Private Life Issue Seven by Trevaskis Communications

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Liverpool Stockist: SILVERBERG OPTICIANS - (OPPOSITE METQUARTER) 2

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VISIT OUR CITY CENTRE STORE IN LIVERPOOL 40 WHITECHAPEL, LIVERPOOL, L1 6DZ or CALL 0151 709 2012

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PRIVATE CONTENTS

CONTENTS

FEATURES 13 Private Life explores the

29 Our new health columnist

15 We sit down with Cathy

BUSINESS

past of The Bluecoat

Frost to talk Liverpool

38 Sponsor announced for

John Moores Painting Prize

40 Ghost to haunt the Empire

44 Controlling fear in business

57 Elaine Cunningham

47 How to get the business

58 We take a look at the latest

FOOD & DRINK

unlocks a client’s home

17 We showcase designs

influencers on board

49 Bakchich review 50 Make your own drinks

inspired by block colour

TRAVEL

18 Private Life’s winter

52 Sarah Lancashire takes to

25 We showcase stripes in

REGULARS 6 Editor’s Letter 9 Private Diary 31 Private Society

wonderland photoshoot men’s designs

62 It’s all about unique in

Private Life’s guide to style

the pistes of Verbier

HEALTH & BEAUTY 19

negotiating a lease

46 How to hire employees

FASHION

42 Private Life offers advice on

Theatre

home Help To Buy scheme

talks New Year’s resolutions

26 Private Life takes a look at common eyecare issues

28 David Lloyd hits a high note

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PRIVATE LETTER

Editor

FROM THE EDITOR...

Clinton Stuart-Lane

Sub-Editor

Jennie Musgrove

Graphic Design Paul Rowlands

Fashion Photographer Kirstie McNulty

Fashion Assistant

Ashleigh Cunningham

Product Photographer

With the winter weather on our shores, life in Liverpool continues with a great spring ahead, just in time for the International Festival for Business.

Robin Clewley

Artwork Editor Jamie Griffiths

Health Editor

This issue, we have rounded up a diary full of the city’s most cultured events (p.9) to take your mind off the climate change – from jazz festivals to wine-tasting events, there is enough to raise your heartbeat and get your warm blood flowing this season.

Kathy Sandison

Contributors

Ged Flanagan, Claire Wood, Alice Anastasiou, Maggie Birch, Kellie Wilson, Peter Roberts, Kris Tisdale

With our ever-popular lifestyle sections growing this issue, we offer some winter eyecare advice (p.26) and our top tips for getting healthy this New Year (p.29). And, if you need something to take the edge off, our wine guru Alice Anastasiou and Bruno Tollot, owner of Bellini, talk you through their favourite alcoholic recipes (p.50) that will warm your cockles.

Food & Drink Editor

Our fashion this issue lends itself to all things snow and log-burning fires (p.18), showcasing the season’s must-haves on our Mrs Private (p.17) and Mr Private (p.25) guides. We continue our style advice with Elaine Cunningham, our interior designer, in the home section (p.56), and discuss ways to buy the home of your dreams.

Sarah Lancashire

With 2014 set to be the year for business in Liverpool, we offer advice to new retailers (p.42) and guide employers on how to hire the best (p.46) and get help from people at the top (p.45). Alpine trees and steep pistes are the order of our travel section (p.52), and we hope that, after a long day on the slopes, your latest issue of Private Life will keep you company alongside your cup of cocoa.

Arabella Whittaker

Culture Editor

Harley Grosvenor

Sports Editor

Jason Matthews

Travel Editor

Editorial Assistant Clare Ainsworth

PR & Marketing Manager Lauren Walker

Head of Finance Joan Alcoolique

Group Director Luke Trevaskis

On the cover

Old fallen ski chalet padlock, Verbier, Switzerland

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Private Life is brought to you by Liverpool’s Private Circle: Mrs Margaret Gibson

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STOCKED AT SILVERBERG OPTICIANS OPPOSITE HUGO BOSS (METQUARTER) VISIT OUR CITY CENTRE STORE IN LIVERPOOL (OPPOSITE THE METQUARTER) 40 WHITECHAPEL, LIVERPOOL, L1 6DZ or CALL 0151 709 2012 PRIVATE LIFE 9

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Kath - Receptionist

Lee - Lab Manager

10 PRIVATE LIFE Debbie - Receptionist

Martine - MD

Ian - MD and Optician

Tom - Dispenser and Technician Colin - Practice Manager

Alison - Business Manager

David - Optometrist

Joan - Dispenser

PRIVATE DIARY

n O s ’ t a h W IN LIVERPOOL

Liverpool International Jazz Festival is back promising to be even bigger and better than its 2013 debut, when audiences were treated to four days of the finest artists from the national and international jazz scene. The 2014 line-up includes celebrated British jazz pianist and multi-award winner Jason Rebello and Anglo-American jazz ‘supergroup’ The Impossible Gentlemen with many more acts still to be announced. Thursday 27th February – Sunday 2nd March 2014

Born in Liverpool in 1935, April Ashley MBE, a former Vogue model and actress was one of the first people in the world to undergo pioneering gender reassignment surgery. In this exhibition, for the first time, April’s very public story is explored through her previously unseen private archive, investigating the wider impact of changing social and legal conditions for all transgender and lesbian, gay and bisexual people from 1935 to today. A collaborative project between the Museum of Liverpool and Homotopia. Museum of Liverpool, until September 2014

Gary Barlow Following the announcement of his first studio album in 14 years, ‘Since I Saw You Last’, Gary Barlow confirmed that he will be embarking on a full solo tour in April 2014. Gary toured as a solo artist last year to acclaim from fans and critics alike, with demand being so great he could have sold it out more than six times over. With Take That Gary Barlow can count eight Number One albums, selling more than 30 million copies, to his name. He has also been party to 15 No. One singles and sold seven million concert tickets, as well as being the proud recipient of six Ivor Novello Awards. He was awarded an OBE in 2012 for his contribution to British music, following the work with BBC Children In Need and the hugely successful Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert. Echo Arena, 11th April 2014 PRIVATE LIFE 11

PRIVATE DIARY

Miranda Hart: My what I call, live show The award-winning Queen of Comedy is on stage doing stand-up for the first time since her hit series ‘Miranda’ aired on the BBC. Grab a chance to see Miranda’s laugh out loud genius live. She wants you to join her party. Expect galloping, attempts at song and dance, and simply - such fun! Miranda will come to the Echo Arena on 24th and 25th March 2014

Based on the phenomenal Oscar-winning movie that captured the hearts and imaginations of a generation back in the 90s, Ghost is a timeless fantasy about the power of love. Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next, trying to communicate with girlfriend Molly through a phoney psychic in the hope of saving her from his murderer. Liverpool Empire Theatre, 11th to 22nd February 2014,

New Works This exciting exhibition is a chance to see artworks acquired by the gallery over recent years. Included in the selection are works by Anish Kapoor, Louise Bourgeois, Paula Rego, Yoko Ono, Lubaina Himid and Haroon Mirza. The gallery is constantly acquiring new works and this exhibition demonstrates our commitment to having a diverse collection and provides an insight into the ways that artworks are obtained. The artworks in the exhibition include decorative art, costume, painting and much more. Together, these works show the breadth of the Walker’s contemporary acquisitions over the past few years. New Works Exhibition, Walker Art Gallery. Until 22nd February. Free.

Rebecca Ferguson will tour the UK playing in her hometown of Liverpool this year. The singer, whose debut album went double platinum, has released her new album “Freedom”. This will only be Rebecca’s second full UK tour ever, her first in 2012 climaxing with a triumphant show in Liverpool. EchoTwo at Echo Arena on 23rd March 2014

Chocolate & Wine Hosted by Alice Anastasiou, these sellout events are becoming a firm favourite amongst the Liverpool and Manchester foodie scene. Guests will be treated to six delicious wines, all paired with a section of Alice’s favourite Italian chocolate. A perfect pre-Valentine’s gift for your loved one. 8th Febraury, 12-2pm, tickets are £35 per person and available from Il Forno on 0151 709 4002 12 PRIVATE LIFE

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Call us today on 0151 236 8280 Visit us online at www.liverpoolimplants.co.uk If you have misaligned teeth, you know that eating can be difficult and smiling can be embarrassing. Imagine being able to smile with confidence and being able to eat foods comfortably.

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To arrange a £35 consultation to discuss your options with Dr Dominic O’Hooley, call 0151 236 8280 now. Liverpool Dental Spa, 23-25 Brunswick Street, Liverpool City Centre, L2 0PJ. Call us on 0151 236 8280 Like us on Facebook at LiverpoolDental, Tweet us at @LpoolDentalSpa 14 PRIVATE LIFE

PRIVATE HISTORY

Bluecoat Chambers

Ged Flanagan takes a look at the oldest surviving building in central Liverpool he Liverpool Blue Coat School was founded in 1708 by the Reverend Robert Styth (died in 1713), rector of Liverpool, and Bryan Blundell, a sea captain and later twice Mayor of Liverpool (1721–22 and 1728-29). Originally constructed in 1716-17 to function as a boarding school, by the following year it had 50 children, with room for 100 more, and extensions were finally completed in 1725. After the school moved to a new site in Wavertree in 1906,[1] the building was threatened with demolition. It was rented out from 1907 to the Sandon Studios Society, an independent art school and art society. With the building’s future still unsecured, it took the intervention of the architect Charles Herbert Reilly, head of the

Liverpool School of Architecture to save it. He convinced the industrialist William Lever to rent Bluecoat Chambers in 1909 and subsequently buy it, renaming it Liberty Buildings. Sharing the space with the Sandon Society, Reilly moved in with his School of Architecture from 1909 until shortly after World War I. In 1913-14, Lever entertained the thought of a larger building scheme to transform Liberty Buildings into an art centre but, by 1918, had tired of the idea. Lever’s death in 1925 again led to proposals for the building’s demolition. A successful campaign to raise money for the purchase of Bluecoat Chambers resulted in the establishment in 1927 of the Bluecoat Society of Arts as a charitable trust to run the building. On 3 May 1941, during the

Liverpool Blitz, the concert hall and adjoining rooms were severely damaged by an incendiary bomb and during the following night the rear wing was destroyed by a bomb blast. Restoration took place after the war, being completed by 1951. It was designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building on 28 June 1952. The Bluecoat Display Centre, a contemporary craft gallery, opened in the rear courtyard in 1959. Known as the Bluecoat Arts Centre from the 1980s, it has been simply called The Bluecoat since 2007. From 2005, the building was further restored and a new wing was added. It was reopened in March 2008 to coincide with Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture.

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L iverpool Cathy Frost

Cathy Frost, owner of Liverpool restaurant Panoramic, talks about life in Liverpool and her love of good food fter graduating as a mature student from Liverpool John Moores University last year having completed a Criminal Justice degree, the enthusiasm Cathy Frost, owner of Liverpool restaurant Panoramic, has for life is infectious. Having dreamt of owning and managing a bar or restaurant with her sister as a child, it is little wonder that 30 years on and with Cathy’s determined attitude, the dynamic duo (sister Helen alongside) have turned the 34th floor of West Tower (a building originally developed by her husband Hugh) into one of Liverpool’s most exclusive destination restaurants. Now in its sixth year of operation, the restaurant is still exceeding all of Cathy’s expectations and sales continue to grow strongly year upon

year. Cathy ensures the restaurant is constantly changing, updating the menu every six weeks with new Head Chef Phil Daley, and always ensuring the team are striving for the best level of product and service - something that it is hoped will one day earn the restaurant its first Michelin star rating and get Liverpool City Centre firmly on the foodie map. Cathy adds, “Liverpool is a fabulous place to work and live, and I look at the city now and compare it to 10 years ago and think that I’m glad I’m raising my children here as it’s a wonderful, friendly place to have a family. My teenage children love the buzz of the city but then, so do I. As a real food lover, there are a number of restaurants to choose from here, and the art and culture that the city boasts is something we

should all be proud of. “Despite my bias, there is nowhere in Liverpool with a better view for me than floor 34 of West Tower, and although I am here every day I can never get bored of looking out of the floor-to-ceiling windows that form the Panoramic’s stunning atmosphere.” It is Cathy’s penchant for life and Liverpool that makes her such a well-suited restaurateur and ambassador in the city. Loving to cook and entertain has given her a great understanding of her clientele, and when any owner views their business as an extension of their own home and kitchen it is therefore bound to also emit the same quality and panache that this sophisticated woman does.

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PRIVATE TRENDS PRIVATE LIFE

Block colour stripes have long taken inspiration from wildlife. With subtle tones the trend for this season, look for neutral creams and biscuits framed with black accents to stay on trend.

1. Colour Block Stretch Wool Dress, Michael Kors, £1,350, www.net-a-porter.com 2. Diesel Striped Viscose Cotton Gauze Scarf, £52, www.diesel.com 3. White Ana Metal Toe Cap Stiletto Court Shoes, Michael Kors, £460, www.my -wardrobe.com 4. Jean Striped Box Clutch, Edie Parker, £975, www.net-a-porter.com 5. Hexagonal-Frame Acetate and Metal Sunglasses, Miu Miu, £190, www.net-a-porter.com 6. Boodles Ashoka Diamond Genie Earrings set in Platinum, POA, www.boodles.com 7. Carmen PVC Trim Cardigan Jacket, Meadham Kirchhoff, £1,307, www.my-wardrobe.com

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Winter Wonderland Photographer: Kirstie McNulty Fashion Stylist: Gemma Harrison / Cheryl Lewis Make-up: Michaela Taylor Grooming: Martine McLean (Boss) Models: Emily Scott and Ashley (Boss 20 PRIVATE LIFE

PRIVATE FASHION

Opposite Page: www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk, www.topshop.com, www.asos.com, www.whistles.co.uk, www.hm.com Above: www.zara.com PRIVATE LIFE 21

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Opposite Page: www.zara.com Above: www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk, www.topshop.com, www.asos.com, www.whistles.co.uk, www.hm.com

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Opposite Page: www.zara.com Above: www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk, www.topshop.com, www.asos.com, www.whistles.co.uk, www.hm.com 24 PRIVATE LIFE

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Stripes are back and causing a stir. Make sure you have your spring wardrobe sorted with these on trend pieces.

1. Striped Knitted Cotton Rollneck Sweater, Gant Rugger, £100, www.mrporter.com 2. Lanvin Onyx Stone Cufflinks, £192, www.lanvin.com 3. Neil Barrett Lightweight Wool Knit Scarf, £192, www.luisaviaroma.com 4.Neil Barrett Cotton Poplin Shirt, £294, www.luisaviaroma.com 5. Manuel Bozzi Studs Collection Belt, £910, www.luisaviaroma.com 6. Embossed-Leather iPad Sleeve, Alexander McQueen, £265, www.alexandermcqueen.co.uk 7. 25th Anniversary XXV Square-Frame Sunglasses, Oliver Peoples, £250, www.silverbergopticians.co.uk 8. Gareth Pugh Striped Cotton Silk Leggings, £208, www.luisaviaroma.com

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PRIVATE HEALTH

Silverberg Optician’s resident Optometrist, David McDaid, looks more closely at our common eye problems s far as eyes are concerned, it’s amazing what we ‘put up with’. Some will note that their eyes can be very uncomfortable at the end of the day or ‘watery’ in the colder breeze that winter brings, whilst others may struggle with close-up reading when in dim light. These symptoms are just a few that are very common throughout the general public. It is always advisable to take a visit to your optometrist if you have any symptoms that need investigating. When entering into our fourth and fifth decades of life, many people complain of a reduction in their ability to read or focus at near distance. This is called Presbyopia. If you have to hold your arm at full length when reading or struggle to read in dim light, these can both be signs of Presbyopia. Headaches or tired eyes at the end of the day can also indicate the beginning of this change. Presbyopia can be quite simply resolved with the use of corrective spectacles or contact lenses. People often describe being sensitive to bright lights, wind or temperature changes, which can

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all be common at this time of year. This can often result in tearing or watering eyes. Watering, irritation and sensitivity can all be linked to the tear film on the front of your eyes. A reduced tear film can result in dry eye syndrome and the symptoms which follow. Using a slit lamp to assess a magnified image of your eyes, the cause of these symptoms can be found and a course of action can be taken to alleviate your problems. Painful and itchy eyes are very often described by patients who have subtle eyelid conditions. As your eyelids and lashes are used to maintain comfort and hydration to your cornea, these conditions often wreak havoc, causing many patients to experience blurred vision, watering eyes or even a burning sensation. Having diagnosed the condition from which you are suffering, the optometrist can provide advice on how to improve your eye hygiene and alleviate your symptoms. When attending for routine eye examinations, occasionally patients mention tiny spots or flecks that appear to float across their vision. These are called vitreous floaters. You may notice them in well-lit rooms or in bright light. Floaters can be a normal change that occurs in the eyes, but occasionally they can be a sign of a more serious eye condition, such as a retinal tear or detachment. This can sometimes be accompanied by a flashing light sensation. If you notice an increase in these symptoms you would be advised to book an appointment to see an eyecare professional urgently. Visual display units are now common practice in most workplaces; these can give rise to various problems, most of which have been addressed above, but in a world where glare from computer screens, fluorescent lighting

and air-conditioning is prevalent in our day-to-day lives, these issues are becoming more and more common and need to be addressed. Some of the eye complaints that many of us experience on a daily basis can restrict our hobbies, stop us from reading comfortably and even reduce our ability to work.

Adults between the ages of 16 and 60, where there is no ocular disease present, are advised to have their eyes examined routinely every 2 years. If you suffer from any of the symptoms discussed or feel as though you would like a check-up, please book an appointment by calling 0151 709 2012.

T R A T S K KIC 4 1 0 2 R U O Y SHINE AT TENNIS, DIVE INTO SWIM, WORK THE GYM OR JOIN THE PARTY AT ONE OF OUR GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES. KICK START YOUR 2014 TODAY WITH DAVID LLOYD LIVERPOOL SPEKE.

COME IN TO DAVID LLOYD LIVERPOOL SPEKE OR CALL 0151 494 4000. Terms and conditions apply. Facilities, fees, classes and membership contracts vary by club. Certain activities may incur additional fees.

PRIVATE SPORT

David Lloyd Leisure’s golden boy, Ken Skupski, swings into action en Skupski is a 30-year-old professional tennis player from Allerton, Liverpool who has had a connection with David Lloyd Leisure in Speke since the club opened in 2000. Initially this involved training with the current junior professional

Anthony Hardman for 18 months prior to him taking up a collegiate scholarship at Louisiana State University in 2002. Ken was a six-time All-American champion whilst in the USA (2002-07) and continued to use the David Lloyd Leisure club during his trips home to Liverpool, turning

professional in 2007. To this date, our Liverpool champ has won three ATP titles as well as Commonwealth Silver and Bronze medals in Delhi 2010. Ken has recently teamed up with younger brother Neal, a move that sees them both ranked well inside the top 100 in the world: great things are predicted for this dynamic duo, who so far have a 38:7 win to loss ratio. Championing the David Lloyd Leisure All Stars Programme, the Skupski brothers have supported both the children and coaches alike. The lessons are designed by some of the best children’s tennis minds in the world. Teaching tennis to over 15,000 children aged 3-12, the programme is designed to coach kids from an early age to limit bad habits and nurture the fundamentals. The aspiring tennis champions of the future, including some of the best junior players in Europe, and their coaches enjoy the Tennis All Stars club every week. Jake French, General Manager of David Lloyd Leisure Speke, adds, “Mentors are extremely important to anyone trying to achieve success, and having a strong team on our courts mentoring our juniors is a great asset to the club and Liverpool.” When it comes to racquet sports, David Lloyd Leisure is more than just a tennis club. So, if tennis isn’t for you, they have a wide range of squash and badminton programmes – all with specialised coaches to help you get the most from your membership. For more information, call David Lloyd Leisure Speke on 0151 494 4000 or email mship.speke@ davidlloyd.co.uk

PRIVATE HEALTH PRIVATE LIFE

tatistically’ our number one New Year’s resolution is to lose weight and ‘statistically’ only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goal. BUT, ‘statistically’, 75% of people stick to their resolution in the first week. It doesn’t take a mathematical genius to work out that ‘statistically’ we’re doing something wrong BUT we are pretty good at sticking to something for 7 days. So, we want to lose weight but we only want to dedicate 7 days to doing it. Let’s just change our approach this year – let’s lose weight in 7 days. I’m not talking weight-loss pills that mess with your head or manufactured shakes that ‘plug up’ your stomach – there is a much simpler, natural, healthier and enjoyable way of losing weight whilst achieving mental clarity, better sleep, stronger nails and hair, more energy, a lighter body, a glowing complexion and the ability to better absorb nutrients from your food: detox for 7 days. All forms of detox aim to rid your

system of built-up dangerous toxins BUT you don’t need to starve yourself; on the contrary, have a week-long feast of nutritious and delicious organic fruit and vegetables – in salads, soups, raw or best of all juiced! Your mind may fight you at first – it doesn’t like being ‘deprived’ – but after a few days of detoxing it will understand that what it thought it was being deprived of was actually the stuff that clogs the system and ultimately causes disease: toxins. Something amazing will happen! You will feel fantastic, and realise that by cutting out the rubbish (booze, salt, sugar, fags, processed food, meat, wheat, dairy, prescription drugs, caffeine, pesticides) and replacing it with the good stuff, you will feel and look better. We’ve all heard it a thousand times: you are what you eat! By overloading our systems we prevent the body from naturally clearing away unwanted toxins, so they actually remain in our tissues. As our bodies then try to protect us from these dangerous substances, it isolates them and covers them in fat and mucus, causing us to gain weight. When detoxing, drink plenty of water, it will help your body flush out any nasty toxins, and take gentle exercise – walking, yoga, swimming – nothing too strenuous, but enough to help your system kick-start your internal toxin war – seek them out and flush them out! Food is the most powerful drug on this planet; if we eat the right types we can live longer, happier lives. It is easy to go through life unknowingly mistreating your body, thinking you have no choice because you are too

busy or too set in your ways or… TOO MANY EXCUSES. Just do it. What’s the worst that can happen? You’ll drop a few unneeded pounds, you’ll feel amazingly healthy and people will say you look great. Sounds ok to me! Some handy links: www.yummly.com/recipes/vegandetox www.juicemaster.com/recipes www.foodmatters.tv www.youryogastudio.co.uk At your yoga studio we provide free nutritional talks, tailor make detox and juicing packages and hold weight-loss retreats throughout the year. Enquiries welcome via the website or 0151 7070137

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PRIVATE SOCIETY

Samantha Ward VIP Launch Samantha Ward held a grand opening to mark the launch of her new Rodney Street laser clinic this winter. Over 50 VIP guests were treated to canapĂŠs and cocktails whilst enjoying demonstrations and advice on offer from therapists throughout the evening, whilst helping raise money for Claire House, guests left ÂŁ1,000s better off due to the discounts available exclusively at the event.

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Carolyn Hughes Charity Lunch

Almost 200 people came along in true party spirit to one of the liveliest lunches in the calendar year, raising ÂŁ8,000 for two very deserving causes Radio City Cash for Kids and Wirral Witches. As well as a drink on arrival and sumptuous threecourse lunch at Gusto, guests enjoyed sounds from Bez Miles, before Tricia McTeague filled the dance floor with a versatile party set. The event was supported by Barclays and Barclaycard and was a warm welcome to winter.

1. Susan Porter, Mary McNally, Pamela Smith, Elizabeth Nelson and Pat Green. 2. Dani Lawrence, Tony Burke, Debbie McGovern, Philip Armstrong, Jude Cisse and Luke Trevaskis. 3. Claire Gallagher and Kerry Pond. 4. Lorraine McCulloch and Tracey Torrible. 5. Tricia McTeague. 6. Jude Cisse and Simon Ross. 7. Phil and Jane Harris. 8. Debbie McGovern and Carolyn Hughes. 9. Mimi and Candy McCulloch.

9 8 1

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Philip Armstrong Pre-Spring Collection Launch Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar hosted an exclusive Philip Armstrong fashion show to launch the label’s first pop-up store at Liverpool’s luxury beauty venue. The designers showcased their very popular Autumn/Winter collection, alongside the first pieces from their highly anticipated pre-Spring collection.

3 5

1.Electric Hairdressing London. 2. Roxanne Pallett 3. Jude Cisse, Gemma Merna and Dani Lawrence 4. Darren Suarez, Paul Ferns, and Alice Anastasiou 5. Jessica Lawlor and Chantell Tagoe. 6. Narcissa - Wet-look lace gown. 7. Philip Armstrong and Tony Burke Armstrong with the models. 8. Finale. 9. Anouk Devore Lace Mini Dress - (Pre Spring 14) 10. Olympia/ skirt - Kiki/ Lace blouse - Lizard belt. 11. C’zee - Lace and Crepe Peplum Dress. 12. D’orsay Hot Pink Neoprene Pencil Dress with Croc Belt - (Pre Spring 14) 13. Athina - Matisse Blue Neoprene Dress - (Pre Spring 14)

8 9

11 12

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The DLIB Livercool Awards The 11th annual Livercool Awards were held at Liverpool’s Crowne Plaza hotel in November. Frank McKenna, chief executive of Downtown Liverpool in Business, said: ‘The Livercool Awards are all about celebrating those business leaders, entrepreneurs and decision-makers who have made an extra special impression on the city region economy’. The evening, sponsored by Vivark, was enjoyed by all.

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Queenies Xmas Dinner Just over 300 guests turned up at The Adelphi Hotel for Herbert’s annual Christmas dinner, raising over £40,000 for Queenie’s charity - a trust started in honour of his mother. Guests were treated to a sumptuous three-course Christmas dinner with entertainment provided by The American Drifters and The Singing Waiters. 1. The American Drifters. 2. Guests of the Event. 3.Herbert’s Speech. 4, 5, & 6. Guests of the Event. 7.Pete Price and Herbert. 8. Herbert with The American Drifters. 9. Virgin Holiday Winner Chris. 10. Virgin Holiday Winner Chris and Guests.

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Boodles and Liverpool Biennial Launch Archive Edition, Another Place, 2013 by Antony Gormley Boodles hosted over 70 friends of Boodles and Liverpool Biennial to launch the Liverpool Biennial Archive Editions. Guests heard presentations from speakers Sally Tallant – Artistic Director – and Laurie Peake – Programme Director – from Liverpool Biennial about a specially commissioned new etching by Antony Gormley, in celebration of his iconic 2005 installation, Another Place, on Crosby Beach. Antony Gormley generously agreed to make the first in Liverpool Biennial’s new series of Archive Editions. Their second edition, The Big L, by artist Richard Woods, will be launched shortly. Richard Woods was part of the 2008 Liverpool Biennial, Made Up. Archive Editions is a new initiative by Liverpool Biennial which highlights key moments within the Biennial’s history, inviting artists to revisit those pieces and respond with a new work. Archive Editions presents an extraordinary opportunity to be a part of the Biennial’s legacy, as well as to own a work by a leading contemporary artist. Archive Editions directly supports Liverpool Biennial’s programme of new commissions, exhibitions, talks and educational projects which help the broadest range of visitors to understand and enjoy modern and contemporary art. 1. Anthony Gormley on display 2. Chris Brown, Liz De Castiglione. 3.Jane and Phis Harris. 4. Elizabeth Steer, Judge Steer and the Countess of Derby. 5. Nicholas Wainwright 6.Helen Ainscough, Francesco Manacorda, Sally Tallant, & Rosalind Nashashibi 7.Matt Fulton, Lorraine Clancy and Laurie Peake. 8. Elaine Cunningham, Luke Trevaskis and Alice Anastasiou. 9. Christine Gaskell and Julie Gowdy 10. Paula Ridley, Barry Owen, Alex Wainwright and Sue Owen. 11. Simon Edwards, Alex wainwirhgt,Lord Mayor Cllr Gary Millar and Helen Ainscough.

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PRIVATE LIFE

Northern Design Awards 2013 This year saw the most entries, winners and guests to the Northern Design Awards than ever before. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the judges, sponsors and everyone else involved. Congratulations once again to our finalists and winners and we hope to see you all return in 2014. The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest celebration of architecture, retail and design. Judged by the best in the business, these awards serve to recognise excellence across the North. Culminating in a glittering gala dinner, the finalists and judges enjoyed a fantastic evening of entertainment

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PRIVATE ARTS

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PRIVATE ARTS

David M Robinson Sponsors First Prize in UK’s Biggest Painting Honour iverpool jeweller, David M Robinson, have reaffirmed their commitment to art after confirming they will sponsor the £25,000 first prize of the John Moores Painting Prize this year. It is the largest ever private sector support towards the prestigious competition, which was dubbed ‘the Oscars of the painting world’ by Sir Norman Rosenthal, 2010 judge and former Exhibitions Secretary for the Royal Academy. Liverpool-born David Robinson began his own career with a major accolade when he won his first of two DeBeers Diamond Awards in New York – an achievement that is somewhat now unheard of in the city. His business began in 1968, in Liverpool, from a small workshop and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading jewellery retail companies with showrooms in Liverpool ONE, London’s Canary Wharf, Manchester, Altrincham, Chester and Southport. The company has a reputation for innovative diamond jewellery design and outstanding customer care. David M Robinson Jewellers is recognised by the Sunday Times’

Best Companies Awards. David is a passionate supporter of the business and arts scene on Merseyside and was recognised for his patronage with an honorary degree from Liverpool John Moores University. David said: “I’m delighted to be able to support the arts on Merseyside and the John Moores Painting Prize in particular. “I was lucky enough to have been helped in the development of my design business by winning two international diamond design prizes and it feels right to be helping others in the same way.” Director of Art Galleries, Sandra Penketh added, “We are overwhelmed by the generosity shown by David M Robinson in sponsoring the first prize of the John Moores. “The competition, which is nearly 60 years old, was founded by a local art-loving and passionate business man, Sir John Moores. It is therefore entirely fitting that we should be working with David, another Liverpoolborn businessman who has played such an important and encouraging role as a supporter of the arts.” David M Robinson have been corporate members of National Museums Liverpool since 2004. In 2012 they supported one of the four John Moores runner-up prizes. The John Moores Painting Prize, organised in partnership with the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust, has a track record as a springboard for the careers of many influential British artists. Previous winners include David Hockney, Sir Peter Blake (now patron of the prize), Mary Martin, Peter Doig and, in 2012, Sarah Pickstone. Sir Peter Blake’s Self-Portrait with Badges won the

junior prize in 1961, an achievement which he maintains is his ‘proudest accomplishment’ and which as a young artist, fresh out of art school, spurred him on to an internationally successful career. An international team has been assembled to judge the 2014 prize. Artists Zeng Fanzhi, Chantal Joffe, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye and Tom Benson along with Director of Exhibitions at White Cube and broadcaster Tim Marlow will select the exhibition and award the first prize and four runner-up prizes. The exhibition (5 July – 30 November 2014) forms a major part of the Liverpool Biennial and coincides with the Liverpool International Festival of Business. The John Moores Painting Prize is part of National Museums Liverpool’s Modern Masters exhibition series part funded by the European Union - the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). For more information on the history of the prize visit www. liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ johnmoores or follow the prize on Twitter (@johnmoores2014) or Facebook.

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Private Life looks at the musical with even more magic than the movie ased on the hit romantic drama film of the same name, the musical had its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House in March 2011. Ghost then had its West End premiere in summer 2011, opening on 19 July. A Broadway transfer opened in April 2012 and, after the London production closed in October 2012, it began touring the UK in 2013. The Oscar-winning classic starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg captured the hearts of a generation back in 1990. But the stage version, surely one of theatre’s most intense experiences, surpasses even the lofty heights achieved by the film on which it is based and it is great to see it choose visit the magnificent setting of the Liverpool Empire Theatre on its tour – a true gem for the city and asset for our

cultural heritage. In the movies, of course, you can make anything happen. But in the theatre, it takes real ingenuity and craftsmanship to execute tasks such as summoning up ghosts who make things happen from beyond the grave. Director Matthew Warchus (Matilda) and illusionist Paul Kieve, famed for his work on Harry Potter, make it look easy, with spectacular style and panache. Ghosts leaping through doors and into people – check; bodies hovering above the stage as they make their way to heaven or hell – check; a ghost fight on a subway train beneath Manhattan – check. This is one rollercoaster ride of a show. And if you didn’t think it possible for ghosts to cleverly emerge from their bodies, prepare to be amazed as the state-of-the-art video projections make you feel like you’re hurtling through the streets of New York at top speed. It’s the most technological show in theatre and brings this tale slap-bang into the 21st century. But don’t let all this stagecraft put you off. The technology is a treat, but it never takes away from what is essentially a love story. Banker Sam is stuck between this world and the next, trying to communicate with girlfriend Molly and

avenge his murder. The pair have genuine chemistry, more convincing in the famous pottery scene to the sounds of The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody than in the scenes where they are both alive and setting up home together. As in the film, phoney psychic Oda Mae Brown, who reluctantly comes to the aid of Sam after finding she does in fact have a gift, lights up the show with a hysterical role as she is stalked by an army of the newly departed, withdrawing millions from the bank. The colourful character dreams of living the high life clad in bright pink sequins and furs in one of the stand-out numbers. Few shows can make you laugh out loud one minute and then cry buckets the next, but Ghost certainly does.

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PRIVATE BUSINESS

How to negotiate a lease – A Beginners guide to retail Negotiating a lease can be as simple as buying a toothbrush or as complicated as buying a new car. Private Life advises... · A basic term. The lessee - that’s you - is obligated to pay for the space for a specific time period (usually three years), whether or not your business survives that long. · A basic rental rate. This is calculated per square foot or as a percentage of gross sales, whichever is greater. Typical rents may range from £1 to £10 per square foot per month or 6 percent of gross sales. · Assignment of maintenance responsibility. The lessee is normally responsible for maintaining all equipment serving the space, including electrical, plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and structural components. · Water and sewer. These are usually included in the lease rate, but expect to pay extra for gas, electricity, and rubbish removal. · Triple net. This is a monthly charge, usually for the expense trio of taxes, insurance, and common area maintenance, hence the term ‘triple net’. This charge is designed to allow the lessor to pass on his or her variable costs to you. They can represent an additional 10 percent to 35 percent added to your basic rent. · Finish-out allowance. In return

for the three-year term, the lessor will usually provide you with an allowance to finish out the space to your specifications. This is typically £10 to £30 per square foot, which is sufficient for basic partitioning, ceiling, lighting, electrical, plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and insulation. It doesn’t normally cover wall finishes, carpet and floor tiles, signs, and any custom work to suit your specific needs. · Prepaid rent. This is typically one to three months. · Security deposit. This is usually zero to two months’ rent. For the first step in lease negotiations, contact leasing agents regarding spaces in which you’re interested and ask for proposals. After receiving several, you should have an idea of the menu of terms and prices you’ll have to deal with in your negotiations. At this point, you may find it desirable to engage a leasing agent to negotiate the lease for you, if you feel overwhelmed by the task or if you’re not a particularly good negotiator. You can do it yourself, however, and by following some basic guidelines, you should be able to achieve reasonable terms. It will help if you can locate at least two spaces that meet your needs, thus ensuring competition for your lease. After you receive the proposals from the leasing agents or centre managers, don’t let them pressure you into signing a lease prematurely. You should have a solicitor review your lease, but don’t let him or her make decisions for you. Solicitors are paid to point out potential risks and they may be overly cautious, to make sure you don’t later blame them for failing to warn you properly. Listen to the solicitor’s advice, but make your own business decisions. Prepare and submit a counter-offer, in writing, in response to the proposals. Some proposals you might consider including are:

· Lower basic rates · No payment of percentage of sales, or a smaller percentage · Larger finish-out allowance and coverage of more improvements, such as floor coverings and interior partitions · Graduated lease rates, starting low but increasing over the lease term · Limits on ‘triple net’ charges · Inclusion of some utilities in the base rate · Shorter- or longer-lease terms · ‘Escape’ clauses to allow you to get out of the lease in certain circumstances · Free rent (one to six months, depending on market conditions) · Lower prepaid rent and security deposit Include several or all of these in your proposal. You’re unlikely to succeed with them all, but it will establish a good position from which to negotiate and help you evaluate the willingness of the lessors to engage in meaningful negotiations. Make sure the lessors are aware that you’re negotiating with other centres. After you feel you’ve gained all the concessions you can, choose the one that’s to your best advantage and finalise the terms.

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PRIVATE BUSINESS

Private Life Investigates how to combat your fear of rejection ur fear of rejection is so powerful it stops most of us in our tracks - whether we realise it or not. It prevents us from moving forward in our professional and personal lives. As a result, we’re afraid to set goals. We’re unwilling to take risks. It can be hard not to take rejection personally. We all long to feel accepted, and the same goes for our professional projects. When you pour your heart and soul into something, it feels like an extension of yourself. But it’s also true that rejection is inevitable. And when one door closes, another one opens. So, how can you make the best of rejection? How can you turn your fear into motivation? PLAN AHEAD Always have a Plan B and a Plan C. If you do, you’ll feel less desperate, and, as a result, less affected by rejection. If you have other options, you’ll be able to think more critically about why your idea failed this time.

After all, as the saying goes, it’s not wise to put all your eggs in one basket. Accept that no project or idea is perfect so that you can start thinking, where were the flaws? Where were its weaknesses? You need to embrace these realities – not ignore them. Analysing your idea from different perspectives will help you understand rejection and how to combat it. ASK WHY If your idea is turned down, ask why. This advice is so simple I’m surprised more people don’t follow it. Politely ask whoever rejected you if they have a few minutes to explain to you why your idea didn’t work out. Don’t get emotional or continue to sell them on your idea. If they are willing to explain to you why it wasn’t a good a fit for them, listen very, very closely. This insight is priceless. You may be able to address their objections later; now is not the time to respond to them. Yes, it’s hard not to argue, but just listen. This is crucial information you don’t want to miss a minute of. You’ll be surprised at what you learn. TURN THAT KNOWLEDGE INTO POWER The more information you have about why your idea was rejected, the more you will be able to modify it accordingly. Often, though, I think that rejection results from lack of understanding. If your idea isn’t a good fit for a company, they are going to reject it and that doesn’t have any bearing on how good it is. What you learn

may help you pitch your product differently to that company in the future, or it may help you realise that you should be approaching an entirely different company. I have found that starting a dialogue with a company is a great way to earn respect. In the past, I’ve taken to heart a company’s qualms and come back to them with a revised product. They understand that I’m serious about what I’m doing and am really thinking about their needs. I like to say that entrepreneurship is a numbers game: simply put, you’re going to receive a certain number of ‘no’s’ before you receive a ‘yes’. It’s nerve-wracking and scary, but the sooner you get used to being rejected, the better off your business will be. When I’m nervous, I know I’m alive! If you can turn rejection into an opportunity to improve your business, you are well on your way to success.

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Private Life offers some advice on how to get influencers on board e all need help to succeed, whether it’s crucial advice from a seasoned professional, a testimonial about our product or service, or an introduction to an important contact. For better or for worse, sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know. But how can you convince a busy and accomplished person who doesn’t know you that you’re worthy of their time? Reaching out to someone you don’t know for help can seem very daunting. But the power of leveraging fame and notoriety cannot be underestimated. It’s worth the discomfort. To be frank, it will open doors for you and help you sell your product. Successful people have gatekeepers. To get started, seek out those gatekeepers to find an appropriate email address or a telephone number (ideally, you’d have both). The internet has made detective work pretty easy, but don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and start asking, “How can I best reach him or her?” Publicists, public relations agencies, and publishers are great resources. You’ll need to be persistent; but never succumb to rudeness or impatience: your professionalism is your best asset. Another important tip is to find and use people’s names. An email that starts with a vague “Hey” or is sent to a general inbox is very likely to be lost or ignored. Use flattery. Everyone, including very successful people, loves to be flattered. But your flattery has to be sincere and come from the heart to be effective. When you reach out to

someone, you’d better have done your homework. Why are they the right person to help you? What is it about them or their career that resonates so deeply with you? Know the details. When you send an email to that person, make it personal. Explain how this person has changed your life or inspired you. Successful people want to feel as though they’ve made a difference in people’s lives. But you must also keep it short. No one has the time or desire to read anything lengthy. Timing is critical. Once you’ve opened the door to a conversation, let the person you’re reaching out to ask about you. The transition between introducing yourself and asking for a favour must be approached delicately. For example, when I reached out to some of my favourite authors to ask them to review my book, I told them that if it weren’t for them, I probably wouldn’t have written one at all. Then I told them it would mean a lot to me if they could read a chapter and tell me what they thought. Later I asked for a testimonial. When I reach out to successful CEOs, I tell them why I love their company and products and how their leadership and vision has inspired me. Then I ask for advice. Please note that a 100 percent success rate is unachievable. I have been turned down many, many times. But I was able to get Mark Victor Hansen, the best-selling author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and Barbara Corcoran, an investor and shark on the ABC

reality television show Shark Tank, to vouch for me. Reaching out to older, seasoned professionals who may have a bit more time on their hands and an appreciation of those who helped them in the past can be a good call. In a funny turn of fate, I now receive emails and calls from people who are hoping I can help them. And I can say that sincerity, flattery, and persistence really do go a long way.

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Interpreter ‘mistake’ at funeral of Nelson Mandela offers a hard lesson in hiring, Private Life investigates… When hiring staff for your company, some people you bring on are obvious rock stars. Others may be gambles. But you want to avoid hiring disasters at all cost. At the well-documented memorial service for former South African president and anti-apartheid champion Nelson Mandela, event organisers hired an interpreter to translate what was being said for viewers who are hearing impaired. What they got, however, was a schizophrenic man who translated words into gibberish. In an interview with the Associated Press, the man explained that he hallucinated that angels were entering the stadium where the event was taking place. He continued while trying not to panic since there were “armed policemen around me,” he said. In a press conference following

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the event, a South African deputy cabinet minister said “a mistake happened” in the hiring of the interpreter. Employers need to be sensitive when hiring people with health conditions but this goes to show that going the extra mile when screening your job candidates is an absolute must. In this situation, a schizophrenic man was chosen to sign for some of the most powerful and important people in the world. When hiring for your company, keep these basic yet essential tips top-of-mind: ASK OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS Go beyond simple questions that elicit one-word or obvious responses. Asking open-ended questions can get candidates to offer additional details about themselves and their work history. “Tell me about your last job” is one example. Once the candidate responds you can ask follow up questions like “Why did you do that?” to get more detail. LOOK BEYOND THE FAÇADE Some job candidates look good on paper. Some still look good after answering various textbook interview questions. Dig deeper by asking unusual or more specific questions. The person’s answers can give you better insight about how he or she will react under pressure

and a hint as to whether the person might be a solid fit for the culture of your team. Also pay attention to nonverbal cues such as attire and whether the person seems attentive. These can tell you a lot about a person, too. CHECK REFERENCES This is big. A person can sell him or herself to you any way he or she wants. The best way to verify that this information is accurate is by calling and speaking with former employers and colleagues. This can also help provide deeper insight into the person’s work ethic and ability to work with a team. Ask that your candidates provide references when they arrive for the interview. If they are evasive, this should raise a serious flag.

PRIVATE BUSINESS

It’s all about knowing your target audience.

Jayne Moore is Managing Director of Moore Media @JayneM00re

ne of the first questions you should ask yourself is who it is you are talking to. If you know who your target audience is, you will have a better chance of really understanding what makes them tick. In a radio station, the programmer will know who is listening every 15 minutes of the day, and they will tune the content to that audience. By creating a person who we are talking to – not a demographic,

an AB1 or a baby boomer, a real person with emotions, fears, desires and aspirations – it allows us to tune the dial in our communications to talk to that real person and make them like us as we share similar values. Radio is a medium which reaches a population of 47 million in the UK, that is a whopping 90% of the population, and there is one reason why in the times of this technology boom, radio continues to grow audience. The programmers simply know specifically who they are talking to. The music is programmed to the minute of their listeners’ lives; they know what was number one when they were 15 and what triggers an emotional response in them (like the first time they had a slowie in the Contie). Radio programmers do this in order to keep

the audience listening for longer in order to play them the ads that keep the station on air. Radio is one medium that has the hearts and minds of an audience, but we are all reading and sharing and liking articles on the web, in print and in so many noisy platforms, so make your messages count, make them stimulate an action. Build in key positioning statements about your business that can reach people in the heartbeat of attention that you have them for. Make it count.

pecialist Property Lawyer at Morecrofts Solicitors Peter Pownall advises Private Life readers on protecting their property and protecting themselves from the growing sophistication of fraudsters. Fraudsters and criminals are always looking for different scams to make ill-gotten gains. Dealing in property is no exception. Criminals look through bereavement pages of local papers to obtain details of people who have died and who were around the same age as one of the fraudsters. They can check addresses and obtain a copy of the register from the Land Registry, which is a public register. Anyone can view and print off the register of any registered property in England and Wales.

The register will show whether the deceased person was the sole owner and if there is a mortgage on the property. A property with no mortgage is more attractive to fraudsters. They can also find out whether there is anyone still living at the property, as they would need it to be empty. Fraudsters would know that, before the property could be sold by the people dealing with a deceased person’s estate, a grant of administration would have to be obtained from the Probate Registry and this can often take several months. This would give the fraudsters the time and opportunity to sell the property before the grant of administration was obtained. They may try to sell the property through an auction. Although they have to provide evidence of their ID to the auction company or estate agents and their conveyancer, they can produce fake ID, which may not be spotted. They would then pocket the proceeds from the sale and disappear. At Morecrofts we have decided that when acting for the buyer we will apply for a Land Registry approved restriction on the register. This states that no document

for the sale of the property can be registered without a certificate signed by a conveyancer who is satisfied that the person who signed the transfer is the same person as the owner shown on the register. This should go some way to preventing a fraudulent sale. It is expected that, should fraudsters see the restriction on the Land Register, this will put them off trying to deal with the property. Further details about registering a restriction on the Land Register can be obtained from our specialist property department.

For more information call Morecrofts on 0151 236 8871 www.morecrofts.co.uk Twitter- @Morecrofts

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A clear head and an inspired palete. Seán Fitzsimmons reports It had been ‘one of those Wednesdays’. By 5.30pm I was, as many of us get, at the end of my midweek tether. I sent a text: “I don’t want to/can’t cook tonight –despair. Suggest a venue.” My friend replied promptly: “Bakchich, Bold St. 7:30 x” ‘Bakchich’ is a word of Middle Eastern origin with an interesting definition. It literally means ‘a tip’, i.e. a payment of gratuity for services rendered. However, it may also be used to mean ‘a payment with motive’ or indeed, more innocently, ‘an act of giving for no other means than to affirm a sense of worth or value’. For many years the behemoth of bohemia that is Bold Street has been my port of call for such evenings: the gentle hill that provides a free calfmuscle workout; the jostling people who pay no regard for the difference of pebble and pavement; and, then, the selection of cafés and eateries festooning the two sides of this hardy highway. 52 PRIVATE LIFE

I stopped outside to look at the venue: the rich wooden façade of the building providing a fresh look, mixed with the shinning pressed metal tables glimmering from inside. Certainly not a decor you would necessarily expect from a place advertising ‘Lebanese Street Food’, yet the trendiness and smoothness of the design interested me. I entered and was greeted by an enthusiastic and sincere man. I quickly found myself eyeing up several options on the colour-coded menus: the enticement of Chicken Shawarma conflicted with the curiosity of trying the Farrouj Meshwi (marinated baby chicken with Lebanese spices). My friend sent me a message: “Running few minutes late. Order us two Honey and Banana smoothies” (the restaurant is ‘dry’). I did just that and sat calmly enjoying the bustle of the pleasantly busy venue and admiring the detail of the artwork on the walls. My friend arrived; I ordered the Hommos, a pureed chickpea starter, and we talked animatedly until it arrived. The starter furthered my assurance that my Wednesday would be getting better, not worse. We ordered a second round of smoothies and main courses of Mixed Grill Meshwiya and Chicken Shawarma Platter. Both plates were a perfect mix of intense flavours and reassuring familiar tastes. We finished our mains with satisfaction. The table service was slick and helpful but never imposing. The option of dessert was raised and with a nearly full stomach I decided upon the Baklawa (small pastries). As we ate our last course with enjoyment, one or two people

came and went, collecting from the takeaway service also on offer. “You know...,” I said as I scanned the room for yet another observation of the tidy, efficient setting, “It’s sometimes not a bad idea to go ‘dry’ for the evening; I truly have nothing at this moment but a clear head and an inspired palate.” Bakchich may have turned up this year in an already well-established class of cafés and characters, but it is in good company amongst Bold Street’s impressive collection of food venues. A safe but comforting distance away is the older sibling: Kasbah Café Bazaar, a now wellknown and much-loved Moroccan eatery that has paved the way perfectly for similarly exoticsounding menu options. Thanks to Bakchich and my friend’s inspired restaurant suggestion, my Wednesday ended far better than I could have wished. Venue 4/5 Service 5/5 Food 4/5

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Book Now For details of Sushi Making Classes and Children's Parties please email info@sapporo.co.uk 134 Duke St, East Village, Liverpool L1 5AG @Sapporo_Tepp 0151 705 3005 www.sapporo.co.uk PRIVATE LIFE 53 SapporoTeppanyakiRestaurants

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2 Oranges,1 lemon and 1 lime 200 g Caster sugar 6 Whole cloves 1 Stick cinnamon 3 Fresh bay leaves 1 Whole nutmeg, for grating 1 Vanilla pod, halved lengthways 2 Star anise 2 Bottles Tuscan Chianti Classico Riserva

This is dead simple to make and tastes like Christmas in a glass. It’s a lovely celebration of those traditional festive spices like cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. If you have your own favourite spices, then feel free to add those to the pot, too. Let everything

cook away and warm up gently so the flavours have time to mingle with the wine. I like to leave my mulled wine ticking over on a really low heat and just ladle some into glasses as and when guests pop in. Peel large sections of peel from your oranges, lemon and lime using a speed peeler. Put the sugar in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the pieces of peel and squeeze in the orange juice. Add the cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and about 10 to 12 gratings of nutmeg. Throw in your halved vanilla pod and stir in just enough red wine to cover the sugar. Let this simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved into the red wine and then bring to the boil.

Keep on a rolling boil for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until you have a beautiful thick syrup. The reason I’m doing this first is to create a wonderful flavour base by really getting the sugar and spices to infuse and blend well with the wine. It’s important to make a syrup base first because it needs to be quite hot, and if you do this with both bottles of wine in there you’ll burn off the alcohol. When your syrup is ready, turn the heat down to low and add your star anise and the rest of the wine. Gently heat the wine and after around 5 minutes, when it’s warm and delicious, ladle it into glasses and serve.

Blend

Shake

White rum 1 ¼ oz Dash of strawberry puree Sweet & Sour 2oz 15 Ice cubes

Vanilla vodka 1 ¼ oz Ameretto ¾ oz Baileys ½ oz

Apple Vodka 1 ¼ oz Melon liquer ¾ oz Dash of Apple Juice

Vanilla vodka ¼ oz Chocolate liqeur ¾ oz Cream ½ oz Dash of liquid chocolate sauce

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PRIVATE TRAVEL

From piste to pillow, Sarah Lancashire hits the snow to offer the lowdown on Verbier, one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest skiing resorts erbier classifies its pistes as 43 percent easy, 29 percent intermediate and 28 percent advanced, but the resort is best suited to confident, adventurous skiers and boarders.

PRIVATE TRAVEL The resort’s ice-cream-scoop of a mountain bowl is perfectly oriented to the south, so virtually the whole resort enjoys sunshine all day as well as views towards the glaciated peaks along the French and Italian borders.

Beginners Les Moulins is the junior slope near the town centre, home to the kids’ club run by the Swiss Ski School and a crèche, Les Schtroumpfs. It has one magic carpet and one button. The main beginners’ slope, Les Esserts, has the same set-up on a bigger scale. Annoyingly, you can’t reach here from the rest of the mountain by piste: the only access is by shuttle bus. However, for this winter there’s a plan to lay a synthetic track across the road below, to create a handy route to the bottom of the Le Rouge lift.

Main pistes North of Verbier lies the Savoleyres area. The journey here from central Verbier is slow: 10 minutes by bus, and 12 more on a rickety old gondola, Verbier’s most protracted ride. The reward is an extensive network of blues and reds shared between a sunny bowl above Verbier and the forested slopes behind, which lead down to the smaller resort of La Tzoumaz. The majority of visitors, however, spend most of their time on the main network of pistes directly above Verbier, served by the Médran gondola. This spaghetti of reds is a glorious intermediate playground, but even cautious beginners should ride up to access a couple of scenic blues higher up. And everyone – non-skiers included – should ride the sequence of gondolas and cable cars accessing Mont Fort (3330m) for

the views. Before the top is the gentle, sunny bowl of La Chaux, which is popular with families. The terrain park here has three routes (red, blue, black) with jumps and rails of varying difficulty, plus a giant airbag (experts only, injuries are common) and a thrilling ski cross/boardercross run. During school holidays, queues build up at the Médran around 9am. Those not staying close to Médran may be better off taking a shuttle bus to Carrefour, a roundabout and restaurant of the same name near the top of the Le Rouge button, instead, to access the fast six-seater to Mayentzet.

4 Valleys Those confident on the slopes should allow a couple of days to explore the further reaches of the 4 Valleys: one for Thyon and Veysonnaz, and another for Nendaz.

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PRIVATE TRAVEL The routes take in some of Verbier’s itinéraires – marked but ungroomed runs, which are steep and often mogully. In each case, non-experts can ride a cable car or gondola down instead. A half day is well spent exploring Bruson: take the gondola from Verbier down to Le Châble, and ride up the other side on 2013/14’s new gondola, which replaces a tedious bus journey and snail-slow chair. Higher up, there’s still just one slow chair and one T bar, for this season at least, but the scenic, tree-lined runs are well worth the schlep.

Lift passes Beginners are best off buying oneday passes (CHF30 adults, CHF15 children) covering Les Esserts / Le Rouge until ready to move on – at which point they should get a full 4 Valleys pass, for maximum flexibility. A 6-day pass (4 Valleys) costs CHF 355. New this year are discounts for those in their early 20s (15 percent for anyone born between 1989 and 1998); free passes for children born in 2007 and after, and kids born between 1999 and 2006 receive 50 percent off. Also new this year, an additional 10 percent off allround for families buying together.

All-rounders The Swiss Ski School (verbierbooking.com) is the resort’s largest, with more than 250 instructors, speaking 16 languages between them. Five half-days (three hours) of group ski lessons cost CHF290; five full days for children including lunch, CHF 520. For younger children (three to five years) the school runs a kids’ club combining ski tuition with play at Les Moulins (magic carpet, button lift), beside Les Schtroumpfs crèche; prices as above.

Intermediates to experts The Warren Smith Ski Academy (warrensmith-skiacademy.com), based in Verbier, offers intensive week-long group courses; £419 for 5 full days. Effective, sociable, good for skiers travelling alone and anyone ‘stuck on the intermediate plateau’.

Powder The Warren Smith Ski Academy (see above) also runs classes with a focus on off-piste. 58 PRIVATE LIFE

Les Guides de Verbier (guideverbier.com) represents the resort’s mountain guides and offers weekly group trips: good-value off-piste every Wednesday and ski touring every Friday (both CHF 135), and heli-skiing every Thursday (CHF 400). Powder Extreme (powder-extreme.com) specialises in off-piste tuition.

Snowboarding The Swiss Snow School Verbier (snowschool.ch) is the resort’s biggest and oldest specialist; Fresh Tracks (freshtracks.ch) focuses on off-piste training.

Regular events A giant slalom race organised by the Swiss Ski School takes place every Saturday at Savoleyres: open to all, entry CHF 20 booked in advance. The ‘1st tracks’ scheme lets skiers onto the slopes at 7.45 am, an hour before lifts officially open; CHF 25 with coffee and croissant. Free mountain safety/avalanche rescue classes on Sundays at the DVA park in La Chaux, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm. It’s worth heading to Médran on arrival to check out the week’s events.

Other snow activities

Tobogganing French-speaking Switzerland’s longest toboggan run (10km) extends from Savoleyres to La Tzoumaz; rent toboggans at the top station (CHF 15) or in the resort.

Walking The tourist office publishes a useful free guide covering scenic snowshoe trails (equipment hire from CHF 15 a day) and groomed snow paths (walkable in hiking boots). Guided snowshoe tours every Thursday (CHF 90); book through the Guides office.

And… A one-hour evening ride on a piste-basher costs CHF 30; book through the Guides office. Book tandem paraglider flights through Verbier Summits (verbier-summits. com) or Centre Parapente Verbier (flyverbier.ch); from CHF 160. Play golf on snow at Tortin, at 2050m, also accessible by non-skiers; equipment hire from the restaurant. For more details on trips to Verbier and other skiing destinations, please call Charlie Diakou - Private Life’s preferred travel agent - at Crown Travel on 0151 724 2265.

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ZEAL is a boutique brand handcrafting quality eyewear built for life outdoors. ver find yourself shredding the gnar and wishing you could share the breathtaking rush of scenery or your children’s first slope run with others? Well, now you can, courtesy of Zeal Optics. Based in Boulder, Colorado, USA, ZEAL is a boutique brand focusing on handcrafted quality eyewear built for life outdoors. ZEAL is known for revolutionising the goggle market with its HD Camera Goggle and the original GPS goggle. With a camera integrated into the frame, the HD Camera Goggle shoots HD video in 1080p as well as 720p and captures incredible 12MP photos – all of which can easily be shared on all of your favourite social media platforms, enabling you and your friends to see winter differently through ZEAL’s lenses.

An in-goggle viewfinder and glove-ready controls on the side of the frame simplify the filming experience, while its rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides threehours of run time depending on usage. With the new device, users can easily replay footage, and set up sequence and timelapse shots. The iON goggles provide a clear and open view, and the on-board camera puts out 1080p HD video and eight megapixel still images, both with 170 degrees of coverage. The body is built with high-impact plastic and the strap is thick and rubberised, meaning it’s unlikely to slide off your head like some cheaper goggles. The model I was sent came with mirrored glass, but you can also order clear protective glass. What makes this product unique is that there’s a small display screen inside the goggles, allowing you to see what you’re shooting. Dedicated ski goggles that shoot HD video and stills are nothing new, but this pair scores points for offering both high-quality imaging features and stylish goggle functionality for skiing. The camera and lens also automatically adjust for variable lighting conditions, which is a big help when you’re moving from dark shadows to bright snow. You can play your HD clips and photos back

immediately inside the goggles on a built-in viewfinder and there are big, glove-friendly buttons on the side of the frame for playing, pausing and fast-forwarding. For skiing purposes, the lenses have an anti-fog coating so things don’t get blurry and there’s 100 percent UV protection for bright days. The only thing the iON HD Camera doesn’t offer is a guarantee of snow. After last season’s virtually powder-free winter, you’ll just have to hope Mother Nature produces more of the white stuff this time around. “The ZEAL iON goggle is going to change the way people use POV cameras,” says pro snowboarder Kimmy Fasani. For more information about ZEAL, Please contact Silverberg Opticians in Liverpool on 0151 709 2012 PRIVATE LIFE 59

PRIVATE HOME

With Elaine Cunningham transforming interiors across the city from only £99 per room, why not visit the store to update your home for the new year? he owners of this beautifully unassuming Victorian 4-bedroom terrace property required a touch of elegance and glamour for their interior. It was important to this high-flying couple for there to be a sense of flow and coordination from room to room, with a feel of warmth and welcome when they arrive home from a day at the office or a long business trip away. The couple also entertain regularly so desired a wow factor that would work in harmony with a homely as well as practical interior. Due to the age of the property, the house boasts many original features which were stripped back and restored to their former glory, enhancing the finished look. Rather than going for heavy patterns, we encouraged warm colours and different textures to coincide to

really bring this interior together. Original floors were softened with sumptuous shaggy rugs and grand window treatments were made to compliment the sash lead windows. A real labour of love, the project began with the couple’s reading and music room, a grand and formal interior with accents of warm ruby red to tie in with their original handtufted rug. After instantly falling in love with the final look we continued on with the rest of the property to make this house their dream home. With large patio windows on to the terrace, the main living room encouraged an interior to bring the outside in, incorporating earthy tones, soft fabrics and ‘sink into’ furniture for ultimate relaxation. This room naturally leads on to the kitchen diner which welcomes both resident and guest to pull up a chair for light conversation whilst

whipping up a culinary masterpiece. Making our way upstairs via the grand hallway with period high ceilings and feature cornicing, the beautifully finished master and guest bedrooms are more than welcoming for weary residents. The use of soft baby blues and earthy greens teamed with hand-carved furniture gives the look and feel of luxury. Bespoke bedspreads and hand-finished cushions add those special finishing touches, bringing the interior together. Mr & Mrs Owen of Aigburth said: “We are ecstatic with the designs and final results; we are so glad we used the consultation service at Elaine Cunningham Interiors. We have made costly mistakes in the past , but having our own personal designer meant we avoided such mistakes and resulted in our beautiful home.”

Mr & Mrs Owen’s Victorian Terrace Before: Living Room, Dining Room & Bedroom Opposite Page, After: Living Room, Dining Room & Bedrooms

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PRIVATE PROPERTY

Britain will solve its housing crisis only if it builds more homes and lets in fewer people – but is help to buy nothing more than an election ploy? Private Life investigates … 62 PRIVATE LIFE

PRIVATE PROPERTY The term ‘property porn’ can be ogled on the government’s Help to Buy (HTB) website. The HTB scheme is designed, it seems, almost entirely to please those with a prurient interest in house-price bubbles: builders, estate agents and local solicitors. It is nothing more than populist, short-term electioneering posing as a cure for Britain’s chronic, long-term housing headache. If affordability is the problem, a policy that makes houses even more expensive cannot be the solution – but that is what’s happening. Buyers are able to tap state-funded assistance up to a value of £600,000. This is emergency aid for the huddled masses of Kensington and Chelsea. When property prices are rising and real wages (inflationadjusted) are falling, as they are, only the suspension of disbelief will bridge an ever-widening gap. HTB may well help to buy votes, but it will end in tears. The housing challenge facing government is not complicated: too many people, too few homes. When you have more buyers than sellers, guess what? The price goes up and up until the elastic snaps. The trouble is, few ministers will address part one of the problem – population growth – because it necessitates

being honest about immigration and the impact it is having not just on numbers in the country today but on tomorrow’s birth rates. Nothing terrifies Westminster MPs more than the suggestion of being ‘racist’. This is craven, head-in thesand politics. Only last week, the European Union issued a report showing that the United Kingdom has the EU’s fastest-growing population. According to Eurostat, official numbers living in the UK (not including illegals) grew by 392,000 in 2012, 38 percent of which was accounted for by net migration. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) puts the figures slightly higher at 420,000 and 39 percent respectively. For context, Nottingham’s population is about 300,000. Part two of the problem is the rate at which we are constructing homes. A government-backed report in 2004 concluded that Britain needed 250,000 new houses a year to meet growing demand. Even before the credit crunch, completions fell way short of that and, despite a recent surge in new buyers with cash to burn, only 28,500 private houses were started in the three months to September. In other words, the situation is deteriorating, as the number of people who want homes in the UK far outstrips supply. The upshot is that the average house now costs £173,678 (nationwide figures), yet the average weekly wage, including bonuses, is £474, or £24,648 a year (ONS). Even allowing for the fact that newcomers to the housing market tend to join the ladder at the cheaper end, the ratio of first-time buyer house prices to average incomes is still 4.6:1. HTB is encouraging people to overstretch their finances at the bottom of the interest-rate cycle – the very worst time to do so. With money priced at a 320-year low, the only way is up. When that happens, monthly outgoings will rise, house prices will fall and those on the

edge of solvency will go bankrupt. After the credit crunch, household debt in Britain fell from 170 percent of annual income to 140 percent. That trend is now reversing, as government ‘initiatives’ lure punters into a debt trap. The Bank of England’s financial stability report points out that 20 percent of home loans have been made to households that are left with less than £50 a week after housing costs and essential spending. Even a 1 percent rate rise could create a new cohort of distressed borrowers. HTB is fiscal chicanery that prompts irrational behaviour by making the unaffordable appear within reach. In the short run, it rewards the Treasury with a bonanza of stamp duty payments. But how much of those receipts will be lost when the taxpayer is called upon to bail out delinquent mortgages? Tackling Britain’s housing problem requires two bold moves: much tighter restrictions on the number of people arriving in the UK and an ambitious building programme to provide decent accommodation for existing citizens. Handing out funny money to bid up prices is simply weasel economics.

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PRIVATE PROPERTY

Private Life looks at three property funds offering different types of exposure to the asset class for investors who either want to diversify their portfolio or are just looking for an alternative to bonds Property funds are becoming popular once more as investors hunt for yield and diversification. Although many direct property or ‘bricks and mortar’ funds offer little in the way of capital growth, many advisers and wealth managers are using them as an alternative to gilts. The funds are also used by a number of multi-asset managers to diversify their risk. Henderson UK Property One of the most popular funds in the IMA Property sector is the £1.1bn Henderson UK Property portfolio. Ben Willis, head of research at Whitechurch, says he and his colleagues use it in their cautious portfolios as it pays a high yield, which is currently 4.2 percent, making it a good replacement for their government bond exposure. He also likes the fact it is an established portfolio and that its managers Marcus Langlands Pearse and Ainslie McLennan are an experienced team. He says this is important because ‘size matters’ when it comes to property funds. The duo have managed the Henderson UK Property fund together since May 2009, over which time it has made 39.32 percent. Those returns have been higher than those available from gilts and had a low correlation to the UK equity and bond markets. The fund invests directly in property, including offices and retail and industrial buildings, primarily located in London and the South East. It also has a small amount of exposure to property shares such as British Land. Henderson UK Property has a high 22 percent cash weighting, suggesting it is prepared for the eventuality of redemptions. 64 PRIVATE LIFE

It has an ongoing charges figure (OCF) of 1.84 percent and requires a minimum investment of £1,000. HSBC Open Global Property Another option for investors could be the HSBC Open Global Property fund, which is run by the only FE Alpha Manager in the IMA Property sector, Dr Guy Morrell. This portfolio differs from most others in the sector as it is a fund of funds. It invests across the world and holds funds that invest in property shares and directly in property. Charles Younes, analyst at FE Research, says HSBC Open Global Property’s blended approach is the main reason why it features on the team’s coveted FE Select 100 list. “We like the fund’s approach as, in keeping with HSBC’s global philosophy, it offers exposure to property markets across the world, not just in the UK,” Younes said. “Furthermore, its preference for investments that are easy to sell means it can react quicker to changing conditions. The fund’s focus on finding the right local expertise makes the global approach more manageable and gives it access

to experts in every region. “The main driver of the fund’s performance, however, remains the team’s capacity to define the right investment themes at the right time. It has performed well so far and its process gives it a good chance to do just as well in the future,” he added. The £61m HSBC Open Global Property fund was launched in November 2007. Over that time, it has been a top-quartile performer in the IMA Property sector, with returns of 27.7 percent. Morrell holds 58.6 percent of his fund in property shares and a further 36.6 percent in direct property. His largest regional exposure is to the UK – which makes up 50 percent. He also has 28 percent in North America and 17 percent in the Asia Pacific, though that is mainly made up by his position in the Schroder ISF Asia Pacific Property Securities fund. HSBC Global Open Property has a yield of 2.37 percent, an OCF of 1.59 percent and requires a minimum investment of £1,000. Hearthstone UK Residential Property

PRIVATE PROPERTY While the majority of openended funds in the property sector invest in the commercial side of the asset class, investors can gain access to the residential market via the Hearthstone UK Residential Property fund. The fund, which is managed by David Gibbins, invests across the UK residential market, with assets located across England, Scotland and Wales. The fund invests in London, though, due to the rising prices, Gibbins says he cannot hold too much in central London because of concentration risk. The portfolio holds flats and terraced, semi-detached and detached properties. Since its launch in July 2012, the fund has returned 3.85 percent. The fund doesn’t have a set yield, though the manager says it should be viewed as a total return portfolio instead of an income-producing one. Rob Morgan, pensions and investment analyst at Charles Stanley Direct, says it isn’t a fund he has come across before but in principle it is a strategy he likes. However, he says investors should dig a little deeper before they make

their own decision. “I think it would appeal to a lot of people,” he said. “My only worry, like with commercial property funds, is liquidity. It may have a lot more holdings than a commercial property fund – which will help – but if it were to face significant redemptions, liquidity could become an issue. “It is also the case if it were to see inflows and they have nowhere to deploy that cash, as property acquisitions can take a long time, which means that cash could pile up,” Morgan added. Gibbins says that, although his fund is priced daily and investors are by no means locked into it, liquidity is one of the areas he and his team

are trying to tackle. “We look very closely at liquidity and because of that we keep 15 percent in cash or near cash assets,” he said. “Also, before we even buy a property, we grade them for their potential liquidity, which is very important.” Gibbins also points out that liquidity is often better in the residential market, because if he were to face redemptions, he wouldn’t have to offload a multi-million pound office space or shopping centre. Hearthstone Residential Property requires a minimum investment of £1,000. Its OCF hasn’t been calculated yet.

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2 1 PRIVATE 3 Trends 4 Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve hunted across the globe to bring you this ultimate guide to the latest trends currently taking the design world by storm

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7 1. Stellar Mirror, Jake Phipps, ÂŁ3,875 (www.jakephipps.com) 2. Bent Plywood Lounge Chair, $1,350 (www.ciseal.com) 3.Trophy Hooks, $23 (www.thefancy.com) 4. Varick Chandelier Vintage Bronze Medium, $1,075 (www.restorationhardware.com) 5. Glasscape Tumblers, $48, Aruliden (www. dwell.com) 6. SSUR Biggie Skull Blanket, $350 (www.ssur.com) 7. Antler Chip and Dip Serve, $275 (www.thefancy.com).

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