Essential Journal Issue 24

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Issue 24

The Essential Journal F A S H I O N

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L I F E S T Y L E

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C U L T U R E

We talk to the Head Cutter behind London’s royally-endorsed suiters, Huntsman

DMR brings an elegant collection of old and new to Liverpool's Town Hall

We tag along with the team from Fourpure as beer goes on tour

There’s something for everyone on Song Saa Private Island

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BILL MURRAY "Something happens on a golf course; you’re able to talk about things you can’t speak about at other times with other people...You feel free."

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W W W. E S S E N T I A L J O U R N A L . C O . U K

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| The Essential Journal

Issue 24

JAGUAR JAGUAR F-PACE F-PACE

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Issue 24

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Features

Contents 9

14 FROM BUILDING SITE TO LONDON FASHION WEEK

We catch up with Topman Personal Shopper and stylist, Arron Dickinson, to chat rags to riches fashion stories and why there’s never been a better time to book in for an appointment

THE PRIMER Light tales and advice from our Editor. Summer shoes, revisionist history, marmite and the perils of poison ivy are amongst the loving recommendations

12 HUNTSMAN: THE INTERVIEW

34 A GUIDE TO THE OPEN: WHERE TO EAT AND WHERE TO PLAY With Royal Birkdale electrifying Southport, we guide you to Merseyside’s premium courses and post-game restaurants

A conversation with the Head Cutter behind London’s royallyendorsed suiters. Shifting trends, innovation and tie dye suits are among talking points

18 EVERYTHING BUT

THE CLUB: DUNHILL Chronicling a Victorian-era brand’s ascent to world recognition and plunge into the field of luxury golf apparel

20 TEE OFF YOUR

GROOMING REGIME Ahead of the 146th open at Royal Birkdale, we guide you through essential grooming tips to sidestep wasted money and glaring looks

22 NEW SUMMER LOOKS FROM

ANDREW COLLINGE Salon-of-the-year victors Andrew Collinge debase their new 80’s inspired-collection

25 THE SCENT OF ROYAL

APPROVAL An uncompromising discussion with perfuming authority Alberto Morillas, his pioneering work with Penhaligon’s and the drive behind it all

17 ONE THING DONE WELL #2: SPOKE

In pursuit of innovative brands and their finest pieces, we speak with Spoke founder Ben Farren on crafting chinos with razor-sharp focus

CONTRIBUTORS Alan Smithee Alberto Morillas Angharad Jones Arron Dickinson Association of Illustrators Ben Farren Benna Harry Dario Carnera Fourpure Brewing Jeremy Deller John Thornton Miles Kenny Royal Institute of Architecture Tom Williams Tristan Manco

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27 LAUNCHED THIS MONTH

46 JEREMY DELLER

The Turner Prize winner refuses self-description, details a nude Iggy Pop and honours Brian Epstein ahead of a presentation at Metal Liverpool

PUBLISHERS Singleton Publishing EDITOR Davey Brett SUB EDITOR Hope Brotherton WRITER Reuben Tasker CREATIVE DIRECTOR Thomas Sumner DESIGN ASSITANT Jess Lord COVER IMAGE Bill Murray

David M. Robinson brings an elegant collection, old and new to Liverpool's Town Hall

28 A BOTTLE OF GREAT

IMPORTANCE: VALLADO ABF 1880 In a fabled Portuguese valley, Quinta do Vallado celebrated 300 years of wine-brewing, in their 301st year, we detail their limited stock

30 A WALK AROUND THE

TURMEAUS WHISKEY ROOM A UK leader in tobacco and cigars, Turmeaus boldly forayed into Whiskey production.

We investigate their Liverpool brewery

33 BEER GOES ON TOUR

As craft beer transcends into the mainstream, we go on tour with Fourpure Brewers and stay connected with the purists

37 POSITIVE LUXURY

The ultimate luxury island escape: From adventurers to serial relaxers, there’s something for everyone on Song Saa Private Island

38 CANVASSING THE PROS

Six golfing maestros share predictions, forecasts and anecdotes. Tales of deafening crowds and masterclasses feature alongside Royal Birkdale’s official course guide

40 THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE:

COFFEE Literally everything that should influence your morning brew.

Our favourite coffee shops, international roasters, home brew methods are intricately revealed

43 THE MAGICAL MYSTERY

OF BILL MURRAY Hollywood’s lovable outlier speaks on his inseparable bond to the diamond range. The curtain is lifted on a private life, golf’s intimacy and the danger of human humour

48 CINEMA

Tragedy and youthful humour clash in this Oscar-nominated stop motion and we debate why mature narratives are subverting animation’s child-friendly tropes

50 STREET

The winners of The World Illustration Awards now revealed, judge Tristan Manco spills on the anatomy of an award-winning illustration

52 GRAND DESIGNS IN GOLF

Liverpool’s cultural centre RIBA North assist in picking out five of the country’s grandest, most dramatic fields of play

55 GENTS, WE NEED TO TALK

ABOUT GOLF Golf’s time, cost and perception are surgically analysed in our new column’s third installment, dedicated to debunking stereotypes

CONTACT For all advertising enquiries please contact: sales@essentialjournal.co.uk For all other enquiries including guest editorial and feature opportunities please contact: info@essentialjournal.co.uk

TERMS & CONDITIONS Under no circumstances must any part of this publication be reproduced without prior permission to the publisher. Whilst every effort is taken, the publisher shall not be held responsible for any errors. Furthermore, the publisher shall not be held responsible for an advertising material/content. Please also note that the views and opinions written within this publication do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the publisher. All prices and details stated within this publication are correct at the time of print, however these are subject to change and the publisher shall not be held responsible for these. Third party contributions own exclusive copyright to their own material that they have submitted as part of the publication.

All rights reserved.

A VIP EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER Indulge in Raceday Hospitality at a Chester meeting this 2017 season Only seven fixtures remain in Chester’s calendar.

A hospitality package offers the perfect opportunity to maximise every aspect of a raceday at Chester and with a range of on-course restaurants and private facilities to choose from, there’s a package to suit any requirement or budget.

Whether you’re looking to entertain clients, treat a loved one on a special occasion or simply get together with friends; lose yourself in stylish surroundings amongst a crowd of fellow pleasure seeking enthusiasts and make memories to look back on for years to come.

Choose between The White Horse gastro pub with its private garden and excellent location, Restaurant 1539 with panoramic views of the racecourse or a private chalet within the exclusive festival village for a superb track-side location and live jazz throughout the afternoon. There’s something for everyone.

Packages start from just £57.50 +VAT per person*

S c an H e re A TA S T E O F W H AT ’ S I N S T O R E *Price is per person and +VAT at the current prevailing rate, based on a White Horse Outside Garden package at MBNA Family Funday on Sunday 6 August.

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Remaining Racedays in 2017

Stella Artois Midsummer Meeting

mbna family funday

Saturday 29 July

Sunday 6 August

sportingbet ladies day

corbettsports chester stakes day

Saturday 26 August

Saturday 2 September

autumn festival

season finale

15 & 16 September

Saturday 30 September

Looking to combine entertaining with exposure for your business?

We have a limited number of sponsorship opportunities still available this season.

Talk to our sponsorship team about how Chester Racecourse can provide the perfect opportunity to promote your business to a crowd of thousands.

General ticket prices start at just ÂŁ10 on the Open Course for Adults, whilst Under 18s are eligible to attend all race days at Chester absolutely FREE!^

01244 304 631 I chester-races.com ^Children aged 17 and under are admitted free of charge, when accompanied by a full paying responsible adult.

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Liverpool A UNIQUE

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The Primer WHAT WE'RE DRINKING: WHAT WE'RE READING:

ON WRITING

BY STEPHEN KING This month, our editor got a bit obsessed with Stephen King. He read, watched and listened to all things Stephen King, he went to the pub and talked (to anybody that would listen) about Stephen King and some nights he even dreamt about Stephen King. The root of all this obsession? ‘On Writing’. Part autobiography, part ‘writing for dummies’, the book is rich with King’s modest yet vivid writing style and delves into fascinating tidbits of his life like the intervention that saw him kick his drinking habit and the time he accidentally wiped his bum with poison ivy. The book also provides priceless tips and advice for improving your writing. We’ve taken note.

WHAT WE'RE EATING:

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening - and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.”

Arnold Palmer

NENI, BERLIN Conveniently-placed at the top of Berlin’s trendy 25hours hotel with panoramic views overlooking the city’s zoo on one side and cityscape on the other, Neni is a must-visit for dinner with a view in Germany’s hipster Mecca. Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern dishes perfect for sharing are Neni’s speciality, with the Hamshuka - served with beef, lamb and spicy chili - a delicious take on classic hummus.

THE PODCAST:

Thanks for picking up an issue of The Essential Journal. This issue is about golf. Well not entirely, but some of it is, but don’t worry golf haters, we’ve got you covered. Jeremy Deller, Bill Murray and illustrator Tristan Manco all grace our wonderful pages, alongside a look into golf club architecture, our beloved cinema guide, the first ever ‘Essential Guide to’ (coffee) and a wonderful chat we had with the head cutter over at Huntsman on Savile Row. The perfect reading material, whether you’re sat on the stands over at Royal Birkdale in between shots, or you’re sat at home drinking your first EJ inspired home brew coffee.

Enjoy The Open everyone.

@crafthousecoffee

By Day

CRAFTHOUSE COFFEE: EL OBRAJE, NARIÑO It’s not often that you find yourself sipping on a cup of coffee, the beans of which originated 2250 metres above sea level beside an active volcano, but this month we managed to get our mitts on such a bag. Crafthouse Coffee’s Colombia El Obraje, is one of the rarest Geisha varieties of coffee bean you’re likely to drink.

The position of the plantation is unique not just because of the active volcano next door, but the lack of neighbouring plantations due to the belief that the spot is outside of the ‘coffee belt’.

The results are an extremely complex cup with a floral Jasmine and black tea aroma with notes of raspberry, peach and blackcurrant. For the sake of our morning cup, we’re hoping that volcano remains calm.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING:

@northernmonkbrewco

REVISIONISTS HISTORY Despite (recently) being big golf fans here at The Essential Journal, we’re always open to alternative viewpoints and few are more rationally damning than Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History. Now in its second series, the first episode begins at the barbed-wire fence of Brentwood Country Club, one of the few green spaces in all of central Los Angeles, and embarks on a philosophical investigation into rich people and their addiction to golf. A master of delving into the overlooked and misunderstood, Gladwell teases out golf’s tax shy private landgrab across America as well as the sport’s correlation between CEO playing time and declining corporate performance. The episode really puts the current President’s golfing habits into perspective.

By Night

NORTHERN MONK PATRON’S PROJECT 4.02: NORTHERN TROPICS IPA MASTER OF NONE - SEASON 2 For the uninitiated, Aziz Ansari is hilarious. If you’ve never heard of him (where have you been?), go watch him on Youtube now. Type in his name alongside either ‘marriage’, ‘50 cent grapefruit’, ‘Kanye West’ or ‘bed sheets’. Also, watch his awardwinning comedy series on Netflix, Master of None, which is now in its second season.

Co-written by Ansari and Alan Yang, the show explores the cultural, romantic and employment experiences of a struggling actor of Indian descent (Ansari) and continues where season one left off with Ansari pursuing his love of pasta in Italy.

Superb writing and laugh out loud hilarity make it the perfect choice for your next Netflix binge.

What a can, what a beautiful can. With a can as beautiful as that there’s a lot of pressure to fill it with something delicious and in this case, Northern Monk have delivered. Part of the northern craft brewery’s ongoing series of collaborations with local creatives, Patron’s Project 4.02 is a fruity and lightly-coloured pineapple and grapefruit juice IPA that despite its 7.4% ABV is the perfect easy-drinking summer’s day beer. Friend of The Essential Journal, Drew Millward, provided the vibrant can design and even though we recycled it, we felt conflicted about putting it in the wheely bin.

WHAT WE'RE WEARING:

NOVESTA The story of our Head of Design’s search for the perfect white summer plimsole is one of biblical proportions; a tale of Lord of the Rings-scale drama, travelling and setbacks.

A quest that started months ago with the purchase of a smart pair of tan chinos and the insatiable desire to pair them with a white summer shoe. Thankfully, for everyone involved, this month one man’s white plimsole odyssey came to an end with the purchase of a pair of Novesta Star Masters.

The shoes, which are still prodiced in their original factory in Partizanske, a small town in the heart of Slovakia, are made from natural rubber and 100% cotton, which makes them a bit more ecologically sound than your average clog. They look great with a pair of chinos too.

THE DETAILS MARMITE

ON OUR COFFEE TABLE:

WHAT WE’RE EXCITED FOR:

For some reason, this issue we have mentioned Marmite more than usual. We compared it to golf(P.) and Jeremy Deller (P.) told us he loves the stuff. If you’re wondering, we hate it, and all its international variants (we’re looking at you straya’).

That’s not to say we weren’t curious as to what was happening in the Marmite universe, so we delved.

Two scraps of news came to light. The good news is that researchers at the University of York have found a link between consuming Marmite and the increase of a neurotransmitter associated with healthy brain function, a discovery which could help with the treatment of dementia. The bad news (arguably good) is that a Brexit-inspired falling pound could lead to Marmite price hikes. Last year Tesco managed to talk Unilever out of a price hike, but with future uncertainty, enthusiasts may have to be a bit more frugal with how much they spread on their toast.

BILL MURRAY'S ANTICS

THE BACKBONE OF BRITAIN: THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CRAFT A chance encounter led us to our new favourite coffee table book. At last month’s North-West RIBA awards we got chatting to Rob Evans (photography) and Chris Roberts (design and words) about a photography project they had been working on that turned into a book. Said book, The Backbone of Britain, charts their journey across the country interviewing and photographing manufacturers of everything from glass to knives, surfboards to motorcycles.

Thanks to stunning photography and the simplicity of their interviewing, Backbone is an inspiring collection of snapshots from the world of manufacturing and begs the simple question: why do you do what you do?

WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING:

FIA FORMULA E CHAMPIONSHIP, BERLIN We’ll level with you, it sounds like scalextric and has a lot of catching up to do if it’s going to reach the heights of Formula 1, but Formula E is fast becoming an exciting prospect in the racing world. This month we got a chance to experience it for ourselves in Berlin and we were pleasantly surprised. The battery life is short, meaning drivers literally have to swap cars during pitstops and again, the sound (or lack thereof will) will leave petrolheads wanting, but framed by the majestic surroundings of Tempelhof and wrapped up in a festival atmosphere, last month’s Berlin races definitely carried an infectious sense of excitement for the future. A chance to do two laps of the racetrack in a fullyelectric BMW i8 also swayed us. Zero to sixty in four battery-powered seconds is a future we can get behind.

VISITS TO THE LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC Nobody wants to admit it, but the nights are slowly drawing in and before you know it, you’ll blink and summer will be gone. Luckily, The Liverpool Philharmonic has got a September calendar that’ll occupy your nights as they edge towards Autumn. From a jazz-influenced blues artist to a pop music iconoclast, A.J. Croce will no doubt be an enthralling spectacle, whilst ‘All or Nothing: The Mod Musical’ will have you digging out your Lambretta and asking for a ‘Rod’ down the barbers.

For comedy fans, Stewart Lee will grace the Phil’ with his sarcastic mastery (don’t tell the ukips).

There’s nothing more enjoyable than reading a list of Bill Murray’s antics and because we couldn’t fit them all in our cover feature (P.), we’ve left some here instead. Enjoy: After a disagreement on the set of the comedy What About Bob? Murray threw producer Laura Ziskin into a lake. Murray once played guitar on stage with Eric Clapton. On his 20th birthday, Bill Murray was caught with $20,000 worth of cannabis in his suitcase at an airport. He was caught after a member of staff overheard him joking in the queue that he was carrying two bombs in his luggage. He reportedly took the voice role in Garfield because he thought the Coen brothers were directing the film. They weren’t. He had skim read the script and mistaken them for screenwriter ‘Joel Cohen’, a writer credited on Toy Story and Daddy Day Camp. Bill Murray used to play ‘shotgun golf’ with Hunter S. Thompson. Bill Murray once broke Robert Di Niro’s nose. Bill Murray once gatecrashed a party hosted by some Norwegian students in Scotland. He reportedly rocked up, told some jokes, did the washing up, then left. Bill Murray’s mood swings led Dan Aykroyd to give him the nickname ‘The Murricane’. God bless Bill Murray.

VOGUE MAGAZINE

The British edition of the iconic fashion title that inspired our Penhaligons interviewee, perfumer Alberto Morillas (P.), to embark on his journey into the fragrance industry has been rocked this month by an interview with former fashion director Lucinda Chambers. The interview, which first appeared on the website of niche fashion journal, Vestoj, (before being taken down, cached, then reuploaded) is an extraordinarily honest and bare insight into life at one of the world’s most famous magazines. Chambers, who says she was fired by the then incoming editor after 25 years of service (without anyone else within the organisation knowing), drops bombshell, after bombshell, after bombshell. From crap photoshoots with Alexa Chung in stupid tshirts to the the admission that she hasn’t read Vogue in years. The article is a tour de force of brutal fashion honesty and must’ve felt like an overwhelming breath of fresh air. Well worth a read.

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WELCOME TO

UNRIVALLED LUXURY

At Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa we strive for perfection. Over the last 12 months, we’ve invested £2.4 million on improving every aspect of our luxury resort to bring you the best high quality facilities and experience.

From refurbishing all of our 76 bedrooms and loft rooms, redeveloping our restaurant providing you the finest in local, fresh produce to our invigorating new pool and health club. Our luxurious spa has also experienced some special treatments too. Experience the new-look Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa and experience unrivalled luxury.

Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa Southport Old Road, Formby, Merseyside L37 0AB 01704 875 699

www.formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk

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STYLE

HUNTSMAN

THE INTERVIEW

words by DAVEY BRETT

We chatted to head cutter Dario Carnera about inspiration, history and eccentric suiting requests

W

here does one begin with Huntsman?

1809 is perhaps the logical place, the year the breech-makers was founded, before being taken over by the taylor, Henry Huntsman, in 1849.

From thereon the Huntsman brand was known for its hunting and riding wear quickly picking up royal warrants into the 20th century. The tailoring brand moved to Savile Row in 1919, just in time for the roaring 20s where the shop would acquire a roster of famous clients including Cecil Beaton, Laurence Olivier and Bill Blass.

It was also during this time that the shop acquired a pair of stags’ heads, after a customer left them and never returned to pick them up.

It was in the 30s that the shop went from tailors to an iconic bespoke British institution thanks to the transforming influence of Richard Anderson. Huntsman has remained high-profile ever since, dressing everyone from Gregory Peck to Ronald Reagan, and of course Matthew Vaughn - the director of Kingsman: The Secret Service the action comedy inspired by Vaughn’s experiences in the shop where he was measured for his first suit at the age of 18. We caught up with head cutter Dario Carnera to see what has changed over the years at one of the world’s foremost taylor. essential journal: Did you always know you wanted to work in tailoring? dario carnera: My father was a bespoke shoe maker so I have taken in Savile Row since I was a kid and I have always looked at it from afar. I was quite intimidated by it as a kid actually. It was always intimidating going into the shops. My father knew a lot of the tailors, but he said if I wanted to do it, I would have to find a job by myself, so I literally went knocking on doors asking for an apprenticeship and I was lucky enough to get one in the end.

Has Savile Row changed a lot?

In some ways yes, in some ways no. It’s a lot more open, I would say, and accessible now. It was always a pretty closed world and it was always very exclusive, it still is to a degree. The way the suits are cut and made hasn’t changed at all and it hasn’t changed for about a hundred years or so really. They’re all still made by hand. The shears I cut the fabric with are probably about a hundred years old, I’m about the fourth generation of cutter to be using the same shears. They get passed down.

I don’t think you would be intimidated walking in a shop anymore. In those days you would walk in a shop and all you could hear is the clock ticking.

Are there any characters that stick out from your early days on Savile Row? It was always a very stern environment. We had a head cutter here, Mr Hammick, I wouldn’t say he was a tyrant, but he was very strict. He had a very strict regime, you had to work and not talk and things had to be perfect. We don’t talk to the youngsters so much like that any more, but I will come down on the guys if something’s not right. We’ve got to be perfectionists. People are paying a lot of money for these suits, so we’ve got to make sure it’s right, and we do.

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What inspired you to join the industry?

I saw what my father was doing and it was something I was always interested in. I was interested in clothes and the practical side of it and seeing it all come together is so rewarding and to know you’ve made something that good. I still get a buzz from it, every suit I cut and inspect. It’s a great feeling.

Do you think that Savile Row has become more competitive? Have the same amount of people always been going for these jobs?

More so now than when I started. There’s probably not a massive pool of tailors on Savile Row of my generation.

It’s a bit easier in that respect for me. Especially over the last few years it has become more popular and there’s a lot of youngsters trying to get in and unfortunately we’re at a stage where we’re running out of space for people. Otherwise, we’d happily take more people in.

What do you think that uptake is down to?

A lot of things. I think you had the generation where everyone wanted to go to university and I think now, they’re becoming a bit more vocational. People are realising you can have a rewarding career without a degree. You get qualifications from this. You can make a good living from it, you’ll probably never get rich, but you can get a rewarding career from it and a sense of achievement. It’s a great atmosphere around here too. A real sense of community.

When we’re fitting somebody, we want them relaxed.

What does the role of Head Cutter involve?

My job is to oversee all the making and fitting around here. We’ve got the other cutters that are more than capable of doing everything, but we’ve got a house style and there’s standards we’ve got to keep and it’s my job to maintain those standards.

What attracted you to the Huntsman brand?

I came here firstly, about ten years ago. To me, Hunstman was always the top shop on the row, which makes it one of the top places in the world to work. It was a

Yeah, we did one recently, something we’ve never done before where we’ve chosen a cloth and made a tie dye suit. We got a natural white linen and we did the tie dying, a bit experimental really, we didn’t necessarily know how it would come out and actually it came out really well, we were really pleased with it. Something that’s going to get noticed.

Was that controversial?

Some would say, but ultimately we’re a bespoke tailors and we’re here to make people what they want. We will draw a line somewhere, but it was an interesting project and it came out really well.

"We did one recently, something we’ve never done before where we’ve chosen a cloth and made a tie dye suit. We got a natural white linen and we did the tie dying, a bit experimental really."

What’s a typical day like at Huntsman?

We all get in pretty early, behind the scenes getting things ready for the day, making sure the shop is as it should be, fitting rooms all ready with chalk and pins.

Generally, we’ll then have meetings about what’s going to happen through the day and what customers we are expecting, then we’ll open the door and see who comes in. We probably have an average of ten to twenty fittings per day. We never rush people, so however much time is needed, we’ll spend it with them. We try to look after people, get them a coffee. The main thing is to make people feel comfortable here, especially in the fitting room.

great ambition of mine to come and be a cutter here and it’s great to have achieved that.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

A lot of my predecessors really. I watched from afar and these guys were always high in my estimations and their level of skill and perfection was always something I wanted to emulate. That’s the thing, you are always learning in this. I never really call myself an expert because I’m learning every day, trying to be the best I can be and I’ll try to pass on what I can before I retire.

Are there any suits you’ve made recently that have stood out?

Have you had many other eccentric requests and styles?

Nothing too crazy, we do draw the line somewhere because we’ve got to remember our label’s in it. It is bespoke tailoring so people come in and they can get what they want, we’ve got a house style that we try and encourage people to have, but ultimately it’s not going to fit everybody. Most people come in for advice really, there are some people that come in with a specific idea of what they like but a lot of people come in for advice as much as anything, what will suit their shape, colours etc. We’ll go through a lot of question with somebody when they’re placing their first order as to where they live, do they travel a lot?

What do you think the future of tailoring looks like?

I think at the moment, very healthy. We’ve got quite a few youngsters that want to learn this which is great and we’re doing what we can do bring as many through, there’s a lot of talented youngsters out there and we’re going to do our best to nurture that.

Finally, if you could live in any era for its tailoring.

Which one would you choose?

Personally, most of the patents and designs I go back to are Victorian or early 20th century. I think they had some great clothes they were wearing then. My personal tastes has always been simple elegance. EJ

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STYLE

TOPMAN X ESSENTIALJOURNAL

From Building Site to London Fashion Week

We catch up with Topman’s Manchester Trafford Personal Shopper and stylist, Arron Dickinson, to chat rags to riches fashion stories and why there’s never been a better time to book in for an appointment

I

f you were to plot out the metaphorical rise of a fashion stylist, there’s a few key features you might naturally include in the story. Love of fashion magazines, check. Prominence on social media, check. Trademark personal style, check. Used to be a builder, ch… hang on. It’s not hard to spot the odd one out. Arron Dickinson however, Personal Shopper and stylist at Topman's Manchester Trafford store ticks all the boxes and then some.

Arron, whose love of fashion stemmed from an obsession with Tumblr fashion blogs in his late teens was working as a builder for five years before taking the leap into the world of fashion. Swapping tiling for tailoring, a dramatic rise through the ranks has meant he’s never looked back. We caught up with him for a chat in between appointments. essential journal: Hi Arron, can you tell us how you originally got into men’s fashion? arron dickinson: It all started about 10 years ago when I got into Tumblr. I was on it all the time, constantly looking at menswear. I would put up an outfit every day. I stopped doing that when I started doing it in the real world, although more recently I have found myself doing it again with the rise of Instagram.

You haven’t always worked in fashion, right?

No, [laughs] I was a builder before that. I studied at college in Leeds and then become a painter and decorator (and did a bit of roofing as well.) I started looking at

fashion magazines and before you know it, I was obsessed. I would read GQ front to back religiously.

What was the next step?

After that I got a job working on the high street, but they put me on womenswear. It was there that people began asking me for advice. I became really brutal, but I have to be honest, it has got to be right because I am a perfectionist and that comes out in my work.

Once I got onto the menswear department it was like being in my own little playground. I was dressing people up all the time. Also, because I was dressed really smart, nobody else dressed like that in the area, kids would come into the shop after school to see what I was wearing.

Then I handed my CV in to Topman Arndale and that was it, three months later they rang me and gave me a job.

What’re the perks of the job?

I love my job so much that it doesn’t even feel like work.

It has opened up other doors too, like Instagram, clients coming to me all the time through that. That’s how a lot of people find me.

It’s taken off from there. Going to London, going to fashion week. I got to meet Dylan Jones, the editor of the magazine that inspired my career. Meeting him was one of the biggest things for me, I was so shocked that I went really quiet.

Tell me a little bit about the service you provide?

It’s a free service where guys can come and get kitted out.

It’s shopping at ease, sometimes guys come in and they don’t necessarily know what it is they want. When they come in, they can literally chill and I go onto the shop floor to find things they like. A lot of times they’ll walk around, see something, but think ‘I can’t wear that’. It’s what they want, but they’re not confident enough to try it, but if you create the right outfit, it instantly becomes normal for them.

Why do you think it has taken so long for Personal Shopping to be a male thing?

Social media has been a massive influence, we lead extremely visual lives now where we want to look good, the Personal Shopping service allows customers to take inspiration from social media whilst creating their own individual style.

How do you get the feel for the person? What’s the approach?

When they come in, I’ll see how they're behaving.

If they’re nervous, I’ll usually walk them around the shop floor, break the ice. It’s all about making people feel comfortable. You have to be a people person, cater for anyone. You have to get on with everyone and that’s the key to what we do.

Do you think there is a misconception?

Sometimes, I think people think that Topman only caters to a young, edgy guy. We have a beautiful tailoring section. You can get a really good quality suit that’s great value and lasts.

What signature pieces should I be looking out for this season?

You can’t go wrong with a nice pair of relaxed tailored trousers and a white t-shirt, not too far out of your comfort zone, but still smart. Weaved loafers too, you’ve got to get yourself a weaved loafer. They’re in all year round and they’re the perfect summer shoe. EJ

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The Essential Journal | 15

WIN THE ULTIMATE NIGHT OUT FOR YOU & YOUR ENTOURAGE

The Prize £200 Personal Shopping Suiting Appointment Personal Driver Between Venues Luxury Overnight Stay at Hotel Gotham & Dinner at Artisan …We’ll Even Buy You Breakfast in the Morning To enter head to the Essential Journal website and tell us why you should win: WWW.ESSENTIALJOURNAL.CO.UK/TOPMAN

16 | The Essential Journal

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Issue 24

#2 The Essential Journal | 17

ONE THING DONE WELL:

SPOKE

We take a look at the brands doing one item of clothing especially well, continuing this month with Spoke chinos

T

here’s something to be said for focus in fashion, a narrowing down of scope in order to not necessarily perfect, but better an item of clothing. Variety is great, and the collections it manifests itself in are central to having a wide and exciting wardrobe, but sometimes, it’s important to focus.

“I’m not going to launch a collection, ever.” Ben Farren, founder of Spoke tells me, as he finishes off an especially impassioned monologue about why he formed his brand. Spoke is an e-commerce brand that makes high-quality chinos, and nothing else (except shorts, which are essentially cut off chinos). The reasons Ben started Spoke are twofold. Firstly, personal experience.

Ben couldn’t find a pair of trousers that fitted properly.

Despite a very average frame, like 30% of men who have either a 31 or 33 leg, he falls just outside of the average.

As he puts it, “Good luck finding a 31 leg anywhere.

You’re either dealing with ankle swingers or a crinkled hem.” Secondly, inspiration came from the complete lack of attention paid to trousers.

“Everything comes above trousers, it’s an afterthought, it’s an also ran. It’s half of your outfit and it’s super technical, but when trousers don’t fit, you know about it - it looks terrible. I felt like there was this dissonance between how much it matters to get right and the attention people pay to it.” Ben tells me. A quick look over any prominent online retailer’s website only confirms his theory. Trousers weren’t getting the attention they deserved, so Ben decided to change that.

Spoke chinos sit in the sweet spot between bespoke and ‘ready to wear’, meaning they fit better than your average chinos, but don’t carry the cost or hassle of going to a tailor. Fit is everything, so as well as waist and leg length, they take into account your frame, weight, height and how you wear your clothes. They also come in quality fabrics and a variety of styles and colours, and as a result look great and they last. Spoke is a brand “unashamedly nerdy” about trousers. “Rather than having been to Central St Martins to study fashion, I was coming at it completely ignorant.” Ben tells me. When forming Spoke, Ben delved into the anatomy of a pair of trousers; learning, questioning, measuring, calibrating, to such an obsessive level of detail that it verged on the academic. He probably could’ve written a PhD thesis with his findings, but instead he just used it to make better pairs of trousers.

Spoke chinos come in five styles ranging from ‘heroes’, their original smart casual trouser to ‘bulletproofs’, their waterproof nano-tech chinos with the active commuter in mind. ‘Fives’ are their five pocket jean inspired trouser (“never to be called a ‘Jeano’”), ‘summerweights’ are a lighter cotton summer essential, whilst ‘sharps’ are a more Scandi, cleaned up trouser with a little bit of stretch. All of them have been meticulously thought out, from where the pocket bag has been anchored, to whether a busted side seam or a fat fell is used and what difference this will make over time when the product is washed. A focus on trousers has led to unsurprisingly, great trousers.

As far as other brands doing one thing well, Ben recommends the Enfield-based shirt company, Triplstitch. They’ve got a really lovely story, their

“Everything comes above trousers, it’s an afterthought, it’s an also ran. It’s half of your outfit and it’s super technical, but when trousers don’t fit, you know about it - it looks terrible." business started when they discovered these old machines that were built to sew triple stitches, so they overhauled those machines and their shirts are really nice. Made with love in London.

Back to trousers though, and Ben’s focus at Spoke remains the same. “There’s something quite satisfying about it, chipping away at the problem. It’s not like one day I will arrive and think I have the ultimate pair of trousers. That’s not how things work, especially not in fashion. But I do feel like we’re chipping away at the problem, every iteration gets a little bit better and there is something intrinsically satisfying about that.” EJ

words by DAVEY BRETT

Issue 24

18 | The Essential Journal

STYLE

words by REUBEN TASKER

EVERYTHING BUT THE CLUB

For more than a century, Dunhill has fit the demand for a honourable luxury brand

A

fter his father’s death, inventor Alfred Dunhill found himself in a nonpareil position. He soon conceptualised a business aged just 21, smartly servicing the fiery demand for car accessories before the turn of the 20th Century. With overcoats, goggles and picnic sets found in the first collection, Dunhill boasted ‘Everything But the Motor’. Alfred continued innovating though. He pushed the name towards the luxury market whilst opening a store on Mayfair. Honouring his inventive skills, he introduced the ‘windshield pipe’, allowing drivers to smoke on the road, in his words a ‘motororiety’ (motor priority’).

The brand has since boasted worldwide recognition, whilst retaining its Euston Road legacy. The marble floors of its Jeremyn Street store evoke a barber shop, and every clothing article you’d want to sport there can be found in Dunhill’s catalogue.

Commitment to the art of craft is evident. Leather briefcases, files and accessories are forged in The Walthamstow Workshop. Items such as the Chassis 8cc Billfold Wallet are handcrafted in the rugged heart to the brand’s luxury face. Elsewhere, luxurious warm grey coats, velvet jackets and trousers adorn their indulgent collections.

A hot pursuit of Dunhill has been golfing. Last year, the legendary St. Andrews golf course played host to the 16th Dunhill Links Championship.

Dubbed one of the ‘richest golf tournaments in Europe’, the event is a magnet for both professionals and amateurs. Boris Becker and Samuel L. Jackson have played in the past, yet the victor is always professional. This season to answer the need for eccentric golfing attire, new arrivals include detailed lightweight polos and rucksacks. The high-concept lines are designed for both icy mornings or singeing summer afternoons. With deep-rooted connections, there’s an urgent attention to detail. Veteran golf journalist John Hopkins was among those consulted.

“There is a smack of the outré about [golfing attire]” he remarks on their website. It’s no easy field, with Dunhill brand ambassador concurring “It’s a difficult job making clothes for a sport that takes over four hours”.

Regardless, Dunhill persist through a luxury lense, seasonally steering toward every article needed on and off the court. From a quilted jacket, waterproofed sweater or cool pair of trousers, there’s little need to look further. To win the gaze of professionals, it helps to be a little inventive. EJ

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The Essential Journal | 19

BØCK BIÈRE CAFÉ EUR ØPEA N BEER S CØN T INENTA L CØF F EE CLASSIC CØCK TA ILS ALL DAY LU NCH MENU SHA R ING BØA R D S FØN DUE’S A ND D IP S

10 TIB LANE, MANCHESTER M2 4JB BOCKCAFE.CO.UK 0161 833 1034

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20 | The Essential Journal

par 4 STYLE

words by JOHN THORNTON, Themodernman.co.uk

TEE OFF YOUR MALE GROOMING REGIME Any sport with a dress code has to know a thing or two about style - what inspiration can be found on the fairway?

Eye It Up Pro golfer’s take their time to carefully analyse the conditions before every shot. Your first step should be analysing your skin.

Shiny like a claret jug? That’s oily. Dry as a bunker? That’s dry.

A shiny t-zone but dry through the cheeks? You’re blessed with the worst of both worlds: combination skin. And if your skin’s more irritating than the guy yelling “Get in the hole!” then it’s sensitive.

(Oily, dry and combination skin can all be sensitive.) Now you know your skin type, you can learn what products to use...or avoid.

Choose Wisely You wouldn’t use a driver on the green, and you don’t want to use a product aimed at dry skin if yours is oily - it’ll only increase the shine! For oily skin, look for products with ‘sebum’ (oil) control, and grease-busting ingredients like salicylic acid. For dry skin, hydration is your friend. Moisturisers using oils like argan or jojoba will ward off cracks and flaking. If you’ve got combination skin, start by focussing on where causes more issues. For sensitive skin, avoid harsh ingredients - alcohol and parfum are big culprits. Ingredients like aloe vera or menthol are great for cooling and soothing.

Avoid The Rough You’ll see precious little facial hair at Royal Birkdale, with one bearded exception: Dustin Johnson. There’s plenty to learn from the World Number 1 though, and not just how to perfect your swing. Johnson’s beard benefits from regular trims that keep it neat and smart, while maintaining the ruggedness that comes naturally with a beard. Unless you want to be mistaken for a fisherman, touch your beard up with a trimmer too - taking off just a couple of millimetres once a week will keep your beard looking sharp, regardless of the length. For really big beards though, you’re best off paying your barber a regular visit - like in golf, an accidental slice can prove costly.

Easy Does It With the iconic slopes and dunes of Royal Birkdale, overdo it and your ball - and shot at glory - can quickly get away from you. A feather touch is often better than bludgeoning it, and the same is true with grooming products: you rarely - if ever - need as much as you think. Not only are you literally washing money down the drain, too much hair product will leave your hair as spiky and plasticy as a tee. Your razor blades are plenty sharp enough too, they don’t need a metric tonne of pressure to get the job done.

A gentler touch will lead to a comfier shave and help you avoid razor burn.

This Month's Top Picks

Hair

Skin

Shave

MOJO HAIR STYLING CREAM

RECIPE FOR MEN SPF MOISTURISER

EDWIN JAGGER PRE-SHAVE LOTION

Great for hair with a bit of length or curl, it’s lightweight and gloop free.

A good SPF moisturiser is a skin-friendly way to protect against sun damage.

Sore after a shave? Protect yourself with a pre-shave under your cream or gel.

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Sportswear Essentials

The Essential Journal | 21

Discover summer’s must-have look for up to 60% less Whether you’re searching for high-end trainers, or classic tailored shorts – find all your summer sportswear essentials at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks. Here you’ll find sought-after brands like Lacoste, Fred Perry and Paul Smith and many more – all for up to 60% less. With 145 brands to choose from, we’re the perfect place to upgrade your look.

Golf Event 17 – 30 July Don’t miss the ultimate golf experience during the Open Championship this July at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks.

Enjoy extra savings on golfing essentials, plus special events and entertainment.

From stylish apparel to high-end clubs, discover everything you need for a day on the green.

Getting Here We’re just 30 minutes from Liverpool, and 45 minutes from Manchester. Find us off the M56, junction 15 or the M53, junction 10.

#FashionReimagined cheshireoaksdesigneroutlet.com

Under Armour

Ecco

RRP £20 Outlet £13.99

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Hot Golf

Lyle & Scott

RRP £199 Outlet £89

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Issue 24

22 | The Essential Journal

STYLE

ANDREW COLLINGE x ESSENTIAL JOURNAL

New Summer Looks From Andrew Collinge

THE PURE COLLECTION The Collinge name is one of the most respected names in the hairdressing industry. It's now a fourth generation business with a chain of salons and training schools throughout the North-West region.

T

here are two Andrew Collinge salons in Liverpool including the company's flagship salon on Castle Street which has been voted Salon of the Year by Hair magazine. The salon has an impressive clientele looked after by an experienced team of creative stylists.

Their other salon in the city is the Andrew Collinge Graduates salon at 99 Bold St. This salon is always a hive of activity and is a vibrant and exciting place to have your hair done. The team of talented young hairdressers based there look after a predominantly student based clientele who recognise the salon for offering great cutting and colouring at great prices.

Excellent training is paramount to the success of the company. Andrew's father, Peter Collinge OBE, founded the Collinge Training Academy back in the 1970’s and the award winning company has been synonymous with quality hairdressing training ever since. Today over 100 salons throughout the North West choose Andrew Collinge as their training provider with the reassurance that their apprentices will develop the knowledge and skills they need to progress into a successful career within the hairdressing industry.

The salon group has a reputation of producing inspirational, wearable hair and the latest images from the Creative Team showcasing their 2017 Summer collection is no exception. The Pure Collection. The team worked with the natural texture of the hair, encouraging and enhancing its curl, wave and movement. The collection has been influenced by the 80's in so much as the hair has been dried more naturally, working with the fingers rather than brushes. However the hairstyles have a modern feel created by today's skilled cutting techniques and professional use of colour. Each look has been complimented with the TIGI Copyright colour range using a palette of soft pastel colours, l uminous semi-permanents and carefully placed highlights. All in all it's very much an appealing collection of hairstyles with the benefit for the client being thats it's easy to replicate at home.

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Andrew Collinge Hair & Beauty: Liverpool, Castle Street, 0151 227 2366 Andrew Collinge Graduates: Liverpool, Bold Street, 0151 709 4848 www.andrewcolinge.com andrewcollingeuk andrew_collinge andrew_collinge

5511_AndrewCollingeAssets_EssentialJournal_Liverpool.indd 1

24/05/2017 16:31

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words by ALAN SMITHEE

The Scent of Royal Approval

147 years of trading and Penhaligon’s continue to abide by their founding principles of quality, elegance and heritage. We catch up with master perfumer Alberto Morillas for an insight into the life and inspirations of a Penhaligon’s perfumer

F

ew brands are able to rival the longevity of Penhaligon’s. Granted, there are brands that are close in age, plenty that are older , but few have remained so loyal to their roots, with many of their products as cherished and sought after now, as they were over a hundred years ago.

Established in 1870 by Mr William Penhaligon a Cornish barber who relocated to London.

The brand’s first scent, Hannam Bouquet was inspired by the scent of neighbouring Turkish Baths. Penhaligon’s continued to produce iconic luxury fragrances for generation after generation and continue to do so to this day, producing in the UK using the original bottle design. We caught up with master perfumer Alberto Morillas - creator of such Penhaligon’s scents as The Tragedy of Lord George and Blasted Heath - to chat inspiration and creativity. essentialjournal: Did you always know you wanted to work in the perfume industry? alberto morillas: I grew up in Seville in Andalusia. As a child I used to dream a lot and our garden, it smells and colours, no doubt influenced my sensitivity. When we left for Geneva, I knew that I wanted to do an artistic job and I enrolled at the Fines Art College.

I joined Firmenich when I was 20 and right from the start I loved arriving in the morning and being surrounded by all these fragrances.

What inspired you to join the industry?

I started hearing about the craft of perfumer when I came to Geneva to study. Around the same time I discovered that there was a creator behind each fragrance as I had read an article in Vogue Magazine where Jean Paul Guerlain explained how to create a fragrance. That was a revelation for me! I rapidly got fascinated by

the discipline. I read and experimented some formulas and went to libraries to research, which fed my curiosity.

What would you have done if you hadn’t of chosen this career path?

I would have become a photographer.

Tell me about your typical day I confess I can hardly stop working and almost all my formulas are written by hand. My handwriting is my emotion. When I write the formula, I can smell the perfume. Like a craftsman, I have an indestructible passion for creation. All my fragrances come from this devotion to creation and have consumed all my days and nights for the past 45 years. Like an artist, I work even if I have no brief, it is an act that feeds me. I work on fragrances in the laboratory with my assistants, in my office, at home or while travelling… I can easily imagine the fragrance without smelling it. For me, perfumery is an emotion. The technic is intellectual, but every perfume has to have a soul, a story and be an emotion.

How many perfumes might you be working on, at any given time? And how long does it take to create a fragrance?

I am always involved in many different projects at the same time. Each of them is so different from the other one. Some may last several months and others may last several years.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I like everything that evokes the Mediterranean Sea, with the deep blue water, the sun and the nature which goes with it. I am very attached for example to the citruses, sea notes and flowers including jasmine, tuberose, neroli and orange blossom. They are the expression of a certain kind of freshness, a sophisticated freshness at the same time

full of joy.

You have won so many awards, which one are you most proud of?

The first and very best recognition is that which is given by my customers. There is nothing that can be compared to the highly prized satisfaction of a rising success as it becomes a long lasting best-seller or an iconic fragrance in the global marketplace. The Lifetime Achievement Award I received in 2013 from The Fragrance Foundation embodies the ultimate recognition a perfumers may receive from his peers and the Industry.

You have created more than 200 scents; do you have a favourite?

Nowadays the number of my creations is close to 500. I would choose a lot of them. Some have been great successes. It’s a chance and this makes me happy to be a perfumer.

What scent do you wear?

I often wear the scent I’m working on.

What are your plans for the future?

All the new projects I’m working on let me discover, learn and create. They continue to nourish me and are part of my personal collection. It is a continuous new exciting challenge.

I also cherish my family projects. My passion led me to create my own family brand, Mizensir. With my wife and daughter, we have ambitious plans to continue the journey.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I’m in love with gardens. They are my second passion. I spend a lot of time in my family garden in Geneva, it gives me a breath, a moment of dream and relaxation, and it always inspires me for my work as a perfumer. The inspiration which feeds my creation is very simple, it is everything I see in nature. EJ

OUR FAVOURITE PENHALIGON'S SCENTS: BLENHEIM BOUQUET A true timeless classic, a refreshing citrus fragrance ideal for the workplace. Lemon, lime and lavender with no heart notes. It's absolutely Exquisite.

LORD GEORGE Part of the first chapter of the Portraits series of fragrances, Lord George is an elegant, masculine scent. Head notes of Brandy and complimented by base notes of Tonka Bean.

ROARING RADCLIFF The second chapter of Penhaligon’s Portrait series heralded a real gem in the form of this rich and sensual fragrance. Rum head notes, heart notes of tobacco and ginger bread at its base. Not for the faint-hearted.

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EVENTS

The Essential Journal | 27

words by ALAN SMITHEE

Events Round-up: David M Robinson Brings the Baselworld Collection 2017 to Liverpool A mixture of old and new elegance comes to Liverpool Town Hall

W

atch enthusiasts were treated to a horological spectacle this month thanks to the North-West’s largest independent Rolex retailer. David M Robinson, who have stores across the region, hosted one of the first exclusive previews of the Baselworld Collection 2017 and picked the perfect venue, Liverpool Town Hall. The venue, home to some of the single most majestic civic rooms in the country, was the perfect setting for old and new to come together.

Highlights on show from this year’s fair included the anniversary Seadweller and expanded Skydweller collection, attendees were also introduced to an exciting selection of vintage Rolex pieces by curator Mike Wood. EJ

You can shop this years Baselworld releases at David M. Robinson, 4-6 South John Street, Liverpool One

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28 | The Essential Journal

CULTURE

words by ALAN SMITHEE

A Bottle Of Great Importance:

VALLADO ABF 1888 To celebrate their 300th birthday last year, famous Port house Quinta do Vallado bottled a piece of history 300th birthdays don’t come around often, so when they it’s only fair to push the boat out and world famous Port house Quinta do Vallado have done just that by bottling a piece of Port history. The Vallado ABF 1888 is an extremely old port named after Antonio Bernardo Ferreira, who in 1818 first bought the vineyard for the Ferreira family.

Still Portuguese owned (a rarity in the Port region with so many famous international brands like Cockburns and Taylors becoming prominent in the area), Quinta do Vallado remains one of the oldest most famous "Quintas" in the Douro Valley.

ABF 1888 is a tribute to the ancestors of the current estate and was released in a limited edition run of only 933 bottles of 70cl, each numbered and packed within a solid bespoke walnut casing, along with with a decanter designed especially for the wine by Portuguese glassmakers Atlantis.

The wine was aged for 128 years before bottling and since its creation was kept with great care in three 650L casks. Unfortunately, due to evaporation, to which it was subjected to for over a century, the wine was reduced to 700L, still found within its original barrels, where it aged. What resulted from this process is a wine that is unbelievably concentrated and incredibly rare. Those that have the pleasure of trying it will immediately be greeted by its intensity and dramatic flavour.

ABF 1888 is available at Fazenda Manchester for £3000 a bottle, or £240 for a 50ml shot.

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WHAT’S ON Liverpool Philharmonic September – December Sunday 3 September 8pm Monday 4 September 8pm

MAGNETIC FIELDS –

Friday 8 September 7.30pm Saturday 9 September 7.30pm Sunday 10 September 7.30pm

ALL OR NOTHING: THE MOD MUSICAL –

Saturday 23 September 7.30pm

MIKE OLDFIELD’S TUBULAR BELLS –

Sunday 15 October 7.30pm

A COUNTRY NIGHT IN NASHVILLE –

Tuesday 14 November 7.30pm

BILLY BRAGG: BRIDGES NOT WALLS –

Saturday 9 December 7.30pm

KATE RUSBY AT CHRISTMAS

Wednesday 11 October 7.30pm

MIDGE URE, THE CHRISTIANS AND ALTERED IMAGES

Box Office

liverpoolphil.com 0151 709 3789 – LiverpoolPhilharmonic @Liverpoolphil Image ALL OR NOTHING: THE MOD MUSICAL

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30 | The Essential Journal

CULTURE

TURMEAUS X ESSENTIAL JOURNAL

A Walk Around The Turmeaus Whiskey Room

Thought that Turmeaus was just a cigar and tobacco specialist?

Think again. We took a tour of their Liverpool whiskey department to get the expert lowdown on the water of life

“T

oo much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” So the famous Mark Twain quote goes, and when it comes to the water of life, Turmeaus has quite the collection. Under the direction of Mitchell Orchant, widely held as the world’s foremost authority on Cuban and other rare cigars, Turmeaus (the retail outlet of Orchant’s Cgars Ltd) has long been a UK leader in hand-made cigars and pipe tobacco. Now, they’re set to become the same for whiskey.

A walk around the Turmeaus whiskey department has a museum-like quality to it. Rows upon rows of whiskies sit waiting to be discovered, all with their own unique story, the rarer ones sitting locked away behind the protection of cabinets. Whiskies from all over the world, many of which are the only bottle of their kind on the continent (sometimes even hemisphere) sit alongside affordable alternatives and bottles in between. Other fine spirits are available in store, but it’s the water of life that sits pride of place. Whiskey is currently one of the most collectible spirits in the world, even some of the more modestly priced bottles in the room will likely double in price over the coming years. The staff recommend always buying two, one to drink, one to save.

If the Turmeaus whiskey department is a museum, then Craig, the department’s whiskey expert is its curator. When it comes to the bottles on show, Craig knows every meticulous detail, from the story of each distillery to how many bottles were produced and what type of cask they sat in. We got him to pick out a couple of his favourites:

1 MACALLAN 1956 This extremely rare Speyside single malt scotch whiskey was distilled at The Macallan in 1956 and bottled for the UK market by one of the distiller’s official bottlers, Campbell Hope & King of Elgin, in the sixties and seventies.

2 BOWMORE DEVIL’S CASK III This is the third and final edition of the Bowmore Devil's Cask series, named Double the Devil. Bottled at 56.7% volume, this whiskey has been matured in both first fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for an undisclosed number of years and completes a series which is amongst the most coveted in the world.

The Devil’s Cask whiskies get their name from a legend nearly as old as the distillery itself. It was claimed that the Devil was once spotted and chased through the town, eventually hiding away in the distillery. After searching, the Devil was nowhere to be seen having made his escape in a whiskey barrel to the mainland.

1

2

3

3 GLEN MORAY MASTERY In Celebration of Glen Moray's 120th anniversary, the distillery released this very intriguing expression - Glen Moray Mastery. Crafted by their Master Distiller Graham Coull, this single malt was made using five different vintages of their whiskey, with only 1000 bottles produced.

4 KARUIZAWA 12 YEAR OLD JAZZ CLUB Many Karuizawa's are presented in exciting labels and this particular bottle, released for Tokyo Jazz Club, is no exception. Distilled on 19th April 1993 and bottled on the 14th October 2006 from a single sherry cask #2501. Only 492 bottles were produced.

5 GLENMORANGIE 10 YEAR OLD GRAND SLAM Bottled to celebrate the Scottish Rugby team who won the Triple Crown, Grand Slam and Calcutta Cup in 1990.

The back label depicts the score lines of each match in the Five Nations tournament as well as signatures of the squad.

4

5

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The Essential Journal | 31

The Workshop An old school wine bar with raw modern vision.

Set over two floors with an eclectic small plate menu which perfectly compliments our extensive wine list.

With over forty wines available by the glass and locally sourced produce, we now have a firm foot in the heart of Waterloo.

What's On Jazz Eats and Beats - Tuesdays from 8pm A night of jazz with charcuterie and cheese paired with wine and live jazz from 8pm.

Vinyl Solution - First Thursday of Every Month from 8pm Four middle aged guys playing quality tunes in their original vinyl format.

Small Plates Menu Available Wednesdays to Sundays Small plates are steadily becoming a modern way of dining out. Our seasonal menu is a selection of small courses with a global influence. 3 dishes get you full!

Gab-Up - Last Thursday of Every Month from 7pm 60s Mod night with resident DJs and special guests playing Jazz, Motown, Ska, 60s R&B and Northern Soul.

Mid Week Social - Wednesdays to Fridays 5 - 7pm Dine for £35 per couple. Bread and olives at the table.

Pick four small plates between two includes a glass of wine or craft beer.

Express Lunch - Thursdays and Fridays 12 - 3pm 2 small plates and a craft beer, glass of wine, tea, coffee or soft drink for £11.90.

Friday Elements - Fridays from 8pm The Workshop's resident DJs providing the perfect Friday night soundtrack.

Sunday Elements... Roast the DJ - Sundays from 1pm Join us every Sunday for the best roast in Liverpool £10.95.

Providing the perfect Sunday soundtrack is our resident DJ, Martin Whitehead. Our roasts are served from 1 till it's gone.

Treat someone to a gift of good food. Gift vouchers available to purchase at the bar.

The Workshop 47 Crosby Road North, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 4QB Bookings: 0151 329 2797 / theworkshopl22@gmail.com @theworkshopl22

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32 | The Essential Journal

Celebrating NYC’s finest export - only at Fred’s

24th July - 6th August Food, drink and live music - see Fred’s social for full details

Frederiks. 32 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 0151 708 9574 frederikshopesteet.com

@brooklynbrewery 79 N 11th Street, Brooklyn NY 11249 brooklynbrewery.com

Issue 24

CULTURE

The Essential Journal | 33

words by THOMAS SUMNER

Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll A Pub Quiz, An Indian Street Food Feast & An Early Train Home: Beer Goes on Tour When a craft beer brewery begins to appear on your supermarket shelves, how does it stay connected with the purists? It goes on tour of course

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n an ideal world, or maybe just my own, the words “beer” and “tour” no longer conjure up thoughts of already lagered up lads boarding the big orange bus in the sky, on there way to some unassuming Czech town or a group of early risers queuing patiently at Dover awaiting their turn to drive into the big behind of the booze cruise.

Though the later maybe a little more “civil”, the loot they return with 12 hours later - 3 cases of 24 Kronenbourg and a few bottles of Sav Blanc - makes me wonder if it was really worth the 4am start. Alas, all things “beer” and “tour” appear to have taken the fork in the road, thanks to craft brewers Fourpure.

Last month, the London based brewery set sail on an 11 day tour around our great nation, to celebrate the most recent release of their umbongo-esque IPA, Juicebox. Kicking off at Liverpool’s finest craft beer establishment, The Dead Crafty Beer Co., the Juicebox-500 tour stopped off in Manchester, Leeds & Sheffield before heading south to Bristol & Cardiff.

Stopping of at The Wolf in Birmingham, Fourpure, though now entering the big supermarket debate, showed their continued support for the little guy, after the Wolf’s recent scuffle with a certain group of “punks”.

An unforeseen event that lends as a suitable example as to why the tour took place.

Yes, there have been many “Meet the Brewers” and “Tap Takeovers”, but seldom is there an actual tour. Speaking with Rob Dervish, an adopted Londoner originally from Warrington and self-proclaimed “Pied Piper of Fourpure”, we discussed how the tour is an opportunity for the brewery to stay connected with the purists, as the brewery expands onto the shelf of your local supermarket - something that often makes punters retract the prestigious “craft” roset. Rob also commented on how it offers a chance for members of its 50 strong team to meet the fans and stop the muched loved forerunners losing face.

Back on the road and night number eight saw Juicebox-500 land in Newcastle, ahead of a visit north of the border to Edinburgh before the long 500 mile journey to Brighton, for the penultimate date.

So what happens on the Juicebox-500 tour? Beer bongs, drinking games and your head over the toilet? Wrong. Thank god. Instead, though a performance or two might be delivered from upon the bar, you’ll enter the legendary Dead Crafty quiz, partake in a Bundobust feast and when you happen to miss the Fourpure team because they have jumped on an early train back to London (so Rock ‘n’ Roll!), you’ll settle in for the night with the bar

staff and a few regulars at Bier Haus in Brighton, consuming your fair share of Juicebox, Shapeshifter and a couple of local brews from Brighton Beer.

The next and final stop saw Juicebox back home in Bermondsey, at the Fourpure brewery. A little more “traditional” than the tame activity I outlined above...A stag do or two present and staff having to timeout at 4pm...the all day event brought elements of the past 10 nights together for a final shindig and a well deserved pat on the back for all involved.

In just four years, Fourpure has gone from a small team of brewing brothers hidden away

amongst the train tracks of South London, to the well oiled, innovative, good timers who are able to quench a nation’s thirst, yet continue to please those who “unearthed” them just a short time ago, with special batches like Juicebox and an expanding list of seasonal brews. All without straying from the principles of brewing respecting the four core ingredients used to make beer: grain, yeast, hops and water. EJ Thanks to Rob, Terry and Sophie of Fourpure for letting EJ tag along. And next time you’re in the capital be sure to ask Rob for a guided tour of his pride and joy - the canning line!

Issue 24

34 | The Essential Journal

CULTURE

words by ANGHARAD JONES

A Guide to The Open: Where to Eat and Where to Play For those that are able to prise their eyes away from the action this July, Merseyside and Lancashire offer some of the best spots for a game of golf and a bite to eat

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outhport, the quintessentially British seaside town with its Model Railway Village, Pleasureland and wild beach hugging the coastline. It also happens to be sitting in the middle of England’s Golf Coast, home to some of the best courses in the world – and it’s for this reason that this small coastal town will be in the spotlight on 20-23 July. The Open will be hosted, once again, at Royal Birkdale; the course with a history that spans more than 100 years, playing host to the Championship nine times since the early 1950s. This year marks its tenth and with the likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia and local favourite Tommy Fleetwood all playing, it will no doubt be one of the best.

There’s more to the area than just Royal Birkdale however, there are a whole host of courses worth playing - not to mention Merseyside’s burgeoning culinary scene. EJ

1

Where to Play

1 FORMBY GOLF CLUB With an undulating landscape, natural sand dunes and imposing pine trees, Formby Golf Club is one of the most dramatic and aesthetically pleasing courses in the country. Located right next to the beach, the setting is at once both wild and tranquil while, the Willie Park-designed course throws up plenty of challenges along the way.

2 HILLSIDE GOLF CLUB Sitting adjacent to Royal Birkdale, Hillside Golf Club is probably the closest you’ll get to taking part in the Open this July. This course is a tale of two halves, with the front nine holes being relatively gentle while the back nine is widely regarded as one of the best in Britain, thanks to its wild dunes and unique site for each hole.

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3 THE WEST LANCASHIRE GOLF CLUB One for the links purists, this is a course for those who want a real challenge. Dating back to 1873, it’s one of England’s oldest courses and its natural landscape is home to some of the most demanding holes in the country. Its location right next to the Irish Sea means the elements always play a part too, throwing in a few extra challenges for the player – especially when it comes to negotiating those cavernous bunkers.

4 ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB On the other side of the Mersey is the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, which for almost 150 years has been one of Britain’s most demanding, interesting and picturesque courses (its location at the start of the back nine looking out towards North Wales is unrivalled). The past two Opens it has hosted have been won by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy (in 2006 and 2014 respectively); both the best players in the world at the time. It’s a true taste of history, so much so that even the clubhouse acts as a museum for significant historical moments in golf.

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Issue 24

The Essential Journal | 35

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8

Where to Eat in Southport

Where to Eat in Liverpool

5 BISTROT VERITE

7 BUYERS CLUB

Bistrot Verite has been somewhat of an institution in Southport since 2009. The family-run French bistro uses locally-sourced ingredients to create authentic dishes, with its focus on quality and simplicity gaining the restaurant a feature in the Michelin Guide and Good Food Guide.

Buyers Club is one of Liverpool’s most exciting new additions in recent years. Bringing something new to the city, it’s where fine dining meets wine bar and beer garden in a stylish setting. The small restaurant sits just 35, while the atmospheric bar serves up some of the best wine, cocktails and beer in the city. Upstairs is a music space that hosts bands and DJs in a unique spot.

6 VILLAGGIO CUCINA Minutes from Bistrot Verite, Villaggio Cucina is a contemporary Italian restaurant with a focus on great produce. Expect a classic menu with pasta to start followed by a meat or fish course – the Mafalda Corta di Agnello is a particular favourite and is one of the best lamb ragus this side of Abruzzo.

8 THE ART SCHOOL

From celebrated local chef Paul Askew comes The Art School, a modern restaurant that uses local and seasonal produce to create innovative British dishes.

With a background that spans experience in kitchens the world over, Askew’s approach to cooking is one of the most exciting in the region.

9

9 MOWGLI

Mowgli is a truly unique place to eat in the city. Former barrister Nisha Katona opened up the small Bold Street restaurant to offer a relaxed spot that had a contemporary take on Indian street food with fresh and exciting flavours. It’s proved so successful in its three years that new outposts have opened on Water Street and in Manchester – but go to the original for the most authentic atmosphere (go early or expect to wait for a table).

SUNDAY NIGHT PUB QUIZ In Association with:

Hosted by

£50 CASH PRIZE

Pheonix Nights / Peep Show

Second Sunday of every month

UPCOMING DATES: Sun 9th July / Sun 13th Aug / Sun 10th Sept

essentailjournalad.indd 1

RESERVATIONS

PUB QUIZ

FIND US

info@maboylesliverpool.com www.maboyles.com 0151 236 0070

Quiz starts 7.30pm Kitchen open until 9.30pm £2 play per person

Ma Boyle’s Tower Building, The Strand Liverpool L3 1BH

30/06/2017 10:20

Issue 24

36 | The Essential Journal

Urolift at Spire Liverpool Hospital

It’s common for men to have problems with their ‘waterworks’ which may be a symptom of an enlarging prostate gland. This particular condition is known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and is increasingly common in men over the age of 50. It should be defined separately from other conditions such as prostate cancer, prostatitis, bladder problems and urethral strictures.

Traditional treatments would usually focus on conservative measures such as avoiding alcohol and caffeine, or bladder training to improve mild symptoms.

If symptoms increase, medical treatments should be considered to relax the prostate muscle or shrink the prostate. These medicines are very successful, particularly in men with potential for longer term prostate growth and worsening symptoms. The side effects however can be limiting, particularly sexual dysfunction in some men. If the symptoms get worse or men stop passing urine altogether then surgery is indicated.

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the best known operation for men with persistent symptoms, or for men who fail on medical therapy. The technique involves removing prostate tissue and can lead to erectile dysfunction

Bladder

Prostate

Bladder

Prostate

Pre-procedure

Spire Liverpool Hospital 57 Greenbank Road, Liverpool, L18 1HQ

Post-procedure

or urinary incontinence. Laser resection therapies have also been developed and practiced routinely which have the potential to reduce time spent in hospital but still work on the premise of removing prostatic tissue and have similar side effects to TURP. Both TURP and Laser treatments require a post-operative catheter to be inserted and are performed under general anaesthesia.

More recently, a clinically proven, NICE approved technique called UroLift has been developed to treat men with moderate to severe symptoms who wish to discontinue their medical therapy entirely without the need for invasive surgery such as TURP or Laser resection.

UroLift involves the insertion of tiny surgical implants into the prostate. The implants hold the prostate tissue open (like tying back a pair of curtains) and allow men to pass urine more easily. The major advantages are that the procedure can be performed as a day case operation under local anaesthesia or light sedation, a urinary catheter is often not required, and a speedy recovery whilst preserving sexual function is achievable.

Problematic prostates can affect men at any age and a full assessment to diagnose the underlying problem is essential.

Men suffering from BPH should speak to their GP and, if necessary, seek an opinion from a Consultant Urologist who can then inform them about appropriate, bespoke treatment.

This article was written by Mr John McCabe, Consultant Urological Surgeon at Spire Liverpool. He was one of the first surgeons in England to adopt the innovative procedure and has developed significant experience over the past 3 years.

The content of this article is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the professional medical advice of your doctor or other health care professional.

08444 990 617 info@spireliverpool.com www.spireliverpool.com

Issue 24

The Essential Journal | 37

As part of a new regular travel feature, we have teamed up with luxury travel specialists, Positive Luxury, to shed a light on the brands leading the way in innovative and unforgettable travel experiences around the globe

TRAVEL

words by MILES KENNEY

The Ultimate Luxury Island Escape From adventurers to serial relaxers, yoga enthusiasts to self-confessed foodies, there’s something for everyone on Song Saa Private Island, where sustainable luxury is the number one priority

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reated with sustainability in mind, Song Saa Private Island reflects the beauty of the Cambodian coastline. Located in the Koh Rong Archipelago, a 45 minute speedboat ride from Sihanoukville Port. It’s a place that breathes in time with nature, built from local materials, by local hands, and infused with local art and soul.

An evolved tropical getaway with a pristine private beach, spacious wooden villas, heavenly spa sanctuaries and a preserved coral reef, Song Saa Private Island lets you detach from the world and tune into simple luxuries.

Built with reclaimed timber and materials from the mainland, the resort’s design and architecture reiterates their commitment to sustainability. Each villa is a private sanctuary; a refined blend of thatched roofs, linen-draped canopy beds, up-cycled décor and repurposed furniture. Discarded oil drums find new life as lamps. Driftwood serves as a table or bench. Salvaged wood from old fishing boats and factory yards now forms decks and floors and beams.

When it comes to wiling away your time, Song Saa lets you be as active or as inert as you like. Lay idle on the pristine sands or take off on a diving adventure. Take a sunset cruise across dazzling seas or explore our rainforest trails and see the Island’s native plants and wildlife. At night, enjoy a quiet dinner for two, then retreat to your villa terrace, clinking glasses under the constellations and wondering how you could ever leave.

Complementing the resort’s luxurious surroundings, utmost comfort and unparalleled service, Song Saa Private Island offers a host of adventures and activities to enhance your private island experience. Snorkel around Song Saa islands where Song Saa has spent years

rehabilitating the reefs surrounding the resort, now home to a colourful array of tropical fish and vibrant corals. Grab a snorkel and get to know some of the local fish species: parrotfish, damselfish, sea horses, spotted rays and even sea turtles. You can also explore the area’s hidden coves and heavenly bays in a truly low-impact way by hopping in a kayak. Bask in the breathtaking scenery of Song Saa from the sea, or paddle out to the sunset for heart-stopping views. Prefer to relax in the comfort of your own private villa? Have a cosy night in – the team will set up a private cinema in your villa and screen the movie of your choice with complimentary popcorn.

For those wanting to start the day right, morning yoga classes are on offer, suitable for everyone from first-timers to experts. On the note of well being for the mind body and soul, the team at Song Saa can arrange a traditional blessings ceremony by a local team of Buddhist monks. A truly memorable moment, perfect for birthdays, weddings, and honeymoons, the ceremony takes place at one of the many magical locations around the island. In addition, the wellness therapists often conduct shared meditation classes in one of the immersive island locations. Upon request, the team of therapists can also conduct a private one-hour session in your villa.

For the adventurous types, explore the island on a safari with a guide from the Song Saa Conservation Team. Get to know the local species, habitats and ecosystems, and the conservation work Song Saa does to protect them. Neighbouring Koh Rong is home to wild, untouched rainforests and tours with a guide are available to see native flora and fauna, and learn about the island from a cultural and historic perspective.

For the foodies, Song Saa’s culinary practice is proudly based on locally sourced ingredients: seasonal fruits and vegetables, wildlife-friendly Ibis rice from farmers in the North, fleshy cashew nuts and meaty coconuts from nearby villages. Then there’s the distinctive favour of Kampot pepper infusing the resort’s cuisine with a truly local culinary twist. Khmer cooking classes are also on offer, where resident chefs can teach you how to craft some of Song Saa’s favourite traditional dishes.

Song Saa is more than a private Island, it’s a collective incorporating The Song Saa Foundation, a non-profit organisation established in 2013 to protect the habitats of the Koh Rong Archipelago and improve the welfare of its communities. The foundation continues the conservation work started in 2006, where initiatives included establishing the kingdom’s first marine reserve, which has grown to become a preeminent coastal marine NGO, helping to improve the lives of local people and promoting the protection of the environment worldwide.

Within this collective sits Song Saa Design, working with incredible artisans throughout Cambodia, Southeast Asia, and remote parts of China. All products and textiles are hand crafted using traditional techniques, and held to the highest, time-tested standards of quality.

Melita Koulmandas Hunter is the creative force behind Song Saa Design. The architect and interior designer of Song Saa Private Island, Melita also creates homeware and fashion collections, focusing on organic, recycled and repurposed materials, to create an aesthetic that is both earthy and innovative, perfect to bring a little of Song Saa to the comfort of your home. In recognition of Song Saa’s commitment to sustainability, the Butterfly Mark by Positive Luxury has been awarded. EJ

Issue 24

38 | The Essential Journal

CULTURE

Canvassing The Pros

words by DAVEY BRETT

Fancy a bet? Curious as to who to watch out for? In need of some nostalgia?

Ahead of The Open coming to the North-West, we rang up the local pros to gather their predictions and memories of the world’s oldest golf championship

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t’s difficult to move in Merseyside and Lancashire without stumbling upon a golf course. Golfers really are spoilt for choice, and so were we when we decided to ask as many local pros as possible about who they thought would win The Open at Royal Birkdale, who was the wildcard (or one to watch) and what their fondest memory of The Open was. Below are the responses from the men in the know. EJ

BRIAN HODGKINSON, ROYAL BIRKDALE

ALAN GIBBONS, CALDY

WINNER: The US Open was a strange event with Rory Mcilroy, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day missing the cut. They all seemed slightly ‘undercooked’ but I am sure by the time The Open arrives they will be back to their best. Despite that I am going to pick Jordan Spieth. To me he has all the attributes of an Open champion at Royal Birkdale. A very thoughtful player, patient, superb short game and as Royal Birkdale is relatively short by modern standards he may not have to hit with his driver, as it can let him down at times.

WINNER: On current form I would say Jordan Spieth is definitely up there now. He won last week in America (The Travelers Championship) and he’s putting well again. He’s quite a streaky player, but when he gets in good form he gets in good form. Definitely Jordan if I was going to put my money on anyone.

ONE TO WATCH/WILDCARD: Again the shorter course lends itself to the straighter hitter who hits a lot of greens.

Before the US Open I might have picked out local boy Tommy Fleetwood but know he is regarded as one of the favourites so I am going to pick Matthew Fitzpatrick. He knows the course and has displayed an ability to maintain his position when in contention, he is also is a very nice young man.

MEMORY: This will be my fifth Open Championship being attached to Royal Birkdale, the previous four have all had so many good memories attached, so to pick one is difficult but I will go back to my first in 1983. It was late on a Tuesday evening when I wandered down to the practice ground after a long day in the shop where I met Alfie Fyles, a Birkdale caddie who caddied for Tom Watson amongst others. He sat me down to watch his boss practice chipping and it was a masterclass. Easily the most impressive I have seen in golf.

I am certain that Tom Watson’s chipping prowess was a major factor in him having such an outstanding Open Championship record.

ONE TO WATCH/WILDCARD: I would have to say going with a local lad, Tommy Fleetwood, would be the wildcard.

He played so well at the US Open and being a Merseyside lad he’ll know Royal Birkdale like the back of his hand.

MEMORY: One of my best memories was at Birkdale, the year Justin Rose held out. Dwarfed by the likes of Faldo and so on, was great to see a streaky little amateur do so well. I watched him all day on the Thursday and I was just amazed at this little whipper snapper of a kid. I wasn’t there for the chip at the 18th unfortunately, but I do remember going out to play [at Caldy], getting ready to lock up the shop, getting a call and then running back in to watch that chip on the big screen in the clubshop.

BRIAN SEDDON, HILLSIDE WINNER: It’s not that easy these days, is it? In 2016 all the winners of the majors were first time winners. Obviously what Tommy Fleetwood did in the US with a top four finish, he must be one of the favourites, especially being a local lad.

He’s certainly played Royal Birkdale a few times. But you wouldn’t bet against Sergio [Garcia] either.

WINNER: I think Henrik Stenson will be the first back to back winner since Padraig Harrington in 2008. He finished tied 3rd last time the Open was at Royal Birkdale so has good form in The Open and at this year’s host course.

ONE TO WATCH/WILDCARD: There’s quite a few out there that can do it and they gain confidence because there are a lot of first time winners. There’s not been the likes of Tiger Woods winning so many in a row for a while. I would say Justin Rose because he finished in the top four as an amateur so he’ll be happy to come back. I remember him qualifying at Hillside that year.

ONE TO WATCH/WILDCARD: Tommy Fleetwood has to be the one to watch. Great year so far and solid performance in the US Open finishing 4th. He will have the local support and the crowds behind him.

MEMORY: My favourite memory is probably meeting Tom Watson, it might have been the 83’ or 89’ Open, I can’t remember which one. He was a nice guy. You meet quite a lot of the great players being so close to Royal Birkdale.

BRYAN JOELSON-MULHALL, ALLERTON MANOR

MEMORY: Being in the stand on the 18th at Royal Birkdale when Justin Rose held his pitch shot for birdie in 1998, the noise from the crowd was deafening and he finished in a tie for 4th as a 17-year-old amateur. I went every day that year (I took a week off school) and it was the best week of education I’ve ever had.

GAVIN ABSON, WEST LANCASHIRE WINNER: Personally I believe Rory McIlroy will win The Open. He’ll be playing in the Irish Open as a warm up for the event - which is being held at Portstewart Golf Club - and I believe this, along with a few weeks of practicing, will allow him to peak at just the right time.

MIKE ADAMS, WALLASEY WINNER: I think Justin Rose has a great chance now he has matured into an established USPGA Tour Pro, and how fitting would that be after making a name as a young amateur at Birkdale all these years ago.

ONE TO WATCH/WILCARD: My wild card would be Tommy Fleetwood, but not so much a wild card after his US Open performance.

MEMORY: My greatest memory was walking inside the ropes with Jack Nicklaus for 18 holes on a practice round in the 1976 Open at Birkdale.

ONE TO WATCH/WILDCARD: I will be very interested to see how local favourite, Tommy Fleetwood gets on. He knows the course well, he’s playing arguably the best golf of his career and he has a great caddie and close friend on the bag in Ian Finnis, who happens to be a member at West Lancs.

SCOTT ASTIN, HESKETH

MEMORY: My best memory of the Open has to be seeing Henrik Stenson win at Royal Troon last year. Having worked at Royal Troon for two years, it was fantastic to see him and Phil Mickelson go head to head on a course I am so familiar with.

Also Henrik’s caddie, Gareth Lord, is a good friend of mine so I was pleased for him too.

ONE TO WATCH/WILDCARD: Matt Kuchar. The fast running course will suit him.

WINNER: Justin Rose. He won the Amateur Medal at Royal Birkdale and has fond memories of the course which always helps in golf.

MEMORY: Seve [Ballesteros] at Lytham 1979 lipping out with his chip on the 18th green to win by one.

1

Wheelchair Accessible Stands

Toilets

The Shop

Taxi Rank

Spectator Services

Spectator Grandstand

Spectator Entrance

Red Route

Park & Ride

Mobile Device Zone

Meeting Point

Left Luggage

Large Screen

HSBC Bank

Hole Number

GolfLink

Food & Beverage

First Aid

1

2a

2a

Crossing Point – Spectators

7b

Crossing Point – Buggy/Vehicle only 7b

Coach Park

Bicycle Parking

Baby Changing Facilities

Autograph Zone

KEY

17a

17a

17 16

16

17b

17b

The ‘Red Route’ is for the benefit of spectators who may wish to follow a particular game.

THE RED ROUTE

13

12

17c

17c

16

13a

13a

15b

15b

Practice Ground

Spectators who breach any provision of this policy will be subject to the terms and conditions of ticket sales.

– All devices must be in SILENT mode at all times.

– Calls must be placed or received in approved designated areas, referred to as “Mobile Device Zones”, as indicated on the map.

– No audio or video capture is permitted at any time.

– No still photography of play is permitted on Championship Days.

– Data use (texting, email, website access, etc.) is permitted throughout the golf course. However, volume must be muted at all times.

Mobile Device Policy

18

11b

11b

8

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out

18a

15a

8a

15a

8a

13b

13b

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7a

15

7

Par 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 5 4 36 34 70

Practice Ground Village

7b

7a

Hole Yards 10 402 11 436 12 183 13 499 14 200 15 542 16 438 17 567 18 473 In 3740 Out 3416 Total 7156

7b

18a

Par 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 34

Royal Birkdale

Yards 448 422 451 199 346 499 177 458 416 3416

10a

14

10c

10d

10

10b

11

10d

14

11a

11a

Green B Car Park

Media Centre

18b

18b

14

8b

8b

2b

2b

10c

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9

Clu bho use

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1

2a

3

1

Green A Car Park

Spectator Village

3 2a

6

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1

4

5

Green C Car Park

2

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Orange Car Park

Green D Car Park

6

Orange Car Park

5

Hillside Station

Yellow A Car Park

To Coach Park

Southport

Issue 24 The Essential Journal | 39

Issue 24

40 | The Essential Journal

COFFEE The Essential Guide:

The shops, roasters, methods and alternatives that should be influencing your morning cup

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t’s official, you’re no longer allowed to drink that instant coffee you’ve got at the back of the cupboard. Yeah, we know, the 110% extra free was an easy sell, but look closer at the label, ‘roast and ground coffee [5%]’. Five per cent. Would you want to eat a lasagne that was five per cent beef? No you would not. We’ve got good news, there’s alternatives.

It has never been easier to brew wonderful tasting coffee at home. Equally there’s a great selection of independent coffee shops serving up delicious brews and paying their taxes whilst they do it. We’ve put together a handy guide, compiling our favourite independent coffee shops, international roasters, home brew methods and even a nod to cold brew for a cooler summer coffee option.

Our Favourite Shops 92 DEGREES COFFEE

MOOSE COFFEE

Introduce yourselves We are 92 Degrees, coffee shop and roastery (we source, blend, roast and package all of our own coffees in store).

Introduce yourselves My name is Harry van Breemen and I'm one of the owners at Moose Coffee. We grew from a love of the American/Canadian breakfast culture and have spent the past ten years perfecting what we do in our short order menu and coffee. Over the last ten years we have opened four stores across Liverpool and Manchester and are opening our first Moose Express in Piccadilly Station later this year.

What coffee products are sold in store?

We have traditional espresso drinks as well as a selection of V60 filters on offer to drink. We also have some awesome ColdBrew options (roasted and slowbrewed in house). We sell all of our coffee by retail in-store (and online) and have some great brew kits to use with it, V60, Chemex, Aeropress and we’re looking to add more over the coming months.

What coffee fads need to die?

We have a core of great hand-roasted small batch coffee and have grown what we offer from there. We have tried not to do anything too ‘fad-y’, I personally think that coffee should be appreciated for its inherent flavours rather than by additives like syrups. I can also appreciate that being able to extract complex tastes from an espresso isn’t going to be top of everybody’s priority list, so we do have syrups on our menu for anyone who wants a bit of extra caramel in their coffee.

Where do you think think coffee culture is going next?

Coffee culture is such an ambiguous thing, it means different things to different people. If we are talking about market trends, then we have seen a shift towards higher quality sourcing and ethical practices being prioritised over cost by consumers. People are willing to spend a little more on a cup of coffee when it can be traced back to the farm it was grown on. People like to know that it has been sourced ethically. Locally, I think espresso drinks are always going to be our core business (people who want a fast coffee to get them through the morning or to work or home) but people are developing a lot more interest in slower brewed filter coffees and brew kits to make their favourite coffee at home.

What coffee products are sold in store?

We sell plenty of coffee in our stores, all made from our own Fairtrade Moose blend created when we first opened the doors back in 2006. Both our house and special blend Fairtrade coffees are roasted locally and use 100% Arabica beans from South America. We also use imported high quality lever coffee machines which achieve a better more intense espresso due to the unique extraction profile. This allows us to manage and extend the pressure being pulled through the machine.

The machines are also mechanical which gives more consistency. It delivers a rich, smooth coffee which you can also get to take away and brew at home.

What coffee fads need to die?

Anything that takes more than three words to order. At what point is a 'Caramel Macchiato, Venti, Skim, Extra Shot, Extra-Hot, Extra-Whip, Sugar-Free' considered a true coffee anymore?

Where do you think coffee culture is going next?

Coffee culture is only getting stronger. It's awesome to see such a thriving industry built around coffee. Trends move and change as fads come and go. We like to focus on what we know, find a great product, use good equipment and make sure our staff can consistently deliver it, however long the queue!

ROOT Introduce yourself Root Coffee is a speciality coffee shop located in Liverpool City Centre. At Root we only use beans from the top roasters around the world and we aim to bring out the full potential of each and every bean. Apart from the sheer cup quality, we aim to be progressive in every other way. This month, one of our baristas, Kacper, will be going on a six month placement to a top speciality coffee shop in Beijing, Soloist Coffee, in order to experience coffee culture from a different perspective.

What coffee products do you sell in store?

For espresso based drinks, apart from the house espresso beans, we always keep one guest espresso on the menu at any time, normally with a rather different profile. Filter-wise most of the beans are roasted by non-UK based roasters, for product differentiation and diversification. In terms of serving, we choose the most suitable brewing methods accordingly, from V60, Aeropress and Chemex, based on which beans we are using. We do this in order to heighten and bring out the bean’s unique characteristics and flavour, in order to reflect the bean itself and its region of origin.

What coffee fads need to die?

Whether it is sugar or syrup, extra hot milk or a venti size latte, they all serve their own special purpose and are all there for very unique and varied reasons. I can't really think of any coffee fads that need to die, I am not saying fads won't die, the way we drink and consume coffee will change and mature over time but we don't need to kill anything off necessarily. Having said that, I do feel many of those types of coffee can be done better or approached from another angle, for example, Maxwell Colonna (UK Barista Champion 2012 and 2014) is working on a speciality-grade capsules project (think Nespresso, Dolce Gusto etc).

I think that would be a very good thing. I believe how developed the coffee industry is, should not be defined by its highest quality product but by its lowest, and if we can even manage to serve the so called ‘inferior’ capsules on a speciality grade level, as a coffee lover, I think that’s a bright and exciting future for coffee.

Where do you think coffee culture is heading next?

Home brewing, I would say. I feel the coffee industry as a whole will improve most when both ends of the chain are improving and refining themselves further. These ends are the coffee bean growers and coffee consumers.

On the consumer’s end, once the understandings and recognitions of specialty coffee reach a certain level, the demand for home brewing is inevitable. Soon, making a cup of specialty grade coffee at home, will be just as common and easy as pouring a bottle of fine wine stored on your shelf, and just as accessible too, like instant coffee is today - maybe even replacing it.

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words by DAVEY BRETT

Our Favourite Roasters

ROUNDHILL

FABRICA

PILOT

CASINO MOCCA

From humble beginnings selling limited batches at farmers markets, Roundhill founder Eddie Twitchett has rapidly built up one of our favourite small specialty roasters.

Impressive work for a young team. Roundhill test-roast each coffee and allow it to rest and it is then brewed in a variety of ways to ensure maximum flavour and quality. Their Kamwangi AB is a delicious bag in both filter and espresso form.

Fabrica was formed in 2015 when its founders decided it was time for Portugal to get to know specialty coffee. Independent from the root, they accompany their coffee from the harvesting of the coffee cherry on the producer’s farms until the arrival of the beans, green, pure, unaltered. Their Simbi filter bag is not only delicious, but also one with an impressive backstory. In the Simbi farm’s first year of cupping, 2003, they placed 9th in the Cup Of Excellence. A remarkable feat for their first year and for Rwandan coffee as a whole.

Pilot are a pretty special roasting outfit. Not only are their roasts full of flavour, but they put a huge emphasis on the people side.

Their ‘direct trade model’ means going to source, meeting farmers, meeting growers, touring the farms and hashing out a deal in person, thus making sure the money goes to the source. They’ve also been extremely innovative, especially with their cold brew coffees. Our personal favourite ‘Big Bro’ is no longer on the website, but we’ve heard great things about their Corrego Lavrinhas from Brazil.

Established in 2013 and a leading micro-roastery in Hungary, Casino Mocca guarantee the quality of their roast with a computer controlled system and as a result their coffees are used at a host of our favourite coffee shops across Europe. With notes of passion fruit, pomelo and blackcurrant, their Kenyan Kiunyu bag is a great filter only bag.

FRENCH PRESS

AEROPRESS

V60 - aka. the Kalita Wave

CHEMEX

Old faithful. The classic glass and plunger immersion method (where the coffee sits and brews in the water). Cheap, relatively quick and probably the most common upgrade from a cup of instant. The method requires a course grit style of grind and often creates a rounder and softer tasting coffee.

The french press 2.0. Only invented in 2005, the Aeropress reinvents plunging with an airtight tube that sits atop your cup, pushing the coffee through either filter paper or a thin metal filter. Uses a finer grind than the french press and depending on preparation, can provide a much more intensive taste.

Often referred to as a V60 due to its ‘V’ shape and sixty degree angled sides, basically a filter paper holder that sits on your cup . The first of our two drip methods. Unlike the previous two immersion methods, the water is passed through the coffee which allows the control of heat, time and stirring, all of which affect taste. Filters also tend to be finer. allowing for a purer-tasting cup.

The big one. Invented in 1941 by Peter Schlumbohm and often described as one of the ‘best designed product of modern times’, it is included in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Another pour-over method, filter paper sits atop the flask the coffee is first moistened (a process called blooming), before then having the desired amount of water poured over it. Arguably provides the purest taste of all four methods.

Somerset

Lisbon

Toronto

Budapest

How to Brew at Home

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THE GARDEN

HEATED BOOTHS, BBQS & SPRITZ BAR SAT 17TH JUNE

SAT 29TH JULY

T H E M E RC H A N T L I V E R P O O L .C O. U K

SAT 26TH AUG

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FEATURE

The Essential Journal | 43

words by MILES KENNY

THE MAGICAL MYSTERY OF BILL MURRAY He’s one of the most recognisable faces in Hollywood, and yet so far removed from the traditional ideal of an actor, he’s more likely to be seen dancing with fans at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am than attending awards parties. Here, the ever-surprising and indefinable Bill Murray talks about how, despite his unparalleled success on the silver screen, he will always be happiest out in nature, smashing a long shot to an uphill green

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hat is there to say about Bill Murray? In Hollywood lore, he straddles the fine line between real-life and rumour as a kind of celebrity sasquatch, shrouded in unconfirmed tales of mysterious appearances at karaoke bars and strangers’ stag-dos.

In the swirling haze of legends and anecdotes, one thing about Murray is certain: he loves golf. From his first job as a teenage golf caddy to his appearance as eccentric greenskeeper Carl Spackler in the 1980 cult comedy classic Caddyshack and his subsequent annual involvement in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Murray and golf go together like Dr Peter Venkman and unruly ghosts.

“I was a caddy and that’s how I came to golf,” Murray told the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel in 2014. “It’s not that I want to dress any certain way or wear loafers without socks. I play golf because I was a caddy; I worked my way through school as a caddy, so I got the game.”

“Then all of a sudden I had some money, so I didn’t have to caddy anymore. I could go out and play golf more than you could as a caddy.”

Murray’s experiences of helping out on the course would come in handy years later when he landed his breakthrough role as Carl Spackler in Harold Ramis’ 1980 cult classic Caddyshack.

Murray’s larger-than-life portrayal of the peculiar character, who attempts throughout the film to curb a rampant gopher infestation via increasingly bombastic methods, quickly became a fan favourite.

At first, the role was meant to be nothing more than a cameo, but with Murray’s enigmatic talent shining through, the greenkeeper was written into more scenes and provided some of the film’s most memorable and hilarious set-pieces.

“They needed a character to be the balance between the members and the caddies, and asked me to come down and do the character that became Carl Spackler,” Murray reminisced to Golf.com. “It was supposed to be a small role – pretty much just the scene with the head greenkeeper telling me to deal with the gopher. It became a lot more.”

One of Murray’s scene-stealing antics sees Spackler absent-mindedly lopping the heads off a row of tulips with a grass-whip while imagining himself getting a hole-in-one at Augusta to complete the “Cinderella story of a former groundskeeper about to become Masters champion”. Like much of his dialogue in the film, the speech was entirely improvised

by Murray.

“I thought of this traffic cop who used to work at 77th and Broadway in New York,” he explains. “He was completely miserable with his job, and he’d be muttering out the side of his mouth. I’d stay and watch him pretty regularly – he absolutely despised the people crossing the street.”

This technique is typical of Murray’s uncanny ability to speak to people of all ages and backgrounds through his acting, and something which he can trace back to his time on the golf course, caddying for club members.

“It was an extraordinary education for me,” Murray told the Milwaukee Journal. “I learned a lot from men, made men, who had the wherewithal to be the members of a country club and have a young boy carry their things for them while they walked around. You learned a lot about how you wanted to be treated, and you learned how to treat people by seeing how these people treated you.”

Caddying also gave Murray his “first glimpse of comedy,” as he told The Daily Mail in 2010. “There’s nothing funnier,” he said, “than watching grown men near to tears because they’ve missed hitting a little white ball into a hole from three feet.”

Murray’s improvisational skills and razorsharp wit are also a tribute to his first mentor, Del Close, part of the Chicago-based comedy troupe The Second City. It was Close who encouraged Murray to head into the unknown,

to push through rambling, unfocused territory to an inevitably hilarious conclusion.

“Del was incredibly gracious to your talent and always tried to further it; he got people to perform beyond their expectations,” Murray says. “He taught people to commit. You’ve got to commit; you’ve got to go out there and improvise and you’ve got to be completely unafraid to die.

“And you have to die lots. You’re going out there with just a whisper of an idea. The fear will make you clench up – that’s the fear of dying. When you start and the first few lines don’t grab people and then you just put your arms out and open way up. That allows your stuff to get out, otherwise it’s just stuck inside you.”

Murray may well be unpredictable, but at times he’s also remarkably open. In spite of his reputation in some circles as brusque to the point of near-rudeness – he once called a group of journalists “morons” while playing the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews – or sad to the point of depression, Murray maintains that his occasionally downbeat demeanour is nothing more than a healthy, human reaction.

“I don’t mind feeling the pain; of course I have problems,” he muses. “To me, I kind of like feeling sad and I think it’s okay to show emotion. I think trying to deny emotion is like an enormous drain on your brain. You can’t

fight your emotions because they’re more powerful than you are.”

When he eventually made the move from the comedy that defined his early career as an integral part of the Saturday Night Live cast to serious Hollywood dramas, it was the melancholic Murray that the world began to see. He was, no doubt, equally as relatable; there was a remarkable tenderness in his sad eyes that straddled the line between heartwarming and heart-breaking.

This was the man we saw in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including a Best Actor nod for Murray himself, and set Murray apart from his peers as an actor capable enough to realistically deal with comedy, drama and everything else in between.

“If you’re a real, true comedian, you can act – it’s the ability to say a line straight that enables you to do comedy properly,” he says of his transition from SNL to the lonesome, ageing movie star of Lost in Translation. “It’s usually the irony and the contradiction that makes a line funny and you’re acting serious when the intent is to make people laugh. Every good comedian is by definition an actor.”

For Murray, however, the transition from comedy to serious acting wasn’t just about making it into the mainstream in search of a Hollywood-scale pay cheque, stating that there is an “honour and nobility in being able to turn

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“I love playing with my friends. Something happens on a golf course; you’re able to talk about things you can’t speak about at other times with other people...You feel free. It’s an intimacy you feel out there on the course, all alone in nature, that you don’t get in other places.”

down work”.

“I’m someone who had had success in the past doing comedies and one kind of acting, and you wonder whether you can continue having the same level of success and the same appeal to the public doing other things,” he explains. “I was searching for a way to take my work to a different level and be happy with that choice.”

Despite taking on lead roles with a host of renowned directors – including Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch and Ivan Reitman among others – Murray’s off-the-wall personality and yearning for independence has rendered him a notoriously difficult figure to pin down.

Remarkably for an actor with such gravitas, Murray has no agent, instead doing all his business through a semi-secret phone number that is reverently passed around Hollywood to interested parties. Murray states that his decision to forego an agent and create some distance between himself and the industry had a positive impact on his life and mind-set, but his decision to stay off the grid has reportedly cost him lead roles in several movies that went on to become commercial and financial successes, such as Rain Man, Toy Story and Little Miss Sunshine.

Murray’s love for a deserved slice of peace and quiet also fuels his passion for the tranquillity of an expansive course and a relaxing game of golf.

“I love playing with my friends. Something happens on a golf course; you’re able to talk about things you can’t speak about at other times with other people,” Murray told Golf. com. “You feel free. It’s an intimacy you feel out there on the course, all alone in nature, that you don’t get in other places.”

The 65-year-old’s love of the sport extends to the restaurant he co-owns with his brothers, Murray Bros. Caddy Shack in St Augustine, north-eastern Florida, and the book he wrote at the turn of the century, Cinderella Story: My Life in Golf.

Murray’s book is part-autobiography, part golfing memoir, and part love letter to the Pebble Beach course he frequents annually for the Pro-Am competition, which he describes as “lit from within”.

“It’s a very special place,” he reiterates.

“The course is great – beautiful, hard. When I was watching the 2010 US Open, I was so proud. The USGA tricked it up more for the Open than for the likes of us playing in the ProAm, but I still felt like it stood up to the test.”

In 2011, a real-life Cinderella story occurred at Pebble Beach, as D. A. Points secured his first win on the PGA Tour with a selection of impressive swings – including a

bizarre gap wedge shot that just about cleared the bunker, before rolling down the slope and into the hole on the notorious 14th. His partner? Bill Murray, who now has his name inscribed in the roll-call of honour below the first tee.

Murray’s apparent inability to take anything seriously translates to the course too.

Rumour has it that some players find his antics distracting – such as when he jokes with the crowd, or buys them all ice cream – and he was even threatened with a ban from the Pro-Am competition after upending an old lady in a bunker. Wherever Murray goes, hilarity and carnage ensue, occasionally in equal measure, but more often than not unpredictably skewed to one side.

A particular event in the long history of Murray’s madcap moments that straddled the line occurred in 2007, when he was driving a golf cart and was pulled over by Swedish police outside Stockholm. Unlike many of the incidents that the media rumour mill attributes to Murray, he later went on to calmly explain the situation while promoting Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited.

“A friend of mine invited me to play in a Pro-Am golf tournament in Stockholm and I was driven to a party celebrating the event in a golf cart,” he told inquisitive journalists. “After the party the people that drove me did not wish to drive, so I drove. I ended up stopping and dropping people off on the way like a bus; I had about six people in the thing and I dropped them off one by one. As the last couple were getting out, the police asked me to come over, and assumed that I was drunk. I tried to explain to them that I was a golfer!”

The inclusion of his name on the hallowed first tee plaque at Pebble Beach, however, proves that much like Murray’s cinematic persona, amidst the eccentric antics a genuine talent bubbles away.

“I got to a 7 handicap, but that’s when I was playing a lot near the end of summer,” he told Golf.com. “The ground was hard and baked, and a good drive is coming in at 360 yards, so your handicap can drop quickly. I’m between a 7 and 11 – ‘Seven Eleven’ has a nice ring to it.”

He continues, “When I’m playing a lot, I can drive the ball really well and hit it far and where I want to hit it. But when my swing is queer, I struggle with balance, so I’ll hit 5-irons until I get it right. It’s a good lesson – you learn it’s not too damaging to your score to hit 5-irons, if you hit them straight.”

Last year, Murray reprised perhaps his most famous role: that of Dr Peter Venkman in the all-female reboot of Ghostbusters. Though the role was just a cameo – some reports

suggested that Murray requested to die in the first scene and spend the rest of the film as a ghost – his appearance was welcomed by the legions of die-hard Ghostbusters fans.

The 1984 film, which remains one of the all-time most commercially successful comedies, provided Murray with the stage he needed to showcase his immense talent alongside long-time SNL colleagues Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd (who also had a cameo in the reboot) – but the success of the film had its drawbacks for Murray’s ever-unpredictable mentality too.

“Ghostbusters paid for my children’s college education, which means that they were able to flunk out much earlier than they would have if they had to pay their own way,” he laughs. “That was such a big experience for me; it was more than I could handle. I had to leave town, move away, and get out of the country.”

The beauty of Ghostbusters, he says, is that back in 1984, making movies wasn’t such a serious business. “We used to do them for fun and because we like the work – back then we really had a lot of fun,” he reminisces. “Working with that group – Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Ivan Reitman, Annie Potts and Rick Moranis – these were all just people you’d love to be trapped with for a couple of months. It was real, true hilarity, all the time. You could feel free to do anything you wanted to do and perform for each other, and when you do that, it’s a gas.”

For a man like Murray, the minute details behind something – be it the lackadaisical attitude of the SNL cast which gave the world so many fantastically funny movies or the “codes of behaviour and honour” that make golf such a gentlemanly game – are often the most important.

This knowing eye on the mundanity of life is the difference between your traditional Hollywood A-lister and a man like Murray who stops to take photos with a pair of newlyweds, or goes out into the street and hands out $100 bills to people sleeping rough.

“I think that everyone has to find their own way to contribute to one’s society,” he concludes. “We all have a responsibility to help an old lady cross the street when it’s cold and snowy outside, or to help out a guy on a street corner who’s just looking to buy himself a coffee and a sandwich. I have a soft spot for people who have to struggle in life – after all, I was there once.”

It’s a futile task to try to label Murray, after all – when we feel we are beginning to finally understand him, he goes and surprises us again. EJ

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CULTURE

words by BENNA HARRY

JEREMY DELLER

O

f all the places we anticipated interviewing Jeremy Deller, platform one of Edge Hill train station was not on the list. A surreal but cool location nonetheless, a good story to tell down the pub, interviewing one of our favourite artists on the platform of the country’s oldest working passenger train station. For the uninitiated, Jeremy Deller is an English visual and installation artist, famed for his work which among other things, frequently touches upon the theme of collaboration.

In 2004 he won The Turner Prize for Memory Bucket a video travelogue around George W. Bush’s home state of Texas which documented supporters and opponents of the former president. Deller’s other work includes The Battle of Orgreave (2001) a staged re-enactment of the infamous protest and Acid Brass (1997), a project which saw him combine a brass band with acid house and detroit techno.

We meet Jeremy ahead of a talk organised

by Metal, an arts organisation whose Liverpool hub is a building they have renovated at this very station. The talk coincides with the end of Deller’s most recent work, With a Little Help From My Friends, a visual piece commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.

EJ: Jeremy you’re listed by Wikipedia as being an English conceptual, video and installation artist. Though your friends describe you as a funny little guy on a bike who likes jumble sales. How would you describe yourself and your work?

DELLER: Ah…never trust Wikipedia, I don’t know who writes those things. The work is whatever it needs to be in a way. It can be many things and takes many forms, a small thing or a performance with 2000 people.

There’s no way I’d attempt to describe myself, I just wouldn’t know what to say. Really I’d rather not think about the type of person I am.

Do you still like jumble sales?

They don’t really exist any more. They used to be so frequent in the eighties. There were amazing ones in south London.

What’s the best thing you’ve ever found at one?

photograph by METAL

We caught up with the Turner Prize winning artist before his talk at Metal last month to chat jumble sales, Marmite and his latest artwork ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’

A Moog synthesiser. Actually the best thing weirdly to do with this project was “A Cellar Full Of Noise” a signed hardback copy of Brian Epstein’s autobiography, dedicated to someone called George, “To George with great respect, Brian”.

such but I think art can always push things along and make things more clear or more unclear.

Some of your work looks back to the pre digital age, one of acid house, bedroom posters and mix tapes. Do you think these were more exciting times in relation to popular culture?

Not necessarily no. I try not to be one of those people who says everything was better when I was 20 or whatever age, so no. There’s so much going on now. It’s different though, the music industry has changed but technology has made so many things possible, so I’m confident.

Your art training has been, like your work, unconventional. Do you think not going to art school was a positive thing?

Well it certainly didn’t do me any harm, I don’t know what would have happened if I would have gone, though it’s not a traditional route and not necessarily one you’d want to take.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration for Sgt Pepper you’ve been commissioned to interpret “With A Little Help From My Friends” from the album with a project in Liverpool, can you tell us about this?

I was given that song and thought I’d do something in the public realm. I’d used the phrase before “Brian Epstein died for you” on a few smaller things. So I thought I’d make it really big and put it over the town and amongst posters for popular culture, events and gigs just to make a point. We did it in Hebrew as well and we did portraits of him, with a very big one on Erskine Street, with the phrase on the back, so we just made him really visible.

So that was the first thing and the second was on June 2nd as a little performance almost. Penny Lane builders were doing lots of jobs that day, so we paid for all the work. So they were free for the people having them done but they didn’t know till the end. When they went to pay they were given a little credit card that said "Your call out today has been paid for by The Beatles”.

Its not the first time you’ve looked at Brian Epstein in your work, why the fascination?

I’m just interested in him as a character and his contribution to popular music. He’s probably still not really given the credit that is due to him. He wasn’t particularly happy in his life and yet was at the centre of one of the most exciting things to have happened in the 20th Century almost, but still quite lonely. That’s something interesting to think about.

You tend to not revisit work unless perhaps it’s a subject you love. Other than bats and Brian Epstein, what do you love?

photograph by CRISTIANO CORTE

Marmite..err what do I like that’s not too rude.. all sorts of things really but Marmite is probably up there as a food stuff.

And besides Range Rovers what do you hate?

Too much, too many things. Low level anti-social behaviour or driving as I’m a cyclist.

Do you remember the first time?

Yes for a number of things I do, but I don’t even have to tell you what that even means do I? I remember the first drug experiences as often they were the last as well. The first time I thought I was an artist maybe, that I could make it as an artist. I remember that, it was in 1997 after the brass band had done a concert, it seemed like a real thing was happening.

Do you watch television?

Yes lots, not recently but I do watch it. I’m more a documentary and news type of person I don’t watch reality TV. I do watch programmes at 1am in the morning about police stopping drunk drivers, stuff like that. I love those. I’ve watched so many now they’re repeated and I recognise the people they are picking up.

I like Border Control..

Yes I watch that, the Australian one. Yeah they’re real hard arses aren’t they, I love all that. I love to see people getting into trouble (laughs), I mean it is stressful but I do watch it.

How did you persuade 69-year-old Iggy Pop to strip naked in front of twenty one people?

He didn’t need that much persuasion, he was quite up for it. I approached him ten years ago and he said no, then he said yes. He was very charming. I can’t quite believe he did it but I’m very glad he did.

Did you used to go raving?

A little bit, not the first wave of 88-89 I was a bit of a late adopter. I liked the music a lot but didn’t go to the big early raves, I joined in a bit later when the music got more Techno.

If you tell people “It's art” can you get them to do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do?

Possibly….I think it gives you more freedom, more leeway and more space, which is good, so art does help. It makes people more intrigued, though it could put people off as well so it depends.

Politics in the UK is anything but strong and stable lately, does art still have a role to play within politics?

I don’t think it has a role to play in politics as

Does art have the power to make positive change in the world?

You’d like to think so wouldn’t you, you’d hope so. EJ

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SHOP THE COLLECTION ONLINE NOW

WWW.UNION22.CO.UK

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CULTURE

My Life As A Courgette words by TOM WILLIAMS

The Oscar-nominated animation has finally hit UK screens and has delivered an emotional depiction of hope and growing up.

A

fter a harrowing opening to the 66-minute animation, our painstakingly cute protagonist, Courgette (Gaspard Schlatter), is sent to a whimsical orphanage. The early sentiment of the film is heartbreakingly etched out by one of the parentless kids who deems “there’s nobody left to love us. We’re all the same,” which as the film unfolds is proven to be wonderfully untrue as the idiosyncrasies of the adorable ensemble flourish.

The style of animation is what I imagine Tim Burton’s would be like if he were a kindergarten teacher. It has a childishness to it that makes it endearing: with naturalistic backdrops which are poignant in their contrasting ability to both isolate Courgette, and unite him with his fellow orphans. This feeds into the idea of growth that resonates profoundly throughout the film, whether it be as simple as Raymond’s (Michel Vuillermoz) passion for growing cacti, or the more intricate personal growth that the orphans, when coming together, experience. The development of the characters is mirrored effectively in the environment that surrounds them, an example being a family of birds coming together outside of the orphanage as a cutesy metaphor for comradery.

The tone is, refreshingly, one of hope. This is exemplified by typical bully Simon (Paulin Jaccoud) who, despite such cutting insults as “Harry Potato”, matures into one of the most empathetic characters in the film.

Director Claude Barras scatters intricate moments of

compassion throughout, a particularly powerful example being Camille’s (Sixtine Murat) reshuffling of Alice’s (Estelle Hennard) hair to encourage her to come out of her shell.

Conversations between the children range from exploding willies to bed-wetting in what is an authentic depiction of childhood, with the innocence of youth rising above the awful situations that have been forced upon them. This innocence is both defiant and heart-breaking in its fragility: Courgette’s attachment to a beer can inadvertently bestowed to him by his alcoholic mother is a shocking reminder of his youthful unawareness. Yet the group’s young age is what unites and strengthens them in the face of adversity.

Regardless of the short running time, the film manages to be understated and melancholic in its execution, static camera angles allow for the minutest of facial expressions to pack an emotional punch - capable of bringing the most stoic of individuals to tears. The music is simple and effective, with an exuberant scene involving the kids all dancing together being one of the most memorable the film has to offer.

My Life as a Courgette opens with a displacement between character and scenario, youth and the horrors of the world. It is only with unity and helping one another that these kids can resolve these injustices and come out strong – a message perfectly executed in this extraordinary animation. EJ

"The style of animation is what I imagine Tim Burton’s would be like if he were a kindergarten teacher."

This Month's Top Five Films

by Tom Williams

8

/10

STYLE

Beautifully designed

9

/10

SUBSTANCE

A phenomenal script capable of breaking your heart over and over again.

9

/10

ESSENTIALNESS

An insightful window into the lives of orphans.

DUNKIRK

VALERIAN

SONG TO SONG

Nolan’s back with what could potentially be one of the best war epics of all time.

Hopefully the odd casting of Cara Delevingne will not detract from Luc Besson’s comic-based space drama.

Set against the music scene in Austin, Malick has brought together a stellar cast to tell a story of intersecting love triangles in his own unique style.

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CULTURE

WHEN DID ANIMATED FILMS STOP BEING JUST FOR KIDS? words by TOM WILLIAMS

On both the small screen and the big screen animation has witnessed a move away from being primarily targeted at children, but why?

T

THE DARK TOWER

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

McConaughey and Idris Elba embark on a cat and mouse chase in an old-west style fantasy landscape.

Tom Holland’s first full feature outing as the new Spider-Man looks to be a more mature and humorous rendition of the ever-changing franchise.

hroughout cinema history there have been outstanding animations that defy the kiddy-style, think of 1986’s When the Wind Blows or The Plague Dogs (1977) as examples. However, these are rare entities compared to the recent vogue for sincere animation, with many examples entering mainstream cinema.

The Oscar for Best Animated Feature was only introduced in 2001 with Shrek beating a forgotten-about Jimmy Neutron film and Monsters, Inc. to the award. This contrasts heavily to where we are now, with the likes of Anomalisa (2015), Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) and My Life as a Courgette (2016 in France) receiving Oscar nominations.

Anomalisa was the first R-rated animation to be nominated for an Oscar in the awards’ history which demonstrates this steer away from the playful style, with the film’s lead being a man trapped in the mundanity of life. In many cases animators deliberately subvert the kid-friendly style as a way of making their messages even more poignant. Take the Netflix series Bojack Horseman as an example, despite vibrant colours and whimsical animal characters, the narrative contains themes of drug abuse, loneliness, and depression on a frequent basis.

A huge factor in the increasing cinematic power of animation is technology. A film like Shrek was mind-blowing in 2001 and only doable by the huge Hollywood power of DreamWorks. Now, as is evident by Anomalisa, independent filmmakers can have a crack at animation, in this case the film stemmed from a Kickstarter project. The technological force of the past 20 years has made animation easier and cheaper, resulting in a move away from the Disney domination of the 20th century. This has opened up the animation genre considerably to a point where it can’t really be considered a genre anymore, due to the wide range of subcategories that now exist within it.

Although Disney have had a tried and tested formula for nigh-on 100 years, they too have engaged in a more sinister form of animation in recent years. Their merger with Pixar produced one of the best animations of the century in the form of WALL-E (2008). This, although still pretty cutesy, consisted of a damning representation of humans and a startling opening half an hour where there is no dialogue. A year later saw Up tear apart cinema-goers’ hearts with a crushing depiction of loss, heavy going for a Disney picture. Inside Out (2015) again broke the mould with the externalisation of emotions which presented the hardships of growing up as a child. These themes are more nuanced than those associated with the Disney of old, which often covered more broad stroke ideals such as courage and love.

This increased sincerity is beneficial for big companies as it appeals to a wider audience, in a similar manner to what The Simpsons achieved in the 1990s with its multi-functioning style. The Simpsons is arguably the catalyst for the humanisation of animation (in America at least) as the cartoon factor is almost secondary to the excellent, politically-drenched scripts and relatable home environment.

Animated films are becoming more and more a force to be reckoned with, particularly if films like Anomalisa and My Life as a Courgette continue to receive the deserved attention they are getting. Animation has even allowed for video games to be pieces of cinema, so much so that David OReilly’s existential game Everything has a trailer that has actually been longlisted for an Oscar nomination. Recent years have solidified that animation can be as sincere, powerful and cutting as live-action films and will hopefully continue to do so in its uniquely cinematic way. EJ

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Find out more and join today at www.theaoi.com or follow us @theaoi

STREET CULTURE

words by THOMAS SUMNER

As this years category winners are announced for the World Illustration Awards, judge Tristan Manco takes some time out to talk to us about Bristol's golden age, where in the World to see the best street art and what makes an award worthy illustration

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fter 2,300 entries from 64 countries, the chosen 15 winners of this years World Illsutration Awards now hang proudly in Somerset House, London.

This year's winning enteries were chosen by 24 esteemed judges including commissioners, publishers and artists. One of which, was Site Art specialist and Street Art enthusiast, Tristan Manco. A lover of illustration since his comic fuelled childhood, Tristan has kept a close eye on the evolution of Street Art since the early emergence of Banksy. With a small library of books under his belt, the WIA judge also works closely with the Mexican restaurant

Wahaca to source and develop their in-store artwork. We caught Tristan on the phone as he completed his mid-afternoon chore of vacuuming the living room and asked how he found himself a life of illustration... essential journal: Tell us a little about yourself and your career? tristan manco: Above all I think it was a love of illustrated books and comics that got me interested in art; from 2000AD to Asterix, Tintin and other works by Continental European comic artists such as Moebius, Philipe Druillet, Joost Swarte and Miguel Angel Prado.

At school I would make comics with my brother and friends to sell in the playground and later in comic stores in Bristol. This journey eventually took me to undertake a visual communication degree at Wolverhampton University. On returning to Bristol I got immersed in the club scene, making flyers, visuals, murals and T-shirts and generally getting involved in anything creative I could find. It was a golden time for Bristol, when bands and sound-systems like Massive Attack, Portishead and Roni Size were becoming known. With this experience I got to know the people at WOMAD festival who were looking for an in-house creative to make posters, leaflets and work on educational projects. It was a key moment, that lead to me working for WOMAD and partners Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records for the next seven years - which led to designing album covers, making animations, video and multimedia...

What makes an award winning illustration

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and why is it important to award illustrators and their work?

The World Illustration Awards (WIA) are particularly important for the genre, since it's a commercial artform that doesn’t get the same recognition as other creative industries, such as graphic design, product design or animation. Yet illustration is everywhere, in advertising, interiors, book covers, gaming - in many forms too numerous to mention. Some of the UK's best known illustrators such as Quentin Blake are national treasures but the general contribution of illustration to the creative economy gets overlooked - in part because of its ubiquity. Having judged this years WIA, it is a difficult selection process to award those most deserving - with so many factors to consider; originality, craft, aesthetics, its purpose or how a project connects with it’s audience. It can be difficult to measure projects that are vastly different against one another - in which case size and quantity are not the measures instead you have to go for quality, soul and integrity.

You work a lot with site art. What is site art and how does it differ to street art?

In part this has been an accidental career for me, as a documenter and advocate of Street Art I’ve had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of artists, many have become friends and naturally one wants to promote their work. I first had the opportunity to curate exhibitions and street art festivals whilst I was working for Pictures on Walls (Banksy’s screenprint publishers) between 2007 - 2012. This eventually led to being asked by Wahaca to help

The Essential Journal | 51

curate their site-specific art programme.

Wahaca are Mexican food specialists inspired by street food and in a similar way they have always felt a synergy with street art. In part it reflects the vibrant mural art that can be found across Mexico but also the programme is open to artists across the world.

My role is to suggest suitable artists for different sites, for instance some spaces might work well for an abstract painter while in other locations we have opted for three-dimensional installations. For each site we use a different artist so that every Wahaca has a unique feel.

Our artists come from a street art background so they are use to adapting to different places and conditions, working with interior murals is not greatly different in that sense. Commissioned work is of course legal rather the transgressive roots of street art, but our intention is for our artists to have a free reign with their creativity - our briefs are open in that way. Wahaca began to branch out of London, including a new site in Liverpool, which was a pleasure to work on. I was able to invite Lapiztola, an artistic duo who come from Oaxaca to paint works inside and out. They work primarily with stencil art and many of their works have social themes, commenting on topics from drug cartels to workers rights - at the same time their work has a beauty and charm to it. It felt gratifying to give these artists a platform for their work and add a level of depth and authenticity to the site.

Since 2002 you have penned eight books on street art and countless articles. How have you seen street art evolve in that time?

Street art has certainly evolved a lot in that time and it’s hard to describe its evolution concisely. I began to consciously document its rise from around 1997, when I first started to see Banksy stencils appearing in my neighbourhood in Bristol - it was very different era.

Graffiti and street art in the 90s spread through magazines, videos and from what you saw when you travelled around in person. Today we experience so much of it on the internet - it wasn’t until 1994 that the first graffiti website, Art Crimes finally appeared. Media was old school, I first documented street art on slide film, there were no good affordable digital cameras then - today millions of street art images are shared via Instagram and other platforms. The internet revolutionised street art, kids from all over the world could see what others were doing - a picture of a sticker in Sao Paulo, Brazil could be seen by another street art fan in Indonesia on easy sites like Fotolog.

It became a big movement amongst young kids to make posters, stickers, paint walls and do things differently to the graffiti and street art of the past. They also had new tools - access to digital applications to help make stuff that earlier generations didn’t have.

For me 1999-2004 was a golden age for street art, it felt so fresh and exciting. It was more innocent in some ways, while artists were then having exhibitions, making T-shirts etc the art market for Street Art was not yet established so the art had more of a personal passion rather than pandering to a commercial market. Among the street art pantheon Banksy has undeniably had the biggest impact on the scene - consistently pushing the goal-posts

with exhibitions, pranks, experiential installations and even a blockbuster movie. His accessibility and appeal helped build a recognition of the street art movement. In my books I have charted the changes in the scene over time - in the past there were crazes for stickers and stencils, today it’s all about large scale murals and their social impact. These days Street Art has entered academia with many people choosing to study it as a topic for theoretical PhD studies - while from my very first book my interest has remained focused on the creativity within the movement. As long as it stays creative and relevant then I believe it will still continue to capture my imagination.

Where's your favourite place, in the world, to experience street art?

It used to be Barcelona in the late 90s early 00s, I regularly hung out there - until I got to travel to Sao Paulo, Brazil - which remains my favourite city to explore and experience. I was lucky enough to visit there seven times over the years! Although I’m long overdue and another trip. Mexico City and Bogota are also fantastic places to visit for street art.

What do you have planned for the second half of 2017?

For Wahaca I’m working on a site in London with a Mexican artist this month and later in the year we’re opening up in Birmingham too. I have recently launched a new design agency, looking for new premises currently and by the end of the year I plan to revive my T-shirt business which has been dormant for a while.

Staying positive and creative! EJ

Illustrations, clockwise from top left: 'SEON-AH' Inye Moon - 'Barbara Lisicki - Direct Action Expert' Tobatron - 'Barbara Lisicki - Direct Action Expert' Tobatron - 'Green Man Festival' Aart-Jan Venema - 'Bill Murray - Mark Twain Prize' Tony Rodriguez - 'Yen Town - The Last Unpolluted Territory' Sam Ki - 'Newham Centre for Mental Health Mural' Jonny Glover

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CULTURE

words by DAVEY BRETT

GRAND DESIGNS IN GOLF With the help of our friends over at RIBA North we picked out a collection of our favourite golf clubhouses across the country

ROYAL BIRKDALE

The One That Resembles A Ship

ROYAL BIRKDALE, SOUTHPORT Like the top of a ship looking out over the course’s famous 18th hole, Royal Birkdale’s clubhouse is an art-deco masterpiece. Designed by architect George Tonge, the building was completed in 1935 along with updates to the course a decade earlier. Enormous bay windows at the front of the building great views of the 18th - the perfect place to watch this year’s Open drama.

The One With Dramatic Views

SEAFORD HEAD GOLF CLUB, EAST SUSSEX (Miller Bourne Architects)

Regularly voted one of the most dramatic golf courses in the UK, Seaford Head needed a clubhouse to match. Due to the site’s prominent position within the South Downs National Park the architects were careful not to spoil anyone’s view. The clubhouse was designed to use the natural slope of the site to conceal much of the accommodation on the lower ground floor within the ground.

Materials were also carefully chosen in order to allow the structure to blend in with the surrounding countryside, most notably in the form of a grass roof.

SEAFORD HEAD GOLF CLUB

The One That Was Cool, But Never Got Made

HERSHAM GOLF CLUB, SURREY (Reardon Smith Architects)

Okay, so as suggested by all the CGI, it’s a project that was never realised, but what a project it would have been. The world’s first mainly underground hotel and spa. Just one level of public area was to be at grade, concealed by a living green roof that mimicked the surrounding terrain, merging it into the landscape. The balance of the hotel – 198 guestrooms together with the spa were placed below ground, constructed in three "rings" around 800m² gardens that would allow light to permeate their façade. The project’s green potential was great too. If only.

HERSHAM GOLF CLUB

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The Iconic One At The Home Of Golf

ST ANDREWS LINKS CLUBHOUSE, FIFE (Hurd Rolland Architects)

Completed in time for the 1995 Open, it’s difficult to think of a building project with more pressure on it than the clubhouse on the Old Course at the home of golf.

Constructed using Clashach stone and Westmorland green slate, the building is visible from all sides and sits partially below ground level, overlooking the 2nd and 17th holes.

ST ANDREWS LINKS CLUBHOUSE

The One That Took Inspiration From Hadrian’s Wall

CLOSE HOUSE, NORTHUMBERLAND (Space Architects)

Opened by Lee Westwood and set to host The Masters in late September of this year, Close House is a course very much in the spotlight. The clubhouse, which sits on the same green belt land as a grade II listed manor and part of Hadrian’s Wall was deliberately kept modest in size.

CEO of Space, Rob Charlton said: “The building sits in a fantastic setting and the use of dry stone, timber and copper ensured the building was sympathetic to its surroundings. Close House wanted to create a high quality and exclusive club house to serve the two courses and as well being popular with members, the restaurant and bar attracts visitors from across the UK.”

CLOSE HOUSE GOLF CLUB

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07/07/2017 09:44

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LIFESTYLE

words by DAVEY BRETT

Gents, we need to talk about:

Golf

In the third installment of our new(ish) regular column - in which we use our pondering skills to delve deep into cliches, stereotypes and seemingly unimportant male-orientated issues - we consider golf, the sporting world’s equivalent of marmite in a park

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efore we begin, I have to come clean. I do not play golf. I never have and I never will. But, that’s not to say I haven’t dabbled. I have been sighted at golf’s periphery, I have a history. Like many bored tracksuited teenagers, on a few occasions in my youth I frequented a driving range, thrashing away at golf balls with a driver that for some reason my grandad kept under our stairs. I once drove a golf buggy at my sister’s wedding reception and more recently, for the last three months I have immersed myself in The Open for this very publication. It was only during the latter experience that I thought, you know what? Golf is fascinating.

In this world, people sit on the ends of the golf appreciation spectrum. They think it’s great or they think it’s shit. They love it or they hate it. It’s either the best thing ever, worth all the time and money in the world, or it’s just a waste of time, turn all the courses into public parks and let’s forget about it. It’s sporty marmite.

Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author and staff writer at The New Yorker hates it. He hates it because it privatises vast swathes of potential parkland in America and leaves a mess of addicted corporate suit types in its wake, many of which were too busy perfecting their swing when their companies were tanking in 2008. Bill Murray

on the other hand, he loves it.

Love and hate aside, Golf isn’t in the best shape; equipment sales are down, memberships are down, tv audiences are down and even the rock and roll spirit the sport radiated at its mid-2000s peak appears to have petered out. The fall of Tiger Woods has done the sport no favours, neither did the financial crash of 2008, an event that left its target clientele struggling to concentrate. As England Golf’s participation director, Richard Flint, recently told The Guardian, there are three problems associated with golf: time, cost and perception.

It takes ages, costs a bomb and it’s associated with old, middle-aged men (my words, not his). Not exactly an en vogue demographic.

Despite its obvious foibles and shortcomings though (historically stubborn lads of Muirfield, we’re looking at you), there’s something beautifully impossible about it.

It’s the sport equivalent of a needle in a haystack. As Churchill once said, ‘golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even ever smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose.’ He’s right, not to mention the whole exercise takes place at some of the most stunning locations on earth. Free from the shelter and sterile environment of a stadium, in golf, ‘the rough’ does exactly what it says on the tin.

The elements, water, terrain and even animals are all potential obstacles.

Although seemingly calm at first glance, golf is high drama. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. It’s heroes and villains. It’s Barack Obama versus Donald Trump.

It’s the difference of a few centimetres. There’s something about a tiny ball struck from distance, rolling towards an underground cup, that’s unparalleled in sport. Don’t get me wrong, goals are great. Who doesn’t love goals? Paul Scholes [swap for Steven Gerrard in the Liverpool edition] arriving from outside the area to strike a badly cleared corner on the volley. Beautiful.

Magical. But a hole in one? Someone stood there, poised, calm, the target they’re aiming for just a spec in the distance and despite the laws of everything that should and shouldn’t be possible, they manage to get that tiny ball in that hole with one, perfect, shot? That’s a completely different level of magic.

Golf is more than just a sport. It’s a meditation on life. As influential American golfer Bobby Jones once said, ‘Golf is the closest game to the game we call life.

You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots - but you have to play the ball where it lies.’ Here’s to that. Here’s to golf. EJ