February 2008 Archives

When your life involves a fair bit of socialising a Saturday night ‘treat’ really is quiet night in!

I love nothing more than pouring myself a crisp glass of pinot and pottering in the kitchen preparing a lovely meal!

This Saturday was no exception… a chilled laid back night, with nice food, good wine and wonderful company – Nothing out of the ordinary until my doorbell rang at about 10pm and in walked Woody from Toy Story and Whoopi Goldberg from Sister Act!!

“Just a regular Saturday night for you then!”…. commented my guest (with a slightly sarcastic tone!)

Now – I have never really been a fan of ‘Fancy Dress’, but I have to say the sight of the two nutters on my door step on Saturday did make me laugh.

I have been threatened with death if I reveal Whoopi’s identity – as for Woody – if you want to get to know him better – go to Zoo Salon in Hackins Hey and ask for Bryan Foy!!

When he is not hanging out with Buzz Lightyear he is a great hair stylist!

Coleen McLoughlin and the Barbara Daley Girls

Barbara Daley hosted a glamorous launch party to celebrate the opening of her new salon last week.

The impressive venue situated in the heart of the Northwestern Halls in Lime Street was opened by Liverpool’s own ‘Real Woman’ Colleen McLoughlin.

The red carpet oozed glitz and glamour and the guests were greeted by stilt-walking models in rollers and champagne.

The party continued as the invited ladies made their way to Alma de Cuba for more champagne cocktails.

Congratulations to Barbara and the team, the new site is a fitting tribute to a Liverpool business in a very important year for the City.

The Mocha Lounge on Sir Thomas Street held its official launch party on Thursday 21st February 2008.

Over 100 guests from around the city were treated to complimentary wines and coffee cocktails as well as tastes from the Mocha Lounge’s menu, whilst being entertained by local artiste Stephanie Guidera.

The Mocha Lounge is a Liverpool-owned independent coffee house and eatery which prides itself not only on its luxurious surroundings but the high standard of food and drink served.

For more information, please visit www.themochalounge.co.uk

Chris Fitton (Optimark), Andrea Hines (Optimark), and Phil Blything (Glow New Media)

Dave Connor (Coethica), Gary Jenkins (Merseytravel), Lynne Jones (Enable), Kevin Peacock (TMP)

Nathan Richardson, Di Shaw, Debbie Thompson (Alliance and Leicester), Adam Bell (Malmaison)

Top celebrity haunt Jalons Bridewell was the place to be seen on Wednesday evening as the trendy bar and restaurant celebrated its launch with a bullion themed party.

Guests were treated to an evening of luxury in stark contrast to the building’s original use.

Glowing gold candles lit up the courtyard as guests were greeted by the soulful tune of a jazz saxophonist.

The prettiest policewomen the Bridewell has played host to met guests at the door as partygoers sipped Laurent Perrier Champagne.

To a soundtrack provided by a pianist, actors from Hollyoaks, The Bill’s Andrew Lancel and the cast of Stags and Hens mingled with theatre starlets Claire Sweeney and Suzanne Collins and a host of faces from Liverpool’s creative and business sectors.

As the wine flowed, guests were invited to sample some of Jalons Bridewell’s delicious menu as the party continued late into the evening.

As the evening drew to a close, eager not to be locked up for the night despite the inviting comfort of the ground floor refurbished cells, guests left with gold goody bags filled with luxury treats including mini bottles of champagne, gold chocolate coins, cosmetics, perfume, and keyrings from Lollipops.

Andrew Lancel and wife Louise Lancel

Claire Sweeney and Adam Bell

Claire Sweeney and parents Kathy and Ken

Helen Goodwin and Helen Booth

Simon Ross, Dominic Matteo and John Bradley

Lisa Tolley (TMP), Fiona Shaw (Capsica Publishing) and Hege Tollerud (TMP)

A glittering Oscars style event took place in the Radisson SAS last week hosted by the Liverpool smokefree youth group D-MYST.

Leading figures in the health sector and other VIPs entered the hotel on a red carpet before enjoying the Hollywood themed ceremony which honoured actor and writer Neil Fitzmaurice of North Star Productions and Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter of Hurricane for their stance on tobacco imagery in films aimed at young people.

The evening preceded the D-MYST International Smokefree Movies Conference which took place the next day in St George’s Hall. The conference, chaired by broadcaster Peter Sissons, attracted delegates from all round the world and included presentations from some of the most influential figures in tobacco control.

It also featured a makeover where pop star Liz McClarnon was transformed by the Liverpool Community College film make up team to show the visual effects of smoking.

Neil and Tony Fitzmaurice, Northstar productions

Sylvia and Peter Sissons with Professor Stanton Glantz

Peter Sissons

Liz McClarnon

Professor Stanton Glanz, Derek Campbell, Chief Executive Liverpool PCT, Cllr Warren Bradley and Cllr Berni Turner

Sex and the City might be a distant memory, but the Manhattan girls were instrumental in bringing us the ‘Baby Shower’.

Sheree Murphy held her own glamorous baby shower recently for 70 friends and family at 60 Hope Street to celebrate the impending arrival of her little girl.

Coleen McLoughlin and Alex Curran joined Sheree’s friends from Emmerdale and other guests for a super-stylish pre-baby party.

Drag queen Laquisha Jonz organised party games including ‘guess the size of Sheree’s bump’ and pass the parcel, which provided the biggest laugh of the afternoon as Alex Curran (who has THE most perfectly gorgeous teeth) won the Liverpool Dental Spa Teeth Whitening prize – Alex did see the funny side!

Hundreds of stunning flowers if fantastic floral arrangements, pink champagne and traditional afternoon tea provided the perfect setting for some of the cities most stylist ladies. For full story see this week’s OK magazine.

Liz McLarnon
Sheree Murphy
Kerrie Fowler

Coleen McLoughlin
Lorraine McCulloch

Event organisers
Lorraine McCulloch
Justine Mills

Stylish jeweller Boodles hosted the launch of the Boodles 2008 Nations Cup recently.

The event which is to be held over four days, 24th to 28th June, in the sumptuous surroundings of Adlington Hall and gardens is a quintessentially English garden party accompanied by competitive grass court tennis from some of the world’s great champions.

A series of round robin matches culminating with the final will be missed with a programme of music and entertainment. For further information or to book, call 0151 236 2134.

James Southworth (Hill Dickinson LLP)
Nicholas Wainwright (MD, Boodles)

Rick and Carolyn Nevinson (Brookson)
Patrick Carr

Alice Anastasiou
Hayley Glover (Boodles)
Carley Halliday

The venue for Liverpool Chamber’s latest Business Breakfast was the Mocha Lounge on Sir Thomas Street.

Over 60 business people found the recently opened venue ideal to listen to a success story from local boy made good, Steve Sealey.

Steve started work on Liverpool docks before moving into the local supermarket business and then on to toilet roll manufacture in Skelmersdale. The business went from strength to strength until it was taken over in 2000 giving Steve & his fellow shareholders a very successful exit.

After a brief spell in Spain, playing golf and doing not much else, Steve became a founding director of Aquarius Equity Partners.

He is also a cornerstone investor in the Northern Entrepreneurs Fund as well as being a founder of ‘Dreamcatchers’, the Liverpool based Business Angel Network. He is also Chairman of the Prince’s Trust NW Development Committee.

After an excellent presentation, Steve answered questions and when asked what keeps his feet on the ground, he replied without hesitation: “My wife & kids, there are no superstars round the breakfast table in our house.”

Chamber Board Director, Brian McCann with Steve Sealey

Noir played host last week for a special valentines themed fashion show to raise funds for the Greek School of Nicholas.

Over £2,000 was raised through ticket and raffle sales with the school providing all models for the evening. The stunning models showcased clothes from Cricket, Miss Sixty, Energie, Kate Kuba and Elle in St Helens.

With hair specialist from Zoo doing all the models hair. Alice Anastasiou the lady behind the fashion show quoted “I am so proud of all the children, they have all worked so hard and is warms my heart to see them supporting their Greek heritage, they looked amazing on the catwalk and I’m so grateful to all involved, as well as all the stockists”

Katrina Poza
Euna Anastasiou
Andreas Kossifou

A very worthwhile cause....