subject, maybe a mariner trying to steer a course in a restless sea or even a mermaid coming to the rescue! Q. What sort of art (other than your own) do you personally like to collect and display in your home? A. Chinese painting, especially scenes of waterfalls and mist. It’s great to appreciate the art of a different culture whose traditional art is so different from our own. As a Chinese painting tutor, I realise how difficult it is to portray the beauty of a scene with mostly black ink and water on absorbent paper, with the weight of the brush and knowing in your head the total scene with relatively few marks. My favourite painting is of a large misty river scene by Xu Kai from Guilin, China, who kindly gave it to me. Q. Which materials do you find give you the most freedom of expression, particularly when conveying water? A. Having had many years’ experience with pastels and charcoals I find these work well together to provide the means for expressing movement of water. They blend so easily and they can combine to give colour and shade. I often charcoal the direction of flow of water first and follow by blending colours, for example; on top of a wave and if there is foam I press a little heavier to create impasto white froth. Pastels are quick and easy to use and require no drying time! (robertjacksonart.co.uk)

A well kept secret Atelier Rose & Gray have brought world renowned artists and art lovers to the sleepy Shires. Each month our Art Editor will explore their latest exhibitions, beginning with the work of esteemed Royal Academician, Ivor Abrahams w o r d s : c ar o l c o r d re y

below: Coastal Path, Silkscreen on Metal

estled within two local villages, Hale and Ramsbottom, are what I can truly describe as remarkable art outlets. They are sister locations by the name of Atelier Rose & Gray and though they are not particularly grand in terms of size, there is no doubting their grandeur in terms of the quality of their art and aspirations. Together, these qualities have brought them to the attention of internationally famous painters, sculptors, printmakers and ceramicists whose work they have been selling like hot cakes to an ever burgeoning and distinctive clientele. I consider these achievements to be all the more remarkable in the light of Atelier Rose & Gray deciding to open their doors in 2011 (Ramsbottom) and 2013 (Hale) when this nation was in the grip of the worst economic conditions experienced for decades. Throughout that time they forged links with highly sought-after artists, Turner Prize nominees and winners as well as Royal Academicians, such as Marc Quinn, Sir Peter Blake, Stephen Chambers, Norman Ackroyd CBE, Sir Terry Frost, David Mach and Grayson Perry CBE. Also, they have developed a reputation for sourcing excellent work to suit a

range of budgets for their individual private and corporate clients, some of whom have delighted in becoming keen collectors of an artist’s oeuvre or an artistic movement, such as Pop Art or the YBAs (Young British Artists who, now, are not young at all). The work sold at these galleries ranges across unique pieces or the usually less expensive original art prints. The latter are individual prints and far removed from the mere reproductions available everywhere; they are printed under the artists’ direct supervision which includes the choice of print process, paper or canvas and the limit of the edition, then the artist signs each one, all of which ensures that they have a seriously desirable art market value. Sculptures and ceramics are produced in a similar way. In addition to work by famous artists, the galleries introduce their clients to fresh artistic talent created by emerging artists and that provides the chance to buy fine art that is attached, generally, to lower price tags. As someone who has promoted her mantra of ‘art for all’ across decades of art criticism, this policy of supplying art to suit all pockets and tastes fits me like a glove and I am certain it is the key to the galleries’ success. Also, it is the reason why I am looking forward each month to using the pages of this magazine to highlight exhibitions organised by Atelier Rose & Gray, the next one being the work of the highly respected Royal Academician, Ivor Abrahams. Abrahams lives and works in Kent and over a career

The cheshire Magazine | Art

spanning more than 50 years, he has become something of a polymath through his use of varied media for work that grips the viewer with its colour, texture and captivating multidimensional effects. ‘In the working of my images, be it print, collage or sculpture, manipulated photos are applied to the surfaces and adjusted to fit the shapes or outlines’, he explained, adding that his collages ‘are all original pieces, as are the sculptures. When I use laser prints as a basis to work over, each one is different and unique. They are not editioned and should be seen as monotypes.’ These monotypes should be considered as unique works. Abrahams’ extensive output is figurative, though sometimes stylised, and inspired by the world around him of birds, architecture, gardens etc. Finely detailed and

left, from top: Oxford Gardens VII, Screenprint, varnish and flocking on paper; Oxford Gardens X, Screenprint, varnish and flocking on paper; Butterfly Lady (Chalk and Watercolour on Lithograph)

Abrahams’ extensive output is figurative, though sometimes stylised, and inspired by the world around him textured, it conveys a haunting stillness and uncertain narrative, be that through an unpopulated, exterior staircase, the detail of a portico, a figure whose back is turned to us, or a gated entrance such as Oxford Gardens. Abraham has produced a series of owls which I consider to be particularly fascinating because of their powerful realism and the way they stand motionless, glaring at us with such exaggerated eyes that we feel rooted to the spot. Private and corporate collections around the globe hold examples of this artist’s work, including our very own Tate, so, as I said at the beginning, Atelier Rose & Gray have done a remarkable job in sourcing a selection for its very lucky clients. Ivor Abrahams 2½ D – sculptures, reliefs, collages, silkscreens and lithographs 18 February – 31 March (atelierrosegray.co.uk)

Ivor Abrahams RA, Royal Sands, (detail) Chalk & Watercolour on Giclee

IVOR ABRAHAMS RA 2 DIMENSIONS Sculptures Collages Cut-Outs Silkscreens Lithographs

18th February â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 31st March 2014

Tue - Sat 10.00 - 5.30pm, or privately by appointment

Atelier Rose & Gray Gallery, Beech House, 1 Cambridge Road, Hale, WA15 9SY Tel: 0161 928 4021 Email: chris@atelierrosegray.co.uk

www.atelierrosegray.co.uk

The cheshire Magazine | Art

PRIZE LOTs

#1 ‘Zanzibar Woman’ by Irma Stern This stunning example of the oil on canvas work of internationally renowned Jewish artist Irma Stern (1894 – 1966) is presented within an original Zanzibar frame, signed and dated. Stern, who spent the greater part of her life living in South Africa, was influenced in her creative life by the travels she undertook as a child following the South African War. Exhibition and auction at Bonhams, New Bond Street, London, 19 March 2014 (130 lots); Estimated range £1,100,000 - £1,500,000 (bonhams.com)

#2 ‘Constitution’ by Jonathan Wateridge Painted in 2007 by Zambian-born artist Jonathan Wateridge, this oil on layered Perspex piece will be sold along with a wide selection of pieces belonging to ‘Les Trois Garcons’, Michel Lasserre, Hassan Abdullah, and Stefan Karlsson, the trio responsible for their Shoreditch restaurant of the same name, cocktail bar

2 3 Loungelover, and interiors practice L3G Design. The auction will include objects from their restaurant as well as pieces from their various European residences. Exhibition and auction at 8 King Street, St James’ London, 5 March 2014 (400 lots); Estimated range £50,000 - £80,000 (christies.com)

#3 ‘Snowdon from Drws-y-coed’ by Kyffin Williams Welsh painter and printmaker Kyffin Williams is well known for his lyrical Welsh landscapes featuring simplified forms and generous swathes of paint. This atmospheric oil on canvas will be auctioned as part of Sotheby’s first Made in Britain sale, acknowledging the important role played by Britain in the development of international modernism. Exhibition and auction at Sotheby’s London, 1 April 2014 (200 lots); Estimated range £15,000 - £20,000 (sothebys.com)

clockwise from top left: courtesy of bonhams; christie’s images ltd; Image: © sotheby’s

Watch news Treasured timepieces, horological heirlooms and modern masterpieces WORDS: RICHARD BROWN

To the moon and back While we’ve seen moon phases on the dials of A. Lange & Söhne timepieces before, never has the complication been given so much prominence as on the new Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase. Connected to the watch’s hour-wheel continuum, the indication is constantly in motion, illustrating the time that elapses from new moon to new moon. Once correctly set, and assuming that the watch runs continuously, the display will only have to be corrected by one day every 122.6 years. Choose from yellow gold, pink gold or platinum and expect prices to be around the £33,000 mark. (alange-soehne.com)

ONE TO WATCH This month Sandy Madhvani, Showroom Manager at David M Robinson, selects his watch of the moment:

“A sapphire disc, decorated with golden stars and two golden moons, tracks the lunar cycle on Patek Philippe’s stunning 5205R. The 18-karat rose gold annual calendar timepiece comes housed in a 40mm case, a size that will gratify any wrist” 5205R, £34,710, Patek Philippe David M Robinson, 28 St Anns Square, Manchester M2 7JB 68

Jaeger’s Selfridges pop-up Having celebrated its Manufacture’s 180th anniversary last year, Jaeger-LeCoultre has launched a pop-up boutique in Selfridges. Running until May, the space showcases an extensive travelling tourbillon collection and an array of high jewellery and ladies timepieces. On display is the extremely rare Reverso Platinum SQ Number 1 (a high complication Reverso that appears almost transparent through skeletisation) and a Reverso Quantieme Perpetual in 18-karat rose gold, an equally special perpetual calendar limited to 500 pieces. (jaeger-lecoultre.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Collection

Perfectly pitched For elegant, mechanical Swiss timepieces, Baume & Mercier has always offered stunning looks at brilliant value, a fact it continues to prove with the latest addition to its muchcoveted Clifton collection. When it arrives in stores this spring, the Clifton Chronograph will provide wearers with a Swiss-made self-winding movement, a day and date display and sapphire crystal case back for a price rumoured to be the right side of three thousand pounds. (baume-et-mercier.com)

Greubel’s third invention Behold Greubel Forsey’s Tourbillon 24 Secondes Contemporain. Launched a year before the brand’s 10th birthday – a decade in which it has become one of the most fêted names in haute horology – the timepiece houses the watchmaker’s third new invention, the Tourbillon 24 Secondes; a highlyefficient, fast-rotating, 24-second revolution tourbillon cage. Housed in a regal 5N red or white gold case, the invention can be seen ‘floating’ in mid-air thanks to a transparent tourbillon bridge. Limited to 33 pieces, the 24 Secondes Contemporain comes with a lofty £369,500 price tag. (marcuswatches.co.uk)

Crystal clear This brand borrows its name from Abraham-Louis Perrelet, who in the 1770s invented the first self-winding mechanism for pocket watches. Continuing its affinity with self-winding movements, three centuries later Perrelet presents the Turbillon, the latest addition to its Turbine collection. Using crystal sapphire for the first time, the 46mm watch unveils Perrelet’s new tourbillon, which incorporates an escapement with an oxidised silicon wheel and lever. Only 60 will be made. The Turbillion will be available in steel or rose gold, priced at £50,000 and £59,000 respectively (frostoflondon.co.uk)

English engineering Pinion has become the latest buzzword in British watchmaking. Having debuted its inaugural range at last year’s SalonQP watch fair, the South Oxfordshire-based company prides itself on designing, finishing, assembling and testing all of its watches on home soil. The handsome, no-nonsense Pinion Axis, which is now available to buy online, features a self-winding automatic Swiss movement, a 42mm case and Swiss Superluminova coated indexes on its dial. The hard-wearing, highly legible pieces come in steel, bronze or DLC-coated. Prices start at a very industry-reasonable £1,950. (pinionwatches.com) 69

Collection | The CHESHIRE Magazine

#3 #4

#2 #1

Keeping it #12

CLASSIC

For style that’s timeless, opt for racing green or tan leather with a glint of gold

#11

#10

#1 Lord chestnut wood handle umbrella, £195, Francesco Maglia (exclusively for mrporter.com) #2 Brown leather driving gloves, £50, Dents, (liberty.co.uk) #3 Gold-plated glitter dome T-bar cufflinks, £225, Maison Martin Margiela (mrporter.com) #4 Vintage 1945 watch in rose gold, £15,800, Girard Perregaux (girard-perregaux.com) #5 Car-shaped sterling silver tie clip, £675, Foundwell (foundwell.com) #6 Leather iPad case, £149, Burberry (burberry.com) #7 Woven leather belt, £80, Anderson’s (liberty.co.uk) #8 Skull-embossed cufflinks, £105, Alexander McQueen, (harveynichols.com) #9 Jaguar-inspired #20 Monza weekend holdall, £460, Caracalla 1947 (caracalla1947.com) #10 Leather travel explorer holdall, £279, Barbour (johnlewis.com) #11 Phone cover with tab, £90, Mulberry (mulberry.com) #12 De Ville Chronoscope Co-Axial Chronograph, £18,370, Omega (davidmrobinson.com) 70

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28.10.13 15:25

Just a couple of hours from home. And yet a world away.

w w w. a u s t r i a . i n f o

Yo u r p e r s o n a l H o l i d a y I n f o r m a t i o n L i n e : 0845 101 1818 (calls charged at local rates)

Turning head It seems diamond tiaras are no longer restricted to princesses; figures from the last five years of Graff Diamonds reveal a marked increase in the demand for precious head adornments. Following the Hair & Jewels campaign released last year, the luxury jeweller is continuing to make the most of this popular trend with the launch of a new collection of bejewelled Alice bands featuring floral, leaf and butterfly motifs. The company has also developed a unique setting for its brooches which can now be worn in the hair. With each piece showcasing Graff’s flawlessly cut, and meticulously set, diamonds they’re certain to turn a head or two. (graffdiamonds.com)

Jewellery news

Spring is the best time to invest in gorgeous gems and rose gold, for yourself or the one you love WORDS: OLIVIA SHARPE

Think pink

From Fabergé, with love Fabergé’s legacy is rooted in romance. Before the Russian Revolution, founder Peter Carl Fabergé was the jeweller to the Russian Imperial Court during the reign of the last Romanov Tsar Nicholas II and he created exquisite jewels and objects which were often given as gifts to the Tsar’s Empress, Alexandra. More than 100 years later, the house continues to honour this legacy by adding to its much-loved Treillage collection in time for 14 February. The multi-coloured precious jewels have been inspired by the Diamond Trellis Egg, which was first created in 1892 and features the signature quilting pattern. In keeping with the 2014 campaign, which pays tribute to Fabergé’s historic use of colour, the rose gold cushion-patterned jewels have been adorned in an array of kaleidoscopic coloured gemstones and diamonds, showcasing not only the house’s creativity but also its expertise in pavé-setting and enamelling. (faberge.com) 72

From Cartier to Tiffany, it seems there isn’t a luxury jewellery house which hasn’t picked up on the most recent trend for rose gold. While gold and silver have traditionally been considered the more classic of metals, this particular blend of coloured gold has proven itself extremely versatile and wearable. This year, De Beers has extended its Aura collection to include pink gold pieces, including earrings, a pink gold bracelet with white diamonds, a pendant and a solitaire diamond engagement ring. (debeers.com)

Off the record Setting the new world record for a diamond or jewel, the Pink Star diamond was sold at Sotheby’s Geneva on 13 November for an incredible $83,187,380 (£52,024,735), far surpassing the £38 million estimate. After a nail-bitingly tense five minute bidding war between four prospective buyers, it was eventually sold to well-known diamond cutter Isaac Wolf, who has since renamed it ‘Pink Dream’. Mined by De Beers in Africa in 1999, the flawless fancy pink vivid diamond has been described by Sotheby’s David Bennett as ‘a true masterpiece of nature’. (sothebys.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Collection

Q&A with… Cheshire-born jewellery designer and entrepreneur Chloe Moss talks about her thriving brand ChloBo Q: Your mother is from Barbados, and you spent a good deal of time there growing up how has this influenced your taste in jewellery and fashion? A: Barbados is like no other place – it is completely individual the people have such a fun, carefree, laid back attitude and I think that comes across in me and in my jewellery too. ChloBo is all about reflecting your own personality through your stack so nobody’s is the same. Q: You were inspired to create ChloBo while in Bali during a 10-month trip travelling the world - how did the idea to start a business come about? A: I visited the beautiful island of Bali in Indonesia. I meant to stay just 10 days and suddenly I’d been there 2 months. The inspiration to start ChloBo came from watching a lady making bracelets on the beach. I then tracked down a local silversmith to discuss sourcing the best materials and drew on local iconography to inspire the charms. Travel continues to influence and shape ChloBo with the names and ideas for most of my collections coming from my travels. Q: Despite being very young, you’ve managed to create a fantastically successful brand from scratch. What advice would you give to others hoping to do the same? A: You must be passionate and driven in order to succeed. It is also so important that you enjoy what you do - I absolutely love doing what I do and is what drives me each day. Q: What achievement are you most proud of so far, and what’s next for ChloBo? A: Being nominated for Retail Jeweller’s ‘Jewellery Brand of The Year’ for the second year running was a huge achievement for me and my team. To be named in such a prestigious category alongside some very strong, well established brands is a personal highlight. I have just finalised designs for our Spring/ Summer 2014 Collection which sees the introduction of rose gold which I am super excited about. Available at chlobo.co.uk & stores across the country

Worth its weight in gold To complement his Middle Easterninspired S/S14 collection, designer Matthew Williamson called upon jeweller Azza Fahmy to create a line of jewellery. Long necklaces and bracelets weighted with coins drew reference to ancient talismans, while structural rings featured motifs from Egypt and Persia. Finally, cage-like cuffs inspired by an antique Omani belt perfectly contrasted with Williamson’s feminine, floating fabrics. Fahmy is well-known on the fashion circuit, having previously created collections for Julien MacDonald and Preen, and we predict this won’t be the last collection she creates for Williamson. The nine-piece capsule collection is now available in stores and online and includes neck pieces, earrings, oversized rings and bracelets in Sterling silver, gold-plated or the Azza Fahmy trademarked 18-karat gold on Sterling silver. (matthewwilliamson.com)

CUTTING EDGE To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Harry Winston has reinterpreted the token of sending love letters by presenting two unique charms

The ‘With Love’ charm has been designed to resemble an envelope, while the Pavé Diamond Heart has been moulded into a heart shape as a symbol of eternal love. Both charms (sold separately), in either yellow gold or platinum, are meticulously set with exquisite diamonds. These highlight the house’s commitment to creating timeless treasures (harrywinston.com) 73

www.bachet.fr

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Collection

#5 #3 #2

#4 #6

Roses are red For the past year, rose gold has taken over the world of jewellery. Take your pick from Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels or Astley Clarke

#18

#17 #8

#9 #16

#15 #10 #11

#14

#13

#12

#1 Rose-gold pendant, £125, Rachel Galley (rachelgalley.com) #2 Rose-gold diamond ring, £995, Links of London (harrods.com) #3 18-karat pink-gold necklace with amethysts, rubellites and pavé diamonds, from a selection, Bulgari (bulgari.com) #4 Stud earrings, £365 Tiffany & Co (tiffany.co.uk) #5 Bangle, £7,325, Tiffany & Co (as before) #6 Diamond pavé skinny long ring, £205, Monica Vinader (monicavinader.com) #7 Pendant in pink gold, £1,300, Van Cleef & Arpels, (vancleef-arpels.com) #8 Rose-gold-dipped topaz earrings, £1,580, Larkspur & Hawk (net-a-porter.com) #9 Rose-gold ruby slice bracelet, £1,350, Meira T (harrods.com) #10 Pink and white diamond ring, from a selection, David Morris (davidmorris.com) #11 Pink-gold earrings, £4,150, Van Cleef & Arpels (as before) #12 Ring, £4,500, Astley Clarke (astleyclarke.com) #13 Ring, £295, Hillier at Astley Clarke (as before) #14 Rose-gold bracelet, £330, Astley Clarke (as before) #15 18-karat pink-gold ring, from a selection, Chanel Fine Jewellery (chanel.com) #16 18-karat rose-gold diamond ring, Brooke Gregson, £1,354, (net-a-porter.com) #17 Cuff, £2,125, Tiffany & Co, as before #18 18-karat pink-gold ring set with rubies, from a selection, Adler (adler-joailliers.com) 75

All that glisters… ‘Cash for gold!’ For a long while it seemed that whenever you turned the television on every advert was exhorting you to post your gold off and get cash back. It’s recently gone very quiet on that front, but does that mean that gold is no longer a wise investment? W o r d s : K at e H o u g h t o n

etween 1999 and 2002 Gordon Brown sold off 60% of the UK’s gold reserves, at a time when the price of gold was at a 20 year low, at just $300 an ounce. By 2011 gold was achieving a high of $1,920 an ounce, making those gold reserves worth six times as much as when Brown auctioned them off. He clearly had his reasons, and a great financial analyst could no doubt take us through them, but that’s not the point of this story. The point is that we, the general public, suddenly became aware of the facility to sell off old, inherited or unworn jewellery and get ourselves some cash back. The end of 2013 saw a crash in the value of gold prices, down to around $1,200 an ounce. A problem for the markets maybe, but not so much for those considering selling gold to raise funds, surely?

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

Well, actually, it might be. Gold as a precious metal has an intrinsic value, but the gold bought and sold by City traders is not the same as the gold sitting in your jewellery box. Gold is measured in karats and always denoted in 24ths; pure gold, the sort the markets trade in, is 24 karat – 24 parts of 24 are gold. Nine karat gold – the cheapest – has only 9/24 parts of gold by mass, or 37.5%, the rest being copper or silver. Eighteen karat gold is 75% gold, and 22 karat gold is 91.6% and so the most expensive as it is nearly pure.

‘Very few pieces of jewellery will appreciate in value in anything less than a very long timeframe’ The heavy gold fob chain your Great Uncle Joe left you then may well weigh quite a lot, but its value will be significantly determined by its karat weight. But what if it’s an antique? Sorry, this rarely makes a difference. Gold items pretty much have a scrap value only. The same applies to precious gems too. That diamond ring your grandmother bequeathed will only be worth whatever the market value of diamonds is at the point you decide to sell it. And don’t forget, the buyer must cover his own costs and seek to make a profit too. Very few pieces of jewellery will appreciate in value in anything less than a very long timeframe – unless it’s an extraordinary piece with some appeal to collectors, who are not, of course, making the purchase for its scrap value. Pieces created by famous jewellery houses, or bought for and worn by celebrities of times gone past will usually find they attract the attention of collectors and if two competitive collectors are bidding… well, all bets are off as to how much can be achieved. Wallis Simpson, whose charms persuaded King 

Feature | The cheshire Magazine

Edward VIII to abdicate, had an extensive jewellery collection filled with pieces of high drama created by some of the best jewellery houses in Europe. A single bracelet, a stunning onyx and diamond panther made by Cartier, was sold by Sotheby’s for an astonishing £4.5m in 2010, after a tense battle between two phone bidders. It was rumoured to have been bought by Madonna, who was filming her Wallis Simpson biopic, W.E., at the time. Sotheby’s, of course, couldn’t possibly comment.

‘A stunning onyx and diamond panther made by Cartier, was sold by Sotheby’s for an astonishing £4.5m in 2010’ It’s probably safe to say however that unless you’re dealing with extraordinary pieces, gold and gems is not the way to go if you’re seeking any kind of return on investment. If however, the pleasure comes in the owning, the wearing and the admiring – then aim high now, and your family will no doubt thank you later. Much, much later!

onyx and diamond panther by Cartier

A case in point There’s a saying that a man should spend at least two weeks’ worth of his monthly salary on the engagement ring for his chosen bride. Well, the chap who bought this Burmese ruby ring for his bride-to-be in 1945 is unlikely to have stuck to this rule, as in 1945 £78 was more than nine times the average monthly wage. The receipt, from a jewellers in Hatton Garden, shows that our romantic chose a 1.10 carat Burmese ruby for his fiancée, set between two brilliant cut 0.50 carat diamonds. Burmese rubies were then, and still are, the most sought after of stones, and the ‘pigeon-blood red’ colour the most highly prized of these. The purchase date, 1 March 1945, shows that we were still a country at war - but it remains a mystery if our man of romance was a military man or not. We like to think he was, buying the most precious of rings for the love of his life, when love was given an extra intensity by the uncertain times in which they lived, and fought. In 2013 Christopher Evans Goldsmiths, in Poynton, were asked to value this beautiful piece and revealed that it’s now worth £3,600. Had the same gentleman simply invested his £78 in 1945, it would now be worth £2,948, and he and his wife would have had none of the joy of owning such a beautiful piece of jewellery, or of being able to pass it along to the next generation.

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LET’S HEAR IT With International Women’s Day fast approaching, Gemma Knight takes a look at four of Cheshire’s most influential ladies and how they made their mark on the big wide world

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

FOR THE GIRLS O

n March 8th 2014 International Women’s Day will once again be observed the world over, celebrating the immense contribution made by the female sex throughout history for the one-hundredth year running. Across the world, the day will be marked with parties, marches, lectures and countless other events intended to draw attention to both the achievements of

womankind and the injustices still faced by many. It seemed only fitting, then, that we do our bit by chronicling the lives of some of Cheshire’s most well-loved and widely-celebrated ladies – although, in a county where self-made businesswomen and female empowerment are as prevalent as cheese, salt and silk, it goes without saying that we were certainly spoiled for choice. 

eighteen to take up her place there. After a successful thirty-five years in the acting world – during which she was also awarded the CBE by the Queen - Jackson decided to turn her hand to politics and stand for election to the House of Commons in the 1992 general election. She was successfully elected, and became Labour MP for the London constituency of Hampstead and Highgate, a post she followed with stints as Shadow Minister for Transport, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State and even a bid to become Mayor of London. Not bad for a working-class girl born beside the Mersey.

 Elizabeth

above: glenda jackson; right: blue plaque commemorating elizabeth gaskell

 Glenda

Jackson

Famed for her roles in the 1969 adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s Women in Love, for which she won her first Academy Award for best actress, and the 1973 romantic comedy A Touch of Class, for which she won her second, Glenda Jackson was a screen icon of her age and truly a Cheshire gal. The actress-turned-MP was born in 1936 in the Wirral’s famous ship-building town of Birkenhead. Her father was a well-known builder and bricklayer in the community, while her mother worked in shops and as a cleaner, with the teenage Jackson attending West Kirby County Grammar School for Girls and working in a local branch of Boots the Chemist. She was also heavily involved with local amateur dramatics – unsurprisingly – and often performed with the YMCA drama group before winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and consequently moving to London at the age of

Gaskell

Though not born there, legendary novelist Elizabeth Gaskell nevertheless considered herself a Cheshire native through and through. Known for her novels and short stories recounting the often harsh reality of life in industrial Victorian England, Gaskell’s work usually focused – appropriately enough – on the role of women in a seldom equal society, with her own experiences as an independently-minded woman providing plenty of first-hand inspiration. She was born in 1810 in the fashionable London district of Chelsea, the youngest of eight children and the daughter of a former Unitarian minister. However, when her mother died shortly after her birth, Elizabeth was sent to live with her aunt in Knutsford, spending the remainder of her childhood living at Heathwaite, a large red-brick house on a road then called Heathside (now known as the Knutsford Heath-facing Gaskell Avenue). The Cheshire lifestyle and countryside seduced her immediately and was a constant influence on her work, with Knutsford itself famously immortalised in her hugely successful novel Cranford (yes, that Cranford). In 1832, at the age of twenty-one, she married William

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

Gaskell in Knutsford and settled with her new husband in Manchester, eventually in a beautiful pink neoclassical villa at 84 Plymouth Grove where they lived out the rest of their lives. Fans will be interested to note that the Manchester Historic Buildings Trust is currently in the midst of a huge restoration project on the house, so we’ll be crossing our fingers that it’ll soon be ship-shape and ready to be added to the city’s long list of historic tourist attractions open to the public.

 Sarah

Burton

If you didn’t know her name in March 2011, you certainly did by the end of April. Already an illustrious fashion designer in her own right, it was when she was chosen to design futureDuchess-of-Cambridge Kate Middleton’s wedding dress that she was suddenly rocketed into the public eye like never before. Born in Macclesfield in 1974, Burton is one of five children and attended the prestigious Withington Girls’ School in Fallowfield, going on to do an art foundation course at Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University, who made her a Doctor of Arts in 2012 by awarding her an honorary degree in recognition of her contribution to the fashion world). It was then that she left our fair county to study Print Fashion at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design, going on to graduate in 1997 and become Alexander McQueen’s personal assistant then, in 2000, Head of Womenswear at the increasingly prosperous brand, designing for the likes of Cate Blanchett, Gwyneth Paltrow and Michelle Obama. In 2010, following McQueen’s death, she was made Creative Director of the company before being approached to design Kate Middleton and her maid of honour, Pippa Middleton’s,

much talked-about dresses for the eagerly anticipated royal wedding. Burton now lives in the London district of St John’s Wood with her husband David, who is a fashion photographer, and was awarded an OBE in 2012 for services to the fashion industry.

 Paula

Radcliffe

If representing your country in four consecutive Olympic Games, winning the London and New York marathons three times apiece and being voted World Athlete of the Year – and doing all of this with asthma, no less – doesn’t put you up there with the greatest women in modern Britain (let alone Cheshire), then we don’t know what does. Paula Radcliffe was born in Davenham near Northwich in 1973, suffering from asthma but encouraged to run by her father nonetheless, as he was a keen amateur marathon runner himself and saw that the then seven year-old Paula showed potential. The family then proceeded to move around the county – first to nearby Barnton, where Radcliffe attended Little Leigh Primary School, then to Kingsley, remaining a member of Frodsham Athletic Club until the age of nine and there honing the skills with which she was to take the world by storm. When Radcliffe was twelve the family left Cheshire and settled in Bedfordshire, although she never forgot her Northern roots – nor, as we all know only too well, the athletic talents she discovered there. By the age of twenty-five she had won gold in the European Cup’s 5000m in St. Petersburg, an accolade which she followed by achieving seven more gold medals across a range of championships within the next ten years, stopping along the way to marry husband Gary Lough in 2001, receive an MBE in 2002 and give birth to her daughter, Isla, and son, Raphael in 2007 and 2010.

above: PAULA RADCLIFFE (PHOTO: Chris Mole); left: sarah burton

Fashion news

There are almost too many beautiful new additions to the fashion world at this time of year – we’re thoroughly spoiled for choice, and we’re loving every minute of it words: gemma knight & k at e r a c o v o l i s

Mother of reinvention Famous for reinventing the Little White Shirt, design powerhouse Anne Fontaine have done it again with their exquisite Spring/Summer ’14 collection. Featuring a whirlwind of no-nonsense, expertly cut pieces from stunning a-line skirts to elegant backless shirts, collared blouses and stunningly tailored wide-legged slacks. Her subtle touches of calming colours serve to break up the otherwise perfectly balanced block pieces, with the brand’s trademark blacks and whites injecting a not-to-be-messed-with shock of Parisian chic. (annefontaine.com)

Pour Homme Just in time for Valentine’s day, Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta brings us their first fragarance for men, Bottega Veneta Pour Homme. It features a distinctive medley of exotic scents, including laudanum from Spanish Andalusia, pine from Siberia, juniper from the Balkans, and fir resins from Canada, a heady concoction. The adventurous idea for the new perfume comes from creative director Tomas Meyer, who says he was inspired by the airy Dolomite mountain range in northern Italy – feel free to drop some hints to the woman in your life. Bottega Veneta Pour Homme, from £50 (harrods.com)

Bags of charm Don’t let the name fool you, purveyor of stunningly elegant, luxury handbags Florian London is every inch the international brand – and, with their classic, traditional approach to design with a modern twist, it’s hard not to fall head over heels in love with their newest collection of chic, professional leather bags. We especially love the cleverly designed compartments inside the City Bag, a sumptuously soft calf leather tote available in sky grey or biscuit brown, and the sturdy yet stylish Eleanor Doctor Bag, available in black or a deep seductive red. (florianlondon.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Fashion

Sheer elegance We don’t like to exaggerate, but the superlatives were certainly flying when the latest offerings from Shell Belle Couture arrived in our office. This naughty-but-nice and oh-so sophisticated luxury lingerie brand has created some of the most stunning pieces we’ve seen, from their deliciously delicate Beau Lace Robe to their vintage selection and sumptuous swimwear. Each piece is designed in Britain and made in Mauritius using the highest quality silks, tulles and laces, creating a SS14 collection without doubt fit for the finest boudoirs. (shellbellecouture.com)

Game, set, match The folks at Charlie Noble know how to have some serious fun, and we certainly know style and quality when we see it. The British brand has come up with a sophisticated set of equipment for leisure, including Canadian maple and American walnut bats and English-made balls, boules from France and a Scottish leather bag, which are hand stitched in London. Each of these finely made pieces are sold either individually or as a set – but as soon as you hold that butter-soft leather in your hand or touch the shiny chromeplated boule in your palm, you won’t want to turn up to an afternoon in the park or gardens without them. The Collection, £450 Charlie Noble (charlienoble.co.uk)

Sneak peak Firm favourite Superdry is certainly no stranger to our fair county, with its hoards of Cheshire-based devotees giving rise to countless concessions from Liverpool to Altringham. It stands to reason, then, that we were brimming with excitement to see the preview of their men’s and women’s AW14 collections, unveiled on January 7 at the British Fashion Council’s show. We can confirm that fans of the brand can expect to see its most diverse and progressive collection to date when new ranges hit the shelves this autumn – trust us, you won’t be disappointed. Trafford Centre, Manchester M17 8BN (superdry.com)

Racing to the top If you’re keen on biking and like to look the part, you’ll be interested to know that Meccanica Coritani has recently launched a gentleman’s lifestyle collection showcased at their new store in Knutsford and concession in Altrincham. The collection encompasses grooming products and accessories, but the main event is an array of stylish attire for the discerning male dresser, combining British heritage and Italian design, inspired by racers of the 50s, 60s and 70s and boasting fabulous versatility. We love their innovative take on the classic polo shirt, not to mention gorgeous modern range of denim and twill. The Old Cycle Works, Windsor Way, Knutsford WA16 6JB

‘The Jimmy Choo woman is serious in her love of fashion, but lives with a certain style of humour and wit in her approach. It’s what sets her apart’ – Raul Martinez, Design Director, American Vogue 86

The cheshire Magazine | Fashion

If the

Choofits Jimmy Choo OBE is the less vocal co-founder of the world-famous shoe brand that bears his eponymous moniker. As his former business partner shares her musings on their tumultuous relationship, Jimmy talks life-affirming mantras and inspiring the next generation with Kari Rosenberg

‘R

emember: he Jimmy Choo de man, no Jimmy Choo de bran!’ barks the shoe designer’s lawyer/ minder/formidable heavyweight. Reps and escorts are all in a dither: ‘Jimmy’s near the building!’ ‘Jimmy’s walking through the building!’ ‘Jimmy’s… still in the building!’ I’m half expecting him to enter on a stilettoshaped rickshaw, his fawning disciples touching their battered pumps to his prophetic cobbler’s hands. ‘Don’t mention the sale of Jimmy Choo! Don’t mention the future of Jimmy Choo!’ the lawyer continues to howl, as I wait for Jimmy to pass through the room and my allotted interview slot (Jimmy sold his 50 per cent stake in Jimmy Choo Ltd, which he co-founded in 1996, in 2001, for around £10 million; but he signed a strict confidentiality agreement on the matter). ‘How about Tamara Mellon?’ I can’t help but volunteer (the former Vogue accessories editor with whom he made the initial partnership), half expecting to be escorted from the premises by the scruff of the neck. She’s been in countless magazines and newspapers over the past few weeks, promoting her new self-named brand and slating Jimmy in her biography, In My Shoes: ‘He didn’t design a single shoe,’ she told the Daily Mail. But (after a very long, slightly nerve-wracking pause) the lawyer cracks an unexpected smile, lowering his eyes, and his voice. ‘Yes. Nooo mention Tamara Mellon!’ We are in the Czech capital for the MercedesBenz Prague Fashion Weekend; organised by CZ models, it is gaining prominence within the

industry for bringing world renowned fashion designers to support local talent. There’s an opening party at The Augustine Hotel, where we will both be luxuriating for the long weekend (and subsequently breaking bread together for the next three days) accompanied by his family, friends, and entourage of handlers. I’ve yet to get to know Jimmy and his crew at this point – who after our first meal together later that evening, I soon came to see as warm, generous and down-to-earth. I’d seen pictures of Jimmy before, but I couldn’t help but notice that he’s even more petite in person as we sit down to talk in the beautiful Tower Suite at The Augustine. His delicate hands are those of a skilled artisan; his frame small, inconspicuous, yet somehow majestic; his skin gently lined, though not as much as you may expect for a man of his 60 years. Jimmy Choo (de man), original name Chow (it was spelt wrong on his birth certificate) has a flowery way of speaking. I’m engrossed, hanging onto every word he says, as he drifts from philosophy to education, though his answers are more spiritual ponderings than feature-friendly sound-bites. He doesn’t break eye contact once, and is incredibly tactile; complimenting my hand bag (as I try to hide my Judas Louboutin-ed feet) and doing his best to lighten the atmosphere as we are surrounded by nearly a dozen of his people for the interview, poised to jump in should I say something irksome ‘(Don’t mention the war!)’. He’s still grateful to the woman and industry that discovered him, despite what may have 

left: Photography by Mark Seymour markseymour photography.co.uk For wedding photography call 01628 668 283

been said. ‘I believe that you have to have a smart head and that you have to treat everyone very nicely,’ he says. ‘But I do believe [success] is also about luck. After Vogue saw my show in Italy they called me up and wanted to see my shoes. If it wasn’t for the eight page spread in the magazine that followed, I wouldn’t be here today.’ Growing up in a ‘shoe designing family,’ his father was a cobbler in Malaysia. ‘When I was young, I worked with him after school,’ he says. ‘I would watch him design and make shoes. It was from there that my interest began. Shoes are so important; they are art pieces... I have a quick hand that I learnt from him. I love designing shoes, not because I make money from it, but

because they are very special. They make people happy. I am always designing in my heart. I also train young students that [go on to] work with me, hand in hand together.’ He made his first pair aged 11 for his mother – some sandals ‘as it’s so hot in Malaysia!’ And yes, he still has them. From Malaysia he moved to Hackney, working part time as a cleaner and waiter to fund his education at the Cordwainers Technical College, from where he graduated in 1983. I complain about the comfort factor of some designer shoe brands and mention a recent interview with Tom Ford where he stated that such fripperies have no part to play in fashion. What’s his opinion? ‘Tom is a top designer and

‘The Jimmy Choo woman is in command of her femininity. We always try to capture that sense of power in our photos’ – Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin 88

above: Vogue Espana, October 2010, modelled by Elena Melnik Photography by Victor Demarchelier Taken from Jimmy Choo XV, Rizzoli, rizzolibookstore.com

The cheshire Magazine | Fashion

a great friend of mine, but that is his own opinion. [Comfort] is different when it comes to clothing; if clothes are a bit too tight or too loose it is OK, but it’s a different story with shoes. You can’t have them too tight or you will kill yourself! They have to be comfortable.’ Jimmy Choo Couture, based in Paddington (where he designs bespoke footwear) will be closed for the next two years so he can focus on other projects. So when he’s not at his London abode in Hyde Park (next door to his good friend Jasper Conran) he’ll be travelling the world looking to inspire, and be inspired. ‘I’ll be bringing education to students and to aspiring young designers. That is why I’m here today. I’m always looking for talent. I want to give ambitious designers a platform,’ he says. He has an apprentice with him for the weekend; a young Malaysian designer named Phuna, (who doesn’t have as full a grasp of English as she does the emoticon keyboard), who’s creations cause a storm on the runway. There are tons of awards which he keeps between his UK and Malaysian homes: ‘I appreciate it when I get my awards. It represents how people worked in the old days. My whole team is so important. They are my teachers, as well as my late parents. We all need a good team to support us. Without my team I’m nobody. I must remember that as a designer, I can design at any time, but I need my family and team around me to hold my hand; to keep me going and to give me energy.’ It’s all very zen, ‘doing mantra’ every day. Though incredibly, he doesn’t believe he is successful yet: ‘I tell my students “you are never the best, there is always someone better”. In Chinese philosophy we say “one mountain is always higher than another mountain”. That is my philosophy.’ Jimmy even thanks me for the privilege of being interviewed; not something a journalist hears every day. I’m determined not to ask him about the late Princess Diana, as so many have in the past. He made her last pair of shoes – gold pumps – just before she died, which he planned to deliver

‘Tamara has developed a distinct language, whether it’s the heels or the straps or the slightly rock ‘n’ roll attitude mixed with the ladylike’ – Natalie Massenet, Founder and Executive Chairman, Net-A-Porter personally, though sadly, he never got the chance. But he brings up their relationship on his own: ‘If it wasn’t for Diana, I wouldn’t be here today. I worked with her for seven years. When Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge went to Malaysia, and Kate told me she was wearing my shoes, it meant a lot.’ ‘If you look at why Britain is so strong today, it has a lot to do with the royal family; they play a big role as people want to follow them. My sister used to dress like Lady Di, but now everyone wants to dress like Kate!’ My time is up and I’m ushered out the suite. But I get to dinner a few hours later to find Jimmy, along with the aforementioned posse, in tow. He does the rounds, making small talk and checking everyone’s happy. He talks proudly about his children; his daughter Emily has trained as a pastry chef while his son Danny is huge in the animation world. A few glasses of wine later and the lawyer is YouTube-ing away, showing us with pride Danny’s huge following and his own penchant for the Japanese style comics, as Jimmy beams: ‘I love Manga!’ Following a jam-packed weekend, Jimmy and his family wake up especially to say an early morning farewell, all smiles and outstretched arms. While I didn’t touch on Tamara’s claims, which have gained momentum since our interview took place, it’s impossible, having met him, to believe a bad word against his character or work ethic. Admittedly, I ‘no mention’ the dirty details, but one thing’s for sure: Jimmy Choo de man. Prague Fashion Weekend was sponsored by MercedesBenz, Stars Communication and CZ Models with Jimmy Choo as the guest of honour. For more information on the Mercedes-Benz Prague Fashion Weekend visit fashionweekend.cz To book through CZ Models visit czmodels.cz. With thanks to our hosts The Augustine Hotel, theaugustine.com

Luxe

be a

lady

Purity of colour, of fabric and design. Luxe is about more than the glam factor, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about feeling good too P h o t o g r a p h e r : J o n At t e n b o r o u g h S t y l i s t: R a c h e l G o l d

The cheshire Magazine | Fashion

Pale blue cotton embroidered and printed guipure coat, £6,200, Christian Dior (dior.com). White python peeptoe wedge, £550, Burberry Prorsum (uk.burberry.com). Horn leaf double clip earrings, £110, Monies (harveynichols.com)

Fashion | The cheshire Magazine

ABOVE Dolman sleeve Oxford shirt, £415, Alexander Wang, (harveynichols.com)

RIGHT Blue crepe skirt, £635, Preen (harveynichols.com). Sleeveless embroidered shirt with pointed collar, £115, Antipodium (antipodium.com). Veronica fluorescent heels, £450, Gina (gina.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Fashion

ABOVE Cary white bonded cotton silk, gem and rhinestone pencil skirt, £3,995, Burberry Prorsum, as before; Embroidered front panel white shirt, £275, Victoria Beckham (harveynichols.com)

LEFT Tipee dress, £540, Goat (matchesfashion.com). Serana white and red wedge brogue, £355, Robert Clergerie, 67 Wigmore Street London W1; Gold vermeil Bisous hoops with black and white pave, £425, Missoma (missoma.com)

Fashion | The cheshire Magazine

ABOVE Cropped white jumper, £295, Just Cavalli (justcavalli.com). White pencil skirt with leaf print and lace back, £844, Antonio Berardi (harrods.com). Traviata patent leather bag in ice blue, £1,240, Launer (launer.com)

RIGHT Sleeveless clean cotton stretch jacket, £126, Stripe lace skirt, £285, both Moschino Cheap and Chic (harveynichols.com). Top with lace sleeves, £195, Lady Dior yellow and orange gradient box in calfskin, £3,400 and sandal in red satin and orange glazed leather with comma heel and white rubber sole, £680, all Christian Dior, as before 96

CREDITS Photographer & Stylist Contact: Jon Attenborough (lharepresents.com). Rachel Gold (lharepresents.com) Hair and Make Up: Bobbie Ross using Bumble & Bumble and Armani cosmetics Stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Assistant: Lauren Godwin Photography Assistant: James Donovan Model: Hermione Corfield @ Milk Management (milkmanagement.co.uk)

IMAGE: JO MALONE JUST LIKE SUNDAY CAMPAIGN IMAGE

Beauty news The January detox may well be over, but that’s no excuse to ignore the challenges these dreary days of February throw at us. Here are some of the best new releases for these most demanding of months w o r d s : K AT E H O U G H T O N

Keep it clean Those clever people at Clarins know what’s good for us, and a cleansing cream that eliminates all traces of pollution and detoxifies in addition to cleansing and nourishing the skin ought to do it. Whether your skin is weakened by the grubby urban environment, or simply in need of comfort and well-being, this is the cream of cleansers. New Extra-Comfort Anti-Pollution Cleansing Cream, £25. Selfridges & Co Exchange Square & Trafford 98

Love chilled out days Sunday comes but once a week, but that’s not enough for those scent mavens at Jo Malone, who have brought in über-stylist Charlotte Stockdale to develop a new range that will have you welling up with nostalgia. Four gloriously scented candles will bring back memories of Sundays from childhood on: start the day with Lavendar & Lovage, breeze into lunch with Green Tomato Leaf, enjoy afternoon tea with Sweet Almond & Macaroon and finally snuggle down with a good book and Incense & Embers. Bliss, from dawn till dusk. Jo Malone Just Like Sunday Home Candles, £39 each (jomalone.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Beauty

Bee kind

Treatment of the month I love to be pampered, don’t get me wrong, but when I choose a facial it has to deliver results, not just make me feel good. So, you can imagine my joy when I learned that Murad had opened a treatment room at John Lewis in Cheadle. I’ve long been a fan – their sun cream is fabulous – and the more I learn about the company, the better it gets. Murad was founded by Dr. Murad (senior) in 1989, after years as a dermatologist trying to address all the ills that the Californian sun can cause. Now joined by his two super-offspring, Drs Murad and Murad (Junior), it’s very much a family business and with their names and scientific reputation at stake, you can bet they take it very seriously.

‘The results however have longevity – tauter, firmer, smoother skin’

Passionate about raising the awareness of the plight of our native bees and the fragility of our ecosystem, Chantecaille has created this magical Save the Bees Palette. With 5% of proceeds being donated to help protect our bees, you can now do your bit too. Save The Bees Palette, £74. Space NK, 11 Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5AE

Got that sinking feeling? A sagging jaw line is no joke, so I’m more than thrilled that those lovely people at Crème de la Mer have developed a serious punch line. Their new Lifting Contour Serum uses Perennial Brown Algae, coined as ‘the fountain of youth’, copper-rich Blue Algae and rejuvenating marine peptides, as well as their legendary Miracle BrothTM, to make the contours of the jaw line look more lifted and skin appear firmer and more defined. All this, when combined with their specially devised Lifting Contour Massage, serves to give your skin a tighter feeling from the first touch, and helps define and re-shape the look of contours, significantly transforming the skin’s appearance. Crème de la Mer Lifting Contour Serum, £230 (cremedelamer.com)

My treatment was, as expected, all about the results. We started with a visit to the Youthcam, Murad’s own skin analysis system, which can show you in terrifying detail the true state of your skin, and project how it might look in a year’s time. Your therapist, in my case the knowledgeable and experienced Naomi, uses the analysis to make a recommendation for the best products and facial treatment to suit your skin’s current state and your personal concerns. For me it’s all about the onset of those fine lines that take you from youthful to matronly almost overnight. Naomi recommended the AHA Rapid Exfoliator Anti-Aging Facial, and off we went. Now, this treatment might be results driven, but it certainly doesn’t lack the pamper factor we so love. Over an hour I enjoyed a facial massage, a neck, shoulder and arm massage and a deeply comforting cleanse and face mask, but the bit that really counts is the glycolic peel. To best describe this I’d like to introduce a new word: stingly. It tingles almost to the point of stinging, but this slightly uncomfortable sensation lasts just three minutes before it’s all whipped off. The results however have much more longevity – tauter, firmer, smoother skin. A full week later and I can still feel the difference; pampering with a purpose – perfect. Murad Facials from £55, John Lewis Beauty Retreat, Cheadle. (johnlewis.com)

Now for the science bit Did you know that after the age of 40 your collagen production levels halve? Disastrously (for those of us on the edge of wrinkledom) collagen molecules are too large to penetrate the skin, so topical treatments cannot help – until now. We bow down before the awesome Dr Murad, who discovered that he could break an intact collagen protein down into its components of amino acids that are small enough to penetrate. Murad’s new skin serum therefore promotes healthy collagen and hydration levels to plump skin and smooth fine lines and wrinkles – in just two hours! Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion, £79, John Lewis Cheadle

On the hunt for picture-perfect eyebrows, Kate Harrison meets industry expert Shavata Singh to discuss her foray into Semi-Permanent Make-Up

The

perfect 100

frame

The cheshire Magazine | Beauty

f you think eyebrow grooming is a modern fixation, think again. The pursuit of perfect arches has transcended not only decades but dynasties. The Egyptians blackened theirs with kohl, the Elizabethans liberally applied walnut oil to inhibit growth and the turn of the 20th century saw the exaggerated monobrow of Frida Kahlo, no explanation required. Thankfully, contemporary trends have been more forgiving, although the popularity of pin-thin brows in years gone by has left some of us struggling as the desire for a more ‘au naturel’ look returns. Unfortunately, it is precisely a full brow which can frame the face and help us to look younger and more polished with minimal effort. Brow guru Shavata Singh is renowned in the industry as the go-to lady for all brow concerns and to look at her you can see why. She oozes effortless glamour and has a youthful, natural beauty, however, you can’t stop yourself analysing her arched brows – perfectly shaped but so natural you wouldn’t have said that they are highly maintained. As Shavata tells me, that is exactly the point. ‘Eyebrows aren’t there to be complimented. It’s like when you go into an art gallery, you never say, “Oh my God what a beautiful frame”,’ she laughs. ‘The frame is there silently to make that painting look its best. My job is the same – to help complement the windows of the soul. A lot of our clients always say people ask them if they have done something different after they’ve had their eyebrows done by us because they look so well. It’s almost like a mini face lift, or making someone look like they’ve had a perfect night’s sleep!’ With over 25 years of experience within the beauty industry, and having rigorously passed her skills onto her highly dedicated team, Shavata has a loyal client base of women who won’t have their eyebrows

perfected by anyone else. And after just minutes in her company, I can understand why. Never before have my eyebrows undergone such scrutiny to find a brow-boosting solution which complements my face. Usually I’m placed in a chair and a therapist has started tinting and shaping without even a few words uttered about what it is I’m trying to achieve. Here, we discuss in detail which treatments would naturally suit me – the colour, the length, the width, the arch – and discuss what might be the best overall ‘look’. I ask Shavata who she trusts to manicure her own brows considering that, as I did, everyone must assess them instinctively. She replies with confidence: ‘Any one of my therapists; whoever is free. If they are not good enough for me, they are not good enough for my clients’. Enough said. The shape of the eyebrow depends upon its natural growth and all her therapists are taught to achieve an appearance that enhances a client’s facial features, rather than replicates current trends. Typically, Shavata’s team use a unique combination of threading, waxing and final tweaking with scissors and tweezers that enables them to produce the perfect arch for each person. She lists a ‘harsh’ finish as the sign of any bad tinting procedure – if people look straight at your eyebrows, I’m told, it has not been done properly. Following the success of 20 UK-wide salon concessions, Shavata has personally developed a range of highly-praised products and utensils to help clients maintain the effects at home, including the award winning Slanted Tweezers, Brow Tamer and Arch Enhancer. However, devout fans will be pleased to hear that in addition to leading her company and training her team, she has recently broadened her expertise to include Semi-permanent Make-up, offering a picture-perfect finish, with endurance. 

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Beauty | The cheshire Magazine

The treatment review semi-permanent eyebrows

ith two children under three and a hectic working life, it’s hard to find the time to wash my hair, let alone to apply makeup. So when I heard about the Semi-permanent Eyebrows treatment, I was desperate, albeit a little nervous, to give it a try. My eyebrows are sparse as a result of many years of obsessive overplucking and while endless tinting sessions help to a degree, I still find myself envying women with a full brow. So, with this in mind, I book an appointment with one of Shavata’s skilled therapists at the Shavata studio at Harvey Nichols in Manchester. Concerned that I was going to live with my new brows for a good 12 month period I booked a consultation to find out exactly what to expect from the finished look. Shavata is all too aware that her brows are her signature and she made it clear that, as such, she and her team would be happier to turn a client away than create an unnatural shape and colour. Semi-permanent make-up lasts between nine and 12 months and while you can have treatments that will last up to two years, my therapist explained that it is better to achieve a perfect, natural-looking brow from day one, rather than have to wear-in overly dramatic arches for the first year: I left confident and excited at the prospect of the definition the treatment would give. On my next visit I sat back in a dentists’ chair as my therapist smeared hot wax under the brow and threaded and trimmed my eyebrows into neatly manicured arches. She then used a regular eyebrow pencil to shape and colour my brow to find a shape I was happy with. I was told that typically this is a process that ‘takes as long

as it takes’ but as luck has it, I was pleased with the very first attempt. Next, three varying shades of ink were smeared on my forehead for us to assess each one against my skin tone. We opted for the darkest of the three, ready to begin the application itself: A topical anaesthetic was first applied to numb the skin. Next, a fine needle was used to tattoo individual hairs. While the process was more tingly than painful, the procedure wasn’t comfortable – although it was all over in 40 minutes, which I reasoned was a small sacrifice for the facelift effects I would soon have. I was told that the colour would fade by 80 per cent over the next five days and to smear a healing balm over the brows as often as possible. I was also advised to wear heavier makeup than usual to ‘balance’ the darker shade. The therapist then handed me a mirror. Nervously I gazed at my new semi-permanent creations. My eyebrows were perfect – much darker than I expected – as I had been warned countless times, but the shape was just as I would have wished for. A week later, my eyebrows have healed and a perfect shade of brown has been revealed that complements my hair tone and offers exactly the right balance of natural colour and definition. The Shavata brow studio offers clients the opportunity to return any time during the three months following their treatment, for a touch up or change of shape, but I’m more than happy and all for anything that offers youthful results without a scalpel and added confidence without make-up. Shavata Brow Studio, Harvey Nichols Manchester 0161 828 8560; shavata.co.uk

SHAVATA ESSENTIALS #1 Brow perfector, £19.50

#2 Aftercare Gel, £5.95

#5 Natural wax candles, £9.95

#3 Extreme Volumising Mascara, £15

#4 15 x Mag Mirror, £12.95 #6 Precision tweezers, £20.50

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www.terranovaschool.co.uk

“Starting school was a huge adjustment for our son, but we quickly realised how good TN is at supporting children. TN has inspired him to want to learn, and he is now finding all aspects of learning fun, and is engaged totally; the school has opened up the world to him, widening his horizons.”

FUTURE EVENTS Reception ‘Stay and Play’ Thursday 27 February 1:30 – 3:00 Whole School Open Morning Saturday 8 March 10:00 – 12:30 Nursery Taster Session Friday 14 March 10:00 – 12:00 Please register to attend by calling Melanie Machin on 01477 571261 Terra Nova School, Jodrell Bank, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, CW4 8BT

Off the

beaten

track Cruise over frozen lakes in Russian Siberia, or meander around Icelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glaciers and volcanic lakes in one of the top 4x4s available with Land Roverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adventurous driving expeditions w o r d s : ric h a r d y a rr o w

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

he joke goes that the nearest most 4x4 cars ever get to off-roading is when they bump up the pavement outside school twice a day. It’s funny because it’s true: SUVs from the likes of Land Rover, Mercedes, Audi, BMW and Jeep have become status symbols as well as family runabouts, in part because of the technology and craftsmanship available inside. They are excellent for dropping little Billy by the playground, but many are capable of much more, particularly when they leave the tarmac. Some car manufacturers are keen to exploit that fact and have turned travel agent, offering driving holidays in some of the most remote and beautiful corners of the planet. Land Rover is a brand with a rich heritage in adventure and global exploration. Just in the last few months it revealed a 20,000-mile scientific and educational mission to Siberia, support for polar trekker Ben Saunders on an 1,800-mile walk across Antarctica, a one-make rally series and a successful attempt on a speed record across the Arabian Peninsula’s Empty Quarter. While Land Rover won’t offer such trips to the paying public, there are plenty of

foreign expeditions that anyone can sign up for. Closest to home is a “driving holiday” in Iceland. From glaciers to hot, bubbling volcanic lakes, the island is full of extremes and its unique geology, wildlife, remote waterfalls, caves and geysers are like nothing else. By contrast, going to the USA might seem like an easy option, but Moab in Utah will challenge drivers with routes over some of the most awe-inspiring mountain landscapes. The trip culminates in the ascent of nearly 40-degree rock slopes, known locally as Hell’s Revenge. Five minutes on YouTube will reveal just how brutal and unforgiving the location can be. In Africa, the giant sand dunes and desolate Skeleton Coast of Namibia are on the itinerary. Or maybe you fancy the Okavango Delta and stunning Victoria Falls in Botswana? Land Rover organises expeditions to both countries. But perhaps the ultimate trip for thrill-seekers is the chance to drive through Russian Siberia. At more than a mile deep in the centre, Lake Baikal freezes solid for several months every year and has its own ecosystem. Visitors sleep in a purpose-built ice hotel, Mongolian-style yurts or tourist lodges on the shore, and even get 

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

the chance to experience ice-diving. Land Rover Expeditions started in 1997 and are about combining the best “off the beaten track” driving with luxury accommodation, food and drink. Everything from the Defender to the Range Rover is used, all in the company of knowledgeable and experienced instructors. David Saunders is general manager of Land Rover Experience, which runs the expeditions. He says customers are typically high net worth individuals who have a sense of adventure and yearn to do something different. ‘However, they don’t want to sleep on the floor and eat food from a bag. They want to see the sights,

‘You don’t need any off-road experience and in many cases it’s better that you don’t’ but do it in air-conditioned luxury and at the end of the day have a great bottle of wine and a fine meal,’ Saunders says. There are plenty of repeat customers, including a few who come whenever the company introduces a trip to a new destination and complete multiple adventures every year. Saunders says a large percentage of customers are existing Land Rover owners, including many with Range Rovers, but plenty simply had a fondness for the brand and a desire to challenge themselves. ‘You don’t need any off-road experience and in many cases it’s better that you don’t. People who come thinking they know it all can be more difficult to instruct.’ The trip can be more emotional and meaningful for some participants, such as those with with a terminal illness who want to tick something off their “bucket list”. David explains: ‘It’s almost that they wouldn’t do it without us. The brand gives them the confidence and safety to do something adventurous.’ For the Land Rover team, it’s all in the preparation. However, not everything always goes to plan. ‘It’s not unusual to pick up

punctures or have to change routes because there’s a bridge down or a river flooded. Our instructors are experts at dealing with this stuff and we try not to give too detailed an itinerary each day! If you tell people we’re going to stop for coffee at 10.15am and we don’t, it gives them something to worry about. All they need to know is we’ll be at the hotel by 6pm.’ It’s not just Land Rover that has cornered this market. A company called Jeep Jamboree is the iconic American 4x4 brand’s official partner for adventure drives. It started in 1953 when a small group of enthusiasts from Georgetown, California, decided a good way to boost the local economy was to stage an annual trek across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 150 miles north-east of San Francisco. It uses the Rubicon Trail, a 22-mile route that dates back more than 100 years and where Jeep carries out validation tests on its new vehicles. The first event saw 155 people take part and the following year Willys Motors – then the manufacturer of Jeeps – became involved. The relationship has lasted, even though the Jeep brand has changed hands several times. Pearse Umlauf is vice-president of Jeep Jamboree, which now stages multi-day adventure drives in challenging locations all over the US. He explained the appeal was for people to gather and enjoy something that they all love. ‘On average, from year to year, we have 70 per cent repeat custom and we do get foreign visitors taking part.’ Umlauf said it was a shared experience, adding: ‘What’s most memorable is the stories participants tell about how they got involved with Jeep and how it turned into a life-long passion. I’m always humbled to hear stories.’ (landrover.com; jeepjamboreeusa.com)

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Porsche puts a The best-selling Cayenne SUV gets a baby brother WO R D S : M A T T H E W C A R T E R

fter the runaway success of the Cayenne – now the biggest selling Porsche in the range – it was only a matter of time before the company developed a compact SUV, a baby version if you will. And so it has come to pass. Launched at the recent Los Angeles motor show, the all-wheel drive Macan will be a key player in Porsche’s plans to pass 200,000 sales a year. It’s about the same size as the Audi Q5, which is hardly surprising as that’s precisely what lies under the skin. In the same way that the Cayenne was based on another VW Group product (the Volkswagen Touareg), Macan’s development has been sped up by using existing hardware. But this is no rebadged Audi. Porsche engineers have spent their time modifying the chassis with wider tracks and unique components to ensure the car has ‘the most agile handling in its class’ says the company. Due in showrooms next April – the order book is open already – there will initially be three Macan models in the range with more to follow. All three will be powered by turbocharged V6 engines, two petrol and one diesel, with prices ranging from £43,300 to almost £60,000. Top model will be the Macan Turbo, powered by a Porsche-developed 3.6 litre V6 with damn near 400 hp on offer, while the most popular will be the Audi-engined 3.0 litre V6 diesel turbo. All three will have Porsche’s seven-speed dual clutch manual/automatic PDK gearbox as standard. And the name? It’s derived from the Indonesian word for tiger apparently.

tiger in the range

‘There will initially be three Macan models in the range with more to follow’

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Talent + Commitment = Success Or so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d think, but the world of racing cars is actually far more complicated than youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d think W o r d s : K a te H o u g h t o n

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Oli, of course, won a place and joined fellow verybody knows it’s a long, hard slog to achieve the pinnacle of any career, and if Brit Henry Surtees in the programme. Both then went on to race, fully funded by BMW, on your chosen career is in any sport, then the single seater Formula BMW circuit. After a it’s both mental and physical effort, plus single season, Oli was picked up by a sponsor a huge dash of talent, that are required for who wanted him to race the Formula Renault success. But in motor racing there’s a third circuit, the sought-after stepping stone to component – money, and lots of it. bigger, and faster, things. Cheshire racing driver Oli Webb was hooked The following year, now aged 18, Oli achieved from the first moment he stepped into a Go his three A Levels and was offered a place at Kart at a birthday party aged nine. He fed his university. Formula 3 beckoned however, and Oli’s addiction through begging and nagging and parents gave up all hope of a safe career for their charming his father into taking him back to the son. This highly competitive series has been the track, in Warrington, again and again until he launch pad for many an F1 career, and indeed Oli won his first Championship race and the family chased Eric Vergne all the way to the title that year, decided that perhaps this was more than a missing out by only one win, following which childhood “phase”. Vergne joined the F1 Red Bull team. While his F3 ‘I realise now that my parents were being season helped Oli achieve his International asked to make a huge commitment, both in Racing Licence, needed for F1, he was unable to time and financial terms, but at the time I simply wanted to race,’ says Oli, now a charming act upon it due to lack of sponsorship. What most of us don’t appreciate is that you can be, as Oli and chatty 24 year old. was, right up there in terms of talent and success, At the age of 13 Oli moved up from Karting but if there’s not big money attached to your into T-Cars, mini touring cars for racers aged 13 name, you won’t get a look-in with Formula 1. His to 16. It’s at this point that you see the greatest success did bring him a lot of attention however, drop-off in boys, and girls, racing competitively. opening new doors. It’s expensive, it’s time-consuming and it’s slap In 2012 Oli spent a season racing in the US, bang in the period where academic study becomes of considerable importance to parents, in the Indycar series, then last year returned to the UK, where he had been offered a second if not their children. At 16 Oli was spotted by BMW and offered the season in Formula 3. ‘What I’m doing now is actually building a opportunity to travel to Valencia, where he much longer-term future for myself than if I would compete with other young racers for a was solely dedicated to achieving F1 status,’ place in their Scholarship Programme. Oli’s parents agreed, on the basis that if he didn’t win he explains. a place, he’d drop all ambitions to be a racing driver and settle down to his studies. They added the caveat that even if he won a place, he would still be expected to achieve three A levels and win Oli Webb a place at university; ‘something to fall back on’, as it were.

‘What I’m doing now is actually building a much longer-term future for myself than if I was solely dedicated to achieving F1 status’ –

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‘After a stint in the US, I was offered the opportunity to come back to Europe and race in the Renault World Series, which is as incredible to watch as F1. Seb Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo have both raced in this series.’ ‘I’m also able to take up other opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t be available to me. In 2013 for example I raced in the Spa 24 Hours for Mercedes and a number of GT races in the UK. I also work as a test driver for BAC Mono; they developed the incredible road-legal single seater supercar that won Top Gear Car of the Year in 2012. I do stunt driving for various TV series and films; I track test and race cars for television shows; I do those fabulous road shots for TV advertisements; I’m even regularly involved in computer games development,

making sure that the racing experience on games is as close to reality as it can be. I’m not saying I don’t still dream of Formula 1, but as there are only 24 drivers in the whole series, with only one or two places opening up each year, I’m being realistic about my chances.’ When we met Oli was just back from the FIA GT Finals, raced in Azerbaijan, where he drove again for Mercedes, before hopping over to Spain for Le Mans car testing and then to Germany. Then in the few remaining weeks before Christmas he flew to Abu Dhabi, to race for McLaren in the Gulf 12 hours race, and from there to France and finally back to the UK for filming with BBC and Granada/ITV for BAC Mono. Amidst all this he must constantly train and it’s not surprising that when he comes home to Knutsford all he wants to do is sleep. His mum must be tempted to lock all the doors to keep him safe on these occasions, knowing full well the dangers Oli faces every time he takes to the track. To put his career in perspective, his team mate at the BMW training camp, Henry Surtees, lost his life in a tragic accident aged just 19. And as for the future: ‘I receive constant requests to drive for teams and in 2014 I’ll be racing around the world in the World Endurance Championship with a Le Mans prototype car, racing in places like Shanghai, Texas, Brazil, the UK, at Le Mans, in Bahrain, etc. I still have my F1 racing licence though, and the winning history required, just no big sponsor to bring to the table…but I’m open to offers!’

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Flying G

high

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erman-based aviation company E-Volo recently unveiled a prototype of an innovative and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional helicopter travel. The Volocopter is a pioneering, emission-free invention that, amongst new state of the art technologies, eschews the classic combustion engine in favour of eighteen electronically-driven rotors which propel it to action. Maiden and initial test flights took place in November, after elaborate simulations in Stuttgart assured the development team of the ease at which this creation could be flown. Series production is planned for the upcoming years, moving us one step closer to our futuristic vision of flying electronic vehicles. (e-volo.com)

Forbidden

fruit

Two years after the untimely death of former CEO and technological artiste Steve Jobs, Alice Tozer looks at his legacy and asks where the richest technology company in the world could possibly be headed next

here was a time when it was supremely un-cool to have an Apple. Not only was it unfashionable, it was darn right inconvenient for the rest of the world to have to adapt to your ‘special’ software needs. Fifteen years shuffled on by and some now get their fill of five a day. The iPod, iPhone and iPad have joined up with relatives the iMac and the MacBook to bring us into their fold. This previously forbidden fruit – Apple, the ‘basket case’ of the IT world in the mid 1990s, as one commentator reminisced – could only have been juiced up by its creator. In 1997, Steve Jobs, who sadly died from pancreatic cancer aged 56 two years ago last October, returned to the company he had founded alongside Steve Wozniak twenty-one years prior. A power struggle in 1985 had squeezed Jobs out, but within twelve months of his return he had overseen the launch of the iMac, which was a sleek, instant hit. The rest is common knowledge because we have all lived it. Jobs transformed Apple into a company which now banks almost $1 billion a week. The man, in turn, became worth a cool $8.3 billion. Apple products were an extension of Jobs’ very being. He was a perfectionist to the

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‘Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... The ones who see things differently… They’re not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things... They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.’ – Steve jobs, 1955-2011

extreme and gave up on furniture because decisions thereabout caused too many problems. He had an appreciation of music and an aesthetic sensitivity which led him to design one of the most successful logos in history (which, incidentally, had nothing to do with computer scientist Alan Turing’s death by injecting cyanide into an apple as the urban myth goes: Jobs just liked apples). Jobs, who was adopted, was spiritual and once movingly said that perhaps he didn’t give Apple devices on-off switches because he liked to think life didn’t have them either. Such factors render Jobs’ emotional input into his work clear. He married software to hardware, then created an almost infuriating brand dependency. Jobs was one of those college dropouts-become-genius. He liked his image to be that of technology leader, not computer engineer. But he knew a thing or two about wires. And so, Apple made it under Jobs and has oozed a cool confidence ever since. Yet the brand is suddenly under scrutiny: 5 October 2013 marked two years since Steve Jobs died, having passed the CEO baton two months before his death to Tim Cook, former COO. It’s an obvious time to ask how Apple has fared without

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

its founding father these past two years, and that’s just what is happening. It’s also unsurprising that an even more critical eye is being cast given that we’ve just witnessed multiple births of the new iPhone, that device to which Apple’s fortunes are so tightly tethered. It took all of a week. Poor Cook bore the brunt of disgruntled reactions to the iPhone 5’s mapping system which unravelled in intrepid users’ hands. It’s easy, but facile, to say that it wouldn’t have happened had Jobs been around. After all, the iPhone 4S, which launched during Jobs’ lifetime, had its own teething problems in the form of low battery life. Always good at hitting back with a solution, Apple updated the software and the consumer forgave them (or forgot, caught up in WhatsApp conversation). It must have been tough for Cook to be forced to suggest that users adopt Google’s mapping system over Apple’s, the solution to ‘his’ blip. Speculation about Apple’s years without Jobs is only natural at such a landmark point in time (something has to drive share prices).

on the board of directors of Nike, Cook definitely has character enough to live up to Apple’s edginess. A fitness fanatic, he reportedly regularly begins sending emails at 4:30am and used to hold Sunday-night staff meetings by telephone to prepare for the next week. Steve Jobs himself used to interrupt family holidays with sudden work frenzies. Intuition, Cook has insisted, is a key part of his strategy. Likewise, Steve Jobs thought customers didn’t know what they wanted until it was placed in front of them (by someone who could smell the winds of the future, like him). We’d still all be asking for a quicker horse if we had never been shown the car, said Jobs. Fools. Breaking ranks with Jobs, who was set against returning money to shareholders, Cook has launched a $10 billion share buy-back plan and sanctioned Apple’s first dividend since 1995. He is also gradually revealing a penchant for takeovers. Where he might direct Apple, 

‘Jobs was integral to everything that has launched into the Applesphere to this day’

LEFT: THE MACBOOK AIR; RIGHT: STEVE JOBS catwalker / Shutterstock.com

However, let both good and bad commentary be taken with a pinch of salt until next year; Jobs was integral to everything that has launched into the Applesphere to this day, since he lost his battle with cancer in Palo Alto in autumn 2011. He was heavily involved in the development of both the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5. Last year’s results are therefore not a total indication of the functioning of Apple without Jobs. Through these products, Jobs lives on. They did, incidentally, cause healthy profit; the company’s share price has nearly doubled from $372.50 to $671.73. Cook is certainly no imposter, having been hired by Jobs himself and branded ‘the genius behind Steve’ by Adam Lashinsky in 2008. Also

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from top: stores in Paris; upper west side and covent garden; below: a selection of apple products

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product-wise, is as secretive as ever. There’s speculation Apple might change its skin, and opt for carbon fibre or liquid metal (which would make the phones lighter and less messy breakers). One thing’s for sure; the company will need to continue to fend off the inevitable competition that launching groundbreaking new concepts (the smartphone, say) entails. Recent reports say that Steve Ballmer is working on an Apple-style future for Microsoft, combining device manufacture and support. The legacy left by Jobs of the entire concept of Apple (beautiful, integrated, simple-on-thesurface technology) has the potential to outlive Cook and those who follow him. Jobs’ name is attached to over 300 different patents. His product legacy will only begin to slightly fade when devices he did not conceive come to the fore in the future. He remained the allimportant face of Apple even as he underwent treatment, introducing new products for a global market in his trademark blue jeans even as he grew visibly unwell. His presence at product launches is missed by those computer savants who flock to see the goods unveiled firsthand. It is upon the enthusiasm of their reviews that the success of a product partially hangs. Jobs ‘the visionary’ leaves that void that he almost should. But there are hundreds of key individuals to continue to credit, such as Jeff Robbin who helped create the iPod and is now heavily involved in the development of an Apple TV. That, by the way, could be Apple’s next big thing (and, speculating here, branded the iTV – confusingly – or the iTablet). Launches are on the tips of tongues and we’re all ears. We might not think we need them now but if we’re given one to play with for too long we surely will. That’s the unnerving Apple promise. And one which it will surely be in Cook’s interest to continue to grant.

The cheshire Magazine | Promotion

Spousal maintenance When dealing with financial matters between divorcing spouses, one aspect that the court has to consider is whether maintenance should be paid by one spouse to financially support the other. If the answer is yes then the court has to determine for how long and how much W O R D S : L e sl e y S m y t h e

n recent times, we have observed what seems to be a ‘hardening of attitudes’ from judges when making orders both with regards to the length and also the amount of spousal maintenance. This even applies to cases involving very small children when historically in such cases life time maintenance orders were made as a matter of course. Two recently reported decisions demonstrate the changing attitudes of the court. In the first case, the wife was awarded £47,500 maintenance per annum for life. The husband appealed successfully; the wife’s maintenance was reduced to a period of 2 years and 5 months. The Court of Appeal felt that the wife had an earning capacity and the Judge who made the initial order was criticised for not explaining or justifying why he had given maintenance for life. In the second case, the wife was awarded 70 per cent of the capital assets together with 4 years of maintenance. The husband’s appeal was successful; it was unfair for the wife to receive maintenance as well as the ‘lions share’ of the capital and her claims were extinguished.

As well as looking at the length of the maintenance the court has to consider how much is paid. Again, in recent cases, there has been an opinion given by the High Court to say that the amount should be based on ‘need alone’. During the proceedings, both husbands and wives prepare a schedule of income needs which is subject to much scrutiny during the case. Although the courts’ position seems to be toughening up it is still the case that needs are: “…elastic in concept and there is much room for the exercise of discretion in their assessment.” [per Mostyn J in B -v- S [2012] EWHC 265]. The Judges retain discretion, which makes family law anything but black and white. We are unsure why there has been a shift in the position with regard to maintenance. Previous awards were deemed to be too generous and there was a general feeling that the pendulum has swung too far in favour of wives. The economic climate has clearly been biting the breadwinners harder than ever and perhaps there is an acknowledgement of how hard people have to work to earn the amounts paid in spousal maintenance. The fact that women, even with young children, should not be entitled to expect a meal ticket for life solely by the virtue of the marriage, is very much the message being given. If you are unsure as to your position or require an overview of your financial position or what your entitlement would be on divorce then please contact Lesley Smythe, family partner at national law firm DWF, on 0161 603 4998 or email lesley.smythe@dwf.co.uk DWF LLP, 1 Scott Place, 2 Hardman Street, Manchester M3 3AA

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Checking out Nestled along a leafy lane in the depths of beautiful Berkshire, the Macdonald Berystede Hotel & Spa is the perfect blend of country retreat and luxury spa, situated only three to four hours’ drive from Cheshire and ideal for a weekend break. The hotel itself boasts sumptuous four-star accommodation, landscaped gardens and a state-of-the-art thermal spa with six spa treatment rooms, 18-metre swimming pool, rock and infra-red saunas and an outdoor hydropool – everything you could possibly need for a thorough spot of pampering. Bagshot Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 9JH (macdonaldhotels.co.uk)

Travel news It’s a brand new year and there’s a whole world of beautiful places just waiting to be explored. This month we have desert chic, fairy tale havens and Riviera glamour – we dare you not to be inspired WORDS: GEMMA KNIGHT

Antique escape If escaping into your very own fairy tale without setting foot outside the county appeals, it’s high time you heard about Peckforton Castle. Built in the Medieval Gothic style with looming crenelated round towers and even a moat, this is unsurprisingly a very popular wedding venue. Nonetheless, if you’re partial to four poster beds, majestic opulence and a setting straight from the pages of Camelot myth, you needn’t be saying ‘I do’ for an excuse to indulge in a bit of enchanted extravagance. Stone House Lane, Peckforton, Tarporley CW6 9TN (peckfortoncastle.co.uk)

Curated by Carrier Not all families want the same thing from their holiday. Tailor-made travel specialist Carrier introduces Top Fives for Luxury Family Escapes – a curated selection of some of the finest experiences designed with families in mind. The Carrier portfolio features some of the most exclusive hotels and resorts in the world and this themed collection highlights some of the diverse aspects that may be important to different families. ‘Waterbabies’ showcases the best places to swim, surf and sail, ‘The Great Outdoors’ features top picks for the more adventurous, whilst the ‘All-inclusives’ collection is for those families looking to truly escape their busy lifestyles, relax and go away knowing that everything is completely taken care of. For your personalised quotation call 0161 820 9702 or visit www.carrier.co.uk/cheshire

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Long haul Vs short haul

Eat and be merry Les Prés d’Eugénie, the palatial rustic retreat of globally renowned Gallic chef Michel Guérard, has long been on our radar for its stunning setting and the gourmet slimming gastronomy developed by its owner, cuisine minceur. Now fans of the retreat – and those intrigued to learn its secrets – can create the same award-winning fare thanks to Michel Guérard’s new cookbook, Eat Well Stay Slim, more than 140 French recipes scientifically crafted to be less than 240 calories each. With such delectable dishes as langoustines with grapefruit and potato salad (155 calories) and mushroom tarts with asparagus tips (165 calories), you needn’t even try to resist. (michelguerard.com)

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfilment – Hilaire Belloc

Long haul

Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman Set in the Al Hajar Mountains, a largely unknown area of beautiful Oman, the newest cliff-top resort from boutique luxury brand Alila is, unsurprisingly, rather special. Opening next month, the hotel will be reachable only by four wheel drive, with stunning suites, a spa, cliff-side restaurant, pool and fitness centre. If you’re really planning to indulge, we recommend the two-bedroom Royal Omani Villa with its private pool, Jacuzzi and steam room. (alilahotels.com/jabalakhdar)

Island in the sun A mere four-hour flight from Manchester, the Portuguese island of Madeira is always a safe bet for those in search of a bit of winter sun. For lush, luxurious surrounds, the Quinta Splendida Hotel makes an ideal hideaway and boasts the largest Botanical gardens in Europe as well as one of the island’s largest spas. The resort offers activities as diverse as fishing, scuba-diving, golf, cycling, whale-watching and hiking, but it’s the extensive spa (which even includes a Turkish bath) and three gourmet restaurants which really get our seal of approval. (quintasplendida.com)

Short haul

Domaine De La Baume, Provence This April heralds the long-awaited re-opening of Domaine de la Baume, the former residence of French Expressionist painter Bernard Buffet which was transformed into a luxury hotel last spring. As well as the original eight intimate bedrooms will be seven new suites and a Pure Altitude spa, the perfect addition to the swimming pool, tennis court, petanque strip, stables and terrace restaurant which already make the hotel an ideal rustic retreat. (domaine-delabaume.com) 121

The art of Forget everything you know about luxury chalets. With its own spa, nightclub and more contemporary art than most galleries, Chalet Edelweiss in Courchevel 1850 is redefining snow-side glamour words: elle blakeman

t’s strange to go somewhere like Courchevel 1850, arguably home to some of the best pistes and soft, powder snow in the world, and have skiing not be the main event. But then Chalet Edelweiss is unusual. How often, for example, are you greeted by a seven foot-high bronze-cast head of David by Arman as soon as you kick off your snow boots? Or find yourself able to soak off the journey in your own spa, complete with 13-metre pool? Or party in your personal nightclub, run – if you so wish – by the owners of Mayfair’s hottest new club 2&8 who will fly out (!) to make sure that your nights are as interesting as your days? Unless you are Berlusconi, then probably rarely. But I’m getting ahead of myself, back to the bronze head. The man behind this seven-storey homage to luxury is Chris Levett, serious art collector and owner of the Mougins Museum of Classical Art and a partner in Mayfair’s contemporary art gallery, VIGO. With that kind of knowledge and spending power behind him he did the only reasonable thing to do when building an extravagant ski chalet in Les Trois Vallées and filled Edelweiss with a mesmerising selection of contemporary pieces: Johan van Mullem, Miró, Picasso and Hirst illuminate your path here. The effect is incredible, transforming the elegant tartan- and woodfilled chalet into something more chic and stimulating than your ‘average’ luxury place to stay. In this chalet we are no longer just weary skiers looking for warmth and comfort, we are sophisticated connoisseurs of art. We have

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interests! And we have more to talk about at dinner than the snow – nothing makes a talking point quite like a Salvador Dalí piece entitled Vénus à la girafe. Art aside, the place is beyond impressive. Built around a seven-storey spiral staircase (not that you need to use it – Edelweiss has a lift. A lift. I just wanted to reiterate that; you know you’ve made it when you have a lift in your home). On the ground floor is a pool straight out of a Bel Air mansion, flanked by a Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and bar (back to Berlusconi). The nightclub is pure decadence – tall speakers, tiny spotlights everywhere and sofas for when dancing gets too much – and you don’t even need to leave the chalet to party in it. 2&8 will provide the finest Mayfair DJ’s at your request courtesy of Carlo Carello, a Mayfair man who believes no party is complete without a detritus of depleted Moët cases. Surrounded by so much excess – in the best possible use of the word – champagne feels like the only thing to drink and it flows like water during nights here. Of course, Courchevel 1850 is no stranger to luxury, nestled among the pleasingly French tabac and boulangerie lay the beacons of high-end retail. The usual suspects are all there: Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Graff, all tempting you in with promises of a souvenir whose allure won’t fade when you pack away your ski gear. And so finally we come to the reason we came. The ski-in/ski-out access is true heaven for anyone desperate to get on the slopes as soon as they get their boots on, while the lifts are virtually queue-free – one of the reasons Levett chose this spot, along with the fact that it caters for all levels. Indeed, unlike most resorts where the beginners and intermediates are forced to do a treadmill of the same handful of blues and greens, Les Trois Vallées allows you to ski for hours across different slopes without ever touching a red run; the chalet also has private ski instructors who know the slopes backwards and will ensure you really improve your technique. For those who want to however, there are plenty of more 

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‘In this chalet we are no longer just weary skiers looking for warmth and comfort, we are connoisseurs of art’ And if boredom is a worry, simply head back to the ranch (take the main gondola and swish your way down the blue run straight into Edelweiss), head to the cinema room/pool/Jacuzzi, nightclub (hell you can even just go up and down in the lift – as one of our party decided to do one evening…), relax, and remind yourself just how fun life can be. And despite the glamour, decadence and stunning art at every turn, that is my lasting memory of this place – fun. Pure, enjoyable, leaves-you-smiling-for-weeks fun.

THE ESSENTIALS sleep & stay Chalet Edelweiss is part of Courchevel Prestige Chalets (courchevelprestigechalets.com). Summit Retreats (this season’s newest luxury ski chalet agency) offers Chalet Edelweiss from £9,950 per person, per week; this includes flights and extras (summitretreats.com) fly away Easyjet offers daily flights from Manchester to Geneva airport with prices starting from £50 (easyjet.com) party time For more information on Morton’s 2&8 club hosting the nightclub at Chalet Edelweiss please visit mortonsclub. com/2-8-club or call 020 7499 0363. discover Courchevel Tourism (courchevel.com) see & do Snow Descent Ski & Snowboard School (snowdescent.com) getting about Locatax taxi transfer company (locatax.com) 124

Finding your perfect powder

exciting runs, with sleek blacks, invigorating off-piste and for the truly fearless, a good line in heli-skiing. And of course, there is the lift system linking to Meribel and Val Thorens – meaning that even the most gifted athletes will struggle to get bored.

#1 Trousers Salomon Brilliant Ski Pants, £160 (selfridges.com)

#2 Gloves Snowlife M Heated Lion GTX Glove, £250 (snowandrock.com)

#3 Jacket KJUS Blade Jacket, £1,260 (selfridges.com)

#4 Goggles Oakley Airwave 1.5, £520 (oakley.com) #5 Headband Bauhaus Knitted Ski Headband, £39 (sweatybetty.com)

#6 Boots Fischer Trinity 110 Vacuum Boots, £500 (snowandrock.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

Best for Foodies

Best for Views

A modern, custom-designed resort with the cosy, natural feel of an alpine village, this chocolate-box resort is as famed for its gourmet eateries as its world-class slopes. With a myriad of award-winning chefs, sommeliers, chocolatiers, craft brew masters, local farmers and tea producers, you’re certain to be spoiled for choice - though it’s the quarterly Masters of Food and Wine culinary series at the esteemed Park Hyatt which gets our vote. (beavercreek.hyatt.com)

Reached by a railway and surrounded by wave upon wave of dramatic alpine scenery, the car-free resort of Mürren sits an impressive 5,413 ft. above sea level and, unsurprisingly, packs a punch when it comes to views. A traditional Walser mountain village, the resort offers great skiing in a relaxed, peaceful setting, while the family-run Hotel Jungfrau gives direct access to the slopes (ski-in/ ski-out) and balconies overlooking the picture postcard Alps. (hoteljungfrau.ch)

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Colorado, USA

Best for Adrenalin junkies The Fairmont Banff Springs Alberta, Canada

Best for Romance

When it comes to adventure, the resort town of Banff in the Canadian Rocky Mountains leaves the competition far behind. Not content simply to offer nail-biting runs, this stunning setting earned its reputation with treacherous, challenging terrain and heli-skiing; plummeting from a hovering helicopter then creating your own path down the jagged mountainside. The resort’s foremost hotel, The Fairmont, is iconic and austere, perched amidst snow-capped peaks and boasting 125 years of five-star service. (fairmont.com)

Les Airelles, Courchevel, France

Best for Families

Best for Relaxation

In Austria’s highest parish, the sleepy western village of Obergurgl is as snowsure a resort as you’re likely to find, boasting a quaint, traditional feel, almost no traffic and a wonderful range of safe, gentle beginner slopes. Kids can join an array of outdoor activity clubs and there are plenty of family-friendly bars and restaurants with live music, though we’d recommend the Hotel Jagdhof for its pretty, chalet-style accommodation, gourmet dining, swimming pools and unique winter garden. (jagdhof-tirol.at)

Visited by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1493 and a renowned spa town since Roman times, the largely 17th century Bormio is the ultimate place for a bit of mountainous R&R. Bagni di Bormio is backed by dense forest and comprises two hotels and two spas, with its centrepiece the five-star, 177 year-old Grand Bagni Nuovi harking back to a time of glorious decadence and its spas boasting open-air baths, Jacuzzis, saunas, a Turkish bath and more than 70 treatments. (bagnidibormio.it)

Hotel Jagdhof, Obergurgl, Austria

BELOW, FROM LEFT: PARK HYATT; THE FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS; LES AIRELLES

Hotel Jungfrau, Mürren, Switzerland

Courchevel is one of the world’s oldest and most glamorous ski resorts, famed for playing host to celebrity and royalty alike and an old world charm unrivalled by many of its modern peers. Amongst its Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels, Les Airelles stands out as an ideal haunt for the amorous, filled with cosy corners and fur-rugged firesides for candle-lit suppers and champagne once you’ve tired of the 100 miles of local pistes. (airelles.fr)

Bagni di Bormio Spa Resort, Bormio, Italy

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Weekend away

… Dewsall Court, Herefordshire W ords : ka t e H O U G HT O N

ewsall Court is a lavish, exclusive-use country house that can be booked all year round for the sort of weddings, family parties and special events which need to be celebrated in real style. Now gloriously brought into the 21st century by owners Samantha Vaughan and Jane Robinson, we explored the pleasures of this stunning building and their ingenious supper clubs. After a roughly two and a half hour drive from Cheshire, we were shown to the eponymous Four Poster Room by Samantha herself, who left us with promises of fresh tea and shortbread in front of the fire downstairs – but not before introducing us, with childlike glee, to the quite extraordinary bath. As well as a double shower the bathroom contains a vast tub, designed to sit in as you would an armchair. Unable to resist, I wolfed down my tea and biscuits and spent the next hour in unadulterated bliss, neck deep in hot water and with not a moment’s need to ensure dry hair by clamping my toes to the tap end. The reason for our visit, The Supper Club, is held every six weeks or so, on a Thursday evening. Samantha and Jane invite a different guest chef each time to put together a tasting menu exclusively for their guests. We were blessed with the presence of James Sommerin, who held a Michelin star for seven years during

his tenure at The Crown at Whitebrook. Sommerin, soon to open his own restaurant in Penarth, near Cardiff, was taught to cook by his grandmother and mother and there are clear nods to his traditional Welsh training in all his dishes. Starting with an incredible swede custard (trust me, better than it sounds) we moved through an almost delicate pheasant sausage to fall-from-the-bone fillet of sole and on to melt in the mouth venison (with chocolate!) before polishing off a pre-pudding (a term that’s a first for me, but which I sincerely hope catches on) of prune purée and a final desert of blood oranges with white chocolate, accompanied with a Chase Marmalade Vodka shot. Having started our evening at 7pm with Perrier Jouet champagne and moving through five heavenly courses with wines I was more than a little ready for bed by midnight. Sinking in between heavy, crisp cotton sheets, a thick feather filled duvet and pillows to lose yourself in, I don’t think I stirred till breakfast. And what a breakfast. While you can of course choose a plainer option, if you don’t go for the full English you are definitely missing out. After all, the whole experience is about gastronomic hedonism, and you really don’t want to spoil that with a boring breakfast, do you? (dewsall.com)

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Maldives Maldives Dubai Dubai Mauritius Mauritius Thailand Thailand Caribbean Caribbean Europe Europe USA USA

Luxury Luxury Maldives Maldives from from ÂŁ2439 ÂŁ2439 Let Let the the travel travel experts experts at at Destinology Destinology tailor-make tailor-make your your next next luxury luxury holiday. holiday. Choose Choose from from handhandpicked resorts in spectacular destinations such as the 5* Constance Halaveli, Maldives picked resorts in spectacular destinations such as the 5* Constance Halaveli, Maldives and and experience experience truly truly personalised personalised service service every every step step of of the the way. way. Price is per person based on 2 sharing a Water Villa at Constance Price is per person based on 2 sharing a Water Villa at Constance Halaveli on Bed & Breakfast for 7 nights, travel 1 May - 30 Jun 14, incl. Halaveli on Bed & Breakfast for 7 nights, travel 1 May - 30 Jun 14, incl. Emirates flights from Manchester & seaplane transfers. Book by Emirates flights from Manchester & seaplane transfers. Book by 28 Feb. Price subject to availability. Booking conditions apply. 28 Feb. Price subject to availability. Booking conditions apply.

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01625 01625 88 88 55 55 88 88

www.destinology.co.uk/wilmslow www.destinology.co.uk/wilmslow 47 49 Alderley Road, 47 - 49 Alderley Road, Wilmslow, Wilmslow, Cheshire, Cheshire, SK9 SK9 1NZ 1NZ

04/02/2014 10:20:44 04/02/2014 10:20:44

Heaven

on the Adriatic With Porto Montenegro rapidly becoming the yachting worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worst kept secret, Gemma Knight and Elle Blakeman discover unexpected luxury on Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest Riviera

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The cheshire Magazine | Travel

ontenegro, a place that Lord Byron once referred to as ‘the most beautiful encounter between land and sea’ is a destination with a difference. Almost 200 years after Byron’s visit, it is still an area of extraordinary natural beauty, with unspoiled landscapes of dramatic, rugged cliffs juxtaposed with untouched sandy beaches and exquisitely blue seas. Inland, among the vast wilderness of mountains, which cover more than 70% of the country, you’ll find ice caves, glaciers, waterfalls, lakes and even blueberry fields. You can white-water raft down the Tara River – Europe’s deepest canyon, second in the world only to the Grand Canyon - or explore the Durmitor National Park, home to Europe’s last virgin black pine forest. Huddled around a mountain-locked inlet, the stunning Bay of Kotor on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast is about as close to perfection as it’s possible to be. With heavy Venetian influences, immaculately preserved old towns and weather that means it’s often warm enough to swim in November (yes, November), it’s hardly surprising this picturesque place is being tipped as Europe’s most up-and-coming luxury travel destination. Luckily, we’re not the only ones to have noticed. Bit by bit, this unspoiled continental enclave is being discovered by pioneering foreign developers and turned into a playground for the rich and famous. With the fastest growing tourism industry in the world, it’s safe to say the Montenegrin Riviera is already starting to rival its crowded French and Italian counterparts. The luxury market, kept from the region for so long by the wars and political instability which plagued the Balkans into the early 2000s, was sparked by the development of Porto Montenegro, a run-down naval dockyard in the idyllic coastal town of Tivat which was recently turned into one of the largest, most elegant super-yacht marinas in the world. The space was much needed - with the continuing rise in super-yacht ownership, existing facilities have become stretched in recent years, often leaving owners unable to 

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moor their yachts during peak seasons and, worse, unable to leave them in a safe place during the winter months. But far beyond simply providing an abundance of space, the marina has clearly been built with the demands of owners and crew in mind, offering everything from duty-free fuelling and a refit and repair service, to a Sports Club and an array of luxury shops and restaurants. There is a civilised café culture – borrowed from nearby Italy and Turkey – where socialising over a cappuccino on one of the sun-drenched piazzas is a typical way to leisurely spend an hour or two, and a spectacular Yacht Club hosting a constant stream of glamorous events, including regattas, sailing competitions and sailing schools. Interestingly, all of the architects involved in the project have been very careful to maintain the heritage of Montenegro. Mindful of the ‘legoland’

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danger of a new build, the layout of the marina replicates the style of a typical Montenegrin village, with wide waterfront promenades and winding asymmetrical streets, in between hidden piazzas and alcoves. In addition to attractive tax benefits and a guaranteed right to a berth licence, plus lower priced residences than equivalent developments in the Mediterranean, the area is soon set to be the insider name to know in the global yachting community. One of the men behind this mammoth transformation is Founder Director of Porto Montenegro’s holding company John Kennedy, co-founder of the Boka Group, former private secretary to a cabinet member and one-time royal equerry – and, clearly, he isn’t finished yet. Perched in the foothills above the harbour, the Boka Group are now building Sea Breeze, a collection of jaw-droppingly deluxe villas already available to buy (and also to rent as of

The cheshire Magazine | Travel

‘Stunning historic areas are now complemented by harbours dotted with luxury yachts’ this summer), promising not only fantastic views, but also direct access to the Boka Group’s Royal Montenegro Golf & Country Club - the country’s first, with an 18-hole course designed by Scottish golf course architect Steve Marnoch and a bridge linking it directly to the check-in area at Tivat airport. But the transformation of Tivat doesn’t end there. Following the completion of the 48 luxury villas above the golf course, the Boka Group intend to embark upon a sister development which will tastefully mimic the nearby walled old towns of Kotor and Budva, both filled with tiny red-roofed churches and labyrinthine cobbled streets flanked by luxury boutiques and up-market eateries. The site will encompass luxury villas, shops, commercial spaces, condos, hotels, townhouses and apartments, although Kennedy has assured us that, like the marina, it will have an authentic ‘old town feel’ and include affordable housing so that, as in Kotor and Budva, there is a year-round thriving network of local residents and strong sense of community, rather than the sterility of wave upon wave of tourists. With the country now enjoying the fastest growing tourism industry in the world and its

tiny population of 600,000 already swelling to 2 million during peak months, there is justifiable concern that this sleepy, sun-soaked little place might soon go the way of so many burgeoning destinations before it. Luckily, however, property developers still need to cut through mountains of red tape before they’re allowed to break ground, and as such only those with genuine knowledge, ability and affection tend to make the grade. As a result, the Riviera’s various towns are being enhanced, rather than converted, with stunning historic areas now complemented by harbours dotted with luxury yachts, charming restaurants selling authentic local cuisine, high-end boutiques with world heritage exteriors and bespoke hotels blending effortlessly into antique surrounds. In the golden era of Hollywood, the region was a sanctuary for many iconic stars of the day, with the likes of Sofia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and Kirk Douglas often seen enjoying an escape to its unspoiled shores. Now, with rising investment from five star operators, this former glamour-coast looks set to well and truly recapture its wealthy playground status. One thing’s for sure; given the long-term plans to transform the area into a global centre for nautical tourism, we certainly haven’t heard the last of the Montenegrin Riviera. Sea Breeze Villas (seabreeze.me) Royal Montenegro Golf & Country Club (rmgcc.me) Porto Montenegro (portomontenegro.com)

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The Maldives is a string of beautiful Indian Ocean islands famed for barefoot luxury resorts where attentive staff cater to every wish and whim. Here’s my pick of the best…

With almost a hundred Maldives hotels on as many islands, it can be hard to choose which one to visit. Luxury travel expert, Annelouise Speakman selects some of her favourite resorts for all occasions

Fabulous for families

Underwater treasures With its winning combination of warm waters, close proximity of dive sites, high density of fish and varied reef and coral forms, there are few places as pleasant to dive or snorkel. Most resorts have their own dive school with courses and ad hoc sessions whether you’re a rookie or a pro. In addition to a world-class spa and new ultra-premium all inclusive package, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru boasts perhaps the best house reef in the Maldives. It’s easily accessible from

explore…

maldives

the

The Maldives hasn’t always been the obvious choice for families. However, many luxury resorts have excellent kids’ clubs and whilst the children are being entertained, adults can slip away and still embrace that island hideaway feeling. One&Only Maldives at Reethi Rah has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most luxurious of the Maldives’ many 5-star deluxe islands, yet is the perfect example of how to combine high-end pampering with family fun. The Kids-Only programme - complete with clubhouse, pool and imaginative activities that include chocolate making, a pirate cruise and trip to find Nemo with the resident Marine Biologist – is discretely managed so that resort never feels like a kindergarten. Whilst over at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort families can explore authentic Maldivian culture with a range of tours and kids’ club activities, in addition to a variety of sporting pursuits including one of the Maldives’ only golf courses. Many resorts also offer spacious, familyfriendly beach villas with multiple bedrooms. At the elegant Constance Halaveli resort, the new 2-bedroom family beach villas have a gated garden to keep little ones safe and can be equipped with baby-essentials, meaning you can travel lighter.

Jumeirah Dhevanafushi

W Resort & Spa

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort

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The cheshire Magazine | Travel Promotion

the beach and supports an enormous variety of marine life, with white-tip reef sharks often seen at the dramatic drop off point where the reef floor descends abruptly from sight.

my SUITCASE E S S E N T I A L S

Ultra chic

Constance Halaveli

The Maldives is known for laid-back luxe and a ‘no news, no shoes’ philosophy, but there are a few resorts that will satisfy cravings for a spot of jet-set glamour. Stylish Niyama boasts the world’s first and only underwater nightclub, Subsix, with a roster of international DJs; whilst guests at the adult-orientated W Resort & Spa can enjoy cocktails and pulsating beats at the subterranean 15 Below Bar, if they can bear to tear themselves away from the amazing glass-floored over-water suites. From the people who brought you that Dubai bastion of bling, Burj Al Arab, the levels of luxury at Jumeirah Dhevanafushi perfectly compliment the stunning beauty of the Maldives. Huge villas offer state-of-the-art technical and entertainment systems, extravagant pool and deck space plus a dedicated butler.

#1 Hat £95, Heidi Klein (heidiklein.com)

#2 Kaftan £245, Biondi (biondicouture.com)

All Inclusive

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

All inclusive packages can be the route to great value - or even a byword for untold extravagance - in a destination where it’s all too easy to leave with a huge bill, but check exactly what’s included to prevent disappointment. LUX* Maldives and Constance Moofushi both offer a great all inclusive package with a choice of buffet and speciality a la carte restaurants, premium drinks and excursions.

#3 Swimsuit £195, Biondi (biondicouture.com)

When to go Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

The Maldives has a hot, tropical climate with sunshine all year round. November – April are the best months to travel as it’s dry with little wind. Despite sporadic rain during the summer, it’s an increasingly popular time for visits, partly due to excellent offers that are available. Annelouise Speakman is a luxury travel expert and director at Destinology in Wilmslow. Destinology 47 – 49 Alderley Road, Wilmslow SK9 1NZ (01625 88 55 88) (destinology.co.uk)

#4 Bag £320, Heidi Klein (heidiklein.com)

#5 Sandals £520 Valentino (harveynichols.com)

One&Only Maldives at Reethi Rah

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Food & drink news Whether you need inspiration for fine-dining or gorgeous gifts, first-of-a-kind fizz or quaint condiments, we’ve got you covered w o rds : G E M M A K NIGHT

Crustacian crush

A matter of taste Despite their now-international fame, Cartwright & Butler’s glorious Yorkshire preserves taste every bit as homemade as they once did, surrendering neither their quaint, quality packaging nor their Northern pride. Our new favourite product is the Wooden larder Chutney Set, a sweet little baby-blue larder-style box containing Yorkshire chutney, piccalilli, spicy tomato chutney and cranberry sauce in the brand’s iconic glass jars. It makes a fabulous gift, but only if you can bear to part with it. Harvey Nichols, 21 Cathedral Approach, Manchester (cartwrightandbutler.co.uk) 134

We love Browns – the sleek, superBrit restaurant chain which began with a single, sumptuous eatery in Brighton’s exclusive South Lanes 40 years ago and today boasts nineteen premises across the country, each in the most select of locations and enjoying the most discerning clientele. But now, thanks to their inspired Lobster Thursdays, we love them even more. Boasting expert chefs able to cook this difficult dish to absolute perfection and the choice of your lobster served thermidor, with chips, salad or chargrilled steak, diners need only relax with a pre-dinner cocktail and await their mid-week treat. 1 York St, Manchester M2 2AW (browns-restaurants.co.uk)

The cheshire Magazine | Food & Drink

We ask the questions… This month we talk to Mark Ellis, Head Chef at 1851, the three AA Rosette and Taste of Cheshire Award-winning restaurant at Peckforton Castle, Tarporley Q. How did you first become interested in cooking and when did you know it was the career for you? A. I first became interested in cooking whilst still at school. I got a job in a local restaurant washing pots and through one of the chefs calling in sick, was put on the sandwich station. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but loved the buzz and excitement of a busy service. I did that for a while before going to College to study music. When I finished, my options were pretty slim, so I went back to working in kitchens whilst I assessed what I would do next and I have never left the kitchen since. Q. What path had your career taken before leading you to Peckforton Castle? A. I worked in a local gastro pub where I absorbed all the knowledge I could, then left home to go and work at The Chester Grosvenor and Spa under Simon Radley where I stayed for five years, working my way up from Commis Chef to Sous Chef. With no higher position available and having done everything I wanted whilst there, I left to go and experience London and over the following year I worked freelance in some of the best kitchens in the country, working for and alongside some of the biggest and most influential names in the business. Soon after returning to Cheshire the opportunity to work at Peckforton Castle came up and, after seeing the potential of the place, I jumped at the chance to lead the team. Q. You’re enthusiastic about sourcing local produce. Why do you feel this is so important? A. The term ‘local produce’ is over used at the moment. For me, using

local farms and suppliers should be second nature. It makes no sense to use imported ingredients that have been bashed about from half way around the world, when with a little imagination, something as mundane as a carrot can be turned into a fantastic gastronomic experience. That doesn’t mean that just because something is local to you it is a good product, and that is where a lot of chefs slip up. I go to great lengths to source and find the best the region has to offer and have, on occasion, picked it with my own hands. The Castle plan to purchase some bees in the spring for honey, on my suggestion. Q. What’s been the highlight of your culinary career so far? A. The highlight of my career so far, other than obtaining the prestigious position of Head Chef at Peckforton Castle and being awarded 3 AA Rosettes, would have to be being selected to appear on BBC’s Great British Menu. It’s an honour to be classed amongst some of the best chefs in the country and to have an opportunity to showcase the Castle’s food to a national audience. (peckfortoncastle.co.uk)

Roses are red Clichéd though they may be, chocolates are still the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift – and, when they’re as good as the new range from Irish luxury chocolatiers Butlers, we’re pretty sure your sweetheart will gladly pardon the lack of ingenuity. The various new Valentine’s collections include white, milk and dark chocolate in a wicked assortment of truffles, pralines and caramels, though our favourite has to be the traditional Valentine’s Hearts; red-wrapped, creamy milk chocolate truffles - simple, sweet and oh-so delicious. Selfridges, Exchange Square & Trafford Centre, Manchester (butlerschocolates.com)

Goodbye guilt For those of us with a weakness for champagne and a waistline which bears the scars, help is finally at hand. With zero grams of sugar per litre, the Lopez-Martin ‘Henri Martin’ Extra Brut is deliciously dry and one of the healthiest champagnes money can buy. The brand is produced exclusively for Finest Fizz, an intriguing company which launched in 2013 and prides itself on sourcing some of the best premier cru and grand cru independent champagnes from small artisan producers across the eponymous French region. With their latest tipple guaranteed to be a roaring success, we’ll be raising our first guilt-free glass in their honour. (finestfizz.biz) 135

The stage is set Could the day of the angry, shouting, arrogant chef be over? Word has it that this is indeed the case, and it can only mean great things for the lover of fine food W o rds : K a t e H o u g h t o n

or many, fine dining still means starched white table cloths, glowering staff and an angry chef in the kitchen. This is, perhaps, why Manchester hasn’t really taken to the whole experience. We do things a little differently up here: arrogant Maitre d’s are likely to last about ten seconds in the city that gave us The Happy Mondays and The Hacienda. The times, however, are a-changing, and now fine dining is back… and we’re doing it our way. Riding the first wave of the new zeitgeist is Aiden Byrne, who came to a realisation about himself and his view of fine dining while on a culinary tour of San Sebastian three years ago. ‘I was your absolute classic angry young chef,’ says Aiden, in his soft, expressive Wirral accent. ‘I would march about, shouting at my kitchen team, terrorising the waiting staff and woe betide a diner who didn’t like what I’d given him. It sounds mad, but this was the way of things in pretty much every top restaurant I’d worked in.’ ‘When I was in San Sebastian I ate in some of the best restaurants in the world, but apart from

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the incredible food, what struck me was the really amazing, warm, hospitable atmosphere. Customers were treated like special guests, welcome friends. Not intimidated by incomprehensible menus, snooty waiters and patronising sommeliers. I knew I had to change, and so I set about finding the opportunity to make it happen.’ One serendipitous press release later, Aiden was sharing a table with Tim Bacon, founder and MD of Living Ventures – a gastronomic empire of 33 restaurants, bars and pubs, none of which are famed for fine dining, but all of which deliver an experience that keeps customers coming back time and time again. ‘Tim had stated that he wanted to bring a Michelin star back to Manchester, and I knew I wanted to help him do it, so I gave him a call.’ Aiden found himself spilling his heart out about how he felt Manchester ought to ‘do’ Michelin-standard dining, and found a likeminded soul in Tim. The result is Manchester House, in Spinningfields.

The cheshire Magazine | Food & Drink

It’s clear from the moment you step out of the lift that every single microscopic detail has been considered: staff (dozens), décor (stunning), wine list (extensive) and menus (gripping, decisionstress inducing) are all polished to perfection, but avoid any hint of prim and proper. The whole experience is simply designed to relax you and let you enjoy the delights of Aiden’s kitchen. ‘I really want this to be a relaxed, open and honest experience for every single customer,’ he says. ‘There’s nowhere to hide doing it this way and I think that diners can see that.’ There’s certainly nowhere to hide in Aiden’s kitchen at Manchester House. It’s wide open to the dining room, and in fact you must walk past it to reach the tables. For a kitchen busy with 25 chefs it’s remarkably quiet. Watching, you simply see focussed professionals going about their work: no crashing of pans, no clashing of crockery and never, ever, any shouting. If you’re concerned it might be easy to just watch the choreographed dance of the kitchen, and forget about your dining companion, don’t be. Every dish put in front of you will dazzle, both in taste and presentation. The perfect balance of style and substance, you might say. ‘For me, fine dining should be like great theatre,’ Aiden says. ‘It always has been, from the days of dazzling white tablecloths and big silver domes leading to the “ta dah!” moment till now, where I create dishes that not only taste incredible, but look stunning too. Every experience you have at Manchester House, from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave should be unforgettable.’ It is: there has certainly been no effort spared to bring a Michelin star back to Manchester and, hopefully, it won’t be long in coming. In the meantime, book yourself a table and enjoy the show.

A Star is Born? Faced with too many choices I crumble, so the option of a daily lunch menu with two options for each course probably saved me several hours deliberation… and gave me those in which to enjoy a wholly memorable and definitely repeatable dining experience. A Ballotine of Woodland Quail was melt in the mouth tender and accompanied by, whisper it, fois gras and lots of twiddly-but-tasty bits that brought all the parts together in a single delicious whole. My companion raved about her Salmon with Fennel Confit, Fermented Garlic & Red Wine Cockles, which looked incredibly pretty and fresh. We both chose duck next, accompanied with a feather light liver parfait and cep purée. Pure poetry, in duck form. Puddings took the form of a pink peppercorn infused panna cotta with chilli and lime compressed pineapple and a hazelnut cake, with honey ice cream and roasted plums. Both were eaten in silence and total appreciation. The menu choices are easy, there’s nothing here that bewilders or requires a leap of faith, which isn’t always the case with very creative chefs. It’s wise though, and fits perfectly with Tim and Aiden’s desire to deliver a relaxed and unpretentious dining experience. However, I do have to give special mention to the amuse bouches. It is here that Aiden has allowed his imagination free rein: an onion consommé is topped with parmesan foam and accompanied by the lightest brioche you’ll ever experience; hand cut potato crisps arrive with a light, slightly acidic buttermilk truffle dip; and a pure white duck egg shell comes filled (from the bottom up) with prune and Armagnac puree, confit of duck, a poached duck egg yolk and deep, darkly green watercress soup. Breathtaking.

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Made in

Chesire While we may not be the kings of ice-cream (that crown sits firmly with the Italians) we are most certainly the kings of bringing it to the masses w o r d s : k at e h o u g h t o n

hat icon of childhood, the ice-cream van and its unforgettable tinny chimes, induces a warm nostalgia for those endless summers of my childhood and is now creating memories all over the world… and the chances are that when it does, it was made in Cheshire. Crewe business Whitby Morrison was founded in 1962 by Bryan Whitby (the Morrison bit came later, when Whitby’s took over their main competitor) and is today run by son Stuart and grandson Ed. Over the decades since then most of their competitors have conceded to their expertise and today Whitby Morrison makes more than 95% of the vans you’ll see on our streets, alongside our parks and hovering mercilessly by school gates. It is the chimes of course that we all remember so well. Originally delivered by a clockwork movement, they are now wholly electronic. However, while technology allows for any tune you wish to be re-created in the traditional style, Greensleeves remains the first choice for many van owners. Today Whitby Morrison export their vans to over 60 countries around the world, and received enquiries from 52 different international buyers at last month’s trade fair, held in Italy. ‘We currently have 20 vans en route to Azerbaijan, two on order for Dubai and one awaiting collection by the Sultan of Johor, who is sending a private plane for it,’ says Ed Whitby. ‘I sometimes have to pinch myself. We’re just a small family firm from Crewe, yet we do business all over the world. It makes me very proud.’ An icon of Britain. Made in Cheshire.

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The cheshire Magazine | Food & Drink

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Feature | The cheshire Magazine

Top

Performers Impressive exam results for Kings School Macclesfield

tudents and staff at The King’s School in Macclesfield are celebrating after their school came out as the top performing school in East Cheshire at both GCSE and A Level, just days after the school enjoyed one of its best ever years for Oxbridge offers. An incredible 12 students - around 10% of the Upper Sixth – are set to go to England’s two oldest universities, with six young men and six women earning Oxbridge offers across a wide range of traditionally tough subjects. Sixth Form Principal, Ruth Roberts, said: ‘At a time when increasing competition from overseas students means entry is all the more challenging, this is quite simply a stunning set of results from an extremely talented cohort of students.’ The Cheshire East league tables for A Level and GCSE results show King’s as the top performing school based on exam scores from summer 2013. On the bottom row (from left) are: Joanne Collins, who has an offer to read Law at Newnham College, Cambridge; Tom Rheinberg has an offer to read Classics at Worcester College, Oxford; Tom Meadows has an offer to read Linguistics at Downing College, Cambridge. On the first step are: School Captain George Crummack, who has an open offer from Oxford to read History and wants to be a diplomat; Kate Garnett has an offer to read Veterinary

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Medicine at St. John’s College, Cambridge; Alex Swift has an offer to read History and English Literature at Pembroke College, Oxford. On the second step are: Anna Townley, who has an offer to read Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry at Oriel College, Oxford; Richard Southern has an offer to read Medicine at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

‘This is quite simply a stunning set of results from an extremely talented cohort of students’ On the back row are: Laura Venables, who has an offer to read Economics and Management at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford; Max Hayward has an offer from St. Peter’s College, Oxford to study Economics and Management; Charlotte Harrop has an offer to read Engineering at Queen’s College, Cambridge and wants to be a Formula One race engineer; George Walker has an offer to read Modern History at Merton College, Oxford and wants to work in the Foreign Office. For more information, please see: www.kingsmac.co.uk Forthcoming events: Taster Afternoon (Infant & Junior), 13 February, 1pm – 3pm. Infant & Junior Open Afternoon, 25 April, 1pm – 3pm

The cheshire Magazine | Family

Kids’ news

There’s a whole host of tantalising titbits on offer for your little ones this spring - here’s our pick of the very cutest couture and the best from the world of books w o rds : g e o r g i a b a r n e t t & g emm a k n i g h t

Hola chica Pepa & Co is a stylish online clothing boutique that brings the best of Spanish design to babies and children up to the age of six. The wide-ranging assortment for both boys and girls offers classic and contemporary garments for all occasions, including sweet little skirts, blouses and charming jackets and coats, all of which are beautifully designed and environmentally friendly to boot. (pepaandcompany.com)

images: Montana Lowery

Mini couture Jean Paul Gaultier’s latest range of couture gowns is set to mark its most luxurious offering for girls. The Spring/Summer 2014 collection; which has taken inspiration from the adult range, comprises of pretty and petite tulle dresses adorned with Swarovski crystals and is available in either ivory or pink. The mini couture label, which is available from Harrods, will be updated every six months, and have a run of a very select 90 pieces. (jeanpaulgaultier.com)

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Family | The cheshire Magazine

Fun and games We love kids’ apparel that pushes boundaries, so it’s no surprise that our latest clothing crush is the collaboration between organic kidswear brand Boys&Girls and light-hearted London street artist Malarky. The result is a fabulously bright and playful range of long sleeve raglan tees with contrast sleeves, vest tops with contrasting trim and hooded sweat tops, creating gorgeous graffiti-style motifs and available as of February. The collaboration perfectly complements the rest of Boys&Girls’ Spring/Summer collection with its 70s inspired lightweight denim and bright stitch details so, it goes without saying, we’re big fans. (boysandgirlsshop.com)

BOOK CLUB

Get them reading… Let your imagination run wild Popular children’s party planners Sharky and George have just released a genius new book for kids of all ages that is sure to keep them entertained for hours. Filled to the brim with interesting games and activities, Don’t You Dare makes the perfect companion for long car journeys or rainy afternoons. A favourite among celebrities, the fun book inspires kids to use their imagination and explore their creative side, without the need for expensive props, toys or hours of preparation. For a fun personalised touch, young ones are invited to create their own personalised cover with complimentary stickers inside. Don’t You Dare, £12.95 (sharkyandgeorge.com)

Underwater adventure Based on the lyrics of the world-famous Beatles song, the glorious new picture book by Ringo Starr follows five children on a magical journey through the Octopus’s garden. The friendly sea creature takes them on a wild underwater adventure that they will never forget, as they experience riding turtles and explore mysterious caves. The book comes with an accompanying CD which includes an exclusive reading by Ringo himself and a never-before-heard version of the song. Octopus’s Garden, £10.99, Waterstones in Knutsford, Wilmslow and Altrincham

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Students achieve their academic and personal potentialâ&#x20AC;? (ISI Inspection) Bursaries and Scholarships available Buses available from North Wales, Wirral & across Cheshire Independent. Co-educational. 4-18 Years

Please contact:

Mrs Su Boyd College Registrar 01244 564 170 admissions@abbeygatecollege.co.uk

ABBEY GATE COLLEGE Where our children come first Abbey Gate College Saighton Grange, Saighton, Chester CH3 6EN

www.abbeygatecollege.co.uk

Family | The cheshire Magazine

The classroom As usual there’s no shortage of high achievements in our county’s schools this month. We bring you our pick of Cheshire’s many academic triumphs w o rds : k a t e h o u g h t o n

Altrincham student Zena shines Altrincham resident and talented Abbey College Manchester student Zena Nour shone in the spotlight of a high-pressure UN summit, where students from local-based schools were locked in talks over the global issue of sustainable energy. Zena, aged 17, took centre stage in the model United Nations event, hosted by Abbey College Manchester and organised by the Geographical Association of Manchester. Eleven teams from Withington Girls’ School, Bury Grammar, Bolton Girls’ School, Xaverian and Abbey College Manchester replicated the high-pressure environment of a UN General Assembly at the Unitarian Chapel in Manchester, where each team of student ‘diplomats’ debated the global issue and concept of ‘Sustainable Energy for All’. Zena represented the views of Iran in the debate, saying: ‘This debate was a fascinating and really enjoyable experience.’ (abbeymanchester.co.uk)

Could HS2 provide for your child’s future? The HS2 high-speed rail project is one of the most controversial conversation topics of recent times, but it seems that the Government’s determination to proceed will have unexpected benefits for our 16 – 18 year olds, as it has recently been announced that HS2 is to have a dedicated further education college to train engineers. The college, set to open in 2017, would teach the skills needed to construct the railway and will address the longstanding problem of a lack of home-grown engineers. Business Secretary Vince Cable said the investment in the railway should ‘also come with investment in the elite skills which will help build it.’

From Cheshire to the Gambia A group of Cheshire sixth formers have returned from a volunteering trip to the Gambia inspired and humbled by their experience. The students were part of a 12-strong cohort from Withington Girls’ School who embarked on an eight-day visit to the country, having spent almost a year raising funds to help locals in the Gambian village of Illiassa. Their £5,000 donation went towards building a new kitchen and store room at the Mamba Tamba School, and to buying the community a muchneeded milling machine. Charlotte Feldman, from Hale, said the highlight of the trip had been spending time with the school’s children. ‘They welcomed us with open arms. It was heartwarming to see that Mamba Tamba gives the children a place where they can forget their worries,’ she said. (withington.manchester.sch.uk) 144

A sporting chance Abbeygate College pupil Naomi has recently become a champion once again when she won the Under 17 British Modern Biathlon Championships in Solihull, beating 39 of the country’s top athletes in a 1600m run and 200m swim. Now Naomi is hoping to be selected to represent Team GB in the European Championships this year. Naomi competed in a string of other competitions during 2013, including the Under 17’s Yorkshire Modern Pentathlon Championships. Talented athletes from across the UK competed in swimming, running, fencing, riding and shooting and, despite being set against those a year older than her, she once again came out on top. (abbeygatecollege.co.uk)

The Manchester Grammar School Target the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading universities; study at a World-leading academic school Whole School Open Event Thursday 15 May 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm Applications for Sixth Form welcome - bursaries available

For further information contact Kath Heathcote 0161 224 7201 Ext 234 or k.heathcote@mgs.org

MGS.org @MGSmagic

Small Business Stars

#TheoSaysSo!

Cheshire is filled with entrepreneurs; setting up for yourself seems to have been the natural choice for so many of our established businesses that you wonder if it’s contagious W o rds : K a t e H o u g h t o n

ince the initial crash of 2008 it may well be that much of it can be labelled as ‘necessity’ entrepreneurship, but whatever the cause, it’s only right to celebrate the results. This is exactly what Theo Paphitis has done with the set up of his Small Business Sunday weekly competition. His admiration for people with the passion and energy to set up their own business, and his desire to support their aims,

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found the perfect vehicle in Twitter, the obvious and well-used marketing tool used by most small business start-ups. Each week Theo rewards small businesses that tweet him @TheoPaphitis and describe their business in one tweet including the all-important hashtag #SBS. Only tweets made in the time slot between 5.00pm and 7.30pm each Sunday count. Each week Theo reviews and chooses his favourite lucky six who are then re-tweeted. As he has over 400,000 followers, this can offer a huge boost to the winning businesses. Lisa Forbes, who set up CanDOO Concierge in 2009, won in October 2011, after several months of tweeting and almost giving up. ‘I’d been tweeting #SBS for about nine months. It’s not easy to summarise your business in 140 characters, including Theo’s address, the hashtag and my own website address, and I was on the point of giving up when I won!’ ‘The response was immediate. My Tweet, which included the text “I do the things you can’t, or don’t want, to do” was re-tweeted to his more than 400,000 followers and the congratulations and positive comments just flowed in.’ ‘It has most certainly helped my business to grow. From a publicity perspective it’s been marvellous. Shortly after my #SBS win I also won the Forward Ladies Home Based Business Woman of the Year. A month later I was invited to appear on Granada Reports, discussing how to juggle work with children sent home from school due to industrial action. CanDOO has been featured in a guide to successful business

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

start-ups and I was just invited to talk on Radio 5 Live, as their expert party planner. None of this would have happened without the #SBS win. It’s driven my website right up the Google rankings to page one and now I’m also listed by Which? Magazine as one of the top five concierge sites in the UK, again, a direct result of my win. ‘All of this has given significant validation to my business, meaning that potential clients feel more confident about making contact – and my position on Google puts me right in front of them too. I most certainly recommend all small businesses to enter.’ Liz Southall founded Red Shift Radio, a not-for-profit radio station and community networking organisation based in Crewe, in 2010. Red Shift won in June 2012, Jubilee Weekend, but had involved herself in the #SBS community far prior to this.

‘We all have in common – complete conviction in our abilities and a will to succeed’ – Theo Paphitis ‘As a community radio station the opportunity to promote local businesses who have received such an accolade fits perfectly with our stated intentions. I too had regularly entered the competition, faithfully tweeting every Sunday evening, but it was my work with previous #SBS winners that actually caught Theo’s attention first. He was impressed by what we were doing – tweeting, re-tweeting and interviewing the Cheshire-based winners – and I was invited to meet him at a filming of Dragon’s Den and interview him. He was genuinely interested in Red Shift Radio and very easy to talk to.’ ‘I meet all the winners when they come to be interviewed, and there’s one thing we all have in common – complete conviction in our abilities and a will to succeed. That’s the definition of “entrepreneur”, perhaps.’

The most recent Cheshire based winner is Flashrads, who describe their product as ‘seriously cool radiators’. Founder Paul Severn was driven to establish the business when he couldn’t find what he was looking for following a kitchen conversion. ‘We knocked our kitchen and dining room through to make one big space, as many do, but lost the wall that held the radiator as a result. My wife set about sourcing a new one, having a very clear idea of what she wanted, but couldn’t find anything close. As the room is not traditional in style, and is usually filled with family and friends, she wanted something a bit funky and unusual, preferably with some sort of lighting built in.’ ‘I already ran my own commercial heating engineer business, so was able to ask contacts to make up the various component parts for me and I then assembled the finished product myself and plumbed it in. I soon found so many friends, family and business contacts were asking for something similar that I established Flashrads so I could do it properly.’ Flashrads was launched in 2011, but had been entering the #SBS competition for just three months before winning. ‘We’re heavy users of Twitter,’ says Paul. ‘It’s a great tool for marketing the business, so to win a twitter competition was a huge deal. We saw an immediate spike of views on our website, up around 500% on normal traffic.’

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Property | The cheshire Magazine

Local estate agents Andrew J Nowell & Company 8 London Road, Alderley Edge SK9 7JS 01625 585 905 mail@andrewjnowell.co.uk andrewjnowell.co.uk

ON THE MARKET Chelford, ÂŁ2,975,000 Contact Jackson Stops & Staff: 01625 540 340

Benson Bunch Suite 4, 3 Grove Street, Wilmslow SK9 1DU 01625 523 605 helen@bensonbunch.co.uk bensonbunch.co.uk

Gascoigne Halman 6 London Road, Alderley Edge SK9 7JS 01625 590 373 alderley@gascoignehalman.co.uk gascoignehalman.co.uk

Hibbert Homes

Michael Chapman

Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

187 Ashley Road, Hale Altrincham WA15 9SQ 01619 296 922 info@hibberthomes.com hibberthomes.com

79A London Road Alderley Edge SK9 7DY 01625 584 379 hello@michaeljchapman.co.uk michaeljchapman.co.uk

Stratford-upon-Avon 4-5 Union Street Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6QT 01789 273 113 sothebysrealty.co.uk

Strutt & Parker Chester Park House, 37 Lower Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1RS 01244 354 888 chester@struttandparker.com struttandparker.com

Jackson-Stops & Staff Wilmslow 8 Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5AA 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk

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Savills Wilmslow 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA 01625 417 450 wilmslow@savills.com savills.co.uk

showcasing the

finest HOMES & PROPERTY from the best estate agents

Exclusive PROPERTIES Insider knowledge and market tips on sourcing the ultimate home

For more details please contact Jackson-Stops & Staff on 01625 540 340 (jackson-stops.co.uk)

Savills Wilmslow 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA

Savills Chester 22 Lower Bridge Street Chester CH1 1RS

01625 417450

01244 32 32 32

wilmslow@savills.com

chester@savills.com

savills.co.uk

RECENTLY BUILT BESPOKE RESIDENCE hale, cheshire Stunning newly built family home ø 3 receptions, 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms ø fabulous Poggenpohl living kitchen, orangery ø future proofed integrated systems ø double garage, gated access ø lanscaped gardens approx. 0.3 acre. ø EPC=B Guide £1.875 million

Contact: Mark Holden mholden@savills.com 01625 417454

For insight into your local property market visit 'IN NUMBERS' at savills.co.uk/in-numbers

Savills Wilmslow 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA

Savills Chester 22 Lower Bridge Street Chester CH1 1RS

01625 417450

01244 32 32 32

wilmslow@savills.com

chester@savills.com

savills.co.uk

STUNNING GEORGIAN FAMILY HOUSE wilmslow, cheshire Elegant Georgian detached family residence ø 5 receptions, 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms ø fabulous living/dining kitchen opening onto heated al-fresco dining terrace ø large landscaped secluded rear gardens, close to Wilmslow centre ø EPC = E Guide £1.575 million

Buying or selling this spring? Talk to Savills.

Contact: Mark Holden mholden@savills.com 01625 417454

Savills Wilmslow 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA

Savills Chester 22 Lower Bridge Street Chester CH1 1RS

01625 417450

01244 32 32 32

wilmslow@savills.com

chester@savills.com

savills.co.uk

IMPRESSIVE & SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD RESIDENCE cheadle hulme, cheshire Remarkable period family home ø 3 receptions & study, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms ø private grounds to about 0.75 acre ø breakfast kitchen with Aga ø superb garaging to 950 sq ft ø EPC = E Guide £1.285 million

Contact: Jean Pilkington jpilkington@savills.com 01625 417453

Savills only concentrates on one type of house. Yours. If it's time to sell, talk to Savills.

Savills Wilmslow 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA

Savills Chester 22 Lower Bridge Street Chester CH1 1RS

01625 417450

01244 32 32 32

wilmslow@savills.com

chester@savills.com

savills.co.uk

PERFECTLY SITUATED FOR GOLF CLUB & VILLAGE prestbury, cheshire Superb luxury contemporary apartment ø beautifully presented throughout ø 2 large private balconies, lift ø master suite, guest suite, bedroom 3 ø secure undercroft parking ø close to golf club and Prestbury village ø EPC = C Offers in the region of £750,000

Savills - winner of the 2013 'UK Sales Agency of the Year' award.

Contact: Jean Pilkington jpilkington@savills.com 01625 417453

jackson-stops.co.uk

Mottram St Andrew A magnificent country house in 2 acres of private & secluded grounds. ●

2 reception rooms ● study ● garden room ● lower ground floor cinema/entertainment room

●

5 bedrooms ● 4 bathrooms ● integral leisure suite ● approximately 2 acres ● EPC - C

Guide Price £3,550,000

People Property Places

FF52699

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

Mottram St Andrew A sublime 90 acre Country Estate at the foot of Alderley Edge in Cheshire’s most coveted location. ●

entertaining hall ● 4 reception rooms ● study ● morning room ● 5 bedrooms ● 5 bathrooms

●

entertaining barn with bedroom suite ● traditional farm buildings & stabling ● parkland

●

just under 90 acres ● EPC – D

Guide Price: £12,000,000

FF49762

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

People Property Places

jackson-stops.co.uk

Prestbury An unparalleled 6 bedroom country house set in a truly outstanding position with stunning views. ●

2 reception rooms ● library ● morning room ● 6 bedrooms ● 5 bathrooms ● leisure suite

●

just over 2 acres ● EPC - C

Guide Price £2,980,000

People Property Places

FF45114

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

Brereton Park A tastefully appointed 6 bedroom country house in a delightful parkland setting accessed off a private road. ●

4 reception rooms ● 6 bedrooms ● oak framed 4 car garage ● stable block for 4 ● orchard

●

approximately 7.35 acres ● EPC – E

Guide Price £1,750,000

FF54353

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

People Property Places

jackson-stops.co.uk Showhome

Showhome

Eden Park, Alderley Edge A distinguished mansion in a private location. ●

4 reception rooms ● 7 bedrooms (all en suite) ● leisure suite ● approx 1 acre

Guide Price £5,750,000

FF45717

Ollerton An elegant contemporary manor house nestled in approx 18.5 acres of manicured grounds. ●

4 reception rooms, library & cinema ● 6 bedrooms (4 en suite) ● leisure suite

●

hard tennis court ● fairway, putting green & 4 tees ● EPC - D

Guide Price £4,500,000

People Property Places

FF44394

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

Mottram St Andrew A small Country Estate & peerless new build Manor House. ●

2 reception rooms ● 5 bedrooms ● 5 bathrooms ● leisure suite ● 1 bedroom annexe

●

orangery ● private stocked lake ● stabling ● approximately 13.5 acres ● EPC – C

Guide Price £7,500,000

FF51159

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

People Property Places

jackson-stops.co.uk

Aston by Budworth Prestbury A breathtaking thatched property with immeasurable charm.

A stylish family house within easy walking distance of the village.

●

3 reception rooms & study ● 3 bedrooms (all en suite)

●

2 reception rooms & garden room ● 5 bedrooms

●

1 bedroom annexe ● approx 2.25 acres ● EPC - D

●

3 bath/shower rooms ● approx 1.2 acres ● EPC - D

Guide Price £1,995,000

FF52911

Guide Price £1,950,000

FF52875

Chelford

Henbury

A modern country house in an exquisite parkland setting.

A stunning family house with exquisite south-facing views.

●

3 reception rooms & study ● 6 bedrooms ● 4 bathrooms

●

3 reception rooms ● 4 bedrooms ● 2 bathrooms

●

approx 5.5 acres ● EPC - D

●

outbuildings ● approx 5 acres ● EPC - D

Guide Price £2,975,000

People Property Places

FF38936

Guide Price £1,250,000

FF54586

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

Henbury

Alderley Edge

An extensively modernised & refurbished Regency house.

An impressive Edwardian house in landscaped gardens.

●

3 reception rooms & sun lounge ● 4 bedrooms ● 5 bathrooms

●

2 reception rooms & orangery ● 5 bedrooms (all en suite)

●

potential annexe ● pool ● approx 3.37 acres ● EPC - F

●

leisure suite ● 1 bed annexe ● approx 3.2 acres ● EPC - C

Guide Price £1,695,000

FF49569

Guide Price £2,595,000

FF54817

Smallwood

Nether Alderley

A splendid property with equestrian facilities set in 7.5 acres.

A magnificent newly constructed Manor House.

●

3 reception rooms & study ● 6 bedrooms (4 en suite)

●

4 reception rooms & study ● 6 bedrooms (all en suite)

●

annexe ● stabling ● approx 7.5 acres ● EPC - E

●

leisure suite ● 1 bed annexe ● just over 6.5 acres ● EPC - D

Guide Price £1,395,000

FF48487

Guide Price £5,750,000

Wilmslow 01625 540 340 wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

FF52217

People Property Places

Don’t delay

until spring

to catch early

home buyers Mark Holden, head of Savills Wilmslow assesses the local prime housing market

f the general mood of the market so far in 2014 is anything to go by, we are set for a return to more ‘normal’ trading conditions this year. Healthy economic growth statistics for Manchester in particular and recent headlines referring to an increase in average UK house prices have buoyed confidence in the housing market in the region. However, we believe this will translate as higher transaction rates over the coming months rather than dramatic price increases. The weather, often a key factor in residential market activity levels, has been exceptionally mild so far and with the hopeful appearance of snowdrops and daffodils, this too has encouraged an early emergence of buyers who might otherwise wait until spring. As the choice of homes on the market reduces, decisive action and sensible offers from buyers are seeing deals being done across all price ranges. Many new instructions are receiving early offers and some properties which have languished for months or even years, with modest price adjustments, are being as well received by the market. Traditionally, the greatest activity is seen in spring when the supply of houses is highest and properties often look at their best. Yet in successive years we

162

have had some of our busiest months, in terms of buyer enquiries, in February and March. There are a number of reasons for this but the one that stands out is timing in relation to the academic year ahead. Access to good schools is a key factor in people’s house search and one of the principal attractions of the North West’s Golden Triangle is the excellent choice of good schools in the state

‘Decisive action and sensible offers from buyers are seeing deals being done across all price ranges’ and private sectors. Buyers tell us that in order to be in their new homes by the summer holidays, in time to settle the family in before school starts, they need to have had a sale agreed by the end of April at the latest. This allows two months to exchange contracts and a further month or so between exchange and completion. Thus in order to allow plenty of time for their search they start looking earlier in the year. So whilst it may be tempting to put off a sale until the spring, my advice is to go to the market earlier - otherwise you may miss out on this motivated and time-driven sector. (savills.co.uk)

The cheshire Magazine | Property

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w www.hibberthomes.com w www.hibberthomes.com

South Road, Bowdon Asking Price: £2,500,000

‘Four Oaks’ is a magnificent 6022 square foot detached residence, originally built in 2000 by Crosby Homes sitting on a 0.45 acre South facing plot. The property is situated in one of the area’s most sought after residential locations within easy reach of Hale village and yet almost adjacent to open countryside. This is a 6 bed 6 bath property in one of Hale’s best locations and not to be missed. EPC - D

187 Ashley Road Hale | Altrincham | WA15 9SQ 187 Ashley Road Hale | Altrincham | WA15 9SQ t 0161 929 6922 te0161 929 6922 info@hibberthomes.com e info@hibberthomes.com HH Vebra Press Ad NEW.indd 1 HH Vebra Press Ad NEW.indd 1

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Park Road, Hale Price: ÂŁ1,845,000 87 Ashley RoadAsking Hale | Altrincham | WA15 9SQ

A magnificent example of a 6/7 bedroomed Victorian period family detached residence of outstanding quality. Measuring 5,270 sq ft and sitting on a large plot of over 0.48 of an acre. EPC - E

0161 929 6922 info@hibberthomes.com

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Windsor Drive, Bowdon Asking Price: ÂŁ1,500,000

Part exchange considered. A substantial 6 bedroom detached house with potential for a 7th bedroom offering 5110 sq ft of well proportioned and flexible accommodation set over three floors and standing in a much larger than average plot (approx 0.3 acre). The property is situated on a quiet cul-de-sac in Bowdon and is a fantastic family home. EPC - D

w www.hibberthomes.com

.hibberthomes.com

Pheasant Rise, Bowdon Price: ÂŁ1,450,000 87 Ashley RoadAsking Hale | Altrincham | WA15 9SQ

A beautifully extended and remodelled 5 bed detached family home at the head of this prestigious cul de sac off South Downs Road and standing on an amazing 0.43 acre garden plot adjoining Altrincham Boys Grammar School playing fields. EPC- E

0161 929 6922 info@hibberthomes.com

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Buckley Rise, Pytchleys Hollow, Norley Buckley Rise is a striking contemporary twist on a traditional timber framed country house situated in an elevated position taking full advantage of the wonderful rural views on offer. The property has been meticulously designed and built by Border Oak of Hereford using only natural quality materials and provides luxurious living with attention to detail, creating a home of great appeal and warmth. Features within the property include the stunning handmade traditional oak frame which bears the ‘carpenters marks’, open fireplaces, limestone floors and architect designed lighting.

Guide Price £975,000

STRUTT & PARKER

01244 354880

Pheasant Rise, Bowdon A beautifully extended and remodelled 5 bed detached family home at the head of this prestigious cul de sac off South Downs Road and standing on an amazing 0.43 acre garden plot adjoining Altrincham Boys Grammar School playing fields.

ÂŁ1,450,000 w www.hibberthomes.com

Hibbert Homes 01619 296922 w www.hibberthomes.com

Hale Road, Hale Stancliffe is a recently built Arts and Crafts inspired family house which not only stands in nearly 1/3 acre but has been finished to exemplary standards and has been ‘future proofed’ with all that is expected by discerning buyers in today’s market. Cat 5 cabling throughout, integrated audio visual systems, good security and intelligent lighting systems, integrated vacuum cleaning system, top notch Villeroy Boch wall hung sanitary ware and a beautifully appointed living kitchen with sleek Poggenpohl units and Corian surfaces fitted with top of the range Miele appliances. Underfloor heating to the ground floor and a fitted dressing room to the master suite. The garden landscaping has had similar attention and includes stone finished terraces and pathways, an extensive block paved parking/turning area to the double garage with its twin electric hardwood doors. The gardens enjoy a good degree of privacy, have a garden lighting system and are south facing to the rear. The accommodation, although offering up to 7 bedrooms, has great flexibility, especially on the second floor, with two rooms equally suited to use as a home office and a cinema room or the creation of a self-contained suite. The house has the added benefit of an NHBC warranty.

£1,875,000

Savills Wilmslow 6 Water Lane Wilmslow SK9 5AA

Savills Chester 22 Lower Bridge Street Chester CH1 1RS

01625 417450

01244 32 32 32

wilmslow@savills.com

chester@savills.com

SAVILLS savills.co.uk

01625 417450

HIGHFIELD HOUSE, TRAFFORD ROAD, ALDERLEY EDGE A stunning Victorian villa which has been restored to a very high standard with a long sweeping driveway. 2 principal drawing rooms, a living family kitchen, boot room, cloakroom with wc, utility room, wine cellar, master bedroom with dressing room and bathroom, 4 further bedrooms with en-suite bathroom and further shower room. Separate coach house provides self contained accommodation.

ÂŁ1,950,000

Andrew J Nowell & Company

01625 585905

Waterside, PRESTBURY Waterside is a magnificent state of the art family house, developed to the highest order by the celebrated Bilton Ward Developments. Dramatic large windows flood the house with natural light and dominate this impressive property, which is of a mainly brick construction and is located behind hardwood electric gates in an exclusive setting. The house has been pre-wired to provide the most comprehensive home control intelligent systems. Waterside is a unique mix of bespoke fittings with natural qualities of marble/stone, walnut and leather, juxtaposing the state of the art 21st Century fittings. Interior designers BWD Interiors have created a unique style within the property, only adding to its grandeur. The opulent cinema room oozes decadence, whilst providing the latest entertainment systems. A solid oak front door leads to a light entrance hall, with limestone flooring and an impressive circular cast iron staircase, which continues on every level to the third floor. A magnificent glass multi-droplet chandelier provides the centrepiece to the hallway, dominating the space like a cascading waterfall.

Guide Price ÂŁ3,250,000

Jackson-Stops & Staff

01625 540340

Highfield House, Prestbury Constructed by Lyme Developments, a magnificent detached residence extending to approximately 13,200 square feet with an exceptional standard of internal appointment and including leisure suite with indoor pool, Jacuzzi and gymnasium. The property comprises three reception rooms, cinema room, bespoke breakfast kitchen, mezzanine level gym overlooking the pool, wine room, laundry room and cloakroom. At first floor level are three bedrooms of generous proportions, each with en-suite, a family bathroom and study. The second floor has a further reception rooms with balcony and stunning far reaching views. At this level there are also three further bedrooms and three bathrooms. Highfield House is located within easy reach of the historic and picturesque village of Prestbury. There are excellent transport links within the area, including direct rail links from Macclesfield to London in under 2 hours.

price on application

Gascoigne Halman 01625 827467

Broadoak, Castle Hill, Mottram St Andrew Broadoak is a stunning gated five bedroom and four bathroom home. The spacious and bright living space includes an open plan bespoke kitchen, family room and orangery; drawing room; dining room. Leisure facilities include a stunning indoor swimming pool; gym; spa and steam room. Occupying an enviable location with far reaching views

BB Benson Bunch

ÂŁ5,450,000

Benson Bunch

01625 523605

Bespoke Property Consultancy Residential Letting and Sales

COMPUTER GENERATED IMAGE

WHITE OAKS, MOTTRAM ST ANDREW White Oaks is constructed in a mixture of soft cream stock bricks and is detailed with traditional Portland Stone features, such as the entrance portico and the ornate sills and window surrounds. The roof is covered in natural slate that projects a rich and beautiful quality. Levels of roof, wall and floor insulation, which exceed the building regulations requirements, together with purpose made high quality windows and external joinery with hermetically sealed doubleglazed units, ensure the property is comfortable and energy efficient. The house is set in beautifully landscaped and private grounds that provide a wonderful tranquil and secure setting. The front and south facing rear gardens are professionally designed and fully landscaped. Existing mature planting, mixed with new large specimens, including high laurel hedges to match, create a well screened and private garden. Every detail has been carefully thought out to create a truly wonderful and perfect residence.

Guide Price ÂŁ5,500,000

Jackson-Stops & Staff

01625 540340

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