Absolutely Cheshire Magazine July 2025 by ABSOLUTELY Magazines

Meet the acclaimed YA author LINDEN STORES

Why Knutsford is just perfect for the restaurant • SUMMER SPECIAL

From festivals to family days out

JOE BROWNS LAUNCH THEIR SS25 COLLECTION

CULTURE

20 Agenda Old and new names from the music world come to town

22 Danielle Jawando The remarkable story of the YA author 26 Warrington Arts Festival Why it is back bigger and better

FOOD & DRINK

60 Chris Boustead On Linden Stores journey to Knutsford 65 NINE Mill Street PanAsian ﬂavours in Nantwich

124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX, 020 7704 0588 zest.london

FASHION

70 The Shoot Summer looks with Joe Browns

75 Swimwear The best products to ensure a hot look

INTERIORS

86 Top Ten Illuminating lighting ideas for the home

88 Pedro Almodovar The ﬁlm director will brighten up your home

95 The Cotswold Company Refreshing ideas in Knutsford

For editorial enquiries please email: mark@zest-media.com

For advertising enquiries please call 07897 556697 or email: gaynor@zest-media.com

TRAVEL

100 London Staycation At The Great Scotland Yard Hotel

107 Canada Travel Specialists On a unique rail journey

DON'T MISS

114 Tilly's Bunbury Visiting the double award winner

ON THE COVER Joe Browns SS25 Collection (joebrowns.co.uk)

Cheshire CHATTER

Jennifer Delgado takes stock as we reach the halfway point of the year

How fast is this year going? It only feels like yesterday I was writing the New Year welcome page, full of resolutions and big plans – and now here we are, toes in the grass, rosé in hand, soaking up the ﬁnal stretch of summer. August is what I like to call a slow month – in the best way. The height of the school holidays means inboxes are a little quieter, diaries feel more ﬂexible, and there’s a collective exhale across Cheshire. It’s a time when things pause just enough for us to catch our breath, reset, and take stock of

where we are and where we want to go for the rest of the year.

I made a vow to myself at the beginning of the year that I was going to read more – and so far, I’ve stuck to it, one book a month. But August deﬁnitely feels like a two-book month. There’s something about the slower pace, the longer evenings, and the promise of a sunny spot in the garden that makes reading feel like a real luxury again.

Of course, the British summer wouldn’t be complete without a few rogue showers in the mix, but we’ve also been lucky – there have been some truly beautiful days, and when Cheshire is bathed in that golden lateafternoon light, it’s hard not to feel a little bit in love with this place all over again.

Cheshire in August really is so special. From alfresco dining and long light nights, it really is beautiful. Whether you’re heading o on holiday or staying close to home, there’s plenty to enjoy – from food festivals and garden shows to long countryside walks and lazy pub lunches.

So whether you’re reading this on a sun-lounger, between meetings, or with your feet up in the garden, I hope this issue brings a little calm, a little inspiration, and a fresh reminder of how wonderful our corner of the world really is.

Enjoy every minute of it – before we have to put the heating on again!

This month I will be…

Eating at Salt House Tapas – again! Cannot recommend that place enough.

Going to Chester Races Family Fun Day, always a highlight of the calendar.

Shopping at Blakemere Craft Centre in Cuddington – the best way to spend a weekend.

SUMMER BEAUTY IN CHESHIRE

JENNIFER DELGADO

Wish LIST

BASKET CASE

Our pick of Roger Vivier's new summer bag collection is this striped raffi a shopper with its fl amboyant ruffl e and stylish monogramming. Leather handles and a drawstring closure give it strength and practicality. rogervivier.com

FEELING BLUE

This unique tealight holder features a ribbed detail and comes in an updated 6 beautiful colours. They are mouthblown and made from recycled glass, giving each item a unique identity. richardgraftoninteriors.com

SUMMER DINING

Scalloped shape? Tick. Stripes? Tick. This cheerful plate has it all, and it's part of a joyful collection of summer homewares from Dutch brand Anna + Nina. Look out for their lovely lampshades too. domesticsciencehome.co.uk

MIFFY IS 70

Everybody's favourite Dutch rabbit Miff y is 70 years old this year and, to celebrate, Cambridge Satchels have launched an adorable Miff y collection. We love this Hiding Miff y satchel, with the bunny taking a sneaky peek. cambridgesatchel.com

TO THE STARS

The OPEIA jewellery collection not only celebrates 125 years of authentic, innovative jewellery design at Berry’s Jewellers, but also takes its name from the word Cassiopeia – a constellation found in the Northern sky that was named a er Queen Cassiopeia, mother of Andromeda. berrysjewellers.co.uk

FAN GIRL

Carnaby Street's RS No9 sells wearable Rolling Stones merch that's stylish rather than cheesy. We love the slim ﬁt tees and the oversized hoodies. rsno9.co.uk

NUMBERS UP

Graphic artist Zoë Zimmer founded The 87 to create beachwear that you'll want to wear everywhere. The two-piece scarves and sarongs are one size, and are designed to be tied in multiple ways to create diﬀerent looks. the87london.com

SUITS YOU

A top collection of swimwear can be found at Amelie's Follies, where they oﬀer one-to-one ﬁttings to make sure that you take home the perfect piece. ameliesfollies.co.uk

This beautiful 18ct White Gold sapphire and diamond pendant features an impressive oval cut sapphire in the centre with a loop of sparkling diamonds. berrysjewellers.co.uk

BLUE GLASS

Glass mugs are having a moment. Whether it's a matcha latte (hot or iced), a ﬂ at white or a cup of tea, serve it in glass, we say. Especially this Habitat one. habitat.co.uk

FROM 10 JULY, GROSVENOR PARK

CULTURE Moonlight Flicks

Moonlight Flicks Open Air Cinema is back this summer at Grosvenor Park in Chester. For over 10 years, Storyhouse has brought unforgettable open-air cinema experiences to unique locations across Chester, from the Roman Gardens to Chester Cathedral. In July, you can see Dirty Dancing (10th), The Greatest Showman (15th) and Pretty Woman (20th). storyhouse.com

The Agenda

EVENTS NOT TO MISS IN CHESHIRE

The Songs The Morning Sang

UNTIL 27 SEPTEMBER, PORTICO LIBRARY

Northern poet and BBC broadcaster Ian McMillan and artist photographer Andrew Brooks make the ordinary extraordinary as their words and pictures combine in The Songs The Morning Sang at Portico Library in Manchester. Twenty ﬁve of their artworks will be on show.

theportico.org.uk

11 July

LIVERPOOL DOME

YUNGBLUD has announced a run of 'Up Close & Personal' record store dates across the UK, celebrating the release of new album IDOLS, which came out on 20th June. He will be playing songs o the album stripped back and sharing stories about how the songs were made, so a unique opportunity to see a musical master at work. yungbludo cial.com

ART

Royal Watercolour Society of Wales

Until 19 October GROSVENOR MUSEUM

The Royal Watercolour Society of Wales exists to exhibit, encourage and promote the art of watercolour painting in its many di erent guises. It aims to provide a forum for the continuing appreciation and development of water-based media. The Society’s ﬁrst exhibition was held in 1959 at the National Museum of Wales, Cardi , and here you can see their latest work. westcheshiremuseums.co.uk

EVENT Bolesworth International

3-6 July

BOLESWORTH

Bolesworth International 2025: where horsepower reigns –from Olympic showjumpers to iconic Lamborghini models and Super Trucks. Lamborghini Manchester will display the Lamborghini Revuelto V12 super sports car and Urus SE Super SUV in one highlight. From showjumping and Shetlands to supercars and street food – this is a summer spectacle for all. bolesworth.com

The Chester Festival of Ideas returns from 3rd-6th July

THEATRE

EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE

LYCEUM CREWE

2-5 July

Jamie New is 16 and lives on a council estate in Sheffield. Jamie doesn't quite fit in and is terrified about the future. Jamie is going to be a sensation. Supported by his brilliant loving mum and surrounded by his friends, he overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight. trafalgartickets.com

Begendary British rock band Squeeze will be bringing their celebrated catalogue of hits to the Ashley Hall Showground stage in Altrincham, joined by very special guests

Badly Drawn Boy and China Crisis. With timeless classics such as Cool for Cats, Up the Junction, and Tempted, Squeeze remain one of the UK’s most beloved bands. tattonestate.com/events

ookings are now open as the full, eagerlyanticipated Chester Festival of Ideas 2025 programme of almost 100 free events is launched. Aiming to celebrate, entertain, inform and inspire, events will be hosted at venues across Chester. Guests for this year include seven-time Paralympian champion, Hannah Cockro OBE; former chief news correspondent for the BBC, Kate Adie CBE; writer and broadcaster, Natalie Haynes; and full-time GP, author, ambassador for The National Wildlife Trust and The Butterfly Conservation Society, Dr Amir Khan. A new name added to the list of guests is Jane Lasonder – survivor, global advocate and keynote speaker on human trafficking, chair of the Hope for Justice Survivor Leadership Council and Vice Chair of the International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC) of OSCE / ODIHR (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe / Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights). Jane will discuss ‘Hidden in Plain Sight: Unmasking Trafficking and Slavery in Our Communities’.

The festival is an opportunity for public engagement with the University of Chester, with academics sharing their insights on subjects from the psychology of TV’s The Traitors to the history of Chester and beyond. festivaloﬁdeas.chester.ac.uk

PHOTO BY MATT CROCKETT

of POWER PLATFORM

Manchester-born writer Danielle Jawando is one of the hottest names on the YA scene. She tells Absolutely about discovering a passion and giving a voice to those who need it

By MARK KEBBLE

It’s an odd sensation interviewing acclaimed author Danielle Jawando. On the one hand, her enthusiasm for her craft is catching, as is her passion for the younger generation, and she speaks with great joy about working on Coronation Street. But, equally, it’s tough talking about the subject matter of her books and how her own life has informed the page turners she has created. Take the inspiration behind her debut novel, And the Stars Were Burning Brightly, which was published in 2020. “It was inspired by my own experience at school – being badly bullied, having a website created about me, and attempting suicide at 15,” she says. “Back then, school was incredibly hard, and I didn’t want to be here anymore. I couldn’t see any other way out. I grew up before social media was what it is today – there was dial-up internet – but many of the things written on that website and the comments made stayed with me for a long time afterwards. I thought about what it must be like for so many young people today who have no escape from their phones and social media, and I wanted to write a book for the 15-year-old me – and for other teenagers who might be going through similar struggles. The story

follows a young boy who comes home to ﬁnd his older, incredibly talented brother has taken his own life. It explores grief, mental health, and ﬁnding a way through to the other side. It also touches on the importance of reaching out for help when everything around you feels like it’s closing in.”

Danielle grew up in Manchester and admits that life was tough thanks to what happened to her at school, but something good also came out of the experience. “In the middle of it all, I found my passion. I found comfort in books and writing,” she says. “They became my safe place, where I could escape, imagine new worlds, and start building my own.

I think that’s one of the reasons why I write for teenagers now – because I remember what it felt like to be that age, searching for connection, understanding, and a way through. At the same time, Manchester has always been a city that’s full of richness, community and hope. That spirit, that strength – it’s something that’s stayed with me, and it’s also part of what continues to shape the stories that I tell.”

It was at university in London that Danielle truly settled on writing as the career for her, and before we got to read her powerful ﬁction for ourselves, Coronation Street came calling. “My ﬁrst near break actually came a few years before that,” she smiles, “when I was shortlisted to write for Emmerdale in my early 20s. I didn’t get any further than the shortlisting stage (and was pretty crushed), but about a year later, a position

opened up at Coronation Street. That became my ﬁrst professional writing job, so you can imagine how incredible –and terrifying – it was for someone who grew up watching and loving Corrie.

“I worked as a storyliner on the soap, which is still one of the proudest achievements in my career. I’ve storylined over 139 episodes! It takes so much talent, hard work, and dedication from countless people behind the scenes to create what you see on screen, and I have immense respect and admiration for the whole team at Corrie. It was the best training I could’ve had and that ﬁrst job in television taught me so much about plotting, not being precious with ideas and working as part of a creative team. I owe so much to Corrie. Plus, I got to be involved in some truly iconic storylines like Kylie Platt’s death, and Leanne and Simon’s domestic abuse storyline.”

Perhaps TV could have remained at the centre of Danielle’s world, but the enthusiastic response to And the Stars Were Burning Brightly – it won Best Senior Novel at the Great Reads Award, and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the YA Book Prize, the Jhalak Prize, and the Branford Boase Award –took her career in another, more personal direction. “It felt truly incredible to be shortlisted for so many major awards,” she looks back. “You never really know how a book will be received, so getting that recognition was really amazing – especially since my ﬁrst book came out during lockdown. Those shortlistings deﬁnitely gave the book a much-needed boost.

“It also meant I felt a lot of pressure when writing my second novel, When Our Worlds Collided, and I really struggled,” she admits. “I lost a lot of conﬁdence in myself and my writing during that time and was convinced that no one would read it. But when When Our Worlds Collided was published, it went on to win several awards – the 2023 YA Book Prize, the Jhalak Children’s and YA Prize, and the Diverse Book Award. Which felt even more special, because of how challenging the book was to write.”

When Our Worlds Collided centres on three teenagers – Chantelle, Jackson and Marc – who are brought together after witnessing the stabbing of 14-year-

“It's about creating space on the page where readers feel seen”

old Shaq outside a shopping centre in Manchester. The novel explores themes of systemic racism, media bias, and the power of community. “While my books deal with heavy topics – like grief, mental health, racism, injustice – they’re also full of love, friendship, found family, and above all, hope,” Danielle points out.

“I’ve never written with the intention of delivering a speciﬁc ‘message’, but I have always wanted to tell the truth. To reﬂect what life can really be like for young people, especially those who don’t often see themselves represented in books.

“For me, it’s about creating space on the page where readers feel seen and understood. I’ve always been drawn to stories that matter – stories that start conversations, shine a light on di cult realities, and remind readers they’re not alone. Writing for young people is a privilege, and I try to approach every book with care and honesty, even when the subject matter is tough. Because those are often the stories that need telling the most.”

It’s an approach that continued with last year’s If My Words Had Wings. It tells the story of 15-year-old Tyrell Forrester, who, after serving time in a young o enders' prison for armed robbery, discovers a passion for spoken word poetry. The

novel addresses issues of systemic discrimination, mental health, and the challenges of reintegration into society. It was named one of the best summer 2024 YA novels by the Financial Times. “When I was teaching, I met so many young people who had been let down by the very systems meant to protect them. That inspired me to write Wings,” Danielle explains.

“The novel also shines a light on joint enterprise, a law that disproportionately a ects young Black and mixed-race boys and relies on racist stereotypes and gang narratives. Many young people serve life sentences under this law. Wings came from the pain of wanting to talk about these realities, but it’s also a celebration of the power of young people, of words, community and of ﬁnding your voice when the world tries to silence you. Above all, I wanted to create a story where those who are often invisible in literature are seen and heard.”

There is no doubt, through her work, that Danielle continues to inspire and empower young readers to ﬁnd their own voices and advocate for change – a shining light in the industry that stemmed from a period of immense darkness.

Visit @danielle_jawando and simonandschuster.co.uk to ﬁnd out more

CORONATION STREET WAS DANIELLE'S FIRST PROFESSIONAL WRITING JOB

centre of

CREATIVITY

Warrington Arts Festival has unveiled its awe-inspiring summer programme. Absolutely takes a closer look

WILD, PHOTO BY DAN TUCKER

“Farm Yard Circus juggle everything from hay bales to an old tractor tyre”

An alien invasion, a lifesized knitted house and a nostalgic nod to iconic nightclub Mr Smiths are among the eclectic highlights for the return of Warrington Arts Festival this July. The vibrant annual event, hosted by arts charity Culture Warrington, has revealed its full programme for a summer town centre takeover with a series of performances and installations coming to a variety of venues and pop-up spaces over nine days.

Led by a dedicated team and powered up by a substantial funding boost, Warrington Arts Festival underwent a substantial relaunch in 2024 to make it more accessible, far reaching and community-centred. This year’s follow-up, between 18th-26th July, will once again be focusing on large-scale, free and family-friendly attractions that aim to break down barriers to the arts and bring people of all ages and backgrounds together.

In that spirit, Family Garden Party will be returning to Queens Gardens by popular demand – packed with live music, performances and hands-on activities over two days on 19th and 20th July. Highlights at this weekend of garden-themed fun include Do What Ya Mama Told Yah, a feast of a show that fuses family, food history and slapstick performance in a mum and daughter collaboration, and some astonishing acrobatics from Farm Yard Circus who will be juggling everything from hay bales to an old tractor tyre.

Elsewhere, the Meadow Sprites – Japanesestyle bunraku puppets – will be ﬂying and ﬂitting about as they bring tales of their woodland habitat, and Cusan Theatre will present The Seedkeepers, a carnival-esque celebration of stories about the importance of the many women of the world who protect the seeds and grains of their homeland.

In the same weekend, an internationally respected creative director, whose work has included projects for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, is coming to Golden Square.

British-Caribbean choreographer Jeanefer-Jean Charles MBE will grace the stage to present Patois to tell a globe-trotting story of culture, lost languages, longing and belonging through the language of dance.

Meanwhile, renowned outdoor theatre specialists, The Dream Engine, will be hovering over the town to bring a flying saucer and aliens to Warrington. The mysterious, spectacular and otherworldly Starsaucer will be providing a fitting festival finale to Bank Park on 26th July as seemingly weightless figures start to emerge from a UFO amid blinking lights and a haze of smoke.

This ﬁnal weekend in the festival will also see a host of colourful and mesmerising pop-up performances including the acclaimed Brazen Brass Band and Batida Rio, a samba drumming and carnival group based in Warrington.

Dance-circus company, Motionhouse, will join the spectacle too using gravity-defying performance techniques and dynamic choreography to create an ‘urban forest’ in a show that has already wowed some 100,000 people all over the UK and beyond. Then for something truly unique and bespoke for Warrington, don’t miss Grandma’s House at Parr Hall, which can be explored for most of the festival run between 20th and 26th July. Using digitallyhacked knitting machines and with the help of the community, Chapelford artist Marie Jones has been creating a replica of her grandma Margaret’s house in Great Sankey. Floating down from the rigging at Parr Hall and knitted in neon green and white acrylic yarn, Marie invites visitors to walk through the rooms used most by her grandma. In planning since April 2024 and painstakingly built to scale over six months,

the house is not only an act of devotion and labour, but aims to be a material reﬂection of contemporary domestic life.

Marie is also behind Any, Body, Home – a group exhibition bringing together works by a diverse roster of local, national and international female artists – again exploring the theme of 'home' from a female perspective, both literally and ﬁguratively. It will be at Warrington Museum throughout the duration of the festival.

Then, for a touch of nostalgia, Mr Smiths will be making a comeback in From Mr Smiths, With Love. Led by Warrington dance artist Stacey Atkinson in collaboration with dance theatre specialists Night People and a community cast, the performance will revel in the real stories, classic tracks and unforgettable energy the now vanished nightclub was renowned for. To get the weekend started on 18th July, Time Square will be transformed into one giant, open-air danceﬂoor.

Lauren Banks, Programme Producer, says:

“We were delighted to relaunch Warrington Arts Festival in 2024 with one of our most ambitious programmes yet. But I think this year’s event has the potential to be even more exciting thanks to the incredible people we’ve been collaborating with.

“We’ve been working hard behind-thescenes on a fantastic series of attractions and installations which are the result of a year-long project of work. Many of them are also truly bespoke to Warrington like From Mr Smiths, With Love and Marie Jones’ Grandma’s House. We want to break down barriers to the arts and that is why most of the events are free so we really hope the festival sparks joy, brings the community together and inspires.”

warringtonartsfestival.org

PATOIS

FARM YARD CIRCUS

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ABSOLUTELY ATTENDS

RAINE & BEA RE-LAUNCH

Sarah Jayne Dunn leads celebration for re-launch of Manchesterbased lingerie brand Raine & Bea with theatrical ‘panty’ party at Hotel Gotham, Manchester

Former Absolutely Cheshire star profile Sarah Jayne Dunn led celebrations for the launch of Manchester-based lingerie brand Raine & Bea. Other guests included June issue lead profile Leanne Brown and daughter Halle Brown, Channique Sterling-Brown (Coronation Street), Zeri Cheetham-Karcz (Waterloo Road), Rebecca Bowyer (celebrity fashion stylist), and fashion content creators from Sintillate Talent. Guests enjoyed cocktails inspired by the new lingerie collections including Pornstar Martini: “Pop My Cork”, Espresso Martini: “The Garter Shot”, and Mojito classic: “ENCORE!”. The event included live performances, a burlesque showcase by Baby Daisy and vocalist Chris Barnes. Guests enjoyed the first preview of the Raine & Bea lingerie and loungewear collections. Created by industry renowned Manchester designer Jenna Barnes who has once again combined her passion for luxe fabrics, boudoir looks along with the “underwear as outerwear” ethos that Raine & Bea has developed. Jenna explains: “Our lingerie and loungewear is more than just a garment, it invites women to unleash their alter ego and embrace their confidence.”

Sarah Jayne Dunn adds: “It’s such an honour to be ambassador for the new Raine & Bea collection. I’ve been a fan of Jenna’s work for years now and always love wearing her pieces. I’m so excited that she’s bringing her work to the masses with her di usion line and the collection is stunning. I felt a million dollars wearing one of her new designs on launch night. I can’t wait to wear more of the collection soon!”

Consisting of nine ranges, “Encore” encapsulates the theatrical ﬂair and decadent cabaret style in the tradition of Raine & Bea. The prices range from £17-£70, typically bras costing £30 and bottoms £18, and sizes range from small to extra large bra sizes –32 to 36 B to F cup. Raine & Bea lingerie is designed in Manchester and made in Turkey working with highly skilled underwear and lingerie manufacturers. Incorporating ethical and sustainable practices into Raine & Bea helps to align their brand with values that prioritize both people and the planet.

raineandbea.com

Photos by Asia Burrill Photography

ENTERTAINER

Exploring a life of razzmatazz and theatre with Andi Mac, founder of Mum Knows Best Productions

ANDI WORKED A LOT WITH THE LATE, GREAT PAUL DANIELS

“I have become a bit like Jerry Maguire regarding how I manage people, simply because I care”

Q Did your introduction to the entertainment industry start at a young age?

A Yes, I’ve been in the industry since the age of 12.

Q What kind of stage shows were you involved in during your early years in the industry?

A I started o by singing in the pubs and clubs of Liverpool before moving on to perform in theatre, radio and TV.

Q Where did you grow up?

A I grew up in Liverpool. I have lived all over the country but have just bought a house in Cheshire, which I will be moving to in the next few months.

Q Did you have plenty of opportunities to embrace the arts growing up?

A It was very di erent when I was young to the way it is now regarding opportunities. I was extremely blessed to have the most amazing Mum and Dad who supported me in everything I did. They helped me to create my own opportunities which made me the person I am today.

Q As you got older, how did your involvement in the entertainment industry change?

A I started to become more involved in production.

Q When did you ﬁrst launch a business in the industry and what inspired you to do it?

A In 2012 I started a company that deals with artist management and theatre production. My inspiration was my late Mum, Kathleen, who we sadly lost in 2022, as she believed in me more than I did myself.

Q What did you want to o er from day one?

A Theatre productions that were di erent to others out there. To give performers the opportunities that I didn’t have. And I suppose I became a bit like Jerry Maguire regarding how I manage people, simply because I care.

Q How have your businesses evolved since then?

A To be honest I almost gave up during Covid as our industry was hit hard. But my Mum wouldn’t let me. I suppose we all started again after that time. Mum was a massive part of my business after she retired from the construction industry in 2015. So, when we lost her in 2022, I felt like I may have taken my foot o the gas for a while. However, after taking some time out from the industry, I returned home in August 2024 and with the support of some amazing artists and musicians, I am back, probably stronger than before. I rebranded the company to have a completely fresh start on Valentine’s Day as that was her birthday. So, the company is now known as Mum Knows Best Productions.

Q Today, what do you o er?

A Various theatre productions, some of which I write. We currently have quite a few productions getting ready for UK theatres late 2025/2026 including one that was Mum’s idea during lockdown!

Q Can you give us an example of a couple of big events you have been behind recently?

A This year we have been mainly in production for the autumn and getting ready for UK theatres in

2026. However, the ﬁrst of our Audience With Shows takes place at The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, in September. It will be An Audience With Neville Southall, the legendary goalkeeper, and I will be conducting the interview. Or, as I like to describe it, the conversation. I am quite proud that Mum’s production of Gaelic Gold, a new ﬁve-piece male vocal group, will also be in theatres next year. And one that launches in March 2026 is a musical that I have written, based on a true story. It’s called Kathleen’s Diaries. This is a show that will make you laugh, cry and also what we do when our family chain is broken.

mkb.productions

ANDI MAC

ON STAGE WITH THE CAST OF GLEE

wild going

A returning initiative to Cheshire highlights why the outdoors truly is great

It may seem obvious, but sometimes we just need a little reminder: connecting with nature on your doorstep boosts health and wellbeing. That was the outcome of a survey that was announced ahead of the return of the 30 Days Wild challenge to Cheshire.

A new poll carried out for The Wildlife Trusts has revealed that more than half of those responding said connecting to nature by listening to bird song, hearing bees buzz, and seeing and smelling wildﬂowers was beneﬁcial to their health and wellbeing. The Savanta poll was carried out ahead of The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild challenge, which returned to Cheshire in June, inviting people to soak up the joy of the natural world throughout the month with a new series

“You don't need to travel far to feel the beneﬁts of nature”

of fun, themed weekly activities. In the last ten years, 30 Days Wild has attracted more than three million participants across the country and helped people to get outside, to enjoy and connect with nature as part of their everyday lives.

The new poll asked more than 2,000 people what they felt beneﬁted their health most, whether that be connecting with nature where they lived; seeking out nature and green space; learning about local nature and wildlife; or being inspired creatively by nature. The majority (51%, 1,144) highlighted connecting with nature where they lived as the best way to boost their health and wellbeing – and initiatives like 30 Days Wild gives people the chance to notice nature on their doorsteps.

Rachael Nellist, Senior Communications O cer at Cheshire Wildlife Trust, says:

“You don’t need to travel far to feel the beneﬁts of being in nature – here in Cheshire, we’re surrounded by pockets of wildness, from garden hedgerows alive with birdsong to wildﬂower verges buzzing with life. 30 Days Wild encourages us to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the magic on our doorstep.”

Cheshire Wildlife Trust has been acting as a voice for wildlife in the region for over 60 years. Working across Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Stockport, Warrington, Tameside, Tra ord and Wirral, they manage more than 30 nature reserves with habitats ranging from grasslands and wet meadows to reedbeds, coastal dunes and woodland.

In addition to their conservation work, they host dozens of events each year and inspire thousands of children both at their

Bickley Hall Farm HQ and in schools across Cheshire. They also provide volunteering opportunities for over 400 people a year.

Feedback from participants in the 2024 30 Days Wild challenge also reinforced the ﬁndings of the new poll, showing that three-quarters of those taking part noted improvements in mental health and wellbeing, with activities like spending time outdoors, observing wildlife, and engaging in mindful practices being particularly beneﬁcial.

Liz Bonnin, TV presenter and president of The Wildlife Trusts, adds:

“Connecting to the natural world is the ﬁrst step to caring for it and playing a part in protecting it. It starts with the simple things – listening to morning birdsong, to hedgerows humming with life, or even just pausing to watch the

DELAMERE FOREST

BUFF-TAILED BUMBLEBEE

(C) JON HAWKINS

clouds drift across the sky.” It is a blissful description of the power of nature.

With 30 Days Wild under way at the time of Absolutely Cheshire going to print, we asked Liz what she will be enjoying most. “I’ll be taking a moment to immerse myself in nature – I'm going to walk barefoot in the grass, listen to the buzz of insects in my garden, and look up at bright green tree canopies against azure, blue skies,” she said with a smile. “These small acts of ‘wildness’ are feel-good moments that not only remind us how connected we are to nature, they

also inspire us to protect it. I believe in the magic of nature. It heals, it inspires and reconnects us to what truly matters in life.”

Actor and ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts, David Oakes – best known for his roles in dramas such as Victoria and for his discursive natural history podcast, Trees a Crowd – described 30 Days Wild as a ‘highlight of his year’. “Doubly so as my family grows and gets more actively involved,” he adds. “It’s a great opportunity for everyone, especially those new to nature, to participate in simple and fun

activities that highlight just how easily we can connect with the wildlife all around us.”

In this year’s challenge people were able to take part in fun, distinctive, themed activities each week. These included everything from helping nature where you live, trying growing wildlife friendly plants, leaving food and water out, or building homes for wildlife. It was a reminder too about how nature can really boost your health: get physical with nature in mind, ﬁnd adventure in the everyday by going for local bike rides or new woodland walks, or even try out wildlife yoga or play sensory bingo.

Even though the initiative was on in June, 30 Days Wild should encourage everyone to connect with nature on an on-going basis. It could be going on a snail safari, eating your breakfast outdoors, closing your eyes to listen for bird song, enjoying outdoor yoga or experiencing forest bathing. The outdoors really is that great.

cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

RED DRAGONFLY

NATURAL LAKE IN DELAMERE FOREST

EURASIAN MOORHEN

CRAFTS

CREATIVITY &

Why there is nothing like a summer visit to the home of Wedgwood

Nestled in the rolling Sta ordshire countryside, World of Wedgwood invites you to step into a world where timeless craft meets modern creativity. Home to the original 1940s Wedgwood Factory and the renowned V&A Wedgwood Collection, this award-winning destination o ers an immersive journey through British ceramic artistry, past and present.

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN CRAFTSMANSHIP

Craftsmanship is at the heart of the World of Wedgwood experience. Join a behindthe-scenes Wedgwood Factory Tour to discover how Wedgwood is designed, created and crafted. Your guide will talk you through the meticulous process of bringing Jasperware (most recognisable as the famous blue and white Wedgwood pieces), a unique invention by Wedgwood’s founder, Josiah Wedgwood I, to life.

VISIT THE V&A WEDGWOOD COLLECTION

Housed on the Wedgwood estate, the V&A Wedgwood Collection holds over

175,000 objects, showcasing exquisite ceramic wares, original designs, and decorative patterns spanning from the 18th century to the present day. Museum entry is free, but for a deeper dive into the achievements, innovations, and legacy of Josiah Wedgwood I, join the Introduction to the V&A Wedgwood Collection tour.

CREATIVE STUDIOS: HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES

For a truly memorable visit, get hands-on with ceramic craft in the Creative Studios. Visit the Clay Studio where skilled hosts guide you through the experience of throwing a pot on the potter’s wheel. The neighbouring Decorating Studio is the perfect setting to personalise ceramics with a fun and therapeutic pottery painting session. With the option to have your pieces glazed and ﬁred, you’ll leave with a unique, lasting memento of your visit.

DINING AND RETAIL DELIGHTS

Visit the elegant Wedgwood Tea Room for co ee and cake or to indulge in the iconic Wedgwood Afternoon Tea, served exclusively on Wedgwood china. Onsite partners Lunar o er a modern dining experience with a restaurant, bar, and

gallery, while SixTowns Gin Distillery & Bar provide engaging distillery tours and cocktail masterclasses.

For a spot of retail therapy, visit the Wedgwood Store for exquisite Wedgwood and Waterford Crystal, perfect for gifting or adding an elegant touch to your home. The Fiskars Store presents Fiskars brands at exclusive prices, and Josiah & Co showcases UKmade artisan homeware and gifts.

ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL

Committed to inclusivity, World of Wedgwood is a fully accessible site. Wheelchair-friendly pathways and thoughtful adaptations, such as teapot tippers, two handled teacups and an accessible potter’s wheel, enable every guest to enjoy the experiences without barriers.

Located less than an hour from Cheshire, this inspiring destination is perfect for a fun weekend escape or a midweek outing. Blending tradition, creativity, and warm hospitality, World of Wedgwood invites you to discover, create and experience the very best of British heritage.

Visit worldofwedgwood.com to ﬁnd out more and book your visit

Treasured possessions

The Gold & Silver Roadshow events head to Cheshire this month, an opportunity to cash in on a host of vintage objects

There will be three separate Gold & Silver Roadshows across Cheshire this month, with special one-day events being held at: The George & Dragon Restaurant, Altrincham Premier Inn Hotel, Manchester Road, WA14 1HU on 18th August; The Mercure Abbotts Well Hotel, Whitchurch Road, Christleton, Chester, CH3 5QL on 30st July and 27th August; Royal Oak Pub & Premier Inn Hotel, High Street, Bromborough, Wirral, CH62 7EX on 26th July and 23rd August.

What can you expect at these events?

A Jewellery & Coin Roadshow will be held at the Bromborough Royal Oak. A very lucky couple called at one of their recent roadshow events with a couple of old gold chains and a silver charm bracelet and a bag of old silver coins. They were paid over £1,600 just for the coins alone. They turned out to be pre 1947 silver coins that were normal currency a few years ago and are now highly collected.

watches or pocket watches. All chains, bracelets, rings and bangles broken or not and in any condition. If you think it is a diamond ring, bring it along and they will conﬁrm it to be genuine. If you have an old trophy or tankard or any silver coloured items, let them value them for you. Old war medals and old Masonic medals can be very valuable. You will be surprised to hear that they have paid thousands of pounds for certain war medals and even the General Service Medal group is worth bringing especially if you have the original box. Also of great interest are old military uniforms, tunics, hats and any army, navy or RAF ﬁeld gear.

Like most people, who can only dream of winning the pools or the lottery, a lot of normal households have a hidden treasure of old gold jewellery, silver jewellery, teapots, trophies, trays and old objets d’art. Why not get a free valuation from an expert at one of the roadshows?

There is no queuing and their experts will give you a one on one appraisal of the value of your treasured possessions in a private area, where there are no prying eyes, watching the process evolve. If you like the valuation, their expert will make you the same o er in cash which you can accept or decline at no cost to yourself. Anything can be an unearthed treasure. Any old British or foreign coins. Any old wrist

There are rarely any queues at the events and they can normally o er a valuation within a few minutes. They will give you a free valuation on which they back up with a cash o er, there and then. Get looking now in your old drawers, cupboards, and jewellery boxes. Look in the loft and the cellar, even old broken or squashed items of jewellery and silver are valuable. Of particular interest are gold and silver cigarette cases, Vesta Cases, thimbles, candlesticks, trays and all things silver are needed. Pocket watches in gold and silver and all wristwatches by: Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Longine, IWC are particularly in demand. 07378 965411 / goldandsilverroadshow.co.uk

Roadshow events

ALTRINCHAM - Monday 18 August

The George & Dragon Restaurant, Altrincham Premier Inn Hotel Manchester Road, Altrincham, WA14 1HU CHESTER - Wednesday 30 July / 27 August

The Mercure Abbotts Well Hotel, Whitchurch Road, Christleton, Chester, CH3 5QL

WIRRAL - Saturday 26 July / 23 August

Royal Oak Pub & Premier Inn Hotel, High Street, Bromborough, Wirral, CH62 7EZ

Experts at SAS Daniels on what you need to know when gifting a second home

Owning a second home can be a rewarding venture, whether it’s an income generating rental property or a cherished retreat for weekends and summers. If you’re considering passing it on to a loved one or a trust, it’s essential to understand the implications for tax and your future care before handing over the keys.

Ben Tyer, partner in SAS Daniels’ private client team, provides an overview of the tax implications and options available when gifting your second home.

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

Gifting your second home to an individual or trust is treated as a “disposal” for Capital Gains Tax (CGT) purposes. This means whether you’re gifting the entire home, selling it at a reduced price or selling it at full price (to an individual or to a trust), you might owe taxes on any increase in the property’s value since you ﬁrst bought it.

For example: you bought your second home for £100,000 and now it’s worth £500,000. If you gift it, the government expects you to pay CGT on the £400,000 gain. CGT can be up to 24%, which means you could be looking at a bill for about £72,000 (though allowances and deductions are potentially available).

INHERITANCE TAX

A common misconception is that Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax on your estate on death, but it can also be during your lifetime.

Gifting your second home to an individual or trust might seem like a way to avoid IHT, but if you die within seven years of making the gift, the property’s value is still considered part of your estate when calculating IHT. However, if you make it past the threeyear mark after the gift, you might get a little relief in the form of taper relief. This reduces the IHT due depending on

how long you survive after the gift. Whether you gift the property to an individual or to a trust, if you retain certain beneﬁts (such as the right to use the property yourself), the value of the property may still be included in your estate for IHT purposes. If you set up a trust, it can also be subject to an immediate tax charge of 20% if the value of the home is above £325,000, as well as periodic IHT charges every ten years.

CARE FEE FUNDING

Genevieve Powrie is a partner in the private client team who specialises in planning for care. Here, she outlines some important considerations for those thinking of transferring ownership of a second home. Any gift of sizeable value being made by someone in their twilight years should be considered through the lens of care fee planning. If you are in robust health and you have signiﬁcant savings, then a gift of a second home is unlikely to a ect your future care. However, if you have any condition likely to result in care needs in the future (or are already receiving care and support) you will need to be sure that you do have enough savings to be able to pay for your future care at home.

If you gift your second home to an individual or trust and are later reliant on state funded care, your council could allege a “deprivation of assets”. If the allegation is upheld the council may refuse to pay towards your fees or attempt to recover them

from the beneﬁciary of the gift. You could also face debt action from your home care company, an unmet care need, and/ or eviction from your care home. This would also be a risk if you needed to move into a care home and your partner was still at home, as your main residence would still be exempt as an asset in that situation and could not be sold to pay for your fees.

CONCLUSION

While gifting a second home to an individual or trust can be a way to pass on a cherished asset, it’s important to understand the tax and care funding implications as these can quickly add up. It is advisable to seek legal advice to help you navigate the best estate planning options to ensure there are no tax surprises for you and your family.

If you wish to discuss tax on a second home or your estate planning options, please get in touch with Ben Tyer, Genevieve Powrie, or a member of the SAS Daniels estate planning team. See more at sasdaniels.co.uk

GENEVIEVE POWRIE AND BEN TYER

seven heaven

Cheshire boasts plenty of summer festivals and events that cover all bases.

Here’s

our pick of what to enjoy in July and August

Cheshire is all set to host an array of exciting festivals and events this summer. From music and food to cultural celebrations and familyfriendly activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Here’s a curated guide to some of the stand out events to mark on your calendar.

THE BRIT FEST

4th-6th July, Ashley Hall Showground thebritfest.co.uk

Taking place at Ashley Hall Showground, Altrincham, The Brit Fest 2025 promises

to be one of Cheshire’s biggest summer celebrations. Returning for its second year, the independently run, family-founded festival will once again welcome thousands of guests from across the North West and beyond for a weekend packed with headline performances, world-class entertainment, and unforgettable summer memories.

The 2025 main stage features headline sets from Razorlight (Friday), UB40 featuring Ali Campbell (Saturday), 10cc (Sunday – North West festival exclusive), and joining them across the weekend are iconic names from British music including Midge Ure (performing a special 40th anniversary Live Aid tribute set), Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, Toploader, Go West, Republica, Chesney Hawkes, Tony

Christie, Roachford, Blancmange, Johnny Hates Jazz, Hue & Cry, The Fizz, Let Loose, Shakatak, Incognito, Katrina and more.

There’s plenty of additional fun on the bill too: ﬁre walking, mini golf, a world record attempt for the largest ever Hokey Cokey, a Wellness Arena, and a vibrant Family Zone with rides, arts and crafts, and interactive workshops.

CREAMFIELDS

21st-24th August, Daresbury creamfields.com

After weeks of teasing and as one of the most anticipated festivals of the season, Rockstar Energy presents Creamﬁelds has just dropped a colossal line-up for its 2025 edition, with over

300 of the biggest names in electronic music, performing across 30 stages over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

This year’s line-up includes ANYMA (UK exclusive), Swedish House Maﬁa (UK festival exclusive), David Guetta (UK exclusive), Chase & Status, Martin Garrix, Hardwell, Sonny Fodera (Northern festival exclusive), Amelie Lens, Ewan McVicar, Patrick Topping, Jamie Jones, Chris Stussy presents Linger AV DJ Set, Camelphat, Hannah Laing, Eric Prydz, Josh Baker, Ben Hemsley, Adam Beyer, Fisher, Oliver Heldens, Gorgon City, Fatboy Slim, Boris Brejcha, Solardo, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and many more.

The 2025 edition marks a new era for dance music fans, as Cream HQ continues to redeﬁne festival production with its most ambitious set up yet. This year sees the launch of HALO, a groundbreaking outdoor mega-stage presented by SHEIN and designed by the visionary Lucid Creates, alongside the debut of The Forest Stage, featuring cutting-edge design for a truly immersive experience.

FOODIES FESTIVAL

11th-13th July, Tatton Park foodiesfestival.com

Foodies Festival – the UK’s biggest touring celebrity food and music festival series –returns to Tatton Park with a high proﬁle line-up and new features. Known as Gastro-Glastonbury, the three-day event will feature live cooking demonstrations from TV celebrities and chefs drawn from the ranks of MasterChef, Great British Bake O and Great British Menu, plus many

of the region's most-highly acclaimed Michelin and award-winning chefs.

Star announcements in the live theatres include: two time winner of Great British Menu and 4AA Rosette awarded, Adam Reid, from Adam Reid at The French; MasterChef champions, Tom Rhodes and Manchester-based Simon Wood, and 2024 semi-finalist, Fateha Khanom; Great British Menu winner and 'Champion of Champions', Daniel McGeorge, from Vetch in Liverpool; Great British Bake O stars, Gilly Howard, Dan Hunter and Hayley Tully; Great British Menu star, Stuart Collins; MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 finalist, Ritchie Stainsby; chef Luke Payne, from Michelin recommended The Pack Horse, Hayfield; and 3AA Rosette awarded, Richard Nuttall, from Next Door in Frodsham.

Music headliners include two time Brit awarded Blue, who’ve scored multiple number one hits and over 16 million record sales, The Wanted 2.0 with Max George and Siva Kaneswaren present the next chapter in the history of The Wanted, one of Britain’s biggest ever pop bands, and the legendary Symphonic Ibiza will perform an unforgettable fusion of dance anthems, with live vocals, a sensational DJ and exhilarating live orchestra.

New features this year include the Great Taste Market, courtesy of Great Taste, where people can come together to discover new tastes and celebrate the art of good food.

And International Cook School, where festival goers can learn new techniques and cook a dish to take away, with lessons from top chefs. Other activities include ﬂaming hot action at the Fire Stage with BBQ masters, chilli eating competitions, Silent Disco, fairground rides, children’s activities and family-friendly areas.

FOODIES FESTIVAL

CREAMFIELDS

DUBBED OUT FESTIVAL

24th-27th July, The Royal Cheshire Showground dubbedoutfestival.co.uk

Dubbed Out Festival is a vibrant, family-friendly campervan celebration held at the Royal Cheshire Showground near Knutsford. Stretching over four days in late July, this annual event blends live music, entertainment, and community spirit into a unique experience tailored to all ages Music lovers will enjoy a variety of headline performances. The 2025 edition features tribute sets from icons like Guns N’ Roses, Kylie, Elton John, Pink, TakeThat, UB40, Sweet Female Attitude, NikkiBelle, and Woody Cook. The Howden Main Stage also hosts DJs and live bands, while “Slippers The Split Arena” spins dance classics, chart hits, and underground beats.

Beyond music, Dubbed Out is packed with activities: Extreme Bike Battles, a family circus, storytelling sessions, archery, fairground rides, a dog show, and even axe-throwing. The “Show and Shine” competition highlights campervans, classics, and modiﬁed vehicles, with categories for best air-cooled, water-cooled, campervan, and “Fat Bobs” favourites.

The festival’s trade village o ers over 100 stalls with artisan food (including vegan), local bars, campervan accessories, clothing, wellbeing products, and pet supplies.

Dubbed Out fosters a respectful, safe, and fun atmosphere. It encourages mingling, making memories with family and friends, and celebrating the campervan culture.

DEVA FEST

7th-10th August, Cholmondeley Castle devafest.co.uk

Deva Fest is one of the North West’s favourite family-friendly festivals, bringing together an eclectic mix of live music, incredible food and drink, immersive family entertainment and a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere. Set in the stunning grounds of Cholmondeley Castle, this independent festival has grown year after year, drawing thousands of festival - goers from across the UK. Renowned for being a festival with the guest in mind, their ticket price includes a wide range of free activities to create

an unforgettable experience every year. From shuttle buses to bring you to the site, a range of flexible camping options, the best loos you will ever see at a festival as standard, free fairground rides included in admission and lots of family activities to amazing hand picked street food traders, epic bar service, and of course some world class music and comedy across five stages on site. And what a line -up of music. Headliners include the Happy Mondays, Symphonic Ibiza, Gloria Gayor, Matt Goss, The Fratellis, Sigala and many more. Whatever day you choose to attend (or maybe you will plump for all three?) you are sure to have a memorable festival experience.

DUBBED OUT FESTIVAL

DEVA FEST

HAPPY PLACE FESTIVAL

30th-31st August, Tatton Park happyplaceofficial.co.uk

Happy Place Festival at Tatton Park is a soul-nourishing, alcohol-free wellness weekend curated by Fearne Cotton. The festival transforms the beautiful Cheshire grounds into a peaceful sanctuary for self- care, connection, and creativity. Over two days, you can join drop-in classes like Yoga Soul, Qi-Gong, Pilates, breathwork, and silent discos in airy, outdoor settings. The festival centres around stages and teepees: the free-to-all Centre Stage (poetry, dance, live music), the Talk Stage (live podcasts with Fearne Cotton and guests), and themed areas including Meditation, Sound Healing, Nutrition, Movement, Craft, and a ﬁrst-time Hormones zone. There’s also a children’s corner, a Wish Wall for expressing intentions, and independent stalls showcasing eco-friendly brands and vegetarian/vegan street food.

Attendees appreciate the attention to detail – clean facilities, calm vibes, reﬁll water stations, and a lack of alcohol mean everyone stays refreshed and present. Creative workshops like embroidery or bracelet-making o er therapeutic, hands-on experiences. Whether you’re mingling at a live podcast, unwinding in a sound bath, or dancing at a silent disco, Happy Place leaves you recharged, joyful, and inspired – a truly uplifting haven.

CHESHIRE CLASSIC CAR & MOTORCYCLE SHOW

24th-25th August, Capesthorne Hall classicshows.org

The Cheshire Classic Car & Motorcycle Show takes place on the August Bank Holiday weekend at the grand Capesthorne Hall near Macclesﬁeld. This family-friendly, two-day celebration brings together over 600 vintage, classic and modern classic cars and motorcycles each day, set against the stunning Jacobean facade, formal gardens, and lakes of the historic estate. Each day features a theme: Sunday is Jaguar Day, with exclusive Jaguar displays in the Courtyard courtesy of the Jaguar

Enthusiast Club; and Monday spotlights Mercedes-Benz with similar focus. Beyond these, the main event ﬁelds showcase a diverse range of vehicles across eras (pre-60s through 2000s+) and categories (American, sports, convertibles, kit cars, military, and custom). Around 60 trade, autojumble, and retail stalls o er everything from hard-to-ﬁnd parts to vintage memorabilia.

Live commentary, judging, and awards – such as “Pride of Ownership” and “Car of the Show” – are hosted by motoring experts Les Clayton and Peter Fleming, with interactive concours presentations throughout the day. Entertainment includes live music at lunchtime, food stalls, ice cream, bars, and more.

PREPARE TO SEE SOME CLASSIC CARS THIS MONTH

HAPPY PLACE FESTIVAL

 Family friendly events throughout the year

Indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room

Luxury bar, restaurant and sports lounge  Snooker room, games room, tennis courts, football field, nature trail and adventure playground

 Open throughout Christmas and New Year

 No Site Fees to pay this year

The summer holidays are around the corner, so how to ﬁll those days and prevent boredom? Cheshire has plenty up its sleeve

Cheshire o ers plenty for unforgettable family days out during the summer months. Whether your family enjoys exploring nature, delving into local history, or seeking out thrilling adventures, Cheshire has something to suit every taste and age group.

Chester Zoo

Arguably the jewel in Cheshire’s crown, Chester Zoo is one of the UK’s leading wildlife attractions and consistently ranked among the world’s top zoos. With over 20,000 animals across 125 acres, the zoo is a haven for animal lovers of all ages. Families can stroll through themed habitats such as the Islands, where you’ll board a lazy river boat ride, or visit the Tropical Realm and see exotic birds and reptiles.

Chester Zoo o ers a full day of fun and education. Summer events often include interactive talks, animal feeding demonstrations, and themed trails.

Tatton Park

Set within 1,000 acres of deer parkland, Tatton Park in Knutsford is a versatile destination for a family summer day out. The estate features a stately mansion, stunning gardens, a working farm, and a large adventure playground.

Younger children will enjoy meeting animals like pigs, goats and donkeys at the farm, while older kids may be captivated

by the grand mansion and its tales of aristocratic life. Seasonal events such as outdoor theatre performances, vintage fairs, and food festivals often enhance the summer experience at Tatton Park.

BeWILDerwood Cheshire

For families with energetic children and a love of imaginative play, BeWILDerwood in Whitchurch is an enchanting woodland adventure park inspired by the books of Tom Blofeld. Unlike traditional theme parks, BeWILDerwood focuses on active, screen-free fun. Kids can climb treehouses, zoom down slides, tackle rope bridges, and wander through mazes, all set within a magical forest. Crafts, storytelling, and character meet-and-greets are included in the ticket price, which makes it great value.

Anderton Boat Lift and Visitor Centre

Cheshire’s industrial heritage comes to life at the Anderton Boat Lift, a remarkable piece of Victorian engineering that transports boats between the River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal. It’s sometimes dubbed the "Cathedral of the Canals" and o ers a unique day out that blends history with fun.

Families can enjoy boat trips on the river, explore the interactive exhibition in the visitor centre, and relax in the riverside café. Children will love the play area and the chance to learn about life on the canals through hands-on activities.

CHESTER ZOO

TATTON PARK FOODIES FESTIVAL

BEWILDERWOOD

Jodrell Bank

For a day of space-themed exploration, Jodrell Bank is a must-visit. Recently enhanced with the opening of the First Light Pavilion, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the iconic Lovell Telescope and a discovery centre.

The First Light Pavilion o ers immersive exhibitions on astronomy, space science, and the history of the telescope. Kids will be fascinated by the Planet Pavilion, interactive exhibits, and stargazing opportunities. The outdoor playground and space-themed trails also make it a good summer destination.

Delamere Forest

For a more relaxed and nature-based outing, Delamere Forest, near Northwich, is ideal. Managed by Forestry England, the forest is a vast green playground with walking and cycling trails, Go Ape treetop adventures, and tranquil picnic spots.

Families can bring bikes or rent them on-site to explore the trails. Younger children will enjoy the Gru alo Sculptures Trail, and there’s also an on-site café for ice creams and snacks.

Blue Planet Aquarium

Just a stone’s throw from Cheshire Oaks shopping centre, Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port makes for an engaging and educational family outing. The highlight is the 70-metre-long underwater tunnel, where sharks and rays swim overhead in an awe-inspiring display.

Children can learn about marine ecosystems and conservation through daily diver shows, interactive touch pools,

and themed exhibits. It’s a brilliant wetweather backup plan, but equally fun on a sunny day when combined with a nearby walk or picnic by the canal.

Gulliver’s World, Warrington

If you’re after thrills and fairground-style fun, Gulliver’s World is a family-friendly theme park tailored to children aged 2-13. With over 80 rides, attractions and shows, it o ers a full day of excitement. The themed areas – such as Lilliput Land and Safari Kingdom – create a sense of adventure for younger visitors.

Gulliver’s often hosts summer specials, including character days and ﬁreworks. It’s less intense than larger theme parks, making it perfect for ﬁrst-time riders and smaller children.

Lyme Park

Managed by the National Trust, Lyme Park near Disley is a glorious estate known for its scenic beauty and its role in the BBC’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. But beyond the Jane Austen romance, it o ers plenty of family-focused fun. Kids can explore the formal gardens and wild deer park, take part in seasonal activity trails, or enjoy a runaround in the Crow Wood play area.

Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker

For something a little di erent – and slightly spooky – try Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker near Nantwich. Hidden beneath the countryside, this oncetop-secret Cold War bunker is now a fascinating museum. Families can learn about life during the Cold War, see spy equipment and military gear, and even walk through a recreated bunker control.

BLUE PLANET AQUARIUM

ANDERTON BOAT LIFT

GULLIVER'S WORLD

A summer soirée is one of the most elegant ways to celebrate the season.

Cheshire’s Liz Taylor shares her golden rules for hosting with style

party

planner

There’s something undeniably special about a British summer. The scent of freshly cut grass, golden hour that seems to last forever, and the garden suddenly becoming the perfect setting for celebration. Whether it’s a countryside estate or your own back garden, summer o ers the ultimate opportunity to entertain – and do it with style. Having planned parties for rock stars, fashion royalty and discerning hosts across the UK and beyond, I know that a memorable summer soirée doesn’t just happen. It’s curated. Thoughtfully, creatively, and with a little theatre. Here’s my blueprint for transforming a summer evening into an unforgettable occasion.

CAST YOUR GUEST LIST CAREFULLY

Your soirée starts with your people. Think chemistry. Think balance. You want a mix of personalities that’ll ﬁzz like a freshly popped bottle of Veuve. Invite the story-tellers, the listeners, the outrageous and the charming. Think of it like casting your dream dinner party every guest should play their part.

Top Tip: Aim for intimacy. A guest

list of 20–30 allows you to elevate the experience while keeping things personal.

SET THE SCENE WITH STYLE

Don’t just set a scene – create a world. A wildﬂower meadow can become a Bohemian dream with the right lighting and textiles. A modern terrace? Instantly elevated with polished glassware, an abundance of candles and an array of furniture options. Play with the unexpected. I once transformed a client’s tennis court into a candlelit Moroccan paradise complete with Berber rugs and oudscented lanterns. Guests gasped – and that’s the reaction you want.

Top Tip: Lighting is key! Fairy lights, festoon bulbs, solar garden lanterns –they’re your toolkit for instant atmosphere.

ELEVATE THE MENU

Culinary theatre is essential. Think more than just BBQ burgers (although if they’re Wagyu, we’ll allow it). Go seasonal, go colourful, and above all, go bold. Mini lobster rolls served on bamboo boards. Ice-cold gazpacho shots. Dessert can be interactive - a DIY Eton Mess bar always gets people talking.

Top Tip: Keep your chef (or caterer) front

of house for at least one course. Watching food come alive is part of the experience.

SERVE SIGNATURE SIPS

Signature cocktails are non-negotiable. They’re a chance to show personality and set the tone. A ‘Lavender Collins’ with gin, lemon, and a sprig of homegrown lavender says English elegance with a twist. And don’t forget your non-drinkers – mocktails should be just as chic.

Top Tip: Use jam jars for cocktails/ mocktails. Soup cans with their own personalised label on. Champagne must always be in a glass!

CURATE THE SOUNDTRACK

Live jazz trio? Vintage vinyl DJ? Or maybe a string quartet reimagining Beyoncé? Music controls mood. Start soft and soulful for arrival and supper, then ramp it up as twilight falls and the martinis multiply.

Top Tip: Hidden speakers are clever, but a live performance, if budget permits – however subtle – always adds gravitas. Students from music colleges o er a labyrinth of hidden talent.

SURPRISE AND DELIGHT

This is where the magic happens. A crepe stall wheeled into the garden. A

“At the heart is one golden rule: treat it like a performance”

magician mingling between courses. Late-night espresso martinis handed out in crystal cut tumblers as the ﬁre pit roars. These moments linger.

Top Tip: Luxury is in the surprise, not just the spend. Creativity beats cliché every time.

STYLE EVERY DETAIL

Your tablescape should be a thing of beauty. Linens in sun-bleached tones, layered with hand-picked blooms in mismatched vases. Mix heirloom silver with modern ceramics. Add name cards with ﬂair –calligraphy on pressed fern leaves or personalised notes tied with silk ribbon. Top Tip: Give guests something tactile. It adds depth to the aesthetic and always photographs beautifully.

AND FINALLY... BE THE HOST WITH THE MOST (NOT THE MOST FRAZZLED)

Too often, I see hosts run themselves ragged trying to be perfect. Remember this: you set the tone. Greet every guest with a smile, not a stress. If something goes wrong (and it might), handle it with humour and charm. That’s what people remember.

And don’t be afraid of a few well-chosen cheats. Pre-bought nibbles? Dress them up like they’ve come straight from a ﬁve-star kitchen. Serve olives in vintage cut-glass coupes, stack artisan crisps in a tower with a drizzle of tru e oil or decant dips into hand-thrown bowls with a scatter of fresh herbs. It’s all in the presentation, darling. At the heart of every successful summer soirée is one golden rule: treat it like a performance. Curate, choreograph, and then – when the curtain goes up –immerse yourself in the experience.

Liz Taylor is the CEO of luxury event planners Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC), and has built a reputation on creating unforgettable moments. See more at tlc-ltd.co.uk

Big Mamma, the vibrant and much-loved Parisian-born Italian restaurant group, has opened Circolo Popolare Manchester, marking the group’s first restaurant in the North of England. Campanian-born Head Chef Alfonso Esposito leads the team, bringing a brand-new menu created exclusively for Manchester. bigmammagroup.com

BIG MAMMA

“We o er great unassuming food using the best local produce”

waste not, want more

Absolutely talks to Linden Stores head chef Chris Boustead about his food journey and why Knutsford is the perfect home

Linden Stores in Knutsford o ers a reﬁned yet relaxed dining experience, serving a seasonal, no-waste menu that champions local produce and unique cuts of meat, and is run by Chris Boustead and Laura Christie Laura curates a wine list focused on low-intervention organic labels, carefully selected to complement the menu.

Chris – passionate about game, foraged ingredients, and ethical sourcing – works closely with local suppliers, including Cinderwood Market Garden, Little Woods Butchers, Ports Charcuterie, and The Cheese Yard Knutsford. They recently celebrated being awarded an AA Rosette for culinary excellence – and here, Chris tells us how they managed it.

Q Did you develop an interest in cooking from an early age?

A To be honest no! I am one of ﬁve boys, our parents were separated and Mum had advanced MS, so food was mainly made by carers and to be honest not that great. I got a job in a kitchen really by accident as my mate needed to replace himself as KP to move up to chef and it started from there. For the ﬁrst time I realised there was more to food than fuel and also realised quite quickly it was something I was actually good at.

Q So did you decide quite early it was the career for you?

It was pretty much immediate, I signed up for catering college within weeks of my ﬁrst kitchen job and it all went from there. I honestly don’t know what else I’d do for a job.

Q Where was Peppers and how important was your time there?

A Peppers was in Scarborough town centre and I started there as commis. Jon Smith (head chef) was cooking with things I’d never tried – pigeon, rabbit, venison etc that he would frequently have shot himself. It was all local and seasonal produce and I was hooked.

CHRIS AND LAURA

Q Was it an easy decision to move to London?

A No, I was aware I was leaving Mum at home with younger siblings and that also she relied on my wage as part of running the household. It was a decision I never really came to terms with, but that has shaped my career and who I am and I know it was the right decision for me personally.

Q How did Linden Stores in Islington, London, ﬁrst come to be and what did you want to o er there?

A It ﬁrst came to be really as a solution to our childcare problems! Laura had recently launched her own place, Oklava, and without being able to control my rota there was no way to cover childcare. I had been doing pop ups for a while with a chef mate of mine and then one day Laura and I went past the site and thought, ‘I wonder what’s going on with that?’. We sent an email o and that was it: a few months later the keys were ours. What we wanted

a bit di erent and we love being able to live and work in the same place and really feel part of the community.

Q How great is it to be doing this with Laura?

A It was an adjustment at ﬁrst living together, then working together is a lot for any couple to negotiate, but we’ve found our groove and a way to work together that doesn’t involve all our sta listening to Mum and Dad argue at the pass again!

Q What do you look to o er on the menus?

A I try to focus on producing things you basically wouldn’t ever bother to make at home – whether that’s unusual ingredients, speciﬁc methods etc. There’s nothing worse than eating out and thinking ‘I could have made this myself at home’. Our Chefs Menu in particular is designed to push people to try things they maybe wouldn’t have picked o an a la carte menu. It works well.

Q Are there any dishes you are particularly loving right now and why?

there is really what we still want now – a relaxed restaurant where you can laugh loudly and wear what you want, great unassuming food using the best local produce possible with interesting wines you don’t ﬁnd on most lists and all of it served by people who are getting paid a decent wage, learning a lot on the job and enjoying themselves in a work place that looks after them. Simple stu really.

Q Why did you decide to move back up to Cheshire?

A We loved London, but we were just done with it. It’s really hard having a small kid in a big city like London and we needed more space and support from our family. We wanted a di erent kind of childhood for Ollie. Knutsford suits us well.

Q Do you feel you have found the perfect spot now for Linden Stores in Knutsford?

A Yes, we absolutely love it here. We feel Linden Stores o ers the town something

A I’m really proud of the pork cheek dish we have at the moment – the ethos of the dish is using the whole hog, so ears, cheek, jowl. I’m really pleased with how it’s come together and it has proved popular.

Q Why is a no waste menu so important to you?

A I’d like to say it’s about the environment or the GP, but the truth is it’s about growing up in a house where you didn’t have a lot and what you did have you weren’t going to waste. That feeling doesn’t leave you.

Q How did it feel to be awarded an AA Rosette?

A It felt amazing and was something I had aimed for all my career. I’m incredibly proud of the team.

Q Do you have big ambitions for the future, or are you happy with what you are producing right now?

A Laura’s always got a new plan. I’m just waiting to hear it!

lindenstores.co.uk

CLOUD 9

Why the Pan-Asian ﬂavours at NINE Mill Street in Nantwich are well worth checking out

NINE Mill Street is a vibrant world-tapas restaurant and bar located in the heart of Nantwich, housed in a beautifully restored GradeII listed building that blends historical charm with modern ﬂair. The restaurant champions a global tapas-style menu, drawing inspiration from Japan, France, Asia, Jamaica, and beyond.

Under Head Chef Che’Pereira, dishes spotlight fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Recent highlights on Absolutely’s last visit include Thai squid calamari, king-prawn doughnuts, grilled Jamaican jerk chicken, baked lobster, and extensive grazing boards featuring côte de bœuf. Small plates dominate the menu, but there are also larger options like steaks and lamb shoulders.

A standout o ering is the Sunday roast – a grown-up twist on a quintessential British tradition. And it’s not just us who love their o ering: diners have praised the perfectly cooked roast beef or lamb, crispy roasties, Yorkshire puddings, and seasoned vegetables on social media. So there’s substance, but also style. Their bar excels in handcrafted cocktails – spicy mango margaritas, Ferrero Rocher espresso martinis – and carries an extensive, well-priced wine list. It also o ers a range of beers, spirits, and fizz, complementing both tapas and roast menus. What’s more, there is a local DJ every Friday and Saturday to ensure your weekend visit is a fun, lively a air. The venue hosts an eclectic calendar of events, too – from jazz and live -music nights to bottomless brunches and casino -themed birthday celebrations. For summer, there’s a private garden area ideal for BBQ events. In essence, NINEMillStreet masterfully merges global small-plate cuisine with a lively, stylish setting. Whether you’re after creative tapas, a traditional-yet-refined Sunday roast, signature cocktails, or a venue for special events, it delivers an immersive, high-quality dining experience – praised for flawless food, warm service, and a chic yet welcoming ambiance.

9millstreet.com

Life in the French Riviera is warm, effortless, and enduring—a spirit perfectly captured in the new Le Creuset stoneware gifting collection. Featuring ten sets in coastal-inspired hues, the Riviera Collection is unmistakably joyful and the perfect gift for travel and adventure lovers.

EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU VISIT A LE CREUSET STORE • BESPOKE CUSTOMER SERVICE • EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT RANGES AND OFFERS • PRODUCT EXPERTISE AND AFTERCARE • FREE DELIVERY OVER £50 • LOYALTY REWARDS • FREE RECIPE CARDS CALL & DELIVER. | PAY BY LINK. | FREE UK DELIVERY WHEN YOU SPEND £50 OR MORE. | CONTACT THE STORE FOR MORE DETAILS.

LE CREUSET FULHAM ROAD, 156 FULHAM ROAD, LONDON. SW10 9PR. TEL: 0207 3707509 • E-MAIL: FULHAMROAD.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM

LE CREUSET HAMPSTEAD, 31 HEATH STREET, LONDON. NW3 6TR. TEL: 0207 4356109 • E-MAIL: HAMPSTEAD.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM

LE CREUSET ISLINGTON, 137 UPPER STREET, LONDON. N1 1QP. TEL: 0207 2261595 • E-MAIL: ISLINGTON.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM

LE CREUSET MARYLEBONE, 6 NEW CAVENDISH STREET, LONDON. W1G 8UH. TEL: 0207 4865404 • E-MAIL: MARYLEBONE.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM

LE CREUSET MUSWELL HILL, 74 MUSWELL HILL BROADWAY, LONDON. N10 3RT. TEL: 0208 8834394 • E-MAIL: MUSWELLHILL.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM

LE CREUSET NOTTING HILL, 54 LEDBURY RD., NOTTING HILL, LONDON. W11 2AJ. TEL: 0203 2200017 • E-MAIL: NOTTINGHILL.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM

LE CREUSET ST. ALBANS, 27 MARKET PLACE, ST. ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE. AL3 5DL. TEL: 01727 850453 • E-MAIL: STALBANS.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM

LE CREUSET WIMBLEDON, 4 CHURCH RD., WIMBLEDON VILLAGE, LONDON. SW19 5DL. TEL: 0208 9440624 • E-MAIL: WIMBLEDON.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM

DRINKS

NATALIA SUTA @_winerocks_ winerocks.co.uk

A Taste of Devon

Sandridge Barton in South Devon has just opened its much-anticipated restaurant, serving up seasonal, locally-sourced dishes - think turmeric-pressed chicken, Brixham squid with garlic conﬁt, and fermented potato ﬂatbread with wild garlic. Can’t make it to Devon? Their low-intervention awardwinning wines are available online. sandridgebarton.com

ROSÉ QUEEN

Provence rosé royalty Minuty has dropped its 2024 vintage – and it’s fresher, prettier, and more crushable than ever. Minuty M is light, crisp and berry-bright. Prestige adds a saline twist with peachy vibes and extra ﬁnesse. Both wines exemplify the balanced, food-friendly style that's made Minuty a global benchmark for quality rosé. minuty.com

Atlantic Elegance

The Mar de Frades Albariño 2024 is here, and it’s making waves. Winemaker Paula Fandiño masterfully blends Albariño grapes from across Rías Baixas to create a bright, saline, citruscharged white with serious staying power. Fermented on skins, aged on lees - fresh, expressive, and unapologetically Atlantic. mardefrades.es/en

Tucked into Shropshire’s sun-drenched slopes, Rowton Vineyard is the passion project of twin sisters Zoë and Melissa Evans — a dynamic duo whose winemaking blends innovation with e ortless cool. Their 5-acre vineyard focuses on resilient varieties: Solaris (a Sauvignon Blanc-esque standout), Seyval Blanc (reminiscent of Chablis), and Pinot Noir Précoce, an early-ripening clone yielding silky reds with dark fruit allure.

In just a few vintages, their wines have scooped awards from Wine GB and the International English Wine Awards (IEWA), while their standout Solaris earned a coveted spot in the Top 100 UK Wines list, praised by judges for its 'electric vibrancy'.

The sisters' experimental spirit shines through in their solidsfermented sparkling wines and lateharvest Solaris dessert wine, proving that great English wine isn't limited to traditional styles. Visitors to their laidback tastings can sample these awardwinners alongside local charcuterie, experiencing ﬁrst-hand why this small Shropshire vineyard is making such big waves in the UK wine scene.

rowtonvineyard.co.uk

Natalia Suta is a WSET-certified wine writer and educator with a knack for making wine accessible and fun. When she is not writing, she’s busy curating wine experiences and offering consultancy to help others discover the joy of wine. Follow Natalia on Instagram @_winerocks_

Swim in style

ERES

Taking a trip back to the 1970s, Eres gives holiday wear a vintage spin this season. Sand beige, aquatic blues, and spotted shell-like patterns evoked from nature combine perfectly with era hallmarks of deckchair stripes, nautical motifs and retro colours. eresparis.com

By PENDLE HARTE

NAIA Dolce Vita print bikini set,

Clinical

Find Your Backbone can help you to:

•Move with greater freedom and poise

•Prepare for a couch-to-5k run

•Increase your conﬁdence and presentation skills

•Reduce stress

Workplace Health

Back pain is one of the main issues keeping people oﬀ work. We provide training to businesses and individuals to help them minimise the risk of back pain associated with computer use and lifting heavy objects.

FEEL GOOD FACTOR

Absolutely

meets Steph Burrows and Emma Perry, founders of Tarporley Wellness & Rejuvenation Clinic

Q Tell us a little about yourselves…

Steph: We’re two registered nurses who work side by side in a busy GP surgery. Our strong clinical backgrounds, combined with a shared passion for aesthetics and skincare, led us to set up our own wellness and aesthetics clinic. We’re proud to still serve our local community in primary care while helping clients feel more conﬁdent in their skin through evidence based, non surgical treatments.

Q What inspired you to join together and launch the clinic?

Steph: We share a love of skin health and aesthetics and saw a growing

need for a clinic that blends clinical expertise with a warm, personal approach. As nurses we knew we could o er something that felt personal, professional, and rooted in the same compassion we bring to our NHS roles.

Q Why was Tarporley the perfect base for you?

Emma: Tarporley is a beautiful, vibrant village. It o ers the perfect balance of charm and accessibility. It felt like the perfect location to bring our vision to life – a welcoming, discreet space where clients could access professional aesthetic treatments locally.

Q In a nutshell, what services do you o er?

Steph: We specialise in medical-grade facials, skin rejuvenation treatments, and injectables such as anti-wrinkle and dermal ﬁller treatments. Everything we do is resultsdriven and carefully tailored to the individual whether it’s boosting skin health, restoring volume, or enhancing natural features.

Q What would you say are the beauty trends in 2025 that you can help with too?

Emma: The focus in 2025 is deﬁnitely on skin quality and subtle enhancement. Clients want to look fresh, rested, and natural – not overdone. We o er treatments like skin boosters, microneedling, and advanced facials that improve texture and radiance, alongside injectables that enhance without changing what makes you you.

Q What do you do di erently compared to other clinics?

Steph: We combine medical knowledge with a deeply personal approach. As nurses, safety and ethics are at the heart of everything we do. We take time to educate our clients, create bespoke treatment plans, and ensure every decision is made with their best interests in mind. Our clients aren’t rushed –they feel cared for, informed, and empowered.

Q How do you put your clients at ease?

Emma: We create a warm, calm, and conﬁdential space where clients feel safe to ask questions and talk openly. As nurses, communication and empathy are second nature to us – we listen, we reassure, and we never pressure. Whether it’s someone’s ﬁrst treatment or they’ve been with us for years, they’re treated with the same care and attention.

tarporleyclinic.co.uk

STEPH BURROWS

EMMA PERRY

Best foot FORWARD

Sarah Johnson is the owner of Forest Hill Practice, and here she explains what sets them apart from the rest

Q What is on o er at Forest Hill Practice?

A We are a multidisciplinary clinic o ering podiatry and sports podiatry – also available is physiotherapy, counselling and massage. For podiatry, we provide assessments, diagnosis, management, and treatment for various foot problems, which can be sport related injuries or those related to medical conditions like diabetes, arthritis,

Q Do you feel you do something di erently compared to other similar businesses?

A We believe we do things di erently from many other practices and what sets us apart is the long-term relationships we build with our patients, many of whom have been with us for over 20 years. That kind of loyalty comes from doing more than just o ering appointments, it reﬂects the

consistent, personalized care and trust we provide, and the time we take to really get to know our patients and their needs. We can combine podiatry and physiotherapy to get the best care and outcome for patients. We also have a patient focused approach: we don’t just treat symptoms, we educate, prevent and support overall foot health for the long term. We stay up to date with modern techniques and treatments (gait analysis, laser, shockwave), but we always deliver them with a personal touch. That balance of traditional values and current clinical practice sets us apart.

Q Looking at sports therapy, what kind of treatments do you o er?

A Both myself and Oliver Taylor, one of the

expert team here, provide in depth biomechanical assessments, MSK evaluations and advanced gait analysis. This allows us to diagnose underlying issues more accurately and create tailored treatment plans, whether it’s for injury prevention, rehabilitation or performance improvement. Whether you’re a serious athlete or not, we tailor our approach to your speciﬁc needs, helping you move better, recover faster and prevent future problems.

Q How do you look to treat the cause?

A It starts with a comprehensive assessment – not just looking at the foot in isolation, but an evaluation of how the entire body moves. This includes biomechanical analysis, gait assessments, muscle strength testing and lifestyle factors. We look at how you walk, run, stand and how your posture or activity level may be contributing to the problem. From there we address the root cause, not just the symptoms, and then prescribe treatments and a treatment plan such as rehabilitation exercises, orthotics, footwear advice and referral to other professionals if needed.

Q What do you love about Tarporley?

A Tarporley is a fantastic place to run a business, it has a strong sense of community. It is a beautiful place to work with a mix of rural charm and a vibrant high street. We see everyone from young families to active retirees, and we love being able to support their health and mobility in such a friendly familiar setting. There is a real pride in the village and being part of that as a trusted healthcare provider is something I am genuinely proud of.

foresthillpractice.com

SARAH JOHNSON

Escape to ELEGANCE

Why Marian Resort & Spa is the perfect bridal retreat in North Wales

Tucked between the rugged beauty of the Clwydian Range and the golden coastline of North Wales, Marian Resort & Spa is more than just a destination – it’s an experience.

Located in the charming village of Dyserth, Denbighshire, this hidden gem o ers the perfect escape for anyone looking to unwind, celebrate, or start a new chapter in style.

Whether you’re visiting for a weekend spa break, a day of pampering, or to celebrate life’s most meaningful moments, Marian Resort & Spa delivers luxury, tranquillity, and unforgettable memories in equal measure. With a mix of stunning selfcatering lodges, hot tub suites, and boutique hotel rooms, every stay feels special.

YOUR DREAM WEDDING AWAITS

For couples planning their big day, Marian Resort & Spa now o ers a range of brand-new bridal packages, making it one of the most romantic wedding destinations in North Wales. Imagine saying “I do” against a backdrop of rolling hills and coastal views, surrounded by nature and loved ones. With the perfect blend of luxury and elegance, this enchanting venue promises a day that’s not only seamless but deeply personal.

The dedicated events team works with each couple to bring their unique vision to life – o ering a stress-free planning experience so you can focus on the joy of the moment. From ceremony to celebration, every detail is carefully curated to make your day truly unforgettable.

CELEBRATE IN STYLE WITH THE HEN PARTY PACKAGE

Before the big day, gather your closest friends for a Hen Party to remember. The Marian’s exclusive Hen Party Package is designed to o er both fun and relaxation, with an itinerary that combines indulgence and bonding.

Enjoy a luxurious stay in the resort’s stylish accommodation – from cosy lodges to hotel rooms with a hot tub. Start the celebration with a bottle of Prosecco on arrival, savour a twocourse dinner at the fabulous VIEW Restaurant, and indulge in a 30-minute spa treatment. With robes, slippers, a spa lunch, and spectacular surroundings, it’s the perfect pre-wedding retreat.

TASTE THE SEASON AT VIEW RESTAURANT

Whether you’re visiting for a celebration or just passing through, don’t miss the new spring and summer menu at the VIEW Restaurant. Featuring the freshest seasonal ingredients and locally sourced Welsh produce, it’s a feast for the senses – best enjoyed with panoramic views and great company.

At Marian Resort & Spa, wellness, luxury, and celebration come together in perfect harmony. From bridal bliss to serene escapes, it’s your invitation to escape the ordinary – and embrace something truly special.

marianresortandspa.com

INTERIORS

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

CRITTALL WINDOWS

Effortlessly connect your indoor and outdoor spaces with high quality steel doors. Modern systems manufactured today perfectly combine traditional style with premium performance, keeping homes well insulated and protected for many years. Featuring impressively slim sightlines, these external doors flood homes with natural light, creating bright and uplifting living areas. Choose from a range of sizes, styles and colours to create a bespoke solution. crittall-windows.co.uk

IN THE NUDE

This striking Mono design by Nude Glass combines blown unworked glass with a contrasting concrete socket, mixing elegance with practicality. nudeglass.com

COMPILED

PENDLE HARTE

FLOOR SHOW

The Clore Floor Lamp was originally designed by Tamar de Shalit for Sir Charles Clore’s 1960s penthouse and it looks just as fresh today as it would have done then, £1,190. tamartdesign.com

CUBE-ISM

Lee Broom’s brand-new portable table lamp, Chant, takes cues from the classic glass blocks originally used in 1970s architecture. Available in a variety of ﬁ nishes, this is Broom’s ﬁ rst-ever portable lighting design. leebroom.com

CRAFT WORK

Pooky has teamed up with Collaborative Cra Projects to launch a new edition of the Wonky Wave shade woven by female artists in Zimbabwe, preserving age-old skills while providing meaningful work and economic opportunity. pooky.com

FAN LIGHT

Inspired by the revival of nostalgic 70s decor, the coned silhouette of the Yuno wall lamp has lots of texture and drama. An opaque glass orb covers the bulb for a diﬀused eﬀect. habitat.co.uk

DECO

FABULOUS

Bert Frank’s beautiful Masina collection exudes charisma with its large opal cylindrical shades available in three sizes, as a pendant lamp, wall light, and table lamp. The handblown opal glass has a fabulous Art Deco elegance. bertfrank.co.uk

MOON UNITS

Heathfield & Co has teamed up with award-winning garden designer Pollyanna Wilkinson, that redefines portable lighting through the use of luxury materials. Named a er Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon, the collection includes five elegantly cra ed portable lamps, each named a er a Greek deity, with orb-shaped glass shades that reflect the moon’s evolving silhouette and so ambient glow. heathfield.co.uk

HUNG UP

A classic design based on the 15th century Dutch chandeliers, David Hunt’s Flemish collection stays true to the original simplicity of the early designs, updated in contemporary paint shades. davidhuntlighting.co.uk

DRAMATIC LOOKS

Pedro Almodovar has designed a collection of furniture for Roche Bobois. Here he reveals his thoughts about colour, furniture and ﬁlm sets

Q Where does your fascination with colour come from?

A Since I began working as a director, initially unconsciously and later with intention. When I was a child, the ﬁlms that interested me were from the 1950s, particularly the late '50s, the era of Technicolour. In a way, I tried to recreate the colours of Technicolour; they were very vibrant colours, highly contrasted and explosive. Due to technological advancements, it is no longer possible to achieve those colours nowadays, as they were tied to the chemistry of the liquids used to develop the negative. But they weren’t realistic colours. They truly weren’t. Nowadays, the trend is to achieve a photograph as realistic as possible.

Q Do you have a favourite colour?

A I remember, for example, that red has always been present in my films. But green also comes to my mind, which I currently use a lot. I remember perfectly the first time I used it, in Tie Me Up! with a green sofa in which Victoria Abril appeared. That was the first time. Green is a complex colour when it comes to its gradations; you must find the right shade. Moreover, if you look closely, few women wear green, except for redheads, who require a particular setting. There’s also another colour I’ve used a lot since the beginning, especially on walls:

mustard or albero tones. We call it albero here because it looks like the colour of the sand in bullﬁghting arenas. I started using it in the Law of Desire, where I painted the walls of that colour for the ﬁrst time, and then again in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. This tone pairs very well with all kinds of furniture and with the actors’ faces.

Q Do you believe there’s a similarity between the decoration of a space, a house and a ﬁlm scene?

A For example, my house appears in Pain and Glory; it’s the house where Antonio

lives. There are many paintings and colours, and that corresponds to the kind of colours that appear in my ﬁlms. It often happens to me that I buy a piece of furniture, a lamp, or an object that I don’t need at the time, simply because I like it, and I know it will eventually appear in one of my ﬁlms. I’m constantly collecting small elements, little details, that later will be brought to life on screen.

Q Are there any furniture styles you’re especially drawn to?

A In the case of my ﬁlms, it depends on the time period in which they’re set. They’ve almost always been contemporary or, at most, set back in the 1960s.

In Broken Embraces, for example, when I was drawn to pop, I used a red piece of furniture from Cassin, the chairs, because it was so representative of that style. Red and white are iconic colours of early 1960s pop art. Later on, pop became more complex. On the one hand, I like clean lines, deﬁned edges, and strong silhouettes. But within that framework, anything is possible. I try to ﬁnd a coherent style.

In Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, for example, the furniture was Italian. On the terrace, there was a turquoise piece completely rectangular and very minimalist. In the 1980s, that kind of furniture was often used in bold colours, with matching cushions. Then you place the actress sitting on it, and you start composing the image. In general, I’m quite eclectic. I like many styles, regardless of the period in which the ﬁlm takes place.

The 1950s, for example, were very rich in furniture design. Even today, you can still ﬁnd chairs and armchairs from that era in antique shops. I’m interested in everything that belongs to the pop universe. But of course, after, it all has to be mixed and depending on how you do it, the result can be entirely di erent.

Q In Pain and Glory, you used Roche Bobois furniture, didn’t you?

A Yes, of course, and also in my latest ﬁlm.

Q How do you feel about the idea that this furniture, this collaboration, will suddenly enter people’s homes, becoming part of their daily lives?

A Well, I’d love to see it. If someone decides to decorate one of their rooms with this furniture, I’d love to see who those people are living there.

Q How would you describe this collaboration?

A I believe it’s furniture you can truly live with, and there’s a very positive feeling, like a kind of joy of living in the colours and patterns we’ve used. I think that simply getting up and walking across this rug, or sitting down, will give you a certain sense of optimism. Or at least, that’s how I perceive it.

Q You once said that your interior sometimes resembles the universe of your ﬁlms. Your interior, your own house, would you say it looks like your movies or is it the other way around?

A Both. Because, for example, especially if you look at Pain and Glory, it’s my house, and you can see everything there. In other words, I live surrounded by paintings, furniture and lamps, chosen very carefully and of all the secondary elements, like wall sconces, small tables, co ee tables. All of this is essential for creating a set. At ﬁrst, I thought I would go for the serenity of a home that comes together little by little for the minimalism. But I quickly realized that as soon as I started buying furniture,

the minimalism disappeared right away. The idea of "lack" used to appeal to me (my home is very eclectic; it has many things), but of course, if I buy things, I want to place them there because I like to see them. I mean, it’s like with paintings, why keep them away? No, I want to see them. In fact, I have a new house, and I think I bought it more to decorate it than to live in it and display all the paintings I’ve been collecting over the years.

Q Are you also your own interior decorator at home?

A At home, I decorate less. It’s much more relaxing, because in my house there’s a selection of the furniture used in the ﬁlms I’ve made. Therefore, they don’t occupy the same place they had in the movie. That is to say, they’re not as harmoniously arranged as they are on screen. But for example, as soon as you enter the house, you see a Jonathan Adler table, a designer I really like. You walk in, and there it is, a Jonathan Adler table. It’s not in its ideal spot. In the ﬁlm I made, The Human Voice, it was perfectly

placed. But what I mean is that sometimes, in my house, the furniture I’ve used in ﬁlms ends up there because I bought it, but it doesn’t have the same harmony it had in the movie, since it’s not always placed in the best possible spot. So sometimes, it kind of looks like a furniture store, a boutique. When I was a child, well, between 15 and 20-years-old, I used to walk past furniture stores, past department stores, and look through the windows. I would dream of having all kinds of furniture, and I could perfectly imagine a house like that for myself. I mean, sleeping in one bed one night and in another the next. In fact, I once made a short ﬁlm for television called Trailer for a Forbidden Lover, in which the two main characters live inside a furniture store. I thought the idea was funny. Because for me, living in a furniture store, surrounded by so much furniture, maybe even too much doesn’t bother me. And I don’t feel like I’m in chaos. For someone else, I imagine it would be pure chaos.

roche-bobois.com

PHOTO BY NICO BUSTOS

CRAIG & ROSE

Etruscan Red Paint, £45 craigandrose.com

JONATHAN ADLER

Miami Flush Mount, £1,095 jonathanadler.com

BESSELINK & JONES

Flat Ring Chandelier, £2,117 besselink.com

Dip Dye Candles set of 4, £8.95 rexlondon.com

RICHARD GRAFTON

Orange Jellyﬁ sh, £109 & £73 richardgra oninteriors.com

By PENDLE HARTE

JONATHAN ADLER

Portoﬁ no Tray Set, £98 jonathanadler.com

PEUGEOT

Wooden Pepper Mill, £52.90 peugeot-saveurs.com

“The Cotswold Company excels in pieces that are both functional and timeless”

NCreate a

thoughtfully

curated summer home with The Cotswold Company

ow that summer has arrived, it’s the perfect time to breathe new life into your home. With longer days and a lighter mood, this season calls for interiors that feel fresh, welcoming and ideal for entertaining. The Cotswold Company’s latest collections do just that.

Whether you’re hosting garden-to-table dinners or simply enjoying a slower pace of life, thoughtful furniture choices can transform everyday living. The Cotswold Company excels in pieces that are both functional and timeless – from freestanding larders and kitchen islands in natural wood and painted ﬁnishes, to extendable dining tables and comfortable yet stylish chairs. This summer’s colour palette draws inspiration from the natural world, with soft whites, gentle sage greens and warm oak tones taking centre stage. The muchloved Chester collections strike a perfect balance between rustic charm and modern design. Standout pieces such as the generously sized double larder and practical butcher’s block are not only beautiful but built to last – thanks to traditional joinery techniques like mortise and tenon frames and dovetailed drawers. Complementing these hero pieces are hand-ﬁnished ceramics, rattan accessories and woven storage baskets, adding tactile interest and timeless character to your kitchen.

Versatile storage options such as the Inglesham Whitewash Oak Display Cabinet and Chester Dove Grey Glazed Dresser provide ample space for displaying beloved crockery or storing everyday essentials – making them ideal additions to both kitchen and living areas.

Of course, creating a serene bedroom retreat is just as important. Summer is the perfect time to refresh your sleep space with lighter colours, breathable textures and furniture that brings both beauty and order. The Berkeley Nordic Oak bed, with its midcentury inspired details and soft oak finish, is a standout choice for a stylish yet restful bedroom. Pair it with the Camille Limewash Oak 6 Drawer Chest, whose antique Frenchinspired details and light limewash finish bring a refined softness to the room.

house

No space is complete without those personal touches that make a house a home. The Cotswold Company has curated a charming selection of home accessories – from linen cushions and delicately scented candles to natureinspired vases – each one designed to enhance your home’s character.

accessories – from linen cushions and inspired vases – each one designed to

127 King Street, Knutsford, WA16 6EF 01565 364815; cotswoldco.com

LISA COPPIN, CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER AT THE COTSWOLD COMPANY

Bespoke Glass & Glazing

DINNER GAMES CORNILLEAU

This might not look like a billiard table – but remove the tabletop and that's what it is. French brand Cornilleau's clever outdoor games tables convert into dining tables. Ping pong a er dinner? Why not. cornilleau.com

TABLE MANNERS HABITAT

Habitat's Hania outdoor dining table and chairs are built to last in solid wood, with curved details for comfort and elegance. Waterproof cushions add to the practicality of the set. habitat.co.uk

NICE SERVE MONOWARE

Outdoor dining is all about salads, whether they're accompanying barbecued meat or acting as the main attraction. Monoware's beautiful new wooden salad servers are a stylish addition to your outdoor table. monoware.com

SUN SHADES

EAST LONDON PARASOLS

Six limited edition handmade bamboo parasols have been designed in collaboration between Celia B and East London Parasol Company. The patterns are hand drawn by Celia Bernardo, and lined with parachute fabric. eastlondonparasols.com

PRETTY THINGS

ANNA + NINA

Anna + Nina's SS25 collection ranges from playful ceramics to frilly striped cushions, all full of character and Dutch charm and designed for pretty outdoor settings. anna-nina.nl

TRAVEL

A DREAM RETREAT

THE MALDIVES

Picture this: powdery white sand beneath your feet, crystal-clear turquoise waters stretching across the horizon and the gentle lull of waves welcoming you to paradise.

Sun Siyam Iru Veli, a luxurious escape in the Maldives, offers the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. From overwater villas to world-class diving, this island retreat is where your dream getaway becomes reality. trailfinders.com

TOP OF the BILL

For a family considering a London staycation this summer, hit the beat and choose the Great Scotland Yard Hotel

By MARK KEBBLE

Tucked just o Whitehall, Great Scotland Yard Hotel blends discretely into its historic surroundings – and passing a policemounted horse just around the corner was a rather apt reminder of its past.

Upon entering through the iconic green doors, you descend a few steps into a lobby alive with Victorian- and Edwardianera artefacts – original police uniforms, sni er-dog handles in the elevator – that immediately set the tone. Being a true crime bu , I was fascinated by the mugshots on the wall, trying to picture what each of these criminals were snared for, creating my own stories in my head.

Our stay was, wonderfully, in the Sherlock Suite. You enter in the separate lounge area, o ering a comfy sofa facing a TV above a marble ﬁreplace, before venturing into the bedroom and being greeted by a four-poster king bed. The adjoining bathroom, however, is the highlight: XL-sized, with twin sinks on a marble top, spacious shower, full-size bath,

and a separate toilet (Japanese Toto model). I have never had so much fun going to loo.

The hotel’s prime spot makes this perfect for a family staycation. It is just minutes away from Big Ben, Churchill’s War Rooms, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, plus London’s iconic National Portrait Gallery. The hotel itself will delight many a history bu : originally the HQ of the Metropolitan Police, it’s where Jack the Ripper suspects were interviewed, Charles Dickens shadowed o cers here, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used it as a base for his detective tales.

The history continues in the hotel’s distinctive cocktail bar, The 40 Elephants. Paying homage to history’s most glamorous and notorious all-female crime syndicate, The 40 Elephants redeﬁnes the art of mixology with its signature female-inspired cocktails. On our visit for some nibbles and aforementioned cocktails, we were also enamoured by the hotel’s current collaboration with Emma Chapman, the award-winning jewellery designer. Drawing on old heritage traditions, her jewellery incorporates carving, engraving,

enamel, jaali and embossed work. To celebrate the partnership, the hotel has curated a dedicated cocktail in honour of the partnership, ‘Punch to Beware Of’ (Lakes the One, Palosanto, Oloroso, Menthe, Veuve Clicquot) – and it certainly did pack a punch when we tried it.

The hotel’s main spot to eat is at Ekstedt at The Yard. The flagship restaurant brings Michelin starred chef Niklas Ekstedt’s signature style of wood fired ‘old Nordic’ cooking to the UK for the very first time. Ekstedt at The Yard focuses on Scandinavian cooking techniques using the very best seasonal British ingredients; featuring a menu of signature dishes, alongside an inventive cocktail menu and extensive wine list. Prepare yourself for an immersive journey to Scandinavia. On the menu on our visit was a host of familiar ingredients, but cooked and presented in unexpected ways: Flambadou oysters and beurre blanc; Sussex Pink Fire potatoes, grilled white asparagus, Elderflower; Juniper smoked lobster, fennel, fire cooked vegetable foam; Hay smoked lamb, sea buckthorn, mint;

Bay leaf ice cream, fermented strawberries, honey mead; and Cep mushroom sou e, woodru ice cream, blueberries. It was, indeed, quite the experience.

Despite the hotel’s location in the heart of London, it is remarkably quiet and the four-poster bed was a welcome retreat after an evening of indulgence. We only had a

one-night stay, so didn’t have a chance to sample the hotel’s afternoon tea, but do look out for their Tea Chronicles: The Royal Interlude for summer – ﬁt for royalty, and steeped in intrigue. Set in The Parlour, the new afternoon tea is paired with Lavazza and features a celebration of timeless elegance and royal fascinations paying tribute to the British royal family.

For anyone looking for a UK break this summer in the capital in an iconic building, you can’t go far wrong with the Great Scotland Yard Hotel. We’d be quite happy for them to lock us up and throw away the key.

The Family Package starts from £550 per night. Find out more at hyatt.com/unboundcollection/en-US/lhrub-great-scotland-yard

HERE AND ABOVE, THE SHERLOCK SUITE

FUN IN THE SUN

Why Lyons Holiday Parks should be your goto UK destination this summer

If you’re planning the ultimate staycation this summer, one name should be at the top of your list: Lyons Holiday Parks. With 20 stunning locations across North Wales and Cumbria, Lyons o ers a truly unforgettable UK holiday experience for every type of traveller. From action-packed family fun to peaceful countryside escapes, dog-friendly stays to luxury hot tub retreats, Lyons Holiday Parks really does have something for everyone. This year, Lyons has been nominated for the 2025 British Travel Awards, which would be a welcome addition to the awards received in 2024 for Best UK Parks and Lodges Holidays, UK Family Holidays, and UK Short Breaks. These accolades are a true testament to the quality, care, and commitment Lyons brings to every guest experience.

HOLIDAYS THAT FEEL LIKE HOME — AND THEN SOME

Whether you’re heading o with toddlers, teens, or grandparents, Lyons makes every guest feel right at home. In fact, many of their parks o er dog-friendly accommodation, so no one in the family has to miss out. It’s more than just a holiday; it’s a chance to relax, reconnect, and make memories together in a setting that feels personal, welcoming, and built for comfort.

A PARK FOR EVERY KIND OF GETAWAY

From the majestic peaks of Snowdonia to

the sun-soaked sands of Talacre, Barmouth, Prestatyn, and Rhyl, every Lyons park is set in a carefully chosen location. Love walking, wildlife, and stargazing? Head to the Lake District or St Asaph. Want to be minutes from the beach? Lido Beach, Robin Hood, and Sunnysands are made for you. Each park o ers a di erent vibe, but the same core values run through them all: warm hospitality, outstanding facilities, and unforgettable experiences.

FULL-ON FAMILY FUN

For families looking for a break that’s full of fun and excitement, Lyons Holiday Parks are packed with entertainment. With kids’ clubs, swimming pools, arcades, themed nights, and live shows, every day is an

opportunity to create magical moments together. Whether your little ones want to make new friends or you’re planning a multi-generational holiday, these parks provide something for all ages –without ever having to leave the site. Plus, many parks are just a short distance from popular family attractions, including Zip World, Llandudno Pier, Conwy Castle, and countless beaches, walks, and wildlife parks.

RELAX, RECHARGE, AND RECONNECT

For those in search of something more serene, Lyons o ers an impressive range of luxury hot tub lodges and tranquil park settings. Whether it’s a romantic retreat, a special birthday weekend, or simply a break from the busy everyday, these peaceful escapes are ideal for slowing down. Imagine mornings with co ee on the deck, afternoons exploring the local countryside, and evenings spent soaking in your private hot tub under the stars. It’s comfort, calm, and complete relaxation.

ACCOMMODATION FOR ALL STYLES AND BUDGETS

One of the reasons Lyons has become a household name is its wide variety of accommodation. Whether you’re looking for a ordable static caravans, dog-friendly lodges, cosy cottages, touring and camping pitches, or even a 5-star resort-style experience, Lyons delivers comfort and ﬂexibility for every kind of traveller. Every stay includes access to excellent facilities and a team that truly cares about your holiday. lyonsholidayparks.co.uk

THE PARKGATE CLUBHOUSE IS A UNIQUELY CHARMING WEDDING AND EVENTS VENUE, OFFERING A PICTURESQUE SETTING FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS YEAR-ROUND.

From weddings to parties, conferences and even our 1 day music festival ‘Sunset Sounds’, it provides a versatile space with a touch of elegance, making every event truly memorable and special.

Just over the border from Cheshire, nestled in the rolling hills of Flintshire, Maes Mynan Park o ers an idyllic setting for holiday home ownership. Surrounded by open countryside, specimen trees and tranquil woodland, it’s a hidden gem that shines in summer – where relaxation, privacy and outdoor living go hand in hand.

AT ONE WITH NATURE

“Maes Mynan Park is more than just a beautiful location: it's a lifestyle investment”

At the heart of the park’s appeal are the peaceful circular walks that wind through wildﬂower paths and stunning Sequoia woodland. Whether it’s a gentle morning stroll or a longer ramble, homeowners can link into quiet country lanes, O a’s Dyke and the Clwydian Range – without ever needing to get in the car.

Maes Mynan Park is more than just a beautiful location – it’s a lifestyle investment. Holiday homes here o er generous plot sizes, panoramic views and all the beneﬁts of peace and privacy, with the freedom to unwind at your own pace. Whether you’re sipping your morning co ee on the deck, watching dragonﬂies skim the water, or soaking in a golden summer sunset through the trees, every moment feels like a retreat from the everyday.

Beyond the park, summer in North Wales is bursting with opportunity. From artisan fairs and food festivals to

garden open days, country shows and live music, there’s a thriving seasonal calendar to dip into. A little further aﬁeld, historic towns like Conwy, Ruthin and Caerwys o er charm and character in abundance, while Llandudno’s Victorian promenade and the forests of Betws-yCoed provide perfect day-out destinations.

But the true magic of Maes Mynan Park lies in its sense of space, stillness and belonging. It’s a place where wellbeing comes naturally – where weekends feel like holidays and holidays feel like coming home.

If you’re looking for the perfect blend of comfort, countryside and connection to nature – within easy reach of Cheshire – Maes Mynan Park o ers a summer lifestyle that lasts all year round.

Maes Mynan Park, Afonwen, CH7 5FL 01352 720808 acornleisure.com

Ajourney on the Rocky Mountaineer is more than just a train ride – it’s an unforgettable passage through some of the most breathtaking landscapes Western Canada has to o er. With several incredible rail routes to choose from, this luxury train experience takes you deep into the heart of the region, o ering awe-inspiring views, impeccable service, and a journey like no other.

Travelling on Rocky Mountaineer allows you to follow in the tracks of the great explorers, weaving through mountain passes, lush forests, and sparkling rivers. The journey begins in Vancouver, a vibrant city perched on the Paciﬁc Coast, and extends to one of three stunning destinations: Jasper, Ban , or Lake Louise. Each route provides passengers with an unparalleled view of Western Canada’s diverse geography, from towering peaks to expansive valleys, all while experiencing the reﬁned comforts of luxury rail travel.

Journey of

Rocky Mountaineer: a rail trip like no other

THE ULTIMATE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE

Rocky Mountaineer o ers two exceptional levels of service: SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf. SilverLeaf Service provides a single-level glass-dome coach, allowing guests panoramic views of the landscapes. An outdoor viewing area o ers the chance to take in the crisp mountain air while enjoying delicious, chef-prepared meals served at your seat.

GoldLeaf Service elevates the experience further with bi-level glass-dome coaches, providing an even more immersive vantage point. GoldLeaf guests also enjoy a spacious outdoor viewing platform and gourmet dining in an exclusive lower-level dining room – an indulgent experience.

For those seeking the ultimate adventure, pairing Rocky Mountaineer with an Alaska cruise creates a journey unlike any other. This introduces travellers to two contrasting yet equally spectacular landscapes –Canada’s rugged mountains and rivers, and Alaska’s dramatic coastal scenery.

On board Rocky Mountaineer, you’ll travel through parts of Western Canada that remain mostly untouched by humans. The experience is a deep dive into nature, moving e ortlessly through landscapes where civilization feels far away. Meanwhile, an Alaska cruise o ers the chance to explore hidden bays, glaciers, and inlets that are accessible only by ship. One of the highlights of an Alaska cruise is sailing through the UNESCO-listed Inside Passage, an area renowned for its dramatic scenery and rich marine life.

A Rocky Mountaineer journey o ers a one-of-a-kind adventure that elevates any travel experience, and Canada Travel Specialists are here to make it happen. Their team are experts in crafting tailor-made itineraries, ensuring that your Canadian and Alaskan adventure is everything you imagined – and more. So why not take the leap and embark on a journey that blends luxury, nature, and pure wonder?

canadatravelspecialists.com

OPEN DAY

Booking Essential 20 September 2025

SELF

10.00am - 12.30pm

SUSTAINABILITY SERVICE

At Abbey Gate College, your child won’t just be educated – they’ll be inspired.

We are a school that celebrates individuality, nurtures conﬁdence, and sparks curiosity. Our dedicated staff take the time to truly understand each pupil – their passions, strengths and potential

and help them ﬂourish both in and out of the classroom.

We also challenge our pupils to try new things, step outside their comfort zones and discover what they’re really capable of – with creativity, courage and compassion.

These formative years matter, and at Abbey Gate College, we make them count. To ﬁnd out more, scan the QR code or get in touch – we’d love to show you what makes our school so special.

PITCH PERFECT

The

Queen’s School kicks o a new sporting era

The Queen’s School, Chester, is set to unveil a state-of-the-art, astroturf facility this summer, ushering in a new era for both the school and community sports. With a strong focus on hockey, the new pitch, located on the school’s former playing ﬁelds below the historic Roman Walls, will provide students access to professional-grade facilities. It will also serve as a valuable resource for local clubs and teams, enhancing grassroots participation and sporting opportunities throughout the region. This major investment reﬂects the school’s ongoing commitment to sport and PE. The Queen’s School has a proud history of sporting excellence, particularly in hockey, having reached the Tier Two National Finals for three consecutive years and competed at the Indoor National Finals. It also supports girls playing at club, county, and national levels. This new facility will elevate that legacy by o ering a professional-grade training environment where all students can develop their

skills and compete at the highest level.

The Queen’s hockey coaching team brings exceptional expertise to the ﬁeld. PE teacher and specialist coach Martine Green has represented England at University and U21 levels, competed in national league hockey both indoor and out, and earned a World Cup medal with the England over-40s Masters team. She has coached Queen’s teams to national ﬁnals across U13, U14 and U16 levels. Alongside her, Craig Falconer brings 43 senior caps for Scotland, having played at U16 through to senior level. A four-time winner of the Scottish indoor league and cup, Craig also spent seven seasons in the English Premier League and is currently training for the Nations Cup in Oman. Together, they o er elitelevel coaching that continues to raise the standard of hockey at Queen’s and beyond.

The impact of this new facility extends far beyond the school itself. Through a Community Use Agreement, The Queen’s School will open the pitch to local sports clubs and teams, providing access to a top-tier facility that will help nurture young talent and boost local sporting participation. This initiative is

set to raise the standard of local sport and help shape the next generation of athletes within the wider community.

Martine Green says: “This new astroturf facility will completely transform the way we train and compete. Having access to a surface of this quality means we can replicate match conditions during practice, which is vital for player development. It also gives us the scope to expand our ﬁxtures list, host more events and raise the overall standard of sport across the school and, most excitingly, the community as well.”

Built with high-performance Tiger Turf, the same elite-grade surface used by England Hockey at its national training base in Nottingham, the pitch o ers exceptional quality, durability, and playability. Floodlighting enables year-round use, providing students with consistent access to a professionalstandard surface in optimal conditions.

With existing high-quality facilities including tennis and netball courts, a sports hall, and a ﬁtness studio, The Queen’s School continues to set the standard for sporting excellence. The new astroturf pitch marks a major milestone, creating fresh

opportunities for students and reinforcing the school’s reputation as a centre of academic and athletic achievement.

Headmistress Joanne Keville adds: “Sport plays a vital role in life at Queen’s, and our students have consistently achieved exceptional success in sports such as netball, recently winning the regional ﬁnals, and hockey. This new astroturf facility will give all students the space, surface and support they need to keep progressing both individually and as teams. It marks an exciting step forward in our ongoing commitment to nurturing talent and promoting the value of sport within education.”

The works are expected to be completed by the summer of 2025, and the astroturf facility will be ready for use at the beginning of the 2025/26 academic year.

THE QUEEN'S SCHOOL

City Walls Road, Chester CH1 2NN 01244 312078

thequeensschool.co.uk

Where every pupil creates their own story

BOARDING FROM AGE 7 TO 18 FULL, WEEKLY OR FLEXI OPTIONS AVAILABLE A WELCOMING HOME-FROMHOME FOR PUPILS TO GROW, ASPIRE AND ACHIEVE WE OFFER A SPRINGBOARD FOR INDEPENDENCE, FRIENDSHIP AND OPPORTUNITY

Boarding at Framlingham: Where Individual Stories Begin

Boarding at Framlingham offers stability, continuity, and a welcoming home away-fromhome environment . We understand the unique challenges of being away from home life and provide tailored flexibility to suit your needs. From age 7 (Year 3) to 18 (Year 13) , our boarding provision provides a vibrant, supportive environment where pupils can grow, thrive, achieve and aspire.

START YOUR CHILD’S JOURNEY TODAY

Contact our Admissions team to arrange an initial online meeting. Visit framlinghamcollege.co.uk, contact admissions@framlinghamcollege.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1728 723789.

TRANSCENDING BARRIERS

Scholarships for Sport and Outdoor Learning: rewarding achievement outside traditional academics

By ANDY RUSSELL

What is the purpose of a scholarship?

Many may question the motivation behind scholarships o ered by private education providers and universities, with cynics concluding that they do little more than provide a mechanism for a deal-closing discount. It’s true that scholarship schemes may indeed positively tip the balance of a ordability for some families, but there is more value to a scholarship than can be recorded on an accountant’s spreadsheet. These days, scholarships do not need to be aimed solely at the academically elite, but can be a reward for more holistic e orts and achievements by individuals.

At St David’s College in Llandudno, we have just launched our 60th Anniversary Excellence Scholarships, which will provide 60 scholarship opportunities over a ﬁve-year period for – yes – academic accomplishment, but additionally in recognition of sporting

achievement, leadership in outdoor education and overcoming barriers to learning, amongst other categories. Scholarships are meant to celebrate and reward the extraordinary, and it’s imperative to recognise that excellence takes many forms. Excellence is seen in the pupil who works hard to achieve academically when faced with the challenge of dyslexia; it’s seen in the pupil who is the ﬁrst to volunteer for extra-curricular activities and as a result galvanises the pupil community; it’s seen in the footballing sensation who puts in so many hours of dedicated practice to hone their ﬁtness and skills to compete at the highest level.

St David’s College has long recognised these extraordinary traits in our pupils, which is why we have remained a nonselective school that o ers mainstream education alongside an exceptional range of other activities essential to the pursuit of a whole-person education: award-winning outdoor activities, sport, performing arts, music, design & technology, to name a

few. The school embraces pupils with barriers to learning such as dyslexia and dyscalculia, and provides expert support to ensure that they are taught in a way that best suits their style of learning.

At the heart of this ethos lies outdoor education and sport. Whether it’s heading o into the mountains for orienteering, battling the high seas in a kayak or braving the elements to do battle on the rugby pitch, pupils return from these activities buoyed with the conﬁdence and joie de vivre which few other pursuits could instill in them. They have often achieved something that they feared they could not – standing up on a paddleboard, steering a powerboat safely onto its mooring, facing an opposing team on the sports pitch – and emerged stronger on the other side, discovering en-route the natural euphoria that physical activity engenders.

These are achievements that both support and transcend the academic, and if a school can use scholarships to both reward these individuals for their own achievements, and at the same time strengthen and invigorate a school community that values these traits and beneﬁts, then – to return to the original question – the purpose of such a scholarship does not lie in the measurable, but in the immeasurable.

Andy Russell is the Headmaster of St David’s College, Llandudno. Find out more by visiting their website at stdavidscollege.co.uk

HEAD ANDY RUSSELL

why everyone is talking about…

Tilly’s Bunbury

The neighbourhood cafe has won more awards, less than a year since being taken by new owners

Tilly’s Bunbury has been awarded the SME Enterprise Award for Village Cafe & Co ee Shop of the Year 2025 – Cheshire | Local, as well as the Produce Excellence Award 2025. It’s just the latest accolades for this local favourite.

In September 2024, Paula Robinson swapped her role as Digital Marketing Operations Director to get more involved with Bunbury as a community as both she and husband Andrew also lived in the area – and the result was breathing new life into Tilly’s.

Just eight months after taking over the beloved village café, Paula and the team are proud to receive this second award (after landing a small business award launched by MP Aphra Brandreth) – a true testament to the dedication, passion, and heart that their team pours into every cup of co ee, slice of cake, and community event.

This recognition reﬂects the journey they’ve been on: from listening to your feedback and learning every step of the way, to refurbishing the café into a welcoming, cosy space to enjoy co ee, brunch, lunch, and a growing calendar of evening events.

As local residents themselves, their goal has always been to support local suppliers, showcase home-cooked food and cakes, and create a space that feels like home for locals and visitors alike.

But they are more than just a café. Tilly’s is a hub of creativity, connection, and community giving. They have hosted art workshops and live music events, and they're proud to bring talented artists and musicians together and give back to causes that matter. There’s also their funﬁlled quiz nights – where your generosity has helped raise a total of £1,350 for Shine Bright Cancer Charity and Grass Roots Suicide Awareness Charity.

The food and welcome, though, is extra special. From freshly brewed co ee to indulgent homemade cakes, plus brunch, lunch, and daily specials – there’s something for everyone. Their USP is fresh home-cooked food to order using as many local businesses and producers, such as Peckforton Milk, Cheshire Farm ice cream, Lost Barn co ee roasters, Good Cheese company at Rose Farm, and Weetwood Ales, to name just a few. What’s next for Tilly’s? It seems they are just getting started. They have exciting plans ahead, so here’s to more laughter, lattes, and local love.

tillysbunbury.co.uk