YM Liverpool November 2021

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N E WS | I N T E R I O R S | H O M E S | L I F E ST Y L E | FAS H I O N | GA R D E N I N G

www.ymliverpool.com NOVEMBER 2021

Paul Askew Winter fashion Velvet interiors inspiration Restaurant Bar & Grill

Moda,

The Lexington Waterfront living at the latest addition to Liverpool’s iconic skyline

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YM Liverpool

REGAL ENTERTAINMENTS PRESENTS

Starring HOLLYOAKS’, HOLBY CITY’S, FOOTBALLERS WIVES’ AND THE BILL’S

AS GASTON

DIRECTED BY CHANTELLE NOLAN • WRITTEN BY LIAM MELLOR CHOREOGRAPHY BY NAZENE LANGFIELD • MUSICAL SUPERVISOR CALLUM CLARKE

THU 16 DECEMBER ‘21 - SUN 9 JANUARY ‘22 85 Hanover Street L1 3DZ Liverpool

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YM Liverpool

@EpsteinTheatre

Regal Entertainments proudly presents Beauty & The Beast! The timeless story of Belle, a beautiful young woman who falls in love with the most unexpected Prince, who has been cursed to look like a hideous beast by the wicked Madame Botox and a screaming son, Gaston. With a bit of magic from Fairy Rose and a friend French Fank, will the spell be broken in time to live happily ever after?

Well get ready, because you’re about to find out…

Starring stage and screen actor Ben Richards - well-known for his West End appearances and television roles including Hollyoaks, Footballers Wives, Holby City and The Bill.

The Epstein will ensure that any Government guidelines will be in place to ensure the safety of theatregoers, venue staff, cast and crew. Get your tickets now for this tale as old as time!

Performances 2021/22 Thu 16 Dec

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Tickets Y £15

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Ticket Prices Regal (R) Band Tickets: Golden Tickets Adult: £25.00 / Concession £24.00 / Child: £23.00 Standard Tickets Adult: £23.00 / Concession: £22.00 / Child: £21.00 / Family (2Ad x 2Ch): £86.00

Crown (C) Band Tickets: Golden Tickets Adult: £23.00 / Concession: £22.00 / Child: £21.00 Standard Tickets Adult: £21.00 /Concession: £20.00 / Child: £19.00 / Family (2Ad x 2Ch): £78.00

Sparkle (S) Tickets:

All Seats: £20.00

Magic (M) Tickets:

All Seats: £15.00

Groups of 20+:

♥ £20.00 per seat ♦ £18.00 per seat ♣ £15.00 per seat ■ Schools Group Rate: £10.00 per seat (1 in 15 go FREE) ■ NO GROUP RATES ON GOLDEN SEATS (APART FROM SCHOOL SHOWS) ■ All of the above prices include a theatre transaction fee

BOX OFFICE: 0844 888 9991 EPSTEINTHEATRE.CO.UK Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

YM Liverpool

3

Have you ever considered taking part in Clinical Trials?

We are looking for people who are: Aged 18 years and over

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Generally fit and healthy

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Well controlled respiratory conditions

You will be paid for your time and inconvenience from £100 : 2volresearch@lstmed.ac.uk

: www.lstmed.ac.uk/arc-volunteer-database : 07740 410 290

: Text 2VOL to 88802 Texts charged at 12 pence

Generic Flyer Version 3. November 2021 REC 18/GR/0057

issue #497

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November

H

ello and welcome to another jam-packed edition of YM Liverpool magazine!

First up this month we bring you my in-depth chat with renowned Liverpool chef Paul Askew, who is celebrating an incredible 40 years in the food and drink business.

Paul reflects on his remarkable journey, which has seen him go from washing pots at Thornton Hall on the Wirral to operating one of Liverpool’s most esteemed eateries.

Elsewhere we have a fascinating bonus interview with the best-selling Liverpool-born novelist Salley Vickers and shine the spotlight on Moda, The Lexington – a stunning new apartment complex at Princes Dock which has been inspired by 1920s New York.

Meanwhile, Molly Hardwick gives us her verdict on the revamped Restaurant Bar & Grill and we report on a fantastic night at Sedulo’s Wilson Club where Jamie Carragher helped to raise thousands of pounds for the Oliver King Foundation.

Plus Annie S makes sure you are ‘winter walk ready’ with her latest fashion edit and our gardening expert Heather Marsh explains how to prepare the perfect dried flower arrangement.

Finally, VideOdyssey’s Andy Johnson presents his ode to the good old days of television and Jon Atkinson from Liverpool wine merchants WineTime flags up a famous French wine-making region experiencing somewhat of a resurgence.

Enjoy!

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LAWRENCE SAUNDERS Editor TERIOR NEWS | IN

YL S | LIFEST S | HOME

ON E | FAS H I

I | GARDEN

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FR

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rpool.com

www.ymlive

NOVEMBER

Paul Askew Winter fashion

Editor: Lawrence Saunders [editor@ymliverpool.com] Design: Marten Sealby

Velvet interiors Bar & Grill Restaurant

ADVERTISING Sales: 0151 316 0210 [sales@ymliverpool.com] DISTRIBUTION Enquiries: 0151 316 0210

To have the latest issue of YM Liverpool delivered through your door every month, contact sales@ymliverpool.com or call 0151 316 0210 to learn more about our subscription service.

Moda, n The Lexingto

ymliverpool.com

YMLiverpool

ym_liverpool

addition at the latest Waterfront living iconic skyline to Liverpool’s

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When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it.

Precision Publishing is committed to recycling.

2021

inspiration

YM Liverpool

©Precision Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Precision Publishing can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by advertisers. The views expressed are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The cancellation deadline for advertising is strictly one week before publication and must be in writing to the sales manager.

YM Liverpool

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NEWS

HUGE CULTURAL CASH INJECTION FOR LIVERPOOL’S WATERFRONT Plans for global visitor attraction, redevelopment of two leading cultural institutions and new public realm given budget boost CHANCELLOR RISHI SUNAK has announced two separate financial investments for Liverpool which will inject a new lease of life in and around the city’s docks: £2m to fund the initial development stage for The Pool, and £20m Levelling Up funding for Tate Liverpool and National Museums Liverpool.

The Pool (a working title) will be a new development taking over an area of the waterfront, which will create a new destination dedicated to celebrating and creating music.

The project would incorporate a new secondary school for disadvantaged children, additional rehearsal space for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra - as well as a global visitor attraction National Museums Liverpool and Tate Liverpool will also receive a £20 million (£10 million each) investment following a successful bid spearheaded by Liverpool City Council.

Tate Liverpool will use the money to

modernise and update its gallery enabling it to accommodate new forms of contemporary art, and to reconfigure the external public realm so it connects more clearly with the Royal Albert Dock Liverpool.

Meanwhile, the funding allows National Museums Liverpool to take forward the transformation of the Canning Dock Project, part of the organisation’s 10-year masterplan of reimagining the waterfront.

This landmark project will transform the area between the Royal Albert Dock and Mann Island, increasing access to museums and galleries and conserving the fabric of historic

buildings for the next generation.

Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson says: “Liverpool is known around the world for its historic waterfront, but it is really important that it doesn’t stand still and we continue to invest in it.

“This announcement feels like a real line in the sand moment in the wake of UNESCO’s World Heritage decision, and we can now move forward and do things differently.

“This significant new pot of funding will make sure that our docks will continue to be a major draw for tourists and locals alike for many years to come.”

JOINT VENTURE SECURES FUTURE OF CITY’S MUCH-LOVED EPSTEIN THEATRE UNDER THE STEWARDSHIP OF Epstein Entertainments Ltd, a joint venture between Liverpool producers Bill Elms, Chantelle Nolan, and Jane Joseph, Bill Elms Productions, Liverpool Theatre the theatre will retain the same name and continue to run Festival, St Helens Theatre Royal, and as a variety venue with a mixed programme Regal Entertainments Ltd will continue to of entertainment. run as normal.

Bill Elms has more than 30 years’ experience in the Bill says: “I’m absolutely delighted to have Left to right: Chantelle entertainment industry, both regionally and nationally. He been successful in the joint tender for the lease Nolan, Bill Elms and is director of Liverpool based arts PR company Bill Elms of The Epstein Theatre.

Jane Joseph Associates, and a theatre producer under Bill Elms Productions.

“This is a venue I have loved with a passion for Last year, he also created the Liverpool Theatre Festival, which so many years and is one of Liverpool’s leading has just enjoyed a successful second year. Bill will become the venue’s historical and cultural gems.” artistic and communications director.

Chantelle adds: “The Epstein has amazing potential, and we’re Chantelle Nolan, who is currently general manager at St Helens absolutely committed to presenting a quality programme of music, Theatre Royal, is the new artistic and operations director at The Epstein comedy, and children’s shows, as well as building on the family Theatre. Along with her mother Jane Joseph, she is one half of pantomime and exploring longer running shows for Epstein audiences.”

Regal Entertainments Ltd, which has run St Helens Theatre Royal Jane adds: “This is a very special moment for me. I produced my first for the past 20 years. ever pantomime, Aladdin, at the then Neptune in 1994.

Chantelle also directs and produces St Helens’ three annual “I’m incredibly excited that, 25 years later, I’m coming full circle and pantomimes. Regal Entertainments Ltd will now produce three returning to the theatre where it all started for me – this time as part of in-house pantomimes a year at The Epstein Theatre. the team running the venue.”

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DAVID MUNN

New management team takes the helm at historic Hanover Street venue

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YM Liverpool

7

for the

love of food You moved to Merseyside at a young age from Sunderland.

How did that come about?

My father was a captain in the Merchant Navy and we came to Liverpool when I was four years old as part of his work with the Blue Star Line. The family has moved around quite a bit but we’ve always ended up back on Merseyside. I went to eight different schools and lived in 14 different homes by the time I was 18. We first settled in Prenton, then we moved to London, then back to the Wirral near Raby Mere, then from there to Dubai, then to Singapore and finally back to Bebington! From there I went off to America as a sous-chef and then I came back, and I now live in Bromborough.

Was it whilst travelling with your family that you developed a passion for food?

Yes, without a doubt. At the time, I thought it was the worst thing my parents could be doing to me, because every time I got settled in a school, they’d whisk me off somewhere else. But when I look back, it was the absolute making of me really. I’ll never forget the first time I went to a hawker stall in a place called Newton Circus in Singapore, and had satay cooked on the side of the road. My mum and dad were very hospitable people as well - they were always entertaining. I think that’s where I got the bug [for food] and I’ve never wanted to do anything else.

What was your first job in the industry?

I came back to the UK from Singapore for schooling and took a part-time job at Thornton Hall. It was the nearest hotel to me which had a decent restaurant. At 15 years old I was washing dishes, gutting fish, peeling spuds – anything I was told to do basically. After about a year they wanted me to be a commis chef and were showing me other things. I just fell in love. I fell in love with the atmosphere in the kitchen, but also the fact that we were doing something which gave other people happiness – that’s always been a key thing for me.

Did you train to become a chef on the job or did you attend culinary school?

I trained at Thornton Hall and then the sous chef there asked me to go with him to Pollards Inn and gave me the KP/commis chef job. I stayed in school and finished my A-Levels because my dad absolutely hated the idea of me being a chef.

I think [he didn’t want me to become a chef] because when he was at sea, the guys in the galley would be frying eggs and making big pans of curry.

I don’t think he understood where I was going with it, but he got there in the end.

In Britain, we tend to think that hospitality or catering is something that you do if you’re no good at everything else. I never thought of it like that. For me, it’s an art form. It’s something that I’ve trained all my life to do and if you do it at the right level, it’s absolutely no less professional than any other trade. I’ve always tried to fight against that [negative image], starting with my own father, but I’m afraid the fight still goes on. It’s incredibly difficult to attract the right people into the industry.

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YM Liverpool

INTERVIEW

As he proudly celebrates 40 years in the industry, chef Paul Askew reflects on a remarkable journey which has seen him go from washing pots and peeling spuds at Thornton Hall to running one of Liverpool’s most esteemed eateries words lawrence saunders

How much of an impact has the pandemic and Brexit had on your ability to bring the right staff in at The Art School?

Massive. We have quite a lot of French, Italian and Spanish people working for us and during the pandemic, they went home to be with their families. While they were away, we changed the locks on the door because Brexit happened, and immigration law changed. That prevented a lot of them from not just coming back, but wanting to come back. I think it sent out a very difficult message. It is starting to change now slightly. We’ve had to apply for a Home Office licence to be able to bring qualified staff back in because there’s this new immigration law based on need now. [Coming to work in the UK] is very much like going to Australia or America – you have to prove that you’ve got a degree in something. I’m just in the process now of dealing with a pastry chef from the Basque country in northern Spain.

She’s finished a degree course, so of course, she qualifies, but it’ll take me two months, and probably about seven or eight grand, to get her over here.

I know the emphasis is on trying to get British people back into work – I get all that. But it goes back to what I said before, it’s the mentality of Brits when it comes to this industry. In general, we want to be the ones sitting in the chairs being looked after, not the ones doing the running around.

The flip side of this is, there is so much opportunity right now for the right people. It’s unbelievable. There’s not one operator that I know, in the whole country, that isn’t recruiting. When I say recruiting, we’re not talking about bottle washers, we’re talking seriously good jobs with seriously good pay.

Paul with Harry Marquart and son Harry (inset)

to Liverpool from all corners of the country to celebrate 40 years of me running around the city trying to make it work! I think it’s a great opportunity for us to bring people here that maybe we wouldn’t have got on other occasions.

You’ve also recently announced plans to open a new restaurant at Duke Street Market called Barnacle. Can I fell in love with the You were one of the founder directors you tell us more? of The London Carriage Works The plan is to tell the food cultural atmosphere in the kitchen, when it opened in 2003, a restaurant journey of Liverpool through its maritime but also the fact that we were history. Barnacles are on the bottom of renowned for its fine dining. How much has Liverpool’s food and drink the boats leaving Liverpool; they are doing something which gave all scene changed since then? filter feeders and that is how I think of It’s a good question. It did feel like we Liverpool. We’ve gone off and learned other people happiness. were sort of trailblazers at the time – from every corner of the planet, and we’ve trying to do something that hadn’t maybe brought that intelligence back to the city. been done in Liverpool. When we first opened, there were probably But now we’re saying: ‘Let’s produce dishes that will have influence about half a dozen decent restaurants, but we were still quite far from around the world, but using our own ingredients from the behind the rest of the country in terms of food culture, hospitality Liverpool City Region’. culture, service and quality. We were getting battered by all the It’s a seasonal menu that will change three or four times a year, southern journalists about our service standards. In some places at and it will always be about using ingredients from within a 30-mile the time, it was very sort of ‘cheeky Charlie’, having a bit of a laugh radius. It’s going to be in Duke Street Market where Pilgrim was and a joke at the table. I think that’s changed quite dramatically in previously situated. the city. What you see now is a much more mature dining scene with I’m really excited about it all. I love the fact that I can use my dad’s professionals who understand that it’s about the whole customer name to tell the food cultural story of Liverpool. It’s being done with experience, not just about knocking out decent food. That’s a given, two Harry’s; Harry Marquart, who owns Bone and Block and Kelp or it should be in my book. within the market, and my son, Harry, who’s going to be the sort of operations manager and director. Harry Marquart used to work for me This September marked the start of your 40th anniversary year at the Carriage Works for many years, and he’s also worked for Jason in the food and drink industry. What have you got planned to Atherton and people like that. It’s a story which is going to be told by celebrate the milestone? scousers, which is lovely.

We’re having a series of special events including winemakers dinners, and visits from guest chefs and sommeliers. They are coming up www.theartschoolrestaurant.co.uk YM Liverpool

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Cropped borg jacket £26, George

Winter walk ready

Stay warm and stylish with Annie S’s coldweather winners

Vinyl effect puffer jacket £59.99, Zara

Green padded coat Fashion duvet coat

£25, Primark

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Black faux fur trim coat £79.99, M&Co

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FASHION

Fur coat £34, George

Black fashion gilet £29, F&F

Animal longline shacket £36, F&F

Moss green long coat £129, Zara

Diamond quilted jacket £45, Matalan

Chocolate padded duvet coat £79.99, M&Co

Blue teddy coat £45, Tu YM Liverpool

11

ADVERTORIAL

Looking to sell a property – Consult the legal experts

John Corkill Conveyancing Solicitor, Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors

For many people, buying or selling their home can be one of the most stressful times in their life. Conveyancing solicitor, John Corkill from Paul Crowley & Co solicitors, explains how to minimise the stress by guiding you through the process of selling a property as quickly as possible What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the transfer of the legal title to a property from one owner to another. There are 2 main stages: • Exchange of contracts: When the contracts are signed, the parties are legally bound to abide by the terms.

• Completion: The buyer’s solicitor pays the seller’s solicitor and legal title to the property is transferred to the new owner.

What do conveyancing solicitors do?

Conveyancing solicitors carry out all of the legal and administrative checks that need to be completed before you can exchange contracts and complete the sale. This can include filling out required forms like property information, fittings and contents, finalising the contract, and communicating with the buyer’s solicitors throughout the process.

Our team of property solicitors at Paul Crowley & Co are experienced in all aspects of the conveyancing process and will keep you updated throughout the sales process.

How long does conveyancing take?

The whole conveyancing process can usually take anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks. The length of the process also depends on the property being sold and how many people are involved in the transaction. Sometimes the process may take longer because the other party want to conduct a further search or survey, or if there is a number of buyers and sellers in the chain, or someone has just changed their mind.

How to speed up the conveyancing process:

You should complete the Client Information Pack provided by your solicitor. Evidence of ID and proof of address will be required, protocol transaction forms will need to be completed by the seller as these form part of the contract pack that your sellers solicitor will issue to your buyers solicitor. When marketing the property, we recommend viewing the protocol forms in advance as this will give you a head start when you receive the forms from your solicitor. Protocol forms TA6, TA10 and TA7 can be viewed on the Law Society website.

When do you pay conveyancing fees?

On a sale file the conveyancing legal fees are usually taken from the sale funds before the final balance is sent to you on completion, your solicitor will also normally pay your estate agent fee on your behalf and redeem any mortgage registered against the property.

How to choose a conveyancing solicitor:

All conveyancing solicitors should be members of the Law Society of England and Wales and many are also members of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme.

You should also consider whether your solicitor has a good knowledge of the local housing market, as this means they will know about local issues that might affect your sale. It is also important to choose a solicitor who will communicate effectively with you throughout the sale and keep you up to date on the sales process.

If you’re looking to sell a property, call John on 0151 264 7363 and see how he can help you to move quickly.

How much does conveyancing cost?

The cost of conveyancing services varies depending on the transaction. The conveyancer’s legal fee depends on the value of the property, but there are also fixed costs to third parties such as a Land Registry fee or Stamp Duty Land Tax.

To speak with a member of our specialist conveyancing department, call Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors on 0151 264 7363 www.paulcrowley.co.uk 12

YM Liverpool

NEWS

SEDULO TEAMS UP WITH JAMIE CARRAGHER TO RAISE MONEY FOR OLIVER KING FOUNDATION

Left to right: Andy Grant, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, Mark King and Jamie Carragher

The football legend took questions from fans about his 17-year career at Liverpool FC MORE THAN £2,500 WAS RAISED for the Oliver King Foundation during a special evening at Sedulo’s exclusive Wilson Club, with guests enjoying live music and food supplied by Yard & Coop.

The foundation was chosen as the recipient of the money by Jamie due to his staunch support for the Liverpool-based charity, which provides life-saving defibrillators and training to people in CPR. The Sky Sports pundit says: “I was really proud to support the Oliver King Foundation with this event at Sedulo.

“The charity has saved more than 50 lives through its tireless work to make sure access to lifesaving defibrillators is available to everyone and it’s great to be able to give something back.”

Mark King, founder of the Oliver King Foundation, adds: “We’re honoured that Jamie chose us to receive the donation of proceeds from Sedulo’s night with him and

I was really proud to support the Oliver King Foundation with this event at Sedulo – it’s great to be able to give something back.

that money will go straight into helping save yet more lives by installing defibrillators in public places that desperately need and deserve them.

“I just want to say a huge thank you to Jamie and Paul.”

Former Royal Marine Andy Grant and Sedulo managing partner Paul Cheetham-

Karcz hosted the event with Jamie, where attendees were given an inside look at his life achieving success for both club and country.

Mr Cheetham-Karcz adds: “It was fantastic to welcome Jamie to Sedulo in support of The Oliver King Foundation and we’re proud to help out a very worthwhile cause in Liverpool by hosting a very special evening.”

YM Liverpool

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HOME

DEVELOPMENT

in focus

State-of-theart apartment complex inspired by the Big Apple Private dining room

Interior designed apartments

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YM Liverpool

Cinema room

Roof terrace

SITUATED AT THE EVER-EVOLVING Princes Dock, Moda, The Lexington is the latest landmark addition to Liverpool’s iconic skyline.

Boasting 325 waterfront apartments over 34 storeys, a roof terrace, 24hour gym and a cinema room, this pet friendly rental development provides everything needed for modern city centre living.

Each apartment has been designed by renowned interior designer Naomi Cleaver and come fully furnished and complete with top-spec tech including low-energy Samsung appliances and pervasive Wi-Fi. Heavily influenced by the famous maritime history of Liverpool docks, once known as the gateway to New York, The Lexington’s name is a nod to 1920’s Big Apple.

The art deco-inspired design reflects this era of American Independence, with the new car park even featuring a metal engraving of RMS Aquitania, part of Cunard Line that sailed her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York on 30 May 1914.

The new homes, a mix of studio, onebed, two-bed and three-bed options, are available with no deposits and no fees.

Jenna Lloyd, General Manager at Moda, The Lexington, says: “As a born and bred scouser, I’ve lived in Liverpool my whole life and cannot contain my excitement about opening The Lexington in the city I love.

“The team at Moda are passionate believers in the resurgence of city living after the pandemic, and more than ever, good quality rental is in high demand.

“Liverpool touches your heart, and anyone who has ever studied, lived or worked here will always be drawn back, attracted to all that city centre living offers.

“What is renting with Moda really like? We are 100% focused on our resident experience; the people who live in our neighbourhoods are the rationale for all that we do. Moda really is bringing something unique that this city has never seen before.”

For more information visit www.modaliving.com YM Liverpool

15

ADVERTORIAL

Stellar programme of events at Camp and Furnace guaranteed to blow minds Are you a quiz maestro or beer aficionado? Perhaps a bingo maniac or a pop princess? Or maybe even a country music lover, rave head renegade or a combination of them all? Whatever your persuasion this November, Camp and Furnace has you covered with an awesome programme of events – with just a small selection outlined below Friday, 12 November

BINGO LINGO This is a different breed of bingo. After five years in the business and operating in more than 30 cities, Bingo Lingo has taken up a new residency at Camp & Furnace every Friday night! It features more provocative and daring fun than you can shake your bingo balls at. Bingo Lingo re-invents the traditional game of bingo into a unique, crowd-roaring, interactive night of non-stop madness with prizes that will change your life forever.

Saturday, 13 November

COMIC CON AFTER PARTY Ain’t no party like a Comic Con after party! Anyone that has been to one of these events in the past will know how much effort Camp and Furnace put into them and this will be NO exception. They’ve had a few special guest stars attend their after-parties in the past so 16

YM Liverpool

keep your eyes peeled for some familiar faces. On top of this, expect cosplay competitions, live entertainment and awesome music.

Friday, 19 November

TAYLOR’S VERSION – ALBUM RELEASE PARTY Get ready to party in the name of Taylor Swift, to celebrate the release of her new album: Red (Taylor’s Version). All Taylor, all night.

Saturday, 20 November

POWER BALLADS LIVE CONCERT The ultimate night out for power ballad fans! Featuring a 16-piece orchestra and epic rock vocalists, performing some of the greatest anthems ever written as you’ve never heard them before. Experience complete euphoria at this unique event as you sing and dance along to hits including ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’, ‘Alone’, ‘I’d Do Anything for Love (But I

Won’t Do That)’, ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ and more!

BRITNEY DISCO – HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY BRITNEY! Britney Disco is a night dedicated to the ultimate Princess of Pop. Get ready to celebrate all things Britney Spears – from her biggest and best pop hits, most iconic music videos and collaborations, to influences and style. There will be a Britney tribute, live dancers, 2000s disco, themed cocktails, music video moments and big visuals.

Fancy dress encouraged!

Friday, 26 November

QUIZZITCH – THE ULTIMATE HARRY POTTER QUIZ Wizards, Witches, Muggles and House Elves, your time has come… Don your robes, grab a Butter Beer and get ready to test your Wizarding World knowledge at Liverpool’s

biggest Harry Potter quiz!

Quizzitch will bring the magic to Camp and Furnace this November to celebrate 20 years of Harry Potter cinema.

Sunday, 28 November

BCMA LIVERPOOL COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL The BCMA and The Liverpool Country Music Festival have joined forces for the first time and the biggest UK Country Music Award winners are coming to Liverpool for a unique one day festival. An incredible line-up of artists is set to perform including Robert Vincent, Laura Oakes, Gary Qunn, Kezia Gill, Jade Helliwell, Luke Thomas, Gareth Nugent, Stuart Hanlon, Ethan Allen, Louise Rodan, Katie Nicholas, Shaun Samonini and Jeorgia Rose.

Tickets and more details can be found at campandfurnace.com

FOOD

Restaurant review

The Restaurant Bar & Grill

By Molly Hardwick |

Mediterranean/Asian/Steaks |

As my guest and I arrived at The Restaurant Bar & Grill on Brunswick Street for our evening meal, we were immediately in awe of the opulent décor – particularly dazzled by a sparkling 6ft by 7ft chandelier.

The eatery, which has recently undergone a £500,000 refurbishment, was buzzing with groups of families and friends, chatting over their meals, and with colleagues relaxing with a glass of wine after the working day. It was great to see.

The restaurant’s newly revamped look even extended to the bathroom which had a real luxury aesthetic, with floral designs making for a fantastic photo opportunity.

Yet, saying that, every inch of the venue had photographic appeal and just seeing the building’s interior is an experience in itself.

Onto the food and drink, I opted for a glass of Morador Rosado rose (£6.75) to kick things off, whilst my guest enjoyed a bottle of Asahi lager (£5). The drinks menu boasted a wide selection, with every detail, including the

££ |

Halifax House, Brunswick St, L2 0UU

names of the cocktails, fun and creative.

Judging by the plethora of food options, split into sections: ‘Taste of Italy’, ‘From the Land’ and ‘From the Sea’, it was evident that The Restaurant Bar and Grill likes to cater for large groups and families.

We decided to share chicken

Every inch of the venue had photographic appeal – the interior is an experience in itself. skewers with tikka spices (£9.75) and tempura king prawns with chilli jam and lime (£10.95) for starters.

For mains, I went for sea bass with tikka spices (£21.25) and my guest, fillet steak with peppercorn sauce (£29.95).

We split sides of mashed potatoes, (£4.75) tenderstem broccoli with chilli and garlic (£4.95) and cauliflower cheese (£4.95).

The flavours of all the dishes were original and worked beautifully.

Both my sea bass and my guest’s steak were cooked perfectly and presented elegantly.

The side dishes really stood out as well – clearly, a lot of time and effort had been put into making rather ordinary accompaniments especially tasty and unique.

It must also be noted that the service was great throughout as well. While the staff were attentive, they were also patient and gave us and other guests the time and space to enjoy each other’s company.

After our meal, we soaked up some more of the atmosphere and chatted over drinks and a pudding. We were able to try two of the new desserts, which were both lovely: passionfruit sorbet (£6.25) and a chocolate brownie with sour cherry and pistachio ice cream (£7.95).

While there are many beautiful restaurants in the city, few have the ability to create a homely, family vibe suitable for big groups.

To have this feel, under a stunning ornate ceiling and against a backdrop of columns decorated in gold leaf, is really special.

VIEW FOOD PHOTOS @YM_LIVERPOOL

YM Liverpool

17

Cut and dried Heather Marsh creates the perfect dried flower arrangement and shows how ‘mantlescaping’ can bring the outdoors in, adding style and glamour to our homes

HAVING GROWN UP CHILDREN in the fashion and events industries, I’m well aware of how vital social media is to their respective careers and how its power can launch new trends, and even revive old ones. So, with the considerable force of Instagram behind it, the rise in popularity of dried flower arranging is no surprise to me at all.

Forget those old-fashioned images of dusty arrangements in your grandmother’s front parlour, simple natural designs are what it’s all about now. Dried flower arrangements are low maintenance and are a great economical alternative to regularly buying a bunch of fresh flowers, especially in winter months when they can be expensive.

Preserved flowers last so much longer and are more environmentally friendly to boot.

Dried flowers and grasses may have experienced a recent surge in popularity, but they’re nothing new. For years, it’s been a way of giving longevity to fresh flowers and natural forms that would otherwise have a limited shelf life. The Ancient Egyptians dried flowers to produce fragrances and decorate the inside of their tombs, whilst the Victorians would preserve flowers to press and display in frames or make extravagant arrangements to accompany stuffed birds under glass domes.

But when I think back to the days when I was a child, dried flowers were the DIY route to an affordable floral arrangement. I always remember vases full of ‘Silver pennies’ in my thrifty aunt’s house. She led a frugal way of life, squeezing every last bit out of everything. It’s perhaps no surprise then that she would grow a cottage garden annual called Honesty (Lunaria annua). With purple flowers in the summer followed by stems of the translucent coins and masses of seeds, she certainly knew she’d get her money’s worth out of these plants. Her preserving method was very simple too – after flowering, the cut stems

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Dried poppy seed heads

GARDENING

Honesty

WORKSHOP

How to ‘Mantlescape’

Teasles

were hung to dry on the clothes rack. She would leave them until the outer casings just began to peel, before carefully extracting the seeds with a dry paintbrush – stowing them away in an envelope to sew another crop the following year.

This gardening related art form relies on nature in its most organic forms. When you start gathering your plants to dry, look in your own backyard – that’s always my first port of call and gives me my initial inspiration. Flowers and plants you would just cut back anyway at this time of year could be given a new lease of life in an arrangement.

Don’t be put off if you haven’t a garden though, which can be limiting anyway. A walk in a local park or woodland can result in finds that don’t cost anything and will get your creative juices flowing. I love nothing better on a cold winters day than getting wrapped up and going out on the forage. Hunting for twigs, moss-covered bark, teasles, feathers, anything I think I can use in my arrangements; it becomes almost addictive once you start. Take children with you, they love this sort of activity and can learn so much, especially when collecting the likes of pinecones and acorns. Closer to home, a neighbours’ front garden is another place for rich pickings where a friendly word could get you those hydrangea heads or pampas plumes you’ve had your eye on… there’s no harm in asking!

There are so many plants and shrubs we often dismiss in the winter months, especially when we are out in the garden pruning and cutting back – throwing away perfect material for drying and arranging.

Allium and fennel which have gone to seed, statuesque sunflower heads and those silver pennies belonging to the plant Honesty all look beautiful and once dried.

Hydrangea heads are my favourite though, I love them in the summer when they are in bloom, but around this time of year I simply adore their faded vintage look. Often with a muted hint of their former colour, these blousy blooms still have so much to give. Statice (Sea Lavender) comes in a range of colours and can be bought cheaply, which is a particularly good choice as it retains its colour well when dried. Its tiny little papery flowers are similar to Gypsophila (Babies breath), another delicate favourite which I simply leave to dry in the vase. I have a tiny bunch of these flowers still perfectly intact from a wedding bouquet many years ago.

Pampas grass has to be a staple of any dried floral arrangement if you want to create a really flamboyant look. Prized for its soft feathery plumes, it’s seen in dried arrangements everywhere from beauty salons to bridal bouquets. Pampas grass is king and as such, commands a king’s ransom if you want to buy it. I was flabbergasted when my daughter told me how much a well-known department store was selling it for. It’s definitely a good idea if you can grow your own.

Pampas plants quickly establish themselves and display their soughtafter plumes in late September. Other plants like Eucalyptus, twisted hazel and silver birch can all look striking displayed in rustic floor pots or large baskets. I’ve had some great finds in charity shops, so keep your eyes peeled. Whatever you choose, I do hope you have a go and remember that there are no rules, just have fun and let your creative spirit flow.

Mantlescaping is the art of styling your mantlepiece with dried flowers, grasses, twigs, pebbles or candles – basically, anything goes.

Start by gathering vases of all shapes and sizes. Really anything that you can use as a container to arrange your dried display in – baskets, ceramic pots, metal jugs, glass bottles, the list goes on…. Next comes the creative bit – building the basic framework of your arrangement. Pampas grass and Hydrangea heads look good, as does Pussywillow and Phalaris. In my arrangement above I even added some fresh branches of Acanthus, letting these dry while on display. Take time to build your arrangement and enjoy it, stepping back every now and again to see how it looks.

Once you’re happy with the bigger pieces in place, then you can add detail with smaller specimens. Poppyseed heads, lavender sprigs and bunny tails are all dainty additions. I like to pay attention to detail and often use deceased bumblebees that I’ve found on the floor of the conservatory. Perfectly preserved, I use tweezers to strategically place them on a flower in my arrangement. Candles, pinecones, and driftwood are also all worthy contenders when you are deciding how to add those finishing touches.

Left: Sophia Vincent Design on Aigburth Road has a great selection of dried flowers, grasses and ready-made arrangements.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAPPY GARDENING | HEATHERMARSHYM@GMAIL.COM

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A Story to Tell Liverpool-born author Salley Vickers worked as a cleaner, dancer, artist’s model, teacher and psychoanalyst before picking up a pen to write her first novel aged 50.

That book, Miss Garnet’s Angel, became an international word-of-mouth bestseller and a favourite among book clubs and reading groups. We sat down with Salley ahead of the release of her latest work to discuss her Merseyside roots, becoming a writer later in life and where she finds her inspiration words lawrence saunders

You were born in Liverpool but moved away at a young age.

What memories do you have of the city?

It was my mum who grew up in Liverpool, she went to Merchant Taylor’s School. Her father worked on the docks and her mother was an elementary school teacher. My mum was bombed during the war and was very badly injured. Subsequently, they thought that she couldn’t have children and so she found an obstetrician in Liverpool who was willing to see her through the pregnancy. I was delivered by a very well-known obstetrician called Professor Jeffocate at Liverpool Hospital. I only stayed there as a babe a little while my mother was recovering before we moved to Stoke-on-Trent, then London.

I visited my granny and grandpa [in Liverpool] a great deal [after we moved away]. I remember as a child I would be put on the train in London at Liverpool Street with a label tied to my coat to go up to see them. I loved boats and have very happy memories of going around the docks with my grandpa.

Do you remember which books you were particularly fond of as a child?

I loved E. Nesbit and the Narnia books, although my parents would have been horrified if they’d known as they were rather anti-religion.

A particular favourite book of mine is Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce, which was quite influential even in my adult life.

When I was very young, I learned to read with Beatrix Potter books. She has a very sophisticated vocabulary, which I think is marvellous for children. I learned lots of words, which I didn’t really know the meaning of.

You didn’t write your first published novel until you were 50 years old. Did you always know that you wanted to become a writer? Or was it something that came to you later in life?

I’d always written, even as a child. I wrote stories for my children, and I used to teach children with special needs and would do a lot of storytelling for them. I’ve always been a storyteller. But I had two boys very close together and brought them up pretty much single-handed. It wasn’t really until I got to age 50 and my kids were independent that I really had the time [to write].

My first novel, Miss Garnet’s Angel, was the first thing I’d done that I felt deserved to be published. I was very fortunate in getting an agent and getting it published. Lots of good books don’t get published and a lot of bad books get published. I was very, very lucky.

You had a number of different jobs, including as a psychoanalyst, before you became a published author. Did those experiences have a big impact on the way you write and the stories that you tell?

I think they must have done, yes. When I’m thinking about a character, it’s a bit like getting to know a person who’s come to see

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me in the consultant room. I don’t know who the characters are when they crop up, or what their stories are. As you listen to a living person’s story, you start to make sense of it – it’s much the same with a character for me. I suppose, like many novelists, I’m more interested in people who’ve had difficulties and disappointments and feel themselves alone and maybe not well understood, than the people who are having a good time of it.

I don’t even have an idea of a plot. I only usually have a significant person – I will always know their name, their age and their sex, but not much else. The excitement for me is in them leading me through their life and the stories. It’s quite a magical experience and that’s what makes it so interesting. If I knew what I was going to write about, I would not be so interested in writing about it. It’s the unknown that’s so interesting. It’s a very odd thing that there’s nothing in your mind and then suddenly, there’s something that you write down. It seems to come out of nowhere and that’s the excitement of writing, I would say.

Where did you get the idea for your latest novel, The Gardener?

I’ve wanted to write about a garden for a long time – it’s sort of been an idea waiting for me. I knew this was going to be a story about a young woman who’d been hurt very badly. [A story] about how she comes to terms with that hurt and finds new sources of interest in life through her garden. I set it in a part of the world where I used to live, on the Welsh Marches between England and Wales, a very ancient part of the world with a lot of old pagan sites. [It’s about] her discovery of the history of that particular part of the world and how this eventually changes her, and her whole attitude towards her own life.

Are you an keen gardener yourself?

When lockdown happened, I found myself stuck in this cottage I’d rented in the country with a very big, unkempt garden. I started to write the book and work on the garden, and the two things sort of fed into each other in a rather wonderful way.

I very much wanted to write about the benefits of making a new relationship with nature, and less of a relationship with toxic people.

I also couldn’t help feeling that we’ve got this horrible virus because we have played fast and loose with the natural world – our relationship with the natural world has gone really out of kilter.

Digging the soil, hurting my back and chopping down masses of rank grass [made me] feel much better about all sorts of things that had rankled and bothered me. [The physical labour] takes you away from your own ego as well because you’re not caught up in your own concerns.

The Gardener is out now, published by Penguin.

INTERVIEW

Like many novelists, I’m more interested in people who’ve had difficulties and disappointments.

YM Liverpool

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FOOD

RECIPE of the month Caramelised onion and anchovy bread

COOK’S TIP

PREPARATION TIME: 20 minutes COOKING TIME: 55 minutes

You can make this with a sheet of shortcrust or puff pastry instead of the bread mix. Soft goat’s cheese or a poached egg go nicely on top, too.

Serves 6 INGREDIENTS • 500g pack Cooks’ Ingredients sundried tomato and chilli bread mix (or white bread mix) • 40g unsalted butter, chilled • Olive oil, for greasing • 50g can anchovy fillets in extra virgin olive oil • 5 Waitrose onions (medium-sized), halved and finely sliced • 3 cloves garlic, sliced • 5 thyme sprigs, plus extra to serve • About 50g pimiento-stuffed green olives, roughly chopped

METHOD 1P repare the bread mix according to pack instructions as follows: tip the contents into a mixing bowl and rub in 25g butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in 280ml room-temperature water with a knife.

Bring together in your hands to a ball, then knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic (dust the surface with a little flour if needed). Rinse the bowl, grease lightly and put the bread back in. Cover the top with a clean tea towel and leave to rise for 1 hour.

2M eanwhile, heat the remaining 15g butter and the oil from the can of anchovies in a large lidded sauté pan over a medium-high heat. Add the onions, garlic and thyme; cover and sweat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Chop two anchovies, add to the pan and cook, uncovered, for another 20 minutes until light golden and caramelised.

3P reheat the oven to 200ºC, gas mark 6, and lightly grease a 23cm x 33cm baking tray. Tip the dough onto a work surface and

roll out to a rectangle that will fill the tray.

Put the dough in the tray, spreading it to the corners.

4S pread the onion mixture over the top of the dough (remove any woody thyme sprigs). Roughly chop the remaining anchovies and scatter over the top.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and risen. Cool for 15 minutes, then scatter over the olives and some extra thyme sprigs. Slice and serve with a green salad, if liked.

THOUSANDS OF RECIPES CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.WAITROSE.COM/RECIPES

YM Liverpool

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ADVERTORIAL

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When someone is putting money into an ISA, they are actually doing two things at once. They are investing in some kind of financial asset and putting a wrapper around it to protect it from the taxman.

So, any investments made within the ISA are, subject to various annual allowances, tax-free. For example, an investor who wanted to put money into assets that paid out income could quite legally avoid tax on that income.

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You have to be aged 16 or over and a UK resident for tax purposes. You will earn tax-free interest on your cash savings; the maximum contribution is £20,000 for the tax year 2021/22. l You can only open one Cash ISA a year, but it is possible to transfer to another Cash ISA/Stocks and Shares ISA with another provider during the tax year. l You can also have a combination of Cash & Stocks & Shares, within your allowance. l Viewed as safe as normally taken out with a Bank or Building Society and have no investment risk.

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STOCKS & SHARES ISA

You must be aged 18 or over and a UK resident for tax purposes. l You will earn tax-free growth on your investment, with a maximum contribution of £20,000 for 2021/22. l You will have a choice of which funds to invest into as well as environmentfriendly and sustainable funds and choose your level of risk. l You can choose to invest for growth or income or a combination of both. l You can pay regular premiums or lump sums or both.

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BE AWARE Value in stocks & shares can rise and fall. ● One of the best ways to review your existing ISAs or to invest for the first time is to consult an Independent Financial Adviser who can look at the whole market to ensure you get the right balance between cash and risk and reward.

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The tax treatment of this product depends on your individual circumstances and may change in future. If you are uncertain about the tax treatment of the product you should contact HMRC or seek independent tax advice. l

FILM

VIDEODYSSEY’S

MOVIE M u s in g s OF THE MONTH

Saturday morning cartoons and the Test Card Girl… VideOdyssey’s Andy Johnson presents his ode to the good old days of telly

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised...

STUART PRICE/VIDEODYSSEY STUDIOS

Have you forgotten that old family friend already? The one we invited into our living rooms, even allowed to look after our kids unsupervised on Saturday mornings while we stole another hour in bed.

“What’s on the box?” The flickering myths contained within shaped our culture, vernacular and behaviour, and warped our fragile little minds for years. If you find yourself nostalgic for the golden years of TV, cuddling up on the sofa with loved ones, you are not alone.

Lots of interaction was needed in the early days of CRT TVs. Much twiddling of knobs, fiddling with aerials, it was almost a double act... with the occasional much-needed slap around the chops to sort out any distortion or fuzzy logic... akin to Eric and Ernie... “Ey! Get out of that!”.

“Pass me The Presser you ignorant swine!” My dear old mum often vented, if I dared to override Mastermind, Catchphrase or latterly The Chase with a quick bout of channel hopping.

‘The Presser!’ ‘The Switcher!’ ‘The Hurdy Gurdy!’ What did you call the remote control in your home? Whatever it was, whoever held it had the power!

Tuesday evening, 6pm, was my appointed viewing time. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on Beeb 2 followed by some magically zany American cartoons like The Tick or Ren And Stimpy, with a fresh slab of Turkish Delight. Warm fuzzy memories.

Our TV memories evoke a shared nostalgia. The telly forever waiting in the corner of the room, was part of our family circle; we used to exchange shocked glances, laughs and tears, depending on the stories playing out for us.

The Test Card Girl and her incessant beeps were responsible for sending more people to bed for a decent night’s sleep than any parental influence. Certainly more than the enticing episode countdowns we have today.

White Noise! Wait a minute... TV used to finish!? “What you talkin’ ‘bout Willis?”

When I told my children how TV used to stop, with cartoons only

shown on Saturday mornings, they stared at me in abject horror, as if I’d just murdered Bing Bunny live on CBeebies.

Although The Box was dubbed the Idiot’s Lantern, it didn’t dominate our lives in the same way that digital screens do today – as anyone who’s wrestled a tablet proffering Peppa Pig from a toddler and lived to tell the tale will attest. Or have you found yourself scrolling through ‘The Socials’ on your phone, with the TV out of focus in the background?

Now we often sit in separate rooms, streaming stories in solitude like Black Mirror which reflect our forlorn dependence on this fragmented world of 24-hour entertainment and stimulation.

We interrupt this solemn thought to bring you a newsflash…

Vintage TVs are making a comeback! Well, they never went away at VideOdyssey. Alongside thousands of tapes, I also collect TVs and have more than 50 stacked, awaiting a new audience.

There is an enduring beauty found in vintage TVs from the 1980s and early ‘90s. You only have to watch most new music videos to see one feature. They are also sought after for the best retro gaming experience.

If streaming services never existed you would still have been able to enjoy Squid Game, which would most likely have hit Channel 4 late at night. You would probably just have had to discover for yourself.

O, the joy of discovery!

Fancy a trip down memory lane? You can rent vintage TVs, a VCR and tapes of your fave telly shows as part of our Nostalgia SOS packs. We’re also set to announce a new season of events here in the studio, featuring the return of our Little Shop of Horrors and Ghostbusters immersive nights.

So... Don’tcha dare switch that dial! Stay tuned to VideOdyssey Studios for important messages from the past that could help shape your future.

Andy

Be kind, rewind!

INSTAGRAM.COM/VIDEODYSSEY | FACEBOOK.COM/VIDEODYSSEYARCADE VIDEODYSSEY/TOXTETH TV, WINDSOR ST, L8 1XE

YM Liverpool

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Layer up the with

luxe

velvet

This timeless fabric adds plush depth to a maximalist scheme but can also do pared-back simplicity with aplomb. Here’s how to use it…

IF YOU’VE FULLY EMBRACED MAXIMALIST DECORATING and are happy piling layer upon layer, pattern upon pattern, you will already know what a gem velvet can be.

Lush, plush and totally tactile, it adds a new dimension that shouts luxury but not in a stand-offish way. This is a finish that invites you to be comfortable.

‘Velvet is a timeless fabric that never goes out of fashion,’ says Camilla Rowe, Partner & Head of Buying, Textiles and Home Accessories. ‘It takes colours beautifully and if a room doesn’t feel as cosy as you’d hoped, it’s an easy way to add warmth.’

The thick, heavy velvet of old might have been considered wintry but now it’s an incredibly popular choice for furnishings all year round. ‘It’s so versatile – velvet can add glamour or be used in an everyday restrained way,’ adds Camilla.

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HOME

TOP PICKS

A FABRIC FOR THE WAY WE LIVE There are many different types of velvet, made from a whole variety of materials. Siobhan Currie, Partner & Senior Designer of Home Textiles, says, ‘We’ve seen the trend for velvet grow in popularity over the past few seasons and it looks beautiful in anything from bold colours to soft tones. We also love to experiment with modern patterned versions – in printed, embroidered or cut designs.’

Historically velvet was expensive and time-consuming to manufacture, meaning it was always seen as luxurious. But industrial looms have made the process easier and velvet is more accessible and practical than ever. Modern velvets tend to be more hardwearing, especially synthetic or ‘clever’ velvets, which are wipeable to make dealing with spills much easier. They’re ideal for family rooms and furniture that will be used more heavily.

‘Aquaclean velvets are a great practical choice for peace of mind,’ says Jason Block, Partner & Upholstery Technologist. ‘These have a higher polyester component, so they’re not as natural-looking as a cotton velvet, but they still have that tactile look and feel. If there’s an accident, you can just clean it up with water.’

WHERE TO START ‘Velvet is the interiors trend that keeps on giving,’ says blogger Nicola Broughton. ‘Key pieces of furniture are naturally a big spend and in the past, we were less keen to choose velvet,’ she explains. ‘However, as it’s very durable these days, you can splash out on a sofa or accent chair, safe in the knowledge that it should wear well.’

Not ready to invest in a velvet sofa just yet? An easy way to introduce an accent is to add a few cushions to a bed or chair. This can work in all colour palettes, from soft shades of dusky pink to vibrant jewel shades and earthy burnt oranges. It works for all styles too – even the neutral blonde woods and rustic finishes of Scandi style will benefit from that softer contrast.

‘We love velvet bedspreads to create a luxurious look to the bed,’ Siobhan says. ‘Combining velvet with other textiles works really well, such as a velvet bedspread on a plain linen duvet cover in a contrasting colour. For a confident and eclectic look, velvet is also great layered against a bold pattern.’

Ready to go one step further? Velvet is the go-to for timeless accent pieces such as an upholstered headboard or accent chair, while a velvet footstool makes an affordable and flexible foray that can have great impact in almost every room.

Birch Velvet Cushion £50

Koti Home Button Upholstered Bed Frame, Double £799

Keats Wingback Armchair

Velvet Pouffe £65

£599

Seoni Velvet Lampshade from £32

Morris & Co. Acanthus Velvet Cushion £60

BROUGHT TO YOU IN ASSOCIATION WITH JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM

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ADVERTORIAL

Q&A with leading Liverpool property figure John Baybut The Berkeley Shaw managing director on how he got started in the industry and why forming a powerful new alliance with Keppie Massie made perfect sense Tell us a bit about yourself, your background and how you became an estate agent?

I was born and raised in Liverpool but went to university in Manchester. I started my career in Sydney, Australia – managing property in the Central Business District (CBD) and on the world-famous Bondi Beach. This gave me the bug and after a stint at a bridging finance business back in the UK, I took over Berkeley Shaw in 2014. It has gone from strength to strength. I am also now a chartered surveyor and a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).

What advice would you give to someone looking to sell their home?

Firstly and most importantly, appoint a well-established, experienced estate agent – such as Berkeley Shaw! They know how important it is to get the vendor the highest possible asking price and always add more value than the fee they charge. Berkeley Shaw has been trading for a while in that area because they have consistently achieved asking prices and met customer service expectations. Be wary of online-only agents or newcomers – they tend not to have experienced staff on the end of a telephone selling the property to buyers and they don’t have the relationships with the solicitors and surveyors when the going gets tough during the nitty-gritty! In terms of the presentation of your home, get it smart, tidy, light and get it smelling as nice as possible! Declutter too.

Keppie Massie. Can tell us a bit more about that?

It’s a very pleasing alliance, not just for the two businesses themselves, but for our mutual clients and prospective clients.

KM Real Estate brings two groups of experienced chartered surveyors and estate agents together to form a great service package for our Liverpool City Region landlords and block management clients. In short, it brings the city centre client base of Keppie Massie into the innovative and technological Berkeley Shaw infrastructure.

Why did Berkeley Shaw and Keppie Massie choose to form this partnership and what can people expect to see after this merger?

It means we can add real value to our clients. Berkeley Shaw has a great reputation for selling and letting property and Keppie Massie has a proven track record as a RICS Regulated Managing Agent, so our paths interject nicely.

One of the practical outcomes for our clients is the KM App which is being introduced allowing leaseholders and landlords to access their needs instantly online. But [the merger] also brings Berkeley Shaw into the city with instant additional market share and allows both businesses to refer to each other’s knowledge and expertise which we have in abundance.

We want to be the ‘go-to business’ for property sales, lettings and management in the Liverpool City Region. We are amicable, professional and we do business with integrity.

By the same token, what are the most important things to consider when thinking about buying a home?

Ultimately this is a personal choice and determined by the needs of the buyer. For example, a young family may need to be close to their relevant schools, or a young professional within commutable distance of their workplace. Not to mention seniors being near to shops and transport links. Investors should be looking for somewhere they may find capital growth and should be more strategic on where and what they look to buy. For example, is new infrastructure being installed? Can another bedroom be built in? There are many factors when buying and it often comes down to budget. The most important thing to do once you have agreed to buy a property is… get a survey!

Berkeley Shaw recently announced an exciting new alliance with fellow Liverpool-based estate agent

What is your hope for the future of Berkeley Shaw and Keppie Massie?

We want to be the ‘go-to business’ for property sales, lettings and management in the Liverpool City Region. Both businesses are those local, independent professionals who can handle the big residential and commercial challenges. We are amicable, professional and we do business with integrity. Liverpool needs a property business like ours more than it’s ever needed one.

What do you love the most about being an estate agent and if you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?

I love hearing that we have done a good job for someone. Our staff are incredible and it never ceases to amaze me how many superb reviews and commendations they get. In terms of what I would change, I would regulate the industry. Too many online agents or absent managing agents are too aloof or behind a computer screen. We have improved our technological services for simple matters, but ultimately it’s about the expertise of the agent that adds pound signs to our clients’ bank balances.

WINE

B is for...

ON THE FACE OF THINGS, November with its drop in temperatures and early sunsets would seem an obvious time to look at some robust red wines, but I’m going to save that for January! Instead, I’m going to look at a French region that is enjoying something of a renaissance, at least in some quarters. The wines produced here which are almost exclusively red are light and fresh – the sort that can, perhaps should, be enjoyed at a cooler temperature. Not chilled necessarily, but somewhere around cellar temperature (12°C give or take), yes we’re talking about Beaujolais!

This has been prompted by Beaujolais Nouveau Day, which is also enjoying an ‘underground’ renaissance – although nothing close to the levels of its heydays in the late ’70s and early ’80s. This year it falls on Thursday 18th November (it is always the third Thursday in November). However, having spoken of a resurgence in popularity, its availability this year will inevitably be impacted to some degree by the well-chronicled delays in shipping, coupled with the relatively narrow window between the wine being made/bottled/ready for shipment, and the day that it is allowed to go on sale.

Those of you of a certain age will probably have fond (perhaps hazy?) memories of those times when Beaujolais Nouveau was such a big deal that it was national news. This all started on the back of the socalled ‘Beaujolais run’. In those days, the latest vintage could only be released from the cellars at midnight on the third Wednesday of November – from that point, the race was on to be the first one back to London with their booty. Beaujolais for/with breakfast was de rigueur in the city and the number of working days lost doesn’t bear thinking about! These days the rules are different, with the majority of Nouveau safely here in the UK days before, it just cannot be put on sale before the third Thursday. This was to accommodate the logistical requirements of the multiples who wanted their piece of the action. Unfortunately, this took the fun and romance out of the occasion, effectively killing the proverbial ‘golden goose’ over a period of time – shame on you, Mr Supermarket!

The Beaujolais region is found in South central France, to the North of Lyon, and has a vineyard area in excess of 18,000 hectares that breaks down into three distinct zones. Beaujolais, the most basic of the three is predominantly in the South of the region.

Beaujolais-Villages, the middle tier which is mostly in the centre, and the “Crus” de Beaujolais, a strip in the centre North of the region, which is comprised of 10 villages. The best-known of these arguably being Fleurie. The red grape grown exclusively here is Gamay, which is at its best when grown in soil with a high proportion of granite, as is found in the 10 Crus.

WineTime’s Jon Atkinson shines the spotlight on a famous French wine-making region experiencing somewhat of a resurgence

Aujoux ‘Tradition’ Beaujolais Nouveau 2021

Ch. de Lacarelle Beaujolais-Villages 2019

Aujoux is a well-established operator, specialising in Beaujolais and the Mâconnais but with interests in other regions.

We imported the ‘Tradition’ Nouveau for the first time last year and it proved a great success! The ‘no added sulphites’ tag proved really attractive and the early-drinking style that is Beaujolais lends itself perfectly.

Based on last year, this will be fresh, juicy, fruity and very easy to drink! £8.75

Delightful wine from one of the oldest established properties in ‘Villages’, owned and run by the Durieu de Lacarelle family since 1750!

This is soft, juicy and accessible with minimal tannin and plenty of sour cherry and red berry fruit character – the sort of red that is delicious on its own but equally at home with a plate of charcuterie and surprisingly good with some fish dishes. £10.95

Morgon-Côte de Py ‘Cuvée Mathilde’ Jacques Dépagneux 2020

Bardolino ‘Torre dei Vescovi’ Colli Vicentini 2018

My favourite of the 10 Crus, Morgon is centrally situated and the second largest by vineyard area. The Côte-de-Py is effectively a 1’er Cru site that consistently overdelivers on quality.

Made from older vines that will evolve over several years, it is equally delicious when young. Locals even have a verb, Morgonner, which is to enjoy a glass of Morgon with friends and discuss its virtues! £13.95

A bit of a curve ball, this one; it’s not even French, let alone from Beaujolais! In this instance, ‘B’ is for Bardolino – effectively a lighter version of Valpolicella made from a similar, Corvina dominated blend of grapes but from vineyards on the Eastern shore of Lake Garda. Pale in appearance, light in body, low in tannin (grip) and a modest 12%. If you enjoy lighter, fresher reds like Beaujolais this is worth a try. £7.95

TO CLICK & COLLECT ANY OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS OR TO VIEW THE REST OF OUR RANGE PLEASE VISIT WWW.WINETIMEWINES.CO.UK

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HOME

PROPERTIES in focus

Autumn Lodge, Aigburth Road LOCATED NEARBY TO LARK LANE and its abundance of bars, restaurants and independent shops, residents at Autumn Lodge enjoy private parking, lift access and the use of the property’s lovely gardens. Rent includes service charges.

Maritime Park, Prenton TUCKED AWAY OFF OXFORD ROAD, Maritime Park is just a short walk from Birkenhead town centre and is perfect for those wanting to be close to local amenities and transport links.

Benefitting from beautiful gardens and weekly social activities, rent at this development includes service charges and heating.

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REGENDA HOMES is a housing association with over 10,000 properties spread across the North West and Merseyside, including homes for older people. Suitable for those aged over 55 and in receipt of certain benefits, or anyone aged over 60, its independent living schemes benefit from an onsite scheme manager, with help available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in the event of an emergency.

To find out more, visit www.regenda.org.uk/ homes-available-now or call 0344 736 0066

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NEWS

LEADING LIVERPOOL LAW FIRM WARNS PROPERTY OWNERS ABOUT INCREASING FRAUD THREAT The amount lost by victims of property title fraud rose by more than 300% from £7.2 million to £24.9 million during last decade LIVERPOOL-BASED Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors has revealed that property title fraud has become an increasingly concerning issue for homeowners.

According to the Land Registry, between 2013 and 2017 the amount lost by victims of so-called property title fraud jumped by over 300% from £7.2 million to £24.9 million.

Property title fraud is where fraudsters steal a person’s identity so they can change the ownership and have legal title to a property. Once this is done, they can sell the property or take out a loan using the property as security.

When property title fraud is committed, often the true owner of the property has no idea their identity or property has been stolen until letters start to arrive from the Land Registry stating that their property now

belongs to another person, or even that foreclosure proceedings have begun.

Nicola Stevenson, conveyancing executive at Paul Crowley & Co, says: ‘If you are a property owner, you unknowingly could be the victim of property title fraud.

“Properties at particularly high risk are tenanted properties with no mortgage, or properties not registered with the Land Registry.”

Paul Crowley & Co is advising property owners to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of property title fraud by signing up for the Land Registry’s Property Alert Service and receiving an alert when applications and searches are made against up to 10 properties.

This means if anyone attempts to change the title deeds to a person’s property, they can take action before it’s too late.

Property owners can make their home even safer by applying for a restriction on the title deeds, which would stop the Land Registry from registering a mortgage or sale unless a person’s solicitor confirms the application was made by the true owner.

If you are concerned about property title fraud, contact Nicola Stevenson at Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors on 0151 264 7363.

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