The Cheshire Magazine - March 21

MARCH 2021 s ISSUE 083

Step Inside

LUXURY With The Residences at Mandarin Oriental

From Moment

to Movement

Meet the Red Carpet Green Dress CEO making a difference

A Place in the

Sun: Away Laura Hamilton advises on buying abroad

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MARCH 2021 s ISSUE 083 s

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

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A Note From...

A

Where to find us...

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

LIVERPOOL

s we get set for spring and look to spruce up our surroundings, this issue we focus on homes and interiors. We start by talking to Peter Grech about his experience on BBC’s Interior Design Masters (p.8).

We learn more about Interior Designer Janey Butler (p.36), inspect new home gadgets (p.38), take advice from property expert Laura Hamilton on buying abroad (p.62) and highlight some stunning holiday homes to rent and buy (p.65).

In our Style pages we look at Gucci’s Timepieces and Fine Jewellery collections (p.24), talk to the CEO of Red Carpet Green Dress (p.20), and meet the VP Creative Director’s behind Pandora (p.22).

Elsewhere in the issue, we talk to Liverpool talent Leon Lopez (p. 14) on his transition from acting to working behind the camera on Britain’s longestrunning soap, Coronation Street. We also share Chanel’s new fragrance in Health, Beauty and Wellness (p. 73) and test drive the Mercedes-Benz GLA within our Drive section (p. 120).

Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar 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

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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Our home and interiors issue is filled with plenty more hidden Easter eggs for you to find and enjoy.

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Contents

HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLNESS

A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITES

14 62 20

73

LIVIN’ LA VIDA LOPEZ

The Liverpool talent talks his transition from actor to director

HEAR ME ROAR

Introducing Le Lion De Chanel

FAMILY

A PLACE IN THE SUN : AWAY

82

PET’S CORNER

FROM MOMENT TO MOVEMENT

86

TO BOARD OR NOT TO BOARD?

Laura Hamilton advises on buying abroad

The CEO of Red Carpet Green Dress shares her story

A look at what happened to the canine passengers on the HMS Titanic

We focus on flexi-boarding

HOME

REGULARS

08

MY LIFE...

Peter Grech star of Interior Design Masters and Director of The SpaceMaker Interiors shares his life in Cheshire with us

STYLE

22 24

5 MINUTES WITH… PANDORA

We meet the VP Creative Director’s behind the brand

VINTAGE GUCCI

A look at Gucci’s Timepieces and Fine Jewellery collections

38

INSPECT A GADGET

54

STEP INSIDE LUXURY

61

HOLIDAY HOMES

Recycle your old gadgets and spruce up your home with the latest technology

With the Residences at Mandarin Oriental

We take a look at some hot properties currently on the market

FOOD & DRINK

97

SPOTLIGHT ON…

The Devonshire Arms Hotel’s three-course gourmet recipe box

TRAVEL

57

107 MEET THE HOTELIER We meet the owners and general managers of some of the world’s greatest hotels

DRIVE TWINKLE, 120 TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR

James Fossdyke takes the Mercedes-Benz GLA for a spin

My life ...

PETER GRECH , PRINCIPAL DESIGNER AND DIRECTOR OF THE SPACEMAKER INTERIORS LTD.

How would you describe yourself ?

I am passionate and creative. I love pouring myself fully into everything I do. If it’s a client project I totally embrace the home as my own and make sure every decision I make is true to my vision and something I would do in my own home. I enjoy the creative journey I take with my clients and love being inspired by their stories to help me create a truly bespoke and personal space for them.

Where is home? And work?

Home is Altrincham and Malta. It is so true what they say, that home is where the heart is. I love living in Altrincham, there is such a great community here and loads of places to hang out. Malta is where I grew up and where most of my family and friends are, so I will always think of there as home too.

Work is everywhere. Recent projects have been in Cheshire and London and I work with clients across the UK, helping them realise the value and opportunities in their properties and creating beautiful spaces.

What did you want to be when you were younger?

I dreamt of being a pop singer, but I can’t sing very well. I have always been passionate and obsessed about design so it was inevitable that I would find my way back to it in the end.

“It’s a very exciting time for me and I cannot wait to share it all with people who love great design” Name a few of your favourite places to be...

My favourite restaurant has to be Osteria del Tempo Perso in Ostuni, Puglia. Best food ever! The MOMA in NYC is my favourite place for art. The Dauphine Market in Paris for the most incredible antiques experience. And Fisherman’s Bastions in Budapest, Hungary has the most romantic scenery.

What or who inspires you?

I find artists and their work very inspiring. The way they see and feel the world, and interpret it in their medium has always fascinated me. I love what happens from the artist’s perception, interpretation and expression and how the end result goes through the same process again on the viewers side.

What was the last gift you gave someone?

I organised a little treasure hunt for my husband on Valentine’s Day. It’s always fun to gift someone an experience rather than just an object.

Tell us a secret/fun fact?

I love languages. I can speak Maltese, English, German and Italian! But I was awful at languages when at school. My love for them came from travel later in life.

Who or what would you place in room 101?

Single use plastic.

What’s been your biggest life lesson?

You can spend your entire life making decisions to try and make other people happy, but in the end, you need to make sure that your decisions make you happy – and your happiness will make others around you happy too.

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

“I thought the show would be a great opportunity for me to showcase my love for design and challenge myself to work on commercial spaces”

What was the moment you decided to leave your role as a Doctor and follow your true passion of design?

I had always loved design and chose to do medicine as a safe option but throughout my career I always knew I wanted to transition into a more creative and design focused job, and medicine would never do that for me. I got to a stage where I had to do yet another set of exams, and I was working all hours of the day (and night) with very poor work life balance, and decided I had enough. I was done compromising on my dreams, so I took some time out to really reflect on it and make sure I was happy with my decision – and with the help of my husband, I took the plunge and resigned and worked on my journey into the design world. There is not one day that I ever regret that decision.

How did you find the transition from healing people to making their design dreams come to life?

There are a lot of transferrable skills between medicine and design.

You have to listen to people properly to be able to understand what it is they want and need from you. Being able to solve their dilemmas comes from knowing your strengths, and your weaknesses. Knowing who to call for help and where to get answers from. These are true for both jobs.

The plus side for me now is I am back in control of my time and my hours. I get to be the boss and that is great. The con is that you have to learn how to be a boss – which is an interesting journey as well as a chore.

How did your appearance on BBC’s Interior Design Masters come about?

I had met a number of the contestants of the previous series at an event I had gone to and they all encouraged me to participate. The application was a series of interviews, video calls and mock briefs. I thought the show would be a great opportunity for me to showcase my love for design and challenge myself to work on commercial spaces – as the majority of my work so far has been residential.

What were you biggest challenges working on the show?

The hardest challenges were designing and sourcing within the super tight deadlines and budgets. Neither of which are representative of design in the real world. This along with the fact that I took the show a bit too seriously. I treated every challenge like I would a real client, which isn’t really appropriate for a TV show.

Looking back at your time on the show what new skills did you learn and what is your biggest take away?

I learnt how to sew, very basic stuff, but it is an incredibly useful skill. My biggest takeaway was a re-affirmation in my design principals of delivering high quality, incredible value design services to my clients.

Are there any behind- the-scene secrets you can share?

The sofa time is around an hour or so in total, sometimes longer.

As there are many lengthy conversations about the design decisions behind each space and answering questions from the judges. I would always ask a lot of questions back to the judges to try and learn as much as possible. This obviously gets edited down to a few minutes. Alan is always very warm and hilarious. He is a very genuine person and had great banter with some of the contestants.

What does the future look like for The Space Maker?

I am currently working on around 10 residential projects in the UK and overseas with some commercial spaces and brand collaborations and product lines in the pipelines. It’s a very exciting time for me and I cannot wait to share it all with people who love great design. www.thespacemaker.net

9

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

NOTEBOOK WORDS: CRAIG HOUGH

Forest Fables Delamere Forest plays

host to the ultimate Easter family experience. The event will begin by reading the book ‘Peter Rabbit’s Easter Egg Hunt’ and guests will then be invited to take part in related activities including a craft and a mini Easter hunt! There will also be the opportunity for all children to enjoy free play in the swing, hammock, obstacle course and mud kitchen.

Peter Rabbit Easter Egg Hunt, April 1 @ 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm, £10, www.forest-explorers.co.uk

11

Regulars | The CHESHIRE Magazine

oof

The Best...

Easter Delights

1

With Easter just around the corner, The Cheshire Magazine take a look at some alternative treats for your friends and family

3

Lakrids by Bülow

This Easter, a luxury Danish confectionary brand, new to the UK are introducing an alternative to classic Easter Eggs - Lakrids by Bülow.

These limited-edition Easter Eggs are filled with the finest chocolate coated liquorice spheres in both Crispy Caramel and Twisted Banana flavours, perfect for a self- indulgent treat or as a special gift.

RRP £25.00, www.lakridsbybulow.co.uk

2

Escape Room in a Box

Perfect for special occasions during lockdown and suitable for all the family, creating an escape room at home provides hours of entertainment! Teamwork, creativity, logic, and attention to detail will be needed to unlock the door and make your escape in time! The escape rooms are designed for 3-6 players, so are the perfect gift to keep the family entertained this Easter.

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12

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Feature | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Livin’ La Vida Lopez Craig Hough speaks to the Liverpool’s Leon Lopez to discuss his ever-evolving career and transformation from actor to director

Actor, singer-songwriter, West End performer, model and now, film and television director – have I missed anything out? Of all the roles mentioned which do you take most enjoyment from?

Ha ha. I think you’ve been more than generous with what you have listed so maybe leave it at that!

I love everything that I get to do. As an actor you spend most of your time out of work so whenever I get to do a job I love, I am grateful. But at the moment I love directing. I don’t really miss acting as much as I thought I would, but that’s maybe because I still get to work in that field -just in a different way. Technically I’ve not given up acting.

Directing jobs book you so much further in advance, and one job has led to another and now I have work booked in until February next year, which is almost unheard of as an actor unless you’re in a long running show. So, I don’t have any time to audition for acting jobs.

Your break-out role was playing Jerome Johnson in Channel 4’s Brookside. The long running drama was edgy, pushed boundaries and was a breeding ground for young stars. Do you look back fondly on your time in the show and is there a place in today’s society for a show like Brookside?

That show shaped who I am today as both an actor and a director. I feel lucky to have been part of such an iconic show that helped shape the TV industry as

“Filming on the iconic street was surreal” 14

well as the careers of many great filmmakers and actors. I definitely think there is a place for a show like Brookside and can’t understand why it was cancelled in the first place. But then maybe its iconic status came about because it was ended before it’s time. Either way, that show will always have a special place in my heart, and I will be forever grateful for the time I spent working on it and the many amazing people I met as part of it.

Your first feature film as a writer and director, Soft Lad, premiered at the East End Film Festival back in 2015. It’s a coming of age film showing a young man wrestle his demons on a journey that forces him to come to terms with his sexuality – where did you get the inspiration for the story and what was your process in writing it?

from. I just started writing and my sub conscious kicked in. Stories and people’s experiences from my life all combined and over the course of a few nights the play was written.

Soft Lad came about as a play I wrote around 2009 when I was working on a musical called ‘Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens’ which told the stories of people who had passed from AIDS related illnesses and the friends and family members of those they left behind. The show was in aid of a charity and the reception was warm but each night I heard reactions and comments of “how sad it was back then” as if HIV was gone and didn’t affect people anymore. As a gay man I felt really strongly about telling a story of modern day gay and straight people and HIV - how the virus is still about and how important it is for us to take care of our sexual health. I’d had several incidents where my own sexual health had been compromised because of lack of information from casual partners and my own lack of education on the situation. I also had many friends who were HIV positive who were living healthy lives on medication and I wanted to show a modern, rounded view of how the virus is still in our lives, yet how it’s no longer the death sentence that it had been viewed as in the past. I wanted to show that it’s not only a duty to yourself, but a duty to the people you love and care for to be honest about who you are and take care of your sexual heath. So Soft Lad happened. I started with the character of David and I honestly had no idea where it all came

The self-funded film featured the talented Daniel Brocklebank (currently in Coronation Street) and Jonny Labey (former Eastenders star) as the lead characters. Did you write the screenplay with specific cast members in mind?

The film version is literally the play I wrote. I never wrote it to be a film, I never filmed it thinking it would be released. I shot it because I had been directing short films and scenes for people and I wanted to try my hand at a longer film and a friend who had read it recommended that I shoot it. So, I did. And just like Brookside, it changed my life again. Neither Dan or Jonny had their jobs on Corrie or Eastenders when we shot. I met Jonny at an acting workshop I was teaching, he’d never acted on screen before, but he looked like the character I pictured in my mind. I had worked with Dan on a short film I acted in. Dan was already hugely successful, and he read the script and agreed to play the part. The rest of the cast were already in my mind as they were friends. So, when I found Jonny the rest fell into place. I loved every minute of making the film. We had just 7 days. I managed to fundraise fifteen thousand pounds with help from my family and using personal funds - I wanted to make sure the cast and crew got a wage. It wasn’t much but it covered their costs and we got most of the locations for free

15

donated by friends. It was hard work, but it was a passion project so never felt like work. Plus, I was working with all my mates so mostly I just had to press record and let them all go to work. The entire cast was everything I could have hoped for.

As a LGBTQ+ role model how important do you feel coming of age films like Soft Lad are still being made and series like It’s A Sin (by Russell T Davies) are also vital to show the struggle the community goes through? Have you any plans to work on further LGBTQ+ projects?

Ha ha, I don’t know how much of a role model I am. I feel very strongly about LGBTQ+ work being made. We still have a way to go for acceptance. It’s a lot better but I still feel representation is sketchy at times. All stories are relevant to someone and marginalised communities even more so. Russell T Davies is a huge icon to people like me. He helped set the path for us all to follow. It’s A Sin shows just how important these stories are. I just hope television commissioners will now take the chance on other LGBTQ+ story tellers who aren’t as well-known as Russell and let them tell their stories or else it will always be people like me making films on no budget, that get limited DVD release. There is a lack of good LGBTQ+ stories being commissioned, but I don’t feel the problem is because there is a lack of stories, it’s just TV

16

networks don’t like to take chances. Russell is a huge name with huge previous success so if they want something gay they go to him. I do indeed have projects I have written that are LGBTQ+ themed. I’m trying to build my directing credits up so that when I do go before a network commissioner, they will feel like they are taking less of a chance on my original work.

Throughout your successful career you have appeared in some of Britain’s biggest shows. From Brookside and Hollyoaks: In The City, to Doctors, Holby City and more recently EastEnders. When did you decide to turn your focus to directing? Did anyone influence this decision or help mentor you?

I have always been interested in how things are put together. I’ve always been inquisitive, and this helped me - as when I came to get behind the camera I knew more than I thought. I didn’t have a mentor - I started making films because I wanted to produce a project that I could act in. I got my friend to write it, I cast it and another friend to shoot it.

But it didn’t come out the way I wanted so I decided to start learning how to light scenes. I bought a camera and started shooting some scripts I’d written when I was younger. Then I realised I loved being behind the camera more. I set up a business making showreels for actor friends to help me practice what I was learning and then people started asking me to shoot projects for them and that’s how my company, Brown Boy Productions was born and that’s when I decided I wanted to make something bigger and made Soft Lad.

TheCHESHIRE CHESHIREMagazine Magazine| Regulars | Feature The

“I just want to keep telling stories” out. It’s a massive set up so you feel secure and supported in every step.

Is the buzz you get from directing a scene similar or completely different that the one you get acting in one? Have there been scenes you’ve directed as of late that you thought “I’d have loved to have played that”?

Not really no, which is sad in some ways. But when you get that killer scene with a performance to match, I’ve sat behind the monitor in tears and that’s when I know it’s something great. I’ve had that a few times when the acting and script are both perfect and you help to shape a scene that really sells that episode. It’s magic.

It’s not only the cobbles that you have had the opportunity to work on recently- you have also spent time directing in the dales and at Hollyoaks. How challenging Is it working as a freelance director – do you struggle keeping up with characters/storylines etc?

It is a struggle at times, but I try to keep up with the soaps. Each week I usually watch a couple of episodes of each I work on. But to be honest these shows are run like clockwork. They are so precise, and they give you back story, previous story lines to look over. So, if you’ve missed anything the producers and script department are there to hold your hand and help you out. Plus, the cast know their characters better than anyone, the crews shoot the show day in day

Having achieved so much from such a young age, what is your next goal? What’s next for Leon Lopez?

I just want to keep telling stories. I want to keep shaping stories and being part of interesting projects. I hope to have one of my own shows I’ve written, produced one day. And I just want to keep doing what I love. I feel very lucky and lockdown has made me appreciate that more than ever. I love my family and friends and want to spend more time with them, and I want to create work that people can enjoy. www.leonlopez.com, www.brownboyproductions.com PHOTOGRPAHY © GAZ SHERWOOD AND TERRY GEORGE

Coronation Street recently celebrated its 60th birthday and you have recently directed on the famous cobbled street. Talk me through that first day walking into ITV Studios – was it surreal meeting the Ken Barlows and Rita Sullivans of the (fictious) world?

Ha ha! It’s funny as I know a lot of the cast from my acting days and those I don’t know, know people who I know. So, most of the time I spend gossiping!

Filming on the iconic street was surreal. And working with legends of British TV felt like an honour. I never thought I’d ever work on that show and I am so glad that I was able to and I hope to return later this year.

Being Liverpool-born what are some of your favourite things about the city – where do you like to go out?

I left Liverpool almost 20 years ago but still spend lots of time in the area as my family are still here.

It’s never really stopped being my home. But sadly, I don’t really go anywhere. I’m a bit of a hermit. I go to my mum’s house and when I’m working, I go to work. If I need to buy something I go to town.

That’s literally it.

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Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine

F rom M oment t o

M OV E ME MEN NT Craig Hough talks to Samata Pattinson, CEO of Red Carpet Green Dress about her career and the need for more sustainable practices in fashion

How was the concept for Red Carpet Green Dress born and put into action?

Suzy Amis Cameron founded Red Carpet Green Dress in 2009, when she was attending her husband James Cameron’s Avatar Global Premieres. When faced with the lack of ethical fashion choices whilst attending the red carpet, Suzy decided it was time for a change. Red Carpet Green Dress’ goal is to draw attention to the importance of more sustainable practices in fashion and be a part of bringing those solutions to the global market.

This is put into action through the annual RCGD design contests, championing emerging and established designers across the globe to create sustainable Oscar-worthy looks. We have also partnered with design colleges in the past to create internship and work experience opportunities for young designers.

Alongside this, we have now also launched sustainable workshops to educate people about the fundamentals and talk about topics such as sustainable design and responsible consumption.

Where does your passion for

fashion come from?

I’ve always been interested in fashion since I was young. When I saw RCGD’s global design contest back in 2011 - it felt natural to apply! I submitted my design and was the second year winner. When flying to America to meet her, Suzy further opened my eyes to the world of sustainable fashion. I owe everything to her! She really believes in me and in 2019, appointed me as CEO of Red Carpet Green Dress. I am passionate to bring sustainability to the forefront of conversation and action within the fashion and apparel industry. I have also always been passionate about connecting with the global design community and have worked as a lecturer at a number of global fashion colleges including Central Saint Martins and Fashion Institute of Technology.

Which designers and brands have inspired you?

I recently joined Levi’s Secondhand Campaign as part of the brand’s commitment to make fashion

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sustainable and circular. Customers can buy second-hand jeans and jackets online, whilst also allowing them to bring their worn pieces in exchange for a gift card. Stylist Tara Swennen and I discussed the importance of sustainable fashion on Levi’s Instagram Live and it was so lovely to have another platform to express our opinions. Another brand contributing to a more sustainable future is Adidas! They will be launching a new vegan shoe line created from leather substitutes, it’s exciting to see these fabrics hitting the footwear market! These two global brands moving in the right direction towards a better future inspires and motivates me to continue talking.

What does a typical day look like?

I try to get as much out of my day as possible - a lot of the time though, I still feel like there aren’t enough hours in a day! Every morning, I start my day with my son. It’s important for me that we spend time together before he heads to nursery. Beyond that, my everyday is different as we have so many ongoing projects. One day I could be working towards our sustainable workshops, and the next I can be working towards the pre-Oscars gala. I’m also currently writing a media project that will be announced later this year. Throughout the day, I want to create as much conversation as possible and I can do this instantly through Instagram. I have been given a voice and platform so I like to post, then brainstorm where I can contribute towards making a difference. Engaging with the community is when I feel my most inspired.

How has the organisation developed over the years - who have been some of your biggest supporters?

My biggest supporters are Suzy Amis Cameron and James Cameron - I wouldn’t be where I am without

“Public demand and consumer mindset has resulted in brands focusing on sustainability”

them. To date the campaign has collaborated with talent from 21 countries and since its inception, the campaign has grown to include brand collaborations, internships, knowledge-share platforms and educational experiences for students, and its remit continues to grow. I have created brand partnerships with United Nations, TESLA, Vivienne Westwood, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Swarovski and Reformation to name a few. We are also dedicated to innovating and bringing diversity to the carpet through the talent selected for the campaign including Emma Roberts, Lakeith Stanfield, Camila Alves, Laura Harrier and Priyanka Bose amongst others.

Red Carpet Green is a leader in sustainable fashion – why is this needed and are you pleased with this shift in the industry?

There was a lack of ethical fashion choices for the red carpet when Suzy founded RCGD. Through creating conversation, we have been able to contribute towards the shift the industry needed. We are all a part of the solution as everyone wears clothes. Over the last decade, people have seen how harmful fashion can be environmentally, including how inhumane some sweatshops can operate. It is evident that people want change now. Public demand and consumer mindset has resulted in brands focusing on sustainability from production process to buying process. We still have a way to go but we are heading in the right direction. We need to continue this conversation.

What’s next for Red Carpet Green Dress in 2021?

Red Carpet Green Dress have some very exciting upcoming projects. We announced our two global design contest winners in October so we’re in Oscars preparation mode. We are also continuing our sustainable workshops, with a range of guest appearances including founder Suzy Amis Cameron! www.rcgdglobal.com 21

5 Minutes with PANDORA Craig Hough grabs a coffee with Copehangen based Francesco Terzo and Filippo Ficarelli, VP Creative Directors at Pandora

How would you describe your customer?

“Thinking of one woman only is too limited for PANDORA and proposing one idea of a woman is too limited for our consumers.

Women and their roles and situations are changing, and they are conscious of this.

When we design, we design to inspire women more than celebrate them, in a more active way, not telling but inspiring.”

What drew you to work at Pandora?

“We really align with the values of the brand.

Pandora is a brand that represents selfexpression with jewellery that goes beyond status or trends and is instead profoundly and personally meaningful.”

Where does your passion for jewellery come from?

“The self-expression that it offers. By wearing jewellery, you instantly become a storyteller, expressing your personality in nuanced, individual ways by choosing the style and pieces that mean most to you and reflect your stories.”

What is your personal favourite jewellery?

Francesco: “I have a passion for

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style

rings and love mixing vintage rings with new pieces to express and reflect my personal style.

Filippo: “A necklace from my grandmother.”

How has your relationship with Klarna and the service they provide helped Pandora’s continued success?

“Klarna is the perfect way to shop flexibly all year round, and we are delighted that by partnering with them we can now offer our customers a best-in-class shopping experience.”

beautiful multidimensional effect. Those, along with the Colourful Solitaire Huggie Hoop Earrings, have a simplicity that allows them to be styled in an elegant, minimalist way – or combined with charms, clips and bracelets in various metals and hues for a more playful, maximalist vibe. No matter how you style the new designs, we hope Pandora fans will be inspired to start a conversation and tell their own unique story through colour, whether it’s starting with a single bright pop or feeling confident wearing lots of pieces in a rainbow of hues.” www.uk.pandora.net, www.klarna.com

What can customers look forward to in 2021?

“Joy, colour, connection and self-expression.

The new year is a time of reflection on the previous year and anticipation of the year to come – a time of reinvention, evolution and fresh starts. We want this collection to be a reminder of the joy we can always find inside ourselves, regardless of what’s happening on the outside. We hope these designs will inspire strength as we look to the future and set positive intentions for 2021.”

Could you share your top 5 new pieces for this year?

“We love the idea of combining lots of colourful designs together to represent an inclusive, diverse spectrum of all different kinds of people and ideas. We suggest stacking the delicate Colourful Solitaire Rings together to create a

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V INT INTA AGE

GUCC I

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ucci has launched a campaign for its timepieces and fine jewellery, showcasing a selection of current highlights and new additions through a series of evocative still life images.

The timepieces campaign features the G-Timeless and the Grip collections, captured in a setting with vintage elements. The Grip chrono is showcased, as well as different versions of the Grip watch in steel, yellow gold PVD or grey PVD. Various G-Timeless styles appear, including the Swiss-made automatic timepieces with a stone dial decorated with the House’s famous bees.

Also representing the G-Timeless line are the slim models with a silver sunbrushed or pink lacquered dial.

Further images show fine jewelry from the GG Running, Gucci Flora and Lion Head collections in yellow or white gold, diamonds and precious stones. The necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings are displayed on a variety of surfaces, from sumptuous velvet to antique wooden furniture, accentuating their gemstone embellishments and modern silhouettes.

The new advertising campaign is shot by Colin Dodgson and art directed by Christopher Simmonds.

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w w w. g u c c i . c o m

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Gracing the chambers of the world’s very best hotels, Coze Linen delivers the ultimate in luxury textiles for the home.

LIN E N | B E D D IN G | TOWEL S | BLA NKETS | BATHROBES TE A TOW E L S | TA BLE LINEN | CUSHIONS Exclusive Sophie Paterson for Coze monogramming service available.

Shop the five star collection at

www.cozelinen.com

EXCLUSIVE 10% OFF WITH CODE CHESHIRE10 AT CHECKOUT OFFER VALID UNTIL 31 AUGUST 2021

Follow us on instagram @coze_linen and tag us using #cozelinen and #spforcoze for a chance to feature on our page.

Home Picture Perfect

Created from photos and printed on archival paper, these home portraits are a stunning keepsake and piece of art for your home. Fully customisable with preferred colours, text and even the family pets…

Bespoke House Portrait Commissions, from £350, www.linescapes.co.uk

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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

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FOR THE LOVE

OF POM-POM Adding a playful touch to your home, pom-poms are appearing everywhere, so here are our top products to embrace the love.

1 - Pom Pom Fairtrade Felt Garland, £12, www.gardentrading.co.uk 2 - Crescent Moon Pom Pom Hoop Hanging, £35, www.andsotoshop.com 3 - Pompon Isle Rug, £poa, www.myk-berlin.com 4 - Pink Herringbone Pom Pom Throw, £23, www.albertandmoo.com 5 - Raffia Pom Pom Stool, £119, www.house-of-flora.com 6 - 20 Stems of Dried Mustard Pom Poms, £12, www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk 7 -Cyanistes Pom Pom Cushion, £92, www.tradescantandson.com

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Home

3 OF THE BEST… OUTDOOR RUGS

REVERSIBLE

TROPICAL

DARING

Geo Pattern Reversible Outdoor Garden Rug,

Green Tropical Palm Outdoor Rug,

Hand-tufted Nani Marquina Oaxaca Outdoor Rug,

£38, www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk

£84, www.audenza.com

£1,340, www.gomodern.co.uk

YOUR PLACE IN THE SUN Getting the garden ready for better weather is a great way to use your weekends and who better to turn to than Annie Sloan? Give your garden furniture a facelift with Annie’s bright chalk paint lacquers, adding happiness to the rainiest of days, and providing built-in UV protection so the colours don’t fade. Wish you were here!

Chalk Paint in English Yellow from £5.95 amd Chalk Paint Lacquer from £21.95, www.anniesloan.com

VASES APLENTY With or without flowers, these terracotta, stoneware and porcelain vases will bring interest to any home. Display a collection or solo, either way adding natural ceramics can create a real earthy feeling and is a simple way to make an impact.

From £20, www.oka.com

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Q&A

with

JANEY BUTLER OF JANEY BUTLER INTERIORS What’s your design story? How did you come to be an interior designer?

Interior Design has always been a passion of mine, when I met my husband Andy Butler, Founder of Llama Group, we decided to combine Llama Group and Janey Butler Interiors to offer our clients a full turnkey service.

How would you describe your design style?

A mixture of contemporary and traditional, often using rare unusual pieces which all help to achieve luxury high end style.

Your projects always appear so light and airy, yet comfortable, can you give us some design tips on how we can achieve this?

Thank you for your kind words. That is absolutely how we want our projects to come across and that is so crucial that we really consider that in our design process. We like to introduce off-white paint colours which suit the other finishes within the space best helping to achieve a light an airy feel. Lighting is crucial, whether that be chandeliers, wall lights and even tea lights and candles, helping to introduce comfort and warmth into each space. I have personally searched high and low over the years to find suppliers who offer true quality and comfort in their

furniture pieces. Making an investment on a sofa or bed can really make a difference to the look and feel of a lounge or bedroom, not only does it make a difference to a rooms aesthetic it can really change your day-to-day life too. We are the UK’s lead supplier of many of the furniture pieces we are proud to represent within our interiors, offering a retail service for clients who would like to purchase stand-alone furniture pieces too.

What/who inspires you?

I take lots of my inspiration from nature, not just from a material perspective, also from a colour pallet prospective too. When you take inspiration from things like nature, it’s impossible to put a timescale on it, which is part of the secret to our success from projects we installed years ago, and I would like to think the same for our new projects in years to come.

What is your favourite project? And why?

It’s really difficult to pick favourites, we take great pride in all of our projects and they are all totally unique from one another. However, if I was really to choose The Old

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Cottage and Lake View House are two which particularly stand out. The Old Cottage was one of our first large scale residential projects at Janey Butler Interiors, we were really able to run with our client’s brief and create something really special.

We introduced an amazing indooroutdoor space with views out onto the garden, open plan living and were able to showcase some of our favourite furniture pieces. We are still very much in close contact now and we often take our new clients to visit their wonderful home, which is kept so beautifully to this day.

Lake View House is situated in the most tranquil setting, we really took this into consideration during the conceptual design phase by making the most of the views of the property, the natural light throughout the property is truly superb.

Just to name a few key spaces which this house is particularly renowned for we created a show stopping Entrance Hall, a Luxury Spa, stunning Master Suite and not to mention a Show Garage where the Aston Martin is kept. I’m so pleased to be able to say that this project won Best Interior in the World Award at this year’s International Property Awards, furthermore The Old Cottage and Lake House View both won Best UK Interior Awards at the International Property Awards. www.janeybutler.co.uk

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Feature

INSPECT A

GADGET

Spring is the perfect season to recycle your old gadgets and spruce up your home with the latest technology

Melitta® EPOS® The Future of Automated Pour Over has arrived. Raise a glass (or cup) to celebrate the first-ever electric pour over system with an integrated grinder. The automated Melitta® EPOS® makes first-class fresh coffee, as if brewed by hand, at the mere push of a button.

Championing form, function and flavour, the electric pour over system features an open filter, allowing you to experience the brewing process with all your senses. The water spout rotates 360° and changes direction and water flow depending on the brewing profile.

The simple touch panel enables you to customise your Pour Over preference with ease. Whether it’s the number of cups, the

strength of the coffee or the pre-brew function – just select how you’d like to enjoy your ideal coffee. It even lets you know when it’s time to descale. What’s more, the built-in hotplate allows the freshly brewed coffee to stay warm for up to 40 minutes.

Combining manual pouring with innovative technology and modern design, this beautiful and intelligent machine interprets traditional by-hand filtration in a simplistic new way.

RRP £299, www.melitta.co.uk 38

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Perfect Prep Day & Night Machine One for new parents…the Perfect Prep Day and Night Machine makes bottle feeding a dream.

It preps the perfect bottle in just two minutes, for stress-free bottle feeding at any time of the day or night and includes a pre-loaded filter will last up to three months. £129.99, www.tommeetippee.com

STM Goods ChargeTree Say goodbye to those annoying dangling wires next to your at-home work station with the STM Goods ChargeTree. Whilst most 3 in 1 chargers available look like a flattened hockey puck, the ChargeTree from STM Goods has mixed things up by taking things vertical. Slim and sleek, the ChargeTree fits the most it can into a small footprint - it will charge your phone, AirPods/AirPods Pro and Apple Watch. The front features a small lip for the phone to rest on meaning that, whether it is placed horizontally or vertically, the phone will always be aligned perfectly with the charger. It is also a great stand for watching videos or making video calls at the same time as charging.

RRP £69.95, Amazon.co.uk

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Tower T17026 Compact Air Fryer Make cooking effortless with this fantastic health fryer from Tower. Whether you’re preparing tasty chicken or mouth-watering steak, its 600g capacity means you’ll always have plenty to go round. You can even set the handy timer to tell you when your food is ready, so you know it’s time to serve your delicious dishes. The appliance is incredibly safe as the lid locks into place whilst you’re cooking. £41, www.ao.com

Alcatel 3T 10’’ The Android tablet comes with an Audio Station, so you can dock your tablet and enjoy crystal clear sound. Face Key means your passwords and documents are for your eyes only. The built-in Voice Controlled Google Assistant means you can get step by step hands-free recipe instructions or blast your favourite playlist whilst whipping something up in the kitchen. £159, www.o2.co.uk

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EKO Aroma Sensor Soap Pump In a germ wary 2021, this smart, no-touch way to clean your hands has been a hit with consumers. Simply place your hand under the dispenser (avoiding touching any surfaces) for quick and automatic dispensing of liquid soap.

The flow is adjustable to customise the amount of soap dispensed and there’s a touch-open lid for easy refilling. A transparent window even tells you when to refill. The Aroma Sense is rechargeable by USB (cable included) so there’s no need for batteries. £49.99, www.ekohome.co.uk, www.johnlewis.com

The Funky Toaster Breakfast time never looked so fine with this fabulous new Funky Toaster.

Featuring a stainlesssteel housing, this superb 4-slice toaster will take pride of place in any household. Unlike a lot of other 4-slice toasters on the market, the Funky Toaster will fully toast a Warburton’s slice of bread as the toaster slots are deeper than standard. Remove smaller slices without burning fingers with the high-lift function. The deep, variable width slots accommodate different bread sizes, crumpets and bagels, while the variable browning controls ensure every slice is just the way you like it. £89.99, www.funkyappliance.co

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Groov-e SportsBuds For your audio pleasure – these sports buds are perfect for gym bunnies. Enjoy listening to the latest tunes, your favourite podcast or follow your coaching app whilst exercising without wires getting in the way and ruining the experience. The comfortable ear hook design, IPX4 sweat resistant rating and excellent sound quality all add to the product’s major plus points. The included charging case offers 28 hours wireless playback while on the move and the built-in microphone means you can easily make wireless calls or use voice commands.

RRP £39.99, www.groov-e.co.uk

BISSELL ® MULTIREACH ACTIVE 21V TANGLE FREE CORDLESS VACUUM BISSELL ® has been keeping homes clean for over 140 years and generations of technical floor cleaning expertise have been applied to the latest addition to their range. This versatile, cost efficient, lightweight cordless stick with tangle-free brush roll, specially designed for busy households.

The product boats many features that include a unique motorized Tangle-Free Brush Roll so you can forget about annoying hair wrap around the brush roll. The battery battery provides up to 30 minutes 2 of fade-free cordless cleaning and weighing in at just over 3.6kg the lightweight design fits discretely into the wall-mounted dock for storage and charging. The low-profile foot and bright LED lights on the swivel floor nozzle, make it easy to manoeuvre around and reach dark areas under furniture.

The compact MultiReach Active 21V Cordless quickly and easily converts to a 42

handheld model with a built-in crevice tool, so no need for an attachment for those hard-to-reach spaces. A crevice tool and dusting brush are provided ideal for floor to ceiling cleaning around the house and in cars.

The smart mess free Easy Empty™ and Clean Slide Technology features a no-touch dirt chamber with a unique sliding mechanism which collects and then traps dust, debris, allergens and hair.

RRP £199.99 is available from major electrical retailers and www. bisselldirect.co.uk

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KITCHENAID ARTISAN STAND MIXER AND K400 BLENDER Colour has been at the heart of the KitchenAid success story since 1955, HONEY, a warm, rich, comforting golden-orange hue, is the KitchenAid 2021 Colour of the Year. Developed by the KitchenAid Global Centre of Design after extensive social and cultural trend analysis, HONEY reflects the sweetness created when people come together through a shared love of creating something beautiful.

The Artisan Tilt-Head 4.8L Stand Mixer in new HONEY comes with both a 4.8L and a 3L stainless-steel bowl, there’s also a wide selection of options from ceramics to quilted or hammered effect bowls to further personalise your kitchen design. Standard accessories include a flat beater, flex edge beater, dough hook and wire whisk. For even more versatility to indulge your creative flair, there are over 15 optional, dishwasher-safe, 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.

The Artisan K400 Blender in new HONEY 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 of ingredients head on.

Making the smoothest, best tasting soups, sauces and smoothies, packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, couldn’t be easier or quicker.

Discover even more possibilities with the Artisan K400 Blender optional accessories including a 500ml personal jar, 200ml small batch jug and 1L citrus press.

Artisan Stand Mixer (RRP £499) and Artisan K400 Bender (RRP £279) in NEW HONEY, www.kitchenaid.co.uk

Russell Hobbs BRITA kettle This kettle has a built-in filter after BRITA’s research found that filtered water improves the taste, flavour and brew of tea and coffee. The integrated BRITA filtration extends the kettle’s life and also makes a better tasting cuppa without the limescale.

RRP £32.99, www.uk.russellhobbs.com

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Promotion | The CHESHIRE Magazine

The Next Generation of The CrossWave

Introducing the new BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Cleaner

The new advanced features include; • High-performance vacuum, mop and dry at the same time - suitable for hard floors and rugs • Better edge cleaning for improved pick-up along walls and skirting boards • Undiminished 36v battery power for up to 30 min run time • Xl brush roll to cover a larger surface area • New sleek design with digital user interface • Fully automatic self-cleaning function for easy maintenance

cover a larger surface area. Designed to work on different floor types, the soft part of the brush roll absorbs the cleaning solution as it spins, while the bristles agitate dirt for easier pick up.

High Performance - Vacuum, Mop and Dry Designed for larger households to tackle everything from spilt cereal, milk and coffee to messy footprints left by family and pawpals. No need to get down on your hands and knees to scrub as the high-performance BISSELL® CrossWave™ Cordless Max 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Cleaner simultaneously vacuums, mops and dries multiple surfaces from hard floors, vinyl, laminate and delicate wood flooring to rugs and even carpets.

Digital User Interface and SelfCleaning Cycle at the Touch of a Button The new sleek design has a digital user interface which indicates when it’s fully charged and ready to use as well as an indicator to tell you when the dirt tank is full. The fully automatic self-cleaning cycle flushes out dirt, hair and debris from the appliance and brush roll using the water from the clean tank for low maintenance, hygienic cleaning after each use at the touch of a button.

Multi-Surface, Removeable Brush Roll with 60% Better Edge Cleaning For the best results, the spinning, pivoting removable XL multi-surface brush roll has up to 60% better edge cleaning for improved performance along walls and skirting boards and can

Separate Tanks for Clean and Dirty Water There are TWO separate tanks to ensure optimum cleaning results; one for clean water mixed with BISSELL cleaning formula

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Cordlesss Re-Chargeable Cleaning with 30 Minutes Run Time The next generation of the CrossWave® Cordless Max combines vacuuming, mopping and drying up to 100m of hard flooring and rugs in one go with the freedom of efficient fade-free cordless convenience and an undiminished 36V battery power for up to 30 minutes.

to ensure that only fresh water reaches the floor and a second to collect the dirty water. The latter features a removeable divider that catches hair and debris to make the process of emptying hassle-free - an absolute must if you share your home with four-legged family members.

Switch from Cleaning Hard Floors to Refreshing Area Rugs in an Instant Choose the Hard Floor or Area Rug option on the handle, hold the trigger to release the BISSELL solution, and move the appliance forward to mop and vacuum then release the trigger and pull back to dry. For a deep clean, move the brush roll over the area and hold the trigger for a few seconds (pull back to dry).

CrossWave Collection The extensive CrossWave range includes the original CrossWave corded RRP £249.99, CrossWave Pet Pro RRP £279.99 specifically designed to remove pet hair, dust and dirt that your four-legged friends leave behind, the CrossWave Cordless RRP £329.99 and the NEW CrossWave Max £429.99.

There is a model designed for everyone’s home and budget.

The CrossWave is available from bisselldirect.co.uk and selected major electrical retailers nationwide.

The Care UK 28 day guarantee gives you the confidence you need.

We know the decision to move into a care home can be daunting, but with over 35 years’ experience delivering award winning care, we can provide the peace of mind you need. Our 28 day guarantee gives you complete confidence and flexibility if you are not absolutely happy, or simply change your mind about the need for a care home*.

Find out more at careuk.com/28-day-guarantee or call the numbers below.

Experts in award winning care.

Trusted by over 6,500 families.

Rated

9.7

out of 10 on carehome.co.uk

Abney Court care home Cheadle 0161 820 7879 careuk.com/abney-court

Rated

10

out of 10 on carehome.co.uk

Deewater Grange care home Chester 01244 457872 careuk.com/deewater-grange

*Seven days’ written notice required.

Rated

9.9

out of 10 on carehome.co.uk

Oakfield Croft care home Sale 0161 532 7912 careuk.com/oakfield-croft

TAILORED HOME INSURANCE RIGHT DOWN TO THE FINEST DETAIL For high-value properties and contents, including valuables, fine art and collections, choose NFU Mutual Bespoke home insurance.

To discuss your high value home insurance, contact India Lawrenson at NFU Mutual Chester agency on 01565 748 313 or send an email to india_lawrenson@nfumutual.co.uk.

J A Prince, S Chacksfield & E Crawford is an appointed representative of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982).

Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. A Member of the Association of British Insurers.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

Protect your Home Make sure your policy is right for you with the help of the experts Are you sure you’re insured?

When choosing home insurance, we often go for the quickest or cheapest option, hoping for the best. Whilst this approach might seem convenient, there’s a risk of rushing and not considering the quality of cover or the actual value of our possessions.

In reality, insurance is far from a one-size fits all scenario. India Lawrenson at NFU Mutual Chester explains more.

“Estimating the value of our homes and contents isn’t something we do regularly, but inaccurately calculating the rebuild cost or the total value of your contents could leave you open to the risk of being underinsured.

And unfortunately, most don’t realise this until they come to make a claim.”

To be ‘underinsured’ means that the amount you’re covered for is less than the cost of rebuilding, replacing, or repairing.

For example, if you had a fire at your home and the value of your contents is stated at £70,000, but the actual cost to replace your contents is £150,000.

It’s particularly important that those who live in larger homes or have many expensive items – perhaps jewellery and watches, fine art or collections, and tech – are mindful that standard insurance may not fully protect them or include features such as agreed values and access to specialist repair/ replacement services.

So how can you avoid underinsurance?:

• Try and account for anything you would need to replace in event of a claim – include things like soft furnishings and furniture, as well as the more obvious high-value items like technology.

• Estimate the cost as new, rather than the price you paid.

• Consider whether the value has changed for any items such as antiques or art collections.

• Don’t forget items in storage, in a safe or at the bank.

• Check your policy for any set limits for valuables and single items such as jewellery.

• Review your cover regularly and if you’re unsure, talk through with a professional.

To find out more about NFU Mutual and our Bespoke home insurance for high-value homes and contents, contact India Lawrenson at NFU Mutual Chester on 01565 748 313 or email India_Lawrenson@nfumutual.co.uk

J PRINCE, S D CHACKSFIELD & E I CRAWFORD IS AN APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL FARMERS UNION MUTUAL INSURANCE SOCIETY LIMITED (NO. 111982). REGISTERED IN ENGLAND. REGISTERED OFFICE: TIDDINGTON ROAD, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, WARWICKSHIRE CV37 7BJ. AUTHORISED BY THE PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY AND REGULATED

BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY AND THE PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY. A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH INSURERS.

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Meet the Team

CHESHIRE LAMONT This month we meet some of the team at Cheshire Lamont

DAVID CHESHIRE

BILL SWINDLEY

Senior Partner/Founder

Partner

David was born and bred in Tarporley when his family moved to the village in the late 1960s, hence the village and surrounding areas are very important to him. David has been selling properties since 1986 and founded Cheshire Lamont in 2001. He has vast experience in all levels of the market and is as comfortable selling a terraced cottage as he is a large country home.

E-mail: dc@cheshirelamont.co.uk Tel: 01829 730700

Bill, an estate agent for 30 years, gained a board position within a national organisation and subsequently spent fourteen years within a large independent practice working in Chester, North Wales, North Shropshire and Staffordshire. With extensive regional and local knowledge, Bill brings a wealth of experience in advising on the sale of individual properties.

E-mail: wjs@cheshirelamont.co.uk Tel: 01270 624441

VIVIENNE DULACEY-DUNN Office Manager Office: Nantwich Vivienne has a wealth of experience with 20 years in the business working in sales and lettings locally, responsibility of managing the Nantwich Office and supporting clients. Aiming to make the moving experience as easy, convenient and as stress free as possible. Has excellent negotiation and customer service skills and has the ability to forge strong relationships. Thoroughly committed to working hard to achieve results.

E-mail: nantwich@cheshirelamont.co.uk Tel: 01270 624441

Office: Nantwich

ANNA CHOW Office Manager/Sales Negotiator Office: Tarporley Originally from the Chester area, Anna lived and worked in South East Asia for 12 years. She returned to Cheshire in 2004 to raise her family and ran her own business before joining Cheshire Lamont in 2015.

Having lived and worked in the Tarporley area she knows the area and market well and brings a wealth of experience to support clients achieve the sale of their home.

E-mail: tarporley@cheshirelamont.co.uk Tel: 01829 730700

www.cheshirelamont.co.uk

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Interiors Homes Homes and and Interiors

WILLASTON HALL, PARK ROAD, WILLASTON, NANTWICH, CW5 A magnificent and imposing Grade II listed Hall constructed in 1700 standing in delightful formal gardens and grounds affording most impressive, substantial and elegant accommodation, appointed throughout to an impeccable standard exuding significant appeal and situated in a prominent position within South Cheshire.

Willaston Hall is a most impressive residence providing in excess of 7000 sqft of accommodation and standing in delightful established private gardens and grounds. The Hall exudes many original features maintaining its character and history throughout. Cheshire Lamont highly recommend an accompanied viewing to truly appreciate this magnificent property.

GUIDE PRICE £1,800,000

OAK FARM, HAUGHTON, NR. TARPORLEY, CW6 Oak Farm is a Grade II listed former farmhouse which was originally divided and renovated in 1996 to create two spacious family homes. Number One has subsequently been re-fitted to a particularly high specification and benefits from the attractive original front façade and provides well-proportioned living accommodation along with four Bedrooms and two Bathrooms and set-in spacious South facing gardens.

ASKING PRICE £695,000

TA R P O RL E Y – 0 1 8 2 9 7 3 0 7 0 0

NAN TW ICH – 01270 624441

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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

PARKSIDE FARM, CHORLEY, NR. MALPAS, CW5 Forming part of the Cholmondeley Estate this period Farmhouse requires comprehensive modernisation and refurbishment. Extending to approximately 4,000 sq.ft the property is set within mature grounds extending to approximately 1.25 acres being a combination of both garden and paddock.

GUIDE PRICE £700,000 - £800,000

BROOK FARM, BUNBURY, CW6

COMMONWOOD, NR HOLT, LL13

A magnificent Grade 2 Listed Country Property situated within 0.5 of a mile of Bunbury village set within magnificent formal gardens that extend to approximately 2 acres.

This recently refurbished Grade II listed farmhouse provides well-proportioned family accommodation extending to 3,000 sq ft over two floors set within approximately 7 ½ acres including equestrian facilities.

GUIDE PRICE £1,000,000 - £1,100,000

ASKING PRICE £895,000

TA R P O RL E Y – 0 1 8 2 9 7 3 0 7 0 0

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PLAS BOSTOCK,

NAN TW ICH – 01270 6 24441

Home Homes and Interiors The CHESHIRE Magazine |

THE CLOSE, TARPORLEY, CW6

By Informal Tender 18th March 2021 at 12 noon. A highly desirable and well-proportioned Detached property situated in arguably one of the most sought after and prestigious addresses within Tarporley village. Built in 1997 to a detailed Georgian design by highly respected developer Bell Meadow and benefiting from a courtyard garden to the rear, with Double Garage and potential studio Home Office above.

GUIDE PRICE £900,000 - £950,000

TALL OAKS, SANDIWAY, NR. NORTHWICH, CW8

FOXCOTE, COTEBROOK, NR. TARPORLEY, CW6

A delightful light and airy well-proportioned Detached four Bedroom family home offered to a particularly high specification set within large gardens and conveniently situated within walking distance of the shopping facilities within Sandiway

A magnificent contemporary family home providing approximately 4,000 sq.ft of high quality accommodation set within landscaped gardens overlooking open countryside and conveniently situated within 3 miles of Tarporley village.

GUIDE PRICE £800,000 - £825,000

GUIDE PRICE £1,500,000 - £1,650,000

TA R P O RL E Y – 0 1 8 2 9 7 3 0 7 0 0

NAN TW ICH – 01270 624441

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Promotion | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Home s for Professionals Looking for Life Away from the City Making an investment with a friend could be the key to helping young professionals in Cheshire find a foothold on the property ladder in 2021, according to Anwyl Homes

T

he home builder has updated its property designs at The Fairways in Handforth to provide a new house type – The Burton that is ideal for friends sharing with two similar sized bedrooms, each with its own en suite.

Thomas Bradley, senior sales manager for Anwyl Homes Cheshire and North Wales, said: “It’s a great time to invest in property. The market is buoyant and property prices in the SK9 area have been showing steady increases. Over the last year sold prices in Handforth were up 4% and have grown by 20% since 2017*.

“Pooling your resources and buying with a friend is a great way to take a first step onto the property ladder. Or, for those who are able to buy on their own, these properties make a great investment choice, with the option to rent out the large second en-suite bedroom to help cover costs.”

The Burton, a two-bedroom home, is laid out over two floors and, at 755 sq ft, its floor space is more akin to that of a three-bedroom house.

Thomas added: “In The Burton we’ve effectively re-designed the classic three-bedroom semi layout to create a two-bedroom home and used the space that would normally be given to a third single

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bedroom to create two more generously sized bedrooms and bathrooms. Downstairs, there’s a light and airy open-plan kitchen and dining room with patio doors out to the garden and a spacious lounge as well as a downstairs cloakroom.

The homes at The Fairways have already been proving popular with commuters who work in Manchester or the surrounding areas, but want to move out of the city to live in the sought after SK9 postcode. The location allows them to take advantage of a new way of life with green spaces, independent shops, restaurants and other amenities nearby.

The Fairways features a range of homes from one to five-bedrooms, with a choice of apartments, semi-detached and detached homes, on 21 acres of former greenbelt land off Meriton Road. In addition to The Burton, it includes other brand new house designs, developed by Anwyl to better meet the lifestyle demands of its discerning buyers, as well as an uplifted specification.

Prices currently start at £299,995 for ‘The Burton’ home.

To book an appointment to view the show homes or for more information about The Fairways call 01625 365 269 or see www.anwyl.co.uk/thefairways. *Sold prices for Handforth from www.rightmove.co.uk

7263_CHESHIRE MAGAZINE AWARENESS ADVERT_AW.indd 1

23/02/2021 17:47

Home | The CHESHIRE Magazine

STEP INSIDE

LUXURY The Cheshire Magazine meets Adelina Wong Ettelson, Global Head of Residences Marketing at The Residences at Mandarin Oriental to discuss the company’s portfolio and future

What makes a branded residence attractive to a potential buyer, and why Mandarin Oriental?

The popularity of branded residences is attributed to the range of benefits afforded to purchasers. For buyers, purchasing at a Residence at Mandarin Oriental provides the assurance and management of a five-star hotel group, dedicated 24/7 service, five-star amenities at your fingertips, and hassle-free living with lock up and leave capabilities that complements the UHNWI lifestyle. With seven residences already in operation in locations including New York, London and Bodrum, we have a proven track record of management that buyers can trust.

Can you give us an idea of the Mandarin Oriental residences in the pipeline around the world?

Mandarin Oriental will double its residential portfolio with a total of 16 diverse projects in the development pipeline in the next five years.

While the birthplace of The Residences at Mandarin Oriental began in the U.S. (New York in 2003), we are seeing expansion in all regions.

The next two years are projected to be record years for us with seven of the 16 aimed for completion, including Barcelona, Dubai, Mayfair and Tel Aviv. Our most recent announcement was in Da Nang, Vietnam, featuring 18 exclusive Residences each with private pools. We also have Muscat, Honolulu and Grand Cayman in the pipeline - locations that support our brand and unique level of services and offerings.

Most Mandarin Oriental residences are alongside a hotel… are there plans to open more standalone schemes?

Yes – next year we will see the completion of our two standalone schemes, Barcelona on Passeig de Gràcia and New York, on 5th Avenue, marking our first foray into this business model.

This is something which we will see more of moving forward for Mandarin Oriental, providing a new offering to buyers with heightened privacy and exclusivity.

You recently announced a project in Da Nang, Vietnam. What does Mandarin Oriental look for in a new site?

We seek out the best locations in prime city

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Homes and Interiors

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

centres and resorts where our unique mix of service, hotel and residential management expertise will provide a luxury living experience for our clients. Location is of course a very important factor, but we also work with development partners who share our unwavering commitment to quality, service, lifestyle, and distinctive sustainable design. For a project to be successful we must strike the perfect balance – a strong partner, desirable location, buyer profile and the potential to sell-out.

Is there a typical buyer for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental?

We are proud to have a diverse clientele amongst our projects. Many of our owners have had experience with the Mandarin Oriental brand having stayed at our hotels prior to purchasing. Being frequent and loyal guests, they are true fans of the group and appreciate our exceptional attention to detail. We also appeal to UHNWIs who seek a strong investment asset associated with a global brand while enjoying the lifestyle that living at a Mandarin Oriental offers them - with a total of 25 Michelin stars, and more Forbes ‘Five Star Spa’ awards than any other hotel group in the world, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental offer buyers the best of both worlds: the comforts of a private home, but with the unsurpassed amenities and legendary service of Mandarin Oriental.

The interiors at The Residences at Mandarin Oriental are curated by a variety of designers… how do you choose who to work with and do the briefs differ?

Due to their difference in use, design briefs for our Residences and Hotels are separate from each other. Whilst Mandarin Oriental has brand standards for both, the residential design brief is usually created by the developer with input from our Technical Services teams. We work very collaboratively with our developers, sharing best practices gained from designing and operating 33 hotels and seven residences across the globe. This has proven to be a significant benefit to our developers who tend to be more local. We firmly believe in translating global trends to suit the local sense of place, with a nod to our Oriental heritage in each of our properties. Past designers we have collaborated with include Candy & Candy in London, Joyce Wang in Bangkok and Antonio Citterio in Bodrum. We have some cuttingedge designers lined up for our forthcoming projects, such as Thomas Juul-Hansen in Mayfair. www.mandarinoriental.com

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Quality Care you can trust Compassionate and expert teams deliver quality care you can trust, in luxury hotel-style surroundings

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eewater Grange in Chester, Oakfield Croft in Sale and Abney Court in Cheadle are all modern purposebuilt care homes that provide long and short term residential, dementia and nursing care.

Five Star Luxury Living If you’ve not set foot in a care home before – or even if you have – Care UK’s care homes in Cheshire may surprise you. Each home boasts luxury state-of-the-art facilities including their own café, activity room, hair and beauty salon, cinema and bar – so whether you want to have a natter over a cuppa and and slice of cake, relax with a classic film or a enjoy a G&T every evening, you can have it all.

All three Care UK homes are beautifully designed throughout with stylish high quality fittings and furnishings, offering a five star ‘home from home’ environment. The spacious en-suite bedrooms are individually decorated and those on the ground floor enjoy private patios and access to wonderful secure gardens.

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Each care home is divided into smaller suites - a design which helps to create an intimate atmosphere that is particularly calming for residents living with dementia.

Trusted to Care With safety top-of-mind for everyone right now, each home has enhanced their already-robust infection control measures to keep residents and colleagues safe, using the latest technologies. The Covid vaccination programme has commenced with colleagues and residents vaccinated with the initial dose.

Each home has a dedicated inside ‘COVID safe’ visiting suite accessed from the garden, which enables visits to take place from behind a sealed glass panel, using a sound system to assist with communication.

Homes and Interiors

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

A Fabulous Lifestyle Living in a Care UK home is all about quality of life. Lifestyle teams go above and beyond to make every day fulfilling for residents.

There’s plenty going on every day to keep residents busy, from dancing and gardening to bowling and gin evenings. Whether it’s an existing hobby, an aspired pastime or a lifetime wish, the team do their best to make it happen.

Care UK’s award winning and highly trained chefs combine creativity with an in-depth knowledge of nutrition for older people, including skills such as high nutrient dishes, fragrant cooking and soft, modified foods.

With over 35 years’ experience of delivering high quality care to older people, Care UK is the most awarded care home provider for the last two years and has more outstanding rated homes than any other provider.*

Dining with Dignity Care UK care homes offer a dining experience that enables residents to maintain their independence and dine with dignity.

Meal times are an important part of the day with an emphasis on enjoying delicious food in the company of friends - and the beautiful bistro-style dining rooms are just perfect for that.

*As rated by the Care Quality Commission in England and the Care Inspectorate in Scotland.

Abney court care home, Cheadle Tel 0161 820 7879, Careuk.com/abney-court Deewater Grange care home, Chester Tel 01244 457872, Careuk.com/deewater-grange Oakfield Croft, Sale Tel 0161 532 7912, Careuk.com/oakfield-croft

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Promotion | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Love your Independent Life in Wilmslow Independent later living at Chapelwood, encompasses luxurious amenities set in beautiful surroundings in apartments that are available to buy or rent

A

t every stage of life, there are many questions that homeowners must answer. For those exploring later living and wanting a home where they can remain independent, one question is where to spend their next wonderful chapter. Pegasus, part of Lifestory, may well have the answers.

No more so than at Chapelwood, located in the heart of Wilmslow. Designed by awardwinning architect, Glenn Howells Associates, the 57 one, two and three-bedroom later living apartments offer contemporary and sophisticated living. Whether it is the open plan layout of each home, allowing natural light to spread through the rooms, or the elegant communal areas and facilities that could easily be mistaken for a luxury hotel.

In common with all the homes that Pegasus creates,

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community and wellness are at the heart of what you will find at Chapelwood. The ground floor is designed to be the social hub where homeowners can enjoy all that is on offer and there is something to suit all tastes. With its comfortable furniture and honesty bar, the lounge is the place for catching up with neighbours or to settle down with a good book and glass of wine at the end of the day. With doors opening out onto the patio area, you can also enjoy long afternoons outdoors in the warmer months.

For those feeling more active, enjoy a session in the gym which has state-of-the-art Keiser equipment suitable for all fitness levels. Alternatively, for those looking to relax

Homes and Interiors

and revitalise, the wellness spa offers a pool, herbal sauna, sun terrace and treatment rooms. The Lifehost will be happy to help you arrange a treatment such as an aromatherapy massage. In fact, the Pegasus Lifehost is there to make all the difference whether with the small day to day things or creating the social events, the Lifehosts put all their energy into the community.

When homeowners wish to entertain friends and family at Chapelwood, nothing could be simpler. There is a guest suite available to accommodate your visitors and the exclusive, on-site Olive restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious, locally sourced meal.

This is low maintenance comfort and independence on a whole new level as Lifestory homeowner Bette Braka, who lives in Chapelwood knows; “I found that I did not want the worry of looking after a house on my own especially as it was at the end of a cul de sac, so I felt a bit isolated. I also did not want my daughter worrying about me. We have never lived in each other’s pockets and I have always been self-sufficient, so I did not want to find myself in a position where I was relying on her or others. So, a community like Chapelwood made perfect sense. I still have my independence with my own home plus all the marvellous facilities to hand with Wilmslow on my doorstep and Alderley Edge just down the road. It has also given me the opportunity to make new friends within the community.

“Chapelwood feels like home and when I am here, I do not feel I miss my previous house at all – I just think I am lucky to be here. I can socialise as much as I want and when friends come to visit, I am able to take them to the on-site restaurant as I prefer to eat out these days in company rather than cook myself. The development is like a five-star hotel; as well as the restaurant, we have got a fully equipped gym, a sauna and a pool - it’s great fun living here!”

Finding your next home and moving into a later living apartment is a big decision, but with Pegasus big decisions don’t have to be set in stone. The exceptional homes are available to buy or rent with Lifestory Choices. Assured tenancies provide Lifestory Members with peace of mind and flexibility, which ensure you can stay as long as you wish.

Those who decide to buy their apartment enjoy no exit fees.

Move in by June 2021 to take advantage of 3 months rent free or 5 years service charge paid* Whether you choose to buy or rent, beyond the comfort, elegance and enviable lifestyle, there is an overriding sense of community. As Bette has found, Chapelwood is a place where you belong, can truly call home and where you can feel safe and secure.

For those looking to maintain their independence and enjoy the best of life, Chapelwood, in the heart of Wilmslow, could be the perfect location to begin your next chapter. To explore your options speak with our sales team on 01625 569492 or email chapelwood@lifestory.group.

Prices for a one-bedroom apartment start from £410,000 to buy or £2,478 pcm to rent. *Terms and conditions apply

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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 |

Hot Property

HOLIDAY

HOMES

With more people looking to invest their money in property abroad The Cheshire Magazine talks to property expert Laura Hamilton and take a look at some hot properties currently on the market

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Home | The CHESHIRE Magazine

A PLACE in the Sun:

Away

Many of us dream of buying a property abroad, never more so now that we have been confined to our homes more than ever. Whether you are looking for a villa for the school holidays or planning for retirement, Laura Hamilton offers her advice on buying abroad

EXPLORE There’s nothing better than being in the place or country you are looking into buying in but my advice is to always keep an open mind. Sometimes only a precise location will do but until you have explored the options you don’t actually know for sure. At the worst, it confirms your thoughts but at best it opens a whole new host of opportunity. For example, travelling 15 to 20 minutes inland will typically mean that you get much more for your money, so ask yourself just how much that view or beachfront property is really worth to you?

SEASONALITY If you are looking to visit year-round or let your property think about the seasonality of your chosen location. Golf resorts tend to be a good bet as they are open and there is something going on most of the year, but in villages and towns some will completely close down turning from a hive of activity to a sleepy settlement. This could, of course, be what you are looking for but it’s best to know this beforehand.

TO LET OR NOT TO LET Renting isn’t for everyone but if it is something that you are considering think about the management fees. A good management company will charge you around 20 per cent of the rental fee as the management cost and for longer-term lets it equates to about one week.

BUY BRITISH A lot of home hunters who come on the show don’t realise that if they are buying from a British vendor, they could negotiate

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Homes and Interiors

in sterling. Whilst there are legalities which have to be undertaken in the country of sale, it may help with exchange rates for example to complete in sterling, saving a little that you could spend elsewhere.

CHECK OUT THE LOCAL AREA When looking for a home abroad, always think about the surrounding areas. You may have found the ideal location, overlooking rolling hills or fields but there’s no guarantee that this extra plot of land will not be developed on in the future. There’s not a lot you can do about this one, apart from a lot of research to understand what the land could be used for but it is definitely something to be aware of.

SPEAK THE LANGUAGE Attempting the local lingo is always a winner.

If you are looking to the longer term it will help you connect with the locals and become part of the community, even if you are rubbish at the start. If you know the language then you are a local, wherever you are and it will help you build lifelong friendships.

economy. There is a trend that we are seeing of people buying with a view to make this new home abroad a more permanent one, rather than short-term letting and a trend seeing people looking to make their money go further either through choosing more inland homes or homes which benefit from summer and winter, for example in Sierra Nevada you can be on the slopes in the morning and the beach in the afternoon.

Bliss.

A Place in the Sun airs weekdays at 3pm, Channel 4, www.aplaceinthesun.com

5 Laura…

Mins with

Where are your 2021 hotspot predictions?

Spain is always number one. Then France and Portugal. Greece is gaining in popularity as a summer destination.

Where is your favourite escape destination?

The Balearic Islands. I love Mallorca, Palma, the beaches, Port Andratx. Take me there!

Where is your dream property buy?

A farmhouse in France, amidst vineyards.

www.laurahamiltonofficial.com

DON’T BE PUT OFF BY BREXIT In spite of all the uncertainty due to Brexit, people have not been put off buying abroad.

During the filming of this latest show the majority of people bought. Countries are welcoming the investments into their

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Hot Properties

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FEATURING YOUR PROPERTY FOR SALE OR LET IN THE CHESHIRE MAGAZINE CONTACT

hello@thecheshiremag.co.uk

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Home

LUXURY IN LISBON RUA DO ALTO DO DUQUE 25, LISBON FIVE-BEDROOM CONTEMPORARY VILLA, FULLY-FURNISHED €4,950,000

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ituated in Restelo, known for its exclusive properties in Lisbon and located only 15 minutes’ drive from downtown, this property offers an oasis in the city, with exquisite gardens, trees, and dazzling views over the river.

This five-ensuite bedroom villa embodies the perfect bond between rehabilitation and contemporary architecture, by recovering the existing lines with current and luxurious materials and finishes across all three floors.The ground floor houses the living room and dining room, kitchen, social toilet, and an inviting spacious terrace with a trendy firepit ideal to host or lazy afternoons.

On the first floor, are four spacious

ensuite bedrooms with two large balconies offering river views. Upstairs leads to the master suite with walk in closet and direct access to the garden and pool and large open space for cinema, gaming or leisure area.

The garden has a heated Finnish gutter pool, laundry area, barbecue, and annex with toilet, along with maid suite with independent entrance and a garage for two cars.

For further information contact Nuna Franco, +351 934 163 382, nuno@nestseekers.com

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ADVERT

SEASCAPE A ONE-OF-A-KIND STUNNING SEAFRONT SANCTUM, JUST A STONE’S THROW FROM THE BEACH, ON THE ISLE OF MAN

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home for all seasons, with excellent entertaining space, just throw open the bi-fold doors of Seascape to bring the outside in on a summer’s day, whilst winter days can be spent storm watching from the various vantage points around the house, log fire burning.

Seascape is a truly unique, turn-key property. The house is south facing and boasts 360-degree stunning sea and countryside views. Set back from the road, and a stone’s throw from Gansey beach, it’s an easy coastal path

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walk to the picturesque harbour of Port St Mary, its yacht club and village cafes and shops.

The property has been built to the highest of standards and includes top of the range fixtures and fittings and cutting edge technology throughout.

A great deal of attention has been given to not only the bespoke features, but also the practicalities of family living. The luxurious family accommodation flows seamlessly throughout this exceptional home.

Homes and Interiors

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

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

Seascape’s convenient location is just a few minutes’ drive from the local primary school and only a 10 minute drive to the airport and private schools of Buchan and King Williams College.

For property details contact Chrystals: hello@chrystals.co.im If you would like to learn more about relocating to the Isle of Man please contact locate.dfe@gov.im or visit www.locate.im

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ADVERT COCO DE MER ONE OF THE FINEST LUXURY VACATION RENTAL VILLAS IN BARBADOS’ PRESTIGIOUS SANDY LANE ESTATE, AFFORDS PANORAMIC VIEWS OVER THE WEST COAST. THIS EXCLUSIVE ESTATE IS PURPOSE-BUILT FOR RELISHING LIFE IN THE OPEN AIR. FROM $2,500 PER NIGHT

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rom arrival, Coco de Mer’s understated, natural style beckons guests to leave their cares behind and be transported to utter tranquility and secluded privacy. A suspended bridge over a freshwater moat connects the enclosed front garden to the grand entrance foyer. Colourful accents and furnishings, subtle Eastern influences and a built-in library make the sitting area a stylish retreat, exuding comfort and warmth.

Ascending from the grand entrance is a curved staircase that leads to the top floor dedicated master suite. This suite features a four-poster king bed,

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private office, ensuite bathroom with whirlpool bath, sitting area and a private balcony with vistas of the estate and the Caribbean Sea. The luxury gourmet kitchen features stainless steel appliances surrounded by marble, warm exotic woods and a breakfast nook with wall-to-wall western windows. These reveal a panorama of the sprawling gardens.

A spectacular, colonnaded veranda lines the Western edge of the main house, featuring a koi pond and timber

Homes and Interiors

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

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

overpass. This leads to the al fresco dining area where up to eight guests can enjoy fabulous feasts at the magnificent coral stone dining table.

Guests can enjoy a dip in the infinity edge swimming pool, bask on loungers, or dine alfresco on the patio of the one-bedroom guest cottage, located just off the pool deck.

Coco de Mer is a splendid holiday rental choice for memorable family reunions, or special events with friends. *Guests of Coco De Mer enjoy the use of the Sandy Lane Property Owners Beach Club Facility (which includes, chaise lounges, umbrellas, snack bar, washrooms and showers) on the world famous Sandy Lane Beach. www.altmanbarbados.com

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ADVERT

ELSEWHERE A 10-BEDROOM LUXURY HOLIDAY VILLA NESTLED SERENELY IN THE SANDY LANE ESTATE – AN ENCLAVE LONG CONSIDERED THE MOST DESIRABLE ADDRESS ON BARBADOS’ CHIC WEST COAST. FROM $4,500 PER NIGHT (6 BED RATE)

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onveniently close to all essential amenities, Elsewhere still feels a world apart, embraced by lush gardens where the local green monkeys can be spotted at play. The breeze constantly flows through the various courtyards, patios, loggias, balconies, and terraces of this villa which sprawls over two acres on a ridge with sweeping views– a prime vantage point for savouring the magnificent Caribbean sunsets.

Furnished elegantly to the highest

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standard and fitted with magical lighting, works of art, beautiful brickwork and imaginatively created spaces, Elsewhere provides guests an ideal retreat to entertain and relax.

The main house has two wings with six ensuite bedrooms, living room, covered patio, kitchen, and courtyard.

A charming loggia and bar area overlooking the front and back gardens is one of the focal points of the villa. The pool house has two ensuite bedrooms above a large

poolside lounge area and bar. A charming two-bedroom garden cottage opens to a private lawn and mahogany grove.

Elsewhere is five minutes’ drive (or 15 minutes’ walk) from the Sandy Lane Owners Beach Club, where guests have complimentary access to a beach cabana, chaise lounges, umbrellas, snack bar, washrooms and showers. Some of the best restaurants and duty-free shopping in Barbados are close at hand, as are international-

Homes and Interiors

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Promotion

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

standard golf courses. The villa manager and incredibly helpful concierge service will point the way and help you select activities during your stay.

The Villa chef Debra is world class, and the entire staff is warm and welcoming. They will ensure your drinks are topped, clothes pristine and massages are booked. Elsewhere has every imaginable amenity, from parking space for six cars, high-speed internet, a fully equipped gym, air conditioning, flat screen televisions, high-quality speakers, and a top-notch security system. There’s magic everywhere, from its hanging gardens to endless vistas, waterfalls and the enchanting chorus of whistling frogs by night. It’s easy to see why this villa has been graced by such A-listers as Rihanna and the late opera great, Luciano Pavarotti.

Once you stay here, you will always want to be “Elsewhere”. www.altmanbarbados.com

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JAMES’ PLACES

Say I D O Just y� and a �ew...

All of the occasion, without all of the organisation!

Boutique, mid-week weddings for 30-50 people at James’ Places.

www. d re amve nu e s . c o. u k | 0 1 2 0 0 4 0 0 6 9 9

Health, Beauty

Wellness

Hear Me Ro Roar

LE LION DE CHANEL, a deep oriental inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s totem animal, is the newest addition to LES EXCLUSIFS DE CHANEL. Olivier Polge, Perfumer-Creator for the House of CHANEL, explains, “I was much more interested in the emblematic CHANEL lion than the animal,” devoting his creation to the vision CHANEL cultivates of the Lion. Wild and majestic, Gabrielle Chanel’s totem animal is the symbol of a power that chooses to protect rather than dominate. Olivier Polge endeavoured to transpose this radiant strength of character incarnated by the lion in scent.

75ml –£155.00, 200ml – £280.00, www.chanel.com

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Health & Beauty | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Discover the Holy Grail Spring is the perfect time to refresh, renew and treat yourself to some "me" time by upgrading your skin care routine with Holy Grail Beauty Co. The company has a range of products for a true self-care experience which include the 5 in 1 Rejuvenating Facial Serum filled with 5 of the most advanced age defying ingredients on the market. This serum plumps, hydrates and brightens the skin for a radiant, youthful, velvety smooth complexion. www.holygrail-beauty.com

Health &

Beauty FOUR FIVE NUTRITION LAUNCH Following the success of their first company fourfivecbd, co-founders George Kruis and Dominic Day identified a gap in the market for high quality, premium nutritional supplements designed for the active. Combining expert nutritional knowledge with user insight, fourfive’s certified supplements have been created specifically for consumers looking to maintain an active lifestyle and to deliver maximum absorption, using only the best ingredients. The range of supplements includes: Omega 3 Fish Oil, Vitamin D3, Vitamin C, Female Multi, Male Multi and Biotic LGG. www.fourfivenutrition.co.uk 74

PRODUCT of the Month

This month we trialled the new waterproof PMD Clean Body – proving luxury skincare tools aren’t just for your face. The multi-functional product utilises the brand’s patented SonicGlowTM technology, which uses over 7,000 vibrations per minute, to break down debris - caused by sweat - from within the pores and cleanse the skin. This reduces the formation of spots, blackheads and ingrown hairs. Not only does this device leave your skin looking clearer, but it also operates at the perfect frequency to lift, firm, and tone the skin, whilst also enhancing collagen production.

The PMD Clean Body comes in 3 different colours (blush, berry & navy), RRP £145, www.uk.pmdbeauty.com

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Health & Beauty

Ask the

EXPERT

CLAIRE BALAS FROM INSTITUT ESTHEDERM UK LOOKS AT THE PRODUCTS TO HELP US AGE BEAUTIFULLY Aging beautifully starts with a first step, which is embracing your age, and then deciding that you are going to be the absolute best you can be at every age you are! The first signs of ageing appear from around the age of 25. The skin produces less sebum and becomes dehydrated with the apparition of fine lines around the eyes. As well, signs of fatigue will be more noticeable such as dark circles and the lack of radiance.

As a prevention of dehydration, we do recommend to add in your daily skincare routine the Cellular Water Mist. This iconic facial mist imitates the natural skin cells water composition to boost the hydration level of any skincare products by 18%! It is as well the first step to prevent environmental ageing thanks to its antioxidant benefit.

Moving forward, the Intensive Hyaluronic Serum and Cream are a must to treat lastingly dehydration. Its incredible water-retaining active molecule will give to your skin a daily comfort and a radiant skin tone. Fine lines will be significantly reduced for a younger looking effect.

From the age of 30, collagen and elastin levels in the skin tissue start to break down and the skin get thinner and less plumb. Skin under the eyes becomes more delicate and eye puffiness in the morning takes increasingly longer to subside. We recommend the Derm Repair Restructuring Serum alongside with the Active Repair Wrinkle Correction Cream. This skincare duo complete each other to boost the production of collagen and elastin for a firmer skin. As an eye care, the Hyaluronic Eye Serum fits all skin types thanks to its quick-absorbing texture. The Anti-fatigue Technology and the Hyaluronic Acid Complex hold in the formulation help to provide an instant younger look.

By your 40s, the first deep lines around the mouth and eyes appear as the skin loses its elasticity. It’s the right time to use our Intensive Retinol Oil Serum and Cream which will speed up the skin cells renewal for a new skin effect.

Deep wrinkles and age spots will be diminished, and the skin will appear flawless.

From your 50s, the jaw and eye lid may start to sag and droop. The skin becomes much thinner and loosed its density. Our premium Excellage range has been formulated for mature and dry skin.

Indeed, the whole routine nourishes and revives the skin radiance.

Products available from www.naos-store.co.uk

50 YEARS OF MOLTON BROWN Inspired by sun-draped Seville, the citrus and white-floral fragrance is Molton Brown’s best-selling scent. To help celebrate the birthday milestone, four of the key products within the range will transform into a new limited edition packaging. Taking inspiration from the original design that graced the bottles back in the 70’s, when Orange & Bergamot first launched, the new design brings the beautiful orange tree to life and would look beautiful in any bathroom. www.moltonbrown.co.uk

Exclusive Creation Just as the lion leaves a memorable footprint behind, ROUGE ALLURE VELVET lipstick offers an unforgettable allure. In a limited edition, ROUGE ALLURE VELVET LE LION DE CHANEL comes in 8 velvet-effect shades with a luminous matte finish. Each one represents a trait of the lion’s character: passion, audacity, instinct, boldness. To invent this colour palette, the Makeup Creation Studio transposed the feline’s radiant power into an exclusive collection of reds, oranges and beiges.

ROUGE ALLURE VELVET LE LION, RRP £33.00 per item

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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

MAGNESIUM MATTERS Magnesium is one of the most important minerals in the body, as it’s involved in a large number of biochemical processes that are crucial for proper metabolic function, basically keeping you healthy. It can help regulate muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, blood pressure and makes protein, bone and DNA. A high percentage of people are deficient in magnesium causing health issues such as insulin resistant, muscle cramps and weakness, headaches, osteoporosis. Upping your daily intake of magnesium can lead to a variety of health benefits including reducing aches and pains, lowering stress levels, higher energy production, improving blood flow, lowering sugar levels.

In general foods rich in magnesium are organic greens, nuts, seeds, dry beans, whole grains and dark chocolate. It’s important to consume a diet rich in fresh organic vegetables to optimize your magnesium levels but if you need a helping hand, I recommend Viridian High Potency Magnesium, 300mg vegetarian capsules. And the Redeeming Green Soup with Lemon and Cayenne on www. cookieandkate.com is amazing.

SOW THE SEEDS Thinking ahead of environments that can bring you joy, Sarah Raven is a well renowned for her inspiration from the garden to the home. And I was pleased to discover she is sharing her secrets of how to grow and arrange the easiest and most stunning plants for your garden and home. There’s a book and a whole host of cut flower collections to sow and plant with easy step-by-step guides. Plan your own garden idyll. www.sarahraven.com

LET’S GO PLOGGING...

From the Swedish words to pick up - plocka upp and jogga – jog, founded by Erik plogging is a combination of jogging whilst picking up litter.

The jog incorporates a variety of body movements by bending, squatting and stretching to the main action of running or walking. All you need is protective gloves, bin bags and set out on a safe route picking up rubbish as you go. It’s great for you and the environment.

An estimated 20,000 people take part in Plogging daily.

Check it out on insta #plogging #LitterAct or Twitter PloggingUK 76

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Excercises for...

Resistance Bands

These mighty little bands have many different benefits, from improving the quality of your exercises by creating resistance, they make you focus on the control and stabilise your muscles. They’re a great alternative to exercise machines and the help you feel what’s working and what’s not. #1 TRICEP PULL DOWN Stand tall with abs engaged and feet hip distance apart. Place band round your hand with one hand overhead and one hand behind your back. Take hold of the band.

With the hand nearest the back of your head pull directly upwards with bicep by your ear.

Engage your tricep and keep head in a neutral position. Use light to medium band.

Repeat 10 -15 times each side 3 times in a row. #2 HIP BRIDGE With the band round your knees lie with your back flat on a bench or on a mat. Bring your heels under your knees hip width apart, engage your abs, arms by your side and slowly raise your hips by squeezing your glutes without letting your knees cave inwards. Use a medium to heavy band.

Repeat three x 10-15 reps. #3 STANDING HIP ABDUCTION Stand with your legs shoulder width apart with the band above your ankles. Choose a medium strength to start. Keeping your back straight with slightly bent knees kick your leg out to the side slow and controlled. Repeat 8-10 times 3 times in a row.

Follow Jo on instagram @ jewilliamspt

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

Subscribe today by scanning the QR code or visiting us at: www.thecheshiremagazine.co.uk/subscribe A few of our partners and stockists

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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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 Spr priing Sty tylle

The seasons are

changing and it’s time to embrace it swapping those winter woollies with sunshine spring style.

Simplicity, comfort and Breton stripes scream style, perfect for summer days and, as it’s made from the softest jersey cotton, also keeps them cool.

1+In the Family Girls Navy Blue Stripe Dress, £29, www.mamaetmoi.co.uk

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Family news W O R D S : @ G I N A N D J E L LY T O T S

Spring Pastels Luscious British baby and children’s footwear brand, Poco Nido has released their latest shoe collection for the season and it’s awash with subtle hues for dreamy adventures. Go for a pop of colour or some beautiful etched designs of wildflowers they will ensure your little one’s imagination is ignited, and their feet are suitably comfortable and safe.

Leather Mighty Shoes, from £42, www.poconido.com

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

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TOP GIFTS FOR

#1 - You can’t celebrate Easter without a picnic, teddy-bears or other guests, so make sure your little one is prepared with this great lunch bag.

Woodland Party Polyester Lunch Bag, £21, www.sophieallport.com

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EASTER

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#3 - Uncover the connections between the wonder of creatures from the wizarding world and remarkable real-world animals that have roamed our earth.

Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature, £16.99, part of a collection at www.nhmshop.co.uk

ADVENTURES

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#2 - Make sure that you are dressed for the occasion with this touch of cuteness for your Easter Egg hunt.

Floral Rabbit Headdress, £20, www.ellajames.co.uk

#4 - What’s a celebration without a few games, use your hunt kit to panty clues and uncover those treats.

Easter Egg Hunt Kit, £6.99, www.gingerray.co.uk #5 - Always jealous of kids’ wellies, these super cute infant boots change colour as they get wet ensuring everyday is an adventure.

Grass & Air Infant Wellies, £19, www.mamaetmoi.co.uk

NATURAL DESIGN We recently discovered Ferrar Design, founded by Kerry Ferrar in 2018 to embrace the simplicity and joy of childhood, encouraging the imagination by creating lifelong companions to take on untold adventures. Although you don’t have to be a child to want one!

From Hetty the calm tiger who loves to snooze in the sunshine on a long summer’s day to Bob, a whale of few words, these friends ae made from sustainably sourced pure linen and are perfect for being squeezed and hugged by little hands.

Hetty Tiger, Bob Whale, Sid Crocodile, Eric Elephant and Howard Giraffe, £42, www.ferrar.co.uk

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Pets’ Corner This month I take a look back at RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage and its unconsidered canine passengers

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he year was 1912. It was a golden age for ocean passenger liners. The White Star Line had just launched its latest Olympic class super liner, RMS Titanic, the largest and most luxurious ship afloat at the time. There were an estimated 2,224 crew and passengers on board. Most passengers were travelling to America to start a new life. Then on the 14th of April, 4 days into her maiden voyage, the unthinkable happened. Titanic struck an iceberg at 11.40pm and sank 2 hours and 40 mins later, in the early hours of the 15th April, with the loss of more than 1,500 human lives. This is the tragic story that the majority of people will know. But what many people may not be aware of, was that there were also canine passengers onboard.

There were in fact 12 dogs aboard RMS Titanic. Some of the richest people in society were aboard the ship, and they travelled with their canine companions. Titanic was equipped with excellent kennel facilities on F deck; the dogs were well cared for and took daily walks on deck. Some of the dogs lived with their owners in their staterooms and there was even a dog show scheduled for April 15th (which sadly never took place).

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There were only 3 dogs that survived the sinking. All the surviving dogs were small dogs that were being cared for in their owner’s rooms. All kennelled dogs were sadly drowned, but not because they had drowned in their kennels. Either a crew member or passenger actually released all the dogs as the ship was sinking. There were reports by passengers who survived the sinking saying dogs were seen running up and down the length of the ship as she sank, adding to the sense of chaos as the ship went down.

The lucky survivors were Lady (or Bebe depending on different reports), a Pomeranian owned by Margaret Bechstein Hays, she was wrapped in a blanket and smuggled onto lifeboat 7. Sun Yat Sen, a Pekingese belonging to Myra and Henry Harper, a publishing magnate, escaped with his owners on life boat 3. After the sinking when asked about saving the dog Mr Harper is reported to have said, “There seemed to be lots of room, and nobody made an objection”.

The final survivor was another Pomeranian, owned by a New York clothing magnate Martin and Elizabeth Rothschild. Mrs Rothschild boarded lifeboat 6 and kept the dog hidden until rescued by the Carpathia. Initially the

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Family

dog was refused entry onto the rescue vessel, but Mrs Rothschild insisted.

These were the lucky ones. Sadly (at least) nine other dogs perished on the Titanic.

William Carter, a coal magnate from Philadelphia lost his two dogs; a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and an Airedale Terrier. Harry Anderson a New York Stock broker lost his Chow Chow. Helen Bishop lost her toy dog Frou Frou, she was forced to abandon him in her cabin, to much mutual distress. The little dog held onto her dress to prevent her leaving. After the sinking Mrs Bishop reported, “The loss of my little dog hurt me very much. I will never forget how he dragged on my clothes. He so wanted to accompany me”. John Jacob Astor lost his Airedale called

Kitty in the disaster. And there are reports it was John Jacob Astor who actually released the dogs from kennels after Madeleine Astor sent him to get Kitty. There was a brindle champion French bulldog named Gamin de Pycombe belonging to Robert Daniel, an affluent banker on board. Gamin was actually staying in his owner’s cabin. Another passenger, Edith Russell, heard him whimpering in his cabin after the ship had been hit. She said she patted and calmed him down and then put him to bed. She later reported that he was very obedient and looked at her ever so sweetly as she left the cabin. Had she known then how much danger they were both in, she would have taken him with her.

Another passenger later reported having seen a French bulldog swimming for his life in the freezing water, so some one must have let him

out, however the poor little dog is presumed to have drowned.

Allegedly, first officer William Murdoch had a Newfoundland named Rigel who, according to the New York Herald, withstood the freezing waters and barked to get the attention of the Carpathia crew which helped the rescuers locate the lifeboats and save many lives.

(Though there are no records to support Rigel actually being on board at the time of the sinking).

The saddest story must belong to first class passenger Ann Isham, who brought her Great Dane aboard the Titanic in Cherbourg. She refused to leave the sinking ship without her beloved dog, who was too big to fit onto the lifeboats. She was one of only five first class female passengers to perish on the Titanic.

Survivors later reported seeing her hugging her dog on deck as the ship went down.

Allegedly, her body was later found frozen in the water with her arms still wrapped around her beloved dog. A true testament to the bond between dogs and their owners.

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

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“Education with with aa broader broader perspective.”

“Education perspective.”

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

Classroom

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Family | The CHESHIRE Magazine

To Board or Not to Board?

There Is Another Option …

Education expert Stephen Mullock takes a close look at Flexi - Boarding

W

hen looking at school options for your children, there only used to be two choices - boarding or not boarding, and these days knowing that your child is getting a consistent, high-quality education regardless of the external environment is crucial for their personal development and educational journey.

Well luckily many boarding schools today offer a number of boarding options, but one option in particular that is becoming increasingly popular with a large number of parents is flexi-boarding - a helpful and viable alternative to, and a bridge between, the world of a day pupil and that of a full-boarder.

The choice can also depend on the distance away from the school – usually the determining factor for many parents in the choice of a school – and so the option to flexi-board offers parents a much

broader choice for their child as they can board on an ad-hoc basis during the week, and return home at the weekends, or part way through the week as desired using a school bus service or evening collection by parents.

The choice of schools available based on the needs of the child increases dramatically – schools that were considered ‘too far away’ are now within reach, and journey times on a daily basis through the week are reduced, leaving the drive to and from school only on a Sunday and a Friday.

Flexibility is Key Flexi-boarding should mean just that – the school should offer flexible options based on the needs of each child – be it weekly for geographical reasons, or ad-hoc here and there for academic or cocurricular commitments after school. If a child

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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

weekly boards and usually goes home at the weekend but would like to stay for a fixture or a concert at the weekend, the school should - and usually can accommodate most requests.

This provides parents with a ‘helping-hand’, giving them their own flexibility not only in being able to successfully manage their work or personal commitments without the stress of baby-sitters or cost of nannies, but also to control the growth of independence of their child. The child can then maintain a level of consistency, security and familiarity with their academic and co-curricular schedules during the week and enjoy the many programmes of activities that are on offer in the evenings. It is also a way to break into the field of full boarding perhaps during the Sixth Form years and can be easily aligned with College events and exeats. The step to University or moving away from home also becomes an easier one for both parent and child as the level of independence and confidence grows through the years.

The Benefits of Flexi-Boarding for Students

Flexi-boarding is a great introduction - a taster - of what boarding is really like and gives children a chance to experience what life is like as a boarder as they move through the school, as well as the opportunity to meet students from many other nationalities. It also works really well to ready a child for the move from senior school to college or university where they often live away from home in halls of residence, teaching them valuable lessons in independence and resilience in a safe, familiar and monitored environment. Quite often, after perhaps one or two ad-hoc boarding sessions which offer a brief insight into boarding life, it is the child who then initiates the next step in asking if they

can flexi-board for one night or even weekly as they grow older, more confident and need to spend more time with academic studies (Sixth Form for example), or if they are involved in after school co-curricular activities.

Boarders also grow and learn within larger friendship groups, share more experiences together and form life-long relationships and usually provide an opportunity for students to take on roles of responsibility – Head of House for example - and learn to become more independent, whilst developing the skills to work together as a team. Through this, many students develop greater self- esteem, confidence and feel better prepared and ready for the next phase of their lives.

Ultimately, flexi-boarding is an option in many boarding schools which is going from strength to strength and which many parents, students and staff have seen the benefits for all.

Flexi-boarding is Fun! And last but not least … boarders of every type have fun! There are usually a huge range of exciting and meaningful activities on offer to flexiand full-boarders - from co-curricular activities such sport and drama, CCF and Duke of Edinburgh, a round of golf, games in the sports hall or working out in the gym or heated pool, evening debating groups, even taking part in twilight catch up lessons - not to mention the sporting, cultural and retail experiences on offer.

Stephen Mullock is Deputy Head External Relations at Ellesmere College in Shropshire – a co-educational day, flexi- and full boarding school for students aged 7-18 years old.

For more information on the types of boarding that are available for your child at Ellesmere College, visit: www.ellesmere.com, call: 01691 626510 or email: registrar@ellesmere.com

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ShrewsburySchool School Shrewsbury

Visit Shrewsbury Shrewsbury The Independent Independent School of of the School the Year Year

Boarding and Boarding and Day Day School School for Girls Girls and and Boys for Boys aged aged 13-18 13-18

admissions@shrewsbury.org.uk admissions@shrewsbury.org.uk 01743 280 552 | shrewsbury.org.uk 01743 280 552 | shrewsbury.org.uk

Start your your journey Start journey now now at: at:

shrewsbury.org.uk/open-days shrewsbury.org.uk/open-days HIGHLY COMMENDED BoardingCOMMENDED School of the Year HIGHLY Boarding School of the Year SHORTLISTED Creativity Award SHORTLISTED

Creativity Award

WINNER Independent WINNER School of the Year Independent School of the Year WINNER Community WINNER Outreach Award

Community Outreach Award

The CHESHIRE Magazine| Regulars | Family The CHESHIRE Magazine

Independent School of the Year Shrewsbury School received the accolade, along with being named for the Community Outreach 2020 award in a virtual ceremony in October last year

T

he positive impact and contributions made by hardworking staff and pupils at Shrewsbury School have been recognised as the school was named as the Independent School of the Year at a virtual national awards ceremony held in October 2020, where it also received the award for Community Outreach 2020.

Shrewsbury School is constantly working with and supporting communities, particularly over the past year and was awarded the top award as the overall Independent School of the Year for 2020 at the Independent Schools of Year Awards.

Julie Robinson, CEO of ISC presented the Independent School of the Year Award at the virtual event to Shrewsbury saying Shrewsbury School won the overall award selected from all winners for: “…outstanding contribution to student experience in their own school and beyond, working tirelessly and positively, changing the

lives of their own students, and the lives of people in the much wider community.”

Leo Winkley, Headmaster, said: “It is a great honour to be named Independent School of the Year 2020. This recognises the breadth and vitality of the student experience at Shrewsbury. We are particularly pleased also to have received the award for Community Outreach. There are over 1,300 independent schools up and down the land, and I know just how much excellent work is done by the independent sector to extend opportunities through community outreach and educational partnerships.

“Community outreach has always been part of our essence and particularly during current times we have worked to share and collaborate with our local community. Our relationship with The Shewsy, our youth club in Everton, is stronger than ever in its 118th year. Benefiting the local community is a vital goal, but we also want our pupils to leave school with a deep sense of social responsibility to make change happen.”

Shrewsbury School actively works with schools and other education settings, health and social care organisations,

community groups and charities, locally in Shrewsbury, across Shropshire and throughout the UK. The school’s culture of kindness, which has a long history at the site, enables pupils to develop an experienced understanding of social responsibility leading to lives that positively impacts others.

During the national lockdown period last year, the school adapted to support urgent local needs. They donated and manufactured thousands of items of PPE for frontline workers, encouraged and promoted fundraising and charitable action from our own community across the country and abroad, made donations to food banks and adapted its community volunteering programme to work virtually by streaming musical performances into care homes and writing letters to the elderly to mitigate increased social isolation.

The above wealth of meaningful community engagement exemplifies Shrewsbury’s ‘Culture of Kindness’ nurtured in all pupils and staff at the school – it endures in the hearts of all Salopian alumni for life. www.shrewsbury.org.uk 89

Promotion | The CHESHIRE Magazine

5 Minutes with Rose Moss Innovative Works: Rose Moss, Law Firm Partner, Mum and Leader in her Field

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ose Moss has been striving for balance her whole career. As a Commercial Property solicitor, she enjoyed the cut and thrust of the dynamic and fast moving legal sector in London, Manchester and Liverpool. In her early career this often came hand-in-hand with a presenteeism approach in the office. “You were not always valued for what you achieved but for how long you sat at your desk” she explains. It sometimes felt impossible to keep her love of the law going alongside a happy and balanced young family with two busy working lawyers as parents. At times she felt she was not doing justice to either. She faced an epiphany moment when she was managing a multimillion-pound purchase of new head offices for a national fashion chain, whilst sat in her car at the supermarket car park.

In 2018 Rose was thrilled to join Jolliffes solicitors in Chester, a Law Firm with a long history but also very modern and adaptive views.

She swapped her 4 hours a day commute to really get to know her local business community.

Rose was then able to break through the glass ceiling in a Law Firm who valued what she could offer, and didn’t focus on how many hours she sat at her desk to do it in.

“One of the good things that could come from the changes caused by this pandemic is that we move away from the all or nothing approach” suggests Rose. She is grateful we have had an opportunity to take a wider, flexible long-term view of our working environments as well as our working practices and hopes we keep the positive changes which have been bought about in the last year. She is more than aware that the novelty of home working has worn off

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for many. We are sociable people, who thrive in the community environment of an office, working and growing together. Keeping the ability to do some remote working will have a positive impact when we are able to go back into the much missed office, but importantly there should not be a return to the idea of being present at your desk, whatever your productivity.

The increased use of flexible video conferencing, the acceptance and visibility of people’s personal lives in the business sphere has really bought the human face of business into focus.

We all understand, even more now, the importance of strong and healthy families as

well as the need for a business community and a fulfilling career to grow the future.

“For me”, Rose says, “working and embracing “local” brought balance in my life. Jolliffes are a Law Firm all about people. We value our staff, and our staff value our clients.” Many people suggested that the office lettings sector, which forms part of the diverse property law practice in which Rose works, was in severe decline in April 2020. At that time, many law firms made redundancies in her sector. “Jolliffes didn’t”, Rose explains, “Jolliffes believes its mission statement - “Our Why is You”. It helps us to focus on individuals, building their resilience, and enabling staff, like me, to find the best way to do their jobs and reach their goals. That ensures that the Jolliffes team offer to our clients, what the firm offers to them, an individual, flexible and collaborative approach, be it for buying a dream home, navigating a tricky divorce, selling your company or finding new business premises”.

Rose suggests offices will always remain a crucial business asset, as a hub to meet, to promote productivity and communication. If we also continue flexible business practices going forward, use video conferencing and some remote working, it will help keep future business growth, and positive family lives, sustainable for many.

Last week, in one day, Rose was in meetings with clients who were in Amsterdam wanting help with their Landlord, buying properties in Cheshire and talking taxes with accountants in London - all the while managing her children’s Zoom lessons timetable. Rose hopes that keeping the best of the last year’s changes in business practices will help other young inspiring career men and women to balance their lives. Continuing to embrace a flexible approach to home and office working, once out of lockdown, enables people like Rose to step up, build their careers, create happy lives and a thriving business community. www.jolliffes.com

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Food Drink Fit for a Queen The Buckigham Palace Vintage

Champagne is a real pleasure, especially for those fans of Chardonnay. The nose is a rich bouquet of citrus fruits, pears and peaches with a subtle hint of acacia honey. This mixed vintage champagne is very fresh yet rich in the mouth and reveals a sweetness that is perfectly balanced by the acidity. The finish has tastes of limes and orange flavours.

750 ml, Vol. 12.5%, www.royalcollectionshop.co.uk

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Food &

Drink news WORDS: CRAIG HOUGH

EAT BETTER, SWEET BETTER

Innovative natural sugar company BONRAW™ is taking on the world’s goliath corporate sugar monsters as it fights to get people eating better and sweeting better. Vegan-friendly, versatile and better for the environment, the BONRAW™ trio includes Silverbirch, Panela and Coconut Blossom, which are all healthier and more beneficial to the body than standard refined sugars.

Now available in Booths, John Lewis and Waitrose from £4 for a 225g tub 94

GUILT FREE G&T

Join the clean drinking revolution with CleanCo and the launch of its premium gin replacement, CleanGin. At 1.2% ABV, CleanGin has an unmistakable, crisp, botanic flavour that’s as refreshing, enjoyable and relaxing as the nearest alcoholic equivalent. Made using a complex distillation process that harnesses essential flavours, it has a classic taste, comparable to London Dry Gin with a fresh slice of lemon - with over 30 times less alcohol.

RRP £25, www.clean.co

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food & Drink

loves

The Dairy Book of Home Cookery

The Dairy Book of Home Cookery takes you through all the essential cooking techniques and now includes over 950 recipes from soups to sauces, dips to desserts, pastry to pickles and curries to cakes. In this fabulous anniversary edition, original recipes from the updated editions are included plus 50 new classics. £12.99, www.dairydiary.co.uk

START SINGING THE BLUES

The Blues Kitchen Manchester is set to open on the 20th May 2021, bringing a flavour of the Deep South to the city with an incredible live music programme, seven nights a week. The two-storey venue comprises of a restaurant and bar on the ground floor and a stunning concert hall on the first floor. The expert team behind popular London venues XOYO and Jazz Café will launch the music venue, club, bar and restaurant, which celebrates their life-long affair with Blues music alongside a passion for rare Bourbon and obsession with Southern Barbeque food. www.theblueskitchen.com/manchester

KANTINA WEEKENDER

Celebrating the joy of food and drink in all of its depth and diversity, Kantina Weekender will match the stellar line up of the in-house vendors at Escape to Freight Island with some of the UK’s most prestigious chefs, cocktail makers, brewers and local restaurant heroes. The weekender will host a vibrant roster of iconic live entertainment, exclusive talks on stage, satellite events, wine tasting and a guaranteed feast for all. The event is scheduled to run on May Bank Holiday, from 28 May to 31 May. www.kantinaweekender.com

Creamy and Indulgent

Gin's answer to Willy Wonka have outdone themselves with this chocolate gin. Creamy and indulgent, the cocoa notes hit you straight away.

On the palate, the gin has a touch of sweetness with smooth, chocolate running right the way through. Enjoy yours in a Negroni for a little luxury treat.

Zymurgorium Choc-O-Bloc Chocolate Flavoured Gin, 50 cl, RRP £29.89, www.thebottleclub.com

Special Edition Launch

Tracklements have released a new special edition Feisty Pineapple Achar, handmade with pineapple, onions, carrot, chilli, ginger and mustard seed. On its own it has the power to vivify a simple bowl of rice, noodles or daal. Vegan and Gluten Free, it’s easy to add a peppy punch to a myriad of recipes – not least curries.

RRP £3.35 for 220g, www.tracklements.co.uk 95

Hot Cross Yums

M&S share their mega-cheesy Marmite hot cross buns recipe in time for Easter

F

ancy something comforting?

Introducing the tastiest new bun on the block! M&S’ cheese hot cross buns with Marmite®. Made with mature cheddar and red Leicester cheeses and delicious tangy Marmite® for a savoury kick. Read on to discover how to take these buns to the next level by topping with even more Marmite and cheese yumminess – savoury heaven!

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INGREDIENTS 50g Marmite butter 50g plain flour 250ml milk 250g Cornish cruncher cheddar, grated 4 M&S cheese and Marmite® hot cross buns Green salad, to serve

METHOD

SERVES 4 PEOPLE

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Once melted stir in the flour.

Slowly add the milk to the saucepan a little bit at a time. Keep cooking until you have a lovey thick sauce.

Take the pan off the heat then stir in the grated cheddar.

Cut your hot cross buns in half and lightly toast before adding the sauce and placing under the grill until the sauce is bubbling.

Season the buns with pepper and serve with a fresh green side salad.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food & Drink

THE DUCHESS’S CHOICE SPOTLIGHT ON... DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR THE DEVONSHI R E A R M S IS A FAV O UR ITE B O LT H OL E OF C ON T RI BU T OR , L O U I S A CA S T L E, WH O WAS DELIGHTED TO B E A SKE D TO R E V IE W THE H OT EL’ S N E W F OOD AN D REC I P E S ER VI C E AT H OME

Best for...

A great date night option

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ond, pre-lockdown memories of taking the family (four-legged included) to The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales flooded back when I heard of the delivered to your door service that the team had put together. Needless to say, we didn’t need much persuading to sample their weekend delivery box menu.

Providing fresh, local food which has been produced, grown or raised on their estates, is at the centre of the ethos of great dining according to the Duchess of Devonshire, under whose watchful, detailed eye the Devonshire Hotels are shepherded. Having dined in both The Burlington fine-dining offering and the more relaxed Brasserie I was curious to see how this philosophy would apply to the home delivery service.

Delivered on a Friday the food arrives insulated and chilled (in recyclable packaging) with clear labelling and easy-to-follow instructions. It is not like a takeaway, delivered ready to eat. You need to do a little work, all very feasible whilst sipping a tipple, so nothing to worry about.

By that I mean opening some packaging and popping some pre-prepared duck fat roast potatoes onto a baking tray.

Our starter box contained house-cured salmon, heritage potato salad, pickled red onion and a zesty citrus dressing to sprinkle across. All we had to do here was finely slice the salmon and arrange on the plate – there is a picture to copy or you can freestyle it. However, you decide to present it, there is ample salmon for two people, delicate and fresh and delightful with the onions and citrus.

A roasted sirloin of beef awaited us in the main course box, complete with duck fat potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, cauliflower cheese, carrots and swede and a red wine jus. Taking just 20 minutes in the oven, it takes all the fretting out of a roast dinner, the only ever-agonising question regarding the rising of the pudding mix, of which there is enough for four puddings. My carving skills do require a little practice, however that did not detract from the

flavour and tenderness of the sirloin.

Again, there was no scrimping on food, enough for our two-and-a-half-year-old to have a good nosh alongside us.

And for dessert a dark chocolate fondant with toffee sauce and candied pecans. After just eight minutes, this rich sweet stickiness was ready and devoured.

The Duchess’s Choice is a great date night / stress-free lunch / night off but not night off night option, proving that good food can be delivered, and you can be the hostess with the mostess without the stress.

P.S. When ordering don’t forget to check out the optional extras which include artisan cheese, Martinis or Chatsworth gin.

Vegan options also available.

Three-course gourmet recipe boxes for two people, £60 per box, complete with easy-tofollow recipes and available nationwide. www.devonshirehotels.co.uk 97

Hospitality at Home The Cheshire Magazine Team continue to trial some of the best home delivery food and drink products in the area

The Counter Box Menu with Estrella Galicia

Perfect for

Tapas Lovers Michelin-starred Sabor offers a grazing tapas feast for two priced at £72 for 2 people. The experience also includes an on-demand cookery tutorial that customers can tune into so they can cook along with Sabor founder and Head Chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho.

The box includes some of Sabor’s best-selling dishes that are now available to feast on from home, including Ham Croquetas - deep fried croquettes filled with Spanish ham; Tortilla - a potato-based Spanish omelette; Gambas al Ajillo - prawns in a garlic oil; Pulpo a la Gallega - a traditional Galician dish of sliced, paprika-dusted octopus atop a bed of potatoes; Presa Iberica, Veal Jus & Mojo Verde - a well-marbled cut of Iberico pork with veal jus and mojo verde - and Beetroot Salad with Horseradish Cream. To enhance the Spanish gastronomic experience, you will also enjoy two 330ml bottles of Estrella Galicia, the perfect great drink pairing for delicious Spanish food. www.saborencasashop.com

Pizza Punks Bella! Bella! Pizza Punks serves up several offerings for restaurant quality ‘at-home’ cooking, all featuring their renowned San Franciscan sourdough pizza with a choice of four Perfect for toppings from the classic to the Making your alternative. The Bake at Home pizzas are own Pizza at half-baked sourdough base, where you Home can simply put your toppings and put in the oven. Whilst the Dough-I-Y kits is for those who would like to roll out their own dough, making up the full experience of creating your own pizza - the kit includes 48-hour proofed sourdough, tomato, basil & garlic sauce, mozzarella, and the four toppings. www.pizzapunks.co.uk 98

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food & Drink

Plateaway

Perfect for

DIY Meal For those looking to create their own restaurant Kits quality meals at home, Plateaway offer ‘DIY meal kits’. The kit provide customers with easy guides, bringing top quality ingredients, to recreate the dishes from your favourite restaurants, right to your doorstep. So far, Plateaway has 25 restaurant partners and are continuing to grow week-by-week. They have also pre-batch and bottled cocktails, by World of Zing and Lockdown Liquor inspired by everyone’s favourite flavour combinations, to pair perfectly with the DIY meal kits available. With a variety of cuisines to choose from including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options for specialty diets, there’s something for everyone. www.plateaway.com

Nourish Fit Food

Perfect for Nourish Fit Food is a meal delivery service Healthy, Fresh offering quality, healthy, and fresh food that is Food congruent to body shape goals. Prepared by expert chefs, Nourish Fit Food has a large variety of meals to select from to take away the stress of planning, shopping, counting calories, cooking and cleaning, allowing you to focus on the more important things in life- eating. Whether you are looking to gain muscle, lose weight, or simply live a healthier, and more balanced lifestyle, Nourish Fit Food is the most convenient, affordable, and enjoyable way to achieve long-lasting results. It turns the chore of dieting into a pleasurable, easy and delicious experience. www.nourishfitfood.co.uk

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The Oriental Club Express

Perfect for

Curry Night For those after a little spice…The Oriental Club Express provides two menus: the Oriental Curry Express and the Oriental Western Express, which mirrors the offering within the famous London Club and represents the traditions and reputation of the Club’s two-hundred-year-old heritage.

The Oriental Curry Express: two curries, think deliciously creamy tomato Chicken Makhani or a punchy Lamb Rogan Josh, both with Basmati Rice, Dal and Naan Bread. There is also an option to add a selection of Indian Street Food such as onion bhaji, samosas and chutneys plus additional dishes to create your own a la carte menu.

The Oriental Western Express: a choice of two regularly changing Club classic dishes such as Beef Cheek Bourguignon and creamy Celeriac Potato Mash and a deliciously rich Chicken Chasseur with Rice Pilaf which also comes with a seasonal soup and mini sourdough baguettes and salted butter.

The menus are constantly evolving, with new dishes being added on a regular basis. Party Boxes with wine and Champagne are also available, providing everything you need for the ultimate night in. Desserts and other additions such as Petits Fours and Severn & Wye Smoked Salmon can be added to orders.

Each meal is freshly prepared in the Club’s Kitchen, before flash-frozen and delivered anywhere in the UK mainland, ready to re-heat for the ultimate treat. www.oriental-club-express.myshopify.com

Honest At Home Burger Kits

Perfect for Treat Day

The team at Honest Burger are enjoying continued success with their D-I-Y burger kits - meaning you can enjoy one of their famous juicy burgers in the comfort of your own home.

There are three options available which include your patty of choice with a selection of fillings (pictured) all freshly boxed and delivered.to your door. A branded Honest tote bag is even thrown in for good measure. The kit includes clear instructions on how to create the perfect Honest burger, but if you are more of a visual learner, co-founder Tom has added a video on the company’s website to demonstrate how to get the best results. www.shop.honestburgers.co.uk 100

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Food & Drink

SPOTLIGHT ON...

COOK

WORDS : DAVID POYNTON

Best for...

Convinient frozen food, made like you would at home

I

f you are like me then you are a person who enjoys their food, yet spends far too long staring at the shelves in supermarkets wondering what to have.

And then you find yourself eating the same five meals over and over. When life is go, go, go, having a tasty balanced meal on the table with little to no effort to make sounds like a dream. Well recently COOK removed the supermarket meal planning, the meal prep time and introduced me to just some of what they had to offer.

Over the course of a week I was treated to several dishes all of which were excellent! I couldn’t believe the meals were frozen. I tend to stay away from frozen food under the belief that fresh food is always best, however I have been proven wrong.

Every main meal I consume usually involves meat and I would normally not look twice at a Vegan alternative. However, I was very impressed by the Vegan dishes I tried from this sample of what COOK has to offer. The Vegan Shepherdless Pie and the Vegan Mexican Three Bean Chilli, both were delicious and have opened my eyes to Vegan food.

The other dishes that were enjoyed were equally as tasty– Green Thai Chicken Curry

– Lemon & Herb Chicken pot – Tomato & Pesto Chicken – Chicken & Mushroom Lasagne. The two more familiar dishes, the Green Thai Chicken Curry and the Chicken & Mushroom Lasagne were restaurant quality. The Tomato & Pesto Chicken is a dish that leaves you wanting more, I couldn’t get enough of it and the sauce was perfectly balanced. The Lemon & Herb Chicken Pot was full of flavour and does well as a light lunch when you need something to eat quick without just reaching for a stodgy sandwich.

After each meal I am left reflecting on what COOK has to offer – which is quality food in every dish. It is clear how much thought has gone into all aspects of COOK’s service. The meals were delivered

in a temperature-controlled van, the package itself contained many frozen gel blocks to keep the food as cold as possible until they are ready for your home freezer.

There is a high level of thought, passion and skill that has gone into each and every dish. It’s easy to see why so many of COOK’s dishes have been winning awards for their great taste.

All this combined has made my boring, home cooked meals a thing of the past, COOK will certainly play a large part in my culinary future. www.cookfood.net

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PRESENTS

AN INTIMATE HIDEAWAY IN THE HEART OF LONDON This residents-only hotel, with a prestigious Forbes Five-Star rating, has been recognised as the number one hotel in the UK for more than a decade.

4 1 B U C K I N G H A M PA L AC E R D LO N D O N S W 1 W 0 P S T: + 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 7 3 0 0 0 0 4 1

UNITED KINGDOM

BOOK41@RCHMAIL.COM

41HOTEL.COM

Travel Unsp nspo oiled Islan sland d Originally an old fisherman’s village, Marpunta

Resort is located on the island of Alonnisos, the most Easterly island of the Sporades. With a population of under 1,000 and because of its more isolated position, the island provides a serenity and simplicity that has all but disappeared across other Greek islands. Alonnisos is surrounded

by Greece’s first national marine park and has a wealth of private and secluded beaches. With cobblestone streets and breathtaking views, the traditional ‘Old Town’ of Alonnisos is set high on a hill is utterly charming - an absolute must when visiting the island.

Marpunta Resort, Alonnisos, www.santikoscollection.com

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Travel news

WORDS:CRAIG HOUGH

Luxury for All Seasons

The first Four Seasons Hotel in Spain has opened in the heart of the capital – Centro Canalejas - where seven historical buildings have been carefully transformed into one dynamic destination of a 200-room hotel and 22 private residences. With rooftop dining

by Spanish celebrity chef Dani García, a four-storey Spa (the largest in Madrid), and a sun-splashed pool terrace, Four Seasons brings a new level of luxury and service to Madrid. www.fourseasons.com

Ultimate Glamping Experience

Avant-garde Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences is taking ‘glamping’ to new levels with the launch of Amilla Glamping: three romantic new bubble tent experiences especially designed for nature and wellness lovers. The stylish, fully climate-controlled, and waterproof inflatable pods provide Amilla guests with a uniquely immersive nature experience and 360-degree views of the tropical scenery. The “Moonlight Romance’ pampering experience includes Amilla’s 90-minute Rose Quartz Heart Massage, Champagne and canapés under the stars are followed by a romantic BBQ dinner in the gentle glow of candlelight cooked by a private chef. Upon waking the next morning, an intimate breakfast on the beach beckons. www.amilla.com

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NEW FOR SPRING Set to open in April 2021, MarBella Elix is an undiscovered beauty ready to be explored. Set in the picturesque region of Parga, mainland Greece, and paired with naturally beautiful beaches, the resort has a plethora of family fun activities for every guest to enjoy. The resort is launching a brand new adventure club in collaboration with Roarsome Adventures, both designed to transform the way young guests explore Greece’s natural beauty and provide fun and safe holiday experiences. www.marbella.gr/marbella-elix

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

ROCK ON

The renowned brand opened their latest European venture last year as the first Hard Rock Hotel in the Netherlands, residing in one of the city’s most famous Art Nouveau buildings, a UNESCO Heritage site formerly known as the American Hotel, built in 1903. The hotel is in the buzzing Leidseplein district, abundant with local restaurants, bars, cafes and theatres. Within walking distance are some of Amsterdam’s most culturally significant landmarks, including the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh museum, Vondelpark and the Heineken Museum. www.hardrockhotels.com

Family Friendly Fun

WOW FACTOR

Wine lovers take note of this large-scale urban regeneration of the historic Vila Nova de Gaia area in Porto, Portugal. ‘WOW’ has become a new cultural hub of 55,000sqm and has become Porto’s vibrant new wine district following more than five years of development and over £100 million of investment. It has 6 experiences and 9 F&B outlets, including a Wine Museum & School and Chocolate Experience. Each of the six experiences feature educational presentations, interactive displays and historical artefacts, bringing Portugal’s identity and heritage to life. www.wow.pt

Combine a thrilling holiday adventure in Quinta do Lago, Portugal, with the relaxed contemporary accommodation at The Magnolia Hotel. Families with children and pooches, ranging from all ages, can truly enjoy the best the Algarve region offers. All guests are also granted access to the brand-new multi-sports hub, The Campus. This incredible resort offers multiple family-friendly actives, including water sports at the lake, family cycle rides through the Ria Formosa Natural Park, celebrity sports camps, an unrivalled food and drinks offering and world-class golf facilities, ensuring this resort is a firm favourite year upon year. www.themagnoliahotelqdl.com

NEW IN SAINT-TROPEZ

Maisons Pariente’s, Hotel Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez re-opened its doors last year following an extensive refurbishment. Located five minutes from the Place de Lices nearby the region’s most sought-after beaches, the five-star hotel offers guests suites bathed in natural light with private gardens, the popular Beefbar Restaurant, two bars, a Tata Harper Spa and a large emerald green swimming pool privately concealed away from the lively surroundings of Saint-Tropez. Guests can once again look forward to enjoying an intimate hideaway that echoes the vintage Saint-Tropez spirit of the 60’s and 70’s created especially by French architect, interior decorator and designer Charles Zana. www.loupinet.com 105

FOUR SEASONS

Q U I N TA D O L A G O

Your Time, Your Place For friends, family, or just you

rel axation, Sunshine and e very thing in bet ween Lu x u ry v il l a s w i t h pr i vat e s w i m m ing p o ol or J a c u z z i . C lu bho u se w i t h T w o r e s ta u r a n ts & Ba r . H e at e d ind o or & o u t d o or p o ol s . G ym . B o u t iq u e spa . Te nni s a nd a G ol f S hop F O U R S E A S O N S F A I R W A Y S

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Q U I N TA D O L A G O

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A L G A R V E

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P O RT U G A L

FOUR SEASONS

Q U I N TA D O L A G O

Seven nights in a two or three-bed villa or apartment with swimming pool or jacuzzi ranging from € 1250 to € 3950 on self-catering basis depending on travel dates. For more information and offers visit fourseasonsfairways.com/en/special-offers Avenida André Jordan 37 | Quinta do Lago | Algarve | Portugal | Tel: +351 289 357 667 | reservations@fairwaysdirect.com www.fourseasonsfairways.com @fourseasonsfairways *Subject to availability. Price correct at time of print – subject to exchange rate fluctuations.

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

Meet the H o telie telierr This month we go global and meet the owners and general managers of some of the world’s greatest hotels as they describe what makes their venue stand out from the competiton

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Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine

AKSHAY

BAJAJ

Group General Manager, FIVE Palm Jumeirah and FIVE Jumeirah Village, Dubai What are the benefits of the hotel’s location?

FIVE Palm Jumeirah has been dubbed the hottest hotel on Palm Jumeirah for its all-inclusive luxury experiences that range from award-wining dining venues such as Gourmet Chinese destination Maiden Shanghai and a private beach front at Beach by FIVE to musical extravaganzas with the world’s top DJs at signature rooftop, The Penthouse. Located at the trunk of Palm Jumeirah, the resort is a quick taxi ride away to popular Dubai spots such as the Mall of the Emirates and the Dubai Marina.

City-chic hotel, FIVE Jumeirah Village affords visitors stunning vistas of the Dubai city skyline as they stay in deluxe suites with private

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pools and jacuzzies attached or dine at hypnotic street-art meets street-food venue, Soul Street. Guests are offered free travel and access to FIVE Palm Jumeirah as well as are in near proximity to traveller-favourite destinations such Ski Dubai and the Dubai Mall.

What is the most luxurious suite in each hotel?

At FIVE Palm Jumeirah, visitors can indulge themselves in the very lap of luxury in our stunning four-bed beach villa overlooking our very own exclusive glass-lined outdoor pool on Beach by FIVE, which in itself provides incredible views of the famous and glittering Dubai Marina skyline. Of course, if you would rather indulge in your very own private party – jump into the villas very own attached 10m pool and jacuzzi on the villa’s roof for some exclusive roof top revelry!

At FIVE Jumeirah Village, our guests are privy to a one-of-a-kind in Dubai, two and four-bed sky villas that have striking floor to ceiling windows overlooking a stunning private pool

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

Frequencies and the world’s no.1 DJs Dimitri Vegas and Live Mike as well as sports super stars such as Ronaldinho and Mohamed Salah as well as American TV star and global heartthrob, Adrian Grenier have all enjoyed the unmatchable vibe at FIVE.

and outdoor terrace, which provide the perfect backdrop for a jaw-dropping Instagram shot – quite simply put, it’s a must-visit for locals and visitors alike.

What can you tell us about the history of the hotels?

FIVE Hotels and Resorts, which includes the unrivalled FIVE Palm Jumeirah and the uber-cool FIVE Jumeirah Village, are the hottest destinations in Dubai for a perceptive group of travelers looking for an unrivalled luxury vacation experience that encompasses the iconic Beach by FIVE, Dubai’s most Insta-Famous social pool and a stylish penthouse lifestyle with 269 pools and Jacuzzis.

FIVE has been a celebrity favourite since its inception – musical legends such as Lost

Could you tell me about the best event the hotels have hosted during your time there?

FIVE has redefined and disrupted the luxury travel segment by creating an experientialfocused philosophy, which puts music, food, design and top-notch entertainment at the forefront of our guest experiences at our hotels.

In 2019, FIVE hosted an extravagant three-day music festival, LUVYA under its eponymous banner of FIVE Music. Breaking all boundaries, FIVE’s LUVYA Festival is the biggest celebration of Dance Music in the Middle East with the biggest party in the world now securing a new home in Dubai at FIVE Palm Jumeirah as

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three exceptional venues, Beach by FIVE, The Penthouse and Secret Room, hosted the crème de la crème of dance music - putting FIVE Music firmly on the International festival map!

Disciples, Eli & Fur, Craig David, and many more musical talents, entertained music lovers that had gathered together from around the world from sunrise to sunset in a manner in which only FIVE could aptly deliver.

How would you describe each hotel’s dining experience?

FIVE’s award-winning food and beverage offerings range from authentic Italian destination, Cinque – which brings a delicious taste of the Amalfi coast to your tastebuds in Dubai to signature cocktails such as FIVE Sunset at Dubai’s most-visited nightlife destination, The Penthouse at FIVE Palm Jumeirah that offers one-of-a-kind magic hour views of the Dubai Marina skyline and street food must-haves at vividly designed and catered to - Soul Street at FIVE Jumeirah Village!

Trattoria by Cinque at

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FIVE Jumeirah Village is an extension of Italian Maestro Chef Guiseppe Pezzella’s vision of Cinque at FIVE Palm Jumeirah where traditional Italian recipes meet Dubai flair for a mouthwatering sensory explosion on your tastebuds.

Maiden Shanghai at FIVE Palm Jumeirah is a culinary must-visit due to its modern take on traditional Chinese recipes – it offers a range of options for diners; indoor and outdoor dining as well as a special private dining spectacular curated by master chef, Chef Bing.

Lively beach dining has never looked – or tasted – so good as it does on Beach by FIVE at FIVE Palm Jumeirah, our specially crafted Mediterranean menu brings together sun, sand, surf and music with delectable dishes that are all to be enjoyed FIVE style!

Our signature FIVE events such as Ladies Night, Pool Brunch, Friday and Saturday

CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel TheThe CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars

Brunches and Skyline Thursdays; to name just a few across diverse venues offer a mix of culinary and musical delights that are tailored to be enjoyed by everyone – we are constantly evolving our concepts and offers to be able to always delight and astound our guests at every turn and afford them unforgettable experiences.

Of all the facilities the each hotel offers, which is your favourite and why?

FIVE provides each visitor with a 360-degree entertainment experience that each guest can custom design to best suit their needs.

If you’re looking for an unrivalled beach party – head to Beach by FIVE, if you’re looking for an après-hours nightlife destination that showcases every musical styling – head to The Penthouse, if you’re looking for an iconic Instagram frame – head to our world-famous Social Pool at FIVE Palm Jumeirah; and of course, if you’re looking to

curate your own private party in the confines of your private suite with its very own private pool or jacuzzi – well then you have no better destination than FIVE Jumeirah Village at the very heart of exhilarating Dubai city.

I’d personally recommend immersing yourself completely in the FIVE way of life and everything it offers you for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation that awaits you!

What makes a stay at your venue stand out from your competitors?

FIVE is undoubtedly an innovator, we never stand still – we vibe and we thrive! No two guest experiences are the same – from morning till the very wee hours of the next morning - you can enjoy a plethora of entertainment, dining and relaxation offerings whilst in the midst of exciting luxury and decadent pampering at FIVE. We have developed and earned our reputation as a leading luxury lifestyle entertainment destination for travel-hungry millennials - FIVE has it all! www.fivehotelsandresorts.com

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Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine

LORENZO GIANNUZZI CEO & General Manager of Forte Village, Sardinia What are the benefits of your location?

Forte Village is a destination in its own right. You won’t find a place anywhere else in the world that offers such a great variety of services and activities on hand: an unparalleled choice of exclusive hotels and restaurants, a world class Aquaforte Thalasso & Spa with the most powerful natural detox, a choice of 21 restaurants, an incredible range of sport and leisure facilities with international champions, a charming piazza with fashion boutiques featuring the world’s most prestigious brands and evening entertainment with international artists. In addition, our children’s facilities are also second to none: Children’s Wonderland encompassing Mario’s Village, a town square with nine magnificent miniature houses, the Barbie™ House, Leisureland with Go Kart track and an exciting Aquapark, all inside the resort. Forte Village has an additional ace up its sleeve: its location, which is only 100km from Tunisia. The area benefits from sub-tropical temperatures and is shielded from cold north winds by the mountain range behind it. It truly is a gift from nature within very easy reach from all the major European travel hubs. It is not a coincidence that we have been awarded as World’s Leading Resort for 23 consecutive years.

What is the most luxurious suite in the resort?

Forte Village offers a great choice of accommodation, all satisfying the highest expectations of families, couples, groups of friends

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and companies: eight elegant hotels, both four and five stars, 13 villas each with private butler and swimming pool and over 40 suites. Travellers have become more and more sensitive to quality and exclusivity so, unlike the common trend, over the years we have reduced the number of rooms, which have all been refurbished, to adjust them to the latest standards of comfort and service. This makes it very hard to pick one in particular as they all represent the best that can be offered, and the choice really depends on what every single guest is looking for. If I really had to name one, I would mention the Royal Suite on the 5th floor of Hotel Castello, with its breath-taking view over the Sardinian sea. The interiors are a balanced blend between design and the purity of natural materials, mainly Mediterranean. We have many famous people staying here every week: footballers, sport people and, of course, famous entertainers, artists, VIPS in general and politicians and in the past David and Victoria Beckham, several royalties and the President of China Xi Jinping, who decided to stay with us in 2016 during his trip to Italy.

What can you tell us about the history of the hotel?

The history of the Forte Village began in April 1970

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel

when Lord Charles Forte, a legend in the international world of hôtellerie, recognised the tourism potential and peerless natural beauty of the area and decided to launch his holiday club here. In the ‘80s and ‘90s the facility was enhanced with the development of new features such as the Baia delle Palme swimming pool, the Villa del Parco and Pineta Hotels and particularly with the innovative spa with thalassotherapy centre, unique in the sector with its six pools with a different saline density and temperature. In 1994, Charles Forte acquired the Le Méridien company and Forte Village became part of the group. When I was appointed as General Manager in 1995, I decided to transform the property into an exclusive destination where guests can have everything on hand and experience exclusivity at all levels. Since then, our aim to offer our guests a unique, exclusive holiday that is second to none has resulted in a process of constant improvement with new services and facilities to surprise and delight them, year after year.

Could you tell me about the best event the hotel has hosted during your time there?

The privacy and safety our resort can offer make us the best location for the most exclusive and spectacular events. The property in fact is nestled on a natural park of 50 hectares with a gated entrance.

Over the years we have hosted some of most prestigious events in the world including the G20 but also international car launches with Audi, BMW. Last year, thanks to an amazing Covid Protection Protocol we put in place, we were able to continue hosting the Filming Italy Sardegna Festival, an event that in the last three years has been attracting to the property some of the most celebrated movie stars, including Isabell Huppert, Matt Dillon, Eva Longoria and Patricia Arquette.

How would you describe the hotel’s dining experience?

Dining in Italy is always special, but we have managed to take the experience to the next level. If you’re a foodie, you can rest assured that your highest expectations are always satisfied in our 21 restaurants, ranging from cultural and classic Italian to fine dining. The most acclaimed chefs in the world consider the resort their second home, including the three Michelin starred Chef Heinz Beck who launched his restaurant in 2019, not to forget Carlo Cracco, Massimiliano Mascia and his Terrazza San Domenico, Andrea Berton who will be opening his restaurant at Forte Village for a month this summer and the top performers of Italian and international haute cuisine who feature the unforgettable gourmet evenings called Celebrity Chef Night.

Of all the facilities the hotel offers, which is your favourite and why?

I do love the crystal-clear sea and our soft white sand beach as well as the beauty of our gardens. If I really had to choose one feature I would go for the Spa, an authentic oasis of wellness, health and relaxation, nestled right in the heart of a tropical garden. Its extraordinary circuit of six salt-rich seawater pools maintained at different temperatures produce the most natural powerful detox of the body and really help restore the balance. On top, the protocol is based on the use of brine, or magnesium chloride, that has notorious antiviral properties.

Another incredible feature that I love is our offer in term of sports and leisure with over 20 academies for children and adults run by international champions, including the Russian Chess Master Karpov or the legends of the Chelsea Football Club, to name just a few. www.fortevillageresort.com 113

Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine

MICHAEL

O’SULLIVAN General Manager of Windjammer Landing What are the benefits of your location?

We are located on the one of the largest crescent shaped beaches on the island of St. Lucia. Our villas are draped along 60 acres of St. Lucia’s Northwest Coast with stunning views over Labrelotte Bay. We are also situated 15 minutes away from Rodney Bay, which is considered the “Entertainment District” of St. Lucia with lots of shops and some of the island’s best restaurants.

What is the most luxurious villa to stay in?

Our Luxury ‘Beach Front Villas’ are the most luxurious villas on the resort. Here Mediterranean architecture meets contemporary design with these brandnew waterfront villas. Terra cotta tile roofs and white stucco exteriors are accented with seamless glass railings and straight clean lines. Guests are able to breathe in the view of Labrelotte Bay with wall to wall glass sliding doors and a waterfront terrace. Each three bedroom upper level unit has an exclusive outdoor living area and covered dining area, oversized plunge pool and an open patio on the rooftop sun deck with mini-kitchen.

What can you tell us about the history of resort?

Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort,

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which welcomed its first guests in 1989, was designed by Barbadian architect Ian Morrison to look like a Mediterranean village. Brick paths meander through more than 60 acres of lush landscaping, scented gardens, sparkling pools, covered walkways, and hand-painted tiles. Ideal for couples, families, multi-generational travellers, singles and groups, Windjammer Landing is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, extensive activities, and signature all-inclusive vacation.

How would you describe the hotel’s dining experience?

When the sun sets, Windjammer Landing takes on a different, equally beautiful hue as diners stroll to one of five a la carte restaurants, headed by Executive Head Chef Jose Gomez. Guests can enjoy quintessential Italian cuisine at Papa Dons - set high in the hills, romantic fine dining at Upper Deck or more relaxed beachside dining at Jammer’s Bar.

Of all the facilities the resort offers, which is your favourite?

It’s hard to pick a favourite spot on the resort! The spot our guests tend to rave about is our newly built spa - we’ve got one of the best spas on the island and it truly is a sanctuary where guests come to relax and rejuvenate, using some of the best locally sourced ingredients found right here in St. Lucia. It is an experience like no other!

What makes a stay at your resort stand out from your competitors?

We are a resort with private secluded villas offering everything you need for the perfect holiday including a living room, fully catered kitchen and private pool. We also have an impressive kids club offering with a full packed programme. We play host to 5 a la carte restaurants, 4 bars, a state of the art spa and fitness centre and various luxury shops - you really don’t have to leave if you don’t want to. We boast a fully diving centre, perfect from experienced divers through to beginners.

Finally, we offer six resort wide swimming pools and a 1500 ft white sand beach.

What packages are you offering for 2021?

We have recently launched our ‘Linger Longer’ offer where the longer you stay, the more you save! www.windjammer-landing.com

BY

ATM OSPHE RE

Naturally Maldives...

EXPERIENCE AN AUTHENTICALLY MALDIVIAN EXPERIENCE… Located in the North-West edge of Malé Atoll in the Maldives under the dynamic Indian Ocean brand – Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts lies VARU by Atmosphere. ‘Varu’ is a term in Native Maldivian language of Dhivehi with connotations of strength, resilience and life in abundance. The 5-star resort offers a wholesome and all-encompassing Maldivian experience with its Premium Holiday Plan; The VARU Plan™ Whereby incorporating aspects of local traditions and cultures, design style and ambiance - fully embedded into its experiences and offerings - fused together with bursts of chic tropical vibes.

V A RU BY A TMOS P H E R E • N O R T H M A LÉ ATO LL • T H E M A LDI V E S

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@varuatmosphere V A R U - A T M O S P H E R E . C O M

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 E: contAct@piedbull.co.uk

www.piedbull.co.uk

Drive Big in Japan

Japanese brands are known for reliability and technology, but not necessarily luxury. But Lexus changed all that, and the LS limousine is the embodiment of that. Updated for 2021, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class rival comes with mechanical tweaks to improve comfort, a fresh hybrid system to improve refinement and extra safety technology to, well, keep you safe. This is a car to be driven in, though, and a new Nishijin and Haku interior trim option uses traditional metalwork and weaving techniques to ensconce passengers in opulence.

From £78,900, www.lexus.co.uk

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DRIVE

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

POWER TRIP BMW’s stunning M5 has had the ‘CS’ treatment, creating the most powerful ‘M’ car ever

T

hey say power corrupts, but we can only hope that isn’t the case for BMW’s latest high-performance model.

BMW’s ‘M’ cars have earned a folkloric reputation for their speed and potency, but the ClubSport, or CS, models are a cut above. So just when we thought the M5 Competition was all the super-saloon you could wish for, BMW gave it the CS treatment.

Applying two extra letters to a name is easy but tuning the 4.4-litre V8 to produce 626bhp is less simple. BMW has achieved it, though, with a series of technical updates that allow the four-door saloon to get from 0-62mph in three seconds, before roaring to an electronically limited top speed of 189mph. To put that into perspective, it means the

M5 CS is faster than an Aston Martin DB11.

But there’s more to performance than straight-line speed, and BMW claims to have improved the handling as part of the CS upgrade package. The whole car sits 8mm lower than the M5 Competition thanks to suspension settings borrowed from the M8 sports coupe, while the extensive use of carbon-fibre has cut the weight by 70kg. All of which should be good news for hardcore driving enthusiasts – at least in theory – but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

From £140,780, www.bmw.co.uk 118

The CHESHIRE Magazine | Drive

COOPER LOAD OF THIS The Mini hatch has been a revelation since it was introduced roughly two decades ago, but the cute runabout is now overdue a refresh. So that’s what Mini has done, lightly updating the looks and cabin design, while also adding some extra technology and equipment. There’s a choice of petrol engines on offer, as well as an electric motor for those ready to make the switch to a battery-powered car. But though some of the details have changed, the basic recipe remains the same, so expect the same charm, quality and dynamic ability as the previous generation.

From £16,045, www.mini.co.uk

FRENCH FANCY

HIYA, ‘BUSA! Even if you don’t like motorbikes, you’ll have heard of the Suzuki Hayabusa. This is the bike that took superbikes and turned the dial up to 11. Then turned it up a bit further. Suzuki claims it invented the ‘hypersport’ class of bikes, but it also invented something of a legend in the process. Now, though, Suzuki is reinventing the ‘Busa, giving its flagship a modernised design, extra technology and a revamped engine. That means you get digital instruments, a range of rider assistance systems including clever traction control and three engine settings, and a lighter bike. Combined with the 188bhp produced by the 1.3-litre engine, the Hayabusa will accelerate all the way to 186mph.

From £16,499, www.bikes.suzuki.co.uk

DS might not be the premier name in the luxury car market, but the Citroen spin-off brand is making waves with some desirable new models. The latest in the line is the DS4, a family hatchback designed to rival the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series. Aside from some sexy lines, the DS comes with a minimalist, distinctly French interior and a range of engines that includes a plug-in hybrid with 222bhp and enough battery to travel more than 30 miles without using a drop of petrol. £TBC, www.dsautomobiles.co.uk

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Drive | The CHESHIRE Magazine

T WIN WINK K LE, T W INKL INKLE E, L itt ittlle S tar The three-pointed star’s smallest SUV is worlds away from its predecessor.

And that’s a good thing, as James Fossdyke discovers

L

ong ago, in a world where nobody understood the word ‘furlough’ and bans on leaving home were exclusively afforded to criminals with ankle bracelets, I used to drive through city centres with monotonous regularity. Residents of London, Liverpool, Bristol, York and Manchester have all had to suffer my unsightly visage, not to mention my often inappropriate choice of vehicular transport. A Jeep, perhaps, or maybe a Ferrari.

But no matter what you turn up in, there’s always someone with something bigger and less appropriate for the urban wilderness that is Deansgate on a Tuesday morning. Which got me wondering. If you’re always going to be gazumped in the shock-and-awe stakes, and large cars are hideously impractical in city centres, why don’t we all drive something a little smaller?

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Don’t get me wrong, I like a big, hulking 4x4 as much as anyone, but small cars definitely have their place in the world. I even like some of them. I like the fact they fit country lanes and multi-storey car parks without making me wince and tremble with every turn of the wheel.

I like the fact they use less fuel and they handle better and they stand out less when you park them in a rough area of Swindon.

So, the concept of a small, luxury SUV is one I wholly support. The only problem is small, luxury SUVs aren’t always very good. There are two I actively like, plus a couple I don’t mind, and that’s pretty damning for a sector full of car makers who really should know better. The Jaguar E-Pace, for example, is so much worse than the larger F-Pace you can’t quite believe it was allowed through the factory gates. It’s especially baffling when sister company Land Rover makes the really rather good Range Rover Evoque.

Another car that once fitted into the E-Pace category was the old Mercedes-Benz GLA, which was a sort of jacked-up, high-riding and slightly naff version of the old A-Class. It wasn’t completely awful, but it looked old when it was brand new and the cabin never felt luxurious enough to justify the three-pointed star on the steering wheel. But Mercedes has rung the changes, and the all-new GLA is suddenly a much more appealing proposition.

It’s still based on the A-Class, but this time it uses the underpinnings and interior of the latest model, which is a completely different animal. That means the new GLA is better looking, for a kick-off, with a more focussed ‘face’ and a more rounded rear end. All of which means it looks less like a jacked-up A-Class and more like a baby GLC, which is precisely what it should be.

And this new, slimline image also makes the car feel less masculine, somehow. The old car looked like it was trying too hard, compensating for the inadequacies between its axles with chunkiness and steroidal haunches,

but all that has gone in a flash of stylish and discerning inspiration. The GLA has left the selfie-taking, image-obsessed stage behind. It’s less Tik Tok and Topshop, more Tatler and Taittinger. It’s grown up.

The interior has grown up, too, with cleaner lines, fewer buttons and this glorious widescreen infotainment system, which sort of melds almost seamlessly with the digital instrument cluster. Or at least it does if you don’t go for a poverty-spec Sport model. The system is so much better than its predecessor that I can’t quite believe it’s made by the same company. It looks and feels far crisper, and it’s even futuristic enough to complement the gorgeous air vents, which were designed to look like a jet engine.

Happily, this newfound maturity translates into the driving experience, which has joined the design in the realms of adulthood. The GLA is designed to be comfortable, and there’s very little attempt to be anything else. The 121

Drive | The CHESHIRE Magazine

Mercedes-Benz GLA 220d 4Matic Price from: £37,750 Top speed: 136mph Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic Engine: 2.0-litre diesel 0-62mph: 7.3 seconds Power: 188bhp

suspension is soft, the seats are well padded and the tall body will lean over through the corners. None of these things are characteristics found on F1 cars, and that’s great, because race cars are useless on the road. If you want proof, may I suggest reading the January 2021 issue, in which I drove a priceless Bentley race car around the British countryside. It was great fun, but it wasn’t what you might call relaxing.

You can have a GLA in go-faster 35 and 45 AMG trims that build on the GLA’s already adequate handling characteristics, but to do that would be missing the point somewhat. Opt for one of the more luxury-orientated models and you get a wafty, spacious and trusty family car that’s agile and compact around town. Who cares about whether it’ll zip around a race track?

A farm track, however, is a different proposition. Nobody’s suggesting the GLA is a serious 4x4, but the 220d AMG Line car I tested came with Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, allowing it to make the most of its ground clearance. Okay, it isn’t as capable as a Range Rover Evoque, but the little GLA is perfectly capable of padding around the countryside. Muddy tracks are no problem 122

at all, and although I haven’t tested this theory exhaustively, I’m sure it’s quite competent when the snow sets in.

But I can definitely confirm the GLA’s competence when it comes to dealing with the more day-to-day demands placed on a family car. There’s plenty of space for people in the cabin and their bags will fit in the boot, although those desperate for more space, can have the slightly larger, chunkier and more practical GLB. That Land Rover Discovery Sport rival offers most of the GLA’s talents, plus even more boot space and the ability to carry seven people.

So the GLA goes straight to the top of its class, giving you a stylish, comfortable SUV that’s capable of cashing the cheques the bodywork is writing. But what really makes the GLA stand out from its rivals – and indeed its predecessor – is its character. It feels likeable and more genuine, and that’s a characteristic missing from far too many cars these days. This is a small car with a big heart, and that’s enough to endear it to me.

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