2009’S MUST-HAVE FASHION ACCESSORY – A RED NOSE…

Oxfam has commissioned a series of stunning photographs of 2009’s must-have fashion accessory – the 2009 Red Nose.

Shot by leading fashion photographer Tim Bret Day, the images – which also feature fabulous clothes from Oxfam shops – capture the beauty and effortless style that the nose bestows on its wearer with any outfit.

Never has there been a better time to pick your nose all in the name of charity. For the first time ever there are 3 different Noses to choose from which are available from Oxfam, Sainsbury’s or www.rednoseday.com for £1 each (with at least 70p going to Comic Relief). The Red Nose has been a design classic that has been essential-wear every other March for more than two decades, and its 2009 incarnation – which features elegant “cheeky faces” motif – proves that the Red Noses will be a wardrobe staple for the discerning fashionista for many years to come.

Sarah Farquhar, head of retail for Oxfam said: “This year’s Red Noses are a perennial classic – and by buying one from Oxfam you are investing in a better world. These pictures go to show that by coupling a Red Nose with affordable classics and funky design from Oxfam you can look silly and stylish at the same time.”

Oxfam sells around 750,000 Red Noses during each Comic Relief campaign. Money raised from the sale of merchandise, music singles, fundraising initiatives and generosity of the British public has contributed more than £5million to Oxfam’s lifesaving work around the world since 2007, as well as to numerous other international charities and projects in the UK.

Farquhar added: “Not only can you Do Something Funny for Money this year, you can look cute for a hoot too! Make sure you pick your nose before Red Nose Day on Friday 13 March.

Please note: image courtesy of Tim Bret Day and Oxfam

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/

LAST CHANCE TO SEE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2008, LAST CHANCE TO ENTER FOR 2009
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 exhibition at London’s Natural History Museum has been attracting record numbers of visitors but closes on 26 April. Photographers hoping to feature in the 2009 exhibition have less than three weeks left to enter.
Entries for the world’s most prestigious wildlife photography competition close on 27 March (20 March for postal entries). See www.nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto for details. Prize money is £10,000 for the overall winner and up to £1,000 for the category winners. Last year’s competition attracted more than 32,000 entries from 82 countries.

The 2009 competition has a new sponsor, and will be known as ‘Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009’.
The winning images tour regionally and internationally. The photos are also published in a hardback book and in a special supplement of BBC Wildlife Magazine. The competition, owned by the Museum and the Magazine, has been running annually since 1964.

MARCH ON IN STYLE
The Original Designer Warehouse Sales

Awarded five stars by the newly published How to Shop annual, and acclaimed by the British fashion press throughout the years, the Designer Warehouse Sales have proved themselves one of the most exciting destinations for innovative British and International designer labels at affordable prices.

At times of economic downturn the wise fashion lover will spend on luxury investment pieces and at DWS shoppers can be assured of ‘the best for less’ New labels to join the 120+ designers are young high fashion labels Bolbongaro (founders of All Saints), Patrizia Pepe and Ghulam Sakina, some fabulous high end current season pieces from YSL and Bottega Veneta as well as must-have Belstaff separates at prices well over 60% below the original retail prices.

The March 2009 Womenswear Designer Warehouse Sales takes place at 5/6 Islington Studios, Thane Works, Thane Villas, N7 7NU on Friday 27th March (10am to 8pm), Saturday 28th March (10am to 6pm) and Sunday 29th March (11am to 5pm). £2 entrance fee).

With over 21 years of experience this forerunner of designer warehouse sales offers the whole gamut - from the conceptual to the cool at affordable prices. Only labels genuinely carried are claimed to be carried by the Sales and DWS is proud to be known as Sale which offers the best for less.

(The April 2009 Menswear Designer Warehouse Sales takes place at 5/6 Islington Studios, Thane Works, Thane Villas, N7 7NU on Friday 3rd April (10am to 8pm), Saturday 4th April (10am to 6pm) and Sunday 5th April (11am to 5pm). £2 entrance fee).

NESPRESSO LAUNCHES GROUND-BREAKING RANGE OF COFFEE MACHINES
Stylish and contemporary, new CitiZ machines provide affordable luxury for urban coffee lovers

London, 26 February 2009: Capitalising on the current trend for enjoying the finest food and drink at home, Nespresso, the leading innovator in luxury portioned coffee is launching a new range of machines for the style-conscious city dweller. Influenced by city life and urban culture, the Nespresso CitiZ is inspired by the landscape and ambience of major global cities and is aimed at those who appreciate affordable quality in every aspect of their busy lives.

Featuring three minimalist and sleek designs, CitiZ, CitiZ&Milk and CitiZ&Co, the new range is the first to include three different models launched simultaneously by Nespresso. Able to fit into the smallest of urban living spaces, CitiZ will satisfy both convenience and quality; each machine producing the renowned, superior Nespresso coffee at the touch of a button.

The range’s design is evocative of the iconic skylines and buildings of major urban hubs such as London, New York and Chicago, with the structure and colours inspired by the unique sights and shapes found on their streets. Led by renowned Industrial Designer Antoine Cahen, the Nespresso design team sourced materials that symbolise the strength, toughness and grittiness of the city, using eye-catching, shiny metals to contrast with the bright, striking colours.

Nespresso consulted its Club Members to find out their preferences for the new range and created the three machines incorporating different functions to suit the varying tastes of coffee lovers across the world:

• Nespresso CitiZ – a single automatic espresso machine, perfect for the independent, city dweller with a passion for quality that comes with convenience.
• Nespresso CitiZ&Milk – a single automatic espresso machine with a built-in fresh milk-frother – for the coffee lover who favours cappuccinos and lattes.
• Nespresso CitiZ&Co. – the first of its kind, this machine allows the user to make two coffees simultaneously, perfect for those who enjoy entertaining, or the city-living couple who want to enjoy their coffee together.

For further information please go to www.nespresso.com

CHANNEL 4’S GRAND DESIGNS ‘GROUNDHOUSE’ CHOOSES WATER AND ENERGY EFFICIENT AEG-ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES

The owner and project manager of the ambitious Groundhouse Eco build project, Daren Howarth chose AEG-Electrolux energy and water efficient kitchen appliances for his zero carbon emission home. The house, which was recently featured on Channel 4 programme Grand Designs, was picked by Kevin McCloud as one of his top five projects since the programme began 10 years ago.

The Ground House is built of 1,000 car tyres rammed with earth. Insulated with recycled glass and plastic, it needs just one small wood-burning stove to keep it warm. Solar tiles provide hot water, while photovoltaic panels generate electricity.

When it came to equipping the kitchen, Daren picked the AEG-Electrolux A+AA rated L86850 washing machine and the AEG-Electrolux SU96000-5i A+ rated under counter built in fridge .
“Low energy consumption is a key feature of all aspects of the groundhouse design making it essential that we sourced the best kitchen appliances on the market from this point. Low water consumption was also of key importance, and we are delighted with our choice.”, says Daren Howarth.

The AEG-Electrolux Lavamat L86850 not only has super energy efficient A+ AA energy rating it is also one of the quietest washing machines on the market. The ‘silent system’ is achieved by a high performance inverter motor, an automatic adjustable foot to absorb vibration and superior panel insulation. Other highlights include the new time save function and a 20 minute - 3kg programme for when you are in a real hurry.

AEG-Electrolux SU96000-5i A+ rated under counter built in fridge
Recommended by the Energy Savings Trust, this undercounter larder fridge has A+ rating and automatic defrost. It is of exceptional quality build and has easy clean glass shelves and thoughtful fittings.
For more information on the appliances go to:
www.aeg-electrolux.co.uk
More information on the project can be found at
www.groundhouse.co.uk
Consumer contact details: Electrolux 08705 950 950
www.electrolux.co.uk

CONSUMERS VOTE FOR THEIR FAVOURITE GOOEY AD
Cadbury Creme Egg fans everywhere have been clicking like crazy in an online vote for their favourite gooey TV ad from the current ‘Here Today, Goo Tomorrow’ TV ad campaign.

The nation was given a one-off opportunity to choose the creative clip they most wanted to see on their TV screens - Blender, Saw, Newton’s Cradle, Books or Tape Measure – and make the decision on which one would be aired in prime-time slots.

The poll – which ran online for eight weeks at www.cremeegg.com - saw a massive 15,348 people across the UK log on to the site to cast their vote, with the winning ad ‘Blender’ storming ahead to receive 4,781 nominations and taking 31% of the vote. The clip - which shows a Creme Egg cheekily strip off, fail to catapult itself into the blender, but then still manage to goo itself by accident - is so loved by the public that it has officially become the nation’s favourite gooey ad!

The ‘Here Today, Goo Tomorrow’ TV campaign, which launched in 2008 and continues this year, sees the Creme Egg on a series of amusing missions to release its goo. Be it Blender, Cork or Mousetrap, Cadbury Creme Eggs just want to get their goo out. They love to be goo-ed as much as they love goo-ing themselves – and if you don’t do it first, they will do it for you!

‘The Here Today, Goo Tomorrow set of TV adverts were so popular with the public that this year we wanted to give the nation the chance to interact with the campaign itself and influence it – especially given that Creme Egg is the nation’s favourite chocolate treat between January and Easter. The response to the online vote was incredible and goes to show that consumers like to be involved in the marketing strategy of their favourite brands.’ Katherine Carter – Cadbury Creme Egg Senior Brand Manager.

To watch the winning ad ‘blender’ click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8s1OCghguU

The Goo Season 2009:

The Goo Season is well underway, bringing welcome relief and joyous cheer to the nation! From January through until Easter Sunday, playtime is back and Cadbury Creme Eggs everywhere are bursting to release their gooey fondant fillings, whilst finding ever more inventive ways to spray, splat, dribble and splurge all over the place!

For much more gooey goings-on and a chance to play the addictive new online game The Great Eggscape, go to www.cremeegg.com

LES RENDEZ-VOUS REMY MARTIN
An escapade in the Heart of Cognac

Oenotourism at the heart of aromas
February, 2009 - The House of Rémy Martin shares its story and reveals the secret surrounding the elaboration of its cognacs: an exceptional experience in the Heart of Cognac.

The House of Rémy Martin has constantly been seeking to offer exclusive services for its guests coming from all around the world. “Les Rendez-Vous Rémy Martin” is a tailored made experience to share with co-workers or loved ones.

Whether it is for a weekend, a day or an afternoon, the House of Rémy Martin proposes privileged access to its heritage.

The exclusive packages offered by Rémy Martin allow guests to escape through time and space: a visit of the vineyards and of the Cellars, by bike, the oenological and olfactory exploration of eaux-de-vies and cognacs, a tour of the wine pressing hall or an extravagant dinner in the intimacy of the Grollet – the family residence - the encounter with the only female Cellar Master, Pierrette Trichet…

Oenological and gastronomic exploration
Along with every cognac tasting, Philippe Saint Romas, the House’s new chef, who previously worked for the most prestigious Parisian locations, creates a gastronomic menu, an experience that completes the uniqueness of the “Rendez-Vous Rémy Martin”.

Some entertaining and cultural workshops such as eaux-de-vie blending, art of mixology, cooking classes and an olfactory treasure hunt are also offered. With its idyllic setting, “Les Rendez-Vous Rémy Martin” is the perfect experience for those who appreciate the finest things in life.

The House of Rémy Martin was founded in 1724 by a young and ambitious winegrower and has always been synonymous with the finest cognacs. Its prestigious appellation “Fine Champagne” is the result of the exclusive selection of eaux-de-vie from Grande and Petite Champagne, two regions located at the Heart of Cognac, at the Heart of Rémy Martin.

www.visitesremymartin.com

ST PATRICK’S DAY: LEGENDARY IRISH CHEF RICHARD CORRIGAN TO HOST A STYLISH CELEBRATION AT BENTLEY’S
This March 17th, mark St Patrick’s Day in style at Richard Corrigan’s iconic seafood restaurant Bentley’s, on the borders of Soho and Mayfair. Guests of this exclusive occasion can make a day of it, enjoying the private Jameson Room from 12.30pm when the event kicks off with a Black Velvet reception, followed by a delicious Irish buffet lunch, traditional live music from Hungry Grass, and a full cash bar open until late. Rasher butties will be available later in the evening.
The lunch menu is as follows:

Frank Hederman’s Smoked Salmon
Richard Corrigan’s Irish Stew
Drunken Apple Tart with Whisky and Cloves

Chef Patron Richard Corrigan famously hails from the Emerald Isle, having grown up on a small farm in County Meath. His Irish influence can be seen in much of his cooking: at Bentley’s crustacea and seafood are the mainstay of the menu. Tickets to this event cost just £50 per person, and are available now.

Address
11-15 Swallow Street
London
W1B 4DG
Nearest Tube
Piccadilly Circus
Contact Details
T: +44 (0)20 7734 4756
F: +44 (0)20 7758 4140
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NEW OPENINGS IN THE OPERA QUARTER - SAGAR, HI SUSHI & SPRING AWAKENING

Good news for vegetarians and lovers of Indian food alike, Sagar, London’s highly acclaimed South Indian restaurant is now open in the Opera Quarter, Covent Garden’s historic food quarter.

Sagar is a very welcome addition to the Opera Quarter, adding to the delicious variety of food available in what is the destination for quality affordable dining in the West End. Other restaurants in the area include Cote Bistro, winner of Best Affordable Restaurant in the Good Food Guide 2009, celeb fav the Primrose Bakery, Le Cafe du Jardin, Pj’s, Sophie’s Steakhouse and Boulevard Brasserie to name but a few.

Specialising in Udupi cuisine, the natural, additive free vegetarian temple style cooking from the Karnataka coastal region of South India. Flavours are subtle, sophisticated and the food is light and healthy. Enjoy a giant Masala Dosa or a selection of delicious dishes with one of their Thalis.

Lunch Special £5.75: Pappadam, Bhajia, Masala Dosa, rice of the day, Vegetable Curry, Raitha, Sambar, Chutney & Dessert of the day. Served Monday – Friday 12 – 3pm, not take away.

Value for Money Lunch Box £3.50: Two Curries, Rice, Salad, Raitha & Fresh Bread. Served Monday – Saturday 12 – 3pm take away only.

*Vegan or nut, wheat, onion or garlic free dishes available on request.

SAGAR VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT, 31 Catherine Street, WC2B 5JS Tel 020 7836 6377
www.gosagar.com. Open 12.00 noon – 11pm Monday – Thursday & 12.00 noon – 11.30pm Friday - Saturday

For more information about the Opera Quarter, details of all the restaurants, bars, pubs and food emporiums in the area, news special offers and events please visit our new website: www.operaquarter.co.uk .

THE OLD BEAR OPENS
The Old Bear in Cobham is now open after an extensive refurbishment, offering the ultimate cosy country pub in the surroundings of one of Surrey’s most attractive towns. The Old Bear is the second project from the team behind the hugely successful Islington pub, The Albion. Richard Turner and Simon Anderson have created another truly authentic venue serving delicious food in a space whose design is a modern take on the classic English pub. At a time when more and more traditional pubs are closing on a weekly basis, The Old Bear is a response to the need for the pub to evolve, appealing to families and women with an impressive food and drink offering and welcoming interior.

Richard Turner has created two menus; one for the bar and one for the dining areas and both are full of warming classics guaranteed to please all tastes. The bar menu changes daily according to seasonality and prices start at £4. Dishes include Potted Duck and Toast, Roast Beef Bone Marrow with Capers, Mash and Gravy, and Half a Dozen Oysters.

The dining menu offers three courses of delectable dishes and starters include a truly retro-style Prawn Cocktail with Apple, Celery and Romaine Lettuce, Salad of Young Goat’s Cheese and Vegetables with Lemon Truffle Dressing and Hot Scottish Cockles with Addlestones Cider, Smoked Bacon and Thyme. Mains include Steamed Wild Rabbit and Bacon Pudding with Secretts Carrots and Chervil, Dexter Beef Wellington, and Whole Roast Lemon Sole with Sprouting Broccoli and Shrimp Butter. Mains are reasonably priced between £10 and £18. Indulgent desserts include Treacle Tart with Milk Ice Cream, Chocolate Sundae and Honey Parfait with Caramelised Apple Granita.

The Old Bear also boasts an extensive drinks and wine lists stretching far beyond the remit of a typical country pub. It is one of the first venues to introduce an Enomatic Wine Preserving System, allowing customers to order single glasses of fine wines, which they might not be able to afford by the bottle. Fine wines will change on a weekly basis and there will also be a great selection of beers and champagne on offer, as well as some original and entertaining cocktails, including an Apple Crumble Martini and Choco-Mint-Tini.

The Old Bear’s interior, created by celebrated designer Shaun Clarkson, inspires a feeling of warmth from the moment you walk through the door. The natural wooden beams, oak floor and caramel coloured walls all give a true sense of the countryside, as do the roaring fires with copper hoods at each end of the bar and in the main dining area.

The venue is divided into five main areas: the main bar, two dining areas, lounge and garden and can accommodate over 90 covers inside and a further 90 outside. The bar is seven metres of gleaming wood sporting a bronze bear statue and lit by Regency-style red lamps suspended from the ceiling. At the rear of the pub lies the expansive garden which is bordered by flowerbeds which by summer will be transformed into a lush area of herbs, vegetables and fruit trees.

The Albion opened in early 2007 and has fast become a firm Islington favourite, with its stunning Irish-English menu and exquisite garden. Talented Head Chef Liam Kirwan, formerly of The Gun and Sand’s End has recently taken over the kitchen from Richard Turner and his food has met with widespread acclaim.
The Old Bear
Riverhill,
Cobham,
Surrey
KT11 3DX

Website: www.theoldbearcobham.co.uk

Phone number: 01932 862 116

Opening Hours : Mon-Sat:10am-11pm (Lunch 12pm-3pm, Dinner 6pm-10pm)Sunday: 10am-10.30pm (Lunch 12pm-4pm, Dinner 6pm-9pm) Bar menu served 12pm-10pm

KYOKU FOR MEN OFFERS FREE MINI FACIALS AT SELFRIDGES
To celebrate the launch of Kyoku http://www.kyokuformen.com for Men at Selfridges on 2nd April, the luxury grooming range will be offering complimentary facials to shoppers at Selfridges department store in London.

The bespoke Kyoku for Men mini facials will be available every Saturday and Sunday during store hours from 2nd – 22nd April, offering clients the opportunity to trial the Kyoku products with a relaxing 20 minutes grooming treatment, freeing them from the hustle and bustle of the store.

Men simply need to visit the Kyoku space in Menswear on the first floor to secure an appointment. Ladies, don’t be afraid to sign up your man at the Kyoku concession on the main beauty floor next to Tom Ford.

Seated in a luxurious leather recliner and listening to relaxing music through state-of-the-art wireless headphones provided by Bose, guests will feel as if they’re miles away from central London. Designed specifically with a man’s skin in mind, the Kyoku for Men products combine cutting-edge grooming technology with effective natural ingredients, such as ginseng, green tea leaf, bamboo, camomile and avocado oil, leaving clients feeling refreshed and invigorated.

The Kyoku for Men Mini Facial Experience
The Kyoku for Men mini facial starts with a nourishing and energizing facial cleanse using the Kyoku Daily Facial Cleanser.

An invigorating scrub containing volcanic ash pulls excess oils and toxins from the skin, whilst adzuki beans gently exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and ingrown hairs from the face.

A deep craniofacial massage, using the Kyoku for Men Facial Moisturiser, rich in bamboo and pea extract, rehydrates the skin, while anti-aging peptides smooth away fine lines and wrinkles to give the skin a refined and chiselled appearance.

To finish, the skin is smoothed with Kyoku Oil Control Lotion, reducing the baseline oil levels and creating a matte appearance. Finally, Kyoku for Men’s Lip Fuel is massaged on to the lips, moisturizing and energizing this delicate area.

Bookings will be taken on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
www.kyokuformen.com

LOVEMYDEVON WINNER FINALLY REVEALED
-Former mayor of Torrington is crowned Devon’s No.1 fan securing a £10,000 prize -
Visit Devon has today announced Anne Tattersall from Torrington in North Devon as the winner of the lovemydevon competition. Anne was awarded a £10,000 prize for ‘spreading her love for Devon’ during a month-long campaign promoting the county to the rest of the UK.

Anne’s wacky antics saw her promoting Devon’s ‘rooms with a moo’, travelling the country in her very own customised ‘love-bug’, giving away 35 love weekends to lucky winners from all over the UK, posing on the beach with a group of scantily clad young farmers and baking a rather large scone.

Anne was chosen as one of three finalists when Visit Devon embarked on their search for passionate Devonians with a series of ‘X Factor’ style auditions back in November. As the very first auditionee on a cold November morning, Anne caught the judges attention with her heart-print pyjamas and bubbly personality.

The second round of the competition saw Anne, a former mayor of Torrington, Helen Blackman, a north Devon surfer and south Devon trio Barney Sutton, Dick Smith and Jona Ahearne go head-to-head in a quest to generate the most publicity for Devon over the month of January. After a close competition Anne was finally crowned as the overall winner in an event at Exeter’s Abode Hotel today – taking home a £10,000 prize.

Nicola Poultney, Chief Executive of Visit Devon said “It’s been a fantastic competition, with each of our finalists taking a different approach. We’ve had Rik Mayall singing about Devon, a life-size fibreglass cow, a customised ‘love-bug’ and our contestants travelling the length and breadth of the UK in all manner of crazy costumes in their quest to spread their love for Devon!

We want to thank all our finalists for their gallant efforts and the time they put into each of their campaigns, but in the end their had to be one winner and Anne impressed the judges with her constant stream of ideas, her infectious enthusiasm, her ability to get Devon businesses behind her and most importantly the level of publicity she secured in a variety of media across the country.”

A delighted Anne commented “It’s been a long journey but worth it, I’m absolutely thrilled. I really enjoyed the experience and the highlight was definitely seeing the publicity the campaign generated actually in print.

Anne added “I plan to share some of the prize money with the people that helped me, have a really big party and take along awaited holiday!”

The work of the two runners up also produced some fantastic results. Helen Blackman took Daisy the life-size fibreglass Cow on a tour of the county meeting the likes of Todd Carty, Johnny Kingdom and John Burton Race whilst keeping a video diary of hers and Daisy’s adventures. Helen also used her campaign to support children’s charity Chicks.

Coming in as joint runners up were trio Barney Sutton, Dick Smith and Jona Ahearne who reworked the Sinatra classic ‘cheek to cheek’ into a Devon homage, enlisting celebrities and locals across Devon to each sign a line in a video that was posted on the web. The trio also stormed radio stations handing out cream teas and took to the streets selling their specially designed ‘I love Devon’ T-shirts.

The final stage of the lovemydevon campaign sees the launch of an online guide comprising over fifty tips from those in the know, well known chefs, musicians, and authors, all experts in their individual fields, as well as Devonians who love living in their county and want to share their insider knowledge. The guide includes everything from favourite pubs, walks, views and beaches to the very best place to tuck-in to an ice cream or spots to sit and watch the world go by. For more information go to www.visitdevon.co.uk or www.lovemydevon.co.uk.

Lovemydevon was launched by Visit Devon with the aim of promoting Devon as a year round quality visitor destination. The campaign has been funded by over 30 tourism organisations across the county together with Devon County Council, the Devon Association of Tourist Attractions (DATA) and Devon Farms. To date the campaign has generated more than £280,000 worth of media coverage.

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