LIVE MUSIC AND DANCING IS BACK

As the government have outlined that from 19th July Covid restrictions are set to be dropped and those remaining industries that have been shut since the start of the pandemic can now start reopening without social distancing measures Helen Sanderson was keen to speak with Richard Dyer, a key player in our local events industry

Richard said: “The pandemic isn’t over but the loosening of restrictions is coming as a result of the success of the vaccination drive.

We’re going to see nightclubs, gigs and festivals all be able to go ahead for the rest of the summer and beyond. Unfortunately, this news has come too late for many events that have had to postpone until next year, particularly festivals that were never offered adequate insurance by the government.”

Richard Dyer co-founded Skiddle with Ben Sebborn in 2001 initially as a what’s on guide, out of frustration for there not being enough online information for the events they love. Both gig promoters and big ravers, their passion for music events in the north of England and beyond formed the business’ bedrock, quickly expanding across the UK and further afield. Richard said: “In 2006 we started selling tickets, and in the decade since have become one of the UK’s most loved ticketing services.

OUR STAFF ARE MADE UP OF AN AVID BUNCH OF EVENT FANS, WHO ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING TICKETING BETTER

We sell for all the big names, Reading & Leeds, Creamfields and Warehouse Project, but we’re not a business that focuses solely on the well-known brands. We love to get our hands dirty helping promoters grow boutique offerings, from intimate gigs and club nights, through to grassroots festivals, comedy nights, food and drink events and more. Our staff are made up of an avid bunch of event fans, who are committed to making ticketing better.

“Now over the years we have relished the challenge and done everything we can and excel in our standards. We’ve won awards for our customer service, and review sites rate us highly, with reviews.co.uk scoring at 4.52 out of 5 and Trustpilot a 4.4 out of 5. The last 15 months haven’t

been the easiest on the events industry, and whatever you think of how ticketing works, it’s probably not that simple. There has been an EXCEPTIONAL amount of work generated by this pandemic and for all our friends at every ticket outlet across the country it has been far from easy.

“Initially we planned for the 21st June as freedom day. Nightclubs would open, large events and festivals would be allowed to happen. These events of course need planning, and money, time and guidance. For years the event industry has successfully complied with many rules and regulations whether that be the number of door staff to the number of toilets. Now we look forward to our next freedom day – Monday 19th July – with hope, and following the recent announcements, this looks like our best chance of normality yet! We know the demand is there, festival ticket sales on the site increased by 3,999 per cent in March 2021 compared to sales in the same period in the previous year. So we can’t wait to get people back on those dancefloors as soon as possible!”

So with fingers crossed and a huge dose of hope resting on Boris’ plans to drop most restrictions on the 19th July, Richard and his team are planning and prepping for their late summer festival, Highest Point. Highest Point is a three-day festival set in the grounds of Williamson Park, Lancaster. Now in its third year the festival is set to really cement itself in the festival calendar with a massive line up of artists including Rag N Bone Man, Becky Hill, Rudimental, James, Clean Bandit and Wilkinson.

Highest Point Festival really started life as A Wing back in 2014 with irregular parties held inside the old Lancaster Prison. After a very successful two years with over 20 parties featuring Pete Tong, Derrick Carter, High Contrast and Mark Knight the owner of the prison, the Queen, kicked them out and they moved to Williamson Park to stage the first ever outdoor Hacienda Classical show. This sold out in hours.

Highest Point was born on that day in May 2016 with the first festival in 2018 with a crowd of 12,000. 2019 grew with a bigger line up and a sell out capacity of 15,000. Highest Point was co-founded by Richard Dyer (co-founder of Skiddle),

Jamie Scahill (co-founder of Funkademia and Manchester Union Brewery, pictured above) along with Holly Wignall (Events Live) late, great Chris Glaba.

This year on the 3rd and 4th September Highest Point will host over 100 artists on six stages including the Chris Glaba Memorial Stage which is an annual stage dedicated to one of the founding members of the A Wing club night, who sadly passed away after a short battle with cancer in 2016.

Here’s hoping that the governments plan come to fruition and we all get to enjoy live music and dancing once again very, very soon. I for one can not wait! n

Business continues to boom across Preston and Fylde area despite this being hailed as the most challenging business year in memory

If you have any Business Matters news items then please share them with me at: helen.sanderson@live-magazines.co.uk

NEW MARKET TRADER

A new independent business, Crystal Hairbows has opened at the Box Market at Preston Markets. Crystal Hairbows make and sell handmade special hair bows, headbands and a wide selection of other hair accessories including clips, bows, and bobbles. Petra Pasko owner of Crystal Hairbows said: “I’m so excited to open my business at the Box Market at Preston Markets. I love making all types of hair accessories and now I have the space to showcase them to the people of Preston.”

POTTERY BUSINESS SURVIVES LOCKDOWN

Preston-based social enterprise Make North is adapting its service to offer pottery at home on a permanent basis in response to the coronavirus pandemic. After opening in the former Saul Street Clinic in 2019 where the community could access facilities to create pottery, Make North quickly grew to over 50 members. During the first lockdown, the business adapted to help members continue their pottery at home. A range of online tutorials was created, with a drop-off and pick-up service, so materials could be delivered to members’ homes and then collected for firing. WELCOME BACK PROJECT LOOKING FOR BUDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

If you are passionate about Preston and good behind a camera lens, Preston City Council has a great opportunity for someone to supply a suite of images of Preston to be used as part of the Welcome Back funding project. The council are inviting proposals to provide them with a comprehensive suite of images as part of this campaign that can be used by the Council and partners to support the visitor economy and welcome people back to the city.

FIRST TV AD TO COINCIDENCE WITH TOUR DE FRANCE

Ribble Cycles has launched its first-ever TV advertising campaign to coincide with the start of this year’s Tour de France (TdF). Ribble Cycles, which was created in 1897 and is based in Bamber Bridge, is a brand that has been ridden by multiple British cycling champions and TdF winners at various stages in their careers. The ad campaign aims to embrace the excitement and buzz around this year’s TdF to showcase the brand to a wider cycling audience.

COMPANY LAUNCH WHITE & RED ROSE SCENTED CANDLES IN ‘BATTLE OF THE ROSES’

For locally based candle company; Flaming Crap, experimenting with unusual and controversial candle scents is not something new. After success with their ‘2020 Scent’ and ‘One Night Standle’, the company are now back with a new range – this time with something that’s driving them down the middle. Co-founders Oliver Burr and Alex Hickson hail from Harrogate in North Yorkshire and Blackpool in Lancashire respectively, and created the ‘Be Reyt’ and ‘Our Kid’ candles to honour their home counties. Inspired by their cross-Pennine rivalry, the couple have scented the new candles with unique White and Red Rose aromas and plan to begin a competition to see which county will reign supreme!

The Pensions Advisory Group (PAG) includes solicitors, mediators, financial advisers and pensions experts and was established to provide guidance on pension sharing in divorce. Whilst not enshrined in law, the advice is highly regarded and used by judges to assist in decision making. During divorce financial proceedings, both parties are required to put assets ‘on the table’ and provide evidence on properties, savings and pensions. Pension’s evidence is the most recent cash equivalent value (CEV). Before the PAG report it was common for pension CEV to be ‘offset’ against another asset eg a wife proves her pension CEV is £100,000, if the family home holds £100,000 equity she may suggest she keep her pension, her husband keeps equity in the home. But pension values can be misleading – if from

Around 80 per cent of married couples have at least one pension, yet prior to a report by the Pension Advisory Group if a couple divorced, they were faced with uncertainty on how pensions should be divided. Helen Lucking, head of family at Napthens, looks at the implications of the PAG report

a defined benefit scheme, income upon retirement is potentially more valuable than the CEV. Before the report, circumstances of the parties were not necessarily considered in decisionmaking. The PAG report specifies ages, health and earning potential are all relevant. It recommends pensions be dealt with separately to other assets and considered as future income – and pensions divided with an aim of equality of income upon retirement. To calculate pension income, pension on divorce experts (PODEs) can produce reports that calculate this – but reports are expensive and can be lengthy to prepare. The PAG indicates a pensions report be obtained where pension CEV is £100,000 or above. However, CEV less than £100,000 does not necessarily reflect the income the pension will produce. Courts usually require a pensions report. Courts are taking PAG advice seriously. In a recent case a couple separated in 2011 but only divorced and settled finances at trial in February 2019 (prior to the report). The wife’s pension had grown significantly during separation. She requested the court consider the value of her pension up to 2011 as a matrimonial asset and the court initially agreed. The husband appealed. The appeal was heard in February 2020 (after the report) and the judge found the initial decision not in line with PAG advice. The pension was valued over £100,000 so a PODE should have been instructed – parties’ needs, ages and contributions had not been considered (the husband was 59 with health issues so unable to work and unlikely to have sufficient income upon retirement without a share of this pension). The appeal judge listed the matter for a further hearing to re-evaluate steps to be taken in line with the guidance. If you have any queries or concerns about pension sharing, always consult an expert. n

Helen Lucking is a Partner and Head of Family & Divorce at regional law firm Napthens napthens.co.uk

Moving home. Solving disputes. Divorce. Probate. Estate planning. Complicated issues, often a worry. But the support and advice from our experienced lawyers will guide you through the process. When you’re facing life’s big decisions, together is better.

Email together@napthens.co.uk or call 0345 671 0276

If you’ve never driven a convertible, you need to check out the BMW 4 Series, a sleek open-top four-seater that has power and pace, writes Paul Agnew. Photography: Roger Moore

First impressions do count. Whether you’re choosing a house, a hotel, a pet or a partner – but especially when you’re choosing a car! From the moment you make eye contact you know whether this is the one for you. Hard to explain, it’s just a gut feeling. A feeling you certainly get when being first introduced to the BMW 4 Series Convertible – a sporty car of genuine elegance with instant, stop-you-in-your tracks appeal. Down the decades, convertibles have always had something of an edge over the rest on appearance, but this latest BMW variant is the new benchmark. And, difficult as it might be to believe, the handling and functionality are every bit as good as the look. Pure, dynamic, driving pleasure combined with the allure of exclusive open-air motoring, make this open-top, four-seater (not many of those around) a highly-compelling proposition in a competitive marketplace. First up, the overall handling is nothing short of magnificent. This is a car of power and pace, but one that holds the road superbly and takes the corners like a dream. Not at any point does it threaten to race out of your control.

With a low centre of gravity and perfectly balanced 50:50 weight distribution and optimised aerodynamics, the BMW 4 Series Convertible offers sharp response across all petrol and diesel options with all models complying with the Euro 6d emissions standard. The flagship M440i xDrive comes with 374hp and 500Nm of torque and powers from 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds. Supporting the twin power turbo six-cylinder petrol

engine is a 48V mild hybrid battery, which helps with stop/start functionality, boosts acceleration and also delivers favourably in terms of fuel consumption. Impressive stuff, but you can expect excellence and performance whatever your fancy or budget, like eight-speed Steptronic transmission for starters. Inside there is an ambience of quality and flair with driver-centric cockpit design, electrically adjustable sports seats in the front with automatically extending and retracting belt feeders, Vernasca leather trim and seat heating, plus leather sports steering wheel. The two rear seats are individually styled and there are harmoniously designed surfaces on the instrument panel, door panel trim and rear passenger compartment. The BMW 4 Series Convertible perfectly suits both everyday journeys and longer distance trips. Storage options are surprisingly good and the top-class equipment make open-top driving an even more pleasurable experience. Optional wind deflectors can be stored behind the rear backrest and optional neck warmers are integrated into the front head restraints. Three-zone automatic climate control is standard and also available are ambient lighting features with welcome light carpet, Harman Kardon surround sound system and an auxiliary heating system controlled via smartphone or the BMW display key. There is front collision warning with brake intervention, lane departure warning including lane return with steering assistance and speed limit info system. Optional driving assistant professional adds a number of features including steering and lane control assistant with the new active navigation and emergency lane assistant functions. There is also innovative 3D visualisation of the surrounding area in the digital instrument cluster.

Park distance control with sensors at the front and rear come as standard while an optional parking assistant also includes reversing assistant. The latest generation of BMW head-up display and BMW drive recorder are also available. The glorious BMW Operating System 7 provides the platform for individually configurable, personalised content in the control display (measuring up to 10.25 inches) and the optional 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster. There is intuitive, multimodal operation using the control display touchscreen, iDrive controller, steering wheel buttons or voice control and BMW intelligent personal assistant with new graphics in the control display. A cloud-based navigation system (BMW Maps) provides fast, precise calculation of routes and arrival times, real-time traffic data updated at frequent intervals and a facility for entering any word when searching for destination. Featuring Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and now also Android Auto, wireless connection via wi-fi, all information is shown in the control display, the instrument cluster and head-up display. In short, it wants for nothing. One leading motor critic, noted more for fault-finding than plaudits, termed it ‘highly-recommended’. High praise indeed. The BMW 4 Series Convertible is a motor for anyone who loves carefree driving, coupled with a touch of panache and excitement. If you’ve never tried a ‘drop top’ then check it out. You might well become a ‘convert’! n

Bowker Preston BMW Channel Way Preston PR2 2YA 01772 769976 bowkerprestonbmw.co.uk

@BowkerBMW

@BowkerMotorGroup

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