The Cheshire Magazine - December 20

DECEMBER 2020 s ISSUE 080

Christmas IN THE

Caribbean Switch your sledge for a surfboard

LONDON CALLING Team Cheshire Magazine hits the capital

Luxury GIFT GUIDE A treasure trove of inspiration awaits

Our brand new click, collect or delivery service means you can order your favourite drinks and dishes from every restaurant in our collection.

To celebrate the launch there’s 10% off every order when you collect.

OUR COLLECTION OF RESTAUR ANTS

DECEMBER 2020 s ISSUE 080 s

Managing Director Kathryn Otto Deputy Editor Craig Hough Editorial Team Louisa Warde Kevin Evans Contributers James Fossdyke Jo Williams Mary Jane Greenhalgh James Dutfield Dave Poynton James Kinsella Brand Ambassador Sarah Irlam Design & Production Kate Woods Picture Editor Kat Hannon Charity and Event’s Coordinator Rachel O’Hare

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www.thecheshiremagazine.co.uk

The Cheshire Magazine Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and The Cheshire Magazine Ltd takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved.

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A Note From...

Where to find us...

CHESTER Abode Hotel 1539 Restaurant Chester MediSpa Gieves & Hawkes Oddfellows Opera Bar & Grill The Pied Bull The Inspiring Travel Co.

T

he tree is up, the garland is glistening, and the gift buying has commenced…Christmas is officially on its way. You will find a Christmas theme tra-la-laing through this issue as we take a look at some Christmas events (p.15), food and drink festive hampers (p.64), and have a party make-up masterclass from Chanel (p.52). We return to Barbados to see what a Christmas in the Caribbean would look like (p.72). Our Home section (p.90) is filled with all the Christmas trimmings you will need, as we talk to four designers about what Christmas means to them (p.107). Taking inspiration from festive songs, our main event is our luxury gift guide (p.25) packed full of ideas, with Annie Haak (p.33), Royal Exchange Manchester (p.34) and Powells Jewellery (p.36) sharing this season’s must have.

In a two-part special continuing next month, Team Cheshire Magazine hit London (p.78) to sample some of the city’s best hotels. Talking of two-part specials, our Corporate Focus feature returns (p.91) as we meet some of the region’s best leaders and their teams.

Elsewhere in this issue, we talk to stylist to the stars, Martine Alexander (p.20), ACAI Outdoorwear Founder and Designer Kasia Bromley (p.42) and take a look at the brand-new Alexa collection from Mulberry (p.44). Our Health, Beauty and Wellness (p.51), Family (p.57) and Drive (p.83) sections are also crammed full of great content for you to enjoy.

This may be a festive season like none before it, but The Cheshire Magazine Team wish you and your family a very happy and safe Christmas and we can’t wait for you to see what we have in store for you in 2021.

Happy reading,

PARTNER

David M Robinson

MANCHESTER David M Robinson Gotham Hotel Great John Street Hotel Harvey Nichols Hilton Manchester Deansgate King Street Townhouse Mappin & Webb Rosso Restaurant Bar & Grill Watches of Switzerland 20 Stories Manchester Arena

MANCHESTER AIRPORT Falcona Private Jets 1903 Airport Lounge, T3 PremiAir Terminal

CHESHIRE 52 Alderley Road Clinic Bolesworth Estate & Events Carden Park Hotel Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Kitchen Architecture Willow Boutiques The Mere The Church Inn The Roebuck Inn The Colony The Stanneylands Pulse of Perfumery (POP) Piccolinos Knutsford Piccilinos Alderley Opera Grill Chester

GREATER MANCHESTER Frisør Salon & Wellness

Team Cheshire Magazine

PROUD TO

LIVERPOOL Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar

Jackson-Stops Oddfellows on the Park

cover On the

Annie Sloan Christmas front door with wreath Chalk Paint in Amsterdam Green Image courtesy of Annie Sloan ®

Would you like to be part of the family, receiving Cheshire’s premiere lifestyle magazine right to your front door each month, you can now subscribe easily online. Get your own, beautifully printed copy from as little as £3.50

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CURVE RING

CURVE EARRINGS

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Contents FOOD & DRINK

A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITES

25 44 72 78

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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS...

77

ALEXA

The return of the Mulberry icon

CHRISTMAS IN THE CARRIBEAN

LONDON CALLING

Interior designers offer their top tips

FRANCIS HOTEL

Kathryn Otto visits the historic city of Bath

DRIVE

Switch your sledge for a surfboard

107 FESTIVE INSPIRATION

Kevin Evans samples Dishoom in Manchester

TRAVEL

Our luxury gift guide inside

Team Cheshire Magazine hits the capital

SPOTLIGHT ON

83

DIAMOND GEEZER

86

HIGHLY R8ED

HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLNESS

52

The striking single engine touring aircraft

PARTY MAKE-UP MASTERCLASS FROM CHANEL Top tips for the party season

FAMILY

60 REGULARS

12

MY LIFE IN MANCHESTER

Kit Stockton, Director at Stocktons, shares his life in Manchester with us

STYLE

42

ACAI OUTDOORWEAR We talk to Founder and Designer Kasia Bromley

57

PETS’ CORNER

James Dutfield’s top 5 gifts for your four-legged friends

After years of ambivalence, will a week with the Audi R8 make resident motoring nut James Fossdyke fall in love?

HOME

102 INTERIOR NEWS

The colours of Christmas

115

Q&A WITH BRIAN WARING

Founder of Craft Editions

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My life in

MANCHESTER KIT STOCKTON , DIRECTOR AT STOCKTONS

How would you describe yourself ?

I like to keep life light-hearted where I can, but I am also very motivated when it comes to work and fitness.

Where is home? And work?

I live in Altrincham and work is the Stocktons furniture store in Ancoats, Manchester.

What did you want to be when you were younger?

I used to go into work at the store with my Dad at the weekends from around the age of 10. I didn’t really think about doing anything else when I grew up. I was always going to get involved with the family business. I worked all my school holidays at the store and as I grew older helped deliveries in our vans.

Name a few of your favourite places to be...

I love the Con Club in Altrincham as there is a great choice of food with a laid back atmosphere. I go to the gym a lot and I really enjoy it – I go to Hale Country Club and Hale Fitness. In terms of family holidays, we love Greece and the Ikos resorts offer loads for families. I also love Las Vegas for a long weekend with mates. That’s long enough though and tend to need another holiday when I get back!

12

Name some of your favourite places in Cheshire to visit...

One of our favourite walks as a family is Curbar Edge on close to The Peak District. It is a real escape from the bustle of working in town. We all love it and the views are amazing across Cheshire and Derbyshire with Manchester in the distance.

What or who inspires you?

Dee and Chris Drake the couple behind The Toy Appeal charity are truly inspiring. They work tirelessly all year round to make sure the poorest children in our region have presents on Christmas Day. I got involved three years ago when my daughter Molly, who was eight at the time, decided to set up a stall near our home in Altrincham selling some of her toys and home-made cakes to raise money for children that had no Christmas presents.

Speaking to her about it and seeing how it had touched her– I decided to find out more and learn how I could help both personally and through our business.

All my family are an inspiration, including my grandparents for establishing Stocktons which has become a bit of an institution in Manchester and my father who has continued to grow the business, giving myself and my sister the opportunity to be a part of it.

My wife Laura has been an inspiration to me and my children in recent months as she took on the mammoth task of home schooling during lockdown. I tried it, but they preferred Laura. I don’t know how she did it!

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

“All my family are an inspiration, including my grandparents for establishing Stocktons which has become a bit of an institution in Manchester”

What was the last gift you gave someone?

I bought 700 kids rucksacks this weekend to give to The Toy Appeal. Too many children in our region are potentially going to go without any sort of Christmas this year, so I am helping out where I can and encouraging others to do the same.

Tell us one thing people don’t know about you?

I am a massive fan of Grime music. I was beyond excited when Manchester born artist Bugzy Malone came into Stocktons.

What song can you listen to on repeat?

Bruce Wayne by Bugzy Malone (of course!).

Who or what would you place in room 101?

Ignorant and greedy people – those not willing to share or help those less fortunate.

What are the three things you can’t live without?

My wife and kids, watching cartoons and the gym.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life?

I have trained and fought in two boxing fights for charity. I won one! I also kick boxed with the world champion in my 20’s. But I’d say becoming a dad has been the most uplifting adventure.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Watching cartoons. At the moment I am really into The Avengers. It’s not always with the kids either - I love watching cartoons on my own with a big bag of sweets.

What’s been your biggest life lesson?

Setting up another business and losing it. I saw how easy and quickly things can evaporate. Don’t sit back and think everything will always be there.

What does a “normal” Christmas Day look like for you?

I am always pretty busy right up to Christmas with deliveries, as obviously people want their new furniture in time for Christmas.

Then straight after it’s busy with sales. So, I like a bit of a rest but, saying that, with the kids it’s pretty manic. It’s all about them and we have a lovely family day.

You mentioned The Toy Appeal earlier, could you tell us more?

The Toy Appeal charity established in 2013 by Cheshire couple Dee and Chris Drake raises funds to bring some of the region’s most deprived children Christmas joy with a toy sack just for them. Each sack has eight toys specific to the child’s age and costs the charity around £25. This year The Toy Appeal is hoping to deliver over 6000 toy sacks across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. The requests for sacks come from social workers, teachers, refuges and foodbanks who all know of children in need of a bit of joy at Christmas, with this year’s request having increased by over 1000. www.thetoyappeal.co.uk, www.stocktons.co.uk

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DISCOVER EXCLUSIVITY. Discover an exciting collection of exclusive fashion, unique jewellery, stunning gifts and scrumptious food in the heart of Manchester.

Within one of Manchester’s most historic and iconic buildings, you’ll find some of the world’s favourite high-street brands, chic independent stores and luxury boutiques, as well as charming options to eat.

theroyalexchangemanchester.co.uk

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

NOTEBOOK WORDS: CRAIG HOUGH

Light Up Your Christmas

With Christmas very much

the theme for this year’s light and lantern festival, Lightopia will use the stunning Grade I-listed Heaton Hall as its sparkling backdrop for all its festive merriment.

Enjoy the most wonderful time of the year at Lightopia, featuring a 10-metre illuminated Christmas tree, pass by Santa’s sleigh and make your own festive soundtrack with a giant interactive walking piano. This year’s festival will be extending its run until Sunday 10th January and will be open every day, except Christmas Day. www.lightopiafestival.com

15

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

UNTIL 3 JAN

A Christmas Trail: Holly’s Festive Feast At Tatton Park

What’s On?

Holly the Hare needs your help, she’s been invited to a festive garden feast with Tatton Park’s other woodland friends, but she’s mislaid her invitation! Journey through the Gardens and help solve the puzzles to find her friends at their Christmas party. Pick up your party pack complete with animal mask and a sweet treat and venture down woodland paths and forest floors with Holly while you look out for clues. A festive feel-good family fun day out. www.tattonpark.org.uk

*all events subject to change

11 - 13 DEC

UNTIL 10 JAN

Drive-In Home for Christmas at Prenton Park

Sleeping Beauty at Manchester Opera House

The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity’s Drive-In Cinema experience returns to show festive favourites including Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually and many more. It’s the perfect festive experience; get cosy in your car, cuddle with your bubble and watch classic Christmas movies. All while doing your bit for charity. www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk

Making his pantomime debut is Salford-born comedian Jason Manford as Muddles, alongside Blackpool’s own I’d Do Anything winner Jodie Prenger as The Enchantress, returning to Manchester Opera House for the fifth time. Joining them for the first time in Manchester is Billy Pearce as King Billy with Eric Potts as The Queen, Jenny Gaynor as Carabosse, Louis Gaunt as The Prince and Sarah Goggin as Princess Beauty. www.atgtickets.com/Manchester

UNTIL 20 DEC

Equine & Country Spirit Exhibition at Gallery 8, London From horses in gas masks, to polo portraits, sculptures and more, the best equine and country inspired photography, painting and sculpture will lead the field in a new Equine & Country Spirit exhibition. Featuring the leading country and equine artists working today - from Tim Flach’s extraordinary photography of horses including his signature portraits as well as images of horses in different masks to French minimalist artist Quibe’s poetic one line equine drawings. www.galleryeight.com 16

UNTIL 10 JAN

SIX at The Lowry From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. Book now and Get Down to the homegrown historemixed pop-concert musical at The Lowry this Christmas. Divorced. Beheaded and now LIVE at the Lowry! www.thelowry.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

Kick off Christmas at

Liverpool ONE With the thought of mince pies, twinkling lights and mulled wine just around the corner, Christmas is most definitely on its way. And, while this year’s festivities are set to look a little different from what we’re used to, Liverpool ONE is committed to keeping the Christmas spirit alive whatever our ‘new normal’ might be…

Light it Up! Liverpool ONE’s iconic Christmas tree once again sits proudly at the top of Paradise Street with its brightly coloured hearts spreading festive joy across the city.

A virtual switch-on of the Christmas lights at Liverpool ONE took place, with specialist drone footage capturing the lights being switched on and ready to welcome back visitors. The footage was then shared with a local care home to bring a spot of Christmas spirit, while schools, community groups and the wider public can now access the footage via Liverpool ONE’s YouTube channel. Take a look, we guarantee you’ll be left with a warm festive feeling!

Also back this year and creating the ultimate selfie spots are the angel wings on Chavasse Park and the giant iconic reindeer on Peter’s Lane.

Shop ‘til you Drop With more than 170 stores, including big name brands such as Hamley’s, The White Company, And Other Stories, the only Beauty Bazaar Harvey Nichols in the country and Jo Malone, Liverpool ONE is the ideal place to tick

off your Christmas shopping list and pick up the perfect gifts for loved ones. With its wide, open streets, you can enjoy the fresh air and the wonderful feel of Christmas.

Festive Eats and Treats A trip to Liverpool ONE at Christmas would not be complete without a grabbing a bite to eat whilst enjoying a festive cocktail.

Whether it’s a delicious brunch at Browns or Cosy Club to kick off the day, or stopping for dinner at The Club House, or even Pizza Express with the children, there really is something to suit all tastes at Liverpool ONE. As we know, the build-up to the big day is often the most enjoyable part about Christmas and Liverpool ONE is committed to ensuring everyone can enjoy their festive shopping in a Covid-safe environment.

With one-way systems in place and hand sanitising stations across the estate, together with friendly team members to help you to navigate your way around, a trip to Liverpool ONE this Christmas is guaranteed to be an enjoyable one.

From the start of December, stores will be open from 9am until 9pm every weekday. Saturday opening times will be 9am-7pm and Sundays will be 11am-5pm.

And with its close proximity to the waterfront and its spectacular views across the River Mersey, a trip to Liverpool really is a great day out for every member of the family.

For further information about Christmas at Liverpool ONE, visit: www.liverpool-one.com/Christmas *info being correct at the time of going to print 17

Regulars Collection| The | TheCHESHIRE CHESHIREMagazine Magazine

READ ALL READ ABOUT IT Spend your downtime over the festive season delving into one of our top 5 new releases

The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories, edited by Jess Harrison The ultimate festive anthology for fireside reading this Christmas, featuring short stories from Angela Carter, Laurie Lee, Shirley Jackson, Italo Calvino, Selm Lagerlof and more. £9.99

The Red Apprentice

by Jamie Jackson He is the goal-scoring legend of the Treble Triumph, a local hero in Manchester and back home in Norway. But when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was announced in December 2018 as interim Manchester United manager, his only Premier League experience was overseeing Cardiff City’s relegation. After a dismal time following Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, could he really be the one to see the club challenge again for major honours? £20

The Bookseller’s Tale

by Martin Latham The curious story of our long love affair with books, by the longest-serving Waterstones manager. Upbeat and witty, The Bookseller’s Tale is a spectacular blend of anecdotes interspersed with a well-researched history of books and (often surprising) examples of famous bibliophiles. £16.99

A Christmas Memory

by Truman Capote Three tender and bittersweet short stories from one of America’s greatest writers, featuring a jacket illustration by Andy Warhol. £10.99 18

Believe Us by Melissa Ruddy The definitive account of Jürgen Klopp’s astonishing revival of Liverpool Football Club. Believe Us tells the inside story of Liverpool’s road to the Premier League title – featuring special insights on and from manager Jürgen Klopp himself. £16.99

THANKS for everything YOU'VE done so far...

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Book TICKETS, become a MEMBER,

ADOPT an animal or FUNDRAISE at home chesterzoo.org/supportus

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Stylist to The Stars Manchester-based Celebrity and Personal Stylist Martine Alexander talks to Craig Hough about her career, clothes, and clients and also offers tips to detox your wardrobe

What does an average day look like?

No two days are ever the same. My job is so varied that I could be working with personal clients, where we go shopping, giving them a six-month update or sourcing an outfit for a special occasion. Or I could be in their home detoxing their wardrobe or waiting on the arrival of a clothes delivery. Alternatively, I could be working with “celebrity” clients where I could be a client fitting for a red carpet or a TV show (for example Kym Marsh on The One Show) or I could be contacting fashion PR’s for their lookbooks where I choose samples for them to send across to my clients.

What type of clients do you typically work with?

I work with men and women that want previews of the latest trends, they want to be unique and don’t want to wear the same brands their friends wear.

I work with people that are bored with their style and stuck in a rut and need a fresh eye to come in and offer help. Some of my clients are ladies who have been a mum for years, but the kids are now at school and they stop being a full-time mum and think “who am I?”. I then work with them to help find themselves again.

Other clients I work with want to look good but have no time to shop or simply don’t enjoy the activity of shopping. I offer a concierge styling service where I select clothes from stores or online retailers and take the clothes to the client’s house, so they don’t have to shop. I also offer a monthly

retainer service to clients that want me to keep an eye out all the time for pieces that may be suitable for them. I have built a strong relationship with retailers so as to make sure my clients are always at the forefront of my mind.

What is your process of working with clients?

I start with a telephone conversation so that I can connect with my client, as not everyone is going to like each other and I totally accept that. The foundation of styling is someone is to understand who they are and what their wardrobe personality is, so that’s what I work on next. I work out what style boxes need to be ticked in order for my client to feel good. I usually sit with a client the first time for about 45 minutes to get inside their head and

“I come in with a fresh pair of eyes 20

making a bespoke garment. If they agree, I’ll work with the designer and their creative flair to bring my vision to life, by designing an outfit of dreams. I am also always searching for up and coming designers, new brands, or something a little bit different that I can show to my clients. They will then either buy the item or the brand will loan for exposure.

understand who they are and how I can help them, and what their style is so I can enhance it. Obviously everyone has a different need for using a stylist. So, after working out the reason for hiring me, I would then look at detoxing their wardrobe and take them shopping. Of old, my clients are designer shoppers or high street shoppers. Now people want a unique look, so combine the two.

What is your favourite and worst kind of client to work with?

My favourite kind of client is someone that’s open to letting someone in to make them look amazing.

They are open to experimenting and letting go and letting me in to see their inner person. It is such a confidential, personal job, to be a stylist. You are dressing the mind as well as the body.

The worst kind of client is the complete opposite.

In the past, someone has said to me “I’d like to try new things, new styles, I’m really open”. As soon as we were walking around the department store she just kept saying no to everything I suggested. I was thinking this is a waste of your time and your money.

How do you source clothes?

If I’m sourcing for a celebrity for a TV show I may contact the PR companies of the brands I think would work for that client, plus I may go shopping.

If the celebrity is on-brand then the PR company will send out samples. If the show is daytime TV, then I tend to like to use high street brands to appeal to the show’s audience.

Alternatively, if its red carpet, I may contact a designer and ask them if they would consider

Why did you decide to become a stylist/ personal shopper?

I used to work in IT as a Project Co-ordinator and was on a flight to Copenhagen for an IT conference.

I was moaning to a colleague about hating my job and they turned to me and asked: “if you could do anything, every day for the rest of your life, knowing you would wake up feeling excited, what would it be?”.

That really stuck with me. I loved shopping in my free time and had worked in House of Fraser in the early 2000s where I was a jean specialist (I wasn’t qualified, I just used my intuition on body shapes and what would suit the person in front of me).

Because of my passion and knowing how hard it is to get jeans to fit, people would buy three pairs of jeans, which meant on a Saturday I was occasionally turning a larger profit than the Oxford Street store.

I then moved into managing the fashion department. I loved giving people what they were lacking and putting outfits together. Customers would come back to me and say “you won’t remember me but you put me in an outfit that I never would never normally wear and I loved it!

Could you do it again?”. I wondered if there was a ‘job’ where I could combine the hobby of shopping with the excitement of putting outfits together for people.

I left my career and retrained in 2005 to be a personal stylist and for a year I sat thinking “why is the phone not ringing?”. No one told me I had to network. One day, whilst

and challenge their existing style” 21

“The foundation of styling is someone is to understand who they are and what their wardrobe personality is” having my nails done, my friend asked if I would consider styling a photoshoot for Michelle Keegan as a favour. Although I had never done a photoshoot before I said yes and used clothes from Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser. After that, a friend of mine (Catherine Tyldesley) had just landed a role in Coronation Street and asked me to style her for the Soap Awards. Again, something I’d never done before but I contacted a Manchester designer and asked them to lend Catherine a dress, they said yes. From there, Coronation Street asked me to style a photo shoot, which then got me in front of magazines. The magazines then asked me to style other celebrities, which included one of my now regular clients, Olympic Gold Medallist, Rebecca Adlington. The rest is history.

What do you enjoy most about the role?

The goosebumps I get from seeing the look on my clients face when they are really happy with their wardrobe, new clothes or outfit. The thing I enjoy the most is that this isn’t work for me because I love what I do so much. It’s so varied. I also love seeing my work in magazines and online, I look and think “I did that! That’s me!” (especially when the press are saying your client is ‘best dressed’).

What are some of the benefits of being a stylist? Do you get to attend all of the awards ceremonies for instance?

The benefit is getting to see collections from brands six months ahead so you know the trends and you can forward plan for clients, so they are

22

ahead of the curve. In terms of awards ceremonies, I don’t get to go! My job is to get to glam – hair, make-up, styling before the awards start and dress each client. I can dress up to seven clients in one evening. The celebrities want you there to make sure the accessories and shoes are right. I’m usually running around, up and down different floors of the hotel, trying to see as many of my clients as possible. As they step onto the red carpet, I am generally a sweaty mess, in my car ready to drive home.

Have you had any red carpet disasters?

Oh my God, yes! One awards ceremony, we had arranged for a client’s dress to be dropped to her hotel room on the day of the event. I’d been present at every fitting, so I knew the zip kept sticking at a certain part of the dress. On the day, my client got into the dress and I managed, with some gentle manoeuvring, to zip the dress up. Two seconds later, the zip fully burst open but the puller of the zip stayed at the top of the dress.

We had five minutes until she needed to be on the red carpet so I grabbed a needle and thread and had to literally sew her into the dress. The fabric was so fine that it could have laddered on her at any point of the night and the dress would have fallen apart, but thankfully that didn’t happen. She did tell me her Mum (who she took to the ceremony) spent over an hour unpicking her from the dress once they got home.

You mentioned earlier a wardrobe detox, what exactly is this?

This is an amazing service I offer where I visit a

TheCHESHIRE CHESHIREMagazine Magazine| Regulars | Feature The

How are you changing the way you work in these times of socially distancing?

With everyone currently socially distancing I’ve launched a virtual 1:1 Wardrobe Detox, which is exactly the same service but offered on Zoom or Facetime. I have also launched online 1:1 packages to help my clients better understand their body shape, plus I can then send links to clothes or accessories I’ve seen that they can order direct to their door – my job is to take the pressure out of looking amazing – whatever that pressure may be. At the moment, men and women are struggling with their wardrobes as ‘loungewear’ may not be something they usually wear and are totally consumed with working from home.

I’ve had quite a few clients and new clients contact me asking me to source them loungewear and sportswear.

One hour later, they have their list to shop with and it’s all done. email: martine@martinealexander.co.uk, instagram: martinealexander, twitter: @yourstylist

client’s house and go through their wardrobe and discuss their style. Initially, I spend some time getting to know them, their likes and dislikes, their lifestyle, their personality, so that when I look at their wardrobe, I can see it through their eyes, my eyes as a stylist and also as ‘Martine’, the woman that also has fat days and can be insecure. I love getting to know my client as its when I can really connect with them, and they know I’m just a normal woman that is there purely to make them look and feel amazing.

This is also the foundation to styling anyone.

We then go through their wardrobe or dressing room and pull out clothes they aren’t wearing – it’s a known fact that we wear 20 per cent of our wardrobe, 80 per cent of the time. I will liaise with my contacts to sell certain items from their wardrobe online or through designer boutiques, to take the pressure off clients having to do it themselves. I’ll create new outfits with the clothes they already have and will also reorganise their wardrobe. We become regimented with our clothes, styling them with specific pieces only, and there are probably so many different ways to style them. For example, we only wear a certain top with jeans, or in our mind consider an item of clothing to only be worn for work. I come in with a fresh pair of eyes and challenge their existing style. Clients feel cleansed once the detoxed is finished.

“You are dressing the mind as well as the body”

Top Tips When Detoxing your Wardrobe #1 Organise your wardrobe into sections before you start. Group by sections (tops, skirts, trousers, jackets, dresses etc.) rather than by event (work, casual, nights out). This way, you will experiment more styling daytime clothes with workwear or evening clothes. #2 Be ruthless, if you haven’t worn something in the last 6 to 12 months, get rid! #3 Find outlets where you can sell your pieces – this can be via Ebay, Depop or designer dress agencies. At least then you can recoup some of the cost! #4 Once you’ve detoxed your wardrobe, remove the clothes from your house ASAP so you don’t have the ‘fear of having no clothes’ and start putting them back in! #5 If something has sentimentality in your wardrobe, you’ll never wear it again, but you can’t get rid of it – can you use the fabric to make a cushion or something meaningful? #6 Vacuum pack any clothes that are too small for you, and store them away – then you won’t torment yourself when you see them hanging in your wardrobe.

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B E S P O K E AT P OW E L L S W E A R E P RO U D TO O F F E R A F U L LY B E S P O K E J EW E L L E RY D E S I G N S E RV I C E T H AT C AT E R S TO A L L P R I C E R A N G E S . W H E T H E R I T ’ S C R E AT I N G A C O M P L E T E LY N EW D E S I G N O R R E - M O D E L L I N G YO U R OW N O R I N H E R I T E D J EW E L L E RY . O U R E X P E R I E N C E D A N D F R I E N D LY I N - H O U S E T E A M A R E H E R E TO H E L P G U I D E YO U T H RO U G H E AC H ST E P O F T H E P RO C E S S , A S S I ST I N G YO U W I T H T H E C R E AT I O N O F YO U R U N I Q U E H A N D M A D E J EW E L .

W W W. P OW E L L S F I N E J EW E L L E RY . C O M 3 B R I D G E ST R E E T ROW, C H E ST E R , C H 1 1 N W 01244 311312

@POWELLSFINEJEWELLERY

/POWELLSFINEJEWELLERY

All I Want for

Christmas Taking inspiration from some festive songs, we offer up some gorgeous goodies to keep everyone happy this Christmas. Question is, are you on the naughty or nice list?

Christmas | The CHESHIRE Magazine

The Holly & the Ivy Gisela Graham Candles, £11.50, www.seasons-of-love-uk.myshopify.com

Billionaire Boys Club Sweatshirt, £185, www.harveynichols.com Kartell Kabuki Floor Lamp, £798, www.amara.com PanPan Rabbit, £50, www.ligne-roset.com

Fir Green Fiorenza Silk Bow Tie, £50, www.lecolonelmoutarde.com 26

Plum Mini Jewelled Satin Bag, £195, www.luluguiness.com

Snowman Letterbox Biscuits, £25 www.biscuiteers.com

Sony Portable Bluetooth Speaker, £99, www.very.com

loves BDK Perfumes, Rouge Smoking, £150, www.selfridges.com

Oak Leaf Eco-Friendly Crackers, £36, www.nancyandbetty.com

Dog Company Wickenhambreaux Snoozeworthy Scooped Front Dog Bed, Christmas Ruby Red Luxury Velvet & Cherry Print Snooze Cushion, Available in 4 Sizes, £108, www.dogco.uk

Daisy Midaxi Dress in Red Protea, £295, www.phoebe-grace.co.uk 27

Christmas | The CHESHIRE Magazine

5 Rings Gold

loves Gold Espresso Cup Set, £237, www.cultureof.art Grasshopper Napkin Ring, set of two, £53, www.joannabuchanan.com

Gold Hetty Hare Lamp, £135, www.grahamandgreen.com

Nelius 16 Piece Stainless Steel Cutlery Set, £129, www.made.com 28

Gianvito Rossi Portofino Leather Sandals, £600, www.harveynichols.com

Gold Stripes Knot Fabric Wrap, £7.49, www.wrapuccino.com

Millionaire Jewellery Safe, £POA, www.bocadolobo.com

Hot Air Balloon Playsuit, £85, www.atelierchoux.com

Caviar Collection Caspian Cat Collar, £60, www.cheshireandwain.com 18ct Rose Gold Pen, £275, www.sirgordonbennet.com

M Missoni ZigZag Wide Leg Metallic Knit Trousers, £315, www.harveynichols.com 29

Christmas | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Baby, it’s Cold Outside Glass Fir Cone Decoration, £8, www.rajtentclub.com

ToyChoc Box Christmas Collection, £2.95, www.playinchoc.com Cuddly Friends Leandro Llama, £16.90, www.steiff.com

Faux Fur Collar, £79, www.rebeccajmillsdesigns.com

Pure Silk Eye Mask, £43.50, www.gingerlilylondon.com

Paco Rabanne Chainmail Clutch, £1,150, www.harveynichols.com

Shichiri Ga Hama by Hokusai Framed Art, £288, www.mindtheg.com 30

Single Sheepskins, £60, www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

Retro Portable Boom Box, £249, www.cuckooland.com

Laboratorio Distillato17 Room Diffuser, £39, www.pulseofperfumery.com

loves Janod Limited Edition Silver Rocket, £18.99, www.mulberybush.co.uk

Elemental Herbology Skincare Collection, £120, www.elementalherbology.com

Lobe Hugger 18CT White Gold Earrings, £3,380, www.davidmrobinson.co.uk Aluminium Carry-on Case, Rose Gold, £445, www.awaytravel.com

Zinnia Sustainable Denim Jacket, £95, www.wearwildstrings.co.uk

Stella Diamond Necklace, £2,950, and Stella Diamond Pendant, £2,700, www.davidmrobinson.co.uk 31

Promotion | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Chris tmas Made Easy Mark Adams, Country Manager UK & Ireland at Sage Appliances shares the best new kitchen appliances to make your 2020 Christmas run smoothly

F

or many of us, this year has been full of change, surprises, ups and downs, and as we head into the festive period, these changes are likely only to be exacerbated. If there is one thing I can be sure of however, is that Christmas will always be accompanied by lots and lots of good food (and drink, of course). Whether it’s your grandma’s crispy roast potatoes or your mum’s traditional turkey and stuffing, good food at Christmas is one thing we always need and one thing that will never change.

And whilst I’m all for traditions, this year might just be the right year to mix things up in the kitchen somewhat, whether it’s to make life easier for ourselves, or get creative and experiment. At Sage, we have a range of products designed to elevate your food and beverages to the next level, and the perfect gift for every culinary occasion this festive period.

Impress your loved ones with delicious cocktails at home created with the 3X Bluicer Pro, which has a built in ‘frozen cocktail’ function, just what’s needed to get the party started! Then, when the festivities are over, kick-start your healthy new year by blending and juicing your favourite fruits and vegetables in the one space-saving appliance.

I would much prefer to be playing with my boys on Christmas morning rather than preparing Christmas lunch, and this year I can with the Quiet Mark accredited Combi Wave™ 3 in 1.

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It will gratefully do the cooking quietly, not interrupting our Christmas traditions to play with the boys all morning long. The Combi Wave 3 in 1t has three functions in one space saving machine - microwave, air fry or use it as a convection oven. It will make cooking great and healthy food easier for everyone.

It can be difficult to know what to prepare for dinner during the time between Christmas and new year. Days are often spent relaxing on the sofa watching your favourite films and no-one wants to be spending all day in the kitchen. The Sage Fast Slow Pro could be the answer to these problems. Prepare your food in the morning and forget about it until you enjoy a delicious meal in the evening.

Lastly, for the loved one who is desperately in need of decent coffee in 2021 Sage’s vast range of Espresso products are always one to impress. The range spans from fully automatic bean-to-cup, to smaller scale espresso and steam wand compact mini-machines, so there is something suitable for all budgets. www.sageappliances.com

The Merry

Sparkle

you Deserve The team at Annie Haak have a sparkling collection of gift ideas for you and your loved ones this Christmas Santeenie Silver Charm Bracelet - Initial, £52 Personalise ANNIE HAAK’s popular Santeenie Silver Charm Bracelets with your own initial charm.

Choose from any letter of the alphabet.

Style to suit the occasion by wearing on its own or as part of a bracelet stack.

Made from 925 Sterling Silver handthreaded on high-quality jewellery elastic in the UK with a stretch fit that will sit comfortably around any wrist.

Stay Safe My Guardian Angel Silver Necklace, £55 Annie’s beloved signature ‘My Guardian Angel’ and a ‘Stay Safe’ motto charm together in a 925 Sterling Silver adjustable chain. Stay safe and be stylish with this unique design, a subtle touch of elegance around your neck.

Love Stack – Gold, £98 Wear your heart on your sleeve with the Love Bracelet Stack. Handcrafted in Sterling Silver with a hint of Gold, this two-strand stack is detailed with an Open Heart and a Teeny Boxed Heart for a romantic finish.

Santi My Guardian Angel Bracelet Stack, £184 The ANNIE HAAK signature 925 Sterling Silver My Guardian Angel charm is at the centre of this 3 strand hand-threaded Santi My Guardian Angel charm bracelet stack, complete with a 925 Sterling Silver Open Heart charm and a choice of 5 motto heart charms, creating that unique ANNIE HAAK look.

Radiant Gold Ring Stack, £75 A gorgeous duo of sparkle, featuring the Crystal Kiss Gold Ring and the Santeenie Gold Charm Ring – Sparkling Heart. This beautiful pair is ideal for adding a golden glow to your outfit.

Each item is beautifully presented in a signature ANNIE HAAK jewellery gift box, www.anniehaakdesigns.co.uk 33

Christmas | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Christmas Shopping at

The Royal Exchange Manchester If you’re looking for the perfect party outfit or gifts to put smiles on faces this Christmas, you’ll find all these and more at The Royal Exchange Manchester, the luxury shopping and lifestyle destination

#3 #4

#1

#2

#1 Apollo Gold Star, £11 from French Connection

#5

#6

#2 Cards Against Humanity - Family Edition, £29.99 from Scribbler #3 Kanken Classic, £85 from Fjallraven

#7

#4 9ct gold b&w Diamond Set Bee Necklace, £425 from Mays Jewellers #5 Cassia Embellished Belt Dress, £140 from French Connection #6 Classic Round Diamond Stud Earrings, from £500 from Diamond Heaven #7 Merino Crew Neck, £120 from Lanigan & Hulme #8 NEOM Organics Time for Real Luxury gift, £32 from Amaranth

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#8

#9 Coffees Of The World, £25 from Whittard of Chelsea

#9

#10 Kit Heath Empire Deco Hexagonal Spinner Necklace, £120 from Jenny Jones Jewellers #11 The Grand Wreath, £75 from Hotel Chocolat #12 Chanel North South Boy Bag, £2500 from Designer Exchange #13 Chair, £59.90 from Sostrene Grene #14 Filson-Dryden-Briefcase, £225 from Yards Store #15 Vintage inspired Platinum Halo Ring with Emerald Cut Diamond, £6,800 from Jenny Jones Jewellery

#10

#11

#16 Wunder Train HG Tight, £88 from lululemon #17 12 Drams of Christmas, £79 from The Whisky

#12 #14

#13

#15

#16

#17

Take a break from your shopping and relax in one of The Royal Exchange’s cafes or restaurants.

Grab a coffee in Michaels coffeehouse; brunch at The Remedy Kitchen; Afternoon Tea at Annies; a vegan option at Vertigo plant-based or kick back with a cocktail at Fridays www.theroyalexchangemanchester.com

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The Christmas Collection Experts from Powells Jewellery share their Christmas gift ideas

Greg Powell FGA - Director “When my parents (Dave and Joan) started the family business back in the 1960’s, they instilled an unquenchable passion for jewellery and an eye for fineness in me. This passion has been passed onto my son William, who is carrying on our legacy, now in its third generation. These two qualities still feature in our daily work as we search for the rare, the unusual and the hard to find item of yesteryear. From the elegant simplicity of Georg Jensen to the intricate craftmanship of the Edwardian era, we carefully select and restore treasures from the past to feed your passion and individuality.”

Edwardian Diamond Necklace Every now and again you come across a piece of jewellery which makes you stop and stare, this amazing necklace is one of those. Coming from the Edwardian period (1901-1911) in a style referred to as ‘Belle Epoque’. Its fine craftsmanship and the way the old European cut diamonds twinkle and reflect light on every movement, it’s pure elegance. This piece is beautifully handmade, using all the skills of a long-gone artisan jeweller.

Available at Powells Vintage Jewellery 36

William Powell GIA Diamond Graduate & AJP - Director 6ct Oval Cut Diamond Ring This stunning diamond is one of the latest pieces we have been delighted to curate this Christmas.

Weighing just over 6 carats and with a colour grading of E, although not the largest diamond we have had in stock, I regard it as probably the rarest piece I have had the pleasure in sourcing. Set in an original hand-made platinum mount makes it remarkable as quite often these older diamonds have been re-set into more modern setting. If you are looking for a true vintage diamond piece this Christmas, this one ticks all the boxes.

Available at Lowe & Sons

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

Jo Stokes AJP

Joanne Owen AJP

Tiffany Somerset Bracelet Who wouldn’t love to find a piece of Tiffany under their Christmas tree? This 18ct gold Tiffany & Co Somerset bracelet will never fall out of fashion and adds just the right amount of designer sparkle to any outfit. It would be so difficult to find another one just like it. I love that this piece is vintage yet so streamline which gives it a modern feel. I particularly like the intricate mesh design which is silky smooth on the skin and can be worn dressy or casual. Available at Powells Vintage Jewellery

Chester Hallmark Silver Dish This elegant pierced Edwardian dish is the perfect gift for any celebration not just Christmas. Imagine this piece in the centre of your dining table filled with tasty delights or a colourful floral display. This exquisite dish is crafted from silver by renowned silversmiths George Nathan & Ridley Hayes with a Chester assay mark for 1901. Available at Lowe & Sons

Cartier Ring For the person who loves a bold statement piece, who appreciates the quality of the prestigious brand Cartier, this ring would indulge that craving for craft and luxury. It appeals to both men and women who love their gemstones and has been beautifully set with an oval cut iolite, pear cut green tourmalines and dainty rubies and diamonds. This ring is individual, striking and is made to last a lifetime, not just for Christmas. Available at Powells Vintage Jewellery

Jensen Brooch Georg Jensen, a name associated with outstanding design and quality for over a century. This item was designed by Henning Koppel an award-winning artist whose collaboration with Georg Jensen lasted after WWII until the 1980’s. I love the simplistic geometric lines of this brooch, a perfect statement piece to adorn a lapel on any jacket or coat, definitely a timeless piece of Danish refined luxury. Available at Lowe & Sons

Sophie Evans FGA Richie Ward 9ct Rose Gold Signet Ring If you are on the festive hunt for a unique personalised gift, then why not try Powells Fine Jewellery where we offer you a custom hand engraving service. Take this signet ring for example, it’s the perfect candidate. Crafted from solid 9ct rose gold and featuring a plain oval head that’s just ripe for engraving. Be it a family crest, initials or special request of your choosing. The only limit is your imagination!

Available at Powells Fine Jewellery Vacheron Constantin A high-quality timeless creation from the swiss house of Vacheron & Constantin, the oldest watchmaker in the world. This super slim, 18ct gold model is only 4mm thick with a mechanical movement thinner than a 50 pence piece. This timepiece would grace any wrist this Christmas and every Christmas for generations to come.

Available at Lowe & Sons

Ruby & Diamond Ring Ruby has to be one of my favourite gemstones but being a gemmologist it is hard to choose! Although I think it is easy to see why I’ve chosen this rich red ruby ring. It is a true antique dating back to the Victorian era, with old cut diamonds which were all cut by hand, adding that extra bit of sparkle perfect for celebrating Christmas in style.

Available at Lowe & Sons Diamond Drop Earrings These diamond drop earrings are perfectly timeless and elegant, set with over 2.50 carats of old cut diamonds ready compliment your dazzling Christmas party dress. Dated circa 1900 they were handcrafted with fine attention to detail and designed to catch the light perfectly as you dance the night away. They will look incredibly stunning with a perfect up-do, what lady wouldn’t love to unwrap a gift like this on Christmas day!

Available at Lowe & Sons All pieces can be found at www.powellsfinejewellery.com, www.powellsvintagejewellery.com, www.loweandsons.co.uk Powells - 01244 311312, Lowe and Sons - 01244 325850 e-mail: Info@powellsjewellery.com 37

Christmas | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Stocking Fillers Picking those last-minute smaller presents is never easy, but we’ve got you covered with our pick of this year’s best stocking fillers. Whether the person you’re gifting loves a tipple, a winter warmer to wear or gift set, we’ve found a thoughtful, festive gift to put a smile on their face

Synerva CBD Oils, £29.95, www.synervacbdoils.co.uk

Ettinger 6oz Captive Top Leather Bound Hip Flask - Red, £80, www.harveynichols.com Mana Candle, £33, Himalayan Soap Set, £37, www.chaccra.com

Anatomē Christmas Balance Box Set, £70, www.anatome.co 38

Fenty Beauty Glow Trio, £35, www.harveynichols.com

The Bitter Truth Traveller’s Set , £18, www.masterofmalt.com

Cosmydoor Essential Care, £35, www.cosmydoor.co.uk

anCnoc 24 Year Old Whisky, £115, www.www.houseofmalt.co.uk

Acne Scarf, £260, www.harveynichols.com

Ringpay by McLEAR, available in black or white, £89.99, www,mclear.com

Women’s Tartan Lounge Short , £26, www.lecolonelmoutarde.com

Annabelle Minerals Oils, £17.90, www.annabelleminerals.com

Anysun Knit Beanie, £30, www.anysun.shop

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AT KATE PARK EVENTS WE DESIGN, PLAN AND MANAGE EVENTS ACROSS AT KATE PARK EVENTS WE DESIGN, PLAN AND MANAGE EVENTS ACROSS THE UK AND WORLDWIDE. FROM INTIMATE GATHERINGS TO LARGE THE UK AND WORLDWIDE. FROM INTIMATE GATHERINGS TO LARGE LAVISH AFFAIRS, WE OFFER A BESPOKE SERVICE TAILORED TO YOU LAVISH AFFAIRS, WE OFFER A BESPOKE SERVICE TAILORED TO YOU

PRIVATE PARTIES WEDDINGS CORPORATE EVENTS PRIVATE PARTIES WEDDINGS CORPORATE EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT & VENUE FINDING ENTERTAINMENT & VENUE FINDING WWW.KATEPARKEVENTS.CO.UK WWW.KATEPARKEVENTS.CO.UK TELEPHONE: 0161 905 2052 MOBILE: 07718456054 TELEPHONE: 0161 905 2052 MOBILE: 07718456054 EMAIL: KATE@KATEPARKEVENTS.CO.UK EMAIL: KATE@KATEPARKEVENTS.CO.UK : @KATEPARKEVENTS : @KATEPARKEVENTS

Style Mr Qui Qu intessentia essentiall

British knitwear brand Mr Quintessential have unveiled their latest collection which offers timeless, stylish pieces for men who have an ageless approach to dressing. The range consists of classic crew necks, v-necks, roll necks, knitted t-shirts and a range of accessories including beanies, scarfs, and gloves in Australian merino, cashmere with Egyptian cotton and Asian silk.

Harvard Cable Knit Cashmere V Neck Sweater – Heather Grey £250, Cascade Silk and Cashmere Blend Polo Shirt – Navy Blue £150 www.mrquintessential.com

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ACA I

Outdoorwear Founder and Designer Kasia Bromley sits down with Craig Hough to discuss her environmentally friendly, outdoor wear brand for women

What inspired you to start ACAI Outdoorwear and where did the name come from?

It was when working for a male centric sportswear brand that I first became inspired to launch ACAI Outdoorwear. The industry’s approach to women’s outdoorwear then was very much ‘pink & shrink,’ make it smaller and make it pink! Women deserve better and I set about creating a collection that showed a real understanding of the female form, one that combined style and function. The brand name was inspired by the berry. I wanted a name that encapsulated health and well-being, I spent hours brainstorming with anyone that would listen. ACAI stuck.

What does the day in the life of a designer look like? *laughs* Long! I’m a mum to two young boys as well as a designer and businesswoman, that means life is hectic. My days start early with quality time with my husband and business partner Joe and the boys, it’s important to me to maintain a healthy work/ family life balance and I value our time together in the morning. I then head into the office where the first stop is always the coffee machine. That’s where the routine ends, no two days are the same. We’ve just launched our biggest collection to date, a brand-new website, and are moving into new bigger premises and so we’ve been busier than

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ever. I love it though; it’s a really exciting time for the brand.

We’ve an incredible team, all of whom are passionate about ACAI Outdoorwear and our commitment to empowering women to embrace the outdoors. Meetings are always energetic. After a busy day crunching reports, directing shoots, developing new designs and tackling any number of other things, I always make time for a walk. It’s essential for me to me to take that time out. It’s then home and back to family responsibilities.

How do you gather inspiration for your designs?

Our signature product, ACAI’s Skinny Outdoor Trousers, was inspired by the material. It was when working in sportswear that I was introduced to the most incredible softshell fabric, it got me thinking about how it could be used. Women’s outdoor trousers have always been unflattering and lacking in style. I wanted to create a walking trouser that fitted like a skinny jean but had all the performance benefits of a conventional outdoor trouser, clothing women would feel confident in when enjoying outdoor adventures. ACAI’s Skinny Outdoor Trousers have redefined the market.

Our expanding collection of legwear, base layers, mid-layer sweatshirts and accessories is inspired by emerging fashionable shapes and combined with technical fabrics. We don’t believe that style should be sacrificed for function.

With sustainability being such a hot topic in fashion now, what are your thoughts on fast fashion and what is your company doing to be sustainable?

We’re the polar opposite of fast fashion. ACAI Outdoorwear is an evergreen brand, our products are designed to have longevity and are made with as little impact on the environment as possible. Sustainability is a journey. It’s one we’re passionate about and have started in earnest, introducing recycled fabrics and yarns into our product and reducing our use of plastic by 90%. We’re committed to having stripped it out entirely by the end of 2021. We’re also investing in new environmentally friendly production processes.

The reality is that sustainable production methods do cost more but it’s an investment we’re committed to making. We all have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint. www.acaioutdoorwear.com

What is your favourite part of the job?

I love it all. Receiving positive feedback from our community however and hearing how ACAI Outdoorwear has empowered them to embrace their passion for the outdoors with confidence is the most rewarding. ACAI Outdoorwear is a brand designed by women for women.

“Our products are designed to have longevity and are made with as little impact on the environment as possible”

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Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Oversized Alexa, Heavy Grain in Deep Amber, £1,295

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A LE LEX XA THE RETURN OF AN ICON On the eve of their 50th anniversary, Mulberry is kicking off celebrations with the return of one of their most desired silhouettes, the Alexa – with key sustainable updates.

First launched in 2010, the iconic satchel-style bag was inspired by Alexa Chung’s carefree confidence and the timeless style of Mulberry’s Postman’s Lock accessories. A devotee of the brand, Chung was frequently spotted with a well-loved vintage Mulberry briefcase by her side. Mulberry’s design team were inspired to create a relaxed, modern version of this traditionally formal shape, and the Alexa was born. It quickly became one of the brand’s signature silhouettes and the most sought-after Mulberry bag of a generation.

The relaunched Alexa has been refined in style and reflects Mulberry’s commitment to responsible innovation. The range is made with leather from gold standard, environmentally accredited tanneries and has been crafted at the brand’s carbon neutral UK factories. The result is an update to this iconic laid-back satchel shape that epitomises a modern, sustainable approach to luxury.

The colours range from tranquil, earthy neutrals (Charcoal, Chestnut, Chalk), to joyful neon shades to light up the festive season (Neon Pink and Neon Yellow) and key hues of the signature Mulberry palette (Mulberry Green, Deep Amber and Black). As with the original Alexa collection, a trio of sizes is available, with the classic silhouette complemented by youthful Mini and bold Oversized styles.

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

OPPOSITE PAGE: Oversized Alexa, Heavy Grain in Chalk, £1,295 THIS PAGE FROM TOP: Mini Alexa in porcelain blue, £895; Alexa in Mulberry Green, £1095 47

Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Mini Alexa in chalk, £895

T he Alexa, Oversized Alexa and Mini Alexa will be available globally in Mulber r y stores and at www.mulber r y.com

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Stunning Wedding Venues in Cheshire Stunning Wedding Venues in Cheshire Stunning Wedding Venues in 3 magical venues to fall in love Cheshire with 3 magical venues to fall in love with

magical tofairytale fall inaffair lovewithwith Whether your dream3wedding is anvenues elaborate, hundreds of loved ones Whether youror dream wedding is an elaborate, fairytale or affair with hundreds lovedGroup ones in attendance, something more cosy, quaint, modest intimate, Boutiqueof Hotel Whether your dream wedding is an elaborate, fairytale affair with hundreds of loved ones in attendance, or something more cosy, quaint, modest or intimate, Boutique Hotel Group has the perfect wedding venue in Cheshire for you. in attendance, or something more cosy, quaint, modest or intimate, Boutique Hotel Group has the perfect wedding venue in Cheshire for you. has the perfect wedding venue in Cheshire for you.

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Boutique Hotel Group Boutique Hotel Group Boutique Hotel Group NH NH NH

Nunsmere Hall Nunsmere Nunsmere Hall Hall

A C O U N T RY H O U S E H O T E L I N T H E H E A RT O F C H E S H I R E A C O U N T RY H O U S E H O T E L I N T H E H E A RT O F C H E S H I R E A C O U N T RY H O U S E H O T E L I N T H E H E A RT O F C H E S H I R E

A HOTEL INSPIRED BY THE FABRIC OF SE1 Steeped in history, The Dixon is a fine example of 19th Century architecture. A former magistrates court and police station, fusing subtle references to our heritage with beautiful modern décor.

The Grade II listed building is a truly stunning venue with a plethora of original details and features located within the heart of SE1, just a few minutes’ walk away from London’s iconic Tower Bridge.

Named after John Dixon Butler, the Grade II-listed building’s original Edwardian architect, the hotel holds 193 stylish rooms, with tactile materials, surprising bursts of colour and finely-crafted details, effortlessly complementing the authentic original features.

Situated in the centre of the hotel is our Courtroom Bar and Provisioners restaurant serving cocktails and dishes taking influence from the very best that Europe has to offer. Decadent breakfasts, lunches to savour and comforting dinners, alongside moreish snacks and our very own Shakedown coffee roasted in a converted prison cell awaits you.

Visit our website www.thedixon.co.uk for exclusive rates for 2021.

211 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2JX info@thedixon.co.uk +44 (0) 203 959 2900

Dixon A4 Overall Ad.indd 1

26/11/2020 11:57

Health, Beauty

Wellness

The Scien ciencce of Scent

Independent London based perfume house the Experimental Perfume Club has launched the Perfumer’s Atelier – a unique luxury educational perfume collector’s set. Designed to be an ideal gift for both perfume connoisseur’s, or for individuals simply inquisitive to learn more about the art and science of fragrance, the collection was conceived as a tool to help train your nose to recognise different scents, learn how they are used in perfumes and how they work together to create fragrances. Each luxury collector’s set includes a carefully curated selection of 50 of the finest and most commonly used perfumery ingredients, a fragrance wheel and a comprehensive 160-page perfumer’s handbook.

Available to buy at Selfridges and www.experimentalperfumeclub.com, £450

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Party Make-up

Masterclass from CHANEL CHANEL Make-up Artist Kay Montano suggests getting playful with your party look this festive season

I

f you have even a passing interest in the world of fashion, celebrity and glamour over the past 20 years, the chances are, without even knowing it, you will be very familiar with the work of make-up artist, Kay Montano. From the iconic covers in the late 1980’s of ‘The Face’ magazine to the supermodels of the nineties and the uber celebrities of the noughties, Kay has played a pivotal role in creating some of the key looks and images that have shaped our age.

It was Kay, for example, who was part of the team behind Calvin Klein’s infamous ‘Obsession’ campaign featuring Kate Moss, an image that catapulted a young model ingénue into super stardom. Kay has worked with the biggest names in the fashion industry, from the most influential photographers such as Bruce Weber, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Patrick Demarchelier and Mario Testino, for magazines such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and W magazine to the industry’s leading advertising clients including Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Armani.

In recent years, Kay has enjoyed broadening her scope as a make-up artist including working with celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Thandie Newton, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Connolly (to name a few) on various projects from promotional press junkets to premieres to consulting with them on the make-up they wear in their movies.

With a career that has spanned two decades, Kay’s style and approach towards make-up has gone full circle. She has gone from re-inventing the rules and challenging conventional notions of beauty, to taking pleasure

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in simply making a woman look beautiful and explaining to those outside the industry how this can be achieved.

THE PARTY LOOK As we approach the end of what continues to be an unprecedented year, it is understandable to feel somewhat detached to the idea of festive celebration, parties, and fun, easy to think ‘why dress up when we have little-to-no social life?’ Why not frame it like this way instead: party make-up is a wonderful opportunity to experiment and be more playful than usual, and now that we’re more likely to be holding our own ‘private parties’, we can be more adventurous than ever, so Iet’s embrace the freedom to dress up and make-up in whatever bubbles we find ourselves in.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Health & Beauty

“Party make-up is a wonderful opportunity to experiment and be more playful than usual” Party make-up has the reputation of being rather theatrical, but glitter, shimmer, and shine have come a long way since the days of disco, and are very wearable, simple to apply, and ease into the chicest of make-up kits. Keeping shimmer chic is all about choosing which feature you’d like to accent, seeing it like accessorizing a little black dress with jewellery, where you choose one or two great pieces rather than wearing it all.

EYES Most women know what suits them and have perhaps established a way of wearing their eye make-up already. I’d suggest working with your existing style and using a shimmering eye shadow to create more drama. After you’ve applied your foundation of choice (I prefer very minimal, especially with a stronger make-up look) and ensured that your under-eyes and any blemishes are concealed, softly line the upper lashes with a dark brown pencil (like CHANEL Le Crayon Yeux 02 - Brun Teak) and blend into the roots of the lashes until the right amount of depth for your eyes is achieved. With a soft brush, apply a little copper eye shadow (like CHANEL Exclusive Creation: Ombre Premiѐre Poudre 927 - Cuivre Rose) over your upper eyes, keeping it densest in the outer corners and next to the upper/outer eyelashes. Using your finger, press a little 925 - Or Antique from CHANEL onto the centre of each eyelid until blended. If you wear liquid liner, apply in your usual style, and lastly, finish with lashings of black mascara.

CHEEKS This is where you’ll need to hold back, if your eyes and lips are strong, stick to a complementary blush in a shade of peach, rose (or terracotta if you are dark- skinned) that will ‘balance’ out the make-up elsewhere, and ensure that you don’t look washed-out. If you prefer to wear minimal make-up, but feel like having a touch of fun, then warm and highlight your cheekbones with Les Chaînes de CHANEL’s golden-pink Illuminating Blush Powder.

LIPS One of my favourite make-up looks is a deep, plummy lip worn with a subtle eye that has just been ‘brightened’ with gold shimmer, a hint of ‘kitten eye-liner’ and mascara. Line your lips with

a nude pencil first, this will help your lips last, as well as help you get your shaping right, and using a lip brush, apply from the centre outward until you get the shape you like. Blot with a soft tissue and reapply to get more pigment density and a longer-lasting result.

NAILS I’m going to spend December with Chanel’s golden fingertips. If you can’t have gold nails at Christmas, when can you?

All products available at www.chanel.com

P R O DUC TS • CHANEL Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint Medium Light, £48 • Le Correcteur de CHANEL, £28 • CHANEL Le Crayon Yeux 02 Brun Teak, £20 • CHANEL Exclusive Creation: Ombre Premiѐre Poudre 927 Cuivre Rose, £31 • CHANEL Exclusive Creation: Ombre Premiѐre Poudre 925 Or Antique, £31 • Le Liner de CHANEL 520 - Noir Profond, £28 • Le Volume Stretch de CHANEL 10 - Noir, £28 • Exclusive Creation: Les Chaînes de CHANEL Illuminating Blush Powder Intense Bronze Rosebood, £52 • CHANEL Le Crayon Lèvres 156 Beige Naturel, £22 • CHANEL Dual-Ended Lip Brush No.300, £31 • CHANEL Le Vernis 773 - Chaîne D’Or, £22

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Wellness | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Mi nd & Body Health and fitness expert, Jo Williams shares her top tips and latest discoveries for a happier, healthy life

SKIP FIT Taking you back to childhood memories, skipping can be a quick high intensity workout that requires only a small amount of space. What’s more, it’s a great way to burn calories and it’s suitable for all fitness levels. And a quick 3-5 minutes works out your whole body, using your abdominals to stabilise the body, legs for jumping, and shoulders and arms for turning the rope.

It’s an incredible alternative to traditional cardio on machines such as the treadmills or cross trainers, with much less jolting on your joints, helping to improve coordination, stamina and focus. It is also proven to improve your mental health, releasing endorphins. So, the perfect exercise to keep us fit and happy as the winter months reach us.

Aim for five minutes, so that’s 5 to 10 rounds. For beginners, go for one rope rotation per jump (single unders) and do 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off; up that to 1 minute on, 30 seconds off for intermediates; and for advanced level go for two rope rotations per jump (double unders), 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off. You’ll soon feel the results!

If you need some more help download the Jump Rope Training App DID YOU KNOW…

Myth Buster

that on average a person walks 70,000 miles in their lifetime

Meet Carol Fantastic stationary automated bike with the AI latest technology to help reach your fitness goals with a short yet efficient workout, CAR.O.L chats to you encouraging you to push yourself to get maximum results in as little as 26 mins per week. It’s ideal for the winter months, especially as the Christmas season gets busier. There’s no excuse not to fit in a quick work out. £2,995, including one free year subscription with 30 day return policy 24/7 customer support, shop.carolfitai.com 54

Top Five Gifts for

Fitness Fanatics Fitness Routine Motivation Dice, £9.99, www.fitnessandtraining.co.uk Fifty Places to Bike Before You Die Book, £15, all good bookshops

Monogrammed Cork Yoga Blocks, £20, www.initiallylondon.com

Personalised Gym Bag, £35, www.torimurphy.com

100 Exercises in Mindfulness Scratch Poster, £15, www.yellowoctopus.com

Follow Jo on instagram @ jewilliamspt

LUXURY IN THE HEART OF THE LAKE DISTRICT Birkdale House is a stunning Victorian residence set in over 1000 acres of private land with unparalleled views of Lake Windermere and the Lake District fells.

Available to rent exclusively from three nights, Birkdale House is the ideal private retreat - perfect for unwinding and spending time with family and friends.

e-mail: info@birkdalewindermere.co.uk tel: 015394 45756 @housebirkdale

www.birkdalewindermere.co.uk

Family Pyj yja ama Days & Nights

The festive collection

from Polarn O.Pyret has already got us humming Jingle Bells, with twinning pyjamas for you and them, to jolly jumpers and the latest Disney designs. We love these Nordic specimens, organic and super cosy.

They do adult sizes too. Just saying‌ Kids, 1-12, £26, www.polarnopyret.co.uk

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SUSTAINABLE SILLY STRAWS

Family news W O R D S : G I N A N D J E L LY T O T S . C O. U K

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Bendies are a new collection of reusable silicone straws in fun pouches, supporting the mission to help protect the planet that our little one grows up in. Odourless, tasteless and 100 per cent safe, they can be used for hot and cold drink and, best of all, for every pack sold, a percentage of the profit goes to The Ocean Clean Up. ÂŁ8.99, www.sweetdreamers.co.uk / www.amazon.co.uk

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

THE TOP TEN TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS #1 The Sustainable Scooter, Micro Recycled Scooter, £129.95 #2 The Techie Train Set, Brio Smart Tech Sound, £149.99 #3 The Coding Robot, Botley 2.0, £85 #4 The Feelings Flashcards, I Heard Your Feelings Conversation Cards, £11.99 #5 The Best Book, Earth Heroes Children’s Book Hardback Edition, £16.99 #6 The Tactile Baby Toy, Vtech Feathers & Feelings Peacock, £22 #7 The Party-Ready Collector’s Doll, £30 #8 The LEGO Gingerbread House, £84.99 #9 The Wooden Baby Walker, £45 #10 The Board Game, Monopoly Mega Edition Exclusive, £25.99 www.johnlewis.com

TURTLEY AWESOME

The company’s strapline is ‘Bringing children out of their shell’ and we love the idea of the turtle inspired swimming aid. It’s three-shell design allows you to adjust the buoyancy, the neoprene vest keeps them warm and the free arm design prevents simply bobbing around – all aimed at building your little one’s confidence in the water.

The Turtle Swimming Aid, £49.99, www.turtlepack.com

loves

PURE AMBITION

Created by husband and wife team, Guy and Abi Fennell, right here in Cheshire, Pura is already causing waves in the wet wipe world. Having experienced first hand the number of wipes required to raise a baby, they were disappointed to discover that 90 per cent of wipes sold told in the UK contain plastic, which can last more than 100 years in landfill. In June this year, mid lockdown, they launched 100 per cent plastic free, compostable and biodegradable baby wipes. Their mission, to protect babies’ skin and the planet. www.mypura.com 59

Pets’ Corner All the very latest news and fabulous things for your furry family members

Ask the

VET

Hello again everyone! With the festive season fast upon us here are a few gift ideas for those of us who want to spoil our four-legged friends. Here are my personal top 5 presents for Christmas Antos Antler Dog Chews One of my favourite Christmas treats for my dogs are these 100% natural dog chews, that keep your dog stimulated for hours, can last many days to weeks and have no chemical additives and have no calorific content.

They are also excellent for your dog’s teeth as the dogs chewing action on a firm substrate actually keeps the teeth clean by scraping off plaque and tartar. REMEMBER- it is the time your dog spends chewing that cleans its teeth. If your dog is swallowing them whole, then they aren’t doing anything.

Cat Igloo Bed There is nothing new about this present as they have been around on the market for a long time. They are beds that are enclosed, your cat can enter through a hole or opening, similar to a cave or igloo and cats LOVE them, they are perfect presents; warm, comfy, cosy beds. Cats often like to feel protected, enclosed, surrounded and secure. George my Burmese is obsessed with his, and I found them so popular with cats that we now use them for all our inpatients at work.

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Ruff And Tumble Drying Coats

Barbour Dog Coat These very stylish and very practical Barbour dog coats with matching leads. Now I am not usually a fan of dressing up dogs, but someone bought me one last year and they are brilliant! Not only can you and your dog go walking in a Barbour jacket together, but they are comfortable, waterproof, adjustable, hard wearing, stylish and very practical. Great for all those cold and wet winter walks, trust me you won’t be disappointed.

These are produced in the UK by a Norfolk based, family run company. Two years ago, a family member bought two for my dogs and I can honestly say that we use ours all the time, especially during wetter colder months. They are basically coats made from cotton breathable towelling material. So, after a bath or a wet walk you can place them on your dog, and it efficiently dries and warms your pet, without them leaving wet messy marks around the home or getting cold from being damp. I also use them as a warm walking coat on freezing dry winter days.

Laser Pointer or Laser Tower An ideal present for all those lazy indoor cats, why not try either a laser pointer or a laser tower. Indoor cats often don’t get the exercise and stimulation they need and can’t express some natural behaviours such as hunting.

These laser toys are a great way to get your cat moving and exercising and to provide mental and physical stimulation. They can also be used with cats that suffer from behavioural issues by relieving anxiety or frustrations. Make sure you buy lasers that are safe for human and pet eyes and always provide a toy or treat reward at the end of play time for when your cat finally “catches” the laser.

Wishing you and all your pets a happy Christmas, see you in the New Year!

James Dutfield BVSC MRCVS Resident Vet, If you have a question for James you can email him at, james-the-vet@thecheshiremag.co.uk

Shrewsbury School

Visit Shrewsbury Discover how at shrewsbury.org.uk/open-days Boarding and Day School for Girls and Boys aged 13-18 Independent School of the Year 2020

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09/11/2020 11:28

Food Drink DIY Christmas Market

With the disappointing news that

the Manchester Christmas Markets will not be going ahead, the Northern Wine & Beer Company have teamed up with some of the key companies behind the annual celebration to launch a DIY Christmas Market Drinks Box. Providing all the classics needed to have your very own lubricated, paired down celebrations in the lead up to Christmas, the special drinks box includes a 5 litre Krombacher ‘Fresh Keg’, a Krombacher Tankard ‘Stein’ Pint Glass, a litre bottle of premium quality Glühwein, a traditional ceramic Glühwein Mug and Christmas decoration to top it off.

Available for £60 from www.northernwineandbeer.co.uk

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ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST / © HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II 2020

The Royal Christmas Hamper

Have a very merry Christmas with festive delights and yuletide classics perfectly packed in this Royal Christmas Hamper.

From traditional mince pies, matched with a warming glass of mulled wine to be devoured on Christmas Eve to a luxury selection of Champagne truffles and chocolate almonds to impress your guests on Christmas Day, this incredible hamper is full to the brim of your favourite Christmas treats to be enjoyed by all.

Priced £99, www.royalcollectionshop.co.uk

Food &

Drink news WORDS: CRAIG HOUGH

Give The Gift Of Food and Drink Our favourite festive hampers for foodies and wine lovers Fortnum & Mason Christmas Hampers Lift the lid on Fortnum & Mason’s famous hampers and find all manner of teas, biscuits, meats, cheese, wines, Champagnes and all their festive Food Halls have to offer. A beautiful gift basket or food hamper is the perfect thing to send to loved ones afar this Christmas.

Priced from £60 - £6,000, www.fortnumandmason.com

Whittard of Chelsea Christmas Hampers This collection spans small token gifts and extravagant tea, coffee and hot chocolate-packed wicker hampers – with each creation celebrating the same thoughtful sentiment. From hand-picking products that inspire the taste buds to designing delightful keepsake packaging, every last meticulous detail has been carefully considered to ensure it’s a gift to treasure.

Priced from £48 - £110, www.whittard.co.uk

Christmas Connoisseur Mixed Case

Designed as the perfect drinks pairing for a Christmas lunch, but equally delightful as a gift for true wine lovers, Chapel Down’s limited edition festive case for connoisseurs contains: Brut NV, Bacchus Gin, two Tenterden Estate Bacchus and two bottles of No’5 Syrah by Domaine Gayda which is spicy and rich in red fruits and shines when complimenting Christmas mainstays like roast duck, beef or lamb.

Priced £100, www.chapeldown.com 64

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food & Drink

New Vegan Life Range

Vegan Life is launching in the UK as the first supplement brand to be packaged in pouches made from fully compostable materials. The range is made up of five products with unique blends of botanicals, herbs, vitamins and minerals. The Vegan Society certified collection is made up of Immune Multi-Vit, Brain Power, Fatigue Fighter, Beauty Glow and Gut Care, simply take one capsule daily to nourish your body. www.naturopathica.co.uk/vegan-life

TAKE REFUGE THIS CHRISTMAS

The Refuge by Volta has announced the return of its magical Christmas Carol a month-long celebration with an exquisite selection of festive food and drink offerings and hand-picked festive entertainment. Capturing the spirit of an Edwardian Christmas, Waterhouse Way will be transformed into an undercover and heated snug area where guests can enjoy gourmet British hot dog slingers, buskers singing festive songs and story-telling by Cheddar Gorgeous. www.refugemcr.co.uk

YOU GOTTA ROLL WITH IT

Popular Bombay-inspired restaurant Dishoom have announced the arrival of their Vegan Sausage Naan Roll Kit, which is now available for nationwide delivery. Responding to numerous requests from vegans, vegetarians and those who avoid pork or dairy, Dishoom have created this top-notch plant-based kit, containing everything required to enjoy two first-class Vegan Sausage Naan Rolls with Masala Chai at home.

Available from www.dishoom.com – priced £16 plus delivery Available from www.dishoom.com – priced £16 plus delivery

The Cultured Collective

The emphasis on good gut health is a new trend that continues to gain traction as we learn more about the important role it plays in the body. To help encourage good gut health, The Cultured Collective have released a new range of kimchi - including vegan, veggie and gluten-free options. The he Classic Kimchi which uses a mixture of Chinese leaf cabbage, daikon radish, carrot and spring onion together with a secret spice blend to bring you a kimchi that is rich, complex and spicy with a subtle smokiness and moreish umami tastes developed over a week long wild ferment. www.theculturedcollective.co.uk

CHESHIRE LOVES loves Goslings Family Reserve A deep, dark secret rum that the family has enjoyed for generations, but now available to the public. Crafted from the same incomparable Bermuda blend used for their renowned Black Seal Rum, left resting in oak barrels even longer, ageing the rum until it has acquired an extra luscious, nuanced complexity much like a rare Scotch or Cognac. Each bottle is lovingly hand labelled, dipped in wax, numbered and placed in a straw-filled wooden box reminiscent of days past.

Available from Amazon, Masters of Malt - priced at £55.

40% ABV 70cl 65

Promotion | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Introducing the

Pebbled Palm Collection KitchenAid offer a wide range of countertop appliances that make fabulous festive gifts to bring pleasure and inspiration to friends and family passionate about making.

Artisan 4.8l Stand Mixer in Pebbled Palm

A festive favourite, the Artisan Tilt-Head 4.8L Stand Mixer is offered in the widest range of colours on the market to suit every style of kitchen and décor. Pebbled Palm, a dusky dark green with a textured finish can be purchased either with a hand-crafted stainless-steel quilt effect bowl or a Gold Metallic finish. Standard accessories include a flat beater, dough hook and wire whisk – all you need to create those festive showstoppers such as Christmas Cake, marzipan filled Stollen and pavlova, to everyday favourites like mashed potatoes, pulled pork, and pastry for cheese straws and sausage rolls.

For even more versatility there are 15 optional extras for the famous attachment-

ready Culinary Hub enabling everything from slicing, grating, mincing, chopping and peeling, to juicing and spiralizing, along with a Sifter & Scale. There are also tools to prepare fresh pasta and the dual purpose transparent pouring shield allows a clear view of what’s happening in the bowl while making it easy to add ingredients without splashing.

With colours for every kitchen, bowls for every style, attachments for every idea, and sizes for every baker and maker, the KitchenAid Stand Mixer is so much more than just a mixer. It is, quite simply, the ultimate culinary companion this Christmas.

The limited-edition Artisan 4.8L Tilt-Head Stand Mixer in Pebbled Palm with seasonal bowl option, RRP £599, is available from www.kitchenaid.co.uk

Artisan K400 Blender in New Pebbled Palm

The Artisan K400 Blender easily powers through the toughest ingredients. Apples and almonds, carrots, kale and coconut, ice and seeds are no match for the stable die-cast metal base, 1.5 peak HP motor and unique asymmetric stainless steel blades - precisely angled to work with the 1.4L ribbed glass jar - to create a mighty blending vortex to tackle the most tricky ingredients head on.

Legendary design, outstanding engineering and durability combine to 66

make the Artisan K400 Blender an indispensable culinary companion this Christmas. Making the smoothest, best tasting soups, sauces and smoothies, couldn’t be faster and easier. The K400 is also the perfect mixologist when it comes to ice and fruit rich festive cocktails such as a Margarita or a Daiquiri.

Simple, intuitive controls include 3 pre-set recipe programmes for crushed ice, icy drinks and smoothies. There’s a ‘pulse’ feature for tackling fibrous veg as well as a self-cleaning cycle. The ‘Soft Start’ option sets the motor at a slower speed to pull food onto the blades, then quickly increases to the selected speed setting to avoid splatter.

The Artisan K400 Blender, offered in 11 colours, RRP £279, is available from www.kitchenaid.co.uk and independent cookshops nationwide

SPOTLIGHT ON... D I S H O O M W O R D S : K E V I N E VA N S

Best for...

Bombay small plates/ dishes and traditional Indian classics

T

he moment you walk into Dishoom Manchester you can’t help but be impressed. Located in the Grade II listed Manchester Hall (formally Freemasons Hall) it has been lovingly restored which has a feel of a gentleman’s club with ornate bazaar objects displayed on the walls. Dishoom is an homage to the Irani cafes of Bombay and specialises in small plates/dishes with an array of options alongside some familiar traditional Indian classics.

On entering you are hit with an overload on the senses of heady spiced aromas and buzzing atmosphere. It’s obvious that Manchester has embraced the brand as we visited mid-week during restricted opening and the place was full.

We were taken to our table by Hannah who was super warm and friendly and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and also the wider brand. Hannah advised us to start with a cocktail as she said they were superb; she was not wrong! Sebastian was soon over going through the extensive cocktail menu and also offering a bespoke option based on the types of flavour’s we

liked – really nice touch and made you feel like you were getting a real personalised service.

Whilst these were on the way Hannah advised us on navigating the menu and made suggestions around how many small plates to go for as well as other options if we fancied something more substantial. If choosing the small plates, they come as and when they are ready so there is a steady stream of food arriving at the table.

We opted for a few small plates and the house special of Lamb Shank Biryani as I had been told by some friends that this was a must have. The Prawn Koliwada was an absolute stand out in the small plates, we said that another bowl of them was in order – they were coated in a light spiced crispy coating with a coriander and mint chutney. We also had the Spicy Lamb Chops – charred to perfection and the

lamb was so tender it fell off the bone. The biryani arrived and it was not like any I have had before, nestled in the centre of the delicately spiced rice was a whole lamb shank which was juicy and tender. It also came with an Indian gravy which perfectly complimented the dish and we could see why this was a house special.

Hannah then tempted us with dessert where we opted for Gulab Jamun which are Indian sweet dumplings that were served with a citrus ice cream. We also had the Chocolate Fondant which we found were a perfect match with the Gulab Jamun, especially when you dipped them into the gooey centre of the fondant!

Dishoom is definitely here to stay and a great addition to the Manchester food scene. I’m really excited to see what the next menu will look like when it is launched and will absolutely be returning. www.dishoom.com 67

The Pied Bull

In The Making Since 1535

AccomModation • Beer Terrace On site Micro Brewery Traditional home Cooked Food 53 -57 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ

T: 01244 325829 www.piedbull.co.uk

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food & Drink

SPOTLIGHT ON... HOME-X - HOME BY NICO DAVE POYNTON REMINISCES ABOUT THE FLAVOURFUL STREET FOOD OF BANGKOK WITH THE L AT E S T H O M E B Y N I C O E X P E R I E N C E T H AT T R A N S P O R T S Y O U R K I T C H E N T O T H A I L A N D

T

he Home by Nico experience was the perfect lift up we needed in lockdown and being huge fans of Thai food, we were looking forward to this “cooking Bangkok” experience. The packaging was excellently designed and well presented. The package contained a menu, a stylish guide to the evenings experience, and of course the food and wine! The process was so easy as the food was already portioned out and labelled clearly. The guide was simple and easy to follow, with some great images of how to serve the food, which worked up the appetite even further.

The starter of hot and sour Tom Yum Soup instantly took me back to my time in Thailand, those Thai herbs mixing with the soup brought back memories, and the prawn dumplings were to die for!

Whilst still enjoying our soup I could smell that our main course was nearing, Panang Chicken Curry. The red curry flavours were perfectly balanced, with an explosion of South East Asian flavours, matched with a creamy consistency that neutralised these spices. The chicken itself was on the bone making an interesting change from other curry dishes. The

accompanying sides of Jasmine Rice and Crispy Pork Pad Thai brought out some incredible flavours which complimented the curry well. So far so good! This was shaping up to be an excellent Bangkok experience. There was no compromise in these dishes as it was certainly like having restaurant quality food at home.

The team who brought us Six by Nico certainly know their wines and the wine that they have chosen to compliment this Home

by Nico experience is the Le Sentier Blanc 2018, an excellent vintage from this French wine maker. This wine transcended all three courses balancing well with each dish.

The dessert, Coconut and Cardamom Rice Pudding, was a twist on a classic and tasted amazing with the flavours of coconut and salted caramel. The pudding kept your senses firmly in the grasp of what the experience was about and still ticked all the boxes that a pudding should, leaving you wanting more.

After accepting that the pudding was gone, and this unique experience was drawing to a close we remembered we still had the cheese! Their homemade chutney balanced well with the cheese from Amsterdam and as we enjoyed the last of our wine our taste buds were let down gently. During the cheese course we reflected on this very satisfying Home by Nico experience. You can tell the amount of thought and passion that has gone into this experience. Their ambition to bring the

restaurant experience to our dining room tables, in my opinion is a greatly appreciated success and not an opportunity to be missed.

Home-X are also offering a wide range of different experiences to enjoy at home.

They range from 24 Carrot (an 8-course vegan experience) to Chateau-X (the ultimate chateaubriand experience) and Stem Wine Club to The Cheese Club. If you’re looking for a gift for the foodie in your life, we can fully recommend Home-X this festive season. www.home-x.com

C O O K I N G " BA N G KO K ' THAI STREET FO O D STARTER: Hot & Sour Tom Yum Soup with Prawn Dumplings MAIN: Panang Chicken Curry SIDES: Steamed Jasmine Rice | Crispy Pork Pad Thai DESSERT: Coconust & Cardmom Rice Pudding CHEESE: Landana 500, Pineapple and Nigella Chutney WINE: Le Sentier Blanc 2018

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Food & Drink | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Christmas Cocktails Warm up your festive season with The Cheshire Magazine’s choice of whisky cocktails from Benriach

Benriach Penicillin DRINK SPEC: 40ml Benriach The Original Ten , 25ml Lemon juice, 20ml Ginger juice/liqueur, 10ml Honey, 10ml Benriach The Smoky Ten GARNISH: Lemon twist ICE: Cubed GLASSWARE: Rocks METHOD: Fill a short/rocks glass with ice. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake until cold to touch.

Strain into glass with ice and garnish with a twist of lemon.

The Classic Highball DRINK SPEC: 25ml/50ml Benriach The Original Ten, Top/Mixer (Ginger Ale/Soda) GARNISH: Orange wedge ICE: Cubed GLASSWARE: Highball METHOD: Fill a tall glass with ice, add whisky and soda/ginger ale. Garnish with a wedge of orange.

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Benriach Long & Spice DRINK SPEC: 50ml Benriach The Original Ten, 5ml Allspice liqueur, 5ml Lemon juice, 5ml Sugar syrup, 140ml Ginger beer GARNISH: Lemon leaf, ginger spear and star anise ICE: Cubed GLASSWARE: Highball METHOD: Build ingredients in the glass, topping with the soda. Stir gently to mix.

Benriach Short & Spice DRINK SPEC: 50ml Benriach The Original Ten , 15ml Sugar syrup, 10ml Lemon juice, 1/4 Chopped habanero chilli splash of ginger ale GARNISH: Sliced chilli and slapped mint sprig ICE: Cubed GLASSWARE: Rocks METHOD: Muddle the chilli before adding and shaking all the ingredients (except ginger ale) with ice. Strain into an ice filled rocks glass and top with a splash of ginger ale.

The Benriach Ten and Smoky Ten are widely available and can be purchased from Master of Malt, The Whisky Shop and Whisky Exchange online, and in specialist retailers across the UK. www.benriachdistillery.com

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Christmas in

Barbados

The Cheshire Magazine looks at the top 5 reasons why you should switch your Christmas in Cheshire for a Christmas in the Caribbean

W

hile white Christmases are something to be relished, there’s more chance of seeing snow on a Christmas card than on the rooftops.

More typically, the north west wakes up to cold, wet, miserable drizzle. It’s because of this more of us are heading for warmer climes to celebrate the festive season. Barbados is the ultimate winter destination, especially popular during this time of the year as families look to swap their sledge for a surfboard.

the Prime Minister’s residence, Ilaro Court. St Nicholas Abbey also hosts Christmas jazz and Christmas carol concerts.

#2 Shop ‘Till You Drop The beauty of being in Barbados over Christmas is that you get to miss the mad dash for present and Black Friday fights over a discounted Dyson. Instead you can head to Holetown, for a leisurely festive shopping experience and find some world-famous brands all on offer inside the island’s chicest boutiques. Head to the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre to find endless cafés, restaurants and shops selling every type of gift you’ll need from jewellery for mum and nan, the latest electronics for dad or toys and games for the kids.

#3 Boxing Day Races

#1 Family Focus Christmas is an important time of the year for Bajan’s to spend time with friends and family, and it’s very common to go to church on Christmas morning or midnight mass on Christmas Eve. After the morning church service, the locals head to Queen’s Park in the capital city Bridgetown. Dressed in their finest outfits, everyone gathers at the park to listen to the Royal Barbados Police Force Band and other musicians as they perform a selection of seasonal favourites. The locals’ welcome visitors with open arms to join in with their celebrations. If your family prefer more traditional Christmas activities, one of the highlights of the festive season is the Carols by Candlelight event which takes place in the stunning gardens of 72

Chester is renowned for its racing, but this year why not swap Chester racecourse for the stunning Garrison Savannah racecourse and attend the Barbados Turf Club’s annual Stakes and Trophy horse races. Keep the Champagne flowing and let the celebratory mood continue as you join in with one of the island’s largest racing events.

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#4 Traditional Bajan Christmas Drink Sorrel is consumed as part as Christmas tradition in Barbados although you can drink it all year round and offers several surprising health benefits.

Ginger ale or falernum is added to the sorrel to give it a smooth taste, but please don’t feel left out if you are not an alcohol lover because the amount of rum added is discretionary. Traditionally in Barbados sorrel was a homemade drink but now it is sold commercially by Barbados Bottling Company (BBC). It’s been said the sorrel drink was perfected by of Senator Carmeta Fraser in the early 1990’s who hosted a radio show and released books promoting growing and eating local foods. Her mottos “Let’s eat what we grow, grow what we eat” and “Food comes first” are still heard in many households in Barbados to this day.

Senator Carmeta Fraser’s recipe for sorrel: INGREDIENTS 2 cups of dried sorrel, 3 whole cloves, 1 ½ tbsp of grated orange zest, 1 ½ grated fresh ginger, 2 quarts of boiling water, 1 cup of sugar (½ cup more if you’ve got a serious sweet tooth) METHOD Place the sorrel and the other ingredients except for the sugar in a large crock or ceramic jug. Pour the boiling water over all and let it steep in a warm, dry place for 48 hours. Strain and add the sugar.

Refrigerate for another 48 hours. Serve over ice, a wedge of lime, and an ounce (or two) of rum definitely enhances the drink’s Christmas cheer. If you do add rum, Barbados’ own Mount Gay is recommended.

#5 Traditional Bajan Christmas Dessert Much like the UK, Christmas is a time to feast in Barbados, with great cake, jug jug and baked ham all Bajan traditional Christmas delicacies. Below Chef Creig Greenidge shares a recipe for a traditional Barbadian Fruit Cake (also known as ‘Great Cake’).

INGREDIENTS 3 ozs raisins, 1 tsp Mixed essence, 2 ozs cherries, 3 whole eggs, 2 ozs Pitted Prunes, 3 ozs unsalted butter, 3 ozs Brown Rum, 4 ozs self rising flour, 3 ozs Red Wine, 1 tsp baking powder, 3 ozs Brown sugar METHOD Add fruit and alcohol to blender, and blend until smooth. Heat a saucepan and add the blended fruit mixture to it. Allow the fruit to cook until acidity has reduced, then add sugar and butter. Remove the fruit from stove and allow to cool for 10 minutes.

While the fruit is cooling break the eggs into a mixing bowl and beat together with essence. Once the fruit is cool fold in beaten eggs, flour and baking powder. Grease a 6-compartment muffin pan or sheet pan and add mixture. Heat oven to temperature 350 degrees and place mixture in for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to cool and serve. www.visitbarbabados.org

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ORIGINAL SKIING SINCE 1985

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Reunite with your family for a classic Swiss ski adventure this season where all the details are anticipated for your peace of mind.

Enjoy private travel solutions, award-winning children’s programmes, complimentary adult ski guiding and dedicated personal service.

Visit powderbyrne.com or call +44(0)20 8246 5300

Travel Book an Uber

On your next visit to the capital switch the tube for an Uber Boat

by Thames Clippers, the new luxurious way to travel through London, connecting many of the city’s attractions and taking in the iconic sights along the way. The leading River Bus service on the River Thames, boats depart every 20 minutes from key London piers including North Greenwich for The O2, Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Tower, London Bridge, Embankment and London Eye for Waterloo. Services run from early in the morning until late at night 7 days a week, to get you from A to B in style. www.thamesclippers.com

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Promotion | The CHESHIRE Magazine

The Ultimate Winter Break Experience the Italian Alps with Courmayeur Mont Blanc

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ourmayeur Mont Blanc is situated on the Italian side of Mont Blanc and is a traditional yet sophisticated resort surrounded by spectacular scenery and full of history and charm. Renowned for its warm Italian welcome and fabulous winter sports scene, the resort is ideal for visitors looking to spend time outside in the fresh mountain air, whatever their skiing ability, and provides the ultimate Covid-friendly break this winter for families and friends looking to reconnect and get back to nature.

Courmayeur boasts a unique combination of fine food, culture, adventurous sporting activities and sophisticated relaxation in an incomparable Mont Blanc setting. The centre of the village is car-free offering world-class restaurants and bars, a fantastic choice of accommodation for all budgets world class shopping.

The dream destination for any mountain enthusiast, Courmayeur offers superb heliskiing, off-piste and cross country skiing, as well as joy skating, fat biking, hiking, snow shoeing, climbing, cycling and much more. Not only does the resort benefit from spectacular scenery with fourteen 4,000m+ mountain peaks visible, it is home to the

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new Skyway Monte Bianco, enabling a faster and easier connection to the resort of Chamonix, as well as access to the world’s longest lift-served run, the Vallée Blanche.

A veritable playground for families and featuring one of Italy’s best ski schools, the superb Ski School Monte Bianco, children can enjoy private or group ski or snowboarding lessons, jibbing and short free ride courses. There are also plenty of child-friendly activities on offer for those who don’t want to hit the slopes including ice climbing, ice skating, fun parks, educational farms, train rides and reindeer visits with Rhémy de Noel, Courmayeur’s Father Christmas to enjoy this festive season.

World-class dining options abound in Courmayeur helping the resort to

earn quite a reputation among foodies.

This year more al fresco dining will be on offer and guests can look forward to hearty, local Val d’Aosta cuisine, delicious local Mont Blanc wines as well as visiting celebrity and Michelin Star chefs.

Courmayeur has just announced as one of the top five ski resorts in Europe in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2020. Courmayeur has been voted for the authenticity and uniqueness of its surroundings, as well as, for its commitment to sustainability and respect of nature. The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards recognises the world’s best hotels, resorts, countries, cities, islands, spas, airlines, airports and cruises.

The awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry.

For more information visit: www.courmayeurmontblanc.it/en, call +39 0165 841612 or email info@courmayeurblanc.it.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

F ranc ranciis H o tel Kathryn Otto visits the historic city of Bath to stay at this stunning addition to the MGallery collection

Location Situated right in the heart of Bath, a World Heritage Site, the Francis Hotel is a perfect spot for those seeking to explore the historical city. Adjacent from Queen’s Square, which plays host to some of the city’s events, as well as being a short walk to Roman Baths, Pump Room, Jane Austen Centre, The Royal Crescent, Theatre Royal, as well as the city’s elegant shopping and culinary centre. A destination in itself, Francis Hotel is a magnificent example of Georgian architecture.

and indulge – Emily’s Tea Room, the restaurant and No. 10 Bar.

History

Our Visit

The property occupies seven of Bath’s original 18th century townhouses, situated on one of the city’s most important architectural spaces, Queen Square. Each building within the Queen Square are named by English Heritage as Buildings of Exceptional and Historical Interest.

We arrived in Bath for our very first time to the City via train and Francis Hotel was easy to find by foot and was a lovely short walk giving us our first glimpse of the city.

Upon arrival we had a quick look around and saw the restaurant, tea room and noticed the quaint bar with pink lighting. We stayed in an extensive suite that overlooked Queens Square, with floor to ceiling windows which made the suite feel so light and large, matched with original features that gave it a feeling of grandeur. We spent the day roaming this stunning city, exploring side streets and following paths down the river and canal. Stopping for coffee and cake at one of the many quaint tearooms. Bath is most certainly one of the prettiest places we have visited. We returned back to the hotel for a well needed rest. After a long day walking and exploring we woke and decided to enjoy our breakfast in our room. There were an array of options to choose from, but opted for the firm favourite, the full English and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect way to set us up for another day of sightseeing before we headed back to Cheshire.

Rooms & Suites The vibrant décor of the Francis Hotel provides a modern yet historically charming welcome.

Monochrome is a theme carried throughout the property, which can also be seen in the 98-rooms and suites. The bedrooms have their own unique style and design, complimented by many quirky and artistic features.

Facilities Francis Hotel has three areas in which guests can sit back, relax

Personal Note Whether it’s a romantic city break or a culture trip, the beautiful Francis Hotel in the gorgeous city of Bath is definitely the place to stay. www.francishotel.com 77

L OND ONDO ON Callin alling g

Over the next two issues, Team Cheshire head to the capital to sample some of the city’s best luxury stays 78

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

ROYAL LANCASTER Celebrating over 50 years as Hyde Park’s mid-century architectural icon, Royal Lancaster invited Kathryn Otto to soak in the breathtaking views and charming hospitality Location The Royal Lancaster’s central location offers spectacular views over Hyde Park and London’s famous skyline. A short stroll west will take you to quaint and cultured Notting Hill and Holland Park.

Walk east to Marble Arch and the vibrancy of Oxford Street or amble south through the park and find yourself in Kensington or Knightsbridge.

Of course the rest of London is within easy reach, with Lancaster Gate tube station next door and Heathrow Airport a mere 20 minutes from nearby Paddington Station.

Rooms

Spread across 18 floors, all 411 rooms and suites at Royal Lancaster London combine timeless classic style, sumptuous comfort and spectacular views of Hyde Park and the famous London skyline.

Each room has been impeccably designed, marble flooring throughout and soft caramel hues create a sense of calm, whilst modern light installations, brushed gold features and clean minimalistic designs make each room a perfect stay whether visiting with friends, loved ones or for a business trip.

Our Visit

We arrived at the rather grand, large gold entrance which instantly made us feel excited to have chosen The Royal Lancaster as our hotel for the evening. We were greeted by a friendly gentleman at front of house who kindly told us we had been upgraded to the Lancaster Suite, the 2nd largest room in the hotel which offered a large lounge with a dining area, bedroom, separate WC and a large bathroom.

We knew that The Royal Lancaster was famous for its views however when you see it for yourself it truly is breathtaking, stretching for miles across Hyde park and the Italian gardens, treetops and verdant landscape of the Grade I-listed Royal Park. We even overlooked a small stable which was rather lovely to see the local residents riding first thing in the morning. Windows wrap around the whole suite maximising the spectacular views even further. Champagne was served on our arrival which we enjoyed before we took a walk around the park, basking in the last of the season’s sunshine, we headed out for dinner on King’s Road in nearby Chelsea and enjoyed a few cocktails before we headed back to the hotel. We both enjoyed a lovely sleep and found the remote controlled black-out blinds a huge plus given the enormous size of the windows. In the morning we decided to dine in the restaurant for breakfast, offering us a vast menu of both hot and cold options in the most relaxing of environments watching early morning joggers heading to Hyde Park for their weekend dose of exercise making us feel very guilty for over indulging the evening before.

Personal Note

The Royal Lancaster is nothing short of spectacular, if you are looking for opulence and 5 star service this is the place for you. We have had the pleasure of visiting many lovely hotels and my partner went as far as saying this was his favourite by far, probably because it was easy to lose me within the grand size of the suite! It is very rare for him to offer such praise, so it is a huge credit to the hard-working team at the fabulous hotel. We are very much looking forward to visiting again soon. www.royallancaster.com 79

KIMPTON FITZOY James Kinsella took a trip to the capital for a luxury break in the heart of beautiful Bloomsbury Location This stunning 344 bedroom and 39 suite hotel occupies a full block along the eastern side of Russel Square. Originally being designed by Charles Fitzroy Doll in 1838 it oozes elegance, in the heart of beautiful Bloomsbury. This location is perfect for anyone visiting the capital, whatever the reason may be. The British Museum is within walking distance of the hotel and bustling Covent Garden is also easily reachable. Nearby transport links for within the city are plentiful and with Euston station being only a 5-minute taxi journey away, the hotel is the ideal getaway for guests from the Cheshire region.

Facilities Guests at the Kimpton can enjoy one of its 4 bar and restaurant offerings. Neptune’s has a modern British menu, with its oyster bar and wood fire grill dishes all featuring traditionally sourced British produce. Fitz’s bar is a glamourous cocktail den where after a day of work or play you can unwind and relax with a Negroni or two. Burr and Co is where you can grab your morning caffeine fix, perfectly situated only a few yards from the tube.

The Palm Court restaurant offers a luxurious experience for breakfast, lunch or dinner. A mouth-watering menu is on offer and afternoon tea lovers will not be disappointed either.

Rooms The hotel rooms blend contemporary design with a nod to 1920’s glamour. Styled by Tara Bernard and Partners they feature elegant décor and unique in-room extras such as a yoga mat to make you feel instantly at home. All rooms feature a beautiful waterfall shower with indulgent toiletries from

award-winning perfume designer Azzi Glasser. Suites at the Fitzroy include extras such as a Nespresso machine and Apple TV. Stunning white marble bathrooms complete with roll-top bath and double sink. Finally, a luxurious four-poster bed ensures that The Kimpton Fitzroy suite feels like your own luxury apartment in the city.

My Stay A friendly check-in was completed, and I was handed the keys to a stunning suite which never stopped impressing. I had a quick trip to the fully equipped gym before meeting a friend to dine. The Palm Court restaurant was flooded with light through its glass ceiling and we were treated like VIP’s throughout our time there. We enjoyed a glass of Champagne whilst soaking up the ambience of the luscious greenery décor. I enjoyed a steak that was cooked to perfection and I had major food envy of the chicken dish opposite which looked equally as mouth-wateringly delicious. Looking around I could see a delightful Afternoon Tea being served, with choice of traditional teas or a crisp glass of Champs.We had a truly wonderful experience at Palm Court that I would urge others to enjoy on a trip to the capital.

Personal Note The smiles of the team may be temporarily masked, but the outstanding service was not. Combining this with the quality and beauty of the hotel leaves The Kimpton Fitzroy as a serious contender for first choice when looking for a luxury stay in London. www.kimptonfitzroylondon.com

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CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel TheThe CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

THE DIXON, TOWER BRIDGE, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION Kathryn Otto visited one of the newest additions to Marriott’s Autograph Collection in Tower Bridge Location The Dixon, Autograph Collection is located in the business district. The Dixon is perfectly situated for a weekend of exploring, on the doorstep of Tower Bridge and all its amenities it has to offer including river cruises and speed boat experiences for the more adventurous. Tower of London and Tate Modern are other cultural highlights close-by.

Facilities The Courtroom Bar continues this unique theme, with Edwardian oak panelling providing a backdrop for the artisan cocktail bar. Drinks are served under the original structure of the judge’s bench, providing the self-titled bar with a sense of nostalgia unlike anywhere else in London. The hotel’s restaurant, Provisioners, is inspired by modern design movements, designers’ studios and homes, as well as European café culture, while retaining historical elements of the original building, including two fully restored jail cells.

Rooms The 193 rooms, including 10 spacious suites, redefine the traditional boutique hotel by seamlessly incorporating the local neighbourhood’s culture through an artful mix of heritage design.

Our Visit Walking through the entrance it’s clear that this hotel has been designed around attention to detail and nods to its former use as a Courthouse, the rather impressive sweeping staircase and upper gallery wraps around a large and remarkable chandelier. It is here that we met

Hasham, The General Manager, who oosed enthusiasm about the history of the building and his love for the hotel.

We listened with great interest about the many stories the building has, before being shown to our room, a stylish suite with a large marble bathroom with bath and impressive walk in shower. We decided to walk down to Tower Bridge and take a boat trip down the river and take in the many sights you can see along the Thames. On the evening we went to the hotel’s restaurant to find the launch of Jack Whitehall’s new brand Foodslut. During lockdown Jack had developed a burger that had become so popular on social media that provisioners restaurant decided to offer it on their menu. We even had the pleasure of meeting Jack who was delighted with the partnership, and you could see how popular it was with the fact there wasn’t an empty seat in sight. As soon as we arrived at The Dixon we instantly felt welcomed and relaxed and that feeling stayed with us throughout our stay, all the staff are genuinely happy to see you and will do anything to ensure you have the best experience.

Personal Note The Dixon hotel is simply stunning, cleverly walking the line between old and new. If you want a luxury boutique hotel with a homely vibe then this is certainly the perfect place. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, with an ideal location and a team of staff ready to make you feel at home and cater to every need. www.thedixon.co.uk 81

WEALTH GOALS WEALTH GOALS HOW RAINY HOW TO TO SAVE FOR A RAINY DAY DAY & & PLAN PLAN A COMFORTABLE COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT

Todiscuss discuss your your options options call call us To us on on 0808 0808168 1685866 5866 to arrange a complimentary meeting to arrange a complimentary meeting Find out more at www.harteywm.co.uk Find out more at www.harteywm.co.uk Registered in England and Wales No 8288660. Registered Office: Hilliards Court, Chester Business Park, Chester CH4 9QP. Hartey Wealth Management Ltd is authorisedOffice: and regulated the Financial Registered in England and Wales No 8288660.

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Drive Diamond Geezer

Single-engine touring aircraft

don’t get much more striking than this. With retractable undercarriage, five seats and the ability to run on less polluting jet fuel, the carbon-bodied Diamond DA-50 RG is a new, high-tech rival for the Cirrus SR22. The six-cylinder piston engine gives the aircraft a maximum airspeed of 181 knots and the ability to climb to 20,000 feet, while the cabin is fitted with plush leather seats and a Garmin ‘glass’ cockpit, as well as an autopilot system to reduce the workload. If you want to fly yourself away for a weekend, this might just be the ideal aircraft to take.

Price £TBC, www.diamondaircraft.com

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DRIVE

Keeping you up to date with all the latest motoring and technology news WORDS: JAMES FOSSDYKE

STAR OF THE SHOW If you want cutting-edge technology, luxury and comfort, then it’s difficult to look past the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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t has long been accepted that the Mercedes-Benz S-Class paves the way for technology you’ll find on normal family cars in 10 years’ time. Electronic stability programmes, which were made mandatory safety equipment in 2014, were first seen on the 1991 S-Class, while the 2013 version was the first car to have LED lighting inside and out.

Now there’s a new model, and it’s packed to the rafters with new tech.

Mercedes is promising tech that allows the car to drive itself at speeds of up to 37mph, although the driver will still need to be ready to take over at a moment’s notice. The car will also be able to park itself when the driver is outside the vehicle, making tight parking spaces easier to negotiate. Early examples won’t benefit from this technology, but it is expected to arrive over the next year or so.

More subtle features include headlights that can project warning symbols onto the road ahead, a choice of door handles and an improved infotainment screen that removes 27 previously analogue functions from the S-Class’ cabin. As with previous generations, there will be a choice of engines, including a plug-in hybrid model and, eventually, a highpowered V12 petrol engine.

From £78,705, www.mercedes-benz.co.uk 84

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Drive

PACE OF CHANGE loves

Jaguar’s first SUV has been quite a success story for the brand. It’s already spawned a high-performance SVR model and been joined by the smaller, and distinctly below-average E-Pace. But now the time has come for the F-Pace to be revamped and Jaguar has grasped the opportunity with both hands. Gone are the naff plastics of the first-generation car’s steering wheel, while the exterior has undergone a little nip-and-tuck surgery. The engine range has also been revamped with eco-friendly mildhybrid tech, while a plug-in hybrid model offers up to 33 miles of electric-only motoring.

From £40,860, www.jaguar.co.uk

ARES AND GRACES

STIFF COMPETITION BMW has a knack of building outrageous, go-faster versions of its mainstream models, but few can be as outrageous as the new X5 M Competition. Based on the more conventional X5 4x4, it’s a V8-powered leviathan that weighs 2.4 tonnes yet somehow manages to get from a standstill to 62mph in 3.8 seconds. That’s what 616bhp will do for you. So, if you’re after a big, comfy, spacious SUV with performance figures that will embarrass most supercars, look no further.

We’ve already had a quick drive, and trust us on this, it’s utterly intoxicating.

From £110,650, www.bmw.co.uk

We’ve become used to the idea of manufacturers chopping the roof of supercars, but Italian coachbuilder Ares has taken the idea a step further. The brand has lopped the windscreen off its S1 supercar, as well as slicing away the roof to create the gorgeous S1 Project. Like the ‘normal’ S1, it’s a 705bhp V8-powered hypercar that is expected to get from 0-62mph in less than 3 seconds. Without the benefit of a roof or a proper windscreen, you might need to hold on to your hat. Just 24 examples will be built when the car goes into production next year, so get your name down quickly. £TBC, www.aresdesign.com

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Drive

HIGHLY R8ED I

After years of ambivalence, will a week with the Audi R8 make resident motoring nut James Fossdyke fall in love?

t was Mahatma Gandhi who once said confessions made him feel stronger, and I really hope he’s right, because I’m about to deliver a whopper. Here goes… I, James Fossdyke, motoring writer and self-confessed petrol-head, have never liked the Audi R8…

It’s an unpopular opinion, I know, but Audi’s supercar has never been on my wish list. It’s not that the R8 has ever been bad – far from it – but it’s never felt as special as a car with a six-figure asking price should. You don’t spend that money on speed or power; you spend it on something that makes you feel excited and alive and unique.

The Audi has never done that for me, and it’s not the only one. I felt the same way about the McLaren 570S and the previous-generation Bentley Bentayga.

As a result, I’d more or less forgotten the R8 existed until Audi emailed to tell me the car was being updated. The email spoke of a new, more aggressive front end and more power, as well as a reduction in weight. It all sounded good, but I didn’t really perk up until I read the words “more visceral driving experience”. There, in black and white, was a promise that the R8 could become the thing I’d always wanted it to be.

A few months (and a global pandemic) later, with a comically loud bark from the enormous exhaust pipes, the R8 pulled up outside my house. To give it the best chance of tugging at my heartstrings, I’d plumped for the top-of-the-range V10 Quattro Performance. A Spyder, no less, with the folding fabric roof.

From pictures alone, it’s easy to see that mid-life updates have undoubtedly made the R8 more striking. But pictures don’t really do justice to the wide, shouty and angry grille, or the way that theme continues through the chiselled flanks and the wide rear vent. Sadly, the folding roof means small children can’t peer into the engine bay, which is behind the seats, but you do get two absolutely huge exhaust outlets.

From those massive tubes emits an unholy cacophony. At the heart of this car is a furious 5.2-litre V10 petrol engine that’s essentially shared with the Lamborghini Huracan. It’s an old-school lump, devoid of assistance from new-fangled turbochargers or hybrid systems. Instead, it simply gulps down vast quantities of air and petrol, then ignites the explosive mixture thousands of times a minute to create a whopping 612bhp. When you think about it in those terms, it’s no surprise the sound is more war machine than sewing machine.

There are two products of all this fire and brimstone. The first is the aforementioned sound, which is particularly satisfying when it echoes

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Audi R8 Spyder V10 Quattro Performance Carbon Black

from the walls of the tunnels under Manchester Airport, and the second is a huge dollop of speed. With four-wheel drive and massive tyres ensuring none of that might is wasted, the R8 will get from 0-62mph in a little over three seconds. Press your right foot hard against the floor and you’ll keep accelerating all the way to 204mph. Forget the tunnels under the airport, this thing is almost as fast as the aircraft that take off above them.

But this performance doesn’t come at the cost of comfort.

Sure, the Audi’s ride is on the firm side – it is a 204mph supercar, after all – but it’s still civilised. You aren’t jolted around too much, and the seats are surprisingly comfortable.

You do sit a bit high, though, which means those whose feet stick out of the bed might find things a bit cramped when the roof is raised. You get cruise control, satellite navigation and digital instruments, too, so it doesn’t feel as though you’ve bought a garden shed on wheels.

And it certainly doesn’t handle like a shed. The steering is surprisingly light, but it’s wonderfully direct and the response from the front wheels is instantaneous. One minute, you’re going one way, the next you’re going another. And because the R8 has four-wheel drive, it just grips and goes. There’s no wheelspin, no tyre squeal and no drama.

As a result, it’s ridiculously easy to lose your licence in one of these. It’s so stable and forgiving that you can easily forget just how powerful it is,

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and that’s when the boys in Price as Tested: £166,180 blue start taking an interest.

Engine: 5.2-litre V10 petrol Gearbox: 8-speed automatic Squeeze the accelerator Top speed: 204mph gently and the speedometer Power: 612bhp will be reading three figures in 0-62mph: 3.2 secs seconds. It’s appallingly fast.

So, the R8 is a magnificent, majestic feat of engineering, yet there’s a ‘but’ that would make Kim Kardashian feel under-endowed. You see, the R8 might be brilliant, but it still isn’t the mental, maneating monster I’d hoped it would be.

Instead, it’s unerringly competent and German, so it’s too expensive to justify the normality of the cabin, the surefootedness of the chassis and, if we’re brutally honest, the banality of the badge.

Yet for all that, it remains one of the most usable supercars out there. You would never take a Lamborghini Huracan down a narrow country lane, drive it through a puddle or park it in a rough part of Stoke-on-Trent. You’d wrap it in cotton wool and treasure it and treat it like the precious masterpiece it is.

You’d barely use it. The R8, on the other hand, will deal with pretty much anything, meaning you’d drive it come rain or shine. So no, the R8 isn’t as special as a Ferrari, but that’s kind of the point.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

Britain’s Best Car Manufacturer 2o2o Having received a brief of “no more boring cars” from President and CEO, Akio Toyoda, Toyota designers have turned things around and won this year’s prestigious award from Autocar

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utocar, recently named Toyota, Britain’s Best Car Manufacturer 2020. With a reputation for making cars that were reliable, but perhaps a little dull, the range has been invigorated, under the tutelage of President and CEO, Akio Toyoda. Toyota designers have been told “no more boring cars” and this is apparent in the current range, which includes Gazoo Racing versions, of its standard models.

The All New Toyota Yaris, is a prime example of the progress that has been made, in making the brand more exciting and appealing. It offers superb comfort, combined with breathless good looks. The Yaris also benefits from Toyota’s self-charging hybrid technology, which makes it more economical to run than a conventional petrol engine and kinder to the environment.

In September, Toyota Gazoo Racing earned a third consecutive, Le Mans 24 Hours win and Croatian, Ott Tänak, won the 2019, World Rally Championship, in the Toyota Yaris WRC. Incorporating knowledge and technology, from its WRC experience, Toyota have developed the All New GR Yaris, bringing motorsport technology and design, directly to the world of the road car.

The Autocar judges said, “Toyota has transformed itself, into a maker of exciting, enthusiast-focused cars, as well as dynamic, everyday models.”

“The impressive progress made by Toyota over the past decade has reached the point where it can be considered not only the world’s biggest car maker, but also the best.”

Agustín Martín, Toyota (GB) President and Managing Director, said: “It is a proud moment for us to receive this award, which acknowledge both the quality of the hybrid cars we’re making here in Britain today and our greater ambitions for helping create a sustainable future mobility society.”

You can experience the exciting range for yourself, at Lindop Toyota’s dealership, in Queensferry, or visit www.lindoptoyota.co.uk

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NEW TOYOTA C-HR

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REFOCUS Following on from last issue, we continue to scour the region for the best business leaders and meet their indispensable teams

Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

SIMON

WILLIAMS Managing Partner at Joliffe & CO LLP What led you into the industry?

I’ve always been very interested in business and knew I wanted to go down that route, so decided to combine it with something vocational. Law seemed to tick a lot of boxes in terms of things I am good at and things I enjoy doing.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?

Get the right people in the right places and don’t be afraid to make tough decisions. Sounds simple and obvious but it’s a difficult thing to do and we’ve only very recently been able to achieve it,

resulting in the business being in the strongest position it has been in for years.

Has there been a truly pivotal moment for the business?

I don’t think there’s been one defining moment as business is a constantly evolving journey like many things in life.

For me personally it was being introduced to my performance coach Matt Fowler of Incredible Thinkers as he changed the way I think and approach situations, whilst enabling me to think clearly and remain focused during the highs and the lows.

Get the right people in the right places and don’t be afraid to make tough decisions How has lockdown affected your business and how have you responded to the change?

Like most other businesses we suddenly had to all learn to work from home and adapt to a new way of working/living and communicating, which was harder for some people than others but all in all was a resounding success. We decided to use the time to review the business through a microscope and look how efficient we were, something that has proven to be a 92

very useful exercise. We are now in the process of adopting new practice software and have onboarded three new partner level lawyers to the firm. The future will be a mixture of office and home working combined with continual investment in technology. We were conscious of ‘distancing’ given the usual close contact we have with staff and clients, so we have been devising ways of staying close to everyone and have in fact improved lots of our client relationships. www.jolliffes.com

LAURA WOLFE Founder, Road3 and Road3 Concierge

What led you into the industry?

I originally trained as an actress and moved to London to be famous! Like most out of work actors, I ended up working in restaurants, more than I was getting acting work. I took a temporary contract in the events’ team at Merrill Lynch – I stayed four years. I ended up running some major events and sponsorships, travelling all over the world and working at some well-known sporting events.

and working with Vincent and Klaas and his team was the best experience of my working life.

How has lockdown affected your business & how have you responded to the change?

What’s the best piece of Business advice you’ve ever received?

There are a few. Surround yourself with genuine people, who are better than you, and people who inspire you to come to work every day. Over the past ten years, I’ve had some extreme highs and successes and also the deepest lows and failures, when things have got so bad, that I genuinely didn’t want to be here anymore. I made some mistakes. I trusted the wrong people. I put my family through the mill. I thought that the best thing to do was to keep fighting and I made myself ill. I was lucky that I have the most incredible family and friends.

Surround yourself with genuine people... people who inspire you to come to work every day

My brother has been an entrepreneur most of his life and has taught me a lot. His best advice was and still is, “It’s only failure if you don’t learn from it.”

Has there been a truly pivotal moment for the business?

We own and manage the Northwest Football Awards – 2021 will be our tenth year. We’ve developed it into one of the most respected football awards’ events in the country. One year, we honoured Brian Kidd with a lifetime contribution award and Vincent Kompany agreed to come along and present it to him, along with Phil and Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs. Meeting Vincent changed everything for us. We ended up working with him for 18 months, running his Testimonial Season, Tackle4MCR. As a lifelong City fan, it was obviously my dream contract, but what we did over those months will stay with me forever,

In February 2020, after months of work, Road3 was looking forward to bringing the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Awards to Manchester for the first time in their history in April. In March 2020, everything stopped. There were not going to be any events anytime soon.

After spending the first couple of months of lockdown baking cakes and banana bread, running every day and homeschooling my youngest son, I decided that something had to change. From this, my new venture was born. Road3 Concierge manages the demanding lives of sports and entertainment personalities. In September, I moved my first client and his family into their new home, which was exciting. We help our clients with anything and everything and we also help them to use their positions to make a difference to the communities in which they live and work. With years of experience working in football, it seemed like a natural step for me. It’s early days, but it’s been well received and I’m working hard. www.road3.co.uk, www.rd3c.co.uk, www. northwestfootballawards.com 93

HOW BIG IS YOURS? WE’D LOVE TO MEET AN EXPERIENCED

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER w As we continue to grow our leading luxury lifestyle title, we’re doing a little growing of our own.

So we’d love to meet proven sales executives with a love of luxury, a sense of style and a taste for the finer things.

careers@thecheshiremag.co.uk

TRISTAN HARTEY Managing Director at Hartey Wealth Management What led you into the industry?

My father had run a previous company for 30 years, so I had always been interested in financial services. But after the Retail Distribution Review and the banning of commission I really wanted to be involved in helping change the industry and moving away from the old type of financial advice. My father was my earliest business inspiration as he took himself from milking cows in 1989 to creating a multimillion-pound business and speaking at the most prestigious financial services conference in the world in Chicago within 10 years. Additionally, he found the time to create a charitable foundation, and 10 years later after the death of his daughter has put over £50,000 back into the local communities of Cheshire and Shropshire.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?

Turn up early, do what you say you will do and be polite. Always say please and thank you.

Build the best possible team and culture that you can What’s the biggest business lesson you’ve learnt?

Build the best possible team and culture that you can. Many people think that business is all about doing it yourself and this is so untrue. Building a great team takes time which is why over the last 5 years we have taken the time to carefully refine our company culture and make sure that our team are fully involved in the growth of the company.

Has there been a truly pivotal moment for your business?

Attaining our ISO22222 in financial services and the BS8577. This award is only held by 69 firms in the UK and is the equivalent of a Michelin star in our industry. But more importantly, by

achieving this we massively improved our systems and processes. This streamlined everything we do and has allowed us to be more efficient and spend more time focusing on our clients.

How has lockdown affected your business and how have you responded to the changes?

Lockdown has been a mixed bag for us.

Internally and how we service our clients it made no difference. Thanks to our processes we actually had a disaster recovery plan, so we just implemented this. We were able to keep constant contact with our clients through video, email and telephone. Additionally, the team adapted to working from home very quickly. The only major negative is that many of the large companies that we work with to gather information didn’t adapt and still haven’t. This massively slowed things down. Going forward we now know that our portfolios are extremely robust and that the team can adapt to anything that is thrown at them.

Additionally, the move to more digital forms of communication means that we can spend more time with our clients and looking after their needs. www.harteywm.co.uk 95

MEET THE TEAM WEWORK, MANCHESTER Founded in SoHo in NYC and now boasting four sites across Manchester city centre, WeWork has been an international success. We get to know the team behind the scenes and find out what they love about the company and their roles

Lee Fallon

Associate Director, Portfolio Sales UKI What does a day-in-the-life look like for you?

I’m responsible for bringing new clients onboard while managing current member relationships at two of our Manchester locations: Dalton Place and The Hanover Building. This ranges from an entrepreneur taking their first single desk office, right through to enterprise companies taking entire floors!

What is the best part about working for a global company like WeWork?

I love the fact that I am part of a truly global professional network; I am able to engage with and learn from colleagues and members with world-class experience. I equally love that our members are able to leverage our global platform to further their own growth and see many examples of this daily.

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Nosheel Rahi

Community Lead, WeWork Dalton Place What do you love about working in Manchester?

Manchester has been my home since I came to university here 400 years ago (or in 2001) and I naturally never looked back. The city continues to thrive and develop, without losing any of its core appeal: vibrancy, diversity and culture, authenticity and incredibly talented (yet friendly) people. Some argue if it is the ‘second’ city in the UK. I humbly maintain that it’s the ‘first’!

What is your favourite thing about WeWork Dalton Place?

My favourite thing about Dalton Place... it’s hard to pick just one! I love the terrace space on the 6th floor which has incredible panoramic views of Manchester. I also love our fantastic members. My colleagues aren’t half bad either!

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature

Sarah Holling

Community Associate, WeWork No1 Spinningfields What do you enjoy most about working in a WeWork?

WeWork is such a positive space and I honestly love coming to work! Spending time with my incredible team and all of our wonderful members is so fantastic. Our members are such inspiring and creative people - it is never a dull day! Oh, and the dogs of course...

What is your role as Community Associate?

My role is to be the ‘face’ of WeWork No1 Spinningfields. I am the first point of contact for our members at the front desk and I also welcome any guests who stop by. My role is all about member experience and creating a positive, collaborative environment where everybody feels welcome.

Chris Sykes

Community Manager, WeWork No 1 Spinningfields + 1 Peter Square What does your role include?

My role as Community Manager is to ensure our members have a first-class experience whenever they come into our buildings. It’s a complete pleasure to watch our vibrant community connect and collaborate in our spaces.

What do you most enjoy the most about WeWork?

For me, it’s the diversity of our community. We welcome entrepreneurs, start-ups as well as enterprise companies from all industries and backgrounds who love coming into our spaces to feel energised and motivated.

Lynn Mulholland

Facilities Operations Manager, Scotland, North of England & Ireland What does a day-in-the-life look like for you?

I cover 17 buildings across the UK and Ireland; it can vary every day and that’s one of the reasons I love my job! My role is to ensure our members have the best experience in all of our buildings, as well as everything they need to allow them to focus on their work and thrive. I also make sure our spaces are safe and compliant – as a business, we have recently implemented new measures including prioritised personal space, behavioural signage and increased sanitisation.

How does Manchester compare to other cities you cover?

Manchester is one of my favourite cities. It has a strong work culture, and it’s always evolving whilst staying true to its roots. It’s diverse, fun, friendly, resilient and has a strong sense of community and inclusivity – very aligned to WeWork’s culture. It also produced my favourite boy band of all time... Take That! www.wework.com 97

Full Design Service: Interior Architecture Space Planning Bespoke Furniture New Build /Developments Refurbishment Property Enhancement

+44 (0)161 980 4440 sales@elledesign.co.uk www.elledesign.co.uk

Home Old World Glamour

New luxury homeware

brand CČŽCO GIN has launched an exquisite collection of lacquer butler trays designed to raise the spirits and spike the imagination. We are in love with Casati (pictured) which is inspired by those who believe the future lies not in our stars but in ourselves - and in peering through the keyholes to glimpse the secrets of power. Need I say more?

Limited Edition Kingmaker, ÂŁ1,800, www.cocogin.com

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Newconcept concept for for the the active active over New over 55s 55s offering offering beautiful collection collection of of cottages cottages and aabeautiful and apartments. apartments.

Sanctuary, Wilmslow is an exclusive, gated community offering a collection Sanctuary, Wilmslow is an exclusive, gated community offering a collection of stunning 2 & 3 bedroom homes set in an enviable Cheshire location. of stunning 2 & 3 bedroom homes set in an enviable Cheshire location.

This innovative concept from Jones Homes offers bespoke mature living for the active This innovative concept from Jones Homes offers bespoke mature living for the active over 55s looking for something a little different. Our low maintenance, high specification over 55s looking for something a little different. Our low maintenance, high specification homes have all been built with your lifestyle, security and independence in mind. homes have all been built with your lifestyle, security and independence in mind.

With 2 bedroom apartments from £320,000 and 2 & 3 bedroom cottages ready to move into With 2from bedroom apartments from has £320,000 and a 2 better & 3 bedroom move into £365,000, there really never been time to cottages buy your ready dreamto home. from £365,000, there really has never been a better time to buy your dream home.

Arrange your personal appointment to find out more Arrangeand yourview personal appointment find out more our stunning Show to Homes. and view our stunning Show Homes.

The Clubhouse currently being built in the centre of the development will host a range of activities.

It will function as a hub for the new community, offering a fitness suite, hair and beauty treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, residents’ bar, guest lounge and a function room with catering facilities.

Gemma Pownall, Sales and Marketing Director for Jones Homes North West, said: “The Sanctuary concept has evolved from the USA, where Jones Homes has built hundreds of homes for active over 55s. There is high demand for an age-exclusive setting among people who may be approaching retirement age, yet still live extremely busy lives.

They may travel a lot, run a business from home or pursue various leisure activities.

“Sanctuary Wilmslow is a secure environment which offers flexibility, freedom and peace of mind. Residents will have their own front door, plenty of living space and access to the facilities

Sanctuary, Off Coppice Way, Handforth, Wilmslow SK9 3PB 01625 253107

at The Clubhouse for leisure, entertaining friends or meeting new people. Each home has a balcony, garden or both, and pets are welcome.

“Many of the homes can accommodate a lift, either now or in the future, so residents won’t have to face the prospect of a move later in life. We offer tailored domestic or care packages and have a management team on-site who can assist with anything our residents need. We can even help people to sell their current home and arrange removals.”

The location of Sanctuary Wilmslow is ideal for active adults who want to be well connected. The development sits off Coppice Way, close to Handforth Dean Retail Park, within walking distance of Handforth Railway Station and there are gyms, golf clubs and leisure facilities nearby. Manchester Airport is less than 5 miles away.

The Sanctuary concept will soon be launched in Greater Manchester, with work underway on 35 homes for active over 55s in the grounds of the Last Drop Village Hotel in Bolton.

jones-homes.co.uk

Interiors News FINISHING TOUCHES

The very latest news, advice and trends from the world of interior design AD EXCESTIS MAIO BERIBUSCIM VOLUM ACCABOR MOD ET ACCULLUPTUS ET UT QUAS UNTIO EXCERERFERUM WORDS: LOUISA WARDE VELECTIOS MOLORE CORUM VOLUPTI AUT INVEL IUS APELIGNITIIS INIS NON CONEM IL IPSAM, CUPTATE MPELLOREMPOS EST UT ET RE RE, SAM LAUT QUUNTIOS MOD MAIO. ITAE QUISTOT ATEMPOR EHENDIT EIUNT

THE COLOURS OF CHRISTMAS

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The festive season is upon us and this month we are inspired by the traditional red and green decorating of the tree, the holly berries and the jolly fella’s suit.

1- Scarlett Bed,, £879, www.livingitup.co.uk 2- Kiss Me Quick Poster, £4.95, www.desenio.com 3- Red Lacquer Four Door Sideboard, circa 1900, £1,245, www.shimu.co.uk 4- The GPO 746 Push Button Red Telephone, £70, www.gporetro.com 5- Catherine Rowe Velvet Cushion, £80, www.charltonisland.com 6- Cia Round Velvet Ottoman, Forest Green, £699, www.peppersq.com

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Home

3 OF THE BEST… BRIGHT BAUBLES

UNIQUE

PAPER ART

GARLAND

Murano Glass Bauble,

Honeycomb Bauble Set of Six,

Large Rainbow Baubles and Tinsel Garland,

£75, www.cultureof.art

£45, www.oka.com

£60, www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk

CREATING HEIRLOOMS I am in awe of portrait painters and so when I heard from renowned Londonbased portrait painter Fanny Rush, I had to include her work. The true art is in capturing the spirit and personality of the sitter and Fanny has learned to immortalise the characters by studying the Old Masters and interpreting them with her own contemporary eye. A new family heirloom that will transcend the digital age. www.fannyrush.com

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Home | The CHESHIRE Magazine

· TA K E T W O · LOVE SEATS

One to Watch

FINISHING TOUCHES

AD EXCESTIS MAIO BERIBUSCIM VOLUM ACCABOR MOD ET ACCULLUPTUS ET UT QUAS UNTIO EXCERERFERUM VELECTIOS MOLORE CORUM VOLUPTI AUT INVEL IUS APELIGNITIIS INIS NON CONEM IL IPSAM, CUPTATE MPELLOREMPOS EST UT ET RE RE, SAM LAUT QUUNTIOS MOD MAIO. ITAE QUISTOT ATEMPOR EHENDIT EIUNT

ICON Milano Velvet Love Seat Bean Bag, £159.99, www.beanbagbazaar.co.uk

MADE BELOW

Bold Monkey Don’t Love Me Love Seat, £1,049, www.cuckooland.com

POOKY X MATTHEW WILLIAMSON Inspired by a mutual love of bright colours and patterns, the fabulous people at Pooky have teamed up with Matthew Williamson to create a brand new collection of decorative lampshades, marrying playful design and diverse aesthetic references to create a collection of bold and beautiful pieces. Perfect for making a statement in your home.

From £35, www.pooky.com

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Launched in lockdown, Made Below celebrates the best of British through handcrafting pieces using sustainable local wood and fabrics from England’s oldest mills. With benches, footstools, ottomans and bay window duos, upholsterer and owner, Charlotte Cochrane offers affordable luxury to be treasured for generations. www.madebelow.co.uk

Subscribe Would you like to be part of the family, receiving Cheshire’s premiere lifestyle magazine right to your front door each month, you can now subscribe easily online. Get your own, beautifully printed copy from as little as £3.50. We offer three simple subscription options in print or digital formats:

Month to Month £2.50ea (digital) Six months £4.00ea Eleven months £3.50ea

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Total cost for an annual subscription of the printed magazine is from as little as £38.50, including taxes, packing and postal charges. Subscriptions are available for single, six months or twelve month periods in digital or print formats. Available for delivery to the UK. For international deliveries or bulk purchases for your or a business, please contact The Cheshire Magazine on 01244 955 957 or email hello@thecheshiremag.co.uk

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HANDPICKED INTERIORS Who are we?

We’re a Cheshire based home interior company specialising in handpicked furniture and bespoke designs. We search for, and carefully select an extensive range of luxury, affordable and unique designs for your perfect home.

What we Offer?

We offer a collection of chosen furniture and homeware items from solid oak tables hand-built in our Cheshire workshop to artisan leather chairs. Our interior design team are constantly searching for the latest trends to ensure theres something for every home.

Our Workshop Our workshop is based in the heart of Cheshire. We have a dedicated small team of skilled designers that are able to create and furniture to suit your home and style. We work with local timber suppliers to find some of the finest materials to make your vision a reality.

Our Online Store All our products are available on our website at

www.fordandgrey.co.uk Any bespoke queries please visit the bespoke section or email directly to

service@fordandgrey.co.uk As a gift from us to you we would like to offer you a 20% discount on your first order with code Cheshire20 *Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer

Home Homes and Interiors The CHESHIRE Magazine |

Feature

CHRISTMAS w ith

THE DESIGNERS

Always looking to be inspired we catch up with four designers and find out just what the festive season means for them 107

Home | The CHESHIRE Magazine

FINISHING TOUCHES AD EXCESTIS MAIO BERIBUSCIM VOLUM ACCABOR MOD ET ACCULLUPTUS ET UT QUAS UNTIO EXCERERFERUM VELECTIOS MOLORE CORUM VOLUPTI AUT INVEL IUS APELIGNITIIS INIS NON CONEM IL IPSAM, CUPTATE MPELLOREMPOS EST UT ET RE RE, SAM LAUT QUUNTIOS MOD MAIO. ITAE QUISTOT ATEMPOR EHENDIT EIUNT

LORNA SYSON Independent designer Lorna Syson founded her studio in 2009 and takes her inspiration from the indigenous flora and fauna of Great Britain, invoking memories of holidays in Cornwall and country walks with her dog, Jenkins. www.lornasyson.co.uk What is Christmas all about for you?

“I love decorating for Christmas, I have hand-medown decorations that remind me of setting up the Christmas tree as a child and I always buy a special decoration each year so I can slowly build up my collection. It creates a really eclectic mix!

“We have a small family so it’s easy to catch up with everyone and have a festive feast around the table, although this year maybe slightly different! We try and head out with the dogs for long winter walks and step away from work for a week which is a real treat” What is on your Christmas wishlist? #1 Onaie Sheepskin Slippers, £26, www.onaie.com #2 Eden Perfume, they match to your favourite scents without the parabens, £18, www.edenperfumes.co.uk #3 Abstract Face Planter, £26, www.roseandgrey.co.uk

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#3

Homes and Interiors

ANNIE SLOAN Artist Annie Sloan invented her revolutionary furniture paint in 1990 and hasn’t looked back. A fine artist, author and industry go-to for all things design, Annie was born in Australia to a Scottish father and a Fijian mother and loves her world roots. www.anniesloan.com What is Christmas all about for you?

“Christmas is a time for family, feasting and forty winks! It’s a time to go back to basics and enjoy the simple things in life that we take for granted. Relaxing, spending time with loved ones and enjoying food together.”

What is on your Christmas wishlist? #1 Top of my wish list is seeing my eldest son, Henry, who lives in Brazil. I think it’s going to be hard this year for families to be together this Christmas, and I really wish that wasn’t the case.

It’s what Christmas is all about for me. But in terms of gifts that can be bought I’d love… #2 Irena Sibrijns Stripe Bowl, £78, www.shop.charleston.org.uk If someone is feeling very extravagant I’d love one of Polly Fern’s ceramics, www.pollyfern.com #3 I also love these hand-painted cushions from Raj Tent Club of cow, £45, www.rajtentclub.com

#2

#3

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Home | The CHESHIRE Magazine

JONATHAN ADLER Potter, designer, and author Jonathan Adler launched his namesake brand after leaving his day job to pursue his first love of pottery. Today his design company is spreading modern American glamour AD EXCESTIS MAIO BERIBUSCIM VOLUM ACCABOR MOD ET ACCULLUPTUS ET UT QUAS UNTIO EXCERERFERUM across the world.

VELECTIOS MOLORE CORUM VOLUPTI AUT INVEL IUS APELIGNITIIS INIS NON CONEM IL IPSAM, CUPTATE MPELLOREMPOS uk.jonathanadler.com

FINISHING TOUCHES

EST UT ET RE RE, SAM LAUT QUUNTIOS MOD MAIO. ITAE QUISTOT ATEMPOR EHENDIT EIUNT

What is Christmas all about for you?

“I grew up Jewish so most of my childhood holiday memories center around a Menorah or the dinner table. Now I fancy myself as a sort of Christmas elf – working all year to make gifts that everyone dreams about. Every day that I get to wake up and snuggle my mutt, FoxyLady, feels like a gift to me. The Rolex my husband gave me ain’t bad either.”

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Home Homes and Interiors The CHESHIRE Magazine |

ANDREW CUSSINS Founder of Sofas & Stuff, Andrew noticed a gap in the market back in 2002 for bespoke, handmade, British sofas and beds. Having sold his previous business Sofa Workshop he developed his vision and now, the brand prides itself on being able to design and create bespoke furniture pieces using any fabric in the world. www.sofasandstuff.com What is Christmas all about for you?

“For me, Christmas is all about family. I have four children - three of whom live abroad - so we don’t see as much of them as we’d like to. The perfect Christmas Day would involve laughter over good food, and preferably a long walk along West Wittering beach in West Sussex, near to where I live.

Not forgetting the ritual humiliation of a family board game.”

“When it comes to decorating, I’m all about natural materials, muted colour schemes and oodles of linen. I love a layered look that ages gracefully and gives the impression that it’s been added to over the course of a lifetime.”

What is on your Christmas wishlist?

“This year, my wish list is simple: happiness, health and job security for my children.”

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•

6 Bed Villa For Sale •

Marbella, Elviria, Málaga, Spain Impressive and fully renovated villa situated in the exclusive area of Elviria, an incomparable environment of nature with breath-taking views of the Mediterranean coast and Africa. This amazing modern style villa built over 3 levels enjoys an elevated position within private gardens assuring the utmost privacy, yet is only 5 minutes from Marbella’s best beaches and a short drive away from Marbella centre.

Reference: CSP-V1712 • Sale: 5,995,000€ • Beds / Baths: 6 / 6 • Built / Plot: 792m² / 3,579m² info@crystalshore-properties.com

www.crystalshore-properties.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Home

Property News The top homes and news from the property market WORDS: LOUISA WARDE

SAVE THE DATE The contents of the stunning Aynhoe Park, stately home and exclusive venue, are going up for auction next year. The two-day sale will take place on 20 and 21 January, 2021 and, as we go to print, we haven’t received all the details.

However, auctioneers Dreweatts, has promised a wide array of artwork, furniture, sculpture and other curiosities and that a catalogue will be following soon. Watch this space‌ www.dreweatts.com

TO RENOVATE OR RELOCATE

HIDDEN TREASURES If you feel that access ramps to your basement are unsightly then Ideal Park has the solution, a hidden elevator garage. Obviously, you need the underground space but this super-quiet car lift with a roof covering (upon which another car can be parked, but not when in motion) disappears into the ground as if by magic.

Custom-designed it can fit in with every architectural context. www.idealpark.com

A recent survey revealed that 78 per cent of Brits are unhappy with their homes as lockdown has us a little restless, but instead of moving, people are looking for fixer-uppers. Belfast (60%), Brighton (35%) and Hull (31%) were in the top five for listed houses for sale which need renovation.

Out of the top twenty Salford (21%), Chester (21%) and Liverpool (18%) offered fewer fixer-uppers and the most ready-to-move into homes. www.myjobquote.co.uk

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RENAISSANCE LONDON

FIREPLACE AND LIGHTING SPECIALIST Renaissance London, 193 - 195 City Road, Shoreditch, London, EC1V 1JN www.renaissancelondon.com T:020 7251 8844 E:info@renaissancelondon.com FOLLOW US

@RENAISSANCELONDON

Q&A

with

BRIAN WARING, FOUNDER OF CRAFT EDITIONS

How would you describe yourself ?

My passion outside of work has always been craft, nature and the environment and I try to give back to society in my roles as a Business Mentor for the Prince’s Trust and as a volunteer with Dogs for Good, a wonderful organisation that trains assistance dogs for adults and young people with disabilities. I would also describe myself as a husband, son, brother and friend.

Tell us a bit more about you I was born in Ireland and came to London over 30 years ago. I spent the next 25 years in the business world in various marketing roles for large international brands. In 2017 I started Craft Editions, having always had a passion for craft and design. In doing so I realised a long-held ambition to start my own business.

Who are your greatest influences?

My greatest influence has always been my parents and their positive approach to life. Beyond that I am hugely inspired by great figures in history such as Nelson Mandela and Ruth Bader-Ginsburg. There are so many people to choose from who have fought for what they passionately believed in with the aim of making the world a better place.

What have been some of your best jobs/experiences at work and why?

More recently with Craft Editions, I have loved travelling to new places and meeting a huge diversity of interesting people. When visiting Ireland and South Africa, I am always energised by meeting new craftspeople and by learning how they have developed and honed their craft.

Traditional vs contemporary style?

Probably traditional with a contemporary twist, and I think Craft Editions is a fusion of the two. But If I had to pick one, I would say traditional. My family has strong links to farming and the country, and this is where my heart is.

What would you consider your greatest achievement?

Although I have done a lot in my corporate career, launching Craft Editions and building it over the last three years feels like is one of my greatest achievements. However, being in a happy relationship with someone I love for 25 years, easily ranks above everything.

What would your superpower be?

To speak multiple languages would be amazing. The ability to communicate is central to all we do, and I would love to be able to speak fluently in local languages as I travel to different countries. www.crafteditions.co.uk

P.S. Last book you read?

I have recently finished The Green Road by Anne Enright, which I loved. I am a big fan of Irish authors such as Edna O’Brien, Joseph O’Connor and Colm Tobin. I am currently enjoying Real Life by Brandon Taylor, which is shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Dream buy?

A cottage in the Scottish Highlands. I would love the seclusion and being surrounded by nature. I expect the dogs would love it too!

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Hot Property

ESCAPE CUTTING EDGE SUPERYACHT WITH A CONSCIENCE £POA

W

orld leading custom superyacht builder, Feadship, is once again raising the bar in superyacht innovation as it unveils designs for its latest project, Escape. Once built, Escape will offer the next level of luxury through a variety of unique and cutting edge features designed to fully embrace the notion of freedom, whilst also creating a greener footprint leading the way in what is truly possible if you dare to dream.

The stylish and super sleek exterior will introduce passengers to

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a world of surprises once onboard, from a spectacular moon pool providing a 360-degree view of the underwater world, to a greenhouse where owners can grow their own herbs and vegetables. Meanwhile, a private submarine and myCopter - a personal drone helicopter - will enable passengers to

‘secretly’ escape and explore their surroundings by sea and sky.

At the epicentre, the atrium will be a communal space for family and friends to gather around the moon pool. Filled with sea water, the moon pool doubles as a secret submarine landing zone, as well as a swimming pool where passengers

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Home

can enjoy inter-deck splashes via the giant slide, or take the panoramic glass elevator into the sea to marvel at the surrounding ocean fish tank. Meanwhile, the garden and greenhouse will create a healthy onboard ambience and space to fully switch off, also complemented by a state-of-the-art wellness area featuring a spa, sauna and massage room.

With a number of green innovations, a standout feature will be the 700 square metres of solar panelling, which will be a first for a yacht of this size. Plus, a number of other technologies have been designed to enable fuel consumption savings of up to an impressive 35 per cent, whilst providing excellent maneuverability at full speed, silent electric cruising and a wealth of redundancy options.

Sustainable technologies will also include hybrid propulsion, plus an enthalpy wheel to pre-cool the AC intake with exhaust air, as well as reheat AC air with waste heat from the generators.

A concept definitely worthy of being labelled hot property. www.feadship.nl/designs/escapeÂ

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Home | Homes and Interiors The CHESHIRE Magazine

And Finally ...

MADE FOR CELEBRATING Garden Trading’s new Christmas Entertaining collection is perfect for the big day lunch, a festive cocktail party or even a slice of Christmas cake for elevenses. No excuse not to dine in style.

Berkeley Wine Glasses (4), £28, Tumblers (4), £22, Ithaca Dinner Plate, £18, Marble Coasters (4), £18, Linen Napkins (4), £25, www.gardentrading.co.uk

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