Stockport Source Issue 9

issue nine

WELCOME ...to issue nine As Martin Stephenson sang the words “watch the running water come down from a thundery cloud”, many among of those watching in the Market Square at the Foodie Friday event which served to launch both the Stockport Festival and the Old Town Fringe Festival probably thought he was having a laugh. It was bucketing down. Thankfully, the organisers had provided a good number of tents for coverage (I hope the growing popularity of Foodie Friday is such that these will still be needed in January) but if you weren’t under one of those, your special edition Robbies Old Town Ale would be 25% rainwater in no time. But we know rain in this neck of the woods. We’ve learned to live with it and the hundreds of people who turned up on that Friday night will remember the greatness of the event long after they’ve forgotten that they got wet at it.

4-5

News

Win Hayfest tickets!

6-7

Fashion

Boot camp

8-9

Screen Stockport

Attention all film-lovers

10-11

Amelia Lily

Amelia plays games

12-13

Luis Troyano

Life in the Bake Off Universe

14

Bramhall’s Got Talent

Last chance for entries!

16-17

in-toto

A demonstration day for your diary

18-19

ASCO

Where domestic lighting gets serious

21

Tom Yam

Poynton’s Thai triumph

22-23

Viking Festival

It’s all going Medieval

29

What’s On

Days out in September and November

30

Neil Cossar

Appy talking

31

Music

The best of the new releases

Stockport Office 0161 244 9896

Publishing Director Editor Advertising Photographer

Paul Taylor Paul Day Carole Jones Matt McNulty

07901 557788 07981 086684 07946 937393 07757 287285

paul@shoutmediauk.com paul.day@shoutmediauk.com carole.jones@shoutmediauk.com signol1000@ntlworld.com

Wilmslow Office 01625 541106 www.stockportsource.com @StockportSource Stockport Source

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news

BOTH FESTIVALS A RESOUNDING SUCCESSS

I

n August, for the first time, the centre of Stockport played host to two distinctly different festivals over the same weekend. The well-established Stockport Summer Festival once again provided a great focal point in the centre of town and entertained everyone with live music, a window-dressing competition at Debenhams and the traditional fashion show.

Not very far away from all this was the first Old Town Fringe Festival, the alternative cousin to the chart-topping event next door. If anything specifically justified the Fringe’s existence it was the huge number of people who turned out on an evening of horrific weather to thoroughly enjoy Foodie Friday and an evening of top quality music in the Market Place.

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news

WIN

TICKETS! T

he first Hayfest Festival will take place in Hayfield between 3rd and 5th October. Described as a one-of-a-kind, family oriented, eclectic and mildly eccentric arts and musical festival. It’s a late summer / early autumn event incorporating the feel of a country fayre into a lovingly crafted, top notch, very English open-air party, tailor-made for the whole family.

Orgainer Neil Cossar says “We aim to cater for a broad range of tastes with a mixture of rock, folk, country, blues and jazz artists. Hayfest provides a showcase for both established names and up-andcoming new talent. In addition to acts on the main stage, the Hayfest Fringe Festival incorporates an even wider range of music, spoken word, comedy and other entertainment, performed in pubs and

other venues in Hayfield throughout the festival.

Artists performing include Steve Harley, Andy FariweatherLow and Roachford.

We interviewed Neil this months (see page 30) and he kindly offered a family ticket - providing admission for two adults and two children - as a competition prize.

To win, simply answer this question: Steve Harley famously sang: a) Come up and see me, make me a sandwich b) Come up and see me, make me smile c) Come up and see me, make my bed email your answer to info@shoutmediauk.com before 29th September

MERSEYWAY ANNOUNCES FAMILY FUNDRAISER FOR MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT • Sam Callahan confirmed as headline act • Kiki deVille to perform and compere

• Storytelling and Meet Fireman Sam • Search is on for ‘Stockport’s Best Sponge’

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children will have the chance to make their own Mad Hatter’s Tea Party hat, Bingo and an apron sewing class. There will also be a baking competition, with Merseyway looking out for ‘Stockport’s Best Sponge’.

erseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport is hosting its first Family FUNdraiser event on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th September, with a jam-packed line-up of exciting activities and performances set to take place over the two days, all to raise vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Sam Callahan, a finalist in last year’s X Factor, is the headline act on the stage in Town Square on Saturday, alongside Kiki deVille, former contestant on BBC1’s The Voice, who will also act as compere throughout the day. In addition, Britain’s Got Talent performer Harry Mondryk and X Factor contestant from 2013 Giles Potter will also be performing on the day. Fireman Sam will be performing a number of narrations and meet and greets and there will also be a fashion show involving Merseyway’s retailers, modelled by Agencie Model Management.

In addition, there will be children’s activities taking place throughout the day, including a Treasure Trail and Doodle Tattoos. There will be a fairground in Mersey Square on both days.

Activities on the Friday align with Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. A marquee in Mersey Square will offer shoppers coffee demonstrations, a cake sale, children’s workshops from Creation Station, where

The event is free to attend, from 10am – 5pm on both days. There will be opportunities to make donations to Macmillan Cancer Support at each activity throughout the course of the event. A representative from Macmillan will be present at the event on the Friday to talk about the vital work the charity does in the region.

Merseyway Shopping Centre Manager Brendan Webb said: “The Merseyway Family FUNdraiser really does have something for everyone and we’re confident we can raise a really decent amount of money for Macmillan Cancer Support. We’re looking forward to seeing lots of people turn out over the course of the two days to enjoy the variety of activities and performances we have lined up.”

For a detailed breakdown of activities taking place, visit the Merseyway website.

Twitter: @merseyway Facebook: www.facebook.com/MerseywayShoppingCentre

Compere and performer, Kiki deVille

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events

SCREEN STOCKPORT

THURSDAY 16TH OCTOBER • THE PLAZA SUPER CINEMA

The fourth annual Screen Stockport film festival will take place on 16th October at The Plaza in Stockport.

The event was started in 2011 by student filmmaker Joe Barratt and it has firmly established itself as one of the leading independent film festivals in the North West showing short films made locally, nationally and internationally.

Each year Screen Stockport attracts over 600 students who make the pilgrimage from schools, colleges and universities across the northwest and hundreds of independent filmmakers and film enthusiasts from all over the UK who love the beautifully preserved art deco interior of the Super Cinema.

The Plaza is a big old girl and the more the merrier. The fact that daytime will feature a large number of short films makes it ideal for popping in and out if you can’t spare the full six hours.

“Every year we are overwhelmed with the quality of films we receive for the Festival from filmmakers of all ages,” explains organiser Joe Barratt. “This year we have had our greatest response especially in the Schools & Colleges category which has had over 40 entries! We’ve even had a submission from a filmmaker at primary school which proves you’re never too young to make a film!”

Screen Stockport always has a focus on industry professionals especially home-grown success stories. This year’s special guest speaker is Stockport-born Carol Morley, award-winning filmmaker and sister to broadcaster and writer Paul. “Carol’s just made a film called The Falling which stars Greta Scacchi, Maxine Peake and Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones,” explains Joe, “It will be premiered at the London Film Festival during Screen Stockport, so it’s perfect timing.” Previous speakers have included Mark Herbert of Warp Films and Col Needham, the founder and CEO of IMDb - the world’s biggest movie website, whose previous employment included a stint at Currys in Stockport. Col remains a patron of the festival and donates IMDb Pro memberships as prizes.

Frank Jon, a young wanna-be musician, discovers he’s bitten off more than he can chew when he joins an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank.

Written by Jon Ronson, featuring Michael Fassbender and Maggie Gyllenhaal

The Festival traditionally closes on a feature film selected by the organisers, usually a recent release with a North West connection. Last year it was Made Of Stone, the Stone Roses biopic and this year it will be Frank, loosely based on the late Chris Sievey’s paper-headed alter ego.

The event will be split into two sessions, a daytime session running from around 11am to 5pm which will include the interview with Carol Morley and will show the films shortlisted in the following categories (maximum 10 minutes long unless stated): • Short Film • School and College Student Short Film • Post Graduate Film School Student Short Film • International Short Film

• Very Short Film (3 minutes) • University Student Short Film • North West Short Film

The evening session will begin at 7.30pm and will feature the showing of Frank.

Tickets are available from the Plaza box office or via their website www.stockportplaza. co.uk. Ticket prices are £6.50 and £5 for students & concessions, booking fee applies online.

More information, as it becomes available, can be found at: www.screenstockport.co.uk

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talking point

AMELIA LILY Three years ago Amelia Lily was voted off, then brought back onto X Factor, where she went on to finish third. Still only 19 Amelia has been through a year of changes which she discusses with Imagine FM’s Chellce AJ We’ve met before but quite a bit has happened for you since then hasn’t it?

Yes, it’s been quite a mad year for me actually, although I know I’ve not been in the limelight but a lot’s been going on behind closed doors. I’ve got a new record label, I’ve got new management, a new writing team, I’ve got a new album and I’ve got a brand new sound. So it’s been pretty mental to be honest.

Out with the old in with the new..

Yes, a totally fresh start for me.

You mention that you’ve got a new sound and we can hear that on the new single, California.

I think California gives a great taste of what’s to come on the album and I think it represents me really well as an artist and it shows off my personality and my youth because I’m still only 19. There’s a bit of attitude in there. It wasn’t a case of going into the studio wondering what sort of sound I wanted, it came out naturally and that’s when you know that it was meant for you.

Do you enjoy listening to it?

I love it. Every time I listen to it in the car I have butterflies like I’m on a date or something but it doesn’t even feel like it’s me. But I’m really proud of the song and I really hope it does well.

You went to California to film the video for California didn’t you?

I know, what an absolute bonus. It was fantastic. We decided to film over there because of the colours and the daylight. My vision for the video was sort of Baywatch meets Barbie Girl so I wanted all those bright, neon colours and it worked perfectly. I’m over the moon with the video.

I love the fact that you’re on a lilo in a dress with perfect make-up.

Actually getting onto the lilo must have been epic...

Ha, I’ve actually got a video on my phone of me attempting to get on the lilo and it was honestly one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. But it was really funny because I kept floating away from the camera, so the guy who’s playing my love interest had to keep pushing me back If you fell in it would have been back to the drawing board...

I think we would have had to cut the scene to be honest because we were really tight on time.

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Do we have a name for the album?

Not just yet, I’ve got a few ideas in my head but I don’t want to put a name to it until I’ve heard the full album from start to finish.

Now for a few serious questions - snog, marry, avoid: Justin Bieber, Ryan Gosling, Harry Styles.

Oh, that’s a difficult one. I think I’d marry Ryan because I like an older man and he’d be a bit more mature. I think I’d avoid Harry because I’d probably get death threats from the One Direction fans, so I’d snog Bieber.

Would you rather give up your dog or your career?

That’s horrible. I think I’d have to give up my career. I couldn’t imagine life without Alfie.

Would you rather never wear eyeliner or never wear concealer?

Oh that’s easy. I don’t wear concealer anyway and I couldn’t not wear eyeliner.

Geordie Shore or TOWIE? Geordie Shore, obviously! Come on...

Girls night in or a crazy night out?

That’s a difficult one for me because I used to love going out but now I kind of like to party indoors. You can be in your pajamas and go to bed when you want to.

Give up all your birthdays or give up Christmas?

When you’re younger it’s I want this, I want that but when you’re older everything you want is too expensive for people so I think I’d give up my birthdays. Christmas is a family gathering and I love that.

Collaborate with Beyonce or Prince?

Oh... I think I’d have to go with Queen B. She’s just amazing.

And on a final note, what are you digging right now?

Rude, by Magic I think.

Amelia’s new single California is out now.

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LUIS TROYANO He lives in Poynton and you will have driven past his graphic design business every time you’ve gone to the airport but right now Luis Troyano is nationally famous for his *touch wood* continuing progress in the Great British Bake Off.

W

hen we interviewed Luis at the offices of his design company, Forever Creative in Cheadle, the first thing we didn’t ask was anything that might introduce spoilers to the conversation. Luis was clearly not going to tell us and we were not going to ask. As a consequence, we have no idea if Luis is still a fixture on the programme or whether he has been ousted in circumstances so scandlous that questions have been asked in Parliament. Given the 800-odd complaints the BBC received over BakedAlaskaGate, it’s clear that Great British Bake Off viewers have extremely itchy trigger fingers.

Luis seems to be a popular character among the baking massive. A Clive James of a man, with a big laugh, obvious skill and an endearing way of being a designer-who-bakes that was possibly missing in last year’s winner, Frances. Luis is all spirit levels and tape measures and it’s great to watch.

You only started baking four years ago. Where did this sudden urge come from?

Coming from a Spanish family I’ve always been a big cook and I just decided I’d like to see what happens when you start making things with flour, butter and eggs. There’s so many things you can make using those ingredients but I didn’t really understand it so I thought I’d give it a go.

Were the early episodes of Great British Bake Off an influence?

No, I didn’t watch the first series. I’ve watched it since but it was really low key at the time, nowhere near as big as it is now.

So you’re quite capable in other areas of the kitchen?

Yes, my wife doesn’t cook at all, so if I didn’t cook we’d probably starve.

Four years, from total novice to where you are now, seems a rather rapid rise to excellence...

Yes, I thought that myself, it’s quite weird. I just really enjoyed doing it and I immediately started exploring all the different areas of baking. I originally thought of entering Bake Off the series before this one but I thought I wouldn’t get through. The entry form is absolutely huge. You need a broad range of skills and I always enjoyed making bread and pastries - which is funny because they tend to get a lot of cake-makers applying and that isn’t something I was really into. So, having seen the form, I practised making some cakes to fill in the gaps and I then applied for this series.

Did you find everyone else had been baking a lot longer than you? I assume Martha hasn’t been baking that long but otherwise...

No, she’s been baking a long time. From when she was six or seven. So I was the least experienced in terms of time but I just found I had a knack for it.

How does the application process work?

You fill out the form and if you’re lucky you’ll get a short telephone interview. They fire some quick-fire questions at you to check that you were telling the truth in your application and they say “you might not hear from us again” which makes it quite painful. I then got called to the Manchester audition in December. They told everyone to take along a sweet and a savoury so I took a pie and a pastry tart. Food experts take it apart and quiz you on it and then someone decides whether you have to go home or merit a camera test and fortunately I was sent for the test. Eventually I was called to a college in London where they simulate the Bake Off very accurately. There’s 12 of you in a kitchen, ingredients, recipes, two hours, camera, people interviewing you, seeing how you react. At this stage you’re down to the last 50 people.

Then I was told I was down to the last 14 (they have two stand-bys) and you have to see the psychologist to check that you can cope with the stress of the Bake Off and how you’d react to being shouted at the in the street, being recognised all the time.

The biggest thing they worry about is the person who leaves on week one, because you’ve done all that work, you’ve got there and to leave straight away would be quite devestating.

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interview

How many people enter?

I think the number is somewhere between 20-25,000.

It’s massive.

So what happens once you’ve been accepted?

A couple of months before filming you get the briefs for episodes one to nine, so you can plan your signature and showstopper dishes, develop the ideas and write the recipes. You submit them to the food producers who give you feed back on them. So by the time you get there, regardless of how far you eventually get in the competition, you’ve got one to nine in the bag. But you can change what you’re doing at any point. If there’s an ingredient you want urgently, they have people who will rush off to the supermarket to get it.

The filming was generally at the weekends so you’d go down on a Friday night - they’d encourage all the bakers to go out for a meal together. Filming was generally all day Saturday, all day Sunday then back home.

Did everyone get on well?

Yes. It’s funny because I’ve watched previous Bake Offs and you see people saying “We’re all still really good friends” and I was going down thinking ‘I don’t know how that happens’ but honestly, it does. What I found is that you’re not up against the other bakers, you’re up against the judges. Okay, it’s a competition but you don’t know what the other person is doing and often you’re not even cooking the same thing so you can’t adjust for that.

You do see people looking around during the technical challenge...

You do in the technicals, definately. It’s quite funny.

One week in particular - I think it was bread week - one side of the tent were putting their bread in the proving drawers. Luckily I’d made that type of dough before, if not that type of loaf, so I knew it was room temperature. It was just me and I think Kate who had them out while everone else had them in the proving drawers. One person did it and it sparked a chain reaction. Just because someone does something doesn’t mean it’s right.

Did you get to see the series before it was broadcast?

No, I’ve no idea what an episode will be like until Wednesday night, like everyone else. When the first one was broadcast it was really weird and I felt a bit cringey because obviously I’m not used to seeing myself on TV, never mind BBC1 at 8pm. But then it became more like watching a home movie because I know everyone on it and I know what’s going on.

Do you sit with Twitter on your knee when it’s on?

I do sit with Twitter on my knee, yes. I’m terrible for doing that anyway. I love watching X Factor or Britain’s Got Talent with Twitter rolling. We get together as a family to watch it and I’ll bake something for us to eat that ties in with the episode.

me a fiver. I put it in the garage and converted it into a proving cabinet by fitting a thermostat and a light bulb. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever made in my life because I use it all the time. But yes... I have all the mixers and processors and ovens... I don’t really do anything else though, this is my vice really.

And of course Twitter went into melt down a couple of weeks ago, when BakedAlaskaGate was broadcast.

I know, it was so funny because when we were there, there was none of that. Even the ice cream coming out of the freezer, when we were there it was no big deal, it was just something that happens and we didn’t even know Iain had thrown it away. He walked past me down the middle of the tent and I thought he’d gone to the toilet and Martha said “No, he’s just put his ice cream in the bin.” But I’ve never seen anything so blown out of proportion.

With every series of GBBO there’s a new wave of people taking up baking. What tips do you have to pass on to them?

Get a good mixer. If you want to give baking a go, a mixer is probably the only gadget you really need.

Like I said at the begining, flour, butter and eggs - with those three ingredients there’s a whole world of things you can make. And things don’t take as long as you’d think: baking goes downhill when you leave things in the oven too long. And start off making the basic things, it’s great to make a good white loaf or a Victoria sponge. And you don’t need to make you own pastry and you can buy really good jam. Concentrate on getting one bit right and you’ll end up with something that you can enjoy eating.

Of the episodes we’ve seen so far, what were you most proud of?

Bread week. Not the Show Stopper but the signature rolls. Paul Hollywood shook my hand and and when you’re there, that’s the ultimate.

How much do you bake at home?

A lot. Two or three evenings during the week, sometimes on a Saturday and Sunday is my baking day. I did worry that doing Bake Off might ruin baking for me afterwards but it’s had the opposite effect. I find I can bake a lot faster than before because it really gets you up to speed. Plus you’re cooking things you would never usually do and they’re really strict that everything you make has to be original. They have teams checking your recipe isn’t copied from somewhere. Before Bake Off I’d grab a recipe book off the shelf and I’d say “I’m going to make that” whereas now I very rarely use a recipe book.

I’ve learned the formulas of baking, that you can add your flavours and ingredients to.

Keep up with Luis’ progress on Wednesdays, 8pm on BBC1

Do you have a lot of cookery gadgets?

I do like gadgets yes, but I bought an old fridge off eBay that cost

13

events

LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES Have you got a hidden talent that you are ready to unleash on an unsuspecting public? Perhaps it’s not so hidden, perhaps it’s a glaringly obvious talent that no-one has rewarded you for yet. It doesn’t matter. If last year’s Bramhalls’ Got Talent was anything to go by, once you get on stage you’ll be adored by one of the most generous and enthusuastic crowds you could wish to perform in front of.

Last year’s event saw over 50 acts competing throughout the day and was won by Henry Gallagher (above left) who has been busy performing ever since. The 2014 event - which is again being sponsored by local estate agents Mosley Jarman - will offer a £500 first prize, a £100 second prize and a £50 third prize.

Entries are being accepted online at www.bramhallsgottalent.co.uk until Friday 26th September. You don’t need to be from Bramhall to enter and all varieties of acts are welcome to enter - singers, dancers, comedians, ventriloquists.

The contest is searching for the best talent around – whether it’s the next Subo, Dynamo or Ashley Banjo. The competition will take place at the Village Square on Saturday 4 October and is open to all ages, a fact demonstrated by last year’s contestants – the youngest of whom was 7 whilst the oldest was 72.

Amongst the extra entertainment on thr day, Mr Zip, “Where me keys, where me phone” will be making an appearance.

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IN-TOTO STOCKPORT

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ill and Dave Lee acquired intoto Stockport last August. The business, established in 1985, is one of the oldest in a national network of franchise businesses. You get the peace of mind of knowing your kitchen is supplied by a national company, but the benefit of dealing directly with a couple who own and run the entire business themselves. You get a KBSA guarantee, and a personal touch.

COOKERY DEMONSTRATION DAY COURTESY OF NEFF Saturday 4th October Call in any time between 10am and 4pm and talk to our NEFF experts on the day • guidance on purchasing the best appliance for your needs

homes

come around, even if a little slowly, as Jill explains. “We get people coming through the doors saying they bought an in-toto kitchen 20 or 25 years ago and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. They just want a new one, because it has dated.” in-toto Stockport’s reputation hangs on the two hooks of design and build quality. They are delivered as rigid carcasses, ready-built, dowelled and glued - a fitter’s dream in fact. Whatever style of kitchen you choose, these carcasses are a constant, it’s the door finish that makes the difference. Inherent in the design is a versatility that means the kitchens can adapt to the way people’s living habits change. “More and more people are creating a living space.

They’re bringing the living area into the kitchen”, adds Dave, “where there’s an island for cooking and an entertainment area with sofas. That’s the way that people are living these days.”

in-toto Stockport has long since moved • advice on how to get the best out of your appliances from its original home on St Petersgate and can now be found under the Gar• cooking on induction, combination oven and ‘slide&hide’ rick Theatre on the A6. Jill explained to • live cookery demos with food tasting us how her and Dave ended up there, “Dave’s a builder and I’m from a sales • free prize draw background. Dave has worked in the area for the last 15 years, so when we decided to do something together, the kitchen and bathroom business was a perfect match.” Couple those two, and join them onto an experienced building company and jority of the space, and they are all well presented, as you’ve got a business uniquely placed to provide though a family might wander in at any moment and peace of mind to any customers. A genuine one stop And while the customer’s ambitions are completely start making breakfast. Something they could very respected, Jill and Dave are professional enough to shop! well do, because everything in the displays works as ensure that the client’s brief is practical, “We had a it would in your home, from ovens to hobs, Quooker lady who knew exactly what she wanted but when Once Jill and Dave had taken taps to sinks. we got it on the computer it just didn’t work. The over at in-toto Stockport, the ovens would have been too far away from any surface original bathroom displays were Jill and Dave are more than happy with the way the where she could put pans down, so we had to recomreplaced with a fully functionbusiness is developing, “A lot of the work we’re geting wet room area, bath and mend a rethink. We want the space to work for them.” ting is based on the fact that we can offer the whole furniture displays. Jill explains, package. Other in-totos may have a strong link with a “we want people to see how a Jill and Dave have already been quick to connect with local builder, but they’re not the main contractor on wetroom actually works. Our the local community. Oliver Dunn has turned up to the job. in-toto Stockport is the builder, is the kitchen bath and sink taps work. If we supplier and is the bathroom installer. More than that, make truffles and chocolate shapes immediately prior can show customers what we to Valentine’s Day and the opening event, attended though, if you want an honest, local company that is do and how we do it, we feel by the mayor, featured a Neff chef hosting a live a registered installer of Nu-Heat underfloor heating they are more likely to put their cookery event in the fully working kitchen display at systems, that can offer supplied and fit Vaillant boilers faith in us. Every job we do the front of the showroom. Along with Siemens and with a seven year guarantee and install a GRP roof looks like the job we have done Miele, Neff are the main lines of cooking equipment with a 25 year guarantee from world leaders Polyroof, in our own showroom, be it a in-toto offer (although they will supply other brands). you are in the right place. So if you wanted your new kitchen, a bathroom, or a two All the tools for cooking, showering and, well, living, kitchen or bathroom in a new extension, we could storey extension!” are on display at In-Toto Stockport. When you visit do the whole thing. Naturally, if you just want us to fit you can see for yourself how a cutting-edge induca kitchen and bathroom we are more than happy to Elsewhere around the surpristion hob can help you boil a pan of milk quicker than do so. If you have your own fitters, we supply only, as anything you’ve seen before, or you can stroll through ingly large showroom, the well.” your level access shower room. Jill would love to fresh redecoration gives a more show you. Dave would love to fit it for you. homely and inviting feel. The One of the big bonus points selling quality German kitchen displays occupy the ma- and English kitchens is that repeat business does

Intoto Kitchens Stockport 22, Wellington Road South, SK4 1AA (under the Garrick) 0161 477 7282 stockport@intoto.co.uk 17

interiors

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THE VIRTUAL ROOM

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interiors

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hind Asco Lights, a Ajay Vasdev is the man be about his business, the man clearly enthusiastic tes and the thought of industry in which it opera mes to a level beyond transforming people’s ho ssible. The extravaanything they thought po wroom is Ajay’s way of gance of the Stockport sho , “With lighting - espetrying to bridge that gap g where there’s colour cially architectural lightin g - it’s very difficult to changing and mood-settin chure. You have to be see the concept from a bro ce. So what I wanted to submersed within the spa t where people would create was an environmen lot of peoples’ first come in and go ‘Wow ’ and people like you existed, reaction is ‘I never knew ’” thank God I’ve found you

it takes the cinema expegoes dark. It’s incredible, will also sync to games rience to another level. It something like that, you consoles and music. With people can see it and need to demonstrate it so say ‘I get it.’ subconscious level of “Lighting is all about the space so we go a bit how people feel within a lighting. We provide deeper than just selling your emotional state solutions that will transform within a space.”

m to host seminars Asco also use the showroo ers but Ajay also sees for architects an develop and as such makes it it as a space to be enjoyed meetings, parties ilable for hire, for business ava htec of els lev r ate gre used for a Slimming Over the last few years, as other events. It has been and rs, ne ow me ho to le ilab young singer chose nology have become ava rld photo shoot and one Wo has t en nm viro en stic her album cover. the impact on the dome venue as the backdrop to the s wa nse po res ial init o.uk has been set been huge. Many people’s website ascovenuehire.c s The wa s Thi s. tem sys ual Vis quiries regards private to go big on their Audio specifically to handle en up es, e zon som sic nt mu me t: est ou ab as an inv the future they had read Ajay acquired the building use of the showroom te-of-art cinema sta and vious tenant moved use pre ho the the t en ou wh t bu through ago rs yea up n companies sprang t he should move in. He of services, from systems. Home automatio out, it occurred to Ajay tha ile Asco offer a full range stic Wh me do g ally lon e tot for m, be tto and top to bo nagement and training to cater for this demand gutted the building from sign, through project ma de e sid ng ich alo wh ed or cifi flo spe top ing out the ny see prospective lighting systems were be renovating it and then let product sales, the compa to s ng rk thi wo o nt tw me the ish een urb tw . The ref only, hence the earlier the AV. The difference be is run as a licensed venue tomers by appointment cus at wh w 65 n kno le tha re op pe mo ny ation of or. however is that while ma also allowed for the install reference to a closed do massive sound ich are used a wh to s es uit circ com it lled en tro wh con nt y they wa independentl en it comes to lighting e lighting, of which there business of hiding his system or 90” plasma, wh to manage the decorativ ver That said, Ajay isn’t in the ne le, sib pos at’s wh w r us it’s getting the their home, they don’t kno is plenty. lights behind a bushel, “Fo g designers who can mind available. rd out that we are lightin wo n tto bu a k Clic by iPads. your project. Going “Everything’s controlled nsform and add value to tra ng ildi bu a ed t list go II ’ve de We Gra a l change. s the last thing people Behind a closed door, in and the whole space wil ck a few years lighting wa ba ny pa com and a is vie , mo ort a ckp watching le are thinking about it at 91 Lower Hillgate in Sto system whereby if you’re thought about, now peop le. ssib l po wil at’s m wh roo ctly ole , the wh the house. who can demonstrate exa there’s a green explosion before they’ve even built k, the room siness for ten years dar bu es in go en film be e the hav en hts Wh .

Lig Asco sync to green m premises in Knutsford but their recent move fro a ctly demonstrates how eractive guide that perfe int an m ily. roo l fam tua d an vir rty ema, pa the ASCO website is the y of purposes such as cin A fascinating feature of to accomodate a variet ed ng cha y tel ple com be room’s environment can

www.asco-lifestyle.co.uk

0161 207 0212

19

partying

ITʼS OFFICE XMAS PARTY TIME!

I

f you occupy a position at work that carries with it the responsibility of organising the Christmas Party, then you might already be suffering the duress associated with that thankless task.

summed up when we asked an internet forum of semi-respectable people in mostly gainful employment what their preferences were. This is how one thread developed:

In an ideal world you would organise the event some time around Easter and let everyone know what’s happening the day before. This way you get the pick of dates as well as venues whilst minimising the amount of time prospective guests have to moan about every single detail of your meticulously organised function.

bert: Find a bar, put a load of money behind it, done. gerardhoullierbadger: And what about the people who don’t enjoy getting drunk? bert: Nobody’s forcing anybody to drink. gerardhoullierbadger: So you’ve got a budget to spend on a Christmas party and you’ve chosen to put all of it into a bar tab. Very inclusive.

One would assume that there exists a simple list of Dos and Don’ts that would make it easy to organise the perfect Christmas party but it turns out there isn’t.

You probably know that already.

But there was no stopping people. This turned out to be a much more emotive subject than we’d anticipated. Everyone had their own rules, some sensible: Mr Jolly: Check dates with the key people you want before telling others. Make sure everyone is aware of the signup/invite process - is it for employees only or partners too?

There are a million experts ‘out there’ offering advice and of course, some of it is utterly insane. One feature, hilariously titled “How to Plan an Office Party When You Are Not Giving Out Bonuses” says - and I’m not making this up -“It is generally better to keep office parties alcohol free.” No bonus and no booze?

Well that’s office morale through the roof. It also says “Have employees bring food” Hahahaha!

The dilemma facing the organiser was perfectly

Some sensible-ish: champers: Rig the raffle so directors don’t win.

And some capitalised: Croesus: HOW ABOUT ROUNDERS? EVERYONE HATES THAT

The entire process is of course subjective, which is why there’s no point even trying to please everyone.

A couple of observations were made more than once though so that might be as near as this hastily cobbled together Christmas Party guide will come to rules of thumb.

• Don’t assume everyone wants to spend any of their own money on a company do.

• To some people it might all be a chore, be wary of costing them a weekend night as well.

• If you have your do on a weekday, don’t be rotten about everyone turning up for work punctually the next day.

• Don’t organise anything that puts people in an uncomfortable position. We’re looking at you, karaoke.

• Keep it local unless you’re sorting out how everyone gets home.

• Don’t have your party in your offices.

Not ever.

• Book it NOW!

Your party will not be this goo

d

eating

TOM YAM

M

att Quinn was already on the look-out for a suitable location in which to open a restaurant when he spotted an available unit slap bang on the main roundabout in Poynton. Three years ago this site would have had little to recommend it beyond visibility but the new road lay-out and available parking made it a considerably more attractive proposition.

In the process of selling his packaging business, Matt and his Thai-born wife Jarinya had decided that a Thai restaurant was an ideal next venture and a chance meeting with Khun O was an important step towards that. Jarinya had previously worked with him at another restaurant and when the pair bumped into him and told him of their plans, he was quick to get onboard. Khun O was brought on as General Manager and quickly began headhunting some of the best Thai chefs from London.

As Matt ferried chefs and their belongings up North, work began on the interior design. Artwork was sourced from Thailand but as the interior took shape, Matt was concerned about the direction it was heading, “The colours we were using were too bright, it was beginning to look like a Mediterranean restaurant”.

So, with only four weeks until opening, Matt took the decision to start over and called in Anna Mitchell-Waring to created the luxurious and perfectly appropriate interior you see here in record time.

Tom Yam - named after the Thai soup - seats 60 people and serves sensibly priced, high quality food.

The more difficult to source ingredients are flown in from Thailand but the magic happens in the kitchen.

Shown right are Pla Chu Chee (salmon in a creamy curry sauce) and Moo Ping Pork (charcoal grilled pork skewers with a fiery dipping sauce).

events

THE VIKINGS ARE C STOCKPORT MEDIEVAL VIKING MARKET 24TH - 26TH OCTOBER

A

t the end of October, Stockport Old Town will play host to a remarkable gathering of strangely dressed people who will set up camp for three days, during which they will do their best to entertain, educate and startle you.

The event has been organised by Derek Morgan (a man firmly in touch with his spiritual side as anyone who knows him through his work at ISIS Stockport will attest) who took inspiration from the success of similar events in Warrington and Formby. Using Portas as a platform for funding the happening, the Stockport Viking Market - and the programme of events that is being built around it - promises to provide one of the more spectacular experiences in the local calendar.

We met up with Derek to find out what’s planned, “The success of the Warrington and Formby markets was all down to the authenticity of the events: the re-enactments, the boats, the authentic environment that is created which really does give you the experience of how it would have been back then, eight or nine hundred years ago.

“Around the churchyard we’ll have quite a lot of knights in armour - in fact we’ll have an entire encampment of them - and I think you might see some single combat there as well.”

The whole phenomena is launched in St Mary’s Church on Friday 24th where there will be a live performance by Serpentyne, a band you might not have heard of but one with a sizeable following, “They are a huge group” Derek explains, “we’ve already had a lady call us from Peterborough to buy tickets. She’s coming up just to see them.”

The band play what they describe as Medieval World Rock, using a mix of traditional and modern instruments. Tickets are just £5, as are tickets from the closing concert - which is also being held in the church - which will feature Leafblade playing “beautiful, mellow Celtic songs”.

Tickets for both events are available from www.stockportvikings. weebly.com where you can also find more information about the market.

Outside the church over the Saturday and Sunday, the market will take centre stage. The Old Town is the venue for a traditional market, a Teenage Market, a Vintage Market, a handmade market and while it might not be true to say it’s not seen anything like this before, it certainly hasn’t seen its like for a good few centuries.

Naturally kids will love it. Apart from the costumes and the odd fight there will be birds of prey there and a “Shoot a Knight” competition to test the kids’ bow and arrow skills. There will even be a couple of viking longboats making an appearance but we don’t think they’ll be coming down the Mersey.

While some of the 100-plus market stalls will offer goods for sale wooden handcrafted pieces, strange fruit and vegetables that were

22

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SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER EXHIBITIONS Until 26th October 2014 Saints & Sinners Paintings from the John Benjamin Smith Collection Stockport Story Museum, SK1 1ES This exhibition explores virtue and vice as depicted in the John Benjamin Smith Collection, gifted to Stockport in 1879. Iconic religious scenes, stories of martyrdom and vistas of classical ruins provide an interesting backdrop to the story of the man behind the collection. Smith was an MP for Stockport for over 20 years and one of the founding fathers of Stockport’s Museums. He collected these paintings during his grand tour of Italy.

Suitable for all ages. Free admission Contact: 0161 218 1460 Until 30th October 2014 Sea, Surf, Sun & Sand - Mavis Roper A display of Seascape and Sunset photographs from around the world.

Mavis will be at Stockport Art Gallery on Saturday 4th October between 2pm and 4 pm when she will be happy to offer feedback on your own images.

Tuesday - Friday: 1pm - 5pm Saturday: 10am - 5pm Sunday: 11am - 5pm Mondays: Closed Stockport Art Gallery Until May 2015.

Making Headway - The Exhibition Amazing exhibition of a brand new collection of couture hats created with inspiration from Stockport museum collections by the best up and coming millinery talents in the country!

For the very first time at Hat Works all the hats in the show are for sale, which presents visitors with the opportunity to buy a unique couture hat by a future millinery star, inspired by Stockport.

Suitable for all ages Hat Works, Wellington Road South, Stockport SK3 0EU Admission free 10:00 - 17:00

EVENTS Every Tuesday Second-hand Tuesdays As part of the Stockport Market Improvement Plan, Tuesdays have been themed for second hand, antiques, collectables and bric-a-brac. Trading opportunities are now available for only

£7.50 per day you can have: A marquee for cover, a table and Parking Turn up on the day between 7am and 8am. You must stay trading until at least 3pm. All goods MUST be second hand to qualify for this reduced rent package.

Every Wednesday Tea Dance Refreshments available as well as a charity raffle. Come and enjoy an afternoon in the magnificent Town Hall ballroom with all your favourite dance songs. New dancers and group parties always welcome. (Groups of over 6 people please contact 0161 474 3451) Town Hall Ballroom £2.40 13:30 - 16:00 Every Wednesday Blitz Jive Classes It’s easy to learn with a friendly mix of teaching and freestyle sessions.

Beginners class: 7.30pm. Intermediate class: 8.45pm. Dancing until 10.30pm.

No partner required. Bar open Stockport Town Hall Ballroom Tickets and info: 079 6318 4578 £7.00 19:30 - 22:30 Fri 26th - Sat 27th September Merseyway Fundraiser See page 5 for more details

Thursday 2nd October Michelle Shocked Best known for Anchored Down in Anchorage but so much more than just that.

8:30pm til 11:00pm (last entry 8:00pm) The Blue Cat, Heaton Moor

Alternate Fridays: 26th Sep, 10th and 24th October Bowler Hat Babies A unique interactive story and sensory play experience for babies, who are not yet walking.

10.30am-11.15am or 11.30am-12.15pm Booking Essential : 0161 474 2399 £5 per baby Hat Works, Stockport Thurs 26th - Sun 28th September Buy Art Fair Eighty galleries will be exhibiting the work of over 500 artists and with prices from £50 - £5,000+ there is a piece of original, affordable art for everyone. www.buyartfair.co.uk Old Granada Studios, Manchester 9am - 4pm Sat 27th - Sun 28th September From Hood to Hat in a Weekend Milliners, Sue Carter and Marie Thornton are delivering this fantastic weekend course for beginners or those who want more practice and expert tuition in blocking a stylish wool felt hat just in time for winter.

The workshop will give complete beginners the knowledge and confidence to block and experiment with materials on their own.

The weekend includes lunch on both days and a tour of Hat Works’ machinery floor with time to visit the current Making Headway exhibition which features hats by both tutors.

0161 474 2399 £85 per person or £155 for two people 10am - 4pm each day Sunday 28th September Bramall Hall free Entry Day Bramall Hall is closing its doors for refurbishment at the end of September 2014. Free entry day will give visitors the chance to take a last look around this beautiful Grade I listed building and see the plans for its restoration.

As this will be a popular day, tours of the Hall will be self-guided.

Suitable for all ages Just drop in. 1pm - 5pm Saturday 4th October Bramhall’s Got Talent See page 14 for more details Sunday 5th October Book & Record Fair Up to 50 stalls of books, records and ephemera.

what’s on

10am - 4pm, Stockport Market Hall Sunday 12th October The Vintage Village Stockport Market Hall 10am - 4pm Tuesday 14th October Stitching Group Get creative and meet others who enjoy the fun and benefits of sewing, knitting and rag rug making. Bring whatever you are working on or materials to start from scratch.

Every month, on the Second Tuesday Free Heatons Library, Thornfield Road, Heaton Moor, Tuesday 14th October East Cheshire National Trust AGM with Guest Speaker: Cei Paynton, Lyme Park.

Guest speaker Cei Paynton will talk about ‘A Year in the Life of a National Trust Property’ Cei’s first job was with the Channel 4’s Time Team, where she worked as a consultant behind the scenes and also in front of the cameras. Then she became the Education Co-ordinator at the British Museum in London for 6 years. After this she moved to the Leeds City Museum as Principal Keeper, then on to being Consultant Manager for the National Trust in Grasmere before taking over as the Property Manager at Lyme.

St Michael’s Church Hall, Bramhall £1.50 members - £12 non members 2pm - 4pm Thursday 16th October Screen Stockport See page 9 for more information.

Thursday 16th October Chadkirk Gardens Task Day Join a team of enthusiasts to help maintain and enhance the Chapel Gardens on the 3rd Thursday of each month.

Info: Mrs Pat Baker on 0161 430 5782 10am - 4pm Friday 24th October Foodie Friday Food and entertainment in and around the Market Hall 6pm-9pm Friday 24th - Sunday 26th October Medieval Viking Market See pages 22-23 for more information.

29

music

NEIL COSSAR Guitarist, disc jockey, owner of a public relations company, web entreprenuer, app developer and festival organiser.

We had a chat with Neil about then and now

N

days in the year notable events in music took place, something I could take about on the show. After a couple of years it had grown to the point where I started getting a bit obsessed with it and I’d think ‘I don’t have much for September 27th’ so I’d be off researching it.”

eil Cossar has been active in the music industry in the North West for as long as either of us care to remember Before we met up he sent me a link to his profile on the Absolute PR website. Intriguingly it began “Neil was in an 80’s band signed to Parlophone who made three albums but never troubled the charts”

The website www.thisdayinmusic.com was launched in 1999 and three books have been published off the back of it. More recently Neil realised that there was value to be had in the app market and have, to date released This Day In The Rolling Stones, This Day in Led Zeppelin, This Day In Pink Floyd and This Day In Classic Rock. This Day In Queen is currently in development.

It turned out that the band were The Cheaters and that I’d been part of the studio audience when they had performed on The Oxford Road Show. A long time ago.

“The Oxford Road Show was a big thing for us because it was national TV and it was a happening show.

We were playing Blackpool that night so we jumped in the van, legged it to Blackpool and went straight on stage and it was absolutely rammed, because we’d just been on TV” Towards the end of the 80s the band dissolved and Neil migrated towards the shadowy world of pirate radio, specifically, Stockport’s very own KFM, where former Cheaters’ singer Mick Brophy had a Saturday Night Americana show. “I started helping Mick and this gave me a bit of a taste for working in radio - but only behind the scenes, I never wanted to sit behind a mic. It was fantastic fun, well before XFM came along KFM was the alternative station. Craig Cash did the very first Oasis interview, we were the first to have the Charlatans in, the first Radiohead session... they were good times.

When KFM was awarded a proper radio license in 1989 Neil “blagged” himself a job as head of music.

One day if course, a bit of a crisis meant he had to stand as a presenter and clearly acquitted himself well because he subsequently presented an evening show for six more years, well into the station’s second life as Signal Radio.

30

The more recent launch - Rocking All Over The World - is quite different and not only for being free (the aforementioned sell for £1.99).

“Eventually I got a bit bored - especially working evenings - and fancied getting into the PR side of things so I went to work for Tony Michaelides (known as Tony the Greek to pretty much everyone) and there I met my now partner Liz Sanchez and we decided to start our own PR company Absolute PR which we did in 1997. And I’ve been doing that ever since.”

However, what Neil is focussing on at the moment has its roots back in his radio days, “because I was a reluctant DJ and didn’t like just talking about things out of the papers I started to compile a list of what

The app is a fascinating bit of fun which focusses on locations rather than dates, identifying places of musical interest across a world map. The real beauty of the concept lies in the fact that users add landmarks to the app themselves (once it has quite sensibly been approved for publication.) This takes a possible complaint “you don’t have any landmarks in my city!” and throws it back at the user: “well add some then”.

It is also a very clever way of adding content and guaranteeing data growth.

But Neil is nothing if not a man with plenty of strings to his bow and as we go to press he will be putting the final touches on the inaugural Hayfest Festival which he has helped organise in Hayfield where he lives. See page 5 for more information and a chance to win a family ticket.

Neil’s apps are all available from the iTunes store and other such outlets.