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INSIDE
Escape to Efteling Party season glamour Tavern Co. Social review The Guzzlers
Damian Lewis
Actor and musician on 25 years of Band of Brothers, his new album and lifelong love of LFC
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10
November
ISSUE #555
This month’s cover star is acclaimed actor and musician Damian Lewis, who spoke to me ahead of his recent Liverpool gig about his second album, Sweet Chaos, collaborating with producer Guy Chambers, his lifelong love of LFC and why the war epic Band of Brothers still resonates with audiences 25 years on. Elsewhere, Irish folk-punk duo The Guzzlers discuss their early days busking on Church Street after leaving Limerick and reveal how getting fired from their Dublin–Cherbourg ferry gig after one too many pints inspired their debut single. On the property front, we spotlight Belong Birkdale, a new retirement living community preparing to welcome its first residents in Southport, and Tudor Place, an 800-home development from David Wilson Homes set to launch in Kirkby next February. And with party season approaching, Annie S selects statement looks featuring velvet, lace, shimmering metallics and feathers, while Robin Brown heads to Water Street to sample the new Tavern Co. Social and reflect on Liverpool’s breakfast scene. Finally, Jane Clare uncovers the extraordinary story of Carménère, the grape once thought extinct, while Libby White explores the fairytale world of Efteling Theme Park Resort on a family getaway to the Netherlands. Until next time!
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9 LAWRENCE SAUNDERS Editor
Editor Lawrence Saunders editor@ymliverpool.com Design Marten Sealby sulazcreative.com ADVERTISING Sales 0151 316 0210 sales@ymliverpool.com DISTRIBUTION Enquiries 0151 316 0210
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COVER IMAGE: STEVE GULLICK; ALL PRICES IN THIS ISSUE CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS
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Escape to Efteling Party season glamour Social review Tavern Co. Grow
ing up The Guzzlers Red, seven deca des of prote st and living life on the left
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Diana takes control as the ‘Scouse Sopranos Band of Brothers, Actor and musician on 25 years of’ returns his new album and lifelong love of LFC
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The Next Act
With a second album under his belt and a growing reputation as a compelling live performer, Damian Lewis is enjoying a new chapter in an already remarkable career. The actor and musician reflects on collaborating with acclaimed producer Guy Chambers on Sweet Chaos, his lifelong love of Liverpool FC and why Band of Brothers continues to captivate audiences 25 years after its release words lawrence saunders
Most people know you as an actor, but music has been a big part of your life for a long time. Where did that passion come from? I’ve always played music and been in bands. In my 20s, I had a motorbike, a tent and a guitar, and spent two summers busking around France, Spain and Portugal, putting my hat down, gathering crowds and shouting at people. It was great! I learned classical guitar as a kid, then moved on to steel-string acoustic. I had an old guitar with a broken neck, held together by the tension of the strings. I went busking with that. There wasn’t really the opportunity to pursue music professionally. Life throws you in different directions, doesn’t it? I took the acting path and doubled down on that. I was married to a beautiful woman, Helen McCrory, who was also an actress, and we very much identified as an acting couple. Then someone approached me about making a record and I thought, life’s too short. I’ve always played, so why not? I made an album, toured it, made a second, and now I’m touring again. I’m just doing what I’ve always done quietly in the background, only a bit more noisily!
We co-wrote one song, ‘King’, and I wrote the rest [of the album]. He produced it all and understood what I wanted to achieve.
Your debut album, Mission Creep, had quite a laid-back, rootsy sound, whereas Sweet Chaos feels more energetic, with a stronger rock influence. Was that a deliberate change in direction? I think you’ve hit it on the head. The first record is quite tender in places. It’s rootsy singer-songwriter stuff with little bits of blues and jazz influences. I was listening to a lot of J.J. Cale and Neil Young at the time, both of whom I love, and there are as possible. actually covers of their songs on that record. One of the more personal tracks on Sweet With the second album, I wanted something Chaos is ‘Pentonville Prison’, which tells the different. It’s more in your face, more front-foot story of a serious motorcycle accident you and energised. It’s less acoustic and rootsy, more indie rock and blues had in 1998. What made you revisit that experience all these rock in places. years later? There’s a technical difference too. We recorded the first album on I just thought it was a cool story! The way my memory works, tape, giving it that lovely, warm, slightly old-fashioned sound. The sometimes things don’t come back to me for years. Something second was recorded digitally, so it’s more contemporary. happens, gets lost in the hubbub of life, and then years later you find yourself thinking about it again. You worked with acclaimed songwriter and producer Guy It’s about a motorbike crash outside Pentonville Prison, I should Chambers on the new record. How did that collaboration say, not my time inside! come about? It was serious. My head went halfway through a car windscreen and I was introduced to Guy and he liked the songs. He offered to shattered the glass. produce the record, which was brilliant because he’s written and It was dark and raining slightly. I saw a car waiting to turn, then just produced some of the biggest pop songs ever. The man knows how to as I got there, the driver pulled out. He obviously hadn’t seen me. produce a tune! I was knocked unconscious and woke up about 15 minutes later, He’s also actually got a lot of connections to Liverpool and plenty lying in the recovery position in the middle of the road. I still had my of family and friends up there. helmet on and someone was holding my wrist really tightly. He was brilliant to work with and very respectful of the songs. He It was an off-duty nurse who’d been drinking at a party and got a wasn’t full of ego and didn’t just come in and slap himself all over taxi home. He’d jumped out to help me. everything. He built the songs as he heard them and enhanced what I I called him a couple of weeks later to thank him. I asked why he’d was trying to do. been gripping my wrist so tightly, because it had frightened me.
4 YM Liverpool
STEVE GULLICK
You’ve received some excellent reviews for your live performances, with one critic describing you as a “genuine musician”. Given the scepticism that sometimes surrounds actors moving into music, have you felt you’ve had to work harder to prove yourself? Definitely. It’s a double-edged sword. You get publicity because of who you are, and you get opportunities that a lot of young bands would kill for. But at the same time, people are quietly sharpening their knives. My attitude is that I’ve always supported people who try things. That’s the way I was brought up. Be the man in the arena, to badly quote Theodore Roosevelt. Don’t be the person standing on the sidelines sneering. There are a lot of sneerers in the world. They’re dangerous. They’re anti-creativity, anti-fun and anti-life, and they should be ignored as much as possible because they stop people from having a go. The moment you stand up and say, ‘I’ve got something to show you’, you’re inviting opinions. That’s the blessing and curse of being There are a lot of an artist. I’ve never taken on anything creative without sneerers in the world. taking it seriously. I commit 100% to every They’re anti-creativity, acting role and approach music the same way. It’s what I teach my kids. You only get out anti-fun and should what you put in. If you put nothing in, you’ll pull nothing out. be ignored as much
INTERVIEW
He said: ‘Mate, I couldn’t tell if you were dead or if I was too pissed to feel your pulse!’ I was very lucky. My jaw was badly swollen and I had a bruise the size of a tennis ball. But thank God I’d been wearing a full-face helmet that night. I often used to wear an open-face one. If I’d been wearing that, I wouldn’t have had a face left. You’re a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter, but you’ve also got a family connection to the city, haven’t you? I’m half Welsh, and my grandmother – my nain – was a Welsh speaker. Her family lived in Liverpool for a while and she was an Everton supporter! That was my early connection with Liverpool. But unfortunately for the Blues, they just couldn’t compete with Liverpool in the late 1970s and early 1980s. All my favourite players were Liverpool players, and that’s how I ended up supporting a team 350 miles away from where I live, which is really inconvenient!
But they’re my boys. You can’t change that. I love being in Liverpool and I always look forward to coming back. You followed the club to the Champions League finals in Kyiv and Paris. What are your memories of those occasions? Paris was awful. I remember a lad, of about 12, rushing towards the turnstiles with his eyes streaming because he’d been sprayed on the way in. He was just a kid. But there was a slightly comical ending to that weekend. Liverpool kindly offered me a seat on a chartered plane with some staff. I sat next to John Bishop and we were saying, ‘Aren’t we lucky? Isn’t life great?’ Then we sat on the tarmac for seven or eight hours, watching all the scheduled flights taking off! It was quite a ridiculous ending to what had already been a really awful weekend. It’s now 25 years since Band of Brothers first aired, and it remains one of the most highly regarded television series ever made. Why do you think it continues to resonate with audiences? I think the first obvious thing to say is that if something’s brilliant, it survives. Some things are brilliant for their time but become dated. Band of Brothers was shot with documentary-style camera work that never gets old because we see that sort of footage on the news every day. It feels incredibly real. And there was something in the water at HBO at that time. You had Band of Brothers, The Sopranos and then The Wire. Those three shows transformed television. Suddenly television was this big, epic, painstakingly made drama with filmmakers, great writers and actors. It changed everything. But I think what Band of Brothers shows so brilliantly is ordinary lads doing extraordinary things. They were losing their best mates, living in foxholes, enduring the most appalling conditions, and so many of them were only 19 or 20 years old. I met the real veterans of Easy Company and heard their stories. Sadly, they’ve all passed away now. For many of them, the first time they’d ever been in an aeroplane was to jump out of one. They’d tell these wonderful stories about taking their families on a flight years after the war, and how frightened they were when the plane came in to land because they’d never actually landed in one before! These were remarkable people. It must have been an enormous responsibility portraying Major Richard Winters, particularly with the real veterans involved in the production. There was no more serious job in my entire career than Band of Brothers. We were looking these 80-year-old men in the face. They’d endured a year of combat with little relief from the front line, helped liberate Europe and reached Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. You just wanted to get it right. Every fibre of your body wanted to represent them in the best possible way. And that bonded all of us actors in an incredible way. We developed this wonderful fraternity and we’re still great friends today. It’s a friendship that was passed on to us as a result of representing the extraordinary feats of these remarkable young men. Do you have a favourite memory from filming Band of Brothers? We had one of those terrible British summers, freezing for almost the entire shoot. We had about two days of sunshine and the moment the sun came out, all the British lads stripped off, as we do! Everyone was running around in shorts, tops off, and came in the next day looking like lobsters. The Americans were thinking, ‘What the hell is going on? Why is everybody naked?’ They still thought it was quite cold! We used to play American football as well, shirts versus skins. We were rubbish at it, but we had our kit off and didn’t care. We were like Celtic warriors! There were lots of good memories like that. Damian’s second album, Sweet Chaos, is out now. For more information and upcoming live dates, visit www.damianlewismusic.com YM Liverpool 5
NEWS
Liverpool’s largest sauna park set to open in Anfield New outdoor wellness destination will bring Scandinavian-inspired relaxation to Cherry Lane LIVERPOOL’S LARGEST SAUNA PARK is set to open in Anfield on Saturday 14 November, transforming part of a former business park on Cherry Lane into an outdoor wellness retreat. The Urban Sauna will form part of a 24,000 sq ft wellness and commercial hub being developed by regeneration company Seven Group, following four months of work to revitalise a previously derelict section of the site. Set among trees and greenery, the attraction will feature two Scandinavian log-burning saunas, each accommodating up to 16 people, two 10-person hot tubs, a six-person ice bath, two individual ice baths and showers. Shane Hanley, director of Seven Group
and co-founder of The Urban Sauna, says: “This was a rundown site that we decided to regenerate, and we want the people of Liverpool to come and enjoy it.” The opening will create 20 jobs and marks the latest phase of a wider redevelopment which has already attracted more than £2.5 million of investment. Existing buildings have been converted into a nursery, play centre and seven trade units, with further leisure facilities planned.
Plans for an additional £6m investment include a gym, swimming pool, golf simulator and container storage facilities. The public is invited to explore the new venue between noon and 4pm on Saturday 14 November, ahead of regular opening hours of 7am to 9pm, seven days a week. Annual membership will cost £999, with an introductory price of £497 for the first 100 applicants. Single sessions, block bookings and private access will also be available.
PC&Co brings legal expertise to Blue Base
New production of A Christmas Carol promises plenty of humour, heart and mischief at Prescot theatre SHAKESPEARE NORTH PLAYHOUSE is bringing a fresh take on Charles Dickens’ much-loved festive tale to the stage with its new production, Christmas Carol. Running from Friday 20 November to Saturday 2 January, the show promises a riotous, foot-stomping retelling packed with live music, mischief and plenty of Scouse spirit. Directed by Stephen Fletcher and produced in association with Three Pin Productions, the adaptation transports audiences through ’80s, ’90s and modern-day Liverpool. Performed on the theatre’s Elizabethan-style Cockpit stage, the story unfolds inside The Counting House, where miserly Scrooge is visited by three spirits determined to confront him with his past, present and future. Featuring an original score, striking lighting and bold design, the production offers a fresh perspective on the timeless story. The show comes at an exciting time for Shakespeare North, which was recently named a finalist in the Great New Build category at the Great British Theatres Awards. The Prescot venue has also announced a new partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company through its Associate Schools Programme, aimed at expanding creative learning opportunities for children and teachers across Knowsley and the wider Liverpool City Region.
6 YM Liverpool
PAUL CROWLEY & CO SOLICITORS has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting local residents through its ongoing involvement with Everton in the Community’s Blue Base wellbeing and support centre. The Liverpool law firm has become a familiar presence at the centre over the years, helping residents understand the legal services available and providing access to specialist advice. During a recent visit, marketing team members Alison Priestley and Tatiana Domracheva met with local residents alongside Louise Campbell, veterans coordinator at Everton in the Community. Conversations focused on wills and future planning, alongside other legal matters, with the informal setting helping to make professional advice more approachable. Alison says: “Many people are unsure where to start when they have a legal concern, so being able to speak with them in a relaxed and familiar environment is invaluable. “Our role is to help connect people with the right expertise and ensure they know support is available whenever they need it.”
LUCY MADELEINE STUDIO
Shakespeare North gives Dickens’ classic a Scouse twist
Law firm continues supporting residents through work with Everton in the Community
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ADV ERTORIA L
Protecting Vulnerable Road Users – Consult the Legal Experts Picture a left turn at a busy junction. A driver is protected inside their vehicle by airbags and a seatbelt; a cyclist alongside has only a helmet and a thin layer of Lycra. When a split-second mistake causes a collision, the consequences for the vulnerable road user can be life-changing
A
cross Merseyside, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists use the roads every day with little physical protection from the consequences of a collision. When another road user fails to take proper care, the impact can be devastating. Understanding your rights and accessing specialist legal support early can make a significant difference to your recovery and future.
What the Figures Show
The risks facing vulnerable road users remain stark. In 2025, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists accounted for more than half of all people killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads, despite representing a much smaller share of road traffic. Motorcyclists alone accounted for 25% of road deaths while making up just 1% of traffic*. Cycling casualties rose by 10% in 2025, while the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured increased by 14%**. Behind every statistic is a person, a family and a life changed in seconds.
Understanding Responsibility on the Road
Many collisions involving vulnerable road users occur at junctions, crossings and during manoeuvres where a driver fails to see someone who is not protected by a vehicle. The Highway Code places greater responsibility on those who can cause the greatest harm to reduce risks to others.
Establishing how a collision happened and who was responsible can be crucial in securing rehabilitation, financial support and compensation.
If the Worst Happens
The impact of a serious collision extends far beyond the scene of the accident. Broken bones, head injuries, spinal damage, psychological trauma and lengthy periods away from work can affect every aspect of a person’s life and place enormous pressure on families. If you or someone close to you is injured in a road collision: • Seek medical attention, even if your injuries initially seem minor. • Report the collision to the police as soon as possible and obtain a reference number if one is provided. • Take photographs and gather witness details if possible. • Preserve dashcam, helmet camera or CCTV evidence. • Keep damaged property, including bicycles, helmets, riding gear and clothing. Even where the responsible driver is uninsured or cannot be traced, options may still be available through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. Early legal advice can also help ensure important evidence is secured before it is lost.
Daniel Griffiths Director, Paul Crowley & Co
How We Can Help
At Paul Crowley & Co, I lead a Personal Injury team that supports pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and their families following serious road collisions. We act for many vulnerable road users whose lives have been changed through no fault of their own. We do more than pursue compensation. We help clients establish liability, secure evidence, access rehabilitation, recover lost earnings and obtain the support they need while rebuilding their lives. Every case is different. Some involve straightforward admissions of fault, while others require detailed investigation and expert evidence. Whatever the circumstances, our focus is helping clients move forward with confidence while we handle the legal process. We act on a no win, no fee basis, allowing clients to access specialist legal representation without worrying about upfront legal costs. A split-second lapse in concentration can change lives forever. Understanding your rights is the first step towards protecting them.
If you or someone close to you has been injured in a road collision, contact us on 0151 264 7363 for a conversation about your options. www.paulcrowley.co.uk *gov.uk **roadsafetygb.org.uk
FOOD
Restaurant review
Tavern Co. Social By Robin Brown |
International |
My first restaurant meal in Liverpool was at Peking Duck on Smithdown Road. 1997. I was a fussy eater who favoured sturdy British foodstuffs, so I ordered dumplings, imagining steaming mince gently caressing roasted balls of suet and flour. Peer pressure being the wonderful thing it is, I gamely forced down my pork-and-shrimp balls. It was my first lesson that eating out can be an adventure, a lesson, a surprise. My second meal? The Tavern Company, when I was old enough to dine with friends and feel grown up. Everyone went to the Tav. It sold beer and had a little train. I first tasted halloumi there and it blew my mind. Fast forward nearly three decades. The Smithdown original is still big, the service is brisk and friendly, and it’s had a muchneeded resurgence since changing hands in 2023. There’s something reassuring about its presence, even though the endless weekend queues baffle me. Heading into town to try this new Tavern on Water Street, I was curious to see if it retained what made Smithdown a smash. Once upon a time, this venue was Newz Bar, where working-class murals of socialist revolution provided the backdrop for minor celebrities partying like A-listers. Then, of course, it became Hooters. Going from Marxist uprising to wings and boob tubes
£ |
18 Water St, L2 8TD
is quite the pivot – though I suppose both involve a strong belief in the redistribution of assets. The building was designed in 1893 by Walter Aubrey Thomas (see also: the Liver Building); I wonder what a grand Victorian architect would have made of its recent history. He built for the ages; Liverpool gave him casual misogyny. Inside, we have minimalist bling: fake mosaics, fake antlers – and an extraordinary metal-effect pegasus statue. It lacks the charm of the Smithdown venue, appearing a tad overawed by the grandiosity of the building. However, it does not lack choice. The brekkies are English, Mexican and fullthroated American. Things in hollandaise, things with coriander, things in maple syrup. My wife had huevos rancheros and my kids shared some chocolate-slathered waffles and cheesy beans-on-toast. They were all happy, and no one managed to finish theirs. You won’t go hungry. My full English arrived briskly, boasting lip-smacking, crunchy homemade hash browns (£4 extra), Bury black pudding and nicely crispified bacon. Sausages were rather ordinary and, as is the law, I did not eat the grilled tomato. Full Englishes have undergone a sort of fetishisation in recent years. Oh, they were always popular (remember Pod?) but I
My full English arrived briskly, boasting lipsmacking, crunchy homemade hash browns, Bury black pudding and nicely crispified bacon.
think of such meals as ‘food assembly’. You can buy these ingredients, cook them at home and they’re just as good. Of course, the Tavern breakfast was once declared best in the country by the Home-Grown Cereals Authority a decade ago. Because if anyone is equipped to pass judgment on the culinary majesty of a full English fried breakfast, it’s a government board set up to manage barley yields. I’m sceptical. Yet you would never know it from Liverpool’s influencer brigade and their raft of ‘wows’, ‘amazings’ and ‘we’ll be back!’. [Narrator: They did not, in fact, go back.] I don’t blame them; the algorithm dictates that they declare everything superlative in exchange for free food. What they may or may not understand is that very little food in the city is actually brilliant. In reality, lots of food in Liverpool ranges from mediocre to good via OK, but very little is genuinely outstanding. No adventure, no reward. We need a more honest conversation, so that when we do discover a Liverpool restaurant that is genuinely superb, we can properly sing its praises. If we don’t, then your favourite hidden gem goes out of business and whoever can afford the PR blitz prevails. The Tavern’s food is pretty decent. The Water Street location will be great for footy, tourists and stag or hen parties. You can have a beer with your Boston Bagel while you watch the match. It is what it is: sometimes, that’s the most honest – and most important – thing you can say.
VIEW FOOD PHOTOS @YM_LIVERPOOL
YM Liverpool 9
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Making an
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10 YM Liverpool
FA S H I O N
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Velvet lace dress
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YM Liverpool 11
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WINE
One foot in
THE GRAPES
Once thought extinct, Carménère spent decades hiding in plain sight among Chile’s vineyards. Jane Clare uncovers the remarkable story of this long-lost grape and explains why it’s well worth discovering for yourself
G
rapes have itchy feet. They’re the botanical equivalent of backpackers, popping up in corners of the world far away from their homelands. Take Sauvignon Blanc. It’s from New Zealand, right? Nope, its homeland is the Loire Valley in France. Or Malbec. Mmmm, that lovely red wine from Argentina. Well, yes, Argentina has adopted Malbec as its own, but the grape has its origins in France. In the southwest of that country, Malbec is still the main grape variety in the inky-red wines of Cahors, a region where it has grown for centuries. The famous varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay have carried their backpacks all around the globe – and they still have famous homes in Bordeaux and Burgundy. Yet one grape packed its bag, left France, and lay undercover for decades, disguising itself as another variety. And that grape is Carménère. It has its own celebration day this month – International Carménère Day (24 November), which suits me, as it’s an excuse to tell you about it. For many, many years, Carménère was thought to be extinct. In the 1870s, a plague of tiny aphids called phylloxera devastated most of Europe’s vineyards and Carménère was largely abandoned in the vineyards of its heartland, Bordeaux. With no phone calls back home from a backpacking grape, or postcards, or even a WhatsApp, it was thought that was that – Carménère was no more. Until science stepped in and blew a hole in Carménère’s subterfuge. In the mid-1800s, Chilean winemakers had taken cuttings of Bordeaux varieties Merlot and Carménère back to their own country. Over the decades, the vines grew together in the same places and eventually Carménère pretty much lost its identity and was thought to be Merlot. In the mid-1990s, a grape expert spotted differences between the growing vines. Further investigation, including DNA testing, confirmed his suspicions. And da-da! Carménère was rediscovered. Chile pretty much loved this and adopted the grape as its own; and now you can find bottles of Chilean Carménère in most places in and around Liverpool where you buy your wines of choice. A few options are the Co-op’s Irresistible Carménère (£9.75), the gold medal-winning Errazuriz Gran
Dates for your diary ■ I’m co-presenting two Fizz & Ships events this month with my chum Peter Elson. Hear fascinating and amusing – and many heartfelt – tales of Liverpool’s maritime history. And sip a mix of fizz, red and white wines from our destinations around the world. Find us at Barnacle in the Georgian Quarter on 19 November. Wines will be paired with small plates, including Asado Pork Belly and Burgundy Ox Cheek. The night is inspired by the travels of Barnacle Bill, the sailor behind the venue’s name. Then we ‘sail’ again, taking Fizz & Ships to Heswall Hall on 27 November. ■ If you’re thinking about Christmas, join me and Johnathan of Bacchus Wine Tasting at our third Christmas Showdown at Ten Streets Wine (near the Everton stadium) on 3 December.
Jane and Johnathan Garry of Bacchus Wine Tasting
■ Then I’m hosting Christmas in a Glass at The Grand in Southport on 17 December. Head to the venues’ websites or social media for details – or email me: jane@onefootinthegrapes.co.uk
Reserva Carménère (RRP £11, Tesco), or MontGras pReserve Carménère (RRP £12, Waitrose). If you’ve never tried it, here’s a thing. If you enjoy a glass of Merlot, you are very likely to enjoy a glass of Carménère. Think about it – for many years that was the disguise. Merlot can offer everything from green pepper and red fruits to riper black-fruit flavours. Carménère is not much different – green pepper, a touch of eucalyptus and black fruit. Carménère has relatively high tannins (that dry sensation around your gums when you sip a red) and is often oaked to help soften that effect; the oak then brings in toasty vanilla flavours. So, there you go. The story of a grape lost and found.
JANE CLARE DIPWSET IS ON INSTAGRAM AS @ONEFOOTINTHEGRAPES. GET IN TOUCH IF YOU FANCY YOUR OWN WINE EVENT, OR YOU WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT STUDYING WITH JANE FOR WINE & SPIRIT EDUCATION TRUST WINE QUALIFICATIONS. EMAIL JANE@ONEFOOTINTHEGRAPES.CO.UK OR GO TO WWW.ONEFOOTINTHEGRAPES.CO.UK
YM Liverpool 13
PROPERTY
DEVELOPMENT
New retirement living community prepares to open in Birkdale Apartments from
£222,000
14 YM Liverpool
A NEW RETIREMENT LIVING DEVELOPMENT in Birkdale is preparing to welcome its first residents, bringing independent living apartments alongside a range of care services and community facilities. Located on Oxford Road in Southport, Belong Birkdale is the latest development from not-for-profit care operator Belong and marks its first village in Merseyside. The purpose-built development features 30 independent living apartments available to rent or purchase, with 10 already reserved by Sandgrounders within weeks of their release. Designed to combine independent living with the reassurance of support when needed, the village will offer residents access to a range of amenities, including a bistro, hair salon, specialist gym, landscaped gardens and an entertainment venue with a licensed bar. The village centre will also be open to the wider public, creating a new social hub for the surrounding neighbourhood. A varied programme of activities and experiences aims to bring residents and visitors together, encouraging friendships and a strong sense of community. For those requiring additional assistance, Belong’s awardwinning home care service, Belong at Home Southport, will provide flexible support ranging from personal care and household tasks to meal preparation, running errands, organising outings and companionship. Alongside the independent living apartments, the development will offer 24-hour nursing, dementia and residential care within smaller, specially designed households. Each household will accommodate up to 12 residents, with private ensuite bedrooms and shared living, kitchen, dining and outdoor spaces. The approach forms part of Belong’s care model, designed to provide more personalised support and promote residents’ wellbeing. By bringing independent living, specialist care and community facilities together in one location, Belong Birkdale aims to offer older people greater choice and flexibility as their needs change, while providing a welcoming environment in which to remain active and connected. Belong Birkdale opens in January 2027 on Oxford Road, Southport, PR8 2JT. For further information, including apartment details, visit www.belong.org.uk or email enquiries@belong.org.uk YM Liverpool 15
Review
Efteling Theme Park Resort By Libby White |
Europalaan 1, 5171 KW Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands |
In a leafy corner of the southern Netherlands sits a theme park like no other. Think enchanted forests, fairytale castles and peculiar inhabitants at every turn. Steeped in European folklore, Efteling offers the perfect mix of attractions for thrill-seekers and those who prefer to take things at a gentler pace. First opening in 1952 as a modest Fairytale Forest featuring just 10 stories, Efteling has evolved into one of Europe’s most celebrated theme parks while remaining true to its storytelling roots, making it the perfect destination for a family half-term getaway. After a straightforward hour’s drive from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, we arrived at our home for the next two nights, the Efteling Wonder Hotel. Renovated and relaunched in 2025, this striking hotel, with its golden turrets, towering windows and unusual floating appearance, set the tone for our stay. Inside, the imaginative theming was an instant hit with our two young children. Our seventh-floor room was equally enchanting, with intricate details and playful surprises, from a tiny hidden mouse to mysterious footprints, a game board and golden chocolate coins. Cosy, comfortable and wonderfully quiet, it provided the perfect retreat ahead of an adventure-filled day. Our first morning began with breakfast at the hotel’s Saga Restaurant, where an impressive selection of sweet and savoury options awaited. Pancakes with tempting toppings proved a family favourite, alongside doughnuts, fresh juices and enchanting tableside visits from fairytale characters, much to the delight of our children. Suitably fuelled, we made the most of one of the perks of staying on site: access to the park 30 minutes before the general public, giving hotel guests a head start on popular attractions. However, despite visiting during the UK October half-term holiday, with glorious autumn sunshine to boot, the park never felt particularly
Our room was enchanting, with intricate details and playful surprises. Cosy and wonderfully quiet. 16 YM Liverpool
efteling.com
S TAY
busy. Our longest queue was just 20 minutes for Python, a high-speed steel rollercoaster, which my husband went on via the single-rider queue. With two children aged five and six who have little patience for waiting around, this was a huge bonus. The Efteling app proved useful for checking live waiting times, while single-rider queues allowed us to enjoy the bigger thrills separately. My husband experienced Vogel Rok, an exhilarating indoor rollercoaster, while I accompanied the children on Carnaval Festival, a leisurely eight-minute boat journey around the world, complete with colourful characters and catchy music. The park itself is divided into themed areas, with thrilling attractions including Baron 1898, a spectacular dive coaster featuring a 37.5-metre plunge, and De Vliegende Hollander (The Flying Dutchman), a water coaster combining atmospheric storytelling with a dramatic splashdown.
Even the seasonings had a whimsical twist, with playful ‘dragon’s breath’ spices adding a little Efteling magic. For me, however, the Fairytale Forest was particularly special and somewhere we could easily have spent an entire day. Originally created in 1952 with designs by Dutch illustrator Anton Pieck, this enchanting woodland is filled with intricate details, familiar fairytale characters and curious inhabitants, including Long Neck, whose towering neck rises above the trees. With charming food stalls (the freshly made stroopwafels are a must), traditional carousels and gentle rides nearby, it’s the perfect place to enjoy Efteling at a leisurely pace. The food offering was equally impressive. We enjoyed dinner at Brasserie 7 in the newly opened Efteling Grand Hotel, perfectly positioned after watching Aquanura, a spectacular water show featuring dancing fountains, colourful lights and soaring jets set to music. Warming up inside the elegant restaurant, we found plenty to tempt us, from a dedicated children’s menu to beautifully cooked steak with a choice of sauces. Even the seasonings had a whimsical twist, with playful ‘dragon’s breath’ spices adding a little Efteling magic to the dining experience.
Our second day was equally enjoyable, with Fabula proving a firm favourite. This charming 4D film tells a heartwarming story without dialogue, removing any language barriers, while an expansive indoor play area, complete with restaurant and seating, allows parents to relax as little ones explore. We’re already planning another visit with friends to tackle some of the more exhilarating rides. With year-round appeal and something for visitors of all ages, it’s easy to see why Efteling is a place families return to time and time again. YM Liverpool 17
ADVERTORIA L
Backstage at Liverpool Theatre School Where Dancers and Musical Theatre Stars Learn Their Craft
I
f you take a look at the cast lists of some of the best-loved musical theatre productions, you may well spot a few performers who trained at Liverpool Theatre School. Graduates have starred in shows such as Mamma Mia!, Starlight Express, Six, Oliver!, Blood Brothers, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Tenors of Rock and Frozen the Musical, appearing on stages from the West End to Las Vegas. Located in the city’s creative quarter, Liverpool Theatre School offers professional training in dance and musical theatre. Every year, students from all over the country audition for a limited number of places on its specialist training programmes, which are designed to help students build the skills they need to work in the performing arts industry. Two names who understand the industry better than most are the school’s patrons, dance legend Wayne Sleep OBE and musical theatre star Anita Dobson, who have both attended graduation ceremonies at the school. The tutors at Liverpool Theatre School have solid industry backgrounds, drawing on their own experience and expertise to help students develop their technique. The school’s dance courses cover different styles, ranging from commercial dance to ballet and tap, while musical 18 YM Liverpool
theatre training combines singing, acting and dance to shape students into triplethreat performers. “Talent is important, but becoming a professional performer also takes hard work, commitment and resilience. We help our students develop their skills, grow in confidence and prepare for the realities of working in the industry,” said Maxine Ellis, Principal at Liverpool Theatre School.
Finding the right route
Liverpool Theatre School offers several routes into professional training, from BTEC Level 3 qualifications to Level 5 and Level 6 Diplomas, as well as three new courses launching in September 2027: a CertHE in Musical Theatre and BA (Hons) degrees in Dance and Musical Theatre. Scholarships are available at Liverpool Theatre School and students can access funding through Student Finance England for BA (Hons) and CertHE courses. Alongside full-time training, Liverpool Theatre School runs a Junior Academy, which offers evening and weekend classes
for young people aged four to 15. First-year student Lucia Mills, 16, who found her passion for performing at the Junior Academy, is training on the Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance. She said: “I started dancing properly when I was 11 and absolutely loved it. I went to the Junior Academy, so I always wanted to do my professional training at Liverpool Theatre School because I already knew how amazing it was.” Lucia Mills
“Talent is important, but becoming a professional performer also takes hard work, commitment and resilience.”
From Liverpool Theatre School to the Professional Stage n Oliver Ormson, who graduated in 2012, has played Prince Hans in the West End production of Frozen the Musical. His other credits include The Addams Family, Cats, The Book of Mormon and the world premiere of Back to the Future the Musical. n Natalie Pilkington, who graduated in 2010, has appeared in Six the Musical, both in the West End and on tour. Her credits also include Bat Out of Hell and Wannabe: The Spice Girls Show. n Tim Lucas, who graduated in 2015, has starred as Sammy in Blood Brothers and his other credits include Legally Blonde, Cilla the Musical, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He brings his We’re Havin’ a Party Christmas show to The Epstein Theatre in December. n Erin Oliver graduated in 2023 and made her West End debut earlier this year, joining the cast of Oliver! She said: “The training and audition preparation at Liverpool Theatre School really helped build my confidence as a performer. Making it to the West End has always been my dream, and to see it come true is just amazing.”
Courses at a glance
Dance • BA (Hons) Dance, validated by Northern School of Contemporary Dance: 3 years, age 17+, launching September 2027 • Diploma in Professional Dance, Level 6, validated by Trinity College London: 3 years, age 16+ • Diploma in Professional Dance, Level 5, validated by Trinity College London: 2 years, age 16+ • BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice in Dance: 2 years, ages 16 to 19 • Diploma in Dance Education, Level 4: 2 years, by invitation Musical Theatre • BA (Hons) Musical Theatre, validated by Northern School of Contemporary Dance: 3 years, age 17+, launching September 2027 • Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre, Level 6, validated by Trinity College London: 3 years, age 16+ • CertHE Musical Theatre, Level 4, validated by Northern School of Contemporary Dance: 1 year, age 16+, launching September 2027 Applications for September 2027 entry are open now. Audition dates: 6 December 2026, 17 January 2027, 7 March 2027, 18 April 2027 Register online to apply for an audition: liverpooltheatreschool.co.uk/auditions
Liverpool Theatre School | 35 Sefton Street, Liverpool, L8 5LS | 0151 728 7800 | liverpooltheatreschool.co.uk YM Liverpool 19
Homebuyers invited to register interest in landmark Kirkby development Tudor Place will offer a mix of properties alongside new green spaces, walking and cycling routes and significant investment in local facilities DAVID WILSON HOMES is inviting prospective buyers to register their interest in Tudor Place, a major new residential development in Kirkby set to launch in February 2027. Located on Cherryfield Drive, the development will deliver 800 new homes as part of a wider regeneration scheme with Barratt Homes, creating a new neighbourhood with extensive green spaces and connections to the surrounding area. Tudor Place will offer a mix of one to four-bedroom properties, including apartments, bungalows and family homes, catering for firsttime buyers, growing families and those looking to downsize. The scheme also represents a significant investment in Kirkby, with more than £7.7 million in community funding set to support improvements to local schools, healthcare services, public open spaces and sports facilities. Plans for the development incorporate tree-lined streets, green spaces
20 YM Liverpool
and new walking and cycling routes linking residents to Valley Park and Kirkby town centre. A range of local amenities, including shops, schools and leisure facilities, are within easy reach, while transport connections provide convenient access to Liverpool city centre and the wider region via road and rail. The nearby M57 also offers links across Merseyside and beyond. Jennifer Burns, sales director at David Wilson Homes North West, says: “Tudor Place represents an exciting new chapter for Kirkby, delivering a range of homes alongside lasting benefits for the wider area. “We encourage prospective buyers to register their interest now to be among the first to receive updates and secure their opportunity to be part of this new community.” Those considering a move in 2027 can register their interest now at www.dwh.co.uk
PROPERTY
Tudor Place represents an exciting new chapter for Kirkby, delivering a range of homes alongside lasting benefits for the wider area. YM Liverpool 21
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NEWS
Liverpool businesses and football figures honoured at industry awards From rising stars to established names, Merseyside enjoyed a strong showing at the prestigious London ceremony LIVERPOOL BUSINESSES, clubs and football industry figures were among the winners at the 2026 Global Football Industry Awards in London. The Chery-sponsored ceremony at the Nobu Hotel saw Liverpool-based Kyzen Sports scoop Best Breakthrough Business, while fellow Liverpool firm Legacie Sports Group received an Outstanding Football Business Impact honour. Founded by school friends Jack Mackreth and George Mansfield (pictured above), Kyzen provides specialist financial services to professional athletes, helping them manage their earnings and plan for life after sport. It beat a shortlist including Monzo, WHOOP and Orreco. Meanwhile, Legacie Sports Group, cofounded by Liverpool property developer John Morley and football agent Eddy Jennings, supports players on and off the pitch, with a focus on career planning and life beyond football. Liverpool FC also picked up the Sustainable Game Award for its Red Way strategy, which aims to reduce carbon emissions, improve efficiency and support local communities. The Liverpool-headquartered Steven Gerrard Academy was also recognised in the Football for All category. The academy combines football coaching with education at centres including Mossley Hill and Bootle. Individual honours went to Everton FC’s Sophie McNally and Liverpool-born former
footballer and agent Adam Dugdale of Unique Sports Group, who both received Next Generation Awards. Meanwhile, Tyler Alexander-Arnold, brother and representative of former Liverpool FC defender Trent AlexanderArnold, won the Football Industry Rising Star Award for his work with Gersh Football.
The event was hosted by former Reds defender Jamie Carragher (pictured below), Theo Walcott and Sky Sports presenter Hayley McQueen, with guests including Wayne Rooney and England assistant manager Anthony Barry. Other major honours went to FA chair Debbie Hewitt and Paul Stretford and Kenneth Shepherd, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their contribution to Soccer Aid, which has raised more than £137 million for UNICEF.
YM Liverpool 23
Bringing Liverpool’s Waterfront Back to Life
Romal Capital CEO Greg Malouf reflects on the regeneration of the city’s historic dockland, the company’s long-term approach to property investment and the next chapter at Brunswick Dock
T
here are times in property when you realise you are doing something bigger than building homes. You are helping to restore a place and allowing people to become part of its next chapter. That is what makes Liverpool Waters so important to Romal Capital. For us, this has never been simply about apartments or sales. It is about bringing back into use part of a great city that had become unused, inaccessible and largely forgotten. Liverpool has always been defined by the water. Its docks, ships, trade and people created a city whose influence reached far beyond the Mersey. Yet much of its waterfront sat dormant for decades, separated from everyday life. We are immensely proud to help the city recapture some of its magnificence.
From vision to delivery
When Liverpool Waters was given the green light in 2013, the masterplan covered around 60 hectares of historic dockland, envisaging thousands of homes alongside commercial, leisure and public spaces. In 2017, Romal became the first private developer selected by Peel to
begin development at Central Docks. We recognised the area’s potential, but knew that belief had to be demonstrated through delivery. Romal’s Quay Central and Park Central were the first buildings to get underway at Central Docks, followed by The Aquitania and The Mauretania. Today, hundreds of people have made their homes on the waterfront, with further phases taking shape. The most rewarding part is seeing the lights come on, people enjoying the café and lifestyle amenities, and couples, young professionals and older residents making the waterfront part of their lives. A place closed off for generations has become somewhere people live, meet, walk and call home.
The value of a great location
There is an old saying in property: location, location, location. After a lifetime in the industry, I believe it remains one of the most enduring truths. Liverpool Waters has the city behind it and the Mersey in front, combining the history of the docks with Liverpool’s energy, growing waterfront connections and an increasing range
of places and experiences. Coming home and looking across the Mersey is special. The sunsets are different every evening. You can be in the middle of a great city yet, behind your front door, feel the rest of the world has been shut out. That combination of city, water and tranquillity is difficult to recreate, and central to the location’s investment appeal.
A long-term approach to investment
My business partner and I have seen enormous changes in property over 40 years: markets rising and falling, changing interest rates and taxation, and evolving expectations. In the 1970s and 1980s, it was possible to buy and sell quickly for substantial gains; at times, values could double over a short period. Today, taxes, finance and regulation have changed the economics of shortterm buying and selling. This has reinforced a philosophy central to our approach: buy to keep, rather than simply buy to sell. Capital growth still matters, but property is a different proposition when it generates income while you own it. We
A DVERTO RI AL
believe in buying good assets in good locations, renting and managing them properly, and allowing time to work in their favour. Long-term rental growth and the potential for capital growth are important, but above all, demand matters: vacancy kills an investment return. A property nobody wants to live in will struggle, whatever the figures on paper. At Liverpool Waters, people genuinely want to live here – perhaps the strongest validation of our decision.
Trust beyond the sale
When asked why sales have performed so strongly, my response is simple: ‘We deliver what we say’. We built through Covid, delivered on time and have not stopped delivering since.
destination on the northern docks. Walking and cycling connections are opening up, and the wider Central Docks infrastructure programme is bringing roads, utilities, public spaces and a major new park. The northern docks are no longer simply somewhere you pass; they are becoming somewhere you go. A great waterfront should belong to the whole city, not only those living beside it. Better connections can link communities and attractions, letting more people experience the Mersey on foot and by bicycle. We are proud to have contributed to that ambition. We are not creating the Mersey or Liverpool’s history. Our role is to unlock something already extraordinary, bring
“The northern docks are no longer simply somewhere you pass; they are becoming somewhere you go.” Property is ultimately about trust. Buyers need developers to deliver what was promised; investors and landlords need people who want to live there; and residents need to know their surroundings will be cared for. Our involvement does not end when someone receives the keys. Romal remains on site, providing what is effectively a ‘mini concierge’ at a fraction of the cost, and maintaining relationships with owners and investors. Being on site lets us respond to issues, negotiate with contractors and suppliers, and monitor budgets to keep ownership and management costs sensible. Insurance, refuse management, landscaping, maintenance and security are not glamorous, but are essential to a successful community. Despite sharp increases in costs, we have worked hard to control service-cost increases. For longterm owners, that can be as important as the view from the balcony. We want owner-occupiers to enjoy coming home and investors to know tenants will want to live there. Both should feel they have bought into somewhere with a future.
it back into use and respect what came before – helping Liverpool rediscover what has been on its doorstep for decades.
Brunswick Dock: the next chapter
That philosophy is at the heart of what may become our next waterfront chapter. Brunswick Dock, one of Liverpool’s most historically important docks, opened in 1832 and was once alive with ships, steam, trade and people. Its fortunes changed, but there is now an opportunity to bring it back to life. Romal and its development partners have proposed a new waterfront neighbourhood with hundreds of homes,
public spaces and amenities. The ambition is not simply to put buildings around a basin, but to create a place where people can live, walk, meet, exercise and eat – respecting Brunswick Dock’s history while giving it a new purpose. The proposals remain subject to the planning process, which we fully respect. If Liverpool Waters has shown what can happen when unused dockland is brought back into the city’s life, Brunswick Dock offers an opportunity to continue that story further south. What excites us is not simply the number of homes, but the possibility of restoring more of Liverpool’s relationship with its water. After 40 years in property, I have learned that markets and strategies change, but the fundamentals remain constant. People want to live in places with something special about them. They value convenience, connectivity and amenities. Investors need properties people want to live in or rent, with sensible management and controlled costs. Location is about more than where a building stands on a map. It is what surrounds it, how it connects to the city and what gives people a reason to be there. Its potential is realised through investment, proper delivery and involvement long after the first sale. Liverpool’s waterfront once powered a global trading city, and today we have the privilege of helping bring forgotten dockland back to life. As the sun sets across the Mersey and lights come on along the docks, a part of Liverpool that was quiet for too long is alive again. romalcapital.co.uk Brunswick Quay
Reconnecting the city with its docks
The transformation around Central Docks is gathering pace. The new Isle of Man Ferry Terminal has brought major infrastructure to the waterfront, while Everton’s new stadium has created a YM Liverpool 25
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INTERVIEW
From Cherbourg to
Church Street
Getting fired from their Dublin-France ferry gig after one too many pints might not have been a conventional start to a music career, but it gave Tom and Cian O’Dowd of Irish folk-punk duo The Guzzlers just the inspiration they needed to write their first single. Having since swapped Limerick for Liverpool, Tom reflects on the brothers’ unlikely journey ahead of the release of their debut album, Drinking The Dream How would you describe The Guzzlers’ sound? It comes from an Irish folk background, but with punk elements. We take huge inspiration from The Pogues and The Dubliners, especially the storytelling in Irish music, and write about our own experiences. We were in a heavier, punk-oriented band called Static Vision before, so that influence is still there, particularly in our live shows. Your debut single, ‘20 Pints To Cherbourg’, was inspired by getting fired from a ferry. What happened? We were entertaining passengers travelling from Dublin to Cherbourg. As staff, we weren’t allowed to drink, which we understood, but we were like, ‘F**k’s sake, we’re not alcoholics’, and it could get pretty boring on board. We discovered we could get off in Cherbourg for a few hours, so we’d go for a few pints. One day we overdid it. The sun was out, the pints were going down and we came back too drunk to sing. They ended up firing us. That night, back in the cabin, Cian got the guitar out and suggested writing a song about it. That’s where ‘20 Pints To Cherbourg’ came from. What made you choose Liverpool when you left Ireland? We’d visited about a year earlier and seen the amount of live music here. We’re both huge Liverpool FC fans too, and we fell in love with the city. When I finished college, we thought, why not go for it?
We’d saved enough for a bit of rent but had no income, so we started busking around Church Street as often as we could, trying to make enough for food and a few pints. We loved it. Did the city welcome you? A hundred per cent. We felt at home almost straight away. The people are so sound. The Cavern’s Monday Club gave us somewhere to play original songs and meet musicians. Ian Prowse gave us one of our first big gigs, too. Ian’s Monday Club is special because you can’t play covers. Ian gets up and says: ‘You won’t be listening to any s**t versions of ‘Wonderwall’ tonight!’ It really encourages people to bring their own music. You’ve also performed outside Anfield Stadium on matchdays. How did that come about? I actually got a security job there for a bit of extra cash. On my first shift, I met a musician who asked why I was doing security when I was in a band. He said he could get us a couple of performances. The next week, I got a call and had to cancel my security shifts! We’ve kept getting invited back. Playing our own songs to Liverpool fans outside the ground is surreal, especially when people tell us afterwards they’ve enjoyed them. What can listeners expect from your debut album, Drinking The Dream? It’s the first 10 songs we ever wrote together,
so it captures where we were at the time. It starts with ‘20 Pints To Cherbourg’ and follows our experiences, including moving away from home and falling in love with Liverpool. There’s plenty about drinking culture, the good and bad sides of it, but also grief and happier things. Most of them are drinking songs, but not all of them! We sneaked a few other themes in. How do you and Cian write together, and how did you approach recording? Cian’s the main songwriter. He’ll bring me a song and we’ll work on it, or I’ll have an idea or a chorus and we’ll sit down and figure it out. Sometimes we’ve got the concept and our parts sorted in half an hour. We like to get it down while it’s fresh rather than overthink it. We recorded with Jon Withnall (Coldplay, Rihanna, The Coral) at his home studio. He understood straight away that we wanted to record live, keep things simple and capture the energy. What’s next for The Guzzlers? We’re playing shows with The Highstool Prophets in December and joining The Sharon Shannon Big Band in January. We’re already writing and recording the second album too. We want to keep going while the songs are fresh. The Guzzlers’ debut album, Drinking The Dream, is out now. They join The Highstool Prophets at the O2 Academy on 11 December YM Liverpool 27
NEWS
Bents brings Aladdin to life with new Christmas light trail Cheshire garden centre is opening its Hidden Garden for an after-dark experience featuring dazzling projections, theatrical sets and atmospheric soundscapes BENTS GARDEN & HOME is inviting visitors to step into the world of Aladdin this Christmas with The Magic Lamp in the Hidden Garden, a new light trail combining spectacular illuminations, theatrical scenes and storytelling. Following the success of its first light trail last year, the family-run garden centre is once again opening its Hidden Garden for an afterdark experience featuring dazzling illuminations, magical projections, atmospheric soundscapes and theatrical sets. Visitors will follow a series of immersive scenes as colourful characters and spectacular light installations bring the story to life, creating an experience designed for all ages. Tucked behind Bents’ outdoor plant area, the Hidden Garden has been developed and nurtured over the past 12 years. Its established planting provides a distinctive natural backdrop for the trail, with the latest production building on the transformation introduced last Christmas. Refreshment stops along the route will serve hot and cold drinks alongside seasonal treats with a Bents twist, while a selfie opportunity at the end offers visitors the chance to capture a memento of their evening. The experience can also be extended with a visit to Bents’ Winter Food Market and Chalet Bar, where visitors can enjoy further food and drink in the run-up to Christmas.
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Mountford Hall
Friday 4 December
Friday 11 December
Friday 4 December
Saturday 12 December
Wednesday 3 March‘27
Thursday 10 December
Wednesday 14 April‘27
Friday 7 May’27
Saturday 12 December
Dave Hill’s Slade
Ian Prowse & Amsterdam
Orbital
The Highstool Prophets
Arthur Hill
Professor Green
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Shed Seven
Kneecap
Keyside
Friday 18 December
Belle & Sebastian
Walk on the
wild side As winter approaches Heather Marsh takes a look at one particular wildlife creature that’s just getting ready for bed!
LIKE IT OR NOT, November sees nature begin to shut up shop, clearly marking the onset of winter. Even though it gets a bad press, it was the Norse weather god Thor’s favourite month and festivals like Diwali and Hanukkah celebrate light over darkness in all its glory. In reality though, this is the season of cold dark days where for many of us, the rationing of light is often a difficult prospect to deal with. While the Danish will recommend their homegrown practice of Hygge, it’s not all about battening down the hatches and pulling on a woolly jumper. Getting outside as much as we can and making the most of fine bright days is a wonderful tonic and so good for our wellbeing. There’s so much to see, with wildlife teaching us a thing or two about how to survive the cold winter months. When you consider that UK gardens provide more space for nature than all of its nature reserves put together, you realise how vital our own green spaces are for wildlife, especially at this time of year. I’ve always actively encouraged and welcomed wildlife into my garden, by providing what I consider to be a safe haven with food and shelter for all – from bees and butterflies to birds, frogs, mice and squirrels. However, there is still one particular little creature that I’ve wanted to see making itself at home for quite a while now. At the start of November there’s a lot to do in the garden as regards tidying up. The majority of leaves fall this month and need clearing. It was whilst completing this tedious task that I discovered my newfound friend. A young hedgehog, who had unsuspectingly crawled into a pile, probably seeing the mound as the perfect place to take up residency for the winter. Once I’d gently relocated this prickly ball to a quiet corner of the garden, I quickly covered him up with a thick cosy blanket of leaves and left him to his slumber. As tempting as it was, I resisted the urge to check on him the following night. Never disturb a hibernating hedgehog as research shows they do sometimes move between nests mid-season – usually if the weather is mild and
30 YM Liverpool
they fancy a quick snack before returning to their sleep. Also, if there are hoglets (baby hedgehogs) in the nest and you disturb them, the mother may abandon them or worse, kill them. So just leave well alone. Essentially hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures which are active at night. Chances are that this one hedgehog I had come across could be one of as many as 10 visiting local gardens over several nights. Even though they only have little legs, amazingly, they can walk up to two miles in one night – usually on the hunt for food but also for somewhere to nest or in search of a mate.
GARDENING
Make your own bulb lasagne November is a great month to plant tulips and create your own bulb lasagne. Like the pasta dish, a bulb lasagne is simply a clever method of planting bulbs in layers, usually in a pot. It’s a way of maximising a showstopping display of successive blooms throughout spring and into early summer.
Hibernation
Hedgehogs typically hibernate from November until late March – depending on the weather and the individual creature. Contrary to popular belief, besides hedgehogs, it’s only bats and dormice that fully hibernate in the UK. Squirrels do not. If you can, leave out a small amount of cat or dog food and some fresh water for the hedgehogs which may have made your garden their home for the winter. However, please avoid leaving out milk, as hedgehogs are lactose intolerant. Right now, hedgehogs are trying to put on as much body fat as possible before they hibernate. This means that they enter a state of inactivity, slowing down their heart rate and breathing, and lowering their body temperature and metabolism too. Worms, beetles, caterpillars, slugs and snails are generally the hedgehog’s main natural food sources. Slugs have always been a problem in my garden and I like to avoid using pellets even when my hostas and delphiniums get munched to nothing by these slimy pests. I’m thrilled to know that I’ve now got a hungry hedgehog out there which will hopefully feast on them to their heart’s delight. I’ve always had a soft spot for Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and truth be told, I wouldn’t mind coming back to this life as a hedgehog. Eating as much as you want before snuggling down in some cosy nest to sleep through the cold winter months… sounds like heaven to me. But on a serious note, these adorable little creatures do not harm plants and are very much considered a gardener’s friend. They increase the biodiversity in our urban gardens and bring so many benefits. I really hope we can all do our bit to protect and care for them. While we still see hedgehogs as relatively common in the UK, records show that there has been a dramatic decline in their numbers over the last 20 years. In 2020, hedgehogs were sadly placed on the red list of vulnerable species. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) does amazing work and actively encourages people all over the country to help and support the cause by leaving suitable food and water out. They also suggest connecting our gardens with holes (13cm) in fences and providing hedgehog houses for nesting and hibernation. Lastly, if you find an injured hedgehog or one that you suspect is in trouble, contact the BHPS or RSPCA.
Gift guide
First, choose your pot. I prefer a large, deep terracotta one, but nothing so big that you won’t be able to lift it when full and move it around to show it off when it’s in bloom. You can always do more than one pot. Next, make sure your pot has drainage holes and place a few broken crocks over any large holes to prevent compost escaping. You don’t want your bulbs getting soggy and wet, then rotting. Add a layer of good-quality, peat-free potting compost, around 10cm deep, and you’re good to go. I recommend starting with two layers, but you can do three or even four. You just have to be mindful of when the bulbs you’re planting will flower. The largest and latest-flowering bulbs go in first, at the bottom. I love red tulips and mauve alliums here, but King Alfred daffodils and lilies are other options, depending on the display you want to create. Pack your pot with plenty of bulbs, leaving a little space between each one and bearing in mind how deeply they need to be planted. A general rule of thumb I always use is to plant bulbs at a depth around three times their height. Next, cover with a layer of compost and begin your second layer. Hyacinths and narcissi are a match made in heaven, while crocuses, snowdrops, scillas and muscari are lovely choices for an earlier-flowering top layer. To finish, why not plant some winter-flowering pansies or violas with a little variegated ivy? This means your pot instantly has colour and interest, rather than looking bare until your bulbs come into bloom.
‘Howie’ soft hedgehog toy BHPS £6.95
Hedgehog crystal keyring Etsy £4.95
The Tale of Mrs. TiggyWinkle Blackwell’s £7.99
Garden Life hedgehog house
Thompson & Morgan £29.99
UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAPPY GARDENING. HEATHERMARSHYM@GMAIL.COM
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NEWS
What’s on... Events not to be missed over the next four weeks
Klopp’s Padel FC wins approval for Wavertree Sports Park centre Founded by Jürgen and Marc Klopp, Padel FC is bringing its first UK venue to Liverpool following success in Berlin PLANS FOR A NEW PADEL CENTRE backed by Jürgen Klopp have been approved by Liverpool City Council’s planning committee, paving the way for the development of a major new sporting venue at Wavertree Sports Park. The scheme, submitted by Pegasus Group on behalf of Padel FC, will replace underused tennis courts with a facility featuring nine padel courts – six indoors and three sheltered outdoor courts – alongside a café, retail space, changing rooms and social areas. Founded by Jürgen and Marc Klopp, Padel FC is bringing its first UK centre to Liverpool, following the success of its Berlin operation. The Wavertree project involves local partners Mike Smith of Open Media, former professional footballer Bradley Orr and businessman Carl Spellman. Designed by Octo Architects, the facility will incorporate solar panels, air source heating and electric vehicle charging points. The centre aims to make padel, one of Europe’s fastest-growing sports, more accessible to the wider public. It is planned to operate seven days a week, providing a year-round, all-weather destination for players of all ages and abilities. Darren Muir, senior director of planning at Pegasus Group, says the scheme could generate an estimated £44.2 million in economic and social value over 10 years, delivering “substantial health and wellbeing benefits”.
Indoor action park Slick City slides into Liverpool
Noël, Liverpool Cathedral 27 November – 5 December
The UK’s biggest cathedral is transformed by an immersive Christmas light and sound experience from Luxmuralis, featuring spectacular projections, music and storytelling. This year sees the introduction of Constellation, a new installation of thousands of paper stars carrying messages of hope and reflection from local schoolchildren.
From The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto 14 Nov 2026: Beauty and the Beast, Everyman Until It’s A Wonderful Life 28 Nov Royal Court 16 Nov
cho & The Bunnymen, E Floral Pavilion
19-22 Nov Elf The Musical, Empire 20-22 Nov
op Up at the Palm P House Winter Market, Sefton Park Palm House
28-29 Nov Gladiators Live Tour, M&S Bank Arena From 3 Dec Little Shop of Horrors, Playhouse 10 Dec Kneecap, Mountford Hall
The US-born entertainment brand is bringing its signature adrenalinefuelled fun to Hunts Cross next spring LIVERPOOL IS SET TO BECOME home to the UK’s second Slick City indoor slide and action park, with a new venue opening at the Triumph Centre at Hunts Cross Shopping Park next spring. Launching in partnership with trampoline park operator Activeon, the attraction will feature the brand’s signature gravity-defying dry slides, air courts and interactive games, promising high-energy fun for all ages. Founded in the US in 2022, Slick City now has more than 100 sites across America. Its first European venue opened in Nottingham in March, with Liverpool next on the expansion list. Phillip James, managing director of Slick City UK, says: “Liverpool and its people have a well-known reputation for being bold, outgoing and adventurous, so we could think of no better home for the launch of our second UK site.” Work is already underway at the Hunts Cross site, with the team promising further updates and a first glimpse of what visitors can expect in the months leading up to the opening.
34 YM Liverpool
Liverpool Christmas Wonderland, Pier Head From 20 November
The Pier Head becomes a huge Christmas destination, featuring a covered ice rink, 36 attractions, thrill rides, a Santa’s Grotto and sleigh ride, alongside a host of festive food and drink options, all set against the backdrop of the Three Graces. Open daily until 3 January, with free entry.
BOX OFFICE: 0151 433 7156 BOOK NOW AT SHAKESPEARENORTHPLAYHOUSE.CO.UK
Al a ddi n i n spi r ed Award-Winning light trail A magical storytelling adventure with imagination, mystery and enchantment around every corner.
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20th November - 30th December