MARCH 2019 s ISSUE 062
Mister Loophole We get all legal with Nick Freeman
RACE READY
First
CLASS
Thriller We meet the new ‘Girl on the train’
Chester
His and her style for the Chester May Festival
“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.”
publisher’s
letter N
ow that Mother Nature has tempted us with her ‘Fools Spring’ I’m sure we are in for a brutal shock when Winter finally arrives, so why not get comfy with a drink of your choosing and enjoy this month’s jam-packed read. We look to celebrate a Day at the Races’ (p. 39) in seasonal his and her style trends in our on-location shoot (p. 56) for the upcoming May Festival at Chester Racecourse. In house petrol head James takes the new Lexus LC (p. 74) for a spin, while our roving travel reporter Sarah enjoys a luxury Maldivian break (p. 82) sampling what the white sand bejewelled atolls of the Indian ocean have to offer. Natalie Anglesey chats with Samantha Womack about her career (p. 4), from Walford to the big stage and her latest role in ‘Girl on the Train’. Francesca Grace investigates the key trends for our homes and interiors (p. 123), from seasonal spring pieces for your home to gorgeous new paint and wallpaper to adorn your walls. We also
meander around some of the hottest properties (p. 149) available to buy in Cheshire. With Mothers Day on Sunday 31st March this year, we experience some indulgent ways to spoil your mum, grandma, step-mum, future mum or the mum-like figure in your life (p.113) with our very own mums. You can also find inspiration in our news pages, from watches, jewellery (p. 47) and fashion (p. 51) to health, beauty (p. 66) travel (p. 79) and finally not forgetting food (p. 93) and family (p. 109) which features some of our favourite pet accessories for our four-legged friends. So here’s to a spring season of new growth and inspiration... Enjoy!
Scott Illingworth-Harrison Publisher
PROUD TO
PARTNER
FOLLOW US @thecheshiremagazine @TheCheshireMagazine @TheCheshireMag
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First Class THRILLER Samantha Womack chats to Natalie Anglesey about her latest role as ‘The Girl on the Train’ and life before and after the streets of Walford.
T
he career of glamorous Samantha Womack has run the gamut from pop-princess to soap-star. Along the way, she’s been seen in leading roles in numerous television series, as well as winning praise for her performances in musical theatre. She’s also gained accolades for her ability to play both comedy and drama - although now, she tells me, she’s facing the biggest challenge of her career! “I’m playing the title role of The Girl on the Train, a stage adaptation of the internationally acclaimed, best-selling novel by Paula Hawkins which sold over twenty million copies,” Sam explains. “It was made into a film starring Emily Blunt- although they moved the location to America. As I’m a huge fan of thrillers and I’d loved the book, which has been adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel, I thought it was about time I faced a challenge. “It’s directed by Anthony Banks, who already has a reputation for directing thrillers, and it’s been relocated back to this country. It appealed to me because when I used to get the train to and from Manchester when I worked there, I’d look out of the window and make up stories about the people I saw. I think most of us, just like the girl on a train, have wondered about the lives of the people we see - so I relate to her in that way.” Director Banks impresses: “This thriller has even more twists and turns than I’ve ever had to juggle before. It’s a crime drama that takes place across a
“My children are my harshest critics ”
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week, each day they get closer to finding out who the guilty party is and all the evidence is about images and identity.” Sam adds wryly: “I must admit, when I’d accepted the role, I didn’t realise I’d be on the stage the whole time and have over 70 pages of dialogue to learn. For an actor that’s like playing Hamlet. I never shut up!” As we chat before opening night of the tour, I wondered how rehearsals were going and Sam confesses: “Well the character I play is a broken woman who is an alcoholic. But this is such a gripping thriller because she regularly sees what appears to be a perfectly happy couple. However, when the wife Megan appears to disappear, she decides to get off the train and investigate - with terrifying consequences. Rehearsals have been
The CHESHIRE Magazine | Feature
“I didn’t realise I’d be on the stage the whole time and have over 70 pages of dialogue to learn” quite intense for me - but children are great levellers and I’ve been so lucky to have my daughter with me, who is studying her GCSE curriculum online, so she keeps me sane!“ I first met Brighton- born Sam when she was playing Morticia Addams, fresh from leaving BBC1’s EastEnders after nearly nine years, with a break in between, playing Ronnie Mitchell and winning several awards. “I loved my time on EastEnders and although it was the right time for me to leave, I was sorry to leave all my friends there. We’d laughed together, cried together, been through weddings and funerals together so it was sad to say goodbye. But my children had never seen me on stage and they did come to the Addams Family. “When I was young I was such a fan of the Addams Family I used to run home from school to watch the black and white television series and I jumped at the chance to play Morticia,” Sam laughs. “However, trying to glide across the stage in a tight dress with a long, black wig and remain quite still was surprisingly difficult. “My children are my harshest critics but thankfully my daughter, Lily-Rose, who loves creative writing, enjoyed it. While my
teenage son Ben shocked me by saying he was proud of me. I remember when he was little he would wind my hair around his little fat fingers and now he’s 6 feet 4 inches tall and about to leave school! I’m dreading going through the empty - nest syndrome. But I’ve tempted him, when this tour has finished, with a last holiday together in America because he loves American football.“ Although Sam’s been concentrating on her stage career, we recently saw her in a double episode of Silent Witness as a predatory police investigator. “I enjoyed being back at the BBC and my BBC pass was still functioning! I also loved playing such a double-sided character but she’s not a long-running character- that was just a one-off. However, I have the greatest admiration for Emilia Fox who is so lovely and strong in the leading female role with amazing attention to detail.”
Although home for Sam is in the south, in Bedfordshire, she knows Manchester and ex-Corrie actress Sally Lindsay particularly well as she appeared as Tanya Porter in Sally’s Sky One popular television series, Mount Pleasant. “That was such an enjoyable thing to do over a four year period and Manchester is so full of lovely restaurants and bars. We unofficially made the Malmaison Hotel our headquarters and we would retire there at the end of each day’s filming to unwind! “ On film Sam recently reprised her role as Michelle Unwin, Taron Egerton’s mother in both Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingsman: The Golden Circle movies. Although fans got a shock at the premiere when they saw that she’d
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RACE READY
CHESTER
in association with
Chester Racecourse
& Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet 56
The CHESHIRE Magazine | Style LEFT: Belstaff Jacket, £386 (RRP £595) Gant Jumper, £49 (RRP £135) Gant Belt, £39 (RRP £85) Hobbs Jeans, £49 (RRP £75) Kurt Geiger Boots, £79 (RRP £139)
RIGHT:
LO C AT I O N : M A N O R H O U S E S TA B L E S
Belstaff Shirt, £90 (RRP £150) Belstaff Gilet, £117 (RRP £195) Hackett Chinos, £80 (RRP £125) Belstaff Boots, £199 (RRP £325)
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Drive | The CHESHIRE Magazine
SCI-FI STYLE Hybrids are cool again, and none more so than Lexus’ gorgeous new LC
T
he ninjas of ancient Japan practically invented the element of surprise. Their mastery of stealth and disguise allowed them to ghost into enemy territory, then attack with vicious savagery and lethal efficiency. They were like the SAS, only better. This month, though, I think I’ve found something equal to their talents, and it comes perhaps unsurprisingly - from Japan. It’s called the Lexus LC, and it’s a huge luxury coupe that sits somewhere between the Porsche 911 and the Aston Martin DB11 in the sports car hierarchy. It’s more thrusting and wafty than the Porsche, but cheaper and less opulent than the Aston. And it’s more futuristic than both, because it’s available as a hybrid. I know what you’re thinking, but bear with me on this. Once upon a time, hybrids were bought by virtue signallers of the highest calibre, with celebrities flocking to the Toyota Prius like popstars to an African orphanage. It told the world they cared about the plight of the polar bear - just not enough to take the train. Fast-forward 20 years, though, and the pursuit of speed has made hybrids cool. F1 cars are hybrids these days, and so too are some of the world’s fastest supercars.
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Travel | The CHESHIRE Magazine
SEAS for all
Seasons Sarah Irlam heads to the Maldives for some winter sunshine and plenty of adventure
I
t’s wet, cold and windy in the UK in December. I’m aware that this is stating the obvious, however like so many, I long for some winter sun to get me through these months until spring pokes out its sprightly head. So this year instead of powering through, I find myself at Gatwick Airport, about to board a 10-hour non-stop BA flight to Malé, in the Maldives. Everyone needs to go to the Maldives once in their lifetime. Nowhere else does the desertisland idyll quite so well. Whether it’s the crystal-clear turquoise seas, the blindingly white sandy beaches or the palm trees swaying the in the gentle breeze, it really is the place to fly and flop. Made up of around 1,190 individual islands peppered across the Indian Ocean, it sits just below India and Sri Lanka, and has a year-round tropical climate. My exact destination? Sheraton Maldives Full
Moon Resort & Spa. Having been greeted at the airport by our driver and also villa host, Asad, it’s just a 10-minute speedboat to the five-star hotel. And given the last mode of transport, I feel quite the female equivalent of James Bond already. Impressively, check in is completed on board the boat, meaning that I don’t have any of the hassle of waiting at reception. I’m also given a cold towel,
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The CHESHIRE Magazine | Travel
which is well-received with the mercury averaging 26 degrees. The plummeting temperatures in the UK already seem a distant memory away. The resort is nestled among lush greenery, palm trees and a lagoon, and is every bit the ultimate island retreat I had envisaged. I sip on a refreshing coconut cocktail as I soak up my surroundings, and then the luxury continues as I’m driven to my villa by golf buggy, happily counting all of the novel transportation needed to reach my end destination. I have a pinch-me moment when I see where I’ll be calling my home-from-home for the next four nights: the accommodation is spacious and furnished in a tropical Maldivian style, and there’s a nice personal touch, with ‘Welcome to the Maldives’ written in flowers on the bed; not to mention the fact that I have my very own private pool. Upon my explorations, I also spot fresh fruit and mini desserts on the table but decide not to ruin my appetite. It’s certainly a good job I don’t, as at
lunchtime I’m treated to a very special meal. Taken to the beach by buggy – it’s now my favourite way to travel – I’m wowed when I see that a picnic-style table has been put out in the sea for me. Served with a glass of Champagne on arrival, I dip my toes in the water and savour the meal which includes a starter of grilled halloumi with prawns and watermelon salad, followed by a passion fruit sorbet with apple caviar as a palate cleanser. The main course of tiger prawns, tuna steak and fish fillet is an extraordinary amount even without the accompanying grilled vegetables and sumptuous baked potato with saffron cream sauce and garlic butter, but I manage to happily scoff everything nonetheless. Despite all this indulgence, I’m still able to find room for a
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Local scene Our social pages this month are filled with fizz, fundraising and a whole lot of style
ADVERT DREW COCKTON, RACHEL O’HARE, MIKE SKEGGS
ELLE FOR ELLE AMBASSADOR JUDE CISSE
GUEST SPEAKER ANDREA CRUMP WITH FOUNDERS RACHEL AND LYNETTE
Elle For Elle ‘Galantines’ Lunch
LYNETTE PAGE-COLLIN, JUDE CISSE, RACHEL O’HARE
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LEANNE DAVIS AND FRIEND JOINING IN WITH HEADS AND TAILS
PHOTOGRSAPHY: ROB HUNTER PHOTOGRAPHY
VICTORIA WHITAKER, RACHEL O’HARE, LYNETTE PAGE-COLLIN AND GUESTS
Victors, Alderley Edge Elle for Elle women’s foundation hosted a lunch for over 100 guests at the stunning venue Victors Alderley Edge in aid of vulnerable women and children residing in UK refuges. BBC relationship Love coach, Andrea Crump gave an insight into love and relationships as a guest speaker along with support from Nails Inc and Owen Drew candles. The grand total raised on the day was over £5k going directly to the women and children that need it the mo www.elleforelle.org.uk
The CHESHIRE Magazine | Regulars
Fashion designer Matthew O’Brien hosts Luxury Indulgence Evening 16 Eastgate Row, Chester Award winning Fashion designer Matthew O’Brien hosted a Luxury Indulgence Evening to showcase his stunning Spring/Summer 2019 collection in his flagship showroom on the Rows in Chester. The exclusive event was attended by a number of loyal and new clients who enjoyed delicious fizz and canapés by Bar Lounge. They had the opportunity to browse Matthew’s beautiful new Spring/Summer 2019 ready to wear collection and enjoy a fashion show which showcased his stunning collection of both men and womenswear. The luxury evening was held in partnership with Elite Travel, City Aesthetics, Philip Hughes hairdressing and Clogau Jewellery and raised money for the Lady Taverner’s charity, chaired by Karen Metcalfe. Amongst the guests, was a client who had recently chosen Matthew O’Brien to dress her for the Oscars ceremony, and she showcased her stunning dress on the catwalk. www.mattobrien.co.uk
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BUSINESS MAG invests £1 billion into Manchester Airport
Passenger numbers reach record levels
Manchester Airport Group aims high with its latest expansion plans at MAN
BY JOE WORHTINGTON
M
anchester Airport Group (MAG), the owner of Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports and headquartered at Manchester Airport employs almost 38,000 people across the UK, 19,000 at Manchester alone. Over 58 million passengers passed through the three airports last year, and the combined airports serve over 390
destinations around the world. As the largest and most important airport for the north, MAG is undertaking a £1 billion transformation programme at Manchester Airport including a 150% expansion of Terminal 2, increased overnight parking spaces to 59, a new pier set to open in April and two more piers opening in 2022 and 2024. Terminal 1 will be decommissioned in the coming years. A new private terminal, ‘PremiAir’, is opening in the middle of this year. Operated by MAG, the small terminal will be located to the north of Runway 1 and will offer a more private and relaxing passenger experience – no private jet required! MAG is aiming to the skies with its expansion plans at Manchester, and with an ever-increasing catchment area encompassing over 22 million potential passengers living within a 2-hour drive of the airport, and new direct flights to Guangzhou, Delhi and Shanghai in the offing for the next two years, the Manchester Airport Transformation Programme aims to bring the technical runway capacity of 55 million passengers into reality.
BUSINESS BRIEF POST-MONARCH
NORTHERN HUB
AN IMPORTANT
COLLAPSE SEES
AS THE LARGEST
EAST-WEST
ROUTE EXPANSION
DOUBLE-RUNWAY
AND UK-EUROPE
FROM EASYJET,
AIRPORT OUTSIDE
FEEDER AIRPORT
RYANAIR, JET2.COM
OF LONDON,
AND THOMAS COOK AT MANCHESTER
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£1 BILLION
TRANSFORMATION
FUTURE, WITH T2
28.5 MILLION
EXPANDING BY 150%
PROJECT
PASSENGERS
AND OVERNIGHT
EXPECTED IN
MANCHESTER
PARKING CAPACITY
MANCHESTER
FOR FLYBE
AIRPORT IS
BEING EXPANDED
AIRPORT IN THE
MANCHESTER
AND VIRGIN
SPENDING £1
TO HOLD 59
FINANCIAL YEAR
AIRPORT IS
ATLANTIC
BILLION ON THE
AIRCRAFT
ENDING EARLY APRIL
breakdown M AG LO O K S E A S T FO R I N CR E A SE D PA SSE N G E R N U M B E R S Hainan Airlines launched the only direct flight to Beijing outside of London in summer 2017 and Jet Airways opened a route to Mumbai in November last year. MAG is bidding for direct flights to Hangzhou, Delhi and Shanghai for the coming years.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS MANCHESTER AIRPORT IS FOCUSING ON MORE THAN JUST A I R P O R T E X PA N S I O N , M A G I S C O M M I T T E D T O E N H A N C I N G T H E PA S S E N G E R E X P E R I E N C E T H R O U G H I T S N E W P R I VAT E T E R M I N A L
‘P MAG is an important contributor to Greater Manchester council budgets
T
he public-private ownership structure of MAG, unique in the UK’s aviation sector, means that the local councils of Greater Manchester – Manchester, Salford, Oldham, Wigan, Thameside, Rochdale, Trafford, Stockport, Tameside and Bolton – benefit from increased passenger footfall and profits at the group’s three airports. In the 2017-18 financial year, MAG reported an operating profit of £217.1m, a 4.4% increase on the previous year. This increased profit can largely be attributed to an increase in passenger numbers to 58.9m across the three airports, and total revenue increasing by 9.8% to £814.3m. A combined dividend of £71.4m was shared between the 10 councils who own two-thirds of the airport group last year, with the remaining £39.3m going to IFM Investors, an Australian investment fund which owns a third of MAG.
remiAir’, the name for the private terminal that is set to open north of Runway 1 at Manchester Airport later this year, will bring a more bespoke and exclusive passenger experience within reach of all passengers. The small terminal experience will offer a more luxurious place for departing and arriving passengers to wait, a step up from the premium lounges inside the main terminals. MAG is hoping to attract passengers to the private terminal with promises of uninterrupted runway views, menus using the finest local produce, private security screening and a personalised service. Passengers are also being offered luxury transfers to and from the aircraft. For departing passengers, the priority package will include access to the private
terminal lounge, complimentary food and drinks and a transfer to the aircraft. Arriving passengers who choose the PremiAir experience will be greeted at the aircraft, fast tracked through passport control, and lounge access in the private terminal whilst awaiting their luggage. The terminal will be open to passengers travelling to any destination, on any airline, and in any travel class. The prices have not yet been set but prices are likely to start at £50 each time passengers use the new terminal. The PremiAir experience will bring Manchester in line with Heathrow and Dublin airports, although their private terminals are only open to passengers travelling in specific classes on certain airlines. There are also plans to introduce similar terminal experiences at Stansted and East Midlands in the future.
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Home & Garden News FINISHING TOUCHES
latest news, and trends from the world interior AD EXCESTISThe MAIOvery BERIBUSCIM VOLUMadvice ACCABOR MOD ET ACCULLUPTUS ET UTof QUAS UNTIOdesign EXCERERFERUM VELECTIOS MOLORE CORUM VOLUPTI AUT INVEL IUS APELIGNITIIS INIS NON CONEM IL IPSAM, CUPTATE MPELLOREMPOS WORDS: FRANCESCA LEE-ROGERS EST UT ET RE RE, SAM LAUT QUUNTIOS MOD MAIO. ITAE QUISTOT ATEMPOR EHENDIT EIUNT
Embracing the
EVOLUTION
F
arrow & Ball has revealed two of its must-have colours to update your home in 2019: De Nimes and Sulking Room Pink. Joa Studholme, colour curator, says the former “is ultimately fashionable but always feels grounded. A complex blue, it is perfect for those who are wary of moving into a world of colour because it still has a familiar underlying grey tone which is more visibly apparent in spaces with low light.” The latter meanwhile she describes as “the colour that we have all been looking for. An intriguing mix that sates our desire for both grey and pink. It feels both down to earth as well as a little romantic.” Both herald the trend to move away from neutral shades in favour of introducing bolder tones. www.farrow-ball.com
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Homes and Interiors
Fancy Flora
A SPRING IN HER STEP Jacqueline Milton has added to her fabrics with a new collection called Melbury Lane. The Honeysuckle pattern in saffron stands out in particular as it’s perfect for this time of year. She says of her inspiration: “I love how honeysuckle fills the gaps in the hedgerow. As you walk along the lanes the scent is amazing, especially on a warm summer’s evening. I enjoy adding insects to my designs and if you look very closely, you will see I have painted some ladybirds along the stems.” £52 per m, www. jacquelinemilton.co.uk
This spring, why not brighten up your home with a bunch of blooms from Serenata Flowers? Arranged by floral artists and hand-delivered, they’re perfect for adding that seasonal touch to any home. What’s more, if you’ve not yet thought about Mother’s Day on 31 March, they make for a perfect gift. www.serenataflowers.com
Best of British
Making Waves Danish icon of sound and design, Bang & Olufsen, has released the latest additions to the Piano Black collection in the form of the Beovision Eclipse and Beolab 50. Known for its craftsmanship, introducing this new colour tone brings a touch of boldness, glamour and mystery to these high-end television and sound systems. www.bang-olufsen.com
Sir Gordon Bennett is an online shop that purveys Great British products. The brainchild of Neil Elliot and Dan Colagiovanni, its mission is to be a destination for those that want to buy British and gift something a little more special than the usual humdrum presents. All products have British provenance, and the retailer has started with an inventory of 30 brands: from heritage names such as Acme Whistles, Fox Umbrellas and Corgi Socks to modern brands including Ajoto Pens, Haeckels of Margate and Risdon & Risdon. £235, Heritage No3 Copper Whistling Kettle, www.sirgordonbennett.com
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