MARCH/APRIL 2023 s ISSUE 103
Shaken &
Stirred Liverpool’s Must Try Cocktails
DIOR
THE FALL 2023 COLLECTION
Style | The CHESHIRE Magazine
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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style
DIO IOR R
presents presents DIOR
2023 0233 02 T The he Fall Fall 2
Colle olleccti tio on F
inding a new ingenious way of talking about feelings and emotions that can connect us with a country and its culture is precisely what Maria Grazia Chiuri wished to accomplish in this Dior Fall 2023 collection, with a view to explaining the collaboration, work relations and friendship linking her for many years to India and Karishma Swali, who directs the Chanakya ateliers and the Chanakya School of Craft, in Mumbai. Through the silhouettes, the Creative Director celebrates the visionary spirit of Christian Dior and his successors. A colour block sequence dedicated to silks – green, yellow, pink and purple – in homage to Marc Bohan, comes in the form of sophisticated evening coats, sari-inspired straight skirts and traditional Indian cuts, as well as pants, little boleros, jackets and brassieres: a veritable sartorial genealogy defined by different fashion heritages. Geometric shapes frame the gold and silver sequins or strass; decorative motifs come forth in this kaleidoscope of colours, and the toile de Jouy is enhanced by elements of Indian scenery; the Jardin Indien floral drawing punctuates the silk of pyjamas, shirts and dresses. A dialogue in which the collaborative dimension expresses itself more than ever, in a multi-vocal manner and thanks to exceptional savoir-faire, exemplified by embroidery. dior.com
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Location The Ro is one of Windermere’s oldest hotels that sits above the town in its own grounds. The World of Beatrix Potter, restaurants and shops are all within a short walk away. The ferry to the western shore of the lake is a five-minute drive, and then on to pretty Hawkshead (four miles) or Coniston (eight miles). Windermere station, which connects to the main west-coast line, is a 30-minute walk. Whitewashed Victorian on the outside, the hotel is perfectly placed for breathtaking views of Lake Windermere.
Rooms and Suites Spread over four floors, the hotel offers 87 rooms that range from The Snug (11m²) up to a Family Lake View Room (36-50m²) that can you host you, your loved one, little ones and furry friends. Having recently undergone a multimillion-pound refurbishment, the contemporary interiors take inspiration from the surrounding countryside with cool blues and turquoises complemented with accents of orange, natural stone and traditional grey slate. 87 fresh, sleek and stylish guest rooms feature artistic touches and home from home comforts. The Ro Suite is the hotel’s jewel in the crown, offering stunning lake views. The suite is the hotel’s largest room (54 m²), and includes en-suite shower, freestanding bath, Smart TV and a coffee machine to help kick start your Lake District escape in a morning. For those spending a weekend exploring the area, the suite offers a home away from home feel. Modern armchairs are placed near the window, so you can take in the views whilst sipping on your favourite cocktail ordered from the bar. When booking, be sure to request a top-level room with a lake view and enjoy a drink as you watch the sunset on your balcony. The hotel is incredibly peaceful and offers the perfect place to rest your head after a long leisure day.
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weekend away
The Ro Windermere Liam Carr soaked up picturesque views over Windermere during his stay at The Ro in South Lakeland
Food and Drink Overlooking the garden, Lacu at The Ro specialises in British cuisine and hosts breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu is filled with hearty food options including rib-eye steak, Peking duck breast and pan fried chicken and also several options for vegans and vegetarians. The menu highlight was the confit shoulder of Lakeland lamb with crispy coated lamb belly, mushrooms, carrots, baby onions, creamy mash, back garlic puree and red wine jus. The team are incredibly attentive, and you will leave Lacu feeling well fed and well looked after. The hotel’s bar is a hive of activity in the later evening as we experienced guests mixing with locals over a cocktail, sharing their experiences from the day. When it comes to mixology, the bar team know what they are doing. The cocktail menu is varied; however the team are open to steering off menu to create your favourite mix. The area is incredibly relaxed and offers a decent daytime bar menu that includes traditional sandwiches, nibbles (nachos,
The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel
halloumi fries), main courses (fish and chips, burgers, steak and kidney pudding) as well as a wide selection of desserts (local ice cream, cheese board).
Special Experiences The hotel also offers bespoke experiences packages for guests hosted by local experts. The new Adventu’RO’us showcases the spectacular scenery of the Lakeland fells, valleys and lakes from the south to the north, including 4,000 year old Castlerigg Stone Circle set high on the fells with panoramic views of the mountains. The Country ‘RO’ads is a must for Beatrix Potter fans and takes in many places associated with the famous children’s author, including Hawkshead and Hill Top Gardens and a special lake cruise. Finally, The Ro’s new Cruise Away packages offer guests the opportunity to get even closer to the magnificent mountain scenery and embark on an expedition along Lake Windermere.
Personal Note The Ro is the ideal location to explore the lakes, soak up the views of Windermere and the surrounding mountains, all while sipping on an indulgent cocktail or two. It’s time to book your Lake District getaway. therohotel.com
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Drive | The CHESHIRE Magazine
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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Drive
The quintessential hippy van just got even more eco-friendly with the arrival of the new ID. Buzz MPV. James Fossdyke went to see whether it can be as iconic as its ancestor
B
ack in the 1950s, Volkswagen was an up-and-coming German car maker, known primarily for the Beetle, the morally questionable car of the people. But after the Beetle came something with slightly fewer ties to extreme right-wing politics. In fact, the Type 2, known locally as the ‘Bulli’, became a symbol of the hippy movement, embodying anti-nuclear sentiment, peace, love and, to some extent, drugs. You probably know it as the VW Camper. Today, the old VW Bulli is quite a popular classic, desirable among those who want to relive the swinging ‘60s or simply imagine they’re still surfers on Venice beach. So, with the Bulli back in fashion, VW has gone the way of Fiat and Mini, creating a modern interpretation of the Bulli with modern fixtures and fittings. The style is not quite the same – it’s retro, rather than classic – but the attitude remains, and this being the 2020s, it had to be electric. Welcome, then, to the most peaceful, most lovey-dovey, most environmentally friendly VW bus yet: the new ID. Buzz. Yes, the name is ridiculous, but the recipe is simple. Take some of the styling of the old Bulli, modernise it, then apply it to a practical and modern cabin with a tree-hugging electric powertrain. Surely, it’ll be the darling of hippies old and new? It certainly looks the part. The two-tone paint is, sadly, an optional extra, but surely it has to be the first option any would-be customer would tick. Combined with the almost flat front, the huge VW badge and the grille-like trim on the rear window frames, it’s clearly a child of the old Bulli. Yet it still looks modern, with a kind of Star Wars-style look to it, and a bulky yet timeless shape. There are no two ways about it – the Buzz is a good-looking thing. It’s also a pretty sizeable thing. You have to climb up into it, and the footprint is roughly the same as that of the Transporter van that has become so popular among tradespeople. In fact, VW also makes a panel van version of this vehicle, which it calls the ID. Buzz Cargo. Without rear seats, it’s a massively spacious electric van,
offering almost as much load-carrying ability as the conventionally powered Transporter. Oddly, though, the passenger-carrying ID. Buzz conspires to be much less practical. Although it’s huge and the boot is predictably enormous, it’s currently available only in five-seat form, which means it’ll carry as many people as, say, a Golf. Surely, a seven-seat version must be on the way, but Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed it yet, so five is all the ID. Buzz will take for the time being. Admittedly, the enormous amount of interior space means it’ll seat five people very comfortably, even if they take all their luggage with them. The huge boot means suitcases, paddleboards, umbrellas and anything else you might want to cart about will be swallowed up with consummate ease, and that makes this car ideal for days out with the family. Except, of course, it’s only ideal if you’re going somewhere very close to home or with an abundance of charging points. Because the ID. Buzz is completely electric – there’s no petrol or diesel engine whatsoever – it has an official range of about 250 miles. But if you want to drive on the motorway, that range is likely to fall below 200 miles in anything other than ideal conditions. By which we mean a warm day on which you’re reluctant to use the air conditioning, which saps charge from the battery. That said, you can charge the ID. Buzz fairly quickly, assuming you can find a working charge point with adequate charging speed. Finding one of those can take a little bit of forward planning. That minor issue aside, the ID. Buzz is a very pleasant thing to live with. Whereas other cars in VW’s electric ID. range can be a bit bland inside, the ID. Buzz has a smartly styled dashboard with mock wood trim and a shelf for storing stuff, as well as a removable centre console storage box for extra storage. Add in big door bins, comfy seats and a massive central touchscreen, and it all looks pretty good. But VW has made a few mistakes in there. First of all, there’s the insistence on swapping buttons for touchscreens, which means there are almost no physical controls whatsoever. Instead,
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W HA HAT T’S HOT: The La Latest Saunas & Sw Swimm immiing Pool Pools for 20 2023 W Director of Klafs UK and Guncast, Gilles Darmon, showcases the latest products to hit the UK market
ith biohacking the buzzword when it comes to health in 2023, taking care of, and enhancing your wellness has never been a bigger priority. One brand that knows a thing or two about self-care is Klafs UK, the British arm of the renowned German company, widely regarded as a world-leader in wellbeing facilities. Established in 1928, Klafs are known for their innovative take on traditional saunas and spas, bringing design-led products to homes and hotels across the country. Guncast Pools & Wellness, now part of Klafs, has perfected the art of luxury swimming pools, found at the forefront of the revolution of the at-home wet leisure suite. Travelling the world installing the very finest pools, Guncast continues to prove integral in the development of new industry trends, whilst also responding to the ever-changing, opulent requests of clients. Now with an exclusive new showroom in Cheshire, Director of Klafs UK and Guncast, Gilles Darmon, showcases the latest products to hit the UK market – each meticulously designed and crafted to add beauty and elegance to the home, and bring a wealth of health benefits to its users, too.
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The S1 Sauna
The world’s first retractable sauna is ideal for those wanting to incorporate the detoxifying and healing benefits of regular sauna use into their daily routine, but are short on space. Only 60cm deep when retracted, it is the same size as an average wardrobe, yet at the touch of a button, it extends to a depth of 1.6m with sophisticated eMove technology. New for 2023, the Klafs S1 Sauna now also comes in a chic black finish – perfect for more contemporary homes blending seamlessly into the interior design of your home. The health benefits of saunas are well documented, known for their toxin-blasting, circulation-improving qualities. Not only increasing blood flow, improving cardiovascular and respiratory functions, saunas can help the body battle common colds and viruses by encouraging the production of white blood cells – while simultaneously offering significant mental health and relaxation benefits. This space-saving product can seamlessly be installed into small spaces in any house from bathrooms to bedrooms.
Homes and Interiors
increased security. The system allows you to create a safe space for all family members, from children to novice swimmers, by adjusting the height of the pool floor on demand. It is also hugely beneficial for households seeking a space-saving pool solution.
The ESPURO Foam Bath
A brand-new product in our catalogue this year which we’re already seeing a lot of buzz around is the ESPURO Foam Steam Bath. Taking steam bathing to the next level, the ESPURO releases dense aromatic foam into the steam room – cleansing and moisturising the skin fully, before special nozzles release a gentle stream of warm water and washes the remaining foam away. Perfect for hotels, private health clubs, spas or cruise ships, the new product provides an unparalleled wellness and relaxation experience for your guests. A lowmaintenance option for your cleaning teams, all water-carrying lines are flushed and disinfected at the touch of a button, meaning your guests can feel safe and comfortable during their foam bathing experience.
Moving Floor Swimming Pools
Swimming is an excellent way to work your entire body and cardiovascular system. An hour of swimming burns almost as many calories as running, without the impact on your bones and joints. Guncast’s moving floor swimming pool is a fabulous solution for expanding homes without enlarging the footprint or losing rooms. With one touch of a button, the swimming pool is seamlessly raised or lowered, transforming right before your eyes. This innovative option is the ideal solution for families with young children or pets, giving parents peace of mind and
Vitality Pools
Last but certainly not least is Guncast’s Vitality, Spa and Hydrotherapy Pools. The vitality pool is an excellent option for those who wish to have a pool but worry they don’t have enough space. Equipped with air and water jets and often features such as bubble pads, massage benches and powerful massage jets, these small “swimming pools” are the perfect addition to your daily wellness routine. Whether you plan to use it for spa hydrotherapy, countercurrent swimming against powerful jets, water aerobics, massage, or just simple relaxation, the spa pool is a must-have for any home. For more information on Klafs UK or Guncast products, why not book an appointment at their new office and showroom? Unit 1, Mere Hall Farm, Bucklow Hill Lane, Knutsford, WA16 6LE; +44 (0) 161 358 0840, guncast.com Klafs and Guncast also provide swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms and wellness suites for a range of premium hotels and spas across the country. For commercial clients, visit klafs.com/for-professionals
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