Glossy Magazine Dec | Jan 2024

GLOSSY ISSUE 13 | DEC/JAN 2024

MAGAZINE

We wish you a

merry Christmas

Happy holidays...

Can you believe it’s almost Christmas? As the days get shorter and the air gets crisper, it’s the perfect time to cosy up with a mulled wine (or a coffee) and read your favourite, Glossy Magazine. This issue is brimming with all things delightful – from how to cook the perfect turkey roast and the story behind the real Elf on the Shelf, to our inspirational Glossy gift guide.

So, if you’re a last-minute shopper like me, don’t worry; we’ve got fantastic gift ideas for every person on your list.

And we’ve also got you covered with some great travel ideas for 2024, because let’s face it, come January, we will all be wanting to leave this UK weather far behind.

Our charity Christmas party was an absolute hit. 200 people came together, laughed and raised funds for The Endeavour Project, which offers a range of domestic abuse services for people and their pets. Helping them to live a life free from domestic abuse. Our host, the one and only Johnny de M, brought his charm and wit to make the night truly memorable. But what made it extra special is everyone one who showed up, helped out and bought tickets. We are living in difficult economic times and your support means the world and will make a real difference. Check out the pics on pages 60-63.

So, grab a comfy blanket, snuggle in and enjoy flipping through these pages, each sprinkled with inspiration and a touch of holiday cheer.

From all of us at Glossy Magazine, we wish you a season filled with joy, love and all the happiness in 24.qxp_Layout

3 10:00 am

the world.

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GLOSSY ISSUE 13 | DEC/JAN

2024

Stay safe,

MAGAZINE

Beverley GLOSSY MAGAZINE We wish yo

ua

tmas merry Chris

The Elf on the Shelf

by Twistedgifted

CONTENTS

DECEMBER/JANUARY2024

The Elf on the Shelf… p44

IN EVERY ISSUE

HOME & GARDEN

01 Editor’s Letter

58 Beyond the tinsel Make a statement during the festive season

13

Focus on…

The Golden Triangle

56 Tech Safe as houses 80-88 Education News from the schools Ask the Experts 90 Roksana Baig Ben Bowles 92 Zeenat Naeem Syra Akram 94 What’s On Top-notch entertainment, West End hits & theatrical classics 96 Motoring Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana

FASHION & BEAUTY

67 Charlie’s Restaurant London 68 Tiffin time Zouk launches lunchtime tiffin delivery 69 The Black Friar, Salford Long nights & twinkling lights 70 Kitchen@Cloud23 Seven-course taster menu

and the rest…

22 A very dressy Christmas 25 Women’s clothing sizes are a joke!

TRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT

HEALTH & BEAUTY

12

10 Five steps to healthy, happy ageing 74 St Ann’s Hospice Making a difference

28

FOOD & DRINK 64 This month’s recipe: Herb & garlic roast turkey breast joint 66 The Bugis Restaurant London

2 / GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

38 Kimpton Marlowe Boutique Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts 40 Welcome to Miami Kimpton Surfcomber South Beach 42 Discover Europe’s best Christmas markets

30 32 34 35 36

Outdoors Caving into the weather Postcard from Andalucía Vive la différence The Woof Guide to…

Middlethorpe Hall & Spa Ios Island, Greece A pretty, exciting island Iberostar 70 Park Avenue In the heart of Manhattan New York, New York So nice, they named it twice New York CityPASS

08 Win a spa day for four at Champneys Mottram Hall 26 Kerry Daynes Faking it?

29 Didsbury House Hotel Happy 21st birthday 44 The tradition and magic of The Elf on the Shelf 47–55 Christmas gift guide 60–63 The Glossy Magazine Charity Christmas Party

We’ll get to the heart of the matter Our team of cardiac surgeons and nurses will provide you with expert treatment, from the moment you 昀rst get in touch, through to a comprehensive diagnosis, procedure and aftercare. We offer a wide range of treatments, including: − Coronary artery bypass graft − Aortic valve replacement/repair − Mitral valve replacement/repair

For more information on our Cardiac Surgery services Search ‘Spire Manchester Hospital’ Call 01615 162 374

HIGH-QUALITY CARE IN A CARING COMMUNITY As part of the network of Belong care villages, Belong Morris Feinmann provides high-quality 24-hour support and world-class dementia facilities in a vibrant community.

The village is a stunning example of how advanced design and very high standards of care can provide a new quality of life for older people.

Specialist dementia and nursing care

Village facilities include bistro and salon, open to the public

Small households create a homely setting

Gym with specialist equipment to improve wellbeing

Free Admiral Nurse service for customers and their family

Specialist day care service offering a range of meaningful experiences

Modern apartments enabling people to live independently with support

Award-winning home care service providing support and companionship

Please get in touch to find out more and arrange a personal tour.

0161 804 4200

enquiries@belong.org.uk

www.belong.org.uk

Belong Morris Feinmann | 178 Palatine Road, Didsbury M20 2UW

GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 3

DECEMBER/JANUARY2024

Bringing you the latest fashion, beauty, lifestyle, travel, news and food

glossymagazine.co.uk @theGlossyMag

GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Beverley Uddin-Khandakar beverley@glossymagazine.co.uk GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR Salim Uddin-Khandakar salim@glossymagazine.co.uk

@glossymagazine_

ADVERTISING Call Angela Halligan on 07477 154 213 Or 0161 388 2353 angela@glossymagazine.co.uk ART DIRECTION & DESIGN

Paul King / Claire King www.twistedgifted.co.uk creative@twistedgifted.co.uk

WEB MANAGER Philip Valentino CONTRIBUTORS Catherine Reed Fay Wertheimer Oliver Chesher Catherine Saunders Lisa McMahon Daisy Hogg Angela Boggiano Janet Reeder Jo Davies

PHOTOGRAPHY Craig Robertson Matt Priestley PR Shots Bigstockphoto.com istockphoto.com Press Loft

This Magazine is published six times a year by UK17 Consultancy Limited. The contents may not be reprinted or reproduced without prior written permission. The publishers are not liable for statements made and opinions expressed. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and the publisher can take no responsibility for omissions and errors. UK17 Consultancy Limited. 5 The Stables, Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 5PG 0161 388 2353 | www.uk17consultancy.co.uk. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Glossy Magazine website – glossymagazine.co.uk

CREATIVE MARKETING AGENCY

We wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous new year! creative@twistedgifted.com / 07507 780 830 www.twistedgifted.com Brand Design / Graphic Design / Website Design

4 / GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

VISIT ONE OF OUR SHOWROOMS TODAY TO BE INSPIRED

WILMSLOW

NOW OPEN

84 Water Ln, Wilmslow SK9 5BB

Hale: 0161 300 3119 / Sale: 0161 976 6887 / Wilmslow: 01625 527 444 HALE 32 PARK ROAD | HALE | WA15 9NN / SALE 153 / 155 NORTHENDEN ROAD | SALE | MANCHESTER M33 2HS WILMSLOW 84 WATER LANE | WILMSLOW SK9 5BB

The Bridgewater Hall 2024 starts now Host your private event in the heart of Manchester Exhibitions | Product Launches | AGMS Conferences | Private Dining & so much more

For more information: conferences@bridgewater-hall.co.uk www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk #morethanmusic

IVY AND DUKE OFFER A LUXURY RANGE OF FABRIC AND WATERPROOF, MEMORY FOAM DOG BEDS. All of the covers on our beds are fully removable and machine washable, so keeping your dog’s bed clean and smelling fresh is easy!

No more worries about muddy paws! All of our beds are handmade at our factory in Manchester, using the highest quality, locally sourced materials. From the sewing of the covers to laser cutting the labels, it is all done in-house. All dogs are unique so to ensure that we cater for dogs of all sizes, we offer a bespoke sizing service. Whether you have a small space you want to fit a bed into or have a Great Dane that needs a huge supportive bed, we have you covered. To make your dog feel extra special we can personalise any pillow, stocking or blanket with your dog's name.

10% OFF

OUR ENTIRE

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Our factory showroom is open Monday-Thursday 9am – 2pm

GLOSSY 10

You can bring your loyal companions along to try out our beds for size and feel exactly how comfy our beds are!

Dogs spend over half their lives asleep, so choosing the perfect bed is crucial. Treat your best friend to the bed they deserve.

Please email hello@ivyandduke.co.uk to book a slot to avoid clashing with other dogs.

Unit 7, Castle Ind. Estate, Beresford St, Failsworth, Manchester M35 0HD

IVYANDDUKE.CO.UK • HELLO@IVYANDDUKE.CO.UK • 0161 6605 534 6 / GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

2 3 S E P T E M B E R S S E A R E N A , B E L FA S T 24 SEPTEMBER 3ARENA, DUBLIN 26 SEPTEMBER FIRST DIRECT ARENA, LEEDS 27 SEPTEMBER CO-OP LIVE, MANCHESTER 28 SEPTEMBER OVO HYDRO ARENA, GLASGOW 01 OCTOBER MOTORPOINT ARENA, NOTTINGHAM 03 OCTOBER M&S BANK ARENA, LIVERPOOL 04 OCTOBER UTILITA ARENA, BIRMINGHAM 05 OCTOBER UTILITA ARENA, CARDIFF 07 OCTOBER BRIGHTON CENTRE, BRIGHTON 09 OCTOBER THE O2, LONDON 10 OCTOBER THE O2, LONDON

T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E A T S I M P L Y R E D . C O M

COMPETITION

WIN a spa day for you and three friends at

Champneys Mottram Hall We’ve teamed up with Champneys Mottram Hall to give you the opportunity to win a spa day for you and three friends at one of Cheshire’s most luxurious retreats.

The £10 million state-of-the-art Champneys spa has quickly become the most stylish destination in Cheshire. As the UK’s original health spa, the Champneys spa experts have brought with them innovative techniques, the latest technology and unparalleled experience.

Your fluffy robe and flip-flops await.

Awarded Five Bubble Luxury status by the Good Spa Guide Good Spa Guide awarded Champneys Mottram Hall its highest rating of Five Bubble Luxury, citing its ‘striking design, fantastic facilities and lip-smacking food’, plus the vast treatment menu and new outside area.

To win this amazing prize, simply tell us who you’d take and why you should win: Email your answer, along with your name, address and daytime contact number to winner@glossymagazine.co.uk (add Mottram in the subject box) or send your details on a postcard to Champneys Mottram Competition, Glossy Magazine, 6 The Stables, Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 5PG. Competition closes Tuesday 31st January 2024. For full T&Cs, please visit www.glossymagazine.co.uk Prize valid Monday-Thursday subject to availability and valid until end 31/03/24.

8 / GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

New Year, New Start, New Home...

We take the hassle out of Residential Property Law

All the advice you need when it comes to residential property: help to simplify the processes involved, be it purchasing or selling a home...

Speak to us today on 0330 808 0801, or complete our online enquiry form.

For legal advice contact us on: 0161 929 0121 E: info@blackstonesolicitorsltd.co.uk | BlackstoneSolicitorsLtd.co.uk Construction | China Desk | Agricultural Law | Commercial & Residential Property | Litigation Corporate Legal Services | Wills & Probate | Iran Desk Gold

With offices in: Hale | Mayfair

Five steps to healthy, happy ageing Staying healthy and feeling your best is important at any age. At Hearing + Wellness, in partnership with Private GP Extra, we offer a wide range of comprehensive health services to keep you in optimum condition, whatever your life stage, all under one roof in the heart of Hale village.

Here our experts offer their top tips to help you cope with the changes that accompany growing older; enabling you to live life to the fullest.

Hearing care – this plays a pivotal role in helping you age healthily and maintain a high-quality of life. As we grow older, our sensory functions naturally decline and hearing is no exception. However, by addressing hearing loss through proper care and treatment, we can experience numerous benefits. Maintaining good hearing health contributes to social wellbeing as hearing loss often leads to isolation

and reduced communication, causing feelings of loneliness and depression. A strong social network, on the other hand, is closely linked to a longer, healthier life.

Hearing care also aids cognitive function.

Research has shown that untreated hearing loss can accelerate cognitive decline and increase the risk of dementia. By addressing hearing loss early, we can potentially slow down these age-related cognitive issues.

Importantly, it boosts overall quality of life.

With improved hearing, you can fully enjoy conversations, music and the sounds of nature. You can actively participate in family gatherings, community events, and hobbies, contributing to your overall happiness and well-being.

Regular check-ups with a GP – this is an opportunity to discuss any concerns and catch problems early and treat them before they become bigger issues.

Annual health screening – full-body assessments are not only useful in detecting life-threatening illness, they can also help with underlying health concerns, which could be affecting your day-to-day energy levels.

Medication reviews – as we age, the risk of ill health increases. Older age is often linked with more complex care needs, which can result in the need to use multiple medications. Regular medication reviews are important to ensure that the medicines are working properly and aren't causing any harm.

Healthy diet – older adults are at greater risk of chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease, as well as health conditions related to changes in muscle and bone mass, such as osteoporosis. You can reduce some of these risks by eating healthy and nutritious foods and maintaining an active lifestyle.

At Hearing + Wellness, we offer a wide range of services, including: ear wax removal, FREE 15-minute hearing check and complimentary demonstrations of the latest cosmetically discreet, digital hearing systems. Our doctors at Private GP Extra offer extended time consultations and provide a variety of bespoke services. We believe in exploring all avenues for your well-being. It might mean recommending a specialist, suggesting lifestyle changes, opting for investigations or prescribing medications.

Private GP Extra 192 Ashley Road / Hale / WA15 9SF / T: 0161 428 4464 E: info@privategpextra.com / W: privategpextra.com Hearing & Wellness Hale / 192 Ashley Road / Hale / WA15 9SF T: 0161 928 5900 / E: contact@hearingandwellness.co.uk W: hearingandwellness.co.uk

Embrace a worry-free lifestyle you and your loved ones can enjoy at The Woodlands When you rightsize and buy an Adlington

•

1 and 2-bedroom retirement apartments for sale

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On-site restaurant*, coffee lounge, hair salon*, and therapy suite*

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Beautiful, private landscaped gardens

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retirement apartment, purpose built for later life, you also open up new opportunities within a thriving community of like-minded people. With access to a host of facilities and an on-site team available 24/7, 365 days a year, you can spend more quality time doing the things you love, free from everyday worries.

85% sold - book a tour Call 0161 241 5933 • Visit adlington.co.uk/HMGL The Woodlands, Woodlands Road, Hea ton Mersey, SK4 3BN *Additional charges apply. See website for details.

ENTERTAINMENT

OutdOors

CAVING INTO THE WEATHER

At time of writing, it’s raining so violently that I’m thinking creatively about fun days in the outdoors that offer the option of a bit of shelter.

If you’ve got small kids, you’ll know that even in a monsoon, they still need to run around and be entertained, and being stuck indoors with them all day isn’t an option.

Even if – like me – you fancy yourself as the adventurous type, you’ll still have to admit that some outdoor attractions are pretty bleak when the skies are slate grey and the rain is bouncing off the ground.

But there is a way of being fully out in nature while fully covered: in a cave! Many of the famous ones are in the Lake District, but there are others you can visit within a day trip in the North West.

Thor’s Cave, White Peak

Peak Cavern, Castleton

Located in a steep limestone crag, this spectacular cave can be slippery on the way in, so make sure you wear grippy footwear. Once you’re inside, there’s scrambling and exploring to be done and there are stunning views all around. A popular destination for walkers, it’s situated in the Manifold Valley of the White Peak in Staffordshire.

Upton’s Caves, Frodsham

At the other end of the scale from the low-key curiosity of the Frodsham walk, you might prefer instead the cinematic spectacle of Peak Cavern over in Castleton in the Peak District National Park. Castleton is famous for a network of caves so jaw-dropping in their scale and atmosphere that an entire tourist industry has sprung up around them, which includes visitor centres and even an occasional popup underground cinema screening classic films with local food, drink and music.

Just minutes off the M56, these little-known caves in the Sandstone Ridge are so ancient that much of their history is lost. We do know that they are partially man-made because, although there would have been ancient overhangs and shelters caused by erosion, caves do not develop naturally in the interior of sandstone. You can visit and see for yourself where these caverns have been extended considerably by sand-miners in centuries gone by.

A truly vast network of two-million-year-old limestone caverns and underground passages, rich with crystal stalagmite and stalactite formations, this is truly a hike you can do under the earth! There are also guided tours to add a dimension of history, science, myth and legend.

12 / GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Poole’s Cavern, Buxton

By Oliver Chesher

Focus on…

The Golden Triangle – Alderley Edge – Prestbury – Wilmslow –

The Golden Triangle, also known as the Footballer Belt is an area of affluent small towns and villages in Cheshire brimming with fabulous shops, cafes, restaurants & bars, lavish lifestyles and fancy cars.

By Angela Halligan

GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 13

FOCUS ON THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

Black White Denim BWD in Wilmslow has always been about investing in the future of your wardrobe, offering timeless pieces that you can return to year after year. Its mantra is 'shrink your wardrobe'. Head to Black White Denim and buy fewer but better pieces. You will gain and the environment will too.

20 Water Lane / Wilmslow / SK9 5AA Tel: 01625 528454

Town and Country Carpets Town and Country is a company with over 25 years’ experience, priding itself on a relaxed and friendly approach and delivering exceptional and affordable quality that’s consistent with every installation. It has an unrivalled reputation for superior customer service around Manchester, Cheshire and surrounding areas.

Town and Country looks forward to welcoming you, and discussing your requirements, at one of its showrooms.

WILMSLOW: 84 Water Lane / SK9 5BB Tel: 01625 527 444 HALE: 32 Park Road / WA15 9NN Tel: 0161 300 3119 SALE: 153 Northenden Road / M33 2HS Tel: 0161 976 6887

Henry’s Café A small, dog-friendly café located in the charming village of Prestbury, Cheshire. The café offers a cosy and inviting atmosphere, where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast, homemade cakes and scrumptious afternoon teas.

Henry’s prides itself on using only the freshest and finest ingredients, ensuring that each meal is prepared to perfection.

Visit today and experience the warm hospitality of Henry’s Café.

The Village / Prestbury / SK10 4DG Tel: 01625 408154 www.henryscafe.co.uk

14 / GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

FOCUS ON THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

Dress This luxury boutique in Prestbury Village is a treasure trove of preloved designer fashion and handbags. Labels include Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermés, Celine and Bottega Veneta, as well as fabulous high-street labels too, all at a fraction of their original price. Buy and sell in-store or online at dresscheshire.com.

New Road / Prestbury Village / SK10 4HP Tel: 01625 820000 FB / Instagram @dresscheshire

Prestons Wilmslow Located in the centre of Wilmslow, Prestons Wilmslow features a selection of spaces dedicated to the fine watch houses it showcases. With both a Rolex and a Patek Philippe boutique, the showroom hosts a comprehensive collection of wristwatches, displayed alongside the brand's exclusive bridal and fine jewellery collections.

13 Water Lane / Wilmslow / SK9 5AE Tel 01625 416 330

The Wilmslow Hospital Whether you're worried about symptoms or looking for treatment, the specialist care you need could be just around the corner. Conveniently located on Wilmslow High Street, you'll find The Wilmslow Hospital at the heart of the community, providing extraordinary care for both straightforward and more complex conditions. So, if you need a GP appointment or want to see a consultant specialist – we're big enough to have it covered but small enough to feel at home.

The Wilmslow Hospital Close to home, far from ordinary

Tel: 01625 545 000 Email: appointmentswilmslow@hcahealthcare.co.uk www.thewilmslowhospital.co.uk

GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 15

Ryan O’Connell

The Art of Watchmaking; Prestons’ Authorised Rolex Service Centre Here, we talk with Prestons’ watchmaking team about their experience as Rolex-trained Watchmakers at Prestons’ Rolex Authorised Service Centre.

We hear about the relationships they build with their clients, supporting the Prestons showrooms in Wilmslow, Guildford and Leeds.

Opened in February 2020, the Rolex Authorised Service Centre is located on the 昀rst 昀oor of Prestons’ 昀agship showroom, Prestons Wilmslow. Here, we explore with Steve, Abbas, Joseph, Nick and Ryan, what led them to become watchmakers, the importance of servicing your wristwatch and what makes Prestons showrooms so special.

Did you always know you wanted to work with watches?

Steve: “I think I knew very early on; I could have only been 16 years old. I remember vividly my mother seeing an advert in the local newspaper and saying to me “you like taking things apart, why don’t you have a go at this?” I read the advert and have been a watchmaker ever since. I suppose I have my mother to thank for where I am today.”

Ryan: “I started out selling watches rather than servicing them, but quickly discovered a passion for watchmaking.

I am now a Level 20 Rolex Technician, and it is my dream to become a Rolex watchmaker in future. I am excited to visit the British School of Watchmaking soon to begin the next stage of my studies.”

Nick: “I initially began my career in a creative role, but have always been intrigued by watches. I fell in love with the engineering that goes into these timepieces, and seized an opportunity to enroll on a WOSTEP course in Switzerland, training to be a polisher. I 昀nd that polishing combines my creative and technical interests, as there is true beauty in restoring a watch to its original condition while preserving its unique character.

I have now quali昀ed as a Level 40 Rolex Accredited Re昀nisher, and am so looking forward to returning to the Prestons Rolex Authorised Service Centre to work alongside our team in support of our clients.”

What does it mean to be a Rolex-trained watchmaker?

Ryan: “Each watchmaker working within a Rolex Authorised Service Centre is specially trained by Rolex to ensure consistent quality across all their operations worldwide. Here at Prestons, we are always on hand when a client brings their watch into the showroom.

As the 昀rst to make a technical examination of a client’s timepiece, we see the memories in every mark on the case.

We know these wristwatches have been worn and loved, often for decades, and we are honoured to be trusted with their servicing.”

“We know these wristwatches have been worn and loved, often for decades, and we are honoured to be trusted with their servicing” Ryan O’Connell, Technician

Abbas Ikleriya, Joseph Bentley, Ryan O’Connell, Nick Clayton and Steve Tillston

Out of all the watches you’ve serviced, which is your favourite?

Joseph: “Personally, I love working on watches from clients who visit us regularly. The team and I recently received a watch from a returning client who had been gifted the timepiece for his twenty-昀rst birthday here in Prestons Wilmslow. It is always a pleasure to see these watches come back in for servicing, and to see them develop with their wearer over time. These timepieces become an integral part of a person’s day-to-day, and a physical reminder of the special moments in their life.”

Nick: “Rolex watches are designed to be worn and loved every day. Over the years, it is natural for scratches and marks to appear. We would advise keeping to the servicing schedule rather than bringing the timepiece in for polishing whenever it sustains a scratch, and only ever entrusting the watch to a Rolex-accredited polisher. This will help to ensure the longevity of the watch, and keep it looking its best for decades to come.”

What advice would you give on the care of a Rolex watch?

Steve: “The 昀tting of the watch onto a wrist is so important. Each of our dedicated sales team members are Rolex trained and therefore able to advise on the size of the bracelet to suit the size of your wrist.”

Leeds | Wilmslow | Guildford prestonsdiamonds.co.uk

Joseph Bentley

What makes the Rolex Servicing process so special?

Joseph: “Rolex watches are designed and built to last. The service process begins from the moment a client brings their wristwatch to one of our showrooms and ends when it leaves us with its two-year international guarantee.

The servicing of a Rolex watch comprises several detailed steps requiring the use of speci昀c tools and instruments that are tested and sometimes even developed by the brand – I love how meticulous every step is. The team and I begin the service process by separating the bracelet from the case and delicately removing the movement. From that point on, the movement, case and bracelet follow separate servicing paths.

Each component is carefully examined to determine whether it still meets Rolex requirements, cleaned, dried, lubricated and carefully reassembled piece by piece. The case, bracelet and parts are individually re-polished or satin-昀nished by hand by myself or one of the other watchmakers in our team.

“The servicing of a Rolex watch comprises several detailed steps requiring the use of speci昀c tools and instruments that are tested and sometimes even developed by the brand – I love how meticulous every step is” Joseph Bentley, Watchmaker

The watch is tested for accuracy, precision and waterproofness as well as pressure-tested to ensure it meets the expected chronometric performance set by Rolex.

At the end of the process, the timepiece is placed in a specialist pouch and is presented back to the client by one of our dedicated sales consultants.

It is an incredibly detailed process.”

What do you think having an in-house Rolex Authorised Service Centre brings to Prestons and their clients?

Abbas: “It o昀ers in-house expertise to each of our clients, as often we are client-facing in the showroom or the Service Centre. Steve, Joseph, Nick, Ryan and I love to show our clients the servicing process and guide them through the work that will be undertaken on their timepiece.”

Ryan: “When a client brings a watch to us, it can be a great act of trust. I remember we were once visited by a lady who had received her watch as a bequest from her mother.

The timepiece was unfortunately in need of signi昀cant repairs, and she was nervous about any changes we might make to it. I was so glad to be able to speak with her in person, so that she could be reassured that the character and sentiment of the watch would remain intact after the servicing process.”

What makes the Prestons Experience so special?

Steve: “Here at Prestons, we operate to traditional values of service and quality. The Rolex Authorised Service Centre ensures the highest standards are maintained across all our watchmaking services, while our showrooms allow us to meet with and understand our clients’ needs.

Whether a client brings their watch into Prestons Wilmslow, Prestons Guildford, or Rolex by Prestons, Leeds, they can trust that it receives our personal care at every step of the process.”

Ryan O’Connell

“Whether a client brings their watch into Prestons Wilmslow, Prestons Guildford, or Rolex by Prestons, Leeds, they can trust that it receives our personal care at every step of the process” Steve Tillston, Head Watchmaker

Steve, Abbas, Joseph, Nick and Ryan look forward to supporting and advising Prestons’ clients for years to come.

For further information please visit: prestonsdiamonds.co.uk Leeds | Wilmslow | Guildford prestonsdiamonds.co.uk

Shoulder injuries in winter sports Professor Lennard Funk, shoulder surgeon at The Wilmslow Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, tells us about the most common shoulder injuries, what to do if you are injured and how best to avoid injury whilst enjoying your favourite winter sports.

Whilst snow and cold weather encourages many of us to stay indoors – particularly when it comes to exercise – those who enjoy skiing and snowboarding can’t wait to hit the slopes. But, enjoyable as winter sports are, slippery conditions, heavy equipment and speed on the slopes can often lead to injury, with shoulder injuries being amongst the most common, especially for beginners.

What are the most common shoulder injuries?

Your shoulder joint is a lot more mobile than your other joints, so it’s easier for it to slip out of place. Snowy and icy conditions inevitably lead to falls, often at speed, so the risk of dislocated shoulders is quite high; either from using your arms to break a fall or landing on a hard surface, like ice.

A torn rotator cuff is another common shoulder injury, caused by repetitive strain or because of a fall and often occurring at the same time as a dislocated shoulder.

What’s the best way to avoid these injuries?

Taking simple precautions, like wearing appropriate safety gear, warming up properly, staying hydrated, knowing your limitations, getting lessons and, particularly in the case of shoulder injuries, learning how to fall properly, can greatly reduce your risk of injury. A trained instructor will be able to provide direction on how to fall correctly based on your winter sport of choice.

will be very painful, you must seek help immediately; a delay in care can lead to a frozen and totally immobile shoulder in more severe cases. If you dislocate your shoulder, the joint will need to be put back into place by an orthopaedic doctor. It usually takes around 14 weeks for the shoulder to heal once the joint is back in place. Torn rotator cuffs are usually treated with a combination of physical therapy and injections to relieve pain.

When accidents happen...

We hope you stay safe this winter, but if you do have an accident, the first step is to get help immediately. The second step is to find the best treatment for your injury.

What should I do if I injure myself?

If you have a fall, particularly if you think you have dislocated your shoulder, which

If you have a winter sports injury, are concerned about any new injury or pain or have an ongoing issue, come and see us for expert diagnosis and treatment. At The Wilmslow Hospital, we specialise in the assessment, treatment and management of all musculoskeletal conditions.

To find out more, or to arrange a consultation with a leading orthopaedic consultant Call: 01625 545 000 Email: appointmentswilmslow@hcahealthcare.co.uk

Created and designed by housecreative.co.uk

A Little Cafe with a Big Heart

Making the adorable, affordable

Henry's is a fully licensed, family run & pet friendly Cafe serving breakfasts, lunch, cakes, coffee & more.

Open daily!

Henry's Cafe, The Old Post Office, Prestbury SKlO 4DG

01625 408 154 I www.henryscafe.co.uk

Preloved designer clothes, shoes and handbags, from luxury brands and fabulous high-street labels. We buy and sell Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Dior, Gucci, Christian Louboutin, plus many more.

New Road, Prestbury SK10 4HP 01625 820000 dresscheshire.com @dresscheshire_ GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 21 12626 Dress half Page Vertical ad for Glossy Magazine (Dec Jan issue)_87x250mm_AW.indd 31/10/2023 1 12:10

FASHION

Red frill maxi dress, £39, prettylittlething.com

Fortuna diamond bangle, rose gold, £5,650, prestonsdiamonds.co.uk

Aquazurra Gatsby 105 crystal-embellished slingback pumps, £790, harveynichols.com

Velvet blazer, £99. shirt & bow tie, £40, tuxedo trousers, £49, all M&S Collection at marksandspencer.com

Lipsy sequin mini, £69, next.co.uk Conversational leopard print dress, £75, oliverbonas.com

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Alexander McQueen Ethereal Orchid floral jacquard maxi dress, £2,590, harveynichols.com

FASHION

Day Birger Allen blazer with fringe detailing, £400, blackwhitedenim.com

Dresses, £50-£75, riverisland.com

Gold diamanté Christmas tree earrings, £5.99, newlook.com

A very dressy

Christmas!

Fortuna diamond ring, rose gold, £2,450, prestonsdiamonds.co.uk

It’s the festive season, so get ready to shine

Sparkle abounds this year, so it would be rude not to indulge. Sequinned dresses, skirts and tops are everywhere, but if you don’t want to go full-on sparkle, you can make a statement with your accessories.

You’ll also need a dress to cover all the season’s eventualities. If you dare to brave it by showing a bit of leg, then a mini is the way to go. It’ll look great with strappy sandals for night and an ankle

boot for day. Wear with a midi coat or a short bomber and you’ll keep warm but look as cool as anything.

The cherry on the fashion cake is, of course, statement jewellery. Obviously, you’ll hope to find real gems in your Christmas stocking, like the gorgeous bracelet and ring pictured here from Prestons Diamonds, but while you’re waiting for Santa to deliver them, you can splurge on something fun like a fab pair of earrings. The bigger the better!

And let’s not forget the guys. It’s time to rock eveningwear. It worked for James Bond, so why not knock ‘em dead in a tux? It’s a killer look.

By Janet Reeder

Don’t you just love the Christmas season? It’s a time for dressing up and feeling fabulous.

Gals, you can look ultra-chic in a satin slip dress, designer gown or a statement blazer. The choice is all yours!

GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 23

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Women’s clothing sizes are a joke!

Buying international brands for the past 15 years has taught me that a standard size scale in women’s clothing doesn’t exist.

Size small from one designer can be a medium in another. A 27” jean may fit you in one style, but you can be a 29” in a different shape from the same denim brand. It’s bloody bonkers!

Jo Davies, Owner, Black White Denim

Ignoring the size label is a real challenge. Just like stepping onto the scales every morning can make or break your day (if you’re that way inclined), so too can going shopping and finding that you’re not the size you thought you were.

Here are my tips to stop you stressing over clothing sizes and focus on wearing what fits and makes you feel fabulous: 1. Remember that comfort is king: Whatever you’re buying, if it’s too small, it will never be comfortable and if it’s too big, you’ll ruin the look. Choose the size that fits you in the fitting room, not the one that requires support underwear when you get home or losing a few pounds in the future.

4. Try before you buy: Go into your local boutique and try on items before purchasing them. This is THE best way to shop and be sure you get the size that’s perfect for you.

7. Remember how amazing the human body is: Be kind to yourself and remember that your worth is not determined by your size. Focus on your health, selfconfidence and well-being rather than the number on a meaningless label.

2. Be you: Embrace your own shape and size. Everyone's body is unique and there is no ‘ideal’. Focus on being healthy and happy rather than comparing yourself to others. It’s way more fun!

5. Read reviews: When shopping online, look for customer reviews that offer insights into fits and whether you should consider sizing up or down.

3. Look at the fit not size: Concentrate your mind on the fit of the clothing, not the size on the label. Your objective is a look that fits like a second skin. Who really cares what it says on the back label? No-one except you can see it anyway.

6. Tailor your clothes to you: Don't hesitate to get items altered. Tailoring can make a huge difference to how an outfit looks and it's a great way to ensure your clothes fit you like a glove.

It may take time to shift your thinking, but you CAN learn to prioritise how you feel in your clothes rather than getting hung up on the size. After all, fashion and shopping should be fun!

Black White Denim is open Monday-Saturday, 9.30am to 5.30pm and can be found 24/7 online at blackwhitedenim.com 20 Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AA | 01625 528454 |

@blackwhitedenim

shrink your wardrobe

PEOPLE

Faking it?

Kerry Daynes can tell...

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Criminal world True crime pays, or at least it does for the many viewers and readers of the genre. Almost every channel and every bookshelf has programmes galore and books abounding on the subject of real-life murders and all the other terrible deeds we seem incapable of eradicating. And with our endless fascination with those who commit these crimes comes our equally desperate need to understand why they do the terrible things they do.

Is it because we need assuring that these people really are not like us and the more we know about them, the better prepared we’ll be to stop them in the future?

Psyching out the psycho killers Perhaps. Given Kerry Daynes knows more than most about the ‘why’ or even the ‘what’ makes these criminals act as they do, it’s not surprising that she stars in one of the most successful true crime shows on television and is a Sunday Times best-selling author on the subject of human psychology. And with over 25 years as a forensic psychologist working across a spectrum of psychological practice in the NHS and the criminal justice system, which encompasses the prison and secure psychiatric services, Kerry has come across many of those people who simultaneously terrify and fascinate us... most probably in equal measure.

at least two channels, for example, eye movement or speech. Kerry tells us that Ian Huntley displayed at least 12 ‘tells’ while lying in a police interview. But, of course, it takes a professional like Kerry to spot the ‘tell’ and show the lie.

Let me entertain... and educate you As the ‘profiler’ on Faking It: Tears of a Crime, one of the Discovery Channel’s most-watched shows and now onto its seventh series, Kerry shares her insight and experience with us as she reveals the ‘psychology’ that helped expose and ultimately convict some of the most notorious criminals of recent times. Jeremy Bamber, Dennis Nilsen and Ian Brady are among the murderers and serial killers she’s either encountered in person or had professional contact with. Not a list many of us could stomach, but for Kerry, and especially so on Faking It, it’s all food for thought as we try to understand why these killers acted as they did and hopefully, gain insight that may help prevent similar future crimes.

Kerry argues that to understand the psychology of people like Ian Brady, we must treat them as humans first and foremost and not as some ‘evil’ entity that just appeared among us from nowhere.

Evil is a word she dislikes because it trivialises or masks the underlying causes of what makes these people act as they do. She believes it serves no useful purpose to slap that label on something unspeakably horrible while in many other aspects of their life, these so-called ‘evil’ people act as we do.

‘Tell’... and show Kerry’s wide and extensive experience and her professional status as an established and well-respected forensic psychologist positions her as one of the top practitioners of this science (for it is based on science and not feelings) allows her to both work amidst such terrible events and achieve the success she has. So, what’s the secret? Just exactly how does Kerry catch her subjects out in a lie? How does she know when they’re lying? Well, it’s all in the ‘tell’, among other indicators, and the ‘tell’ tells the story.

And what is a ‘tell’? Well, it’s a sign or a behavioural trait – such as a verbal slip or a drop in volume when they speak, or even sometimes an out of place gesture – which someone performs when they’re telling a lie. Of course, just one of these alone doesn’t suffice, so they look for a cluster of ‘tells’ over a seven-second period and in

Words: Mark Kureishy

Human touch Shaking Ian Brady’s hand stopped Kerry in her tracks and made her think about the terrible things that hand had done. Which, for us, may seem a bridge too far; for how could anyone, we might reason, even shake the hand of a person like Ian Brady? Someone evil and barely human?

Tough on the sources of crime... and punishment However, Kerry is no soft touch. She believes firmly in both the punishment f itting the crime and the redemptive power of rehabilitation, though that isn’t possible in all cases. She’s a passionate advocate for penal reform, tempered by her many years working within a system that has needed reforming for almost as long as she’s worked within it. She cites Charles Bronson, whom she has met and worked with, as a sad example of how society and the criminal justice system can utterly fail some of those needing the most help.

Sleep tight...

With a new book in the pipeline and a growing audience keen to be horrif ied and assured, Kerry Daynes will be busy for the foreseeable future. Let’s hope her valuable experience helps, at least, to mitigate some of the terrible crimes she’s devoted her life to understanding and preventing. Without her insight, we’d all be in a darker place.

GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 27

POSTCARD STYLE

from Andalucía Vive La Différence this supercilious Parisian. Channelling Agincourt and all that, I moved forward, placed our suitcases on the belt and to his brusque order to move over, I shook my head and replied, “Non”. In response to his second and now increasingly irritated instruction, I seemed to transform into a f rightfully posh, clipped, 1950s BBC newsreader: “Young man, if you think for one moment that I am going to acquiesce and waste another hour of my life queuing, you are sorely mistaken”.

It’s years since I’ve been to Paris. So, when Lord Muck surprised me with a romantic trip to celebrate our December wedding anniversary, I was over the moon. Christmas in Paris is magical. The Champs-Elysées, Place Vendôme, Notre Dame and Tuileries Gardens transformed into a beautiful, dazzling, twinkling winter wonderland.

But in all my excitement, one thing I had completely forgotten about: the Parisians’ total and utter disdain for anyone not Parisian.

My first reminder was at Málaga Airport.

Having queued for over an hour at the only Air France check in open at 6am, just as we neared the front, a second Air France desk marked ‘Orly Paris’ popped up alongside it. Cue the Air France supervisor haughtily instructing us all to join the back of the rapidly growing new queue.

After watching a Spanish family f rom Antequera and a couple f rom VélezMálaga berated for being in the ‘wrong’ queue and forced to move, I decided it was time for someone to stand up to

Our eyes locked, our nostrils flared and the seconds ticked by in mutual loathing whilst both queues waited with bated breath. Fortunately for me, the supervisor blinked first and we were begrudgingly allowed to check in. Cue much indignant muttering from the disdainful Parisians queuing alongside. Followed by a spontaneous round of applause from my adopted countrymen behind me. One hour into our trip and I was already at the centre of an international incident.

BBC newsreader to appear again, this time armed with her rusty but thankfully fast-returning Français. A heated, standup contretemps ensued. Lord Muck hid under the table. Our Spanish friends roared with laughter. The restaurant’s Parisian clientele and surly serveurs collectively tossed their Gallic manes back in disgust. Ah, the joys of visiting le gai Paris.

Right, must dash. It’s our last day in Paris. Time to channel my inner Henry V. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. This time, the Eiffel Tower…

Anyway, we put this skirmish f irmly behind us and journeyed peacefully on to Paris and our Montparnasse boutique hotel. Alas, the détente was not to last.

Yesterday, we met two old Spanish friends from Sevilla, now living in Rambouillet, for a bistro lunch on the Île de la Cité. Having not seen each other for two years, there was much hugging and noisy, joyful greetings, Andalucían style. But upon sitting down, Lord Muck was immediately prodded in the back by the long, bony f ingers of an imperious-looking, old Parisian guy: “I ‘avv ‘ad to pauzzze my conversation becozzzz of yoooo”, he petulantly spat, my poor hubbie left speechless by the absurdity of the situation. So, it was time for the 1950s

Postcards from Andalucía, Lady Muck Style

By Catherine Saunders / Read more at www.ladymuck.style 28 / GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Happy 21st Didsbury House Hotel Having acquired Eleven Didsbury Park nearly 25 years ago, the hotel being well-received and always fully booked, Eamonn and Sally O’Loughlin jumped at the chance to acquire Park House two years later.

Previously offices, the grade II-listed Victorian villa and coach house required extensive and careful refurbishment, transforming it into Didsbury House Hotel, a contemporary, 27bedroom townhouse. Bursting with charm, character and refined elegance, yet providing a relaxed atmosphere.

It’s been a dream match with Eamonn’s extensive experience within the hospitality sector and Sally’s design skills. They then went on to open the first townhouse hotels in the city centre – Great John Street and King Street Townhouse.

For the last 17 years, the hotels have been under the attentive eye of Manager Andrew Hughes and an experienced team, providing a personable and memorable guest experience.

21 years, two refurbishments, recessions and a pandemic later, they felt it time to celebrate their achievement and thank those who have helped along the way.

Special thanks to: Stephen McGowan Photography; Sian at the Flower lounge; Kate at Florence and Vera, and Suzie and Oli – The word is love.

Didsbury House: 0161 448 2200 / Eleven Didsbury Park: 0161 448 7711 www.didsburyhouse.co.uk

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The Woof Guide to Middlethorpe Hall and Spa

By Janet Reeder | Images Paul Morgans

Peppa gets festive at a historic country pile near York

What is it with humans always wanting to dress up dogs? We have fur. We don’t need anything else, unlike the baldies!

But there they were, insisting I wore a Santa suit because the festive season was approaching. OK, so I didn’t mind the little coat, but the hat? Get me out of here!

Actually, dressing up is all part of being at Middlethorpe Hall, just outside York, a very beautiful Queen Anne house which looks like a country pile but is actually only two miles outside the city, a stroll away from York racecourse.

It’s the perfect location in which to celebrate the festive season. I mean, it just

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screams Christmas fantasy, well, especially if yours is beautifully decorated Christmas trees, roaring f ires, parkland walks and elegant cuisine. Mine definitely includes the walks.

Since then, it has been a girls’ boarding school and in the 1970s, it was a nightclub called Brumels, which lured in punters with the promise of being “where the age of Regency elegance lives on”.

Being a National Trust property, dogs are excluded from most of the main house, but there is much for four-legged friends to get excited about as we are surrounded by beautiful formal gardens and stunning parkland.

Best of all, the staff here love dogs.

Everywhere I went, I was petted and fussed over. I had dog treats and long walks and a place in the lovely walled garden to nap.

We stayed in a place called the Garden Suite, which is one of a few converted stable buildings that have been especially reserved for people with dogs. There’s a double and a single bedroom, sitting room, kitchen and bathroom and the decor is full of personality, reminiscent of visiting a favourite aunt in the countryside.

Middlethorpe Hall is not blingy or trendy but classic and understated. The bedding hasn’t caught up with the 21st century as its layers of sheets, blankets and coverlet, the TVs aren’t huge and there’s no Netflix.

In other words, it’s posh.

There’s a signed picture of Christopher Wren, the architect of St Paul’s Cathedral, in one of the hotel reception rooms and it’s intimated that he may have had a hand in designing the house for the original owners, the Barlow family.

Middlethorpe was saved thanks to York’s tourism industry and in 1980, it was bought by Historic House Hotels, who

have preserved it as a five-star bolthole with love and much care. It’s beautiful and I took to it as much as the staff took to me.

I was made to feel extremely welcome at reception, and at the Garden Suite, with my own bowls, treats and the run of the place. The humans had treats too, such as fruit fresh from the garden and delicious petit fours, and they said the service was second to none. Mark, who has worked at the Middlethorpe for 30 years, can tell you everything you need to know about the hall and its stunning formal gardens with

the sort of enthusiasm you might have thought would wane over the decades.

Not only was he interesting and engaging but really helpful, sorting out a toothbrush for one human who had forgotten hers, and getting us a lift to the station on a busy day when every taxi in York seemed to be booked out.

We all adored Middethorpe Hall and would unreservedly recommend it to anyone with a dog or even those people who are, sadly, without a pet. It’s a tailwagging ‘woof-woof’ from me.

Dining at Middlethorpe Hall – the humans’ verdict Ooh, my favourite kind of dining room – superb staff and a menu to savour, there’s so much to relish when eating out at Middlethorpe Hall.

There are cloches and white tablecloths but somehow this isn’t a starchy experience. In fact, it’s the opposite. It’s warm, it’s romantic, it’s perfect. On a winter’s evening there’s candlelight casting a glow on glasses of white wine, crisp, warm bread served with generous helpings of creamy butter, and service that’s helpful but not obsequious (as it can be in some country house-type places).

The chef Ashley Binder is clearly very talented. We were bowled over by a three-course menu that isn’t too fussy but has a complexity that makes it worth every cent of the £79 per head. I start with a sweetcorn velouté that had it all – sweetness from the corn and texture from charred pieces of truffle popcorn and mushroom. It was rich, heady and truly delicious. The lobster ravioli was another triumph. Mains were a truffle mac and cheese, which is a finger of macaroni cheese coated with breadcrumbs; a description that doesn’t really do justice to the depth of flavour

achieved by such relatively humble ingredients. There is another main of tender aged, fillet of beef which was stonkingly good! We finished on a high with two amazing desserts – chocolate delice and strawberry cannelloni. Sitting in the beautiful, panelled dining room was a privilege and a delight, the brilliant service was attentive without being pushy, and Cedric, our waiter, laughed at all our jokes. What a star!

The next day, breakfast was what you would expect f rom a talented kitchen; flaky and buttery pastries, a full English that included black pudding and fried bread (take your heart pills) and the best scrambled eggs we’ve ever had in a hotel. All guaranteed to satisfy even the most difficult customer.

Finally, if there’s one thing you should go to Middlethorpe Hall for it is the afternoon tea. Book in for the delicious dainty sandwiches, scones and exquisite tiny cakes served in the drawing room with a view over the formal gardens and feel like you’re living the life of the gentry for a few hours. Does it get any better?

Pepper was a guest at Middlethorpe Hall and SPA middlethorpe.com GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 31

TRAVEL

Ios island GREECE

A pretty, exciting island…

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TRAVEL

It is very hot in Greece in June, but you can’t sit by the pool all day, every day (not that I didn’t try!) So, we visited Odysseas Elytis, an open-air amphitheatre that holds more than 1,000 people. It is located just behind the windmills at the top of the village of Chora and accessible by car or on foot. We were taken by car, because it is a bit of a steep climb, especially in the heat. The amphitheatre boasts spectacular views of Mylopotas Beach, Santorini and the Aegean Sea and there are concerts and performances held there every summer. This is one of the best places to visit in Ios. Ios has many lovely places to eat. We chose Salt Restaurant Bar for its Greek and Mediterranean cuisine and lively vibe. The food was delightful and what’s more, you can enjoy eating and drinking with a full view of the beach. And it wasn’t far from our accommodation, which was a plus.

Ios is a pretty Cycladic island renowned by the young for its entertainment scene. It has been famous for its wild and crazy nightlife since the 1960s when the hippies headed to the pristine beaches of Ios; relaxing in the daytime and partying at night. But nowadays, visitors from all over the world travel to Ios to have fun, relax, explore and even get married. It’s a breathtakingly perfect setting for a wedding, with many weddings taking place on the island throughout the year.

Mylopotas is the most popular beach on the island, known for its long expanse of golden sand, glistening crystal-clear water, wide range of entertainment choices and its famous campsite. The beach gets very busy from June to August and is not the place for those in search of solitude. But don’t let that put you off. The island has come a long way from its ‘hippy hotspot' partying past and is now a secluded treat with very few reminders of its past.

Ios is a must for your bucket list – from churches and chapels and sunset beach bars to some of the most beautiful coastlines in Greece – and an easy-to-reach island situated between the glitz of Santorini and the glamour of Mykonos. We flew Manchester to Santorini, stayed there for a few days, then caught a Seajets ferry to the port of Chora, which is just a 45-minute ride from Santorini.

However, Ios is connectable f rom some of the other Cycladic islands or from Athens.

For a traditional Greek experience, we caught a taxi to Sainis in Chora. This amazing taverna spanned the length of the street, with tables wherever there was space! We arrived at 6pm and the place was empty, but as we were eating our taramosalata and pitta, it started to get busy. By the time we left, it was jam-packed, with people queuing outside.

Grandma’s meatballs were a speciality, but we decided to go for grilled shrimps, sea bream, oven-baked garlic mushrooms and chips. You can take the girl out of…

It really was an absolute gem of a family restaurant, run by a father (a very warm and jovial gentleman) and his daughter. You’re even given a drink on the house before you leave. If it wasn’t our last night, we would have returned. Next time!

Ios will always hold a special place in our hearts because son number two was married there at the Ios Palace Hotel in 2017.

During the pandemic, the hotel built some pretty special suites, which we need to visit. So, Ios island, we will most definitely be back!

We stayed at Levantes Ios Boutique Hotel on Mylopotas Beach.

The hotel’s simple, white structure and large surfaces – crafted f rom local stone and natural materials f rom the surrounding landscape – harmoniously blend in with the wild scenery. This is the perfect place for quiet moments with family or a romantic hideout in the Mediterranean.

This hotel is situated quite high up, so if you don’t like walking uphill, then this isn’t the best choice for you, especially in the dark.

However, you can always catch a taxi, and the majestic sky and sea views and the blissful landscape while you’re swimming or relaxing in the pool, along with the hotel’s warm hospitality, make the walk well worthwhile.

visitiosgreece.com Golden ferries VIP

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 33

TRAVEL

Iberostar 70 Park Avenue The perfect location in the heart of Manhattan

The Hotel Iberostar 70 Park Avenue lies between the Empire State Building and Grand Central Station, the biggest and one of the most famous train stations in the world, and a short walk from Bryant Park, Times Square and other must-see sights.

The hotel’s privileged location in the core of the Big Apple provides guests with a wide variety of entertainment possibilities; from shopping to visiting the numerous attractions that make New York City one of the top tourist destinations.

This pet-friendly hotel boasts 205 guest rooms spread across 17 floors, surrounded by breathtaking views of Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighbourhood. Spacious guest rooms include a bath, comfortable working areas, streaming-capable televisions and yoga mats. And if you’re feeling energetic, and can fit it into your day, there’s also a 24-hour fitness centre.

There are so many kinds of accommodation on offer, and some would say that you only need a small city room because you will be out exploring all day, which is true. However, when you’ve been out all day and it’s 80 degrees or more, or it’s absolutely bucketing it down, it’s so much nicer to go back to your elegant and sophisticated room with a bathtub for some rest and relaxation before exploring more of what ‘the city that never sleeps’ has to offer.

I’ve stayed at this hotel two out of the three times I’ve been to New York. The location is perfect and within walking distance of so many attractions. The rooms are lovely and the staff are friendly and always on hand to share their expert knowledge. Thanks Iberostar 70 Park Avenue, I would definitely stay again!

Visit nyctourism.com

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By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

TRAVEL

New York New York So nice, they named it twice New York is dynamic and diverse, it offers everything in abundance, so it’s no wonder that, as the song goes, it’s a city so nice, they named it twice. After visiting New York three times without the children, I thought it was time for them to see what New York had to offer and hopefully, they’d love it as much as I do.

There are so many reasons to love it, it’s spectacular, it’s a city that never sleeps. Ask anyone who’s been and they’ll all love it for different reasons. I love the vibe, the hustle and bustle, the bright lights, the plethora of bars and restaurants and the wealth of cuisine, the skyscrapers, exploring the city’s sightseeing areas and the parks. But I also like wandering around the blocks (aimlessly), as you never know what you’re going to come across. Each area has its own distinct personality.

Whether you’re staying for a weekend or a week, it’s a good idea to plan your days. New York is bursting at the seams with unmissable sights, diverse cuisines and unique experiences, and to make the most of your time there, I definitely recommend investing in a CityPASS.

So, what are you waiting for, New York is waiting for you!

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 35

TRAVEL

New York CityPASS

If you’re travelling to New York for the first time and want to cram in as much as you can, then the CityPASS is an absolute must. Your CityPASS mobile ticket is available for nine days from the first date of use and includes admission to the Empire State Building and American Museum of Natural History, plus you can choose three attractions of your choice from the six listed below. The app is super-easy to use and you can schedule your entry times, so there is no queuing.

Preparation is key, so check out all the attractions before you go. There’s loads of info online, but if you’re only there for a few days, don’t overdo it by booking everything. There are so many attractions, but you can also have a great time walking for miles with a New York street map. Just make sure you’ve got some comfortable footwear!

New York CityPASS programme includes prepaid admission to five top attractions.

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Empire State Building A global landmark, the Empire State Building is of course a must for any visitor to NYC. The Empire State Building experience features 12 interactive exhibits. CityPASS grants general admission to the 86th floor observatory and admission to the 2nd floor museum, plus bonus same-night general admission. Upgrading the pass grants visitors access to the brand new 102nd floor observatory.

TRAVEL

American Museum of Natural History The American Museum of Natural History is home to many amazing exhibits showcasing the intricacies and evolution of human cultures, the natural world and the vast universe. Visitors will be met with world-renowned dioramas, including the 94-foot-long blue whale and the Rose Centre for Earth and Space.

Ferry access to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Visitors can explore the grounds of Liberty and Ellis Island, discovering the history of immigration at what was once the nation’s busiest immigration inspection station. Travelling over to the islands from New York Harbour, visitors can stand in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty National Monument or explore the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.

CityPASS allows visitors to reserve a ticket for one Statue City Cruises ferry ride to and from Liberty Island and Ellis Island, audio guides and admission to the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island Immigration Museum (Crown Tickets and Pedestal Access not included).

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum An American military and maritime history museum, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is home to the legendary aircraft carrier Intrepid, the space shuttle Enterprise, the world’s fastest jets and a guided-missile submarine. The non-profit institution offers interactive exhibitions, educational programming and lots of military vessels. CityPASS grants general admission, including the Space Shuttle Pavilion, the submarine Growler and the film Story of Intrepid.

CityPASS grants admission to permanent museum halls, plus all special exhibitions and films.

Plus choose any three of the following attractions:

Top of the Rock® Observation Deck 70 stories high, visitors to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck enjoy 360-degree views of the city. The top three floors of the legendary Art Deco skyscraper have both an interior and exterior deck, where visitors can watch people below explore Central Park, hail an iconic NYC cab or see the sun set over the skyline. CityPASS grants general admission.

World Trade Center. Walking through the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, visitors can take a moment of quiet reflection, examining the history and impact of the events. CityPASS grants general admission.

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises Cruising along the river, visitors are met with views of NYC’s most iconic landmarks, including Brooklyn Bridge, One World Trade and the Statue of Liberty.

Professional tour guides are on board to give a history of the city or visitors can simply sit back and take in the sights.

CityPASS allows a ride on a regularly scheduled Landmarks Cruise or Liberty Cruise.

Guggenheim Museum Frank Lloyd Wright’s mid-century masterpiece of modern architecture, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, is home to a wonderful art collection, including works by Degas, Gaugin and Picasso. The museum sits alongside Central Park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. CityPASS grants general admission to the Guggenheim’s collection, plus special exhibits.

9/11 Memorial & Museum Visitors are welcomed to pay their respects to the victims of the 9/11 attacks on the

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 37

TRAVEL

Kimpton Marlowe Boutique hotel in Cambridge, MA Located at the entrance of Cambridge, home to Kendall Square, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Museum of Science, and close to Harvard University, downtown Boston’s Fanueil Hall (shopping centre with stores & restaurants), TD Garden (Sports & entertainment arena), Beacon Hill (historic neighbourhood) and Logan International airport, Kimpton Marlowe is perfectly placed for both corporate and leisure travel.

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TRAVEL Offering exceptional services, vibrant, spacious guest rooms, luxurious state-ofthe-art amenities, and an idyllic location along the Charles River, this boutique, Cambridge, Massachusetts eco-friendly hotel is the perfect place for a memorable stay.

Food and beverage options include Bambara Kitchen & Bar, offering Chef Adam Resnick’s American & Mediterraneaninspired cuisine and a Lobby Bar that’s the perfect spot to unwind and relax while sipping morning coffee or an evening cocktail by the elevated marble fireplace.

We weren’t driving, but for those who do, self-parking and valet parking are available.

Hotel guests are provided with a variety of unrivalled amenities and services. With free kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and bicycle rentals, in-room yoga mats and programmes, a premium onsite fitness centre open 24 hours and audio systems.

At select Kimpton properties across the United States, they’re living it up like it’s 1993 with a new, limited-time inline skate rental program called ‘Dream Blades’ with neon accessories, that will make life a little less plastic and a lot more fantastic!

The hotel courtyard boasts Celeste, a 25-foottall, moving, Steampunk-style sculpture made of reclaimed metals, steel and gears.

Celeste creates an engaging and interactive experience, as it is an artistic take on the traditional armillary sphere.

Kimpton Marlowe Hotel guest rooms have had an extensive redesign, which takes inspiration from the academic and literary

history of the neighbourhood surrounding the hotel. With floor to ceiling windows and spectacular views of the Boston skyline, hotel courtyard and Charles River, which the hotel overlooks. Renovation of the common areas, lobby and function spaces is expected to begin in 2024.

As much emphasis is placed on life and workfrom-home, these days, Kimpton Marlowe has designed their guest rooms to feel more residential, offering customised experiences and details that are reminiscent of home.

We booked a king suite and a double queen room with exterior view. The queen room windows looked out to the boats gliding along the Charles River and the Boston skyline twinkling in the background.

All the hotel’s guest rooms are spacious and feature plush bedding and locally inspired touches. The king suites are roomier than some Boston apartments, with floor-to-ceiling windows and oversize bathrooms (some with Fuji spa tubs).

Both types of room that we booked were relaxation at its best.

Most hotels in the USA are room only, which is fine, so long as I can wake up and make myself a couple of coffees before heading out for the day. And we didn’t have to go far because, apart from free coffee in the lobby, The Kimpton Marlowe Hotel is attached to the CambridgeSide Galleria Mall. CambridgeSide offers two levels of great shopping and dining, with favorites like Apple, Sephora, T.J. Maxx, Victoria’s Secret, and lots more. I could have spent hours in T.J. Maxx, it’s so much better than the UK version, T.K. Maxx.

There’s casual dining in the food court, and it would have been foolish to walk past The Cheesecake Factory without popping in!

This wasn’t our first visit to Boston, but it was our first stay in Cambridge. We had a great time at Kimpton Marlowe. The staff were f riendly and helpful, the decor beautiful and the rooms were lovely, bright, spacious and well equipped. Free morning coffee and tea in the lobby and free wine and beer from 5pm to 6pm were welcome extras and the food and drinks at the bar were delicious. We would definitely visit again.

For more information, visit www.hotelmarlowe.com.

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

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Welcome to Miami Kimpton Surfcomber | Miami | South Beach

The Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel features all you need for a grown-up or family-friendly stay in Miami. Behind its leafy Art Deco façade (seen throughout the hotel, with shades of orange, yellow and teal unifying public spaces), you’ll f ind a resort-style atmosphere, colourful pool area, fun eateries, direct beach access with a kids’ area and DAYLIFE activities – offering everything f rom yoga to kids’ cookery sessions.

Miami attracts millions of visitors each year.

As well as white, sandy beaches, turquoise waters and some of the best examples of Art Deco and MiMo architecture, the island also offers many of the finest dining experiences anywhere.

Miami has an uninterrupted beach walk that spans the entire length of Miami Beach, where you’ll see people strolling, jogging or biking, whatever time of year.

You’ll find bicycle rentals at kiosks throughout the island or you can hop on one of the complimentary trolleys that connect the city’s three neighbourhoods – South Beach, Mid-Beach and North Beach. We stayed at an IHG Hotel on South Beach. Welcome to Miami…

Situated on South Beach, The Surfcomber offers just what you’d expect when it comes to tanned and toned bodies, swaying palm trees, private cabanas, spa services and a fitness centre.

The hotel is centrally situated on Collins Avenue, known for its fashion, restaurants and nightclubs, and around half a mile from the northern point of Ocean Drive, whose legendary Art Deco buildings face the beach. Miami International Airport is 12 miles to the west.

The Surfcomber guest rooms have taken a stylish turn. Newly revamped with soothing neutrals and a South-of-France colour

palette. Headboards and carpets are in black and white patterns, paying homage to the Art Deco glory days of South Beach.

And the in-room tech is thoroughly modern.

With a bustling bar and outdoor seating on the world-famous Collins Avenue, The Social Club restaurant and bar has everything. Start the day at brunch time, wind down the day with a hand-crafted cocktail or kick off a night on the town.

South Beach has an international reputation as a tropical playground. And Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel puts you in throwing distance of all the recreation and relaxation you can possibly desire. The Atlantic Ocean is in its backyard; the colourful Miami Art Deco district is a stone’s throw away and the hotel is within walking and biking distance of world-class shopping, dining, galleries, and the nightlife that Miami is renowned for.

Sometimes considered America’s Riviera, Miami Beach is actually a series of many beaches, and the thing is, you are never more than a mile f rom the water. The essence of Miami Beach is tropical playground meets glamorous sensuality.

Whether you’re in South Beach for the world-class shopping, dining, sunbathing or celebrity hunting, or in mid-beach for the golfing, shopping and scenic Miami Beach boardwalk or quieter places further north, Miami Beach is alive with sunwashed relaxation by day and round-theclock revelling by night.

The Surfcomber is a great hotel with everything you need. Bright rooms, friendly staff, delicious food and a perfect location. Miami is totally different f rom anywhere I’ve ever visited and I would highly recommend it.

Surfcomber.com

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By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

TRADITIONAL FESTIVE CHARM IN GERMANY

TRAVEL

Located at Biebelplatz in Berlin's historic centre, Hotel de Rome is the perfect place for exploring the famous Weihnachtszauber Christmas market, which is now located right on the doorstep of Hotel de Rome's front entrance.

The Weihnachtszauber Christmas market is renowned for its selection of artistic offerings and craftspeople. Alongside the roasted almonds, chestnuts and mulled wines, this Christmas market also presents food stalls and restaurants with a wide range of sweet and traditional treats.

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Guests of Hotel de Rome can get tickets from the concierge and have the exclusive privilege of skipping the queue and entering the market without waiting in line.

Must try Christmas treat: roasted chestnuts.

The Weihnachtszauber Christmas market Open from 27 November to 31 December – Sunday to Thursday from 12pm to 10pm, Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 11pm.

Discover Europe’s best

Christmas markets 'Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to embrace the holiday spirit than by exploring the magical Christmas markets of Europe? These festive celebrations are like stepping into a real-life snow globe, filled with sparkling lights, the aroma of roasted chestnuts, and the sound of carols in the air.

From the charming cobblestone streets of Portugal to the romantic castles of Prague, Europe's Christmas markets offer a delightful mix of tradition, culture and fun. Picture yourself sipping on fresh hot chocolate as you browse through stalls bursting with handmade crafts, unique gifts, and mouth-watering treats.

So, grab your scarf and bundle up, here’s our pick of the top places to soak up the best of the festive season.

FAIRYTALE CHRISTMAS IN PRAGUE There’s a certain magic in the air here that flows effortlessly through Old Town Square, onto Charles Bridge, over the Vltava and all the way up the tallest spires of Prague Castle – and that’s just what you can see from Four Seasons Hotel Prague.

Centuries of wonder fill the walls, letting you trace the history of the city from the Baroque era and the neoclassical to modern day.

Explore the toy-town beauty of Old Town Square, complete with a real-life nativity scene, carol-singing choirs and a life-sized gingerbread village. The Wenceslas Square market is another big attraction for visitors to the city, with its craft stalls, food and one-of-a-kind discoveries.

Must try Christmas treat: delicious grilled sausages.

Old Town Square Christmas Market Open from 2 December to 6 January – Tuesday to Sunday from 4.30pm to 9pm.

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TRAVEL

EXTRAVAGANT CHRISTMAS FAIR IN BUDAPEST The Budapest Christmas Fair and Winter Festival transforms the heart of Hungary's capital into a winter wonderland. Stroll through the picturesque Vörösmarty Square and be greeted by a symphony of sights, sounds and scents. The air is filled with the scent of freshly baked chimney cakes, spiced mulled wine and savoury Hungarian delicacies.

Located just six minutes from The Budapest Christmas Fair and Winter Festival, Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a long day exploring.

From the moment you enter, savour the iconic wrought-iron peacock gates, pass through the lobby adorned with over two million mosaic tiles illuminated with its striking chandelier and let inspiration wash over you. Outside, views of the Danube and the picturesque Buda skyline will wow you.

Must try Christmas treat: funnel cake, a Hungarian delicacy.

Budapest Christmas Fair and Winter Festival Open every day in December from 10am to 9pm.

FESTIVE SPIRITS IN PORTUGAL Porto, known for its rich culture and exquisite wines, is the perfect destination for a festive weekend getaway. This vibrant city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, comes alive during Christmas, especially in WOW, its Cultural District, home to seven museum experiences and 11 restaurants, bars and cafés.

As you wander through the district, you'll be enchanted by the thousands of twinkling lights illuminating the streets, creating a truly magical atmosphere, all centred around a dazzling Christmas tree, and adding to the festive charm.

WOW’s Christmas markets are a love letter to Portuguese culture, with gifts from local Portuguese artists, mulled wine, port and various events, including meeting Santa Claus and wine-tasting. Don’t miss a moment of the magic by staying at the neighbouring 5-star hotel, The Yeatman.

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Must try Christmas treat: : a glass of local Port wine.

Festive celebrations start on 25 November, with the lighting of the Christmas tree

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The tradition and magic of The Elf on the Shelf

Glossy Magazine interviews Chanda Bell to find out how The Elf on the Shelf started…

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media for votes. The winning cookie(s) are left out for Santa Claus and the elves to enjoy as they fuel themselves up during the Christmas Eve flight.

Please tell us the story of The Elf on the Shelf – the tradition and magic and how it all began...

The Elf on the Shelf character began with the magic of a holiday tradition from my own family. As children, my siblings and I had a Scout Elf named Fisbee, who visited us in the weeks before Christmas.

He flew back and forth to the North Pole each night, reporting our secrets and Christmas wishes to Santa, and hid in a new spot in our home each morning.

Fisbee became one of our family’s most beloved Christmas traditions.

Many years later, my mother, Carol, and I wrote the story of our family’s elf. We called it The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition. We couldn’t get anyone to publish our book, so with no money and no experience, we set out to share our family tradition and in 2005, my sister Christa joined in the venture to start our own company.

In the years since, we have grown from that single product into a global enterprise and The Lumistella Company has launched a portfolio of brands, products, entertainment and experiences that support Santa’s universe of storytelling.

I never imagined that what started with a spark of an idea and one little elf would create a business creating joyful family moments at Christmas-time.

What are you doing for Christmas this year and do you have any other family traditions?

Although our family thinks about Christmas every day throughout the year, I still enjoy the holiday as my favorite day of the year! My family always has a cookie-decorating contest on Christmas Eve, putting our creations on social

I will also get together with my extended family and we’ll laugh and enjoy our time together. We’ll prepare a wonderful holiday meal, exchange gifts, play games and watch movies while reflecting on wonderful memories. And, of course, we’ll share stories of our families’ own elves as well as the most terrific stories from our fans during the holiday season.

and white mittens. The official Scout Elf from The Elf on the Shelf is not only trusted by Santa but also trusted by kids and parents to bring joyful family moments with family-friendly stories and characters.

We know families want to invest in genuine, official products and in quality, family-friendly entertainment and experiences, and we believe there’s magic in being authentic and original.

We put our heart into everything we create, bringing joyful family moments for families around the world, something that is hard to replicate.

What’s to come in 2024 and beyond?

In 2024, we have many exciting surprises in store for fans of The Elf on the Shelf. In addition to our existing core brands and characters, we plan to debut a host of new characters and stories that will surprise and delight fans in the UK and across the globe!

As Santa’s chief storyteller, I've been hard at work writing a chapter book for older kids to be published in 2024 in partnership with Farshore/Harper Collins. It reveals origins of the fantastical North Pole and of Santa Claus himself.

Why do you think The Elf on the Shelf is so popular in the UK? The Elf on the Shelf is popular in the UK and all around the world because not only do families trust the authentic, original Scout Elf, but because it’s a tradition families can make their own.

We are so proud to be a part of family traditions across the UK. And we can’t wait for you to see what’s to come in the years ahead!

We say Scout Elves match the personalities of their families, so it really is possible to have a holiday elf tradition as involved or as simple as a family wants to make it! We provide a robust collection of resources, ideas, products and inspiration, all of which can be accessed from elfontheshelf.co.uk, and all of them are designed to help families truly make the tradition their own.

What is unique about the REAL Elf on the Shelf?

Arriving with the hardcover storybook and keepsake box, it is easy to recognise the authentic, original Scout Elf, as they wear a completely red suit and a red hat with white trim, a white pointy collar

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GLOSSY GIFT GUIDE

Christmas time, mistletoe and wine…

Image: Christmas dining / Lights4fun.co.uk

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1. Personalised Leather Effect Embossed Notebook, £20.95, marthabrook.com 2. Hennessy Limited Edition X.O. Cognac £220, Harvey Nichols. 3. HEATH LONDON This fuss-free four step routine includes everything you need to reveal a radiant complexion and stay moisturised and protected on the go. Consists of The Face Wash, The Shower Mask, The Eye Serum and The Moisturer. All presented in a vegan leather washbag, £67, heathlondon.co.uk 4. Classic Games, Farrar & Tanner, see farrar-tanner.co.uk for further info.

5. Personalised Men’s Glasses Stand, £17.99, Love Unique Personal, love-up.co.uk 6. JACQUEMUS Le Banane leather belt bag, £515, Harvey Nichols. 7. Barbour Tartan Coloured Stretch Belt Gift Box, £40, farrar-tanner.co.uk 8. Spirit Of 1940 Spitfire Cufflinks, £275, Imperial War Museum, shop.iwm.org.uk 9. Veuve Clicquot City Arrow limited-edition Brut NV champagne with personalised tin, £750ml, £69.99, Selfridges. 10. Liberty, Christmas Man Beauty Kit, £65, libertylondon.com 11. Barbour Classic Tartan Travel Mug, £12, farrar-tanner.co.uk 12. Personalised Hiking Journal, £15, oakdenedesigns.com

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1. Microwavable Cream Cozy-Boots, £14.99, gettingpersonal.co.uk 2. The Festive Feast Hamper, £300, hotelchocolat.com 3. Theraface Mask with full-face red, blue and red infrared LED light Therapy, £549, johnlewis.com 4. Women's Wool Runner-up Mizzles Water-repellent, comfortable and warm. Perfect for the winter weather. Sale price, £99, allbirds.co.uk 5. Sloanes are durable tall waterproof boots made from 100% high-quality leather & nubuck. The thermo rubber high grip sole and membrane maintains warm feet in cold weather and cool feet in hot weather. It also has a waterproof membrane that helps prevent perspiration and the removable pre-moulded footbed provides instep support, £255, welligogs.com. 6. Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 Instant Camera, £99.99, johnlewis.com 7. Sweaty Betty Gym Bag, £95.

8. CREED Carmina eau de parfum, 75ml, £260, Harvey Nichols. 9. 2024 Blush Pink A5 Personalised Diary, £25, aimstudio.co 10. Eco Luxury Scented Candles, Pure Brass, Copper or Brushed Stainless Steel Votive, £58, amauralondon.com 11. Fluffy Diamond Geo Bomber, £65, Oliver Bonas. 12. Monaco Quilt Crossbody Bag, £44.95, Barbour.com

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THE YOUNG ONES...

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1. BabyBjorn Baby Carrier, Harmony, 3D mesh, £208.90 2. Liewood Darcy Lion cotton soft toy, £41, Harvey Nichols 3. Toy for bouncer, soft friends, £49.90 4. Impala Quad Roller Skates, 4-10 years, £100, Selfridges 5. Personalised Wooden Christmas Eve Gift Box, £24, love-up.co.uk 6. Heidi headband, £20, pretty-magpie.com 7. Le Toy Van Activity Wooden Toy Table, 50cm, £85 8. Palm Angels Dino Punk printed cotton T-shirt £155, Harvey Nichols 9. Rock Jam 3-piece Junior Drum Kit, £100, Selfridges

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LITTLE BEAUTIES...

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1. Sophie Allport Dragonfly Canvas Wash Bag, £23.50, sophieallport.com 2. Beauty Wall Art, £27.69, K&L Wall Art, wall-art.de 3. Silk Blackout Eye Mask in Burgundy Berry, £45, vividalifestyle.com 4. Slip Beauty Sleep Over Set, £59, oliverbonas.com 5. Different Kind' Natural Beauty Hamper, £100, thedifferentkind.com 6. BTFY Beauty Trolley, visit btfy.com for further info 7. Baylis & Harding, Luxury 24 days of Beauty Advent Calendar, £45, baylisandharding.com

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1. Give the gift of radiant skin this Christmas with the SOS Serum Skincare Superstars Beauty Elixir gift set, £45.00, sosserum.co.uk 2. Only Curls Nourishing Hair Oil helps to enhance shine and lock in moisture, £19, onlycurls.com 3. Benefit Bestseller ShowcaseGlam on the Go with the best in beauty. Full sizes of 5 of Benefit’s amazing products. Only £34.50, but worth £88.

The Bestseller Showcase. Available at Benefit Boutiques

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4. Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask Nourishes and enhances the beauty of hair's natural shade or refreshes colour-treated and highlighted hair between treatments. Five shades available, £39, christopherobin.co.uk 5. AMELIORATE GenM Menopause Skincare Box (worth £85), RRP £50. Four skin and body essentials approved by GenM, the first of its kind Menopause partner for brands. Available f rom AMELIORATE and LOOKFANTASTIC 6. All I Want Beauty Advent Calendar, £145, benefitcosmetics.com 7. Ardell Wispies 700, as used on the set of Priscilla, £5.99, Superdrug 8. Dermatica Vitamin C Fresh Batch, a month of daily antioxidant protection that shields the skin from UV and free radical damage, dullness and loss of firmness, 12.5ml, £15,50, dermatica.co.uk 9. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Bauble, £26, Selfridges.

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1. Give the gift of Champneys with 20% extra FREE. Whether their idea of wellbeing is a soul-soothing spa day or a spa break at one of Champneys countryside havens, a tension-melting treatment in one of their City Spa’s, or moments of calm, with Spa at Home products, Champneys gift cards give the gift of choice, and little bit of spa magic. Get an extra 20% free on gift cards until 24th December. A Champneys gift card will make for the perfect present. 2. It’s time to discover beautiful NO SHOW lash extensions at-home in MINUTES, with ARDELL's new Seamless Underlash Extensions, £24.99, Superdrug which are already trending on US BeautyTok.

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3. The Ginkgo Gua Sha. The first-ever Sisley massage tool for the face and neck, inspired by one of our iconic ingredients, the Ginkgo Biloba leaf. Designed to perfectly fit the lines and contours of your face, it is used for effective massage that targets visible signs of aging, £115, Sisley-paris.com 4. Eau du Soir, Sisley’s iconic f ragrance designed in 1990, bears the stamp of d’Ornano’s mastery, mingling the freshness of citrus f ruit with the sensuality of floral notes and accentuating it with an elegant chypre signature, Limited Edition Eau Du Soir, 100ml, £205. 5. all of me – a new fragrance by Narciso Rodriguez Parfums, 90ml, £120, Available from Boots 6. FJÖR – Hydrolytic Serum The all-in-one formula that will keep your skin’s microbiomes balanced even in the season of overindulgence! 30ml, £97, fjor.life. 7. Tory Burch Cosmic Wood Eau de Parfum, 90ml, £99, SpaceNK 8. Some like it hot! Three new shades f rom Leighton Denny for the winter, £12.50 each, leightondenny.com

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Christmas AT THE DUNHAM BARN

Santa and his cheeky elves are back from 1st December, pre book tickets online

www.thedunhambarn.co.uk Children will take home reindeer food and a gift from Santa.

Large selection of Nordmann low drop Christmas Trees.

Delivery available. Come and join in the wintery fun on our environmentally friendly, synthetic Ice rink suitable for all ages, skates included.

New for this year, Storytime with Santa group sessions for pre-schoolers. Prebook your slot via our website.

Dog Farm, School Lane, Dunham Massey, Altrincham WA14 4TR 0161 941 6889 / Email: thedunhambarn@gmail.com

www.thedunhambarn.co.uk NEPALESE AND INDIAN CULINARY EXPLORATION

A warm welcome always awaits at Namaste Nepal Experience an evening of true luxury with exclusively selected dishes – from traditional Nepalese and Indian – to the latest street food selections.

Our Momo chwela * Nepali crispy chicken * Nepali spicy meatball * Pani Puri, and many other delicious dishes created by our experienced Nepali Master Chef Mr Dipendra B KC. Vegetarian and Vegan dishes available.

Proud owner Mr Chandra Kumar KC has been involved in Restaurant business on Burton Road, Didsbury with his excellent skills and dedication over three decades.

Enjoy your evening in our beautiful, newly transformed Namaste Nepal restaurant.

CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN WE ARE OPEN ON CHRISTMAS DAY 12pm-7pm – please book in advance

0161 445 9060

164-166 Burton Road // Didsbury // M20 1LH

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1. Spirit specialists, O'Donnell Moonshine, offer giftsets across a range of products in stylish Mason jars, that include something for everyone. 8er Micro-Moonshine Box, £21.90. Perfect stocking filler! odonnellmoonshine.co.uk 2. Great Drams Whiskey This much anticipated, and requested, Great Drams Christmas Series release is a Single Cask Single Malt whisky from Cawdor Springs matured in a Chateau Margaux Wine Barrique. Limited to 200 bottles globally. 50cl, £75, greatdrams.com 3. Calorie conscious cheers! Think Wine is low in sugar, carbs and calories, ensuring you stay on track with your health goals, even in the indulgent season. 75cl, £20.99, mixed case of 6, £119.99, thinkwinegroup.co.uk 4. Carpathian Single Malt Commandaria Cask 46% ABV £66. Carpathian-singlemalt.com 5. Arcanist Rum Award-winning pineapple rum. Beautiful Guyanese rum is infused with Costa Rican pineapples and Caribbean spices to give you the ultimate flavoured rum. Only 500 bottles to a run. 70cl, £39.95, arcanistrum.com 6. The Crowd Pleaser Hamper, £400, Harvey Nichols. 7. Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Petal Robe NV Champagne, £85, Harvey Nichols 8. Champagne stopper, £8.50, Harvey Nichols 9. Charbonnel et Walker 007 Dry Martini Chocolate Truffles, 115g, £14.95, Harvey Nichols

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ENTERTAINMENT

SECURITY TECH

Could I be the last person on the planet to have converted to a Ring doorbell? Well, it’s a recent thing anyway and I’m completely sold on it. Even though I love gadgets, I must admit, my idea of home security before the video doorbell had been pretty primitive: alarm, floodlights, cricket bat by the bed.

But now, all that’s changed and here I am, exploring what the next level looks like.

Check this out…

Ring drone camera A truly futuristic add-on to the Ring system, this drone camera complements the doorbell’s exterior monitoring by not only capturing what’s going on indoors but also autonomously flying all around the home while you’re out. The Always Home Cam flies along custom flight paths, so you can see what’s happening around your home, no matter where you are. If your Ring Alarm contact sensors or motion detectors are triggered, Always Home Cam will automatically fly to see what’s happening. You can watch HD video live in flight or refer back to recordings. The only problem is, it’s been so hotly anticipated, Amazon still doesn’t have stock in the UK. But you can find third party retailers offering the system for about £300.

Nuki smart lock A smart lock can allow you to lock or unlock your home from your smartphone, control who can and can’t open your door, set your home to unlock automatically when you or a designated digital keyholder comes home, and track who has come and gone. This one is invisible to the outside world – mounted on the inside of the door – and it’s certified by insurers. The highest level of encryption means it’s safer than a physical key and you can install it yourself in minutes without any drilling.

From £149, nuki.io.

Kasa smart plug This is a great idea for bringing any older electrical devices up to date with the modern smart home. It works with systems such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control, so you can control devices connected to the Smart Plug wherever you use the free Kasa app on your phone. Simple functions, such as schedule/timer, allow it to automatically power electronics on and off as needed and it includes an Away Mode, which turns your devices on and off at different times to give the appearance that someone is home. £33.98, Amazon.

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By Oliver Chesher

the home department store FURNITURE

F I R E P L AC E S

just off junction 22 of the M60 housingunits.co.uk

At Housing Units, home is where our heart is. That’s why we don’t just have the perfect ‘something’, we have the perfect everything for your home.

CHRISTMAS

NURSERY

LIGHTING

AC C E S S O R I E S

K I TC H E N S

HOME Toros gold rug, now £529, housingunits.co.uk

Matteo bar stool, £129, cultfurniture.com

Berlin ice bucket, £375, and Occulus glasswear, £75, jonathanadler.com Hot off the Sleigh cushion, £25, marksandspencer.com

Tetrad Harris Tweed Taransay petit sofa, £2,629, arighibianchi.co.uk

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Handmade Christmas tree angel decorations, £6.99, dearcece.com

HOME

Emperor 2.5-seater in Lucerne blush mix, £2,749, Odette swivel chair in Adele seafoam/orca lagoon mix, £499, sofology.co.uk

Eucalyptus & white berry Christmas wreath, £54, afternoah.com

Beyond the tinsel There are ways to make a statement during the festive season, whatever your budget.

The demands on your home are many, especially if you are having friends and family over for the holidays. On the one hand, you want everything to be welcoming and cosy, and on the other, there should be an element of luxury about the place.

Zuiver Cantor wine shelf, £529, cuckooland.com

If ever there was a time to invest in a gorgeous new sofa, it’s now. You’ll get the chance to show it off for one thing and what’s more, you’ll be able to choose one that’s big enough to accommodate all the extra bodies piling into your sitting room.

And if you really want to splash the cash, go for gold with your drinking accessories, whether you invest in a beautiful ice bucket, a set of sexy bar stools or a stylish wine shelf. It’s this kind of luxe detail that will impress your guests!

On a budget? Then you can still add a flourish with a scattering of festive cushions and a few new decorations for the Christmas tree.

I don’t know about you, but when I bring out my decorations every year, I’m reminded of Christmases past. For me, adding a new bauble to the tree is a bit like planting the seed for fresh memories in the years to come.

By Janet Reeder

Don’t get me wrong, I love tinsel, but festive decor is more than just a tree and a bunch of garlands.

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il Garlington

Glossy Magazine

Charity Christmas Party Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Glossy Magazine Charity Christmas Party, we managed to raise an amazing £17,685 for Endeavour Domestic Abuse Service, a charity that provides a range of domestic abuse services for people and their pets.

A special thank you to our sponsors, SureCare Trafford and Kellands Wealth Management, Hale, and to everyone who contributed prizes or helped on the night to make it such a dazzling success.

Guests walked away with some fabulous prizes donated by our wonderful clients, local businesses and PR companies, including gift bags from Transformulas and Zouk vouchers. Our host, the one and only Johnny de M, kept the party going with his charm and wit while Ali Birchenall spun the tunes and Boy Gorgeous got everyone up and onto the dancefloor.

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Angela Gray, Partnership and Fundraising Director at The Endeavour Project, commented: “We can’t thank Beverley and Salim at Glossy Magazine enough for their amazing support of the Endeavour Project and we are delighted to welcome them on board as ambassadors.

“The generosity of the people in the room was incredible and that is where the true meaning of Christmas lies. We feel humbled and blessed to have been supported as part of such an incredible event, here’s to next year!”

Angela Gray Endeavour Project

“Was such a brilliant night!”

Josie May The Money Mavens

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“You sure know how to put on a party!”

Emily Richard The Stickman Consultancy

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“Great night had by all.”

Maurice Lau Urology Clinics of Manchester

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“Thank you for your incredible warmth and generous hospitality. Wonderful evening!”

Ziara Siddique This is Manchester Awards

“Wonderful evening.”

Zeenat Naeem SureCare Trafford

“Epic! Bravo!”

Paul & Claire King Twistedgifted

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“An extraordinary event celebrating what makes Manchester great whilst raising thousands for a charity that gives hope to those left behind.”

Nazir Afzal OBE Chancellor of The University of Manchester

For details on Glossy Magazine’s 2024 charity bash, please get in touch

info@glossymagazine.co.uk or call 0161 388 2353.

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Photography Phil

Garlington

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FOOD

Herb & garlic roast turkey breast joint

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By Angela Boggiano / Photography: Craig Robertson

FOOD

Food editor, stylist and author Angela Boggiano and her photographer husband, Craig Robertson, owners of At the Kitchen in Cheadle Hulme, share their turkey breast joint recipe for the perfect Christmas dinner.

The great thing about a turkey breast joint is that it’s incredibly easy to cook and carve, with absolutely no waste, and you can flavour it for added juiciness and taste.

However, the important thing to remember is that these are much smaller than a whole turkey and will cook in no time, so don’t make the mistake of overcooking. Allow about 350g per person – a 2.5kg breast joint will feed six people, and there’ll still be leftovers.

Here are our top five tips for perfect results: 1. Take the joint out of the fridge a good hour before cooking and allow the turkey to come up to room temperature.

2. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/ gas 4. Cooking times are approx. 40 minutes for every 1kg plus 20 minutes, so depending on the joint size you have: 2kg(4Ib) joint = 1 hour 40 minutes 2.5kg(5.5Ib) joint = 2 hours; and 4.5kg(10Ib) joint = 3 hours 20 minutes

3. Add flavouring to the turkey joint by spreading with some flavoured butters under the skin or wrapping with thin strips of streaky smoked bacon. Put the turkey skin side up in a roasting tin and pour about 400ml of water into the bottom of the roasting tray. Cover the turkey and the tin loosely with foil. Uncover the joint 20-25 minutes from the end of the calculated time to allow the skin to crisp up.

5. After taking it out of the oven, cover the joint in foil and allow it to rest for at least 20-30 minutes. It is really important not to skip this step, because if you carve straight from the oven, the juices will just pour out. Resting continues the cooking process, but it allows the meat to equalise temperature throughout and the juices are distributed evenly, which makes the joint much easier to carve and all the juices are deliciously retained.

4. Check that the centre of the joint is fully cooked and is piping hot and that the juices run clear when you insert a metal skewer or sharp thin knife. If using a thermometer, the internal temperature should be 75°C (165°F) after resting.

At the Kitchen / 5 Warren Road / Cheadle Hulme / Cheadle SK8 5AA / 0161 282 2050 GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 65

FOOD

The Bugis Restaurant Authentic Singaporean, Malaysian and Chinese cuisine

The Bugis Singapore Restaurant and the Bailey’s Bar have relaunched in South Kensington on the ground floor of the elegant Bailey’s Hotel on Gloucester Road.

The Bugis has undergone a full renovation featuring a sumptuous yet modern interior and an upscale Bailey’s Bar with an enticing cocktail menu, which takes its names from the well-known streets of Singapore. The restaurant’s name is taken from a bustling area in Singapore, renowned for its flair of street food and flavours, called ‘The Bugis’.

The restaurant has a brand-new culinary approach; small and sharing plates of authentic Chinese, Malay and Indian dishes created from traditional family recipes that

have been passed down from generation to generation.

We were dining on a cold, dark, wet Tuesday evening, but the weather didn’t dampen our spirits. The restaurant was bustling, and we were seated at the last free table.

We ordered a rather nice bottle of Gavi while we waited for our starters of aromatic crispy duck and pancakes and sesame prawn toast with a lime coriander dip to arrive.

Our mains consisted of sizzling Angus beef and black pepper sauce and nasi goreng, spicy fried rice, chicken satay skewer, fried egg and sambal, with the addition of steamed jasmine rice. After a bit of a break for our waistlines, and to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy our Gavi, we f inished with a serving of fresh coconut mango cream tapioca pearl.

All in all, a pleasant evening of delicious authentic Asian cuisine served by welcoming, professional staff in a loving setting.

Thank you to The Bugis!

The Bugis Singapore Restaurant 140 Gloucester Road / South Kensington / London / SW7 4QH Tel. 020 7331 6308 66 / GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

FOOD

Charlie’s Restaurant LONDON

Charlie’s is in Brown’s Hotel, located in Mayfair, a short distance from the wonders of Bond Street and the exciting West End. This five-star hotel is enriched with British culture and associated with a number of historical figures. The sophistication and elegance of the hotel is enhanced through a combination of historical and contemporary additions, which were added when the hotel underwent a refurbishment.

Charlie’s is a warmly lit, memory-making place with a touch of theatre, delicious food and charming service. And come early evening, cocktails are shaken and stirred at Charlie’s Bar. After ordering a delightful bottle of wine, suggested by the sommelier, we shared a wild mushroom tempura, followed by starters of Dorset crab salad and Lincolnshire poached soufflé with melted onions and thyme.

Charlie’s restaurant opened in 2019 and showcases British cuisine developed by Michelin chef Adam Byatt. Adam is one of the most well-respected chefs in the London restaurant scene and a familiar face f rom television programmes like Saturday Kitchen. He is an ambassador of high-quality British ingredients and uses exceptional, local produce. Whilst Adam describes himself as a ‘truly British chef’, the menu includes some Italian, French and Spanish influences too.

We had mains of beef short rib, duchess potato and creamed spinach with Bordelaise sauce, and an 18-oz, grilled Dover sole (which was f illeted and recreated with incredible skill by our server at our table), complete with sides of triple-cooked chips and steamed spinach – and each dish certainly did not disappoint. All dishes were cooked to perfection, mouth-wateringly delicious and wonderfully presented. The beef fell apart with my fork and the Dover sole, although grilled, was mild and sweet in flavour and not fishy in the slightest.

There is also a Sunday lunch menu, said to be the best in Mayfair, serving roast sirloin of beef, roast chicken or grilled red mullet with accompaniments and tantalising desserts and a Sommelier-curated wine list.

We decided against dessert, however, our server suggested sorbet with honey madeleines... so how could we refuse? It was a refreshing suggestion and lovely end to our meal. Charlie’s is a beautifully

decorated restaurant with faultless, friendly service and fantastic food. The ambiance is cosy, welcoming and relaxed, and the tables and booths are well spaced.

The wine menu is extensive and your server is happy to talk through the à la carte menu with you.

Well worth treating yourself, you won’t be disappointed.

Charlie’s 33 Albemarle Street / The Brown’s Hotel / London / W1S 4BP Tel. 020 7518 4004

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

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FOOD

It’s tiffin time at Zouk!

Zouk goes green as it launches tiffin lunch delivery with its own e-trike and reusable tins

For the first time, Zouk Tea Bar & Grill’s popular lunchtime tiffin offering will be available for delivery in Manchester city centre following the arrival of Zouk’s new e-trike and metal tiffin tins.

As in Mumbai, at the end of the day (between 4-6pm), Zouk’s e-trike will collect the finished tiffins, returning them to Zouk to be washed, ready for use again the next day. During your delivery, your tiffin walla will agree a suitable time to collect the tiffins.

Every part of Zouk’s new delivery concept has taken sustainability and the environment into consideration. As well as using an EAV trike and metal reusable tiffins, the paper wrap and sticker used for each tiffin is fully recyclable.

Based in the heart of Manchester, Zouk serves delicious Indian and Pakistani food, offering a range of menus, including: a breakfast menu; à la carte menu; Sunday roast menu; pre-theatre menu; a kid’s menu; and bottomless brunch. While Zouk has and still does utilise the likes of Deliveroo and Just Eat, it hasn’t been able to deliver its tiffin lunches because it couldn’t guarantee they’d stay warm, – until now!

any spills, enabling it to accommodate a number of different dishes.

A fundamental part of Mumbai’s culture, tiffins have been a part of everyday life there since the 1890s, with the city’s dabbawallas (box collectors) picking them up from their customer’s residence and delivering them to their workplace on a daily basis. A tiffin (also known as a lunch box) features three to four stacked stainlesssteel compartments and a clip to avoid

Orders are available within a one-mile radius of Zouk, with a minimum order of 10 tiffins per booking. Deliveries take place Monday to Friday, with customers able to order a specific slot up to 5pm for next day delivery (and any days beyond that). To check if your office is eligible for delivery, head to Zouk’s website and input your postcode.

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Launched earlier this month, Zouk’s tiffin offering changes on a daily basis. There will always be a meat, vegetarian and vegan option, each including a starter, two mains, rice, raita and a naan for £15 per person. Example main dishes include butter chicken, lamb karahi, dall makhani and palak aloo.

Tayub Amjab, Zouk owner, said: “Our tiffin offering is incredibly popular in the restaurant and we’ve spent a long time researching the best way to deliver it to people in Manchester in the most sustainable way possible. With the increase in people returning to work in the city centre a few days a week, we thought the time was right to launch our tiffin lunch offering – what better way to bond and catch up with your co-workers than over some good food?

“Tiffin is incredibly widespread in India and Pakistan and the more we looked into it, the more it made sense to use that method over here. The e-trike was the closest thing we could find to a rickshaw and it meant we could get around the city quickly. With its eye-catching and colourful design, it’s pretty hard to miss!

We’ve had a great reaction to the concept so far and we’re just delighted we can now get our lunch to people who might not always have time to come into the restaurant.”

Visit zoukteabar.co.uk/tiffin-ordering

FOOD

Long nights And twinkling lights…

The Black Friar Salford Historic Salford pub The Black Friar is located on Blackf riars Road, just a 10minute walk from Deansgate. This grade II-listed pub dates back over 200 years and was originally known as The Old School Inn, but it burned down. It was renamed The Black Friar when it was rebuilt in 1886 and it was open continuously from then until 2001, when it burned down a second time. The building has since been refurbished to include a huge awardwinning beer garden and an outdoor tavern, cosy pub and grand glass room.

The wondrously transformed medieval Winter Tavern has brand-new cabins that stave off the chill – decked out with glittering candles, roaring fires, rugs and furs – and is the perfect, magical space to celebrate Christmas.

Groups of up to eight will have the opportunity to reserve these heated, bespoke outdoor cabins, each being the perfect setting to enjoy drinks and bar snacks. You can even indulge in The Black Friar’s renowned signature cocktails, including the Salford Dock, which is Salford rum (of course!), vanilla liquor, caramel syrup and double espresso, and the For My Sins, which is made from Bourbon, honey, cinnamon and lemon.

These festive cabins offer groups a private, pub-like experience and are completely FREE of charge. The cabins can be booked from 12pm each day, with the last slot available at 9pm weekdays and 10pm at the weekend.

The Christmas menu is now available and includes seasonal offerings of Cheshire turkey ballotine with pancetta stuffing and options of festive sides, such as truffle fries and pork chipolatas. Delightful festive desserts include a tiramisu yule log and a mouth-watering apple crumble.

From à la carte to festive dining and charming cocktails, you and your guests can have a knees-up in unforgettable style.

Rumour has it that Father Christmas himself is visiting the Winter Tavern throughout December (dates to be announced soon) and meeting him will be completely

f ree to guests who book a table online at www.theblackf riarsalford.co.uk/bookings We visited with friends on an extremely wet Friday evening. We’d not been before and we’ve absolutely no idea why... this place is amazing! You walk through the f ront door and into a different world. I expected a small pub selling above average food. I was so wrong. Apart from a packed space, the glass and twinkling lights welcome you in and there’s a real buzz about the place. The staff were very welcoming and came over to discuss the menu and take our drinks order. We were dining before the Christmas menu had been released, so our order was from the à la carte menu. We ordered a range of dishes, but personally, I chose the truffle arancini, Penrith roast chicken with sides of skin-on fries and portobello mushrooms, and a dessert of apple crumble and vanilla ice cream. Everyone’s food was exceptional and far exceeded our expectations. This is not your usual pub grub! We will be booking a date for a winter cabin soon...

The Black Friar / 41-43 Blackfriars Road / Salford / M3 7DB / Tel. 0161 667 9555 / Email. enquiries@theblackfriarsalford.co.uk The Black Friar’s Christmas diary is now open, offering parties of all sizes the opportunity to enjoy long nights and twinkling lights within the Winter Tavern. Visit www.theblackfriarsalford.co.uk/bookings to book.

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 69

FOOD

Kitchen@Cloud 23 TASTER MENU Hilton Manchester Deansgate’s smart Champagne and cocktail bar is on the 23rd floor of the landmark Beetham Tower and accessed by lift from the lobby of the hotel.

We were invited to the exclusive Eros Lounge to review the seven-course taster menu, which is only available on selected dates. I believe we were invited on one of the best nights of the year, because we could see fireworks lighting up the sky, which made for a fabulous backdrop.

After a warm welcome and our first glass of Champagne, we were shown to our table for a delicious seven-course meal, curated and served by two AA Rosetteawarded Executive Head Chef Dave Ashton and the team.

The taster menu is £95 per person and available for groups of two to four, with limited availability of just 24 settings. Wine pairings are also available for an extra £55 per person.

Herdwick lamb tartare, lamb fat English muffin, pickled turnip, razor clam & scallop, pickled lemon. Oxtail consommé, rosemary oil Smoked cods' roe Chicken jelly, parsley emulsion.

Wine pairing: Borgoleo Catarratto, Leonardo Zito, Sicily 2022 Holygrain sourdough Lancashire cheese custard, miso butter Hen of the woods Mushroom caramel, furikaki. Wine pairing: Sebestyen Kadarka, Hungary 2019 BBQ monkfish Iceberg lettuce, fermented onion. Wine pairing: Nikolou Fine Lees Savatiano, Greece 2020 Fillet of Cumbrian beef Celeriac watercress. Wine pairing: Ribera del Duero Reserva, Clea 2018 Valhrona carmelia chocolate Thyme caramel, hazelnut, Greek yoghurt Pairing: mixologist choice of digestive

You can find the dates on the website and each set of dates will feature a brand-new menu, to ensure that it’s a new experience every time. And believe me, once you’ve been, you’ll soon be f inding a special occasion to return.

I must admit, when we looked at the menu, we didn’t know what to expect, because of the culinary creative names, and did wonder how we were going to get through seven courses. However, each course was delicious, cooked to perfection and with amazing presentation. And there was also a couple of extra courses that weren’t on the menu and they were just as tasty. All courses were served and explained by Dave Ashton himself, which was a special touch, and the wine pairings served by the very knowledgeable sommelier.

A special 5* evening, which I would definitely recommend for a special night out.

Kitchen @ Cloud 23 Kitchen @ Cloud 23 / 303 Deansgate / Manchester Email: cloud23.manchester@hilton.com 70 / GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

M20 | DENTAL

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Concussion Clinic At the OrthTeam Centre, we offer an Interdisciplinary Concussion Service for adults and children, led by Dr John Rogers and Dr Jim Kerss, consultant physicians in sport and exercise medicine. The recently released 6th Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport summarises the latest published global evidence in the field.

The 12 Rs of concussion management include: RECOGNISE: sports-related concussion (SRC) is a traumatic brain injury caused by a direct blow to the head, neck or body, resulting in an impulsive force being transmitted to the brain.

REDUCE: prevention strategies include changes in rules, neuromuscular training warm-up programs and personal protective equipment.

REMOVE: signs that warrant immediate removal from play include loss of consciousness, seizure, loss of balance, tonic posturing, behavioural changes, confusion and amnesia.

RE-EVALUATE: there are different tools aimed at better recognition and assessment of SRC, including the SCAT6 (up to one week) and the SCOAT6 (72 hours up to four weeks post-injury).

REST: the best evidence shows that strict rest is not beneficial.

RELATIVE REST including activities of daily living, reduced screen time and early return to light physical activity is indicated in the first 48 hours after injury.

REHABILITATION: if symptoms of dizziness, headache or neck pain remain 10 days following injury, then cervicovestibular rehabilitation is recommended.

REFER: referral to clinicians with specialised knowledge and skills in concussion management if symptoms persist.

RECOVERY: in the research setting, neuroimaging, genetic testing, biomarkers and other emerging technologies are useful but not yet suited for use in clinical practice.

RETURN TO LEARN and RETURN TO SPORT: strategies to help children and adults return to school, work and sport safely.

RECONSIDER: there are potential long-term effects associated with repetitive brain injuries. These include cognitive difficulties / early dementia and neurological disease.

RETIRE: Decisions regarding retirement are complex, multifaceted and individualised. They should include a comprehensive clinical evaluation that considers the patient, injury and sport along with ethical and psychosocial factors.

REFINE: more concussion research is needed for children in the five to 12 age group and for Paralympic sport athletes and with an inclusive and interdisciplinary approach.

To find out more about our Concussion Clinic or to book a consultation, please visit orthteamcentre.co.uk or call 0161 447 6888 | @OrthT OrthTeamCentre @orthteamcentre company/orthteam

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The difference that St Ann’s Hospice’s new building will make to staff and patients

Hayley Beswick has been working at St Ann’s Hospice for four years, starting as a palliative care nurse and she is a now a ward sister.

Based at the Heald Green hospice site, Hayley knows first-hand the need for the new building and how much of an impact this will make on all aspects of the care and support St Ann’s can give those they help.

Hayley says: “I knew I wanted to go into palliative care, and particularly hospice care, because my nanna was cared for at a hospice and I was just amazed at the care from the nurses, and all the staff there.

“Hospice care is what nursing is about for me.

Throughout my career, I was always told how St Ann’s was known for the compassionate care it provides and I’m so proud to be part of the St Ann’s family.

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“Working at a place like this, as a team, you go through things together, you see things that no one else sees. It’s really quite a tough job emotionally and mentally. You do become very close with each other as a team. I’ve found that throughout the whole time I’ve been here, people have come and gone, as people do, but the team feeling stays the same.

“But the building we work in was never purpose-built and its age is making it impossible for our team to keep providing the care and dignity patients and their families deserve.”

St Ann’s Hospice’s Build It Together campaign is raising the final £2 million that the charity needs to build a muchneeded new hospice in Heald Green.

This will replace their current Victorian building, which is in urgent need of replacement as there are continual and costly repairs. The current building is no longer fit for purpose and presents a real risk to the future of St Ann’s Hospice.

“From my and my colleagues’ perspective, the building itself is just not working hard enough for us,” continues Hayley. “The corridors are really narrow, so whenever we have to move a patient around, if they are in a bay and become poorly or get an infection and we need to move them to a more private area, it’s really diff icult manoeuvring beds through the corridors.

“We also don’t have any piped oxygen. We have to use oxygen cylinders, which we then have to carry down to the patients from a room on the far side of the building.

This is the only place I’ve worked that doesn’t have piped oxygen. If we’ve got an emergency, someone has to run to the other side of the building to carry the oxygen back; it’s just not ideal.

“If you envisage a hospice, you think of a lovely room, patio doors and a nice garden to sit in if you want to. I think a lot of patients and relatives who haven’t been here before are quite shocked at how old the building is, and it’s up to us to make them feel the warmth and welcome.

“This new building is going to totally change all of that. There will be more private rooms with patio doors, so that if the patient wants some fresh air or the family wants to take them out, they can just open the patio doors and do that safely.”

There will be 21 single patient rooms, and two three-bed bays in the new hospice site. Each room will have double doors opening out to an outdoor terrace and beyond into the landscaped gardens, which include courtyards and sensory planting.

“I already know that my favourite part of the new hospice is going to be the private rooms with the patio doors that open into the garden” says Hayley. “Most of our

patients want to get some fresh air and it’s really difficult moving a bed around the building to get to the current garden.

“We also have birthdays and weddings and all sorts of special moments celebrated with patients and their families at the hospice. It will be so much nicer to have these better facilities for those moments.

“I’m so excited that we are so close to starting work on the new building, it feels like it has been so long coming. The team are super-excited to start to see things happening. It’s going to give the staff and the patients such a boost because they all know how hard we are trying to campaign for the new building. We’re all very excited for it.”

The Build It Together campaign, which launched in June 2022, has already raised more than £900,000 and St Ann’s is urging people across Greater Manchester to get involved.

To find more information on how you can help St Ann’s Hospice with their Build It Together appeal, visit www.newhospice.sah.org.uk

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­ lease­see­ P website­for­ offers

“Peace of mind for you and your family at all times”

The Private GP & Night Doctor Service prompt telephone advice, a face to face consultation or organising an admission into hospital, anytime, day or night – all provided by a small group of doctors whom they know.

Dr Bruce Jobling

Hopefully, you will not need to see a doctor urgently, but accidents or illnesses can occur when least expected, and having to travel or wait several hours for healthcare can only make the ordeal worse.

We are a group of experienced GPs based in South Manchester, we offer the highest level of medical care, above and beyond the NHS. Whilst the NHS is a good system, demand has increased so much that it has become almost impossible for it to offer the prompt and personal care that we all wish for.

You can stay registered with your NHS GP, as our aim is not to replace your care but to work alongside it, providing you with our extra medical care when you or your family need it most.

We believe our registered patients want a professional service with peace of mind at all times – from

It only takes two minutes to register online today, so we can look after you in the future.

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Registration fee from £19 per month plus consultation fees You can remain with your NHS GP • Additional surgery in Hale If this service is of interest to you or your family, please contact us to register.

0161 980 2626 | Info@ThePrivateGP.uk | www.TheNightDoctor.uk The Surgery, Gatley, Cheshire SK8 | The Practice, Hale, Cheshire WA15

Prostate cancer and PSA testing Mr Jeremy Oates, Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon

Mr Maurice Lau, Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon

cause more problems than we prevent – this is the reason why men aren’t routinely offered PSAs in the same way we do for breast or cervical screening. It is possible that in the future combining PSA testing and MRI scanning may make it easier to identify tumours that will cause problems w i t h o u t ex p o s i n g m e n to i nva s i ve investigations, but research into this area is ongoing and it isn’t certain yet.

There is a lot of talk in the media currently about prostate cancer and getting tested, but what does this actually mean? Even amongst medical professionals, prostate cancer screening isn’t always well understood. There are many complexities that need to be considered before a test is performed and it’s important to discuss these before a test is done. At Urology Clinics Manchester, we have international experts in the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer available to discuss your prostate health and the options available to you.

The most commonly performed ‘test’ for prostate cancer is the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test. PSA is a chemical produced by prostate cells and is easily measured on a blood sample. Many people believe that a PSA test will tell you if you have a prostate cancer or not, but, unfortunately, it isn’t quite as simple as that. All prostate tissue produces PSA (not just cancerous tissue) and the more prostate tissue a man has, the higher his PSA will be. Every prostate grows throughout a man’s life, so the older a man gets, the

bigger their prostate will be and, therefore, the higher their PSA result. Equally, some people have big hands, some have big feet and some men will have a big prostate! It’s very important to correlate the size of a prostate with the PSA, as the ratio of the gland size to PSA gives a good idea of the chance of there being a problem. There are also several things that can temporarily increase a PSA, such as urinary infections, exercise and even sex! It’s important that these factors are considered before a PSA is checked, because they could affect how a result is interpreted and cause unnecessary concerns.

One of the other problems with PSA testing is that even when prostate cancer is identified, PSA testing alone isn’t enough to tell us what type of cancer it is. Prostate cancers vary f rom low-grade, low-risk tumours that never cause problems to more aggressive tumours that need treatment.

Testing everyone’s PSA might lead to the identification of many more prostate cancers, but many of these will be lowgrade cancers that would never have caused harm and identifying them may

However, there is increasing evidence that PSA testing is useful in men who are at risk of developing significant prostate cancers. Men who have a father, brother or uncle diagnosed under the age of 65 are at increased risk of getting a cancer themselves. A family history of breast or ovarian cancer at a young age, particularly related to the BRCA gene, also increases the risk of prostate cancer. We also know that men of Af rican or Af ro-Caribbean heritage and men from the Ashkenazi Jewish community are at a higher risk of being found to have prostate cancer and are more likely to have cancer that requires treatment. If you are in one of these at-risk groups, we’d normally recommend annual PSA testing from the age of 45 and there are some other genetic tests that could be considered too.

If you’d like to discuss your individual risk of prostate cancer and the merits of screening and genetic assessments, at Urology Clinics Manchester, we’re happy to help. We have a number of international experts in prostate cancer management available at sites across Manchester and Cheshire and offer cutting-edge diagnostics and treatments, so get in touch.

Find out more at urologyclinics.co.uk Contact Urology Clinics Manchester

e: info@urologyclinics.co.uk GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK / 77

SureCare Trafford is a trusted healthcare provider in the heart of Cheshire We provide support and help to all vulnerable people in our local community. If you require support with shopping, medication administration, general home help, companionship and much more, contact us on 0161 249 9988 and our team will be able to help.

We pride ourselves on quality and reliability supporting the most vulnerable people in our community. We have a “GOOD” rating with the CQC and our team are fully qualif ied and experienced in handling all tasks required in later life. Each client has their own care plan personalised to their needs, this can vary from companionship, shopping and providing personal care in the home.

and Zeenat has won Registered Manager of the Year award in 2022. This expertise, knowledge and close team network puts us at the top of the social care provider list with the local authority and private clients.

The team at SureCare Trafford are provided with full resources and training to ensure safe and compliant working methods. This is shown in our rating of 9.9 in the Homecare network.

We provide each client with the utmost respect and ensure they are able to stay in their homes for as long as possible. Due to our diligent and trustworthy service we have been recognised in the community

The team is cosmopolitan and has a vast amount of experience in different languages and skill sets. All clients are welcomed and we ensure that the carers are matched up to clients based on

compatibility. SureCare Trafford’s work ethos is to be able to support, nurture and care for the elderly at each stage of their life.

Zeenat: Registered Manager of the Year award in 2022.

SureCare (Trafford) Arden Hall / 66 Brooklands Road / Sale / Cheshire M33 3SJ T: 0161 249 9988 / enquiries@surecaretrafford.co.uk / www.surecare.co.uk/trafford 78 / GLOSSYMAGAZINE.CO.UK

Winter Sports Injury Service at the OrthTeam Centre If you are amongst the million plus Britons leaving the UK and heading to the slopes this 2023/2024 snow season, then you need to ensure that you take all the necessary precautions to try to prevent any accidents from occurring.

Although skiing and snowboarding are great fun and provide excellent exercise, they can be dangerous and injuries do often happen.

Every day during snow season, more than 1,000 UK residents get injured, with sprains, fractures and breaks extremely common, and the OrthTeam regularly provide medical advice to many of these patients overseas and expedite treatment once they are back home.

It can be very daunting if you or a family member does get injured and are told that you/they need treatment for the injury. It’s important that you make an informed decision as to whether to have treatment abroad or delay it until you arrive back in the UK. Our leading experts have put together a quick guide to help you determine which injuries require immediate treatment and which can potentially wait.

Dislocations This is when a joint comes apart and is extremely painful. The most common ski dislocation is in the shoulder. This injury requires immediate reduction of the dislocation at an urgent care facility abroad, however, further treatment thereafter can often wait.

Fractures Open fractures are where the bone communicates with the skin through a wound. These require urgent attention abroad. Closed fractures, however, can often wait. Sometimes, if the bone is very severely displaced and out of position, it can be improved by manipulation under local anaesthetic abroad and placed in a plaster backslab to maintain a reasonable position. Definitive treatment can then be planned back in the UK. Ligament injuries Almost all ligament injuries can wait until you arrive back in the UK, but we

recommend that you are assessed urgently by a specialist on your return.

The most common ligament injuries that occur on the slopes are to the knee and the thumb; with ‘skier’s thumb’ one of the most common snow sports ligament injuries.

Spinal and head injuries Severe spinal and head injuries often require specialist assessment abroad.

Always wear a helmet and for children, consider a spinal support. These may prevent head and spinal injuries from colliding into a solid object, such as a tree, and can also offer protection from being hit by another out-of-control skier.

Checklist

4 4 4 4

Winter sports insurance Helmet First aid kit OrthTeam Centre number stored in your phone: 0161 447 6888.

To find out more about our Winter Sports Injury Service or to book a consultation orthteamcentre.co.uk or call 0161 447 6888 | @OrthT OrthTeamCentre @orthteamcentre company/orthteam

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Weight loss surgery information evening (virtual) At Spire Manchester Hospital we know that losing weight for good can seem impossible. If you have a high BMI and have already tried to maintain a healthy weight through lifestyle changes, surgery could be the solution.

Come along to our free virtual patient information event to talk to our experts about weight loss surgery. You can hear about treatment options, post-operative support and ask our experts any questions you may have.

Patient information event (virtual) 6pm – 7.45pm

30 Jan

Book your place today Search ‘Spire Manchester Hospital’ Scan the QR code

A place to be creative, A place to be challenged and empowered, A place to build a future.

Take a look at our latest video

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EDUCATION

Image Sitara Bartle

Education News Junior Sports Achiever of the Year Junior School pupil. Since then, he has represented Great Britain at the Youth World Championships in 2022 and 2023, where he was the top performing GB sailor in his age group.

Congratulations to year 8 pupil Jasper from The Manchester Grammar School, who recently became the winner of Junior Sports Achiever of the Year at the MCR Sports Awards 2023 for his windsurfing achievements.

Jasper spoke about his experiences as an athlete: “I started windsurfing after the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, I have represented Great Britain in the Techno Windsurfing World Championships in 2022 in Cyprus and 2023 in France. Over the past year, I have won the Regional Junior Championships, the Eric Twiname Junior Championships and the National Junior Championships, as well as the UKWA Cup Series. I enjoy the sport due to the community within windsurfing and the vast competition. I enjoy the challenge of dealing with different elements of nature, such as the wind, size of the waves and the tide whilst racing round a course.”

Jasper started windsurfing at Manchester Watersports Club whilst he was attending The Manchester Grammar School as a

He added: “In November, I won the Manchester Sports Awards 2023 Junior Sports Achiever of the Year. When I arrived at the ceremony,

it was exactly how I had imagined; it was just like the award ceremonies you see on television. There were round tables with candelabras and celebrities and lots of TV cameras. There was even a red carpet to walk along. It is a night that I will remember for a long time.”

Jasper concluded by saying: “My windsurfing journey has not been without its share of challenges. I have faced tough competitors, unpredictable weather conditions and moments of self-doubt. It has taken countless hours of practice and commitment, which has helped me become resilient and more determined to succeed in the future. My peers and competitors have pushed me to continuously improve, providing the necessary challenges for me to reach new heights in my windsurfing career. This is what makes the camaraderie and sportsmanship in the windsurfing community so special.”

Well done, Jasper!

Year 7 pupil achieves outstanding results Congratulations to Senior School pupil Jayvas, who passed the ABRSM grade 6 piano exam with distinction and ARSM saxophone diploma with merit, all during the f irst few months of his f irst year at The Manchester Grammar School.

Jayvas said: “I started playing the saxophone when I was only six years old, thinking the saxophone was simply a cool and shiny instrument, but I totally underestimated the challenge. Playing the saxophone and piano, achieving all the awards and grades, costs a lot of time and hard work. This includes practising frequently and joining bands and ensembles to get myself accustomed to playing these instruments.

However, playing music makes my days better and more relaxing. Each time I have a chance to perform, I feel nervous but also very satisfied at the end. I am very grateful for all my past teachers and piano accompanists, and without them, I wouldn’t have achieved a saxophone ARSM diploma and grade six piano this year within my musical journey.”

He added: “I have been accepted to study in the Royal Northern College of Music with scholarships awarded from ABRSM, but I will still join the Concert Band at MGS as I really want to contribute to the school. I do think this school provides many co-curricular bands and activities for me to join and gives the chances and opportunities to perform in assemblies and concerts. Also, I would like to thank everyone who has helped me in my journey: my family, schoolteachers and everyone reading this.”

Well done, Jayvas, from everyone at The Manchester Grammar School!

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St. Bede’s College: A Centre of Inspiration, Commitment and Gratitude With a legacy spanning over a century and a half, St Bede’s College was founded by Cardinal Herbert Alfred Vaughan with the intent to infuse hope into young minds, igniting their dreams and nurturing their unique potential.

Today, almost 150 years later, Herbert Vaughan’s legacy still beats at the heart of St. Bede’s, guiding our students towards owning their futures and realising their full potential through inspiration, commitment and gratitude. Head Boy, Aaron, embodies these values and exempli昀es how education is more than knowledge acquisition; it’s about nurturing a love of learning and a inspired, committed, and grateful spirit.

How would you describe your experience at St Bede’s?

To me, it has been much more than just a school; it has been somewhere to explore my passions and to feel part of a family. What I love about it is that I have always felt simultaneously free yet supported. When I was 14, I started to become fascinated by the world of diplomacy and global affairs. Despite being quite young, I was allowed to revive Model United Nations in the school, deciding how it should be run and how much support I needed so that I could balance it with exams. It’s been the same with Debate Club and editing school papers; I feel that I have been allowed to own my future.

Inspired · Committed · Grateful

How do you envision making a meaningful difference in the future?

How has the spiritual facet of the school’s mission personally resonated with you?

Over the years, the teachers at St Bede’s have taught me adaptability and how to navigate a constantly evolving world. As a Member of Youth Parliament, I have worked alongside MPs and policymakers to create a campaign for better political education in schools. I cannot wait to go to the Houses of Parliament on Friday, 17th of November to vote on legislation for issues such as universal free school meals. I aspire to work in the NGO sector, looking at how to best allocate aid, so St Bede’s introduced me to a charity which allowed me to spend an entire year mentoring students from underprivileged backgrounds.

I saw for myself the importance of cultivating relationships and realised that communication before action is vital.

It has made me grateful, not only for the gift of life, but the privileges I have been granted. School can sometimes become a bit stressful, but its spiritual aspect has allowed me to understand that the stresses are 昀ne because they are conquerable.

They are a stepping stone to achieving my goals and being able to make positive change in the lives of others.

Be part of this great tradition and grant your child the opportunity to own their future. Sign up now through our admissions portal.

Check out the next Exam Dates: Upper Third (Year 7) Entrance Assessment Saturday, January 13, 2024 from 10:00am – 2:00pm: https://sbcm.applicaa.com/College https://sbcm.co.uk Contact: admissions@sbcm.co.uk

Inspired · Committed · Grateful

Empowering Girls since 1874

At Manchester High School for Girls we nurture academic excellence in a compassionate and caring environment, where the wellbeing and happiness of every individual and the fulfilment of their potential are our priority.

Our pupils will go on to be remarkable global citizens and courageous motivators of change.

Register your interest on our website manchesterhigh.co.uk registrar@mhsg.manchester.sch.uk 0161 224 0447

ECUCATION

Manchester High School for Girls (MHSG) is the North’s oldest independent girls’ school and in 2024, its eleventh headteacher, Helen Jeys, will lead its 150th anniversary celebrations.

Appointed in 2020, the engaging Mrs Jeys was definitely no newcomer to MHSG. Arriving in 2002 as Head of Religion and Philosophy, she had progressed to Head of Year, International Baccalaureate Coordinator and school Pastoral Deputy Head before leaving in 2016 to lead Alderley Edge School for Girls. In 2020, mum-of-two Mrs Jeys returned as Head Mistress to her beloved MHSG and its almost 1000-strong community of 4 to 18-year-old pupils.

stands our pastoral care. The calibre of teaching, care and support is reflected in the girls’ academic, sporting, musical and artistic successes. We’re about character, diversity and learning by co-existing with people different from ourselves. This contributes to the richness of our school community. Yes, MHSG is much more than a place to just acquire good qualifications.”

Helen Jeys Mrs Jeys states: “This is not a job, it’s a privilege. As guardian of our MHSG tradition, I impress upon each new year 7 intake the importance of our history and the part each girl will be playing in something which will continue beyond all of us. MHSG is about empowering young, curious, passionate and bright girls. It’s about encouraging them to be tenacious and persevering – like our school emblem, the ivy leaf. Our education is holistic. Alongside academic excellence

A firm believer in collaborative leadership and a natural communicator, Mrs Jeys understands the importance and impact of both her and her team’s approachability. She continues: “Our teachers have genuine concern for their charges. Our pastoral care system is superb. To move forward offering girls the best in pioneering education, we must be available to listen to their wishes, whether personal or educational. For example, when girls requested more design technology instruction, we set up relevant courses.”

Established in 1874 in Chorlton-onMedlock, to provide Manchester’s daughters with an education already in place for its sons, MHSG boasts amongst its illustrious ‘Old Girls’, the Pankhursts plus many other trailblazers. These

include: Clara Freeman, Marks & Spencer’s first woman board member; Edith Hesling, Gray’s Inn’s first woman barrister; Merlyn Lowther, the Bank of England’s first female Chief Cashier; and broadcaster Emma Barnett. No doubt many more movers ‘n’ shakers are to come!

Independent school headships have changed, morphing into quasi-executive roles. Egalitarian Mrs Jeys would dearly love MHSG’s opportunities to be more widely available to bright girls with lesser financial means. Mrs Jeys concludes: “Getting into MHSG is merely the beginning. The transformational impact of the learning, the courage and the confidence gained for each of those girls, is an end in itself. Fundraising in our 150th year will go towards increasing chances for these girls to gain places and also to plan for future facilities and resources, ensuring MHSG can offer girls its trailblazing education for the next 150 years.”

Under the guidance of MHSG’s caring Head Mistress, Helen Jeys, and her committed staff, rest assured your child’s education and wellbeing will thrive.

Manchester High School for Girls | Grangethorpe Road | Manchester M14 6HS www.manchesterhigh.co.uk | Tel. 0161 224 0447 | Email. administration@mhsg.manchester.sch.uk

By Fay Wertheimer

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‘EXCELLENT ’ IN ALL AREAS

Charity No. 1137204

- ISI Inspection 2022

Entrance Examinations Friday 12 January 2024 REGISTER ONLINE NOW: Scan QR code or go to www.kingsmac.co.uk

The King’s School in Maccles昀eld

• Excellent GCSE & A-Level results • Stunning 80-acre Prestbury campus • 11+ & Sixth Form bursaries & scholarships • State-of-the-art facilities for girls & boys

|

www.kingsmac.co.uk

|

01625 260000

EDUCATION

Meet Jason Slack…

Head of Foundation at The King's School, Macclesfield

In August 2020, after a decade as head at Coventry’s King Henry VIII School, Durham University physics specialist Jason Slack took over as King’s School Macclesfield’s Head of Foundation. Not one to be fazed by change, he was nonetheless thrown in at the deep end in this, his ‘once-in-a-career’ challenge. Arriving directly in the middle of Covid, Jason helped oversee this 500-year-old school’s relocation to Prestbury, admit 1,320 tots-to-teens into a now fully co-educational new-build establishment and maintain the morale of the pupils and 220 teaching and the school community’s staff.

Approachable, calm, concerned and above all caring, keen violinist and sportsman Slack was always attracted to King’s School’s ethics. Entirely in-tune with his own, the focus is for pupils to ‘aspire, harbour ambition, work hard, present the best version of themselves and, consequently, achieve.’ And in that order!’ Recently, the school received an ‘excellent’ ISI all-round academic rating and was ranked seventh for academic results in The Sunday Times‘ top 10 independent schools in the North West.

Jason Slack’s professionalism is enriched by an understanding underpinned by parenthood and family values. His linguist wife, Lindsay, teaches at King’s and one of his undergraduate daughters attended here. No know-all but ever willing and able to learn, he remarks: “I’ve sent off hundreds of university applications in my time, but only after filling in those needed for my own girls, did I appreciate fully the complexities involved and gain a new grasp of what our parents and pupils go through each year.”

A proud but down-to-earth Yorkshireman, Slack says: “This world of ours is a most challenging place. To make a difference, it is vital we send well-rounded, adaptable and resilient young people out into the world – youngsters unafraid of failure.

Yes, I know, sadly, that the currency of knowledge will diminish. It can be so easily accessed online within seconds. However, to retain and use that knowledge requires skills associated with analysis, judgement and good sense. Yes, responsibility, leadership, judgement and communal awareness can be encouraged and taught but certainly not by looking at a screen. These life skills rank very highly alongside our full academic, sporting and artistic curricular activities. Irrespective of our longevity, King’s is a school designed for a modern 21st-century education, not an old place adapting to it.”

The pristine campus lies in 80 acres of lush countryside, surrounded by woodland. It houses a sports centre, 25-metre indoor pool, cricket centre, fitness suite, martial arts and dance studio, a café and a drama studio. Slack is keen for Macclesfield’s community groups, its sports, arts, drama and music clubs to retain links with and utilise the facilities of their flagship independent school, during school holiday time especially. To enable children from lower-income families to enjoy the King’s School experience, bursaries are also available. And despite the two miles’ relocation, King’s still regards itself as intrinsic to the town.

Above all, King’s parents know that under the watchful eye of Jason Slack and in his care, every pupil is a winner.

The King's School Alderley Road, Prestbury, Cheshire, SK10 4SP Telephone: 01625 260000 / Email: mail@kingsmac.co.uk Words Fay Wertheimer

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Education for life Encouraging a love of learning for ages 7-18 For Admissions information and important dates, visit MGS.org mgs_1515

The Manchester Grammar School

LEGAL

Separating with children?

FIVE essential things you need to consider…

Every year, thousands of divorcing or separating parents apply to the courts for help in resolving disputes over arrangements for their children – from deciding how much time a child should spend with each of them to which surname a child should adopt. These applications (or lack of clarity around them) can cause excess stress at an already emotionally tumultuous time. Here, Kirsten Bennett, Managing Partner of specialist family law firm Lund Bennett, lays out the key issues to consider, and their resolutions.

Your children’s living arrangements Whilst both parents retain parental responsibility for their children following a divorce or separation, a decision as to where they’ll live and spend most of their time must be made and it’s the biggest – and often most difficult – one you’ll make.

When neither parent can come to an agreement, a child arrangement order can be sought. This court order sets out where the child/children will reside, and how much time/type of contact they’ll have with either parent. It can also provide an order that the children live with both parents at defined times. A child arrangement order typically lasts until a child reaches 16 or if the child is vulnerable, 18.

Any conflict relating to individual issues, such as medical care or type of education, can be similarly mediated by obtaining a specific issue order, which will offer courtled, child welfare-focussed direction.

Special occasions, like Christmas The festive season is just around the corner and splitting the twelve days of Christmas between parents/families can be hugely challenging, especially when you add in pressure to create pictureperfect memories, and mixed feelings of nostalgia and resentment arise.

If your existing child arrangement order doesn’t set out how the holidays will be spent and you fail to reach a resolution independent of the court, you can make an application, with Lund Bennett’s support, to vary the order to include Christmas arrangements and ensure more peaceful festive seasons.

Child maintenance & education fees Both parents are responsible for the living costs of raising a child, regardless of where the child lives.

Child support payments are required by law and can be arranged privately, however, if this is not achievable, the government’s Child Maintenance Service will calculate and arrange a fixed payment schedule, payable until the child turns 16 or if they are in full-time secondary education, 20.

Holidaying overseas – thinking ahead Where there is no child arrangement order in place, you must seek the co-parent's permission to take your child/children on summer breaks overseas.

If, however, there is a child arrangement order and the duration of the holiday is less than 28 days, no co-parent permission is required.

But take note, you may be asked to provide evidence of your permission to travel with your children and your relationship to them at a UK or foreign border. Lund Bennett can talk you through the relevant documentation potentially required.

The firm also recommends discussing possible trips abroad with your ex-partner as soon as possible; this gives space to iron out any differences.

If this dialogue fails, a specific issue order can be applied for. If you’re concerned your ex-partner may take your child/children away without your consent, a prohibited steps order can prevent them making such decisions independently.

This service will also act if a parent fails to make a payment.

A private school education for your children may be important to you, but affordability is one of the family court’s main considerations when deciding to order f inancial input. We recommend obtaining early expert family law advice to ensure your children face as little disruption to their education as possible.

If your child/children go to university, ask your co-parent directly for support because, yes, the court also has powers to order the provision of financial support for tertiary education.

Your children...

It may sound obvious, but at a time when they are most vulnerable and at risk, experiencing emotional – sometimes geographical – upheaval, the most essential thing to consider during the divorce/ separation process is your child/children’s welfare.

And it is their welfare that is at the heart of Lund Bennett’s approach.

For bespoke advice based on your personal circumstances and to achieve positive, minimal-stress outcomes, please call 0161 924 0079 or email info@lundbennett.co.uk / lundbennett.co.uk The Downs, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 2QD

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EXPERTS

Ask the Expert Roksana Baig Roksana Baig, owner of Panacea Holistic (PH), is experienced in corporate banking, business, and motherhood and has a deep interest in health and wellness. She believes that in our everchanging world of wellness trends, exploring alternative therapies is crucial for personal and professional growth. Roksana’s approach emphasises the interconnectedness of the body, mind and spirit.

What services does Panacea Holistic Training Academy offer?

The academy offers a range of services, including training courses and treatments in holistic healing, which includes cupping (hijama) therapy, fire cupping, IV and vitamin injection training, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for hair loss, acupuncture, anti-aging treatments, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), stress management and health and nutrition coaching. Its approach combines Eastern and Western traditions, emphasising the importance of health coaching for high-achievers in today's fast-paced world. The academy prioritises discretion and offers one-to-one coaching, both in-person and online, to

tailor its services to individual needs. All courses are certified and accredited by leading awarding bodies in the UK, such as International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine (IPHM).

Tell us about your customers and team PH caters to diverse clients of all ages and backgrounds, serving individuals, professionals, corporates and celebrities.

With over 25 years of experience, it is a leading provider of health and wellness services in the UK. The academy has clinics in London, Birmingham and Manchester and has trained individuals globally, including celebrities and athletes, and its clients include Manchester City

roksana@panaceaholistic.co.uk Tel. 07887 600 932 Council, BBC, Faith Matters, the CLIC Sargent charity and other notable organisations and figures. I’ve partnered up with Robina Ahmed (director and trainer), whose background is in biological sciences. Robina has a wealth of knowledge and 30 years of teaching experience. Her expertise lies in alternative therapies and she is a consultant delivering training within various health trusts and private companies. PH’s team, consisting of medics and healthcare professionals, ensures that clients benefit from its members’ expertise and receive the best bespoke experience in holistic therapies.

Ben Bowles My role at The Manchester Grammar School (MGS) is Deputy Head (Academic). I also teach Maths, coach rowing and attend as many trips as I can. I have been at MGS for three years, teaching for 23 years, and have previously worked in Stockport, London, Switzerland and Oxfordshire.

What is the outstanding feature of MGS? It has to be the quality of our teachers and teaching. Having taught at and visited many top-performing independent schools, I believe the quality of teaching at MGS is second to none. We are fortunate to have extraordinary levels of scholarship within our common room, where you don’t have to go too far without meeting a doctor. Our teachers have great enthusiasm for their subjects, are expert classroom practitioners and are talented at sharing passion for their discipline with our pupils.

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What does the MGS motto mean?

The school motto Sapere Aude means ‘dare to be wise’ or ‘dare to know’. Immanuel Kant first used the phrase in answer to the question, ‘What is the enlightenment?’

He was encouraging his readers to be courageous in living out their knowledge and values at a time when human knowledge was advancing and social change was taking place at a great rate.

We now find ourselves in another age, when humanity faces many great opportunities and threats and so the phrase Sapere Aude remains as relevant as ever. Here at MGS, it reminds us we must have courage as well as convictions.

Does MGS have an enrichment programme? The wealth of clubs – spanning musical, sporting, creative, outdoor and academic interests – enables our pupils to expand their horizons in any direction, finding new outlets for expression and purpose beyond their classroom learning. At sixth-form level, the academic enrichment programme is geared towards thorough preparation for university. By nurturing deep critical and creative thinking alongside independent research skills, we ensure our pupils are ready to embrace the challenge of undergraduate-level learning.

LEGAL

"Where has this year gone?"

By Christine Barker, partner and joint head of family team, Ward Hadaway Manchester

When you cry at the festive ads or start to scream at them. When you are shocked which colleagues have put up their decorations in November, or concerned for those wondering why there are no trees for sale on Christmas Eve. When you wish for I'm a Celebrity… to start or beg for it to stop. Then it must be nearing the end of another year.

possible. And there is a great deal to celebrate in that. Take this comment recently sent to one of the team: "My case has not been remotely straightforward and I doubt that most solicitors would have been flexible and creative enough to run it in the first place. For your faith in me alone, I am incredibly grateful.

I am aware that it’s been a little stressful too(!), so thank you for retaining a calm head – even on the odd occasion that I couldn’t…

And where has it gone?

For Ward Hadaway's family team, under the stewardship of me and Liz, it has been another packed year.

Our team has doubled in size, with some brilliant new additions to the team, including the recent ‘Lawyer of the Year’ award-winner, partner David Lister in our Leeds office.

We have been part of a major off ice makeover, lighting up our working days in the Manchester city centre offices with our vibrant brand colours.

And as part of a firm covering all aspects of personal and business law, we have enjoyed working with our colleagues in

Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle to raise the profile of this growing UK Top 100 law firm.

But what matters most to us – what we have tirelessly spent our time on this year and every year – is supporting our clients, often through some of their hardest moments.

It might seem like a downer to talk about divorce at Christmas, but we have helped a whole host of people to start on their journey towards a new life and tried to make it as painless and productive as

"Your support throughout has been so valuable to me but, quite simply, I do not think I would have got through this past two to three weeks without it. " This is the kind of thing we have spent our year doing – helping others to move on, to nurture the green shoots of their new life.

And so, we raise a glass to you all, but particularly those of you who might be closing one chapter this Christmas holiday and looking forward to opening a new and fresh one in the New Year.

We wish everyone a happy festive season and a fulfilling and prosperous New Year.

For more information, please visit wardhadaway.com/glossy

EXPERTS

Ask the Expert Zeenat Naeem Registered Manager of SureCare Trafford based in Sale, leads an award-winning team, provides exceptional personal care services and ensures a safe and efficient service to some of society’s most vulnerable.With clients located mostly in Sale, Altrincham, Timperley, Hale and Bowdon, SureCare Trafford provides high-quality personal homecare services specific to your needs at very reasonable prices.

How do you support your clients?

At SureCare Trafford based in Sale, Cheshire, we thrive on providing an exemplary care service. Services may include companionship, shopping, supporting with meal preparation and medicine administration. We can allocate a specific carer to accompany you to medical appointments and social events.

Our care provisions are personalised to individual needs and can be bespoke for every day or ad hoc respite care.

we are available 24 hours for all our clients.

SureCare Trafford has a robust team and on-call service in place to ensure the onboarding is streamlined and detailed.

Person-centred care is our focus and once we have allocated the best-suited health care assistants to you, we can ensure an efficient delivery of service. We will become like family and endure all parts of life's stages with you in a safe and compliant manner.

How can we ensure communication and contact is transparent?

As an established, reliable and trusted care provider in the heart of Cheshire,

What If I have specific language or physical needs?

SureCare Trafford is a firm believer in quality personalised care. Our team is

built on a wide spectrum of faiths and multiculturalism. The team has a wide skill set and various abilities to speak multiple languages. Our training is completed on-site and we ensure it fully adheres to the CQC requirements. We are also able to source health care assistants for the needs that you require or train them to your standards. No request is too small and client satisfaction is key. All our staff speak English, and we have access to Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Hindi and Romanian speaking carers. We have a can-do approach in all that we do.

Syra Akram Syra Akram is a qualified clinical practitioner at Exhale Spa, where she offers a wide range of cutting-edge treatments and therapies.

Established in 2015, the salon builds on 10 years industry experience, bringing to market only the most innovative beauty and holistic therapies of the highest standards and care.

What treatments do you specialise in?

I am passionate about holistic therapies and clinical treatments to enhance selfconfidence and well-being.

I offer a wide range of therapies; I am only one of a few holistic therapists in the UK who carry out the LIBBE Colon Hydrotherapy System at Exhale Spa. More recently, we have introduced semi-permanent makeup, following several requests from clients experiencing hair loss or undergoing cancer treatment.

What is semi-permanent makeup?

It is a cosmetic procedure during which the pigment is inserted beneath the skin to create a makeup effect, which could last for up to three years. Done correctly,

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the overall look will enhance your facial features naturally.

Who's suitable for semi-permanent makeup?

We assess suitability based on skin type, features and age, so that we can discuss how the treatments should be performed and how the finished treatment will look.

Is semi-permanent makeup safe?

Absolutely. We follow a code of practice that ensures your semi-permanent makeup not only looks good, but it’s completely safe too. We follow rigorous sterilisation and disinfection guidelines and, much like medical devices, our micro-pigmentation equipment is safe by design against cross-contamination.

How much does a semi-permanent makeup treatment cost?

The average price of our semi-permanent makeup treatments is £350, which includes a styling consultation, the pigment application and aftercare products.

What qualifications do you hold?

I hold a Level 4 VTCT in micropigmentation from Manchester College, plus additional qualifications for advanced semi-permanent makeup. I believe in combining my knowledge with high-quality equipment and dedication to give you high-class results.

The Futureproof CEO Events Simplified is the brainchild of management consultant turned event planner Carol Barnes. Experienced at planning her own events, she was invited onto the Executive of Bollington Festival as head of marketing in 2009. Applying her project management skills, Carol has provided Events Simplified clients with a simpler approach to event planning and management, saving them time, expense and headaches.

Sharing its specialist experience, Events Simplified will explore creative ideas with you to maximise your budget and bring your function’s vision to life. No matter how off-the-wall your idea, your corporate or charity event can be planned anywhere in the UK, Europe – or wherever you fancy!

Personable and concerned, Carol says, “I’m very careful with each client’s money and treat it as I would my own. I will always acknowledge the elephant in the room if there’s a mismatch between budget and expectations. I worked with with a charity that envisaged celebrating its 10th anniversary with a few drinks down the pub. It ended up as a gala dinner bringing in around £20,000 – their biggest ever fundraiser! To dispel initial fears around financial liability, I had drastically minimised the deposit required and reduced cancellation terms to a few weeks prior to the function. The charity dinner was totally safeguarded. Like every event I’ve managed, we were in profit prior to the event taking place as it had already paid for itself!”

Looking forwards, between March 4th and March 7th, 2024, Events Simplified will welcome top executives and decisionmakers to The Future Proof CEO Strategy and Sustainability Retreat. This initiative combines the joint expertise of Carol and her husband Philip, a gunnercooke operating partner with over 30 years’ international leadership experience with boards and CEOs aiming to improve strategy, culture and, ultimately, their profits.

For the Barnes, the Lake District has always been the perfect environment for recharging their batteries. Therefore, it’s in Ullswater that they have shaped their vision for a unique retreat for CEOs and board directors looking to progress to CEO as their next career move.

Keynote speaker Sir Clive Woodward will set challenges around transformative thinking and culture. Other inspirational experts will address topics encompassing strategy planning, the management of an ageing workforce, process analysis, sustainability and how to achieve these goals. Philip will facilitate all workshops to encourage engagement. Attendees will leave with an individualised 100 days’ action plan, plus every benefit of meeting a new peer group with whom to mull over ideas.

Typical of Events Simplified, the Barnes do not envisage this as a stand-alone retreat. Carol prefers to nurture business relationships with its key clients and aims to build a series of retreats. She adds, “I’m not one for a ‘quick win’. I prefer to become part of a team, on call when needed and able to provide my clients with tailor-made, personalised events. I aim to ensure the Events Simplified team provides each person or company with the best experience possible.”

Words Fay Wertheimer

To find out more about Events Simplified, visit events-simplified.co.uk or to book a meeting for your upcoming event, please contact Carol at carol@events-simplified.co.uk For more information on The Future Proof CEO Strategy and Sustainability Retreat in Ullswater’s Leeming House next March, please scan the QR code or simpler still, contact Carol and Philip at contact@thefutureproofceo.com

ENTERTAINMENT

WHAT’S ON Manchester, you are spoiling us! The festive season is literally filled with top-notch entertainment, with premieres of long-awaited West End hits, such as Hamilton and Life of Pi and really special adaptations of theatrical classics like Brief Encounter, Little Women and 80 Days Around the World.

Christmas Spectaculars Life of Pi The Lowry / 5 December – 7 January Based on the best-selling book by Yann Martel, the five-star hit show is the winner of five Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, and three Tony Awards.

Now it’s come to The Lowry for a very special Christmas run, embarking on its biggest adventure yet. With jaw-dropping visuals and world-class puppetry, Life of Pi is the hugely popular story of an epic journey of endurance and hope.

Hamilton Palace Theatre / Until 24 February Hamilton is the multi-award-winning musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It tells the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and helped shape the very foundations of America. The score blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and Broadway – the story of America then, as told by America now. A truly mesmerizing show.

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Comedy & Music Christmas Specials

Gok Wan Presents the Isolation Nation Christmas Ball

Live at Christmas / Aviva Studios 21 December Simon Anstell provides the perfect festive treat for comedy lovers with a star lineup including Fern Brady, Ivo Graham and Tim Key.

O2 Ritz Manchester / 23 December Fresh from spreading positivity and inclusivity at venues around the world, Gok invites generations of ‘nationers’ to celebrate a love for each other in a full-scale immersive production soundtracked by club classics and plenty of surprises.

G4 Christmas Concert The Monastery / 13 December Experience sumptuous harmonies in the idyllic festive setting of Manchester Monastery as G4 entertain with timeless classics such as When a Child Is Born and Silent Night.

R&B Christmas Ball O2 Victoria Warehouse Sat 16 December Special guests include Joe, 112, Next, Bobby V & J Holiday.

Craig Charles Christmas Special DJ Set Band on the Wall / 23 December BOTW’s resident funkster Craig Charles, is on the decks. accompanied by a live set from local live act Lovescene.

Dancing in a Winter Wonderland The Bridgewater Hall / 18 December Strictly legends Alijaz and Janette return with a festive extravaganza celebrating the very best of Christmas song and dance. Count down to the big day with amazing choreography and fabulous costumes alongside a festive greatest hits soundtrack.

Christmas at the Movies Manchester Cathedral / 30 December If you love classical music and are a Christmas movie fan, then this is the event for you. London Concertante will perform excerpts from some legendary cinema classics, including Home Alone, ELF and Love Actually with the beautifully lit cathedral in the background.

Christmas Trails and Markets Christmas Illuminated Trail Dunham Massey / Until 31 December Dunham Massey’s Light Trail is legendary.

It is a beautiful way to enjoy a dark winter evening; you can also have a ride on one of the traditional fairground rides or enjoy some delicious food and drink along the way.

Christmas Lanterns at Chester Zoo Chester Zoo / Until 31 December The zoo after dark is always a magical experience. Whilst the animals are safely tucked away, you can enjoy a fabulous trail of light installations and colour changing displays.

Prism Light Trail Sale town centre / Until 31 December A series of light installations through Sale town centre, designed by children and young people from the borough. The installations will run throughout Waterside Art Centre’s Winter Festive and are free to enjoy. Check watersidearts.org for more information on the festival.

Quayside Media City Christmas Markets Media City / Until 17 December Every weekend, you can enjoy up to 80 artisan stalls with DJs and some great food on offer and all the fun of Salford Quays.

Manchester Christmas Markets Including Exchange Square, Market Street / Until 22 December The city-centre markets are open every day for gifts, drinks and food and plenty of festive fun.

Christmas Drama Little Women HOME / 8-23 December Anne-Marie Casey’s adaptation of the classic story offers an exciting theatrical experience filled with laughter, tears and a lifting of the spirits. This hit show, about the lives of the March family during the American Civil War, is directed by Brigid Larmour.

Words: Catherine Reed

Family Christmas The Snow Queen Sale Waterside / Until 31 December This vibrant musical re-telling of The Snow Queen is reimagined in an exciting adventure for the whole family.

Jack & the Beanstalk Manchester Opera House 2-31 December Comedy superstar Jason Manford is back by popular demand to lead the cast of Jack and the Beanstalk in the title role.

He is joined by returning Manchester panto favourite Ben Nickless as Silly Simon, star of stage and screen Myra DuBois and West End performers Samara Casteallo and Emma Williams.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt The Lowry / 7 December – 7 January See the smash-hit production when it returns vividly and noisily in director Sally Cookson’s fun-filled adaptation set to Benji Bower’s versatile lively score. Join the intrepid family of adventurers and their musical dog on a quest to find a bear. Expect catchy songs, interactive scenes, plenty of adventure and a few surprises along the way.

Peter Pan Stockport Plaza 8 December – 7 January Stockport’s swashbuckling family pantomime adventure is Peter Pan, starring Brian Capron as the evil Captain Hook. With a sensational cast and spectacular costumes, the Plaza offers a very affordable family treat that everyone can enjoy.

Sleeping Beauty Altrincham Garrick 8 December – 2 January Garrick’s fabulous family pantomime is packed with magic, songs, comedy, dance, special effects and lots of fun interaction, of course!

Lost and Found Aviva Studios 12 December – 6 January What do you do if a penguin turns up on your doorstep? Take him home to the South Pole, of course! Travel with the boy and the penguin on their epic journey and retelling of Oliver Jeffers’ gorgeous story, filled with fabulous puppets and projections and a great soundtrack.

Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas The Bridgewater Hall / 26 December Raymond Gubbay presents the Birmingham Stage Company production of Horrible Christmas and a terrific tale of Christmas. This wonderful show is a celebration of Christmas in the most wonderful, funny and moving way.

Christmas Musicals Brief Encounter Royal Exchange 2 December – 13 January Can there be a more romantic theme for a musical than that of the story of Brief Encounter? Noel Coward’s heart-stopping story of forbidden love, deception and secret meetings is adapted by Emma Rice into a glorious musical, which moves to the rhythm of beautiful songs and swaying dance moves and is directed

by Sarah Frankcom.

Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World The Lowry / 5 December – 7 January Empowering pop musical Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is a show filled with characters and songs that pack a popstar punch. This kick ass-pirational stage show, based on the popular children’s book by Suffragette relative Kate Pankhurst, comes from one of the producers of SIX. From explorers to artists, scientists to secret agents, hear the stories of some of history’s strongest mothers, sisters and daughters; all independent icons who really did change the world.

New Year and January Shows Once the festive fun is over and January arrives, there are plenty of shows on our stages and in the concert halls to keep away the January blues. Hamilton is here until 24 February at The Palace Theatre and The Lowry plays host to several great productions, including Murder in the Dark starring Tom Chambers, The King and I and Calendar Girls.

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for January offers that sometimes pop up on social media or listings sites and keep that festive feeling going through the dark nights in the New Year.

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MOTORING

THE PERFECT OVERLANDER? Like all camping dads, I’m always looking to perfect my rig. My current adventure setup is a seven-seater Land Rover Discovery with roof box and Sankey trailer, capable of transporting the entire family and its loadout to the most extreme locations on the planet. Or a National Trust campsite, wherever the mood takes us.

But recently, Land Rover has changed beyond recognition. It’s a luxury brand now, no longer the default for farmers, foresters or soldiers. Nothing wrong with that, but, personally, I prefer shopping in bushcraft shops and not Louis Vuitton, so I need to think about the next vehicle for me.

A contender is the Volkswagen Amarok. Specif ically, this mad version of the utility pickup I recently saw at a show in Germany.

It’s fully kitted out with modifications by the equipment supplier Genesis Import to create the perfect overlander/camper van, including a rooftop tent, a 270-degree awning and an Alu-Cab hardtop.

The basis is a black-painted Amarok PanAmericana with all-wheel drive, rear differential lock and underride guard for off-road ability.

The 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine gives 177 kW output and up to 600NM of torque. Modifications to the suspension, BFGoodrich AT tyres

with Delta wheel rims and beefed-up body styling are also included in the conversion. Additional LED lighting on the roof and front end is also available, all-important for those forays into the Arctic Circle.

The interior of the Amarok PanAmericana makes as robust a statement as the exterior. It’s unmistakably a pickup built to take a beating, with controls designed to be operated in thick gloves – but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have toys.

The driver and f ront passenger seats have electric 10-way adjustment. Also included is an infotainment system with 30.5-cm (12-inch) touchscreen and navigation system as well as leather upholstery and a leather-covered cockpit. The numerous standard assist systems on board include Park Assist with front and rear Park Distance Control and Rear Traffic Alert, cruise control system, intelligent speed assist system, ACC and Dynamic Road Sign Display.

The base price for the Amarok PanAmericana, before the overlander modifications, starts from £56,631 – but I’ve no idea how much I’d then have to pay Genesis to make mine into the monster you see in the picture. They sent me a link, but it was all in German, so I couldn’t read it. Maybe one of you could help me out?

Fact file / Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana / Engine: 3.0 litre V6 TDI Power: 177kW / Torque: 600NM / Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 stars Price: (unmodified) from £56,631

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By Oliver Chesher

KELLANDS HAVE WON 18 NATIONAL AWARDS IN 7 YEARS Preferred advice Group for the Times News Group and Moneyfacts Independent Consumer Champion

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The value of investments can go down as well as up. Past performance is no indicator of future returns. This article is correct at time of going to print and does not constitute advice. Kellands (Hale) Ltd is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. It is your responsibility to keep up with the monthly repayments of your mortgage, otherwise your home may be at risk.