Luxe issue 55 November December 2018

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ISSUE 55 NOV/DEC18

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www.luxe-magazine.co.uk ISSUE 55 NOV/DEC18

RYA N R I L EY, F O O D H ERO. Sparkl y f ro cks. MOUTH -WATERING MENU S. S TAC K i n g u p. G I F T GUID ES . Generat i o n agel es s . INS PIRING INTERIORS. Pa r ty p re p. W R I T E R S IN TH E KNOW. Cul t ure dat es. LUX E MOTORS. Social lif e . H I P H OT E L S . Fe st i ve t reat s gal o re. LUX E.

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WELCOME

contents 10>> Do This ISSUE 55 NOV/DEC18 No mistaking the subtle shimmer of festive gloss finding its way to your pages in this edition. We love sorting Christmas in October and we’re just itching to light our glorious seasonal candles here at Luxe HQ (health and safety permitting).

Not to mention, on the advice of our cool home styling expert Kate Rose, drying crateloads of orange slices before grabbing the spray paint and getting all crafty with garden-foraged twiggery. We’re trying to create a cheat’s guide, so be assured, there’s nothing too taxing.

As befits the season, there’s much talk of food. Celebratory food, it goes without saying; after all, Christmas is such a time of sharing, sociability and cork-popping.

Which makes a chat with our cover chap Ryan Riley all the more poignant.

He set up Life Kitchen to harness the power of taste for the good of cancer patients and has inspired thousands of people with his heartfelt initiative set up in memory of his mum.

We all know the feel-good pleasure of meals shared and memories made and we hope you get to experience both in the coming weeks.

We’ll be back in 2019.

Your culture fix

18>> STACK up Exploring the new hub

24>> Wow wicks Luxey festive candles

26>> Party time

imagine..

In the fashion groove

36>> Red alert Street style fashion

44>> Advent-ures Beauty calendars edit

48>> Ryan Riley

Eleanor O’Neill is the founder of ethical knitwear brand Studio 34 based in Newcastle.

Her luxe things in life: Reading Womankind Magazine.

Indulging in Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare.

Sipping on Syrah du Maroc ‘Tandem’ Alain Graillot et Thalvin... pricey but a real fave now autumn’s here!

Life Kitchen wonderboy

52>> Generation Ageless New challenges ahead

54>> Equestrian Horses in the frame

60>> Fresh air getaway Fellside fabulous B&B

70>> On the Ritz John Williams’ chef journey

76>> Home styling

Sending cheer your way - remember to stay tuned in those dark nights with us online at www.luxe-magazine.co.uk And join us every Thursday for Luxe Loves the Weekend www.luxe-magazine.co.uk/theweekend

Festive cheer with Kate Rose

82>> Malton spotlight In the foodie hotspot

88>> Twisted auto Four-wheeled wonders

94>> Social Diary

e r l a nTHE dLUXE ’ sTEAMP r e m i e r L o d g e R e t rRyan e Riley a tis fast becoming the Christopher March publisher chris@remembermedia.co.uk wonderboy of the food world with his Life Kitchen cooking initiatives

EDITORIAL

odge development situated ondirector the outskirts of Hexham just 5 miles fromwith cancer. Sunderlandfor people Kathryn Armstrong editorial kathryn@remembermedia.co.uk born Ryan has earned the support Jessica Laing jessica@remembermedia.co.uk Northumberland’s National Park. of Nigella, Hugh and Co as you can Elysia Agnew elysia@remembermedia.co.uk see in our cover article. nt will consist SALESof 33 pitches built to the highest quality with stunning views.

His luxe things in life? Hairspray, Lisa Anderson director lisa@remembermedia.co.uk on area ready to view now so that you can get the feel for what is in storeand oncooking for friends. travelling Debi Coldwell director debi@remembermedia.co.uk our fabulous award winning country park.

PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Gibson info@kgphotography.co.uk Nicky Rogerson info@kgphotography.co.uk DESIGN David Stubbs creative director dave@remembermedia.co.uk All ourKimberley Luxury Lodges with Rumble come kimberley@remembermedia.co.uk

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If youFees wishUntil to advertise with us please contact our sales team: FREE Pitch 2019 (£3,900) LisaDecking Anderson:inlisa@remembermedia.co.uk / 07734 560565 or O FREE uPVC Forest Green Debi Coldwell: debi@remembermedia.co.uk / 07910 918366 O FREE Siting & Connections O FREE 12 Months ‘Peace of Mind’ Warranty u will also benefit from the following: ped Gas Connection ephone Connection ning Views O

Jen Nelson, from Tea and a Toast inspires us with a festive feast.

Remember Media Ltd, e.volve Business Centre, Cygnet Way, Rainton Bridge South, DH4 5QY Her luxe things in life: Spending remembermedia.co.uk in aavailable coffee shop All contents copyright ©2018 RememberMedia Ltd. All rights reserved.

While every effort is madeholiday to ensure accuracy, A selection of new homes that hours we have onwatching request.the no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies, howsoever caused. No liability can be accepted for illustrations, world go by. photographs, artwork or advertising materials while in transmission or with the publisher or their agents. All information The excitement of arriving in a new is correct at time of going to print, October 2018. city or country, keen to explore.

Discovering a gorgeous recipe book, and cooking my way through it.

RY LODGES FROM

£185,000

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ounty Park l Lowgate l Hexham l Northumberland NE46 2NN Tel. 01434 60 90 30 l Email. info@heathergate.co.uk NOV/DEC18

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LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES A heat wave Cast your mind back to warmer days with the stunning Memory of Summer collection from Lapponia. Earrings, £470, necklace £1,205. Both 14ct yellow gold www.davidsonsthejewellers.co.uk

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NOV/DEC18

LUXE LIFE

LUXE PEOPLE >> Andrea and our children and our growing brood of grandchildren. Beyond them, colleagues at the football club and in our property business – and friends at Close House Golf Club.

LUXE PLACES >> For a weekend > I enjoy a trip to the Rennaissance Golf Club in East Lothian.

Beautiful coastal views, it’s next to Muirfield.

A long holiday > Barbados for some winter sun – on the west coast in a hotel or villa.

A treat > A city break. We recently went to Paris and watched the Ryder Cup with a few other couples.

GEOFF THOMPSON Geoff Thompson is a familiar face on the North East business scene who after ‘retiring’ has thrown his efforts into running South Shields FC and the many community projects associated with it. He is also involved in property development as a director of Stella Property Investments Originally from South Shields, he now lives in Corbridge with his wife Andrea.

LUXE RELAX >> Best food > I like Indian food and there are some good places to eat it in the North East, Best wine > I am at the stage in life where I know what I like. I’m a working class North East lad and I’m not going to claim I know a great deal about wine but I like a white Burgundy such as a Montrachet or if it’s red, a Bordeaux claret.

Best restaurant > Café 21 in Newcastle and recently enjoyed Hawksmoor in Edinburgh.

Perfect weekend > Golf with Andrea and friends then of to Mariner’s Park to see South Shields FC win, then dinner with friends.

Sunday is about a nice lunch – not cooked by me, with the family.

Downtime means > I am a bit of a car fanatic and am more than fortunate to have three classic cars – a 1961 DB4 Aston Martin, a 1965 DB6 Aston Martin and a 1962 Series 1 e-type Jaguar. I’d take one of them for a run out!

Best telly > Football, golf, news, current affairs and history. Don’t have a lot of concentration for box sets!

Best book > Biographies and history – and recently enjoyed The Power of Now by Ekhart Tolle. I’ve just got into the Audible app and enjoy listening to books.

Best sounds > Eclectic music tastes I’d call them. Punk to classical. I love that you can now have access in seconds to tunes you’ve not heard for 30 years. My last gig was the Rolling Stones in Edinburgh. A bucket list tick there – fantastic!

LUXE SHOP >> Best shopping city > Not a great fan of shopping and something of a creature of habit.

Favourite shop > Jules B. Luxe retail treat > A good wine or something from Jules B. Best buy > In terms of pleasure, a classic car. But the football club is a project for South Tyneside and a host of other things longer term.

LUXE PARTY >> A memorable night out > Would be with a small groups of friends. I’ve promised myself one day I’ll charter a flash yacht for a great party - not had time or budget yet!

Best dress > I am a jacket and jeans kind of person but I like the black tie thing for a big dinner. I’m lucky to still have good hair and teeth!

Dinner date > With Andrea in Paris at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city.

Or a dinner with all my sporting icons, not least Seve Ballesteros.

LUXE THING IN LIFE >> I’ve got to the age where I am far more reflective of what is important in life. We choose material things, but they are actually not that important and I genuinely mean that.

I try and make sure I conduct myself properly and treat people as I would like to be treated. Honesty, integrity being kind and in good health all matter.

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NOV/DEC18

Make someone you love smile this Christmas... ...with the perfect gift from Lucy Pittaway. From original art and limited edition prints to homeware, textiles, greetings cards and stationery, we’ve got something for everyone at Christmas!

‘Pig Tails’ & ‘Fatal Attraction’ - Open Edition Prints

2019 Calendar

2019 Diary

2019 Calendar

‘A Yorkshire Garden’ - Limited Edition Print

Visit one of our Galleries: Station Road, Brompton-on-Swale, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 7SN and 22-24 Finkle Street, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4QB or see our entire collection at lucypittaway.co.uk Follow us on

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01748 810 965 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

DO THIS

Stay in >> go out >> enjoy Slightly festive, definitely dramatic, wholeheartedly cultural and above all, packed with pleasure. A Luxe winter ‘what’s on’

13 NOVEMBER

Othello comes to Northern Stage following a critically acclaimed tour and London run. Richard Twyman’s exciting production is brought to the stage by English Touring Theatre in a co-production with Oxford Playhouse and Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory. www.northernstage.co.uk

NOVEMBER

The ‘magic of high up’ has arrived at Kielder with the opening of the striking new sculptural artwork commission, Plashetts Rising. The rock-scape has been designed and developed with an ornithologist to ensure it works as an eye-catching piece of design, as a look-out perch for ospreys and other birds to look for fish to catch and as a convenient resting place for all types of birdlife. www.kielderartandarchitecture.com

>> Tyne Pride at the end of the street, Wallsend. © Chris Killip

19 NOVEMBER A line-up of wonder women from the songwriting world, Woman to Woman is a collaboration between three of the UK’s most celebrated female performers, Judie Tzuke, Beverley Craven, and Julia Fordham. They will be taking to the stage together performing their classic hit singles and album tracks alongside a sensational band.

Hear much loved songs including Stay With Me Till Dawn, Promise Me, Where Does The time Go, Welcome to the Cruise, Holding On, Happy Ever After and many more, performed like never before.

The trio will also be appearing at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium in Yarm on 5 April 2019. www.seetickets.com

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NOVEMBER

Cilla The Musical is a spectacular and heart-warming musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed ITV mini-series by BAFTA award winner Jeff Pope. The story follows the extraordinary life of the teenage girl from Liverpool, Priscilla White, and her rocky, yet incredible rise to fame as Cilla Black. Featuring a musical score full of 60s classics, see it at Darlington Hippodrome. www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

25 NOVEMBER

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Bonkers bagpipers, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers bring bagpipes with attitude, drums with a Scottish accent and a show that carries its own health warning. The band’s achievements have reached incredible heights with their groundbreaking fusion of traditional Scottish music and rock/pop anthems which they proudly call “Bagrock”.

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers are a genuinely unique experience.

Catch them at Tyne Theatre, Newcastle. www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk

NOVEMBER

Harrogate Country Living Christmas Fair brings hundreds of artisan designers and makers along with regional food producers, all under one roof. A lively programme of talks, demonstrations and hands-on workshops and plenty of ideas for things to make, cakes to bake, talents to nurture and gifts to give in the Country Living Live Theatres. Enjoy a pit-stop at the many eateries or sip on something sparkly in the Drunken Duck Champagne Bar. At Harrogate Convention Centre. www.countrylivingfair.com

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UNTIL

23 DECEMBER

The work of photographer Chris Killip documenting the rise and fall of shipbuilding in the North East is running at the Laing Gallery, Newcastle. The exhibition draws on his huge archive and includes a panoramic photograph depicting the building of the Tyne Pride, one of the last super tankers built by Swan Hunter in Wallsend.

Killip’s typical black and white gritty style evokes a sense of raw and poignant energy of the mid-1970s, with ships under construction and shipyard workers streaming out of the gates at the end of shift. www.laingartgallery.org.uk

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NOVEMBER

Get the giggles with stand-up comic Lee Nelson who presents his Serious Joker show for one night only ar Darlington Hippodrome, following his 150 date smash-hit UK tour. www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

NOV/DEC18

ADVERTORIAL

Driving offences and the law We are all fiercely defensive of our driving licences and are quick to defend any suggestion that we have driven in a way that might be criticised, or even earn us penalty points. But national treasure David Beckham copped some flak recently when he successfully defended an allegation of speeding through Knightsbridge in his Bentley. He didn’t deny he was speeding. He simply pointed out (through the redoubtable Mr Loophole) that the police hadn’t notified him of the offence within the 14 days within which they are required to do so.

I’m not sure that criticism is justified – after all if the police want to prosecute those who break the rules, then they ought to ensure that they don’t do likewise. Similarly, if the equipment they use to catch offenders is inaccurate of inadequately maintained, then this again may prevent a motorist from being wrongly convicted. This applies to all sorts of driving offences and not just speeding.

Anyone at risk of prosecution is quite entitled to ask a specialised and experienced road traffic lawyer to apply a toothcomb of the finest conceivable mesh to the evidence in his or her case to see if the police case is made out. If it is not, then that evidence should be tested at a trial.

Take the relatively new offence of using a

hand held device while driving. It carries a minimum of 6 penalty points. Some police officers (and lawyers) don’t fully understand what does and does not constitute an offence. What if you are simply reading a text which has arrived on your phone when it has been safely docked in your windscreen holder? What if you are holding it in an automatic vehicle but simply using it as a sat-nav? Does it make any difference if you downloaded the map first and weren’t relying on the internet to produce images of the route map?

Well, the law is quite specific.

Regulation 110(4) defines a hand-held device as a device which performs an interactive communication function by transmitting and receiving data. Regulation 110(6)(c) provides a non-exhaustive list of “interactive communication functions” such as: sending or receiving oral or written messages, sending or receiving facsimile documents, sending or receiving still or moving images, and providing access to the internet.

So, anything involving communication or data is an offence if the device is hand held at any stage of the process. Sending a picture, 6 points. Taking a picture, not an offence under these regulations. Comedian Jimmy Carr had the last laugh (again with the help of Mr Loophole) after his conviction was set aside when he satisfied that court he was using his phone as a dictating machine = not interactive – not an offence.

BUT, any experienced road traffic lawyer will ALWAYS stress that the law requires all drivers must ensure that they are never distracted and must always be in full control of their vehicles at all times under Section 41(D)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

More and more people and their families depend upon the breadwinner’s ability to drive. There are increasingly more regulatory offences and a huge increase in fixed and covert speed cameras. The number of drivers who are being brought before the courts is increasing sharply and should always take specialist advice before deciding how to respond.

After all, the penalties for most driving offences are severe and involve the imposition of penalty points. They remain on the licence for 3 years and if you accumulate 12 or more within that time, you will be disqualified from driving for a minimum period of three years, unless you can establish (and the onus is on you) that this would cause you (or others) “exceptional hardship” and nothing else than exceptional hardship will do.

Magistrates and district judges are becoming much more sceptical when it comes to exceptional hardship and the key to a successful outcome lies in the most careful preparation and presentation of your case. Always take advice from a specialist who is experienced in this highly specialised field.

Jonathan Dunkley is a consultant at Major Family Law, the Divorce and Family Law Specialists, 12 West Road, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne T: 01661 82 45 82 www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk Twitter: @majorfamilylaw

Specialist divorce and family lawyers 01661 82 45 82 enquiries@majorfamilylaw.co.uk www.majorfamilylaw.co.uk

Along with promoting an innovative, progressive workforce who are skilled in all aspects of teaching and learning, at the Galileo Multi Academy Trust, we are committed to creating a loyal workforce who are proud to be part of the Galileo family.

SUPPLIERS OF UNIQUE & STYLISH FITTINGS

Galileo will ensure that staff are inspired and bringing about the best outcomes for the children in our area.

The Galileo family has a culture that promotes open communication, fairness, teamwork, camaraderie and a family atmosphere all of which will enable the children in our Trust to excel.

We want our workplaces to be somewhere we look forward to coming to every day, where healthy lifestyle choices are encouraged and where everyone feels supported but also to have some fun along the way.

As Director of HR for the Trust, I am passionate about building and promoting links with business leaders in the Tees Valley, all of whom have so much to offer the young people in our area and our children will benefit by taking guidance and inspiration from them.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.GALILEOTRUST.CO.UK

VISIT OUR STUNNING SHOWROOM LOCATED ON 63 - 65 HIGH STREET | GOSFORTH | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE3 4AA TEL: 0191 285 3671

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DO THIS

UNTIL APRIL

DECEMBER Castle Howard comes to life with the Twelve Days of Christmas installations, bringing to life the characters of the much-loved Christmas carol but also referencing the original 12 Day holiday which inspired it. Throughout December. www.castlehoward.co.uk

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DECEMBER

Folk-meets-techno specialists, Lau, bring new music written in Shetland to Sage, showcasing the continuation of Lau’s experimental approach to folk music.

Among the new songs is Scapa Flow 1919, written for the BBC Radio Ballads series around the experience of the stranded German sailors leading up to the scuttling of the Grand Fleet at the end of WW1. www.sagegateshead.com

See magical art installations transform Woodhorn Museum in Ashington this winter.

The Coal Forest art trail is inspired by the Coal Forests of the carboniferous period and the complex human relationship with coal and the environment; past, present and future.

A six-month events programme will be themed around the changing seasons; Let Go (autumn), Glow (winter) and Grow (Spring).

Glow in the winter sees a very special guest arrive at Woodhorn Museum. From Friday 7 - Monday 24 December Father Christmas will be reading some classic festive stories, including ‘The Snowman’ and ‘The Polar Express’. The popular winter market returns, as does the WonderIce Rink in Woodhorn’s Pit Yard. www.museumsnorthumberland.org.uk

>> © Visit England, Andy Tryner

DECEMBER York’s St Nicholas Fair 2018 captures the Christmas spirit with over 100 traditional style chalets with flashing christmas lights and specialised crafts that can be the highlight of the Christmas holidays. www.visityork.org

>> Love Not Gold, 2009

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UNTIL FEB 2019

DECEMBER

The York Minster Choir will be joined by internationally renowned soloists for a special performance of Handel’s Messiah in the beautiful setting of York Minster’s Nave.

The famous work was first performed in Dublin in 1742 and has since become one of the best-known and most popular English oratorios.

An atmospheric way to celebrate Christmas through this moving and poignant choral performance. www.yorkminster.org

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Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA)’s autumn season presents artists who have dedicated their artistic lives to their cause. Cumbrian folk art, feminist Black Arts activism and LGBTQIA rights shape two solo shows and one group exhibition. Chila Kumari Singh Burman is a British Asian artist who makes prints, sculptures and films that span gender, class and ethnicity in the construction of identity. Making, A Life is an exhibition of the work of the Cumbrian Folk artist Peter Hodgson and collaborators.

It includes pieces in diverse materials including ceramics, leather, horn, textiles, wood, print-making, writing and film. The Middlesbrough Quilt will also be shown. The hand-made quilt has been crafted over many months by Cloth Club, a constituent group who meet to learn and share skills in textiles.

Cibachrome print ©Chila Kumari Singh Burman www.visitmima.com

NOV/DEC18

ADVERTORIAL

Financial wellbeing You exercise to keep your body in shape and feel good, read books to develop your knowledge and work hard to progress your career. But what measures do you take to ensure your financial wellbeing?

A huge part of feeling satisfied and happy is achieving a balance between several areas of your life, with common themes for accomplishing this being connection, generosity, fun, movement and personal achievement.

But there is something which can make attaining these things a little easier and that is being able to pursue your passions and interests without being constrained by money. Financial wellbeing can give you the freedom to buy the things you want to, spend your time how you wish and bring peace of mind that if the unexpected happens, you’ve got protection in place to be able to make it through.

could make a huge difference to your life.

It could be something as simple as making sure you’re receiving a reasonable return on any savings or that your pension will bring you the lifestyle you’d like in your later years. What’s more, having a plan in place, and someone to hold you to it, means you’re much more likely to achieve your goals because you have a clear view of the ‘bigger picture’. It also helps in fine-tuning any smaller financial decisions to support you in getting where you’d like to be. The process is straightforward, starting with discussing your aspirations and current circumstances. Then we’ll put a plan in place to help you reach your own financial wellbeing.

WELLBEING - THE STATE OF BEING COMFORTABLE, HEALTHY OR HAPPY

To start your own journey visit www.vintage-fp.com or email support@vintage-fp.com

You don’t need large sums of money to approach a Financial Planner and doing so

Vintage are Chartered Financial Planners providing bespoke financial advice to individuals and business owners using traditional values. We can help with pensions and retirement planning, investments, tax planning, mortgages and insurance. The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you pay in. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.

Every Kitchen Deserves the Very Best Appliances …

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1931 throughout North East of England and North Yorkshire. provide bestbest service, Our expert teamWe can offer the service and unbiased advice on Range unbiased advice, competitive pricing and Cookers, Refrigeration, in-store offers on RangeExtraction Cookers, systems and Cookware to help you find the best Refrigeration, Extraction systems and appliances for your kitchen. Our ShowCookware. room in Gateshead has a vast display of models from brands such as AGA Our Showroom in Gateshead has ,aESSE, vast Everhot, Lacanche, Steel, Rangemaster, display of models from brands such as Wolf & SubZero and KitchenAid plus AGA , ESSE, Everhot, Lacanche, Steel, many more.

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DO THIS

10 MARCH Great friends Vonda Shepard, the musical star of Ally McBeal, and Sharon Corr, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and member of The Corrs, join forces at Sage, Gateshead.

This not-to-be-missed show will feature songs from their solo catalogues, alongside some of the most memorable songs they have become so closely associated with including Tell Him, Dreams, Maryland, Radio, I Only Want To Be With You, Baby Don’t You Break My Heart Slow, Take A Minute, Walk Away Rene, We Could Be Lovers and So Young. www.sagegateshead.com

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FEBRUARY

In a coup for Yarm’s Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Sir Michael Parkinson will be visiting for a night of reflective and celebratory entertainment. A true broadcasting legend and certified national treasure, Sir Michael will be giving an informative yet entertaining view of how he became one of the most familiar faces in television. www.thepaaonline.org

FEBRUARY & MARCH North York Moors: Dark Skies Festivals 2019.

Calling all night owls. See the stunning dark skies of the dales from a different perspective. Back for the fourth time, North York Moors: Dark Skies Festivals 2019 features family-filled activities including lantern walks, night time cycles, plus astronomy talks. www.yorkshiredales.org.uk

MARCH

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We can’t recommend an evening with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox highly enough!

The Welcome To The Twenties 2.0 ushers in the upcoming Twenty-Twenties, with this witty, energetic and talented music collective.

Expect familiar songs with a twist and a nostalgic take on the style and craftsmanship that typified the music of past generations. www.sagegateshead.com

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MARCH

BAFTA nominated actor Joe McFadden hits Newcastle Theatre Royal in the thriller The House on Cold Hill.

The popular actor will play ‘Ollie Harcourt’, husband to Caro and father to Jade, whose new dream home quickly turns into the stuff of nightmares, as they begin to sense that they aren’t the only residents at Cold Hill in this stage chiller.

Joe McFadden is perhaps best known for playing series regular ‘Raf di Lucca’ in BBC1’s Holby City. He partnered with Katya Jones in BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing and captured the nation’s hearts, eventually winning the series to become the 2017 Strictly Champion. www.theatreroyal.co.uk

UNTIL

19

JANUARY

11

MARCH

Award-winning singer and songwriter KT Tunstall heads to Sage, Gateshead to coincide with her sixth studio album WAX. Recently KT has been awarded the Inspirational Artist gong at the Women In Music Awards. www.sagegateshead.com

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Works by award-winning illustrator Laura Carlin explore the power of ceramics and storytelling, in a new exhibition at Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead.

Laura Carlin: Ceramics will include a mural comprising 650 earthenware tiles showing the history of London from dinosaurs to the present day. There will also be a ‘Noah’s Ark’ with 37 hand-built animals in 13 types of earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. www.shipleyartgallery.org.uk >> Laura Carlin at House of Illustration © Paul Grover

NOV/DEC18

ADVERTORIAL

31 MARCH

Our food chums, The Hairy Bikers, will be doing their cook-and-chat stuff at City Hall Newcastle as part of a national tour billed as, ‘an epic night of cooking and conversation’ – they’re pretty good at both so it should be a tasty night out. www.gigsandtours.com or VIP tickets at www.sjm-vip.com

The bigger picture Business owners inevitably spend a great deal of time focusing on the day-to-day management of their business.

While crucial, it is just as important to consider the wider picture and plan for the future once they have gone.

I am a solicitor specialising in Wills, Trusts, Estate Administration and Inheritance Tax Planning. Having originally trained in Teesside, following two years working at a Newcastle firm I am pleased to join Tees Valley’s largest law firm, Tilly Bailey & Irvine.

It is important that your will is drafted not in isolation, but in conjunction with your trusted business advisors to ensure that it harmonises with the wider succession planning. All too often, individuals have wills put in place that contradict the provisions of the business’ governing documents, such as Partnership Agreements and Shareholders’ Agreements. Conflicting provisions can open the door to expense, unwanted litigation and stress for all involved - even loved ones.

The tax implication of death also needs to be carefully planned. On death, each individual receives a “nil rate band”, or an allowance that is not taxed (or taxed at 0%).

This band is currently set at £325,000.

Once over this threshold, inheritance tax is payable at a rate of 40%. In addition to the standard nil rate band, the residence nil rate band may be available if you leave property to your descendants. Currently the allowance is £125,000, rising to £175,000 in the 2020/21 tax year.

Business owners can benefit from an additional tax relief on death called Business Property Relief (“BPR”). BPR is subject to a number of conditions, including that assets must have been held for at least two years. If applicable, it is available at a rate of either 50% or 100%, depending upon the structure of your business.

Through careful tax planning, business owners can seek to make use of this important relief, and in some circumstances make use of it twice, to reduce the value of their taxable estate.

Putting in place careful planning for both your business and personal affairs can lead to significant tax savings on death, and ensure that your wishes are carried out.

Tilly Bailey & Irvine’s well established Private Client team, which runs from each of the firm’s Hartlepool, Stockton, Barnard Castle and Wynyard branches, is 10-strong. I am based at the firm’s commercial office at Wynyard Business Park to enhance the Private Client offering to the firm’s business clients and, in particular, focus on tax planning for high net worth individuals. Call us on 01740 669248 to discuss matters.

These articles will be published through our website www.tbilaw.co.uk and social media platforms. If, however, you would like to speak to me, or one of my colleagues to find out more about the business services we offer, please contact me directly at jmorton@tbilaw.co.uk or via our Commercial Law office at Wynyard Business Park on 01740 669248.

Tilly Bailey & Irvine Law Firm, 12 Evolution, Wynyard Park, Wynyard TS22 5TB Tel: 01740 646000 www.tbilaw.co.uk Find us on Twitter

@tbilaw

T: 01740 646000 W: www.tbilaw.co.uk

GOOD STUFF

Sweet charity Doing good things in the North East, our charity round-up GOOD GIVING >>

BIG DAY OUT >> Ladies Who Rock is revving up for another fabulous fund-raising day at one of the region’s biggest, most bling events, happening this year on 9 November.

This year’s event will be at the Biscuit Factory where the region’s wonderful ladies (and a fair few chaps) hope to exceed the staggering £127,000 raised in just one day last year. At the helm of the event is Alison Morgan, MD of Portland Investments Ltd. Each year the event has increased the money raised for local chosen charities.

This year’s major sponsor, Deloitte LLP, has chosen Marie Curie Care. Second major sponsor, Berry’s The Jewellers, has chosen Willowburn Hospice and the LWR committee has chosen Heel & Toe charity.

The day always includes some fabulous money-can’t-buy prizes, and this year, among others, you can bid for an original guitar owned by Sir Paul McCartney.

This can be bid for on the day or any guests unable to attend the event can leave a bid by contacting email@ladieswhorock.co.uk See more lovely prizes at Facebook.com/LadiesWho Rock

GeNErosity Festival of Philanthropy and Giving is happening throughout November showcasing what philanthropy has done for the North East.

Places like Grey’s Monument in Newcastle, Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, and the Hospital of God at Greatham wouldn’t exist today if it hadn’t been for philanthropists giving their money and time to build a better future for communities in our region.

Some 50 events are planned reflecting the gifts of philanthropy.

Highlights include: Avison to Tickell: Musicians as Philanthropists for the North East, on November 23 at Kings Hall, Newcastle University. Celebrating the role of philanthropy in nurturing the music and culture of the North East, Kathryn Tickell brings to life the joy of giving to the arts, from her own tune dedicated to Catherine Cookson, to welcoming household names, to the stars of tomorrow.

See more of the 50 events at www.generosityfestival.com

MAJOR CHARITY BASH >> Major Family Law raised an impressive £5,465 with its fourth annual rounders tournament at The Falcons in September.

Organised by Joanne Major, the event she says, “is not just to have great fun with our colleagues but to raise awareness and funds for research into brain cancer. We carry out various fund raising initiatives throughout the year but this is our main event with over 250 folk from across the NE business making it a night to remember! We first started fundraising in the spring of 2015 and to date we have raised a total sum of £26,700.” www.justgiving.com/Joanne-Major1/ and www.justgiving.com/fundraising/majorchallenges.

All funds raised go towards The Brain Tumour Charity, to fund medical research into finding a cure for brain cancer.

ALL WHITE >>

SAYING THANKS >> Northumberland business woman Katrina Wanless has rallied the support of her customers and suppliers in her mission to give something back, following a breast cancer diagnosis last year.

Katrina completed her treatment for breast cancer earlier in 2018 and decided to do something for research into the disease.

The 43-year-old founded Northumbrian Gifts in 2004 and has gathered a host of prizes including golf days for four at Burgham Park Golf Club, bottles of gin and cases of beer.

Raffle tickets are £5 each and money raised will be split between Breast Cancer Now and Cancer Research UK. See www.justgiving. com/fundraising/northumbriangiftsraffle

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Fund-raising supremos Sergio and Emma Petrucci raised a staggering £24,328 at a dazzling Dubai-brunch-style White Party at Ramside Hall.

The money raised will go to the children’s heart unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital (CHUF), where the couple’s daughter Luna was treated.

Among guests was singer and Strictly contestant, Faye Tozer. To date Sergio and Emma have raised around £230,000 for CHUF.

SANDCASTLE SUCCESS >> BBC presenter, Anna Foster, was the host for this year’s Sandcastle Ball in September organised by the charity Children North East. The theme of the 2018 ball, at Newcastle’s Crowne Plaza hotel, was ‘Starstruck – Explore the Cosmos’. It was chosen to tie in with the charity’s Sandcastle Challenge which saw 1,600 school children building everything from sky rockets to whole solar systems on South Shields beach in July.

They worked with professionals from architect practices such as JDDK; construction companies like challenge sponsor, Galliford T, and ball sponsor, Robertson, as well as a host of other businesses from around the region.

The Sandcastle Challenge trophy was awarded to Tesco Bank who were deemed to have worked the most effectively with their partner school, Beaconhill, Cramlington.

Together the two events raised more than £23,500 for the long-established children’s charity which is working to ensure that all young people in our region grow up to be healthy and happy.

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10 things to do at

WHERE TO: Head for the old Odeon Cinema site on Pilgrim Street - moments away from Monument Metro station It seems Newcastle has gone shipping container crazy - but we’re not complaining. STACK is the latest go-to leisure, retail and foodie destination; a vibrant social hub with gritty urban edge, in the heart of the city. Whether you’re stopping by to fill your tums, shop ’til you drop, or mingle with mates over drinks, expect plenty of eco-friendly fun from a variety of the region’s top traders - in more than 50 containers. Not sure where to start? Jessica Laing reveals some must-do’s…

1. UNWIND AT… YOGA THERAPIES >> Whether you’re an experienced yogi or a stiff beginner, the folk at Yoga Therapies have a class for you. Run by a blissed-out husband and wife team from Whitburn, the new, cosy hide-out is a real escape within the walls at Stack - perfect for an after-work stretch session or a bit of weekend relaxation. There are tons of classes to check out, from Sunrise Yoga sessions to kick-start your day, energising Yin & Yoga classes and soothing meditation sessions, to strength-building Vinyasa classes and 30-minute Revive & Restore experiences, designed for busy people in need of a lunchtime breather. You can also shop wellbeing bits and bobs, including Ayurvedic supplements and handmade yoga clothing from Indonesia. Kids aged 5-12 are also welcome - take them along for gentle 45-minute sessions filled with yoga games, story-telling and relaxation exercises.

breathtaking coastline, its collection of castles, lighthouses and bridges. Pick some favourites and buy them in print form, or have them framed.

4. SIP VINO AT FOURTEEN DROPS >> If you love your wine, then Fourteen Drops is a mustvisit. Here, cool folk who have spent years in the industry sourcing the best bottles for big-name hotels and restaurants, showcase quality, artisan wines (including biodynamic) from all corners of the globe.

We love the try-before-you-buy vibes; call in, choose your favourites, then sip away in the tasting area alongside small, perfectly-paired plates of tempting nibbles. Bellies full of cheese and charcuterie, you can then head for the shop and buy your best-loved bottles straight from the shelf.

5. POP SOME BOTTLES AT… BEER BOX >> DO THIS: Beer Box source and sell the best beers in the world.

Enjoy 30 days of Created by two chaps from Whitley Bay (who love brewing unlimited access to Yoga beer and didn’t want to work proper jobs), the shop is Therapies for £30 - a great packed with the rare, weird and wonderful. Everything way to sample the range of from their own award-winning Black Storm range of classes on offer, find out locally-brewed ales, to innovative and out-there brewery what works for you, and 2. MUDDLE GIN AT… collaborations. Not only is their range expansive in meet the team. Pop in ENCHANTED GARDEN >> terms of tastes and preferences - with many vegan and for more info!

If gin’s your thing, then a trip to gluten free ales - the visual display of innovative packaging the Enchanted Garden bar wouldn’t and graphics is worth a visit on its own. Combine that with be a bad idea - the place stocks up 15% for students, NHS and the armed forces, and a loyalty to 40 different brands of the stuff. Head for the marquee discount for the devoted, and we see big things for this and under a canopy of twinkling fairy lights, vines and small space! blooms, pick your spirit, choose your tonic and garnish with whatever you fancy. Live entertainment brings the feel-good 6. PAMPER YOURSELF AT… THE CURE LAB >> vibes - everything from open mic nights to Disco Botanical Make your way to this trendy pop-up nail spa for speedy nights, filling the space with uplifting weekend tunes. mani/pedis and stress-busting massages. It’s the only salon in Newcastle to offer 100% vegan, cruelty-free and 3. GET ARTY AT… TIME FREEZER PHOTOGRAPHY >> eco-friendly nail treatments - and the results are remarkably Local photographer, Matt Hale, is showing off his talents good. Treat yourself to a quick 15-minute tidy-up in between at his new gallery and studio at STACK - and we couldn’t meetings, or settle in for the salon’s Signature “Dry” Mani/ be more thrilled. Have a mooch and discover his beautiful Pedi. Sit back and enjoy a 45-minute “waterless” nail work; superb limited edition shots of some of the North makeover that’s as kind to the planet as it is to your East’s best-loved landmarks and locations, including its paws. In need of a knead? Pimp up your mani/pedi with

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a 30-minute hand or foot rub, or enjoy a quick 10-minute shoulder and neck massage. Check out the salon’s moneysaving packages if you’re a mum-to-be or a bride.

7. GO PLANT-BASED AT… HUNGRY VEGAN >> If you think vegan grub stops at falafel and tofu, then think again! The folks at Hungry Vegan serve up a wide range of plant-based treats to enjoy, from freshly-made subs and salads, to pastries, pasties (try their ‘cheeze’ and onion creation), just-baked cookies, cupcakes and more. All 100% vegan, 100% of the time. A great lunchtime stop-off.

8. ENJOY A MEAT FEAST AT… CLUCK CLUCK MOO >> Cluck Cluck Moo was born at STACK - and the North East’s cool carnivores are loving their stuff! The concept is simple: take a seat, pick your meat, choose a side, settle on a sauce - and you’re done. There’s lots of good stuff on offer, though, so have patience! Pick from high-quality rump, sirloin, ribeye and tomahawk steak, spatchcock chicken, chicken ‘parmo’, or buttermilk fried chicken for a taste of the USA. Sides are super indulgent - but that’s all part of the allure. Go for the beef dripping fries, loaded creamy mash or the heavenly chorizo mac ’n’ cheese.

9. SHOP LOCAL AT… LONGSANDS CLOTHING CO >> Think of Longsands Clothing Co as the North East’s answer to the big California surf brands out there that we all know and love. From its spiritual home in Tynemouth, the brand has come a long way in the last few years; after market stall success came the first Longsands Clothing Co store, which opened its doors in Tynemouth village in 2014 and continues to attract tons of laid-back, flip-flop-wearing fashion-lovers. The second store at STACK offers city centre shoppers a taste of what the folk at the coast have been enjoying for years - high-quality, casual clothing for men, women and kids, lovingly-made with Northern soul! Shop t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, vests, bags and hats.

10. TASTE JAPAN AT… SUSHI ME ROLLIN’ >> From the kitchens of Aveika and Peace and Loaf, local chefs, Kurt Toulson, Simon Whitehead and Hugo Embleton-Black have joined forces to open a brand new venture, inspired by their passion for big, Asian-inspired flavours and ingredients.

Putting the ‘fun’ back into ‘fine dining’, the new sushi joint gives diners the chance to enjoy picture-perfect platters of freshly-rolled delights, showcasing the finest fish, seafood and veggies. www.stacknewcastle.com

NOV/DEC18

ADVERTORIAL

The best memories Often we care for Sally & Sarah clients for long periods of time and many members of the team can be involved.

Clients and their families are treated as friends so when there is a bereavement it affects us deeply.

Yes, it is our job to care but it is impossible not to be affected by the death of a client.

And, as with any bereavement, it is important to reflect on the death and remember the person who has died, in order to gain closure.

Emma Walker, who is the registered manager for Sally & Sarah, has put in place ‘Remember Me’ when we face a bereavement.

Staff who were part of their care are asked to take some formalised time together to remember the client – and we do this by using post-it notes to write our thoughts and memories about the client and these are put on a pretty memory board during the session and read out to the team.

It provides a great opportunity for the team to take some time to remember the person

they knew, their personality, their likes and dislikes – and good times they had. We grow close to clients and their loss can have an impact on us too. By taking part in Remember Me, staff can share their thoughts and gain closure after a loss.

Remember Me has proved a real benefit for staff and it is one of the things we are particularly proud of. Care is our business but we never forget that above all it is about people.

3 Innovation Court, Yarm, Road, Stockton TS18 3DA Offices open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00 01642 608070 hello@sallyandsarahcare.co.uk

BEAUTIFUL & STYLISH LIGHTING

The region’s largest lighting store with two floors of contemporary and traditional lighting

NOV/DEC18

01642 704104 Southside Retail Park, Portrack Lane, Stockton, TS18 2TA

www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

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LUXE LIFE

RICHARD ALLEN Richie Allen is head chef at The Orangery at Rockliffe Hall.

The Birmingham-born chef comes from a family of caterers and has been cooking for 26 years.

He’s currently working closely with Rockliffe Hall’s head gardener to bring the kitchen’s brand new walled garden to life for early 2019 and is also taking part in the Help for Heroes cooking competition.

Also on the ‘to do’ list is preparation for the first Rockliffe Festival of Food in February next year.

Richie is happily married and dad to two boys and a Staffie.

LUXE PEOPLE >> My wife and two boys. My team here at The Orangery. They’re diamonds.

LUXE PLACES >> For a weekend > Ynyshire Hall, Wales A long holiday > Malta A treat > New York LUXE RELAX >> Best food > Tapas in Barcelona Best wine > I’m not a fan of wine, although I do like the wines of the Alsace Favourite restaurant > Moor Hall, Aughton in Lancashire Perfect weekend > Scotland, in a log cabin with my family and my dog Downtime Means > Doing very little maybe fishing Best telly > The Walking Dead Best book > Anything by Dean Koontz Best sounds > Slaves, Foo Fighters, Gerry Cinnamon LUXE SHOP >> Best shopping city > Birmingham Favourite shop > The Club Shop at St Andrews Luxe retail treat > A nice coat Best buy > Trainers LUXE PARTY >> A memorable night out > Galvin at Windows top floor in Mayfair Perfect party > London late night bar with the wifey and a few mates Dinner date > Anywhere with my Mrs YOUR LUXE THING IN LIFE >> My road bike, I love it like a child. It gives me freedom.

See more on the Rockliffe Festival of Food at www.luxe-magazine.co.uk or www.rockliffehall.com

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NOV/DEC18

18ct gold ring, 0.72ct ruby with diamonds

12.96ct amethyst silver pendant with 18ct gold details

18ct gold Orbit stacking rings set with lilac sapphire and diamond

Celebrating 16 years of fine Diamond and coloured hand crafted, precious jewellery. gemstone specialists Marianne Saunders and Robert Pughe create beautiful ranges designer in Bespoke silver, goldprecious and platinum.

jewellery

Specialising in fine diamonds and andstones, Valuations rareRepairs coloured gem gorgeous pearls and Danish watches.

Members of Company of

Showcasing an extensive range Master Jewellers of British and European designers.

Platinum 0.70cts diamond ring

Silver and 9ct gold Seed Pod pendant

32 Hill Street, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5AA | 01434 633302 | www.saundersandpughe.com 32 Hill Street, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5AA | 01434 633302 | www.saundersandpughe.com

LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Beauty & the basin How tempting to linger over your important ablutions at this lovely Burlington curved washroom unit in dashing dark olive with a Minerva Carrara white basin.

RRP: ÂŁ3,048. Tecaz: ÂŁ2,286 www.tecaz.com

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NOV/DEC18

A W E A LT H O F E X P E RT I S E O N YO U R D O O R S T E P I specialise in providing face-to-face wealth management advice that is tailored to reflect individual circumstances. Placing you at the heart of everything I do, I am committed to building and sustaining long-term relationships based on trust, superior service and the quality of my initial and ongoing advice.

I can help you throughout your various life stages, providing a comprehensive range of financial solutions to address a multitude of needs and objectives. My particular areas of specialism include investment planning, protection and IHT planning, pension and retirement planning, including defined benefit schemes.

My experience is that everyone has their own personal concerns, responsibilities and ambition, and that the solutions that work for one simply would not work for another.

As a Chartered Financial Planner and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Insurers I am one of an elite group of professionals at the forefront of our profession.

I offer a no obligation review of your personal financial needs and circumstances. Please contact me for further information.

PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN FPFS Senior Partner Tel: 0191 548 2830 Email: pat.mclaughlin@sjpp.co.uk Web: www.patmclaughlin.co.uk The Partner 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 title ‘Partner’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

H2SJP29468 07/18

BREATHE EASY

1

A mix of white musk, fir balsam, eucalyptus and cedar, this crisp, sparkly scent reminds us of wintry walks in the snow and the unmistakable smell of freshly-cut Christmas trees.

SANDY BAY LONDON White Forest Candle, £35, www.sorellaonline.co.uk

2

Every year, Diptyque launches a new range of Christmassy candles, adorned with striking, festive designs. This year’s range, ‘The Legend of the North’, features spirits from imaginary folklore. There are three on offer, but our favourite, in red, smells like dessert: sweet, creamy almond and buttery tonka bean.

DIPTYQUE Amande Exquise Candle, £30, www.diptyqueparis.co.uk

Heaven scent Five of the best burners for the festive season…

4

Molton Brown is partying it up this Christmas with a brand new festive range, inspired by the scent of sweet, succulent plums, rich, dark rum and spiced saffron. Burn it during lively Christmas get togethers and glittering New Year parties.

MOLTON BROWN Muddled Plum Single Wick Candle, £42, www.moltonbrown.co.uk

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3

This year’s seasonal drop from Jo Malone smells like a crisp and frosty winter’s morning. Inspired by the scent of snow-covered snowdrops and forest-fresh moss, it’s a burner that brings the outside in. Clean, earthy and slightly sweet - totally unique.

JO MALONE White Moss & Snowdrop, £126, www.jomalone.co.uk

5

Nab yourself this festive gift box from Neom and treat your home to two Christmassy scents. With warm, spicy notes of mandarin, cinnamon and tonka bean, the brand’s Christmas Wish candle belongs in the living room on cold, snowy nights. Perfect Peace, meanwhile, infused with pine, myrrh and lime peel, is a fresh and uplifting pick for kitchens and bathrooms.

NEOM Limited Edition Scents of Christmas, £55, www.neomorganics.com

NOV/DEC18

GET GLAM

‘Tis the sparkle

Whether you’re attending intimate festive get-togethers or big, dazzling New Year parties, now’s the time to stand out in style. Show off in seasonal sequins, glam gowns and statement blazer-trouser combos

French Connection Basu Sparkle Tunic Dress, £160, Fenwick Newcastle Sea Earrings, £29, Tutti & Co Shoal Bangle, £49, Tutti & Co

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NOV/DEC18

GET GLAM

NOV/DEC18

www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

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GET GLAM

Jessica Dress, £850, Kate Fearnley Nurture Earrings, £29, Tutti & Co

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NOV/DEC18

ARIELLA

63 High Street Yarm TS15 9BH 016452 788088

18 Sanderson Arcade Morpeth NE61 1NS 01670 511333

Unit 61 White Rose Shopping Centre Leeds LS11 8LL 0113 2702272

Whittakers Yarm 63 High Street Yarm TS15 9BH 01642 788 088

Whittakers Morpeth 18 Sanderson Arcade Morpeth NE61 1NS 01670 511 333

GET GLAM

Mea Dress, £275, Kate Fearnley Raft Earrings, £29, Tutti & Co Shade Ring, £29, Tutti & Co Sand Ring, £29, Tutti & Co

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NOV/DEC18

GET GLAM

Luisa Cerano Fitted One Button Jacket, £495, Fenwick Newcastle Emporio Armani Hi-Rise Super Skinny Coated Jeans, £155, Fenwick Newcastle Bow Earrings, £29, Tutti & Co

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NOV/DEC18

GET GLAM

Photography

Kevin Gibson, www.kgphotography.co.uk

Makeup

Kate Pymm, www.facebook.com/katepymmmakeup

Hair

Joe Stoker, 07538787620 or search @JoeStokerHair on Facebook and @joestoker95 on Instagram

Model

Olivia Hamilton www.tyneteesmodels.co.uk

Stockists

Fenwick Newcastle, www.fenwick.co.uk/stores/Newcastle Jules B Jesmond, www.julesb.co.uk Tutti & Co, www.tuttiandco.com

Location

Charlton Hall Chathill, Northumberland, NE67 5DZ www.charltonhall.co.uk 01665579173 info@charltonhall.co.uk

Marella Pleat Front Jumpsuit, £365, Fenwick Newcastle Pier Earrings, £34, Tutti & Co Mast Bangle, £49, Tutti & Co Linear Ring, £29, Tutti & Co

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NOV/DEC18

Whittakers Yarm 63 High Street Yarm Stockton-On-Tees TS15 9BH 01642 788 088

Whittakers Morpeth 18 Sanderson Arcade Morpeth Northumberland NE61 1NS 01670 511 333

Whittakers White Rose Unit 61 White Rose Centre Leeds LS11 8LL 0113 270 2272

Whittakers Yarm 63 High Street Yarm Stockton-On-Tees TS15 9BH 01642 788 088

Whittakers Morpeth 18 Sanderson Arcade Morpeth Northumberland NE61 1NS 01670 511 333

Whittakers White Rose Unit 61 White Rose Centre Leeds LS11 8LL 0113 270 2272

GET THE SKINNY

SASSY AND SCARLETT

Is there a colour that screams the season more than upbeat, punchy red?

We think not. In the dour, long days day of winter, here’s to happy - with a splash of red - worn, appropriately enough, by a model called Scarlett featuring luxury cashmere from the latest Always Wear Red collection, homegrown on Tyneside. AWR is essentially a menswear brand but we all know that savvy women style-steal from their partner/ brother/friends’ wardrobe – think boyfriend jeans and then some. AWR’s founder Michael Owen wanted to reflect this ‘share-appeal’ with a shoot on High Bridge in the Newcastle city centre.

“I wanted to show how amazing the AWR collection looks on a woman in a real-world setting. So more women feel confident about wearing menswear. I’ve always thought it can look amazing.”

Everything in the AWR collection is limited edition, including a new collection of caps with unique woven silks beneath the peak.

AWR has also launched new pieces in the sought-after Bloodline leather accessories collection in time for Christmas. www.alwayswearred.com >> >> >> >> >> >> >>

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skinny-bandage-scarf-red £55 twisted-skinny-bandage-scarf £95 red-camo-light-scarf £190 red-camo-scarf £290 blood-flat-cap £140 blood-baker-boy £160 bloodline-qr-belt £275

NOV/DEC18

ADVERTORIAL

40 years of success at Yarm This year Yarm School is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

It has become a major educational success story in the North East since its foundation in 1978. Yarm School is one of the region’s top performing schools whose GCSE and A Level results are consistently the best in the area.

In the first year of linear A Levels, 20% of exams taken resulted in A* grades, 53% A* or A grades and more than three-quarters attained a B grade or better. Compared to the North East average, students at Yarm were 3 times more likely to achieve an A* at A level.

EMPLOYABILITY Our aim is simple: to provide our pupils with a wide range of opportunities to develop their personal skills and the confidence to move on to university and into the world of work.

The school believes strongly in the value of sport, music and drama, as well as academic achievement and offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities, all of which are nurtured by specialist teachers from Nursery through to Sixth Form.

The opportunities offered by Yarm School develop pupils’ interpersonal and leadership skills ready for today’s competitive employment market. From coding Apps at the Prep School to Sixth Form students taking a lead by organising lunchtime

lectures, all extra-curricular activities develop the ‘soft-skills’ sought by top employers.

A LEVEL INCREASED TEACHING TIME At a national level, the linear A Level system means grades are now awarded purely on the basis of examinations taken at the end of Year 13, which will assess content from the entire two year course.

In light of the changes to A Levels Yarm School took the decision to adapt its curriculum to provide increased contact time for each subject – by up to 20% more teaching per A Level subject.

This proactive decision has been one important factor contributing to this year’s fantastic results.

SIXTH FORM INFORMATION EVENING – TUESDAY 6TH NOVEMBER, 7.30PM To learn more about the Sixth Form experience at Yarm School and how we consistently get superb feedback from our students and their parents, come along to our Sixth Form Information Evening on Tuesday 6th November, 7.30pm.

The next whole school Open Morning is on Saturday 12th January 2019, 9.30am to 12noon.

YARM SCHOOL (3-18 years) The Friarage, Yarm TS15 9EJ T: 01642 786023 www.yarmschool.org

www.ch arl e s cl i n kard .co.u k

COOL CURL

Call it an age thing, but the months just seem to go by quicker every year! It feels like summer ended and Christmas is upon us. It could also have something to do with the fact that life has been incredibly busy for us the past couple of months.

There have been shoots, shows, travel and the launch of issue two of the HOOKER & YOUNG magazine at Aveika in Newcastle, which was incredible!

We don’t take much persuading to throw a party but we felt a celebration was definitely needed to mark this occasion. Aveika was packed to the rafters with gorgeous people all enjoying the most amazing canapés washed down with celebratory fizz.

The celebrations are going to continue for team H&Y when we head down to London at the end of November for the annual British Hairdressing Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane.

As the most prestigious event of the year, the awards are pretty much the Oscars of the hairdressing world, recognising the best of the best throughout the UK. We are up for three of the gongs with Michelle Rooney and Stewart Craig from the Wynyard salon our finalists for North Eastern Hairdresser Of The Year and Sophie Gibson from H&Y Gosforth a finalist for Newcomer Of The Year.

Myself and Gary are among seven nominees from the whole of the UK for the big one ‘British Hairdresser Of The Year’. It is always an absolute honour to be recognised for what we do on a national scale and it makes us feel incredibly proud. Let’s hope we bring home some silverware back to the North East.

Gorgeous local girl Deeann, pictured here from Tyne Tees Models, is our festive poster girl this year with striking curls. The party season always brings out a slightly more adventurous side to most folks who want to stand out from the crowd and look sassy and sparkly for Christmas. This look oozes party glam yet still looks completely gorgeous and super-cool. Achieved using small tongs it may take you a little more effort to create the look but we say it’s worth it to make a statement. .

Michael Young and Gary Hooker run Hooker & Young, with five salons regionwide. www.hookerandyoung.co.uk

Time to celebrate!

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NOV/DEC18

UNLOCKING

LUXURY ACROSS THE NORTH EAST

LIVING

COMING SOON TO

MORPETH | KIRKLEVINGTON

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LUXE LIFE

ELEANOR O’NEILL Eleanor O’Neill is founder of STUDY 34, a luxury knitwear label for women based in Newcastle. After completing her degree in fashion knitwear she worked for brands in New York, Switzerland and Italy.

She set up STUDY 34 to offer a sustainable brand with craftmanship at its heart.

Eleanor is passionate about sustainability, women and business and is involved in a number of organisations including, The Girl’s Network, The Prince’s Trust, The Fashion Circle and Traidcraft. She lives in Fenham, Newcastle.

LUXE PEOPLE >> My sisters, Mathilda and Frideswide LUXE PLACES >> For a weekend > My parents’ B&B, Barmoors, just outside of Hutton-le-Hole in North Yorkshire. It’s quiet, remote and there are good walks and pubs in all directions.

For a long holiday > South of France. I used to live there as a child and speak the language so I feel very much at home.

For a treat > South America. It’s a place of such rich history and culture. I’m lucky enough to go to Peru every year.

LUXE RELAX >> Best food > Doughnuts from The Proven Goods Co in Hoults Yard in Ouseburn.

Best wine > Hmm… there are some good dry German whites that I’ve had recently which I’m told are up and coming!

Favourite restaurant > I love Zucchini on the 55 degrees north roundabout. The midnight pasta dish is delicious!

Perfect weekend > On the coast in Northumberland – we spend a lot of time at a beach hut near Alnmouth, perfect respite.

Downtime means > Reading a book. Struggling with Lady Chatterley’s Lover at the moment…

Best telly > I quite like a Louis Theroux documentary when I do watch something.

Best book > I read The Miniaturist a while ago and loved it. The recent TV adaptation really didn’t do it justice!

Best sounds > Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast (best voice to listen to!)

LUXE SHOP >> Best shopping city > Definitely New York. I used to live there and it’s full of great little second hand shops and small designer popups.

Favourite shop > At the moment an online luxury second hand shop called The Real Real. I bought the most beautiful embroidered Manolo Blahnik’s for a summer of weddings.

Luxe retail treat > Liz Earle has nice smelling things that are not too heavy on my skin.

Best buy > Some layering basics from The White T-shirt Company, a Newcastle-based label with good ethics behind them. Their organic cotton t-shirts are comfy and a great shape. Their white long sleeve round neck is my fave.

LUXE PARTY >> A memorable night out > Dinner at Charlotte’s Place in Ealing Broadway after a garden party at Buckingham Place… I’ve had worse days.

Perfect party > Summer in the garden with lots of Pimm’s!

Best dress > A full-length coral superfine crocheted wool number that belonged to my great grandmother. It was made for her in New York in the 1940s. I’ve worn it to several weddings this summer and so many people wanted to know where they could get it…

Dinner date > The French Quarter is pretty delicious…

YOUR LUXE THING IN LIFE >> At the moment? My vintage wool and cashmere full-length navy winter coat. www.study34.co.uk

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LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Summit for the weekend Crush-worthy wallcoverings for those who love to get on their bike or those who prefer to take in the scenery from a comfy spot.

Maurice mural from ÂŁ30 per metre. www.muralswallpaper.co.uk

NOV/DEC18

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SPA PROFILE

Matfen Hall’s Isabella’s indulgence treatment day blends super-tech skincare with ancient well-being know-how. Kathryn Armstrong checks in

Tech, towels and treats

The words ‘technology skincare solutions’ undoubtedly have a tone of intent about them. They sound savvy, techy and results-driven. They sound like they won’t be part of a fluffy, fall-asleep spa experience.

And indeed they’re not. But married with the subtle and soothing forerunner of an indulgent and decidedly fluffy and floral Thousand Flower Detox, they join forces for a bit of a yin and yang kind of spa day.

Isabella’s (not sure who she is but I like her style) Indulgence is one of the newer spa day packages at the Aqua Vitae Spa at Matfen Hall in Northumberland, a place which has its very own ‘off’ switch to loan you the minute you approach its rich landscaped gardens and far-reaching views of nice Northumberland nothingness (albeit just 20 minutes’ drive from Newcastle).

On arrival a member of the spa team invites you for a coffee and your therapist will talk you through treatments and go through any skin or body concerns you might want addressing. And you order your twocourse lunch.

Robe and slippers on, a quick tour of the poolside facilities, then it’s time to head to the heated treatment bed. No finer place to get to grips with a detox.

The Aqua Vitae Spa is home to the wellloved Elemis treatment range of products and the Thousand Flower Detox Body Wrap is a 60-minute treatment.

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It’s meant to be thorough and do-you-good rather than a relaxing pamper, having said that, after the initial robust body brushing to get the circulation going, it is still lie-back and chill-out pleasant.

After the brushing, skin is gently massaged and exfoliated with a nourishing Green Tea Balm. Then you’re enveloped in warm blankets as the powerful ingredients work their magic – and you enjoy a head massage.

The treatment is invigorating and effective.

You shower in the treatment room afterwards and skin feels immediately soft and refreshed.

The day package gives you time to lounge around the pool or even hit the gym if that’s your thing.

Poolside means time for some laps in the water or to feel the restorative powers of the aromatherapy room, which somehow manages to relax the mind and body as you take in the soothing aromas and calm atmosphere.

Steamroom and sauna are ready to continue the relax vibe – but on this occasion the icecold bucket shower wasn’t on my to-do list.

Instead I entered the Biotec world. The Elemis Biotech treatment is all about the buzz term ‘results-driven’. So you really get the results you want.

Your therapist will individualise the treatment to address your skin concerns – which might be anything from redness to congestion and blemishes to wrinkles.

Dehydration and ageing always tick my boxes so a dose of oxygen therapy was prescribed along with firming probes and some resurfacing.

The treatment uses some impressive and interesting tools along the way – which can appear alarming. After a thorough cleanse and tone what looks like a soft blade is gently driven across the skin to basically vacuum off the dead skin cells.

It’s a nice sensation – a bit tickly as it

The treatment finishes with a super-cold face mask which tightens everything up.

This is definitely a revitalising treatment, to be recommended. It has the effect of plumping lines out to make skin look smoother and the deep peel gives skin a worthy and lasting re-surfacing.

The Isabella Indulgence Day also includes champagne and lunch which can be as healthy as you like – my fish and chips an indulgence all their own. There are

The Elemis Biotech treatment is all about the buzz term ‘results-driven’ and your therapist will individualise the treatment

goes deep! I didn’t look too hard at what it had unearthed.

The next part of the treatment uses microcurrent probes to gently lift and firm the skin before you move on to the fun bit – the oxygen boost.

This sounds faintly like a power tool - but it feels great. What seems like a reverse suction tool powers oxygen into the skin.

The therapist talks you through it so it’s not a shock – testing it first on your shoulder so you know what to expect. It’s great – I felt mightily energised after the oxygen boost.

lots of impressive sweet things on the menu – such as lemon tart or sticky toffee pudding. Part of the indulgence of course is knowing that after lunch all you have to do is put your feet up and maybe even have a wee power nap!

Isabella’s Indulgence, £190 includes Elemis Biotech (normally £85), Thousand Flower Detox, (normally £70), two-course lunch, drink on arrival and use of spa all day. www.matfenhall.com

NOV/DEC18

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NOV/DEC18

Go for glow

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Jessica Laing receives a glowy makeover at the brand new BECCA Cosmetics counter in John Lewis, Newcastle.

As we head into the depths of winter, the change in temperature takes its toll on your skin.

Mine is typical. When skin’s moisture levels plummet my poor parched pores react with a t-zone shinier (and often redder) than Rudolph’s nose. Fortunately, though, the team behind BECCA Cosmetics’ first North East counter know how to remedy this. Armed with some of the brand’s most coveted products they treated my skin to a mini makeover that not only kept oil at bay, but blurred away imperfections, smoothed everything out and left my skin looking perkier and more radiant than it’s been in weeks.

BECCA’s products, including illuminating primers, lip and cheek tints, creamy concealers and foundations, bronzers, blushers and world-famous pressed highlighters, play with light and shade to give skin an iridescent (non-sparkly) glow. A beachy, lit-from-within beam that screams out health and happiness.

An authority on complexion, there’s a wide and impressive range of shades so all skin tones will find something for them in the collection, and a laid-back approach to application. Products take moments to apply - and can be done so with warm fingertips, as well as brushes. The counter currently offers three glow-giving services, bringing out your ‘natural’ beauty, Perfect for women, like myself, who can’t stand the thought of masking their chops with layers of makeup.

A five-minute ‘Glow to Go’ appointment, I discovered, is fast, free and fabulous. Skin is prepped and primed before you meet your match in the foundation stakes. For me, it was the brand’s Ultimate Coverage 24-hour Foundation that fit the bill; oil-free and heavy-duty enough to conceal blemishes and keep grease to a minimum, but still light, breathable and moisturing enough to keep skin comfortably hydrated.

Once set with a light veil of loose powder (BECCA’s absorbs shine and gives the face a soft-focus glow), a dusting of bronzer on the high points of my face (where the sun would naturally hit) to warm things up and a rosy tint on the lips and cheeks, I was good to go, looking like a fresher, brighter and more glowy version of myself.

Also available, a 30-minute Easy-glowing Tutorial (£2o) or the hour-long Ultimate Glow-How (£45); a personalised, in-depth experience.

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www.luxe-magazine.co.uk 45

GYM APPEAL

Sportswear with sass Jessica Laing heads to Seaham Hall for a sporty celebration of LaVostra’s luxury activewear…

With summer behind us and a season of woolly layers, mince pies and fizz on the horizon, this time of year, you’d be forgiven for giving Lycra and five-greens-aday a wide berth. After all, what’s Christmas without Terry’s Chocolate Orange for brekkie and afternoons spent gorging on cheeseboards in your PJs? The only exercise I really feel like doing as the big day draws near is walking to the fridge and back. However, for those who are planning on getting in a few festive workouts over the coming weeks, I’d urge you to check out LaVostra. Because if you’re going to go to the effort of dragging yourself out for a run in the snow, you might as well look chic while doing it, right?

The company’s activewear is all kinds of dreamy - as I recently discovered during a high-energy fashion show at Seaham Hall’s Serenity Spa. After a special Brazilian Booty Masterclass with Vivian Fonseca (a Brazilian blonde bombshell who has shot to fame in the online fitness world thanks to her hardcore bum-building workouts), we took to our seats, cocktails in hand, ready to be wowed by this season’s hottest activewear.

Created by North East businesswoman and active CrossFitter, Jocelyn Maxfield, LaVostra showcases and celebrates the best in luxury activewear from the USA and beyond - the same, high-quality gear that Jocelyn found and wore while living and working in the States.

After countless “where are your leggings from?” comments from her UK chums, she was inspired to set up her own online business, redefining activewear by making her favourite high-performance brands from

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overseas accessible to a British market.

LaVostra’s website is a haven for any fashion-forward fitness fan. Log on and you’ll find a diverse range of handpicked high-end alternatives to everyday sportswear, with tried, tested and adored activewear from favourite US, Scandinavian and Australian brands such as Lilybod, Naked Princess, Onzie, Nux and more.

Women of all ages, shapes and sizes showed off a number of these during Seaham’s sensational fashion show; stylish, colourful and functional pieces, including sports bras and leggings, tops, shorts and loungewear, to help runners, weight-lifters, yogis, dancers and everyone in between feel confident and comfortable during their workouts.

Part of LaVostra’s AW18 collection, they’re available to buy now. Pop a few bits on your Christmas wish list if you know what’s good for you, or get your hands on them now and pump some iron in style before Santa arrives. www.lavostra.co.uk LaVostra is offering Luxe readers an exclusive discount! Use the code LUXE15 and enjoy 15% off your purchases from 1-30 November 2018.

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SOUL FOOD

Sunderland-born food writer and stylist, Ryan Riley, is winning accolades for his new and heartfelt initiative, Life Kitchen, which helps cancer patients fall in love with food again. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s backed by a bevvy of big-name supporters including Nigella Lawson, Sue Perkins and Hugh Fearnley-Whitingstall. Jessica Laing finds out more

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NOV/DEC18

SOUL FOOD

Fe e l - g o o d f l a v o u r For some, food is fuel. And eating?

Well, that’s just another part of everyday life. A mundane, but necessary, three-timesa-day task in between working, parenting, exercising and sleeping.

For others, food is a source of pure joy.

Something that brings people together and forces busybodies to sit down and relax, if only for a few moments. Many believe it has the power to lift a person’s mood, to excite, to satisfy and to comfort, even during the darkest of times.

Ryan Riley is one of them. For him, food has been something of a life-changing thing.

After losing his beloved mother, Krista, to cancer four years ago, the 24-year-old found himself under a cloud of grief, unsure of what to do next and what the future held for him.

“It was truly an awful time - the worst months, years, of my life,” recalls Ryan, who was born and raised in Washington.

“I was only 18 when mum was given the news,” he says.

“I was actually away in the countryside, out in the sticks, when I got the news. When I finally found phone reception, I discovered I had tons of missed calls from my family.

Turns out, they were ringing to tell me that she’d been diagnosed with small cell lung cancer - and that it was terminal.”

With his dad working and his sister away at university, Ryan stepped in as Krista’s main carer and spent the next two years by her side as she underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy - both of which had a devastating effect on her relationship with food.

“Chemo and radiotherapy take their toll on people in different ways and to different degrees, but in mum’s case, they completely stole her sense of taste - a big thing, you can imagine, for anyone who loves their food.”

A keen cook, Krista, he says, was always in the kitchen - and she loved a glass of wine.

However, as she entered into her final months, food and drink began to lose meaning and mealtimes became miserable.

“It was quite a turbulent time - she didn’t like to eat much towards the end,” says Ryan.

“The only things she really reached for were ice pops. Their artificial, sugary sweetness

NOV/DEC18

provided some kind of taste, I guess. It was the only enjoyment she got out of eating.”

Sadly, despite ongoing treatment, Krista passed away at Christmas when Ryan was just 20-years-old.

“I was on holiday in Malta when I got the call,” says Ryan. “That haunted me for a while - the fact that I didn’t make it back in time to be with her during her last moments.”

“I felt incredibly guilty. But, you have to forgive and be kind to yourself - and I have, finally. After all, grief is never easy. It’s been a real journey getting to a place in my life where I feel can move forward.”

Unbeknown to Ryan, one of the first steps in moving forward with his life would be saying yes to a night out in Newcastle - an evening that would end up changing his path forever.

“It was about a month or so after mum’s death and I was feeling really down, so my best friend Kimberley persuaded me to go out into town with her,” he says.

“We were totally broke - we only had a fiver between us - but somehow ended up in a casino,” he says.

“I put a one pound bet on a blackjack table and, long story short, I ended up winning £28,000. Hard to believe, I know, but it’s true!”

Fast-forward a few months and, armed with his winnings, the pair decided to make the move from the flat they shared in Gateshead, to the Big Smoke.

“It felt like fate had stepped in - it was the push I needed to start afresh,” says Ryan.

“We packed up our stuff, flew to Barcelona for a holiday, then touched down in London.

We found ourselves a flat and the rest is history - we’ve been here ever since.”

Despite hopes of starting a career in fashion or business, Ryan soon found himself in the middle of London’s buzzy food scene, working for some of the country’s biggest food magazines, including Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, and in TV as a food stylist.

“I’m not really sure how it all came about to be honest,” he says. “Moving into the world of food was just a drunken idea - but I’m happy I decided to go for it and that it paid off!”

The future seemed bright, but thoughts of his mother were never far from his mind.

Haunted by the memories of her last months, he began thinking of how he could

use his new-found love of food, with a little help from his new-found cash, to give back to cancer patients and their families.

“Free cooking classes, focusing on how to tackle flavour-loss through cancer treatment, came to mind. I wanted to help people going through the similar experiences and it felt like the perfect way to honour my mother.”

Ryan kept the idea to himself for some time, until one night, he decided to take to Twitter.

“I put my thoughts out there on a whim, thinking nobody would take much notice, or be interested, but boy, how wrong was I!” Within days, Ryan’s tweet had gone viral, receiving hundreds of thousands of likes and retweets, as well as the attention of one of the world’s most-loved food icons - Nigella Lawson.

“I had already met Nigella’s people through working in the food industry, so I decided to send them my ideas in the hope that they’d make their way to her. Fortunately, they did - and she immediately got behind the idea.

“I was over the moon to have Nigella’s support - she’s one of my biggest inspirations. I was just speaking with her this morning, actually. She’s still a big supporter of our work.”

The more time passed, the more Ryan’s initiative - which he would later call Life Kitchen - tugged on the heartstrings of foodies everywhere - including more celebrities.

Touched by Ryan’s efforts to help cancer patients fall in love with eating again, food-god, Nigel Slater, wrote about Ryan’s story in his Observer Food Monthly column, urging his readers to show their support by donating to his GoFundMe page.

Comedienne, Sue Perkins, who’s father lost his sense of taste - and later his life - to cancer, also got behind the initiative, alongside Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who offered to host Ryan’s first ever cookery class at his award-winning River Cottage restaurant in Devon in February this year, after hearing him on the radio.

“That was a real pinch-me moment,” says Ryan. “And very bittersweet, too. My mum was the biggest River Cottage fan.”

“We did two classes, with around 20 guests in each, hosted by myself and Sue Perkins, who is now actually a patron and a trustee of Life Kitchen. >>

www.luxe-magazine.co.uk 49

SOUL FOOD “ITV and the BBC filmed the whole thing, too. Talk about jumping in at the deep end!

It was surreal, but amazing.”

Having set out initially to only do one class, today, Ryan has more than a dozen Life Kitchen classes under his belt - which have taken place at various locations across the UK, including Jamie Oliver’s esteemed cookery school in London, Dalesford Farm in the Cotswolds, owned by Lady Carole Bamford, and Blackfrairs Restaurant in Newcastle.

The format of the classes change depending on where Ryan and his team are and how big the venue is, but the aim is always the same - to get people touched by cancer cooking and enjoying their food again.

“The classes are fun and super informal,” he explains. “I’ll demo a few recipes, then the guests will have a go, then there are times when we’re all cooking along together. We teach them things like how to caramelise, how to season their food properly and how to layer ingredients to get as much flavour out of them as possible - that’s what it’s all about.”

Life Kitchen classes are open to people from all walks of life, facing all stages of cancer; those who are just about to begin treatment, in the middle of it, or coming to the end. Guests are also welcome to bring along a family member, or friend, to join in on the culinary fun.

“Everybody is welcome,” says Ryan.

“For those who are at the beginning of their journey, it’s a chance to get ahead of the game, should their taste be compromised during treatment. For people going through it all, the classes provide a great insight into how they can better their relationship with food right here, right now.

“And for those who’ve finished treatment, there’s still lots to take away. The side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy can stay with people for months, years, sometimes forever, but hopefully the classes give people skills and knowledge that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

But it isn’t all about frying, melting and sautéing, Ryan tells me. It’s also about the science.

“We also talk about why certain ingredients marry well together, how the body responds to them and what effect they have on a person’s sense of taste.”

To help him delve deeper into the world of biology, Ryan enlisted the help of Professor Barry Smith, founder of the Centre for the Study of the Senses at the University of London. Together, they have developed a handful of evidence-driven recipes for Ryan’s guests to enjoy - recipes that bring together unusual flavour combinations to hit the spot - quite literally - and awaken the tastebuds.

“We focus a lot on umami in our recipes, which scientists consider the fifth taste,” explains Ryan.

“Think of the intense savouriness you taste when you eat soy sauce, parmesan or tomatoes - that’s umami. When it hits the palette, it stimulates saliva production and boosts all your other taste receptors - salty, sweet, sour and bitter - bringing out and amplifying the flavour of the food.

“There’s something called synergistic umami, which we look at too. It’s when you mix two umami together - tomatoes and anchovies for example - and you get a huge burst of intense flavour. That’s what we’re after.

“We also look at stimulating the trigeminal nerve, which sits between your eyes, ears and mouth,” says Ryan.

“It kicks into gear when you eat too much wasabi, horseradish or mustard - when you feel that burning sensation in your nose.

“We discovered certain ingredients and spices activate it, which is why you’ll find us

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Out of tragedy, came light. And I think that says it all really

adding mint, along with umami-rich parmesan, salty lardons and bitter lemon to our carbonara, or cinnamon and sweet masala to our apple crumble.”

Heaps of fun and flavour, a sprinkling of laughter and big pinches of positivity - it appears that’s what you’ll discover at a Life Kitchen class. What you won’t find though, Ryan tells me, are dreary discussions about the dreaded c-word.

“People might be surprised to hear that, actually, cancer is not at the centre of our classes. In fact, I barely talk about it at all,” says Ryan.

“Sure, it’s the reason our guests are there in the first place, but the focus is on the food and their enjoyment.

“It’s a chance for them to meet and socialise with people who are going through the same thing - away from the hospital waiting room. They talk about normal things, they bond, they laugh and they learn. They feel less isolated and alone. Food really does have the power to bring people together anyone who attends a Life Kitchen class will see that.”

As our time together comes to a close, Ryan lets me in on his plans for the future of Life Kitchen - and it’s looking very tasty indeed.

Having just secured permanent office space in London, work will soon begin on the first Life Kitchen cookery school - in Ryan’s beloved Sunderland.

The state-of-the-art site, which will open its doors in March 2019, will host regular cooking classes, including low-cost community workshops, and also serve as a mini research centre, allowing Ryan and his growing team to further their knowledge in the study of the senses and the affects of cancer treatment.

“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be opening our very first bricks and mortar site,” says Ryan.

“I could’ve opened it in London, where I’m now based, but it wouldn’t have felt right. I wanted to bring Life Kitchen back home to the North East. It’s where I grew up - it’s where my roots are. And it’s where my mother wanted me to be.”

Making Ryan’s cookery school dreams a reality are leading UK companies Sir Robert McAlpine, Turner Townsend and Ryder Architecture, all of whom are designing, building and kitting out the school for free.

“The build alone is probably around £150,000 and the equipment we’re getting - the ovens, fridges and dishwashers for example - are all top-of-the-range. Some cost thousands of pounds. But these fantastic companies are donating everything - their time, expertise and products - for free, out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s mind-blowing. I couldn’t be more grateful.”

With all of this within his grasp, plus a promise of a cookbook in the pipeline and a

BBC documentary and a win at The Observer Food Monthly Awards for Best Ethical Food Project 2018 (presented by his pal Nigella Lawson) in the bag, the future for Mr Life Kitchen looks set to flourish. And yet Ryan still can’t quite believe how far he’s come.

“I’ve had big charities such as Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support contact me, asking how I’ve done it. How, on earth, I’ve managed to get the initiative to this stage in such a short space of time and why big names are getting behind it.

“But I think, rather tragically, it’s because cancer is something that resonates with everyone. It touches us all. It doesn’t discriminate - no matter who you are, how much money you have, or how great your life may seem. It’s a common issue, a common fear, that we all want to conquer.

“I’ve just finished the proposal for my first cookbook and in the dedication, which is to my mother, I write ‘out of tragedy, came light’. And I think that says it all really. Who knew that food would end up taking me down such a positive path. It’s been quite a ride so far and I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

For Life Kitchen updates, follow @ LifeKitchen and @RyanRileyy on Twitter.

To donate to Life Kitchen, head to uk.gofundme.com/lifekitchen1 Ryan was photographed at Fourteen Drops, STACK, Newcastle.

NOV/DEC18

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GOOD DAYS

Finding Space

Some might say that ‘spirituality’ is not for them, and that ‘hippy’ or ‘wellbeing’ products are a waste of time; but not many would say they don’t want to feel calmer, less frenzied and more connected and we’re all looking for tools to help us feel more like us.

Life, no matter how fulfilling, is busy, full and at times frantic.

We all want to feel more grounded in our sense of self and more relaxed, more often. If we’re lucky, our homes can be a sanctuary: a place that we can escape from the madness, do our own thing and unwind at the end of a long day. Bringing the right products and tools in to our homes can enhance our sense of wellbeing, and integrating simple rituals in to our daily lives, with their help, can enable us to feel more centred, tranquil and present.

If you’re curious to experiment in this space, here are some of my top tips on what to use and how, to get you started: Wake up with a ‘sunrise alarm’ light > Synthetic light isn’t good for us, and at this time of year in particular, we miss the energy boosting qualities of natural light. Waking up in the dark is never pleasant or easy, and a ‘wake-up’ light can off-set this, making for a softer and brighter start. The best also come with a ‘sunset’ option, so you can drop off to sleep more naturally too.

Hold a ‘tea ceremony’ for yourself > Good quality, loose leaf tea is pure plant medicine. Buy high grade Oolong or similar, boil your water (over a flame if possible) and make a cup of tea to drink in silence in the garden. There’s no better way to start the day well or get some calm in the middle of a busy schedule, whilst reaping the benefits of connecting with nature.

Burn Palo Santo or White Sage > (make sure it’s from a sustainable source). This ancient practice known as ‘smudging’ has its origins in many indigenous shamanic cultures. Known to sterilise the air with their natural antiseptic properties, Palo Santo and White Sage also ‘clear’ stagnant energy, so are a great tool for enhancing the calmness of your physical space.

Mist essential oils in a water-based diffuser > try Bergamot to relieve anxiety, Vetiver or Ylang Ylang for grounding at the end of the day and Peppermint to enhance the clarity of your thinking.

Take Epsom salt baths > Epsom Salts are pure magnesium, so soaking in them has lots of benefits – namely drawing toxins from the body, whilst simultaneously replacing lots of much needed minerals, which busy, city-based lives strip from our systems. Buy medical grade salts and use one or two cups in your bath once or twice a week.

Go to the yoga mat > Yes yoga is good for the body, but more importantly it’s great for the heart and soul. If you’ve got a mat in the cupboard, you can easily take 15 minutes for yourself to practice. There are some great teachers online that you can follow for free.

I’d love to hear your reflections – you can tweet me @space_with_in Take care for now, Laura

Follow Laura on social media or get in touch for one-to-one coaching sessions and group retreats. @space_with_in

@space.with_in

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@spacewithindevelopment

Generation We’re talking to people with a positive attitude to mid-life, doing things differently, changing their pace of life, their priorities, reflecting on what’s gone before and the new opportunities and challenges to come Diane Morton, 56, is founding director of Wag & Company North East Friendship Dogs, a registered charity enabling volunteers and their dogs to safely visit and befriend the elderly at home and in care and medical establishments.

launched Wag & Company, it wasn’t possible for people in their own homes to have a visiting dog.

For me, access to a friend with a dog is essential for older dog lovers.

I used to do this…

I was only 48 when I decided to ‘retire’ from my role with Northumbrian Water and I always knew that I would want to contribute again. For two years up until that point, I had been spending a great deal of time in Shropshire; my 87 year old father became very ill and developed vascular dementia and had to be cared for in a nursing home. As anyone with a loved one with dementia knows, it’s emotionally hard for the family too, and once my husband sold his business it was financially possible to have more time in Shropshire.

Once Dad died, I started thinking about what the next phase of my life was going to look like. I wanted to give something back and to be useful and, other than

I worked in people and services management roles in consulting and then the water industry pretty much all my career. I became director of HR for a Northumbrian Water Group company in 1996 and ultimately, in 2002, for Northumbrian Water Group itself until I retired in 2010.

Now life is about…

Providing elderly dog lovers across the North East with friends with two and four legs. It’s something that has always been possible in care or hospitals but until we

Why/how I made a change…

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GOOD DAYS my professional work, the most rewarding thing I had ever done was to visit the elderly with our dog in a nursing home.

We met lots of really great people who understandably missed their own homes and their lives which often included a dog and they were really touched by just an hour or two of our time every week chatting and stroking our dog. Rather than feeling like it was a nice thing to do, it pretty quickly felt like something essential to do - most Sundays for almost seven years.

When Dad became ill and we took Harry our black Labrador to visit, he recognised him and greeted him by name, even though he didn’t know who I was.

Precious moments really. So all those experiences led me to decide in 2014 that the best use of my professional skills would be to try to fill a gap - home visiting the elderly with dogs.

It’s been quite a journey, setting up from scratch, developing and continuously reviewing an appropriate model for home visiting as well as enabling care and hospital visiting too. But here we are, three years in – partnered with the Healthcare Trust in Northumberland to increase home visiting across the county. Fantastic.

If I’m working from the office in Hexham, typically three days a week, I’ll be there by 9.45am until we close at 7pm.

Wag is essentially a small business which needs managing and I’m the volunteer manager.

A really special day involves meeting one of our visiting Wag teams at someone’s home for a chat, or going out for lunch, being part of the difference and enjoying their company. Aside from Wag, I love leisure time with my husband, daughter and friends; we love to travel and we’re looking forward to a big whale-watching trip next year; good job there’s Wi-fi in Baja California!

Work/life balance…

I struggle a bit with work life balance. Ask my family!

I’m very lucky that I have a life full of people and purpose that I adore, but the juggle to create the right levels of attention for everyone and everything is a continuous challenge.

STYLE If your take on festive is a subtle rather than shouty fashion gesture make it muted but memorable...

I’m lucky…

I can spend so much time developing Wag. It wouldn’t be possible without Doug’s support and help; he contributes massively on a regular basis, most particularly as the trustee responsible for risk and strategy and also as the key player in our annual fundraising event at Kielder.

The people who are important…

My husband Doug, my daughter, my mum and our families and close friends; special people who share a corner with you!

Others who are tremendously important are the people who are part of the Wag vision. We have 223 volunteers right now and another 74 in our recruitment pipeline, and they impact over 1,600 people in our region. We also have companies, trustees, ambassadors, fundraisers and others who help us. Every one of these people has chosen to give their time and commitment to this project. I never take this for granted.

A day in the life of me…

The only consistent thing is that our two dogs need to be walked, so our day always starts at about 6.45am with a dog walk, typically around the golf courses in Slaley where we live.

Over breakfast I’ll check overnight Wag emails etc.

ageless

Things are different because...

I feel personally responsible for the welfare of everyone we visit, so that obviously creates a unique level of pressure! I’m as busy as I ever was but I have more flexibility in that I can work from anywhere there’s Wi-fi and a good mobile signal.

I thrive on…

The lovely stories, finding a friend for the new referrals, hearing how it’s going, receiving the pictures and the feedback from all concerned and often meeting the people who benefit too. I love it that I can use my experience of volunteering and the loss of my dad to do something useful, something that wasn’t being done, and to see it happening in practice. My absolute determination now is to make sure that Wag & Company is sustainable and thriving long after I’m gone.

Woman

Women’s rose silk velvet shirt £130, tailored trousers £99 www.purecollection.com

Mid-life means to me…

Choice.. we’re lucky to have our health, to be financially stable and to still be young enough to contribute usefully. I feel absolutely blessed that I can choose to do something I feel is very important. www.wagandcompany.co.uk

Man

Men’s navy intarsia sweater £150 www.purecollection.com

NOV/DEC18

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PICTURE PERFECT

ON THE HOOF with Deborah Smith

Equestrian sports photography is big business and whatever size and scale of event you’re at, there’s invariably a photographer or two (and increasingly often, a videographer), keen to sell you that magical image you just have to have, to be uploaded to Facebook and Instagram For something more enduring, photographer Simon Hogben has extended his own photography portfolio to work on creative, equestrian lifestyle images that capture the relationship between horse and owner.

Simon works full time as a professional photographer - based on Teesside and working across the North East and Yorkshire.

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With a degree in the History of Art, he studied portraiture and this is reflected in his approach.

In terms of his horse and rider portraits, he focuses on the special connection between horse and owner; creating a portrait that you’d want to hang on the wall - as a large print or a canvas.

As he says, “Digital images on phones and social media are great - but there’s something about a printed image that makes

it feel more special and something you’d treasure for years to come.”

We had great fun on our photo shoot. It was a windy afternoon and the horses were on their toes, freshly clipped, and curious as to why they were being asked to walk around without any obvious purpose! Simon is a real animal person and was very comfortable around the horses, which came in handy as we tried to coordinate them, me, the camera and in the wind.

But in less than an hour it was a wrap and the hardest part came a few days later in deciding which of the brilliant images to have printed and framed.

For a very special gift or to treat yourself, Simon can be contacted on his email simon@simonhogben.com. To see more of his work visit www.simonhogben.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/simonhogbenphotography

A DAY AT LEMIEUX NATIONAL DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS >> Horsewear company Lemieux is an enthusiastic supporter of the national championships at Stoneleigh and the event is a real highlight of the dressage year.

With the tail-end of storm Florence bringing blustery high winds and rain, conditions weren’t ideal so I was relieved to have a seat in the covered grandstand.

Riders and horses all coped amazingly. I was there early doors on the Thursday and by 8am was watching the first competitors in the Preliminary Silver championship.

This class always features a really wide range of riders with over half being amateurs and lots of under 25s. It’s a great class to watch and I was really taken with Elizabeth Rose and her lovely Dutch hackney, Sallandt’s Station Master, who seemed to soak up the whole atmosphere as he came up the final centre line with a real ‘look at me’ expression.

The rain came and went and the wind got stronger and stronger it was a really big ask of the horses to concentrate and try so hard.

The class was eventually won by the last rider in, Maeve Morris, and the very smart Headmore Footloose.

Next was the Prix St Georges Gold championship and Emile Faurie was first in with his own Cafe’s Caletta.

Fresh back from WEG, Emile rode a lively, engaging test and he ended up third, sandwiched behind Charlotte Dujardin first with the lovely grey Florentina, second with River Rise Nisa and also fourth with Brioso II. Gareth Hughes, who rides so immaculately, was fifth with KK Dominant. Considering the conditions, the horses and riders were all brilliant.

NOV/DEC18

J O I N US AT SPA NISH CI TY FOR THE NORTH E AST ’ S BE ST

AFTERNOON TEA Created by renowned Head Pastry Chef, Kristian Branch, and his talented team, relax and enjoy our seasonal Afternoon Tea, savouring freshly made finger sandwiches, divine quiches, savoury pastries, homemade scones and expertly created cakes that are guaranteed to ‘wow’ you.

Bookings must be made in advance either by our website www.spanishcity.co.uk, by telephone on 0191 691 7090 or by emailing us at events@spanishcity.co.uk

Spanish City, Spanish City Plaza, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE26 1BG

@myspanishcity

JUNIOR HACKS

WELCOME!

Life’s about Christmas plans and very exciting ice-cream news...

with Nina Robinson

As it’s starting to get chilly, some of the larger luxes among you might think the season for ice cream is over. Well you’re wrong! Any time is a good time for ice cream – especially when an amazing new design-it-yourself dessert heaven has just opened on your doorstep. Let me introduce you to my latest obsession – Cream Curls. This place is amazing! I couldn’t believe my luck to find out this ice cream bar was opening in South Shields, after seeing loads of videos on YouTube of these unusual Thai-inspired desserts. Let me explain what makes them so special.

Liquid ice cream is combined with your choice of fillings, from fresh fruit to your favourite chocolate bars. This is poured on to a metal plate where it quickly freezes. It’s then rolled into curls and smothered in your choice of sauce (anything from candyfloss to cream egg), sprinkles (think mini marshmallows, nuts and rainbow sherbet) and topped with whipped cream. Watch as your curly confection takes shape before your very eyes. I wonder how many visits I’ll need to make to try every flavour combination…

Love Nina x

My little cousin would love…

My youngest cousin would love…

Indoor toddler swing >> Move the playground inside. This handmade swing is designed for little luxes between three months and three years. The leather seat can either be hung from a frame or a ceiling hook (sold separately). > £240. Bonordic.co.uk

<< Wooden ice cream sundae Little Rose would love to stack and serve her own ice creams for me with this lovely set. These wooden desserts are topped with a cherry and a stripy straw and make great toys for imaginary play. > Hoorayandco.co.uk

NINA’S CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE >> The tweens & teens in my life would love…

Self-Guiding AI Robot >> Tobbie is an ultra-intelligent, robotic friend who uses an infrared sensor to find his way around. Two modes of movement direct Tobbie to either follow anything that’s moving around or tell him to explore on his own on his spidery legs. > £29.99 menkind.co.uk

Odd socks >> The kind of socks kids will actually thank you for this Christmas! A fun treat for children’s feet! Fun, crazy, brightly coloured designs they can mix and match as they please. > £15.95 houseofbath.co.uk

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Bacon and toast chocolate bar >> Delicious luxury chocolate themed around Gudetama, everyone’s favourite lazy egg from Japan. Bars come in unique flavours such as bacon & toast crumb, which as a bonus is actually vegetarian! > £4.20 tofucute.com

Astronaut Space Map Print >> The perfect map for those who dream big and want to travel far. This vintage style wall art features all the planets of the solar system and is ready for intergalactic space mission. > £79 limeandlace.co.uk

My best friend would love Fossil hunter Lottie doll >> Lottie is a big hit with my friends so this latest edition would be warmly welcomed by us this Christmas! Lottie is a doll with an age-realistic body shape and is a fierce girl with awesome interests and talents! She comes with her fossil-finding tools, a map, backpack, hat, Ammonites and a collection of cards about her favourite female scientists. > £22. Nhmshop.co.uk

Squishy Kawaii Poop >> Squishies and poop – what’s not to love?! Look at the kawaii faces on these adorable lucky squishies and don’t let their shape deceive you – they smell delicious! > £5.99 tofucute.com

Rainbow Alpacasso Plush >> Alpacas are the animal of the moment and in the world of kawaii-lovers this one, created by Japanese plushie company Amuse is legendary! > He’s available as a keychain, £8.99, a 16cm plush, £11.99, and a 40cm giant plush, £31.99. tofucute.com

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XXXXXXXX

A Wonderful Winter at Wynyard Hall

Fireworks Extravaganza

As the Autumn evenings grow crisp and cool, November at Wynyard Hall begins with a Bonfire Night firework display to warm us all up! Children will love the Fairground Rides. Food and refreshments are available to purchase on site. Early arrival recommended.

This is an outdoor event - please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

Advance Tickets £5

4th November Each year, Christmas comes early with our famous Festive Shopping Fayre.

The smell of gingerbread, mulled wine and the sweet sound of the Christmas choir will get you in the Christmas spirit. There’s lots to see and do for the whole family, including more than 150 stalls filled with the finest handmade gifts, jewellery, fashion and food.

Advance Adults £6 / Children £3

Christmas Party Nights 8th, 14th, 15th & 21st December This year, Wynyard Hall is adding a Latino inspired twist into its Christmas party nights, with a Festive Fiesta theme! So gather your colleagues and friends to enjoy the festive season in style. Tickets include an arrival drink, 3-course dinner and entertainment.

Tickets £45

Festive Shopping Fayre 15th - 18th November

Wynyard on Ice Opens 1st December

Ice skating is returning to Wynyard Hall! Strap on your blades and glide around the ice rink in the picturesque outdoor setting of Wynyard Hall’s historical parkland for a 45 minute session that is perfect for getting in the festive mood. Please visit the website for timings and more information.

Advance Tickets £8

New Year’s Eve Gala Ball 31st December Dress to impress and we’ll take care of the rest... A fabulous Champagne reception and canapés, before a delicious 3-course meal and entertainment. The perfect evening will be complete with a fireworks display and a bag piper on The Terrace.

Tickets £89

Discover Winter at Wynyard at www.wynyardhall.co.uk NOV/DEC18

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FESTIVE FOUR-PAWS

POSH POOCHES with Alfie, helped by Elysia Agnew

A canine christmas As the dark nights roll in, the decs go up and the family returns home for the festivities, it’s time to shop, stroll, eat and explore.

Alfie has all paws on deck. He’s adding Digby to his Christmas card list and he’s even sniffed out some seasonal gifts for his poochy pals.

Log fires, turkey dinners and woodland walks are just some of the things that Christmas brings for Alfie; but above all, it’s family time – time to switch off and enjoy everything the festive season brings.

Whether we’re celebrating the holidays at home or away, Alfie is ready to go with his winter coat, Christmas jumper and hound hamper. Winter walks, candy canes and festive cheer… it really is the most wonderful time of the year.

Merry Christmas!

Alfie, your luxe pooch x

Alfie loves:

HOME St Valery, Alnmouth For a pampered, pet-friendly getaway close to home, Alfie has sniffed out this gem of a B&B on the Northumberland coast. Roxy is the four-legged host at St Valery, keeping the pooches in line and showing them the ropes when it comes to perfecting the doggy holiday. This means handmade treats, a cosy bed, towels for sandy paws, and lots of tips and tricks for the best walks in town. stvaleryalnmouth.com

They’re not just for Christmas, but it is the perfect excuse to spoil our pampered pets. Alfie woofs up his canine Christmas gift list…

MUTTS & HOUNDS *STAR BUY* >> Ultimate Pamper Hamper From £98.45; muttsandhounds.co.uk

FETCH & FOLLOW >> Hound Leather Dog Collar, Green, £30; fetchandfollow.co.uk

ALQO WASI >> Fairisle Knitted Dog Sweater Multi, £50; leadthewalk.com

<< MUTTS & HOUNDS Bow Ties, £15.50 each; muttsandhounds.co.uk

<< LILY’S KITCHEN Christmas Spectacular Biscuit Collection, £20; lilyskitchen.co.uk

Luxe Pooch Q&A LUXE WALKS >> Every morning my mum and our friends head to Jesmond Dene, where I immediately head into the Ouseburn for a quick swim.

So refreshing.

POOCH’S PERFECT DAY OUT >> The beach at Alnmouth is my favourite place to go for the day, actually any beach is a favourite place!

Dashing Digby is a four year old cockerpoo, or alternatively known as an expensive mongrel by my dad, Ian. When he was born he was a beautiful dark chocolate brown, however he’s matured into an ash brown pooch with a ginger moustache for good measure.

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Hound holidays home & away >>

DOGGY DOWNTIME >> A good tummy rub while lying on my back.

I have also been spotted in the County waiting patiently at the door to doggy biscuit heaven behind the bar.

HOUND HABBITS >> I am very determined to win the love of

A dog’s dinner >> Candy Cane Cookies For Dogs INGREDIENTS 375g all purpose flour or grain free flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 235ml warm water 1 chicken or beef bouillon cube 2 large eggs 2 tsp red or green food colouring (or use a natural alternative) 1 large egg (for an egg wash) METHOD Preheat your oven to 180°C. Mix the flour and baking powder together in a bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix the warm water and the bouillon cube until dissolved.

Whisk the two eggs and add to the bouillon mixture.

Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the

Duffy, the ice maiden labradoodle. Every morning I greet her enthusiastically with affectionate kisses and she still snarls at me after four whole years of devotion.

I will never give up.

PUPPY PAMPER >> Aunty Charis is my preferred stylist at Shampooches. I am so relaxed with her; she sends my mum photos of me asleep on the grooming table.

DOGS BEST FRIEND >> My best friend is Bob the cockerpoo, he is my doppelganger, and after a few pints my dad often tries to bring

AWAY Chalet Spa, Verbia Pack your pooch’s suitcase, it’s time to hit the slopes. Chalet Spa offers a serious wow-factor escape for guests (and pooches) alike. Designed by renowned architects Cittolin Polli, the property homes sleek, contemporary interiors that blend perfectly with the chalet’s Alpine roots. You can leave your to-do list at home, because the service here really sets the chalet apart. All guests have a private chef on hand to cook up delicious gourmet meals for the whole family – furry-friends included. Alpine Guru’s ‘Paw Pair’ service means you can hit the slopes knowing your pooch is in good hands at home. alpineguru.com dry ingredients stir until combined.

Kneed into a dough then separate into two and set one half aside. With the other half, form a small well in the dough and add the food colouring, one drop at a time.

Kneed the dough until it turns a nice red colour. Adding more food colouring if needed.

Divide each dough ball into small balls, about 1 tablespoon in size, and roll one of each colour into long strands.

Twist together one white strip with one red strip and curl the end into a candy cane shape.

Repeat until all the dough is used up.

Place these on some parchment paper on a baking sheet.

Brush on some egg wash and bake in the oven for 10 – 12 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack. www.soopapets.com

him home instead of me.

FONDEST DOGGY MEMORY >> I was on my way home from work, on the Metro, when I introduced myself to a lovely lady called Di. From that day on our relationship has developed and she is now my second mum, I have sleepovers at her house Thursday through to Sunday.

She spoils me rotten!

PUPPY A-LISTER >> If I were likened to a human A-lister, I would think of myself as Alan Carr. He is very sweet, funny and people like to spend time with him.

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

@TheLuxeMagazine or @LuxeyPooch

NOV/DEC18

ADVERTORIAL

Open for business and open to everyone Wealth Manager Brewin Dolphin’s suite of services mean that whoever you are, there’s a solution tailored to your needs Worrying Trend There have been disquieting developments in the wealth management sector with a number of prominent firms narrowing their client base to those that produce ‘higher profits’, the message seemingly as blunt as “give us more money or go elsewhere”. Firms have been shedding clients with less than £500,000 invested as they scramble to balance the load of regulation and compliance with t he necessity of running a profitable business.

Brewin Dolphin bucks this trend, taking a longer-term view. Huge efforts are being made to communicate what marks out the firm as being different, and it’s a tricky balancing act.

On the one hand Brewin Dolphin is at the very forefront of embracing and utilising new technologies (with an innovative MyBrewin web portal and even an Apple Watch app), and yet this is a firm that has managed money for more than 250 years, helped generations of families and has a remarkable and proud history.

Inclusivity Although the balancing act may seem a little paradoxical, what ties the proud heritage of Brewin Dolphin and the drive for modernity together is a simple thing. Exceptional service and inclusivity: a desire to find new clients at every stage in their financial journey and stick by them, supporting and nurturing them along the way.

“We take our responsibility very seriously when it comes to ensuring that everyone can benefit from expertise when it comes to managing money and savings.” Said Christine Hawdon, Divisional Director at Brewin Dolphin’s Newcastle office.

“There’s the real risk of an ‘advice gap’ widening – where increasing numbers of people end up excluded from getting expert advice on how best to make their money work harder for them, and how to structure investments. In part attributable to the new pension freedoms, we’re now seeing an increased demand for advice, when the number of people in a position to give that advice is in decline or they are turning away clients deemed not profitable enough to service. That doesn’t reflect the values we stand for at Brewin Dolphin, and it’s not the way we work.”

The Journey There has long been the perception that a significantly high level of wealth is needed to become a Brewin Dolphin client. In fact, Brewin Dolphin’s range of services are such that anyone with around £10,000 can be a client and can benefit from the firm’s “with you for life” approach to securing people’s financial future and helping them to achieve goals.

As Christine explains, “We could lay out in fine detail all the market intelligence and macro-economic analysis done by our in-house research team, but what clients really want is to be comfortable, and able to trust that they are in the right hands. It’s about so much more than technical skill - it is also about personal understanding.

“The investment managers and financial planners here in the Newcastle office are a genuinely diverse bunch. We have staff of varying ages across all our teams; we have a far higher percentage of female managers and advisors than

NOV/DEC18

One of Brewin Dolphin Newcastle’s three dedicated Investment Management teams

the industry average, reflecting the fact that more women are investing, and they have different lifespans, time horizons and priorities. We also have specialists focusing on certain areas; some deal with business owners, others professional advisors, others young entrepreneurs.”

What this means in practice is that Brewin Dolphin can always offer a personalised service tailored to an individual, while being able to draw on the overall expertise of an office with a wide range of knowledge and experience.

Clients of Brewin Dolphin are much more than numbers on a page and wherever possible, investment managers are matched with clients based on specialism, interests, expertise, or even just rapport. It may seem unimportant to some, but Brewin Dolphin believe (and have proven) that this approach delivers a better service and cements a relationship.

Being a Brewin Dolphin Client Few people have the knowledge, the confidence and the time to deal with their financial planning and investments, so put value in the ability to work with Brewin Dolphin to help them achieve their goals. This involves exploring and identifying their goals and needs, and the best way to address them. This usually includes discussing a range of other issues and a wider analysis.

“The message is this”, said Christine. “Whether you’re an

Clients of Brewin Dolphin are much more than numbers on a page, they are matched with a manager on specialism, interests, expertise, or even just rapport individual looking to check you’re taking advantage of tax allowances or your pension is right for you; a new investor looking for an ISA or our Brewin Portfolio Service; or someone with more to invest in our discretionary services – we’re here to help. If you’re a charity or a company that needs to discuss investment, we’re here for that too.

“Brewin Dolphin is open for business and open to everyone, and we’re in it for the long term. Just as we’ve been around as a firm for over 200 years, we still value that ethos and it shows in the way we work. We develop long-term relationships with our clients on which we place genuine worth, and our clients feel valued and appreciated.”

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REST-UP

Kathryn Armstrong discovers a remote getaway with an easy-going charm

Fe llsid e fi n e r y Brownber Hall near Kirby Stephen is a blissful little hideaway with loads of heart.

Hugged by hills, the location itself, overlooking the Howgill Fells, offers up instant calm. As soon as your boots crunch on the gravel drive those weary, hunched shoulders release their knots and it’s impossible to do anything but take a deep breath of proper fresh air.

Once inside the sturdy house, eyes are drawn to a glass dome covering homemade cake with a sign demanding, ‘eat me’. Oh, go on then you cheeky banana loaf.

Genial young host Peter comes to say hello.

He and wife Amanda have transformed the hall into a restful boutique B&B over the past two years after heading for these hills from London.

They’ve brought with them an eye for a certain kind of style that is very much its own, which becomes obvious once you start to wander the rooms.

Furniture spans the eras, from mid-century to recycled to antique. There are sofas aplenty and welcoming mismatched chairs in the light-flooded sitting rooms where you also find piles of newspapers, shelves of books and towers of board games. You

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could really hunker down for some time…

Wooden floors and aged rugs bring an informality to the place and we’re soon drawn to the honesty bar which is a gloriously glamorous and kitsch affair complete with gold pineapple ice bucket.

Local beers and gins are waiting as well as organic prosecco and easy-drinking (and very reasonably-priced) wines. Have fun playing bartender then leave a note in the book of what you’ve had. All very civilised and homely.

Brownber Hall is a genuinely nice place to be. It has been painstakingly rescued and revived by Peter and Amanda who have made the most of the many original features of the place – especially lovely are beautiful original Victorian stained glass windows.

One of the bedrooms has a dramatic feature window with striking red and blue glass panels and the room’s furnishings gently embrace the colours in a pared-back way with homely wool throws that nod to the tones.

All eight ensuite rooms are packed with character – instead of wardrobes, the owners commissioned a local blacksmith to create useful hanging rails for your clothes.

In the bathrooms you find lovely artisan toiletries.

The master suite is front-facing and has a magnificent view over the Howgill Fells. This room also has a comfortable chaise longue, a decadent spot to relax and soak up the view. The rooms have very well-chosen reading material as well as a TV. One thing Peter and Amanda are very proud of is the Brownber sourdough. It finds its way to the breakfast in its tasty and toasty loaf form and in the evenings the convivial dining room turns pizza parlour – for arguably one of the best pizzas to pass your lips. The neat evening menu features sourdough pizzas as main courses and some triumphant salad and antipasti offerings as starters. These are fresh, well-dressed and light – the perfect prelude to the pizza.

Neopolitan-style pizzas all have great sourdough bases, nicely charred and chewy, topped with whatever takes your fancy from the menu. Anchovy and olive was a fine combo as was another topped with Cumbrian air-dried ham. Genuinely impressive pizzas with which we drank a charming, fruity house red.

You may or may not be able to handle dessert after those pizzas. We managed the ever-faithful affogato pleasure of vanilla ice cream, espresso and biscotti.

Back to the sofas for chat, wine then a big sleep in a sumptuously comfy bed, waking up to those fellside views. And the promise of more sourdough.

Faultless breakfast. A cafetiere of punchy coffee then the irresistible Cumbrian works:

splendid local sausages, bacon and the trimmings. Other offerings included homemade granola, muesli, yogurt and fruit compote or waffles and streaky bacon with berries and syrup.

After this your body demands a walk. One of the best things about the location is that you simply step outside of Brownber Hall’s front door to discover a number of outstanding walking routes. They are easy to follow thanks to some expertly prepared print-outs and make the most of the remote and beautiful landscape surrounding the hall.

We hit the tracks for the unmissable easy two-mile stroll along the old disused railway line (it went from Darlington to the Cumbrian coast), until you reach the spectacular Smardale viaduct, which stands at 40 metres high.

The viaduct is home to many rare birds, plants and animals who have made their homes in the hidden valley, which is a nature reserve of internationally recognised significance.

If you’re ready to work up an appetite you can also take the seven-mile route to the lovely village of Ravenstonedale and the very welcoming Black Swan Hotel which is perfect for a post-walk pint.

Rooms at Brownber Hall cost from £90 for a double room Pizzas from £7 www.brownberhall.co.uk

NOV/DEC18

SOFAS | BEDS | MATTRESSES

Visit our Seaton Delaval showroom at Delcor House, Double Row, NE25 0PR Only 20 minutes from Newcastle city centre 0191 237 1303 WWW.DELCOR.CO.UK

LUXE LOVES

LUXE LOVES Bejewelled beauties Handmade by Corbridge jeweller Robert Pughe, these bespoke rings are the ultimate keepsake.

L-R: Platinum ring set with 1.39ct oval aquamarine and 0.67cts half moon cut diamonds, £6,200.

Platinum and 18ct yellow gold ring set with 1.27ct rose cut natural brown diamond and 0.81cts brilliant cut diamonds, £8.400.

Platinum ring set with a 2.55ct sapphire and 0.61cts brilliant cut diamonds, £9,300. www.saundersandpughe.com

62 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

NOV/DEC18

Seasons Greetings

AWARD WINNING HAIRDRESSING

HOOKER & YOUNG GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE TO BUY IN ALL SALONS Darlington 01325 468 994 Gosforth 0191 217 0217 Jesmond 0191 281 6714 Ponteland 01661 821 004 Wynyard 01740 644 690

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ROOM TIME

REST & RELAX

Hip hotels with Debrah Dhugga

A lakeside retreat close to home reveals autumn at its loveliest...

HOTEL >> After a hot and sunny summer, I couldn’t wait for the arrival of autumn with walks in the crisp air, leaves crunching underfoot. The Lake District does autumn so well and a getaway to Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa, nestled in the heart of the Lake District’s beautiful Borrowdale valley was idyllic. The hotel has amazing panoramic views over Derwentwater, which reflects the vibrant oranges, vivid yellows and warm reds of the stunning autumnal leaves and spectacular Catbells mountain range.

ROOMS >> I checked into one of the hotel’s brand-new Spa Suites. These have recently opened as part of a big refurbishment project that also includes a new state-of-the-art spa and restaurant. The spacious suite was the ideal mix of cosy and contemporary, with Scandi-inspired decor and designer furniture.

I was delighted to find a walk-in wardrobe!

And a snug seating area was the ideal place to curl up with a book looking out

64 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

of floor-to-ceiling windows with aweinspiring views over the lake, forest and fells.

RELAX >> Have a bath and soak away the worries of everyday life whilst overlooking the lake to the gentle sound of the hotel’s very own waterfall. For something more active, take a stroll to nearby Keswick, returning to warming fires, afternoon tea or a refreshing drink in one of the hotel’s cosy lounges, contemporary conservatory or outdoor terrace. I can’t wait to return once the new Falls Spa opens later this year!

OUT & ABOUT >> All guests at Lodore Falls Hotel receive free boot hire from George Fishers of Keswick, so they can take advantage of the region’s many hiking trails without having to pack heavy walking boots. A 10% discount is available to all guests for several other local activities such as ghyll scrambling, paddleboarding or a visit to the only working slate mine in England, plus the best Via Ferrata in the UK.

This is high-energy stuff - you can hang off the cliff-edge ladders, take on the Burma bridge and scramble up the huge cargo net to reach the summit of Fleetwith Pike.

At the hotel, four-legged friends are given the warmest of welcomes with dog beds and bowls provided and dedicated dog lounges to relax in. It’s great to have a fabulous luxury dog-friendly hotel – we’ve found these are pretty rare in Lakes.

FOOD >> The pan-Asian restaurant, Mizu is headed up by Kasun Jayasooriya, serving up sensational sushi, sashimi, crisp tempura,

The spacious suite was the ideal mix of cosy and contemporary, with Scandi-inspired decor and designer furniture

fragrant curries, ramens and dishes from the grill, which certainly did not disappoint.

For those looking for something more traditional, the hotel also has a superb Lake View Restaurant with quality locally-sourced menus.

GETTING THERE >> So easy: from the North East the hotel is reachable in less than two hours.

Factbox Stays at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa start from £190 on a bed & breakfast basis based on two people sharing a standard room.

The new Spa Suites start from £460 a night on a bed & breakfast basis based on two people sharing - well worth it! www.lakedistricthotels.net/lodorefalls

NOV/DEC18

Big Brand Sale

At Tecaz we love to give the opportunity for you to see and touch a range of bathrooms or kitchens before you decide to purchase. Our showrooms feature over 200 bathrooms, 100 showers and 50 kitchen displays, you're sure to nd what you are looking for.

With our Biggest Sale of the year now on save up to 50% off RRP on Arcade, Burlington, Britton, Clearwater, Crosswater, Bauhaus and Simpsons.

FREE computer planning and design are available, for larger projects, we offer installation support. We are conndent you'll achieve your dream space.

FREE granite or Silestone worktops available on selected kitchen ranges.

Tecaz www.tecaz.com

Norham Road, North Shields, NE29 7TN • Tel : 0191 257 6511 Portrack Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2HG • Tel: 01642 610 100 Tecaz Echo House, Pennywell Ind Est, SR4 9EN • Tel : 0191 534 7733 Opening hours Monday - Friday : 9am - 6pm • Saturday : 9am - 5pm •Sunday 10am - 4pm

TOASTY TIMES

Festive supper Three course feast >>

A festive menu inspired by Moroccan cuisine. Steering away from the traditional, this seasonal supper uses a bit of Christmas sugar and spice, to make it a perfect winter warmer

STARTER BEETROOT, WHITE BEAN & ORANGE BLOSSOM GALETTE (Serves 6) Ingredients 1 orange, segmented 150g raw beetroot 1 tbls orange blossom water 1 tin cannelini or butter beans 1 lemon ½ tsp sumac (optional) 3 tbls honey Salt and pepper 320g ready rolled shortcrust pastry, at room temp 100g feta (optional) Fresh thyme 1 egg, beaten (or dairy free milk)

TEA TIME A dinner party is about those little moments that make life lovely, says Jen Nelson. A fusion of friends, flowers and local flavours create fabulous festive supper clubs. Elysia Agnew takes a break to talk teatime treats and winter retreats What does tea mean to you? A warm, wake-me-up cup? An afternoon treat to accompany something sweet? In Yorkshire, tea is a moment in time. A time to switch off and socialise over supper. Tea is an everyday fixture, but sometimes it’s nice to take it out of our own hands, hand it over to someone else and toast to something special.

With all of that in mind, Tea and a Toast was born. With an eye for vintage styling, combined with a career in catering and a genuine love of all things local and lovely, Jen Nelson - the brains behind the new business - saw a gap in the market for teatime treats with a difference.

A supper club with Tea and a Toast is about sitting back and socialising over supper.

Throw in a bit of colour, Christmas decor and Yorkshire charm, and you’ve got a fabulous festive feast on your hands.

“For me, it’s about picking a theme and following it through in everything from the food to the flowers,” says Jen, from Hutton Rudby, North Yorkshire.

“I’ve always been a foodie and had an eye for design, so it seemed the perfect project for me after years of working in bars and restaurants,” she adds.

Tea and a Toast likes to keep things simple.

Vegan and vegetarian cooking takes centre stage, with emphasis on flavour, fresh produce and floral decorations. A vintage tea party with all the trimmings.

“Vibrant, vegetarian cooking is what I bring to the party,” says Jen. “I just love to share my ideas, inspiration

66 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

and love of food with others. It’s about experimenting with flavours and creating a truly unique experience for guests.”

Jen’s eclectic vegetarian supper clubs start with a cuisine theme, often inspired by a city or country she’s travelled to. It’s about taking an idea, running with it and injecting a bit of fun into the whole process, creating a beautifully relaxed atmosphere where people can enjoy delicious food, sip cocktails and gather around a colourful table.

“Tea and a Toast is about taking time out to appreciate the finer things in life,” says Jen. “It all started with pop-up supper clubs held in cafes, homes and village halls,” she adds.

“We’ve had some amazing events at The Rusty Bike Cafe in Swainby. At the foot of the North York Moors, it’s the perfect, rustic backdrop for a proper country dinner party.

“Next year, as the business grows, I will be running a series of retreats and getaways based in the North Yorkshire countryside.

“The retreats are centred around the idea of experiencing a slower pace of life; whether it’s learning something new in a workshop, switching off for a yoga class, sitting back with a cocktail or watching the sunset from a canvas tipi. It’s about stripping things back and enjoying what we love most – or in some cases, what we can’t find the time to do in our busy lives.”

Whether you’re looking for help on how to host at home, you’d love to join a specially designed Yorkshire dinner party, or you need top tips for a stress-free supper, make time for festive feasts and winter treats this season. www.tea-andatoast.com

Method Heat the oven to 200 degrees C (180 fan), roast the beetroot whole in their skins (no need for any oil) for 40 minutes, or until you can easily pierce them with a knife.

Once cool, top and tail the beetroot and peel the skins, and slice. Wear gloves if you don’t want pink fingers.

While the beetroot are cooking, drain the beans and either blend in a food processor, or mash with a fork until a paste. Add the juice of half the lemon, a big pinch of salt and pepper to tast, and the sumac. Keep to one side.

In a large bowl, mix the beetroot slices with the honey, orange blossom water and 1 ½ tsp salt.

Unroll the pastry on to a lined baking sheet. Spread the bean mixture on to the pastry, leaving a 5cm border around the edge. Arrange the beetroot over the beans.

Fold the pastry edges into the middle and press the corners to seal the galette. It doesn’t have to be neat. Pour any juice from the beetroot bowl into the centre of the galette.

Garnish with the orange segments, crumbled feta and thyme sprigs, then brush the pastry with egg, before baking in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden.

Slice up and serve with mixed leaves.

SIDE HONEY & RAS-EL HANOUT ROAST CARROTS (Serves 6) Ingredients 3 tbls honey 2 tbls ras-el-hanout 2 tbls oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tsp salt 600g carrots, peeled if necessary, and sliced lengthways until they’re all a similar size Pistachios and pomegranate seeds to garnish Method Heat the oven to 220 degrees C (200 fan).

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients, except the carrots and garnishes.

In a roasting tray, evenly coat the carrots in the spice mix, roast for 30 minutes until caramelised.

Garnish with pistachios and pomegranate seeds and serve.

NOV/DEC18

TOASTY TIMES

HOW TO HOST A DINNER PARTY >>

COCKTAILS >> FESTIVE MULE (Makes 1) A Christmassy twist on the classic Moscow mule – with rosemary, cinnamon and fiery ginger beer.

Ingredients 37.5ml vodka 15ml lemon juice 15ml homemade rosemary and cinnamon syrup or gingerbread coffee syrup Bitters Ginger beer Crushed ice Cinnamon and rosemary to garnish

MAIN SPICED SQUASH & AUBERGINE TAGINE (Serves 6) Ingredients 4 red onions, sliced 4 garlic cloves, crushed 400ml vegetable stock 2 aubergines, cut into chunks 1 butternut squash, sliced into 1cm pieces 1 tin chopped tomatoes 1 tsp turmeric 2 tsp mixed spice Salt and pepper ½ tsp coriander seeds, crushed 1 tsp dried crushed chillis Natural yoghurt and flaked almonds to garnish Cous cous or crusty bread to serve Method Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C (160 fan).

In a roasting tin, add the squash, coriander seeds and chilli with 2 tbls of oil and 1 tsp of salt, stir to combine, then roast for 40 minutes, or until tender and golden.

In a large saucepan, heat 4 tbls of oil over a medium-low heat, add the onions and cook gently for 15-20 minutes, or until soft.

Add the garlic and cook for another 10 minutes, being careful not to let it burn.

Stir in the turmeric, mixed spice, ¾ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, the stock and chopped tomatoes and simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the aubergine and stir to combine, adding a little hot water to make sure the sauce just covers the veg. Turn up the heat and bring to the boil for 5 minutes.

Add the roast squash to the pan, cover with a lid, and cook on medium-low for 20-25 minutes.

Taste and re-season if necessary, garnish with the flaked almonds and yogurt, and enjoy.

Method Rosemary and cinnamon - make the syrup ahead of time. Place a cinnamon stick with a few springs of fresh rosemary in a small saucepan with half a cup of water and half a cup of sugar. Simmer and stir until all the sugar has dissolved. Allow it to cool before removing the herbs.

In a glass, (or mule tin) stir to combine the vodka, lemon juice and sugar syrup with a couple dashes of bitters. Fill the glass 3/4 full with ice and top with ginger beer.

Garnish and serve.

Tip: leave out the vodka and bitters for a non alcoholic alternative.

CHOOSE A SIMPLE MENU >> A small starter, a one-pot main with a mixed-leaf salad, and a cake or tart for dessert.

Ideally, make something you’re already comfortable with, and don’t risk trying an obscure recipe when you’re unsure of the outcome. A few drinks and nibbles when guests are arriving can stall if you haven’t quite got everything ready.

PREPARE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN THE DAY BEFORE >> Opt for a main dish that can be prepared and assembled ahead of time, then just pop it in the oven, or on the hob, before everyone sits down.

Things like curry or lasagne, and even cakes taste much better the day after you make them. Serve everything family-style, bringing the dishes to the table for everyone to help themselve.

CREATE SOME AMBIANCE >> Turn off the main overhead lights where you’re eating, and use lamps, mismatched candles and fairy lights for an intimate, cosy vibe.

TURN ON THE MUSIC >> Whether you opt for a mini speaker, record player or a full sound system, music makes a big difference. Find ready-made playlists on Spotify or YouTube if you don’t trust shuffling your own music.

SETTING THE TABLE. Personally, I love a colourful table, with a mix of modern and vintage crockery collected from charity shops over the years. It’s also useful if you need to borrow extra plates and dishes for a large party, as it looks intentional! Use flowers, either bought or foraged from hedgerows, to add colour.

DESSERT ROSE CHOCOLATE GANACHE WITH BISCUIT BASE (Serves 6 – 8) Ingredients 200g of biscuits 150g dark chocolate, broken into pieces 100g milk chocolate, (or sub for extra dark chocolate, if preferred) broken into pieces 250ml single cream, dairy or soya 2 tbls butter (optional) A few drops of rose water Method Grease the cups or tart case with butter or coconut oil.

Place the biscuits into a freezer bag, seal, and smash up with a rolling pin or pan. Divide the biscuit crumb into the cups and gently press down.

In a saucepan, gently bring the cream to a boil. Meanwhile, add the chocolate, rose water and butter to a mixing bowl.

Once the cream is boiling, pour it into the bowl of chocolate. Wait a minute for it to melt before stirring to combine.

Divide the chocolate mixture amongst the cups, gently tapping them to release any air bubbles. Decorate with rose petals and almonds, and refrigerate until needed.

NOV/DEC18

All the ingredients for the perfect

Christmas EARLY BOOKING INCENTIVE AVAILABLE ENJOY DELICIOUS FESTIVE SPECIALS AND CLASSIC MARCO PIERRE WHITE DISHES T: +44 (0)191 300 9222 E: events@mpwsteakhousenewcastle.com MPWNewcastle

Marco Pierre White Newcastle

MPWNewcastle

WWW.MPWRESTAURANTS.COM

www.luxe-magazine.co.uk 67

CROWD-PLEASER

FISH COURSE

Sociable Salmon en Croute SERVES 4 Ingredients

WITH TERRY LAYBOURNE The perfect festive parcel.

Salmon is always a crowd-pleaser and as we head towards the festive season and family gatherings, this recipe for salmon en croute is a good one to have in your culinary armoury.

You can prepare it ahead and double up the quantities for bigger gatherings.

It looks impressive served up and needs little more than potatoes and watercress salad served up alongside.

68 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

500g Wester Ross salmon fillet, skinned Salt Pepper 400g spinach, washed 2 shallots, finely chopped 20g dill, chopped 20g chives, finely chopped 1tbls horseradish sauce 100g cream cheese Lemon juice 50g melted butter 500g ready rolled puff pastry 2 egg yolks

Method Preheat the oven to 200oc/Gas mark 6.

Sweat the spinach in a little butter

for a couple of minutes in a small sautĂŠ pan.

It is essential to drain off any liquid.

Then chill for ten minutes in the fridge Chop the spinach and place in a small mixing bowl, along with the dill, chives, shallots, horseradish, cream cheese and lemon juice. Stir to combine and check the seasoning.

Cut the salmon fillet in to two even pieces and season with salt and pepper.

Place the first piece of salmon onto a small tray then spread the cream cheese and herb mixture over before placing the second piece of salmon directly on top. Brush the top surface with melted butter and chill for 30 minutes.

Mix the egg yolk with a little water and use

a pastry brush to coat one side of the pastry with the egg.

Place the salmon fillet in the middle of the eggy side, butter side down, fold the pastry to form a join on the side. Turn the Salmon over so that the buttered side of the fish is uppermost. Chill for 30 minutes. Cut a small hole in the pastry to allow steam to escape before cooking Bake for 25 or so minutes until golden brown and piping hot (a food temperature probe should read around 55oC). Allow to rest for five minutes or so before serving in slices.

A big watercress salad and some new potatoes are the only accompaniments you need.

Add a hollandaise sauce if you wish.

NOV/DEC18

WELL-PRESERVED

Savouring the seasons WITH KAREN PHILLIPS ‘backpacking rodents’ will arrive for their winter break and set up home in your steamy sauna of a heap. Winter rains will leach valuable nitrogen out of the heap hence covering will conserve that nitrogen for your soil to make use of next spring when it will be in short supply. Old bubble wrap sandwiched in a large dustbin bag is a great insulator for the heap.

• Seed Selection: Time to dream of what we’ll harvest and grow next year. I’ll be ordering my ‘Lemon Drop Chilli’ seeds from the Real Seed Catalogue, Italian staples of Agretti, Puntarelle de Cicoria and a stripy red and green lettuce called Cicoria variegata di Castelfranco from Seeds of Italy.

UPCOMING COURSES @LINNELS FARM BREAD BAKING - PART 2 >> 16 NOV

As the days shorten it’s time to look to our Northern neighbours for inspiration: twinkly lights and scented candles brighten the dark evenings, whilst fuggy baking sessions making Danish Christmas Kringle scent the whole house and fulfil the promise to start those Christmas preparations earlier this year

The fantastic summer we had resulted in a fabulous crop of pumpkins, especially the Cinderella-carriage of a pumpkin, ‘Musque de Provence’. Pumpkins and squash need 90-120 days of sunshine to ripen which is usually a tall order in this part of the world. A welcome Christmas gift, even to oneself, is a jar of Indian spiced pickle; the perfect accompaniment to leftovers and for adding some zing to winter fare. This is adapted from a recipe in ‘Salt Sugar Smoke’: a brilliant preserving book by one of my favourite cookbook authors, Diane Henry.

PUMPKIN ACHAR >> This will make enough to fill four jam jars Ingredients 750g pumpkin/squash 2 red onions, roughly chopped 25g fresh root ginger, peeled 2 chillies – deseeded 6 garlic cloves, peeled 200ml rapeseed oil 1tsp fenugreek seeds 1tsp cumin seeds 3tsp yellow mustard seeds 1tbsp ground turmeric 3tsp mustard powder Pinch of asafoetida 2tsp black pepper Zest of 4 limes plus 100ml of lime juice 225ml cider vinegar 300g granulated sugar 2tsp sea salt

NOV/DEC18

Method Sterilise your jam jars and lids by washing and covering in boiling water then place the jars in a low oven to dry. Peel and deseed the pumpkin and cut into even-sized chunks.

Whizz the onions, garlic, chillies and ginger in a food processor with 150ml of the rapeseed oil. Put the rest of the oil in a large saucepan and, when the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and fenugreek, cooking until they start to pop, then add the onion/garlic/chilli/ginger mix. Reduce the heat and cook for 10 minutes before adding the rest of the ground spices and stirring quickly for a minute, to ensure you don’t burn them. Add the lime zest, juice, vinegar and sugar and stir until dissolved; meanwhile boil a large pan of water and blanche the pumpkin pieces for 90 seconds then remove with a slotted spoon and add to the saucepan. Stir and bring the whole mixture to the boil for 5 minutes before packing into your sterilised jars. Tap each jar to ensure there are no air pockets and top up with a little extra oil if the pumpkin is not covered in sauce. This keeps for a month.

SPECULAAS Apparently named from Latin ‘speculum’ meaning mirror to reflect the fact that these biscuits were traditionally pressed into carved wooden moulds and the resulting shapes turned out and then baked. Dutch children put out their shoes for St Nicholas on 5 December and, if they have been good, they wake up on St Nicholas Day to find them filled with gold coins whilst eating these spiced biscuits – a great excuse to eat biscuits well before Christmas but these have the added benefit of lasting really well for 2-3 weeks in a tin or they can be frozen.

Ingredients 250g plain flour Pinch of bicarb of soda 175g unsalted butter, cubed 140g light brown sugar 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp of grated nutmeg 1/4 tsp of ground cloves Up to 3tbsp milk Method Optional decorations: Blanched whole almonds and icing sugar mixed with water to form a thick icing that can be piped.

Put the flour, bicarb and butter in a food processor and pulse until breadcrumbs (alternatively rub in by hand). Stir in the sugar and spices and add as much milk as is needed to make a stiff dough. Press into a disc shape and wrap in cling film – chill in the fridge overnight. The next day preheat the oven to 180C. Roll out the dough between two well-floured sheets of baking paper until it is 1cm thick then, using a biscuit cutter (or a treasure of a hand-carved wooden speculaa board - on my Santa list!) cut shapes out and place on a buttered baking sheet. Press blanched whole almonds into the biscuits if desired. Bake for 20 minutes or until they are still slightly soft to touch – they will crisp up when cool. Ice when cold if wished.

JOBS TO SORT: • Plot Clearing: Time to get a head start for next year. Clear all the old vegetation onto the compost heap and then spread last year’s well-rotted compost on top of the weeded soil in a thick mulch - leave the worms to drag it into the soil over winter. Lime the area where your brassicas will go next yeargenerally where your peas grew the previous year so the brassicas can benefit from the nitrogen-fixation by the pea roots. Leave six weeks between liming and then adding mulch to this area otherwise the lime will react with nitrogen in the compost to form ammonia and will be lost to the atmosphere.

• Turn and cover the compost heaps: It is a good idea to keep visiting the compost heaps and disturbing them otherwise

In response to those who attended Bread Basics and wanted more! Join us on this one-day workshop and learn how to make perfect pretzels, crusty baguettes, delicious doughnuts, and Tarte Flambee.

MAKE THIS A STRESS-FREE CHRISTMAS >> 21 NOV On this course you’ll get a head start on Christmas: boozy mincemeat made, melt-in-the-mouth mincepies nestled in the freezer, and a sneaky selection of canapés and desserts ready to whip out for those impromptu drinks parties.

We’ll touch on those old chestnuts: what to do with leftovers and how to woo your vegetarian guests with something other than risotto. But most of all this may be your last chance to relax before the chaos commences!

EUROPEAN FESTIVE BAKING >> 30 NOV Join us for a day of festive bakes with not a Christmas cake in sight! Danish Christmas Kringle; spectacular Speculaas pretty enough to hang on the tree; light and airy stollen muffins and crisp Finnish sugar cookies that will last for weeks in a tin, perfect for those unexpected guests.

MAKE THIS XMAS A GREEN ONE – WILLOW WORKSHOP >> 7 DEC Make this Xmas a green one….your chance to work with Phil Bradley to create a range of decorations using natural materials. We’ll be working with willow, hazel and silver birch to make Scandinavian-inspired stars, garlands, gift tags and other creations.

CHRISTMAS ALL WRAPPED UP! >> 13 DEC Take the stress out of Christmas with this half-day workshop on gift wrapping techniques. Depart with the ability to wrap awkwardly shaped presents with style, make budget gifts look a million dollars and add some personality to presents for friends! >> For further details visit www.linnelsfarm.com

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YES CHEF!

PUTTING ON THE RITZ Chef John Williams has gone from working class South Shields boy to feeling like ‘a millionaire’ in the grand surroundings of The Ritz where he cooks for kings, queens, prime ministers and popstars.

In a new book, he lifts the lid on his kitchen know-how in this grandest of hotels

John Williams is the chef in charge of all the chefs in one of the world’s most glamorous hotels, The Ritz, London.

It’s a place loved by royals and romantics, and somewhere that holds a very special place in the heart of the man who learned his passion for food from a curry-loving dad and family-feeding mother.

In his new book The Ritz London: The Cookbook, John concludes, “I am the luckiest man in the world. I’m a Geordie from a hard, working-class background, but when this place is in full swing and I walk down the long gallery, past The Palm Court as afternoon tea is served and the pianist plays, and then step into the grandeur of the extraordinarily special restaurant... at that moment I feel as if I am a millionaire”.

His book is a collection of recipes for dishes that are served to guests at The Ritz, which opened its doors in the spring of 1906. They include favourites from afternoon tea in The Palm Court, canapés and cocktails in The Rivoli Bar, and specialities from William Kent House, where private functions and banquets are held.

The book is also the story of John’s life, from apprentice to still-humble ‘chef of chefs’.

Few restaurants are as magnificent as the one at The Ritz and few can boast a history as rich. Kings have visited with their queens (and their mistresses). Prime ministers and presidents have sat beneath the dazzling chandeliers, plotting the future of nations.

Across the white linen tables, stars of stage and screen have clinked champagne flutes and fallen in love.

“In The Restaurant, lives have changed. Mine

70 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

did: I was offered the role of executive chef over lunch there”, recalls John.

“How very different life is now to my early years... I grew up in South Shields, the second oldest of six children. My father, a fisherman, spent 13 days at a time at sea; home for a couple of nights and then off again, so really it was Mam who raised us.

“I remember playing football on a Sunday morning – I was seven or eight. Mam shouted, “John! Help me with the potatoes.”

I dashed into the kitchen and scraped the Jersey Royals. As they boiled, she handed me a bunch of mint. “Chop that!” I put the chopped mint in a bowl, added vinegar, water, a spoonful of sugar and mixed. Then I put the bowl into the oven, as instructed by my mother. That’s how she made mint sauce... and she still has that bowl (it’s a bit chipped now).

“When the potatoes were cooked, I said, ‘I’m starving.’ I was always a hungry lad.

‘Have this, John.’ She took a plate and spooned onto it four or five steaming hot Jersey Royals. She slathered on butter, which melted and coated them so they were glossy and irresistible. As I tucked in, she smiled and for reassurance said, ‘Do you like that?’

I did”.

Those Sunday lunches were the stuff of legend, “massive roast with Yorkshire puddings, five different veg and potatoes, and that meant two types of potatoes, such as creamed and boiled. Plus lashings of gravy!”

His stories are full of nostalgia and charm: “On Saturdays I’d help with the shopping.

We’d go to the greengrocer’s: wooden crates, floor to head height, of apples and pears, oranges and lemons,

“French beans, broad beans – you name it, he had it. What you bought went into brown paper bags, and the man sealed each bag by spinning it by the two top corners.

“We got strawberries in punnets – they were fresh from a farm and, I can tell you, they would never see a refrigerator. We’d set off home, the aroma of warm strawberries seeping through the punnet into the bag and up to our noses. Halfway home, Mam would suddenly stop and step from the sun into the shade beneath a tree and say, “John, give us the strawberries.”

“Then from the punnet, which was now wet and crimson with strawberry juice, we’d each pick a strawberry, the biggest we could see, and bite into it. Rich, plump and juicy enough to quench the thirst in an instant.

“At the pork butcher’s shop we got Dad’s black pudding and pig’s trotters, or a joint of pork for roasting. Mam would nod toward me as she said to the butcher, ‘Give him thruppence of tripe, please.’ With his hands the size of bear paws, the butcher would take a small bag and fill it with tripe. He’d then give the tripe a proper dousing of malt vinegar – splish, splosh – and a shower of salt and pepper. That was my treat for going to the shops. On the way home, I’d eat it all up.

“Mam also cooked ‘plate pies’, savoury and sweet. For savoury, she’d line the plate with pastry, cover it with minced meat and add a pastry topping. I’d try to help when she made apple and blackberry plate pies, fascinated by the blackberry juice bleeding into the apple flesh. She’d take a little bit of butter, a little bit of flour, a little bit of sugar and a touch of water and then, ‘That looks all right...’ She did not cook measure by measure. She just knew what to do, and she always made food that was filling because she had a big family to fill”.

When the opportunity arose to study catering at college, John took it, even though at that time it was considered a “girly” choice.

“Most of the lads at school would end up as fishermen, shipbuilders or down the mines. I was adamant. “I want to cook.”

And what a success he’s made of the decision, reaching the Ritz heady heights.

The Ritz opened on 24 May 1906. Since then it has been the setting for many moments that have made history. Meanwhile, César Ritz, who died in 1918, described it modestly as, “a small house to which I am proud to see my name attached.”

Guests have spanned history. From Churchill to Thatcher, from Ghandi to the Aga Khan, from Chaplin to Jagger and Warhol.

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A CULINARY CV >> JOHN’S CULINARY CV >> At 16, John enrolled at catering college, and then began his cooking career at The Percy Arms Hotel, in Otterburn, Northumberland.

Moving to London in 1975, he grafted in the kitchens of The Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, ascending the ranks to become chef de cuisine.

In 1986, after a couple of years as chef directeur of Restaurant Le Crocodile in Kensington, John joined the brigade at Claridge’s.

He fell in love with the hotel profession; the passion has never faded. John was premier sous chef at Claridge’s. He left the hotel in 1984 to oversee the kitchens at The Berkeley, >> Credit John Carey before returning to Claridge’s, this time in the role of maître chef des cuisines. John held that position until 2004, when he was appointed executive chef at The Ritz London. In the same year he was made executive chairman of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, a post he retains to this day.

In 2005 he became the first British chef to be honoured with the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Merite Agricole, for services to French cuisine.

He is also an acknowledged disciple of Escoffier (Le Conseil Magistral de Disciples d’Auguste Escoffier).

His prizes and accolades includes a Catey for his “outstanding contribution to the industry”, and Tatler’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2016 The Restaurant at The Ritz won its first Michelin star. John’s services to hospitality were rewarded with an (MBE) in 2008.

The Ritz London: The Cookbook, £30 Mitchell Beazley

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71

TUSCAN FEASTING

CHEF’S TABLE with James Close, two Michelin star chef at Raby Hunt A trip to Italy is the stuff of gourmet dreams >> Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana

Bistecca Fiorentina, Parmigiano, Chianti and truffles… oh yes, truffles. Guess what we got up to on a recent getaway to Tuscany?

This is the heartland of fabulous food. Where the vineyards are abundant and pretty well every meal delivers. In fact, our meal of the trip wasn’t in a Michelin restaurant but in a neighbourhood restaurant called Osteria di Porta al Cassero in Montalcino.

We’d asked a local the best place to try pasta and this was the recommendation. The traditional pasta in these parts is Pinchi, a hand-rolled tube-shaped pasta with a nice bite to it. We ate it with an amazing sauce – made with cep mushrooms – and a gentle liquor of a cep stock I’d say. It was perfect. In fact Maria had a second plateful by way of ‘dessert’!

We started our trip with a visit to the three-star Osteria Francescana in Modena to experience the food of Massimo Bottura – one of the most celebrated chefs in the world.

He’s quite a character and Osteria Francescana is Italy’s best-loved restaurant and was ‘World’s Best Restaurant’ 2016. Bottura takes inspiration from contemporary art to create highly innovative dishes that play with Italian culinary traditions.

Foodies out there might like his book.

‘Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef ’, is the story of his a 25-year career and the evolution of Osteria Francescana.

Naturally our food was exceptional – he has a witty take on dishes - the ‘Five Ages Of Parmesan’ a case in point.

Arguably Bottura’s most famous dish. So, from the kitchen come five cheeses of different ages in different formats, from sauce to soufflé. It’s pretty spectacular.

As long as you like Parmesan.

If you’re a meat fan then one place I can’t recommend highly enough is Dario Cecchini. It’s a name to watch if you’re a fan of Chef’s Table on Netflix – he’ll be on in February.

He is one of the best butchers in Italy and at his Officina della Bistecca you sit down and eat some of the best meat you’ll ever taste, notably the original Bistecca alla Fiorentina and her ‘sisters’, the Costata and the Panzanese steak. You sit by the open wood grill and devour steaks and BYO wine.

The Officina has a €50 per person fixed menu, half for kids under ten.

It’s a really memorable place – you can be a butcher for the day too for €200.

At Officina della Bistecca you sit down and eat some of the best meat you’ll ever taste 72 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

Wine played a big part on the trip, this being the heartland of Chianti. We met up with wine suppliers and stayed at Borgo San Felice, pictured top of the page, which has its own vineyards making exceptional wines. These are now on the wine list at Raby Hunt.

We ate the first white truffles of the season and drank an amazing bottle of 2010 San Felice Il Grigio Chianti Classico, one of the best vintages.

This is an opportunity to put on an apron and go behind the scenes of the butcher shop, sharing the daily work and getting your hands dirty. You make Chianti butter, garlic sausages, see preparation of porchetta and the cutting of monumental Bistecche alla Fiorentina. There are trips to a local cattle ranch nearby and ‘after work’ you sit down at their table. Definitely recommended! www.dariocecchini.com We visited a pork version of the above in the village of Greve in Chianti – Enoteca Falorni.

Part butcher shop, part bistro, it is packed with cheese and wine and an incredible selection of the salamis and hams which the family has been making for generations based on their family recipes and techniques.

Hot off the press >> Obviously delighted to retain our two Michelin stars and had a great night celebrating with, among others, Gordon Ramsay and Sang Hoon Degeimbre of L’air du temps, Belgium There are only 20 two-star restaurants now so it’s a happy club to be in!

In other news...we will be making a limited edition collection of our luxurious skull chocolates for Christmas with a selection of enticing new fillings.

They will be available to pre-order from us mid-November and can be collected from Raby Hunt.

NOV/DEC18

IINDULGENCE

Rich and robust Dark nights demand rich fireside wines and of course, this is the season when we love to dive in to a supper of game and all the trimmings.

Chadwicks head chef Steve Lawford inspires, with some comforting recipes while wine man Lee Tolley gets to grips with the best of the Rhone.

<<

It’s the time of year for full-on feeding

A taste of the Rhône: the perfect partner for game Shiraz Grenache (The Wishbone, Magpie Estate), Barossa Valley, South Eastern Australia 2016

Shiraz 75%, Grenache 15%, Petite Sirah 7% 14% ABV

The Magpie Estate in the Barossa Valley has been going since 1993.

It’s understood that the winemaker has a love for Rhône varieties, which is clear to see in this wine. On the nose, plum and raspberry come through. Both fruits also make an appearance on the palate, together with black cherry and spice of cloves.

An excellent Australian approach to classic Rhône wine-making.

Pan Roast Venison Saddle, Venison Pastry & Parsnip Purée >>

Rasteau ‘La Ponce’ (Domaine des Escaravailles), Rhône, France 2014 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah 15% ABV

Serves 4

Ingredients

Method

Venison saddle (200g per portion) 500g venison mince 1 carrot 1 onion 1 celery 500ml beef stock 250ml red wine I pack ready-made puff pastry 500g parsnips 1 shallot 1 clove garlic 100g unsalted butter 400ml water 200ml cream

Parsnip Purée Peel and slice parsnips, shallots and garlic and put into saucepan. Add water and butter and simmer until all the liquid has gone. Add the cream and blitz until smooth.

Venison Pastry Dice carrots, onion and celery and sweat off in pan. Fry the mince until brown. Once browned, add beef stock and red wine. Reduce until thickened then cool. Once cool, mould into a pie with the pastry. Bake at 190°C for 8-12 minutes or until cooked through.

Venison Saddle Fry the saddle over a medium heat turning every few minutes until cooked to preference.

Plate Up Warm the parsnip purée and slice venison saddle.

Assemble as neatly as possible (be creative!). We add honey, roast parsnips and a red wine sauce to finish. Enjoy!

Having visited this vineyard a couple of times, this wine (the flagship of the Escaravailles estate) is an all-time favourite of mine. The vineyard itself sits 350m above sea level and is the highest in Rasteau.

Blackberry and bramble fruits on the nose and jammy fruits on the palate with notes of leather and tobacco.

A fantastic wine as it is, but laid down in a dark room for five years this wine will develop into something spectacular. It’s worth the wait.

Côte-Rôtie ‘La Germine’ (Duclaux), Rhône, France 2015 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier 13.5% ABV

A vineyard that is in its fourth generation of winemaking and currently being run by brothers Benjamin and David Duclaux. Dark fruit are prominent on the nose with a touch of smoke. Soft cooked fruits on the palate with a liquorice and savoury note.

A fantastic wine from top wine-makers. Another wine that will also benefit from being locked away for a few years – if you can resist it!

Country pub with award winning dining Michelin Bib Gourmand | 2AA Rosettes

chadwicksinnmaltby.co.uk

NOV/DEC18

Chadwicks Inn Maltby, High Lane, Maltby, Middlesbrough, TS8 0BG | 01642 590300

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73

PROPERTY PROFILE in association with

www.greatlook.co.uk

PRIME PROPERTY A rural retreat full of charm, character and chic country living

Langley Wood Houses captures the essence of luxe living in a rural location.

This spacious, five bedroom property is set back in a glorious green space just minutes from the buzz of Durham city centre – perfect for families who wish to be within easy reach of the urban lifestyle, but with no compromise on space.

Its modest exterior and country-cottage charm, combined with its design-led features and open-plan living, reflect the needs of modern living, but with the benefits of a luxurious, character property.

Through electric gates, a sweeping, tree-lined drive brings you to the front of the property, with ample space for parking.

The landscaped garden and decked balcony overlook meadows and woodland, ensuring the property is both private and peaceful.

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Inside, the grand hallway clearly opens up to spacious accommodation across two floors. With downstairs bedrooms and a family bathroom to the right, and living spaces to the left, there’s plenty of space to live, lounge and entertain.

Beyond the family room is a 45ft livingdining-kitchen area, flooded with natural light and high-vaulted ceilings. The wood-burning stove is a key feature in this luxurious open-plan living space, with full height glazing either side of the central chimney breast. Glass doors on either side open onto a paved sun terrace – an ideal space for entertaining in the summer months, with views over the garden, meadows and woodland.

As in many modern day abodes, the kitchen forms the heart of the home. A paradise for the cook of the house, complete with integrated appliances, all the latest mod

cons, fully fitted oak units, granite worktops and a centre island. It’s a sociable space that effortlessly blends into a relaxed dining area and lounge.

Completing the downstairs living space is a WC, plenty of storage and a utility room, with direct access to the property’s vast outside space. The ground floor also comprises three double bedrooms, two with separate dressing rooms and en-suite shower rooms.

The first floor is dedicated to the master suite and an additional bedroom or games room. The suite oozes style and sophistication with a contemporary twin-basin bathroom, walk-in dressing room and stacks of living space.

Space, style and serenity are three words that spring to mind at Langley Wood House.

It’s an idyllic escape within three miles of Durham city centre – with easy access to all

major North East road links.

Walks are in abundance for the outdoorsy type, transport links to nearby towns, cities and villages are within walking distance, and the opulence of contemporary, countryside living is at your fingertips.

A family home that has it all. www.fineandcountry.com £995,000

The wood-burning stove is a key feature in this luxurious openplan living space

NOV/DEC18

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It’s a wrap Parcels, placesettings and spray paints. Our favourite cool-hunter Kate Rose inspires us with some heart-warming festive ideas for the home Christmas for busy people is all about balance. Everyone wants their place to look fab and wowie when visitors pop by for a cheeky festive fizz.

But nothing is worth a head spin overload.

Good friends will still love you if the canapes are shop-bought – it’s all about the people.

Kate Rose, founder of Tutti&Co is mad

about Christmas and lets us in on some insider tips for making things look Instagram-lovely without too much hassle.

Head to the craft store!

Yes, you know the one – a craft danger-zone (don’t take the kids!) – but the place to find all the bits and pieces to ‘do’ festive.

Buy: bias-binding in toned shades for parcel-wrapping. This makes your bows floppy rather than stand-up stiff.

Buy: spray paint: gold, silver and white.

Raid the garden Leaves look lovely softly sprayed – even dead leaves and twigs. Eucalyptus is already soft grey-green – a spray of white adds a nice tone.

Big twigs can be sprayed – then wrap some sparkly lights round them – neat wire lights are best for this and look great.

Raid the fridge

Kate’s Tutti prints with their dusky metallics add some softness and a bit of shimmer as well as giving some height and presence.

They’re also a pretty reasonable addition (star print £5 and larger geometric print, £10).

Make the most of your winter walks and gather as many acorns as you can – foragaing for festive greenery, twigs and trims is great fun.

Kate’s filled a glass sweetie jar with acorns

We can’t get enough of oranges! Dry them either in a drying oven if you’ve got an Aga or slice on trays in the airing cupboard – or sliced and lie on teatowels on the radiator – this gives off a lovely aroma.

Use the slices decoratively in bowls or spray them gold to give a really rich and opulent texture.

Pretty-up parcels Kate has the luxury of designing her own wrapping paper for Tutti and this year’s designs are softly textured watermarks and gentle graphics which nod to architectural structures.

When you’re wrapping a selection of gifts, use toning coloured papers in plain and patterns and lashings of ribbon for a really nice effect.

Kate likes to add a sprig of rosemary or a bit of pampas grass, herbs, or those aforementioned gold-sprayed orange segments to the top of the parcel for an extra luxe touch.

The focal point If you’ve got a fireplace then make a festive centrepiece. You’ll never go wrong with masses of candles but it’s easy to add something new and a bit wowie for the festive season.

A bespoke foliage arrangement will look and smell lovely – but needs a bit of upkeep and attention. Make your own ‘curation’ with some easy additions for the fireplace.

First off: remove everything from the ‘normal’ mantlepiece – candle, vases and pictures. That leaves you with a clean slate when it comes to decoration.

76 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

and nuts, some of them sprayed for a bit of shimmer. The glass looks grand and effective – but it’s a simple hack. It’s worth having a good hunt through the kitchen cupboards for vases and kilner jars that you can fill with other seasonal goodies such as baubles or even silvery shells and stones.

NOV/DEC18

SEASONAL INSPO

Copper and moss wreaths are a year-round addition to this Tutti household (£25 each).

They can stand alone, in clusters or be embellished with greenery or jewels.

Also on the mantlepiece are silvery sprigs of eucalyptus from the garden softly sprayed with white.

Kate adds her favourite Tutti Xmas tree decorations to the mantlepiece (these are £22 for two and will transfer to

NOV/DEC18

the festive table).

When it comes to luxuries, Kate adores the Jo Loves tree-scented candle and her Ebay best buy – the vintage sledge which acts as a very cool platform for her perfectlyplaced parcels.

The stockings are from another favourite store – Anthropologie – and setting the scene alongside the roaring fire are a Tutti brass hanging candle, £12,

and geometric candle holders (£6 each).

Top table Make your festive breakfast table fun with simple place settings that are bright and beautiful – again, with the addition of dried and sprayed orange slices on prettily-tied napkins.

Layer up the pancakes and sprinkle with snow flurries!

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77

WINTER CHILLS

TREND WATCH with Kate Rose, founder of lifestyle brand, Tutti&Co Winter comforts Home comforts ...

There’s nothing I love more than jumping into a cosy bed after a long day...

A freshly made bed, with beautifully soft bed linen is the ultimate way to unwind.

I’m always on the lookout for the perfect bedding and my latest find is the simple linen collection from piglet in bed. The collection is made from natural stonewashed French flax, which gets softer and softer with wear. Ironing is optional (yay - perfect for a busy mum) as the rustic style looks great straight out of the dryer. Linen is warm and cosy in the winter and with a range of soft muted colours find a shade to suit every interior. A beautiful home is a comfortable home - so true.

Christmas for busy people is all about balance. Everyone wants their place to look fab and wowie when visitors pop by for a cheeky festive fizz.

But nothing is worth a head spin overload. Good friends will still love you if the canapes are shop-bought – it’s all about the people.

Winter style ...

I love winter fashion, cosy knits, boots and oversized scarves. I am always on the lookout for a versatile winter outfit, that can be adaptable for work, a girly catch up, or a meal with the family. My purchase this season is a soft striped skirt and jumper set from Massimo Dutti. The tailored knit skirt and matching loose fitting jumper is on trend, and can be dressed up or down.

Pair the skirt with a loose-fitting shirt and heeled boots for a stylish work outfit, pull on the jumper with a pair of jeans and sneakers for weekend causal style, or wear the matching set with heels and an oversized clutch for a night out.

Xmas shopping ...

If you’re looking for ideas for children this Christmas, you must make a visit to Tribe in Tynemouth. The shop is fun, colourful and full of carefully chosen clothing and gifts. I find it hard to pass the shop on the school run, without the kids dragging me in to seek out the next new craze. Stocking a huge selection of organic clothing, from a range of UK-based designers and manufacturers, you are sure to find that perfect gift. I couldn’t leave the shop without Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty, Mixed by Me Kit £20 which allows putty-mad kids to customise their own putty.

Also, Snow Owl Jersey hoody £28 unisex design from British label, Boys & Girls.

Super soft, organic hoody.

Loving ...

Eating ...

Chocolate Amaretti cake, is the perfect dessert for Christmas entertaining.

I love to cook and entertain in the lead up to Christmas, but when time is of the essence (which it generally is around xmas) I have the perfect quick, easy, and delicious dessert that is sure to impress. It can be made a day or two in advance and will keep for a week. It is moist on the inside and has a crunchy bite from the almonds and amaretti biscuits on the inside. Serve with seasonal berries and clotted cream.

It is sure to be a recipe everyone will be asking for when they leave.

Ingredients: 150g 70% dark chocolate 50g amaretti biscuits 100g flaked almonds 175g caster sugar Finely grated zest of 1 orange

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After months of searching for the perfect bag for work, I discovered an Australian brand Elk. I instantly fell in love with the vast range of leather bags. Their belief is in only buying and using what you really love, very true, as I ended up ordering two bags!

The need for a large bag to carry paper work, samples and snacks to and from the studio was becoming a necessity. The Reiki Holey tote proved the perfect fit; stylish, timeless and large enough to carry everything I need for a day at the studio.

100g butter (cubed) 4 eggs beaten Cocoa powder & icing sugar for dusting Method: Melt the chocolate.

Place the Amaretti biscuits, flaked almonds, sugar and orange zest in a food processor and whizz until the biscuits and almonds are almost finely ground (I like to leave them a little gritty).

Add the butter & eggs and whiz until blended, then add the melted chocolate and whizz again until blended.

Pour mixture into a 20cm lined round tin and cook for 35 mins 180 degrees C. The cake will puff up slightly and crack around the edges. Leave to cool for 15 mins before transferring to a plate. The top is crisp and will crack, so dust with plenty of icing sugar & cocoa powder before serving to hide any imperfections.

New in ...

We have introduced our first 12 days of Christmas advent boxes this year. Beautifully presented in a ‘keep safe’ gift box. The twelve individual boxes contain, beautiful pieces of jewellery, to wear over the festive period. At £99 the boxes contain goods worth £299, be quick only a limited number of boxes available...

Exciting news ...

We are opening a TUTTI&CO Christmas pop up shop in Tynemouth on Percy Park Road between 26 October - 22 December (check out our social pages for full details). It will be full of beautiful accessories, Christmas decorations and styling ideas. So, if you are looking for that extra special Christmas gift, pop in and say hello...

NOV/DEC18

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LUXE LIFE

JONATHAN DUNKLEY Jonathan Dunkley is one of the most experienced private law practitioners in the North East. He has been a consultant solicitor at Major Family Law in Ponteland for the last four years offering guidance and advice on issues such as divorce, custody and finance disputes.

He lives with his family in the Tyne Valley.

LUXE PEOPLE >> Having met a wide range of people during my professional life, ranging from psychopathic murderers to international footballers, I can get on with most people.

However, these days I prefer to spend my time with people who are selfless, loyal, supportive and forgiving. Fortunately I am surrounded by people who display most of these qualities both at home and at work.

LUXE PLACES >> For a weekend > Having deposited our eldest in Bristol last weekend, I loved the city so much that I vowed to fly down every other weekend to spend time with him. Despite him having all the qualities displayed above, he asked me not to bother…

A long holiday > We had a wonderful trip to the US last year – Vegas, San Diego, Newport, Monterey, Los Angeles and San Francisco. I could tolerate doing all that again, or explore the Eastern Seaboard.

A treat > I’m planning an excursion into the Arctic Circle later in the year (or my wife’s side of the bed, as she prefers to call it…)

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LUXE RELAX >> Best food > THE best food I’ve ever has was a plate of the most wonderful liver and mash with apple sauce at Comme Chez Nous in Budapest. Comfort food and gastronomy combined and at a bargain price. That ticks all my boxes.

Best wine > Summer and it has to be Pouilly Fume. After the clocks go back, make it Chateauneuf du Pape or Nuits St George. I’m nothing if not versatile.

Favourite restaurant > Bouchon Bistrot is just down the road from me, but that’s not the only reason it’s right up my street. Great food and ambience and a chance to dust off my rusty French. I thought I asked for “un Ricard, mais froid, tres froid, comme la neige de la montagne”. Imagine my surprise when a cup of coffee arrived with an ice cube bobbing within... I saw Gary Barlow in there once.

Perfect weekend > One with a bank holiday tagged on the end Downtime means > Mowing the lawn on my Westfield tractor, headphones on and Groundhogs belting out their special brand of 70s prog rock.

Best telly > Sony Bravia KD65A1 OLED HDR 4K Ultra HD. If it’s screening some classic

Peep Show, so much the better.

Best book > Try ‘This is going to hurt’ by Adam Kay. So funny, but so sad to see the much loved NHS dying from underfunding.

Same with the Criminal Justice System, but no one seems to worry about that.

Best sounds > Tonton Macoute and their one and only 1971 album of the same name.

Do hunt it down on Spotify and tune into ‘You Make My Jelly Roll’, seven blissful minutes of your life that you won’t want back. Three West Country bus drivers who made the most perfect album, then disappeared.

LUXE SHOP >> Best shopping city > Totally unqualified to comment. I’m told New York is up there, but have no wish to go unless and until the pound buys at least three dollars.

Favourite shop > Amazon, while watching Sony Bravia KD65A1 OLED HDR 4K Ultra HD Luxe retail treat > “Retail treat”?? oxymoron. If someone offered to take me shopping on their card at Bloomingdales, I would tear myself away from the telly.

Best buy > Against my better judgement, I invested £250 in an old pal’s start up back in 1993. I cashed out in 1995

having doubled my money. The company is now called Homeserve PLC and has a market cap of £340 billion. Best buy, poorest sale….

LUXE PARTY >> A memorable night out > Crown Posada followed by dinner at Kaltur on High Bridge.

Afterwards to Cosy Joe’s for full throttle karaoke. Uber will get us home to Hexham.

Perfect party > With apologies to those who have gone before, anything without a ceilidh Best item of dress > Proudest of my Belstaff Trailmaster Professional jacket. An Ebay pearl which arrived with a pair of Albert Steptoe fingerless gloves in the pockets!!

Dinner date > Cheryl Cole, or have I misunderstood the question??

YOUR LUXE THING IN LIFE >> I’m so thankful that I now have total control over my work-life balance. It seems so difficult these days to develop a career without sacrificing the things in life that are most important. We all need to take time out to reflect on our priorities and do as much as we can to achieve true happiness for ourselves and those around us. If this requires change, embrace it.

NOV/DEC18

ADVERTORIAL

Community performance at Yarm Sir Michael Parkinson

The Princess Alexandra Auditorium and Friarage Theatre are based in the heart of Yarm, on the Yarm School site.

The Princess Alexandra Auditorium is a stunning 750-seat community performance venue on the banks of the River Tees at Yarm School. Since opening in 2012 the auditorium has hosted numerous high-profile performers, such as Brian Blessed, Milton Jones, Jimmy Carr, Heather Small and Elkie Brooks.

Due to the success of the events a significant investment is currently being made to further enhance the facilities which will see the creation of a large lounge and bar area. There will be performers’ changing rooms, additional toilets and a drama studio. The £1m project will be completed by the end of the year.

The Friarage Theatre has been built to the same standards as the Princess Alexandra Auditorium but provides a more intimate space with 140 seats. The HD projector and surround sound system mean it is the perfect venue for live screenings. The theatre was opened in 2016 and has become a community-hub for live screenings from prestigious theatre companies such as the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal Opera House. In addition one-off concerts are screened from around the world.

The programme at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium is diverse and has everything from Christmas Panto and excellent tribute acts to Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

2019 IS SET TO BE A FANTASTIC YEAR WITH SOME BIG NAMES BOOKED: Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Living Dangerously Saturday 2nd February, 7.30pm An Evening with Sir Michael Parkinson Monday 18th February, 7.30pm Lindisfarne Saturday 16th March, 8pm Russell Watson Friday 28th March, 7.30pm

All events can be booked online at thepaaonline.org or by telephone 01642 792587

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LUXE LOCAL

Malton They call it Yorkshire’s food capital – reason enough to linger, lunch and leap on to the property ladder?

PROPERTIES >> In a lovely chunk of North Yorkshire, Malton is at the heart of a rural area surrounded by pretty villages, market towns and miles and miles of lush landscape.

It means you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to properties. There are restored barns, elegant country estates, charming workers’ cottages and splendid town houses – all of which cover every age and style.

Prices span the spectrum and there are plenty of doer-uppers for every budget.

CONNECTED >> A wee bit off the beaten track – but that’s

82 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

part of the charm. A glorious road trip from Teesside over the moors via Helmsley or take the A64 from York. Hop on a train from York or a Coastliner bus if you’re into that kind of thing.

EAT >> Spoilt for choice doesn’t cover it! As mentioned, this is a town which has had its fortunes turned round by the artisan food revolution – so go with an empty tum.

A good place to start is with an organised food tour setting out from the charming Talbot Hotel (itself the perfect afternoon tea destination – patisserie to die for!). The Food Tour takes you behind the scenes to learn and discover how fab food and

drink is made as you meet the enthusiastic artisans themselves. On the walking tour you taste and experience the coffee roastery, artisan bakery, award-winning craft brewery or gelateria. Taste handmade chocolates, cheeses, macarons, desserts and much more.

Sweet treats Bakewell tart gelato at Groovy Moo, Florian Poirot’s salted caramel macarons or triple chocolate brownies at YO Bakehouse.

Tipples Try the Gin O’Clock Tour, sampling gin made in Malton as well as gin cocktails, liqueurs, gin infused chocolates and even a G&T macaron!

Market mooch A monthly food market happens every second Saturday with the

best of the local area – 35 stalls, loads of music and tastings. A Christmas market is planned for 8 December.

In May 2019 the now famous Malton Food Festival brings in the crowds with big-name chef demos, talks, tastings, music and more – they call it Yorkshire’s Foodie Glastonbury.

Dine, a top five 1. A freshly-baked wood-fired margarita pizza at La Pizzeria ​2. Food 2 Remember’s dry-aged steak 3. Bluebird Bakery’s sourdough loaves 4. Yorkshire grouse from Derek Fox 5. A fishfinger sandwich at the New Malton Learn it! Malton Cookery School is housed in a beautiful building in the centre of town.

Courses range from a seafood masterclass to

NOV/DEC18

LUXE LOCAL Street boutique with an enviable collection of homewares, interiors, kitchenware, rugs, lighting and more. Founded by husband-andwife team Laura and Will, whose obsession is with Scandinavian design, muted colours and simple functionality for an urban interior or country retreat.

Bowley and Jackson specialises in shabby chic and vintage furniture and interior accessories for home and garden. Classic French and Scandinavian design such as wall lights and table lamps, and one-off pieces.

Swallow&Sons Sharp style for the chaps with cool bags, leather goods and gifts.

chef’s table tuition, Yorkshire game cookery to Christmas cookery and regular supper clubs.

SHOP >> Selina Scott You can buy Selina Scott’s socks made from goat hair at her Malton shop as well as cashmere gloves and other treats to keep warm.

Atom Retro specialises in retro, mod and indie clothing for the contemporary era. An eye for Sixties and Seventies clothing and a hint of vintage nostalgia.

Hare and Wild is a stylish Market

my local Lucy Powell-Lucas is commercial manager at Rare Bird Gin in Malton Three good things about living here >> • Malton has everything you need, the connections, the shops, and the community.

I can get a direct train to Manchester airport, be in London in two-and-a-bit hours, and be at the coast in less than that on the ‘UK’s most scenic bus route’ (it’s a real thing I promise).

• Independent producers in Malton supply the surrounding towns and cities with their produce. A restaurant in York buys the coffee from Roost Coffee, buys the bread from Bluebird bakery and is now looking at our gin. I know that if I buy food from Food to Remember in Talbot Yard, it comes from seven miles away. It’s the sort of thing that makes you feel good about buying from the shops here. I can get my whole house redecorated at ‘9 to 11 Interiors’, and in the shop opposite I can buy fishing supplies.

The town still harks back to its old roots, but has a reinvigorated soul when it comes to production and producers.

• The sense of community. If you walk into a shop here, you are likely to meet the owner of that business. There is a shop owners’ community here, and they discuss everything from what dates they’re going to open over Christmas, to community fundraising. If you can’t get something from somewhere, the owner will know someone else who can help you. Everyone buys each other’s products, supporting each other, for instance if you buy a coffee in Maison du Vin, it’s going to be from Roost coffee, less than 300 steps away. That’s why the food festivals are so successful. Everyone in the town genuinely cares about bringing Malton back to what it deserves to be.

Three places to take visitors >> • My first stop is always YO Bakehouse on Market Street, the best café and lunch spot in town. The coffee they serve is Roost coffee, and David the Baker, bakes everything himself down in their unit in Navigation wharf. You can often see him wheeling the produce up Market Street for the café.

• Next, Kemp’s General Store. Everything in there I want to own, and I mean everything.

They have the most adorable gifts, cards and homewares.

• Then I would take people to Castle Howard, a few miles into the Howardian Hills, east of Malton. It is one the finest country estates in the country; still owned by the Howards - and the Atlas fountain is an incredible sight.

An ‘in the know’ secret >> Palace Cinema on Yorkersgate is believed to have the smallest commercial cinema screen in the UK with only 12 seats? Baffling I know.

NOV/DEC18

STROLL >> Worth a detour to Scampston Hall, five miles northeast of Malton, a Regency country house set in a Capability Brown landscape, with beautiful collections of art, furniture and porcelain.

It also has a stunning contemporary walled garden that’s one of the finest in England.

You’re not far from Castle Howard either if more stately mooching is in order. This fabulous house is the star of many a show – with a calendar of events all year long – from food markets to festive adventures and a proms spectacular.

CULTURE >> The Milton Rooms on the Market Place puts on an entertaining programme of theatre, music, comedy, craft events, talks and markets.

Palace Cinema is a wonderful independent cinema showing mainstream and art-house releases, as well as live ballet, opera and theatre streamings.

property: three to choose Stay awhile Stay at The Talbot Hotel – a very smart hotel just opposite the food court. A beautiful age-old honey-coloured building that has a definite touch of Provence about it with lovely terraced gardens. www.talbotmalton.co.uk

Rest & retreat Book a cottage nearby and then feed yourself with Malton’s treats!

We love Low Burn Cottage. A newly dog-friendly renovated home for eight just a few miles from Malton. www.gorgeouscottages.co.uk

Move on up Splash out on a dream home in beautiful Malton. Buy Little Barugh holiday cottage complex with a stunning period farmhouse at its heart. £1.95m www.cundalls.co.uk

www.luxe-magazine.co.uk 83

SKERNINGHAM MANOR AND COTTAGE, DARLINGTON An outstanding Grade II listed Georgian Farmhouse refurbished and extended to create a very fine family house, with a large garden, double detached garage with one bedroom annex above and a separate one bedroom self contained detached cottage.

GREY GABLES, GARMONDSWAY VILLAGE

Contact: 01740 645555

ÂŁ595,000

An exceptional five bedroom home occupying a prime corner position within a small hamlet of 5 unique high-quality properties, with a south and west facing elevated position givIng stunning rural views and a feeling of space.

www.fineandcountry.com

ÂŁ770,000

Contact: 0191 384 2277

local, regional, national and international specialists in property marketing

Durham 0191 384 2277

Darlington 01325 488 619

Wynyard 01740 645 444

info@durhamfineandcountry.co.uk

info@durhamfineandcountry.co.uk

info@wynyardfineandcountry.co.uk

ROSE COTTAGE, WYNYARD A fabulous five bedroom, detached bespoke property with an extended one bedroom annex, Rose Cottage is a stunning property packed with high quality fixtures, fittings and design features and located in a most peaceful and tranquil setting.

FULTHORP GROVEE, WYNYARD This large and spacious four-bedroom detached dormer bungalow stands at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac overlooking Wynyard Golf Course. The property features a fabulous recently refurbished kitchen with doors lead through to a lovely sun lounge with garden views.

creative and intelligent marketing of individual and country property

ÂŁ1,075,000 Contact: 01740 645555

ÂŁ565,000 Contact: 01740 645555

HEROES

THOM BROWNE Diagonal Stripe Winter Fair Isle Tweed Pullover £810; www.farfetch.com BURBERRY Check Padded Coat £790; www.farfetch.com

BELSTAFF Atlas Hooded Down Jacket £699; www.flannels.com

MAN KIT

Luxe layers

Winter warmers, cosy coats and snug slippers to see you through

the cooler months in style UGG Men’s Scuff Leather Slippers - Black/Natural £80; www.amara.com

Jo Malone x Huntsman JAMES PERSE Honeycomb-Knit Cashmere Sweater £365; www.mrporter.com

YMC Shearling Jacket £995; www.mrporter.com

TOD’S Nubuck Boots £440; www.mrporter.com

New season scents...

Jo Malone has teamed up with Huntsman Savile Row this season to showcase the brand’s first ever men’s collection. A quintessentially British collaboration offering four sharp scents, tailored to the modern man.

Whether it’s for days spent lounging at home, swish city nights or whimsical winter getaways, there’s a refined fragrance for every occasion.

Dressed for success in a distinctive bottle, the fragrances are decorated with Huntsman’s gold typography and matte burgundy cap.

Fragrances include: amber & patchouli, assam & grapefruit, birch & black pepper and whisky & cedarwood.

Jo Malone’s latest collaboration brings cologne with class. A suave scent with style and sophistication at its heart.

100ml - £120. www.jomalone.co.uk www.huntsmansavillerow.com

POLO RALPH LAUREN Wool Rollneck Sweater £260; www.mrporter.com

86 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

NOV/DEC18

REVVED UP

Track record What started as a boyhood love of all things Land Rover led to a vibrant vehicle empire making tracks across the globe – with a few twists and turns along the way, as Elysia Agnew discovers

Who’d have thought a humble industrial estate on the outskirts of Thirsk would grow to be the driving force for distinctive Defender? From local farms down the road to families living the high life in Dubai, it’s safe to say these wheels are taking on the world.

A Yorkshire boy brought up into the wonderful world of the Land Rover, Charles Fawcett’s earliest memories involve 4x4 off-roading. At just 11-years-old, in his own Series 3 pick-up, he soon discovered that when you’re up to your knees in mud puddles in a field, with a machine that won’t move, the only option is to work out how to fix it.

And that’s exactly what he did. Before he knew it, he was working for his father’s sales and repairs business and in 2000, he saw a gap in the market for a bit of Defender development.

“Twisted began in 2000, albeit it wasn’t a full-time operation until 2008. It was a hobby, or a second business – a bit of a passion. It took up parts of my desk, but was in no way a full operation.

“We had an opportunity to start selling products for somebody based in Essex.

They wanted someone in the north to sell these products – a tiny little range of

performance upgrades for Land Rover.

“So I said, ‘yes I’ll do that’, and we started selling them.

“My dad was mad – he said, ‘you can’t be wasting money like that’. I did it anyway – he wasn’t happy, but I saw an opportunity with it, taking the Land Rover to a place it has never been before.”

At a time when everybody else was raising suspension, taking tyres to the next level, and using the Defender as an off-roader, Charles saw an opportunity to take the vehicle from the field and put it out on the road.

“People loved the Defender, but they were just no good on the roads,” says Charles.

“So we created some new products and very quickly, people started buying them. We’d be fitting an exhaust, and customers would say ‘oh, can you do that with the brakes?’ or ‘can you do this with my seat?’ We were just trying new things and people really enjoyed it.

“We had some cool customers and it all just grew nice and steadily.

“In 2002 it had half of my desk; in 2003 it had the Wendy house in my back garden; in 2004 I was running the business from my lounge; in 2005 we moved house and it went into the double garage; in 2006 and 2007 it was in my garage; and in 2008 we moved into a little industrial unit around

the corner from where we are now. We used to be able to fit seven Defenders in it – it was like Tetris!

“So it was then when it became a full-time operation. I left my dad’s business and started doing the Defender thing full time.”

And as most businesses do, it took the first of many memorable customers to spring the Twisted journey to life…

“Two brothers came to us one day and said, ‘look, we want two really cool Defenders – will you build them for us?’

“So we built two Defenders for these two brothers, and it was a great journey. It took us ages, we probably lost money, the guys probably didn’t get what they wanted – but it was a huge project at the time.

“They would come along and see what we’d done, then we’d all go to the pub. It was a bit more than just building a couple of cars for a couple of lads. They gave us some really cool ideas.

“They finished up with two epic vehicles.

And we had at that time, perhaps one mechanic, maybe somebody in accounts, and me.

“It was a wonderful time because it was like a little family of people that genuinely loved what we did. We weren’t getting home until daft o’clock at night, and I wanted to be in work at 6 o’clock in the morning.”

Soon, Twisted was taking on new business

and getting a good name for itself, so a second plot was purchased.

“We’ve now got six units on site – we’ve got a body shop, a recycling business that takes all the parts from here, reworks them and sells them again, we’ve got the workshop, we’ve got LR Motors, a business based solely on used Defender sales.

“Twisted has got a stock of brand new vehicles that it bought when they stopped production, so we’ve got a load of those – and we just touch on Classics now. We also have a little operation in the US.” But the bread and butter of the whole Twisted operation is based around the Defender – a vehicle with a huge following, for a number of reasons.

“In 2009 we decided that we were not going to work with anything other than the Defender, which enabled us to be a specialist in our work,” says Charles.

“In 2008/2009 the recession came along.

People were slashing prices, selling stuff cheap. It was a dire time, and the only thing I felt I could do was focus on one thing and put the prices up. So I did the opposite to what I saw people doing. We put our prices up quite dramatically, and we went from being busy with five or six staff, to being busy with nine or ten staff – and attracting a different kind of customer.

Those customers, it’s fair to say, were

Charles saw an opportunity to take the vehicle from the field and put it out on the road

88 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

NOV/DEC18

REVVED UP recession-proof. And so through that time, we actually grew and became the company to go to for anything Defender – of a particular style.

“There are lots of other people that do Defender stuff,” he adds.

“But there’s not many that have a style where the customer can take control. People just want the best Defender that they can have. It’s got to have a certain look and feel, and that look is traditional, with a twist!

“Ours might be £80k, they might be £200k – depending on what we’ve done to them – but it still looks just like a Defender.

“Twisted vehicles have a look, and that look is what makes us unique. So we work really hard to keep that in place, but the last thing we want to do is ruin what we love about the Defender – because they are a mega vehicle and there’s a lot of love for them.

People adore them for all sorts of reasons.”

The Defender is a car - it’s got an engine, four wheels, propels you forward and takes you places. But it’s a car with a twist – it’s something of an experience.

“People don’t buy a Defender to replace a car,” explains Charles.

“They don’t buy it instead of something, it isn’t their next car, it isn’t their last car. Our customers just want to own one. They’ve all got a car that takes them places, and it’s probably quite a boring car - boring in the sense that it probably does everything for them.

“But the Defender is a little bit like a manual Porsche, or an old Mini. It’s got a gear lever, your indicators go ‘click’ when you put them on and they snap off when you go round a corner. You can actually hear the wipers making noises. It’s really communicative.

It tells you what it’s doing. You go into a corner and you can actually feel where the grip is, you can feel potholes and pebbles.

It’s this incredibly heightened awareness of what is going on around you.

“It’s an experience. It’s not a car – but it is a car. It’s a weird and wonderful thing. You just get in one and you smile – they’re a wonderful thing to run around in.”

So with that in mind, it’s difficult to pin down the typical Twisted customer. The vehicle owners are a vast, vibrant mix of people, and it’s their fond following that is taking this mega motor on a journey across the world.

“This is a tiny little business in Thirsk, in North Yorkshire, in the hills – we’re not this great big anything; but it’s amazing how our vehicles get to where they need to be.

“We will sell a vehicle from farmers to Middle Eastern royalty... we’re talking to someone new everyday. But they all have one thing in common – a desire for Defender.

“I went to somebody’s house one day to

do something on a Defender, met with the gardener, tinkered away with the Land Rover, and I thought to myself, ‘whose house is this, it’s amazing?’ I drove away, Googled it – Rod Stewart’s house.

“I’ve dropped them off for Brad Pitt to test drive, Angelina Jolie to test drive.

“All of these people, and everyone in between.

“They all just have this love for Defender, and it actually doesn’t matter who they are… they all end up in this space where actually, everyone’s the same.”

Earlier this year, Twisted took to TV screens as a key part of Jamie Oliver’s Channel 4 show, ‘Jamie Cooks Italy’.

The Twisted Retro Edition was the perfect fit to help the TV chef navigate his way around Italy in the hunt to get right into the heart of the Italian kitchen.

Jamie Oliver has been a fan of the Twisted brand for a number of years. He said: “I needed a vehicle that wouldn’t let me down. Last time, I headed out in an old camper van and I spent half my time shipping parts out to save it. So, the guys gave me something that would work!

From remote tracks and quaint villages, to mountain peaks and big open beaches, it’s safe to say the Twisted tyres ticked all the boxes for Jamie and his foodie friend, Gennaro Contaldo.

“Our clients and the people we work with is what makes Twisted tick,” says Charles.

“There’s a story with every sale, and no matter who they are or where they’re from, we’ve all got something in common in that we love the Defender,” he adds.

“We sold one to a guy whose family were in

Jersey. While we were building his, he brought his friends to come and have a look at what we were doing. So we built one for this chap, and then his friend had one, and then while we were building his, his wife ordered one. And then another guy got in touch and said ‘I hear such and such is getting a vehicle, can you do me one?’ – so he had one. Then his wife had one. Then the first guy’s dad had one, then his mum had one. And then the second guy’s son had one, then his friend. We literally made nine vehicles as a result of this one guy.

“They’ve all got a lot of money – but they’re all the same – they all just love the Defender. And that’s a passion we share.”

For Charles, it’s important that his Yorkshire-based business doesn’t get ahead of itself.

“The risk is, the business becomes too big and we forget why we’re all here.”

For Twisted, it all comes back to the original business plan – to devote time and development to this iconic British vehicle.

“We’ve been through the cycle of business plans, growth and money – and don’t get me wrong, there always has to be a bit of that for any business to boom, but for us, it’s important to ensure we get back to what we’re really about.

“It’s all pretty real – it’s simple, it’s not sugar-coated. We make good products, the customer likes them, we make money – it’s just how it is.

“The business has grown entirely on its own merits,” Charles adds.

“We develop products in a certain way. We don’t cut corners. We take our time. And I think that’s what makes us stand out as the

go-to Defender people.

“Everything is made as local as we possibly can. A lot of stuff is made 200 yards away – it’s really nice for us to use local people and really champion the region.”

A day in the life of the Twisted team is “absolute carnage,” laughs Charles.

“There was a time when it was all office, meetings, corporate conversations, management, accounts – and all this sort of stuff, which you kind of need, but it took over.

“And while I often think I should set an example and do these things like a proper business owner would, I’m not that person.

I just like to be in and amongst everything.

I get a lot of ideas, I try to hand them over and get people to run with them.

“There’s a lot of product development time, a lot of communication with suppliers, marketing activity. It’s a myriad of things, but sometimes it’s just about going for a drive, having an idea and then coming back and putting it into action.”

Twisted is a way of life. It’s not an everyday dealership where you’ll pick a new car and go with it. It’s an experience, it’s a hobby, and to put it simply, it’s about a shared love for an iconic vehicle.

“You’ve just got to live it,” says Charles.

“Everyone in the Twisted team has a genuine love of all things Defender – and I think our customers can see that.

“We’re not about getting every man and his dog through the doors. We’re about teaming up with the right Twisted customer – those people who are just as Defender mad as we are.” www.twistedautomotive.com

Charles Fawcett reveals his life in cars - go online to read his motoring memories in Luxe Laps: www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

NOV/DEC18 SEP/OCT18

www.luxe-magazine.co.uk 89

LIFE GOALS

Bob Arora

AT THE WHEEL

Premiership player

Bentley has upped its game with the new Continental GT - a plush partner for putting your foot down or cruising through the countryside

I can’t believe the Continental was originally launched 15 years ago.

It was the car of choice for Premiership footballers. The car just oozes quality and it also has the performance to keep the car up there with supercars.

Bentley fitted a W12 6LT engine to the car and they also gave the car four-wheel drive, which helped make it so easy to drive.

This stunning looking car sold like hot cakes for Bentley, they went on to sell over 65,000 cars. To put this into perspective, Bentley only sold 186 Mulsanes all over Europe.

The latest Continental looks bigger than the outgoing model, the car now sits on the same platform as the Panamera. We may see a Hybrid version one day?

The front of the car still looks as imposing as ever with its beautiful grill, however I’m not convinced by the new rear lights. They do match the oval exhaust pipes, but I think the old Continentals’ rear lights looked great. I’m sure when I’ve seen a few more on the road, the car will no doubt grow on me. The rest of the car’s designer creases and its wide rear haunches just help give the car its sporty look.

The engineers have used aluminium and high strength steel to help bring the weight of the car down. The car is 80kg lighter than the previous model - that said, it still weighs 2.3 tonnes!

This model is still fitted with a W12 6LT engine but it’s much more powerful, and it pumps out 626 bhp. The car’s top speed is 207mph and it gets to 60mph in 3.6 seconds. For anyone interested in economy figures, the car averages at 22 miles per gallon, which is really good for such a big car. An 8-speed clutch gearbox makes seriously fast gear changes.

Air suspension is standard and the car can

90 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

be raised, depending on the terrain. I personally liked the Bentley mode, which firmed up the steering and throttle responses. The four-wheel drive is set up with a 60/40 split bias to the rear wheels.

Bentley’s interiors are definitely up there with Rolls Royce, from the lashings of wood to the sumptuous leather and the beautiful metal switches and toggles; it just beats its competitors hands down, as no one else comes close.

The DB11 is a stunning looking car and its engine sounds amazing, but despite this car being hand built, its interior just isn’t in the same league as the Bentley.

When you get inside the Continental you’re instantly hit by the smell of leather and the luxurious touch of the carpets. You can see why the cars are so expensive. The workmanship is second to none.

The interior is dominated by a 12.3” screen, this controls all of the sat nav, the heated and ventilated seats and radio etc. The optional Naim speakers were excellent, I suppose they should be for the £6,500 they cost.

The massaging seats help make long journeys very relaxing indeed. The car is very quiet and that’s down to the double glazing - even at speed there is very little noise in the cabin. The Continental is still a 2+2-seater, the rear seats are great for kids, teenagers or adults on a short journey.

I definitely wouldn’t go on a long journey or across Europe sitting in the rear.

The dash and dials are digital now - I miss the analogue dials - but even Bentley have had to move with the future. A very James Bond type option is a row of analogue dials that flip round at a touch of a button. The three dials are a stopwatch, temperature gauge and a clock.

The head-up display is very big with the all-important information clearly visible to

the driver. The car also has some great autonomous driver aids - the cruise control adjusts the car’s speed according to the vehicles ahead and it also keeps the car in its lane. If you keep your hands off the wheel, the car bleeps and pings at you until you put your hands back on the steering wheel. It certainly keeps you in check.

The car is priced from £159,100, but by the time you start ticking the boxes on the option list, the car can be closer to costing around £200,000.

It’ll also hold on to its value better than its rivals, and it should still be worth about 56% after three years on the roads.

I loved the original Continental and thankfully Bentley have managed to make the latest car even better. The car finally got the technology it was lacking - it really is a

wolf in sheep’s clothing. Put your foot down and its happy to be thrown into corners at speed or it’s equally content just tootling around town.

The latest Continental looks bigger than the outgoing model, the car now sits on the same platform as the Panamera. We may see a Hybrid version one day?

NOV/DEC18

NORTH YORKSHIRE’S SPECIALISTS IN BUYING AND SELLING LUXURY AND SPORTS CARS

17 17 Ferrari 488 Spider DCT

15 65 Lamborghini Aventador 17 67 Rolls-Royce Wraith 6.6 V12 Auto Roger Daltrey one-off SV LP 750-4 ISR

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18 18 Bentley Continental GT 11 61 Lamborghini Aventador 6.0 W12 Auto LP 700-4 V12 Auto

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Engine area and X frame in carbon fibre, Dianthus alloys

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17 67 Range Rover Sport 5.0 V8 S/C SVR 5dr Auto

12 12 Porsche 911 Turbo S 3.8 997 Gen II Cabriolet PDK

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Find us, follow us, visit us

A small selection from our 100-car showroom 2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost 6.6 V12 Limited Edtion V-Spec Auto - Theatre seat, driver assistance 3, 21” wheels, comfort access

£139,995

17 17 McLaren 570GT 3.8 V8 SSG - Nose lift, Reversing camera, Sport interior, front and rear parking sensors

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17 67 Range Rover Sport 5.0 V8 SVR Overfinch Auto - Full Overfinch carbon exterior, 22” forged Leggero wheels

£114,995

18 18 Range Rover Sport 5.0 V8 SVR Auto [VAT qualifying] - Driver assist pack, 22” Five split spoke gloss black alloys, sliding pan sunroof

£106,995

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2017 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 GTS 3.0 991.2 PDK - Electric sliding panoramic sunroof, Burmester sound system, full vehicle PPF

£99,995

17 67 Range Rover Sport 5.0 V8 S/C SVR 5dr Auto - SVO special order paint, 22” Ten split spoke gloss black wheels, Soft close doors

£95,995

13 63 Bentley Mulsanne 6.8 V8 Auto - Mulliner spec, glass sunroof, digital TV, adaptive cruise control

£93,995

16 16 Porsche Boxster 3.8 Spyder 981 - Full lightweight carbon fibre bucket seats, ceramic brakes, satin black wheels

£85,995

12 12 Mercedes-Benz C63 Black Series Auto - AMG Carbon fibre pack, Rear seat option Reversing camera, Harman Kardon

£84,995

16 66 Jaguar F-TYPE 5.0 Supercharged V8 SVR AWD Auto - Visibility pack, Panoramic roof, Power operated tailgate

£78,995

14 64 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S 3.8 Cabriolet 991 PDK - Sport design front apron, sport chrono, BOSE, heated seats, park assist, PCM

£72,995

17 17 Mercedes-Benz E63 S 4Matic+ Premium 9G-Tronic – Premium pack, AMG performance seats, head up display, metallic paint finish

£69,995

18 18 Range Rover Sport 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto - Panoramic sunroof, 22” Five split spoke alloy wheels, privacy glass

£68,995

Alexander House, Barr Lane Ind Estate, Roecliffe, Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, YO51 9LS

2013 Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10 Plus Quattro S Tronic - Audi exclusive Alcantara headlining, 19” 5 Arm Y Design gloss black alloy wheels

£65,995

01423 411592

15 65 Mercedes Benz GLE63 S AMG 4Matic Auto - Premium pack, Night pack, 22” wheels, black grille

£63,995

16 66 Mercedes-Benz C63 S AMG Auto - Premium pack, AMG night pack, driving assistance pack, exclusive matte paint finish

£57,995

sales@alexandersprestige.co.uk

15 15 Audi RS6 4.0T FSI Quattro Tip Auto - Dynamic pack, Assistance pack, sliding pan roof, sports exhaust

£57,995

17 67 Jaguar F-pace 3.0d V6 S AWD Auto - Black Design pack, 22” Helix black wheels, Meridian sound system, pan roof

£43,995

18 18 Audi Q5 2.0T FSI Quattro S Line S Tronic - Tech pack, 21” 5 Arm Polygon wheels, LED headlights, power boot, heated seats

£36,995

14 64 Mercedes-Benz SL400 AMG Sport Auto - 19” AMG alloy wheels, Electric wind deflector, AMG boot spoiler

£34,995

Please note: we try our best to make sure every fact is accurate – but please forgive us for any errors

instagram.com/alexanders_cars Alexanders Prestige Ltd

www.alexandersprestige.co.uk

Want to sell your car?

We’re always looking to buy new cars for our showroom, so let us know if you’re looking to sell and we’d be delighted to give you a quote

STYLE MEETS LUXURY WITH LLOYD NEWCASTLE. The new BMW 8 Series Coupé celebrated its world premiere earlier this year.

This luxury sports car is the production counterpart of the BMW M8 GTE. BMW normally develop cars for the road and then get them ready for the racetrack. The BMW 8 Series represents the first time that BMW have approached this in a different way. David Stuart, Lloyd Newcastle General Sales Manager said: “BMW developed the car and competed successfully in races with it using the experience gathered for the road version. From the racetrack to the road – you will feel that every in every driving moment. It offers our customers the perfect combination of a dynamic sports car with genuine luxury. It’s the very essence of a BMW Coupé.”

Le Mans is the world’s most exciting and prestigious event in endurance sports car racing and that is exactly what this new model exemplifies

embodying pure power, passion and performance.

In the development process of the BMW M8 GTE, motorsport and production engineers worked closely together. While the BMW M Motorsport experts were preparing the race car for its debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona (USA) at the beginning of 2018, the finishing touches were being put to the BMW 8 Series Coupé.

Boasting an unrivalled combination of inspiring sportiness and contemporary luxury as well as assured long-distance comfort and innovative user-operation, driver assistance, connectivity technology and more, this stunning new model out performs in every segment.

The body structure, drive technology and suspension focus squarely on achieving the elite dynamic performance expected of a top-class sports car.

The result was the redefinition of the sports car with the new BMW 8 Series Coupé combining imposing lateral and longitudinal dynamic performance with poise, assurance and luxury over long distances and opens a further chapter in the brand’s successful sports car history.

The brand-new BMW 8 Series Coupé launches December 2018.

For more information, please feel welcome to contact Lloyd Newcastle BMW.

Fuel economy figures for the 840d xDrive M Sport Coupe: Combined 46.3mpg CO2 emissions 160 g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. Figures are obtained in a standardised test cycle. They are intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not be representative of what a user achieves under usual driving conditions.

LLOYD

LLOYD

LLOYD PRESENTS THE ALL-NEW BMW X5.

The Prestige SAV with the most innovative technologies.

Forget what you know about sports utility vehicles, the new BMW X5 has been redesigned and rebuilt from the wheels up and boasts new levels of luxury, connectivity and performance.

Interior luxury has been taken to new heights, and it’s instantly noticeable. For drivers, there’s a superior driver-orientated cockpit to immerse in which is complemented by the unique centre console. The sublime Vernasca leather upholstery is standard and an optional upgrade to high-quality Merino leather is available. What’s more, the new

BMW X5 boasts a full sensory experience thanks to the Ambient Air Package, which offers four natural fragrances to instantly refresh your mood.

Thanks to some smart digital enhancements, the Ultimate Driving Machine is more intuitive than ever before. Intelligent yet stylish light features make the new BMW X5 hard to miss. New 3D full LED taillights exude character and at the forefront is the remarkable Laserlight technology allowing drivers to see the road up to 500m ahead. But it’s not all about functionality; there’s also the light

carpet which ushers you into your seat and the dynamic interior mood lighting creates a serene ambience.

There’s no doubt that the new BMW X5 makes a powerful statement. This new model radiates a new breed of grandeur like never before. Please feel welcome to contact Lloyd Newcastle BMW for more information regarding this stunning new model which launches in December 2018.

Lloyd Newcastle Barrack Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 4LE T: 0191 908 1658 www.lloydmotorgroup.com/BMW Official fuel economy figures for the new BMW X5: Fuel consumption combined: 9.0 – 5.4 l/100 km [33.2 – 47 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 193 – 158 g/km. Figures are obtained in a standardised test cycle. They are intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not be representative of what a user achieves under usual driving conditions. E&OE.

SOCIAL LIFE

luxe:looks North East Ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Day, Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield

Break out the fizz. Time to get down to some people-spotting as we bring you our social snapshot of happenings across the North East. Eyes and teeth time!

Teesside Philanthropic Foundation Charity Ball, Grand Marquee, Wynyard Below > Emma Hart, Susan Waller, Neil Parker, Paul Good

Above > Kathleen Weightman, Christine Riley, Pat Shields, Dorothy Nicholson, Barbara Glass

Above > Charlotte Linton, Kirsten Donkin, Diane Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell, Gemma Pott

Below > Pauline Park, Caroline Tulloch

Above > Harriet Spalding, Andy Preston, Jenny Williams Below > Bill Scott, Liz Scott

Above > Jenna Herlingshaw, Elaine Heffron, Georgine Whitfield, Nicola Stephenson Above > Emma Hedley, Jodie Jenkins

Above > Andy Gatenby, Vicky Gatenby, Stuart Miller, Jayne Miller, Nigel Willis, Lisa Willis, Phil Cunningham, Becky Cunningham, Paul Brown, Toni Brown

Below > Karine Dover, Cath Spears, Catherine Lee, Pat Watroba, Liz Elliott, Lynne Symons

Above > Alastair Powell, Ken Devereux

Below > Michael Jones, Jayne Jones

Above > Leanne Nash, Helen Lyne, Emma Cherrington, Libby Roberts, Vicky Crutchley, Nicola Bellerby, Lynne Dickson

Above > Kathryn Armstrong, Tanya Garland, Gillian Baird, Sarah McLain, Sarah Burke, Nadine Robinson, Heather Sweeney, Sue Slade, Helen Hogben

Above > Karen Bedford, Vicky Powell, Jane Wilson, Vicky Charlton

North East Oyster Festival, Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield Below > Michelle Cross, John Smee, Debbie Frost

Below > Rachel Storey, Donna Jones, Lee Jones

Above > Carolyn Ingram, Jacqueline Timms, Stephanie Massey, Julie Prescott Above > Lisa Wake, Sarah Wharrier

Above > Nicola Waters-Davies, Gemma Holmes

Above > Paul Wright, Helen Wright

REGIONAL luxe-magazine.co.uk 94 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

NOV/DEC18

SOCIAL LIFE

Children North East Sandcastle Ball, Crowne Plaza, Newcastle Below > Brian Hodgkinson, Susan Hodgkinson

Above > Mickey Devine, Mark Dawson Below > Lauren Cripps, Jeremy Cripps, Carol Cripps

Above > Andrew Quinn, Jules Quinn

Above > Meg Ellis, Anna Foster, Carol Taylor Below > John Matthews, Jan Burlinson, Jacqueline Matthews, Helen Brown, Paul Worsley

Rockliffe Life >> Social spectaculars, glamorous balls and lovely lunches. We bring you a taster of what’s on at Rockliffe Hall… now booking!

NOVEMBER 22 >> Football fans will love an evening of sporting banter and in-the-know chat with Middlesbrough FC boss Tony Pulis and Sky Sports pundit Chris Kamara in the Rockliffe Suite.

Drinks on arrival and a two-course dinner followed by what promises to be a lively and entertaining Q&A session with the sports duo.

The event is raising cash for the MFC Foundation which supports a range of initiatives for the disadvantaged and vulnerable in local communities.

Tickets, £55 (includes a £15 donation to the foundation).

To find out more or to book, call 01325 729 999 or email enquiries@rockliffehall.com

Below > Martin Westgate, Tracy Lamb

DECEMBER 31 >> See in 2019 with a rewind to the roaring 20s, for a skirt-swinging, jazz-playing, Gatsby-inspired New Year’s Eve bash.

Enjoy champagne and canapés on arrival followed by a delicious four-course New Year’s Eve menu.

Dance along to The Postmodernaires, as the sevenpiece band recreate some of the most popular songs of the last two decades in the style of 1920s jazz and blues. For the big countdown to 2019, be joined by resident piper for Auld Lang Syne and a spectacular fireworks display, followed by a disco and late night bacon rolls. Tickets £140pp.

To book call 01325 729999 or email enquiries@rockliffehall.com

Rockliffe Hall Whisky Tasting Dinner Above > Steve Dixon, Kate Dixon, Hannah Stoddart, John Crawford

STACK Newcastle, Launch Event Below > Francesca Colpitts, Joel Chambers

Below > Gillian Booth, Jasmine Nemri

Above > Sam Lowes, Deni Golbam

Above > Brian Nugent, Michael Carter Below > Claire Tesh, David Ferguson

Above > Jane Bulmer, Jonathan Bulmer Below > Emil Franchi, Kevin Green, Lee Sevenoaks

Above > Emma Spoor, Andy Howitt Below > Blake Harrison, Lauren Harrison

Above > Joanne Elliot, Esme Elliot, John Elliot

Above > Bernd Schalks, Marion Schalks Above > Helen Docherty, Lee Docherty

RELEVANT luxe-magazine.co.uk NOV/DEC18

www.luxe-magazine.co.uk 95

SOCIAL LIFE

Smart Works Fashion Afternoon Tea, Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle

Diamonds & Divas for the Graham Wylie Foundation, Hilton NewcastleGateshead

Above > Maxine Rea, Judith Wallis, Gail Short, Tracey Heslop

Above > Gillian Benjamin, Michelle Robson, Jacquie Ferrier

Above > Joanne Hare Steph O’Toole, Cynthia Jackson

Below > Katie Nevin, Michelle Simpson

Below > Eileen De-Quadra, Diana Eblett

Above > Kerry Boyle, Amanda Malone Below > Helen Storey, Pauline Wylie, Andrea Wylie

Above > Natalie Caush, Sarah Hall, Melissa Gardiner, Lesley Scott, Sarah Hanson

Above > Katy Nickolls, Carol Meredith

Below > Claire Nicholson, Donna Stubbs, Helen Malk

Below > Laura Dalby, Rosie Ashworth, Sadie Catterall

Above > Karina Atkinson, Kay Christie, Susan McNair

Above > Lynn Waterman, Ryan Maloy, Suzanne McCreedy Below > David Nicholson, Andrew Brown, Leanne Murrey, Scott Flemming, Ian Thompson

Above > Kerry Pearson, Lauren Tennant, Laura Dobson, Claire French, Laura Dickson, Clare Summerhayes

Above > Nichola English, Muriel English

Above > Debi Coldwell, Kimberley Rumble

H20 @theCoast Showroom Launch, Monkseaton Below > Andy Pendlebury, Kerstin Heckelsmueller

Below > Peter Sansom, Paul Slattery

Above > Martin Kelly, Martha Kelly, Sam Kelly, Charlotte Coates

Above > Andrew Cartwright, Jamie Coates

Below > Nick Cranston, Michael Walker, Jackie Taylor

Above > Martin Kelly, Charlotte Coates, Andrew Dixon, Michelle Walker, Michael Anderson

ENTERTAINING luxe-magazine.co.uk 96 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

NOV/DEC18

SUBSCRIBE Red Sky Ball White Party, Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham Below > Suzanne Adamson, John Adamson

Below > Taylor Watson, Lisa Davies, Leanne Leonard, Faye Tozer Smith, Victoria Adams, Sharon Bell, Fiona Leonard, Roxy McGuiness

Below > Karen Winfield, Steven Witherspoon, Rachel Witherspoon

give the gift of luxe

Above > Lisa Monchartre, Margaret Thornton Below > Emma Petrucci, Sergio Petrucci

ARE YOUR FRIENDS MISSING OUT ON LUXE? DO THEY COVET YOUR COPY?

Above > Stuart Bowes, Gemma Renolds, Antonia Mulhall and Scott Rothwell

Above > Nicola Burrows, Leanne Hubbert, Jill Tones, Gail Burnikell

SHARE THE LUXE LOVE WITH A SUBSCRIPTION £22 FOR SIX ISSUES DELIVERED DIRECT TO THEIR LETTERBOX

Gosforth Girls Charity Wedding Ball, Grand Hotel, Gosforth Park

EVERYONE’S HAPPY!

luxe magazine

£5.00

Below > Stephanie Winter, Fiaz Ahmed

ISSUE 55 NOV/DEC18

£5

Above > Dan Parkin, Clare Parkin

Above > Jeremy Parr, Sophie Parr

Below > Ian Nagel, Rachel Nagel

Photography: lan Hewson

Above > Abby Anderson, Stephanie Thwaites, Bethan Beharall, Sue Lawson, Catherine Coulater, Jessica Morris

Below > Janet Robinson, Alice Townend, Ayleigh Mooney

ISSUE 55 NOV/DEC18

Above > Jackie Gregson, Claire Hamilton, Alison Sweenie, James Cartmell, Nikki Masterman, Rachel Clinkard, Cat Glover, Naomi Warren

www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

Above > David Hamilton, Karen Greenhorn, David Greenhorn, Steven Blackie, Rachel Diamond, Claire Hamilton, Jane Graham, Sharon Blackie

WHERE SOLD

RYAN RILEY, FOOD HE RO. Sp a rk l y f ro ck s. M OU T H-WAT E R IN G M E N U S. STACKi ng u p. G IFT G U IDE S. Ge n e ra t i o n a g e l e ss. IN SPIR IN G IN T E R IOR S. Party pre p. WR IT E R S IN T HE K N OW. Cu l t u re d a t e s. LU XE M OTOR S. So ci a l l i fe. HIP HOT E LS. Fe st i ve t re a t s g a l o re . LU XE .

Delivered to their door

FOR ONLY £22 the perfect gift!

Let’s see you! If you would like your event featured on our Luxe:Looks pages please supply images with full captions (WeTransfer or Dropbox is best) to: kathryn@remembermedia.co.uk

NOV/DEC18

Promising a stylish snapshot of life in the North East. All year.

Subscribe at: luxe-magazine.co.uk/subscribe/magazine or call 0191 500 7860

www.luxe-magazine.co.uk 97

PARTING SHOT

Fruity>> We’re ripe and ready for the festive season. Whether your harvest ends up in a jam jar or sprayed with shimmer, we hope it’s a bountiful blessing.

Image: Nicky Rogerson www.bankstudio.co.uk

98 www.luxe-magazine.co.uk

NOV/DEC18

Seasonally. . sensational Discover a five star sanctuary to escape, relax and indulge this winter.

Live the RockliďŹ&#x20AC;e life.

www.rockliffehall.com Hurworth-on-Tees Darlington County Durham DL2 2DU +44 (0)1325 729999 enquiries@rockliffehall.com

PCP EXAMPLE

Deposit

48 Payments

MOMENTUM D3

£2,499.00*

£299.05*

MOMENTUM D4

£2,499.00*

£319.00*

D3

£2,499.00*

£329.00*

D4

£2,499.00*

£349.00*