JANUARY 2022 s ISSUE 091
SKI HARD,
Look Flawless Black Crow’s new collection
New Starts
with the Speakmans
Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine
P R O PO POS SE with Powells
Fine Jewellery Michaele Valentine, Engagement Ring Specialist at the family-run jewellers in Chester, offers her essential guide to engagement rings
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s we say hello to 2022, many couples may be thinking of starting a new chapter together by taking that next step in their relationship. With the romantic atmosphere in full swing due to Valentine’s Day approaching, perhaps you are considering getting down on one knee? For many, this day is the most romantic day of the year. After spending the last few months surrounded by friends and family, Valentine’s Day is an intimate time for couples to purely focus on one another, thus making this day the perfect opportunity for a proposal. Here at Powells Fine Jewellery, we have an array of engagement rings worthy of representing your unique love story.
4.32ct Round Brilliant Cut Solitaire £97,000
If you are looking to take it up a notch, a diamond such as this would certainly leave her speechless. A wise man once said... “more diamond, more sparkle!” This ring signifies only the best for your beloved, it is a statement through and through, making it the ultimate symbol of your everlasting love.
Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Solitaire – £3,340
Round brilliant cut diamonds are without a doubt the most favoured cut of the 21st century. This is due mostly because of their ability to display an incredible amount of fire and brilliance. This classic four claw with an offset twist lets the diamond do all the talking... after all, it is the star of the show isn’t it? 34
Marquise & Pear Cut Ring – £34,500.00
This ring is a particular favourite of mine. Marquise cuts are known for their abundant elegance; their slender, boat shaped appearance draws in the eye and is said to elongate the finger. I find this effect to be very flattering on most hand types and as a whole, this ring has a very feminine feel to it.
Asscher Cut Diamond Halo Ring – £8,500
Your love story is unique, so it seems befitting to propose with a ring just as special, doesn’t it? Asscher cut diamonds are the embodiment of Art Deco. Their clean-cut lines and geometric form feel right at home in the roaring 20s. Their iconic style has proven popular amongst celebrities such as Pippa Middleton, Elizabeth Taylor and Jessica Alba.
2.01ct Oval Cut Diamond Ring – £38,900.00
This GIA certified D colour oval is exceptional, to say the least. It will surely leave a remarkable impression with your bride-to-be and with envious onlookers. Invented in the mid 1900s, this cut has already proven to be a long-lasting and beloved style. A ring as beautiful as this deserves to be flaunted.
Cushion Cut Trilogy Diamond Ring £11,875.00
Three stone rings are one of the most coveted amongst brides-to-be due to their classic yet contemporary, fashionforward design. Three stone engagement rings have an even deeper meaning that symbolises friendship, love, and fidelity. With this heartfelt symbolism, this ring would undeniably make for an excellent option.
1ct Round Brilliant & Baguette Diamond Ring - £9,745
For those looking for an engagement ring that’s a little out of the ordinary, this could be the one for you. This ring possesses a timeless appeal thanks to the round brilliant cut diamond set within. Not only that, but the baguette cut diamonds that flank the centre stone give this ring an all round Art Deco feel.
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Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine
Mountain Touring, Merino Long Sleeve Line Tee, €109.95 ; Mountain Touring, Freebird Xpore Pant, €499.95 36
The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style
SKI HA HARD,
Loo k Look F l a wl wlee ss This winter, France-based brand, Black Crows has set the bar for innovation in high-performance ski wear. Their new collection incorporates new fabrics that expand the possibilities for comfort and function, while valuing sustainability and ethical practices, whilst maintaining uncompromising style and distinctive aesthetic appeal
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he collection, for men’s and womenswear, comprises Big Mountain, Mountain Touring, and All-Terrain categories that feature silhouettes designed with ultraspecific sport and adventure in mind. The Black Crows design process creates pieces that are highly specialised with seamless cuts and sleek, minimal colourways. This season dials in the fit of each outfit, so that when you ski hard, you look flawless. The Big Mountain category centres around the Ora silhouettes, designed for freeride and off-piste skiing: it’s minimal, ergonomic, and practical. The Ora xpore ripstop silhouette, with bib and jacket, is composed of Xpore fabric, an all-weather, highly breathable material that uses the most eco-sustainable performance textile technology available. The Xpore membrane is entirely waterproof but breathable and is also free of all chemical solvents, so it’s 100% non-toxic. The Ora body map silhouette incorporates Polartec alpha direct active insulation, the newest in adaptable tech fabric that repels moisture and continuously releases excess body heat. All of the Ora pieces are designed to be elegant armour on the mountain: protective, intuitive and stylish. The Mountain Touring category, for mountain skiing and randonnée, is made up of the Freebird silhouettes, which are dependable and lightweight.
These pieces, from the lightest wool jackets to waterproof xpore protective outer layers, are sport-focused, and specifically designed for comfort to carry you from the near to the far side of the mountain. Each ultra-specific need is seamlessly integrated into the design, from pocket placement to the flawless fit between layers, so you can feel light and go far. All Terrain silhouette, the Ferus, is designed for all-terrain, freeride and resort skiing. The pieces are insulating and innovative, with a refined style that suits all phases of the day at the resort. Warmth and comfort are a necessity, and style is thoughtful and executed to the highest standard. For this season, 100% of the collection is made in European factories, and collections utilise ecofriendly Xpore fabrications, a shift that represents Black Crows’ eco-consciousness and efforts to preserve the environment and climate that brings so much joy. All down in coats (like the Ora micro down jacket and the Freebird expe down jacket) is 100% traceable duck down and feathers, so the welfare of the birds is respected at every stage. For the first time ever, Black Crows are also introducing new active layers in merino wool: long and short sleeve base layers cut to fit perfectly under Black Crows outwear. 39
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pening its doors for the first time in early November 2021, The Gantry is a design-led urban resort complete with upscale modern suites, a dedicated sparkling bar Coupe, Union Social for all day dining, and an artisanal food market from The Stratford Grocer with an integrated café on the ground floor.
Location Situated 6 minutes from Kings Cross and a stone's throw from Stratford International station, The Gantry is ideally located for visitors wanting to explore the local area, from Westfield to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and is the perfect base for those wanting to go further afield into the capital.
Restaurant & Bar The food offering at Union Social is a relaxed all-day menu with a global edge, reflective of London’s dynamic food scene and international population. Hailing from Sicily, Executive Chef Salvatore Coco, has travelled extensively and his menus reflect this, featuring flavours from all around the world, while elevating local produce from the Southeast of England. Small plates include Genovese Focaccia, Bottega’s cured cuts with fresh cheese and prawn croquettes with aioli while larger plates range from tarragon risotto with roasted autumnal vegetables, sesame glazed sea trout with white miso tamari-mirin infused ginger broth and Greek lamb meatballs, tzatziki, pickled red onion with pine nuts. A menu of healthy salads packed full of grains are light enough for guests looking for a quick lunch or mid-afternoon snack, and ideal for laptoptoting professionals working from the venue. The drinks offering at Union
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weekend away
The Gantry London Craig Hough enjoyed a stay at The Gantry Hotel, Stratford, a design-led hotel in East London Social has been created by Walter Pintus, an award-winning mixologist who has been involved in some of London’s finest institutions from The Ritz and The Connaught to The Mandrake and most recently The Conduit. Union Social’s ‘Travelling Urban Flavours’ cocktail menu will feature classics with a twist; where a Paloma is infused with British beetroot and thyme and a Piña Colada is finished with a touch of salted caramel. There is also an extensive wine and spirits list to delight all tastes and occasions. Coupe at Union Social is The Gantry’s very own Sparkling Bar. Occupying an eye-catching illuminated counter bar, with its own banquette seating and outdoor terrace, Coupe at Union Social will offer an ever-changing menu of effervescent specialities, from championing English sparkling wine to introducing the newest Hard Seltzers. Guests will be able to choose from some of the UK’s finest fizz from revered estates such as Gusbourne and Rathfinny, as well as enjoying Champagne,
The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel
its 18th floor in Spring next year. With floor to ceiling windows, the sky bar will form the cocktail epicentre of The Gantry and the much-anticipated venue will offer a truly iconic sunset across the capital when the bar and outdoor terraces come alive with live music and DJs.
Our Visit
Prosecco, and a concise list of sparkling cocktails and spritzes.
Guest Rooms and Suites The hotel has an incredible 290-rooms and we enjoyed a stay in a King Deluxe Room with Olympic Park panoramic view, with a complimentary set of binoculars included within the room to see every detail. The room also boasted a 49” screen HD TV, toiletries by Grown Alchemist and a gorgeous Chaise longue to kick back and relax on.
Coming Soon Literally setting the bar high for al fresco partying in 2022, The Gantry will welcome the highest rooftop bar in East London when it opens
The Gantry is the fourth property within the Curio Collection in the capital and offers guests the perfect East London location. Russell and the front of house team could not have been more welcoming on arrival and were quick to check us in and deal with our enquiries. The level of service flowed throughout the hotel as we enjoyed dinner with Executive Chef Salvatore Coco, who prepared the meal in the open plan kitchen as we took in the atmosphere. The serving team were incredibly enthusiastic about working at the new venue and had a great knowledge of the menus. Their excitement for the upcoming opening of the sky bar really shone through, and you can see this will be one East London hotspot to watch leading into the warmer months.
Personal Note With shopping on your doorstep and travel links a stone’s throw away, The Gantry is the ideal East London location for a chic stay in the capital. With a rooftop bar on the horizon, book in for their summer parties now before it’s too late. www.thegantrylondon.com 75
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Case Study
The Ophelia House Manuela Hamilford, owner of luxury interior design studio, Hamilford Design, describes the process behind creating a Cotswold Chalet-style family home
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he Ophelia House at The Lakes by Yoo, which spans an impressive 4,000 sq. ft. in the Cotswold, is lovingly named after their daughter, which gives an indication of just how personal this second home is to the owners. The project was commissioned by a family of four from Chislehurst, Kent who wanted somewhere special to spend quality time together, particularly over the holiday and Christmas periods. The brief was to create a relaxed Chalet-style home that felt at one with its natural surroundings. We used reclaimed wood, sourced from farms in France on the kitchen cupboard fronts, along with traditional looking finger pull drawers for storing vegetables and potatoes on the side of the island. These were subtle nods to the rural life the family enjoy when they stay here. We wanted to avoid making the kitchen look too heavy and dark, so we added ribbed glass cupboards and a lighter coloured concrete island top, with industrial-style kitchen pendants to complete the modern look. The fireplace is made from reclaimed brick stone and has this stunning black stone detailing which you see when the light hits the surface. The floors are wide plank dark farm wood, which are full of knots and nail heads to give that relaxed lived
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Homes and Interiors
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