TRIED & TESTED Venicci Empire Ultra Black Pushchair

Reviewed by CARLY GLENDINNING

Compact pushchairs sometimes compromise on function in favour of portability. This might not be that important if it’s just needed for the nursery run. However, if you live in the city like me, nippiness shouldn’t come at the expense of comfort and good suspension.

Impressively, the new Venicci Empire Pushchair has it all. With a sleek chassis, the Empire is beautifully made with elegant design details.

The Empire can be used from birth in the lie-flat position, or with the addition of the newborn insert (which is so cosy that you won’t miss having a bassinet). Designed to grow with your little one, the Empire can be used up until 4 years of age.

My toddler found the plush padded seat to be really comfortable and had no problem napping in it on-the-go. We love how you can recline it to be completely flat, a feature that’s not always available on compact pushchairs. The roomy extendable hood is made from protective UV 50+ fabric, and has a mesh viewing window. The stroller fabric is also water-resistant, so you can use it year-round come rain or shine.

The seat can be positioned to either be parent-facing or world-facing and with a 5-point harness, the straps also felt nice and secure. What we really loved though is the smooth one hand fold. The Empire folds to the size of a compact suitcase –perfect if you live in a tiny London flat like me! It also folds both ways, another feature that not all strollers have.

The four-wheel suspension is brilliant and it has 360° rotary wheels at the front, which make navigating uneven city pavements a breeze. The frame is also super lightweight and easy to push. Another big tick is the roomy basket. The handle can be adjusted to the perfect height and there’s a bumper bar for extra safety. The Empire can also be used as a travel system, with the appropriate car seat adapters.

All in all, the Empire is a really hardworking compact stroller – that will last from birth well into the toddler years.

The Empire pushchair with accessories pack retails at £499 and comes complete with raincover, pouch bag, and a cosy apron. venicci.co.uk