MediaCity Magazine Dec|Jan 2020

M AG A Z I N E DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020 • ISSUE 38

CHRIS REAY

Making MediaCityUK the place to work, rest & play

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

LET’S CELEBRATE Fab Fashion Gorgeous Gifts Festive Home Ideas

‘Tis the season to be jolly… and delegate!

GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Beverley Uddin-Khandakar e: beverley@salutions.co.uk GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR Salim Uddin-Khandakar e: salim@salutions.co.uk JOURNALIST / OFFICE MANAGER Emily Fitzgibbons e: emily@salutions.co.uk ADVERTISING Call the sales team on 0161 445 2883 e: info@salutions.co.uk ART DIRECTION & DESIGN Paul King / Claire King

www.twistedgifted.co.uk e: creative@twistedgifted.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS Catherine Reed Fay Wertheimer Oliver Chesher Dr Jill Nash Catherine Saunders Ray King Lisa Symonds Emily Fitzgibbons PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Browne PR Shots Bigstockphoto.com Press Loft Martin Hambleton myimagehouse.co.uk EDITOR’S IMAGE Julian Kronfli

“

Surely I’m not alone in appointing myself ‘Head of Everything’ over the holidays, am I? Many women organise Christmas with little or no help, but admit they refuse to delegate jobs because their other halves wouldn’t carry them out to the required standard.

There’s an assumption that only women can do the perfect Christmas, but surely that’s not true? Most of us have a ready-made team of would-be helpers – we just have to allow them to lend a hand. And once we’ve done that, we’ll appreciate the joy of having more time to either perfect the tasks we’re still doing or, dare I say it, relax!

So, to all the control freaks out there, who are considering handing over the decorations and giftwrap duties to their jolly little helpers – BEWARE! Your Christmas tree and presents may never look the same again. Well, one step at a time…

”

We have lots to read this issue, including our Christmas Gift Guide. If you’re still looking for some inspiration, I’ve rounded up some of my favourites, from page 55. We also have a couple of competitions for you to enter on page 38 – be sure not to miss out!

Both myself and all of the Salutions team would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Beverley x GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Beverley@salutions.co.uk

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Don’t miss out M AG A Z I N E

JUNE | JULY 2019 • ISSUE 100

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FEBRUARY | MARCH 2019 • ISSUE 62

M AG A Z I N E DECEMBER | JANUARY 2019 • ISSUE 124

M AG A Z I N E APRIL | MAY 2019 • ISSUE 34

Glass Room

All aboard London’s sensational sail & dine experience

Dante

Hale’s Italian newcomer

Barrecorre

The brand-new exercise phenomenon

Brilliantly Beige

Fashion goes neutral this season

We test drive the new

Christmas Gift Guide for yuletide inspiration

Pamela Reckert’s dream role at Mottram Hall

FIXX Salons A cutting-edge service in Altrincham

Win a couple’s makeover at

Protecting you, your home and your business 24/7

FIXX Salons Altrincham

Meet the brave boy behind the big event

Non-invasive treatment for depression and anxiety

Benchmark

Bentley Continental GT

Dexter’s Ball

Tranquil TMS Dunham Forest Golf & Country Club – picture-perfect makeover revealed All around the world with Brasserie Blanc’s new spring menu We meet Max Eden – The heart of the Hale Barns Carnival

M AG A Z I N E

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2019 • ISSUE 98

M AG A Z I N E

APRIL | MAY 2019 • ISSUE 63

APRIL | MAY 2019 • ISSUE 126

M AG A Z I N E

Dante

Dexter’s Ball

M AG A Z I N E JUNE | JULY 2019 • ISSUE 35

TV chef realises her dream

Hale’s Italian newcomer

The Westbury London

Barrecorre

Luxury in the heart of Mayfair

Meet the brave boy behind the big event

The Westbury London Luxury in the heart of Mayfair

The brand-new exercise phenomenon

Parveen The Spice Queen

Lemn Sissay MBE In conversation with Didsbury Arts Festival

Rex Cinema

Amanda Mundin on bringing the big-screen back to the community

Win Afternoon Tea for two

The Westbury London

K West Hotel & Spa London

Luxury in the heart of Mayfair

Monochrome interiors Professor Luciano Nardo

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

reveals exciting news from Reproductive Health Group

@theglossymagazine

FIXX Salons A cutting-edge service in Altrincham

Tony Collier

talks prostate cancer awareness

Win a couple’s makeover at

Subscribe for just £19.99 a year Manchester Vein Clinic Varicose vain removal tried & tested

theglossymagazine.com

@theGlossyMag

Timeless elegance for every room

FIXX Salons Altrincham

We meet Max Eden The heart of the Hale Barns Carnival

Contact emily@salutions.co.uk or call 0161 445 2883

@theGlossyMag

ON THE COVER DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020 • ISSUE 103

M AG A Z I N E

M AG A Z I N E DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020 • ISSUE 67

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020 • ISSUE 130

The inside scoop on

Jacey Normand

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Making MediaCityUK the place to work, rest & play

LET’S CELEBRATE

LET’S CELEBRATE Fab Fashion Gorgeous Gifts Festive Home Ideas

DECEMBER | JANUARY 2020 • ISSUE 38

CHRIS REAY

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Fab Fashion Gorgeous Gifts Festive Home Ideas

M AG A Z I N E

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS! LET’S CELEBRATE

Fab Fashion Gorgeous Gifts Festive Home Ideas

LET’S CELEBRATE Fab Fashion Gorgeous Gifts Festive Home Ideas

DIDsBURY MAGAZINE Jacey Normand BBC Inside Out North West Image: Julian Kronfli

HALE&BOWDON MAGAZINE Christmas Lifestyle Amara.com

BONUs sAPOR MAGAZINE MEDIACITY MAGAZINE Lit Berry Garland Chris Reay Next MediaCityUK Image: Stephen Southern

This Magazine is published six times a year by Salutions 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. salutions Limited. 5 The stables, Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 5PG 0161 445 2883 | info@salutions.co.uk | Visit us online: salutions.co.uk

Competition Terms & Conditions No purchase necessary. Employees of Salutions Limited and associated companies, promotional partners, their agents and families are not eligible to enter. Entries will be declared void if found mutilated, illegible, altered, reconstructed, forged or tampered with in any way. In the event of there being more claims than prizes available in any category, then prizes will be awarded to the earliest claimant. (Where applicable, as stated.) All entries are subject to scrutiny. Salutions Limited reserves the right to stop the promotion/competition at any time at its own discretion. Winners must accept that their names may be announced on any Salutions related media, including web and print, and may be used for publicity purposes if required. Rules as published, when applicable to specific joint offers, product discounts etc. All prizes unclaimed remain the property of Salutions Limited. Persons under the age of 18 are not eligible to enter. The prize must be taken as offered and is not transferable. No cash or credit alternatives will be given.

Editor’s decision is final. By entering a competition you agree to receive e-letters and mailshots from Salutions Limited. We do not sell our database to third parties and are compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998. Should you wish NOT to receive such information, please state NO OFFERS. By entering the competition you agree to the above terms and conditions.

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

WINNER

Clinic of the Year 2019 Award

Dr Nyla has been awarded Clinic of the Year 2019, one of the most prestigious accolades in the Aesthetic industry in the UK the Diamond Awards 2019. Doctor Nyla’s new Centre of cosmetic excellence in Alderley Edge, continues to embody her pioneering vision by providing cutting edge cosmetic treatments including non-surgical facial rejuvination, body contouring and hair restoration using the latest super technologies.

The ARTAs Robotic system is a state-of-the-art medical device that safely and effectively extracts hair grafts for fUE transplantation. The fDA approved ARTAs, the world’s only Robotic system for hair transplant surgery automation, allows our highly trained doctors to achieve clinically proven, permanent solutions that provides natural results without stitches, staples, linear scarring and damage to existing hair.

Cheshire Hair Transplant Centre is the only centre in the UK to have the most powerful advancement of the robot ARTAs 10. Delivering both extraction and implantation in the same procedure.

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REGULARS 01 09 27 34 35 79/83 86

Editor’s Letter News and Views Cuddle-up comfies to help you relax this winter Grow your own, Lady Muck-style Mellow Yellow Interiors: Set to continue into 2020 Ask the Experts Education News: Latest updates from the schools

PEOPLE 19 20 22 24 41 81

Lynette Page-Collin & Rachel O’Hare: Elle for Elle Jacey Normand: BBC Inside Out North West Laura Dean: Female DJ Chris Reay: MediaCityUK Raj Ruia: Rhode Island Coffee Gaurav Batra: Oaklands Hospital

TRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT 37 39 40 46 47 48 50 52 93 94

AND THE REST...

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

Food Review: Dakota Recipe: Parveen’s Spicy Lamb Burgers This month’s Top 5 places to eat ITC’s Top 5 winter sun escapes K West Hotel & Spa: The perfect weekend getaway London: The delights of Canary Wharf & Greenwich Sardinia: A little bit of heaven on earth Hyatt Centric La Rosière: Stunning ski resort Tech: Classics remixed What’s On: The perfect time to plan your Christmas treats

Benchmark: On a mission to keep you safe Win the ultimate festive theatre package, a copy of Parveen the Spice Queen: Step by Step Authentic Indian Cooking The Christmas Gift Guide: Shop our edit for the perfect present

Anything is Possible.

All it takes is determination.

Know that above all else, we’ve got your back.

• Divorce • Financial Settlements • Children Disputes • Cohabitation Matters • Civil Partnership Disputes • Domestic Violence

Contact us now

0161 507 7145 mcalisterfamilylaw.co.uk ¬ ­

Manchester • Cheshire • London

‘Amanda McAlister is truly phenomenal’ The Legal 500

For all life’s legal needs

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

LOCAL NEWS k Christmas at The Royal Exchange Manchester… k

Between 1pm and 4pm on Saturday December 14th, the Royal Exchange Manchester will be hosting a luxury Christmas shopping afternoon. There will be Victorian carol singers performing around the Grade II-listed building and a string quartet playing festive tunes in the Arcade. Shoppers can also enjoy prosecco and mince pies as well as complimentary gift wrapping for purchases made during the afternoon.

If you’re looking for ideas and inspiration for the festive season, the Royal Exchange has everything to offer; from jewellery,

clothing and footwear to beauty, food, drink and many other exclusive gift ideas.

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to cards with the fabulous mix of fun, quirky and traditional styles on offer from Scribbler and Unit 7 cards and gifts.

The Royal Exchange also offers a range of food and drink options to suit all tastes and dietary requirements, including: the popular plant-based eatery Vertigo; the free-from café The Remedy Kitchen, as well as Annies traditional tea room, TGI Fridays and the bustling Michaels coffee house.

The Royal Exchange has undergone lots of changes over the past two years, with the opening of many new stores and eateries. Danish homeware store Søstrene Grene is the most recent addition to the mix of luxury high street brands and boutique independents, which also includes Watches of Switzerland, French Connection, Molton Brown, L’Occitane, Fjallraven, Jenny Jones Jewellery, Lanigan & Hulme and more.

For more information on the Royal Exchange, visit theroyalexchangemanchester.com December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Buying a home

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Countess of Wessex visits local children’s charity in Warrington

Brainwave welcomed its charity President, Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex, Sophie Wessex, to its North West Centre recently, in celebration of the site’s 10 year anniversary. The Countess opened the charity’s Warrington-based centre in 2009.

Fixx Salon’s Tough Mudder

Well done to the FIXX Salons team and friends for completing the Tough Mudder Classic, raising £909 for Manchester Mind and £760 for Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

There was much to be celebrated as The Countess presented Natalie Preston with a Certificate of Appointment as an ambassador of the charity. Natalie, who is living with cerebral palsy and has been attending Brainwave since she was two years old, recently climbed over The O2

Arena with Olly Murs to raise money for the charity. So far, Natalie has raised over £18,000. The Countess also presented Phil Edge, former Brainwave CEO, with a Certificate of Outstanding Service. Phil, who recently retired from Brainwave, had been with the charity for over 33 years. He spent many of his years with the charity working as a physiotherapist, helping hundreds of children with disabilities achieve their potential. In recent years, Phil had led the charity as CEO but decided it was now time to pass on the baton. A new CEO will be joining the charity in the new year. The Countess has been the President of Brainwave for many years. The UK charity does not receive any government funding and relies on voluntary donations to run its three permanent centres in Somerset, Essex and Warrington.

To find out more about Brainwave, please visit brainwave.org.uk

Employment issues

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Garden design in return for a charity donation Is your garden in need of a makeover but you don't know where to start? Enthusiastic garden designer Maria Stripling is ready to help out in return for a donation to St Ann's Hospice. Maria knows the back gardens of most local homes as well as the front, having organised the hugely-popular Didsbury Open Gardens for the last 11 years. She said: "A nice garden can enhance lives mentally and physically and provide an extension to a home. I'm offering to take a look at someone's garden and provide ideas, complete with a design sketch, for

a £100 donation. "I've designed a few gardens, including my own, and would love to give homeowners ideas and inspiration. Autumn is also the perfect time to plan a new-look garden for next summer." Maria aims to raise £16,000 for St Ann's, with an Arctic trek in March as part of her fundraising plans. She has also secured a generous donation from a friend, who has commissioned her to design a Japanese Zen garden to remember a holiday with her late husband. Maria added: "Close friends I've lost wouldn't have had

quality time with family and a good death without the support of the hospice and the wonderful teams who work there."

Didsbury Open Gardens has raised almost £90,000 for St Ann's.

For a garden consultation, email maria.stripling@zen.co.uk and to donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/mariastriplingstannstrek

The Being You Centre @ St Ann’s St Ann’s Hospice has launched an innovative new service for patients across Greater Manchester living with life-limiting illnesses, and focusses on what’s important to them and being themselves. Rachel McMillan, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Clinical Services at St Ann’s, said: “We’ve been looking at our day therapy service recently and how we can

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make it even better for those people who need our support. The service has been transformed and is now called The Being You Centre @ St Ann’s. This name has been chosen simply because we want to help people be themselves again. We believe that an illness shouldn’t define anybody – we look past that and see a person, not just a patient or a diagnosis.

Our ethos is to always treat people as the individuals that they are.

“When someone is living with a life-limiting illness, they can experience physical, psychological, emotional or social issues, which means that they don’t quite feel like themselves. At The Being You Centre @ St Ann’s, based at our Heald Green and Little Hulton hospices, people are assessed and referred to our recently renewed specialist services, depending on their own particular needs, wishes and goals.”

Brian Hughes is 65 and has been living with chronic heart disease for around 22 years. He’s recently been referred to The Being You Centre. He says: “I’ve enjoyed it so much and I’ve met lots of people in the same boat as me. The creative therapist encouraged me to try some crafts. It’s very relaxing and you can’t help but have a laugh.

“I see the hospice doctors when I’m here and I also see the occupational therapist, who helps me with advice on when I’m at home and I take part in an exercise group.

“It’s a perfectly relaxed environment. It’s not a frightening experience, not by a long way. You’re the main person to them, it’s what you want that counts, and your family are made to feel just as important.

I’ve enjoyed it very much.”

Visit sah.org.uk/ourservices or call the hospice on 0161 437 8136.

We’ll get to the heart of the matter Spire Manchester Hospital offers fast access to a comprehensive cardiology service, so that patients with heart conditions can be diagnosed and treated quickly.

We understand that people worry about the health of their heart. Even the smallest problem can cause a lot of concern, especially if you don’t know what’s wrong.

That’s why at Spire Manchester Hospital our expert consultant cardiologists and caring clinical teams will provide you with specialist treatment, from the moment you first get in touch through to a comprehensive diagnosis, procedure and aftercare plan.

You can see a consultant in as little as 24 hours, with appointments available six days a week.

Book to see an expert today Search ‘Spire Manchester Hospital’ Call 0161 447 6700

Manchester Inspirational Voices Joy! A Christmas Celebration III Monday 16 December 7.30pm at The Bridgewater Hall Sunday 19 January 7.30pm at The Bridgewater Hall

Box Office: 0161 907 9000 www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

Box Office: 0161 907 9000 www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

Star of The Voice comes to The Bridgewater Hall Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) Vocal Coach and Choir Master Wayne Ellington is no stranger to success.

He sang with The Kingdom Choir at Meghan and Harry’s wedding and was a contestant last year on ITV’s The Voice. Despite his success, his first love is teaching and sharing the joy of singing with others. He says of his time on The Voice:

“I enjoyed singing for myself and for thousands of viewers. I was given an opportunity to share my gift with the world. I met superb musicians, singers, lighting and sound crew, choreographers and cleaners. So, I am so pleased and thankful I was able to participate in that season.”

His choir Manchester Inspirational Voices won BBC Gospel Choir of the Year and are now appearing with Wayne at The Bridgewater Hall in a Christmas concert, along with fellow Mancunian special guest JP Cooper.

Singer songwriter JP Cooper was once part of Wayne’s choir and is now a Top 10, platinum-selling, artist who has collaborated with Jonas Blue and Stormzy and has supported Stevie Wonder. Catch him here before his UK tour next year.

Also featuring musicians from the RNCM, the concert will truly be a celebration of home-grown talent.

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Bereavement advice

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Get your skates on at Manchester Ice Rink and Retreat bar in MediaCityUK this Christmas

Whether you’re looking for a magical destination for the family, the perfect after-work festive experience, a weekend out with friends, or something to do after the theatre – Manchester Ice Rink at MediaCityUK is your one-stop winter wonderland.

Manchester Ice Rink at MediaCityUK will be open through to January 5th, 2020.

Monday- Friday: open from 3pm, last skate session ends 8.45pm Saturday and Sunday: open from 10am, last skate session ends 9pm

MediaCityUK is home to a magical new ice rink experience this year. It is the spectacular centrepiece of the festivities at MediaCityUK, which includes a Christmas Market and light festival.

The ice rink features The Retreat – a winter cabin offering treats for skaters and non-skaters. The ice rink and Retreat provides the perfect winter escape from the madness of the city centre, offering a magical festive experience by the river at MediaCityUK. The destination is easily accessible by tram and road transport links and there’s ample parking, making it a stress-free option this Christmas.

The ice rink offers a unique family-friendly festive experience with everything from Penguin Helpers for little ones to the perfect mulled wine for mum and dad – plenty of opportunities to make truly special memories. Retreat visitors can expect a cosy cabin complete with wooden bench seating, faux furs, festoon fairy

lights and lots of warm nooks in which to snuggle up and enjoy the rink from afar.

The perfect setting to get you in the mood for a toasty, magical Christmas, with or without the skating. The venue offers an array of drinks designed to give you that that Christmas glow. There is hot cider, homemade mulled wine, draft beers, wines, a range of soft drinks, teas and coffees. They’ve not forgotten hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream and, because it’s Salford, there is hot Vimto on tap too! The Retreat is open to everyone, not just those skating.

Accommodating up to 200 skaters at one time, the rink brings a premium skating experience to Salford Quays, run by Blue Martini Group. It is the first time their Manchester Ice Rink brand has come to MediaCityUK and this year’s event promises to be their finest festive skating experience yet, featuring a wet-weatherproof undercover rink made from real ice.

Student tickets are only available at the rink Monday to Thursday up until December 21st. ID must be shown.

Rink open every day from 10.00am during the Christmas school holidays.

Prices for an hour-long skating session are £13 for adults and £11 for children.

A special family-of-four ticket costs just £40. Students tickets are £10 from Monday to Thursday, available only at the rink.

The Retreat is open from 2pm Monday to Friday until the start of the school holidays, when it will open from 10am until 10pm until the end of the season.

There are Happy Hour offers from 5pm till 7pm, Monday to Friday, with draft beers and mulled wine at £3.50.

Discounted tickets for a draft beer or mulled wine and an ice-skating ticket are also available at manchestericerink.com

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Divorce and separation

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

A gift of £5 can save a young person’s life this Christmas This Christmas, PAPYRUS wants to take over Secret Santa and they need your help!

Every year, we get together as friends, colleagues or families and buy novelty gifts, candles, jokes or food for the person we randomly select. This year, Papyrus are asking people to give a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Instead of giving Secret Santa gifts this year, text MYSECRETSANTA along with your chosen donation amount to 70085.

For example, to donate £10, text

MYSECRETSANTA10 (no spaces) to 70085. You can decide to do this as a gift as part of your Secret Santa or you can get together as a group to donate to PAPYRUS this Christmas instead of giving gifts.

You can donate as little or as much as you want. Every donation the charity receives is really appreciated and can really help make a difference. Once you have donated, you will receive a link to a downloadable thank you to show your kind donation has been received. You will be helping support

those with thoughts of suicide and those concerned about them this Christmas – your donation can really help to save a life.

Text MYSECRETSANTA and the amount you wish to donate to 70085. Texts cost donation amount plus your standard network charge.

Please email fundraising@papyrus-uk.org to find out how you can support young people this Christmas.

Mayor, Andy Burnham, launches StreetSmart campaign at Albert’s Shed restaurant in Castlefield campaign, providing accommodation and support to Greater Manchester’s rough sleeping population every night of the forthcoming winter. For more information and to donate, visit bedeverynight.co.uk In 2018, the money raised by the diners and restaurants of Greater Manchester helped to make possible the often lifesaving projects and work of organisations such as The Booth Centre, Barnubus and The Wellspring via A Bed Every Night.

The national StreetSmart campaign has launched for 2019 and Greater Manchester’s restaurants are now busy raising money for the homeless this Christmas.

Last year, the city’s dining community raised an amazing total of £33,400 and this

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year, hope to beat that record amount.

For the third year running, StreetSmart is working with the city-region’s Mayor, Andy Burnham, supporting his pledge to end the need for rough sleeping in Manchester by 2020. StreetSmart funds will benefit the Mayor’s A Bed Every Night

StreetSmart works by participating restaurants adding £1 to all customers’ bills throughout November and December.

This is a voluntary contribution and the amount is the same no matter how big the party. There are currently 14 of Manchester’s finest restaurants taking part in the scheme, including Albert’s Didsbury, Castlefield, Worsley and Standish, which is going to add up to a big Christmas gift to the region’s homeless and rough sleeping charities.

To sign up to StreetSmart, please contact Siobhan@siobhanhanley.com.

Settling disputes

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Didsbury Arts Festival seeks new Director managing similar festivals or working in an events/festival environment. The new festival director will be expected to design, develop and deliver the nine-day programme of events, performances and workshops for the next festival, which takes place from June 26th to July 4th, 2021.

The closing date for applications is 5pm, Friday December 6th, 2019.

A new director is sought to head a thriving community arts festival. The Didsbury Arts Festival (DAF) Board is inviting applications from enthusiastic and dynamic individuals with relevant experience of

Interviews will be held at the end of January 2020. Now in its tenth anniversary year, DAF has become a key cultural event in south Manchester. The 2019 festival attracted an overall audience of around 10,000, with more than 500 artists taking

part in over 100 events and exhibitions.

“In the new festival director, we are looking for someone with a proven track record of working successfully within the arts and local communities and who possesses the enthusiasm, commitment and leadership qualities needed to develop DAF further,” said Maria Stripling, Chair of the DAF Board. DAF is also looking for individuals to join its board, which is responsible for supporting the work of the director and the festival committee in order to deliver the festival successfully and secure the longterm future of DAF. “We would welcome interest from people of all backgrounds.

A commitment to community and the arts is essential,” said Maria.

All enquiries to info@didsburyartsfestival.org Visit didsburyartsfestival.org/news/vacancy-festival-director

Manchester Airport’s PremiAir opens its doors to the cameras With a range of options for guests to choose from, PremiAir, which is operated entirely in-house by MAG’s own specialist team, is designed for passengers who are looking to add an extra level of convenience, comfort and style to their airport experience.

Manchester Airport Group (MAG) has today released pictures of the new PremiAir terminal at Manchester Airport.

The new facility, which is now open and welcoming passengers travelling with 23 airlines from the North’s global gateway, has been immaculately finished. The pictures show design-led modernist lounges offering passengers an ultimate and indulgent new option for departing and arriving at Manchester.

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The facility, which is separate from the main terminals on the western edge of the airfield, was designed to be flooded with natural light and comes with complimentary, high-speed Wi-Fi, signature refreshments and authentic cuisine made fresh to order.

A number of packages are available to suit individual guests’ needs. The Priority package is perfectly tailored for passengers travelling with just their hand luggage.

Priority offers them the convenience of arriving at the airport just 60 minutes before their flight, when they will receive a personal welcome, dedicated security channel and luxury transfer across the

airfield to their aircraft, all for just £50 per person.

Further packages are available from £100-£175, including those for groups of between five and 50 guests, complete with access to one of three suites. Suites are all located before security, meaning nontravelling guests can also join group events and meetings. Business travellers can enjoy well-equipped, professional spaces, making international business meetings easier and more accessible than ever before.

Guests can also use the Private Suites as an elegant lounge space for departure or arrival, making it the perfect location to wish a loved one well on their travels or reunite with family from across the world.

Prices for Private Suites are available on enquiry, bespoke and based on guests’ requirements.

Elle For Elle – Dignity after Distress

By Emily Fitzgibbons

We learn more about domestic abuse foundation Elle for Elle and the admirable women behind it

Friends Lynette Page-Collin and Rachel O'Hare created the voluntary organisation to help women in need.

“We collect body and haircare products and cosmetics from public donations to give to women's refuges and shelters currently in the UK,” says Lynette. “Most of the women who use the refuge arrive with nothing, often fleeing from domestic abuse with small children. Having to ask for a toothbrush or sanitary wear is the last bit of dignity that these women may lose, so we wanted to help.”

The pair came up with the idea after discussing the amount of makeup they both owned and how they often take this privilege for granted. There and then, they decided to give products they never used to charity. However, after researching where to take their cosmetics, it became evident there was nothing available locally. And so, Elle For Elle was born.

“We find many women take to stealing sanitary wear, body care products and makeup (especially concealer to cover bruising and scarring). We believe no woman should risk her freedom for products we have sat in our own cupboards,” Lynette continues.

“Our Dignity after Distress campaign helps vulnerable women maintain some dignity by keeping the bathrooms and cupboards

of refuges stocked up with beauty products, so that they can at least take a hot shower and use some decent products whilst keeping personal hygiene private, and without feeling more degraded.”

Women in refuges live off approximately £118 a month, but Elle For Elle are well on the way to helping change this figure in a spectacular way. A huge £100,000 was raised at the recent inaugural Elle for Elle annual ball – Midnight at the Oasis – a night full of Moroccan glamour, food and music. The evening’s auction in aid of the charity included prizes such as weekend tickets to the Coachella Festival, a weekend trip to the Monaco Grand Prix, and a personal shopping experience at Louboutin World in Paris.

And you can help too. This Christmas, Elle for Elle will be working with over 70 refuges across the North West to hand over beauty gift sets just in time for the festivities. All you need to do is buy a lovely beauty gift set, take it to one of their drop-off destinations and walk away knowing you have helped a survivor of domestic abuse feel worthwhile. Lynette and Rachel are hoping to surpass the 1027 boxes collected last year.

Lynette concludes, “We’re supported by local businesses such as boohoo and Eurocamp as well as the cast and crew of Coronation Street, which is amazing.“To date, we’ve donated over £150,000 worth of products to help the most vulnerable of women and girls – and that figure is rising!”

Visit elleforelle.org.uk for more information, a list of wanted products, and to discover your nearest drop-off point.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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The inside scoop on Jacey Normand We meet the BBC Inside Out North West presenter whose exceptional broadcasting career has taken her across the world but always lands her back in her beloved home city…

Jacey Normand is Manchester born and bred. She is smiley, gracious and refreshingly unstarry despite anchoring as well as reporting for the BBC’s flagship news and current affairs show “Inside Out” and being a famous face in living rooms across the North West.

A career in journalism wasn’t always on the cards. A passion for politics led her to studying it at uni, a gap year spent with MP Graham Stringer and a prestigious once-in-a-lifetime internship in Washington DC. “I went and worked in the United States Congress,” Jacey recalls with a huge smile. “I look back now and think ‘WOW!’ I even met Bill Clinton! Eleven of us went out there. To be honest, most of them were from private school, very different backgrounds from mine. There was me and one other person with a northern accent. But I love American politics and I loved it out there.”

By Lisa Symonds | Photography Julian Kronfli

Break into broadcasting It was during her time stateside that ITV journalist Washington Correspondent James Mates inspired Jacey to break into broadcasting. “I kept pushing and knocking on doors,” she says, “anything to get a job at the BBC.”

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Her persistence paid off, not only did she land a researcher role for the now Politics Show, before long, she was reporting. Work for BBC Daytime, the Crimewatch Roadshow and Radio One’s Newsbeat followed, then reading the late news for North West Tonight and, of course, her staff job at BBC Inside Out North West.

“I’ve returned to BBC Inside Out North West like a homing pigeon,” Jacey smiles. “I love my programme. In terms of being a journalist here in the North West at MediaCityUK, I think it’s one of the best reporting jobs out there.

“And it’s the most varied! That’s what I love about it. One week I’m investigating the rise of air rage or talking about ancient Egyptian mummies at Manchester Museum, the next I’m tracking down illegal fly tippers in the region, training as a female firefighter or being given a drag makeover to better understand why more and more women are turning to drag.

Where else would you get that?”

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

A prehistoric exclusive We wonder what Jacey considers her most memorable investigation?

“Seeking out T-Rex footprints in Montana!” she answers without hesitation. “Driving over 3000 miles across America with just my producer and a Manchester university scientist. It was then the only certified T-Rex footprint to have ever been discovered. That was a moment in time… in the middle of nowhere, just us, filming alongside rattle snakes and other wild animals!”

When the story broke, a photo of Jacey’s hand in the prehistoric print was everywhere. “For one day, I had the most famous handprint in the world,” she laughs.

Unforgettable people Jacey namechecks filmmaker Louis Theroux as an inspiration: “Sometimes, it’s not what he says, it’s what he doesn’t say, which speaks volumes. I think sometimes we, as broadcasters, feel the need to fill the silence, but the real emotion of a story can come from letting things breathe.”

She also cites American documentary maker Michael Moore, who she once interviewed, as a strong influence: “his documentaries blew my mind. He showed me that, yes, you have to apply your skills as a reporter to a piece but also talk to an interviewee as yourself, you have to be a human being.”

You’d expect the celebrities and high-profile figures Jacey has encountered to top her ‘best of ’ list.

“Actually,” she says, “it’s the ‘ordinary’ people that stay with you. The single mum who struggles to put food on the table for her kids, people who battle against adversity.

Those are the individuals who take your breath away and stay with you forever.”

Jacey admits that some stories can be emotionally difficult (“I do take some of them away with me”), but she’s learnt to cope.

Family influence Jacey says that whilst she’s always loved to travel, her experiences continue – happily – to bring her back to Manchester. “I love Manchester, I love my family and friends, so I feel I’m fortunate to have the best of both worlds.”

Indeed, it’s her family who she credits for firing her fascination with news and politics: “From a very early age, my granddad would religiously read newspapers and, despite being a very placid man, there were things in the news that would really wind him up. I was also always drawn into TV news. I remember the passengers on TWA Flight 847 being taken hostage in the 1980s, I went to bed, worrying, thinking, ‘I just want these people to get out of the plane alive’. I was only about seven. As a family, we were always discussing things that were going on in the world.”

She pauses…

“I mean, if you’re from Manchester, the birthplace of the Suffragette movement, you’re going to be political! It’s in our blood!”

Jacey and her partner Kev live In Didsbury.

What does she like most about it?

“What don’t I like about it?” she smiles.

“It’s just such an amazing place. It has a huge support system and a lovely sense of community. My partner actually tends to the community garden at the end of our street, that’s the kind of place it is, people give up time to make it a better place. It must be one of the few places where you can walk into a bar or restaurant and know the people in there… like Coronation Street! That’s why people stay.”

As a Manchester City fan (“Again, my grandad’s influence”), she tries to get to the match as much as possible: “I am hoping to pass my passion for the game onto my daughters. I’m planning on taking them to watch Manchester City Women as well as my beloved City. Women’s footie is becoming high profile, which makes me very happy.”

As our interview comes to a close, Jacey admits, “I’m not used to being interviewed, it’s weird having the cameras turned on me, metaphorically speaking!”

She’s got to dash, there’s a programme to write: “People think I just turn up an hour before the show and read the lines,” she laughs.

Her contentment is evident: “Oh, I never get bored, and I want to do this for as long as I possibly can!”

Family life in Didsbury Jacey’s broadcasting ambitions are as strong as ever. Travel-wise, she’s slowed down a little whilst her daughters (Remmy and Mailie) are growing up. Juggling full-time work with motherhood isn’t always easy, but, she says, “the BBC has been flexible, and I have a team of really supportive producers and an encouraging editor.”

BBC Inside Out North West starts on Monday 20 January at 7.30pm on BBC1 Follow Jacey on Twitter @jaceynormand

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

By Lisa symonds | Photography by Emma Wilson: Instagram: ewilsonphotographer | ewilsoncreative@yahoo.co.uk

Laura Dean in the house Meet the female DJ making a lot of noise around Manchester All good things come to those who wait or, in Laura Dean’s case, leave their future in the hands of fate. She’s funny, she’s honest, she spins a mean soundtrack to nights’ out and VIP occasions in the region...

She also works with Girls That Mix – a trio of females; one on sax, one on percussion, Laura as DJ. “It’s SUCH fun!” she says, “This year alone, we’ve performed in Croatia on a super-yacht helipad and we’re going to Doha in a couple of weeks.”

Mad about music Cheshire-born Laura has always been mad about music. As a teenager, she’d save up to pay the admission fee into the Haçienda, not to party but just immerse herself in her beloved house tunes.

“I bought decks and taught myself to DJ when I was about 18,” she explains, “but, back then, I lacked confidence and never saw it as a potential career.”

Instead, Laura embarked on a series of eclectic endeavours – everything from fashion design and promotional work to TV extra gigs and running her own business: “Oh, I did a thousand things! It would take you three days to write my CV down,” she laughs in her wonderfully self-deprecating way.

Age 29, she fell in love with an Aussie guy and decamped Downunder.

“I never make plans, but I expected to work part-time and spend the rest of the time learning to surf, you know, semiretirement in my late 20s! Instead, I ended up with two of the most responsible jobs of my entire life… at one point, I was promoted to sales director!”

The power of music Laura loves shattering people’s preconceptions of what a DJ should look like:

Four years after leaving Manchester, her relationship having broken down and now really missing home, Laura flew back and promptly used the money she’d earned in Oz to fund a DJing course – to refine her skills – at Manchester MIDI School.

Girls that mix Now professionally trained, Laura practiced endlessly but still didn’t think she could DJ ‘for real’.

“A friend of a friend was looking for someone to DJ at Top Man in Liverpool.

I said no. He asked me again. I said no.

Finally, he said, ‘I’ll ask you a third time but won’t ask again’.”

Thankfully, she caved, and the gigs just kept rolling in. Laura now holds a residency at Albert’s Didsbury and she also provides DJs for the restaurant’s other locations: “If I see people not getting the opportunities I got, I want to help them fulfil their dreams and mentor them.”

“When I turn up at a venue, security don’t often believe I’m there to DJ!” she reveals, “And when I deliver something like a heavy techo set in a club, I love watching people look to the booth, expecting to see some big guy, and there’s me, a little woman in heels and a skirt!”

She firmly believes in the power of music; its ability to whisk you away to another world or evoke memories of another time and place: “I was playing a mix of Aretha Franklin’s I Say a Little Prayer in Albert’s and a guy came over and told me his family were out marking the fifth anniversary of his mum’s death. The track was her favourite song.

He said it really touched him and it felt like a sign.”

Unplanned but perfect Now DJing for a living and enjoying the daytime downtime she spends with loved ones, Laura admits: “For the first time in my life, it’s come together. Everything I’ve ever done is unplanned, but I trust things will pan out if I put in the hard work and passion.”

And how would she like it to pan out?

“To land more house music gigs,” she says brightly, “house is definitely my thing.”

Connect with Laura: Instagram @djlaura.dean | bookings@djlauradean.com Contact Girls That Mix: @girlsthatmix | girls@girlsthatmix.co.uk December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Chris Reay – hot property

By Fay Wertheimer | Photography Stephen Southern

We meet the man helping make Manchester’s famous digital, tech and media hub the must-locate place to live and create

Understated, unflappable and engaging, MediaCityUK’s Property Director, 36year-old Chris Reay, avoids overt power tactics. A born listener, he states, “I enjoy empowering others. No-one need be a domineering force to succeed. We all want similar conclusions… the polite and quiet way works for me.”

Appointed to MediaCityUK in June by Managing Director Stephen Wild, Chris Reay’s brief is to help realise the long-term vision for the area and supervise all real estate management.

Chartered surveyor Chris has 16 years’ experience in Manchester and Salford’s high-end property sectors. During his recent four and a half years with Allied London at Spinningfields, the Salford uni graduate oversaw the completion of its two remaining plots – No. 1 Spinningfields and the XYZ Building.

Intent upon proffering levels of customer after-care which are relatively new to the industry, Lytham-born Chris explains: “I’m driven to help people and I believe in customer service. I gain satisfaction helping businesses grow and seeing people working in a pleasing environment. I chose a property career for its excitement

and high risk. It’s a professional role, but I’m not chained to a desk. I’m out meeting people – and people are at the heart of everything we do at MediaCityUK. By installing quality items into a space, by improving a building and by improving communication, one can improve a community. And I love that challenge of creating something.”

Owned jointly by Peel L&P and Legal & General Capital, MediaCityUK is both Europe’s largest purpose-built creative, digital and technological community and the UK’s first bespoke digital, tech and media hub. This, the Second phase of Peel L&P’s 10-year vision for MediaCityUK is a ‘biggie’. At an estimated cost of £1 billion, the established hub will be expanded by 2.5 square miles, extending its overall remit beyond today’s media-related enterprises to develop cultural, social, leisure and residential facilities. The one-million square feet available will be split between work, leisure and residential spaces, providing a total of 2,500 apartments. Unrecognisable from Salford’s brownfield site of 2009, MediaCityUK 2019 offers far more than just its renowned BBC complex.

Didsburyite Chris expounds: “We’re close to Manchester city centre yet working life here is far better. There’s no traffic. People can run and exercise freely and safely.

The air is cleaner. The surrounding water is calming. People are more productive.

This estate provides an ideal platform for all types of businesses and their cross collaboration makes for more interesting and thriving communities. Yes, the time has now come for MediaCityUK to blossom, both as a place in which to live as well as to create.”

MediaCityUK looks forward to playing a pivotal role within the Salford Innovation Triangle by being linked to the University of Salford, the Salford Royal Foundation Trust Hospital and the Greater Manchester Industrial Strategy. In fact, MediaCityUK may well provide a testbed for a Connected Smart City, using technology to improve the urban environment and quality of life for many people. Calm and focused, Chris Reay is ready for action, so watch this space.

Email: chris.reay@mediacityuk.co.uk // Twitter: @ChrisReayCR // T: 0161 886 5301 24

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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It’s snow time at Ellis Brigham’s Manchester Store Days are getting shorter, leaves are falling and there’s a nip in the air – the perfect time for thoughts to turn to winter adventures and snowy escapes.

But what to choose for head-to-toe comfort?

The Ellis Brigham store at 130 Deansgate is stuffed full of the very latest kit, gadgets and accessories to keep you warm, dry and super comfortable. Staffed by outdoor experts who love nothing more than a good chat about your next adventure, they’re happy to advise on the best clothing and kit for your trip. If it’s ski boots you need, the new SUREfit Boot Lab within the store uses state-of-the-art fitting devices to customise boots for a precise fit and greater comfort. Pop your feet up with a free coffee as the team skilfully modify existing or new boots to achieve that perfect bespoke fit, whether it’s stretching,

grinding or softening. An online booking facility, refreshments and an awesome heli-skiing VR experience are the perfect start to your winter trip. This season’s high-end skiwear exudes couture elegance with slope-style trends including super ‘70s retro, magnificent monochrome and gorgeous gold. The buyer’s picks include sumptuous faux fur-trimmed jackets, flattering side stripe or biker-style ski pants and fabulous knits from brands such as Schöffel, Goldbergh and Henri Duvillard.

Make the slopes your catwalk.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS… TO IMPROVE MY SMILE If the perfect smile is at the top of your Christmas wish list this year, state-of-the-art dental practice Dental at MediaCityUK would be a sound choice.

The practice provides all aspects of cosmetic dentistry and wants to help people improve their smiles, be that with simple procedures, such as fillings, whitening, or complex cases involving veneers, bridges and Invisalign.

Treatments and packages are available to ensure people maintain their dental health and have their best smile. Maintenance packages start from as little as £15 per month.

For further information, visit dentalatmediacityuk.co.uk MediaCityUK, 1st Floor Car Park Blue, The Garage, Salford Quays, Manchester M50 2TG Tel: 0161 713 3655 26

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Classy Christmas Jumpers

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The elegant way to style out Christmas jumper season

Bijoux Button Crystal-Embellished Wool Jumper £275 Tory Burch Available at Harvey Nichols

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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You’re in safe hands with Benchmark Security Group We meet founder Paul Hughes and the exemplary team behind the high-tech security group that’s on a mission to keep individuals, families and properties safe and sound over the festive period and beyond

By Lisa Symonds

State-of-the-art protection Peace of mind is priceless, and Benchmark Security Group is in the business of providing it with 100% professionalism and a genuine passion for protecting its clients. The group’s credentials are impressive – it is the only security company in the area to have achieved ISO 9001 standard and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has awarded Benchmark the Government’s Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) accreditation.

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The group offers a whole host of hi-tech services, many of which are exclusive to the region. They include close protection, security patrols, alarm response, static security guards and 24-hour, state-of-theart live CCTV monitoring.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

Caught on camera Benchmark’s key service is live CCTV monitoring – both for residential and business properties. From a control room at Benchmark HQ, the team monitors clients’ properties on sixteen 65-inch screens. “This state-of-the-art station is permanently manned,” says Paul, “if so much as a mouse stirs around your property, our cameras pick it up. If it is an intruder, a siren sounds and the team warn them off and tell them they’re being filmed, security is en route, and the police have been called.”

The group’s proactive not reactive approach is hugely successful; 96% of intruders leave immediately when they are seen on camera.

All eventualities covered As part of the cctv service offered, there’s a ‘welcome home’ option, which is ideal for clients (particularly females) returning home from a Christmas party late in the evening, or even just coming home from the school run as the nights get darker.

The control room puts the client on screen as they arrive home, then watches and waits until they’re safely indoors.

Another service is the ‘active tracker’, whereby a client’s gate is fitted with a tracker and each time one of Benchmark’s mobile patrols passes the property – perhaps a home filled with festive gifts – and finds it secure, it scans the tracker and validates.

MEET THE TEAM There’s a real spirit of camaraderie within the Benchmark team and when it comes to your safety, they’ll treat you as one of their own.

Ellis Stones, Control Room Manager Ellis is responsible for monitoring the video wall, which features over 700 live camera feeds. It’s his job to raise the alarm when something suspicious is spotted on a property. “You certainly can’t sit back in this job!” he says, “it’s demanding, but I really enjoy it.

The team is very good at what it does and that’s why its reputation keeps growing.”

Simon McCabe, Escort Driving Services Simon’s role involves chauffeuring and protecting high-profile clients and their families. He was in the police force for over 30 years and rising to sergeant in the VIP special escort group, he was responsible for royal visits to the region and once – on a motorcycle – escorted Princes William and Harry: “I love my job. Every day is different, it’s never boring.”

Anthony Garwood, Security Guard Staff “It’s my job to wait outside client’s properties and monitor all activity,” explains Anthony, “including ensuring the client gets safely back into their property after arriving home. I also patrol around the property, meeting and greeting any guests arriving at the house and looking out for any suspicious activity.”

Simon Mitton-Jones, Control Room Night Manager Simon met Paul when they both worked together at Manchester United looking after the team. As well as working at the beating heart of the operation, he too does patrols: “This means I’m really familiar with the locations and quick to recognise when something is amiss.” He loves the ‘personal, old-fashioned relationship’ they have with clients: “They’re more like friends who can contact us at any time.”

Keith Harrison, Daytime Area Manager Keith’s remit is not only to ensure the team are where they need to be and fully briefed, but he too patrols clients’ streets himself.

“We act as a deterrent more than anything,” he says. He believes the clients are the best part of the job (“they become like friends”) and he evidently relishes his role at Benchmark: “Paul’s belief in me changed my life!”

Kyle Bowman, Head of Close Protection & Patrol Driver Ex-military Kyle’s role is to protect high-profile figures and high-net-worth individuals, their families and assets: “I accompany them when they go out, ensuring their safety. This means they don’t have to feel constantly on their toes, my job is to take the worry away from them.” Kyle is also a close protection instructor and helps to train other members of the team.

John Mazzolai, Business Development Director John is a former CID detective chief inspector with many years of experience in dealing with serious and complex crime. Having witnessed a rise in aggravated burglaries, he was immediately drawn to Benchmark: “Its ethos of tackling crime and the protection of people, as well as their property, really resonates with my philosophy.”

How Benchmark can help you Stay safe during the holidays and into a brand-new year with Benchmark “We cover everything from billion-pound businesses to terraces and we’ll always search for solutions that are right for you and your budget,” says Paul.

CLIENT FEEDBACK “Having lived in this area for 22 years, I felt very safe until this happened. You never think it’s going to happen to you. I’d seen Benchmark patrol frequently around my area, I enquired about them and had some exceptional feedback. I contacted the group straight away. John was very reassuring and told me what I needed to add to my security system to enable them to monitor any alarms. He was brilliant and told me not to hesitate in calling if I needed assistance. Being an ex-policeman, he offered lots of good advice, such a lovely person! They patrol three times in the day and at least three times overnight, and it gives me a sense of security. The patrol guys are extremely caring and friendly yet professional at the same time. They get to know your ‘house routine’, so they can distinguish and question any unusual activity. Very happy with Benchmark! I would recommend them to anyone.”

“I would recommend Benchmark to anyone” Following a burglary earlier this year, homeowner Mumtaz Shafi felt unsafe in her own home.

Then she discovered Benchmark.

Call 0161 786 7009 for free assessment or email office@benchmarkpa.co.uk Visit benchmarkpa.co.uk for further information.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Grow your own

STYLE Christmas is fast approaching, which means the dreaded New Year resolutions can’t be too far behind. Yikes.

By Catherine Saunders. Read more at www.ladymuck.style No idea yet what mine will be. Most likely something to do with cutting back on booze. Again. But, last week, I was thrilled to hear that many of you are thinking of having a go at grow-your-own in the new year.

his honour. Then came Pompous Pete, the champion potato-growing neighbour, who clearly would have been a sergeant major in another life and who barked at me over the fence about how crucial ‘planting in drills’ was for crop success.

However, deciding you want to grow your own fruit and vegetables is the easy part.

Deciding how to begin can be pretty baffling. I remember feeling utterly daunted when I started out. All I wanted to do was try my hand at growing some cherry tomatoes on my patio but the grow-yourown jargon bandied about had me completely flummoxed and reaching for the Bombay Sapphire on many an occasion.

Not only that, but as soon as people heard about my new hobby, many green-fingered folk were happy to share their wisdom with me. Whether I’d asked for it or not.

Next, Boring Bill the butcher, who lectured me on the importance of ‘thinning out’ seedlings as I ordered my bacon for the weekend’s early morning watching of the Rugby World Cup with friends. Frankly, I just thought he was implying I was a right old heifer who ate far too much bacon and needed to lose a bit of weight. Last, but by no means least, Allotment Annie, who cornered me at a drinks party and bored the pants off me about the need to ‘harden off’ veggie plants and spray male urine around them to keep the cats away. Yuk, yuk and double yuk. Mind you, it was pretty hard to concentrate on what she was saying as, a tad tipsy, I couldn’t stop staring at her downy moustache, which clearly hadn’t seen any wax for several decades. At least she thought I was paying attention.

First up, Sleazy Steve the builder who leered and letched his way through an hour’s instruction on ‘pricking out’ seedlings, a horticultural technique clearly named in

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

But believe me, when you cut through all the jargon, it really is quite simple. Honest.

My best piece of advice? Ask Father Christmas for a couple of books this year.

Lost the Plot from allotmentjunkie.co.uk (£14.99) is a great book, packed with photos, guides and tips for beginners and seasoned pros alike. The Edible Garden – How to have your garden and eat it by Guardian Writer Alys Fowler (£19.99) is one of my go-to books too and looks great on any stylish lady's coffee table. Lastly, in cold, dark, January, grab a large glass of Merlot, curl up by the fire and take a look around www.ladymuck.style for a light-hearted introduction to grow-yourown.

Right, must dash. Pompous Pete is peering over the fence at my untidy kitchen garden.

Time to hide with the gin…

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By Emily Fitzgibbons

By Emily Fitzgibbons

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Want your home to look fantastically festive without all the effort of decorating?

Hiring Susie and her team allows you to get on with other things whilst safe in the knowledge that they will make your Christmas decor spectacular! Cheshire Home Staging supplies full Christmas decoration installations, including table settings and personalised name places.

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Divine dining at Dakota Dakota is just a few minutes’ walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station, so we hopped off the train and set off on foot, excited to visit this distinctive city-centre hotel, bar and restaurant

By Emily Fitzgibbons

If you have an appetite for the finer things in life, the Dakota Grill’s dedication to quality, seasonal produce and beautifully prepared and presented plates will be right up your street. Passionate about doing the simple things brilliantly, the restaurant creates the perfect recipe for an unforgettable dining experience; outstanding chefs, fine seasonal ingredients and a unique, modern approach to classic dishes. With luxurious surroundings and next-level service, the grill is the perfect setting for a stylish evening out.

Comfortably seated in the upmarket dining room, we sipped on a bottle of Primitivo Tramari Rosé and enjoyed an amuse-bouche of sweet puréed carrot and suede with contrasting crispy croutons and crusty bread with a tangy tomato and goat’s cheese accompaniment – delicious.

For the next course, we delved into a Caprese salad, complete with a whole gooey burrata and tri-colour tomatoes, and a crispy duck salad topped with watermelon, cashews and sesame. We were then delivered two 340g, melt-in-the-mouth sirloin steaks, one with garlic butter and one with bone marrow jus.

They arrived with fries, Tenderstem broccoli with chilli, soy and garlic, a creamy and a flavoursome bowl of buttery truffle mash, and – our personal favourite – courgette fritters with parmesan. After a break (and the undoing of some buttons), we were served a creamy crème brûlée with homemade shortbread biscuits – heavenly.

Looking for a place to relax and recharge after all that food?

The rooms at the Dakota hotel boast a bold, elegant design with a sultry, dark colourway and 10/10 comfort levels. Wind down by

climbing into a soothing bubble bath or take a dip in one of the invigorating rainfall showers. Tuck yourself into one of Dakota’s sumptuously crisp, comfortable beds and flick on the wall-mounted flat screen TV – home to unlimited Sky Sports and Sky Movies. There’s an 11am checkout, meaning the room’s blackout curtains can be put to good use in allowing for a much-needed lie in.

With sophistication at its heart, Dakota oozes comfort and class, fine food and superior style, all delivered with impeccable service.

Dakota Manchester 29 Ducie Street Manchester M1 2JL 0161 674 9180 | dakotahotels.co.uk/manchester December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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COMPETITIONS

Win the ultimate festive theatre package

Your chance to win an amazing Christmas package of events and gifts from The Lowry

❄

❄ ❄ Prize includes:

❄

Family ticket (four people) to Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical, w/c December 23 Family ticket (four people) to The Gruffalo’s Child, w/c December 16 Two tickets to SIX, w/c January 6 Festive Afternoon Tea for four any Saturday in December Lowry gift basket from The Lowry Gift Shop

❄

❄ ❄

All entries to be received by Wednesday, December 13, 2019.

Parveen Ashraf is known as the Spice Queen for her comprehensive range of authentic Indian spices and Indian recipes. Parveen believes anyone can cook her dishes:

“all you need is the right spice and the right method, and anyone can cook authentic Indian food”.

With each recipe, she shares a personal anecdote, which gives the reader a rare insight into the life of an Asian housewife, mother and businesswoman.

If you would like to win a copy of Parveen the Spice Queen: Step by Step Authentic Indian Cooking and a selection of spices, simply answer the following question:

Q. What is the main ingredient of Parveen’s spicy lamb burger?

All entries to be received by 10th January, 2020.

TO ENTER Email your name, address and contact number, along with your answer to winner@salutions.co.uk Don’t forget to add the competition name in the subject field. Alternatively, send a postcard to Salutions, 5 The Stables, Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 5PG. Good luck!

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RECIPE

Spicy lamb burgers with tamarind slaw Allow me to help you and introduce you to my spicy lamb burger recipe. They are succulent, deliciously filling and so versatile. You can serve them in a brioche burger bun with cheese, in a pitta bread with a mint dip, or just as they are with some fried onions, perfect if you are on a low-carb diet. I am actually not a huge fan of red meat, but you would be forgiven for thinking so if you ever saw me eating one of these. I sometimes have them for brunch as I can’t wait for lunch!

Makes approx. 8 burgers / Prep time: 10 mins / Cooking time: 5 mins Ingredients: 800g lamb mince 200g chicken mince 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 green chillies, finely chopped 4 tsps ground coriander 2 tsps ground cumin Handful of fresh coriander, chopped 1 tsp salt To pan fry: 3 tbsp of oil Method: 1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix together all the ingredients.

2. To test if the burger mix has enough seasoning, take a small piece and pan fry it in a few drops of oil in a non-stick pan until cooked. Taste and adjust seasoning as you see fit. Divide remaining mixture into 8 patties.

3. Heat a drizzle of veg oil in the large non-stick pan. When hot, the oil should shimmer. Place in the burgers and cook for 2-3 minutes each side as they seal and cook through. Note:You will notice the meat juices oozing from the patties, don’t be tempted to drain this off it will reduce down as the burger cooks.

4. To serve, slice open burger buns and layer in the lamb burger, topping with sliced tomato, baby gem lettuce and a side of the turmeric slaw.

Turmeric and Tamarind Slaw I like eating coleslaw as much as the next person, but I don’t just like this version of slaw – I love it! The freshness of the yoghurt lightens the calorific content, the tang of the tamarind adds a subtle tartness, and the turmeric, as we know, adds a healthy dimension to the slaw.

This is a slaw but not as you know it!

Ingredients: Slaw: 300g white cabbage, finely shredded 1 small red onion, finely sliced 1 large carrot, peeled and julienned 100ml natural yogurt 80g mayonnaise ½ tsp of turmeric 2 tbsp tamarind paste 1 tbsp nigella seeds (optional) Salt and pepper to taste Method: In a large bowl, mix the mayonnaise, yogurt, tamarind, turmeric, salt and pepper. Once you have a smooth base sauce, add the onions, carrots and white cabbage. Thoroughly coat the vegetables in the lovely cool sauce.

Parveen's Top Tip These will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or you can freeze them. Simply defrost and then heat in the microwave on high for 2 mins. Job done!

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Top

5 Places to Eat

The team at Salutions HQ have been out and about, sourcing the best places to eat and drink. Well, someone has to do it! Here’s our shortlist…

Albert’s / DIDSBury

We visited this neighbourhood restaurant for the first time since its renovation. The smart modern decor is beautifully botanical, and the busy, bustling bar is home to an extensive cocktail list. King scallops and sesame duck satay were to start, followed by tender fillet steak with chips and French beans, and a hearty, yummy bowl of lobster and king prawn risotto. Chocolate volcano desserts ended the meal – oozing with rich cocoa goodness! 0161 434 8289

Mamucium / MAnCheSTer

Having been on the scene for almost a year, we were keen to dine at Manchester’s classy Mamucium restaurant. We sipped Negroni cocktails and nibbled on freshly baked bread and olives as we ordered lobster macaroni cheese and burrata with asparagus and rocket to start. For mains, we savoured perfectly cooked steak and roast fillet of cod with tartare potato accompanied by Tenderstem broccoli and hispi cabbage. Sweet yet savoury salted caramel custard tart and rich milk chocolate torte ended the meal. Fast, friendly service in an upmarket, plush and luxurious setting. 0161 359 7498

Comptoir Libanais / MAnCheSTer

This cheerful restaurant is light, bright and bold. To start, we shared a mezze platter with flatbread, dips, falafel and cheese samboussek, halloumi and tomato (similar to an Italian caprese salad) and man’ousha halloumi – flatbread topped with Middle Eastern cheeses and mint. Next, two restaurant favourites – slow-cooked lamb shank with rice and mint yogurt, and slow-cooked aubergine moussaka with a yoghurt sauce and pita crisps, and sides of couscous and fiery spiced potatoes. Refreshingly zesty mango and vanilla cheesecake finished off the meal. Taste the flavours of Lebanon in the heart of Manchester’s Spinningfields. 0161 672 3999 40

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

The Bay horse Tavern

MAnCheSTer The Bay Horse Tavern is a modern Victorian Pub positioned in Manchester’s edgy Northern Quarter.

Its chilled charm makes it perfect for relaxing, drinking and eating. We started with olives, balsamic and bread, and shared delicious wild mushroom and goat’s cheese bruschetta. To follow, half a chicken with roast garlic and one of the Tavern’s famous chicken, bacon and cabbage pies upon the recommendation of the server. Sides were Tenderstem broccoli and saucer-sized onion rings.

We finished with berry apple crumble and a huge slab of creamy Bailey’s cheesecake. 0161 669 5799

Victors / ALDerLey eDge

Victors is beautiful, vibrant and elegant. We started with two super-cute cocktails, complete with flowers, candyfloss and paper butterflies, and warm sourdough with lightly whipped truffle butter. We then chose a selection of the perfect-toshare small plates. Out came charred asparagus sushi rolls, burrata, lil’ burgers, popcorn chicken, halloumi fries and house salad. Then our two favourites, mushroom croquettes and fresh fried squid – a must-try. The food is heavenly, and the staff are pleasant and polite. Highly recommended. 01625 447227

Rhode Island Coffee Raj Ruia’s seven multi-award-winning Rhode Island Coffee shops are intent upon providing you with exquisite coffee, space to chill with family, friends or on your own, and a sense of community To escape the autumn cold for Rhode Island’s warmth, pop to its Altrincham shop on George Street and revel in the cosy, relaxed and immaculate environment.

Before reaching the counter, to your left, you see a full wall of 22 coffee-related pictures. To your right, there hang racks stacked with 150 brightly coloured mugs.

It’s fun. Further down, overlooking a play area and comfy loungers, stands a floorto-ceiling bookshelf, the focal point for local book-exchange enthusiasts.

This atmospheric scene guides you gently towards Rhode Island’s counter where friendly, skilled baristas serve you coffees, alternative beverages and a range of sweet and savoury goodies, including delicious soups, all listed on handwritten boards.

Standards of service and food attract a loyal, generation-wide clientele, who regularly endorse the Rhode Island experience with testimonials such as,

By Fay Wertheimer | Photography Julian Kronfli

“Avid fan of this coffee shop… often leave feeling full of promise. Thank you.”

The coffee The Rhode Island Espresso Blend comprises roasts from Brazil, Central America, East Africa, Ethiopia and India.

The medium to full-bodied espresso hints at dark chocolate and caramel flavours. A Robusta shot adds the last-minute kick to a fruity, balanced and low-acidity espresso.

The beginning In 1987, after living abroad, qualified barrister, tax expert and MBA, Raj joined his three brothers in the family textile business. Those years in Paris acquainted him with the wonder of coffee and its ability, albeit momentarily, to ‘take away the worries of the world’. So, ditching plans for an Indian eatery, in 2000, Rhode Island, Altrincham’s first speciality coffee shop was born. It was an instant hit.

The brand name Keen on American coffee culture, Raj recalls: “Rhode Island’s the smallest US state and the one with the highest coffee consumption, so, I went there. Its small communities, fishing bays and quirky stores impressed me… hence our name.

Amazingly, some Rhode Islanders honeymooning in London came up

to our Stockport café and another couple visited the Crewe branch.”

He continues: “People used to drink coffee at home and shop on the high street.

Nowadays, they shop from home and go out for coffee – especially the teetotal millennials. It’s vital we create welcoming places serving quality products – and where our coffee is concerned, there’s no compromise.”

Family man Father-of-two Raj is married to awardwinning novelist Reshma. Published in October, her recent tongue-in-cheek poetry anthology, A Dinner Party in the Home Counties, highlights the many dilemmas of contemporary life. Her take on ageing, relationships, love and displacement, amongst other topics, won her New York’s Word Masala Debut Poet 2019. Naturally, the family celebration before the London launch is on home territory – at Rhode Island Coffee in Altrincham! www.reshmaruia.com A Dinner Party in the Home Counties (£9.99) is published by Skylark and available at Waterstones and Amazon.

Rhode Island Coffee 87 George St, Altrincham WA14 1RN 0161 929 0650 www.rhodeislandcoffee.co.uk Monday to Saturday 8am to 5.30pm Sunday 10am to 5pm Branches in Blackburn, Burnley, Crewe, Oldham, Stockport and Warrington.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Season's

Greetings

Sangam Bowdon Private function room across all branches for up to 200 guests. For latest offers please visit www.sangam.co.uk

Sangam Didsbury

The management and staff at The Sangam Group would like to wish all their customers a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year

Sangam City Centre

1903 Lounge at Manchester Airport Indulge yourself in the comfortable, cosy environment of a luxurious 1903 lounge and soak up an intimate atmosphere that will leave you feeling completely prepared for your onward travels

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1903 takes its name from the year of the Wright brothers first flight. Orville and Wilbur Wright were two American brothers, inventors and aviation pioneers, who are credited with inventing, building and flying the world’s first successful airplane. On December 17th, 1903, the Wright brothers made the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft.

Near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville piloted the gasolinepowered, propeller-driven biplane, which stayed aloft for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet on its inaugural flight. It is in honour of this great feat that 1903 takes its name.

1903 currently offers two locations at Manchester Airport in Terminals One and Three. Both lounges offer all-inclusive luxury in an adult-only environment* and provide fantastic views of the airfield, so guests can sit back, relax and watch the graceful movements of the planes passing by – which look very different to those from the Wright brothers first flights.

Passengers can enjoy the exclusively designed menu, freshly prepared by in-house chefs and featuring seasonal dishes and the best ingredients, such as the 1833 vintage reserve cheddar from the world’s oldest cheddar makers, Barbers. A range of delicious snacks and desserts are also available, including real dairy ice cream from Cheshire Farm and 1903’s famous carrot cake. Guests can help themselves to the fantastic variety of food on offer at the buffet, including breakfast pastries, traditional English breakfast items, sandwiches, salads and hot dishes, such as fish pie and chicken ramen. There are also daily made-to-order specials

available at no further charge and these include delectable dishes such as poached egg and avocado on toasted sourdough at breakfast time or Asian pork belly bao buns later in the day.

The bar is fully stocked with complimentary alcoholic and soft drinks, featuring a variety of premium spirits, beers and wines and including both Prosecco and Champagne. Fresh juices are also available alongside speciality coffees and hot chocolate. Local provenance continues with the refreshments and 1903’s drinks list features Manchester Gin and Manchester Pale Ale, and the tea range is something rather special too. 1903 have partnered with local Chester-based Quinteassential Teas to produce their own bespoke blend of breakfast-style tea, Flight 1903. This blend fits perfectly with the wider selection of Quinteassential Teas available in the lounges.

As if this selection of food and drink wasn’t enough to tempt the discerning passenger, the usual lounge features are also in place, such as complimentary newspapers and magazines as well as high speed Wi-Fi. And yet, there’s even more! Pre-book your entry into 1903 and Security Fast Track is also included to ensure you reach the lounge as efficiently as possible.

Prices start from just £35 per person when pre booking online at manchesterairport.co.uk/at-the-airport/airport-lounges. Walk-ins are also welcome, priced from £40 per person, and entry is subject to availability. *1903 in Terminal One allows children as guests of Etihad Airlines premium cabin passengers at their specified flight times.

Offer Salutions magazine readers can enjoy a 15% discount off their visit to either of the 1903 lounges. Book your future visit at manchesterairport.co.uk/at-the-airport/airport-lounges before January 31st using promo code SAL15.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Top 5 Winter Sun Getaways Escape the winter chill and indulge in a little rest and relaxation at one of these scenic retreats, handpicked by Inspiring Travel Company’s President, Jen Atkinson.

Malliouhana, an Auberge Resort, Anguilla

1.

Recently refreshed and rejuvenated, this Anguillan hotel occupies a prestigious position atop Turtle Cove Beach and promises a perfectly sunkissed holiday. A stay here is all about pampering, and dining is truly exceptional – I particularly recommend the blackened shrimp at Leon’s, and of course a rum punch (or two!).

Receive $100 resort credit and two complimentary nights when you stay for 7 nights between 1 November 2019 and 18 December 2020.

2.

H uvafen Fushi, Maldives When it comes to tranquil escapes, there are few locations more perfect than the Maldives. At Huvafen Fushi, each villa boasts its own private pool for ultimate relaxation. This resort has all the ingredients for the perfect Indian Ocean retreat – soft white sands, turquoise waters and truly exceptional service.

Save up to 35% on accommodation plus receive complimentary half board on a 7 night stay from 26 Dec 2019 and between 11 to 31 Jan and 1 Mar to 26 Dec 2020.

Kempinski Hotel Muscat, Oman

3.

With two kilometres of beach, a golf course, two swimming pools, a fantastic kids’ club, an array of dining options and a huge choice of watersports, there really is something for everyone at this luxe Omani hideaway. Of course, when you’re not enjoying your plush accommodation or impeccable service, head out to explore Muscat’s delights.

4.

Save up to 25% on accommodation on a 5 night stay from 5 January to 10 April and 19 April to 23 December 2020. Price based on 15 May 2020 departure.

5.

Colony Club By Elegant Hotels, Barbados This iconic AAA Four Diamond hotel is located in historic Holetown, and provides the quintessential Barbados experience; think lush palm trees, perfect beaches, sparkling lagoon pools and beautiful architecture. Don’t miss the Rum Vault while you’re here: this exclusive bar offers a choice of over 150 rums from all around the world.

Save up to 30% on accommodation on a 7 night stay from 5 January 2020 to 2 January 2021 when you book by 1 December 2019.

The Ritz-Carlton, Abama, Tenerife Whether you’re travelling with the whole brood in tow or are off on an intimate short-haul escape, everything at this Spanish retreat is of the highest standard. There’s a fantastic selection of family-friendly activities, the sumptuous adult-only Tagor’ Villas, and a mouth-watering selection of 10 restaurants – two of which are Michelin-starred!

Receive reduced accommodation rates on a 7 night stay from 1 Nov to 25 Dec 2019 and 18 Apr to 15 Oct 2020.

To discover more about Jen’s suggestions head to inspiringtravelcompany.co.uk or speak to a Travel Specialist on 01244 439 697 for a bespoke quote and the latest savings.

K West Hotel & Spa

The perfect weekend get-away K West Hotel & Spa is situated in one of London’s most up-and-coming districts, Shepherd’s Bush, and is on the doorstep of Westfield shopping centre, one of the largest retail destinations in Europe, boasting over 240 shops. Fashionable areas such as Notting Hill, Portobello Road and Kensington are also just a short walk away.

Formerly the BBC building Kensington House in the 60s, an endless list of rock ‘n’ roll royalty has stayed, played and misbehaved here – Bob Marley and the Wailers, Bowie, The Kinks, Roxy Music and Amy Winehouse, to name a few.

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

All 219 guestrooms are generous in space and have luxurious oversized beds and a calming colour scheme. LCD flatscreen TVs, sandblasted glass and original artwork give the rooms a distinctive K West stamp.

At the upper end of the scale, six spectacular K Suites offer the ultimate experience.

Dramatic walls of glass divide the bedrooms from the lounge areas, and the latter are fitted with Bose surround sound entertainment systems, a 42-inch plasma-screen TV and ultra-comfy sofas. Two-metre-square beds and Aromatherapy Associates toiletries are also staples in the suites and the bathrooms have been fitted with designer Philippe Starck fixtures and double-ended baths.

Come the evening, on the ground floor, near to the entrance, Studio Bar has been given a moody, music-infused atmosphere.

Industrial-style pendant lamps hang low

over raised tables, and textured, silver wallpaper by Dixon Turner gives the bar a modern edge. The polished, dark walnut wood flooring brings warmth to the area, which is opened up with the use of floor-toceiling mirrored pillars and relaxed seating arrangements. Upcycled furniture is used to create high-backed booth seating along the back wall, separated by silver and black voile curtains to create intimate, VIP-style corners. Chic black and white artwork depicting musicians hangs above each booth, with punchy contrasting accents of colour adding vibrancy. Even the drinks menu has been injected with some rock ‘n’ roll swagger; there are six signature bourbon whiskey cocktails available, plus a quirky K West special known as ‘Pickleback’ – a shot of Jack Daniels whiskey and a shot of pickle juice.

By day, Studio Bar is a light and airy space for creative media meetings over coffees and laptops. Plugs are conveniently fitted by seats, and a ‘Geek Hub’ laptop bar, complete with complimentary iMacs for guests to use, can be found tucked into a snug area around the corner from the bar.

On the mezzanine floor above the bar, Studio Kitchen is an informal eatery with an urban New York vibe. Edgy city landscape sketches stretch along the walls, mirrored by a quirky wave of banquet seating hugging the back of the room. Sprinklings of filament light bulbs suspended on individual wires add an abstract, arty feel to the room.

The Library has been redesigned to complement the front of house bar, providing a relaxed, informal and creative atmosphere that can be completely sealed off from the buzz of the bar with black and silver drapes suspended between a giant wooden frame. Andy Warhol-style statement artwork depicting Amy Winehouse is displayed at one end of the room, a tribute to yet another music legend who loved the hotel. Against the opposite wall, a large flatscreen TV sits in the centre of floor-toceiling bookshelves, which display an eyecatching collection of coffee table books.

The Library will be a multifunctional space, which will be used for screenings, events, pop-ups and various other antics as well as providing a chill space for guests.

K Spa was named Best Spa in London at the Good Spa Guide’s annual awards 2015 and is also the winner of a World Luxury Spa Award. This holistic retreat offers a range of exclusive treatments and is home to London’s first Snow Paradise, which mimics the Finnish experience of alternating between freezing and steamy environments. The spa also features a twinkling hydrotherapy pool, sanarium, sauna, dry flotation tank, aromatic herbal steam room and the fully equipped K Fit gymnasium.

Prices start from £109 per room per night and K Suites from £540 per night, including VAT. Spa packages are also available and include overnight accommodation and treatments.

To find out more, please contact K West Hotel & Spa, Richmond Way, London W14 0AX. For reservations, please call 020 8008 6600 or visit k-west.co.uk December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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London’s Calling to Canary Wharf A not so typical stay in London, Jill Nash heads East to explore the unexpected delights of Canary Wharf and Greenwich

Sleep Canary Wharf is one of London’s famous financial areas and doesn’t really need introducing. What many don’t realise is this used to be a vibrant port area; it’s scattered with historical buildings and contrasts with the modern business skyscrapers in an incredibly fascinating way. The area draws suited office workers from Monday to Friday and is often avoided by many real Londoners, but there is a lot to see and do in the area for tourists.

Quirky interiors, curved wooden structures and industrial concrete textures set the Lincoln Plaza Hotel apart from the dull, soulless business buildings nearby. The hotel (part of the Curio Collection by Hilton) is vibrantly decorated and complete

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with thoughtful light and spacious zones, it feels cozy and welcoming. It’s bustling during the week, yet quieter on weekends – the best time for families and friends to visit. The hotel is perfectly located for access to local attractions, whether it’s a stroll to Greenwich, an O2 arena experience or spotting the Cutty Sark – all are within a 15 to 20-minute walk away.

The Lincoln Plaza Hotel has 129 rooms and suites spread from the first floor to the eleventh, and being slightly out of central London, you get a lot for your money.

The smallest room isn’t poky at all, and the soft furnishings, rusty tones and bespoke, abstract art demonstrate there has been some thought and personality given to the design.

A generous complimentary gin cocktail – with spices and mixes to suit your taste buds – welcomes you into in your room.

Steamed, white linen dresses the beds, which are just the right size and balance.

There’s no desk, but a coffee table does the job if you need to work. A smart television, minibar, pod coffee machine and a kettle for making tea complete the amenities.

The modern bathrooms are tiled in white and light grey marble, have large rainfall showers and mirrors lit by LEDs. Families are welcome and the hotel has 11 interconnecting rooms for those needing the extra space, children’s menus, cots, bottle warmers and high chairs. For those looking to keep fit, there’s a 24-hour fitness centre, pool with jacuzzi, steam room and scheduled classes in the studio.

Drink & Dine If you wander downstairs in the hotel and through the Food Store, you’ll be greeted by eager staff at Mr Todiwala's Kitchen. Headed by chef and TV personality Cyrus Todiwala, the restaurant promises to serve a fusion of regional Indian street food in a highend setting. The eccentric interior includes striking centrepieces; hanging copper pots, pans and a wooden elephant.

The dishes are inspired by Mr. Todiwala’s home city, Bombay, and entwined with cuisine from his ancestral Parsee community. Interestingly, each dish has a little story of origin, which makes the menu a great read. The mouth-watering starter platter for two (£18.75) is a good place to begin, and there is not your average samosa in sight. The bites are insanely bursting of flavours and leave you with a thirst for more. The gourmet tasting menu (£70 pp) is a firm option for those who feel overwhelmed by choice. The dishes arrive at your table as they are cooked, and although it can turn out to be a long evening, its most definitely worth the wait. Top dish highlights are the tadka daal, (a spin on the tarka dhal) and the shank of lamb bhuna.

If you didn’t already start the evening with a cocktail in the Jack Speak bar, then head there after your meal (it’s upstairs from the restaurant) to enjoy the Old-World ambience of a naval officer’s mess and sink into a leather Chesterfield. This place is open until 2am, so the perfect place for an after-show drink if you’ve been to the O2. Try a Dirty Merchant (cognac shaken with port) or a Salty Spritz (Aperol and cognac).

The Food Store can’t be missed, with all that hanging cheese and meats.

This casual all-day dining spot serves seasonal menus that span grazing plates (charcuterie, cheese), wood-fired pizza

and catch of the day from nearby Billingsgate Market. Breakfast is served here too, which encompasses pastries from the deli, cereals and fruit, a selection of teas and coffee, and a full à la carte selection, or the chef is happy to make up a plate of eggs and toast.

Experience & Explore The Lincoln Plaza hotel is bang in the middle of the commercial hub and a short stroll away from the heart of Canary Wharf. The O2 is 15 minutes door to door, so if you’re catching a show or live performance, then this is the perfect place to stay. For those looking for shopping experiences, the ICON Outlet at The O2 is a mega shopping complex with over 60 brands with up to 70% off, and the ExCeL London is only 20 minutes away for some of the world largest exhibitions and events.

The Cutty Sark is an award-winning attraction located in nearby Greenwich, the celebrated historic sailing ship (known as a tea clipper) and the fastest of its time, makes an excellent family day out. You can climb aboard, explore the ship and meet the crew. You can also enjoy an afternoon tea in the unique surroundings beneath the Cutty Sark’s copper-plated hull (adult prices from £13.50 | children, £6.75). Team this with a trip to the National Maritime Museum, which has loads of fun activities for kids and four new galleries to while away a few hours, and you won’t be disappointed. Entry to the museum is free.

Greenwich Market (dating back to 1737) is London’s only historic market set within a World Heritage Site, it’s open 7 days a week and has a large indoor market with up to 120 stalls selling antiques, arts and trinkets. At Christmas, this place lights up beautifully and it’s lovely to wander around with a cup of cocoa in your hand.

Book Lincoln Plaza London, Curio Collection by Hilton. Double rooms from £129 in low season and from £179 in high. Breakfast from £4.99. Free Wi-Fi. Visit curiocollection3.hilton.com/en for more information or telephone 020 7987 1157.

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A little bit of heaven on earth!

One of the nicest places I’ve ever stayed. It’s really that simple. Capo d’Orso, part of the Delphina Hotels & Resorts collection, is a magical spot on a surprising island, which, strangely, I’ve sailed around but never really experienced on land

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My partner and I had been promising ourselves a week off for about six months but never got around to it, so when an opportunity came along to visit the second largest Italian island, we both trashed our diary commitments and jumped on a plane. It turned out to be a great decision.

By Jay Fagan

Situated in North East Sardinia, Capo d’Orso is a romantic and exclusive 86-bedroom, five-star retreat, complete with a golf course, private marina and a Thalassotherapy Spa, which features a collection of outdoor Jacuzzi-style sea-water pools with incredibly powerful jets to invigorate every part of your body.

Afterwards, you can relax in one of the many hidden hammocks under the wild olive groves and juniper trees, admiring the aquamarine sea views towards the La Maddalena Archipelago. And if relaxing is your thing, there is almost no point in leaving the fragrant, 100,000 m2 Mediterranean parkland grounds or picture-perfect, white, sandy beach – but you’d be missing out.

For our first excursion, we travelled inland to the Siddura Winery for a tour and tasting with spectacular views over the majestic Sardinian hilltops. If you can, go while the sun is setting for a truly enchanting experience.

On another turn exploring the island, we climbed up a vertiginous path to a

medieval temple perched high above the surrounding plains on a rocky outcrop – about a one-hour trek. We found an amazing old town long deserted but inhabited hundreds of years BC and with the original well still holding water.

Another blue-sky day saw us hire one of the hotel’s inflatable RIBS (a three-metre dinghy with a powerful outboard motor) and shot off towards La Maddelena. On smooth seas, we raced along at what must have been 30 knots, both giggling with excitement. We landed at the charming town and found historic churches (Nelson was a benefactor to one of them), old taverns serving the local beer and wines, and winding streets reputedly so designed to confuse invaders.

Then off to uninhabited islands, where it is easy to find an inlet all to yourself, throw down the anchor and swim in the shockingly clear, turquoise waters. We took a picnic provided by the hotel and a bottle of wine to gently ease the afternoon away.

Back at the hotel, every day starts overlooking the tranquil sea with an al fresco breakfast, featuring everything from fresh fruit juices and homemade bread with ham and local cheeses to a full English-style fry-up, and a glass of prosecco if you fancy starting early. With the lilting sounds of the resident harpist

in the background, it’s a great way to welcome a new day.

There are four restaurants at Capo d’Orso and we sampled them all, including the glorious Il Flottante – my Italian doesn’t exist but so-named, I guess, because it appears to float over the sea. Here, you eat seasonal specialities, but elsewhere, you can slum it with a piping hot pizza just out of the wood-fired oven or enjoy the freshest fish and seafood landed each morning.

Other five-star services available at Capo d’Orso include: the exclusive ‘L’Incantu’ Thalassotherapy Wellness Centre & SPA; a nine-hole pitch & putt golf course with a practice area; a charming swimming pool on the rocks with a breath-taking view; and five wooden solariums set right over the water in front of the island of Caprera.

Our room was luxurious with high-quality products and toiletries aplenty. We had a two-level floor plan leading out to the private terrace, complete with visiting tortoise, overlooking, yes, you guessed it, the shining sea.

Throw in welcoming, smiling and helpful staff and there you are. An amazing escape from everyday reality just a two-hour flight away!

For more information or to book, visit delphinahotels.co.uk

Capo d’Orso will open on the 23rd May 2020 until 3rd Oct 2020, rates start from £164 per person per night in a double room on a half-board basis.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Sublime skiing at one of the most charming resorts in the Alps We catch up with entrepreneurial Richard Kwiecien, Managing Director at Hyatt Centric La Rosière, to find out more about the breathtakingly beautiful resort...

Perfectly placed between France and Italy, nestled in the secret Tarentaise Valley, you can find the exclusive ski resort of La Rosière.

Here, you can gain access to over 160km of scenic slopes, beginner slopes and 15 black runs, including an 11km piste.

There are 69 luxurious rooms, including 22 suites, 12 of which have been specifically designed for families. All rooms showcase impressive and unrestricted mountain views. And, with a top-notch concierge service, plus a ski boutique to accommodate all equipment hire needs, it’s hardly surprising the resort prides itself on paying particular attention to the wellbeing of their guests for an exceptionally carefree stay.

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

By Emily Fitzgibbons

Lucky Richard now gets to call this blissful base home and spends most of his time at the sunny ski resort. He manages to come back to the UK every two weeks for a couple of days.

“I miss my family, especially my kids – I’m not sure my wife misses me too much though,” laughs Richard.

But the climate sure does make up for it. “Our resort is truly one that has the most sunshine, as we’re south facing – we actually have a record of enjoying the same number of sunshine hours as the Côte d'Azur,” Richard tells us. “We also have brilliant snow from November right through to the end of April, and there is a huge choice of runs for skiers and snowboarders of all standards.”

Richard worked for Manchester’s Eclectic Hotel Group for over 15 years and thanks ex-mentor Eamonn O’Loughlin for preparing him for success at La Rosière and in other aspects of life:

“Without Eamonn’s coaching, I wouldn’t have gained the skills I needed to set up my own company RK Hotels & Events Management. I wouldn’t have been able to do all this without his experience and knowledge.”

Richard tells us that La Rosière is also one of the few resorts in France to offer Heliski:

“Experienced skiers can carve virgin snow off-piste in secluded spots only accessible by helicopter, including the foot of majestic Mont Blanc.”

Other adrenalin adventures available include dog sledding, kite skiing, ski touring, freeriding and paragliding.

After a day out on the pistes, you can unwind in the resort’s stunning Summit Spa, which is home to a large heated pool, multiple heated hot tubs (one is outdoor with a panoramic alpine backdrop, making for the perfect Instagram post), sauna and steam room.

Sensational spa therapists are on hand to provide a whole host of treatments designed to relax and recharge your batteries.

In the evenings, guest can enjoy some time in the stylish bars and eateries the retreat has to offer. La Tavola is a delicious refined Italian, the charming H40 Brasserie boasts its own bar, and the Surus Lounge has a cosy atmosphere with vast views of the valley.

“Hyatt Centric La Rosière is absolutely a hidden gem, which needs to be visited by all who have a passion for travel, luxury and snow sports,” Richard concludes.

Prices start from 250 euros per room per night. Visit Hyatt Centric La Rosière and start exploring www.hyattcentriclarosiere.fr SPECIAL OFFER 180 euros Bed & Breakfast per room per night. Please Quote: RK HYATT CENTRIC 2019 subject to availability

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HELLO CHRISTMAS!

Shop our ultimate edit for perfect presents…

Festive Living Room Osby Star Lights4fun

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Creed Aventus Cologne 100ml £215, Harvey Nichols

iwooddesign.com Spider Ebony Macassar Watch Box Product 1752975, £3,200. You can personalise this box.

Alexander McQueen Silver Leather Card Holder £120, Harvey Nichols

MAN ABOUT TOWN For the man who has everything and for those who don’t, we’ve got it covered this festive season Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay E8 2.0 In-Ear Headphones £300, Selfridges

K by Dolce & Gabbana Eau de Toilette for Men Each handcrafted cap is uniquely overlaid with particles of 24-carat gold. £55 / 100ml, £75 Boots

EXCLUSIVE Morus LXIV Gin £4000, Harvey Nichols Gucci Pursuit Black Logo Sliders £215, Harvey Nichols

Teac N-400BT Turntable with Bluetooth £399, Selfridges

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

Paul Smith Navy Leather-Trimmed Backpack £395, Harvey Nichols

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SPOIL HER Lust-worthy presents to keep your loved one full of Christmas cheer way into the New Year

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New-in 1. GHD Platinum Styler & Air Hairdryer Deluxe Gift Set £298, Harvey Nichols. | Must be pre-ordered 2. Champagne Breakfast £85, Harvey Nichols.

3. Rotary Women's Oxford Diamond Date Bracelet Strap Watch. Silver/Rose Gold £229, John Lewis at intu Trafford Centre or johnlewis.com.

4. Chloe Rosie Gold-Tone Cat Eye Sunglasses £295 Harvey Nichols. | 5. Diptyque Advent Calendar 2019 £320, Selfridges.

6. Gucci GG Black Leather Belt £320, Harvey Nichols. | 7. Chloe Faye Leather & Suede Clutch £525, Selfridges.

8. Burberry Giant Check Cashmere Scarf £350, Selfridges. | 9. Jimmy Choo Minori 85 Leather Heeled Ankle Boots £895, Selfridges.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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GIFTS WE LOVE

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1. Marvin’s Magic Deluxe Box of Tricks, £150. Selfridges. 2. Liquorice Fizzers Jar, 1600g, £24.95. Harvey Nichols.

3. Lucky Voice Karaoke Set, £70. Selfridges. 4. Polaroid 600 Camera in Cool Cam Red, £160 amara.com 5. Grey Yoga Mat, £34.99. gettingpersonal.co.uk 6. The YuYu Bottle is the original long hot water bottle, £33 YuYuBottle.com 7. Kitchen Craft 3 Piece Cocktail Set, £25. Harvey Nichols. 8. Lego Architecture 20134 London Set, £45. Selfridges.

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

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STOCKING FILLERS

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1. Dotty About Paper A collection of stationery products. Prices start from £6. The Pinking Out Loud Desk Planner, £7.50. Available from dottyaboutpaper.co.uk 2. Selfie Light, £9.50. M&S. 3. Moet & Chandon Cracker, £20.99. Selfridges. 4. Charades Tube, £7. Oliver Bonas. 5. Jellycat Silver Shimmer Santa, £23.

Selfridges. 6. National Trust ladybird tower, £15. shop.nationaltrust.org.uk 7. Christmas Planner, Paperchase. 8. Poo-Pourri The Original Before-You-Go Toilet Spray. Limited edition Christmas scent ‘Secret Santa’ £8, poopourri.co.uk 9. Baileys’ Brownie Maker, £15. Debenhams. 10. Guylian’s Temptations, Six Mixed Flavours - The Evening Indulgence, £4-£5. Available at guylian.com and all major supermarkets.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Gifts for LITTLE ONES

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By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

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1. Little Bird Told Me Llama Rocker, £99.95. cuckooland.com 2. Llama Christmas Stocking, £19.99 very.co.uk 3. Mimi & Luba Star Headband, £15. Selfridges. 4. Baby Christmas Booties, £8. M&S. 5. Moccis Hand-Sewn Moccasin Slippers, from £25, moccis.co.uk 6. Kids Small Blue Desk, £260. bobbyrabbit.co.uk 7. My 1st Years Personalised Penguin Sack with Fur Cuff, £30. my1styears.com 8. Gal’s That Rock Crumb Catcher Baby Bib, £15. By Nichola Cowdery, available at artwow.com 60

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

Moleskin Ruled Notebook, £18. Selfridges.

Littlesmith Silver-plated Circle Bead Necklace, £15. Selfridges.

Crazy Cat Lady Personalised Tote Bag. Personalise with a date in upto 15 characters. £14.99 gettingpersonal.co.uk Personalised Christmas tree bauble with "I love you" to design and space for a special message on the back. £10.99. giftsonline4u.com

Personalise ME!

Carluccio’s Fichi Ricoperti Stuffed Chocolate Coated Figs, £10.95 Panettone Tradizionale Made with dried fruit, candied peel and iced with a hazelnut glaze. 1kg, £18.95. Carluccios.com

By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

Wooden Name Sign, £22.99. gettingpersonal.co.uk

Set of Stag Head Cheese Knives £34.95. annabeljames.co.uk

Nutella – with free personalisation, £5. Debenhams.

Food & Drink Favourites

Vegan Christmas Gift Box, £90. Selfridges.

Maison Sassy Distinguished ciders made from 100% pure apple and pear juice. Handmade in Normandy, and based on a historic family recipe. The 2019 Gift Box is £28 and exclusive to Selfridges, online and in store. www.selfridges.com

GIFT EXPERIENCE Afternoon Tea For Two, £44. Manchester Harvey Nichols.

Careless Classic Collection Handmade Chocolate Bars lovingly made locally, each with a unique filling with flavour profiles that beautifully pair with the main chocolate shell, £12.50. thecarelesscollection.co.uk

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By Beverley Uddin-Khandakar

Jane Scrivner Intense Oil Repair Restore Facial Oil A potent, fortifying treatment oil for fine lines and wrinkles, mature skin, pigmentation, scars, sun damage and dry skin. 30ml, £25.

Jane Scrivner Skin Elixir Balance Nourish Facial Oil Pro Collagen, Pro Elastin, suitable for all skin types.

A combination of balancing, elastin and collagen promoting Organic Jojoba Oil and 9 'skin loving' essential oils. 30ml, £29.

Jane Scrivner Un Condition Oil Calm Soothe Facial Oil Whatever your skin condition - acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and acne rosacea – this oil will calm and soothe it. 30ml, £24.

La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift The first eye-opening serum for the whole eye area, including brows.The complete eye area appears lifted and firmed. The gaze is revived, raised and redefined. £360, Harrods.

Cake The Thick Trick Volumising Styling Foam Transforms limp and life-less into lush and thick, without harsh chemicals, £8.99. Available from Boots.

Kyushi Orange & Neroli Face Oil This energising daily facial oil works to maintain, support and restore beautiful glowing skin whilst putting a spring in your morning step, 30ml £39. kyushi.co.uk

Dermalogica AGE Smart® Phyto-Nature Firming Serum The dual-phase serum combines highly-active botanicals with biomimetic technology to reawaken and safeguard the nature of younger looking skin, £130 Dermalogica.com

Leighton Denny Expert Nails A sophisticated take on autumnal shades, £12. Available from M&S and leightondennyexpertnails.com 62

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

Sisley’s Limited-Edition Ecological Compound A revitalising and moisturising skincare product suitable for all skin types and ages. Its lightweight texture leaves skin supple and more toned, £168. Available at Harvey Nichols and sisley.com.

Have a BEAUTY-FUL Christmas Decadence is key, thought is paramount and our Christmas beauty gift guide, essential JOHN FRIEDA This heat protection spray will save your hair this party season.

Detox & Repair Care & Protect Spray, £5.99.

Available from Boots & Superdrug.

MONAT Rejuveniqe Light A luxurious, lightweight oil compatible with hair and skin £85. monatglobal.com/uk

Defrizz Hair Dryer £69.99.

Available at untameduk.com

Narciso Rodriguez For Her Pure Musc Eau de Parfum Fragrance Gift Set Set contains: For Her Pure Musc Eau de Parfum, 100ml For Her Body Lotion, 75ml For Her Pure Musc Eau de Parfum, Purse Spray, 10ml £89, Available at John Lewis.

Clean ingredients. Incredible results. Experience the ORMEDIC® Collection from Image Skincare.

The collection includes: Balancing facial cleanser £30 | Balancing gel polisher £38 | Balancing antioxidant serum £58 | Balancing bio-peptide crème £74 | Balancing gel masque £38 Balancing eye lift gel £52 | Lip enhancing complex £21 imageskincare.co.uk

NEOM The Great Day Glow System is full of – turmeric root extract, wheat germ and prickly pear seed oils and mandarin, rose and peppermint essential oils to minimise the appearance of pores and give your skin a natural glow. Face Wash £25, Face Serum £45, Face Oil £42, and Moisturiser £40. neomorganics.com Hair Rituel by Sisley Paris Pre-shampoo purifying mask, £71. Available at sisley.com

NEOM The Ultimate Calm System is packed with – pomegranate seed, avocado, baobab oils and lavender, geranium and rose essential oils to leave your skin super-soft, calm and protected. neomorganics.com Face Wash £25, Face Serum £45, Face Oil £42, and Moisturiser £40. neomorganics.com

Green People Green People’s ‘Scent Free’ range of gentle, soothing and healing products offer the perfect ‘detox’ solution, suitable for even the most sensitive of skins.

Sensitive Scent Free Shower/Bath Gel, £12.50.

Sensitive Scent Free Shampoo, £12.50.

Sensitive Scent Free Conditioner, £12.50.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Make your HOME MAGICAL

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1. Gisella Graham Snowy Hellebore & Fir Wreath, £50. amara.com 2. Snowflake Christmas Stocking, £15. John Lewis & Partners.

3. Set of 4 Mikasa Cheers Champagne Flutes, £32. Next. 4. Sequin Stag Cushion, £12.99. very.co.uk 5. Lit Berry Twigs, £20. Next. 6. Fabulous handmade Christmas Crackers from London Transport Museum shop, £35. ltmuseumshop.co.uk 7. Jellycat Leffy Elf, £22. Selfridges 8. Gisella Graham Frosted Red Berry and Fruit Fir Garland, £50. amara.com 9. Arthouse Star Studded Hot Pink Stag, £100. arthouse.com 10. Grey Fur Reindeer Doorstop Christmas Decoration, £16.50. poshbananasdirect.co.uk 64

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year Christmas Interior lights4fun.co.uk December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Hot Chocolate Advent Calendar £45 - Whittard of Chelsea

12 Drams of Christmas £79 - £89 - The Whisky Shop

Kanken Classic (16L) £80 - Fjallraven

reversible mat £65 - lululemon

9ct Gold Black and White Diamond Bee Necklace £345 - Mays Jewellers

Affirmators 50 Affirmation Cards £8.95 - Scribbler

The Winter Puddings Luxe £35.95 – Hotel Chocolat

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

Christmas Bauble £2.24 each - Sostrene Grene Bizarre Brandy Bath & Showel Gel £14 - Molton Brown The Klauses clutch £65.00 - Irregular Choice

This Christmas treat them to something special from The Royal Exchange Manchester.

Located within one of the city’s most iconic buildings you’ll find over 30 luxury boutiques and high street favourites you simply won’t find anywhere else.

Emille Sparkle Short Dress £165 - French Connection Chlobo Star Bracelet £80 - Jenny Jones Jewellery

Cambridge Satchel Company Modern Briefcase in Oxblood £225 - Lanigan & Hulme

Don’t forget your Christmas cards…

Available at Scribbler

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Body Contouring at

Renovatio Clinic Renovatio rejuvenation clinic combines state of the art technology with leading medical and aesthetic expertise.

Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgeon Mr Sofiane Rimouche can help give you a non-biased approach to your specific needs and concerns.

Non-invasive liposuction Removing stubborn fat can prove tricky and most definitely frustrating. Chin and body contouring are procedures where fat is targeted to permanently destroy.

NO DOWNTIME. 30-MINUTE TREATMENT. HIGH SATISFACTION RATE. Manual lymphatic drainage Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a type of massage that works by encouraging lymph fluid contained within the body to drain away from areas affected by lymphedema, a chronic swelling of the body’s tissues. Manual lymphatic drainage improves the body’s natural lymph fluid drainage in order to minimise and control swelling.

Skin tightening The innovative, non-invasive therapy helps to target cellulite and tighten skin on arms, legs, buttocks and abdominals. Tightening the skin tissues to improve skin tone and give younger looking skin. Also known as the non-invasive facelift, ThermiSmooth, can be used around the eyes, neck, forehead and mouth.

Combination treatments can be used to achieve your best results.

FREE CONSULTATIONS

Renovatio, Cherry Tree Farm, Cherry Tree Lane, Rostherne WA14 3RZ Call 0161 850 6818 or book your free consultation at renovatioclinic.co.uk

0161 928 6366

@fixxsalonsaltrincham | fixxsalons.co.uk

At the heart of the vibrant and suburban town that is Altrincham, is FIXX Salons; A cosmopolitan and urban parlour that is dedicated to providing a cutting edge quality of service with creativity and flare

S A L O N S

If you haven’t already visited, here’s a look at what FIXX Salons has to offer…

HAIRDRESSING A unisex salon with many different services on offer – from the perfect bespoke colour service and extensions to smoothing treatments

Want a new look for the new year?

Or going to a Christmas ball and need an updo?

FIXX has a creative and experienced team who will advise, guide and recommend the best hairstyle for you Every appointment includes a thorough consultation and FIXX prides itself on giving a relaxing, no-rush service

SKIN DEEP MEDISPA

* SD Bespoke facial (all skin types) * Dermaplaning* Microdermabrasion * Cosmelan therapy * Microneedling * Skin tightening

BEAUTY

Get your #beautyFIXX

Treatments include: Nails, Head Massage, Threading, Hot Stone Massage, intimate Waxing, Pedicures and much more…

AESTHETICS

Geminifaces offer a range of non-surgical cosmetic treatments, such as anti-ageing treatments, dermal fillers, facial rejuvenation and semi-permanent makeup

Want to slow down your ageing?

Yes, really, there is now scientific and clinical evidence to prove that it is possible to slow down ageing.

Obviously, it would be frustrating to find out in 20 years’ time that there was knowledge available now that may have helped you avoid an illness.

“This advice has changed my life.” Mr G

There is health information available now, which would allow you to be healthier in later life.

Visit our website if you would like to find out more. manchesterlongevity. com Visit manchesterlongevity.com | Email: gail@uklongevity.com | Contact: 07730 435384 The Beeches (Alexandra Hospital Site) | Mill Lane | Cheadle | Cheshire | SK8 2PX

ALDERMAN SOLICITORS

Suffered from a Cosmetic or Dental Disaster?

Alderman Solicitors are one of the leading specialist cosmetic and dental solicitors in the UK. We offer professional legal advice on all cosmetic and dental matters. We have a 100% success rate in the clinical negligence matters we have handled and aim to secure the best outcome and maximum level of compensation for our clients.

We deal with cases in a No Win, No Fee basis and offer a free legal consultation during which we can assess your case in confidence.

Alderman Solicitors Contact us for a free consultation or visit us online and read our client testimonials.

0800 043 4453 | aldermanpartners.co.uk The experts in cosmetic and dental negligence... giving you peace of mind.

Alderman Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

The OrthTeam Centre: access the right team, at the right me Mr Chris Peach, OrthTeam Consultant who specialises in Shoulder and Elbow condi.ons, discusses the benefits of the new state­of­the­art facility, what the team of leading consultants offer and how you can access them.

Q. Why should I choose the OrthTeam Centre?

Our new mulD­million pound paDent­centred facility, conveniently located in Didbsury, Manchester, provides world­class experDse combined with state­of­the­art diagnosDcs. This means that you as a paDent can quickly and easily access many of the region's leading consultants and benefit from the very best scanning technology, providing fast, high quality imaging, all in one convenient locaDon. Whatever your ache or pain or symptoms, we can direct you to a specialist Consultant to assess and advise prompt treatment to get you on the road to recovery.

At the OrthTeam Centre we offer all elements of outpaDent care including state­of­the­art imaging as well as pain relieving treatments. The brand new facility has been designed to ensure that your experience with us is as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Q. Who is the OrthTeam?

OrthTeam, which I'm proud to be part of, is a group of highly­ skilled consultants who specialise in musculoskeletal (MSK) condiDons. Since formaDon in 2007, OrthTeam has grown and developed to establish itself as one of the leading providers of MSK treatment and surgery in the United Kingdom. The advantage of being part of a group of experts, is that we work together to provide an integrated approach which ensures outstanding, personalised care for each and every paDent.

Q. What condi.ons do you treat?

Each of our consultants has trained to develop the highest level of specialisaDon in their chosen area which includes all aspects of orthopaedics, neurosurgery, neurology, peripheral nerve, pain management and sport and exercise medicine.

We treat every musculoskeletal (MSK) condiDon and look a er a wide range of paDents; including athletes with sporDng injuries, arthriDs sufferers to complex spinal condiDons.

To find out more or make an appointment, please call 0161 447 6888 www.orthteamcentre.co.uk /OrthTeamCentre @OrthT

Q. What are the state­of­the­art diagnos.cs available?

At the OrthTeam Centre, paDents have access to a cuEng­ edge 3 Tesla (3T) MRI scanner which, being equipped with the most up­to­date technology, offers a shorter examinaDon Dme and clearer, and more detailed images. This allows us to reduce the amount of Dme the paDent is in the scanner without compromising image quality.

The high resoluDon of 3T imaging is really important to a consultant and can make a difference in establishing the diagnosis, as well as determining the course of management for each paDent. The clarity of the images obtained can idenDfy subtle abnormaliDes not previously seen on standard scanners used at most healthcare faciliDes. PaDents also benefit from a dedicated digital X­ray facility, Ultrasound room and Fluoroscopy room for image­guided injecDons, all within the OrthTeam Centre.

Q. What happens if I need an opera.on?

We offer all elements of outpaDent care at the OrthTeam Centre including injecDon treatments. However if you do require surgery, we’re conveniently located next to Spire Manchester Hospital which ensures safe and easy access to inpaDent, day case and other subspecialist care in a Care Quality Commission assessed ‘Outstanding’ environment.

Will I be covered by my health insurance for treatment at OrthTeam Centre?

We are recognised by all private medical insurers and do not require a wri,en referral le,er from your GP to see a consultant at the OrthTeam Centre. We advise that you check with your insurer regarding authorising your appointment.

Please phone 0161 447 6888 to book an appointment.

OrthTeamCentre

Orthopaedics Spine Neuro Sports Med •

•

Working with

•

Spire Manchester Hospital

The OrthTeam Centre, Ohm Building (Unit 1), Didsbury Technology Park, 168 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester, M20 2AF

Peace of mind for you and your family at all times

The Private GP & Night Doctor Service 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.

We believe our registered patients want a professional service with peace of mind at all times – from immediate telephone advice to organising an admission into hospital, anytime, day or night – all provided by a small group of doctors whom they know.

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.

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.

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

4 24 hrs a day

4 7 days a week

4 Personal and confidential

4 Well-being and full health Dr Bruce Jobling

checks with general blood test

4 Night and weekend home visits

4 Routine non-urgent appointments or same-day and evening consultations as you need

4 Covering Hale, Wilmslow,

Didsbury and their surrounding areas

Registration fee from £18 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, 96 Church Road, Gatley, Cheshire SK8 4NQ | The Practice, Hale, Cheshire WA15

“The CNM course is a very worthwhile experience” CNM course and it immediately sang out to me. It literally felt like the course had been designed just for me.

I was still working full-time in private banking credit risk in Canary Wharf when I started at CNM, however, I knew in my heart there was so much more I had to offer in this lifetime. I resigned from banking in 2013, having been supported by an amazing global head to go part-time for a year prior – highly unusual in my type of role. When you believe you are supported, this becomes the reality.

Ciara Roberts, CNM Naturopathic Nutrition Graduate and author

Photography: Aisling Roberts / Josh Goodwin

I found my CNM studies comprehensive, enjoyable and affirming and I loved my three years of training in Naturopathic Nutrition. CNM is a combination of hopeful endeavour and academic excellence, which makes it a very worthwhile experience.

Having also qualified as a yoga teacher, I set up my own business, Wholly Aligned, in 2012. Wholly Aligned draws upon the wisdom of nutrition and yoga to help people reconnect with mind, body and soul and ultimately awaken their inner physician.

The CNM course enriched my knowledge and, importantly, helped me understand more deeply the intricate nature of therapeutic rapport and how key it is to build trust and confidence with your clients.

I loved the lecturers at CNM, whose calibre was excellent, and meeting likeminded people, some of whom became very good friends. Both the course content and feeling fully equipped to practise after graduation were helpful antidotes to my extremely busy and stressful banking career. I came to really enjoy studying at the weekends.

My first book, Wholly Aligned, Wholly Alive, was published in June 2019, detailing my journey and including the tools of nutrition and yoga and how they have helped me. I went into renal failure aged 14. I had hospital dialysis treatments until I had a kidney transplant, aged just 21.

I lost transplant kidney function three years ago and whilst I wait for another transplant, I currently support my health with both conventional and natural medicine treatments.

Having been raised by a mother who was very interested in natural health, I considered a masters in nutrition. It was through that process I happened upon the

Do something life-changing. Attend a FREE open event to find out more about training with CNM Manchester for a career as a Nutritional Therapist OR visit naturopathy-uk.com / call 01342 410 505 CNM has a 22-year track record training successful practitioners in natural therapies, both in the classroom and online. Colleges across the UK and Ireland. 80% of our graduates are practising.

NEW: Health Coach Diploma | www.thehealthcoach.com

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Helping the region get back on its feet

By Lisa Symonds

We meet the family-run physiotherapy business that’s busy providing people from all walks of life with the level of care, attention and expertise typically afforded by elite sportspeople

Husband and wife Jeff and Suzy Ross head up a highly experienced and empathetic team, which works across clinics in Manchester city centre, Wilmslow, Altrincham and Wigan. Their ‘one-stop’ approach to treatment takes patients on a journey from pain, immobility and diminished mental wellbeing, to the restoration of their former active and pain-free selves.

Elite beginnings Harris & Ross first opened its doors on St John Street in 2004.

Prior to this, New Zealand-born Jeff and Cheshire-born Suzy had carved careers treating elite sportspeople. They met whilst working at Manchester City Academy in 2001.

“Opening the clinic was born out of a desire to provide the general public and anyone outside of elite sport the same level of care and attention that we had given to Premiership footballers and Rugby Union players,” says Jeff.

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

Top-to-toe treatments Harris & Ross deals with ailments from “top to toe, and everything in between” and have no ‘typical’ patient, as Jeff explains: “Whether you’re six or 86 – we can help. I think clinics like ours can be a bit off-putting for some people, they think we’re only for sportspeople or that you have to be sporty to come and see us, but that’s not the case at all.”

How do they do it?

Harris & Ross offers a raft of other services to complement its physiotherapy services, including podiatry, massage, hydrotherapy, acupuncture and performance coaching. The Wilmslow clinic even boasts a gymnasium.

“In a sporting environment, you draw upon other people’s expertise to help you fix people,” says Jeff, “and that’s what we do here. Our ethos is to try our absolute best to fix people and in addition to the

Harris & Ross’ 26-strong team, we have a strong referral network of consultants and hospitals, so we can get our patients a scan, x-ray, further investigations and diagnosis very quickly. Every patient has a team built around them.”

shows how people walk or run – to uncover underlying issues. He will then recommend a change in footwear and/or running technique and can create bespoke orthotics to help with pain and performance.”

This comprehensive, seamless approach – in which all therapists regularly come together to discuss patient development – not only hastens rehabilitation but makes patients feel confident and well cared for.

Harris & Ross is also one of the few clinics in the North West to offer hydrotherapy.

The client journey Patients book an initial one-hour consultation during which a specialist will listen to ‘their story’. A physical exam and assessment will be completed, looking at the body holistically and not just one specific area of pain.

“We then put together a rehabilitation plan,” says Suzy, “We pride ourselves on being cost-effective. We have different price tiers and, for example, if we know a less costly soft tissue massage will do the job just as well as physiotherapy, we’ll recommend that.”

Unique to the North West The multidisciplinary approach at Harris & Ross often includes podiatry and hydrotherapy as part of a patient’s rehab plan. “We have a full-time podiatrist, Ollie Taylor,” says Jeff. “Ollie’s integral to helping us fix people. He looks at everything from the ground up – your feet can impact on everything from your ankles to your back.

Ollie uses Video Gait Analysis – which

“It’s a fantastic treatment for many people,” explains Suzy, “but particularly those who struggle with mobility on land. For someone who has a broken their foot and is on crutches, it’s a great way to start building mobility and strength – minus the law of gravity. This treatment is also excellent post-operatively, for example, after knee and hip replacements.”

Reducing pain, restoring wellbeing The couple are all too aware of the impact extreme discomfort and lack of mobility can have on mental wellbeing.

“I saw a lady recently,” recalls Jeff, “she’d fractured her hip and the resulting operation had gone really badly. She then had a hip replacement. She went onto spend nine entire months in terrible pain. She sat in front of me in tears, barely able to walk and using crutches. Yesterday, she sat before me shedding tears of happiness because now she’s walking unaided and feels a million times better.”

With wellbeing an evident passion, it’s no surprise that Harris & Ross also works with companies such as Bentley Motors headquarters in Crewe to help keep staff fit

and healthy. There are also pop-up clinics across businesses in Manchester.

A rewarding career Harris & Ross still looks after sportspeople (in fact, it currently cares for all Red Bull-sponsored athletes in the UK), but regardless of who or what they’re treating, it’s obvious that Jeff and Suzy adore every moment of their work.

“It’s great helping world champions get back in the game,” smiles Jeff, “but they often have a wider support network. I get an equal sense of reward helping those without assistance – a stay-at-home mum with a bad back, struggling to look after her three kids, or a self-employed builder whose bad shoulder is impacting on his livelihood.”

Suzy adds: “I love our ability to change people’s lives for the better and help them get back to doing what they love or never thought they could. I love being able to take the pain away and meeting a variety of people with a variety of challenges and conditions.”

And it seems that their daughters, Maya (9) and Paige (6), who sometimes join them at work, are garnering a real appreciation of what their parents do… or at least the high-profile people they treat!

“A few months ago, we looked after England netball stars Jade Clarke and Jodie Gibson during the Netball World Cup,” laughs Jeff, “and the girls loved meeting them!”

“I am happy to say, that back pain has become a thing of the past and I can get on with all the activities I enjoy doing. Over the years, I have seen a number of physios and can only say that Harris & Ross stand out as being excellent. I would recommend them to anyone.”

Ian Sharman

Call 0161 832 9000 or email info@harrisandross.co.uk | harrisandross.co.uk December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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If you have a knee problem,

consult one of the UK’s leading knee specialists Knee problem? Do you have knee pain?

Have you injured your knee?

For quick effective treatment contact the kneedoc... it’s all you need to know Treatments available: • Arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery

• Ligament reconstruction (anterior cruciate ligament, ACL)

• Less invasive customised Knee Replacement Surgery and also Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement Surgery designed specifically to your knee from specialised scans, both potentially allowing shorter hospital stay & rehab with quicker return to activity.

• State of the art non-surgical arthritis treatments including hyaluronic acid injections and groundbreaking n-STRIDE injections.

Professor Jari now offers the latest technology “Robotic Assisted” Knee Replacement Surgery for improved outcomes using the MAKO Robot having previously performed the first case in the North West of England

The Knee Doc... it’s all you need to know Contact details: For further information or to book a consultation: Telephone: 0161 445 4988 | Email: claire@thekneedoc.co.uk | www.thekneedoc.co.uk @therealkneedoc

Consultations available at: BMI Alexandra Hospital Cheadle | Ramsay Oaklands Hospital Salford | Spire Hale Clinic Spire Hospital Manchester, Didsbury | The Manchester Institute of Health and Performance The Wilmslow Hospital, 52 Alderley Road Professor Sanjiv Jari, Consultant Knee, Lower Limb & Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeon

Regenerative Therapy Centre Regenerative medicine is the branch of medicine that develops methods to regrow, repair or replace damaged or diseased cells, organs or tissues alleviating joint aches, pains and osteoarthritic symptoms. Platelets contain substantial amounts of cytokines and growth factors (GFs) that stimulate cell growth, vascularization, proliferation, tissue regeneration and synthesis of collagen (building block of cartilage). The delivery of high concentrations of cytokines and GFs by PRP to the damaged tissues is considered to have a beneficial effect on the regeneration of tendons and cartilages.

What types of arthritis and sporting injuries can PRP help?

Cell therapies and regenerative medicine, represent a structural shift in healthcare by focusing on the underlying causes of disease by repairing, replacing, or regenerating damaged cells in the body.

Interventional pain management begins with the identification of the root cause of pain and then directly delivering one or more therapeutic injections to the problematic area. It is is often used when conservative medical management has failed to provide relief and as an alternative mode of treatment to surgery. The right approach depends on symptoms and correct diagnosis.

Osteoarthritis – PRP is most commonly used for knee osteoarthritis but may be used on other joints as well, such as shoulder and hip. When treating osteoarthritis, PRP is injected directly into the affected joint.

Many sports injuries improve with PRP injections. Athletes were traditionally given the choice of a long period of rest or undergoing major surgery. PRP injections offer a third alternative. Minimally invasive, safe and quick, orthobiologic treatment is highly effective for many of the most common sports injuries.

Various therapies are available, but let’s take a closer look at platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and the part it plays in osteoarthritis and sports injuries.

Tennis elbow – this is when the tendons of the forearm become inflamed, typically from overuse and repetitive stress and responds particularly well to PRP. It is also common in rock climbers, golfers, dog walkers and anyone who engages in repetitive arm movement. Because these tendons receive little blood, they are especially slow to heal. PRP injections address the pain and initiate healing.

PRP is derived from a sample of the patient's blood, which, after processing, is injected into the affected area with the aim of promoting repair of cartilage and

Rotator cuff injuries – these can be caused by any repetitive overhead arm motion, such as those made in tennis and cricket, but it is also a site for damage from falls and

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

accidents. Although full rotator cuff tears typically require surgery, partial tears and inflammation in the bursa respond especially well to PRP injections.

Tendinopathy or tendinitis – these conditions can also benefit significantly from PRP treatments.

Plantar fasciitis – an injury experienced by runners, those who work on their feet or play sports, and which results in chronic, severe heel pain that can resist conservative treatment and progress to bone spurs that require surgery.

PRP injections relieve pain but more importantly, initiate the healing process so that patients retain much of their restored function.

Many other types of sports injuries can also benefit from PRP, including Achilles tendinopathy, ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears and hamstring injuries.

Consultation, diagnosis and treatments are carried out by Mr Fahad Attar, Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon, and Professor Waqar Bhatti, Consultation Musculoskeletal and Sports Radiologist at The Regenerative Therapy Centre, home of the region’s Open MRI Scanner and located within The European Scanning Centre, close to Manchester Airport.

0161 493 9633

admin@regenerativetherapycentre.co.uk

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

77

ASk THe exPeRTS

Everything Genetic ‘Take our cancer test today’ www.everythinggeneticltd.co.uk

Dr Sujata Gupta

Justine Asghar

Dr Seema Agarwal

Dr Sujata Gupta is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Oaklands Hospital in Salford with a particular interest in supporting women through the menopause.

Justine Asghar qualified in Dr Vodder Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) in 2013. Her background is in complementary therapies. She treats most lymphatic related issues at the Renovatio Clinic.

Dr Seema Agarwal is a Consultant specialising in iron deficiency and is leading the Anaemia Clinic at Spire Manchester Hospital.

What is the menopause? The menopause is the permanent stoppage of ovarian activity. Most women generally understand the menopause as when their periods stop, however, because this can be caused by a number of factors, such as if someone has a Mirena coil fitted, clinicians prefer to explain it as when the ovaries cease to be active.

What is MLD? MLD is a gentle, rhythmical skin manipulation performed by a specially trained MLD therapist. MLD stimulates the circulation of lymph fluid around the body, which enables the body to fight off diseases and viruses. MLD helps to remove toxins and waste products, reduce swelling and filter lymph fluid and your blood, leading to your better health.

How will the menopause affect me? Menopause causes a thinning of bones, which increases the likelihood of fractures as you get older, and post-menopausal women have a much higher risk of heart disease as their oestrogen levels fall. Other common symptoms include irregular periods, vaginal dryness, hot flushes, chills, night sweats, problems sleeping, mood changes and weight gain. The average life expectancy of women is now 82, that’s 30 years of living with its effects.

What is the lymphatic system? Your lymphatic system’s role is to collect excess fluid from the tissues, purify it and return it to the blood stream. When your lymphatic system fails to absorb excess fluids, they can accumulate, cause swelling and potentially increase the risk of infection. The lymphatic system drains the fluid into specific regions of your body, such as your armpits and groin, where there is a concentration of lymph nodes.

The lymph nodes contain lymphocytes, and these contain antibodies that fight off germs and stop infection from spreading.

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia?

There are many symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia.

One of the main signs is feeling fatigued or exhausted, making it difficult to concentrate and work. Iron deficiency anaemia can also lead to hair loss, a pale complexion, shortness of breath (especially when exercising) and can reduce the body’s ability to fight infection.

How should I manage the menopause and symptoms?

The first port of call is to look closely at your lifestyle and make as many positive changes as possible. Taking regular exercise, stopping smoking and losing weight if you have an unhealthy BMI can help improve heart health, bone strength and reduce some of the common symptoms of the menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an option, but for women who don’t want to take HRT or for whom it isn’t suited, there are other options, such as Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as well as many herbal over-the-counter remedies, including red clover and black cohosh to help with hot flushes.

Benefits of MLD MLD can have a beneficial effect on your general health as lymph is key to keeping your immune system working properly. MLD helps to reduce your chances of suffering from minor colds and viruses.

It can also help reduce water retention, boost weight loss by improving your metabolic rate and improve the appearance and texture of cellulite. MLD is effective in treating autoimmune disorders, migraines and sinusitis.

The treatment is also used in the treatment of lymphoedema, both primary and secondary, as well as lipoedema.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world. Blood loss, illness and inflammation all reduce the amount of iron in the body; in menstruating women, iron deficiency can be particularly problematic due to heavy menstrual periods.

How do you treat iron deficiency anaemia?

The first and most important step is to ensure there is no underlying cause that requires further investigation.

Treating iron deficiency anaemia itself often involves taking iron supplements, however, many people find it difficult to take iron tablets because of the side effects they can cause (abdominal pain, nausea, constipation).

The tablets need to be taken for months to have a noticeable effect. An alternative is to have treatment with an iron infusion directly into a vein. The entire replacement of iron is given in one infusion taking 30-60 minutes.

The advice given by our experts is in no way intended to replace professional advice and is only a guideline in response to individual reader comments.

Unfortunately, due to a high volume of queries, our experts are unable to engage in any direct correspondence.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Mr Gaurav Batra A day in the life of an orthopaedic surgeon Mr Gaurav Batra works as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Oaklands – one of Greater Manchester’s leading private hospitals. Here, he reveals what makes his place of work so special and the work he does so rewarding…

Gaurav, what do you find most rewarding about your job?

Meeting new patients in clinic and setting off on a journey that could lead to them having relief from their symptoms.

I enjoy getting to know people, so that I understand why they are seeking treatment. I enjoy the operating, but also when people help themselves and avoid serious surgery – someone who manages, with advice, to lose weight and no longer needs surgery on their hip or knee.

Aside from medical expertise, what makes a good surgeon?

It is important to connect with people.

I like to listen to what is important for that person sitting in front of me. I hope I do that well. It's also important to be able to apologise if things haven't gone to plan.

Humility goes a long way, and honesty too.

What’s so unique about Oaklands?

The ‘personal touch’, because it is, relatively speaking, a smaller unit. This makes it easier for staff to communicate and contact each other for enhancing patient care. Oaklands has also actively improved its relationship with the local NHS providers and GPs to deliver a vital service for the people of Greater Manchester.

What is your proudest achievement at the hospital?

I’ve built up a clinic that gets regular referrals from GPs and other colleagues. This has been the result of several years of hard work. It shows that people trust me with their patients. I feel proud of that.

By Lisa Symonds

You live in Trafford, what do you like most about the borough?

It has a very diverse community.

I enjoy having the Mersey River and so much countryside right on our doorstep for walking, running and cycling. It’s a great place for families.

Tell us more about your family…

My wife and I have been married for over 20 years and have three boys.

We also have a pet corn snake!

How do you relax outside of the hospital?

I like spending time with my family. I enjoy reading, usually about history. I enjoy keeping fit; I run with Sale Harriers and usually run over 30 miles a week.

What are your hopes for the coming new year – both for Oaklands and yourself?

I would like to develop new techniques in hip and knee surgery that allow for shorter lengths of stay for patients, without compromising care. For instance, I am commencing use of new hip implants that will allow patients to have day-case hip replacement surgery. I want to work at Oaklands for as long as possible and at some point in the future, intend to increase the number of hours I work there.

Oaklands delivers a series of high-quality healthcare treatments and services; from ophthalmology and orthopaedics to eNT, urology and general surgery. No waiting lists, appointments to suit your schedule and flexible finance options available. You can also access its services via the NHS, speak to your GP.

Find out more at oaklands-hospital.co.uk | 01617 877 700 Oaklands Hospital, 19 Lancaster Road, Salford, Greater Manchester December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

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Protecting your business during divorce If you are a business owner you will want to make every effort to protect your business from economic shocks and plan for almost every financial eventuality.

But sometimes it’s what happens in your family life which can have the biggest impact on your business.

Valuing your business within the divorce process If your business would have a substantial value if sold, it is likely to be considered an asset as part of the divorce, and valued within the divorce process.

How the value of the business is determined If a business needs to be valued, an expert accountant will undertake a valuation on behalf of both the husband and wife. They are known as a single joint expert and a range of values can be obtained for the same business, all of which would be considered by a matrimonial judge to be correct.

It is therefore important that you instruct the right accountant to prepare the report.

Is a spouse entitled to half of the business?

Not necessarily. Liquidity is an area that the accountant will also need to consider. They should advise how much money the business can afford to pay out without negatively Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

impacting its day to day running. They also need to consider the tax consequences of making this payment.

Will the business need to be sold?

The sale of a business as part the divorce is very unusual, unless both parties agree that a sale would be the best outcome.

What happens if your spouse has shares in the company when you divorce?

A couple may both own shares in a company – even if one of the spouses does not undertake much or any work for the company.

If the couple divorce, the shares of one spouse are often transferred to the other spouse as part of the divorce settlement.

The accountant should value both spouses’ shareholdings and confirm the tax that will be payable if those shares are transferred to the other spouse.

Offices in Manchester and throughout the UK.

0330 207 2384 slatergordon.co.uk

ASk THe exPeRTS

Everything Genetic ‘Take our cancer test today’ www.everythinggeneticltd.co.uk

Liz Bottrill

Liz Bottrill is a family law specialist who, throughout her career, has helped clients navigate the myriad of issues that modern families face in a fast-evolving society.

Are there any upcoming changes in family law?

The most striking change will be the introduction of no-fault divorce, allowing parties to divorce without waiting at least two years or blaming the other for the breakdown of the marriage. This avoids the present situation whereby the requirement to apportion blame often creates mistrust which pervades throughout the divorce process. This makes it much harder to make arrangements for children or divide the parties’ finances in an amicable way. Other changes will include a new pathway to surrogacy with the intention of providing more certainty to all involved.

Which cases do you find most difficult?

Low-money cases are often the trickier cases. Trying to provide for two households from one limited pot means every penny counts. Greater scrutiny is needed to ensure resources are maximised but without the parties spending any more on legal fees than necessary, as otherwise precious resources are diverted away from meeting their needs.

Which cases do you find the most unfair?

The separation of an unmarried couple can create real hardship due to the limited remedies available. Common law marriage does not exist, so the rights afforded to married couples are not available to unmarried couples.

Without careful planning, a person can therefore find themselves exiting a long relationship with no financial resources whatsoever.

Jude Moulsdale

John Mazzolai

Jude is the leading Project Consultant at Altitude Aluminium, specialising in all aspects of aluminium glazing for grand design projects and Northern super homes. Altitude Aluminium works with the world’s leading profile systems – Schueco and Reynaers.

John Mazzolai, Director of Operations at Benchmark Security Group at Hale/Trafford.

John completed 30yrs service in Greater Manchester Police as a senior officer. He specialised in Serious Acquisitive Crime, Burglaries, Robberies and Vehicle crime.

What are the advantages of using aluminium glazing?

There are so many advantages to using aluminium for your glazing; the product is fully recyclable and environmentally friendly in comparison to wood and plastic. You can benefit from ultra-slim sightlines and the maximum size capabilities are greater than with any other glazing material. It’s easy to clean, it won’t deteriorate and requires zero maintenance. The various style, finish and colour options available mean it can be used on almost any building application.

What does darker nights mean? It means that thieves will be active in your area. Leave your lights on, activate the alarm system but most importantly have a good CCTV system fitted that is monitored. At Benchmark this has proven invaluable at preventing homes being broken into, as the intruder is detected before they manage to approach the property. Benchmark provides the peace of mind of 24/7 monitoring station and the cost is honestly negligible. It’s about peace of mind.

What are the most Important things when considering an aluminium system? When aluminium glazing for domestic properties started to see growth in the UK market about 15 years ago, it grew so quickly that supply wasn’t quite capable of meeting demand for a period.

Because of this, we saw a huge amount of new businesses set up that had little or no experience in working with aluminium. Many of these systems and companies are no longer in business. So, the single most important factor is the length of time a system has been around. This should be closely followed by how rigorously the system has been tested (burglar resistance, air pressure, wind pressure and water pressure). The third consideration should be the credentials of who is supplying and installing the system for you. Make sure you can see lots of examples of actual completed projects, not just stock images that look great on screen but aren’t what the company you are working with have produced and completed.

How can we prevent our car being a target?

Always lock the car and take out any valuables. What does that mean? It’s simple always lock your car, don’t leave valuables on show, take them out of the car or place it in the boot out of sight .Don’t leave your car keys on show, don’t leave them visible in the porch, hallway or window sills. This encourages thieves to either smash the window or hook the keys and steal the car.

Should I get my CCTV monitored?

This is a must, I have seen so many burglaries recently where the burglary has taken place overnight, when you are asleep, on holiday or at work. The cost of monitoring is very cheap in terms of peace of mind, stress and the fact that you won’t become a victim of home invasion, not to mention the target of thieves looking to steal your other prized asset your car. So the answer is an emphatic yes.

The advice given by our experts is in no way intended to replace professional advice and is only a guideline in response to individual reader comments.

Unfortunately, due to a high volume of queries, our experts are unable to engage in any direct correspondence.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

83

SUPPORTING LOCAL EDUCATION

“Family and Property Law Specialists”

EdUcaTion nEwS

Sixth Form building development begins at Stockport Grammar

Stockport Grammar School (SGS) is excited to announce that the significant development of its Sixth Form facilities has begun after planning permission was received. A spectacular glass roof will be constructed over the current Sixth Form Quad, creating a large, modern and well-equipped social space for Lower and Upper Sixth Form students. The work is to be completed by Summer 2020. Existing facilities are also set to be developed to provide enhanced study spaces for the students and contribute to the school’s excellent academic record. In SGS’s Junior School, an extension to the front of the building will see the changing rooms

double in size and the hall – which hosts assemblies, visiting speakers, authors, theatre companies and indoor sports – has also been refurbished. The Junior School Quad has now been landscaped with artificial lawns, which will provide an all-yearround play and learning surface for pupils, and a new roof for the main building has been completed. Dr Paul Owen, Headmaster of SGS, said: “I am delighted that SGS will be able to provide excellent social and study spaces for our Sixth Form students in the new 2020-21 academic year to further support their personal and academic development.”

Major success for artistic Abbey Manchester student Abbey College Manchester student Shenyue (Joyce) Jiang is celebrating success after competing in a prestigious regional creative competition. Talented Joyce excelled in the highly-anticipated ISA Art Competition, where she secured a much-coveted second place prize in the 2D Art Class for the North category.

Her award-winning entry featured a realistic and colourful drawing of a lobster with admirable intricate detailing.

The competition is an annual opportunity for schools and colleges to showcase

artwork produced by their students. The creative challenge covers a variety of age groups and genres, from traditional 2D art to fashion and photography. Principal at Abbey College Manchester, Liz Elam, commented: “Joyce has shown remarkable creativity, and I am delighted that her talent and hard work has been rewarded with this accolade. We are very proud of Joyce for her achievement. “Participating in the regional competition was a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the exceptional skills that our students possess.”

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

87

Don’t let this opportunity slip through your hands

Apply NOW! Join the Juniors in September 2020.

Apply now for our springtime assessment days for entry into Years 3-6.

@ladybarnhouse @ladybarnhouseschool ladybarn_houseschool

www.ladybarnhouse.org Lady Barn House School, Schools Hill, Cheadle SK8 1JE

SUPPORTING LOCAL EDUCATION

“Family and Property Law Specialists”

New development for early Years’ children at AeSG Alderley Edge School for Girls is delighted with the transformation of its Early Years Department and a new playground provision, which has been installed over the summer period. The school now benefits from newly developed classroom areas for its youngest children in the Nursery and Pre-School and an outside area, which offers a multitude of new activities for all girls in the Junior School. The school was keen to provide a fabulous outdoor environment as an extension of the classroom and to enable all girls in the Junior School to explore and develop. The new areas include bridges, sandpits, wooden pergolas, sheds, a chalkboard, whiteboard, a boat and benched seating in addition to wetpour surfacing, which is safe for walking and playing on, whatever the weather.

If you would like to see the new first-class provision, arrange a visit or Taster Session in our early Years Department, please contact Janet Foundly at jfoundly@aesg.co.uk or on 01625 583028 ext. 203.

Bowdon Preparatory School for Girls launches the BPS Journey

Bowdon Preparatory School (BPS) is proud to have recently launched the BPS Journey. Drawn up with help from teachers at all stages of the school, the Journey highlights the unique educational journey that BPS offers to girls aged 3-11 years old… from a girl’s first visit to the school, through to the time when pupils move onto senior schools. As well as outlining the school’s top academic standards and mix of traditional values with new educational practice, the Journey also highlights how the school nurtures emotional and social

intelligence, develops critical thinking skills, and enhances pupils’ confidence to give them a greater breadth of capability and increased mental agility. The Journey is introduced and guided by Bella Bear – the BPS ‘buddy’.

Bella is a friendly character, who is the epitome of good behaviour and represents the key values of the school: Belief, Perseverance and Success.

If you’d like to receive a copy of the BPS Journey, pop into BPS or email office@bowdonprep.org.uk

Sustaining People and Places – Withington Girls’ School Founders’ Day

Head Girl Kea Bell addressed the audience and spoke positively of her own withington journey.

Withington Girls’ School (WGS) commemorated its 129th Founders’ Day at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall recently with an evening of inspirational speeches, readings and musical celebrations on the theme of Sustaining People and Places.

Headmistress, Sarah Haslam, and WGS Chair of Governors, Malcom Pike,

outlined how this year’s focus encapsulates WGS’s priorities, current thinking and actions. To ensure the school’s sustainability for present and future generations, WGS remains committed to delivering an outstanding, quality education; developing in its pupils the knowledge and skills, attitudes to learning and personal qualities that will sustain them beyond their time at WGS, they told the audience. Stressing the importance of social responsibility and WGS’s inclusive nature, they also reaffirmed the school’s commitment to its bursary funding support – one in six pupils receives fee assistance – and spoke of its comprehensive range of community engagement programmes, which, said Mr Pike, help to ensure that WGS remains “the valuable community and national asset that it truly is”.

And on ecological sustainability, they reported on the implementation of a range of green measures to reduce negative environmental impact.

“We are all part of something bigger and have responsibilities to our school, our city, our world,” said Mrs Haslam, before guest speaker, Dr Caroline Major, went on to provide insights into her own environmental advocacy work. A former WGS pupil, a veterinary surgeon and eco champion, the Class of 2006 leaver shared the experience of her epic paddleboarding mission from Land’s End to John o' Groats; an awe-inspiring, world record-breaking expedition that has helped to raise awareness of the perils of plastic pollution.

For information on admissions to Withington Girls’ School, please visit wgs.org or call 0161 249 3371.

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

89

STOCKPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL An independent co-educational school for ages 3-18 years

Assistance with fees available at 11+ and 16+ (means tested), academic and music scholarships FOUNDED IN 1487

࠮ Outstanding teaching and exceptional exam results ࠮ A happy school community in which every child is an individual ࠮ Extensive programme of co-curricular activities ࠮ Wide-ranging school bus routes including Sale, Altrincham & Hale Senior and Junior School Tours available Entrance Exam Wednesday 15th January 2020

SGS Inspires Tel: 0161 456 9000 90

December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

www.stockportgrammar.co.uk

The start of something special...

“A friendly, caring environment in which each girl can feel confident and flourish” While our school is consistently ranked as the top performing school in the North West based on GCSE and A-Level results, those who know us understand what really makes Withington special cannot be tested or measured.

As a school with no scholarships or academic prizes, Withington girls are free to develop and explore their academic potential and broader interests in a productive, collaborative and happy environment.

To arrange a tour call 0161 249 3371 Wellington Road, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6BL

wgs.org

11+ Entrance Exam Tuesday 7 January 2020 Our fantastic School offers outstanding provision and education for girls aged 2–18.

Closing date for applications – Friday 13 December

Tel: 01625 583028 www.aesg.co.uk admissions@aesg.co.uk

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December/January 2020 | salutions.co.uk

Scholarships and Bursaries Available

tech By oliver chesher

CLASSICS REMIXED I found out very early on in parenthood that despite all the beautiful, classic toys and gifts we enjoy buying for our kids, they tend to be more interested in the noisy, battery-operated variety. There are so many clever gadgets for kids in the shops, it can be hard to get your head around which robot is different from the others. But one sure-fire way for toy brands to grab our attention is to create updated versions of the recognisable favourites we remember from our own childhoods. Here’s some of the latest.

Hot Wheels id

Lego BOOST Creative Toolbox

Lego Technic was always cutting-edge, even in the ‘80s, when it was all cogs, pulleys and, if you were lucky, some sirens and lights. This BooST kit is from a different dimension altogether. it says it’s for kids aged seven and above, which says a lot about the technical mind of the average seven-year-old today. designed to encourage real coding skills, this toolbox contains components to build a moving, talking robot or battle rover, a musical instrument with sound effects, an interactive robot pet, or even the autoBuilder – an automated production line that really builds miniature Lego models! The compatible app offers regular updates with new challenges and coding options designed to encourage social play.

Hot wheels cars have always felt high-tech compared to other diecast toy cars, just because they go so fast. But now it’s possible to add a virtual dimension to racing on the track, with each car connected to a mobile app via a unique id, so you can set records, race friends, log stats and unlock rewards and customisations. The Smart Track system, with launcher, jumps, loops and curves, starts from around £120.

Etch A Sketch iPad case

Play-Doh Touch Shape to Life Studio

who’d have thought that good old comforting Play-doh could one day go digital? Hats off to the clever creators, who have invented a way of scanning Play-doh creations into a digital world that you can grow and bring to life on screen. Kits start from less than £10.

oK, an iPad case technically isn’t a gadget, but it’s an appealing reboot of a classic toy and, like it or not, the iPad is a godsend to most parents. There’s no point handing an iPad to an excited child to watch cBeebies or play games if they’re going to immediately drop it on the ground and smash it, hence the essential protective case. Most kids won’t have a clue what an Etch a Sketch is, but they’ll like the primary colours and tactile robustness, and it’ll be a talking point for the grown-ups. £35 from Redbubble.

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WHAT’S ON There is plenty on offer for the festive season in Greater Manchester, whether you like to enjoy your seasonal activities inside or out! The magical lanterns at Chester Zoo are back, as are lots of Christmas markets and some fabulous ice rinks across the city. There is a wide variety of theatre on offer too – from panto and musicals such as SIX and The Bodyguard to family shows like Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical and Treasure Island.

By catherine Reed Events and festivals Joy! A Christmas Celebration Monday 16 December, 7.30pm The Bridgewater Hall international singer, star of The Voice and choirmaster extraordinaire wayne Ellington leads a concert of festive tunes with a gospel twist. They are joined by fellow Mancunian JP cooper the Royal northern college of Music Session orchestra, the MiV Band and other special guests.

The Lanterns at Chester Zoo Until 23 December Chester Zoo discover a festive wonderland full of sparkle, illumination and a sprinkling of snow. it’s a chance to see the zoo and all the wonderful wildlife in a whole new light – literally! Brilliant fun for everyone.

Whoville Markets Lowry Outlet Until 22 Dec The outlet’s 2019 christmas Markets embrace the theme of one of The Lowry’s christmas theatre shows dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole christmas!

The Musical. The whoville-themed markets will be running every weekend from november 23rd, complete with a themed post office, christmas Present Trail and, of course, lots of Makers Markets stalls.

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Manchester Ice Village Until 5 January Cathedral Gardens

Jack & The Beanstalk Until 11 January Oldham Coliseum

The ice Village returns with more ice than ever! This year there is a covered ice rink, an ice cave, ice slide and a frozen ice tiki bar.

oldham coliseum’s classic pantomime is back and this year, it’s the story of poor young Jack and his magic beans that brings some christmas cheer and traditional panto fun to the theatre. Expect a magic hen, a Giant, a cow, two fairies and lots of interactive fun for kids and grown-ups.

Winter Funland 6 December – 5 January Event City, Trafford a gigantic ice rink is centre stage for this year’s winter Funland celebration, the north west’s largest indoor winter wonderland. Each visit is timed to last four hours and you need to book your skating session on arrival. There are plenty of rides and attractions to amuse the family throughout your stay.

Bolton Winter Festival Until 6 January Bolton

The Manchester Project at Christmas 5-21 December HOME Each night, HoME in association with Monkeywood Theatre, will present 12 plays of christmas from writers across the city followed by a selection box of comedy or drag. This is a celebration of Manchester talent and a brilliant way to kick off the festive period.

The festival includes a covered ice rink, snow slide, Santa’s Grotto and festive artisan markets.

Christmas Markets Until 22 December Manchester City Centre & MediaCityUK There are markets in MediacityUK for the first time this year, complete with an ice rink, as well as the full complement of stalls at Piccadilly Gardens in central Manchester and across the city.

Christmas shows Treasure Island Until 28 December Bolton Octagon at University of Bolton Stadium This classic tale of buccaneers and buried treasure will be sailing into Bolton this christmas in a rip-roaring new stage adaptation directed by Tim Jackson. a talented cast of actor musicians will ensure the ship sails smoothly in this family adventure with talking parrots, music and mutiny.

The Gruffalo’s Child 6 December – 12 January The Lowry Expect songs, laughs and scary fun in Tall Stories’ enchanting adaptation of Julia donaldson and axel Scheffler’s much-loved picture book brought wonderfully to life on stage.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 6-29 December Opera House craig Revel-Horwood stars as the ultimate wicked Queen in this family pantomime alongside the fabulous

WHAT’S ON Eric Potts as dame nora crumble and Ben nickless as Muddles. The show will feature an array of dance routines, plenty of comedy, amazing special effects and even a bit of magic!

Broadway is back in Manchester with this wild production of Gypsy, directed by Jo davies and with a songbook bursting with classics such as Everything’s coming Up Roses and Some People.

SIX 3 December – 11 January The Lowry nominated for five olivier awards, including Best new Musical, this truly fabulous musical tells the stories of Henry Viii’s six wives – from their side.

Each of the wives takes to the mic with their very own story, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a 21st century celebration.

Buddy is a brilliant musical, and what better way to blow away any January cobwebs than with a show filled with fantastic songs and a truly talented cast.

We Will Rock You 27 January – 8 February Palace Theatre Featuring 24 of Queen’s biggest hits and Ben Elton’s futuristic comedy writing, we will Rock You is a real spectacle designed to celebrate and capture the band’s legendary live performances.

Drama Cuttin’ It 9 January – 1 February Royal Exchange

Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical 10 December – 5 January The Lowry The perfect christmas show – a big, gorgeous celebration of christmas and the festive spirit! celebrate the season with The Grinch, his faithful dog Max and the whovilles. Griff Rhys Jones stars as old Max with X-Factor’s Matt Terry as Young Max. its suitable for all the family, with lots of great songs and a super set and costumes.

Roots 11-30 December HOME

charlene James’ fiercely brilliant play confronts the vital issue of FGM in Britain. Bold and tender, harrowing and heart-breaking, this production will be directed by former Royal Exchange assistant director nickie Miles-wildin.

An Inspector Calls 14-18 January The Lowry The Bodyguard 10 December – 4 January Palace Theatre

Musicals

alexandra Burke stars as Rachel Marron, the superstar who bodyguard Frank Farmer is hired to protect from an unknown stalker. There are an amazing number of hit songs in the show, including one Moment in Time, i wanna dance with Somebody and i will always Love You. alexandra Burke does not perform at matinees or on certain other dates, when the role of Rachel is performed by Jennlee Shallow.

Gypsy Until 25 January Royal Exchange

Buddy The Musical 27 January – 1 February The Lowry

HoME favourites 1927 present a celebration of other cultures through a series of rarely told folktales told through their famed blending of theatre, animation and storytelling.

The captivating live score involves Peruvian prayer boxes, donkey jaws, violins and musical saws.

This is the national Theatre’s landmark production of JB Priestley’s classic thriller directed by Stephen daldry. when inspector Goole arrives unexpectedly at the Birling family home, their dinner party is shattered by his investigation into the death of a young woman.

Kay Mellor’s Band of Gold 21-25 January The Lowry Following the huge success of Fat Friends The Musical, Kay Mellor returns with the world premiere stage production of her multi-award-winning TV series Band of Gold. The starstudded cast includes Gaynor Faye, Laurie Brett, Emma osman and Shayne ward.

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By Oliver Chesher

GET ON UP it’s fair to say that Volkswagen has a legitimate claim to be the inventor of the hot hatch. The original Golf GTi that launched way back in the ‘70s was credited with democratising performance driving in a compact, simple, affordable package. Since then, the Golf has grown bigger, more complex and more of a premium purchase, giving way, in time, to the smaller and simpler Polo, which

was in turn supplanted as the baby of the family by the even tinier, stripped-back Up. Today’s Up GTi is a worthy successor to the original Golf that wore the GTi badge four decades ago. it benefits from the same minimal aesthetic, including plaid upholstery in a nod to the Mk 1. its powerto-weight is similar too, making it playfully brisk rather than brutally fast. its 113bhp power output, coupled with a sub-ton

kerb weight, are similar numbers to the Mk 1 Golf, while, of course, today’s Golf GTis and their competitors are expected to have more than double that power. as well as the lightweight chuckability, the other factor in the Up’s favour is the incredibly competitive price. at just over 14 grand, it picks up the mantle of the original great leveller of the autobahn.

KING OF THE MONSTERS From one of the tiniest performance cars to an absolute giant. There are many reasons why the nissan GT-R has been nicknamed Godzilla, from its crushing power to its absolute annihilation of all rivals on the racetrack. one big part of its reputation is its imposing size: from behind the wheel, it feels absolutely massive, with the bulging bonnet filling your forward view.

Make no mistake though, this is no disadvantage. its handling, high-speed stability and sheer horizon-bending

acceleration make it one of the most breathtakingly, relentlessly aggressive cars of all time.

obsessive scientific detail that has gone into every aspect, from turbo inertia to gearbox response.

The latest variant, the 2020 GT-R niSMo, has been unveiled, priced at £174,995 and with race-derived performance upgrades to maximise an already exhilarating performance.

The name, an abbreviation of niSsan Motorsport, points to a legendary heritage on the track, and the reams of graphs and diagrams that come in the press pack demonstrate the

Honouring the Japanese tradition of kaizen – the philosophy of continuous improvement – every part of the car is a tiny bit better than its already worldbeating predecessor. The list is endless, from stiffness and grip gains to weight and drag reduction. The pursuit of perfection in car design will never end, but this is one big step closer.

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hale@kelland.co.uk | www.kelland-hale.co.uk 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.

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