Absolute Magazine issue 119 June 2015

ISSUE 119 JUNE 2015

FASHION | STYLE | CULTURE | LIVING | TRAVEL

Seychelles Tourist Office - UK & Ireland

4th Floor, 130-132 Buckingham Palace Road - SW1W 9SA Tel: +44 (0) 207 730 0700 - seychelles@uksto.co.uk

www.seychelles.travel

Lifestyle

by design interiors

Kitchen – Bedroom – Living

58 Western Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 1JD 01273 206016 125 South Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 4LR 01444 443777

Design Interiors | Home

"The kitchen is the centre of our modern homes, and when planning a new kitchen there is a lot to consider. A beautiful, quality kitchen will also add value to your property."

e Design Specialists | Tel: 01273 206016 | Web: www.design-interiors.com

Index 16 24 34 36 43 52 58 62 64 68 71 87 102 111 118

Fashion Shoot Kalee Headmasters Hot Model Drink & Dine Salt Room Pagoda Maw I360 Country Pubs Festivals Weddings Travel Business Horoscopes

Managing Editor - Lizanne Harris - lizanne@absolutemagazine.co.uk Account Manager - David Hall - david@absolutemagazine.co.uk Account Manager - Rachel Sawyer - rachel@absolutemagazine.co.uk Account Manager - Online - Dan Chapman dan@absolutemagazine.co.uk Designer - Tom Scrace - tom@absolutemagazine.co.uk Guest Editor - Stuart Pritchard Owners - Publishers Simon Darcy Abbott - simon@absolutemagazine.co.uk David Camici - dcamici@absolutemagazine.co.uk Cover Shot Clothing - Mottoo Clothing Hair / Styling - Fatosh Kalan Photography - Darren Black Model - Daisy Boote - next hot model 2014 female winner Location - Hilton Labriz Seychelles

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ABSOLUTE is owned and produced by Make a Difference Media Ltd New England House Brighton BN1 4GH connect with us www.absolutemagzine.co.uk facebook/absolutemagazine twitter/absolutesussex instagram/absolute_mag Printed by Swan Press Ltd Unit 5A, Dolphin Way Shoreham By Sea BN43 6NZ

Editor's Letter Hello all!

It’s with great excitement (and a lot of hard work I might add) that I am happy for the new and improved ABSOLUTE SUSSEX magazine to be out.

Having worked on magazines for over fifteen years it’s been great to do something closer to home about the places and things I love in and around the place I call home.

We hope to deliver you a mix of news and reviews that will keep you all informed and busy (that includes the local Sussex people and all our visitors that grace our coast).

There is a never ending stream of things to do here and having moved to Brighton ten years ago I truly appreciate the diverse and friendly nature of our city. There is never a dull moment and I would find it very hard to live anywhere else now. We are so spoilt for choice!

This month we have covered the best of Brighton's festivals that have just taken place (for your future reference) and the best that is still yet to come, a stack of bars and restaurants (old and new) and country pub getaways for when you want to escape the crowds on the beach this summer.

Sussex has always been a popular area for weddings (and the stag and hen do's that come before), so we have picked out our favourite choices for venues to get hitched at and given all you summer brides some tips and tricks on photography, hair care and trends in dresses for your upcoming special day.

Each month we will bring to you, what’s going on close to home, travel news near and far and some London info for all you commuters out there.

We want your feedback, your ideas, the places you love, pictures of you and your friends, where you have been and anything you think that would be of interest to us and your pals ….so please feel free to contact us and send in to lizanne@absolutemagazine.co.uk For all you budding writers and photographers who are keen to be published, I would like ABSOLUTE to be a platform for you…if you fancy having some work appearing in the magazine then go ahead and send some pieces of your work in to us. We will have a good look and get right back to you.

So here is to enjoying and supporting the amazing place we live in…CHEERS!

s i r r a H e n n a z Li

-X-

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News

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Heads Up – Feathered Fantasy

A Proper Brew - Baked

The Sun is starting to shine and it’s that time of year where we are booking our festival tickets and getting together a wardrobe of bohemian style with a rock and roll edge or looking for something extra special for a day at the races or wedding party.

Enter ‘Feathered Fantasy’, the brainchild of Sussex based designer Ellie Kay and her collection of contemporary head wear all inspired by the very nature that surrounds us. What makes these hats, headpieces and hairbands so unique is that they are often created with the feathers of birds involved in hit and run incidents found on the sides of our country roads, such as Pheasants, Ducks and other game birds, then lovingly crafted in her Brighton studios.

No one piece is exactly the same and you will undoubtedly stand out from the crowd in these distinctive pieces. From £25 upwards. www.featheredfantasy.com For bespoke collections and private consultations: ellie@featheredfantasy.com

There’s a new chill out place in town and if you haven’t been you should go.

Small and buzzing, with a collection of every type of tea and coffee ‘Baked’ has definitely become a place for the cool people of Brighton to pop by, catch up, hang out and indulge in some quality food, home baked treats and a marvellous brew. Super friendly staff welcome you as soon as you walk through the door.

Warm, cosy and inviting and a little bit like appearing in your own episode of Friends.

69 Church Road, Hove BN3 2BB www.facebook.com/pages/BAKED

Food Fabulous Food…

And Drink – Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival ‘Spring Harvest’ Keep an eye out for the food and drink events showcasing the very best that Brighton and Sussex’s independent bars, restaurants, retailers and producers have to offer, taking place in and around Brighton & Hove from the 20th – 31st May. Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival 'Spring Harvest' is one of the only festivals that offers free entry to a weekend of deliciousness (Saturday 30th – Sunday 31st May), including the Live Food Show, Children’s Food Festival, Sussex & the World Market – with over 100 local and international guest producers and restaurants - and a host of fun activities including the Wobblegate Wobblympics and a project building furniture from food packaging waste led

by Yelo Architects and FareShare. There

are also the ticketed Brighton Wine Festival and Brighton Beer & Cider Festival in the evenings.

Surrounding the free-to-enter weekend events, there is an extensive programme of wine and food tasting tours, trails, tastings and themed dinners including a Sussex Wine & Canapés matching evening as part of English Wine Week, A Taste of Guernsey supper club with Cantina, Food Lab featuring seven chefs and producers at 64 Degrees, The Three Chefs go to the Movies at Curry Leaf Café, a food trail of Kemp Town, a beer & cheese matching dinner with Harveys brewery and La Cave à Fromage at Jeremy’s Restaurant at Borde Hill, the Make Your Case punk wine night, Wine of New Zealand dinner at Drakes and an International Chef Exchange dinners at Terre à Terre with guest chef from Vancouver.

Hmmmm… time to loosen your belt! www.brightonfoodfestival.com

Possible poolside swimming by the sea We are so lucky to live by the sea but now and then it’s just too darn cold to dive in.

So, if this possible plan takes place I shall be very happy indeed. A heated open air swimming pool is among the attractions planned as part of a new leisure centre on the derelict Peter Pan’s Playground site on Brighton seafront.

A proposal by Brighton developer Copsemill Properties and partners has been submitted to the council for a £3 million year-round leisure centre on the site which has been derelict for several years. It includes a 50-metre heated open air pool, changing facilities, a café, indoor endless pools, exercise studios and facilities for cycling and running.

Intertwining the sea on our doorstep and the proposed pools there will be escorted sea swims and training for lifeguards.

I’m crossing everything this go ahead.

Let us know what you think about this poolside possibility at: you@ absolutemagazine.co.uk

If You Go Down To The Woods Today - Elderflower Fields Festival Between the 22nd and 25th May the family friendly festival ‘Elderflower

Fields Festival’ takes place at Ashdown Forest. Set in the stunning Sussex countryside. The event includes fun activities, locally sourced food and an eclectic mix of live music acts playing folk, gypsy, swing, rock, dance and classical music. Michele Stodart (Magic Numbers) and Ben Ottewell (Gomez) will be hosting workshops for the kids as part of the Youth Music Zone. www.elderflowerfields.co.uk

LOOK AT ME Last year’s critically acclaimed sell out show 'Look At Me' comes to Brighton's

Komedia on the 28th May. If you are looking for a show that packs humour, hilarity and jokes with a deeper message then this is definitely for you. Juliette Burton who has been a size 4 and size 20 and everything in between addresses the issues of the importance society puts on what we look like, what we wear and if this actually defines wo we actually are, exploring the whole notion of first impressions. Thought provoking stuff wrapped up in bundle of fun!

Komedia Studio, 44-47 Gardner Street, North Laine, Brighton, BN1 1UN TEL: 0845 293 8480 – tickets@ komedia.co.uk http://komediabrighton.ticketsolve.com/ mobile/shows/873527798/events

Gents and gentry at Brighton Racecourse To mark the start of the racing season at Brighton Racecourse, the Sussex track is holding its very first Gentlemen’s Day on Friday 29th May, sponsored

by Genting Casino Brighton. Seeing as it’s the ladies that usually get the best celebration of the season in racing it’s rather nice that chaps get to dress to impress, get together and enjoy a day of exhilarating flat racing while appreciating the stunning views of the South Downs and the English

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Channel. There will be plenty of entertainment on offer over the course of the afternoon including the ‘Best Dressed Gent’ competition, judged by local radio station Juice FM and, with a watch courtesy of James Ross Jewellers up for grabs as top prize.

Brighton’s Gentlemen’s Day also boasts a planned seven race card, offering plenty of opportunities to enjoy the thunder of hooves on the turf. Gates open at 12.00pm with the first race at 2.20pm and the last at 5.35pm. The evening promises a host of exciting entertainment, good food and music to boot.

George Hill, Brighton Racecourse Marketing Manager, said: “We’re really excited about our first ever Gentlemen’s Day. The ladies usually get the best celebration of the season, but this year we are pulling out all of the stops to celebrate the gents too!”

There is a free return bus service from Brighton Train Station to the course starting two hours before the first race. https://www.facebook.com/ BrightonRacecourse @BrightonRace www.brighton-racecourse.co.uk

chosen to receive a share of £5,000 from a £100,000 pot of funding for aspiring filmmakers across England.

To unlock the funding from Creative England, Toby has launched a Crowdfunder campaign to raise additional funds and drive early awareness plus audience engagement in advance of the films’ release.

Toby’s film, “Killing’s My Living” drops the audience inside the brain of a professional serial killer who's much less worried about the morality of what he does than the practicality of how to get rid of so many dead bodies. There is plenty of black comedy lurking in the shadows in this Saltdean-based tale.

Think of it as a cross between “Brighton Rock” and “Weekend at Bernies”.

Toby Amies previous feature 'The Man Whose Mind Exploded' was made in a Brighton-based council flat and garden shed and comes out on Film 4 this summer.

To accompany the funding campaign there will be a massive launch party at a secret Brighton location featuring performances from superstar DJ’s and real live rock stars.

For more info and to be a part of Brighton's up and coming filmmaker's dream go to: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/kml"

Brighton talent Brighton-based filmmaker, Toby Amies has launched an innovative crowdfunding project as part of a national campaign created by Creative England and Crowdfunder to raise funds for and awareness for up-andcoming talent in the film industry.

Following hundreds of applications from aspiring filmmakers, Toby has been

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Green footprint The popular Eco Technology Show is back on 11-12 June at the city’s American Express stadium.

The Eco Technology Show is a one stop shop for energy efficiency and low carbon improvements at home and at work with a chance to meet the experts and see the latest innovations on shaping a green future for your home and surroundings.

Red Dwarf character Kryton, aka actor and technology enthusiast Robert Llewellyn will also be there to dispel the myths around electric vehicles.

While most of the seminars are free to drop into, if you want to dig deeper into any core topics, it could be worth booking one of the limited spaces in the Communications Hub where facilitated networking sessions will look at topics such as retrofitting for energy efficiency and energy management.

For business leaders and entrepreneurs looking to the next level, there will be an opportunity to explore the future. The University of Brighton’s Green Growth Platform is hosting a conference at the show and tickets are available via the Eco Technology Show website.

For more information please visit www. ecotechnologyshow.co.uk.

Ocean Sings Billy Ocean comes to Worthing.

I lived my youth in the 80’s and danced around my handbag to so many of his tunes (Love Really Hurts Without You and Red Light Spells Danger, Caribbean Queen, When The Going Gets Tough, and Get Out Of My Dreams - Get Into My Car), so I am more than excited that Grammy Award winning singer Billy Ocean will be playing at Worthing’s Pavilion Theatre on June 5th. If you remember his reggae infused soulful voice as I do you will definitely want to be there and if you haven’t lived it like me then I suggest you suck it and see. Having amassed plenty of Gold and Platinum records in his time and hitting the number one spot in charts all over the world, Billy is sure not to disappoint. www.worthingtheatres.co.uk

Keep Paddling The legendary Paddle Round the Pier Beach Festival takes place in Brighton this July 4th and 5th.

As one of the most popular events of the weekend, The “Paddle Something Unusual” draws the largest crowds on the beach and foreshore and is very amusing to watch, the idea being to create and paddle the most unusual thing you can think of around the remains of the old West Pier. Think aeroplanes to cranes and beds to sheds floating along and you will get the idea!

In previous years the PSU has seen everything from aeroplanes to cranes,

from a bed to a shed – the only guidelines are to make it as ridiculous (but safe) as possible, raise plenty of money – and have a spectacularly good time doing it. Remember this is not a race - it’s the most fun and unusual entry that wins!

The rules are simple – the contraption must be paddled manually with absolutely no propellers or engines of any kind, it must have a minimum crew of two but there’s no upper limit. It will need a towloop somewhere on it as the safety boats will probably end up helping participants at some stage and all members of the teams will need to be able to swim 100m in the sea. For further details on Brighton’s favourite weekend by the sea and for more details on the Mayo Wynne Baxter “Paddle Something Unusual” www.paddleroundthepier.com

Hove Actually Celebrating the better half of Brighton & Hove Hove’s latest old boozer has been transformed into somewhere great to eat and drink. What was known as the Red Lion is now The Better Half at 1 Hove Place.

New landlord Simon Stern has worked hard to make this tired old boozer into a cosy and friendly local. The pub boasts a unique design where a traditionally glazed tile bar and Edison light bulbs

meet contemporary, clean designs on artwork adorning the walls.

The Better Half has joined forces with chef Andy Keir, who has worked in award winning pubs and restaurants, and who cooks simple, good food, creating contemporary British dishes using great local produce. All this accompanied by a superb wine list and great ales.

“We want customers to feel comfortable visiting us any time of day for anything from a hearty bowl of stew and a pint for lunch or a glass of crisp white wine with a locally caught fish dish for supper. We also welcome people to come for a bloody Mary from 12pm on a Sunday and a family Sunday roast, or just a few pints of ale in the evening.” They definitely seemed to have managed this as the atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and easy-going.

1 Hove Place, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 2RG TEL: 01273 737869

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AT HO ME.. .

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PREPARE YOURSELF TO DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Offering a combination of stunning colonial style architecture, landscaped gardens, fine dining and exquisite jungle spa make it one of the most exclusive romantic retreats in the Indian Ocean. The resort’s comprehensive range of romance and honeymoon packages are designed to maximize the island's full romantic potential, ensuring all the guest’s needs are taken care of to the very last detail.

Whether you opt to explore Silhouette’s breath-taking natural beauty or wile away the days beachcombing, relaxing at the spa and indulging in fine dine experiences, Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa will provide you with an unforgettable escape.

For room reservations please visit www.hiltonseychelleslabriz.com, Call +248 429 3949 or email sezlb.info@hilton.com

Silhouette Island | SEYCHELLES ©2014 Hilton Worldwide

Pretty Young Things Set free to enjoy one of the finest hotel suites in Sussex for the day were Rob Loydell, the 2014 male winner of Next Hot Model UK and Emily Bunclark a 2015 Next Hot Model UK hopeful. Dressed up, made-up and ready to perform‌this I what took place‌

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he new loft penthouse suite at Hotel Du Vin Brighton, which after its stunning redesign has just come available for bookings, was the perfect place for the two models to have some fun in between posing for the camera.

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Clothing was provided by Brighton favorites Mottoo Clothing Duke St and Gresham Blake, featuring shirts from Cafe Bleu, make up and styling was provided by Beyond foundation and hair by Fatosh Kalan, and images were by top fashion photographer Maria Scard.

To see the full shoot and behind the scenes, visit the webiste: www.absolutemagazine.co.uk

www.beyondfoundation.co.uk/ www.nexthotmodeluk.com/ www.mottoobrighton.com/ www.greshamblake.com/ www.hotelduvin.com/ www.hairbyfatoshkalan.com/ www.mariascard.com/ www.cafebleuclothing.co.uk/

All Things Brighton Beautiful

Forde Hair, 160-161 North Street, Brighton Tel: 01273 323319 www.fordehair.co.uk

/fordehairnorthstreet /garyforde

A Very Stylish Girl In 2004, celebrity stylist, host and fashion speaker Kalee studied for her Fashion BA Honours in Sussex. Since then it has been a non-stop whirl of fabulous frocks, stylish suits, adorable accessories and all things fashion and beyond!

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aving worked in the industry for over ten years, our very own Sussex stylist divides her time between the glamorous celebrity filled Los Angeles and the more down-to-earth on-trend UK, working on feature films, TV, commercials, pop promos and prominent magazine titles.

If you have ever watched online fashion programmes 'themuse.tv' and 'Motel Rocks', you'll see our girl whizzing around stores such as H&M picking out the latest in trends and making them work for us 'everyday people' (sort of like having your own stylist without the price tag!) Having watched these myself and being an avid reader of her blog 'The Style Hanger', it's easy to see how her warm personality, huge range of fashion knowledge and her friendly on the eye appearance (yes, damn it, this

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girl is also gorgeous) works for everyone from renowned celebrities to the more practical side of things.

In collaboration with 'Slendertone', Kalee has given constructive and on-trend fashion tips through their social media sites on how to dress for various body shapes, where she manages to be a more approachable and younger 'Trinny and Suzannah' all rolled in to one!

Always with an eye on what's happening on the current season catwalks "For this Spring/Summer collections I’m in love with the beautiful soft pastel suedes I saw at Chloe and the military detailing at the Marc Jacobs show" and the individual styles of celebrities "I love Olivia Polermo’s eclectic style. She has a great eye for mixing prints and she takes risks.

She will always throw something unexpected into the mix and it works". It's this attention to detail

and Kalee's enthusiasm for all things fashion and beauty that keeps huge named brands such as 'Rimmel London' who she reports for direct from the runway at 'London Fashion Week' and 'The Clothes Show Live' coming back for more.

I asked our 'finger-on-the pulse' fashionista how she would describe style in a just a few words "I think it depends on age. I used to be all about bohemian with a rock and roll edge, yet over time I have been nodding to the more clean tailored pieces that you would expect to see on Gwyneth Paltrow. These days it's all about the right fit"…. and yes, I can see what she means, and it is this creative yet pragmatic handle on the fashion world that keeps Kalee one hot girl in demand.

Want to know more about fashion and style?

Visit: www.kaleehewlett.com.

“There is a real

diversity of style in Brighton, it’s an eclectic town rich in culture and it’s great to see people embrace their individuality which is reflected in what they wear

”

An experience uniquely Maldives

Discover the real essence of the Maldives. Set in Ari Atoll, Maafushivaru is reached by 25 minute seaplane journey. The island charms you with its dazzling turquoise lagoon and sandy beaches, knitted with lush ďƒ&#x;ora, enough to give you a sense of tranquility.

Minutes away is Lonubo, our very own deserted island, letting you and your beloved have your own island for a night.

www.maafushivaru.com

Health and Beauty News As Light As A Feather The Float Spa

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usy lives create exhausted minds and tired bodies.

These days it becomes increasingly difficult to switch off completely and if this is the case for you I advise a visit to Hove’s new oasis of calm and serenity ‘The Float Spa’. Lying in large Star Trek style pods filled with Epsom Salt Water

maintained at body temperature is an incredibly relaxing experience. Bodies experience 80% reduction in gravity, which you would only come close to if you take a rocket ship into space (slightly more difficult to do and a lot more expensive!)

The practice of lying in these pods completely relaxes the brain and in turn body muscle fatigue, aches and

pains. Not only does it help you focus on what’s going on in your mind and recognise your thought process, the Epsom Salts also deep cleanse the body from any toxins…apparently it’s rather good for cellulite too! The whole experience feels like I imagine it would feel for a baby in the womb….bizarre analogy, yes I know, out of this world relaxing, certainly!

The Float Spa, Basement 8, Third Avenue, Hove, BN3 2PX www.thefloatspa.co.uk

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Flying High - Aerial Yoga

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aving spent a month in Thailand training to be a yoga teacher I am of course a big fan of all things yogi, so I was delighted to try out one of the latest in yoga practices in my home town of Brighton ‘Aerial yoga’. Walking in to the studio and witnessing the low-hanging wide aerial silk, hung from the studio ceiling like a hammocks, did make me wonder what I

was setting myself up for… 50 Shades of Grey came to mind. It was explained to me that the silk contraptions aid traditional yoga postures by supporting your body weight and after the class I could definitely feel the benefits.

It’s perfect for those that need a little extra help with their postures as the help of gravity assists your body’s natural stretching ability and helps you to achieve postures and

deep stretches in a more relaxed way because the weightlessness removes any compression on the spine and joints.

Perfect for beginners and great for yogis and yoginis that previously struggled with postures in other yoga classes. This is really like flying!

4 classes for £45 / 3 weeks unlimited classes £25 www.bikramyogabrighton.com/aerialyoga

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Fit As A Fiddle SUMMER IS ARRIVING AND BEACH READY BODIES FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN SUDDENLY SPRING TO MIND. WE ASKED PERSONAL TRAINER ROSS GAFFNEY HOW WE CAN ALL SHIFT SOME WEIGHT SAFELY & EFFECTIVELY….

1. WRITE DOWN A PLAN

So many people fail when starting a new journey because they don't plan properly. I cannot stress how important this step is.

Make S.M.A.R.T goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely) and write them down, keeping a diary of your journey to track your progress but even more importantly writing down what you need to do will help you mentally connect with the task at hand. It also will serve as a reminder if you ever forget where you are in your daily routine, Plan your food intake during a weight loss programme. Doing a weekly food prep Will ensure that you have your food at all times, mistakes happen when you don't have your healthy food and you end up grabbing anything you can (usually unhealthy).

Plan your workouts and rest days in advance. Get your plan together and stick to it.

Once you set your plans into motion and start your journey most

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of this becomes second nature, the habits you get into at the start need to be good ones.

"What? Five reps is too little. I can't burn any calories with the set that short."

2. DIET

Let's not beat around the bush here, your diet will represent around 70% of your results when trying to lose weight. There are a million and one different diets out there some better than others and some that should be thrown in the bin as quickly as possible. Do your research and find one that suits you best, or better yet get the services of a professional to help you plan it out.

The main things to avoid when on a weight loss program are: sugar, salt, dairy products, wheat and any processed foods.

I advise all my clients to eat whole foods and limit carbohydrates to wholegrain such as oats and brown rice or sweet potato and have plenty of green fibrous veggies such as broccoli, asparagus and spinach. Healthy fats should include avocado, almonds and egg yolks, good sources of protein are egg whites, turkey breast, and chicken breast.

Eating these foods in the right amounts and with the right frequency will yield great results.

3. WEIGHTS

Compound exercises like the squat, dead lift, and benchpress work at the centre of any weight loss program. Together, they stimulate virtually every muscle in the body, preventing that muscle from being lost when calories are low. Reps don't need to be any higher than eight on your main lifts, and should often be closer to five.

I can hear your screams. "What? Five reps is too little. I can't burn any calories with the set that short." That's true, but

"Picking the form of cardio which is right for you should come down to one simple question how fit are you?" you're not trying to burn calories with weight training as that's largely a waste of time anyway. Rather, low reps imply heavyweight, and when you're dieting hard you don't want to perform long sets with a heavy bar on your back, believe me. Lack of energy leads to a lack of focus, and then accidents happen.

4. CARDIO

When it comes to cardio there is more than one way to skin a cat. Steady state, high intensity interval training (HIIT), running, and sprints are all very good forms of cardio which can help you massively in a weight loss program. However, it is very important to pick the cardio that will best help you as a person not all cardio is right for everyone.

Picking the form of cardio which is right for you should come down to one simple question how fit are you? Somebody who is very overweight would have trouble going on a 10 km run or doing sets of box jumps, however walking on a treadmill at a steady state on Incline is for more realistic. Set your incline to about 10 and walk at a high pace for 45 minutes. Walking can actually help enhance your recovery from weight training sessions, making it a multifaceted tool in your overall fat loss program, despite the fact that it doesn't kick your ass.

If time is an issue, a good form of high intensity interval training (HIIT) is sprinting. Interval sprinting for 20 minutes allows you to burn calories at accelerated rate for days after the workout. They also increase your conditioning, which will help you perform better overall in the gym and then any recreational sports that you

may be doing to stay active and fit.

While fat loss comes mainly through dietary changes, increasing your overall activity level carries you the rest of the way, and sprinting can play a big part in that.

5.

RECOVERY

Heavy training is tiring and stressful to the central nervous system, the control centre of your brain for all your muscle actions. Even when you've caught your breath, you often need to wait longer before performing your next set, as your nervous system isn't recovered enough to recruit all the musculature needed. This can mean rests of up to 2 to 3 minutes between sets, especially when calories on low and recovery ability is compromised.

You should try to take at least 2 to 3 days a week away from the gym for recovery.

Outside of the gym sufficient rest is needed in order for your body to recover.

Take time for yourself in relaxation, and be sure to get enough sleep because that is when our bodies are recovering the most.

The sleep diet connection is regular fodder for diet books and magazines.

Maybe you have even heard about the sleep diet, which suggests you can lose weight will you sleep.

It's not so much that if you sleep you will lose weight but if you are sleep deprived, meaning that you're not getting enough minutes of a good quality sleep your metabolism will not function properly.

Lashtastic – Benefit Roller Lash If I was stranded on a desert island apart from the obvious, life giving water and food that I would require, I always state that I would want a mascara with me – vanity indeed! I have tried most of them believe me, so when I tell you that ‘Roller Lash by Benefit’ is good….

Believe me I mean it. The hook ‘n’ roll brush not only grabs, separates and lifts the lashes, it also curls them (no need for an eye lash curler first). The claim is that the curl holds for 12 hours and after trying it out myself the claim is quite honest! I had friends asking if I had had eyelash extensions!

With Provitamin B5 and Serin in the formula it’s also got super lash conditioning benefits making this a must have for any mascara obsessed woman. £19.50

www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

Pocket Rocket – Urban Decay Revolution High-Color Lipgloss What fits into your pocket, glides on and keeps you coming back for more?

The answer’s not naughty, but the effect on your lips definitely will be! New for Summer is Urban Decay’s ‘Revolution High-Color Lipgloss’. This highcoverage, ultra-pigmented formula lays down all the color you crave in just one coat. Choose from fourteen shades in both cream and sparkle textures.

With gorgeous nudes, bold brights and deep, dark shades, there is a shade for everyone and it’s packaged in a slim enough case to fit in your back pocket.

Revolution High-Color Lipgloss , £15 is available from Debenhams in Brighton

www.urbandecay.co.uk

For more info on weight loss programmes or feedback email: rossgaffneyPT@yahoo.co.uk

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To order go to www.jo01.jeunesseglobal.com or www.samleighstockton.jeunesseglobal.com For information & recruitment .

Email instantlyageless0@gmail.com LIKE & SHARE us on Facebook/BottledBeauty-InstantlyAgeless

A Cut Above The Rest….  Going to the hair salon should be a relaxing, fun experience and Headmasters Brighton never seems to fail on all these things and more…

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et me introduce Hugo Ratzel, Owner of 'Headmasters Brighton', who started his training career with 'Jean Louis Desforges' in Paris. He then moved to England, where he became the Artistic Director for various companies including 'Headmasters' and 'Trevor Sorbie'. Having acquired extensive experience in session styling and working on numerous fashion catwalks and hair shows, he followed on to win the prestigious 'L’Oreal Colour Trophy'. Hugo's background and experience have allowed him to become an accomplished trainer in cutting, long hair dressing, hair up dressing and session styling. This wealth of experience gave him the opportunity to open his Headmasters Franchise in Brighton in 2008.

Your involvement in fashion shows?

I’m really passionate about hair; trends and fashion are extremely important and certainly something I encourage my team to follow and embrace as making people look and feel their best is so rewarding. We have been involved in many shows over the years from London Fashion Week to Graduate Fashion Week. We also headed four shows for Brighton Fashion Week two years in row, but most recently we had the great pleasure to work on the 'Gareth Pugh' show at the 'V & A' and 'J.W Anderson’s' last collection.

Why do you love working in Brighton?

What is there not to love about this town? Its tolerance, Vibrancy and diversity make it a truly unique place to be.

On the work side, I love the opportunity it gives us to push boundaries in terms of creativity with an eclectic clientele. I enjoy working in Brighton, being in the outdoors and fresh air gives me head space – going to the sea front for an hour at the end of each day really helps you get rid of all the noise, plus I live here so it’s great for me and my family.

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Tell us what the difference is in Brighton customers to anywhere else?

The difference in Brighton is that the clients tend to stay open minded and are quite daring when it comes to trying the latest techniques. It’s a real treat for us artists to have such vivacious clients to work and try new services with.

They are also extremely loyal. A lot of our clients become friends and book in regularly as much for the upkeep of their hair as a social engagement which we definitely encourage.

What are the hair trends in cut, style and colour that you are seeing and that will be emerging?

The Bob is most definitely the cut of the year, even long hair devotees like Rosie Huntington Whitely, Sienna Miller, Felicity Jones and Jourdan Dunn all adopted shorter tresses this year. It’s indicative of women in their prime, high achievers showcasing a confident bolder side to their personalities and our Brighton clients have definitely embraced this. So Headmasters created 'The Runway Bob' which is a cut and colour that really reflects this trend, adding some subtle colour to enhance the shape and add definition. Fundamentally, The Runway Bob is personalised by us for our clients, where we generally will place colours a couple of shades lighter and darker than their natural colour to enhance the texture and movement throughout their hair, contouring and framing their face, similar to using a bronzer and highlighter. Ideal for those who like to wear their BOB, POB or LOBS tousled, wavy and textured, the placement of 'The Runway Bob' helps to plump and draw attention to the wave, rather than divide and break it up like highlights would. 'The Runway Bob' concentrates on enhancing volume at the ends rather than on the roots which can make the hair look round and dated. What’s special about this, is the new technique 'Prisme', which focuses on taking triangular panels rather

 than highlights and we place either the lighter or darker hues around the face and throughout the ends of the hair to create shadows, which will enhance the cheekbones and the jaw-line. These triangular sections are still subtle but help to draw attention to the movement of the cut.

What are the best products to use this summer?

With long hot summer days immanent it’s really important to protect your colour, particularly against UV damage which can weaken and alter the colour of your hair. I would recommend the 'Kerastase Soleil shampoo' and conditioning mask.

They protect the hair fibres adding smoothness and shine. We live in Brighton so embrace your inner beach beauty and invest in a Sea Salt Spray like 'Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Texturising Spray', for a tousled beach style with effortless volume and a touchable texture.

What do you offer that makes headmasters in Brighton so different to other salons?

Our team’s skills are constantly being updated to keep them ahead of the latest trends & innovations so that our clients can benefit from these specialised techniques. We continually develop our people, which we believe creates happy, motivated, passionate hairdressers. Headmasters also has more 'L’Oreal Master Colour Experts' (the highest colour qualification in hairdressing) per salon than any other salon group. At 'Headmasters Brighton' we now have five of these colour degree specialists, delivering expert cutting and colouring services from ombré to balayage, colour correction and colour change, allowing our clients to feel they are in safe hands. We also have two men specialists who are trained in male grooming, offering beard trimming and in the near future wet shaves.

Headmasters Brighton, 7 Jubilee Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN11EG TEL: 03454597730 www.headmasters.com Facebook: Headmastersuk Twitter: @Headmastersuk Instagram: Headmastersuk Pinterest: Headmastersuk

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Hot To Trott

The Next Hot Model 2015

The beauty of the UK is again being explored and no stone will be left unturned in the search to find The Next Hot Model UK 2015.

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hroughout April to July the annual Next Hot Model UK Competition have been and will be holding scouting heats across seventeen of the major towns, cities and shores of the South from Bournemouth to Bristol, Brighton and even up to Guildford and Surrey, in a bid to find aspiring and unsigned models who dream of ditching the high street for the glamour of the catwalk and enter the glossy world of high-fashion. Run in partnership with the London-based and internationally-acclaimed high fashion model management company FIRST London and multiple influential media partners, the project aims to discover and mentor potential male and female models, offering them a platform to showcase their talent and launch their careers.

To all you beautiful young things out there, keep your eyes open for teams of talent scouts, who will be travelling

“Having worked in the fashion industry for over fifteen years and having watched hopeful models spend unnecessary money on portfolios with less influential agencies, The Next Hot Model 2015 competition is an ideal and professional platform for all you aspiring models out there!”

Lizanne Harris

through town centres, supermarkets, malls and events casting their professional eye over the UK’s beautiful people, with an aim to beat the 2014 entrants of just over 1500 to the competition which will see the top fifteen males and fifteen females enter the Grand Final Catwalk Show. Held at the prestigious Grand Hotel Brighton in Aug, the Grand Final Catwalk offers the lucky 30 the exciting opportunity of strutting their stuff in front of the UK's media and fashion experts, including Gareth Roberts, Founder of FIRST London, Darren Black high fashion photography icon plus a host of other industry experts.

No money is taken from the models that take part in the competition. It is 100% free to enter and to win.

The prize for winning The Next Hot Model is a year modelling contract with FIRST London + a 7 night luxury fashion shoot to the Seychelles with images by Darren Black Photography.

SCAN TO ENTER

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Prestige Watches & Exquisite Jewellery

Specialists in Vintage & Pre-Cherished Watches service, repair, & restoration. gold, silver & prestige watches purchased

29 Station Road, Portslade, East Sussex BN41 1GB Tel: 01273 239763 www.jamesrossjewellers.co.uk

25%OFF store

Code-absolute25

Life Through A Lense Top photographer Maria Scard managed to take the time to shoot our fashion story this month.

We asked her to give us the low down on a busy photographer’s life.

Q: How did you become a photographer?

A: I’ve always been creative and enjoyed expressing myself artistically. I enrolled on an art foundation course and studied Arts and Life Drawing, then realized I had a natural flare for photography. So in the end I gained qualifications in both Media Arts and Photography. That was thirteen years ago now!

Q: What do you love about Photography?

A: I love that my working life is an eclectic mix of situations and people.

One week I could be behind the scenes at Dubai Fashion Week and the next week, a prison in Bulgaria doing a photo shoot for an NGO. Perhaps over the weekend inbetween I could be based locally, creating memories for a family just before their children leave for university, or shooting a new business advert for Vodafone.

It’s mainly about the people for me. People are my passion, and through photography I’ve met people across every social class, walk of life and culture imaginable.

Q: How did you feel about shooting the fashion story for Absolute and what was your favourite shot from this story?

A: Well it’s the perfect introduction to Brighton for me. I’ve always admired the magazine, so it was great to be chosen for the re-launch issue. It was a great opportunity to work with the team, and bounce ideas around. We got to check out the new penthouse suite in the Hotel du Vin, so that was a bonus! I like the image of the model against the bookcase wallpaper. I was using a simple spotlight but the way the light plays against her jacket gives the image an ethereal quality that I am really pleased with.

Q: What would you consider your best job to date?

A: Whilst working for Men style fashion

at ‘London Collections: Men’ I had the opportunity to photograph Dermot O Leary, Tinie Tempah and even David Gandy, who has worked with some of the best fashion photographers including Mario Testino. David gave my work huge affirmation by using it in his personal Vogue blog. I was really thrilled, and I like to tell the story at every party I attend!

My top five images from my portfolio:

3. (duckling) This is one of the images chosen to be mounted on the wall of a local school. It captures the sense of nurturing life that is so present in a primary school.

1. (2 people crying) I love this image because it captures the raw emotion of that precise moment.

It’s a real privilege to be able to use photography to tell stories that raise awareness for charities (in this case Link to Hope shoebox appeal) to see more of this documentary photography go to www.linktohope.com

4. (Shaun Ross chatting with Arab) https:// twitter.com/MohdSultanH This is behind the scenes shooting for Velsvoir at Dubai Fashion Week. It captured a rare moment of downtime, just two totally different men unposed, both stunning in different ways.

2. (David Gandy) Here’s that shot that he loved so much. I was just there at the right time as he got out of the Morgan at ‘London Collections: Men’. I could see the opportunity as it unfolded, and everything came together beautifully.

5. (catwalk kaleidoscope) This is a catwalk image that I layered with other similar shots and drawings to create something of a kaleidoscope. I really enjoy this kind of project, pushing myself to see how a photograph can evolve into a different piece of artwork.

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2AA Rosettes

Come and sample our hot dishes, sushi and cocktails

We look forward to serving you

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38 East Street, Horsham, West Sussex. www.wabi.co.uk T: 01403 788140 E: info@wabi.co.uk

FIZZ

FOOD

One of the best things about Brighton and Hove is the amazing choice of restaurants and bars. There are new places popping up constantly and old classics that remain firm favourites. Here are a few of the old and the new…..

Hove Place

Hove Place is one of my favourites.

The Italian garden is truly pretty and a perfect place to hang out in the sun. It’s relaxed atmosphere, food and service is excellent, with a Bistro menu to rival any top restaurant. I have pretty much tried everything on their menu and have never been disappointed. Almost everything here is homemade. If you are after something lighter, their Artisan sandwiches are delicious. A simple steak sandwich from the bar menu is stacked full of perfectly cooked steak and the Deli Board has the biggest selection of locally sourced meats and cheeses I have ever tried (sharing these large slate plates of amazing food (the duck scotch eggs are wow!), is the thing that draws me and my friends back often). Sunday lunches are of course fabulous and it gets busy pretty quickly, so I would advise you to book for these.

35-37 First Avenue, Hove, BN3 2FH TEL: 01273 738266 www.hoveplace.co.uk

The Temple Bar This Victorian high-street boozer with a large island bar has just had a rather lovely refurbishment. Always having been a busy and bustling bar, upstairs is now full of comfy booths to sit at and downstairs a few booths and seats around the bar. The Curry leaf Café will be opening here sometime in May serving Indian Street Food. …perfect accompaniment to your Craft beer.

121 Western Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2AD, United Kingdom TEL: 01273 721501

Craft beers from near and far to choose from so plenty of choice to swill your seafood down with. If you want to try this place (and you really should) definitely book. This wood and limewashed bolthole has limited seating and is very popular.

The kitchen is open for Lunch & dinner from Wednesday through to Sunday.

15-17 Belfast Street, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 3YS TEL: 01273 241 881 www.facebook.com/urchinpubhove

The Tempest Inn

The Urchin

Formerly known as The Bell and changing hands in February, The Urchin is a new addition to our wine and dine venues. Taking advantage of the sea right on our Sussex doorstep, they only serve shellfish with the menu being based around crab, scallops, lobster and pints of prawns. Whatever has been caught and delivered that morning. We are talking fresh! The bar boasts a range of over 100 different

Previously known as LIFE club, Brighton siblings Becky and Matt Andrews reopened the place as The Tempest Inn in March and this bustling Shakespeare-inspired bar and live music venue is definitely worth a visit. Located at the arches right on the seafront, the warren of downstairs caves and shipwrecked inspired interior offers the perfect place to snuggle down for a few beverages (cocktails, craft beers and a huge selection of my favourite tipple – Gin is on offer here) and some fresh, locally produced food.

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On May 14th chef Edward H will be heading a pop up 'Fish Supper' night with six courses of seafood and on May 28th the 'Spice Route Supper Club' will be held, with five courses of Vegan food including the intense flavours and traditions of chef Parusha's South African and Indian family.

If a sea view is your thing, seat yourself upstairs at the Ariel Bar and take in stormy weather through huge arched windows or take a pew at the front patio on sunnier days and if you find a cave you are particularly keen on you can go ahead and book the same one for your future visit on their website.

159-161 Kings Road Arches, Brighton, BN1 1NB www.drikinbrighton.co.uk/tempest

The Plotting Parlour

Hidden away down a side street opposite Brighton Pier, when you find The Plotting Parlour you feel like somebody that ‘is really in the-know’.

It’s a very cool hang out, mixing shabby chic with contemporary style, a copper clad bar, huge mural on the ceiling and old lime washed and red velvet seating. Manager Luke Loddo has gone to every effort to take the snootiness out of cocktail bars (not just for the ‘Sex In The City’ type girls) and make this somewhere that you can relax and enjoy something a little different from the huge list of cocktails on offer.

The mixologists here go to every effort to ensure your cocktail is of the highest standard and are happy to whip you up

something even if it’s not on the menu.

Steine Street, Brighton, East Sussex TEL: 01273 621238.

Patterns

Azaro

The vision for Hove based restaurant Azaro was to create a casual, clutter free, relaxed and sophisticated surrounding for the locals. Right on Church Road it’s the place to pop in and clear your mind with a coffee or masala chai and watch the world go by, grab a Bombay Burger to go or Tandoori Salad at lunch, a Grand Thali on a school night with some cheeky midweek exclusive cocktails and their delicious Indian Tapas, or just an awesome British Indian meal which is full of flavour and truly authentic.

There is a of variation of dishes to suit all taste buds from the good old non fusion British classics such as Chicken Tikka Massala, Saag Aloo and the rich Lamb Rogan Josh (all made in the true authentic way and delicious), the mouth-watering noisy Tandoori Sizzling platters to the more bespoke and refined dishes such as the Chicken Chettinad which originates from the Tamil Nadu region and the scrummy signature dish of Kashmiri Style Lamb Shank. In most instances, if you can’t find what you are looking for the chefs will endeavour to cook you what you want. This is a restaurant that goes out of it’s way to please the customer!

115 Church Road, Hove, Brighton, East Sussex BN3 2AF Phone: 01273 900007 Lunch: (Daily) 12noon - 3pm Dinner (FRI & SAT) 6pm - 11pm Dinner (SUN-THURS) 6pm - 10:30pm http:// www.azaro.co.uk

Seafront venue formerly known as The Escape and then Audio reopened with a new look and new name ‘Patterns’ on the 14th May. With a seasonal drinks menu, street food pop ups and a cutting edge music programme it promises to be a finger-on-the-pulse venue.

Open seven days a week, this Art Deco venue, serving food from around the globe, craft beers and seasonally curated cocktails is set to become one of Brighton’s social hubs, with a friendly vibrant atmosphere around the clock. Ideal for lazy weekend lunches on the sea-facing terrace, mid-week gigs and after work socialising in the bar, right through to after-hours revelry in the basement club. Prepare for hedonistic fun on the weekend nights (Thursday through to Sunday) and a line-up of local and international headline DJ’s. I’ll meet you on the dance floor! www.patternsbrighton.com facebook.com/patternsbrighton #PatternsBTN OPENING TIMES: SUMMER / Sunday – Thursday - between 12pm - 4am (weather dependent) WINTER / Sunday – Thursday - between 5pm 4am (weather dependent)

Morelli Zorelli

If you like pizza then you will love Morelli Zorelli. This small but perfectly formed and atmospheric pizza place has

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limited seating, but fear not as there is a line-up of red Piaggio scooters ready to deliver these superb pizzas to your door.

The sourdough based pizzas, are prepared fresh every day and are based on a traditional Sardinian recipe. The finest 00 Caputo flour is used, 3 day proofing, and then finally cooking in a stone & flame oven which locks in the flour’s natural aroma and moisture. The owners pride themselves on using only high quality ingredients, “We use San Marzano tomatoes from the Campania region in our sauce and our mozzarella is DOP approved which means it comes from Italian farmers and is regulated for its high quality”. With the rest of the ingredients being sourced locally in Sussex it is fair to say these could be the Ferrari of pizzas!

40 Western Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1JD TEL: 01273 726 777 Email: info@morellizorelli.co.uk www.morellizorelli.co.uk

24 St George Street

Jamie and Dean have twenty years chef experience between them, although neither had worked in a rosette or Michelin guide accredited restaurant before, so it’s a feel good story that when they first entered in the Michelin guide only 18 months after opening, they subsequently received 2 rosettes on their first inspection by the AA early in 2014. It’s quite amazing that they are self-taught at this level and their expertise shows in the seasonally changing menus and the delight to the eye and tastebuds that their food is. It really looks as well as tastes beautiful.

More good news …. Lunch has only been served on a Saturdays however in June you will be able to pop into this fabulous restaurant for lunch on Wednesdays through to Fridays (inclusive). Closed every Sunday and Monday, booking here is definitely advised and generally a couple of weeks in advance at the weekends.

There is a live reservation system on their web site that will show availability on any given date..

24-25 St Georges Road, Kemp Town Village, Brighton, BN2 1ED Tel: 01273 626060 Email: reservations@24stgeorges.co.uk www.24stgeorges.co.uk

Piccolo Ristorante

Four years ago, the two chefs Jamie and Dean who run the restaurant set out to create 24 George Street as a standout dining experience in Brighton and the south east and this they have certainly achieved.

It’s a small restaurant that can seat just over around fifty but they try to stagger bookings very carefully to ensure they can achieve a consistent and high level of service and attention to every single guest.

Piccolo is one of Brighton´s best-kept secrets. Infused with the romance of Italy, this noisy, bustling Italian restaurant cannot fail to delight with its infectious atmosphere. Located in the historic heart of Brighton city centre, Piccolo Ristorante has become a

favorite with locals and out-of-towners looking for the perfect, inexpensive, welcoming, Italian food place in Brighton. It’s the ideal spot to stop off at after a bit of shopping around the Laines. The service is great and always with a cheeky smile, the ambiance is fun and most importantly, the quality of food is spot on without breaking the bank. This year they launched home delivery including a £4 take out any pizza! It is a taste of Italy in Brighton City.

55-56 ship street, Brighton BN1 1AF Tel: 01273-380380 www.piccolo-restaurant.co.uk #piccolobth

Aguadulce

Named after an area in Almeria, on the south coast of Spain, this tapas bar and restaurant ‘Agaudulce’ has been going for nine years, and it is certainly a fixed favourite. The premises is divided into three, a bar area, restaurant area and a private function room for up to 25 people. In the bar area you can enjoy an original tapa free with your glass of wine or lager, which is a typically Spanish thing to do, while in the restaurant area you can try their Mediterranean cuisine which includes a huge selection of tapas, fresh local fish & seafood such as red mullet, oysters, mussels, scallops and native lobsters.

The fish board changes continuously so even if you are a regular here you can be pleasantly surprised with what is on offer that day. Everything is cooked with an Andalusian touch, both

simple and fresh. Personally I would advise trying the Paella which is the restaurant’s speciality. It’s delicious.

10-11 Kings Road, Brighton BN1 1NE TEL: 01273 328672 www.aguadulce-restaurant.com #aguadulcebtn

Chaulas Brighton

Located in the heart of the South Lanes ‘Chaula's’ has been serving their customers a vast menu of traditional home cooked Indian food for close to twenty years in fact next year they will be celebrating their 20 year anniversary.

Each item on the menu is cooked to perfection - fresh and tasty. To make sure you get to experience the real food of India they have created their very own secret sauces which they use in their prepared daily dishes. New to the restaurant is takeaway via dinner2go and new lunch Thali for only £7 each.

2-3 Little East Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1HT TEL: 01273 771661 #indianfood4you

GB1

GB1 does not fail to impress when you walk in and see the striking central fish bar and huge ornate chandelier. It has an old Hollywood movie star appeal to it, full of character and regency architecture.

The philosophy here is quality with simplicity. The 2 AA Rosette restaurant offers a fantastic choice of the finest and freshly caught seafood from Brighton’s shores. Executive Chef Alan White's brigade of passionate and inventive chefs add a contemporary touch to classic British cuisine and seafood favourites. Standout menu items include the striking lobster burger and the king prawn pan-roasted fruit de mer platter, while new additions include wonderful twists on retro classics such as the Neapolitan ice cream with pistachio crumb dessert.

The seasonally changing menu also boasts meats from the grill such as the delectable Aberdeen Black rib-eye steak, classic Sussex favourites and vegetarian dishes.

TEL: 01273 224 300 eat@grandbrighton.co.uk www.grandbrighton.co.uk

Cocktail Shack

Set in Regency Square and just a hop, skip and a jump from the sea, it seems fitting that within a historic town house The Cocktail Shack is made with reclaimed wood salvaged from the West Pier.

It’s a little bit of Caribbean paradise in Brighton, serving a selection classic cocktails and some very interesting ones too, all served up to the sounds

of Dub, Ska and Reggae. With a straight talking cocktail list, drinkers can quench their thirst with an array of flavours: from a refreshing Daiquiri to the more complex Rum Old Fashioned style Corn ‘N’ Oil. 34 Regency Square, Brighton BN1 2FJ, United Kingdom TEL: 01273 32119 www.cocktailshackbrighton.co.uk www.facebook.com/ brightoncocktailshack twitter.com/cocktailshack

Jamaican Street Food

Lickle More Caribbean Kitchen.

Just by the car park near Tesco on Church Road is a van that sells the most delicious Caribbean style food.

Chef Keven Brown all the way from Nine Mile in St Ann, Jamaica, learnt to cook from his parents and grandparents and brings his authentic Caribbean flavour to Hove in the shape of salt fish patties, plantain, curry goat, jerk chicken and lots of other mouthwatering delights.

Everything here is cooked in the van while the jerk chicken cooks at the side in a metal jerk drum, smoking slowly and then served up with rice and coleslaw or in a wrap.

The team of six family and friends who run Lickle More are passionate about their food and through word of mouth this little van has become hugely popular.

Tesco car park, New Church Road, Hove (you will have to look for it!)

TEL: 07952534031

BRIGHTON PAGODA THE FLOATING ORIENTAL RESTAURANT FINE CHINESE ART GALLERY SINCE 1997

LUNCH DINING 12PM - 2PM EVENING DINING 6PM - 10.30PM PARTY / CORPORATE / WEDDING HIRE      5 STAR HYGIENE AWARDED      5 STAR SERVICE AWARDED

BRIGHTON PAGODA The West Quay Brighton Marina, BN2 5UF 01273 819053 www.brightonpagoda.co.uk #brightonpagoda delivery avialble via www.dinner2go.co.uk

Recommended Restaurant: The Salt Room 

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A new restaurant to rave about on the seafront scene, the cunning behind The Coal Shed now offers the best of the ocean at The Salt Room…

t would be fair to say that Brighton has a reasonable number of restaurants worth recommending within the hallowed pages of this upstanding organ, so to catch our attention a new opening has to be something a bit special, sates appetites with an edge, and which is a treat for the taste buds… and the other senses too. On that note, welcome to your new favourite seafood-centric in East Sussex: The Salt Room.

Opened in February by the team behind the award-winning The Coal Shed, this new sister site sits on Brighton’s seafront opposite the West Pier and focuses on serving up the finest fruits de mer imaginable whilst allowing diners uninterrupted sea views through its glass-fronted façade, or outside on its shaded terrace once the mercury rises.

for 84 covers in the main dining room, 16 at the bar for those who prefer a more informal feast and, Great British weather-permitting, a further 55 on the terrace.

Once you’ve taken your seat, it’s time to deal with the most difficult decision you may have to make that week: what to have. Head Chef, Dave Mothersill, has created a menu that offers a wide selection of sustainably sourced seafood dishes, including impeccably fresh cuttlefish, oysters, lobster, seabass and the restaurant’s signature whole market fish to share cooked over charcoal.

Inside Out As easy on the eye as the menu is tempting to the tongue, the décor of The Salt Room reflects the nautical flavours that the chef creates, with reclaimed wood and ceramic tiles in natural hues serving to hold up a mirror to rugged coastline it overlooks. Blessed with a rural chic that’s both sympathetic to the seafront and simultaneously stylish, the airy and open-plan restaurant has seating

Naturally, because not everyone dining might have the same love for seafood, The Coal Shed’s classic 35 day dry aged Scottish steaks from the North Highlands cooked on the Josper grill will also be making an appearance.

As with all the best eateries, seasonality plays a key part in the menu, ensuring regular changing dishes that will have customers coming back for more time and again.

“I’m so excited to be bringing great seafood to Brighton in one of the city’s most spectacular settings!”

Best Bar None Located as you enter, for pre- or postprandial drinks or, as mentioned, for food too, the bar is constructed from charcoal-stained rough softwood with a striking zinc bar top. Here, a world of innovative cocktails is your oyster, running the whole gamut of sailor’s tipples, Gin & Tonic and Bloody Mary box sections. Or if only a fine wine will do to set you up for supper, then something from their extensive wine list whilst you sit wait for a table will more than suffice.

Owned by Razak Helalat, who opened the Coal Shed almost four years ago, quickly making a name for itself for serving the best steaks in town, Raz has teamed up with Dariush Tamadon-Nejad, previously Group Manager of Restaurants Etc Ltd (Mark Hix), to act as General Manager of both The Coal Shed and The Salt Room.

Offering peerless coastal views, the freshest of fish and excellent service, The Salt Room will be winning its own awards soon and is a bound to become one of the new stars on Brighton’s eating out scene.

THE SALT ROOM 106 Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2FU T: +44 (0)1273 929 488 www.saltroom-restaurant.co.uk

Blondes Have More Fun Dirty Blonde is a 1920’s New York-inspired East Street speakeasy bar and club. Having had a small revamp in February to change the layout of the downstairs bar area to open the space and allow more natural light into the street-level lounge bar, this good looking bar is now firmly on the Brighton map as a Summer go-to place.

The bar now offers casual family dining throughout the day, with an incredible Kids Eat Free offer before 7pm every day, alongside their existing cocktail happy hour and late-night offerings.

The venue have also recently launched a new range of Craft Beers, Wine & Prosecco aimed at after work drinkers, as well as their new “Prohibition Cocktail Masterclass”, an immersive experience of cocktails with a speakeasy twist, with customers given the chance to try their hand behind the bar!”

Head Bartender, Kane Salts is passionate about his trade “People don’t want to be intimidated by long drinks lists full of strong, spirit-only classics so we have tried to deliver a more approachable bar menu which strikes a balance between those strong drinks (Old Fashioned, Negroni, Dirty Martini), some modern classics (Bramble, Pornstar Martini) and some

house originals & twists (Eastern Flower, Spiced Apple Rum, Prohibition Punch)” In true Dirty Blonde style, you can always expect a little something to keep us cocktail drinkers on our toes such as the Espresso Martini with the unexpected twist of spiced rum and hazelnut liqueur. It really is delicious.

With the downstairs bar open, the classic American grill influence on the food menu and the new drinks & cocktail menu there is something for everyone at Dirty Blondes and being right in the centre of town it’s a no brainer to pay this place a visit!

75 - 79 East Street, Brighton East Sussex BN1 1NF TEL: 01273 727 494 General enquiries: enquiries@ dirtyblondebrighton.com Reservations: reservations@ dirtyblondebrighton.com

“Ultimately, our aim is to put the drink the customer wants in the customer’s hand, so as ever we are happy to head off-menu for a huge range of classics, something to the customer’s own specification or, if challenged, a bartender’s original!”

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Everybody Needs Good Neighbours NEIGHBOURHOOD is a bar and secret garden, (although not so secret now) after being voted Brighton's best outdoor space and being lauded as 'one of the top 16 bars in the UK you have to visit before you die', great praise indeed but well deserved.

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his two floored venue is always in a constant flux of improvement, recently having had a refit, and making the effort to introduce a new look to their garden for every summer season. It’s a truly individual bar with old style paintings, curios and graffiti art covering the walls. This and the friendly atmosphere, full of Brighton’s coolest, creates a great place for all occasions.

The garden definitely needs a special mention. It’s south facing (perfect for basking in the sun), there is plenty of foliage and palm trees and the area is decked out in vintage fabric's. You wouldn’t believe this style of pub garden existed in Brighton and yet there it is. A 100 ft’ oasis and the perfect spot for a gourmet breakfast, or to while away the afternoon with a cold drink in hand.

They have recently introduced a new food menu alongside an extensive cocktail menu. These guys are really passionate about their comfort food serving a modern twist on an Americana diner vibe and using the best locally sourced ingredients.

Burgers are the mainstay of the menu, while taco's have just been introduced and the hash range extended (try a 3

little piggies hash as there is nothing like it in Brighton!)

They have also added lots more veggie and vegan options.

Like we said these guys are very passionate about their 'beer food' as they call it and with an extensive selection of craft beer on offer we can see why they call it that.

While a lot of new pretenders are hyped up, NEIGHBOURHOOD quietly goes about doing it's thing, and do it well, it does.

'Big Meat Boutique' on every Tuesday means you can go try a 'hood burger' for only £4 and a new night launched on the 12th of May called 'Cock's and Chicks' which has already become hugely popular, ensuring simple fried chicken gets a serious gourmet make over, served with sumptuous cocktails.

The daytime garden parties throughout the summer months are always guaranteed to be fun (this is the sort of place that you make new friends!), as everyone there is out to enjoy themselves. This is a no attitude establishment.

Coming soon you will be able to order neighbourhood to your home with dinners2go … well, all be it the food at least.

Neighbourhood 101 St James Street BN2 1TP

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Q

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Q&A With The Best The Brighton Pagoda Restaurant is a one-of-a-kind place serving authentic Chinese food in a floating restaurant off Brighton Marina.

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he deep red Chinese boat style Pagoda Restaurant looks as if it has come straight from ancient China. Wood panelling throughout and a fine art gallery displaying beautiful Chinese paintings along with attentive service and currently awarded 5 stars food rating for the fifth year running by the city of Brighton and Hove, make this a totally unique dining experience.

We had the chance to catch up with the Brighton Pagoda’s Executive Chef, Franklin Lee. With over thirty-five years of experience specialising in all types of Chinese Cuisine, and having been trained for two years with one of the leading Chinese and Asian restaurant companies ‘Maxims Group’, who are world famous for bringing exquisite

food and service to Europe there isn’t much this man doesn’t know about good food. He answered just a few questions for us……

Q: Which is your favourite food and/ or ingredient to cook with?

A: My Favourite food is seafood and shellfish because of the freshness we get near a seaside town, I put emphasis on fresh seasonal ingredients, prepared with a minimum of fuss to preserve the flavour and nutrients. In my early years I lived near a seaside town in Hong Kong and my father always brought back seafood for me to cook because it wasn’t expensive. This gave me the opportunity to master the skill at a very young of age, especially as my father

was quite a fussy eater when it came to seafood, so it was an enjoyable mission for me to get it just right for him.

Q: Did you cook when you were growing up, if so who inspired you?

A: Cooking wasn't love at first sight for

me. My Mother left us when we were young and I took over what was her job at the time, to feed my three sisters, both of my Grandparents inspired me because their cooking was what we call true home cooking. I always watched by Grandmother whenever she was in the kitchen. She could make very complicated dishes look so easy.

Q: What is your favourite kitchen

gadget?

A: My favourite kitchen gadget is the seaweed water extractor which I designed myself twenty years ago and we are still using it. It saves time and money in a very big way. I used to take hours to prepare all the vegetables ready to cook and by using this gadget it cuts down the prep time by 80%. I was going to patent my design but the company I was dealing with pulled out because it’s really only suitable for Chinese restaurants selling seaweed.

Q: Have you a funniest kitchen incident?

A: I think the funniest thing that has

happened so far to me in the kitchen was when I caught two 2lb Seabass from the pothole in the kitchen at the same time. I didn’t have to go far to get fresh fish on the doorstep!

Brighton Pagoda, West Quay Brighton Marina, BN2 5UF 01273 819053 www.brightonpagoda.co.uk

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LUNCH and SUPPER - SANDWICH PLATTERS - KIDS MENU

LUNCH and SUPPER - SANDWICH PLATTERS - KIDS MENU

Served 12 noon ‘til 9.30pm Every Day

Served 12 noon ‘til 9.30pm Every Day

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“

Now under the new ownership of Paul Day and Lewis Robinson who aquired the business in February 2014

The Royal Oak, nestling at the foot of the famous Devils Dyke in the tiny village of Poynings, has been serving great food and drinks

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to see what's in store when you next pay us a visit

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under its’ current ownership since 1996.

Enjoy stunning surroundings and Downlands views, just a few minutes drive from the vibrant city of Brighton and Hove.

the Rainbow Inn offers you a very warm welcome and hopes to see you soon.

In the meantime please browse our web site

(free WIFI - Stunning gardens - idyllic setting) (free WIFI - Stunning gardens & Childrens play area)

Relax

Relax

Rainbow Cooksbridge Resting Oak Hill Cooksbridge BN8 4SS Tel: 01271-400334 Web: www.rainbowcooksbridge.pub

The Royal Oak Poynings The Street Poynings BN45 7AQ Tel: 01273-857389 Web: www.royaloakpoynings.pub facebook/theroyaloakpoynings

facebook/therainbowcooksbridge

twitter/ROpoynings

LUNCH and SUPPER - SANDWICH PLATTERS - KIDS MENU Served 12 noon ‘til 9.30pm Every Day

In the tiny hamlet of Ashurst, just outside Steyning,

complete with wonky flagstone floors, inglenook fireplaces and the heart warming smell of home cooking wafting in from the kitchen (free WIFI - Stunning gardens - Duck pond dining deck)

Relax

Fountain at Ashurst The Village, Ashurst BN44 3AP Tel: 01403-710219 Web: www.fountainashurst.pub facebook/thefountainashurst

twitter/fountainashurst

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“

the Fountain is a shining example of the great traditional English Pub

twitter/rainbowinn1

The Arch Nightclub Formally known as The Zap, Digital and Coliseum, The Arch Nightclub is Brighton’s newest underground nightclub, situated at the historic Victorian arches right on Brighton seafront. With three huge bars, an L.E.D baton DJ booth, a shed load of lights and effects in a stripped down industrial style space, it feels similar to a funky underground New York style club.

Launched on March the 7th earlier this year with techno house heavy weights Pan Pot it has since continued to go down a storm when you want a night out to wave your hands in the air like you just don’t care!

So far the club has hosted some of the biggest names in music such as, Annie Mac, Heidi, Hannah Wants, B Traits, Route 94, Ben Pearce, Fat Boy Slim and Tinie Tempah. With their very own custom built Funktion One Sound system which once earned the title of Europe’s best nightclub sound system, their goal is to push the boundaries of underground music.

“The idea for The Arch and our mission was to revamp and overhaul the space to rejuvenate Brighton’s night life and restore its former glory as the centre of the South’s underground movement. The Launch night was a huge success, with huge crowds of people making it here and a brilliant start to our crusade into the music scene” With the ability to change the venue and open the stage they also make the perfect venue for live music. Earlier this year they hosted a huge night provided by Gypsy Disco with live music and performers. The live music echoed through the arches accompanied by cheers from an approving crowd, providing an exhilarating night of live entertainment.

What I found refreshing on my visit to The Arch was the enthusiasm and friendliness of all the staff, something that the management team are passionate about and it certainly showed on my visit there.

If you fancy a bit of daytime funky times this summer, The Arches is also open in the daytime, serving a wide range of beers, ales and a classic cocktail menu with a contemporary underground twist. Delivering music from local independent acts to set the scene for a brilliant atmosphere to unwind and relax in the sun.

187-193 Kings Road Arches, Brighton, Bn1 1nb www.thearch.club @thearchbrighton www.facebook.com/thearchbrighton

THE IDEA FOR THE ARCH AND " OUR MISSION WAS TO REVAMP AND OVERHAUL THE SPACE TO REJUVENATE BRIGHTON’S NIGHT LIFE AND RESTORE ITS FORMER GLORY AS THE CENTRE OF THE SOUTH’S UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT.

"

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Give Me MAW

I

Dinner Parties For Friends

In April last year Brighton couple Alex and Mark Wadsworth started holding dinner parties for their friends in Brighton…. Just small social gatherings with good food and great people. However, what started off as just a few get-togethers turned in to many.

This is their unique story of how hard work and dedication can turn something small and intimate in to ‘a must go to event’ In 2010, Mark who had a love of good food and cooking had already come to the decision that creating amazing food was his passion and one night after a stressful day at work and a discussion with his wife applied to 100 of the best restaurants throughout the country. The Latimar at Penny Hill Park, responded immediately and he took an apprenticeship there learning new and creative cooking

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skills “It was hard work and being away from my family was tough but I learnt so much and my passion for food only increased” Having lived in Brighton all their lives, in 2012 after their daughter Molly was born and Alex had decided to leave her job as Virgin Atlantic cabin crew, they decided to uproot and leave their beloved hometown to move to Kent, where they started to run their family pub, The Woolpack Hotel in Tenterden, where Mark worked as the Head Chef.

However the draw of Brighton and their friends eventually beckoned them back, (yes, this town has a habit in doing that!). So in 2013 they returned with their little girl and Alex being pregnant with a little boy… Bertie.

Getting back to Brighton life (Mark now working at the Ginger Man) they decided to get their friends together for some good grub and conversation. Rather than just

"I learnt so much and my passion for food only increased"

sticking to four of five guests they asked their good friend James Watts if they could borrow one of his houses for an evening (Beatnik Central), which held a huge dining table to gather their crowd together. The dinner party consisting of dozens of courses was a huge success. “We and everyone there had such a good night, it sort of created a bit of a buzz” Mark moved on to work as the Head chef at The Crab Tree, while Alex continued her full time job as Mum and settling them back into Brighton life. This whole time friends were texting, Facebook messaging and calling to ask when they might be having a culinary meet-up again, offering to pay towards the food or help in any way. ..and so the one off nights sporadically continued.

At the end of last year after the success of these one off evenings were spreading by word of mouth, and after seats becoming a competitive want and running out of space for their friends, they realised that people were wanting

something different to a regular restaurant atmosphere and decided to try a business of POP up restaurants, outside catering and private dining…..

MAW was created.

I have been lucky enough to attend two of these nights so far (I shall be going back), and can honestly say that the only places I have tried food this good is in some of London’s top restaurants.

Usually a menu of six or more courses, Mark’s use of seasonal products (he is a big fan of game) produce some of the most creative mixes I have tried. It’s a cross between Heston Blumenthal (Mark’s pork crackling takes four days to make and is like a taste explosion in your mouth) and the Spanish trio of chefs The Roca brothers.

Follow upcoming pop ups on Facebook: MAW pop Up Maw_popup@hotmail.com @MAWPopUp Twitter

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Brighton i360 Prepares For Beach Landings

At 162 metres high, and with an observation pod rising to 450 feet, the i360 will be the tallest observation tower outside London, a vertical cable car offering a new perspective on the fun loving seaside city of Brighton. Sited at the root end of the historic West Pier on Brighton’s seafront, the i360 has a slender, elegant design, with a futuristic pod allowing 200 visitors at a time to enjoy the surrounding view as it slowly unfolds. The visitor centre incorporates a 400 seat restaurant; a shop; children’s play zone; exhibition space; tea rooms; and conference and event facilities. This is what is happening so far…

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ext month, barges will arrive at Brighton Beach from Holland to deliver the steel cans which will be used to construct the 162 metre high observation tower this summer.

SEVEN thousand tonnes of fill, gravel, shingle and chalk are being sucked out of an 8.5 metre deep hole as construction on the Brighton i360 steps up a gear.

Anyone passing the seafront site cannot fail to have noticed the recent arrival of a giant 80 tonne crane which was joined just recently by a vacuum excavator truck for the massive hole being created as the i360’s basement takes shape.

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The crane, a Hitachi SCX8000, is currently moving the heavy equipment needed to reinforce the basement as the construction team dig down to the 8.5 metre depth.

And it also has an unusual good-to-know secondary feature: its high performance exhaust filter cleans the air using anti-pollution technology. In fact, when the crane was tested in London, the air that came out of the exhaust was cleaner than the air the people of the city were breathing. It’s As the team are digging below the water line, industrial pumps are in place to stop the site flooding with sea water while the shingle from the increasingly-large hole is being put to good use elsewhere.

The vacuum excavator truck sucks the shingle and chalk from the site to the nearby beach where it is being shaped into a platform which, once covered with wooden matting, will hold the red crane ready for the arrival of the i360’s main shaft.

Weather permitting, that tower will arrive by sea on June 11 in 17 separate pieces from specialist contractors in Holland.

Those individual cans will then be lifted one by one into place by another piece of heavy machinery called a jacking tower.

Interest in the work is already increasing and the arrival of the cans in June promises to attract considerable crowds to the seafront.

We at Absolute would love to know your thoughts on what you think the i360 will bring to the town. Let us know at you@absolutemagazine.co.uk The i360 will be running a pair of talk and tour events as part of Brighton Fringe. Taking place on May 21 at 9am and 10.30am, the event includes the chance to hear from and quiz David Marks, the architect who designed the project and was behind the London Eye. For details of the talk and tours, visit: www.brightonfringe.org Twitter: @TheBrightoni360 Facebook: Brighton-i360 Pinterest: Brightoni360 Blog: Brightoni360.wordpress.com www.brightoni360.co.uk

“We already have a lot of people passing by who stop to watch the construction and ask questions, but now the big work is getting underway there will be lots more to see.There is some really high-level engineering going on here and it will be exciting to see the tower taking shape.”

Eleanor Harris, the i360’s chief executive.

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29 Queens Road brighton BN1 £XA www.thezipyard.co.uk/brighton 01273 735092

29 Queens Road brighton BN1 £XA www.thezipyard.co.uk/brighton 01273 735092

Missed The Train? Fear Not. We Cover The Best Places To Stay In London

Classy, Comfy And Very Cool, London’s St Martins Lane Hotel Comes Of Age

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alking into the newly revamped St Martins Lane hotel is a little bit like what I hope approaching the gates of heaven might be like; fair enough, God might not have Mr Beatnick’s Ice Cream Strut thumping unobtrusively in the background, but he will definitely have ruby red banquettes, huge white columns, gold chez lounge and clever floor to ceiling mirrors framing the whole thing beautifully. I hope there’s a runway too, preferably concealing a bar as is the case here, but more about that later.

Besides the new look lobby, Asia de Cuba, the acclaimed in-house restaurant, has unveiled an exotic-eastern-meetsbold-Cuban menu and a mismatched aesthetic of unusual fabrics, textures and seating all held together by columns stacked with books and photographs evoking the spirit of Havana.

“Distinguished, but perfect for sharing, the exceptional food speaks for itself the fluke ceviche is so soft it falls away in your mouth leaving only a kick of sofrito for a farewell crunch.”

The tunapica tartare, a greedinducing pocket of diced tuna, minced olives and cucumber salad doused in garlic, ginger and soy all wrapped in

a crispy taco is, for me, the ace in the pack. I ate four, but I only didn’t eat 10 out of self-respect.

An exciting Alice in Wonderlandesque addition to the hotel’s rebirth sits at the end of the lobby’s rebellious skewed runway. As evening falls, two heavy doors open to reveal a tearoom manned by a hostess who then ushers curious guests through a concealed door to her left giving entry to Blind Spot.

“Seductive, very cool, and with a welcome feeling of inclusivity, Blind Spot is a cocktail bar with a speakeasy vibe bedecked in bronze and gold and fitted out with plenty of dimly lit ‘corners’ to hide in.”

There’s a big, brightly lit table at one end for groups who want to share a bit of the limelight with the wizard behind the bar who mixes all manner of teathemed cocktails to perfection. Winning cocktail? Captain Shaddocks Gin Fizz.

I definitely had more than four of those.

With so much going on downstairs, it’s easy to forget you sleep at the St Martins Lane too. The rooms have always been luxurious here, but in line with the rest of the hotel’s makeover, of course they haven’t been left in the dark.

Quite the opposite – gorgeous interactive mood lighting systems have been installed alongside extra USB points and a media hub, plus spacious dichroic laminated glass desks have been fitted in front of floor to ceiling windows making it incredibly easy to get some work done during the day.

Less than a year into its refurb, the Sanderson’s cooler older sister is a haven, miles away from the tourist throng of its WC2 Theatreland address in relaxed look and feel, but still slap bang in the thick of the action. Celebrating her sweet 16, St Martins Lane has grown up, but she’s still true to her roots as recognised in former features like the gold teeth seating and giant flower pot that remain in homage to Philippe Starck, the design brain behind the hotel’s original look. She’s still fun too, in fact she’s more fun; she’s just matured a bit.

St Martins Lane Hotel, 45 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4HX 020 7300 5500 www.morganshotelgroup.com/originals/ originals-st-martins-lane-london Rooms from £275 incl. English breakfast at Asia de Cuba and a cocktail at Blind Spot Written by Polly Humphris

Weekends and bank holidays are the ideal time to make an escape into the country for some good hearty food and country pub gardens. We love: THE FOUNTAIN INN – ASHURST The Fountain Inn is a proper traditional English pub with wonky floorboards and inglenook fireplaces included. Their food is gastro pub special with choices to suit ever palate and often changeable with the season’s produce. There is a miniature manor to keep the kids entertained, a sixteenth century nine pin skittle ally for private functions and the very popular quiz night on the first Monday of every month.

From the 24th May they will start a weekly hog roast on Sundays (weather permitting). All this and the great wine list, real ales and a few local brews that are on offer ensure this is a place you can easily while away a good portion of your day either huddled inside or taking in the sunshine in their glorious gardens.

The Fountain Inn, Ashurst, West Sussex, BN44 3AP TEL: 01403 710219 http://www.fountainashurst.pub

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THE CRABTREE – LOWER BEEDING The family run modernised barn style pub, The Crabtree in Horsham has quite a following due to the fantastic local, seasonal food, real ales and organic wines they serve and the welcoming atmosphere. Their lunch menu changes daily, the A la Carte menu changes seasonally and the Sunday lunch menu changes every week.

Tuesday nights are the very popular Gourmet Burger nights, £12 for a delicious burger (there are a few to choose from) and a drink makes this a great value evening but be warned it gets busy and it’s best to book a table in advance.

If you like a quiz, then their quiz night every two weeks on a Sunday night is great fun. Get there for 6.30pm for food and settle down to a bit of brain flexing for 7pm. Maximum team size is six people and it’s only £7.95 for a meal and quiz!

The Crabtree, Brighton Road, Lower Beeding, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PT. TEL: 01403 89 666 www.crabtreesussex.co.uk

THE GRIFFIN INN – FLETCHING Where to start on this one? The Griffin Inn serves an amazing selection of food with everything from seafood, to wild boar and duck. You can choose the best to eat here and still get food envy over your friend’s choice of food!

The pub is old world comfy and the surrounding gardens get plenty of sun. A rarity for many places is that The Griffin serves twenty different types of wine by the glass. Loving a drop of vino myself this is perfect for me!

Not only can you eat and drink here you can stay here too. The thirteen bedrooms are country style pretty with a contemporary edge. A picture-perfect pace for a weekend getaway.

The Griffin Inn - Fletching, East Sussex. TN22 3SS TEL: 01825 722890 www.thegriffininn.co.uk THE ANCHOR INN – BARCOMBE Picture a house that Miss Marple might have lived in and you have a rough idea of what the Anchor Inn looks like.

Built in 1970 the Inn has a cottage feel to it surrounded with hanging baskets of colourful flowers and looked after gardens that have a wild feel to them.

There are two cosy bars and two restaurant rooms at The Anchor Inn. A great selection of classics are offered on the menu, such as Harveys battered cod and chips, sausage and mash, calamari and burgers. My favourite has to be the Mixed Ploughmans and pretty much all of the choices of Summer salads they do.

The added bonus to the Anchor Inn (it’s a big one) and what makes it different to other pubs is that it sits right on the

bank of the River Ouse, where you can hire a boat and head off up the river for an hour or two. A sunny day must-do.

The Anchor Inn, Anchor Lane, Barcombe, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 5EA. TEL: 01273 400414 www.anchorinnandboating.co.uk THE GINGER FOX - HASSOCKS The Ginger Fox is a friendly and relaxed pub with a beautiful beer garden, a childrens play area and stunning views of the South Downs. The menu here is inventive and delicious with high-quality, seasonal, Sussex produce; from local fish and meat, to beer from Harveys, and award-winning wine from Ridgeview. They even have an area where they grow their own vegetables. My personal favourites off the menu so far (as I will be going back and trying some more of their delights), is the crispy pheasants egg and the wood pigeon dish.

Famous for their Sunday lunches…if you heading that way for this….it’s an absolute must to book.

The Ginger Fox, Muddleswood Rd, Albourne, Hassocks, West Sussex BN6 9EA TEL: 01273 857888 www.gingerfox.com

Shaking It Up Every year you will see a wave of Brighton’s cool kids (and grown-ups of course), making their way to Shakedown Festival to catch some of the best DJ’s and electronic music around and this August 15th will be no different.

Held at Waterhall golf course this promises to be a knock out day.

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rum & Bass’ biggest heavyweights Camo & Krooked will be coming to join the South Coast shennaningans and joining them on the bill as a very special guest DJ is Sub Focus feat ID. With genre-defining productions and at the forefront of electronic music, including Tidal Wave, Turn Back Time and Rock It, Nick Douwma will be making an appearance and elsewhere on the Hospitality stage will be Fred V & Grafix, Etherwood, S.P.Y, Nu:Tone b2b Logistics, Metrik, Lynx, Krakota, Reso and Hugh Hardie.

Headlining the Defected Stage is house music legend and man of the moment, MK. From his breakthrough remixes of the classic 'Push the Feeling On', to his recent productions on 'Look Right Through', 'Always' and 'My Head is Jungle', Marc Kinchen is renowned for turning pop songs into dance classics and I defy anyone not to get up and shake their thing!

Next up is Berlin-born Oliver Dollar, who over the past few years has become a recognisable staple in house music - a status that was affirmed with what became the most Shazamed track of Ibiza 2014, 'Pushing On'.

Joining him on the Defected lineup are Cristoph, Sam Divine, Simon

Dunmore and Sonny Fodera, as well as Brighton’s own Enzo Siffredi and Little By Little And of course, what Shakedown would be complete without the one and only Supercharged Arena.

Since the very first festival in 2011, Supercharged's line-up has read like a who's who of all things bass, and this year is no different. At the top of the bill are crossover drum & bass superstars Sigma who have already scored two number one singles (‘Changing’, ‘Nobody to Love’) and a string of cult hits like ‘Rudeboy’.

Top of my list to see this year is Example + DJ wire, whose countless festival anthems have gained him worldwide notoriety and which I cannot resist signing along to at the top of my voice (I would advise those close by to me to bring earplugs, or just nudge me out of the way!)

Elsewhere on the stage, mash-up master ninja Jaguar Skills returns, as well as UK garage icon DJ EZ, Meridian Dan, Mike Skinner (DJ set), Preditah, Oxide & Neutrino and Isaiah Dreads.

Completing Shakedown's massive 2015 line-up is a brand new stage and host for 2015 - Cirque Du Soul - bringing their signature cocktail of extravagant burlesque, bass and

uninhibited bohemia. Headlining the big top will be a genre-bending DJ set by the legendary 2manydjs. No strangers to Shakedown, the Dewaele brothers played at the debut festival, closing the Supercharged stage with an unforgettable set. You will also see one of electronic music's fastest-rising talents and tastemakers – Monki who at just 21 has smashed festivals around the world with her box-fresh bass music inspired sets. In between all of this, Cirque Du Soul's infamous resident DJs provide the soundtrack to what is sure to be a visual spectacle.

Now in its fifth year, Shakedown promises to be the definitive electronic music festival on the South Coast, and is strictly an 18+ event. Second release tickets are on sale now priced at £45 + bf for standard and £75 + bf for VIP. The Raver Saver group deal is also back – buy 4 tickets and the 5th is free!

Shakedown offers a free shuttle bus both to and from the festival from central Brighton, free of charge for ticket holders. Shakedown is strictly an 18+ event only, ID required Shakedown Festival, Waterhall, Brighton, BN1 8YR www.shakedown.co.uk twitter.com/shakedownuk facebook.com/shakedownfestival

VIP Table

Since it’s launch at the end of March 2013 Shooshh has taken Brighton’s seafront by storm and revolutionised the cities nightlife. Shooshh prides itself on providing a bespoke VIP experience which is second to none within Sussex.

Whether you are looking for a night out in luxury with one of our exclusive VIP booths, or are celebrating a stag / hen do at Shooshh we can provide you with a night you won’t forget.

Glam Saturdays have taken over the weekend clubbing scene in Brighton providing the latest commercial chart R&B and house music.

Shooshh’s VIP area is set back from the chaos of normal clubbers so you will be able to celebrate in an almost private setting and we have various VIP tables to suit your needs.

We have custom built VIP areas and have one of the most extensive bottle menus in the whole of the UK. Our Shooshh waitresses have been trained directly from the brands that we endorse. You can enjoy the night complete with your own bar tab at the private bar on the VIP balcony

For up to 8 people -£150 Minimum spend, if you’re a small group looking to party in style then this is the option for you!

The £150 provides you all with free entry along with queue jump where you will be greeted by our host and taken to your table – you will then have the chance to browse our extensive bottle menu to spend your £150 on Booths

VIP Booth

For up to 12 – £250 Minimum spend, These booths are perfect for any occasion wethers its a night out you want to make special, Hen party, Stag do or a Birthday!

The £250 Minimum spend covers all of your groups door fee and gets you immediate queue jump.

VIP Exclusive Booth

For up to 15 People -£300 Minimum spend, Situated at the front balcony of our VIP Area over looking the dance floor in prime view of everybody in the club these booths are perfect for the ultimate occasions, you will be greeted by our host and taken to your booth – you will then be provided with a menu by one of our glamorous waitresses for you to spend your minimum of £300 Platinum Lounge.

All VIP Tables & Booths come with a private waitress All table bookings require a small deposit to be paid prior to the night Master Class

Our Cocktail masterclasses are perfect for Hen and Stag Parties, birthday’s, corporate functions and Team building exercises. Groups of Seven to Ten people can arrange a class at Brighton’s VIP superclub Shooshh! Over the course of 90 minutes you’ll learn how to make cocktails with our experienced and entertaining mixologists who’s tailored classes range from extensively knowledgeable lessons to entertaining cocktail games.

Terrace Write Up

Every summer Shooshh brings you a summer experience that you won’t forget in a hurry.

With Brighton’s biggest sea front terrace. Wether it’s a staff party, conference or just drinks in the sun we have the facilities. We will also be hosting our own live stage, with a great line up of acoustic performers. So you can kick back relax and enjoy the view with our extensive rustic food menu that caters for all tastes. In this brochure there is also exclusive deals for you such as 25% off food and your first drink...

WWW.SHOOSHH.COM | 01273 202807 | 214 King Road Arches

Let’s Get Wild The first ever Wild Life Festival with an amazing line-up is coming to Brighton… whoop whoop, it’s going to be fun!

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ILD LIFE was created by Disclosure in early summer 2014 as an extension of their hugely successful live and DJ shows.

What began as tiny and very sweaty east London parties, soon grew into a global prospect within a matter of months and found Disclosure curating events in major cites across the world and hosting stages at various festivals in the UK, EU and US. These included WILD LIFE line-ups at Glastonbury, Unknown, Exit Festival as well as bespoke events at The Greek Theatre in Berkley, Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Detroit and a summer residency at Space in Ibiza.

How lucky are we then that for 2015 they have reached out to their good friends Rudimental in order to put together their most exciting event to date…

The first ever WILD LIFE festival - right here in the grounds of Brighton City Airport. The two day event, solely curated

by Rudimental and Disclosure, will take place on June 6th & 7th 2015.

The intention of WILD LIFE has always been to curate line-ups comprised of artists and DJs that Disclosure love which they then turn into incredible parties in exciting locations around the world. With the integral input of Rudimental, they’ve brought together musicians from different genres and eras – from hip hop, techno, pop, UK garage, as well as old and new house legends – for this inaugural WILD LIFE festival.

Wildlifefestival.com Ticketmaster.co.uk Gigsandtours.com

Beyond Foundation are a professional team of MUA’s. As a collective we are able to specialize in a diverse range of make up services from bridal makeup to body painting, editorial, theatre, TV, music videos SFX and so much more. Call us on 07733 480043

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Adam Collard

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Findon Village BN14 0TE

We specialise in transforming venues and spaces to create a dream setting for your event, ceremony, partnership and reception.

Using professional fabrics in a range of colours and styles.

Classic or modern lighting to give your big day the wow factor Draping • Lighting • Chair Covers Flowers • Table Design • Theming Visit our new shop 40 George Street, Kemp Town, Brighton, BN2 1RJ DIY wedding decor, consultations and items for hire info@fabricate-decor.co.uk 01273 203222 - 01273 857136 07973 954 766 www.fabricate-decor.co.uk

Bohemia

Grand Cafe â?– Late Lounge Love food? Love coffee?

Love music? Love Bohemia‌

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Traditional Afternoon Tea is also served daily from 3pm till 6pm

(booking is advisable for afternoon tea.)

Open hours 9am-1am (Sunday-Thursday) Till 3am Friday and Saturday Food is served everyday from 9am-9pm (except Saturday's 8pm)

www.bohemiabrighton.co.uk 54-55 Meeting House Lane, Brighton Telephone: 01273 777770 Free wifi and newspapers. Follow us on Twitter & Facebook

May was the month for Brighton and Hove’s Festivals. The choice was endless!

We tried to see as much as possible and boy was there a lot! We have taken the time to edit down what was our 'best in show' and a few things that you still may be able to see if you get your skates on....

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ARTIST Open HOUSES

t’s the perfect way to spend a weekend, having a good snoop at our local artist’s work in the comfort of their own homes!

Here's 5 of the best we've seen: The Dog Show If you love dogs, this house is a mustsee. New this year, Joanna Osborne will be opening her Grade 2 listed house to exhibit dog themed art by 10 artists including successful portrait painter Sally Muir, winner of the Holburne Portrait Prize in 2012. Joanna and Sally are authors of the best-selling Best in Show series of knitted animal books.

Owner of two cheeky whippets. Sally Muir will also be on hand for on the spot dog drawings on Saturday May 16th (booking essential). As well as a variety of doggy works, including knitted dogs, china and sculptures, there will be dog themed teas and dog biscuits ! Dogs are of course welcome.

33 Sillwood Road, Brighton, BN1 2LE DARK/LIGHT Black and White Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition The work of 10 internationally renowned ceramicists was on display at one of the most unique houses in Brighton during the festival. The exhibition featured new installations from British architectural ceramicist J K Aplin as well as other artists featuring a cross-spectrum of art forms – all in black and white.

The Ceramic House, 75 Stanmer Villas, Brighton BN1 The Wildlife Photographer Acclaimed Brighton photographer Andrew Forsyth, one of only a handful of British photographers to make it to the final of the 50th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

His abstract and expressive image was

taken during a long-term project on the starling murmurations in Brighton and is currently on display at the Natural History Museum in London.

24 Balfour Road, Brighton, BN1 6NA Ceramics and Graphics Every room of artists Dan McKay's and Adam Johnson flat became a work of art for Artists Open Houses festival - even the bath was filled with driftwood and pebbles creating a plinth for the beautiful hand pinched porcelain lights fired in the flat by ceramicist Adam. Dan added a splash of colour with contemporary graphic design and gifts. In the front garden we discovered a field of pickyour-own ceramic mushrooms. With over ten artists on show, there was truly an eclectic mix of arts on show.

11 Rugby Road, Brighton, BN1 6EB Drawing Circus An exclusive chance to try your hand at figurative drawing with the extraordinary Drawing Circus - for free!

The Drawing Circus are a troupe of Brighton-based performers, musicians, artists, models and drawing tutors who put on theatrical figure drawing sessions in unusual locations. On Saturday 9th May, the Fugitive Ink open house was taken over for a day of Circus-themed drawing sessions that encouraged everyone regardless of age or ability to make art. Costumed models posed in domestic circus-sets with basic materials provided; no previous experience was necessary to take part and it was great fun to give our artistic flair an outing!

Top Flat 25 Compton Avenue, Brighton, BN1 3PT

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BRIGHTON AND HOVE Fringe FESTIVAL What We Loved

La Clique The original star of La Clique returns with an intimate cabaret performance. Fierce, amusing and mesmerising, Camille has stunned audiences worldwide with bizarre and wonderful interpretations of Nick Cave, Jacques Brel, Tom Waits and Radiohead, transforming each song into a grippingly theatrical experience – and all in the beautiful Spiegeltent. “A major star” Scotsman  "Exceptional voice" - TimeOut 

Muscovado- BurntOut

Theatre present a scorching new play by Matilda Ibini, a playwright with serious calibre; having trained at the Royal Court she is now Soho Theatre’s Writer-in-Residence and was the youngest winner of BBC Writersroom10 Award. Muscovado provides a tense, unflinching portrayal of life on a sugar plantation in 1808, accompanied by an original musical score and heart stopping soundscape.

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Beasts - After last year's sell-out sensation, critically acclaimed sketch group BEASTS return to Brighton Fringe with a brand-new hour of inspired comedy. Enticed down from the mountains with the promise of raw meat, these savage creatures were washed, shaved and taught to use cutlery. Now, dressed like gentlemen and schooled in the twin arts of humour and needlework, BEASTS conspire to craft slick, hilarious and "sublimely surprising" (The List) sketches. The trio behind BEASTS, Owen Roberts, James McNicholas and Ciarán Dowd, are definitely ones to watch for the future. “Unforgettably nutty”  (Times). “Delightfully entertaining”  (Telegraph ).

Guilty Pleasures Club night -An unashamedly glorious all-singing,

all-dancing renouncement of pop music and an antidote to modern day clubbing fatigue. Created by broadcaster and music fan Sean Rowley on his

cult BBC London radio show, in eight short years Guilty Pleasures has become one of the biggest events in clubland. From much loved classics to forgotten gems and straight up dance floor crackers – the night will take you on a journey through the world of pop in full euphoric effect, free from irony and cynicism. Expect a big, bold and ridiculously fun night out, just don’t forget your dancing shoes.

The Wedding Reception

- From the producers of the Faulty Towers the Dining Experience comes a wedding reception with a difference.

You were not invited to the wedding because Kate and Will eloped to avoid massive family arguments. But now they’re back to face the music and they want to celebrate with everyone, including you. A new immersive comedy at the Sussex County Cricket Club, with meal included.

THE Great ESCAPE FESTIVAL

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ith so many bands playing and events going on at The Great Escape, I find it impossible to suggest my own recommendations. Who better to go to than the Project Manager of special events at The Great Escape Festival Helen Kimmerling who happens to be a personal friend who I can vouch for as being one funky chick in the know!

I'm really excited that we are presenting the Brighton International label market, hosted at the open market in the London road area on Saturday 16th May. There will be up to 40 UK and international independent record labels hosting their own stalls alongside guest

bands and DJs, invited to play live sessions throughout the day which is open to the general public.

If your a foodie then you need to check out our first pop up restaurant 'The Plate Escape' on Friday evening for dinner and Saturday brunch.

My ‘To See’ list has been especially hard to narrow down this year, but my top 5 would probably have to be: Ady Suleiman, Aosoon, Klo, Nai Harvest & Young Kato. I also can't wait to pop my head in and see Alabama Shakes, one of our returning artists from 2012 at The Dome Adding to the outdoor festival vibe will be the live music on Jubilee Square in the evenings and also our TGE hub will be located at Brighton Spiegel tent,

Old steine pleasure gardens again - both sites have great line ups and you will find me at either location with a beer in hand resting my tired feet .

My final beast is to keep your eyes peeled for some special not-to-be-missed secret shows and street gigs by returning artists across our amazing city...

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A country house to call your own Ghyll Manor, a charming 17th century hotel & restaurant nestled in the Sussex countryside with 40 acres of stunning grounds.

NEXT OPEN DAY TUESDAY 30 JUNE 5-9pm

Exclusive use

Sunday weddings

2015 weddings - just £2,015

For ultimate privacy at your wedding, opt for exclusive use in 2016 and let Ghyll Manor become your home for the day for £10,000* for 70 guests.

Ghyll Manor are pleased to offer Sunday weddings throughout 2015 and 2016 for just £5,999*, for up to 65 guests.

Looking for a beautiful but relaxed setting for your big day?

Throughout 2015, lucky in love couples can tie the knot at Ghyll Manor with up to 50 guests for just £2,015*.

Tempted?

03301 230 371 (lines open daily 8am to 11pm) enquiries@ghyllmanor.co.uk ghyllmanor.co.uk Rusper, nr Horsham

*All offers are subject to availability, valid for new bookings only and not available in conjunction with any other offer. Standard terms and conditions apply. Room allocations and complimentary rooms (if applicable) will be date dependent and minimum room numbers may apply. Upgrades and extras for your wedding and reception are available at an additional charge - please enquire for options. Promotional offers are valid for selected dates only.

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04/02/2015 20:02

SAYING I DO Wedding Ideas

Sussex and the surrounding areas is a great place to get hitched, with a huge amount of venues, from the traditional, extravagant and the more kooky side of things.

We spoke to wedding photographers, hairstylists, event designers and jewellery designers about the emerging trends for 2015 weddings.

The Modern Day Wedding Photographer

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ne of the most important decisions (other than to whom you are going to marry) whilst planning your day, will be how you choose to remember your day. The photographer is therefore a key element in the planning.

There seems to be a minefield of choices out there on the worldwide web, and lots of those photographers may not sit right with your wedding.

We asked photographer Robin Bradshaw from Bullit Photography for some of his expert thoughts that may help you on your wedding way.

Always check out the photographers Gallery, it is easy enough to put up a few shots from random weddings that look half decent... Make sure you really look at what the photographs say about the day. Does the photographer have a certain style? Is there a good range of images to look at? Would you like your photographs to look like the images you are looking at?

The last thing that you want is some annoying photographer bossing everyone around and eating up the whole afternoon taking static group shots that could be at anyone’s wedding. Look

for something different that captures you, your family and your friends. Most of my couples choose me, because I don’t offer a ‘traditional’ outtake on wedding photography. I combine some group shots with a mixture of natural and spontaneous off beat shots in colour and black and white (black and white always seems to be the most popular) and I always give you the hi-resolution edited images.

It is important that you get on well with your photographer, he/she needs to be able to blend in with your day, this will help you relax and enjoy your day.

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is who is going to fit in with your day, don’t then go and book a traditional videographer. They need to be able to work around each other, so it helps if they have the same vision.

Make sure your photographer can offer you good advice on albums and books. There are again so many different options out there. At this point the important thing is to make sure you choose someone that can provide the images you want. Then once you have the images, you can choose the way that you would like to show them off. www.bullitphotography.co.uk.

All images provided Bullit Photography

Look for someone who is upfront with you about what they offer and is flexible enough to be able to fit in with your day. I imagine you would like to own your wedding pictures, not be held to ransom for your images, so make sure all of the hiresolution edited images are included within the cost. The last thing you want to be doing is shelling out more money in order to be able to print your images.

If you are choosing a videographer for the day, make sure the photographer and the videographer compliment each other.

If you have gone to all the effort trying to find a photographer

Kellerwood Jewellers Fine Jewellery Since 1986

Specialists In Rare Coloured Gem & Fine Diamond Jewellery

Kellerwood, 12D Meeting House Lane, Brighton BN1 1HB T. 01273 324524 E. Kellerwood@Btconnect.Com W. Kellerwood.com

Dressing It Up

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Dressing your venue is the way to stamp your own style and individuality on to your place of choice.

abricate has been transforming venues and locations for ceremonies, receptions and partnerships for the best part of two decades now, so they seemed like the perfect people to get the low down on how to dress your venue….

Q: What is your idea of the perfect venue?

A Quick Q&A…

A: I feel an outside ceremony or a ceremony separate from

Q: Is there a trend in flowers at weddings that you have

noticed?

A: Wild flowers, soft pallet colours, a vintage DIY look along with the traditional roses and more hand tied posies in jars.

Q: Is there a theme in style and colours that is coming through at weddings?

A: Typically most male / female weddings the brides opt

for a white and light feel "Mid Summers Nights Dream" has been bandied around many times, which usually means an indoor, outdoor feel with lots of greenery and twinkly lights.

I am also seeing a big trend in the ‘Hipster’ style wedding, by which I mean barns and halls and a country feel, with paper pom poms, streamer ribbons, lanterns and festoon bulbs. Its pretty easy to create this and it looks simple and quaint.

Q: Where here would be your favourite venue you have dressed?

A: There have been so many over the years. It’s the staff

at various venues for me that make the difference and a joy to work at, not so much the actual venue. We have

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lots of great helpful and friendly venue clients.

I actually prefer a really dingy hall to dress as the transformation is amazing and the couples are blown away. It gives me a great feeling of satisfaction.

the reception is the best idea, then move into wedding breakfast [which is lunch] and somewhere that you can control the daylight for the evening dance off. No one likes to dance in daylight unless you are 3 sheets to the wind!

Q: On average are couples happy to hand over the reins and responsibility to a wedding planner?

A: Younger couples definitely want more of a say now as

things have become less traditional. They want to do their own food and have more of a say in the whole set up. They can sometime regret that decision in the end but with a good venue manager and myself on hand, we can iron out the flappy panicky indecisions. Some of the ideas couple first envisage are just daft, some are great and some just impractical.

Q: What is your best advice on dressing a venue?

A: Be very clear with the couple on what will make the

biggest wow factor. Don’t let them get hooked up on the accessories and the matching colour..

Many brides come in with small swatches of fabrics snipped off dresses from bridal boutiques probably!

Dressing a venue is all about the tone, feel and the overall effect not matching the exact colour purple to everything.

Fabricate Décor - 40 George Street, Kemp Town, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1RJ 01273 203222 / 07973954766 info@fabricate-decor.co.uk www.fabricate-decor.co.uk

The Perfect Spot Venues for Tying the knot and celebrating in style

Buxted Park Hotel

Catering for up to 120 wedding guests, Buxted Park strives to make the special day just that and more, keeping it totally exclusive and all about the bride and groom and their guests.

The Ballroom is the perfect setting to make a grand entrance, then move on to a wedding breakfast in the beautiful Orangery which overlooks the formal gardens. In the warmer

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months the Coat of Arms lawn hosts outdoor ceremonies, with the dramatic backdrop of this Palladian mansion and stunning East Sussex countryside.

BUXTED PARKÂ HOTEL, Buxted, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 4AY TEL: 0845 072 7412 or 01825 733333 buxtedpark@handpicked.co.uk

Alexander House Hotel Every couple deserve a wedding day that is nothing less than perfect and at Alexander House you can exchange vows or celebrate in a charming, elegant setting.

With seamless grounds, fashionable private spaces and a beautiful reception suite with its own private garden and outdoor wedding gazebo, there are plenty of ways to plan your special day. There are four ceremony rooms to suit every size wedding from small (10 guests) up to the larger rooms accommodating 110 guests and three wedding reception rooms accommodating up to 150 guests.

With an award-winning spa on site, and fifty-boutique bedrooms it’s also the perfect place to rest weary wedding heads.

Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa, Turners Hill, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH10 4QD TEL: 01342 714914 www.alexanderhotels.co.uk

South Lodge Hotel

Nestled in the heart of the dramatic Sussex Downs, South Lodge really is the perfect venue for all seasons. In spring you will be welcomed with a striking colourful display of rhododendrons. In the summer months the outdoor wedding pavilion offers the unique opportunity to marry with the beautiful backdrop of the South Downs, while in autumn and winter months the atmosphere of love and romance is enhanced with candlelit ceremonies and roaring log fires.

With an abundance of rooms to choose from, award-winning dining, bespoke service and a dedicated wedding co-ordinator who understands that it’s the little details that make all the difference, South Lodge is poised to plan everything to perfection for you.

South Lodge, Brighton Road, Nr. Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PS TEL: 01403 892237 www.southlodgehotel.co.uk

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www.monaaliphotography.com

The Royal Pavilion Think of Brighton and The Pavilion will come to mind. A truly impressive landmark for your wedding, civil ceremony or a wedding reception.

Ceremonies are performed by the Brighton & Hove Register Office in either the historic Red Drawing Room, decorated in original 1820’s red dragon wallpaper and palm tree pillars or in the dazzling Music Room (where the UK’s first same ceremony took place), with its lotus-shaped chandeliers, red and gold chinoiserie-style canvases adorning the walls and a domed ceiling of hundreds of gilded plaster cockleshells. This room is also available for evening receptions and would make for a truly unique experience.

Day and evening receptions can be held in The Pavilion’s King William IV Room which is light and airy, with Chinese style hand

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painted wallpaper. The private entrance leads out to the Royal Pavilion gardens.

There is no end to the photo opportunities at this iconic building and nothing that shouts Brighton better!

The Royal Pavilion, Brighton BN1 1EE TEL: 03000 290905 pavilionweddings@brighton-hove.gov.uk www.brightonmuseums.org.uk

Stanmer House

Steeped in history this 18th century manor set in 5,000 acres of woodland and parkland and ten minutes from the hustle and bustle of Brighton is a wonderful setting for a wedding. Equally striking from the historic look outside to the more contemporary designed inside.

The work the team go to here to ensure the big day goes off without a hitch is second to none. Making a grand entrance into the impressive lobby will certainly take your guests breath away, while the head chef Simon Mchoughlin has gone to great effort to produce a delicious choice for your wedding menu.

Stanmer House, Stanmer Park, Brighton, BN1 9QA TEL: 01273680400 info@stanmerhouse.co.uk www.stanmerhouse.co.uk

Photo By Paul Marc Mitchell

Proud Cabaret Brighton Not your ordinary run-of-the-mill style venue to get married or hold a wedding reception but a totally gorgeous and unique place to do so. Famously known as “the ballroom” amongst Brighton bohemians, the history of this building spans over two hundred years, having been used as an air raid shelter during World War II. Decorated in rich reds and gold, glittering chandeliers and with a huge domed ceiling, this 1920’s style venue

shouts decadence. With a full licence to host weddings and civil ceremonies, the capacity to seat 140 guests, luxury menus and an exceptional cocktail menu Proud Cabaret offers a highly original and memorable experience for the big day.

83 St Georges Road, Brighton, BN2 1EF TEL: 01273605789 www.proudcabaretbrighton.com

Hotel Du Vin Built in 1934 the historic Hotel Du Vin Brighton is as centrally located as you will find, yet incredibly peaceful at the same time. Standing on the outside terraces and balconies amid twinkling lights with a glass of champagne in hand makes it a beautiful setting for the hippest of bride and groom and their equally cool guests.

The impressively large and airy room The Dome is a beautiful space flooded with natural daylight, while some of the smaller rooms are snug and perfect for an intimate wedding breakfast. There are a six seasonal set wedding menus to choose from all served with fine wine and there is also a bespoke service on offer too.

With forty-nine individually decorated bedrooms, sponsored and named after a famous wine or Champagne house and superior rooms and suites holding large roll-top baths, it’s worth staying overnight once you have danced the night away.

Hotel Du Vin & Bistro, Ship Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1AD TEL: 01273 718588 eventsteam.brighton@hotelduvin.com www.hotelduvin.com/locations/brighton

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Dreamy Dresses Some of Brighton’s finest bridal shops shared their ideas for the dress to suit any style of wedding you choose, be it destination or a classical church wedding. With an abundance of designers on option you will be spoilt for choice….

White Mischief Wedding Abroad: For a destination with a hot climate ‘Nieke’ by Rembo styling is the perfect option for your destination wedding dress. The sot tulle floats elegantly and will move in a soft beech breeze.. It also has the benefit of being easily flat packed into your hand luggage.

‘Nieke’ by Rembo

Traditional Church:

Monica by Augusta Jones is a timeless wedding dress. The full organza skirt is finished with a delicate lace trim on the train making this an isle worthy dress.

‘Monica’ by Augusta Jones

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Registry Office:

For the not so traditional wedding pick something that is reminiscent of an evening dress and something that won’t overwhelm a small isle. Amongst your smaller guest list keep to a slimmer dress like ‘Violet’ by Eliza Jane Howell and follow this through with a 20’s or 30’s theme.

‘Violet’ by Eliza Jane Howell

Colour Trend:

Soft blush colours are not a big step away from traditional ivory and cream. Therefore if you want to opt for an alternative colour - blush does not require an overly brave decision. This compliments the trend of pastel hues at the moment. When you see ‘Vivien’ by Naomi Neoh like most brides, you will fall head over heels.

‘Vivien’ by Naomi Neoh

Leonie Claire Bridal Boutique Wedding Abroad

If a bride tells me she is getting married abroad I think lightweight, natural fibres (less sticky) and something that will travel well and need as little preparation as possible when they arrive at their destination. That doesn’t mean you can’t have sparkle or decoration which the Halfpenny London dress ‘Lydia’ does have. We recommend these 3 designers who fulfil these criteria beautifully. We also pack the gown up for the bride in a travel box so we can make sure it travels as safely and perfectly as possible.

'Laverne' by Catherine Deane 'Eternity' by Claire Pettibone 'Lydia' by Halfpenny London

Traditional

A traditional wedding is the perfect setting for impact. I think full skirts, full length veils and a touch of sparkle in the accessories. It is so lovely to see simple clean cut gowns like’ Barcaza’ by Pronovias coming back into fashion. There has been an awful lot of lace and we adore ‘Ruby’ by Sassi Holford for this reason but this sharp elegant look is just perfect for maximum impact.

‘Barcaza’ by Pronovias.

‘Ruby’ by Sassi Holford

Registry office

‘Martha’ by Sassi Holford for a great registry office option. It is fun, flirty but beautifully made. Still every inch the bride but much less formal.

‘Martha’ by Sassi Holford

Colour

The designer Catherine Deane’s Onyx and Tamsin dresses are such a delight. Subtle hints of blush and pale gold are perfect in a countryside setting with rustic flowers.

‘Onyx’ and ‘Tamsin’ by Catherine Deane

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JEREMY HOYE’S JEWELLERY EMPORIUM

HOUSEOFHOYE HOUSEOFHOYE.COM

HOUSEOFHOYE INFO@HOUSEOFHOYE.COM

22A SHIP STREET BRIGHTON |

01273 776097

Crowning GLORY

Down, up, curled or straightened? Your bridal hair will be remembered in every wedding photograph you have, so it’s super important to get it right for the big day. Having been married before and having a colour hair disaster the day before my wedding (my hair practically broke off!), I would advise all potential brides to take note of hairstylist Daniel Lustig’s top tips…

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On the run up to the big day (ideally six months or longer) get regular trims and professional conditioning treatments. It’s pretty important as it will ensure that your hair is a healthy blank canvas for whatever bridal style you decide to go for. In between your salon visits give your hair some deep conditioning at home…. I really like Kerastase and Moroccon Oil products which are available to buy at most hair salons. My favourite products for a bride to be are ‘Nanokeratin System Revitalising Mask’ for natural hair and ‘Nanokeratin System Refining Mask’ for highlighted or chemically treated hair, these can rescue anyone’s hair and change it into a more luscious mane. Alternatively John Frieda Full Repair Deep Conditioner Mask £4.19 from Boots or any of the moisturizing and repair products by Tresemme are very good indeed and not expensive.

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One week before, get your color done. If you have highlights they will be lovely and fresh for the day and grown in enough not to be too startling, while a semipermanent colour is great on dark hair to give super shine gloss on the day. One thing I would definitely say is don’t suddenly go for a complete colour change to soon before the wedding! You want your groom to recognize you!

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When planning your hair ideas using Pinterest or other sites to collect pictures of your favorite styles is a great.

It will give you and your hairstylist an idea of what you love but also what you dislike.

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Have a trial. This is a must! Make sure you sit down with your hairstylist to discuss all your style options. I always think a good hour and a half is a good time to try a few options. In my years of experience doing bridal hair, I have found sometimes the wildcard is the winner!

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On the actual day do not wash your hair unless your hair suffers from excess oil. If you really feel you can’t go without washing it that day avoid using conditioner. This will help your style stay put for the day without having to use excessive hairspray and styling products.

Lustig and Webb Hair Salon: 99b, High Street, Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 9RE TEL: 01273 927241 www.lustigandwebb.com facebook.com/pages/Lustig-Webb

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Paradise Found This issue Stuart Pritchard turns his eye to the Indian Ocean and finds himself seduced by the unequalled allure of the Seychelles…

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’ve spent a large part of – what I laughingly refer to as – my professional life telling people where to go. Not in a sweary drunk in the park kind of way, you understand, but rather, after spending much of the last 15 years as a travel writer, cruising the world at 33,000 feet, selfless staying in five star hotels and gorging myself on the finest cuisine available to man, woman or man-woman, before coming back to reality to scribble it all down, I’ve seen an awful lot of places and used an equal awful lot of superlatives to encourage other people to see them.

One such superlative often overused by travel writers is ‘paradise’. A word wheeled out by the very laziest of travel writers to serve as a kind of sum-up catch-all, saving them from having to dig deep into their dictionary to produce some proper prose. In fact, so many places have now been described as being ‘paradise’ that you’d wonder how Milton could ever have lost it. Which is where my problem began – setting sight on the Seychelles for the first

time and watching the striking turquoise ocean lapping gently against the fine white sands of the shore whilst a rich canopy of green swayed gently in the breeze behind it, only one word came to mind: ‘paradise’.

But first the facts: an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, just far east enough to avoid all the troubles of Africa, the Seychelles is made up of some 115 islands and is home to some of the most striking scenery outside of movie special effects, which is why the islands have long been the destination of choice of both celebrities and honeymooners alike, seeking out somewhere that still manages to achieve that rare balance of unspoilt beauty and luxury.

Home to an extensive array of sea life, such as turtles, manta rays, hammerheads, whale sharks and fancy looking fish aplenty, this is a diver’s dreamland. And even on land the wildlife is richly diverse with ample airborne examples to keep twitchers twitching and, probably the Seychelles’ most famous residents, some tortoises that you’d really struggle to fit in a shoebox over winter.

Indian Ocean Lodge - www.indianoceanlodge.com

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Praslin Island & Indian Ocean Lodge

hilst the beautiful and best still flock to the Seychelles in their chauffeur-driven droves, the most surprising thing about the islands is that it’s far more affordable than you might imagine to rub shoulders with the stars.

Take this little place for example. Nestled on Praslin Island, a short hop from the airport, sits Indian Ocean Lodge, a tranquil haven away from the hustle and bustle of the world. Petite, perfectly designed in the traditional Creole style, impeccably serviced and reasonably priced, the hotel is perfectly positioned on Grande Anse Beach and stands as a slice of luxurious living between the backdrop of Praslin’s lush interior and the beautiful blue of the Indian Ocean. If there’s anywhere more tranquil, it’s difficult to imagine.

A cradle of comfort from the moment you step inside, the soft pastels of the decor enhances the feeling of relaxation, whilst the rooms – only 32 in total – offer utter opulence and, importantly, air conditioning!

Also on offer is some of the finest and freshest seafood you’ll ever experience courtesy of the hotel’s Blue Marlin Bar & Restaurant, alongside a wide selection of other mouth-watering meals for those not so fond of fish.

Given everything Indian Ocean Lodge provides, frankly, it would be tempting to never leave the hotel grounds – and I’m certain that some guests don’t – but when on Praslin, it would be a waste not to venture out and discover the treasures this island holds.

A free shuttle ride provided by the hotel takes you on a tour past island life as the locals go about their business, before bringing you to the lively beach of Anse Volbert.

Or for the more curious, the Lodge gladly assists with car rental arrangements so that you can hit the quaint little roads of Praslin, meandering along the hills and exploring all the island has to offer; although make sure that meander takes you to Anse Lazio, one of the most pristine beaches you may ever come across and recently rated as the 6th best beach in world by Tripadvisor reviewers.

Nature enthusiasts should head over to the Vallee De Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A mere five minute drive from the Indian Ocean Lodge, here you’ll find yourself in the shadow of Praslin’s mountainside, surrounded by towering perennial plants which bear the astonishing Coco-de-Mer seeds, the largest seeds of the plant kingdom. Praslin Island and the neighbouring Curieuse Island are the only two places left where you’ll find this remarkable nugget of nature; and if your eyes are keen enough, you may even spot the endemic, but rare, Black Parrots of Praslin as they feed off the flowers of this amazing plant.

Should you wish to venture further afield, the staff of Indian Ocean Lodge will be happy to assist with islandhopping arrangements, leaving you free to explore the nearby islands, with their lush greenery, turquoise waters overflowing with an abundance of marine life, as well as their cultural heritage and history.

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Silhouette Island & Hilton Seychelles Labriz

fter experiencing Indian Ocean Lodge and the island of Praslin, it would be difficult to believe anyone who told you that there are islands of equal beauty and hotels that can serve up such levels of laidback luxury. Indeed, leaving the lodge could well be one of the hardest things you ever have to do; which is why it helps to have a Hilton to hit...

I speak of the Hilton Seychelles Labriz, another exceptional option for any stay in the Seychelles. Situated on Silhouette Island, approached from a distance the island is a striking sight, with a tropical forest and an imposing mountain reaching into the clouds. Set along a 2.5km stretch of powder-soft beach, Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa brings together all the essential elements of pristine beaches, modern and spacious villas, a first-class spa and fine dining, with exciting activities also on offer, such as trekking through one of the largest National Parks in Seychelles or exploring the surrounding National Marine Park.

A 20 minute helicopter transfer from Seychelles International Airport (because, if you can, you should always arrive on a tropical island via helicopter), Mahé and a 45-minute boat trip via Bel Ombre Jetty, Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa offers guests five spacious, contemporary, private and peaceful villa categories, each infused with tropical chic style, the jewel in the crown being the Presidential Villa, offering panoramic views of the spectacular mountains or the pristine beach. Deluxe Hillside

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Pool Villas and Deluxe Beachfront Pool Villas each feature a private pool set in a secluded garden and a large circular bath tub, making them perfect for those on a romantic getaway.

The elegant Beach Villas, meanwhile, meander discreetly along the seafront, emerging from the vegetation, mere steps from the beach, while, last but not least, the Garden Villas are set within the verdant natural surroundings of the island, offering a truly back-to-nature experience with the added extra of all the amenities expected from a luxury resort.

Whilst peace and privacy are guaranteed at your villa, heading down to the heart of the resort, you’ll find an excellent selection of bars and restaurants, including the Italian Portobello Restaurant, a gastronomic experience with an expansive wine cellar serving some of the most exclusive wines from all over the world, while the beachside Sakura serves Sushi and East Asian cuisine with a modern edge, Cafe Dauban dishes up a delicious variety of international and local delicacies, and Pizzeria presents freshly prepared authentic pizzas and Italian bites.

Of course, Italian and Eastern cuisine is always welcome, but central to the Labriz experience is the Grann Kaz Plantation House. Renovated to its former glory, here guests can enjoy the unique grandeur of a Seychellois plantation house and more traditional fayre, with the ground floor of this magnificent building being home to the resort’s traditional Creole restaurant, served up on the terrace and in the gardens.

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Spa and Away esigned to bring the elements of nature closer to guests and to offer an organic, raw and natural ambience with a treatment menu to match, the Silhouette Spa at Labriz is one of the most strikingly beautiful in the world. Boasting spacious indoor and outdoor couples’ therapy suites with unrivalled views of the jungle-clad slopes of Mount Dauban and the Indian Ocean, the comprehensive Spa Menu ranges from instruction in the ancient art of Yoga to the pacifying effects conveyed by the secrets of Balinese therapies, to Seychelles island spa rituals that leave you feeling cleansed and revitalised.

Those seeking action should head on over to the Eco Centre, the launching point for all on-island and sea pursuits, helping guests get the chance to discover both the marine world of the Seychelles via the only five star National Geographic PADI diving center in the Seychelles region, as well as Silhouette Island through hiking and exploratory journeys of the island’s natural biodiversity.

Featuring first-class design, a breath-taking natural setting, heritage, and the very best of amenities, if anything can help you get over the shock of leaving the Indian Ocean Lodge, it’s the high-end hotel hedonism of the Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa!

Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa - www.hiltonseychelleslabriz.com

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The Carana Hilltop Villa - www.caranahilltopvillacomcom

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Mahé Island & The Carana Hilltop Villa

roblem now is: what on earth can help you get over the agony of having to check out of the Hilton?

Well the only way is literally up when it comes to The Carana Hilltop Villa. In an ideal location which exudes peace and island-style tranquillity, and nicely nestled between the verdant mountainsides of north east Mahé Island and the sapphire waters of the ocean, the villa’s unique ambiance within the oasis of its walled private grounds, private swimming pool, garden of tropical flowers and fruit trees make it an ideal location for complete relaxation.

Promising “a true Seychelles experience at your own pace in an authentic Creole establishment” this private and peaceful haven in the hills offers the perfect base from which to explore the island, from its bays and lagoons to its colourful culture and cuisine. A variety of accommodation is available from as little as €90 euros a night for a single room with bed and breakfast, or the whole Villa can also be booked to cater for a large family or group. All comes fully air conditioned

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and excellently appointed, with those on the ground floor offering instant access to the pool.

Just a five minute walk from the Villa is Carana Beach – the epitome of unspoilt – where you can relax, snorkel or head out to open water for a spot of sport fishing, whilst beauty therapists and in-room masseuses can be called in to work out any memories of ‘tension’ that remain.

As with the Indian Ocean Lodge and the Hilton, cuisine at The Carana is seafood led, with prawns, octopus and fish curry, lobster and crabs all being a speciality. However, despite the seafood being so succulent that it’s almost impossible to resist, the Villa also caters for all comers, offering excellent Asian and European options too.

Peace and quiet is guaranteed at The Carana Hilltop and, plan your days properly and you might just end up feeling that you’re on your own private island. However, as wonderfully remote as that sounds, it is possible in the Seychelles to be even more secluded…

Bird Island Lodge - www.birdislandseychelles.com

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Bird Island & Bird Island Lodge

20 minute drive from The Carana Hilltop and a 30 minute flight in a light aircraft brings you to Bird Island, five kilometres of the finest white sand beaches, landing here you find yourself at one of the world’s top ecoholiday destinations and, as the name suggests, a hugely successful wildlife reserve – something you might want to Tweet about or post a picture of on Facebook… yeah, good luck getting a signal. Indeed, you’ll also find no phones at all on Bird Island, or TVs, just nature at its most beautiful.

Bird Island Lodge is an excellent way to ease yourself back into the working world. Comfortable, certainly, ‘luxury’ is not the byword here; more ‘simplicity’. With 24 chalets available, Bird Island’s only hotel offers a king sized bed, large shower room, separate toilet, a spacious veranda and an overhead fan to keep your cool.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get a cocktail however, and food at the Lodge is fresh, organic and served buffet style.

Go kayaking with the pod of dolphins that call the waters of Bird Island their home, snorkel with giant manta rays, go whale watching (October to November), go game fishing for marlin, sailfish and tuna and bring it home for dinner, fly fish from the beach, tick off 24 species of Seychelles birds, or just sit and soak it all in.

Obviously, not everyone will have the holiday time or the holiday money available to flit between all four of the exceptional accommodation options we’ve looked at here, but if this has given you a taste to find your own piece of, yes, paradise, then you’ll find it waiting for you in the Seychelles. And whether you chose Praslin, Silhoutte, Mahé or Bird to base your adventures from, you’ll be eternally grateful to yourself that you did..

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Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Orchard Road, Hove £550,000 Three bedroom new build house with garden and balcony. EPC B

The Drive, Hove £485,000 Beautifully presented three bedroom flat with stunning views. EPC N/A

Cambridge Road, Hove £650,000 Two bedroom ground floor period garden flat. EPC D

St. Leonards Road, Hove £595,000 Four bedroom house set over three floors with patio garden. EPC E

Hamptons International Estate Agents Hove Sales. 01273 796 061 | Lettings. 01273 796 063

No Ordinary Accountants

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Walking up the stairs to the office on Albany Mews there is an overriding sense of ‘here is a place that will get the job done’

he grandeur of the building that accountants Cardens resides in is equally as impressive as its transformation from the derelict casino it once was to the business hub it has now become.

Built as The Hove Club in 1882 and now home to Cardens Accountants and Business Advisers, both the building and the business have seen a transformation in more ways than one.

After out-growing their Church Road based premises some time ago, Cardens began the search for a new office in the centre of Hove and, after agreements were made to lease the office just off Fourth Avenue, a year of renovation took place to transform the building into a spacious modern workplace.

“It’s took a fair old time,” says Cardens’ founder and partner, Barry Carden. “But we eventually created a much nicer client experience with more meeting rooms and a client lounge area with TV to make ‘visiting your accountant’ a less stressful time.”

However, it is not just the building that changed when they moved to the premises as the company has continued to grow. “We were at the stage where we just couldn’t fit any more people in where we were, so we were looking for some extra space,” explains Barry. “Now we have room for more people which helped us create more jobs with the end result of winning more work and performing at our best” As a founder of the business, Barry has seen it grow from an idea into one of Brighton and Hove’s most successful accountants, and with it he has seen the numbers grow.

“When we started off nine years ago there were two qualified accountants and now we have 14; I keep losing count of how many we’ve got,” he jokes. “We used to have around three or four trainees and now we have twelve; we had one bookkeeper and now we have four. So the number and scale is what drives us forward and that in itself makes it easier to service more clients and a larger variety of their needs. In general, the workflow is easier to manage because there are just more people to deal with it.”

With a spacious and bright feel, thanks to its high ceilings, glass walls and wide staircases, the building possesses a truly impressive environment, and one that is sure to be appreciated by staff and clients alike.

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Cardens Accountants LLP The Old Casino, 28 Fourth Avenue Hove, East Sussex, BN3 2PJ www.cardensaccountants.com

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Parliament’s not the only house seeing plenty of movement.

After every election since 1979, the property market has seen an increased level of activity. For buyers this means a better selection of properties for sale. For sellers, there are more people looking for property, so it is a great time to market your home.

Unusually, the run up to the 2015 election was busier than expected. In March we agreed the highest number of sales in a single month for two years and April has also been extremely busy.

So if we can help you with your moving plans or update you on the current market value of your home, please call us today.

Hamptons Haywards Heath

Sales. 01444 316 791 haywardsheath@hamptons-int.com Lettings. 01444 316 793 haywardsheathlettings@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.uk Please dial in full. For terms & conditions, please ask in branch.

Hamptons Brighton & Hove

Sales. 01273 796 157 brightonandhove@hamptons-int.com Lettings. 01273 796 159 brightonandhovelettings@hamptons-int.com

Many of our sales go on behind closed doors.

Many of our properties are sold without ever going on the open market. Register your requirements to gain access to our full portfolio of stunning homes.

We specialise in quality properties of all shapes and sizes. From period villages homes and Town houses to bespoke new build propertiesand apartments, our portfolio of homes is truly diverse.

Many of these properties are on our website, but often, at our sellers’ request, they aren’t. Instead they’re ‘quietly marketed’ and sold without ever being openly marketed. So if you’re looking for that next rather special home and want a full view of the market, please do contact us to discuss your needs. We will handle your request with discretion and professionalism.

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The Long Arm of the Law Firm For most of us the very words ‘legal fees’ are enough to bring us out in a cold sweat with visions of our hard earned income washing away in a sea of legalese. But as businesses in all sectors across the South East are learning, it doesn’t have to be that way.

ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW has taken Sussex by storm with their use of innovation, revolution and accessibility.

The firm works on revolutionising the way legal services are delivered and has a reputation for being approachable and giving unpretentious expert legal advice.

With countless local business awards, the firm is listed in the Financial Times’ Top 50 Groundbreaking & Innovative Law Firms in the UK and Europe and in its infancy was voted a UK Rising Star by the Observer. Founded by Penina Shepherd, who began her career in sales before channelling her energy into law, her dynamism shines through in the culture she has developed at ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW. The firm has a unique DNA that sets it apart from most businesses, not to mention other law firms. Central to this culture is that the firm is run as a collective; at weekly team meetings every voice in the room is heard, opinions on all aspects of the business are encouraged and contributions are judged on merit, not seniority.

February 2015 saw the launch of the ACUMEN BUSINESSS ACADEMY, a high-level platform for business & legal training sessions to the Gatwick Business Community, providing training in all business specialisms, delivered through holistic training forums by proven business experts.

Recognising that so many businesses have a need for regular, accessible legal advice, the Penina’s Perspective series of 3-4 minute video blogs were created, full of useful, legal business tips. These were launched via Penina’s own site www.penina.biz, which capitalises on the strength of the Acumen founder’s personal brand and a long history of successful offerings to the wider business community.

On the 3rd June 2015 the ACUMEN BUSINESS CONVENTION is being held at the Grand in Brighton. The 2015 Convention will have Tim Smit (Founder of Eden Project), Jo Fairley (Founder of Green & Blacks Chocolate) and Darren Shirlaw (CEO of the international business coaching company Shirlaws) combined with interactive seminars, networking with top decision makers all served up with the ‘Acumen magic touch’ and ‘wow factors’ throughout the day.

The ACUMEN BUSINESS CLUB, now in its sixth year, is a private business club limited to 50 members who may join by invitation only. The reasoning behind such exclusivity is to ensure that members feel comfortable sharing their experiences and know that the club offers learning and business development opportunities tailored to their exact requirements.

Acumedia, run by the firm’s Media Department, taps into the city’s prominent crowd of media professionals providing a unique forum, bringing together talented artists and influential professionals.

Sessions provide networking opportunities and presentations that tap into this sector’s expertise and feature a gig promoting

the talents of one member each time.

Specialising purely in business law it is inevitable that employment law forms a large amount of the work the firm undertakes. Contracts, disputes, credit control, share schemes, negotiations, compromise agreements – a minefield for the unwary or inexperienced.

Acumentor, ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW’s on and offline Employers' forum enables its members to discuss and find solutions to challenges regularly faced by employers and the firm has created a variety of outsourced services in the form of a Legal Director Scheme, providing clients with access to their own Legal or HR Director for a fixed monthly fee. The benefits of this scheme are obvious; superior advice, guidance and legal expertise from fully qualified lawyers for use as and when required.

As their website says, you’ll be glad they’re on your side! www.acumenbusinesslaw.co.uk TEL: 08458 678 978

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Taking Care Of Business While many of the well-known high street banks are closing their local branches, newcomer Metro Bank has recently set up stall – or store as it likes to call them – here in Brighton.

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s the UK’s first new high street bank in more than 100 years, Metro Bank is bucking the trend set by many of the traditional banks who have been slowly reducing their number of branches, by placing emphasis on face to face contact and personal relationships.

Brighton customers can visit the bank at their convenience – be it early or late, seven days a week for 362 days of the year, as well as having access to its 24 hour contact centres contact centres, mobile and online banking apps. A refreshing approach that has gained it thousands of customers locally and over half a million customer accounts since its inception just five years ago.

This personal approach to banking also extends to Metro Bank’s business offering, providing Relationship Managers for each of its local business customers. As a champion of entrepreneurs, Metro Bank takes the time to really get to know the local businesses it serves and ensures that local bank managers who really understand the business needs of the area are assigned to make lending decisions, using a manual underwriting process.

Since opening its doors on 20 February 2015, the Brighton store has become the bank of choice for hundreds of local businesses of all shapes and sizes. The benefit of enlisting the knowledge of local bank managers means the bank also helps businesses connect and grow together.

Bringing more than 13 years corporate banking experience to the role, Brighton’s Local Director, Brian Quinton, is responsible for overseeing the store’s local operations.

Taking great pride in serving his local community, Brian has founded and facilitated a number of networking clubs aimed at making it easier for business to operate across Sussex. A champion of local business, Brian is also a panel member for Coast to Capital, which helps companies in the

area realise their potential and create jobs. Brian also helps community interest companies apply for interest free loans and mentoring via his affiliations with Social Enterprise Assist (Sussex).

Supporting Brian is Store Manager, Nick Simon – a previously familiar voice on Southern FM who joined Metro Bank after five years working his way up from cashier to Area Manager with Royal Bank of Scotland. Another advocate of the local area, Nick has also been involved with Sussex County Cricket Club as their stand in T20 announcer.

Completing the Brighton business team is Local Business Manager, Gemma Warrenne who has been helping Brighton and Sussex-based businesses prosper for eight years, applying a customer service-based approach from previous management roles with retailing giants such as Laura Ashley, BHS and Fat Face.

To see how the team can help you or support your business, you don’t need to make an appointment – just pop into the store, which is open from 8am to 8pm weekdays, 8am to 6pm on Saturday and 11am until 5pm on Sundays.

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The Perfect Package

We love it when our home town produces creative and inspiring businesses. MODO is just one of these that we felt worth a little Q&A with….

Q: In a nutshell, what is it that Modo does?

A: We design and manufacturer a variety of bespoke

packages predominantly for the music industry. We work closely alongside our clients to produce the perfect packaging for their product, filling in any gaps that they might need us to along the way, whether that’s in terms of design, or with the manufacturing of the design itself.

Q: How did the idea for the business come about?

Q: So, are we talking about things like album covers?

A: Henry Lavelle is the founder of the company and

A: All sorts. People come to us with their ideas – some

are pretty wild – and we look at what is physically possible. We’ve just been involved in the design and production of a face serum for instance and we designed the bottle as well as the box that bottle is sold in. We have clients that come to us that want us to design the entire product from initial artwork to packaging, but others have the artwork already and want to look at what packaging is most cost effective for them.

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“Pretty much anything is possible in production and there is no limit essentially, so what we look into are key factors such as time, budget and actual physical possibility.”

he worked at the record label Mo’Wax originally. When he left there he realised there was an obvious gap in the market for creative, exciting and unusual packaging, which he then filled by launching Modo in 1998.

Q: Are there any projects that really stick out for you?

A: One project that really sticks out is a 12-inch lift-off lid box that we produced for Muse. The idea behind the box was to produce something that was interactive

with the consumer, so we designed and developed a lid that had a thermo-reactive lid on it. When it comes into contact with heat it changes colour – that was an awesome project to work on.

Q: Do you think the market for packaging is still

evolving and broadening?

A: Definitely. We get a lot more wacky projects to

work on these days, which cements our experience that little bit further and pushes us to think along really unique lines. We did a project for Sarah Brightman for her album, Dreamchaser, and the whole concept behind it was about palnning to go into space, so it ended up as a globe with a really spacey, futuristic vibe about it.

We have a whole creative design team that designed a globe that she loved and then had to plan 3D printing to bring it to life. That project took about 18 months.

Q: Why Brighton?

A: Brighton is such a wonderful, creative and quirky

town, plus there’s something very calming about living by the sea, which all seems to combine perfectly for design minds. A lot of our clients are in London and we’re more than happy to travel there, but people love to come here too. Brighton is a really creative hub for design and it seems to be a growing presence – you can’t walk into a pub without seeing a designer’s work on the walls - and that’s a huge reason why Modo has decided to stay in Brighton; it’s a very nurturing environment creatively.

Q: How do you keep at the cutting edge of your game?

A: We’re always looking for new and different ideas

within the packaging market and are constantly on the lookout for new suppliers and design sources. You’ve got to listen to who you’re working with and really work the concept out before you dive in and start creating; we’re constantly learning and are renowned for listening to the clients and for working in ways that are cost-effective and unique, but not restrictive or boring.

Written by Polly Farman

“We’ve worked with a whole variety of artists from Sarah Brightman to Led Zeppelin and several local Brighton acts like Fatboy Slim and Nick Cave too. We create lots of limited edition fan memorabilia, which adds to the whole consumer experience – rather than getting a plastic case with a CD inside, you get something that’s had a lot more love and care go into it.”

MONTHLY JUNE HOROSCOPES

By Claire Petulengro I cannot help but to turn to the Horoscope pages of magazines. It’s a late night discussion I have often had with friends… do you believe in them or not?

I do and here are the Horoscopes from one of the best!

Claire grew up learning the skills of astrology, palmistry and the tarot from her famous family and by the age of sixteen was a regular at the National Youth Theatre’s balls each year, reading the hands of the rich and famous.

Claire has written for OK Magazine, The Daily Express, The Sunday Express, The Sun, The Star, Company Magazine,

Aries (March 21st-April 20th)

With your house of family so strongly activated this month, you’ll be looking at how you can improve the lives of your nearest and dearest and at how you can live in harmony. Your chart shows it hasn’t been an easy few months for you, but you’re on better ground now and joint decisions you make from the 21st onwards will prove this fact my friend You can push ahead in work projects from the 17th, but only if you’re willing to somehow cut others in on the deal. New flirtations at work come at a price. Be warned! Call now to hear who you need to give more time and attention to.

0905 072 0237

Taurus (April 21st-May 21st)

Don’t run when you should be walking Taurus. You need to be casting yourself in a calm and composed light so that others can have the trust and faith in you that they need. Romance is really well starred and for once you can afford to ask for all you want without fear

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She Magazine, Woman’s Own and numerous other publications. Author of eighteen books, one of which is even about to be published in Russian you can be sure that this is one lady who tells it like it is. Claire can often be seen on This Morning and UK Living and various other television and radio programmes.

of rejection. People from your past seem to pop up in your life more often than usual and one in particular may want something you’re uncomfortable with. Say it straight. Don’t beat around the bush or you will give them the impression you’re ripe for the picking.

Ring now so I can reveal all.

0905 072 0238

Gemini (May 22nd-June 21st)

What you have had no longer appeals to you and so you are left with the risk of looking ungrateful or unappreciative.

Watch out for stronger signs trying to take advantage of you socially when you may lose control of how you live your personal life. Make sure you’re the one in the driving seat and in full control. You seem to be intent on showing someone you trust them, but there are other ways of showing our support than giving up our choices this month. Give me a ring now to hear why it’s worth acting on impulse throughout this month in love.

0905 072 0239

Cancer (June 22nd-July 23rd)

Things will not go to plan this June, but they can in fact go better if you’re willing to strike while the iron is hot and take advantage of those who can help you make your career a better place to be. Jealousy over those you work with is wasted, so try to learn how to get along before the 23rd please or you may end up making an enemy you cannot afford to have. Aspects suggest the reason for this unseasonable cold front this summer, is that you’re not going for what you want relationshipwise but you’re settling. Do what comes naturally from the 24th to get back on track. Ring now so I can help you. 0905 072 0240

Leo (July 24th-August 23rd)

You seem to be so much more relaxed about who you are and where you’re going with your life and this has a lot to do with the new found support you’ve uncovered in your close ones. The truth is that actions spoke louder than words last month and you’ve proved

you have what it takes to do what you want professionally. It’s all about hard work again in June though, when you may find yourself doing overtime or working for free in order to show your allegiance to a certain plan or person.

Give me a ring now to hear why it’s worth negotiating all financial deals this month. 0905 0720242

Virgo (August 24th-September 23rd)

This is the month you discover who was telling lies and who was speaking the truth. Try not to act on what you learn too quickly though. Instead Virgo, work on showing those around you how good you are at keeping your cool.

Friends could become much more for some of you Virgos if you act on what you’re feeling rather than what others are saying. Too much speculation and gossip could well be your downfall if you’re not careful. Working with Pisces and Aries pays dividends especially at a distance. Ring now to hear how Venus makes it impossible for you not to be naughty. 0905 072 0242

Libra (September 24th-October 23rd) This month, you start to put the fun back into your life. You realise you were holding yourself back for the wrong reasons. Watch out for someone in the family putting unfair demands upon you. You’d be far better, my friend, to stand your ground sooner rather than later or you will only look like you’re throwing your toys out of the pram. Work aspects are strong and Mars can help you to make an all important crossover before the 25th if you are willing to sign on the dotted line. Ring now to hear why your love life may see you lying to family members. 0905 072 0243

Scorpio (October 24th-

November 22nd) Too much gossip is getting in the way of you learning the facts. Try to take a step back and look at the bigger picture

Scorpio. You and I both know you are meant for bigger and better things and, by letting others know this, you’ll start to build up the self confidence you lost so much of last month. New friends are made in high places after the 11th when you start to realise that your personality can open many doors for you. I believe in you and now you will too. You’re back and we’ve missed you. Now it’s time to start living again. Ring now to hear how Gemini is a feature in your future.

0905 072 0244

Sagittarius (November 23rdDecember 21st) Work worries have clearly been getting on top of you and it’s time you took control of the situation. Someone you thought did not have your back in business only wants to see you succeed and events which take place before the 11th will soon confirm this fact.

Careful of saying things you don’t mean to family mid-month when many of the signs are likely to be feeling more sensitive than usual. Keep to plans during the last week of June when attention to detail is everything.

Wear what you know you look good in.

You’ll be meeting people who can and want to help you. Ring now for the full story.

0905 072 0245 Capricorn (December 22nd-

January 20th) Try not to ask your close ones for things you know they don’t want to give Capricorn, or you will only cast yourself in a controlling light. Time spent working on finances and figures in general can help you to work out what your next move should be. Make time for the older generation. They know what you need to hear to make your life a better place to be. You think you’ve lost control in a work matter around the 14th but you’re wrong.

Make a few phone calls and sort out

what needs to be done to put things right. Give me a call now to hear how media links call in your career soon.

0905 072 0246

Aquarius (January 21st-

February 19th) Romance is strong in your chart and even if you’re not looking for a relationship you’re going to find offers coming your way. It’s time to work out what you want and who could be of help to you in making your working life a better place to be. Someone you’re missing from your past is actually not who you need Aquarius, so try to start living life as you mean to go on and ask for what you deserve rather than just making do. It’s the key to you being truly happy and fulfilled. Take a look at figures. You could end up in the black if you do. Ring now so I can help you.

0905 072 0247

Pisces (February 20th-March 20th)

You tried to make things work Pisces, but it’s time to admit what you couldn’t sort out in your favour. You’re not a bad person, but it’s clear you’ve been believing the hype. Time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. I see great things for you if you would start to work towards what you want, instead of what others deem is the right thing to do. You can say hello to fresh starts in business if you start to act on those instincts you’re having from the 7th. New faces also offer you an insight into what is possible in your working future from the 29th. Ring me. I have much to tell you.

0905 072 0248 To book a one to one reading with Claire or Eva petulengro please call 07875 540015 or e mail clairepetulengro@hotmail.com

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