Over 20 pages of top tips for fitness and well-being
THE LATEST MUST-HAVE FASHION FROM LALAGE BEAUMONT IN WILMSLOW
SARAH-JANE CRAWFORD Why the Bowdon presenter is one to watch in 2025 PAINTING A PICTURE Exploring the artists worth investing in GO WANDERING From The Sandstone Trail to Chester City Walls, the best winter walks
Cra ed in three different sizes, the Mosaic ring showcases each diamond cut at its best. Emerald cut facets provide angular contrast to the fire of oval and pear cut diamonds, whose curves and points are carefully placed to give each ring its unique shape.
Each diamond in this collection is individually selected by our team. The largest of the three rings, pictured above, features six GIA certified D colour diamonds, ranging from VS1 to VS2 clarity.
Top, 19-20-027, £86,050
Right, 49-07-003, £310,100 Le , 49-01-056, £23,050
HANDMADE BY PRESTONS
Under the guidance of our Workshop Manager, Lorne Mehlstaubler, our goldsmiths and gemsetters work with both traditional and modern techniques to create beautiful, timeless jewellery for each of our in-house collections.
AT OUR LONDON WORKSHOP, 8 ELY PLACE
NEW COLLECTION
Inspired by our heritage, designed for the modern bedroom. The Iconic Collection features floating beds with unparalleled comfort and exclusive fabrics. Handmade in Sweden
NEW ARRIVAL Bed: Hällsö Walnut I MattressFabric: Kvadrat’s Fjord 0322 I Rug: Hemsedal 2300 I Bed Linen: Vindstilla I Headboard: Pinnö
Here is your Invitation to Transform your Everyday
Imagine a place where you come first. Where your well-being becomes priority. Unwind, recharge, and savour life’s moments, all in one exceptional destination.
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MARK KEBBLE
ART DIRECTOR
PAWEL KUBA
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Cheshire CHATTER
A new year - and a new nameas Jennifer Delgado aims to start as she means to go on
It’s a new year folks! The Christmas trees are down for another year and, for most of us, we don’t want to see another piece of turkey or a Quality Street again for quite some time.
I don’t know about you, but there’s something about the start of a brand new year that brings so much optimism and opportunity. In business, it’s often time to start implementing everything you planned in December. In life, it can be anything you want it to be.
It’s the perfect time to make a to do list of everything you want to achieve this year. Want to book that trip? Do it. Fancy a career change? Do it. There’s no time like the present.
Personally, for me the last 12 months have seemed like a whirlwind, from moving house to getting married and running a business – it can sometimes feel very overwhelming. And as I’ve gotten older, the things I choose to spend my time doing or my energy on have become the smaller things in life.
I’m a big believer in protecting your energy, time and mental health, which has only come from doing the absolute opposite if I’m honest. The first few years in business I was on 24/7 and eventually I burned out. From that moment, I really have made a promise to myself (and my husband!) to never get to that point again.
This month I will be…
IT'S TIME FOR A FRESH START
So this year I won’t be promising to go to the gym three times a week, or trying Veganuary, or doing my first dance on TikTok. I’m simply going to continue to spend time with the people who make me happy, protect my energy and focus on growing the business I started all those years ago, which every year I pinch myself that it all became a reality. I shall also be tackling every episode of The Real Housewives available whilst manifesting James Norton as being announced as the next James Bond. Whatever your goals look like in 2025, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It doesn’t have to be ‘New Year, New You’, it can be ‘New Year, same fabulous you’.
• Heading for bottomless brunch at Opera Grill in Chester.
• Taking a trip to the Hollies Farm Shop for some yummy treats.
• Going to Storyhouse to watch Rent in the cinema.
JENNIFER DELGADO
THE NEXT JAMES BOND?
Wish LIST
Max sparkle
Celia B's new collection features sequins, feathers, bright colours and luxe fabrics. celiab.com
ELECTRIC BLUE
Acqua di Parma's latest collection is a polysensorial journey through India Mahdavi’s interpretation of Italian architecture’s classical codes with a twist of her characteristic wit and colour. And it smells great too. acquadiparma.com
SHIMMER SHAPE
At Amelie's Follies you'll fi nd a selection of stylish sparkly lingerie for gi ing or keeping. ameliesfollies.co.uk
TWINKLE TOES
Genevieve Sweeney's fabulous sock collection includes a nice line in sparkly options – and when you sign up to their subscription service, you'll receive a pair each month. genevievesweeney.com
SHINE ON
These beautiful hinged hoop earrings are made in 18ct gold plated silver. They feature a kaleidoscope of purple, blue and green cubic zirconia. catherinezoraida.com
GOLD STANDARD
Anthropologie has teamed up with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, unveiling a limited-edition homeware collection inspired by the Gilded Age of America to bring a touch of opulence into contemporary living spaces. anthropologie.com
GOLD LEAF
This gold leaf-effect star table lamp is cra ed from beautiful fabric designed to look purposely vintage-style and distressed. It adds a fabulous pop of shine and personality, £65. rockettstgeorge.co.uk
SILVER SERVICE
The Chanel Makeup Creation Studio has captured the wonders of winter and distilled them into shades of makeup. Valentina Li has developed a collection of brilliant shades that could warm up even the most frosty of nights, infusing every look with a hint of magic. chanel.com
GRANNY CHIC
Inspired by antique coin purses from the Victorian era, Vivienne Westwood's silk-blend Granny Frame purse features a classic metal kiss-lock frame and a refi ned top handle, £280. viviennewestwood.com
RIVETING NEWS
Alaia's studded ballet fl ats in lamb's leather have a cute round-toed shape and an adjustable buckle fastening, £920. selfridges.com
CULTURE
SCI-FI FILM SERIES
THROUGHOUT JANUARY, JODRELL BANK
Warm up at Jodrell and settle in for a month of sci-fi films in their Space Dome. Dive into a galaxy of wonder with this epic sci-fi film series. From the mind-bending adventures of Hitchhikers and Blade Runners to the heart warming tale of Wall-E and big ideas of Interstellar, they’ve got something for every sci-fi fan at Jodrell Bank. jodrellbank.net
The Agenda
Ray Perez
UNTIL 15 FEBRUARY, NANTWICH MUSEUM
Landscapes to Surrealism is by local artist Ray Perez. The vibrant pictures employ a variety of techniques including watercolour, gouache, oil, acrylic and coloured pencil to portray a wide variety of subjects. Ray says: "It is the colours, textures and shapes which interest me. My aspiration is to get the viewer to look closely at my paintings, not just to pass by, then appreciate how things can be taken from a 3D view and placed into 2D view in the form of a painting."
nantwichmuseum.org.uk
MUSIC
Magnum
22 January
MANCHESTER ACADEMY 1
There are only a few great bands that you can identify within the first few bars of one of their songs. With their unique melodic skill and of course that charismatic voice, Magnum fall into this category of rock royalty. Formed in 1972 by songwriter/guitarist Tony Clarkin and singer Bob Catley, the former passed away in 2024, and in his honour Magnum will reform to perform a tribute show for him. manchesteracademy.net
31 January
THE LYCEUM THEATRE CREWE
Ex-special forces soldier, star of TV’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, Inside The Real Narcos and author of the number one bestseller Battle Scars, Jason Fox, will bring to the stage and on tour the story of his daring exploits in a distinguished career as an elite operator in the UK Special Forces (SBS). trafalgartickets.com
NOSFERATU
From 1 January STORYHOUSE
Now here’s something to a put a chill into the new year… Starring Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron TaylorJohnson, Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe, Simon McBurney, and Ralph Ineson, Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu is a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her. storyhouse.com
EVENT
Strictly Come Dancing Live
28-29 January
LIVERPOOL M&S BANK ARENA
The full line-up of celebrities for the Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Tour has been announced.
Actor Jamie Borthwick; opera singer Wynne Evans; singer, TV presenter and author JB Gill; Gladiator Montell Douglas; actress Sarah Hadland; singer Shayne Ward; and model Tasha Ghouri will hit the road in January 2025.
StrictlyComeDancingLive.com
3-12 JANUARY, PARR HALL
anto in January? Oh yes it is… Starring Anne Hegerty from ITV’s The Chase, join Cinderella at Parr Hall, on her quest to win the heart of the dashing Prince Charming, with a little help from her best friend Buttons and the enchanting Fairy Godmother. But with her evil Ugly Sisters determined to ruin her chances and the clock about to strike midnight, will Cinders manage to win the Prince’s love before the spell runs out? culturewarrington.org
A machine embroidery artist from Sandbach will be starring at an exhibition in London
Christine Cole, a retired teacher from near Sandbach, has successfully entered The Broderers’ Exhibition with a piece of machine embroidered artwork called the “The Cottage Garden”. Organised by The Worshipful Company of Broderers, the exhibition is held every two years and celebrates hand and machine embroidery. Christine’s work, which was submitted earlier this year and judged by an expert panel, beat off stiff competition with the exhibition having attracted ‘many very high-quality artworks’ according to the event organisers.
Speaking of the achievement, Christine says: “I’m over the moon that one of my pieces has been judged by embroidery experts to be worthy of featuring in such a prestigious exhibition. Having enjoyed the experience of exhibiting at the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition this year, I can’t wait to head back down to the City once again next year – this time to the banks of the River Thames.”
Throughout the summer, another of Christine’s pieces of art, “Pont Cym-yr-Afon”, adorned the walls of the Royal Academy of Arts, having been selected from over 16,000 entries to the Summer Exhibition. It sold on the first day – to someone from Middlewich as it so happened. She will now head down to London in February 2025 to hand deliver her next piece for The Broderers’ Exhibition, which opens at Bankside Gallery on 25th February until 2nd March.
broderers-exhibition.co.uk
PHOTO: DAVE GILLESPIE
to
ONE WATCH
With a varied career that has taken in presenting at music festivals and on TV, to now running her own beauty brand, is there nothing Sarah-Jane Crawford can’t do?
At Absolutely we always seek out individuals who inspire and uplift, embodying ambition and joy in everything they do. To kick o our 2025 profiles, we couldn’t think of anyone better than Sarah-Jane Crawford – someone who embraces every opportunity with passion and a fearless drive to make her mark .
The Bowdon local is one of the leading lights of UK TV and radio, having spent the last 15 years at the helm of her craft. With the genesis of her career being a long-term partnership with Channel 4 on its iconic T4 and E4 music youth programming strands, she then navigated an 8-year stint as a radio host on BBC’s Radio 1 and 1xtra, as well as presenting as a VJ on several of MTV’s channels. As a result, she cemented herself as a beloved and familiar personality
in the homes of today’s millennials. It was a varied start to her career, which perhaps mirrors Sarah-Jane’s own start to life. “My childhood was full of a lot of love and security,” she smiles. “I say this because I was adopted a few months old and I really feel like it was a huge blessing to be part of a family who really wanted children and were in a position to look after them to the best of their ability.
“My dad, who adopted me with my mum, sadly passed away when I was a young girl, so that was pretty traumatic and I think a ected the way that I now relate to anxiety here and there, but outside of that I really enjoyed school and felt like I had lots of meaningful friendships.
“I spent time in South London and then moved out to the countryside so I’ve had lots of di erent experiences in my childhood.”
At this stage, did she show a penchant for what would come in her future career?
“I loved the idea of performing and the entertainment industry, and from as young as
my eldest daughter is now I was in love with the reruns of that TV adaptation of FAME. I would put on shows in my living room to emulate the characters. When I got to 18, just before I did the reality show Shipwrecked and half way through Uni degree, my mum made me laugh as she said ‘you should do something that involves you talking for a living, that would work well’. As a young girl I had wanted to be an actress, but I also like the idea of being a louder more flamboyant version of myself – someone that was able to share stories and have conversations on air. I’ve also always been interested in people and understanding what makes them tick (I studied sociology and psychology at A-level to get it out of my system), so to be able to sit down and interview people was always inherently very interesting to me.”
As part of her work with T4 and E4, she found herself on plenty of red carpets, meeting the great and the good of the world of celebrity. Did anyone really stand out back then? “I will never forget the interview
“I wanted my kids to see that I was happy with what God had given me”
with Robert De Niro mainly because it made me giggle to see the producer starstruck,” she laughs. “It was wonderful to see everyone appreciating the presence of such a legendary actor – even though he didn’t say much during the interview!”
Her career continued to evolve and she presented as a co-host on two seasons of World’s Strongest Man for Channel 5, and three years hosting The MOBO Awards for ITV and BBC One. “I’ve grown up being obsessed with the MOBOs so to host them on three di erent occasions – once with a Spice Girl (Mel B), another time with the legendary Trevor Nelson, and once my own – were lovely moments. I also hosted what used to be called T in the Park with Greg James and recently did a private DJ gig at Glastonbury which was another highlight,” she adds about her musical stand outs.
Today, as a mum of two (she is married to Brian Barry-Murphy, a well-known football coach and manager), family is helping to shape her even more. “I think it allowed me to focus on someone else that wasn’t me in a very well rounded way,” she says on becoming a mother.
“Motherhood made me less self obsessed and also allowed me to not take it so personally if I’d receive a rejection in the industry, particularly as I get so much for fulfilment from my family.
“It was also the reason why I started my own non-toxic brand, Clean Curls,” she adds. “Firstly, I wanted my kids to see that I was happy with what God had given me, my curls, and stopped straightening my hair, and secondly I wanted to create a product that was clean enough and safe enough to also use on them. Becoming a founder and a business owner of a product now on the shelves in store has been a hugely rewarding process, which I probably needed at this time in my life after 17 years of the entertainment industry.”
That’s not to say she has left entertainment for good – today, Sarah-Jane hosts daily shows on Bauer Media’s and ARIAS Station of the year 2022, Hits Radio, and is a regular face presenting VTs and hosting items for BBC One’s Morning Live and Sunday Morning Live – so, intrigued, Absolutely asks her about a typical day. “A typical day would be to walk the dog, try to get the gym done and then get the kids ready for school. Brian is normally on food duty and sorts out breakfast, and I am getting them clean ready and of course sorting out their hair,” she smiles. “After they have been dropped o , I will do some work on my brand, speak to some of my contractors, my manufacturer, my buyers, and later on in the day I head over to Hits Radio. My husband and I take turns picking up the kids from nursery school, depending on our work schedules. There will be occasions
where I will be filming a show so will be out of action and consumed in that morning until night or maybe by a brand campaign. And same for Brian, as he’s a football manager, they will often travel and be away.”
Sarah-Jane currently lives in Bowdon, but is preparing to move. “We just sold a house and we’re about to move into a new one literally two minutes down the road, but a new build version. While waiting for our new house to be ready, we’re temporarily in Didsbury, which has been a refreshing change from Altrincham.”
As a wife, mother of two, and creator, it’s clear Sarah-Jane stands up for what she believes in, embodying and promoting authenticity, self-love, clean living, positive body image and integrity, all the while hoping that her values will be imparted to her young daughters, Summer and Bonnie. With plenty on the slate for 2025 – “I’ve recorded a couple of TV shows that are airing in the new year so I’m excited for those, more fun with my weekly shows on Hits Radio, I’m launching a podcast and my brand Clean Curls will continue to grow, so watch this space” – Absolutely feels rest assured that there will always be plenty to talk about when catching up with Sarah-Jane Crawford.
Sarah-Jane Crawford is owner of Clean Curls – find out more at cleancurls.co.uk Sarahjanecrawford IG
SARAH-JANE FOUNDED CLEAN CURLS
WORTH THE INVESTMENT
From Victor Guedy to Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, art collector and design concierge founder, Hannah Tsurkan, reveals the artists and sculptors set to be big in 2025
CAMILLE HANNAH, LAKSHMIBAI 2024
Hannah Tsurkan is founder of Agora Project Management, an end-to-end luxury construction and development company that doesn’t just build beautiful, mindful properties from the ground up across the UK – it also sources rare works of art, vintage furniture, and exquisite sculptures for its clients as part of its premium interior design concierge.
Alongside its design partners, Agora Project Management has sourced a wide array of works, from Francis Bacon and Jackson Pollock to Fernando Botero and Rothko, as well as rare works by the Albers (from both Anni and Josef.) The company also regularly sources mid-century pieces for the home and decorative final touches –even some very rare handbags for clients.
Having come from an artistic background herself, both in jewellery design and fine art, Hannah has a keen and trained eye for even the smallest of details, and she’s never far
“IT'S ABOUT FINDING SOMETHING TIMELESS THAT WILL ENRICH YOUR LIFE”
away from an auction house, gallery, or art exhibition. She is also a collector herself.
Hannah says: “Art isn’t just a finishing touch, it’s the core of a room; a focal point that makes you feel something every time you look at it, as well as in most occasions centre of your whole design.
“Investing in art is about more than just immediate aesthetic appeal,” she continues, “it’s about finding something timeless that will inspire and enrich your life for years to come, while also increasing in financial value.”
Here, Hannah writes about some of the artists and sculptors that UHNW clients are investing in right now – and may be worth your consideration too.
VICTOR GUEDY
When I met Victor, we had an immediate connection, rooted in our shared passion for artistry. Coming from a jeweller’s bench since the age of five, I understood his dedication to craftsmanship and the meticulous touch that defines his work.
Victor Guedy started o by learning stone carving, before working with big names in architecture, art, and design, such as Joseph Dirand, Harumi Klossowska de Rola, and Raphael Navot. Now he’s an artist and sculptor in his own right.
MIKE DARGAS, LIFE FULLY COLOURED
HANNAH TSURKAN
Victor’s sculptures are minimalist, almost futuristic; raw but elegant, creating a unique tension between material and movement. One of my favourite pieces from Guedy is Random Vanitas III: Bananas – it’s made of rough bronze, again, elegant but raw; not too polished. His pieces look great in any style of room – whether minimalist, industrial, Scandi, art deco, or traditional.
MARK DARGAS
While Mark Dargas is not a brand-new artist, his work is absolutely extraordinary – he’s single handedly redefining portraiture with paintings that almost seem to breathe, they’re so realistic. Mark’s attention to detail means he’s able to capture the subtle emotions and nuances of his subjects in a way that feels deeply personal; it almost feels as though you’re looking at a photograph. His honey series has been my absolute favourite.
DIM ATELIER
Vladimir Slavov’s atelier is a sanctuary for artistic exploration, I always get lost in there for hours. In his work he explores the complex relationship between light, shapes and their reflections, and the impact these things have on their environment. Slavov mainly creates beautiful lighting pieces, but they truly are works of art.
TUNJI ADENIYI-JONES
Tunji’s work is an explosion of colour, with vibrant, elongated figures dancing across the canvas, creating a semblance of rhythm and energy that’s contagious. Tunji is fast becoming a favourite with collectors who value bright colours and cultural influences. His work is deeply inspired by his West African heritage.
SIGRID LUITSALU
Sigrid Luitsalu is an Estonian glass artist based in Tallinn. Luitsalu’s work explores patterns found in nature and the human psyche, drawing inspiration from the continuous transformation and growth inherent in both.
In 2020, she established her own glass studio, where she o ers glass courses and creative coaching. Her recent solo exhibition, Inner Patterns of Repetition, held at HOP Gallery, Tallinn, in 2023, delved
“TUNJI ADENIYIJONES' WORK IS AN EXPLOSION OF COLOUR”
SOUGWEN CHUNG, 2020 SKETCH
TUNJI ADENIYI-JONES, BLUE DANCER
CAMILLE HANNAH, BOUDOIR 2024
into the complexities of repetition and di erence, featuring delicate glass objects crafted using the pâte de verre technique. This technique became popular again during the Art Nouveau period, predominately in France, with artists such as Gabriel Argy-Rousseau, Henry and Jean Cros, and Emile Gallé among others fine honing the technique.
SOUGWEN CHUNG
I discovered Chung fairly recently, and it’s a bit of a di erent one for me, as I myself have written articles about not relying too heavily on technology or going too far down the AI rabbit hole. However, you can’t deny that Chung’s work is striking, and I’ve found there’s a growing wave of collectors who are looking for the next best thing; something exciting and innovative, not just oil on canvas.
Sougwen merges human creativity with machine learning, using robotic systems to produce intricate, ethereal drawings that explore the evolving relationship between humans and machines. While this may feel rather dystopian to some, I think there is some beauty in this – plus, her shows remind me of the 1999 Alexander McQueen show.
MINJUNG KIM
Speaking of South Korean artists, an artist a few of my clients have directed me to recently (usually it’s the other way around!) is Minjung Kim. I actually saw ‘Traces, 2024’ in this year’s Unlimited section at Art Basel, and immediately felt drawn to it –it’s a large-scale piece that is a captivating exploration of material and repetition.
Minjung Kim innovates using Hanji paper, traditionally limited to two metres in length to create unmonumental tryptic – this works together to form a continuous landscape, reflecting on physicality, breath, and a passage of time.
Her work is worth checking out, she’s at several prominent galleries around the world including Almine Rech, Leslie Sacks Gallery, Gallery Hyundai, Patrick Hyde Contemporary Art, and Galerie Volker Diehl.
GEORGE ROUY
George Rouy creates surreal, distorted figures that challenge traditional representations of the human body. For his latest series, BODYSUIT, he actually worked with a choreographer to ensure he got the movement right – I find you can stare at his works for hours.
George really pushes the boundaries of figurative painting, and his bold, provocative style has started to attract a following of collectors who love to be questioned by what’s in front of them. I absolutely adore his work.
CAMILLE HANNAH
Camille has become really popular with collectors over the last five years or so. She uses oil on convex aluminium surfaces, creating 3D works that are as much about texture, as they are about visual form – they’re almost liquid-like.
Camille’s works are great for modern, minimalist or industrial spaces as they almost jump out at you from a pale wall. You can find her in both the Saatchi and HOFA Galleries in London.
PAULINE ROY GRAVURES
I came to know of Pauline Roy when visiting the 2024 Collectible Fair in Brussels, her pieces have been very popular because of the sheer level of detail. To me, her work speaks for itself: she creates great modern-day pieces that will e ortlessly enhance any interior. They’re very versatile pieces – they literally fit anywhere.
There’s a delicate balance between texture and transparency in her work, and her mastery of sandblasting brings out the unique character of glass. She’s deeply inspired by nature, and the beauty, strength and fragility that comes with that.
agoraprojectmanagement.com
“I FIND YOU CAN STARE AT GEORGE ROUY'S WORK FOR HOURS”
“HISTORIC SPACES ARE TRANSFORMED INTO WINTER WONDERLANDS”
Walk o the festive excess by tackling an adventure on one of these beautiful trails, perfect for all the family
Wtinter in Cheshire transforms its historic spaces into picturesque wonderlands, making it the perfect destination for families looking to enjoy outdoor adventures. Here are ten fantastic winter walks to take with your family this month.
DELAMERE FOREST
Delamere Forest is Cheshire’s largest woodland area, o ering a range of walking routes perfect for a winter family outing. During winter, the forest is particularly magical, with frosty mornings transforming the trees into a sparkling, snow-dusted wonderland. There are various trails of di ering lengths, so you can tailor the walk to suit your family’s pace.
THINGS TO DO
Forest adventure: Let the children explore the forest’s natural playground. The Gru alo Trail is a fun way for young ones to get involved as they search for wooden sculptures of beloved characters. Wildlife spotting: Delamere is home to a variety of wildlife, including red squirrels, birds, and deer. Keep an eye out for tracks in the snow, and enjoy a quiet, peaceful walk with the occasional sighting of local fauna. Take a break: At the end of your walk, stop by the Delamere Forest Café for hot drinks and snacks. There’s also a picnic area if you prefer to bring your own winter feast.
TATTON PARK
Tatton Park, a 1,000-acre estate in Knutsford, o ers a perfect blend of natural beauty and historic charm. The grand country house, deer park, and gardens are surrounded by scenic walking routes. The winter months add a touch of magic to the estate, with frost-covered grounds and beautiful vistas across the lake.
THINGS TO DO
Deer Spotting: The park is home to a large herd of red deer. Winter is an ideal time for seeing these magnificent creatures as they roam the estate.
Visit the Mansion: After your walk, take the family to the Tatton Park Mansion, where you can explore its rooms and exhibits. The house is beautifully decorated for the season and often hosts winter-themed events.
Winter Trails: During winter, there are special themed trails for families, including a festive trail with clues and activities.
BEESTON CASTLE
Perched atop a rocky hill, Beeston Castle o ers breathtaking views across Cheshire and beyond. The walk to and from the castle itself is a moderately challenging route, but the stunning panoramas at the summit make it well worth the e ort.
THINGS TO DO
Explore Beeston Castle: After your walk, visit the ruins of Beeston Castle. While it may be a little cold in the winter, the castle’s history and strategic position are fascinating, and there are interactive exhibits for children.
Wildlife spotting: The surrounding woodland area is a great spot for spotting winter birds. Children will
love identifying local wildlife and learning about the natural world. Picnic with a view: The top of the hill provides a perfect spot for a family picnic (bring a thermos of hot chocolate) before heading back down
CHESTER CITY WALLS
For families looking for a more urban winter walk, the Chester City Walls o er a historical journey through the heart of one of England’s most beautiful cities. The walk follows the Roman-era walls that once protected Chester, giving you a bird’s-eye view of the city’s landmarks, from the River Dee to the stunning Chester Cathedral.
THINGS TO DO
History hunts: Children can enjoy a mini scavenger hunt by looking for hidden symbols and learning about the walls' history. Chester’s Visitor Centre often o ers family-friendly activity sheets.
Winter Markets: If you’re visiting in January, Chester’s Winter Markets are a must-visit, located just outside the walls. Explore the Rows: After completing the wall walk, head down to Chester’s medieval Rows, a unique series of two-
tiered shopping galleries. It’s the perfect place to find gifts or grab a bite to eat.
JODRELL BANK OBSERVATORY
For a winter walk with a di erence, Jodrell Bank Observatory o ers a fascinating combination of nature and science. Located near Macclesfield, Jodrell Bank is home to the iconic Lovell Telescope, one of the largest radio telescopes in the world. While the winter days can be cold, the grounds surrounding the observatory o er a lovely place to walk.
THINGS TO DO
Space adventures: Take a tour of the observatory’s visitor centre, which includes interactive exhibits about space exploration and the telescope’s history. This is a great way to engage older children in science and astronomy. Stargazing: If the weather is clear, stargazing can be a magical winter activity. Jodrell Bank hosts occasional public viewing events, which could be a memorable experience for the whole family. Explore the gardens: The grounds of the observatory are lovely for a winter walk, with a mix of open spaces and wooded areas.
BEESTON CASTLE
TATTON PARK
DELAMERE FOREST
MOULTON AND WEAVER WAY
Moulton, a village near Winsford, is home to the scenic Weaver Way, which runs alongside the River Weaver. The trail is particularly lovely in the winter, as the river and surrounding fields create a peaceful atmosphere, perfect for a winter stroll. The walk is mostly flat, making it ideal for families with children in tow.
THINGS TO DO
Birdwatching: The area is well known for its birdlife, so bring binoculars for a chance to spot winter birds such
as swans and ducks on the river.
Winter photography: The riverbank and fields are picturesque, especially when coated in a light dusting of frost or snow. It’s a great opportunity for family photos. Village walk: After your walk, explore Moulton village, which has quaint local shops and places to warm up with hot drinks.
THE SANDSTONE TRAIL
The Sandstone Trail is one of Cheshire’s most famous long-distance paths, and while it can be a challenge, it is worth considering if you’re looking for an adventure. The trail runs from Frodsham to Whitchurch and o ers dramatic views over the Cheshire Plain, especially when the surrounding countryside is covered in frost. This will certainly work o that Christmas excess.
THINGS TO DO
Split the walk: You don’t need to tackle the entire 34 miles. The trail can be completed in sections, making it suitable for families with older children
Cafe bites: After your walk, head to the park’s café for a hot drink or snack. Scavenger hunt: Bring along a winterthemed scavenger hunt or activity sheet to keep younger children entertained as they explore the park.
BOLLIN VALLEY WAY
The Bollin Valley Way is a scenic walking route that follows the River Bollin, o ering a peaceful, rural setting for a winter walk. Harpers' Green is a particularly nice starting point, with easy access to the valley trail.
THINGS TO DO
who are up for a bit of a challenge. Enjoy the views: The high sandstone ridges o er panoramic views that are particularly striking in the winter. Stop for a rest and enjoy the scenery, which can be even more magical with mist or snow. Historic sites: Along the way, you’ll pass historic sites such as the medieval castle ruins at Beeston, which provide a fun exploration spot for kids.
MARBURY COUNTRY PARK
Marbury Country Park, located near Northwich, is a peaceful spot perfect for a short winter walk. The park has a variety of easy trails that wind through woodlands and around Budworth Mere, a picturesque lake that is especially beautiful when surrounded by winter frost.
THINGS TO DO
Wildlife watching: Marbury Park is a fantastic place to spot winter wildlife, including birds like kingfishers and waterfowl. Kids will love the excitement of seeing animals in their natural habitat.
Explore the riverbank: The walk along the river is serene and picturesque, with plenty of opportunities for families to enjoy a relaxing stroll. Winter picnic: If the weather is clear, enjoy a picnic by the river, complete with thermos drinks to keep everyone warm. Wildlife watching: Keep an eye out for river birds and animals along the way, there are plenty to see.
LYMM DAM
Lymm Dam, located near the village of Lymm, is a lovely place to visit during winter. The walk around the dam is short and suitable for families with younger children. The area’s wintery beauty, with the lake often reflecting the bare trees and frosty landscape, is peaceful and perfect for an easy winter outing.
THINGS TO DO
Feed the ducks: Children will love feeding the ducks and geese around the dam. Just be sure to bring appropriate food for them, such as birdseed or vegetables. Explore Lymm Village: After your walk, explore the charming village of Lymm, with its local shops and cafés to warm up in.
JODRELL BANK
MARBURY COUNTRY PARK
FOOD & DRINK
ITALIAN AMBIENCE
SAN CARLO
This January, treat yourself to an authentic Italian dining experience at San Carlo, a renowned restaurant group known for its exquisite Italian cuisine and vibrant ambience. With a rich heritage and commitment to quality, San Carlo offers a diverse menu featuring traditional Italian dishes crafted from fresh, high-quality ingredients. From classic pasta and pizza to delectable seafood and meat dishes, every meal is a celebration of Italy's culinary artistry. sancarlo.co.uk
January can be a drag for many, so thank you Andrew Green for unveiling a brand new Sunday roast menu at Liverpool’s The Municipal Hotel & Spa MGallery. In his new role as executive head chef, he has concocted a reason to get out and about on Sundays this month, as well as working on a new menu available in The Seaforth restaurant.
The Sunday roast menu features expertly crafted roasts showcasing the finest local produce, accompanied by live music and vibrant ambiance in the stunning 100-cover dining destination. Starters include highlights such as Liverpool smokehouse salmon mousse and chicken liver parfait served with sourdough. For the main event, diners can choose from a selection of roasts, including Cumbrian sirloin of beef, panseared fillet of sea bass, herb-roasted breast of chicken, and a vegan roast of the week. For an added touch of indulgence, the menu also o ers luxurious sides including tru e and pecorino fries or pigs in blankets.
Appetite whetted, Absolutely sat down with Andrew to talk about his career, the Municipal Hotel attraction and what else is to come.
Q Were you interested in cooking from a young age?
A Cooking had never crossed my mind when I was in school, my intention was to go to college to complete my A-levels, and then go on to university. This was the same plan as most of my friends, so I decided to do the same. However, when I was 15-years-old, I got myself a pot wash job in my local Italian restaurant, which really opened my eyes to seeing chefs in action – this is where I started to fall in love with food. After every shift we were cooked a meal at the end of the night. These meals were not from the menu, but something authentic that the chefs and owners would eat. This really touched me and filled me with a curiosity for food and cooking. In school, we never actually did anything that inspired me to think about cooking, nor was there a TV show like today that gave you an insight, so
“IF YOU WANT TO LEARN PROPERLY, GO AND WORK IN THE BIG HOTELS”
my real first insight into cooking came from my days inside the kitchen of my first job.
Q When did cooking become a serious career consideration for you?
A Once I had completed my A-levels and I was at the crossroads of having to apply for university, I questioned myself as to why I was doing it. I said to myself you are very happy in doing what you are doing, I was very proud to work as a chef, I was earning what I thought was good money, so I decided to do it o cially as my career – but I said to myself if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this properly. So, I enrolled at catering college and did my new studies whilst I worked full time at a restaurant. My head chef always told me if you want to learn properly go and work in the big hotels in the future, explaining it was the best way to learn the ropes.
Q What was the first professional kitchen you worked in and how do you look back on the experience?
A Although I worked at the Italian restaurant from the age of 15 until I was 22, I never classed that as a professional kitchen, this was just a basic kitchen
serving good food. My real training started when I entered my first hotel, which was the Radisson Blu at Manchester airport. It was the largest hotel in the North West of England at the time with a multi award winning restaurant.
Q Did you learn something that has stayed with you throughout your career?
A The one thing I learned at the Radisson that has set me up for the rest of my working career is how to handle being busy and not to panic under pressure. I worked there for six years and to constantly be busy with no rest actually became the norm for me, so anything in the future after that felt easy. I am quite well known for my calm character, this comes from having the ability to handle pressure because of my past working experiences.
Q What other roles before The Municipal Hotel & Spa MGallery meant a lot to you?
A All my roles in the past have meant a great deal to me. Becoming executive chef at 26-years-old was a highlight, writing menus for 26 other UK properties was also very rewarding, opening a number of brandnew hotels gives you a great attachment
to them after you move. Being the longest serving chef of Manchester’s 5-star Lowry hotel is also a very proud title to have.
Q Would you say you have a particular style of cooking?
A I like to cook classical favourites, however done in a refined and elegant way. I really like to put the emphasis on the ingredients and showcase specialist suppliers, especially from the local area.
Q What was the attraction to the executive head chef role at The Municipal Hotel & Spa MGallery?
A The Municipal stood out to me as the best and only five-star hotel in the city, the attraction was heading up Liverpool’s best and most desired hotel.
Q Does the role oversee all the dining options at the hotel?
A As executive chef you are responsible for anything to do with the food o ering at the hotel, from breakfast to afternoon tea, to dinner. This is what I love most about hotels, there is so much to do and oversee, no two days are the same.
Q You recently launched a Sunday roast menu – how exciting was that to work on?
A Sunday roast is one of my favourite menus to bring into hotels. In one of my previous hotels we were awarded UK’s number one Sunday roast experience. Sunday is that one day where families make an e ort to get together and go out. The key is making it a ordable, but also o ering a quality experience so people will come again and again. We use the most premium beef that sets us apart from most, and all our components are homemade, which adds that extra bit of quality.
Q What can we find on the menu?
A I’ve stayed classical, but using the best ingredients. For example, we have homemade liver parfait, locally smoked salmon from our artisan salmon supplier here in Liverpool, traditional roast beef – but Himalayan salt aged local beef from the Lake District. All homemade desserts including our signature Salted Caramel Crème Brulée.
Q Are there ingredients you can’t get enough of right now?
A I really like smoking, fermenting, and pickling. There is a big emphasis on zero waste food at the moment and these techniques really intensify flavours and give di erent opportunities to use parts you would not typically use. My all-time favourite flavour is garlic – there’s so much you can do with garlic to give a di erent dimension of flavour.
Q Do you look to use local suppliers?
A I certainly do and will always do. I love to work with local suppliers. We have lots showcasing on our current menu.
Q What can we expect from you in 2025?
A We are constantly changing our menus in all areas of the hotel. It is my intention to get The Seaforth on the culinary map of Liverpool and become a destination restaurant in the area. I will continue to get involved with the local colleges to engage the next generation. We plan to hold many industry nights and guest chef events at the local colleges, as well as getting involved with the city’s top culinary events in the local area. Throughout the month of January, we will also be o ering guests the chance to try our A La Carte menu with 25% o from Sunday to Friday.
municipalhotelliverpool.com
Food for LIFE
Up your weekly plant intake with Tim Spector’s recipes for longevity
photography ISSY CROKER
Roasted Aubergine Traybake
Serves 4
Preparation time 15 minutes
Cook time 40 minutes
Traybakes are so simple to make, but the garnishes here make it look like a showstopper and bring the plant score up to 13, giving you plenty of polyphenols and a boost of fibre. The best entertaining recipes require very little active time in the kitchen, and this one fits the brief. Prepare the tray for baking in advance and pop it in the oven for 40 minutes before you plan to serve.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 x 400g tins chickpeas, drained and patted dry
• 350g cherry tomatoes
• 2 peppers, cut into 2cm chunks
• 200g halloumi, cut into 1cm cubes
• 3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 2½ tsp ground cumin
• 1½ tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 aubergines, halved
• 3 tbsp tahini
• 180ml kefir
• 2 tsp sumac
• 20g coriander, roughly chopped
• 4 spring onions, thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp pomegranate seeds
• Juice of lime
• Salt and black pepper
METHOD
1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/gas 6 and line two large baking trays with baking parchment.
2 Put the chickpeas, tomatoes, peppers, halloumi and garlic cloves on one tray with three-quarters each of the cumin, ground coriander and chilli powder. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Toss to coat.
3 Cut each aubergine in half lengthways and score a 2cm deep criss-cross pattern into the flesh of each one. Sprinkle with the remaining ground spices and drizzle with the remaining olive oil, season and place on the other baking tray. Place both trays in the oven for 40 minutes.
4 Mix the tahini, kefir and sumac in a bowl and season. When the vegetables are ready, squeeze the garlic from their skins into the sauce, mash them in and stir to combine.
5 Transfer the chickpeas, halloumi and veg to a serving dish and stir in three-quarters of the fresh coriander. Place the aubergine halves on top and scatter with the remaining coriander, spring onions, pomegranate seeds, lime juice and the sauce.
Sweetcorn and
Spinach Dhal
Serves 4
Preparation time 10 minutes Cook time 30 minutes
This is a great moment to incorporate those half-used bags of grains in the back of your cupboard. Simply add them to the dhal while cooking (making sure you extend the cooking time to the grain that takes the longest to cook), and you’ll have even more plants in your dish, plus you’ll be reducing food waste. The wide range of spices likewise add polyphenols and are great for your gut health. Feel free to use frozen sweetcorn instead of tinned if that’s what you have to hand – you may just need to add a little extra water.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 x 195g tins sweetcorn and their liquid
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1½ tsp chilli flakes
• 160g red split lentils
• 2 cubes of frozen spinach
• 2 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp dried curry leaves (optional)
• Salt and black pepper
METHOD
1 Empty 1 tin of sweetcorn and its liquid into a blender, add 550ml water and blend until smooth.
2 Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat and sauté the onion for 3 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
3 Add the ground spices and cook for 30 seconds, then stir in the lentils, frozen spinach, the blitzed sweetcorn stock and the remaining tin of sweetcorn and its liquid. Bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer gently for 15–20 minutes, or until the lentils are soft. Add a dash of water if the dhal becomes too thick. Season generously with salt and pepper.
4 Just before the dhal finishes cooking, heat the remaining olive oil in a small frying pan and add the cumin seeds and curry leaves (if using). Fry over a low–medium heat for about 1 minute, or until the seeds start to pop. Pour over the dhal, stir to combine and serve.
“Once you roast grains like this in the oven, you won’t look back”
Roasted Squash with
Toasted Grains
Serves 4
Preparation time 15 minutes
Cook time 45 minutes
Once you roast grains like this in the oven, you won’t look back – it’s the best topping to add texture to your meals. The relish adds a bright freshness, contrasting well with the sweet, so squash, and you can add any other seasonal veg to the recipe that you have to hand, like roasted beetroot or celeriac.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 large squash, deseeded, skin on, and cut into 2.5cm-thick slices
• 2 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 250g pre-cooked mixed grains
• 1 x 400g tin cannellini beans and their liquid
• 2 tbsp tahini
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 20g parsley, finely chopped
• 50g green olives, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• Salt and black pepper
METHOD
1 Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/375°F/gas 5 and line a large baking tray with baking parchment.
2 Place the squash and garlic cloves on the lined tray, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season well. Roast for 35 minutes.
3 Take the tray out of the oven and remove and set aside the garlic cloves. Scatter the pre-cooked grains over the squash and return to the oven for 10–15 minutes until the grains are crispy and the squash is soft.
4 Squeeze the cooked garlic from
its skin into a high-powered blender with the beans and their liquid, the tahini and lemon juice. Season and blitz until completely smooth.
5 Mix the parsley, olives, apple cider vinegar and remaining olive oil in a bowl and season. To serve, spread the blitzed cannellini beans onto a large serving dish, top with the squash and grains and scatter over the parsley and olive relish.
Extracted from The Food for Life Cookbook by Tim Spector (Jonathan Cape, £28). All photography by Issy Croker
“If the quality of your ingredients is good enough, then people will come back”
ASECRET ingredient
Wholesome and delicious Italian food is always on the menu at San Carlo
fter the excesses of Christmas, many of us are looking for some lighter options this month. In true Italian style, San Carlo uses only the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients, allowing these to shine. Many ingredients are flown in from produce markets across Italy to ensure authenticity. From 22 spectacular seafood dishes to the freshest antipasti, unrivalled grill specialities such as the tomahawk steak and a broad range of masterfully prepared meat, pizza, and pasta recipes, these dishes are designed to engage all of your senses and are cooked to order by each restaurant’s individual team of talented chefs.
“The key to everything is the quality of the ingredients, that is what it comes down to. Italian food is based on simple cooking. So if the quality of your ingredients is good enough, then people will come back,” says San Carlo CEO Marcello Distefano.
Healthy Menu Options for January include soups such as classic Minestrone or slow-cooked lentil and vegetable, while simple salads including chicken, tuna and bu alo mozzarella are perennial favourites.
Pollo Marinato is a popular dish of flattened chicken breast with a caper, butter and lemon sauce, while Tonno e Lenticchie is a delicious charcoal grilled yellowfin tuna served with tomato lentils that goes well with baby spinach sauteed with garlic oil and chilli.
Dessert spans delicious gelato and San Carlo’s famous pistachio or Italian style millefeuille cakes, tortes and mousses. All desserts are made daily in the patisserie kitchen. And there’s an expertly curated wine list with exclusively imported and great value house options, half bottles and great wines by the glass as well as some very rare and fine options. San Carlo o ers more than 150 wines to suit all tastes and pockets and friendly sommeliers are on hand to help choose, if needed. Salut!
sancarlo.co.uk
FASHION
Burning BRIGHT
BERRY’S JEWELLERS
The Ember collection from Berry’s Jewellers, with its dynamic interplay of spark and flame, invites wearers to embrace jewellery as an experience and a statement, celebrating both the power of nature and the inner fire that each piece evokes. Whether you prefer minimalist elegance or bold statement designs, Ember offers versatility for all tastes and styles.
Discover the Ember Collection in Berry’s boutiques and online at berrysjewellers.co.uk
BAGS of STYLE
Start 2025 with a vibrant new look, courtesy of Lalage Beaumont, whose handbags are available to buy at Hoopers Wilmslow
Forever love
Pop the question in 2025 with these dream rings
By CARLY GLENDINNING
JEMMA WYNNE
Emerald Cut Diamond 'Autumn' Ring in 18K White Gold, £POA jemmawynne.com
MICHELLE OH
18K Yellow Gold and White Marquise Diamond Ring, Price Upon Request michelle-oh.com
Krupa Purohit on her business Shree Jewellery and a new birthstone collection
Q Tell us a little bit about your background in jewellery?
A I come from a strong jewellery background and have enjoyed every day in this industry. My journey started with F Hinds Jewellers as a Christmas temp. It was my first job and gave me a great insight into the sparkling world of jewellery. From working with renowned watch brands to selling their high end diamond jewellery, every part of the journey has been exciting and added to my passion for this industry.
Q When did you launch Shree Jewellery?
GEM of an IDEA
We did very well during Covid selling directly to customers who resonated with the healing properties and energies in our jewellery.
Q Have you evolved in any way?
A Yes definitely. Many businesses came into the market soon after with similar products so it became competitive. The core objective of my business is to o er something di erent to retailers. We decided to stick to the core of our business, which is gemstones and their unique properties, but to present them in a di erent way.
We now focus on themes for our collections and design our jewellery so that it is parallel with current market trends, fashionable yet timeless, symbolic and personalised to the customer and good for gifting.
stones were rare in jewellers so we were
A I launched Shree in 2018. At that time my ambition was to promote the use of semi precious gemstones into mainstream jewellery. I wanted to bring crystals, healing stones and gemstones to the forefront of the industry as opposed to them being hidden in niche shops or new age shops. We came at a time when semi precious stones were rare in jewellers so we were immediately o ering a niche product. We were fortunate that many retailers liked our brand and o ering and gave us the opportunity to reach a wider audience.
Q What are your bestsellers?
A Our top selling pieces have always been the beaded bracelets. We sell hundreds even today to retailers and direct customers. Our collections also sell very well because they are focused on a theme or motif with a variety of options in gemstones.
Q What kind of things did you launch in 2024?
slim
pieces. We created this collection to fit
925 silver for longevity and durability,
A We launched our exciting Birthstones Collection in August 2024, which will run until the end of December 2025. It is a beautiful collection of lockets, studs, rings and Huggies. We often get asked by both retailers and customers to create something fresh and attractive covering the birthstones for each month. Birthstones are very personalised and symbolic to every female because it is a stone they connect with naturally. The options are very slim in the market with either CZ coloured stone jewellery or very expensive pieces. We created this collection to fit the customer in the middle who wants to spend more than £25, but not over £150. Each piece in this collection has been made using genuine birthstones including the precious stones which are always replicated with coloured CZ. The jewellery is delicate and feminine, ideal for daily wear and perfect if you want to jazz it up on a night out. It has been made in 925 silver for longevity and durability, and the CZ stones add the sparkle to enhance each piece beautifully.
shree-jewellery.com
Weighing UP
Steve Albon, Certified Personal Trainer and UK North Regional General Manager at Ultimate Performance, on the benefits of weight training as you age
Let’s face it: no-one wants to think about getting older. Or, more specifically, no-one wants to think about getting ‘old’. But the ageing process is inevitable. However, the fact that the global antiageing market is worth billions of pounds shows that the search for the elixir of youth is increasingly popular. Fortunately, proper nutrition and the right type of exercise are two of the most cost-e ective and potent ways to improve not only your longevity, but also the quality of your life as you get older – a process known as ‘active ageing’.
Unfortunately, too many people neglect the importance of diet and exercise in their 30s and 40s, believing the invincibility they feel in their late teens and 20s will last forever (hint: it doesn’t).
And neglecting your health in your 30s and 40s can wreak havoc on the quality of your life and your health in your 50s,
“A healthy level of muscle is imperative to the maintenance of your metabolism”
60s, and 70s, when concerns such as osteoporosis, loss of muscle mass, middleaged weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other chronic conditions become much more of a risk.
It is, of course, understandable that people neglect their health at this point. Your 30s and 40s are usually the time when your priorities significantly shift, with your health dropping down the pecking order behind work, family, and social commitments. Time and convenience tend to be the most common barriers to healthy eating too.
Children and marriage are key milestones, and any parents will sympathise with the feeling there aren’t enough hours in the day, with sleep, exercise, and good nutrition the first things to fall by the wayside in the daily schedule. And the more you neglect these important facets of a healthy lifestyle, the more health risks you are likely to face in later life.
So, it’s vital as you move into your 30s and 40s that you start to invest in your health. And, if you’re looking to be strong, healthy, mobile and vibrant throughout these decades – and well beyond – then the science shows that lifting weights is the best form of exercise you can do.
The benefits of strength training are endless. In fact, more and more, people are waking up to the fact that lifting weights is one of the most e ective ways to improve your body composition, your
overall health and well-being, and your mental health, irrespective of gender.
There was once a time when people thought strength training was purely for burly bodybuilders or 80s action film stars, but thankfully those stereotypes are fading away as men and women embrace the importance of lifting weights. In fact, I believe that everyone needs to have some form of strength training in their workout regime when they hit their 30s.
Now, let me just caveat this by saying there is nothing wrong with exercise modalities like running, or cycling, or rowing, or swimming, or yoga, or Pilates. Doing any form of exercise is good for the soul, and good for the body, and will help you lose weight if complemented by good nutrition. But, as you hit your 30s and 40s, that is when the dreaded middle-aged spread can start to appear – and weight training is the most e ective way to get rid of this layer of fat.
It is true that aerobic exercise will burn fat, but will also do very little for your muscles. In fact, an excess of aerobics can cause muscle loss. A healthy level of muscle is absolutely imperative to the maintenance of a speedy and e cient metabolism.
This is a factor that becomes increasingly significant as we get older, as studies have demonstrated that age-related muscle loss is the significant factor in the slowing down of the metabolism. Decreasing activity levels have shown that, after the age of 30, we lose
“You don't need to have the programme of an Olympic athlete”
an average of 5-10lbs of lean body mass (muscle) for every decade that follows. Muscle is metabolically active tissue, so as well as carrying your skeleton through space, it also burns calories just to maintain itself. Therefore, a loss of muscle tissue is absolutely crippling to the metabolism. The average person who does nothing about this loses 25% of their lean body mass by the age of 65. Bottom line is that the less muscle mass we have, the harder it will be to stay in shape in our later years.
Very recent studies have also shown that one of the highest risk factors when it comes to how long you will live is the amount of lean muscle mass you’re carrying. The higher your muscle mass, the longer your lifespan is predicted to be.
When many people in their 30s and 40s come to Ultimate Performance gyms, they say they want to look more ‘toned’ and are frustrated that hours of endless cardio have not seen the results they crave.
Firstly, in clinical terms, muscle ‘tone’ refers to the continuous and passive
contraction of a muscle. So, if you’re alive and moving, you’ve already nailed this! What people really mean by ‘toned’ is having a bit less body fat and more definition, which involves improving your body composition. Secondly, alongside adequate protein intake, resistance training is pretty much one of the only ways you can achieve a lean, well-defined, athletic physique. You only have to compare the di erent physiques of long-distance runners and people who regularly lift weights to see what I mean.
Scientific studies have shown that weightlifting has a positive e ect on hormones, including testosterone and growth hormone, both of which decrease with age and are associated with muscle maintenance and overall vitality.
And while it goes without saying that improving your body composition will increase your confidence and boost your well-being, regular strength training may also reduce depressive symptoms by nearly 40%, as well as anxiety. That, in part, is due to the fact that strength training is
associated with improved mood, selfesteem, and cognitive function, likely due to endorphin release and a sense of accomplishment and empowerment.
Of course, the clue is in the title. Lifting weights will improve your strength, and the benefits of being stronger are numerous. The stronger you are, the better your posture will be. Everyday tasks such as walking, climbing the stairs, playing with your children etc will be easier and more enjoyable. It will help you achieve a lean, athletic physique whether you’re male or female, and help you look better both in and out of clothes. The better you look, the more self-confidence you will gain. Strength training has also been shown to help improve your libido.
Having a six-pack and a sexy, kick-ass body is cool, and strength training is the best way to achieve that. However, beyond the obvious aesthetics, the benefits of strength training are so vast that I would urge anyone in their 30s and 40s to start investing in their health now and start lifting weights.
And you don’t need to have the programme of an Olympic athlete. All that is needed is to undertake a modest 2-3 times a week resistance training programme, where your major muscles are worked for a 45-minute period and to work with weights that present a minor, but not insurmountable, challenge for sets of 10-15 repetitions. Your body (and your mirror) will love you for it. And remember, you don’t have to be fit to start, you just have to start to be fit.
Clinical
Find Your Backbone can help you to:
•Move with greater freedom and poise
•Prepare for a couch-to-5k run
•Increase your confidence and presentation skills
•Reduce stress
Workplace Health
Back pain is one of the main issues keeping people off work. We provide training to businesses and individuals to help them minimise the risk of back pain associated with computer use and lifting heavy objects.
Height of LUXURY
Exploring the many reasons why The Spa at Manor House Alsager continues to rack up the accolades
The Spa at Manor House Alsager, which features the UK’s first spa swim-up bar, has been named one of the Top 50 Spas in the UK by The Times. In its prestigious annual spa round-up, The Times awarded The Spa an impressive nine out of ten, praising its unique o erings and exceptional service. The team is thrilled to be recognised alongside some of the UK’s most distinguished spa destinations.
The reviewer stated: “It is home to the showpiece swim-up bar and DJ deck and lined with day-bed swings underneath pergolas. Tall hedges and lush flower and herb beds create cosy zones for its cute Hansel-and-Gretel thermal cabins, clad in wavy-edged honey-toned wooden slats with rusty corrugated iron for added atmosphere.
“Full marks for the imaginative Tribe517 treatments, featuring ethical and resultsdriven products, made on a Welsh farm. Try the relaxing salt grain massage, followed by a self-guided meditation session in the Salt Shed and you will feel at peace
with the world. Inside, there’s a second smaller pool and a small gym.”
The award-winning Manor House Alsager is a haven for relaxation and rejuvenation and o ers over 18 di erent spa experiences in its country garden. Known for its swim-up bar and expansive heated outdoor garden spa facilities and cosy interiors, guests are invited to embrace the cold in comfort this winter. Features
include outdoor hanging day beds which have individual heaters for guests to cosy up on, as well as underfloor heating around the outdoor spa facilities, meaning even on the iciest days the garden can be enjoyed. Other facilities include the Potting Shed Herbal Sauna, Panoramic Laconicum with swing seats, Salt Steam Inhalation Chamber, two secret private hot tub spaces, and icy Plunge Bath, for those who really want to embrace the cold and try the Wim Hof method.
Bridging the gap between indoors and outdoors, the Pool House has underfloor heating, as well as a log burning stove, extending the cosy warmth of the outdoor fire pits. Guests can enjoy a scrumptious hot chocolate, or warming cocktail at either the comfy indoor stools or outside whilst floating in the heated vitality pool.
Indoors, spa guests can enjoy the light and airy indoor spa, which houses an array of spa experiences to relish including a large serenity pool, surrounded by loungers and an Instagram-able hanging day bed, as well as the indoor Finnish sauna and aromatherapy steam room.
For a truly warming experience, guests can also enjoy the Salt Shed Experience, a
“The Manor House offers over 18 different spa experiences”
private guided meditation in a Himalayan salt sauna. To reinvigorate the body and warm from the outside in, guests can choose from a menu of treatments from British Spa brands Tribe517 and Temple Spa.
The 17th-century farmhouse also o ers accommodation with 52 elegant bedrooms, as well as stylish wedding and banqueting facilities and professional conference facilities. The Manor House Hotel is found in the tranquil village of Alsager in East Cheshire, close to the M6 and within driving distance of Stoke-on-Trent. The English Country Garden inspired spa opened at the end of 2022 and has fast become a must-visit wellness destination in the UK, buzzing with unique facilities such as the large hydrotherapy pool, potting shed sauna, ice plunge bath as well as the spa’s crowning jewel, the swim-up bar. In 2023, the Cheshire based spa proudly took home the titles of 'Best Luxury Garden Spa in Europe' and 'Best Luxury Countryside Spa' in the UK at The World Luxury Awards. And, thanks to The Times’ 50 Best Spa Hotels, the accolades continue to roll in. manorhousealsager.com
Beauty sleep
Explaining why a good night’s shut eye really can do you the world of good
When it comes to staying well during the sni y season, we all know how important it is to top up on vitamin C, eat healthily and wash our hands to help prevent the spread of infection. You may also know that a healthy gut is important for a healthy immune system. But how do our sleeping habits a ect our immune health?
Scientists are still trying to figure out the exact relationship between sleep and the immune system, but many agree that a lack of sleep can severely impair immunity and make you more vulnerable to infections like colds and flu.
So how much sleep is enough? Everyone is di erent but as a general rule of thumb adults should aim for at least eight hours a night. If you need a hand nodding o try these five tips for getting a better night’s sleep.
ESTABLISH A ROUTINE
Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day will make the hours that you sleep more productive and will help you establish a sleep routine.
AVOID FEELING BLUE
Avoid using tablets or phones in bed, as the blue light will stimulate the brain and keep you awake for longer. If you’re having trouble getting to sleep earlier, try slowly dimming the lights an hour before bedtime to simulate the setting sun. This will trigger the release of melatonin, the hormone associated with promoting sleep.
CHECK YOUR DIET
Broken sleep is poor quality sleep and will not help the immune system. If you wake up during the night, make a note of the time. Waking up at 3am is actually very common and could be a sign your liver, which carries out many of its functions in the early hours of the morning, may be working too hard to process fatty foods and refined sugars, alcohol or stimulants. If you’re eating and drinking too much of the wrong stu , adjust your diet accordingly.
NATURAL HELPING HAND
A natural sleep remedy can also help. A.Vogel’s Dormeasan® Sleep with extracts of fresh valerian and hops is registered for sleep disturbances. It’s not known to be addictive, and is not associated with groggy
feelings when you wake in the morning, or with side e ects when you come o it. Still need help nodding o ? Try A.Vogel’s Sleep Well Dissolvable Granules with extracts of lettuce, lemon balm, magnesium and L-Tryptophan. These plant-based ingredients work to promote a calm, restful sleep, are non-addictive and fast-acting, and won’t leave you feeling groggy in the morning. Take 30-60 minutes before bedtime, under your tongue. Perfect for if you tend to wake during the night and have trouble getting back to sleep, as a dose of granules is super-easy to take.
RAISE YOUR HEAD
If a blocked nose is keeping you awake, try to prop your head a little higher on your pillow, and use a nasal spray to loosen congestion. If you do fall ill with a cold or flu, the herb echinacea can help to ease cold and flu symptoms for a better night’s sleep.
For further information please visit the team at Chester Health Store, 59 Bridge Street Row, Chester CH1 1NW or online at chesterhealthstore.co.uk
Future OUTLOOK
Want 20:20 vision? Why this year is the time to protect your eyes
Sight is considered the most vital sense by the majority of us, so as we start the new year, while many of us focus on diet, exercise, and healthy living for our general health and wellbeing, let’s not forget our eyes.
It is important to do all we can to ensure our vision is as good as it possibly can be, and vitally that we are keeping check on the health of our eyes, to detect any issues early. Luckily, we have access to some of the leading ophthalmic experts locally – with
specialist eye hospital group, Optegra, o ering both NHS and private treatments in 19 locations including Cheshire. Amir Hamid is an ophthalmic surgeon with 22 years’ experience, as well as being Chief Medical O cer at Optegra, and he o ers these tips to help you take care of your eyes this year…
First and foremost, book regular eye health checks. Did you know that the NHS recommends every two years? So, if it has been a while, book yourself in with your local optician – this is one of the most important steps you can take. Not only can your optician help you ensure you can
see as well as possible – perhaps with the support of glasses, contact lenses, or vision correction treatment – but essentially, the eye test checks the health of your eye.
Many sight-threatening conditions, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, have no symptoms in their earliest stages. And yet the best chance of successful treatment, to save sight, is to start treatment as quickly as possible. The eye test will check the back of the eye and help detect these conditions early. We are all relying on tech more and more – and while it has so many advantages to make life easier, it can be
“Staying active is great for overall health and well-being, but it can also benefit our eyesight and vision”
detrimental to our eyes. Staring too long at screens, we tend to forget to blink as often as we should, which can cause dry eyes and irritation, even eye strain.
To manage this, take regular breaks from screens, especially mobile phones and computers. It is best to use the 20-20-20 technique – every 20 minutes, look 20 feet into the distance for 20 seconds – to help your eyes adjust and re-focus.
New year is often a time to review what we eat and drink. The good news for our vision is that we can eat well to see well – a balanced diet with plenty of coloured vegetables and oily fish can really benefit eye health. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C, found in peppers, tomatoes and strawberries, can delay the onset of cataract and age-related macular degeneration, whilst salmon contains Omega-3 which can help prevent dry eyes.
Take note of any changes in your vision. Cataract for example, which a ects one in three adults, can make colours appear faded, can cause blurry vision and many people notice glare from bright lights such as when driving. There is only one option for treatment, which is to have the cataract removed in a fast and pain-
free procedure, where the clouded lens – which is mainly caused by ageing – is replaced with a synthetic lens. The op is life-changing as it restores bright, clear vision and Optegra can provide NHS cataract surgery within just weeks of referral. So speak to your local optician if you notice any of these symptoms.
If you want to be free of spectacles every day – whether due to how you look, or the inconvenience of glasses on and o , or contact lenses disturbing hobbies – be reassured there are many options available, even for the strongest of prescriptions. Optegra o ers a free consultation so we’d be happy to welcome you and see how we can help. Finally, keep moving! As you know, staying active is great for overall health and well-being, but did you realise it can also benefit our eyesight and vision? Low impact exercise can help to reduce eye pressure, which is a major factor in glaucoma, and exercise helps to relax our facial muscles and reduce eye strain. Remember to wear protective eye wear when playing fast racquet sports.
Optegra Eye Health Care is a specialist provider of ophthalmic services.
Established in 2007, it has completed over one million eye procedures from its 40 eye hospitals and clinics across the UK, Czech Republic and Poland. Optegra brings together leading-edge research, medical expertise and state-ofthe-art surgical equipment. It performs more than 100,000 treatments annually, both private and publicly funded. Its top ophthalmic surgeons are renowned for their areas of expertise, o ering excellent clinical outcomes and great patient service.
Find out more at optegra.com
OPTEGRA'S AMIR HAMID
Hello,
Because we’re pretty close by and we’re experts in something you use, it makes sense to make this friendly outreach. What you use, of course, is modern medicine.
Know that you can visit us or invite us over to your home or of ce whenever you need us; we’re open every day from 8am to 8pm.
Our diagnostics equipment is state-of-the-art: our X-ray, ultrasound and MRI equipment gives doctors con dence and will put your mind at ease by answering those medical questions you’ve been sitting with for a while.
We’re comfortable with complexity: our cardiologists, radiologists, women’s health experts, urgent care team and GPs are ready to address whatever’s come up for you.
We’re just next to Kensington Olympia, and you’ll nd a visit to our spotless clinic is so professional and free from delay, you might wonder why you didn’t come meet us sooner.
It’s as easy as it sounds.
visithealth.london/kensington
1 Blythe Road, W14 0HG
020 3394 0996
+
the LIGHT SEEING
Why Rock Mill Retreat could be the answer to improving your well-being in 2025
PHOTON LIGHTS
“The function of our entire metabolism is dependent on light”
Life organises around light. This theme is explored in various philosophical, scientific, and spiritual contexts, but how much of that natural light do we get round here? Certainly not enough for optimal (or even sub-optimal) functioning of our bodies. And a couple of weeks a year in the south of Spain is not going to fix that...
Theoretical biophisicist Dr Fritz Albert Popp concluded that the function of our entire metabolism is dependent on light. He introduced the concept of biophotons (ultra-weak photon emissions that are involved in cellular communication and regulation) that play a crucial role in maintaining health, and, potentially, even influencing genetic activity. For example, cancer could result from a breakdown in the coherent emission of biophotons. And how does one increase that coherent emission of biophotons in their sun-deprived cells? By consuming good quality, unprocessed foods, and by going outside in the sun (while exposing as much skin surface as possible), or by using photobiomodulation (red-light) therapy in the correct spectrum of light. When light interacts with an electron, it can move the electron to a di erent orbit
around the atom’s nucleus. This process is fundamental to all chemical reactions and, by extension, to life. However, only light with a certain wavelength, which corresponds to the energy needed, can cause this shift. The electron will only change orbits if the light provides exactly the right amount of energy. Other ways to increase the emissions of biophotons are physical exercise, meditation, mindfulness, as well as heat therapy (sauna).
Neurosurgeon Jack Kruse posits that light, particularly red and near-infrared, stimulates the mitochondria’s electron transport chain, leading to improved energy production at the cellular level. This is seen as critical for health optimisation and potentially reversing or mitigating chronic diseases. Likewise, and over ten years ago already, renowned biophysicist Tiina Karu, was suggesting in her work that photobiomodulation should be considered as a drug equivalent.
Photobiomodulation has been used in clinical practice for over 50 years, and its action mechanisms on cellular and molecular levels have been studied for over 40 years. It has been used in treating healing-resistant wounds and ulcers, spinal cord injuries, nervous system injuries, and in pain management. It is used, for instance, in treating Parkinson’s, as it prevents
mitochondrial dysfunction and dopamine loss. It also reduces inflammation, improves bone density, enhances cognitive function, improves sleep, increases energy levels, and boosts collagen, making skin look younger, and the hair and nails grow stronger.
As more and more research in this area comes out, it is simply astounding what photobiomodulation can help with. At the very moment, a team of researchers led by psychologist Francisco Gonzalez-Lima at The University of Texas are recruiting participants for a study in the use of infrared light to treat and reduce symptoms in adults and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They will explore whether infrared light stimulation can improve cognitive and behavioral outcomes for those with ASD by increasing mitochondrial bioenergetics. “Infrared light is a very promising non-invasive treatment for a variety of disorders, and we are only just beginning to explore the possibilities this technology provides,” said Gonzalez-Lima.
The researchers have previously shown that the administration of low-level infrared light is a safe and non-invasive procedure which improves cognition and emotion, as well as enhances brain metabolic activity. They are also currently studying the benefits of infrared light stimulation in ongoing research for adults with ADHD and bipolar disorder.
Located just outside of Stoney Middleton, a characterful historic village in the heart of the Peak District, Rock Mill Retreat is both a state-of-the-art sanctuary for health and wellness and a unique accommodation option. The wellness facilities that guests have exclusive access to include medicalgrade photobiomodulation therapy, saunas, photon lights, PEMF mats, and more.
Other facilities include an EMF-shielded king-size bedroom with a grounded bed, fully-equipped kitchen, café, restaurant, meeting space and lounge, children’s playground, barbecue and picnic area, and ample car park (with EV charging points).
World-famous climbing walls and caves are accessible from the doorstep, and the area is rich with walking and hiking paths, surrounded by lush forests, gorgeous rivers, dramatic limestone gritstone edges, expansive moorlands, and the most breathtaking rolling hills.
Find out more at rockmillretreat.co.uk
THE SCENIC SETTING
INFRARED SAUNA LIGHTS
BEAUTY
NOTES
The latest in luxury makeup and skincare
By CARLY GLENDINNING
MR. BRIGHT
The Mr Bright PAP+ 2 Week Whitening Kit is a peroxidefree home teeth whitening treatment. Using LED, my teeth improved by several shades with zero sensitivity. £34.99. mrbrightsmile.com
with zero sensitivity. £34.99.
SKIN MAGIC PERFECT SMILE
A game changer of a book is heading our way
DSKINCEUTICALS
A high potency triple-oxidant treatment, the award-winning C E Ferulic treatment from SkinCeuticals has long-been a beauty editor secret. The vitamin C serum is heralded for improving visible signs of ageing and brightening the complexion. In just a few short weeks, I definitely saw an improvement in my skin texture. £165. skinceuticals.co.uk
POUT
READY
SEPHORA
Sephora has updated its iconic Cream Lip Stain with a new colour palette and vegan, long-lasting formula. Ultra-pigmented, it boasts a 10-hour hold, which is perfect for the festive party season. £13.99. sephora.co.uk
o Nourish by Sarah Bayliss is an empowering guide to building a personalised plan for resilience and long-term health. It is full of achievable ideas, tips, tables and food combinations, as well as a handful of simple recipes. So often we lack the vital nutrients to help sustain our modern lives. In this book, Sarah makes complex science beautifully simple and provides a wholefoods framework for nourishing meals that give our bodies what they need. Instead of complicated recipes, you’ll make small adjustments to your diet: just one thing a week. Discover: A 6-week plan that adapts to you and your schedule; The importance of waking up well; How to build a balanced plate for every meal, no more weighing or measuring food, just use your hands… When we get the nutrients our bodies need, we think more clearly, have more energy and feel better. So instead of asking, what do I want to eat? Ask, how do I want to feel today? Sarah is a registered nutritional therapist specialising in metabolic health and energy management. Her mission is to help people protect their vitality, mitigate potential health risk factors and build resilience. She does this through bespoke client work, talks and workshops. She started her career in marketing, but after getting close to career burnout she became fascinated by the e ects of lifestyle on the body, mind and soul.
Outer Banks The Gold Multipurpose Dry Oil, £9.95 lottie.london
ROSALIQUE
Rosalique 3 in 1 Balm Cleanser, £29.99 rosalique.co.uk
ANTIPODES
Glory Vitamin C
Triple-Action Glow
Toner 100ml, £22 antipodesnature.com
24K Gold Cream Intense, £398 chantecaille.co.uk
By
Labs, £28 lashify.com
FACETHEORY
Glow-C Daily Moisturiser, £18 facetheory.com
ULTRA VIOLETTE
Queen Screen SPF 50 Super Glow Drops –Illuminating, £33 ultraviolette.co.uk
Radiance boosting skincare heroes
By CARLY GLENDINNING
BUBBLE
So Launch Hydrating Cream Cleanser, £16 boots.com
PMD PMD Clean, £89 pmdbeauty.com
CIATÉ LONDON
Brazilian Glow Dewy Gloss, £18 ciatelondon.com
LASHIFY Flush Cheek
Lashify
THE PARKGATE CLUBHOUSE IS A UNIQUELY CHARMING WEDDING AND EVENTS VENUE, OFFERING A PICTURESQUE SETTING FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS YEAR-ROUND.
From weddings to parties, conferences and even our 1 day music festival ‘Sunset Sounds’, it provides a versatile space with a touch of elegance, making every event truly memorable and special.
TOP PICKS
THREE ENERGY BOOSTERS
FITNESS NOTES
BALANCE COFFEE
Cordyceps is scientifically proven to boost energy levels and also helps the body to manage stress. Balance Coffee's 3:1 Dual Activated Cordyceps is cultivated in the UK to ensure it retains its potent bioactive compounds. From £31.99. balancecoffee.co.uk
DISO
Packed with essential B vitamins 5, 6, and 12, vitamin E, and with a dash of caffeine, the Energy vitamin strips from Diso are designed to maximise your cognitive and physical function, helping you to train with more focus, £12. mydiso.com
EARTH'S SECRET
With Hydrocurc® turmeric, organic spirulina, organic reishi mushroom, black elderberry extract, and organic ginger root, Earth's Secret's Boost blend delivers improved focus and sustained energy throughout the day, £35. earthsecret.com
By CARLY GLENDINNING
RECOVER &RECHARGE
Carly Glendinning meets Forrest Smith, CEO and co-founder of Kineon, a biotech company revolutionising fitness recovery
Q Why is sports recovery as essential as the training itself?
A Sports recovery is just as important as training because that’s when the body actually gets stronger. Workouts break down muscle fibres, and recovery is what allows them to rebuild, becoming more resilient. Training can also trigger inflammation, central nervous system overload, and injuries. By improving recovery we amplify our outcomes, and without it, we risk burnout and injuries, which can sideline us.
E ective, optimised recovery makes training sustainable.
Q How do lifestyle factors impact recovery?
A Recovery isn’t just about the workout; it’s a full-body experience – sleep, diet, and mental health play massive roles. Sleep is crucial
for repair: muscles recover, cells regenerate, and the brain recharges. A balanced diet provides essential nutrients for healing. And mental wellbeing can’t be overlooked, as high stress can slow recovery. In my experience, addressing these factors together is key to e ective recovery. For many of the world-class athletes we work with, the ‘bottleneck’ for their training isn’t how much work they can do, it is how they manage their stress loads and recovery.
Q How has technology transformed the world of sports recovery?
A Technology is revolutionising sports recovery, providing athletes with tools to enhance healing and performance. For example, red light therapy supports the
body’s natural recovery by penetrating deep into muscles and joints, helping boost ATP production, which powers cell repair. Devices like our MOVE+ Pro combine red and infrared light with advanced LED and laser technology to target these tissues e ectively. Additionally, pairing red light therapy with methods like blood flow restriction (BFR) training and PlateletRich Plasma (PRP) therapy is yielding powerful results, further optimising recovery. With the MOVE+ Pro, athletes now have access to clinical-level recovery tools used by the pros at home, empowering them to take control of their routines and reach peak performance faster.
Kineon MOVE+ Pro, £480 kineon.io
THE BIG SQUEEZE
Why we should all be juicing for health and longevity
Juicing, the process of extracting juice from fresh fruits and vegetables, has gained popularity as a health trend. Advocates claim numerous benefits ranging from improved nutrient intake to enhanced digestion. Here are some key benefits of incorporating juicing into your diet.
NUTRIENT DENSITY
Juicing can provide a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. When you juice fruits and vegetables, you can consume a larger quantity than you might be able to eat whole. This means you can get a significant amount of nutrients in a single glass, which can contribute to better overall health. Nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and potassium are abundant in various fruits and vegetables, and are essential for bodily functions.
IMPROVED DIGESTION AND NUTRIENT ABSORPTION
Juicing breaks down fruits and vegetables into a liquid form, which can be easier for
your digestive system to process. This can be particularly beneficial for people with digestive issues or for those who struggle to eat enough whole fruits and vegetables. The nutrients in juice are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, providing a rapid nutritional boost.
DETOXIFICATION
Juicing is often promoted as a way to detoxify the body. While the body naturally detoxifies through the liver, kidneys, and skin, consuming juices rich in antioxidants and nutrients can support these processes. Ingredients like leafy greens, beets, and citrus fruits are known for their detoxifying properties and can help in cleansing the body.
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Juicing can be an e ective tool for weight management. When incorporated into a balanced diet, juices can serve as lowcalorie, nutrient-rich meal replacements or snacks. However, it’s important to be mindful of the sugar content in fruit juices and to balance them with vegetable juices to avoid excessive sugar consumption.
ENHANCED IMMUNE FUNCTION
The vitamins and antioxidants found in freshly made juices can help strengthen the immune system. Vitamin C, found in high levels in citrus fruits and leafy greens, is particularly known for its immune-boosting properties.
INCREASED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE
Juicing o ers a convenient way to increase your intake, ensuring you benefit from the wide range of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients these foods provide. This can contribute to a more balanced and nutritious diet.
IMPROVED ENERGY LEVELS
Many people report increased energy levels when they start juicing. The quick absorption of nutrients provides an immediate energy boost, and the overall improvement in diet quality can lead to sustained energy throughout the day. This can be particularly beneficial for those who experience afternoon energy slumps or rely on ca eine for a pick-me-up. While juicing should not replace whole fruits and vegetables entirely due to the loss of fiber during the juicing process, it can be a valuable addition to a healthy diet. By incorporating a variety of nutrient-dense juices, you can enhance your overall health, support bodily functions, and enjoy a tasty and refreshing way to consume essential vitamins and minerals. Be warned: using a juicer for the first time can be daunting because these are powerful machines, and they can be noisy. We confess to being a bit frightened at first... but the delicious and nutritious results are worth it. You won’t look back: just make sure your model’s attachments are dishwasher safe.
NUTRIBULLET PRO JUICER, NUTRIBULLET.CO.UK
TShoulder the LOAD
Why shoulder pain is common, how to avoid it – and what to do about it
By CARLOS COBIELLA
he shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body, which allows excellent function but makes it prone to injury and painful conditions. When something goes wrong, free movement and mobility can become extremely di cult and, in some cases, impossible. This can really hamper quality of life causing huge amounts of pain and discomfort. The shoulder joint works as a ball-and socket mechanism, with a small and shallow socket and quite a big ball on it. It is inherently unstable and in order to improve its stability we use the rotator cu muscles. This is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint and keep the ball in a stable fulcrum.
If you are experiencing shoulder pain it more often than not means that the rotator cu tendons have become irritated, inflamed or damaged somehow. It can be extremely painful and can make everyday tasks very di cult to complete.
Patients come to me for a number of reasons. They might have damaged their shoulder playing sport – especially contact sports like rugby – or they have fallen o their bike and damaged their shoulder. I also see people who have damaged their shoulder from repetitive exercises, particularly overhead. This causes overuse injuries that manifest
mostly on rotation, i.e. impingement. Poor technique when exercising can also cause damage. The second group of patients are the 50+ age group, who are experiencing pain due to general wear and tear, as the soft tissues surrounding the shoulder degenerate with age. In these patients the threshold to overuse is lower and it is easier to cause damage.
In terms of treating the shoulder pain, it depends specifically on what the problem is. Problems caused by rotator cu dysfunction are generally amenable to physiotherapy treatment. This involves a hands-on component, with stretches and massage and an exercise programme designed to improve the function of the rotator cu muscles and thus the dynamic stability of the ball-andsocket joint. Sometimes these exercises can be very painful in an irritated shoulder and cortisone injections can help with the pain and improve the e cacy of the physiotherapy program. Some 70% of patients with rotator cu pain, without tears, will respond to this form of treatment within three months.
CARLOS COBIELLA
of The Shoulder Practice is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with a special interest in upper limb and sports injuries. He has treated many Oscar-winning actors and some of the world’s top professional athletes. See more at theshoulderpractice.com
EXERCISES AND STRETCHES TO RELIEVE SHOULDER PAIN
Try these at home regularly to relieve shoulder aches and pains. However, if your pain is persistent after six weeks, consult your doctor who may put you in touch with a specialist.
1. The Crossbody Pose: Hold the right hand out in front of the body, reach the left hand behind the right elbow and pull the right arm to the left and across the chest. Hold in this position for 30 to 50 seconds and then release. Repeat this stretch 3 to 5 times.
2. The Pendulum Swing: Lean over and supporting your non-injured side with a table or chair. Allow the sore side arm to dangle down. Begin by drawing circles with your hand below – start small and then gradually increase the circles in size. Then perform the same exercise in reverse. Repeat throughout the day three or four times, especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
3. The Head Rotation: Sit upright on a firm-backed chair and tilt your chin toward your chest until you feel a deep stretch in the back of your neck. Lean the head to the left and then again to the right to feel the stretch on both sides. Aim for a minute on each side.
CARLOS COBIELLA
INTERIORS
PRETTY IN PASTEL
SOFOLOGY
Sofology Chester have unveiled their cosy trends for the start of 2025, including this look, dubbed 'sculptural style'. Soft furnishings feature embracing, rounded shapes, complemented by graphic outlines in the form of pattern or the bold detailing of a sculptural stool. Perfect, we say, to sink into this January.
SEE THE LIGHT
Compiled by PENDLE HARTE
BELLE EPOCH
Inspired by the weeping willow tree, the Belle chandelier features hand-formed amber glass shades and bronze metal stems that mimic branches, £1,985. heathfield.co.uk
FIRST BASE
Henry Holland Studio has launched a series of ceramic lighting designs. Hand-built by Henry and his small team of ceramicists, the Swan is a tall and elegant terracotta table lamp, £2,150. henryhollandstudio.com
GLOW UP
houseof and Emma Gurner’s burgundy pleat ceiling pendant offers a contemporary twist on a traditional lampshade, diff using light beautifully to create a warm, inviting glow, £330. houseof.com
EDITOR’S PICK
DOLL’S HOUSE
The Kokeshi cordless portable table lamp in glazed fi ne porcelain was designed by Robert Schnyder for the iconic Spanish brand Lladró, with a design inspired by traditional Japanese dolls, £420. micucci.store
DECO DELIGHT
The Art Deco-style Ottino fl oor lamp features a a cascading linen lampshade, gracefully draping down to create a captivating effect with an ambient, directional glow, £299. lightsandlamps.com
WIRE LESS
The bold and vibrant Peel orange tube cordless table lamp is a true statement piece in modern lighting design, £110. houseof.com
NATURAL FORM
The Kaja white glass table lamp has a delightful mushroom shape that captures both nostalgia and contemporary trends, £84. darlighting.co.uk
HEATHFIELD
The Lena globe wall light combines a beautiful mix of materials. The so Ivory Crackle fi nish of the ceramic develops during the kiln fi ring process, making each piece truly unique, £610. heathfield.co.uk
HAY YOU
Hay’s Drome is a versatile table lamp with an eyecatching oval shape and a warm, uniform glow, £179. twentytwentyone.com
Elara is a stylish table lamp with an Aladdin Sane-inspired hand-painted lampshade by Besselink & Jones, £825. besselink.com
FEET UP
Ted Todd has evolved from a small operation in Cheshire to supplying stunning wood flooring across the world. Founder Robert Walsh tells Absolutely how it all happened
“We wanted to stand out for craftsmanship, sustainability and quality”
Q Before launching Ted Todd, was your background in flooring?
A My background has always been deeply rooted in crafting. I’ve always had a strong connection to craftsmanship and design. My passion for creating beautiful designs grew as I saw a gap in the market for innovative, sustainable wood flooring. I wanted to bring something new to the industry, which is why 30 plus years ago we decided to start restoring and reclaiming wood floors from our base in the centre of Warrington.
Q Was there a moment of inspiration that spurred you on to launch Ted Todd?
A The moment of inspiration came in 1993 when I spent a summer restoring reclaimed pine floorboards in my parent’s back garden. From that point onwards my passion was ignited. I was particularly excited when I received my first order, 40 square yards of restored floorboards for a barn conversion. That small yet meaningful project showed us there was a real need for high-quality, reclaimed wood flooring, and it became the cornerstone of what Ted Todd stands for today. By 1995, we were restoring flooring from Victorian industrial buildings and creating wide plank solid wood floors using European oak, a first in an industry that primarily used narrow maple strips at the time. These early milestones were key in shaping our mission to combine innovation, sustainability, and timeless design.
Q What were you determined to achieve from day one?
A From day one, we were determined to create wood floors that not only looked beautiful, but also stood out for their craftsmanship, sustainability, and quality. Our journey began by restoring reclaimed 18th and 19th-century wood floors, which taught us the value of materials and techniques that last. By 1997, when we started making new wood floors, our goal was clear: to pioneer textures, finishes, and designs that would transform projects across the UK, while staying true to sustainable practices. Sustainability has been a core focus from the start. Becoming one of the first FSC®-certified companies in Europe in 1997 reflected our commitment to responsibly sourced materials. We believed, and still do, that this certification should come as
standard, not an added cost. To this day, our attention to detail and emphasis on superior specifications make a Ted Todd floor not just a surface but a long-term investment.
Q How would you say you have evolved since those early days?
A We’ve evolved significantly since our early days, growing from a small operation restoring reclaimed floors into a globally recognised brand known for both engineered and reclaimed floors. In 2005, we made a major leap by moving into a manufacturing and distribution centre in Cheshire, which we are proud to still call home today. Cheshire has been more than just our base, it’s been an integral part of our journey, its rich heritage continues to inspire us and was the perfect setting for launching our first Design Centre, o ering customers an immersive space to explore our floors in person. In 2011 Victorian Woodworks joined and eventually became Woodworks by Ted Todd. This enabled us to combine the character of antique and reclaimed floors with the durability of handmade new designs. We’ve also expanded our presence both nationally and internationally, opening our London Design Centre in Fitzrovia and introducing our Woodworks by Ted Todd brand to North America, opening our flagship USA showroom in the prestigious New York Design Center at 200 Lex.
Q How has your approach to flooring in the home changed over the years?
A Our approach to flooring has evolved to reflect the needs of modern homeowners and architects alike who seek durable, high quality wood floors that enhance both aesthetics and wellbeing. At Ted Todd, we prioritise responsibly sourced materials, with 90% of our products FSC® or PEFC certified, and we’re working toward 100%. We continually innovate, o ering diverse designs and tailored solutions for unique projects. By combining durability, natural beauty, and eco-conscious practices, we’ve adapted to create flooring that transforms homes while maintaining a connection to nature.
Q Did you introduce anything new during 2024?
A Last April we were thrilled to introduce two new flooring collections, Residence and Connect, our first new additions in over a decade. Residence is a contemporary engineered wood floor which combines elegance and versatility with 10 designs to choose from. It is already award-winning! Connect was designed with practicality at its core, our only range featuring a click system, it ensures quick and e ortless installation, making it a perfect solution for busy commercial environments. We couldn’t wait to introduce this collection
PARKHURST HERRINGBONE, CLASSIC TONES
and see it in action, delivering both style and e ciency where it’s needed most. We’re also incredibly proud of Karta (kartafloors.com), our sustainable wood flooring brand, which launched a new series in 2024. The Recycled Leather Series features 18 completely natural, toxin-free, and plastic-free floors, adding to Karta’s hyper-realistic wood collection. We believe this series shows how sustainability and style can go hand in hand.
Q Typically, can you outline the process of how you create a new design?
A Creating a new design begins with inspiration drawn from natural materials, architectural trends and customer feedback. We carefully select the finest sustainably sourced wood, ensuring it meets our standards for quality. Then we’ll experiment with tones, textures and finishes using innovative techniques to enhance the wood’s natural character while aligning with modern design trends. Prototypes are then meticulously crafted and tested for durability, aesthetic appeal, and performance.
“I am anticipating an increase in calm and tranquil living spaces”
Q What design trends can we expect to see in 2025?
A I’m anticipating an increase in calm and tranquil living spaces as homeowners seek to create environments where they feel happy and at peace. The buzzword ‘cosy’ will continue to trend, with rich, natural wood tones playing a key role and I expect this trend to stay throughout 2025. Organic materials and biophilic design choices will remain a permanent decision-making factor for our customers, reflecting a growing desire to reconnect with nature.
Q What are your most popular collections/designs?
A We have such a wide variety of floors in many di erent specifications that we are confident we have a wooden floor for every customer.
If you’re just starting your wooden floor journey, I recommend our Warehouse collection. This collection is available
to view in our Ted Todd authorised retailers across the UK and is packed full of 27 modern and brilliantly practical floors, showcasing the very best of FSCcertified, nature-grade European Oak. This collection is all about the undulating texture, classic nature grade European Oak wood subtly brushed to highlight the grain detail. Available in a range of designs, including wide/extra wide planks.
Q Finally, why the name, Ted Todd?
A Great question! Ted is a family name and Todd was the name of a teacher I had at school who told me I would never amount to anything – I was determined to prove him wrong!
Transform your home with the exclusive collections of Roche Bobois
Discover a unique luxury furniture experience during Roche Bobois’ January Sale in Manchester. At the heart of interior design, Roche Bobois has established itself as a global leader in luxury furniture. Since its origins in France, the brand has combined exceptional craftsmanship, innovation, and a unique style that transcends trends, creating pieces that are not only functional, but also true works of art.
DESIGN THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
At Roche Bobois, every piece tells a story. They collaborate with internationally
renowned designers, such as Marcel Wanders, Hans Hopfer, and Kenzo Takada, who bring their creative vision to their collections. From iconic sofas like the Mah Jong to dining tables that challenge conventional aesthetics, their collections invite you to express your personal style in every corner of your home. Additionally, they work with emerging artists and designers, blending art and functionality to o er unique furniture pieces that perfectly suit your lifestyle. Their furniture stands out not only for its beauty, but also for its commitment to sustainability, using high-quality materials and environmentally friendly processes.
JANUARY
SALE: A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
This January, Roche Bobois wants to give
you one more reason to visit. During their eagerly anticipated January Sale, you can enjoy exclusive discounts of up to 40% on selected furniture and accessories. This is your chance to transform your home with unique pieces from Roche Bobois at exceptional prices. From modular sofas that redefine comfort to elegant co ee tables and decorative accessories, you will find something special for every space. They also o er a personalised interior design service. Their experts are available to help you create a home that combines style, functionality, and the unmistakable Roche Bobois signature. Whether you’re renovating a room or redesigning your entire home, they will guide you every step of the way to create a space that reflects your personality and lifestyle.
CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: LILY BRUSH
ROUND RUG; SHARK SIDE TABLE DESIGNED BY STUDIO JUAM; BUBBLE PIVOTING ARMCHAIR DESIGNED BY SACHA LAKIC
INTERIORS INSPIRATION IN MANCHESTER
Roche Bobois’ Manchester store is much more than a place to buy furniture; it’s a space where inspiration comes to life. They are proud to be part of a vibrant and sophisticated community, where design and lifestyle meet in perfect harmony. When you visit, you will be welcomed into a warm and inviting environment.
Their team will be delighted to show you their collections and o er a personalised experience. They also invite you to enjoy a cup of co ee while you explore pieces and discover how they can transform your home.
WHY CHOOSE ROCHE BOBOIS
Choosing Roche Bobois means opting for more than just furniture; it’s an investment in design, quality, and an experience that transcends time. Each piece they design is crafted to become a central element of your home, a reflection of your good taste, and a legacy of style and elegance. They know that home is more than just a place to live; it’s a space where memories are made, moments are shared, and you express who you are. That’s why their collections are designed to inspire, excite, and connect with you in every detail.
Don’t miss the opportunity to discover Roche Bobois during the January Sale. Visit them at their Manchester store and find the inspiration you need to start the year in style. Whether you’re looking for an iconic piece for your living room or wish to redecorate your dining room, their collections are designed to suit your unique vision. The Sale will be available for a limited time, so don’t wait too long to visit. Make this January the beginning of a renewed home with the exclusive design of Roche Bobois.
ROCHE BOBOIS
MM2 Building, 121-125 Great Ancoats Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5AG 0161 236 1517
roche-bobois.com
A-PROPOS SOFA, DESIGNED BY MAURIZIO MANZONI
QUINTET COFFEE TABLE DESIGNED BY MAURIZIO MANZONI
January should be all about curling up on the sofa, out of the cold and dark. Luckily, there’s plenty of inspiration courtesy of Sofology Chester
Anew year always prompts a sense of optimism and renewed energy, nowhere better expressed than in our homes. This is the time of year where we crave a declutter, a light touch, and a sense of character expressed through vintage fabrics and collected pieces, combined with colours that evoke exotic getaways and easy relaxation. As ever, the sofa represents both a safe harbour and the natural focal point of every living room scheme, either anchoring its colour palette or prompting its decorative direction. This season’s key looks revolve around confident furniture and colour pairings, including soft peach and powder
blues reminiscent of Miami interiors; simple, generous sofa shapes in zingy corals coupled with sky blues; deeply textured low-slung pieces that nod to the 1970s, or pared-back neutrals, defined by their elegant shapes and less-is-more palette. As a result, there’s something to suit every decorative scheme, from classic to experimental. Underpinning each of these looks is the theme of connection – whether it’s a group of armchairs informally gathered around an ottoman to invite conversation, or a chic chenille denim sofa, prompting relaxation with friends or family. It all adds up to a sense of belonging – on a sofa that you love.
BLUE SKY HORIZONS
Inspired by clear summer skies and golden hour sunsets, simple, contemporary lines are the perfect counterpoint to elegant arched shapes and curvaceous finishes. Graphic notes and zingy finishes, from coral to sky blue, deliver an ideal balance between informality and sophistication.
CHERRY & BLUE POWEDER BLUE
Evoking the joy of high summer, Morello cherry tones are paired with powder blue via a saturated approach, for a fresh take on confident colour combinations. A sofa and footstool in a chunky-but-simple silhouette is key to the look, providing a clean foil to graphic pattern repeats in wallpaper and curtain fabric.
CHAIR FAMILIES
It’s not just sofas that create convivial family zones: beautifully crafted armchairs are having a moment. Think pieces that complement each other rather than match, in an easy palette of textured neutrals, with warm gold and bronze elements adding relaxed elegance. Informal circular groupings anchored by a generous footstool encourage lingering.
TEXTURALISM
Inspired by artistic paint e ects and the textural depth provided by natural materials, textured upholstery
BLUE SKY THINKING-THE ZIGGY 3 SEATER IN, THE ZIGGY SOFT TEXTURED CHENILLE MIX VERONA CORAL MIX, £1,499
MIAMI SUNSET-THE NEWBURY 3 SEATER IN THE NEWBURY LINEN LOOK CHENILLE SKY ALL OVER, £1,199
is as appealing to the touch as it is to the eye. Deeply grooved sofas in saturated colourways are the perfect choice for layered schemes full of collected treasures, heritage pieces, bold artwork and vintage textiles.
UNEXPECTED RED
Like favourite jeans paired with a classic ruby lipstick, an unexpected dash of red has timeless appeal, elevating the everyday into the unusual. Evoking a sense of informal chic, casual chenille denim upholstery can be given a sophisticated twist thanks to a deep burgundy lamp or stool, as well as architectural elements finished in rich red.
RETRO LUXE
An updated ode to 1970s designer chic, this stripped back trend is minimal yet warm, with an emphasis on low-slung, chunky-luxe seating, natural textures and sandy tones juxtaposed with graphic, softly industrial elements. What’s key is a sense of simplicity and ease, underpinned by a confident approach to shape and texture.
MODERN QUILTING
Texture is scaled up for a sense of generosity and verve, lending a new spin to retro quilted upholstery techniques. Combining a squishy, ultra-comfortable
finish with the classic shape of midcentury modern sofas, this look signals a relaxed way of living that pairs perfectly with low-key luxe in the form of marble, brass and natural wood.
NEW FOCAL POINT
Pulling the eye down towards the centre of the room, screens provide a natural backdrop to an elegant sofa, acting as the perfect canvas when it comes to flexibility, creativity and playfulness. Adorned with art and pattern, they can be changed up easily – the perfect way to give soft furnishings a fresh context every season.
MIAMI SUNSET
Bold boxy furniture shapes and oversized curves are instantly softened in playful pastel colourways, paying homage to the easy decorative style of America’s East Coast. Channel the look with one or two attention-grabbing shapes and an ombre-e ect colour palette that subtly dials up the saturation.
SCULPTURAL STYLE
Bold curves and fluted shapes conjure grown-up sophistication, softened by tactile velvets and deep pile wool finishes for a cosseting, ultra-cosy look. Soft furnishings feature embracing,
rounded shapes, complemented by graphic outlines in the form of pattern or the bold detailing of a sculptural stool. Contrasted against streamlined open storage and antiqued mirror, the result is a scheme that is both soft and strong.
MODERNIST SUMMER
How to work mid-century style for the warmer months? Energise a timeless espresso or caramel leather sofa with terracotta, oyster pink and mustard accessories for a fresh take on the look. Introduce forest greens and soft sandy neutrals as a backdrop and keep window treatments light and airy.
MODERNIST SUMMER-THE MUSE 2 SEATER SOFA IN RELAXED MATT LEATHER ESPRESSO, £1,599
RETRO LUXE-NUVOLE 2 SEATER IN LIFESTYLE MOTTLED FABRIC LATTE, £1,099
MODERN QUILTING-LUNAR 2 SEATER IN WOVEN BOUCLE OCEAN, £1,099
WHY CHOOSE US
“The olive green colour just worked so well with the rest of the home”
FCREATIVE journey
Kenton Jones takes Absolutely behind the scenes of this delightful kitchen project
iona and Ashley really wanted that beautiful traditional style kitchen with a warm feel throughout. Their house is incredibly homely, and this lovely couple needed a space that would work well with the bones of the home, but at the same time, make them feel excited every day when they walked into the kitchen. They had a vision and that was evident from the first consultation. Fiona wanted not just a kitchen, but a room that flowed from cooking to dining and even a space to accommodate their outdoor lifestyle.
The kitchen space was so divided, old brickwork and timber making section after section so dark. We agreed the best way to begin was to take it all back and start with a blank canvas, by doing this opened so many options. The only thing that we knew had to stay was the existing AGA as it just felt right in the home and the cooking facilities it o ers. Fiona and Ashley spend so much time in the kitchen so wanted somewhere to sit, however they wanted the comfort of a chair rather than a bar stool, so we came up with a bespoke dining area that would be built into the island to cover all occasions using oak to complement the other features to the kitchen.
We came to the decision that our Artisan range fit the character of the home simultaneously and, added with the extra detail of a raised fielded panel, took the design to a new level. The colour was a big factor. Initially we were looking at the dark blue, which is beautiful, but the space didn’t receive enough natural light to carry it. We looked at other options, but the olive green just worked so well with the rest of the home as well as the oak.
The balance of the layout of the cabinetry was critical to ensuring this design was a success. The seated bench, pantry and built around American Fridge Freezer o er a fully functional side that still feels striking because of the character of the door detail. The cooking area needed to be seamless with the AGA and the new built in oven and hob and believe we achieved that.
Now the project is finished we love the space, the colour combinations, the features of the oak such as the plate rack and even down to the detail of the dining table pilaster. Everywhere you look shows the craftsmanship of what Kenton Jones stands for.
kentonjones.com
DREAM HOME
Transform your vision with EJB Building & Property Maintenance Ltd
When it comes to reliable, highquality building and property maintenance services in North Wales and the North West of England, EJB Building & Property Maintenance Ltd stands out as the trusted partner for all your construction needs. With over two decades of experience and a customer-first philosophy, they’ve earned a reputation for excellence, delivering outstanding results across commercial, domestic, and industrial sectors.
EXPERTISE BACKED BY DEDICATION
At EJB, they believe that no job is too big or too small. Whether you’re planning an ambitious commercial renovation or need expert craftsmanship for a home improvement project, their team is equipped to exceed your expectations. They pride themselves on using premium materials, state-of-the-art techniques, and o ering solutions that are as coste ective as they are innovative.
From kitchen and bathroom renovations
to extensive industrial projects, they understand that every client’s needs are unique. That’s why they tailor their services to suit your specific requirements, ensuring that every detail reflects the quality and professionalism EJB is known for.
WHY CHOOSE EJB?
1. Proven Track Record: The majority of their work comes from repeat business and referrals – a testament to the satisfaction of loyal clients. From initial consultation to project completion, they focus on delivering exceptional service with honesty and transparency.
2. Comprehensive Services: Their team o ers a wide range of services, including: Bathroom & Kitchen Renovations; Extensions & Brickwork; Plastering & Rendering; Plumbing & Electrical Work; Damp Proofing & Landscaping; Painting;
Decorating… and more! Whether you need a simple repair or a full-scale construction project, their skilled tradespeople are ready to bring your vision to life.
3. Commitment to Excellence: They continuously strive to improve their services to stay ahead in the building industry. Their team works tirelessly to ensure that every project is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality.
YOUR PARTNER FOR THE FUTURE
At EJB, they’re not just focused on today’s projects – they’re excited to help you plan for tomorrow’s success. Their forwardthinking approach means they’re ready to discuss your upcoming needs, o ering expert advice and competitive quotes.
07545986342
ejbbuildingandpropertymaintenance.co.uk
By PENDLE HARTE
BRINGING YOU closer TO THE CARIBBEAN
Scattered across nine idyllic Caribbean islands discover 18 breathtaking resorts, designed exclusively for adults. Each resort is nestled along the shores of the most exquisite beaches, boasting crystal-clear waters and powdery soft white sands. Experience unparalleled luxury as you float effortlessly in captivating infinity pools or dive into a thrilling new watersport. And when it’s time to relax and unwind your luxurious private sanctuary awaits. The beauty of the World’s Leading All-Inclusive Resorts is that everything is included, allowing you the freedom to indulge in endless possibilities or simply enjoy the serenity of paradise.
TRAVEL
SUN AND SAND
GENNADI GRAND RESORT, RHODES
Gennadi Grand Resort offers luxury five-star accommodation with the privilege of a private, idyllic beach on the southeastern coast of Rhodes, where the sun kisses the sand in perfect harmony. The state-ofthe art facilities are surrounded by beautiful gardens and combine luxurious eco-living with a sense of well-being and soul-quenching tranquility. gennadigrandresort.com
ISLAND JEWEL
Absolutely discovers Rhodes to be a blissful island in the sun
By SANDY CADIZ-SMITH
The beautiful island of Rhodes is one of Greece’s Dodecanese islands.
Nicknamed the Emerald Isle because of its vivid green hills, it’s the fourth largest island in Greece, famous for the legendary bronze statue, the Colussus of Rhodes – one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World which once guarded its Old Town. And while the statue has long since disappeared, there’s still plenty to wonder at with so much natural beauty, rich and ancient history, delectable food, and that irascible Greek welcome.
We begin our Rhodian odyssey at the stunning Lindos Grand Resort & Spa. And
what a place to start. The adults-only resort overlooks the sparkle of the Cove of Vylcha. Our first sight on arrival is the spectacular view from reception across the crystal clear infinity pool. Shades of blue beckon. As does our luxurious suite just up the hill with more sparkling Greek vistas – and another pool, our very own L-shaped one. Our spacious and modern suite has a marble bathroom and a welcoming verandah with stunning cove vistas.
It’s a short walk down to the cove with its beautifully balmy waters, perfect for chilled beach time. And our relaxation is complete when we enjoy a therapeutic massage in the tranquility of the Evridiki Spa. Charming Lindos Village is an easy drive away, and we
LINDOS ACROPOLIS, RHODES
“THE RESORT FEELS LIKE A WELCOMING VILLAGE WITH ROOMS SPRINKLED THROUGH BEAUTIFUL GARDENS”
explore its whitewashed buildings through winding alleyways and shops crammed with irresistible mementos. We climb the 294 steps to the summit of the Temple of Athenia Lindia (Lindos Acropolis) and take in the fabulous views before returning to our home at Lindos Grand for some muchneeded refreshment.
And what refreshment there is on o er. Staying here is a real treat for the tastebuds, from the sumptuous breakfast bu et at Terra Mar and alfresco Greek and Mediterranean lunches at Agistri, to
fi ne dining at Thalatta on the hotel’s roof terrace under a rising moon. The culinary crescendo is undoubtedly on our fi nal night when a superb Pan Asian banquet is prepared in front of us at Yume Mou – a feast to remember forever.
And there’s more to come at our second destination, the just-as-spectacular Gennadi Grand Resort. The resort feels like a welcoming village with rooms sprinkled through beautiful gardens and all paths leading down to the expansive beach. Our suite is chic and contemporary with yet
another private pool (it’s getting to be a joyous habit), and there are also several communal pools and that glorious beach and sea, of course.
Days are again fi lled with gourmet glory in the sunshine. We breakfast from one of the most indulgent menus ever at Level 2 with its stunning Med views, treat ourselves to snacks and cocktails at the pool and beach bars, and tuck into delightful Mezedakia (small plates) at Ouzo. As night falls, we enjoy innovative fi ne dining served with passion at Edesma. In between, we learn how to make our exotic cocktails and some traditional Greek dishes, the perfect way to take some of that Gennadi magic home.
We tear ourselves away from our heavenly resort environment to spend time in the fascinating Rhodes Old Town, an enchanting blend of medieval charm, rich history, and vibrant cultures. The past comes alive in every story and every stone of its ancient walls, and we complete our visit with dinner in the cozy courtyard of Marco Polo restaurant with its array of mouthwatering dishes served in the soft glow of candlelight. The perfect conclusion to our journey through the diverse joys of this blissful island in the sun.
lindosgrand.com gennadigrandresort.com
DUBLIN ' S '
FAIR CITY
Discovering natural beauty and culinary treasures in this lively city
By SANDY CADIZ-SMITH
DUBLIN
“Lively streets are lined with attractive Georgian buildings, bars, restaurants, and quirky shops”
The fascinating Irish capital is bursting with history and literary tradition. It’s been home to many writers and poets including James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, and Dracula creator, Bram Stoker. Their stories resonate throughout the lively streets lined with attractive Georgian buildings, bars, restaurants, and quirky shops.
From the buzz of Grafton Street to the hallowed halls of Trinity College and the beloved garden square of St Stephens Green, there’s so much to absorb. Dublin is also the home of Guinness and prides itself on its vibrant pub culture – and with its youthful population, it’s a great party city. As if this
wasn’t enough of a draw, there’s even more Irish magic waiting to be discovered.
After a pleasantly short flight from London, we check in to our base, Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel, overlooking the waterfront in the heart of the city’s newly renovated docklands. It’s sleek and contemporary and our spacious corner room is light-filled with floor-to-ceiling windows revealing scenic canal and mountain views. There’s every luxury amenity in the gleaming marble bathroom, a huge bed dressed with the plushest of linens, and a comprehensive mini bar with tea and co ee-making facilities, which makes us happy. We do love our early morning tea.
The sun is shining, perfect for our welcome lunch in the stylish rooftop restaurant with 360-degree city and mountain views. Chef
Gareth Mullins (who also heads up the award-winning Forbes Street restaurant downstairs) is proudly waiting to delight us with his creatively delicious dishes using the best Irish ingredients. We devour oysters, scallops, lobster, lamb, and the freshest fruit and vegetables, perfectly complemented with chilled champagne. It’s the welcome of dreams. Food is undoubtedly the superstar of any stay at Anantara The Marker Dublin. Starting with a truly sumptuous breakfast spread including local specialities (stellar white pudding and smoked salmon) and a minute steak dish. Steak for breakfast - does life get more indulgent? The hotel has curated a special Spice Spoons culinary programme to showcase all the fabulous food that Ireland o ers.
Escorted by chef Gareth, we take the short trip along the picturesque coastal trail to the quaint fishing village of Howth. We board a private boat for some seal and pu n-spotting before returning to the local seafood market, Kish Fish, to learn the art of salmon smoking and tuck into a gloriously fresh fish and chip lunch. Then it’s back to the hotel for some oyster tasting, soda bread making, and an Irish co ee masterclass, complete with caviar – a dream pairing.
After all that feasting, we need a good walk and luckily there’s plenty to discover within easy strolling distance from our hotel. We take a tour of the city centre, visiting Grafton Street and Merrion Square Park to marvel at the striking statue of Oscar Wilde – a tribute to his lasting impact on Irish culture. We finish at the legendary Bewley’s Co ee Shop on Grafton Street, one of the city’s oldest cafes and a cultural hub for literary legends through history. The streets of Dublin certainly have many enthralling tales to tell. We return to our hotel for indulgent facials and massages in the serenity of the
ANANTARA THE MARKER DUBLIN HOTEL
“When the sun comes out, Killiney sparkles in shades of blue and green”
spa and some relaxation time before another fabulous dinner courtesy of chef Gareth.
The dreamy cuisine is not our only Irish epiphany. It’s something of a revelation to discover how easy it is to escape to the countryside. As well as Howth, we visit White Rock Beach in Killiney. It’s another short and pretty drive away to the huge and deserted beach, ideal for long walks and wild swimming. It’s dramatically beautiful and bracing. The sun comes out again and Killiney sparkles in shades of blue and green. Dublin and its surrounds have many a surprise in store.
It’s no surprise that many have rhapsodised about the Emerald Isle. It’s uplifting, relaxing and delicious on many levels. Everyone has a story to tell, there’s endless natural beauty and culinary treasures to relish, and the hospitality is extraordinary (it’s known as the city of a thousand welcomes, after all). Dublin is a brilliant destination for a break that perfectly blends the best of city and country pursuits.
All activities can be organised by Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel. Booking in advance is highly recommended.
anantara.com/en/the-marker-dublin
WHITE ROCK BEACH, KILLINEY
HOT OFF THE PRESS
The latest news from your local trusted travel agent, Prestbury Travel
In 1983, Prestbury resident Stella Bosworth founded Prestbury Travel in the heart of the village, o ering tailor-made holidays at a time when package deals dominated the market. Her approach quickly set the company apart, leading to the opening of a second agency in Poynton and paving the way for steady growth.
Building on this success, Prestbury Travel expanded with the launch of Prestbury Worldwide Resorts, a luxury tour operation showcasing an impressive selection of global hotels, villas, resorts, and cruises. Today, clients from across the UK trust Prestbury Travel for their holidays, making it one of the country’s leading independent travel companies.
In 2024 Prestbury Travel was delighted to welcome TV stars Kelvin and Liz Fletcher as their new Prestbury Travel Family Ambassadors. Best known for their hit ITV show Fletchers on the Farm, which follows the couple’s journey of rural family life, Kelvin and Liz have become beloved household names. The couple recently took
their first family holiday with Prestbury Travel to the Constantinou Bros Athena Beach Hotel in Cyprus. With their four young children in tow, the Fletchers enjoyed a sun-soaked family escape, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Their experience highlighted the magic of stress-free family travel, and they are now looking forward to more Prestbury Travel family adventures in 2025.
With 2025 shaping up to be an exciting year, there’s even more to look forward to. For anyone considering an ocean or river cruise, Prestbury Travel is hosting an exclusive Cruise Show on Saturday, 8th February at The Tytherington Club from 10.30am-4pm. This one-day event is a must-visit for cruise enthusiasts and first-time cruisers alike.
Prestbury Travel’s ethos has always been simple: to create inspirational holidays with a personal touch. From the first consultation to the moment you return home, their experienced team are with you every step of the way. So, whether you’re dreaming of a beachside family getaway, planning a cruise adventure, or simply want the convenience of a traditional Jet2holiday or TUI package, Prestbury Travel is your go-to independent travel specialist.
prestburytravel.co.uk
Luxury Holiday Rentals at Glenmor
Q Could you give us a potted history of Barrhead Travel?
A Barrhead Travel was founded in 1975 in the small Glasgow suburb of Barrhead. In fact, 2025 will see us celebrate 50 years in business. Over the years, the group has grown to become one of the UK’s leading high street travel agencies, with over 90 locations throughout the country. We put our people first, investing in ongoing training and development for our colleagues. This year, we’ve been named as one of the Best Companies to Work for in the UK for the second year running.
Q Today, what are you experts in?
A We have specialists in all types of leisure travel: from family holidays in the sun to bespoke honeymoons and from cruising to longhaul adventures, our teams can plan every type of holiday for you. Last year, we launched a dedicated Touring & Adventure division to service growing demand for experiential travel. We’ve also recently launched a new
GOING
PLACES
Jacqueline Dobson is the President of Internova Leisure, which incorporates Barrhead Travel. Absolutely finds out more
USA specialist division with experts who know the States inside out.
Q How do you help clients to plan the perfect holiday?
A We take a customer-first approach –meaning that we’ll always ensure we’re creating a holiday that’s designed for you. We’re not tied to any particular operator, so we focus on matching the right product with each and every customer. Our agents support their customers every step of the way – from the moment they enquire, all the way through to when you return from holiday.
Q What kind of special o ers do you have for January 2025?
A January is one of the best times to book your holiday as most travel operators will launch sales and early booking incentives. As well as special discounts and added-value, we’ve got free child places, low deposits, and payment options to spread the cost of your holiday.
Q Where do you expect to be big in 2025?
A European favourites such as the Canaries and Turkey continue to prove popular for family summer getaways, but cruising round the Med is also a favourite for this summer thanks to the increase in ships sailing from Southampton and the value-for-money cruise o ers.
Further afield, we’ve been noticing a steady rise in demand for USA beyond the gateways. The likes of New York, Orlando and Las Vegas will always be popular, but there’s rising interest in the Deep South, California and New England.
We’ve also noticed a sharp rise in demand for Japan, which I expect will accelerate in popularity in 2025 and beyond.
Q Where would you love to visit?
A I’ve always wanted to visit Vietnam and Cambodia – and I’m hoping to head there in 2025 on a river cruise through the Mekong.
barrheadtravel.co.uk
JACQUELINE DOBSON
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA
THE MEKONG, VIETNAM
SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING | THURSDAY 23 RD JANUARY | 6.30 PM
QUEEN ETHELBURGA’S COLLEGE
Queen Ethelburga's College has won the Sunday Times Parent Power Top School in the North for Academic Performance for a fourth year in a row after the students achieved 99% A*-B at A-level, 74% Distinction in BTECS, and 87% Grades 7-9 in GCSEs.
qe.org/college
DIV E IN
BThe Headmaster of Beech Hall School in Macclesfield on how open water swimming is making waves
By JAMES ALLEN
eech Hall School’s openwater swimmers are not elite swimmers. They are not club swimmers. They are not natural athletes. At least not at the start of the programme. They are enthused and inspired by those who have gone before them. They are enthused and inspired by the accolades and the trophies, the ties and the blazers, the awards ceremonies, the news articles and the radio and TV interviews. They have also collectively raised over £100,000 for Mencap. In the summer of 2021, Katie Ann landed on the steps of Wissant, completing Beech Hall’s first ever junior relay swim across the English Channel. The landing point along the French coast is unpredictable in large part due to the strong French currents, and landing beautifully on sand is unlikely. More likely is a bumpy, abrasion-filled landing on the rocks, clear of water to conclude the swim. For Katie Ann it was very di erent, as she stepped out of the water to the applause of 200 French supporters, all thrilled for her team’s success. Emotional, overwhelmed and utterly exhausted. Little did we know that
this was the start of a now five year journey that would see multiple teams of pupils swim to France, awards-a-plenty, local and national recognition, the opportunity to be interviewed on radio and television, and even swim around New York’s Manhattan Island!
It is a programme that has evolved over the years as the coaching team learns and understands so much more about open-water swimming. Training in their own outdoor pool has distinct advantages, not least the chance to drop the temperature in January and February and become accustomed to water slightly less warm than we would like. The c-word and the f-word are big no-nos for our swimmers (for clarity that’s cold and freezing) as they begin to understand the medical e ects of cold water shock and what happens to our bodies. The benefits both physical and mental of less warm swimming have been widely documented, although we hadn’t realised at the time the phenomenal impact it would have for some pupils in the classroom. Focus improved, attitude to learning enhanced and grades increased – all because of swimming. Other people’s attitude towards our swimmers changed. No longer were we taking incalculable
risks, it seemed we knew what we were doing. As our junior swimmers launched their bid to swim around the 20 Bridges of Manhattan, the Director of New York Open Water exclaimed, “wow, they’re fast”, to which one of our coaching team retorted, “I told you, they’re swimmers, not kids!”
They have been welcomed by the Channel Swimming Association with kindness and warmth, not least by Harry and Fred Mardle, pilots of the boat Masterpiece, and now long-lasting friends of Beech Hall School. Their training camp in May half term is a crucial part of their preparation including swims in Dover Harbour and the open sea as they practise the critical elements of how far from the boat to swim and how to take over from one another when their first hour
JAMES ALLEN
is completed. They have to contend with low temperatures and waves, and things that live in the sea, as well as those demons that lurk in the depths of their minds. The monkey on their back or the worm in their ear – the thing that tells them they can’t do it, the water is too cold, the jellyfish stings hurt too much, and the sheer unpredictability of swimming in the open ocean.
Beech Hall’s Channel relay swimmers range in age from 12 to 17. They train hard throughout the year, and many are committed to a two-year programme. Swim technique to deal with the waves, cold-water (sorry) training, cardio, fitness and endurance, breathing and attitude are all covered as they swim up to five times per week. They train in Liverpool Docks amongst the jellyfish that don’t sting and then head to Colwyn Bay in North Wales to become familiar with those that do! It’s a mindset that becomes about so much more than swimming. Have you ever swum in water under ten degrees? It’s brutal. The pain can be overwhelming and the body’s response dramatic. Gradual immersion in less warm water trains the brain as well as the body, which is why our newly-acquired ice pod became such a hit on a Saturday morning.
They begin the process not as swimmers but as youngsters keen to embrace a challenge; what they become is nothing less than transformational and the awards bear that out. We have the largest squad ever this year, and have recently committed to two boats next summer and an all-female squad in 2026 to celebrate the combined centenary of Beech Hall School and Trudy Ederle’s inaugural crossing as the world’s first female swimmer to cross the English Channel. In
the immortal words from Jaws, “we’re gonna need a bigger boat”. Some are returning for their second and third relay swims, some want to swim faster than ever before, others are dipping their toe into the waters of open-water swimming, hopeful that at some stage in the next year or so, they too will have the chance to call themselves an English Channel relay swimmer.
beechhallschool.org
BEECH HALL SCHOOL PUPILS COMPLETE THE 20 BRIDGES SWIM
BEECH HALL SCHOOL’S CHANNEL SWIM TEAM
FORMER BEECH HALL SCHOOL PUPIL AND CHANNEL SWIM SQUAD MEMBER CHARLIE
above beyond &
St. Anselm’s College : unparalleled enrichment and endless opportunities for success
By SERENA CUBBIN
At St. Anselm’s College, our mission is to ensure that every student can reach their full potential through their God-given talents. We extend inclusivity, well-being, and a sense of belonging to every community member, encompassing past, present, and future Anselmians.
ENRICHMENT CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
Our extensive enrichment programme encompasses over 70 clubs and activities. We diligently track and monitor attendance to ensure every student is engaged in at least one activity. Designed to ignite passions, enhance skills, and foster personal growth, our Enrichment Programme o ers something for everyone – from creative arts and sciences to sports and gaming. Recognising the importance of Personal Development and well-being, we provide opportunities to build leadership and empathy through clubs like Peer Mentors, Well-being Ambassadors, the St. Vincent De Paul Society, and the eco-conscious Green Team. These initiatives empower our students to strengthen their self-identity while ensuring their social and emotional needs are met, all while positively impacting the community. Complementing these e orts, we o er various intervention clubs aimed at maximising our students' progress.
SERENA CUBBIN PRESENTING THE HEADTEACHER'S AWARD
OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT CAN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL
EXCELLENCE IN SPORT
St. Anselm’s College has a unique Physical Education department. The College prides itself on its ability to enrich all levels of performers through sport and exercise, whilst we provide an extensive and varied PE curriculum.
We excel nationally at sports such as rugby, athletics, cross-country and hockey. The College for many years has been seen as one of the best athletics schools outside of London competing regularly in the English Schools national finals, winning the English Schools Cross-Country Final twice in recent history. Developing links with our local clubs we have seen many boys progress on their elite journey into track and field, with three students securing scholarships in America: Joshua Hale qualified to represent England in the 5 mile road relays and was a part of the winning team for the NAIA cross-country National Championships; Harry Ross-Hughes making the NAIA National Final for the 800m and being selected for GB at the European athletics U18 Championships; and Joseph Wigfield qualified for a Senior Men’s GB vest in cross-country, was the first person to run a sub 4 minute Westminster mile and recently signed his first professional contract with HOKA.
The College also has an incredibly rich history of rugby excellence and includes British & Irish Lions Austin Healey on its alumni, plus a host of other senior rugby
international and professional players. Last year the College won the Cheshire Cup under 16s competition and the 1st XV have just beaten Rugby School in the quarter final of the National tournament.
IMMERSION LINKS
Our commitment is to nurture not only brilliant minds but also compassionate hearts, fostering an environment where each learner is invited to live out the values of Catholic social teaching and make a direct impact on the lives of others. Our College has a unique attachment to Sierra Leone, West Africa, following the death of our former Headmaster, Brother Kerrigan, during the brutal Civil War which took place there. Our students have since built friendships and lifelong connections through annual immersion visits. Watching our Year 12 students teach and discuss mathematics, science, and English at St. Joseph’s School for the Hearing Impaired in Makeni was an unforgettable experience for all. Additionally, we are part of a global Edmund Rice family that spans five continents, dozens of schools, and tens of thousands of students. Our students enjoy connecting with schools worldwide, forming a true Edmund Rice global family. Annually, our learners also travel to Geneva to witness the United Nations in action, experiencing NGO operations and advocacy, and seeing former students work at the United Nations.
ENRICHING THE LIVES OF OTHERS
While many schools o er leadership opportunities, we grow future leaders. Our students support peers with mental health issues, younger students who face various challenges, and adults with learning di culties. They give aid to the homeless, refugees, the elderly, and visit institutions like the United Nations, Parliament, and COP. The College was awarded a Cardinal Hume Award, in recognition of the Outreach work of its students, who host a Friday Club (for over 40 years) weekly for local adults with learning di culties. The College is a School of Sanctuary and a Suicide Safer School. Our students are aware of global issues and recognise their responsibilities towards them.
OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAVEL
Students at St. Anselm’s have the opportunity to immerse themselves in trips to Canada, South Africa, Japan, Sierra Leone, and many European destinations. A notable highlight is our connection with Hyuga Gakuin Catholic School in Miyazaki, Japan. Fifteen of our Japanese Language Club members visited Japan, staying with local families, attending lessons, and exploring local shrines.
Serena Cubbin is Head of St. Anselm’s College in Birkenhead. Find out more by visiting st-anselms.com
ST. ANSELM’S COLLEGE RUGBY 1ST XV TEAM WHO PLAY IPSWICH SCHOOL IN THE U-18 NATIONAL PLATE SEMI-FINAL IN FEBRUARY 2025
A CAREERS EVENT IN FULL FLOW
The Faculty of Queen Ethelburga’s, one of the two senior schools from Year 10-13 at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, has been awarded the prestigious title of Independent Schools Association – Senior School of the Year. The ISA Awards are held annually, celebrating success in independent education and they recognise the breadth and quality of provision within the sector.
QE Faculty combines academic excellence with the opportunity to also pursue a more vocational and creative approach to studies and aspirations. QE Faculty o ers both A-levels and BTECs giving a diverse and flexible curriculum. This flexibility within the QE Faculty curriculum allows students the time and the opportunity to pursue community action, or to invest increased time in an area of particular talent. A specific example is allowing A-level students performing to a high level in sport
REACHING NEW LEVELS
The Faculty of Queen Ethelburga’s takes the win for ISA Senior School of the Year
to have time built into the curriculum, which provides them with structured opportunities to dedicate time to their sport by accessing the incredible Performance Sport Pathway. The impact of this decision, which gives students in Year 12 an additional five hours a week for their sporting development alongside four AS levels, means they have a high level of aspiring athletes within the QE Faculty student cohort.
The importance of providing each student in QE Faculty with a curriculum that suits their interests and talents leads to strong outcomes for the students academically. QE Faculty supports the aspirations and ambitions of all of its students from Oxbridge applications, to professional sport, to entrepreneurship, to performing on the stage. QE Faculty aims to get the best from students by finding an academic pathway that brings out the best in them, in whatever area that may be.
In 2023, within QE Faculty, the BTEC Esports course was launched to Year 10 and Year 12 students as part of QE’s
commitment to o ering modern subjects for industries of the future and to support the diversity of talents within the school.
Sport and new subject innovations are only two examples of how QE Faculty creates space for passion in the curriculum. There is also the Academy of Dramatic Arts (ADA) pathway, supporting students with auditions and improving skills in acting, musical theatre, comedy, stage combat, and a variety of dance styles with extra time dedicated in the school day to do so. Students have continued studying performing arts at the BIMM Institute, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Regent’s University London. Creative Arts is also another strand of the QE Faculty curriculum and in 2023 received a Gold Artsmark Award, awarded by Arts Council England. The Artsmark assessor commended QE on its rich range of o er in the arts.
To find out more visit qe.org
why everyone is talking about…
Blossoms
The Cheshire band have been announced as Forest Live headline show at Forestry England Delamere for 2025
Forest Live, Forestry England’s summer concert series presented with Cu e & Taylor, has announced its return to Forestry England Delamere with much-loved Stockport indie-rockers Blossoms as the first confirmed headliners. Hot on the heels of their highly praised new album Gary, Blossoms will be heading back to their Cheshire roots for the Delamere Forest show on Saturday 21st June. Since forming in 2013, Blossoms have enjoyed widespread acclaim, with four UK Number 1 albums, BRIT Award and Mercury Prize nominations and a series of globe-trotting tours under their belts.
Blossoms are the first of many bands to be announced to be taking to the stunning surroundings of Forestry England Delamere this summer. Fans can expect a fun-filled o ering from the indie-rock favourites, with new tracks like I Like Your Look and Big Star accompanied by earlier hits including I Can’t Stand It, There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls), Charlemagne and Your Girlfriend
Blossoms’ Forest Live fixture will also feature support from rising alternative singer-songwriter Seb Lowe and Mancunian up-and-comers The Guest List. With songs intended to spark meaningful conversations and tackle pressing issues such as societal injustice, Seb Lowe’s sound is a rich tapestry woven with elements plucked from a plethora of inspirations. Quickly emerging as one of the UK’s most distinctive young voices, his work combines powerful social commentary with infectious melodies, wit and humour. Formed by frontman Cai Alty and four friends in early 2021, The Guest List released their self-titled debut EP last year, and have since amassed a large
following and reputation as a buzzy new act on the Manchester music scene.
Merging stellar performances from world-class acts with beautiful outdoor locations to create an atmosphere like no other, Forest Live 2025 will take place at four forest venues: Forestry England Cannock Chase, Delamere, High Lodge, Thetford and Westonbirt Arboretum.
Blossoms join a selection of renowned global artists as confirmed headliners for the event’s 2025 edition, including Sting (Cannock Chase and Westonbirt Arboretum), The Script (Westonbirt Arboretum and High Lodge, Thetford) and Elbow (Westonbirt Arboretum).
For information, announcements, and exclusive pre-sale access, head to forestlive.com
