Rock and candy issue 2 by Williams Media Ltd

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F E B H A L F T E R M 2 0 17 R O C K A N D C A N D Y. C O . U K

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WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON | FASHION | HEALTH | DISHES+DINNER | BUSINESS

Perfect for bespoke kids parties 42 Church Rd, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 2FN 01273 041007 events@skyfallhove.com X /skyfallhove N @skyfallhove

| WELCOME

EDITOR’S LETTER Welcome to the spring half term edition of Rock and Candy, Brighton and Hove’s brand new parenting and lifestyle guide. Our mission is to create a down-to-earth, community driven, inclusive publication. We aim to provide you with parenting advise, the best places to eat, fun family days out, reviews of local businesses and articles written by real parents and those who work with kids. I’m so excited to be part of it!

the very best days out, in and around Brighton and Hove. There’s plenty for mums and dads too. You can find reviews of some great local businesses, plus real life and inspirational stories.

With this in mind, have you been wondering what to do to keep your little ones amused this half term? Then turn to our What’s On pages (pg 8) where we bring you a hand picked selection of

See you again in March! Sam and the Rock and Candy Team

P.S - Rock and Candy want to hear from you. Tell us your inspirational tales, or nominate someone to appear in the magazine, be that parent or child. Email me: sam@rockandcandy.co.uk, I look forward to hearing from you.

07543 388 695

www.rockandcandy.co.uk

rockandcandybrighton

@rockandcandybtn

ROCK + CANDY TEAM

Sales Director Liz Gold liz@rockandcandy.co.uk Features Editor Sam Harman Sam@rockandcandy.co.uk Graphic Designer Steven Jarvis stevenjarvis.co.uk

Publishers Andrew Cheesman | Justin Williams Listings What’s on guide | whatsonguide.co.uk Printed by: Gemini print. A1 dolphin way, Shoreham by sea, BN43 6NZ Telephone: 01273 464 884

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

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A ll R ights Reserved. Download our brand new taxi app today No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilised in any form or any means, without permission from the Publisher. Rock+Candy does not take any responsibility for incorrect information. The advertising appearing within this publication ref lects the opinion and attitudes of the respective brands and not those of the Publisher and Rock+Candy. Southern Brighton Taxis Accepts cash, account and debit/credit card bookings

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CONTE NT S |

GET FIT FOR FREE* S E E PA G E 11

INSIDE F E B H A L F T E R M 2 0 17 21

R+C check out the amazing new eGym equipment at Change Gym, Hove

Welcome 04

Freedom leisure - the joys of swimming! 07

Mum’s The Word - Why I’m happy being a perfectly imperfect mum 08

What’s On - Your definitive guide for half term and beyond 13

Dishes + Dinner - Kids food review: Wolfies of Hove + a fab healthy recipe

A psychic reading at Cocoon Healing Arts Centre 25

R+C review Rocksea Beauty 27

Mumtreprenuer - an interview with Intenso coffee shop owner Martina Preston - Powers 29

Dining out at Buddies

Mums That Boss - Charlotte Lottie Bryan reveals how she turned her fortunes round

Fashion - R+C show you how to deck your kids out for less

PUBLISHED IN CONJUNCTION WITH WILLIAMS MEDIA LTD. COVER PHOTO BY JACQULYN HAMILTON jacqulynhamilton.co.uk NEXT ISSUE COPY / ARTWORK DEADLINE: 6th MARCH 2017 TO ADVERTISE 0044 (0) 7543 388 695 TO CONTRIBUTE liz@rockandcandy.co.uk

Kennedy Street and co - Wife of the Iconic Curly Watts, Claire Kennedy on creating a community that cares.

FREEDOM LEISURE Swimming is a great form of all-round exercise with loads of health benefits. It’s ideal if you want to be more active and it’s something you can enjoy with or without the kids. The best place to get started is at your local freedom leisure pool. Swimming is a great way for families to get moving and have fun together. There are so many things you can do to keep the kids interested; the swimming pool makes a great playground with most pools having a play area for kids. The health benefits are endless, regular swimming can reduce the risk of

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F E B H A L F T E R M 2 0 17

chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke to name a few. It can also boost your mood and keep your weight under control….. A 30-minute session in the pool of moderate exercise a couple of days a week will go a long way to improve your overall fitness, but any improvement on what you currently do is good. Even small changes can make a big difference to your health and make you feel great. All our swimming pools cater for a variety of abilities, from women-only classes, parent and toddler groups, and lessons for different age groups. There’s no doubt swimming is a safe

and effective form of exercise, but if you’re worried about an existing health condition, it’s best to see your GP before you start swimming. You’ll find information on classes, pool timetables and swimming times on our website: www.freedom-leisure.co.uk

mention to get y o 50% dis ur count Ex pires 31

/03/17

Free childcare

PLAYTIME! Making learning fun is key to a child’s early development and happiness. Early years’ childcare is a social way for young children to gain friends, build confidence and learn skills before starting school.

Spotlight on our schools in Brighton & hove

Childcare options in Brighton & Hove are wide ranging; with styles, hours and prices to suit different families and childcare needs. Parents also benefit from having children settled in early years’ childcare, as this helps with returning to work and feeling happy with their child’s development. All three and four year olds can have up to 15 hours a week of free childcare, or 570 hours if spread over the year, and this will increase to 30 hours for working families of three and four year olds this September. Free childcare is available for two year olds in families on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits. Two year olds with a disability, those who are adopted or who are looked after by the local authority are also eligible. There are more than 150 pre-schools, playgroups, nurseries and child-minders taking children from the age of two years in Brighton & Hove.

72 schools (including academies and free schools) More than 32,000 pupils citywide 93% of schools are rated good or outstanding

It’s easy to apply – you can find out more online at www.brighton-hove.gov. uk/twos or ask your health visitor or children’s centre for a paper form. You can also contact the Family Information Service for help and advice. Anyone can search online for a childcare place at: www.familyinfobrighton.org.uk or call 01273 293545 to find out what’s available locally.

Family, children & learning services

Ranked as 22nd out of all 152 Local Authorities for primary school Key stage 2 Ranked as 45th out of all 152 Local Authorities for the percentage of young people achieving A* to C in English and maths in our secondary schools SoundCity (Brighton & Hove’s Music Education Hub) shortlisted for the Music Education Major Award

MUM’S THE WORD WHY I’M HAPPY BEING A P E R F E C T LY I M P E R F E C T M U M By Samantha Harman

I watched a film during the Christmas holiday called “Bad Moms” (That’s ‘Mums’ to those of the British persuasion) It tells the story of a newly single mum who feels immense pressure juggling work and parenthood. She becomes increasingly tired of being judged by the other ‘perfect’ mothers who accost her on a daily basis at the school gates and decides she will no longer conform to their ideals. Although the storyline was rather trite, some of it resonated with me. It got me thinking about my own experiences in the school playground during my son’s formative primary school years. I must confess to finding the whole dropping off/picking up thing slightly terrifying initially. Everyone seemed to know each other and most of the other mums were immaculately turned out. I on the

other hand, would usually arrive slightly late with porridge in my hair, my ears still ringing from the: “I don’t want to wear that /eat that / brush my teeth” objections that ensued most mornings. At the time it seemed everyone else knew what they were doing and were doing it much better than I was. The societal pressure on women to be perfect mums is ridiculous. We’re expected to have well mannered children who are able to conform to all of the restrictions put upon them. Not to mention the endless rounds of parties, dressing up days, after school clubs and homework. Aside from that, there’s working, housework and trying to have a life for yourself. So my thought for 2017 is this... lets stop giving ourselves a hard time. So

what if we don’t always get it right. We might be late and unkempt sometimes or forget to wash P.E kits. All that really matters is that our kids know they’re loved and accepted. Everything else is superfluous. Lets give ourselves permission to have the occasional blunder without thinking we’re the worst mum in the world. As the saying goes, there’s no way of being a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one. P.s - Time elapsed and I actually got to know some of those wonderful women in the playground and soon realised all of them struggle sometimes too. The mums who’d had time to apply a bit of lippy and throw on a coordinated outfit had usually been up before six am in order to do so...

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W H AT ’ S O N |

WHAT’S ON

YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON THIS HALF TERM & BEYOND!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

WHATSONGUIDE.CO.UK years. Encourages language and listening skills, stimulates language and learning. Refreshments and free play afterwards. Rachel: 07586 288 007 tinytempomusic.co.uk

M O N DAY

Bird Week at Brighton

Brighton Science Festival Feb Mon 13th – Sun 19th Various venues Everything from robots to cosmology, 3D printing to programming: a full programme of workshops aimed at ages 11+ to get hands busy, create, invent and make friends at ‘HandsOn Half Term’. Questioning young Hove residents won’t want to miss Brighton Sparks held at Hove Park School the preceding weekend. A chance to get to grips with some serious science. 01273 777 628 brightonscience.com

It’s Go Kid Music’s Birthday. Al Start Invites you to their Rockstar Party! Feb 13th Old Market Theatre Dress your little ones up as rock stars and enjoy a whole afternoon of excellent live music, puppets, cake decorating, singing, face painting and rocking awesomeness for the whole family! 01273 201 801 gokidmusic.com/ theoldmarket.com

Tiny Tempo Drop In Music Group Feb 13th - 14th St John The Baptist Hall, Kemp Town. BN2 1AL Fabulous drop-in music group for ages four months to five

Feb 13th - Sun 19th Warren Road, Brighton. BN2 9XX To celebrate our feathered friends this half term, children are invited to get crafty with a whole series of special events! These include, making a bird feeder, bird bakery, design your own bird finger puppets or make a potty owl! 0844 288 5123 wyevalegardencentres.co.uk

Wild About Wildlife Week at Spring Barn Farm Feb 13th - 17th Kingston Road, Lewes. BN7 3ND Spring Barn Farm are totally wild about wildlife! Join them throughout February half term to celebrate all the fantastic things nature has to offer. Lots of hands on activities for your kids including: Meet the wacky wildlife watcher and spot the birds, build your own bird feeder to take home. It’s a hoot mask making, make your very own wild about wildlife owl/bird mask and meet the first lambs, so cute! Learn all about lambing down on the farm. Plus of course, all the usual fun of the farm with indoor and outdoor play and ‘Meet the animals’ sessions. 01273 488450 springbarnfarm.com

T U E S DAY Babies In Museums 7th Feb Brighton Museum These fun, stimulating sessions are perfect for babies and toddlers aged up to 18

months, and their grown-ups. Play and learn together in an exciting environment and discover new ways to nurture your child’s interests and confidence. 0300 029 0700 brightonmuseums.org

Hello Kitty

Busted Feb 14th Brighton Centre Mat Willis, Charlie Simpson and James Bourne, a.k.a – Busted, are appearing at The Brighton Centre for one night only. Boasting two BRIT Awards, two triple platinum albums and five million record sales, the show promises to be a great alternative to the usual Valentines festivities why not treat the kids and yourselves to a high octane night out instead? (Age restriction 14+) Book now! 0844 847 1515 thebrightoncentre.co.uk

Audition to Join The National Youth Theatre! Feb 14th Brighton Dome. Follow in the footsteps of Daniel Craig, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Dame Helen Mirren, start your story with the world’s first youth theatre. The National Youth Theatre is coming to Brighton’s Dome to meet young talent aged 14-25. Audition in the heart of Brighton to gain a place on our 2017 summer acting and backstage courses. Break a leg! Apply now: 0203 696 7066 nyt.org.uk/auditions

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Ensonglopedia of Science Feb 18th Komedia Brighton-born teacher, actor and creator of a Scientrilogy of musical comedies (covering Einstein, Darwin and Curie) takes us on an A to Z of science with 26 funny songs. The new and expertly fact checked show also features animation and interactive games. Rhyme and song are tricks for making fact stick, whether you’ve has six or 60 orbits round the sun. 01273 647 101 komedia.co.uk

Feb 18th Fishers Adventure Farm Park, Wisborough Green, West Sussex. RH14 0EG Pop into Fishers this February Half Term for a ‘foamy’ family day out! An enormous marquee is arriving inside the Farm Park this week, for a truly ‘bubble-tastic’ bonanza! There’ll be oodles of bouncy slides, inflatable castles as well as Bubble Pop shows and bubbles galore! 01403 700 063 fishersfarmpark.co.uk

Playmakes - Wow! Said the Owl Mar 18th Brighton Dome After the children’s theatre shows, your children have the opportunity to get crafty and make a keepsake to take home. The Dome’s team is on hand to lead the creativity, leaving you free to sit back and relax. Taking place on the Mezzanine of our Cafébar. 01273 709 709 Brightondome.org

Brighton Marathon Weekend sign up now!

Comedy Club for Kids Feb 18th Komedia Comedy Club for Kids is back for yet another side splittingly funny show! The perfect way for parents to introduce their little ones to the joys of stand up, hosted at Brighton’s favourite comedy venue. Prepare to be entertained by a variety of comedians in an intimate setting with age appropriate gags abound. Sit at the front if you enjoy audience participation! Box office: 0845 293 8480 komedia.co.uk

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8th April Preston Park One of the largest youth races in the UK, the Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens Mini Miles gives youngsters aged seven to 17 the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of the Brighton Marathon Weekend. Participants run a one mile distance around Preston Park (where the Brighton Marathon and BM10k starts the following day) and receive an event t-shirt and a medal on completing their race. To sign up for the event on April 8th, please visit: brightonminimile.co.uk

£23.99

Collection or delivery. ‘Create Your Own’ available up to 4 toppings. Premium crusts, bases and additional toppings may be charged as extra. Expires: 10/04/17.

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| W H AT ’ S O N

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CREATE A BESPOKE PLAYLIST OF YOUR FAVOURITE TUNES, OR ASK FOR A SPECIFIC GENRE. I HAVE A VAST RECORD COLLECTION AND CAN EASILY CATER FOR ALL TASTES. IF YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO REALLY KNOWS HOW TO GET THE PARTY STARTED, WHO IS AS PASSIONATE ABOUT MUSIC AS THEY ARE ABOUT LIFE, THEN LOOK NO FURTHER... PRICES START FROM £200.00 R O C K+ C A N D Y

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Breakfast + Brunch

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| DISHES + DINNER

DISHES + DINNER KIDS FOOD REVIEW

WOLFIES OF HOVE RECIPE

I was really looking forward to doing a food review and when I arrived at Wolfies, the chef, Andy Davidson, was really nice and very friendly. He told me the story about how the owner got his idea from a fish and chip shop in New York, which was also called Wolfies. He wanted to bring one back to England because he loved it so much. He started off with a burger van in Churchill Square in 1998 and worked very hard. He now has this brilliant restaurant that he opened three years ago. He buys his fish from Shoreham and the cod is from Iceland. I had cod and chips and it was yummy, scrummy, delicious! The fish tasted lovely and the batter was very crispy. Next

time I come I might try the homemade fishcakes or some pie and mash! I give it 10/10 as it was the nicest fish and chips I’ve ever tasted. * Wolfies have won three awards: Best Newcomer 2016, best gluten free fish and chip shop and best gluten free fish and chip shop in Brighton. The restaurant also boasts being in the top ten on Tripadvisor. Honey Branch Aged 6

WARM QUINOA SALAD WITH ROASTED CAULIFLOWER + SWEET POTATO

February can be a strange time of year for cooking. We no longer want the hearty comfort food we enjoyed in winter but Spring is not quite here yet with its fresh flavours. Warm salads are the perfect go between and this wonderful recipe takes advantage of the humble cauliflower which is currently in season and elevates its flavour to a new level.

Ingredients For the salad (serves 4–6) - 1 medium cauliflower, broken into florets. - 1 large sweet potato. Skin on, washed and roughly cubed. - Olive oil - 1 tsp ground cumin - 1 tsp ground turmeric - Salt and pepper - 240g quinoa - 1 large handful kale, finely shredded - Approx 20 cherry tomatoes, halved - Chopped fresh parsley - Handful of pumpkin seeds

Recipe by Lorraine Counsell from

rhubarbandbeans.com

LORRAINE COUNSELL

Method - Preheat oven to 210ºC - Place the cauliflower and sweet potato in a large bowl. Add a good drizzle of olive oil and the cumin and turmeric. Season with salt and pepper and toss to ensure vegetable are evenly coated. - Place on a baking tray and roast for 25–30 mins until vegetables are tender yet retain a slight bite. - Meanwhile cook your quinoa as per packet instructions. - Spread the pumpkin seeds on a baking tray and add to the oven ten minutes before the vegetables are ready. - When everything is ready, combine your cooked quinoa, roasted vegetables, tomatoes, kale and parsley in a large bowl and gently stir through. - Top with the toasted pumpkin seeds and enjoy. Best served warm but keeps well in the fridge as a cold salad.

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| DISHES + DINNER

BUDDIES 2 4 H O U R C A F É , B A R & R E S TAU R A N T

Open 24 hours a day, Buddies can be found on Brighton seafront with panoramic views of the Palace Pier and promenade and is close to all major venues, hotels, clubs, and, of course, the historic Lanes area. Renowned for good food, friendly service and a varied menu – Buddies is waiting for you any time of day or night. From its famous all day breakfast to a large selection of pasta dishes, delicious pizzas, mouth watering T-bone steaks to its seafood platter, Buddies has it all. Fancy something lighter? Then they do a terrific range of fresh salads or omelettes with garnish.

They also offer a fantastic selection of burgers from a plain hamburger to thousand island burger or you could even be adventurous and opt for one of their Hawaiian or chilli burgers for something a bit different. Sunday lunch is always a big attraction and you’ll have the choice of a set menu from £8.50 per person. There’s a special kids’ menu with smaller portions at fantastic prices. Buddies welcome all parties of people from birthdays to hen and stag events and students get an amazing 20% off food Sunday to Thursday if they should

The new kids craze already beginning to sweep the globe. They are loveable, collectable, wearable characters that “go wear you go”.

100’s of characters to collect!

Perfect Party Bag Fillers and pocket money purchase!

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With their unique and versatile velcro strap they can attach to shoes, pens, fingers, wrists and pretty much anything.

Where will you put yours?

To find your nearest stockists in Brighton and Hove, contact us today! info@floppets.uk.com

@FloppetsUK

FloppetsUK

01444 686144

their NUS card (except bank holidays and Christmas Day). Buddies is also a fully licensed bar so pop in if you fancy drinks on the way to a night out or even on your way home for a nightcap. Buddies buddies24.net 46-48 Kings Road, Brighton 01273 323 600

FLOPPETS T H E W E A R A B L E C O N N E C TA B L E C O L L E C TA B L E T H AT G O ‘ W E A R ’ YO U G O ’ Floppets are wearable, collectable charms, that ‘go wear you go’. These lovable little characters can be secured to almost anything with their Velcro strap. You can wear them on your finger, bag, shoes or even in your hair! There are hundreds of places you can wear them - where will you put yours? Choose your own look with your Floppets to make yours truly stand out from the crowd with your personalised look. Our ranges include fully licensed, lovable collectables from Disney including: Frozen, Disney’s Princesses, Mickey Mouse and more! So you can collect your favourite Disney characters like Elsa, Olaf, Mickey or Mini Mouse and personalise your belongings!

There is no end to the fun with Floppets. They are the perfect collectable to swap with your friends too! Floppets are great gifts for children [and adults] who love to collect and personalise things. They also make a great pocket money purchases or a fantastic party bag filler as they are small and affordable. The perfect impulse buy as a surprise for someone. Where can you buy them? You can find your local Stockists by emailing us at info@floppet. uk.com, finding us on facebook at FloppetsUK or calling us today on 01444 686 144. floppets.uk.com

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FA S H I O N |

FASHION # RO C K A N D C A N DY FA S H I O N

Rock and Candy were invited to do our fashion shoot at Drusillas Park, Alfriston and a fantastic morning was had by all! With a zoo with over 60 species of animals, birds and reptiles, we really are blessed to have this just up the road from us As we trailed through the various enclosures, we were lucky enough to enjoy some one-to-one time with the raccoons and birds. In this issue we decided to use clothing from local charity shops and also the legendary second hand child shop Poppets, in Hove. With so many super bargains I’m sure you’ll agree that we don’t need to spend a fortune for quality and style plus you can also raise money for charity with our city bursting with charity shops have a hunt it’s super fun! I would like to thank our models Jesse, Dalia and Jake for being so well behaved and their patient parents also - Drusillas for letting us come along, not forgetting Poppets for providing us with some funky props and über sassy clothing. 0 1 . Jacket - Poppets £9

Liz Gold

0 2 . Rucksacks - Poppets £12

Drusillas.co.uk Poppets.biz Photos: jacqulynhamilton.co.uk

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0 3 . Lyle & Scott jumper - Poppets £12 0 4 . Umbrella - Poppets £14.95 All other clothing from various charity shops.

FASHION

| FA S H I O N

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FUNPLEX A WHOLE WORLD OF FUN FOR E V E RY O N E !

If you’ve never been to Funplex before, or maybe haven’t visited in a while, you could have forgotten just how great it is! You can let your children run off and play safely in their giant play area, while you relax with a nice cup of tea, or you can join in the fun! Could be time to remind yourselves... Funplex’s professionally designed play equipment allows children to maximise fun whilst giving them an all important exercise workout – they like to call it ‘exercise by stealth!’ If you like, you can join them on the multi level play frames, three different slides and the famous four cannon soft ball area for your very own shoot-em-up! Smaller guests have their own two level play area complete with bouncy animal ride on’s, sorry parents you’re too big for these! Stuck for birthday party ideas? Why not try their new ‘Battle Weapon 7’ laser tag parties! Your kids can experience the fun of zapping their friends during their very own laser tag party, with sole use of the Funplex play area. Games are played onto the smoke filled main play frame between two teams of friends. Parties are available every evening from 6.15pm.

It really is great value for money At just £14.99 per person makes it the must have party in Brighton! All parties include: • 3 games of laser tag • Choice of hot meals for party guests • Unlimited squash • Party invitations (You can download them on The Funplex website) • Cake cutting ceremony • Personal Battle Weapon 7 commander If lazors aren’t your thing, it’s possible to book a standard party. Stressfree birthday parties are a speciality at Funplex – let them take care of everything so all you need to do is book and turn up! They will even clean up the mess afterwards, leaving you free to enjoy the party to the full without lifting a finger. Their are two dedicated party rooms for you to use and each party has a dedicated host to ensure everyone has a brilliant time. Not only that, you get a choice of two fabulous menus.

fussiest of eaters, from Orange Juice to Slush - you don’t have to worry about the picky ones! Funplex recently acquired a Barista style coffee machine, so you can enjoy a ‘proper coffee’ with your locally sourced cakes, while you relax on one of the extremely comfy sofas, almost like being a home. All the food served is freshly prepared, they like to ensure the highest standard of fresh home cooked food at all times. What are you waiting for? Half term is looming and at Funplex you can be guaranteed to wear your kids out, whatever the weather! Funplex funplex.co.uk The Hyde Business Park Auckland Drive Brighton East Sussex BN2 4JE 01273 690 888

The adjoining cafe is extremely proud to have received a five star rating following their Environmental Health Office check. There’s a variety of food and drinks available to suit even the R O C K+ C A N D Y

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- Hoveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most child friendly barber THE STUDIO. 88 GEORGE ST. HOVE. BN3 3YE

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| HEALTH

CHANGE GYM HOVE I N T RO D U C I N G ‘ e G Y M ’ , I N T E L L I G E N T T R A I N I N G U S I N G T H E L AT E S T TECHNOLOGY REVIEW - By Rock + Candy

Change Gym and fitness club, (Formally known as Active4less Hove) has undergone a major metamorphosis and the results are spectacular. The substantial space now boasts a brightly coloured interior and state of the art gym equipment known as ‘eGym’ - intelligent training using the latest technology. Change is ahead of the game being one of only a small handful of gyms in the UK to offer this new high-tech equipment to its members. I was intrigued to find out more, so invited myself along for an induction session. Personal trainer, Reece Mills, greeted me at reception and immediately put me at ease. We sat and chatted for an hour and a half, while filling in my consultation form. He used this time to get to know my lifestyle and discover what I wanted to achieve from my forthcoming gym sessions. After the initial consultation, I was then asked to stand on the Boditrax machine. This innovative devise is also trusted by hospitals, universities and elite sports clubs and is used to analyse body fat,

muscle mass, weight and also gives you your metabolic age. (mine showed up four years older then I actually am note to self, work out more!) Following my geriatric health shocker, Reece escorted me to the eGym. I’ll be totally honest with you, I’m not a fan of gyms - in the past I’ve found the equipment tricky to adjust and been unsure of exactly how much weight I should be lifting. I’m happy to say that these niggles were completely alleviated. All gym members are allocated a wristband. Prior to using each piece of equipment you scan the band so that the computer knows who you are. Initially you are required to perform a strength test, so that the machine can calculate how much weight you should be lifting. Impressively it also automatically adjusts for your height. There’s a computer screen which tracks your movements so that you know how to perform each exercise correctly which also gave me something to focus on other than being worn out! Your workout information is then stored onto

the wristband, so that you can track your progress. I loved Change. This very affordable gym is extremely clean and not saturated with sweaty grunting weight lifters. Not only that the staff I met are all very helpful and passionate about what they do - where do I sign up? Change Fitness Club & Gym Changehove.co.uk Portland Road Trading Estate, Portland Road, Hove, East Sussex. BN3 5NT

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e h t e y a a rth when p y h W at with the

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| HEALTH

COCOON A P S YC H I C R E A D I N G AT C O C O O N H E A L I N G A RT S C E N T R E By Samantha Harman

COCOON has always had a reputation for providing exceptional clairvoyants and psychic readers; the latest addition to their psychic team, Galit Mersand, is certainly no exception. Unlike many others in her field, she received formal training at the College of Psychic Studies in London and has been reading for people since 1998. But is she any good? I was invited along for a reading in order to find out first hand. Galit looks like the tarot readers in my imagination, all wafty clothing and fabulous ruby hair, her calming demeanour immediately putting me at ease. On the table were three sets of different tarot cards, but we didn’t

get straight down to business. Instead she explained that she would use her clairvoyant gift to get a sense of who I was and perhaps why I’d come. Her intuitive analysis of my character was spot on. We then proceeded with the tarot reading, the cards revealed a mirror image of my life at present. After Galit interpreted their message, only then did she require my input. I’ve had many a reading over the years and this is the first time I’ve been virtually silent. I know a lot of sceptics, who believe that the reader ‘pumps’ you for information and then relays it back - this is definitely not the case here. During a reading you can focus on one specific question, or obtain an

overview of what 2017 has in store. My prediction for Galit in 2017? She’s going to be busy! Coccon Cocoonfloatationtherapy.co.uk 20-22 Glocester Place, Brighton BN1 4AA 01273 686 882

AMELIA’S WISH U RG E N T A P P E A L L AU N C H E D TO H E L P L O C A L G I R L W I T H C E R E B R A L PA L S Y TO WA L K A fundraising campaign has been launched to help a little girl fulfil her dream. Amelia Craig wants to be a ballerina but simply walking or running is too painful for her. Recent recipient of the 2017 Carole Barnes Courageous Child of the Year Award, four year old Amelia from Brighton, suffers from spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. This painful condition causes the muscles in her legs to be permanently contracted, meaning she cannot put her feet flat on the ground and can walk only very short distances on tip toes. Amelia has been approved for a lifechanging operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, which is due to be carried out in March, however this is not funded by the NHS and requires the family to raise £85,000 for the operation and aftercare.

Her parents, William, 37, an employment consultant, and Alana, 30, said that: “Amelia is a very happy young lady who generally does not let her disabilities hold her back. She tries to join in with her friends as best she can but is often left behind as she cannot keep up with them. We are hopeful that we will be able to raise the full amount in time so that as she does not end up in a wheelchair as her condition progresses”. Amelia’s mum, Alana, has given up work as a marketing manager in order to be with her daughter who stretching multiple times a day as part of her physiotherapy routine. Amelia also has to be constantly supervised as she falls over dozens of times a day and is unable to stand again unaided. It is not only walking that we take for granted but also the simple things in life that Amelia needs assistance with, from

getting dressed to needing help getting on/off the toilet. The selective dorsal rhizotomy operation will see up to 75 per cent of the nerves in Amelia’s spinal cord cut, which will reduce the stiffness in her legs. It will then take two years of intensive rehabilitation physiotherapy so she can learn to walk again. In time it is Amelia’s greatest wish to be a dancer and this operation will give her that chance. In just seven months the family have already raised £60,000, however there is still a further £25,000 needed. To Donate: www.ameliassdrwish.com R O C K+ C A N D Y

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| HEALTH

ROCKSEA BEAUTY K E E P C A L M A N D P A M P E R Y O U R S E L F. 2 0 % O F F F O R A L L RO C K A N D C A N DY READERS By Samantha Harman

Rocksea Salon, tucked away on Richardson Road in Hove, aims to provide an oasis of calm in a stressful world. Proprietor Michelle, established Rocksea in 2006, initially operating from only one treatment room. Fast forward 11 years and the thriving business has gone from strength to strength, now encompassing the whole building, including Feet First Chiropody and Podiatry, owned by her husband Kelly Blagg. Michelle invited me to experience some of the fabulous treatments available and I (obviously) jumped at the opportunity. First on the agenda, mirrored nails. For those of you who don’t know, mirrored or crome nails are a recent trend that’s endured since summer 2016. The unique look is created using high pigmented silver powder, applied over an undercoat of shellac. When I arrived I was very impressed with the salon’s decadent decor and informal friendly vibe. The nail bar is located by the window where Michelle and I chatted away like old friends,

while deciding on what colour I should go for. She correctly identified my love for all things silver, so subsequent to the manicure applied a black shellac undercoat, prior to dabbing on the silver powder. This she explained, would give a pewter finish. (Different hues are available) The finished result was spectacular! Second up, an anti ageing facial, something every forty something mum needs! Michelle treated me to a Dibi Hydra anti-ageing facial, that incorporated Reiki and a stress relieving and draining massage (for the nasty toxins). In layman’s terms what that actually means is my face was swathed in a plethora of gorgeous smelling creams and oils and I was massaged across my face, neck, shoulders and arms to within an inch of my life, for at least an hour. My skin is literally glowing and believe it or not I noticed some fine line reduction the following day. The treatments I experienced are only two of many. Rocksea also offers

VANI-T spray tan, which gives a totally natural look and zero orange tones. The tan is used by A- list celebs such as Cameron Diaz and Victoria Beckham. Eyelash extensions are huge right now and deciding where to go can be tricky. Rocksea’s lash expert, Stephanie Best, has been qualified for an impressive eight years. She uses individual mink and silk lashes or 4D - 6D Russian lashes for a really glam effect. Rocksea have a new addition to their team. Rock and Candy readers will receive a 20% discount off any treatment if you book with her. (Mondays only) Rocksea Beauty rockseabeauty.co.uk 21 Richardson Road, Hove. BN3 5RB Telephone: 01273-772338

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| BUSINESS

MUMTREPRENUER RO C K + C A N DY S P E A K TO I N T E N S O O W N E R M A RT I N A

Photographer, coffee shop owner and mum to four children under ten-yearsold, Martina Preston-Powers heralds a new generation of multitasking parents. In 2003 Martina arrived from the Czech Republic with £40 in her pocket and has never looked back. Meeting her Company Director and inventor of the Carkoon baby car seat Jullian, at the old Dragons gym in 2005, Martina says she knew he was the one at first sight. 12 years later together the family have settled next to Hove Park and Rock and Candy stops in for a visit to see how on earth she manages it all... R&C: “What drives you to tackle each morning with such a brood of children needing to get washed, dressed, fed and to school?” MPP: “Well, we have a system. My husband gets into the bath and I hand him the children one-by-one. He scrubs them and hands them back to me for dressing. Whilst he’s getting his suit on for work, I’m downstairs feeding and

checking homework assignments. He helps get shoes on and gear into the people carrier and then they all leave with him on the journey to school and nursery. Simple!” R&C: “Did you ever imagine being just in your mid-thirties and having such a large family?”

account number, the company can misbill you, or anyone could order goods and charge to your account. We have been debt free from day one. Suppose many businesses can say that these days.” R&C: “Any advice for our mothers our there?”

MPP: “When I reached my midtwenties, I knew I wanted children. When my husband picked up a baby girl at the gym with his big arms, I knew I was not going to be single or without children from long. It was all very natural.”

MPP: “Don’t let stress or poor diet make you lazy. Get up, get cracking and get the things you need to accomplish done with no procrastination. Eat Japanese food too - you will feel so much better.”

R&C: “You have run the successful Intenso Espresso Bar in Hove for 11 years now. How did you keep the oldest coffee shop on Portland Road above water during a recession?”

Intenso intensocafe.com 236 Portland Rd, Portslade Hove BN3 5QT 01273 279 073

MPP: “One key rule; do not let any vendor overcharge or any supplier open a credit account for you; pay for goods on arrival. Full stop. If you have an

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WORK FROM YOUR PHONE AROUND YOUR BUSY LIFESTYLE

WWW.MUMSTHATBOSS.CO.UK Follow me:

Charlotte Lottie Bryan Charlotte_Lottie_Bryan

| BUSINESS

MUMS THAT BOSS H O W I T U R N E D M Y F O RT U N E S RO U N D By Charlotte Bryan

I’m a mummy of two beautiful boys, previously I was a nail technician for 11 years which was my own business. I’ve always had a very good work ethic, been reliable and wanted more from life, so was willing to work hard. After having my first son I had a pretty serious car accident whilst out working my nail tech job. I was mobile so always driving around in my car, this left me with pretty nasty neck and shoulder pain. After the accident I had to have a month off as that’s all I could afford to do. If I didn’t work I didn’t get paid and with my son and a flat to run I had to return far to soon. I spent approximately £200 a month on treatments to be comfortable enough to struggle working three to four days a week, I was also putting my son into nursery for three full days.

I was looking for another way to make an income, but what? I had worked for myself for 11 years, thinking I had time and freedom, how wrong was I! During my time back working I fell pregnant with my second son, after having him I really didn’t want to go back to my nail technician job. I now had three stone to lose of baby weight, I kept seeing the products being posted on social media and just thought why not? I started my new healthy eating journey which changed so much for me. Previously my lifestyle and relationship with food was so bad, I suffered with horrific headaches and thought at the time I had something seriously wrong with me, but it was just due to my poor diet.

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I’m now headache free, three stone gone forever and I’m now on a mission to inspire and help other mummies and families gain health and wealth. I’m a true believer that when women come together we can make amazing things happen. I started my business at the beginning of my new healthy lifestyle journey, I just thought what do I have to lose? So I invested the very small fee of £50 to buy my own franchise that has now absolutely turned my life around, gaining time and financial freedom. I’m now a six figure earner in just three short years from starting my part time business working from my mobile phone.

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KENNEDY STREET & CO C R E AT I N G A C O M M U N I T Y T H AT C A R E S By Clare Kennedy (Wife of Coronation Street’s ‘Curly Watts’)

Kennedy St & Co are a social enterprise, community-centric organisation that invests 100% of its profits into supporting the community of Brighton and Hove. We run many projects under our umbrella, but at our core are a team of highly experienced, trained recovery and wellbeing coaches. They work across the city to support families, individuals and businesses out of hopelessness through recovery from drugs and alcohol, employability training and clean affordable housing. Our vision is to build a healthier, safer more inclusive community that cares. Projects: At the Wellbeing and Recovery Consultancy, we offer one-to-one recovery, wellbeing, life and social entrepreneur coaching. We also run bespoke training programs that are delivered by our coaches into businesses, charities and social enterprises. While on our program, our coaches volunteer in a variety of hard to reach community projects. At Kennedy St we like to concentrate on what’s strong, not with what’s wrong. We live in the solution, rather than the problem.

Connections is a weekly networking and mentor match group, that brings the corporate sector and support community together. It’s the first of its kind in Brighton, encouraging and supporting those choosing transformation, providing networking opportunities for the self employed, social entrepreneurs, corporates, local businesses and communities to come together. Beauty (Sponsorship needed) We are looking to support hard to reach young ladies into Self employment as Trainee mobile beauticians , health, recovery and wellbeing coaches. We currently volunteer once weekly at ‘Safehaven for Women’ group at St Peters church. We, with safehaven team create a beautiful environment for women from hard to reach communities; a place to have a free meal, feel pampered and grow healthy, supportive, loving female relationships. Our Kennedy St mentors help coach women choosing recovery, onto a transformational path via recovery & employability training, we also offer support to the new Mother and Baby group, which helps single mothers often

fleeing from domestic violence and/or starting a new transformational life. The Reel Production Company are a film and multimedia production company. We make corporate shorts for forward thinking enterprises and work regularly with the community channel Latest TV among other channels, ITV’s ‘This Morning’ and ‘Loose Women’. Socially scrumptious trades in delicious food and drink, we train, employ and help build an exceptional career for our clients so they can plan and provide for a great future. All profits from these not for profit businesses are ploughed back into Kennedy Street & Co CiC, providing essential funds to maintain and support our communities need. Kennedy Street & Co Clare Kennedy www.kennedystreetcic.co.uk

clare@kennedystreetcic.co.uk 07775 737 314

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