NO FAKIN’

HIGH!

O F L I V E R P O O LJUNE ISSUE 2012

MEN’S FASHION//SUMMER BEAUTY//RESTAURANT REVIEWS//WHAT’S ONHOMEGROWN TALENT//TRAVEL REVIEWS//LIVERPOOL INTERNATIONAL TENNIS

WINA SUMPTUOUS

FATHER’S DAY

FEAST

Let the grass be greener on your side

Be a winner with our Olympic-inspired fashionKite Festival takes

off in Wirral

SPORTS LUXE

GORGEOUS GARDENS

FLYING

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

GOING FOR GOLDOlympic medal winner Steve Parry on his work with The Prince’s Trust and his hopes for Britain

GOING FOR GOLD

SPORTS LUXE

FLYING HIGH!

GORGEOUS GARDENS From Huyton to hip hop

NO FAKIN’

02 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

WELL what a month it’s been! Thanks for all your kind messages about the award that we won last month. They’ve had to widen the doorways at Best of Liverpool Towers to accommodate our swollen heads! We’ve enjoyed a jubilant weekend helping to celebrate the Queen’s 60 years on the throne and are getting decidedly excited about the forthcoming Olympics. This month, we’ve come over all sporty with a bumper fitness section. We inter-view our cover guy, former British swim-mer and sports commentator, Steve Parry, on his work with The Prince’s Trust. Our tennis fanatic Richard was in his ele-ment interviewing one of his heroes, local tennis ace, Barry Cowan. And he was dev-astated when a wrist injury stopped his game. Found out who gave him a helping hand to recover on page 13. Even fashion’s picked up on the Olympic fever – see Claire’s sport-inspired trends on pages 6 and 7 and Sarah’s guide to what the menfolk should be sporting this season on page 8. Jubilees and Olympics aside, there’s so much going on in the city this month from the Africa Oye Festival to the Wirral Kite Festival. And don’t forget Father’s Day on June 17. Katie has found the best places to take your dad for some well deserved food and drink – see pages 24-25.

There’s nothing dads like more than a good barbie! See our BBQ recipes for him to get his teeth into on page 23. Now the weather is hotting up, it’s time to get the garden in order. We come over all green-fingered on pages 26-27 with some great advice on how to spruce up your outdoor space. And it’s time to give your make-up bag an overhaul. Read my guide to summer beauty must-haves on page 10. Meanwhile, in the interests of male grooming, our resident smoothie Paul, ditches the face furniture by trying the ancient art of threading on page 11. Plus, he finds time to follow his beloved football team and swan off to sunny Swan-sea (page 30), while take my family on a voyage to the Lakes (see pages 28-29). There’s certainly no shortage of talent in this city and check out our interviews with director Lia Williams, soul legend Garry Christian and Huyton hip hop DJs No Fakin’ on pages 16-18. Phew! It must be Pimms o’clock after all this hard work! Happy summer!

03BEST OF LIVERPOOL

JUNE 12Contents

Welcome...

O F L I V E R P O O L

BESTGET IN TOUCH

NEWS04-05 TALK OF TOWNCity news and gossip

FASHION06-07 SHOPPING FOR HERGet on track with sports luxe08 SHOPPING FOR HIMCool casuals for summer

HEALTH & BEAUTY10 SUMMER BEAUTYShine with our summer essentials11 SALON SPOTLIGHTA close shave for Paul

FITNESS12 SPORTS PHYSIORich gets a helping hand13 TENNISCatching up with tennis ace Barry Cowan 14 SWIMMINGSteve Parry makes a splash

ENTERTAINMENT16-17 HOMEGROWN TALENTDirector Lia Williams and soul singer Garry Christian18 HUYTON HIP HOPDJs No Fakin’19 BY DAY, BY NIGHTHot dates for your diary

CHILDREN20 GO FLY A KITEWhere to send it soaring21 EATING OUTChild-friendly cuisine

FOOD & DRINK22 RESTAURANT REVIEWHot stuff at Las Iguanas 23 EATING AL FRESCOGet the barbie started

HOMES26-27 OUTDOOR OASISSpruce up your outside space

TRAVEL28-29 LAKE BREAKConiston floats our boat30 WELSH WEEKENDWe swan off to Swansea

STORIES 0151 330 5035EMAIL magazine@liverpool.comADVERTISING 0151 330 5039

WEBSITE www.bestofliverpool.comFOLLOW US twitter@BestofLpool

WINNERS: COLDSET COLOUR SUPPLEMENT OF THE YEAR! 06

20

2822

26

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, Katie McLoughlin,

Richard Lackey and Claire Lewis

PHOTOGRAPHY Trinity Mirror photographers

FRONT COVER: Courtesy of Press Association

DESIGNERZoe Bevan

SUB-EDITORVicky Andrews

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.

FATHER’S DAY24-25 DADDY DEARESTWhere to dine with dad

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04 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Talk of town

BEST OF BRITISHTHIS PATRIOTIC floor cushion from BoConcept. The urban designer furniture brand is celebrating all things British to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics with a range of fantastic red, white and blue products from door-mats to cushions and candlesticks to chairs. This cushion is priced £119. For more British-themed home-wares visit the store at Home Quarter, Liverpool One, L1 3DN – telephone 0151 232 2301.www.boconcept.co.uk

PERSONAL SERVICESHOP assistants who go that extra mile, such as the team at Boudoir Boutique. But we’re not the only ones who think that. Insight With Passion sent a mystery shopper to the Cavern Walks’ store who was apparently “enchanted” by the Boudoir Boutique team who gave her a warm welcome and made her shopping experience a magical one. Boudoir Boutique, which prides itself on stepping outside of the fashion box and providing a luxury edge, has deservedly been awarded a Customer At Heart award.Visit www.boudoir-boutique.com

ARM CANDYTHIS LOVELY range of jewellery by Luma. The local full-time mum started making jewel-lery as a hobby and had people stopping her in the street asking where she got her accessories from so she has launched her own range which has become so popular even Coleen Nolan has been spotted wearing her designs on Loose Women! Her jewellery is made from sterling silver and ranges in price from £20 - £120. She has a male, female and children’s range! Her arm candy is definitely something that is going to be big this summer. Follow her on twitter @lumalou2011

PINK AND POWERFULYOUNG people from North Liverpool Acad-emy raised £1255.60 for Breast Cancer Care at an event called Pink and Powerful last month. The event, which took place at North Liverpool Acad-emy, celebrated the achievements of young entrepreneurs from across Merseyside with an evening of girly fun, glitz and glamour! Radio City’s Clare

Simonsen compered the event that wowed guests with a catwalk show and perfor-mances from Chloe Mclaughlan, Green Street Dance and North Liverpool Acad-emy’s chamber choir and dance group. Local Entrepreneurs such as Pearlesque, Plum Sugar and The Brink Cafe supported the event by showcas-ing their businesses with interactive market style stalls and pro-moting the work of Breast Cancer Care.

Katie McLoughlin and Michelle Rushton bring you the latest city gossip

LIVERPOOLILLUMINATED

LIVERPOOL’S nocturnal celebra-tion LightNight was a resounding success, with thousands of switched on cultural night owls out and about enjoying the city’s annual arts and culture festival. Over 70 free events took place at over 50 venues, making it the largest of the UK wide Museums at Night. Christina Grogan of Open Culture, Producers of LightNight said: “We’re ecstatic to see thousands of people out enjoying LightNight, there was a real buzz in the streets and venues,

I saw a lot of happy smiling faces!” LightNight highlights included Rolf Harris wowing crowds at the Walker Art Gallery as he painted live, the uplifting ceildhs at the Anglican Cathedral and St Georges Hall, the atmospheric kaleidoscopic projec-tions by Andy McKeown and ever popular Candle Lit Labyrinth at the Metropolitan Cathedral, Polly Morgan sparking curiosity during her live taxidermy demonstration at the Victoria Gallery and Museum, the theatre extravaganza at the Liverpool Town hall. Be sure not to miss LightNight 2013 in Liverpool by signing up to the mailing list on the websitewww.lightnightliverpool.co.uk

ANDaboutOut

HOLLYOAKS HEN NIGHT

HOLLYOAKS actress Gemma Merna, 27, spent her last girls night out as a single lady partying overlooking Liverpool’s historic waterfront. The actress, who plays Carmel Valentine in the soap, looked stunning in a silhouette enhancing dress and sky-scraper Christian Louboutin black shoes and a black clutch. Gemma is set to marry her long-term part-ner Ian Minton later this month, she has been engaged to her businessman boyfriend for three years and cast mates are set to become her bridesmaids. The hens, including Jennifer Metcalfe, Jorgie Porter, Stephenie Davis and Leah Hackett, were also joined by former cast member Sheree Murphy for the celebration. They started their evening with dinner at GUSTO at the Albert Dock, then partied at Liv-erpool’s hottest celebrity nightclub, PlayGround at the Hilton, in the club’s VIP PlayRoom.

TEXAS TWEETHOLLYOAKS babe, Bianca Hen-drickse-Spendlove, who plays Texas Longford in the soap celebrated her 21st birthday at Gusto, Albert Dock recently. Fellow cast members and crew ensured that, despite the busy Hollyoaks schedule, her birthday celebrations did not go unmarked as they enjoyed a birthday meal at the dockside favourite along with three birthday cakes – and Bianca certainly enjoyed the occasion as she tweeted at the end of the evening “Best 21st ever! With all my gang from @Hol-lyoaks and @GUSTO_Liverpool Amazing night.”

GLOVE GIFT

TONY ‘The Bomber’ Bellow popped in to see the Ludus general manager Lee Ayers and owner Luke Russell with some signed gloves after they sponsored him in his recent demolition of Danny McIntosh at the ECHO Arena. This shows he is not only a great guy but also so focused and devoted to his sport. Expect even bigger things from The Bomb-er in the future.

We’re loving...

RUBGY RECORD BREAKERS

MERSEYSIDE fundraisers entered the world record books after staging the longest-ever touch-rugby match. 14 players on each team battled pain and fatigue to play for 30 hours non-stop atWaterloo RUFC, in Blundellsands. The aim was to keep six players on the pitch for each side at all times, playing rugby no matter how tired. Players – some of whom had never played the sport before – were restricted tobreaks of just 20 minutes roughly every four hours. More than £15,000 was raised for a host of local charities, including Macmillan andLiverpool Heartbeat, and rugby charity Wooden Spoon.

05BEST OF LIVERPOOL

JUNE 12

BLOOMIN GREAT TEA PARTY

HAIR stylists at Williams and Coburn Hair Company will be creating buns, but not of the hair variety,

when they host a blooming great tea party. The hairdressers in Aig-burth is holding a 1940s-style tea party on Friday, July 13 to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. As well as enjoying fresh tea and yummy cakes, you will be thoroughly spoilt with a complementary blow dry and nail file and polish, in return for a donation to the charity. The team will also be hold-ing a raffle to win a Shu Uemura goodie hamper! The event takes place between 9.30am and 12pm. For more information or to book an appointment call the salon on 0151 427 6333.

JEWELS FIT FOR A QUEEN ST JOHNS Shopping Centre recently displayed a new set of crown jewels to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, designed by children from across Liverpool. Schools across Merseyside were invited to take part in the competition to design a brand new crown to celebrate

the Queen’s 60 years on the throne. Bosses were impressed with the range of crowns which even include sweets as jewels. The crown judged to be fit for her Royal Highness was designed by pupils from Year Four at St Vincent de Paul primary school who scooped a prize of £500 towards school funds.

ROYAL VISIT

HER Majesty The Queen and His Roy-al Highness The Duke of Edinburgh boarded the Yellow Duckmarine at Liverpool’s Albert Dock in May as part of her Diamond Jubilee Tour to mark 60 years since the Coronation. The Royal couple boarded the amphibious Yellow Duckmarine at Salthouse Dock for Splashdown and enjoyed a short tour on the water around Salthouse and Albert Docks before heading to the Maritime Mu-seum for lunch.

COCKTAIL CHALLENGETHE Red Door in West Kirby recently hosted a cocktail master class with a difference. The bar team, led by Lee Lynch, collected a basket of fruit from local greengrocers Colin Lunt and the invited guests separated the items into three bags. Unaware of what they had in each bag, their task was to turn the fresh fruit into sumptuous cocktails for the ladies. The guests enjoyed a selection of cocktails and platters of Red Door tapitizers. The team worked hard to create some amazing cock-tails and the end result, which seemed fair, was a ‘Ready Steady Tie.’

DANNY’S DREAM GOALA LIVERPOOL man will play for England this week in the IBSA European Football Championships for partially sighted players. Danny Gauden, from Garston has taken time out from his interior design job at BoConcept to travel to Turkey and fulfil his dream of playing football for his country, in spite of being classed as partially sighted. The 23-year-old was diagnosed with Kerataconus, a degener-ative eye disorder that blurs the vision, at the age of 18 whilst studying Interior Design at Liverpool John Moores University. Despite having difficulty with his vision, Danny decided to continue with his chosen career path and is now a design con-sultant for international urban furniture company BoConcept, which has a store in Liverpool’s Home Quarter. Outside of work, Danny loves to play football and has played for Everton VI (visually impaired) football team for two years, which has now led to him being invited to play for England at the European championships, which will be held in Kayseri, Turkey. Speaking of the tournament, Danny said: “We are ranked fourth in the world at the moment, which is great considering we only get to train as the England team around four or five times a year.”

FANCY FOOTWORK

ST George’s Hall was the setting for some very fancy footwork on Friday, May 18 as schools and dance groups from throughout Merseyside took part in the Big Dance Schools Pledge Record Attempt. The St George’s Hall event was one of many taking place around the country and indeed the world

as organisers sought to get 250,000 people dancing to the same choreography across the world, at the same time, to try and break the Guinness world record for people dancing at the same time in multi venues. Organisers of the event are cur-rently collating evidence to submit to Guinness to verify whether they were successful in their attempt to break the world record.

A ROYLE AFFAIRIT was a right ‘Royle’ affair for the Boo-dles Jubilee party at the showroom in North John Street last week, which was stylishly decked in patriotic bunting. Guests were treated to Champagne and a traditional three course dinner pre-pared by Paul Askew from the London Carriageworks, complemented with fine wines.

There was a stunning operatic perfor-mance from the Johnson Brothers, who sang the national anthem and Adele’s ‘Someone like you’ and a guest appear-ance from Ricky Tomlinson as his alter-ego Jim Royle. Guests certainly enjoyed celebrating the Queen’s jubilee surrounded by some of the worlds most stunning diamond jewellery.

A FAMILY PORTRAIT

BEST of Liverpool is teaming up with Julie Lowe Photography to

offer one reader the chance to win a family portrait! The fantastic prize includes a photo shoot for the kids or a family of up to five people, as well as 15 images of your choice to take home on CD. A bright and modern studio, Julie Lowe Photography is based in the Baltic Triangle and specialises in children’s portraits. The fun sessions are designed to bring out the best in your little ones, and capture memories that you can cherish forever. The studio is open on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and the prize must be taken between

July 1 and October 1 2012. As well as children and families, Julie also creates beautiful portfolios for aspiring mod-els and promotional photography for actors/entertainers. For more information visit www.julielowephotography.co.uk.

To be in with a chance of winning this prize, answer the following question:Q. Where is Julie Lowe Photoraphy based?

Send your answer, full name, daytime phone number and address to: Photography Compe-tition, Best of Liverpool, PO BOX 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB. Maximum one entry per person. Closing date: June 28.

WIN

CITY THEATRE RE-OPENED THE cream of the Liverpool Arts and Media world gathered together recently to toast the re-open-ing of one of city’s long lost jewels. The Epstein Theatre (formerly The Neptune) is re-named after Liverpool’s most successful music entrepreneurs and Beatles Manager, Brian Epstein and has recently undergone a £1.2m refurbish-ment of the foyer, bar and 380 seater auditorium. Liverpool music legend Ian McCulloch was the first act to play at theatre with two intimate acoustic shows in Liverpool in May. A full programme of theatre, music, comedy and dance will be announced for the main audi-torium soon. For more information visit the new theatre website at www.theepsteinthe-atreliverpool.co.uk

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06 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Shopping for her

WHEN the Stella McCartney-designed official British team kit for London 2012 was unveiled recently, the sports luxe trend of sportswear inspired high-end fashion gained pace, big style.

Think posh parkas, high-end hoodies, sensual sweatpants, and you’re on the money.

Sports luxe was in fact a huge trend on the international spring/summer 2012 runways. Before long, we will be donning mesh bomber jackets, à la Alexander Wang, football jerseys and jogging bottoms inspired by Isabel Marant, and leather legwarmers as seen at Victoria Beckham. The fashion world is as excited about

London 2012 as we are! Blending the comfort of lounge wear with

high tech fabrics, the new look is as far from slobby Wayne and Waynetta as you can get. No, this is definitely a case of ‘on your marks, get set’, track and field chic.

Whether you are sporty or not, go on a fashion fitness streak with sportswear’s clean, sleek, modern silhouette. Lead the team in luxury sweatshirts, racing top vests, wedge hi-top trainers and leg enhancing jogging pants in lightweight fabrics.

For an urban girl about town take, wear with stiletto sandals, and a dash of neon colour for street cred aplenty.

Go girl!

ANYONE FOR TENNIS?

GAME ON!Go for gold in the fashion stakes with the look of sports luxe. Claire Lewis is feeling the vibe...

MISS the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament fashion show, and it’ll be game, set and match to the competition. And we don’t want that now, do we?A date for your diary, girls - Liverpool International Tennis Tournament is part-nering with independent fashion boutique, The Dressing Room, to bring a large serv-ing of runway glamour to the proceedings. Stephanie Rooney, owner of Liverpool’s The Dressing Room, confirms: “We’ll be creating a temporary catwalk and hosting two fashion shows each day between play, as part of the tournament’s off-court entertainment. “It might sound like a bit of an unusual place for a fashion show, but we did it last year and it went down really well, so this year we’re making it even bigger and better.”

Amongst the models walking the walk will be recently crowned Miss Liverpool, Faye Ayers, who will be going on to represent our city in the Miss England competition, later in June. Faye says: “Having just been for a final fitting at The Dressing Room in prepara-tion for the show, I’m really excited about taking part in the tennis tournament. It’s just such a well-loved event in Liverpool, and the outfits we’ll be modelling are all stunning. I can’t wait!” For those of you who don’t know about The Dressing Room (like, no-one), it deals in upmarket designer vintage and one-off pieces by exclusive designers. Conse-quently, everything in the show will be unique. No nightmares about turning out in the same outfit as anyone else then! Liverpool International Tennis Tourna-ment is taking place at Calderstones Park from June 21 to 24. For more info, or to buy a ticket, log on to the websitewww.liverpooltennis.co.uk

Here Faye models a nauti-cal playsuit, £170, from The Dressing Room

Miss Liverpool models white blazer with black piping, £120, from The

Dressing Room

Gold sequined T-shirt with grey marl knit, £49, from La Redoute

Rock & Candy wedges, £55, from Schuh

Limited Collection Sports Luxe Playsuit, £39.50, from Marks & Spencer

Light purple side panel tapered trousers, £28, from River Island

Small gym bag zip top metallic finish, £55, from Fiorelli London

‘Meeko’ shorts, £35, from Monsoon

Denim shorts, £25, from La Redoute

JUNE 12

07BEST OF LIVERPOOL

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Lilac dress, from Miss Selfridge

Converse Double Tongue Ox Plimsolls, £50, from

Littlewoods.com

Rose print shorts, £17.50, from Marks & Spencer

Grey Nylon mac, £29.50, from Dorothy Perkins

Pink and grey sporty multi-fabric jacket, £39, from La Redoute

Pink cotton top, £25, from Topshop

Sports bag, £29.50, from Marks & Spencer

Green jersey T-shirt, £14.99, yellow pleated midi skirt,

£19.99, from New Look

Shopping for him

INSPIRED by everything from film, football and vintage 80s-fashion to pop culture and fine art, casualwear is fast becoming one of the biggest trends in the male market. Favoured by the likes of Olly Murs, it’s all about blending casual elements with smart tailoring. Think slim-fit polo-shirts or button-down collared-shirts teamed with dark denim jeans, and finished with dress boots, fine knit jumpers,

harrington jackets and classic pea coats. It’s perfect for the laid back, yet style-conscious man about town and is also extremely versatile. Whether you're off to the pub with your mates, out shopping or on a date with the missus, it carries through from day to night with effortless ease. Here are a few must-have items for any casualwear wardrobe...

08 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Casual is the new cool, discovers Sarah Hooley...

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IT'S ALL IN THE JEANS

KEEPCASUAL

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A QUALITY pair of jeans has long been a staple of a man's wardrobe – and with good reason too – but if you're not sure where to start, don't worry, here are some of the best stores in the city...

DROME THIS Liverpool fashion store is a must-visit when it comes to buying jeans. The shop prides itself on being on top of local trends and stocks brands, such as Nudie, Carhartt and G-Star. The friendly sales staff are happy

to help and give knowledgable advice on their products, as well as make recommendations.Visit Drome at Liverpool ONE, Paradise Street, tel: 0151 709 2802, or 46, Bold Street, Liverpool, tel: 0151 706 9529. Log onto www.drome.co.uk

RESURRECTION

IF you're looking for a pair of jeans and need advice, head to Resurrection on Bold Street. This two-storey shop has one

of the best selections of jeans in the city – with brands including Lee, Wrangler and Carhartt. The friendly staff are able to offer expert advice based on your taste, body frame, or even the jeans you walk in wearing! They're also end-lessly cheerful, helpful and never pushy. No wonder then that it's a favourite with celebs like Jared Leto and Paul Weller. Drop into 27-29 Bold Street, Liverpool, tel: 0151 707 8099 or visit www.resurrection-online.com

DIESEL A PIONEER in denim and casual fashion, Diesel is famed for moving ahead of the industry trends. From skinny, slim and loose fit to tapered, regular and straight leg, there are jeans to suit every style at the dedicated Diesel store in the Metquarter. Friendly and helpful, without

being over the top, the staff here are approachable and can even offer a personal shopping experience. Visit Diesel, The Metquarter, 35 Whitechapel, Liverpool, or call 0151 227 3729.

THE READ TO WEMBLEY

M&S limited trench, £79, from Marks & Spencer

Fred Perry petrol blue overnight bag, £50, from House of Fraser

Navy smart gingham shirt, £22, from Topman

Adidas Originals striped T-shirt, £19.99, from Get The Label

Graphic stripe polo, £7, from Primark

Tapered slim raw jean, £40, from Burton

Hudson 'Bexley' casual boots, £125, from Topman

Picture courtesy of Primark

Boots, £18, from F&F at Tesco

Sunglasses, from ASOS.com

09BEST OF LIVERPOOL

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IT looks like the future really might be a place where we can look young forever! Saggy faces, double chins, loose jawlines

and eyebags could be a thing of the past as a new treatment has emerged. The new Ulthera facelift could replace the need for costly and risky cosmetic surgery in many cases for men and women. The non-invasive, ultra-sound treatment tones, tightens and lifts – without a scalpel in sight! Hollywood stars are queuing up for Ul-thera which takes just one hour. And leading fashion magazines have hailed it: “The lunchtime lift ” as people can return to work straight after the treat-ment. Now Ultherapy has arrived in Liverpool and is available at The Epilight New Skin Clinic on Rodney Street.

Managing director, Linda Cunningham, says: “It’s going to be massive once the word gets out!” During the procedure, an ultrasound ap-plicator is placed on the skin and projects an image onto a screen. The applicator is then used to deliver low levels of focused heat (70 degrees Celsius) at the right depth below the skin, leaving the surface of the skin undisturbed. The body responds by creating collagen to repair, tighten and smooth the skin resulting in a natural lift over three or four months. Linda explains: “The treatment stimulates your own DNA’s memory of where the skin and tissue used to be. It’s amazing!” As well as faces, Ulthera can also be used on the body and is suitable for anyone from the age of 30. Linda adds: “The results are far and beyond what we imagined. And it is long lasting. We will still age but it’s like putting collagen in the bank – you will age slower and better and your DNA will be stimulated and kicked into action to repair you.” For more information contact Epilight New Skin Clinic on 0151 709 0099 or visit www.epilightnewskin.co.uk

10 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Health & beauty

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LIPS can dry out in the summer heat so it’s important to keep them hy-drated for a luscious pout. We have a thirst for these Coca-Cola Lip Happiness lip products with their sultry 1940s-style packaging. Lip Splash is infused with vitamins A and E and adds a splash of colour, sparkle and intense shine to your lips. Meanwhile, Lip Refresh gives luscious refreshment to thirsty lips, its sooth-ing and cooling tube also provides a sheer wash of colour. Lastly, Lip Pop is a little tin of glossy goodness, containing vitamin E and jojoba seed oil to moisturise and care for your lips, whilst adding a touch of sparkle. They are all available in the recognis-able classic Coca-Cola, vanilla and cherry flavours with a choice of red (with a berry tint) yel-low (clear gloss) and pink (with a pretty pink sheen). Treat your-self to the perfect pout. Available from Boots www.boots.com

LUSCIOUS LIPS

WHEN you set off on holiday, you don’t want to waste your precious luggage al-lowance on heavy cosmetics. And the last thing you want to do is spend ages taking make-up off.

With this in mind, mineral make-up spe-cialist Jane Iredale has some handy ideas for travelling light.

Compact your make-up

JANE Iredale My Steppes is an all-in-one compact that cleverly unfurls to reveal two lip glosses, a blush, a bronzer and a mirror, and is available in a choice of two ver-sions to suit your skin’s undertone.

Eye Steppes, with the same innova-tive, award-winning staircase-style compact, contains five complementary eye shadows and a mirror.

Five colour collec-tions are themed to complement either your skin tone or your eye colour. Interchangeable shelves mean you can travel with

as many or as few shades as you like to take you from beach to barbecue. Just take what you need from your favourite My Steppes and Eye Steppes and leave the rest at home! £39.95 per compact.

Lightweight your sun protection

JANE Iredale mineral foundations act as a con-

cealer, sunscreen, powder and foundation all in one

product! Jane Iredale Pure-

Pressed Base (£39.95 RRP) and Amazing Base (£37 RRP) are pressed and

loose mineral foundations that provide effective yet

weightless coverage. The miner-als provide a natural SPF 20 barrier to the sun’s harmful rays.

Powder-Me SPF, an all-over face and body powder helps protect against both UVB and UVA rays with an SPF 30.

All three products have a very water-resistant rating plus the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Approval as effective

sunscreens. No greasy creams, instant sun protection and great staying power!

Forget fussy cleansers

All you need to pack is one Jane Iredale Magic Mitt (£16). Cleverly made from knit-ted microfibres, the Magic Mitt claims to gently and thoroughly remove every scrap of face and even heavy eye make-up in seconds with warm water alone.

For more information visit the web-site www.janeiredale.com and for local stockist details, call 020 8450 7111.

Travelling lightMichelle Rushton finds some holiday make-up essentials

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS

WE’VE always be-lieved that a glass of wine is good for you here at Best of Liverpool. But the experts in France have discovered the skin-care benefits of the grape. Vineyard owners noticed that their workers had fantastic skin and decided to do some research.World-renowned specialist of the vine from the Univer-sity of Pharmacy of Bordeaux, Dr Ver-cauteren has discovered polyphenols in the vines and grapes have extraordi-nary anti-oxidant powers and effective molecules to keep us looking younger. The vineyard owners have now cre-ated a new range of skincare products containing vine and grape extracts. Caudalie Paris, is fast becoming one of the leading anti-ageing brands in France. Now you can experience the benefits of Caudalie at The House Beauty Spa on Mather Avenue, off Allerton Road. We particularly love the Caudalie Pulpe Vitaminée Anti-Ox Facial which is carried out using real grapes and is an hour of sheer bliss (£65) and the Eau de Beaute is a fabulous spritzer to revive and hydrate your skin. For more information visit www.thehousebeautyspa.co.uk or call 0151 724 4999.

SAVING FACERELAX, RECHARGE AND RECOVER

BEST of Liverpool’s best bubble bath ever has to be Lulu’s Time Bomb Rescue Mission Mineral Bath elixir. It smells so good, that we keep sniffing it for instant mood enhancement! And it performs well in the bath too! Lulu’s Time Bomb Rescue Mission Mineral Bath elixir contains essential oils and five healing herbs to help you unwind and re-boot. This cult beauty product features enlivening citrus oils to lift spirits, relieve tension and clear the mind like a breath of fresh air. It is also packed with lavender, comfrey and rosemary to calm and soothe. It’s like a mother’s hug or a giant cup of tea after a hard day’s work in the office. Lulu’s Time Bomb Rescue Mission Mineral Bath is priced £24 for 500ml and is available from QVC or from the website, www.lulusplace.co.uk

IT was on a fine Thursday in May that I set off from Best of HQ, through town and along to Voodou For Him on Bold Street. Flashing a glance into a shop window I could see that I’d let my beard grow a little wild – good job Sid was going to be able to smarten it all up for me!

Sid Atmani is Voodou for Him’s resident male grooming expert. Voodou describe him as a ‘multi-lingual barbering magician’ who started learning barbering in Algeria from the age of 10, ‘travelling the word, plying his trade and winning numerous awards along the way’.

I was in safe hands then, which was reassuring because I was booked in for a cut-throat shave, followed by a course of threading.

I’d not seen threading in action before but I’d read that hairs were removed from the body, for example, between the eye brows, by the application of a thread.

I imagined that involved a painstaking (and painful) process of removing hairs one by one! I was quite wrong, as it turned out...

The Voodou For Him male hair and grooming salon is well established in the city now, joined by four other Voodous, including a barber shop inside the Topman store on Church Street and a unisex salon on Button Street in the Cavern Quarter.

Stepping inside Voodou For Him on Bold Street I was immediately struck by the size of the place. It was only 10am and already the chairs were full and hair was being merrily snipped and styled. I was offered a drink and the paper while I waited.

Within a few minutes, Sid came out and led me to the male grooming room at the rear of the salon. Just as billed, Sid really is a genius barber who learnt his trade from his father and has been practicing some 26 years. Rather than asking someone else to give him a shave, Sid prefers to take his trusty cut-throat razor and carefully shave himself. When you realise that’s how steady your barber’s hands are, you don’t mind him advancing towards you with a sharpened blade!

As he settles me down into my chair he laces some hot towels, destined for my face, with carrot juice oil. Sid swears by this soothing oil to relieve the symptoms whenever he’s getting a cold, apparently, by adding it to

a hot bath. You heard it here first! These hot towels are applied to the face in four stages,

along with a selection of lotions – eye contour lift and dark complexion moisturiser from Nickel, followed by post shave cooling lotion from Crew Shave – to prepare and later soothe the skin during the shave.

Lastly, Sid applies rose water to pads and leaves them over your eyes. This allows you to really relax and drift away into your thoughts while he completes the shave. It really is a relaxing experience. Well, until the threading.

Sid never said that the threading would be pleasant and I was quite prepared for a little pain, after all, the Best of Liverpool girls had laughed at me when they heard I was going to try out threading. “You’ll never be able to take the pain,” they scoffed. How wrong they were!

Sid showed me how the technique worked. He wrapped a thin thread around one finger and then crossed over the thread and looped it around his finger on the other hand. Remember when girls at school used to make a cat’s cradle with some string? It looked a bit like that (see photo), and when Sid manipulated his fingers correctly, the threads closed and were able to catch many tiny hairs and remove them all at once.

He explained he would take the hairs from between my eyebrows and also the hairs high on my beard line, in order to give a neater line when my beard grew back.

I leaned back, closed my eyes and thought of England. I was brave, braver even than an Englishman in a penalty shootout, but I won’t lie, it did smart a little.

So just how much did it hurt? Well, it’s not a pleasant sensation. I suppose it’s like having multiple hairs tweezed from your face simultaneously, a process then repeated for about 15 minutes.

The thing is, as the process is repeated the discomfort becomes quite bearable, like an annoying background noise that you start to tune out. And then you’re done and your sitting up in the chair, beaming at your brand new, youthful face, smiling right back at you in that huge barber’s mirror.

Soon I was shaking Sid’s hand, bidding him farewell and bouncing my way back down Bold Street, grinning

pathetically at my reflection in every shop window and looking forward to telling the Best of team about my experience. Painful? Threading? As if?!

Voodou’s precision wet shave is priced from £25, the traditional wet shave I had costs £35, while threading costs £6 extra.

Paul Baker smooths out his facial hair by combining a wet shave with threading at Voodou for his cleanest shave yet!

11BEST OF LIVERPOOL

WHERE IS IT:Voodou For Him is at 88 Bold Street, Liverpool city centre, L1 4HY.

WHAT DOES IT DO?:The original Voodou For Him, this salon is in the heart of the city’s Creative Quarter. Voodou’s young team of highly skilled barbers are experts in fashion cutting and styling, while Sid Atmani is the resident expert in precision wet shaving and threading.

CONTACT:Telephone 0844 445 7889 or visit the website: www.voodou.co.uk

Smooth

JUNE 12

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WHEN you play a sport that you are passionate about, an injury is the worst thing that can happen.

We’ve all been there. You’re playing well, then out of the blue, some-thing gives and you’re forced to sit on the sidelines for weeks on end with a face like thunder.

It’s every sporty person’s worst nightmare because, quite simply, an injury stops them from doing something they really love.

Take me for example. I play club tennis and try to hit a few balls at least twice a week, more if time allows. After Christmas I felt I was hitting my stride before a rubbish racket grip and an awkward forehand caused an injury to my wrist and forced me out of action for weeks.

Therefore I was the ideal candidate when The Physiotherapy Centre invited one of the Best of Liverpool team to pop along to its Mossley Hill clinic to check out the treatments it has on offer.

According to its brochures, The Physiotherapy Centre specialises in the: “Treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions, sports injuries, back and neck pain.” It has four treatment rooms, a pilates studio and spa facilities, employs a team of experienced physiotherapists and attempts to help clients with a long list of problems, from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and repetitive strain injury to headaches and nerve disorders.

I visited the centre four times and was treated by two physiotherapists, one of whom, Dan, has worked with some of the Everton FC players, so I was in good hands!

The initial assessment aimed to fathom out what my problem was, how I

12 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

JUNE 12Fitness

Richard Lackey is given the healing hands treatment at The Physiotherapy Centre in Mossley Hill...

WHERE IS IT:The Physiotherapy Centre is currently based at LA Fitness, in the leafy South Liverpool suburb of Mossley Hill.

CONTACT:Visit The Physiotherapy Centre in LA Fitness, 88 Rose Lane, Mossley Hill, Liv-erpool, call 0151 724 2060 or log onto the website, www.thephysiocentre.co.uk

WHAT DOES IT DO:The Physiotherapy Centre specialises in the treatment and rehabilitation of mus-culoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions, sports injuries, back and neck pain. An initial 45 minute assessment costs £40.

Road to recovery!

sustained the injury and the exact location of pain, as well as discussing my general sporting history. I was also fast-tracked for an X-ray (at an extra charge) to rule out any bone fractures.

Following this it was determined that I had injured the tendons in my wrist.

Rest from tennis was ordered, comple-mented with a range of soothing treatments carried out at the centre. This included a soft tissue massage, acupuncture — some-thing I have always wanted to try — and ul-trasound therapy, which uses soundwaves to gently massage the muscles and tissue.

My wrist still didn’t feel 100% after my four sessions and the next step is to be a referred to a hand specialist. However, it was a massive relief to talk to people who actually know what they are talking about.

These guys know the body inside and out, which is exactly the type of person you want to meet when you’re down and out and unsure when you will return to action.

Clinic director Sarah Johnson told me: “At our clinic we don’t aim to simply treat the symptoms but address the root of the injury. That’s why we offer 45 minute ini-tial consultations which include treatment time.

“When symptoms have settled, with many of the athletes we treat, we look at technique. We address the area locally but then we look up and down the body. Often a knee problem originates from a dodgy hip.”

The good news is that, a few weeks later, my wrist is feeling much better and I’m now back playing tennis.

Perhaps time really is the greatest healer.

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Left to right: Keeley Jones, Ruth Lawson, Sarah Johnson and Michelle Thomas, from The Physiotherapy Centre

SAY the name Barry Cowan and chances are your mind will be instantly transported back to that five set thriller he had against Pete Sampras at Wimbledon in 2001.

Like David and Goliath, Barry shocked everyone by taking the then undisputed world number one to sud-den death before losing during the epic second round battle.

For Barry, who was born in Southport and grew up in Ormskirk, it was his finest moment.

“It was obviously of real satisfaction that I was able to play my best match on the biggest stage against the very best, and that is what I always wanted to do,” says Barry. “Physically I was in really good shape at the time and I felt that if I put my game on the court who knew what could happen, and that’s what I was able to do. Of course, I got a bit of luck along the way but I think you earn your luck.”

The impact of the match catapulted an unknown Barry onto the tennis world stage.

“My life changed a lot,” says the former Aughton Tennis Club member. “Would I be doing what I am doing now if I hadn’t had those years? I always wanted to achieve certain things in the sport and I would say I

did achieve most of them.” Barry retired in 2002, shortly after another second

round match at Wimbledon. His career highlights included qualifying for the 2000 US Open and represent-ing Britain at the Sydney Olympics.

Nowadays, Barry divides his time as a tennis com-mentator for Sky Sports and a junior coach, as well as getting some court action in when time allows. Like he has done every year since it began, he will also be playing at The Liverpool International Tournament at Calderstones Park this month from June 21-24.

“I’ll be there and I’m looking forward to it,” says

the Liverpool Football Club fan. “It is special for me because I am from the area, and, although now I live in London, it’s still great to come back to the city, whether it’s to watch the football or to play tennis.”

Tournament organisers have already confirmed that the likes of Greg Rusedski and Richard Krajicek will be playing at the Liverpool event, with more Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) players to be announced soon.

In the past, the meeting has attracted some of the legends of the game including Martina Navratilova and Barry’s idol, John McEnroe.

“They are obviously still incredibly passionate about tennis,” says Barry of the greats. “It is a bit strange if you are on the same court as these people when they have won multiple grand slams. For me, McEnroe was my hero when I was growing up. He was left handed like myself and, believe it or not, I had a bit of a tem-perament when I was younger.”

Asked if he ever sported McEnroe’s famed hairstyle, Barry jokes: “No, definitely not and I didn’t have the headband either. But I had the Dunlop wooden racket!”

Finally, looking forward to this year’s Wimbledon, Barry shared his predictions on Brit hopeful Andy Murray.

“Murray is right in there with the chance of win-ning,” says Barry. “But as I’ve often said, he is fourth favourite. The rankings are there, I don’t think they lie. That’s not to say he can’t win it but what’s proved really difficult is when Andy has played his best, and when Nadal or Djokovic or Federer’s played their best, they’ve won. That’s not to put Andy down, he’s just try-ing to fight to be as good as those guys, and can he do it in three days, two matches? You never know.

“He is going to be the only British person who can win it at the moment, but the one thing Andy will al-ways do is always give his very best to try and achieve that elusive grand slam. Fingers crossed. For me, it’s a long way off, but my tip at the moment would be Federer.”

For ticket information visit the website; www.liverpooltennis.co.uk

13BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Fitness JUNE 12

With the Liverpool International just around the corner Richard Lackey hooks up with local lad and Wimbledon ace Barry Cowan to talk all things tennis...

Smash hit!Barry during his epic match against Sampras in 2001

Barry at the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament in Calderstones Park

Barry at the 2011 launch of the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament

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Fitness JUNE 12

STEVE Parry is a busy man.

The former Brit-ish swimmer from Liverpool, who won the Bronze medal for the 200m butterfly event at the 2004 games in Athens, is currently balancing a successful TV and radio commentating career with his on-going philanthropic work.

And that’s not to mention his excitement building ahead of the London Olympics in July.

“I’m working for the BBC on their TV and radio cov-erage and can’t wait to get inside the park,” Steve told Best of Liverpool when asked what his Olympic plans are.

“We are going to see the most successful medal haul for a 100 years and I can’t wait to be a part of it. I’m look-ing forward to seeing all the GB winners that we don’t currently know about!”

Flash back to 2004, and Steve himself was living the Olympic dream when he finished a proud third with a British and Commonwealth record time and the title of being Team GB’s first swimming medal since the 1996 games in Atlanta.

Recalling that magical moment, Steve says: “I remem-ber going through every emotion while being on my journey to win the Olympic medal.

“I keep my medal in my sock draw as it’s a safe place or at least it was until I just shared that secret!”

His Olympic success was a million miles away from Steve’s humble beginnings in Liverpool.

Educated at the Liverpool Blue Coat School, Steve’s

parents first enrolled him in a swimming club in Wool-ton after he fell into the River Thames as a 12-year-old during a family holiday.

He then enjoyed stints at the Liverpool Penguins and the City of Liverpool Swimming Club, before he turned 17 and won his first major competition at the Junior European Championships.

On growing up in the city, Steve says: “I remember being extremely busy as a kid doing all the sports under the sun and when I wasn’t doing sport I’d be catching up on school work.

“I remember many a journey to Everton Park Sports Centre eight times a week.”

Steve retired from competitive swimming in 2005 and set up a swimming training programme with former training partner Adrian Turner to encourage young people to take up the sport.

This coincides with Steve’s commentary work as well as his latest project, The Prince’s Trust Going for Gold scheme, which asks North West companies and organi-sations to encourage their staff to take part in a series of sport-themed activities to help raise vital funds for the Trust.

Speaking about his involvement, Steve says: “A close friend of mine has worked for the trust for more than ten years in Merseyside and I am really aware of the impact their work has in helping young people get into work, training and education. So I was keen to help when they contacted me for support.

“This Olympic year will be the final year the trust asks organisations to take up the Going for Gold challenge and we want to maximise the number of companies taking part as this means we will be able to help more young people in the region turn their lives around.”

Despite the busy schedule Steve still manages to have a dip.

“I swim twice a week outdoors,” he says. “There is no exercise like swimming. It’s amazing all round.”

And sharing his tips for any budding young Olym-pians, he added: “Work hard, enjoy and always give it your all!”

Anyone interested in taking part in Going for Gold should contact Emma Shaw on 0161 874 7535 or email emma.shaw@princes-trust.org.uk

Making a splash!

Richard Lackey treads water with Liverpool Olympian Stephen Parry to talk about his latest charity work, London 2012, and where he stashes his medal...

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15BEST OF LIVERPOOL

FOR acclaimed actress and short film director, Lia Williams, the opportunity to work with a writer of real talent represents the height of her art. So, when the chance arose for Birkenhead-born Lia to direct the world premiere of The Match Box, a new work by award-winning Irish playwright, Frank McGuinness, and stage it at the Liverpool Playhouse, she jumped at it. Having worked with McGuinness, a professor of creative writing at University College Dublin, several times previously, Lia was obviously interested in his latest work. “When we were having dinner together, as we occasionally do, I said it would be great to do something else and then he came up with this [The Match Box],” explains Lia. “He said: ‘I think I have an idea’,

which I completely forgot about and then, four months later, he came up with this stunning script and said: ‘Here it is!’” The Match Box is a monologue play, about a woman dealing with the strong emotions that arise following a family tragedy. It promises to be a piece of intense drama,

following the story of Sal who is looking back on the circumstances that have caused her to journey from England to Valentia Island, one of the most westerly points of Ireland. For a piece of drama like this to really work, it’s important that both the theatre space and the actor can truly meet the dramatic intentions of the play. Lia is in no doubt that the combination of the Playhouse Studio and Liverpool actress Leanne Best (fresh from her recent Playhouse role as Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire) will perfectly bring McGuinness’ writing to life. “The studio space here is tremendous for the play because it’s very intimate so I think it will be quite a powerful experience for the audience,” says Lia. “She [Leanne] had such an instinctive feel for the poetry, as well as the muscular quality of the language, and a kind of rawness which I really liked. I think she will be able to really grab an audience, and sustain a monologue incredibly beautifully.” Lia will be making her stage directorial debut with The Match Box and, despite having performed on Broadway and been nominated for Olivier, Tony and BAFTA awards, counts her close relationship with writers such as Harold Pinter, David Hare, Alan Ayckbourn and Frank McGuinness as the highlight of her career. “They kind of became the essence of why

16 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

The BIG interview

Paul Baker chats to Lia Williams ahead of her stage directorial debut, The Match Box, at The Playhouse

The right direction

I do all of this, and now, of course, I’m married to a writer,” says Lia, referring to husband Guy Hibbert. Lia is perhaps most famous for playing the lead role in Michael Winner’s 1993 film Dirty Weekend, along with the character of Dr Edith Montgomery in much-loved ITV comedy drama Doc Martin. “It was a great story, a very black comedy, Dirty Weekend, and Michael Winner has an eccentric sense of humour, so there were many laughs,” remembers Lia. “It was right at the beginning of my career and I have a feeling I was pretty terrible in the film and I don’t think it’s one of the greatest films ever made, but I remember it very well and I remember Michael with great humour really. “Doc Martin was just fabulous. Martin Clunes is brilliant, and the scripts are brilliant; the director, Ben Bolt, is brilliant; the cast are amazing. You’re in this wonderful place for six months, on the north Cornish coast, looked after beautifully, and I got the opportunity to create a character which they really ran with. I absolutely loved it and, if they asked me back, I’d be there like a shot.”

Having moved around the country while she was growing up, working in Liverpool has given Lia the chance to renew connections with the area she was born in. “I definitely have a feel for it, whenever I come here. I was filming up here earlier this year, I’m doing a Channel 4 series called Coup, with Gabriel Byrne, and as soon as I got here it just felt like a place I felt very, very comfortable in. And, of course, it would be because this is where all

my roots are,” says Lia. Lia reveals that in Coup, a four-part political drama, due on our screens in autumn, she plays the head of MI5. So is Lia hoping to take over from Judi Dench as

‘M’ in a future James Bond film? “Oh, I don’t think so,” she laughs. “Something to think about? Yeah sure! I should be very lucky.” Lia’s reaction is typically modest but, with a busy 2012 ahead, good things certainly seem in store for this talented actress and director.

Lia Williams directs Leanne Best in The Match Box, from June 14 to July 7, at the Liverpool Playhouse. Tickets are priced £10, from www.everymanplayhouse.com

“Doc Martin was just fabulous. Martin Clunes is brilliant and the scripts are brilliant.”

HAVING been the proud owner of all The Christians’ albums on cassette, it’s hard to believe it’s been a quarter of a century since the band got together. To celebrate their 25th anniversary, the band are releasing deluxe CD versions of their first two iconic albums on Cherry Red Records this summer featuring unique remixes of the original hits, B-sides, liner notes from Garry and rare images from their heyday. The self-titled debut album was a massive success on its 1987 release – reaching number two in the UK album chart and spawning five top 40 hit singles. Meanwhile, second album, Colour, shot to number one on the UK album charts on its original release in 1990, its arrival heralded by the top 20 hit single Words. Listening to the remastered albums took me right back to the late 80s with flashbacks of listening to Ideal World on my Walkman, with a perm… But their music certainly doesn’t typify the synthetic sound of the era. Their music had depth and soul with lead singer Garry’s velvety vocals having the right touch of gravel and the lyrics making you think. Forget bubblegum pop. This was a band with a conscience, a message to get across about society, community, love and life. Their albums have stood the test of time and are still as poignant as ever. Lead singer Garry Christian explains: “It’s weird because I hadn’t listened to the songs for years but whilst reworking the albums I realised how beautifully put together they were. It was great working with such great minds. “The social messages weren’t

intentional – we were just putting down life as we saw it and how we were affected by things, such as war and the troubles of the world. “There is a song on the Colour album called In My Hour of Need and I have suggested it would make a great song for Help for Heroes as it sums the situation up beautifully. “We passionately believe that our guys shouldn’t be over in Afghanistan. It seems like every time you switch on the telly another 22-year-old has died. It’s a tragedy. But what for? I’m not sure why they’re out there?” The Christians have come a long way since the early days singing along to The Temptations in their front room in West Derby. “Me and my brothers Roger and Russell were always singing, copying all the great artists from The Beatles and Otis Reading to Ray Charles and Bowie,”

Garry remembers. “I was given a bass guitar for my 15th birthday so I started to play and experiment with music. But I soon learnt that I can’t sing and play at the

same time so I just concentrated on the vocals. “We started a backing vocal harmony group and met Henry Priestman whilst recording tracks at the Benson Street Studios. He said ‘listen to this track I’ve written’ and the rest is history.” Coincidentally, Henry had the same middle name as the brothers’ surname so The Christians were born. The band went on to score many UK chart hits and released a cover of the Isley Brothers’ ‘Harvest For The World’ for charity in 1988 which reached

number eight in the charts. In 1989, the band had another charity single success, this time as performers, on a version of Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey, released in aid of the Hillsborough disaster, which stayed at number one for several weeks. Tired of being on the road, Garry moved to Paris in the 1995. “I fancied hanging my mic up for a bit,” he reveals. “But I met Scottish producer Pete Murray and within six months I was back in the studio making an album called Yokel Mystery. “I spent all my money and came back in 1999, cap in hand and phoned the guys saying: ‘Let’s get back on the road.’ “We put a tour together and it sold out in three weeks and I haven’t stopped since.” There’s only Garry left from the original line-up. Sadly, the brothers lost Roger to a brain tumour in 1998. He has happy memories of working with his brother. “We were always having a laugh – he was so quick witted. We would all be round the mic ready to record some serious vocals in the studio and he’d come out with some wisecrack and we’d all be looking at the floor trying not to laugh – it was very childish but funny. I don’t know how we got through it!”The new band line-up comprises Garry on lead vocals, Joey Ankrah (acoustic guitar/singer, electric guitar), Neil Griffiths (singer, acoustic guitar), Cliff Watson (bass guitar), Lionel Duke (drums) and Mike Triggs (keyboards). They released a download single in 2010, a cover of Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islams ‘Where do the Children Play’ which was reviewed by the man himself as “better than his own version.” And now the band are putting the finishing touches to a brand new studio album to be released this month called Speed of Light on Cherry Red Records, their first in nine years. And they’re touring the UK. Last

weekend, the band performed at Speke Hall with Status Quo and will be appearing at the Isle of Wight and Rewind Festivals during the summer. Garry admits he still loves performing but has mellowed. “I’m much more relaxed now. I don’t worry about what the critics will say.” And he’s looking forward to touring. “I love it. I’ve done it for most of my life.” But, when he’s not on the road, Garry likes to chill at his house in Frodsham. “I

now live in the wilds,” he explains. “It’s very rural and tranquil, although we do get wafts from the local pig farm,” he laughs. When he gets time, Garry likes to go back to his Liverpool roots for a trip down memory lane.“I went back to West Derby a few weeks ago to see where I lived during the 60s and 70s. I have fond memories of going to The Carlton picture house for the Saturday matinee and the bowling alley as a teenager – drinking coke and chatting to girls. It’s all gone now but, it was a wonderful innocent era.” And he is proud to be a Scouser. “Liverpool is so different to anywhere else in UK. It’s such a great place. We speak our own language.” For details of The Christians live tour dates see www.thechristianslive.combrilliant.”

17BEST OF LIVERPOOL

JUNE 12

It’s all about the lyrics as Michelle Rushton finds out from Liverpool pop/soul legend Garry Christian

Soul Man

“ Their albums have stood the test of time and are still as poignant as ever.

LIVERPOOL’S No Fakin’ DJs spent their youth trawling record shops for hard-to-find records and travelling far-and-wide to see the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and Pete Rock perform live. Inspired by the ‘golden era of hip hop’, they launched No Fakin’ as a hip hop club-night in 1997 because they wanted to bring the sort of music they liked to Liverpool’s club scene. Fast forward 15 years and the lads from Huyton are now well-known for their signature take on hip hop, with their shows – which famously feature multiple turntables, an eclectic array of samples and live MCs – seeing the local lads perform all over the world. “We were basically three lads from Huyton who were hip hop fans,” says No Fakin’s Paddy Quinn. “We were 90’s kids, so we were influenced by the likes of Tribe, De La Soul, Pete Rock and Pre-mier – all of that golden era of hip hop. We were travelling to London and places like that to see shows and we wanted to

try and bring a bit of that to Liverpool.” In 1997, the lads started their own night in Liverpool and No Fakin’ was born. “We went to a mate of ours who owned the Zanzibar with the idea of putting on a hip hop night and from then on we’ve been doing club nights, DJing, putting on events and working in the studio,” says Paddy. Then, after meeting an agent who was bringing big American acts over to the UK, No Fakin’ found themselves work-ing alongside many of their musical heroes – like CL Smooth and Grand Master Flash. “That opened the door for us to put US artists on and share stages with our heroes, which was what it was all about for us,” reflects Paddy. The last 15 years have seen the No Fakin’ lads become “rap dads”, play at Fabric and Chibuku, support Public Enemy, Q-Bert and much more. “We’ve all had kids this year and be-come rap dads,” says Paddy. “So we’re

taking our foot of the gas a little in terms of travelling, but we’re still doing quite a lot this summer. We have a string of regular nights that we do up-and-down the country and, because it’s 15 years of No Fakin’ this year, we’re visiting a few of our favourite spots.” One of the highlights of No Fakin’s summer will be playing at The Garden Festival next month, a boutique festival in Croatia co-founded by the former owner of Liverpool’s Magnet bar, Eddie O’Callaghan with wife Gail, and Nick and Charlotte Colgan. “We’ve done The Garden Festival since day one,” says Paddy. “We used to do quite a lot of shows with Eddie.When was setting up the festival he asked us to play the first one and, like everyone else, we fell in love with the place, along with the vibe. We loved what they were trying to do and, if we weren’t DJing there, we’d be there as punters.” As in previous years, No Fakin’ will play the main stage at the July 4-11 festival. “The set will be deep-rooted in hip hop, but it’s an all encompassing set going from soul to reggae, disco and hip hop, with four turntables, sampling and Kwasi [the mc] pulling it all together on the mic for us,” explains Paddy. So, what makes The Garden Festival so special? “It’s quite a unique experience,” enthuses Paddy. “It’s really intimate and, obviously, you’re in an amazing setting on the Adriatics.” Now in its seventh year, The Garden Festival has moved to a new site in Tis-no this year. The 2012 line-up includes No Fakin’, Dom Chung, Greg Wilson, Kenny Dope and Futuredisco amongst others. Tickets for The Garden Festival are still available, visit www.thegarden-festival.eu for more information.

18 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

JUNE 12Interview

From Huyton to hip hop...Katie McLoughlin catches up with Paddy Quinn from Liverpool’s No Fakin’ DJs ahead of their appearance at The Garden Festival, Croatia next month

AHOY PIRATE PA!

THE FOURTH International Mersey Pirate Muster returns to a buzzing New Brighton on Father’s Day this year with a Battle of The Last Chance Lagoon. Once again the pirates are on the trail of the lost mermaid’s purse. And there some fantastic prizes for any daring dads out there. The question is – who will take his chance as a pirate for the day?Grosvenor Casino at Marine Point is offering A Full House Experience for two people including a meal and drinks for two, with gaming tuition included, to reward the best dressed pirate pa! We’re sure fathers will also want to meet celebrity water babe, Suzanne Collins. Says Cathy Roberts, of BeSpoken Story-telling and co-organiser: “We want this to be a real family gathering. “Be awed by the explosive tale of The Pi-rate, The Wooden Leg, and The Mermaid. Cheer at the cannon battle, be amazed at antics of the pirates, and marvel at the length of time it takes our Mersey Mermaid to get her hair ready (she’s a desperate Scouse fishwife). “With many more fabulous prizes up for grabs, a colourful pirates’ parade, the traditional muster signing to joining the pirate navy, a mysterious treasure hunt, and fun messages in bottles as well as battles to end all battles, what more could you ask for – a free Father’s Day out?” One supporter has already nailed his colours to the mast. Ken Dodd is a patron of the event: “I want everyone to have a plumpshious pirate day out . . . me hearties,” says the legendary comic. And Roger Lyon, of BBC Radio Mersey-side, will be the narrator for the event which received praise in the New York Times. He tells Best of Liverpool: “For one day I will be the master of a Pirate radio station and having enjoyed it in recent years I can think of no better way to celebrate Father’s Day than this magical maritime event.” The date for the log book is Sunday, June 17 June from 12pm – 4pm.Visit www.merseypiratemuster.com for details.

No Fakin’s Kwinzola (left) and Paddy (right)

19BEST OF LIVERPOOL

BY NIGHTBY DAY

As flaming June dawns in the ‘pool, Claire Lewis reveals hot dates for your diary

TURNER MONET TWOMBLY: LATER PAINTINGSTHIS summer, Tate Liverpool is bringing to-gether a collection of important later works by JMW Turner, Cy Twombly and Claude Monet – all of whom were considered radical in their time. Boasting a number of masterpieces never seen before in the UK, and including five of Monet’s celebrated Waterlillies (the largest collective number of these works in this country for over a decade), this ground-breaking exhibition of over 60 works opens on June 22 and runs until October 28, 2012.

BIG DANCE WEEKBIG Dance is one of the UK’s largest celebra-tions of dance and one of the highlights of London 2012 Festival — the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad. The event will be strut-ting its stuff on our TVs, streets, theatres and schools, as it shimmies its way into the very heart of our community. Big Dance North West is taking part across the region as part of the Big Dance Trail (running until September 9), with particular focus in Big Dance Week (July 7 – 15). Keep your peepers peeled for dancers ‘doin’ the shuffle’ in Liverpool’s shopping centres, polka in the parks and grinding in the gal-leries, as dance fever comes to town this month.

ALBERT DOCK PIRATE

FESTIVAL 2012COME hither ‘me hearties’ to the Albert Dock, where all manner of swashbuckling shenanigans between feuding pirates and privateers will be taking place on June 9 and

10, between the hours of noon and 5pm. Ear-splitting cannon fire and dramatic com-bat scenarios will create a spectacle for all the family as privateer ships Zebu and Ruth do battle with pirate ship Vilma, as they act out the tale of King’s Navy Pirate Hunters, under sail. Notorious historical pirates, such as Black-beard and Barbarossa, will also come to life in live-action sword battles with the Zombie Pirate Crew. Join the pirate army and bring the whole family along in pirate costume. Or get fully into character at Nauticalia. Press gangs will also be operating at What’s Cooking, Blue and Gusto as part of the event.

REGAL FUNSTILL feeling jubilant about the Queen’s Dia-mond Jubilee? Then carry on celebrat-ing at Croxteth Hall and

Country Park. The park is hosting an Upstairs & Downstairs Jubilee Family Quiz daily, from 10.30am to 5pm (last admission 4.30pm) until Sunday, June 10. Solve the clues to the crossword to find the mystery word associated with the Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations and discover what also

happened 60 years ago in 1952. All correct entries will enter a prize draw to win a unique jubilee treat of a ‘Royal Chocolate Crown Sculpture’ courtesy of lo-cal company, Chocarella. Also, throughout June, you can view Regal Regalia daily from 10.30am to 5pm.See the Earl and Countess of Sefton’s ceremonial robes, worn to the coronation of several royals, on display, as well as their coronets and some original royal commands in the Family History Room. Heritage volunteers have also been busy setting out a special ‘Coronation Party’ in the Servants’ Hall. Normal admission prices apply.

Things to do, places to see

AFRICA OYE KEEP June 23 and 24 free for Africa Oyé’s 20th anniver-sary, and another fab festival of the best Afro/Caribbean music and culture on the planet. You will be treated to roots reggae from Brinsley Forde, who performed with Dizzee Rascal at The Electric Proms. Plus, the strains of The Rasites, Yaaba Funk, The Endless Journey, Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra, Samba Mapangala and Orchestra Virunga, and Diabel Cissokho. Expect fat analogue bass lines, swirl-ing strings, driving rhythms and haunting vocals, plus dancers and brass sections from the likes of Nigeria, Ghana, the Congo and Senegal. Africa Oyé is free. Gather at the watering hole (Sefton Park) from 12.30 – 9.30pm.See www.africaoye.com for more details.

UEFA EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE CAMP AND FURNACE WATCH the games live from Poland and the Ukraine during June and July in this family-friendly event. With additional activities and events planned, including a fussball competition, junior footie fans are

also being encouraged to share in the high octane excitement. Top notch food and drink will be served, including gourmet hotdogs with a distinctly Euro flavour, plus a variety of Continental beers and sharing kegs, delivered to your table. After each match, live music and DJs will keep the party swinging. Kick-off starts on Friday, June 8, with the opening game from Warsaw. Every subse-quent match will be screened, culminating in the final on July 1 in Kyiv, when the Euro Champs will claim victory. For match times and more, log onto www.campandfurnace.com

MEET THE DEANS EVERY day is a drama in the Dean house-hold. Written and directed by Shameless star, Liverpool’s very own Tina Malone, this funny play is filled with warm, Scouse humour and family banter. Playing at St Helens Theatre Royal from June 10–16, at 7.30pm, with matinées on June 13 and 16 at 2pm, Meet the Deans revolves around Mrs Dean (Malone), queen of the household and mother to her adult children, all of whom still live at home. Amongst the humour, however, we learn daughter Jess was born with a congenital heart defect – with her only chance of sur-vival being a transplant – and soon! Prepare for your heart to be touched, and your funny bone tickled senseless. To book, call 01744 756 000 or see www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com

JUNE 12

AVENUE Q COMPETITION

ONE of the West End’s big-gest hits of recent years is

bringing its unique brand of mis-chief, bad behaviour and political correct-ness to Liverpool Empire from June 11 – 16. Tony award-winning show, Avenue Q, is billed by the Sunday Times as ‘Best Musical of the Decade’, and by Kiss FM as ‘the fun-niest thing I’ve ever seen.’ Witty, rude and hilarious in the extreme, this theatrical concoction tackles subjects like dating, racism, being gay and find-ing your purpose in life as lead character, Princeton, desperately tries to follow his dreams. Avenue Q is about the lively off-the-wall characters on a downtown New York street as they try to make sense of life’s burning

issues; like, ‘how are you supposed to pay the bills with a BA in English?’To book, call 0844 871 3017 or visit www.liverpoolempire.org.ukBest of Liverpool has two pairs of tickets to Avenue Q to give away for June 14.For your chance to win a pair, answer the following question:

What is the name of Avenue Q’s lead character?

Answers on a postcard, please. Include your name, address and telephone number, and pop it in the post to Best of Liverpool, Avenue Q Competition, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool L69 3EB. Closing date: Monday, June 11.

WIN

MUST DOMUST SEE...RACING for Gold, at Merseyside Maritime Museum. Great Britain has

enjoyed massive success in rowing and sailing since the sports were intro-duced at the Paris Olympics in 1900. Don’t miss your chance to see the eight-man racing shell officially launched by Olympic gold medallist, Sir Steve Redgrave in 1985, along with a Clipper class dinghy from 1950 and Merlin-Rocket racing dinghy, in this Olympic themed display.

MUST DO...MY utmost not to die laughing at Ayckbourn’s The Norman Conquests, running at Liverpool Playhouse until June 23. Set over a week-end at a rundown country house, this trilogy of hilarious plays charts the story of familial tensions and thwarted lust, as events are played out through three viewpoints: See all three plays in one day for the ultimate Ayckbourn experience.

MUST TRY...TO catch West Kirby Light Opera Society’s magnificent production, Titanic The Musical. Part of Liverpool’s 1912 – 2012 programme of events, the show runs at Liverpool Empire Theatre until June 9. In the centenary year of the ship’s tragic sinking, this true disaster story features intricately researched and constructed costumes, plus four canine stars in the making. Call 0844 871 3017 and reserve the last seats.

MUST REMEMBER...SOCCER Legends’ Big Night on Thurs-day, June 21. A must for all Evertonians, this sportsmans’ night and auction of soccer memorabilia features the club’s most successful manager, Howard Kendall, Radio City soccer pundit, Ian Snodin joined by TV comedian, Frankie Allen, at Blundell Street Supper Club, Liverpool. Call 0151 709 599 for tickets or see www.blundell-streetliverpool.com or www.stagsandwags.co.uk

20 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Children

Sarah Hooley discovers the best places to take to the skies....

Flying HighAS Mary Poppins once gleefully declared, let’s go fly a kite! And why not? With the annual, two day Wirral Kite Festival set to take place in New Brighton this week-end (June 9 and 10), it’s the perfect excuse to get out and practice your kite-flying skills. So, if you’re feeling inspired we’ve found some of the top places this side of the water to take to the skies...

Crosby Beach THIS long and open stretch of sandy beach is a haven for have-a-go-kite-flyers. With large expanses of sand, and an open coastal location, the beach enjoys strong gusts of sea air and offers a great environment for kite-flying enthusiasts. The beach is also the permanent home of ‘Another Place’ by Antony Gormley, so make sure you keep an eye out for the 100 life-size cast-iron men spread out along the sand...!

Sefton ParkWITH plenty of open space, Sefton Park is a great place to let your kite-flying hobby take flight! An urban oasis in the city’s south side, the magnificent 235 acre park offers large lawned areas perfect for kiting. Grand Edwardian houses that surround the park give you the feeling that people have flown their kite here for many years. And, if the little ones get restless, there’s also a children’s playground, lake and Grade II listed Palm House to keep them occupied.

Where to buy your kite?YOU can pick up kites from many high street stores across the city, but make sure you check out www.skyhighflyer.net based in Birken-head too. The fantastic online shop is run by fully-qualified power kite instructor, Paul Hogan, and stocks a selection of sports kites, diamond kites, power kites and kids kites, including colourful parrots, giant dragons and planes! Call 0151 645 7270 to find out more.

Want to find out more?KITES aren’t just for kids so, if you, or your little ones, fancy finding out more, the Northern Kite Group could be for you. Open to anyone interested in building and flying kites, the club welcomes complete beginners up to seasoned professionals of every age and ability. The members meet on the third Sunday of every month at different kite flying sites across the region. For more information, visit the website www.nkg.org.uk

Otterspool PromenadeOTTERSPOOL is undoubtedly one of the best places to set your kite free in Liverpool. With miles of promenade and ample parkland, this kiting hotspot has the perfect conditions thanks to its breezy location along the bank of the River Mersey. In the summer months the sky is filled with colourful kites of every shape and size, and amateur or professional, it’s truly a sight to be seen! It also has a new adventure park, picnic tables, play park, and stunning views over Wirral peninsular and the Welsh mountains making it ideal for families.

Stanley ParkHOME to the spectacular, Grade II listed Isla Gladstone Conserva-tory, Stanley Park is a great destination to take your kite. In 2009 the park underwent a £14m regeneration and is now home to landscaped lawns, lakes and rose gardens with vast grassland to let your kite soar. From balmy summer days to bright winter mornings, the park is ideal for would-be-kite-flyers looking for an easy place to practice their skills.

Colourful kites at a previous Wirral Kite Festival in New Brighton

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Blue skies and high winds were near perfect for kite flying at Otterspool Promenade

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Try Stanley Park for a spot of kite flying

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DINING out with two toddlers can be tricky and rather stressful at times.

As parents, you worry about them being too noisy and upsetting other diners, drop-ping food on the floor and getting them to stay sitting at the table throughout the meal is a challenge of mighty proportions.

But my partner Mike and I have stum-bled across a venue in South Liverpool which has all the right ingredients for an enjoyable family meal.

Whilst on our way to ‘The Asda’ on Smithdown Road to stock up on ingredi-ents for our ritual Sunday roast, a shiny new Greek restaurant, Christakis, caught our eye. As it was getting quite late, we decided to eat out – how decadent!

Entering the plush new eatery, we were welcomed with open arms by the head waiter who swiftly found us a table with room to park the pram alongside and brought over a high chair for Isla.

We hungrily poured over the menu. Christakis offers authentic Greek-Cypriot cuisine cooked on a real charcoal grill — from houmous and stifado to moussaka, and calamari — with an extensive choice of cold and hot starters, fish dishes, veg-etarian and gluten-free options.

First, the waiter brought us some com-plementary crudites comprising carrots, olives and peppers and a basket of bread — a perfect healthy snack for the children to nibble on.

To start, we opted for dolmades, £4.95, and garlic mushrooms, £4.95, which we shared with the children.

The dolmades consists of vine leaves stuffed with rice, tomatoes, mincemeat and spices, and was a great hit with three-year-old Daniel who was most amused with the concept of munching on leaves and loves rice too.

Cooked in garlic, white wine and butter, the mushrooms were equally tasty and made ideal finger food for one-year-old Isla.

For mains, the waiter recommended the traditional Greek kleftico, £12.95, and mixed grill platter, £13.95. While we wait-ed, the children started to get a restless so we took a stroll over to the open kitchen area where you can see the chefs freshly preparing your food.

Daniel was mesmerised by the fish tank and finding ‘Nemo’ kept him busy while Isla, who has just started walking, explored the restaurant. This might have been frowned upon in some establishments but owner Christakis Georgiou and wife

Francesca assured us that it was OK for her to roam and introduced us to their sons Haris and Renos, who made a real fuss of Isla and brought over some toys for her to play with.

Georgiou explained how he had set up the family business by opening the Christakis Greek Taverna on York Street. The city centre venue became so popular that family decided to bring their success-ful formula to South Liverpool and open a second restaurant. He uses local butch-ers and home-grown vegetables, as well as delicious desserts from nearby Dafna’s Cheesecake Factory.

Before long, our mains arrived and the chef certainly hadn’t skimped on the por-tions! My kleftico was superb, with the slow-cooked lamb falling off the bone.

Meanwhile, Mike’s mixed grill platter was a mouthwatering meat-fest featur-ing charcoal grilled pork, chicken kebabs and lamb chops, accompanied by Cypriot delicacies sheftalia and lucanica sausages, lountza (smoked fillet of pork) and hal-loumi goats’ cheese.

There was enough food for all of us, with-out having to order extra children’s meals and Daniel and Isla loved all of the food.

I was looking forward to dessert. I have heard of Dafna’s famous cheesecakes and, although stuffed to bursting, I was determined to try one! I chose the Bailey’s cheesecake while Mike opted for the lemon

option £3.95. Pardon the over-used cliche — but they really were to die for!

Daniel was in his element with a selec-tion of icecreams, £3, and, by this point, Isla had nodded off and was happily dream-ing away in her pram with a full tummy.

We washed down our meals with a glass of Keo (Cypriot lager), while the waiter brought us a plate of fruit to refresh our palates.

This really is a restaurant where nothing is too much trouble and children are made to feel welcome, even if they do make a mess!

Christakis Greek Restaurant, 256-258 Smithdown Road, Liverpool L15 5AH, telephone 0151 733 0375 or log on to www.christakisgreektaverna.com

21BEST OF LIVERPOOL

JUNE 12

CRAFTING OUT COMMUNITY SUCCESS

UNABLE to return to work thanks to the rising cost of childcare, one group of mums in Garston have turned their luck around by opening a community art studio. Crafty Corner – an exciting, new initia-tive – is located at 61 Garston Old Road and offers low-priced craft sessions for all ages. From parents and children to young professionals and retirees, the voluntary project started just over three months ago with the sole aim of creating a friendly space that’s open to everyone. The craft sessions on offer include pottery painting, jewellery making and cupcake decorating, with prices starting at just £2. Kate Allen, from Crafty Corner, explains: “I couldn’t afford to go back to work and a lot of my friends were in the same position so we decided to get together, pool our resources and do something in the community. We all had our own careers before having our children so we each bring something to the project – whether it be time, skills or advice! “The most important thing to us is that the project should offer a range of services focused on the needs of our community, and provide support for local families. That’s why we will also be holding surgeries for councillors, breast feeding support mornings, and after school clubs.” In addition, Crafty Corner has plans to run workshops based on community issues, plus accredited training courses in make-up and life coaching skills. Party

packages and group bookings are also available, and the centre is hoping to run toddler mornings in the near future. Kate adds: “We would love to hear from anyone who would like to get involved.” Crafty Corner is open Wednesday and Friday 10am – 4.30pm, and Saturday 11am – 5pm. To find out more, or to volunteer, call Kate on 07919493546, tweet @craftycorner61 or find Crafty Corner on facebook.

FAMILY friendlyMichelle Rushton finds the ideal place to feed her hungry hoard...

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NESTLED within Liverpool ONE’s parade of shiny new restaurants lies Las Iguanas – an airy oasis bursting with that lively Latin vibe.

The atmosphere of the restaurant instantly makes an impact as soon as you enter through its huge glass doors, and is as loud as a set of maracas!

It’s bright and cool, modern with sleek dark wood furnishings, and the aromas from the kitchen instantly transport you to South America. Forget Liverpool, you could be in Rio.

When it comes to eating out, I’ve always favoured Indian cuisine over Chinese, the latter being a bit too sickly for my liking. Instead, I prefer the earthiness and heat of a no-nonsense Indian curry. However, in recent years Mexican and Latin American cuisine has threatened to become my number one. Never having visited the region personally, my relationship with Latin American grub had never developed further than a bowl of chilli and rice or a chicken fajita at a friend’s house.

That was until a few years ago when a certain fast food outlet introduced me to the Mexican burrito. After that I was hooked.

I love the heat of Latin food, the fusion of flavours and textures, and the gener-ous mix of meat and vegetables (you can never have too many greens if you ask me!). I also welcome the huge portions.

And that nicely leads me onto the first thing that struck me during my visit to Las Iguanas – you get massive meals which wouldn’t look out of place on that Man v. Food reality TV show.

My starter of nachos with melted cheese, aji, jalapeños, salsa, soured cream, guacamole and cha-cha chorizo (£7.60) served in a huge paella dish was certainly more than ample for at least two people, nevermind one.

Being the gannet that I am, though, I wasn’t going to complain and happily

consumed the lot! The cha-cha chorizo (smoky pork and

garlic chorizo sausage with onions in a red wine, tomato and smoked jalapeño sauce) was so deliciously meaty and flavoursome that I wasn’t surprised to find it on the menu as a dish in its own right, this time served with chunky bread to dunk (£5).

My friend opted for this delicious course and we were both in agreement at just how tasty it was.

For main course, I plumped for the classic and appropriately named Big Burrito (£9.90) – a whopping tortilla parcel packed with spicy chicken, pepper and onion, rice, cheese and slaw, topped with homemade salsa, soured cream and guacamole.

My mate selected chimichanga (£9.90), which is a deep-fried burrito bursting with garlic and coriander rice, refried beans, and a main filling of Tinga (Mexican smoked chipotle chicken, onion and cheese).

Both mains were delicious – the side of chunky cassava fries with salsa (£2.90) was an over-ambitious move, it has to be said – and sealed the fate on us ever attempting to select a dessert. Oh well, maybe next time.

We washed our food down with a selection of Las Iguanas’ famed cocktails – Citrus Cooler (crushed lemons, limes, ice and lemonade; £2.80), and Raspberry Cooler (raspberry and elderflower; £3) – the ideal tonic to ease the flow of so much food, and at buy one get one free (between 12 and 7.30pm and all day Sunday), a steal.

Suitably priced for what we received, we left Las Iguanas feeling more than satisfied and with our trouser belts that little bit tighter.

Las Iguanas, Liverpool ONE. Tel: 0151 709 4030 or visit www.iguanas.co.uk.

22 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Food & drink JUNE 12

LatinRichard Lackey spices up an otherwise ordinary afternoon with a visit to Las Iguanas...

THE Wallasey-born judge of TV’s The Great British Bake-off, Paul Hollywood, and Liver-pool Food & Drink Festival are searching for the region’s best amateur bakers. Paul has teamed up with the Liverpool Food & Drink Festival to stage The Great Merseyside Bake Off. As part of the competition, amateur bakers across the region are being invited to get baking and submit a photo of their best home-made cake to the judging panel. The top 12 will be invited to take part in a bake off at the Liverpool Food & Drink Festival, which takes place in Sefton Park, on September 1-2, and will be judged by Paul Hollywood. As well as being crowned the winner at the festival, the best baker will receive two tickets to the prestigious Liverpool Food & Drink Awards, where they’ll be presented with an award in front of Merseyside’s food and drink elite. The winner’s recipe will also be featured as ‘cake of the month’ in the café at John Lewis in Liverpool ONE. Paul, who returns to TV screens later this year in a new series of The Great British Bake Off, is looking forward to returning to Merseyside, saying: “There’s so much talent in the region, I’ve been keen to run in a battle of the bakers here for a while. “I think the Liverpool Food & Drink Festival

will provide a perfect setting for the bake

off, which will be great fun. We’re looking for amateur bakers with real flair and passion to take part, so come on all you home bakers, we want to hear from you!”

To enter ‘The Great Merseyside Bake Off’, amateur bakers should like the Liverpool Food & Drink Festival on Facebook and upload a photo of their best cake. Alterna-tively, photos can be emailed to info@liver-poolfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk or posted, with contact details, to Liverpool Food & Drink Festival, The Old Bank, 382 Aigburth Road, Liverpool, L19 3QD. All entries must be received by Thursday, June 14, 2012.

BATTLE OF THE BAKERS...

Paul Hollywood

love!

Nachos for starters

Cha-cha chorizo

Las Iguanas

Chicken Big Burrito

23BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Food & drink JUNE 12

Michelle Rushton sniffs out some gourmet grills to enjoy al fresco

Summer sizzlers BRILL GRILLS

NEED a new barbie? Here’s our pick of the best...

NOTHING beats the scent of a sizzling barbe-cue on a summer’s breeze.

But, before you head for the supermarket for a pack of frozen burgers and bangers, why not have a go at making your own?

The best person to ask for advice is your local butcher so we headed to the Scotch Beef Shop in Woolton for some inspiration.

Based in the heart of Woolton village, this award-winning butchers sells the finest quality Scotch beef supplied by Scotch Premier Meat in Aberdeenshire, as well as free-range pork, Scottish new season lamb, free-range poultry and, when in season, venison from the Queen’s Estate in Balmoral.

Owner Tony Hayes says: “We make our own award-winning sausages and produce over 20 different varieties including Welsh Dragon, Firecracker, Sweet Chilli Pork and Caramel-ised Onion with Balsamic Vinegar.

“We also produce our own dry cured bacon, black pudding and our own cooked meats.

“Now that the BBQ season is upon us, we also sell a variety of burgers and kebabs to comple-ment our sausages for the perfect BBQ.”

Best of Liverpool managed to persuade Tony to part with his recipe for a Rather Special Burger. So make the most of the sunshine, dust off your barbie and try out these beauties...

RATHER SPECIAL BURGER (Serves four)

Preparation time: 25 minutesCooking time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 600g Minced Scotch chuck steakSmall red onion, finely chopped2 Tbsp chopped herbs such as parsley, chives or marjoram4 Ciabatta buns (the olive ones are very good) For the caramelised onions: 3 Medium red onions, peeled and thinly sliced25g Unsalted butter2 Tbsp olive oilA pinch of saltA pinch of sugar

To serve: Mixed baby salad leaves1 Large tomato, cut into eight slices Method: l Start with the caramelised onions. Fry the onions in the oil and butter over a gentle heat until transparent and soft (six minutes) then sprinkle on the salt and sugar and continue cooking, stirring from time to time until golden and sticky and beginning to crisp at the edges. l Mix together all the burger ingredients and season. Mixing with your hands makes it easier. l Shape into four burgers about 10-12cm in diameter.

l Light the BBQ or heat the grill to its hottest setting and cook the burgers for 3-4 minutes on each side for rare, 4-5 minutes for medium and 5-6 minutes for well done.l Pop the split ciabatta buns under the grill to warm a little.l Load up the buns with a handful of salad leaves, a couple of tomato slices, a burger and a tangle of onions.

Turqouise bucket BBQ, £10, from Sainsbury’s Home

Portable BBQ and cool bag, from isme

Sailing boat apron, £13, and tea towel, £5, from Sophie Allport, www.sophieallport.com

Small black BBQ, from isme

Eva Solo table grill in white, £199, from Cloudberry Living www.cloudberryliving.co.uk

Bucket BBQ, £17.50, from Cox & Cow www.coxandcox.co.uk

STICKY BEER RIBS Recipe courtesy of Badger Ales

Serves four Preparation time: 10 minutesCooking time: 50 minutes to 1 hour

Ingredients:2 x 350g Rack of pork ribs, each rack cut in half500ml Bottle of Badger Tangle Foot Ale2 Large garlic cloves, finely chopped1 Tbsp vegetable oil30g Root ginger, peeled and finely chopped1 Red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped6 Tbsp tomato ketchup2 Tbsp treacle3 Tbsp light soy sauceSweet chilli sauce, to serve

Method:l Place the racks of ribs into a large saucepan with the beer and top up with water to cover the ribs.

l Bring to the boil, then gently boil for 35–40 minutes until completely cooked through and tender, drain well.l In a large shallow dish, mix together the garlic, oil, ginger, chilli, ketchup, treacle and soy sauce. l Add the ribs and brush them all over with the marinade until evenly coated. Leave to cool then cover and chill until ready to barbecue.l Cook the ribs over grey coals of a barbecue or medium heat of a gas barbecue for 15–20 minutes, brushing with any remaining marinade and turning often until browned and heated right through.l Serve whole or cut up with sweet chilli sauce.

Top tip: Alternatively cook the ribs in a preheated oven (200°C, fan 180°C, gas 6) for 15-20 minutes until heated right through.

24 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Father’s Day

Treat your dad to more than just a pair of novelty socks this Father’s Day, says Katie McLoughlin, as she takes a look at the best places to take your dad on Sunday, June 17...

FAMILY GUY

LITTLE monkeys can treat their dad to a day out for less at Knowsley Safari Park on June 17, as all dads get free entrance to the park on Father’s Day when accompanied by their child. As well as the five-mile safari drive where you can see lions, camels, baboons and the like roam freely, the safari park has a walkabout area, which gives visitors the opportunity to view some of the animals from outside their car. Plus, you can see all manner of creepy crawlies, reptiles and amphibians in the bug house; enjoy a lakeside train ride; watch a sealion show; listen to a keeper talk or go on a woodland walk. Brave dads with a head for heights could also take the death-defying Aerial Extreme High Ropes Adventure Challenge (for an additional cost).Visit Knowsley Safari Park, Prescot, Merseyside, L34 4AN, log onto www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk or telephone 0151 430 9009 or to find out more.

THEY say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so if you’re looking to score extra Brownie points with dad, treat him to a feed on June 17. For a bloke-friendly menu laden with

succulent steaks, ribs and other meaty treats, try Miller & Carter Steakhouse on the Albert Dock. The restaurant, which serves generous portions and has

a family-friendly ambience, is famed for its mouth-watering array of steaks, including tender fillet, T-bone, porter-house and chateaubriand steaks.Visit Miller & Carter, Atlantic Pavilion and Anchor Hall, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AF, call 0151 707 7877 or visit the website www.millerandcarter.co.uk to find out more.

MAN-SIZE MEALS

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TAKE A WALK ON THE WILDSIDE...

Francos Restaurant is situated at 48a Castle Streetin 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 3375bookings@francosliverpool.com

www.francosliverpool.com

A True Italian Experience

Evening MenuSpecial Menuavailable every

evening £19.95 incHalf Bottle of HouseWine per couple

Early Doors MenuTuesday-Friday

5.30pm - 7pm only

“Liverpool’s Premier Butchers”are now taking summer BBQ orders:We lead.....Others Follow....40 Yrs Experience

• Stockists of Scotch Premier Beef• Anna’s Happy Trotters Free Range Pork• Scottish Lamb, Chargrill Beef Kebab’s• Piri Piri Chicken Kebabs, Homemade Beef Burgers• Selection of Beef, Lamb, Chicken, Port, Low Fat Chicken Burgers

At Scotch Beef Shop we make our ownAward winning sausages (inc Glutten free) over 25 different varieties availableemail: scotchbeefshop@hotmail.co.uk • web:www.thescotchbeefshop.co.uk

23 Woolton Street, Woolton Village, Liverpool. L25 5NH0151 428 1281

The Scotch Beef Shop

We have buffets idealfor any occasion...•Weddings•Anniversaries•Christenings•Birthdays•Funerals•Business Lunches•Corporate Events

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FOR a decidedly cool setting for a Father’s Day feed, head to one of the city’s trendiest new venues – Camp and Furnace on Greenland Street. Part-bar, part-eatery, part-event space, the venue, which is in the heart of Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, serves food from 8am until 6pm on Sundays, with its roast dinners being particularly special. Indeed, Sunday roasts at this hip venue are a sharing affair, with 28-day dry-aged Lancashire sirloin and corn-fed chicken presented uncarved on wooden platters with locally sourced, seasonal vegeta-bles for you to dig-in and carve it your way. To wash down the meaty feast, the venue has a small but

perfectly curated range of wines and beers including Brown Bear – its very-own artisan ale. For the ultimate Father’s Day out, after supping Camp and Furnace’s own ale and demolishing a hu-mungous roast, you can watch the Portugal v Holland and Denmark v Germany matches on the venue’s gigantic six metre by four metre screen, as all UEFA Euro 2012 matches are being shown at the Furnace throughout June. Sunday lunch is priced at £9.50 per head and will be served in three sittings on Father’s Day – booking is essential, call 07407 474 592. Alternatively, for more informa-tion, visit Camp and Furnace, 67 Greenland Street, Liverpool, L1 0BY or log onto the website www.campandfurnace.com.

25BEST OF LIVERPOOL

JUNE 12

FOOTIE MAD DADS

STUCK for a Father’s Day present? Soccer-obsessed dads will love these books and what’s more, they’re on special offer!

Visit www.merseyshop.com or call 0845 143 0001. Prices valid from June 1.

LIVERPOOL’S cabaret bar-restaurant, Blundell Street

Supper Club is offering one lucky family a three-course meal for four on Father’s Day. The lucky family will be treated to the Blundell Street Father’s Day experience, with a special table to enjoy the food and enjoy live music from Cindy Crystelle featuring hits from the 1960s to modern day from female divas. For more information or to reserve a table at Blundell Street Supper Club, call 0151 709 599 or visit the website

www.blundellstreetliverpool.com. To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the question below:Q. Who is performing at Blundell Street Supper Club on Father’s Day? Send your answer on a postcard, along with your name and daytime telephone number, to: Blundell Street Competition, Best of Liverpool, Liver-pool Post & Echo, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB. Closing date for entries: Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Entrants must be aged 18 and over.

A FATHER’S DAY MEAL FOR FOUR...

GET IN DAD’S GOOD BOOKS...

IF your dad is an Everton fan, there’s nowhere better to take him on Father’s Day than to the home of his beloved club – Goodison Park. Everton Football Club has a special Father’s Day lunch and tour package available on Sunday, June 17, which includes a gour-met three-course lunch and a mini stadium tour. Everton’s Father’s Day lunch and tour is priced at £25 per adult and £12.50 per child. Advance booking is required, call 0151 530 5250 or log onto www.evertonfc.com to find out more.

MAKE A SPLASH ON FATHER’S DAY...

JUST a 15 minute walk from the Pier Head, Liverpool Watersports Centre offers a whole ocean of activities that would make a great gift or day out for an active dad. The centre, which is based in Queens Dock, offers hourly, half and full day tuition and courses in canoeing, kayaking, powerboating, windsurfing and dinghy sailing. For those who fancy

learning about the history of the docks while paddling their way from Queens Dock to the Albert Dock, the centre also offers guided canoe tours on specific dates.The next available Albert Dock canoe tours are on July 7, 14,

21 and 26. The centre is open 9am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday, with evening sessions offered in summer months to meet demand. Call 0151 708 9322, log onto www.liverpoolwatersports.org.uk or visit Liverpool Watersports Centre at 110 Mariners Wharf, Queens Dock, Liverpool, L3 4DG for more information.

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FOR a Father’s Day feast, try Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill in Hotel Indigo on June 17. The Chapel Street restaurant has a rather special Father’s Day menu, which offers three courses for just £19.50 per person. The menu, which features something to suit most tastes, includes delectable starters such as chicken liver pâté with red onion jam and melba toast; roasted loin of Cheshire pork with red cabbage and Granny Smith apple sauce for mains and desserts like steamed lemon sponge pudding with crème anglaise to finish the meal in style. To reserve a table, call 0151 559 0555.

HOTEL INDIGO

ERIC NIXON BIG HANDS BIG HEARTThe Tranmere legend’s official book,RRP £12.99, reduced to £8.44

LIVERPOOL FC HEROES14 Anfield legends open up their hearts,RRP £16.99, reduced to £11.04

GARY ABLETT THE GAME OF MY LIFE

The story Gary wanted his fans to read,

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26 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Gardens

You don’t need green fingers to enjoy a little outdoor living this summer, says Katie McLoughlin, as she shows you how to enjoy an enviable alfresco lifestyle...

The greatoutdoors

HAVING previously managed to commit horticultural homicide on a rather grand scale (I successfully killed off an entire herb garden, a yukka and half of my dad’s lawn in one summer alone) I am perhaps not the best person to be giving gardening advice.

My gardening skills are woefully inad-equate so, when tasked with writing about gardens, it was a relief to discover that many of this summer’s gardening trends have nothing to do with plants. Indeed, along with edible planting, British country-side plants and topiary, some of the biggest trends seen at last month’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show included arts and sculpture, technology and bold furniture, with both retro and futuristic garden furniture seen at

the trend-setting RHS show. To give your garden an arty vibe, incor-

porate striking sculptures into your garden design. While those looking for a garden worthy of appearing on The Gadget Show could invest in state-of-the-art equipment that can be used outdoors – like an iPad or iPod docking station that’s sure to come in handy at garden parties.

Travel was another key trend seen at the cult horticultural show, with accessories and exotic plants used to give gardens the feel of far-away lands.

To help everyone enjoy an enviable alfresco lifestyle this summer, here’s our pick of on-trend products to transform your outdoor space...

Hanging basket, £9.99, from Dobbies

Glass tealight holders, £15, from Next

High gloss finish, fibre-glass planters, £54.95, from www.primrose.co.uk

Stripy deckchair, £30, from Next

Square four-tier solar water feature cascading herb planter, from www.primrose.co.uk

Weathered wooden lantern, £87, from www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

Garden flamingo, £20, from www.pussyhomeboutique.co.uk

27BEST OF LIVERPOOL

JUNE 12

THE GOOD LIFE GOES URBAN

Move over Titchmarsh, there’s a new gardening expert in town, says Katie McLoughlin, as she meets the city gardener helping urbanites to grow their own...

GROW your own – it conjures up images of green-fingered gardeners knee deep in manure doesn’t it? For most urbanites that’s a less than appealing prospect. But, as I discovered when I met Annick Laroque recently, you don’t need to be Felicity Kendal or have acres of outdoor space to enjoy a taste of The Good Life. With a wealth of gardening experience, Annick, who works as the great outdoors project officer at Huyton’s National Wildflower Centre, is something of an expert when it comes to growing your own. Originally from South Africa and now living in Aigburth, Annick believes that no space is too small to grow your own and she’s recently helped The Monro Group to start growing some of its own produce for its city centre gastropubs – The Monro and The James Monro. The Monro Group cooks everything from fresh and Annick helped them to have a specially-made grow box installed in the beer garden at The Monro on Duke Street, to allow the chefs to grow the vegetables and herbs their customers find on their menus. If you fancy turning your balcony or back yard into an oasis of home-grown grub, here are Annick’s top tips for planting and growing your own herbs and vegetables in very small spaces:

1. START FROM THE BOTTOM UP: Always use good quality compost and keep topping it up. You only need to do this once a year, but planting anything in small spaces means your plants need all the nutrients they can get. And, if you have made the compost yourself from collecting kitchen scraps, then it will be even better for your plants and the environment.

2. USE ALL AVAILABLE SPACE: If you have an area that’s south-facing, make sure you use every inch of it. Use the wall to put up taller plants and climbers like beans, peas and tomatoes. And try planting very quick-growing salads like rocket in between other plants, to be picked while waiting for

the slightly slower ones, like carrots and beetroot, to grow.

3. USE YOUR WALLS: Fill your walls with edible hanging baskets, but ensure they’re placed somewhere

that receives plenty of sunlight (especially if you have an area where sunlight doesn’t touch the ground). Strawberries, tumbling tomatoes and herbs can be extremely productive in hanging baskets.

4. PLANT FOOD WITH THE HIGHEST RETURNS: Plants like salads, Japanese greens, radishes, chives, and spring onions are all relatively fast-growing. You can be growing seedlings on your windowsill to replace the plants as you pick them, so the growing space is always productive. While vegetables like cabbages, cauliflowers and broccoli take up a lot of space and need a long time in the ground, so they may not be the most appropriate choice if you are limited for space.

5. INCLUDE SOME EDIBLE FLOWERS AND COMPANION PLANTS IN YOUR MIX: These work as pollinators and bring gardeners’ best friends like ladybirds. Chamomile is a great plant doctor; it tends to keep all surrounding plants brimming with health. Nasturtiums, calendula and chicory are all delicious and healthy to eat and work as companion plants.

Designer rattan garden chair, £750, from www.outthereinteriors.com

Three burner gas BBQ, £299, from Tesco Direct

Aztec-style two-piece clay BBQ chimenea, £79.94, from www.tesco.com

Contemporary, vibrant purple and lime green dining furniture, priced from £257, from www.uniquechicfurniture.co.uk

28 BEST OF LIVERPOOL

Travel

Michelle Rushton falls for the fells of Coniston during a family break

Wet and wildTO mark my daughter Isla’s first birthday in May, my family and I fancied a midweek break. We’re big fans of the Lake District as it offers unbeatable scenery, good food and plenty of outdoor pursuits to keep the kids amused.

We usually head for the popular tourist resorts of Windermere and Ambleside but there are still large chunks of the national park we’ve yet to explore.

The Cumbrian Tourist Board helpfully suggested we head to the Western Lake District and put us in touch with The Coppermines Lakes Cottages to book our accommodation.

We spotted a pretty, three bedroom cottage in Coniston which slept two to six, just a short walk away from the village, which is a great centre for climbing, walking, cycling, watersports, pony trekking and fishing.

It sounded perfect so we booked it from the Monday to Friday and pretty soon we were heading for what’s been hailed ‘the most beautiful corner of England.’

MONDAY, MAY 7

With the car packed with everything from walking boots to the fishing rod, Mike, Daniel, Isla and I set off for Coniston, which is just 50 minutes from junction 36 of the M6.

We took the scenic, windy route through Windermere and Ambleside before heading west for Coniston. Although it was a grey and drizzly afternoon, the rain failed to dampen our spirits as we took in the breathtaking sights and it seemed to make the trees look so much lusher and greener.

Within no time we had arrived in the pretty village of Coniston and found our accommodation in Haws Bank. And we weren’t disappointed.

Originally the wheelwright’s residence, Stone Leys is a quintessential Lakeland stone cottage with a babbling brook alongside. Built over 200 years ago, it combines period features, such as oak beams and a wood burning stove, with all mod cons from Sky HD and DVD player to a Play Station 2, much to three-year-old Daniel’s delight!

It was really spacious and homely with an Aga giving it a warm and cosy feel, as well as being fully equipped with everything we could possibly need from a washing machine and tumble drier to a dishwasher. We had requested a cot, high chair and baby gates which had been provided.

The bedrooms were of a generous size with comfy beds and all linen provided and the games room was a big hit with the kids when they spied the table football.

It was a real home from home. We quickly unpacked

and headed to the nearest eatery for tea. Just a short walk away was the Ship Inn, a cosy

country pub which serves real ales. I tried the home-cooked steak and ale pie while Mike opted for the jumbo battered cod with mushy peas and chips and the children shared a kids’ portion of pizza and chips. It was just the ticket after a tiring journey and was followed by sticky toffee pudding, strawberry pavlova and ice-cream.

After enjoying such hearty, home-cooked fayre, we retired to the cottage and had an early night, looking forward to the next day.

TUESDAY, MAY 8

We awoke to a delightful dawn chorus of birdsong and cooked a full English breakfast to set us up for a day’s walking.

The cottage was ideally located for exploring the fantastic Lakeland fells and was just a few minutes’ stroll from the famous waters where Donald Campbell attained his World Water Speed Record achievements in his jet boat Bluebird, reaching over 300mph.

We made our way through a field of newborn lambs to Daniel and Isla’s delight and past a magnificent peacock strutting his stuff at the entrance to Coniston Hall before arriving at the lake. We stopped for a while to take in the breathtak-ing views. The lake is so peaceful and serene, flanked by a backdrop of majestic mountains. Then we headed for the vil-lage itself, stopping en route at a lovely little children’s play-ground.

The locals were lovely and friendly, stopping to chat and recommend places for us to visit.

We stopped at Meadowdore cafe, as we had read in the cottage visitors’ book that they offered the best cakes. And the book was right. There were plenty of “mmmmms” as we devoured toffee fudge cake, carrot cake and banana ice-cream for Daniel.

Next we explored the village with its Victorian streets housing traditional shops, five pubs, several cafes and one restaurant, as well as the Ruskin Museum which tells the stories of Coniston’s most famous sons – Victorian philosopher John Ruskin and Donald Campbell.

Coniston offers basic amenities but we really needed a chemist, so after nipping back to the cottage to change and feed Isla, we jumped in the car and headed for the nearby historical village of Hawkshead, where Wordsworth went to school!

This quaint village is home to the Beatrix Potter Gal-lery housing a collection of her original artwork and has a great mix of cafes, pubs, shops, art galleries and outdoor clothing shops.

On the way back, we went for a nature trail through Grizedale Forest Park having fun spotting the forest

sculptures. The forest is also great for cycling and has a visitor centre, tea room and Go Ape – an award-winning high wire forest adventure course of extreme

rope bridges, Tarzan swings and zip slides. My little monkeys aren’t old enough for that but we’ll come back and re-visit it in the future.

Rain stopped play so we jumped back in the car and came back to Coniston for a well-deserved pint of the local brew. The Black Bull Inn looked enticing. This 16th century coaching inn has its own microbrewery where Bluebird Bitter and Old Man Ale is made using local mountain water.

It would have been rude not to, so we popped in to try the Bluebird which was fruity and creamy.

The pub’s menu looked divine so we stayed for tea and enjoyed Cumberland sausages with mash and duck in plum sauce with Dauphinoise potatoes and green beans.

The children shared our food as they can’t man-age a full meal. Daniel couldn’t get enough of the duck! We finished off our meal with bread and butter pudding and a cheeseboard. It was a truly wonderful feast and we retired to the cottage all full and sleepy.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9

Happy birthday Isla! After an exciting morning helping Isla rip open her presents, we decided a cruise around Coniston waters would be a lovely way to spend the day and the sun came out for the occasion.

We took a walk down to Coniston Pier and booked a family ticket for the Coniston Lake Gondola Cruise.

Photo courtesy of www.golakes.co.uk

The steam gondola

Stone Cotttage

29BEST OF LIVERPOOL

JUNE 12We had 20 minutes to spare before it departed, so we popped into the nearby Bluebird Cafe, named after Campbell’s infamous boat. It was cream teas all round and Isla loved licking the jam and cream off her first ever scone – what a birthday treat!

We sat on the jetty and fed the ducks while we watched our vessel berth alongside and prepared to board.

This rebuilt Victorian steam yacht gondola is fuelled by environmentally friendly blazer logs and offers a fabulous way to sail around the lake. The children were most excited to be on a boat, while we sat back and relaxed and soaked up the views of the forest and fells. The captain’s commentary told the stories of Donald Campbell and how the lake was the inspiration for Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons.

Halfway through, the yacht stopped at a jetty where passengers could get off and explore Brantwood, the home of John Ruskin from 1872 to 1900.

Hailed the original ‘blue sky thinker,’ Ruskin was a profound cultural theorist, passionate critic of art and architecture and explorer of science and nature.

Visitors can look around his untouched Victorian mansion and stunning grounds and gain a unique in-sight into the life of this fascinating historic figure.

We felt the kids were a little too young to appreciate this and a lot of the attractions are quite pricey when you add it all up so we just headed back to the pier and walked back into the village in search of somewhere nice to have tea.

The Crown Inn looked welcoming enough, so in we went. All the fresh air had made the children crash out, so Mike and I enjoyed lasagne and a sumptuous Cumbri-an sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce and the best onion rings ever, washed down with a pint of another local brew.

We got a little wet walking home in the rain, but luck-ily the cottage was very well equipped with a rear porch for hanging wet gear and muddy boots.

When the children woke up we enjoyed a generous slab of birthday cake and packed our rucksacks ready for the next day.

Mike had his heart set on conquering the Coniston Fells of which Coniston Old Man, at 2,635 ft, is the most famous. The fells offer walks for all abilities and the chance to spot plenty of wildlife including red squirrel and wild deer so an early night was in order to conserve our energy.

THURSDAY, MAY 10

We woke to torrential rain so all hopes of climbing the Old Man were quashed. In fact, it wasn’t fit to go out as the rain lashed down so we just enjoyed a cosy morning making the most of the cottage’s facilities.

We played table football, had a go at the Play Sta-tion 2 and tried our luck at the many board games thoughtfully provided.

But by lunchtime, cabin fever started to set in so we decided to venture out in our anoraks. We opted to take the car ferry from Hawkshead to Bowness which has plenty of shops and places to shelter under.

I couldn’t wait to take the kids to the World of Beatrix Potter which I used to love as a child as every half an hour, a special clock featuring all her furry characters chimes and

the animals come out and dance. Indeed, Daniel and Isla were as captivated as I was, so we decided to take them into the museum which takes you on a journey

through the life and work of the author and illustrator.

We met Peter Rabbit in Mr McGregor’s garden, discovered Jemima Puddle-duck in the woodland glade and visited Mrs Tiggy-winkle in her kitchen. It really was magical.

On the way back, we popped into Our Plaice in Coniston for fish and chips and took them back to the cottage – delicious!

FRIDAY, MAY 11

Our last day (boo hoo), so sadly we packed up our things and loaded the car.

The trip to Windermere had whetted my appetite for all things Beatrix Potter and I really fancied visiting her former home at Hill Top near Sawrey where she wrote and illustrated many of her famous children’s stories before we came back to Liverpool.

Luckily, there was wireless internet access available, so I checked out the website on my laptop and was disappointed to learn that it was closed on that Friday, but that just gives us another reason to return to this amazing area.

Instead, we popped into Ambleside for some souvenir shopping. We went for lunch in a lovely little cafe called The Priest Hole, where we enjoyed chestnut and

mushroom pate with home-made chutney, a prawn marie rose sandwich and ham sandwiches for Daniel and Isla.

After stocking up on fridge magnets and fudge, we said goodbye to the Lakes and headed home.

We all agreed that we’d had a brilliant time, despite the rain, and can’t wait to come back. For stunning scenery, captivating villages, fabulous fayre and exciting attractions, there really is no place like it.

CUMBRIA TOURISM Tel: 01539 822 222, www.cumbriatourism.org

THE COPPERMINES LAKES COTTAGES Tel: 01539 441765 www.coppermines.co.uk

CONISTON TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE Tel: 01539 441 533 www.conistontic.org

SHIP INN Tel: 01539 441 224 www.shipinn.info

MEADOWDORE CAFE Tel: 01539 449 191 www.meadowdore.com

RUSKIN MUSEUM Tel: 01539 441 164 www.ruskinmuseum.com

GRIZEDALE FOREST PARK Tel: 01229 860 010 www.visitlakelandforests.co.uk

BLACK BULL INN Tel: 015394 41335 www.blackbullconiston.co.uk

CONISTON STEAM YACHT GONDOLA Tel: 01539 432 733 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gondola

THE BLUE BIRD CAFE Tel: 01539 441 649 www.thebluebirdcafe.co.uk

THE WORLD OF BEATRIX POTTER ATTRACTION Tel: 01539 488 444 www.hop-skip-jump.com

HILL TOP Tel: 01539 436 269 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hill-top

USEFUL INFORMATION

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Jemima Puddleduck

Coniston Waters

Ambleside

Coniston jetty

ON the last day of the 2011/2012 Premier League season, all eyes were on Manchester to see where the league trophy would be heading.

I, meanwhile, was following Liverpool FC on an away trip to South Wales where newly-promoted Swansea City beckoned for the Reds.

Swansea City managed to stay in the Premier League with ease thanks to the guidance of manager Brendan Rodgers, who has just taken over of Liverpool. So, with another trip to South Wales guaranteed for LFC supporters next season, I was intrigued to visit the area, check out the stadium and see if it was worth avid Liverpool (and Everton) fans making a long weekend of it by combining an away match with a city break.

My brother, Nick, and I took the five hour journey by train. Swansea seems a typical city with high street stores, bars and shopping centres. It’s got everything you need from a city centre and, like its football team, appears to be on the up.

But, it’s not the only reason to visit Swansea. There’s more to see if you head for the coast.

The shore’s just a 15 minute walk from the station. Wend your way through the shopping streets and cultural quarters (or just hop in a cab) and you’ll soon smell the sea air.

We were staying in the Swansea Marriott Hotel, a four-star hotel in the beautiful Maritime Quarter, with views of the marina complex to one side and Swansea Bay to the other.

After dumping our gear we headed straight to the hotel’s Bayside Grill Restaurant for some much needed sustenance. Highlight of our three course meal was the main course of lamb cawl with buttered new potatoes – just what was needed after a long journey. A good night’s sleep then easily arrived, thanks to double beds as large and comfortable as the room.

Next day, suitably sated after feasting on a full Welsh breakfast, we set off to explore Swansea Bay. The local tourist board had pointed us in the direction of Mum-bles, an attractive fishing village just around the bay, which is a former haunt of Welsh writer Dylan Thomas and the childhood home of Catherine Zeta-Jones, who reportedly still owns a property there.

The five-mile walk along the sandy bay is a joy and certainly recommended. You can stroll along the beach or stick to the promenade, while there are kids’ play areas, a lido, bars and cafes along the way to revive you. Bikes seem to be a popular method of transport on the route or there’s a land train in the summer months.

Mumbles manages to pack a lot in, offering visitors more than 100 shops and restaurants. Joe’s ice cream is famous in the area and the main parlour in Mumbles is

well worth a visit to sample a scoop. We continued past the myriad moorings and launches until we reached Verdi’s – a wonderful cafe/bistro near Mumbles Pier. The weather was perfect for sitting out, enjoying a re-freshing drink and sampling some coastal cafe culture.

After that, we wasted some coins in the amusement arcade, visited the remains of Oystermouth Castle and climbed one of the small islands at the edge of the pier. It was such a clear sunny day we could see all the way to Devon.

On completion of our 10 mile round trip we found se-curity had become much tighter at our hotel. It turned out the Liverpool squad were somewhere inside and autograph hunters and paparazzi needed to be kept at bay!

We joked about how we’d be bumping into members of the Liverpool squad milling around the hotel later, but didn’t really think it that likely. How wrong we were.

Calling the lift on the way down to dinner, we hopped in to find Maxi Rodriguez, Sebastian Coates and Jose

Enrique staring back at us. The players ate privately in a function suite, but as we dined, Glen Johnson enjoyed a coffee with friends on the table behind us.

The next day there were more close encounters with the likes of Daniel Agger, Stewart Downing, Jay Spear-ing and Raheem Sterling as the players came and went just like any of the other hotel guests.

On Sunday morning we opted for a light continental breakfast as we had a busy day ahead, starting with a Boardrider surf experience at the LC, Swansea’s huge swimming pool and leisure centre.

Our instructor, Brett, explained that if we’d have gone out to the nearby Gower Peninsula we might have

found it too calm to surf. The obvious advantage of Boardrider is that you have

a constant wave to practice on. Donning a wetsuit top and crash helmet, we learnt

to ride on our stomachs, knees and, finally, standing up – it was great fun to try. You won’t become an expert in an hour and you’ll wipeout a fair few times, but it’s worth having a go.

Straight from the surfing we went along to the Grape and Olive restaurant, high in the Meridian Tower, next to the Marriott, for a spot of lunch.

The Grape and Olive is Wales’ tallest restaurant and very much in the style of Liverpool’s own Panoramic 34. The views were wonderful, looking across the city and countryside one way and out over shimmering Swansea Bay and the Devon coastline the other.

After demolishing a succulent steak, we picked up a minibus to the Liberty Stadium, Swansea City’s 20,000 seat home, which opened in 2005 and also plays host to Ospreys rugby club.

The intimate stadium offers a great view from every seat and the atmosphere on the last day of a season to celebrate for the Swans was excellent from both sets of supporters, particularly when news of Manchester City’s last minute winner to deny Man United the league title filtered through.

As for the match, Swansea had shown all season they were a stylish football team who knew how to pass, keep possession and score a classy goal and they deserved their 1-0 victory over the Reds. No wonder they’ve been nicknamed Swansalona! Here’s hoping it rubs off on Liverpool for next season.

Nick and I spent our last night sampling the hospital-ity of Swansea’s nightlife. We started off on Wind Street where you’ll find all the usual chain pubs and bars, and ended up at the nearby Queen’s Hotel, apparently a favourite drinking den of Dylan Thomas. Today, like most of the city’s boozers, it was packed to the rafters with jubilant Swans fans good-naturedly singing their team’s anthems with a pint in hand.

We wound up the night and our trip in the rather qui-eter surroundings of The Pump House in the Maritime Quarter with the quiz machine for company, a mere stagger along the wharfside from our hotel.

A weekend in Swansea gives you the option to either pack in the sights or just relax, stroll and take things easily. The city showed us a very enjoyable time, and if you can say that after watching your team lose, then you know a place has really been worth the visit.

For more information about visiting Swansea go to: www.visitswanseabay.com

JUNE 12

BEST OF LIVERPOOL30

Travel

Paul Baker turns an away day watching Liverpool FC into a long weekend to remember in Swansea...

AROUNDSwanning

Swansea Marina at night

Mumbles Lighthouse and Pier

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BEST OF LIVERPOOL 31

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