Luxe Issue 68 Mar/Apr 2021

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ISSUE 68 MAR/APR21

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luxe-magazine.co.uk ISSUE 68 MAR/APR21

HAI R H E RO E S . Sp r i n g craf t s. EAS TER FEAS TING . Beaut y buys. INSPIRING WOMEN. Sustainable fashion. HOT PROPERT Y. Thrifty people. CELEBRATION W IN E S. Vi r tu a l s ho p pi ng. KID S & ED UCATION. Wo rki ng on wellbeing .

G O RG E O U S G E TAWAY S . Bi g names . LUX E.

WHERE SOLD

WE A RE BAC K APRIL 1 2TH A PRIL O U T D OOR D RINKING & D INING 17TH MAY IND OOR D RINKING & D INING 21ST JU NE BUSINE SS A S USUA L

B O O K N OW

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WELCOME

ISSUE 68 MAR/APR21

contents 6>> Easter happenings Fun for the whole family

8>> Our picks 10 things luxe is loving this season

16>> Get thrifty The transition from winter to spring is the most colourful of them all. It starts with daffodils at supermarket check-outs and quickly moves to blooming gardens, family gatherings (when time allows) and getting lost in the glorious nature on our doorstep without having to battle that winter bite.

Spring brings with it an abundance of optimism. A promise of new life. A fresh perspective and a positive mindset.

And that’s what this edition is all about. Time to bring our luxe lives back to life with regional, relevant and entertaining content. We’re waking from that cosy winter slumber and putting our 2021 goals and ambitions to the test.

We’re covering everything from spring crafts and inspiring females, to charity heroes, leaders in sustainability and experts in all things kids and education.

All of that, plus insights from our lovely Luxe columnists, inspiration on where to staycation this summer, and indulgent Easter recipes from some of our favourite foodie spots.

As we celebrate the change in seasons, we’re also popping champagne with our friends at Hooker & Young, who are celebrating 30 years as a couple and 25 years in business. They’ve certainly got a story to tell, and we uncover it on page 24.

Let our spring issue bring love and light when we need it most. Here’s to a happy season of hope, hugs and hip happenings.

Remember to check in with us online at luxe-magazine.co.uk See us on social at: Twitter: @TheLuxeMagazine Instagram: @theluxemagazine Facebook: @luxemag

THE LUXE TEAM Christopher March publisher chris@allies-group.com EDITORIAL Elysia Fryer head of content elysia@allies-group.com Matthew Thomas matthew@allies-group.com Nicole Wood nicole@allies-group.com

The key to sustainable living

18>> Female force Inspiring women from the North East

22>> Spring crafts Isabella Dryden is the founder of ‘considered clothing’ brand, Saint Belle. Based here in the North East, she takes her inspiration from years of findings in the wonderful world of fashion, but setting up her own business on home turf was always part of the plan. Her luxe things in life include: fresh flowers, a good cup of tea and surrounding herself with great friends.

Finding comfort in creativity

24>> Hair heroes Raising a glass to Hooker & Young

30>> Sustainable style Fashion focus with Saint Belle

40>> Get grounded Finding calm with a cuppa

50>> Star star-studded Chatting to Grantley Hall’s Shaun Rankin

62>> Gorgeous getaway A cool, container escape

72>> Healthy habits Feel-good activities for kids

74>> Empowering girls A note from Newcastle High School for Girls

76>> Man kit Statement style for spring

Gary Hooker and Michael Young are the creative duo behind the Hooker & Young salons that continue to take the North East by storm. The pair love nothing more than championing the place they call home as they make their mark on the hairdressing world. Their luxe things in life include: their dogs (all 15 of them!), their second home in Spain, people and restaurants.

SALES Debi Coldwell director debi@allies-group.com Tanya Harper tanya@allies-group.com Claudia Robinson claudia@allies-group.com Chris Turner chris@allies-group.com PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Gibson info@kgphotography.co.uk Nicky Rogerson nicky@kgphotography.co.uk

Our partners

DESIGN David Stubbs creative director dave@allies-group.com

Allies Group Ltd, Enterprise House, Kingsway, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, NE11 OSR allies-group.com All contents copyright ©2021 Allies Group Ltd. All rights reserved. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies, howsoever caused. No liability can be accepted for illustrations, photographs, artwork or advertising materials while in transmission or with the publisher or their agents. All information is correct at time of going to print, March 2021.

Shaun Rankin is a chef who knows a thing or two about reaching for the stars. He has recently been awarded a Michelin star for his Grantley Hall restaurant in glorious Yorkshire. His luxe things in life include: his two children Harry and Ethan, fishing, walking and camping in the great outdoors - and of course, wine!

luxe is published bi-monthly by Allies Group Ltd

MAR/APR21

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LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Sweet something How do you like your eggs? Made with chocolate, of course! This Easter, look no further than Hotel Chocolat’s dreamy sweet delights.

Whether it’s their larger-than-life Ostrich Eggs, a Happy Easter Hamper, or their Extra Thick Eggs filled with chocolatey treats, they’re sure to go down a hit in any luxe home this spring. hotelchocolat.com

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Design Your Delcor.

Personal design with limitless possibilities.

Visit us online at delcor.co.uk or call us to discuss exploring our selection safely on 0191 237 1303 50 Year Guarantee* | 100% British Made | Made To Measure Northumberland Store, Delcor House, Double Row, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, NE25 0PR *Visit our webite for full terms and conditions

HIP HAPPENINGS

All eyes on Easter With spring comes an abundance of colourful happenings across the North East. Whether it’s out and about in glorious green spaces, or in the comfort of your own home, Nicole Wood has picked out some Easter activities the whole family can enjoy

OUT & ABOUT >>

EASTER FAMILY AFTERNOON @ WYDALE HALL Saturday, 3 April 2pm - 5pm Wander on over to Wydale Hall this April to experience a fun-filled afternoon packed with tons of cool Easter stuff. Go here for Easter egg hunts, crafts, tea and cake - the perfect event for the whole family to get stuck into under the spring sunshine. While the event is free of charge, donations are welcome. wydale.org/events/easterfamilyafternoon

50 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU’RE 11 3/4 - NATIONAL TRUST

While we patiently await the return of some of our beloved National Trust parks, the trusty team have come up with a bundle of ideas for families to get stuck into. With a list of 50 suggestions from stargazing and building a home for wildlife, to making mud creations, rolling down hills and everything in between there’s an abundance of ways to embrace the beauty we find right on our doorstep. nationaltrust.org.uk AN EASTER STROLL Time to wrap up and head for the great outdoors. The North East is home to many wonderful walking routes which promise gorgeous views, oodles of fun and exciting adventures aplenty. Whether it’s climbing to the top of Roseberry Topping or exploring the magnificent views at High Force Waterfall, there’s beauty to be found in the simpler things in life.

EASTER AT RABY @ RABY CASTLE Easter at Raby Castle is a must this year. As spring begins to blossom and the grounds are overtaken with beautiful blooms and peaceful wildlife, the park and gardens at Raby are ideal for families to explore this Easter. Discover the acres of parkland and keep an eye out for all the wonderful wildlife that calls Raby home; from ducks and swans to squirrels and deer - there is much to see. Be the first to hear about the upcoming Easter events at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, and sign up to their exclusive newsletter via their website. raby.co.uk

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KIDS EASTER HOLIDAYS BUSHCRAFT CLUB @ YORKSHIRE DALES BUSHCRAFT Various dates available: March 31 April 2, 9am - 3pm If your little one loves all things nature, then they will love nothing more than escaping to the great outdoors with the Yorkshire Dales Easter Bushcraft Club. A full day of wilderness fun and play awaits. From campfire cookery and primitive shelter making, to map reading and survival knots and lines - each day will involve a full itinerary of learning how to survive in the wild. Each session is led by a team of experienced instructors, delivering an exciting day come rain or shine. A must for the Easter hols. yorkshiredalesbushcraft.co.uk

ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND @ BEAMISH HALL Pop on your walking boots, it’s time to follow Beamish Hall down the rabbit hole into their imaginative outdoor family event, Adventures in Wonderland.

Set within their Enchanted Woodland, you will stumble upon a world filled with mischief and madness. Think quirky creatures, crazy mazes and giant white rabbits.

Loved in the North East for their spectacular events, Beamish Hall have pulled out all of the stops this Easter and with various dates throughout March, April and May 2021, there’s plenty of opportunities to embrace this wonderfully weird adventure. Tickets are priced at £6 and under 1s go free. beamish-hall.co.uk

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HIP HAPPENINGS

AT-HOME FUN >> OLIVIA’S KITCHEN - KIDS AFTERNOON TEA Easter is, of course, going to be a little different this year and if you’re staying at home throughout the holidays, why not indulge in a sumptuous afternoon tea from Olivia’s Kitchen? The Kids Afternoon Tea package is ideal for little eaters to enjoy from the comfort of their own home.

Packed with tasty treats including ham and cheese sandwiches, sausage rolls, crisps, chocolate fudge brownies, mini doughnuts and scones with cream and jam, this scrumptious feast is sure to go down well for this year’s Easter celebrations. olivias-kitchen.co.uk

EASTER WREATH MAKING Celebrate the occasion with a dazzling decoration that will transform your door. Not just for Christmas - whatever season or reason - we love decorating our homes with beautifully crafted wreaths. Creative makers can put their skills to the test by making their very own egg-stravagant Easter arrangement, with everything from dried flowers to colourful ribbons and Easter-themed accessories. With plenty of great content, tutorials, craft kits and online deliveries from Etsy, creating an Easter wreath has never been easier. etsy.com

DIY EASTER EGG HUNT Keep the little ones entertained this Easter by leading them on the ultimate Easter egg hunt around your home and garden. Start by gathering your chosen treats and hiding them around your home.

Then, write down some sneaky clues for them to follow - and voila, you’re good to go. Simple, yet effective.

EGG DECORATING Here’s an egg-citing idea! First things first, lay your table with a cloth or covering of your choice before reaching for the arts and crafts cabinet.

Grab whatever it is you’ve got at home: pens, pencils, glitter, glue, feathers, sequins, paint - you name it. Set the table, hard boil the eggs - or go for polystyrene if you’d prefer - and craft the ultimate Easter creation. Whether it’s a bunny, a farm animal or a favourite TV character, we can’t wait to see your Easter creation.

Tag us in your pictures @TheLuxeMagazine on Instagram.

EASTER BAKING Knock up a storm in the kitchen this Easter by transforming your go-to recipes into fabulous Easter-themed dishes. From bunny biscuits to egg-shaped chocolates and beautiful-decorated Easter cakes.

Make sure to tag us in your pictures on Instagram, @theluxemagazine.

Please note: all event information is correct at time of print, but details are subject to change due to the current coronavirus pandemic. Please visit the venue’s website for updates and more information.

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TOP PICKS

10 things luxe loves 10 things luxe is loving this season…

Compiled by Nicole Wood In our basket >> NEOM HAPPINESS DIFFUSER Spring calls for a new scent. We’re swapping cinnamon and pine for lemon and neroli. The Neom Happiness Diffuser combines floral and citrus aromas to create a positive, uplifting scent - perfect for welcoming the new season. £38 spacenk.com

Reading >>

Following >> @_homebylaura Home sweet home. This idyllic corner of Instagram is packed with home inspo, beauty tips and adorable pupdates. Scroll through this elegantly neutral feed for everything from lifestyle happenings and picture-perfect transformations to styling tips and adorable snaps of gorgeous pup, Mimi. instagram.com/_homebylaura

THE DUKE & I Bridgerton fans, listen up. If like us, you’re having serious withdrawals and patiently waiting for a second season - we’ve got you covered. There’s not just one, but eight books. Yes, you read that correctly. Eight wonderful books filled with our favourite Bridgerton characters, and on that list is The Duke & I. The first in the series follows the story of Simon Basset and Daphne Bridgerton and their ‘pretend’ courtship. It’s safe to say, we’re overjoyed. £8.99 waterstones.com

Living by >>

“Birds sing after a storm. Why shouldn’t people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?”

- Rose Kennedy 8

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TOP PICKS

Pampering with >>

Kitchen inspo >>

SISLEY RESTORATIVE HAND CREAM Dry hands are a thing of the now, thanks to the frequent use of hand-sanitiser. Having a hand moisturiser on you at all times is our go-to tip for preventing dryness. Routine becomes habit - think sanitise, dry, moisturise. The dreamy formula of this product acts on all fronts to moisturise, nourish, restore and protect. In addition to comfort and nutrition, the Sisley Restorative Hand Cream softens the cuticles and reinforces the strength of the nails. Keeping our hands sanitised is essential, but it’s time to wave goodbye to cracked skin. £67 harveynichols.com

DE’LONGHI MAESTOSA AUTOMATIC COFFEE MAKER But first, coffee. Start each morning right with a steaming cup of coffee.

Create your favourite blend with a helping hand from the De’Longhi Maestosa Automatic Coffee Maker.

Designed with state-of-the-art technology, this crafty kitchen appliance allows you to brew a range of personalised beverages with precise grinding, perfectly frothed milk and specific temperature options. £2,624.99 delonghi.com

Dreaming of >> FAR-FLUNG DESTINATIONS Sun, sea and sand. Oh, how we miss packing our suitcase and jetting off to far-flung destinations. Our wanderlust dreams are taking us to gorgeous white beaches and turquoise waters. From the Maldives to Bali, Mauritius and beyond, our travel bucket list continues to grow. Check out our recent trips in the following link... luxe-magazine.co.uk/category/travel

Perfect scent >>

Listening to >> INSIDE OUT BY AMBER The wonderfully inspiring Amber Maddison Davies’s podcast, Inside Out, explores what it’s like to live life with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, stoma bags and life with chronic illnesses - no question, thought or topic is off limits. Each episode sees an inspiring guest take centre stage to discuss important, untalked about topics. A brilliant, moving and interesting way to raise awareness. Well done Amber, we love it. insideoutbyamber.buzzsprout.com

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CHANEL COCO MADEMOISELLE EAU DE PARFUM INTENSE SPRAY Chanel Coco Mademoiselle has a special place in our heart.

This oriental, woody and ambery fragrance is enriched with patchouli, vanilla absolute, tonka bean, rose and jasmine - a perfect combination of fresh and floral notes. Day or night, this Eau de Pafrum is a winner for the sunny seasons ahead. chanel.com

Watching >> PENGUIN BLOOM A tear-jerker that will leave you feeling truly grateful for the joys we find in the every day. Penguin Bloom tells the amazing true story of renewal that occured when a woman whose life seemed shattered by a tragic accident, found hope and purpose in her family’s love - and in a bird on its own journey of recovery. Based on the best-selling book by Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greive, this is a timely film that guides us through the beautiful process of emotional healing. netflix.com

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BE INSPIRED

Luxe reads LOVE NORTH EAST Luxe Book Club >> Five reads for your spring book club agenda...

LOVE STORY >> In Five Years

By Rebecca Serle A heart-breaking story of love, loss and female friendship - this one will leave you in tears as you navigate the life of Manhattan lawyer, Dannie Kohan. It tells the tale of a five-year plan gone wrong. She wakes up in a different apartment, with a different man and a totally different life - five years into the future. She then wakes to find herself back in the present day, unable to shake off her experience. Four-and-a-half years later, she meets the very same man from her vision. This book is brimming with joy, heartbreak and a gentle reminder of the unpredictability of our destiny. quercusbooks.co.uk

At Luxe HQ we’re all about bigging up the beauty that surrounds us. Here are some of your recent shots from days out in the region...

2 NAIL-BITING DRAMA >> Malibu Rising

By Taylor Jenkins Reid The New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six, is back with another impossible-to-putdown page-turner. Malibu Rising tells the tale of four famous siblings who throw an epic end of summer party that will change their lives forever. By the time the clock hits midnight, the party is way out of hand and generations of family secrets are out in the open. A must-read for spring/summer 2021. penguin.co.uk FEELING GOOD >> My Inner Sky

By Mari Andrew Mari Andrew’s collection of words, essays and illustrations offers the ultimate feel-good fix for spring 2021. This warm and inviting book explores all of the raw emotions that make up life, offering insights about trauma, healing and how to find happiness at home. The Inner Sky is the perfect tool with plenty of takeaways when it comes to combatting life’s curveballs and looking at the bright side of life. An empowering book that guides us to find the light at the end of the tunnel. penguinrandomhouse.com

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SPY THRILLER >> A Woman of Intelligence

By Karin Tanabe It’s 1954 in New York City and the post-war American dream has become a nightmare for Katharina Edgeworth. With a Fifth Avenue address, two sons and the ideal husband, her life looks somewhat perfect, however, the reality is she is trapped in a gilded cage. When she is approached by the FBI to join their ranks as an informant, her life changes forever. A fast-paced spy thriller you won’t be able to put down. macmillan.com FEMALE FORCE >> The Gilded Ones

By Namina Forna An inspiring story of sisterhood. The Gilded Ones is the start of a bold West African-inspired feminist fantasy series. It tells the tale of 16-year-old Deka who lives in fear of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Presented with the choice to stay in the village or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls, she sets off on a dangerous adventure that brings with it the biggest battle of her life. This one promises to leave readers feeling inspired and hopeful. penguinrandomhouse.com

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1. Julie Hetherington @sunshineandcoldwine 2. Steve Robinson Landscape Photos @stevielandscapes 3. Christopher Hunt @c_w_hunt 4. EC Righ: Photography Newcastle @photog.righ 5. Kia & Peter | Atlas & Boots @atlasandboots 6. Abi Marie Pearson @abimariepearson

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ADVERTORIAL

New research shows that sound financial advice boosts confidence and emotional wellbeing

Uncovering the wider benefits of financial advice Financial advice is more important than ever. Not only have changes in pensions and financial regulation placed more responsibility for planning retirement income into the hands of individuals, but the coronavirus pandemic has also reminded us all of how unforeseen events can rock the foundations of what we had thought was a stable financial footing.

The financial benefits of taking advice are well documented. Research undertaken by the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC) in 2019 showed that those who take advice are on average £47,706 better off in retirement than those who don’t1. But that’s not the end of the story.

Building on this study, the ILC has undertaken new research this year that shows financial advice could be an important factor in promoting mental health and wellbeing. Its report “Peace of mind: Understanding the non-financial value of financial advice” finds that non-financial benefits may be at least as important as the more easily visible financial ones in achieving this.

Participants in the study who had taken

financial advice reported that they felt less worried about their future, enjoying the peace of mind that comes from knowing that proper preparation has been made for their later years – and that included those who were already in retirement.

They felt more confident that they would achieve their long-term goals and, through their interactions with an adviser, felt more financially literate and able to understand how those goals would be achieved – and more empowered to make complex financial decisions for themselves. Being in control of their financial future in these ways left them feeling reassured and less worried than they would otherwise have been.

But despite these benefits, there remains a significant ‘advice gap’, with fewer than one in six people taking advice. This stems partly from a lack of awareness of the benefits of seeking advice and of how and where to find it. Among those who haven’t taken financial advice, some – especially women – were worried that doing so would actually result in a loss of control, and that decisions would be taken out of their hands, but the experience of the advised participants showed this to be an unfounded fear.

However, it remains clear that identifying long-term goals and establishing a financial structure to achieve them results in greater emotional wellbeing. Closing the ‘advice gap’ is a vital next step in giving that peace of mind to all.

So, the ILC is calling on government, the industry and the Financial Conduct Authority to work together to remedy the situation by highlighting both the non-financial as well as the financial benefits of advice, and reassuring individuals that advice will be tailored specifically to their goals.

A financial adviser can help with your own financial planning. To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or Inheritance Tax planning, contact Patrick McLaughlin on 0191 5482830 or email Patrick.mclaughlin@sjpp.co.uk.

1ILC, What it’s worth – Revisiting the value of financial advice, November 2019, based on 2014/2016 calculations and receiving professional financial advice between 2001 and 2006 resulted in a boost to wealth (in pensions and financial assets) of £47,706 in 2014/16.

If you feel you would benefit from a financial review of your individual requirements, I offer a no obligation review to suit each individual needs.

This review could be via a zoom meeting, telephone call or face to face at a Covid-secure venue at a time convenient to you.

Please contact Patrick McLaughlin Wealth Management on 0191 5482830 or email Patrick.mclaughlin@sjpp.co.uk

The Partner is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.SJP.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the title ‘Partner’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

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GOOD STUFF

Sweet charity Good things going on in the North East, our Luxe charity round-up…

SADDLE UP >>

let's eat pies and talk about men's mental health £1 from every can sold goes to

SHINE A LIGHT >>

MEN'S PIE CLUB BLACK & WHITE PEPPER BITTER Alc. 3.6% vol.

PIES FOR GUYS >> Our friends at County Durham craft brewery, McColl’s Brewery, have hit the halfway mark in their mission to raise money for Men’s Pie Club (MPC) to help tackle social isolation in men across the North East of England.

Supported by Food Nation, MPC is a social enterprise based in Newcastle and is headed up by Jamie Sadler, who has a flair for bringing people together through food and creativity. The brewery teamed up with MPC in late 2020 to create a traditional bitter (with a twist), with £1 from every can sold being donated to the club. The ambition was simple, to ‘eat pies and talk about men’s mental health’ and, so far, the result has been incredibly positive.

Danny McColl, co-owner and head brewer at McColl’s Brewery said: “We are so grateful to everyone who’s shown their support for this campaign; to have reached the halfway mark is amazing! But there’s still so much to do to reach the full target and help so many people who are really struggling with their mental health right now.”

The initiative hopes to raise £2,500 in total, which will enable MPC to continue their great work in the community here in the North East. mccollsbrewery.co.uk

We are big supporters of Smart Works, the charity helping unemployed women in the North East get back to work by providing interview coaching and clothing. This March, Smart Works Newcastle is calling for cyclists to take part in its annual fundraising challenge, Cycle for Smart Works, takes place from 1-8 March in the lead up to International Women’s Day. The challenge is to round-up a team of five cyclists to collectively cycle 500 miles throughout the week, or a single cyclist to cycle 100 miles alone. Participants are being asked to seek sponsorship to support the volunteer-led charity. Nathalie Bouleau Chabot, business development lead at Smart Works Newcastle said: “This is the third year we have run this challenge and last year we attracted 24 teams and raised £12,000 to help keep our charity running. This year, our service is even more vital for the many women who have and will lose their jobs due to the pandemic.

By taking part or sponsoring a cyclist, you will show North East women that someone cares about them and believes in their future.”

To enter, visit: smartworks.org.uk

A HELPING HAND >>

WILLOW WEEK >> Willow Week returns for 2021 and it’s a great opportunity to support a County Durhambased hospice. For more than 30 years, the incredible team at Willow Burn Hospice in Lanchester have been improving the quality of life for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Willow Week is a special time in the charity calendar, marking both International Nurses’ Day and Dying Matters Awareness Week. The truth is, the Willow Burn staff couldn’t do what they do without the support of the local community.

With that in mind, they’re inviting us to get involved in Willow Week, whether it’s filling a jar with loose change or raising funds by hosting a virtual games night with friends, every penny counts. Register your Willow Week activity at: willow-burn.co.uk/ willow-week

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Headlight Project, a Teesside-based charity founded in memory of Russ Devereux who tragically took his own life in 2018, works with children in schools to deliver emotional resilience programmes as well as one-to-one counselling. The Headlight Project, set up by Russ’s family with the help of his three daughters, exists to provide ‘a guiding light when the road ahead is dark’, helping children deal with trauma and prepare for difficult situations that may affect them in adulthood. The charity’s Instagram account has been a source of inspiration throughout the pandemic, regularly posting encouraging quotes and guidance surrounding emotional wellbeing in children and adults. We were pleased to see a familiar face in the feed as sports presenter, proud Teessider and new mum, Hayley McQueen, was announced as the Headlight Project’s first patron. It’s wonderful to see the charity spreading its wings and receiving recognition and support from public figures. Keep up the good work! headlightproject.org

DOING IT FOR THE KIDS >>

Daisy Chain, the Teesside-based charity supporting people living with autism, has launched a specialist advice service for young adults. The service, led by public and third sector benefit and housing expert Rebecca McCabe, who has experience of autism, will help people live independently by providing housing benefits advice. On the new initiative, Rebecca said: “For young people with autism, the thought of taking those steps to living independently can be daunting, but with the right support and guidance, it can be life affirming.”

Neeraj Sharma, chief executive of Daisy Chain, added: “Finally, individuals with autism and neurodiversity living in Teesside will have access to specialist benefit and housing advice which has been developed to meet their specific needs.” daisychainproject.co.uk

Danny and Jasmine Pallent, a father-daughter duo from Middlesbrough, have raised a fantastic £23,000 for Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice, with the help of Birmingham-based Funko Pop Figures’ supplier, Pop Figures. Danny and Jasmine set up their own YouTube channel, DannyJazz, where they stream unboxings of Funko Pop Figures and have since banked up 5.58K followers and built up an extensive collection of rare and limited-edition figures from across the globe. In 2018, the pair reached out to Zoë’s Place to donate some items, which the charity then used in its fundraising activities.

More recently, having seen that Zoë’s Place hospices had been closed and struggling as a result of the pandemic, Danny and Jasmine wanted to do something more to help. They contacted Pop Figures who donated 500 boxes of Funko Pop Figures and agreed to triple what Danny and Jasmine raised. The figures were sold in just one week, raising over £7,000 for the charity. The final sum reached £23,000 - a huge boost to the baby hospice. zoes-place.org.uk

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WITH LOVE

Care, comfort & compassion Luxe checks in with Helen McArdle CBE, Patron at Willow Burn Hospice in Lanchester

What can you tell us about Willow Burn Hospice and its place within the local community?

They say good things come in small packages and that is exactly how I would describe Willow Burn Hospice. Located in Lanchester, County Durham, the team have been providing palliative care services since 1989 when two local women, Irene Mortimer and Valerie Davison, identified a gap in provision in Derwentside.

Over the years the hospice has developed considerably and following a donation from Sir Tom Cowie in 2014, a new wellbeing centre opened in his name to provide day

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services, family support and alternative therapies. The Helen McArdle Wing, a new purpose-built, in-patient care unit followed in 2018, which was an incredibly proud moment for my family and I. From the day Willow Burn Hospice opened, the team there have captured the hearts of the Derwentside community, and they continue to make a significant impact on the lives of those who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and those closest to them. Everyone has one common goal and that is to ensure the local population gets the very best care and I truly believe that Willow Burn is the finest hospice in the area for service, comfort, and design.

their support in whatever way they can.

How did you come to be involved in the hospice?

I have always known of Willow Burn; it is actually just a few minutes’ drive from where I grew up, where I met and married my husband, brought up our children and where we opened our first care home. I had heard many stories about the wonderful care there and many friends were volunteers there;

everyone spoke of it with such affection.

Years later I was introduced to Paul Jackson, the Chair of the Board, by a mutual friend and we talked about the possibility of building a new hospice for Willow Burn and it really excited me. I had recently lost one of my best friends and I visited her in a hospice every day before she passed away.

When I thought of her, I wanted so much to make this happen. After we sold our family business, Helen McArdle Care, I was

What is unique about the services at Willow Burn?

The people - from the patients and the staff, to the supporters in the community.

It is hard to put into words but there is something very special about the Willow Burn family. There is a real history there; many of the staff and volunteers have worked in the hospice for over a decade, some much longer and they are a very close-knit team. Even those who are now retired still pop into the hospice on a regular basis to show

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WITH LOVE

I was approached by a gentleman at an event for the hospice, he wanted to let me know how well his wife and daughter had been cared for by the team and what a difference the new facilities had made to his family

approached again by Paul and this time I said yes straight away. However, it was on the proviso that there was a sustainable development plan for the charity going forward and that I would be involved with the design and development of the new hospice. Derwentside is a very special place to me and I really wanted the new hospice to be a lasting legacy for the community.

What can you tell us about the Helen McArdle Wing and how it has boosted the business as a whole?

The original hospice building was part of the old Maiden Law Hospital – which was built during the Second World War. As time went by the team recognised the building was no longer fit-for-purpose and so they put plans in place to fundraise for a new build. The team wanted to join the new in-patient wing to the Sir Tom Cowie Health and Wellbeing Centre, to create one self-contained building for all of the services. There was also a plan to increase the number of beds so the hospice could further meet the palliative care needs in County Durham. Armed with these ideas, my family and I worked with the team at Willow Burn, architects, IDPartnership, building contractors, Walter Thompson and Kathryn Mason at Bernard Interiors, to create a state-of-the-art facility that was inviting, comfortable and contemporary. I drew on my experience of building care homes and placed the needs of patients, their families and staff at forefront of the design; always thinking about what they would want.

As a result, each bedroom is large with an ensuite bathroom, floor to ceiling windows and doors out onto an outdoor area, overlooking spectacular views of Derwentside. The interior design is light and bright, and combines comfort and style with everything that patients and staff need for care, concealed within the furniture, giving it a real homely feel. In addition, the wing features a spa bathroom, a lounge and a family room for overnight stays.

It can often be a misconception that facilities like Willow Burn are fully funded by the NHS and whilst the hospice does receive some financial assistance from the NHS, it is largely funded by charitable income. We kept this in mind when designing the new facility, increasing the number of in-patient beds to attract more funding. We also added a community café to provide a sustainable income for the future.

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I was approached by a gentleman at an event for the hospice, he wanted to let me know how well his wife and daughter had been cared for by the team and what a difference the new facilities had made to his family.

How has the hospice pivoted in recent months to tackle the coronavirus pandemic?

It has been a tough 12 months, as it has for many charities, but I delighted to say that Kirsty Crozier, CEO, and her management team have done a fantastic job at navigating the pandemic.

Financially it has been particularly challenging; it costs approximately £1.2million to run Willow Burn each year and the team are responsible for raising over £700,000 of that with fundraising, grants and retail sales. Many of those income streams stopped practically overnight, so it has encouraged the team to try new things; they opened The Potting Shed in the summer, a new garden retail space and a lot of the charity’s fundraising is now online.

In-patient care has been available throughout and the team have worked incredibly hard to keep everyone safe. The design of the new bedrooms and the external access has ensured that relatives

have still been able to visit their loved ones, which is so important. There have been some changes to the delivery of the counselling and day services, to ensure that those in the community can still access support even if they are shielding. A telephone befriending service is also about to launch to help those who are socially isolated because of COVID. Due to current restrictions, I haven’t been able to visit the team for a little while, so I have only been able to offer my encouragement over the phone or by email – I just can’t wait to get back to see them all.

How can our readers show their support for Willow Burn Hospice?

There are a number of ways individuals and businesses can get involved and make a difference to Willow Burn, from volunteering to fundraising, to sharing skills to corporate partnerships. I know Kirsty would love to hear from anyone who would be interested in becoming a patron or a business ambassador to help to extend the hospice’s network. The opportunities are endless and what’s great is that the team really take the time to get to know you and your motivations for becoming a supporter, so that you get as much from the partnership

as the hospice does. I have found my role as patron to be really rewarding; the team regularly keep me up-to-date with news and developments, I am always welcome to pop by for a coffee and I am particularly proud to be part of some of the events including the ‘Light up a Life’ service.

What’s in the pipeline for 2021?

2020 might have been a challenge but in true Willow Burn spirit, the team still have smiles on their faces and they are looking ahead to the future and refining the strategy for the next three years. One of the main focuses is to improve sustainability and community engagement and with that in mind, plans for 2021 include: a new shop, the development of the hospice as a community hub and improving digital reach.

I also hope to hold an event for Willow Burn sometime this year, so watch this space…

If you would like to find out more about getting involved at Willow Burn, please contact Rachel Todd, Marketing Communications Manager at: rtodd@willowburnhospice.org.uk / 01207 529 224 willow-burn.co.uk

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Mastering the shift to thrift It’s time for change. Nicole Wood chats to Emma Whitenstall, executive director at the Festival of Thrift to discuss festivals, sustainable living and the future of our planet...

What can you tell us about your route into the world of sustainability?

Emma Whitenstall: My background is actually in the digital sector. I’ve been working to support creative, digital and tech businesses for the past 10 years and I love how vibrant and constantly evolving the scene is in the North East. I worked as both operations manager and executive producer for the Thinking Digital Conference for three years, bringing new and inspirational tech innovators and entrepreneurs to the region, and loved the buzz of a large-scale event.

I then went on to manage the digital and creative business support programme for Generator and now work with Dynamo, supporting tech businesses - specifically in health tech through our cluster work.

You might think this is all very random considering where I’ve ended up, but that digital background certainly came in handy when our 2020 festival went online.

My role as executive director at the Festival of Thrift is essentially to ensure the sustainability of the festival itself, through fundraising, capacity building and robust governance.

What can you tell us about the Festival of Thrift?

EW: The Festival of Thrift has been running since 2013 when thousands of people flocked to Darlington to experience inspirational speakers join forces with skill sharers and ethical traders, to help place creativity at the heart of our shared

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sustainable future and celebrate a new way of ethical living. We positioned artists as inspirers to action and to encourage change through workshops, exhibitions and performances.

The first festival was a huge success and we have continued annually ever since, establishing Festival of Thrift CIC in 2015 with a mission to benefit the community and advance public awareness of sustainable living.

Now based in Redcar, we reach new audiences from all over the UK year-onyear, building new partnerships with organisations who share our ethos.

minds - what do these initiatives entail?

EW: 2020 was a year of challenge and change and we expanded our reach to take our message wider, not just to those who can join us at our beautiful green site in Kirkleatham, Redcar, but worldwide and online.

The climate crisis is growing and we all need to take action now - in our backyards, in our living rooms, in our communities.

So, we are no longer just an annual festival, (though we most certainly look forward to returning), but we are also becoming a campaigning organisation encouraging everyone to be a part of

the solution - not part of the pollution.

An example of this, is the Fix it Fortnight event that we ran in February, an interactive, digital programme that featured a host of online tutorials, debates, tips and tricks along with downloadable toolkits to support a more sustainable lifestyle. We also plan to focus on slow fashion and sustainable eating within the coming months.

How important is sustainable living to you?

EW: Sustainability is something that has crept into my life slowly but surely, and came to a head about a year ago when I knew I had to do something to make a

How can our readers get involved in the Festival of Thrift?

EW: Our focus has always been on how we as individuals can make those small changes. The shift to thrift can be something small that will add up to make a big difference for the future of our planet while encouraging others to join in. Whether that is coming to our green field festival in Redcar (25 - 26 September 2021 COVID-depending) or engaging with our digital events and resources, we believe we can all celebrate sustainability and make a difference.

Receiving the Culture Recovery Fund is amazing news. I understand it has allowed you to continue to develop initiatives beyond the physical festival to keep sustainable living at the forefront of our

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SMART SOLUTIONS and hedonistic weekend at Glastonbury in my youth - and now with a young family, we regularly pack up the campervan and go to some great family festivals (or did!).

We had a chat and Stella sparked an interest in me so I went along to the festival in 2019 and was completely blown away.

I knew immediately I had to get involved and started on a freelance basis producing the talks programme, then lockdown happened and when the whole team took a complete pivot to online delivery in their stride, I knew this was where I wanted to be. The opportunity for executive director came up and as cheesy as it sounds, it felt like all the stars aligned. I was in no way presumptuous that I would get the role, in fact at one point I had decided against applying completely when the imposter syndrome kicked in with full force, but my husband pushed me on and thanks to him, I’ve really landed a dream role with a fantastic team.

difference. Just before the pandemic hit, I was on the verge of launching my own sustainable business. Unfortunately, the main aim of the business was servicing densely populated business parks and corporate offices and relied on a high concentration of people in one place. As you can imagine, COVID put an immediate stop to that idea - luckily before any heavy investment had been made, and the business was parked. A month later, I was working with the Festival of Thrift, so the path might not have been the one I was expecting, but it certainly brought me to the right place in the end.

The climate crisis is growing and we all need to take action now - in our backyards, in our living rooms in our communities

How important is it that others adapt to a more sustainable way of living?

EW: It’s absolutely critical, and as we champion at the festival, every small change makes a difference. But it’s crucial to remember that it is not just the responsibility of the individual and I think sometimes our guilt can be overwhelming if we think too much about it. We are constantly told that we consume too much plastic - but try doing your weekly shop at a supermarket without buying something wrapped in plastic - it can be difficult. Yes, we can shop in zero-waste stores or buy organic veg boxes from a local supplier, of which there are many wonderful options in the region, but it is still an exclusive option.

With so many families relying on

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supermarkets, people are priced out of sustainable choices and this is another problem. We must create demand to drive down prices, but how can we do that if we can’t afford to create the demand? It’s time to put the responsibility firmly at the door of policy makers and manufacturers.

Your top tips for living a sustainable lifestyle?

EW: There are so many tips and tricks things you can change in day-to-day life, but it’s all about finding what works for you.

One of the biggest impacts you can make is to change your energy supplier to a renewable energy provider. We switched to Octopus Energy last year and they are really leading the pack in terms of innovative service design and customer engagement.

It was incredible to read that renewables have now overtaken fossil fuels as the main source of UK power, so it’s important we keep up that demand.

We also reverted back to a milkman. How is it that decades ago, we had an electricpowered delivery of plastic-free refillables delivered to our doors at a reasonable price and we are only just circling back to that way of thinking now?

Use your vote to make a difference - by voting for parties with green policies, we shift the political conversation, even if our party doesn’t get elected. And of course, we should all try to eat a more plant-based diet. I am in no way vegan or even vegetarian, but we have massively reduced our meat intake.

Finally, educate yourself and tell everyone you know. I recently did a short course on the climate crisis with Aim Hi (the naturefirst, curiosity-powered online school - check it out) and I cannot recommend it enough.

All the learning is backed up with academic research and verified, which is very important when you’re talking about this with others. Engage with the festival, join GreenPeace, go to an Extinction Rebellion rally - whatever resonates with you. Build your knowledge and share what you find.

our world leaders and policy makers to stand up and shoulder the responsibility that is theirs, to actually implement the drastic action that will make a difference.

In order to achieve the rapid systemic change required, we need governments to be very proactive. COVID-19 changed the world almost overnight. We need an equally rapid response to the climate crisis.

If the power was in your hands, what changes would you make today that would create a positive impact on the planet for future generations?

EW: Make a new world order with Greta Thunberg and Sir David at the helm!

It’s so empowering to see women, like yourself, working as executive directors leading the fight for sustainable living. What has your journey to success been like?

EW: Oh, a winding path of crushing disappointments, unexpected turns and moments of total serendipity. I spent many years pursuing and failing to get roles within a digital agency, convinced that was where I belonged - only to be told time and time again that I didn’t have the right experience.

I was looking for a change a while back and a chance conversation with a friend introduced me to Stella Hall, the creative director at the Festival of Thrift. I’ve always loved festivals and spent many a happy

In a recent article online, it was suggested that there’s an eco-gender gap and that ‘saving the planet’ is often marketed toward women. What are your thoughts on this?

EW: Yes, there is, there is no denying it.

Perhaps because up until now our mostly-male world leaders aren’t making it a priority? What I do know is that when producing the talks programme for the festival, every panel had a majority of women speakers, doing brilliant things to tackle the climate crisis head-on and champion sustainability in different ways and hey, let’s celebrate that! It makes a stark contrast to the digital sector, which is quite the reverse. It was amazing to combine these areas for our Great Tech Debate in February as part of our Fix it Fortnight campaign, bringing wonderful women such as Susanne Baker from Tech UK and Ellen Wilson from Microsoft to speak about taking the lead on sustainability in tech.

And finally, what are your three luxe things in life?

EW: My darling family - as much as there have been many moments during this pandemic where we all would quite happily live alone, I think about all the people who have done this alone and really count myself lucky.

Our beloved campervan, who through one thing and another, has never had the summer of love it deserves, fingers crossed for 2021.

And festivals - may they return in full force very soon to get this sector back on its feet, and so I can do some more dancing in a field! festivalofthrift.co.uk

What does the future look like to you?

EW: It’s a desperate situation for the world and our future if we don’t act immediately.

Truly it is. At this point, it really is down to

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The future is female We celebrated International Women’s Day on 8 March. To mark the occasion, we’ve been speaking to the luxe ladies that continue to educate and inspire in the North East…

Name: Lesley Spuhler OBE DL Title: Chief Executive, Foundation of Light

What can you tell us about your role?

I am Chief Executive of Foundation of Light, the official charity of Sunderland AFC. We work with thousands of people each year across Sunderland, South Tyneside and County Durham; helping them to live happier and healthier lives by tackling some of the region’s biggest challenges such as obesity, poor mental health, unemployment and social isolation.

Any exciting projects you can share with us for 2021?

This year the foundation turns 20 and I am so proud of what we have achieved.

Working with Sir Bob Murray and our amazing staff, we have grown from a handful of people working in temporary offices to now employing over 100 staff, supported by over 170 volunteers and with a beautiful state-of-the-art sports and education facility, the Beacon of Light on Stadium Park.

Our special FOL 20 campaign is about celebrating that success and the life changing difference our team makes to thousands of lives each year. We have lots of exciting things planned including a star-studded Gala Dinner in October.

How important is it to be able to do what you do in the North East?

I was born in Durham and have lived in the North East all my life. I started my career as a youth worker, so I am passionate about giving young people the chance to improve their lives and be the best they can be.

Having the platform of working in a high-profile charity, linked to the football club, gives a greater voice and therefore more opportunities to inspire local people, whilst also flying the flag for Sunderland and the North East.

Last year I was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear – a huge honour for me. I am so privileged to be able to shine a light (pardon the pun) on the many amazing achievements of other local organisations and people.

Do you think the female business network in the North East is growing? If so, why do you think this is?

Yes and it is great to see so many talented females taking their place at all levels of business across the region, as well as

nationally. Over the last year, there has been a real opportunity to network and support each other in a different way. The new online community makes sharing, learning and supporting each other so much easier.

When I became CEO of the Foundation, there were few women in the business in a similar role. But now in 2021 it is a different story. In my own industry there is fantastic support for women working in sport, and in particular, football. We’ve had regular Women in Sport master classes and support networking events/groups. And after a hard week, the informal women’s online sessions with a glass of wine also have their place and offer fantastic support.

What was your ‘lightbulb moment’?

There’s always a lightbulb moment! Every day is a learning day and there are always opportunities and ideas to explore. That is how we continue to grow by thinking about the next steps, the innovations we can make and how we continually improve what we do.

Your biggest inspiration?

I think my biggest inspiration is the people we are here to support. The region has some of the highest levels of unemployment, child poverty and poor physical health in the country. The everyday stories of the help our team has given to individuals and communities, is the reason we do what we do.

I want to play our part in helping to solve the problems, so people across our communities can live happier and healthier lives. COVID really brought this challenge to a stark reality and has spurred us on even more.

What would you say to young females dreaming about their future?

Anything is possible. Keep true to yourself.

And finally, a shoutout to three inspiring women in business?

There are so many amazing women across the world who are doing amazing things.

But for me, I would choose our female Trustees - Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Kate Adie OBE DL and The Rt Hon The Baroness Estellel Morris of Yardley PC. It is a real honour to work with them and I have learnt so much from them. And if I can cheekily choose a fourth, our Royal Patron HRH The Countess of Wessex GCVO who has been so supportive of our work.

Photo credit: Chris Owens

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BE INSPIRED telephone calls to ensure they continued to feel supported by the Centre. I am totally in awe of the team there.

I’m excited too about the development of my consultancy work as a mindfulness practitioner supporting the mental health of individuals. I worked closely with FUJI Diosynth Biotechnologies last year to bolster the resilience of their staff during the height of the pandemic with weekly mindfulness meditation sessions. The essence of what it is to be human is central to the themes that underpin mindfulness; I’m absolutely passionate about its ability to help us feel present and connected with ourselves, and the world around us, which in turn boosts creativity, emotional resilience and mental wellbeing.

I am part of the voluntary administrative team that supports the Building Resilience in Cancer Centre at Birkbeck University of London. The Centre carries out research into the psychological and emotional impact of a breast cancer diagnosis on women in the UK. Our founder Professor Naz Derakshan has exciting plans for the future; it’s a privilege to be able to support other women who are facing the challenges of living with a breast cancer diagnosis.

How important is it to be able to do what you do in the North East?

Being based in the North East means that I’ve been able to support the work of the Halo Project in Middlesbrough.

I’ve seen first hand the profound impact that the project has on women’s lives in the Tees Valley who have been affected by honour based violence, forced marriage and FGM. Redesigning and delivering their Halo Exhale programme is one of my proudest achievements. The Halo Project connected me with Shahien Taj MBE and over the last six months we have been working together to further develop the Halo Exhale programme.

Photo credit: Aphrodite Portrait

Name: Laura Ashurst Title: Owner, Living With Hope

What can you tell us about your role?

My role is very much a mixture of self-employed work combined with voluntary work within the cancer community.

Because I live with secondary breast cancer, side effects from ongoing drug therapy, including cancer drug induced fatigue, limit my ability to work so my self-employed work is on a part-time basis. My business is called Living With Hope, which pretty much sums up how I live my life. I’ve been living with the incurable form of breast cancer for 13 years now. It’s almost 20 years in total since my original diagnosis of primary breast cancer in December 2007.

My son Jack was six months old and my daughter Megan was three when I was first diagnosed.

Within the secondary breast cancer community worldwide there are very few people like me. I’m classed as an outlier, which means that I’ve responded exceptionally well to cancer drug therapy. The median survival is 3-5 years. I’m driven by this fact every single day; that, and the fact that the current stability of my cancer can change at any time.

Living with this kind of uncertainty is challenging, but COVID-19 has shown all of us what it’s like to live with uncertainty and loss. These are daily features within the cancer community in which I spend a lot of time supporting in my voluntary work.

There are huge inequalities within the cancer community in relation to drug access and barriers to treatment. This is a little known fact until you’re thrown into that world.

My voluntary work is as important to me as my paid work; it’s essential that I use my voice to help other people living with secondary breast cancer.

Any exciting projects you can share with us for 2021?

In 2021 I hope to play a much more impactful role as the ambassador for the Trinity Holistic Centre at The James Cook University Hospital. I was approached last year to take up this role just before the start of the pandemic and then, of course, everything came to a halt. Except that cancer doesn’t stop for COVID. The mental health impact on people who are diagnosed with a life threatening disease such as cancer has been severely amplified because of the pandemic. The staff at the centre began a ‘Kindness Call’ campaign reaching out to patients with supportive

Do you think the female business network in the North East is growing? If so, why do you think this is?

There’s a female unity that is characterised by support and empowerment. Women supporting other women sets a solid foundation for future generations.

What was your ‘lightbulb moment’?

My lightbulb moment was waking up to the fact that I was spending a lot of time thinking about the future and how my disease was going to progress. The day I made the decision to live in the present moment and enjoy what is here and now, has enriched my life beyond anything else.

Your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration is my 86-year-old mother, Norma. If I can be half the woman she is, I will die happy. She has a set of values that are based on kindness and an ability to be interested in the wellbeing of others. Her view on life has taught me what it means to be a decent human being.

What would you say to young females dreaming about their future?

Look ahead with hope and optimism and always remember to embrace your emotions, they are part of you. Set yourself a goal of being the very best version of you and don’t let your inner critic prevent you from aiming high.

And finally, a shoutout to three inspiring women in business?

I’d like to give a shout out to Anna Coulson, Managing Director of Champion Tutors. Anna encouraged me in carrying out my first professional public speaking opportunity. She had belief in me at a time when I’d lost sight of my own. I will always be grateful to her for that.

I’d also like to mention Andrea Turnbull, A-Yoga - with whom I run wellbeing events. Her dedication and passion in supporting women who are going through the menopause with yoga is inspiring.

Finally, I’d like to recognise Yasmin Khan, founder of Halo Project. The support and encouragement that I’ve received from Yasmin has allowed me to develop as a person. I’m in awe of everything that she has achieved and continues to achieve.

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Name: Sarah Antonopoulos Title: CEO of Cameron Hall Developments and Wynyard Hall

What can you tell us about your role?

I took over as CEO in January this year, so it’s a new role for me but one I’m very excited about. We’re a family business, now in its third generation, so I feel very proud to be in such a position. Generally, my role is to create a strategy for the group and bring our different projects together such as Wynyard Hall and the surrounding estate, and any future developments. I’m quite hands on though and will serve the tea and coffee if I need to.

Any exciting projects you can share with us for 2021?

We have so much that we will be working on in 2021, from new housing developments on the Wynyard Village, to a new direction post-COVID operations at Wynyard Hall. We have lots of exciting plans which we can hopefully share with you very soon.

How important is it to be able to do what you do in the North East?

I’ve lived in the North East my whole life. I get so much satisfaction seeing the region grow and develop, so anything that I can do to help that is really important to me.

Do you think the female business network in the North East is growing? If so, why do you think this is?

I think it is. There are a lot of opportunities now to network online. I see so many female business owners popping up on social media and definitely take a lot of inspiration from seeing what everyone else is doing in the region.

What was your ‘lightbulb moment’?

The past year has been my biggest lightbulb moment.

Trying to run a hospitality business through the pandemic was the biggest learning curve of my career. It gave me a chance to reset, to evaluate the business - good and bad - and make changes for the better. If we can get through a global pandemic and come out the other side, I’m fairly confident we can get through anything else.

Your biggest inspiration?

My mum - she gave me my first chance in the family business and hasn’t stopped supporting me since.

What would you say to young females dreaming about their future?

Firstly, to just go for it and then secondly, to keep going. Take advantage of all the opportunities and successes that come your way and learn how to overcome and move past anything else.

And finally, a shoutout to three inspiring women in business?

My mum, Ingrid Brough-Williams - Owner, Honey Bee Creative and Diane Williamson - Charity Manager, Teesside Philanthropic Foundation

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East is growing? If so, why do you think this is?

and to deliver on their ambitions.

We aim to achieve this by driving young women to our interactive website, which will feed into local schools and act as a platform for individuals and organisations to share the stories of some of the boldest, brightest and most remarkable women in the North. Alongside a powerful social media campaign that speaks to today’s tech savvy generation, our hope is that the POW website will feed into the creation of a targeted schools marketing campaign and an inspiring book which will feature some of the stories.

Yes, and I think there are a number of reasons for that. I would hope that more women in business are coming up through the ranks and technology is aiding a flexible approach to work. I believe events like International Women’s Day and the Tees Businesswomen’s Awards are highlighting women in business, encouraging us to form networks and using those networks to inspire the next generation.

What was your ‘lightbulb moment’?

How important is it to be able to do what you do in the North East?

Name: Professor Jane Turner OBE DL Title: Professor of Enterprise and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise & Business Engagement, Teesside University

What can you tell us about your role?

I’m the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise & Business Engagement at Teesside University and have an exciting role that helps to shape economic and social impact.

I am passionate about the North East having grown up here and consider myself to be in my ideal role, enabling me to collaborate with like-minded people to co-create a new future for the region. I am responsible for knowledge exchange activities which deliver a significant income stream, student and graduate start-ups, strategic partnerships and the employability of Teesside University graduates. The latter is a fundamental responsibility to ensure that Teesside University plays its role in developing a pipeline of talent, leaders of the future with the skills, knowledge and self-efficacy to problem solve and tackle the intractable problems that young people inevitably face. I am energised by opportunities to collaborate, innovate and develop approaches and solutions that challenge convention and transform individuals, teams, organisations and ultimately the region.

Any exciting projects you can share with us for 2021?

Gender equality is a fundamental aspect of levelling up conversations; empowering women, addressing disadvantage and improving opportunities for young girls and women across society and the economy. A new report by Plan UK explores the state of womens’ rights in the UK and contains a local authority index based on a number of measures (child poverty, life expectancy, educational attainment, child obesity, teenage conception rates and NEET status).

This sets out a picture of inequality facing girls across the UK. We are therefore launching the Power of Women (POW) campaign. We are a group of people from the region who care passionately about future generations.

We believe that today’s young women have the power to change the world - and that each and every one of them should be given the opportunity to do so. We’re passionate about raising their aspirations and giving them the confidence to not only realise their potential, but to actively pursue the exciting careers and fulfilling lifestyles they dream of - with gusto.

The purpose of POW is to give Tees Valley girls and young women a ‘voice’

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It is vital that I do my work here in the North East - to help shape and change a region that I grew up in and is my home.

Name: Jane Armitage Title: Managing Partner, Jacksons Law Firm

Do you think the female business network in the North East is growing? If so, why do you think this is?

What can you tell us about your role?

Yes, definitely. There have been a few catalysts that have helped, such as the Tees Businesswomen Awards and the Girls’ Network mentoring, but I think women are just seizing the opportunity to work with each other, passing the baton on and thoroughly enjoying collaborating with like minded women.

What was your ‘lightbulb moment’?

About 18 months into my job at Teesside University when I could see the measurable impact that we were having in the region and on our students and graduates. The fact that my diary was full of people wanting to work with us on a whole range of ideas and disciplines meant that things were changing. That was rather a lightbulb moment; and I’m delighted to say that that momentum continues today.

Your biggest inspiration?

After my son was born, I became so determined to provide him with the best possible future. At that time, I was a single mum and didn’t really understand who I was, let alone what I wanted to become, so I was on rather a steep learning curve just to ensure that I was an inspiration to my son. That drive has never left me and has subsequently become a way of being. If I set out to do something, I have to see it through.

That may be down to stubbornness, but it has never left me.

What would you say to young females dreaming about their future?

Follow your dreams, drown out the naysayers and find people who will support you in your aspirations - those people are easy to pick out from those who feel threatened by your aspirations.

And finally, a shoutout to three inspiring women in business?

That’s very difficult to call as there are so many - the Tees Valley is brimming with them - so I would rather acknowledge all of those women who I have had the privilege to work with over the last few years, who have all, in their own way, made great things happen.

I wear two hats. I am a commercial property solicitor, which means that my role is to buy, sell and lease business properties for clients - these can be anything from shops, hotels and offices, to industrial warehouses, land or even pipeline routes. My other role is as managing partner of the firm; it is effectively a managing director role and I am responsible for ensuring the firm is managed efficiently and successfully bringing together the various elements of the business including finance, HR and marketing. We have a management board comprising the partners of the firm and each different area of law has a team leader and I liaise with them too. One of the best parts of the role is promoting the firm in the local business community.

Any exciting projects you can share with us for 2021?

We are delighted that our firm is growing in 2021 and we are recruiting both lawyers and administration staff. We have an apprenticeship programme and are currently recruiting new apprentices for training with the firm. The last year has been very different for us as we have not been able to hold the events we usually do, but we have some exciting online events to look forward to. We have, in the last few months, started a networking group for young professionals in the North East called The NEtwork. We have recorded a series of podcasts and are now producing one of these every month on all sorts of different topics. This year some of our senior female staff members have joined a mentoring project with The Girls Network. We are really excited about that as we are very keen to promote careers for women in the North East.

How important is it to be able to do what you do in the North East?

I am not originally from the North East, but it has been my home for nearly 30 years and it is where we brought up our family. Having worked in the region for the last 17 years at Jacksons, I am very passionate about the area and everything it has to offer. I would not want to be working or living anywhere else.

Do you think the female business network in the North

I’m not sure I had a lightbulb moment, but I did gradually work out that you need to be brave and put your head above the parapet, and that there is no reason why women can’t be just as successful or more successful than men in business. I had a career break when I was bringing up my children and when my family lived abroad for a while and I did realise then how much I loved my career choice, so perhaps this meant I came back with a greater passion to see what I could achieve.

Your biggest inspiration?

My family will tell you I have always been inspired by the suffragettes who worked so hard to get the vote and consequently how precious that is. I have been inspired by many business women who came before me because for many it was a real battle to be accepted and to be able to work in their chosen field. It is only just over 100 years since women were first allowed to be solicitors; before that they were not considered suitable due to their sex. The courage of these people laid the foundation for the careers that female lawyers like myself have today, and we should be really grateful to them and that we live in a more enlightened society.

What would you say to young females dreaming about their future?

Go for it! If you are passionate enough and work hard enough, there’s no reason that you cannot have a fabulous career in business. There are lots of people to support you, so take that step - you may well regret it otherwise.

And finally, a shoutout to three inspiring women in business?

I would give a shout out to Anne Preston of Prestons of Potto who has run an amazingly successful haulage business for many years. She will have been one of very few women in this industry for many years, but had the courage to do the job regardless of this.

I would also like to mention Sharon Lane of Tees Components who was my predecessor as Tees Business Woman of the Year and runs a heavy engineering business. She is a true advocate of supporting other business women and creating networks for them.

Finally, these two come as a pair - Chloe Clover and Lou Tonner of Wander Films, two young filmmakers running their own business and employing young people in a new, digitally-based business with great energy and enthusiasm and courage.

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GET TO KNOW

THE LUXE LOWDOWN:

LILLY ASPELL Thirteen-year-old Lilly Aspell spent her early years growing up in North Yorkshire, where her father still lives.

Credit: Constance Jaeggi

Lilly is a successful young showjumper and has recently shot to fame portraying the young Wonder Woman in the blockbuster movies. She was scouted for the film by a casting agent while shopping with her mum on London’s Oxford Street.

We can expect to see Lilly on our screens again soon in the BBC’s drama The Pursuit of Love starring Lily James and Emily Mortimer and she’s also working on another top-secret project. Lilly now lives with her mum, step-dad and baby sister in Newmarket where she spends as much time with her horses as she can, in between auditions, filming and schoolwork. Not content with being a movie star, she has also set her sights on representing Team GB

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in showjumping at the Olympics.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU >> Name: Lilly Aspell Title: Actress/Showjumper Where is home? Newmarket, but I spent much of my childhood in North Yorkshire.

LESSONS IN LIFE >> What is the most important lesson life has taught you? I think showjumping is a great leveller and brings so much to the table for my acting. One day you might win a Grand Prix and the next day you have a pole down in a British novice. It has taught me that not every day will be a good day but there are always lessons from the bad days,

which make the good days feel better. This helps me deal with getting knock backs for big projects that I’d love to act in!

I shrug it off and try again. Normally something better is waiting just around the corner.

What is your greatest fear? My biggest fear is losing the people I love the most and failing to reach my dreams - which are winning an Oscar or a gold medal.

Which living person do you most admire most and why? I admire my mum, she’s tough, kind and was an incredible sports woman in her day. As a jockey she rode a winner two weeks after having me. I also really admire Tina Fletcher. She is my coach, Will Fletcher’s mum, and an incredible horse

woman. I was lucky enough to meet her when I won at the Yorkshire Show. I could watch her on a horse all day. You don’t win three nations cups easily!

LIVING LUXE >> What is top of your bucket list? To travel the world acting and showjumping. To ride on an Olympic team would be something else!

What is your most treasured possession?

My pony, Lord. I bought him myself with the money I earned from my acting for Wonder Woman.

What does the weekend mean to you? I live on a working yard so on a Sunday the staff chill out so it’s much more laid back. I enjoy going for a hack on my ponies. Saturdays, normally if we weren’t living through a pandemic, we’d go to compete in showjumping. Now that’s changed a little bit!

I love the slower pace of a weekend because the weeks are really hectic. Juggling doing the ponies, school work, online auditions… it just means getting up a bit earlier but I love it all.

A memorable holiday? Probably when we went to Tenerife filming Wonder Woman and we had a day off. We went whale watching which was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. We even saw a sperm whale. It’s rare to get a day off during filming so we really made the most of it.

Best dress? I don’t really like wearing dresses. I’d rather wear shorts and a t-shirt.

I’ve never been to a Premiere because I’ve always been filming somewhere else when they’ve taken place, so I haven’t yet had the opportunity to wear an amazing dress. Ask me again in a couple of years!

Who would be your top three dinner guests? My closest friends, Sophie and Katie, because they’re the best fun.

And Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things, Enola Holmes). I feel like she’d be really good at a dinner party and I hope to meet her someday. We have many mutual friends, and my Godmother was her stunt double in Enola Holmes so I really hope that one day our paths cross.

The last place you ate? At the moment takeaways are my favourite dining treat, for obvious reasons. Indian and Chinese are my favourites.

The last book you read? I love reading. I take loads of books away with me when we’re filming and pick up a book when I’m on a break. The last book I read was Enola Holmes. I’d watched the movie and wanted to compare the book. They were very similar, both brilliant.

The last thing you listened to? The last podcast I listened to was The Full Course Showjumping Podcast by International Showjumper Will Fletcher and Commentator Sam Gerrard-May. I’m lucky enough to be coached by Will and he interviewed me on one of his episodes which is really exciting.

The last thing you watched? I recently watched the film Instant Family with Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. It’s about them adopting three children and it’s such a lovely film, I had a little cry!

Three luxe things in life? My horses absolutely make me who I am. I’ve been riding since I could walk. My friends are very important to me, we’re very close and they definitely enhance who I am. I couldn’t live without them. And acting. I love it.

Lilly is looking for sponsors or owners to support her on her European Medal venture. For more information and details on how you can get involved, you can follow Lilly on Instagram @lillyaspellactress.

luxe-magazine.co.uk

21

GET CRAFTY

Creative comforts Luxe editor, Elysia Fryer, invites you to join a spring crafts day from the comfort of her home...

Spring brings new beginnings; new hobbies, new goals - and (hopefully) for everybody this year, a new and encouraging way of life.

Whether it’s a bit of spring cleaning in the home, a house move, a wardrobe overhaul, or taking up a new sporting challenge, the brighter days and lighter nights often leave us feeling full of hope and optimism that good things are coming - this year more than ever.

With that in mind, while we’re stuck between the easing of lockdown restrictions, we’ve been tracking down some creative ways to try your hand at something new, while having fun with the family at home.

From soap and candle making, to Easter wreaths and calligraphy kits, Elysia Fryer enjoys a creative crafts session featuring four fantastic local businesses…

Genie Soaps >> We’ve got a newfound love for soap. Yes, it’s an everyday product and it’s been around forever, but there was a period of time when soap was fairly out of fashion - we would associate it with bathing as a child at our grandmas house. Fast forward to a more sustainably-minded time, and soap is cool again. There’s never been a better time to ditch the plastic and go back to basics.

When we say basics, that doesn’t mean to say you can’t indulge in the lushest soap bars packing in plenty of good-for-you ingredients and to-die-for fragrances.

Genie Soaps, a Teesside-based business, is all about changing the way we shop for our day-to-day cosmetics. The result?

Handmade, vegan and totally natural soap and bath bombs wrapped and

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sent in minimal packaging.

It’s a brand we totally buy into - loving everything they offer in terms of style, sustainability and the dreamiest of scents.

So, when we heard that the brand was doing its bit to keep us busy in lockdown with DIY kits, we jumped at the opportunity.

This Poppy Lemon Soap-Making Kit is a great way to get crafty at home - and treat yourself, or someone special, to the ultimate feel-good treat at the end of it.

All pre-weighed ingredients come in an easyto-follow kit with a step-by-step guide on how to create your masterpiece. You’ll find everything from turmeric powder and poppy seeds, to silicone moulds, essential oils and dried lemon for decoration.

The process is as easy as 1, 2, 3 and is incredibly therapeutic for those looking to embrace their creative side this spring.

Soap-Making Kit - Lemon & Poppy Soaps, £15 geniesoaps.com

Pins, Petals, Powder >> Spring brings an abundance of beautiful blooms, and there’s no better time to get creative with the pretty flowers that surround us. As we settle in for an afternoon of wreath making, we’re sitting with a cup of tea, admiring the garden that is starting to pop with colour. Daffodils, tulips and trees starting to fill out again.

Whether it’s a spring wreath for your door, an arrangement for your windowsill, or a centrepiece for your Easter table, there are many ways in which you can get creative with blooms. One way to create something beautiful without butchering your flower beds, is to work with dried flowers - a home interiors trend we’re loving at the moment. This also means you can keep your creation for next year, or bundle up the components to pop in a vase and bring a bit of colour to your home office.

Our friends at Pins, Petals, Powder have us covered this Easter with their stunning DIY Spring Wreath Kit. The result? An effortlessly delicate arrangement for your door, table or mantlepiece. The kit includes everything from white limonium and lilac limonium, to yellow craspedia, bunny tails, cuscus, twine and a birch wreath and Spanish moss base. The bunny tails and yellow craspedia scream Easter, while the limonium and twine add a whimsical, year-round charm.

The kit arrives with everything you need, alongside a digital copy of visual instructions to help you bring it to life. The perfect activity for a sunny Sunday afternoon in spring.

DIY Spring Wreath Kit, £48 pinspetalspowder.co.uk

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GET CRAFTY

Calligraphy Harrogate >>

Writing is what we do best at Luxe HQ, but when given the chance to peel ourselves away from the computer and put pen to paper in an elegant way, we’re faced with quite the challenge.

Calligraphy has been proven to positively affect the mind. For me, if I’m trying to get really creative and block out any background noise, there’s no better way than to lock myself in a cosy room with a notepad and pen, allowing myself to get lost in the story.

That being said, I’m not sure anyone else would be able to make sense of my notes - it’s very much a brain-dump with no careful thought process.

Calligraphy, on the other hand, allows us to really channel our inner peace. It’s a

challenge in itself, but it’s an ever-so therapeutic process at the same time.

After a year of lockdowns, restrictions and the constant worry, there’s never been a better time to pop the kettle on and settle in for an afternoon of modern calligraphy.

With the Deluxe Kit for Beginners, Calligraphy Harrogate gently guides you through the art of modern calligraphy from the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re creating your own wedding invitations, writing gift tags for Easter, or you’re simply looking for a crafty activity that will help you switch off from the everyday, this peaceful practice is perfect.

The kit comes complete with a nib, a wooden pen holder, ink, pad of lined

practice paper, workbook, letterform guide and a bag containing blank cards, envelopes, gift tags and ribbons to personalise.

Settling in with my calligraphy kit and a cup of tea, I follow the online tutorial and find myself noticing a link between calligraphy and my yoga practice; it’s as much about mindset and breathwork as it is about being able to put pen to paper. To my surprise, I’m flowing from letter to letter as I would flow from posture to posture. I think I’ve found my new hobby - my gift tag game is going to be strong!

Deluxe Kit For Beginners to Modern Calligraphy, £32 calligraphyharrogate.co.uk

Northumbrian Candle Works >>

MAR/APR21

Who doesn’t love the joy of lighting a new candle, pouring a glass of wine and putting your feet up at the end of the day? Spending more time in our own homes, it’s about the little things, treasuring those special moments of calm - and our home office is not complete without a beautiful burning wick and seasonal scents wafting through the air. We might have a cupboard overflowing with candles, but there’s always room for more, particularly when they’re our very own creations.

We stumbled upon Northumbrian Candle Works and couldn’t wait to get in on the DIY action, so of course, we left some time in our crafts day to master the art of candle making.

These Soy Candle Making Kits provide everything you need to create cute candle tins, perfect as a gift-to-self or for someone special. Who doesn’t love a homemade gesture? With twelve spectacular scents to choose from including sandalwood, red poppy & ginger, fresh green apple and a special strawberries & cream kid’s kit, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to crafting your perfect homemade candle.

The process is fairly simple - but we’d advise popping a pinny on and protecting your kitchen worktops, as it can get a little messy for us first-timers. Each kit comes with everything you need to create two scented soy candles, complete with illustrated labels and some of the tools you’ll need alongside your everyday kitchen items.

In under an hour, you’ll be waiting patiently for your masterpiece to set, ready to enjoy in the home as day turns to night, or gift wrap for a loved one.

Soy Candle Making Kit, £15.99 northumbriancandleworks.co.uk

luxe-magazine.co.uk 23

HAIR HEROES

TOP OF THE CHOPS 2021 is a bottle popping year for hair heroes and friends of Luxe, Gary Hooker and Michael Young.

After an unusual year in business, we’re catching up with the creative duo to celebrate 30 years of Hooker & Young

A trip to see the hairdressing pair is always a joy, and while we’re having to settle with a Zoom chat in the midst of a national lockdown, there’s no compromise when it comes to their boundless energy.

A catch up with Gary and Michael is an instant mood-booster. Throw in a successful business, a stunning home and a happy pack of pooches, and there’s plenty to love.

All of that, plus awards and accolades, side-splitting stories from their travels and a hairdressing team to be proud of.

2021 marks 30 years of Gary and Michael and 25 years of Hooker & Young as a salon group; both incredible achievements and remarkable journeys with the North East being at the very heart of the intertwined success stories.

So before we revel in all things silver and pearl, Elysia Fryer sits down for a virtual cuppa with the hairdressing greats...

“I’m not even sure where to start when looking back at the last year, never mind the last 30 years,” says Michael.

“The lockdown period has given us the chance to reflect on what has been an incredibly successful journey, but also an incredible year for us as a business.”

“Not forgetting a couple of interesting setbacks,” Gary butts in, laughing.

“Of course,” Michael smiles.

I picked up the phone to arrange a meeting with Gary and Michael in early January, to learn that, to the very day (almost to the minute) just after the turn of the New Year, Michael broke his leg at home - the exact same accident Gary had the previous year on New Year’s Eve. “I mean, can you actually believe that happened?” Gary smirks.

24 luxe-magazine.co.uk

“Same leg and everything!” he adds.

“I think one of our friends actually said on the phone, ‘Happy New Year - at least there’s no broken legs this year’, then literally an hour later, we’re in the back of an ambulance.”

“You couldn’t write it,” says Michael.

“Anyway,” he continues.

“Back to business. We actually ended last year on a high because we won three major industry awards.

“Sophie from our Gosforth salon won Colour Genius, Jonathan from Jesmond won North Eastern Hairdresser of the Year, and in December we were crowned Hairdresser of the Year at the Fellowship Awards. So the last three months of 2020 were crazy positive.”

“It was great, and a fantastic way to mark our 25th year in business and 30th year as a couple,” says Gary.

“Of course, we would have loved nothing more than to celebrate with our team - a large part of winning is the glory on the night - but that’s just the way it is, it doesn’t take away from the pride.”

Being recognised as Fellowship British Hairdresser of the Year is a biggie for the boys, and the business as a whole.

Rather than submitting a set of photographs and being judged on what panelists see in front of them, The Fellowship Awards are based on contributions to the industry; and it’s safe to say their contributions haven’t gone unnoticed this last year. Faced with a global pandemic, Gary and Michael pivoted in any way they could, setting up support groups for clients and staff, and hosting a weekly podcast with Schwarzkopf.

“It was tough going trying to think of fresh content every week,” Michael admits.

“Without talking about COVID,” adds Gary.

“But it was really great and a fantastic way to engage with our audience and those in the hairdressing world, who were suddenly deprived of the day job, like many others in business.

“We are delighted to be the first northerners to have ever won Fellowship Hairdresser of the Year. It took us 25 years to win it, but all good things come to those who wait.”

The couple, who evidently haven’t fallen short of success over the years, have earned every single piece of positive feedback and recognition - with gusto.

Not only are they incredibly talented as individuals and as a creative duo, but their

brand sits on a global stage while remaining loyal to its North East roots - and that’s what we’re all about at Luxe!

What is so incredibly fascinating about the pair is that the day job has taken them to all four corners of the globe, meeting with - and indeed becoming - the best of the best, but home is where the heart is, and there’s no taking that away from them.

Some call them the ‘Ant and Dec of the hairdressing world’ and we couldn’t have put it better ourselves.

“We have been offered so many opportunities in amazing five star hotels in Spain, residencies in London - all sorts of things - but we’ve always been more than happy with what we have here in the region,” Gary explains.

“Don’t get me wrong, we are very wowed by it all, but it’s never really appealed to us we love where we live.”

“For a time, people were so London-centric,” Michael starts.

“The general consensus was that if you wanted to go into fashion, beauty or hairdressing - and make it big - people thought that if you weren’t in London, it wasn’t going to happen.

“So I guess, on the back of that, we always felt like we had something to prove. Yes, we spent a lot of our time in the capital and travelling from country to country, but moving away and opening new salons out of the area just wasn’t for us.

“In fact, when we were down on the Quayside doing this very photoshoot, we were on the bridge and I was looking around thinking, ‘We’ve worked in so many beautiful cities like New York, Paris and Moscow, but it doesn’t get much better than this!’.

“When we did a tour of Australia, I remember getting to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and thinking, ‘It’s our bridge… what’s all the fuss about?’” Gary laughs.

“Yes, we love to travel - when time allows - but nothing beats home. We are lucky to have a house in Spain, but the North East will always be our base. We’ve got all of our dogs here after all!”

We laugh at the thought of Gary and Michael upping sticks with their furry family of 15 and piling into a flat in Mayfair.

“Oh gosh, can you imagine?” Michael laughs.

“I think we’d bring the house prices down in the area,” Gary adds. >>

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HAIR HEROES

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luxe-magazine.co.uk 25

HAIR HEROES The very heart of the Hooker & Young brand, and indeed for Gary and Michael as a couple, lies in their commitment to the North East - and of course, to each other.

Working so well together in a creative way is a blessing, and that is how they found success in the hairdressing world.

“We’ve never actually worked in a salon next to each other,” Michael explains.

“Gary has always joked about it, saying there’s no way he could do it, but we definitely could.”

“As long as I was the boss…” Gary cuts in.

“Oh, so this is when it becomes a problem,” Michael laughs.

“But seriously, we’re the best of friends, so we bicker and disagree a lot, but creatively, we’ve got the same eye.

“We were once on a UK roadshow and had this idea that we would cross-over with our models half-way through the show. I would finish his head of hair and he would finish mine. It was just to show people how connected we were creatively. Normally, a hairdresser wouldn’t let anybody else finish the head of hair they were working on because you just have a very different creative process. You take complete ownership of your work, but because there’s no barriers with us, it just works.”

A relationship and business built on trust is the perfect recipe for success, but Gary and Michael trump that with the ability to ensure they can be spontaneous and have a laugh

Hairdressing has given us so many memories and experiences that we would never have had access to. And being able to do it together has been really special

with it - evident in their fleeting travels, their party lifestyle and their ever-evolving family of four-legged friends.

Gary and Michael are serious about hairdressing. They’re serious about ensuring they do everything they can to keep that family force at the workplace. But one thing they don’t do is take themselves too seriously. Fun is at the forefront of their flourishing business - and any stylist or client will back them up on this.

Something they have embraced as part of their business culture, as well as in their personal lives, from day one.

With ‘fun’ in mind, let’s take it back to the beginning…

“Gary is obviously a bit older than me,” Michael starts.

“I think she’s probably guessed!” adds Gary.

“So when I went into hairdressing, Gary was already riding on the crest of a wave. He had a couple of Saks salons in Newcastle and I went to work for them as a junior apprentice. We didn’t know each other at this point, but we had both been working for the same company.

“I’d been there for two years but I’d never actually met Gary. As chance would have it, we came across each other in a nightclub.”

“We did actually meet before that at a salon opening,” Gary adds.

26 luxe-magazine.co.uk

“He was absolutely the most obnoxious person I had ever met! I now realise he was just shy.”

“You can definitely cop a bit of bad press if you’re shy. People think you’re not getting involved in conversation because you think you’re better than everybody else, so maybe that’s where that came from,” Michael suggests.

So, it wasn’t the greatest first meeting?

“No, apparently not!” Michael laughs.

“I did think you were cute though,” Gary adds.

“Oh, well that’s good to know,” says Michael.

“About a year later, our eyes met in a nightclub, but neither of us spoke, and that was it. This was back in the day when there was no social media; if you liked the look of somebody, you just had to hope and pray that they would be in the same place the following week.

“On the Monday morning, I was booked to go and work in the salon on Northumberland Street, which was Gary’s salon.

“When I got there, I went up to the staff room. Gary was in there with his back to me, holding court while the girls were sitting there having their morning coffee and talking about what they had done over the weekend. Gary chirps up to tell them about this guy that he’d seen on a night out. He turned around, saw me and realised that the person he had just been telling them about was standing in his salon!

“He ignored me all day. So, actually, you were the obnoxious one Gary!

“Shortly afterwards we arranged a date and the rest is history.”

After a good stint at various Saks salons across the region, Gary and Michael were officially a couple and came across some creative differences between themselves and the salon group.

“When we left Saks there was a clause in the contract that said we weren’t allowed to work together, so Gary continued to work at the Gosforth Park salon and changed the name to Gary Hooker Hairdressing. At the same time, one of my clients had offered up a salon inside a health club called Ivy Court

in Jesmond. We spoke about it and decided it was perfect, so I opened a salon called Michael Young Hairdressing.

“When we first left, we were living together and we had these two salons - one called Gary Hooker Hairdressing and one called Michael Young Hairdressing.”

“It was ridiculous really, looking back on it,” Gary says.

“But it only went on like that for about a year or so.”

When the contract was up, it was time for their next chapter. The pair decided to stick with the Gary Hooker Hairdressing name and continued to operate out of both salons in Gosforth and Jesmond, but the pages were still turning… at least in Michael’s head.

“I remember it like it was yesterday,” Michael starts.

“We went on safari in Kenya and we were sitting one night having dinner. It was like proposing to somebody because I knew that I wanted to ask him how he would feel about changing the name to Hooker & Young.

“My heart was in my mouth, but I knew it had to be done, I just didn’t know how he was going to take it. The last thing I wanted was to sound like I was being disrespectful or precious. I just knew where we were going as a couple and it seemed like the right thing in my head.

“I asked him and straight away he came back with, ‘Na man, it sounds like a solicitors!’”

“There was a big conversation about whether we were going to do it,” Gary continues.

“Obviously, in my heart I knew it was the right thing to do, and I knew it was only a matter of time before it was going to come up, but when he asked me it did come as a bit of a shock. It was all getting very serious.”

At the time, Gary Hooker Hairdressing had a great name. Why fix what isn’t broken was the question on everybody’s lips, but the couple decided to take the plunge and have never looked back.

“We were at that stage where we were competing against each other at the British Hairdressing Awards. It just seemed

ridiculous. The decision we made to join forces was the best thing we ever did,” says Gary.

“It took years for people to think of us as one person though,” he adds.

“We had to make sure we never went anywhere without each other. If we did a show, we did it together. If we did a seminar, we did it together. We were a bit like a double act.

“It wasn’t about me, it wasn’t about him, it was about Hooker & Young the brand.”

The first big Hooker & Young business decision came in the millennium when the pair decided to relocate the Jesmond salon to Clayton Road.

“At that stage, if I’m really honest, we never really had any aspiration to be a multi-salon group. We had two busy salons, Gary headed up one, I headed up the other, and we were really, really happy,” Michael explains.

“The continued growth of the brand was all based around people. We’ve got such amazing longevity with staff. Hairdressing is notorious for people moving around a lot. It doesn’t happen with us. We would get people straight out of school, they’d train with us, they’d earn their stripes, and then they would be ready to be a stylist. The two salons that we had were quite small, so the only way we were ever going to be able to grow our team and give these people careers, was to open more sites.

“It was very organic and it happened because we didn’t want to let people go and turn people away who had star potential.”

Next up came the Wynyard salon.

“We moved and lived in Wynyard for a while because we had a lot of friends down there, and as this was all going on a site came up for sale,” says Gary.

“We had staff from the Teesside area, so for them, the natural progression was to go and head up the Wynyard salon. It just slotted in perfectly.”

“There was a little bit of a pattern forming in that we had these luxury salons in affluent, residential areas,” adds Michael.

Then came the next Hooker & Young venture…

“We were good friends with Tom and Jocelyn

MAR/APR21

HAIR HEROES Maxfield, who set up Seaham Hall. I remember Jocelyn inviting us for dinner and telling us about this amazing spa. There was going to be nothing like it, not just in the region, but across the country,” Michael explains.

“We were really excited about it, and when they showed us the space they wanted to let us have as a salon, it was just a no brainer.

“The Sunday Times dubbed it the ‘best spa on the planet’, Wallpaper* magazine said it was ‘the most incredible space’.

“We often tried to get the London beauty press up to Newcastle for a ‘hair day with Gary and Michael’, but trying to convince people to come up north, when they all thought it was going to be like a scene from Emmerdale Farm, was just impossible.

“Once our hair spa in Seaham Hall started winning all of these awards, we had them queuing up to come and see us. We had the beauty editors from Tatler, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar - we were hosting them all and we were just loving every minute of it.

“All of this really put us on the map in the beauty and fashion industry.

“Seven years later, when Tom and Jocelyn sold it, that signified our departure. It was bye bye Seaham Hall.

“Paul Ferguson, who managed the Seaham salon for us, had already been with us for about 10 years. He needed a new challenge - we had lost a salon, so we were looking

them,” Michael smiles.

“We’ve managed to create this family unit where they all just love each other. There’s just a real warmth to it.”

The friendships formed amongst staff is something that has been passed on by the way in which Gary and Michael work together. That, paired with the neighbourhood feel and the true ‘luxe’ nature of the salons, makes Hooker & Young a jewel in the North East’s crown.

While business has boomed in the region over the years, Gary, Michael and their teams have jetted off in style, making their way around the hairdressing world - quite literally.

“We’ve probably been to most parts of the world now. We’ve done tours in Australia, we worked a lot in America, we’ve been to Russia…” Gary starts.

“Whichever product manufacturer we are working with - we were with Clynol for 10 years, then we were with Matrix for 10 years, and now we’re into our sixth year with Schwarzkopf Professional - we represent their brand on a national and international level,” explains Michael.

“We were global ambassadors for Matrix, now we are international ambassadors with Schwarzkopf. Because of that, you get to represent them on a global stage, so they might say, ‘We’ve got a new colour launch in Australia and they’ve asked if you guys will head it up.’

>> An impromtu photoshoot on location in Melbourne, Australia for something new, and that’s when we decided to look at Ponteland. We wanted to do it in partnership with Paul.”

After pondering the prospect of a new salon just a short distance from Gosforth and Jesmond, the pair decided that it was best to become their own competition rather than having to compete with other new businesses.

“Ponteland was an overnight success,” explains Gary.

“The buzz and momentum it brought when we started teasing it was just incredible.

Everybody was talking about it.

“When the traffic lights outside were on red, people were going into the back of cars as they were staring into the salon. We’ve never seen such quick success, we thought, ‘this is easy this!’”

“Everything just fell into place. The timing was right and the site was perfect,” Michael adds.

“The staff who started on that day are all still there,” says Gary.

“When people ask, ‘What is one of your biggest achievements?’, of course there are many, but I would definitely have to say I feel so proud of our team. We’ve nurtured such an incredible group of people who feel the same way about us as we do about

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“That did happen, so we went to Australia for four weeks, where we were part of a huge choreographed show. We toured with the models - I guess it’s like a musician touring with the same backing dancers.

“We did shows in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne - we were flying from state to state. It’s brilliant, you feel like a bit of a rockstar.”

“You don’t get much sleep and you don’t even know where you are half of the time, but we love it,” Gary adds.

“The Matrix HQ is in New York, so we spent quite a lot of time over there when we were working with them as ambassadors. You just end up living this international life, it’s great,” says Michael.

“Getting flown into places like Moscow to do a show is just amazing. The last time we were there they asked if we would do the main stage show at the Russian Hairdressing Awards.”

“Now we’re talking about things, so many amazing memories are cropping up for me,” Gary remembers.

“A few years ago I had a major operation on my hip and we were booked in to do a job in Oman. I didn’t think I would be able to do it because I was still in a wheelchair.

“Come to think of it, I feel like I’ve spent my

life in a wheelchair lately!

“Anyway, they came back and said, ‘How about if we fly you first class?’, so of course we said, ‘Oh alright, that’ll do!

“On the way home there were only eight seats in first class and the other six people were from The Rolling Stones. We were sitting next to Mick Jagger!”

It doesn’t get more rockstar than that, right?

“It really doesn’t,” Michael laughs.

“We have to pinch ourselves sometimes.

“Although hairdressing is the job that we love and it has given us an amazing life, it’s also given us so much more - so many memories and experiences that we would never have had access to.”

“And being able to do it together has been really special,” Gary adds.

“If there are any people reading this and thinking about doing it, it’s got such a lot to offer as an industry,” says Michael.

“It’s not just about standing behind a chair cutting hair - it opens up so many opportunities.

“How many industries give you the opportunity to travel internationally, be on stage, be on the telly, and truly love what you do? It’s just ridiculous the amount of boxes we’ve ticked that have all been achieved through hairdressing.”

So, we’ve been on the colourful journey of Hooker & Young - from star-crossed lovers in a Newcastle club, to jet-setting superstar hairdressers - but throw in a pandemic and a whole load of challenges (with two good legs between them!), what is next for the business?

“Before the pandemic hit, we were talking about opening another salon with a bigger offering,” explains Gary.

“It seems everytime we pick the project back up again, we’re faced with another lockdown, so we decided we would reconvene after Christmas.

“Of course, January arrived and we were put in another lockdown, so this project that could’ve been open a year ago, just keeps on getting delayed, but we spoke about it recently and have decided that we both very much want to do it when we can.

“We’re not getting any younger, and we never really thought that we would open another site, so I do believe that this will be the last one that we open, so for that reason, we want it to be the ultimate Hooker & Young salon.”

“Everything we’ve learnt over the last 30 years, we want to put into this salon.

“We want to implement all of the things we

know will make it a success.”

“Think of it as a new addition with a bigger offering - covering hair, beauty, aesthetics and retail,” says Michael.

“And a champagne bar when we’re allowed!”

Gary adds.

“Now you’re talking! All I’ll say is watch this space…” Michael smiles.

On reflection, despite not being able to celebrate with the team and bask in all the glory of a big, glitzy hairdressing event, 2020 was a time to reflect on what has been an incredibly successful 30 years as a couple and 25 years in business.

“I think this last year has definitely given us the time we needed to reflect,” says Michael.

“I’m my own worst enemy; I take too much on and end up causing myself massive stress and anxiety because I’m spinning plates - but I’ll never let myself become that person again. I still want to do everything that we were doing, but it’s just about time management and a better work-life balance.”

“It’s been hard for me because I hate not doing anything,” Gary adds.

“I never spend time in my own home. I want to be out doing things - travelling, socialising, showing dogs - so I’ve been forced to enjoy my own space, and we’ve actually got on really well with it.

“He’s kept me busy because I’ve been rushing around nursing him recently!

“I nursed you through the first lockdown with your leg, don’t forget, so it was my turn,” Michael cuts in, laughing.

As the country starts to wake up from its turbulent lockdown slumber, Gary and Michael have their eyes set firmly on their local haunts - the first places they’ll be heading to celebrate with staff when time allows. ”Do you know what? Our go-to restaurants tend to be all of Terry Laybourne’s places St. Vincent, 21, Saltwater Fish Company and Porterhouse Butcher and Grill,” Michael says.

“Locally, we go to Fratellis and The Blackbird in Ponteland,” adds Gary.

“That is one of the things we miss the most.

Whizzing home every night, calling the Ponteland salon and popping to The Blackbird for a drink and a bite to eat. The spontaneity of it all is what we’re craving right now.

“We just can’t wait to get our big family back together, doing what we do best.” hookerandyoung.co.uk

Gary & Michael at a glance >> TV appearances: 7 different shows - too many episodes to mention (GMTV, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, Faking It, Big Brothers Bit On The Side, Style Challenge, Live at 3) Magazine cover stories: hundreds of hair magazine covers, 4 cover stories of us, Luxe being the best one - obviously!

Dogs owned: 60 (hope we haven’t missed any!)

Homes owned: 7 Salons: 4 (currently) Countries travelled to: 25 Awards won collectively: 30 Champion dogs: 30 Crufts Best Of Breed Winners: 5 Favourite holiday destination: Barbados Staff parties: ‘Official parties’ around 50 - ‘unofficial parties’ hundreds!

Members of staff: 50 (currently) Champagne bottles popped: Thousands Photoshoots: 150 Hair shows: Hundreds Airmiles: 671,200

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27

LUXE LOOKS

CHLOÉ >> High-rise Leather-belted Crepe Wide-leg Trousers, £1,130, matchesfashion.com

GET THE LOOK

70s splendour Time to rediscover the joy of getting dressed with our statement 70s edit. Inspired by the style of The Serpent’s Monique (played by Jenna Coleman), we’re loving flares, aviators, funky patterns, and bright, bold hues...

VALENTINO GARAVANI >> VLOGO Leather Slides, £510, mytheresa.com

A.W.A.K.E. MODE >> Point-collar Zebra-print Cotton Shirt, £350, matchesfashion.com

GUCCI >> Gold-tone Oval-frame Sunglasses, £310, harveynichols.com

SAINT LAURENT >> Double-breasted Wool Blazer, £2,270, brownsfashion.com

LRM >> The Emma Cross Body Bag, £75, lrmgoods.co.uk

LORO PIANA >> Taumascopio Silk Scarf, £645, mytheresa.com

CHLOÉ >> Marcie Mini Textured-leather Shoulder Bag, £740, net-a-porter.com

REISS >> Petra Wide Leg Jumpsuit, Blue, £265, reiss.com

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BAO BAO ISSEY MIYAKE >> Lucent PVC Tote Bag, £510, matchesfashion.com

VERONICA BEARD >> Brie Bronze Ribbed-knit Tank, £200, harveynichols.com

WARDROBE.NYC >> Double-breasted Trench Coat, £1,090, brownsfashion.com

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TREND WATCH

with Kate Rose, founder of lifestyle brand, Tutti & Co Stepping into a season of simple styling, sunny spaces and super staycations...

Visiting…

After what seems like a long, cold winter, my thoughts turn to spring and the longer days and lighter nights. A little staycation is on the cards and I have lots of creative projects to keep me busy. A positive focus definitely helps the days whizz by...

The ultimate Yorkshire hideout. This staycation will not disappoint, with the choice of staying in a super stylish container cabin, or a beautiful barn, depending on whether you are travelling as a couple or as a family, you will feel instantly relaxed in these chic surroundings. Immerse yourself in the countryside, watch the day and night go by as you drift away amongst the endless fields and nature, sleep well in the comfiest bed, whilst the log burner keeps you warm and snug. Relax in a log burning hot tub or take a trip out into the Yorkshire countryside and explore many of the local attractions on offer. Whether it be visiting one of the local museums, a walk in Hamsterley Forest, a visit to a day spa or a tasty ice cream from the local ice cream parlour, you are sure to find something to suit everyone, whatever the weather. Check out the Luxe review on page 64. kipandnook.com

Loving…

Well, it seems like I have pretty much been living in loungewear and PJs for the past six months. Having had the time to try many different brands and styles, my current favourites are from Breathe. Made from luxury organic cotton and tencel, with a contrast black signature piping, these ‘Hang Out’ pyjamas are the best way to stay at home whilst maintaining a sense of style.

The boxy shirt offers just the right amount of roomy drape to flatter, and the pyjama bottoms have a drawstring waistband, for that perfect fit, allowing you to wear on the hip or the waist. The only problem is deciding which of the beautiful colours to pick. I went for the classic white with black trim, and I’m holding out for the matching robe due early March. They come beautifully wrapped in a gift box and tied with ribbon, they would make the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, or to take on a well-deserved staycation, £75. breathelifestyle.co.uk

New discoveries…

Styling…

New in…

I love an occasion to add a little extra styling to the home, and with Easter around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get the crafts out and add a little decoration. Bake a simple brownie with an added sprinkle of Mini Eggs, or pick up some wooden beads and make little bunny heads for fun table styling, simple to create and adds a little creative flair to a tasty Easter lunch. tuttiandco.com

I love flowers and floral decorations in the home, it really lifts a space and brings in a little nature. I have worked with a local designer to create beautiful spring wreaths to use inside or outside the home. Hang on your entrance door, add to a peg rail or shelf in the kitchen for that instant spring style. Limited quantities available, from £35. tuttiandco.com

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After hours of searching for the perfect paint finish for a new project, I discovered Bauwerk Lime - the ultimate paint for earth-lovers, made with clay, minerals and beautiful natural pigments, earth friendly and perfectly imperfect. An inexpensive alternative to decorative plaster, offered in a range of muted Mediterranean colours, it is sure to give any interior projects that holiday vibe. If you are looking for a soft, textured finish to your walls to create that stylish ‘lived in’ look then look no further. My favourite is the Ibiza shade, the optimum colour for that dreamy, laid-back boho vibe. bauwerkcolour.com

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FASHION FOCUS

“It starts with a sketch, a touch of Saint Belle spirit and a stroke of imagination.”

Style & sustainability Elysia Fryer sits down for a virtual cuppa with Isabella Dryden, the creative brains behind Saint Belle - a new, ‘Considered Clothing’ brand born in East Boldon

There are a number of things that strike us about Saint Belle; from effortless style and sustainability, to an inspiring all-woman team and Isabella’s determination to do what she loves from her home in East Boldon.

She’s a North East creative who has been on our radar for some time now, so when we got the chance to sit down for a catch up on all things Saint Belle, we jumped at the opportunity…

What can you tell us about yourself and your route to Saint Belle?

Isabella: I always loved clothes and dressing up as a little girl - total Disney princess vibes - so it was always going to feature in my life in some way.

Fast forward a few years, I’ve been working in fashion ever since I went to study at Northumbria University. Throughout my studies I worked with Erdem in the production department, and I went on to work with Jonathan Saunders as a print

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designer - one of the designs recently featured on Emily in Paris on Netflix, so I was delighted to see that!

When my studies were coming to an end, I didn’t even go to my graduation ceremony as I’d gone and got a job. I was so determined that I wanted to start as a professional as soon as I possibly could.

I went to work for a menswear wholesaler up here in the North East, then after that I went to work at Pink Boutique in a more commercial role.

After that, I ended up taking a role in Manchester at Forever Unique, which is a beautiful womenswear company; but I was commuting, which was a bit tough, as I live in East Boldon. As much as I loved the job, it was really hard to set myself up there when I knew all I wanted was to be back home in the North East.

Last year when the pandemic took over, lockdown was hitting and I already had in the back of my mind that I wanted to go and do something myself.

So I just decided to take the plunge and enrolled myself onto a High Potential

Startups course, a North East enterprise set up by the Government. It’s amazing and is known to create a great foundation for flourishing business owners. Penning down my ideas and sharing my inspiration just led me to think, ‘right, I’m going to set this up and see what happens’.

So I guess Saint Belle has been born out of lots of different things. It’s been a culmination of lockdown experience and my passion for fashion.

Where did you find your inspiration for Saint Belle?

Isabella: I wanted to create a collection that feels like ‘forever fashion’ - versatile, easy-to-wear pieces that stand the test of time from season to season. Speaking to friends and designing myself over the years, I understand that those things tend to be the bestsellers, and are actually the things that women like to wear most.

Opening your wardrobe and pulling out the same blouse to wear with different jeans something you feel comfortable and confident wearing over and over, that’s what

it’s all about. I knew I wanted to bring that to life in a brand up here in the North East.

In terms of style, it is definitely romantic.

There’s a definite femininity to Saint Belle - there’s an effortless, flowing look about the brand, inspired by the English countryside.

It’s also about sustainability, traceability and wearability.

Your tagline is ‘Considered Clothing’, what can you tell us about this?

Isabella: Every single thing falls into ‘Considered Clothing’. The fabric is handwoven - it takes no electricity to make it, which in my opinion is absolutely amazing. Nobody presses a button, it literally takes a person to weave that fabric, which is beautiful. The fact that it can be manufactured here in the North East was hugely important to me. I did not want to go to Turkey or China, I wanted to do it here.

The web that Saint Belle has managed to make so far is very impressive - that’s me blowing my own trumpet a little bit, but

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FASHION FOCUS

local girls are making Saint Belle clothes, and that is huge in terms of consideration. I didn’t want to go anywhere else.

The manufacturing is done about 40 minutes from me in East Boldon, so in terms of keeping things local, we’re doing a great job. Where I’ve worked previously, it has all been produced overseas.

Why is sustainability so important in fashion?

Isabella: First of all, what I like to do is break down what sustainability is, because I think we run the risk of greenwashing a lot of people.

For me, it needs to have stability - you have to make sure you are able to keep going, for people and for the environment. In terms of what it means to Saint Belle, it needs to be environmentally friendly. I once worked somewhere where I got an email from a Chinese supplier who told me that they couldn’t produce any more because the rivers were so polluted - they had to literally turn the factory off. That is the reality of it.

There are so many things you discover when you work as a designer, and it really is quite shocking, so it’s down to us to make sure we are doing something about it.

I don’t want to be involved in that kind of production anymore. I don’t believe that anyone should be in a condition that I personally wouldn’t want to be in. We need to be asking people in big businesses if that applies to them as well.

It’s also important to educate the customer on the subject. It’s all encompassing and

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part of the journey for me is to share those details for people that want to understand.

I also absolutely love David Attenborough, so if you’re going to do it for anyone, do it for him!

What can you tell us about that ‘lightbulb moment’ when you decided to launch your brand?

Isabella: Oh wow, I think I’d have to call it a chandelier of lightbulbs! It was an explosion - probably over a period of three months. I had such a fantastic experience at Forever Unique; I was flying across Europe, I was going to sales appointments, I was selling the collection that I was designing - it was amazing.

I knew I had it good, but I just had that itch to take it a little further. The travelling was great, but living in a Travelodge for much of the working week wasn’t quite the Anna Wintour fashion experience I had imagined.

So I think the severe hate of the Travelodge, combined with the ‘this is amazing’ feeling I was getting from the job itself, just got me thinking and I figured it would be the best of both worlds if I could do it all myself, on my own terms, on home turf.

I thought to myself, ‘if a pandemic can take over the world, surely I can start my own fashion label’.

I think the world needed us to slow down for a little while - especially in fashion. I read an article in Vogue Arabia recently that described this time as a renaissance period for design. There are so many designers who have worked in corporate roles for

years and have decided that enough is enough and have taken the plunge to go it alone.

That is totally the core message at Saint Belle. If you can do it, believe in yourself, go for it and try and make a difference.

It’s definitely been a tough period for a lot of people, and it’s not the most ideal time to set up a new business, but I needed that push and I’ve never looked back. Don’t get me wrong, it does come with a lot of worry and anxiety, but once you put it to the test, you can actually come up with something truly amazing.

What can we expect to see in the Saint Belle collection?

Isabella: Our first photoshoot for spring/ summer is going to be very French chateaux garden-inspired. It’s going to be so beautifully feminine.

The collection features just 20 pieces drip-fed throughout the season. You’ll find everything from clothing to accessories.

There are going to be some dreamy straw bags and baskets to wear with floaty summer dresses - you’ll see me skipping around East Boldon in them.

We’ve kept this first collection pretty small, but I think it’s really nice for the customer to get to know a nice boutique range. There’s something in there for everybody - I imagine the Saint Belle girl to be out there in the summer with her little white trainers on, a floaty dress with a little straw basket, walking her dog.

Our pieces are suitable for everyone from

your mum, to a student fresh out of uni.

We’ve covered all bases in terms of style.

How can we shop Saint Belle?

Isabella: You can shop the full collection on the Saint Belle website, when it launches at the end of March. The website is going to be really visual and interactive. It’s going to feature a live fitting room, so we’re not losing that boutique experience.

My experience with returns in the fashion industry is overwhelming - some places report 80% returns on a line. Saint Belle’s collection is going to be practically made for you - so neither ourselves or the customer are put in that position when it comes to returns. We’ll do recommendations, measurements - everything we can do to make sure it’s as intimate as a boutique would be.

I want Saint Belle to be your best friend when it comes to customer service and tone of voice. We are not about hard sales - it’s more about lifestyle and being included, which is something I think we all need at the moment.

And finally, your three luxe things in life?

Isabella: Definitely fresh flowers - a bouquet always puts a smile on my face. A good cup of tea - you wouldn’t believe how much tea I’ve consumed through the making of Saint Belle. And last but not least, great friends - if you can surround yourself with people who support you, you’re set for life. saintbelle.co.uk

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JET-SETTING STYLE

Adventure calls Let wanderlust take over as the MICHAEL by Michael Kors spring 2021 campaign whisks us away on a New York City break with serious style. This season’s looks blend onthe-go cool with sophisticated, city polish. Expect splashes of bright colour, chic outerwear and bold stripes. Accessorise with yellow gold and striking sunglasses and you’re ready to step into spring...

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MAR/APR21

JET-SETTING STYLE

SoHo Large Studded Quilted Leather Shoulder Bag, £390 Striped Stretch Viscose Turtleneck Dress, £185

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JET-SETTING STYLE

Chain Trim Cotton Trench Coat, £470 SoHo Large Studded Logo Shoulder Bag, £390 Gold-Tone Chain Embellished Amsterdam Sunglasses, £170

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MAR/APR21

JET-SETTING STYLE

Stretch Viscose Turtleneck Dress, £185 Sterling Silver Polished Bracelet 14K Yellow Gold, £210 Sterling Silver Polished Ring 14K Yellow Gold, £125 Stainless Steel Polished Gold 3 Link Curb Chain Watch, £210

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JET-SETTING STYLE

Logo Medium Carine Tote Bag, £290 Limelight Logo Slater Sling Pack, £245 Light Wash Denim Belted Short, £110 Ribbed Stretch Viscose Tank Top, £85

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MAR/APR21

JET-SETTING STYLE

Diamond Logo Jacquard Trench Coat, £400 SoHo Large Studded Logo Shoulder Bag, £390 Tortoise Acetate Logo Manhasset Sunglasses, £170 michaelkors.co.uk

MAR/APR21

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37

SPRING BUYS

SWEET SCENT >>

RESTORE & REPLENISH >>

Delicate, sweet and fabulously floral. Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet Eau de Toilette is a vision of spring. This light fragrance comes packed with fruity top notes of Sicilian Orange combined with a tender floral mix of Peony and Damask Rose. As a finishing touch, white musk notes delicately wrap around this springtime fragrance to create a flawless daytime scent. £94, 100ml, theperfumeshop.com

Wake up to glowing skin. The Estèe Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + Night Intensive Restorative Crème is an ultra-nourishing, multi-action moisturiser designed to work wonders at night. Perfect for all skin types, this little pot of heaven is ideal for those with dull, dry and ageing skin. It helps the skin feel firmer and reduces the look of lines while you sleep. Apply a moisturiser at night and wake up looking radiant? Yes, that sounds good to us. £77, 50ml harveynichols.com

Beauty:update Spritz on spring-inspired scents, refresh your post-winter skincare regime and say hello to warm neutral tones. Here are our top 10 picks to give you that blossoming glow of spring this season…

TIMELESS BEAUTY >> We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again. The Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick in Pillow Talk is our go-to. This luscious shade is a dream for any scenario day and night. Trust us, this is one your makeup collection needs. £25, charlottetilbury.com

BRILLIANT BROWS >>

BODY WASH BLISS >> Bring spring into your body care regime with Nereus’ organic body wash. The Madagascan Pink Pepper wash and the Madagascan Ylang Ylang wash are both formulated with a blend of amino acids, optimally blended to hydrate dull winter skin and boost hyaluronic acid production. Both are vegan and extra nourishing, designed to leave your skin feeling soft, refreshed and supple - not to mention the dreamy scents that instantly lift spirits. For every bottle sold, Nereus will cover 1kg of ocean-bound plastic through its partnership with Plastic Bank, so purchasing a bottle means you’ll be doing your bit for the environment, too. £19.99, nereus.uk

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We all know perfecting brows is an art and a skill in itself - one that, we’ll admit, does not come easy. That’s until you introduce the Anastasia Beverly Hills 7B Brush Duo into your makeup routine. A combing brush for taming those wild hairs and an angled brush for perfect precision it’s an all-round winner. £18, cultbeauty.co.uk

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SPRING BUYS

PERFECTLY PREPPED >> The product of dreams. The Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base gives your face the best of both worlds - a primer and moisturiser combined together for smooth makeup application. This advanced face formula is packed with nourishing ingredients from Shea Butter and Hyaluronic Acid to Vitamins B5, C and E to instantly hydrate, soften and cushion the skin. £45 (50ml), selfridges.com

SOFT & GENTLE >> Light some candles, turn on the hot tap and soak away your worries with an Elemis Skin Nourishing Milk Bath. This wholesome formula is packed with milk protein, oat and camellia oil to deeply nourish and balance your skin. Turn dry skin into a silky smooth canvas. £46 (400ml), harveynichols.com

HELLO SUNSHINE >> Jo Malone welcomes spring in the best way we know how, with the beautiful new Brilliant Blossoms range, inspired by the tropics. Spritz the effortlessly delicate Yellow Hibiscus Cologne and you’ll drift off to exotic shores in no time. The dewy freshness of rose underpins this beaming fragrance’s sparkling scent, with a slice of lime adding a burst of juiciness.

Truly delightful. A spring must! £52 (30ml), £105 (100ml), jomalone.co.uk

OH-SO SMOOTH >>

PRETTY POLISH >> It’s time to switch out your dark hues and deep shades for cool nudes and warm tones. This dreamy NAILSINC Gel Effect Nail Polish in the colour Porchester Square is ideal for transitioning from winter to spring. £15 (14ml), nailsinc.com

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Ladies, it’s almost time to switch out our jeans and trousers for skirts and dresses, which means it’s time to give our lower body the TLC it deserves. This dreamy foot and leg scrub from Clockface Beauty is encased with Himalayan Pink Salt in a blend of butters and oils to create a perfectly gritty texture to ease away dead skin and soften dry patches.

Naturally antiseptic, this wonderful formula acts as a treatment for keeping skin clean and fresh, while the anti-inflammatory ingredients such as ylang ylang and neroli work to soothe aches and pains. If silky smooth, hydrated and soothed skin is your goal, then we can’t recommend this enough. £34 (120ml), clockfacebeauty.com

OH-SO PINK >> Welcome spring with a pop of colour.

We’re swooning over this NARS Blush in the colour Behave. Complete your everyday makeup look with a swish of colour over the apples of your cheeks to create a natural, rosy glow. £26, narscosmetics.co.uk

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GET GROUNDED

Why yoga practice (and a good cuppa) could be key to living a more focused and fulfilled life.

Introducing our columnist and ‘flow and let go’ guru, Rebecca Dale of Yoga & A Brew...

Tea break First of all, I just wanted to say a big hello to you, lovely Luxe readers. I’m Rebecca, a yoga teacher and tea-lover from the little land of Middlesbrough.

Now there’s only one question before you read-on, have you got your brew?

Here’s a little bit about me and my yoga journey...

When I first started practising yoga I was desperate. Desperate to find something that would help to alleviate my mental health.

And it worked. It more than worked. In fact, yoga completely changed my life. I didn’t know how, but when I became a yoga teacher, I was fascinated to know why it helped me so much.

I’ve heard the comment, ‘Isn’t yoga just stretching?’ many times. Of course, the physical practice of yoga does consist of postures and stretches that do wonders for the body, but oh-my there is so much more that yoga has to offer. I’m going to share with you the ways in which the practice can help with your mental health. I am not suggesting or prescribing yoga as the answer to what you may be experiencing, I’m simply sharing what I know to be true from my knowledge and experience. So here we go…

3 WAYS YOGA CAN HELP OUR MENTAL HEALTH >> 1. The nervous system is the body's communication centre. It’s what connects the brain to the body and is responsible for sending messages between the two. In yoga, we are specifically working with the autonomic nervous system which is what keeps our heart beating, our organs functioning and our food digesting. The ANS

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is made up of two other branches - the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The SNS (aka ‘fight or flight’) is what gets everything going, fires us up and brings energy. The PNS (aka ‘rest and digest’) is what slows everything down, bringing us into a restful state. Both of them work in harmony to keep us functioning at our optimal level.

However, in our modern lives, many of us experience an imbalance between the two and spend a lot of our lives in fight or flight. This means throughout your day the SNS is sending messages between the body and brain ‘to be alert’, ‘to be prepared for danger’. Yoga helps to bring us into ‘rest and digest’ so that we can find balance within the nervous system, and as a result the body comes into balance and therefore the mind relaxes, alleviating any mental stresses and worries.

2. The brain is built up of three parts - the instinctual brain which processes whether you’re safe, the emotional brain which processes how you’re feeling, and the thinking brain which processes thoughts. If you’re experiencing depression, anxiety or chronic stress then it’s likely that the emotional brain is most dominant. Yoga encourages the thinking brain to better regulate the emotional brain by asking us to become the observer of our thoughts and emotions.

3. Yoga is a spiritual practice and this fact is often missed out when we speak about the benefits, but I believe this is the most important support for our mental health.

Yoga helps us to reconnect with our heart or what’s sometimes called the soul. This is the part of you that no one else knows other than you. The part of you that is deeply loving and unmarked by your experiences,

without the limiting beliefs, judgements and ‘baggage’. It is the part of you that wants what everyone else wants; to be safe, to be loved, and to be happy. When we return to this part of us we begin to crave it more and more because regardless of the chaos that may be going on around us, this part of us is always peaceful and therein lies complete bliss.

To me, it is wonderful that conversations around mental health are becoming more common, and as a teacher I am very passionate about holding a space for people where they feel safe to work through

whatever they’re experiencing.

As the lightness of spring flows in and we see clear changes around us in nature, perhaps you’re feeling the call to make some changes within? I recently opened the Yoga & A Brew Member’s Club for people who want to make yoga part of their self-care routine. If you would like to know more about memberships, upcoming events or classes, please follow me on Instagram: @yogaandabrew or email: yogaandabrew@ gmail.com. yogaandabrew.co.uk

MAR/APR21

LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Super scents >> Good news for the gifting world Reiss has recently launched its unisex fragrance collection and the scents are todie-for. In both eau de parfum and candle form, those with a love for luxe aromas can look forward to scents including ‘Black Oudh’, ‘Emerald Bloom’, ‘Sienna Heat’ and ‘White Dahlia’. Dreamy. reiss.com

MAR/APR21

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LUXE LOCKS

SPRING SASS Spring is in the hair, and not before time!

After a very long and cold start to the year, we are all in desperate need of some blue skies and, well, happier times.

For the first time in a long time, dare we say that good times are coming? We certainly think so and we are very optimistic about the future. Isn’t it nice to finally let yourself have those thoughts?

Spring brings with it longer, brighter days, beautiful flowers and an abundance of Easter treats of course; with much to look forward too, we thought we’d add new hair into the mix.

Once again, everyone has had to endure months of unkempt hair and unsightly roots due to the winter lockdown, but fear not - we are here, ready and waiting to get all you lovely people looking fantastic again, just as soon as we can open our doors.

It’s fair to say that after the 2020 summer lockdown, many people were left feeling rather confused as to where to go with their hair. Grown out colour and additional length left some thinking they should embrace the new changes, but in 99% of the cases it didn’t work out too well.

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Although the newly evolved styles felt novel, with hindsight they weren’t as good as the pre-lockdown looks with virtually everyone throwing the towel in and reverting back to their dream style and perfectly polished colour.

So, if in doubt, simply cast your mind back to when you looked your very best and let's get you back there. Hanging on to your ‘lockdown locks’ is like hanging on to all the reminders of what a terrible time we’ve all been through.

Think of it as a spring clean for your hair. Let’s dust off lockdown for good this time and restore your sass and confidence with knockout hair to take you into the summer.

Our beautiful model shown here has a super cute short textured cut with shaggy layers and 60s inspired feathery bangs, which are set to be a big hair trend for summer 2021 - making this look bang on trend.

With the versatility to be worn many different ways, we blasted dry here for maximum movement and texture to create a sassy retro vibe that we just love. Alternatively, this style can be worn smoother with just as much impact, to give a sleeker more compact look, thinks 60s supermodel Twiggy.

Michael x

Michael Young and Gary Hooker run Hooker & Young, with four salons across the North East. hookerandyoung.co.uk

MAR/APR21

LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Pastel power >> Let Jonathan Adler’s state-of-the-art credenza transform your hallway this spring. Add a pop of pastel colour to your home decor and you’re sure to ooze happy thoughts as the days brighten up a little. £3,950. sweetpeaandwillow.com

MAR/APR21

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HAY DAYS

ON THE HOOF with Deborah Smith Quality x Horsemanship >> Something else to look forward to every spring is the DonnaDiva Equestrian spring/ summer collection. Grace Hughes, who set DonnaDiva Equestrian up in 2017, is always on the hunt for new luxe brands for her online store and competition room.

This year she is unveiling her newest brand, Catago Equestrian - a family business owned by Pernille Lausen and her brother, Per Lausen. Coming from an equestrian family, Pernille has been a dressage rider since childhood and is also an avid fan of Icelandic horses. She has successfully re-developed the 1992 Scandinavian equestrian brand; her parents, Birgit and Boerge Lausen founded the family company in 1963.

Catago's goal is to create a high-quality line of products, with an attention to detail that provides maximum comfort for horse and rider. The pieces allow horse and rider to dress and perform comfortably and effortlessly, regardless of weather conditions or season.

As a result, Catago Equestrian has become the go-to brand for Olympic dressage rider Anna Kasprzak, and is embraced by riders from all disciplines and all levels.

Grace’s top Catago picks for spring include: The Catago rugs, which range from £69.99 (100g) to £81.99 (300g) and the back warmer, which is circa £185.

Sophie winning at York 2018

Here comes the new season...

It’s been a long time coming, for so many reasons, but now 2021 is (hopefully) getting into full swing for us equestrians who have spent a winter with little or no riding.

I have summer weekends at Sheepgate high on my list of ‘must-dos’ - plus some away trips for jumping. We feel very short of practice this year, but most are in the same boat, so it’s still everything to play for!

Better off as two >> I caught up with superstar riding twins Chloe and Sophie Dods, from Darlington, to

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see what they have planned for this year.

Growing up at the Denton Hall racing base of their hugely successful racing trainer father, Michael Dods, it’s not surprising that the sisters are excellent horsewomen.

Competing as amateur flat jockeys was a natural progression from ponies and in 2018, Sophie reigned supreme at the Magic Moments in Northern Racing Awards, winning flat jockey of the year for her ride at York on Mister Belvedere.

Since then, and with full-time working careers to fit in, the sisters have moved across to eventing as well. Last year Chloe competed her stunning Connemara, Woody (Woodfield Gloves) and scopey ex-racer Transpennine (Transpennine Gold) while Sophie evented with ex-racer Bamber (Bamber Bridge), who stepped up to BE100 level with a very creditable ninth in his first run. So plenty of form to build on for 2021 and with mum, Carole (an accomplished Team Chaser rider in her youth) on hand at eventing and Michael casting a critical eye at home, at the gallops and away at the races, it’s truly an impressive family affair! Good luck for 2021.

STABLE RUGS This heavyweight 300g stable rug from Catago has been cleverly designed to fit most horses and features: • 420D diamond quilted outer fabric • 300g fibrefill with smooth lining • Double adjustable front closure with clip hooks and D-rings • Shoulder gusset • Cross surcingles and leg straps • Tail flap Wide fleece collar, which provides extra comfort and warmth and also helps to protect the mane and neck from rug rubs.

BACK WARMER Perfect for use before and after exercise, the back warmer reaches its core temperature in just a few minutes, providing constant long-wave infrared heat which soothes, comforts and relaxes the muscles and connective tissue.

Catago’s Fir-Tech Pro products work with Active Carbon fibres and are particularly suitable for use with tendons, joints and muscles.

The purpose is to stimulate and promote the self-healing processes that are always present within the body. It has been shown that the effects of active longwave infrared radiation significantly help to increase the blood flow and reduce tension in muscles. These relaxing properties of active long- wave radiation make the Fir-Tech pro products very suitable to be used for sport, wellness and relaxation.

I’m opting for a couple of the lighter 100g rugs, to treat Oli and Strider for spring. And then I might treat myself!

Grace can be reached on 07765 222813 and website address: donnadivaequestrian.com

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NORTH EAST HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR

SEE YOU SOON! Gosforth 0191 217 0217 Jesmond 0191 281 6714 Ponteland 01661 821 004 Wynyard 01740 644 690 www.hookerandyoung.co.uk Facebook: hooker&young Twitter: @hookerandyoung Instagram: hookerandyoung

LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Here comes the sun >> Everything you could possibly imagine for the perfect seasonal treat, in a beautiful Flourish & Rye bundle. Packing in everything from cheese and sourdough crackers, to marmalade, spring pie, crumble loaf and chocolate, give the gift of good food this Easter. Use code LUXE10 for 10% off your Spring Hamper, for orders before 22 March 2021. flourishandrye.co.uk

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MAR/APR21

Have you missed me?

Café 21 is preparing to reopen its doors on Monday 17th May 2021.

Get ahead of the game and book your table now.

Trinity Gardens, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2HH | 21newcastle.co.uk | 0191 222 0755

SPRING FEAST

An indulgent Easter...

A colourful new season and plenty of reasons to celebrate calls for a big family feast at home. Elysia Fryer tracks down some seriously delicious recipes for Easter...

What does Easter mean to you?

Whether it’s an opportunity to get the gang around the table, take some time out from our busy schedules, or really hone in on the holiday commemoration, it’s a great time to

mix up the routine a little and indulge in something special.

Taking inspiration from some of our favourites restaurants, delis and bakeries across the North East, we’ve picked out four recipes to help you get the spring celebrations underway at home.

PureKnead Lemon & Mascarpone Easter cake Serves 10-12 With Easter comes beautiful blooms and the introduction of delicate, fruity flavours.

This lush lemon and mascarpone cake by PureKnead Whitley Bay works as the perfect table centrepiece while treating the taste buds.

Ingredients 400g butter 400g caster sugar Zest of 2 lemons 8 eggs, lightly whisked 400g self raising flour 2 tbsp lemon juice Juice of 2 lemons 4 tbsp caster sugar For the filling: Lemon curd Tub of mascarpone 100ml double cream Chocolate eggs/edible flowers/lemon slices

Scotts of Alnmouth Vegan Curry

Serves 8

Those looking for a less conventional Easter feast should look no further than this vibrant vegan curry from our friends at Scotts of Alnmouth. Packing in plenty of spice, flavour and good-for-the-soul ingredients, it’s a great way to mix up the celebrations this year - because, why not?

Ingredients 3 tbsp coconut oil 2 onions, finely chopped 1 tsp turmeric 12 / tsp ginger powder 12 / tsp asafoetida 3 garlic cloves, finely grated 1 tin chopped tomatoes 11/2 tbsp deggi mirch chilli powder 1 tsp yellow Kashmiri chilli powder 1 tbsp garam masala 1 litre vegetable stock 10 cherry tomatoes, halved 100g desiccated coconut toasted 2 tsp sesame toasted 2 tsp poppy seeds 2cm of fresh ginger Fresh coriander, chopped Medley of vegetables, roasted 1 can of chickpeas Salt and pepper to taste Method Heat the oil, add the onions and cook until translucent. Stir in the turmeric, ginger, asafoetida and garlic, then combine and cook for a further

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Method Heat oven to 160°C and grease two 20cm tins.

In a stand mixer (or a hand mixer), beat together the butter, sugar and lemon zest. This will take a few minutes, the mixture should go pale and fluffy.

Add a little egg and beat until all the egg is incorporated, scraping the sides of the mixing bowl down (don’t worry too much if it curdles, the flour will correct the mix).

Add the flour with the mixer at stand still, and then turn it slowly until incorporated, add the lemon juice and mix in gently again.

Give it a final quick mix with the spatula,

then split into tins. Flatten surface of the cakes with the back of a wet spoon.

Put in the oven and bake for approximately 50 minutes. Do not open the oven for the first 30 minutes.

You are looking for a golden colour on top. If you touch the cake from the outer edge to the middle, it should have the same spring and the edges should be pulling away from the sides. You can also use a probe (a cocktail stick works well) which when inserted should come out clean without any raw cake batter.

Take out of the oven and cool in the tins for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the lemon juice and caster sugar. Pierce the surface of the cake with a cocktail stick and use a teaspoon to divide the lemon drizzle between the two cakes while still warm.

Allow the cakes to cool completely and then remove from the tins. Sandwich the cakes together with the mascarpone loosened off with the cream and some lemon curd. Decorate with all things Easter - chocolate eggs, lemon slices and flowers (violets, violas, pansies are all ok, do not use any flowers from bulbs such as daffodils or tulips, as they are poisonous!).

Enjoy and have a great Easter! pure-knead.co.uk

five minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes and remaining spices and cook for another five minutes.

Add vegetable stock and cook for 20 minutes until slightly reduced, then add the cherry tomatoes. Combine the toasted coconut, sesame and poppy seeds, briefly blitz these in a food processor to create a dry paste. Add to the curry sauce and cook for a further 10 minutes, season to taste.

The curry sauce is now ready. Set this aside, even keep overnight to allow the flavours to infuse.

When ready to serve, roast a medley of vegetables until cooked. Good options are cauliflower, fennel, red onion, butternut squash, courgette, potato and sweet potato. You can also add some cooked spinach and canned chickpeas. Serve the vegetables/beans combined with the a reheated curry sauce. Top with ginger matchsticks and freshly chopped coriander. scottsofalnmouth.com

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SPRING FEAST

Bettys Easter Simnel Cake

Makes a 20cm diameter cake

An Easter feast isn’t complete without an exquisitely decorated simnel cake. Follow this recipe from the best of the best, our tea-and-cake connoisseurs at Bettys.

Signals Easter Fudge Makes roughly 36 pieces (using a 20cm square tin) A signature Easter treat from our friends at Signals Saltburn. Created by owner Josh Newell-Brown’s twin sister Lydia, this one is a sweet family recipe that stands the test of time.

Ingredients 397g condensed milk 200g icing sugar 50g butter 150g dark chocolate (broken up into squares) 60g white chocolate (broken up into squares) 1 tbsp cocoa powder Mini eggs (broken up into little chunks) Rainbow sprinkles 12 / tsp pink food colouring/beetroot powder Method Start by weighing out your ingredients and placing them into little bowls. Preparation is key, always.

Place the condensed milk, dark chocolate and butter in a non-stick saucepan. Melt the ingredients gently over a low-medium heat, stirring until smooth and silky.

Remove from the heat and sieve in the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Mix thoroughly.

Pour the fudge into the lined tin and smooth over the top with the back of a spoon.

Melt the white chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir until melted.

Add the pink food colouring and stir again until you have a lush pink.

Drizzle over the top of the fudge as you wish.

Throw your mini eggs and sprinkles on top and make it look as colourful and funky as you wish.

Chill in the fridge for at least an hour or until set, then cut it into chunks of your choice.

Enjoy! signalssaltburn.com

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Ingredients 1kg homemade marzipan (see recipe below) or shop bought white marzipan 260g butter 260g caster sugar 4 large eggs 350g plain white flour Pinch of salt 34 / tsp freshly grated nutmeg 34 / tsp ground cinnamon 350g raisins and 175g sultanas, soaked in 50ml sherry for several hours 150g whole mixed peel (lemon, orange and citron), finely chopped 200g naturally coloured glacé cherries For the decoration Remaining marzipan 2 tsp apricot jam 2 tsp water 1 large egg, beaten Method Soak the sultanas and raisins in the sherry for several hours.

Preheat the oven to gas mark 11/2 (130˚C). Take roughly one third of the homemade marzipan, then wrap the rest in foil and store in the fridge until needed to decorate the top of the cake. Sprinkle the work surface with icing sugar and roll out the marzipan until it is slightly larger than the base of a 23 cm diameter and 9cm deep loose-bottomed cake tin.

Using the base of the tin as a guide, cut out a circle of marzipan. Set aside.

Line the sides and bottom of the cake tin with baking parchment.

Beat together the butter and the sugar in a large mixing bowl until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, one by one, mixing well.

Blend together the flour, salt and spices and add gradually to the mixture. Add the sherry-soaked, raisins and sultanas, followed by the peel. Gently stir in the cherries so they remain whole.

Spoon half the mixture into the cake tin and flatten. Place the circle of marzipan on top and then add the rest of the cake mixture to fill the cake tin.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for approximately 21/2 - 3 hours.

The cake will be ready when it is golden brown on top and firm to the touch. Pierce the centre with a thin skewer - it should come out clean.

When cool enough to handle, remove from the cake tin and leave to cool on a cooling rack. To store, wrap in tin foil and place in an airtight container in a cool place.

To decorate Divide the remaining marzipan into two halves, 955g each.

With one half make eleven round balls. Roll out the second

half until you have a circle of marzipan large enough to cover the top of the cake. Using the base of the cake tin as a guide, cut out a circle of marzipan as before. Set aside.

Combine the apricot jam and water in a small pan and heat gently until the mixture becomes syrupy. Allow to cool slightly then brush over the surface of the cake.

Preheat the grill. Carefully lift the marzipan circle onto the top of the cake and press gently with a rolling pin to flatten the surface.

Create your own artistic patterns on the marzipan – I use a broad-bladed knife to make a criss-cross pattern.

Once you are happy with your design, brush the surface sparingly with the beaten egg and immediately place the cake under the grill. Watch carefully as the marzipan colours very quickly. When it has turned a pale, golden brown remove it immediately.

Now place your marzipan balls evenly around the edge of the cake, pressing them onto the toasted marzipan. Brush the tops of the balls with beaten egg and place under the grill again. Remove when both cake and balls are a deep golden brown.

When cool, cover the sides as desired. bettys.co.uk

Homemade Marzipan Makes approximately 1kg

Ingredients 250g icing sugar 250g caster sugar 500g ground almonds 2 dessert spoons of sherry or rum 2 dessert spoons of orange flower water 2 dessert spoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice A few drops of vanilla extract 2 medium eggs, lightly beaten Method Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Add the sherry or rum, orange flower water, lemon juice and vanilla extract.

Gradually add the beaten eggs whilst working the ingredients together to form a stiff paste – you may find that you do not need all of the egg.

Lightly dust the work surface with some icing sugar, and knead the marzipan until smooth.

If not being used immediately, wrap in tin foil and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. bettys.co.uk

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YES CHEF SR: The whole team are just so excited to get back and open the restaurants. We are working very hard on continuous training, working on the wine lists and creating dishes from amazing local produce.

EF: A little bit about you…

SR: I’m originally from Yorkshire, so it’s great to be back where it all began. My first big break was at The Mayfair Hotel in London, after attending catering college at the Thames Valley University in Slough. I came home after three years in London, to take on a role as chef de partie at the Black Bull Inn in Moulton.

Since then, I have spent time in Jersey at Longueville Manor, Bohemia, where I gained a Michelin star a mere two years later. In 2013, I went on to open Ormer, winning a Michelin star only four months later. In 2016, I opened its sister restaurant, Ormer Mayfair, bringing the tastes and produce of Jersey to London.

Another career highlight was the launch of my cookbook, Shaun Rankin’s Seasoned Islands (2011), covering recipes inspired by the bounties of the Channel Islands.

EF: Was returning to Yorkshire always in your plan?

SR: I love Yorkshire and everything about it, so yes, I guess it was always my plan to come home and bring my skills back with me.

Starry-eyed Elysia Fryer chats to Grantley Hall’s Shaun Rankin on the back of his recent Michelin star success…

Elysia Fryer: Where were you when you found out about the Michelin star?

Shaun Rankin: I was in my restaurant at Grantley Hall doing an interview with Michelin online about the impact on the hospitality industry when they told me, so it was a real surprise EF: Who was the first person you spoke to after receiving the good news?

SR: My two children, Harry and Ethan.

EF: How uplifting was the news after an incredibly turbulent year in the industry?

SR: It was an amazing feeling just like when I first received my first star; but I think because of the continuous lockdowns we are all facing, this time it was even more special, knowing that we had been

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EF: What does it mean to you to be doing what you do best in Yorkshire?

SR: As a chef, being able to connect with my suppliers is so very important. Here at Grantley Hall, we are blessed with the amazing local Yorkshire produce on our doorstep. Knowing that 90% of our produce comes from within a 30 mile radius gives me a huge sense of pride. It’s always important to support local.

EF: And finally, your three luxe things in life?

SR: My two children Harry and Ethan, fishing, walking and camping in the great outdoors, and of course wine! grantleyhall.co.uk

consistent with so many ups and downs.

EF: What is unique about Grantley Hall’s food offering?

SR: Grantley Hall is very unique in its food offering. There is nowhere that I know of in the middle of the countryside that can offer our customers so much diversity, from fine dining to pan Asian, outside terrace dining and traditional Yorkshire fair - GH has it all.

EF: How does the food tie in with the overall Grantley Hall experience?

SR: It works very well as Grantley is so unique in its total offering. A truly special experience from start to finish.

EF: What can we look forward to when it comes to dining at Grantley in the future?

MAR/APR21

FOOD NOTES

HOME COMFORTS with chef Chris Baber Cooking schools, spring greens and hot cross buns for Easter...

MY WORLD >> When January hit and we were forced back into another lockdown, I really wanted to keep busy, and I guess it pushes you to get a little bit creative and come up with new ways to share what you know and love. So I’ve spent much of the first part of the year focusing on the live cook-alongs, which have been great - particularly the kids’ cooking clubs.

I launched Chris Baber’s Cooking School at the start of the year to inspire youngsters by offering easy recipes so they can cook-along with parents. It’s been a huge success we’ve had coverage on Good Morning Britain. I’ve got kids and parents all over the country getting together (virtually) to cook dinner with me in the evenings, which is really quite special. It has created a sense of community and has allowed families to shake up their routines a little to keep things interesting. The feedback has been really heartwarming. I’m getting messages from parents saying that it’s the first time their children have ever chosen to cook. It almost comes full circle for me because I’m getting so many photographs of little kids standing up on chairs helping with the chopping of the veg, and that is exactly what I used to do. If I can help bring families together and create a sense of escape - while enjoying good food - then I’m doing my job. That’s what it’s all about for me. The kitchen is the heart of the home afterall.

Alongside that, the celebrity live cookalongs have gone from strength to strength.

It makes really good viewing and people just keep coming back for me. We’ve had

ASK CHRIS >> If you’ve got any questions you want to ask Chris - whether it’s a recipe you’d like to see, information about his live cook-a-longs, or recommendations for restaurants in the North East or across the country - please get in touch via his Instagram page. Chris will select a handful of questions and answer them in the next column. #AskChris instagram.com/chrisbaber

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is stuck rotating around three or four staple home recipes for ease?

A: I’d say spend some time on a Sunday night going through cookbooks and pick three new dishes or ingredients for the week ahead - things that you can really get excited about and maybe haven’t tried before. I think we’ve just got to make the effort to find something new. Maybe think of something you’re missing from a takeaway or restaurant and find an easy recipe online, or think back to a favourite holiday destination and something you ate there. There’s always a recipe with your name on it!

MAR/APR21

Paddy McGuinness making a cheese and onion pie, we’ve had Lisa Snowdon, Joel Dommett and Vick Hope. People are always really keen to get involved. All I ever say to them is, “Look, what’s your favourite food that you’re missing from your favourite restaurant, and I’ll show you how to make an easy version at home.” It’s a no brainer for them!

protein is cooking protein - whether it’s roast chicken or a leg of lamb, the principles are pretty much the same. Just give it a go - once you’ve done it once, you’ll be able to improve upon your recipes and build confidence as you go.

When it comes to sweet stuff, you can’t go wrong with an Easter egg. I don’t eat much chocolate, but I really indulge at Easter - my mum still treats me to a couple of Easter eggs and I can’t resist. I also love a hot cross bun - give my spiced recipe a go.

FOODIE HAPPENINGS >> I can’t go into too much detail right now, but I wanted to let you know that I’ve got a big TV project coming up in April where I’ll

MY FOOD DIARY >> As we head into spring, asparagus is big on my agenda. At this time of year we find ourselves moving away from the butternut squash and potatoes, turning our heads to glorious greens such as asparagus and garden peas; and for me, this is a really exciting time. I really want to educate people about British seasonal produce and how we can get the best out of it. Mastering kitchen confidence is all about eating food when it is at its best. If you’re eating seasonally and enjoying the goods that are on our doorstep, you can’t go too far wrong.

There’s a massive emphasis on the carbon footprint of food at the minute. If we buy British seasonal produce that is grown and picked in the UK, rather than buying asparagus in December when it has come from Egypt, you are having such a positive impact on the environment as well as supporting our suppliers. I really want to share my knowledge on this by encouraging people to become more aware of the seasons and how buying British can make such a huge difference to our economy.

You can easily get bored of something if you eat it all year round, whereas it becomes a treat to just enjoy it in that short period of time when it is at its best.

INSPIRED BY THE SEASONS >> It’s not something I cook very often, but one thing I love to do at Easter is get everyone around the table for a lamb dinner. If I can get home, I’ll get a lovely leg of lamb and just marinade it really simply with garlic and rosemary. Chuck it in the oven, roast it off and you get a lovely caramelised outside.

It’s such a special meal every year. A real spring treat with all the trimmings.

Celebrations often encourage us to come out of our comfort zones a little bit; and sometimes that’s what you’ve got to do when you want to make something that little bit more special. My advice to anyone cooking with unfamiliar meats or ingredients is just to be confident. Find a recipe, take your time with it and ultimately, cooking

be visiting lots of different producers around the country, talking about British seasonal produce and how regionality affects food.

In other news, while I’ve been getting back to life (albeit in the new normal) in London, it has been great to see some regional restaurants flying the flag for the North East during these strange and unnerving times. I can’t wait to come back home and get back to some of those places when the time is right - particularly Restaurant Hjem and House of Tides. It’s amazing to see new businesses coming to fruition and restaurants remaining optimistic about the months ahead. I’m sure they will be just as excited to get back on the tools as we are to get back to our favourite spots.

TRY THIS >>

Spiced Hot Cross Buns

Makes 16

Perfect slathered in good quality butter, warm from the oven.

Ingredients 300ml whole milk 1 tsp cinnamon 5 cardamom pods (husks removed and seeds ground in pestle and mortar) 1 zest of orange 50g butter 1 egg 600g strong white bread flour 7g fast acting yeast 75g sugar 1 tsp salt 75g mixed peel 75g sultanas For the cross: 3 tbsp plain flour mixed to a thick paste with 3 tbsp water For the glaze: 4 tbsp marmalade Method Pour the milk into a saucepan with the cinnamon, cardamom and orange zest and bring to a very gentle simmer, then add the butter and remove from the heat.

Stir until the butter has melted and allow the mixture to come down to lukewarm temperature before cracking in the egg.

Put the flour, salt, sugar and yeast into a large mixing bowl.

Make a well, pour in the milk mixture and mix together with your hands and bring to a dough.

Lightly flour a warm surface and knead the dough for 10 minutes, until smooth.

Lightly oil the inside of a large bowl, put the dough into the bowl, cover with cling film and leave to prove somewhere warm for 1 hour, until doubled in size.

Now add the zest and sultans and give the mix a quick knead in the bowl to evenly distribute the fruit.

Cover with cling film and allow to prove for another hour.

Lightly flour a work surface.

Divide the dough into 16 even size pieces.

Roll each into a ball and place onto two baking trays that are lined with baking paper, leaving a few centimetres between each.

Cover with cling film and allow to prove for another hour.

After the dough has had another hour, pipe the flour water paste over the dough balls to form the crosses.

Bake for 20 minutes at 200°C, until golden.

Melt the marmalade in a saucepan and brush over the buns as they come out of the oven.

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FARM FINDS

Savouring the seasons WITH KAREN PHILLIPS

Never has spring been so welcome with its joyful colours and blooms. 20 March marks the spring equinox when day and night lengths are equal, triggering many plants to flower and all the poultry to start laying in abundance. So, indulge in some chocolate, devise treasure hunts, compete in races - but most importantly, save a few fresh eggs to make a fabulous Easter cake.

RICH PICKINGS FROM THE GARDEN >> We’re still enjoying all the winter veg: purple sprouting broccoli, kale and cabbages, plus the last of the harvested and stored onions, potatoes and parsnips. Tiny salad leaves from corn salad and chard are coming into season, but for now we’re out foraging for those first nettle tips and wild garlic. We’ll make gnudi - ricotta dumplings with the nettles, and a Chinese twice-cooked belly pork with some wild garlic stems. We’re eating our own forced rhubarb and experimenting with fermented rhubarb jam.

Jobs in the garden: Spring is a manic time in the garden, but hopefully you’ll have had a head start with

all the lockdown time spent in late winter, so weeding may already be under control.

Sow, sow, sow - remember that when you see weed seedlings sprouting up all over the garden, the soil temperature is telling you it’s the perfect time to get sowing the majority of the veg seeds. All the frost hardy seeds: leeks, carrots, parsnips, salad leaves, chard, beetroot, turnip etc. can all be sown in abundance now but hang-fire on the tender crops of peas, beans, courgettes and squash – these need to be sown a maximum of six weeks before the last frost, so 1 May is ample time for these to be sown in modules/root trainers and then planted out in early to mid-June once they are less likely to get nipped by a late frost.

Get your ground ready for planting early potatoes - hopefully your early potatoes have been chitting happily on a cool, bright window sill and are ready to be planted now. Easter was the traditional day, but you can plant a little earlier under black mulches or in pots that will stay in a frost-free greenhouse. Panic not if you haven’t chitted early potatoes - maincrop potatoes don’t require chitting so you can buy some now and get them planted too.

UPCOMING COURSES @LINNELS FARM Note: all events are subject to lockdowns/government restrictions. Stay tuned on the Linnels Farm website for further updates and announcements.

FOUNDATIONAL HAND CALLIGRAPHY >> 27 MARCH Join Angela Reed, from Creative Calligraphy, as she guides you through the process of using a broad-edged pen to form the Foundational alphabet. All materials are provided and are yours to keep, so you can continue your calligraphy journey at home. Tea and cake provided to fuel your foundational hand.

PLOT TO PLATE - GETTING STARTED >> 9 APRIL Join us for a relaxed day of learning, where we’ll look at the basics behind successful veg growing – including ground preparation, creating your own compost, sowing and planting a variety of vegetables, general maintenance and crop rotation.

THE FRAGRANT GARDENER >> 15 APRIL Create a Perfumed Paradise in your garden. If you choose plants just for the way they look, then you’re missing out. Join Karen for this one-day scented garden workshop and you’ll depart with seeds sown, hand-made place settings and the confidence to create a perfumed paradise in any outdoor space.

THE VIRGIN GARDENER >> 22 APRIL If you don’t know your daffs from your dahlias then this course is for you! Whether you’re starting out with a few plant pots, are the proud owner of a new garden and unsure what’s a plant or a weed, we’ll get you gardening with confidence.

CREATE A TULIP HEADPIECE - MILLINERY WORKSHOP >> 28 APRIL Discover the art of millinery with expert Margaret Woodliff Wright and create a bespoke headpiece that will make you stand out from the crowd. Perfect for any wedding or day at the races, with the added guarantee that no’one can turn up in the same hat! >> For further details visit: linnelsfarm.com

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Lemon & poppy seed kugelhupf Makes 1 large kugelhupf or 23cm springform cake This cake never fails to please with its sharp citrus tang and crunchy texture from the added poppy seeds and lemon syrup - not too sweet but oh-so moreish!

Make it in a fancy kugelhupf (bundt) tin and the compliments will abound.

Ingredients 225g golden caster sugar 225g unsalted butter, softened 4 large eggs 225g self-raising flour Pinch of sea salt 1 tbsp poppy seeds 2 tbsp milk 3 unwaxed lemons, finely grated zest plus juice Icing sugar Violas, or other edible flowers to decorate If you’re making it in a kugelhupf tin then it is really important to grease the tin and flour it really well. If you have had any issues getting it out of the tin in the past then a fail-safe method is to put the tin in the fridge for 10 minutes then brush with melted butter and put back in the fridge whilst you mix the cake. Note: you can make it in several individual bundt tins, just lower the cooking time to 25-30 minutes.

Method Preheat oven to 180°C. Beat the butter and caster sugar and pinch of sea salt in a mixer until very pale and fluffy, (approx. 10 minutes).

Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well after every addition ensuring the

mixture is fluffy again before adding the next egg. If you find it curdling add a spoonful of the flour before adding the next egg.

Turn off the mixture and then fold in the flour, in three additions, taking care not to beat out any of the lovely air you have incorporated.

Stir in the zest of 3 lemons and the juice of 1 lemon (keep the extra juice for the syrup and icing later). Stir in the poppy seeds and the milk.

Gently spoon the cake mixture into your prepared tin and smooth with a spatula.

Bake for 45-50 minutes, testing that a skewer comes out clean.

Meanwhile prepare a syrup by mixing 3 tbsp of icing sugar and the juice of 1 lemon to pour over the cake when it is warm.

Remove the cake from the oven and pour over the syrup then leave to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before turning out.

Turn out the cake and leave to cool completely before preparing the icing: warm 1 tbsp of lemon juice in a small pan/microwave then beat in as much icing sugar as is needed to make a glossy, thick icing that really coats the back of the spoon. You want this to set when you pour it over the top of the cake rather than run down the sides like an Olympic downhill skier! It’s important to warm the juice or the icing will be lumpy.

Once set, decorate with edible violas, picked from the garden.

Serve in small slices so you can eat several without feeling any guilt at all!

MAR/APR21

WINE O’CLOCK

Raise a glass Now that ‘Dry January’ is a distant memory and we move closer to gathering with our loved ones once again, we’re turning our heads to social celebrations. With Easter just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to stock up the drinks cabinet and say cheers over a super spring supper Fiona Mclain, an expert sommelier with a stylish wine bar on Yarm High Street, takes us on a grape journey, offering everything from chocolate pairings to lovely accompaniments to spring lamb. fourteendrops.com

Six wines for spring... >> 1701 Franciacorta Brut Nature, Lombardy, Italy NV

Davenport Horsmonden Dry White, Sussex, England

This is a bone dry, crisp sparkling wine made in the Champagne method, but hails from the mountainous regions of Northern Italy and puts what you might know of Italian sparkling wine (prosecco) to shame. Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, it is complex and interesting and a great match when it comes to dining. Enjoy with smoked salmon or light meats - or, this wine is also fantastic with a hot cross bun. Easter Sunday brunch just got much more exciting!

Davenport is one of the oldest vineyards in England and is fully certified organic. A fantastic crisp, dry white that is great on its own or with food. It makes the perfect accompaniment to fish, so I always love to show this wine at Easter.

The freshness makes me think of spring and is a great way to welcome in a new season.

Mencia, Pittacum, Bierzo, Spain This is a fantastic wine to pair with lamb. A rich, bold red wine that is full of dark fruit flavours and hints of black olive, thyme and warming spices. This is a native grape of Mencia in North West Spain and stacks up against a Gran Reserve Rioja - but in my opinion it is much better.

Banyuls Rimage, Domaine de Valcros, France The perfect Easter egg wine! This is a fortified ‘naturally sweet’ wine made from Grenache Noir. The fresh berry flavours are combined with some darker aromas like demerara sugar and mocha to give a wine that goes beautifully with chocolate; think rich pralines and ganaches. Also works beautifully with blue cheese or a rich duck dish.

Villavieja Viognier, Mendoza, Argentina Dundee Hills, Sokol Blosser, Oregon, USA These guys know how to make a Pinot Noir. This is a single vineyard from a family-run winery that makes the perfect accompaniment to lamb for those who like a lighter red. As one of the pioneering wineries of the region, Sokol Blosser has played a key role in developing and shaping the nowprominent Oregon wine industry.

MAR/APR21

Eating lamb but prefer white? This rich, dry white is for you. A naturally rounded and weighty white grape, it is often blended in Rhone reds; yes, we’re talking Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It’s this grape that can soften these reds and add a lovely body to them. It’s also fantastic with salted caramel and milk chocolate.

NB - A wine that is still bottled on the winery; an important aspect of New World Wine for me. It means the winemaker knows exactly what goes into the wine, something they don’t if it is bulk shipped and bottled here. Meaning we can work with wineries that don’t just add chemicals to their wine but look after it properly.

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LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Feasting al fresco >> As we start to put an outdoorsy spin on our suppers this spring, why not mark the occasion by updating your tableware? You’ll feel like you’ve been whisked away to a French chateau with this Gilded Edge Bone China set in ‘duke blue’. £48 (charger plate). decoralist.com

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MAR/APR21

XXXXXXXX TOP DOG

POSH POOCHES with Alfie, helped by Elysia Fryer

Happy times

Picture perfect

Is that the sun we see?

We’ve been covered by a beautiful blanket of snow for what seems like forever, so to see those snippets of sunshine peeking through as we write this column is a pleasant surprise. And for Alfie, it means springing back into action.

Gone are the days lazing by the fire as we prepare to hotfoot it into the new season a season filled with an abundance of hope, positivity - and, of course, plenty of walks in the great outdoors.

The garden has been transformed from a quick toilet stop to a vibrant playground and Alfie is already starting to think about how he’s going to be ‘spring cleaning’ his humble abode. Pretty pastels are taking centre stage this year - check out his top picks below.

All of that, plus perfect poochy prints for the home and a chat with Quine the dashing Labrador Retriever pup who is certainly starting the new season with a spring in his step!

Let this lovely sunshine brighten up the days ahead.

Adorn your walls with the faces you adore...

Friend of Luxe, Vicki Brown, is an animal-lover who has turned her passions into a business reality with the launch of Quirky Pet Portraits - and it’s the home interiors service we’ve all been waiting for!

Pooch-lovers will quite easily get lost in Vicki’s Instagram feed, packed full of perfect furry faces in ever-so smart attire.

Based in Durham, she takes your favourite puppy snaps and gives them a refined, regal look. The result? Perfect prints to hang pride of place in your lounge.

Whether you opt for royalty or a uniform soldier, your pet has never looked so good in a frame.

Head over to the Quirky Pet Portraits website or Instagram page (@quirkypetportraits) for more information on your personalised poochy creation. You won’t regret it! quirkypetportraits.co.uk

Alfie loves:

POOCH’S PERFECT DAY OUT >> Walks - I go crazy when my lead is brought out. It is even better if I get a car ride - I am fascinated by these moving machines! Since joining my humans, the world has been covered in this cold white blanket, which suits me fine as I like rolling in it and trying to catch it as it falls. A perfect combination would be a walk where I can make new friends, followed by an afternoon snooze by the fire. If I am really lucky, I will get to sleep on my human’s lap.

Pretty pastels for pooch this spring...

Alfie, your Luxe pooch x

DOGGY DOWNTIME >> As a growing boy I need a lot of sleep. My favourite spot is in front of the fire where I can keep an eye on my humans, and crucially not miss any food being prepared.

ANNABEL JAMES Dog Harness, Coral Stripe with Pompoms, £41.95 annabeljames.co.uk

CHARLEY CHAU Charley Chau Ducky Donut Dog Bed, Blush, £195, charleychau.com

PET POOCH BOUTIQUE Mustard Yellow Floral Collar, £11, petpoochboutique.com

OH SO KEL OSK Pet Bowl Emmie, Small, £35, ohsokel.com

SOPHIE ALLPORT Speedy Dogs Medium Pet Mattress, £57, sophieallport.com

MAR/APR21

HOUND HABITS >> There are not many things that can beat a good gnaw on a stick. With big stacks of kindling right next to the fire, it is all too tempting, I just can’t help myself.

Luxe Pooch Q&A My name is Quince, a four-month-old Labrador Retriever from Durham. I am relatively new to the world and spend most of my days dividing everything into two categories; edible and non-edible! I’ve enjoyed bounding through the snow in recent months, but I’m looking forward to some spring sunshine and some time in the garden with the humans.

LUXE WALKS >> Raby Castle and Auckland Deer Park are both on my doorstep, but my current favourite is Sunderland Bridge. I love any opportunity to meet other four-legged characters. I am lucky my home has a big garden which is full of exciting smells rabbits, moles, birds, cats, deer and mice make for a fun run around too.

PUPPY PAMPER >> I am always keen to see if I get a treat from the freezer, as I love running around the kitchen with an ice cube. But ice cubes pale in comparison to a rawhide bone - I got my first one this week!

DOG’S BEST FRIEND >> My local friends, Mr Piggy and Duck, have kept me company since I can remember.

After my daily hunting practice with Duck, Mr Piggy makes a great pillow.

FONDEST DOGGY MEMORY >> My best memory so far has to be being let off the lead to roam around the garden.

Followed closely with my first outing off the lead with my humans, so many new smells!

PUPPY A-LISTER? A lovable rogue, perhaps Owen Wilson, but I have ambitions to grow into a handsome hound more like Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

Don’t forget to get in touch and send in pics of your pooch for our next issue via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram… facebook.com/luxemag

@theluxemagazine

theluxemagazine

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DAYS OUT

LIVING LOCAL:

Stokesley Home is where the heart is - plus a whole load of brilliant businesses waiting to reconnect with clients, as Luxe editor Elysia Fryer finds in her hometown of Stokesley, North Yorkshire...

Stokesley is home for me, so, of course, I may be a little biased, but if ever there was a time to fall in love with what’s on your doorstep, it has been this last year, and I have done just that.

A quaint, cobbled market town at the foot of the North York Moors, Stokesley effortlessly blends country charm with contemporary elegance.

You’ll find stylish salons sitting between cosy coffee shops, you can shop forward-thinking fashion as well as local farmer’s produce at the weekly and monthly markets, and you can unwind with a glass of wine and a cheeseboard after enjoying glorious riverside strolls.

This trendy-yet-traditional town has it all. Whether you’re cafe hopping with your gran or cocktail crawling with your gang, you’ll find something that guarantees smiles for all generations.

So, during lockdown as I clocked up the miles pounding the pavements of my hometown, I decided to look a little closer, giving some love to the brilliant businesses sitting at the heart of the high street.

Sadler’s Cafe & Bistro Sadlers is a stylish spot sitting on the buzzy high street. Go here for bistro bites, whether it’s a light bite over a coffee during the day, or a hearty homemade meal over a bottle of wine after dark. With regular live music nights (when time allows) and twinkling fairy lights to create a lively yet laid-back atmosphere, this is a great place to people watch by the window and while away the hours in good hands. sadlersbistro.co.uk Pistachio Bakery & Deli Go here for all the goods when it comes to stocking up on sweet stuff and a cup of coffee. It’s been a lockdown saviour for hot drinks, cakes, pastries and more, and we can’t wait to return with our loved ones when the time is right. pistachio-deli.edan.io

WHERE TO SHOP >> Millbry Hill Millbry Hill is your go-to for all things equestrian and pet-related. Part of the Armstrong Richardson group, it is believed to be the oldest independent, family-run agricultural and equestrian business in the country - and its HQ is right here in Stokesley. The Millbry Hill store sitting back off the high street, is home to pet supplies, sportswear, gifts and country-inspired fashion including big name brands such as Barbour, Hunter, Joules and Fairfax & Favor. millbryhill.co.uk The Yorkshire Store It’s all in the name - need we say more? An idyllic store sitting in the centre of Stokesley, offering everything from Yorkshire-themed gifts to greeting cards sure to put smiles on faces and forward thinking fashion from the likes of Seasalt and White Stuff. This family-run business is a breath of fresh air, giving us plenty of luxe inspiration when it comes to gifting and treating ourselves. It’s our go-to spot for L’Occitane, we couldn’t be without it! stokesleyyorkshirestore.squarespace.com The Nursery If you have small people in your life, you’ll find little treasures for big hearts at The Nursery. Dubbed ‘a small shop full of wonderful must-have things’, it’s Stokesley’s go-to for gorgeous gifting for babies and children. Good things come in small packages, that’s for sure! facebook.com/thenurserystokesley Croft Interiors Whether you’ve tackled a number of lockdown DIY projects, full-blown home renovations or rejigging your rooms to achieve creative new spaces for home working, we’ve all fallen back in love with our humble abodes in some way or another this past year. Our friends at Croft Interiors on Bridge Road are experts when it comes to stylish spaces from fabrics and wall coverings, to upholstery, furniture and decorative accessories. Go here and get lost in the beauty of carefully-selected interior products. From small gifts to big, room-defying pieces, you’re sure to fall in love with something. croft-interiors.co.uk

WHERE TO EAT >> The Truffled Hog A chic and oh-so cheery spot to soak up all that Stokesley and the surrounding areas has to offer. Step inside this place and you’ll feel worlds away from the everyday - we’re talking Ibiza/Bali vibes, but you’ll get to sample some of the most spectacular seasonal produce from suppliers right here on our doorstep. When things return to normal and the sun is beating down on College Square, you’ll find us out on the terrace with an Aperol Spritz in hand, tucking into an artisan cheese board. Here’s to hoping spring brunch dates are just around the corner. thetruffledhog.uk il Mulino The friendly faces at il Mulino have you covered when it comes to indulgent Italian delights. Round up the gang and go here for all your pizza and pasta favourites, with a Teesside twist. With a whole host of wines, cocktails and beers on the drinks list, paired with a stylish sun-trapped terrace on College Square, it’s a must for spring/summer supper. il-mulino.co.uk

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TRU:VAI Now, if you’re all for cocktails and moreish nibbles, TRU:VAI is certainly worth a visit. It’s wow interiors paired with its crafty concoctions, sweet treats and deli platters make it a real hit when it comes to winding down at the end of the week, or indeed a busy day at the home office. The name says it all... TRU:VAI is inspired by the French word ‘trouvaille’ which translates to ‘lucky find’ - and that’s exactly what it is. How very lucky we are to find this unique little spot in Stokesley. bartruvai.com Y’Thai If you fancy spicing up your mealtimes, look no further than Y’Thai. Loved amongst locals and foodies travelling from further afield, this place will transport you from Yorkshire to the bustling streets of Bangkok in no time. Think authentic Thai dishes with plenty on offer when it comes to sharing with friends and family. With low-lit lighting and a wonderful wine list, this is a great place to dine in for date night, or for takeout treats when getting the whole gang around the table at home, or in a lovely country holiday cottage. facebook.com/ythairestaurant

The Only Weigh Out We caught up with the friendly folk at The Only Weight Out at the beginning of the lockdown period back in spring 2020, when they were starting their new business in Stokesley. It’s been a testing year to say the least, but they continue to go from strength to strength, offering up the finest plastic-free, zero-waste products for the everyday.

From organic wines and wellbeing sets, to baked goods and store cupboard essentials, it’s an incredibly refreshing, innovative business. theonlyweighout.co.uk

MAR/APR21

DAYS OUT

SOMEWHERE TO STAY >> When staycations are on the cards again, Stokesley is a great place to switch off from the hustle and bustle or city life and escape in an exquisite environment. Sitting in a serene spot just a short drive from the high street, Roseberry View is a stunning 10 lodge retreat with all-encompassing views of the surrounding countryside.

Roseberry View enjoys a privileged position, lapped by the North York Moors and the glorious green spaces that surround Stokesley, perfect for family get-togethers and lazy weekends in pure luxury.

Complete with open plan living spaces, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and private hot tubs lowered into the stylish decking area, these lodges offer up the ultimate base for exploring Stokesley by day and unwinding in style by night. roseberryview.co.uk

STRETCH THOSE LEGS >> Cross the fields from Stokesley towards Great Ayton, following the River Leven as you take in stunning views across the lush landscape, and you’ll stumble across a country gem. Angrove Country Park is home to G & Tea House, serving homemade food from dusk to dawn.

Whether it’s a quick breakfast roll and a coffee mid-walk, or an indulgent lunch with a bottle of something fancy, there’s an option for all occasions. Plus, with private huts to book our with your bubble, it’s a great place for family celebrations with wow views and excellent, locally-sourced food and drink.

Continue towards Great Ayton, where you’ll be greeted with tons of pooch-friendly businesses to browse and walking trails around the village and up into the hills, or head back towards Stokesley where you can lap up the fields and finish with a sunset stroll along the Leven. Idyllic. angrove.co.uk/g-and-t

MAR/APR21

WHERE TO VISIT >> North York Moors The best way to explore Stokesley and its surrounding villages is by foot, and that’s simply because of the sheer beauty it offers. This lively market town is just a stone’s throw from the North York Moors and all it has to offer. A three mile stroll along the River Leven will bring you to Great Ayton, where you’ll find many more shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as routes to well known sites such as Roseberry Topping and Captain Cook’s Monument. In the other direction, you’ll find the stunning Cleveland Hills, towering over charming North Yorkshire villages, where you’ll find plenty of country pubs and brunch spots.

Our perfect day out in Stokesley includes brunch on the high street, followed by a hike up into the North York Moors, finishing with a refreshing tipple or two before picking up a bite to eat en route home. Nothing beats the glorious great outdoors - Yorkshire style! northyorkmoors.org.uk

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SOLD STC

RUNNYMEDE MANSION, DARRAS HALL - POA ORCHARD VALE, CORBRIDGE - £1,995,000

SOLD STC

SOLD

BLACKHOUSE FARM, DURHAM – £1.2 MILLION

RARE! FROM SANDERSON YOUNG CONTINUES TO PROVIDE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL RESIDENTIAL ESTATE AGENTS IN THE NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND. With our proven methods of sales success, we ensure our client’s properties not only look good when launched for sale but that we create serious buyer leads which result in

SALES SUCCESS! ON THESE FOUR PAGES WE SHOWCASE SOME OF THE RECENT SALES WE HAVE ENJOYED. EDGE HILL, DARRAS HALL - £1.5 MILLION

SOLD STC

STC

SOLD STC

RED HOUSE STOCKSFIELD - £2.95 MILLION

If you are looking for an agent who delivers what they promise, please call Duncan Young on

07715 419 795 or email duncan.young@sandersonyoung.co.uk | www.sandersonyoung.co.uk ADDERSTONE CRESCENT, JESMOND - POA

SOLD

SOLD STC

WILLOUGHBY HOUSE, MATFEN – £1.75 MILLION DARRAS ROAD, DARRAS HALL - £1.2 MILLION

SOLD

STAY IN STYLE

OG Container

The Barn

UK GETAWAY:

Kip & Nook

Uber cool container alert. Elysia Fryer gets lost in the North Yorkshire countryside during a stay at Kip & Nook’s luxury OG Container LOCATION >> To get that ‘worlds away’ feeling, you don’t have to venture all that far. We were delighted to discover this off-grid hideaway in the North Yorkshire countryside, near Darlington.

Hidden in the grounds of a farm, you’ll find the whimsical world that is Kip & Nook offering luxurious accommodation of all kinds. From the beautiful four bedroom Barn - perfect for a big family celebration, to the OG Container - a contemporary converted container surrounded by endless fields, and last, but certainly not least, the The Cabin - the ultimate, cosy off-grid cabin, there’s something for everyone.

Whichever accommodation you opt for, you’ll be surrounded by glorious countryside and you’ll feel a million miles away from the rush of daily life.

As we gradually ease our way out of lockdown restrictions, there’s no better place to switch off from the wider world and switch on those staycation vibes.

The beauty of this place is that there is no real sense of place. You’re moments away from Darlington, Richmond and road links to the wider North East region, but as soon as you wind around the country roads and find yourself on the farm track, you could be

62 luxe-magazine.co.uk

anywhere. It’s like nowhere else we’ve stayed, and it’s exactly what we all need right now.

STYLE >> This place has some serious style. Think industrial with a super chic, cosy twist. You’ll find cushions, blankets and fireside seating areas, surrounded by concrete-effect walls, slate grey kitchens and sci-fi skylights. The juxtaposition of the stripped back, Yorkshire countryside and what lies within the contemporary converted containers once again creates a ‘sense of place’ like nowhere else. It’s truly unique.

Lap up the natural beauty of the rolling countryside as you cosy up by the fire with a bottle of the good stuff. Watch the sunset over the container as you soak away your worries in the log burning hot tub, or gaze up at your bedroom roof window for an evening of stargazing under the moonlit sky.

HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS >> We’re staying in the OG Container - packing in everything you’d expect from an off-grid, five star stay, into a cool, contemporary cabin.

Whether you’re picking up a pizza to enjoy in the log burning hot tub, or you’re planning on cooking up a storm in the fully-fitted kitchen, this place has all the

The Barn

Think industrial style with a super chic, cosy twist. You’ll find cushions, blankets and fireside seating areas, surrounded by concrete-effect walls, slate grey kitchens and sci-fi skylights

MAR/APR21

STAY IN STYLE

OG Container

mod-cons you can imagine, and more.

Boasting one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen, dining and living area, the container effortlessly blends from one space to the other, and it’s incredibly well thought out.

Yes, it’s cosy, but with floor-to-ceiling windows, beautiful bifold doors and bedroom skylights everywhere you turn, the space is endless. You’ll find no blinds here, just you and the natural world around you.

The North Yorkshire wildlife is your neighbour.

A sunny terrace surrounds the cabin, perfect for barbecuing in the warmer months and toasting marshmallows around the fire pit on those cooler evenings. If you start to feel that northern chill, you can hop in the environmentally-friendly log burning hot tub as you watch the sun set in the distance.

Curl up and unwind in the comfy king size bed under the stars and let the sunlight naturally wake you from your slumber.

This is the ultimate couples getaway, with everything you need to truly switch off in style. The cabin is dog friendly too, so you don’t need to worrying about leaving your furry friend at home.

floor-to-ceiling window offering views across the fields and a roof light offering the ultimate stargazing experience from the comfort of bed.

You get that feeling of being out in nature, but with no compromise on the luxury.

Complete with heating, lighting and all the soft furnishings to ensure you’re as snug as can be as you drift off, you’re sure to get a good night’s sleep at the OG.

LAY YOUR HEAD >>

DO THIS >>

This has to be one of the most creative bedrooms we’ve seen. A king size bed is perfectly packed into a cosy space with a

This might be a remote location, but the world is your oyster when it comes to exploring the beauty that surrounds you

FOOD AND DRINK >> Whether it’s a summer barbecue on the decking area, or a home-cooked threecourse feast indoors, you’ll find everything you need to ensure you eat like kings and queens during your container stay.

We opt for a pizza by the firepit, followed by sweet treats by the fire and a bacon butty on the terrace as the sun wakes up the natural beauty surrounding us.

Nearby restaurants for takeout treats, or meals out when the time is right, include Middleton Lodge Estate’s Coach House and Forge, Salt in Darlington, Stable Hearth in Darlington, The Fox Hole at Piercebridge, James Close’s Raby Hunt and The Devonport.

OG Container

MAR/APR21

The Barn

and the wider region.

Walkers will find endless strolls through the farmland, woodlands and along the riverbanks; fitness-fanatics can work up a sweat at the on-site gym; and culture vultures can find world class exhibitions at the Bowes Museum.

All of that, plus plenty of hikes just a short drive away (Low Force Waterfall, Easby Abbey and Billy Bank Woods), and days out at the likes of Raby Castle and Thorp Perrow.

The K&N team is on hand before and during

your stay to ensure you get the best of the area, whether that’s simply sitting back and taking in the beauty on your doorstep, or getting out and exploring a little further afield.

For us, our OG getaway is about putting our feet up and enjoying the countryside from the comfort of our cabin. Endless sunsets, stargazing and sunrise wake-upcalls. It’s the little things in life. A true luxe staycation. kipandnook.com

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LUXE HOMES

HOT PROPERTY

Creative pair, Chris and Kirstin Hodgson have created a farm building with added interior flair - offered as a luxe holiday cottage through Beautiful Escapes.

THE LOWDOWN >> When Chris and Kirstin Hodgson saw an opportunity to develop a holiday accommodation business on their family farm on the edge of the Howardian Hills, rather than follow the traditional route of brick and pantile cottage, they took inspiration from the large scale, modern, steel-framed buildings around the farm and chose to develop something quite different.

The Grey Shed is a modern interpretation of an agricultural barn set in the beautiful rolling countryside of North Yorkshire. The wood and tin, semi-industrial exterior leads into a light-filled, dramatic double height space with polished concrete floors and white wood clad walls. A luxurious mix of Scandi and contemporary British design, with plenty of vintage touches thrown in, make this a truly unique holiday property

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for those with an eye for design.

Chris and Kirstin wanted The Grey Shed to pay homage to its agricultural heritage, but also offer guests a sumptuous, five-star boutique hotel experience. The result… a picture-perfect, modern hideaway for two under northern skies. A place to escape and relax in style.

THE TRANSFORMATION >> Chris and Kirstin chose to go down the self-build route with a simple steel frame and prefabricated SIP construction process to create a super-insulated, eco-build with polished concrete floors and underfloor heating throughout. The pair project managed the whole build themselves and learned quite a few lessons along the way!

The use of horizontal wood cladding throughout creates a contemporary interior

with textural interest and warmth - essential in a building with ceiling heights of over 6m in places.

Inspired by the simple, clean lines found in Scandinavian interiors, Kirstin has limited the colour palette to black, white and grey, reflecting the building’s exposed steel frame, painted wood cladding, bespoke steel barn doors and stunning polished concrete floor.

The industrial feel is softened by organic elements, such as raw wood, tactile linens and natural fibres, to help achieve a calm and relaxed vibe throughout.

THE RESULT >> Many of the vintage pieces featured in The Grey Shed were picked up at European antiques fairs and brocantes, or sourced using Kirstin’s extensive list of specialist dealers.

Handmade and bespoke products, such as the corten steel signage and the beautiful, hand-dyed velvet cushions, were commissioned from artisan makers Kirstin has worked with during her career as a designer.

The Grey Shed also features bespoke designs from companies such as: DeVOL, Perrin & Rowe, Lusso, Loaf, Bertazzoni, Smeg, Neptune, Angelpoise, Jielde, Also Home, Shepherds of Sweden, Joyful Living, The Interiors Yard, Rose & Grey and The Wilde to name a few.

Guests particularly love the open-plan space, with its dramatic 6m high ceiling. The living area, with its oversized sofa, bespoke steel fire plinth and log store, stylish woodturner and iconic rattan swing chair, creates a super comfortable area to kick back and relax. Extra touches like the cocktail cabinet,

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LUXE HOMES

A luxurious mix of Scandi and contemporary British design, with plenty of vintage touches thrown in, make this a truly unique holiday property for those with an eye for design

Aesop toiletries - all adding to the feeling of ‘worlds away’ luxury. Even the practical boot/ utility room has been designed with a stylish sliding barn door, handmade tree branch coat hooks and a vintage grain sack topped boot bench.

The mezzanine bedroom with its super sized bed piled high with linen bedding, vintage roll top bath and extra large skylights, takes relaxation to a whole new level. The rural location of The Grey Shed and the resulting dark skies mean that drifting off under the stars is an everyday experience.

As much thought has gone into the property’s exterior. A gabion lined, wild flower filled sun terrace with fire pit and American porch swing, leads to a meadow with additional seating - all with views of the rolling countryside beyond.

ABOUT THE DESIGNERS >> Bang and Olufsen record player complete with house vinyl collection, make for an incredibly relaxing five-star experience.

The bespoke dining table, made from recycled scaffold boards, with its low hung factory lights, adds further drama to the open space and the fully-equipped, beautifully designed DeVOL kitchen makes holiday cooking anything but a chore.

Off the open-plan area, you’ll find the stunning bathroom, with its handcrafted micro-cement walls, black framed walk-in shower, rustic Hungarian basin table and

Chris and Kirstin are now turning their attention to the renovation of their farmhouse. New projects are also on the cards for designer Kirstin, with another holiday let project due to start this year this time in the wilds of the Scottish Hebridean island of North Uist, as well as a number of more local client projects. beautifulescapes.co.uk/property/the-greyshed You can follow The Grey Shed on Instagram at: @thegreyshedco

Many of the vintage pieces featured in The Grey Shed were picked up at European antiques fairs and brocantes, or sourced using Kirstin’s extensive list of specialist dealers

Complete design, supply and installation of the highest quality, customised wood burning stoves and inserts. Most fires are also available for gas.

We stock: • Wood burning and gas stoves from luxury Scandinavian brand Rais.Multi-fuel • Gas and electric stoves from the UK's largest stove and fireplace supplier Gazco and Stovax • A selection of high-end outdoor heaters and BBQs

Showroom opening times: Tuesday to Friday 9am-5pm Saturday 10am-1pm

50A Racecourse Road Gallowfields Trading Estate Richmond North Yorkshire DL10 4TG T: 01748 517171 E: castleviewfireplaces@gmail.com W: www.castleviewfireplaces.com

MAR/APR21

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EYE FOR DESIGN

HOME WITH HEART

with Kerry Lockwood, interior stylist, blogger and content creator The garden is calling. Time to transform our outdoor space to create an enchanting new room in our homes as the days get longer and the nights get brighter.

My space Spring is one of my favourite seasons. The days get longer and brighter and colour starts to fill the garden. We’re hoping to plan a little staycation for the summer, but we’ll most likely be spending more time in the garden this year so over the next few weeks I’m going to start preparing it for warmer days. I like to keep it fairly simple and low maintenance. I like to add pops of colour by filling planters with flowers like hydrangeas and rhododendrons. I stored the furniture away in the garage so I’m looking forward to getting it back out and bringing the garden to life again. Outdoor rugs are a great way to make the garden feel like an extension of your home.

Try this Whether you have a big or a small garden, lighting is so transformative. I like to hang festoon lights across our outside space and have lots of solar powered lanterns scattered along paths and hung from trees or branches, they’re so pretty at night and create an enchanting atmosphere where you will happily while away the hours as the evenings get warmer. Search ‘festoon lights’ online at Cox & Cox. coxandcox.co.uk

Question time

Q: How do you still find motivation to decorate a rented house, knowing that you are limited in what you can do?

A: Just by knowing how transformative the end result is and feeling happy when I turn the key in the door.

Also, knowing that we were renting long term due to our circumstances and that our landlord is happy for us to stay as long as we need to, makes a huge difference. Often a tin of paint and maybe a new inexpensive pair of curtains can totally change the space. You can read more rental tips on my blog: kerrylockwoodindetail.co.uk.

If you’d like me to answer your interior-related questions in the next issue, please post them on Instagram, make sure you tag me @kerrylockwood and use the hashtag #KerryxLuxemag You can read more about Kerry and her home at kerrylockwoodindetail.co.uk

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Best buy I am obsessed with scented candles; they really enliven a room and I find after a busy day they lift my mood instantly. One of my favorites right now is by a North East brand, Kohji. A scent to relax, it gives off a gorgeous, delicate aroma with sandalwood and cracked black pepper which leaves the whole house smelling amazing. I also love the warm glow from the amber jars. They would make the perfect Mother’s Day gift. kohjicandles.com

MAR/APR21

EXCLUSIVE BUT AFFORDABLE

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FREE computer aided planning and design are available, and for larger projects, we offer installation support. We are confident you'll achieve your dream living space. Plus FREE granite or Silestone worktops available on selected kitchen ranges. Up to 5 years INTEREST FREE credit available on Bathrooms & Kitchens, subject to acceptance of finance. *

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HOME STYLE

Jonathan Adler Baxter T-arm Chair, White Linen, £2,395, uk.jonathanadler.com Bedfolk The Linen & Cotton Throw, Rose, £99, bedfolk.com

Cottagecore >> Christopher Wray Farington Table Lamp, Small £175, large, £295, mindtheg.com

Atkin and Thyme Oscar Sideboard, £649, atkinandthyme.co.uk

Mindthegap Dakota Skirted Chair in Szekely Folk, £1,500, mindtheg.com

Mindthegap Delicate Bloom Lamp Shade with Chelsea Base, From £369, mindtheg.com

Interior Rustic style >>

We’re ‘luxing’ up our living spaces with four of the hottest interior trends for spring. From dreamy dried flowers and furniture with effortless, rustic style, to cute cottagecore accents and decor with global influence…

Sweetpea & Willow Tahiti Sculpture, Large, £180, sweetpeaandwillow.com

Around The House Furniture Rustic Concrete Vase, £98, thefindstore.co.uk

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The Grey Works Roman Numeral Antiquites Clock, £160, thegreyworks.com

THE FIND STORE Fairmont Mindi Wood Buffet Cabinet, £1,200, thefindstore.co.uk

MAR/APR21

HOME STYLE

Mindthegap Heritage Lamp Shade with Artisan Base, £386, mindtheg.com

Cotterell & Co Chinese Dragon Table Lamp with Carnaby Spice Shade, £280, cotterellandco.com

Mindthegap Heirloom Cushion, £136, mindtheg.com

Global influence >>

Jonathan Adler Tanzania Stripe Hand-woven Rug, From £1,095, uk.jonathanadler.com

Brink and Campman Arabiska Marakesh Moroccan Tassel Rug in Beige Black, from £499, therugseller.co.uk

AUDENZA Round Rattan Cabinet, £215, audenza.com

inspiration Dried flowers >>

Cox & Cox Dried Mustard Grass Bunch, £12.50, coxandcox.co.uk Rose & Grey Wild Dried Flower Bouquet, £22, roseandgrey.co.uk

MAR/APR21

Emma Shipley Lost World Filled Cushion (43cm x 43cm), Navy, £56, terrysfabrics.co.uk

5th Avenue Flowers Natural Pampas Grass, £17.50, 5af.com

Dowsing and Reynolds Tall Black Textured Vase with Dried Fluffy Reed Grass Bouquet, £58.99, dowsingandreynolds.com Rockett St George 20 Stems of Dried Mustard Pom Poms, £12, rockettstgeorge.co.uk

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EXPERT ADVICE

PICK OF THE CROP:

Choosing a school that’s right for your child

By Tony Jackson, Headmaster at Barnard Castle School

When the time comes, choosing a school for your child is one of the most challenging and important decisions you will have to make, and we do not underestimate the magnitude of such a judgement.

We place enormous emphasis on ensuring each and every pupil feels a sense of belonging at ‘Barney’; only then will they come close to maximising their potential.

It is important your child flourishes whilst at school, during these most important and

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formative years of their lives. At Barney, our students exceed their academic potential as a result of inspiring teaching, delivered in an easy, open and respectful environment at the heart of which are the caring relationships that exist between the teachers and students.

The achievements of Barney in recent times are as a direct consequence of the teachers and wider ancillary staff who spend every day inspiring, supporting and guiding our young people.

Whilst we are extremely proud of what our

students achieve academically, we also recognise the vital importance of preparing the next generation for an ever-changing and increasingly competitive and global marketplace.

As such, we pride ourselves on our co-curricular activities because it is in these environments that most life lessons are learned.

Beyond the traditional spheres of music, drama and sport, we currently offer more than 100 activities to our students, which include a bespoke ‘Mind, Body and Soul’ programme for Year 7 and 8 pupils.

We want Barnardians to be the types of people who light up a room when they enter

it. This requires confidence, resilience and compassion, all built up over a period of time, and in a variety of ways, both within and beyond the classroom.

Situated on the outskirts of historic market town Barnard Castle, we run an extensive transport service from across the North East to Barney. We also provide full or flexible boarding options in our friendly, welcoming boarding houses.

If you are interested in hearing more about what makes a Barney education so special, please get in touch with a member of our Admissions Team on 01833 696030 or email admissions@barneyschool.org.uk or visit barnardcastleschool.org.uk

MAR/APR21

TIME TO GROW

Little moments There’s never been a better time to go for gold...

I’ve always been fascinated by the 500-year-old Japanese concept of Kintsugi, which translated means ‘golden repair’.

When a piece of china such as a bowl or vase falls and breaks, it is fixed with gold to highlight the imperfections and ‘scars’ of the object. Instead of discarding it, it becomes more beautiful, resilient and unique. I think this is a wonderful metaphor for how we feel right now. Many things in our lives have been shattered and devastated, but that doesn’t mean that something remarkable can’t come out of the experience.

We know that the last 12 months have been challenging to say the least. We weren’t expecting the events and we certainly weren’t prepared for them. When businesses ceased trading, schools closed to the masses and we were no longer free to visit family and friends, for most of us, our world stopped. During the first lockdown I read lots of articles specifically about the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children.

They asked questions like ‘how will they cope?’, ‘how will they catch up?’ and ‘how damaged will future generations be because of the pandemic?’. The fear and anxiety naturally started to set in for many parents worried about their families.

But I then started doing more in-depth research. Many of the wonderful children who I work with have suffered trauma in one way or another; it could be the devastating death of a parent, witnessing abuse, suffering from anxiety or depression; but for the majority of these children, the one common attribute they share, is their

Corrina Atkinson Photography

resilience. Children are astonishingly adaptive and resilient. In fact, the human capacity for resilience is quite remarkable.

For many people, the pandemic has been devastating; losing loved ones, losing secure income or losing their mental or physical health. And I’m certain that these people would have preferred to have never suffered these losses, but science suggests that rather than suffering from PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the majority of people will actually experience Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG). In 2004, clinical psychologist George Bonanno coined this term based on his reviews of a multitude of trauma studies. Humans, and especially children, are wired to survive even in difficult circumstances. We have the ability to thrive. Isn’t that amazing? Bonanno discovered that after experiencing a traumatic event, most people attain clarity on what is important to them. They have a greater appreciation of life and of close relationships, which usually become stronger. They have increased compassion and goodwill. They start to identify their personal strengths and focus on new possibilities or a new purpose in life.

Research also shows that people can experience growth in areas such as creativity and spirituality.

This research just reinforced everything I know about children. They have ‘bouncebackability.’ If you’re encouraged to turn this negative experience into a positive one, there are ways in which you can support your children in building their resilience muscle. One of the best ways to do it is by reflecting back and seeing how

Nadia McSheffrey is founder of The Tranquil Treehouse. Nadia works with parents to help them be the parent they want to be and find tranquility in their family lives.

She also works with children and teachers to support their own emotional wellbeing.

For more information and daily parenting support, follow her at: thetranquiltreehouse. com and on Facebook and Instagram @tranquiltreehouse

far you’ve come as a family over the past year. Think about how you coped. How did you spend your time? Did you start exercising together? Did you get a family pet? Did you volunteer? Did you bake banana bread or rekindle your love of jigsaws? If you talk to your children about the positive memories, they will focus on the good to come out of the pandemic.

You can also discuss the coping skills you all developed, such as empathy, humour and compassion. This discussion will help your children internalise them. They will begin to understand that you can go through challenging times as a family, but you have ways of overcoming them, becoming more

connected and stronger than ever. They will know that they have the internal resources to push through and persevere. For each family this will be different and that’s the beauty of it. We will all grow in different ways and each person in your family will have their own strengths.

If you want to take it one step further, you can have an awards ceremony for your family and celebrate all of your accomplishments, such as Grandad learning how to use Zoom, Ben tying his shoe-laces for the first time and Mum doing the ‘Couch to 5K.’ This is a great way to celebrate personal and collective growth as a family.

Another way of teaching resilience is through gratitude. When we focus on having gratitude for all of the positive experiences we have had and the wonderful people in our communities who have supported us, it helps us feel determined to grow from the situation. I love the Fred Rogers quote: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” The world is full of good people. Highlighting this to your children gives you all a brighter and more hopeful perspective on life moving forward.

By identifying the growth, we are teaching children life skills so that when they are next faced with a period of uncertainty, which will inevitably happen, they will be able to rely on the lessons this emotional experience has taught them.

So if you feel like the past year has left cracks and scars in your family unit, just like the art of Kintsugi, remember to patch them with the wonderful golden memories of resilience, connection and togetherness.

Nadia x

PREP | SENIOR | SIXTH FORM

A leading independent day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 4-18, set amid stunning countryside in Northern England

Throughout these unprecedented, challenging times, ‘Barney’ has led the way with an innovative, proactive approach, combining academic study with high quality pastoral care and a diverse co-curricular offering.

For further information about Barnard Castle School and what makes a Barney education so special, contact a member of our Admissions Team on 01833 696030 or admissions@barneyschool.org.uk @BarnardCastleSchool

@barnardcastleschool

@barney_school

Barnard Castle School | Co Durham DL12 8UN | www.barnardcastleschool.org.uk

MAR/APR21

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SOMETHING NEW

Healthy habits for happy children We’ve got sight of the light at the end of the tunnel, and as our little ones return to school, it’s important that we balance out their routine without overwhelming them Many children are great at adapting to change. However, for some, change in routine can be scary, overwhelming and at times, it can cause anxiety.

Over the past year, our daily routines have been turned upside down many times and while us adults have felt the impact of these frequent changes, it’s important to remember that so have our children.

Switching from school to home learning and back again, paired with the lack of

extracurricular activities and social events, it’s fair to say there’s been a lack of structure in our kids’ lives, and we all need structure and routine to thrive.

The return of school brings doubts, fears and worries, but it also comes with routine, stability and structure. With that in mind, we’ve put together a helpful guide to help little ones to develop a new routine outside of teaching hours. There are long-lasting benefits to extracurricular activities and there’s never been a better time to try something new...

RUN IT OUT >> While some of our favourite activity centres are not yet available to attend at the moment, we recommend going back to basics as the weather picks up. You can’t beat lacing up your running shoes and heading for the great outdoors. Download the NHS’s Couch to 5k app and challenge your little one to a feel-good nine week programme.

Going for a run comes with many health benefits and is a great way to get the heart pumping and the body moving, but don’t forget to stay hydrated. The Classic 27oz stainless steel water bottle from Klean Kanteen is a favourite of ours, designed for kids and adults with easy hydration in mind. £19.95, kleankanteen.com

TAKE UP SURFING >> Warmer days are in sight and with sciencebacked evidence on the ocean’s wellbeing benefits, first up on our extracurricular activity list is surfing. This fun, energetic and mindful activity is a great way for kids to get stuck into something outside of school. Youngsters can learn to ride the waves in a fun and safe environment thanks to many classes and surf schools in the local area. And with cool kit such as Zennor Hammam Towel from Ebb Flow Cornwall, wrapping up warm after a fun hour of open-water activity has never been so easy. ebbflowcornwall.co.uk

GIVE YOGA A TRY >> A happy body equals a happy mind.

Rolling out the yoga mat, stretching the body and relaxing the mind provides many benefits both mentally and physically for adults and children alike. Make this an activity for the whole family with a ton of virtual classes available online for you to try. Yoga and meditation can help to ease the stresses of everyday life. It can improve body awareness, self-control, flexibility, clarity and coordination.

Investing in a good quality yoga mat is essential before starting your journey into yoga and we recommend this Tropic Pro Rectangular Mat by Form. £64, theform.co.uk

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GO FOR A BIKE RIDE >> As kids, many of us will remember popping on our safety gear and heading out on a family bike ride.

Whether it’s daily or weekly, incorporating fun and energetic activities into your routine gives children something to look forward to outside of the home and the classroom. Turning something as simple as a family bike ride into a structured routine provides stability, LEARN A NEW SKILL >> physical and mental health benefits, and something Calling all budding musicians. Take the first that can remain a constant - regardless of lockdown steps to learning to play the guitar with this dilemmas. The best part? Building a new wardrobe of lovely wooden guitar from Bobby Rabbit. At super cool cycling kit. We love these quirky helmets 53cm long, it is lightweight and small enough from Hello Baby Direct. for little hands to hold, while being solid Unicorn deluxe helmet, £29.95 Scootersaurus 3D enough to withstand drops, knocks and the Deluxe Helmet, £34.95 hellobabydirect.com daily frustrations of learning how to play a musical instrument. Not only does learning to play the guitar develop self-confidence, sharpen concentration skills and increase memory capacity, it also aids in a child’s development. Playing an instrument and reading music requires a wide variety of skills, all of which are beneficial to a child’s development and mental capacity. Listening to and playing a musical instrument can be a soothing and relaxing experience which in hand helps to reduce stress levels and ease anxiety. £25, bobbyrabbit.co.uk

MAR/APR21

AllGirl

An education means I learn without limits.

Register now for our Nursery, Junior and Senior School Virtual Open Visit at 4pm on Tuesday 16th March at newcastlehigh.gdst.net

The UTC movement and why it is a driving force for STEM subjects ABOUT THE UTC MOVEMENT University Technical Colleges (UTCs) are government-funded schools with a STEM focus.

They provide a unique and relevant approach to education which addresses the changing needs of students and employers in the 21st century. Established by companies and universities in areas of high demand for talent, UTCs provide sought after technical qualifications and benefit from industry standard equipment and specialist staff to provide students with the skills valued by employers.

UTC SOUTH DURHAM UTC South Durham was the first UTC in the North East region, opening its doors in September 2016, with a new specialist facility located on the Aycliffe Industrial Park. It’s a transitional space that helps bridge the gap between a school environment and the world of work. Business dress is the norm and students experience an environment that encourages problem-based learning.

With close links to industry, students at South Durham UTC have the benefit of working with over 150 companies to help them find the right career for them.

Founding sponsors at the UTC are the University of Sunderland, Hitachi Tanis in Newton Aycliffe and Gestamp Tallent. The UTC has strong support from all the local employers as well as growing support from the region’s Local MPs. During the pandemic, UTC South Durham students have helped support key workers, manufacturing and gifting face masks to those in the most need. Funding was raised by taking on challenges and that money is being used to help others in need.

The challenge going forward is being able to support the additional needs a STEM-based education demands. This is a cost not covered by the standard Department for Education funding. This requires support from industry and the UTC has been involved in establishing a charity which is directly aligned to STEM-based education. The North East Stem Foundation, along with industry partners and parents, are keen to make sure this facility grows from strength to strength. utcsouthdurham.org

“University Technical Colleges impress me because they are not just training the next generation of STEM professionals and developing a much-needed skills pipeline to the careers of the future, they are also offering their students the opportunity to make the important connection between what they learn in the classroom and how it relates to the real world.”

GAVIN WILLIAMSON SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION, UPON A VISIT TO UTC PLYMOUTH IN OCTOBER 2019

F RO M VIDEO LESSONS TO D R A M AT I C EXPRESSIONS

T H E R E’ S M O R E TO L I F E AT R G S

STILL ACCEPTING SIXTH FORM ENQUIRIES FOR SEPTEMBER 2021

Royal Grammar School Newcastle Next to Jesmond Metro Station www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk admissions@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk

GETTING AHEAD

Empowering girls to be leaders, trailblazers and worldshapers

Newcastle High School for Girls (NHSG) is a hive of confidence, diversity and success.

From just three years’ old, girls are encouraged to celebrate their individuality and be whatever - and whoever - they want to be Firmly established as the leading girls’ school in the North East, NHSG is on a mission to champion an all-girl education in the 21st century. An all-girl education provides the perfect foundation for infinite possibilities. In removing gendered roles, blasting stereotypes and providing a safe and supportive culture in which to take risks and learn creatively, NHSG pupils are empowered to take an equal place in the world - to be leaders, trailblazers and world shapers.

As specialists in girls’ education, NHSG tailors its teaching to the way girls learn best, and instils in them the conviction that there’s no limit to what they can achieve.

Under the guidance of Michael Tippett, who was appointed as Head in 2018, NHSG has seen a significant uplift in its examination results, winning it the award of The Sunday Times NE Independent Secondary School 2020. Alongside excellent teaching and learning, NHSG takes pastoral care and personal development equally as seriously.

The importance of equipping girls with the broader life skills and values that combine to make happy, healthy and fulfilling lives is a binding principle that runs throughout the school.

Within this empowering environment, girls are given the space to develop in their own confidence and sense of self, and ultimately follow their ambitions while at the same time supporting those around them characteristics that are truly coming to the fore when faced with the challenges of a pandemic. NHSG has, during these difficult times, been prepared for every eventuality moving to live remote teaching through its excellent Guided Home Learning programme during both lockdowns, and continuing to deliver an exciting education now that the pupils have returned to school. This has meant that all girls at NHSG have continued to learn and progress, whether at home or in school.

If your daughter loves to learn and you’d like to find out more about the exceptional education provided at NHSG, please get in touch by calling: 0191 201 6511 or visiting: newcastlehigh.gdst.net.

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Sleep easy Elysia Fryer chats to the ‘super nanny’ who believes a nourishing night-time routine is key to a happier, healthier childhood

Sleep...

Sleep is so important for your child’s development - physically, emotionally and cognitively. It aids the growth and recovery of cells and affects their happiness, moods and attention.

Ways to help your child gain a better night’s sleep: Artificial blue light suppresses the production of melatonin, which is the hormone responsible for making us feel sleepy.

Reducing blue light/screen time ideally two to three hours before bedtime will improve your child’s quality of sleep.

Avoid playing action-packed computer games close to bedtime as the thrill and action will increase the levels of adrenaline and body temperature, which can result in difficulty getting to sleep.

Avoid heavy meals and sugary foods close to bedtime. Eat regular meals throughout the day.

Cool their bedroom temperature to between 16-20°C. Encourage relaxation time with a bath, massage or breathing techniques.

Talking through any concerns or questions your child may have and be empathetic towards their fears, but most of all be a good listener so they can go to bed with a clear mind.

Adjust bedtimes and morning wake-ups over a week to accommodate set school hours and avoid long weekend lie–ins for older children.

Social interaction...

Many of our children will struggle with social interaction when the time comes and they are allowed to engage with friends again. Encouraging telephone conversations, meeting in the park and slowly getting back to our social lives will take time.

Don’t push your child, but allow them to engage with others in their own time. Don’t draw attention to them if they are shy or struggling to leave your side. Be patient and encourage by example.

As extracurricular activities start up again, we will feel a sense of pressure to attend all. Take time adapting to the new way of life after such a long break. Don’t feel your child needs to participate in everything they did prior to home studying. We may need to phase things out this coming year.

As the days get longer, the weather gets nicer and more freedom is allowed, all we want to do is provide a safe, secure and loving environment for our children to grow up in. Stay safe but enjoy catching up with your nearest and dearest. littlematters.co.uk

MAR/APR21

LUXE LOOKS NANUSHKA Rhys Brushed-Felt Jacket, £645, mrporter.com

COMME DES GARCÇONS PARFUMS Concrete Eau de Parfum, £120, brownsfashion.com

TOM FORD Private Blend Neroli Portofino Eau de Parfum, 250ml, £405, johnlewis.com

MAISON MARGIELA Springtime In A park Eau De Toilette, £99, endclothing.com

HEIMAT Mariner Roll Neck Virgin Wool Sweater £215, commonilke.co.uk

MAN KIT

Spring fling Matthew Thomas picks out statement styles springing into life this season…

MAISON KITSUNÉ Stone Wool Jumper, £190, harveynichols.com

STAN RAY Ball Cap Olive Sateen, £40, commonilke.co.uk

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Rantulow Orlato Pink Leather Sneakers, £565, harveynichols.com

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FILSON Nylon Dry Bag Backpack Green, £195, commonilke.co.uk

TOM FORD Brown Lionel Tortoiseshell Square Sunglasses, £330, brownsfashion.com

MAR/APR21

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Calling all hospitality businesses. Let us train you to breathe new life into your spring/summer social media strategy.

A social media training programme created with you in mind, our Spring Forward courses have been designed to help your business bounce back from COVID-19 with the social support you need.

So,whether you are looking for a way to make posting on social media easy, or the skills to design your very own digital menu, our training team is here to help you spring ahead of your competition with these exclusive new courses.

“ TRAINING DATES Curating Social Content Monday 19 April Tactical selling on social Friday 23 April Design like a pro with Canva Monday 26 April Making social work for you Friday 30 April Each virtual course will last for 3 hours and everyone taking part will be provided with a copy of the session recording.

For more information get in touch by calling us on +44 (0) 191 500 7863 or email us at training@allies-group.com

Communicating with our staff and customers in a new, virtual way was quite the challenge for our team, but after joining a number of Allies Group training sessions with Amy, we were enthusiastic, invigorated and ready to take it on the task in hand. Amy’s sessions provided energy, humour – and most importantly, she spoke in a language we all understood. It can be intimidating when stepping into a ‘tech’ world you’re unfamiliar with, but the pace, positivity and patience involved in these training sessions meant that we were able to take on new projects with confidence.

Terry Laybourne, 21 Hospitality Group

Courses available +vat from

£75

Accredited providers

PARTING SHOT

In bloom>> A sunny afternoon shooting spring crafts. Captured by Kevin Gibson at kgphotography.co.uk.

78 luxe-magazine.co.uk

MAR/APR21

The north east’s first in bespoke affordable interiors 10TH AVENUE WEST | TEAM VALLEY | NE11 0HL | 0191 491 3836 OPPOSITE RETAIL WORLD G R E ATLOOK . C O. U K

Charged up and Ready to go

Hyundai Ioniq 100kW Premium 38kWh 5dr Auto Electric Fully Electric | 193 Mile Range | Available on Limited Stock 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty Hyundai Roadside Assistance 10.25" Touchscreen Display 16" Alloy Wheels

Personal Contract Hire

£199 & £199 Initial Rental

35 Monthly Rentals

Based on 5,000* miles per annum

Hyundai Silverlink

Hyundai Peterlee

Hyundai Morpeth

0330 096 0866

0191 3573 580

0167 0601 006

Middle Engine Lane, Silverlink Business Park, Newcastle, Tyne & Wear, NE28 9NZ

3 Mill Hill, North West Industrial Estate, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 2HR

Coopies Lane, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 6JN

bristolstreet.co.uk/hyundai

CO2 results for Hyundai Ioniq 100kW 38KWh Premium 5dr Auto: CO2 Emissions 0g/km and up to 193 mile range. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load.

We act as credit brokers and we are not a lender. Finance is subject to status and finance company acceptance. We can introduce you to a limited number of lenders and their finance products.

We will typically receive a commission from the lender, as either a fixed fee or a fixed percentage on the amount you borrow. The commission we earn does not change by the type of finance, or the lender we introduce you to. A guarantee may be required. The finance rate will vary dependent of customer personal circumstances for in dealership purchases. Offer only available on limited stock. *Excess mileage charged at 9p per mile. Terms and conditions apply. Unless otherwise stated, metallic paint at extra cost. For full details please visit the dealership. Information and offer correct at time of going to print. Image for illustration purposes only. Bristol Street Motors Hyundai is a trading name of Bristol Street Fourth Investments Limited (Company registration number 00522856) which also trades as Bristol Street Motors Hyundai Silverlink, and of Bristol Street First Investments Limited (Company registration number 00251237) which also trades as Bristol Street Motors Hyundai Morpeth.

VAT Registration number 902737238. Registered office: Vertu House, Fifth Avenue Business Park, Team Valley, Gateshead, NE11 0XA.