The Cheshire Magazine May 2016 by Runwild Media Group

30244-71-manchester A3 DPS.indd 1

Dramatic, yet graceful. Effortlessly simple, with cutting-edge technology. Ghost Series II forges a silent path of serenity through an ever-changing world. No ordinary power. Experience it for yourself.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manchester Manchester Road, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 0ST Tel: +44 (0) 1565 700 000 www.rolls-roycemotorcars-manchester.co.uk Official range fuel economy figures for the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II: Urban 13.2-13.3mpg (21.4-21.2l/100km). Extra Urban 28.8mpg (9.8l/100km). Combined 20.0-20.2mpg (14.1-14l/100km). CO2 emissions 329-327g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. © Copyright Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited 2014. The Rolls-Royce name and logo are registered trademarks.

31/10/2014 11:47

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

CVS MayfairMagazine Advertorial VPOS DPS 091015.indd All Pages

09/10/2015 16:15

THE SPRING SALE AT THE ULTIMATE

SHOPPING EXPERIENCE The Spring sale brings an unrivalled selection of sofas, a spectacular leather collection, a huge range of dining and bedroom furniture, homewares, plus a big choice in carpets and beds. Their flagship stores guarantee a shopping experience you will never forget, setting unrivalled standards in display and merchandising to give you great help when furnishing any room in your home. Put that alongside incredibly low sale prices on everything throughout the stores including the famous brand names.

Visit the centre of excellence at your nearest Cousins Store for this exciting new brand.

Visit Cousins Spring sale, we promise you will not be disappointed.

BUY WITH COMPLETE

CONFIDENCE The North West’s largest and most inspirational furniture store. C H O I C E . Q U A L I T Y. V A L U E .

IN STORE CAFÉ

BEDS & BEDROOMS

30 CELEBRATING

YEARS

a true family business

www.cousinsfurniture.co.uk TheCheshireMagazine_SpringGeneric_DPS_297x210+3mmBleed.indd 2

23/03/2016 13:50

TheC

expect much more than a furniture store

Sofas. Carpets. Beds. Dining. Bedrooms. Lighting. Mirrors. Pictures. Cushions. Accessories. And much more...

HAND CRAFTED FURNITURE Exciting new Halo galleries in each store, showcasing the latest styles.

In store room setting

SPRING SALE

Read what our customers say...

97%

TRUSTED MERCHANT

2015

Independently review our products as good/excellent

HALF PRICE SAVINGS

(See website for details)

ACCESSORIES

CARPETS, FLOORING & RUGS

Open 7 days a week | Late Nights: Tuesday & Thursday until 8pm (Subject to variation during bank holidays)

Manchester A57, Regent Rd, Salford. M5 4EA. T: 0161 875 4070

Birmingham Warwick Road, Tyseley. B11 2EW. T: 0121 765 3300

Dudley Hall Street DY2 8NW. T: 01384 451500

PRICE PROMISE

Our promise to you, we won’t be beaten on price! * * See website for details

a true family business

• Free parking • Instore restaurant • Large stocks • Immediate delivery

13:50

TheCheshireMagazine_SpringGeneric_DPS_297x210+3mmBleed.indd 3

23/03/2016 13:51

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

From the

Editor

EDITOR’S PICKs #1 ALT1-ZT-51, page 60 (bremont.com)

#2 Queen of Sheba collection, page 64 (lydiacorteille.com)

#3 Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves, page 40.

he gentleman’s issue is always one of my favourites, and our cover star, courtesy of our lovely friends at House of Fraser, served as our inspiration; a depiction of the ideal modern gent – logical, courteous, dapper, in touch with his emotions and with a hint of adrenalin. Perfect, then, that we have one of the northwest’s most charming gents, Huseyin Bozkurt, chatting to Liz Taylor about his favourite things (page 30) and regular columnist, Crispin Harris of JacksonStops & Staff, letting us into his on-track other life (page 44) – not to mention a whole shoot of suiting and styling (page 78), how to invest in the world’s greatest watches (page 66), plus some sporting memorabilia for the lust list (page 40). For those of you out there who, like me, love the man in your life but find him a complete pain to buy for – as he’s ‘been there, done that, owns the printing press for the t-shirt’ – we’ve picked the brains of local lady Lauren Walker, specialist in gifting and consequent saviour to many (page 68). Elsewhere in the issue, we list our most inspiring men and women (page 33), and dance maestro Arlene Philips talks Jackie: The Musical, the magazine which got many through their teenage years (page 49). For the travellers, we bring you the hidden temples of Tokyo (page 110) and a glimpse behind the scenes at Cholmondeley’s competition gardens at Chelsea (page 158), plus advice on top spots to take our four-legged friends for a holiday from the Pets Pyjamas concierge (page 117). Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy!

Louisa Louisa Castle Editor Follow us on Twitter @TheCheshireMag

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

HUGO BOSS UK LTD. Phone +44 (0)20 7554 5700 hugoboss.com

Manchester BOSS Stores 11 New Cathedral Street 149 Peel Avenue

BOSS_Cheshire_Magazine_UK_RHP_BW008_0504.indd 1

01.04.16 09:08

Collection | The mayfair Magazine

040

049

033

117

Contents

May 2016

Features

collection

travel

033 | Inspiring minds Be inspired by six of Cheshire’s most successful and driven men and women 040 | The class of 1970 Collecting the autographs of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team 044 | The need for speed Crispin Harris on the exhilaration of taking to the iconic Cholmondeley track 049 | Got to dance Choreographer extraordinaire Arlene Phillips talks about her new show; Jackie the Musical

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

108 | Travel news 110 | On top of the world A perfect fusion of new and old, we’re hooked on Tokyo culture 117 | Pet-aways A relaxing holiday with your furry friend is perfectly pawsible 120 | Weekend away London’s Nadler Victoria is the thinking traveller’s ideal hotel

regulars

072

168

008 | Editor’s letter 012 | Contributors 015 | My life in Cheshire Meet Stuart Allen, director of the lovely Neptune Wilmslow 016 | Notebook This month’s local events, news and best new products 020 | Food & drink Add some luxe to your home with MiaFleur’s new range 023 | Local scene All the glamour and gossip 029 | As I was saying... Melissa Porter asks whether men are getting a raw deal 030 | Taylor Talks Liz meets Huseyin Bozkurt

art 054 | Art & culture news 056 | Northern artistry Buying, selling and loving art 058 | Prize lots

102

fashion & beauty 066 | Time to invest Expert advice on building a collection of classic watches 068 | Buying for a gentleman 070 | Fashion news From essential accessories to new trends, it’s all here 072 | A Cinderella story Designer Maria Grachvogel returns to her creative roots 080 | Top gear Pair the look of a classic car with sophisticated staples 090 | Beauty news New treatments, products and all the latest news 094 | Men at work Two gentlemen supporting this year’s Pink Ribbon Ball

motoring 098 | Motoring news The latest developments from the automotive world 100 | A new chapter Aston Martin introduces its new figurehead, the DB11 102 | The future’s bright And, for Mercedes, comes in the guise of AMG GT S 106 | Technology central What’s hot in the world of gadgets, games and geekery

FAMILY 125 | The classroom 126 | Kids’ news The very latest for little ones 129 | Dream sleepover The magical world of Hamleys can now be yours all night long

homes & interiors 132 | Interiors news 145 | The art of Oulton Interior design maestro Timothy Oulton on how he’s reviving the lost art of hosting 153 | Recreate the look We love our home cinemas, elaborate games rooms and automated home smart-tech 158 | Bringing history to life How the Cholmondeley Castle Gardens are being lovingly brought into the limelight 162 | Hot properties The best of Cheshire’s homes 168 | Italian idyll Channel the 1950s with this glorious Lake Como villa 178 | The right stripes Missoni’s new rainbow-hued, psychedelic line of homeware

HUGO BOSS UK LTD. Phone +44 (0)20 7554 5700 hugoboss.com

The Art of Tailoring Manchester BOSS Stores 11 New Cathedral Street 149 Peel Avenue

BOSS_Cheshire_Magazine_UK_RHP_BM005_0504.indd 1

01.04.16 08:48

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

MAY 2016 s issue 029 s

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

The

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

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

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

Kat Hannon Kat is a commercial photographer based in Chester, and for over a decade she worked in the music and fashion scene. She has photographed celebrities such as Sam Smith, Elliot Cowan and Jonathan Pryce.

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

CHRIS HALL When he’s not reviewing supercars, Chris Hall is the deputy editor of luxury watch magazine QP, and a freelance writer who has contributed to publications including The Telegraph, The FT, Wired, GQ and Esquire among others.

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

Proudly published by

RUNWILD MEDIA GROUP

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

Members of the Professional Publishers Association

cover On the

With thanks to New & Lingwood SS16 at House of Fraser (houseoffraser.co.uk)

Also published by

IWC PILOT. #B _ORIGINAL

Join the conversation on #B_Original.

Big Pilot’s Watch. Ref. 5009: : Leaning heavily on the first Pilot's Watches and at the same time an original: like its illustrious predecessors, the latest Big Pilot's Watch master fully combines precision technology with functional design. The largest calibre developed and built in IWC’s workshops builds up a seven-day power reserve in next to no time. The triangular index positioned below the chapter ring and the slender five-minute indi-

ces take the dial closer to the 1940 original. Small wonder, then, that the same thing goes for the watch as it owner: originality is all about character. I WC . E N G I N E E R E D FO R M E N . Mechanical movement, Pellaton automatic winding, IWC-manufactured 51111, 7-day power reserve with display, Date display, Central hacking seconds, Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields, Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure, Special back engraving, Water-resistant 6 bar, Diameter 46 mm, Calfskin strap by Santoni

St. Annʼs Square, Manchester, M2 7JB +44 (0) 161 834 0217 DAVIDMROBINSON.CO.UK

VISIT DMR MANCHESTER AND DISCOVER THE NEW PILOT'S WATCHES COLLECTION FROM 18 TH APRIL

2009202_F6AL3_216x303_p_DMR_4c_en.indd 1

04.04.16 18:07

Artisan Tile and Bathroom Studio. 19-22 The Paddock, Handforth, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 3HQ Tel: 01625 526186 Email: info@artisantbs.co.uk Web: www.artisantbs.co.uk

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

My life in CHESHIRE Stuart Allen, director of Neptune Wilmslow

I “You have to live and breathe interiors and design to work in the industry”

hoopers department store, wilmslow

t was while working as an estate agent in Cheshire that Stuart first developed an interest in interiors and interior design, eventually deciding that it was a yen worthy of indulging and delving into property development. It was in this field that his real love of interiors was finally able to flourish, until one day he came upon the Neptune interiors brand while installing one of their kitchen islands for a customer of his own. He knew immediately that he wanted to work with the brand and, as they say, the rest is history. At the time, Stuart and his wife Wendy were already renowned in the area for their interiors expertise as owners and founders of bespoke interiors company Allen & Allen Ltd, so it wasn’t long before they had merged to form what is now the Neptune store in Wilmslow. Re-launching to great fanfare in September 2014, the company has since offered specialist advice and services on a whole range of design elements, from the smallest household accessory right through to a full bespoke kitchen and including paints, natural stone, timber flooring and work surfaces. “You have to live and breathe interiors and design to work in the industry and without a doubt always be up for a challenge,” Stuart tells us. “I love seeing a project through from start to finish and the happiness it provides, and I think Neptune has a fantastic lifestyle brand ethos; they care about their customers and want to see customer satisfaction every time. Everything is designed and made with them in mind; the beautiful finishes and attention to detail are like no other.” It’s an ethos particularly at one with its Cheshire surrounds and the attitude of its residents – a fact which Stuart, as a long-time resident of the county himself, is well aware. “Although I was born in Kent, I grew up here and Cheshire is home for me. I love the unique charm and beauty of the rolling countryside,” he says. “My family and I love to dine on the Italian menu at Coast in Prestbury, then on the weekend we walk our dogs and head to the picturesque The Bells of Peover for food and drinks. I like to shop for clothes at Hoopers in Wilmslow; it’s perfect for me as it’s all in one place and I can get in and out quickly.” Unit 6 Millbank House, Bollin Walk, Wilmslow, SK9 1BJ (01625 535255; neptune.com) 15

SHADES OF BLUE Combermere Abbey is preparing itself for the annual bluebell walk later this month. The two-mile stroll through woodland is a firm favourite on our calendar, especially as we can take our four-legged friend (on a lead). But also because we get access to the Pleasure Garden, Garden Wood, lake and fruit maze, not to mention the plant sale and the native bluebells! A great spring afternoon activity. Gates open at 1pm and registration for the last walk is at 4pm. Tickets are £5 for adults and £2 for under 16s. The Combermere Café also offers light refreshments (combermereabbey.co.uk)

NOTEBOOK

40,000 fans

will walk from Wembley Park tube and back this FA Cup Final. A total of 56,000km

4 underground

trains

could fit inside the Wembley arch Tradition dictates that washing one’s face in the dew from May Day morning beautifies the skin

On May 1, 1931 the Empire State Building was officially opened

THE BLUEDOT FESTIVAL A brand new music festival has just been announced at Jodrell Bank. Taking place over three days the festival promoters promise to fuse a complex mix of artists, speakers, scientists and performers into an event unlike any other on earth. Heading the music bill with a UK festival exclusive is the legendary Jean-Michel Jarre, 16

followed by psy-electronica pioneers, Caribou and legendary Underworld, along with many others. Radio 4’s The Infinite Monkey Cage will also be recording an episode at the festival with special guests Professor Brian Cox and Robin Ince. A full science and culture programme is to be revealed in the coming months but our interest is definitely piqued. bluedot, 22-24 July 2016 (discoverthebluedot.com)

The original

FA Cup,

presented in 1872 has been valued at over £1million on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

5 top picks Get set for spring with retro Tropicana

#1 Mystical Forest teal wallpaper, £70 per roll (arthouse.com)

CLIPPER UPDATE

ast year you may remember we wrote a piece about local gent Phil Orford who was embarking on a belated gap year to take on the world’s longest ocean race, the Clipper Race. Well, it’s time for an update. Phil and his team are second overall, having experienced massive storms, waves and even a knockdown. As he stopped in China, he managed to give us this soundbite; “The raw power of the ocean is overwhelming and the seascapes we see along the way are amazing. Living at 45 degrees for days at a time is mentally and physically exhausting but it’s all worth it in the end.” Follow Phil on board GREAT Britain at clipperroundtheworld.com

Life event

Join columnist and transformational life coach, Melissa Porter at The Yard in Alderley Edge for an evening of music and wellbeing on 14 May, also supporting Lady Gaga’s charity Born This Way. Contact Sadie at The Yard for more info 01625 586962

PURCHASE OF THE MONTH

#2 Pineapple candle holder, £22 (lauraashley.com)

#3 Tropical island apron, £35 (en.dawanda.com)

#4 Manila green rug, £409 (modern-rugs.co.uk)

In the shade Classic sunshades, from £195 (rajtentclub.com/shop) #5 Gold parrot bookends, £42 (miafleur.com) 17

SETTING THE SCENE

Q&A... Jeremy Ashwin Head chef, Banyan Bar & Kitchen, Manchester

Scene Indian Street Kitchen has just launched its heated (we are in Manchester), quarter of a million pound riverside terrace and we love it. Curl up in one of the swing cuddle sofas with a cocktail, mocktail or beer after sharing the flavours of the subcontinent with friends and watch the world drift by. We never knew the River Irwell could look so good! Scene Indian Street Kitchen, 4a, Irwell St, Manchester M3 3AN (scenedining.com)

From a young age I have been around kitchens: my mother

NOTEBOOK

and step-father worked at the

Food & Drink PURCHASE OF THE MONTH Revolutionising the roast Premium Swiss bean-to-cup coffee manufacturer, JURA has just released a new addition to its E-line series, much to the delight of the team of coffee lovers here at The Cheshire Magazine. The new E8 Chrome does everything its contemporaries do – offering perfect coffee extraction, intelligent water system and one touch function – but now in a super stylish finish. Caffeine fiends, rejoice! JURA E8 Chrome, £1,100 from John Lewis (jura.com)

Stanneylands Hotel in Wilmslow and I remember spending a lot of time there. I started as a commis chef at The Alderley Bar & Grill 11 years ago and since then I’ve fallen in love with food and the buzz of a busy kitchen. What’s your favourite food? I like pretty much everything, but above all I love the flavour explosion of fresh, vibrant guacamole. So I guess that leans towards Mexican. What’s your favourite ingredient and why? Coriander, without a doubt. What an amazing flavour. If it’s in your food you’ll notice. If you were marooned on a desert island what’s the one thing you would take? A knife or a lighter. Essential items for survival so at least I could cook... Failing that a large bottle of rum!

Sneak

Preview

After 13 years at the top, Piccolino, Manchester will be reopening in early April after a £1.3million refit. We got a sneaky look at what to expect... but watch this space. (individual restaurants.com)

Banyan Manchester, Exchange Square, M4 2TR (0161 832 4798; arcinspirations.com/ banyan-manchester)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

SPOTLIGHT ON... Browns at The Mere Words: LOUISA CASTLE

he Mere Golf Resort & Spa is a regular haunt for meetings, events and afternoon teas. Having said that, these have been held in the lounge, terrace and James Braid Suite, never Browns. And so one Thursday evening we were here to review, with high expectations of the new head chef and dining destination. The restaurant was already relatively busy when we arrived: mainly couples amongst the soft lighting. Bearing in mind the restaurant is in the heart of a major hotel, as soon as you are seated and in the safe hands of Salvatore and the team, you feel apart from it. I’m not sure how they’ve achieved this. Clever screening and lighting, perhaps. But it works. On a typical spring evening, with wind and showers, we were looking for some hearty fare from the menu and were not to be disappointed. Hand-dived king scallops with maple bacon, crisp quail’s egg and sweetcorn purée and black pudding with poached duck

egg, crisp potato, pancetta and mushrooms. The scallops – a favourite of mine – were juicy and delicate and an ample serving to begin with; the quail’s egg a delight as it was cut into. And the earthy flavours of the black pudding dish worked together excellently. To follow, rib eye with Jenga chips and bearnaise alongside lamb canon, confit breast, potato fondant, spinach, provencale vegetables and basil lamb jus. Two favourites when dining out. The beef was a good size, tasty (of meat and the flame grill) and cooked perfectly. The chips cooked several times to create the perfect outer crunch and inner fluffiness too. The lamb, cooked pink, was grassy, fresh and sweet, highlighted by the vegetable accompaniments. As there was wine to finish, a very nice Pinot Noir, it would have been rude not to opt for the local cheeses served with fine biscuits, celery and chutney. Served at room temperature (not straight from the fridge as is so often the case) the cheeses offered a satisfying end to the meal.The lemon tart with gin and tonic sorbet caught my attention and, whilst not what we would call a ‘proper’ serving, was delicate and completely eaten. Browns is named after Max Brown, a legendary member of the team at The Mere for many years who really knew how to look after his guests. It is a fitting name as the team were highly knowledgeable, courteous and friendly. And our food from the 2 AA Rosette restaurant was simple, fresh and a good way to end one of the first days of spring. Browns at The Mere, Chester Road, Mere, WA16 6LJ (01565 830155; themereresort.co.uk) 19

Food & Drink | The CHESHIRE Magazine

The golden

spoon

ilver spoons are so last season darling! Add some luxe to your cooking with these beautiful gold kitchen utensils, part of Mia Fleur’s new SS16 kitchenware range and designed by Danish brand, Bloomingville. Warm metals are a big trend that we think is here to stay so we say embrace it with a serving spoon, ladle, whisk, spatula, grater or set of gold sieves! Almost too good to put back in the draw. From £14.95 (miafleur.com)

BE D LI N EN G IF T*

Freshly made.

IT’S OUR FAVOURITE WAY OF DOING THINGS This April, we’re giving a set of luxury bed linen with all bedroom furniture purchases over £2,000* Wardley 4 poster bed painted in snow: from £1,450, Cotswold throw: £110, Helford lamp: £120 and Larsson wardrobe: £1,675

Neptune Wilmslow, SK9 1BJ, 01625 535255, info@neptunewilmslow.com For full terms, visit our website: neptune.com/offers

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

Local scene

A sparkling array of events has taken place over the past month, from gastronomic delights to Bollywood dancing and charity-giving. Here’s our pick of the best

Gourmet Affair Restaurant 180, Pinewood on Wilmslow Following the success of last year’s dinner, Mark Poynton of Michelin-starred Alimentum in Cambridge returned to the northwest for another showcase evening offering an innovative seven-course tasting menu, including quail, turbot and Snickers. (pinewood-hotel.co.uk)

A Taste of Bollywood Northwich Memorial Court The first ever Kanya Bollywoodthemed charity night took place in aid of The Joshua Tree children’s cancer charity with over 200 supporters enjoying traditional Indian food, live classical music, Bhangra dancing (which they were encouraged to join in) and charity raffle. (thejoshuatree.org.uk)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

For One Night Only Steven Stone, Hale Sparkling jewellery and delicious food, courtesy of Victor’s eatery, welcomed guests as the latest collections from Steven Stone was launched this month. The whole family was on hand to showcase the one of a kind and collection pieces. (stevenstone.co.uk)

Pink Ladies Piste Wine Bar & Restaurant, Tarporley The first of a series of get togethers in the build up to The Pink Ribbon Ball, Manchester was held this month, with a sell out crowd of ladies flocking to Piste for an afternoon of Prosecco and fun. With sparkles and afternoon tea provided by Piste and styling from Jen at Love That Look, the afternoon was an amazing success. (breastcancernow.org) Photography by kathannon.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

Skin Perfect Sk:n Clinic, Chester One of the UK’s leading skin companies has expanded into Chester with a state-of-the-art clinic on Vicars Lane. The launch party attracted many local faces who were treated to cocktails, canapes and demonstrations of the latest beauty technology. (sknclinics.co.uk)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

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

‘..All men are idiots.’ Really? Asks Melissa Porter. Did you interview all 3 ½ billion?

flash a thought to my son and wonder if he might have this inbuilt ‘douchebag’ DNA they’re talking about. Are all men biologically incapable of ‘keeping it in their pants’? What are these ‘imbeciles’ really getting up to all day and night? Potentially all perfect points, prime for pondering at my next neuroscience convention. Or not. Discovering an infidelity can be devastating for all parties involved. It ignites shame and blame. Emotions are heightened, opinions aired and tempers can flare. Affairs can divide families, they can break trust unions to the point where they become irreparable. They can also be the start of something truly amazing. I’ve been cheated on, and when my thenneighbour called me to reveal what she’d witnessed, I was heartbroken and cried for days. Now I’ve the benefit of years gone by and, with the wound healed, feel a single urge: to thank my ex-partner for having the courage to cheat on me, inspiring me to end our unhealthy relationship. Back then, I would never have been so bold as to behave thus, knowing that a hot mess would ensue in the short term, but with the eventual longer-term happiness goal in sight. My partner cheated on me because he was unhappy in our unhappy relationship. I challenge anyone to call him an idiot for honouring himself and seeking happiness. What beliefs are we buying into that see us being committed to unhappiness in our relationships year after year? Is this the relationship model we want to share with our kids and ourselves? Yes, my ex was untruthful and a

chicken for having me find out, instead of confronting me – BUT – I was also untruthful with him. No, I wasn’t having an affair, but I was very, very unhappy in our relationship. I had expressed my sadness to him – BUT – I was too chicken to leave him. Mirror, mirror... We had the house, the car, the holidays, the family. You know the script... Tick tick TOCK. I hold a belief that life, experiences and relationships are our mirror. What we truly feel (and sometimes aren’t even aware of) is always reflected back to us in the form of a lesson. My ex was my mirror and lesson, and I’m so grateful to him. He reminded me that a relationship isn’t about security; it’s about soul-style, heart-enriching, blood-pumping loving. So for me to spend my time branding him a liar and responsible for ruining my life, says way more about what’s going on for me than it does about him. Love for self and others. This is the answer to the original statement. Melissa is a professional certified transformational life coach (melissaportercoach.com)

“For me to spend my time branding [my ex] a liar says way more about me than it does him”

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

TAY L O R TA L K

A GENTLE ART Columnist, Liz Taylor, chats to Huseyin Bozkurt, The Lowry Hotel’s food and beverage manager and one of the northwest’s best known characters

orn in Turkey, Huseyin lived in Germany before settling in England. He began his illustrious hospitality career in Manchester and was appointed restaurant manager for the hotel’s River Bar and Restaurant when it opened its doors in 2001. Now Huseyin oversees all food and beverage at the hotel, ensuring five star food and service.

You have been lucky enough to serve some amazing, high profile guest in your career. Who has impressed you the most and why? I was lucky enough to serve Gabriel Byrne once upon a time. He was very polite, calm and low maintenance – and he also had a genuine interest in how I was.

What do you think are the crucial ingredients for perfect service? As long as you are efficient, informative and friendly, you have the three key ingredients to become the perfect host. And be natural.

Describe what the area means to you... Manchester and Cheshire have become my home. I love working in the city and living in Altrincham. The mentality and the scene are two of the things I like the most, but the best part is how friendly people are. I’ve been either serving them or socialising with some of them for 20 years now.

Planning parties is my life! But who would be your top party invitations and why? Where do I start? I’d probably go with Kate Moss, because she’s beautiful and would have interesting stories to tell. Then Robert De Niro as he’s a brilliant actor.

What is your favourite thing? My favourite things in the world are my three children. I have two sons and one daughter and I love them dearly. I also love relaxing with friends and family, especially over a Sunday roast, with a glass of Valpolicella Ripassa red wine.

What is the definition of the perfect gentleman? In my opinion it is someone who takes care of themselves and dresses well, but most importantly considers people’s feelings before their own. As long as you do that, you’re a gentleman. (tlc-ltd.co.uk; thelowryhotel.com)

On Saturday 14 May, join us in celebrating the second annual Pink Ribbon Ball, Manchester at the stunning Manchester Cathedral. Last year the spectacular event raised over £110,000 to help fund vital breast cancer research that saves lives. This year, your ticket will include a Champagne reception, three course meal with wine catered by Harvey Nichols, top entertainment and an auction of unique money can't buy prizes. Tickets cost £150 per person or £1,500 per table of ten.

We believe that if we all act now, by 2050 no one will die from breast cancer. For more information or to book tickets: pinkribbonball@breastcancernow.org 0207 749 4106

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

INSPIRING MINDS Cheshire is nationally renowned as a melting pot of ambition and entrepreneurial talent – whether in the worlds of business, sport, fitness, food or medicine. We asked some of the county’s brightest stars what drives them to succeed and why achieving success has meant so much

Caroline Swain, BPS Partner at BPS Law, Manchester As a professional woman in a famously maledominated sphere, Caroline Swain is probably as good an example of a strong, motivated businesswoman as Cheshire has to offer. She joined BPS Law in 2010, eager to help those facing the traumas of divorce, competing with a largely male workforce but nevertheless succeeding in becoming the firm’s first ever female partner by the tender age of 28. “It was ultimately by establishing a successful branch of the firm in Hale that my strength and ability in business was recognised,” she explains. “And since then I have had two children and been able to continue to grow the matrimonial department and my client base way beyond even my own expectations. I feel it is so important to show the next generation of women – our daughters and granddaughters – that they can be empowered in business as well as having a family. There is a misconception that a working woman has to choose to prioritise her career or her family, but with hard work and determination we can have it all! There’s been indisputable progress in my own profession and I’m now seeing women taking on this maledominated industry as vital team players in the corporate world.” (bpslaw.co.uk)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

jeanette jackson

Jeanette Jackson, Jessica Weaver & Geraldine Jackson The women behind SheProtein geraldine jackson

jessica weaver

SheProtein, a range of nutritional products ‘by women, for women’ designed to help complement a health and fitness regime, was the brainchild of three Cheshire women; nutritional biochemist Jeannette Jackson, senior creative agency employee Jessica Weaver, and her sister, personal trainer and nutritionist Geraldine Jackson. With a brand ethos based around tackling the disenfranchisement of the female market when it came to protein powders (tired of the male bodybuilder images and oversize tubs with names like ‘Hydro Builder’ and ‘100% BEEF’), it comes as no surprise that its three founders are proud of the niche they’ve carved within this male-dominated area. “For me, one of the greatest joys has been watching our concept come to life and having a hands-on, personal role in the creation of SheProtein as a female brand,” explains Jessica. “Our products really are ‘by women, for women’, and it’s a promise we’re extremely proud to be able to uphold. Pushing the parameters on traditionally male-oriented industries is key to being a successful female in business, along with hard work and a vision for what’s achievable, and all three of us cofounders have very different lifestyles and careers, meaning that combined we feel well placed to understand what a broad spectrum of women want and need.” (sheprotein.com)

Steph Houghton Captain of Manchester City and England women’s football teams Having achieved sporting acclaim and arguably the highest accolade in English women’s football by the tender age of 25, Steph Houghton knows the importance of unwavering ambition and strong female role models better than most. “I think it is important to have female role models in sport to help inspire and motivate young boys and girls”, she told us. “I grew up being inspired mostly by male footballers like David Beckham and Steven Gerrard but I think times have changed and the evolution of women’s sport has created hugely successful female athletes. Jessica Ennis, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Rebecca Adlington, Victoria Pendleton. Charlotte Edwards, to name a few, have been leading role models over recent years in helping raise the profile of women’s sport. “In women’s football players like Kelly Smith, Faye White and Rachel Yankey demonstrated to the current players what you can achieve in football, both on the pitch and by breaking down barriers off the pitch. They helped inspire me to play and aim to be the best I can be, doing something I feel privileged doing every day. I hope that I can do the same”. (mcfc.co.uk)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

Simon Radley

Executive chef, The Chester Grosvenor Manchester-born Simon’s first introduction to this Chester institution was at the tender age of 21 as a chef de partie. Today, he is the executive chef responsible for gaining – and now retaining – The Chester Grosvenor’s Michelin star, a feat few in the world have managed. After sojourns at other leading establishments, Simon returned to The Chester Grosvenor in 1988 at the request of managing director, Jonathan Slater, to head up the opening of a new gourmet restaurant, The Arkle. Two years later it was awarded its first and much coveted Michelin star. In recognition of his reputation, expertise and excellence, the restaurant was renamed Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor in 2008 and continues to excel, offering the best

fine-dining in the county, if not the country. The awards and commitment both keep on coming too. Last year, Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor was named Best Hotel Restaurant at the European Hospitality Awards, 2015 which represent the most influential and iconic hotels that Europe has to offer. Shying away from the public eye and ever humble about his achievements, Simon also mentors young up-and-coming chefs through Simon Radley Kitchen Academy, offering lucky 16-24 year olds the opportunity to earn while they learn in a full time role in multi-million pound, immaculate state-of-the-art kitchens. (chestergrosvenor.com; bespokehotels.com)

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Sir Alex Ferguson British football’s most successful manager

Noel Fitzpatrick Managing director of Fitzpatrick Referrals and TV’s Supervet Early in his career, Noel was frustrated by the lack of options available to our animal friends. “I realised I could spend the next 30 years feeling like that, or I could do something to make a difference.” Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, originally from Laois in Ireland, obtained his Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from University College Dublin in 1990. Following scholarships at the University of Pennsylvania and Ghent, he completed the RCVS certificates in small animal orthopaedics and radiology prior to founding Fitzpatrick Referrals in 1997. He has performed a number of world firsts and devised, tested and implemented more than twenty new procedures and implant systems. The list continues to grow. He also tugs at our heart strings on Channel 4’s Supervet. “I know it sounds evangelical, but I believe that we really can save the world and the animals on it, both wild and domestic, if we really want to. I want to give all of the animals all of the options all of the time and I want a team around me who genuinely believes that we can make the world a better place one animal at a time. “The sense of collective consciousness for the conservation of the planet begins with the appreciation that we are all animals and therefore, the future of medicine depends on a new kind of symbiosis of purpose between animal and human doctors.” Noel is heading to Cheshire in June to host DogFest at Arley Hall, 18-19 June (dog-fest.co.uk; humanimaltrust.org.uk)

He may have retired from active managerial duty, but Sir Alex is still the person pundits turn to for opinion. Who does he rate as the current best manager in the Premier League? What would Sir Alex do in these circumstances? Arguably the greatest manager to grace the game, Sir Alex has built up quite a reputation for himself and is still climbing. In a tenure that lasted more than 26 years as manager of Manchester United, he accumulated 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cup trophies and countless records, contributing to (if not the source of) one of England’s most successful clubs. Books have been written on his leadership, no-nonsense attitude and managerial style, and his young talent programmes led to the famous Class of ’92. Now, he is a director at United, ambassador for UEFA and Unicef UK and holds a long-term teaching position at Harvard as part of a new programme; The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports. “Once I made my decision, I wasn’t going to go into it as a grumpy old man leaving his job. My dad left the shipyards at 65 because you had to leave your job at 65. The challenges in front of me were good ones. “Your personality, your energy, your decisionmaking, your observation, your communication are all part of the mix. You’re dealing with human beings, and human beings need to be directed, inspired – they have to trust their boss.” Leading, Alex Ferguson with Michael Moritz, £15.99 (amazon.co.uk)

Sunday Brunch Live at The Mere

Enjoy Sunday Brunch with a twist! Fresh, beautifully prepared food served with a glass of wine and accompanied by live entertainment. Served in Browns Restaurant every Sunday from 1pm until 4pm.

£24.95 per person

£15

per child

The perfect Summer Sunday afternoon with friends.

The Mere Afternoon Tea

£19.95

per person Relax with friends and a chilled glass of fizz... the perfect afternoon treat.

Fine Dining in Browns

Our new Executive Head Chef, Kevin Clark introduces an exciting new menu to our award-winning Browns restaurant. Succulent grills, fresh fish and tempting sides, perfectly paired with a selection of wines recommended by our Sommelier. Serving from 6.30pm

Enjoy a traditional English Afternoon Tea including delicious finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, cakes, pastries and a selection of teas. Served from 1pm until 6pm daily. Add a little sparkle... Add a crisp glass of Prosecco for £24.95 per person Enjoy a perfectly chilled glass of Champagne for £27.95 per person

themereresort.co.uk

Call 01565 830155 or email reservations@themereresort.co.uk

Mere Browns Ad March 2016.indd 1

24/03/2016 21:53

The Class of

1970

When Paul Joseph’s publisher charged him with the task of acquiring the autograph of every member of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team, his transatlantic trip turned into an adventure of a lifetime

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

ne of the most enduring memories of my childhood is standing outside the Art Deco entrance to the old Highbury football stadium in north London, autograph book in hand, waiting to pounce at the sight of one of my idols. As with so much of what entranced us as children, the acquisition of such ink-based souvenirs eventually began to lose its magic and, at some point during my teens, I realised it was time to put my pen away for good. Or so I thought… Several years later, I was thrust into the lucrative world of sports memorabilia when my employer, a boutique London publishing house, secured the rights to produce a giant-sized, limited-edition book on the legendary Brazilian footballer Pelé. Together with the book, we decided to produce 150 photographic prints of the 1970 Brazil World Cup-winning team and attempt to get each one signed by every surviving member. While Pelé quickly agreed to the proposal as part of his book deal, his teammates proved tougher nuts to crack. After weeks of fruitless negotiation by phone, it became clear that somebody would need to travel to Brazil to meet them face to face. When my name was put forward I felt the familiar rush of excitement that I’d experienced so many times outside the marble halls of Highbury. What followed was a 40,000-mile adventure to track down one of the greatest group of footballers ever assembled. If this were a movie, it would now cut to me zipping through the streets of Rio de Janeiro in a taxi on the way to the home of Carlos Alberto, the fuzzy haired captain of the 1970 team. But this was not fiction. It took 20 minutes of small talk in his palatial living room before I summoned the courage to ask my host if he wouldn’t mind washing his hands before getting to work on the 150 prints. “I need to sign how many?” he chuckled as he walked to the bathroom. “I’ll sleep like a baby tonight!” If only the rest of the players would be so convivial. My next stop was the urban chaos of São Paulo to meet Felix, Brazil’s goalkeeper of 1970, and the elegant former defender Clodoaldo. In the foyer of a downtown hotel, I unveiled the prints and left them to it while I nipped out to withdraw their fees from a cashpoint. The scene on my return nearly

From left: Hércules Brito Ruas, Carlos Alberto Torres, Paul Joseph with Carlos Alberto Torres, Gerson Santos da Silva aka Gerson, Pele, Jair Ventura Filho aka Jairzinho, Roberto Rivelino, Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade aka Tostão

fast-tracked me to cardiac arrest. Hotel guests had been drawn over by the presence of two national legends and my precious prints were now littered across the foyer. Like a teacher restoring order in an unruly classroom, I hurriedly collected up the treasured documents and ushered away our audience. The following day, I received an invite from Rivelino – owner of perhaps the most famous moustache in football – to his bar on the outskirts of São Paulo. Spotting him at a table, he cut a godfather-like figure. A steady stream of patrons approached him, often to whisper something in his ear or simply kiss the top of his head. He was standoffish at first, but I explained our wish to create a special collector’s item to commemorate that wonderful team and – loosened up by a few drinks – he agreed to sign. Returning to Brazil a few weeks later, as my taxi rolled through the side streets of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro’s more sedate neighbour across the Guanabara Bay, I recalled my father waxing lyrical about the twinkle-toed former midfielder Gerson. After a quick tour of his foundation for underprivileged kids, Gerson shared with me his forthright view that Pelé had for too long milked the success of 1970 for his own financial gain, with the rest of the team left to pick up the scraps. He wanted no part in our project. Stumped for ideas, I called our publisher, who just about managed to sweet-talk him into changing his mind. With ten signatures now in the bag, one outstanding issue still remained that would give our bold undertaking a final, dramatic twist. Of all the 1970 team, the most enigmatic character undoubtedly belongs to Tostão. Singularly detached from the world of commerce, he had no interest in being another cog in the sporting memorabilia world. Days went by and a succession of emails went unanswered. Finally, we

received a response. He would sign, providing we contribute all of his fee to charities of his choice. Days later I was back in Brazil and, as my taxi ascended the hills that surround the city of Belo Horizonte, Tostão’s reputation as a reclusive figure was lent further clarity. Yet to my surprise he greeted me with a beaming smile and, as he sat down to sign the prints, I reflected on the enormity – as well as the eccentricity – of his gesture. By effectively turning down a blank cheque for his own pocket, he had displayed the rarest example of human generosity. Gazing out of the plane window on my return home, my mind drifted back to all those hours I had spent as a child outside Highbury and the innocence with which I sought those indelible mementos. Many thousands of pounds had swapped hands in my pursuit of the team of 1970 and many more would be exchanged to purchase the final product. But the power of sport – and sporting memorabilia – transcends money, and Tostão’s single act of generosity provided the most fitting reminder of this fact.

The framed photograph showing the signatures

pele: the book Publisher Gloria has created the definitive tribute to a global icon – Pelé, the largest body of information ever collated on the player. 150 copies of Pelé Carnival edition were produced and sold for £4,000, alongside the signed print. (pelecarnival.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

big money sports memorabilia The sports memorabilia market has always been big business. In America alone, the market for autographed sports collectables is estimated at an eye-popping £1 billion. Here are five of the most expensive signed sporting mementos ever sold:

Babe Ruth Jersey The baseball legend is widely considered the greatest player the sport has ever seen and one of his devotees decided they simply had to have the shirt off his back. Not literally, of course. Thought to be the oldest in existence, this Babe Ruth Yankee jersey from 1920 sold for $4.4m (£2.9m) at auction in 2012.

Muhammad Ali’s Boxing Gloves These boxing gloves were worn against Floyd Patterson in Ali’s 1965 heavyweight title defence in Las Vegas. A major grudge had developed ahead of the fight, which went the full 12 rounds before Ali delivered a knock-out blow. In 2012, the gloves sold for $1.1m (£778,000).

above Image by Cat Walker

James Naismith’s founding rules of basketball Written in 1891 by James Naismith, commonly referred to as the sport’s founding father, these two-page rules of basketball are truly a relic of the past, stipulating as they do that no physical contact should be allowed. In 2010, the piece set a new world record for sports memorabilia, fetching $4.3m (£2.9m), until it was topped by Babe Ruth’s 1920 jersey two years later.

Honus Wagner baseball card As well as being popular currency in high school playgrounds, baseball cards have been lucrative on the collectables market for as long as they have been around. The T206 Wagner stands above the rest because of its highly limited run of just 200, along with its intriguing backstory. In 2015 it was re-sold for £1.9 million at auction.

Sheffield F.C. rulebook This 1857 handwritten rulebook belonged to the first-ever professional soccer club, Sheffield F.C., and is believed to be the oldest rulebook in history, containing many rules that are still used today. One football fan was enamoured enough to splash £881,000 for the historical document when it went under the hammer in 2011.

the lister-jaguar sits beneath cholmondeley castle

THE NEED FOR SPEED Ahead of this June’s Cholmondeley Power and Speed, Gemma Knight meets local petrolhead Crispin Harris to talk classic cars, racing legends and the endless appeal of this fabulous family event

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

ince 2008, the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power (this year renamed the Cholmondeley Power and Speed Family Motorsport Festival) has provided the Northwest’s ultimate display of speed and substance on air, land and water, with machines new and old alike uniting to pit steel against steel and compete for glory – but all in good clean fun, of course. And perhaps with the occasional ice-cream break. Each year, car aficionados and families come from far and wide to grace the sunny lawns of Cholmondeley Castle and get up close and personal with these sleek icons of the motoring world – and some, like local estate agent Crispin Harris, are even lucky enough to drive them. “I’ve been racing at Cholmondeley since the very first one in 2008,” he tells me. “When they came up with the idea of doing a sort of Goodwood Festival of Speed for the north, for all the people up here who are interested in racing cars, classic cars and supercars but who don’t want to travel all the way down to Sussex. Cholmondeley is an absolutely fantastic location, with the castle up on the hill and the track going round below, so the setting is just superb, but what really makes it for me is that it’s such a friendly, family event and the spectators can come and look and really get right in with the cars, meeting the owners and striking up a relationship with them, rather than being pushed out behind a wire fence like at Formula One, where you never get to touch the cars or meet the drivers. It’s a very social event, and you get to talk to people about these cars which they’re so passionate about, which is something I really enjoy. “Cholmondeley is really all about the spirit of the place – anybody going will immediately get the feeling that they’re welcome there, and I’m not sure that’s true of many large sporting events. You don’t necessarily need to be into cars to go, you could just be interested in going to a really beautiful setting – there’s a fairground for the children and displays on the Mere, and it’s just a really lovely day out.”

Originally from Yorkshire, but making Cheshire his home more than twenty years ago, Crispin’s passion for cars began at age 12 when he started karting and picked up the racing bug. In his early twenties he began racing Renault 5s, before moving on to historic cars and circuit racing around the UK and Europe, recently getting behind the wheel of such beauties as the AC Monoposto, a 1958 Formula 2 car, and the Iso Grifo, a 1960s Le Mans car worth over £1 million and able to reach speeds of 170mph. Nevertheless, it’s perhaps the Lister-Jaguar – in which he first took to the historic car circuit – which remains closest to Crispin’s heart. Nicknamed The Knobbly thanks to its curved bodywork, this iconic late-1950s sports model was a reincarnation of the original Lister Bristol, this time with an aerodynamic aluminium body and a more powerful D-type Jaguar engine. The new model was largely made famous by legendary British Formula One driver Archie Scott Brown – who, despite missing part of his right arm since childhood, nevertheless managed to carve out a glorious racing career for himself with his Listers. “The Lister-Jaguar has been great fun and is a lovely car to be able to drive,” Crispin says fondly. “It’s quite a privilege; everybody really loves them

a mclaren takes one of the bridges on the cholmondeley course

crispin takes one of the cholmondeley track’s bridges in the lister-jaguar

and actually to be the person sitting in it is a real kick. They’re also very, very fast and real crowd pleasers, so we took this one up to Cholmondeley the first year and managed to win our class, which was great – although we got a bit of a surprise when we realised there were two bridges on this circuit which allow you to pick up quite a considerable amount of air when you drive over them if you’re going quick enough, so you end up jumping rather than driving over them – which racing cars really weren’t designed to do – but it’s fun at the time! And it looks quite spectacular for the spectators.” Since then Crispin has taken part in the Pageant every year, relishing the chance it gives him to enjoy the more relaxed and social atmosphere than those at the race circuits to which his hobby more often leads him – although he admits even Cholmondeley’s laid back setting doesn’t stop him getting “the red mist” when he’s chasing victory and, though entrants to each class take to the track individually, even navigating the course solo is no easy task. “The track is only just as wide as the cars, so you are effectively driving up a very grand, tree-lined driveway,” he says. “Because of the constrained space and the speed it takes a huge amount of concentration and has a very small margin for error – imagine going down a very narrow lane at nearly 120mph – and at Cholmondeley it’s rained on a few occasions, which makes the margin for error even smaller, because if you slip and slide and miss the corner it’s really game over, and you’ll probably write

your car off. So there’s a good amount of adrenaline and danger involved, and it’s much harder than it probably looks!” And when you’re racing cars dating back to the 50s and 60s, a narrow, winding track is often the least of a driver’s worries as they hurtle round the Cholmondeley course. “More modern racing cars don’t move around as much as the historic ones,” Crispin explains. “The historic ones tend to slide and have a lot less grip, even though some of them have just as much power as the modern cars, but the tyres and the suspension you have to deal with are much more old fashioned, so when you go round a corner you’re sliding and drifting a lot more than you would in a modern car. Cornering speeds are higher in modern cars, but you don’t have that fantastic feeling of sliding around the circuit. And, inevitably, the brakes also aren’t as good. Your terminal speed might be exactly the same as it would be in a modern car, but the brakes are from the 1950s or 60s, which aren’t like modern brakes, so the first thing that the guys who’ve gone from modern into historic racing tend to notice is that you’ve got to give yourself a bit of time to stop at the end of the circuit! “Having said that, I think one of the biggest differences [between racing modern and historic cars] is that there’s a definite respect for the machine you’re driving when it’s historic. With the modern stuff there’s always an element of ‘the car is expendable’; whereas with historic cars you don’t want to end up completely destroying the car just to win the race. It doesn’t make

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

crispin’s austin healey 3000

crispin in the ac monoposto

a 1948 alta-jaguar at cholmondeley

WIN FAMILY TICKETS TO CHOLMONDELEY POWER AND SPEED 10-12 June

Watch all the excitement from The Cheshire Magazine sponsored Member’s Area. Benefits include VIP parking, programme, private marquee and private garden. TO ENTER: Send your name, address and contact number to info@thecheshiremagazine.com TERMS & CONDITIONS: Closing date 30 April 2016. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. To be used on day of choice. Non-refundable.

If you don’t win, use code CPASTCM for a 10% discount on advanced-purchase tickets

(cpop.co.uk)

the racing any slower, but most people have a sense of respect for what are beautiful cars, and consider themselves custodians of a bit of history. If anything it really adds something to the experience.” While in the past Crispin has “been lucky enough to always have friends or clients who want their cars racing for them” at Cholmondeley (“It’s a huge amount of trust – we’ve had a few bumps but nothing serious, and we’ve never written a car off… Not yet anyway!”), this year he’ll be racing a 1960 Austin Healey 3000 from his own collection – prepared, as are all the cars he races, by his brother James, director of Cavendish Continental Engineering. Having spent several years sitting virtually unused in his garage, it was in January of last year that Crispin finally decided to turn the vehicle into a racing car, working on it most weekends until – with the last few bits only bolted on in the paddock of last July’s Silverstone Classic just before the car was due to race – it was finally finished. “The Austin Healey is a really nice car to drive,” he enthuses. “It races in the pre-66 GT class and there’s always a good bit of friendly rivalry and needling with some of the guys when you’re at Cholmondeley – especially as it’s always very satisfying when you manage to be faster than a modern car in a really old one. And, of course, driving your own car is always different from driving someone else’s, because you can push a bit harder than you would otherwise, and if you’ve put it together yourself you have a kind of mechanical affinity with it too.” It’s without doubt the mechanical affinity between man and motor which draws the crowds to Cholmondeley’s electrifying races every year, and it seems this June’s festival – due to carry a Supercar theme – is guaranteed to be no exception. But while you’re busy cheering your head off and basking in the heady excitement, don’t forget to spare a thought for all that concentration and skill which whips each car so expertly round the course in pursuit of victory. After all, in the immortal words of legendary Argentine Formula One driver Juan Manuel Fangio; “to finish first, you must first finish”. Cholmondeley Power and Speed 2016, 10-12 June 2016 Children free until end of April, adult tickets £22 (Fri), £27 (Sat), £27 (Sun), £74 (3 day ticket). Parking: £5 per car Cholmondeley, Malpas, SY14 8AQ (cpop.co.uk)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

the cast of jackie the musical

Got to

DANCE Natalie Anglesey meets Arlene Phillips, CBE, legendary choreographer extraordinaire, to talk about her new show, Jackie: The Musical

“I

was born to dance,” laughs vivacious Mancunian and legendary choreographer, Arlene Phillips, CBE. She’s in her element rehearsing the cast of Jackie The Musical, a brand new show brought vividly to life with her vibrant dance routines. “The show is based around fans of Jackie, the teenage magazine, which peaked in popularity in the ‘70s and ‘80s, when Nina Myskow – who’s also a consultant on the show – was the editor,” the award-winning choreographer explains. ”It’s set in the present day, when a divorcee in her ‘50s finds her old Jackie copies and reminisces about a more innocent time with no mobile phones, apps, emails or twitter. Back then, young girls read Jackie, for advice from agony aunts Cathy and Claire, and to see their pin-ups, so it’s been fun choreographing to wonderful music from pop idols like Donny Osmond, Marc Bolan and David Cassidy.” Arlene’s energy is impressive. “I’ve been driven since I was little and all I’ve ever wanted to do was dance,” she admits. Born in Manchester in 1944, her family was originally based in Prestwich, before moving to Didsbury where her father was a barber. Her mother died from leukaemia when she was only 15.

“We were devastated. My parents had to scrimp and save to send me to dancing classes and my mother had been my strongest supporter. So I wanted to show them that had all been worthwhile. When I was awarded both my OBE and CBE by the Queen, I so wished my mother had been there.” After attending Beaver Road Primary School, Arlene went to Manchester’s Central High School. “But I knew dancing was the career for me, so I enrolled at the Muriel Tweedy School of Dance and eventually moved to London to learn the new American jazz dance and look for work.’ Sheer determination saw Arlene through a variety of jobs as a waitress and a teacher at the famous Pineapple Studios. “I stayed with friends, often sleeping on the floor, and would babysit for film-maker Ridley Scott. Years later he gave me my first job in film working on Legend. I also worked with wonderful Clint Eastwood on White Hunter, Black Heart, Ken Russell on Salome’s Last Dance and made two films for Monty Python director Terry Jones – but my favourite film remains Annie. Director John Huston claimed he hated dogs and children and yet made a movie about both! We had great fun and I learned a lot from him.” Since then, Arlene’s worked on everything from the Eurovision Song Contest to the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, and West End shows. “It all started when I set up my own dance group, Hot Gossip, back in 1974. They were good-looking, sexy dancers and I devised sizzling routines. We were regulars on the Kenny Everett Show and eventually had our own television series. Mary Whitehouse complained about our routines being too sexy and we became famous overnight!’ Arlene introduced Andrew Lloyd-Webber to one of her dancers, Sarah Brightman, who had a hit record with Starship Trooper, and they eventually married. The Emmy and Olivier Award-winner

“I’ve been driven since I was little and all I’ve ever wanted to do was dance”

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

opposite page: arlene phillips centre image: janey dibley as jackie jackie magazine covers from (left to right:) 1977, 1973, 1978, 1976, 1974

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

reminds me, “I also choreographed pop videos for Duran Duran’s Wild Boys [Best British Video at the 1985 BRIT Awards], and Private Dancer for Tina Turner, which was very exciting.” A judge on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel from 2004-2009, Arlene, who was 66-years old was replaced by 30-year old Alesha Dixon. This led to an unprecedented intervention from then Minister for Women and Equality, Harriet Harman, and questions were raised in the House of Commons. “Obviously that was a shock,” Arlene admits. ”But it was a long time ago, and I was heartened by the positive support. I’m a great believer in women-power and returned to television in a variety of roles, including judging dance competitions.” In 2008, she created, produced and choreographed a new British television series, Britannia High, and was the creative mind behind BBC shows Dance X, and Strictly Dance Fever. Still driven, she’s designed her own make- up and clothes lines, as well as writing Alana, Dancing Star – a series of children’s books involving different genres of dance. “During my career I’ve choreographed West End shows like The Wizard of Oz, Flashdance, Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Sound of Music, Anything Goes, Time, Matador, We Will Rock You and, my personal

favourite, Starlight Express. I devised routines for dancers on roller skates – although I doubt health and safety would allow what I did nowadays! We’re having enough problems with the old head rolls, as they’re no longer allowed because of potential long-term damage.” Wisely, Arlene hasn’t devoted all her time to her career. ”I married when I was young, to what the papers called a toy-boy. It didn’t work out but I’ve been with a wonderful partner, Angus Ion, who’s a set designer, for over 20 years. I already had my daughter Alana, and had another daughter, Abi, when I was 48 – though I was able to cope with that because I was so fit.” Still looking fit, Arlene’s raring to return to rehearsals. ”Working on Jackie The Musical with such brilliant young talent is great because they’re all triple-threats, which means they can dance, sing and act. I’ll be checking on them during the run as I have family in Cheshire with a niece who lives in Wilmslow. “It’s certainly been different directing a musical with speech bubbles on stage, like in a comic, and we’ll be dancing to such great music that I hope you’ll join us by dancing in the aisles. Remember,” she says, “I’ll be checking!” Opera House, Manchester, 17-21 May (0844 871 3018; jackiethemusical.com)

“Working on Jackie The Musical with such brilliant young talent is great”

jackie magazine covers from (left to right) 1973, 1984, 1973, 1975, 1976

“Experts in Divorce” Proven not Promised

“ Excellent service absolutely “ Extremely efficient service and faultless. We would recommend always available for additional Caroline to everyone, worth advice. Highly recommended!!! ” every penny! ”

Divorce | Finances Settlements | Family Law | We have a variety of funding options available.

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

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

www.bpslaw.co.uk | 0161 926 1430

literary itinerary Local Gem A new favourite haunt of ours here at The Cheshire Magazine is the lovely Cloud Gallery in Chester. With an enviable reputation for supplying some of the most collectable artwork in the UK (such as this hand-signed limited edition piece by JJ Adams entitled ‘Dorothy’), and a nose for identifying emerging new talent, the gallery offers personal art consultancy from leading art specialists, a home consultation and approval service, a fantastic year-long exhibition calendar, global delivery service and even a V.I.P. collector benefits scheme. 47 Lower Bridge St, City Centre, Chester CH1 1RS (cloudgalleryfineart.co.uk)

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

Karl Jenkins at The Bridgewater Hall Award-winning composer Karl Jenkins has announced three dates around the country this spring, conducting a superb programme of some of his finest works. Widely recognised as one of the world’s most popular living composers, Jenkins is classically trained but draws on a diverse range of global influences to create a style which pushes musical boundaries. This concert is a fantastic opportunity to experience three of Jenkins’ most celebrated compositions: the moving Requiem, dedicated to his late father and inspired by Japanese haiku poetry and Latin text; one of his most recognised works, Palladio, which Jenkins says “embodies the Renaissance celebration of harmony and order”; and The Healer, which portrays the healing of the spirit and the healing of the planet, weaving together sounds and instrumentation from around the world. The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 8 May at 3.00pm (0161 907 9000; bridgewater-hall.co.uk) 54

Oscar de la Renta was one of fashion’s most influential designers and in this new book created in collaboration with his family, you can truly immerse yourself in the life and times of the couturier. With a touching introduction by Vogue editor and lifelong friend of the designer, André Leon Talley, the book thematically explores how de la Renta’s experiences shaped his epochal creations – from his upbringing in Dominican Republic to the plethora of supermodels and celebrities he dressed. Sumptuous illustrations and fabulous shots from the ’60s and ’70s beautifully document just how incredible his vast career was. This tome is a sensitive tribute to the late creative, which highlights not just his artistry and technique but the cultural influences that were fostered by his visionary work. Oscar de la Renta, £50, published by Prestel Publishing in association with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (prestel.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Art & Culture

Reflections of the City Renowned local artist and Lymm-native, Richard Cowley, recently created an incredible three-day exhibition named ‘Rebuilding Manchester’, designed to celebrate Manchester’s architecture through a huge graffiti-inspired photo collage installation at the Renaissance City Centre Manchester Hotel as part of the Evenings at the Renaissance programme. Probably the only surrealist full time digital photo collager in the country, Richard creates one-off commissions for clients and has seen his work featured in galleries and publications across the country. The ‘Rebuilding Manchester’ installation featured thousands of images of Manchester’s old and new buildings and was even entered as a possible world record for its sheer size.

Paul Keeling / Shutterstock.com

Light up One of the most revolutionary recent developments in the display of fine art has to be the incredible Integrated Lighting System from Blutulip (available at our very own Bailey Arts in Nantwich). The system offers an ingenious way of illuminating artwork through LED lights installed in the frame, allowing you to set exact levels of colour and brightness via an app installed to your phone or tablet. The app was designed by 19 year-old Cheshire native Ben Johnson, who is

currently undertaking a BSc in Computer Science at the University of Chester. “Being asked to design the app by Daniel Bailey at Bailey Arts gave me a great opportunity to put my interests into a practical application,” Ben explains. “Designing for iOS has allowed me to take what I’ve learnt and experience both designing and creating mobile apps.” Bailey Arts Ltd, Dagfields Craft & Antique Centre, Crewe Rd, Nantwich CW5 7LG (blutulippublishing.co.uk)

Bryan Adams at the Manchester Arena This spring, legendary Canadian crooner Bryan Adams returns to Manchester Arena to showcase tracks from his latest album Get Up, as well as hits Cuts Like A Knife, Hearts On Fire and the anthemic (Everything I Do) I Do It For You. With an incredible 65 million records and a collection of Academy Awards, Golden Globes and Grammys under his belt, tickets are guaranteed to sell out fast, so if Bryan’s on your bucket list, now’s the time to get booking. Manchester Arena, 6 May (manchester-arena.com) 55

NORTHERN

ARTISTRY Natalie Anglesey meets art dealer Bill Clark, ahead of his gallery’s New Northerners exhibition, to talk selling, buying and enjoying art

ill Clark, the owner of ClarkArt, is a well-known figure in Hale, although his reputation in the art world has a much wider reach. His gallery is renowned for selling more paintings by both new and established northern artists than most private galleries. He’s also bought and sold more paintings by L.S. Lowry than many galleries, and his opinion is often sought to identify fakes from originals. “I can usually spot a fake straight away,” Bill enthuses. “But now his paintings are fetching millions, there are some really good fakes around – so it often requires more intensive study. Lowry still remains the most important artist from the original Northern School. The record price of £5.6 million for one of his paintings at auction has triggered

popular interest in northern art and those looking for a sound investment.” A former biologist, who quit a well-paid job in his early thirties to start a company protecting buildings from bird droppings, may seem a strange background for an art dealer. However, in 1989, Bill’s bank lent him £5,000 for a business idea he had when he worked as a wildlife adviser to the Department of Agriculture. “I’d been called in by local authorities where urban birds were causing millions of pounds worth of damage,” Bill reflects. “I turned a business idea into a minor international success worth £5 million when I sold the company nine years later.” His products are still used in UK cities and on buildings like the White House and Buckingham Palace. “I came into business from a science background but made all my own decisions and all my own mistakes,” Bill admits wryly. He discovered concentrating on a niche area also worked when it came to his passion for art. “The best book I read on the subject was A Northern School by Peter Davies. It traces the history of artists from the north during the twentieth century, and reading that book changed the whole direction of my life. It was out of print so, recently, 26 years later, I proudly commissioned Peter to write an

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Art & Culture

images from left to right: deansgate dusk by liam spencer; last days of the cornerhouse by stephen campbell; the coal barge by l.s. lowry; moored for the night by reg gardner. bottom left: (left to right) Phil George, Stepehen Campbell Bill, Ben Kelly, Reg Gardner

updated version, called A Northern School Revisited, which we sold at my last exhibition. “Inspired by reading Peter’s original book, I bought my first Lowry, entitled A Cricket Match, after viewing it with Jeffrey Archer. Three months later I sold it to John Paul Getty for a great deal more than I’d paid for it and caught the bug.” However, when Bill mooted the idea of collaborating with London galleries, selling them other work by northern artists, they weren’t interested – so he bought his own gallery. “Owning a gallery means potential buyers walk in all the time. I believe in creating a relaxed atmosphere where people can enjoy looking at the art – I hate the hard-sell of many London galleries. I’ve also learnt never to disregard someone by their appearance or accent. People have walked into my gallery in overalls who’ve walked out with a £200,000 Lowry under their arm. You never know who has money in the bank. Pulling up in a Ferrari means nothing these days.” Bill’s business acumen also comes in handy. “Marketing is crucial. We do everything ourselves, including adverts, PR, social media and opening nights. When people know you’re an expert in northern art, it instils confidence, and they’re more likely to buy from someone they trust. Success is

when you’re fortunate enough to be doing what you enjoy without your life depending on it. I love the buzz – the chase of buying a piece of art – more than selling it, and I know I’m lucky to be in that position.” Does he have advice for investing in art? “Do your homework and buy the best you can. Make sure you buy from a reputable dealer. There are lots of fakes out there, so be mindful. However, the market for established mid-20th century art is booming and, I’m glad to say, northern artists have seen an amazing surge in value. Art can be a sensible investment, but it’s also important to enjoy it.” Bill is also excited about his next exhibition, which he hopes will emulate the success of his last. “The New Northerners will open in May; I believe strongly in encouraging my young artists and only wish I’d had the chance to talk to Lowry and Helen Bradley. “Among the young artists in the new exhibition will be Liam Spencer and Ben Kelly, who’ve both shown here in the past, and their work has just taken off. Liam’s work is sold around the world, while Ben’s last solo exhibition here was completely sold out with all 94 paintings selling so fast it set a record. We’ll also be showing work by Reg Gardner, Stephen Campbell, Phil George and Stacey Manton.” New Northerners opens at ClarkArt on May 19 (clark-art.co.uk)

Art & Culture | The CHESHIRE Magazine

PRIZE LOTs image courtesy of bonhams

1 #1 A late 19th century diamond and cultured pearl brooch, circa 1880 Bonhams London’s fine jewellery sale features this one-of-a-kind Victorian brooch containing a central old brilliant cut diamond which weighs an impressive 14.99 carats. The dazzling stone is framed with 14 old brilliant and cushion shaped diamonds, and finished with a dangling cultured pearl set in an intricately detailed cap. Estimated value £100,000-£150,000, Fine Jewellery at Bonhams, 20 April (bonhams.com)

#2 A Louis XIV ormulu-mounted, brass-inlaid, red tortoiseshell and boulle marquetry commode Private collections are arguably the most varied and exciting, as they can contain a spectrum of unusual items, such as this ornate Medici

image courtesy of gavin gardiner ltd

commode estimated to be from the 1700s at the time of Louis XIV. Containing two small drawers at the top and two longer beneath, this chest would make a fabulous feature piece in any Mayfair room. Estimated value £50,000-£80,000, Noble & Private Collections sale at Christie’s, 26 & 27 April (christies.com)

#3 John Wilkes gun Specialist firearms auctioneer, Gavin Gardiner Ltd holds two inaugural London sales per year and this month an exceptional piece will be on offer: the last new gun that renowned gunmaker John Wilkes built. The firearm – engraved with a game scene and featuring a Prince of Wales grip - is unused and was previously on display at 79 Beak Street until the closure of the store in 2003. Estimated value £24,000-£28,000, Sotheby’s, 13 April (sothebys.com)

C H AT E AU BR I A N D, BÉARNAISE, FR IES & A BOT T L E OF R E D FOR T WO £50

Available Monday-Friday for lunch and dinner, until 31 st May 2016 Subject to availablity. Bottle of wine from a set selection.

To book a table, please call 01244 439 435 or visit www.abodechester.co.uk

CHESTER

Grosvenor Road, Chester, CH1 2DJ www.abodechester.co.uk

Watch news words: richard brown

Strike three Ahead of Baselword 2016, the brothers behind British brand Bremont have announced the launch of three new core collection timepieces. The MBII (£3,595) is now available with a white dial, and features a striking new look, with a distinctive knurled effect on the aluminium barrel; the ALT1-C Polished Black Chronograph (£4,695) adds to Bremont’s first non-limited edition polished steel range; while the ALT1ZT/51 (£4,295) is one of the brand’s most handsome timepieces to date. (bremont.com)

ONE TO WATCH Tudor Black Bay Black “The popular Tudor Black Bay range has been extended and improved with the addition of the Black Bay Black which showcases a number of sought-after characteristics, from the matte black bezel and dial, elongated lugs and a domed sapphire crystal glass. These features are reminiscent of the first 1954 Tudor Submariner, making it an ideal timepiece for collectors who appreciate heritage and a vintage look.” Hannah Williams - assistant manager at David M Robinson, Manchester 28 St Anns Square, Manchester M2 7JB (davidmrobinson.co.uk)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Collection

Gold Standard Collector’s Edition The recently revealed Luminor 8 Days Set is sure to make any self-styled ‘Paneristi’ weak at the knees. The collectible set contains two watches inspired by models created between 1993 and 1997 – the period from the brand’s first public collection, to the year it was acquired by the Richemont group. Only a tiny number of watches were produced in that time and they have become highly sought-after. The box contains a Luminor Black Seal Left-Handed 8 Days, a Luminor Daylight 8 Days, and a model of a slow-speed Siluro a Lenta Corsa torpedo. Luminor 8 Days Set, £15,200, Panerai (panerai.com)

The world’s most iconic precious metal has been reintroduced to one of Audemars Piguet’s most iconic watches. Missing from collections for years, yellow gold returns to a range of the brand’s Royal Oak timepieces. Considered a purer alternative to red or rose gold, yellow gold versions of eight watches are now available, including the Royal Oak Chronograph, Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar and Royal Oak Selfwinding. The gentlemen of Cheshire will be thrilled. (audemarspiguet.com)

World Traveller Time travel is the watch world’s current buzzword du jour. Everyone from small independents to industry heavyweights is thinking up ways of keeping us on time wherever we are on the planet. While lacking second time zone or world time functions, Vacheron Constantin’s updated Overseas collection has been designed with the jetsetter in mind. The range includes five new models (12 references in total), all of which are equipped with manufacture movements and are water-resistant to a minimum of 50 metres. Available in steel or gold, the sporty timepieces can be dressed up or kept casual thanks to easily interchangeable bracelets and straps. (vacheron-constantin.com) 61

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

Exclusively yours xxx

bespoke jewellery designed and manufactured in our Chester store

01244 329923

Northgate Street, Chester CH1

www.carlchristopher.com

High Street, Congleton CW12

exc l usive ly y o u r s

Ormskirk Street, St Helens WA10

High Street, West Glossop SK13

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Collection

Two Worlds

Collide

o celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Reverso wristwatch, Jaeger-LeCoultre has given Christian Louboutin free reign to apply his own inventiveness to the iconic timepiece. The original Reverso was designed by Jacques-David LeCoultre in 1931 at the request of British army officers in India. They wanted a watch that could stand the trials of a polo match. LeCoultre’s answer was a flip-dial watch whose face could be concealed against the wrist during play. Louboutin’s Reverso Classic Duetto is available in two sizes: 34.2mm x 21mm and 40mm x 24.4mm. It retains the watch’s emblematic face on the front, while the back takes on a far more Christian Louboutin feel – framed, as it is, by two rows of diamonds on either side of the dial. Reverso Classic Duetto, small (pink gold) £15,200, medium (steel) £7,950, Jaeger-LeCoultre (jaeger-lecoultre.com)

Jewellery news

WORDS: OLIVIA SHARPE

Ahead of the Game As we await the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio, all eyes are on Brazil and how the country will shape up in preparation for the world-famous event. Brazilian-born jeweller Lily Elia, however, has already proved her weight in the fine jewellery industry: since launching her company, Lily Gabriella, in London in 2011, it has gone from strength to strength and this year sees the arrival of her first website. Allowing customers to buy pieces online, the site also showcases the latest collection. Sassy Chic and Ouh Lala ear cuffs, £750 each, Lily Gabriella (lilygabriella.com)

Vogue on British Vogue has been setting trends for a century. In light of this milestone, royal jeweller Mappin & Webb – which appeared in the very first issue published in September 1916 – has chosen to collaborate with the publication on a unique piece of jewellery. The limited-edition Vogue 100 sterling silver bracelet pays tribute to the magazine’s centenary through the engraved medallion and diamond set charm, and honours Mappin & Webb as one of Britain’s leading silversmiths. This reputation was cemented in 1897 when it was granted a Royal Warrant. Vogue 100 bracelet, £295, Mappin & Webb (mappinandwebb.com) 64

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Collection

Bee Line There has evidently been a hive of activity at Theo Fennell’s workshop because the company has just released a series of pieces in collaboration with Forevermark diamonds. “It has been wonderful to work with the best-cut, most recognisable, ethicallysourced stones in the world. I believe we have done them justice,” Theo Fennell comments. Fusing the jeweller’s trademark meticulous craftsmanship with Forevermark’s diamond expertise, it is a partnership that has got the jewellery industry buzzing, with standout pieces including the bee brooch. Featuring a 3.13-carat diamond with pavé stones and set in 18-karat gold, it also doubles up as a pendant. Bee brooch, £125,000, Theo Fennell (theofennell.com)

Drama Queen

image courtesy of lydia courteille

Never one to rest on her laurels, Lydia Courteille’s new Queen of Sheba collection reigned supreme at this year’s Paris Haute Couture Week. The jeweller has paid homage to the legendary biblical figure in 18 high jewellery pieces comprising precious stones that originate from Ethiopia, the country she famously ruled over. A ring featuring vivid tsavorites and tourmalines is set in earthy brown rhodium gold, while a green peridot tiara surrounded by diamonds, sapphires and tsavorites (that form two snakes in the centre) is the perfect tribute to the mythical queen. Queen of Sheba collection, POA, Lydia Courteille (lydiacourteille.com) 65

TIME to INVEST

Over the last decade the value of classic watches has increased on average by five per cent each year. Mark Blowers, offers his advice on this new and timely type of investing

uxury pre-owned watches have become - along with fine wine, art or classic cars - one of the most desirable forms of alternative investment to new and experienced investors alike. A luxury watch is an object of beauty, a status symbol and a talking point. It can be a memory of a very special moment, personal or professional. Yet it can also be an extremely savvy investment. Below are some top tips on what to look out for when investing in a luxury second hand watch: Research before buying. You can‘t just head into the local jeweller, buy any average model from a householdname manufacturer and automatically expect to get a strong return on investment. It’s essential therefore to get an idea of what you’re looking for before you buy – whether it’s seeking independent advice from an expert, or joining a watch enthusiasts forum. Look for a retailer and seek out the individual within that retailer who has a great reputation, product knowledge and will help you identify the perfect piece. Also try to view a comprehensive selection of brands and models in one store so you can make direct comparisons, and choose a retailer that has the pieces in stock and available.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

Ensure the watch is authentic. Brands are constantly innovating to take steps to protect their watches from being reproduced; but increasing numbers of counterfeit watches are making their way onto the market, so it’s vital to do your due diligence before purchase. Not all pre-owned watches will come with paperwork or a serial number, but if your watch of choice doesn’t come with either of these, look further into why. The weight, ticking noise, hand movement and materials of a watch are the first indicators of whether it is genuine or fake. To ensure the watch you are investing in isn’t a counterfeit, only deal with a reputable, experienced dealer who will be able to fully inspect the watch on your behalf. Some manufacturers have very little, if any, pre-owned market value. If you’re unsure, speak to dealers and collectors – you will soon become aware of brands to avoid. A pre-owned watch will always (with good advice) have better investment potential than a brand new watch. Always consider an independent dealer who is not tied to particular brands; they are often more negotiable on price, and usually more considerate when part exchanges are involved. As a general rule of thumb, it takes, on average, five to seven years before you begin to see an increase in value. A factor likely to influence a model’s value is when it was discontinued, how

rolex sky-dweller, estimated value in good condition, £28,775

many were produced, and subsequent demand. Some quality manufacturers frequently change their range and cull certain models. This is not in the buyer’s control so sometimes there’s an element of good fortune involved. For instance, the Rolex Daytona chronograph was produced with Zenith El Primero movement until the late 1980s. Rolex then produced its own in-house chronograph movement; the Daytona Zenith was subsequently discontinued, with a good example now selling for upwards of £9,000. Patek Philippe and Rolex are two brands that are best at holding their value. Patek Philippe’s Nautilus is the nearest thing you’ll find in the watch world to a guilt-edged investment. Relatively few are produced and demand will always be high, even at the £16,500plus price point. Diamond-set pieces often depreciate the most. The more heavily diamond set the watch is, the less likely you are to hold value unless ideally a pre-owned example can be found at very sensible levels. Of course, watches aren’t just an investment. Buying a watch you enjoy wearing and which is suited to your lifestyle – whether you’re a sportsman or frequent flyer – is a pleasure and often the best place to start, irrespective of whether you’re looking at it as an investment or not. Mark Blowers is managing director of Blowers Watches, a family-run luxury watch boutique which holds an extensive array of some of the finest second-hand watches on the market. (blowers-jewellers.co.uk)

audemars piguet, royal oak offshore diver, estimated value in good condition £13,950

patek philippe annual calendar, estimated value in good conditition, £28,950

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

The art of buying for a Gentleman Lauren Walker offers some advice on the art of buying for a gentleman and gifting that special someone

ifting, showing your appreciation, or marking an occasion with a token is part of our cultural ettiquette. Some love it, some revel in the stress (good stress) and others crumble at the feet of shopping for others altogether. When it comes to presenting the men in your life with something unique, it is best to throw nerves aside and think outside the gift box, while considering a few of their personality traits to help you with your quest. With an array of options and plenty of thoughtful products out there, you don’t need to let your head spin or need to spend a lot of money if you aren’t keen to. Simply adding a bottle of whisky to an already planned dinner reservation elevates the norm instantly #2 Joya luxury candle, £35 (suitehazen.com) and shows you’ve just done that extra bit. It’s the thought that counts, right? An experience is also a fantastic option. Plan a weekend getaway to somewhere unexpected. For example, Ibiza is a fantastic place to hike, cycle, paddleboard, eat #3 Malin + Goetz skincare well, and see top personal trainers but also has every range, £7 to £58 luxury amenity to complement any itinerary big or small. (nivenandjoshua.com) And luxury travel companies and concierges are your go-to for something this exciting and detailed. Looking at the giftee’s personality and seeing what tribe they fall into will also lead you to unique expressions of love and appreciation. Are they active? Are they a traveller? Perhaps they have design-led sensibilities? There will be clues everywhere if you look for them. Men are as varied as the array of products and gift ideas on the market and naturally a great cross section of gifts at varying price points and styles will help get your wheels turning and ideas flowing. Here is a handy list of thoughtful welcomed products to suit many occasions and many personalities. Lauren Walker is owner of Suithazen, an online gifting boutique (suitehazen.com)

#1 Active experience Ibiza (dynamiclives.com)

#4 Typography from TASCHAN, £34.99 ( suitehazen.com)

#5 Gucci Billfold, £175 (mrporter.com )

The

Finest Quality for the Best Price

SPECIALIST SUPPLIER OF GIA CERTIFICATED DIAMONDS BRITISH QUALITY SINCE 1937

150 ASHLEY ROAD, WA15 | STEVENSTONE.CO.UK | Tel: 0161 233 9977 HALE - LONDON - PALM BEACH

Made in Cheshire

photo credit: Craig McDean

Sea and the City Esteemed fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo has recently celebrated the 100-year anniversary of its arrival in Hollywood; however, the brand shows no signs of falling behind the times with its new campaign The Splendour of Life. The seaside meets the city in Massimiliano Giornetti’s latest collection, which contrasts elegant arrangements of layered frills against a brilliant jumble of bright, blocky beach-hut stripes in shades of bubblegum and banana. The end result is grown-up and feminine, while still retaining the brand’s daring, whimsical streak that we all know and love. (ferragamo.com)

Pretty Things Over the years, bespoke womenswear designer Lisa Redman has created an incredible array of luxurious pieces for many of the world’s most influential ladies, from opulent eveningwear to beautiful daywear and bridal gowns, with every piece made in England using traditional techniques and the best fabrics. For 2016, Lisa has unveiled some truly beautiful designs perfect for the summer season – whether it’s Ascot, Henley, polo or RHS Tatton – each one perfectly complemented by accessories including silk woven hand tasselled stoles, embellished velvet opera scarves, soft nappa leather gloves and feather collars. And, with all accessories eligible for personalisation with embroidered initials, key dates or messages, they make an ideal gift too. (lisaredman.co.uk)

Simply Stylish When it comes to simple yet effective dressing, it’s practically impossible to go wrong with Fabiana Filippi – a brand that prides itself on its superior quality of materials, ethical considerations and its history of expert Italian craftsmanship. The new collection maintains these highly desirable qualities, as well as offering a smart way to ease into the summer while the weather keeps us guessing; it is worth investing in for basics as well as key pieces such as chic, minimal overcoats and gorgeous, adaptable vests. (fabianafilippi.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

Starry-eyed If Marilyn Monroe were alive today, we imagine she would be a champion of Pomellato’s dazzling new eyewear collection. We love the updated retro cat eye design, crafted from candy-coloured acetate and inspired by the Nudo jewellery range. Each design features a hinge in the style of the gothic prong more commonly found on the brand’s earrings. Sunglasses, from £355, Pomellato (pomellato.com)

Let’s Met Cracking Spring has sprung and, with it, Liverpool’s Metquarter has announced a whole host of new and exciting arrivals to help pry you out of your cosy knits and chunky scarves. Some of our favourites here at The Cheshire Magazine simply have to be the gorgeous Tetbury playsuit from Jack Wills (£69.50), the KG Nutty in Beige sandals from Kurt Geiger (£110), the Jaqueline Stainless Steel Gold Watch from Fossil and – because it’s just achingly beautiful and we can’t stop thinking about it – this Love Moschino Katy Tan Shoulder Bag from Daniel Footwear (£179). It’s definitely time for a spring shopping spree. (metquarter.com)

Walking on Sunshine For the new season, J. M. Weston’s Le Moc loafers – the colourful, casual offspring of the classic 180 moccasin – will return in a rainbow of citrus brights. The soft, laid-back design is a homage to the French rebel mods of the 1960s named the Drugstore Gang, who adapted the straight-laced shoe commonly worn by their fathers to suit their own attitude – wearing them barefoot and with jeans. Le Moc leather loafers, £420, J. M. Weston (jmweston.fr)

Everyday Explorers Savvy resort wear brand Orlebar Brown has teamed up with Gieves & Hawkes this month to create a capsule collection bound to encourage our senses of wanderlust and adventure. The utilitarian features and handdrawn map prints are inspired by the Scottish explorer David Livingstone, who was in fact laid in repose at No.1 Savile Row when it was previously the Royal Geographical Society headquarters. Horace Shorts, £195 and Oswell Jacket, £495, available from Orlebar Brown (orlebarbrown.co.uk) and Gieves & Hawkes (gievesandhawkes.com) 71

Cinderella Story

Having been in the industry for more than two decades, Maria Grachvogel believes it is high time she returned to her creative roots. Having chosen to opt out of London Fashion Week this year, the designer still has many more tricks up her sleeve, Olivia Sharpe discovers

ver since Cinderella donned her glass slippers, it seems to have become mandatory for ladies’ high fashion to be excruciatingly painful. From bonecrushing corsets to bunion-inducing high heels, designers throughout the centuries have been constantly inventing new torture devices that are cleverly disguised under the label of ‘couture’. British designer Maria Grachvogel, however, has never understood why the word ‘comfortable’ is considered taboo in the world of high fashion. Throughout her long career which spans more than 20 years, she has made it her mission to produce beautifully cut clothing that fit the female form effortlessly. When I meet Maria in her Chelsea boutique, she is dressed in a loose-fitting navy top and matching trousers with a sheepskin collar draped around her shoulders – a walking advertisement for her brand, which advocates that one need never sacrifice style or comfort, and very much a woman after my own heart. While I secretly long to be able to pull off princess-like gowns, my naturally understated and casual style invariably gravitates towards a pair of trousers or a jumpsuit over a figure-hugging dress.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style Photography: Yuval Hen

‘[Maria is] a walking advertisement for her brand, which advocates that one need never sacrifice style or comfort’

Photography: Yuval Hen

“Beautifully cut clothes can be transformative and what I’ve learnt is how you feel affects how you look”

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

Although her relaxed, slightly androgynous fashion sense might suggest otherwise, Maria had a “Cinderella love affair with clothes” growing up, that made her want to be a designer. “I was a bit of a tomboy, but I had this constant fantasy going on in my head that I was a princess,” she explains. “My aunt was a tailor and I idolised her because she was so glamorous.” When she was as young as eight, Maria would spend hours poring over old copies of Vogue and fantasising about the glamour of 20th century fashion. She was particularly fascinated by the craftsmanship involved and one particular image that has stuck in her mind all these years was of a vintage Dior corset. “You could see all of the amazing handstitching and boning and I just remember wondering, ‘How did they do that?’” Like Alexander McQueen before her, it is as though Maria was born with a pair of scissors in her hands. “I knew immediately how to cut a pattern. It all made sense to me, the logic of how fabric sculpts around the body.” As a teenager, Maria would practise making bias-cut dresses for herself as well as her school friends for extra pocket money. She admits to having been very body conscious at the time. “I think many of us go through that period when we think we’re fat even though looking back, I was actually a rake.” It was because of this that Maria became fascinated by the way in which certain clothes could hide a multitude of sins. “Beautifully cut clothes can be transformative and ultimately what I’ve learnt is that how you feel affects how you look.” Her best-selling Magic Pants – trousers that will miraculously give you a smaller waist and bum without shedding a pound – came about due to her constant struggle to find trousers that flattered her tall, lean frame. At 14, the designer created her first collection,

which she showcased at the London Fashion Week’s designer exhibition. Well aware that she needed to raise funds in order to support her label, she left college and became the youngest person to pass the London stockbroking exams at 17. In 1991, at the age of 21, she launched her company. The designer has a different approach from much of the rest of the industry, shifting away from trends and instead focusing on producing timeless, staple pieces. For Maria, it is the difference between “You look great in that dress” and “Wow – what a great dress”. As a result, she has found that her female clients are naturally confident women who have a strong sense of their own style and judging from her loyal following which includes

FROM TOP: Maria Grachvogel boutique, photography: Paul Raeside; Catwalk look, image courtesy of: catwalking.com; Dali dress, photography: Simon Harri

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Icon jumpsuit, the Bespoke collection, photography: Yuval Hen

Angelina Jolie, Emma Thompson and Victoria Beckham, this is very apparent. Victoria Beckham has gone through a remarkable style transformation over the years and has achieved unprecedented success with her label. The former Spice Girl was one of Maria’s earliest fans and in 2000 she made a surprise catwalk appearance in her show. Did Maria predict then that Victoria would become such an influential figure in fashion? “She always had an amazing sense of style and we used to have really great conversations about clothes,” she answers. “I dressed her all through her pregnancy. She was always her own best stylist.” While Maria has long enjoyed the thrill of London Fashion Week, she had a break for eight years between 2002 and 2010, and has now been absent again for the past two years. “It comes from that whole sense of wanting to disconnect, I think. I keep threatening to go back, but I haven’t done it yet.” Maria has a very forward-thinking approach to technology within fashion and even pioneered her own method of digitally printing garments, known as Artwork Print. However, she finds that it can also limit creativity. “The one thing I would say about the relationship between digital and fashion is that the immediacy of everything is killing a lot of creativity. Creativity takes time and sometimes you need to just

sit and think.” Before motherhood, she would use the weekends to switch off, but with her five-year-old son, this is no longer possible, so she is working towards taking a step back from the managerial side and simply being “the creator”. The designer has often found that her best ideas have come about “organically” and, indeed, much of her good fortune seems to be put down to the old ‘right place, right time’ scenario. Her first ever show was styled by Isabella Blow but, to this day, she has no idea exactly how she discovered her. “It was at the time when I was selling clothes to private customers from home and somehow some samples ended up at Vogue. I don’t really know how because it was just me at the time.” Maria still remembers the first phone conversation she had with the stylist, who rang her up and said in her characteristically well-spoken accent: “Hello. I am Isabella Blow. Who are you?” A natural talent-spotter, Blow was one of the first to truly understand what the designer was trying to do, even saying to her, “You need real women in your clothes.” Another fateful moment happened a few years later at Claridge’s when, after a boozy night drinking Champagne, she convinced the barman to let her make her own cocktail. You can still order a ‘Maria Grachvogel’ (her version of a Caipirinha) at the hotel. The designer has remained in Chelsea throughout her career, her first showroom opening on Sloane Street in 2001. She stayed there for ten years before relocating to Culford Gardens. The Victorian townhouse is light and modern, and has been branded with the designer’s artwork print on the walls and furniture (suggesting that lifestyle might become a product category in the future). This year technically marks the company’s 25th anniversary. And yet, the designer remarks how it is almost impossible to give a precise launch date (having been designing since she was eight), but if she had to, it would be 1994 when she launched her first complete collection. Maria often gets requests from clients to remake old pieces and, if she can, she will. On one memorable occasion, she was asked to mend a dress that had been half-gnawed by a mouse. “I love that my clients find my pieces so precious,” she jokes. Although there are sadly some processes she can no longer replicate, such as her early devoré pieces, if there’s anything that I’ve learnt it’s that nobody solves a problem quite like Maria. (mariagrachvogel.com)

®®

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

®®

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

Evenings & Sundays by appointment.

Straight talking style With Tarporley’s Si Belle celebrating ten years of style this year, Jemima Lovejoy spent some time with Sibel and Gill Rutherford, the couple behind the destination boutique

am always conscious of my attire when I have meetings with clients in the fashion world. I tend to don my old faithful tweed Ronit Zilkha and today was no different. Warmly welcomed to the shop Sibel admires my skirt as we are getting settled. I am relieved. With a career in pharmaceuticals it was a case of serendipity which saw Gill and Sibel embark upon the store which has consumed their life for the past ten years. Gill comments, “Sibel puts everything into whatever she does. She’s incredibly passionate. And sometimes you think, Why is she doing this for someone else?” And that, as they say, was that. “Very late one night, we were looking at businesses for sale and we saw a ladieswear business for sale in Tarporley. Seriously, we were outside the front at

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

midnight having a closer look,” continues Sibel. “It’s in a great location, in a lovely building so the next day we had a look around and in March 2006 it was ours.” The couple closed the business they had bought, gutted and refitted the premises, and re-opened a few weeks later under the Si Belle name. I’m always quite amazed how people can turn their hand to a new direction and I struggle to see any connection between pharmaceuticals and fashion... “It is with the same passion and commitment that Sibel has always approached work,” explains Gill. “We worked hard and built up relationships, asked questions, experimented, and we made mistakes along the way from which we have learnt.” Today Si Belle stocks brands of national renown: Joseph, High by Claire Campbell, Diane von Furstenberg, Cavalli Class and not forgetting Sibel’s favourite, Marc Cain, among others. “Marc Cain is one of our best sellers and I personally adore it. It is machine washable, too, so it’s perfect for everyday busy lives.” Sibel is always looking for new brands to stock, listening to clients’ suggestions and new opportunities, the latest of which will be the addition of Ellie Tahari. “Some customers don’t like me to call them ‘customers’. I get into trouble,” says straighttalking Sibel. “We have ladies who have been coming to us for the past ten years. They are right, of course. Very many customers have become firm friends. I know them and their lives well. This helps me dress them appropriately it is true, but I think the relationship goes beyond that: I do try to be a true friend, too. I think that is mutual and it is important.” The morning of our interview, before Sibel left home, a customer called her to get advice about accessories to accompany an outfit she was wearing that day. It is a regular occurrence; the evening texts asking for advice. And often a case of reminding ladies what they have bought in previous seasons that would work. “There is no point in selling something to someone just for the sake of selling something. The item may be fashionable but may not suit that person. Or

perhaps I know they already have something in their wardrobe which they could use instead of buying something new. I may lose a sale now, but I will have a happier customer. It is all about the customer and what is right for them. “There really is no point following fashion if it doesn’t suit you. If I see something that doesn’t flatter or suit them I will tell them. At first they may be bemused, or even a little offended, by such directness, but I explain and that is how the relationship begins. Do not get me wrong: it is your wardrobe, it is your money, but it is also my opinion.” And this is what brings ladies of Cheshire and beyond back year on year for ten years. Sibel and Gill have built this brand together, the hard way, from nothing. Plain speaking Sibel is always on the go “I panic a lot!” and Gill is the laid back one. A great partnership. Sibel has the last words. “I never want to lose enthusiasm and passion for what we do. But there will be a time when it is right to hand over what we have built to someone equally passionate about the business and who can grow and develop it in ways we cannot. “For ten years we have worked six or seven days a week, every week. Our tenth anniversary resolution is to work only five days a week. Who knows, we may even treat ourselves to a little holiday.” Si Belle, 50A High Street, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 0AG (01829 733251; sibelle.co.uk)

“There really is no point following fashion if it doesn’t suit you.”

TOP GEAR Steer clear of passing trends; match the enduring style of a classic car with sophisticated staples from your friends on Savile Row P H O T O G R A P H Y: A l e x a n d e r B e e r S T Y L I S T: M i k e A d l e r @ T e rri M a n d u c a

London to New York blazer, £1,295, The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars Turnbull & Asser (turnbullandasser.co.uk). White cotton shirt, £125, Grey silk cotton tie, £70, both Hardy Amies (hardyamies.com). Ivory Harrison silk trousers, £580, Ralph Lauren Purple Label (ralphlauren.co.uk)

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

ABOVE Grey/blue linen blazer, £415, Regent dress shirt, £99, both Brooks Brothers (brooksbrothers.com). Cotton-silk Mogador tie, £95, Chester Barrie (chesterbarrie.co.uk). Paisley pocket square, £30, Hackett London (hackett.com)

RIGHT Suit, £1,245, White shirt, £145, both Richard James (richardjames.co.uk). Green knit tie, starting from £75, Brooks Brothers (brooksbrothers.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

ABOVE Chestnut check wool mix suit, £1,890, Dunhill, (dunhill.co.uk). Grey cotton shirt, £225, Kilgour (kilgour.com). Navy crepe satin hank, £70, Hardy Amies (hardyamies.com). Metallic blue silk tie, starting from £75, Brooks Brothers (brooksbrothers.com). Rose gold watch, £13,950, Bremont (bremont.com).

LEFT Jacket. £745, Trousers (part of suit), £695, Shirt, £155, Tie, £95, Pocket square, £50, Flower lapel pin, £45, all Chester Barrie (chesterbarrie.co.uk).

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

ABOVE Black and white monogram woven silk grid single-breasted tuxedo, from £650, Bone silk hank, £70, Navy cotton silk tie, £70, all Hardy Amies (hardyamies.com). Black superior cotton shirt, £225, Kilgour (kilgour.com)

credits Hair: Dany Mikhael Make up: Ruth Frances Photography assistant: Ben Duah Styling assistant: Maciek Worowski Model: Richard Biedul @ Elite

Labels

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

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

Tel: 01829 733595

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

Tel: 01270 765068 This dress is available in our Tarporley shop Follow us on Facebook. After hour appointments available.

For mothers of brides and grooms and guests at weddings this Summer. For races, Ascot, regattas, garden parties, and balls this Summer. If you are looking for something special, and that ‘something special’ has to be exactly that, special. Condici Linea Raffaelli Dress code by Veromia Dressed Up by Veromia Gill Harvey Irrestistible Casual Chique by Linea Raffaelli Barbara Schwarzer Vera Mont Joseph Ribkoff Lyman by Frank Lyman

30 High Street, TARPORLEY Cheshire, CW6 0DX Tel. 01829 733851 Email. info@papillon-tarporley.co.uk www.papillon-tarporley.co.uk Mon – Fri: 10:30am to 17:00pm Other times by appointment.

www.facebook.com/papillon.tarporley

CONDICI

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

FREEDOM M

cArthur Glen (the people behind Cheshire Oaks) has a new campaign out and we were quite inspired by the lady behind it, Norma Jean Martine. Spotted on the front row of fashion week, Norma is already lauded for her song writing for the likes of Ronan Keating and Burt Bacharach but now we hear the voice with a new, raw, acoustic version of George Michael’s Freedom as part of the designer outlet’s collaboration with Universal. The track is out now and will form part of her debut album released later this year. (cheshireoaksdesigneroutlet.co.uk)

Beauty news Image courtesy of: ©YSL Beauté

Self Preservation In a selfie-addicted world, it has never been more important for our make-up to be camera-ready at all times – which is why YSL Beauty has introduced 12 new lipsticks to its Rouge Volupté Shine Oil-in-Stick range especially for ‘instagirls’. For when you’re running from workouts to working lunches, opt for one of the four Day Bloomer hues, such as light coral or subtle nude. For evenings when you’re out on the town, remember to glam it up with a statement shade from Night Birds. Finally, busy weekenders are also catered for with four new colours to wear to brunch, gallery visits or leisurely shopping trips. Say cheese. £26 each (yslbeauty.co.uk)

Some Like It Haute

Ford Focus Embracing the future has never been a problem for Tom Ford: in a media sensation, the designer did away with a traditional fashion show this year and instead presented a filmed version of his SS16 collection, starring none other than Lady Gaga, who was joined by a host of dancing models. Capture the camera-worthy beauty looks through the brand’s latest colour collection, encompassing a range of electric eye shadows. We particularly love the retro glamour of siren blue. Cream colour for eyes, £32, Tom Ford Beauty (net-a-porter.com) 90

Elie Saab’s latest fragrance has been dedicated to a flower that has cropped up again and again in the fashion house’s couture collections: the rose. Renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdjian was the man responsible for harvesting the new scent which, along with rose nectar, is brimming with floral notes including orange blossom, fresh peony and jasmine. Rose Couture eau de toilette, £70 for 70ml (eliesaab.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

TREATMENT OF THE MONTH

THE HYDRAFACIAL WORDS: LOUISA CASTLE

Mix and Matcha A new clinic has opened in Chester offering what I hear are miracle facials, non-intrusive as well. So, feeling all of my thirty-something years, I jumped at the chance to try it out. Hydrfacial is its name; a unique, VortexFusion delivery system. While you need an expert clinician, it’s all down to a machine and application wand to deliver the goods, beginning with a gentle massage to set your lymphatic system going, followed by a cleanse. Then comes the exfoliation to remove dead skin cells, and then the peel, dabbed on and left with a hint of tingle to deliver its benefits to the skin before being washed off. Finally a lovely serum is applied for your skin to drink up.

Wearing nail polish constantly can be harmful to your nails, but fortunately Nails inc. has remedied this problem with its new Sweet Almonds collection, which incorporates matcha powder – a powerful antioxidant that will protect nails and boost moisture – as well as a sweet almond oil base within each shade. The range comprises three muted colours, including linen blue, porcelain grey, warmed pink, and a revolutionary rose gold shade. We guarantee your nails will never have looked so healthy. £14 each (nailsinc.com)

Get the Gloss It is now possible to get the best of both worlds thanks to Guerlain’s latest lipstick range, which combines the brand’s covetable lipstick shades with its best-selling fragrance, La Petite Robe Noire. Along with their irresistible scented texture, the 20 new shades can be layered up depending on how deep you would like the colour to be (one layer for a natural day look, two for casual chic and three for a glamorous, statement effect in the evening), and also contain pure and ultra-luminous pigments so lips look shinier than ever before. £21.50 each (houseoffraser.co.uk)

Slightly pink in the cheeks, I am handed my aftercare leaflet and Clare, my clinician, advises trying to leave my skin until morning to see most benefit. My skin is lighter, tighter and youthful already, and I’ve only had one 40 minute session (a series is recommended). It can treat a number of concerns, from acne to fine lines, but for me it was about general skin health and it definitely injected some much needed youth. Hydrafacial, £150 per session (packages available) from sk:n clinic, 1 Vicars Lane, Chester, CH1 1QX (03300 297 411; sknclinics.co.uk)

A Matter of Thyme Ahead of the Chelsea Flower Show in May, Jo Malone has taken inspiration from the aromatic foliage of a herb garden to cook up its latest batch of fragrances. The collection introduces five scents featuring an array of herbs that you would more commonly expect to find in your larder, including: sorrel and lemon thyme, wild strawberry and parsley, nasturtium and clover, carrot blossom and fennel, and finally lavender and coriander. For a spicy, nostalgic scent, we suggest stocking up on nasturtium and clover, which in one spritz conjures up a

summer’s forest with its blend of cool clover and peppery rocket. The Herb Garden Collection, £44 for 30ml, (jomalone.co.uk) 91

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

Advanced Rejuvenation clinic for ladies and gentlemen Rita Vandaele welcomes you to Advanced Rejuvenation clinic - we set out to make your experience one of relaxation and change

ith over 40 years’ experience, Rita Vandaele has personally chosen and developed wonderful treatments using the very latest techniques, many of which are exclusive to the clinic. The ultimate aim is not only to change how you look and feel, but to provide an enjoyable experience, too. At Advanced Rejuvenation Clinic we have a team of highly qualified experts, including a Maxillofacial surgeon whose treatments, combined with the experience of Rita Vandaele, provide optimum results and a bespoke treatment designed especially for you. A sanctuary in the heart of Wilmslow, the clinic offers a holistic approach to clients’ concerns, using a combination of cosmetic and non-cosmetic procedures to produce a wonderful partnership in the fight against ageing – though mental wellbeing is just as crucial. Our experts treat many aspects of skin health, from pigmentation to stretch marks and scarring, as well as thread veins, using our FDA medical-licensed devices. There are so many slimming and body contouring treatments on the market today that it can be a

lengthy and difficult process finding the one which suits you. Ever at the forefront of clients’ needs and technology, Rita Vandaele has designed a unique FatAway Plus treatment exclusive to the clinic. FatAway Plus uses a combination of procedures to address every aspect of your body concerns, from your body shape and cellulite, to flabby skin or fat. Each client receives an individual programme tailored to their specific needs and goals, combining dynamic FDA licensed state-of-the-art equipment and Advanced Rejuvenation clinic treatments, with no associated pain. Together these can eliminate fat resistant to diet and exercise, recontour your body, tighten and tone loose skins (perfect for flabby arms), eliminate a double chin and eliminate cellulite. Advanced Rejuvenation offers customised skin and body consultations with a range of treatments, from medi-skin peels to semi-permanent make-up, massage and grooming, as well as private parking. Please see our website for a complete list of treatments. Advanced Rejuvenation, 74-78 Camellia House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5BB (01625 419650; advancedrejuvenation.co.uk) rita@advancedrejuvenationclinic.co.uk

“After a week of healthy eating in the way you recommended, and just two sessions on your marvellous magic machines, I have lost 6 pounds, not to mention that horrible bloated feeling I had when I started. Thank you so much.”

PINK RIBBON BALL

MEN AT WORK As the headline act is announced and the final pieces fall into place, we take time out with two gentlemen of our own who will be supporting Breast Cancer Now’s Pink Ribbon Ball, Manchester this year

Darren Proctor

he voice of Cheshire, DJ and event host, Darren Proctor was the closing act for the 2015 Pink Ribbon Ball in the beautiful Manchester Cathedral, cajoling guests to kick off their heels and have a good dance. This year, he takes on the mantle of host, ensuring the smooth flow of the event. “When I got the call from Keely [committee chair] I couldn’t say no. I had heard of the Pink Ribbon Ball London and how massive it was, so was keen to do whatever I could to help recreate something of the same scale in Manchester. “I’ve been involved in events for more than ten years in the area, hosting, DJ-ing and just attending, and the ball last year was amazing, raising over £110,000 for Breast Cancer Now in its first year. I’ve been to established events which don’t raise that now. “It’s a special event. It’s great fun but also raising huge awareness of the disease and the life-sving research the charity funds. I love being involved. “It’s also important to remember that breast cancer doesn’t just affect women. Men should be aware of it too.” Breast cancer in men is rare. Around 350 men are diagnosed with the disease each year in the UK compared with around 50,000 women. However, the earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chance of beating it, so it’s important to look out for any unusual changes, lumps or ulcers and get them checked by the doctor straight away. The 1990 Young DJ of the Year loves his lifestyle,

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

events and living in Bowdon, saying, “I’d still work if Iwon the lottery. I’d do exactly what I do now, but maybe with a few more holidays.” Born and raised in Alsager, his interest in music and DJ-ing began in 1989 when he asked his mum and dad for some money for turntables. They weren’t impressed. But armed with a second hand disco console and regular nights at the local under-18 disco, he began his career path – and loved it. “I then became an apprentice electrician, but what I didn’t know was that I’d be three miles underground in a coal mine for most of the time. It was a great training scheme and I’m glad I did it, but my heart was in music. I’d go into the local radio after work and sit and learn for free, for experience. “I remember I was offered the Saturday night gig which needed filling and dad drove me to the station. I was so nervous I didn’t want to go. But it all turned

Lemar

out OK and they offered me an hour slot. It became serious then, almost like a proper job!” Five and half years at Radio City and he was offered the flagship Drivetime show on Key 103. Now Darrens’s networked all across the north and remains a prominent figure on the DJ and event scene. “This year, I’m hosting the Pink Ribbon Ball Manchester as well as the DJ-set. My role is to bring it all together and just get stuck in and have some fun, whilst raising much needed funds for vital breast cancer research! Look forward to seeing you there.”

&B singer Lemar caught the public’s eye in 2002 after competing in BBC’s Fame Academy. Since then, he has had seven top ten UK singles, sold over two million albums and will be the headline act at the second Pink Ribbon Ball, Manchester. We spoke to the double Brit Award winner ahead of his very special performance at the event. “It’s an honour to be asked to perform at the Pink Ribbon Ball. I always try and support any cancer-related events. My mother was affected by cancer and as such it’s a subject close to my heart. I’m very proud to be able to perform at this event.” How does he feel about performing in the awesome Manchester Cathedral? “The Cathedral is indeed awesome. It’s not every day you get to perform in a cathedral, let alone one of this size and beauty. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” What can guests expect on the night? “Energy. I’ll try and bring the energy and hopefully everyone will be up for a good night!” And does Lemar have a life mantra or words of advice by which he lives his life? “My life mantra... I guess I have a few but one which comes to mind is ‘No regrets’. I think everything in life is a learning opportunity and you have to grab the bull by the horns and live life regardless of whether you think something is positive or negative. Just live, laugh and love.” For tables contact pinkribbonball@breastcancernow.org; 020 7749 4106. (breastcancernow.org)

ConventionalÊdentureÊsolutionsÊsuchÊas removableÊdentures,ÊoftenÊrequiringÊtheÊaid ofÊadhesives,ÊdoÊnotÊadequatelyÊaddress theseÊissues.ÊOverÊrecentÊyearsÊTheÊDental AcademyÊhasÊbeenÊatÊtheÊforefrontÊinÊthe advancementÊof,ÊandÊinvestmentÊin,Êdental implants,ÊandÊitsÊdedicationÊtoÊoffering dentureÊwearersÊmoreÊchoiceÊhasÊledÊtoÊa significantÊimprovementÊinÊqualityÊofÊlifeÊfor itsÊpatients. OneÊofÊtheÊbiggestÊfearsÊpeopleÊwhoÊhave lost,ÊorÊareÊaboutÊtoÊlose,ÊallÊofÊtheirÊteeth haveÊisÊtheÊprospectÊofÊbeingÊwithoutÊany teethÊatÊallÊforÊaÊperiodÊofÊtime. TheÊÒTeethÊinÊOneÊDayÓÊconceptÊalleviates thisÊfear.ÊPatientsÊleaveÊatÊtheÊendÊofÊthe dayÊwithÊtheirÊÒveryÊownÓÊnewÊteeth.ÊThe conceptÊusesÊanÊimplantÊsupportedÊbridge -ÊaÊbridgeÊofÊreplacementÊteethÊfixed securelyÊbyÊdentalÊimplants.ÊTheÊbridge representsÊanÊexcitingÊadvanceÊinÊtheÊuse ofÊimplantÊretainedÊdentures,ÊrequiringÊthe useÊofÊjustÊfourÊdentalÊimplants.

All in One Day... TreatmentÊbeginsÊearlyÊinÊtheÊmorning.Ê AnyÊfailingÊteethÊareÊremovedÊandÊthe dentalÊimplantsÊareÊplaced. PatientsÊcanÊthenÊrelaxÊinÊtheÊcalmingÊand privateÊatmosphereÊofÊtheÊAcademyÊor,Êif theyÊprefer,ÊmayÊreturnÊhomeÊforÊaÊcouple ofÊhoursÊwhilstÊtheirÊbespokeÊteethÊare constructedÊbyÊourÊtechnician. TheÊbridgeÊandÊreplacementÊteethÊwillÊthen beÊexpertlyÊfittedÊandÊpatientsÊleaveÊwithÊa confidentÊsmile,ÊandÊlookingÊforwardÊtoÊthe enhancedÊqualityÊofÊlifeÊthatÊgoesÊwithÊitÊ-Êall inÊoneÊday.

T H E D E N TA L AC A D E M Y D A R E S B U RY

T H E K N U TS F O R D D E N TA L AC A D E M Y

Chester Road, Daresbury WA4 5LR Phone: 01925 740510 www.dentalacademy.co.uk

Malt House, Malt Street, Knutsford, WA16 6ES Phone: 01565 755765 www.dentalacademy.co.uk

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

Understated

COOL T

he prevalent attitude of many summer collections appears to be carefree, comfortable and fun, and Brunello Cucinelli has captured this feeling flawlessly in his new menswear range. The brand’s classic cuts have been subtly updated: jackets are neatly fitted to the body while the trousers are relaxed and often styled rolled up, reflecting the rising trend of fusing smart and casual looks. (brunellocucinelli.com)

image courtesy of Brunello Cucinelli

Motoring news words: Iain Warde

Geneva show special Spring’s biggest car show has been and gone now in the shape of the 2016 Geneva motor show. There have been some stunning concepts, new releases and some surprises. We sift through to bring you the best of show

McLaren 570GT The McLaren 570GT joins the 570S Coupé and 540C Coupé as the third model in the recently announced Sports Series family. As seen on the other models in the Sports Series, levels of craftsmanship throughout the interior of the 570GT are of the highest level, upholstered and specified with quality materials and the latest technologies throughout. The 570GT is fitted with a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 M838TE engine which debuted in the 570S Coupé. Power and torque remain at 562bhp and 443lb ft and power is delivered to the rear wheels via a seven-speed seamless-shift transmission with adjustment through Normal, Sport and Track settings to produce one of the most rewarding and engaging driving experiences in the sports car class. £154,000 (mclarenautomotive.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

Ferrari GTC4Lusso The Ferrari GTC4Lusso, the new four-seater which hails a major evolution of the sporting Grand Tourer concept by integrating rearwheel steering with four-wheel drive for the first time. The GTC4Lusso’s name references illustrious predecessors, such as the 330 GTC or its 2+2 sister model, the 330 GT - one of Enzo Ferrari’s favourites - and the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, which represented a sublime combination of elegance and high performance.

The car looks impressive but the performance stats will blow you away, the Lusso is fitted with a 12-cylinder engine which delivers smooth, consistent power, punching out a massive 690 bhp at 8,000 rpm. Both its 2.6 kg/cv weight-topower ratio and its 13.5:1 compression ratio set new records for the category. Maximum torque is 697 Nm at 5,750 rpm with 80 per cent already available at just 1,750 rpm for superb responsiveness even at low revs. £TBC (ferrari.com)

Lamborghini Centenario

Pininfarina H2 Speed Concept

The limited-edition Lamborghini Centenario to be built to honour the 100th birthday of Ferruccio Lamborghini had already sold out, two months ahead of its official reveal. Based upon the Lamborghini Aventador, the car has an all-carbon fibre tub, more power from its V12 engine and carries a price tag of about £1.64m. A total of 40 will be built - 20 coupés and 20 convertibles. The official stats comprise a 760bhp naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12, which manages 0-62mph in just 2.8 seconds, thanks to Centenario’s four-wheel drive system, and a kerb weight of just 1250kg. Top speed is in excess of 217mph. £1,640,000 (lamborghini.com)

Pininfarina showed off a very green H2 Sport race car concept, which uses a hydrogen fuel cell to offer drivers quick lap times and only water vapor for emissions. The design certainly looks ready to start turning laps, keeping the whole shape smooth and simple. Underneath, the hydrogen tech comes from GreenGT, and packs two electric motors with a combined output of 496 horsepower that directly power the rear wheels, with no transmission to get in the way. Two tanks hold 13.4 pounds of hydrogen, and it can reach 62 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 186 mph. (pininfarina.it)

A New Chapter Aston Martin introduced its new figurehead, the sleek-lined DB11, at this year’s Geneva Motor Show W o r ds : J e n n i f e r M as o n

here’s a new kid on the block at Aston Martin this year and it looks set to be the leader of the pack. The first car launched under the brand’s new ‘Second Century’ plan, the DB11 is the exciting new figurehead of AM’s lauded DB bloodline – not to mention being a dynamic GT worthy of its sporting heritage (and its links to Britain’s most beloved super-spy). The DBs have always been at the forefront of AM design and technology. The line has brought us classic icons like the DB2/4 and DB5 and, more recently, the limited-edition concept DB10 designed especially for Bond’s latest outing, Spectre. But this latest model showcases a fresh new direction, with its pioneering aerodynamics and potent twin turbocharged, 5.2 litre V12 engine making it the most significant new Aston since the introduction of the DB9 in 2003. According to the boffins at Aston, the DB11 is the most powerful, most efficient and most dynamically gifted DB in the company’s history. Not a small claim to make, especially since it’s also considered by AM CEO Dr Andy Palmer to be “the absolute embodiment of what an Aston Martin should be.” Big words, but will they hold true? The DB11 certainly looks good on paper – but then, so do all Astons. The proof will be in the road test, and I for one can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this head-turner. Aston Martin DB11, from £154,900, available from autumn 2016 (astonmartin.com)

The Power The DB11 is powered by a 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 designed in-house at AM. It produces 600bhp, with a top speed of 200mph and a 0-62mph time of 3.9seconds – making it the most powerful production DB model ever.

100

Dynamic Driving To properly harness the DB11’s power, AM has introduced multiple driver-selectable dynamic modes (GT, Sport and Sport Plus) to progressively intensify the response of the engine, eight-speed automatic ZF transmission, electric power steering and torque vectoring for an exemplary driving experience.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

Lift Off

Tech Savvy

The DB11’s makeover is not purely aesthetic; innovative aerodynamics play their part, too. Front end lift is reduced by the grill-like curlicue that releases high-pressure air from inside the wheel arch via a concealed vent within the side-strake.

AM has collaborated with Daimler AG for its full-colour 12” TFT LCD display instrument cluster and the centrally-mounted 8” TFT infotainment screen. The DB11 also has an auto-park assist feature, with a 360-degree bird’s eye-view camera for safe manoeuvring at slow speeds.

Draw The Line Rear end lift is reducted by the AM AeroBlade™ - a virtual spoiler fed by subtle air intakes at the base of each C-pillar. Air flows through the bodywork before being released as a het of air from the aperture in the rear decklid.

101

The

Future’s

Bright And, according to Chris Hall, in Mercedes’ case, it comes in the shape of the AMG GT S

ith this kind of car review, it is customary to set off at once for the remotest corners of this island – far better to stretch out hundreds of horsepower in peace (not quiet, though) and avoid traffic jams, speed cameras, motorways and other such automotive drudgery. At the weekend I picked up the Mercedes AMG GT S in central London, but we were hamstrung by various family and work commitments which meant absconding too far would be impossible. So my mission became thus: find bucolic calm within touching distance of our congested capital. First stop was the Chilterns. After beetling down the M4 to Reading, we headed for Goring and Streatley. Over a superb lunch at the Miller of Mansfield, we reflected on first impressions. It’s a head-turner. Descended from the SLS, it actually has a shorter bonnet than its

102

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

predecessor, but that’s like saying Gérard Depardieu has a slightly smaller nose than Barry Manilow. From the sunken driving position, it can feel like manoeuvring a small boat at low speed. The tapered rear end isn’t unanimously loved, but I think it’s striking, and that front grille has real menace. It may not be as beautiful as the Jaguar F-Type overall, but it definitely rivals it for presence. After lunch we headed for our first night’s stay, Hartwell House, on the outskirts of Aylesbury. Dating back to the 11th century, and

the former site of the 19th century French monarchy in exile, it rests in 90 acres of rolling grounds with stately grandeur. The GT isn’t a shy beast, but it’s also not so shouty that when you arrive at such a genteel residence, everyone stares. The V8 is capable of gorgeous noises, but it doesn’t bark into life like some I’ve known, and can negotiate speed humps and tight corners without drawing a crowd. We took gin and tonics on the patio in the evening sun, before enjoying a dinner notable for its slow-cooked lamb shoulder, seared tuna

103

Merc’s sensible sat nav hated it but the variety of loin and generous cheese trolley. There’s driving enabled us to conclude that the GT really something about charging around in a twin-turbo thrives on A- rather than B-roads, that the ride GT that really engenders big appetites. And what charging about. This is a louche, lairy isn’t so bad, really – or you get used to it – and that on all the practical metrics like interior car that absolutely loves being pushed. In quality, luggage space and ‘infotainment’, the everyday driving conditions (aka Comfort mode), AMG GT S scores well, given the kind of it’s too stiff a ride for British roads – a car it is. Two tall people with two wearyingly common complaint, not bags each: no problem. at all limited to Mercedes – but in Maison Talbooth is perched Sport Plus mode with the right Car: Mercedes deep within Dedham Vale amount of driver confidence AMG GT S – the area bordering the (i.e. far too much), it Weight: 1,645kg River Stour that John completely tears up the Engine: M178 4-litre twin Constable immortalised in tarmac. Scarily so. There’s turbo petrol V8 his most famous works. If no occasion for Race Power: 510 horsepower you’re looking for mode, and, in all honesty, quintessential English having Sport and Sport Acceleration: 0-60 in 3.8 seconds countryside within an hour Plus is a level of choice too Top Speed: 193mph of London, you could hardly far, but you do need to play Price: From £110,500 want for a more perfect with the settings to get to the answer. The Maison itself is a savage heart of this car. young hotel, with modern rooms After a sports massage in the and a large pool complex that is straight morning to realign my knitted, knotted out of the Med. Luckily, the day we arrived, so shoulders, I set out to do it all again. Destination was the weather. number two was the other side of London: The hotel takes its name from an ancient toll Maison Talbooth on the Suffolk/Essex border. house on the Stour between county borders, on This meant either M40-M25-A12, or threading which site now sits Le Talbooth, the restaurant a zig-zag path across counties, through Bucks, linked to the hotel. In summer, the sunset-facing Beds, Herts and Essex. Guess which we did? The

104

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Motoring

riverside seating makes it hugely popular, whether for Sunday night’s regular barbecues or a more formal lunch – both of which were delicious. In our quest, then, we had succeeded – with minimal effort – in finding countryside to rival any in the UK at a doable distance from our home in the city. But has Mercedes succeeded quite as ably with the AMG GT S? In coming down from SLS prices, the GT must go toe-to-toe with Porsche, Audi, Jaguar, Aston Martin and others. Without an in-depth comparison, I’ll just say this: anyone considering six figures of fun absolutely must consider this car. We knew Mercs could be capable; this proves they can be full of character, too. The car the GT S takes the biggest chunks out of, actually, is Merc’s own SL65 AMG (or indeed, all of the SL family). Who in their right mind would pay upwards of £60k more for a car that’s slower to 60mph, slower overall, less fuel efficient and not as goodlooking? You might claim the SL’s smoother ride and greater luggage capacity give it the edge as a tourer, but in that case, you should buy the S63 coupé, which is more

comfortable and laden with more bells and whistles than a Morris dance troupe. Indeed, the only things I found myself missing on the GT S were some of Merc’s top-end tricks. In particular, the heads-up display from the S63 would be most welcome when punting the GT S through corners – and the car’s sense of theatre would be enhanced by some of the

“Anyone considering six figures of fun absolutely must consider this car” dynamic interior lighting packages. But I suppose some things must remain exclusive to the luxury flagship. In any case, it is obvious that the GT represents Merc’s future – stylistically, as shown by the recent GLC coupé – and hopefully philosophically, too. This is the most fun Mercedes has been in years. (mercedes-benz.co.uk) Maison Talbooth (prideofbritainhotels.com) Hartwell House & Spa (hartwell-house.com)

105

Technology central words: Iain Warde

Luxury Tech Spoil yourself with some of the most lavish and expensive tech available today. Ranging from a few thousand pounds all the way to six figures, here are some of luxury items you could own...

AeroSystem One

A USP: Two directional speakers, powerful box beam, sounds great £749 (jarre.com)

eroSystem One is the result of four years’ research and development by Jean Michel Jarre and his team of sound engineers. This powerful sound-system can accept all digital formats, from MP3 and AAC to WMA and is compatible with all iPod and iPhone models. Connection supplied are an integrated USB 2.0 port, as well as a mini-jack port offering the possibility to connect the system to a laptop, a CD / DVD player, smart phones, hard-disk files, as well as a vinyl turn-table.

OTHER ITEMS ON THE LUST LIST

Panasonic 4K Toughpad Tablet Since it’s a Toughpad, Panasonic’s rugged line of laptops and tablets, it can withstand being dropped from 2.5 feet. Rugged devices are usually much more but the 4k Toughpad’s super-sharp 3840x2560 pixel resolution display also accounts for its high price tag. USP: 4K and pretty much indestructible £5,202 (pcnation.co.uk) 106

Vertu Signature Touch The Vertu Signature Touch’s high-end price is all about its design. The phone’s casing is made of natural-grain alligator leather and grade five titanium alloy, which Vertu claims is 2.5 times stronger than stainless steel but is still light. The display is also made of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. USP: Flawless display, rich screen colour and looks great £6,500 (selfridges.com)

iPad 2 Gold History Edition Designer Stuart Hughes has re-created Apple’s iPad 2 and encrusted it with 12.5 carats of flawless diamonds. But that’s not what makes it so expensive. According to Hughes’ website, it’s the main front frame that’s crafted from one of the oldest rocks in the world, the more than 75-million-year-old ammonite, that makes it worth a whopping £5 million. USP: Do we need to say anything? £5 million (stuarthughes.com)

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Technology

App: Smartnews SmartNews brings you trending stories and categorises them based on the subject. It’s clutter-free, easy to browse through, and good at digging up fresh content that you’ll actually want to read. Partners include NBC News, Medium, USA Today, TIME, Bleacher Report, Quartz, VICE, Reuters, AP, Perez Hilton and more. £FREE, Android and iPhone

Of the 60 billion emails that are sent on a daily basis, 97 per cent are considered spam

Game Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Several years after his last adventure, retired fortune hunter, Nathan Drake, is forced back into the world of thieves. With the stakes much more personal, Drake embarks on a globe-trotting journey in pursuit of a historical conspiracy behind a fabled pirate treasure. His greatest adventure will test his physical limits, his resolve, and ultimately what he’s willing to sacrifice to save the ones he loves. £46 amazon.co.uk

Playstation VR Headset Sony has become the first to launch a mass-market virtual reality headset, in what could be the move that takes VR technology into the mainstream. The device, which fits over the wearer’s head, features a high definition screen and motion tracking technology, allowing players to inhabit and explore computer generated worlds. It will be the quality of the first VR games and applications that will decide whether the technology succeeds. Among PlayStationVR’s key offerings are a gritty gangland shoot-’em-up, London Heist, a visually impressive 3D drawing package Dreams, and the next title in the multimillion-selling Gran Turismo series of driving sims. Over 50 titles are expected to be available by the end of 2016. £349 (playstation.com) 107

Travel news

Seamless Luxury If you’re looking for a thoroughly decadent cosmopolitan weekend escape, nobody does heritage luxury quite like the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. This spring, the hotel launches its Drive In, Stay Late package (£390 per room per night), allowing guests to visit London for the weekend with seamless ease. The package includes an overnight stay, parking at the hotel, full English breakfast for two, All English Martini in the Mandarin Bar and a late check-out at 2pm – plus all the delights of glamorous Knightsbridge right on your doorstep.

While you’re there, make sure you indulge at the hotel’s prestigious Bar Boulud, the sumptuous bistro from worldrenowned restaurateur Daniel Boulud, famed for serving the ‘best burger in London’ and for having, without doubt, the friendliest, most efficient team of staff in the city. If you’re after something light, their Early Nights, Happy Bites menu offers a twist of Americana and is perfect for sharing, including deep fried mac n cheese, hot chicken wings and smoked brisket sliders for just £14. If you’re after something more substantial, go for the incredible ribeye or one of their decadent seafood dishes, with wonderful wines from around the world paired by their expert, characterful sommeliers. (mandarinoriental.com/london)

Lights, camera, action For all the budding filmmakers out there (and anyone fed up with witnessing precious holiday moments from behind the camera), the new Director’s Den package at the Trisara resort in Phuket, Thailand, is the answer to your prayers. The package lets you video your holiday then polish it in the on-property editing suite, or even have a member of staff do the job of cameraman for you, meaning you can get on with making memories instead of capturing them. (trisara.com)

108

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

PA R K L I F E

Long haul vs short haul

loves The High Life If you’re looking for a fabulous way to treat someone you love, we thoroughly recommend the High Flyers’ Afternoon Tea at the stunning Devonshire Arms in Bolton Abbey. Available on selected Sundays in April and May, the experience includes a 15-minute helicopter ride over the Yorkshire Dales followed by a champagne afternoon tea – a truly VIP way to spend the weekend! £198 for 2 people, £396 for 4 people (thedevonshirearms.co.uk)

Aloha Romance

Eat Smart The next time you’re whizzing down to the capital on business, be sure to start by fuelling up with the Intelligent Breakfast from founder of Honestly Healthy, Natasha Corrett. Available until July at The Pullman hotel, just two minutes’ walk from London Euston, the menu of healthy, gluten-free delights includes chia and turmeric omelette, green teff pancakes with Kefir yoghurt, plum kuzu compote and banana coconut oil muffins. We can confirm that every dish is as delicious as it is guilt-free. (honestlyhealthyfood.com; pullmanhotels.com)

The most exotic ultra-luxe launch this May has to be the new romantic Vera Wang suite at the Halekulani resort in Honolulu, Hawaii – as perfect a setting for honeymoons and romantic getaways as we’ve ever seen. With every element of the suite personally chosen by Ms. Wang herself, taken from her own collections or unique items selected during her travels, it’s guaranteed to please fashionistas and hopeless romantics alike. (halekulani.com)

Short haul Mother Nature

Nestled in the heart of the New Forest, Limewood Hotel and Spa offers a luxurious getaway in a secluded spot. From romantic rooms in the eaves to cottages and cabins suitable for even the largest of families, Limewood provides rural charm for all. The Herb House Spa nods to nature with its Forest Sauna, Mud House and sun-drenched roof-top herb garden perfect for meditation. If food’s your thing, book a place at the hotel’s cookery school kitchen, which plays host to a bevy of fabulous chefs this year. From £275 (limewoodhotel.co.uk)

Long haul Hotline Spring

Looking to really get away from it all? Look no further: Aman’s new hot spring Amanemu Resort in Japan’s Ise Shima National Park ensures complete tranquillity. Generous terraces in each of the 24 suites create a sense of being at one with nature. Immerse yourself in the calming presence of the natural world on one of the park’s famed UNESCOprotected pilgrimage trails, or, if your calm comes from water, unwind in the hotel’s salt infused spring water onsens, guaranteed to ease muscles and revitalise the skin. From £563 (aman.com/amanemu)

109

110

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel lake ashi and mount fuji (©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO)

On top of the world A playground of bright ideas and fantastic design as well as centuries old temples, Louisa Castle gets hooked on Tokyo’s culture

111

the peninsula hotel

t has always been a dream of my husband’s to travel to Japan. He was booked on a plane five years ago, the week before the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. His trip was cancelled. Fitting somehow, that five years to the day we find ourselves in Tokyo. Being high on my husband’s wish list of travel destinations means there must be something technological or mechanical on the radar. If you weren’t already aware he’s a self-confessed geek (of the chic variety) and petrolhead. As our trip is confirmed I am immediately shown footage of Top Gear’s race across Japan and of Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, home to ASIMO. I have visions of skyscrapers too, but also of the history, the temples and great sushi. We’re lucky to have the airport on our doorstep but still travel sometimes has to be from Gatwick or Heathrow. So we were pleased to hear that Cathay Pacific had recently opened up a route from Manchester direct to Hong Kong. It was going to be a long flight so plenty of time to prioritise our days (based on the weather) as we settled into our seats. And just as our families were going to sleep we arrived – via a seamless connection with amazing lounge access in Hong Kong – in Haneda Airport, Japan. Japan has two airports serving Tokyo, Haneda which is approximately half an hour away, and Narita which is an hour and a half away. Cathay Pacific flies to both via Hong Kong. It’s worth adding lounge access if you have a bit of a wait between connections. The Peninsula Hotel is described as offering tech-savvy sensibilities alongside classic elegance. The

112

the lobby, the peninsula hotel

peter, the peninsula hotel

24-storey building stands on the edge of Hibiya Park and the Imperial Palace Gardens; it is on the edge of Tokyo’s version of Central Park. The perfect place from which to explore. As we pass through the revolving doors to be greeted with forests of cherry blossom and its associated scent, our welcome is a very warm one. Our home for the next five nights was a deluxe king room with floor to ceiling windows, views of the park, all the amenities you could wish for and fresh flowers. There was a separate dressing room and large bathroom, complete with (please don’t think me crude) a toilet with control panel – someone was impressed. So far Tokyo was appealing to both the geek and the culture vulture. Without a lot of sleep and a time difference of nine hours, we decided to stay within the hotel for our first night, being tempted by the Hei Fung Terrace Cantonese restaurant on the second floor. Entering the restaurant from the lift, it felt like you were entering an exotic garden terrace, hence the name I guess. Settled with a window view and glass of champagne, we were tempted by most things on the menu but, with weary brains, could only agree on the premium tasting menu. And I was so glad we did. It was a feast but also allowed us to try some dishes we wouldn’t typically go for, like stewed Australian abalone and melt-in-the-mouth Wagyu sirloin slices. While Wagyu is on many menus these days, nothing I have tasted in this country has ever come close. Day one is a damp one. My first piece of advice, pack for wet weather. Temperatures flitted between nine and 19 during our stay but a Mac is a must. Our destination

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

was Akihabara, the electric town, aka the shopping district for video games, animé, manga and computer goods. My husband’s choice. And we were going to attempt the subway, upon the advice of our charming concierge. There’s a subway entrance on the basement floor of the hotel so it’s perfect for getting around. And, whilst we were uncertain how easy it would be, ticket machines and stops are all in English. As you emerge from the station, Akihabara is bright, it’s bold and is a haven for any geek out there. You can buy anything, as long as it has something to do with electronics. As a non-geek it was still an amazing sight, especially at dusk when the buildings, as well as the streets, really come to life. We especially loved the street food stations beneath the railway. Do try it out. Pick your meal, pay at the ticket machine and collect from the food caravan. Simple, good food and incredibly friendly. Also here is a small shrine, Kanda Myolin Shrine, surrounded by high rises and concrete yet incredibly tranquil. Ever the advocates of discovering new places on foot, we decided to walk back to the hotel through

“Tokyo was appealing to both the geek and the culture vulture”

Chiyoda district, absorbing the sights and sounds and ending up in Ginza. This was now my place – one of the most luxurious shopping districts in the world and home to reportedly the busiest crossing. The leading fashion houses are here but also some little gems: the Mitsukoshi department store, Takumi for folk arts and Itoya for stationary geeks. And, just on the edge, a great restaurant; Gonpachi, the inspiration for Kill Bill and experts in Kushiyaki (charcoal-grilled skewers) frequented by locals just as much as tourists. On day two, we took advantage of the sun and ventured to the Meiji Shrine just north of the Olympic Village, home to the largest Torii gate in the world and a vast expanse of parkland. Whilst in the area, take a stroll around the Harajuku district to see cosplay fans dressed as favourite characters and ‘individual’ cafés and stores. We also spent some time at the Ota Memorial Museum of Art, which displays more than 12,000 pieces of Japanese woodblock prints most notably the Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai. Evening was for sushi and we headed for the Tsukiji area, near the fish market, to Sushi Iwa. It does get booked up very quickly, especially the counter seats so, like we did, ask your lovely concierge to help you there. Simple, minimalist surroundings offer the perfect

senso-ji temple (©Taito City/©JNTO)

113

Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine

hei fung terrace, the peninsula hotel

deluxe king room, the peninsula hotel

Cathay Pacific flies from London Heathrow to Hong Kong five times daily and from Manchester to Hong Kong four times per week, and onwards to over 190 destinations globally. As of September, it will also fly from Gatwick to Hong Kong four times per week. For further information, visit www.cathaypacific.co.uk or call 0208 834 8888.

looking for some history. It’s place to watch the chefs one of the best preserved at work and take in the old quarters of Tokyo, a rare freshest seafood. Fares from Manchester to Tokyo, via Hong enclave which has survived We spent the next day Kong, cost from £849 in economy, £1,909 earthquakes and bombings. hunting for the iconic Mount in premium economy and £3,659 in Our final dinner in Tokyo, after Fuji. And hunt we did. She is business class. soaking our weary feet, is in Peter, renowned as being elusive, hiding in The Peninsula’s 24th-floor restaurant. It a shroud of cloud and today was no is immediately funky, with impressive lighting different. Also, as part of our day we visited Hakone and the Five Lakes. It reminded us of the Lake and a floor to ceiling show but what is most impressive is District on a misty day but a great trip to see how Tokyo the view: the full extent of the park and Imperial Palace merges into the countryside. It also meant a trip on the Gardens, a great wander on a warm day which takes on Shinkansen, or Bullet Train, which swooshes in and out new life at night. Home to the hotel’s bar as well, the place was alive of stations on the short trip back. with a mixture of tourists and businessmen and After our day Fuji hunting we stayed in to eat in The women, enjoying the view and the food. Again, wanting Lobby of the hotel: the place we take breakfast each to try everything but not sure what to prioritise, we morning and which looks to have an amazing enjoyed the grilled four-course set dinner, afternoon tea. I have to mention the staff here as they commencing with sashimi, pan-fried scallop and were superb, answering our questions about Japanese lobster and the Japanese beef tenderloin. And to breakfasts, which we soon became fans of and conclude a cherry-blossom cocktail: all full of taste and enquiring and advising of our daily activities with a utterly delicious. The Peninsula group is looking to genuine care. The food was a mixture of cultures so open in London and we are looking forward to it you could go for steak and chips (guilty and delicious) bringing its service and style to our capital. or Japanese curry (equally delicious). Our five days in Tokyo flew by and showed us a real Our last day in Tokyo and we headed to Asakusa in mix of sights with many more to return for. As a city it’s search of some of the old Tokyo, however touristy. We clean and easy to negotiate, with an excellent subway weren’t disappointed as we emerged from the subway and train system. It also has something for everyone: to be greeted by rickshaws and traditional kimono adults, kids, geeks, culture vultures and fashionistas. dress. It’s also home to Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist I’m not a big fan of modern cities, but I have a soft temple and equally impressive Nakamise-dori, the spot for Tokyo. I think we’ll be back one day... street, lined with small shops selling souvenirs, from ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) to Godzilla toys. The Deluxe Room costs from JPY 48,000 (£296) per night A walk around Yanaka is also advised if you’re (tokyo.peninsula.com; jnto.go.jp)

114

MAY 2016 s ISSUE 029

DIARY of a

Doggy BAG

Perfect escapes for you and your fourlegged friends

MODERN

GENT Suiting, watches, gifting and much more

Just

£38 a year RUNWILD MEDIA GROUP

£4.00

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

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

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

Pet-Aways A relaxing holiday with the family dog? Pet-friendly travel specialists, PetsPyjamas, are here to show you how it’s pawsible

amily holidays are a time to escape the everyday and spend time with loved ones away from home. And, when we share many of our happiest moments with the family pet, we naturally think that they should come along too. The annual crazy chaos of packing up the car and heading off on that great adventure has become something of a British institution. You wouldn’t dream of leaving the children behind, so why do we have to go without our beloved four-legged friends? The paw at the window, the yelp as you drive away – never mind the hassle and expense of finding kennels or a dog-sitter. Thankfully all that

is changing – not a moment too soon, in our minds – and it’s finally becoming more and more possible to travel with your pets without having to compromise on quality. Here at PetsPyjamas HQ, a veritable hub of dog-lovers ourselves, we make it our business to make travelling with pets not just acceptable, but a seamless, and most importantly, enjoyable and rewarding, experience. We launched our travel division and pet concierge, as we were ourselves frustrated by the distinct lack of choice when it came to stylish and truly dog-friendly travel options. Whether you yearn for wide open beaches, roaring log fires, Michelin-star restaurants or a little bit of pampering, there are pet-friendly options. But it’s the detail that matters. Is your room on the ground floor with easy access outdoors? Are there good walks in

117

the vicinity? Are dogs allowed in the restaurant or bar area only? Is there a dog-sitting service? Are there comfortable dog beds, bowls and blankets? And we wouldn’t dream of sending any canine customers out without south palace hotel, london their own personalised Pet Travel Kit, crammed with treats and toys to keep them entertained, and their human’s peace of mind intact. Holidaying with pets should be, and can be, as wonderful and easily accomplished as travelling with other members of your family.

south palace hotel, london

B+B Belgravia, LOndon

Here are our top dog-friendly destinations for 2016: 1. Scotland Whether you’re a history buff, adventure seeker or food aficionado, Scotland has everything you and your like-minded canine companion need for a fantastic break away. From the mysterious lochs and the bonnie countryside to the country’s traditional dishes and vibrant culture, if you don’t mind unpredictable weather you’re sure to have a memorable fling in the highlands with your hound.

The Portsonachan Hotel – all furry guests will be provided with bowls and towels on request, plus there are always some yummy doggie treats waiting at reception for pooches passing through.

Trigony House Hotel – with walks right from the doorstep, a welcome pack, a dog-friendly area to dine and pet-sitting services available, this hotel couldn’t be more pet-loving!

B+B Edinburgh – four-legged friends will be provided with a pet package, including a bed, bowl and food, and there is a fabulous garden for your pet to roam free in.

118

south place hotel, london

red kite barn, wales

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

regions of the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia. Those looking for a gentler adventure can enjoy wandering around the country’s magnificent castles, quaint villages and capital city.

Red Kite Barn – with over 80 acres of private woodland for your pet to frolic on, this dog-friendly destination is a bona fide walkies wonderland.

trigony house hotel, scotland

B+B Belgravia, LOndon

Penbontbren – adventurous pooches will be spoilt for choice with the surrounding gardens, beaches and countryside to explore. The Corran Resort & Spa – your four-legged friend will be provided with a luxury welcome pack, plus each dog-friendly room has its own enclosed garden area for your pet.

3. London A treasure trove of sights, sounds, flavours and smells, London has something for every canine traveller and their human. Journey into central London to find all the major museums, galleries, theatres and landmarks, and when you want to escape the crowds pay a visit to the Royal Parks with your pup. From history and culture to countless fine food and drink offerings, England’s cosmopolitan capital has everything you need for an unforgettable trip.

Ace Hotel – great for hipster hounds, all furry guests will be provided with all the pet essentials, including a bed, blanket, bowls and treats.

2. Wales

B+B Belgravia, LOndon

Adventures come in all shapes and sizes, and whatever escapade you and your canine are hoping to embark on, you’re sure to find it in Wales. Seasoned hikers and casual trekkers will love the Wales Coast Path, which covers 870 miles of coastline, as well as the mountain

B+B Belgravia – it’s all about the location! This dog-friendly hotel is within walking distance of four Royal Parks!

B+B belgravia, london

South Place Hotel – great for fitness furr-reaks and their exercise buddies, South Place will provide you with a map of the best jogging and walking routes in the city. Visit the website, or call the Pet Concierge on 0203 642 316 (petspyjamas.com)

119

Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine main image: a king room at the nadler victoria. top right: m den at m victoria street. bottom right: the wine shop at m victoria street

Weekend away …The Nadler Victoria, London WORDS: GEMMA KNIGHT

ffordable luxury, eh? When promised ‘five-star services at four-star prices’, one is naturally a little sceptical – but, luckily, CEO Robert Nadler is rather a genius, and the three prior outposts of his revolutionary hotel concept have stood him in excellent stead to create its Victoria-based incarnation. The ethos is simple: cut out the unnecessary extras and hidden charges, focus on stylish accommodation and great locations (the other Nadlers are based in Soho, Kensington and Liverpool), and keep prices low. The result is an unmitigated roaring success. The Nadler Victoria has no restaurant, no bar, no gym or spa, just a smart, eco-friendly room with a mini-kitchen (microwave, Nespresso machine, Brita water tap and fridge), as well as free fast Wi-Fi, 30 daily minutes of local/national phone calls, neat, pristine bathrooms, a pillow menu and TVs that provide everything from the latest newspapers to a free music library, and even let you stream content from your computer or tablet. Rooms are all soothing tones and plush throws but, beneath the comfort, are design-led on a very personal level, each clever feature dictated by the travel acumen amassed by Mr Nadler and his wife on their many globetrots. The hotel is Buckingham Palace’s closest and sits around the corner from Victoria Station, giving easy access to the rail links, bus routes and three tube lines running through it. It also boasts reciprocal relationships with a wide

network of restaurants, coffee shops and gyms in the area, offering good discounts which provide a nice incentive for guests to explore the locale. Not-so-coincidentally, Victoria is currently in the process of carving out a niche for itself as a regeneration hub and must-have address for luxury brands, fast becoming one of central London’s most desirable districts. With this comes a rapidly burgeoning high-end dining scene which, given The Nadler’s lack of eatery and watering hole, it would be almost rude not to take advantage of. Leading the charge is M Victoria Street, the second opening from (former Mr Gaucho) Martin Williams’ new venture, M Restaurants – with each venue hosting three concepts; M Bar, M Grill (steak, steak and more steak) and M Raw (fresh fish, tartar and ceviche). Just five minutes’ walk from The Nadler, at street level is a wine store, and beneath it a magnificent lower level: the long, sleek raw bar and private dining room; a wellstocked bar (which hides the door to the exclusive M Den, the small but perfectly-formed members’ club); and the eau de nil Grill Dining Room. The drinks are spectacular (and wine list, curated by sommelier Zack Charilou, a triumph), but the food is really something else, with resplendent steaks from around the world that offer eager carnivores nothing short of Nirvana. Inevitable food coma accrued, never fear – for it’s just what the Nadler’s gorgeously soft king-size beds were made for. (thenadler.com/victoria; mrestaurants.co.uk/victoria)

‘The ethos is simple: cut out the unnecessary extras and hidden charges’

120

UUU PPP TTT O O NN N DD D EEE NN N EEE U U P P T T O O N N D D E E N N E U P T O O N D E N EE U P T O N D E N E RRE E R SE ISSSID DIID D EDEN N E N T IT AP IIA L A L AAO N A N D D NNN U U R SR ISSSIN N IIN N G G HHH O O M M EEE U T N D E N E R R S E I I E E T N I T A I L A L A N A D N D N U N R U S R I I G N G H O H M O E M R E E S D E N N T T I A L L A N N D D N U U R R S N G G H O O M M R E S I D E N T I A L A N D N U R S I N G H O M E EE

‘Keeping ‘Keeping kindness kindness at the the heart ofof our our care’ care’ R‘Keeping E‘Keeping S‘Keeping IDEN Tkindness I A L at Aatat N D Nheart U Rof Sof Iour N G HOME kindness at the the heart heart of our our care’ care’ ‘Keeping kindness kindness at the the heart heart of our care’ care’

‘Keeping kindness at the heart of our care’ ‘Keeping kindness atday the heart of23 our care’ Join Join us us forfor our our official official public public open open day on on Saturday Saturday 23 April, April, 1pm 1pm - 4pm! - 4pm!

Join Join ususus for usfor for our our official official public public open open day day on on Saturday Saturday 2323 April, 23April, April, 1pm 1pm - 4pm! - 4pm! 4pm! Join Join for our our official official public public open open day day on on Saturday Saturday 23 April, 1pm 1pm - -4pm! Join us for our official public open day on Saturday 23 April, 1pm - 4pm! Join us for our official public open day on Saturday 23 April, 1pm - 4pm!

OurOur stunning stunning newnew Upton Upton Dene Dene Residential Residential and and Nursing Nursing Home Home For more For more information, information, please please Our stunning Our stunning new Upton new Upton Dene Dene Residential Residential and Nursing and Nursing Home Home ForFor more For more information, information, please please Our Our stunning stunning new new Upton Upton Dene Dene Residential Residential and and Nursing Nursing Home Home For more more information, information, please please Our stunning new Upton Dene Residential and Home For more please features features light, light, airy airy lounge lounge and and dining dining rooms rooms andNursing and 74 beautifully 74 beautifully contact contact us:information, us: features features light, light, airy lounge airy lounge and dining and dining rooms rooms and 74 and beautifully 74 beautifully contact contact us:us:us: us: features features light, light, airy airy lounge lounge and and dining dining rooms rooms and and 74 74 beautifully beautifully contact contact features airy lounge andwhich dining rooms and 74 beautifully furnished furnished en-suite en-suite bedrooms which can can be personalised be personalised to provide toHome provide a a contact Ourlight, stunning newbedrooms Upton Dene Residential and Nursing Forus: more information, UP UP TO TO N D NE D NEENREE RE SIplease DE SI DE NTINTI AL AL furnished furnished en-suite en-suite bedrooms bedrooms which which can be can personalised be personalised to to provide toprovide provide a a aa UP furnished furnished en-suite en-suite bedrooms bedrooms which which can can be be personalised personalised to provide TON UP TON DD ED N REERSI REDE ESI SI NTI DE NTI ALAL AL UP UP TO TON TON N EDN EEEN EN R ESI DE DE NTI NTI AL furnished en-suite bedrooms which can be personalised to provide a real real home-from-home home-from-home residents. for residents. UP TON D E N E R E S I DE NTI AL features light, airyfor lounge and dining rooms and 74 beautifully contact us: A N A D N N D UR N UR S I N S G I N H G OME H OME real home-from-home real home-from-home forfor residents. for residents. real real home-from-home home-from-home for residents. residents. D AN NN DN UR NUR SUR ISNISSN G NH O H ME OME AA N D D N UR IIN G GGHOME OME H OME real home-from-home residents.which can be personalised to provide a A N furnished en-suitefor bedrooms A NCaldecott D URN S ID N UPNTO EGNH EO RME E SI DE NTI AL Caldecott Close, Close, Providing Providing residential residential dementia, dementia, residential residential and and nursing nursing care,care, residents residents Caldecott Caldecott Close, Close, Caldecott Caldecott Close, Close, real home-from-home for residents. Providing Providing residential residential dementia, dementia, residential residential and nursing and nursing care, care, residents residents Caldecott Providing Providing residential residential dementia, dementia, residential residential and and nursing nursing care, care, residents residents Close, A N D N UR S I N G H OME Upton Upton Dene, Dene, Providing residential dementia, residential and nursing care,up residents can can spend spend theirtheir timetime enjoying enjoying the things the things they they love; love; catching catching with up with Upton Upton Dene, Dene, Upton Upton Dene, Dene, can spend can spend their their time time enjoying enjoying thethe things the things they love; they love; catching catching upup with up with Upton can can spend spend their their time time enjoying enjoying the things things they they love; love; catching catching up with with Dene, Caldecott Close, can spend timebeing enjoying the things they up with Chester Chester CH2 CH2 1FD 1FD friends friends andtheir and family, family, being pampered pampered inresidential the in hair thelove; hair and and beauty beauty salon, salon, Providing residential dementia, andcatching nursing care, residentsChester Chester CH2 CH2 1FD 1FD Chester Chester CH2 CH2 1FD 1FD friends friends and family, and family, being being pampered pampered in in the inhair the and hair beauty and beauty salon, salon, friends friends and and family, family, being being pampered pampered in the the hair hair and and beauty beauty salon, salon, CH2 1FD Upton Dene, friends and family, being inthe the hair andlove; beauty salon, up with Chester taking taking part part in activities in activities orpampered relaxing or relaxing inthe in landscaped the landscaped gardens. gardens. can spend their time enjoying things they catching Tel: Tel: 01244 01244 569825 569825 taking taking part in part activities inactivities activities or or relaxing or relaxing in in the inlandscaped the landscaped gardens. gardens. taking taking part part in in activities or relaxing relaxing in the the landscaped landscaped gardens. gardens. Tel: Tel: 01244 01244 569825 569825 Tel: Tel: 01244 01244 569825 569825 takingfriends part inand activities relaxing in the landscaped gardens. Tel: Chester 01244 569825 CH2 1FD family,orbeing pampered in the hair and beauty salon,

WiFiWiFi enabled enabled throughout throughout the the home home

WiFi WiFi enabled enabled throughout throughout thethe home the home WiFi WiFi enabled enabled throughout throughout the home taking in activities or relaxing inhome the landscaped gardens. WiFi part enabled throughout the home

Tel: 01244 569825

www.sanctuary-care.co.uk www.sanctuary-care.co.uk www.sanctuary-care.co.uk www.sanctuary-care.co.uk www.sanctuary-care.co.uk www.sanctuary-care.co.uk www.sanctuary-care.co.uk Sanctuary Sanctuary CareCare Limited Limited is a subsidiary is a subsidiary of Sanctuary of Sanctuary Housing Housing Association, Association, an exempt an exempt charity charity Sanctuary Sanctuary Care Limited Care Limited is aissubsidiary subsidiary of of Sanctuary ofSanctuary Sanctuary Housing Housing Association, Association, anan exempt an exempt charity charity Sanctuary Sanctuary Care Care Limited Limited is aissubsidiary aasubsidiary of Sanctuary Housing Housing Association, Association, an exempt exempt charity charity www.sanctuary-care.co.uk Sanctuary Care Limited is a subsidiary of Sanctuary Housing Association, an exempt charity

WiFi enabled throughout the home

Sanctuary Care Limited is a subsidiary of Sanctuary Housing Association, an exempt charity

Moneywell spent? Despite many being aware of the possibility of being hit by a serious illness, few have taken action to prepare for the consequences. Jonathan Seddon discusses the issue of insuring against the financial impact of serious illness The potential for physical and financial frailty is underlined by the fact that, each year, close to one million working people unexpectedly have to give up work because of injury or illness iii. In an effort to highlight the need for people to plan financially for the eventuality that they become too ill or injured to work, the 7 Families campaign has teamed up with Disability Rights UK. They are helping seven individuals who have been diagnosed with a serious illness and have no realistic financial safety net. A tax-free income for one year is offered to the person

“A recent study showed that eight million British adults fail to take simple lifestyle precautions”

any of us worry about being diagnosed with a serious health issue. Despite this, far too few of us do anything to help prevent it. For example, a recent study showed that eight million British adults fail to take simple lifestyle precautions to reduce the risk of developing cancer i. Alongside the failure to adopt preventative measures like taking regular exercise, many of us fail to insure ourselves against the financial impact of serious illness. Just 8 per cent of households have income protection and 11 per cent critical illness cover ii.

122

who has been forced out of work. One of the people who was chosen is Graeme Snell. Until the summer of 2014, Graeme was a fit and healthy Hartlepool United fan. He worked full-time as an advanced health and wellbeing practitioner and described himself as being very fit. In July of that year he had a double stroke and, although he hasn’t worked since, he has been described by medical staff as a “walking miracle”. Individuals like Graeme, who did not have sufficient savings or insurance to replace the lost income, can find themselves in serious financial difficulties, such as arrears in mortgage, rent and other credit repayments. But research suggests that two fifths of consumers have never even thought about what

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

they would do if forced to stop working by a long-term illness or injury iv. Income protection can replace lost income when an individual is forced to stop work due to serious illness or injury. Some employers will provide a level of cover as part of their employees’ benefits packages, but there is no such provision for the self-employed, making this group particularly vulnerable. Having income protection enables households to maintain income levels at, or close to, previous earned income if the main earner has to stop work due to ill health or disability. Stories like Graeme’s are a reminder of the value of such protection; and while it is thankfully true that not everyone will experience a serious illness or injury that prevents them working for a significant period, none of us know if it will happen to us, or to someone in our family. Jonathan Seddon, director at Illingworth Seddon (illingworthseddon.co.uk)

For more information on the 7 Families campaign, please visit www.7families.co.uk. Links from this page exist for information only and we accept no responsibility or liability for the information contained on any such sites. The existence of a link to a website does not imply or express endorsement of its provider, products or services. Illingworth Seddon Chartered Financial Planners is a trading name of Illingworth Seddon Ltd and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

aviva.co.uk, 21 January 2016

ii iii iv

Family Finances Report, Aviva, August 2015 Welfare Reform for the 21st Century: The role of income protection insurance, Association of British Insurers, September 2014 ABI Quarterly Consumer Survey 2012 Q3, Association of British Insurers, October 2012

123

E CS ts G sul ng re di el an v st Le ut A O d an

Outstanding education from 3 to 18 years

Senior School Taster Day* for Year 5 girls and boys

Monday 4 July

• Outstanding GCSE and A Level results • Awarded ‘Excellent’ in all aspects in 2015 Inspection • Unrivalled range of extra-curricular activities • One of England’s leading music schools • New sports facilities

Charity No. 1137204

*booking required

The King’s School in Macclesfield - contact Admissions 01625 260000 or admissions@kingsmac.co.uk

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

A rousing rendition Victor Hugo’s epic tale Les Misérables was given a glorious technicolour treatment by King’s School’s actors and musicians in their biggest ever single production. The production proved a huge success with a cast of 42 young actors from both Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions and sixth form, together with an orchestra of 18 players. Emma Maxwell (pictured) and Dominic Corner contributed hilariously and menacingly as Madame and Monsieur Thenardier, the husband and wife landlords. A great show all round. (kingsmac.co.uk)

The classroom Doing the double Withington Girls’ School have been celebrating in both netball and hockey. The Under 13s netball team beat off tough competition from across the country to take away the Independent Schools Netball Cup; after a closely fought match with Brentwood School, the Cheshire team clinched the winning goal with only six seconds to go as Hannah Jenkins (named player of the match) hit home a well-aimed shot. And the Under 16s hockey team emerged victorious in the Greater Manchester County Hockey Tournament held at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls. Having beaten Loretto and Woodhey, the hockey squad drew with their hosts before winning the competition on goal difference. (wgs.org)

Design a jump School children across the northwest are being asked to design one of the showjumping fences for this summer’s Bolesworth International. To launch the competition children at Huxley Primary School were joined in the playground by international show jumper Anthony Condon and Oscar, the horse, who really stole the show. (bolesworthinternational.com)

photo: www.adamscott.co.uk

125

Kids’ news

Stitched up Wouldn’t it be nice if someone else could take on the time-consuming task of dressing picky children? Thankfully the creative geniuses at ShortStitch have got it covered with their Box of YAY! innovation. After filling the team in on your child’s hobbies, favourite styles and colours, you’ll be sent a box of clothes to try from a range of beautiful European brands such as Little Remix, Hucklebones and Emile et Ida. The best part is you can return any clothes that don’t take your fancy for free, so you just pay for the items you really want. (shortstitch.com)

Sticky business Italian fashion house Marni is adding to its clothing line with a new S/S16 collection for girls. Graphic prints and delicate designs run throughout the easy-to-wear range of light cotton tracksuits, denim dungarees and colourful knitwear. The quirky collection comes to life in the label’s lookbook, which sees simple stickmen wearing the animated prints. What’s more, Marni has introduced a new baby range as part of its spring line, featuring dresses, T-shirts and teeny bathing suits, which come packaged in a keep-safe box decorated with children’s artwork. (marni.com) 126

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

Cool as a cucumber

Easy as 1, 2, 3 It’s hard to take your first steps without the perfect shoes. French footwear designer Easy Peasy has the solution with its range of comfortable pumps. White, silver and adorable metallic rose-gold shades are available, with each shoe featuring a decorative cut-out floral design on the front. With a useful Velcro fastening, shoes can be easily whipped off before any muddy footprints ruin your favourite rug. £31, for 0-24 months (fancykids.com)

Looking for a new healthy snack for the little ones? With summer approaching – so we’re told – we recommend (and are already a little addicted to) the new Greekstyle fro-yo lollies from Claudi & Fin. Perfect for after-school nibbles, the lollies come in peach and apricot, mango and strawberry flavour, are 100 per cent natural, suitable for vegetarians and contain lots of vitamin D and less sugar than 75 per cent of other lollies. But when they’re this tasty, and under 40 calories each, peckish mums might find this is one snack that’s too good to share. Available in 440 Tesco stores nationwide at £2.99 for a box of 8 (claudiandfin.co.uk)

loves

Bags of fun Pass on your favourite nursery rhyme songs in a playful and creative way with Oskar and Ellen’s new Song Bag, which contains six hand-made finger puppets that act as song clues. From the postbox-red bus to the yellow padded star, teach little ones The Wheels on the Bus and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with fun and interactive guess work, all the while improving their phonological awareness. £18.80 (crafts4kids.co.uk)

MR HENDRIX leashed

he bees are buzzing, the buds are blooming, and I’m snoozing in the sunshine listening to the children playing in their gardens. That’s right; it’s time to put away the PlayStations and dust off the picnic baskets, because May has arrived in style! I will be heading to my local town to join in the celebrations of May Day; a traditional day of festivities celebrated around the northern hemisphere for centuries. Knutsford Royal May Day takes place every year on the first Saturday in May, this year falling on the 7th, with a procession through the town and the crowning of the May Queen (a custom which began in 1864). The prefix ‘Royal’ was bestowed on the event in 1887 by their Majesties King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, then the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Knutsford – quite rightly – remains exceedingly proud of its Royal title. One of the unique customs of the May Day Festival is that of ‘sanding’ the streets, a tradition started by King Canute that dates back more than 900 years and sees mottoes and arabesques traced in bright coloured sand across all the town’s pavements. Passed down from father to son, Ted Worrall is the last person we know of who has passed it down to the present team, and I will certainly be putting my paws to the task. The May Day celebrations make a wonderful family day out, full of entertainment and traditions, with everyone taking away a unique experience. Later in the month, on Sunday 29th and Monday 30th, I plan on heading to Tatton Park where Geronimo will be in residence; a family event aimed at children under 13 and their families. CBeebies favourite Mr Bloom will perform live on stage, while kids can also join Cook and Line from Swashbuckle in a rip-roaring pirate adventure full of fun songs and silly slapstick comedy. I wish I could perform with the Cheshire Dog Display Team – famous for their wonderful displays of canine wizardry at its very best, from exciting high speed agility races to fire jumping and police dog action – but sadly I haven’t had the training my clever canine pals have had. There’s also a circus skills tent, baby yoga, face painting and a bear trail leading to a friendly bear – lots to see and do; just thinking about it I’m already exhausted! Time for a little nap with my baby brother in preparation for all the festivities.

Mr Hendrix

xxx (facebook.com/mrhendrixandfriends; geronimofest.com)

127

ANNUAL LADIES LUNCH The Mere Resort & Spa Thursday 14 April, 2016 Doors open at 10:30am for shopping, followed by drinks reception, lunch, fashion show from RUNWAY and our very own Loose Women. Hosted by Julia Somerville. £40 a ticket Please contact Pauline Middlehurst, Pauline@normanshall.co.uk / 07515 915162

In aid of

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

DREAM SLEEPOVER

he magical world of Hamleys toy shop at The Trafford Centre can now be yours all night long. Imagine having the whole store for you and your closest friends to party! It includes exclusive hire of the store, your own paparazzi, and experienced team of Hamleys experts, not to mention late night feast, scrumptious sweets and a visit from Hamley Bear.

All you have to pack are your best pyjamas as all the sleeping equipment is provided as well as invitations and gift bags - a busy parent’s dream. Let the magic begin... The Dream Sleepover lasts for 12 hours, has a minimum booking of 10 children and costs £185 per guest. For full Dream Sleepover details please visit Hamleys at The Trafford Centre (020 7478 3671; manchesterparty@hamleys.com) 129

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

TheSecond OpinionService Understanding Investments

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

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

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

homes and

interiors showcasing the finest HOMES & PROPERTY IN CHESHIRE AND BEYOND

The art of

OULTON Interior design maestro Timothy Oulton on the lost art of hosting

image from a project by finite solutions, see case study on page 154

Homes & interiors news photo credit: Matteo Imbriani

Alessi is More Entrepreneurial Italian product brand Alessi has introduced its SS16 collection, which features some shiny new objets d’art. Standout pieces include this wall clock designed by freehand architect Mario Trimarchi. The creative timepiece called La Stanza dello Scirocco was inspired by Trimarchi’s childhood memory of taking shelter in a majestic old house in his native Sicilian countryside. The tilted shapes surrounding the face reflect the light, meaning that it is unique to each room and changes constantly throughout the day. (alessi.com)

Covetable Cushions It’s been eight decades since Nat Peal opened his first store at an enviable address in fashionable Mayfair. The brand has famously supplied its cashmere wares to the likes of Cary Grant and most recently Britain’s sharpest secret agent: Daniel Craig as James Bond. The company introduced its much-anticipated home collection designed by interior goddess Elizabeth Stanhope last year; we can’t imagine anything quite as wonderful as sinking into these Mongolian cashmere and fur cushions after a long day. Cushions, from £495, N. Peal (npeal.com)

132

Wall to Wall The countryside has an intrinsically calming effect, as the verses of Romantic poets such as Wordsworth so eloquently expressed. Ian Mankin’s new range of wall coverings – in vintage shades of sage green and ivory – remind us of the first signs of spring. As with all of the brand’s wallpapers they are made from completely natural fibres in a traditional Lancashire cotton mill – for Mankin rustic isn’t just a style, it’s a way of life. Imperial wallcoverings, £49.50 per roll, Ian Mankin (ianmankin.co.uk)

Homes and Interiors

CASE STUDY: Roché Living @ RocheLiving Everyone’s saying that #grey is going to be a massive design trend in 2016

#interiorstip H5 Design @H5Design #InteriorsTip: The most durable fabric for dining chairs is leather or vinyl.

W e b w at c h : For home cinemas we love…

ukhomecinemas.com imaginethis.uk.com couturedigital.com

“The details are not the details. They make the design.”

Botanica garden design: the contemporary clean lined garden This traditional medium size garden opposite the Royal Liverpool Golf Club was well established with a number of mature trees and roses but was lacking in structure and required elements within it that utilised the entire plot to seamlessly draw you through the garden. The customer had just started a large ground floor extension when Nick Webster first visited. The extension was eating into the existing garden by some twenty meters and was modern and light in its style, which the customer wanted to reflect in the finished garden. Nick created a large natural stone terrace using king size flags in a buff single tone colour that was joined to the extension’s bi-fold doors by three large cantilevered steps with a stainless steel water rill flowing along with the steps down into the pool. Stainless steel raised beds planted out with buxus balls and blousy colourful planting flanks the steps. Large rendered walls were built around the terrace in order to, in part, compartmentalise the area and to help the extension blend in with its surroundings. There was an informal pond within the original garden and, whilst this had to be removed from the design, a water feature was still part of the brief. This was achieved in the form of a large rectangular pool with three jets of water and floating stepping-stones leading you over to the other side. The pool water has been dyed black to create the illusion of floating stepping-stones and for its reflective qualities. A path was created to lead you through the garden, making the most of the plot. An avenue of Carpinus trees helps lead the eye to a sculpture within a rendered wall. This feature creates an intermediate horizon, thus helping you to appreciate the size of the garden. The boundary walls are flanked on both sides with vibrant planting. The path ultimately leads you to the gazebo, which catches the last of the evening sun. (botanicagardendesign.com)

Charles Eames, architect and furniture designer (eamesoffice.com)

133

Homes and Interiors

Homes & interiors news

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

t takes a lot of effort to find a buyer and agree a sale, but there is also a whole other gambit of skills, time and effort that go into massaging a sale through from the time the sale is first agreed through to the point of exchanging contracts. A good agent will spend as much time seeing through the sale as they will in trying to find a buyer. Having an agent with whom you’ll have a key point of contact is vital, and will ensure a continuity of communication and a speedy way to resolve any issues that may come up with surveys or solicitors. A single point of contact with an agent will give you peace of mind that whoever is dealing with your purchase or sale has all of the facts at their fingertips, and is aware of the individual requirements of your house move. Issues with surveys, and work required to secure a sale, can all be handled by a competent agent, who will have the skills and experience to deal with anything a survey throws up, ranging from defects identified by the survey to missing building regulations, lost deeds, restrictive covenants, contaminated land and many more issues that can easily crop up. Dealing with solicitors – yours and the other party’s – can be a minefield for vendors and purchasers alike, so having a competent pair of hands at the helm, offering sound advice and giving a helpful nudge in the right direction, can save you both time and money and potentially the sale itself. Choose your estate agent wisely, and make sure you’re working alongside experienced professionals look for RICS or NAEA qualifications and time spent in the industry - who are able to navigate the oftenbaffling array of issues that come with moving home. (jackson-stops.co.uk)

134

A Solid Foundation At The Cheshire Magazine, we like a good ethos – so naturally we find the concept behind interiors brand Neptune very appealing. Always determined to offer their customers the very best in form, function and design at prices that are affordable, the brand couples technology with traditional craftsmanship to ensure quality techniques, consistent design and efficient production. Everything is handmade, hand painted and carefully checked, and they keep costs low by going direct-tosource for all materials and by doing as much as they can themselves. Choosing the best materials gives Neptune the freedom to design the best furniture and, in turn, allows them to offer customers the best quality, responsibly sourced, beautifully designed furniture that’s built to last a lifetime. Unit 6 Millbank House, Bollin Walk, Wilmslow, SK9 1BJ 01625 535255; neptune.com)

Finishing Touch We are a nation of compulsive caffeine consumers, with many of us unable to function until we have our morning fix. Owning the new De’Longhi PrimaDonna Elite is like having your own live-in barista. The best part? You can make it before you even get out of bed via a smartphone application – a world first. De’Longhi PrimaDonna Elite, £1,499.99, available from Harrods (harrods.com)

The perfect kitchen at a price you’ll love

This complete kitchen

ONLY

£14,950 *Priced kitchen includes- Rempp Lech Structured Laminated door mixed with Perth Gloss Lacquer or Dublin Matt Lacquer, 39mm laminated worktops including island top, range of standard handles, 640mm high side opening wall units, Siemens single oven, Siemens Combi Steam oven, Siemens 60cm induction hob, Siemens integrated fridge/freezer, Siemens integrated dishwasher, Siemens ceiling cooker hood, Franke Wave tap, Franke Sinos 1 1⁄2 inset bowl, built-in recycling bin, dry fit installation, VAT included, T’s & C’s apply.

Monday - Saturday 9.30am - 5.00pm

www.trukitchen.co.uk hello@trukitchen.co.uk

56 Alderley Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 1NY.

3 Coppice Gate, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2DR.

01625 533 111

01423 522 275

jackson-stops.co.uk

CGI

Alderley Edge A wonderful opportunity to create a contemporary property in an acre of Japanese style gardens with lake sitting at the top of one of the most prestigious roads in Alderley Edge. Surely the best site within Alderley Edge.

Potential to build up to 8,578 sq ft (797 sq m). Price on Application

People Property Places

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

Offices in London and across the country

CGI

Alderley Edge An exceptional small Estate nestled in outstanding grounds with glorious south-facing views.

• 4 reception rooms • 6 bedrooms (all en suite) • games room • leisure suite with pool • detached 1 bedroom cottage • separate office building • garaging • hard tennis court • approximately 0.9 of an acre • EPC - B Guide Price: £4,950,000

People Property Places

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

Offices in London and across the country

jackson-stops.co.uk

Alderley Edge An outstanding contemporary house sitting in an elevated position within walking distance of Alderley Edge village.

• 5,401 sq ft (501 sq m) • drawing room • dining room • media room • gym • breakfast kitchen • 4 bedrooms (all en suite) • garaging • in all approximately half an acre • EPC - D Guide Price: £1,995,000

LOT 1

North Rode A truly outstanding Grade II Listed house with attached 3 cottage set in an elevated position with magnificent views of the Derbyshire hills. AVAILABLE AS A WHOLE OR IN 2 SEPARATE LOTS. Lot 1 – 6 bedroom house, barn with offices and gardens. Guide Price: £895,000 Lot 2 – 3 bedroom cottage with garage, tennis court and gardens. Guide Price: £450,000

Guide Price: £1,345,000

People Property Places

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

Offices in London and across the country

Prestbury An extremely impressive beautifully presented country house nestled in stunning grounds.

• 3 reception rooms • study • playroom • kitchen/breakfast room • media room • gym • wine cellar • 5 bedrooms (3 en suite) • bathroom • garaging with games room above • in all about 1 acre • planning permission for leisure suite • EPC – C Guide Price: £2,595,000

Alderley Edge An exceptional family house standing in beautiful gardens on one of the best roads in Alderley Edge.

• 4 reception rooms • breakfast kitchen • 6 bedrooms (1 en suite) • 2 bathrooms • garaging • in all about 1 acre • EPC – D Guide Price: £2,500,000

People Property Places

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

Offices in London and across the country

jackson-stops.co.uk

Macclesfield

An impressive Georgian Grade II Listed family house, cleverly combining traditional and contemporary, on the outskirts of Prestbury.

• 3 reception rooms • study • gym • kitchen • 5 bedrooms (2 en suite) • shower room • garaging • about 2.7 acres Guide Price: £1,195,000

CGI

Brereton

Mobberley

A delightful period cottage with a stunning interior and lovely south east facing gardens. • 3 reception rooms • kitchen • 4 bedrooms (1 en suite) • bathroom • study/bedroom 5 • garaging • gardens • EPC - D

Planning Permission to create a substantial 2,480 sq ft family house within Mobberley. Proposed: • 2 reception rooms • study • breakfast kitchen • 4 bedrooms (2 en suite) • bathroom • about 1 acre

Guide Price: £395,000

Guide Price: £650,000

People Property Places

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

Offices in London and across the country

Marton

A stunning farm house with a contemporary interior and breathtaking views towards the Peak District.

• 3 reception rooms • study • living/dining kitchen • 4 bedrooms (2 en suite) • bathroom • garaging • in all just under 1 acre • EPC - D Guide Price: £1,275,000

Worsley

Wilmslow

An idyllic Grade II Listed cottage nestled between the stunning Beesley Green and Worsley Woods. • 3 reception rooms • kitchen/morning room • 3 bedrooms (all en suite) • 1 bed annex with games room • gardens

An enchanting family house set within generous gardens. • 3 reception rooms • breakfast kitchen • 6 bedrooms (3 en suite) • bathroom • garage • gardens • EPC - D

Guide Price: £799,995

Guide Price: £895,000

People Property Places

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

Offices in London and across the country

jackson-stops.co.uk

Bowdon

A magnificent detached property of superb proportions set in large gardens.

• 3 reception rooms • breakfast kitchen • cinema room • 5 bedrooms (3 en suite) • study/bedroom 6 • bathroom • garaging • gardens • EPC – C Guide Price: £1,895,000

Hale A hidden gem set within magnificent gardens less than a mile from Hale village.

• 2 reception rooms • 2 studies • living/dining kitchen • wine cellar • 5 bedrooms (3 en suite) • bathroom • just over half an acre • EPC – D Guide Price: £1,795,000

People Property Places

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

Offices in London and across the country

Bowdon

A truly remarkable contemporary property with state of the art technology.

• 2 reception rooms • study • sitting area • living/dining kitchen • 6 bedrooms (5 en suite) • leisure area with pool & gymnasium • garaging • gardens • breeze house • EPC – C Price on Application

Bowdon A magnificent detached house set in a private secluded location in the heart of Bowdon.

• 3 reception rooms • cinema room • study • breakfast kitchen • 5 bedrooms (2 en suite) • bathroom • garaging • gardens • EPC – C Guide Price: £1,825,000

People Property Places

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

Offices in London and across the country

Bowdon

A truly remarkable contemporary property with state of the art technology.

Bowdon A magnificent detached house set in a private secluded location in the heart of Bowdon.

• 3 reception rooms • cinema room • study • breakfast kitchen • 5 bedrooms (2 en suite) • bathroom • garaging • gardens • EPC – C Guide Price: £1,825,000

People Property Places

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

Offices in London and across the country

Georgian Gem only three miles from Lincoln. Somewhere Different. Somewhere Special. Overlooking manicured lawns, with just 8 bedrooms and 3 feature suites, this Georgian country house is your retreat from the city. Enjoy lovingly prepared dishes in our elegant 2AA restaurant. Delicious traditional afternoon teas. ‘At Home’ ambience and tranquil surroundings. A warm welcome awaits from The Herrings and their team.

01522 790 340 www.washingboroughhall.com 1004_WHH_generic_advert_fp_june_2015_aw2.indd 1

02/09/2015 09:20

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

DARJEELING

YERBA MATÉ

BLENDED FOR POSITIVITY

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

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

DISCOVER MORE AT T-LONDON.COM

TL DJ YM advert-AW 14.1.16.indd 2

15/01/2016 06:58

Homes and Interiors

INSPIRATION A show-stopping interior by Timothy Oulton

The Art of

Oulton Interiors design maestro Timothy Oulton talks to Gabriella Dyson about reviving the lost art of hosting as he launches his own dinner party project, in partnership with VeryFirstTo

145

INSPIRATION

hether it’s crafting furniture from military paraphernalia, creating artwork from vintage lawn rackets, or simply throwing a modern twist on the iconic Chesterfield sofa, for years Timothy Oulton has been taking the antiquated out of antique and injecting a much-needed dose of finesse into our interiors. Oulton’s love affair with British heritage began in 1976 in a small antiques shop owned by his father. This early foray into the world of heirlooms enabled him to develop a passion for traditional fabrications and, by 1990, he took to the helm of the business and set out on a mission to reinvent antiques for the wholesale market. His stylish re-interpretation of great British designs was quick to take the world by storm and it seems that the rest is history. Flagship stores cropped up in Dallas, Hong Kong and Amsterdam, and today the brand has worked its way across the globe, spreading Oulton’s bold and imaginative creations to discerning clients who share his devotion for the extraordinary Antler Mirror and unique. The designer’s latest endeavour sees him set his sights on reviving the ‘lost

art of hosting’ with his search for a Global Dinner Party Critic – a quest which promises to bring a whole new dimension to your standard Come Dine with Me affair – as well as releasing a new range of show-stopping dining room pieces. Our curiosity sufficiently sparked, we caught up with him to find out more.

If you had to sum up the Timothy Oulton aesthetic in just three words, what would they be? Daring, authentic, unique.

How would you describe the overall style of your collections? Are there any standout pieces you particularly like? It’s warm and sensuous – pieces you want to reach out and touch. I like to think there’s a bit of adventure mixed in with glamour. In the AW15 range, we had the most spectacular dining table called the Rex Light; a round table made from crystals that light up from within – very Art Deco, very opulent. Another stand-out was the Ivy sofa, clad in Vagabond leather. We worked on the Vagabond finish for about a year; it’s one of the most exciting leathers I think we’ve ever created. The hide is painstakingly treated by hand over and over again to create the perfect, most authentic distressed look, coupled with a well-worn feel. Then we work on it again once it’s been upholstered. The process is very labour intensive, but it’s the only way to create that level of authenticity.

You’re known for reinterpreting classic designs; which historical periods have particularly influenced you? I’ve been very influenced by the English handcraftsmanship that pervaded the late 19th century and early 20th century; things that were built for purpose, built for empire. The Art Deco period is another one that gets under my skin. The 1920s were a time of massive

Aviator Tomcat Dogfight chair

146

Homes and Interiors

Tim Oulton, Founder & Creative Director (Timothy Oulton VeryFirstTo)

147

INSPIRATION Metro Living Tufted Tribeca interior

social change; there was this new sense of optimism and excitement that came through in design – the bold symmetry, rich colours and luxurious materials.

Can you take us through the process of designing a piece of furniture? Every designer has their own way of doing things. For me, I don’t sit there with a blank piece of paper sketching, but it’s very much a creative process. It starts with the inspiration; it could be an antique I’ve collected, a reclaimed material, a piece of architecture – inspiration can come from anywhere. Then I start to translate that idea into something that’s useful, that’s important. Our pieces have a vintage feel, but they need to work for today’s homes and they need to be relevant. The design evolves; we change bits, we make a sample,

148

“Handcrafted furniture is unique. It’s been made with pride, it’s authentic and it gets more beautiful with age” Metro Living Tufted Tribeca interior

Homes and Interiors

A dinner at Timothy Oulton showroom, China (Timothy Oulton and VeryFirstTo)

then we change it again until it has exactly the right look and feel.

When you first left school, you were intent on becoming a banker; what changed your mind? It was never really me. I was lucky because my dad sent me to one of the best schools in England and I loved it there, but by the end of it I knew I didn’t want to go to university. My dad told me to try the antiques industry, so I started working with him in his shop and after about three months, I was hooked. I just loved the way the pieces were made, the craftsmanship, the stories and secrets in the wood and the leather.

What do you enjoy the most about your line of work? I always wanted to build a business, to create something from scratch and make it the best it could possibly be. I’m still very driven by that. I just want to get better and better and better at what I’m doing. If you’re not doing something to the best of your ability, then really there’s no point.

Which other designers do you admire? Axel Vervoordt has always been a huge inspiration for me. He was originally an antiques dealer who has guided his company to become a global entity in antiques, design and art. He has this ability to mix styles and periods in an unexpected way.

Which one of your past interior design projects are you most proud of? The Dome Home. We took the ancient idea of a dome and created something totally modern; the first certified Passive House in China. All the furniture inside echoes the dome shape – from the curved stainless steel kitchen to the curved Shabby sofa and round marble table. It’s somewhere to think, to get

inspired, to connect with people, and it’s in the middle of this beautiful, tranquil lychee garden. For me, it’s one of my favourite places in the world.

149

Homes and Interiors

INSPIRATION

What can you tell us about your dinner party project? Do you think that the art of hosting needs to be revived?

Metro Living Tufted Tribeca interior

The art of hosting is a very ancient idea that’s still very relevant today. People want their homes to be somewhere to connect, to get your friends and family over to your place to talk, laugh, and be together. Really good hosting is about breaking down barriers and making people comfortable. It’s about nights that are memorable. We wanted to do something special to inspire people, so that’s what this project was about. We hosted four very different dinner parties across the world – in New York, LA, Amsterdam and China – with each venue furnished with our collections. A great dinner party isn’t just about food – it’s about the interiors, the atmosphere, the music and the conversation.

What would your dream dinner party consist of (taking into account soundtrack, guest list, setting and food)? It would be at the Dome Home with everyone sitting round the big circular marble table we have. There’s no ‘head of the table’, everyone’s equal and everybody is just helping themselves to delicious platters of cheese, meat, pasta and bread. I’m a very casual person, so it would be a relaxed evening where everyone just kicks back. I’d have Bob Marley on in the background, with a bit of the Stones and Beatles mixed in, and maybe a little Sinatra later over cigars.

more time travelling and they want to come home to a space that inspires them. They want furniture that’s useful, but Aviator Blackhawk Spitfire chest also pieces that they can Do you think that in this connect with, that make them smile. world of mass production, handcrafted Handcrafted furniture is unique. It’s been furniture is still valued for its quality made with pride, it’s authentic and it gets and beauty? more beautiful with age. People really care about their homes today. It’s a much more transient world; they spend a lot (timothyoulton.com; veryfirstto.com)

All images courtesy of: Timothy Oulton

150

Metro Living Ivy Interior

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

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

01625 861935

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

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

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

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

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

Homes and Interiors

RECREATE THE LOOK

FUN AND GAMES

the Architect SL InCeiling by Artcoustic

ome cinemas, elaborate games rooms and automated home smart-tech – today’s humble abodes are a veritable playground for anyone just a little bit addicted to buttons, wires and gadgetry. But where to start when there’s such a banquet of toys on

offer? To help you navigate the oft-bewildering world of smart homes and gadget-filled playrooms, we bring you advice from the experts on creating a stylish tech-dwelling, not to mention our own piece-by-piece guide to replicating the chicest games room design features.

153

RECREATE THE LOOK

CASE STUDY: STYLISH SMART Sophisticated home technology is becoming a must-have for any luxury pad, but making it simultaneously stylish, discreet and easy to use is no mean feat. Custom installation company Finite Solutions explains how it recently transformed a Manchester home, revealing how unobtrusive, user-friendly and effective smart home technology can really be

ome automation company Finite Solutions was started by friends Simon Mathieson, Oliver Lisles and Morgan Barke in Leeds in 2003, opening its first Cheshire office in 2012 and quickly gaining a reputation for its pursuit of simplicity and passion for the latest equipment. The company recently undertook a project for a luxury home in Manchester, working with the homeowner and an interior designer to create a scheme that delivered a top-of-the-range lighting, home entertainment, Wi-Fi and security system wrapped inside a glamorous and serene interiors scheme. “Technology is often considered as the antithesis of a calm, minimal interior,” Simon Mathieson explains. “It conjures up images of ugly metallic boxes, a tangled mess of cables and complicated control panels. The reality is that we are moving towards an era where thoughtful design is at the epicentre of tech innovations. The aim is to bring technology to

154

an invisible level and that has always been at the heart of what we do.” The brief from the client and the interior designer was that any system installed had to be unobtrusive and every single electronic component had to be in keeping with the décor, a concept which they were convinced Finite Solutions could deliver after visiting its high-tech show home. One of the main elements of the Manchester project was home automation, provided by Universal Remote Control (URC), which integrates all the technologies and places them on one easy-to-operate control system, meaning that everything could be controlled via iPad or iPhone. Excellent surround sound was an absolute must-have, so an Artcoustic soundbar with ceiling speakers was used in the main TV room, chosen for its ability to seamlessly blend in with the existing interior design, along with a Wyrestorm HDMI system to make sure the audio-visual distribution throughout the house

Homes and Interiors

was quick and reliable. Another key requirement was a state-of-the-art security system with CCTV, gate control and an intruder alarm, which meant that those living in the house would be able to monitor their property at all times, whether inside it or half way across the world. They also wanted good Wi-Fi coverage right across the house – a particularly crucial requirement since one of the clients worked from home – so Finite installed a reliable wireless network that connected every room without any dead spots. Lighting was also an essential component, playing a key role in highlighting the design features and creating ambience throughout the luxury property. Finite used a Lutron lighting system, which is part of the home automation system and controlled with either discreet wall keypads or remotely via an iPad or iPhone. Meanwhile, the nerve centre of the whole system is hidden away in the garage in a fully enclosed Middle Atlantic rack that keeps the components dry and safe.

“The biggest challenge of this project was designing the system alongside the interior designer. We had to ensure that the design, feel and finishes of the house were not compromised. The outcome was a great example of how home technology is not just about function, it’s also about style and discretion,” Simon said. “A tremendous amount of electronic components involved in the project are hidden; speakers and keypads are ultra-discreet; and we also made sure that the controls were easy to operate.” (finitesolutions.co.uk)

155

Homes and Interiors

RECREATE THE LOOK

#3 #4

THE CHIC HOME CINEMA #1 Palermo marble accent table, AU$420 (£221), Eco Chic (ecochic.com.au) #2 Velvet cushions in mushroom and truffle, £26.50, WITHIN (withinhome.com) #3 Spitfire 16-8 Cinema System, £1,705, Artcoustic Loudspeakers (artcoustic.com) #4 Composition jardin d’orchidees haut pm, €390 (£304), KSL Living (ksl-living.fr) #5 Wildash shearling throw, £790, LuxDeco (luxdeco.com) #6 Kyoto coffee table, £590, Living It Up (livingitup.co.uk) #7 Mapa gold bowl, £720, Natuzzi (Natuzzi.co.uk) #8 Bergen ottoman in quartz, £249, Swoon Editions (swooneditions.com)

156

RESIN BOUND DRIVEWAYS

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

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

Approved Installer of the year 2015

Winner Botanica Resin Bound Driveways

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

gardens

Bringing history to life Barry Grain, head gardener at the Cholmondeley Castle Gardens, tells Natalie Anglesey how he plans to bring this hidden gem into the limelight

barry grain and lord cholmondeley on the estate

158

Homes and Interiors

cholmondeley temple garden

his has been quite a year for Barry Grain, head gardener at Cheshire’s famous Cholmondeley Castle Gardens. “I love my job,” he beams as we look out of the castle windows at the panoramic view. The gardens, originally designed by William Emes, cover around 50 acres while the castle, built in 1804, overlooks the wider estate and surrounding Cheshire plains. The award-winning gardener took up his post in 2013, bringing him home to his native Chester and to Cholmondeley. He not only oversees the gardens, with the help of an enthusiastic team of six, but has pulled off a coup that faces him with the biggest challenge of his career. “Working on these gardens has long been an ambition of mine. But I also want the rest of the country to realise how beautiful our gardens are and the biggest platform I could think of, after Tatton, is the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. “I asked two of Cheshire’s oldest and most notable families to come together to support a joint floral exhibit in the Great Pavilion at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. His lordship is really supportive as the Cholmondeley family has resided in Cheshire since Norman times and his mother was a keen gardener. Our neighbour is the 15th generation family oat miller, Mornflake, who also came on board. My aim, with their joint support, is to recreate Cholmondeley’s iconic Temple Garden, celebrating their joint roots in the land that shaped their history.” Mornflake has been a fierce supporter and pioneer of British land and food for over 340 years. Independently owned and run by the Lea family since 1675, they grow oats with British farmers to safeguard the future of our oat crops. They created the stabilisation of oats during the Second

a Final axonometric sketch of the garden

World War – enabling them to be stored as the household staple we enjoy today. Managing Director, John Lea, is delighted to be working with the Cholmondeley Estate on this unique floral project. “After 15 family generations of milling oats grown from British soil, we are proud to celebrate our mutual passion for the land that surrounds and unites our two families with what is sure to be one of the finest gardens that Chelsea will ever see.” Cholmondeley’s Temple Garden is a noted

159

Homes and Interiors

gardens cholmondeley temple garden

‘Garden of Distinction’ and one of England’s hidden treasures. Steeped in history, the gardens, like the rest of the estate, are underpinned by agriculture, as Cholmondeley works with tenant farms to make the most of the breath-taking castle and its grounds. “Chelsea is without doubt on the bucket list of every professional gardener in the country and possibly the world,” Barry enthuses. “The late Dowager Marchioness of Cholmondeley was well known for her ability to source fascinating and unique plants and worked tirelessly to create the romance of the Temple Garden.” Barry himself is an avid plantsman who designed the Silver Gilt Medal-winning garden ‘A Mid-summer Night’s Theme’ at RHS Tatton Park Flower Show last year. “We’ll be bringing to Chelsea an array of plants which thrive in our more northerm climate and perhaps are rarely seen there,” Barry explains. “We have an amazing collection of trees, magnolias, and around 70 cultivars of rhododendron and azalea, some of which I hope to take to Chelsea.” Working closely with Lord Cholmondeley, Barry is helping to bring new and exciting projects to the castle garden. Cholmondeley is also involved with several projects through the

160

European Garden Heritage Network, helping to establish its growing reputation on a much larger scale. “My love of gardening and plants stemmed from my grandad who used to let me help with the strawberry picking and planting,” Barry reminisces. “My father was a professional gardener so I suppose it was a natural progression. I trained in the grounds of Chester Zoo and eventually worked at Eaton Hall, birthplace of the Duke of Westminster. “My three children enjoy helping out in our garden at home but I don’t know if any of them will be keen to follow in my footsteps. I simply hope gardening will remain a lifelong hobby which will bring them enjoyment they can pass on to their children.” As we say goodbye, Barry’s passion is evident. “Now you can see why I love this garden so much and want a part of it to be seen at Chelsea in May. We’ve been working on this project for some time and, while I’ve successfully exhibited at Tatton so know the ropes, Chelsea is hugely competitive. If we win anything, that would be the icing on the cake – but I’m just hoping that more people will see why our gardens at Cholmondeley have, for too long, been known as the hidden gem of Cheshire.” (cholmondeleycastle.com)

Welcome To

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

Antrobus Hall MOBBERLEY

Antrobus Hall is a truly stunning Grade II listed Queen Anne six bedroom manor house of extraordinary quality, lavishly displaying the finest qualities of the Queen Anne period. The house dates back to 1709, constructed of mellow Cheshire red brick elevations, and sitting in just over an acre of land. This highly impressive exterior is only amplified by the elegance of the interior, with the latest 21st century fittings blending seamlessly with the wonderful period features that adorn each room, such as flagged floors, polished oak doors, oak staircase, carved fireplaces and panelling. Antrobus Hall is a house that displays a luxurious mix of history, period features and undeniable charm. The rooms have high ceilings and are all generous in proportion, with an enormous modern entertaining space in the form of an interconnecting drawing room and spacious breakfast kitchen, all overlooking the south east facing rear gardens. This listed gem really does have it all. An impressive set of electric gates opens onto a tarmacadam parking

162

and turning area to the front of the open-fronted triple garage. The majority of the stunning gardens lie to the rear, south-east facing elevation, with a large stone terrace abutting the rear elevation. An attached garden room allows for full enjoyment of the gardens, which consist of gently sweeping lawns, with a small lake sitting centrally. A small spinney of mature specimen

trees and Mobberley Brook form the rear boundary. Closer to the house is a walled garden with stone-topped well and more formal parterres. To the other side of the house lies a further parking area with garaging for three cars. On the market at a guide price of £2.295 million through Jackson-Stops and Staff 8 Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AA (01625 540340; jackson-stops.co.uk)

Homes and Interiors

Maple Bank ALDERLEY EDGE

A magnificent original Alderley villa with a stunning bespoke interior nestled in just over half an acre of grounds, Maple Bank was constructed in 1846 of cream rendered elevations, adorned with wisteria and Virginia creeper, with five bedrooms, large original style sash windows and bays, surmounted by a slate roof. This grand and elegant façade is only amplified by the grandiose opulence of the

interior, with large light rooms, high ceilings and all the original features that befit a house of this era. The main reception rooms are ambassadorial in size and have features such as open fireplaces with attractive surrounds and living flame gas fires, molded ceilings, dado rails, picture rails and stained glass leaded window detail. There is an exceptionally fine entrance hall with tiled floor and an elegantly turned staircase rising to the first floor. The extensive accommodation is laid out over two floors and is ideal for both modern family living and for

entertaining on a grand scale. Blending seamlessly with the period features is state of the art technology, controlled by iPad/iPhone, allowing for individually controlled temperatures to each room and also for music and radio to be streamed (or previously downloaded). With the addition of the cinema room (with kitchen off) above the garaging, there is room for staff or dependent relative. On the market at a guide price of £2.5 million through Jackson-Stops and Staff 8 Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AA (01625 540340; jackson-stops.co.uk)

163

Cheshire and Manchester’s Leading Independent Estate Agents Visit our new web site www.jordanfishwick.co.uk

LOVAT DRIVE, KNUTSFORD Guide Price £3,695,000 Wilmslow and Alderley Edge Office 36/38 Alderley Road, SK91JX Sales: 01625 532000 Lettings: 01625 536300 E: wilmslow@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Perfectly framed in its own mature gardens, this magnificent new home is in a secluded corner of the prestigious Legh Road conservation area. A house full of surprises, it blends the traditional craftsmanship of the Arts and Crafts movement with the latest in 21st Century living. From the bold green roof and natural stone finish, to the carefully laid wooden floors inside, this is a house full of character. The emphasis is on lifestyle with its beautifully designed indoor swimming pool and basement packed full of entertainment, Corner Croft brings the pleasures of modern living to its highest level.

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

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

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

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

MILL LANE, MOTTRAM ST ANDREW Guide Price £1,250,000 Glossop Office 44 High Street West, SK13 8BH Sales: 01457 858888 Lettings: 01457 858888 E: glossop@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Mill Lodge enjoys an idyllic rural location, occupying a mature plot of approx 4 acres with surrounding views across open countryside.The excellent range of accommodation comprises: reception hall, lounge, breakfast kitchen, dining room, conservatory, utility, study & downstairs wc.To the first floor there is a master suite with dressing room/ensuite, three further bedrooms and family bathroom.The property lies at the head of a large gated driveway & is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens & grazing land. For those wishing to add to the property, there have been plans put together to showcase what could be created under permitted development, details of which we have available.

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

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

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

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

Cheshire and Manchester’s Leading Independent Estate Agents Visit our new web site www.jordanfishwick.co.uk

STAMFORD ROAD, BOWDON Guide Price £1,495,000 Wilmslow and Alderley Edge Office 36/38 Alderley Road, SK91JX Sales: 01625 532000 Lettings: 01625 536300 E: wilmslow@jordanfishwick.co.uk

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

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

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

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

HILL TOP, HALE Guide Price £2,650,000 Glossop Office 44 High Street West, SK13 8BH Sales: 01457 858888 Lettings: 01457 858888 E: glossop@jordanfishwick.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

PROPERTY PICK

ITALIAN IDYLL Ever dreamed of living the glamorous life of a ‘50s film star, oversized sunglasses at the ready, soaking up the sun by the shores of Lake Como? Well yearn no longer, for this beautiful villa can be yours

168

Homes and Interiors

169

Homes and Interiors

PROPERTY PICK

ia Vittorio Veneto is a beautiful, unique and historic Italian villa set in a prime location on the slope of Cernobbio, with stunning uninterrupted views across Lake Como. Resting in the shadow of the snow-covered Rhaetian Alps, Lake Como is one of Italy’s most spectacular lakes, widely recognised for its celebrity residents, from George Clooney to Donatella Versace and many more. Shaped like an upside down letter Y, the lake measures 120km with a winding shoreline scattered with historic villages and idyllic vistas. This stunning villa was completely renovated in 2004 with sympathetic attention to its classic

170

features. The property itself comprises 260sqm of living accommodation spread across three levels. The master bedroom benefits from a large walk-in closet and private terrace spanning 31sqm, while an additional two bedrooms are located on the second floor alongside a large study and living room. Several terraces rest on the façade of the home and enjoy uninterrupted views across the lush gardens and lake – perfect for al fresco breakfasts or drinking in the view over a cool, crisp glass of wine. Perhaps one of the most spectacular parts of the property is its outdoor living space. A large pool rests adjacent to the property and has its own separate building, complete with a bar, sitting room and outdoor kitchen – including a barbeque pit. A beautiful garden surrounds the property, spanning 2,000sqm and including a lovely rose pergola, sculpted hedges and a wide variety of shrubs and tropical species. On the market at a guide price of €4,500,000 (£3,482,246) with Italy Sotheby’s International Realty (+39 031 538 8888; milan-sothebysrealty.com)

Picture your perfect HOME...

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

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

01704 841 831 www.tricklebank.com

Pooks Hill, Wincle price £699,950 New Farm, Macclesfield The property enjoys beautiful south facingHey gardens extending to approximately half an acre laidRoad mainly down to lawn with well stocked Rainow, Cheshire borders, shrubs, mature and specimen trees, stone flagged terraces and two SK10 delightful 5UU streams. A gravel driveway allows ample hardstanding for motor vehicles, bridge over stream to house. Five bridges in total over streams. • •

5 Bedrooms Bathroom (1 en-suite)

• •

Lounge Dining room

• •

Kitchen Study

• •

Conservatory WC

Lockmead, Butley Hall price £895,000 The accommodation briefly comprises of a large communal entrance hall. The private accommodation comprises a hallway, WC, drawing room with French doors to a private garden. Delightful fully fitted kitchen, a master bedroom with en-suite and dressing room, two further bedrooms and an en-suite shower room.

• •

3 Bedrooms Dressing Room

• •

Kitchen Living Room

• •

Bathroom (2 en-suite) WC

•

Garden/Garage

The Mount, Castle Hill price £995,000 Heywelcomed Farm, Macclesfield Road On entering the property you New are immediately by a 17’ reception hall with staircase leading to the first floor and galleried

Rainow, Cheshire SK10 5UU landing. The hallway leads to a spacious lounge with double French doors to garden, cloakroom/WC, family room, superb family kitchen with high gloss units, granite worktops and built-in appliances, dining room, study and separate utility. • •

5 Bedrooms Dressing Room

• •

Bathroom (2 En-suite) Family Room

• •

Kitchen Utility Room

• •

Study Double Garages

New Hey Farm, Macclesfield Road price £1,195,000 This impressive farmhouse, of stone construction under a stone flagged roof, offers incredibly flexible accommodation within the main house, along with a separate stable building which has planning permission to create an ancillary residential dwelling. The farmhouse was extended into the adjoining barn creating very generous rooms with far reaching views.

• •

Living Room Conservatory

• •

5 Bedrooms 2 En-suites

• •

Gym Workshop

• •

Stable Block Garden and Land

New showroom opening soon in Bollington Cheshire

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

Award-Winning

Arthouse

Local business, ArtHouse Creative Interiors celebrates at the biggest awards event in the kitchen and bathroom industry

ith a beautiful and extensive showroom in Alderley Edge, ArtHouse Creative Interiors is an interior design company which specialises in luxury kitchens. It is the brainchild of managing director Julie Otulakowski, who has over 30 years’ experience in the industry. Last month, Julie and her team were honoured at the prestigious kbbreview Retail & Design Awards, winning the title Kitchen Showroom of the Year to much competition from across the country. The much anticipated event marked 22 years of the national

176

awards which are organised by the UK’s leading publication for the kitchen and bathroom industry, kbbreview magazine. In attendance at the black tie gala dinner, were many of the most esteemed names in the sector, alongside the evening’s celebrity host, Dara Ó Briain. “Myself and the rest of the team at ArtHouse are extremely proud and honoured to have been granted this prestigious award, and feel humbled for the recognition of our hard work,” says Julie of the award. The showroom has recently undergone extensive

Homes and Interiors Promotion

renovations, expanding across three floors and showcasing the best SieMatic designs complemented by leading appliances, worktops and fixtures and fittings. “Our showroom expansion has proved hugely successful among our clients, suppliers, architects and interior designer; who have seemingly been very impressed by passing comments such as ‘this is the best showroom we have visited!’ “ArtHouse Creative Interiors’ plans for the next 12 months are very exciting, and we are currently looking to expand further, seeking additional designers to join our team.” Tim Wallace, editor of kbbreview, says: “We would like to extend our many congratulations to Arthouse Creative Interiors on winning the Kitchen Showroom of the Year award and wish them every success in the future. We received a record-breaking number of entrants this year and, as ever, the standard was extremely high, so to be

“The standard was extremely

high, so to be named a winner is a major accomplishment.”

Award winners Julie Otulakowski and Chris Lord of Arthouse Creative Interiors at the kbb review Retail & Design Awards 2016 with host, Dara Ó Briain and Kevin Carr,sales manager for award sponsor InSinkErator

named a winner is a major accomplishment.” Partnering with world-leading kitchen designers and manufacturers SieMatic, the team at ArtHouse Creative Interiors is committed to the very best quality kitchen design and working with clients every step of the way to ensure the perfect kitchen design for you and your family. Arthouse Creative Interiors 57 London Road, Alderley Edge, SK9 7DY (01625 581313; arthousecreativeinteriors.co.uk)

177

Homes and Interiors

BEAUTIFUL THINGS

The right stripes Missoni is known for its psychedelic prints in rainbow hues, so it’s little surprise that the brand’s colourful archive was the first port of call when designing its latest line of homeware. The fashion house has pulled six new fabric collections out of the bag for 2016, each as vibrant and audacious as the next. Take your pick from designs like Oriental Garden, a chromatic explosion of blossoming florals inspired by a 1970s silk Missoni dress; Firework, the label’s signature stripes revisited in neon shades; and Floral Galaxy, which is a fresh take on an English garden. (amara.com)

178

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

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

01625 861935

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