Burnley magazine issue 15

LIFESTYLE AND VISITOR MAGAZINE

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ISSUE 15

WOV E N I N B U R N L E Y

FA B R I C S A N D W A L L C O V E R I N G S IANMANKIN.CO.UK

ASHFIELD MILL

AC T I V E WAY

B U R N L E Y B B 11 1 B S

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Editor A Warm Welcome…

I’m extremely proud to have taken on the role as editor of the Burnley Magazine, alongside talented graphic designer and sub-editor MJ Hindman, bringing Burnley to life through the pages of the magazine.

I’ve lived in Burnley for many years, in the quaint village of Worsthorne, on the outskirts of the town. I’m privileged to enjoy open views across the fields to the beautiful Cliviger Valley, and over the Pennine Lancashire hills to the iconic landmark the ‘Singing Ringing Tree’ which attracts visitors from across the UK. My partner moved from Leeds to live here 10 years ago and was pleasantly surprised by Burnley’s lifestyle and housing offer. He is a keen walker and mountain biker and loves that you can be in the countryside in minutes. To convert a Yorkshireman to the virtues of Lancashire was quite a task but he’s now settled into the Red Rose County and has become a great advocate for the place.

With the new direct rail line opening from Burnley to Manchester, Burnley will become an attractive Manchester commuter belt proposition - from countryside to city in just 50 minutes. With detached houses on the rural outskirts starting from £250,000, or grand Victorian houses close to the town centre, Burnley is set to become an up and coming commuter town option. The Sunday Times recently described Burnley as a first time buyer’s Shangri-la, with a ‘Wish you were here’ headline, focussing on the affordable homes and lifestyle offer for young couples and singletons, which also reinforces the commuter option for young professionals.

One of our lead features talks to inspirational couple Nick and Gina Mead, who both had high profile jobs in the South, and escaped the rat race, to undergo a total change of lifestyle. They are now the proud owners of an award winning boutique hotel boat, which leisurely sails along the Leeds & Liverpool canal from its base in the Reedley Marina in Burnley. You too could be living the life!

Our stunning countryside, beautiful country houses and stately homes have influenced our key features in this year’s magazine. Our ‘Luxe’ interior design feature had been influenced by our surroundings and heritage.

The Natural Light feature showcases the work of local artists whose work has been very much inspired by the landscapes we are blessed to live amongst. The treasurers from Burnley’s industrial past which featured in a major London exhibition this year ‘Cotton to Gold’ also forms one of our lead articles.

I hope as you turn the pages of the magazine you feel compelled to come and take a closer look at some of our featured places. There is something to inspire and appeal to all age-groups, singletons and families, from interior design ideas, historic houses and the treasures within, canal living, luxurious spa indulgence, textiles and knitting, top restaurants and evening cocktails.

Whatever your pleasure come and explore, relax and indulge with us. Our lifestyle offer is hard to match, and we look forward to welcoming you.

CONTRIBUTORS Cover Image

Sophie Winter shot by Mark Tattersall, Art Direction and Styling by MJ Hindman and Ash Sutcliffe, Hair and Make-up by Abbie Glover, Dress by Rene K

MJ Hindman

Joanne Etherington

Sub-editor, art director and senior designer

Editor and senior copy writer Copy

Guest copy writer - Ash

Sutcliffe Webster Guest copy writer - Roger Frost Copy writer - Paul Barlow Copy writer - Greta Poskute Copy writer - Ryan Gifford

Guest copy writer - Nicolette

Photography Photographer - Andy

Ford

andyford.photoshelter.com

Photographer - Mark Tattersall mark-tattersall.co.uk Photographer - Clive

Lawrence clivelawrencephotography.com Gartside studio22b.wordpress.com Additional Photography - Paul Barlow, Richard Greenwood Photographer - Matt

Design Graphic Designer - Richard Graphic Designer - Paul

Greenwood Barlow

Models Naturally Luxe - Sophie

Winter Smith and Ryan Carrasco Woodland Spa - Damian Etherington and Natasha Louise Young Explorers - Ruby Tuesday

Advertising Sales and Research Kelly Smith

Thanks to: Towneley Hall and Parkland, Gawthorpe Textile Collection, Burnley Youth Theatre, Basics Junior Theatre School, The Pennine Soaring Club, The Kettledrum, Lady Teal, Feather and Gaskill, The Woodland Spa, Bertrams Restaurant, Rene K, Fervour and Allura, John Spencer Textiles, Mooch, Live Like the Boy, Karlen Antiques, On The Banks, Burnley Mechanics, Illuminati, Two Temple Place, Flex Media

Joanne

Editor - 01282 477315 jetherington@burnley.gov.uk

© Burnley Council 2015 01282 477197. Jb_9506 creative-council.net

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in this issue...

News 6 What’s On

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explore Towneley’s Secrets

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Young Explorers

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Easy like Sunday morning

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Digging up the past

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Discover hidden treasures Get wild about Burnley

A look at Padiham’s market-town heritage

Ightenhill Manor House uncovered

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Threads of delight

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Treading the Boards

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Exploring Gawthorpe Textiles Collection Musical theatre and performing arts

Cloudbursting 52 Take to the skies above Burnley

A warm welcome awaits

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Walking, cycling and great pub fare

relax Life on the canal

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Dream Boat - Dream Job

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Labour of love

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Turn off your mind and float downstream

relax

When the rat race gets too much Restoration of historic dock

shhhhhhhhhh… 80 Prepare to be pampered

88 indulge The place to be seen

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Naturally Luxe

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Bertram’s bursts onto North West scene Bringing luxury into your home

Finding the value in Burnley

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Natural Light

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Take Centre Stage

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Mixing the perfect night

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Antiques experts wowed by Towneley Stunning landscapes inspire local art Fabulous theatre makeover

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Illuminati shines bright in Burnley’s nightlife

Multi-million pound driving range and sports village Burnley’s new multi-million pound Sports Village is beginning to take shape with work well underway on the main structure.

The new sports village, on the Prairie playing fields site, will house a state of the art 18-bay golf range and sports development centre.

The highly anticipated pavilion will boast a number of meeting and multipurpose rooms along with a golf pro shop, full teaching facilities for the golf range and a welcoming reception area.

There are also plans for a sports

bar and bistro with a cosy lounge and relaxation spot.

The project, which received £700,000 of funding from Football Foundation and Sport England, is to be completed by summer 2015.

The first phase of the sports village was completed in October last year with the newly installed floodlit 3G football pitch. Both Burnley FC in the Community and Burnley FC Women and Girls are holding training evenings and development programmes at the venue, as part of a limited programme

TOWN CENTRE TRANSFORMATION Burnley’s main shopping street is set for a makeover as part of a multi-million refurbishment package.

The £3million scheme aims to make the pedestrianised section of St James’s Street, from Hammerton Street to the bandstand, much more attractive and provide a better shopping experience for retailers, shoppers, visitors and everyone who lives and works in the town.

The ambitious project is a partnership between Lancashire County Council and Burnley Council.

The scheme will see the pedestrianised area resurfaced with new paving. There will also be new benches, decorative lights, a water fountain and tree planting, and a 6

revised town square to accommodate gift and food markets and events.

The scheme is expected to start later this year and to be completed over three phases.

The makeover will compliment Burnley’s established Charter Walk shopping centre, which contains many high street names including M&S, Next, River Island and more.

until the main village is completed.

The Prairie Sports Village is an exciting expansion of Burnley’s successful ‘Get in2®’ sport initiatives, such as the running groups, holiday clubs and Burnley Rounders’ League, which we hope to move to the Prairie this year. The golfing range, soccer leagues and table tennis club will be based at the Prairie Sports Village.

For enquiries about the development please email leisure@burnley.gov.uk or follow Burnley Leisure’s social media pages for progress updates.

Talented local writer’s debut success

Crow Wood hosts fashion shoot with a difference

Masta horse rugs photo-shoot for winter 2015-16 lines.

Crow Wood, in Burnley, was the location for a fashion shoot with a difference, as one of the world’s leading horse rug manufacturers used the state-of-the-art equestrian arena for a creative shoot.

Designers from Bradford-based Masta, renowned for their high quality horse rugs, used Crow Wood as the setting to advertise their winter 2015-16 range.

The photo shoot was a hushed affair, as Masta planned to launch their range of horse rugs at the BETA International trade show - the new range for Autumn/Winter 2015 will feature their new innovative designs.

Designers Beth Mallinson and Alice Waddington were on hand to oversee the shoot and were full of praise over their choice of location. Beth said: “As a keen rider, I was well aware of the impressive facilities here at Crow Wood Equestrian Centre, having used them myself. There are very few places in the North of England that offer such well-equipped indoor arenas, outdoor schools ‘all weather’ gallops and cross country trails.”

Andrew Brown, the Managing Director of Crow Wood Leisure, said: “We were delighted to host a prestigious brand like Masta at the Equestrian Centre. They are renowned for their high end materials, innovative design and styling. It’s a fantastic endorsement for us to have professionals from the equestrian world recognise the quality of our facilities.”

A former Burnley student has turned her passion for all things Pennine Lancashire into a career.

Writer Natalie Rose has completed her first novel entitled Legend of the Whyte Doe and has set it in her home county. She has completed the first in the Bearnshaw series.

Natalie explains “It took me about three months to write the story once I had the plot formed in my mind. Based on the legend of Bearnshaw Tower and the milk white doe, I always knew this legend was an excellent basis for a novel and I enjoyed exploring how real events could turn into a legend over time.

“Setting the story in my home region of Pennine Lancashire was also fantastic.”

The Bearnshaw Series follows the changing fortunes of key members of the Bearnshaw family during the years of the reign of King Richard III, the Tudor dynasty and the Wars of the Roses.

The series begins with the tale of Sibyl Bearnshaw, who rides the wild, remote moors of her family’s forgotten corner of Lancashire as she pleases while the houses of York and Lancaster wage bloody war against one another.

Natalie, who writes both fiction and non-fiction, held a special book launch event where visitors chatted with Natalie about the book, and enjoyed medieval music and food, as costumed characters brought the book to life.

The book, which is published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, is available from Amazon for £8.59. The Kindle version is free.

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Musician Peter Gabriel used the original RMX16 on many of his recordings

AMS NEVE TAKES THE SOUND INDUSTRY BY STORM ONCE AGAIN AMS Neve has launched plug-in software to replicate on computers the exact sound of the original globally renowned digital reverberation system RMX16 which took the world’s music industry by storm 33 years ago.

The RMX16 was used to create the characteristic sound of many of the most distinctive top artists from the 1980s to the present day and still has pride of place in most top studios – and now it is made available to a much wider user base to run with computer recording and editing systems – even in your own bedroom Burnley company, AMS Neve, designer and manufacturer of world renowned audio products for the film and music industry, has launched an exclusive computer software version of their globally revered digital reverberation and effects box, the RMX16, which was originally developed 33 years ago. The RMX16 8

is still used in studios across the world today and is an indispensable tool for top artists.

The manufacture of RMX16 ended in 1990 but nothing else has ever quite matched its sound processing versatility which is why it’s still being used in the majority of the world’s leading sound studios today.

Global sound industry professionals are hugely excited about the launch of the new RMX16 plug-in software and the versatility of sounds it can create.

Mark Crabtree, Managing Director, AMS Neve said: “Digital equipment has a nasty habit of becoming obsolete within a very short space of time even Apple products are out of date in a year, but the RMX16 has stood the test of time due to the amazing sounds it can produce, and I’m so proud when I still see the original RMX16 which I developed 33 years ago still being used today in internationally

renowned studios. The system has been used by famous artists of the 60s, right through the decades, with today’s top artists still favouring the system and relying on its sound.

“Which makes the development of the computer version of the software really exciting for us all here at AMS Neve as well as for people in the industry. It’s creating a real buzz as the software can create a variety of sounds just like the original unit.

“We have spent two years writing software to exactly match the sound of the device so that the same sounds can be achieved by a much wider audience and at much lower cost.

“Social media has been buzzing with anticipation of this launch and it was released on 16th September 2014 and I’m proud to be bringing another well respected device to the sound mixing industry and to continue leading the way in sound recording and mixing.”

Generation Air meets Generation Noise Earlier this year Towneley Hall unveiled the first in a series of ‘Generation’ exhibitions to inspire a new family audience. Giant inflatables mimicking human body parts feature in this unique exhibition at Burnley’s Towneley Hall.

The Generation AIR exhibition, inspired by human biology and the cells and organisms inside us, arrived from Durham where it broke visitor records. Towneley will house a giant tunnel shaped like a human bone, tactile blood droplets suspended from the ceiling and moveable cushions in the form of giant blood cells.

Visitors to Generation AIR will have a multisensory experience, with magical sound and lighting and opportunities to handle parts of the soft sculptures.

The exhibition is designed to be enjoyed by young children and just as much by adults. Generation AIR is created by artists Spacecadets, who have delighted audiences all over the country with their other-worldly inflatables. AIR is one of four inspirational exhibitions touring four galleries in the north of England under the name of Generation.

The two-year tour is specially designed to encourage families to visit contemporary art galleries. Towneley Hall’s Manager, Ken Darwen, said: “We are delighed to welcome Generation AIR to Towneley Hall. It was a huge hit in Durham and has been a real success here in Burnley, showing families how enjoyable a visit to an art gallery can be for every generation. Spacecadets’ Generation AIR demands to be touched and children are free to move around in a safe, fun environment. I’d like to encourage families to visit the

exhibition and experience what it has to offer.”

Generation AIR will be followed by Generation NOISE, another family-friendly commission that has already seen success at Central Gallery in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Two more Generation exhibitions are due to be commissioned later this year. Entry to the exhibition is free to Burnley residents and children. For more information about Generation, visit www.generationtour.org.uk

Cyclists flock to Burnley The Pennine Lancashire area in and around Burnley is fast becoming one of the most connected places in the North West for cyclists following even more cycling infrastructure investments.

Thousands of cyclists already flock to the area to enjoy its cycling routes which range from family friendly routes through the Brun Valley Forest in Burnley to the more adventurous mountain bike trails at Gisburn Forest in the Ribble Valley and Lee Bank Quarry in Rossendale. Even British Champion Bradley Wiggins trains in the area.

Now a new bridge for cyclists has been constructed over the River Brun in Burnley linking Netherwood Road with the Brun Valley Forest Park.

The bridge, over the River Brun, opens up a new route that passes through woodlands and meadows on the south side of the river. The new bridge extends the network of routes developing in Brun Valley Forest Park.

Thanks go to the Lancashire Environment Fund, the River Ribble Trust and the Forestry Commission for helping to fund the bridge.

A local cycle enthusiast said: “ The new bridge opens up another easy route from the town centre to Rowley Lake, which is a beautiful spot to visit.”

Another £1.8million has been confirmed by the Department of Transport for the ‘Connecting East Lancashire’ cycling initiative.

The funding will enable several key schemes to get into gear. Around £6million alone is set to be spent on the ‘Weaver’s Wheel’, a network of proposed lanes fanning out around Blackburn in every direction, to neighbouring Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and South Ribble.

And a scenic ‘Valley of Stone’ cycleway, from

Rawtenstall to Rochdale, celebrating Rossendale’s quarrying heritage, can also now be completed.

Plans have also been drawn up for a greenway through Huncoat and improvements to cycle paths stretching from Haslingden down to Ramsbottom, also through Helmshore, Accrington and Stubbins.

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mummies, treasures and secret passages Towneley’s hidden treasures and oddities featured in a major London exhibition earlier this year and the hall’s peruvian mummy took centre stage

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The mummy had a reputation at Towneley for being haunted, and when the curators came to collect it for the London exhibition, one of the volunteers warned them solemnly that every time it was moved, blood was shed. “Sure enough, one of the helpers did gash his thumb, So far, nothing more dire.� Jack Hartnell said cheerfully.

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The treasures and oddities that Lancashire industrialists gave to Towneley Museum have been on display in top London Museum, Two Temple Place, as part of the ‘Cotton to Gold’ Exhibition’, but you don’t have to travel to London to see the vast array of treasures amassed by the Lancashire industrialists, you can see them on display in Burnley’s magnificent Towneley Museum all year round.

Towneley Hall and Museum is a medieval mansion packed full of oddities which industrialists gave to the Museum, the strangest of which being a Peruvian mummy which was loaned by Towneley to take centre stage at the ‘Cotton to Gold Exhibition’.

The Cotton to Gold exhibition brought together a rich and varied collection of antiquities and artefacts held in collections in Burnley and surrounding towns representing one of the most extraordinary, often hidden, wealth of provincial collections in the country.

The magnificent and eye-catching items were collected by the prosperous industrialists and entrepreneurs of the Victorian age, when North West England was one of the most prosperous areas in the world.

Gentleman explorers and wealthy collectors amassed a collection of sometimes unique, sometimes unusual and sometimes world renowned items that would once have been shared privately with friends and acquaintances but upon death were often bequeathed to the local museums and galleries of their home towns.

Burnley’s William T Taylor, having made his money in electrical engineering in the gold mines of South Africa, left to explore Peru in the 1890’s. With the indifference to local sensibilities that was normal at the time, he burrowed to the heart of a burial site near Chaplanca, came face to face with the mummy of a 12th century nobleman, packed up the ancestor, and offered if to the museum at Towneley Hall.

The bound and crouching figure, which has been on display to visitors of Towneley ever since, was amongst the most arresting loans to the exhibition.

Other Towneley items displayed included the famous works of fine art including watercolours by JMW Turner.

The magnificent and eye-catching items were collected by the prosperous industrialists and entrepreneurs of the Victorian age, when North West England was one of the most prosperous areas in the world.

A 12th century Peruvian nobleman

There must have been a sharp intake of breath at Towneley Hall in 1913 when the latest consignment of travel souvenirs from William T Taylor was opened. The museum was founded just 11 years earlier in a medieval mansion acquired by the local authority, but was already used to crates arriving from the electrical engineer as he trotted the globe, including textiles from Kashmir and ceramics from Mexico.

This time he had sent something extraordinary: the mummy of a 12th century Peruvian nobleman, snatched from what his relatives must have hoped would be eternal rest when they buried him deep in a cave in the Andes. He was buried with a selection of beautiful pottery: Taylor took that too.

The mummy, which normally lives in a cardboard box at Towneley Hall, was the strangest object in the exhibition in London of the treasures and oddities Lancashire industrialists and entrepreneurs gave to local museums in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Co–curator at the Cotton to Gold Exhibition, Jack Hartnell, said the best insight into the mummy snatcher came from Taylor’s diary, on display beside his prize. The diary is visually startling, bound in the shaggy fur of a llama, but singularly un-illuminating, he said.

“Taylor clearly thought of himself as an Indiana Jones figure, scrambling down into the darkness, bones everywhere, attacked by bats, his candle repeatedly going out. But I’m afraid he’s really a bit dull. The only change in him by the end of the diary is that he has lost his moustache.”

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Young explorers get WILD ABOUT BURNLEY Towneley is linked to explorers of the past who brought back the many and varied items in the Hall’s collection from their travels! Children can now don their explorer backpacks, with binoculars, magnifying glass, and more secret stuff! and to set off on their adventure around the hall and grounds.

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THREADS OF

DELIGHT Beautifully crafted and collected by Miss Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth. The skillful detail and workmanship of the Gawthorpe Textiles Collection includes stunning embroidery, lace, costume, quilts and textile artefacts from around the world displayed within this historic house.

...often her family, teasingly, referred to her collection as ‘Miss Rachel’s tat’ -unknowing that what she was building was to become a real cultural gem

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ancashire has many unexpected treasures nestling in special places across the county. Here in Burnley, tucked away in Gawthorpe Hall, is the stunning Gawthorpe Textiles Collection - one of the finest collections of lace, embroidery, quilts, costume, accessories and textile artefacts in Europe. This exquisite collection was amassed by Miss Rachel B. Kay-Shuttleworth (1886 – 1967). She was a remarkable woman, who worked to improve social welfare throughout her life and truly believed that creativity was beneficial to wellbeing and happiness. Textiles were her passion.

Her wide network of family and friends enabled her to collect widely. The collection includes many family items which Miss Rachel squirreled away over the years. In fact, often her family, teasingly, referred to her collection as ‘Miss Rachel’s tat’ – unknowing that what she was building was to become a real cultural gem.

Her friends that travelled enabled her to acquire artefacts from Eastern Europe and from the Near, Middle and Far East.

In addition, Miss Rachel’s interest, and acquaintances in the Arts and Crafts Movement resulted in the acquisition of

rare examples of textiles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Of national significance are the quilt collection and the British embroideries from the 1880s onwards that represent most of the styles and groups associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Miss Rachel was renowned for her expert knowledge and skills in needlework, as well as her dedicated work with local communities. Some of the key pieces in the collection were made by her with beautiful skills and precision. She was loved and admired by generations of local women whom she welcomed into Gawthorpe with energy, warmth and generosity. Many donated generously to her growing textile collection, often with pieces of work they had made themselves.

As the last member of the Shuttleworth family to live at Gawthorpe Hall, Miss Rachel turned the ancestral home into a Craft House in order to keep alive the traditional skills and techniques she feared were being lost. She filled the house with her beautiful collection – all precisely labelled in her own handwriting with her favourite green ink. For Miss Rachel, her collection was a precious teaching resource, she 17

DREAM BOAT

DREAM JOB Who’s behind this Five Star Luxury Boutique Hotel Boat, which consistently tops the holiday ratings?

Nick and Gina Mead both had high profile, demanding jobs in the South where they originate from. Nick managed 150 staff in 13 countries selling and maintaining automatic equipment which counts the footfall in shopping centres, Gina was a trouble-shooter for a large dental group.

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They both wanted to escape the pace and pressure of their then business lives and make a fresh start. So they made a list of ways in which they could combine three things: their love of the outdoors and of food, plus they wanted a dog.

For Gina’s 54th birthday they went to Bath and hired a narrowboat for 10 people and had a great time. Their house guests praised the couple for their hospitality and culinary prowess, commenting that they should do it professionally.

So Gina and Nick did some research and learned that hotel boats have been around since the 40s. They peaked in the 1960s but never on a big scale. “They were more like 1 star B&B,” says Nick.

Fifteen months and £250k later they were the proud owners of the Lady Teal, a luxury boutique hotel houseboat, the first narrow boat in Britain to be awarded 5 stars

by Visit England. The couple have sunk their life savings into the business and live on the boat. They designed the boat themselves and it was built from new. It is 60ft long and 13ft wide and weighs 42 tons.

The boat’s official home is Reedley Marina, Burnley, a truly picturesque oasis on the edge of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. It is from here that the couple run short breaks and

longer holidays for couples and individuals, accommodating visitors in en suite luxury that is truly outstanding.

How do they manage to provide such luxurious accommodation and star dining in such a unique way?

All three rooms (two twin and one single) have en suite bathrooms, finest quality Egyptian bed linen and towels. The boat also has satellite TV and WiFi. Gina is an accomplished cook, while Nick plays host, offering guests fine wine and plenty of bonhomie.

Nick and Gina chose the Leeds & Liverpool canal because it is stunning and under-utilised, which means it’s suitable for a wide-beamed boat.

Their season is April-October and they go as far as York, Manchester and Liverpool.

Occupancy in 2014 was 99% and 60% of 2015 is already booked. “We could easily add another boat but we don’t want to rejoin the rat race.”

They now part-own the Kingfisher restaurant/cafe at Reedley Marina. Their 5 star rating is from Quality in Tourism, and up until this year, the only 5 star hotel boat in the UK. The criteria for the Quality award include customer service, food, rooms, hospitality and ease of booking.

…we don’t want to rejoin the rat race

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If you haven’t yet enjoyed the delights of Burnley’s award winning leisure retreat, the Woodland Spa, then make sure you save a date this year and prepare to be pampered in a truly luxurious way, as leisure and travel journalist, Nicolette Webster reports.

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want to share a secret with you. Don’t tell too many people though will you? I have found a pleasure dome of peace and tranquillity, luxury and indulgence that has blown me away. The best part is, I know I can indulge again and again, even sharing it with my friends and family if they are very, very good.

All because I am fortunate enough to have discovered The Woodland Spa. Nestling neatly amidst acres of stunning countryside and just a stone’s throw from Burnley’s bustling town centre, The Woodland Spa is undoubtedly a rare jewel in the UK’s destination spa crown, offering such outstanding facilities and treatments that even the beauty industry itself has paid homage, bestowing The Woodland Spa with a cache of top honours and awards.

a rare jewel in the UK’s destination spa crown In less than two years The Woodland Spa, part of the Crow Wood Leisure complex, has positioned itself as the go-to place for the most luxurious, indulgent and expertly delivered spa experiences you are ever likely to find, anywhere - and it is right here in Burnley, set against the beautiful backdrop of the stunning Pendle Hill.

So what can you expect to find behind those gleaming glass doors and through the beautifully designed entrance that leads to this palace of pure luxury? Prepare to be pampered, pummelled even if you choose an expertly administered sports massage. But above all, be ready to relax and go with the flow. This is indulgence on a whole new level.

I was to discover throughout this weekend visit, which by the way was over all too soon, that a thermal spa experience is for me. It will suit you too as I cannot imagine anyone not enjoying this unique and enriching experience. The unique thermal suite is where The Woodland Spa really wins hands-down over other UK and European spas. It is a very, very special place.

a cache of top honours and awards The highly trained, eloquent and hugely personable Spa team give you a gentle introduction to the Thermal Suite and the whole Woodland Spa experience, beginning with coffee and mouth-wateringly delicious pastries on arrival. In the exquisitely furnished Bertram’s coffee lounge, a prelude to a lunchtime treat that proved there’s no point trying to shed calories at this place. The Bertram’s food and drink offering is just too delicious.

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the most luxurious, indulgent and expertly delivered spa experiences you are ever likely to ďŹ nd 25

My food philosophy for Bertram’s is simple: consistency is the key - source great local produce and let it shine on the plate. We’ll deliver outstanding but uncomplicated and familiar dishes, sometimes with a modern twist.

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TOP CHEF BEHIND CULINARY DELIGHTS Bertram’s Head Chef, Spencer Burge

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Young, up-and-coming local interior designer Ashley Sutcliffe, of Live Like The Boy, guides you through his interior design inspirations. He uses Burnley’s heritage and countryside to bring the outdoors in, using furnishings and finishes that can all be purchased locally.

Burnley is blessed with bountiful views of greenery and stunning architecture. Yes, the residents and workers of Burnley are very lucky to enjoy the area to its full on a daily basis but when you look inside your home, how does it compare? What do we think about bringing the natural beauty inside and achieving a feeling of ‘Natural Luxe’?

Natural Luxe is about capitalising on the existing features of a space or place and styling around them to make an exciting and fulfilling scene or roomset.

Luxury or in it’s cool new guise ‘Luxe’ usually conjures images of grandeur and decadence and

that is something we want to embrace but maybe in a slightly simpler and more modern way. Choosing paint colours, finishes, textures, furniture, textiles and accessories define the effect of a room. So, what if you carefully select the finest silks, exquisitely patterned fabrics, photo realistic wallpapers with worn textures and combine them with fresh modern pop colours?

Here we show you the result! The best thing about this look is that everything is sourced locally, we have the best independent fashion and homewares retailers right here on your doorstep.

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Painted wine table and candle stick from Karlen Antiques - ÂŁ12/ÂŁ8

This setting really needed some classic shapes and a small tripod table found at Karlen Antiques and Furniture was just the job; a quick paint job in a fresh green to go with the natural theme and it suddenly brings a classic shape right into the 21st century. I also acquired candlesticks at Karlen which were given a coat of pink paint to balance the colour palette. The paint finishes were kept matt as a contrast to the polish of the brass elements used elsewhere in the scheme.

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A lick of paint on a great shaped object can make it a fresh new home accessory.

‘Carrie’ backless costume teamed with the ‘Bradshaw’ full lenght tulle skirt, made to measure by ReneK - £59.99/£129.99 Grey collar necklace, Blue druzy necklace (worn as bracelet) and Silver flower ring

by Fervour & Allura Jewllery Boutique - £14/£14/£5

Play to a room’s strength, if it’s dark add richness to embrace a luxe feel.

In your home you would probably want to think about using small quantities of high end fabrics and wallpapers to give the Luxe element - you really can’t compromise, it has to be the best!

So the scene is set and in comes the model dressed in an all out luxury couture gown from Rene K Couture, the look is complete.

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Paper Flowers

by Lettie Loves from Mooch - £35

Cushion by Anthony Hughes from Live Like the Boy - £60

Bapoto stool and Deevika lamp from Live Like the Boy £169/£79.95

Rusty Anchor from Mooch - £18 Vintage Petrol Can from Live Like the Boy - £20 I chose to use red and yellow in this scheme to give it a slightly retro edge, emphasised by the use of a laminated formica table top and glossy tubular steel stool to bring those important ‘Luxe’ elements into the look. If you have a problem with storage in your home this industrial version of Natural Luxe is perfect for you as you can use old worn and weather crates in great stacks, wire baskets and metal shelving. Each layer of utility you add into this style will empower it’s practicality but will also give you great style!

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Acidic yellow ‘pylon’ shade by Anthony Hughes - £60

Vintage kitchen stool from Live Like the Boy - £25 Old Town Clock from Mooch - £5

Wire ‘locker room’ storage shelf from Live Like the Boy - £60

Think about an accent colour to add an edge to your scheme.

Devika pendant light from Live Like the Boy - £129

I know I have already talked about the importance of softness in the Industrial Luxe look but let me reiterate. Fresh flowers would break down the look in an instant but if this is not appropriate think about crafted paper flowers that will give the look, vibrancy and softness that you need in this style. Even when the prints featured are heavily industrial, the cotton cushions by Anthony Hughes with pylons and gas containers are a welcome touch of softness and colour, the acidic yellow is a perfect counter to the grey of an industrial look.

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Spa Days Spa Breaks Luxury Treatments

Proud WINNERS UK Day Spa Of The Year 2014 & Best Spa In The North 2014/2015

01282 471913 | thewoodlandspa.com

NATURAL LIGHT No art exists in a vacuum. Many artist, no matter what the medium, strive to capture the beauty of the natural world around us. Whether attempting to evoke a feeling, reproduce what they see before them or provide insight or simply bring joy, an artist will reect their experience and their environment.

Situated in the heart of Pennine Lancashire, Burnley is home to stunning landscapes and the artists it inspires. Some of them born and bred, whilst others have migrated to this spectacular part of the country to set up their easels, tripods and workshops.

With a variety of approach, subject matter and materials this collection of artist show how Burnley can inspire.

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AC TELFER Inspired by the local landscape, the work of AC Telfer evokes movement and energy.

Her use of colour and composition create striking and sometimes challenging pieces that engage the viewer.

Working primarily in oil and acrylic, AC Telfer isolates elements of nature, presenting us with her vision of the scene.

“My paintings are of moments, I saw something, it caught my attention.” Drawn to the physicality of drawing and painting, she creates images that are accessible yet personal, “otherwise it is just painting by numbers.”

This is not the work of a traditional landscape artist, AC Telfer is a modern impressionist, transforming the natural world into beautiful, colourful works of art. The majority of her work draws upon the local landscape. “I like the fact that it is off the beaten track. Its not full of dramatic mountains or spellbinding vistas - it is a landscape that grows on you. I like to record moments, glances, things that catch my eye.“

“I prefer the ordinary, the things that are there all the time, that are repeated instances. They are no less deserving of examination.”

Born in Essex and educated in Fine Art in Hull, her passion for the beautiful countryside of the north eventually led her to settle here. She prefers the ordinary, “the things that are there all the time, that are repeated instances.” Her work highlights this and turns the ordinary into the sublime.

Though reluctant to cite other artists as inspiration, her style is in a fine tradition of northern European art. “It’s less sentimental with a more muted and subtle palette that holds my attention. Which is something you could also say about the local landscape.”

In 2015 AC Telfer’s work will be on show at Longitude Gallery, Clitheroe; Maiden Bridge Gallery, Lancaster; Arteology, Colne; The Picture House, Padiham; Art in The Pen, Skipton. Visit her at Studio 22B in Kelbrook or go to www.actelfer.co.uk.

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be enlightened

18 HAMMERTON ST / BURNLEY / BB11 1NA

the perfect mix for a night to remember If you are walking along Hammerton Street in Burnley on a night out, you won’t see a flashing sign announcing what the place is called. It’s only a buzzing crowd of people with cocktails in their hands and rhythmic tunes that give away what the venue is.

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singapore sling A Bénédictine drink made

Not many know but French

from a variation of Harry

Bénédictine and Burnley have a

Stripped right back to its

which dates back to World War

Craddock’s Singapore Sling. basics, the cocktail is made with a perfect combination of spirits and soda.

- RECIPE -

Gin, Bénédictine,

Cherry Brandy, Lemon Juice, Bitters, Soda Water

love affair – and it’s a love One. Local legend has it that the link began when soldiers from the 11th Battalion the East Lancashire Regiment – the famous Accrington Pals

– were stationed in a French town close to the home of

Bénédictine. The weary troops developed a taste for the

drink and brought their love

of Bénédictine back with them

and it’s been adopted by their children and grandchildren.

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This classic 1920’s Cuban rum cocktail is refreshing and full

of flavour. El Presidente, named in honour of President Gerardo Machado, is a twist on a Manhattan cocktail but using high quality rum and throwing in a couple of other products and

topping with a fresh twist of orange zest.

- RECIPE Rum, Curaçao, Vermouth, Dash Grenadine Stir and Strain

el presidente 41

Life

Tastes

Better

The food, the drink, the atmosphere

Bertram’s Restaurant. Royle Lane, Burnley. BB12 0RT off jnc 11 M65

t: 01282 471930 | www.bertramsrestaurant.com

ENJOYED THAT? Good news - there’s lots more where that came from.

Go to burnley.co.uk to order your full copy of the Burnley Magazine now.

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