Glossy Magazine Aug | Sep 2024 by Glossy Magazine

Now is the time to rock the holiday look

Vacation vibes

Best Beachside Stays

Planning a romantic escape or family vacation, we’ve rounded up some of the world’s best beachside hotels

GLOSSY COOKS

Head Chef Josh Singleton shares his Chicken Caesar Salad recipe from the new summer menu at Embankment Kitchen

Dr Sally Harris shares her advice on how best to prioritise your future wellbeing

Seriously, what is it with this summer?

One minute we're basking in the sunshine, the next we're dodging raindrops. But hey, that’s all part of the charm of our unpredictable climate.

In between grabbing our umbrellas, we've also been navigating some pretty exciting times. The Euros and the general election always stir up a mix of emotions and conversations, but it’s inspiring to see so many of us passionate about our country.

Schools are ofﬁcially out for the summer! To all the parents, I salute you. To the kids, enjoy every moment of your freedom. One day you will realise this time is golden.

A huge congratulations to all the recent graduates! Your hard work has paid off, and now it’s time to celebrate this incredible achievement. Whether you’re moving on to further studies, starting a new job or taking a well-deserved break, the future is bright.

As always, this edition will keep you quiet for a while, from the latest in fashion and beauty to this month’s recipe from Embankment Kitchen, and the best beachside stays, we've got you covered.

So, grab a cup of your favourite brew, get cosy, and dive into this issue. Let’s make the most of every moment, no matter what the weather throws our way.

Stay safe and cheers to a fantastic summer,

FASHION & BEAUTY

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER2024

you

GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Beverley Uddin-Khandakar beverley@glossymagazine.co.uk

GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR

Salim Uddin-Khandakar salim@glossymagazine.co.uk

ADVERTISING

Please call the sales team on 0161 388 2353 info@glossymagazine.co.uk

ART DIRECTION & DESIGN

Paul King / Claire King www.twistedgifted.co.uk creative@twistedgifted.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

Catherine Reed

Fay Wertheimer

Oliver Chesher

Catherine Saunders

Janet Reeder

Claudia Gallagher

Dee Gallagher

Mark Kureishy

PHOTOGRAPHY

PR Shots

Bigstockphoto.com

istockphoto.com

Press Loft

This Magazine is published six times a year by UK17 Consultancy Limited. The contents may not be reprinted or reproduced without prior written permission. The publishers are not liable for statements made and opinions expressed. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and the publisher can take no responsibility for omissions and errors. UK17 Consultancy Limited. 6 The Stables, Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 5PG 0161 388 2353 | www.uk17consultancy.co.uk. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Glossy Magazine website – glossymagazine.co.uk

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WE LOVE...

Studio Creator 360 Video Maker

In today's digital age, children are not just consumers of content; they are creators. With the rise of social media platforms and user-generated content, kids are increasingly drawn to the world of ﬁlmmaking, eager to capture and share their adventures with friends and family. Recognising this trend, Canal Toys continues to encourage the next generation of content creators, and their Studio Creator 360 Video Maker perfectly embraces this, empowering young ﬁlmmakers to transform ordinary playdates into unforgettable cinematic adventures. Canal Toys Studio Creator 360 Video Maker, £39.99, available from Amazon, Smyths, Argos and Very

Gordon Ramsay Wines produces fantastic and innovative wines at such an accessible price point, created in partnership with celebrated winemaker and consultant Alberto Antonini. Since launching in November 2021, the collection has been awarded four awards including Drinks Business Gold and Decanter World Wine Awards. £8.50, available from all major supermarkets

Whether it’s for partying in Ibiza, island hopping in Greece, or staycationing at home – perhaps in Wales or Cornwall – Colmar has the perfect selection of swimwear and accessories. The collection includes one-piece swimwear and separates, available in a variety of colourways, from muted to bright. Colmar's swimwear is comfortable, fun and practical, ideal for the beach or pool.

Glidin is the newest limited-edition product from Wha Gwan. Launched in 2021, the brand produces alcoholic beverages inspired by the founder’s Jamaican heritage. Glidin is an infused wine that combines their Melon Cherry Tonic with sparkling Glera wine Infused with Rum, creating a unique ﬂavour proﬁle. The typical beer packaging further sets the drink apart from other wines on the market. £19.99 for a pack of 6, on sale for £12.99. drinkwhagwan.co.uk

Round Garden Bar Trolley, £149, John Lewis

‘A Retro Summer’ Step into a world where mid-century housewives meet modern-day rebels, as ‘A Retro Summer’ takes you on a nostalgic journey through fashion editorials and playful video narratives. Add a splash of fun to your living space, cultfurniture.com

Bikini with removable shoulder straps, £108.50, reduced from £155. Cotton blend Jacquard Towel, £41.30, reduced from £59

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

Colmar

Solid colour swim shorts with elasticated waist, £59.50, reduced from £85. Hooded sweatshirt with maxi logo, £97.30, reduced from £139

Garden Bridgewater for GREATEST SHOW IN EARTH

Fixx

Salons in Altrincham was established in 2018 and boasts a dynamic and inventive team offering hair,

colour and beauty services to both women and men.

“

Each and every hair stylist has the vision and imagination to offer clients a look and feel that is inspired by the latest trends and styles. Beth is the newest member of the team and answered some questions about her journey and personal ﬂair for hair!

What made you want to be a hairdresser?

“Since being a little girl I knew I was destined to do hair! From doing hair in the school playground to now professionally making people have fabulous hair. I love being creative and making people feel more conﬁdent with their hair.”

”

Why FIXX?

I love the standard of hair that clients walk out of FIXX salons with. The team aspect really stood out to me too. It’s deﬁnitely something I look for in a salon, having that friendly, welcoming atmosphere is a must!

What’s your forte?

Balayage/ colour blend for that soft ‘lived in’ vibe. It’s low maintenance while still giving that expensive look. Also, extensions – I love how diverse extensions are. They are completely tailored to get your goal hair, whether that’s thickness, length or both! Anything can be achieved.

Star sign?

Cancer. Summer baby, bringing sunshine and positive energy!

What are your future goals and plans?

To one day open my own salon while training and teaching people the techniques I’ve learnt over the years. Also to travel and explore as many places as I can in the world.

Something random about you?

I love Tina Turner. Whenever I hear ‘Proud Mary’ I’ve just got to get up to dance and sing! Everybody watch out if that plays in the salon!

Neck Rescue Non-Surgical Beauty Strip by Contours Rx is an instant neck correcting strip that visibly tightens, lifts and ﬁrms the neck instantly for a more youthful proﬁle. Each strip works instantly. Tightens loose, saggy skin tissue and improves the appearance of wrinkles, £33 reduced to £20, www.contours-rx.co.uk

Germaine De Capuccini Perfect Forms

Pink Salt Scrub

Formulated with mineral salts and natural oils; stimulates blood ﬂow, eliminates toxins and accelerates cell renewal for radiant and rejuvenated skin, 200ml / £58.25, germaine-de-capuccini.co.uk

BEAUTY BOX

Dry skin? Incorporate a lightweight layer of weightless and uber-hydrating Katherine Daniels Rehydrating Concentrate underneath your usual moisturiser, £62 /45ml.

Increase gentle exfoliation to twice a week with Katherine Daniels Exfoliating Gel The dual texture, non-abrasive formulation dissolves dead skin cells thanks to AHAs from Red Algae and regenerates the skin, £37/ 75ml, katherinedanielscosmetics.com

Ben & Anna Bath Salts

The new Bath Salt range by sustainable brand Ben & Anna. Enjoy a luxurious bath with this premium range created with salt extracted from the Italian Mediterranean. These certiﬁed natural bath salts cleanse and detoxify the skin, provide intensive moisture and leave skin supple, £7.95 each / 300g, benandanna.uk/shop

Say

Meet the ARDELL Brow Lamination Kit a DIY kit which allows you to create shiny smooth brows at home without the expensive salon cost. Currently £16, RRP £19.99, asos.com

Elevate your skincare routine

Now in the UK! Elizabeth Grant Skincare is a renowned luxury skincare brand known for its innovative and effective products. Founded by Elizabeth Grant herself, the brand's origins date back to her personal quest for skincare solutions after suffering severe skin damage during World War Two. Central to the brand's success is its proprietary ingredient, Torricelumn™, a blend of natural sea vitamins, minerals and proteins designed to rejuvenate and repair the skin.

Supreme Essence of Torricelumn™

Award-winning, best-selling serum that’s perfect for all skin types and skin concerns. With just one to two drops, skin will look and feel rejuvenated, hydrated, smoother and more radiant, £59.

Vitamin C Hydra-Moist Gold C High Performance Dark Spot Corrector Serum

A highly concentrated, vitamin C serum supercharged with gold, ferulic acid, boosted with Torricelumn™ and time-released to infuse fresh vitamin C into the skin all day and night. This high-performance concentrated serum with ferulic acid targets the appearance of ﬁne lines, deep wrinkles, age spots, dull, tired looking skin and helps to revitalize, repair and rejuvenate the look of the skin, £35.

Professional Institute Collagen Booster Drops

The Collagen Booster Drops help strengthen and support collagen and elastin – helping to increase vitality of skin and diminish the appearance of ﬁne lines and wrinkles, resulting in visibly younger and more hydrated skin, £41. Available from Amazon & Debenhams // elizabethgrant.com

hello to the new Benecos Vegan Nail & Cuticle Oil £5.95, benecos.uk

Summer Factory: June to September 2024

Join us for a packed programme of live music, immersive art, skate demos in partnership with Adidas, ﬁlm screenings, family activities and delicious street food – all by the riverside at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International.

Sit back and enjoy the summer vibes in Factory Square, where you'll ﬁnd our brand-new taco truck and coffee cart. On event days, expect the best local street food traders, pop-up wellness events for adults and families, and DJs bringing the tunes.

Get ready for a dream summer of live events and long afternoons on the banks of the river Irwell.

Images: Mark Waugh

By Janet Reeder

Peixoto Valentina Skirt in White Lotus, Peixoto Louisa Top in White Lotus, £89, blackwhitedenim.com

Vacation vibes

Whether you’re island hopping in Greece or sipping wine on the terrace of your favourite bar, now is the time to rock the holiday look.

While the summer may not have been everything we desired, there’s still time to get into the mood by splashing out on a few gorgeous pieces.

Get beach-ready by faking a tan with Emma Lewisham’s gorgeous illuminating face and body oil, a streak-free, fast-drying oil which protects skin as well as giving it a fabulous bronze sheen. It’s available now at the fabulous new Space NK which has opened in Manchester’s Arndale!

Bikini or swimsuit? Why choose between them when you can have both. Not only can you wear them poolside, but sling on a skirt or a pair of pants and you’re ready to head out for an evening drink.

You’ll need a couple of sundresses, a kaftan, lots of jewellery – oh – and a pair of designer sunnies are essential for effortless cool. IOLLA for example has a showroom in Manchester and will even do you prescription sunglasses for £85 all in. Quite the bargain.

So, wherever you go and whatever you wear have a great time. Happy holidays!

Mila Illusion hoops in rose gold, £99, amelia-scott.com

Brown cut out halter neck swimsuit, £65, nobodyschild.com

Daphné dark purple wireless bandeau, £60, high-waist bikini brief, £45, uk.simone-perele.com

Sandy Pearl Reef necklace, £75, blackwhitedenim.com

Max Mara Eyewear, £180, gb.maxmara.com

IOLLA Muir in matte vanilla tortoise, £85, iolla.com

Your effortless airport experience

Welcome to aether. The Private Terminal, located exclusively at Manchester Airport.

A thoughtfully designed private space, away from the main terminal, bypass the crowds and enjoy a truly effortless experience from arrival to boarding. With a seamless check-in, an inclusive à la carte menu by renowned chef Adam Reid, and even a dedicated BMW chauffeur, this is more than just a pre-flight service, it’s an experience.

Accessible to all airline passengers at Manchester Airport.

Reserve online at experienceaether.com or scan the QR code to learn more.

You may not live in a Tuscan Villa or Miami beach house, but you can still get the vibe in your own home by ramping up the glamour with statement wall coverings, luxury fabrics and cool lighting. Wallpaper used to mean something drab or textured to literally paper over the cracks, but now it is a feature in itself. Create a focal point by picking out an accent wall, or just go crazy and paper a whole room with a fantastic scenic view. And don’t just leave it there – add soft furnishings in clashing designs, beautiful lamps and ornate mirrors so you have a sumptuous feast for the eyes.

Key features of maximalism include: graphic artworks, patterns and textures, colour, layering, eclectic furniture and comfort. Imagine sinking into a velvet sofa or reclining on the (admittedly expensive) antique Baroque-style bed featured on these pages, while sipping a coupe of champagne. It’s a fun, fantasy world that is surely hard to resist!

By Janet Reeder

Riverbank 90515 in Poncea, £194 per metre, arteinternational.com

The Green Forest Morning wallpaper, £42 per square metre, rebelwalls.com

Italian Baroque style four poster bed in walnut circa mid 1800s, £9,800, lamaisonlondon.com

Leaves and ﬂowers maximalism print cushion, £32, inkanddrop.com

Adam Lippes Roseraie dinner plates, set of four, £275, oka.com

Truly sumptuous

Serpentine swivel chairs, £2,500 each, Globo Demilune pendant, £1.795, Pompidou ﬂoor lamp, £1,650, uk.jonathanadler.com

Trove by Studio Duggan furniture, Talitha velvet sofa, from £8,250, thetrove.co.uk

Confetti table lamp, £30, next.co.uk

Atticus chandelier, £225, next.co.uk

Large arch black ornate over mantle mirror, 152cm x 128cm, £229.95, melodymaison.co.uk

from Andalucía POSTCARD

Tarifa Baby

Don’t get me wrong, I love our life in Spain, but Andalucia in August can be hellishly hot. Time to head somewhere cooler. Where the humidity doesn’t make me look like a frizzy-haired alpaca and I don’t get mistaken for a pop-up food tent in my huge-but-oh-so-comfy dresses.

So this summer we headed to Tarifa. At Europe’s southernmost point, where the waters of the Mediterranean meet the cooler waters of the Atlantic, Tarifa is simply stunning – steeped in history but with a chilled, bohemian vibe. Every time we approach, driving up that last hill

be fore dropping down into the stunning bay, I gasp as I look down at the 10km-long golden sandy beach – a view that never ceases to amaze me. A special place. A place where you can relax, hang out, do watersports – or wander around its gor geous, whitewashed-walled old town, discovering little tapas bars, hitting the hip boutiques for a spot of retail therapy –before heading to the beach to grab a cerveza and watch the sun go down.

And this year it came with a bonus: Mario.

Oh my, I thought. I do so love it when Spanish folk mix up their nouns.

“Hola, I am Cathy. Not a Kitesurfer but, please, do take me to your bed,” I re sponded with a giggle, much to his Lordship’s annoyance.

Let me explain. You see, the apartment we had booked was apparently tricky to ﬁnd so the owner said he would meet us at the uber-cool Waves Bar. Great, we thought. How helpful. So, at 2pm there we were, in the car park as instructed when, out of the corner of my eye, I spied THE most gor geous-looking guy walking towards us. Think a Chris-Hemsworth-surfer-styleThor. Wearing nothing but surf shorts and carrying a sign with my name on it. Smiling, I waved. Not smiling, Lord Muck snarled.

And off we went. Me, looking ridiculous, twirling my hair and trying to keep pace with this 6ft 4 block of male magniﬁcence, swaying my cougar hips so violently I al most put a hip out. Poor Lord Muck, trailing behind us, carrying all the bags, harrumphing. Things did not improve once we arrived at the apartment when Mario started waxing lyrical about kitesur ﬁng and offered to give us a day’s instruction. Checking his lesson schedule, the only day he was free was in two days, when Lord Muck was already booked to head over to Tangier with friends. Such a shame... but in the interests of AngloSpanish relations, I dutifully signed up there and then.

“Hola. I am Mario. The Kitesurfer. I am here to take you to my bed,” the gorgeous guy said.

And so it was that his Lordship spent a morning riding a smelly camel and an af ternoon being mobbed in a Moroccan souk, whilst I spent a day wearing a tightﬁtting wetsuit and being clamped in and out of a harness by Mario as he talked endlessly about the importance of lift, thrust and drag. What can I say? Tarifa rocks.

By Catherine Saunders

Right, must dash. My new Lady Muck book is out next month and I somehow need to convince my agent to add Mario The Kitesurfer to the launch party guest list…

The Woof Guide to Wild Rose Caravan Park, Cumbria

Tails are wagging over this fantastically poochfriendly holiday getaway

We all felt in holiday mode, so we took ourselves off to the aptly named Eden Valley in Cumbria and Harrison Holidays’ fabulous Wild Rose Caravan Park.

As soon as I arrived, I felt at home. I mean, I know the humans love hotels but there’s something about this holiday park which was utterly spellbinding as soon as we arrived. The views of the surrounding Pen nines are spectacular, and I couldn’t stop gazing over at a pointy mountain which we discovered was the location for a ﬁlm about the Boer war. Was Tom Cruise there? He has apparently graced the area with his presence over the years!

By Janet Reeder

For a couple of nights our home was a dog-friendly lodge, which is only one of several different options to choose from at the park. You could stay in a caravan or a glamping hive, but the humans had de cided that they needed more space and a heap of luxury.

Wild Rose is one of seven parks owned by the Harrison family, and the addition of a stunning heated indoor/outdoor inﬁnity pool plus the newly revamped Coast and Country Bar and Restaurant, Farmhouse Café and soft play area make this the flag ship of the company.

More importantly, Wild Rose is just so dogfriendly for me and my pooch parents.

I have to say this was one of my all-time favourite places to stay. I loved the outside space surrounding the lodge so that I could roam around freely without anyone worrying about me. There was a brilliant dog exercise area designed speciﬁcally so that we could run around and not annoy other guests, special bins for dog waste, and we were also allowed into the bar and restaurant.

There’s a great holiday camp feel in the restaurant which is so much fun. Just let yourself go while the big man of soul AK belts out ‘I’ll go where the music takes me', followed by a medley of Drifters’ hits, some Lionel Richie and a smattering of Luther Vandross. My humans were loving it. And so was I! AK even serenaded me with a tune on the night. It was all so laid back and totally memorable.

The humans ate in the restaurant both nights we were there, enjoying steak and chips and halloumi salad followed by cheesecake one night, and sausage and mash plus pasta the next. It’s a menu ﬁlled with greatest hits like ﬁsh and chips, ribs, curry and burgers, but it’s also very familyfriendly, so there’s pizza and a special chil dren’s menu too.

The nearest place to visit is Appleby (re nowned for its annual Horse Fair), and you can get there by walking along the River Eden. Not the easiest of routes for the humans as there are lots of things to climb over and they did get lost, but if you are a walker you’ll love how you start off along an enchanting country lane, cross ﬁelds and wind your way through woodland. It was the perfect way to spend a sunny day.

Then it was back to the lodge. Ours had three bedrooms, a smart TV, a shower and toilet and every facility you needed to be comfortable.

So if you’re looking for a relaxing place to take your dog, children, granny and ev eryone, then check out Wild Rose. The humans had never stayed at a holiday park before, but by the end of our trip they were total converts.

The COAST

Whilst Mykonos is typically known for its vibrant party scene, it also offers travellers a quieter and more tranquil escape. Tucked away along the serene and sun-kissed shores of Agios Ioannis, one of Mykonos’ rare, private white sand beaches, is the idyllic adults-only haven of The COAST. This boutique property offers 25 suites and three villas, all with breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea and a private pool.

Overlooking the glittering waters of Chia Bay in Southern Sardinia, Baia di Chia Resort Sardinia offers 77 spacious, private cottage-style rooms and suites for adults and children over 16. Stone steps lead directly to Monte Cogoni beach, recently voted as one of Italy’s most beautiful.

Guests seeking relaxation in the Sardinian sun can lounge on a sunbed, whilst adventure-seekers can enjoy some of the many watersports available such as snorkelling or windsurﬁng. Guests of Chia Laguna Resort will have access to eight bars and 12 restaurants, including Sa Mesa, that celebrates the very best of traditional Sardinian cuisine.

To Book: https://www.chialagunaresort.com/hotel-baia/

Just minutes away from the vibrant heart of Mykonos Town, guests are perfectly positioned to explore the rich local culture and heritage of the Island of Winds. After a long day of exploration, guests can enjoy dining at COOZEST with a menu of classic Greek recipes with a twist, as well as seafood and meat dishes that reﬂect the quality of local ingredients.

To Book: https://www.bill-coo-hotel.com/coast/

Named after the largest rough diamond ever discovered, Cullinan Belek is the leading all-inclusive, ultra-luxury resort nestled between the white sand beaches of the Turkish Riviera and the Taurus mountains.

Surrounded by lush Mediterranean greenery and pristine beaches, Cullinan Belek is the ultimate summer playground. The resort’s 800-metre-long private sandy beach is adorned with private cabanas and sunbeds, all serviced with food and drink, so you’ll never have to leave the beach. For additional tanning space there are two timber piers that provide the perfect space to soak up the sun. To Book: https://www.cullinanhotels.com/

Located on the palm-fringed, sand-drenched beachfront of boho Santa Eulalia, W Ibiza is the embodiment of the two sides of Ibiza: party and peace. The seasonal escape is the only luxury hotel in Santa Eulalia with direct access to the beach, allowing its guests a unique experience for Ibiza.

The beach-front hotel features an adult-only rooftop GLOW, where guests can enjoy chilled cocktails with far-reaching views over the Mediterranean. This year, the hotel will launch its very own beach club. Yellow Fish by W Ibiza, which sits just down the road from the hotel on the beach, offering a vibrant, boho-inspired oasis set to be the ultimate destination this summer, with live DJs playing into the sunset. To Book: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/ibzwh-w-ibiza/overview/

Baia di Chia Resort Sardinia

Cullinan Belek

W Ibiza

The Emerald Collection

Immersed in lush greenery and surrounded by a 100-hectare private lagoon with natural coral reef, Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa is located on an intimate 7-hectare island, just 20 minutes by boat from the group’s ﬁrst property, Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa.

Both resorts are members of The Leading Hotels of the World and offer The Emerald Collection’s high-quality, signature Deluxe All-Inclusive service formula, as well as the opportunity for guests to island-hop in the Maldives, experiencing two

properties under the same brand. Guests can stay in suites and villas on the beachfront looking out onto the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean – a true once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Emerald Collection’s Deluxe All-Inclusive formula allows guests to make the most of countless activities (both on water and land), à la carte gourmet dining and an extensive selection of premium international wines, beers and spirits.

To Book: https://www.emerald-collection.com/

Best Beachside Stays

Whether it's the allure of falling asleep to the sound of crashing waves, morning walks along the beach or just kicking back and enjoying the summer sun with sand between your toes, for some travellers, being on the beach isn’t just a want – it’s an absolute necessity.

If you’re planning a romantic escape or family vacation, we’ve rounded up some of the world’s best beachside hotels.

On-site guests can indulge at world-renowned restaurants such as Matsuhisa at Cala di Volpe and Beefbar whilst also taking part in some of their amazing facilities such as the Pevero Golf Club and the Shiseido Spa.

To Book: https://www.consorziocostasmeralda.com/

Hotel Cala di Volpe is just as iconic as the sparkling coastline in Costa Smeralda. Stretching out over the bay like its own village, the hotel embodies elegance and emerges into the colours and natural beauty of the sea.

Hotel Cala di Volpe, Costa Smeralda

The Warren Resort & Spa

It’s your private beach club experience in Abersoch, North Wales. Sit on your sun deck admiring the view, sipping your fa vourite drink – bubbles or Aperol spritz?

Picture easy conversation ﬂowing between you and your favourite people while al fresco dining at twilight, after a day on the water or at the beach. Sink into your plush sofas and relax, all from the comfort of your holiday home on this sought-after stretch of the Llŷn Peninsula.

Own a holiday home at the exclusive owner-only beachside resort, The Warren Resort & Spa, and relish that fun-filled, laidback holiday feeling whenever you wish.

Introducing Headland View holiday homes: Mombasa and Eivissa

Just available, a collection of three beautifully appointed bespoke holiday homes with gorgeous hillside views. All featuring large outdoor entertaining space

to make your own. Sunbathe on your lounger listening to music, prepare a feast in your outdoor kitchen, mix a cooling cocktail or ﬁre up the barbie; your veranda invites sunny days and balmy evenings. There’s also plenty of space reserved for your water toys: jet ski, speedboat or paddleboards – however you like to hit the sea. Step inside, you’ll ﬁnd open plan living spaces and on-trend styling with all your home comforts available, from integrated Bosch appliances and American fridge freezers with ice makers to light-up fea ture walls and luxury bathrooms with double head baths.

Eivissa: Inﬂuenced by the serene beauty and relaxed ambiance of the renowned party island, the Eivissa encapsulates the reﬁned elegance of the Mediterranean. This exquisite holiday home is set apart by its modern and well-curated interior de sign, providing the backdrop to your own, private beach club experience. Also with two bathrooms and three bedrooms – master, double and a twin, altogether sleeping six.

A year-round destination

Mombasa: Bringing the warmth and beauty of the African Savannah to the de sign of your holiday residence, these two Headland View properties, characterised by vibrant colours and distinctive features embody decadence throughout. With two bathrooms and three bedrooms: master, double and a third bedroom with two bunk beds, they are made for family and friends.

Open all year, there is always something happening at The Warren Resort & Spa. From exclusive events to top-notch leisure facilities, holiday homeowners have access to beachfront dining, the newly refurbed clubhouse, outdoor pool, pool bar, indoor pool, gym and ﬁtness classes, golf simulator, tennis, padel courts, adult-only workspace, kid’s activities, that all important spa and more!

Hart Shoreditch…

Probably the coolest hotel in London

Hart Shoreditch Hotel London is a stylish hotel offering the quality and boutique style typical of Hilton Curio Collection Hotels. Shoreditch is a hip and vibrant neighbourhood, home to art festivals, vintage boutiques and an abundance of international restaurants. The hotel is ideally situated within a mile of famous local markets including Old Spitalﬁelds, Brick Lane and Columbia Road Flower Market.

The hotel’s architecture hints at the local area’s rich industrial heritage, with a beautiful wrought iron and copper staircase and hammered copper details reminiscent of Victorian Shoreditch that complement the softly rendered walls inspired by the sandstone of Dubai’s Old Town.

The modern guest rooms feature a rain shower, smart TV, media hub and queen, twin or king beds. The more spacious superior rooms have a Nespresso machine, bathrobes, a desk and a sitting area with a second TV. We stayed in a fabulous king junior suite with a separate sitting area.

We arrived in London late afternoon, so after a short wander around the local area we made our way to UBA Restaurant, Hart Shoreditch’s new panAsian gourmet offering. We spent some time navigating the menu while enjoying a couple of Porn Star Martinis. To start, we ordered small plates of rock shrimp style tempura, Korean crispy fried chicken, stuffed boneless chicken wings (which were our absolute favourite) and miso caramel glazed aubergine.

To follow, we ordered large dishes of yakinuku beef ribeye with sweet potato soba nest, onion miso and wasabi furikake and imperial black cod with chilli lime yuzu sauce.

Although we were pleasantly full, for review purposes only (honest!) we ordered desserts – a lychee jasmine and raspberry crème brûlée and a Japanese chocolate forest ﬂoor – and they were as pretty as their descriptions but twice as nice!

After a very comfortable night’s sleep we were back in Uba for a breakfast of soft poached eggs, roasted mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, sourdough toast and coffee. The breakfast offering was limited compared to some hotels, but it was quality over quantity.

Hart Shoreditch is an outstanding hotel. We’ve stayed in many hotels in London, but this one stands out. Situated on Great Eastern Street, a short walk from Old Street Tube Station and close to shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. The hotel lobby was busy when we checked in, with a lively atmosphere and an amazing aroma (that I’d like in my home) that you smell immediately when you walk through the door. The staff were welcoming, friendly and happy to help.

The food in UBA was divine, and I would totally recommend it. Our suite was extremely comfortable, beautifully clean and fresh, and large enough to accommodate a sofa and second TV by the window. The bathroom wasn’t huge but there was a good-sized shower with marble-effect walls, copper ﬁttings and Soapsmith Bath and Body Care, which smelled amazing!

Hart Shoreditch is probably the coolest hotel we’ve stayed in, in London. We would like to explore Shoreditch more, so Hart Shoreditch, we will see you again one day soon.

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

Welcome to Altrincham Business Improvement District

Mandy White, the director of Altrincham’s Business Improvement District (BID), is both personally and professionally committed to increasing the footfall and ‘dwell-time’ in Altrincham, her hometown since 1977.

Altrincham was granted its Market Charter in 1290 and enjoys a rich history as a bustling market town. Sadly by 2010, after the opening of the Trafford Centre and the increase in online shopping, the town was shamed in the national press for having the most vacant units in the country.

Change was essential and it was fortuitously on its way. In 2013, Trafford Council’s leader Matt Colledge and Urban Splash’s former owner Nick Johnson MBE, now co-owner of Altrincham Market, devised a plan to reinvent and regenerate it and to position Altrincham as a ‘modern market town’. Via the public and private sector partnership ‘Altrincham Forward’, it was decided a more formal arrangement to further support the town was needed. So, in 2016 the Altrincham Business Improvement District was established.

BIDs originated in the 1970s in Canada and were introduced in 2004 into England and Wales. The UK now boasts 330 business-led and business-funded BID schemes.

These work towards improving deﬁned areas such as town centres by providing new initiatives, projects, events and services. Business contributions are based upon each enterprise’s rateable value. Altrincham is presently enjoying its second term of the BID, and via its members, over £2.3 million has been invested in the town.

Mandy says: “Altrincham’s businesses fund the BID, and we fund whatever projects have been approved by the BID board. This is made up of representatives from Altrincham’s business community, Trafford Council and Transport for Greater Manchester. Our key objectives are to increase the town’s footfall and its ‘dwell time’, to send out positive PR and to provide business support in whatever form is needed.”

The BID’s undertakings are additional to those of Trafford Council so BID members, as local businesses, can inﬂuence the long-term economic development of their own area.

The BID’s efﬁcacy lies in its adaptability and swift responses to the ‘here and now’ in supplying what is relevant and required. The scheme has helped ﬁnance a diverse range of projects and events. These range from the town’s Christmas Lights, its annual Switch On event and the Lantern Parade to providing extra street and ginnel cleaning plus seasonal planting at the Altrincham Interchange to enhance the town’s welcome to visitors.

Earning an international accreditation similar to the Blue Flag for beaches and the Green Flag for parks, the BID recently led on the Purple Flag Award for Altrincham’s night-time economy. And earlier this year, in Visa’s ‘Let’s Celebrate Town’ awards, the Sustainability Award was won by the BID on behalf of Altrincham.

Altrincham, with BID’s input, has twice hosted the Tour of Britain and for its Grand Depart 2023, 50,000 locals lined the streets. Other large-scale events include the annual Altrincham 10k run.

Resident here since 1977, when the busy town abounded in independent shops, Mandy White relishes her role adding, “I live here in Timperley and have a vested interest in Altrincham. I have enjoyed seeing it regain its position and watching it grow from strength to strength. Yes, I do remember clearly those bad old days of 2010 when stores and premises were shut. Altrincham had lost its way. It had lost its heart and its identity. The Trafford Centre and the emergence of online shopping had turned us into a ghost town, so people moved away from buying here.”

She continues, “Altrincham needed investment and regeneration and has been fortunate enough to receive both. I believe our success story has been down to working in partnership with our strong, visionary business owners and council members who had faith in the town and what it could offer. They acknowledged its potential. Now, I’m proud to say we are easily 10 years ahead of many local towns in terms of our regeneration.”

Voluntary member of the Altrincham BID, Altrincham Football Club writes, “We’re the town's football team and have been around for over a hundred years. Being part of the BID has enabled us to grow with the rest of the town and reach out to local businesses. This has endorsed our position as an integral part of Altrincham. The BID is an important part of our inclusion motto which is ALTY4ALL. The BID team works tirelessly to promote our town and attract new businesses here which beneﬁts us all.”

For more information about Altrincham BID, please email info@altrinchambid.com

By Fay Wertheimer

Meet Jan Iceton

Chair of Smart Works Greater Manchester

Chair of Smart Works Greater Manchester since 2019, Jan Iceton, a former business development director with 30 years’ career experience, has personally overseen the service growth, both face-to-face and virtual, of this national charity helping unemployed women of any age succeed in ﬁnding work. Feeding into Jan’s business experience and her natural ﬂair for fashion, this role might well have been tailor-made for her!

Stockport-based since 2015, Smart Works Greater Manchester opened its City Centre branch last April 2023. This rendered the charity more geographically accessible to less advantaged, unemployed females living in the north of the city.

They too, now had greater opportunities to beneﬁt from the coaching, personal styling and tactful guidance on interview skills that Smart Works’ 50 volunteers are trained to deliver. Jan adds, “We also provide an online service for anyone with an upcoming job interview who is unable to reach either of our two centres.”

One of eight regional operations, Smart Works Greater Manchester, between March 2023 and March 2024, assisted 833 disadvantaged women with its in-depth preparation for interviews. For many, their Smart Works experience has proven life-changing. Consequently, the charity’s reputation amongst unemployed women and prospective employers has escalated.

Boosting these ladies’ conﬁdence by helping them in ﬁnding work, offering them suitable attire for their job interviews and convincing them to attend requires understanding, patience and empathy. Smart Works Greater Manchester states that 63% of its clientele gained employment following their pre-interview training and that during the year ending in March 2024, Smart Works delivered 1,110 appointments.

To better comprehend some challenges the women face, Jan adds, “38% of our clients had been out of work for a year, 12% for over 5 years and 21% had applied for over 50 posts. 34% were single parents, 47% came from an ethnic minority and 15% had a disability. Since Covid, Smart Works has aimed to be more aware of which employers have vacancies to ﬁll within Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs and also which clients, who are all registered as unemployed, have the necessary skills for the posts in question.”

She explains, “We attend referral partners’ job fairs and hold our own in Stockport and / or in Manchester. We like to vary our job focus. For instance, at one fair we supported referral partners with vacancies in hospitality, at another they were focussed on jobs in retail and then for yet another it was focussed on jobs in the transport sector". Above all, we are so grateful to our wonderful volunteers, to our individual and corporate clothing

donors and to our amazing retail partners including N Brown (JD Williams), Boden, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Whistles, Burberry, Evans, Hobbs and Coggles. They not only support us, but they also supply us with such lovely interview-appropriate suits, pants, skirts, dresses, blouses, accessories and tote bags. All these are carefully tissue-wrapped by our stylists after clients have made their clothing choices and, in every package, there’s a donor’s conﬁdence card.”

Smart Works’ many supporters range from Jobcentre Plus, care leaver services and local councils to housing associations, HM Prison Service and charities such as The Prince’s Trust and women’s refuges.

Smart Works’ one-to-one service entails two one-hour sessions. During the ‘ﬁrst dressing’, a stylist works with a client, helping her choose clothes she will take home and wear for her interview. The second hourly session is taken up with training, preparing and improving a client’s interview skills and her responses to key questions. Every woman who has secured work is then invited back for her second dressing. This is to select another eight items of clothing to pad out her working wardrobe, as she obviously cannot wear the same outﬁt every day – and her payday may well be weeks away.

Clients’ appreciation of Smart Works’ input into their success is clear. 99% credited the charity for increasing their chances of attaining work, 96% were more conﬁdent wearing their interview outﬁt and 93% felt more self-assured of succeeding at their next interview.

Candidate Naomi adds, “I enjoyed having a chat about my experiences and having so many new tips for the interviews. Smart Works really gave me a new perspective. I also really enjoyed having an outﬁt chosen for me.’

In June 2024, Smart Works Greater Manchester celebrated its ninth birthday. It has assisted over 4,500 women, created over 5,600 appointments for them and it proudly avers, ’Get the clothes, get the conﬁdence – GET THE JOB.’

If you are interested in donating clothing or your time, or you would like more information, please contact Smart Works by phone, online or pop in!

Call 0161 974 0669 or contact us online at greatermanchester@smartworks.org.uk

Visit Smart Works Stockport Centre: 2nd Floor, Mellor House 65-81, St Petersgate, Stockport SK1 1DS Or Smart Works Manchester City Centre: 3rd Floor, Holyoake House, Hanover Street, Manchester M60 0AS

By Fay Wertheimer

Andrew Bolt

Bridging Musical Genres and Opening

Up The Bridgewater Hall For All

Do you know your classical from your orchestral? Or do you, as I did, before meeting Andrew Bolt, the internationally renowned CEO of Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, think all orchestral music was classical music?

Well, apparently it’s not, as Andrew gave me his take on what deﬁnes classical music: it’s a combination of period, such as Mozart and Beethoven’s time, and the use of symphonic instruments – strings, woodwind, percussion and brass. Which you might expect from the man who runs the concert hall that is home to one of the world’s greatest symphonic orchestras, Manchester’s very own Hallé, and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra too.

But it’s a hotly disputed area, so Andrew employs his own ‘pub test’ when asked this question, which means that if someone in the pub tells you they went to a classical concert at the Bridgewater and it was the Hallé Orchestra playing the music of Queen, then that’s a good enough description for him. He’s passionate about widening the audience to attract as many people as possible to experience the unique thrill that only live music can provide. So whether that’s the power of a full orchestra or a rock band’s Marshall stack, his aim is to make the whole business of live music more inclusive.

And in this great musical city of ours, where Charles Hallé ﬁrst conducted what would become our unique musical legacy that runs from the Hollies to Oasis, and Buzzcocks to Bugzy Malone, with iconic guest starring roles for Bob Dylan and the Sex Pistols. Andrew is well aware of Manchester’s place in the canon when it comes to music, and indeed, many other cultural arts. His knowledge and love of our long and rich musical history was formed long before he arrived here. And it’s a love that now encompasses our city and its people, who he believes are among the most creative in the world. Which has helped inspire him to position The Bridgewater Hall as unquestionably the country’s best symphony concert hall outside of London.

A native of Perth, Australia, Andrew had his inspirational moment of serendipity that started this impressive career that has brought him all the way from sun-soaked Perth by the Indian Ocean to the, well, greyer reﬂections of the Rochdale Canal. Working on a short contract in the print department at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), he walked through an empty studio and spied a Steinway grand piano just sitting there, begging to be played.

As a trained musician who had never played a Steinway, the temptation proved too great, “like a moth to the ﬂame,” as he put it. So, play it he did, until a gruff voice from the gantry commanded him to stop immediately. Summoned to the ofﬁce, and thinking that was the end of a glorious career-to-be, he discovered the ‘gruff man’ was the Head of Music at ABC who, to his astonishment, offered him a longer contract in the music library.

And that, certainly for Andrew, and for Manchester and The Bridgewater Hall, was perhaps the greatest surreptitious tinkling of a Steinway’s ivories, for 13 years later he walked out of ABC as the CEO of the West Australia Symphony and into the CEO role at Perth Concert Hall. His reputation for programming and excellent administration saw his proﬁle rise and rise, leading, 21 years later, to his arrival at the Bridgewater, where both his standing and that of the organisation he heads continues to rise through innovative and diverse programming that is second to none.

With a requirement for 60% of its programming to be ‘classical’ in essence, Andrew and his team of over 200, made up of full-time and freelance professionals, have ensured the remaining 40% covers any and every possible musical genre that appeals to a far wider and diverse audience than you might imagine for a symphony concert hall. For he’s a passionate advocate for the arts and its enriching powers, especially so in a region such as ours that might not be as privileged as some others.

The Bridgewater’s acoustic properties are rightly lauded around the world, but the building itself is also perfectly positioned and designed for a whole host of events in its mezzanines and foyer areas. All of which adds to the richness of the Bridgewater as a terriﬁc and unmissable cultural destination.

By Mark Kureishy

We Mancunians sometimes bang our drum a little too loudly, and possibly sometimes a little unjustiﬁably, when it comes to Andrew’s excellent conducting of The Bridgewater Hall and its central role in the musical cultural life – the ‘symphony’ at the heart of this city – we can’t bang those percussive instruments loud enough. And long may his reign by the banks of the canal continue... come orchestral rain or classical shine!

DEMENTIA CARE AT IT’S BEST

As dementia specialists, Belong villages and services are designed to maximise wellbeing, independence and quality of life for people living with dementia.

At Belong Morris Feinmann, we see the person, not the dementia, and tailor our support to respond to individual needs.

Small households for 24-hour support ensure a homely environment Life stories are gathered, ensuring continuity, understanding and wellbeing

Specialist training means colleagues are alert to customers’ changing needs

Belong Companions work in partnership with customers and their families

For further information, or to arrange a personal tour, please get in touch.

www.belong.org.uk enquiries@belong.org.uk 01618 044200

Belong Morris Feinmann | 178 Palatine Road, Didsbury, Greater Manchester M20 2UW

Free Admiral Nurse service and B’s memory cafés providing specialist dementia support

Relative’s Gateway and use of various technology to support families

Women’s health: making you a priority

Dr Mahshid Nickkho-Amiry, Consultant Gynaecologist

During this enlightening discussion, I will be sharing my expertise and exploring the reproductive journey from menstruation to menopause. I’ll be addressing common menstrual problems, fertility issues, and offering practical tips to improve your fertility.

Mr Nick Stylianides, Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon

Bowel issues are a common yet uncomfortable topic. I aim to talk about various bowel issues that women face and discuss how to effectively manage their symptoms in a friendly, non-judgmental environment.

Dr Shivani Batra, Consultant Gynaecologist

Bladder and pelvic floor conditions are unfortunately very common in women of all ages. These can have a significant impact on our quality of life, physical and mental health. I will be discussing these conditions and the range of options to prevent and manage them in a timely and effective manner.

Mr Jalal Kokan, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast and Cosmetic Breast Surgeon

Breast health can be concerning. I will be discussing various risk factors associated with breast cancer and offering advice on how to minimize these risks. I will also share valuable insights on signs and symptoms to look out for.

Spire Healthcare invites you to join our FREE women's health event at the luxurious Champneys Spa & Golf Hotel, Mottram Hall, on Monday 16th September 2024 where our expert consultants, Private GP and women's health physiotherapist, will delve into common women's health issues to alleviate any concerns you may have, with the opportunity to have your questions answered.

Complementary refreshments will be provided throughout, with stalls to browse at your leisure.

Attendees will be entered into a raffle with the chance to win some wonderful prizes.

Scan the QR code here to register for your tickets now!

Ask the Expert

Mr Say Aun Quah

MB BCh BAO PGDip CRS (Dist) FRCOphth

Mr Say Aun Quah is a highly experienced ophthalmic surgeon at The Wilmslow Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK. He has a special interest in corneal and cataract refractive surgery, having completed a cornea, anterior segment and refractive surgery fellowship at the internationally renowned Moorﬁelds Eye Hospital.

What are cataracts?

Cataracts are a common condition that typically affect people as they age. A cataract causes the normally clear lens of your eye to become clouded over time, a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window, and will eventually interfere with your vision.

What are the symptoms of cataracts?

Symptoms to be aware of include: clouded or blurred vision, difﬁculty seeing

in low light conditions, increasing sensitivity to light, seeing halos around lights at night or double vision in a single eye.

How are cataracts treated?

Cataracts can only be removed with surgery. If your symptoms aren’t severe, or disrupting your everyday life, you don’t have to remove them straight away. A new prescription for your glasses may help you see better. If your cataracts are more advanced, you may choose to have surgery. Surgery involves the removal

Paul Donnelly

Specialist in construction and engineering law, Paul has extensive experience working on projects all over the country. Paul has been based in the North West for almost 25 years and prior to that he spent nearly a decade at a major London law ﬁrm. Paul acts on behalf of both public and private sector employers, contractors, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers in all forms of dispute resolution on contentious matters, including adjudication, litigation, arbitration, expert determination and mediation, as well as non-contentious construction.

of your eye’s natural, cloudy lens and replacing it with an artiﬁcial lens called an intraocular lens (or IOL). Your surgeon will discuss the procedure in detail, discuss IOL options to optimise your vision and answer any questions you may have.

If you are experiencing any difference in your vision, it's important to make an appointment for an eye exam.

If you need support with an eye condition, or have other health concerns, we’re here to help. Contact The Wilmslow Hospital.

Are you building or extending your home? Paul shares some tips...

Do I need a building contract?

In short, yes. A building contract confirms and clarifies each party’s responsibilities. If properly drafted, it gives protection to both parties. For you, it confirms what the contractor is going to do and by when. It also outlines the quality standards that the contractor should meet. For the contractor, it tells him when he will be paid and how much. A reputable contractor should have nothing to fear in entering into a formal building contract.

Remember, you are a consumer

The consumer legislation gives certain protections to consumers. Statements made before the contract may have contractual status if they have inﬂuenced you. You may demand repeat performance of services for failure to carry out works with reasonable skill and care. You may be entitled to a price reduction for failure to carry out works in a reasonable time. The contractor may not limit liability to an amount less than the contract price. “Unfair” terms are unenforceable against you.

Prevention is better than cure

Construction is notoriously contentious and, even with the best contract in place, disputes arise. Try to avoid them. Never pay in advance for works; keep the contractor interested. Protect yourself by keeping proper records and communicating them. This may serve to nip issues in the bud – prevention is better than cure. Remember three words: evidence, evidence, evidence. If there is a dispute, your home insurance policy may provide legal cover for contract disputes. Check it.

Ask the Expert

Kirsten Bennett

Lund Bennett Law is a family law practice established in 2012, with ofﬁces in Altrincham and Manchester. Services range from pre-nuptial agreements, surrogacy arrangements and cohabitation rights through to separation disputes, divorce, ﬁnancial settlements and child disputes. Here, founder and leading partner Kirsten Bennett sets out the key issues to consider as separated parents navigate the transition from summer to the new school year.

Who has the legal right to make decisions about where the child will attend school?

Parents have a joint legal responsibility to make decisions about their child’s education if they each have parental responsibility.

If parents are unable to agree on the choice of school directly or through mediation, they should consider making an application to the Family Court under the Children Act 1989 for a ‘Speciﬁc Issue Order’. The Family Court can determine and make an order as to which school the child should attend.

How are additional school-related expenses (eg supplies, uniforms) handled?

Both parents are responsible for the living costs of raising a child, regardless of where the child lives. This includes necessary costs for school and extracurricular activities.

Child support payments are required by law and can be arranged privately. However, if this is not achievable, the government’s Child Maintenance Service will calculate and arrange a ﬁxed payment schedule, payable until the child turns 16 or until they ﬁnish full-time secondary education. This service will also take action if a parent fails to make a payment.

Joshua Hewitt

A Chartered ﬁnancial planner at Kellands, and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment. Joshua helps individuals and businesses to meet their long-term ﬁnancial goals, and shares a few of the common questions.

Are there low-risk investment options that can potentially offer better-thancash returns?

If you are looking for better-than-cash returns on your savings over a short period, with a relatively low risk proﬁle, UK government bonds (gilts) could well be the answer.

After the constant rises in interest rates, 2022 saw the worst-ever recorded drop in the price of gilts below their face value. Current prices now allow you to make a capital proﬁt when the gilt redeems at the end of its term, which becomes attractive for higher and additional rate taxpayers.

Are there any tax advantages for these over bank deposits?

Any uplift in capital on a gilt investment is free of capital gains tax (CGT) for UK individual investors, providing a useful tax-mitigation beneﬁt, particularly for higher-rate or additional-rate taxpayers.

For example, at the time of writing, an additional rate tax payer, would need to earn an equivalent gross interest of about 8% from their UK high street bank or building society savings deposits to achieve the same net-of-tax return as a portfolio of gilts held at their current prices until redemption.

How are medical decisions made if a child needs vaccinations or other healthrelated treatments for school? It is common practice that, in the event of a dispute between the parents, a medical professional will not administer a vaccination or healthrelated treatment to a child without an order from the court. A parent will need to make an application to the court for a speciﬁc issue order under Section 8 of Children Act 1989. The paramount consideration of the court when determining such applications is the welfare of the child. In making these decisions, the courts are required to undertake a balancing exercise, taking into account all available evidence presented to them.

What are the potential investment risks/ investor protection in UK gilts?

Gilts are issued by the UK government, which has never failed to repay domestically issued debt. However, as with all investments, the value of your portfolio and the income can ﬂuctuate so you may not get back the amount originally invested unless held to maturity. Unlike savings deposits, there is no cap on Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protection. Therefore, you can invest £10m in a gilt and enjoy the equivalent protection as investing £85,000 at the time of writing, in a UK savings account.

Ask the Physio

We’ve asked the experts at Harris & Ross about the importance of taking care of our physical health, as well as the beneﬁts that occur when we do.

What conditions can hydrotherapy help with?

Hydrotherapy can be beneﬁcial in the early stages of injury recovery and post-surgery as part of a partial weightbearing exercise regime.

It can help with fractures, ligament injuries or reconstructions (such as ACL reconstruction – a type of knee surgery), muscle tears and injuries, tendon and meniscal (knee cartilage) injuries, surgery and joint replacements. It can also help manage longer-term injury, illness or disability: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, ﬁbromyalgia, brain injuries,

Why is taking care of our feet so important?

Understanding biomechanics can be vital in preventing pain and dysfunction within the body. What occurs at the foot and ankle can have a direct impact further up the body and as such should be assessed from a biomechanical perspective. Identiﬁng abnormal movement patterns and imbalances can help prevent injury.

Given the importance of the foot to movement and function all over the body, podiatry is integral to our overall health and wellbeing. I can help diagnose and treat various foot conditions, including plantar fasciitis (pain on the bottom of the foot), Achilles tendinopathy, knee pain, corns, calluses and more. By addressing these issues early on, you can prevent them from worsening and causing more signiﬁcant problems.

stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease.

The slow, controlled motions of hydrotherapy have many beneﬁts. The water supports the patient's weight and allows for an increased range of joint movement while it strengthens muscles, improves balance and coordination. It also stimulates endorphins which helps the patient's muscles to relax, easing pain and reducing tension. Through these exercises, we'll gradually get you back into more rigorous activity, monitoring your progress and making sure you are on track to making a complete recovery.

What beneﬁts does a sports massage offer?

Sports Massages are not just for athletes! Whatever your profession, it is crucial to look after your physical and mental wellbeing. Regular sports massages improve ﬂexibility, reduce muscle tension and enhance athletic performance. They can help prevent injuries by identifying and addressing muscle imbalances, as well as aiding in a faster

recovery by increasing blood circulation and reducing muscle soreness.

Sports massages also provide mental relaxation and stress relief. The soothing effects of massage therapy can help you manage anxiety and tension, promoting overall wellbeing and mental clarity, which are essential for peak performance, no matter what your goals are.

Q&A with Livvy Partington, sports massage therapist

Q&A with Ollie Taylor, podiatrist

Q&A with Becky Ball, hydrotherapist and physiotherapist

Why should I consider health screening?

No two people are the same, and neither are their health needs. That’s why we take a personalised approach to health screening, assessing individual health risks and re quirements to create your bespoke screening package. Based on the results, our healthcare professionals are able to provide tailored advice, guidance and treatment plans.

Early detection

The old adage “prevention is better than cure” certainly rings true when talking about health screening. Regular screening enables your doctor to get a full view of your overall health, which is vital to the early detection of various health conditions, prompting earlier medical attention and intervention.

By identifying potential risks or issues early on, we have the opportunity to suggest

Take charge of your future health and wellbeing with health screening

Dr Sally Harris, private GP at The Wilmslow Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, talks to us about the beneﬁts of health screening and shares her advice on how best to prioritise your future wellbeing.

lifestyle adjustments, prescribe medication or other treatments to mitigate risks and prevent complications.

Don’t put it off

Many people put their screening off to ‘lose some weight ﬁrst’ or ‘start a healthy lifestyle programme’. We would encourage you not to do that. We understand that life gets in the way and we’re here to support you and your health without judgement. Screening is an opportunity to create a healthcare plan, often with only small changes, which can signiﬁcantly impact your future health.

ReAssure health screening

ReAssure is a range of leading health screening packages created by HCA Healthcare UK. Led by our highly experienced GPs, your personalised health screening

Make health screening a priority

will be tailored to your specific health needs and concerns; this can be anything from your general fitness to concerns about cancer and cardiovascular disease. Your screen can also be tailored to include age and gender-specific tests, as well as detailed genetic tests and ongoing lifestyle coaching sessions.

Screening is an opportunity to discuss your personal concerns and health risk factors in detail; this may be in relation to your age, gender, ethnicity, genetics, occu pation and lifestyle.

You will be provided with your own personalised screening report, and if further medical support is needed from a specialist consultant, we can quickly refer you to the most appropriate person.

Health screening is an easy way to make a big impact on your health, empowering you to take charge of your own health by identifying health risks or issues as early as possible, so that timely interventions can be made.

To ﬁnd out more about our reAssure health screening packages or to book an appointment, Call: 034 5437 0691 (selecting option 2). Alternatively, you can contact us by email at Email: appointments@hcaprimarycare.co.uk

Why wait for treatment?

You can use your private medical insurance or self-pay for your treatment with us. We offer fast access face-to-face and virtual consultations with our leading consultants who are highly skilled and well-established musculoskeletal (MSK) experts, with vast combined experience in the healthcare sector. Our specialists look after a wide range of patients; from athletes with sporting injuries, arthritis sufferers to people with complex spinal conditions.

Specialties we offer include:

● Orthopaedics

● Sport and exercise medicine

● Spinal neurosurgery

● Neurology

● Peripheral nerve

● Pain management

● Rheumatology

● Endocrinology

● Radiology

Please see website for offer

“Peace of mind for you and your family at all times”

The Private GP & Night Doctor Service

Dr Bruce Jobling

We are a group of experienced GPs based in South Manchester, we offer the highest level of medical care, above and beyond the NHS. Whilst the NHS is a good system, demand has increased so much that it has become almost impossible for it to offer the prompt and personal care that we all wish for.

We believe our registered patients want a professional service with peace of mind at all times – from

prompt telephone advice, a face to face consultation or organising an admission into hospital, anytime, day or night – all provided by a small group of doctors whom they know.

Hopefully, you will not need to see a doctor urgently, but accidents or illnesses can occur when least expected, and having to travel or wait several hours for healthcare can only make the ordeal worse.

You can stay registered with your NHS GP, as our aim is not to replace your care but to work alongside it, providing you with our extra medical care when you or your family need it most.

It only takes two minutes to register online today, so we can look after you in the future.

• 24 hrs a day

• 7 days a week

• Personal and confidential

• Well-being and full health checks with general blood tests

• Night and weekend home visits

• Quick and easy to book a routine or same day or evening appointment

• Covering Hale, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Didsbury and their surrounding areas

Registration fee from £19 per month plus consultation fees

You can remain with your NHS GP • Additional surgery in Hale If this service is of interest to you or your family, please contact us to register.

Understanding

and treating a tight foreskin: a gentle approach to men's health

Mr Arie Parnham, Consultant Urological Surgeon

Professor Vijay Sangar, Consultant Urological Surgeon and Professor of Urology

For many men, the topic of foreskin health can be a sensitive and sometimes uncomfortable subject to discuss. Yet, issues such as a tight foreskin, medically known as phimosis, are not uncommon and can signiﬁcantly impact a man's quality of life. This article aims to provide a compassionate and informative guide on understanding, addressing and treating a tight foreskin, promoting awareness and encouraging open conversations about men's health.

What is phimosis?

Phimosis is a condition where the foreskin, the retractable fold of skin covering the head of the penis, becomes too tight to be pulled back comfortably over the glans (the tip of the penis). While it is normal for newborn boys and young children to have a non-retractable foreskin, it usually loosens and becomes retractable by adolescence. However, in some cases the foreskin remains tight into adulthood, causing discomfort, hygiene issues or even pain during erections or intercourse.

Types of phimosis

• Physiological phimosis: this is the natural state in newborns and usually resolves on its own by age three to ﬁve.

• Pathological phimosis: this occurs due to scarring, infection, inﬂammation or other medical conditions, and it can develop at any age.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The primary symptom of phimosis is the inability to retract the foreskin. Other signs may include:

• Pain or discomfort during sexual activity

• Difﬁculty urinating or a weak urinary stream

• Swelling or redness around the foreskin

• Frequent infections of the foreskin or glans (balanitis)

A healthcare professional can diagnose phimosis through a physical examination and review of medical history. It's important to seek medical advice if phimosis causes signiﬁcant discomfort or interferes with daily activities.

Treatment options

Treating phimosis involves various ap proaches depending on the severity of the condition and the patient's overall health and preferences.

Topical steroid creams

Steroid creams, such as betamethasone, are often the first line of treatment. They help reduce inflammation and gradually stretch the foreskin, making it more flexible over time. Application usually involves gently applying the cream to the foreskin twice daily for several weeks to a few months.

Manual stretching exercises

Gentle, regular stretching exercises can help loosen the foreskin. This method re quires patience and consistency, and it should be done without causing pain or injury. There are also newer devices on the market that can facilitate the process. It's essential to follow a healthcare professional's guidance to avoid complications.

Surgical options

There are four types of surgery healthcare providers may suggest:

1) Preputioplasty- in some cases, healthcare providers might suggest preputioplasty, a minor surgical procedure that loosens the foreskin without removing it.

2) Frenuloplasty- a minor surgical procedure that involves lengthening the frenulum, the small fold of tissue that connects the underside of the penis to the foreskin, to relieve discomfort or tightness. This procedure helps improve movement and ﬂexibility, reducing pain during sexual activity and daily functions.

3) Dorsal slit- a small cut made in the foreskin to relieve tightness.

4) Circumcision- when other treatments are ineffective or if phimosis is severe, circumcision might be recommended. This surgical procedure involves the complete removal of the foreskin.

While circumcision effectively resolves phimosis, it is usually considered a last resort due to its permanent nature.

Emotional and psychological considerations

Dealing with phimosis can be emotionally challenging for many men. Feelings of embarrassment, anxiety or reduced selfesteem are common. It’s crucial to approach the topic with sensitivity and understanding, encouraging open dialogue and support.

Conclusion

Phimosis is a manageable condition, and with the right approach, men can achieve relief and improve their quality of life. By fostering open conversations about men's health issues, we can promote a more compassionate and informed community. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of a tight foreskin, consult with a healthcare provider to explore the best treatment options tailored to individual needs.

In our community, prioritising health and wellbeing means addressing all aspects of health, including those that might be difﬁcult to discuss. Through awareness, understanding and proper care, men can navigate the challenges of phimosis with conﬁdence and support.

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.

Sarcoma Awareness Month 2024

Mr Amit Kumar is a consultant orthopaedic and oncological surgeon. As a leading NHS specialist in the treatment of Sarcoma, he founded the Manchester Lumps Clinic to give patients peace of mind through faster diagnosis and earlier treatment. The clinic offers direct access to his expertise without having to join a waiting list.

Your Sarcoma questions answered

What is sarcoma?

Sarcoma is a rare cancer that develops in the body’s connective tissues, which include the: muscles, bones, fatty tissues, cartilage, tendons, blood vessels or any other supportive tissue. Broadly speaking, they are either soft tissue or bone sarcomas.

What are the signs and symptoms of sarcoma?

In the earlier stages, soft tissue sarcomas will often appear as a painless lump under the skin of the arm or the leg. As the sarcoma

gets bigger, it may begin to press on nearby organs, nerves, or muscles, which can cause pain or difﬁculty in breathing.

How are sarcomas diagnosed?

Diagnosis of a sarcoma usually starts with a physical examination alongside imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT, ultrasound, MRI may also be used to conﬁrm the diagnosis and stage of the cancer.

How are sarcomas treated?

Each person’s individual treatment plan depends on the type, size, location, and stage of their cancer. Sarcoma treatment

plans will usually include: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these.

What should I do if I experience any symptoms of sarcoma?

Any patient with a lump that’s painful, getting bigger, bigger than 5cm, deep or looks suspicious on initial imaging should be referred to a Sarcoma specialist for further assessment. An early sarcoma diagnosis provides a wider range of treatment options, and oftentimes improved treatment outcomes.

If you have a lump that you’re concerned about please book in to see us via the contact details below www.manchesterlumpsclinic.com / E: info@manchesterlumpsclinic.com / T: 07585 064963 /lumpsclinic /manchester-lumps-clinic @lumpsclinic @manchesterlumps

Dr Adam Simon, Clinical Director

Trusted Healthcare for

general health concerns, our GPs Dr Erica Jones and Dr Catherine O'Neill specialise in:

Women's health including menopause

Men's health including prostate issues

Weight loss and nutrition

Blood tests

Full medical checks

Bespoke health screening Private GP Extra T: 0161 428 4464 / E: info@privategpextra.com Hearing & Wellness Hale T: 0161 928 5900 / E: contact@hearingandwellness.co.uk

Hearing + Wellness, Century House, 192 Ashley Road, Hale, Altrincham WA15 9SF

The Alexandra Hospital, Mill Lane, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 2PX

The Highﬁeld Hospital, Manchester Road, Rochdale, Lancashire OL11 4LZ

Medical Imaging Partnership, 144 Dialstone Lane, Heaviley, Stockport SK2 6AP

Neurological Physiotherapy, Oak House, 2 Gatley Road, Cheadle SK8 1PY

OrthTeam Centre

Launches Academy for Education and Training

The OrthTeam Centre is delighted to announce the launch of the OrthTeam Academy, designed to equip medical professionals and healthcare colleagues – including physiotherapists, chiropractors, podiatrists and sports professionals – with advanced knowledge and expertise to provide top-tier patient care.

OrthTeam consultants are renowned for their commitment to leading education and have trained to achieve the highest levels of specialisation in ﬁelds such as orthopaedics, spinal neurosurgery, peripheral nerve surgery, neurology, pain management, rheumatology, sport and

exercise medicine and endocrinology.

Mr Ankur Saxena commented: "We’re delighted to be launching the OrthTeam Academy, which will continue our commitment to providing high-quality education and development.

"At the OrthTeam Centre, we foster an environment of shared insight and experience. The OrthTeam Academy will deepen our collaboration with fellow professionals across various specialisms, ensuring the highest quality of care for patients."

To book a consultation with one of our experts or for more information, please visit orthteamcentre.co.uk or call 0161 447 6888

Country inns with stunning views, historic hotels in idyllic locations and a spring/summer schedule packed with unmissable events.

There are 8 hotels, inns and restaurants to choose from - days out and short breaks sorted with James’ Places!

See you  the bar!

GLOSSY EATS...

Chef Platters | Didsbury

Sometimes location isn’t everything, and Chef Platters is a testament to that. Located on the Kingsway end of Fog Lane in Didsbury, Chef Platters is the unusually named Indian eatery under the careful stewardship of award-winning Chef Akbar Singh.

This family-run restaurant offers a warm, heartfelt welcome, with contemporary décor and outstanding food. The Singh family, known for their dedication to traditional recipes and commitment to hospitality, have created a welcoming haven for food enthusiasts. The restaurant promises a delightful journey through the diverse and vibrant tapestry of Indian cuisine. Chef Akbar comments: “We are savouring the essence of India on every plate.”

Glossy recommends the Pav Bhaji at £6.95, an Indian classic consisting of a thick, spicy vegetable curry served with a soft muffin. The Gobi 65, deep-fried cauliflower flavoured with curry leaves and homemade spices, is £6.95.

The ‘staff’ curry features succulent chunks of tender lamb in a thick traditional gravy, fabulous with rice or naan. This is what the kitchen team eat so it’s got to be good! And at £10.99, it’s a steal.

Another must-try is the chicken Kolhapuri at £11.95, originating from the city of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, with tender chicken breast pieces in a thick, spiced gravy, which is best served with a garlic and chilli naan, just £2.95. With a decent selection of wines, and Cobra for under a ﬁver a pint,

Chef Platters offers excellent value for money.

READER

Valid on eat in only until 30/09/2024

Code: CPASAA8979

Chef Platters 199a Fog Lane | Didsbury | M20 3FJ

Tel: 0161 917 2492

www.chefplatters.co.uk

The Alchemist

Seeing is believing with The Alchemist’s new cocktail menu, with levitating drinks and hidden cocktails taking centre stage

The Alchemist has created a brand-new cocktail menu for the spring and summer seasons, designed to inject some theatre into late-night drinking, with the addition of a cocktail that levitates as well as a cocktail that must be smashed to be drunk.

New cocktails include:

The Levitating One which has to be seen to be believed. Destined to be a hero serve, it’s made with Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Regal Rogue Wild Rose and Bold Red Vermouth, Akashi Plum Sake and Muyu Vetiver, and is The Alchemist’s ﬁrst levitating cocktail, which will literally ﬂoat in the air when served.

The Egg may not ﬂoat but it still offers plenty of intrigue. Made with Hendricks Gin, St. Germain, Citrus, Yuzu and punchy cucumber, served in a ceramic egg, this cocktail has been hidden from view for the past two years, discoverable only by a QR code. It has now made its way onto the menu for everyone to enjoy!

Basil Smash by name and smash by nature. Made with Miller’s gin, basil, peach and lime, and encased in a sugar glass, guests need to smash the glass to enjoy their drink!

Hard Peached Iced Tea has been designed to offer a more approachable whisky serve. Made with Naked Malt blended whisky, peach, agave and homemade golden tea, it takes inspiration from a classic Alchemist Lady Marmalade cocktail.

The new cocktail menu is accompanied by a new food menu, with seasonal dishes including Jalapeño and Parmesan doughnuts, pulled beef brioche and Korean superfood salad.

The cocktail menu is now available in all venues across the UK, with The Alchemist open until late, with DJs every weekend.

GLOSSY EATS...

Flat Iron | Manchester

The latest addition to the Manchester dining scene is Flat Iron which opened last month on Deansgate, in the heart of the city centre.

The two-floor restaurant is housed in a Grade II Listed building, designed by Charles Heathcote and first opened to the public in 1908 as the office of the Royal London Friendly Society.

Founder Charlie Carroll opened Flat Iron in 2012 as a pop-up above a pub in East London. Committed to doing a few things really well, Charlie aimed to make great steak available for everyone.

Bringing their single-minded commitment to serving remarkable steak at an affordable price to the heart of Manchester, the restaurant’s concise menu is led by the signature ‘Flat Iron’ steak, taken from the often-overlooked featherblade, which is known

for its ﬂavour, tenderness and juiciness when butchered with skill and care, alongside much-loved sides such as beef dripping chips, creamed spinach, trufﬂed macaroni cheese and crispy bone marrow garlic mash.

A rotating board of specials are available, including a Wagyu steak of the day, and a Scottish ribeye, exclusive to Manchester. The restaurant also has a bespoke charcoal grill, which is used for all beef specials.

The menu is simple, and their signature Flat Iron steak is just £14, which is not only reasonably priced, but very tasty. The sides are were just the right size, and delicious. And the free-ﬂowing popcorn when you sit down, and the free ice-cream when you’re are leaving are a welcome extra.

And in the words of Flat Iron’s founder, Charlie Carroll, “Flat Iron is about unpretentious, top-quality steak, available to all.”

Flat Iron | 200 Deansgate | Manchester | M3 3NN / www.ﬂatironsteak.co.uk/restaurant/manchester

GLOSSY COOKS

This month Head Chef Josh Singleton shares his Chicken Caesar Salad recipe from the new summer menu at Embankment Kitchen

The delicious new summer menu at Embankment Kitchen features seasonally focused dishes created by Josh Singleton and his team, who source the best quality ingredients from around the North West, and everything is made from scratch

Head chef Josh says: “We decided to keep lots of small plates on the summer menu – perfect to enjoy during the warmer weeks on our terrace. As always at Embankment Kitchen, our new menu features what’s in season, as everything is made from scratch. There’s plenty of ﬁsh dishes, salads and pastas – Great to pair with our wines and spritzes!

“Our big ﬂavour focus with this menu is on Middle Eastern herbs and spices, dishes and condiments. For example, we’ve got a Persian lamb shank, one of my personal recommendations, which is served with pomegranate molasses, muhammara dip and batata harra.

“My other recommended dishes include the tandoori chicken (it had great feedback from the EK team during our cook-offs), our char siu pork belly and the roasted halibut which is served with baby parsnips, grilled leeks and a champagne and caviar butter sauce. I’ve created a lot of halibut dishes in my career but this is deﬁnitely one of my favourites.”

The small plates are ideal for sharing and new dishes include char siu pork belly and Vietnamese salad with citrus dressing, chilli and garlic; salt and pepper tempura king prawns with Asian salad, soy and mirin dressing plus lime, chilli and coriander mayonnaise; and BBQ enoki mushrooms on sourdough with shallots, garlic and EK BBQ sauce, with sherry vinegar and parsley on toasted garlic sourdough.

There are new tasty mains on the menu too. The grilled sea bream is stuffed with braised fennel, sun-blushed tomatoes, olives and fresh herbs, served with citrus and coriander cous cous, as well as mint and herb yoghurt. Then there’s pan-fried conﬁt duck leg potato rosti, with beer braised onion, pak choi and spiced duck sauce. And, of course, the slow-cooked Persian lamb shank as recommended!

Tasty and ﬁlling, the humble Caesar salad is a summer staple, perfect for a light dinner during the warmer months. Our Embankment Kitchen version is packed full of ﬂavour and features homemade Caesar dressing and croutons.

Ingredients:

2 baby gem lettuces

2 chicken breasts

1 punnet of cherry tomatoes

1 ciabatta loaf or 2 slices of thick white bread

4 tbsp mayonnaise Oil

2 cloves crushed garlic

1 tsp Dijon mustard

150g parmesan

4 chopped small anchovies 1tsp Worcestershire sauce

Lemon juice of half a lemon Salt and pepper

Method:

1. Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Tear one ciabatta into big, ragged croutons or, if you prefer, cut with a bread knife. Spread over a large baking sheet or tray and sprinkle over two tablespoons of oil.

2. Rub the oil into the bread and season with a little salt if you like (sea salt crystals are best for this). Bake for 8-10 minutes, turning the croutons a few times during cooking so they brown evenly.

3. Rub two skinless, boneless chicken breasts with one tablespoon of oil and season. Place pan over a medium heat for a minute, until hot, but not smoking. Lay the chicken on the pan (it will sizzle if it’s hot enough) and leave for 4 minutes.

4. Turn the chicken, then cook for 4 minutes more. Check if it’s cooked by poking the tip of a sharp knife into the thickest part, there should be no sign of pink and juices will run clear.

5. To make the Caesar sauce, in a bowl mix together the garlic, anchovies and Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce and the lemon juice. Add the mayonnaise, salt, pepper and parmesan and whisk well to form the sauce.

6. Next wash all the leaves, chop the tomatoes in half and add these to a bowl.

7. When the chicken is cooked add this to the salad along with the Caesar sauce (you may not need all of the sauce).

8. Mix all this together and then add in the croutons and some shaved parmesan. Evenly portion into bowls and enjoy!

Opening hours:

Breakfast: Every day, 7am - 12pm. Brunch / Lunch: Saturday, 1pm - 5pm

Evening Food: Every day, 5pm - 10pm. Bar: Monday-Friday, 4pm - 10:30pm Weekends, 7am - 10:30pm

Embankment Kitchen Restaurant & Bar located in CitySuites Aparthotel 16 Chapel St, Salford M3 7NH // 0161 240 1611

Embankment Kitchen: www.citysuites.com/en/food-and-drink/embankment-kitchen // CitySuites: www.citysuites.com/en

The EK Chicken Caesar Salad

Cheadle Hulme School has cause for a dou ble celebration after conﬁrming a new headteacher and receiving a glowing inspection report. Lee Richardson was ap pointed headteacher just as the school received a first-class report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate and has vowed to prioritise continuous improvements.

The report praised pupils for developing “selfconﬁdence, with strong moral foundations”,

Double celebration for Cheadle Hulme School

and emphasised the school’s co-curricular programme as “a signiﬁcant strength”.

Lee said: “Whilst the new framework no longer gives overall headline judgement to schools, it does allow inspectors to highlight excellence when they ﬁnd it.

“Very few schools have been awarded a ‘signiﬁcant strength’ thus far, so we are very pleased to join the select group to whom such a plaudit has been awarded.”

Other report highlights include:

- Consistently high GCSE and A-level results due to effective teaching

- An inclusive atmosphere and positive ethos

- Active nurturing of pupils' selfconﬁdence

- Respectful, supportive and collaborative pupils.

The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) has developed a wide range of free-toaccess online academic courses for pupils both within the school and beyond.

Drawing on experience from remote learning during the COVID lockdowns, the school aims to make high-quality learning accessible to more pupils who wish to stretch themselves beyond the standard curriculum.

Dan Lacey, Deputy Head of Teaching and Learning at the school, commented:

"The content has been designed by MGS teachers to give a taste of undergraduate study, helping to inform pupils’ subject choices and bridge the gap between aca demic study at sixth form and university level. With ﬁve courses in development this year, MGS will host 12 academic courses online, all of which will be publicly available at no cost. We believe that combining educational technology with MGS teachers’ academic expertise has resulted in highquality, educational content of beneﬁt to the MGS community and others around the world."

The initiative reflects The Manchester Grammar School's commitment to leveraging technology to enhance educational outcomes and expand learning

With over two decades of experience in teaching and senior leadership at Cheadle Hulme School, Lee has already made an indelible impact on school life. First joining as an economics teacher in 2000, he was promoted to Head of Economics and Business, later taking on the roles of Deputy Head and Senior Deputy Head.

In his new role at the helm, he has pledged to build on the school’s strengths and is excited to see what the future holds.

Lee said: “The report commends the school for our inclusive, values-driven ethos and diverse and enriching educational experiences.

“It brings positive recognition to the hard work of pupils, staff and governors and I would like to pass on my thanks to them all.

“As the new headteacher, I pledge to build on our strong foundation of mutual respect, tolerance and kindness for every pupil –and, of course, excellent academic results.”

opportunities for students globally. By summer 2024, the school will offer courses covering a wide array of subjects designed to stimulate intellectual curiosity and support academic progression.

For more information and to access the courses, visit the website via the link: https://www.mgs-life.co.uk/courses

Photos by: Sitara Bartle Davies, The Manchester Grammar School

Art at St. Bede’s

This year at St. Bede’s, we have been focused on raising the proﬁle of our creative subjects across the college and have begun a new era of exciting initiatives.

We believe that creativity is a vitally important element of every student’s education.

With that in mind, we really wanted to celebrate the effort, creativity and individuality that our students put into their artwork. At the end of the autumn term, we launched our Art work of the Term Awards, selecting work from each year group to be commended, framed and displayed

prominently within the department for all to see. Since then, we have celebrated the spring awards and are about to reveal the summer term’s awards at our ﬁnal celebration assembly.

This has been complemented by the collegewide initiative of monthly exhibitions dis played in one of the main corridors. One subject is showcased each month and during April, a large selection of artwork by students from all year groups was exhib ited, providing younger students with the opportunity to have their work displayed and admired alongside that of the ex amination years. It has been wonderful to see our students enjoying the successes of their peers through these events.

House Colours are a tradition that our PE department has kept for years, and this year we have the addition of our Art House Col ours, which will be awarded at our ﬁnal summer assembly. Students earn their Colours badges by accumulating points that are awarded for participation, achievement, effort and commitment to artistic activities.

This year we elevated the staging of our annual summer exhibition, showcasing the work of our Upper Fifth and Upper Sixth students in an environment reminiscent of a New York gallery. We discussed the change in style and location with our classes, talked about the way that artists choose to present their work to viewers in galleries, and we encouraged them to be creative, to be brave with their intentions and to make their own statements. Students rose to the challenge to be bold and innovative with their creations, particularly in photography, where we saw such a wide variety of outcomes this year, from traditional photographs to highly manipulated images, video, kinestasis, timelapse, installation and sculpture. Our 2024 summer exhibition was a great success, and the gallery was constantly packed with proud parents and students alike.

Our drive to promote our creative subjects encourages our students to be inspired and awed by the world around them and to take pride in their artistic achievements. This doesn’t stop here: we are now looking ahead and planning next year’s growth.

The King’s School has been shortlisted in the Independent School of the Year Awards for Sporting Achievement.

It is King’s third listing in the last three years, having previously been nominated for pupil wellbeing and educational innovation from over 2,000 schools nationwide. This year, King's were national champions in U14 rugby; fourth in the country at U14 netball; had four team golds at the national trampoline finals; won the Preliminary 12 dressage final at Hickstead, as well as having been na tional U15 finalists last year in cricket.

Head, Jason Slack, said: “Central to our submission was not just the level of our success at an elite level, but also the breadth and inclusivity of our participation, from wheelchair basketball to disabled sailing.”

Jason emphasised: "As a school with a number of pupils who are wheelchair users, we’re keen to meet everyone’s needs and offer them a positive experience of sport. Pupils regularly enjoy sailing, swimming and other accessible sports, and we’ve

hosted two wheelchair basketball matches for the peer group of one pupil who regularly competes in this sport outside of school.

"The position that King’s holds for sport within the local community and our out reach work also formed a central part of our submission." Previously, King’s was ranked in School Sports Magazine's top 25 sporting schools in the UK. The shortlisting, with the ﬁnal adjudication in September, recognises not only a golden year of suc cess at all age levels, but the astonishing breadth of opportunity. For example, across Years 7 to 10, 461 out of 581 pupils have rep resented King’s this school year, which amounts to a staggering 79% of all pupils getting a chance to don the royal blue. In fact, the school offers over 20 different sports and vows to support and help de velop any pupil’s individual passion. Some other sports include rounders, tennis,

swimming, sailing, table tennis and golf.

Always known as a quality sporting school, King’s new 80-acre campus on Al derley Road boasts multiple pitches for rugby and cricket, plus all weather surfaces for hockey, netball and tennis. The campus also features an eclectic mix of sports and activities, a superb main sports hall, an in door cricket centre, a stunning 25-metre swimming pool, basketball courts, a ﬁtness suite and a dance studio, all of which has been made available for community use. Sport is also becoming increasingly im portant as an academic subject, with 85 students in Year 10 and 11 this year involved at GCSE and 14 taking the BTEC Sport qual iﬁcation. This means more and more children go on to careers in sport but, just as importantly, they learn lifelong positive approaches to health and wellbeing.

Rivington Pike Walk for African School

Just before Bolton School broke up for the summer holidays, 1,200 senior school pupils undertook a whole-day charity walk to Riv ington Pike and back to their Chorley New Road campus to raise funds to help build a school in Malawi.

Students at Bolton School undertake the challenge every few years, the Pike being signiﬁcant to them as Lord Leverhulme, who created the modern-day version of

Bolton School in 1915, owned a bungalow on the moor. Boys and girls progressed in small groups with teachers, and nearly all made it to the Pike in what was, weather-wise, a good day for walking. Sixth form students helped out with the administration on the day.

Several days earlier, nursery, infant and junior school children also did their fundraising bit, walking around the 32-acre campus and dancing to 'This is Africa'.

Monies collected will be put with over £20,000 of funds already raised by Mrs Marsden in the junior girls’ school, who has been fundraising for some time to build a school in Malawi for orphaned, homeless children. Mrs Marsden has been inspired by several visits out to the African country. Working alongside local charity Great Minds Bright Futures, the target is to raise £50,000 in order to build a school that older children can attend.

Withington Girls’ School and The Gambia – 20 years of partnership

Withington Girls’ School (WGS) has marked its special 20-year partnership with The Gambia with a series of commemorative anniversary events, which have seen more than £20,000 raised over the past few months. This takes total donations since the ﬁrst WGS school trip to The Gambia in 2004 to nearly £150,000, which has funded a number of transformational projects including a nursery school, now recognised nationally as a Centre of Excellence, a range of youth enterprise projects and much-needed wetland and forest restoration programmes.

Fundraising for this year’s visit in December has included ‘20 minutes for 20 years’ with sponsored sports-ﬁeld laps, penalty shootouts in a popular ‘Goals for The Gambia’ event, a sell-out ‘Great Gambia Get-Together’ evening as well as a non-uniform day plus ﬂower and sweet stalls.

Withington’s ‘WithGambia’ partnership has been led by WGS teacher of geography,

Ms Kaeren Browning, throughout the 20 years. As well as working with project man agers on the ground to identify suitable community projects in need of ﬁnancial support, she annually takes groups of 12 to 14 Year 12 stu dents to volunteer in local community outreach schemes in and around Illiasa, a remote rural area situated 100km from the country’s capital, Banjul.

The ﬂagship project is the Mama Tamba Nursery School in Illiasa. Since its launch in 2007, it has enabled 854 children to make a positive start to their education. Teachers’ salaries and free school meals are funded by the partnership, and the installation of electricity and a water borehole has beneﬁtted the local community.

An innovative Youth Empowerment project offers young people opportunities to learn important work and life skills. They keep beehives to produce honey and beeswax products, grow mangoes and

baobab for fruit juice and a bakery produces bread and biscuits. All products are sold on and 60% of proﬁts are reinvested into the enterprises and the local community. The partnership is also working with seven local communities to reintroduce indigenous plants and trees that have disappeared from the area, and 45,000 native seedlings are being planted to help with wetland restoration.

Ms Browning said: “When I embarked on this WithGambia journey, I didn’t think this far ahead – but here we are in 2024, celebrating a remarkable 20 years. It’s taken a mammoth effort from everyone involved. I’m so grateful to the Withington community for its support, which has endured for over two decades, delivering sustainable projects that really do make a difference.” Tamba Jammeh, Mama Tamba’s headmaster and youth empowerment lead, commented: “Our partnership with Withington Girls’ School has formed a true bond. Together we have transformed opportunities for many young children, from childhood to adulthood, with some of the ﬁrst enrolled children now pursuing their studies at university. I look forward to seeing what the next 20 years brings.”

Meet the Head of Lower School at Cheadle Hulme School

Matt Whoriskey

Mr Matt Whoriskey, Head of Lower School at Cheadle Hulme, shares his journey, passions and insights on education. With roots in Derry city, Northern Ireland, Matt has dedicated his career to education, driven by a passion for languages and a commitment to making a difference in students' lives. In this interview, Matt speaks about his background, interests and the philosophy that guides his work in education.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue a career in education?

I grew up in Derry, Northern Ireland, in the 1980s. I’m very proud of my home and roots, and I had a number of teachers who particularly stood out to me during this time, shaping my views on what education should look like. It wasn’t a very afﬂuent area, but there was a determination from some of my teachers, particularly my German teachers, that languages can make a difference to your life chances. This stuck with me. After graduating in 2004, I worked in several places where I could practise my German. Teaching was always at the back of my mind, and I hoped to pass on the passion for languages instilled in me at a young age.

What are some of your personal interests and hobbies outside of work?

Apart from spending time with my family, visiting home in Ireland and going on holidays, I love music and football. They are my two passions. I play live music more frequently these days and enjoy it immensely. I am always listening to music and enjoy performing and soaking up the atmosphere of a busy venue, playing a range of Irish/pop/rock/ country music.

What excites you the most about education?

I love being in the classroom. Regardless of the level I work at in schools, I will always spend time in the classroom. It’s where you have a real understanding in that moment of how you can help pupils learn. I enjoy reading and researching different teaching methods, making knowledge accessible and memorable. Education can open doors for pupils, regardless of their background, and that’s incredibly exciting.

What advice would you give to students aspiring to achieve their goals?

Striking a balance between work and play is important. While there are many distractions for young people today, there are also many factors affecting their wellbeing. Competition for places in future destinations means they need to stand out, but they must also take care of their mental health. Talking to friends, family and trusted adults should be part of their plan. My advice is to work sensibly, listen to teacher feedback, ﬁnd moments to rest, work speciﬁcally on your targets and look after yourself and your friends. Keep talking!

How do you balance the demands of your professional and personal life?

I haven’t always done this well! Over the years, I’ve worked on this and hope I’ve gotten better with experience. I’ve learned that you need to trust the people around you and ask for help when you need it. I am fortunate to work with a fantastic group of people and have worked with some truly brilliant individuals throughout my career.

Trusting others, delegating appropriately, being a clear communicator and a good listener are key. It’s also important to make time for your family, friends and hobbies. My family, particularly my wife and my dad, have been crucial in reminding me to ﬁnd that balance.

A School For Life

COFFEE GADGETS

ONE of the many things I love about coffee is the sheer levels of nerdery you can reach. If you’re a gadget geek then there’s no limit to the fun you can have perfecting your brewing process, and of course building an almost inﬁnite collection of toys.

My favourite way to enjoy coffee is outdoors. Whether you’re wild camping or picnicking in Car Park One at Royal Ascot, here’s my pick of the brewing methods.

Boiling

As a lifelong camper, I’ve never found a better hot water system for solo expeditions than the Jetboil. This Zip system not only boils up to 800ml unbelievably rapidly even in extreme conditions, but it’s lightweight, reliable, robust and, most impressively, compact. Everything you need, including insulated cylinder, fuel, ignition, stand and sip-through lid packs into a hand-held unit weighing just 345g. Jetboil Zip cooking system, from £84.99.

Drinking

You didn’t think I’d go to all these lengths just to pour into a plastic mug did you? There’s even high-tech ways of enjoying your espresso shot at the optimal temperature whatever the weather’s doing. Some might say a titanium, double-walled coffee goblet is a little excessive, but not me. It’s a must. Snow Peak, £40.

Brewing

There are so many portable brewing methods, from pour-over ﬁlters to mini-Aeropress to rugged cafetieres – but as a lover of gadgets I’m really loving the Wacaco Nanopresso at the moment. Not only is it a stunning piece of design, with a surprisingly compact cylinder less than 16cm long, but it’s also an ergonomic, tactile joy to use. You pack, tamp and pump by hand and it generates up to 18 bars of pressure for a really smooth, authentic espresso shot while you’re out and about. Wacaco Nanopresso, £59.

Grinding

Coffee experts recommend Hario grinders, and it just so happens that the pocketsized Mini Mill Plus hand grinder has a detachable handle so it’s fully portable. It has that all-important ceramic burr and a dial to adjust the texture of the grind from coarse to ﬁne. Hario Mini Mill Plus Ceramic, £33.

By Oliver Chesher

GLORIOUSMUDMUD

THE rapid rise in popularity of the Tough Mudder brand has been particularly great for many reasons: not least because it’s given a taste of outdoor fun to a lot of people that might not previously have considered themselves ‘outdoor people’. That’s thanks to its growing reputation as an ideal corporate team-building event or

However, I didn’t know until I looked into it just how broad a spectrum of people it now caters for. Most people recognise it for the 5k or 10k obstacle course events that have so far raised over £50 million for charities – we all know someone that’s either been round the ofﬁce with a sponsor form or even roped us into a team.

But did you know there’s a kids’ version? Look out for Lidl Mudder events (sponsored by guess who?), a 1-mile course packed full of obstacles to give kids aged five the chance to work as a team and get as filthy as they like. My three girls fit into that age group, and they certainly look for any opportunity to get covered in mud from head to toe so I’m sold on this one.

By Oliver Chesher

charity fundraising activity.

What I’m not quite so sold on is the 24-hour event, at the other, shall we say, extreme end of the market. Just look at these stats: World’s Toughest Mudder is a global annual event with prize money in the thousands, where competitors run 5-mile laps over 24 hours! Each lap has more than 20 obstacles, and the record stands at 115 miles. I admit, there is no way I could do that, but I know a few lunatics that would love it.

What’s tempting is the fact that you can do 8-hour or 12-hour events, solo or as a team, which look challenging even to a seasoned big-distance athlete. And unlike a lot of ultra-endurance events, this one majors on the fun – with a late-night party vibe, powerful sound system and loads of eating.

Let’s be realistic though, most people won’t be loving the idea of an allnighter in the mud. A liberating afternoon with your mates in the sunshine, however, is a perfect mix of hilarity and exhilaration, with the satisfaction of having pushed your own limits against the clock and had a good full-body workout.

Still think you’re more of an indoor creature? Here’s an insider tip that might change your mind. All my life I’ve been prone to a bit of acne. As a mountain biker I swear that the ONLY thing that always guarantees totally clear skin is mud.

The day after getting coated in the stuff, you’ll be glowing.

WHAT’S ON

Summer is here – allegedly – so there’s lots of fun for families and grown-ups across the city. You can walk with dinosaurs at the Trafford Centre, ﬁnd out what kind of queen you are at The Lowry or enjoy some Sweet Dreams at Aviva Studios. Manchester Pride is back with superstars Jessie J and Sugababes and of course the fabulous parade, plus you can even check out mermaids at Sea Life. We are short of nothing this summer!

Exhibitions and Special Events

Queens: The Exhibition

The Lowry Galleries / Until 3 November

Celebrate queens of every description that we pass in the street, work and play with in this brand-new ‘ﬁrst of its kind’ exhibition curated by The Lowry and produced with the support of Six and its creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. Lots of interactive fun and chances to sing, play and take selﬁes. At The Lowry every day except Mondays.

Sweet Dreams

Aviva Studios / Until 1 September

Step inside the surreal world of a fading fast food empire in an interactive and immersive adventure that mixes cinema and animation. This multi-sensory experience takes over Aviva Studios for the summer and is cooked up in collaboration with award-winning writer and former chef Simon Wroe, with art direction by French artist Mcbess.

Summer Arts

Z-Arts / Until 31 August

Z-Arts have a range of workshops and activities running throughout the summer for families to join in. Many classes are free to families on a tighter budget, or you can buy a Bright Sparks family membership for the summer. Check out z-arts.org to book.

Jurassic World: The Exhibition

Trafford Centre / Until 3 November Embark on an epic journey encountering life-sized dinosaurs including the mighty T-Rex and imagine what it would be like to roam amongst these breathtaking creatures. You can even interact with a baby dinosaur!

After Hours with the Mermaids

Sea Life Manchester / 16 - 17 August

Experience a rare chance to marvel at ‘real-life’ mermaids as they join the sea turtles Cammy and Ernie in the ocean display for a magical time. Your ticket gives you an allocated time for the mermaid viewing so there is plenty of time to enjoy all the other ﬁshes and underwater creatures too.

Manchester Pride

Manchester City Centre / 23 - 26 August

Across the weekend there are dozens of amazing acts performing, including Jessie J and Sugababes. This year’s fabulous parade takes place on 24 August with a theme of ‘Buzzin’ to be Queer –A Hive of Progress’. For tickets and all the information you need, visit manchesterpride.com

Comedy

Didsbury Comedy Club

St Catherine’s Community Centre, Didsbury / 1 September

This month’s acts include Lou Conran, Josh Jones, Sabrina and MC Tom Wrigglesworth. Acts start at 7:45pm so make sure you arrive in time to grab a drink before the show. Age 18+.

Didsbury Dog Show

Didsbury Park / 15 September

Dogs, lots of dogs in a park – what more can you ask for? There are competitions, stalls, displays and opportunities to show off your own furry friend too.

Blue Man Group

The Lowry / 2 – 6 October

Three bald and blue characters explore the world and discover music, comedy and surprises at every turn. This is a music extravaganza for audiences of all ages with explosive paint drumming, comedy and amazing audience interaction.

Musicals

Six The Musical

The Lowry / 13 August – 1 September

The regal triumph and crowning glory of Broadway, Six, returns to The Lowry following several sell-out productions in the past! The good news is that it’s here for three whole weeks; the bad news is that it is pretty much standing room only at most performances. Snap them up while you can – it’s so much fun you won’t even notice you’re standing!

Lord of the Dance –A Lifetime of Standing Ovations

Palace Theatre / 13 – 18 August

After celebrating the 25th anniversary in 2022, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance is back with a dazzling revival of this iconic dance extravaganza. It promises to be an extraordinary journey that will

captivate audiences again with this recordbreaking show – please note that Michael Flatley does not appear in the show.

Brassed Off

Octagon Bolton / 5 – 28 September

Based on the smash hit ﬁlm, this production will feature live music from local brass bands to deliver an amazing theatrical experience for this much-loved classic which is full of grit, heart and northern humour.

Book of Mormon

Palace Theatre / 11 September – 5 October

This outrageous musical comedy from the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, plus Bobby Lopez, the co-writer of Avenue Q and Frozen, follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent to a place that's about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get. Described by the New York Times as ‘the best musical of this century’ it’s an adrenaline ride of a musical and very, very funny!

Drama

Murder on the Orient Express

The Lowry / 6 – 14 September

Starring Michael Maloney (Belfast, Young Victoria, The Crown) as Poirot, this is one of Agatha Christie’s greatest literary achievements, with a ﬁnal twist that is amongst her very best. This brand-new production is a thrilling ride and an ingenious murder mystery, guaranteed

By Catherine Reed

to keep you guessing until the end of the line.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Royal Exchange / 6 September – 12 October

This electrifying adaptation directed by Stef O’Driscoll is a whirlwind of sweaty dance-offs and drum and bass love anthems celebrating the vibrant tapestry of Manchester’s contemporary rave scene.

War Horse

The Lowry / 18 – 28 September

This truly stunning National Theatre production of War Horse returns to The Lowry after more than six years. Based on the Michael Morpurgo novel, this show is a powerful and moving drama featuring astonishing life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company which bring this story to life on stage.

King Arthur

The Lowry / 24 – 28 September

King Arthur is a new laugh-out-loud comedy show for all the family from award-winning funny men Le Navet Bete and comedy writer and director John Nicholson. This hilarious retelling of the Arthurian legends will have audiences crying with laughter and becoming part of the legend themselves.

Two of Us

HOME / 26 – 28 September

Two of Us ruminates on what might have happened on the ﬁnal time that Paul

McCartney and John Lennon met in 1976. Truths that may have been spoken and trauma that may have been shared.

A story of two working-class boys who loved each other.

Family

Bluey’s Big Play

The Lowry / Until 11 August

Bluey’s Big Play is a brand-new theatre adaptation of the Emmy award winning children’s TV series. Join the Heelers in their ﬁrst live theatre show featuring brilliant puppets in an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm with new music by Bluey composer Joff Bush.

The 13-Storey Tree House

Manchester Opera House / 15 – 18 August

Andy Grifﬁths and Terry Denton’s hilarious, multi award-winning book comes to life on stage! Who wouldn’t want to live in a treehouse? Especially a 13-storey treehouse that has everything including a bowling alley, a secret underground laboratory, self-making beds and a marshmallow machine!

Fireman Sam – The Great Camping Adventure

Stockport Plaza / 16 August

A live theatre show for all ages where Fireman Sam saves the day and makes sure everyone is safe on their camping adventure.

BMW’S M5 TURNS 40

IN THE arms race of German high-performance saloons, things are getting pretty extreme. The technology, capability and sheer power and speed of these rocket-propelled luxo-barges are getting into what (not long ago) we’d have called hypercar territory.

Now 40 years since its launch, and into its seventh generation, BMW’s legendary M5 hits the market with some suitably insane statistics to send a new generation of car fans giddy.

The latest variant marries the famous M driving dynamics of four-wheel drive, active steering and adaptive suspension, with an electriﬁed drivetrain for the ﬁrst time in the M5’s history.

But old-school petrolheads need not fear, they’re getting the best of both worlds. A clever hybrid system allows for quiet, zeroemis sions motoring in normal everyday use, while a snarling petrol V8 lurks in waiting, ready to kick in when you’re feeling a bit fruity. The combination of the two gives you – wait for it – a maxi mum output of 727 hp and a peak torque of 1,000 Nm. The combination of the high-revving V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and an electric motor, plus power transfer

courtesy of an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission and M xDrive all-wheel drive, enables acceleration of 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds.

Another fascinating aspect of the evolution of these super-saloons is the external design. Back in the 80s, at the birth of the M5, all you needed to denote a bit of grunt was spoilers, stripes and alloys. Even then, BMW stood out with its subtle but purposeful take on the theme. Since then, we’ve seen fashions and tastes ebb and ﬂow, from discreet and functional badging to all-out lairy swathes of naked carbon and air intakes you could crawl inside.

As we go into 2025, there’s a new interpretation of the highper formance car design for which BMW’s M division is renowned. Prominent wheel arch and side skirt extensions, the sculptural front apron and model-specific surfacing around the C-pillar –including an embossed “M5” logo for the Hofmeister kink – give the car an athletic appearance that helps to differentiate it more clearly than ever from the BMW 5 Series Saloon. At the same time, an unusually high proportion of surfaces painted in body colour create a sleek appearance with stylish references to its superior dynamic abilities.

Fact ﬁle

BMW M5 (7TH GENERATION) / Powertrain: M Hybrid System (petrol V8 and electric motor)

Power: 727hp / Torque: 1000Nm . Launch date: July 2024

Price: from £110,500

By Oliver Chesher