J'AIME FEBRUARY 2019

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 

Y O U R L O C A L L U X U R Y L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E 

Feel the love 

with Valentine’s 

Day treats 

WIN 

A SPA AND AFTERNOON TEA 

EXPERIENCE FOR TWO AT 

MOOR HALL HOTEL 

THE SUTTON COLDFIELD 

OLYMPIAN MENTORING 

THE NEXT GENERATION 

Mellow yellow: 

serious spring style 

with the sunniest hues

Welcome to J’AIME 

Love is in the air here at J’AIME HQ 

with Valentine’s Day just around the 

corner, and we’ve got some great gift 

ideas for the lucky man or lady in your 

life, as well as the chance to win a spa 

and afternoon tea experience for you and 

your other half at Moor Hall Hotel and 

Spa - the perfect way to celebrate the 

most romantic day of the year. 

Our fitness expert, personal trainer Raul 

Romero, is also getting in on the act as 

he explains why working out with your 

significant other can provide a boost to 

your keep-fit regime. 

Elsewhere we chat to Phil Brown, an 

Olympic medallist from Sutton Coldfield 

who is using his experiences as an elite 

athlete to help primary school children 

realise their potential and set them on 

the right path with a mentoring scheme, 

while all-action columnist Jack Regan 

returns with a rigorous examination of 

the notion of bucket lists. Are they really 

all they’re cracked up to be? 

Congratulations are in order for our 

latest winner; Abbie Lemin, of Fradley, 

scooped the delectable Forage Christmas 

hamper from our December issue. 

With all of your usual favourites, from 

delicious dining out to the most stylish 

trends for your home and wardrobe, 

we reckon there’s plenty to love about 

J’AIME this month. We hope you do too! 

EDITOR: AMY NORBURY 

EDITOR@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

ADVERTISING: JAN ASHLEY 

ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

07388 335 931 

DESIGN: DESIGN@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

CONTRIBUTORS: MARTIN PLOWMAN, JACK REGAN, 

SAMUEL COOPER, LISA PIDDINGTON, JILL HARTLEY, 

LIAM DILLON, RAUL ROMERO, SHAUN CRAVEN 

J’AIME IS PUBLISHED BY ASHBURY 

PUBLICATIONS LIMITED AND PRINTED 

BY KEP LIMITED, TAMWORTH. 

Check us out online at: 

WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

Find us on 

/JAIMEMAGAZINE 

@JAIMEMAGAZINE 

@JAIMEMAGAZINE 

3

CONTENTS 

InsideJ’aime this month... 

6 Champions Realm - Sutton Coldfield 

Olympian Phil Brown on his mentoring 

programme for children 

12 Property - Property of the month 

14 Property - Summer dreams in Sutton Coldfield 

16 Interiors - Living Coral 

20 Interiors - Cosy fireplaces 

24 Valentine’s Day - Gifts she’ll love 

28 Valentine’s Day - Treat him 

30 Food & drink - Reviewing Larder Lichfield 

32 Food & drink - Cocktail of the month from Le 

Rêve, Lichfield 

34 Food and drink - A delectable dessert from The 

Boat Inn, Lichfield 

36 Food and drink - Indulgent chocolates for 

Valentine’s Day 

38 Food and drink - Organic French wines from 

Clos Ventas 

40 Health and fitness - Lichfield personal trainer 

Raul Romero looks at working out as a couple 

42 Travel - Experience South Africa 

46 Life on the edge - Jack Regan examines the 

notion of the bucket list 

50 What’s On - Our pick of events around our 

area this month 

52 What’s On - The hottest tickets around 

Birmingham 

54 Competition - Win a spa and afternoon tea 

experience for two at Moor Hall 

56 Fashion - Mellow yellow 

58 Fashion - Be the best dressed guest with Nero 

e Bianco 

61 Beauty - Spring clean your beauty regime with 

Harvey Nichols Birmingham 

62 Beauty - Winter hair care tips from Francesco 

Streetly 

64 In the news - Setting the standard in kitchen 

design 

65 Motors - J’AIME’s expert Martin Plowman 

tests the Range Rover Sport SVR 

4

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FEATURE 

Champion spirit 

AS AN OLYMPIC MEDALLIST, SUTTON COLDFIELD ATHLETE PHIL BROWN IS NO STRANGER TO SPORTING 

SUCCESS. BUT NOW HE IS USING HIS EXPERIENCES BOTH ON AND OFF THE TRACK TO HELP MENTOR AND 

INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION. AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS MORE 

He may not enjoy the same household-name 

recognition as some of his team mates, but Phil 

Brown can proudly count himself among a group 

of the world’s most elite athletes. After all, he has 

the Olympic medal to prove it - not to mention the 

London street named in his honour. 

In a sport where athletes are normally celebrated for 

their individual endeavours and performances, Phil 

holds his own as a Commonwealth Games 400m 

bronze medalist and a UK 400m record holder. But 

it was his team spirit as the dependable anchor leg 

in the 4x400m relay team which saw Brummie Phil 

make the biggest impact in his sport - most notably 

securing a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los 

Angeles. 

After his career as an elite athlete came to an 

end, Phil spent 25 years working for the Duke of 

Edinburgh Awards, eventually as a director for the 

central England region responsible for helping some 

48,000 youngsters aged between 14 and 24. 

And it is his experiences, both in sport and working 

with youngsters, which are the driving force behind 

Phil’s not-for-profit company, Champion’s Realm. 

“Every Olympian will tell you that you lose more 

races than you ever win, but that it’s resilience that 

keeps you going,” explains 57-year-old Phil, who now 

lives in Sutton Coldfield. 

And it is resilience which is the key message behind 

Champion’s Realm’s aim. Children today face a 

barrage of difference challenges in growing up - and 

from a much younger age. Living in the age of social 

media dominance means the world is, quite literally 

at their fingertips. But it can also open children up to 

worrying negativity. 

A survey by international anti-bullying movement 

Ditch The Label discovered that cyber bullying is on 

the increase, finding that 47% of young people who 

took the survey had received nasty profile comments 

and 62% had been sent nasty private messages via 

smartphone apps. 

While his work with the Duke of Edinburgh 

Awards enabled Phil to positively impact the lives of 

participants from high school age and upwards, he 

believes that children today need the same sort of 

opportunity - and positive role models - much earlier 

on. Which is why his Champion’s Realm programme 

focuses on youngsters at primary school. 

“In essence, the work I’m doing with primary 

6

CROSSING THE FINISH 

LINE VICTORIOUS 

schools is wrapped up with the values of the World 

Olympians Association,” says Phil. 

Those Olympian values of excellence, integrity, 

respect, friendship, solidarity and inspiration are the 

cornerstones of Phil’s work. Mainly funded by Phil’s 

corporate public speaking, Champion’s Realm offers 

mentoring programmes throughout primary schools, 

working with children around the ages of eight and 

nine to provide a platform to develop their potential 

through sport, promoting good mental health and 

enhancing education. 

“The work I do in primary schools can be on three 

levels,” explains Phil. “It can be just an inspirational 

assembly or an inspirational day; it could be working 

with a school for a term to look at and promote 

resilience, or it could be what I feel would make the 

greatest difference, which is to give a day a week or a 

fortnight to a school for a year, working with them to 

make a lasting impression.” 

As well as working in partnership with schools and 

pupils, Phil’s mentoring programme also involves an 

adult family member - be it a parent, older sibling, 

grandparent, auntie or uncle - who can help children 

within the home environment. 

“My resilience programme hopefully gives young 

people a positive outlook, and something which they 

can take into later life,” Phil says. 

“It’s a labour of love, so I don’t feel like I’m going 

to work. They say if you find a job you love, you’ll 

never work a day in your life.” 

The great Pele said: “The more difficult the 

victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” It’s a 

sentiment with which Phil wholeheartedly agrees. 

Despite his sporting successes, Phil is a passionate 

believer that it is mistakes, in fact, which cultivate the 

resilience needed to spur you on to greater things. 

“At an early age I found I wasn’t as skilled as the 

footballers, or as the cricketers or the swimmers, 

but I was a good team player,” says Phil. “It wasn’t 

until I was in Year 5 at primary school, around nine 

years of age, that I began to attract the attention of 

teachers who realised I wasn’t just an ok runner, I 

was an exceptional runner.” 

At the age of 14 Phil was put forward for the All- 

Birmingham Championships, where he earned a 

vest to represent the West Midlands at the English 

Schools, a national athletics championships for 

under-19s. 

Up against the world 200m record-holder for his age 

group in the English Schools final, Phil was beaten 

by the narrowest of margins. But it was that race 

which truly ignited his passion for athletics. 

Earning his first England vest in 1978, the following 

year saw Phil enter the English Schools for a final 

time. Following a victorious race, he got talking to the 

young athlete who had finished second to him while 

waiting in the medals call-up area. Upon discovering 

that the promising runner didn’t belong to a club 

and had, in fact, only been running for a couple of 

weeks, Phil advised him to find a coach and get a 

club because he had the potential to be good - really 

good. 

The athlete in question? Linford Christie. 

Stepping up from the 100m and 200m to become a 

quarter-miler, Phil’s aim for his first major games - 

OLYMPIAN 

PHIL BROWN 

7

the 1982 European Championships in Athens - was 

just to get through the rounds. 

Having made it through the heats and the semi-final, 

Phil found himself in the final up against the 1980 

Olympic gold medallist, Viktor Markin, as well as 

Hartmut Weber of West Germany and Andreas 

Knebel of East Germany. 

“I just ran my own race, and as we dipped at the 

finish line I thought I’d got the bronze medal 

position,” says Phil. “But Viktor Markin’s body had 

obscured Knebel, and I just missed out. 

“The worst position you can finish any race in 

isn’t last; it’s fourth. To be just out of the medals is 

crushing. But that was the inspiration to run even 

better, and even harder. And I had something to 

prove.” 

With a 4x400m relay final still to go, Phil wasn’t 

going to make the same mistake twice. As the anchor 

leg of a team comprised of David Jenkins, Garry 

Cook and Todd Bennett, Phil knew a medal was 

within grasp. 

“As the race unfolded, coming off the final turn I was 

in fourth place position; I knew what it was like to 

finish fourth and I wasn’t going to have it,” says Phil. 

“Coming off the final turn I dropped the pace, came 

out into the second or third lane and then overtook. 

To step round and go is unheard of; normally you 

just keep running.” 

Phil’s resilience in the face of a potential second 

nearly-man finish paid off, and he brought the team 

home in the silver medal position behind West 

Germany, who set a Championship Record. 

The following year the team were again in medal 

contention at the inaugural World Athletics 

PHIL BROWN AT HIS 

NAMESAKE STREET 

IN LONDON 

PHIL SHOWS OFF HIS 

OLYMPIC SILVER MEDAL 

Championships in Helsinki. With David Jenkins 

stepping down, two new athletes entered the team; 

Ainsley Bennett and Kriss Akabusi. While Kriss had 

run in the first two rounds to help secure the team’s 

place, it was Ainsley Bennett who ran in the final. 

The race was an eventful one, with third-leg clash 

between the Soviet Union and the USA seeing 

American athlete Willie Smith hit the deck and 

Britain’s Todd Bennett hurdling over Smith to put 

the team into the bronze medal position with just 

Phil’s leg to go. Holding off the challenge of the 

USA’s Edwin Moses, Phil brought Team GB home in 

bronze. 

Before the final the team had agreed that, if they 

were lucky enough to win a medal they wanted Kriss 

to have one too, since his contribution in the earlier 

heats had been instrumental in getting the team to 

the final. The refusal of this request by championship 

officials saw Phil and his team mates initially decline 

their medal too, before being persuaded to take to 

the rostrum by team management. 

“On the plane coming home, our pilot made an 

announcement congratulating the team on their 

success at the first ever World Championships and 

asking if there was a Kriss Akabusi on board,” says 

Phil. 

“He then asked Kriss to go to the front of the plane 

and presented him with his bronze medal. It was the 

first ever World Championships, and we had set a 

precedent to try to get medals for the members of 

teams who ran in earlier rounds. 

“There were no egos in the 4x400m; it’s the distance 

which is the big challenge and it affects us all in the 

same way, a quarter-mile at nearly 20 mph is the 

real killer. So you put all the egos aside and you work 

8

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together.” 

It was this togetherness, sense of team spirit and 

resilience which defined the 4x400m relay team 

during Phil’s time in the sport. And none more so 

than at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. 

Again making it to the final, performance analysis 

statistics put the Americans well ahead of the field, 

but the remaining teams were so tightly packed that 

Britain were looking at anything from a second to 

last-place finish. 

Grit and determination saw Todd Bennett, Garry 

Cook and Kriss Akabusi run their legs well, leaving 

Phil with a fighting chance of bringing Team GB 

home victorious. 

“Todd, Garry and Kriss came into my line of sight as 

I was coming down the home straight and that team 

spirit kicked in; focusing on them enabled me to cross 

the line and get the silver medal,” Phil remembers. 

As well as his Olympic medal, Phil and some of his 

Team GB team mates had streets named in their 

honour. Phil Brown Place can be found in Lambeth, 

London. 

“It’s a privilege and a legacy for myself, my family, 

people I went to school with and my home city,” says 

Phil. 

Phil’s time in track and field earned him a reputation 

as a relay powerhouse, winning a medal at every 

major games for a decade and running alongside 

some of the most well-known names in British 

athletics including Roger Black and Derek Redmond. 

“At the end of my time in athletics, the challenge was 

what to do next,” says Phil. 

He was already working for Birmingham City 

Council as a sports development officer when a 

position came up within the Duke of Edinburgh 

Award scheme for a development worker. 

PHIL WITH FORMER 

4X400M RELAY TEAM 

MATES ROGER BLACK 

AND KRISS AKABUSI 

“It sounded ideal, working with young people,” says 

Phil. “For me, the support I got from my teachers at 

school wasn’t just about sport, it was about building 

a rounded individual, and the DofE seemed to be 

playing the same sort of tune.” 

Phil was soon promoted to regional director for the 

East Midlands region serving 17,000 young people 

in 1996 and by 2010, he became director for central 

England enriching the lives of 48,000 participants 

with 1,000 young people attending Gold Award 

ceremonies at St James’ Palace each year. 

“Many of the young people were at a time in their 

lives where they didn’t really know what they wanted 

to do, and if only there was something - which is 

the Duke of Edinburgh scheme - which could give 

them a bit of structure and enable them to excel, 

and give them a start by which they could guide their 

careers,” says Phil. 

“The young people were the inspiration for getting 

up each day and working. And it wasn’t just the 

most able in the local grammar schools, it was the 

youngsters in the Young Offenders institutions, the 

ones that most needed that guidance and a helping 

hand.” 

Motivational speaking was an important part of 

Phil’s DofE role, not only throughout schools but 

at St James’ Palace in front of youngsters receiving 

their Gold Awards, where he would work alongside 

celebrity supporters including Joanna Lumley, 

Alexander Armstrong, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and 

Sharon Osbourne. 

And today he is a sought-after inspirational speaker, 

regaling audiences with his motivational tales of 

life on and off the track at everything from small 

community to high profile corporate events. 

Phil passionately believes in the power of sport 

to bring people together 

and change lives for the 

better. Through Champion’s 

Realm, he hopes to inspire, 

educate and motivate the 

next generation - making a 

difference to children’s lives at a 

time when they really need it. 

For more information on 

Champion’s Realm and 

Phil Brown’s motivational 

speaking, email phil.brown@ 

championsrealmltd.co.uk, call 

07517 099 241 or find Phil on 

Twitter @philbrown4x400 and 

Instagram @philbolympian 

10

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PROPERTY 

Property of the Month 

WE TAKE A SNEAKY PEEK AT SOME OF THE HOTTEST PROPERTIES ON THE MARKET IN 

THE AREA EACH MONTH. THIS MONTH’S SELECTION COMBINES GEORGIAN SPLENDOUR 

WITH A PICTURESQUE VILLAGE LOCATION 

The Mill House, Tamworth Road, Elford: £1,250,000 

On the market with Aston Knowles: 0121 362 7878 

THE AGENT SAYS: A wonderful Georgian residence 

located in the picturesque village of Elford, The Mill House 

boasts five bedrooms and five reception rooms plus a detached 

double garage with room above and grounds of approximately 

four acres with various outbuildings, an outdoor heated pool, 

beautiful, extensive lawned gardens with the River Tame 

meandering along the rear boundary. The gardens with 

sunny aspect offer uninterrupted views over the surrounding 

countryside and breathtaking sunsets can be enjoyed from the 

sunny garden terrace. 

The spacious entrance hall leads to the kitchen/breakfast 

room, dining room, drawing room, and the cellar. This warm, 

welcoming reception hall also provides access to the first-floor 

accommodation from the beautiful dark oak staircase with 

decorative spindle balustrades and turned newel post. 

One of the main features of this period property are its 

tremendous grounds. To the rear of the main house is the sun 

terrace and patio that can be accessed from the orangery style 

garden/living room, sitting room, and the snug: a fabulous 

area to entertain, enjoy al fresco dining or simply admire the 

stunning view of the greenbelt beyond. The outdoor area also 

features a heated swimming pool, the perfect addition to any 

family home. 

The large detached double garage and gravel driveway to 

the front of the house provide plenty of space for parking. 

An additional loft room with Velux windows can be found on 

the first floor of the garage building and is a great space for a 

potential home gym or office and benefits from recent planning 

permission to convert to a two-storey annex. 

W E L O V E : 

THE SERIOUS KERB APPEAL - 

THAT PILLARBOX RED DOOR IS 

GORGEOUS! NOT TO MENTION 

THE FABULOUS SWIMMING POOL! 

12

CHARTED SURVEYORS AND ESTATE AGENTS 

We’re celebrating our 5th year as Sutton Coldfield's Premier Estate Agent and to 

mark the occasion, we have some exciting events coming up in 2019 including; 

the official launch of our brand new website 

featuring an Off-Market page 

an auction experience 

a celebration at our iconic High Street offices 

a day at the races with our clients 

a corporate ladies lunch 

a golf day at Moor Hall 

WHY CHOOSE US? 

Our proactive approach, bespoke PR strategies and amazing 

selection of homes achieve proven results for our clients! 

OUR SUCCESS STORIES 

Sold five of the West Midlands most 

expensive homes during the last 5 years 

Exceeded the highest house price in a 

sale in Four Oaks Park and Little Aston 

20% of our sales in 2018 came from 

Off-Market opportunities 

Our team are perfectly positioned to assist 

with your prestigious property requirements 

Call us today on 0121 362 7878 

@astonknowles 

8 High Street, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1XA 

| enquiries@astonknowles.com | www.astonknowles.com |

PROPERTY 

Summer dreams 

WITH ITS OWN PRIVATE ENTRANCE ONTO SUTTON PARK, THIS IMPRESSIVE 

FIVE-BEDROOM PROPERTY - WHICH HAS JUST COME ONTO THE MARKET WITH 

ASTON KNOWLES - MAKES FOR A FANTASTIC FAMILY HOME 

Summer House, Park View, Sutton Coldfield: £1,550,000 

On the market with Aston Knowles: 0121 362 7878 

THE AGENT SAYS: Approached from Tudor Hill and set down 

in an attractive corner position is The Summer House. A private 

electric gate gives access to the block paved driveway which in turn 

leads to the welcoming reception hall. The hallway has a beautiful oak 

Amtico floor finish and provides access to the ground floor reception 

rooms, an oak staircase leads to the first-floor accommodation. 

The spacious drawing room features a stone-built fireplace with open 

fire featuring a free standing log burner; perfect for cosy winter nights, 

windows to the front enjoy an aspect over the garden and French 

doors give access to the bright garden room to the rear. The newly 

constructed garden room offers views over the entire rear garden with 

its full height French doors and adjoining glass windows. A lantern 

to the ceiling allows light to flood into the room which also enjoys 

warming underfloor heating. 

The flow of the property is perfect and lends itself perfectly 

for entertaining while retaining privacy when required with 

interconnecting doors that close when required. From the garden 

room double doors provide access into the dining room which in turn 

connects to the kitchen/family room. The dining room is a generous 

size and provides a lovely view of the landscaped rear garden. 

The first-floor gallery landing provides access to the extended first 

floor accommodation including all bedrooms, a family bathroom, a 

double door airing and linen closet as well as a further storage area 

and a hatch to a large boarded loft area with a drop-down ladder. 

The spacious attractive master bedroom suite has a fabulous floating 

glazed balcony and windows that overlook the rear garden and Sutton 

Park beyond. The spacious sleep sanctuary features a dressing area 

with a full range of his and hers wardrobes as well as a re-fitted en 

suite incorporating a Villeroy and Boch white suite with chrome 

fittings. 

One of the main features of this wonderful home is the stone built 

Summer House nestled amongst the mature trees in the rear garden. 

Currently used as a design studio the Summer House has the 

flexibility of a variety of potential uses and with its real open fireplace 

and running water available its use can be enjoyed all year round. 

W E L O V E : 

THE BRIGHT, AIRY FEEL OF 

THE INTERIORS 

14

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INTERIORS 

Life’s 

a peach 

PANTONE’S Colour of the Year for 2019 has just been 

announced as Living Coral. Described as “buoyant, 

vibrant and effervescent”, the marine tone is predicted 

to dominate the design industry over the next 12 

months, and fits perfectly with the aquatic theme which 

is already poised to be a huge interiors trend this year. 

Following on from 2018’s regal and dramatic Ultra 

Violet, Living Coral is a warm, peachy shade themed 

around the tropical reefs, summer days and sunsets. In 

a statement by Pantone, the colour is described as: “An 

animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden 

undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge. 

“Vibrant, yet mellow PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral 

embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide 

comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting 

environment.” 

Living Coral will add a dramatic pop of colour to 

any room. Think decorative accessories and accents – 

cosy blankets and lush upholsteries – or make a bold 

move with a feature wall to help aid a comforting and 

nurturing feeling in your living space. 

FARROW & BALL WISTERIA WALLPAPER, £115, 

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GOLDFISH TASK LAMP, 

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MERI MERI CORAL TASSEL BASKET, 

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£59.95 

£29 

LAGOON CORAL EMBROIDERED CUSHION, 

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16

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DANETTI. WWW.DANETTI.COM 

ZUVIER DESK CLOCK, 

WWW.CUCKOOLAND.COM 

£55 

£POA 

LIGNE ROSET TOA ARMCHAIR IN CORAL, 

WWW.LIGNE-ROSET.COM/UK 

KLEVERING ROUND PLATE IN LOBSTER, 

PRINTER + TAILOR. 

WWW.PRINTERANDTAILOR.COM 

UNITY CANE WALL MIRROR, 

OLIVER BONAS. 

WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM 

£145 

£27.50 

£149 

BRONTE BY MOON MERINO 

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BLANKET IN CORAL, HURN & HURN. 

WWW.HURNANDHURN.COM 

PINA COLADA PINK MIX LARGE DRUM 

LAMPSHADE, PENELOPE HOPE. 

WWW.PENELOPEHOPE.COM 

£56.95 

STRESSLESS MAGIC CHAIR AND 

STOOL, COOKES FURNITURE. 

WWW.COOKESFURNITURE.CO.UK 

LULU SMALL POUFFE IN RASPBERRY 

AND CORAL, WWW.MADE.COM 

£179 

£1,399 

£59 

FILIX LINEN CUSHION, CLARISSA HULSE. 

WWW.CLARISSAHULSE.COM 

18

PUNCHED COFFEE TABLE, £525, ANTHOLOGYFIVE. 

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CORAL VINYL WALL MURAL, 

£261, PIXERS. WWW.PIXERS.UK

I N T E R I O R S 

CONTURA 510G WHITE 5KW 

WOODBURNER, AVAILABLE FROM 

ABBEY FIRE CENTRE, ERDINGTON. 

WWW.ABBEYFIRECENTRE.CO.UK 

Feel the 

heat 

THERE’S nothing more satisfying in these cold winter 

months than cosying up in front of a roaring fire; 

the flicker of flames and the crackle of wood are the 

perfect antidote to the dark, miserable evenings at this 

time of year. 

And it seems that our love of statement fireplaces 

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A bible for all things stylish, Pinterest is the go-to tool 

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The Pinterest 100: Top Trends for 2019 outlines 

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and sharing - and with searches for contemporary 

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So if your living space hasn’t got a flamey focal point 

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GARDEN TRADING ASH 

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20

t he heart of t he home... 

Visit our showroom to be amazed by the choice - 

from traditional to modern 

With such a wide range of fires, fireplaces and stoves 

there is sure to be a style to suit you & your home 

WE OF F ER 

A C OMP LE T E 

INST ALLA T ION 

SERV ICE 

Visit our showroom and be amazed by the choice! With such a wide range from traditional to modern, there’s sure to be a style to suit you! 

5 Stafford Road, Lichfield WS13 7BZ - Tel: 01543 263 383 • www.thefireplacelichfield.co.uk • Email: sales@thefireplacelichfield.co.uk 

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am - 4.30pm • Sat 10am - 4pm. Closed Sundays and bank holidays. FREE ON-SITE PARKING. 

NEW 

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DISTRESSED GOLD METAL FIRE SCREEN, 

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£114 

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GARDEN TRADING LARGE LOG HOLDER, 

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£29.99 

TWO PIECE FIRESIDE COMPANION 

SET, THE FARTHING. 

WWW.THEFARTHING.CO.UK 

G PLAN WASHINGTON THREE SEATER SOFA, WAS 

£1,574 WINTER SALE £1,099, COOKES FURNITURE. 

WWW.COOKESFURNITURE.CO.UK 

22

DIK GEURTS KALLE STOVE, 

FROM A SELECTION AVAILABLE AT 

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RECLAIMED OAK BEAMS FROM A HUGE 

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NEO 3C DEFRA APPROVED STOVE WITH 

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ACR HEAT PRODUCTS WYCHWOOD 5KW 

WOODBURNER, AVAILABLE FROM ABBEY 

FIRE CENTRE, ERDINGTON. 

WWW.ABBEYFIRECENTRE.CO.UK 

DECOFLAME ELLIPSE BIOETHANOL CEILING 

FIRE, £7,700, GO MODERN FURNITURE. 

WWW.GOMODERN.CO.UK

G I F T G U I D E 

Spread the love 

LOVE IS IN THE AIR! THAT’S RIGHT, THE DAY OF HEARTS AND ARROW-SWINGING CHERUBS IS 

NEARLY UPON US. AND IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A THOUGHTFUL GIFT FOR THAT SPECIAL 

LADY IN YOUR LIFE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY, THEN OUR GIFT GUIDE IS SURE TO FEATURE 

SOMETHING SHE’LL LOVE. FROM QUIRKY TOKENS TO LAVISH STATEMENTS OF AFFECTION, 

MAKE HER FEBRUARY 14 A MEMORABLE ONE 

£21 

£36 

£200 

£13.99 

CREED LOVE IN WHITE EAU DE 

PARFUM, HARVEY NICHOLS. 

WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM 

ELEMIS EMBRACE CANDLE, 

WWW.ELEMIS.COM 

SET OF TWO VONSHEF BRUSHED 

GOLD CHAMPAGNE GLASSES, 

WWW.DOMU.CO.UK 

CHÂTEAU LÉOUBE LOVE BY LÉOUBE 

ROSÉ 2017, HARVEY NICHOLS. 


£36 

£24 

£560 

CHARLOTTE TILBURY MATTE 

REVOLUTION LIPS IN LOST CHERRY, 

SELFRIDGES. WWW.SELFRIDGES.COM 

£360 

EDEN MILL LOVE GIN, HARVEY NICHOLS. 


£450 

GIANVITO ROSSI PORTIFINO 

105 PATENT LEATHER SANDALS, 

HARVEY NICHOLS. 


ALICE + OLIVIA GLENNA RED 

CADY DRESS, HARVEY NICHOLS. 


24 

GUCCI ACE HEART-EMBELLISHED 

LEATHER TRAINERS, HARVEY NICHOLS. 


SILVER AND 18CT YELLOW GOLD 

BANGLE, £420, AND RING, ALLEN 

BROWN JEWELLERY. 

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£240

BROADWAY KITCHENS 

MANUFACTURER OF LUXURY BESPOKE KITCHENS 

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£43.50 

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A LA VELVET BOX WITH BEADED 

PALMTREE, PRINTER + TAILOR. 

WWW.PRINTERANDTAILOR.COM 

HEAVEN SKINCARE DIVINE 

CREAM, HARVEY NICHOLS. 


HARVEY NICHOLS I LOVE CHOCOLATE 

BISCUITS, WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM 

SARA MILLER WATCH, 

WWW.SARAMILLER.LONDON 

NELSON’S VALENTINE’S BLEND GIN, 

WWW.NELSONSGIN.CO.UK 

£40 

£10.95 

£28 

£885 

HEAVEN SKINCARE DREAM OIL 

SERUM, HARVEY NICHOLS. 


GUCCI GG MARMONT RED LEATHER 

BELT BAG, HARVEY NICHOLS. 


VIVIENNE WESTWOOD BALMORAL 

SILVER-TONE HEART KEYRING, HARVEY 

NICHOLS. WWW.HARVEYNICHOLS.COM 

£5.45 

ROSE BLUSH FRAGRANCED ROOM 

DIFFUSER BY PORTUS CALE, 

THE FRENCH BEDROOM CO. 

WWW.FRENCHBEDROOMCOMPANY.CO.UK 

£60 

COCO CHOCOLATIER GIN AND 

TONIC DARK CHOCOLATE, 

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£40 

£150 

KENSINGTON PALACE ROSE 

GOLD AND SILVER PENDANT, 

HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES. 

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26

T H E F I N E S T K I T C H E N S & B E D R O O M S S I N C E 1 9 5 5 

Accredited 5 Star 

Master Partner 

4a, Little Aston Lane, Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B74 3UF 

Tel: 0121 353 2525 Fax: 0121 353 4314 E-mail: enquiries@linterieur.co.uk Web: www.linterieur.co.uk 

4a, Little Aston Lane, Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B74 3UF 

Tel: 0121 353 2525 • Fax: 0121 353 4314 • E-mail: enquiries@linterieur.co.uk • Web: www.linterieur.co.uk

G I F T G U I D E 

Make his day 

SHOW THE MAN IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU KNOW HIM BETTER THAN MOST THIS VALENTINE’S DAY 

WITH A THOUGHTFUL TOKEN HE’S SURE TO LOVE. WHETHER HE’S ALL ABOUT STYLE, A TECH FIEND 

OR A CONNOISSEUR OF THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE, OUR HANDY GUIDE HAS PLENTY TO POINT YOU 

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO YOU CAN MAKE SURE HE’S ALL SMILES COME FEBRUARY 14 

£10 

£6 £255 

HOTEL CHOCOLAT DARK 

CHOCOLATE CHILLI PUDDLES, 

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LOVE SOCKS LOVE LINE COTTON-BLEND 

SOCKS, HARVEY NICHOLS. 


GUCCI SUPREME BEE BILLFOLD WALLET, 


£895 

GENTS LEATHER BRACELETS, FROM 

ALLEN BROWN JEWELLERY. 

WWW.ALLENBROWNJEWELLERY.CO.UK 

£310 

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GEORG JENSEN MEN’S KOPPEL 

CHRONOGRAPH WATCH, AMARA. 

WWW.AMARA.COM 

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GIVENCHY STAR-PRINT T-SHIRT, HARVEY 


KREAFUNK AHEAD HEADPHONES, 

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MAWES WATCH, SELFRIDGES. 

WWW.SELFRIDGES.COM 

28

£7.95 

£660 

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MONCLER LANOUX RED QUILTED 

SHELL GILET, HARVEY NICHOLS. 


MARKER’S MARK PRIVATE SELECT 

BOURBON, HARVEY NICHOLS. 


£7 

TEAPIGS EVERYDAY BREW TEA TIN, 

WWW.TEAPIGS.CO.UK 

£135 

LSA WHISKY CONNOISSEUR SET, 


£370 

PAUL SMITH CASHMERE SCARF, HARVEY 


MR PERFECT HAIR & BODY WASH, 

WHITE STUFF. WWW.WHITESTUFF.COM 

£4.50 

ROBERT GRAHAM FORTITUDE 

COLOGNE, HARVEY NICHOLS. 


£199 

HELLO HANDSOME MUG, SAINSBURY’S. 

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VALENTINO GARAVANI RUNNER 

CAMOUFLAGE-PRINT TRAINERS, HARVEY 


SUPERDRY HERO LEATHER RACER 

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29

F O O D & D R I N K 

Focus on flavour 

WITH A PASSION FOR PRODUCE AND A TALENTED TEAM, LARDER IS MAKING 

WAVES ON LICHFIELD’S DINING SCENE, AS AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS 

Every now and then, there comes along a restaurant 

which truly gets you excited. One which has a pure 

passion for food at its heart, a superbly talented 

chef at the helm and a team who are dedicated to 

providing each and every guest with a memorable 

experience. 

And at the end of last year, one such eatery opened 

right here in Lichfield. 

Larder is the first solo venture for Ryan Shilton, the 

young and ambitious former head chef at Swinfen 

Hall who cut his teeth under acclaimed chef Rob 

Palmer in the now-Michelin starred kitchen of Peel’s 

at Hampton Manor. 

Ryan’s aim? To bring informal and accessible fine 

dining to a city which, while spoilt for choice with 

foodie options, can be a little lacking when you’re 

after something truly out of the ordinary. 

And, it seems, Lichfield’s fine dining aspirations are 

in exceptionally good hands. 

Located in the heart of the city on Bore Street, the 

restaurant combines a stylish contemporary setting 

with ingredient-led menus which really deliver a 

big flavour punch. With a passion for produce and 

an innate skill at combining bold flavours to create 

perfectly balanced dishes, Ryan is certainly making 

his mark. 

We’d heard plenty of impressive reports about 

Larder since its opening, so when Ryan invited 

J’AIME along to sample the latest menu, we couldn’t 

refuse. 

The restaurant had just, that day, reopened following 

a well-deserved post-Christmas break, but the team 

were expertly back into the swing of things; service 

was welcoming, friendly and slick, while the kitchen 

team didn’t miss a beat, turning out dish after dish of 

superbly executed delights. 

Larder is set over three floors, with a ground-floor 

bar area where guests can enjoy a relaxing predinner 

drink before moving upstairs to the restaurant 

itself. Go up again, and you’ll find the most soughtafter 

table in the house: the kitchen table. Here, 

diners are placed right in the middle of the action, 

able to observe chef at work while making their way 

through one of the two tasting menu options. 

We perused the menus over drinks - Black Sheep for 

him, and an all-British version of a classic Bramble 

cocktail for me, made with Cotswolds Gin and 

British cassis. A couple of bar snacks - an intensely 

30

savoury yeasted crisp and a delectable 

monkfish number - started proceedings 

off nicely. 

For dinner, guests are offered the choice 

of a three-course choice menu at £40, 

or a five or seven-course tasting menu at 

£50 and £60 respectively. Now, being 

the greedy guts I unashamedly am, I’d 

normally go for the seven-course option 

without hesitation. But there were a 

couple of dishes on the more restrained 

five-course menu which just sounded too 

appealing to forgo. Decision made. 

We also chose a bottle of bordeaux from 

the extensive and well-rounded wine 

list; a 2014 Espirit du Lussac, Lussac 

St Emilion which, at £28, represented 

decent value for money. 

As we were shown to a cosy table à deux in the 

restaurant, it wasn’t long before the first sample 

arrived. And rather than the usual bread offering, 

it was crumpets. But no ordinary crumpets. These 

joyous morsels were wagyu crumpets, made with fat 

from some of the world’s most pampered cows and 

adorned with a healthy dollop of cultured butter. 

Pure, unadulterated deliciousness. 

The first course proper was a luscious Jerusalem 

artichoke puree served with slightly sweet artichoke 

crisps, and a rich cheddar mousse filled with pickled 

artichoke and adorned with a smattering of earthy 

thyme. Simple ingredients combined to great effect, 

it was an impressive introduction to Ryan’s culinary 

ethos. 

The next offering was the one which had really 

caught my eye, and it delivered and then some. Billed 

as ‘Wagyu, parsley, apple’, this was a heavenly slab 

of rich, melt-in-the-mouth beef alongside a silky 

parsley cream and slivers of sweet-sharp apple, with 

delicate rings of lightly pickled onion and microherbs. 

Beautifully balanced, intensely flavoured and 

perfectly presented, it was a knockout dish. 

The Cornish mackerel which followed had a lot to 

live up to, but the wonderfully firm fish combined 

with zingy passionfruit and smooth, slightly sweet 

black garlic purees to great effect. Grains of puffed 

rice added a nice textural contrast, and my dining 

companion proclaimed it his dish of the evening. 

Onto the main event - and the only dish present on 

both the five and seven-course menus - it was the 

turn of venison. Now, game might seem like a brave 

choice to take the starring role on the menu, but 

when a dish is executed so well, it can’t fail to hit the 

spot. Served two ways - a rare, seared fillet alongside 

slow-cooked pulled venison - it was a sublime piece 

of cooking. Accompanying dice of squash and 

plump raisins added a contrasting sweetness to the 

rich, gamey flavour while a hint of chilli gave a 

welcome warmth. 

Now, the downside to choosing the five-course menu 

over the seven was just one dessert instead of two, 

so it was a welcome surprise to find an additional 

palate-cleansing course of pineapple and buttermilk 

sorbets with fresh mint granita. 

The finale was, however, something of a revelation. 

Fresh Yorkshire rhubarb alongside 

rhubarb sorbet and smooth white 

chocolate was a harmonious offering. 

But it was the dill ice cream which 

proved the star of the plate. The 

distinctive herbiness worked incredibly 

- who knew! - and shards of dark 

chocolate and chocolate crumb 

completed a pretty darn special pud. 

Larder’s ethos is ‘all flavour: no pomp’ 

and that’s precisely what Ryan and 

the team have delivered. An extremely 

welcome addition to the city’s 

flourishing restaurant scene, Larder 

is sure to be a hit with any discerning 

foodie looking for that little bit more. 

31


Cocktail of the month 

SHAUN CRAVEN, FROM LICHFIELD’S LE RÊVE COCKTAIL BAR, CREATES 

A SWEET TREAT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS VALENTINE’S DAY 

Ingredients 

25ml Amaretto 

25ml cherry brandy 

12.5ml almond syrup 

25ml lemon juice 

Sweet Valentine 

Shaun says: “Shake all ingredients 

and pour into a glass over ice. We 

top ours off with our homemade 

strawberry jam foam, made by 

combining fresh strawberry syrup, 

egg whites and lemon juice in a 

cream whipper and garnish with 

fresh strawberries.” 

32

COMING SOON 

STAND UP COMEDIAN 

The 

Boat Inn 

THE CARPENTERS 

VOICE OF THE HEART 

THUR 14 FEB 

BALLETBOYZ 

THEM/US 

THUR 28 FEB 

ORIGINAL DRIFTERS MEMBER 

ROY G HEMMINGS 

SUN 17 FEB 

Michelin recommended 

We are also proud to announce that head chef & owner, 

Liam Dillon, has been presented with the ‘Best Chef’ Award 

at the Midlands Food, Drink & Hospitality Awards 2018. 

We have also been awarded ‘Best Independent Restaurant’ 

in the Taste Of Staffordshire awards 2018. 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Burns Night - 25 th January, Valentines Day - 14 th February 

Mothering Sunday - Tasting Menu lunch - 31 st March 

See the menu’s for all three events on our website 

www.theboatinnlichfield.com 

Call for details - 01543 361692 

Open Wednesday - Sunday 

www.theboatinnlichfield.com 

Walsall Road, Lichfield WS14 0BU 

POP UP MICHELIN STAR FINE DINING 

IN A KITCHEN NEAR YOU! 

Delivering exciting and new dining experiences to your doorstep through a series 

of pop up kitchen events, where chefs from Michelin starred restaurants and highly 

commended chefs showcase their food and talents. 

JAMES COCHRAN 

CHEF PATRON | 1251 RESTAURANT 

18 MARCH | THE WINE HOUSE | LICHFIELD 

A 6 course tasting menu will be served by the 

enigmatic James Cochran of 1251 Restaurant, London. 

Former Chef at The Ledbury and starring in this years 

BBC show Great British Menu, James brings both 

Scottish and Jamaican influences to his cooking. 

Lichfield you are in for a treat! 

6 DELICIOUS COURSES | £85 

@saucesupperclub 

@saucesupperclub 

www.saucesupperclub.co.uk


Tropical tastes 

CHEF PATRON LIAM DILLON AND PASTRY CHEF ROGER LOMAS, FROM 

LICHFIELD’S THE BOAT INN, SHARE A DELECTABLE DESSERT 

After a hugely successful 2018 which saw The 

Boat Inn named Best Independent Restaurant 

at the Taste of Staffordshire Awards and chef 

patron Liam Dillon walk away with the Best 

Chef accolade at the Midlands Food, Drink and 

Hospitality Awards, 2019 is set to reinforce the 

restaurant’s place as one of the top eateries in the 

Midlands. Bookings are being taken for special 

Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day events, and 

the new menu is packed with delicious dishes to 

try - including this fabulously tropical dessert... 

Passionfruit brulee, coconut, lime and mango 

Passionfruit brulee: 

1 lemon juiced 

160g passionfruit puree 

2 lemon zest 

9 whole eggs 

250g double cream 

400g caster sugar 

Lime meringue: 

20g egg white powder 

80g sugar 

120g pasteurised egg white 

2 lime zest only 

Coconut sorbet: 

1kg coconut puree 

160g sugar 

800g water 

200g glucose powder 

60g tremoline 

6g super neutrose 

Coconut streusel: 

200g soft butter 

200g demerara 

150g ground almonds 

200g plain flour 

Pinch of salt 

Toasted coconut to taste (optional) 

Mango and lime salsa: 

2 ripe mangos 

2 large limes 

Method: 

To make the brulee mix firstly whisk the eggs till all fluffy. Add the cream 

and sugar and mix well, add all the other ingredients and mix. Allow to 

mature in the fridge for minimum six hours. Strain through a fine sieve, skim 

off the froth that raises to the top and pour into ready prepared moulds in a 

preheated oven at 112 degrees until the mixture has a slight wobble. When 

cooked, chill until needed. 

For the meringue whisk all the ingredients together in a stand up mixer until 

it forms stiff peaks. Spread the mix over baking parchment and bake in a 

preheated oven at 80 degrees for four hours. Allow to cool then snap into 

shards and place in a airtight container. 

For the sorbet heat water and the tremoline in a pan, mix all dry ingredients 

in a bowl then add to the water mix until dissolved. Bring to the boil and 

pour over the puree, mix well then strain through a fine sieve and allow to 

mature in the fridge for four hours minimum. Churn when ready and leave 

in a airtight container in the freezer. 

For the streusel, mix all ingredients quite hard together making sure all the 

butter is incorporated. Spread mix onto a tray and bake in an oven preheated 

to 160 degrees for 25 minutes, mixing and turning every five minutes. Allow 

to cool then add toasted coconut to taste. 

To assemble sprinkle the brulee with sugar and blow torch to make a caramel 

top. Place in the centre of the plate/bowl with the salsa on one side and the 

coconut streusel the other. Place a ball of sorbet on top of the brulee, then 

decorate with shards of lime meringue. 

Dig in and enjoy! 

34

Creating beautiful 

cutlery, silverware 

and gifts has been our 

passion since 1902. 

Huge savings on high street, 

retail and online prices. 

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Please be aware that the shop is located on 

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A sweet indulgence 

TREAT YOUR VALENTINE TO A LUXURIOUS SWEET TREAT WITH THE FINEST ITALIAN 

CHOCOLATES FROM VENCHI, AVAILABLE AT INDULGENCE BY NERO E BIANCO 

The most romantic day of the year shall soon be 

upon us, and whether you embrace Valentine’s 

Day or not, wine and chocolate will forever make 

delectable gifts for our loved ones at any time of the 

year. 

Luxury chocolate brand, Venchi, is one of the 

world’s finest and oldest artisan chocolatiers. Their 

decadent and glitzy stores brimming with floor-toceiling 

‘pick and mix’ troughs are well established 

in various areas of London, but there are very few 

places for the rest of the country to get their hands 

on this divine chocolate. 

Indulgence by Nero e Bianco are delighted to 

bring the brand to their Italian wine and chocolate 

boutique on the picturesque Barton Marina. The 

team are even incorporating the range into their 

wine tasting events. Ali Mountjoy, the store manager 

of Indulgence, tells us a little bit more about what 

makes Venchi so special. 

“The entire collection is hand-crafted with cacao 

originating from South America and Africa but 

what really makes the brand unique is their range of 

Gianduja, or praline to us Brits,” explains Ali. 

“Venchi hails from Turin in North West Italy where 

Piedmont hazelnuts are one of the key ingredients 

and a symbol of fine Italian confectionery.” 

Praline is commonly made with Turkish hazelnuts 

but since Gianduja originates from Piedmont, Venchi 

have stuck with tradition, and with very good reason. 

“The Piedmontese nuts keep the chocolate from 

tasting acidic and are much better quality than their 

Turkish counterparts,” says Ali. 

“They are carefully selected one by one, roasted and 

then ground into the finest paste. Once combined 

with the chocolate, the result is like no other praline 

I have ever tasted. It is, of course, rich but in no way 

cloying, nor too sweet, just silky smooth and so, so 

satisfying!” 

It is not only the quality of the ingredients used 

but also the minimal processing which creates such 

exquisite chocolate that is all about purity of flavour 

- with the added bonus that the entire range is 

gluten-free. 

“The pick and mix concept has been immensely 

popular in store,” says Ali. “We have treats ranging 

from extra dark chocolate through to white, with 

lots of nut, coffee, and fruit flavours as well as some 

of Venchi’s ‘Dolce’ desserts range which includes 

tiramisu. It’s a fantastic way of buying chocolate 

since we all have a different favourite. Given the truly 

unique flavour of Venchi, I’m pretty certain I can 

say that there will never be that one flavour at the 

bottom of the box that nobody wants!” 

Indulgence will be stocking some extra special gifts 

in time for February 14, which will be perfect to pick 

up alongside a bottle of wine for your Valentine. 

To discover more about the Indulgence range and 

tasting events, visit www.indulgenceshop.co.uk. 

36

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H E A LT H 

A tasty tipple 

ORGANIC WINE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME FOR 

LICHFIELD WINE COMPANY CLOS VENTAS 

As one of the greatest wine-producing countries in 

the world, running a French vineyard seems like a 

rather idyllic way of life. 

For Lichfield couple and self-confessed Francophiles 

Cathi and Mike Dillon, their French dream became 

a reality with the set-up of their wine company Clos 

Ventas. Translating as ‘windy parcel‘, a nod to their 

wine’s terroir, Clos Ventas offers delicious, organic 

wines cultivated according to biodynamic principles 

in the Languedoc region of the south of France. 

“We’re passionate about organic wines,” says 

Cathi. “There are no chemicals and no extra yeasts 

involved; all of the yeast is natural yeast which is on 

the grapes themselves. 

“With our organic wine, these bottle are just full of 

wine - no added nasties. Virtually every single grape 

which goes into every bottle has been manually 

handled; it’s been grown, it’s been cleaned, the 

vines have been hand-stripped of excess leaves and 

the grapes are harvested by hand. 

“It’s only when the grapes are harvested and taken 

back to the winery that they go into a machine 

which separates the skins from the juice and that’s 

the first time they’re touched by any form of 

machinery. It’s all very natural.” 

Clos Ventas wines are produced from five hectares 

of vines in Jonquieres, the heart of the Terrasses du 

Larzac - an area continuously recognised as one of 

the best terroirs in France. 

CLOS VENTAS OFFERS ORGANIC WINES 

FROM THE SOUTH OF FRANCE 

It is geologically varied, having a diverse selection 

of soils, all within a relatively small area. Combine 

all of this with the cooler air descending from 

the Larzac plateau, which helps to slow ripening 

and keep acidity levels higher, and you have the 

potential to make tremendous balanced wines. 

Clos Ventas has three wines on offer. Les Pointes 

Rouge is an equal split of cinsault and grenache; 

Les Pointes Blanc in mostly marsanne with a hint 

of grenache blanc; and the Terrasses du Larzac is a 

blend of grenache, mouverdre, syrah and cinsault. 

Smooth and well-balanced, the wines are easydrinking 

options for all occasions. 

The first vintage was 2013, which was a sellout, as 

was their 2014 offering. Initially selling their wine in 

France, Clos Ventas’ wares were well-received, even 

coming out on top of a blind taste-testing among all 

the old local wine makers themselves. 

“But more and more people were interested in our 

wine here in the UK, so I decided to bring it back 

home and focus on selling the wine here,” says 

Cathi. 

Moving their entire stock of remaining 2015 and 

2016 vintages back home to Staffordshire, Cathi 

and Mike are now determined to spread the word 

about Clos Ventas and the benefits of organic wines 

to the UK market. 

Clos Ventas wines are sold in a variety of 

independent wine shops, as well as available in 

restaurants including Lichfield’s The Boat Inn, 

which is run by Cathi and Mike’s son, Liam. Cathi 

also specialises in at-home wine tastings - a perfect 

way to try the wines with a group of friends in 

the comfort of your own space. Whether you’re 

a complete beginner or a wine enthusiast, the 

emphasis is on having fun and learning a little more 

about wine in the best possible way - by tasting. 

At just £12 a bottle, the wines offer great value for 

money for an organic product, crafted with care 

and precision and without any chemicals. 

Presentation boxes of three bottles are also 

available - an ideal present for Valentine’s Day or 

Mother’s Day. 

For more details or to book a wine tasting, 

call Cathi on 07773 062449 or email 

cathi@closventaswines.co.uk 

38

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ABBA Tribute Evening 

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H E A LT H 

A workout for two 

WITH VALENTINE’S DAY AROUND THE CORNER, LICHFIELD’S FAVOURITE PERSONAL TRAINER 

RAUL ROMERO, TELLS US WHY COUPLES WHO SWEAT TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER! 

COUPLES WHO SWEAT 

TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER, 

SAYS RAUL ROMERO 

February has come around again and at this time 

of year, it is tradition to celebrate Valentine’s Day 

with our partners. We all make time in our busy 

schedules to spend with our other halves on or 

around February 14 - but, shouldn’t this be part of 

our normal weekly routine? 

Nowadays however, most of us have such busy lives 

trying to juggle work, family life, chores and much 

more, that it is easy to forget to put aside dedicated 

time to spend with our partners. 

So, why not kill two birds with one stone? By 

working out together and spending quality time 

with our other halves to help each other become 

healthier and happier, as well as becoming closer and 

strengthening relationships. 

Many studies have shown the power of this practice, 

and a perfect example can be seen with some high 

profile celebrity couples. Take David and Victoria 

Beckham for example, who regularly enjoy indoor 

cycling classes together. Their eldest child has also 

become involved allowing them to spend family time 

together working out. 

Another good example has got to be Will Smith and 

Jada Pinkett who are another couple that have been 

in the habit of working out together for over 20 years 

of marriage (proving it really works!) They have also 

encouraged their children to work out with them and 

used it as a means of spending quality family time 

together. 

I am very lucky to be able to share my passion of 

training with my own other half, as well as see it 

among many of my clients who also train together. 

It really is a brilliant way of spending quality time 

together, and at the same time keeping fit. Many 

clients who train together at the Ambition PT studio 

often bring their children to also train with them, 

making it a fab family affair! 

So, what are the actual benefits of training together? 

40

Why do couples who sweat together, stay together? 

1. You always have someone to encourage you. 

Especially on those cold winter nights when racing 

home for a cup of tea and biscuits in front of the 

fire seems so beckoning. 

2. You can more realistically achieve your diet goals. 

It is of course easier cooking delicious, healthy 

food for two rather than just for one. You are also 

less likely to ‘fall off the diet wagon’ so to speak if 

you have someone else to share the healthy diet 

with. 

3. ‘Cheat days’ are twice as fun! 

4. Your sex life will, of course, benefit - no further 

explanation needed here! 

5. Healthy competition between you to complete 

a certain number of reps for example, will help 

you both push each other to work out harder and 

achieve new fitness records. 

6. Enjoying and appreciating rest days together and 

using them as a means of spending time together 

doing other things you enjoy. 

7. There are far fewer arguments as you’re releasing 

any frustrations in a healthy manner. 

8. The magic of massage! Massaging each others 

aches and pains becomes an enjoyable way of 

winding down for the day. 

9. Getting into a good habit of planning your weekly 

workouts is a great way of becoming really good at 

planning other aspects of family life too. 

AMBITION PERSONAL 

TRAINING FOUNDER 

RAUL ROMERO 

10. You’re both happier and more energetic, which 

is by far the most important point as it will affect 

your outlook on every other aspect of your lives. 

...and last but not least, for those of you singletons 

enjoying life, keep working out. You never know, you 

may just bump into the girl or guy of your dreams at 

the gym! 

For information about group sessions, or Personal 

Training Duo sessions, get in touch with Raul at 

raul@ambitionpt.co.uk. 

WORKING OUT 

TOGETHER CAN BENEFIT 

YOUR SEX LIFE 

41

T R AV E L 

Into the wild 

HISTORIC BATTLEFIELDS, MOUTHWATERING FOOD AND MOUNTAINOUS WALKS JUST ABOUT SCRATCH THE SURFACE 

OF THE DIVERSE KWAZULU NATAL REGION OF SOUTH AFRICA. SAMUEL COOPER, FROM LICHFIELD’S RB COLLECTION, 

EXPERIENCED A SLICE OF THE CONTINENT WHICH OFFERS SO MUCH MORE THAN A SAFARI HOLIDAY 

It all started on a bright and sunny Saturday 

afternoon at Heathrow Airport onboard British 

Airways’ new direct service to Durban. I travelled 

in Club World which made the overnight flight 

much more comfortable with a seat that converted 

into a flat bed, along with a great selection of food, 

drink and entertainment. I landed on time and my 

driver swiftly transferred me to The Oyster Box 

in Umhlanga in just 20 minutes, ideal after a long 

flight. This was a wonderful way to start my first 

South African adventure with a two-night relaxing 

stay. This elegant, five-star boutique hotel offers 

breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and the 

iconic lighthouse, and the service was first class. 

After a two-night relaxing stay at the Oyster Box, it 

was time to start my self-drive itinerary. I recommend 

an SUV/4X4, not because the roads are challenging, 

but it means you’re higher up with good views. I 

drove up to Fordoun Hotel and Spa via the N3 

which took just under two hours. As I approached 

the property, all I could see were the bright green 

colours of the rolling hills, contrasting beautifully 

with the bright orange soil. No billboards, just 

unspoilt views. It was a real breath of fresh air to get 

away completely from today’s fast-paced, commercial 

world. The sun was shining, and the sky was bright 

blue. 

Fordoun is situated between Pietermaritzburg in 

the South East and the Drakensberg mountain 

range (a World Heritage Site) in the north west. It’s 

a great rural meeting point which has an array of 

bespoke shops. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a 

real foodie, so when I saw a place called Chocolate 

Heaven, I couldn’t resist. The white chocolate was 

like nothing I had ever tasted before. This part of 

South Africa lends itself very well to a self-drive 

holiday. 

After spending some quality time at Fordoun and 

42

enjoying their excellent hospitality, it was 

time to move up a gear and really get to know 

the area. I headed north west to Montusi, 

located in the mountains with a view of the 

amphitheatre escarpment which is regarded 

as one of the most impressive cliff faces on 

earth. I’d definitely recommend you pack 

your walking boots to enjoy this area to its 

full potential. The natural beauty of this area 

blew me away; the bright green rolling hills 

merging in the distance against a vibrant blue 

sky, I was embracing high definition in real 

life with no filters required! 

This afternoon I went on my first ever horse 

ride for an hour-and-a-half. This gentle ride 

took me down to the lake and I enjoyed a 

picnic including a cheese board and a bottle 

of Savanna cider, just in time to watch the 

sunset. As the sun was setting over the hill, 

you could hear the birds whistling away; this 

was something that dreams are made of, and 

I was pinching myself, I was awake. 

The following day, I met my guide Shadrack 

who was born and bred in the local area. 

What a funny character he was; so passionate 

about his country and his people. Wealth in 

his culture is not measured by financial gain, 

but how many children you have, and he 

was wealthy. He told me I could buy a wife 

for 11 cows! We hiked for an hour to view cave art 

and talked over coffee and cake about our lives and 

how we were chalk and cheese, yet got on very well 

MONTUSI MOUNTAIN 

LODGE, NORTHERN 

DRAKENSBERG 

indeed. It was a unique opportunity to learn about 

each other’s cultures and was a very memorable 

experience. 

I departed Montusi with a heavy heart, but it was 

time to drive to my first ever safari at Nambiti Hills. 

Located directly east in an area called Ladysmith 

in the Uthukela District, it was a drive of around 

two hours. I met Jason, a young guide with a lot of 

knowledge of the private reserve and wildlife. He 

took me to the main lodge where I was met by hosts, 

Betty and Magdela who made me feel right at home 

for the next two nights. 

On my first ever game drive later that afternoon, my 

eyes were peeled, and the excitement was building, 

wondering what I would see first. Just as we edged 

over a hill, we came across a group of giraffes. Such 

elegant animals strolling along so calmly and natural; 

it was a great sight. We then drove to a picturesque 

spot for sundowners, and to take in the peaceful 

surroundings. 

Jason then got a call on the radio about a potential 

kill nearby. I was very unsure of how I would feel 

about this, as I’m a real animal lover but in that very 

moment, knowing I was about to witness something 

completely natural, I relaxed a little. En route, we 

came across white rhino which are just huge tough 

animals, very impressive. 

43

We arrived to an open plain and paused. I could see 

a group of buffalo being circled by three cheetah, 

mother and two older cubs, following her lead. It was 

quite remarkable to see how they were positioning 

and keeping good eye contact. They were getting 

closer, but as with all buffalo, they are quite stupid 

and kept running in circles trying to confuse the 

cheetahs. The sun was setting, and it was getting 

quite dark and we sadly had to leave. I don’t think 

the kill happened that night, but I never saw another 

cheetah during my stay. That evening we had a 

lovely dinner around a campfire and experienced a 

traditional dance by the locals, a great way to end the 

day. 

On the following morning game drive Jason made us 

breakfast, pancakes in the bush. The morning drive 

didn’t disappoint; we came across impalas, elephants, 

various birds and even more rhino. I was getting 

quite a keen eye for spotting wildlife, I was rather 

proud! 

Saying goodbye to Nambiti was hard, because for 

those two nights, I had really forgotten about home. 

All the stresses that come with everyday life had 

disappeared and the experiences I’d had so far been 

truly life changing. When you are viewing nature at 

its best, in a natural environment, seeing how the 

animals live side by side, it gives you perspective 

to what is really important. Being in a setting with 

no pollution and no other tourists breathing down 

your neck, it makes those moments extra special. 

Although I’ve been very lucky to see wildlife in Costa 

Rica, Thailand and Sri Lanka, seeing the wildlife 

here was like raising the bar, the vast number of 

different animals, along with the experiences of 

trying to find them as well as the quality guides on 

offer and hospitality, it all just made this place very 

UMHLANGA 

special indeed. 

A steady two-hour drive took me to Fugitives Drift, 

which is known for Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift 

battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. I was 

welcomed by the Rattray family and taken to Rorkes 

Drift by Richard Rattray, son of the late David 

Rattray who was a historian of the Anglo-Zulu war. 

He took me around the museum which showed 

glimpses of a battle that took place, timelines, 

pictures and maps started to paint a picture of a 

battle. He took me around the hospital which was 

in the heart of the battle. As we 

walked on the very ground that on 

January 22, 1879 at 4.30pm, the 

Zulus charged at the British, it was 

heart-wrenching, palm-sweating 

and very emotional to hear of the 

stories. 

After an emotional tour, Richard 

took me back to the lodge. I sat 

down with a few other guests at the 

hotel around an open fire where I 

took a moment to reflect on what 

we had just experienced. The 

following morning, Richard took me 

for a walk to Fugitive Drift. He once 

again brought to life how the battle 

started and at various points, he 

explained accounts of the survivors 

and I paid my respects to the graves. 

This is a fascinating place to visit 

44

and a must do during your stay in this region. 

It was time to say goodbye to Richard and his 

family and I had a choice. Either a four-hour drive 

back to Durban, or a 45-minute helicopter ride. 

Of course, I chose the helicopter and sat with my 

trusting pilot in the co-pilot seat, we went high into 

the sky and saw South Africa from a bird’s eye view 

- absolutely incredible! I was back where my South 

African adventure had started, at The Oyster Box. 

I had lunch on the terrace, overlooking the beach in 

Umhlanga, drinking a cold refreshing Savanna cider. 

Looking out to sea, I could see the waves crashing 

against the rocks, and I could feel the warm breeze. I 

didn’t want to leave. 

I can honestly say, I love South Africa. If it’s not on 

your bucket list, then it needs to be, and I suggest at 

the very top. 

A SUNDOWNER 

AFTER SAFARI 

SOUTH AFRICA FACT BOX 

HOW TO GET THERE: 

Direct flights from London to Johannesburg, 

Cape Town and Durban 

FLIGHT TIME: 

Around 11 hours 

WHEN TO VISIT: 

South Africa is great in our winter months 

when the days are warm and dry. For better 

game viewing, consider the dry season when 

there is less foliage. 

BEST AREA FOR SAFARIS: 

There’s a wide selection to choose from for 

ranging budgets. Our favourite would be Sabi 

Sands on the edge of the Kruger National 

Park, for its luxury lodges and leopard 

sightings. 

YOU CAN’T MISS: 

Cape Town. As well as being one of the best 

safari holiday spots in the world, South Africa 

is also home to one of the most beautiful 

cities, Cape Town. With Table Mountain, 

the beautiful beach at Camps Bay, the V&A 

Waterfront and an eclectic mix of restaurants 

and nightlife to enjoy, it is a great place to 

start your South African adventure. 

FOR A SECOND TIME VISIT: 

New flights to Durban open up this part of 

South Africa which is often overlooked. With 

interesting historic sites, beautiful scenery and 

a new selection of game lodges and camps, it 

is worth exploring as Sam did. 

Exclusive J’AIME magazine reader offer 

THE FIRST TWO CLIENTS TO BOOK A HOLIDAY TO SOUTH AFRICA WHEN 

MENTIONING J’AIME MAGAZINE BEFORE THE END OF APRIL 2019, FOR TRAVEL IN 

2019 OR 2020, WILL RECEIVE A CASE OF RB’S FAVOURITE SOUTH AFRICAN WINE. 

FOR EXAMPLE HOLIDAYS VISIT RBCOLLECTION.COM/AFRICA OR CALL RB 

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45

F E AT U R E 

Kick the bucket list 

JACK REGAN, A CREATIVE AT TITAN. THE ADVERTISING AGENCY IN BIRMINGHAM, 

PUTS THE NOTION OF A BUCKET LIST TO THE TEST WITH THE ARMCHAIR CHALLENGE 

I almost died five time at the 

end of 2017. Stone dead. 

Game Over. Pushing up the 

daisies and all that. 

The Grim Reaper himself had 

crept up upon me, sinister, 

silent, secretly readying to 

snatch the life out of me, but 

each time I somehow swerved 

the bony swine’s scythe and 

shuffled a little further along 

this mortal coil. 

One near-miss was during 

the warm up to a bar brawl, 

for goodness sake, which 

was properly terrifying. 

Another time was halfway up 

a mountain. Last time, god 

help us, was during a 13-mile 

commando assault course! Funny the places The 

Reaper shines his remorseless glower upon you, isn’t 

it? 

The doctors eventually figured out what the hell was 

wrong, the danger I’d been in, ambulanced me to 

surgery at breakneck speed, let the sawbones have 

their wicked way with me and then sent me home to 

fight another day - scalpeled, but not scythed. 

Told me that if I wanted to live a while longer I’d 

best stay off the hard stuff, avoid anything illegal/ 

imported/both, puff nothing, stick to the ten 

commandments, love thy neighbour, do not pass 

GO, do not collect £200 and never, ever, ever eat the 

yellow snow. 

Oh and finally and, at all costs, avoid dickheads, 

they said - quite emphatically, if truth be told. Too 

stressful. I shook my head sadly, told them that that 

was beyond impossible, alas, as I work in advertising, 

y’see. Which has been worrying the hell outta me 

ever since. 

Anyways, this bizarre affront to my previously allaction 

sensibilities prompted me, perhaps perversely, 

to start writing this action column for J’AIME 

though, upon contemplation, I haven’t as yet actually 

figured out why I felt it would be a good idea to 

partake in all of these daft stunts. 

On reflection, I wonder if it might be some kind 

of defiant bucket listing notion I have going on? 

Taunting The Reaper, somehow. 

But I don’t know. Scaring the bejesus outta yourself 

by throwing yourself off a building or strapping 

yourself to the wings of a ramshackle old plane 

are, on balance, definitely not the funnest of leisure 

time pursuits. Thrilling they may arguably be but 

they seem like a bizarre length to go to be genuinely 

regarded as life-affirming. 

And it’s got me thinking. 

I mean, people talk about their bucket lists like it 

elevates the end of their lives. Like it stirs the soul 

and rouses the spirit and makes the last ticks and 

tocks of their time on Earth a thousand times sexier, 

more compelling and so on. But I’m not so sure, dear 

reader, I am not so sure. 

I’ve done a few things over the years that are 

worthy of mention but I’m not sure that any of 

them are anywhere near as undilutedly splendid 

and abundantly joyous as an afternoon spent on an 

overstuffed armchair with a roaring fire, copious 

cups of tea/Irn Bru/hard liquor while tearing into 

a gripping adventure novel/ fascinating book/the 

Kama Sutra. 

And I’ve genuinely sat here the last half hour 

contemplating how well an afternoon spent this 

way actually compares to some of my real life 

“adventures”. 

46

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There’s been a bunch of them over the years, to be 

fair, but I’ve decided to give some consideration to a 

random dozen notables, just to see if they stand up to 

what I shall now christen The Armchair Challenge. 

Here’s how it went: 

1. I was there at 9/11 in New York. The bodies. The 

horror. The grief. 

2. I swam with the man-eater sharks long before 

most anybody else dared. 

Verdict: Armchair and a novel beats both of 

these, hands down. Are you serious? 

3. I once thrashed a Harley motorbike to 110 

mph through the Mojave Desert with a heavily 

firewatered, hallucinating Native American Injun 

riding pillion and howling at the moon - he’d just 

given me a 115 million year old velociraptor shit 

in direct exchange for this ride and a six pack of 

Budweiser. Not-a-word-of-a-lie. 

Verdict: Armchair and a novel wins. The 

guy’s wriggling in the saddle nearly killed us 

deader than the dinosaur dung fossil! 

4. I hung out of a plane with no parachute, waiting 

for the pilot to put out his cigarette before strapping 

on my chute. Then I jumped. Only then! 

Verdict: God help us! Armchair! 

Was an accident, for crying out loud! 

Verdict: Armchair with The Naked and The 

Dead. 

12. I started an argument between Darth Vader and 

Chewbacca. It was over The Incredible Hulk. 

Verdict: Real life. Come on! 

So, that’s a fairly resounding victory for The 

Armchair, with only the use of genuine superheroes 

giving real life experiences even a reasonable show 

on the scoreboard. 

Which again makes me question what the hell it is 

that compels us to imperil ourselves so readily with 

bucket lists. 

Do they make us happier? Are they really life 

enhancing and uplifting? Or do we just kid ourselves 

that we are walking in the footsteps of our heroes 

and make use of our experiences for bragging rights 

down the pub/at the golf club/in the works canteen? 

I genuinely don’t know, but am determined to keep 

exploring my own compulsions to get to the bottom 

of it all and would be delighted to hear from any 

J’AIME readers and how they have fared in their 

own Armchair Challenge. 

Answers on a postcard please to the usual address. 

5. I almost ruined my marriage in getting my first 

novel published. Published, that is, to possibly the 

quietest fanfare in literary history. 

Verdict: Armchair! Armchair! 

6. But then I sold the movie rights to a Hollywood 

producer. 

Verdict: Real life. Fair enough, okay, that’s a 

wee bit sexy. 

7. I drank with two James Bonds. One heavily. And a 

Batman. Who ended up in rehab. 

8. I had a meal with Weinstein. Yes, that one. 

Verdict: Real life on both. Are you kidding? 

9. Had a wee argument with Thatcher. No big deal. 

Verdict: Armchair. 

10. I won a triathlon. A daft, local one before I got 

too fat. Hmmmm.. got too fatter. 

Verdict: Armchair! Actually, Armchair plus a 

packet of Marlboro Lights as a bonus ! And, 

ah what the hell, a Mars Bar too! 

11. Norman Mailer swung a haymaker at me after 

I kicked his walking stick by accident. The muppet. 

48

アパート 

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昀椀琀 

Jean Lamb Wealth Consultancy 

My offices are situated in the historic city of Lichfield and I have been providing personal 

wealth management advice to my clients for more 

than 25 years. 

I specialise in the following key areas 

and welcome your enquiry: 

• Investment Planning 

• InheritanceTax and Estate Planning 

• Pre and Post-Retirement Planning 

• Care Fees Planning and Funding for Care 

Telephone: 01543 417342 

Website: www.jeanlamb.co.uk 

Email: jean.lamb@sjpp.co.uk 

Office: 6A Market Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LH 

Jean Lamb Wealth Consultancy is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management Plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) 

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.

LO CA L A R E A 

What’s On Local 

YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST OF WHAT’S ON IN AND AROUND 

SUTTON COLDFIELD, LICHFIELD, WALSALL AND BEYOND 

WHAT: LICHFIELD ARTS PRESENTS 

THE JONI MITCHELL STORY 

WHERE: LICHFIELD GUILDHALL 

WHEN: FEBRUARY 3 

From her beginnings as a songwriter 

on the Laurel Canyon scene of the 

1970s, Joni Mitchell is now seen as 

one of the leading singer-songwriters 

of her time. Hits such as Both Sides 

Now, Big Yellow Taxi, The River, 

Coyote and Woodstock have been 

sung and covered by too many other 

artists to mention. 

Both Sides Now are a band of 

talented musicians, who do the work 

of Joni Mitchell full justice, both 

sonically, and artistically. If you are a 

big fan of Joni Mitchell, or just want 

to hear some fine musicians playing 

one of the more familiar song books 

of recent times, buy your tickets 

soon - you won’t know what you’ve 

got till it’s gone. Tickets are priced at 

£14, £12.60 for friends of Lichfield 

Arts and £7 for under 16s. For more 

details call 01543 262223 or visit 

www.lichfieldarts.org.uk 

WHAT: MURDER MYSTERY EVENING 

WHERE:THE GEORGE HOTEL, 

LICHFIELD 


The George Hotel’s popular Murder 

Mystery evenings allow you to put 

your investigative skills to the test and 

enjoy an evening of murder, mystery 

and intrigue, courtesy of Murder 

Mystery Productions. The story of 

‘Invitation Only’ will unfold during 

dinner and it will be up to you to 

work out “whodunnit” by questioning 

the characters and examining the 

clues. The evenings are great fun, but, 

be warned, they sell out frighteningly 

fast.A group of unconnected guests 

arrive for a weekend of socialising 

but little do they know that there is 

a killer amongst them. Tickets are 

priced at £34 per person, or you can 

make a night of it with The George’s 

great value package including two 

Murder Mystery Evening tickets plus 

an overnight stay in a double room 

with full English breakfast for £135 

per couple. 

To book call 01543 414822 or visit 

www.thegeorgelichfield.co.uk. 

WHAT: BALLETBOYZ - THEM/US 

WHERE: LICHFIELD GARRICK 


Applauded across the globe for their 

stunning live performances, films 

and TV appearances, BalletBoyz 

are back with two new works, both 

set to original scores by world-class 

composers. 

In a first for the company, Them 

is created by the BalletBoyz 

dancers themselves, while the 

Tony and Olivier Award-winning 

choreographer Christopher 

Wheeldon brings us the achingly 

beautiful Us, inspired by his critically 

acclaimed duet featured in the 

Company’s memorable production, 

Fourteen Days. 

Set to contrasting scores by cult 

singer-songwriter Keaton Henson 

and emerging composer Charlotte 

Harding, this innovative double 

bill asks where we see ourselves in 

relation to the “other”, and explores 

the fine balance between them and 

us. For more details call the box 

office on 01543 412121 or visit 

www.lichfieldgarrick.com 

50

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1 Cremorne Walk, Lichfield Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5AL 

Telephone: 0121 308 3895 

www.langancarpetsandinteriors.co.uk 

1 Cremorne Walk, Lichfield Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5AL

LO CA L A R E A 

What’s on Second City 

A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST 

EVENTS TO COME TO BIRMINGHAM THIS MONTH 

WHAT: BLUE ORANGE 

WHERE: BIRMINGHAM REP 

WHEN: FEBRUARY 1 TO 16 

Christopher is sectioned and admitted 

to a psychiatric hospital. As his doctor 

and senior consultant debate the 

cause of his psychosis, he makes the 

startling revelation that he's the son 

of Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin. The 

two specialists are divided in their 

diagnosis and fiercely defend their 

opposing positions. Their power 

struggle escalates into an exchange 

over racism, ideology, prejudice and 

egotism. With each new revelation, all 

three find their layers are peeled back 

to reveal increasingly uncomfortable 

truths within themselves. 

From Joe Penhall (Mindhunter, The 

Last King Of Scotland and The 

Road), this Olivier Award-winning 

play is a darkly funny dissection of 

institutional racism and mental health 

in modern Britain. The cast features 

Thomas Coombes as Bruce, Richard 

Lintern as Robert and Ivan Oyik, 

who makes his professional stage 

debut as Christopher. For more details 

visit www.birmingham-rep.co.uk 

WHAT: SING-A-LONG-A THE GREATEST 

SHOWMAN 

WHERE: NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE 


Singalonga Productions, producers 

of Singalonga Sound of Music and 

Singalonga Grease brings you their 

newest show, the smash hit film musical 

that everyone can’t stop singing - The 

Greatest Showman! 

Cheer on Hugh Jackman, lust after Zac 

Efron and hiss Rebecca Ferguson (… 

or maybe not) as you experience The 

Greatest Showman in the greatest way 

possible - with lyrics on the screen so 

you can join in as loud as you want. 

The evening’s live host will teach you 

a unique set of dance moves that will 

truly make you Come Alive. As they 

show you how to use the interactive 

prop bags, you also get to practice your 

cheers, your boos and even a few wolf 

whistles. Then you can sit back and 

relax and sing and dance along to the 

lyrics on screen. You, the audience, will 

Rewrite The Stars! 

It couldn’t be easier or more fun! The 

first rule of Sing-a-Long-a is THERE 

ARE NO RULES! Fancy dress is 

strongly encouraged and full audience 

participation is essential. For more 

details visit www.atgtickets.com/ 

birmingham 

WHAT: MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN 

LAKE 

WHERE: BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME 


Retaining the iconic elements of the 

original production loved by millions 

around the world, Matthew Bourne 

and award-winning designers Lez 

Brotherston (set and costumes) and 

Paule Constable (lighting) will create 

an exciting reimagining of the classic 

production. 

Thrilling, audacious, witty and 

emotive, this Swan Lake is perhaps 

still best known for replacing the 

female corps-de-ballet with a 

menacing male ensemble, which 

shattered conventions, turned 

tradition upside down and took the 

dance world by storm. 

Collecting more than 30 

international accolades including 

an Olivier Award in the UK 

and three Tonys on Broadway, 

Matthew Bourne’s powerful 

interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s 

masterpiece is a passionate and 

contemporary Swan Lake for our 

times. For more details visit www. 

birminghamhippodrome.com 

52

WHAT: DANIELLE DE NIESE VALENTINE’S NIGHT SPECIAL 

WHERE: BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE’S BRADSHAW HALL 


Opera soprano Danielle de Niese is 

more than just the most magnetic 

presence in modern classical music, 

or the woman described by the New 

York Times magazine as “opera’s 

coolest soprano.” She’s also the 

performer who’s shredding the 

classical rulebook with her unique 

combination of artistic credibility 

and exotic 21st-century allure. 

Join "The most sought-after singer 

on the planet” (BBC) for a unique 

Valentine’s themed special, perfect 

for a romantic night out in the 

beautiful surroundings of The 

Bradshaw Hall. 

For more details visit www.bcu. 

ac.uk/concerts or call the box 

office on 0121 331 5909. 

WHAT: THE X FACTOR LIVE TOUR 

WHERE: RESORTS WORLD ARENA 


The X Factor Live Tour is returning for 

2019, with X Factor Digital Presenter, 

Becca Dudley returning as host. 

Dalton Harris was crowned The X 

Factor champion 2018, and you will 

see Dalton, plus Scarlett Lee, Anthony 

Russell, Danny Tetley, Acadia and 

Aaliyah, Brendan Murray, Shan Ako 

and Bella Penfold live here in Brum 

performing classic songs and viewers’ 

favourites from the TV series. 

The tour has been one of the most 

successful annual arena tours in the UK 

for the past 15 years, so don’t miss the 

opportunity to catch this year’s stars live 

in Birmingham. For more details visit 

www.resortsworldarena.co.uk 

WHAT: CIRQUE BERSERK! 

WHERE: BIRMINGHAM REP 


Enjoy some thrilling half-term family 

fun when Cirque Berserk! comes to 

Birmingham Rep this month. 

Direct from the West End, Britain's 

biggest theatre circus spectacular is 

back by popular demand, featuring 

all your favourite Cirque Berserk! 

acts plus some thrilling new ones! 

Combining contemporary cirque 

style artistry with adrenaline fuelled 

stunt action, this astoundingly 

talented international troupe 

includes over thirty jugglers, 

acrobats, aerialists, dancers, 

drummers and daredevil stuntmen 

showcasing the finest in traditional 

circus thrills and skills. Featuring the 

world's most hair raising circus act – 

the legendary motorcycle 'Globe of 

Death'. 

For more details visit www. 

birmingham-rep.co.uk 

WHAT: PROFESSOR BRIAN COX LIVE 

WHERE: ARENA BIRMINGHAM 


Having set two Guinness World 

Record titles with his previous sell-out 

live UK and Ireland tour, Professor 

Brian Cox, OBE is heading back out 

on the road with a brand new show 

for 2019. 

Taking audiences to the edge of our 

current understanding about the 

origin and evolution of our Solar 

System and the Universe, Professor 

Brian Cox Live 2019 offers a 

fascinating insight into the workings 

of nature at the most fundamental 

level. Whether an avid science reader 

or a total novice, Professor Cox makes 

challenging ideas accessible to all, 

exploring the vast, possibly infinite 

universe and our place within it from 

earth to the edges of the cosmos. 

Brian will be joined by co-host of The 

Infinite Monkey Cage and awardwinning 

comedian Robin Ince to 

oversee an audience Q&A, giving fans 

the chance to ask any question they 

have. For more details visit 

www.arenabham.co.uk 

53

CO M P E T I T I O N 

Love pampering 

A RELAXING SPA BREAK IS THE PERFECT WAY TO SAY ‘I LOVE YOU’ THIS VALENTINE’S DAY - AND YOU 

COULD WIN A SPA AND AFTERNOON TEA EXPERIENCE FOR TWO AT MOOR HALL HOTEL AND SPA 

Treat your loved one to 

the gift of relaxation this 

Valentine’s Day with a 

pampering spa break. 

J’AIME has teamed up 

with Moor Hall Hotel 

and Spa to offer readers 

the chance to win a 

spa and afternoon tea 

experience for two. 

Start your day with 

complimentary tea or 

coffee and biscuits on 

arrival before enjoying 

the extensive leisure 

facilities including gym, 

indoor pool, spa bath, 

sauna and steam room, 

plus the spa relaxation 

room. Choose from a 

relaxing Thalgo back, 

neck and shoulder massage or a customised Thalgo 

Discovery facial. Then end your experience with 

Moor Hall’s Celebration Afternoon Tea, served with 

a glass of prosecco. Afternoon tea includes a pot 

of tea or a cafetière of freshly ground coffee, finger 

sandwiches and a delicious assortment of homemade 

cakes and fancies. 

Choose to arrive at 9.30am and have full use of the 

leisure facilities until 2pm, when your afternoon 

tea will be served in our cosy lounge bar or on the 

terrace. Or, arrive at 1pm and enjoy an afternoon in 

the spa and sit down for afternoon tea at 5.30pm. 

Surrounded by beautiful parkland yet only minutes 

from Sutton Coldfield, The Spa at Moor Hall is 

the perfect place to relax and forget the stresses of 

modern living. 

There are four treatment rooms, including a double 

where you and a friend or partner can enjoy a 

treatment at the same time, and the experienced 

therapists offer an unrivalled range of wonderful 

Thalgo facial and body treatments, suitable for 

men and women, plus Indian Head Massage 

and Reflexology. 

For more details visit www.moorhallhotel.co.uk/spa 

The competition 

J’AIME HAS TEAMED UP WITH MOOR HALL 

HOTEL AND SPA TO OFFER READERS THE 

CHANCE TO WIN A SPA AND AFTERNOON TEA 

EXPERIENCE FOR TWO, WORTH £120. OUR 

LUCKY WINNER AND THEIR LOVED ONE WILL 

ENJOY FULL USE OF THE LEISURE FACILITIES 

AND A RELAXING TREATMENT BEFORE A 

DELICIOUS AFTERNOON TEA WITH PROSECCO. 

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN, SIMPLY ANSWER 

THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: 

THE SPA AT MOOR HALL OFFERS TREATMENTS 

BY WHICH RENOWNED SPA BRAND? 

SEND YOUR ANSWER, ALONG WITH YOUR NAME, ADDRESS 

AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, BY EMAIL TO COMPETITIONS@ 

JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM WITH MOOR HALL VALENTINES 

COMPETITION AS THE EMAIL SUBJECT. ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED 

BY 5PM ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, AND OUR WINNER WILL BE 

NOTIFIED BY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13. TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

APPLY. VISIT WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM FOR FURTHER DETAILS. 

54

9.3 

Spa Days at Moor Hall 

The Spa at Moor Hall is the perfect place to escape, 

unwind and enjoy a day of pure relaxation at its best. 

Our Spa Days all include tea or coffee and toast on arrival, use of the 

facilities including gym, indoor pool, spa bath, sauna and steam room, 

access to fitness classes, exclusive access to our Spa Relaxation room, 

lunch, refreshments and use of a robe for the day. 

Valentine’s Spa Day 

Includes a Thalgo Heart of the Ocean 

Facial (worth £63) and a 

Swedish Full Body Massage (worth £75) 

ALL FOR £195 FOR TWO 

Available to redeem until 31st May 2019 

Moor Hall Drive, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield B75 6LN 

0121 334 2323 www.moorhallhotel.co.uk 

Visit Spa our Day website Gift Vouchers for a full are range available of Spa on Gift our Vouchers website 

Subscribe! 

WE ARE NOW OFFERING A J’AIME 

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE. IF YOU DON’T LIVE IN 

OUR DISTRIBUTION AREA BUT WOULD LIKE TO 

RECEIVE A COPY OF J’AIME 11 TIMES A YEAR 

THEN GET IN TOUCH! 

R E C L A M A T I O N 

YOUR RECLAIMED BUILDING & LANDSCAPING MATERIAL SUPPLIERS 

JUST £22 A YEAR TO COVER POSTAGE COSTS. 

CONTACT JAN ASHLEY ON 07388 335931 

OR EMAIL ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM 

WE SELL RECLAIMED BRICKS, BEAMS & NATURAL STONE SLABS 

Bricks • Roof Tiles • Quarry Tiles • Natural Stone Walling & Paving • Rockery 

• Granite Sets • Cobbles • Stone Troughs • Oak Beams • Cast Iron Radiators 

• Lamp Posts • Fire Places • Doors • Chimney Pots • PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE! 

Telephone: 0121 308 0554 

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 8.00am - 5.00pm • Saturday 9.30am - 1.30pm 

35 Holding, Shirral Drive, Nr Drayton Bassett B78 3EQ 

www.fouroaksreclamation.com 

www.ebay.co.uk/str/Reclaimplus 

www.facebook.com/fouroaksrec

FA S H I O N 

Sunshine state 

IT’S THE PERFECT ANTIDOTE TO THESE GREY WINTER DAYS WHICH SEEM TO STRETCH OUT 

ENDLESSLY BEFORE US, IDEAL FOR INJECTING A SLICE OF SUNSHINE INTO EVERYDAY LIFE. 

AMY NORBURY TAKES A LOOK AT THE FASHION WORLD'S OBSESSION WITH ALL THINGS YELLOW 

USUALLY, to deem something in fashion a ‘trend’, three 

or four designers need to hop on the bandwagon. But 

every so often, it feels like everyone is on the same page 

about a certain thing - and anyone following the spring 

2019 runways could easily spot what that thing is for this 

season. 

Saturated hues of this sunniest of shades were seen 

all over the catwalks; from power suiting at Boss and 

Escada, to floaty numbers at Self-Portrait and Oscar de 

la Renta, you couldn’t escape the feel-good appeal of 

yellow. 

Amal Clooney was ahead of the game with her stunning 

vivid marigold Stella McCartney dress at Prince Harry 

and Meghan Markle’s wedding last May. In fact, ever 

since La La Land and Emma Stone’s un for get table canary 

dress, yel low’s fash ion stock has been on the rise. So 

much so that the colour gurus at Pantone have decreed a 

marigold shade called Aspen Gold as the yellow for the 

season. 

While yellow might not appear to be the easiest colour 

to wear, it can be a seriously stylish and flattering choice. 

Team cosy knits with denim staples for off-duty chic, or 

add a bright blazer over a simple cami top and skinnies 

for an update on your date-night classic. 

And while the zingy hue might be perfect for injecting 

a splash of colour into your casual attire, don’t overlook 

the power of yellow when it comes to workwear. Suiting, 

in particular, has seen a tutti fruity makeover for SS19, 

with sharply tailored trousers and form-fitting pencil 

skirts in bright canary shades teaming perfectly with 

crisp white shirts to add an instant energising effect to 

your nine-to-five wardrobe. 

If you’re more wallflower than sunflower, top-to-toe 

marigold might feel like a step too far. But add a few 

joyous accessories into your repertoire - some killer heels 

there, a structured statement bag there - to give your 

outfit an immediate lift. 

For SS19, it’s all about that sunshine state of mind. 

YELLOW TRENCH COAT, £59, 

AND CHECKED DRESS, £45, 

BOTH PRINCIPLES AT DEBENHAMS 

56

£1,190 

£69 

£45 

CHLOÉ NILE SMALL 

CROSS BODY BAG, 

HARVEY NICHOLS 

RIBBON TIE SANDALS, 

WALLIS 

TYBALT RUBBER COAT 

SPLICED CIRCLE DROP EAR- 

RINGS, OLIVER BONAS 

£18 

STAR BY JULIEN 

MACDONALD BLAZER, 

DEBENHAMS 

£70 

£475 

MALONE SOULIERS 

MAUREEN SATIN MULES, 

HARVEY NICHOLS 

DWOODLEY BAG, 

DUNE LONDON 

YELLOW SPOTTY DRESS, 

FROM A SELECTION AT 

DOROTHY PERKINS 

YELLOW BLAZER AND 

TROUSERS, FROM 

A SELECTION AT 

DOROTHY PERKINS

FA S H I O N 

Best dressed guest 

JILL HARTLEY, CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF NERO E BIANCO EXCLUSIVE FASHION 

AND BRIDAL BOUTIQUE AT BARTON MARINA, TAKES A LOOK AT WEDDING DAY STYLE 

FOR MUMS OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM 

2019 is here and it’s officially time to get back on track with those all-important wedding plans. Here at Nero 

e Bianco, we believe that the mother of the bride or groom outfit can be the hardest of them all to decide on. 

With so many factors to take into consideration when buying your outfit, we wanted to guide you through 

some our favourite looks for the year and why we think they’re so fabulous! 

One of our favourite looks for the year has to be this remarkable blue two piece where modern meets 

elegance. This dress and jacket provides the soft sophistication look for any mother of the bride/groom. 

Remove the jacket to reveal a super chic criss-cross back detail, a decidedly different look making it cooler 

and more comfortable for you to dance the night away during the evening celebrations without having to 

compromise on style. 

58

Nero e Bianco 

Exclusive Fashion & Bridal 

Bar ton Marina 

Bur ton upon Trent 

DE13 8AS 

01283 346704 

www.neroebianco.co.uk 

Nero e Bianco 

Maternity & Childrenswear 


01283 716 524 

www.neroebiancochildren.co.uk 

Indulgence 

by Nero e Bianco 


01283 716 062 

www.indulgenceshop.co.uk 

N E R O e B I A N C O 

M A T E R N I T Y & C H I L D R E N S W E A R 

Our new wine tasting store is now 

open and features an Enomatic 

wine dispensing machine allowing 

customers to sample a range of 

elegant Italian wines. 


b y N E R O e B I A N C O 

N E R O e B I A N C O 


Plus… 

Irresistible Italian Chocolates 

Italian Craft Beers 

and more…

This simple dress with a cheeky fluted hemline is 

complemented by an extra special long jacket with 

sheer sleeves and floral embroidery. This outfit is 

a true favourite of ours – it’s the perfect look for a 

spring or summer wedding and, importantly, this 

style complements most figures. This blush pink 

colour palette is very popular for 2019 wedding 

wear both at home and abroad. 

This gorgeous dress and jacket combination is 

true elegance and is figure flattering. 

The dress itself is a simple shape with a lace 

and beaded overlay, an exquisite and stunning 

dress alone. The longline jacket works perfectly 

with this dress to create a totally classy and 

sophisticated look. 

Lastly, we have this dipped hem grey and white dress with cropped jacket. The dip hem was a firm favourite 

for mothers of the brides and grooms in 2018, and that trend is a firm favourite continuing into 2019. We 

love how the jacket crops at the waist of the dress; the dip hemline is super stunning, and you can see how 

easily it can transition you from day to evening once the jacket is removed. This is a style that many of our 

ladies don’t initially choose, but once they try on it’s a complete winner and they are amazed at how they look 

and how fabulous they feel! 

These are just a few of the styles that Nero e Bianco has to offer this wedding season. To see more of what we have 

and to book an appointment to try on, see our website www.neroebiancobridal.co.uk. Alternatively, just pop in 

and see us at Barton Marina and we’ll be more than happy to help you find a style that suits you. 

60

B E AU T Y 

Beauty spring clean 

FORGET GIVING THE HOUSE A GOOD GOING OVER AND INSTEAD PAY SOME ATTENTION TO YOU. 

LISA PIDDINGTON, FROM HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM, REVEALS HER FAVOURITE LUXURY 

MUST-HAVES TO DEEP CLEAN YOUR SKIN 

As the days finally get longer and the temperatures rise, it’s 

time to shed those winter layers and bare some flesh. But 

while you may soon be full of the joys of spring, your skin 

could still be showing signs of the winter blues. A couple of 

months wrapped up toasty warm with the heating on full 

blast does little to nourish the complexion, leaving your face 

feeling dry and looking dull. 

Kick start the new season with some TLC – forget clearing 

out the cupboards and turn your attention to giving your 

skin a spring clean instead. Hard-working exfoliators are 

designed to wash away dead skin cells while cleansers clear 

out your pores to leave you with a radiant glow. 

Use Heaven Skincare 

Hydro Cleansing Milk, 

£10, to hydrate skin and 

remove daily pollutants. 

Perfect for washing off the 

stresses of the day, organic 

jojoba helps to balance and 

condition, while rosemary 

and lavender aids relaxation. 

Formulated with exquisite oils and waxes, 

Elemis' super-cleansing Pro- 

Collagen Cleansing Balm, £43, 

dissolves make-up leaving skin luxuriously 

cleansed, deeply nourished and glowing. 

Sarah Chapman’s Overnight 

Exfoliating Booster, £59, is a 

night-time detox for dull, uneven 

skin. Formulated with a potent 

cocktail of non-abrasive ingredients, 

it gently exfoliates while you sleep, 

decreasing the appearance of pores, 

blemishes and uneven texture. 

Sunday Riley Martian 

Mattifying Melting 

Water-Gel Toner, £48, is 

formulated to target oily and 

acne-prone skin concerns. 

It contains bentonite clay to 

reduce the appearance of 

pore size, and marshmallow 

and green tea to soothe and 

cool the signs of redness and 

sensitivity. Skin is mattified 

and prepped to keep 

foundation set all day. 

Estée Lauder’s 

conditioning 

Advanced Night 

Micro Cleansing 

Foam, £26, 

transforms into 

a soft foam to 

remove makeup 

and impurities for 

a healthy complexion. 

The high performance 

formula rinses easily and 

leaves skin feeling clean, 

soft and refreshed. 

ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ARE AVAILABLE FROM BEAUTY HALL AT 

HARVEY NICHOLS, THE MAILBOX AND ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM. 

61

B E AU T Y 

Treat those tresses 

THE EXPERTS FROM FRANCESCO GROUP, STREETLY 

SHARE THEIR WINTER HAIR CARE TIPS 

Francesco Group, Streetly offers a stylish retreat in 

the suburbs of Sutton Coldfield. The salon itself 

is spacious and oozes style; with oversized, ornate 

mirrors, crystal light fittings and a super-comfy 

Chesterfield for you to sit back and relax on. 

The salon team is led by husband and wife duo, Paul 

and Saranne Corbett, who provide a welcoming and 

friendly atmosphere for all their clients. So, whether 

you fancy a bold, creative new look or an update to 

your classic style, the experienced team will be with 

you every step of the way. 

We asked Paul Corbett, Francesco Group Streetly’s 

salon director, how we can keep our hair happy and 

healthy during the winter months. 

“The colder weather in the winter months can play 

havoc with our hair and going from cold weather 

into a warm environment can be very damaging, as it 

removes moisture from the hair and can leave it dry 

and frizzy. With all this in mind, it’s important that 

throughout the season we take extra care of our hair 

and keep it hydrated,” explains Paul. 

“Just like our skin, our hair needs moisture. To keep 

hair moisturised during the winter months and stop 

it from going dry, frizzy, weak and lacking shine; I 

would recommend using moisturising hair masks a 

couple of times a week to replenish the hair and give 

it the moisture that it needs. 

“Alongside your hair masks, use a good moisturising 

shampoo and on days where you aren’t using 

your mask, use a moisturising conditioner. I’d also 

recommend using an oil or serum prior to blowdrying 

hair that will work like a barrier, protecting 

it from the cold weather and heat damage from 

central heating, as well as keeping breakages at bay 

62

and banishing dry, frizzy ends. Hair 

masks and oils are also great for the scalp 

during the colder months, stopping it 

becoming itchy and flaky. 

“As well as keeping hair hydrated with 

masks and oils, it’s important to get 

regular trims to keep hair looking and 

feeling its best. Trims will get rid of any 

dry ends and will almost reset the hair, 

giving it a ‘fresh start’ and making it 

healthier. 

“During the winter months we tend to 

stray away from the effortless, beachy 

waves from the summer months and 

start to use heated styling tools more, 

which can cause further damage and 

loss of moisture to the hair. Try to avoid 

using heated styling tools where possible; 

however, if you do need to use them, it’s 

important to always use a heat protection 

spray to avoid further damage being 

done to your hair.” 

If you are wondering where to book 

your next salon appointment, look no 

further than Francesco Group Streetly. 

They have a talented team of experts 

on hand to cater to every hair need, in 

a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. 

Contact them on 0121 353 3888 to 

book your free consultation. 

63

I N T H E N E W S 

Creating bespoke 

Midlands kitchen designer John Fisher 

has joined the team at Cirencester-based 

Benchwood Kitchens, who specialise in 

offering the best value in luxury, bespoke 

kitchens which are traditionally handcrafted 

for timeless elegance to clients 

around the UK. 

John’s design pedigree is second to none. 

Originally from Wigan, after leaving 

school in the mid 70s, John joined the 

design team at Rank Audio Visual a part 

of the then iconic Rank Organization. 

Primarily, this division of the operation 

was responsible for the design and 

manufacture of fixed and retractable 

seating for cinemas, theatres and 

sporting stadiums throughout the UK. 

John says: “I worked on many projects 

including The Odeon Leicester Square, Fairfield Halls 

Croydon, Old Trafford Football Stadium and even the 

Royal Box at Wimbledon Centre Court. 

“Developing my lifelong hobby of collecting vinyl 

records, during the early 80s I ran my own successful 

record retailing business in the north west of England; 

however by the early 90s and with record industry in 

obvious decline, I re-entered the world of design.” 

Joining Manchester-based Neville Johnson Kitchens in 

1991 as a sales designer, John began learning the art 

of kitchen design. 

“Over the next eight years I successfully applied 

for various positions within the company including 

contracts design manager and also national retail sales 

manager,” he says. 

“In 1999 at the request of the owner and former 

CEO at Neville Johnson, I helped to establish the 

contracts division at Wiltshire-based manufacturer 

Manor Cabinets Ltd. 

“By 2001, with my family home based in 

Staffordshire, I decided to take up an opportunity 

to work as a independent design consultant. At this 

point I worked very closely with the high end bespoke 

furniture manufacturer Watts and Wright Ltd, 

where I designed, sold and project managed many 

assignments for clients in the UK, USA, Russia, and 

even Iceland.” 

During this time, several of John’s designs were 

photographed and featured in specialist home interest 

publications, and a kitchen designed by John for 

celebrity chef Kevin Woodford at his home in the Isle 

of Man was featured on the TV program Through 

The Keyhole. 

Since the closure of Watts and Wright in 2004, John 

has been employed as a design and sales consultant for 

a long-established kitchen retailer in Sutton Coldfield, 

before making the move to Benchwood. 

“Around seven years ago I was asked for my 

professional advise and general knowledge of the 

kitchen industry, by Rob Woodward, who was at this 

time, in the process of forming Benchwood Kitchens,” 

says John. 

“Recently I have agreed to take up the opportunity to 

work with Rob, by taking over the responsibility for 

sales, marketing and design. This will now allow Rob 

more time to concentrate on manufacturing side of 

the operation.” 

Benchwood design, construct and install stunning 

timber framed kitchens. Starting with sawn planks, 

they use traditional techniques to craft every door, 

frame and drawer, which are then matched with 

premium components. The result is a kitchen that 

is beautiful, unique, practical and enduring. Every 

component is handmade in Benchwood’s modern 

workshop by skilled craftsmen who are proud of what 

they create. 

For more information and to view some of 

Benchwood’s work, visit the website at www. 

benchwood.co.uk or make the trip to the Cirencester 

factory showroom to watch Benchwood’s team of 

craftsmen in action. 

64

M OTO R S 

Life in the fast lane 

J’AIME’S MOTORING EXPERT AND RESIDENT RACING DRIVER MARTIN PLOWMAN 

GETS TO GRIPS WITH THE NEW RANGE ROVER SPORT SVR 

Last month I was offered a chance to drive a 2019 

Range Rover Sport SVR, and naturally, it was 

tough to turn down! I’ve always had a soft spot for 

Range Rovers. They strike me as a more understated 

gangster kind of car without being overtly flashy. The 

type of car that says “I’m in charge” without drawing 

too much unwanted attention. 

The Range Rover Sport model is a nice upgrade over 

the more leisurely models that attract tweed-wearing 

flat cap folk with their trusty labrador in the back, 

but I was eager to see what updates the SVR model 

had in store. 

As a quick reminder to the uninitiated, SVR is to 

Range Rover what AMG is to Mercedes. They are 

the special operations branch that has the enviable 

task of taking an already great car and taking it up to 

another level (or two). 

Visually, the first thing that strikes me when I look at 

the SVR is that it seems leaner, with more aggressive 

styling and strong muscle definition, like it's been 

hitting the weight room in the gym for the past six 

months. 

You can tell the interior has had the SVR treatment 

too; racing themed lightweight performance seats 

with a sporty two-tone design and carbon-fibre 

panels everywhere. It has a 10-inch High Definition 

display and a control panel that is almost entirely 

touch screen. A futuristic HUD display is located 

in the windscreen displaying current speed and the 

speed limit for the road you are on, so you never have 

to take your eyes off of the road; there really is no 

excuse for getting a speeding fine, I'm afraid. 

65

There are seven powertrain options to choose from, 

ranging from an environmentally friendly hybrid 

plug-in, all the way to the opposite end of the 

spectrum with a five-litre V8 Supercharged petrol 

version. Luckily as a petrolhead, I got to drive the 

latter. 

While we all love the idea of being green and saving 

the planet, a five-litre V8 engine sounded like a lot 

more fun to me! For sure the fuel economy of the 

petrol V8 may not be winning any awards anytime 

soon, but let's be honest, if you're interested in 

buying this version, you may be willing to make a 

compromise by spending more time at the fuel pump 

in order to gain the extra performance. 

If saving the planet from extinction is your thing, but 

you still want a relatively fast car than the D 

diesel V8 may be a better option for you with its 

respectable 30mpg estimate. 

Driving around at low speed through the Tesco 

parking, the throttle response is very smooth. There 

is no lag in acceleration or jerkiness that you get 

from some supercars that only know how to travel at 

200mph (*cough* Lamborghini). 

It gives you the feeling of an oversized grandtourer 

ready to tackle a five-hour car trip in 

complete comfort, but the fun really begins when 

you press down harder on the accelerator, and 

the Superchargers start to kick in! With 700nm of 

torque and 575bhp, it has enough power to propel its 

2.3tonne body to a 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds. It's 

ridiculously fast for a car of this size! 

Its ride is as smooth as expected, but as is customary 

with the Range Rover collection, the SVR comes 

with state-of-the-art electronically controlled air 

suspension that adapts to various road conditions as 

you drive around. You can pre-select a programmed 

suspension setting, but leave it in automatic and it 

will match the best setting to give the most comfort 

and performance as needed. 

The suspension is definitely stiffer than the regular 

sport, and the steering is a lot more responsive. 

There's nothing I hate more than a lazy feeling car, 

but despite its size the SVR is very nimble and makes 

you forget that you are driving a big, heavy car. 

The SVR comes with an encyclopedia-filling list of 

features and driver aids to make driving as stressfree 

as possible, such as park assist and emergency 

braking. Of course, a car loaded with so much 

technology naturally comes with a cost. The Range 

Rover Sport SVR will set you back a cool £100,000 

before extras. While it may be slightly out of my 

price bracket, at 'only' £100k I think it is a bargain 

for what you get for that money. 

In summary: The SVR is the motoring equivalent 

of 'that' guy that your girlfriend told you not to 

worry about… faster, stronger, better looking and, all 

around, a lot more fun. 

66

TRACK DAYS 

REDEFINED 

Velocity is a new breed of track day company offering the chance to race real racing cars on the UK’s finest 

circuits, tutored by Le Mans Winner Martin Plowman and BTCC and Emmerdale Star Kelvin Fletcher. 

There’s no better way to engage with clients or reward loyal teams. Choose from one of our great packages 

or let us build you a bespoke day. 

GET IN TOUCH TODAY AND LET US BUILD 

THE PERFECT EXPERIENCE 

www.velocitytrackdays.co.uk 0115 888 3288 info@velocitytrackdays.co.uk

J'AIME FEBRUARY 2019

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