best of liverpool magazine - april 2013

Everton Ladies’ midfielder Michelle Hinnigan is having a ball as the new season gets underway

SPRING FASHION FLING//SALON SPOTLIGHT//LITTLE SCHOOL OF HORRORS//THE YELLOW DUCKMARINE//WHAT’S ON//COASTAL COOL INTERIORS// HOMEGROWN TALENT//FOODIE NEWS//RESTAURANT REVIEWS//TRAVEL

WINTICKETS FOR

SOUTHPORT

JAZZ FESTIVAL

Kids make a splash in funky

macs and wellies

Recipes to make your mouth water

APRIL SHOWERS

WIRRAL WATERCRESS

W I N N E R S COLDSET COLOUR SUPPLEMENT OF THE YEAR!S U P P L E M E N T

SHE’S ON THE BALL

Must-have shades to make your friends green with envy

MAKE A MINT

O F L I V E R P O O LAPRIL ISSUE 2013

Celebrating the best of Merseyside music

GIT AWARDS

02 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

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EASTER has been and gone in a chocolately whirl but here at Best of Liverpool we’ve still got plenty to get egg-cited about (sorry...) We’ve been nominated yet again for Coldset Colour Supplement of the Year in the 2013 Newspaper Awards! The winners will be announced at a glitzy award-ceremony at the end of this month, so we’re hoping to get all glammed up for the occasion! Keep your fingers and everything else crossed for us. And on the subject of posh frocks, tomorrow is Ladies’ Day – the BOL team is looking forward to getting dressed up to the nines and having a little flutter. Green is having its moment and I have my eye on a beautiful emerald gown as featured on page 6 in Katie’s round up of styles in the latest must-have spring shade. But if you’re on a budget, head to the Spring Fashion Fling at Cheshire Oaks this weekend where you can bag plenty of designer bargains – find out more on page 8. The menfolk are coming across as rather eccentric this month, Paul picks out some quirky looks for blokes on pages 10-11. And Sarah’s Barnet gets the celebrity

treatment on page 12. The month of April is renowned for its showers and kids love nothing better than splashing in puddles, so we have sought after some funky macs and wellies for them on page 13. Talking of big splashes, my family and I had a quacking day out on the Yellow Duckmarine, find out how we got on on page 15. Plus, if you’re looking for things to do to keep your little monsters entertained, Little

School of Horrors is a perfect creative outlet. Read more on page 14. If you’re feeling the pinch after all those choccie eggs, see our fitness features on pages 16-17, and read Emma’s interview with talented midfielder and our cover girl, Michelle Hinnigan. After all the rain and snow we’ve been getting, it’s nice to get out and about and there’s a bumper line-up of things to do in the city this month. Read our guide to what’s on, on pages 18-19. Katie and Paul meet two totally talented theatricals in the form of playwright Robert Farquhar and actor Paul Duckworth. Find out what they’re up to on pages 20-21. And we all know there’s no shortage of musical talent in Liverpool – find out who’s been nominated for a GIT Award on pages 22-23. We bring you some bite-sized chunks of culinary news from the city’s eateries on pages 24-25 and sample their wares on pages 26-27, throwing in some tasty watercress recipes for good measure on page 28. Sarah gets buoyed up about the latest coastal cool interior trend for homes on page 29, meanwhile after all this hard work, Sue escapes to a boutique B&B for some well-deserved R ‘n’ R in Lancashire on page 30.Happy spring!

03BEST OF LIVERPOOL

APRIL 13Contents

Welcome...

O F L I V E R P O O L

BESTGET IN TOUCH

NEWS04-05 TALK OF THE TOWNCity news and gossip

FASHION06-07 SHOPPING FOR HERGorgeous spring greens08 FASHION EXTRASpring Fashion Fling at Cheshire Oaks 10-11 SHOPPING FOR HIMThe quirkier the better

HEALTH & BEAUTY12 SALON SPOTLIGHTTresses get the celebrity treatment

CHILDREN13 APRIL SHOWERSSplashing about in style14 LITTLE MONSTERSAn after school club with a difference... 15 QUACKING DAY OUTYellow Duckmarine tour

FITNESS16-17 FOOTIE FEMME FATALEMeet Blues midfielder Michelle Hinnigan

ENTERTAINMENT18-19 WHAT’S ONA bumper line-up of events for April 20-21 HOMEGROWN TALENTPlaywright Robert Farquhar and actor Paul Duckworth 22-23 GIT AWARDS Nominations for 2013

FOOD & DRINK24-25 FOODIE NEWSInteresting and tasty titbits 26-27 RESTAURANT REVIEWSBOL samples two city eateries 28 RECIPESWhat to do with watercress

HOMES & GARDENS29 COASTAL COOLNautical but nice home interiors

TRAVEL30 LOVELY LANCASHIREAnd not a hotpot in sight!

STORIES 0151 330 5035EMAIL [email protected] 0151 330 5039

WEBSITE www.bestofliverpool.comFOLLOW US twitter@BestofLpool

WINNERS: COLDSET COLOUR SUPPLEMENT OF THE YEAR!

06

14

2721

THE 2012 NEWSPAPER AWARD

Michelle Rushton,Best of Liverpool Editor

LIVERPOOL ECHO EDITOR Alastair Machray

MAGAZINE EDITORMichelle Rushton

DEPUTY EDITORKatie McLoughlin

WRITERS Paul Baker, Sarah Hooley, Sue Kelbrick, Katie McLoughlin and Emma Thompson

PHOTOGRAPHY Trinity Mirror photographers

FRONT COVER PHOTOGareth Jones

DESIGN

Vicky Andrews, Colin Harrison

COMMERCIAL FEATURES EDITORSally Jones

SALES MANAGER Ros McGuire

COPYRIGHTBest of Liverpool is published monthly by

Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales/Liverpool ECHO. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of

the publisher.

APRIL 13

22


Talk of the town

THE SHOW GOES ON

LAST year saw Liverpool actor, Stephen Fletcher’s theatre company – A Life in the Theatre – produce a series of smash-hits, with its last production Mam I’m Here! selling out. With an all-star local cast including Stephen, Andrew

Schofield, Eithne Browne, Alan Stocks, Rachel Rae and Paul Duckworth, the show was critically acclaimed with Liverpool Sound and Vision giving it five stars and declaring it ‘a must see.’ On the back of the show’s success, a full-length DVD, which captures each laugh-out-loud and show-stopping musical moment in sparkly technicolour, has gone on sale this month. Priced at £10, the DVDs are available from lifeintheatre.webs.com

From swish soirées to gatherings, launches and more, Katie McLoughlin and Michelle Rushton take a look at what the city’s glitterati have been up to...

ALL THAT JAZZ

ANDaboutOut

We’re loving...

KITTENS ARE WHOLE AGAIN

THEY’VE not performed in Liverpool for 13 years, but last month Atomic Kitten finally played in front of a home crowd, at a charity event in the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool ONE. The girls wowed 200 guests with three of their biggest hits – The Tide is High, Whole Again and Right Now – at the glitzy event, which was raising funds for children in North Africa with chronic dental problems. Hosted by Radio City’s Simon Ross, the charity soiree also featured performances from last year’s X Factor finalist Chris Maloney and boy band Reconnected, who sang their current single One in a Million. The event was well attended, with the city’s WAGS out in force, including Alex Gerrard, Nicola Carragher, Shauna Muamba, Chantelle Tagoe and Jude Cisse whilst Dani Lawrence was joined by her partner, Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones. Kerry Katona says: “It was absolutely fantastic playing in front of a home crowd again as a ‘Kitten’ and doing it for such a worthwhile cause made it all the more special.” Marius McGovern, clinical director of the Liverpool Dental Spa, who organised the event, says: “The event has raised over £20,000 tonight to enable us to help many children who are suffering needlessly. We are very grateful to everyone who has supported us, especially Atomic Kitten, Chris Maloney and our many friends and colleagues who have come along tonight.”

THE Liverpool International Jazz Festival has reason to blow its own trumpet as the inaugural festival has been hailed a huge success. The festival, which ran from February 28 until March 4, saw The Capstone Theatre transformed into a Mecca for jazz fans as organisers brought some of the biggest names on the national and international jazz scene to the city – including Roller Trio, Led Bib, Robert Mitchell, Kit Downes Quintet, Denys Baptiste’s Triumvirate and Courtney Pine

to name but a few. Neil Campbell, from The Capstone Theatre, says: “It was both a delight and a great honour for The Capstone Theatre to stage Liverpool’s first-ever International Jazz Festival. I’m looking forward to planning next year’s festival, which I hope will build on the success of the first.” With the success of Liverpool’s newest music event, the Liverpool International Jazz Festival is set to become an annual event at The Capstone Theatre.

MARCO Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill Liverpool did its bit for Comic Relief last month, with a string of fund-raising activities. Those who ate at the Chapel Street restaurant on the evening of Friday, March 15 got to tuck into one of the restaurant’s three-course menus for just £30 per person, with the restaurant donating £5 to Comic Relief for every diner. Diners also had the chance to win amazing prizes – including a complimentary dinner for two at Marco’s, a free overnight stay at Hotel Indigo or a free cocktail – with a ‘Red Nose Tombola’.

RED NOSES RAISE CASH

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LAST month saw an LA based, Asian-American hip hop group play an exclusive gig at Maya, on Wood Street. This was the first time that Far East Movement had been to Liverpool and the gig, sponsored by CÎROC® Ultra-Premium

Vodka, saw the hip hop quartet give an energetic performance. And, feeling inspired by their first visit to the city, the group vowed to come prepared with a Hip Hop take on Beatles classic, Hey Jude, the next time they’re here.

FROM LA TO LIVERPOOL

NICO COSMETICS

IN our never-ending quest to get skin as smooth and wrinkle-free as a baby’s bum, we love a good face cream here at Best of Liverpool. This month, we’ve been loving slathering

ourselves in luxury skincare brand, Nico Cosmetic’s anti-ageing range. New to the UK skincare market, the products, which are said to have a cult following among celebs,

are packed with high-performance ingredients. We especially love the Apple Stem Cell Serum, RRP £85 for 30ml, which features a plant stem cell extract from a rare Swiss apple which is believed to play a key role in the repair and regeneration of skin tissue. Visit www.nicocosmetics.com

SUGAR AND SPICE

IF Willy Wonka wore fragrance, this Bitter Chocolate & Orange cologne would be it. Part of the limited edition ‘Sugar and Spice’ collection which launched at Jo Malone last month, the fragrance is sumptuous, decadent and delicious to wear. With the scent of orange peel

layered with warm, powdery cocoa, milky coconut and coumarin, this indulgent fragrance is one chocolate orange you don’t need to tap to unwrap. Available from Jo Malone

counters in the Metquarter and Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar or online at www.jomalone.com

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THEY certainly know which side their bread’s buttered at Delifonseca. The deli and restaurant sold its 10,000th Po’Boy (an

American style of sandwich) last month. So how did they celebrate? With a

humongous metre-long Po’Boy of course!

05BEST OF LIVERPOOL

APRIL 13

LOVE ME DO

HEEL APPEAL THE Living Room is encouraging well-heeled diners to shed their shoes for a good cause. The Victoria Street bar and restaurant is asking customers to donate their old shoes to raise money for local charity, The Oliver King Foundation. All types and condition of shoes will be

welcomed, so whether customers have towering stilettos that have never seen the light of day, or much-loved loafers on their last legs, The Living Room will be able to put them to good use.Sales and events manager, Victoria Barrett

says: “Everyone has shoes lurking at the back of the wardrobe which haven’t been worn for some time. All types and conditions of shoes are welcomed – we can give them a new lease of life!” Donated shoes will be recycled to raise

40p per kilo for the OK Foundation which was set up in memory of Oliver King, a 12 year old who sadly passed away because of SADS. The aim of the Foundation is to raise awareness about the medical condition SADS which commonly affects people aged between 12 and 35 years of age.

NEW CHAPTER FOR RICHARD AND JUDY

MORE than 130 brides from in and around the city descended on Liverpool’s award-winning Hard Days Night Hotel last month to attend a special wedding fayre. As well as picking up advice on how to plan their dream day from an extensive range of specialist wedding exhibitors, brides-to-be were treated to live entertainment throughout the day, goody bags and delicious canapés, courtesy of Blakes Restaurant.General manager of the hotel,

Mike Dewey says: “We were delighted with the turnout and would like to thank all of the exhibitors for helping us to make the event happen. Following some fantastic feedback, we’ll definitely be holding another fayre in the coming months.”

SAFE BET FOR GLAMOURKEEN for their outfits to be top of the style stakes at Aintree this weekend, a host of local celebs attended a glitzy event in Boodles recently to mark the launch of the Philip Armstrong Spring/Summer 2013 collection. Over 70 of the region’s most stylish ladies

attended the event, which saw Philip Armstrong and Tony Burke present their new collection at Boodles’ flagship Liverpool store. The design duo showcased some amazing looks for the racing season, alongside millinery by Rosie Olivia. Nicholas Wainwright, Boodles’ managing director,

says: “We’re delighted to have hosted a party for so many of the region’s most glamorous ladies. We know how much ladies love Philip Armstrong’s collections and we’re sure that they were impressed with the stunning jewellery that we had on display.”

THE nation’s favourite TV couple, Richard and Judy, were delighted to be back in Liverpool recently. The pair attended a special book signing of Judy’s first novel ‘Eloise’ organised by the House Spa Book Club at Gusto, Albert Dock. It was a fitting venue for the couple who are best known for presenting the daytime television programme This Morning there in the 80s. After a delicious lunch, Judy gave a talk about how she came to write the best-selling book and was interviewed by Richard, as well as answering questions from the intrigued guests. Judy says: “My tummy was in knots as we drive into the Albert Dock. It brought it all back - the

whole atmosphere and the beautiful view.”Richard then went on to

introduce Judy’s book, Eloise, which has become a bestseller, and quizzed her on her inspiration and

influences, while Judy read an excerpt from the book. Judy’s haunting debut novel is set against the Gothic backdrop of a ghostly Cornwall and was reviewed in the Sunday Express as “A moving meditation on grief, family bonds, motherhood and female friendship.” It was inspired by the death of the couple’s great friend and fellow presenter, Caron Keating, and set in Cornwall where they spent a lot of time with Caron who was a firm believer in angels. Richard says proudly: “This is an extraordinary story which has been beautifully written.” For more information on future House Beauty Spa Book Club events, email [email protected]

GLAM SLAM TO celebrate the arrival of Tate Liverpool’s fabulous new exhibition – Glam! The Performance of Style – the Albert Dock dusted off its platform boots for a host of flamboyant events. During the spring half term the dock turned back the clock to the early-70s in vibrant style, with events including Hope Street Ltd Productions arts troupe putting on colourful performances in keeping with the glam era. Many of the dock’s bars and restaurants paid homage to the glam era with 70s inspired menus laden with such retro delights as black forest gateux. And, forming the backdrop of the entire

glam extravaganza, was a massive light projection of one of the purveyors of glam – Marc Bolan – which was donated to the

event by celebrated photographer and close pal of The Beatles, Bill Zygmant. Glam! The Performance of Style will be at Tate Liverpool until May 12, bringing together 100 pieces of artwork celebrating the era of glam.

BUTTY-LICIOUS


Shopping for her

Simple, fresh and perfect for spring, mint and emerald are the shades of the season, says Katie McLoughlin, as she shows you how to update your wardrobe this April...

A MINT NEW TREND

Mint lace up trainer, £7, from Primark

Mango slubby T-shirt in mint, £14.99, from ASOS.com

Linea ‘Winnie’ satchel, £79, and ‘Rachel’ twist jersey dress, £90, from House of Fraser

‘Sadie’ green leather jacket, £120, from River Island

Armani jade dress, (RRP £460) £276, from Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet

‘Buzzer’ heels, from www.stevemadden.com

Green shirt, £10, from George at Asda

Cutwork dress, £10, from Primark

Margherita fishtail maxi dress, £250, from Phase Eight

Mint jacquard peplum top, £12, from Primark

‘Carrie’ block statement necklace, £12, from Accessorize

Mint lace up trainer, £7, from Primark

APRIL 13

07BEST OF LIVERPOOL

BLOCK PARTYGilet, £18, and dress, £15, from Primark

Osprey London mock croc bag, (RRP £265) £125, from Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet

‘Lockies’ handbag, £49, from Bertie

Ted Baker mint purse, (RRP £75) £50, from Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet

Eden textured shoulder bag, £37, from Accessorize

FEET can rejoice this season, as the must-have shoes to don this spring/summer are midi, block heels. Practical yet stylish, these covetable heels are perfect for day or night...

Above, Autograph black perspex heel sandal, £49.50, from Marks & SpencerLeft, ‘Millie’

sandal, £129, from Hobbs

Below, ‘Belatella’, £65, from Bertie

Above, F&F Limited Edition coral and cream strappy heels, £22, from Tesco

Red T-bar sandal, £39.50, from Marks & Spencer

‘Finalise’, £55, from Office

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Spring fashion flingFANCY flirting with spring’s latest ‘hot off the runway’ trends and staying one step ahead of the fashion pack?

Well, get yourself down to McArthurGlen’s Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet this weekend as the centre is hosting a fashion event in partnership with Grazia.

The nationwide ‘Fashion Fling,’ which launches at Cheshire Oaks on April 6 and runs for a fortnight, will see a pop-up style hub in the outlet where style savvy shoppers can hear about the most lust-worthy new season outfits and accessories available at

Cheshire Oaks, as well as find out about exclusive offers, flash sales and special in-centre events.

There’ll also be ‘Spring it or Fling it’ workshops hosted by Grazia’s expert style team where shoppers will learn about the latest trends, must-have accessories and spring fashion items. All shoppers who attend the workshop will receive an extra 10% saving.

Plus, Grazia’s team of expert stylists and fashion insiders will cherry pick their must-have products in Cheshire

Oaks this season, and put ‘As Seen in Grazia’ tags on them, so you can easily spot them.

Brian Handley, centre manager for Cheshire Oaks, says: “The Fashion Fling brings the fantastic, on-trend fashion and accessories we offer shoppers to the fore.

“The new spring products will have just arrived in the centre, and across all of our designer and high street brands, there will be excellent offers and additional savings to be had. Designer outlet shopping has never been better.”

McArthurGlen’s Fashion Fling launches at Cheshire Oaks on

Saturday, April 6 with exclusive brand offers and mini flash sales running on the weekends of April 13-14 and April 20-21.

The centre boasts over 145 designer and

high street brands including Lulu Guinness, Nicole Farhi, Links of London, Ted Baker, Osprey London and brands including Oliver Peoples and Ray ban at Sunglass Time, all with year-round savings of up to 60%. For more details visit the website www.cheshireoaksdesigneroutlet.com

Designer outlet hosts a must-visit style event this month...

Shopping for her

Beau belles SIZE DOES MATTER!

AN exclusive hat and fascinator boutique has landed in Oxton village, Wirral, just in time for the races and wedding season.

Chris Whitehead, of Oxton, has been inspired to open the new shop, Beau, by her two daughters, Sue and Patty, who never miss a race meeting at Aintree and who love dressing up for a big night out.

However, the two used to always com-plain about never being able to find good milliners in the Merseyside area and so Beau was born.

Located in the trendy and vibrant vil-lage of Oxton, Beau is set to take the high street headwear fashion world by storm.

By stocking some of the biggest names including Vivien Sheriff and Bundle MacLaren – two of Kate Middleton’s favourite designers – she is hoping her new venture can allow Merseyside girls to dress to impress.

“The girls and I wanted to do some-thing different for the region’s women who are easily the most fashionable in the UK,” says Chris.

“We want Beau to stand out from the crowd so, not only are we stocking some of biggest names in millinery, we’ve also come up with five quirky collections to cater for everyone’s needs and budgets, from the mother of the bride to the state-ment race-goer.

“With millinery making a huge state-ment at this year’s London Fashion Week, offering an exclusive bespoke service was an absolute must-have and so the girls approached the lovely Rosie Olivia

Carvella for Kurt Geiger RRP £149 outlet price £49

IT seems that women in UK are making a bit of a boob of choosing the right bra size, with four out of five women wearing the wrong size bra.

Bravissimo, which carried out the sur-vey to mark the 100th anniversary of the brassiere, found that only 17% of women in the North West are confident that they’re wearing the right bra size – that’s 3% less than the UK average.

So, to help school them in the error of their ways, lingerie store Bravissimo launched what it dubs ‘Boob School’ last month. Available at the Bold Street store, the service teaches women what to look for in a perfectly fitting bra.

For more information visit www.bravis-simo.com, call 0151 702 8510 or pop into the store on Bold Street.

If the race is on for you to find the perfect hat for Ladies Day, a fabulous new hat boutique in Oxton may just have the answer...

of Rosie Olivia Millinery who also stocks in Fenwicks, London and has even had her beautiful creations worn by Princess Beatrice on Christmas Day.”

Rosie Olivia says: “North West girls have been crying out for this type of boutique hat shop. I’ve been waiting for the right shop to come along and I now feel I can finally showcase and sell my collections in the right environment.”

Chris adds: “We offer the finest names in British millinery whilst providing a platform for showcasing and nurturing local new talent. I can’t wait for the news to spread and for Merseyside girls to finally get the hat shop they deserve.” For more details, visit the website www.beauhats.co.uk

Ted Baker Cuttie natural RRP £89 outlet price £59

LK Bennett Gold Wedge, RRP £175, outlet price £95

Beau Girls & Rosie

French Connection Red Floral Tunic, RRP £120 outlet price £72

Lulu Guinness Stripe bag RRP £225 outlet price £177.50

APRIL 13

09BEST OF LIVERPOOL

BOLD

Client - McAG Type Area - N/A Initials - GBOutlet - Cheshire Oaks Bleed - 3mm Scale - 100%

Ad Type - Advertorial Date - 25.03.13 Effective DPI - >300 Publication - N/A File Name - GL0443_10_SS13_Cheshire_Oaks_

Best_of_Liverpool_248x318_AWSize - 248x318

Client - McAG Type Area - N/A Initials - GBOutlet - Cheshire Oaks Bleed - 3mm Scale - 100%

Ad Type - Advertorial Date - 26.03.13 Effective DPI - >300 Publication - N/A File Name - GL0443_10_SS13_Cheshire_Oaks_

Best_of_Liverpool_248x318_AW 2Size - 248x318

Advertorial

THIS summer, the stripe is big – quite literally.

A step on from the iconic Breton tee,

the new season sees stripes transformed with

a fashion-forward edge. On the catwalk, colour

block prints and vertical stripes adorned everything

from men’s blazers and trousers to women’s maxi

dresses and ‘60s-inspired shifts. It’s an easy look

to master off the catwalk too, simply take your cue

from McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oak’s

must-have picks of the season.


PUT SOME SPRING IN YOUR STEPTHERE’S nothing more we can do, I’m afraid. Men’s fashions this spring have gone a bit mad! Perhaps it was all that time spent

cooped up in their little igloos during the winter gloom that prompted the fashion houses to go gaga when filling the racks in time for spring. Whatever it was, the idea this

spring is to mix it up a little. It’s okay to be irreverent. In fact that’s the whole point. Have fun, be imaginative, and ally the smart with the casual. Chinos are very in, but vary

the colour and cut. Pair them

with a shirt/tie/jacket combo, or experiment with that other spring fashion yes – the denim shirt. Not everyone’s cup of char, perhaps,

but don’t worry, there are some devilish takes on the theme such as eye-catching denim tie dyes or style-friendly chambray efforts. As it’s spring, don’t forget to top it off with a light jacket or a blazer for the smarts. Whisking up a clothing cocktail

is no easy business and it could get messy. But it means you can be playful and, if you don’t go too crazy, you can pull off a superb look that’s both on trend and pretty unique too.

Paul Baker advises men to throw caution to the spring winds and have fun with your fashion this April

Shopping for him

Look 2

Look 1

Our Legacy unconstructed 2B navy linen blazer, £199.99, from Weaver’s Door

Denim tie dye shirt, £28, from ASOS.com

Absolution slip-on shoes, £135, from Mens’ at Dune

Farah Vintage Albany 18 wale cord chino in tobacco brown, £29.99, from Weaver’s Door

J by Jasper Conran chinos, £40, from

Debenhams

Oliver Spencer Portland Jacket in navy, £285, from Weaver’s Door

Palm print plimsolls, £18, from ASOS.com

Common People USMC shirt, £49.99, from Weaver’s Door

J by Jasper Conran blazer, £110; chinos, £40; shirt, £40, shoes, £140, from Debenhams

11BEST OF LIVERPOOL

APRIL 13

Look 3 White dress shirt with contrast beige placket, £30, from River Island

Chinos with pineapple print, £30, from ASOS.comBright wash

plimsolls, £18, from ASOS.com

Navy anchor tie, £12.50, from Marks & Spencer

Sotogrande blazer, £145, from Crew Clothing Co

Camo boot, £40, from ASOS.com

Pattern tie, £19.50, from Marks and Spencer

NOW THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!WWW.ECHOARENA.COM BOX OFFICE: 0844 8000 400


Salon spotlight

DULL, dry and lack-lustre – it’s fair to say my hair doesn’t like the chilly weather we’ve had recently. So, in a bid to give it a bit of a boost, I booked myself in for a Champagne Blow Dry at Electric Hairdressing, in Beauty Bazaar Harvey Nichols. The treatment – created by the salon – includes a hair masque, therapeutic head massage and A-list blow dry, as well as a glass of Champagne. It is, friendly senior stylist, David Halsall explained, all about offering clients a spot of pampering. Located on the first floor of the Beauty Bazaar, the salon is the first Electric Hairdressing to open in the north. Trendy and glam, it looks as stylish as you’d expect given its home in Harvey Nics with sleek leather chairs, and glossy black styling stations. On arrival, I was led to the salon’s wash area and seated in one of the comfy massage chairs. Discreetly tucked away behind a partition, David

started by washing my hair before applying an intensive conditioning masque. The masque, he said, is extremely rich and nourishing, but doesn’t weigh fine hair like mine down. Using a gentle massage technique he then worked the masque deep into my tresses before wrapping in a towel to lock in the heat. As the masque soaked in, I was then left to relax for five minutes and flick through a selection of glossy magazines. Being mid-week the salon was calm and quiet – exactly what I needed to unwind. Satisfied the masque had worked its magic, David washed my locks before applying and rinsing off a layer of conditioner. “You should always use a conditioner after an

intensive masque,” he said. “A lot of people don’t realise, but it closes the hair follicles and seals in the moisture.” All the products used in the treatment are the salon’s own brand, which David explained frequently picks up awards. With my hair prepped, I was then shown to a seat

in the main salon area for my blow-dry. A chilled glass of Champagne was swiftly brought over by one of the bar staff, and as I sipped the bubbles, David set to work styling my hair. I explained that as someone with perpetually limp locks, I’d love him to be able to give my hair some bounce, which he assured me wouldn’t be a problem. Having trained at Andrew Collinge Graduates, David has been hairdressing in the some of the city’s top salons for six years. And, within minutes, he effortlessly turned my straight tresses into glossy, loose waves.

Sleek, shiny and full of body – I loved it. David even styled my fringe how I like it (a feat not normally achieved when I visit the hairdressers) and as I left the salon I felt relaxed and refreshed. Five days later my hair was still unbelievably soft and the next time I have a party, event, or just fancy a treat, I won’t hesitate to go back.

Sarah Hooley enjoys a taste of the Champagne lifestyle at Electric Hairdressing in Beauty Bazaar, Harvey Nichols...

WHERE IS IT?The swish salon is located on the first floor of Beauty Bazaar, Harvey Nichols in Liverpool ONE.

WHAT DOES IT DO?It offers a range of services including cuts, bespoke re-styles, blow drys, hair ups, and colours as well as the Champagne blow dry, hair extensions and bridal hair styling.

CONTACT:Electric Hairdressing Liverpool, Beauty Bazaar Harvey Nichols, 16 Manesty’s Lane, Liverpool, L1 3DL. Telephone 0845 6060342 Visit www.electric-hair.com

Senior stylist David Halsall from Electric

Hairdressing at Harvey Nics in Liverpool ONE

ELECTRIFYING EXPERIENCE

ACE OF BASEWHEN Bobbi Brown recently released research finding that more than a third (35%) of us women in the North West re-touch our make-up twice a day, we weren’t surprised. But worry not, with these budge-proof bases this should no longer be a problem...

She’s electric – Sarah Hooley treats her locks

The salon at Electric Hairdressing

Left, Long-Wear Even Finish Compact Foundation, £32, by Bobbi Brown. Launching this month at John Lewis and Beauty Bazaar, Harvey Nichols

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No7 Stay Perfect foundation, £14, from Boots

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April 13

13BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Children

Kids love nothing better than to jump in muddy puddles and with the month of April prone to a few showers, make sure they are kitted out to make a splash in style!

April showers

APRIL ACTIVITIES

LOOKING for ways to amuse the little ones over the Easter holidays and beyond? Then here are a few ideas...

WHAT A HOOTACTIVE Adventures is a great place for your little monkeys to burn off some of that excess energy.Overlooking the Mersey at Otterspool

Promenade, the three-acre attraction has been transformed into an exciting outdoor experience for all the family. Visitors can attack one of Europe’s

largest military style assault courses, enjoy an aerial view of the Mersey on the 52 elements ‘High Ropes’, reach the dizzy heights of success on a climbing/abseiling wall and head back down to earth with a 16 metre powerfan that simulates a sky dive. For the extra daring there’s even a duel zip wire – all under the

watchful eye of trained instructors. Over the weekend of April 6 and 7, the Active Adventures team is putting on a Falcon Maze, teaming up with Excel Falconry to stage a birds of prey show around a themed maze, plus you can get up close and personal to Hedwig, the original owl from the Harry Potter films who will be making a star appearance! Tickets via webticket manager are just £7.50 for children and free for accompanying parents. Visit www.activeadventuresliverpool.co.uk

GET CRAFTYIF your kids are climbing the walls and getting cabin fever over the Easter holidays, take them along to Crafty Corner in Garston where they can unleash their creative talents. The craft studio, run by local mums, offers craft workshops throughout the holidays for children and adults and is open every day, except Mondays, from 10am-4pm. There will be pottery painting on everyday as well as other crafts people can get involved in. Little ones can make a dinosaur moneybox or cupcake money boxes, and much more. Crafty Corner is based at 61 Garston Old Road, L19 9AD. For further details email [email protected]

JOIN THE CIRCUSROLL UP! Roll up! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages. Circo at the Albert

Dock will be celebrating World Circus Day with lots of fun, circus-related events for the whole family to enjoy. World Circus Day is a

global event organised by the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Circus Arts which promotes the magic, excitement, tradition and the fun of the circus. This special day will be marked at Circo with all sorts of circus

activities from entertainment workshops, where children can try a circus skill (juggling or plate spinning), face painting, balloon twisting and custard pie fun (mums and dads watch out!). There will also be a children’s circus themed art competition,

with prizes for the best drawings. The celebrations will run over the weekend of Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21. So come along, get involved and enjoy the thrills and spills of the sawdust circle. And may all your days be circus days! For more information visit www.circoliverpool.com

Stripe rain mac, £25, from Next

Pink Jasmine trench coat, £24-£26, from John Lewis

Dear Zoo wellington boot, £9, from Sainsbury’s TU

Sweet Millie spot print mac, from £10, from Bhs

Rainsuit, £12 and wellies, £4, from Heatons

Optimus Boat Jacket in green, £24-£26, from John Lewis

Girl on right is wearing a canvas jacket, £37.95, from Impkids, www.impkids.co.uk

Dino jacket, £15, from Next

AS I approach the ancient stone archway, the gates swing open and I make my way up the creaking stairs eyed by gnarled gargoyles. The location? The Little School of Horrors headquarters on Victoria Street. And as I enter the studio, more ghastliness awaits – a very realistic looking dalmatian is spread out on the table, while shelves are adorned with the most gruesome monster masks, zombies, aliens... This is the stuff of nightmares! I am here to meet Amber Shorrocks, the founder of Little School of Horrors, and find out more about her new after school club for children. Amber is a special effects (SFX) TV make-up artist who has worked on a number of projects from Emmerdale and Hollyoaks to The Secret of Crickley Hall. She is running a series of workshops aimed at kids aged from eight to 15 which give them a chance to be an SFX artist and gain an insight into how their favourite monsters are made. It is the first course of its kind in the North West. Amber reveals: “We welcome children to unleash their imagination and creativity, through monsters, fantasy make-up and special effects-related creative projects. “We have a series of modules, the first being the Harry Potter inspired Book of Monsters. Future modules include a Shadow Creature Course, Sculpting an Alien Mask Course, Greek Myths and Monsters Theatrical Make-up Course and many more.” The school’s mascot is the macabre Mr Grimm who will have his very own module where kids can create

a friend for him inspired by iconic monsters, zombies, werewolves and creatures from literature, TV and film. And in the Cultural Module, students study creatures and monsters featuring in festivities from around the world such as The Mexican Day of the Dead Festival and Chinese Dragons. Amber explains: “Kids will get hands on experience using industry materials and from trained professionals. It’s very therapeutic. If kids have had a bad day in school, they can come here and forget all about it.” And Amber believes her workshops will have a really positive effect on young people. She says: “Stimulating their individual potential develops confidence and other translatable skills essential for both academic success and work-based learning. “If kids are stimulated enough, they will grow into creative, civilised human beings and the skills they learn from our workshops can be a stepping stone to a great career.” Amber is certainly enjoying her work creating weird and wonderful creatures. She divulges: “I grew up in the Falkland Islands where there wasn’t much to do so I watched lots of horror films and was fascinated by monsters. I wanted to know how they were made!” After completing a fine art degree at Lancaster University where she specialised in sculpture, Amber trained with the award-winning Davy Jones, one of the

most respected SFX make-up artists in the UK who also specialises in prosthetics and props and runs a training school from his studios on Victoria Street teaching his tricks of the trade. Having worked on numerous TV projects with Davy, Amber reveals: “The most exciting series we have done was Monroe, a medical drama which we made medical props for. It was great to see our name in the credits! “Now I’d like to share my skills with a younger generation and unleash their storytelling talents!”Little School of Horrors is based at The Carlisle Building, 67-69 Victoria Street, Liverpool, L1 6DE. Courses for eight to 11-year-olds are held every Tuesday from 5.30-7pm and for 12-15-year-olds every Thursday from 5.30-7.00pm. To book your child onto one of the courses, contact Amber on 07964 343 601, or email [email protected]


Children

Michelle Rushton discovers an after school activity which will let your children’s imaginations run riot...

PUT on your dancing shoes! Disney Live! is bringing a brand new, live stage show, starring favourite Disney characters to Liverpool this summer. Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show plays at ECHOTwo @ ECHO Arena from August 1-4 and promises audiences a high-energy, fun-packed adventure led by Mickey Mouse and featuring a host of much loved Disney friends. This live stage spectacular, produced by Feld Entertainment, whisks audiences on a wacky, fun-filled journey with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy as they embark on an hilarious adventure filled with unexpected, exciting encounters and his best buddies. The excitement begins when Mickey and his pals decide to put on a talent

show, with Mickey as the director, Minnie as the costume designer, Goofy as the clumsy stagehand and Donald in charge of the big ‘Ka-Pow!’ Realising that they need more performers, the troupe embark on a road trip in Mickey’s fantastical bus, where they face a series of misadventures and eventually round up a few friends to help put on their show. The show is jam-packed with hip music, eye-catching choreography and one-of-a-kind scenery that combine to create an unforgettable journey full of laughs and surprises. Tickets are priced from £18-£30 (subject to a booking fee). Log on to www.echoarena.com to book or call the ECHO Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400.

MICKEY’S ROCKIN’ ROAD SHOW!

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15BEST OF LIVERPOOL

APRIL 13

EVERY time we see the Yellow Duckmarine weaving its way through the city centre, my four-year-old son Daniel says: “Can we go on that Mummy?” So after a week of relatively good behaviour I decided to reward him with the trip on the infamous Yellow Duck and booked a family ticket (£36) to enjoy the sightseeing tour of the city centre and dockland. Two Saturdays ago we trudged through the snow to the Yellow Duck office at Anchor Courtyard thinking “we must be quackers.” With April fast approaching, I had anticipated a few showers but not a full on snowstorm! It was so cold, I half hoped the amphibious vehicles wouldn’t be running due to the freak weather conditions but the Ducks have survived much more than a few flakes of snow! The amphibious vehicles which can travel on land or water were originally designed during World War II to move men and materials ashore in areas where no port facilities existed. They were named DUKW but later became affectionately known as ‘Ducks’ and were used during the invasion of Sicily and the Normandy campaign. They continued in service after the war

and retired from the British Army in the 1970s.The Yellow Duckmarine company since

purchased and rebuilt some of the best original DUKWs in the UK and began operating sightseeing tours in 2001. The company now has a fleet of four

Ducks which are all vigorously tested and comply with UK Passenger Carrying

Vehicle, (PCV) and Class 5 Passenger Vessel standards. The vehicles have been updated to

incorporate the latest safety features and equipment but are still based on the original 1940s chassis, body and mechanical components. Wrapped up extremely warmly, my

family and I made our way to Gower Street bus stop where our amphibious vehicle awaited. Daniel and his little sister Isla excitedly climbed up the metal steps and found a seat next to the window. We were actually going to travel on the

same Duckmarine the Queen enjoyed a tour of the city in as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012, the Wacker Quacker 1! Well if it’s good enough for her Majesty... I was glad to see there were plastic

sheets at the windows to shield us from the elements and actually, once the Duck got going, it wasn’t too cold. Despite the frosty weather, there were

lots of people on the Duck which seats 30, including a coach party of Geordies who made for interesting and amusing travelling companions. There was a really jolly atmosphere on

the Duck. Our commentator Tony and driver Andy were blessed with typical Scouse humour and as well as telling us the history of Liverpool, they threw plenty of jokes in for good measure. We set off down the Strand for an

hour long tour of the city, taking in the historic waterfront and famous landmarks. We passed the Pier Head

learning all about the history of impressive Three Graces and the Liver birds, spotting the ventilation shafts for the Mersey tunnel and the Grade II listed White Star building which operated The Titanic. Tony pointed out the Atlantic Tower

Hotel where every room was once booked by Michael Jackson and his entourage and, as we drove up James Street, he explained where Liverpool Castle once stood before showing us the formidable statue of Queen Victoria Monument in Derby Square and the Liverpool ONE shopping centre. Passing Mathew Street, he talked about

The Beatles and The Cavern Club while Andy the driver even serenaded us with a Beatles Classic “When I’m Sixty-Four,” much to the Geordies’ delight! Then we headed down Victoria Street to see the old tramsheds and St John’s Lane where we took in the magnificent sight of St George’s Hall. Next, we learned all about Lime Street

Station built by George Stephenson whose ‘Rocket’ engine was the first train out of Liverpool before making our way up Mount Pleasant passing the American Bar with its Statue of Liberty erected for the American soldiers who drank there during the war and we also got to see the infamous ‘Dickie Lewis!’ We passed the Roman Catholic

Cathedral and turned onto Hope Street where Tony told us about The Philharmonic and it’s legendary toilets and historical Falkner Street, the site of many TV programmes including

Sherlock Holmes films. Then we marvelled at the Anglican

Cathedral before joining Duke Street waving at Ricky Tomlinson who was sitting in his cabaret lounge, The Green Room, before heading back to the Docks, passing the colourful Chinese Arch for the moment we had all been waiting for – the ‘splashdown into the Salthouse Dock.’ Daniel and Isla were very excited as

we made our dramatic entrance into the water singing “We all live in a yellow submarine.” A comedy moment occurred when

pranksters Tony and Andy threw a very realistic rubber fish into the air! We continued our tour on the water

through the South Docks via Wapping and Queens Docks to Coburg Dock with Tony telling us the history of the area, the most famous docklands in the world. Then it was back on dry land, as the

Duck drove straight out of the water in front of the Albert Dock buildings where we disembarked, all agreeing we’d had a great time. The Yellow Duck tour was a very

enjoyable experience – informative and amusing at the same time. And I have never seen Daniel so quiet as he took the sights in! Duck tours depart daily from 10am

onwards with four Ducks operating all day every day during peak season and at weekends.

For more information telephone 0151 708 7799 or visit the website at www.theyellowduckmarine.co.uk

Michelle Rushton find it’s always good weather for ducks, especially of the amphibious landing vehicle variety... A QUACKING TIMEA QUACKING TIME

Duck tales – Michelle and Daniel board the Yellow Duckmarine

Our guide, Tony

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Fitness


TOFFEE LADY IS ON THE BALL

SCOUTED at age 11, scooping the European Championship and now standing proud on Everton Ladies’ first team, midfielder Michelle Hinnigan has a talent that’s clear to see. And she has been training hard to

prepare for an exciting season ahead. The FA Women’s Super League (WSL)

has just started and has already seen Everton Ladies take on Liverpool Ladies, ending with a 1-1 draw that saw Michelle's free kick nodded home by Nikita Parris. “It’s always an exciting game when

it’s a derby match,” says Michelle. “Liverpool has quite a new team and it’s the first time I’ve had to play against some of the girls I trained with so it was a great match. “Our first home game of the season

is next Sunday, April 14, against Doncaster Rovers' Belles at the Arriva Stadium in Crosby, so that’s our next match to train towards.” Football has always been a passion

for Michelle, and even at a young age she was playing on the boys' team at her school for the under 10s. “I always used to play football at the

weekends just on the field with my cousin, it was something I loved to do,” says Michelle. She adds: “When I went to All Saints

School in Kirkby, I was in Year 7, so about 11 years old, the Everton scouts came around to watch us play and they asked me to go for trials! Luckily I was already an Everton supporter! “I was made up, my dad was too,

especially as he’s a big Blues fan and football is something that runs in our family. "My uncle used to play football and

my cousin also plays.” Michelle laughs: “My dad says I was

like the lad he never had!” Michelle’s trials to decide if she was

good enough to join the squad, starting with the Under 12s, obviously went well and she’s been with Everton ever since, moving on to the Under 14s, Under 16s, the reserves and now the first team. Thinking back, Michelle says: “If it

wasn’t for my mum and dad I wouldn’t be where I am today. They’re so supportive coming to all my games and driving me to training at the Centre of Excellence when I was younger. Plus my mum used to prepare separate meals for me from the rest of the family on training and match days.” She continues: “The training is quite

intense from an early age, when you’re in the younger groups there are still leagues and cups that you really want

your team to win. Some of the leagues are just with the northern teams and then you start to travel around the country playing against other cities. “I remember one of my most exciting

first big games was a League Cup Final when I was about 17, I was so nervous and excited at the same time, I just wanted to show what I could do and do our best to win.” On the subject of travelling, Michelle,

22, tells us about her recent return from Spain with the England Under 23 team after taking part in the Women's Under-23 International, La Manga Tournament where they came second, only losing to the US in the final. She’s used to travelling with the

England squad, as she has played in many European tournaments and in 2009 she captained the England U19's team to European Championship glory, where they beat Sweden 2-0 in the final. Michelle recalls: “That was such a

proud moment for the team, and I was the first England captain since Bobby

ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?

WOULD you like to get more active but need a goal to spur you on? Then consider joining in this year’s Knowsley Active Challenge. Entry forms are now available for the event, which takes place in the surroundings of Knowsley Hall on Wednesday, June 12. The challenge consists of a five-kilometre run, which is suitable for all abilities and can be completed on an individual or team basis (teams comprise four people and must include at least one woman). Alternatively, there will also be a three and eight kilometre walk (three kilometre walk is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs). Plus, there will be a two kilometre run for children aged eight to 16. There are prizes for the winners and a medal for everyone

who finishes. To get an application form contact Peter Green on 0151 443 5648 or email [email protected] can also download a form from Knowsley Council’s website www.knowsley.gov.uk

Emma Thompson catches up with Everton Ladies' midfielder Michelle Hinnigan as the new season gets underway...

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17BEST OF LIVERPOOL

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Moore in 1966 to raise a major trophy for any England football team. “I’ve travelled all over the world,

which is great but unfortunately we don’t really get to do any sightseeing, it’s mainly just hotel rooms, training and resting. "Mum and dad still come to all my

home games and they managed to come to Chile in 2008 and Germany in 2010 both for the FIFA Under 20s Women’s World Cup. “I remember one of the biggest

crowds had around 40,000 people – that was an amazing experience to be part of with a brilliant atmosphere, it’s quite a change to getting 300 people on a normal match day and around 1,000 people when it’s a derby match.” She adds: “Another great time for me

was winning the 2010 FA Women's Cup with Everton, it’s great to have that medal. Playing teams such as Arsenal and, of course, Liverpool are always

real highlights, but now with the Centre of Excellence training academy all the players coming through are at such a good standard that we’re playing quality teams every week.” With Everton team training three

days a week, as well as working and going to Salford University to study physical activity, health and fitness, Michelle is always on the go. She says: “I want to become a PE

teacher and encourage more children to get into sports. I’ll still be able to train and play my matches at the weekend while teaching in the day, it’ll be a bit of a balancing act but I think it’s important I’m able to pursue teaching as well as playing football.”

Everton Ladies' home games take place at Arriva Stadium in Crosby. Tickets can be purchased from the turnstiles on the day and cost £5 for adults and £2.50 for kids.

GET YOUR SKATES ON!

ROLLER skating has been making a comeback in Knowsley, with people digging out their skates, and showing off their fancy footwork. Hundreds of people turned out for a Funky Valentine’s roller disco event at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park. The event was such a success - in fact, the children’s session was sold out, so the leisure and culture development team have arranged two more. The roller discos will be held at the Leisure and Culture Park in Longview Drive, Huyton, on Saturday, April 13 and Saturday, July 27. There will be two sessions for people of all ages from 2-4pm and 5-7pm with a late session for adults over 18 from 7.30pm-9.30pm when licensed bar facilities will be available. If you’re a skating novice, never fear, you can hire roller skates and take to the floor to the latest tunes. You can even request your favourite tracks from the DJ or turn up in fancy dress – whatever takes your fancy. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Adults can stay and don’t need a ticket if they’re not taking part. Tickets are just £6 and include the hire of skates and two hours skating to disco music. Buy 10 and you get one ticket free. Places are limited so it’s advisable to book. Call into Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park or book your tickets by calling 0151 443 2200. To see pictures of the Funky Valentine’s Roller Disco visit the website www.flickr.com/knowsleycouncil

The roller disco at Knowsley Leisure and

Culture Park

Get kitted out

Whether you want to work off those Easter eggs, or simply want to get fit before summer arrives, Katie McLoughlin shows you how to shape up in style...

2010 FA Cup win

Azzurri zip top, £15, and Azzurri running legging, £12, from Heatons

Washed neon barrel bag, £6, from Primark

Gaiam premium habitat print yoga mat, £19.95, from John Lewis

Nike women’s Flex 2012 RN Running Shoe in black/ pink, £39.99, from GetTheLabel.com

Push-up swivel grips, £14.99, from the British Heart Foundation www.giftshop.bhf.org.uk

Nike shape bra, £16.99, from GetTheLabel.com

Adidas Response full neck long sleeve top, £40, from John Lewis

Ankle weights, £9.99, from the British Heart Foundation www.giftshop.bhf.org.uk

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What’s on

BY DAYSarah Hooley checks her diary to find out what’s happening in April...

THE GRAND NATIONALMERSEYSIDE’S finest fillies will be out in force for the John Smith’s Grand National from Thursday, April 4 - Saturday, April 6. Three of the biggest days in the British

sporting and social calendar, the Grand National is a must and attracts more than 154,000 racegoers keen to have a flut-ter. The event kicks off on Thursday with a performance from The Saturdays, followed by Ladies’ Day on Friday and the Grand National on Saturday. The annual Matalan Style Contest will also

be taking place on Ladies’ Day. This year the prize booty includes £5,000 cash, £500 Matalan vouchers, a photographic feature in Matalan’s fashion supplement in Closer maga-zine, and an iPad (courtesy of Betfred). Visit www.aintree.co.uk

CELEBRATE ST GEORGELIVERPOOL will be hosting its first ever St George’s Day Festival on April 21. The event - organised to promote the

historic St George’s Quarter - is set to include a fun fair, themed stalls, hog roast, and a host of historical entertainment. There’ll also be a special appearance from CBBC character, Mike the Knight! Mike, together with the Plantagenet Medieval Society, will be on hand to recreate the excitement of Medieval combat along with dancing and music. Indoors, a host of story-telling, costume

dressing and Medieval arts workshops will be taking place at the World Museum, Walker Art Gallery and St George’s Hall. And, make sure you keep an eye out for dragon-inspired Superlambananas taking up residence in Queen’s Square! Children under 10 who attend the event in fancy dress as a knight, dragon, or princess will be entered into a competition to win a prize, and will receive discounts at restaurants in Queens Square. The event starts at 11am, and will be centred

around St George’s Hall and St John’s Gardens.

GROOVE ON THE GREENAN exciting, free music festival - Groove on the Green - is set to take to place on Chavasse Park, April 27 and 28. Three days of jazz, soul, swing and blues, the

festival is now in its seventh year and looks set to attract thousands of visitors. Its sterling line-up features up and coming

bands from local universities, as well as more established northern-based groups including locally acclaimed jazz bands, quartets, big bands and orchestras. Organised by LIPA students, the festival is

the perfect way to gently shake off those winter cobwebs. Entry is free, performances are scheduled to take place throughout the day. Visit www.facebook.com/GrooveOnTheGreen for more information.

IN OTHER WORDSFROM poetry and performances to story-telling and book readings, Liverpool is the place to be this April and May as the city plays host to In Other Words. A literary festival like no other, In Other

Words – April 23 to May 19 - celebrates all things connected to the written and spoken word. The line-up of events includes readings by famous authors, book swaps, special story-telling events, and debates, as well as poetry competitions. James Herbert, Melvyn Bragg, Janet Street-

Porter, Roger McGough and Brian Patten are just some of the top names leading the festival. Events will be taking place at a variety of city venues in the day and evening. At the heart of the festival will also be the re-opening of Liverpool’s Central Library, which has undergone more than two years of intensive restoration. For a full listing of events visit www.itsliverpool.com/culture

EVERY ONE’S A STARIF you remember life in the 70s and 80s, this new exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery is a must. The exhibition - entitled Every Man and Woman is a Star - explores the similarities and differences between the work of acclaimed photographers Martin Parr and Tom Wood. Made up of work taken in the late 70s and early 80s, the display concentrates on both photographers’ Merseyside work, as well as a small selection of Parr’s Irish scenes. It also includes images from some of Wood’s seminal projects such as All Zones Off Peak (bus journeys in and around Liverpool), and Looking for Love (Chelsea Reach Nightclub, New Brighton). The exhibition is at the Walker Art Gallery from April 20 - August 18, and forms part of the LOOK/13: Liverpool International Photography Festival which starts next month. Visit www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

SLEEPING BEAUTYMATTHEW Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty will be enchanting audiences at the Liverpool Empire, from April 30 to May 4. A haunting new production, Bourne’s re-imagining of the ballet classic is a gothic romance for all ages and tells the story of a young girl cursed to sleep for 100 years. Several new characters not featured in Grimm’s fairytale have also been created, including Princess Aurora’s romantic interest, Leo, the royal gamekeeper. This latest show sees the choreograhper return to the music of Tchaikovsky and complete his trio of ballet masterworks that started with the Nutcracker! and Swan Lake. Tickets cost £10 to £32.50. To book your seats visit www.atgtickets.com

THE ART OF POP VIDEOYOU might think that MTV defined a generation with its fast-paced offering of music videos, but it was long before this that the medium became a form of artistic expression. From its humble beginnings in the 1920s to

its most contemporary manifestations, its fascinating history is the subject of ‘The Art of Pop Video’ on ‘til May 26 at FACT. The exhibition celebrates the variety of

the medium and invites visitors to become acquainted with its filmic predecessors, as well as taking a peek at the future. Artists featured include Bjork, Michael

Jackson, Pet Shop Boys, Fred Astair, Madonna, Daft Punk, Lady Gaga and Radiohead. It also showcases the work of major visual artists whose work has been heavily influenced by the pop video, including Andy Warhol, and Pipilotti Rist. Entry is free. Visit www.fact.co.uk

MUST DOMUST DO...YOUR utmost to launch your budding career as a screenwriter at Fact’s Get Out of the House! on Friday, April 12. The conference will teach you how to network, how to structure a screenplay, and includes a session with Starfish Films’ Paul Wilkins who’s written and produced feature films like 7lives (with Danny Dyer and Kate Ashfield). Live from California, there’s also a screenwriting masterclass with Dara Marks, who penned ‘Inside Story’ the hugely influential and acclaimed book about screenwriting. The conference will be taking place in The Box. Visit www.fact.co.uk for more information, and tickets.

MUST SEE...THE star-studded film adaptation of phenomenal stage musical, Les Miserables, at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Tuesday, April 9. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel set

in 19th century France, the epic is a must see on the big screen so if you missed it earlier in the year make sure you watch it now. The film tells the story of prisoner, Jean

Valjean (Hugh Jackman), who creates a new life for himself and tries to evade the grasp of persistent inspector Javert (Russell Crowe). Weepy is not the word - you’ve been warned! Tickets cost £6 and £7, visit www.liverpoolphil.com

MUST TRY...TO get tickets to see former frontman of The Trestles, Alan O’Hare, who’ll be riding into town on April 26 to headline Liverpool Acoustic night at Mathew Street’s View Two Gallery. His new group, Only Child, combines the skills of a collective of intuitive Merseyside musicians to create a warm, emotional sound. For the unmissable gig, the band will be joined on stage by a string quartet. Buy tickets from www.wegottickets.com/event/210584

MUST REMEMBER...TO saddle up for Impropriety’s fourth Annual Liverpool Improvathon show, Goin’ West, on April 6 and 7 at the Kazimier. The show features 33

hours and 33 minutes of sheriffs, saloons, cowboys, gold diggers and duels brought to you by some of the best improvisers from the UK, Ireland and Canada. The first episode of Goin’ West will be on Saturday, April 6 at 1pm with doors opening every two hours until the final episode at 9pm on Sunday, April 7. Audiences are free to join the story at any point and stay for as long as they like. Tickets cost £5 per episode, £25 for a weekend pass, £10 for the sleepover (11pm Saturday to 9am Sunday). Visit www.impropriety.co.uk

Every Man & Woman is a Star: the launch of HMS Edinburgh, by photographer Martin Parr

Pet Shop Boys, Go West part of the Art of Pop Video exhibition at FACT

19BEST OF LIVERPOOL

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BY NIGHTHAIRSPRAYAWARD-WINNING musical, Hairspray will be spritzing its way to the Liverpool Empire, on April 22–27. Leading the company

is Mark Benton (Waterloo Road and Northern Lights) who’ll play larger than life Turnblad family matriarch Edna, alongside ex-Eastenders actress Lucy Benjamin in the role of scheming TV executive and ‘showbiz mom’ Velma Von Tussle. Marcus Collins will also be gracing the boards as Seaweed Stubbs. Tickets cost £10 - £48.50, visit www.agtickets.com

RENTWINNER of the Tony Award for best musical and the Pulitzer Prize for drama, RENT is coming to the ECHO Arena on April 27. West End and Broadway leading lady, Kerry

Ellis, heads the cast along with Liverpool’s Rory Taylor who was runner up of ITV’s Superstar. Songs from the show include, Seasons of Love, Out Tonight, Finale B, and Without You, with its musical soundtrack making the show a pop phenomenon that resonates with audiences of all ages. Tickets cost from £26.50, visit www.echoarena.com

THE FRATELLISSCOTTISH trio, The Fratellis, will be back to rock the O2 Academy on Wednesday, April 17. With a new album due out this year, the band will be playing a seven date tour of the UK kicking off at London Electric Ballroom on April 11, followed by Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle and Liverpool before finishing at Glasgow Barrowland. The Fratellis reunited last year, and news of their forthcoming album will no doubt excite fans who loved 2006’s Costello Music and 2008’s Here We Stand. Tickets cost £20.25, visit www.o2academyliverpool.co.uk

MARTINI LOUNGEFOLLOWING a sell-out show in February, the Martini Lounge is back with an extra date on Saturday, April 13 at the Epstein Theatre. An evening of glitz, glamour and tantalising

performances, the line-up includes Kitty Bang Bang, Vicky Butterfly, and one of Liverpool’s leading burlesque stars Millie Dollar, as well as The Bears, and Fred Bear who will hosting the evening. Regarded as one of the best burlesque and variety shows in the UK, the Martini Lounge offers an enchanting evening of style and glamour from a by-gone era. Tickets cost £20pp, visit www.martinilounge.co.uk

JOE EGGFREQUENTLY named as one of the best plays in modern British theatre, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg will be coming to the Liverpool Playhouse from Friday, April 5 to Saturday, April 27. Penned by legendary playwright Peter

Nichols, the black comedy tells the story of a couple who are struggling to save their marriage whilst trying to raise their daughter Josephine who suffers from cerebral palsy. Described as highly theatrical, frequently heart wrenching and often very funny, the show stars Ralf Little (The Royle Family) and Rebecca Johnson. Tickets cost £12 - £23, visit www.everymanplayhouse.com

TICKETS FOR SOUTHPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL

NOW in its 13th year, Southport Jazz Festival, is back and better than ever. The festival – on from May 10-12 – is one

of the region’s premier music events. Its dazzling line-up includes a host of internationally acclaimed artists such as James Morton’s Pork Chop, James Morrison with the Swingshift Big Band, MOBO award-winners Kairos 4Tet, and Joe Stilgoe Trio, as well as up-and-coming talent like Go Go Penguin. For the first time, the festival will also be

held at the Atkinson – Southport’s state-of-the-art new venue. The jazz festival is one of the first events to be hosted at the £17 million development which included the old Southport Arts Centre, Atkinson Art Gallery, Botanic Gardens Museum and the central Library.

WIN

DOWN OUR STREETCELEBRATING the life and times of Cammell Laird, Down Our Street, will be arriving at the Royal Court this month. The smash hit musical – on from April

12 to 23 – chronicles one of the greatest shipbuilders in the world. For well over a century and a half, ‘The Yard’ was the employer of thousands of people in the region and was responsible for building some of the most famous ships in history. Writer, Brian McCann, celebrates this special

relationship through the eyes of the people of Merseyside. Tickets for the show alone are available in

the stalls, circle and balcony. Stall tickets for evening shows are available with a meal for an extra supplement. Visit www.royalcourtliverpool.co.uk

THE CRUCIBLEA TIMELESS exploration of power, mass hysteria and fear, Tell Tale Theatre’s production of The Crucible opens at Static Gallery on April 10. Written by Arthur Miller, the play draws a chilling parallel between the Salem witch hunts of 1692, and the anti-communist purges in the 1950s as innocent men and women are destroyed by malicious rumours. The show is Tell Tale Theatre’s third major production, and the company reached the semi-finals of Sky Arts’ Nation’s Best Am Dram competition. The Crucible is at Static, Roscoe Lane, in Liverpool city centre, from April 10-13. Tickets cost from £6. Visit the website www.seetickets.com/tour/tell-tale-theatre

GARDEN GET TOGETHERAHEAD of the summer’s 8th Garden Festival in Croatia, The Garden Get Together Tour 2013 is heading to Liverpool on April 27. Weaving a party trail across Europe, the

event is the perfect way to usher in spring, and get an early dose of Garden love. Taking place at Haus on Greenland Street,

acts include Crazy P, Maxxi Soundsystem, Allen & Hutch aka (Paul Hutchinson and Jimmy Allen), No Fakin, Phil Cooper, and Dash aka (Auto Cycle). The Garden Festival in Tisno, on the

Dalmation coastline of the Adriatic Sea, is one of the summer’s most hotly anticipated events. This year it includes live shows from Metro

Area, Space Dimension Controller, Crazy P, Auntie Flo and Outboxx, with DJ sets from Floating Points, Eats Everything, Justin Martin, Krystal Klear, Theo Parrish, Soul Clap, Wolf and Lamb and many more. Tickets available from www.thegardenfestival.eu

In a change to previous years, there will be headlining jazz gigs taking place throughout the three days so a range of weekend, day and session tickets will be available. CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) will be

running a beer festival alongside the three-day jazz event. Tickets are on sale at www.seftonarts.co.uk, or call 01704 533333. For your chance to win two passes to

Southport Jazz Festival, answer the following question:

What’s the name of the venue where Southport Jazz Festival is taking place this year?

Send your answers on a postcard to: Southport Jazz Festival Competition, Best of Liverpool, Liverpool Post & ECHO, PO BOX 48, 3rd Floor, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB. Closing date: April 12.

Ralf Little stars in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg

The Garden Get Together Tour comes to Liverpool

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IT’S a crisp March morning and I’m making my way through town to meet local playwright Robert Farquhar. It’s not even 10am and we’re not even meeting at a coffee shop for a much-needed caffeine hit – still at least it’s not snowing. Shaking hands in the Playhouse lobby, I’m glad to see my quarry is bright and cheery, despite the hour, and he makes for a most engaging and entertaining interviewee. Farquhar’s very name seems to acquaint him with the peerage, with the aristocracy, but he’s certainly no Royalist. While not originally from Liverpool, he’s lived and worked here for the past two decades. It was meeting his wife that brought him to Liverpool from Aylesbury, and he now calls Aigburth ‘home’. Robert says he’s proud to be referred to as a Liverpool writer though he still speaks with a warm and chirrupy Southern accent, albeit without a hint of so-called ‘Queen’s English’. His new one-man show, which hits the Playhouse Studio stage in April, is an irreverent story surrounding one man’s take on the incredible events and outpouring of emotion that followed the death of Princess Diana on that late summer’s evening in Paris, August 31, 1997. His previous work includes comedy writing for his successful Liverpool theatre company Big Wow, and the acclaimed drama, Dead Heavy Fantastic, set in Liverpool’s club scene, so why this apparent right-turn into potentially difficult subject matter? “Well I think it’s interesting that no-one has actually written, dramatically, about that historical moment,” explains Robert. “Despite all the millions and billions of words and television coverage, journalism and books written about it and her, nobody’s ever dealt with it dramatically, in more of a complex way, I suppose. “And that appealed to me because it was something that everybody has an emotional response to… I suppose that’s what drew me to it, thinking about it in the back of my head, because at the time when it happened, as someone who was indifferent, if not anti, the Royal Family – well very, very indifferent – I found

myself very moved by the moment, and I don’t think I was alone in that.” Robert recalls that while many of his friends seemed very dismissive of the series of events that followed the car crash which caused the death of Diana and her fiancé Dodi Al-Fayed, Robert found he was caught up in it as “great drama” and was simultaneously disturbed by his own emotional response to it. So yes, potentially an untapped vein of theatrical drama exists there, but how did Robert find the tool to mine it? “I took this idea of a Liam Gallagher-esque figure. I remember we were on holiday in Italy when it [Diana’s car crash] happened. We’d just bought that third Oasis album. It was like that Britpop thing had become bloated really, it was all too noisy and all the tracks had far too many guitars. “The Blair government had become elected in May,

Noel Gallagher had turned up at Downing Street. “Somehow it just seemed that I came up with this voice

of a Liam Gallagher-esque character who was cool but anti-cool – the ultimate cool because he tells us he’s not being cool. “Combined with the uncoolest thing of waving a flag at a royal wedding or something, and then Princess Diana, who’s inbetween – she’s of the Royal Family but not of the Royal Family – that just seems to me a real potent mix for comedy and a way of exploring something.” Our monologue, it transpires, is not delivered by some wannabe Britpop musician but rather a hopeful novelist, though Robert reveals that he’s worked for a record company. “It’s hinted at but not really said. He’s been part of the music scene but in no way is he a musician. He’s just an Oasis copy boy, he’s still very influenced by it, and he’s full of drugs!” This blend of cocaine-fuelled swagger, crude language and rock star sex appeal would certainly make for a beguiling voice to tell the tale of a remarkable and slightly insane period in our national consciousness and history. Francis Tucker is the man charged with bringing this

fascinating character to life. Francis will be known to Playhouse

regulars as a returning dame in its ever-popular Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantomimes, but why him as the lead here? “He’s a great comedy actor,” says Robert. “He was primarily a musician – he was a drummer in The Higsons originally – and he sort of comes from that muso background, which is how he originally got the gig on the pantomime, ‘cos of his drumming skills. “He’s played in loads of bands so he’s got that rock ‘n’ roll energy. He knows that world! But at the same time he’s a hugely charming performer, and I think if an actor didn’t have that quality this could come across a bit skewed. Especially because of some of the things he has to do in it!” While the subject matter in itself could potentially be upsetting or even offensive to certain sections of society, the play may court controversy thanks to one scene where our protagonist indulges in a sexual act while watching Diana’s funeral unfold on TV. Robert assures me it’s a purely comic scene which works in context, but a little controversy never hurt a play now did it? So is he worried about negative press arising from such scenes? “I’m sort of hoping…” he chuckles. “I don’t know if it would have been good from The Playhouse’s point of view. When The Queen was ill I thought, oh no, don’t die, don’t die now. But Diana, she was beautiful and she was still young, and there was so much tied up in it thematically. “The play is really funny but also quite moving at the end. If you’re deeply royalist I’d say, don’t come, but anybody else I think can take from it.” So did Robert find that his opinions and feelings towards Diana changed during the writing of the play? “She was becoming a really interesting figure when she died, in terms of her figuring out who she was, and she obviously did huge positive things. The moment where she shook the guy’s hand with AIDS, that was a massive moment,” says Robert. “Having read about her I feel sorry for her, I find her story really tragic. If we’re going to have this outdated, fossilised thing called the Royal Family, you know, she was trying to shake it up for the better, to make them more emotionally literate, to make them more outwardly caring and make them more in touch. “I mean, that’s nothing to do with the play, but hopefully people come out and they have that discussion.” Di is Dead certainly promises talking points, and plenty of them. I, for one, am very much looking forward to joining the discussion.

Di is Dead comes to the Playhouse Studio from Wednesday, April 17, to Saturday, April 27.


Homegrown talent

Paul Baker chats to playwright Robert Farquhar ahead of the launch of his controversial new play, Di is Dead, at the Playhouse Studio this month

Live and let Di

“I think it’s interesting that no-one has actually written, dramatically, about that historical moment . . . the play is really funny and quite moving at the end. If you’re deeply royalist I’d say don’t come, but anybody else I think can take from it.”

YOU’VE got to admire anyone who is so blessed with the gift of the gab that they can blag their way into the AC Milan hospitality suite and end up plonking themselves firmly in a seat next to bunga-bunga party loving, former Italian PM, Silvio Berlusconi. In 2005, fervent Reds fan Mark Radley did just that and this weekend a critically-acclaimed play based on the Allerton cobbler’s bizarre but true story is at the Epstein Theatre. Former Brookside actor Paul Duckworth stars in the one-man show, Beating Berlusconi!, which is at the Hanover Street theatre from April 5-7. “Mark’s a bit of an opportunist,” says Paul. “He’d got lost in the stadium wondering around at half time looking for something to eat and, when he found himself outside the AC Milan hospitality suite, he chanced his hand to get in. “When Liverpool were three-nil down he thought; ‘what’s the worst that can happen now’, so he helped himself to all this free salmon and Champagne that was laid on, thinking he who dares and all that.” As any Reds fan will know, Liverpool fought back to equalise in this Champions League final, and Mark, buoyed up by the free fizz he’d quaffed with gusto, rightly thought this was a cause for celebration. “As each goal went in, he was trying to celebrate and then he realised that he was on his own – everyone in there was Italian. So he started making gestures and gloating to this fella, who turned out to be Berlusconi,” explains Paul. Luckily for Mark, he wasn’t shown the red card and instead of turfing him out, the bouncers assumed he was lost and gave him a wristband for the Liverpool hospitality suite. Mark’s bizarre true story is the sort you’d expect to hear down an inner city boozer, from some bloke propping up the

bar, regaling fellow drinkers with a tall tale of how ‘a local lad done good’ while intermittently sharing his world views with anyone who’ll listen. And that’s exactly how Beating Berlusconi! is written, with Paul, who critics have dubbed a “human chameleon” for his role, playing over 30 characters during this staggeringly funny Scouse comedy. “Kenny, the main character, is loosely based on Mark, so he starts off saying who he is and telling the story of Istanbul, then goes off on tangents – like

a story being told in a pub,” reveals Paul, who has been involved with the play since it started life in small city venues four years ago. “I took it on at first as a challenge for myself as an actor, holding storytelling for two hours in a one-man show and doing multi characters. “It’s been good – apart

from me obviously being an Evertonian,” laughs the actor, who is best known for playing villain Jack Michaelson in Brookside. You don’t have to be a footy fan to enjoy this play though as Beating Berlusconi! captures the essence of Liverpool and its history, through one man’s eyes. “The first time I met John, I said to him: ‘I can’t do this, I’m not a Red!’ But John has captured the ethos and feelings of the city. It doesn’t matter that I’m an Evertonian – the play isn’t just about football, it’s a potted history of the city from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and onwards,” says Paul. “It looks at the Thatcher years, the riots, the Garden Festival, Hillsborough and Heseltine.”

Much more than a play about football or politics, Beating Berlusconi! is a play about people and whether you’re a footy fan or not, you’re guaranteed to laugh at this Liverpool-based comedy, which is back on home ground this weekend following a sell-out tour in Norway.

Beating Berlusconi! is at The Epstein Theatre, Hanover Street, April 5-7. For tickets, call the box office on 0844 888 4411 or visit the website www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk

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APRIL 13

BACK ON HOME TURFKatie McLoughlin meets actor Paul Duckworth to talk Berlusconi, cobblers and Champions League...

ONE of the biggest characters of stage and screen will be telling his life story at Literally... A Book Shop, this month. Merseyside actor and singer, Carl Chase, will be bringing his guitar along to serenade the audience with a few numbers as well as giving an insight into the world of theatre and film, and a Q&A session, reliving some of his funniest and proudest moments at the event, which will be held at the bookshop in New Brighton. A real character with a great sense of humour, the event promises to be thoroughly entertaining evening. The

former fireman and cab driver was discovered singing and playing the guitar in The Old Corkscrew winebar by Ken Campbell who was directing a play at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre in the 80s. Campbell cast him in the leading role in Hank Williams The Show He Never Gave. He took a real chance on Chase who had never acted before, but it paid off and he was a huge hit. “I just learned the art of stagecraft in the heat of battle,” chuckles Carl who, following his theatrical debut, went on to star in countless TV, film and stage productions from a psycho in Brookside to The

Joker’s Goon in Batman. He gave a great performance as the leader of comic terrorist cell The Kingsway Three, in the hit comedy Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels. You may also recognise him from Coronation Street, or from film roles where he has appeared alongside Hollywood great such as Jack Nicholson, Kevin Kline, Christopher Lambert, Brendan Fraser, Denzel Washington, Sigourney Weaver and Angelina Jolie and much more. So come along and listen to his showbiz tales at Literally on April 17 at 6.30pm.

ONE TO WATCH – CARL CHASE

Photo: James Maloney

Paul Duckworth prepares to play on home ground this weekend in Beating Berlusconi! at The Epstein Theatre


Last year’s GIT Award woke the nation up to the resurgent force of Liverpool music. As Paul Baker finds out, this year’s award nominations capture a snapshot of a scene reaching its zenith

GIT Awards

DAZZLING DOZEN UP FOR GIT GONG

LAST year it came, saw and conquered; this year it rises once more, spreading its tentacles far and wide to recognise and celebrate the wealth of musical talent basking on our Mersey shores. The GIT (Getintothis) Award enjoyed a hugely successful inaugural year in 2012, when newcomers Loved Ones walked away with the prize. But the stakes will be even higher when the 2013 winner is revealed on Friday, April 19 at Leaf in the city centre. The scene’s all set for a very big bang! Dubbed the Scouse Mercury Prize, the GIT Award is given to the local artist who submitted the set of tracks the judges thought most outstanding. The brainchild of Liverpool ECHO journalist, Peter Guy, for seven years Peter’s blog, Getintothis, has charted

the highs and lows of the local music scene. As chair of judges, he reveals that choosing the 2013 shortlist was a particularly tough process. “This year’s shortlist represents a city at the height of its musical powers,” says Peter. “Finalising this year’s 12 artists was a colossal task as new Liverpool music is at a creative zenith, however, the judges feel the nominees provide a definitive picture of the diversity, profound musicianship and rich talent emanating out of Merseyside.” From November 2012 until the end of February 2013, the GIT Award received more than 380 entries. So how do you go about judging a tower of tracks that would have made even John Peel in his prime tremble? Well, you gather 12 of the most qualified journalists and music

aficionados in the UK together and get them to do it, of course! This year’s impressive judging panel comprised respected industry figures including Liverpool-born Andrew Harrison, editor of music bible Q Magazine; Matt Wilkinson, NME’s new music editor; John Doran, editor of leading UK music website The Quietus; plus BBC 6 Music presenter and John Peel’s son, Tom Ravenscroft; allied with the cornerstones of Liverpool’s vibrant music and arts scene. Q editor Andrew Harrison says: “This genuinely impressive and varied shortlist proves that Merseyside continues to generate fantastic musical talent like nowhere else on Earth.” The award ceremony at Leaf is strictly invite only and will include

performances from the shortlisted artists. The overall winner will receive a cash prize of £1,000, while a special Inspiration Award, recognising services to Liverpool’s music industry will also be presented. In addition, a ‘People’s Choice’ online poll consisting of the 12 nominees will be hosted on Bido Lito!, Getintothis, Juice FM and SevenStreets, allowing the public the opportunity to have their say on Liverpool’s finest music of 2012-2013. So there’s nothing left for it than to introduce those 12 names up for this year’s GIT Award crown...

Baltic FleetBALTIC Fleet is the work of multi-instrumentalist Paul Flem-ing. Channelling motorik beats and dark instrumental hooks, Rough Trade have called his music ‘faultless pieces which capture the spirit of Brian Eno and NEU!’ His 2012 critically-acclaimed second album, Towers, was the culmination of touring the world as keyboardist for Echo & The Bunnymen. Last year, Fleming proved one of the highlights at the inaugural Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia.balticfleetmusic.com

BarberosBARBEROS is Joel Murray, Joshua Jones and Giacomos Fazi, an electronic noise band from Liverpool. Renowned for their visceral live performances, which combine poly-rhythmic assaults, synth roars and silver spandex full body suits, the trio have been endlessly touring Europe for the last four years while gaining a ferocious fanbase on Merseyside. They released their finest record to date ‘OOO’ in September 2012.barberos.bandcamp.com

By The SeaJOE EDWARDS, Mark Jackson, Daniel O’Connell, Liam Power and Andy Royden are Wirral quartet By The Sea. Melding dream pop rhythms with evocative textured guitar swells, By The Sea have become one of Liverpool’s most excit-ing new bands. Their 2012 eponymous debut LP, produced by GIT Award

nominee Bill Ryder-Jones, gained mass praise from the UK music press with the NME calling them ‘burgeoning kitchen-sink dramatists for the 4G generation.’bytheseabythesea.bandcamp.com

ClinicADE BLACKBURN, Brian Campbell, Jonathan Hartley and Carl Turney make up legendary Liverpool alt-pop outfit Clinic. Formed in 1997, and signed to Domino Records, the band have toured the world with the likes of Radiohead, The Flam-ing Lips and Arcade Fire. Fusing post-punk grooves, Ade’s uniquely disquieting vocal and their surgical masks live visual motifs, they’re perhaps Liverpool’s most overlooked musical exponent in the last two decades. Their seventh studio album, Free Reign, was released in 2012, to mass critical acclaim.clinicvoot.org

Baltic Fleet

Barberos

By The Sea

Clinic

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You can listen to all the artists and vote for the People’s Choice award by visiting the Getintothis blog: www.getintothis.co.uk

Nadina CarinaHALF Italian, half Croatian, born in Switzerland yet based in Liverpool, songwriter Nadine Carina is a magical box of delights. Mixing guitar, MIDI keyboards, piano and an assortment of folkish voodoo, her music showcases a montage of found sounds, textured percussion and purring vocals which care-fully weave deep into your being. Her prolific output culmi-nated in 2012 EP Little Bits which garnered national blog buzz including from the BBC’s Tom Robinson.nadinecarina.webs.com

ConanJON DAVIES, Phil Coumbe and Paul O’Neil are Conan – Liver-pool’s most celebrated heavy outfit in decades. Combining interplanetary guitar thunder, roaring vocals and psychedelic imagery, Conan are one of UK rock’s most respected bands. Their 2012 album Monnos, out via Burning World Records, was championed by heavy metal bible Metal Hammer as the definitive stoner doom album ‘guaranteed to rattle your teeth right out of your gums’.hailconan.com

Dan CrollDESPITE his tender age, one man pop machine, Dan Croll, has been a key player on the Liverpool scene for several years. Emerging through LIPA’s ranks as a talented songwriter, Dan has collaborated with a raft of Merseyside musicians before embarking on his debut single From Nowhere which has garnered praise from 6Music, The Guardian and most recently scooping Amazing Radio’s Best British Male Solo Artist. He has just embarked on his debut tour of the United States.dancroll.com

John HeckleMERSEYSIDE DJ and producer John Heckle has been playing established club nights since he was 15. Having deejayed at Liverpool’s Bugged Out and Voodoo he then went on to tour Europe and sign a deal with pioneering dance label Mathematics Recordings. A string of releases, including his seminal debut album Sec-

ond Son, combined with his exceptional live shows, culminated with John collecting a 2012 Qwartz Electronic Music Award in Paris for his Life On Titan EP.johnheckle.com

JettaJETTA is the moniker of one of Liverpool’s most exciting ris-ing pop stars, Jetta John-Hartley. A former backing vocalist for Paloma Faith and Cee-Lo Green, this evocative young woman has invited comparisons to Solange and The xx. Her debut single Start A Riot released late last year, showcases her stunning vocal ability, and has already notched up nearly 100,000 plays on YouTube.startariot.co.uk

Tyler MensahFIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD Tyler Men-sah is the youngest GIT Award nominee to date. Blending outrageous vo-cal ability with a confidence beyond his years, Tyler has already accrued a mass following. With UK industry showcases under his belt, Tyler, who cites Frank Ocean, Michael Jackson and Usher as influences, has recently sup-ported ex-GIT Award nominee Esco Williams at Liverpool’s O2 Academy.tylermensahmusic.com

Stealing SheepTHE ONLY act to be shortlisted both years, Stealing Sheep are Rebecca Hawley, Emily Lansley and Lucy Mercer. Through a combined love of krautrock, 70s psych, gypsy jazz and electronica, the trio have hypnotized audiences across the land with their sepulchral lo-fi sonics and lyrical alchemy. Their 2012 debut album, Into The Diamond Sun, featured heav-ily in the national music press’ best albums lists, leading to national tours with Alt-J and The Postal Service.stealingsheep.co.uk

Wave MachinesTIMOTHY BRUZON, Carl Brown, Vidar Norheim and James Walsh are electronic pop collective Wave Machines. Formed in 2007, the quartet released their stunning genre-straddling debut Wave If You’re Really There in 2009. Having toured the globe, playing alongside the likes of The Flaming Lips, they returned in 2013 with second album, Pollen, once again showcasing their electro-pop nous.wavemachines.co.uk

Clinic

Conan

Dan Croll

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Nadina Carina

Jetta

Tyler Mensah

Stealing Sheep

Wave Machines


Food & drink

Gourmet Japanese JAPANESE restaurant, Sapporo Teppanyaki has launched a new Signature Menu which gives the famous teppanyaki treatment to a wide range of gourmet ingredients.From lobster to Waygu rib-eye steak (known

as Kobe beef in Japan) and turbot fillet with ginger and coriander, the new menu’s packed with high-end ingredients given a teppanyaki twist. Executive chef at the Duke Street restaurant, Ekamon Buasarn says: “This menu showcases the best possible ingredients that we’re proud to bring to customers who’re looking to enjoy something really special.”For further information visit www.sapporo.co.uk/restaurant-liverpool

Music on the menuSTREET food meets music at Camp and Furnace this month as the Greenland Street venue launches its new Friday night food concept – Food Slams. A new trend in dining, ‘food slams’ originate from East London, where hipster foodies meet in abandoned warehouses with street food trucks and DJ decks for a night of danc-ing and devouring into the early hours. Keen to bring the trend to Liverpool, Camp

and Furnace’s new Food Slam Fridays will launch on April 12. “Food slams are all about sharing, grazing and socialising – this is dining done differ-ently,” explains organiser, Ian Richards. “Food Slam Fridays are all about enjoying great quality street food and drink, set against a deafening club soundtrack.” Food Slam Fridays will see diners enjoy an array of street food, including home-made burgers, hot dogs and ‘Rollers’ – Camp and Furnace’s quirky new range of savoury doughnuts that bombard the senses with unconventional ingredients and flavour combinations, like pulled pork with pineap-ple sugar and a barbecue dip; or Lancashire cheese with apple sherbert.Visit www.campandfurnace.com

Italian-inspired mixologyIl FORNO has launched a brand new cocktail menu designed to showcase the best of Italy’s spirits, liqueurs and sparkling wines. The menu, which launched on March 28, features twists on classic cocktails, as well as bespoke cocktails, billed as ‘Il Forno Spe-ciales’, such as the Southern Nuts featuring Frangelico liqueur with Southern Comfort and Grey Goose Vodka. Paolo Cillo, head chef at the Duke Street restaurant, says: “Enjoying life is at the core of Italian culture and our new cocktail menu is another way for us to transport our guests to the wonderful country.”Visit www.ilforno.co.uk

A juicy ideaA BRAND new Juice Bar is to open in a city centre yoga centre this month. Due to open later this month, the Juice Bar, based in Bikram Yoga Liverpool on Great Crosshall Street, will offer raw fruit and veg-etable juices using only organic ingredients in combinations designed to energise, hydrate and nourish. Estelle Cartlidge, studio director at Bikram Yoga Liverpool, says: “I’m so excited to be sharing my passion for raw, organic food and drink and giving more people the opportu-nity to experience the benefits of juicing. The Juice Bar is the next step in our mission to create a centre for complete wellness at Bikram Yoga Liverpool.”The Juice Bar opens in April at the centre in

the Focus Building, Great Crosshall Street.Visit www.bikramyogaliverpool.com

Grab a pizza the actionA NEW takeaway which serves authentic Ital-ian dishes with an American twist has opened its doors on Newington Street. The latest venture from the Crolla family, who run The Italian Club and The Italian Club Fish restaurants on Bold Street, Club Pizza offers restaurant quality food to takeaway. Head chef and proprietor of the Italian Club Group, Maurizio Pellegrini says: “For us, it’s about offering something new to the city – we cook our pizzas in a wood-fired oven, which really makes a difference to the overall taste. “We also make our own bread and even our

own sausages, which are used in a variety of our dishes and also sold over the counter.” From freshly-made pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven to bolognese nachos, chilli dogs, burgers and oven-baked classics like lasagne, mac and cheese and a pulled pork sandwich made with succulent, slow roasted BBQ pork, the menu is packed with mouth-watering Ital-ian and American dishes. For more information call Club Pizza on 0151 708 6566.

Rollers – savoury

doughnuts from

Camp and Furnace

Sapporo Teppanyaki

Il FornoClub Pizza

A taste of the cityA taste of the cityFrom new restaurants to culinary events, menu launches and more, Katie McLoughlin dishes up the latest foodie news...

Estelle Cartlidge is launching The Juice Bar at Bikram Yoga

APRIL 13

25BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Classic confectionaryIT seems that us Scousers love a bit of tradi-tion, as old fashioned Rhubarb & Custard sweets have been named the city’s favourite sugary treat. Independent city sweet shop, Bold Street Sweets revealed the city’s top 10 sweets re-cently, with classic British treats like Rhubarb & Custard, Blue Raspberry Bonbons and Cola Cubes amongst the store’s biggest sellers. The city centre shop, which stocks over 600 varieties of confectionery, has sold more than 23 tonnes of sweets since opening in August 2012, including more than 48,000 sweet bags and 12,000 jars of Victorian variety jars. Mike McCann, from Bold Street Sweets, says: “The traditional sweet really has a strong hold in Liverpool – illustrated by the fact we’ve sold almost a tonne of Rhubarb & Custard sweets!” As well as traditional treats, Bold Street Sweets has also noticed a growing trend for American ‘candy’ which is specially imported every week. “American confectionery is massively popu-lar,” adds Mike. “We sell 1,500 cans of Vanilla Coca Cola and 1,200 packets of Peanut Butter M&Ms every week, so perhaps an American sweet will top the list next year!”

Odds on favouriteSEEL Street venue, Alma de Cuba has come up with a winning menu for the Grand Na-tional Winner’s Party, which the venue will host for the sixth time on Saturday, April 6. Created for the occasion by executive chef John Tamila, the menu features the likes of Asian spiced confit duck spring rolls to start; char-grilled 28-day aged Welsh ribeye steak or lightly spiced seabass fillet for mains, and decadent chocolate brownies with pistachio ice cream and Kirsch soaked cherries for dessert. As well as feasting on fabulous food, the party will see jockeys and racegoers alike celebrate the conclusion of the three-day race meeting with fabulous cocktails and live entertainment. The three course menu, including access to the bar, is £55 per person and booking is es-sential. Tickets for the bar are also available at £15 each. Visit www.alma-de-cuba.com

Taste sensationTHE London Carriage Works has been awarded the Taste Northwest Taste Accredi-tation Award. Achieving the Highest Quality Assured Award, with an impressive score of over 80%, the chic restaurant was recognised for the high standard of its dining experience. It will now join the growing number of suc-cessfully accredited dining venues in the North West as listed on www.tastenw.co.uk. The restaurant has also picked up a Taste Northwest ‘Loves Local’ gong, which is awarded to establishments committed to producing quality food and drink with genuine local provenance supporting the North West’ local growers and producers.

Learn from a MasterChefNEW research shows time-strapped home cooks are more likely to cook a quick meal from scratch than pop a ready meal in the microwave, so it’s cracking news that Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon has launched a new recipe collection of egg-based main meals in minutes. Celebrity MasterChef winner Liz has joined forces with the former head chef of Clar-idge’s, Mark Sargeant, to create a series of 10 meals – all which take 15 minutes or less – comprising delicious omelettes, tortillas and frittatas with a twist. The speedy dishes will feature on a new website – eggrecipes.co.uk/mainmealsinminutes –

alongside a series of step-by-step videos presented by Liz and Mark where they share their best omelette-making tips and show just how easy it is to rustle up meals in minutes. Liz has created a family-friendly Pizza Omelette and a carb-free ‘Forget the Pastry’ quiche. She says: “I’m always rushing about at dinner time, so I wanted to create the kind of fuss-free recipes that are easy to rustle up for family or friends. “Even better, eggs are just the right ingredi-ent to keep you in shape and are so quick and easy to cook with. Anyone can cook my recipes; they are so simple and show that fast food doesn’t have to be unhealthy!”

Marco in minutesIN a hurry? Then Marco Pierre White Bar & Grill’s Express Lunch Menu could be the answer to your gastronomical prayers! We’re all busy these days and as a result it’s hard to find time to eat. Now Marco Pierre White Bar & Grill has the perfect tonic with the launch of it’s brand new Express Lunch Menu. The popular restaurant, located in the heart of Liverpool’s Commercial District inside Hotel Indigo on Chapel Street, has created a menu of simple, yet totally delicious dishes tailor-made for the busiest of folk, from the high-flying businessperson to the serial shopper-on-the-go. Couple the ultra-modern and relaxed interi-ors of Hotel Indigo, with a menu of delights courtesy of internationally-famed chef, Marco, not to mention the restaurant’s ef-ficient waiter service, of which it has become renowned for, and you’ve gone the perfect express lunch. Time may be of the essence but that shouldn’t mean you have to compromise on quality. With Marco’s Express Lunch Menu, you can

feast on the finest cuisine using the freshest of ingredients, and still have time to meet all those deadlines! Call 0151 559 0555 for more information.

NoLIta CantinaCARNIVORES will love a new American-style bistro which has recently opened up and has such meaty delights as slow cooked succulent pulled pork and tender beef brisket on the menu. NoLIta Cantina, on Bold Street, was recently opened by Grace Makin and Jen Roberts and offers a refined take on deli-style sandwiches and Southern cuisine, plus almost everything is made and prepared in the kitchen. Sure to get your mouth-watering for lunch are the deli sandwiches including pulled pork with Monterey Jack cheese or beef rump pastrami with Swiss cheese. Or maybe you fancy something more substantial such as glazed belly pork ribs or a shoulder of pork slow cooked with potato latkes? What’s not to like? There’s a whole variety of smokehouse burg-ers too, made from good quality cuts of meat. NoLIta Cantina has lots of little American sides and starters like frickles (deep fried pickles), buffalo wings, and hush puppies (small savoury doughnuts made from beer and cheese). NoLIta Cantina is currently open from Tues-day to Sunday from noon to 11.30pm, but has plans to serve American-style breakfast in the future. Visit www.nolitacantina.comAlma de Cuba

The London Carriage Works

NoLIta Cantina

Bold Street Sweets

Liz McClarnon’s pizza omelette

Francos Restaurant is situated at 48a Castle Street in the heart of Liverpool. Open daily for lunch and dinner - until 11pm on Saturdays

Express LunchMenu

Special Reduced Priced LunchOptions - Mon-Fri Only

FrancosTHE BEST IN ITALIAN FOOD

0151 236 [email protected]

www.francosliverpool.com

A True ItalianExperience Evening

MenuSpecial Menuavailable

every evening£19.95 incHalf Bottle ofHouse Wineper couple

Early DoorsMenu

Tuesday-Friday5.30pm - 7pm only


Food and drink

DOCKSIDE FAVOURITE MAKES THE GRADEMichelle Rushton meets an old friend and her scholarly niece at What’s Cooking?

WHEN arranging a lunch date with my old friend Angie, she informed me that she would be bringing her student niece, Anna, with her. Asking various friends for student-friendly recommendations, the name What’s Cooking? kept cropping up so there we headed. The award-winning venue which has been open for an impressive 34 years occupies a scenic position overlooking the Albert Dock with stunning views of the Three Graces and is certainly very cool inside, like a retro American diner with red leather booths and bright funky prints of Liverpool. On a nice day, you can sit outside to dine on the open terrace but it was a tad chilly for that so we slid into a dining booth inside and perused the menu. What’s Cooking? offers a great mix of American, Mexican, Italian and British dishes from burgers and pasta, to steaks and pizzas – ideal student fodder. Plus there’s a selection of platters which

are great for sharing with friends. Not overly hungry, we decided to share the Tempura King Prawns with sweet chilli sauce and fresh lime and potato skins to start. The prawns were succulent and moreish while the potato skins were really tasty. I was going to opt for a juicy steak for my main, but when Anna announced that she was studying to become a vet and had

become a pescetarian (a person who eats fish but no meat) after learning about the different methods of slaughtering cows (I’ll spare you the gory details), I decided it might be a tad insensitive. But I still had to have my meat fix, so I opted for ribs which came with a delicious hickory BBQ sauce which I unashamedly licked off my fingers. It was too good for table manners! Meanwhile, Angie opted for the Billy Boy goat’s cheese burger with sundried tomatoes, roasted red pepper, rocket leaf and mayonnaise and Anna chose

the Billy Boy goat’s cheese pizza which looked and tasted fantastic. Both gave their Billy Boy dishes the thumbs up. Quite stuffed but determined to squeeze in a pudding, we decided to share a Chimichanga – caramelised bananas and Belgian chocolate pieces wrapped in a flour tortilla, grilled and served with vanilla bean ice cream and freshly whipped cinnamon topped cream – pure heaven – we were fighting over the forks! My lunch guests and I were very impressed with What’s Cooking? which is a great family friendly restaurant that

is bright and friendly and serves good portions at great value for money. Plus the booths have wi-fi access and Game Boys for the kids to play with, which was a “cool touch” according to Anna! As well as great food, we had a really good catch up in What’s Cooking? and I received plenty of Brownie points for picking such a good venue!

What’s Cooking? 24 Britannia Pavilion, Albert Dock, Liverpool, telephone 0151 707 2023, visit www.whats-cooking.co.uk

27BEST OF LIVERPOOL

APRIL 13

CONTEMPORARY cuisine in a mellow setting, all delivered with a hint of the Portuguese sun. That’s the vibe I got from Fonseca’s during a recent visit to this Stanley Street eatery. You might know the business and location better as Delifonseca, but it changed its name after the opening of its big sister on Brunswick Dock. The deli is downstairs, stocked chock full of fine wines, imported cheeses, deli meats and other items not normally found in your average Tesco. Above the deli is the restaurant. Set out in an intimate arrangement with cushioned booths lining the left hand wall and an array of tables organised across the main sweep of the upper floor, the atmosphere grows more vibrant as the seats are gradually filled over the course of an evening. My vantage point was a good one, both for people watching and to assay the legendary blackboard. It’s probably the stand out feature of the Fonseca’s dining experience. While there is a short menu of regular starters and snacks, the real magic happens up on the great blackboard which takes up most of the right hand wall and smiles down beneficently upon hungry patrons, offering deliciously worded morsels for the imagination. The specials’ board is the menu that matters and it changes almost daily. What’s more, there’s a completely different daily blackboard menu over at the Dockside Delifonseca. Not bad, eh? A good way to describe this salivatory selection would be eclectic. An example of the sort of fascinating sounding dish on the menu was Russian imperial stout braised ox cheek with creamy mash, roast marrowbone and Portobello mushrooms. Tempted? Our waiter, Angus, tells us that the 10oz burgers are also quite a draw. He explains that the restaurant and deli are named after the owner, Candice Fonseca. As the family have Portuguese origins, Angus encouraged her to add some touches of home to the

menu, most notably on the wine list and in the welcome port and Stilton option after your meal. I was joined by my dad this evening and he started with the roast root vegetable soup, apparently with a pleasing spicy kick and good flavour. I opted for the chilli, garlic and ginger king prawns with samphire and toasted bread. The chilli gave the prawns a nice ‘oomph’ and the salty samphire was a fine enhancement to the dish. For the main, dad surprised me by choosing a Thai venison curry with basmati rice. He enjoyed it and thought the curry flavour was well balanced. I tried it and have to agree that the sauce didn’t overpower the flavour of the tender venison. I had the pan roast Gressingham duck breast with poached saffron pear, raddichio and sweet potato mash, with a cherry and cranberry gravy. The duck was cut into oblongs with the skin intact. It looked nicely cooked but I found the meat unfortunately chewy. The dish offered an interesting blend of sweet and peppery flavours, but I felt there was a bit too much

happening on the plate. We allied the food with an easy drinking Portada red wine, from Portugal of course. Fruity and well balanced, it went well with all the food. Dessert brought with it the simple indulgence of a gooily smothered chocolate brownie with strawberry ice cream. It would have been impossible not to enjoy it. Dad, not a dessert fan, just asked if they had plain vanilla ice cream and the staff were happy to oblige. I have to say, Fonseca’s is a great place to spend the evening. The staff are friendly and chatty, the service is speedy and the food is good. Mains are priced around £15 which isn’t bad for the sort of cuisine offered, choices you’ll be hard pushed to find elsewhere in the city. Our bill came in under £64, including wine, so you’re in £30+ per person territory. While I found the food a little hit and miss, I was won over by the mood and service and would certainly visit again. I’m also looking forward to comparing the food here with the larger Dockside Delifonseca. And one of the best things about eating here is that you can pop into the deli afterwards and treat yourself to a bottle or some nice choccies to take home. Unlike with most restaurants, at Fonseca’s your dining experience doesn’t have to end once the bill’s been paid.

You’ll find Fonseca’s on Stanley Street, Liverpool city centre. Call 0151 255 0808 to make a reservation or visit www.delifonseca.co.uk

Paul Baker visits Fonseca’s, a city restaurant-cum-deli in one

Deli-cious!

WIRRAL is well known for many things but did you know that the region is renowned for its watercress? Available from the beginning of March right through until December, Wirral watercress graces the plates of some of the finest, Michelin-starred restaurants in the north west, and watercress supplied by the eponymous Wirral Watercress, has received praise from chefs such as Anthony Worrall-Thompson and Ainsley Harriott.

With a distinctive warm, peppery flavour, watercress is classed as a superfood and is packed with iron and zinc. It is believed to clean the blood and detox the liver and recent research has suggested that it can prevent the precursors of leukaemia and other cancers. So what are you waiting for? With watercress available in abundance right here, right now, why not try one of these delicious dishes?


Sue Kelbrick makes a culinary discovery and finds a green superhero right on our doorstep...

Wonderful watercress

STUFFED SADDLE OF RABBIT WITH SALT-BAKED PARSNIP AND WATERCRESS PANNA COTTA

Food & drink

WATERCRESS SOUP

FROM the Sir Thomas Street Hotel.

Ingredients:l 20g unsalted butterl 100g white onion, finely choppedl 1 garlic clove, finely choppedl 300g watercressl Sea salt and freshly ground black pepperl 500ml boiling waterl 500ml vegetable stockl 100ml creme fraiche

Method:l Wash the watercress and plunge into boiling water to simmer for about 5 minutes. l Meanwhile melt the butter in a frying pan and add the chopped onion and garlic, and gently fry until golden brown. l Drain the watercress, add 500ml of vegetable stock, and blend with the onion and garlic. l Gently heat through and then stir in the creme fraiche before serving.

HERE, David Gillmore, executive chef at the three time AA rosette-winning, The Lawns restaurant at Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa, shares his favourite, seasonal locally sourced dish. David believes in using as many local suppliers as possible, both to help stimulate the local economy and cut down on the hotel’s carbon footprint.

Ingredients: Rabbit saddlel 1 boned rabbit saddle l 2 rabbit legs l 2 slices of good quality Parma ham l Good pinch of salt l Spinach leaves l Tarragon Chicken mousse l 250g chicken breastl 250g whipping cream

Method:l Place the chicken breast into a blender and add the cream slowly. l Keep the chicken at a cool temperature to prevent splitting and blend until combined and season to taste. This makes 500g of chicken mousse. l Lay some cling film flat on a kitchen top and two slices of Parma ham. Put the boned rabbit saddle on top flat.l Place the spinach across the two loins so they are overlapping slightly. Add chopped tarragon to the chicken mousse and spoon on top of the spinach, so it sits in the middle of both loins.l Carefully roll into a sausage shape and continuously roll until tight and tie a knot at both ends. l If you have a steamer set it to 60 degrees Celsius and cook for 1 hour, or bring a pan of water to 60 degrees using a thermometer and cook for 1 hour. l When cooked place into ice water until cold and serve.

Salt-baked baby parsnipl 1kg plain flourl 500g Maldon sea salt l 500ml cold waterl 1 parsnip, peeled

Method:l To make the pastry, mix the flour, salt and water together until combined, wrap in cling film and put in fridge for 30 minutes. l For the parsnip, roll the pastry so it is about half a cm thick and wrap around the parsnip and bake in oven at 180 degrees for approximately 10 minutes or until soft. l Peel the pastry away from the parsnip and leave to cool.

Watercress pureel 500g of Wirral watercressl 2 litres of boiling waterl Good pinch of salt

Method:l Wash the watercress and place in the boiling water. Boil for approximately 5 minutes or until the watercress breaks down when you rub it between your fingers.l Strain the watercress through a sieve and place into ice water to refresh, then drain off and squeeze out the excess water. l Put the watercress into a blender and blend until smooth. You may need to add some water to help the machine blend. Pass through a sieve and place in the fridge.

Watercress panna cottal 125g milk l 150g of watercress puree (as above)l 2 leaves of gelatine l 125g semi whipped cream

Method:l Soak the two leaves of gelatine in cold water until soft. Place 100g of the milk and the watercress puree into a blender and blend together.l Heat the remaining milk until it boils and add the gelatine and mix. Add this mix to the blender with the milk and watercress puree in and blend together.l Whisk the 125g of cream until it starts to thicken (this is known as the ‘ribbon’ stage) and place the watercress mix from the blender into a bowl. Slowly fold the cream into the watercress mix until combined, line a mould with cling film and pour the mix into the mould, about 2cm deep. l Place into fridge and leave for 1 hour or until set.

29BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Homes APRIL 13

Sarah Hooley discovers how to give your home a cool, coastal vibe...

BUOY OH BUOY!

Gamago napkin boats, £9.95, from www.cubicuk.com

SAILOR stripes are usually a favourite when it comes to spring summer fashion, but this year ‘shanty chic’ is set to make waves in our homes. A cool, crisp and clean trend, it’s all about creating a subtle seaside look. On walls, opt for a neutral shade like pale grey, oatmeal or blue, and compliment with coastal-inspired accessories. Think rope doorstops, red and white stripe laundry bags, shell lamps, or whitewashed furniture, as well as striped jugs and cushions with anchor emblems. The shops are awash with a gorgeous selection of furnishings, just be careful not to go overboard (pun intended). So if you fancy sailing your way to a stylish home here are our picks...

Natural rope knot weighted doorstop, £14.99, from www.tch.net

Marine blue cushion each filled with 200g of the finest Provencal dried Lavender, £24.95 each, from Celia Lindsell Ltd

Fish & Chips silk cushion, £52, from www.hunkydoryhome.co.uk

Fish Hurricane Lanterns, £32.95, from Nordic House Ltd

Sea urchin table lamp, £285, from www.gong.co.uk

Natural & white striped pitcher, £62, from Nordic House

Coastal notice board with sea gull, £25, from The Nautical Company

Brodsworth stylish porthole mirror, £95, from The Chandelier & Mirror Company Ltd

Gisela Graham wooden lighthouse with hanging fish, £19.99, from MOLLIE & FRED

Coastal Waters large classic candle, £19.99, from Yankee Candle

Paulie blue & white stripe storage cube trunk, £350, from Alexander & Pearl

Wooden boat bookends, £18, from www.whositfor.co.uk

Left, oyster plaque, £5, from House of Fraser

I MUST admit that prior to my recent trip to Lancashire, my only knowledge of this beautiful county involved Eccles cakes and people saying “ee by gum” a lot. But checking in at the Park House

Boutique B&B in Gisburn, Lancashire, there wasn’t an Eccles cake in sight, and not once did the owners utter the Lancashire catchphrase either. My preconceptions (or should that be misconceptions?) were about to be shattered. The Park House is a stunning Georgian property, and with views overlooking an 11th century Norman church, it has a real picture postcard beauty. But it was too cold to stand around

admiring the view, so we scuttled inside and were greeted by owners, Howard and Mary, who were delightful, friendly and welcoming without being intrusive. They were, to coin a phrase, the perfect hosts. After being shown to our sumptuous room, we were offered a pot of tea in the lounge in front of a lovely roaring fire which really helped to warm us up. We couldn’t relax too much though as we were soon to be eating at the B&B’s sister restaurant, La Locanda, just a few minutes’ walk down the road. We’d heard great reports about this little

Italian restaurant so were very excited about our forthcoming feast. As we walked into La Locanda, we were greeted warmly by our Italian hosts. We enjoyed a glass of Prosecco while we perused the menu and took in the delightful ambience of this small but perfectly formed, cottagey-style restaurant.

The menu presented some tantalising dishes and we really were spoilt for choice. After much procrastination, we decided to opt for an Italian platter to share, which included some traditional Italian meats, fresh baked Tuscan bread and a selection of tasty olives. For my main course, I had the fish of the day, which was sea bass, and even though it was cooked in a really simple style, it was seasoned to perfection and the addition of lemon gave it a real zesty flavour. My other half chose the ‘trio d’agnello’ which, to the uninitiated, means trio of lamb, and was three different cuts of organic lamb from local Gazegill Farm. The meat melted in the mouth it was so

tender. The beauty of my fish dish being so light was that I actually had room for dessert,

so while my boyfriend chose a hearty apple pie with home-made ice cream (having room for dessert never being a problem for him), I had the panna cotta with a raspberry coulis. It was truly delicious and our scrupulously clean plates were testament to our enjoyment of the food. The atmosphere was so relaxed and laid-back that once we’d finished eating, we retired to a comfortable sofa in the bar area and enjoyed a lovely cup of coffee, treating ourselves to a warming glass of Amaretto as well, before we plunged back out into the cold to walk the few minutes back to the B&B. After a wonderful night’s sleep in one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in, we went downstairs for breakfast and enjoyed yet another culinary triumph. Using a fantastic selection of locally

sourced ingredients, the full English breakfast was simply divine. After breakfast, we headed out to explore. Our hosts, Mary and Howard, were really helpful making lots of

suggestions for what we could do for a few hours before we had to return home. These included visiting Clitheroe

Castle, Skipton Castle or Bolton Abbey, exploring the Forest of Bowland or trying some adventure activities in Gisburn Forest, or indulging in some retail therapy at Boundary Mill, Whalley or Clitheroe. So many choices, so little time... In the end we drove the short

distance to Clitheroe and we weren’t disappointed. The market was on so the town was bustling with life and there were some delightful shops to look at as well, making it an ideal place to stop off and visit for a few hours. We were told to check out the wine shop, D Byrne and Co, as well as Cowmans, Clitheroe’s renowned sausage shop. We also stopped off at the town’s coffee

shop, Exchange Coffee Company, where you can watch your coffee being roasted in the shop on the ground floor and then head upstairs for a coffee and a bite to eat. Feeling thoroughly chilled out and most definitely a few pounds heavier, we headed home and immediately started planning our next trip... The Park House Boutique B&B, Church View, Gisburn, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 4HG Telephone: 01200 445269 www.parkhousegisburn.co.ukEmail: [email protected] can stay for bed and breakfast at The Park House Monday to Friday and enjoy a meal at La Locanda (drinks not included) for a special price of £95.

APRIL 13

BEST OF LIVERPOOL30

Travel

This is thePark life

Sue Kelbrick finds a hidden gem in the heart of Lancashire

BEST OF LIVERPOOL 31

The Comedy Theatre Company in associationwith Quirky Media Stuff

with thanks to FremantleMedia presents

Series created by Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran Written by Gary Lawson & John Phelps & Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran

“VERY FUNNY” THE TELEGRAPH

7-11 MAY LIVERPOOL EMPIRE0844-8713017 www.atgtickets.com

The CACI Ultimate provides the latest non-surgical facial and bodytreatments with microcurrent, facial toning, microdermabrasion,and LED light therapy. The House Beauty Spa is the only spa inLiverpool to have the CACI Ultimate Machine.

A typical treatment targets fine lines and wrinkles, facial toning,sun damage, dehydration, stretchmarks and is effective as an acneor blemish treatment.

The wrinkle comb applicator combines red and blue light therapyto plump out and soften deep lines and wrinkles providing analternative to injections and fillers.

Our fully trained team of beauty practitioners offer acomprehensive range of non-surgical treatments for maleand female clients. Call us today to book an appointmentor for more information.

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