The Cheshire Magazine Issue 6 by Runwild Media Group

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For information on Steinway & Sons pianos or to arrange a private appointment to visit our London showrooms, please call 0207 487 3391 or email info@steinway.co.uk

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Here’s to your next adventure. The new Continental GT V8 S.

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*EU Drive Cycle. Fuel consumption figures are subject to Type Approval. The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © 2014 Bentley Motors Limited. Model shown: Continental GT V8 S

BEnTLEy MAnCHESTEr

Regulars | The cheshire Magazine

From the

Editor T

here were two points of inspiration for this issue; Baselworld and The Buxton Festival. Richard Brown and Olivia Sharpe take us through the must-have watch and jewellery accessories of the season from their visit to Baselworld, the industry show for anybody who is anybody in the jewellery world. So, turn to page 52 for some expert advice on what you should be wearing on your wrist or what will sparkle the most on your décolletage. Then we have the Buxton Festival which runs from 11-27 July and bills itself as ‘the perfect marriage of opera, music and books’. Gemma Knight highlights what shouldn’t be missed at this year’s event on page 42. Furthermore, this has inspired other features including our fashion pages which take prints onto the catwalk with inimitable style (page 70) and, in turn, leads us to an interview with Cheshire’s favourite fashion designer, Amanda Wakeley (page 66). Obviously as the summer dawns, we are inspired to get out more and we’ve got two fabulous local events not to be missed; Lee Brooks takes us through the challengers for this year’s Open at Royal Liverpool and we also get some tips on the perfect putt from the Lee Westwood Golf School (see page 89), plus we take a stroll around the Estate with the lady behind The Bolesworth International show-jumping extravaganza and all-round great family day out (page 38). Bursting with style, beauty, travel, motors, gadgets and people, welcome to the latest edition of The Cheshire Magazine. And don’t forget to check out our new homes and interiors section – it’s a real treasure trove of inspiration.

Louisa Louisa Castle Editor Follow us on Twitter @TheCheshireMag

LET CHISHOLMHUNTER.CO.UK

BLOSSOM TEL: +44 (0)844 417 6058

VISIT YOUR NEAREST CHISHOLM HUNTER STORE: ST MICHAELS SQUARE GROSVENOR SHOPPING CENTRE CHESTER CH1 1EE

MULTIPLE JEWELLER OF THE YEAR 2012 & 2013

The mayfair Magazine | Regulars

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Contents

June 2014

Features

064 051

070

025 | Who’s who in the art world Our complete guide to all the names you need to know 030 | Raiders of the lost art Are art heists really as glamorous as we imagine? 034 | Down to earth The luxury brands making their mark on world culture 038 | The main event Nina Barbour shows us the stunning Bolesworth Estate 042 | Celebrating the arts A taste of what’s on offer at this year’s Buxton Festival 066 | Modern dressage Amanda Wakeley on giving back and going forward 084 | Pores for thought Beauty mogul Jeff Murad talks products and routines 089 | Open season The Open Championship comes home to Liverpool 126 | A colourful life Tricia Guild talks creative passion and business savvy 148 | Sweet charity Jo Malone London’s latest charity garden projects 158 | Grand designs Sir David Chipperfield and his modernist architecture

regulars 008 | Editor’s letter 012 | Contributors 015 | My life in Cheshire Headmaster Mark Mitchell on getting his hands dirty 016 | Couture culture Our roundup of all the best Cheshire has to offer

020 | Local scene Who attended what this month - we bring you the glamour and the gossip

094 | The next big thing Classic car expert Paul Michaels on the ideal investment

art

travel

046 | Art news 048 | Haunting Hammick Arresting, vibrant works from artist Tom Hammick 051 | Prize lots

102 | Travel news 104 | Miami heat From fine art to fine living, Florida’s playground has it all 106 | Hole in one We go off the beaten track to discover some of Europe’s most unconventional golf breaks 114 | Weekend away Drink in the Bordeaux countryside at Le Saint-James

collection 052 | Best of Baselworld 2014 The ultimate roundup of watches and jewellery from this world-renowned show 062 | The Millionaire Keep your most treasured items secure in style

fashion & beauty 064 | Fashion news From essential accessories to new trends, it’s all here 069 | Flight of fancy Get cool and creative with our new favourite footwear 070 | Where the wild things are Discover your inner artiste with bold, summery prints 078 | Beauty news The best new products and all the latest beauty brands 080 | Telling stories Businesswoman Danielle Ryan gives us a rare glimpse into her world

motoring 092 | Motoring news Why you’ll love the newest creations from Porsche, McLaren and Ferrari

family 116 | Kids’ news 118 | French finesse Continental couture for your very own mini models 121 | The classroom Cheshire’s students shine bright on the national academic stage

homes & interiors 124 | Interiors news 130 | Recreate the look Summer is the ideal time to give your home a splash of colour 140 | My kitchen rules As homely as they are functional 152 | Local property Beautiful homes in Cheshire 162 | Europe’s finest Find your perfect pad from our pick of the continent’s best 170 | Rose-tinted glass Light up your living space with a touch of warm, Venetian style 11

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

The contributors JUNE 2014 s i s s ue 0 0 6 s

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

Proudly published by

www.rwmg.co.uk Runwild Media Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Runwild Media Ltd. takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. DISTRIBUTION: The Cheshire Magazine is the largest circulated luxury publication in Cheshire, delivered to selected homes in over 20 postcodes, over 300 businesses, as well as newsagents and retail outlets.

Members of the Professional Publishers Association

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

RICHARD BROWN Richard is deputy editor of Collection, our dedicated watch and fine jewellery section. He specialises in men’s style, culture and finance. This month he brings us the best from Baselworld, Switzerland’s famed annual watch fair.

kate racovolis Kate is an alumna of Columbia University’s Journalism School and has written widely on luxury interiors, fashion and lifestyle. This month she takes us on a guided tour of Miami’s most exclusive enclaves.

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

TIM BRADLEY Tim is an award-winning photographer based in the North West. Discovering a passion for photography from his grandfather he is a regular on the media scene and often works with TV chef Andrew Nutter.

GABRIELLe LANE Gabrielle contributes to both The Huffington Post and Positive Luxury. With experience writing across style, beauty and culture, this month she interviews Jeff Murad, VP of new development for the international beauty brand.

EDITOR’S PICKs

#1 Giles scarf, £285, available from Joseph (joseph-fashion.com)

#3 Jumper, £590, Dries Van Noten (brownsfashion.com)

#2 Yellow and white gold, diamond and pink spinel Poppy Tryst ring, £10,000, Theo Fennel (theofennell.com)

cover On the

Equestrian packages at Coworth Park. Image courtesey of Coworth Park. Dear Resident

This month, it’s the turn of the ladies. Our April edition featured several dashing and driven male entrepreneurs based in Belgravia and, as is only fair, we have spoken to their female equals for this edition. We hope you enjoy their tales of ambition and dedication on page 10. Meanwhile, Henry Hopwood-Phillips and Kate Gordon have been battling it out at the dinner table and testing the mettle of two of our favourite cuisines: French and Italian. Find out how they weigh up on page 16.

BELGRAVIA

Henry also challenges one of the world’s greatest financiers, Daniel Pinto, to explain his philosophy. Read his expert account of Western capitalism on page 18. My final announcement is that the May edition will be my last. It has been a real pleasure to work on the magazine, as well as to meet so many wonderful local business owners and residents. Thank you to you all. I leave the magazine in the capable hands of Lauren Romano and Henry Hopwood-Phillips.

Resident’s Journal

Please do not hesitate to get in contact with your news and updates, email belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk. We love to hear from you.

Also published by

Managing Editor Katie Randall Assistant Editor Lauren Romano Main Editorial Contributor Henry Hopwood-Phillips

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Publishing Director Giles Ellwood

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

Associate Publisher Sophie Roberts

Senior Designer Sophie Blain

Client Relationship Director Felicity Morgan-Harvey

General Manager Fiona Fenwick

Communications Director Loren Penney

may 2014 • Issue 24

Editorial Assistant Jennifer Mason Editorial Intern Ozel Rowland

Production Hugo Wheatley, Alex Powell Oscar Viney

Head of Finance Elton Hopkins

Above / Etienne Millner at work on a sculpture of Vice Admiral Sir Donald Gosling KCVO. Read more on page 27. Photo by Angelo Plantamura

Proudly published & printed in the UK by

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The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

My life in CHESHIRE Mark Mitchell Headmaster of Terra Nova School opposite Jodrell Bank

ark and his family moved to Cheshire from Surrey in 2008 and it is fair to say that they haven’t looked back; ‘When we moved people joked with us that we’d suffer as we got used to the climate but it is now unquestionably home.’ ‘We love it here. Everything is close by, whether it is escaping to the hills or the M6 for the annual trip to IKEA. We love going on adventures in Macclesfield Forest, the Rangers there are really switched on. You can also pick wild raspberries and blackberries in abundance and the cake at the Visitor Centre is pretty good too. ‘Local produce is important to us. We are real foodies and I remember quite soon after we moved here eating out locally and being told the provenance of the food on our plates, all of it was local.’ Whilst passionate about the countryside and all that it offers, Mark is also passionate about the school he now heads. ‘I don’t want to be stuck behind a desk. That’s the beauty with a prep school, you can roll your sleeves up and get involved, plus we’re small enough to know all the pupils and be involved in all the elements.’ ‘Our aim is to truly prepare our pupils for life, so we have a strong academic record (Terra Nova provides a stepping stone to many of the independent secondary schools in the area) but just as important is allowing pupils to develop their personalities and flourish. We try to provide such a wide range of activities that pupils can have a go and decide for themselves. ‘We’re developing an IT strategy with Google Apps for education to enhance the learning experience, as well as make sure technology is integrated into school days as much as it is in everyday life.’ As I am given a whirlwind tour of the school, the trophy cabinet is brimming with awards for art, music and sport. Furthermore, projects for the Year 7 & 8s include leadership, enterprise and outward bounds. One of Mark’s visions for the school combines his love of the countryside with his love for education: ‘I was lucky, I knew from a very early age I wanted to teach but every individual learns in a different way. We often take our lessons out into the grounds but I’d like to develop our Forest School status further and create some outdoor classrooms; that way pupils can learn about nature conservation but also essential skills like maths in the great Cheshire countryside.’ Terra Nova School, Jodrell Bank, Cheshire CW4 8BT (tnschool.co.uk)

‘I don’t want to be stuck behind a desk. That’s the beauty with a prep school, you can roll your sleeves up and get involved’ – Mark Mitchell

from top: Headmaster Mark Mitchell and family; the school’s Record breaking shooting team; terra nova school

Start your engines This June Oulton park plays host to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, the UK’s foremost four-wheeled motorsport series and an event legendary for its close racing, inevitable smashes and unpredictable results. This year the weekend is set to be bigger than ever, with a whole host of racing legends due to take to the track (including the likes of Alain Menu and Fabrizio Giovanardi) as well as the event’s usual carnival atmosphere and throngs of spectators. Pack your shades, practise your cheers, and get your tickets – it’s going to be quite a weekend. 7-8 June, Little Budworth, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 9BW (oultonpark.co.uk)

Couture culture Our monthly round up of what we love most right now

event: friday 20 june

Manchester Midnight Walk

ast year over 2,000 people took park in the Manchester Midnight Walk in aid of St Ann’s Hospice, raising over £220,000. The walk only started eight years ago but is one of the city’s most anticipated charity events. The 10-kilometre route takes in some of Manchester’s most famous landmarks starting from Manchester Central and taking in the sparking lights of the Cathedral, Beetham Tower and the Garden of Remembrance, where participants can light a candle and leave a message in memory of lost loved ones. St Ann’s Hospice, one of the oldest hospices in the country, cares and helps around 3,000 patients and their families every year who are affected by life-limiting 16

‘St Ann’s Hospice is one of the oldest hospices in the country’ illnesses, including cancer. Money raised from the walk will help meet the running costs of the charity which provides this care for free. For more details or to register please visit sah.org.uk

books

THE fashion read The Shoe Book by Nancy MacDonell £32, Assouline With contributions from Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin and the queen of shoes, Sarah Jessica Parker, this book forms a beautiful homage to footwear. THE literary read Underlands by Ted Nield £20, Granta Nield eloquently explores the foundations on which our cities have been built and the geological wonders that lie beneath us. THE sleep read Night School: Wake Up to the Power of Sleep by Richard Wiseman, £20 Macmillan Sleep makes up a third of our lives, so Wiseman delves into the unconscious world to reveal how we can make the most of dreaming and sleep. the art read The Art of Fashion Photography by Patrick Remy, £35, Prestel This beautiful hardback book reads like a roll-call of all the emerging names in fashion photography to know. THE inspirational read Our Time by Cat Garcia £35, Cat Garcia Cat Garcia’s stunning self-published book draws together some of the greatest British creative minds of our time, from Sir Peter Blake to David Downton among many more – a true inspiration in itself.

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

5 top picks

Apptastic

In celebration of the best in art, culture and literature, we rate our top five apps in the fields of art, literature and fun

#1 Storybook Maker, £1.99

film

Grace of Monaco

fter disgruntled directors, numerous premiere date changes and backlash from the Royal family of Monaco, Grace of Monaco will finally be premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this month. The much-anticipated biopic about Grace Kelly set in the early 1960s, starring Nicole Kidman, captures Kelly’s world at its most tumultuous. After life as a Hitchcock blonde and Hollywood silver-screen beauty, not to mention style icon (Hermès named a bag after her and it is one of the most recognisable accessories of our time), the actress seemingly lived a real-life fairy tale, as she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco and received her own royal title. But among difficulties in her marriage,

her longing to return to the acting world all against the backdrop of the imminent French invasion of Monaco and political tensions between her husband and Charles De Gaulle, the film is to capture this world in all of its high-society glory. Although some of the scenes in the film have been condemned by the Monaco Royal family as fictional and historically inaccurate, one thing we can be certain of is that Kelly’s eternal elegance, beauty and style will continue to influence and inspire for many years to come, and this film celebrates precisely that. And who better to portray the poise of Princess Grace than Nicole Kidman. Grace of Monaco premieres at the Cannes Film Festival this month

‘Riding is not recommended - but appreciating its 100% designer aesthetics is absolutely encouraged’

#2 Goodreads, Free

#3 Brian Cox: Wonders of the Universe, £3.99

#4 Gaultier: His Fashion World, Free

#5 Marvel Unlimited, Free

Moooi Horse Floor Lamp, £3,220. Also available flocked in any colour at £4,495 From The French Bedroom Company (frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk)

HIDDEN GEM…

garden party essentials

The Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop

rom the start of Hardy & Co. in 1990, Charles and Sandra have produced a range of excellent continental truffles and other chocolate products under their Freudenberg brand. Confectionery is in Charles’ veins though, as he is the third generation of his family to be a director of Squirrel Horn Plc based in Stockport, famous for its ‘floral gums’ and ‘cherry lips’.

‘I can resist everything but temptation’ – Oscar Wilde In 1994 Hardy & Co. expanded from purely wholesaling into retailing with the opening of the Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop at No.54 High Street, Tarporley and The Chocolate Box at Blakemere Craft Centre, Sandiway. The Tarporley Fire Service were stationed at No.54 High Street from 1957 until 1993 and some of

the memorabilia is on display just in case you were to forget. Made on site in Tarporley, the Freudenberg truffles are a decadent treat based on generation old recipes which are top secret. Keep an eye out for the homemade fudges too! And don’t be surprised if you end up on a trip down memory lane, finding some sweet treats you didn’t know existed anymore. In 2006 No.54 expanded next door to double in size and the following year the Old Fire Station Coffee Shop joined the Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop, offering an extensive snack and lunchtime menu, with the tempting cake selection that goes with that afternoon cup of tea. The Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop, 52 High Street, Tarporley, CW8 0AG; 01829 733 736 (firestationchocolateshop.co.uk)

PURCHASE OF THE MONTH The Big Green Egg BBQ

The intriguingly named ‘Big Green Egg’ ceramic BBQ has had a cult foodie following in the USA for 40 years and thankfully has now found its way to the UK. You may have seen it on Raymond Blanc’s ‘How to Cook’ or Great British Menu or perhaps in Aiden Byrne’s Manchester House, but this magical piece of kit isn’t just for the professionals. The EGG reaches cooking temperature in about 15 mins and one load of lump charcoal can last up to a whopping 16+ hours. You can bake bread, pizza, slow-cook meat, smoke fish or even roast your Christmas turkey, but best of all the EGG can be left outside to cook all year round, irrespective of the weather. The EGG comes in 3 sizes, starting from £399 - £1,200 and have a wide range of cooking surfaces and bases to choose from (BigGreenEgg.co.uk; 0843 216 2805). 18

To celebrate his 10 years with the Chester Grosvenor, sommelier Garry Clark personally recommends the perfect vintages for this summer’s al fresco soirees Innocent Bystander Moscato, Australia This is summer in a bottle, a light, fruity sparkling rose that’s a little bit sweet but perfect for a summer picnic with some freshly picked strawberries in a tart. (Available from Chester Beer & Wine in Hoole) Côté Mas Aurore Rose, Sud de France, France Another great rose from the south of france. Fresh red fruits with a touch of rosehip and flower, another great summer sipper. (Available at Addison wines, Stafford) If you’re in the mood for something sparkling, we particularly love Frerejean Freres champagne – only recently launched in the UK for the first time and boasting premier cru grapes which give it a positively luminous, fresh taste, ideal for warm evenings.

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

image: Joanna Trollope

The Austen project The Austen project pairs six bestselling contemporary authors with Jane Austen’s six complete works: Sense & Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Persuasion and Mansfield Park. Taking these well-loved stories as their base, each author will write their own unique take on Jane Austen’s novels. The Austen project launched with the release of worldwide bestseller Joanna Trollope’s reimagining of Sense & Sensibility last year, and continues with the recently released Northanger Abbey reworked by Val McDermid. Critics have praised both Trollope and McDermid’s work in giving Jan Austen a 21-century renovation, proving she is just as relevant today as she was 200 years ago. Future books are expected from No.1 Ladies Detective Agency author, Alexander McCall-Smith and US writer Curtis Sittenfeld.

‘Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope’ – Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

SPOTLIGHT ON… Gastronomy, Hale

eatly tucked away along Hale’s main street – and beloved by any who know of its existence – is a truly special little enclave. Gastronomy boasts an exceptional deli (the cheese, wines and homemade cakes are worth a visit on their own), a fine line in wedding cheesecakes and several very talented baristas – but in our humble opinion, their forte is brunch. Lope along on a lazy Saturday and climb the homely little staircase to the first floor (otherwise known as Upstairs at Gastronomy to differentiate from the deli below). As downstairs, the upstairs feels very much like you are in a friend’s dining room, with quirky, neat furnishings, bookshelves, lamps and even a mantelpiece – but don’t let this distract you from the food. Endless dishes strike a perfect balance between contemporary chic and classic comfort food, our favourites being such delectable morsels as eggs benedict, Cheshire rarebit and venison pâté on toast. Lazy afternoons have never tasted so good. Gastronomy, 191 Ashley Road, Hale WA15 9SQ (0161 928 7870)

‘The upstairs feels very much like you are in a friend’s dining room, with quirky, neat furnishings’

Local scene The past month has seen a string of exciting and exclusive events make their mark, including the unveiling of new collections from some of our favourite fashion brands

Vivienne Westwood Tea Party No. 47 Spring Gardens, Manchester On Thursday 1 May, Vivienne Westwood showcased the Spring/Summer 2014 Red Label and MAN collections with a quintessentially English tea party in its chic Manchester boutique at No. 47 Spring Gardens. Models presented the key pieces from the artist-inspired Red Label and Indian Summer-inspired MAN Spring/Summer 2014 collections, both influenced by some of Vivienneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite artists, examining not only their art but also their work clothes from photographs and selfportraits, translating into the collectionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key silhouettes and prints. Guests at the event were treated to wonderfully British gin and tonics, miniature sandwiches, macaroons and refreshing iced tea served in vintage china. (viviennewestwood.co.uk)

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

Suzanne Neville A/W14 Water Lane, Wilmslow The centre of Wilmslow was all of a buzz as Suzanne Neville launched her A/W ‘14 ready to wear collection alongside a selection of the haute couture evening wear at the showrooms of Aston Martin on Water Lane. The evening, hosted by Gin and Jag Events, began with a vocal performance from operatic singer Carly Hopkinson who wowed the audience before jetting off to Kuala Lumpur to sing for the King and Queen of Brunei. Guests enjoyed the crisp fresh bubbles of Montelvini on arrival. Other brand partners at the event included A-plan Insurance and the Mozhgan Taheri Clinic. (suzanneneville.com)

‘Carly Hopkinson wowed the audience before jetting off to Kuala Lumpur to sing for the King and Queen of Brunei’

Belstaff Spring/Summer Collection 76-80 King Street, Manchester Quintessentially British brand, Belstaff launched its Spring/Summer collection this month. Hosted by Gin and Jag Events, the fashionable crowd were treated to a private show of ‘What every wardrobe needs’ must-have jackets complemented by a collection of casual tailoring and accessories. Cocktails and canapés were served alongside an exclusive viewing of unseen prints of Steve McQueen taken over the years at close access by good friend and Rock photographer Barry Feinstein. The current Belstaff campaign has the equally iconic David Beckham as the poster boy and the word is he’s designing his own range for the Belstaff Autumn/Winter collection. (belstaff.co.uk)

‘The fashionable crowd were treated to a private show of ‘What every wardrobe needs’’ 22

The cheshire Magazine | Regulars

Choctastic The Nightingale Centre & Genesis Prevention Centre Renowned chocolatier Simon Dunn and his wife Anne hosted an Easter chocolate making workshop at The Nightingale Centre & Genesis Prevention Centre in support of Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention. All proceeds raised from the event were donated to Genesis - helping to fund research into the prediction and prevention of breast cancer with the aim to create a future free from breast cancer for the next generation. (genesisuk.org)

Fit for royalty Eaton Park Many guests gathered at Eaton Park in the presence of the Duchess of Westminster, for the exclusive preview of the Spring 2014 collection by British luxury knitwear brand ALICELEE, organised by luxury vintage retailer, Lisa Stirling Vintage. Presented by BBC’s Louise Minchin, the guests enjoyed a glass of champagne whilst listening to a special interview with the design duo, discovering what makes them tick, the influences behind their designs and life outside the studio. During the reception there was a raffle in aid of The Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Development Charity, ‘BIRD’, whilst many ordered bespoke garments from ALICELEE and browsed the luxury vintage pieces from Lisa Stirling Vintage. (lisastirlingvintage.com; alicelee.co.uk) image: The Duchess of Westminster (centre) with ALICELEE designers, Alice Smith & Lee Farmer, Louise Minchin (R) and Lisa Lloyd-Davies of Lisa Stirling Vintage

Hollywood vintage Grill on the Edge, Alderley Edge The King of Hollywood vintage, Cameron Silver descended on the fashion and style elite of Cheshire and Manchester with his new book Decades: A Century of Fashion taken from the name of his world famous boutique on Melrose Avenue in LA. Each chapter opens with a pair of women who epitomise rival hot trends, decade by decade — like the luminous Cheryl Tiegs with her sunshine sexiness versus Bianca Jagger, the dark disco goddess of Studio 54. The chapters close with a designer of the decade: think Chanel, YSL and Dior at their most fabulous. Cut tall and slender, the book features 200 archival images of vintage fashions that still look stunningly modern. (decadesinc.com)

TOM HAMMICK ‘DREAMSCAPES’ WOODCUTS & DRYPOINTS 3 JUNE - 26 JULY 2014

PRIVATE VIEW & ATELIER GALLERY’S 1 BIRTHDAY PARTY SATURDAY 7 JUNE 1 - 5PM ST

Please join us for an afternoon with Tom Hammick with drinks & a Summer barbecue to launch Tom’s new show and celebrate Atelier gallery’s 1st birthday party! A warm welcome to all - please RSVP 0161 928 4021 Or email us at info@atelierrosegray.co.uk

Beech House 1 Cambridge Street, Hale, Cheshire. WA15 9SY www.atelierrosegray.co.uk

_______________

Rose & Gray Hale

The The cheshire cheshire Magazine Magazine | Feature | Art

From gallery owners to auctioneers, buyers, directors and of course, the artists: these are the names you need to know words: mike peake

Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who

art world in the

Ai Weiwei Artist Named number one on ArtReview’s 2011 Power 100 list, Chinese artist Weiwei is as well known for his provocative political stance as his contemporary art. Fiercely critical of his country’s government – who imprisoned him for 81 days in 2011 – it is his take on global events which have inspired some of his most arresting work, such as Remembering, a wall of Chinese text made up of children’s backpacks following the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Ai Weiwei, Never Sorry Film Still by Ted Alcorn

Sheikha Al Mayassa Julia Peyton-Jones Co-director of the Serpentine Gallery A former artist herself and a walking encyclopaedia of contemporary art, Peyton-Jones is widely credited with helping to bring more than 800,000 people a year into the free-to-enter Serpentine Gallery on the other side of Hyde Park. Pleasingly, she has no plans to move on: ‘It’s like making a painting,’ she said recently. ‘You stand back from it and realise it needs a little more red in the top right corner. I don’t have a path carved out.’ Her fellow co-director, Hans Ulrich Obrist, is another big name on virtually every ‘who’s who in art’ list.

‘Hockney was named as the most influential British artist of all time’ 26

left: PHOTO by John Swannell right: Photo by Linda Nylind, Courtesy of Linda Nylind/Frieze

Buyer Qatar is the world’s biggest buyer of contemporary art, and the woman charged with making sure they get the best is the 31-year-old daughter of the Emir of Qatar. Among the purchases Al Mayassa is thought to have helped orchestrate are Paul Cezanne’s The Card Players for a record £154m, approximately, and Andy Warhol’s Men In Her Life, which sold for around £39m. Following rumours of a bid to buy Christie’s in 2011, Qatar poached its chairman Edward Dolman, who now works alongside Al Mayassa as the executive director of the Qatar Museums Authority.

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

Henry Wyndham Auctioneer The chairman of Sotheby’s UK joined the company in 1994 and, by keeping a firm grip on his auctioneer’s hammer, has made sure that his day job retains a sense of pleasure for him. In 2010, he oversaw the sale of Giacometti’s Walking Man (right) which went for a then-record £65m. In June 2012, he led an Impressionist and Modern Art Sale which realised more than £75m in one evening – and brought the company’s 2012 total in that field to £435m worldwide. HENRY WYNDHAM AT THE Turner auction shot IN JulY 2010

DAVID HOCKNEY BRIDLINGTON STUDIO FEBRUARY 2009 © DAVID HOCKNEY PHOTO: GREGORY EVANS

David Hockney

Tim Jefferies

Painter A recent poll of 1,000 British painters and sculptors saw Hockney named the most influential British artist of all time. He embraced the iPad as an artistic tool; he was awarded an Order of Merit by the Queen in early 2012 – and he continues to hold sway over the art world. One of his most famous works – A Bigger Splash – is one of the Tate’s most prized possessions; its brother The Splash was sold for £2.6m by Sotheby’s in 2006.

Gallery owner Owner of Hamiltons, the UK’s leading photography gallery, Tim Jefferies has brought some of the best names in photography to Mayfair from his imposing Carlos Place location, with shows including Helmut Newton, Annie Leibovitz and Richard Avedon. Not content with dominating the London photography scene, Jefferies is on the select committee of Paris Photo, meanwhile back in the UK he caused a stir by introducing Hamiltons to the Pavilion of Art & Design and Masterpiece. He has been the Chairman of The Serpentine Gallery Summer Party for the past decade and is the go-to advisor for several high-profile companies and private clients looking to adorn their walls with contemporary masters – counting Sir Elton John, Tom Ford and the Le Bons as clients.

Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp Organisers of The Frieze Art Fair These two are the publishing directors of art magazine Frieze, and since 2003 have been bringing contemporary art to Regent’s Park for what has become a globally significant event. ‘Bewilderingly big,’ Guardian writer Miranda Sawyer once wrote of the Art Fair: this year’s, which runs from 15-18 October, will feature around 200 galleries – and Slotover and Sharp will be right in the thick of it.

Giacometti’s Walking Man

JR Artist You could call him the French Banksy due to his enigmatic persona and the fact that JR likes to leave his mark on public spaces, but his forte is giant photographs – not stencils – pasted onto buildings. These visually-stunning pieces won the muchadmired street art maestro a $100,000 TED prize in 2011. Two of his greatest ever projects involved bringing street art to shanty towns in Kenya and Brazil, where the slums became his canvas.

‘Two of his greatest ever projects involved bringing street art to shanty towns in Kenya and Brazil’

portrait OF JR © Christopher Shay

Gallery owner If there is such a thing as a chain store in the art world, Larry Gagosian’s 11-strong Gagosian Galleries are it. One of the industry’s most powerful players, Gagosian was recently described by Forbes as leading the ‘rise of the superdealer’. The Financial Times simply call him the world’s most successful art dealer, and he certainly enjoys his job: collecting for himself, he says, is a perk. 28

Charles Saumarez Smith Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Arts Formerly the director of The National Portrait Gallery and also the National Gallery, this vastly knowledgeable art guru currently sits in the big chair at one of the world’s most revered art institutions. The London Evening Standard described Saumarez Smith as ‘mild mannered but quietly steely’ and named him one of the most important people on the capital city’s vibrant art scene.

PHOTOGRAPH by Mariana Cook

right: Image courtesy of Gagosian Gallery

Larry Gagosian

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, damien hirst 1991

François Pinault Collector Billionaire French businessman whose passion for owning major international retail brands is only matched by his love of collecting art. In Venice, he has one of Europe’s largest private displays of contemporary works. His first painting was by Paul Sérusier in 1980; ten years later he had bought a Mondrian for approximately £5.5m and today he has a reputed 2,000-plus pieces in his portfolio – including art by Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons.

Iwan Wirth

Jeff Koons Artist Arguably America’s most talked-about living artist whose most striking work has been based around giant balloon creations – such as Balloon Flower (Magenta) which sold for more than £15.5m at Christie’s London in 2008. Other famous pieces include three gold statues of Michael Jackson and his chimpanzee, Bubbles, one of which sold for around £3.5m in 1991. German artist Gerhard Richter is one of the few living artists that regularly rivals his success at the auction house.

Gallery owner Named one of the most powerful players in contemporary art by The New York Times, this Swiss high-flier and co-owner of the Hauser & Wirth art empire has galleries in Zurich, Piccadilly, Manhattan and Savile Row. The Daily Telegraph describes him as ‘charming’ and says that his relationship with his artists is part of the secret of his success. He’s sold everything from Picasso to Martin Creed – winner of the 2001 Turner Prize for a piece called Work No: 227, which was based around a set of lights being turned on and off. 29

Raiders of the

lost art

Often romanticised, art theft is a lucrative trade for some. We meet author and FBI art detective Robert K Wittman to discuss stolen pieces, intricately planned heists and what it really takes to get it all back W O R D S : m ik e p e a k e

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I a scene from HEADHUNTERS (2011) © The Moviestore Collection

n November 2005, the FBI posted a list of what it considered to be the top ten art crimes in recent history. It swiftly went global, with people dashing off to Wikipedia to see exactly what Paul Cezanne’s View of Auvers-sur-Oise or the two missing Pierre-Auguste Renoirs looked like, and perhaps to ponder if they’d seen them at a local car-boot sale. Art crime, art heist, call it what you will – the act of pilfering high-value historical paintings is imbued with a magnetic, romantic charm that has been helped, in no small part, by the idea that to have sought out such beautiful items the perpetrators must be a ‘better breed’ of criminal.

It’s an image that gained popularity with the original The Thomas Crown Affair film in 1968, and was then injected with an extra dash of glamour in the 1999 remake, which saw a super-cool Pierce Brosnan squaring up to Rene Russo’s glamorous thief-taker. The truth about art crime, however, is perhaps a little different. ‘We always considered art theft a “gateway crime”,’ says Robert Wittman, the FBI’s former top man when it came to tracking down stolen paintings. ‘The criminals that generally commit art theft are involved in the same gangs that steal cars, commit burglaries and so on. There aren’t really any “art theft” gangs; the 

perpetrators are involved in many criminal enterprises and just happen to commit an art theft along the way.’ Image shattered. Not that the truth gets in the way of a good story, of course, as evidenced in 2012 in Rotterdam when works by Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin and Henri Matisse, among others, were stolen from the Kunsthal museum. Striking in the early hours of the morning as the Dutch museum was celebrating its 20th birthday, thieves made off with paintings from a private collection that was being shown in public for the first time. Industry insiders said it sounded like the work of a ‘villain’, and painted a picture of someone desperately trying to pay off a bad debt, rather than an erudite, debonair art lover. Nevertheless, it was announced in January that there are plans afoot to turn the theft into a movie. ‘Art crime is interesting to the public because it deals with high-value assets, which usually have some historical or cultural connection,’ says Wittman, who still works in art recovery and who wrote about his exploits with the FBI in his acclaimed autobiography, Priceless. ‘The story of the artwork is sometimes more interesting than the crime itself – although there have been some spectacular art crimes that rival anything that the Hollywood writers could imagine.’ Such as the theft in December 2000 of a Rembrandt and two Renoir paintings from the National Museum in Stockholm, which were stolen just before closing time when a man walked into the entrance and pointed a submachine gun at the guard. Two accomplices, already inside, then aimed handguns at two other guards and plucked the paintings off the wall. Though the new millennium had only just begun, it already had an art crime of the

century. Wittman was called in to investigate. ‘The Rembrandt was only 12 inches high,’ he says, smiling and shaking his head. ‘But it was valued at more than $35 million. There are few things that are more transportable that have that high a value.’ Wittman says it is impossible for him to respect any of the criminals he has dealt with during the 25 years he has been investigating art crime – his impressive recovery rate has seen more than $225m of stolen goods returned to their owners – but he admits a certain begrudging admiration for the perpetrators of that Stockholm heist in particular. ‘The robbery involved the use of car bombs to delay the police, tack strips to blow out police cars’ tyres and an escape in a high-speed boat,’ he says. ‘It was well planned out.’ Wittman and his colleagues eventually brought the diminutive Rembrandt home in 2005, following a sting operation in Copenhagen that resulted in four arrests; but there are many other important pieces that remain missing, among them, thousands of Iraqi paintings stolen during the first Gulf War and $30 million worth of Vincent Van Gogh paintings, squirrelled away by two thieves who used a ladder to climb to the roof and then break in to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in 2002. Two men were convicted of the crime a year later, but the paintings – View of the Sea at Scheveningen and Congregation Leaving The Reformed Church In Nuenen – have never been recovered. But that’s all part of the romance. The idea that a stolen painting might just be stashed away in a barn up the road, hidden under an old piece of cloth while a well-connected seller probes the art underworld in search of a buyer is deliciously appealing. The waiting game, however, might be a very long one. ‘In many cases,’ says Wittman. ‘The thieves plan to steal the art but have no real plan to sell it. The art in art theft is really the selling, not the stealing.’ The work of people like Wittman and his

Left: Rembrandt SelfPortrait pictured with the $250,000 bait money used to recover it in an FBI undercover sting operation, Photo supplied by Robert Wittman. OPPOSITE page: a scene from THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR’ (1999) WITH PIERCE BROSNAN © The Moviestore Collection

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erstwhile FBI colleagues certainly don’t make it easy for the criminals, but it’s not a job for everyone – as Wittman likes to remind his friends when sharing a few drinks in the pub. Working undercover for much of his career and often posing as a shady art dealer, Wittman was regularly exposed to the seedy underbelly of the art world, and once found himself with a price on his head after ‘brokering’ a deal that rapidly led to a series of arrests. His criminal ‘associates’ in Miami were less than impressed and wondered if Wittman was somehow to blame. ‘They put out the word that they were going to kill me,’ he says. ‘But asked for a meeting, ostensibly to talk about what had happened. So we met at a very ritzy bar in Miami, they sat opposite me, and because I knew they were “good with knives” I figured I’d put a

‘The robbery involved the use of car bombs to delay the police, tack strips to blow out car tyres and an escape in a high-speed boat’ gun in each pocket and if they came at me, I’d shoot them.’ Miraculously, the smooth-talking FBI agent was able to convince them of his innocence, maintained his cover, and even managed to steer the conversation onto some future deals. ‘I told them we needed to stick together,’ he says. ‘But there were three or four times I really didn’t think they were buying what I was saying.’ Though Wittman said goodbye to the FBI’s 14-strong art crime team in 2008, the department is no less busy, and it is as determined as ever to bring the bad guys to justice. As the team’s website says, ‘Art crime is like stealing history.’

Down to earth Could it be that the exalted design super-powers are at last reaching down from their lofty pedestals to perform feats of cultural compassion? We hardly dare believe it WORDS: GEMMA KNIGHT

ver the past two or three years, a strange new trend has been taking hold in the exclusive, high-end world of the luxury brand. Apparently not content with being internationally renowned as purveyors of expensive handbags and couture clothes, these giants of the luxury market are now hell-bent on carving out new niches as cultural forces, inextricably interweaving themselves within the fabric of modern society. Once, perhaps, these brands were content to sponsor the occasional event and otherwise

remain happily aloft from the nitty-gritty of the real world (pausing periodically to send down a red-soled court shoe or padded leather it-bag from the upper echelons). Now, these untouchable, ethereal retail powers are suddenly eager to bill themselves as educators, cultural leaders and philanthropists, engaging with the common man and involving themselves with the real lives of the mere mortals their creations adorn. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a trend known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;brandstandingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and it really is rather odd.

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The very briefest of glances at the recent activity of the mega-brands is more than enough to throw the trend into sharp relief. Take, for example, luxury leather goods retailer Tod’s, purveyor of some of the world’s chicest shoes and bags and beloved favourite of the corporate jet-set. In 2012, Diego Della Valle – the brand’s billionaire president and CEO – was given the go-ahead to fund an enormous restoration project on that most iconic of Italian landmarks; the Colosseum in Rome, ostensibly because he wanted to give something back to his country and help protect its cultural assets. Currently on-going and predicted to last at least three years, the project will cost a reported €25 million (£20 million) and will involve the rebuilding of the monument’s entrances and arches, as well as the construction of a tourist centre and complete restoration of the site’s underground cells, meaning the Colosseum will be more accessible and better preserved than ever before – all thanks to Tod’s leather empire. In return, the brand will have the contractual rights to use the Colosseum’s logo for fifteen years and to put its own on tickets to the attraction, of which an incredible six million are sold each year

(although, somewhat frighteningly, they’ve had to agree not to cover the ancient building’s exterior with Tod’s-related advertising). Another striking example of the craze is Louis Vuitton’s three-year partnership with Italy’s oldest and most prestigious film school, Rome’s Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia. The partnership began in 2012 with the opening of the Rome Etoile Maison, another of the brand’s three-storey super-flagships similar to the colossal and futuristic stores they’d previously unveiled in Singapore and Sydney (think bag bar, trunk room and Haute Maroquinerie leather goods section), but with one very special difference – the 19-seat cinema screening movies by noted directors throughout the day, designed as a nod to the building’s history as the Spazio Étoile; the city’s first movie theatre. But this was only the beginning, with the store’s star-studded opening heralding the start of a project to help identify and train the cinematographers, set designers and costumers of tomorrow. Indeed, not content to simply establish a filmmaking scholarship at the school, the brand also helped to form an honours committee (featuring some rather big names from the world of cinema) and complemented the school’s curriculum with its very own series 

from left: Tod’s at Via dei Condotti in Rome (photo: Luis Santos); Louis Vuitton (photo: semata design); a ticket for the colosseum; the Colosseum in Rome

‘There’s the College of Fashion and Design recently launched by Condé Nast’

above: valentino 1969; below: jewellery by chloÉ; right: dior store in rome, italy (photo: Tupungato)

 of cinematic workshops. And then, of course, there’s the College of Fashion and Design recently launched by Condé Nast, the media megalith who owns Vogue. Based in the heart of central London, the institute opened early last spring with the intention of giving budding fashionistas a taste of how the industry works, offering ten-week or year-long courses in all-things fashion – with a healthy smattering of catwalk shows and presentations thrown in – intended to show students what a career in such professions will entail (and, presumably, help them decide if they’re mad enough to dive headlong into the famously chaotic rag trade). The college was the brainchild of Nicholas Coleridge, president of Condé Nast International, and was intended to help expand the brand alongside the Vogue Festival. A fabulously sleek wash of white walls and mirrors and (intriguingly) a totally food-free zone, the

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

college is likely to be only the first of its kind, with sister schools predicted to pop up elsewhere in the world as time goes on. But the brandstanding craze doesn’t end there. Not only do the world’s luxury brands want to make their mark on the present and future of world culture, they’d also quite like to give their pasts a bit of a makeover in the process. If you think there have been an alarming number of ‘archive exhibitions’ from the luxury goods market in recent years – including those from the likes of Valentino, Dior and Chloé – you’d be right, with each design house seemingly attempting to rebrand their heritage with a kind of mythological nostalgia intended to immovably engrave the tale of its ascent in the chronicles of world cultural history. It’s true enough, however romantic the story of a brand’s founding (take Tod’s founder, who started a shoemaking business in his provincial Italian basement in the 1920s), it does achieve a somewhat legendary quality when showcased in the V&A or Palais de Tokyo in the style of a prized antiquities collection at the British Museum. It does seem perhaps a tad on the over-profound side, however, when you put it in perspective. Nevertheless – and though we might make fun – it’s hard to see who is really being hurt by these grand gestures of cultural influence. Considering the price tag attached to the latest Louis Vuitton clutch or Valentino jumpsuit, one thing’s for sure – a little giving back certainly won’t go amiss.

top: louis vuitton; below: Louis Vuitton Etoile Maison (photo: Peter Marino, Rome)

The Bolesworth Estate is a hidden gem of the Cheshire countryside. We take a stroll around the 6,000 acre estate with Nina Barbour, whose family has cared for the Estate since 1856, as she prepares for the inaugural Bolesworth International this June WORD: LOUISA CASTLE

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The

MAIN EVENT 39

s Nina takes direction from our photographer in the gardens of Bolesworth Castle, the first thing I note is how softly spoken she is but also how at ease she is chatting to us about her life and loves as well as patiently explaining the equestrian terms to someone more at home with Thelwell than Big Star (the horse Nick Skelton rode to Olympic 2012 gold). Building on the Olympic success and keeping Britain at the top of the table are just two of the things that have inspired Nina to push the already established Bolesworth Classic to International status: ‘With the Olympics still fresh in everyone’s mind it has to be a good time,’ explains Nina. ‘We have fantastic shows in Olympia and Hickstead but they’re both down south. With such a strong equestrian county the Bolesworth International is a huge event for Cheshire as well as for the riders’ calendars.’

It’s not just for the show-jumping elite though. The four-day event is firmly about capitalising on the nation’s Olympic legacy and putting Cheshire firmly on the international show-jumping calendar, it is also about bringing the sport to those who, like me, may not have any other previous experience of it beyond summer 2012 viewing. For this very reason, there will be many other activities, less serious than the action taking place in the arena; from Newfoundland rescue bear demonstrations to fine food marquee; and from stunt bikes to birds of prey. ‘If the event is to be a success we not only have to appeal to the riders, who have been really supportive, but also the wider community. Britain is currently home to the top two world-ranked show-jumpers in Ben Maher and Scott Brash and it is something to be really proud of. The European Series is all about high-end sport but is

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

also sociable and accessible and this is what we want to achieve here as we take the Classic to International level. ‘My favourite part of the event is the Grand Prix. It is the ultimate test of athleticism and the relationship between horse and rider. It is easy to think that show-jumping is about any person jumping on any horse but it is so much more complex than that. Yes, you need two very good individual elements but it’s the special bond between animal and person that make the most successful relationships.’ Nina is unsure whether she will be taking part in the show-jumping as her beloved horse, Lord Luis passed away last year. Olympic winners Nick Skelton and Laura Kraut do plan to attend and compete and Louise Whitaker, daughter of international show-jumper John Whitaker, is rumoured to have changed her wedding date in order to attend. No pressure then.

‘We not only have to appeal to the riders, but also the wider community’ – Nina Barbour

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM BRADLEY

As Nina tells us of the plans and all that needs to be achieved in the next month, she is calm and collected and definitely a woman who is in control. After discovering horses at a young age following some riding lessons with friends, Nina went on to successfully event at three-star level. Eventing (also known as horse-trials) tests riders and their horses on the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country and show-jumping. She studied Land Economy at Cambridge but always knew she would come home and be involved in the equestrian world. Home is where the heart is and Nina’s passion is what she is doing right now. What advice would Nina give to budding Nick Skeltons out there? ‘I started with my local riding school, then progressed to Pony Club

and onwards. If you really are interested go to the British Horse Society as there’s loads of information about joining a club and finding somewhere to ride. After that it’s all about hard work and determination really. It isn’t a cheap sport to get involved with though: The horse which won two silver medals in the Olympics has just changed hands for €8.6m!’ In 2007 Nina assumed directorship responsibilities for the Bolesworth Estate after her father passed away. She has continued with her father’s vision to create a modern working environment which includes 125 commercial lettings, 850 employees, 150 residential lettings, a dozen dairy farms and an annual equestrian spectacular. She also runs Harthill Stud with business partner and former Badminton and Burghley champion Oliver Townend. As I ask Nina about her loves and hates many come back to Cheshire and horses. ‘I’d love to go and sit on a beach somewhere and just do nothing but that’s not possible right now. I love the ice-cream farm down the road and I really like Tarporley for its relaxed atmosphere and independent shops. Cheshire is an amazing place, it’s the third biggest horse hot spot you know and the countryside is amazing.’ At this moment we are sitting at the front of Bolesworth Castle, perched on a hill and taking in the rolling views towards Wales and Ellesmere Port. ‘You never tire of this view,’ concludes Nina. As the interview draws to a close and I turn my back on the view, my conclusion is that the softly-spoken Nina Barbour is someone with passion, determination and a clear goal in mind who loves her life and all that comes with it. The Bolesworth International, 12-15 June. (bolesworthinternational.com)

CELEBRATING

image by Donald Judge

This year the Buxton Festival returns with a better-than-ever line up of music and literary talent. We talk to the cream of the crop to find out what culture vultures can expect from this July’s event WORDS: GEMMA KNIGHT

ith a roster of performers and speakers which runs the gamut from budding up-and-coming authors and singers to some of the world’s most renowned journalists, artists and writers, the annual Buxton Festival is a fantastic gathering of some of the country’s greatest talents. Without doubt one of the UK’s leading arts festivals, the event takes place across several local venues over a two week period each summer, boasting ticket sales

routinely in excess of 40,000 and a programme featuring everything from literary lectures to rarely produced operas, historical talks to arts and crafts. We spoke to some of the nationally and internationally renowned figures due to appear and asked them to give us a taste of the cultural delights they’ll be contributing to this summer’s extravaganza. 11-27 July 2014, for a full list of events see buxtonfestival.co.uk

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

THE ARTS Alex Danchev

Author and Professor of International Relations at the University of St Andrews My talk focuses on the life and letters of Paul Cézanne, the exemplary artist-creator of the modern age. It draws on a new translation of his letters – over 250 of them, some of them published for the first time – and on an internationally acclaimed biography, Cézanne: A Life (2012). The letters are to family and friends, including major figures in the artistic and literary worlds, among them Cézanne’s boyhood friend and brother-in-arms the writer Emile Zola, and the artists Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro. Punctuated by outbursts of creative ecstasy and melancholic confession, the letters reveal both the heroic and the all-toohuman qualities of the most influential artist of our time. 13 July, Pavilion Arts Centre

Jans Ondaatje Rolls Cookery writer I am absolutely delighted to have been invited to Buxton and look forward to sharing my enthusiasm on the Bloomsbury Group [the turn of the century literary circle which included the likes of Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes, E. M. Forster and Lytton Strachey]. Through their combined determination to challenge the norms of Victorian values, through their intellect, their art, their writings, not to mention their celebrated sexual imbroglios, they have brought us so much joy and enlightenment.

Cookery books are an incredible medium, into which one can throw not just recipes, but all sorts of fascinating things: paintings, poems, historical facts, quotations, letters and sketches. And the more extraordinary the material one includes, the greater the sense of place, time, and community, and the more personal a record it becomes. When applied to Bloomsbury, I thought – a potential treasure trove. The book is, for me, much more than a cookbook. It is my love letter to a group of talented, unconventional and progressively minded friends who created a living ideology based on freedom and honesty that still exists today. Their cooking was the road I took to finding and understanding this ideology. 15 July, Pavilion Arts Centre

Paddy Ashdown Politician and diplomat At 10.30pm seventy years ago this 5 June, the BBC in London sent out 187 coded messages in French to Resistance across France. All the messages were different. But they all meant the same thing. ‘The hour of our liberation is at hand. D-Day will be at dawn tomorrow. Rise and fight.’ Eisenhower knew when he ordered the messages to be sent that for many Frenchmen and women it would mean certain death, when the Germans fought back. But if he was to succeed on the Normandy beaches he needed the French Maquis to keep the Germans under fire across all of France. My book, The Cruel Victory, traces the story of the greatest battle between the Resistance and the Germans of the Second World War. Their sacrifice in southern France helped us win on the beaches of Normandy. This is the hidden story of D-Day no-one has ever before told. 16 July, Pavilion Arts Centre 

Miranda Seymour

Simon Jenkins

Literary critic, novelist, and biographer It’s a writer’s dream to speak at the lovely Derbyshire spa town of Buxton. I’m looking forward to sharing the untold stories of the fascinating German and English figures who forged and fought to retain the links between two rival powers in peace – and war. 17 July, Pavilion Arts Centre

Columnist, editor and author Why do Britons love great views more than any other pastime? Why do they flock to them in all weathers, across hills and valleys, up mountains and along coasts? What are the components of a fine view? In my talk I’ll be discussing one hundred of my best views of England, some familiar, others my personal discoveries, with dramatic illustrations and some alarming conclusions. 19 July, Pavilion Arts Centre

Philippa Langley Secretary of the Scottish Branch of the Richard III Society and Michael Jones Historian Mike and I are really looking forward to the Buxton Festival. Taking our lead from The King’s Grave, we will be talking about our ten year vision to uncover the real Richard III, looking at the history surrounding the last King of England to die in battle and the seven and a half year search to find his grave. 17 July, Pavilion Arts Centre

Tim Birkhead Professor of zoology at the University of Sheffield Birds are amazing and they’ve taught us more than all other animals put together. Starting with Darwin I will look at the extraordinary, enthusiastic and sometimes eccentric people that have so successfully revealed the lives of birds. 18 July, Old Hall Hotel

Simon Heffer Journalist, columnist and writer Precision matters. If you misuse words or perpetrate grammatical howlers, some may not understand what it is that you are trying to say, while others may suspect that what you are saying is not worth trying to understand. In cataloguing a whole host of common errors and offering the means to avoid them, I hope my new book, Simply English (published by Random House), will prove useful to all those who believe in the importance of clear and precise English. 21 July, Pavilion Arts Centre

Gareth Williams Author I’ll be talking about my book Paralysed with Fear: the story of polio. Even though it was never one of the greatest killers, polio became one of the iconic diseases of the 20th century because of its horrific impact on victims

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

above: all images by Donald Judge; left: Philippa Langley image by Colin G Brooks

and society at large. Until effective vaccines were introduced, there was no protection against polio, which could drop out of a summer night into any home and paralyse or kill a healthy child. The iron lung was a powerful symbol of our attempts to deal with the devastation. In some cases it could keep polio victims alive until they could breathe again on their own; all too often, though, it became the patient’s tomb. Thanks to the concerted use of vaccines since 1988, polio has progressively disappeared across the world and in 2012 was on the point of being eradicated entirely. Unfortunately, it still clings on in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern Nigeria and, as long as polio and unvaccinated populations exist, there will remain the risk that the horror of polio epidemics could return. It would be a tragic irony if the actions of mankind should turn the battle against polio into one that we can never win. 22 July, Pavilion Arts Centre

‘I’ll be discussing one hundred of my best views of England, some familiar, others my personal discoveries’ – Simon Jenkins Philip Hook Director and senior paintings specialist at Sotheby’s My book Breakfast at Sotheby’s is about the guilty but ever-fascinating relationship between art and money. In my talk at Buxton I look forward to revealing a few trade secrets by explaining the ten questions that need to be answered about a painting in order to give it a financial value. 22 July, Pavilion Arts Centre

Art news

There’s plenty going on in the art world this summer. Whether it be close to home or further afield, we have all the latest for those with a fondness for fine things words : gemma knight

Natural world Contemporary artist, Laura Youngson Coll has been awarded the Perrier-Jouët Arts Salon Prize 2014. Laura is a contemporary maker in leather and vellum and her work is inspired by the natural world. Techniques of on-laying, paring and manipulating saturated leather are utilised, disengaged from their familiar function within book binging and employed within intricate sculptural works. Chosen from a shortlist of 10 candidates by the Arts Salon members, 18 of the UK’S foremost creative thinkers, the award includes £10,000 cash prize to support her development, an exhibition of her work and a trip to Perrier-Jouët Maison Belle Epoque, France, which houses the largest private collection of Art Nouveau works in Europe. (laurayoungsoncoll.co.uk/perrier-jouet.com)

The belle of the ball

Green with envy The 6 April saw fans of Oriental jewellery hold their breath as the legendary Hutton-Mdivani Necklace sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong for a record $27.44 million (around £16.38 million). Comprising 27 Qing jadeite beads and once the property of socialite and heiress Barbara Hutton, the sought-after piece was snapped up by the Cartier Collection, whose winning bid set a world auction record for any jadeite jewellery and a Cartier jewel (much to the disappointment of the other eight bidders who competed over the phones for a reported twenty minutes, driving the bid up to double its expected estimate). (sothebys.com)

top: Coll foliose by Laura Youngston

The Buxton Antique & Fine Art Fair has long included contemporary art dealers amongst their specialists, with veteran exhibitor Jo Bennett Original Pictures set to bring her usual dazzling array of furniture, paintings, silver and jewellery to this year’s 50th anniversary event in Buxton’s beautiful Pavilion Gardens. Jo will also be showcasing the image: Shaft of Light by Geoffrey Key work of several extremely talented artists, amongst them Geoffrey Key (ahead of another solo show in London this October), David C Lyons (best known for his very popular animal paintings) and John Thompson (painter of the very collectible Groups Series of working men images). If you’re planning to pay the fair a visit (and if you aren’t, you should be), make sure this treasure trove doesn’t escape your notice. 15-18 May, Buxton Pavilion, St Johns Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6BE (cooperevents.com/buxton)

The cheshire Magazine | Art

Q&A with… Chester-based veteran photographer David Heke Q. Your work spans a vast number of photographic mediums, from fine-art to the commercial. Where did you start and what encouraged you to explore so many alternative techniques? A. I was always interested in working in the arts but couldn’t find a direction at school and ended up studying applied biology at college. This led to me working as a technician in the zoology department of Cardiff University. I continued my interest in art and was lucky enough to meet a photographer who offered me a chance to work as his assistant and to train as a photographer. My interest in both the scientific and artistic process has led me to experiment with different ways of achieving a final creative result, without having to work within preconceived parameters.

Spiral Rose (Hand printed silver gelatin print) by david heke

In Different Skies (video still from World War One video); by david heke

Q. Did Cheshire’s naturally photogenic qualities have anything to do with your career choice? A. I moved to Chester in 1997 and was struck by the historic landscape of the city and county. I have a deep interest in archaeology and found it a great opportunity to explore my interests through interpreting the ancient sites and historic monuments from a personal creative point of view. I have been lucky enough to produce site specific artwork from projects at Norton Priory, Beeston Castle and St John the Baptist’s Church, Chester. I was the project photographer on the Chester Amphitheatre Beacon Project excavations 2004 -2006. Q. What has been your most challenging project to date? A. Recently I made a video installation to be exhibited during the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. I devised, produced, filmed and edited the piece and the experience was quite a learning curve. The video was a personal response to the human experience of the conflict and was largely inspired by the experiences of my grandfather, as a merchant seaman and prisoner of war, and also by the memorials to the men lost in the Great War from my local community in South Wales. It was a very complex and emotionally draining work to complete. Q. What are you currently working on? A. At the moment I’m working on a number of commissioned and personal projects. I’m presently managing an interpretation project at Weaver Hall, Northwich. I’m continuing to work on artwork for the centenary of the Great War to feature in a series of exhibitions by Cheshire Artists’ Network. This work includes site specific work commissioned by Cosford RAF Museum to be shown at the museum in June this year. In March 2015 I will be exhibiting with fellow artists, Jenny Ryrie and Liz Ellis, at the Theatre by the Lake during the Keswick Literary Festival in the Lake District.

Beeston Mist (Hand printed silver gelatin print. Sepia and selenium toned), by david heke

Haunting

Hammick Tom Hammick’s non-naturalistic landscapes are arresting juxtapositions of colour and pattern. They stop viewers in their tracks, leaving only their minds to do the wandering words : caro l cordre y

have given this artist the sobriquet of ‘Haunting Hammick’ because most of his landscapes have a kind of eerie, uncertain atmosphere. Trees, paths, lawns and fences are painted in luminous, slightly shocking colours against dark, brooding skies. The sun doesn’t shine and the wind won’t blow. Everything exudes stillness except for the slight movement of a solitary person or two looking as surprised by their colourful surroundings as we are. And Hammick gives us something else to haunt our thoughts: Structures such as a house, a log cabin, a trailer or a pavilion, each as simple in shape yet as vibrant in colour and pattern as all the other features in his paintings or woodcuts. Those structures have windows that are illuminated, hinting at activity within,

yet a second glance intensifies the eerie atmosphere because there are no signs of actual life and, suddenly, the windows look like wall-mounted Rothko style paintings.

‘The key to understanding them is in the artist’s background and his approach to life’ So what should we make of these unnatural landscapes? The key to understanding them is in the artist’s background and his approach to life. Hammick is a Senior Lecturer in Fine Art, Painting and Printmaking at the Universiry of

The cheshire Magazine | Art

from left: getaway; pavilion; semi, trailer, all by tom hammick

Brighton and a Visiting Lecturer at universities in Ulster and Nova Scotia. He has had 40 solo shows internationally and he divides most of his time between Sussex, London and Canada so a multitude of experiences derived from travel and his life in general have etched themselves onto his memory. Also, Hammick is fascinated by the minutiae of life and by the way man responds to it, producing sensations of awe, fragility, tenderness, happiness and loneliness. Such experiences affects us all and they can occur in small, domestic locations or within the vast spaces of the natural world. To some extent they haunt us because they can be recalled with clarity years later, most easily at night when the bustle of daily life ceases and our minds become calm, uncluttered and reflective. Hammick’s haunting moments are distilled into patchworks of simplified forms that are vividly coloured because that equates to the vivid way they have been etched on his memory. Although these are Hammick’s experiences, we can relate to them too, in particular the reactions of the human figures because the artist gives them no identifying facial features. This is exemplified in Semi which presents a stereotypical 20th century, semidetached house and two human figures – one light, one dark – standing in its garden abundant with flowers. They dress individually but they look very connected in the manner of a couple. The multitude of pattern that surrounds them suggests recollections of tree blossom, wallpaper, herbaceous borders, curtains, etc. But those bright elements contrast with the dark, ominous sky that

‘Moments are distilled into patchworks of simplified forms that are vividly coloured’ is casting a dark shadow over the house, implying that all is not well in this scene. In Getaway, radiant colours, a log cabin and flourishing trees provide the backdrop to a young woman in a summer dress. Her pose, however, leaves us wondering whether the title relates to the sense of escapism provided by the cabin in the woods or to the woman who has decided to leave it all behind her. It is, of course, whatever we viewers want to make of it because the need to get away is a feeling most of us have experienced at some point in life. The title of Pavilion immediately makes us think of recreational activities and in this scene a bikini-clad girl looks mesmerised by the colourful, inviting, pavilion structure. The disparate patterns spread across the picture plane seem to symbolise excitement, possibly memories of a girl sunbathing in a lushly planted park and the impact of seeing a striking, modern building. Hammick gives all his work simple titles that seem to fit with the simple outlines of his figures but we should not be deceived by that, for the more we wander through each landscape, the more we see in it and the more haunting it becomes. Tom Hammick, June – July (atelierrosegray.co.uk)

WHIRLWIND速 by David M Robinson

Manchester: St Anns Square, M2 7JB T: 0161 834 0217 Altrincham: 14 Railway Street, WA14 2RE T: 0161 928 7487 Liverpool: 4-6 South John St, L1 8BJ T: 0151 708 1140

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The cheshire Magazine | Art

PRIZE LOTs

3 #1 ‘The signal fires of peace’ by Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich This piece, featuring as part of Bonham’s Russian Art Sale, is oil and tempera on canvas supported by jute. It is one of the lesser-known works of Russian painter, writer, archaeologist, theosophist, enlightener and philosopher Nikolai Roerich, a dedicated activist for the cause of preserving art and architecture during times of war and repeated nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. Exhibition and auction at Bonham’s, 4 June; Estimated range: £800,000-1,200,000. (bonhams.com)

#2 ‘A Mountain Road, Flood Time’ by John Atkinson Grimshaw This dramatic painting was discovered in 2004 and was an important addition to the small group of early pictures by the artist that celebrate the magnificent wilderness of the Lake District. Grimshaw combines the attentive

Pre-Raphaelite approach to landscape painting in the foreground, crystalline in its silvery detail, with the more atmospheric style of Turner in the sky, which has a celestial intensity. Exhibition and auction at Sotheby’s, 22 May; Estimated range: £30,000-50,000. (sothebys.com)

#3 Finely-carved celadon and russet jade ruyi sceptre Set to be the most valuable lot in the forthcoming Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art sale, the sceptre dates from the 18th century and carries an inscription which reads Chen Xu Da Gong Zhu (‘with blessings from your lowly servant Xu Da’), suggesting that it was commissioned as a tribute to the Emperor by one of his subordinates. A very rare piece, it is carved from exceptionally pale stone and conveys good fortune. Exhibition and auction at Christie’s, 13 May; Estimated range: £200,000-300,000 (christies.com)

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

Best of

Baselworld 2014 J E W E L L E R Y

Each spring, Basel hosts the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest watch and jewellery extravaganza, an event that sees 1,500 exhibitors showcase their wares to more than 150,000 international visitors. Here are the pieces which most caught our eye during the eight day bonanza w o r d s : O L I V I A S H A R P E & R I C H A RD B ROW N 52 ÂŠ MCH Messe Schweiz (Basel) AG

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Collection

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Rainbow wave

Basel stands were awash with colour this year as jewellery houses showed off their stunning collections of coloured diamonds and gemstones, proving how size is no longer the only thing that matters when it comes to stones. Graff demonstrated why it is famous for being the supplier of the largest and rarest Natural Yellow diamonds with a magnificent yellow and white diamond Fringe necklace. When it came to gemstones, brands experimented with various colour combinations. Like purple, Pantone’s ‘colour of the year 2014’, green pervaded the Halls of Baselworld.

Chopard presented two new pairs of earrings as part of its Green Carpet Collection, the first composed of diamond briolettes and emeralds, and the second of amethysts and diamonds. At Sutra Jewels, the Texan company mesmerised visitors with its vivid display of Paraiba tourmalines. Finally, never one to do things by half measures, Stephen Webster presented his magnificent Magnipheasant collection featuring a rainbow of coloured gemstones, including citrines, amethysts, red garnets, blue topaz and peridots.

#1 100.88-carat fancy intense yellow cushion-cut diamond centre and 164.60-carats of emerald and pear shape white diamonds set in platinum, from a selection, Jacob & Co; #2 Emerald earrings from the Red Carpet Collection 2014, from a selection, Chopard; #3 100.86-carat ruby earrings with 8.6-carat diamonds, from a selection, Jacob & Co #4 Magnipheasant Feathers collar, from a selection, Stephen Webster

Sweet sundae

While the brightly coloured diamonds and gemstones on display certainly packed a punch, the politely pretty pastel pieces which made their debut at Basel were by no means outdone. Pascale Bruni’s reimagined signature Bon Ton collection in rose and milky quartz was well-received, as were Wendy Yue’s feminine and romantic candy coloured designs. This Madame Butterfly necklace is inspired by the 1898 short story turned opera and is a medley of purple sapphires, rhodolite garnets, pink sapphires, opals, tsavorites and brown diamonds.

#1 18-karat rose gold earrings with pink opal and diamonds, $20,000, Sutra Jewels; #2 Bon Ton rings in pink gold, milky quartz, smoky quartz, pink quartz and white diamonds, from £2,000, Pascale Bruni #3 Delicati rose-cut cushion amethyst and diamond pendant, £705, Marco Bicego #4 Butterfly necklace, from a selection, Wendy Yue

Show-stopper

It was Graff’s first year at Baselworld and the international jeweller certainly made it count. Arguably the most talked-about timepiece of the entire fair, the unveiling of the Hallucination watch not only caused an immediate Twitter sensation but broke the record of the most valuable watch ever created, priced at $55million. The masterpiece features a phantasmagoria of more than 100 carats of rare fancy coloured diamonds and for Chairman Laurence Graff, it has made his ‘diamond

dream a reality’. For many of us without £33million as pocket change, however, owning it shall remain a fantasy.

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The rites of spring

Taking a leaf out of the fashion industry’s book, florals were once again a key trend at this year’s fair. Due mention must firstly be given to Chanel, which presented its latest line of Mademoiselle Privé timepieces. Inspired by Mademoiselle Chanel’s favourite flower, the Gold Camellia motif is engraved and polished by hand and features a matte black dial set with five brilliant-cut diamonds and five navette-cut yellow sapphires, while the new ‘Maki-e

dial’ is the result of a partnership with Japan-based artists and employs the ancient skill of lacquering dating back to 794 AD. Continuing to look east, Wendy Yue’s much-anticipated new collection did not disappoint. The Tears of the Forbidden Fruit necklace presents a melancholy depiction of the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil. Italian jeweller Roberto Coin similarly paid homage to nature with his Garden collection rings.

#1 Mademoiselle Privé Gold Camellia watch, from a selection, Chanel #2 Emperatriz Cascada medium necklace in white gold and diamonds, from a selection, Carrera y Carrera #3 Tears of the Forbidden Fruit necklace, from a selection, Wendy Yue

A stitch in time

Spanish jeweller Carrera y Carrera’s latest collection, Seda Imperial, is based on an Eastern legend said to have occurred 46 centuries ago and tells the story of a Chinese princess named Liu-Tsu who was forced to marry a barbaric Khan. In revenge, she hid in her shawl the secret of Imperial Silk embroidery and threw it into the ocean. This compelling tale has been reimagined in a series of fine jewellery pieces. Emperatriz is inspired by the shawl’s floral patterns and features a variety of flowers, from the English rose to cherry blossom (reminiscent of China), to illustrate the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. In Sierpes (named after one of Seville’s

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most iconic streets), delicate lattices imitate the shawl’s silk fringing, while the translucency of the chalcedony (sourced from Brazil) and moonstones creates a crystal ball effect. Garzas, meaning heron, was another typical decorative element and one of the pieces presents two of the birds linked together in an embrace. Finally, Orquideas or ‘orchid’ – a symbol of status in the 19th century – is represented in ruby, yellow gold and diamond pieces.

Time to Shine

#1 Garzas maxi ring in white gold and diamonds, #2 Sierpes maxi ring in white gold, chalcedony and diamonds #3 Sierpes maxi earrings in white gold, onyx and diamonds, all from a selection, Carrera y Carrera

2014 marked an impressive year for women’s jewellery watches. Boucheron unveiled its pièce de résistance; the Cristal de Lune watch – a three-dimensional timepiece that has been classified as ‘a masterpiece in 3D watch-making’. And while Chanel may be a relative stripling in comparison to some of Basel’s watchmakers, it is by no means inferior, and this year saw the release of its first high jewellery J12 Flying Tourbillon, the result of an exclusive collaboration between Chanel and Renaud & Papi, it has been adapted from the Premiere Flying Tourbillon for a round J12 dial. Meanwhile, springtime was the focus of Dior’s new Plissé Soleil models (part of the Dior VIII Grand Bal collection) and reflected in the dials, while Harry Winston and Bulgari dazzled viewers with their diamondencrusted timepieces.

Dentelle de Monogram watch, from a selection, Louis Vuitton;

18-carat white gold rock crystal and diamond ‘Cristal de Lune’ watch with diamond tassel, from a selection, Boucheron

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Collection

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Heritage pieces

Carrera y Carrera wasn’t the only brand to delve into the past for inspiration. For Garrard’s latest collection, Albemarle (named after the London flagship store’s location) the royal jeweller based it on the tiara of ‘the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland’, commissioned in 1893 at Garrard by the ladies-in-waiting of Princes Victoria Mary of Teck. The tiara has since become one of the most familiar of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s, also appearing on English and Commonwealth

banknotes and coinage. Its intricate ‘diamond and dot’ design can be noted throughout the collection, which has been split into two: Albemarle London (fine jewellery) and Albemarle Heritage (high jewellery). Garrard has also released new, one-of-kind high jewellery tiaras. The beautiful Fringe white diamond and white gold tiara can be adjusted by hand to form a necklace, while the Timeless tiara can be taken apart to form a pair of earrings.

#1 Fringe 18-Karat white gold and white diamond tiara by Garrard, from a selection #2 Earrings part of the Timeless tiara piece #3 Tiara can be adjusted by hand to form a Fringe Necklace

Pearls of wisdom

Pearls in all shapes, sizes and lustres reigned supreme. After setting the bar extremely high last year with its 120th anniversary collection, all eyes were on Mikimoto to see whether the ruler of the pearl industry could live up to its high standards and it certainly did. The ethereal Sun & Clouds necklace got visitors talking with its seamless three-colour graduation (the yellow diamonds placed around each pearl reflect the glowing sun, while the white and grey pearls represent the darkening clouds as they move further away) but for us, the heavenly Angelic creation was the star. The chain of pearls and diamonds designed to adorn the body include a

#1 ‘Lady Stardust’ South Sea pearl ring set in 18-Karat white gold with white diamonds, £13,550, Stephen Webster #2 & #3 Sun & Clouds necklace and Brio necklace, from a selection, Mikimoto

countless number of flawlessly round and lustrously large Akoya cultured pearls. Over in Hall 2, Rocks god Stephen Webster created a considerable amount of noise with his David Bowie-inspired Lady Stardust collection which celebrates the famous lightning bolt motif. The designer’s Lady Stardust ring brought a modern twist to the traditional mineral with the large South Sea pearl embedded within a geometric, v-shaped pattern set in white diamond pavé. #1

J12 flying tourbillon watch with black Mississippiensis alligator strap, from a selection, Chanel

Dior VIII Grand Bal Plisse Soleil, £11,100, Dior

Avenue Classic diamond drops in 18-karat white gold, from a selection, Harry Winston

Diva watch with 302 baguette-cut diamonds, 16 round-cut diamonds and 394 brilliant-cut diamonds from a selection, Bulgari

Best of

Baselworld 2014

From stopwatch show-stoppers to symphonic delights, here’s what impressed The Cheshire Magazine most

W AT C H E S

w o r d s : R I C H A RD B ROW N

Symphonic seduction In complication terms, it’s the holy grail of watchmaking; the pièce de résistance in any watchmaker’s arsenal; proof that a brand has mastered the most complex of horological pursuits. All hail the revered minute repeater. Originally designed as a way of telling the time in the dark – examples chime the hours, quarter-hours and minutes of the day – minute repeaters are the most complicated of all watch complications, requiring between 200 and 300 hours, and decades of experience, to put a single one together (and that’s according to Patek Phillipe). As such, they’re impossible to mass produce and constitute the halo pieces in a brand’s portfolio. Which is why it’s worth shining a light on two beauties debuted at Basel. It may have launched watches with every sports star under the sun, but Hublot’s Cathedral Tourbillon Minute

Repeater (£191,700 in titanium and £216,700 in ‘King gold’) is only the second watch from the brand to physically sound the minutes of the day. Housed in a 45mm case, the watch’s hand-winding calibre incorporates a tourbillon escapement and comprises 319 components. Equally hypnotic was Ulysee Nardin’s Imperial Blue. While you might not be the biggest fan of the brand’s brasher creations, it’s impossible not to be impressed by the intricacy and elegance of this minute repeater. With a flying tourbillon ‘floating’ on a transparent mainplate, the watch is a thing of jaw-dropping good looks, even before its silver hammers dance into action to produce an enchanting symphony. It costs £510,000. Revisit the first paragraph for as to why.

BEST IN SHOW

#1 Hublot’s Cathedral Tourbillon Minute Repeater #2 Ulysee Nardin’s Imperial Blue

A pilot of epic proportions In 2012, Zenith went big; the newly launched Montre D’Aéronef Type 20 came with a preposterous 57.5mm case. Two years later, the company has gone even bigger. Flying in the face of the pragmatic, the Pilot Type 20 Grand Feu measures a monstrous 60mm. Too big for mortal wrists? Then again, this is a watch dedicated to the fantastic rather than the practical. The timepiece’s white-gold crown, bezel and lugs are adorned with an ornate, hand-engraved, garland pattern, while its beautiful white dial is made from Grand Feu enamel. Arabic numerals, blued-hands, a power-reserve indicator and subsidiary seconds register complete proceedings. Ten of the giant pieces will be made. Expect each to cost £108,400. (zenith-watches.com)

The The CHESHIRE mayfair Magazine | Collection

Defying gravity

Invented by Breguet, who patented it in 1801, the tourbillon aims to improve a watch’s reliability by countering the effects of gravity. It does so by placing a watch’s escapement and balance wheel (it’s most important time-keeping elements) inside a rotating cage, therefore negating the effects of gravity when a timepiece is left in a fixed position, such as on your bedside table. It is one of the most prized, and difficult to master, components in mechanical watchmaking – commanding a suitably-high price point to boot. So which tourbillons stole the show at Basel? Harry Winston’s Histoire de Tourbillon 5 (POA) was one example. Having been brought into the fold of the Swatch Group less than a year ago, you’d forgive the brand for taking the time to settle themselves under the new boss. Not so. HW has spent the last 10 months perfecting the latest creation in its Historie de Tourbillon line, which, this year, for the first time, laid bare the exceptional mechanism behind its movement. Presenting different levels of components inside an 18-karat red gold case, the piece was a three-dimensional tribute to its namesake. Elsewhere, Bulgari gave the world the thinnest tourbillon it had ever seen, a feat it achieved, in part, by using ball bearings,

rather than jewels, for many of the Octo Finissimo’s (£18,000) moving parts. With a mind-blowing movement that’s just 1.95mm thick, the watch’s case measures a mere 5mm. The prize for Baselworld’s best looking tourbillon, however, surely had to go to the platinum version of Breguet’s Classique Tourbillon Extra-Thin Automatic (£108,000). Classic in name; not in nature. Inside, you’ll find a silicon balance spring and an escapement made of antimagnetic steel. The movement itself is only 3mm in height, making this the world’s thinnest automatic tourbillon.

#1 Breguet’s Classique Tourbillon Extra-Thin Automatic #2 Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo

A welcome return Omega went old school this year with the De Ville Trésor, a sleek and silky reinvention of a 1949 classic. Boasting a silvery opaline dial with a ‘clous de Paris’ pattern – that’s honeycomb to you and I – the Trésor revisits a line that was distinguished by its thin and classic gold cases. In homage, the 2014 models are smooth, slender pieces that sit 40mm in size. They are available in rose or white gold for £8,730 and £9,490 respectively. Most notable of all, however, is the fact that the pieces are powered by Omega’s newest manual-winding movement, the red-gold-balance-bridge-sporting Master Co-Axial calibre 8511. Who said beauty’s only skin deep? (omegawatches.com) 57

Stopwatch show-stoppers While they’re seldom used to time race cars, horses or space shuttles anymore (examples were sent up with Apollo 13), chronographs still provide a sense of interaction and fun between wearer and watch – whether you’re using one to boil an egg or simply passing the time in a queue. Notable examples launched this year included Breitling’s new Chronomat Airbornes (£6,760) and Patek Philippe’s Annual Calendar Chronograph 5960/1A (£36,920). The four varieties of the vintage-inspired Breitlings mark the 30th anniversary of the masculine aviation collection and come with either a 41mm or 44mm diameter. The stainless steel 5960/1A Patek – complete with red accents on its dial – was a seductive exception to the brand’s usual rule of only producing men’s watches in platinum or gold. Expect them to become collectors items almost immediately. For all-out handsomeness, Glashütte Original’s Senator Chronograph Panorama Date has to be one of the prettiest watches of the last few years. The timepiece is powered by the company’s new Calibre 37-01, the first to be conceived and built specifically as a chronograph movement. Among the exquisite mechanical features on view, thanks to a sapphire crystal case back, are the rotor and chronograph bridges mounted on Glashütte’s three-quarter plate; Glashütte’s stripe finish on the automatic bridge; blued-screws and a central skeletonised 21-karat gold rotor complete with double-G logo. Exquisite.

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BEST IN SHOW

#1 Glashütte Original’s Senator Chronograph Panorama Date #2 Breitling’s Chronomat Airborne #3 Patek Philippe’s Annual Calendar Chronograph 5960/1A

Rolex refined While this year heralded the return of the famous blue and red ‘Pepsi’ bezel on the GMT-Master II, it also marked the launch of three new Cellini models – gorgeous dress watches that prove Rolex is as adept at producing pieces for the boardroom as it is for the deep blue sea. All three models feature a self-winding movement, a 39mm case and are available only with a shiny black or brown alligator leather strap. The Cellini Date (£11,900) boasts a date function via a hand on a small sub dial, while the Cellini Dual Time (£12,900) features an elegant sun and moon day/night indicator and will show the time in two time zones. Most handsome of all, was the collection’s most understated member, the Cellini Time (£10,150); a pared-back lesson in good taste. (rolex.com)

The The CHESHIRE mayfair Magazine | Collection

A feminine touch

Depicting the daily dance between the sun and the moon, Breguet’s Reine de Naples Jour/Nuit 8999 Haute Joaillerie (left) shone, sparkled and stunned. As did Patek’s finelooking, diamond-sporting Calatrava Haute Joaillerie Ref. 4895R. However, with each priced not in the tens but hundreds of thousands of pounds, neither fell within the realm of what you’d call ‘reality’ watches. Zenith and Hermès provided the most exciting women’s watches from a price point you might actually be able to afford. At £5,600, Zenith’s Star Open Steel caters for ladies who appreciate mechanical watchmaking – the piece is powered by the brand’s industry-leading El Primero movement – but for whom

‘ladies’ and ‘watches’ doesn’t automatically marry up to mean sparkling dials and bejewelled bezels – the model is the first Open Star to feature no diamonds at all, and all the better for it. Hermès’ updated Cape Cod collection (from £2,300, right) now comes with a redesigned dial and interchangeable straps. While they may possess a quartz movement, the cases of the new Tonneau and Nantucket models incorporate a special silver alloy that preserves the way the metal glows. They are available non-set or gem-set with 52 diamonds and come with a choice of 14 colours of strap – for its name alone, you’d have to choose the ‘raspberry mysore goat’, surely?

Best watches under £2,750 Formula 1 Calibre 16 Chronograph £2,395, TAG Heuer

Alpnach, £1,350 Victorinox

S P O RT S WAT C H E S

The Britain Automatic with stainless steel case £995, Burberry

Startimer Pilot Black Star Automatic £2,050, Alpina

Maestro Automatic Date, £1,600 Raymond Weil

Slimline Moonphase Manufacture FC-705, £2,530, Frederique Constant

D R E S S WAT C H E S

Good things come in threes Jauqet Droz impressed both in terms of technical novelty – its mesmerising Signing Machine is a mechanical, manually-wound cam-device that will duplicate its owner’s signature – and for sheer artistic beauty; it debuted three products dedicated to the art of paillonné enamelling – the process by which azure and gold are married under flame. The dials of each of the three pieces – the 39mm Petite Heure Minute, a 50mm pocket watch and the recently added 43mm Grande Seconde – is decorated with minuscule, floral-inspired gold foil (or paillons) baked onto its enamel. Add white sub-dials, blued-steel hands and red gold casing and behold watch craftsmanship at its most artistic. (jaquet-droz.com) 59

Call Laura Harrall at our Manchester office to discuss your requirements for staff in Cheshire and across the north of England. Email: laura@greycoatlumleys.co.uk Telephone: +44 (0)161 667 9420 Online: www.greycoatlumleys.co.uk

The cheshire Magazine | Collection

Eight days

a week

‘H

oused in a 45mm case set with a stunning classical blue dial in steel, the Portofino hand-wound eight day is the perfect accompaniment for the coming summer months,’ explains manager of David M. Robinson’s Manchester showroom Lee Chadwick. ‘With a power reserve of 192 hours, it lasts longer than the sunshine.’ And he’s right – with its newly-developed IWC manufactured 59210-calibre movement and power reserve display, the Portofino brand’s revamped trademark timepiece runs for precisely eight days before automatically stopping and needing to be rewound. Available in a gold case with a slate-coloured dial and solid gold indices or in a stainless-steel case with a silver-plated or black dial and gold-plated indices, this is a watch that’s as stylish as it is exact. (davidmrobinson.com)

Collection | The cheshire Magazine

xquisitely produced by Portuguese furniture art company, Boca do Lobo, this safety deposit box â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Millionaire â&#x20AC;&#x201C; will add a stylish accent to any drawing room. Part of a box series inspired by Steampunk literature and the American Gold Rush of 1849, The Millionaire is designed to display the grandeur of a decorative vintage treasure chest. Complete with a rotation system combination lock, this wood, brass, and silver box will ensure that your precious valuables stay perfectly safe. From a selection, Boca do Lobo (bocadolobo.com)

The

Millionaire

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Fashion news The latest collaborations, iconic wardrobe essentials and trends to master this S/S season; be prepared to emanate sophisticated chic and ladylike glamour words: Gemma Knight

Rock the boat

Summer loving

Lovers of loafers – this collaboration will have you running into Tod’s in an instant. Innovative Japanese design studio, Nendo, has designed the Envelope Boat Shoe in collaboration with the Italian brand, that combines a mix of suede and soft leather materials, wrapping the wearer’s foot as though it’s an envelope enclosing a letter. The Envelope Boat Shoe, from a selection, is available now from select boutiques around the world (tods.com)

It isn’t summer without a new pair of shades to get you through the glare (even if you need to travel to the French Riviera to get it). Louis Vuitton has come up with a rather nifty creation for the season among its collection of eyewear, which includes cat-eye shapes, each with its own twist. The hinges of the sunglasses rotate so that they can be folded completely flat (perfect for fitting in small handbags), while the mirrored lenses of this design give the simple frames an updated look that will have you looking like a film star. Sunglasses, from a selection, Louis Vuitton (louisvuitton.co.uk)

Prints charming Immaculate white shirts and voluminous skirts aside, there is one other signature style to Carolina Herrera’s collections; vibrant prints. This month, fashion is going back to its roots, revisiting a style that is more Audrey Hepburn than Madonna as the House of Herrera delves into its archives, retrieving a series of beautiful prints, including Swimming Ladies, Sparrows and Botanicals, for the new Archive II collection. We love these fun, bold shorts for chic summer days. CH Carolina Herrera (carolinaherrera.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Fashion

Case in point We don’t need a lot of convincing when it comes to Goyard’s luggage; its pieces are durable, beautifully crafted and most of all capture that elegant, typically French sense of style. The historic brand has released an updated version of its Bourget trolley, covered in its signature Goyardine canvas. The interior compartments make it very functional, and as per the Goyard way, you can always have it monogrammed or painted with your coat of arms to make it your own. Bourget trolley, from a selection, Goyard (goyard.com)

limited edition

For art’s sake It is not often that fine purveyors of stationery and leather goods, Smythson, introduce collaborations into its collections, but when it does, the outcome can be seriously glamorous. This month, young British artist Quentin Jones has put her contemporary designs to Smythson’s classic handbags, notebooks and leather goods for a limitededition collection to bring out a quirky side to the heritage brand. Smythson x Quentin Jones, from a selection (smythson.com)

Silver linings Fashion maestro Cameron Silver has long been at the heart of world couture, with his world-famous Melrose Avenue boutique clothing the likes of Chloë Sevigny, Michelle Williams, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez. Now we mere mortals can soak up his sartorial smarts through the luscious pages of Decades, his aesthetically exquisite new coffee table masterpiece showcasing iconic looks from the 20s to the present day. Zelda Fitzgerald’s flapper fashion is followed by Jackie O’s ultimate chic and Calvin Klein’s fabulous minimalism, complemented by original sketches, photos of rare couture and interviews with stars and style icons galore. This truly is the ultimate fashion bible. (cameronsilver.com)

The armani factor If you’re a die-hard Giorgio Armani fan (and why wouldn’t you be?), you might already have heard the news – our very own Harvey Nichols is currently playing host to a fabulous beauty pop-up from the megalith brand. With individual stations for an assortment of beauty masterclasses and complimentary 10 minute makeup consultations, there are certainly worse ways to discover your Armani Glow. Until 25 June, 21 Cathedral Approach, Manchester M1 1AD (harveynichols.com)

Amanda Wakeley: Modern Dressage As Amanda Wakeley OBE expands her creative and charitable endeavours, Gabrielle Lane speaks to the fashion designer about her desire to give something back

‘I

think the older you get, the more you are thankful for and the greater the desire is to give back and share.’ It’s an incredibly busy time for fashion designer Amanda Wakeley OBE – a Cheshire native born into local aristocracy, no less – particularly since the opening of her new flagship store in London last year and a fabulous revamp of her signature collections. In between personally overseeing the store’s interior design and extensions of her mainline to include cashmere, beachwear and semi-couture dresses, there is the small matter of a very special rocking horse she designed in aid of CHIVA Africa. Early in 2013, leading figures from both business and the arts were tasked with customising a Stevenson Brothers’ unique wooden steed ahead of an auction at Sotheby’s later that year, with all proceeds going towards efforts to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS

in babies, children and young adults in South Africa. The funds are being used to enable visiting teams to educate local doctors and nurses about how best to manage antiretroviral drug programmes. Amongst contributions from Stephen Webster MBE (with a glamorous mane designed by Nicky Clarke OBE), Maureen Lipman CBE and Julien Macdonald OBE, Dame Judi Dench got into the swing of things with an ethereal unicorn; Joanna Lumley OBE adapted her rocking horse into a colourful and camp interpretation of her Absolutely Fabulous character Patsy and – true to form – Wakeley went for a stylish zebra incarnation. ‘It was great fun,’ she says. ‘My S/S14 collection is inspired by Africa so it felt right to do a zebra as it’s one of the prints used. We supplied some of our signature bridle leather that we use in the bags, in a bright orange colour to create the saddle and bridle. I must admit I was amazed at how beautifully-crafted he was, [with] the horse hair mane in black and white to match his zebra stripes, I really was quite transfixed by him – as soon as I saw him I named him Zulu, a proud and feisty warrior horse!’ After returning from working in America for four years, Cheltenham Ladies’ Collegeeducated Wakeley launched her own clothing label in 1990 with a small boutique in Chelsea. With her sophisticated knack for cocktail dresses and fitted suits, the shop was soon frequented by the late Diana, Princess of Wales, Queen Rania of Jordan and the cream of London high society. As her profile grew, the designer was able to use her status to draw attention to causes close to her heart. It was in 1996, the same year that she won her third British Fashion Award, that she became co-chair of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer

‘I named him Zulu, a proud and feisty warrior horse!’ 66

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from left: Zulu, a rocking horse by Amanda Wakeley; Amanda Wakeley A/W13

(alongside fashion journalist and presenter Caryn Franklin). ‘It was the first major charity that I got really involved in, about 20 years ago now,’ explains Wakeley. ‘I am passionate about Fashion Targets Breast Cancer; I design for women, employ women, and breast cancer is primarily a women’s disease. Statistics tell you that nearly every one of us is directly or indirectly affected by it. We will conquer it in time.’ Her outspoken support for its work means that Wakeley is approached to support other charities ‘virtually every day’. Privately, those around her tell me that, though her schedule may be unforgiving, when Amanda can help, she is ‘fantastic’ and always ‘comes through on what she promises’. ‘With CHIVA Africa,’ says Wakeley, ‘I was approached directly and the combination of [the sadness] of children affected by HIV and the magic of one of the ultimate and timeless children’s toys was very compelling.’ As our thoughts turn to the way in which fellow British womenswear designer Dame Vivienne Westwood outspokenly champions everything and everyone – from Julian Assange to anti-deforestation measures – Wakeley acknowledges the influence that the fashion industry holds: ‘Catwalk shows are about bringing a brand not only to the trade buyers, but to the widest possible audience. Beyond her wonderful designs, as a PR technique [for campaigning] this has

worked very well for her.’ Although she may also be using her own name and creative talents to do good, it was never Wakeley’s plan to become famous. ‘When I was growing up, I didn’t have a huge game plan, I just loved making clothes. It was after I returned from America that I realised that there was a huge appetite for my aesthetic, which is quite American in its sports-luxe approach. So I started from a small studio selling to private clients,’ she explains. On a day-to-day basis, the designer tells me that she is motivated by the desire to make women feel great about themselves by enabling them to dress confidently, an aim she calls ‘rewarding’. Previous press reports may have gone through a phase of portraying Amanda Wakeley as an underdog – documenting her struggles with her label’s financial backers, which at one point saw the company sold without her knowledge – but five years after regaining control of the business, she remains positive and seemingly serene, characteristics which no doubt inform her philanthropic ventures. While she lets out a self-deprecating laugh when I tell her I admire her attitude, she admits: ‘Life is too short and precious to be anything other than positive and thankful.’ Her personal ambitions for the future are to extend her product lines to encompass a complete lifestyle offering. ‘I am passionate and I love what I do,’ she says. ‘I love the energy of working with a great team and I can’t imagine wanting to give that up.’ (amandawakeley.com, chiva-africa.org)

The cheshire Magazine | Fashion

Flight of fancy W

hen it comes to masterpiece footwear, king of the heel is undoubtedly Dolce & Gabbana’s already nearlegendary Rose-embellished Metallic Leather Cage Sandal. The shoes were created for the designer brand’s 2013 autumn collection and – unsurprisingly – caused quite a stir, with their ivy-wrapped, gold leather bird cage motif, mega-wedges and, as if that wasn’t luxurious enough, velvet insoles. Calling to mind works of art from classical times right up to the whimsical, feminine portraits of Edwardian days, seekers of the ultimate statement shoe need look no further. £3,545 (net-a-porter.com)

Where

Wild

the

things are

Inject pretty florals with some life (and colour) this spring by pairing them with graphic flower prints, bold citrus palettes and appliquĂŠd 3D designs P HO T O G RA P HER : DOMINIC NICHOLL S S T YLI S T: P I P EDWARD S

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Cotton mesh bomber with cotton and silk floral embellishment, £2,410, Marni (marni.com). Floral brocade tapered leg trousers, £625, Dolce & Gabbana at Matches (matchesfashion.com). Cascade silk top in tunnel green, £645, Peter Pilotto, (lanecrawford.com). Apostrophe S in 100 Suede heels, £435, Christian Louboutin (0843 227 4322). Ring, Mawi, stylist’s own 71

Sleeveless top in yellow bird print, £2,965, Mary Katrantzou (mytheresa.com). Taffy trouser in white petal embroidery, £980, Erdem (erdem.com). Iguala Earrings, £80, John & Pearl at Boticca (boticca.com). 72

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Green sweater with yellow flowers, £550, Sister by Sibling (net-a-porter.com). Orchid embroidered A-line skirt, £1,774, Peter Pilotto (theoutnet.com). Vibrant pink rubber sandals, £450, Burberry Prorsum (burberry.com). Statement ring, £16,800, Amrapali (020 7584 4433) 75

Yellow floral patchwork top, £495, Michael van der Ham at Harvey Nichols (harveynichols.com). Pale blue structured skirt, £1,774, Peter Pilotto at Matches, (matchesfashion.com). Green flower necklace, £355, Oscar De La Renta, (outnet.com). Erica sky blue and silver leather strappy sandals, £485, Bionda Castana (biondacastana.com)

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STYLIST: Pip Edwards @ Frank Agency MAKE-UP: Bobbie Ross at LHA Represents using Bobbi Brown and Bumble and Bumble hair: Timothy David using Joico Hair Care MODEL: Vika @ Elite Model Management PHOTOGRAPHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ASSISTANT: Sam Thirgood illustration: Scott Woolston With thanks to McQueens florist and its beautiful blooms (mcqueens.co.uk) 77

Effortless glow There are lots of reasons why we look forward to a holiday in the Maldives relaxing underneath swaying palms, swimming in clear lagoons, snorkelling with tropical fish, all the while working on that perfect sun-kissed golden tan. And three of Anantara’s stunning properties (the resorts of Dhigu, Veli and Naladhu) can guarantee just that. Having teamed up with COOLA’s award-winning organic sun skincare products, guests are offered a full treatment programme that ensures a long lasting tan while minimising any associated risks. A detailed skin analysis is followed by daily professional preparation and soothing after care treatments performed by Anantara Spa therapists. Begin each morning with a scrub and wrap, and have professionals apply body spray every three hours throughout the day before a relaxing end of the day skin recovery treatment. Luxurious and responsible, what’s not to love. (anantara.com / coolasuncare.com)

Making a difference

Beauty news Blossom into summer with this month’s top beauty treats Ring a ring o’ roses Chantecaille’s signature Rose de Mai extract, first discovered by founder Sylvie Chantecaille 15 years ago in Provence, has become the very essence of the brand and can be found within all of its skincare products. To honour this year’s anniversary, Chantecaille is releasing La Crème a la Rose de Mai. Infused with one of the world’s rarest roses that blossom for three weeks only during the month of May, it can even be forgiven for its hefty price tag. The Chantecaille La Crème a la Rose de Mai, £175 (harrods.com)

Beauty aficionados take note; something very exciting is about to happen at your local Selfridges. Taking place this summer, The Beauty Project will explore what beauty really means in our modern society through a brand new advertising campaign, a series of talks and even a resident bespoke beauty expert in store to answer all your cosmetic queries. 1 May – 12 June, Selfridges Exchange Square & Trafford Centre (selfridges.com)

Natural beauty No one does minimalist beauty like the Scandinavians. This month, we have totally fallen in love with Björk & Berries – a new range from Sweden, launched with the aim of sharing ancient beauty traditions with the rest of the world. The collection features a carefully edited handful of ‘everyday luxury’ items – White Forest Body Wash, Body Scrub with bark, perfume oil – all scented with wonderfully green, woody forest fragrances. (bjorkandberries.com)

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Treatment of the month KERASTRAIGHT If you’re anything like me, you’re already thinking of your summer holidays and getting your beauty regime in line. And, if, like me, that means a suitcase of hair products alone to ensure the frizz is not your nemesis you need to check out the Kerastraight Keratin Treatment. Unlike other hair straightening products, like the Brazilian Blow Dry, the Kerastraight smoothes your hair using only keratin, the natural protein of your skin, hair and nails. We visited Rebecca at Terence Paul, Hale who convinced me, one of her least adventurous customers, to try the treatment: ‘Think of your hair as a wooden bridge, there will be some planks missing and some cracks. Kerastraight takes natural keratin and deposits it in these cracks so that your hair is smooth again.’ First your hair is washed and the treatment applied. It is then blow-dried in to make sure it is really absorbed into the hair shafts. Leave it for five minutes and relax with the latest gossip magazine and you are ready for a rinse, head massage, condition and blow-dry.

It’s a man’s world Ah yes, Gentlemen’s Tonic – the skincare brand and grooming establishment of choice for England’s most well-turned out magnates and moguls. Of course, for those unable to make the trip to one of their locations (those in Dubai and Hong Kong might prove particularly tricky), their fabulous range of products is also available online. We especially love the Babassu & Bamboo line, a selection of pre- and post-shaving products, not to mention those which are exclusively designed and handmade such as The Horn Savile Row Shaving Set. (gentlemenstonic.com)

Frozen therapy The Mozhgan Taheri Clinic in Wilmslow has introduced a new injury and stress management treatment: Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC). A huge hit in the training facilities of the NBA and NFL in the USA, WBC is the exposure of the entire body to extreme cold to stimulate the body’s natural response to inflammation, pain, spasms and promote healing. Proven to improve joint and muscular function from sporting injuries and accelerate recovery WBC can also be used to treat chronic arthritic diseases and skin conditions. For many, though, it is an answer to the everyday stresses and strains, stimulating endorphin production, easing tension and promoting sleep. On a beauty level it can reduce cellulite (lifting and lightening legs), increase collagen production and accelerate metabolism for weight management burning up to 800 calories. Demi Moore is an advocate and there’s no arguing that she always looks great! £45 per single treatment or £35 per treatment for a course. Mozhgan Taheri Clinic, 3a Alma Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5ND; 01625 402080 (mozhgantaheri.com)

The difference is apparent straight away but my hair always looks better when it is salon styled. The treatment lasts up to six weeks; I’m on week four and still feeling the benefits. What made it worthwhile for me is the difference in styling it at home. If you want to leave it with a curl, the curls are loosened and smoother but it is amazingly easy to blow-dry straight. Best of both worlds!

Next to godliness Our favourite candle brand are branching out into skin care with their new L’Art du Soin range – a five-piece collection based around French traditions of cleansing using natural ingredients such as rice powder and clay. Look out for the deliciously indulgent Infused Facial Water and the Exfoliating Clay – which will leave your skin cleaner than you ever thought possible. From £35, Diptyque (diptyqueparis.co.uk)

The Kerastraight Keratin Treatment, costs from £153 (including blow dry) and is available at Terence Paul, Hale. Contact Rebecca on 0161 928 0707

Miracle worker We don’t like to bandy around the words ‘cosmetic revolution’, but when it comes to Lancôme Visionnaire any other phrase really would be an injustice. The serum is specifically designed to have multiple effects, improving wrinkles, pores, texture and appearance of the skin all in one go by targeting multiple compartments of the dermis. If that all sounds a bit technical, apparently more than 50% of women who’d been planning to have lasers, fillers or peels decided to postpone them after trying this magical multi-tasking molecule. Now that’s the sort of science we like. (lancome.co.uk) 79

Telling stories An actress, philanthropist, perfumer, heiress and media mogul, Danielle Ryan is a woman making the most out of life. As her new fragrance line launches into Selfridges, Elle Blakeman meets the chic businesswoman to discuss her latest path

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his perfume smells like home to me. I don’t know why, but I’m drawn to it. ‘That’s our Bitter End fragrance,’ says Danielle Ryan, the creator of the scent and founder of Roads. ‘It’s based on the west of Ireland.’ That’s what it is! The heady mixture of wild grass, damp moss, blowing leaves and a strong, cold wind, the smell of countless childhood days spent running around the open fields of Belmullet in Co. Mayo, where my family are from. It’s amazing how instinctively powerful scent is, it can whisk you back to a time or a place faster than any photograph or song. ‘It’s completely underutilised if you ask me,’ says Ryan, spraying test cards for me to explore the rest of the ten-strong collection. ‘You could have a particular evening with that fragrance on and it will remind you of something forever. All of these perfumes are based on things that really inspire me.’ It would have been easy for Ryan to sail through life, the beautiful young granddaughter of Ryanair co-founder, Tony Ryan, she could have taken the untroubled society path available to her – dinners, functions, party pictures in the back of glossy magazines... your standard life of privilege. Instead, she left Dublin and moved to London where she studied at RADA and became an actress. When her father sadly passed away in 2007, when Ryan was just 24, she took her acting knowledge and position and used it to fulfil a wish that she had long shared with him, to set up Ireland’s National Academy of Dramatic Art, ostensibly Ireland’s answer to RADA, helping young talent into the competitive world of acting. She also used her inheritance to work on a project with UNICEF in Sri Lanka (Ryan’s mother is half Sri Lankan), learning about business skills

from philanthropy, as opposed to the other way around. Now, at the age of just 29, Ryan has followed in the entrepreneurial family footsteps and founded her own lifestyle company, Roads – an umbrella brand encompassing perfume, publishing and film production. Not one to let the wild grass grow. ‘I had to do them [the philanthropic projects] first before I could do anything, but

‘I had to do the philanthropic projects first before I could do anything’ this company has been on my mind for years,’ she says, when we meet over early-morning coffee in the foyer of the Ritz. Ryan flew in on the first flight out of Dublin, a trip she takes several times a week at the moment, and arrives looking subtly glamourous, yet effortless – a simple black skirt and grey T-shirt, lifted with tousled hair and red lipstick; the kind of look that is instinctive for some and takes the rest of us hours to achieve. I suspect Ryan is in the former category. ‘I always wanted to create a brand that had a lot of different ways of being able to show its identity in the same way that a person would have multiple ways of expressing himself. I like the idea that a brand could be based on an ethos rather than just having a single voice.’ On the face of it, it does seem a little confusing – a couture perfume house mixed with a media production offering and coffee-table books? But then again, we are in the age of 

 individualism – we’ve swapped department stores for niche boutiques, Starbucks for the local deli. People don’t want to be boxed in anymore. ‘They’re autonomous businesses,’ explains Ryan. ‘The easiest way to explain it is to compare it to Virgin – they’re all married by a similar brand ethos, so I have a great team behind each one, and they are all invested in working together. So it’s really whatever we’re reading about at the time. We’re curating a lot of things from newspapers and publications – and we have such a build of knowledge so we have to put it into blogs and on twitter and say “look at this, that’s cool”.’ The publishing arm of Roads has been in full swing since last September, with the launch of ten classic titles such as Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of The Baskervilles and Flaubert’s Madame

‘Harmattan takes me straight back to a long weekend with friends in Marrakech’ Bovary, recovered with an elegant, circular design by Irish design team Conor & David, each one relevant to the book. Madame Bovary, for example, features a decaying yellow rose inside a black circle, a symbol of the deteriorating morals of the discontented Emma Bovary. ‘We’re printing some new coffee-table books soon,’ says Ryan excitedly. ‘One of the original paparazzi left this archive of over 14,000 images that have never been seen before – photos of Liz Taylor and Richard Burton on their boat, or Audrey Hepburn at the beach – it’s amazing.’ Today, we are here to focus on the perfume side of Roads, a collection of ten couture fragrances that will be launching into Selfridges this month.

As someone who attends more fragrance launches than evening meals, I wonder if Ryan is concerned by the increasingly crowded market – a fragrance seems as de rigueur as an ‘At Home With…’ piece for every aspiring starlet. ‘No I don’t think I worry too much about market research,’ she says laughing. ‘I think it would stop you doing a lot of things because you’d get intimidated, but there are a lot of different people in the world and a lot of different things and the niche perfume business is booming – more than I expected.’ As her grandfather is partly responsible for changing air travel forever, one can presume that this level of fearlessness must be at least in part inherited. ‘There weren’t any expectations from my family, they just wanted us to do whatever we wanted – but to do it well,’ says Ryan. ‘My family has given me a sense of, “nothing’s impossible” and “why not”. I remember my dad told me to call Steven Spielberg when I was at RADA. He thought, “Why don’t you call a big Hollywood director?” There was always that attitude, always the idea that you could do anything. I grew up with my dad, and I think a lot of my tastes now are quite masculine. We’ve always had a sense of “what’s the worst that can happen?”’ ‘I think the link with Roads really is storytelling. People want something to represent themselves, it’s the same as clothes – you want to tell something about yourself, and this is what perfume does, it can cheer you up and give you confidence.’ While the Bitter End fragrance certainly told a part of my story, the rest of the collection offers a chance to fill in some the rest – Graduate 1954 evokes a memory of my grandmother. ‘That was based on women in the 1950’s’ offers Ryan, explaining this connection. A time when women wouldn’t head to the post office without a good swipe of lipstick and a matching handbag and heels. ‘It’s very glamourous and feminine.’

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Meanwhile, Harmattan takes me straight back to a long weekend with friends in Marrakech. It’s an intoxicating blend of oud and desert smells – arresting and seducing the senses instantly. Each one has a narrative to it, which makes sense when you know Ryan’s background. ‘When I trained as an actress, a big part of what I learned is that research is really important. So if I’m researching a fragrance, I’m looking specifically for how I would want that product to make me feel. ‘With Cloud 9 I wanted to try and represent a kind of happiness that I now have in life, I’m married and I’ve got two kids, and I’m young so it’s this gentle, calm happiness; it’s very clean and comforting. Neon, however, is very different; it’s based on my sister who’s 22; she’s just finished studying business and she’s elegant and interesting, so the perfume is young and quite chic. You could imagine wearing a nice velvet dress with it…’ I suspect that Ryan has a scene in her head for each one, almost as if each were a costume for a part: the young girl in the velvet dress, the mother, at home with her family on a Sunday morning, the woman on a hedonistic weekend, partying the night away – it’s a scent wardrobe for life. So should we all give up the notion of being monogamous with our fragrances? ‘Oh completely, as a person you’re different with your grandmother than you would be on a night out or in a business capacity. You want to represent different things at different times. I see it as much as clothing, and people are very individual about that.’ And what of the film section of Roads? Are we talking big budget blockbusters or more homegrown titles? ‘They range – some are big budget, but you don’t always need that to do something very interesting nowadays. And they’re on many different subjects – so we’re working on one about mental health, another about hacking, one by a speechwriter for Robert Kennedy who also wrote Revolutionary Road – it’s giving a platform to totally different things.’

‘This is the point of Roads – it’s really just whatever’s interesting at the time.’ Spoken like a true storyteller. Books, out now (roads.co); Fragrances, £98, available at Selfridges from May (selfridges.com)

DANIELLE’S WORLD FIVE THINGS SHE COULDN’T live without #1 My two kids and husband My favourite people in the world to hang out with #2 Strong coffee Not a good scene without it #3 Running shoes I have to run every day, helps me sleep, think, rationalise. Very important for mental strength #4 My library I am so happy when sitting flicking through books for hours, it is usually the time where the clearest ideas come to mind #5 Film downloaded on the iPad I travel a lot at the moment with Roads and I find it is the best time to catch up on the films and documentaries that I need to keep up to date on

Pores for thought As estimates suggest that sales within the British skincare market will top £1.4 billion by 2018, Gabrielle Lane meets Jeff Murad, vice president of development for the Murad brand, to talk products, routines and innovations

question for you: How many pots of moisturiser do you own? Chances are it’s more than one. In 2013, leading British market research consultancy Canadean concluded that sales of facial care products represented 63 per cent of all skincare sales and 76 per cent of total spend on the sector, not including cosmetics. Coupled with figures suggesting that women make the majority of these purchases (72 per cent), the inference is that we females are highly likely to take pride in our beauty regime – and pay more to do it. But the report yielded further food-forthought too: ‘The skincare market is one of set personal care routines and ingrained habits, typically lasting a lifetime’. In short, if we are making such an investment in our skin (with anti-ageing being a key concern), we need to get it right and stick to it. Which may not be easy, when you consider that the skincare edit of John Lewis department store consists of nearly 1,000 products alone. With a minefield of options to navigate, I telephoned Jeff Murad, vice president of development for the Murad brand, which was founded by his father Dr Howard Murad – a practising dermatologist and trained pharmacist with over 30 years of experience. Since the launch of its first face products in 1989, the company has gained 18 patents for its innovations in the field of skin health and its founder has seen over 50,000 satisfied patients. Its reputation is fantastic: fashion designer Lulu

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Guinness – renowned for her signature red lipstick – recently pointed me in the direction of the brand, revealing that her own Murad treatments had ‘worked miracles’. ‘We recommend you use a three step routine, Cleanse/Tone, Treat/Repair and Hydrate/ Protect,’ says Jeff Murad. ‘Treat/Repair products are the most important as these stimulate deeper layers of the skin which treats your main concern.’ These Treat/Repair products typically have a serum consistency: ‘Serums are a targeted skincare treatment with the highest percentage of active ingredients; they deliver key ingredients directly to where skin needs it, making them the most powerful and results-driven option,’ explains Jeff. ‘You could then use a different serum and moisturiser at night to tackle a different skincare concern.’ Serums may contain the most potent combination of skin-boosters, but the industry has been divided for years on the ability of these ingredients to penetrate deeper cell layers and prove effective. For Murad, the answer lies in technology: ‘While I’ve been creating and developing skincare products, I’ve found that encapsulating key ingredients is a fantastic way to ensure they are delivered into the skin,’ says Jeff, who has recently overseen the creation of MuraSol, a blend of antioxidants to be used within sun care. With encapsulation, the idea is that skincare ingredients are encased within a vehicle called a liposome, which has the ability to bind with a cell and express its contents. Independent research suggests such a method is indeed preferential in skincare. In 2008, a scientific study by Yang, Paramov, Smith and Stone in Methods in Molecular Biology concluded: ‘Antioxidant liposomes provide a unique means of delivering both water/lipid soluble antioxidants to tissues. Considerable evidence suggests that liposome-encapsulated antioxidants can be superior to the corresponding free antioxidants in this regard.’ Aside from poring over academic journals, there are also things you can do at home to aid

absorption: ‘I recommend people exfoliate regularly – once or twice a week – to remove the top layers of dead skin cells which will allow for further penetration and absorption of products,’ says Jeff Murad. After that, mastering an effective skincare routine is about checking ingredient labels: ‘I love Retinol, Glycolic Acid and Vitamin C – they’re all amazing skincare ingredients because they can combat multiple skincare concerns,’ he adds. ‘Regular use of Retinol, also known as Vitamin A, normalises the production and life cycle of skin cells. As skin ages, cell production slows, but Retinol can help speed up this process and help skin behave as it did when it was younger. It is also good for fighting blemishes, as in skin with acne there is

‘Encapsulating key ingredients is a fantastic way to ensure they are delivered into the skin’ an overproduction of cells which combine with oil to form comedones – the pore plugs that are the defining element of acne.’ Glycolic Acid is name-checked for its ability to brighten the skin (Murad’s anti-dullness formulation is derived from sugar cane); while Vitamin C is employed in the brand’s products to protect against environmental damage while encouraging collagen production. With the latter ingredient especially, the key is quantity and Jeff Murad believes this is what underpins higher price points of some products in the market. ‘Luxury products can be more expensive but higher quality options tend to contain higher grade ingredients,’ he says. ‘A cheap product can claim to contain Vitamin C, but in reality it’s in such a low quantity that it will have degraded completely before you even pick it up off the shelf. At Murad, we always make sure we use the 

Feature | The cheshire Magazine

 highest grade ingredients possible and put money into the product, not unnecessary packaging.’ Unfortunately, the journey to perfect skin does not end with finding concentrated products; a successful regime is one which changes to reflect factors including the environment, hormonal shifts, stress and ageing. ‘It depends on the person, if you feel your skin has changed you may want to visit a therapist or look again at the products you are using,’ Jeff suggests. ‘I believe that starting to use anti-ageing products early on will slow down the ageing process, so as soon as you start seeing these first signs of ageing you should adapt your routine to combat them.’ Murad products are categorised by skincare concern, which, for ageing skin can include loss of firmness, fine lines, dark spots and wrinkles. Given the Free-radical theory of ageing which suggests that UV rays contribute to cell damage caused by unstable atoms, Murad’s new sun care technology, the aforementioned MuraSol, is included within its Age-Proof sun care line and all its moisturisers with in-built SPF. ‘SPF can only ever provide a maximum of 97 per cent protection against UV rays, so MuraSol was designed to close this gap and provide advanced protection. The encapsulated antioxidants diffuse the free radicals caused by UV,’ Jeff adds. While sun protection is integral to Murad, as with many skincare brands, its over-arching approach is defined by a concept it terms the Inclusive Health Philosophy, which is based upon the notion that we should be looking, living and feeling better, through a combination of skincare, stress-relief and tailored nutrition. ‘Inclusive Health is a revolutionary approach to care which protects and promotes total well-ness through a three-pronged approach. It achieves whole body restoration down to the cellular level,’ says Jeff Murad. ‘Beauty and good health are vitally linked. I

believe the Inclusive Health Philosophy is the future of skincare.’ And with that I bid Jeff farewell and vow to swap my nightly use of face wipes for something a little more intensive… Murad products and professional treatments are available from John Lewis in Cheadle. For more information or to make a purchase visit murad.co.uk

TRIED & TESTED Advanced Active Radiance Serum £99.50 Impressed by Jeff Murad’s enthusiasm and knowledge and amidst universal recommendations from friends and colleagues, I opted to try one of Murad’s super serums, in this case the Advanced Active Radiance Serum, coincidentally one of its lauded Treat/Repair formulations. Its main claim to fame is the restoration of the skin’s brightness and smoothness and with my own complexion dulled by the change in weather I applied this liberally in the morning after showering and before sunblock for ten days. The formulation includes what the brand dubs its ‘Resilient-C Complex’, with 50 times the potency of its previous generation of Vitamin C. This is to enhance collagen production, which is said to leave skin looking firmer and more youthful. The product’s other ingredients are Indian fig and Hexapeptide-2 which are said to boost skin clarity and Green Tea Extract to help the cells resist environmental pressures. I had previously been told by a skin therapist that highly concentrated Vitamin C can irritate the skin but this serum was a dream to use – it absorbed easily without leaving a shiny film and there were no adverse side effects. Although it is said that when using the product skin firmness improves by up to 63 per cent after 15 minutes, a week is the recommended duration of trialling in order to see visible results. Whether in part psychological, after ten days I felt that my skin both looked fresher and felt softer. Murad also offers a reassuring guarantee that products purchased through its own website can be returned within 30 days, if you don’t find the same.

BACK PAIN? SPORTS INJURY? SKIN TIGHTENING? STRESS? INSOMNIA? CELLULITE? ANTI-AGING?

WBC IS THE ANSWER

The Mozhgan Taheri Clinic has NOW introduced WBC WHAT IS WBC? Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) is the exposure of the entire body to extreme cold to stimulate the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural response to inflammation, pain, spasms and promote healing. Proven to improve joint and muscular function from sporting injuries and accelerate recovery WBC can also be used to treat chronic arthritic diseases and skin conditions. For many, though, it is an answer to the everyday stresses and strains, stimulating endorphin production, easing tension and promoting sleep. On a beauty level it can reduce cellulite (lifting and lightening legs), increase collagen production and accelerate metabolism for weight management burning up to 800 calories.

Mozhgan Taheri Clinic, 3a Alma Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5ND

01625 402080

www.mozhgantaheri.com

The CryoSauna is used by professional athletes at the highest levels of the NBA, the NFL and the Premiere League.

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The cheshire Magazine | Feature

OPEN SEASON Britain’s only golfing major – the Open Championship – returns to Merseyside’s Royal Liverpool Club this year for a tournament which looks wide open in the battle for the Claret Jug W or d s : L ee B roo k s

iger Woods will have fond memories of Hoylake, the 14-time major winner tasting victory at the Liverpool venue when it last hosted the world famous Open Championship in 2006. Eight years later, organisers have been putting the finishing touches to greens and fairways ahead of the return of the tournament for the 12th time in its history. Woods, however, may not be able to make a return. The American, who last won a major in 2008, had back surgery earlier this year, forcing him to miss the Masters at Augusta National for the first time in his career. But even if the 38-yearold, with 106 professional tournament wins, doesn’t recover in time, there are still plenty of reasons to be excited about the 143rd edition of the Open, which starts on 17 July. The Open is the oldest of golf’s four majors and the only one held outside the United States. It is always played on one of nine links courses, which are built in an area of coastal sand dunes,

in either England or Scotland. The first ever Open had a field of eight who played three rounds of Prestwick’s 12-hole course in a single day. The prize was the Challenge Belt – a red leather belt with a silver buckle – with no prize money on offer. Fastforward to today and the tournament features 156 of the world’s best players, with one round of 18 holes played each day for four days. The champion receives the prized Claret Jug and a winner’s cheque of close to £1m. As with any major, the Open is not easy to win. Just ask the gifted American left-hander Phil Mickelson, who finally took victory at Muirfield last year at the 20th attempt. ‘I didn’t know if I would ever be able to develop the skills to win this championship, let alone play the best round of my life,’ said five-time major winner Mickelson, who birdied four of the last six holes to win on a thrilling final day. This year, the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, the second-oldest seaside links golf course in 

IMAGE COURTESY OF Royal Liverpool Golf Club

ABOVE: Tiger Woods (IMAGE © Debby Wong); RIGHT: Rory McIlroy (IMAGE © david W. Leindecker); BELOW: Phil Mickelson (IMAGE © David W. Leindecker); OPPOSITE PAGE: MICHAEL WELCH

England, welcomes the world’s best back to the north west and it is estimated that the tournament brings as much as £70m to the local economy each time it is played. The sumptuous Wirral links course is long, measuring 7,312 yards, 54 yards longer than in 2006. But as Woods demonstrated that year, use of a driver is not needed all the time. The American realised the need for strategic play and used it just once as he beat Chris Di Marco by two shots. Instead, precision and experience is key. The greens are small and slow while the fairways are hard and fast, so judging the speed of the ball is likely to prove the biggest headache for the players over the four days. The wind is usually a big factor, too, as was proven in 2012 when play at the women’s British Open was abandoned

during the second round because of the conditions. American Michelle Wie said she had ‘never seen anything quite like it.’ While the course has only had a slight modification in terms of length, there are changes aplenty elsewhere for both golfers and spectators alike. The green on the first hole has been reshaped to make it ‘probably the hardest opening hole on the Open rota and the hardest in the whole of this championship’, according to Peter Dawson, the R&A chief executive, the body which governs the tournament. At the other end of the round, the atmosphere at the 18th will be transformed with the construction

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

THE NINETEENTH HOLE of a horseshoe ‘arena’ grandstand that should provide a cauldron of anticipation and excitement. New LED scoreboards will be placed at all the holes, apart from the 18th where the iconic yellow one will remain, so fans can keep abreast of the action. What’s more, the grounds will be covered with Wi-Fi mesh to allow spectators to follow the action on their mobiles. The organisers have even developed a bespoke free app so that fans can follow live TV coverage of the tournament wherever they are on the course. That policy is in total contrast to that used at Augusta, home of the Masters, where fans can’t take their mobile devices into the grounds, let alone use them. Armchair viewers will now be able to enjoy the view from a new camera which has been placed inside the bunker by the 10th green to show spectacular close-up shots of the players in the sand. If the bunker-cam was in use last time out in 2006, it would have had prime view of Woods taking two shots to escape the treacherous trap. The strength and depth in golf in this era means there are no shortage of contenders for this year’s title. Defending champion Mickelson will almost certainly be in the mix while Adam Scott came close to winning the Open in 2012 at Royal Lytham and has continued his rise since winning his first Major at Augusta in 2013. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy has two Majors under his belt and though not one of them is the Open, the 25-year-old is on his way back to form after a difficult season last year while American Bubba Watson can not be discounted having won the season-opening Masters to earn his second green jacket. And of course there’s also England’s Justin Rose, last year’s US Open champion, and Lee Westwood, whose search for that elusive major title continues. With a field that strong, on a course so challenging, in a championship so difficult to win, this year’s Open has all the makings of a classic. (theopen.com)

Advice on perfecting your game from the professionals who advise the professionals THE PERFECT POSTURE FOR PUTTING Michael Welch, Coach Lee Westwood Golf School Our goal today is to establish the correct posture for putting that allows the shoulders to rock in a pendulum motion without the need for excess hand action. We want the shoulders to rock up and down as opposed to rotate as they would in a full shot, so our first aim is to have the top of the back flat and horizontal to the ground. Instead of tipping forward from the hips, tilt from your midsection and get the feeling that you could rest a ruler along the top of your shoulders. When you do this your face will then be flat and looking directly at the ball. Second, we like to see the hands hanging naturally underneath the shoulders. To create the desired pendulum stroke you must have the hands directly under the pivot point of the stroke which is the top part of the back or shoulders. This ensures that when the shoulders rock correctly the hands move in a straight line back and through as opposed to an arc. Third, an imaginary line extended up the shaft should continue up through the forearms so even the slightest of wrist breaks will not allow the putter face to rotate. And finally, your knees should be slightly flexed with the weight spread evenly between the heels and toes. By applying these checkpoints you have put your body into a position that allows the shoulders to dictate the putting action and not the hands. Try to work on these positions next time you go to practice. Utilise mirrors or even windows to help you gauge whether or not you are getting yourself into the correct positions. But a final word of warning, some of these positions are not possible to achieve if your putter has not been fitted correctly for you, so spend time making sure that it is correct for you.

Ferrari gets personal

Motoring news

Ferrari has revealed for the first time in its history, that every car to come off its Maranello production line in the past year did so with a bespoke feature. In addition to the growing demand for personalisation, the official figures show that the supercars were most popular with American buyers, with 2,035 sold in the US in 2013. Brits showed a similarly large appetite, with almost as many Ferraris sold over here as in Greater China. Luxury and supercar customisation looks likely to be one of the biggest automotive trends of 2014, with several other big names also revealing their figures for the first time. (auto.ferrari.com)

Ecological supercars, the ultimate personalisation and an Aston Martin for your child - we have it all this month wor d s : T homas M iles

hybrid superCars: Ecological enjoyment at its very best

Porsche 918 Spyder

McLaren P1

The mid-engined, plug-in hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder embodies the essence of the Porsche idea: it combines pedigree motor racing technology with maximum performance and minimum consumption, and thanks to four-wheel-drive and steer, is easy to handle. With the 887-hp output of a super sports car, and the virtually silent propulsion of an electric vehicle, the 918 Spyder can sprint from zero to 60mph in 2.5 seconds and has famously lapped the N端rburgring in 6 minutes 57 seconds. This is a hypercar that happens to be a hybrid.

Born in the McLaren wind tunnel and evolved through world-leading F1 expertise, the game-changing 903bhp McLaren P1 is a road car with racing DNA. Every curve, swoop and contour of its endlessly flowing body is shaped to precisely manage the air flowing over it making it the most aerodynamically advanced supercar. The areo technology adapts instinctivey to the environment and driver input to boost performance and handling giving you confidence to drive faster and with more accuracy than ever before.

The cheshire Magazine | Motoring

‘There’s no such thing as cheap and cheerful. It’s cheap and nasty and expensive and cheerful’ – Jeremy Clarkson History rewritten The legendary Mercedes-Benz 600, first released in 1963, can boast myriad celebrity owners – the likes of whom have ruled countries, catwalks and, in John Lennon’s case, the charts – and this March marked the market launch of the latest regeneration of this iconic, luxury saloon. The Mercedes S600 is the younger, more handsome version of its predecessor, and with a 6-litre, V12 bi-turbo engine and the ability to climb from 0-62mph in an exhilarating 4.6 seconds, the 2014 model is its most powerful yet. That said, Mercedes’ luxury style is certainly not compromised by sports car speeds: add to its spec a sleek body, elegant interior, and 21 per cent more fuel efficiency than its former model, and you’re bound to find an icon fit to traverse another 50 years. (mercedes-benz.co.uk)

Like father, like son

LaFerrari The limited production LaFerrari (of which all 499 were sold before the car was unveiled at the Geneva Motorshow last year), provides the highest power output of any Ferrari whilst decreasing fuel consumption by 40 percent. The mid rear mounted V12 internal combustion engine has a 6.3 litre capacity which fires short bursts of extra power to achieve a top speed exceeding 217mph and is capable of reaching 62mph in under three seconds. Statistics to ensure supercar Top Trump victory.

Don’t know what to buy little Johnny for his 10th birthday? How about a car, a new Aston Martin in fact? If £16,500 isn’t too much to spend on the lad, get in touch with Aston Martin Heritage Dealer Nicholas Mee & Co and make some enquiries about the DB Convertible Junior. As the name implies, this open-topped child-size sports car has been inspired by the famous Aston DB cars of the 1960s. It has a composite body, leather or vinyl seats, a wood-rimmed steering wheel and hydraulic disc brakes. It has lights and indicators and a fully adjustable pedal box so that junior can still continue to drive the car as he (or she) grows. In fact, claims Mee, adults can drive it. But this is no pedal car… it has an engine. It’s powered by a 110cc four-stroke petrol engine – like the sort you find in karts – linked to a semi-automatic three-speed gearbox. There’s a key-operated electric starter and it has a top speed of 46mph, though this can be restricted downwards if you don’t want your son and heir driving too quickly in a car without airbags or seatbelts. Best of all is that for those with deep pockets, the DB Junior can be finished in any shade from the Aston Martin palette and hides can also match anything the works provide, so Junior’s Junior can be twinned with Dad’s full size Aston. (nicholasmee.co.uk) 93

THE NEXT

BIG THING

A new car loses money the moment it’s driven out of the showroom, but a modern classic could turn out to be an appreciating asset W O R D S : M a t t h e w C ar t e r

aul Michaels isn’t one for toeing the company line. For years, his company, Hexagon of Highgate, was one of the largest and most established BMW dealerships in the UK, but his personal car was a Porsche Turbo. ‘Even though it was my company, BMW top brass didn’t take kindly to that and suggested I really ought to be driving one of their cars,’ says Michaels. So he reluctantly parked the Porsche and started driving BMWs… nothing much wrong with that, as they are, by and large, fine cars. But

you can tell Michaels clearly doesn’t like being told what to do. It won’t happen again. After decades as a BMW main dealer, Michaels has sold the business – to BMW itself – and has now established a new company. He’s still selling BMWs, but this time he’s also selling Astons, Ferraris, Mercs and Bentleys... and the main focus is on Porsche 911s. And he’s back with a Porsche Turbo as his everyday car. The difference is that his new venture, Hexagon Modern Classics, specialises in low

The cheshire Magazine | Motoring

mileage, immaculate, used cars with that vital ingredient – they are all future classics. ‘The beauty of buying, say, a BMW M3 that’s three or four years old is that it is still as quick as it ever was but someone else has taken the depreciation hit. You’re getting a fantastic car at a great price that has the added bonus of being likely to go up in value in the years ahead,’ explains Michaels. Michaels knows what he’s talking about. He’s been buying and selling cars in London since 1963 and was a Porsche dealer 40 years ago, before teaming up with BMW. In that time, he’s also run historic racing teams and even had a season in Formula 1 as an entrant, with John Watson driving his privately-run Brabham, and scoring points in three races.

‘Mention the Hexagon name to anyone in the business and they’ll all say our cars are expensive’ ‘That was back in 1974, when it was possible to buy an F1 car “off-the-shelf” and be competitive against the works cars,’ recalls Michaels. ‘In fact, I was far too naïve as we were often quicker than the works Brabhams. The team owner didn’t like that so we didn’t always get the latest upgrades needed to stay competitive. But then the owner was a chap called Bernie Ecclestone...’ Michaels is no stranger to classic cars, either, and has been dealing in rare and seriously expensive machinery for some years.

But it’s Hexagon Modern Classics based at Fortis Green in Haringey – not far from the old Hexagon of Highgate showroom – that is making all the waves at the moment. ‘Mention the Hexagon name to anyone in the business and they’ll all say our cars are expensive. And they are... but there’s a good reason for that. ‘Every car we sell has to meet our exacting standards and that means they are as close to perfection as we can manage. We believe they are the best examples of their type on the open market and, well, quality doesn’t come cheap,’ says Michaels, unapologetically. With a few notable exceptions, all cars have fewer than 60,000 miles on the clock and are sold with a comprehensive RAC warranty. The Hexagon philosophy is that buyers have got used to the turnkey reliability of modern cars and demand the same from a modern classic. What is a modern classic? Essentially it’s a performance car that’s out of production but which still has undeniable appeal in terms of looks, performance and rarity... and preferably all three together. The trick is to identify them as future classics before they reach that status and prices go up. Take the Porsche 911 Speedster for instance. Just over 2,100 examples were built in 1989, and of those only 139 had right-hand drive. It was a low roof/low windscreen version of the contemporary 911 Cabrio designed as an evocation of the iconic 356 Speedster of the 1950s. When new, the Speedster sold to Porsche fanatics, but it was far from practical and quickly lost value on the second-hand market. A couple of years ago you could pick one up for £25,000. Today they’ve hit the £100,000 mark and more: Hexagon has a low mileage right-hand-drive example in classic Guards Red for £120k. They are just as impractical as ever, so why the change? ‘The difference is simple. When it was new, people were buying it to use on a regular basis. That was when they discovered it was not a great everyday car so values tumbled. Today, however, people are buying them for occasional use, a car to bring out on special occasions… and it fits 

MAIN IMAGE: PORSCHE 911 EVOLUTION III; LEFT: CARS BY BMW IN A SHOWROOM

Motoring | The cheshire Magazine

‘People are buying them for occasional use, a car to bring out on special occasions’

ABOVE: CLASSIC CARS BY PORSCHE

 that bill perfectly,’ says Michaels. ‘You buy a car like a Speedster not because it’s going to do a job, but because it’ll become a much loved member of the family.’ Of course there’s nothing wrong with a modern classic also being practical and that’s where Michaels’s first love, the Porsche Turbo, comes in. The Turbo combines performance with unfailing reliability and usability. In building up stock for the launch of Modern Classics, Hexagon snapped up virtually every decent 911 Turbo around, from the original ‘930’ model, through the ‘964’ to the ‘993’ along with as many ‘ordinary’ Carrera coupés and cabrios as they could find. But it’s not all 911s. Hexagon has a couple of V8-powered Porsche 928s, including an immaculate S4 from 1993. It might have 75,000 miles on the clock, but at less than £15k it represents a real bargain that can only gain in value. Naturally, given Hexagon’s recent history, there’s a strong BMW showing at Fortis Green with examples of virtually every ‘M’ car produced in recent years, as well as a rare 1974 3.0 CSL and a more recent Z8. Condemned at launch for doing nothing particularly well, some minor modifications – ‘proper’ tyres rather than run-flats, a strengthening bar under the bonnet and short

shifter for the gearbox – has transformed the Z8 into a highly desirable GT car with a price to match. A few years ago they were difficult to give away, now £150k is the globally-recognised going price. Rubbing shoulders with the BMWs and Porsches, Hexagon also has a few Merc SLs of varying ages, a couple of recent Aston and Ferrari models and even a left-hooker Bentley Continental R from 1996, once the most expensive production car in the world. If you’re looking for the next big thing at a bargain price, Hexagon also stocks the ‘996’ Porsche 911. Prices are low as they look too much like a lowly Boxster, but bearing in mind what happened to the Speedster, it would be a foolish man who turned his back on a 12,000 miler at less than £30k. Who knows what it might go for the day after tomorrow? If you’ve a little cash to splash, Michaels reckons now is the time to buy a Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer. But if you are looking for a car you can also use every day he will point you in the direction of a three-year old BMW M6 coupé: with a potent V10 engine, a huge specification and still benefiting from the manufacturer’s maintenance pack, it’s a snip at less than £45k. ‘That’s the key to a good modern classic: buy when the price is right and watch its value rise as you enjoy driving it about,’ says Michaels. (hexagonclassics.com)

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B O OBDOLO ED S .LCEOSM . C/O GM RE /G ER NE FE I RNEF I R E

30/04/2014 30/04/2014 16:06 16:06

gadget of the month

he future of high-end home and office computer work environments, the Emperor LX, produced by MWE (Modern Work Environment) Lab, is set to change the way we work entirely. Taking inspiration from the scorpion’s tail, the workstation allows screens to be lowered into position once you are seated, offering an entirely immersive environment complete with its own ionic air purifier, temperature controlled unit, integrated 5.1 audio system by Bose and LED light therapy system – all controlled by a 7” touchscreen control interface. The luxury components don’t stop there

– the leather seat is made by Recaro and can be made more comfortable with adjustable headrest, lumbar support, thigh extension, adjustable side bolsters and electrical back and height selection. The ability to customise not only the colour of the Emperor LX but also the steel components and a host of impressive options completes the futuristic offering. Summed up by MWE, ‘The Emperor offers functionalities that enable the user to experience unprecedented comfort and quasi total immersion through strategically positioned monitors, audio system and accessories. The result is a complete computer office, ergonomically optimised, with a minimal footprint that improves overall performance and productivity.’ Welcome to the next generation. Emperor LX, $21,500 (mwelab.com)

Technology central From the faithful Macintosh to the future of high-end computer work environments, get set to be awe-inspired with our selection of ‘can’t live without’ gadgetry showcasing the ultimate in innovation

30 Years of Mac

This month Apple celebrates the 30th anniversary of the PC that kick-started the home-computing revolution

hree decades ago, a young Steve Jobs unveiled the all-new Macintosh in a California auditorium. The Macintosh 128k was the first of its kind. Featuring a small 9-inch screen, floppy disk drive and an all-in-one sealed box design, the Macintosh 128k’s aim was to make the computer as commonplace as a household appliance. Certainly, by today’s standards of light-weight Macbook Airs and touch-screen tablets, the 1984 model’s boxy design appears quaintly old-fashioned; it did however set a precedence for Apple’s ever-innovative approach to consumer electronics. In their quest for household domination, Jobs and his team placed their focus upon making the original Macintosh as user-friendly as possible.

100

The Mac designers favoured a now familiar point and click-controlled mouse, as well as a friendly graphical user interface – starting from the smiley face that greeted you. Ironically enough, it was this simplistic approach which led to a lukewarm reception from programmers, with many viewing it as nothing but a toy. And with just two programs, MacWrite and MacPaint, it’s true that word processing was about the sum total of the early Mac’s capabilities. This user-friendly interface represented a real vision for the future of home computing, and it is perhaps this early ambition of Jobs and co for a computer-for-all which has ensured not just the Mac’s ubiquity, but home computing in general.

1984: Macintosh 128k The original Macintosh featured the first user friendly interface.

The cheshire Magazine | Lifestyle

BUY IT NOW For all of the electronic wizardry descending on us, it’ll be the Brazuca technology that’ll have our hearts beating fastest (besides hacked Wi-Fienabled pacemakers). The Brazuca is the ball for the World Cup 2014, apparently boasting a ‘revolutionary’ six-panel design. It’s been tested for two and a half years by more than 600 of the world’s top players, but expect those same players to start whingeing about how it’s ‘too light’ as they inexplicably fail to sink the Brazuca into an open goal.

Curved screens It’s up for debate whether curved screen TVs offer more benefits (an immersive, cinemalike experience if you’re sitting close enough to the right size screen) than drawbacks: a compromised view for those not sitting directly in front; tricky to wall mount; cost (£7k and up). Curved smartphones like the Galaxy Round emerged last year, and the

benefits to tablets and phones seem more tangible: durability, improved call quality as the phone curves from ear to mouth, slight magnification of the screen. Essentially, however, these curving screens are the calculator watch of their time – the precursor to something much more useful: flexible screens that will unfold to create a much larger viewing area for our devices.

1999: Power Mac G4 Heralded by Apple as the world’s first ‘supercomputer’, the G4 Power series of Macs used dual processors for the first time to make sure they lived up to the name.

1993: Macintosh LC 520 A popular home model, LC 520 was Apple’s attempt to create a viable all-in-one computer.

2002: iMAC G4 The G4 replaced its translucent, multi-coloured predecessor with the distinctive (but somewhat more subtle) sleek white colour and LCD flat panel display.

2007: iMAC The iMac featured a striking new aluminium case design, which made clear reference to the recently released iPhone.

1998: iMAC G3 ‘The back of our computer looks better than the front of the other guys. It looks like it’s from another planet. A good planet. A planet with better designers.’ – Steve Jobs. It was this computer that started the ‘i’ revolution. 101

Travel news

Greek gifts ‘Unearthing the exceptional’ – this is the mantra of Mantis, a rather special outfit who operate a collection of privately owned boutique hotels around the world - and when they say exceptional, they’re not kidding. Their latest recruit is Iconic Santorini, a stunning boutique cave hotel located on the Greek island’s sheltered western coast. It’s only just opened, but already we’ve heard good things – probably thanks to the chic, contemporary accommodation and contrastingly au naturel setting (the five-level hotel is actually carved out of the island’s volcanic caldera wall, hence cave hotel), not to mention enticing Aegean views and Hellenic hospitality. (mantiscollection.com/iconic-santorini)

Whether it’s a secluded spa journey of self-discovery in Mauritius or simply relaxing on the enchanted waters of Santorini, take the opportunity to de-stress, unwind and re-invent yourself words : G E M M A K N I G HT

Home from home When looking for a boutique hotel in Manchester you’d be hard pushed to find a more stylish option than the Malmaison. Part of the hotel brand mostly recognisable for its unique locations and imaginative decor, the Malmaison Manchester is arguably one of the very best. A stone’s throw from Piccadilly station, two of the world’s most famous football clubs and more shops than you could ever wish for, the hotel is located in a renovated elegant warehouse dating back to 1904. The sumptuous selection of rooms and suites are based in both the old and the new part of the building offering some of the slinkiest decor we’ve seen in the area. Moody lighting, oversized beds and flat screen TVs make for the ultimate city stay. Enjoy contemporary cuisine in the Smoak Bar & Grill and the best in laid back lounging, not to mention celeb spotting in the recently opened MALBAR (which boasts one of the best cocktail menus in the North West) and Le Petit Spa, located in the basement adding the final glamorous touch to a hotel full of passion and personality. (malmaison.com)

‘The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes’ – Marcel Proust 102

The cheshire Magazine | Travel

Long haul Vs short haul

Luxury at its best Take possibly the most famous hotel brand in the world, add the most glamorous location in the Middle East and you have a recipe for pure luxury. The Ritz Carlton Dubai offers everything that you would expect from a hotel in region, including unspoilt views of the Arabian Gulf and unrivalled accommodation. Located on the edge of the extensive Marina district, the hotel is secluded whilst still being in the midst of the action, set back from the busy Jumeriah Beach promenade with a whole host of restaurants, bars and shops just a moment’s walk away. The signature spa is a must visit as is the Amaseena restaurant, where guests can experience delicious regional cuisine under the Arabian night sky. (ritzcarlton.com)

How very neigh-bourly

Long Haul Mauritius

Nestled away in lush tropical gardens is the newly opened Westin Turtle Bay Resort and Spa. Surrounded by sugarcane fields the resort has been designed with its guest’s wellbeing in mind; every element of your stay is designed to be a rejuvenating experience. The aptly–named Heavenly spa offers an array of treatments, and with two swimming pools, a state-of-the-art gym and a superfoods menu there’s never been a better excuse to detox. (westinturtlebaymauritius.com)

Coworth Park, the Dorchester Collection’s luxury country house hotel and spa, have well and truly gone the extra mile (or furlong, if you will) and introduced a new prestige check-in service for equestrian visitors. Not content to offer their human guests the ultimate luxury mini-break, your horse can now also enjoy stable-from-stable comforts such as personalised check-in, stable door name plate, equine manicure, luxury post ride bubble bath and relaxing aromatherapy oil muscle massage. Only pampered ponies need apply. (dorchestercollection.com)

Short Haul Sardinia

As bikini season fast approaches, the Forte Village Resort in southern Sardinia hosts a series of specialist fitness retreats, run by London personal trainer Matt Roberts and his expert team. Aiming to increase fitness and boost metabolism, it provides a mix of daily exercise sessions, balanced meals and sports massages. Set amid 55 acres of sub-tropical gardens, with a leading Thalassotherapy spa and beach nearby, a week of exercise doesn’t look too bad after all. (fortevillageresort.com) 103

Miami heat Go where the champagne flows and the art always entices â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playground for the rich words : ka t e racovolis

ometimes, visiting perpetually sunny Miami can feel like travelling back in time. Its iconic Ocean Drive for example, lined with Art Deco buildings (also home to the elaborate and famed Versace mansion) harks back to a golden Gatsby-esque era. However, in a place where sunshine and palm trees abound, Miami is a city with its focus firmly on the new and exciting; among the grand heritage youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see ever-rising condominiums, never-ending incandescent nightlife, world-renowned cultural attractions

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and a thriving business district. While Miami is one of the top destinations for party-goers, the popularity of its art and cultural offerings has quickly turned the city into the place to see and be seen for art dealers as well as buyers and editors from around the world. The annual Art Basel, which took place in December last year, drew a star-studded crowd; Elle Macpherson, Cindy Crawford, Eva Longoria and Kevin Spacey were all among the cast of A-list attendees. Galleries from across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa brought their best

The cheshire Magazine | Travel

modern and contemporary collections to show across all artistic mediums, from films to impressive large-scale sculptures. If you know the right people, you can brush shoulders with the likes of Tracey Emin, who hosted a party there this year, or Gerard Butler who hosted a soirée for Dom Pérignon at the W South Beach.

‘You can brush shoulders with the likes of Tracey Emin, Gerard Butler’ Although you’ll almost certainly leave feeling bleary-eyed and/or with a slightly depleted wallet (but art to fill your walls), it’s an attraction that is worth the trip. For shopping, Bal Harbour can’t be topped. It’s pegged as an outdoor shopping mall but is actually much more glamorous than this label would imply. Filled with a roll call of renowned luxury brands (Saint Laurent, Graff, Balenciaga – you get the idea), this is a retail therapy seeker’s dream. After exploring, choose from a smorgasbord of world-class eateries, from the familiar flavours from home such as Nobu, or a place with just as much opulence, such as the modern steakhouse Prime One Twelve. The utterly chic Scarpetta at the Hotel Fontainebleau, designed with a hint of David Collins Studio’s iconic light blue interiors, is also an unmissable place to enjoy authentic Italian fare. There is a seemingly infinite selection of hotels to choose from in Miami but the Betsy Hotel on Ocean Drive, South Beach, gets my vote. Set among a graceful, relaxed setting right on the beach, all that separates guests from the water here is a strip of lush greenery in Lummus Park. Proving that small can be beautiful, the hotel’s 61 spacious rooms make for a peaceful

and private stay. Its beach-house-style rooms, all in fresh off-whites with pastel-accented interiors, are embued with the tropical ambience for which people come to this city. Don’t miss the hearty American ‘popovers’ from its restaurant, BLT Steak and drinks on The Deck. The art offerings are also not to be missed. Indeed, guests are able to attend interesting local events that you wouldn’t easily find at luxury hotels, including art exhibitions, poetry readings and book signings, adding an unexpected dimension to your stay. All of these combined have earned the hotel its title as ‘the intelligent hotel’ and when describing The Betsy experience, its owner’s father (Pulitzer Prize finalist, Hyam Plutzik) summed it up perfectly when he said: ‘Expect no more. This is happiness!’ Rooms start from approx. £170 in June and from £175 in July and August 2014. The Betsy Hotel (thebetsyhotel.com)

clockwise from left: hotel exterior; sun deck; view from sun deck; LOBBY, all AT THE BETSY HOTEL

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Hole in one Jack Hayward takes himself off on a European golf break, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the golf break he was expecting, proving that sometimes it pays to go off-piste

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The cheshire Magazine | Travel

don’t know about you, but when I think of golf breaks my mind wanders happily to the Algarve, the Costa Brava and dreamy green plains set among visions of sun and the sea. However, as lovely as such a break might be, there is little doubt that a clubs-in-tow trip to more unchartered golfing territory can be rather more fulfilling and this is why I find myself in Finland and Estonia, geared up for a taste of something altogether a little different. Our first stop is Linna Golf, one of Finland’s prized golfing jewels, situated about an hour north of Helsinki. Boasting a proud history of hosting European Challenge Tour events, and multiple prestigious Finnish events to boot, Linna promises bundles and I’m pleased to report that it delivers. The course is mapped out beautifully by tall Scandinavian pines that weave their way through the luscious layout and, considering the battle against the elements that the club faces every winter, the condition of the grounds is remarkable. Linna’s strongest suit comes in the form of attention to detail. Rolex-powered clocks on the first tee momentarily make us feel like pros before harsh reality sets in, and yet more Rolex-ware in the clubhouse showing the live time at St Andrews, ‘The home of golf’, adds a smart touch. I have the very pleasing and entirely appropriate impression that no expense has been spared around the place. Golf is a gentleman’s game after all and should make one feel as such. Our digs for the night following a hard day’s hacking are classically minimalist, but very generously sized, on-site suites. All that is required for a good night’s shut-eye and relaxation is provided in an abundant and unfussy manner but before that we have some important business to attend to. Just a stone’s throw from the clubhouse is the Hotel Vanajanlinna, the former home of industrialist C.W. Rosenlew who used the site as a hunting lodge to which aristocrats flocked, and this is where our supper is to be provided. In 1996 the property was opened as a castle 

main image: estonia; bottom, from left: finland; Vanajanlinna, finland; tallinn

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right: course directions in estonia

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hotel and now plays host to the culinary talents of Chef de Cuisine Mika Jokela who quashes any lingering doubts regarding nonsense we might have picked up suggesting that Scandinavian diners and chefs alike only have eyes for pickled ocean-dwellers. Several courses later, there has been no hint of a pickled ingredient and though it wouldn’t have gone amiss there isn’t even any fish on offer. Instead we are treated to locally foraged mushrooms, sumptuous duck and lashings of fantastic wine, the like of which sends us wistfully on the way to a sleep which only great wine and great food can bring about. The next morning Finland is bid a fond farewell and a quick hop to the south coast has us ready to depart, by ferry, for Tallinn. Ferry travel hardly reeks of glamour but if I were to repeat the trip then I would have no hesitation in opting for it again, such is the comfort provided by our business class tickets, which came highly recommended. A short trip across the Baltic later and we arrive just outside of one of the world’s most stunningly preserved medieval cities, where we are due to stay at the Three Sisters Hotel, so called because it is made up of three majestic merchants’ houses. Rumour has it that the hotel played host to HM The Queen when she visited the city and it’s easy to see why. Even just a quick pit-stop to deposit our luggage is enough to leave each and every one of us craving more medieval magic and an opportunity to admire the 16th century charms of Tallinn at closer quarters. But sporting matters are more pressing at present and so we leave the hotel in search of the Estonian Golf & Country Club to test out its two courses. The first, the Stone Course, does exactly what it says on the tin. A nine-hole course full of character, identifiable by the large quantities of age-old stone that mark the expanses, it is designed to provide everything needed to sharpen up ahead of taking on its more highly regarded big sister. The sibling in question, the Sea Course, is fantastic. Measuring up at a meaty 7,000-plus yards the course promises a test of the highest order and the quality of the landscaping speaks

The cheshire Magazine | Travel

for itself. Though there are a few thrown in, the Sea Course needs no quirks, as it skirts through gorgeous plant life and flirts with the Baltic Sea. Our entire travelling party is in agreement with industry experts who rate the course among the very best in Europe, which is remarkable really when considering that Estonia is a relative newbie to our mad old game. The drive back from the club to the Old Town in itself provides a great insight into Estonia’s Soviet-dominated past, as soulless tower blocks scar the landscape, acting as a smokescreen to the heart-stoppingly beautiful city centre. Here, the staggering architecture ranging from the medieval contributions to the more modern Russian stamps of authority blows everybody away. The cobbled streets and preserved properties are enough in themselves but a city tour is highly recommended if you crave historical knowledge and enjoy a fable, something of which we swiftly find out the Estonians are rather fond. On the flipside to Tallinn’s hefty cultural offering, the city remains a popular destination for stag travellers and our newfound Finnish friends share with us the secrets of such success. They highlight that ‘every woman in Tallinn is beautiful’ and that ‘the beer is much cheaper here’. They aren’t wrong. They are, and it is. The brilliant golf, however, combined with the architecture, mind-boggling history and enchanting quaintness of the city have a far more profound effect on me. At least, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

MORE INFORMATION The Estonian Golf & Country Club: Sea Course (Par 72, 6,462 metres, 18 holes, European Tour course) and Stone Course (Par 36, 2,903 metres, 9 holes). Packages start from €112 for two rounds of golf and one night’s accommodation (egcc.ee) Linna Golf (Par 72, 6,624 metres, 18 holes) European Tour Course (linnagolf.fi/en) With thanks to Linna Golf, Estonian Golf & Country Club, the Three Sisters Hotel Tallinn, Finnair, Tallink, and Landmark Media

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02/05/2014 15:09

he privacy and independence of a villa holiday can be really appealing, especially if you’re travelling with a family. Plenty of space, total seclusion, freedom to come and go as you please and to shop for and cook delicious local food are, indeed, definite benefits. However, sometimes self-catering holidays can leave you with a feeling of following the same old routine, just in a different location (although hopefully with nicer weather). Luxury hotels across the globe are adding private villas to their portfolio of rooms and suites, whilst a new breed of 5-star all-villa resorts is opening up to rave reviews. These places offer a wealth of facilities, including kids’ clubs, spas and sporting activities, as well as gorgeous restaurants and private chefs for intimate in-villa dining without the hard work of preparing it yourself.

Elounda Gulf Villas, Crete, Greece Enjoy knockout views over your own private infinity pool towards beautiful Mirabello Bay at this small, family-run boutique resort. Nothing is too much trouble here and the friendly, dedicated staff make guests feel really welcome with thoughtful touches such as delicious Cretan treats and arranging everything from spa treatments to sailing trips. The sleek, spacious villas all have their own kitchen so you can shop and cook for yourself or let the resort’s culinary team prepare a private meal for you. For a change of scenery, try the resort’s three exquisite restaurants including the brand new taverna which offers traditional fish dishes.

Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Royal Residences, Dubai Clustered around a magnificent lagoon pool, amidst tropical gardens, the 38 exclusive Royal Residences are the epitome of luxury and combine the privacy and exclusivity of villa living with the myriad of facilities on offer at the impressive Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. With opulent Ottoman décor, one of the world’s best spas and

Combine five-star facilities with home-from-home freedom. Luxury travel expert, Annelouise Speakman takes a look at resort villa holidays

explore…

resort villa relaxation One Bedroom Beach House at Parrot Cay

Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas The Private Residence, Gili Lankanfushi

Royal Residences at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

Sanctuary Villa, Parrot Cay

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The cheshire Magazine | Travel Promotion

Elounda Gulf Villas, Crete

six gourmet restaurants, this is certainly a resort with the X Factor – so much so that glamorous Nicole Scherzinger filmed her judges’ house episode of the TV talent show here in 2012.

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

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives Most Maldives resorts are made up of beach and water villas, but the huge, rustic-chic Private Reserve at Gili Lankanfushi is worthy of special mention. The 1,400-square-metre over-water villa, with its expansive sundecks, private wine-cellar and spa facility, is only accessible by boat and enjoys uninterrupted views over the azure Indian Ocean. Relaxation is taken very seriously here, aided phenomenally by your own “Mr Friday” – discreet, friendly personal butlers who are there to make your every wish a reality, sometimes before you’ve realised you needed it.

#1 Adventures Expeditions & Travels Notebook, £27, Organise Us (organise-us.com)

Sheraton Pranburi Villas, Thailand

Gili Lankanfushi

This all-villa beach resort in peaceful Pranburi, 30 minutes’ drive from Hua Hin, combines luxury and attentive service with stuning and environmentally friendly, low-impact architecture. The 55 particularly private villas all have stone-walled gardens with pools and butler service. For total relaxation, in-villa massages can be arranged.

#2 Miramar Black Beach Sandals £18, Gioseppo (myfashiontribu.com)

Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos If you dream of fine white sand and bright turquoise Caribbean Sea, the villas at Parrot Cay are the way to go. They’re just steps from the beach and popular with romantic couples as well as celebrities thanks to the secluded location and privacy this island provides. The villas themselves range from wood-slatted one-bedroom cottages with cool, subdued interiors to newer, larger beach houses. Other key attractions here include fantastic food, attentive butler service and the wonderful COMO Shambhala Spa. Annelouise Speakman is a luxury travel expert and director at Destinology, 47 - 49 Alderley Road, Wilmslow, SK9 1NZ. (01625 88 55 88)

#3 Sete square neck dress, £210, Heidi Klein (heidiklein.com) #4 Dual Time watch, £179, Oxygen (watchshop.com)

#5 Ravello Balcony Top and Contrast Fold Over Bottom, £95 & £85, Heidi Klein (heidiklein.com)

Living Room in a Seafront Royal Residence at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

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Weekend away

…Le Saint-James, Bordeaux Words: gemma knight

t rather belies my chosen profession, but it’s nevertheless rather difficult to put a place like this into words. With Bordeaux laid out in all its splendour below, Le Saint-James is a transformed 18th century farmhouse nestled in the rustic, balmy village of Bouliac – a place as famed for its popularity as a post-war country retreat as its enduringly exquisite food and wine. The farmhouse was modernised and enlarged by Jean Nouvel in 1989, now boasting 18 guest rooms spread over four pavilions which connect to the original glass-walled building, each designed to be reminiscent of the old tobacco-drying barns which were once dotted throughout the region. The pavilions’ exteriors are chipped and rusty, but this is all part of the charm and intended to add to their authenticity – a word, it seems, quite at the heart of the ethos here. The guest rooms and huge dining area are open and light-filled, built specifically so that you feel as though you are out of doors amidst the rolling vineyards surrounding the property, their sweet, sharp smell constantly filling the air inside and out. Authentic, too, are the gourmet dining options on offer, prepared by none other than Michelin-starred chef Nicolas Magie and a perfect nod to the hearty, provincial fare of yesteryear with a contemporary twist (think green asparagus with

fresh morels and milk calf grilled on a wood fire). And if that’s not authentic enough, you can even eat in the village’s traditional French bistro, nestled in the heart of narrow, cobbled Bouliac, filled with hospitable Gallic waiters and flanked by its very own Romanesque church. Slightly less on the authentic side are the stunning suites, one of which features a private terrace and Jacuzzi, while another boasts a real Harley Davidson propped up and gleaming in a spotless corner – though the unexpected pang of modernity is a sumptuously satisfying contradiction to say the least. Even a long weekend is enough to soak up a thoroughly gratifying swig of this sun-drenched little oasis, with cooking classes (for which the hotel is famed), wine tasting, and even picnics on pinasse boats in the exclusive Arcachon Bay on hand to help guests indulge, immerse and truly unwind. The one incongruous element is the name. ‘Le Saint-James’ comes from one of historic downtown Bordeaux’s most famous streets, and here it is impossible to feel anything but a million miles from the urban world, old or new. Perhaps a frightening thought if, like me, you are a dyed-in-the-wool urbanite, but trust me; have a glass of wine and let go. It’s bliss. (saintjames-bouliac.com)

‘As famed for its popularity as a post-war country retreat as its enduringly exquisite food and wine’ 114

Dubai Maldives Mauritius Europe Thailand Caribbean USA

Jumeirah Zabeel Saray royal reSidenceS, dubai exquiSite luxury from ÂŁ1029 Let the travel experts at Destinology tailor-make your next luxury holiday. Choose from handpicked resorts in spectacular destinations such as the stunning Royal Residences at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai and experience truly personalised service every step of the way. Price is per person based on 4 adults and 4 children sharing a 4 Bedroom Lagoon Residence at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray for 3 nights, on Bed & Breakfast, travel selected dates 1- 31 Aug 14, incl. Emirates flights from Manchester and return private transfers. Book by 30 Jun. Price subject to availability. Booking conditions apply.

Destinology - cheshire magazine.indd 1

01625 88 55 88

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

02/05/2014 15:44:40

Kids’ news

The sun is out (sort of) and all the smaller members of the family are raring to go - we’ll help make sure they do it in style words: gemma knight

The kids from Ipanema Inspired by the spirit of summer, the latest looks from Scotch & Soda transport your little ones to the streets of Rio with floral designs, fruity embroideries and a smattering of tassels. The wardrobe is stylish but comfortable and includes a tropical twist, with straw hats and bright prints. With splashes of tie-dye and sun-faded fabrics, the brand creates a relaxed surfer feel that will last until school starts again. Available from Black White Denim, Wilmslow & Tuula Retail, Alderley Edge (scotch-soda.com)

PETS CORNER Baby’s first wheels Finding the perfect pram is a problem every parent-to-be must face. To make things easier, Joolz has launched its first customisation programme, giving you the chance to design your baby’s first wheels. Available in three different fabrics, with over 120 different colourways, it comes complete with a matching rain-cover and nursery bag. After the design is finished, it will be delivered ready for the significant new arrival. £999, available at Adorable Tots, House of Fraser, Manchester M3 4QL (my-joolz.co.uk) 116

BARKING MAD When a new pet emporium touts itself as ‘for cultured canines and picky puppies’, you know it’ll be one of two things; hopelessly pretentious, or justifiably immodest. Luckily Barkers in Wilmslow is the latter, and very definitely barking up the right tree when it comes to its fabulous products, nutrition experts and decadent dog spa. They’re ever so friendly, so we recommend popping by when you’re next in town. 17-19 Alderley Road, Wilmslow SK9 1HY (01625 415192, barkersfordogs.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Family

Mini fashion fix When it comes to dressing up, you can never be too young. Get your mini fashion fix at Alex and Alexa with the beautiful new junior spring arrivals from Roberto Cavalli, Paul Smith Jr and Milly Minis. The assortment of beautiful floral-trouser and dress combos are ideal for the forthcoming season of garden parties, ice creams and (fingers crossed) sunshine, while trapeze T-shirts and cropped leggings are perfect for messing around in. (alexandalexa.com)

A world of pure imagination Playtime just got a whole lot more glamorous thanks to these beautiful playhouses from The Masters Wishmakers. Handmade in England, each design is created from scratch and takes around 12 weeks to build. Fully insulated and weatherproof with bespoke furniture inside, you can customise your dream playhouse and add your own finishing touches. From the ‘Hotchpotch’ which combines four quintessential English themes, to the adventurer’s treehouse or princess bedroom, dreams really can come true. If you have just shy of £50k to spend, that is… (masterwishmakers.com)

HOME GROWN This gorgeous doggy brand was recently launched by Manchester native Sue Barrett and the friend she met while studying at Manchester Metropolitan University, Louise Zadok, meaning it’s a truly Northern affair. All their lovely products – which include accessories, beds and even ‘paws off’ storage – are made in the UK and are of beautiful quality. We suggest having a good nose around their website. (poppyandrufus.co.uk)

POOCH PORTRAITS We’ve always liked canine couture brand Houndworthy, so we’re thrilled to announce its collaboration with jewellery designer extraordinaire Jessica de Lotz. Together the pair will provide a portraiture service allowing dog-lovers to submit an image of their dog, which de Lotz will then reproduce in the form of one of her signature antique-inspired wax seals in sterling silver, with the option of 18ct gold plating or solid gold. For the ultimate pampered pooch, to say the least. (houndworthy.com, jessicadelotz.co.uk)

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Family | The cheshire Magazine

FRENCH FINESSE

icomte A, the brand that dresses the French polo team and half of its parliament, also offers its classic and sporty aesthetic in miniature form. Founder Arthur de Soultrait took his inspiration from vibrant racing silks, and has proved that the finesse of little red chinos and pale blue blazers translates effortlessly across the world with the launch of 30 international boutiques. The latest collection is as sophisticated as it is adorable. Jacket, £115, trousers, £59, shirt, £65 and bow tie, £18 (vicomte-a.com)

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

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

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

The cheshire Magazine | Family

REMEMBER

The classroom

The British Legion has launched a new project to ‘pass the torch of remembrance onto a new generation’. Poppy seeds have been sent to every school in the UK as part of the commemorations for the centenary of the outbreak of World War One. The intention is that schools will plant poppies in their gardens and grounds, as a symbol of WW1. (britishlegion.org.uk)

Cheshire’s students are as enterprising as ever, taking part in the Engineering Education Scheme and Young Enterprise initiative, as well as finding glory on the golfing green words: louisa castle

Engineering success A team of five innovative students from Abbey College Manchester have proven their enterprising prowess after taking part in this year’s national Engineering Education Scheme (EES), through which students receive the EES national certificate. To complete the six-month challenge, the team of A-Level and BTEC Science students worked alongside a senior engineer from Sellafield Ltd and Abbey College Manchester’s Physics teachers Janet Morris and Lucy O’Brien to solve a real engineering problem. Mrs Morris explained: ‘The students were tasked with creating a new recovery system for Sellafield Ltd. The aim was to design and demonstrate the feasibility of installing a manual recovery system which does not rely on electrical mains power and minimises, or potentially eliminates, operator exposure to radioactive release.’ The project culminated in a Celebration and Assessment Day at Liverpool University, which gave the team the opportunity to present their work to a panel of assessors. (abbeymanchester.co.uk)

Into the swing Second year student, Georgia Coughlin has become the 2014 winner of the Lee Westwood Golf School Matchplay Championships. After an excellent match, leading from the halfway point Georgia took the game from her opponent, Jack Craven, on the 15th after she went 4-up. ‘I played well throughout the whole tournament, I was so pleased,’ beamed Georgia. ‘With it being my last year I really wanted to win and get my name on the School’s honour board. I’m absolutely delighted to be the 2014 Champion’. Georgia has only two months left of her two year BTEC National Diploma course which is based at the Macdonald Portal Premier Golf Course in Cheshire. She is focused on making sure both her golf and school work is of the highest standard so she can really look forward to the summer, returning to school in September to complete a Golf Performance Programme. Watch out for Georgia’s name on the Ladies European Tour in the coming years. (leewestwoodgolfschool.com)

Wolf tales A team from Abbey Gate College has made it through to the Cheshire and Warrington Final of the Lower Sixth Young Enterprise initiative. The team, called Wolf Tales, are pictured here with their Barclays Business Advisor, Sarah Challiner, following their win in the Cheshire West and Chester Area Young Enterprise Final. The group is passionate about encouraging learning to read and have created their own book, Candy Floss Clouds, aimed at 4-8 year olds with a central character named Abbey Gate. All proceeds from sales of the book go to a local children’s charity, Stick’n’Step. Wolf Tales will be competing against winning companies from the Warrington and Cheshire East Area Boards for a place in the North West Final. The Wolf Tales Team: Kate Dawson; Ellis Doak; Ellen Harris; Lucy Hopewell; Harriet Martin; Ellie Meredith; Emma Morgan; Ellie Nicholas; Eilidh Pilkington – Managing Director; Molly Proctor; Isabel Wetwel; Brooke Robert. (abbeygatecollege.co.uk) 121

When your hom e is part of who you are For a certain type of person, their home deﬁnes them. It plays a fundamental part in their contentment with life. If that sounds like you, we should meet. Because at Eventus we understand you want your residence to be the sum of a thousand extraordinary parts. Where every room makes a statement. Every space exudes style and grace. And every detail - from light switches and skirting boards to the pool tiles and landscaping - has been considered and ﬁnessed. That’s why Eventus exists. To design, build and deliver residences that are as extraordinary as their owners. For more information about Eventus call 01942 263485 or visit us at www.eventusproperties.co.uk

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06/03/2014 11:21

homes and

interiors showcasing the

finest HOMES & PROPERTY IN CHESHIRE AND BEYOND

MODERNIST

MAN Sir David Chipperfield talks architecture

Fit to

Art prints are all the rage

IMAGE: JEAN PAUL GAULTIER FOR LELIEVRE

Interiors news

This summer it’s all about floral fabrics, a bright, cutting-edge kitchen, tempting tableware, and (as usual) just a little bit of glitz words: gemma knight

Italian textiles As summer blooms, we love the idea of helping your home reflect your garden with pretty floral fabrics. So far the nicest we’ve come across is the brand new Armani/Casa Exclusive Textiles by Rubelli collection, a gorgeous, rich medley of sophisticated prints designed to evoke the world of Giorgio Armani in all its trademark elegance. Ranging from tweeds to metallics, aged silks with decorative embroideries to ornate historical jacquards, we particularly like the Lady Hamilton fabric in Limone with its over-sized floral motif, perfect for livening up furnishings in need of a seasonal makeover. (rubelli.com)

Create a buzz

Well-dressed Luxury interior fabric company Lelievre has once again teamed up with fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier for a second collection of home fabrics and accessories, bringing the world of haute couture straight into your home. The range utilises photographic landscapes featuring crushed metal, angelic medallions and patchwork, plus images taken by French photographers Pierre & Gilles. Encompassing cushions, curtains, throws, quilts and rugs adorned with crystals, tulle, lace and metallic splashes, it is safe to say that the duo has surpassed itself yet again. (lelievre.eu) 124

Brighten up your cooking crockery with Emma Bridgewater’s new spring selection. The well-loved English pottery company has a number of new patterns available this season to provide that country kitchen feel in your home, including the Rose & Bee Collection which features a nostalgic rose design, a pale blue Persian border and drowsy little bees. Each piece of pottery the company creates and sells is designed by the eponymous founder Emma Bridgewater or by her husband Matthew Rice. Each collection reflects a vintage style and a hand-crafted sense of quality. (emmabridgewater.co.uk)

The cheshire Magazine | Interiors

A touch of glitz Opulent furniture brand Lacaze may have just opened its flagship store in London’s fashionable Chelsea district, but that certainly doesn’t mean the rest of the country can’t get their hands on these handcrafted furnishings and exquisite accessories. With a heavy focus on the aesthetic which aims never to detract from practicality and comfort, its collections include everything from ottomans, beds and headboards to sofas, armchairs and stools, our personal favourite without doubt the Hilton sofa with its striking black and gold motif and sleek contemporary lines. (lacaze.co.uk)

Home & grandeur Vamping up the glamour stakes, the Versace Home line has launched two new elaborate tableware ranges. Medusa Gala and the even more opulent Medusa Gala Gold, feature gold ribboning and Baroque details across the multi-piece dining sets. Each piece is finished with a deep glaze to harden it into being dishwasher-ready and to make it positively gleam in candle light. Medusa Gala and Medusa Gala Gold collection, Versace Home (versace.com)

Grand designs Electrolux Grand Cuisine is the only professional cooking system designed for the home. Comprised around nine units, it includes a French-style Molteni cooking stove, a combination oven, a blast chiller and a vacuum sealer. It’s been created to produce restaurant-quality food at home and designed to solve the home-cooking problems you didn’t even know were there. For example, it has an interactive interface that can be controlled with an elbow when your arms are full. Intelligent sensors and pre-set programmes can cook anything from steak to meringues with precise heat and humidity, while manual settings are available for those more confident chefs. Electrolux Grand Cuisine, from £43,000, Electrolux (grandcuisine.com) 125

A colourful life

Gabrielle Lane meets Tricia Guild OBE, the founder of interiors empire Designers Guild, to talk creative passion and business evolution

ike most successful businesses, Designers Guild was born out of its founderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire to solve a problem. In 1970, interior designer Tricia Guild was frustrated at the lack of contemporary textiles available and set about producing a small selection of block-printed materials inspired by India. Four decades later, the brand has an annual turnover of ÂŁ50 million from its own wall covering, upholstery and furniture ranges, alongside a wholesale business and partnerships

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with Christian Lacroix and Ralph Lauren Home. While I am currently speaking to Tricia at the company’s King’s Road showroom, we could equally be meeting at its offices in New York, Paris or Munich. ‘The business has grown tremendously but the aspiration of it hasn’t changed,’ explains Guild. ‘I always believed in showcasing a lifestyle; even when we started out I knew that I needed to communicate a lifestyle for people to understand. I think people find it much more difficult to design their spaces than they do to dress themselves.’ The question Guild gets asked most often is “How do I choose colour for myself?” which she has answered in her fourth and most recent book, Colour Deconstructed. It seems the argument over what colour to paint the living

‘It seems the argument over what colour to paint the living room rages worldwide’ room rages worldwide; the book has been printed in nine languages, the promotional tour has taken in the sights of Brazil, Scandinavia, France and Germany, and 60 per cent of all Designers Guild sales are now made overseas. ‘I wanted to demystify colour and make it not such a fantasy for people,’ she smiles. ‘I hope it’s helpful; I work with all different colours across the palette but start the book with a black and white chapter because neutral colours are very important to me and they balance other colours. Black and white are graphically strong and interesting. I tend to like cooler colours and I probably live with blues and greens 

far left: Tricia Guild OBE; left: Cushion selection at Designers Guild; below: Fergana Jade & Archimia Graphite cushion covers

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from left: Kashgar Granite Wallpaper; Kashgar collection; Alexandria Amethyst collection; Alexandria Amethyst cushion cover

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 being the principle players, and hot colours as accents, but with the book I like the fact that people can say, “I could live in that room” or “I’m more this kind of person”.’ Awarded an OBE for services to interior design in 2008, she still regards decorating as an enjoyable hobby: ‘The difficulty is finding that starting point and going with it. It’s good to create moodboards for yourself, and then you can get to know what you like and include all of your favourite things.’ Guild admits turning her creativity into a business four decades ago had a lot to do with youthful fearlessness, but commercial acumen is something she regards as essential for emerging designers. ‘You have to be practical when you are starting out, porous and open – but at the same time, you want to survive. I think it is really important to do your homework commercially as well as creatively. [For example] when

deciding about partnerships, a lot of preparation goes into making those decisions; all of the brands that we have are very different from our own. We have a broad range of different types of designs and that is what

‘Guild admits turning her creativity into a business had a lot to do with youthful fearlessness’ interests me, not just having one collection of, say, colourful flowers and repeating that.’ In 2008, Designers Guild invested in its online operations and now offers a visual gallery as well as a shop for bedding and home accessories. I ask if the venture was difficult given the nature of the products and the

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

brand’s high-end benchmark. ‘We do our best to put heart into it and we try and make it as tactile as possible. What I find is that I like to “know” a brand if I’m shopping, so you are usually already involved with it. Of course, people do come into the store too but it means they can shop how they like.’ Clearly in her element, for 15 minutes after our interview she is pottering around the store, speaking to staff and admiring the displays – and even purchasing something. ‘I’m always working on different collections. We have launched autumn and we’re now working on photography for next spring. There is an exciting moment when you show the collection to your own people for the first time. I am involved in all aspects so what I am thinking about is determined by where I am on any particular day.’ Married to restaurateur Richard Polo, who

divides his business interests between London and New York, Guild usually spends any free time indulging other artistic passions. ‘I love gardening and cooking – how you put food on a plate, or fresh herbs thrown into a risotto. I like shopping around antique markets too and contemporary art, visual arts, opera and theatre.’ Travel remains not only part of her working life but also is something she regards as character building. ‘I find it very inspirational; when people travel more, they see a different range of styles.’ ‘If you are ambitious and you want more, you have to do more; you make time for things you want to do. How lucky I am that I get a lot out of it.’ (designersguild.com)

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Recreate

the look

Summer is no time to surround yourself with dark colours and formal designs – instead, why not bring the nicest time of year indoors with our fabulously vivid, art-inspired looks? words: gemma knight

ow that summer is truly upon us (even if the weather hasn’t quite cottoned on yet), there’s never been a better time to inject a welcome splash of seasonal colour into your soft furnishings. So what better way to avoid getting a garish, kitsch overall effect (after all, bright colours can all too easily end up looking more playground than parlour) than to redesign according to the dictate of the most vibrant art disciplines, be it Nouveau, Deco or Pop.We love these vivid,

art-inspired pieces and their fabulous ability to create a sumptuous bed of colour against muted backgrounds (whites and greys work best), giving large rooms a warm central focus and a much-needed dose of summer attitude. Complement your new pieces with small finishing touches in block colours that hark back to the works of Andy Warhol and Clarice Cliff, then complete the look with a splash of life and movement in the form of flowers or candles.

Fresh Bright stripe rug John Lewis, from £199 (johnlewis.com)

Light Colour tealight holder, LSA International, £14.50 each (lsa-international.com) SO QUIET armchair Les Contemporains collection, from £2,990 (roche-bobois.com)

L’AN V Marquise armchair Nouveaux Classiques collection, from £2,570 (roche-bobois.com)

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Main image: Les contemporains collection, Roche Bobois (roche-bobois.com)

Vase, LSA, £29.95 (selfridges.com) Purple cerise check lambswool throw, Home Furnishings collection, £89.95 (liberty.co.uk) Tall column vase, LSA, £120 (selfridges.com)

Peach Kew zigzag cushion, Missoni Home, £135 (liberty.co.uk)

Splash cushion, Bonnie and Neil, £85 (selfridges.com)

‘Give rooms a warm central focus and a dose of summer attitude’ 131

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The cheshire Magazine | Home & Interiors

My kitchen

Rules Create a kitchen that’s heavenly in both decor and design; Smallbone of Devizes can dream up such a chic and multi-functional space that you’ll never want to leave it w o r ds : a n n a b e l h a r r i s o n

hile we may be able to manage perfectly well without a study, cinema room or gym at home, a kitchen and dining area is essential and somewhere we spend a great deal of time every day – preparing food, socialising and eating as a family unit. So it stands to reason that we should all invest time and money in creating not only a space we love but one that will also stand the test of time, as one should with items in one’s bedroom or bathroom, also used daily. Smallbone of Devizes, based in Wiltshire, has been hand-making kitchens that perform on both levels since 1978 and there’s something lovely about knowing yours has been created by a team of skilled artisans and craftsmen at a heritage British brand rather than having been churned out by a huge company’s impersonal machines. Founded by friends Charlie Smallbone, Graham Clarke and Mark Wilkinson, Smallbone was singled out for the name because both Clarks shoes and Wilkinson Sword were already established. As the company grew, it became known for pine farmhouse-style kitchens and for using century-old techniques, and certified, traceable materials. The newest collection from Smallbone aims to embrace the kitchen as a social hub as well as a functional space because, as its designer Peter Sheppard explains, the ‘relationship between the cooking and eating areas has become less 

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defined’. For this collection, named Brasserie, he took inspiration from the industrial world and from relaxed local restaurants: ‘I eat out a lot,’ he says. ‘One location of [French restaurant chain] Aubaine is otherwise quite ordinary but it has this amazing, oversized dresser with open shelves at the back which adds an enormous amount of interest. It occurred to me that almost everyone hates formal dining now; I don’t but most people do – fussy waiters etc. I thought it would be quite fun to design a kitchen based on what people like when they’re going out and how it affects them at home. In the way that hotel bathrooms affected people’s own bathrooms, I think restaurant interiors have affected the way people do their houses, and particularly kitchens.’ For city residents who yearn for a touch of the countryside, I think Sheppard’s handcraftedurban combination is a winning one. Long strips of oak characterise this kitchen’s design,

workshop has done an amazing job in bringing out the grain in the wood. In the past people have asked for wood without knots but we’ve made a feature of it in this kitchen and it works really well.’ The dual purpose element – social hub and cooking environment – is crucial also to Sheppard’s creative vision. ‘I see the Smallbone of Devizes client using the kitchen daily, even if they are not cooking everyday in the space. It’s both atmospheric, with a strong design element, as well as being practical and friendly at the same time’. Users of the kitchen can prepare, cook, help, chat, eat and socialise, so it’s designed to reflect all these different activities. ‘Even if you go out for dinner every night, you still go into the kitchen every day. Everyone makes coffee and tea there, reads the papers, hangs out... Even if you never cook in the kitchen, you still want a nice one. It should be

‘A dual purpose element – social hub and cooking environment – is crucial to Brasserie’s design’ complete with unique knots and character, and the warm, toffee-coloured wood is given an urban edge thanks to accents of stainless steel and the use of plain cornices and skirting boards. Circular curves are notable only by their absence. Surface materials also complement the oak; brushed stainless steel, honed Bianco Carrara marble and a 60mm thick oak worktop. You can opt for your kitchen to be kitted out in pickled oak, a palette of paint colours and a natural oak finish; each kitchen will end up as a bespoke version of Brasserie’s overarching blueprint. Sheppard worked for Smallbone as creative director back in the 80s and has since carried on as an individual rather than within the company, creating collections such as Walnut & Silver and Macassar. He’s passionate about this kitchen not being aimed at anyone specific: ‘It’s for the kind of people who go to brasseries and coffee shops; so for everyone, really. It’s meant to be a relaxed, easy and enjoyable kitchen. Indeed, it has been universally popular and the

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the best ground floor room in your house.’ Sheppard’s passion for his work is evident and he knows what he likes, referring dismissively to ‘horrible fitted kitchens’ and incomprehensible technological wizardry in the kitchen. He doesn’t like the idea of ‘rows and rows of blank doors... Things in kitchens are useful, and food is beautiful. Pans are too and decorative plates. They’re all lovely to look at. Hiding everything away isn’t living – I cannot see how that’s interesting.’ Layout is vital, because no one must have their back to anyone else, whether family or guests. This critical point explains Sheppard’s use of an open plan layout and three islands of different sizes in the Brasserie design. ‘All my rooms have atmosphere – if you don’t go in and say “wow”, then I would feel I’d failed,’ says Sheppard. ‘Good kitchens have good atmospheres and this is important to get right.’ Smallbone of Devizes, London Road, Devizes SN10 2EU (020 3370 8201; smallbone.co.uk)

Cheshire and Manchester’s Largest Leading Independant Estate Agents www.jordanfishwick.co.uk

Castle Hill Prestbury Guide Price £2,750,000 Wilmslow and Alderley Edge Office 36/38 Alderley Road, SK91JX Sales: 01625 532000 Lettings: 01625 536300 E: wilmslow@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Individually Designed detached residence • Six reception rooms and Five suited bedrooms • Leisure facility include swimming pool, gym and cinema complex among others • Beautiful landscaped gardens and far reaching views beyond • Fully integrated audio system including intercom TV system • Triple garage and secure CCTV gated grounds

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Barrow Lane Hale Guide Price: £3,000,000 Glossop Office 44 High Street West, SK13 8BH Sales: 01457 858888 Lettings: 01457 858888 E: glossop@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Large family detached property in absolute seclusion • Views onto a 5 Acre of Woodland with a brook running through • Six bedrooms and bathrooms • Three large reception rooms • Outbuildings available for conversion back to full leisure facility • Potential further development or extension - subject to planning application • A rare opportunity to acquire such a substantial residence in the Hale area!!

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Cheshire and Manchester’s Largest Leading Independant Estate Agents www.jordanfishwick.co.uk

Hale Road Hale Barns Guide Price: £1,500,000 Wilmslow and Alderley Edge Office 36/38 Alderley Road, SK91JX Sales: 01625 532000 Lettings: 01625 536300 E: wilmslow@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Striking detached home in small exclusive development of just three • Six bedrooms and five bathrooms over three floors • Beautifully presented throughout • Outside entertaining area, hot tub and children play area • Large open plan family dining, living kitchen area • Further lounge, study and dining room • Built in home cinema • Double garage, gated entrance

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 & Presbury 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

Cornhills Park Road, Bowdon Guide Price £1,695,000 Glossop Office 44 High Street West, SK13 8BH Sales: 01457 858888 Lettings: 01457 858888 E: glossop@jordanfishwick.co.uk

Exceptional Penthouse Apartment with stunning views • Large roof garden with hot-tub and split level garden areas • Three bedrooms, two with en suites and master with dressing room • Large lounge and dining room with south facing balcony • Morning room open to fitted kitchen • Three under croft parking spaces • Direct, private lift access

Chorlton Office 410-412 Barlow Moor Road, M21 8AD Sales: 0161 860 4444 Lettings: 0161 860 444 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

Sweet charity With Jo Malone Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fantastic charity garden initiative helping communities across the country, Gemma Knight explains how their newest project is set to help those close to home

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The cheshire Magazine | Feature

e really like the new Limited Edition Silk Blossom Candle and Cologne from Jo Malone London and, now that we know we can count our good deed for the day done by buying them, we love them just a little bit more. The candle and cologne are, in fact, the latest in a succession of products chosen by the beauty brand each year to benefit the Jo Malone Charity Gardens Project, with every penny of the candle’s proceeds donated to the cause. This rather special global initiative supports marginalised, deprived communities in cities across the world, helping residents suffering from mental ill health, addiction, poverty and disability through what they rather whimsically term ‘the power of gardens’.

‘The mega-brand collaborates with various charities to build and maintain a whole host of luscious, scented community gardens’ And what is that, I hear you cry? In a nutshell, it means that the mega-brand collaborates with various charities to build and maintain a whole host of luscious, scented community gardens. As a result, residents not only benefit from new green public spaces but also pick up a whole range of gardening skills which they can then use to find work as well as becoming more

self-sufficient. It might seem like a strange way of helping the underprivileged, but is already aiding communities up and down the country. The Old English Garden project in Battersea Park, for example, was started in 2012 and coordinated by Thrive, a charity which helps the disabled through the therapeutic power of gardening, with eight per cent of the proceeds from the sale of the latest limited edition candle and cologne still going towards its upkeep. And, in fact, gardening is not nearly as peculiar a choice as it might seem. After all, Jo Malone London is famously inspired by Mother Nature in all her glory, as the new Silk Blossom creations are testament to with their delicious apricot and white pepper top notes, silk blossom, rose and jasmine body, and lovely earthy scents of patchouli and moss in the base. And peculiar or not, the scheme certainly seems to be working, with the existing gardens flourishing and two new projects opening this summer, one in Edinburgh, and one right here on our doorstep in Liverpool. The Liverpool garden is situated in Kirkdale, Merseyside; one of the country’s most deprived neighbourhoods. Sitting in the top one per cent of impoverished areas nationwide, the local community suffers from very high levels of ill-health, unemployment and crime and has been the focus of numerous regeneration projects in recent years. Throughout the past twelve months, Jo Malone London has been supporting the tireless work of local charity Rotunda, which was founded in 1989 and is known for its community-led ethos and successful impact on the area’s levels of enterprise and social cohesion. The garden itself has been built on a small plot of land behind the charity’s community centre, a space which was once home to a children’s nursery. Having fallen into disrepair and gradually become derelict, what remained of the 

FROM LEFT: THE Thrive Garden BY JO MALONE LONDON; ROTUNDA GARDEN IN LIVERPOOL; SILK BLOSSOM CANDLE AND COLOGNE BY JO MALONE LONDON

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nursery was eventually destroyed by vandals, leaving the space very much in need of a helping hand and an ideal spot for a community garden. The finished article – the beautiful, scented Kirkdale Country Garden – will officially open at the end of June, though it’s already proved a hugely successful social project, with more than 200 residents getting involved (from just a year old to the grand age of ninety-four, we’re told) and a whole host of health and well-being programmes having already taken place. Indeed, not only has the garden provided a way for Rotunda to connect with some of the hardest to reach members of the community (particularly those with drug and alcohol dependency issues, the mentally ill, ex-offenders and long-term unemployed), but it’s also created a

‘At Jo Malone London giving is intrinsic to who we are’ – Rachel Baker, Jo Malone London fantastic recreational space where residents can even take entry-level horticultural courses or get involved with the ‘Wellie Boot Camp’ – a special scheme designed to help 16

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to 18 year-olds who have dropped out of school gain gardening qualifications and move onto work within the sector. ‘At Jo Malone London giving is intrinsic to who we are,’ explains Rachel Baker, General Manager at Jo Malone London. ‘As a team we wanted to give back to the communities around us and we are delighted that we’re in a position to do exactly that and in a really inspiring way. At the heart of our charity work is the therapeutic power of gardening. As a team we searched long and hard for a cause that reflected our sensibilities, reinforced our British heritage and generally made sense for us. Gardens seemed the perfect fit!’ And it doesn’t end there. ‘Next we’ll be rolling up our sleeves and pulling on our wellies to get digging in Bristol, where we’ll be creating a new garden working with local homeless people,’ Rachel explains, clearly already raring to go. And we’re not surprised – after all, with a well-established talent for brightening up homes the world over, who better to brighten up the lives of its deprived communities than Jo Malone London?

from top: peony & blush suede cologne and english pear & freesia cologne both by jo malone london; a garden in edinburgh

Adderley: A resid ence that inhabits you

Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen Adderley, you will find it occupies your thoughts like no other. Such grace in such space is all too rare. For this residence has been created as a celebration of grand living. Its statement entrance. The capacious rooms for entertaining. The five bedroom suites, off-the-charts de luxe. The pool, the spa, the grounds, the vista and exquisite finishings at every turn. And beyond the gates: the rarefied environs of the finest par t of Wilmslow. However : there is just one Adderley. We recommend you visit immediately. For more information about Adderley, Wilmslow, Cheshire call 01942 263485 or visit us at www.eventusproperties.co.uk

Eventus Properties Ltd Oakland House, 21 Hope Carr Road, Leigh, Lancashire, WN7 3ET T. 01942 263485 E. info@eventusproperties.co.uk www.eventusproperties.co.uk

HOT PROPERTIES Grafton Hall, South Cheshire

he Grafton Estate is situated in south Cheshire, in a secluded setting, surrounded by mature woodland and open countryside. The Estate, which extends to approximately 180 acres, provides the setting for the proposed development of Grafton Hall, a Palladian masterpiece in excess of 38,000 sq ft, designed and created by Great Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most renowned classical architect, Robert Adam. The proposed mansion house will undoubtedly be one of the most important new houses to be built in the country for many years. This fine Palladian mansion will be constructed using a sustainable fusion of modern building techniques and traditional materials. The majority of the mansion will be mellow stone, similar to Portland, with specially designed casement windows below a dental crown and parapet wall with a unique design of balustrade. The front of the property exudes grandeur, with a Palladian portico central entrance. The western elevation is designed with an attractive two storey columned bay, providing an orangery on the ground floor and a magnificent covered balcony to the master bedroom on the first floor. The rear of the property boasts an impressive central bay with four columns, flanked by a symmetrical layout of French doors, opening out onto a grand south-facing balustraded terrace from the principal reception rooms and the family kitchen. To the east of the main house is a single storey wing. To be constructed in the same style as the main house, this will primarily house the leisure wing of the property, including the swimming pool, atrium, gym, cinema, playroom and laundry. South Cheshire, ÂŁPOA, Jackson-Stops & Staff

For further information contact the Wilmslow Office (wilmslow@jackson-stops.co.uk; 01625 540 340)

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Amberley, Prestbury

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The proposed mansion house will undoubtedly be one of the most important new houses to be built in the country for many yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

et in one of the most established and mature plots in this exclusive enclave of Prestbury, Amberley sets new standards for luxury living in the area. The plot is unrivalled in both its position and characteristics. Its high beech hedges to all sides offer total privacy and excellent natural security. The grounds possess numerous mature landscape features that only come from decades of landscape planning and maintenance. The front and south facing rear gardens are professionally designed and fully landscaped. Existing mature planting, mixed with new large specimens, creates a truly unique setting. Positioned towards the northern corner of the plot, Amberley has a near perfect orientation. The design harnesses the unique aspect, with the benefit of the optimum natural light in the main rooms of the house at key times of the day. Externally, the Portland stone features and the classical white render complement the contemporary black window detailing. The roof is covered in natural slate that projects a rich and beautiful quality. Levels of roof, wall and floor insulation, which exceed the building regulations requirements, ensure the property is comfortable and energy efficient. The entire property has been interior designed and space planned and contains a unique blend of contemporary and period features. Materials and finishes have been carefully selected from around the world and have been incorporated with attention to every last detail. Collar House Drive, Prestbury, Macclesfield ÂŁ2.65m, Jackson-Stops & Staff

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savills.co.uk

1 AWARD WINNING 'ITALIANATE' VILLA CLOSE TO PRESTBURY VILLAGE prestbury, cheshire Unique Italianate new build ø 4 receptions, 5 bedrooms suites ø superbly designed bespoke family home finished to an extremely high standard throughout ø fabulous Siematic living/dining kitchen ø media, gym, 2nd kitchen ø rear sun terrace, loggia, landscaped gardens ø private road close to Prestbury village ø far reaching Southerly facing rural views ø EPC = C Guide £2.75 million

Savills Wilmslow Mark Holden mholden@savills.com

01625 417454

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savills.co.uk

PRESTBURY, cheshire

WILMSLOW, cheshire

Landmark Grade II listed farmhouse ø 4 receptions 4 bedrooms 2 baths ø central Prestbury village location ø fabulous gardens about 3 acres ø garaging, stables, garden room

Exceptional newly built family home ø 4 receps 5 beds 5 baths ø living kitchen, cinema, gym, study ø private Westerly facing gardens ø garage, open aspect to rear EPC = C

Guide £1.895 million

Guide £940,000

Savills Wilmslow jpilkington@savills.com 01625 417453

Savills Wilmslow mholden@savills.com 01625 417454

PRESTBURY, cheshire

MACCLESFIELD, cheshire

Bespoke built family home ø 4 receps, 4 double beds all ensuite ø superb kitchen sitting & dining room ø study, conservatory, lawned gardens ø triple garage. EPC = D

Stylish Georgian detached ø 3 receptions. 4 bedrooms. 2 bathrooms. ø living/dining kitchen, Aga ø fabulous 38' orangery, ø paddock, stables & lake in all about 3 acres

Guide £1.15 million

Guide £1.085 million

Savills Wilmslow mholden@savills.com 01625 417454

Savills Wilmslow jpilkington@savills.com 01625 417453

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savills.co.uk

1 A HANDSOME GEORGIAN COUNTRY HOUSE IN AN ELEVATED POSITION audlem, cheshire Sitting room ø drawing room ø dining room ø open plan kitchen/garden room ø cellar/games room ø master bedroom/4 further bedrooms ø garaging ø tennis court ø gardens/canal frontage ø separate 2 bedroom coach house ø about 6 acres ø EPC rating E Guide £895,000

Savills Chester Charlie Kannreuther ckannreuther@savills.com

01244 32 32 32

savills.co.uk

1 A BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED CLASSIC GEORGIAN COUNTRY HOUSE bulkeley, cheshire ø 5 reception rooms ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 8 bedrooms ø 5 bathrooms ø swimming pool ø stabling ø tennis court ø lake ø garden ø paddocks ø 2 bed lodge ø about 9.3 acres ø EPC rating - E Guide £4.5 million

Savills Chester Charlie Kannreuther ckannreuther@savills.com

01244 32 32 32

grand designs

Douglas Blyde takes a closer look at the work of Sir David Chipperfield, the modernist architect who once aspired to be a vet

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The cheshire Magazine | Feature

t 60 years old, Sir David Chipperfield continues to design and reinvigorate buildings likely to outlive him by centuries. He was knighted for services to architecture in the UK and Germany and has received a tally of more than 100 awards including RIBA’s Stirling Prize and the RIBA Royal Gold Medal. However the life of Chipperfield, who was

raised on a West Country farm, might have taken a rather different course. Initially he wanted to be a vet, were it not for the fact he considered himself, with signature modesty, ‘not clever enough’. Instead, an inspirational art teacher took time to cultivate Chipperfield’s aesthetic appreciations. Despite leaving art school with what he calls ‘a couple of flaky A-levels,’ he was imbued with something of a romance for London and worked for dynamic “starchitects” Richard Rogers and Norman Foster, later establishing his own practice in Camden in the mid-80s. An early project was the shop of survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bomb Issey Miyake, followed by more stores in Japan, and private and commercial works including, quirkily, disco and jazz lounge Bingo Bango Bongo. It proved a culture perceptive to Chipperfield’s modernist take where form follows function. Today Chipperfield’s four practices employ 200 employees whose creative tendrils emanate from offices in Berlin, Milan, Shanghai and London’s Waterloo, itself an area Chipperfield has sought to re-imagine. Although Chipperfield’s most shaping work was his ‘intense’ 12-year restoration of Berlin’s hugely popular Neues Museum, 70 per cent of which had been destroyed in World War II, he is far from being an automatic conservationist. At a Harvard University lecture, Chipperfield asked: ‘Why do we worry what replaces it will be worse?’ Conversely, in the rapidly-developing first and second-tier cities of China, he commented on how matters have reached the other end of the spectrum, where it is not uncommon to see a building replaced with a replica. ‘The Chinese are so good at copying things,’ says Chipperfield, ‘that their idea of keeping something is that you keep the design but not necessarily the material, because why would you keep the old material? The idea that the fabric itself has meaning is very difficult to discuss.’ 

left: Turner Contemporary (Photo: Simon Menges)

‘Most of Chipperfield’s buildings look far better in reality than they do in books, magazines or on screen’ – Rory Olcayto, Architects’ Journal

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‘Making buildings which just look strange is one strategy, but there are many conditions where it doesn’t help us’ – Sir David Chipperfield

Sane Styling

Photo: Simon Menges

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Critics appear to struggle when defining a signature style. Even Tonale, his range of ceramics for Alessi, appears a challenging concept to capture; an exercise in refining functional household objects into an apparently random collection. Terms like ‘diplomatic’ and ‘restrained’ are frequently applied but to some eyes, might they simply be seen as code for unexciting? Chipperfield publicly quipped that he loses a lot of competitions ‘because our work looks boring’. However, for him, sanity of structure and feel must come before vanity. ‘Making buildings which just look strange is one strategy, but there are many conditions where it doesn’t help us’. Thus he talks not of ‘landing’ his work but connecting it with surroundings; Rory Olcayto wrote in the Architects’ Journal last year that ‘most of Chipperfield’s buildings look far better in reality than they do in books, magazines or on screen.’ Ruth Lang of Inside Out Architecture appraises Chipperfield’s stance. ‘His voice is almost shockingly muted. Even as director of the Venice Biennale in 2012, his role was not to create a chorus of factotums but instead to allow each practice to explore the many facets within the broad theme of Common Ground.’

The cheshire Magazine | Feature

Back to Britain Although Chipperfield, who has four children and lives with his wife Evelyn, has been relatively confined when it comes to working in this country, perhaps because of what he attributes to a dearth of competitions (sometimes as few as five a year in England compared to about 1,400 in France), the tide seems to be turning. Chipperfield’s ten-floor luxury hotel built on the site of Café Royal now occupies the entire southern quadrant block of London’s Regent Street while Yorkshire’s Hepworth Wakefield is the largest new art museum to be built in Britain for half a century. However, of the Turner Contemporary in Margate, which fuses acidetched glass with a sheer concrete frame, Chipperfield, who says he is not averse to criticism, fought back at the critic who described it as ‘no Bilbao’. ‘It wasn’t meant to be... It was for a small but aspiring community which wanted to improve their lot.’ Recently, a toothsome, pillared, Chipperfield-designed office block has sprung up and now perches above Pancras Square and a new luxury residential development on the other side of the city will come on the market later this year; orginally conceived with the Candy brothers it is now being built by Sir Robert McAlpine for a Middle Eastern client.

Angus Montgomery, Editor of Design Week, gave me his view. ‘Thankfully UK clients appear to have woken up to Chipperfield, with major domestic projects showing that Britain can play host to his particular brand of thoughtful Brutalism.’ And it is that thoughtful brutality which has, perhaps endeared Chipperfield to one of the architectural world’s most vociferous critics. Made of green oak to appease locals, his strikingly modern River & Rowing Museum in Henley was even selected by HRH Prince Charles as one of his favourite buildings. Chipperfield has in many ways gone against the grain of modern times. ‘Everyone wants an icon. I think it’s a bit mad,’ he says. ‘There are moments when we need a sort of cathedral but do we need them everywhere? No one wants to pay for them. Architecture doesn’t exist unless part of a political or financial package.’ With cross-cultural reach and a prodigious vigour which belies his age, the next three decades may well endear a new generation of citydwelling Brits – arguably the most worldly of citizens – to a new chapter of Chipperfield’s unpretentious, highly-structured, carefullycrafted buildings. (davidchipperfield.com) The Hepworth Wakefield (Photo: Simon Menges)

‘There are moments when we need a sort of cathedral but do we need them everywhere?’ – Sir David Chipperfield 161

luxury overseas properties

Europe’s finest W

hether you are buying in search of the high life, to invest or to move your business abroad, there’s no denying that a luxury property overseas comes with an unimaginable range of benefits, not to mention an unrivalled breadth of choice. Indeed, Europe alone boasts some of the most spectacular homes in the world, with stunning developments springing up in newly desirable locations every year, complementing the existing French chateaux with their acres of

SARDINIA

#1 Porto Cervo, Emerald Coast This prestigious pieds dans l’eau villa, designed by renowned Architect Vietti, is part of the history of the glamorous Emerald Coast. The property features 13 bedrooms, seven of which are master suites, 12 bathrooms, a beautiful outdoor swimming pool and direct access to a private beach. On the market for €30 million through Sotheby’s International Realty, Milan. T: +39 02 87 07 83 00 (milan-sothebysrealty.com)

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grounds and historic past, large rustic Italian farmhouses nestled amongst olive groves, bright, spacious Monaco apartments overlooking the Cote d’Azur and pretty Spanish townhouses clinging to their old-world charm. Lucky for those of you who are tempted, we’ve decided to bring you an exclusively hand-picked selection of enticing European properties, helping you to pinpoint just where on this lavish and sun-soaked continent your dream home might lie.

The cheshire Magazine | Homes & Interiors

IBIZA

#2 Mountainside Finca

Six bedroom mountainside Finca with views across the campo of San Agustin and the sea to Cap de Nono. Each of the bedrooms lead to the pool terrace with 20m long swimming pool and BBQ area. Guide price €2.5 million. For sale through Savills 020 7016 3740 (savills.co.uk)

FRANCE

#3 Listed chateau in historic Perigord

A listed medieval chateau made of two 13th century former knight’s houses. There is a spiral stone staircase, four en-suite bedrooms, magnificent reception rooms and a professional kitchen previously run as a restaurant by Pierre Morat, student of Alain Ducasse. On the market for €2.4 million through Sotheby’s International Realty, Perigord. T: +33 (0)5 53 30 44 04 (perigord-sothebysrealty.com)

ITALY

#4 Wine estate in Florence Immaculate wine estate in the Florentine hills consisting of a classical 18th century six bedroom villa and guest accommodation surrounded by a mature park, with views over Fiesole and Florence. The estate has 34 hectares of land, 11 of which are vineyards producing Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Moscato, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec grapes. On the market for €12.9 million through Savills 020 7016 3740 (savills.co.uk)

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barcelona

#5 Paseo de Gracia An amazing three bedroom property on the Paseo de Gracia, one of the most prestigious addresses in the world. There is a magnificent dining room, two bedroom suites, separate staff or guest accommodation and huge amounts of entertaining space with views over the Gaudi designed buildings which line the boulevard below. On the market for €3.5 million through Sotheby’s International Realty, Barcelona. T: +34 93 467 58 10 (sothebysrealty.com)

5 monaco

#6 Princess Grace Avenue An exceptional duplex apartment on one of the most exclusive addresses in Monaco. There are five bedroom suites, a large main reception area and over 467 square metres of rooftop terracing with views over Monaco and sea. Only steps away from the Carré d’Or and the beach. On the market for €59 million through Sotheby’s International Realty. T: +377-9325 3727 (cic.mc)

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The cheshire Magazine | Homes & Interiors

portugal

#7 Villa in Quinta do Lago

A five bedroom contemporary villa overlooking the Ria Formosa in Quinta do Lago. The master suite is suspended over the garden and is accessed via a glass staircase or glass elevator. The lower ground floor includes an office, gym, spa, sauna and garage. Outside there is a swimming pool and fireplace. Guide price €12 million. For sale through Savills 020 7016 3740 (savills.co.uk)

greece

#8 Panorama Diamond

A luxurious single family home located at the top of Panorama, Voula, in the southern suburbs of Athens, offering exceptional sea and mountain views. The stunning property features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a swimming pool, outdoor Jacuzzi and in-floor heating controlled on each floor. On the market for €2.1 million through Sotheby’s International Realty, Greece. T: +30 695 168 8080 (sothebysrealty.gr)

italy

#9 Chianti Wonderful winery with Tuscan villa, pool and wine cellar in the heart of Chianti. The 197 acre farm, with 13 acres Chianti Classico D.O.C.G, is surrounded by vineyards. The villa has three bedrooms and there is a separate on-site bedroom for staff or guest house. On the market for €5.5 million through Savills 020 7016 3740 (savills.co.uk)

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italy

#10 Historic castle in Chianti with vineyard Surrounded by 130 acres of land, with 42 acres dedicated to a high quality DOCG vineyard, this impressive castle includes about 1,300 square metres of housing and service areas, several boardrooms, a guest wing with three bedrooms, a restaurant and planning permission to build two farmhouses of 570 square metres. On the market for €12 million through Sotheby’s International Realty, Milan. T: +39 02 87078300 (milan-sothebysrealty.com)

france

#11 Amazing apartment with views of the Eiffel Tower

11 spain

#12 Sotogrande An Andalucian Cortijo style villa in Sotogrande with seven ensuite bedrooms and staff quarters. For sale fully furnished, the villa is set in nearly two acres of land and includes a cinema room, gym, wine cellar, pool and tennis court. Guide price of €6.25 million. For sale through Savills 020 7016 3740 (savills.co.uk)

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This is a fifth floor three bedroom apartment in an original Haussmann building in an exclusive area of Paris. The apartment directly overlooks the Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower. There are three bedrooms, a large reception room, a kitchen and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Eiffel Tower. On the market for €4.75 million through Sotheby’s International Realty, Paris. T: +33 (0)1 44 94 99 80 (sothebysrealty.com)

The cheshire Magazine | Homes & Interiors

italy

13 FRANCE

#14 Grasse, French Riviera A late 18th century five bedroom bastide set on historic farmland with olive groves. The house is south facing with views across the hills of Grasse. The property also has a swimming pool with pool house, tennis court and a caretaker’s house. On the market for €4.95 million through Savills 020 7016 3740 (savills.co.uk)

montenegro

#15 Kotor Bay

One of the only houses in Kotor Bay, Montenegro with direct water access. It’s located near the town of Perast with views across the water. This newly refurbished Venetian captain’s house comprises three ensuite bedrooms. On the market for €1.3 million through Savills 020 7016 3740 (savills.co.uk)

#13 Cuccumiao, San Pantaleo An incredible property offering sufficient room to accommodate family, friends and guests in close proximity. The estate comprises a farmhouse, converted barn, which includes a gym, guest house with a private spa, stables that can accommodate up to 10 horses, swimming pool with a sundeck, riding school and a tennis court. On the market for €5 million through Sotheby’s International Realty, Tuscany. T: +39 055 0751888 (sothebysrealty.com)

9678 Stretton Green A4 DPS Chesh-Mag wc280414.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2014 18:28 Page 1

E xquisite country homes located just 10 miles fr om the Cit y of Chester

9678

9678 Stretton Green A4 DPS Chesh-Mag wc280414.qxp_Layout 1 01/05/2014 18:28 Page 2

UNRIVALLED LOCATION. SUPERB SPECIFICATION. IDYLLIC LIFESTYLE. From £750,000 to £1,250,000. Call today to appreciate what this prestigious development has to offer Stretton Hall Lane, Nr Chester, Cheshire SY14 7HS View: strettongreen.co.uk Call: 01829 458 977

Homes & Interiors | The cheshire Magazine

or a dash of classical Italian elegance, we love Donghiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredibly artistic lighting collection, a fabulous reinterpretation of the use of Murano glass with a subtly modern, architectural feel. Every glass piece is handmade by Venetian artisans on the island of Murano, meaning that each is a completely individual work of art with a consistent focus on the original design and a disciplined craftsmanship. Every resulting product is striking in its own way, but we were particularly drawn to the Esha Alta Lamp with its elegant, warm rose-gold hues and mesmerising geometric form. (donghia.com)

ROSE-TINTED GLASS 170

A genuine Starck.

Design by Philippe Starck

The bathroom by Philippe Starck.

More nuances. More elegance. More versatility: The Starck bathroom series with coordinating furniture. Just one example from the comprehensive Duravit range â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sanitary ceramics, bathroom furniture, accessories, bathtubs, wellness products and saunas. To find out more: Phone 0845 500 7787, info@uk.duravit.com, www.duravit.co.uk

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