Hale Village homes
Angel Field Festival
Jane Clare on wine
Aintree outfit ideas
Astley
Pop icon on hits, memes and Liverpool memories ahead of Arena show
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March
Hello and welcome to March’s YM Liverpool!
Kicking things off in style this month is my interview with ‘80s pop icon Rick Astley, who stops off at the M&S Bank Arena in April as part of his Reflections I caught up with Newton-le-Willows’ favourite son to talk about turning 60, keeping his hits sounding fresh decades on, the curious life of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ in the age of memes, and why performing in Liverpool always keeps him on his toes.
Meanwhile, across the city region’s property market, we explore a stylish three-storey semi set in a thriving new Wirral community, tour a collection of modern three-bedroom homes in Hale Village, and discover David Wilson Homes’ luxurious Maylands Park development nestled in leafy Nantwich.
Elsewhere, Annie S selects her key looks for the fast-approaching Grand National Festival, Robin Brown takes a whistletop culinary world tour at COSMO, and Heather Marsh highlights the season’s top plants to energise your garden while keeping it buzzing for bees.
And finally, with the first signs of spring in the air, our resident wine expert Jane Clare turns her attention to crisp Spanish whites, characterful oldvine reds and elegant English fizz.
Until next time!
Editor Lawrence Saunders editor@ymliverpool.com
Design Marten Sealby
ADVERTISING Sales 0151 316 0210 sales@ymliverpool.com
DISTRIBUTION Enquiries 0151 316 0210
When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it.
LAWRENCE SAUNDERS Editor
Let’sRoll!
As he prepares to bring his Reflections tour to the M&S Bank Arena, pop icon Rick Astley talks about turning 60, making sure his hits stay fresh, the curious life of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ in the age of memes – and why playing Liverpool always keeps him on his toes
words lawrence saunders
First of all, Rick, how are you?
I’m good! I’ve got a lot going on this year. I just turned 60 and I didn’t necessarily think I’d be this age playing the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, but here I am!
How are preparations going for the upcoming tour? Have you started rehearsals yet?
Not yet, but I’m gonna have a get together soon with some of the guys in the band. It’s more to brush the cobwebs off, to be honest, for things like drums, bass, keys, guitar – the main unit of the band, as it were. We’re gonna have a couple of days together and then we start full rehearsals about 10 days before the tour begins in Glasgow.
Is it the same band that you had on the last tour?
Almost. There’s a few new people, and there’s nothing untoward there, it’s just nice every now and then to change it up a little bit and add some different people. It’s a funny one because I was always the youngest person on the stage, and now I’m the oldest person on the stage [laughs].
And you’re okay with that?
No, I’m not okay with it [laughs]. But that’s just what happens. And on the one hand, it’s quite nice, because I’m quite young at heart and one of the reasons is because I work with people younger than me. Some of them are not that much younger than me, by the way – just want to throw that in there! But also it’s quite nice to walk into a room and it’s just full of energy. Do you know what I mean?
And that’s one of the things I love about playing live. We’ve got a great bunch of people, the crew as well. We can dress it up however we want, but we’re going to go and play some songs that are old, and I’ve sung them a lot of times and my band have played them quite a lot as well. The only way to attack them is to say, ‘let’s go for it and have a bit of fun’.
I called the tour ‘Reflections’ because I’m reflecting on the last almost 40 years and going, ‘you jammy sod!’ And also thinking how amazing this is, and isn’t it great to be able to do it. It does help to have a bit of youth involved here and there because you see an energy in people’s faces when they haven’t played your
songs before. And I love my guys. They’re all great, and they all dig in, and they all give everything they’ve got. But it’s just nice sometimes when someone’s never played it.
It’s a bit like in football – a manager might throw on a young 17/18-year-old and the crowd goes mad, especially if it’s a homegrown talent. It gives the whole stadium a boost and I kind of feel there’s a tiny bit of that with us as well.
As well as the band and keeping it fresh, how do you decide what makes the setlist for each tour?
I lean into nostalgia pretty heavily, to be honest, because that’s what the majority of people who come want to hear [the old hits]. But I’ve also had the joy of people singing along with my new songs.
And I’ve got to be honest, it’s just so emotional for me. Yes, they came for the old ones, but they must have listened to the new ones a bit, because you can’t sing along if you don’t!
But I never fool myself. The band sometimes gets excited when I’ve written something new and they say, ‘Oh great, let’s play this’. But I remind them: if we don’t play ‘Together Forever’, ‘Whenever You Need Somebody’ and, obviously, ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, plus a few others, they’ll lynch us. And so they should!
What’s your view on artists and bands who take the opposite approach and just play whatever they feel like playing?
If fans are paying the price of tickets these days and getting off their arses to come to an arena, then if you’re not going to play the hits, at least warn them – or just play the songs they want to hear!
The likes of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison are known [for not playing the hits]. Maybe the first couple of times they did that the fans were like, ‘what are you doing?’ But I think people get it now, and they don’t buy a ticket if that’s not what they want to see.
I try to be honest with my audience and myself. The only reason I’m playing arenas is because I had some hits in the ’80s, and thank God one of them in particular has stayed around and has found a new life on the internet.
So yeah, the setlist drives me mad. When we go away to Europe or more far-flung places, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, was this song a hit in Australia or wherever?’ I literally go on Wikipedia and I check. And I might find out that they released a certain song as a single in Asia, because sometimes in Asia they just pick whatever they want as a single, so I make sure we play it.
I wish I had more hits from the ’80s that I could just ram down their throat, but I don’t. I had eight
top 10s, which is going some I think, considering how little I was around back then. I normally play all of them.
Although we sometimes skip ‘When I Fall in Love’, because it’s hard to segue into, to be honest – it’s almost from a different universe.
When the dates for your new tour were released, you said Liverpool’s always been a special city for you both musically and personally. What memories and connections do you have to our city?
I’ll be blunt with you – when I went to Liverpool as a kid, I had to be really careful because of my accent. Now it’s very different. With club culture and dance music, everyone went everywhere and loved each other – it was great. But when I was younger and starting out in bands, Liverpool scared the crap out of me a little bit. So I didn’t really go clubbing there much, but with a couple of the bands I was in we did play a few gigs. I think FBI played there once – one of those gigs where you got a percentage of the door, but no one had to pay to get in. [laughs]
But I have two main memories of Liverpool, and the first one goes back much earlier than my band days. My dad had a flatbed truck because he ran a little gardening business. Every now and again he’d go down to the docks in Liverpool to pick something up for someone. I was tiny, but when it was school holidays, me and one of my brothers would jump in the truck with him. For us, Liverpool was exciting because we weren’t going into the city centre – we were going to the docks. As kids it felt like stepping into another world. It was like, ‘Oh my God, what’s this?’
When I was younger and starting out in bands, Liverpool scared the crap out of me a little bit.
Then later, when I was about 18, one of my friends had a stepdad who was a drummer in a band. Their singer lost his voice just before Christmas and New Year – which was when they had about 12 of their best-paid gigs of the year lined up. So they asked if I’d come in and dep as the singer.
It was a real mixed bag of songs – rock and roll stuff, some more modern things, all kinds really. What we’d have called a cabaret or club-circuit band back then. One of the gigs was in a working men’s club in Liverpool. Before the band went on there was a comedian. He came out, introduced himself, told a joke… mild ripple of laughter. Another joke… not really landing. Then he said, ‘Well, the thing is, I do impressions as well’.
Someone in the audience stood up and shouted: ‘Well do one of a f—ing comedian then!’
I’m aware of the whole ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ meme thing and I’m really appreciative of it. I embrace it more now than I did at first.
The whole place just exploded with laughter. We were backstage spitting our beer out going, ‘Where are we? What are we doing?’ The poor guy basically just left the stage, so we had to run up there as quickly as possible.
I remember thinking, ‘this is it – this is what puts some steel in you’. These people are there every week, and if you don’t entertain them, you’re finished. It wasn’t like playing in a pub full of young people who just want to see a band. This was more like, ‘You’d better entertain us, son, or you’re for it’.
In a recent BBC interview with Dermot O’Leary, you said that when you returned to playing live, it wasn’t for the money or anyone else – you did it because it was fun. What keeps pushing you today to make new music and perform?
I was having this same discussion with my wife, who is also my manager. Our daughter and her husband haven’t got kids yet, but that’s kind of the plan. Part of me wonders whether I’ll want to be retired by that point. I only mean that in the sense that what I do is quite a commitment – once you decide you’re making an album and releasing it, that sets a whole chain of things in motion. Obviously I’m not doing what I used to do back in the day, but I’m still doing an awful lot – the gigs and everything that comes with it.
I think what I’m hoping is that I’ll realise I’m done before someone has to tell me. Some of the greatest artists in the world are still out there doing it, and they’ve got a lot of years on me.
I went to see Paul McCartney in America a few years ago with my wife. We made quite an effort to get there. We were touring ourselves and he was in a different city, so on our night off we travelled to see him. It wasn’t exactly on the way either – I drove 10 hours because I don’t like flying.
So we went to Texas, and I’m really glad we did. He was amazing. I don’t know whether that was a particularly good night for him or just a normal one, but he was incredible. I remember thinking, ‘Christ almighty, I hope I’m doing my gigs with the energy and desire he’s showing’. It genuinely felt like if someone had said, ‘Sorry Paul, could you just do the whole show again?’, he’d have gone, ‘Yeah!’
Maybe he’s just a very good actor, but that’s how it felt. He looked like he could have gone to a club afterwards and played another hour easily.
So I suppose that’s partly what it’s about – you’ve got to do it with the right kind of love for it. The only advantage he’s got is that he probably has the best catalogue of songs in the world to choose from. That’s got to help. I’ve got a few slightly tired ‘war horses’, if you want to call them that – I think that’s what Morrissey calls his.
But the age thing is very tricky.
Do you think ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ would still have lasted until today without the internet and the whole Rickrolling phenomenon, or do you think its popularity would have endured regardless?
Yeah, I think it would still have its own little place, like a lot of songs from the ’80s, ’70s or ’60s do. But the fact that it became what it is now – that’s something else. I’m aware of the whole meme thing and I’m really appreciative of it. I embrace it more now than I did at first, but I also try to keep a bit of distance from it, because it feels a bit weird if you lean into it too much.
If it had been a pretty rubbish song and it became a huge meme that kept popping up, that would be one thing. But I actually think the song itself is pretty good. I don’t spend my life reading YouTube comments, but every now and again someone will say, ‘You’ll never guess what I just saw’. It’ll be something like a 14-year-old saying, ‘I just really like the song’. They’re judging it for what it is – not because it’s a meme or in a game – they just like the tune.
That’s something I love about going to gigs now. I’ll go and see a band I’ve loved for years and I’ll turn around and see a couple of teenagers there with a parent. You realise they’re not there because the parent dragged them along – they’re there because they want to be. I don’t remember that happening much when I was young. When I was going to gigs, you mostly saw people your own age.
But that rulebook’s completely gone now. I see a little bit of that at my own shows – people in the crowd who you wouldn’t expect to be there, but they’re singing along. Whether we like it or not, youth makes you youthful. If you spend time around younger people, some of that energy rubs off.
Your new single ‘Waiting On You’ came out in February. Does that mean we might be getting a new album, or was that just a one-off release?
That’s kind of why I’m talking to you half in the kitchen and half in the garage – I’m always working on stuff. Having a little studio at home is basically a hobby; it just happens that I get to play the songs to more people than my friends.
I’m always sort of in the process of maybe making a record. I just don’t like saying I definitely am, because you never quite know. But yes, that’s what I’m building towards.
When we were planning the tour, we thought it would be nice to have one or maybe two new songs before we go out again. It’s good to have something new to play – for us on stage as much as for the audience.
Rick Astley plays the M&S Bank Arena on 16 April 2026
...4 years in a row!
Medical Negligence Claims – Consult the Legal Experts
If you have suffered pain due to medical negligence and are considering a compensation claim, it is important to seek specialist legal advice as soon as possible. The medical negligence team at Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors provide expert advice. Director Paul Lowry explains the compensation claims process
What is medical negligence?
NHS care is normally very good but sometimes things go wrong. Medical negligence occurs when a doctor or other healthcare professional causes you harm by their actions or omissions in their treatment of you which falls below the required level of care.
Duty of care
A breach of duty of care arises where it is reasonably foreseeable that the healthcare professional either through his/her actions or their failure to act has caused harm to a person. A person must prove that they received care that no reasonably competent clinician would have given.
This may include:
• Misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis
• Failure or delay in treatment, tests, and investigations
• Failure to take account of past medical history
• Making the wrong diagnosis
• Failing to advise you about the risks of a particular treatment
• Surgical errors
• Prescribing the wrong medication
Limitation period
There are time limits for bringing clinical negligence claims. Legal proceedings must be issued within three years from when the incident happened or from when you first became aware a mistake
had occurred. There are exceptions: the three-year time limit doesn’t start to apply to children until their 18th birthday or if the patient does not have the capacity to manage their own affairs.
Can I claim for medical negligence?
Yes, you can. To pursue a claim, you will need to show that a breach of care by the practitioner has caused you harm. For a successful case to be brought it would have to be proven that you either fell below medically acceptable standards and this directly caused you injury.
Our expert lawyers can help you to claim compensation for the following:
• Pain and suffering
• Past and future loss of earnings
• The cost of care and assistance provided to you by your family or friends
• Rehabilitation costs
Choosing the right solicitor
Paul Crowley & Co’s experienced medical negligence team have both male and female solicitors, who will be able to advise as to whether your case should be pursued, the potential outcome of your case and the funding of your claim.
Required evidence
Medical negligence cases must be based on expert medical evidence. Without supportive independent medical expert
evidence, it’s unlikely your case will be successful. The patient making the claim must be able to prove that the practitioner acted negligently which resulted in injury. Paul Crowley & Co will obtain your medical records and decide if your case is strong enough for us to take on.
Four legal elements must be proven to achieve a successful claim:
• Duty: The doctor/healthcare professional owed a duty of care to the patient
• Breach: There was a breach of that duty of care
• Causation: As a direct result of the breach, the patient suffered harm
• Damages: The harm suffered must be compensated, including expenses/ losses resulting from the injury
Timescale
It can take between 24 and 36 months for a claim to be investigated, or longer in serious cases. Paul Crowley & Co will arrange for your medical records to be reviewed and, if needed, produce a report to establish if the practitioner has been negligent and the long-term impact on the claimant’s health.
No Win, No Fee
You will not have to pay any upfront legal fees. Paul Crowley & Co will act on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Paul Lowry Director, Paul Crowley & Co
COSMO World Buffet
By Robin Brown | Buffet | £ | Liverpool
Enter COSMO World Buffet on a Friday night and the first thing you notice is the noise. Clanking tureen lids and, every 15 minutes like an industrial cuckoo clock, cutlery dumped into a bin like scrap metal. The ambience is less restaurant, more airport.
Once you’re seated, you have 90 minutes – you feel compelled to work fast, despite the reasonable pricing (£17–23 for adults; £3 for kids; free on your birthday if you bring three friends). The food is largely Asian in origin, including a sushi station, curries and Chinese dishes. From a hot plate you can order burgers, steaks and seafood; a pizza chef spins dough and there’s a carvery with a mercilessly roasted gammon and Yorkshire puds if that other stuff sounds too adventurous.
I enter warily with a plate and inspect what’s on offer. A tray of mini potato waffles, looking like tiny golden trampolines, sweats under heat lamps among the starters, which can generously be described as a symphony of beige. Among deep-fried wares that speak of chest freezers and large sacks and the nuggetadjacent options there is real chicken breast, which feels like a quiet triumph, and some edible gyoza. Best of all, moist shredded duck.
All-you-can-eat buffets rarely differ: cheap food, lots of it. At least COSMO feels clean. I once led a work group to the Red Hot World Buffet in Liverpool ONE and suffered what I
ONE, 8A
Manesty’s
Lane, L1 3DL
can only describe as an existential breakdown. Here there are happy children, cheerful staff and a robot waiter blinking gamely before breaking down like a recalcitrant R2-D2. A staff member nudges it back into life – “they break down all the time,” they admit.
Back to the food. There’s a bowl of chipolatas inexplicably nestled among the Chinese mains. I dabble in tasty cumin-spiced lamb ribs and tough char siu. At the grill station, fat prawns are chucked onto the hotplate. They’re cooked fine but, despite a dousing in what promises to be garlic butter, they taste of nothing. At the sushi station, crab sticks and tinned tuna await – far inferior even to supermarket sushi. One young lad loads up. “I love it,” he grins. Wait until you discover Etsu, I think.
Most kids roam with plates full of chips, Yorkshire puddings and rice – discs of mostly yellow. My six-year-old lad would be happy here: unlimited fast food that doesn’t taste of much, self-serve ice cream and a funny robot. The playlist starts with family-friendly ‘90s hip-hop. “Who’s in charge of the playlist here?” asks a woman in a sparkling gold maxi dress. She has a point. Later, bizarrely, ’Bring the Noise’ by Public Enemy vibrates the tasteless jelly cubes.
I venture back to sample the adequate curries, which remind me of work canteens,
We tell ourselves we want quality, but often we don’t: we want lots of stuff, fast and cheap.
and check what I missed.
‘Mushrooms and celery’ – perhaps the most miserable dish ever. A sad chilli-and-nachos station with an ominous yellow gloop. A vat of custard steams, as if waiting for Arnold Schwarzenegger to be lowered into it, thumb aloft. But there are plenty of veggie options: curries, stir-fries, salads, things in sauce, things in batter – things in sauce and batter. My vegetarian wife is happy enough – eating out that’s not always guaranteed.
Criticising COSMO is, in some ways, unfair – like whinging that your seven nights in Marbella aren’t a summer on your own Caribbean island. Taken on its own terms, the food is mediocre at best, but that is not quite the point. In a country convinced it is permanently skint and miserable, people want a guilt-free night of excess on the cheap – an all-inclusive without the airfare.
We tell ourselves we want quality, but often we don’t: we want lots of stuff, fast and cheap. We claim to value craft and provenance, yet still queue for mass-produced samosas. Most of the leftover food will go in the bin. While legally understandable it feels morally inexcusable, but that’s part of the compact we make too. You may not find enlightenment beneath the heat lamps, but you will find plenty. And on a certain kind of payday evening, for many, that seems to be enough.
Feathered dress with bell sleeves
Mango
£320
Lace trim collared mini dress
River Island
£110
Trackside chic
Annie S chooses her key looks for those heading to Aintree this April
CHANEL rectangle
sunglasses
Selfridges
£315
Christian Louboutin
leather pumps
Selfridges
£845
Strapless suiting mini dress
Meshki
£109
Ruffletrim lace dress
H&M
£139.99
Lace heeled sandals
Mango
£45.99
Satin bubble hem midi
dress
BOA
£165
One-shoulder
mini dress & Other Stories
£139
Puffed sleeves
satin dress
Mango
£119.99
Scuba sleeveless
top
Meshki
£59
Scuba and mesh maxi skirt
Meshki
£115
Gucci square-frame glass and metal sunglasses
Selfridges
£355
One foot in THE GRAPES
As the first signs of spring appear, Jane Clare turns to crisp Spanish whites, characterful old vines and elegant English fizz – and shares details of a special tasting event inspired by Liverpool’s seafaring heritage
I’ve just been out to the shops without a coat on. That’s what a bit of sunshine does for us Northerners at this time of year; we become full of bravado and think we can beat the chill because the sun’s out. I was freezing. But I was also excited about what the next few weeks will bring. Because now we’re into March, warmer days and lighter nights are heading our way. We may also be lucky enough to sit in the garden (with a coat on) sipping a springtime wine. And once you’re there, what to pour?
Spring makes me think of crisp white wines such as one from DO Rueda. It’s a Spanish wine region you may have overlooked. If you like a sauvignon blanc, and its keen acidity, then give a white wine from Rueda a try. Rueda wines are hugely popular in Spain and they’re beginning to make inroads here in supermarkets and independent wine shops.
The region is a couple of hours north of Madrid and surrounded by red wine country. Its altitude, warm days and cool nights create ideal conditions for growing white grapes, giving the wines a real shivering vibrancy.
There are also many old vines in DO Rueda which grow grapes with concentrated flavours. Verdejo is the native grape variety, and has grown there since the 11th Century. Sauvignon blanc is also allowed in the wines of DO Rueda – though don’t expect the punchy passion fruit style of a New Zealand sauvignon blanc.
Both verdejo and sauvignon blanc can be found as 100% single varietals in a wine, or blended together.
You’ll find flavours including herbs, fennel, citrus and ripples of peach.
Try Marqués de Riscal Verdejo (£14 or £12.50 in a buy six deal at Majestic); or Tesco Finest Organic Rueda Verdejo (£7.75); or maybe go to the Asda for Exceptional By Asda Rueda (£7.50)
And next …
By the time you read this you may have already given mum a Mother’s Day gift (15 March). If you haven’t, here’s a really lovely English fizz: Co-op Irresistible Eight Acres Sparkling Rosé (£19.50). If you have given mum a treat, then buy it for yourself.
I taste-tested this on a windy and wet weekend away in the Lakes (yes it was cold) yet this sparkler brilliantly brought in some springtime vibes. It takes its name from one of the vineyard blocks on the Hush Heath estate in Kent and dapples with crisp citrus and some lovely strawberry and cherry notes.
Fizz & Ships – Celebrating a Golden Age
Fetească Regală: Hard to say, hard to write, easy to drink. The grape variety is native to Romania and translates to ‘royal maiden’. It is full of soft apricots and nectarines with a flash of a spicy bite –ideal to serve with Chinese five-spice flavours. Try Incanta Fetească Regală (£10.50) at Majestic.
I won’t apologise for brazenly plugging an event I’m helping to host in Aigburth. It’s for charity you see. Fizz & Ships is a maritime-themed illustrated wine tasting, in which the passengers (the audience) are taken on an ‘armchair cruise’. It’s an idea I cooked up with my journalist pal Peter Elson of elsonshippinglines.com. He’s the ships’ person, and I’m the wine person (you may have guessed that). Peter has received a British Maritime Writer of the Year Award from the Princess Royal; and the Merseyside Civic Society Award for his campaigns about Liverpool’s historic architecture.
I asked Peter (pictured) some years ago if we could work on a (blatantly obvious reason to drink wine) event which would quench people’s thirst for learning about both wine and Liverpool’s maritime history. He said yes. Now, for the third year running, we’re hosting a charity night at St Anne’s, Aigburth on Saturday 18 April in aid of its organ restoration fund (tickets £30).
Peter will take us around the world via various liner routes – especially voyages of Cunard and the White Star Line – sharing anecdotes of both a bygone era and modern twists along the way.
We have about six wines with fizz to start: As we come into each port of call, I introduce a wine from that destination –maybe Spain, Chile, or Australia.
We end by raising a sparkling toast in tribute to the many ships and sailors who have played a part in the history of this city.
If you’d like to find out more about the Aigburth event (or even plan your own) then email me jane@onefootinthegrapes.co.uk
Stylish threestorey semi in thriving new Wirral community
From £289,995
THE SAUNTON AT OLD HALL VILLAGE in Bromborough is a new-build home thoughtfully designed to meet the demands of busy family life.
At its heart, this three-storey, three-bedroom property boasts a bright, open-plan kitchen and dining area with direct access to the garden, creating a seamless indooroutdoor feel. Additional features on the ground floor include an enclosed porch, a handy storage cupboard and a convenient WC. Upstairs, the top-floor master bedroom benefits from an en suite, while the two remaining wellproportioned bedrooms are ideal for children, guests or a home office.
The wider Old Hall Village development is ideal not just for families, but also for first-time buyers and downsizers, offering a selection of Persimmon’s two, three and fourbedroom homes set beside Eastham Country Park and Leverhulme Sports Fields.
Both Bromborough village and Bromborough Retail Park are within easy reach, with the village offering shops, pubs, and everyday essentials, and the retail park featuring major stores, restaurants, and leisure options.
Nature and outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Nature Reserve, just 1.5 miles away, or a leisurely walk through Eastham Country Park. Golfers can also make the most of nearby courses at Eastham and Bromborough.
At Old Hall Village, buyers can take advantage of Persimmon’s Part Exchange scheme to help make moving to a new home more straightforward.
For more information about The Saunton or Old Hall Village, call 0151 305 6891 or visit persimmonhomes.com
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A Celebration of the Arts in Liverpool: Angel Field Festival returns this April
With its rich mix of events spanning eight days, the festival promises an unforgettable immersion into the diverse world of contemporary arts
A VIBRANT CELEBRATION of the arts returns to Liverpool this April as Angel Field Festival unveils an exciting and diverse programme of music, theatre, visual art, storytelling and more. Hosted by Liverpool Hope University, the festival will run from Friday 17 April to Saturday 25 April at the University’s Creative Campus.
The multi-arts festival presents a broad and eclectic programme, bringing together international influences and local creativity. The week-long celebration once again promises audiences a rich mix of performances, spanning theatre productions, free art exhibitions, and live music ranging from classical and jazz to swing and electronic sounds.
Highlights include:
Tapestry – Friday 17 April, 7pm: The Capstone Theatre
Enjoy an evening of blues, jazz, folk, and musical theatre, performed by two of Liverpool’s finest talents as Eithne Browne and Sharon Byatt reunite following their critically acclaimed collaboration on Musical of Musicals…The Musical!
Built on Bach – Neil Cowley Trio – Saturday 18 April, 7.30pm: The Capstone Theatre
A new live show from the Neil Cowley Trio, exploring the subtle yet powerful influence of Johann Sebastian Bach on Cowley’s original music. Rather than reworking Bach’s compositions, the three-piece use them as a creative springboard – improvising and
exploring freely to reveal his imprint within their own distinctive sound.
Daniel Thorne and Stuart McCallum –Sunday 19 April, 7.30pm:
The Capstone Theatre
The debut performance from a new project featuring two unique voices in the North West’s musical landscape; guitarist Stuart McCallum (The Breath, Cinematic Orchestra) and saxophonist Daniel Thorne (Immix Ensemble). Expect a mix of brand new music for this format, alongside re-workings of their respective solo material, as the two explore their shared love for music blending jazz, folk, ambient and classical elements.
The Loose Moose String Band & The Speakeasy Bootleg Band – Tuesday 21 April, 7.30pm: The Capstone Theatre Angel Field marks 250 years of American
Independence with a double bill featuring Liverpool favourites The Loose Moose String Band and The Speakeasy Bootleg Band. Expect to hear the music of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Art Blakey – the sounds that shaped the Great American Songbook.
Cathy Waller Company’s You and Us –Friday 24 April, 7.30pm:
The Capstone Theatre
A powerful reflection on invisibility, bringing overlooked stories into sharp focus and placing them centre stage. At its heart is an emotionally charged dance performance, unleashing extraordinary physical intensity to an original, pulsing soundtrack by the MOBO Award-winning Lewis Wright.
Electronic Music Triple Bill: Ian Boddy/Sulk Rooms/Field Lines Cartographer – Saturday 25 April, 7pm: The Capstone Theatre DiN Records brings together a trio of outstanding UK electronic musicians for a special live concert. Each will perform a solo set before uniting for a unique, three-way jam.
Angel Field Festival will be held Friday 17 – Saturday 25 April at Liverpool Hope University’s Creative Campus, Shaw Street, L6 1HP. Visit capstone.hope.ac.uk/ angelfieldfestival to see the full line-up and book tickets
Daniel Thorne
The Loose Moose String Band
You and Us
Bell Lamb & Joynson returns as category sponsor at YM Liverpool Property & Business Awards
Announcement follows a landmark period of growth for the more than 200-yearold business
BELL LAMB & JOYNSON has been confirmed as the sponsor of the ‘Residential Property Agency of the Year’ category at the YM Liverpool Property & Business Awards 2026, continuing its support of the long-running industry event.
The sponsorship announcement follows a landmark period of growth and strategic expansion for the business. In its most recent financial year, the firm recorded client fee turnover in excess of £5.2 million, surpassing the £5 million mark for the first time in its more than 200-year history.
Earlier this year, Bell Lamb & Joynson reestablished a Liverpool city centre presence with the opening of a new office on Chapel Street – its first permanent base in the city centre in 15 years.
Mike Leeman, managing partner at Bell Lamb & Joynson, says: “We are pleased to
be returning as a category sponsor at the YM Liverpool Property & Business Awards and once again supporting the ‘Residential Property Agency of the Year’ category.
“The awards celebrate the quality and dedication within Liverpool’s property sector, and we are proud to support an event that recognises this. As a firm with strong Liverpool roots, supporting the awards reflects our ongoing commitment to the
local property community.
“We wish all finalists the very best of luck and look forward to a night of celebration for the industry.”
The YM Liverpool Property & Business Awards 2026 will be held on Wednesday, 25 November at Titanic Hotel Liverpool.
For details about tables and sponsorship opportunities email awards@ymliverpool.com or call 0151 316 0210
Brand name revealed for £1bn waterfront
neighbourhood
Developers
PC&Co recognised by Legal 500 for Client
Satisfaction
Liverpool firm singled out in three key areas by world-renowned legal directory
LIVERPOOL LAW FIRM Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors has reached a new milestone, securing recognition for Client Satisfaction in the newly enhanced Legal 500 rankings for 2026.
The Legal 500, a world-renowned directory in benchmarking excellence in law, recently provided a more data-driven look at how firms truly serve their clients.
Based on an extensive independent survey, PC&Co was singled out for its performance in three critical areas: Lawyer & Team Quality, Billing & Efficiency, and Sector Knowledge.
For a firm that has been part of the Liverpool legal landscape since 1991, this latest recognition reflects its long-standing client-focused approach. The accolade is based on feedback and experiences reported directly by clients.
Daniel Griffiths, director at PC&Co, says: “To be recognised by the Legal 500 specifically for client satisfaction is a proud moment for the entire team.
“It validates our commitment to not only providing expert legal advice but doing so with transparency, efficiency, and a deep understanding of our clients’ needs.”
The accolade places PC&Co among the top 30% of firms nationally for service delivery. The firm also received strong scores in areas such as Lawyer & Team Quality, Billing & Efficiency, and Sector Knowledge, reflecting its ability to meet changing client expectations while maintaining a personal approach.
say ‘Kings’ will ‘redefine how people live, work and experience the city’
DAVOS PROPERTY DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED,
in conjunction with Beetham Davos Ltd, has announced that the companies’ ambitious £1 billion Liverpool waterfront project will be known as ‘Kings’
The brand reveal comes on the heels of planning consent being secured for the development’s ‘pathfinder’ tower on the corner of Waterloo Road and the now stopped-up Galton Street. The 28-storey building, to be known as No. 1 Kings, will include a residents’ lounge, gym and workspace on the first floor, with the top floor boasting two indoor lounges and a large outdoor space for barbecues and social gatherings.
Hugh Frost of Beetham Davos says: “Liverpool is a global brand and deserves a skyline to match.
“We’re crafting a whole new neighbourhood and wanted a brand name and personality that illustrates Liverpool’s confidence.”
The company says work on the wider masterplan for Kings ‘continues apace’, with the aim of consulting on its recommendations in Q2 this year, before submitting a hybrid planning application seeking detailed consent for infrastructure design and layout.
DEVELOPMENT
New homes take off in Hale Village near Liverpool
John Lennon Airport
A COLLECTION OF MODERN three-bedroom homes in Hale Village, Halis Court offers a bright, practical route into Shared Ownership living in one of Merseyside’s most characterful spots.
Designed for space and comfort, the new homes feature well-planned kitchens, generous living areas, and private gardens that make day-to-day life feel easy and welcoming.
Each property offers the flexibility to buy a share suited to individual budgets while providing the security and stability of a long-term home.
Managed by Pine Court Housing Association, Halis Court comprises four homes available on a Shared Ownership basis for £98,750 (based on a 25% share).
Shared Ownership allows a share in a new home to be purchased, with shares usually starting from 10% depending on affordability. Once a home has been purchased, homeowners are encouraged to ‘staircase’ – this simply means to buy more of the property when financially possible. The higher the share owned, the lower the rent payable. Once 100% of the home has been purchased, no further rent is required.
Known as ‘The Willow’, each of the semi-detached homes offer contemporary living suited to modern lifestyles. The properties are fitted with electric vehicle charging points, solar panels, and underfloor heating, combining energy efficiency with practical features.
Beyond the homes, Hale Village blends rural charm with excellent connections. Set close to the River Mersey and surrounded by green space, it’s known for its peaceful streets, friendly community feel, and the historic Hale Lighthouse. Despite the village atmosphere, Hale is just minutes from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, major road links, and the wider Liverpool City Region, making commuting and other journeys straightforward.
For more information about Halis Court, visit pinecourthousing.org.uk/find-a-home/shared-ownership
Spring Skin Reset: Reviving Your Complexion After Winter
As winter fades, many complexions are left looking dull, dehydrated and fatigued. At Amanda Azzopardi Aesthetics , a personalised approach to advanced skin treatments helps restore hydration, improve skin quality and revive radiance – making spring the perfect time to reset, refresh and reveal a healthier, brighter complexion
As the seasons shift and daylight returns, many of us notice that our skin doesn’t quite look as fresh as we’d like. After months of cold temperatures, central heating and reduced sun exposure, it’s common for skin to appear dull, dehydrated and fatigued. Spring, however, is the ideal time to reset and restore your complexion – helping it look brighter, healthier and more resilient for the months ahead.
Why Winter Leaves Skin Looking Tired
During winter, environmental stress plays a major role in skin changes. Low humidity outdoors combined with dry indoor heating can compromise the skin barrier, leading to moisture loss and a lacklustre appearance. Reduced circulation and slower cell turnover can also cause a build-up of dead skin cells, leaving the complexion uneven and tired.
As a result, skin may appear dehydrated, dull or more sensitive than usual by the time spring arrives. A seasonal skin reset focuses on replenishing hydration, boosting cell renewal and restoring overall skin vitality.
A Personalised Approach to Skin Health
At Amanda Azzopardi Aesthetics, restoring the skin after winter begins with understanding each client’s unique skin concerns. Led by Advanced Nurse Practitioner Amanda Azzopardi, the clinic specialises in medically led aesthetic treatments designed to improve skin quality while maintaining natural-looking results. The journey starts with an indepth consultation and advanced OBSERV 520x skin analysis. This technology examines the deeper layers of the skin using specialised lighting, revealing concerns such
as dehydration, pigmentation and early signs of ageing that may not yet be visible on the surface. With this insight, practitioners can create a bespoke treatment plan tailored specifically to the skin’s needs.
Treatments to Refresh and Renew
One of the most effective ways to revitalise post-winter skin is through treatments that encourage skin renewal. LaseMD Ultra™, a gentle non-ablative laser treatment, helps improve texture while addressing concerns such as pigmentation, enlarged pores and early signs of ageing. By creating controlled micro-channels in the skin, the treatment stimulates regeneration and enhances
“Skin may appear dehydrated or dull by the time spring arrives. A seasonal skin reset focuses on replenishing hydration, boosting cell renewal and restoring overall skin vitality.”
the absorption of nourishing skincare ingredients.
For clients experiencing dehydration and loss of radiance, injectable skin boosters such as Profhilo® can also play a key role in a spring skin reset. Made with hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance that retains moisture, the treatment works to
concerns at their source, the treatment helps to calm the skin and create a clearer, more balanced complexion with minimal downtime.
Step
into Spring with Confidence
Spring is the perfect moment to give your skin the attention it deserves. With
deeply hydrate the skin while improving elasticity and overall skin quality.
Restoring Clarity and Balance
Redness and uneven tone are other common concerns following the colder months. Advanced laser technology such as DermaV™ can help target visible blood vessels that contribute to redness and inflammation. By addressing these
No time like the present –book your complimentary consultation online, call 0151 558 0742 or email contact@ amandaazzopardi.co.uk
the right combination of professional treatments and tailored skincare, it’s possible to restore hydration, boost luminosity and strengthen the skin barrier after winter.
At Amanda Azzopardi Aesthetics, the focus is always on personalised care and long-term skin health – helping clients step into the new season with refreshed, radiant skin.
Profhilo® treatment
DermaV™ treatment
Brand-new homes in sought-after Cheshire town
Once completed, Maylands Park in Nantwich will feature a collection of luxurious three, four and five-bedroom properties
A SELECTION OF BRAND-NEW luxury homes awaits property seekers in Nantwich as David Wilson Homes (DWH) continues to invest in the Cheshire market town.
The growing community of Maylands Park on Peter De Stapleigh Way aims to provide opportunities for first-time buyers and families to settle in a desirable community – offering the best of both worlds with countryside charm and urban convenience.
As part of its planning agreement, DWH is contributing £662,253 to support local infrastructure improvements. This includes over £441,000 towards secondary education and £91,000 for special educational needs and disability (SEND) education.
A total of £90,000 is being invested to enhance bus services, whilst £40,000 is being pledged towards pedestrian crossing improvements.
Claire Jarvis, managing director at DWH North West, says: “We are thrilled to deliver a high quality selection of new homes at Maylands Park and play a role in supporting the town’s future.
“This development not only provides beautifully designed, energy-efficient homes but also demonstrates our commitment to investing in the community. From improving local transport and investing in education to enhancing public open spaces, these contributions will benefit all residents in Nantwich.”
Maylands Park is delivering a collection of three, four and five-bedroom homes to Nantwich, with prices currently starting from £328,000. Homes available to move into include the three bedroom, three-storey Langstone, which boasts a spacious layout and versatile design.
Maylands Park not only provides beautifully designed, energy-efficient homes but also demonstrates our commitment to investing in the community.
With a range of historic buildings and charismatic architecture, Nantwich is a sought-after place to call home. A variety of independent coffee shops and high street retailers can be found in the town, while Nantwich Train Station offers convenient rail links to a number of major cities.
A selection of moving schemes are available to help would-be buyers progress on the property ladder. These include Part Exchange, which offers a chain-free
move with DWH being the guaranteed buyer of a customer’s existing home. There’s also the housebuilder’s Key Worker Deposit Contribution scheme which grants a contribution of £1,000 for every £20,000 spent on the purchase price – up to the value of £25,000.
For more information about the homes available, call the sales team on 0333 355 8480 or visit dwh.co.uk/new-homes/ north-west/cheshire/
Where Liverpool Renters Want to Live in 2026
From lively creative districts to calmer residential areas, Kayleigh Wright reveals the city neighbourhoods attracting the most interest this year
Liverpool’s rental market has always been shaped by the city’s energy, character and constant regeneration. While demand across the city remains strong, certain neighbourhoods are attracting particular interest from renters right now – often for a mix of lifestyle, connectivity and value.
presented apartments here rarely stay on the market for long.
A little further out, areas such as Wavertree and Old Swan are also seeing consistent rental interest. These neighbourhoods offer a different appeal – more space, good transport links into the city centre, and generally better value
As someone working across lettings throughout the Liverpool city region, I’m often asked the same question by both landlords and tenants: where are people actually choosing to live?
One area that continues to attract strong demand is the Baltic Triangle. Once a largely industrial district, it has evolved into one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, particularly popular with young professionals. Independent coffee shops, creative workspaces, restaurants, bars and music venues have transformed the area into a lifestyle destination, while its proximity to the city centre makes commuting easy. For landlords, well-
compared with central apartments. For tenants looking for slightly larger homes or house shares, these locations provide a practical balance between affordability and accessibility.
South Liverpool continues to perform well too. Neighbourhoods around Sefton Park and Lark Lane remain particularly desirable thanks to their
green space, independent restaurants and strong community feel. Properties in these areas often attract long-term tenants who value the lifestyle as much as the location.
Interestingly, good rental demand is now appearing in areas slightly beyond the traditional city centre hotspots. Places like Prescot, for example, have benefited from investment, improved transport links and growing local amenities in recent years. For renters who want a little more space while still remaining well connected to Liverpool, these neighbourhoods are becoming an increasingly attractive option.
What remains consistent across the city, however, is the strength of demand for good-quality rental homes. In fact, I recently marketed a property in the L7 area which received more than 50 enquiries within just a few days – a clear reminder that well-presented homes in Liverpool continue to attract significant interest from tenants.
For landlords and investors, understanding these trends is important. While Liverpool’s overall rental demand remains resilient, the most successful properties tend to be those that align with what tenants are actually looking for: well-maintained homes in locations that support their day-to-day lifestyle.
The encouraging news is that Liverpool offers a wide variety of neighbourhoods that meet those needs. From vibrant creative districts to quieter residential areas with strong community ties, the city continues to evolve – and renters are responding positively to that change.
And as someone working closely with landlords and tenants across the region, it’s clear that Liverpool’s rental market remains one of the most dynamic and resilient in the country.
Kayleigh Wright Liverpool Letting Expert
Local estate agent celebrates property management award
EweMove Childwall, Woolton & Sefton beats nearly 200 franchises to claim top accolade
A SOUTH LIVERPOOL estate agent has clinched EweMove’s Best Property Management franchisee award.
EweMove Childwall, Woolton & Sefton triumphed over 190 other EweMove franchises to win the accolade at the annual EweMove Awards, which took place at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham.
The recognition for the franchise comes after the wider EweMove network was named Best National Sales Agent at the Estate Agent Masters for the fourth year running.
Giovanni Tummino, branch director at EweMove Childwall, Woolton & Sefton, says the company’s property management award demonstrates its commitment to tenants and landlords.
Giovanni added that EweMove is ready and well-equipped for the significant changes coming to the private rented sector in England on 1 May 2026, when the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 comes into force.
“With all the changes happening in the rental market, receiving this accolade shows that we genuinely care for our tenants and landlords,” he said.
“Looking ahead to the Renters’ Rights Act, we are fully prepared for these major reforms, which will bring significant changes for both landlords and tenants.
“Key measures include abolishing Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, replacing fixed-term tenancies with rolling periodic contracts, banning rental bidding wars, and enforcing stricter property standards.
“We believe these reforms will
improve the rental experience overall, and we’re ready to guide our landlords and tenants through the transition.”
Alongside supporting its customers, EweMove Childwall, Woolton & Sefton continues to back MSB Woolton FC. As part of the partnership, MSB players and their families receive a 10% discount on the agency’s
standard selling fee, and up to 20% of EweMove’s fee is donated directly to the club to help fund its facilities and support future growth.
Joe Tummino, director at EweMove, is at MSB’s Simpson Ground base every Saturday morning to offer property advice and guidance to parents and families who need it.
Small Deposit, Big Dreams
Struggling to save a large deposit? Independent mortgage adviser Martin Green explains how new low and even zero-deposit mortgage options could help renters get on the property ladder sooner than they think
My name is Martin Green from J&M Green Mortgage Services Ltd on Allerton Road. I’m an independent mortgage adviser with 20 years of experience, and my firm has completed well in excess of 10,000 mortgages over the years.
So often, people think the deposit is the biggest stumbling block to buying a house. While that can be the case, there are many options people are unaware of. We regularly get enquiries from those struggling to save, thinking they need £20,000 to £30,000 to buy a house, and others who’ve saved for years not realising they could have bought a lot sooner.
Currently in the UK, nearly nine million households rent privately or socially. The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) is working hard to bridge the gap between renting and ownership. They’re reducing affordability restrictions, easing criteria,
Martin Green Director
and enabling lower deposit options through innovative products.
The easing of regulation means that alongside more traditional methods like Shared Ownership or guarantor mortgages, mainstream lenders are now offering small or even zero deposit mortgages. Recently, Santander, Accord, Newcastle, and Skipton have all released small or no deposit mortgages, and other lenders are expected to follow suit.
As this trend grows, more high street banks are likely to offer low deposit options. Santander and Newcastle offer 2% deposit mortgages, and Accord or Newcastle can accept a deposit of just £5,000. Skipton is blazing a trail with its Track Record Mortgage, which allows renters with a 12-month rent history to secure a mortgage based solely on their rent payments – with no deposit required.
One high street lender will also allow you to borrow your deposit via a personal
loan if it fits within the overall application affordability, so if you have a high income but are trapped paying a high rent that is preventing you from saving a deposit, that could be the perfect solution.
Whilst taking a mortgage with a smaller deposit brings risks – mainly the chances of falling into negative equity if house prices reduce – lenders often try to protect against this by offering these products over a five-year fixed rate to help mitigate the risk. The rates on these mortgages are often higher than traditional mortgages or 95% mortgages, but they may still prove more affordable than renting and allow you to get on to the housing ladder sooner.
In summary, whether you’re renting, living at home, or have owned before, low deposit options are expanding, and coupled with savings initiatives such as the lifetime ISAs, you might be closer to owning your next home than you think!
March into spring and bee-friendly
Heather Marsh shares the season’s must-grow plants to bring gardens to life and keep them buzzing
MARCH, IN REALITY, has always been a tease of a month – but an optimistic and colourful one at least. It’s often a month of two halves, with the promise of milder weather, hopefully, towards the end of it. So even if the weather can’t quite make up its mind, on those days when the sun is out and warm on your back, and spring really does seem to have sprung before your very eyes, get out there and get going.
As a gardener, March is undoubtedly one of the busiest times of the year. There’s planting, pruning, digging, seed-sowing, composting, lawn cutting and much more besides. But we’re not the only ones hard at work…
Right now, early in the season, the bees that have survived the winter need our help to sustain them for the busy months ahead. Surprisingly, there are relatively few truly wild winter-flowering plants in the UK, so bees often rely on our gardens – and other green spaces – to provide those all-important flowers, shrubs and trees for their pollen and nectar fix.
Our gardens, no matter how small, form part of a vital network – a staggering 20 million gardens across the UK – that help bees survive. Early spring is also considered a “hunger gap” for honeybees, when many natural food sources have yet to come into season. At this time colonies can quite literally run out of food and die as a result.
Our gardens therefore become a crucial source of nourishment on which they depend for survival.
Without them, bees would starve – an awful thought, especially as bees are so vital to us gardeners. They are the main pollinators of both garden and wild plants and essential for most fruits and crops to develop. If you want a bountiful garden, you need bees, and the more you can attract to your garden, the better it will grow – simple as that.
I saw this principle demonstrated very clearly many years ago when my mother-in-law’s garden suddenly flourished as never before. She was already a keen and talented gardener, but that year everything her green fingers touched seemed to grow with extraordinary abundance. It was truly spectacular: roses the size of cabbages, towering hollyhocks and sweet peas, bumper crops of apples, plums and pears, strawberries and cherries, masses of
raspberries and gooseberries, and – best of all – luscious white-fleshed peaches the likes of which I had never seen grown before, or since for that matter. It was honestly like the Garden of Eden.
The reason? Her next-door neighbour had started keeping bees.
The decline of the bumblebee is well documented and, as important agricultural pollinators, anything we can do to protect them should be encouraged. These small, furry creatures are an integral part of our ecosystem and among the most vital insects to humans on the planet. Bees are responsible for pollinating around 80% of all flowering plants and roughly one third of the world’s food crops. As drastic as it sounds, without bees life on earth as we know it could be in serious jeopardy.
It is the bumblebee that is truly wild and the one we are most likely to see in our gardens, often nesting in quiet corners of the garden itself. In the UK there are more than 200 species of bee. Only one of these is the honeybee, just over 20 are bumblebees, and the rest are solitary bees. Honeybees live in hives and are usually looked after by beekeepers.
The red-tailed bumblebee is often one of the first to appear in early spring, particularly in March. It is easy to recognise, with its velvety black body and distinctive red tail. Bumblebees and honeybees are social insects and, contrary to what many people think, they rarely sting. They would much rather be left alone to get on with their busy work – collecting nectar and pollen and carrying it back to the hive.
What to choose and grow
There are many pollen-rich plants at this time of year ready to provide sustenance for hungry bees. Fruit trees such as plum, apple and pear are excellent sources of nectar, as too are blackthorn and willow. Camellias –especially the semi-double varieties with large, visible stamens – are flowering in abundance right now and provide a valuable early food source.
Spring bulbs of all kinds are also important, particularly early-flowering varieties such as daffodils, primroses and crocuses, which are rich in both pollen and nectar. Every little helps when it comes to feeding and nourishing bees, so even weeds have their value at this time of year, with dandelions and dead nettle providing essential earlyspring food.
Hedging shrubs such as privet and laurel can also be useful sources of nectar, while hawthorn is perhaps the most valued native shrub of all – a prolific nectar producer that honeybees readily visit when its beautiful spring blossom appears.
At this time of year nectar provides bees with the energy they need to fly, forage and find suitable nesting sites in which to rear their new brood. Pollen, meanwhile, is the vital protein that developing bee larvae depend on to grow and thrive. Choosing a range of plants that provide both pollen and nectar can therefore be a real lifeline for bees emerging from hibernation, some as early as February.
The colour purple
While the bright yellow flowers of mahonia, forsythia and mimosa prove irresistible to bees early in the season, it’s well known that bees are particularly drawn to the colour purple. Their vision is tuned to ultraviolet, blue and green wavelengths, which makes purple, violet and blue flowers especially attractive to them.
Planting catmint and lavender, purple crocuses, grape hyacinths and even the tiny blue flowers of rosemary will quickly catch a bee’s attention. Lungwort (Pulmonaria) is another excellent choice. This early-flowering perennial is one I grow myself, and its pollen-
laden blue flowers prove to be a real magnet for bees.
Heathers are hardy, perennial plants and an excellent choice for the garden, providing crucial early-season flowers rich in nectar. Their compact blooms can accommodate dozens of bees at once, each taking its fill of nectar. Long-flowering and highly attractive to pollinators, heathers are particularly valuable at times of year when relatively few other plants are in bloom.
Heather honey is also highly prized and is often regarded as having health benefits comparable to those associated with Manuka honey.
The cheery sight of catkins – especially on pussy willow – undoubtedly spells spring to me. I love them, and so do the bees. The
name is believed to be derived from the Dutch for kittens’ tails, which is apt given their soft, furry appearance.
Kilmarnock willow is a particular favourite of the bumblebee queen. Other trees with catkins that attract bees include hazel, alder, silver birch and poplar, to name just a few.
Finally, before I buzz off, it’s worth noting that at this time of year, when it can still be bitterly cold, you may come across a bumblebee that appears disoriented, tired or lethargic. You can help them along by making a simple “bee tonic”: a solution of equal parts warm water and sugar, placed in a small bottle top or similar container next to the bee. It should drink this and regain enough energy to fly off.
Interested in the fascinating hobby of beekeeping? Learn more at bbka.org.uk
UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAPPY GARDENING!
Nexus Residential announces practical completion of £35 million Baltic Triangle scheme
Central Park offers a variety of resident-focused amenities, including a rooftop terrace and an outdoor gym
LIVERPOOL-BASED
property developer
Nexus Residential has reached practical completion at Central Park, a new residential scheme in the Baltic Triangle.
The update marks a major milestone in the regeneration of a previously unused brownfield site in one of the city’s most dynamic neighbourhoods. The site had been vacant prior to construction and had become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
Delivered by main contractor Legacie, the £35 million scheme offers an extensive range of resident-focused amenities, including a rooftop terrace, residents’ only gardens and an outdoor gym. The main architect appointed to the scheme was Falconer Chester Hall. Residents of Central Park will also have access to Nexus Residential’s neighbouring scheme, One Baltic Square, and its landscaped piazza and gardens.
Central Park, which comprises 174 apartments and townhouses, strengthens Nexus Residential’s long-term investment in the Baltic Triangle. Between the new scheme and One Baltic Square, the developer has contributed almost £700,000 in S106 contributions to Liverpool City Council. The two developments bring the total number of homes created by Nexus in the area to 470, reinforcing its commitment to delivering sustainable regeneration at scale.
Michael Gledhill, CEO of Nexus Residential, says: “Achieving practical completion at Central Park is a proud moment for everyone involved with the project. For many years, this site represented untapped potential, and we have remained committed to investing in the local community and unlocking that opportunity together.
“Today, that same brownfield site has been transformed into a thriving new neighbourhood, delivering high-quality, wellconnected homes in a place that people can be proud of. Developments like Central Park highlight the positive impact regeneration can have on our communities – creating opportunity, enhancing quality of life for local people, and supporting the long-term success of the city as a whole.”
John Morley, CEO of Legacie, adds: “Central Park is another successful scheme delivered by the Legacie team on behalf of Nexus Residential, reflecting a continued and trusted relationship between us both.
“Bringing a complex brownfield site to practical completion has required close collaboration throughout. We’re pleased to have delivered a high-quality development that meets our shared ambitions. The transformation of the site demonstrates the value of long-term partnerships and collaboration to deliver for our communities.”
All apartments and townhouses at Central Park have been sold through Nexus Residential’s sales partner, RWinvest. The scheme attracted buyers from within the UK and overseas. Legacie will manage the development on an ongoing basis as the property operator.
What’s on...
Events not to be missed over the next four weeks
Future Yard launches crowdfunder for new 600-capacity venue
‘BUILD OUR FUTURE’ campaign aims to raise £150,000 to support expansion
FUTURE YARD, Birkenhead’s popular live music venue, has launched a crowdfunder to fund its expansion and secure its future.
The ‘BUILD OUR FUTURE’ campaign will fund a 600-capacity indoor venue on site, alongside 12 flexible studio spaces. Future Yard has already secured 97% of the £3 million required for the project, which is set to begin this spring. The crowdfunder aims to raise £150,000, with half going to construction costs and the other half supporting the Neighbourhood Ticket Scheme and Future Yard’s skills and training programme.
Since opening during the pandemic, Future Yard has become a grassroots music success story. The space has hosted almost 900 shows and over 3,500 artists, from Mercury Prize winners to emerging local talent. Past acts include OMD, Gruff Rhys, Nadine Shah, The Coral, Doves, Black Country New Road and Nubiyan Twist, alongside an eclectic mix of Ethiopian jazz, American blues, Peruvian psych, French pop, Japanese drone, Brazilian tropicália and Indian minimalism.
The expanded venue will attract higher-profile acts, provide a more sustainable financial footing, and reduce risks from weather and noise restrictions. Built into Future Yard’s work is a commitment to nurturing music talent from ‘cradle-to-career’. The new studios will expand training and education opportunities, helping young people who lack access to music education develop skills and foster a lifelong love of music.
Hot Wheels Live spectacle heads to Arena
New
show promises neverbefore-seen stunts
from the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks team
HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE™ is set to roar back into the UK next month – and Liverpool is on the tour schedule.
The high-octane Glow-N-Fire show will arrive at the M&S Bank Arena on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April, promising a weekend of gravity-defying stunts, family entertainment and monster-sized action.
Following the success of the 2025 tour – which picked up the Pollstar Family Show of the Year award – the production returns with a major new addition: Rhinomite, a rhinothemed monster truck making its world debut. Designed to smash the competition “horn-first”, the new truck joins a line-up of fan favourites including Mega Wrex™, Tiger Shark™, HW 5-Alarm™, Bone Shaker™, Bigfoot® and Skelesaurus™.
Audiences can also expect spectacular freestyle motocross displays, including a daring no-handed front flip, plus plenty of fire, crushing metal and larger-than-life arena action.
Fans wanting to get even closer can book a pre-show party, giving families the chance to step onto the arena floor, see the trucks up close and meet the drivers. A limited VIP backstage experience will also offer a behind-the-scenes look before the engines start.
With special kids’ ticket prices available, organisers are promising a high-energy show designed for the whole family.
Prima Facie, Playhouse 17-21 March
Emmy, BAFTA, Tony and Olivier Award-winning Jodie Comer stars in this globally acclaimed one-woman play by Suzie Miller. The gripping drama follows a brilliant barrister whose life is upended when she confronts the legal system from a shocking new perspective. Well done if you’ve got a ticket!
17 Mar – Waiting For Godot, 4 Apr Empire
21 Mar Echo and the Bunnymen, Empire
26 Mar Richard Ashcroft, M&S Bank Arena
29 Mar Dermot Kennedy: Acoustic + Q&A, The Dome at Grand Central Hall
10 Apr Brooke Combe, O2 Academy
10 Apr Jessie J, Philharmonic Hall
11 Apr Skye Newman, Mountford Hall
National Museums Liverpool at 40, World Museum Opens 3 April
Forty years since the Merseyside Museums and Galleries Order was laid before Parliament (13 February 1986), National Museums Liverpool is inviting visitors to dig, dive and delve into its vast collections, to celebrate four decades of Liverpool’s national museum network.
