HIGH FLYING BUSINESS. Getting festive. GIFT GUIDES. Party looks. CALM CHRISTMAS. Winter wellness. WHOLESOME HAMPERS. Salty shores. TOP OF THE TREES. Cosy cottages. LIFE IN COLOUR. Little moments. MIGHTY MOTORS. Big names. LUXE.
Celebrate Christmas in style at Above - Experience stunning 360-degree views of the city whilst sampling our world class cocktails, delicious food and entertainment from our resident DJs. Our winter offerings includes festive afternoon tea, sharing platters and canap é s, VIP group booking packages and much more. Our team can also provide you with a show stopping Christmas event with part and full venue hire options available.
View our Christmas brochure by visiting www.abovenewcastle.com
Join us at Livello where we have everything you need to make your festive celebration unforgettable; whether it’s a private hire in our Opulenza lounge or courtyard, a VIP reservation at one of our weekly events, or a Christmas cocktail class you are guaranteed an incredible celebration. Full range of canap é and drink options are also available over this festive season.
View our Christmas brochure by visiting www.barlivello.co.uk
Celebrate the festive season with your friends, family and colleagues with our exciting calendar full of festivities! From a range of family events with Santa to Christmas Party Nights, Festive Afternoon Tea with Carol Singers to our glamourous New Year’s Eve Ball, Christmas at The Vermont is nothing short of spectacular.
View our Christmas brochure by visiting www.vermont-hotel.com
Our lavish members only cocktail club is an ideal venue to host your festive event. Available for exclusive private hire.
Christmas at Aveika is truly a special time of year. Join us at our award winning restaurant, bar and club this festive season to dine, drink and dance all under one roof. Choose from a range of options including festive dining, festive bottomless brunch, VIP booth hire and private venue hire for a memorable celebration this festive season.
View our Christmas brochure by visiting www.aveika.co.uk
Feel the festive spirit in our restaurant and bar with our special festive food and drinks menu, available from 28th November – 30th December.
This Christmas day, sit back, relax & let us do all the hard work – enjoy a festive feast of 3 courses with a glass of champagne to start.
View our Christmas brochure by visiting www.hudsonnewcastle.co.uk
The County Hotel is the perfect setting for an unforgettable festive season. Visit us with your loved ones for one of our popular events, whether it be a private festive lunch, a Christmas Party Night or visit the Grinch or Santa with your little ones – we have events suitable for everyone. Make this Christmas one to remember and let us do all the work!
View our Christmas brochure by visiting www.countyhotel.co.uk
It’s twinkly season again - and, as ever, this issue is about feasting our eyes on all the good stuff when it comes to getting in the Christmas spirit here in the North East. Let us set the scene a little. There’s a chill in the air, we’re wrapping up and decking the halls, we’re filling our diaries and we’re filling the cupboards with our favourite festive foods. Whether you’re a ‘Christmas starts straight after Halloween’ kind of person, or a ‘scramble around mid-December’ type, we’re here to gently guide you into the new season with plenty of merriment covering everything from events and hospitality, to shopping, wellness and all of the inspiration you need to enter the most wonderful time of the year - quite rightly - filled with joy.
We’ve got catch-ups with big names in business - our friend and cover star, Imran Khaliq - we’ve got stunning interior styling with the lovely Susi Bellamy, new sea-inspired ventures with Yorkshire Sea Salt, and many more faces to delight and inspire.
I hope you can join me in pouring a glass of something special and lounging with a copy of Luxe in hand as we welcome winter with open arms.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Remember to check in with us online at luxe-magazine.co.uk See us on social at:
Susi Bellamy is a super stylish artist and interior designer, bringing exquisite colours and patterns to the market with her beautifully unique designs. We headed to her home in Northumberland to be inspired by her career and collections. Her luxe things in life include: the fragrance of Florence, eating out at the coast, and spending Christmas with family at home.
10>> The agenda
Cool stuff for your winter calendar
18>> 10 things luxe loves
Luxe things on our radar this season
22>> Sparkly season
All you need to know about Christmas at Gibside 26>> Family affair
Imran Khaliq on Gainford Group’s success
30>> Party looks
Put your best foot forward this year 40>> A skin thing
Luxe discovers Reds’ new Morpheus8 treatment
42>> Winter wellness
Pre party-season pampering at Grantley Hall
44>> Christmas countdown
The best beauty advent calendars for 2022
54>> New wave
Sea salt hand-harvested on our doorstep 62>> Winter wanderlust
Getaway inspiration for the cooler months 64>> Life in colour
Luxe checks in with interior icon, Susi Bellamy 68>> O Christmas Tree
A festive day out at Croft Christmas Trees 76>> At the wheel
Bob Arora test drives the Rolls Royce Cullian Black Badge 79>> Time to ride
Home workouts with Echelon Fitness 80>> Social Diary Eyes and teeth time!
THE LUXE TEAM
Christopher March publisher chris@allies-group.com
EDITORIAL
Elysia Fryer editor elysia@allies-group.com
Nicole Wood nicole@allies-group.com
Johnathan Ramsay johnathan@allies-group.com
SALES
Debi Coldwell director debi@allies-group.com Lucy Andrews lucy@allies-group.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
Kevin Gibson info@kgphotography.co.uk
Nicky Rogerson nicky@kgphotography.co.uk
DESIGN
David Stubbs creative director dave@allies-group.com
Euan Underwood euan@allies-group.com Ariyan Mojarab ariyan@allies-group.com
Twitter: @TheLuxeMagazine Instagram: @theluxemagazine Facebook: @luxemag If you wish to advertise with
team: Debi Coldwell: debi@allies-group.com / 07910 918366
As an artist, sailor and lifeboatman rooted in the North Shields Fish Quay, Mark Taylor’s life has been dedicated to the North East coastline’s safety and heritage. On page 24, we set sail to hear his fascinating story. His luxe things in life include: his boat which he dreamed of having when he was a child, Italian art and the precious time he spends with his children.
On page 36 you’ll find our gorgeous fashion guru, Helenlee Wilkinson, a Style Coach with an inspiring story. Christmas is the perfect time to explore and enjoy the wonderful world of fashion, she tells us. Her luxe things in life include: red wine, coffee, and dark chocolate - and, of course, fashion magazines.
The north east’s first in bespoke affordable interiors
The north east’s first in bespoke affordable interiors
10TH AVENUE WEST | TEAM VALLEY | NE11 0HL | 0191 491 3836 OPPOSITE RETAIL WORLD
10TH AVENUE WEST | TEAM VALLEY | NE11 0HL | 0191 491 3836 OPPOSITE RETAIL WORLD
GREATLOOK.CO.UK
GREATLOOK.CO.UK
Go pink with this stunning Dusky Blush Christmas Tree by Cox & Cox. Adding fairytale romance to any space, this year it’s time to be brave and do something different with your festive decor.
£295, coxandcox.co.uk
7 NOVEMBER - 24 DECEMBER
Fenwick Newcastle’s Santa on the Roof returns with plenty of opportunities for families to get festive in the magic of the sky-high grotto. Tickets are available for Santa’s Breakfast Club, Santa’s Supper Club, Santa’s Cinema and the all-new Santa’s Afternoon Tea. Hop in Santa’s Express Elevator and be greeted with the magic of Christmas at the fantastically festive flagship store in the city. The perfect family activity to help everyone get in the festive spirit during the most wonderful time of the year. fenwick.co.uk
12 NOVEMBER2 JANUARY 2023
Castle Howard invites you to step foot into the fairytales we know and love as it presents an enchanting, immersive event this winter. Expect to be drawn into fantastical theatrical installations and magnificent soundscapes for a season packed with glass slippers and pumpkin carriages. Don’t forget to pop in and visit Father Christmas whilst you’re there.
castlehoward.co.uk
18 - 20 NOVEMBER
Visit the positively gorgeous Wynyard Hall this November for their annual festive fair. It’s a must when it comes to the Christmas countdown! Explore bakers, crafters, designers, and more - and see their unique gifts and trinkets, all made with love for Christmas 2022. wynyardhall.co.uk
20 NOVEMBER
Deck the halls with your own decorations this year after a stained glass workshop at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland. You’ll learn the copper foil technique which was mastered in gorgeous lampshades by Louis Comfort Tiffany, and at the end you’ll have your own festive decorations to add something extra special to your own Christmas tree. sunderlandculture.org.uk
18 NOVEMBER - 31 DECEMBER
A whole host of seasonal spectacles are in store this year at The Auckland Project’s Winter Experience. This unique event invites culture vultures to visit Auckland Castle, Auckland Tower and get a first-look at the much-anticipated Faith Museum. All of that, plus a monumental Neapolitan Nativity scene from the 18th century, 100 Christmas trees and the magnificent Throne Room adorned with a 50ft garland created using more than 300,000 flowers grown in the Walled Garden and Castle Grounds. Prepare to be blown away by the venue’s beauty this winter. aucklandproject.org
22 - 24 NOVEMBER & 28 NOVEMBER - 1 DECEMBER
Join Susie Hart at Swinton Park this winter for a day where you can escape, be creative and prepare for the festive season. Susie will help you create your floral masterpiece with greenery and berries from the estate, before you sit down and enjoy a delicious two-course lunch. Complete with materials, refreshments and festive tunes to spread season’s greetings, it’s guaranteed to be a wonderful day of Christmas crafts. swintonestate.com
Join a fantastically festive three day festival in Durham this December. With more than 200 independent stalls to help you tick off your Christmas lists and support local, it’s a great place to soak up the atmosphere and shop to your heart’s content.
durhamchristmasfestival.com
If, like us, watching Irving Berlin’s classic musical is a wholesome tradition when it comes to getting festive at home, we’ve got the perfect early Christmas treat for you this year. White Christmas will be lighting up the Sunderland Empire stage for six days this winter. A heartwarming tale of love and friendship, this timeless musical promises dazzling choreography, stunning songs and the magic of the festive season. atgtickets.com
Rockliffe Hall invites you to enjoy a wonderful afternoon tea with warm mulled wine and yuletide cakes served alongside traditional finger sandwiches and clotted cream scones. You will also be joined by the Hurworth Choir to serenade you with merry voices singing Christmas carols as you eat. rockliffehall.com
8 DECEMBER
Embark on a ghostly adventure with Charles Dickens as he shows you his world of frightful festivity and ‘bah humbugs’. Sit back and enjoy Jonathan Goodwin (Charles Dickens) in a one-man show retelling one of the most intriguing Christmas tales of all time.
thebowesmuseum.org.uk
8 DECEMBER
Join the Dragon as she shows you the best of festive crafts. From garlands and gifts, to crackers and cards - all with a sprinkling of Christmas joy. Enjoy some time with the queen of the Den and the ballroom as she teaches you how to make the holidays special for those you love with a handmade touch. Sara Davies will pair her down-to-earth know-how with creative ideas and practical demonstrations.
middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk
Is it even Christmas if you haven’t watched Home Alone? This year, Sage Gateshead is inviting you to see the much-loved flick in concert. The Christmas comedy is brought to you with the Royal National Sinfonia carrying the award-winning score. Swap your pjs for something fancy, head to this sparkling Quayside venue and get those festive feels thanks to the spell-binding work of the RNS. sagegateshead.com
Time to get dressed up and indulge in a fabulous three-course dinner with live jazz at Pinchinthorpe Hall near Guisboroughit’s the perfect way to get the party season underway. Dishes include ham hock terrine, roast turkey dinner and a pear and apple pudding to sweeten the deal. pinchinthorpehall.com
Countdown to 2023 with Rockliffe Hall this year at the New Year’s Eve Gala Ball. Kicking things off in style with champagne and a four-course menu at the banquet, dancing will follow, as well as the allimportant countdown. A piper will bring you into the New Year with Auld Lang Syne before a phenomenal fireworks display to mark the beginning of 2023. rockliffehall.com
23 NOVEMBER - 8 JANUARY
You won’t be falling asleep for a hundred milliseconds, let alone a hundred years at this amazing production of Sleeping Beauty at the Gala Durham. Boo for the Evil Witch Karen and cheer for Briar Rose this panto season. With stunning scenery, magical music and some interesting ice cream, Sleeping Beauty is a performance not to miss. galadurham.co.uk
This Christmas, make your way to The Princess Alexandra Auditorium for the ultimate panto fairytale. Don’t wait for the last rose petal to fall before booking your ticket for Beauty and the Beast. thepaaonline.org
This is one of our favourite festive events in the calendar. The seasonal tear-jerker that has everyone reaching for the tissues at this time of yearand it’s back at Tyneside Cinema. Enjoy a special screening of this feel-good flick, followed by an exclusive after party with fizz, canapes, festive fun and live music until late. tynesidecinema.co.uk
Where to shop for your real Christmas tree this winter…
Head to East Grange for everything you’ll need to bring the magic of Christmas into your home this year. From tinsel and tree toppers, to wreaths and fantastic Nordman Firs, you’ll leave with everything you need to deck the halls with the whole family. eastgrange.com
Cherry Hill Garden Centre near Middlesbrough is the ultimate winter wonderland at this time of year - with everything from Santa’s Grotto and a VR Sleigh Ride, to the much-loved Christmas Walk where you’ll find a number of photo opportunities and sensory experiences. All of that, plus plenty of festive decorations and both real and artificial Christmas trees to bring the merry season to life at home. cherryhillgardencentre.co.uk
Gather the gang and make your way to Edelweiss Christmas Trees in Seaton Delaval this year. Make choosing your tree a fun event for the whole family, before taking it away to stand proudly in your home.
eledweisstrees.com
2023
You shall go to the ball this year when Newcastle’s Theatre Royal brings Cinderella to the stage. Starring pantomime favourites Danny Adams and Clive Webb, joined by Joe McElderry and Chris Hayward, expect a sparkling show full of witty humour and clever puns to support the story of everyone’s favourite rags-to-riches heroine. theatreroyal.co.uk
9 DECEMBER - 8 JANUARY 2023
Aladdin
9 DECEMBER - 2 JANUARY 2023
Join the magic carpet ride at Sunderland Empire and watch as Aladdin and co. fight against the evil sorcerer Abanazar. A glittering production filled with non-stop laughter and all your favourite panto puns, it’s guaranteed to be a great night out for the whole family. atgtickets.com
A tale as old as time. Follow the enchanting story of a bookworm and her beast who will fall in love in front of you, with an incredible cast and plenty of festive fun behind them. Make sure Tyne Theatre & Opera House’s production of Beauty & The Beast is in your Christmas calendars. tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk
be a genie-us to know that the Playhouse’s Aladdin is not one to miss. playhousewhitleybay.co.uk
Jack and the Beanstalk 2 - 31 DECEMBER Fee, fi, fo, fum - head to Middlesbrough for some panto fun. This December, the traditional tale that begins with a cow and a bean is brought to life on stage. Watch as Jack scales the beanstalk to rescue Daisy the Cow from the evil giant, who lurks at the top. middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk
Wrap up warm, grab a hot chocolate and take in the twinkly fairy lights as you get lost in a whimsical winter world at Croft Christmas Trees. Go here for a huge range of trees from Nordmann Fir and Norway Spruce, to Blue Spruce and potted trees. Read more on page 68. croftchristmastrees.com
Dog & Cat Shelter website. If you feel one of the animals could be the perfect match for your family, you can submit an application on the animal’s profile. Next, the rehoming team will review all applications to try and find the best match for the animal. If successful, a member of the team will contact you to discuss your application in more details and explain the next steps.
If you have not heard back about your application in 2-3 weeks you have not been successful for that animal. However, this could simply mean you aren’t the perfect fit for that particular animal. Keep visiting the website and apply for other animals you feel you could offer a loving home to. Alternatively, feel free to pop along and visit the Benton North Farm Shelter and chat with the staff, who will be able to advise which animal would suit your family and lifestyle. Adopting an animal is a very rewarding experience and all of the animals available to rehome have been neutered, vaccinated and microchipped and come with 4 weeks’ free pet insurance and a free veterinary health check for peace of mind.
How can I support Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter?
There are multiple ways you can help support Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter:
• Donate an amount of your choice via the donation section on the website
Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter was established in 1896 and helps thousands of lost, unwanted, neglected, abused and abandoned animals every year. The charity’s objective is the promotion of kindness and prevention of cruelty to animals.They reunite lost animals with their owners and find loving new homes for those no longer wanted, covering the whole of the North East from their two shelters within Newcastle, Claremont Road and Benton North Farm.
When the opportunity presented itself to spend the day at the Benton North Farm, I jumped at the chance. There are truly no words to express how much I love animals, nothing breaks my heart more than animals who are unwanted, unloved and have been neglected. Honestly, I was a little apprehensive about visiting the shelter, I thought I would leave with a broken heart. But actually, what I discovered was a loving, friendly and compassionate environment where pets are cared for and loved until going on to find their forever home.
It’s a sunny, yet cold Thursday morning and I’m visiting on a day the shelter is closed to the public. I’m met at the main entrance by Chief Executive, Chris Bray, General Manager, Rachael Kendall, and Head of Animal Welfare, Anjuli Hakin.
The tour around the shelter starts with the introduction to some of the loveliest bunch of pooches in need of a loving home. 11-year-old Buster instantly melts my heart. The dogs here are well looked after with spacious kennels, with both indoor and outdoor space, and access to toys, food,
water, and a big comfy bed. There’s ample outdoor space here including the agility playpen where the dogs are exercised and socialised on a daily basis.
Our walk around the shelter includes the introduction to the cattery and a sneak peek at the newborn kittens who aren’t quite ready to be rehomed yet. Just like the dogs, there’s plenty of space, food, water, warmth and comfort for these adorable little creatures. And for the feline fur babies who are a little scared of the kennel environment, there’s a home set up. Inside of here you’ll find a sofa, scratch post and all the amenities that make up a living room. With music playing, this warm cosy environment is ideal for pets who are a little timid.
“We pride ourselves on knowing how loved and cared for the animals are while they’re with us. Whatever they need, we do our best to ensure they receive it. We have lots of timid cats and dogs when they first arrive, so we have separate, quiet and home settings for them to become accustomed to. I often have a cat, dog, kitten or puppy with me in the office until they become comfortable and trust us,” says Rachael.
The shelter is also home to Shetland ponies, donkeys, pigs, goats, horses and small animals. As we approach the farmyard animals, they all appear to be showing off their personality for my visit. Tilly, the pig, in particular, is quite hilarious as she waddles her way up against the fence, looking for food and rolling around in the mud.
“Our ultimate goal is to care for, look after and ensure every animal has the best home possible, that is with us temporarily and then finding their forever home. It’s hard not
to develop bonds with the animals, especially the ones that spend quite some time with us, but knowing that we’re finding them somewhere they can love and be loved is so special,” says Chris Bray.
“I think education plays a crucial part in the wellbeing of animals. Understanding the huge responsibility of owning a pet is super important. People have to sadly give up their pet for many reasons, but a common problem is people don’t understand how tying and expensive they can be.
“We see a lot of generosity - especially at Christmas. It means the world to us when people support what we do here. We have a lot of corporate support from businesses, we had Sky here recently volunteering and we host a few school trips. We really appreciate all of the help we can get,” Chris continues.
There are many reasons animals end up with the team at Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter. All dogs, including, strays picked up by the dog wardens are taken to the Claremont Road shelter. The experienced staff at Claremont Road carry out behaviour assessments with every dog before they are rehomed as well as providing veterinary treatment and special care for animals who arrive injured or sick, vulnerable or have suffered abuse. Once ready to find their forever home, dogs come to the Benton North Farm Shelter.
If you are thinking of introducing a new addition to your family, take a look at the animals ready to rehome on the
• Shop online or visit one of the charity shops at Wallsend or Four Lane Ends
• Attend one of the fundraising events. Up next is the Christmas Fair at Benton North Farm on Saturday 3rd December from 1-6pm
• Choose Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter as your chosen charity in any fundraising event e.g. coffee mornings, zip lining, races etc.
• Join the weekly Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter lottery. For just £2 per week you’ll be supporting their mission to save animals lives across the North East and could win £10,000 for yourself
• Volunteer to help out around the shelter
• Set up Amazon Smile or your Pets at Home VIP card to donate to the shelter
• Other donations are also welcome, details can be found on their website
There are many ways businesses can support the shelter including charity of the year partnerships, corporate volunteer days, generous donations and fundraising events. Recently, big name businesses have supported the shelter including Barbour who generously donated wellies, coats and equipment for all of the staff working at the shelter, and Sky who spent the day on-site helping out with painting, DIY and tidying up. As well as businesses, the shelter also hosts a lot of school trips.
To get involved, contact Rachael Kendall – rachael@dogandcatshelter.com For more information, to donate, to look at animals in search of their forever home or to buy tickets to the upcoming Christmas Fair, visit: dogandcatshelter.com
Newcastle
‘Tis the season to give back and do good. Nicole Wood spends the day at Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter to find out how we can dig deep and help out in the run up to Christmas
all the extra costs.
‘Perhaps one of the largest bones of contention between separated parents when it comes to their children’s schooling is how the school fees will be paid when there is a wish for the children to continue to be or be privately educated,’ says Wendy Beacom, Partner and Head of Private Family Law at Tilly Bailey and Irvine Law Firm. ‘Often, even prior to separation, parents have made sacrifices in order to pay for their children’s school fees. With the division of pooled financial resources, the continued payment of school fees may no longer be met as easily.’
If they already attend the school, they may have significant ties there. Moving to a new school now may cause unnecessary upheaval when they are already dealing with the upset of their parents separating.
What were the parents’ intentions?
Was it always agreed between the parents that their children would attend private school? Perhaps siblings already attend private school or one of the parents went to that school.
The daily and annual boarder fees for independent schools have become increasingly expensive over the last few years. This represents a substantial financial commitment over the education of a child, and often has to be considered when negotiating a financial settlement after divorce or separation. Disputes can arise for many reasons, perhaps parents have different priorities or maybe one parent is finding it harder to cope with paying school fees and
If agreement cannot be reached between you and your former partner, you may consider where the law stands on who is responsible to pay these fees. The court does have powers under the Matrimonial Causes Act to order a parent to make payments for the benefit of discharging school fees. In deciding if that power should be exercised, the court will look at a number of factors including:
Where are the children currently educated? Are the children already in attendance at a private school, or is it intended they would move to one or start at a new one?
If there are limited resources to pay for school fees, then a court is likely to view them as a luxury rather than a necessity. This is particularly pertinent given the current climate. The basic housing needs of a child will always come as a priority and a court will not leave a parent in financial difficulty in order to meet school fees. The court will take into account all financial circumstances between the parents when deciding if a contribution order should be made. If one parent could easily afford to continue to pay school fees and the other parent has more limited resources, then the court is likely to make a contribution order against the wealthier parent.
If a parent can afford to pay for their children’s school fees but simply decides not to continue paying, then the court will be critical of the refusal unless a very good reason is given. Thus if it is just a wilful refusal by the paying parent without any good reason, then the court can enforce the terms of a court order.
We recommend that you obtain early expert legal advice in order that your children face as little disruption to their education as is possible.
For further information, or to speak to a member of our Private Family Law Team about how they can assist, contact us today on 01740 646000, or fill in the online enquiry form and a member of the team will be in touch.
At a glance:
• Retirement has changed – someone aged 60 today could easily live another 30 years.
• It’s never too late to start or refocus your efforts on pension saving, regardless of how old you are.
• Having a range of assets to rely on as a pension will give you options.
• We can help you create the optimal retirement plan.
When you’re considering your future and what to do with your money, it’s vital to ensure your financial security will continue into later life, when you’re no longer earning an income. But is it ever too late to start saving?
The answer is no, and this isn’t just a Pollyanna response from a pensions expert
Why you should save money for retirement Retirement has changed substantially from what it was for previous generations. It used to be the norm to spend a 30-year career in one profession, often with one or two employers, and for people to stop working entirely once they reached retirement age, which was usually around 60 to 65 years old.
For previous generations, retirement was often seen as the beginning of one’s twilight years, and people expected to spend the rest of their lives winding down. But nowadays, age 60 is not ‘old’, given that many people who are currently in the workforce can expect to live much longer.
The life expectancy calculator from the Office for National Statistics predicts that a man aged 50 today will live to an average age of 84 years old – and they have a one-in-four chance of living to 93. Around one in ten of this cohort reach the age of 97.1
Life expectancy rises sharply for younger people. A woman aged 30 today has an average life expectancy of 88 and a one-in-ten chance of reaching their 100th birthday.2
With so many years ahead of you, it’s important to work out how you will fund them.
Although some people dream of leaving their job behind and sitting in the sun for the rest of their lives, many people don’t want a ‘hard stop’ to their working life.
Instead, ‘retirement’ has become the point when they start phasing out work and incorporating other goals or interests into their lives. For example:
• ‘Retiring’ from their career, taking time off to travel and relax, and then returning to work on a part-time basis.
• Retiring fully from their career and starting a business
• Choosing not to retire but to keep working and accumulating wealth, passing some on to the next generation
Culturally, there’s increasing recognition that work provides benefits other than incomefor example, social interaction, routine, challenge, intellectual fulfilment or the ability to pass on skills and knowledge. There’s also financial expediency. Saving enough money to last someone for 30 or 40 years is a bigger challenge than when retirement lasted for ten or twenty years, as with previous generations.
How much should you have in savings before retiring?
It’s difficult to say how much money you need before you stop work, because it really depends on what you want to do. Many people fund their retirement from a range of sources, including property, Cash ISA savings, Stocks & Shares ISAs, earnings, state pension and private pension pots. This can be beneficial, because money can be withdrawn from each of these in different ways; for example, ISA savings can often be withdrawn tax free on demand (depending on the type of ISA), pensions allow people to withdraw a tax-free lump sum at retirement age, while income from a rental property may be monthly.
This is also useful because people tend to spend different amounts during different phases of their retirement – for example, a year spent travelling the world is likely to cost more than a year spent working part-time. You may also find your spending falls as you get older.
It’s not enough to have savings, you also need a plan – and that’s why it’s a good idea to seek financial advice. It’s best to meet with your financial adviser regularly so they can look holistically at your situation and help you gauge:
• At what age could you retire? What kind of lifestyle can you expect to have?
• If you increase your saving, how will that improve your retirement prospects?
NorthWealth Management is anAppointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s PlaceWealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial ConductAuthority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’and the titles ‘Partner’and ‘Partner Practice’are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.
• What do you dream of doing? What adjustments could you make to ensure you can achieve them?
• Could you go part-time? Could you take a year off?
Reaching retirement age is not an ending, it’s the start of a new chapter in life.
Putting the right plan in place will help ensure you can enjoy the future you want. It’s never too late to plan for retirement –we can get you on track.
The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.
The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief is generally dependent on individual circumstances.
Sources
1,2 Life Expectancy Calculator, Office for National Statistics, accessed 6 July 2022
If you feel you could benefit from a financial review of your specific circumstances, I offer a no obligation review to meet your individual needs. This review could be via a zoom meeting, telephone call or face to face at a Covid-secure venue, at a time and location convenient to you.
Please contact North Wealth Management on 0191 5482830 or email patrick.mclaughlin@sjpp.co.uk
The perfect centrepiece for your Christmas scheme, this majestic spruce-style tree stands tall at seven feet, with more than 2,700 vibrant green tips and a traditionally bushy shape. Easy to assemble, beautifully full and perfectly realistic, each branch is posable to allow you to create the perfect festive look. £450, coxandcox.co.uk
THE SANTA
You’ve seen him put on the suit, you’ve watched him take on the challenges of the job, now it’s time to retire. The Santa Clauses is a brand-new limited series on Disney Plus, set sometime after the events of The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (the third film in The Santa Clause trilogy). It picks up with Scott Calvin on the brink of his 65th birthday. As he begins to lose his Santa magic, Scott realises he can’t be Santa forever and sets out to find a suitable replacement while preparing his family for a new adventure in a life south of the North Pole. Expect magic, mayhem and festive nostalgia! disneyplus.com
Feeling festive: from indulgent recipes and dazzling decor, to sing-a-long classics and wintry scents, Nicole Wood picks out 10 things we’re loving at Luxe HQ this Christmas
This season, we’re dreaming of escaping to a winter wonderland. From ski chalets and cosy cottages, to hot tub lodges and city breaks, winter calls for a dreamy escape. In search of inspiration? Flick ahead to page 62 where we round-up the ultimate festive getaways for a spot of winter wanderlust.
Christmas Podding is the ultimate guide to Christmas. Hosted by Liam Renton and Vanessa Gibson, this festive favourite is essential in the run up to the most magical time of year. The Christmas-loving duo have been friends for over a decade after instantly bonding one day at work over their mutual obsession with the film Love Actually and all things Christmas. Covering food, films, music, events, lights, traditions, books and decorations, Christmas lives here. spotify.com
No one does Christmas pamper products like Molton Brown. This dreamy set is infused with nostalgic tones of fresh pine, spicy cinnamon and crisp juniper berry. Indulge in a little R&R with the help of this foamy and luxurious set that leaves skin cleansed and scented with a seasonal, woody fragrance. Light the candles, run the hot tap, it’s time to relax.
£58, moltonbrown.co.uk
GUCCI THE ALCHEMIST’S GARDEN A GLOAMING NIGHT EAU DE PARFUM
Gucci’s A Gloaming Night is the winter fragrance we all deserve. The warmth and elegance of the scent is dictated by cinnamon, which effortlessly wraps its spiciness around the enveloping woody vetiver. A true collector’s item, this is a scent that will stand the test of time. Encased in an intricate, crimson bottle with gold etchings, it makes for a beautiful festive treat.
100ml, £240, johnlewis.com
@RUFFLEDFLOWERS
‘Tis the season to get florally festive. Guisborough based florist, Ruffled Flowers, is a botanical haven when it comes to decking the halls. We’ve recently been swooning over their Instagram page which is filled with creative masterpieces and stunning floral creations. Give the page a follow and be inspired - and don’t forget to check out their upcoming wreath parties.
instagram.com/ruffledflowers
There’s nothing better than lighting the fire and cosying up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate and getting lost in the pages of a heart-warming, festive read. This charming tale follows the story of Meg, a city girl who’s feeling anything but festive. Yet when she’s invited to spend the run-up to Christmas in the snowy countryside rather than dreary London, she can’t refuse. Arriving at a warm and cosy family home in a small hilltop village, Meg soon begins to wonder what a proper Christmas might be like. But just as she’s beginning to settle in, she spots a familiar face that suddenly makes her want to get as far away from them, and their past secrets, as she can. As the story unfolds, Meg wonders if this could be the year she finally discovers the magic of Christmas. A classic festive tale guaranteed to leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling.
£7.99, waterstones.com
Those looking for an alternative to the traditional Christmas pudding need to check out this recipe. Sarah J Thomas, one of our favourite bakers in the region, has shared this delicious chocolatey recipe for a taste of something sweet. With a few simple ingredients including Baileys, white and dark chocolate, unsalted butter, light brown sugar, eggs, self raising flour and soured cream, this recipe is simple yet effectiveguaranteed to wow family members around the table on 25 December.
Scan the QR Code for a full list of ingredients and a step by step method.
There’s a
This soothing bedtime story by Tom Fletcher makes for a perfect stocking filler for budding bookworms. The warm, gentle adventure combines interactive fun and enchanting imagery with a night-time routine to help wind down and soothe tiny minds before they go to bed. The perfect way to calm excited little souls this Christmas.
£6.99, waterstones.com
The Self-Care Cookbook by Gemma Ogstony
Nourishing recipes to boost your energy, help you sleep and lift your mood - what more could you want? This handy, soul-soothing book is kitted out with over 60 delicious, plant-based recipes, which have been created to be nurturing to your body and mind. The perfect gift for food-lovers and wellbeing gurus alike.
£14.99, uk.bookshop.org
A
The animal-lover in your life will be overjoyed with this feel-good read. Following the story of Roxanne Pellegrino, whose world collapses when her husband dies unexpectedly, and she is overwhelmed by her all-consuming grief. She runs away for a new start on Peaks Island, but her new life of solitude is interrupted when she meets Lloyd - a stray black Labrador with an equally unhappy past. As both slowly begin to heal, a remarkable friendship blossoms, and Roxanne will soon discover she’s not so alone after all. A truly heartwarming tale. £15.99, waterstones.com
Aesthetic Dining: The Art Restaurant Around the World by Christina Makris
Delve into restaurants around the world to discover how food and art combine to create a transcendent, sensory experience. This fascinating book features 24 of the finest art collections in restaurants around the world and the stories behind them - from New York to Hong Kong via Cairo, London and beyond. Makris also interviews the artistic talent behind these eateries, providing a unique look into the restaurants’ collections - including Ai Weiwei, Damien Hirst, David Hockney, and Tracey Emin. £28, foyles.co.uk
Keeping a Christmas Promise by Jo Thomas Sometimes there’s nothing better than switching off and escaping to a fantasy world filled with happiness, adventure and romance. This uplifting Christmas tale follows Freya and her best friends on a trip to Iceland in memory of the friend they’ve lost, determined to fulfil her dream of seeing the Northern Lights at Christmas. But when an unexpected avalanche leaves them stranded, handsome local, Pétur, comes to the rescue, showing them how the community survives the hard winter. Local festivities, community spirit and romance aplenty - it’s a true Christmas classic you won’t want to put down.
£7.99, whsmith.co.uk
I Found You by Lisa Jewell
Two women. Twenty years of secrets. And a man who appears to not remember anything. This nail-biting novel is perfect for the mystery buffs amongst you. Lily has only been married for three weeks when her new husband fails to come home from work one night and she is left stranded in a new country where she knows no one. Alice finds a man on the beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, no idea what he is doing there. Against her better judgement, she invites him into her home. Packed with unexpected twists and jaw-dropping moments, this is one you won’t be able to put down.
£6.74, amazon.co.uk
“May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.”
Name: Jessica Daley
Title: Actress
Where is home? Teesside
Three reasons you love where you live?
I always love to come back to Teesside whenever I’m not working away or in London. It’s the best way to recalibrate and reground myself, in and amongst the chaos of my professional life. I love the fact I’m a 15 minute drive from the beach and the countryside too.
What do you do for a living?
Actress, predominantly in musical theatre. A day in the life of you?
Currently, I’m in rehearsals in London and so I’m working a 10am - 6pm day in the rehearsal room. Once the show (White Christmas) opens in November, I’ll be working on an evening, so I have my days free to do other things and catch up with people.
Any upcoming or ongoing projects we
should know about?
I’m playing Betty Haynes, the part made famous by Rosemary Clooney, in White Christmas - the UK tour.
What does downtime mean to you? Downtime is a way for me to check-out and disconnect from work, which can sometimes completely take over and be fairly consuming. It just reminds me that I’m more than my work and I can’t do my best work if I don’t check out once in a while and re-charge.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I always wanted to be an actress/singer on the stage. I think, at one point, I had the crazy idea of wanting to be a vet because I love dogs, but I soon realised that the biology of it all would not be for me (I faint at the sight of blood!). What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
That I’m the only ‘me’ I have and I need
to be my own best friend. I’ve had to learn to cheer myself on and push myself out of my comfort zone at times when I’ve not wanted to, and also give myself a break and learn from my mistakes when I mess up. As an actress, I’m no stranger to criticism - of talent and looks etc. I am constantly up against and compared to other actresses when auditioning for shows and it’s sometimes hard to not take that home. I’ve found it so important to zone in on the fact that we are all very unique human beings, each with our own personal experiences of day to day life, and so really - though we may have the same hair colour as another actress - we are completely different in spirit and life experience and can therefore never truly be compared.
What is your greatest fear?
Losing loved ones or being lonely. Which living person do you admire most and why?
There are plenty and they are ever-changing. At the moment, Hannah Waddingham is at the top end of the list. Having started in
musical theatre, she has made some serious moves in recent years (Ted Lasso, Game of Thrones, and so on) and she has smashed up the age-old, small-minded stereotype of musical theatre actors not being able to cross over into TV successfully. The moment she gave a shout out to MT actors in her Emmy acceptance speech had me tearing up and hooting simultaneously. More of this please!
LIVING LUXE >>
What is top of your bucket list?
I’d love to hike Machu Picchu in Peru. What is your most treasured possession?
My Apple AirPods - music is life. I never thought I’d use them as much as I do - I never have them out of my ears when I’m on the move. Also, does my dog count?
He’s the best.
What does the weekend mean to you? Weekends don’t exist in the theatre world! A memorable holiday?
I spent two weeks in Japan (Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo) back in 2016, before I started a gig in Singapore, and I completely fell in love with the place.
Best dress?
Currently, my favourite dress is a black velvet blazer mini dress from Zara I wore for my 30th birthday last year.
Who would be your top three dinner guests?
Barbra Streisand, Brene Brown and Julie Walters.
The last place you ate?
The Cafe at Mountview, where we are rehearsing in London.
The last book you read?
Why Did You Stay? by Rebecca Humphries. The last thing you listened to?
Music wise, I’ve been listening to an eclectic mix of Stephen Sondheim classics, Barbra Streisand, Lake Street Dive and a 90s/00s RomCom Playlist on Spotify (with music from all the good Nora Ephron/Richard Curtis classics). I listen to a lot of podcasts and audiobooks when I’m driving long distances on tour, currently: Brené Brown’s ‘Atlas of the Heart’, Glennon Doyle’s ‘We Can Do Hard Things’, Stephen Bartlett’s ‘Diary of a CEO’ and ‘How to Fail’ with Elizabeth Day. The last thing you watched?
It’s 100% Gilmore Girls season, so that’s getting a re-binge. I watched Mrs Harris
Goes to Paris recently - Lesley Manville is a national treasure. TV wise, I’m waiting for the new seasons of The Crown, Succession and Emily in Paris.
Three luxe things in life?
People, exploring and creating.
White Christmas The Musical is taking to the Sunderland Empire stage this winter, from Monday 28 November to Saturday 3 December. Don’t miss it - you’ll be blown away!
atgtickets.com
Tácnbora – Made for Sharing adgefrin.co.uk
of the route this year and we’re really happy that they can be locally built and produced. Elsewhere, we will have a dynamic array of installations and I think a crowd favourite will be our huge sea of lights opposite the oratory chapel. Other favourites like the Christmas cathedral, fire garden and neon trains will also be returning.
What can you tell us about the process of pulling it all together?
The production of the Christmas light show at Gibside is no small undertaking and due to that we enter into a 12-month planning cycle. Since the day the 2021 show came to end, we have been working hard and fast planning for the 2022 light trail. Once we develop that base model for the upcoming year, the real detailed work around the production and how we will bring the vision to life commences and we start work with our third-party suppliers, be that stewarding companies, traffic management suppliers or tree climbers. We also work closely with a whole host of new local independent food and drink operators to try and secure the best and most well-rounded experience for those attending the light trail. Our primary goal is to try to encourage a lot of people to come and see it, so alongside the detailed creative work, we are building marketing campaigns to look at growing our audience.
Since you’re experts on making things look spectacularly festive, do you have any tips on how our readers can make their homes look festive this year?
If in doubt, wrap things in as many pea lights or bud lights - depending on your terminology - as possible. There’s nothing wrong with a few snowflakes hanging outside the house, but less is more and retaining the same colour palette is an absolute must from our side.
What does Christmas look like to you?
Wrap up, round up the family, grab a hot chocolate or a spiced winter warmer and get ready to immerse yourself in the ultimate festive trail at Gibside this Christmas.
We can’t wait to see Gibside sparkle under the night sky with thousands of twinkling lights, giant baubles, glistening trees, flickering flames, larger-than-life illuminations and a magical, seasonal soundtrack.
All of that, plus the chance to get a glimpse of Father Christmas. It’s the perfect family event and it’s a firm favourite in our festive calendars. Here’s all you need to know…
Can you tell us a little bit about your route into working on trails?
My route in light trails began five years ago when I was going through job opportunities out of university and a role with Raymond Gubbay Ltd appeared within their ticketing department. From that point onwards I was immersed in the world of events and sought opportunity beyond the realms of ticketing and it just so happened that RGL were really venturing into the world of light trails, having debuted at Christmas at Kew a decade ago. A job within the light trails team came up so I jumped at it with full force and it has been growing from strength to strength since then.
My background at university was
international business, finances and economics - so that, combined with the ticketing knowledge I initially gained, led me to working towards being Head of UK Light Trails, managing 17 projects for the 2022 season.
We're sure you've worked on a number of exciting trails across the UK. Which has been your favourite and why?
I’ve worked on a vast amount of light trails over the past five years - this year producing 17 illuminated trails across the breadth of the UK. Some of my age old favourites are from the first of our light trails, such as Christmas at Kew and growing Christmas at Blenheim Palace, but I must admit, more recently, my interests have been focused on growing our newer trails as they’re certainly more challenging. Christmas at Belton and Christmas at Gibside have been fantastic projects to work on. Now going into its second year, working with Gibside and producing the Christmas light trail, I do think it will be our best and biggest year yet.
What can you tell us about Christmas at Gibside?
I’m really excited to share that the majority of the light trail will be brand new this year. Of course, with the season of festivity, the Christmas theme throughout - be that with the visuals or the audio - will be consistent, but I’m really happy that we’ve worked
with the Gibside team to focus a little bit more on the natural infrastructure of the venue, best highlighting the trees they have along the route.
To play on that natural theme we have some really lovely tree arches coming in, as well as a brand-new installation which we are calling Tree Hallos. We are also looking at bringing a whole host of wickerwork as part
Christmas has always actually been an extremely busy time for myself working in events, so I must admit we have no huge festive traditions, but the family always comes together for a hearty meal on Christmas Day and an afternoon of dozing on the couch or keeping track of all the little ones running around enjoying their presents.
Otherwise, before and after, the show must go on. Plenty of people have booked to come to see our light trails, so that’s where my attention is focused until the new year.
christmasatgibside.co.uk
Artist, sailor and lifeboat hero, Mark Taylor, 43, is giving back to the coastal landscape that has shaped his life. Elysia Fryer sits down with the Tyneside marine artist and father of three to talk prestigious exhibitions, life in the RNLI and the importance of his late father’s legacy
Life is slow and steady on the North Shields Fish Quay, where I meet Mark Taylor at Low Lights Tavern. As the oldest pub in the area, the place is brimming with local history.
A stomping ground for fishermen and locals alike, Mark spends much of his time here - mainly because his studio shares the same site.
There’s a real pull to slow down and strip things back a little - disconnecting from the complications of life we can often find ourselves caught up in.
That is until Mark is called out for RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) duties.
It’s not uncommon for Mark to be whisked away from working away on his easel when he is called out on a rescue mission in the North Sea.
“It’s definitely a balancing act,” Mark laughs, as we start to uncover his colourful career.
“But painting is and always will be like therapy for me, so it allows me to switch off and disappear into my own little world.
“The two roles are demanding in very different ways, but there is a common thread running through, and that is my love for the coast, the area and the industrial heritage that makes many of us incredibly proud to call this part of the world our home.”
Mark, originally from Blyth in Northumberland, has spent much of his time on the North East coast - and it really has shaped his life. His father, Dallas Taylor, was an artist and lifeboatman, serving for over 40 years. So it’s safe to say that he looks at his late father’s life and feels a sense of pride knowing that he lives in his legacy.
“I grew up watching my dad paint using palette knives,” Mark starts.
“He was a massive inspiration to me and was a hero to many during his lifetime.
He saved 55 lives in the time he was working on the lifeboats.
“I vividly remember being in the back of the car when his pager would go off and we’d have to race down to the lifeboat station.
I’d watch him get the gear on, go down the slipway, tackle the big bow wave as the
lifeboat hit the water and he’d be off out to sea to save people’s lives. I remember thinking, ‘one day I’d love to be able to do that!’.
“I always wanted to be like my dad.” Following his creative instincts, Mark went on to train in fine art. During that time, he started to paint and contribute to his dad’s collection at his studio in the Metrocentre. “He had a 12 month waiting list on commissions at the time, so people would come in and he’d say, ‘these are all sold, but take a look at my son’s work’. So that’s when I started creating my own art, inspired by the work of my dad.
“After university I went on to design luxury motor yachts, but after a few years doing that I moved back to the area and became
a lecturer at Tyne Met College.
“When I heard that my father had motor neuron disease, I decided I would leave and look after him for the last six months of his life. He wasn’t able to fill his order book or finish his work, so I literally held his hand and he would show me the techniques.
“There was one painting taken from a picture of the Tyne Bridge in the snow in 1928, and I remember my dad looking at me and saying, ‘son, if you can paint like that, you’ll never go hungry’.
“So I decided that, instead of closing his studio, which had been a big part of my life, I would continue to paint in his legacy. For the past 11 years, I have used his palette knives, on his easel, and have developed his style into something of my own.”
Today, Mark’s art continues to take inspiration from the Fish Quay, fishing boats and the local fishermen that shape the community.
Between his studio at Low Lights Tavern and the RNLI Lifeboat Station, Mark is quite literally at the beating heart of the Quay.
Like the waves that crash on the shore, Mark’s work documents the motions and rhythms of life by the sea - spanning years of history and heritage, as well as depicting the community in the present day.
“People are always blown away by the fact that my work is all created using a palette knife, because it is so precise and detailed,” he starts.
“Palette knife paintings tend to be quite bold and loose, using very heavy, textured paint. This is quite a delicate process, so it’s a little bit different - and I think people like that.
“Over time I have worked on the techniques and adopted my own unique style, inspired by the work of my father.”
As Mark continued to fill up his father’s order book and gained customers of his own, his confidence grew and he started to look into societies and groups to help him spread his wings.
“I came across the RSMA (Royal Society of Marine Artists) and gave myself a five year goal to try and become an associate member. If the members consider your work good enough, you can be chosen to showcase your work.
“It was while looking at how to become a member, I realised that there was an open call for the annual exhibition. Only a select few pieces from non-members are included in the exhibition in the Mall Galleries - on The Mall - in London - it’s about as prestigious as it gets!
“I thought to myself, ‘if you’re going to do it, why not jump to the top?’. It was a big move, but I just wanted to give it a go. What was the worst that could happen?
“It’s an international call for artists all over the world. Out of around 2,500 submissions, I got a call to say my work was taken in for pre-selection, could I bring it down to London for judging to see if it was worthy of featuring in the final show.
“I couldn’t believe my luck. A North Shields lad, painting historic scenes in my hometown, and I was being considered
for this huge exhibition.
“So I took my work down and got an email to say, ‘congratulations, you have been selected to be part of the exhibition’.
I couldn’t believe it.
“I went down to London for the exhibition preview in September this year and before I got there, I had an email to say, ‘congratulations, your piece has sold’.
“I hadn’t even had a chance to see my work hanging in the gallery! When I got there, the painting had a little red dot beside it to indicate that it had been sold. I had a little scoot around the room, and out of about 350 paintings, I think there were around 10 red dots. I was blown away.
“I thought, ‘ok, maybe I am good enough to be a part of this group’.
“It’s given me the confidence to push myself out of my comfort zone. It’s amazing to think that people are investing in the work that I am so passionate about.”
The painting that was chosen for the exhibition is called ‘North Shields White Fish Market circa 1905’.
“All of my work tells a rich story. Weatherbeaten characters who really love what they do, enjoying their lives within this hard existence. I really wanted to capture that within the White Fish Market painting.
“For me, it’s about portraying that lifestyle and celebrating it.”
Local lad turned international singersongwriter, Sam Fender, is a big fan of Mark’s work and is the proud owner of an original piece, ‘The Drifter’ - depicting a weather-beaten fisherman.
“I’ve also done commissions for Duran Duran guitarist, Andy Taylor. For generations, his family have been on the lifeboats up here, so I created a piece for him on Cullercoats Harbour, where he is from,” he says.
As Mark’s artistic career quite literally takes the world by storm - getting national and international recognition thanks to the Mall Galleries exhibition - he continues to tackle stormy seas during his role within the RNLI
back home in North Shields.
“When I moved back to the area to pursue a career as an artist, I also started to fulfil my dream of being part of the RNLI,” says Mark.
“I started as a crewman at Tynemouth Lifeboat, building my way up into the helm on the inflatable, which is called a D-class.
“I became a navigator in 2015 and was fortunate enough to be a part of the furthest RNLI rescue in history.
“A call came through to say there was a fishing boat taking on water. We were told it was going to be a long one, so anyone who had to go to work soon must stand down. Because I’m self-employed, I was able to go out.
“We knew that, after a four and a half hour journey to get to the location, we’d only have enough fuel to do one search. Luckily we were able to locate the fisherman and the helicopter was able to get a faint signal
from him. When you’ve searched and searched and you’re getting nothing, your heart just stops - we thought he’d gone down and we’d lost him.
“We were all tearful when we got comms that he was ok. We put a crew member on board and pumped for 15 hours as we towed him back to shore.
“There was another occasion where there was a father and son who got in trouble on the surf at Marsden Rock. We had to go in on the D-class inflatable, using the anchor to dig our bow into the surf so we could pivot into the rock and throw the line to the father who could then pass it to his son.
“The father and son got to shore and we passed them onto the paramedics. I got a medal for bravery for that incident. It’s a really great feeling, and I’m just honoured to be able to continue my father’s legacy in more ways than one.”
Since then, Mark has passed out as a coxswain - the person in charge of the boat, particularly its navigation and steering.
“Traditionally, the coxswain would be the one who stands at the wheel of the boat, but these days it’s all about keeping your situational awareness and communicating with the crew. It’s a huge responsibility, but something I love being a part of.”
When he’s not navigating his palette knife or the crew out on sea, Mark’s three young children certainly keep him busy.
“My youngest (7) is called Aurora - after the Northern Lights, Margot (9) was named after Margo from The Good Life, and my son (10) was named Dallas after my father.
“I love spending time outside with them - whether that’s biking, roller-booting or taking them out on the water.
“They also love to come into my studio and cause chaos, but it’s lovely to be able to pass that on, just like my dad did. I have never pushed it, but they all really love art.”
Things have come full circle for Mark in more ways than one. He continues to paint and save lives in his father’s legacy, bringing joy and second-chances to the lives of the people within his community and beyond.
Mark’s commission book is always open, and he has several prints available to buy online in the run up to Christmas.
marktaylor-thestudio.com
All of my work tells a rich story. Weatherbeaten characters who really love what they do, enjoying their lives within this hard existence
Life is looking a little different since we last spoke to Imran Khaliq in 2019. Since then, he’s navigated a global pandemic as a business owner, welcomed his daughter into the world and continues to fly high with Gainford Group.
The family business shows no signs of slowing down as we see out the remaining weeks of 2022; and that momentum is set to continue into 2023 and beyond.
Imran, his brother Yasser and his sister Cyrenne, are at the beating heart of the business - backed by an ever-growing team across the board, all of whom became part of the extended family the day they joined the Gainford journey.
But Imran never fails to acknowledge the real drivers - his parents and founders, Susan and Mohammed Khaliq - who started something special back in 1995.
“We’ve all seen how hard my mum and dad have worked over the years,” he starts.
“So we’re determined to do everything in our power to continue and build on that.
“There’s so much respect there,” he adds.
“Nothing is ever taken for granted. You’ve got to get out of bed, go to work and put your two cents in every day because nothing comes easy. It’s a really special thing and we’re incredibly lucky to have such a close, hardworking family - led by example from our parents.
“We’re just a regular family from Birtley, at the end of the day,” Imran adds.
“Our parents went through leaps and bounds to get to where they are today, and we are forever grateful for that.
Without them, the business wouldn’t be what it is today.
“We all work incredibly hard, but when you see a business go from a brainstorming session around a table, to the go-to venue in a vibrant city, you have to pinch yourself.
“We’ve had the pleasure of working with some really inspiring people, making some fascinating connections along the way. I’ve had numbers in my phonebook which, when I first started this as a young 21-year-old fresh out of uni, I didn’t think I’d ever have.
“People like Floyd Mayweather, Tyson Fury and Stormzy. The celebrity circles are really quite small, so they’ll pass my details on as
they know they’re going to be well looked after when they visit.
“People - whether they’re high profile or not - know what they’re going to get with us. That’s what, as a team, we pride ourselves on.”
Strong family values and maintaining a quality service is key, but the Khaliqs’ genuine love for the North East is another reason why business continues to boom.
“We live and breathe the North East,” says Imran.
“It’s where my siblings and I grew up, so we understand the region and the peoplewe know what Newcastle needs.
“We’re not about looking at the market, seeing what is doing well, and playing it safe. We opened a Japanese restaurant with a nightclub in it - it was unheard of, people thought we were crazy, but we opened the doors, they came in and they still do!
“Aveika has just won ‘Best North East Restaurant’ at the British Restaurant Awards for the fourth year running, going up against the big dogs in the region, led by these iconic chefs and industry experts. People love it and we like to think we’ve gained >>
As Gainford Group continues to take the hospitality industry by storm in Newcastle, Elysia Fryer checks in with director Imran Khaliq to find out why family values are at the very heart of the business
the trust of many in the region, so much so that they believe in our new ventures and they’re coming with us on those journeys.”
The family doesn’t stop in the Khaliq clique. With a 2,500 strong team across their care homes, nurseries and leisure businesses, this is arguably one of the biggest families in the region.
“We’re an incredibly close knit community. I try to make sure there’s no issues when it comes to hierarchy,” he says.
“Most of our staff have access to my mobile number. If there are ever any issues, I encourage them to reach out as much as possible. A lot of the problems in big corporate businesses are caused by having to jump through hoops to get an answer.
I like to be sitting at the table with the team, making decisions together.
Communication is key.
“At our head office in County Durham, I make sure I’m sitting amongst the rest of the team. If I’m hiding away in a glass box, I don’t know what’s going on, I’m removing myself from the day to day. This way, the staff feel like they can communicate with me - we’re all human, I’m not a robot,” he laughs.
“Having those daily chats about what we’re watching on Netflix is just as important as the big board meetings.”
Trust, communication and the confidence to grow and develop are the backbone of this business, evident in its ongoing success and its ability to move with the times.
The COVID-19 pandemic was the perfect example of a time where the group pivoted and communicated in a way that saw
the business bounce back.
“Given the fact that people couldn’t go anywhere during the pandemic, as soon as the doors opened, we were hitting record numbers. It was crazy busy,” says Imran.
“Since then, we’ve shown no signs of slowing down, and what we’re seeing now is a really strong Christmas. With no restrictions in place this year, people are going for it and our bookings are filling up across the venues.
“The view we had coming out of the lockdowns was that, if you’re going to return to your favourite venues, you want to be seeing something new. That’s why we’re constantly renovating and pushing the venues forward, whether that’s the look and feel of the place, the type of food in the restaurants, the decor in hotel bedrooms, the music policy in a nightclub, or the events we’re putting on.
“We’re always marketing different things. We don’t want to be offering the same thing week in, week out. We’re constantly regenerating and moving with the times, and that’s why we came back with a bang with ABOVE - a one-of-a-kind rooftop bar at the top of the Vermont Hotel.
“We’ve also completed a massive £1.2m refurb of our bar and late night venue on Lower Dean Street, Livello,” Imran adds. But how does one take such a challenging period like the pandemic, and turn it into something positive?
“Instead of just sitting on it and worrying about losing trade, we took the pandemic as an opportunity to take some time to develop and grow,” says Imran.
“It was as simple as that. We went back to the drawing board to figure out exactly what needed our attention at the time. Bedrooms were redecorated in the hotels, the rooftop bar was developed and Livello got a refurb.
It gave us time to think about where we needed to be, especially on the leisure side.
“On the care side, it was a very difficult time,” he adds.
“Making the decision to close the doors was incredibly hard for everyone involved.
families, to our staff.”
Nobody knows how best to navigate a pandemic, but Imran and his family are confident that they did all they could to protect their people and their businesses.
The reward? Loyal customers who have returned to these trusted venues and establishments - from the bars and restaurants, to the hotels, care homes and nurseries headed up by Gainford Group.
“We’re very lucky that our clientele haven’t really changed in their ways all that much,” Imran starts.
“They’re still keen to go out and enjoy themselves and I think, given the situation we’re in at the moment with the cost of living crisis, it’s our job to ensure they’re getting value for money.
“If people are going to go out and spend their hard earned money, they want to get something for it - a unique experience. They want it to be aesthetically pleasing,
“Given the current climate, it’s difficult to see where the world is going, but when the time is right for us, we’ll start laying bricks.
“Gainford continues to expand rapidly. It’s all our ethos has ever been - to get bigger and bigger. We went through the pandemic, came out much stronger, and we’re looking at finishing one of our best years with a bang this Christmas.”
Christmas is, of course, an incredibly busy time when you’re working in hospitality, but things are looking a little different for Imran this year; and those important family values he has learnt from his mum and dad are now being echoed in his own home life.
“I’ve got a one-year-old daughter,” he says with a smile.
“My partner Courtney was pregnant through the pandemic and Iyla was born in September last year. Life obviously does change and I’ve had to adapt my workload to suit family life. That’s really important to
Gainford continues to expand rapidly. It’s all our ethos has ever been - to get bigger and bigger. We went through the pandemic, came out much stronger, and we’re looking at finishing one of the best years with a bang this Christmas
Stopping people visiting their families - it was very tough. We were one of the first in the north to actually close our doors. We made the decision early on, even though we had no idea how the whole thing was going to pan out. It just felt like the right thing to do.
“Our first priority is, and always has been, our patients’ care, so that’s what we did.
The country followed suit, so we made the right decision and people thanked us for that. My mum, who has run the care homes since day dot, really took the lead and did everything she could to protect everyone involved, from residents and
they want and deserve good service, and the product quality should be second-tonone. You have to be able to tick all three boxes, at the very least.
“You can’t just expect people to come to you because you’ve won an award or you’ve had a famous face through the door. You’ve got to keep delivering, gaining trust and creating relationships.
“You’ll see my brother and I in the restaurants and bars on a weekend. We’re living it, just as our customers are. It’s so important.
“We also make a conscious effort to speak to our staff and customers. It’s difficult to make progress as a business owner if you’re not asking questions.
“We have a great team around us and we try to get as much input as possible from the people who are living and breathing it. We all work together. As a family, we’re always asking each other questions and trying to better ourselves.
“Every time I walk into one of our venues I’m looking around like a customer. I want to put myself in the customer’s shoes because that’s what counts.”
While Gainford Group continues to deliver and grow in their current hospitality venues across Newcastle such as The Vermont Hotel, County Hotel, Livello, Avieka and ABOVE, Imran still finds the time to make big plans for the future.
“We have a new development at the former Premier Inn site on New Bridge Street - a sky-scraping 37-storey, multi-complex tower. That’s in the early days of planning at the moment - it’s a really complex site, but we are looking to start that within the next 18 months to two years.
me, and something my parents have always encouraged.
“So Christmas is going to be about managing my time wisely and ensuring we’re making memories as a family.
“It’s tradition that we all - with our growing families - get together on Christmas Day and have dinner at one of our houses. Unfortunately, I can’t even get a table at one of our venues on Christmas Day!”
When Imran isn’t working or spending time with his young family, he acknowledges the importance of giving himself time to switch off and look after his own wellbeing.
“During lockdown I needed something for me to focus on as an ‘escape’, so I started training for triathlons,” he says.
“I worked up towards an Ironman event in Hamburg - a 2.7 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 27 mile run. I enjoyed it so much that I kept it up and signed up for another one in Turkey this November.
“So, as you can imagine, my training schedule is pretty busy. I’m in the gym every morning before work, then I’m home for family time with Courtney and Iyla before getting back in the gym again. It helps me de-stress and switch off. Sometimes it’s so important for me to just put my phone away for an hour or so. It’s really difficult to do that when you’re running a business.
“When I was younger I was constant. I was non-stop, I was everywhere - and to most people, I probably still am, but now I understand that our lives change as time goes on and you’ve got to make time for yourself and your family. Family is everything.”
Terry de Havilland’s sparkling new Night Fever collection invites you to put your best foot forward this festive season. Think bold colours, dazzling metallics and contrasting textures
MALIN + GOETZ
Detox Scalp Mask, 118ml £28, spacenk.com
NEOM
Happiness Essential Oil Blend, 30ml £40, fenwick.co.uk
It doesn’t have to be for a huge amount of time. Studies show that taking even five minutes a day to pause and focus inwards has huge benefits for your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. An easy meditation idea: put on some calming music, breathe in and out slowly for four counts each.
Inertia can set in over the festive period with the colder weather and enticing TV Christmas specials, but it’s important to keep moving for so many reasons including ensuring quality sleep, reducing stress and activating feel-good hormones. Put on some festive tunes and shake your tail feather!
It sounds simple, but often simple is the best way. Make sure you’re getting your mother nature fix by getting out and about in the great outdoors. This will help to soothe your nervous system and reduce stress levels.
Stick to routine (as much as possible) It’s more than okay for routine to fall by the wayside over the festive season, but it’s important to know we humans are habitual creatures and thrive most when our sleeping, eating, exercise and daily structures are in tune. This will make life so much easier when the festive season is over and will help to ease the dreaded January blues.
Don’t be afraid to say no If you often get overwhelmed by the endless gatherings and festive parties, know that you are not alone, many people experience this. Sometimes, even when you’ve made a commitment, you might feel like cancelling nearer the time. Don’t be afraid to say no. Be honest, let your loved ones know how you’re feeling - they may be disappointed, but you have to look after you, and because they love you, they will understand.
Wishing you a happy and healthy festive time! For more wellness tips and to learn more about working with me, follow: @_rebecca_dale on Instagram or email: hello@rebecca-dale.com
AUGUST & PIERS
Darling Scented Candle, 340g £64, harveynichols.com
Fluffy Sleep Eye Mask £15, thewhitecompany.com
NUDDY
Moisturising Soap Bar - Lavender, 100g £5.36, nuddy.co.uk
TOM FORD
Ultra Shine
Lip Colour in Willful, £42.
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Lip Matte in Rouge Louboutin, £73.
CHARLOTTE TILBURY
Matte Revolution in First Dance, £29.
Wellbeing and confidence coach, Rebecca Dale, shares five simple yet soul-soothing ways you can put your wellness first this winter
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I am a style coach. My job is to build and instil confidence in people, through a love of fashion. My clients will generally be stuck in a style rut, lacking confidence, their wardrobes are cluttered, they’re frustrated with shopping and struggling with what to wear, and they come to me because it is affecting their lives and holding them back. They might be avoiding social interactions or not feeling confident enough to put themselves out there from a business perspective.
Everybody has a code. Your code is almost like your DNA and is made up of; your colour code, your body code and your style code. My job is to help them with a ‘Style Code Discovery’ - this is everything from hair and makeup to clothes. It’s really empowering - there’s a massive element of self acceptance in it.
That is stage one of the journey - just discovering what that person is. Stage two is about working on someone’s wardrobe by empowering them to let go of what no longer serves them. It’s my favourite part of the journey - it’s like therapy. We work on decluttering and visually
displaying the wardrobe.
Stage three is the fun bit - where we shop for their new style. The end result is a total transformation. They’ve let go of that old version of themselves and they’ve got the confidence to go it alone.
Your journey to ‘the now’?
I’ve always been obsessed with clothes. I would sit and occupy myself for hours looking through a catalogue as a little girl. My birthday and Christmas money would always go on clothes. I remember turning up to my school Christmas party when I was nine and everyone was in cute little outfits but I had a satin maxi dress with a lace bodice and matching velvet bag and shoes.
I was always very artistic as a child and my mum really harnessed that. Sadly, she passed away when I was 12, and I didn’t realise it at the time, but I think the grief almost blocked my creativity for a while.
I was in a house full of men - my brothers and my dad were always fitness obsessed - so I ended up going into sport and was really successful. I went on to have my own gym, but it wasn’t until I was about 28 when I had my early mid-life crisis. I hadn’t dealt with the grief of losing my mum. I went to therapy for about a year
and it was the best thing I ever did. While I was there, the more I let go of, the more creativity was coming through. It felt really organic. And as cheesy as it sounds, towards the end of therapy, I guess I found the ‘real me’ and I started to get interested in personal style, purely for myself. I went through the personal style journey for myself. It was like I’d discovered my real self and my passion for fashion. I was finally expressing myself.
I paid for a colour analysis and I distinctly remember thinking to myself, ‘is this someone’s job?’. It literally transformed my confidence and taught me so much about myself.
Your route into the fashion world? When I finally discovered my genuine passion for fashion, I started a fashion design course online. I didn’t complete it because half way through it I realised I didn’t want to be creating garments, I wanted to be styling. I went and did a makeup artist course in London and got a job in Karen Millen - I really wanted to be involved in the whole look - from hair and makeup to fashion. During my time as a stylist at Karen Millen, I proved to myself that I could do it. It was all about taking my time and listening to the clientit was never about the sales push for me. That’s when I realised I didn’t want to be tied to a brand.
I had been self-employed for a long-time, so I was able to confidently take the plunge. During this time, I was also fashion blogging and sharing my own journey, so I was making lots of contacts along the way. I took everything that I learnt across my personal style journey and looked at what I would’ve wanted. I knew it needed to be a process - a journey - and that’s where the coaching comes in, which I guess I already had in me from my time as a personal trainer.
Some clients just book a Style Code and then they’re on their way, other clients benefit from working with me throughout the whole journey. People will generally get the biggest transformation if they do the whole process, but either way, it’s amazing. It could be anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months or a couple of years later, I’ll get messages saying how they’ve really got their confidence and it has encouraged them to make changes in other areas of their lives.
I always encourage personal style over fashion. It’s all about breaking down fashion into what suits you. It’s not about trends, it’s about investing in forever or capsule wardrobes that will stand the test of time. People just need guidance on what to invest in in order to get it right. I could build a client a wardrobe with 30 pieces that makes 100 outfits.
There’s nothing wrong with the odd trendyou might add some new pieces in across the seasons - but creating a capsule-based wardrobe is so much more beneficial - and, of course, much better for the environment.
I fully believe in the brands that I recommend, which is really important, and they differ for every client, but on the high street I tend to work with the likes of: Reiss, Russell & Bromley, John Lewis, Fenwick, Selfridges and Harrods. I also work with online stores such as ME + EM, Winser London and many more boutique stores. I try to get people to invest a little higher in the right pieces. I’m a huge advocate for being more sustainable and practising conscious shopping.
People will come to me because they may have lost themselves, or they’re stuck in a style rut. I get a lot of clients who want to understand who they are and how they dress. They might be discovering a new version of themselves, but they’re not sure how the ‘new’ them dresses. It’s not just about style and shopping, it’s about learning and creating new habits and behaviours. It takes up so much unnecessary time and headspace and can be so stressful. People are avoiding the experiences of life because they dread finding something to wear. The value of clothing has plummeted because of fast fashion - and it can create unhealthy relationships.
How do you encourage people to have an open mind and discover what their personal style is?
I encourage my clients to slow down and take it step by step. It’s a process, it doesn’t need to be stressful - in fact, sometimes it’s best to keep it simple.
At the end of the day, we all have to wear clothes, so any lessons we can learn to be able to do it in a way in which is more sustainable, enjoyable and confidence boosting is, of course, going to improve our overall wellbeing. I remind people that it isn’t overindulgent to invest in yourself like this. You can use your Style Code for the
Helenlee Wilkinson, 36, is a style coach with an inspiring story of self discovery. She chats to Elysia Fryer about the importance of investing in yourself
The first look is a statement Rebecca Vallance suit. This is something I would wear for afternoon into evening drinks in Newcastle over the festivities. I’d keep my feet warm with sleek, pointed sock party boots from Russel and Bromley that are very much on trend for the party season. To dress this up I have added an ‘Asceno’ black satin cami, Swarovski green cocktail ring and Monica Vinader gold detail necklace to bring out the gold button details. This could easily be dressed down with a green roll neck and your everyday black handbag.
rest of your life, updating your wardrobe as fashion evolves, then it’s learning something about yourself that is always going to be there.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to look and feel their best ahead of the party season?
The first thing I would think about when it comes to an occasion is feeling comfortable in your body. I encourage ladies to wear what they feel good in. If you feel amazing in a little black dress or a wide leg jumpsuit and that’s the item that you always go back to in your wardrobe, don’t be afraid to bring it back - there’s lots you can do to update it. You can add statement jewellery and a glitzy clutch. Christmas is the perfect time to go a little bit extra when it comes to reinventing a staple outfit. It’s a great time of year to have a bit of fun. I’m big on textures at Christmas - you can create so much interest with metallics, sequins, velvet, leather, satin - the list is endless. I get so excited when I’m in the shops at this time of year and I see a shimmering of gold, silver or sparkles. Another piece of advice is, don’t always feel like you have to over-dress. Sometimes you can quite easily dress up a casual outfit, depending on what your Christmas party is. ‘Smart casual’ is a brilliant thing - it can be whatever you like. Dress up some jeans with some boot heels or a velvet blazer. Colours are also great at this time of year. Don’t feel like because it’s winter we have to go dark. There are plenty of greens, fuschia pinks and cobalt blues in at the moment.
Your wardrobe staples for the festivities? I’m obsessed with tailoring. I love a dramatic jumpsuit, a wide leg trouser, a tuxedo dress, a blazer, or anything like that. I’m quite minimal but I like a bit of drama in the form of tailoring.
Where will you be celebrating this Christmas?
I live in the city centre in Newcastle, which I love. My husband and I love eating out. I like to go to nice coffee shops like Laneway. My favourite restaurants are Kaltur, The French Quarter, Khai Khai and the Fenwick Rooftop.
I lived in Spain for a year or so during Covid, so Christmas was very different last year. This year we’ll split our time between Newcastle and visiting family in the countryside in Lanchester village. On Christmas Eve we tend to go out and do a bit of last minute shopping, wander round the Christmas markets, and then chill out.
Inspired by Docle & Gabbana’s Milan Catwalk Show last month and Valentino Pantone pink that makes the perfect statement pop and is so on trend. This is a clean and bold monochrome look with lots of texture and glamour. Pairing down the sequin skirt with a black cashmere top or this cool D&G tee with some bling. This is an outfit with full on party glamour. This Reiss sequin skirt is one of my most loved party pieces that I think will do your wardrobe purpose for years to come and you could wear it so many ways over the festivities. Jimmy Choo is killing the occasion bag and shoes this season and Swarovski has some amazing statement jewellery to seriously up the party glamour.
The winter white look is always a winner. If you do one party dress this festive season, make it one with feathers for a sophisticated, elegant and modern party look. Taller Marmo is the investment party dress coming in many lengths, colours and necklines - but all in the signature feather hem. Feathers give a lovely Hollywood glam feel and are very on trend. Monica Vinader’s gold textured cocktail jewellery paired with the classic golden Jimmy Choo party shoe lets the dress do the talking whilst adding subtle statements. A true festive red lip from Chanel takes this look to the next level. There really is a red for everyone, it is merely a case of finding the right tone to match your skintone. This YSL chain clutch is a great pairing for this look but also an investment piece. Taller Marmo dresses are available at Fenwick Newcastle.
I’ve always been obsessed with clothes. I would sit and occupy myself for hours looking through a catalogue as a little girl
GAALA
Alexane Dress £225, gaala.com
ZUHAIR MURAD
Embellished Satin Box Clutch £822, theoutnet.com
Embellished Suede-trimmed Mesh Ankle Boots £384, theoutnet.com
SARVIN
Donatella Dress £620, sarvin.co.uk
Katya Bronze Sequinembellished Gown £715, harveynichols.com
AMINA MUADDI
Georgia Crystal-strap Silk-satin Sandals £1,020, matchesfashion.com
PRADA
Studded Satin Headband £650, matchesfashion.com
AQUAZZURA
Tequila Crystal-embellished Ombré Resin Clutch Bag £1,425, matchesfashion.com
KHOEO Sonia Petroff, Gold Swan Luxury Earrings £278, khoeo.com
AQUAZZURA
Tequila 105 Embellished Leather Sandals £945, harveynichols.com
ROGER VIVIER
Crystal-embellished Satin Mules £536, heoutnet.com
Kaia Black Halterneck Stretch-silk Satin Top £350, harveynichols.com
KENNETH JAY LANE Gold-plated Stone Choker £214, theoutnet.com
Winter is upon us which means it’s time to fill our wardrobes with cosy knits, statement styles and glamorous must-haves for the most magical season of all
Taller Marmo has swept us away with their glamorous feather dresses this season allowing our dancefloor dreams to come to life. Dresses of this kind are true investment Pieces. Simply pair with a barely there heel and a trophy clutch for after dark luxury. For added sparkle, look to brand 16Arlington for your seasonal sequin option. £1,290/£1,195, net-a-porter.com
When it comes to the finishing touches, opting for a luxury scarf can ensure that even the most casual outfits look well-considered. Neutral earthy tones will pair nicely throughout the festive season, I’ll be opting for the LOEWE beige anagram scarf. £250, net-a-porter.com
Boots are very much back on our radar. If you’re going to invest in a pair this season, make sure they are knee-high.
Elegant with a swishy midi or A-line mini skirt, they give a flirty nod to the 60s. £1,245, matchesfashion.com
It’s all about disco energy this season. Look for high-shine metallic finishes that will take you from desk to dancefloor. Paired with black tailoring for a cool girl look or elevate that party dress to be the ultimate dancing queen. £45.99, zara.com
An oversized coat is an ideal winter option that is guaranteed to keep you warm, cosy and elevate your everyday outfits. The structured shoulders and long-line silhouette present casual confidence with minimal effort. For a foundational piece that retains its elegance into the evening, Max Mara, Bouguessa or high street Zara offer beautiful options.
£870, bouguessa.com
Morpheus8 is the fractional remodelling skin treatment that responds to the skin’s natural collagen and elastin to achieve a more radiant, youthful glow. Luxe discovers the revolutionary new treatment with the experts at Reds Salon in Sunderland
We’re encouraged to love the skin we’re in - and there’s no denying that it is easier said than done - but with fractional technology that helps to awaken and rebuild the body’s natural collagen, it is made much easier.
When the beauty team at Reds invited us to try the revolutionary new Morpheus8 treatment, we jumped at the opportunity to give our skin the boost it deserves ahead of the winter chill.
We arrive early for the treatment preparation, where numbing cream is applied and left to work its magic for around an hour.
We start with an initial consultation with our practitioner, Sarah. She gently talks us through the process, ensuring we’re fully up to speed with the ins and outs of the minially invasive treatment, the results and aftercare. This is where we chat through problem areas, goals and the recommended number of sessions.
With our newfound knowledge and a hot cup of tea, we’re left to relax before the Morpheus8 machine gets to work.
The treatment is generally performed on the face, but can also be used on the abdomen, thighs, legs and buttocks. One of the best things about Morpheus8 is that results are expected almost immediately, with visible improvements for up to three months post-treatment. It really is the gift that keeps on giving - we hope!
The machine uses radiofrequency technology to stimulate the production of collagenthe good stuff that serves as one of the main building blocks for our skinresurfacing the skin to reveal a younger, fresher and plumper complexion.
So, why the numbing cream and needles, you ask? Well, we can try all the creams and skincare hacks in the world, but science tells us that nothing regenerates the skin better than our own body. Gentle stimulation (thanks to incredibly clever numbing cream!)
sends our skin into shock recovery mode, rebuilding collagen to help renew the deeper layers of the skin.
The face may appear red following the treatment, but rest assured, the more redness, the better the results. It’s the skin doing its bit - and working the Morpheus magic!
For us, it’s as much about skin tightening as it is about pigmentation, so to hear that this treatment is proven to deliver results for both of those problem areas, we’re on to a winner.
With our skin perfectly numbed and after a quick test patch, we’re ready to let the treatment do the talking.
24 gold-plated needles work their way into the skin, focusing on softer areas where you can pinch a bit of fat or muscle first (the neck and jowls), working its way up the face to tighter areas such as above the lip and cheek bones. The needles are encased with a silicone wrap-around, ensuring the heat only comes out of the tip and straight into the skin.
There really is nothing to be frightened about when it comes to the physicality of the treatment. Yes, you are aware of the machine, but - even on the deepest needle setting (3mm), there’s no discomfort or pain. After the initial consultation and one hour numbing process, the actual treatment takes
just 15 minutes to undertake; so before you know it, you’re ready to step out of the salon with your sparkling new skin. Before that though, the Reds team include a complimentary 15-minute Dermalux session for all Morpheus8 customers - the perfect way to wind down and end the treatment, particularly if you’ve been a bag of nerves. It’s time to rest up and let the cell regeneration, anti-aging light therapy do its thing.
There’s lots to consider when it comes to aftercare, but Sarah ensures we’re clued up and all questions and concerns are answered before we leave the salon with SPF applied.
There’s a feeling of windburn on the skin as we make our way home, but we’re safe in the knowledge that it is simply our skin reminding us that something is happening beneath the surface and we’ll be glowing in no time.
Following the treatment, we have been tracking our results; and, not only does the treatment physically lift the skin, but it lifts confidence - and continues to do so from three hours post-treatment, to three days and beyond. We’re still seeing positive results with an obvious reduction in deep lines and drooping jowls. We’re confidently heading into winter with a radiant glow. redshairandbeauty.com
Not only does the treatment physically lift the skin, but it lifts confidence - and continues to do so from three hours posttreatment, to three days and beyond
There’s no place quite like the gorgeous Grantley Hall, and with the party season ahead of us, now is the perfect time to check in at Three Graces Spa. Elysia Fryer robes up and reminds us why we don’t need to wait until January to put winter wellness first
Why is it that we feel we should wait until the new year to reward ourselves (our minds and our bodies) with a bit of self care?
There are a number of little things in life that we can do to increase our overall mental health and wellbeing - every day, all year round. But for some reason, we wait until after the buzz of ‘party season’, when we find ourselves in a ‘winter slump’, to give our bodies the love and attention it deserves.
What if we flipped that idea on its head? What if we went against all norms and put our self care before everything else at a time when our minds, our diaries (and our tummies) are full?
Our advice is to free up some time in the pre-Christmas calendar for a bit of pampering. For you that might be a quiet day at home, curled up with a book and
a candle. For others it might be getting lost in nature. Or, if you really want to do self care ‘luxe style’, check in for an indulgent spa day.
Grantley Hall, a gracious stately mansion set in rolling countryside and wrapped in enchanting woodland along the River Skell, sits between the cathedral city of Ripon and the charming market town of Pateley Bridge. Its stunning Three Graces Spa is the perfect spot to relax and recharge this winter.
When it comes to checking in with yourself and really feeling special, this place tops the list. It’s one of the most exclusive venues we’ve visited and we’re incredibly lucky to have it on our doorstep.
Complete with a magnificent marble-clad swimming pool, an indoor-outdoor hydro pool, panoramic sauna, snow room and luxury steam room, it’s a place where time stands still and tranquility comes first.
A place to pause and connect with the here and now.
A morning exploring the facilities and therapies is just the ticket as we gently drift away from our busy schedules. With curved ceilings, beautiful beams and warm, neutral decor, the space welcomes and embraces you as soon as you step through the door. We sink into the loungers by the pool as the soothing sound of the water carries our worries away for a little while.
After a dip in the hydrotherapy pool, it’s time to let the therapists work their magic as we indulge in our 60-minute treatments. I opt for the ‘Recovery’ massage, soothing irritated skin and reducing face and back inflammation. Best suited for hypersensitive skin, it’s the perfect tonic to help re-energise and boost the face and body as the colder weather starts to take its toll.
I leave with a facial glow like never before, giving me that extra bit of confidence heading into Christmas.
Following our treatments, we’re lapped up by the beauty of the Spa Lounge for a light lunch and a glass of the good stuff. We float back into the spa like new people, ready to fully immerse ourselves in the thermal experiences.
Everything about Grantley Hall’s Three Graces Spa is better than first class. You’ll find perfection at every touch point - from the facilities in the changing rooms and the sounds of nature setting the serene soundtrack, to the signature scents pumping through the air, you are made to feel world’s away from the every day, and that’s exactly what was needed as we give our bodies that little bit of TLC ahead of the festive season.
Grantley Hall is hosting two extra special, seasonal breaks this winter. The Three Night Christmas House Party package (24-27 December) includes Christmas Eve carol singing, dinner and entertainment, an indulgent Christmas Day lunch in Fletchers Restaurant, a guided Boxing Day stroll to blow away the cobwebs and much, much more. The New Year’s Eve House Party package (30 December - 2 January) is the perfect way to celebrate the start of 2023 in style, complete with a glorious NYE dinner, fireworks display, late-night party, NYD lunch and more. See website for more details and prices.
Let the team at Grantley look after you on the big day itself by seating the whole family for a traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings, complete with a visit from Santa to keep the little ones entertained. The luxurious lunch includes champagne reception, five house lunch and a magical
Grantley Hall gift to take away with you. £150pp, £80 per child (5-14), £40 per child (under 5).
AT THE ORCHARD
Escape the cold and cosy up in the stunning, ski-inspired Orchard this winter as it returns with a whole host of seasonal treats, making you feel like you’re right on the slopes. The Launch Event will take place on Friday 11 November, and the twinkling venue will be available to book throughout the festive season.
Clear your diaries for a day of festive flower arranging and cooking tips on Thursday 8 December. Hosted by the hall’s house manager, Anne Harrison, you will learn how to create the ultimate table centrepiece before hearing from pastry chef, Stefan Rose, on how to create some seasonal delicacies when entertaining at home.
As the dark nights draw in and Grantley’s glorious gardens light up beneath the light of the moon, there’s no better time to bundle up with someone you love and check in for a blissful spa day at the Three Graces Spa. Winter is a time to put your wellness first, especially before the rush of the party season. Monday-Friday Twilight Spa (from £165pp), Saturday - Sunday Twilight Spa (from £195pp).
The colder months are a mental and physical challenge. The shorter, darker days of winter make us more vulnerable to the many viruses and bacteria that circulate at this time of year. Although we want to stay indoors and hibernate during cold and flu season, being active is essential for our immune system and mental wellbeing.
A good night’s sleep will do wonders for your physical and emotional health. To keep your body clock in sync, wind down before bed with a book or meditation rather than your smartphone. Also, to avoid any buzzing or temptation, consider leaving your phone in another room.
Get inventive in the kitchen - whether it’s a vegetable soup or a winter hot pot. The effort to nourish oneself with a portion of balanced and healthy food benefits the body and the soul. So, stay well hydrated and avoid sugary snacks and sweet beverages.
It is essential to take advantage of any daylight in winter. Wrap yourself up and head outside on winter mornings when the sun is shining to soak up some vital vitamin D. Still, take care to put on facial sun cream.
Use a good exfoliant to buff away dry, flaky skin cells. Our skin becomes lacklustre and dry when the temperature decreases. Try including a natural exfoliation into your weekly regime.
It is indulgent to enter a hot sauna during the colder months. It is an excellent way to unwind and does wonders for your general health and your skin’s radiance. The increased blood flow and reduced inflammation from using a sauna can aid in speedier muscle recovery, along with better sleep, clearer skin and a reduction in toxins.
“Here goes - The Sunshine Coach reminding me to look after my inner happiness and to start now rather than waiting until January,” I hear you think.
I get it, I really do. Last week in the lead up to the anniversary of my mum’s passing, I really struggled and had very little energy.
I felt overwhelmed, my mind was busy with unhelpful thinking patterns, and I felt so guilty about not getting stuff done. Fortunately, after hours of studying positive psychology (PERMA model is worth checking out), facilitating wellbeing workshops and years of coaching, I have the tools and awareness to support myself. I’ll spare you the lecture about what you should do and focus more on the science behind happiness. How does that sound?
Benefits of being happy
It can help you live longer. As demonstrated through the Nun Study, Sisters of Notre Dame USA:
The nuns/sisters wrote autobiographical essays, and decades later, was analysed for positive emotions and then compared with mortality rates. The sisters lead very similar lives, with diet, sleep and routines making it easier to assess the impact of their subjective wellbeing on living longer.
By the age of 85, 79% of the most cheerful nuns were still alive, compared to 54% of the least cheerful. By age 93 only 18% of the least cheerful were alive compared to 52% of the happiest nuns.
Happy people function better and have:
- Stronger immune systems
- Greater optimism
Happiness and wellbeing are words that are used interchangeably in positive psychology, but the official term is ‘subjective wellbeing’, which is based on how we evaluate our lives. There are two dimensions to the science of happiness, and these are HEDONIC wellbeing and EUDAIMONIC wellbeing. We need a balance of both to thrive. Hedonic happiness is about maximising pleasure and minimising pain. This form of happiness is experienced in those peak moments of enjoyment. Eudaimonic happiness is a deeper kind of contentment which comes from a sense of meaning or purpose, personal growth and selfactualisation. To achieve this, we need to put effort into something meaningful that goes beyond ourselves.
Many of us will experience too much of the sweet life in the lead up to Christmas - with rich food, lots of booze, late nights and overspending - and therefore, hedonism tilts the scales. Too much indulgence leaves us feeling sluggish, unmotivated, and dissatisfied, yet too much of the dry life can be boring. Have you got the balance right? I invite you to journal this and hot pen your thoughts.
Happiness is a practice. You can’t just switch it on, on 1 January.
- More creativity - Ability to stay on task and be systematic - Greater sociability and popularity wamongst friends and colleagues - Higher levels of trust and helpfulness - Less hostility and self-centredness - Higher income levels
- Successful careers doing something they love
We can make a habit of happiness using these 12 habits:
Learn to play
Express gratitude
Savour the positive
Harness your strength
Live with meaning
Learn optimism
Value relationships
Practise kindness
Get physical
Turn to nature
Practice mindfulness
Strive for success
Even if you choose just one of the 12 habits above to focus on, it will make a big impact. Or why not make it a year in which to transform your life, by beginning each month with a new habit?
Whilst coaching teams and leaders in the corporate world fills me with joy, I truly love coaching men and women to be the best version of themselves using a positive evidenced based approach.
Why wait until January to be happy? You deserve it right now!
Wellbeing is: “feeling good and functioning effectively”
Why wait until the new year to be happy and healthy?
Why winter wellbeing is so important: top tips from from Grantley Hall’s Spa & Wellness Manager
Rebecca Doyle heads up the awardwinning Three Graces Spa and ELITE gym. Here are her top tips to help you stay fit and healthy this winter…
We all need a bit of The White Company in our lives, and December is the perfect time to indulge. Wake up every morning to a window of wonderful opportunities as you’re gifted with beautiful bath, body and home essential products. Packed with everything from your favourite Fireside Fragrance Oil (a winter must!), to hand wash, body lotion and candles, each day in December is sure to start with a smile. £175, thewhitecompany.com
December days with a sprinkling of wellness. Check out our pick of luxe beauty advent calendars for 2022
The Ritual of Advent has never been so nourishing. Christmas is a time to feel the magic, whatever your age. This year, Rituals is giving us a daily reminder to feel good thanks to its Premium Advent Calendar, beautifully designed with twinkling branches and shimmering gold hues. Inside you’ll find a range of soul-nourishing products including fragrance sticks, candles, body creams and more.
£160.50, rituals.com
Give yourself the gift of great face, body and bath care this December with the spectacularly festive Susanne Kaufmann advent calendar. Each day you will be treated to an individual glass bottle filled with the finest Suanne Kaufmann treats, including eye serums, toners, lip balms, body butter, bath salts, face masks, exfoliators and much, much more.
£380, susannekaufmann.com
Let this beautiful box of Liz Earle goodies guide you through 12 days of Christmas this year. A chance to truly explore the brand’s best-loved range, each product harnessing the natural power of botanical ingredients. From masks and moisturisers, to exfoliators and lip balm, you’ll be left feeling fresh from head to toe.
£65, lizearle.com
The luxury department store has released its first ever beauty advent calendar and it’s bursting with cult products and lust-worthy treatments from big name brands including Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Acqua di Parma and Dermalogica, to name just a few. It’s the perfect way to sprinkle a little bit of beauty joy this holiday season. £250, harveynichols.com
Dr. Hauschka
Countdown to Christmas with 23 travel sized treats and a full size Rose Day Cream, to give your skin the love it deserves when the winter chill hits. Housed in a beautiful sustainable box that can be used year after year, this is a good-for-you investment and a new Christmas tradition we could all get on board with.
£90, drhauschka.co.uk
Susanne Kaufmann Advent CalendarNatural looking enhancements that will give you a more youthful complexion, with rejuvenated skin.
With a deep understanding of facial anatomy, thanks to her Dental training and being a Trainer and Mentor in Facial Injectables to Drs and Dentists, you couldn’t be in better and safer hands for your cosmetic needs.
The Clinic by Mona, 61 High Street, Gosforth, NE3 4AA Tel. 0191 284 6436 www.theclinicbymona.com
Christmas is upon us and if you haven’t already started thinking about a little pre-season pampering, then we are here to help. Everyone wants to look their best over the festive holidays and there’s no better way to get yourself looking gorgeous than starting with fab hair. There are so many ways to improve the quality and appearance of your hair and at this time of year it can be much needed with the dull, damp weather. If you’re not a regular with hair colour then why not treat yourself to a gloss and tone treatment?
It will enhance your natural shade and make it shine for days. Equally, these treatments work just as well on pre-coloured hair if you simply want to add that extra shimmer and lustre to your tresses.
Hair products have come a long way in recent years and can really transform the quality of your hair. Whether it’s body boosting, super smoothing or perfect curls, there is a product perfectly suited to your hair type. More and more we get clients looking for expert advice on choosing the right hair care regime for their hair type, rather than taking chances and getting it wrong.
One of the many great things about this time of year are the gorgeous Christmas gift sets which, not only look gorgeous, but are amazing value for money - quite often with a free full size product included. They make the perfect present for someone special, but we say why not treat yourself?
You deserve it! Check out the amazing gift sets in our salons from Aveda and Oribe. Heading into winter also means it’s the annual British Hairdressing Awards at the end of November at London’s Grosvenor House on Park Lane. With several nominations at this year’s awards for: Newcomer, Men’s, North Eastern, Artistic Team, and British Hairdresser Of The Year, team H&Y have more finalist positions than any other salon group in the UKnow that alone is worth celebrating! Let’s hope we bring back some silverware.
all of you lovely Luxe readers a very Merry Christmas from all of us at HOOKER & YOUNG.
Wishing
Let your locks do the talking as you shimmer into the new season with colour, toners and gorgeous gift sets
rho
Alison Robe - Clay Stripe £115, wheninrho.com
Atelier Materi
Santal Blond Eau de Parfum (100ml) £210, harrods.com
Oliver Bonas
Black Buckle
Detail Chelsea Boots
£110, oliverbonas.com
Hello Time
Daily Undated Planner and Notebook £36, hellotime.co.uk
CHANEL
Coco Mademoiselle Pearly Body Gel £85, chanel.com
Lucy Pittaway
Our Happy Place Stationery Gift Pack £14.95, lucypittaway.co.uk
Laurent-Perrier
Cuvée Rosé NV Champagne Butterfly Robe, 75cl £79.50, thechampagnecompany.com
Bee Goddess Bee Gold Diamond Bracelet £4,782, beegoddess.com
Berry’s
18ct White Gold Serpente Diamond Spital Dress Ring £5,395, berrysjewellers.co.uk
Oliver Bonas
Green Cable Roll Neck Jumper £59.50, oliverbonas.com
Gingerlily
Ivory Silk Pyjamas £267, luxedeco.com
The White Company
Winter Large Candle £65, thewhitecompany.com
Jellycat
Leffy Elf £17.50, contempo.gifts
Rex London Wooden Boomerang £6.95, rexlondon.com
The Pull Pup £30, lovevery.co.uk
The White Company
Snowy Penguin Advent Calendar £42, thewhitecompany.com
Barbour
Boys Case Fair Isle Beanie £15.95, barbour.com
Pretty
Hannah Shoes £149, prettyballerinas.co.uk
Ella James Gold Collapsible Storage Bag £45, ellajames.co.uk
Dobbies Snakes & Ladders £14.99, dobbies.com
Little Bird Told Me Celeste & Fae Unicorn
Rocker Rocking Horse £124.95, cuckooland.com
Lucy Pittaway
A Cosy Christmas Mug £14.95, lucypittaway.co.uk
Little Dutch Wooden Balance Bike Scooter £92, cuckooland.com
Stych Butterfly & Unicorn Dress £40, stychaccessories.com
Le Toy Van Honeybake Shop & Cafe £119.95, cuckooland.com
Fuzzy Stars
The Nuno Starter Set £47.99, fuzzystars.co
Throughout Christmas and New Year, Spanish City comes alive with festive magic. From its 40ft Christmas tree and enchanting decorations, to its calendar full of unmissable events, the multi-award-winning venue is the perfect place to celebrate.
Its line-up includes festive dining at Trenchers restaurant, Afternoon Jazz with Lunch and Festive Lunch with Panto, meaning there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.
When it comes to New Year’s Eve, guests can dine under the splendour of Spanish City’s dome at award-winning Trenchers. Adults and older children can enjoy two courses for £27.00 or three courses for £31.00, and kids
can enjoy three courses for just £10.95!
The evening will be separated into two sessions: the first for family-friendly dining (4pm - 6pm) and the second for adults and children 12+ (7pm - 9pm). In Trencher’s first sitting, there’ll be a fun-filled family celebration with live children’s entertainers. In the second sitting, diners can expect live music on the grand piano and a table magician. There’ll also be drinks available on The Gallery after your meal, with live acoustic music playing while you see in the New Year.
You can also celebrate New Year’s Eve in true style and sophistication at Spanish City’s New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner in 1910 Restaurant and
The Champagne Bar, with live
music in The Champagne Bar to make the evening even more special.
Starting with a glass of champagne and canapés upon arrival, guests will then experience an exquisite eight-course dinner, made with only the freshest and finest ingredients on the market.
For more information or to book one of Spanish City’s events: 0191 691 7090 www.spanishcity.co.uk
Spanish City, Spanish City Plaza, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE26 1BG
With Christmas just around the corner, where better to celebrate the festive period than the iconic Spanish City?
Autumn sure has been a busy time in my world. Late September saw the Soho Farmhouse Food Festival in the Oxfordshire countryside. I’m an ambassador for a cookware company called HexClad and we were the headline sponsor at the event so we hosted a number of workshops, cookery schools and demos. The HexClad project has been keeping me very busy. It’s a brand that is growing really quickly in America and we’re starting to see a rise in interest in the UK too, which is great. I’ve been spending some time filming in the US and working with chefs over there, so that’s been really fun - and I’m just delighted to be involved
in a brand that I truly believe in. The range looks super cool for a start, but their stuff is built to last, so there’s a sustainability message there. Gordon Ramsay is the face of the brand and what is super interesting is they’re using it in the kitchens at his high-end London restaurants, which is a really good sign. I was drawn to the brand organically on social media, so I’m incredibly excited to be working with them now. I’m delighted to offer a 10% discount code for Luxe readers. Please find details at the bottom of the page.
The BBC Good Food Show is back with its winter edition from 24 - 27 November at the NEC in Birmingham. If anyone wants
Serves 6
This Middle Eastern-inspired veggie recipe looks epic served on a platter in the middle of the table - perfect if you’re feeding a crowd over the festive period. Za’atar is a blend of herbs and spices with a nice zing to it.
Ingredients
3 aubergines, cut in half lengthways
Juice of 1 lemon
8 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
6 tbsp za’atar, plus 2 tsp to serve
6 tbsp plain yoghurt
1 small bunch of mint, leaves chopped
200g pomegranate seeds
Salt and pepper
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan.
For the rice
600g basmati rice
2 tbsp cumin seeds
2 large onions, thinly sliced Butter (optional)
to go, it’s a great foodie event featuring a number of inspiring chefs from different walks of life, as well as a lot of small independent producers from across the country. It’s the place to be when it comes to meeting in-the-know food people, and it’s got a good feel about it. It’s the event that really gets Christmas underway for me. I’ll be there hosting the Festive Kitchen, where different chefs will be joining me to showcase their dishes with a seasonal twist. On a personal level, I can’t wait to go home for Christmas. I’ve done it every year since I’ve moved to London and it truly brings the festive season alive for me. I’ll be at home for at least two weeks and it’ll be great to catch up with old friends and family in Hexham. I’m not bothered about anything fancy, I just love to get down to the local pub and make the most of those festive traditions. I always do my annual trip to Trenchers fish and chip shop in Whitley Bay between Christmas and New Year. There’s a guy that used to live on our street in Hexham - he works for a local farm - and as far back as I can remember, we’ve always bought our turkey from him. My parents have since moved house, but we still get the turkey from him. It’s a lovely little tradition. Supporting local suppliers is important all year round, but there’s just something special about doing it at Christmas time.
I do a weekly segment on BBC Radio Newcastle, so when I’m back up north, it’ll be nice to pop in, say hello and catch up over some mince pies.
2. Use a sharp knife to make a criss-cross pattern on the inside of each aubergine half, about 1cm deep.
3. Lay the aubergines on a baking tray. Pour half of the lemon juice over the cut side of the aubergines. Drizzle all over with 6 tbsp of oil, season with salt and pepper and scatter over 6 tbsp of za’atar. Use your hands to rub the oil and za’atar all over the aubergines, getting it into the grooves.
4. Give the aubergines a final drizzle of oil and roast for about 45 minutes until soft and slightly charred on top.
5. To make the rice, weigh the rice in a measuring jug or mug. (You will need 2 x the volume of boiling water to rice for cooking later, so 1 mug of rice = 2 mugs of water.)
6. Put the rice into a sieve, rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear, then set aside. Boil the kettle.
7. Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil in a large saucepan over a medium-high heat and add the cumin seeds. When they sizzle, add the onions with a good pinch of salt and fry for 5 minutes until golden.
I say this every year, but sprouts are not just for Christmas Day. They’re in season for a long time throughout the winter, and it makes sense for us to be using them as much as possible while they’re at their best. Don’t feel like you’re restricted with what you can do with sprouts - have a bit of fun with them. Why not try something Asian-inspired? A simple idea is to cut them in half, drizzle with oil and rub them in miso paste, add a little bit of honey and roast them. It’s so simple, but one of the most delicious things you can do with sprouts. One thing I’ve learnt from the travelling I’ve done with M&S is; it’s a very simple equation, but when things are in season, they taste better and they cost less, which is very relevant with the whole cost of living
crisis. You don’t just have to cook Christmas food in the run up to the day - there’s lots we can do with this fantastic, traditional produce, putting a unique spin on it to really make the flavours pop
If you’ve got any questions you want to ask Chris - whether it’s a recipe you’d like to see, information about his live cook-a-longs, or recommendations for restaurants in the North East or across the country - please get in touch via his Instagram page. Chris will select a question and answer it in the next column.
#AskChris instagram.com/chrisbaber
Q: What kitchen tools would you recommend as a gift to the foodies in your life this Christmas?
A: For me, the basics and what you use every day, are the most important things to invest in. There are so many gadgets and gizmos out therepeople have smoothie makers and spiralizers and all sorts - but they’re using blunt knives and throw-away pans. HexClad is about getting those really key products right - and ensuring they stand the test of time. My advice would be to invest in the basics that you use time and time again.
I know you’ll love HexClad as much as I do, so I’m delighted to offer a special 10% discount code for Luxe readers. Use coupon code LUXE10 at checkout on the HexClad website: hexclad.co.uk
The new season is all about hearty winter dishes, wholesome seasonal produce, and heading home for Christmas...
If you can’t indulge in chocolate at Christmas, then when can you? Hotel Chocolat’s Festive Feast Hamper is sitting at the top of our wishlist this season. Whether it’s an office treat, a gift for a loved one or a Christmassy present to yourself, this ultimate collection of seasonal goodies is guaranteed to bring festive joy to any sweet tooth. From macarons, truffles, and batons, to biscuits, hot chocolates and tipples, this magnificent hamper is filled to the brim with an abundance of high-cacao delights.
Fancy cheese boards are on the menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper when it comes to indulging over the Christmas break, and Wensleydale Creamery is doing the hard work for us this year with a number of delicious, cheese-packed hampers as a ‘treat to self’ or something special for a loved one. We’ve got our eye on the Celebration of Wensleydale Hamper this year - brimming with local produce and lovingly packaged in a large cooler bag. Give the gift of great cheese this Christmas. £169.95, wensleydale.co.uk
£100, seggiano.com
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for foodies, employees, friends or family? We’ve found the perfect hamper for you. Bundled up inside this beautifully packed hamper you will find two full-sized bottles of wine as well as a variety of festive-inspired sweet treats including mince pies, Christmas pudding, fruit cake, pralines, fudge and a selection of chocolate delights and festive biscuits. All of that, plus a selection of savoury snacks including sweet chilli peanuts and cashews, Mrs Darlington’s Christmas Chutney, Brown Bag crisps, and much more. The foodie gift of dreams!
£69.95, spicersofhythe.co.uk
£300, hotelchocolat.com
Looking for the perfect gift for someone who appreciates the finer things in life? This delightful Belmont Gift Box from Bettys is just the treat. Bettys is best-loved for its splendid delights, and their Christmas hampers are no exception. This stylish set features an array of hand-picked classics from cakes and biscuits, to chocolates, chutneys, tea and coffee.
£100, bettys.co.uk
This season, Flourish + Rye are bringing the best of artisan UK produce to festive tables across the region and beyond. This year, we’ve set our sights on their ultimate Christmas hamper, The Spruce. Inside this traditional wicker basket, you’ll find everything you need to celebrate any festive celebration. Think London-made wines by Renegade, small batch charcuterie, luxury single origin chocolates, all butter rum mince pies and Flourish + Rye’s infamous British cheese board selection; the list goes on. Other beautiful F+R hampers include The Fern, The Ivy and The Thistle. £250, flourishandrye.co.uk
All your favourite festive treats bundled up into one - this luxury hamper from Thornton and France is what Christmas dreams are made of. Think sweet mince pies, classic Christmas pudding, ginger biscuits, panettone, clotted cream fudge and an abundance of chocolatey treats - and that’s just the sweet stuff. This ultimate indulgent hamper encased in a large wicker basket also includes a selection of four alcoholic festive tipples as well as a selection of savoury snacks - all of which are ideal for cheese boards and boxing day nibbles.
£249.95, thorntonandfrance.com
Feast festive this Christmas with our round-up of the best foodie hampers packed full of your favourite yuletide treatsSeggiano Premium Christmas Hamper Indulge in the ultimate Italian treats this season with Seggiano’s Premium Christmas Hamper. A delicious selection of oils and vinegars, cheese, herbs, pasta, sauces and sensational sweet treats, this is the perfect gift for the foodie in your life.
I think I was a little bit over excited and naive going into it. In effect, it’s a simple process in that you take the sea water and evaporate it to create salt in a very simplistic way, but there’s actually quite a lot to it when you go through the stages. And then to do that at a commercial level is even harder because it’s not like there’s an instruction book to follow. It’s very much a learning journey. We wanted to create a sea salt that is as environmentally friendly as possible, from the production to the amount of energy used. But we also wanted something that is scalable. We spent a lot of time researching and I set up what I called a ‘lab’ in the spare bedroom - my partner Becki was a bit miffed at first - but it was a space for me to do lots of testing and developing. It has been about a year in the making, but now we’re up and running, making lots of new contacts, and enjoying every minute of it.
What is the process of harvesting and making sea salt?
We take sea water from various locations along the North Yorkshire Coast. We extract mostly from Runswick Bay and Sandsend, switching depending on the weather. How much salt is in the sea water can vary slightly, so we have to pick the right time and location to get the best quality water for producing sea salt. Salinity can be affected by the rainfall, the tide and the seasons.
There’s a bit of trial and error involved in the process. I’ve got a tool called a refractometer - all you do is take some droplets of sea water and put it on the lens. The light refracts through it and gives you a scale, telling you what the salt content is. If we take sea water with salinity less than 3.5%, we have to work harder and use more energy to extract the sea salt, so it’s in our best interest to get it at its highest possible point.
dry it and package it. That’s it in its simplest form. When we’re up to full scale production, we’ll be looking to produce a batch within a day.
The sea water surrounding the North Yorkshire Coast is different from other coasts. It’s all to do with the bedrock and the underwater environment. You can end up with up to 60 trace minerals in there.
Your standard table sea salt is made in a totally different way where they fire pressure underground into the bedrock which has ancient salt deposits in. It comes out and they add iodine to it, so you’re just getting your pure salt there, nothing else. With sea salt, you’re getting all of your different minerals in there - and that’s what makes it so unique.
Yorkshire Sea Salt has quite a unique flavour - it’s really quite punchy. It will have an individual, recognisable flavour. Salt is such a simple product in that we rely on it to live - we need it in our bodies. It can be a very complex and important thing. I’ve been discovering that I can put a pinch of Yorkshire Sea Salt in my drinking water and it basically helps you absorb more water intake. If you drink a load of water and it’s just passing through you, you think you must be hydrated, but if the salt in our body isn’t at a high enough level, we don’t absorb it properly. So by putting just a pinch of sea salt in your water, it can really make a difference. It’s really interesting.
Where can we find Yorkshire Sea Salt? We’re building up relationships with local businesses. The aim is to get the sea salt stocked in delis and farm shops with a similar, ‘support local’ ethos. We’ve had interest from people who want to use the product in their cafes, restaurants and bakeries.
One of the most wonderful things about my job is uncovering exciting new businesses or finding people who are navigating a new journey - be it in business or something personal. Another is the fascinating conversations that stem from these meetings. I’m constantly learning and often becoming engrossed in subjects I never thought I would.
I wasn’t aware that I had a lot to learn when it comes to sea salt. It’s one of those things that, admittedly, is part of everyday life, but I had never spent time wondering how and why.
That was until I sat down for a chat with Richard Devany, the brains behind Yorkshire Sea Salt. His business is a celebration of the wild and wonderful natural surroundings that have shaped his journey. Growing up in Skelton, near Saltburn, the Yorkshire Coast has been a constant in Richard’s life, and one that has brought him full circle after a busy corporate career.
Let’s take it back to the salty shores of North Yorkshire to hone in on the latest hand-harvested sea salt to hit the market.
What did you do in your past life and what
made you take the plunge into launching Yorkshire Sea Salt?
I was in the events sector for 15 years.
I worked on a whole host of projects; everything from Leeds Festival to Glastonbury, big business conferences, and corporate and charity events. It was a very exciting, always-on-the-go kind of job, and when Covid hit, I guess I had a lot of time on my hands, which I wasn’t used to.
I’m quite a practical person and I’d always wanted to work with my hands. I like to start from scratch and figure out how things work. But as I was reflecting on this, there was no obvious passion that I wanted to pursue.
In early 2021 there was a news article about an archeological dig up on the North Yorkshire Coast; they had found the oldest salt production site, dating back to 5,800 BC. In the Neolithic era they were making sea salt up on the cliffs of Boulby. I was totally mesmerised by the findings, and with there being a local link (I grew up in Skelton) I was just really interested in the whole thing and the cogs started turning.
I decided to look into it and couldn’t find any other businesses harvesting sea salt in the area, so I thought, ‘I could do that’.
Ultimately, we collect the sea water, take it back to the salt house, triple filter it, and then the idea is that we turn it into a brine by boiling it down. We evaporate the pure water and are left with a concentrated brine solution. That effectively takes it from about 3.5% salinity to about 20%. From there, we pump it into our salt pans with heating lamps that heat the surface of the brine, slowly evaporating. Gradually, you get salt crystals forming on the surface of the water. It’s amazing to see - if you get it right, they form in a perfect pyramid shape. When the surface tension gets too much, they fall - a little bit like rainfall - and once we have enough, we harvest it, drain it,
We’ve had Michelin starred restaurants who are interested in using it in their food and cooking methods, which is really exciting. I think people and businesses are making a conscious effort to work with small, local businesses, so hopefully we can tap into that market and build up some new connections along the way. It’s all about giving back to the community and creating a positive local environment, which we’re all keen to do. Saltburn and the surrounding towns and villages along the coast are big on that, so let’s hope we can add to that and really create something special.
yorkshireseasalt.co.uk
Luxe is riding the new business wave with Yorkshire Sea Salt, an exciting new pure and natural product hand-harvested from the Yorkshire Coast. Elysia Fryer chats to founder Richard Devany
In these articles we have looked at some of the joys of life; bees, sheep, chickens - chickens are a sore subject with me - and we now have a fat fox, but that’s nature. Nature, landscape, biodiversity and setting are all so important to how we enjoy where we live.
Where we live is a huge decision based on our immediate family, friends, wider family, our work, and what we each look for, be it rural, urban or city living. All of that, and, of course, affordability.
Our home, when we bought it, was truly in need of love. If you’ve been on our website you may have seen some early photoswe always recall a very chatty friend seeing it when we had completed the purchase and all he could say was, ‘why?’, over and over again! So, purchase complete, we began the renovation project. The big difference between a renovation and a new build is in planning the project. You need to keep the pencil and rubber close at hand and be flexible to changing and adapting as you discover additional work and design flaws, be it a hidden timber which is goosed and requires propping before repair, or the need to add additional purlins (the horizontal piece of wood in the roof structure) to meet the engineering calculations for current building regulations. We also have to remember that whilst we each have impeccable taste, it is still necessary to check with others. If we didn’t ask for advice, every bloke over 50 would be wearing red corduroy trousers! In renovations, the dress check is the planning permission, and I am a huge fan of this, as I am of building control. The area we live in isn’t ours, it’s a patchwork quilt of ownerships and impacts to others and we need these planning guys to make sure we don’t cut up those discarded red corduroys and add them to the quilt.
Same with environmental assessment of the renovation project. We all love nature and
want to protect and enhance the environment. We just need to continually remind ourselves of this. We love bats, and our latest renovation project on the bull pen required a bat risk assessment, an endoscope survey to see if the cracks housed bats, and two nighttime bat surveys to check if bats left the bull pen. It costs, but that’s right. Bats need a home too, and don’t be fooled by the headlines, bats can actually see and their ability to age without decrepitude is staggering. They maintain their telomeres which are on the end of chromosomes that gradually unravel leading to ageing effects or cancer. This enhanced immune system is one reason why bats are a suspected reservoir for many diseases, including Covid-19. However, a bigger reservoir was created by Maria and Vladimir Putin who in 1953 gave us Vladimir Putin junior, who at 5’7” tall never got over rejection from the Russian basketball team; at least bats help to maintain the balance of the ecosystem eating their own weight in insects each night.
The bull pen, our current renovation project, when converted will be a one bedroom unit. We’ve dug up the old floor, and with no access for machinery that was a hand dig - 24m3! We’ve knocked through internal walls to make doorways, drains are in, water is in, we’ve laid the base slab for the floor, added insulation and underfloor heating and laid the top slab. The roof is stripped and timbers repaired, new membrane and new roofing battens added and I’m now re-slating the roof and adding integral solar panels.
None of this is particularly clever stuff, that’s why I’ve done it. It just takes a bit of confidence and time, but remember all these simple jobs are like holding a toy balloon amongst children armed with pins - something will surprise you. When I say I’ve done it all, as ever, that’s a small exaggeration - a bit like I’ll be finished by Christmas. I had Jamie Curry power float
the concrete and then grind it to provide the finished surface, I really love the look of old stone arches against a new ground concrete floor as a final finished surface. By grinding the concrete the stone in the concrete is shown on the surface, you have this lovely coloured texture, you just need to ensure that the ready-mix concrete you buy has some nice coloured gravel as the coarse aggregate, and be prepared for the slurry, you grind wet and it’s a mud bath.
My career was in building materials: quarries, concrete plants, asphalt plants, and I know how these products can appear
to some of us in terms of impact. But for me, now retired from earning money - just renovating now - we need these building materials. Concrete is the most used construction product in the world, and the most versatile, but it is a big carbon polluter. The demand for cement accounts for 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. And then I’ve got glass - a bit radical but hey, we feel it’s needed - that accounts for 3,600kg embodied carbon per m3. I don’t have a m3 of glass though - well, if you see me at the bottle bank I do!
So if we are honest we have to accept that construction will generate an impact, but we can’t walk without leaving a footprint - we just need to be aware and make informed responsible decisions. On a positive note, with solar panels and an air source heat pump, the bull pen will be self sufficient on all energy. I’ve spent this week on the roof. Karen, with her 100,000 bulb delivery from Holland, has spent her week sorting and preparing for her bulb sale - evidence again that we are two perfect teams! I’ll be roofing for a couple of weeks, including fitting velux windows, then I hope to have windows ready to be fitted - they are being made by Balmoral Joinery, and then I’ll install stud walls and start the first fix plumbing and electrics with Think Energy and Paul Rock. There are great tradesmen out there, but please don’t try and contact these ones before I finish the bull pen, my recommendation is strictly for later! Our latest project is pretty small, but we hope everyone will enjoy the sight of the completed works and accept it as a positive change to the shared ‘patchwork quilt’ where we live. I just hope our neighbours favour mustard corduroys, white socks and crocs!
FESTIVE CANDLE MAKING >> 4 NOVEMBER
Caroline will guide you through a practical course on hand pouring soy wax candles and beeswax melts. You will leave with new creative knowledge and get the opportunity to choose different fragrances and containers to produce and take away your hand poured products.
MAKE THIS A STRESS-FREE CHRISTMAS >> 15 NOVEMBER
On this course you’ll get a head start on Christmas: boozy mincemeat made, melt in the mouth mince pies nestled in the freezer, and a sneaky selection of canapés and desserts ready to whip out for those impromptu drinks parties. We’ll touch on those old chestnuts: what to do with leftovers and how to woo your vegetarian guests with something other than risotto. Includes a glass of fizz, canapés and a twocourse lunch.
XMAS WREATH MAKING >> 25 NOVEMBER Arrive for morning coffee and cakes
followed by a wander to gather natural materials for the workshop. Get started on your masterpiece before a welcome break for a relaxing and indulgent lunch - elasticated waistbands start here!
Complete your wreath in the afternoon ready to take home and proudly display on your door for all to see.
CHRISTMAS CALLIGRAPHY WITH LAVELLE LETTERING >> 8 DECEMBER
Join Abbi from Lavelle Lettering for a festive, fun filled workshop where you’ll learn the basic calligraphy skills to create your own Christmas cards, decorations and gift wrap.
Join us for a day of festive bakes with not a Christmas cake in sight! Mouthwatering Danish Christmas kringle, crisp Finnish sugar cookies that will last for weeks in a tin, and other unheard of delights to make this Christmas one to remember.
For further details and to book visit: linnelsfarm.com
Karen and Simon Phillips update us on the latest happenings from their fabulous farm near Hexham…Simon & Karen Finished concrete floor with some of the dust washed off.
You might associate a regular sloe gin with hunkering down and warming up in the cooler months. This rare gin does exactly that, but with a subtropical, fruity twist - made from the jewel of Byron Bay’s rainforest, the Davidson Plum. The punchy plums weave their magic into this flavoursome tipple.
Tasting notes: With notes of rose, watermelon and, of course, plum, this take on the traditional English ‘sloe’ gin is perfect for those with a sweet tooth. Serve neat or with a zesty lemon tonic for that added punch.
capebyrondistillery.com
Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé
Bamboo Robe
Laurent-Perrier’s Cuvée Rosé
is renowned for its exceptional complexity, smoothness and 100% Pinot Noir blend. It is one of the few rosé champagnes made by drawing the juice from black grapes, instead of blending red and white wines. The beautiful rose gold robe adds an extra layer of indulgence, perfect for fancy dinner parties as we head into sparkly season.
Tasting notes: With notes of delicious raspberry and wild cherry, this benchmark rosé champagne is best served chilled in good company - paired with fresh fish or cured meat. thechampagnecompany.com
Time to pop a bottle! Luc Belaire Gold has an elegant feel and pairs perfectly with nearly all cuisines, making it a versatile choice for all of the foodie indulgence that comes with Christmas at home.
Tasting notes: With hints of peach and pear, this sparkling wine masters the perfect balance of fresh fruit with a refreshingly dry finish. Serve chilled in your finest champagne flutes. lucbelaire. sovereignbrands.com
This Indian chai gin is the perfect spirit for the festive season: warming and spicy with a distinctive flavour of cinnamon. Atlas have based their chai blend on the core ingredients used in traditional Indian recipes. Botanicals include juniper berries, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. It screams Christmas! Tasting notes: Expect warm and fiery winter spices, black tea notes and a background sweetness from the green cardamom. This gin is sure to add a pleasing touch of spice to your celebrations. Serve as a G&T with orange and ginger, or in a negroni. atlasgins.com
The perfect combination of sweet and spice for the festive season, make sure you’ve got a bottle of Bambu Cream in your drinks cabinet. This premium, Barbados-based rum is currently hailed the world’s fastest growing, most decorated rum, and it’s easy to see why.
Tasting notes: A rich rum cream with a deep and complex array of aromas including chai, coconut, nutmeg and cinnamon. Serve this festive spiced liqueur neat or on the rocks.
bambu.sovereignbrands.com
This Toki Suntory blended Japanese whisky offers a truly unique experience with exquisite balance, harmony and oneness. Notes of green apple and ginger create a silky drink with a subtly sweet and spicy finish.
Tasting notes: A versatile blend best served neat, on the rocks, in a highball or as part of a festive cocktail.
waitrose.com
One for the non-drinkers. Noughty Rouge has all the tasty goodness of a full-bodied red, with less than 0.5% alcohol content. It’s the perfect alternative this festive season and works wonderfully with red meat and hearty veggie dishes.
Tasting notes: Serve at room temperature in a nice big red wine goblet and it’s sure to feel (and taste) just like the real deal. noughtyaf.com
A different take on champagne, fizz is always required for a celebration after all. This is a sparkling wine made like champagne but from Italy - a nice change and something to impress guests at a dinner party or toast. This one is perfect for entertaining during the festivities.
A good crowd pleaser, plus a friendly pairing when you have to appease lots of guests - can go with everything from veggie food to pork and lighter Christmas dishes.
A full bodied white wine option that is fit to stand up to richer holiday foods by which other white wines would be overwhelmed.
This chateauneuf-du-pape blend from South Africa will pair well with most festive suppers. Light enough to cut through but with body to stand up against stronger, gamier flavours.
Grippy tannins and a smooth intensity that works with the richness of festive foods. Can work incredibly well with cheese (if there’s any left!).
If Pedro Ximénez sherry is a bit too full on, try this Oloroso blend from one of the oldest wineries in the region. Full of Christmas flavours.
The White Company’s winter homeware is always worth swooning over. This year we’re loving the simplistic style with pretty foliage and cosy sheepskin fabrics to create the ultimate, festive hideaway at home.
thewhitecompany.com
us, so we’re enhancing our digital offering, to complement our face-to-face service. Working towards a more sustainable future has always been a priority for us and we’ve recently committed to reaching net zero by 2040. We’ll continue to run our business in a more sustainable way and deliver positive environmental and social outcomes, through sustainable finance products and responsible investment options.
What part does sustainability play at Handelsbanken?
Working towards a more sustainable future has always been a priority for us and we’ve recently committed to reaching net zero by 2040, that’s a decade sooner than is planned for the UK as a whole. We continue to run our business in a sustainable way, aiming to deliver positive environmental and social outcomes, through sustainable finance products and responsible investment options. The relationships we have with our customers means we can guide them on their sustainability journey too, as we all face up to the challenges and opportunities that the climate crisis brings. We can help customers by supporting them as they find solutions to running their businesses in a more sustainable way, whether that’s funding solar panels or making the move to electric vehicles.
As a local bank, how important is community to you?
Being part of the community is a key part of what Handelsbanken is about. It not only benefits our customers, but also means we can really make a difference in the area. Our local knowledge can help customers when they want to buy or sell property or businesses who can benefit from the networks we’re part of. With a focus on building a more sustainable future in all that we do, we’re keen to give something back to our community, supporting local projects and charities.
What are your ambitions for the branch?
Tell us a little about your business?
We’re a relationship-led bank built on sustainable values and rooted in the local community. We offer personal and corporate banking with a truly bespoke service.
What sets you apart from others in your sector?
We have a unique decentralised model, where our colleagues are empowered to make decisions, even the pricing of products, meaning our customers benefit from swift and bespoke service decision making. Customers have a direct line to their own account manager, who knows the local market and invests time to understand their aspirations.
How does Handelsbanken differ from the traditional UK high street banks?
Unlike high street banks, we have a decentralised model, which means our customers benefit from swift, clear decisions, made in the branch by people they know. Each customer has a direct line to their own account manager, who knows the local market and invests time to understand their aspirations, to reach truly bespoke solutions. Our customers trust us because we focus on building
long-term relationships, and because we’re free from sales targets or short-term bonuses, they know we’re always working in their best interests.
What is your company’s ethos and philosophy?
Our focus is on long-term relationships. We believe we can help our customers achieve their goals, by really knowing them as individuals. Our cultural handbook is clear “our advice must always be what is best for the customer, not what is most profitable for the bank at the time”; we back that up by being free of sales targets and short-term bonuses, so customers know we work in their interests.
What can customers expect from Handelsbanken?
For our personal customers we offer a bespoke service with a private banking experience. Each customer has their own private banking manager who gets to know them, to support their needs today and anticipate their requirements going forward. That could be everyday banking through to financial planning for their family’s future.
If customers bring their businesses to us, they’ll benefit from a dedicated corporate banking manager who is backed by an expert team, who will really get under the
skin of their business. Each and every customer can be sure of the best service which is driven by a focus on building long-term relationships, not by short term bonuses or targets.
Tell us a bit about the Durham branch? We opened our doors in 2011 and since then we’ve gone from strength to strength. We’re a team of 12 experienced bankers with over 200 years’ experience between us. We serve the local areas of Durham, Sunderland and South Tyneside, offering personal and corporate banking along with a wealth management service, so no matter what stage in life our customers are at, we can help and it’s all done here in the branch. With a focus on customer service rather than expensive marketing campaigns, our customers come to us through word of mouth and recommendation, which we’re proud to say is down to the quality of service our branch colleagues deliver each and every day.
How is the bank evolving to secure a successful future?
With an approach like ours we can stay adaptable and agile, changing as our customers’ needs do. We recognise that customers want more choice when it comes to how and when they bank with
Put simply, to be the best bank in town. Customer satisfaction drives everything we do and we’ll continue to invest in our people and our branch so that we can help individuals and businesses realise their ambitions.
What achievement as a firm are you most proud of?
Definitely our reputation for customer satisfaction. In 2022 we were rated top for customer satisfaction for the fourteenth year running, in an independent survey of British banks’ personal and business customers.
(EPSI Rating Group, epsi-rating.com). This recognition shows we’re doing the right thing by our customers.
Established in 1871 in Sweden, we operate through an extensive network of branches across Great Britain. Along with the financial products you’d expect from a bank, we also have an award-winning wealth and asset management team, whose expertise can help with financial planning and sustainable investments.
Contact our Durham office on: durham@handelsbanken.co.uk
When twinkling lights and dazzling decorations line the streets and cinnamon aromas fill the air, you know Christmas has arrived. This time of year is a favourite for our Luxe pooch. Long winter walks, cosy evenings by the fire, familiar faces and an abundance of tasty treats - it really is the most wonderful time of the year. To prepare for the busy season ahead, our loveable red-haired pup has been doing his round
Helping a little means a lot. Here are just three of the incredible animal charities you can support in the North East this Christmas…
Covering the whole of the North East, Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter helps thousands of lost, unwanted, neglected, abused and abandoned animals every year. The objective of the charity is the promotion of kindness and prevention of cruelty to animals. They reunite lost animals with their owners and find loving new homes for those no longer wanted.
dogandcatshelter.com
Stray Aid’s vision is to help ensure stray and abandoned dogs across the
I’m Houdini, the four-year-old black and white tuxedo cat from Gateshead. As some of you eagle-eyed readers may have noticed, I’m the first Luxe cat to be featured. When I’m not up to mischief around the house, you can find me bird watching out of the window, tucking into tasty treats or curling up beside my humans.
Every perfect day starts with tuna for breakfast before enjoying a good old head scratch from my humans. Next up, it’s a big stretch and a workout on my scratching post. When my humans head out for work, I curl up on my favourite little stool and keep an eye on things - which usually involves watching the birds out of the window and making sure those pesky things don’t come into our home.
My favourite place to sleep is at the bottom of my owner’s bed - there’s no place I’d rather be!
of good deeds, seeking out ways to help pets in need, picking out some gorgeous gifts for the animal kingdom and checking in with our first Luxe cat, Houdini. There’s something about this time of year that reminds us to hold our loved ones a little tighter, to smile at strangers passing by, and to appreciate what we have. So, as we sign off our final issue of the year, we’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here’s to 2023 being filled with love, hope and positivity.
Rupert, your Luxe pooch x
North East will be cared for in loving homes for life. Stray Aid provides the best possible care and veterinary treatment for every dog and cat they rescue from the streets. As well as helping animals find their forever home, they continually strive to educate and promote good animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. strayaid.org.uk
Brysons is Gateshead’s only animal shelter rehoming cats, dogs and small animals. Their dedicated team caters for their animals 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Their aim is to provide a safe, warm and loving environment for unwanted pets on their journey towards a fresh start and forever home. brysons.org.uk
To pass the time I like to click all of my pawrents’ gym clothes with my claws, but for some reason they tell me off for doing this. Getting the zoomies is a daily occurrence and I can often be found darting up and down the stairs and jumping on the bannister - this is usually late at night when my owners are trying to relax.
My go-to Garfield treats and licke lix are my favourite snacks. When I’m not filling my belly, you can find me curling up on my very own pillow next to humans on the sofa. I’m very particular and won’t cosy up on any other, this one is my favourite and it’s the perfect spot to have a snooze and get tickles and scratches from my humans.
Other than my pawrents, my next door neighbour who looks an awful lot like me (but a lot less fluffy) is my favourite kitty pal.
Online For Equine
Horse Likit Boredom Buster £23.52, onlineforequine.co.uk
Osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by progressive wear and tear in a joint, leading to pain.
OA commonly affects older animals, although previous injuries and joint issues can cause onset in younger animals. Medium to large dog breeds are often affected, but there is a growing awareness that cats also develop OA.
Cheshire & Wain
Chief Mouser Disc ID tag Rose Gold £12, cheshireandwain.com
Like the very important cat I am, I have my own pet portrait which I sat very well for and now it hangs pawfectly upon our living room wall. This was a highlight for me as it shows everyone just how important I am to my owners.
It has to be James Bond, my fur resembles his famous tux.
Don’t forget to get in touch and send in pics of your pet for our next issue via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram…
A pet with arthritis may not necessarily be very lame or stiff - onset of symptoms can be gradual and owners may think their pet is just slowing down. This can lead to some owners underestimating the amount of pain their pet is in; it’s often not until treatment is started that this becomes apparent. Classic symptoms of arthritis include lameness, crying, and stiffness. Other signs are less specific such as mood changes (aggression, becoming withdrawn), or licking at legs.
If you suspect your pet may have arthritis, a vet check is recommended. Meanwhile, there are some things you can do to help:
Keep weight down – being overweight will put more load on already damaged joints
Exercise – short regular walks are preferable to long walks and are key to weight management
Glucosamine supplements – it is important to use a vet-recommended supplement as not all are equal in terms of quality.
For many animals with OA, pain relief medication is required. There are several options available, including a monthly injection that we can give at home, saving your arthritic pet the discomfort of travelling to a practice regularly. Treating OA pain can really improve a pet’s quality of life.
If this article has raised any concerns please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at: hello@doorstep.vet | doorstep.vet | 07939 932903
Do you have a topic you would like to know more about in a future column? Please send suggestions to hello@doorstep.vet
Perfect picks for your posh pets to unwrap this Christmas…
Welcome to my column, where I hope to share helpful advice on veterinary care for your petDr Joanna Melville MRCVS is owner of Doorstep Vet, a new mobile vet practice covering Newcastle and surrounding areas.
When it comes to Christmas, I’m as obsessed as they come. Tradition is everything. As soon as the clock strikes midnight and we say hello to November (yes, November!), my traditions begin.
For as long as I can remember, watching The Holiday on repeat throughout the festive season is a necessity. Nothing beats pressing play on this Christmas classic, snuggling up on the sofa with a hot
chocolate in hand and layering up in festive pjs, fluffy socks and blankets. Each and every year when I watch Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) pull her suitcase down the snowy lane in her heels to Rosehill Cottage, without fail, I say: “I would love to spend Christmas at a cosy cottage in the middle of nowhere.” And this year was the year I followed through on my words. I know I’m not alone when it comes to this cosy Christmas desire. The cottage from The Holiday has become a phenomenon,
creating a dream of Christmas in the countryside for thousands across the globe.
On a mission to find a peaceful countryside retreat to call my home for the weekend, I stumbled upon the dreamy Bughtrig Cottage. Beautiful little boltholes like this really come into their own in winter, and my very own ‘The Holiday’ style getaway is the perfect find.
When you think of Rosehill Cottage, you immediately envision the exterior lightly dusted in snow with beautifully painted sage windows and doors. It’s like a composite of all the stone bricked, slightly wonky and misshapen cottages you can stumble across up and down the country from the Cotswolds to the Lake District, Yorkshire, to the Scottish Borders and beyond.
As I’m browsing through the cottages on Crabtree & Crabtree, as soon as I cast my eyes on the same sage coloured features, I know this is the one.
Positioned in the village of Leitholm, on the edge of the stunning Bughtrig Estatefrom which the cottage borrows its name - Bughtrig Cottage is a delightful romantic hideaway oozing tranquil charm.
Just like Rosehill Cottage, the interiors here encapsulate the perfectly imperfect characteristics of the ideal rural escape.
As I explore this idyllic home and compare it to the one we see in the film, all of the features are here. Think short sloped ceilings, an open fire, a shabby chic country kitchen and a bathtub of dreams. Following a top-to-toe renovation at the hands of the estate’s owners, Will and Natasha Ramsay - a name that will be familiar to those with an interest in artthe cottage has been decked out with original artwork and designer wallpapers. A chic palette of Farrow & Ball paint colours that reflect the soft pinks and earthy hues of the surrounding floral gardens - which are just as beautiful in winter as I imagine they are in summer.
Unlike Amanda Woods, I’m not living out this little cosy adventure on my own. Along for The Holiday remake ride is my partner Harry - or on this occasion my very own Graham (Jude Law) - and our fur baby Rosie, who can play the role of Iris’s pooch. Much like Rosehill Cottage, this dog-friendly home from home is located on the edge of a country road with nothing much more than fields surrounding it. It truly is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle that comes at this time of year.
An open-plan living room and kitchen with an inviting fireplace, mismatched fabrics
and plush velvet sofas generously strewn with Oka cushions, forms the heart of this homely holiday cottage.
The quaint little kitchen, which is tucked away behind the stairs and a dining room table for four, is well equipped and features Bert & May tiles that artfully mirror the patterned rug in the living area.
With no detail too small, the house is exquisitely decorated throughout. The master bedroom is a snuggly haven kitted out with neutral tones and on-trend rattan furniture. A capacious tiled boot room painted in vibrant teal provides ample space for four-legged friends and walking attire, while the stylish family bathroom features warm honey-hued tiles, seashell wallpaper and claw-foot bathtub - perfect for a rejuvenating soak after a long yomp with the pooch.
Set within a pretty and rather large garden, a highlight is the charming summer house, which is complete with a handcrafted bar where you can mix up evening drinks to enjoy while admiring the view to the Cheviot Hills.
For us, this weekend is all about winding down in front of the fire, watching our favourite Christmas films, indulging in hearty home-cooked meals, playing board games and enjoying long bubble baths.
When it comes to stretching those legs and breathing in fresh country air, the cottage boasts access to nearby estate walks and gardens which guests are free to explore. Open to the public as part of Scotland's Open Garden Scheme, Bughtrig Gardens comprise intimate hedged gardens, beautifully restored greenhouses with clambering roses and the 246-foot-long Grass Walk - a lush carpet of lawn flanked by colourful herbaceous borders.
A delightful village pub is within walking distance and more extensive amenities can be found in the historic town of Coldstream, which is just a 10-minute drive from the cottage.
From crisp countryside strolls and relaxed evenings by the fire, to long baths and performing our very own rendition of Mr Brightside in the kitchen, our weekend at Bughtrig Cottage is everything I could have dreamed of - and more.
So, if like me, you’ve always wanted your very own The Holiday-inspired Christmas getaway, this cosy escape in the Scottish Borders is as close as it gets.
Three nights available through Crabtree & Crabtree from £507 crabtreeandcrabtree.com
Nicole Wood goes in search of her very own cosy Christmas escape inspired by The Holiday
If there’s ever a time to curl up in a cosy cabin covered in real life snowflakes, it’s at Christmas. Embrace the magical wilderness of snow-laden Swedish Lapland whilst staying at two of the most exclusive retreats in the region, thanks to ‘The Ultimate Swedish Lapland’ itinerary from Scott Dunn. The adventure begins hidden away deep in the forest of Gunnarsbyn at one of Arctic Retreat’s traditional log cabins. There will be plenty of opportunities for thrill-seekers to enjoy snowy activities such as husky sledding and snowmobiling. The next stop is the stunning Arctic Bath Hotel, a unique concept of a floating hotel, surrounded by water that freezes in the winter. It’s the ideal place to admire the dancing flares of the Northern Lights. Relax in the sauna, indulge in a spa treatment and venture into the forest with a private guide where you’ll spot wild moose and reindeer. scottdunn.com
From the dapper doormen serving mince pies and mulled wine, to the warm welcome in the Club Lounge, you’re made to feel right at home for a weekend of festivities in the capital, if you make Langham London your temporary home. Providing an expert, personalised service for over 150 years, this landmark hotel is as luxe as it getsand oozes British charm and sophistication. A plush Marylebone pad just moments from the buzz of Christmas shopping on Oxford and Regent Street. After hitting the shops, retreat back to the hotel’s Chuan Body + Soul Spa, a hidden gem tucked away beneath the rush of the city. langhamhotels.com
Make the French Alps your home from home this winter, where you can unwind and ski in equal measure. Armancette Hôtel is a family-owned gem in the remote town of Saint-Nicholas Veroce. With three standalone chalets available for private hire, we can’t think of a better base for an off-the-beaten track winter escape in the lesser known ski region of Evasian Mont-Blanc. When not skiing, spend your days relaxing and unwinding in the hotel’s impressive spa, tasting the finest French wines and discovering the truly breathtaking surroundings through a range of activities including snowshoeing and helicopter rides. armancette.com
Book a short break at the Waldorf Astoria for a beautiful winter getaway in Berlin. You can expect a warm, Waldorf welcome in this perfectly-placed hotel close to the cosmopolitan shops, theatres and restaurants of the German capital. The Bröhan Museum Market is a must for treats and trinkets made by Berlin locals, and the Weihnachtsrodeo is the place to be if you want to eat, drink and be merry. For those iconic festive city shots, visit the Alexanderplatz Funfair, where you’ll find a Christmassy carousel, a ferris wheel and more. A perfect winter getaway for families with little ones. waldorfastoriaberlin.de/en
The Big Apple is a city that sparkles day and night throughout the holiday season, and we’ve got you covered when it comes to uncovering an authentic Christmas in New York City. Whether you’re heading here for the ultimate festive shopping experience, exploring the merry markets or hitting up the latest Broadway shows, expect the magic of the winter season to follow you everywhere you turn. Make the uber chic and sustainable 1 Hotel Central Park your base, and you’re in the perfect position to see the city sparkle with season’s greetings. Check out Macy’s Christmas displays, glide around the Rockefeller Ice Rink and pick up a cup of roasted chestnuts as you stroll along Central Park’s frosty paths. Our favourite way to kick off the festivities in the city that never sleeps is bagging tickets to see the Radio City Rockettes. There’s no place quite like it at Christmas time. 1hotels.com
There has been a creative thread running through Susi’s life since she was a child. From collecting Vogue as a teen, to working on fashion magazines, being inspired by her travels and retraining as an artist later in life, it’s safe to say she’s always had an eye for design.
Susi’s style is unique in many ways, with pattern and colour sitting at the forefront of her current work. She has a fascination with the ways in which colours can work together to lift a space - and the mood - and as I arrive at her stunning home in the main wing of an old hall in Northumberland, her space does exactly that.
On the back of the brand new Susi Bellamy autumn/winter 22 collection and a recent visit to the Maison&Objet trade fair in Paris, we’re here to chat about how her business continues to grow and flourish. But, as we sit down in Susi’s kitchen bay window with a cup of tea overlooking the Tyne Valley, naturally, we go back to the very beginning. “I’ve always had this creative urge to make things,” Susi starts.
“I collected Vogue when I was 12 and I remember making collages - cutting things out of magazines that caught my eye and piecing them together to create something unique.
“I also used to rearrange my bedroom and all of my shelves,” Susi smiles.
“So I guess you can say things have come full circle. When I’m creating I like to think of me going back to that joy of being a child. It makes me very happy.”
Looking at Susi’s work, I’m sure you’ll agree that it has that effortless ability to bring joy.
It’s incredibly stylish, but it’s also bright, bold and fun. When you get to know Susi, it all makes so much sense. Her personality shines through in her work in the most wonderful way.
Susi’s journey into the creative world really kickstarted when she enrolled to study journalism at the London College of Fashion - ‘back in the day when you needed shorthand and typing qualifications to be a journalist’ - we joke together.
“Following my degree, I ended up working for various magazines in London. I was taken on as an assistant to the fashion
editor and then stepped up as fashion editor aged 22,” she explains.
“It all happened very quickly. Before I knew it I was travelling to Jamaica to work on a high-end fashion shoot. I all of a sudden went from working with other like-minded students to working with real industry professionals. It was incredible.
“I worked for Company magazine, but my longest stint was at Brides, which is part of the Vogue Group. In those days we didn’t have computers, so it was all about working on physical layouts and screenings in the Vogue House screening room. My job was to create a cover and 36 pages of fashion and beauty every month. I did that for six and a half years.
“The main thing that came out of my experience working as a fashion editor was my visual understanding of the world - and the act of editing and cropping - all of which is fundamental to my art practice and my interior practice. It’s all about balance and composition, homing in on a small moment in the art.
“Writing didn’t come naturally to me - it was always about the visuals. And it all makes so much sense to me now - we live in a visually hungry world and I like the challenge of coming up with something new and exciting - and telling a story in doing so.”
Susi quickly discovered that storytelling was indeed her talent, but in a completely different, creative way. Instead of words and images, it was all about colour and capsules.
“I soon realised that colour was the thread running through my creative journey, but I just wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it yet.”
From London, Susi and her husband Michael upped sticks and moved to the US shortly after giving birth to their first child, Jack.
“I couldn’t get a green card, so I was at home with a five month old baby and there was a huge creative gap for me, so I took up painting as a hobby - and I’ve not stopped since. Jack is now 28!”
Following a stint in the States, Susi, Michael and Jack moved back across the pond to start their next chapter in Suffolk where they had two more children. From Suffolk, the family found their forever home in Northumberland - for a brief moment anyway.
“We called Northumberland home for around four years and had just moved into this house. There was a lot of work to be done in terms of updating it in the way we wanted, and we were just getting started when Michael came home one day and said, ‘how do you feel about moving to Florence?’.
“I remember the children sitting on the stairs with ‘do not pack’ stickers on their foreheads.”
Susi’s confidence and artistic style really came into its own during her time in the Tuscan capital - home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture.
“I got so much inspiration from our time in Florence, so I’m forever grateful for that,” Susi says with a smile.
“I taught expats to paint from my studio at home. We lived in a villa with a tower, so I taught in the tower in the winter and in the garden in the summer.
“I got into gilding and marbling while I was over there, techniques which often feature in my designs today.
“Six and a half years later we came back
Susi Bellamy’s passion for the Renaissance period, paired with her love of colour, has allowed her to follow the creative cues which have led to a marvellous mid-life journey
and that’s when everything changed.”
Armed with new skills, a creative catalogue of inspiration and the chance to settle in the place she still calls ‘home’, Susi started her new artistic journey with a fine art masters at Northumberland University.
“I felt a little bit displaced and had the urge to do something with my newfound creative influence. Just as Florence led to many new things, the degree really encouraged me to think outside the box.
“I arrived with all of these Madonna collages from my time in Italy. I was a young mother, so I was really inspired by all of these mother and child images. It was the idea of the strong female image.
“My tutor suggested that I use my background as a fashion editor to bring the collages back up to date. So I sat in front of the TV with some nail scissors and started cutting model shots out of 1990s Harpers Bazaar magazines. I collaged them onto marble paper and mixed them all up. One day, I turned over one of the cut-outs by accident and got this surreal body shape with an eye on the hip and an ear on the face. That gave me the idea to create an installation inspired by The Devil Wears Prada and my days as a fashion editor. The works got edited down bit by bit and the overarching theme ended up being about colour. That is when I realised my passions and so my dissertation project was called ‘Colour as a Commodity’.”
Susi graduated aged 49 in 2014 and decided to do ‘mid-life’ with a bang.
“Everything started to fall into place the year I turned 50,” says Susi. “It was such a brilliantly busy time for me. People should never feel afraid of turning 50. It’s the start of a very exciting time!
“That year, I took on a studio at Cobalt in Ouseburn and I’ve been there ever since. It’s the perfect place for Susi Bellamy HQthere’s a real creative buzz about the place. Ouseburn is full of hidden gems.”
The studio started as a place where Susi worked on abstract landscapes. But before she knew it, she was cropping and editing her landscapes to become cushions.
“I didn’t like the board I was working on so I went down to the woodwork workshop downstairs and said, ‘could you chop this into equal squares?’, Susi starts.
“This obviously meant chopping up the landscape image. I put the squares on my shelving unit and sat there with a
coffee thinking, ‘that would make an interesting cushion’.
“I didn’t even have a scanner or printer at the time, so I tootled over to see my friends at TrendBible and used their scanner.”
Susi’s first printed cushion was made and her new creative empire was born. Shortly after, she turned up at an interior store in Edinburgh called Pad Lifestyle and bagged her first sale and return client.
“Following that, I did a couple of shoots and wrote to some magazines. The Daily Telegraph featured me straight away. That was the beginning of the Susi Bellamy brand, I guess…”
A couple of trade fairs later, Susi Bellamy was picked up by Liberty London and Heal’s. Susi’s designs are also available on a global website celebrating independents called Wolf & Badger, as well as in their stores in London and Los Angeles; and her paintings are now in personal collections globallyfrom Florence to San Francisco to Sydney. Susi’s journey is as colourful as the work she shares with us.
“I’m 58 now and one of the greatest things about getting older is getting a sense of self and not worrying quite so much about what people think and say. There’s a lot of self doubt in this business, but as long as I keep being true to everything I believe in, I’m happy.
“My journey brought me to the joys of colour and what I can do to make those postage stamp-style designs bring joy to other people through the art of interior design.”
As our conversation flows and Susi continues to share her findings from her practical experience and studies into the wonderful world of colour, we begin to peel back the layers and uncover so much in all kinds of subjects. Colour really is an endless subject…
“It really is,” Susi agrees.
“I’m currently chairman of the Colour Collective here in Newcastle,” she starts.
“We have the fashion department at Northumbria University on the board, as well as the neuroscience department at
Newcastle University. Our job is to arrange events that have anything to do with colour. It could be the psychology of colour, it could be colour in makeup or how people use colour in architecture.
“We’ve had some amazing events. You name it, we’ve done it. Of course, lockdown slowed all of that down and we’re busy trying to get the events moving again, but it’s a really great thing to do locally with like-minded people.”
London, fashion, America, Florence and Renaissance art may all be things that have shaped Susi’s journey so far, but what is so incredibly refreshing is that she doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the North East’s important part in that journey, too.
Inspired by the landscapes and the creative people that surround her, Susi and her family very much call Northumberland home. The place where her booming business began and the place her family will always return to as they begin to fly the nest.
“I’ve always been inspired by 70s glamour and vintage clothing, but one of my main >>
My journey brought me to the joys of colour and what I could do to make those postage stamp-style designs bring joy to other people through the art of interior design
sources of inspiration is the beautiful landscapes on my doorstep,” Susi explains.
“I love spending time at Hadrian’s Wall and on the big broad Northumberland beaches. When I paint I sometimes turn the canvas on its side, so a typical landscape of sea and sky becomes horizontal. I like to break rules - that’s when I find myself being my most creative.
“I like to work with local businesses as much as I can,” Susi adds.
“I work a lot with Hooker & Young - they used my wallpaper in their Jesmond salon, which was quite a bold move. They also have my cushions on a sofa in there.
“I’ve also got my wallpaper in Charlton Hall - a wonderfully unique wedding venue here in Northumberland.
“I collaborated with a local artist in Hexham called Enrique Azocar. My studio is what we call a ‘clean space’ now because it’s now the headquarters of the Susi Bellamy limited business, so it means I can’t really throw
paint around like I used to. My friend Enrique, who I met at Northumbria University, has a studio in Hexham and throughout lockdown, we were in a bubble together and would paint and collaborate.
“We have been painting alongside each other, and have come up with some really fascinating stuff. I was working on a large painting and was struggling with it so I asked him to put his mark on it and we ended up with a really interesting collaboration. We would love to see that large painting in a restaurant or office block in the area. It’s a lovely story about two local artists who came together in lockdown. We called it ‘A Conversation in Colour’. We have quite a different vision, but it just works really well.”
Running a creative empire like Susi Bellamy is a lifestyle as much as a business, so much of Susi’s time is spent working and creating; but Christmas is a time when, as business booms, the family gather at
home and she ensures she has time to appreciate the little things in life.
“There’s obviously lots going on at this time of year. For example, I’m doing The Great British Pop-up at John Lewis in Newcastle. I’ll be popping up for one week from 7 - 13 November. I’ll have cushions, scarves, lampshades and velvet pouches. I’d love it if your readers popped in to say hello.
“But I also like to take some time out with my family to enjoy some quality time together.
“We like to spend time in our local, The Duke of Wellington, we love to eat at Riley’s Fish Shack in Tynemouth and The Feathers Inn in Hedley. Closer to the studio, I spend a lot of time at Ernest and Cook House in Ouseburn, and always like to visit Tyneside Cinema for festive screenings.
“Another favourite is Barter Books in Alnwick, and RE - a unique homeware store in Corbridge.
“I get a lot of my quirky Christmas decor
from our friends at RE. Christmas is a wonderful time to play around with colour and get creative. Living in the wing of a large house, I’m lucky enough to be able to scale up and go large. I’m quite eccentric when it comes to festive style.
“I like to use marble paper for my Christmas wrapping and have baskets of Amaretti biscuits scattered around. My Italian influence comes through a lot at Christmas, especially when it comes to eating and hosting.
“It’s really important for me to embrace vintage and preloved stuff - and the same goes for Christmas decor. Don’t worry too much about ‘trends’ - mix up colours and mix up designs - not everything has to ‘go’. We don’t have to live in this Pinterest perfect world we often see on social media.
“Colour, expression and maximalism is where it’s at right now.”
from the 100-acre plantation. Once you’ve made the all-important decision, they’ll take you to the check-out, net your tree and help you get it in your car. There is the option to get your tree delivered for a fee, depending on location.
Croft Christmas Trees not only helps bring festive magic to homes across the region, the team also works closely with businesses and local towns and villages to source larger trees to make a statement.
The beauty of buying your tree here is that you’re supporting local, but you’re also making a sustainable choice - reducing transportation miles and ensuring you’re getting the finest quality, fresh trees grown on site - managed, trimmed and manicured by the very team you are in the company of. For every tree taken from the ground, a new tree is planted, the farmers tell us.
“We’re planting roughly between 18,000 and 22,000 every year. It changes year on year, but we make sure we plant for everything we take out.
“It’s an eight year cycle from plantation to the trees coming through the shop. There’s a lot of crop management involved and it’s a year-round job.”
Armed with your Christmas centrepiece, make sure you swing by the site’s seasonal farm shop in the beautifully transformed farm building. The shop is a haven of festive
Finding the perfect Christmas tree to stand proudly in your home is a festive tradition all of the family can get involved in - and it’s the perfect memory-making opportunity, particularly when you find a place as special as Croft Christmas Trees. This year, as we prepare to celebrate our second Christmas as a family with Georgenow an excited toddler - we’re treasuring those festive traditions that stand the test of time. Our new seasonal ritual being a visit to this truly enchanting Christmas tree farm.
Bring your winter warmers and plenty of festive cheer and get ready to bring Christmas to life with the help of the farm’s experts, who will assist you in selecting the perfect tree for your home. On top of that, you can explore the seasonal farm shop and horse box refreshments - all while soaking up the atmosphere with festive tunes setting the soundtrack, twinkling fairy lights above and smiling faces all around.
Croft Christmas Trees is open for business from Friday 18th November, right through until Christmas Eve - and they expect to see thousands of farm-grown trees leave to bring joy to homes and businesses throughout the season.
The farm has been growing Christmas trees as part of the harvest since the 1980s and continues to offer everything from small and large, to thick and thin, covering the three main varieties: the Nordmann Fir, the Norway Spruce and the Blue Spruce - all of which are loved for different reasons.
On arrival, pick up a festive drink from the horse box and relax in the outside seating area before the barn doors open to an enchanting woodland filled with freshly-cut trees, where you can browse at your leisure.
There’s plenty of space for little ones to let off some steam, complete with festooned lighting, towering trees and flood lights for nighttime tree shopping.
The team are on hand to greet you and help you select your perfect tree, constantly restocking with the next batch of trees cut
The region’s largest selection of freshly cut and sustainably harvested Christmas trees can be found in a village near Darlington. Elysia Fryer gets in the festive spirit at Croft Christmas Trees
The farm has been growing Christmas trees as part of the harvest since the 1980s and covers the three main varieties: the Nordmann Fir, the Norway Spruce and the Blue Spruce
homeware, stocking everything from decorations and lighting, to gifts, local produce like chutneys, toffee and Christmas cakes, firewood, tree stands, fresh and artificial wreaths and garlands, and much, much more.
Festive decorations include the likes of Gisela Graham, also stocked in high-end department stores such as Liberty London. They’re exclusive, beautifully designed and make for a wonderful addition to dress your tree. This year’s Christmas decoration collections include: The Nordic Gingerbread Collection, The Woodland Collection, The Ski Lodge Collection, and The Fairytale Collection - a nod to Alice In Wonderland and Lewis Carroll’s upbringing in Croft-onTees.
You’ll also find a variety of tree lights, toppers, plastic-free crackers and traditional
ornaments like nutcrackers and nativity scenes.
This magical place really comes to life at Christmas and is a one-stop-shop for all things festive - whether it’s unique gifting ideas, decorations, Christmassy homeware, or the main event - the tree itself.
All of that, plus a team of expert elves working away to bring it all together, Christmas carols to get you in the spirit, and good-for-the-soul, seasonal refreshments to keep you going, it’s the ultimate Christmassy day out for the whole family - and certainly one to add to your festive traditions.
It’s a seasonal activity that can be passed down the generations and enjoyed for years to come - growing and evolving over time, just like Croft Christmas Trees itself.
croftchristmastrees.com
This variety is best known for its needle holding longevity. Always an incredibly striking option, its foliage is glossy and rich blue-green in colour. The needles are soft, ideal for centrally heated rooms and for homes with children or pets.
The traditional Christmas tree - strong and sturdy with an excellent shape and a classic, festive scent. It has small, sharp green needles with the ability to withstand cold and damp. Not a needle-fast tree but watering regularly will slow the needle drop.
The Blue Spruce, with its classic shape, is known for its beautiful colour, which varies from steel blue through to silvery-green. A symmetrically attractive tree with dense branches. Not a needle-fast tree but watering regularly will help reduce possible needle drop.
Pot grown trees are nurtured from seedlings, but are planted in individual growing pots in the fields. Specially designed pots have a holed pattern, allowing the smaller roots to work through the pot and gain water and nourishment.
Take a step into the future with me. It’s the second week in January 2023. It’s a gloomy day and you’re thinking back to the recent festivities. Are you reminiscing about cosying up watching Christmas movies, crisp walks in the forest with your loved ones and treasured time spent with friends, or are you remembering the stress, screaming, awkward tension and non-stop family organisation? At this time of year, we can become overwhelmed with our to-do list, neverending activities and to top it off, the rising prices of, well, just about everything. All of this can make us want to curl up and repeatedly press snooze. If you’re feeling stressed already, then pause, take a breath and let me help you.
With a little bit of planning and a whole load of optimism, we can enjoy the next few weeks and reclaim the season as one of being ‘jolly and bright’. The key is deciding what you want out of the experience and adjusting your expectations accordingly. If you want a fun-packed diary with lots of activities for your children, then you’re going to have to plan in some downtime for your kids so they don’t become overtired and overstimulated. If your idea of bliss is staying home, playing board games and making gingerbread houses, then you’re going to have to give your children opportunities to blow off steam physically by taking them swimming or having a run around the park. Before the Christmas season kicks off, sit down with your family and ask how they would like to connect and celebrate. You may be surprised by some of the answers. Your four year old may be really excited to try ice-skating instead of going to the pantomime. Your 14 year old may express a wish to stay home and relax because they have been having a stressful time at school. Don’t make any promises you can’t keep, but asking for your children’s opinions and input can help a family bond and avoid any potential misunderstandings. Balance is critical to enjoying this time together. For example, you have to ensure that there is a balance of family connection and getting together with friends. A balance of indulgent food and healthier options. A balance of time together and time apart. We’re already so busy from January to November, that the thought of adding any more to our plate for those four weeks at the end of the year can fill some of us with
dread, so decide where your priorities lie and learn to say a polite, yet firm, ‘no’ to everything else. Be honest with yourself. What can you handle and what would cause you to go into a tail-spin? Think about your child’s limits too. If you have a highly-sensitive child or a child who tends to lean towards anxiety, then you need to be their protector and make sure they aren’t stretched too much. Even if you have a very sociable, out-going child like I have, you still have to get them to ‘pump the brakes’ occasionally so they have an opportunity to wind down. Sometimes going to visit extended family or friends you haven’t seen for a while can cause undue stress. Children thrive on structure, but this time of year means that there could be last-minute visits or an unexpected car journey. This can unsettle little ones and increase the chance of a meltdown. I always suggest being one step ahead, so you can be a proactive, rather than a reactive, parent. Parents never want to be embarrassed by their children’s behaviour but we must remember that they are working with a developing brain. Social etiquette can go out of the window when our children are tired, full of sugar or excited to see people they haven’t seen in a while. It’s always a good idea to set ground-rules beforehand and then offer gentle reminders when necessary. Having age-appropriate expectations is always important, but especially over the busy Christmas period. As always, be mindful of your own inner state. If you feel yourself resenting all you have to do, then do something about it; delegate, ask for help, or remember that
wonderful word ‘no’. As time goes on, your children will remember the atmosphere of the holidays more than specific details. So, when you’re stressing about clumsilywrapped gifts and the mismatched Christmas decorations on the tree, try to remember that slowing down, snuggling up and laughing until you cry are priceless memories your children will never forget.
Nadia McSheffrey is founder of The Tranquil Treehouse. Nadia works with parents to help them be the parent they want to be and find tranquility in their family lives.
She also works with children and teachers to support their own emotional wellbeing.
For more information and daily parenting support, follow her at: thetranquiltreehouse.com and on Facebook and Instagram
@tranquiltreehouse
Nadia McSheffrey, our luxe parenting expert, reminds us to live in the moment and enjoy the little things during the festive rush this year…
And just like that, here we are again, heading into the most wonderful time of the year. It’s true what they say, it only gets more magical when you have excited little ones in the house. Although George hasn’t quite grasped the ins and outs of the festive season, he’s certainly feeling the buzz and is delighted to see the house twinkling and our diaries filling up with fun stuff.
While us adults turn to glitter and sequins
at this time of year, our little people are getting comfy and cosy in the cutest Christmassy PJs and we’ve picked out three of our favourites for this year.
Plus, we’re sharing some of our top picks for festive days out in the North East, and those Christmas traditions that make the holiday period so incredibly special.
We’re getting ready for another magical Christmas at home and can’t wait to see the sparkly season through a toddlers eyes.
THE WHITE COMPANY
Gingham Pyjamas (1-12yrs) £28-£30, thewhitecompany.com
Board the Santa Express this winter and prepare to be taken on a magical adventure with Mr Claus and his jolly helpers. Join the team of elves at either Pickering or Grosmont and get involved in a whole host of festive fun and games before a visit from the man in the red suit. Little ones will leave with a special gift and family memories to last a lifetime.
nymr.co.uk
Take your tots to Buttercups Pottery this winter and they’ll be able to get creative painting baubles, festive ornaments or personalised items perfect for gifting. Set in the grounds of Fletchers Farm in Great Ayton, it’s a great spot for Christmas crafts followed by a bite to eat in the cafe and a wander round the farm. buttercupspottery.co.uk
Little ones who love to be outdoors will enjoy a wintery day out at Raby Castle’s Deer Park. Families are invited to set out on a festive adventure following the clues of a famous Christmas song. Keep an eye out for swimming swans, turtle doves and leaping lords as you explore Raby Castle’s own winter wonderland. raby.co.uk
Don’t miss Alnwick Garden’s enchanting Winter Light Trail. Immerse yourself in a glittering carnival of light and sound. A truly magical experience sure to blow you away this Christmas season. The Winter Light Trail will run from 28 November 2022 to 1 January 2023. alnwickgarden.com
Snuggle up at Seven Stories in Ouseburn this winter for a Christmas story from the elves, as well as getting the chance to write your very own list to Santa. It’s the perfect opportunity for little ones to get together and spread festive cheer. sevenstories.org.uk
LOLA + BLAKE
Jersey Pyjamas - Winter Wonderland £36, lolaandblake.co.uk
BARBOUR
Children’s Christmas PJ Set £44.95, barbour.com
Christmas traditions growing up?
For me, the best thing about Christmas is those lovely, heartwarming traditions that make the season stand out from the rest. Whether it’s memories of leaving a mince pie, whisky and carrot out for Santa and Rudolph, or spending the first Sunday in December at home with the festive tunes blasting as we decorate the tree, all of those little things give me that warm, fuzzy feeling and I make sure we recreate those traditions every year - even more so now we have George.
Most memorable Christmas Day? There are tons of stand-out moments from Christmas Days over the years - like when my Grandad was thrilled to present his ‘homemade’ bottle of red wine his friend made and as we were tucking into our turkey, it exploded in the kitchen, meaning my mum had a big Boxing Day decorating job on her hands! One of the most magical Christmas mornings was when my siblings and I woke up to a deep, snow-covered garden with some shiny new sledges waiting for us.
How does your family Christmas look? It’s all about food, family and festive cheer. We’re lucky enough to have a big, growing
family and we all love nothing more than getting together for the festivities - wherever we are in the world. Christmas Eve in the local pub is always the merriest night of the year, followed by a ‘get dressed up and sit in your own home’ Christmas Day filled with all the festive food you can imagine. Boxing Day is about throwing on the new PJs and winding down with chocolates - oh, and usually a trip to the football.
Most treasured Christmas item?
Each year Callum and I like to have a festive weekend away - be it locally in York or Newcastle, a city break to London or Manchester, or a special occasion adventure to New York. Wherever we find ourselves, we like to pick up a new Christmas bauble to add to our ‘fun’ tree. We can’t wait to let George in on the tradition, picking his very own tree decorations to add to the collection each year.
What’s on George’s wishlist?
This little guy has a not-so-little appetite, so he’s going to be delighted by the non-stop festive feeding. I’m sure there will be new and exciting toys and books for him to get excited about, but our Christmassy experiences are so much more important, so our diary is filling up with plenty of those.
All you need to know about scholarships, bursaries and exhibitions at Newcastle High School for Girls (NHSG)
addition to performing at a high standard in our entrance processes, a family’s household income must meet our bursary eligibility criteria.
How can I apply for a scholar award or a bursary?
Why do you offer an Awards Programme at NHSG?
According to the Health Foundation, one in six children aged six to 16 will experience some sort of mental health issue. Argyle House School in Sunderland is bucking this trend with their unique and distinct dog therapy to help boost the wellbeing of their pupils.
Thanks to the help of two furry four-legged friends, pupils are more relaxed and stress-free than ever before. Headteacher Chris Johnson often brings his dogs Luke and Bow - two Sprocker brothers - into the school grounds where the pupils can interact and play with the pooches. This not only lowers stress levels, as it’s scientifically proven that petting an animal helps people to release happy hormones, but it also teaches the children how to be around animals and to take care of them properly.
From the early age of four and five, children in kindergarten and year one are introduced to the dogs; giving them a chance to familiarise themselves with being around the animals whilst also building up their confidence, dispelling any fears they may have.
Going up the school, the dogs continue to play an active role and are always around for the children to play with throughout their recreation and break-times. During exam season, and when the older cohort of pupils were sitting their GCSEs, Luke and Bow played an even more important part.
The candidates were often given a bit of time with the dogs before entering the exam hall because it really helped to take their minds off the task ahead.
Many youngsters found exam time stressful because they felt there was increasing pressure to perform well. Luke and Bow helped them cope with that anxiety because they provided an opportunity for the youngsters to pause and reset.
explained: “Our dogs have always played an integral part in school life; the school is like a second home to them. They have their own designated space for their own quiet time, but when they feel ready to play, our children welcome them with open arms.
“Luke and Bow absolutely love being around the children and relish the attention they lavish on them. The dogs are a real source of joy right across the school, and we feel very fortunate to be able to include them in our wonderful community.
“Our school prides itself on its expanded curriculum and always strives to give pupils opportunities which help them to gain a wider understanding of the world, preparing them for whatever the future may hold.”
Argyle House is a keen advocate of encouraging a positive approach to mental health, delivering a range of wellness days across the academic year. These teach the children that their mental health is important and helps them learn how to take a mindful minute when things might be building up.
Argyle House has, over the years, raised money for dog-related charities, such as The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. It has even had three guide dog puppies live at the school on different occasions as part of their training programme. During this time, the children were able to help socialise the Labradors, and were even able to name them.
To this day, the school still receives regular updates from these furry friends about how they have progressed in their guide dog career, and the children are always delighted to hear about how they’re doing and to see recent pictures of them in action.
argylehouseschool.co.uk
Our aim is to empower girls to be leaders, trailblazers and world shapers. With this in mind, our awards programme provides transformative opportunities for pupils to join a school where they can develop the confidence to find their own voice and grow into the person they want to be. What awards do you offer at NHSG? We offer scholar and bursary awards for girls joining NHSG in Year 7 and Year 12 in September 2023.
What’s the difference between a scholar award and a bursary?
A scholar award is an academic award based on a girl’s performance in either our Entrance Examinations (Year 7) or Scholar Award application process (Year 12). A bursary is a means tested award, so, in
The first step is to make an online application for your daughter to join NHSG and respond to the questions included about the awards offered. It’s worth noting that at Year 7 all applicants will be considered for a scholar award when they sit our entrance examinations in January 2023. After making your application to NHSG, we’ll guide you carefully through the next steps in the awards process. The deadline for all award applications is Friday 16 December 2022.
What is an exhibition award?
An exhibition award is an option for girls applying to join Year 7 who can demonstrate achievement, skills and passion in either dance, drama, music or sport. Parents can use the NHSG application form to express an interest in applying for an exhibition award which, if awarded, can be for up to a £1,000 remission of fees per year.
The NHSG Admissions Team is here to help you with all your questions: admissions@ncl.gdst.net
Christmas is always a special time of year at ‘Barney’. The entire site is beautifully decorated and is always a hive of activity, as we host many events for members of our community. Our Festival of Nine Lessons and Carol service in the School’s Chapel is especially popular with staff, students and alumni in attendance, as well as a Winter Concert held at The Bowes Museum. Barney’s Prep School hosts several carol services for parents and family members, as well as Pre-Prep’s entertaining nativity play!
This year also sees the welcome return of our Winter Ball for members of our community, which we are very excited for.
Our pupils can look forward to getting involved in...
Barney’s heroic catering staff always produce such amazing Christmas dinners for pupils and staff. The annual Christmas Jumper Day on the final day of term is another highlight, as pupils truly get into the Christmas spirit. Reception class get very excited when meeting Father Christmas at The Bowes Museum too.
How we're working with the local community this winter... During the festive period, our Christmas
Jumper Day raises money for charity, and our community collects goods for food banks, as well as the Christmas Box Appeal. In Prep School, they donate money to a local church for which we receive a Christmas tree to decorate within the church. Children from local nurseries are invited to watch Pre-Prep’s nativity performances, which is always a lovely occasion.
Some of our highlights from 2022 include... Undoubtedly, our Whole School Gala Concert at Sage Gateshead in March was the highlight of the year. They wowed the audience with impressive performances at an incredible setting. Another highlight was seeing our first drama production since 2020 as Senior School delivered a sensational performance of Oliver!
In 2023 we're looking forward to... More of the same positivity and the continuation of our diverse calendar of events that benefit the entire Barney community. It has been refreshing to welcome members of our community back for events and fixtures following two years of disruptions. There is a real buzz at Barney and long may it continue.
How we’re marking the festive season here at Barnard Castle School...Headteacher Christopher Johnson
Deadline 16th December 2022
Whatever her passions and interests, Sixth Form at NHSG will help your daughter be the person she wants to be. Register now at newcastlehigh.gdst.net
think the artists were serenading you in the car.
The car I drove had a full-length panoramic roof, the interior headlining still features the stars that are above the factory and you’ll occasionally see a shooting star.
Bob Arora revs up the engineAs with other Rolls Royce vehicles, the car doesn’t have a rev counter, it has a power reserve dial instead. The 6.75lt engine propels the car to 62mph in 5.2 secondswhen you consider that the car weighs over 2.7 tonnes, this performance is extremely sporty indeed.
You can savour every mile that you drive in this car. The double glazing along with the air suspension makes for an incredibly smooth drive. Even when flooring the throttle, the engine can hardly be heard at all.
If you can afford this car then petrol consumption shouldn’t be a worry at all, but in case you are interested, I was averaging
Having a few friends that have sold cars to Alexanders Prestige, I have heard nothing but positive comments, the consensus being that the service is second to none and often better than franchised dealers.
The drive down to Boroughbridge is absolutely worthwhile, the stock in the garage is unbelievable: from hard-to-get new shape Range Rovers to supercars galore. Alexanders have more Porsches on show than most franchised dealers.
If I didn’t have a car to review, I would have spent all day looking around the garage!
The car that I’ve had the absolute pleasure of driving this month is the Rolls Royce Cullinan Black Badge. Since its launch, I have been desperate to get behind the wheel, and thanks to Alexanders I’ve been given the opportunity to do so.
Named after the world’s largest diamond, this car is Rolls Royce’s first SUV and is a competitor to the Bentley Bentayga and the newly launched Aston DBX.
The Cullinan I chose to drive is a two-yearold car with an Urban body kit and impressive alloy wheels. If I hadn’t had a look at the original number plates and the car’s mileage, I would have thought this car was brand new.
The front and rear carbon fibre Urban designed bodywork really suits the car. I’ve seen a few new Defenders with Urban body kits and they manage to make the car look even more sporty than the original model.
When parked next to a standard Cullinan, the Black Badge actually makes the
standard look very reserved and not very sporty at all.
There are a number of premium features synonymous with Rolls Royce cars; the lashings of chrome, the impressive grille and the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy that graces the bonnet. The Black Badge model takes a tasteful twist on these features; the chrome is replaced by luxurious high black gloss and the grille and Spirit of Ecstasy also receive a stylish makeover. The darker trim and sporty aesthetic are a big attraction for the younger customers that Rolls Royce are now getting in droves.
When you see the car for the first time, there is absolutely no denying that it is massive. Measuring over five metres long and over two metres wide, I’d say it would be more at home in the States where the roads and highways are considerably wider than ours.
As for the interiors, you’ll find carbon fibre across the dash, along with lashings of
beautiful premium leather and metal accents. As you’d expect, the interior materials ooze luxury; the quality of the leather is incomparable and the floor mats are made of soft lambswool. In fact, the floor mats are so thick and plush that it feels like almost a sin to get them dirty at all!
As you would expect from a car of this calibre, the seats are very comfortable and feature immersive heating, cooling and massage settings. Rear seat passengers also get the first-class treatment with screens that allow you to control a number of car settings. The seats are split by a centre console that houses a decanter and glasses - they are stunning. The rear ‘suicide doors’ can be closed with the press of a button, but they have to be opened manually unless you have a driver.
The Rolls Royce engineers have excelled themselves with the bespoke sound system - it is of such high quality that you would
12 miles per gallon. With a lighter right foot you might actually manage the dizzying heights of 16mpg - if you’re lucky!
This car is a four-wheel drive off-roader; however, I would be amazed if anyone actually ventured off road at all. The car does have decent hill control and it can wade into up to half a metre of water, but I think anyone going to a shoot would use their Range Rover or Defender rather than this beautiful car.
Having spent a few hours in the car, I really enjoyed the serenity and calm that you experience driving around. I would go as far as to say it’s the ideal car for our sporting heroes at St. James’ Park - they seem to love their Mercedes G-Wagons and Lamborghini Urus! It would also suit a very successful business person/company director who wants to show the world just how well they’ve done in life!
courtesy of Alexanders Prestige
Car
Named after the world’s largest diamond, this car is Rolls Royce’s first SUV and is a competitor to the Bentley Bentayga and the newly launched Aston DBX
Get ahead of the fitness hype this side of Christmas with the ultimate connected cycling experience
The ‘new year, new me’ health push is inevitable. It’s everywhere we look come January and, quite frankly, we’re never quite ready to throw away the endless tubs of Roses and Celebrations.
We’re certainly not ready to start thinking about our resolutions just yet - we’ve got the full festive season ahead of us.
With that in mind, we’re inviting you to make life a little easier this year. With all of the uncertainty in the world at the moment, we’re looking for new ways to live a little more consciously - be that by reducing the amount of time spent behind the wheel, lighting the log burner, or switching to an at-home fitness regime. Yes, there may be a cost to setting up your home gym with the latest equipment, but we’re certain you’ll reap the benefits once you’re set up.
This winter, we’ve been introduced to the world of Echelon - a fitness brand bringing workouts to the home with ease - and we wanted to share the EX-3 Connect Bike with you, as the perfect gift for the fitness fanatic in your life (or indeed a good-for-you treat to you from you!).
After an easy set up with minimal mess, the Echelon EX-3 stands proudly in our ‘home gym’. All you need is power and a subscription to the Echelon Fit app, and you’re good to go.
With thousands of live and on-demand classes available, from HIIT workouts using weights, to cruises through the city or countryside, there’s something to suit all fitness preferences. All from the comfort of your own spin studio.
Many of the HIIT classes are categorised into music genres. So, whether it’s 90s dance tunes, rock ‘n’ roll classics or cheesy
pop that gets you moving, you’re spoilt for choice and you’re guaranteed good times while you work out.
With live leaderboards, distance tracking, speed and output data, you can make a note of your progress after every ride and get as competitive as you like - all while riding solo in your own home. Challenge yourself against other Echelon riders or take yourself on a solo ride somewhere scenic.
The EX-3 is sleek, stylish and benefits from a small footprint, so space isn’t a big issue, wherever you’d like to set up your home gym. It strikes the perfect balance between
aesthetic appeal and modern design. Plus, it’s adjustable features means it can adapt to your body to ensure you’re in the optimal position for classes.
The beauty of having an Echelon in your home, for me anyway, is you’re on the bike and halfway through a class before you’ve even had chance to talk yourself out of getting dressed and hitting the gym. You’re not restricted with timetables or traffic - all you need to do is grab your trainers and your A-game, and you’re good to go!
echelonfit.uk
From HIIT workouts using weights, to cruises through the city or countryside, there’s something to suit all fitness preferences
Karma Coast is the first and only organic CBD company to come out of Newcastle. Perched high on the cliffs in the bustling coastal village of Tynemouth sits a sleek, modern building which offers high-end consultancy space for this multi-award-winning business. Dylan and his partner Magdalena founded their brand in 2018 to improve wellbeing through education and high-quality organic, vegan products, utilising over 20 years of combined experience in professional health.
Karma Coast prides itself on offering complimentary consultations for anyone, whatever age, seeking to benefit from their organic CBD products. Only the finest plant ingredients from all over the world make up their unique line of products.
When Karma Coast first launched there was a heavy stigma around such products. That is reducing every day, says Dylan, especially as they are now a multi-award winning business, having won Best CBD Products 2020/21/22 in the Northern Prestige Awards and Best Organic CBD Products 2020/21/22 in the UK Enterprise awards, proving that their brand can be trusted. Right now, their award count is at 15, which includes the international ‘Global Award’ for Best Organic CBD company 2021/22.
Dylan Mortimer, the co-founder of Tynemouth’s Karma Coast, tells Luxe how his innovative products have grown to
attract people from all walks of life, including local creatives.
What can you tell Luxe readers about Karma Coast?
We are an extremely professional outfit and pride ourselves on offering complimentary consultations for anyone looking to benefit from our bespoke organic CBD products. That face-to-face contact makes a big difference. We also provide phone and video link consultancy sessions to anyone worldwide. We know from our years of experience that a personal consultation can change the way a client uses the product and the benefits they reap from it.
How did the business come about?
We started on a little stall in Tynemouth Market. Since then, we’ve organically grown quite rapidly as a company. We now have over 2,000 returning customers from all over the world. Our reputation is going from strength to strength because we care passionately about high-quality products and the education we bring.
What kind of products can our readers expect to find at Karma Coast?
We create products to improve people’s lives. The three main reasons people come to us are pain, insomnia, and stress/anxiety. They can often be linked. Our best seller is our CBD (cannabidiol) oil drops and capsules. They culminate in an incredible
passion for producing an outstanding product and in-depth knowledge of cannabis extraction techniques. Our main full-spectrum CBD tincture comes in three strengths and is sourced from the highest quality, organically grown European hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.)
From oil drops extracted by trusted scientists to the Karma Pen (another bestseller about the size of biro, acting as an inhaler for fast relief), there’s plenty to try at Karma Coast. Still, you’ll find almost immediate results with our balm. It is the most concentrated in the UK and helps target any specific area by applying it to the skin. It regularly blows people’s minds when they try it in the dispensary. Within 30 seconds of using it, they’re scratching their heads in disbelief at how fast it acts.
Why are the products so beneficial when supporting health and wellbeing?
CBD promotes homeostasis, optimising every one of our bodily systems, like our immune or nervous systems. In a nutshell, though, CBD dramatically improves the body’s ability to heal - naturally. This is why our products are beneficial for so many conditions.
Why are your products different to others?
The flowers of the hemp plant are where cannabinoids are most abundant, and this is where we extract from. Our products are what we call whole plant preparations, which are the most effective type of CBD product by far. The gentle extraction retains over 500 compounds from the original plant. This helps create the desired ‘entourage effect’ - a synergy between the plant’s compounds which significantly supports the efficacy of CBD. Our extractors have perfected this art over many years and pride themselves on the unrivalled quality of the end product. Other CBD oil brands’ methods of extraction and inexperienced extractors can damage the compounds through heat, solvents or lack of knowledge which impacts the benefits of CBD.
Why is sustainability so important when it comes to your brand and products?
Since its launch in 2018, Karma Coast has focused on sustainability, highlighting the importance of reducing plastics. We offer recyclable, compostable, biodegradable and reusable packaging.
We are incredibly passionate about our product and only accept the highest standards. Organic, high-quality raw materials, experienced, passionate extractors, and top-quality industry-leading equipment all equate to the best CBD oil product that will hold its own in the world market.
If you are looking to buy the highest quality CBD drops, then take a look at our range of premium CBD oils and products, and you will understand why Karma Coast is one of the most respected CBD brands in the United Kingdom.
Do you have any testimonials you would like to share?
Karma Coast is a company verified by Trust Pilot. We have received 94% excellent 5-star reviews.
Everyone is welcome in the store. Sam Fender and his band use our products, and we’ve got some prominent musicians from across the region who support our brand, including L Devine.
I started as an actor, so I know a lot of creatives, and I know that anxiety is possibly the worst enemy when it comes to getting in the way of creativity, so we find many artists use CBD to channel their own. In business, it’s challenging to say that your product is for everyone, but CBD really is.
Luxe predicts the future looks bright for Karma Coast with their organic, small-batch, hand-crafted CBD products. Watch this space.
Karma Coast is CannaPro-certified - a UK trade association for the cannabis industry. karmacoastcbd.co.uk
All you need to know about Karma Coast and the industry’s leading, small batch, organic CBD products...