LU E D X LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND
WINTER 2018
INSIDE
CURVE’S WHITE CHRISTMAS ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE NEW CONTINENTAL GT PARTY TRENDS FOR HIM & HER CRAFTY CANAPES 48 HOURS IN Agadir YOUR COMPLIMENTARY COPY
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MUSIC TO YOUR EARS AND A DRINK (OR T WO) IN YOUR HANDS
Celebrate the most stylish night of the week with our mouth-watering menu, delicious drinks and a line-up of live musical talents. Every Saturday night, 9pm – 12 midnight Ground Floor Bar BOOK NOW +44 121 616 6028 reservations.birmingham@harveynichols.com
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IN THIS ISSUE. Where has 2018 gone? It may be a symptom of getting older or simply that life is just so much busier, but it does seem that this has been one year that has flown by and been filled with both highs and lows for the city. Fingers crossed that as we move into 2019 that there are more of the highs and less of the lows. Before we sing Auld Lang Syne though, this issue we’re wishing you a colourful Christmas with rainbow bright trees and decorations designed to give your festive antics some added funk! Our ultimate gift guides are full of treats for under the tree with our choice of the perfect present for him, for her and for the little ones too.
partywear for him and her, a how to guide for healthy winter hair along with our picks of the latest beauty and grooming products and our choice of the coolest Christmas jumpers in town starting on page 26. And of course we have got the best look of what’s coming up in the county to keep you entertained into the new year, making sure you don’t miss out on the very best of what the dark nights have to offer and help avoid those January blues. We’ll see you again in March until then from all of us at Dluxe, have a happy, happy Christmas and a safe and peaceful New Year.
If you’re entertaining, we’ve got some super easy canape recipes that are sure to delight your guests including an allimportant vegan option and if you’re looking to eat out, the dluxe team have been out and about sampling the menu at the stunning new Queen Victoria Arts Club in the heart of the Cultural Quarter.
Jonathan Fraser Group Editor In Chief
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a Christmas Show and you can’t get more Christmassy than Curve’s production of White Christmas starring Strictly and Hollyoaks heartthrob Danny Mac. We chat to him on page 22. We’ve got our usual run downs of the seasons key fashion trends too including
WE CAN’T WAIT FOR...
BILLY OCEAN AT DEMONTFORT HALL Mary Poppins Returns
Following his sold out tour last year British soul icon Billy Ocean has extended his huge UK headline tour to include a trip to De Montfort Hall on March 11th.
Billy Ocean is the biggest selling black recording star Britain has ever produced and has sold over 30 million records in his lifetime to date. Having achieved extraordinary success as both an artist and a songwriter, Billy has collected multiple Gold and Platinum records across the world and hit the number one spot worldwide in the pop charts including the USA, Australia, Germany, Holland, and the UK. Get Your tickets now at www.demontforthall.co.uk
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Mary Poppins is back and is sure to capture the hearts of a whole new generation. There’s trouble with the Banks’ children, even if they are all now grown up, so thank heavens for the return of their childhood Nanny, Mary Poppins to get them back on track. And what would a magical nanny be without a chimney sweep sidekick, this time played by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Only Fools and Boycie 15th Feb at Melton Theatre
MUMFORD & SONS Detective Did you catch them live Pikachu last month? Relive that summer festival feeling with Mumford & Sons fourth album, Delta. First single Guiding Light builds and builds until it explodes to anthemic heights although lead singer Marcus Mumford told Annie Mac to expect a more “tender listen, [that is] introspective and reflective” whilst still marrying with “ecstatic stadium-sized dynamics.”
Where did this come from? Our favourite fluff ball from the land of Pokemon is to star in an all new live action movie and what’s more he’s to be voiced by Ryan Reynolds! We’re officially hooked after seeing the online trailer and cannot wait for next year’s release! Gotta catch em all!
The new Touareg. With £3,000 towards your finance deposit. Available with Solutions PCP.* The new Touareg’s leap forward in styling is complemented by impressive specification, new technology and ground-breaking levels of digital dashboard design. You can customise the 15-inch Innovision glass display like a smartphone to project information such as speed, directions and driver assistance messages onto the windscreen. An SUV with real power and strength, Volkswagen’s latest Touareg also offers true off-road capabilities. Available to test drive in our showroom today.
Kettering
Loughborough
www.kettering.volkswagen.co.uk
www.arthurprince.volkswagen.co.uk
Leicester
Nottingham West Bridgford
www.leicester.volkswagen.co.uk
www.nottinghamsouth.volkswagen.co.uk
Parkway Volkswagen: 01536 431600.
Parkway Volkswagen: 0116 2148800.
Representative
3.3% APR
Arthur Prince Volkswagen: 01509 217080.
Vertu Volkswagen: 0115 8952233.
We are brokers and not lenders and can introduce you to a limited number of lenders, who may pay us for introducing you to them. *At the end of the agreement there are three options: i) pay the optional final payment and own the vehicle; ii) return the vehicle: subject to excess mileage and fair wear and tear, charges may apply; or iii) replace: part exchange the vehicle. With Solutions Personal Contract Plan. 18s+. Subject to availability and status. T&Cs apply. Offer available until March 31st, 2019. Indemnities may be required. Offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer and may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Accurate at time of publication. Freepost Volkswagen Financial Services. This vehicle is a WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure) type approved
vehicle. More information is available at www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/wltp. However, in line with Government guidance, to facilitate comparison between different models from different manufacturers and to accommodate the full transition to this new testing regime, we have displayed NEDC figures. These NEDC figures are the values for this vehicle used in registration and taxation documentation until further notice from the UK authorities. These NEDC figures have been derived from WLTP testing, and may not be equivalent to NEDC figures from NEDC testing, so comparisons may be unreliable. Fuel consumption and efficiency figures are provided for comparative purposes only and may not reflect ‘real world’ driving results. Choice of wheels and other options may affect fuel consumption and emissions data. Official fuel consumption figures for the new Touareg model range in mpg (litres/100km): urban 36.7(7.7); extra urban 47.9(5.9); combined 42.8(6.6). Combined CO2 emissions 173g/km. Excludes battery, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
IN THIS ISSUE.
TALK TO US MANAGING DIRECTOR Kevin Urquhart Kevin@fu-media.co.uk 07713 740 272 GROUP EDITOR IN CHIEF Jonathan Fraser Jon@fu-media.co.uk 0772 580 9654 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Lilith Holsey-Sheppard lilith@fu-media.co.uk 07975 970711 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Donald Peden donald@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445 ACCOUNTS & ADMINISTRATION Carey York carey@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445 Ballet Rambert Life is a Dream 28 Feb 2019 - 2 Mar 2019 Curve COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF MOSCHINO
08 AGENDA Our personal picks of our favourite features, stories and products from around the county. 22 SPOTLIGHT We talk to actor
Danny Mac as he brings a little bit of White Christmas to Curve.
26 FOR HER It’s time to party! Little
black dresses, make up bag essentials, a winter guide to heathy hair and how to shimmer and sparkle this season.
30 FOR HIM Get naughty in
knitwear, how to prep perfectly kissable skin, dress to impress and win personal training sessions.
34 MOTORS The car that brought back Bentley, the Continental GT is all new and as sportingly sumptuous as ever. 36 LIVING Enjoy a colourful
indulgent guft guide yet for him, for her and for the little ones too.
42 TRAVEL We enjoy a weekend espace in Agadir.
DIGITAL CONTENT EXECUTIVE Francesca Arculeo Francesca@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445 EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Georgia Wilkinson georgia@fu-media.co.uk 0116 2533 445
48 DINING Creative canapes, vegan treats and we sample the delights of the Queen Victoria Arts Club.
DLUXE LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND
52 DIARY What’s happening and
LCB DEPOT, 31 RUTLAND STREET, LEICESTER. LE1 1RE
what’s happened in and around the countythis Winter.
62 BUSINESS The latest thinking
and topic led business advice from some of the county’s top business brains.
66 HOROSCOPES National
treasure, sensational star gazer Russell Grant on what the future holds for us all this season.
TEL: 0116 2533 445
www.dluxe-magazine.co.uk info@fu-media.co.uk
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christmas and dip into our most Disclaimer: Copyright 69 & dluxe LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publishers. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy in compiling this publication, the Publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, omissions, breach of copyright or otherwise since compilation. The Publisher cannot be held responsible for any material submitted to the publication, not excluding advertisements. The views expressed within this title are not necessarily the views of the Publisher. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply recommendation by the Publisher. © 69 Magazine Ltd 2018
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Our commitment to value means that we match the prices of the high street competitors (this excludes online-only or mail order businesses). Service conditions must be comparable. See our ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ leaflet in our shops or online for details.
AGENDA.
SHOW ME THE FUNNY Now in its 26th year, the Leicester Comedy Festival, the nation’s biggest and longest running comedy festival, launches alongside a brand new sister festival, The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival, celebrating the comedy talent of the future from the 6-24 February. Leicester Comedy Festival’s stellar bill for 2019 includes Jo Brand, Johnny Vegas, Zoe Lyons, Jason Manford, Nish Kumar, Dave Gorman, Russell Howard, Henning Wehn, Jason Byrne, Paul Sinha, Rich Hall, Shazia Mirza, Hal Cruttenden and Gary Delaney. The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival will include shows, workshops and events aimed at children under 12 years of age, including Loving Laughing, a project teaching joke telling to Primary School children. The festival will include shows from James Campbell, Funz & Games, Comedy 4 Kids Comedy Club, Bec Hill, Jarred Christmas and Bring Your Own Baby Comedy. Geoff Rowe, founder and Director of Leicester Comedy Festival & The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival said “The last 26 years have been amazing and I’m really proud that comedians flock to Leicester in February and support what we do each year. We have made so many friends along the way and in 2019 many of them will be returning to a record number of venues to entertain over 135,000 people. We’re also thrilled to be launching The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival, featuring loads of shows and activities for children under 12 and their families. There has been a huge growth in comedy shows for kids over recent years and we hope this new festival will be a celebration and help inspire young people to get into live comedy, either as audience members of performers.” Special and returning events in the 2019 programme include: Beyond A Joke – including exclusive Q&A’s with Jo Brand and Tom Allen, as well as seminars and discussions exploring issues linked to contemporary comedy. Circuit Breakers - a development programme to help support comedians wanting to perform at the festival and break into the UK comedy scene, meet agents, producers and members of the UK comedy industry. Laugh Term Comedy School - a dedicated half-term programme for aspiring teenagers to develop their skills and experience of performing live comedy. The “school” will run throughout the February half term, teaching young people aged 13-18 the basics of comedy performance and culminating with a performance. Comedy in the Dark - this innovative show is a homegrown festival creation, which has gone on to delight audiences with the lights out all over the country. Senses are heightened; language takes on new life and laughter sounds even louder in the dark. Hotel D’Comedie - another original festival creation,this intimate site-specific comedy experience will be at Hotel Maiyango at St Martin’s Lodge in Leicester. For tickets and full details of this year’s festival visit www.comedy-festival.co.uk
WIN AN EVENING SPA EXPERIENCE AT RAGDALE HALL Ragdale Hall Spa is offering one lucky reader an Evening Spa Experience for two people. Combining state-of-the-art facilities with the charm of traditional Victorian architecture Ragdale Hall offers the most luxurious and extensive spa facilities in the country – with the new Rooftop Infinity Pool (Ragdale Hall’s sixth pool) offering stunning views across the rolling Leicestershire countryside - while you relax and breathe in the fresh air, cocooned in the blissfully warm water. There’s also the multimillion-pound Thermal Spa, gym, and with a delicious two-course meal in the Verandah Bar also included, everything is taken care of - you just need to switch off and relax. And what if you could also give that gift of ‘me-time’ to friends, loved ones and family? Ragdale Hall gift vouchers start from just £25. Gift vouchers are beautifully presented in a special Christmas gift pack and wallet, and are valid for a whole year. For your chance to win visit www.dluxemagazine.co.uk and click on competitions. For more information or to order your vouchers visit www.ragdalehall.co.uk or call 01664 433030. T&C’s The prize is subject to availability. Over-16s only. Travel is not included. Prize must be taken Mon - Thurs within six months of the winner being notified and is non-transferable. *Good Spa Awards 2017
dluxe-magazine.co.uk 9
AGENDA.
Shop, Skate & Stay later in Leicester this Christmas On Mondays to Saturdays this December, buses to all three Park & Ride sites will continue to run every 30 minutes after 7pm. Departure times of the final service will vary throughout the month, with the latest buses departing the city centre at 10.15pm during the week commencing Monday 17 December. If you need a handy way to remember when the last bus is, the final service will leave the city centre 15 minutes after Highcross closing time. That’s plenty of time to get back to your bus stop without any of the usual rushing around making sure you’ve ticked everyone off the list.
Square Ice Rink returns to the city centre and is 50% bigger than last year – that’s extra room for all your friends and family to take to the ice! Kids can meet Santa in New Market Square, and all ages will be mesmerised by the beautiful light installation outside Leicester Cathedral as part of Christmas in the Gardens.
The late-night service isn’t just great news for shoppers; there’s so many great things going on in Leicester in December you’ll need the extra hours to make the most of it all! Jubilee
All three Park & Ride sites offer free parking, with buses into the city centre costing only £4 for a group of 5 people travelling in the same car.
Sick of dashing through the snow? We have good news! You can take your time over your Christmas shopping this year and spend a little longer finding the perfect gift, all thanks to an extended late-night Leicester Park & Ride service funded by Leicester’s Business Improvement District (BID Leicester).
PICS Leicester City Council Beth Walsh
So why not make the most of Christmas in Leicester from morning ‘til night and use the Leicester Park & Ride? See the full extended timetable online at choosehowyoumove.co.uk, and discover all the great things to do in Leicester at christmasinleicester.co.uk
Meetings Made SIMPLE at Marriot our expectations. The major investment, particularly in the redesign of the Grove Suite, our largest conference and banqueting space which can seat up to 400 attendees with ease and intuitive technology, enables us to position ourselves as markets leaders,” he said. Those facilities include innovative ideas such as the Marriott Meetings App – a first for the city - which gives organisers the ability to manage their event without ever leaving their seat, connecting planners and hotel teams on any web-enabled device in real time, 24/7. Organisers can even communicate with the Marriott events team instantly via the app so that they can focus on what matters most; delivering the best experience for their delegates. 2018 has not only seen Leicester Marriott Hotel undergo substantial and stylish changes in all parts of the hotel but it has also seen the experienced team build on the Grove Park hotel and conference venue’s reputation for strong service by enhancing the technical offering and all round experience of delegates and conference bookers. With dedicated meetings experts, innovative and delicious food and beverage options to cater for every taste, the hotel is perfectly positioned to look after guests’ needs. This new 10 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
approach to booking and managing events is summed-up by the concept: Meetings Made at Marriott - Meetings Made Simple. Made Rewarding. Made Effortless. Commenting on the hotel’s newly redesigned and flexible product, Hotel Manager Rajesh Chahar said: “When we opened 12 years ago we knew it would be a popular hotel for conferences due to our size and flexibility of conferencing and meeting spaces. But the number of new enquiries and bookings since the renovation has really exceeded
Other areas of technology include ClickShare, the wireless, plug and play presentation system that allows multiple users to stream to the same TV; perfect for meetings. Electronic Room Signage and Write on Wall technology features in some meeting rooms for confidentiality, as well as collaborative breakout areas to inspire social interaction and conference engagement. To find out more about Meetings Made at Marriott -visit www.marriott.co.uk/meetingsand-events/meetings-made-simple.mi
SICK OF DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW? Extended late-night Park and Ride services throughout December, brought to you by
Enjoy extra hours to plan your perfect Christmas. Shop, dine and stay later in the city.
For the full timetable and further information, see choosehowyoumove.co.uk
SPECIALIST LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICE ARE KEY AT FINE & COUNTRY
Fine & Country Loughborough offer luxury properties for sale within the County of Leicestershire. Their specialist regional knowledge of this specific market ensures that clients receive the very best service, whether you are buying or selling a property in Loughborough or surrounding regions. Born and raised in Leicestershire, Fine & Country partner Daniel Gaunt’s long standing 20-year career has spanned some major world events including 2 financial crashes, 1 world war, and a global recession. After graduating with an honours degree in Architecture he began his career as an Estate Agent with Frank Innes in 1998. After 6 years of learning his trade with Frank Innes Daniel moved to Bentons as a Senior Lister, where over 10 years he developed exceptional knowledge of the local property market. In 2014 Daniel became a partner at Fine & Country Woodhouse Eaves. Together with his specialist knowledge of the local market, local connections, and love and understanding of property he set about developing an exclusive and discreet service for discerning clients. “If you wish to keep your plans confidential Fine & Country have a natoional database of buyers ready and waiting to view properties so that vendors can achieve a swift sale with no For Sale boards, listing on the exhausted property portals, or press marketing.” said Daniel. “We are a property matching agency that will introduce your home to serious buyers allowing you to test the water discreetly when the time is right for you. An
Loughborough and Charnwood Forest 19a Main Street, Woodhouse Eaves, Loughborough, Leicestershire. LE128RY 01509 891398
increasing percentage of our sales successfully happen this way.” With buyers no longer relying on traditional methods to find their perfect home Fine & Country, Woodhouse Eaves have developed a new approach to identifying the right buyers. With over 300 offices nationwide and close partnerships with other agents Fine & Country have made it easier than ever for buyers to find homes in this region. In fact Fine & Country’s consistent efforts to offer innovative marketing combined with a high level of service have been recognised by the industry for an astounding fifth year in a row, winning Best International Real Estate Agency Marketing at the International Residential Property Awards. Methods of reaching potential buyers may be changing but traditional expertise and dedicated regional knowledge never go out of style. Daniel prides himself on showcasing and marketing his properties to the very highest standard, utilising a team of outstanding, local experts including home stagers, drone and video photographers to ensure the very best results for his valued clients. Daniel’s industry endurance, attention to detail and dedication to work quickly and efficiently to match buyers to vendors has led to years of client satisfaction, repeat business and personal recommendations. Demand is high for all types of property so act now to find out what your property could be worth by contacting Fine & Country Woodhouse Eaves for a no obligation valuation and consultation. Contact the Loughborough office on 01509 891398 or at loughborough@fineandcountry.com
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Contact: this stunning this stunning home home boasts boasts an aoutdoor an aoutdoor heatedStanding heated pool views, pool views, double1/3 double garage and and Contact: Contact: 0117 9733081 0117 9733081 guide price guide £X,XXX,XXX price £X,XXX,XXX 0117around 9733081 0117 9733081 guide price guide £X,XXX,XXX price £X,XXX,XXX bathroom/shower bathroom/shower rooms rooms and sauna. and sauna. Standing in approximately in approximately of 1/3 angarage acre of an and acre with and a with gated a approach gated approach Contact: Contact: 0117 9733081 0117 9733081 guide price guideviewing £X,XXX,XXX price viewing £X,XXX,XXX recommended. recommended. EPC: EPC: space/hardstanding space/hardstanding and there and is there also is a double also a double garage garage and workshop. and workshop. Highly Highly deceptive, deceptive, early early is highly is highly EPC: EPC: DContact: Dhome ofprice the of village the £X,XXX,XXX village church. church. Contact: this stunning this stunning home boasts boasts an outdoor an outdoor heatedheated pool views, pool views, doubledouble garagegarage and views and views Contact: 0117 9733081 0117 9733081 guide guide £X,XXX,XXX price Contact: 0117 9733081 0117 9733081 guide price guide£X,XXX,XXX price £X,XXX,XXX £595,000 £595,000 £695,000 £695,000 recommended. recommended. EPC: EPC: EPC: EPC: D D £595,000 £595,000 £695,000 £695,000
Mill Mill LaneLane Farm, Farm, BLABY BLABY Mill Mill LaneLane Farm, Farm, BLABY BLABY
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Head Head Office Office Office Head Office 121Head 121 Park Park Lane, Lane, Mayfair Mayfair 121 Park Lane, Mayfair 121 Park Lane, Mayfair London London W1K W1K 7AG 7AG London W1K London W1K 7AG7AG
Globally Globally Globally 300Globally 300 offices offices 300300 offices offices
AGENDA.
SEEING IN THE NEW YEAR
The new year is traditionally a time for new beginnings, trying new things and trialling new looks. For those of us who wear spectacles, why should our eyewear be any different? Here are Culver & Glass’s top trends and looks for 2019 for all age ranges. Culver & Glass is an award winning independent optometrist situated in Loughborough high street. The family practice specialises in bespoke frames and lenses best suited for their patients’ needs, as well as basing their entire ethos on excellence in patient care
DOUBLE BRIDGES Double bridged aviator frames are appearing everywhere right now – the double bridge provides an eye-catching silhouette while the classic aviator shape is flattering on almost any face shape! Check out this pair from William Morris Black Label. ANIMAL PRINT Animal print is setting up to make a big comeback this year and why stop at your clothing? Etnia Barcelona’s Wild Love In Africa range has all shades of the animal kingdom! We love this zebra print frame! BRIGHT COLOUR However tempting it is to go for muted, understated colours for your spectacles, picking the right bright tone for your colouring can really set off your whole look! We love all the yellow & mustard tones in Chloe’s new range! RIMLESS Rimless is no longer just for those who don’t like their spectacles to be seen! The LineArt range from Charmant makes a point of showcasing their fancy sides, designed from sheet music. Silhouette also do a great range with clip on accents for whenever you feel like a splash of colour!
EMBELLISHMENTS Even if you opt for a solid, classic frame shape, who doesn’t love a little bit of sparkle? Murano are known for their Swarovski crystal inserts and their subtle placement on this frame really lights the whole piece up! SMALL RETRO FRAMES Small, round frames are making a comeback – retro styling is forever big news, think John Lennon in the early 1970s! We love these Lindberg Strip Titanium frames for a lightweight and stylish pair of glasses!
NO GLASSES AT ALL…? Have you ever considered trying contact lenses for a whole new look? With companies such as Johnson & Johnson creating soft lenses for all vision types, including varifocal lenses, now could be the perfect time to give it a go! MEN Not forgetting the gentleman, of course, a strong solid frame is a winner at any age. We love the Salt. Eyewear range, particularly this frame, making any man look distinguished.
Culver & Glass Optometrists 3 High Street, Loughborough, LE11 2PY Tel: 01509 212 704 www.glassandglass.co.uk 14 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
GIN FIT FOR A KING King Richard III Visitor Centre and Leicestershire distillery Burleighs have joined forces to create a special Richard III gin celebrating the city of Leicester. Created by Leicestershire distillers Burleighs, the King Richard III gin has been hand-crafted to honour the incredible story of the discovery of the King. The botanical blend of sage, thyme, clove and mace combines herbs and spices which would have sat pride of place in the medieval kitchens of King Richard’s reign. Head distiller, Ed Gibson “The story of Richard III truly is fascinating, and one that captured the hearts of the whole county. "I don’t think anyone in Leicestershire was expecting to hear that a lost king had been found in a council car park in our city centre! We’re very proud of our Leicestershire heritage and we’re hoping that the Richard III Gin can capture the imagination of those enjoying it – and that it gives some insight into the great depth of history that Leicestershire has to showcase.” The King Richard III gin has an ABV of 40% and is available now at £35 for a 70cl bottle at the Visitor Centre shop from 11am until 4pm (5pm on Saturdays and Bank Holidays) or via their online shop www.kriii.com/gin
Created by Burleighs to honour an incredible story, the King Richard III gin combines herbs and spices used in medieval times and truly is a gin fit for a king!
Available to buy now from the King Richard III Visitor Centre and online at kriii.com/gin
AGENDA.
BID Leicester presents… Christmas in the Gardens very own animated portrait dancing across the structure – just strike a pose in the face-recognition camera booth and watch in wonder as it appears on the globe. Will your image be in a flock of mischievous angels flapping around the sphere, or the face of another quirky animated character? Come along and see for yourself!
The dark winter skies over Cathedral Gardens will be bathed in light this Christmas, as BID Leicester and St Martins House present Christmas in the Gardens. Cathedral Gardens is well known as a serene corner of the city, and the area will only get more beautiful when the night sky draws in this December as the gardens welcomes a unique and interactive light installation. Imagine a giant inflatable sphere, four metres across, glowing with intense colours and imagery, and suddenly you see the faces of you and your friends appear in the quirky animations. Welcome to the world of LightWeight. This enchanting twilight show will be the centrepiece of Cathedral Gardens this Christmas. Watch as video and animation effects spin magically around the entire surface of the globe. You can even see your
Leicester Cathedral and the surrounding gardens will be magnificently lit to provide a stunning backdrop to the LightWeight installation. Coloured light boxes will illuminate the trees, and elsewhere in the gardens there will be familiar seasonal sights and sounds including carol singers, transforming the Gardens into a festive retreat in the heart of the city.
Any devoted dog parent has probably already thought about what presents will be waiting under the tree for their furry-friend, but thanks to, Lily’s Kitchen, the dluxe office dogs are joiningother pampered pups in the festivities even more with this advent calendar.
Christmas in the Gardens is brought to you by BID Leicester and St Martins House, and produced by Big Difference Company and will run from Thursday 13 – Saturday 22 December, 5pm to 10pm daily at Cathedral Gardens, Peacock Lane, Leicester LE1 5PZ
Priced at £10, each door opens to reveal one of three yummy treats including ‘rise and shine’, ‘training treats’ and ‘bedtime biscuits.
We love the range of Christmas wrapping papers, cards and tags from design partnership Cambridge Imprint. Made using traditional methods of block printing and handstenciled screen-printing to create designs which are then transferred to paper by modern digital processes to produce beautiful quality papers and cards with a hand-crafted feel. Inspiration for designs come from the joyful, slightly earnest aesthetic of the nineteenth century Arts and Crafts movement and all products are made in England. Each sheet of wrapping paper is printed in one or two handmixed inks on uncoated 90 gsm paper to create a high quality matte paper with a hand-printed feel to it. Available in a wide range of original designs. A sheet of paper measures 50 cm x 70 cm and costs £2.50 or ten sheets can be yours for £20. A card costs £2.50. A ball of 45 m of paper ribbon costs £4.00.
16 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Countdown
Conveniently located between Jubilee Square Ice Rink and Leicester’s thriving independent shopping areas of St Martins Square and The Lanes, Christmas in the Gardens will inject some festive spirit into the Old Town. This new event will mesmerise people of all ages and is a must-see in Leicester this December.
CHRISTMAS ALL WRAPPED UP
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Available at www.lilyskitchen.co.uk Wooflerly!
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AGENDA.
WHITE PEACOCK FLIES HIGH WITH THREE AWARDS
The restaurant, which is in a Grade 2 listed building, serves British and International Cuisine, and has also picked up the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for the past four years running. It is also known throughout the city for its cocktails, from old classics to its own creations. Judges said they were impressed with the restaurant’s customer service and said, ‘they felt special the instant they arrived’.
An independent restaurant in the heart of Leicester is flying high after picking up a hattrick of accolades. The White Peacock Restaurant was recently crowned with having the best formal dining experience at the glittering award ceremony for the annual Leicestershire Tourism & Hospitality Awards. The King Street restaurant was also voted as having the best cocktail experience in the county, while manager Esme Ditano was highly commended for her inspirational work within the venue. Owner Raghunath Kodakandala (pictured holding award) said they had worked hard throughout the year in making the restaurant, their menu and the service extraordinary, and they were incredibly proud of picking up the three awards. “We have been in the heart of Leicester for a number of years now, and to be honoured
in this way and recognised for this work was incredible. I am incredibly proud of The White Peacock and all our staff, as we have a lot of competition in the area. However, we have proved ourselves to be consistent and are very grateful of these awards. “We would to thank everyone for voting for us and we are very much looking forward to next year as we have a lot of exciting things in store for our customers,” he added. Esme said: “I was just blown away by being nominated in the first place, and to be highly commended in this category was fantastic. We all work very hard within the restaurant and this makes it all worthwhile.” Judges praised the restaurant’s ‘excellent and imaginative’ style, coupled with a true sense of occasion, attentive service and some of the best dishes in the whole competition.
The restaurant is owned by KoBan Group – which recently purchased The Landsdowne and Fenways from The Orange Tree group and successfully operates the Indian fine dining restaurant, Aspects in Enderby which was founded by Raghu Kodakandala and Dr. Bandrapalli with a vision to create an independent, quality hospitality group focusing on the Leicestershire market. Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicestershire Promotions said: “This year’s awards have been an amazing success with more applicants than ever from a broad crosssection of the Leicestershire tourism industry. The judges really had their work cut out in the face of intense competition from such an amazing list of finalists. We offer our hearty congratulations to all of the deserved winners who represent Leicestershire so magnificently to all visitors to the city and county.” To book your table visit www.the-white-peacock.co.uk
TAKE A STYLISH RETRO coffee BREAK WITH SMEG With its stylish curved edges and space-age design, Smeg’s DCF01 drip filter coffee machine is the perfect addition to the luxury Italian brand’s iconic range of 50’s retro style appliances. The DCF01 boasts the same popular, iconic design as Smeg’s existing small appliance range, ensuring you can mix-andmatch models for a colourful chic kitchen set-up. Available in six colour options to complement every kitchen, Smeg’s new coffee machine offers a user-friendly control panel with options for auto-start and multiple cup options. There’s a ten-cup glass carafe and a 1.2 litre water tank – so regardless of how much coffee you need to get going in the morning, Smeg has you covered. The Smeg DCF01 Drip Coffee Machine is £179.95. www.smeguk.com 20 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Celebrate The Occasion AT HAMBLETON HALL
Birthdays, anniversaries and memorable dates are all worth celebrating in style and Hambleton Hall is just the place to recognise that special occasion. Overlooking Rutland Water, Hambleton Hall is one of Britain’s finest country house hotels and with crackling log fires and sumptuous decor it provides the perfect setting for celebrating or escaping to the country! Stay a night in an Intermediate, Superior, Master bedroom or The Croquet Pavilion with stunning views over Rutland Water.
This special occasion offer includes: • A Penhaligon’s “Blenheim Bouquet” classic candle • Seasonal fruit plate for your arrival • A glass of champagne to start the evening • Bouquet of flowers to take home • 6 course gourmet tasting menu with coffee & petit fours • Personalised dinner menus as a momento of the occasion • Full Hambleton breakfast & morning paper
From £300 per person per night based on two people sharing. Reservations are subject to a minimum two night stay at weekends but may be combined with a tariff rate for the second evening. This menu is inclusive of a discretionary service charge of 12.5%. To find out more or to book your stay visit www.hambletonhall.com
INSIDE-OUT LASER CLINICS IN MOUNTSORREL Inside-Out Laser Clinics in Mountsorrel is owned by Zoe and John Darkins. Zoe has over 13 years experience within the Laser, Aesthetic and skin care Industry, transforming and assisting clients to regain their confidence. Find out more about her exciting venture as her experienced team perform advanced treatments to help clients Feel Good On The Inside-Out. In 2005, Zoe decided it was time to change her career. She had been a Dental Nurse for over 15 years and began working for The UK's Leading Skin Clinic as a Senior Practitioner. Gaining over 13years experience, performing laser and aesthetic treatments and regularly working along side Doctors assisting with procedures.
LASER AND AESTHETIC CLINIC 6 Cromwell Road, Mountsorrel Loughborough, Leicestershire LE127EY www.inside-outlaserclinics.com info@inside-outlaserclinics.com
Zoe, Clinic Director and Senior Practitioner explains why she has chosen to use Lynton Laser "After endless researching I made the decision and choose The Lynton Lumina Laser, for me Lynton's Clinical experience within the NHS won me over. I believe I've made the best choice possible for my clinic and for my clients to achieve the best possible results". "This multi platform system enables us to treat using Intense Pulsed Light & Laser Light. We are able to treat the following skin concerns and conditions, Fine lines and wrinkles are reduced by stimulating the collagen and elastin production, Acne on the face and back is reduced by reducing the amount of P Acne bacteria produced, Facial Redness associated with Rosacea and Facial Thread Veins along with Leg Thread veins are reduced; Pigmentation on the face, décolletage and hands is reduced; Hair reduction on the face and body is also available, all PCOS clients receive an ongoing discount of 10% with a valid letter from their GP. Tattoo Removal for those who would like to try to achieve complete removal or in preparation for a cover up. Within the clinic also offers Crystal Clear microdermabrasion , Celluderm cellulite reduction and skin tightening, LED Light therapy ,along with our clinical Cytoceuticals product range and skin peel protocols." Before any treatment can go ahead a consultations is required, which is free of charge and carried out by one of our experienced practitioners. At this point a test patch can also go ahead which is a requirement before completing a full treatment. Your practitioner will guide you through your personalised treatment plan along with an after care plan for your skin type or condition. Zoe Said "I'm so pleased I've finally made the decision to offer my professional clinical experience within my very own clinic and I look forward to welcoming you into my clinic to start your journey" To find out more and to arrange your consultation please call us on 0116 237 444
ANTI-AGEING INJECTABLES Professor Owen Judd MRCP(Glas), FRCS, FRCS(ORL-NHS), FRSA, PGDipClinEd, DCH Regular Injectable clinics are held at inside-out Laser Clinics by Professor Owen Judd. Professor Owen Judd, ENT Specialist, Qualified in medicine from the University of Nottingham in 1998 and has a special interest in Facial Plastic Surgery and Facial Aesthetics. He has a wealth of experience carrying out facial rejuvenation procedures alongside hyperhidrosis, complex facial pain and migraine relief treatments and successfully treated over 1300 satisfied patients.
dluxe-magazine.co.uk 21
RETURN OF THE MAC
22 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
SPOTLIGHT.
I
In a fit of festive escapism, Curve theatre are turning up the nostalgia dials to overload this Christmas, reuniting old acquaintances and welcoming some new ones in from the cold with their production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Top of the tree is ex Hollyoaks heart throb and Strictly Come Dancing dish Danny Mac. We caught up with him to find out if he’s really Dreaming of a White Christmas. Sorry I’m a little out of breath, I’ve just finished a class in the gym, What class were you doing? Insanity, you have to be a little insane to do it but the good thing about it is it’s only half an hour so, you can burst it out. I mean it’s pretty intense for half an hour but its handy when you’ve not got much time you can just get it done and get out. You’ll have to find a class in Leicester; you’re becoming a bit of a local now; this is your third production with Curve isn’t it? I know it’s been years. It’s mad because there were a few options on the table and I’m in such a fortunate position that things do crop up, but this show was one of those things hovering about, and the thing is with Curve is that it’s such a fantastic theatre and I’ve never had anything but an excellent time there. And I don’t just mean in terms of fun and stuff, it’s just the quality of work that they produce and the nature of that building. It’s such a tough industry, the one we’re in, and it can be quite ruthless, quite horrible and you can do what seems to be the greatest jobs, but it turns out to be a nightmare because you’re not around the right people or around the right mindset. But Curve has always been from the top down, from Chris Stafford the CEO and Nikolai Foster the Artistic Director all the way down through to the people that work on the bar and sell programmes, everyone is just lovely including the audiences that come. If it had been a recast of White Christmas from last year or then I probably would’ve said no straight away but after the work, I’d done on Sunset Boulevard with Nikolai Foster (Artistic Director at Curve) the opportunity to work with him again on an all new production of a classic show was unmissable. I think the strength of your performance in Sunset Boulevard surprised a lot of people, did playing Joe Gillis seem like a big development in your career and your confidence as a stage performer? I think so. I went in with a different mentality. Legally Blonde at Curve was great, but it was my first show back in
theatre when I honestly told myself I was never going to do a musical again. Not that I dislike musicals, but they bloody terrify me and singing just was scary! I came out of college so confident and went straight into Wicked, the biggest show in London at the time and it was just a dream and then I got Hollyoaks and had this great time on TV, a crash course into drama and television which was so valuable for me. I didn’t sing for four years and didn’t intend on doing a musical again so when Nikolai came to me with Legally Blonde, I did it because I wasn’t doing anything else at the time in all honesty. When on the Town came up, I had a few months to prepare so I just got on with my singing lessons. I took all the classes I could take in fact, you know, dancing
I have seen some pictures of the set and it looks really, really grand, big and beautiful and I think it’s one of the most extravagant Christmas period shows that Curve has ever done. as well just so I could get myself back up to scratch because you can’t go out there and lead a show, especially at somewhere like Regents Park, and blag it ! So, it was down to me to put the work in, and I did and that whole thing was a long journey, it was a big dance show which I was already a step ahead because of Strictly, which I was grateful for, but then it was about getting the vocal up to scratch.
When I agreed to do Sunset that was just a continuation of that. Even throughout that tour, my voice strengthened. From the way I started to the way I finished, it was like two different people. So that was great, I feel like I’m always improving, I’m still taking lessons, I have one in a couple of hours in fact, you can’t stop in this game, I’m sure you know that. None of us can take it for granted and just assume that there is going to be jobs there that one, you’re going to be offered and two that you can actually achieve. Would you now say that the stage is where your heart is or are you still quite open? I genuinely love filming. I did Trollied last year which was a great, a God send because I managed to squeeze in a week’s filming before I went into Sunset and it was that actually, I hadn’t done any filming for a couple of years and I had done theatre and I remember it does feel like home with filming and with television, so I really do want to do that. Theatre will always be where my heart is though because it’s what made me want to be an actor, it was going into a theatre and watching live performance that really brought me in. Even if you made me do TV for the next ten years, I would cry out to do the right theatre piece and that’s kind of all I want to do is, if I’m doing theatre I don’t just want to do theatre for the sake of it or just because it’s the only job on the table. There’s a huge amount of stability isn’t there in being in a long-running show like Hollyoaks was it scary to give it up? It wasn’t at the time that I left, I mean I stayed in a year longer than I ever intended to, to be honest and it was that, it was the stability but also, I wanted to wait and get a good exit story and to you know plan that really. If I was going to leave when I wanted to, it would’ve been very quickly with like a month’s notice and then quickly, right now he’s gone. So, I wanted to give them a real good story and have a good last year, which I did. So, tell me about White Christmas. You’re playing Bob Wallis in the show and that means you’ve got the really big, Bing Crosby number. Yeah pressure! The good thing is I get that pretty much out the way right at the beginning and then it kind of comes back in as a big number right at the end so there’s not like any huge build up to it. They come, and they get what they want straight away. The show is an absolute classic, a big song and dance role which I haven’t really done before. ‘On The Town’ was very physical but there was only a couple of songs, whereas with White Christmas there are four or five proper big dluxe-magazine.co.uk 23
SPOTLIGHT.
Oliver Rayns Students are part of Oliver Rayns Estate Agents, an established Estate Agency based in Clarendon Park, Leicester
Student Landlords We provide the following services to all our clients: Monique Young as Judy Haynes
Dan Burton as Phil Davis
Emma Williams as Betty Haynes
choreographed pieces that I’m involved with extravagant Christmas period Let Only or Full Property Management Remarkable Ratesshows that in so much, much more. Curve has ever done. There’s some big And Stephen Mear is choreographing the show
old song and dance numbers and big dream-like sets that needs to be created that just appear out of nowhere. So we go from this festive cosy, intimate space expect at Christmas to these huge epic stages so it’s going to be quite exciting to see how he does it.
Range of Accommodation from Studio Apartments to Yes and he is superb. I’ve wanted to work 8+ Bedroom HMOs with Steven since, well, just after I left Wicked I did an audition and he was there and I did the worst audition of my life! He says he doesn’t remember but it was so bad I just hated myself and moved on thinking I’m never doing that again, don’t get me to sing me or dance, no more for me. It’s funny now he’s got me as one of his leading characters; hopefully I can redeem myself! in the next few months!
Specific Student Tenancy Agreements
You’re going to be in Leicester for all of the festive period, are you planning on racing home Christmas Eve straight after the matinee?
Tailored Advertising to University of Leicester and De Montfort University Students I will be. I will be racing straight back
down to the South Coast. I’ve got three siblings and all of us and our partners are spending it together this year- this is the year when we all come together as a family.
Have you started practising with your Large Development Block Management (10+ Units) cardigan and your pipe?
Not yet! I daren’t ever try and make too many bold decisions before I meet I’ll get back probably quite late Christmas If you own student accommodation close to Leicester’s universities please to contact us. Nikolai because, heremarkable may want to do Evethen and then we’llfeel havefree the whole of something completely different but I’m Christmas Day and I’ll have to be up very just starting to really dig into the script early on Boxing Day to do a matinee on now and do some ground work. The Boxing Day, I think. script is beautiful, but I’ve never seen a production of it and I’m really trying to So this year a White Christmas is the last thing avoid the movie until I speak to Nikolai, you want really! he may want us to have a feel of it so that we have a feel of what people are Yes, of course, Oh I never even gave that a expecting but at the same time I will have thought! I’ll find a way I’m sure. to make my own decisions first and then I’ll watch it afterwards. White Christmas runs at Curve until the I’ve seen some pictures of the set and th January. For more information and to it looks really, really grand, big and buy tickets, visit www.curveonline.co.uk, beautiful and I think it’s one of the most or call 0116 242 3595
WE ’ R E IN EXACTLY THE R I GHT POSI T I ON T O H E LP 01162 960 940
students@oliverrayns.com
115 Clarendon 24 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
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HER STYLE. 1
ANIMAL INSTINCT Time to change your spots; we’ve always loved Leopard...
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GIVE THE GIFT OF BEAUTY
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Put the oooh in to thank you with these Christmas beauty gift ideas. Whether it’s makeup miniatures, cult skincare, or high-end fragrances these gift sets are sure to delight all devotees of luxury.
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7 Espa Recover And Revive Collection, £50: Harnessing the potent power of essential oils in a specialist blend, including warming West Indian bay and clove bud oils as well as gentle lavender oil to soothe and calm.
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Estée Lauder Colour Portfolio, £65: Inspired by the hottest trends, this limited edition Colour Portfolio boasts 30 best-selling Pure Color Envy Eyeshadows, 12 Pure Color Envy Lip Colors and 6 Pure Color Envy Blushes.
8 Gucci Bloom Nettare di Fiori Eau de Parfum Intense Gift Set, £81: Intensely sensual and feminine, Gucci Bloom Nettare di Fiori blends rose and osmanthus flower together with the notes of the original Gucci Bloom. The set contains a 50ml EDP and a rollerball fragrance.
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1. Outfit By Skiim, 2. Leopard Print Silk Scarf £45. Mint Velvet, 3. Altuzarra Shadow Print Tote £2105 Selfridges, 4. Boden Aria Shearling Leopard Print Loafer £120 John-Lewis, 5. Abstract Animal Print Dress £169 Whistles, 6. Dress By Preen £199, Debenhams, 7. Faux Fur Animal Print Scarf £69, Hobbs, 8. Gloves £19.50, M&S Collection, 9. J By Jasper Conran £85, 10.Forever-Unique Green Velvet-Dress £165, Selfridges, 11. Alice And Olivia Kylie Leopard-Print Faux Fur Coat £815 Harvey Nichols, 12. Wrap Dress £36, Next.
Marc Jacobs Beauty Anything Go-Gos Gift Set, £18: From the new Holiday Collection, this limited-edition, travel-size gift set features the bestselling volumising mascara and longwear lipstick in a festive cracker. Fenty Beauty Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter Palette, £42: A limitededition palette of seven all-new hypermetallic Killawatt Foil highlighters in a range of frost-inspired shades designed to make all skin tones pop.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiance Gift Set, £25.50: Create your perfect radiant look with the iconic Touche Éclat; it helps to disguise dark circles whilst highlighting your best features without shimmer or glitter, giving a natural, luminous finish. 7: GHD Dry And Style Gift Set, £199: The perfect double act for the Christmas party season; featuring the professional Gold® Styler with dual-zone technology and the Air® Hairdryer, plus a protective heat mat. With these two tools, every look will be styled to perfection. dluxe-magazine.co.uk 27
HER STYLE.
SHIMMER SHINE & SPARKLE With the party season firmly upon us, what better time is there to reveal your inner glistening goddess with shine, shimmer and bit of sparkle? One of this season’s biggest trends and with a little help from your Fairy Clothes Mother, you’ll look like you’ve just stepped out of a magazine! Release your inner magpie and embrace all that glistens!
Embellishment is always a winter trend as its perfect for this time of the year. The high street is full of it so there’ll be no searching high and low, just make sure you pick out pieces that flatter your individual body shape, personality and of course budget. Remember what it’s all about girls… Accentuating the positives which naturally detract from the negatives…
ANY APPLES OUT THERE?…
So your problem areas are your bust and tummy, however you’ve got legs to die for, so what are we going to do? Show them off of course! The perfect party outfit for you would be a little sequin short dress with a pair of fantastic heels. Make sure though it does have some shape to it as we need to create you a waist wherever possible. This is the only time you can truly light up night-time dressing without feeling like your something out of Dallas! But if the shimmer, shine and sparkle is too much then grab that trusty LBD (Little Black Dress) out your wardrobe. This will also be the perfect antidote for office to party dressing. Wear to work with a pair of little flat pumps and then change into some fabulous jewel encrusted shoes, throw on a cocktail ring and some beautiful chandelier earrings. Go from work to wow!
PERFECTLY PEAR SHAPED?...
If it’s your legs you like to hide then go for a full length and fabulous frock or why not opt for a beautiful pair of evening trousers? If you are like most of the female population
and are pear shaped, then these are your saviour! Ultra flattering leg-lengthening, bum minimising trousers are a cause for celebration. Think wide leg or flare, high-waisted beautifully tailored trousers with skyscraper heels. Just be warned if you are doing a wide leg trouser then you must balance the volume out on the top and team them with a more fitted top half. A sequin or jewel encrusted top would be the perfect companion. Bang on trend and you can wear it afterwards to dress up a pair of jeans and a blazer.
HOURGLASS WITH CURVES IN ABUNDANCE?...
A dress really is the ticket to showcase an hourglass figure, make sure it is form fitting and doesn’t just hang, it needs to embrace those curves. If you want to get into the true festive spirit what better than a little red number? For a full on tonal look match your heels to your dress, this will also elongate your figure. If a dress isn’t really your thing then opt for some ladylike tailoring in the form of a pencil skirt. It is a must-have key wardrobe staple that will never date. Ensure it is strict form fitting and super sexy. Team with a beautiful silk blouse tucked in and some fabulous jewels.
STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN WITH NO LUMPS AND BUMPS?... You will either love or hate your athletic shape. Although you may find dressing hard you can get anyway with virtually anything and always
Outfit By Julian McDonald at Debenhams
look good in the latest looks and trends. With your boyish outline we need to create shape and interest with the use of clothing and accessories. You can get away with the biggest trends of extravagantly opulent over the top baroque, prints, embroidered, laden down with jewels, crystals and stones. You should also try shapes that give you a waist and hips. Don’t be afraid to mix up fabrics and finishes to add texture such as leather, lace or velvet to give it another dimension of depth and interest to your figure. Mix in sharp tailoring and a bit of swagger for an after-hours wardrobe with an edge. If you feel the need to add even more with the use of jewellery make sure it’s not dainty, as bold gems
are the way to accessorise this luxurious trend. Hair is the one thing that needs to remain sleek and unadorned. Think smooth, glossy and uncomplicated locks.
DO IT WITH ACCESSORIES!
It’s all about Bejewelling. Choose accessories with lashings of gold and coloured stones for maximum impact. Opulent sparkle and sumptuous glitz will always be a winter trend!
WANT TO INVEST IN SOME PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE? Remember we all need help because looking good doesn’t just happen, and it’s the stylish ones that ask for it!
Working as a Buyer and Image Consultant for high street fashion chains as well as high end designers, including Amanda Wakeley, Cleo now runs her own personal styling and shopping service, helping real men and women to take control of their wardrobe. E: cleolacey@demi-couture.co.uk W: www.demi-couture.co.uk Facebook: Demi Couture Twitter: @cleolacey Instagram: DemiCoutureStylist 28 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
SPECIAL FEATURE
allergies my whole life and trying to find a product, firstly that suits my skin but secondly that doesn’t contain potentially harmful ingredients was truly frustrating. I started experimenting with naturally derived ingredients at home over 10 years ago. Fast forward to 2018 I decided that I wanted to grow that side of the business and develop a brand and a product that had a message of change.
A CUT ABOVE Established in 2014, Gavin Taylor Hair is a multi-award nominated salon in Rothley that is a cut above the rest. The man himself Gavin Taylor talks exclusively to Dluxe Leicestershire & Rutland about what sets him apart from other salons in the county. Tell us a little bit about the history of the salon, I understand it has been up and running for four years now? We’ve just celebrated our fourth year in business and we couldn’t be happier. The salon was a disused electrical contractors which myself, family and friends ripped out back to four walls and started from scratch including a full
rewire and plumbing. The building itself started its life as a dairy/store for the local farm over 100 years ago so we uncovered some beautiful
features which you can now see as part of our décor. Most of the structure and fixtures and fittings were assembled from antique furniture to Indonesian driftwood, making the salon incredibly sustainable. We are very proud of what we single handedly achieved. What can clients expect from the Gavin Taylor experience? You can expect to feel totally welcome as if you had walked into an old friend’s house. The team are super friendly and you feel part of the family instantly. Our aim is to give you realistic goals with your hair and we always make sure our appointment times are longer so that we can provide the same high level of service to every client, every time ensuring that you leave us feeling fabulous! What sets you apart from any other hair salons in Leicester? We tend not to follow the
celebrity culture and instead focus on the real. You, me, representing real people and providing hairstyles that create confidence and belief as well as inspiring everyone that steps foot into our salon that anything is possible. What is your background – where did you train? Starting out in the catering industry I’ve had a varied career which has given me the experience and knowledge I have today. I trained at Toni & Guy in the City which gave me the confidence to grow as a hairdresser and my personality grew tenfold. Where do you see yourself – and the business – in five years? I would like to be teaching life skills and business to schools across the county whilst still cutting hair. And I’d like our business to be making headlines for the cause of so much change, including the reduction in single use plastic use and waste. Your own hair product brand, No Ordinary encompasses this change, can you tell us a bit more about the idea behind it. I have suffered from skin
This is a huge passion of mine, our products, ‘No Ordinary’ are made from 99% naturally derived ingredients. They are biodegradable with refillable bottles which we encourage consumers to use and fully recyclable material when it comes to the end of its life. Our products are also cruelty free, vegan, sustainable and can change the way you use your cosmetics. What is your favourite thing about Leicestershire and why? The amazing countryside and outdoor space. Seriously, everything is on our doorstep and we need to be proud and patriotic towards our County. What would be your advice to people who are trying to start their own businesses and are struggling? Firstly, find your passion. If you think there isn’t money in it, there is, trust me. If people can now make money showing videos of cats then you can do just about anything if you are passionate enough about the reason you are doing it in the first place. I’d recommend the book Start with the Why? by Simon Sinek, this changed the direction of my life. Gavin Taylor Hair, 10 Fowke Street, Rothley, Leicestershire, LE7 7PJ Tel: 0116 2302071 www.gavintaylorhair.uk
HIS STYLE. 1
DRESS IT UP It’s time to stop dusting off that old DJ. Invest instead in something with a little sparkle for the party season.
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PERFECTLY
KISSABLE SKIN A flawless complexion isn’t just ‘for the girls’ ... especially if you’re expecting one of those mistletoe moments! Polish up your act and get the most kissable skin in time for the festive party season with our pick of the best moisturising products.
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cell turn-over to help diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of ageing.
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1. Outfits By Burtons. 2. Cherub Print Shirt £32, River Island. 3. Cherub Print Trousers £35, River Island. 4. Velvet Suit Jacket £90, Next. 5. Versus Versace Watch £220 Harvey Nichols. 6. Versace Black Medusa Leather Belt £290 Harvey Nichols. 7. Steel Shirt Armbands £10. John Lewis. 8 .Jaquard Bomber Jacket £279, Ted Baker. 9.Floating Star Emblem Cufflinks £325 Montblanc. 10. Tom Ford Metallic Jacket £2495 Selfridges. 11. Gold Embroidered Blazer £90, River Island. 12. Kin Velvet Dress Jacket Emerald £119, John Lewis. 13. Eton Metallic Pocket Square £45 Selfridges 14. Glitter Party Loafer £40 Next. 15. Patent Oxford-Shoes Metallic-Grey £120 Ted Baker. 16.Paisley Pocket Square £10, Next. 17. Burgundy Floral Blazer £75 Burton.
A true British skincare icon, Elemis Time For Men ProCollagen Marine Cream, £58, combines ground-breaking marine actives with cuttingedge science. It delivers positive, visible results, and is specifically formulated for men’s needs. Longlasting, highly nourishing and ultraconditioning, Malin+Goetz Lip Moisturiser, £11, is a moisture-rich gel that deeply hydrates and actively heals dry, chapped or cracked lips. The clear, non-sticky finish leaves lips soft, soothed and comforted. Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Solutions Moisturiser, £36, uses a gentle, time-release form of glycolic acid for a fresh, youthfullooking complexion. The advanced deep skin-renewing action increases
For a lightweight moisturiser that deeply hydrates, ESPA’s Balancing Hydrator, £40, is the ideal addition to your daily routine. White thyme, sage and Irish moss help clarify, hydrate and regulate oil production while vitamin C-rich lemon tones and protects for a smooth, supple finish. House 99 Greater Look Face Moisturiser, £22, helps reduce shine and enhance your skin’s natural radiance. Its multi-effect formula also hydrates and protects the skin from pollution. Simply apply a pennysized amount morning and night to clean skin.
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HIS STYLE.
GET HOT IN THE POD
OVERNIGHT SUCCESS Packing for the Christmas trip home just got more interesting thanks to the rugged new Canvas and Leather collection from premium business bag manufacturer, Buckle and Seam. Beautifully crafted out of canvas for light yet durable bags, the new collection still utilises their signature grain brown leath¬er for a refined and casual aesthetic. From the minimalist Morris Backpack £147, the cabin friendly Willow Duffel Bag at £200 and Bruno Dopp Bag at £49 that allows easy access to toiletries thanks to its double zip flap.
Available in Blue or khaki, you can also personalise your bags with a choice of seven inner lining options, including dots, blue and sporty red blue stripes as well as exterior monogramming options. The bags are available exclusively from buckleandseam.com 32 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Based in the heart of the city on Pocklington’s Walk, Hotpod Yoga is yoga like you’ve never seen before. Refreshing and impactful, the hot vinyasa flow classes are grounded in reality so whether you’re there to work off a hangover, clear an over-stimulated mind or open-up an office-bound body, Hotpod Yoga delivers and guarantees to leave you with a (slightly sweaty) smile on your face. There was a time when the terms ‘rugby’ and ‘yoga’ would never appear in the same sentence – but now the Harlequins and England Rugby, to name a few, indulge in Hotpod Yoga sessions to improve player flexibility, recovery and create a relaxed mindset ahead of a game. In the ever-evolving world of professional sport, where physical demands on the bodies of athletes are now at all time high – it’s fair to say that perception of yoga is changing rapidly. The pods are heated to 37 degrees to help melt you deeper into your practice whilst being carefully and personally guided through a flow of active and passive postures to open the body, work the heart and calm the mind in equal measure. Classes are designed to encourage customers to adopt a ‘yoga designed for real life’, leaning away from today’s stereotype of bendy Instagram goddesses and green juice guzzlers! Instead customers are encouraged to adopt a yoga centred around their life; releasing the cyclist’s hamstring, realign the childbearing arm – helping you to be the best version of you. There are no mirrors so there’s no egos, the pod is dimly lit so many people feel more comfortable and the heavenly smell of bergamot, lavender and orange aids relaxation. Once the pod is zipped up your mind literally relaxes and unwinds. Classes are suitable for complete beginners, everyone can do it and with the heat it becomes a supercharged-yoga experience- just give it a go! Mention ‘hotdluxe’ when booking your class online to try a session for free. Ready to give Hotpod Yoga a try? Get 10 days of unlimited yoga for £15! Book via their website www.hotpodyoga.com
TREND EDIT: GET KNITTED!
Time was when the Christmas jumper was little more than a seasonal joke but now men’s knitwear is fashion’s biggest story for AW18 ... and it’s a trend that will last a lot longer than the mince pies and turkey sandwiches! Comfy knits are the perfect antidote to all the black tie glamour of the fast approaching party season, here’s our pick of this season’s jumpers.
Alexander McQueen Argyle wool-blend jumper, £850
Givenchy logo-intarsia wool jumper, £505
McQ Alexander McQueen embroidered jumper, £350.
Moncler Genius 1952 logointarsia wool jumper, £350
Kenzo dragon-embroidered wool jumper, £325.
Norse Projects Birnir Fair Isleknit wool jumper, £180
Maison Margiela Fair Isle Argyleknit wool jumper, £455.
Polo Ralph Lauren crest logointarsia wool jumper, £345.
Step into the pod, zipping the world away, turning your gaze inward. Emerge looser, relaxed; but somehow energised; supercharged. MEE T T HE P OD A ND E X PERIENCE T HE IMMER SION – ON US. USE HOT DLUX E AT CHECKOU T W HEN SEL EC T ING A SINGL E CL A SS PA SS First Floor, 5 Pocklingtons Walk, Leicester, LE1 6BT H O T P O DYO G A .CO M / U K / L E I C E S T E R
@hotpodyogaleicester
@hotpodyoga_leicester
MOTORS.
It’s quite the fashion, The Con Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Britain, the new third-generation Bentley Continental GT combines spirited, focused performance with handcrafted luxury and cutting-edge technology. Credited as the pinnacle of Bentley’s design and engineering achievements, at the heart of the new Continental GT sits an all-new, enhanced version of Bentley’s renowned 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 TSI engine, mated, for the first time, to a dual-clutch eight-speed transmission, for faster, more efficient gear changes. A new, technically advanced, adaptive chassis uses Bentley’s intelligent 48-volt Dynamic Ride System to ensure a responsive ride and exceptional handling and refinement in all road conditions making the car feel effortlessly precise. The muscular exterior design envelopes 34 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
four seats and improved luggage capacity for genuine real-world usability. While the Continental GT retains the classic elegance that made its forebear so popular, the form of the new car is more sculptural and sharply defined and takes much of its inspiration from the critically acclaimed EXP 10 Speed 6 concept car. It’s a bold new vision that is unmistakably Bentley. The profile is longer and lower, due in part to the positioning of the front wheels 135 mm further forward, which in turn allows the bonnet to be extended and the nose to be lowered. This styling process allows for the to be positioned further back which in turn improves weight distribution, resulting in driver-focused, dynamic performance. The key signature lines of the original Continental still dominate, with the ‘power line’ travelling from the headlights to the muscular rear haunch where jewel like, cut
glass effect ellipse shaped taillights now reflect the silhouette of the exhaust tail pipes below them. The jewel like lighting is continued upfront with head lamps featuring sharply defined edges that catch the light like a diamond resulting in the look of an illuminated gem – an effect which is magnified when the optional welcome sequence gradually illuminates the headlights as you approach the car. The new Continental GT has 21” wheels as standard and a class-leading portfolio of 17 exterior paint colours to choose from – carefully selected to complement the character and lines of the car. In addition, a limited extended range of colours will be offered at launch, as well as the option of full bespoke colour-matching for Bentley customers.
The third side on the Bentley Rotating Display reveals three elegant analogue dials displaying outside temperature, a compass and chronometer- it’s all very James Bond! Luckily though the 20-way adjustable seats in the new Continental GT do not feature an ejector option but do set new industry standards in comfort and refinement. Smooth centre panels allow maximum efficiency for the cooling, heating and massage functions, while the bolsters retain the signature Bentley quilting.
ntinental Inside the luxurious cabin is packed with exquisite details and showcases major technology evolutions for the brand including an advanced, fully digital, driver-focused instrument panel and a 12.3” touchscreen housed in a three-sided revolving unit. At first glance there appears to be no screen in the centre of the dashboard; the veneer flows uninterrupted across the dashboard, while a thin chrome bezel behind the steering wheel surrounds a digital instrument display. When the engine start button is pressed, however, the veneer in the middle of the dashboard glides silently forward and rotates to reveal Bentley’s largest-ever touchscreen, a 12.3” retina-quality digital MMI display, elegantly designed by Bentley with a customer-configurable home screen with three windows able to display the driver’s preferred functions, for example, navigation, media and telephone.
A choice of three audio systems is offered in the new Continental GT ranging from the standard 10 speakers and 650 Watts, a middle offering Bang & Olufsen 1,500 W, 16-speaker system with illuminated speaker grilles and BeoSonic system all the way to a Naim 2,200 W, 18-speaker system with Active Bass Transducers built into the front seats and eight sound modes for the true audiophile. In order to ensure optimal audio enjoyment, laminated acoustic glass is used for the windscreen and side windows, resulting in a nine-decibel reduction in exterior noise ingress versus the outgoing model. Under the bonnet the enhanced 6.0-litre, W12 TSI engine that sets a new benchmark in performance with the unique ‘W’ configuration meaning that the engine is 24 per cent shorter than an equivalent V12, benefitting weight distribution and maximising usable cabin space. The new powertrain uses the very latest engine management technology, with 300 million software calculations per second. It produces 635 PS (626 bhp) and 900 Nm (664 lb.ft.) of torque, and accelerates the new Continental GT to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds (0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds), and on to a top speed of 333 km/h (207 mph)*. A dedicated Sport Launch mode delivers maximum acceleration through careful clutch pressure sensing and pre-loading when a race-style start is required by the driver whilst a new dual-mass flywheel replaces the torque converter, to dampen out the oscillations of the driveline and provide a fittingly smooth power delivery for luxury touring. The dual-clutch eight-speed transmission provides smooth acceleration, and
impressively quick gearshifts, as well as improved combined fuel economy (23.2 mpg versus the previous model’s 19.9 mpg) and a new Active All-Wheel-Drive System replaces the traditional 40:60 power delivery split between front and rear wheels respectively, instead varying the front-to-rear torque split dependent upon the driving situation. A lack of compromise between handling and ride is ensured by Bentley Dynamic Ride system that controls and adjusts the electronic actuators on the anti-roll bar of each axle and so improves handling and ride comfort, making the car feel lighter and more precise. This system instantly counteracts lateral rolling forces when cornering and ensures maximum tyre-to-road contact to deliver class-leading ride comfort and exceptional handling. Different pre set modes can be selected: Comfort, Bentley or Sport mode; the suspension, engine, gearbox and other chassis systems will modify to match the selected drive mode. Alternatively, the driver can personalise his or her own dynamic settings. The air suspension system offers the scope to vary from sporting spring stiffness to luxury limousine refinement depending upon which mode the driver has selected whilst the Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) improves feedback to the driver, while providing isolation from unwanted road disturbances ensuring the Continental GT remains a true driver’s car. Pricing for the new Continental GT starts at £156,700. Visit www.bentley.co.uk to build your perfect Bentley; we’ve chosen ours! dluxe-magazine.co.uk 35
LIVING.
DEBENHAMS 36 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
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COLOURFUL CHRISTMAS
This Christmases’ interior schemes have gone colour crazy with Rainbow Brights, Retro Americana and Day of the Dead inspired decorations to adorn your tree. Whether you’re replacing your old bashed baubles or if you’re wanting to add a little more shine to the star at the top of the tree, it’s time to go for bold and brighten up your home with some colourful holiday cheer!
WILKOS dluxe-magazine.co.uk 37
SPECIAL FEATURE
LIVING
A YEAR IN PROPERTy: What does 2019 have in store?
Berkley Estate & Letting Agents is an independent company that operates throughout Leicestershire dealing with sales, lettings, management, agriculture, commercial, planning consultancy and mortgage advice. First established in 2005, they expanded their business by opening what is now their head office in the West End of Leicester in 2008. After three successful years of trading and a growing number of their clients requesting that they handle country and village properties in South Leicestershire they opened their office in Kibworth Beauchamp. As 2018 draws to a conclusion, Agency Director Scott Burrows looks back on what has been a challenging year for the housing market. 2018 has seen a shortage of properties coming to the market for sale which has led to an absence of the traditional Spring and Autumn spikes in activity. Many homeowners are choosing to extend their 38 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
property rather than move and for many investors the low Bank of England base rate means that retaining their investments is the more attractive option than selling. According to Hometrack figures from October 2018; whilst house prices nationally have risen by 3.2%, six cities have increased by at least 6%, of those six cities the highest price increase has been seen in Leicester with an increase of 7.7%. This is down to a number of factors, one of which is that we are seeing buyers moving out of London and opting to buy in Leicester due to the transports links and their perceived value for money compared to London. We expect that due to the changes in the tax relief rules for landlords some will look to sell their properties in the coming year, this will mean extra properties entering the sale market that should will attract interest from residential buyers and also fellow investors, many of which may opt to buy via a limited company transaction as it can offer greater tax and financial efficiencies. The rental market continues to be buoyant as there is also a lack of available properties. Rental prices continued to rise this year, particularly in Leicester city centre, and
landlords are encouraged to review the rents they are receiving to ensure they are in line with current market rates. In summary, we see next year’s market to be broadly similar, what it does means though is that if you want to sell or let out a property you should be in a strong position to do so as investors are still looking to buy, home movers are always there and tenants still have shortage. Berkley are an independent Estate & Letting Agent with decades of experience managing, advising on and selling properties throughout the County. Their company ethos is to value their customers above all else and provide a personal service you’ll only get from a local, independent business. Couple this with a pro-active approach and customers are left with an experience that is second to none. To find out more about marketing or managing your property, contact Berkley Estates on 75 Hinckley Road, Leicester, LE3 0TD T: 0116 2544755, E: leicester@ berkleyestates.co.uk or 3 Station Street, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire, LE8 0HN T: 0116 279 6161 E: kibworth@ berkleyestates.co.uk
ESTATE & LETTING AGENTS
Two Offices, One Great Service
LEICESTER OFFICE
KIBWORTH OFFICE
75 Hinckley Road, Leicester LE3 0TD
3 Station St, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicester LE8 0HN
0116 254 4755
0116 279 6161
Whether you are looking to sell or to let your property, we are well placed to help you.. berkleyestates.co.uk
LIVING: GIFT GUIDE 5
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1. Wonder Woman Door Stop, £16,shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk 2. Lictchenstein Whaam! Cushion Cover, £20 from shop.tate.org.uk 3. Chatty Feet Socks £7.95 chattyfeet.com 4.Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous Eau De Parfum 50ml £218 Selfridges 5. Sequin Pom Pom Hat, £12, Next 6. AfterShokz Trekz Titanium, £99.99, aftershokz.co.uk 7. Christmas Flocking (Sheepskin Stocking), £65, Baastool.co.uk 8. Brick Vase Flower, £33.95. Design World LTD 9. Ted Baker HARA Heart Pendant £29 10. Classic Service Bell-£4.95 Rex London. 11. VogueXMusic Coffee Table Book £50 12. Iris Set of 3 Ring Cones, White Marble £16. MADE 13. Port & Cranberry Truffles £15, Heal’s 14. Legendary Ladies Book £14.99 15. Kenza Marble Printed Leather Purse £85, LK Bennett.
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16. All I Want for Christmas cotton jersey sweatshirt £35 Selfridges. 17. Real Flower iPhone case, £19.99, shopflavr. com 18. Unicorn Cup, £4 Flying Tiger 19. Chain drop earrings, £8.50, Next 20. LOccitane Cherry Blossom Bauble £12 Debenhams 21. Olivia Burton Celestial Demi Dial gold-plated watch £105 Harvey Nichols 22. Sonos One Hay Ltd Colour Edition £229 23. Loewe Mouse pink leather coin purse £295 Harvey Nichols 24. Bullseye Carnival Light, £52.00, shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk 25. Roku Japanese Gin 26. Jingle Berry Scented Candle 27. Pure Evoke DAB CD Radio 28. Marrons Glaces Montemarano Chestnuts £22.50 29.Arbonne Pampermint Sock Gift Set £19.99
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LIVING: GIFT GUIDE
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1. Tommy Jumper £90 Harvey Nichols, 2. Ted Baker ‘M’ Empor, £15, Available From The Perfume Shop 3. Playstation Coasters, £10, Debenham 4. Jam Sound Wood Turntable £59.99, Hmv 5. Buckle-And-Seam Cali Business Brief £229 6. Sennheiser Momentum Wireless Headphones £199, Sevenoaks Sound And Vision 7. Jingle Christmas Jumper, £30, Available From River Island 8. Barbour Paisley Handkerchiefs £19.95 English Brands 9. 12-Inch-Black-Record-Cover-Frame-£9.95, Rex London 10. Alexander Mcqueen Skull-Print Modal
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And Silk-Blend Scarf £265 Harvey Nichols 11. Action Camera, £40, Available From Debenhams 12. Fifty Beer Games 13. Gentlemans-Back-Scratcher-And-Shoehorn-£4.95 Dotcom Gift Shop 14. Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Multi Tool £56.99 15. Star Wars R2d2 Travel Mug £12 16.Mens Society Damn Handsome Beard Grooming Gift Kit 26.99 Burrows & Hare 17. Vivienne Westwood Vw Orb Silver £49.99 Daniel Footwear 18. Gentleman’s-Chest-Expander-£14.95. Rex London. 19. Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur £30 20. Langley’s England Old Tom Gin. £25 Ocado 21. David Bowie Door Stop £16, Shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk 22. Metal Led Light Up Star, £12, Wilko 23.Moustache Doormat £15.95, Design My World
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LIVING: GIFT GUIDE
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1. Toy Grabber With Led And Sound, £25 Flying Tiger 2. Sphero Mini- App Enabled Robotic Ball £49.99.3. Roald Dahl Chocolate Library £48 Rococo Chocolates. 4 .Gummy Bear Night Light - £25 - National Theatre Bookshop - Shop.nationaltheare.org.uk 5. Bag Of Riddim 2 Bluetooth Speaker £149.99. Hmv 6. Lumie- Bed Bug Children’s Sleep Aid Night Light £49.99 7. Animal Toy Wooden Blocks - £35 - Tate Shop - Shop.tate.org.uk 8. Tech-Will-Save-Us-Electro-Machines-Kit-34.99 9. Anki-Cozmo-Robot-179.99. 10. Houseoffraser - John Adams Rubik’s 3X3 £16 11. Peacock Led Light, £4 Flying Tiger 12. Pack Of Gold Playing Cards £4.95 Waddingtons. 13. Portable Bluetooth Speaker Jbl Go2, £29.99, Uk.jbl.com 14. Tabletop-10-Pin-Bowling-Game-£6.95 REx London. 15. Multi 3D Unicorn Slippers (Older), £13, Available From Next 16. Alarm Clock,£20, Available From Debenhams 17. Dickie Toys Action-Series Mountain Rescue £15. 18. Paddington-Bear-Bean-Soft-Toy £9.99 John Lewis 19. Christmas Pudding Ballerina Socks, £4.99, Available From New Look
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SPECIAL FEATURE
LIVING.
Building a property portfolio aimed at Students with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme in our separate client deposit accounts.
3. What type of tenancy agreement do the students sign? We’ve created bespoke tenancy agreements that are tailored towards student tenancies, providing Landlords with guarantees that there should be no grey areas when it comes to rights and wrongs during and after the tenancy.
4. What other guaranties can you provide that the tenants will pay their rent? Each student tenancy will require either the total year’s rent paying upfront or a legal guarantor per tenancy. The guarantor is there to provide Landlords peace of mind that rent will always be collected and any damage can be covered.
5. Is my property checked on during the tenancy? All managed properties will have periodic inspections carried out by our property manager with a written report as evidence of the condition of the property sent directly to Landlords.
6. What happens at the end of a tenancy? Here is Leicester, we are blessed with two world-class universities and a corresponding student population that’s expected to breach 40,000 full time students in 2019. Whilst the universities are scrambling around to build more and more student accommodation, demand outstrips supply, so there remains a buoyant student residential market in the city and suburbs. Renting to students comes with its own positives and negatives – we probably all remember being students at some point, so know how student digs can be like its very own microcosm – but like with anything, treat your student well and they will, by and large, treat your property with respect, too. We’ve met with Oliver Rayns from Oliver Rayns Estate Agents, who benefit from a complete division Oliver Rayns Student dedicated to the management of student properties. 46 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Here at Oliver Rayns, we are specialists in handling student properties – be that portfolios, or individuals with a single buy-to-let. As with any good agency, it’s our job to take any stress from your shoulders. It’s our job to represent you and we pride ourselves on treating each property as if it was our own.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE KEY QUESTIONS WE ASK EVERY WOULDBE TENANT ON YOUR BEHALF: 1. Why choose Oliver Rayns Students over other agents? At OR Students, we have built ever growing links with both of Leicester’s Universities, this generates fantastic leads, which helps to guarantee each Landlord’s property gets seen by students as soon as they start looking for next year’s accommodation.
2. Do you take deposits and references? We ensure that all tenancies have valid, detailed references from their previous tenancies and holding deposits are collected as soon as possible. All our managed properties’ deposits are secured
We carry out a final checkout inspection which compares the state of the property with the initial opening inventory. If the property is in the same condition as the start of the tenancy, we will return the tenant’s deposit / tenant’s deposits. Should there be some discrepancies then we will endeavour to rectify any issues, always keeping the Landlord informed, every step of the way.
7. With all of the new student development projects around Leicester, should Landlords be worried about getting their properties let? We’ve been asked this question by several new Landlords and have provided valuable advice on what they should/ shouldn’t do to ensure their student properties are let for the foreseeable future. If you have any concerns or want to know a little more, please get in touch with us. If you have a student property that you wish to let, please feel free to give the team at Oliver Rayns a call on 0116 296 0940 or email us at students@ oliverrayns.com
Oliver Rayns Students are part of Oliver Rayns Estate Agents, an established Estate Agency based in Clarendon Park, Leicester
Student Landlords We provide the following services to all our clients: Let Only or Full Property Management with Remarkable Rates Range of Accommodation from Studio Apartments to 8+ Bedroom HMOs Specific Student Tenancy Agreements Tailored Advertising to University of Leicester and De Montfort University Students Large Development Block Management (10+ Units) If you own student accommodation close to Leicester’s remarkable universities then please feel free to contact us.
W E ’R E IN EXACTLY T HE R I GHT POSI T I ON T O H E LP 01162 960 940 students@oliverrayns.com
www.oliverrayns.com/students
115 Clarendon Park Road, Clarendon Park, Leicester, LE2 3AH
TRAVEL.
48 hours in Ag
Agadir, a new destination available from Birmingham Airport, is a beautiful city resort on the southern coast of Morocco, with temperatures averaging around 24 degrees. This destination not only offers warm sunny days but also boasts a busy port and stunning beach resorts sprawling beneath its Kasbah. Having been rebuilt after a major earthquake in the 1960s, Agadir is a modern resort with contemporary architecture and colourful and vibrant Moroccan street life. Offering boutique shops, an array of restaurants offering both authentic and modern cuisines, and scenic golf courses, it is perfect for those seeking a mix of sun and culture.
AGADIR BEACH… SURFS UP! Agadir is well known for its six-mile crescent shaped beach where you can hit the waves at Devil’s Rock, Imsouane Bay or Anchor Point. Why not book a lesson at one of the many schools and camps to get you started? Devil’s Rock is best suited to 48dluxe-magazine.co.uk
intermediate-level surfers whilst Anchor Point is more of a challenge and should only be frequented by experienced surfers. If you’re not into water sports then take advantage of the warm climate, soak up the sun and relax on one of Agadir’s beautiful beach resorts.
HISTORY KASBAH Immerse yourself in true Agadir culture and visit the Kasbah, built in 1540. Referred to by locals as Agadir Oufella, it was once home to over 300 people. All that remains now of the old Kasbah are the fortified walls. However, the trip up the hill to this historic site is worth it for the view alone. Take in views of the city, its mosques, the crescent bay and the mountains. Engraved into the hill in Arabic are the words God, King and Country. If you are interested in history, you can easily find a professional guide here to take you on a tour and explain the significance of these three words to the Moroccan people.
SHOPPING SOUK AL-HAD If you’re ready to barter, visit Agadir’s walled souk to pick up some traditional Moroccan souvenirs including spices, soaps, jewellery and textiles. You’ll be sure
SPECIAL FEATURE
adir
CULTURE & ARCHITECTURE Start your day at the Mohammed V mosque. Although closed to non-Muslims, the exterior of the building alone is worth a look with its striking appearance. From here, make your way to La Médina d’Agadir, an interesting reconstruction of a typical Moroccan Berber village. Constructed using traditional building techniques and local materials, stroll the alleys and browse the small boutiques, amongst the bustling and colourful market. Grab lunch on the move from one of the fish stalls beside the port. It is a great place to stop for some freshly caught sea food, cooked in front of you as you wait and served with warm, freshly baked bread. In the afternoon, pop by the Valley of the Birds, a small park home to aviaries housing a variety of exotic birds and then head down to the beautiful marina, located south of the main port. Built in 2008, it is made up of fresh produce markets and is perfect for a stroll in the afternoon sun. The city is compact so is easy to get around on foot. That said, there are ‘petit taxis’ in abundance at very cheap rates if you do fancy giving your feet a rest after a day of walking around the sites.
GOLF
to find locals stocking up on fresh produce from the souk including the ripest tomatoes and freshest of herbs. If you take a taxi to the Souk al-Had you should ask for it by name, since some taxi drivers take you to their own personal souk.
Agadir boasts three different golf clubs, so for those keen golfers it is definitely worth paying a visit to at least one of the popular clubs. The Agadir Royal Golf Club, with 9 holes is the oldest one, founded in 1951, while the other two, Les Duned Golf Club and Le Soleil Golf Club, opened in the 1990’s. The climate in Agadir is perfect for golfing year-round.
GETTING THERE Get there with Air Arabia… flying twice a week to Agadir, in Southern Morocco. Just 4 hours away from shopping in the Souk, teeing off on scenic golf courses, relaxing on the crescent beach or embarking on a desert adventure with a caravan of camels, you will not be short of things to do and places to see! Fly from Birmingham Airport from just £49 one way including taxes. Book now at www. airarabia.com.
DINING.
PERFECT PARTY CANAPES ‘Tis the season and all that so if, like us, your planning a seasonal soiree or two these bitesize treats should go down a treat!
VEGAN MINI SHALLOT BHAJIS WITH MINTED YOGURT Makes: about 16 mini bhajis FOR THE BHAJIS: 400g shallots, thinly sliced 1 tsp salt 175g gram flour (chickpea flour) 1 long red chilli, finely sliced 1 tbsp nigella (black onion seeds) 1/2 tsp turmeric about 200ml cold water vegetable oil, for deep frying FOR THE MINTED YOGHURT: 200g coconut yoghurt or dairy-free yoghurt 4 sprigs mint, leaves picked and chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed salt and freshly ground black pepper METHOD:
CRANBERRY TURKEY BURGER WITH CRANBERRY AND PECAN SAUCE Makes: 4 large burgers or 10 canapé size burgers FOR THE BURGERS 500g turkey mince 2 shallots, peeled and finely chopped 75g fresh cranberries, roughly chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 100g rolled oats 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped oil
FOR THE CRANBERRY AND PECAN SAUCE 250g fresh cranberries 100ml maple syrup juice and grated zest of 1 orange 25g pecans TO SERVE 4 large baps or 10 mini rolls mayonnaise lettuce
METHOD: Place all the ingredients for the burgers into a large bowl, mix together and press into either 4 large patties or 10 small ones. Place on a tray and refrigerate for at least half an hour. Place the cranberries, maple syrup and orange juice and zest into a saucepan, bring to a simmer and cook until softened and syrupy, then add the pecans. Cook the burgers either in a griddle or frying pan in a little oil, over a medium heat for approximately 10-12 minutes on each side for the large ones and 5-7 minutes for the small ones. Make sure to check they are cooked through and piping hot. Serve in warm baps or mini rolls spread with mayonnaise, topped with a little lettuce and a good spoonful of the cranberry and pecan sauce. Cooks Tip: To make a version from left-over turkey simply chop or mince left over dark and white cooked turkey meat, add some breadcrumbs and a beaten egg or a little mayonnaise to bind, form into patties and fry until golden and piping hot. Serve as above with the cranberry and pecan sauce. 50 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Add the shallots to a mixing bowl and sprinkle over the salt, stirring well to mix. Set aside for a few minutes to allow the salt to slightly soften the shallots. Mix up the dip by adding the yogurt, mint, garlic and salt and pepper to a small bowl, stirring well to mix. Set aside. Add the flour, chilli, nigella seeds and turmeric to the shallots, stirring well to combine. Stir through just enough water to bring the mixture together so a thick batter forms around the shallots, about 200ml. Set aside to rest whilst you heat up the oil. Set your deep fat fryer for 180°C or pour enough vegetable oil into a large deep saucepan so that it forms a 4-5cm layer. Turn on the heat and bring the oil up to 180°C, using a meat or jam thermometer to measure the temperature. When the oil is hot enough, use a heaped teaspoon to scoop up the bhaji mix, then use another teaspoon to slide the mixture directly into the oil, working with care so the oil doesn’t splash. Repeat until you have added about 4-6 bhajis and fry for about 3-4 minutes until crisp and golden, carefully flipping over with a palate knife halfway through cooking. Scoop out with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper whilst you repeat with the rest of the mixture. As soon as all the bhajis are cooked, serve with the bowl of minted yogurt.
REVIEWED: queen victoria arts club
Recently I was able to say the phrase I’ve been rehearsing for a lifetime: “If you need me, I’ll be at my club.” Well I was for one night! writes dluxe dining correspondent Lisa Delahoy as she samples the delights of The Queen Victoria Arts Club. There’s something about the Cultural Quarter that fills me with anticipation that something really exciting is about to happen and this night didn’t disappoint. It was a mild autumnal evening when we arrived in Rutland Street. The bars were buzzing and crowds of eager theatre goers piled into the Curve for a musical feast. It’s that time of year when Christmas parties and girly nights out are in full swing. Opposite the Curve is Victoria House. A six storey, Victorian gothic, recently restored, imposing building. On the ground and basement levels is Leicester’s newest and completely unique venue. As you enter you feel the history of the place surround youwith crisp black and white tiles and sparkling glass reflecting the street lights. Straight ahead is a wall with a floral image reminiscent of an old Dutch master. We were greeted at the front desk and escorted into the public dining room. No need for the full
membership here, you can just walk in and enjoy some tasty treats. We were offered the evening menu or the pre-theatre set menu. This was an opportunity to try the three course dinner for just £21 ( two courses £18). We made our choices and sat back to absorb our forest green surroundings while Aretha serenaded us and we sipped our Aperol spritz’. It wasn’t long before two dishes arrived. The first, a roast pumpkin soup with pumpkin seed pesto and Hambleton bakery croutons. A tasty, vivid green, velvety smooth, moreish and warming bowl of comfort. The second was potted salmon accompanied by toasted sourdough and a salad of pickled cucumber, roasted tomatoes and shaved fennel. When all piled onto the toast the fennel had a fresh anise-like flavour which cut through the lightly seasoned poached salmon pate. The sweet tomatoes mixed in well but I think I would have preferred a sweet pickled cucumber instead of the rather sharp one presented. Our waiter cleared the table and soon after brought us the main event. We’d chosen two very different dishes, one was a butternut squash, vegetable and chickpea curry. Unexpectedly the butternut was neatly parcelled in a spring cabbage leaf, nestled on a bed of steamed basmati, surrounded by a
moat of delicately spiced, creamy chickpea and lentil gravy. Every mouthful was taken with a little of each component to ensure the full taste bud experience. The other, roast chicken with a wild mushroom and tarragon sauce, garlic mash and vegetables. The chicken was perfectly cooked, tender and moist and hidden under a sea of richly flavoured sauce (I love sauce so this was just my kind of thing.) The mash perfectly blended and the french beans and carrots al dente. Then came the big question. Would we like to see the dessert menu – well of course we would! A blackberry bavarois with quince sorbet and Charlotte Russe cake, perfectly proportioned, light and airy, full of seasonal inspiration. Then there was the chocolate tart with brandy, black cherries and vanilla ice cream, very naughty with a guaranteed soporific effect. Time to leave. If you need me, I’ll be at my club. Book your table call 0116 251 2291 or visit www.queenvicleicester.com dluxe-magazine.co.uk 51
THE DIARY. Madagascar – The Musical
5th – 9th March at Haymarket Theatre, Leicester Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hop Hippo and, of course, those hilarious plotting penguins as they bound onto the stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime. Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar- A Musical Adventure follows all of your favourite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in the New York Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julian’s Madagascar.
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DECEMBER White Christmas
until 13th January at Curve Theatre, Leicester This Made at Curve musical features a dazzling, instantly recognisable score including Blue Skies, Sisters, How Deep Is The Ocean and arguably the most famous Christmas song of them all, White Christmas. Irving Berlin’s beloved Broadway sensation is an enduring tale of friendship, camaraderie, hope and the pursuit of happiness, told through spectacular dance routines and some of the most memorable hits from the Great American Songbook.
Alice Hawkins and Votes For Women!
Until 24th February at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery The exhibition includes the hunger strike medal given to Alice Hawkins; family mementoes of Emmeline Pankhurst who led the Suffragette Movement and clothes worn by schoolteacher Susanne Potter when she was chained to the railings and taken to Holloway Prison. Leicester is one of seven cities in the Centenary Cities project marking 100 years of Votes for Women funded by the Government Equalities Office with a range of exhibitions, events and the launch of the Alice Hawkins statue in New Market Square.
The Cat in the Hat
8th December – 12th January at Curve Theatre, Leicester Based on the much-loved book by Dr. Seuss that has captivated generations of readers, The Cat in the Hat features feline frivolity aplenty, with his acrobatic accomplices Thing 1 and Thing 2. With riotous rhymes which have delighted dluxe-magazine.co.uk 53
THE DIARY.
QUEEN VICTORIA ARTS CLUB OPENS
Over 600 esteemed guests from the local business, political, media and creative communities flocked to the Cultural Quarter’s newest bar and restaurant for a sneak peek before it’s official opening. Set over two floors (ground and basement), Queen Victoria Arts Club is a premier league restaurant and bar that’s on a mission to offer premier league service and standards. The stunning venue, which presides over Orton Square was originally built for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee and has been transformed after being derelict for many years. As well as an 80-cover restaurant and bar that is open to the public six days a week, Queen Victoria Arts Club will be the first luxury Members’ Club in the city, offering Londonstyle member-only services, privileges and dining/drinking areas.
children for over fifty years, and infectious humour and spectacular circus for the grown-ups, the wonderfully anarchic Cat in the Hat comes to Curve this Christmas.
Mother Goose
14th December – 6th January at The Little Theatre All of the usual traditional Pantomime ingredients will be beaten into an Egg-citing omelette of Mirth, Music and Mayhem. Prepare to be dazzled with stunning costumes and colourful scenery. Expect laughs aplenty with the return of John Bale as Mother Goose. We don’t know about you… but we can’t wait!
Treasure Island
13th December – 6th January at Haymarket Theatre, Leicester The first production from the Haymarket Theatre will be the world premiere of Treasure Island, penned by national treasure and established author Sandi Toksvig (The Great British Bake Off, QI). With Toksvig’s trademark razor (or should we say cutlass?) sharp wit, Jim Hawkins’ adventure across the High Seas in search of treasure will appeal to all ages. Along the way Jim encounters deadly storms and even deadlier pirates, led by the infamous one-legged Long John Silver. Featuring rousing sea shanties and daring sword fights, piratical parrots and acrobatic puppets, this new adaptation is wonderfully imaginative and will leave you spellbound.
Images by Saul Morgan
Slade
16th December at O2 Academy Leicester The classic rock/pop/glitter band led by founder members Dave Hill and Don Powell (but sadly no Noddy Holder) perform hits including ‘Coz I Luv You’, ‘Cum On Feel The Noize’, ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’ and ‘Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me’.
Twinlakes Magical Winter Wonderland
Until – 24th December at Twinlakes Park The perfect day out for all the family. Take a ride on the Polar Express, visit Santa in his Grotto, take a ride on the Running Bear Summit plummet or get lost in the winter mirror maze.
Peter Pan
15Th December – 6th January at De Montfort Hall, Leicester You’re invited on the adventure of a lifetime as Peter introduces us to his world of wonder with best friend Tinkerbell, the wild Lost Boys, and of course the terrifying Captain Hook. 54 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Mr B: Christmas Review
20th December at The Y Theatre This Christmas Mr B brings his banging banjolele driven
MUSICALS, DRAMA, COMEDY AND MORE AT CURVE THIS SPRING! 29 JAN – 2 FEB
7 – 16 FEB
4 – 9 MAR
B E L I E V E
“A TERRIFIC RETELLING OF HARPER LEE’S CLASSIC” THE TIMES
CURVE, JONATHAN CHURCH PRODUCTIONS AND REGENT’S PARK THEATRE LTD PRESENT
“MAGNIFICENT”
“SUPERB”
DAILY EXPRESS
DAILY TELEGRAPH
OH MY LOVE , MY DARLING... I’VE HUNGERED FOR YOUR TOUCH BILL KENWRIGHT PRESENTS
TIMOTHY SHEADER T
H
E
M
BOOK AND LYRICS BY
BRUCE JOEL RUBIN
U
S
I
C
A
L BASED ON THE BEST-SELLING NOVEL BY PAULA HAWKINS AND DREAMWORKS FILM ADAPTED BY RACHEL WAGSTAFF & DUNCAN ABEL
MUSIC & LYRICS BY
DAVE STEWART & GLEN BALLARD
BES
BASED ON THE PARAMOUNT PICTURES FILM WRITTEN BY BRUCE JOEL RUBIN
19 – 24 MAR
26 – 30 MAR
13 – 20 APR
THE WEST END SMASH HIT FROM THE CREATORS OF
WORLD PREMIERE AT CURVE
Adapted from Jill Murphy’s original books by Emma Reeves
BEST Y MED NEWOLIVCIEROAWARD
HHHHH
‘DELIVERS SWAG LOADS OF PLEASURE’ SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
E NOMINE
HHHHH ‘A FAST AND FABULOUS COMEDY CAPER’ THE TIMES
HHHHH
‘THIS IS THE FUNNIEST SHOW IN THE WEST END’ DAILY TELEGRAPH
THE DIARY.
LAUNCH: BARRIE STEPHEN SALON GETS ELECTRIC EXCLUSIVELY
To celebrate the launch of this exciting new collaboration, the Barrie Stephen salon on King Street, Leicester turned into a cool club to celebrate independent British professional haircare brand, Electric, being exclusively available from Barrie Stephen salon group in Leicestershire. Founded by renowned hairstylist and entrepreneur, Mark Woolley, the Electric brand is available in leading salons around the world and is used by influential hairstylists backstage and on photoshoots. The Barrie Stephen salon group was hand selected by Mark to become ambassador salons across Leicestershire and will be providing loyal customers with the Electric experience within the salon and at home. With five award-winning salons and a team of highly trained stylists providing a first-class hairdressing service, the redcarpet hairdressing brand is the perfect partner for Electric.
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beats to The Y with a special show filled with his own unique take on the traditional Christmas ditty, such as the classic All I want for Christmas is an Original Jawa With Vinyl Cape and the festive I Saw Your Father Beat A Man To Death In Tesco’s.
Dr Feelgood
21st December at The Musician Dr. Feelgood have enjoyed global success with a string of hit singles including Roxette, Back in the Night, Milk and Alcohol, Down at the Doctors, She Does it Right, Going Back Home and See You Later Alligator - which gave the group their first gold record.
Sandi Toksvig Live! National Trevor
22nd January at De Montfort Hall, Leicester Sandi Toksvig is bringing her brand new, one-woman comedy show to the hall! Sandi thinks that being called a National Treasure is bit embarrassing and she has decided instead to become a National Trevor – half misprint, half Danish comedian, novelist, actor and broadcaster.
JANUARY Inside/Outside
10th January – 23rd February at Sock Gallery, Loughborough 21 members of ArtSpace Loughborough present an exhibition on the theme of ‘Inside/Outside’. In varied media, they explore how the inner and outer worlds of our lives connect. Sometimes this is literally the contrast between interiors and outside as seen through a window or doorway, or hinting at natural patterns in a man-made environment. Some artists wanted to focus on their private creative thinking in relation to the bigger world. Some artists chose to think about the contrast between our inner lives and the self we present to other people.
An Evening with Alice Roberts – Digging in to Britain’s Past
24th January at Loughborough Town Hall Anthropologist, author and broadcaster Alice Roberts has been delving into Britain’s past, and making archaeology programmes, for nearly twenty years. Alice joined Time Team as a bone expert, and went on to present anthropology and archaeology stories on BBC2’s immensely popular Coast series.
Ghost the Musical
29th January – 3rd February at Curve Theatre, Leicester The movie Ghost has proven to be one of cinema’s biggest all-time hits. Starring the late Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore
THE DIARY.
De Montfort hall welcomes musical stars for Spring
and Whoopi Goldberg it was the highest grossing film of 1990 and won an Oscar for screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin, who has adapted his screenplay for this musical. The movie and the musical feature The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody alongside many more terrific songs co-written by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart.
FEBRUARY Buddy Holly and the Cricketers
3rd February at Loughborough Town Hall Whatever the season, whatever the excuse to party, make your Heartbeat a little faster with the show that has thousands of fans the world over saying: “I can’t believe it’s not Buddy!”
Multi-platinum recording artist and national treasure Michael Ball is coming to Leicester as part of a 21-date UK tour, supporting his forthcoming studio album Coming Home To You set for release in 2019. The double Olivier Award winner will hit the road in April 2019 and call into the city’s De Montfort Hall on the 22nd May. Having received critical acclaim for his performances in the West End and on Broadway in shows including Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and the smash hit musical Hairspray, the radio and TV host has since sold millions of albums and toured multiple continents across the world. The Classic BRIT Award winner’s album Together with Alfie Boe was Christmas Number 1 in 2016 and their second album Together Again in 2017 went straight to number one, boasting combined sales of more than 1 million copies. Other artists visiting De Montfort Hall this sping include Thunder on the 9th Feb, Mike and the Mechanics on 8th March, Billy Ocean on the 11 March, KT Tunstall on the 22nd March and Gabrielle on the 25th March. Tickets are on sale now – best be quick! Visit demontforthall.co.uk or call the box office on 0116 233 3111. 58 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Leicester Comedy Festival
6th – 24th February Various Venues Back with its 26th festival, this year there will be over 70 venues and the festival will feature a record number of shows and events including some of the biggest names in comedy such as Arthur Smith, Johnny Vegas, Zoe Lyons, Jason Manford, Nish Kumar, Tom Allen, Dave Gorman, Jo Brand & Russell Howard.
choreography set to iconic theatrical favourites, The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins, 42nd Street, Hairspray, Cabaret, Wicked, Top Hat, Jersey Boys and many more.
To Kill a Mockingbird
7th – 16th February at Curve Theatre, Leicester In the Deep South, Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel sees racial injustice divide a small-town community. With integrity and compassion, lawyer Atticus Finch seeks the truth. His courageous daughter, Scout, brings hope to a neighbourhood in turmoil. This utterly enchanting and timely production from London’s award-winning Regent’s Park Theatre captures the warmth, poignancy and magic of this best-loved classic.
Soul Legends
8th February at Loughborough Town Hall Bringing to life hits from Barry White, George Benson, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie, Chaka Khan, Earth Wind & Fire, and more, all in “soulsational” style!
Rambert: Life is a Dream
28th February – 2nd March at Curve Theatre, Leicester
Anton & Erin
7th February at De Montfort Hall Join the nation’s favourite ballroom couple in their new, show-stopping dance production. The world of ballroom meets musical theatre with stunning costumes and breathtaking
A spectacular new dance show from Olivier Awardwinner Kim Brandstrup, the choreographer behind Rambert‘s Transfigured Night.
Children and Young People Services. Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital.
8
WINNER
Skip the Waiting list and get treatment faster.
Private hospital group of the year
Children bring their parents boundless happiness – but they also bring endless worry. Everything becomes a little more important as the desire to keep this little human being saf, happy and to give them the best start in life and beyond in to adulthood. Unfortunately, today parents are increasing time poor, busy juggling the demands of work, school and many other things whilst balancing all this with family life. This is made even more challenging when our children are ill and need access to expert healthcare and medical advice quickly and easily and at a time when public services are stretched and under pressure. Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital has been treating children and young people for more than 20 years and was recognised by the care Quality Commission in January 2017 as ‘Outstanding’ for its care of children and young people. Nuffield Health has continued to build on this success, nationally it was voted Private Hospital of the Year in 2017 and again in 2018, whilst the Leicester Hospital has invested in ‘Matron led Care’, the refurbishment of its Children’s Ward and developed a team of dedicated Children’s nurses and medical team. Working alongside the nursing team Leicester Hospital also has over 50 expert paediatric Consultants specialising in the diagnosis, treatment and care of children and young people. Infants from 0 to 1 years old can be seen in outpatients for assessment and diagnosis and Children from 1 year and above can be admitted for treatment.
To find out more call 0116 298 6938 Email leicester.enquiry@nuffieldhealth.com Visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/leicester
This capability is unique in the private healthcare sector in the East Midlands. Fast Access to Expert Healthcare. We also understand that if your child is ill this can be a very worrying time for the whole family therefore fast access to expert help is very important. At Nuffield Health Leicester Hospital parents can access our specialist consultants, normally within 48 hours, along with our comprehensive range of test and diagnostic services. Services at Nuffield. Allergies – Arthritis/Rheumatology – Asthma/Respiratory – Behavioural/Psychology – Children’s Orthopaedics – Dental/Maxillofacial – Dermatology – Dermatology – Ear, Nose & Throat – Eye Care – Urology/Circumcision.
Nuffield Health Leicester Scraptloft Lane, Leicester, LE5 1HY
BUSINESS.
B C
What other companies like yours are being sold for. How much of your business is based on you and not on your systems, if you have to be there all the time then you business is worth much less.
P number 2 is Pension. In the world of pension deficits, and large retiring work forces you need to be aware that if you have a big pension or even a small one that the new owner would have to manage, top up or service that is non contributory it can kill the deal. P number 3 is Property. Depending on where you do your business from and how necessary it is to the business will determine if this breaks the deal. Normally the current retiring generation wants to use the property as part of their pension income. The new owners don’t always want the previous owner as a landlord. Oppositely the property might not be part of the business plan of the new business owners and they don’t want it. So don’t let those bricks and mortar build a wall between you and your retirement dreams. P number 4 is People. This is the most important. If you are the main person and you want out and don’t like to have a boss because you were the boss then be like a Boy Scout and “Be Prepared.” Otherwise your Tenderfeet will have a a hard Life. (Sorry got stuck in an Eagle Scout bad pun set.) If you are the rain maker or there are people that you need and they would leave then you may have a problem.
The 4.5 p’s that will fill your bank vault… or not It’s winter and unless you sell snow shovels, parkas or wood stoves you are thinking about how Spring is going to look. Will Brexit or any other outside factors drag your business into a hole that you can’t get back from? Is it time to sell the business? Over the past 20 years of helping people retire better, my clients have benefitted from having a plan and some secrets. How long does it take from start to finish of selling a business? Did you know that one statistic says that 80% of all business sales fail to complete. I have created a 4.5 part list of items that create problems in the sales process. If you work on these early and are focused on making 60 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
them consistent and founded in reality it will help you kick back on that beach listening to Margaritaville. P number 1 is Price. There are a number of factors that you are looking for when it comes to the price you set for your business. Most people start off with a bond villain laugh and say my business in worth a bazillion pounds. Then they come to a reality and say I would need £1 million to walk away. The bad thing is that what you need and what you are going to get are two different things. The factors that create your price are three fold.
A
Profit + Growth + Sustainability= The base of your price. This is all about how the new owners will be able to profit and build on your business.
Make sure you have engaged or disengaged your team members that are needed or needs to go. Get the people right in the business before you hand people your business for cash, and this is even more essential if you are going to be paid on an earn-out (one up front payment and the rest of the payment based on business performance over the next couple of years.) The .5 P is the one that kills more deals than all the others combined. This is the one that kills all sales, not just the sales of your business. This is the Procrastination! The longer that deals last the more people have deal fatigue. Just get it over with… This make the price drop and drop faster than a dog juggler on Britain’s got talent. If you can plan all the Ps and get a clear message in your head as to your position on the 4 Ps the .5 P will not be a problem. Make sure you the Professionals in place and understand what a realistic price is and that is where you should set your lines in the sand. Good luck and looking forward to seeing what 2019 brings for your transition. There is so much to look forward to in the Midlands with the Common Wealth Games, 5G networks and our thriving tech community. Remember it is always best to sell your business as it is growing.
Getting Started Online With SEO
5 Ways to Optimise Your Web Pages? If your business operates from various offices and you wish to rank in multiple locations, you will need to bring this information onto your website so that the search engines can understand this and rank you accordingly.
For each location, ensure you have a Google My Business. This will provide valuable information to Google and your users, including increased visibility, directions to your offices and improved website authority.
So, we’ve covered our 5 top simple steps to optimising your web presence via search marketing. This time around, we’re going to look in more detail about how you can improve your business’s positions within the search results by enhancing your web pages and onpage SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). Popular search engines such as Google and Bing are looking to serve the most relevant results for their users. This means we need to ensure our landing pages provide as much helpful information as possible to align our site with the terms we wish to appear for. We’ve highlighted the 5 key steps in ensuring you give your website the best chance of appearing above your competition.
1. Content Relevance It sounds like common sense, but if you wish to rank for a search term relating to your business and services you have to ensure that your website’s landing pages reflect the terms you are targeting. To do this, you need to be creating original content for each of your landing pages. For instance, if you are an accountancy firm offering bookkeeping services within a particular location, make sure you talk about bookkeeping and the elements which go into the service you provide on your bookkeeping page. Consider having a landing page for each of your services. The more specific and relevant the content is, the more the search engines and ultimately your users, can understand the intricacies of what you offer.
2. Heading, Synonyms & Questions When writing the content for each of your pages, consider using a variation of language to describe exactly what it is you offer. If your
service can be described in multiple ways, ensure that you include the variations to help capture a range of searches from your users. Aim to use headings that answer questions a customer might be considering - why do businesses need bookkeeping? How much does Bookkeeping cost? How does the process work? Why outsource your bookkeeping? It’s worth taking some time to consider some of the questions you get asked daily, and then be sure to answer these within your content. Both your customers and the search engine will love this.
3. UGC - User Generated Content As the digital age continues to expand and more businesses take advantage of online marketing, differentiating yourself from the competition is becoming increasingly difficult. One way to do this effectively is to improve your social proof by including reviews from your existing customers. This will help to convince potential customers that you are trustworthy and do as you say you will. An excellent way to help your search engine position is to include user generated content i.e. reviews that are specific to your products and services on the pages you are optimising for those terms. This means you’ll naturally include key terms and real life language into your content, directly from your customers. Amazon & TripAdvisor are the King & Queen of this approach and it’s a direct factor to why they rank so well for so many terms.
4. Geographic Content
Second to this, ensure that you include location specific information on each of your area or office pages. Fundamental content includes things like addresses, phone numbers and key page signals (page titles, headings). Secondary content could be information around the office manager, an embedded map, user generated content specific to your location and anything else that is individual to that branch or office.
5. Related Content
(Guides, Blog Posts, Further Reading) Finally, think about creating supporting content that is related to your products and services and include this on each of your landing pages. This will encourage your users to read further and spend more time on your website, in turn building additional value. Google potentially considers key metrics about your site’s performance such as dwell time, the number of pages visited on average and the bounce rate, which is the percentage of visitors to your website who leave after viewing only one page. Including related blog posts, guides or FAQ’s is a great way to keep users and search engines engaged with your landing pages. Creating more targeted content can also be a great way of capturing long-tail search terms which users are searching for. This can drive traffic, reinforce your key landing page (internal linking) and increase the content depth of your website. Nick Rinylo is the managing director of Leicester based integrated digital marketing agency ASSISTED. and has been working within the digital marketing industry since 2007.
Contact Assisted: info@assisted.co.uk www.assisted.co.uk/dluxe Tel: 01788 288020 dluxe-magazine.co.uk 61
BUSINESS.
Freemasons FUNDRAISING SUCCESS Freemasons’ Hall Leicester hosted a wide range of charities and good causes from all over Leicestershire and Rutland, as £60,875 was presented by Provincial Grand Master, David Hagger, accompanied by the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Ross Grant, on behalf of the Freemasons. Leicester based Reunite International who provide advice and support to parents whose children have been abducted overseas or parents accused of International parental abduction received a donation of £1,000 which will go towards the replacement of ageing telephone and computer systems. Chris Gatfield of the Dove Cottage Day Hospice, who provide day care respite for those suffering from terminal illnesses was presented with a donation of £6,800 to help support over 100 families a week who are suffering from cancer and other longterm conditions throughout North West Leicestershire and Rutland. Members of St Simon & St Jude Lodge No.8279 who meet at the Masonic Hall in Hinckley were pleased to join with the Masonic Charitable Foundation in presenting cheques totalling £5,800 to the Air Ambulance. In closing the presentation service, the Lord Mayor said: “on behalf of the City of Leicester, I would like to thank the Freemasons’ for supporting all of the amazing charities here today”. 62 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Bestselling Leicester Author Celebrates BOOK Launch
A Leicester entrepreneur who has overcome adversity, bullying and a life changing disability to become a successful businessman was celebrated at a glittering launch party after his incredible story became a best-selling book. Dozens of businesses, Rotarians, friends and family from in and around Leicestershire attended the event, which was the first to be held at the Queen Victoria Arts Club in the city’s cultural quarter. Guests were given the chance to hear part of Mark’s story as he was able to express his thanks for everyone’s support in helping his book, I Can. I Will. fly up Amazon’s Best Sellers Charts within just days of it being released. Mark Esho has been on an almost unbelievable journey to become a top businessman, and it his incredible spirit, drive and self-propelled determination which has pushed him to become the very best he can be - despite almost every obstacle being thrown in his path. The 56-year-old, who was born in Highfields and later moved to Newbold Verdon, grew up in the county before being taken to Nigeria where his birth-mother and father lived, in their efforts to ‘cure’ him from polio. He decided to release his life story after being persuaded by friends and family that others should know how his life changed overnight into what anyone would perceive as a living nightmare. It was as a young, confident and adventurous boy who one morning woke up in a cold sweat unable to walk because he had contracted polio. Doctors gave
him just a 10% chance of life and Mark was left paralysed from the neck down, before slowly regaining movement. To this day, Mark still suffers from muscle damage and is unable to walk unaided. The disease is now eradicated in the UK (where there has been no domestically acquired case of the disease since 1984) and thanks to the efforts of Rotary International - almost fully wiped out across the world. Mark is proud to have become a Rotary member in Leicester, inspired by the organisation’s role in starting and spearheading the campaign for a polio-free world. Mark, who is a member of Rotary, said: “It was a hard decision to write this book and I thought long and hard about it before I made that step. But I also knew my story had to be told. Not only as an incredible affirmation on why the work to eradicate this awful disease should continue and as to why children should be immunised, but also to show people that they can survive almost everything and anything life throws at them". "I thought that learning to walk again after polio would be my biggest challenge, but it was just the start of the terror my life became, from an abusive father, horrendous beatings, bullying at school - I had to fight for everything. But I survived and thrived to what I have become today.” The book can be purchased from Amazon for £12.99 via www. iWillOrderNow.com To find out more about Mark visit www.markesho.com
Can you count on your technology? In today’s world, it’s difficult to imagine your business without IT. It plays an important role in the way you serve, work with and communicate to your clients.
LEICS TOURISM AWARDS Leicestershire businesses were crowned winners at a glittering ceremony for the Leicestershire Tourism & Hospitality Awards 2018. Businesses including restaurants, hotels, visitor attractions, cafes, food producers, farm shops, tearooms, pubs, event venues, B&Bs, festivals and events, and Market Towns were all crowned with the final award of the evening , for Tourism Superstar, being presented to James Bowie, former owner of The Belmont Hotel in Leicester whose family ran the hotel for over 80 years. Other winners in the night included The White Peacock who not only took home awards for best Formal Dining Experience and Best Cocktail Experience but received highly commended in the category of Inspiring Manager for Esme Ditano. John’s House Harry Stutter took home the award for Rising Star with John Duffin taking home Outstanding Contribution to Gastronomy for the venue. Best Leicestershire Breakfast went to Tithe Barn, Best Casual Dining Experience winner was Boboli Best Pub Experience went to The Real Ale Classroom and Most Enjoyable Stay went to College Court. Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicestershire Promotions said: “This year’s awards have been an amazing success with more applicants than ever from a broad cross-section of the Leicestershire tourism industry. The judges really had their work cut out in the face of intense competition from such an amazing list of finalists. We offer our hearty congratulations to all of the deserved winners who represent Leicestershire so magnificently to all vsitors to the city and county.”
Although there are a lot of advantages, we shouldn’t ignore some of the major risks. Your networks and systems serve as your silent partner in the operation of your business. Should they fail – and when they do, it’s usually without warning – you’re exposed not just to an IT problem, but to a potentially large business problem. Below are 10 silent threats that might be quietly undermining your operations now and one quick and easy way to bring these threats under control quickly. 1. WRONG KEYS IN WRONG HANDS One of the first steps toward security is to be sure the right people have the right level of access to the right applications and data. 2. BRING YOUR OWN HEADACHE The new “bring your own device” (BYOD) environment brings new headaches to the table. Although they can save the company money, if these devices are lost/stolen, any information available on the device, including confidential company and client data may be vulnerable to criminal access. 3. WHO’S KNOCKING AT YOUR BACKDOOR? Your business isn’t limited to your own systems. Thanks to cloud services you can increase your capabilities without busting your IT budget. It’s important to remember that every connection that reaches out from your network may open an opportunity for someone else to reach in. Protect your portals: run an external
vulnerability scan that reveals every “backdoor” through which an intruder might break into your network. 4. WEAK PASSWORDS Your password protections are only as strong as the passwords themselves. Having no passwords or using obvious ones such as “12345” undermines the very protection you seek. 5. WHOA, BACK UP If you lost a significant chunk of your data right now, how much business would you lose as well? Too many businesses run without sufficient policies, plans and procedures for backing up critical data essential to their ability to operate. If your business depends on manual procedures that are executed inconsistently, you’re exposed to unnecessary losses; it’s time to look for automated backup solutions that are always at work – even when employees might forget. 6. SHOW ME THE COMPLIANCE Sensitive data demands special attention. For most businesses, the law obliges you to preserve client confidentiality and demonstrate that you have processes in place to ensure compliance. 7. PRINTING (LOST) MONEY By monitoring your multifunction printers, you can limit access to authorised users, discourage unnecessary or wasteful usage, and encourage less-expensive options – such as scan to email or scan to file directories that save time and money. 8. “GHOSTS” IN THE MACHINES There may be “ghosts” haunting your networks – inactive users or inactive computers that remain part of your system, even if they are no longer contributing to your
productivity. While the threat may not be immediately obvious, defunct computers represent an expense you don’t need to carry. 9. WHEN IT CAN’T KEEP UP, YOUR BUSINESS GOES DOWN Smart businesses and wise managers protect their critical networks with redundancy: backup servers and routers that are designed to kick in should the main system go down. If these are not in operation, your business will not maintain continuity in an emergency. To safeguard your business, analyse your network before disaster strikes to be sure that devices such as your designated backup router or alternate domain control are online and ready for action. 10. HIDING IN THE DARK You want to run your businesses, not an IT department. While IT may not be at the top of your mind, it should never be out of sight. Lack of vision into the true status of your technology, and the quality of your defences against attack or failure, may leave your business vulnerable to disruption, legal consequences and loss of revenue. By implementing regular monitoring and review procedures, however, you can anticipate challenges before they become problems, and take adequate measures to ensure the smooth running of your business. So, is the technology you rely on adequately protected? Contact Dalycom on 01509 410 410 for a FREE network assessment to give yourself and your business the confidence you deserve.
dluxe-magazine.co.uk 63
BUSINESS.
MATTIOLI WOODS CELEBRATES SUCCESS IN THE CITY WITH stunning NEW offices
It’s 1991 - and two family men are about to embark on the calculated risk of a lifetime..Ian Mattioli and Bob Woods opt to give up the security of salaried jobs to go it alone in an industry tainted by mis-selling and sky-high commissions.
expanded into wealth management, investment, and employee benefits. That’s not to mention royal recognition for its two founders who, in 2017, were awarded MBEs in the Queen’s Honours List for services to business and the community.
With clients’ needs uppermost, their aim is to provide transparency - a commodity in short supply in the pensions’ world of the early 90s. A fair deal at a fair price, even though they know they face the vexation of many of their peers. And so it is that in a converted domestic garage in the heart of Leicester’s suburbia (pictured), troubleshooters Mattioli Woods is created.
Now the ongoing success story of Mattioli Woods plc has entered another exciting new chapter. Four hundred staff have just vacated their ‘log-jammed’ base in Grove Park, Enderby, and moved a few miles down the road into purpose-built offices in the heart of Leicester city centre. It provides a modern, spacious working environment for its employees, and impressive, welcoming surroundings for clients.
Twenty-seven years on, and that same company can look back on a monumental journey that now sees it employ around 600 people, with assets under its management totalling £8.7 billion. Many of Ian and Bob’s original clients - and staff remain firmly with the business. Along the way, it has floated on the Stock Exchange, opened offices in cities across the UK, challenged industry standards and practices, helped shape policy, and 64 dluxe-magazine.co.uk
Moreover, it gives the company the capacity it needs to develop in line with its business aspirations. There’s also an annual rental saving of around £850,000. Within ‘two to three years’, Ian Mattioli – now chief executive officer – expects the Leicester workforce to have swelled by a further 200, as organic growth and acquisitions continue to drive it forward. The new five-storey, glass-fronted building boasts first-class facilities, with a roomy, modern open-plan layout. It has been developed on the site of the former Leicester City Council headquarters in New Walk, a structure demolished three years ago after it was declared unsafe.
Though its modern-day surroundings are very different to the company’s humble beginnings, Mattioli Woods prides itself on having retained the same values and integrity that have been its trademark from first to last. “Clients are at the absolute core of what we do,” explains Ian Mattioli. “We are dealing with people’s aspirations and ambitions. Keeping hold of them has always been our long-term aim, something we continue to achieve through the quality of our service, and not being afraid to lower our costs when the opportunity is there”. Whilst client care and satisfaction sit at the very summit of the company’s priority
“We want everybody to be experts in what they do. That is really important to us. We like growing our own people”. list, the training and development of staff doesn’t trail too far behind. Mattioli Woods operates its own bespoke, award-winning graduate and apprentices’ schemes and has forged strong links with education providers in and around the Leicester area. It is estimated the company could save several million per year if it discontinued
its training programmes, but Ian Mattioli won’t hear talk of it as he regards such a move as narrowed and short-term thinking. “If we ever stop training, then there’s something going wrong within the business,” he says. “We want everybody to be experts in what they do. That is really important to us. We like growing our own people”. In reflecting on the firm’s rise and continuing success, Ian Mattioli points to one defining moment in 2005 as the catalyst for much of what has followed. He is referring to its flotation on the stock market as an AIM-listed company – something he proudly proclaims “the best thing we have done by far. It enabled us to grow and develop the business and give ownership to our employees,” he explains. To illustrate the point, the number of shares held collectively by staff makes them among the company’s largest stakeholders. “That’s because it’s the right thing to do,” the chief executive says. As was that calculated risk way back in 1991, it seems. Mattioli Woods is at 1 New Walk, Place, Leicester LE1 6RU Tel: 0116 240 8700 www.mattioliwoods.com dluxe-magazine.co.uk 65
HOROSCOPES.
Written in the Stars with CELEBRITY Astrologer Russell Grant To find out more or to arrange a personal reading, visit www.russellgrant.com ARIES (March 21st-April 20th) A power struggle will erupt in early December, putting you in line for a big promotion. The Solar Eclipse on the 6th exposes a corrupt official. A Solar Eclipse on the 6th January gives you an extraordinary opportunity to exercise your leadership ability. Taking the helm of a company, launching your own business or assuming political office are among the possibilities. The New Moon on the 4th February invites you to expand your social network. Make it your mission to attend as many parties, casual get togethers and professional conferences as possible during the first two weeks of February. Who you know is just as important as what you know in February. TAURUS (April 21st-May 21st) The Solar Eclipse on the 6th changes your world view. Take this opportunity to go on an overseas trip, work with refugees or learn about a foreign culture. You'll gain a newfound respect for a group whose beliefs resonate with your own. A Solar Eclipse on the 6th January could prompt you to travel for business, pleasure or both. Your destination will uplift and inspire you. The Full Moon on the 19th February is ideal for romance. If you're looking for love, you'll find it with an ardent admirer. It will be good for your ego to be pursued by someone determined to win your heart. Are you already in a relationship? Take this opportunity to enjoy a relaxing vacation with your amour. GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st) An unexpected windfall will arrive on or around the 6th, courtesy of an enriching Solar Eclipse. An inheritance, legal settlement or insurance refund will transform your lifestyle. At long last, you'll have the money to buy a home, car or both. On the 21st January, a Lunar Eclipse will mark the end of an educational programme. Getting a certificate or passing a test will cause your confidence to soar. The opportunity to expand your horizons will arrive on or around the 4th Febraury, courtesy of an adventurous New Moon. This is an ideal time to visit a country that has fascinated you since childhood. At times, you will feel like a fish out of water. Don't worry about looking foolish. CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd) The Solar Eclipse on the 6th paves the way for a powerful partnership. Getting engaged or exchanging wedding vows will improve your chances for success. With a supportive partner at your side, you will be able to move mountains. The Lunar Eclipse on the 21st January brings the end to a labour of love. Although you enjoyed this line of work, you're ready to try something new. The Full Moon on the 19th February brings fantastic news about work. It's possible a new branch of your company will open close to your home, significantly reducing your commute. Alternatively, you might be able to work from home several days a week, helping you to save money.
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LEO (July 24th-Aug 23rd) The Solar Eclipse on the 6th is the best time of the entire year to begin a health regime. Overhauling your diet and exercise routines will result in a happier, healthier you. If you've been looking for a job, you'll be offered one that transforms your lifestyle. The Lunar Eclipse on the 21st January puts an end to a role you've performed for a long time. Although you'll be sad to leave your old life behind, it will be exciting to make a fresh start. The New Moon on the 4th February injects life into a close relationship. Things will be looking up for you and your best friend, romantic partner or even someone you work with. VIRGO (Aug 24th-Sept 23rd) A love affair will give you an attractive glow on the 6th, courtesy of the romantic Solar Eclipse. If you're looking for a partner, you will find one at a professional gathering or political organisation. It will be difficult to resist the charm of an accomplished person. On the 21st January, a Lunar Eclipse brings an end to a prolonged period of seclusion. At long last, you'll be able to take your place in the spotlight. The New Moon on the 4th February is excellent for beginning a health regimen. It's important to attend to your mental and spiritual wellbeing as well as your physical fitness. If you're prone to anxiety, learn some relaxation techniques. LIBRA (Sept 24th-Oct 23rd) The Solar Eclipse on the 6th marks a big change in your home life. Moving to another place, welcoming a baby or elderly relative to your household and changing your citizenship are all possibilities. On the 6th January, a Solar Eclipse will create changes to your home life. There's a chance you'll be welcoming a youngster or elderly relative to your household. On the 19th February, the Full Moon will invite you to rest, relax and recharge your batteries. Colleagues will pressure you to do more than your fair share of work. Issue firm but polite refusals. The days of your doing more than one job are over. SCORPIO (Oct 24th-Nov 22nd) The 6th would be a propitious time for launching a blog, website or podcast, as a Solar Eclipse will attract favourable and encouraging attention. You could get a rave review from a celebrity you've never met. Terrific news about your career could arrive on the 6th January, thanks to a transformative A Lunar Eclipse on the 21st Janaury brings the end to a public position you've held. Handing your responsibilities to someone else will cause you to breathe a sigh of relief. At long last, you'll have the time to lead a healthier lifestyle. If you've been thinking of moving, the beginning of February presents an ideal opportunity to do so. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23rd-Dec 21st) An impressive moneymaking opportunity will arrive on or around
the 6th, thanks to an enriching Solar Eclipse. This is a great time to change industries. Working on a commission basis will also be more lucrative than taking a flat salary. On the 21st January, a Lunar Eclipse could mark the return from a trip. Coming home to someone who loves you will give you a new lease on life. Alternatively, you might collect a diploma or publish an article, book or short story. On the 4th February, the New Moon presents an intriguing opportunity to communicate on a worldwide scale. Launching a blog, taping a podcast or sharing videos on social media can attract a loyal following. CAPRICORN (Dec 22nd-Jan 20th) You'll undergo an impressive transformation in the days surrounding the 6th, thanks to a powerful Solar Eclipse. This is the best time of the entire year to get a makeover. On the 6th Janaury, a Solar Eclipse will catapult you into the spotlight. Take this opportunity to go on an audition, interview for a job or enjoy a first date. You're sure to make a fantastic impression. The New Moon on the 4th February attracts an unusual moneymaking venture. Moving into a cutting-edge field will be highly profitable. You may decide to join an investment group that specialises in research and development. Any opportunities involving air travel, broadcasting or medical supplies. AQUARIUS (Jan 21st-Feb 19th) The Solar Eclipse on the 6th find you embarking on a spiritual crusade. You'll have an opportunity to devote more time and energy to activities that make life meaningful. The opening days of January invite you to rest, relax and recharge your batteries. The Solar Eclipse on the 6th is perfect for taking a solitary vacation. Visiting a secluded mountain retreat, going on a spiritual pilgrimage or spending a few days at your favourite hideaway is strongly advised. On the 4th February, the New Moon will inspire you to adopt a new look or assume another role. Making a fresh start will put a spring in your step and a sparkle in your eyes. PISCES (Feb 20th-Mar 20th) The Solar Eclipse on the 6th poses an excellent opportunity to join a political group, professional organisation or creative society. The people you meet through this organisation will cause your star to rise. Your social circle will undergo dramatic changes at the beginning of January, thanks to a Solar Eclipse on the 6th. If you get an opportunity to join an exclusive club or professional organisation, do it. Solitary pleasures and pastimes are best for you at the beginning of February. The New Moon on the 4th will prompt you to read, write or commune with nature. Don't let demanding loved ones invade your privacy.
To find out more or to arrange a personal reading, visit www.russellgrant.com
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presents…
Christmas
in the Gardens
13-22 DECEMBER, 5PM-10PM CATHEDRAL GARDENS
Marvel at LightWeight, a four metre high sphere lit up with shimmering colours and live animation. Add your own image to this interactive installation. Soak up the festive atmosphere in the beautifully lit gardens. christmasinleicester.co.uk
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Cathedral Image © Leicester City Council, Globe Image © Kippa-Mathews