issue eleven
november/ december twenty-thirteen
Martin Freeman From the Office to Middle Earth, Another Brit Takes Hollywood in His Stride
gifts galore ideas from regional retailers
whitefiars christmas market
eat your way healthy
family festive fun for all
superfoods to the rescue
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Now with an integrated Aeroccino that gives you incredibly creamy fresh milk froth. www.nespresso.com/umilk
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[title ]
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[welcome ]
november/december twenty-thirteen
ISSUE eleven
H
llo everybody, and Happy e Holidays one and all! Once again Old Saint Nick is revving up the reindeer and doing a bit of last minute maintenance on the sleigh, before starting his quest from the North Pole to bring joy and happiness (and perhaps the latest Xbox 360) to homes up and down the country.
With that in mind, we have a bumper crop of gift ideas for you this Christmas, with a multi-page selection from Fenwick’s Canterbury, Ashford Designer Outlet, and Kent based games maker, the world famous ‘Jaques of London’. We also get festive as we sit down with Nathan Whiting-May and find out exactly what to expect from the new and improved Whitefriars Christmas Markets in Canterbury, while we review Martyn Barr’s new book on Canterbury Cathedral’s world renowned stained glass windows. We also catch up with best-selling East Kent Authoress Hannah Fielding, whose new book “The Echoes of Love” will be available from all good bookstores from December 6th, an ideal stocking filler for any romance novel sucker. Still intent on eating our way around the county, enjoy reading about the eccentricities and peerless burgers at Googies Art Café in Folkestone in Amy McManus’s review (page 68), and we couldn’t resist the offer of a hearty Kentish lunch from The Minnis at Minnis Bay, reviewed on page 66. And don’t miss celebrity Chef, Richard Phillips recipe guide on “Roast Turkey Made Simple”. With our usual feast of fashion, travel, beauty, styling, days out, news & events, music, homes & gardens, and more besides, we’re happy to offer you this latest edition of East Kent Lifestyle as your first Christmas present! Pete Nichols, Publishing Director 4
east kent lifestyle magazine
1-3 Iron Bar Lane, Off Burgate, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2HN AddressHere AddressHere PostcodeHere Tel: NumberHere 01227 459525 Tel
[contents ]
55 cure's cool cuts
28
Fenwicks Gift Guide
whAt’s iNside...
food and drink
62 65 66 68 71 73
Renee’s Healthy Food Tips Broadstairs Food Festival The Minnis Bar & Restaurant Googies Café Cocktails from the Cuban Richard Phillips Recipe
home & garden
39 40 43 49 50
Low Cost Heating Papillon Interiors Granite Transformations Jacksons Fencing In Praise of Winter
health & beauty
89 Fella's Top 5 Hair Tips 90 Amy McManus Heath Tips
51
martin freeman
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[contents ]
73
richard phillips
80 fenwicks
fashion
55 Cure's Cool Cuts 80 Fenwicks Fashion
regulars & features
15 16 18 20 26 28 32 37 51 56 57 58 60 96 98
Sustainable Living Cycle Trail East Kent Walks Best Place In The Holiday Season… Fabulous Finds Fenwicks Gift Guide Jaques of London Quex Museum Martin Freeman Tom Keenan Photography East Kent Literature Paintings in Light Whitefriars Christmas Market What's Occuring East Kent Business – James Linsley
75
jaillan travel
education
93 St Lawrence College 95 Kent College
travel
75 Starry Starry Nights 78 Headland Hotel
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googies café 7
Make it Memorable. Make it The Minnis.
Overlooking one of the finest beaches on the North Kent Coast, The Minnis Bar and Restaurant is a relaxed, stylish restaurant that offers a truly outstanding a la carte dining experience. With spectacular sunsets and panoramic views across Minnis Bay, diners can expect fine, innovative, English cuisine in a comfortable and welcoming environment.
The Minnis Bar & Restaurant Minnis Bay, Birchington
01843 841844
www.theminnis.co.uk
[publication information ]
psapublishing East Kent Lifestyle magazine published by PSA Publishing Barley House, Sopers Road, Cuffley, Herts EN6 4RY tel: 01707 878026 email: sales@psapublishing.co.uk www.psapublishing.co.uk
Publishing Director
Creative Director
Pete Nichols pete@psapublishing.co.uk
Stuart Bennett stuart@bainesdesign.co.uk
Sales Executive
Managing Director
Jo Costello sales@psapublishing.co.uk
Andrew Bennett andrew@bainesdesign.co.uk
Travel Editor
Distribution
Jaillan Yehia hello@savoirthere.com
www.fellahair.com
MEN HAVE 3 TYPES OF HAIRSTYLES:
PARTED, UN-PARTED & DEPARTED!
Sam Holliday Mary Jones
Contributors Amy McManus, Jo Scott, Richard Phillips, Jaillan Yehia, Christine Atesh, Bradley McManus Tony King, Renee Maguire, Edward Moore, Joe Jaques, Explore Kent, The Bay Trust, Craig Knight, Martin McHugh, Martyn Barr, Graham Thornhill, George Pantelli, Peter Da Silva.
Contributing Photographers Jo Scott, Jo Doran, Amy McManus, Tom Keenan, Kevin Francis, Martyn Barr, Kevin Oke, Dan Morris. For all advertising enquiries please contact sales on 01707 878 026
The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the content of advertisements or contributed editorial in this magazine. Opinions expressed editorially are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher and no responsibility is accepted for loss, damage or injury incurred as a result of opinions, advice or comment.
HOOK US UP / 01227 780382 19 The Borough Canterbury Kent CT1 2DR
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No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. Š Copyright 2013. No part of East Kent Lifestyle can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the prior written consent of the publishers. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.
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BAINES design 01707 876555 Printed on environmentally friendly paper A58792 9
[news ]
east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east ken
And the winner is . . . The Ambrette
again and again.
2013 has been an incredible year for The Ambrette Restaurant in Margate.
with a ‘moilee’ south Indian sauce made with coconut milk, typical of cooking in the Cavala area of Goa.
It began by being named best Indian Restaurant in the South East by the Cobra Good Curry Guide – despite not serving curry. This was quickly followed by being crowned ‘Best Restaurant’ in the Taste of Kent Awards – an accolade for which The Ambrette has again been short-listed for 2014. This summer The Ambrette was declared ‘Best Indian’ in a nationwide competition in Morrisons Magazine when it was rated 10/10 for the flavour, freshness and quality of its food.
However, rather than cooking the fish in the sauce, Dev fries it to bring out more complex flavours and deliver firmer texture, then serves it in the sauce.
Chef patron Dev Biswal’s dish of ‘Spice Crusted Fish’ has now been revealed as one of the country’s top three signature dishes at this year’s national Curry Week Awards. The fusion dish uses a marinade of Indian spices common in the eastern coastal states of the Bay of Bengal and is served
The recipe uses Quex Foods extra virgin, cold pressed rapeseed oil, produced locally at Birchington and marketed under the Kentish Oils brand. Quex Foods has produced a video showing Dev cooking the dish which is available at: www.vimeo.com/70399823. The Ambrette, 44 King Street, Margate Old Town, Kent CT9 1QE T: 01843 231504 E: info@theambrette.co.uk W: www.theambrette.co.uk
Kent cycling programme pedals to success at cycling industry awards Reacting to the news, Stewart Kellett, British Cycling’s director of Recreation and Partnerships said: “It’s fantastic that Sky Ride continues to be recognised for the great work it does to get people riding their bikes. This year alone we have delivered 17 Sky Ride city bike rides giving over 100,000 people the opportunity to enjoy accessible traffic-free cycling in a fun festival atmosphere. There have also been 1,800 Sky Ride Local events delivered in 2013 so far, with our trained workforce of ride leaders now up to the 1,500 mark.’ Sky Ride – the series of recreational cycling events and local rides from British Cycling and Sky – won the ‘Cycling Advocacy’ title at the annual Bike Biz Awards. In partnership with Kent County Council, the Sky Ride campaign has seen thousands of local residents dust off their bikes and get involved. Sky Ride Local rides, led by trained British Cycling Ride Leaders kept residents pedalling throughout the year. 10
‘The award is great recognition of everything that we have already achieved and continue to achieve. I would like to thank all the supporting local authorities, participants, ride leaders and volunteers who have worked hard to make Sky Ride activities such a success.” With lots of cycling opportunities still taking place in Kent including Breeze bike rides for women and Social Cycling Groups, visit goskyride.com/Kent to find out how you can get involved.
YOU ONLY NEED
nt NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS
[news ]
A 75% MORTGAGE THE HELP TO BUY SCHEME
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VISIT: Marketing suite open 7 days a week 10.00am - 5.00pm, Monday 12 noon - 7.00pm.
‘Help to Buy’ scheme offer. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. Available on new build homes up to £600,000 subject to the Government ‘Help to Buy’ terms and conditions and only available to customers where a primary mortgage is secured. Not available on second, additional homes, buy-to-let or let-to-buy properties. HomeBuy agent eligibility check required. The equity loan is interest free for the first five years and needs to be a minimum of 10% of the purchase price up to a maximum of 20%. After five years, an annual fee of 1.75% of the outstanding equity loan is charged. This is increased annually by RPI plus 1%. Subject to status, terms and conditions apply. Scheme ends March 2016. Help to Buy not in cojunction with any other offer. Pictures for illustration purposes only. Prices correct at time of going to press.
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[news ]
east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east ken
Professionals Help Businesses back Kent Young People Create Breakfast campaign Their Own Music
Creative teenage musicians in Kent and their teachers are flocking to take part in workshops in which they can gain expert advice and practical help on how to write and improve their own music. CREATE Music Labs give secondary school age children the chance to work with professional musicians, composers and creators, exploring interactive instrumentation techniques, inspiration, musical intuition and the technical aspects of creating new music in varied genres. The first event “Experimenting with Music for Small Ensemble” led by Kent-based Matthew King, lecturer in Composition at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, in Canterbury on November 15 is already fully-booked. Matthew will be supported by musicians Peter Longworth, Chris Lewis (who recently wrote a piece for beatboxer Bellatrix), and female Israeli composer Na’ama Zisser. CREATE Music Labs are a Soundhub programme delivered by Kent Music. Soundhub chief executive Peter Bolton said: “This is a great chance for students to take risks and push boundaries as their own compositions take shape and for school staff to pick up new teaching techniques. We’re delighted that so many students and teachers want to be involved and we are looking forward to organising more Music Labs in 2014 for musicians in other parts of Kent.”
Representatives of local tourism and hospitality businesses gathered at Quex Barn, Thanet, to get tips on how to serve a great Kent Breakfast. The Kent Breakfast scheme, promoted jointly by Visit Kent and Produced in Kent, is encouraging the county’s B&Bs, hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafes and everywhere else that serves breakfast to ensure that at least 60 per cent of the ingredients are sourced from within the county. Businesses signing up to the free scheme, and meeting the criteria for a Kent Breakfast, will receive free marketing material, enabling them to promote themselves to existing and potential guests as a user of locally sourced produce. Self-catering providers are not missing out either, as Kent Hampers full of local breakfast products are available to leave as welcome gifts for guests on arrival. Representatives of tourism and hospitality businesses from Thanet met at Quex Barn last week at a Thanet District Council funded event to hear from Sally Roger of Visit Kent and Jill Sargent of Produced in Kent, who gave advice on menu choices and extending seasonality. Guests also sampled typically Kentish breakfast ingredients.
To find out more about CREATE Music Labs email create@kent-music.com or call Sophie Plumb on 01622 358406.
“The feedback we have received has been really positive. It is very encouraging that local businesses have shown a real interest in the campaign,” said Sally. “Food, and where it comes from, is a key influence as to where visitors choose to visit, stay and eat. They not only want to see the local area but taste it too.”
To find out more about Soundhub, visit www.soundhubkent.com.
The Kent Breakfast campaign is funded through Defra’s Rural Development Programme for England.
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nt NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS [health and fitness ]
Look no further than McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Ashford for fashionable gifts for everyone on your list. With our stores open until 8pm Monday - Saturday you can shop a little longer for all of your favourite designer brands – all at up to 60% less. Plus, you’re invited to our VIP shopping event on 30th Nov – 1st Dec. Register online to enjoy an extra 10% off and experience our super chic VIP lounge.
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01. French Connection RRP £40 Outlet £20 02. The Body Shop Outlet only £20 03. Phase Eight RRP £120 Outlet £84
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04. Kurt Geiger RRP £110 Outlet £19 05. Reiss RRP £55 Outlet £33 06. Fiorelli RRP £25 Outlet £12.50 07. Links of London Outlet Only £45 08. Jaeger RRP £15 Outlet £10 09. Links of London Outlet Only £45
#MagicalChristmas AshfordDesignerOutlet.com Products feautred are subject to availability. All prices are correct at time of going to print.
[home and garden ]
Is Your Kitchen Outdated and Boring? Don’t Replace it - Reface it using our made to measure doors and drawers service
A complete kitchen reface for only £1995 Over 500 door colours / design options
Offer includes up to 20 made to measure doors, drawer fronts, cornices, pelmets, plinths and fitting. Worktops optional extra. For a free estimate call 020 8462 5200 View or download our brochure at www.mackaykitchens.co.uk Email sales@mackaykitchens.co.uk We cover the whole of East Kent and Bromley / Bexley areas
A unique and sustainable venue, set in six acres of beautiful gardens and a stone’s throw from the beach at St. Margaret’s Bay
pinescalyx.co.uk 01304 851 737 The Pines Garden, Beach Road, St. Margaret’s Bay, Kent CT15 6DZ 14
PCx Wedding Ad 190x133.indd 1
06/03/2013 09:44
g n i liv sustainable
[sustainable living ]
t n e K t s a E in
Something Old, SoMething New Every issue we will be sharing some tips and ideas to save you money, make you healthier, happier and become a little bit greener. ♥S omething Wild – Most outdoor learning for school children happens in the warmer months, but winter also has much to offer. The colder months provide a fantastic opportunity to study life cycles with trees becoming dormant and losing their leaves, and animals hibernating. The lack of vegetation and ground cover, makes it easier to spot signs of animals feeding, foraging and adapting their habitats. Snow and mud make animal tracks more visible and exciting too. Whether its hunting for owl pellets on the ground or identifying bird nests in the bare trees, the winter months can be really magical for children. Rippledown Environmental Education centre between Dover and Deal has been welcoming groups of young people for over thirty five years and the centre is fully equipped with wet weather equipment and
outfits for each child. If you are a teacher or a group leader and want us to create a tailor made outdoor learning package, please contact Richard Martin, Head of Centre at office@rippledown.com or go to rippledown.com for more information. ♥S omething Wintery - If your child doesn’t get an opportunity to visit Rippledown with their school, you can always take them for a family winter nature walk yourself. Wrap up warm and head down to St.Margaret’s Bay. There is the beach with fantastic views of the White Cliffs and rock pools for exploration. Then you can walk up to the National Trust’s South Foreland Lighthouse or the Dover Patrol Memorial. The Bay Trust’s own Pines Garden still has lots to offer in winter, when the trees look particularly dramatic. Afterwards cosy up in the Pines Garden Tea
Room, which is open Wednesday to Sundays during the winter. Check out the Christmas lunch menu available from December 1st as well as Michelle’s famously generous Sunday roasts. Phone 01304 853173. www.pinesgarden.co.uk. ♥S omething for the New Year as the old year fades, and we look forward to next year, why not think about at least three things you can do to make your lifestyle more sustainable. Whether that is small changes like walking or cycling for short journeys, reducing your food waste and growing some veg or making a larger commitment and getting involved in your local transition town organisation, the more we can do to protect our environment and our future, the better www.transitionnetwork.org. Happy New Year, let’s make it a green one.
Brought to you by The Bay Trust team who manage the Pines Calyx, Europe’s first energy positive, carbon negative wedding and events venue and Rippledown environmental education centre committed to providing a wide range of opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn about practical sustainable living within a low carbon world. www.baytrust.org.uk 15
[days out ]
the
&
ChAlk
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Way
[
ChaNnel
Enjoy spectacular views along the Chalk and Channel Way, an 8.8 mile (14.2 km) long walking and cycling path which crosses the top of the famous White Cliffs. This relatively flat linear route will lead you across this section of the National Route 2 of the National Cycle Network, which connects the towns of the south coast, while skirting along the English Channel. The path links the harbours of Dover and Folkestone, travelling through the areas of natural beauty and historical significance.
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[days out ]
Location: Dover and Folkestone Distance: 8.8 miles (14.2 km)
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2
OS Explorer Map: 138
A20 B20
Terrain: Mainly flat paths
A20 1
01 Capel-le-ferne B2
Refreshments & facilities: Restaurants and cafes in Dover and Folkestone
Public Transport: For local bus and train services in Kent, contact Traveline tel: 0870 6082608, www.traveline.org.uk
Dover
Western Heights ! Nature Reserve
Time: Allow 1.5 hours
Parking: Parking at Dover and Folkestone
"
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!
"
!Shakespeare Cliff
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! Samphire Hoe Country Park
! East Cliff and Warren Country Park Creteway Down ! East Wear Bay
Chalk & Channel Way - On-road Chalk & Channel Way - Traffic free, surfaced
2
Folkestone
"
Other cycle route- On-road Train station
2 10 National/Regional Cycle Route
© Crown Copyright and database right 2013. Ordnance Survey 100019238
Folkestone makes a fantastic start to your ride; enjoy refreshments in one of the many cafes and bars within the town and take in views across the coast. The Folkestone History Resource Centre provides a glimpse into the treasures of Folkestone, from woolly mammoth teeth and mine detectors to a 6th century skeleton. As you peddle along the coastal path, enjoy the memorable landmarks created by artists to reflect the passing landscape. Tim Clapcott’s Coccoliths can be found in the hillside overlooking Folkestone. These large concrete forms reflect the microscopic skeletons that make up the chalk of the white cliffs. Further along the cliffs and you will find the Abbott’s Cliff Mirror. This structure marks a time before radar, having been built around 1928 in order to provide warning of enemy aircraft. Winding along the edge of the cliffs you will notice a series of ten poems marking particular locations along your route. Each of Ross Barber’s ‘Chalk Lines’ refers to their unique positions overlooking the Channel. All ten link to the land itself, from the flora and fauna, to the human history of the area. Standing 30 foot high, the impressive Samphire Tower reflects the manmade landscape of Samphire Hoe, a stretch of land reclaimed from the sea during the construction of the Channel Tunnel. Your route will soon gently wind towards the outskirts of Dover and its imposing castle. Pause to discover the rich history of Dover Castle and its role as a significant point of defence since its creation in the 12th century. As the largest castle in England and with such a momentous role throughout history, Dover castle is a must-see. To find out about other cycle routes in Kent or for information on walking, riding and country parks in Kent, visit www.kent.gov.uk/ explorekent. Follow @explorekent on Twitter. 17
[days out ]
East Kent Walk
ChestField This 3.8 mile circular walk leads you around the edge of charming Chestfield village, a small village with just 1400 dwellings and a stunning conservation area. Your walk starts from the Radfall Recreation Ground; follow along the pretty open area next to houses until you reach the path on the far side. Turn left along the path until you join Chestfield Road. The ancient right of way is marked by the 15 foot high, blasted white stump, created by the lightening which struck the once imposing oak tree twenty years ago. Emerging from the Thanet Way Bridge turn left along the track until you reach the line of trees that marks the Chestfield Golf Club. Wander through the shady thicket and on to the golf course. Having climbed the hill ahead, you are rewarded with stunning views over the attractive village and a flash of the distant sea. Ambling down the Golf Club path, your route will lead you through more peaceful woodland, over the Thanet Way tunnel and down to Shrubhill Way.
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hedging, wide grass verges and paths You’ll soon meet a white finger posted lined with semi-natural planting. crossroads; glancing to your left, you will see the ancient Manor House. The Turning left into Chestfield Road, cross Manor House boasts a rich history, the road and head towards the trafficincluding speculation that this is the free road. Admire the young trees final resting place of St Thomas More’s which line this peaceful walkway, each head. St Thomas More’s daughter lived has been planted as a result of in the Manor House, and it is collaboration between the "Wandering aParish believed that after her father council and the local was beheaded by Henry VIII through the residents. she buried his head in the gardens, note At the end of the tree-lined Manor’s gardens. However, pathway, turn left alongside to this day the head has never the ancient been discovered. houses made Reeves Way and follow the path to the public right of Wandering through the from the old way just before the edge gardens, note the ancient Tythe barn." of Sainsbury’s car park. houses made from the old Walk along the path, past Tythe barn. The houses the Rugby Club and ahead towards provide a unique view along your walk, Grasmere Pastures. adorned with materials from the church, including a beautiful stone rose window. Passing through the pastures, follow the path to Grasmere Road and turn right. Continuing through the village, your This section of the road boasts some route will allow you to enjoy a relaxing of the early development of Chestfield walk through landscaped areas of
[days out ]
village. Admire the unique houses which line the street, each built since the 1920s. Sauntering along this traditional road, you will reach Blackberry Way, follow the end of this road before turning left onto a peaceful field path. Just a stone’s throw from Grasmere Road, this modern development stands in complete contrast with its more uniformed housing. Enjoy this landscaped stroll, past diverse planting and the cricket ground. Soon you will reach the tranquil Swale Brook and the Radfall Recreation Ground.
To find out about other walks in Kent or for information on cycling, riding and country parks in Kent, visit www.kent.gov.uk/explorekent. Follow @explorekent on Twitter.
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[days out ]
With the holidays fast approaching, we have picked a few East Kent hotspots we’ve decided are the...
Best Place in the
...
FOR The After Work Get Together
For A Christmas Party by the Sea
The award winning Gastro pub The Charles Dickens in Broadstairs offers something for everyone this Christmas.
The Pegwell Bay Hotel incorporates two stunning rooms along with a large decked area, right on the water’s edge. This is the ideal venue for your office or works Christmas party, with the option of a discounted overnight stay in the 42 bedroom hotel if you want to make a night of it?
With stunning panoramic views over the glorious Viking Bay and Broadstairs seafront, this really is the ideal setting for your perfect festive party! With the bustling festive atmosphere of the downstairs bar being the ideal place to meet before taking your party upstairs to the Dining Room or Mezzanine Bar which can be privately hired out for your party, The Charles Dickens really is a must this year. If you are looking for a more intimate party for just your group then the private hire of the mezzanine floor with its own fully stocked bar is recommended. With all dishes being freshly prepared on site, ranging from the traditional festive fayre to the quirky modern Gastro cuisine, lunches and dinners are available for your party every day of the week. The three course menus are available Sunday to Thursday at only £24.00 per person and Friday & Saturday for only £26.00. To add to the festive party atmosphere every Friday and Saturday evening throughout December some of the best live music acts will be performing for your entertainment in the bar. Christmas Day Lunch is filling up fast with just a few spaces now left, priced at just £58.00 per person, this really will ensure a stress free Christmas Lunch. EARLY BOOKINGS are a MUST, call 01843 603040 to book your party or Christmas Day Lunch.
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On Friday and Saturday nights throughout December, The Pegwell Bay Hotel offers a superb 3 course dinner followed by a DJ and dancing all for £26.00 per person. If you are looking for something in the week, a 2 course Christmas Lunch is available Monday – Thursday for £15.00, a 3 course Lunch for £20.00 Monday – Sunday or a 3 course evening Christmas Dinner for £20.00. Save the hassle on Christmas Day and treat the family, the Hotel is offering a 5 course traditional Christmas Lunch all for £55.00 per person and £20 per child under 12. New to 2013, The Pegwell Bay Hotel will be holding a New Year’s Eve Black Tie Gala Dinner and Dance. Come and celebrate with a sumptuous meal, dance through the night and see in the New Year with our own Fireworks Display at midnight, all this for just £55.00 per person. Optionally why not treat yourself to the full package….Bed and Breakfast for two and two tickets to the Gala Dinner all for just £185. Early bookings for all of the above are strongly advised, spaces are filling up fast. BOOK NOW on 01843 599590
[days out ]
FOR Letting Your Hair Down
To Enjoy A Christmas Country Retreat
If it’s just been one of those years, and all you want to do is ditch the shirt and tie, grab a bunch of mates and get stuck right into the party spirit, then in our humble opinion, there is nowhere finer to let loose, get the shots in, and dance the night away in style than The Cuban in Canterbury.
Tudor Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club in Bearsted, near Maidstone, has it all under one roof.With luxurious hotel accommodation, wonderful function rooms, intimate bars, opulent swimming pool, relaxing spa, beauty salon,and even an 18 hole championship golf course, and all set in the beautiful surroundings of the Kent countryside.Tudor Park offers the consummate Christmas country retreat..
While it be raining and miserable outside, get down to The Cuban and get hot and sweaty with the Latin American beats, treats, and eats on offer. Join the partying masses in the cavernous bar and club area, or create your own party in “The Barn”, a self-contained annexe, adjoining the main building, which can comfortable cater for a private party of up to 200, replete with its own bar and service. Whether you want to come early and grab some great food and cocktails before hitting the dancefloor, or join the fun when the party is in full swing, you can be sure that a night at The Cuban will leave you in high spirits. For the more organised among you, The Cuban can cater for any type of Christmas party booking, large or small, and have a fantastic Christmas menu and party deals. They will also be hosting an amazing New Year’s Eve Party, so be sure to check out their website for details. Enquires welcomed at christmas@thecubancanterbury.com or on 01227 464464
The festive party season begins at Tudor Park from Friday, November 29 with a three-course dinner, crackers and novelties followed by dancing to our resident DJ until 2am. Christmas party nights run until December 23 and can be held in the huge function room, The Thurnham Suite, or in the Zest Bar and Eatery for a more intimate and informal celebration. Put your feet up and let The highly trained chefs at Tudor Park do Christmas Day lunch. Relax with a glass of champagne on arrival followed by a choice of starters, a variety of carverystyle main courses and tempting desserts. Their exclusive New Year’s Eve gala dinner is a four-course, black tie, event kicking off with champagne on arrival and continuing into the early hours with dancing Executive head chef,Tom Biddle, has created some delicious menus for the Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations so that you can enjoy delightful food, made with carefully selected ingredients and using the finest seasonal flavours. If you want Christmas made easy, then book one of the 120 rooms at Tudor Park, and let the good times roll.
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[days out ]
Best Place in the
...
to lose that holiday weight Ok, this might be ruining the heady and decadent atmosphere of the piece, but let’s not try to kid ourselves, none of us are getting any younger. With that in mind, we can’t think of a better place to work off that extra pig in a blanket, or shake off the dull head caused by one too many sherries whilst preparing the turkey, than at the newly renovated, and infinity improved Ramsgate Leisure Centre, incorporating YourSpa.
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As well as the addition of two swimming pools and a modernised and updated gym, the centre has added the Feel Good Factory toning suite which provides an allover body workout by spending just a few minutes on each of the 12 stations. The power assisted exercise machines provide older customers and those with restricting mobility or sporting injuries the opportunity to complete a gentler resistance based workout. The “piece de resistance” of the refurb, however, is doubtlessly YourSpa, a state of the art, luxury wellness centre. As well as the numerous treatments on offer and the relaxation room, replete with leather bean bags, tranquil music, and mood lighting, downstairs in the Spa you can really unwind after a good workout in the huge hydrotherapy pool, the menthol steam room, the salt steam room, the sauna, or treat your feet in one of the built in foot spas while relaxing on the heated mosaic benches. With full gym membership, unlimited access to the hydro-spa, and 20% off all treatments for just £55 per month, this public leisure centre could teach some of the private so called “gym and spas” a thing or two about value for money. Contact: 01843 585111
[feature ]
Celebrating Christmas with Style Let Tudor Park put the sparkle into your Christmas this year. First class service, irresistible food and beautiful surroundings, the festive season truly begins here. Prices from ÂŁ34.95 per person To book call 01622 734334
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[fabulous finds ]
Finds
bottlegreen’s Blackcurrant & Coffee Cordial
Yes, it sounds VERY odd, but trust us, this new flavour cordial, pairing blackcurrant and coffee from bottlegreen is surprisingly delicious, and perfect for the winter season. Made in the UK using traditional winemaking techniques, and blended with spring water, you get a full bodied aromatic, and warming drink (although it is also rather splendid cold). Price: £3.15 Available at participating retailers
The Self Stirring Mug
You’ve pigged out on Christmas dinner, finished off the red wine and brandy, and you just want to veg out in front of the Bond movie with a cup of tea or coffee. Reserve what minimal energy you have left with the ultimate lazy boy toy – the Self Stirring Mug!! Switch it on and it whirls your brew to create the perfect self stirring drink. Price: £9.95 Available at www.prezzybox.com
Dualit Xpress 3in1 Coffee Machine If you’re a coffee fiend like me, this will have you drooling all the way you nearest Dualit retailer. The brand new Xpress 3in1 Coffee Machine boasts Dualit’s unique 3in1 concept with the patented NX Adaptor. Depending on what mood you are in, the machine utilises patented NX Capsules (available at Sainsbury’s and other leading retailers), convenient ESE Pods or even the world of exotic ground coffee. With no need to tie into a restrictive coffee system, you have total freedom of choice. Price: £99.99 Available from: www.dualit.com & major retailers
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[fabulous finds ]
Spy-C Tank
This is for all James Bond enthusiasts, aged 6-66. With walkie-talkie functionality and night-vision, creating its own wi-fi space for control and live view, the Spy-C Tank can be used anywhere indoors or out. Watch and listen to everything around you with the 45 degree tilted motorised camera & recording device. It can be controlled from an Apple or Android app, simply download the app and go! Price: £130 Available from: www.sciencemuseumshop.co.uk
The Christmas Bell Cookie Making Kit This kit includes everything you need to impress everyone at Christmas, including eight cookie cutters, the red bow, and instructions. Now you can make your very own edible Cookie Christmas Bell. Price £6.95 Available at www.prezzybox.com
zer Kraken E-Panda Ra Hooligans Bruno Mars drummer (and brother) Eric “E-Panda” Hernandez, has teamed up with high end audio equipment manufacturer “Razer” to launch this limited edition pair of headphones. As well as being designed for comfort,the headphones are outfitted with large 40 mm neodymium magnet drivers tuned for crystal clear music in the high-and mid-ranges and packing deep bass for powerful lows, making them super versatile. A perfect gift for the serious music lover. Price: £50 (+ shipping) Available from: www.epandahooligan.com
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Mulberry Mulberry Purse £295
Dooney & Bourke Red Handbag £210
chRismas
Kitchen Aid Artisan Food Mixer £429
Jellycat Soft Toys £14.95
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Steiff Steiff Bear £69
Hunter Hunter Wellies, Black Gloss £90
welcome to the fenwick christmas gift guide for the holidays. all the must haves under one roof.
Tala Jelly Mould £9 Jellycat Soft Toy £19.95 29
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Orange Tree Toys Soft Toy £19.95
Roberts Radio Roberts Radio £199
chRismas
Culinary Concepts Pair of Goblets £57 Orange Tree Toys Wooden Train £29.95
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gift inspiration for him & her 1. Carvela Black Shoes £100 2. Nine West Gold Shoes £105 3. Whistles croc clutch bag £60 4. Michael Kors Watch £229 5. L.K. Bennett Silver/Gold Clutch Bag £195 6. Ted Baker Bag £59 7. Gold/Silver chain necklace £4.95 8. Gold/Silver Cuff £29.95 9. Warehouse gold Bag £18
1.
8.
9.
6.
11. 2. 10.
3.
7. 5.
12.
For
HER
13. 15.
14.
4.
10. Hunter Wellies From £85 11. Socks From £5.95 12. Estheme Cashmere Jumper Blue £129 13. Estheme Cashmere Cardi pink £110 14. United Colors of Benetton Purple/Yellow Cardigan £29.90 15. Estheme Red Cashmere Jumper £139 Gifts for the gadget man : from £6.99
For
HIM Gifts for the Gentleman: from £9.99 31
Jaques LoNdon
Of
[feature ]
Kent Based Colossus of Sports & Games
Snakes & Ladders 12” Game Board £9.99 A classic from my childhood which is still fun for all ages – I can while away hours playing Snakes & Ladders with my family. It is a game that was invented by my great-great-great-greatgrandfather, John Jaques in the early 1800s and its iconic design means that I think most people would name-check it as a popular family game.
Based in Edenbridge, Kent, Jaques of London are world renowned as master craftsmen, innovators, and hugely influential sports and games manufacturers. Amazingly, this wonderful company have been owned and run by the same family since 1795 and are solely responsible for many classic games known and loved the world around, including snakes and ladders, tiddledy winks, ping-pong, croquet, happy families, and many more. Eight generations of Jaques have now steered the company; founder Thomas Jaques was followed by John Jaques I, then John Jaques II; John Jaques III; John Jaques IV; John Jaques V and Christopher Jaques – up to the present day where cousins Emmett, Joe and Benjamin are still at the helm. We asked Joe Jaques to select his favourite games from the Jaques catalogue, and his reasons why.
Tiddledy Winks in a Wooden Box £19.99 I love this because it is based on the original version of the parlour game which was designed by Jaques of London in 1888. The game is named after a village in Wiltshire near where Thomas Jaques spent his childhood before leaving on a wagon to London to seek his fortune in 1780. Thomas became apprenticed to a bone and ivory turner, Mr Turner at 65 Leather Lane. He worked for Mr Ivy until his death when he then took over the business and it is from here that we say Jaques of London began.
Bagatelle – Hit-A-Pin Original £74.99 Forget pin-ball machines, this beautiful wooden board is based on our original design personally supplied to Queen Victoria. It comes complete with an original copy of Jaques of London’s playing instructions and how to master the perfect ping – it always comes out in my house on Christmas Day. 32
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Backgammon Set – 11 inch – Oak travel £34.99 Who doesn’t love a game of Backgammon? I really like this set because you can take it anywhere but it is still beautifully made by our Jaques craftsmen in the Jaques woodworking factory. It is presented in an oak case with hand turned wooden playing pieces, two beautiful Jaques' dice cups and five dice.
Edenbridge Croquet Set - £499.99 This croquet set is one of two sets named after some of our favourite places in Kent – the other one is the Canterbury set. This particular 6-player set is in a beautiful red pine box and is named after the town which is home to our Jaques of London factory and showroom. Croquet is another game which was invented and popularised by my family and today, we have 28 different sets in various colours and styles with prices starting from £69.99.
Staunton Chess Set – 3” Original Staunton Design - £99.99 This chess set tells the story as to why my great-greatgreat grandfather, John Jaques II was instrumental in the creation of the game of chess as we know and love it today. He designed the classic, easily-recognised chess set with pieces including a crown for the king and a mitre for the bishop. Howard Staunton, the first British chess World Champion was so taken with the design that he allowed his name and signature to be used and the Staunton Chess Set was born – today, it is the standard design for all chess sets.
Snap and Happy Families Card Games - £9.99 Invented by Jaques of London in the 1880s, both Happy Families and Snap cards feature much-loved original illustrations by Sir John Tenniel, chief illustrator of Punch magazine, who became world famous for his drawings for Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Again, these two games are classics from my childhood and I believe they are for a lot of other people too.
10% discount
All games are available for purchase from Jaques website at www.jaqueslondon.co.uk As an additional incentive to our readers, visit the Edenbridge showroom, mention East Kent Lifestyle, and receive a 10% discount on all products. 33
[east kent business ]
Discovering
DiscoveRy PArk By Peter Nichols
When global pharmaceutical powerhouse, Pfizer Ltd announced in early 2011 that they were to close its research and development facility in Sandwich, East Kent, it sent shockwaves around the area, with 2,400 local jobs instantly put in jeopardy. For some time it looked as though a property developer would take on the site, but talks eventually came to nothing. Hopes for the future of the site were rescued, however, when it was announced on 1st August 2012 that the 200 acre site had been purchased by Discover Park Ltd, a consortium led by chief executive, Chris Musgrave alongside chairman, Trevor Cartner and supported by Palmer Capital with plans to significantly invest in the site to deliver a sustainable mixed use community. Musgrave and Cartner had a successful track record in developing large business communities and also own Wynyard Park, a 700 acre site in Teesside, north east England. Wynyard Park is home to over 65 organisations including Huntsman and Air Products and has generated approximately 2,000 jobs since its inception in 2005. As such, they were immediately drawn to the potential of Discovery Park, with its extraordinary facilities, 34
laboratories, R&D facilities and warehouse units. Add to this the site being one of the UK’s 24 Enterprise Zones, the consortium felt that Discovery Park was perfectly placed to attract businesses to the area, and specifically for the government funded tax reliefs for science companies as an incentive to attract global brands Within a year of taking over the site, the hard work of the business development team at Discovery Park is paying dividends as they have increased the number of businesses located at the site from just 5 to over 60, and with over 1,300 people employed across the site, the consortium are well on their way to achieving the goal of generating 3,000 jobs at Discovery Park by 2017. As well as the development of the site as a business park, Discovery Park has also played host to the recent East Kent Science Jamboree, where 1400 pupils from local schools learned all about science and how it affects their everyday lives and providing the opportunity to
learn about the fun and fascination of science and get hands on experience through exciting experiments. In addition to the steps already taken to develop the park, Discovery Park recently submitted plans for a food store, which could add a further 160 new jobs. The food store plans have evolved following public consultations which sought feedback from the local community on the emerging plans for the wider site which include business accommodation, potential further or higher education, complementary housing, and an element of retail and leisure. It would appear that Discovery Park is on the road to success, and with retail and leisure plans working alongside the growth of the business park, one of Europe’s largest business parks looks set to become a thriving hub of activity to bring a much needed boost to the East Kent Economy.
[days out ]
CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH G CASINO THANET! See in 2014 in style with our sophisticated New Year’s Eve Party. Dress to impress and be part of the best party in town! Tickets are just £10pp and include a free glass of bubbly at midnight, DJ, Disco and live band The Octaves - A modern 4 piece group with a vocal harmony twist. Why not become a VIP for the night and book our VIP Dining Experience? You can enjoy a 5 course menu which includes a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne, £5 free bet voucher, and a commemorative photo to take away, seating in our restaurant all evening, plus a glass of bubbly at midnight and entertainment. All for just £49.95pp (includes entrance). VIP Dining Experience must be booked in advance, tickets first come first served. Dress code is strictly smart, (no ripped jeans, no trainers). Book your overnight stay with the Holiday Inn Express Minster from only £49.95 per room. (Subject to availability, offer only in conjunction with G Casino Thanet) For more information or to book please call Hayley on 01843 579999
Terms and conditions apply
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[feature ]
Securing the
of our Past
An exciting project is underway at the Powell-Cotton Museum. Securing the Future of our Past is a two year project funded by Arts Council England.The project aims to increase access to the museum’s collection and will create doorways into aspects of the museum that have never been seen before. The museum houses one of the most internationally significant collections of primate skeletons and as such regularly hosts researchers from around the world working to further the knowledge of mankind. Through the project the museum aims to highlight and engage visitors with this exciting work. Sarah Brown and Keiko Higashi joined the team at the Powell-Cotton Museum in June 2013 as project officers and will be redeveloping one of the galleries into an area for research, play and interactive learning, in keeping
with Major Powell-Cotton’s vision for the museum. “In trust for the enjoyment of visitors and the benefit of students” The team have been engaging with schools, local businesses, visitors and the local community to help shape the look and feel of the new space, which will be opening in winter 2014. Anyone wishing to learn more or contribute to this conversation can follow the project on social media: About The Museum
The Powell-Cotton Museum in Birchington-on-sea contains a world-class collection of historic taxidermy, ethnography and a vast natural history collection. It is a unique collection formed
through Major Powell-Cotton and his family’s extensive travel and collecting activities. The collections are not only rich in their own right, but also tell the story of the engagement of Percy Powell-Cotton and his children with the wider world in the early twentieth century. Due to the meticulous care and record keeping during these trips, data obtained through research of the natural history collection is used to support conservation projects, particularly in Africa Facebook Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens Twitter @PowellCotton and #SFPproject Pinterest SFPproject 37
[home and garden ]
of Wincheap Canterbury. Established 1993
www.cosi.co.uk
We design, supply and install high efficiency cookers, Wood stoves & bespoke kitchens. We Design Heating , specialising in Eco friendly hybrid systems, that use wood, oil or gas and solar hot water. IN HOUSE CERAMIC ARTIST. We make hand made reproduction terracotta tiles and bespoke hand painted murals to any design.
Showroom @ 58-60 Wincheap, Canterbury, CT1 3RS. Tel 01227 787587
ECO Range Cooker Co.
New 3 oven pellet fired range cooker All British, made in Canterbury, Kent. Low Running Cost Range Cookers. Retaining the traditional style of a British cast iron range, the ECO Range Cooker Company have redesigned the concept from the ground upwards to produce cookers that have low running costs, are highly efficient and are very clean burning. On offer are 4 models:
The Oil Fired, 3 oven cooker that costs approx. ÂŁ240.00 a year to run, with bi-annual service. The Log Wood, 3 oven cooker that uses just 1.5kg of logs per hour @ 85% efficiency! The Log wood, 2 oven boiler cooker that uses just 3kg of Logs per hour @ 85% efficiency! First in the World Wood Pellet, 3 oven cooker that can cost as little as ÂŁ260.00 a year, easy to use and with a time clock to control the heating times. This cooker heats up the hot plate in 8 minutes and oven to 150C in less than 45 minutes, but is Carbon Neutral.
Tel.01227780830
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www.ecorangecooker.co.uk
Factory showroom @ COSI, 58-60 Wincheap, Canterbury. CT1 3RS
[home and garden ]
Low Cost, Low Emissions, High Quality Heating By Graham Thornhill C.Eng
Autumn, in all its glory, is in full swing now. Evenings are shorter and we can have lovely cosy nights round the fire? Well you should if you want to be warm & reduce your bill for the ever rising fossil fuels. We are blessed in Kent with a vast acreage of woodland, mainly coppice which has to be cut every 12-15 years; our own ready planted bio fuel. So we should all be taking advantage of this source of fuel which has been planted for us over 100’s of years. Open fires were always the way houses were heated in the UK, when fuel was cheap and coal plentiful, but in other countries that relied on wood alone the high efficiency of the wood stove was the only answer. In recent years, ever the inventors, the British Stove Design and Manufacturing industry has taken other countries by storm and we are amongst the world leaders in this technology. Charnwood on the Isle of White, ESSE in Yorkshire, Aarrow/Villager in Dorset are all multi million pound companies. Here in Canterbury we have Thornhill Eco Design, with a new patented
combustion system, designing & testing stoves for different companies. Burley in Rutland, now make probably the cleanest most efficient stove in the world, to their design. There are styles and sizes to suit every home, but remember you will need a chimney if you don’t already have one. Visit a stove shop with your dimensions and see what can be achieved. If the storage of logs and the lighting is too much for you because you work late, look at wood pellets. These are made from compressed sawdust and look like animal feed or cat litter. The advantage here is cost and simplicity. The pellet stoves and boiler can work off a time clock and ignite themselves so you can come back after a long day to a nice warm cosy home. There is even a pellet cooker! East Kent’s own Thornhill ECO Design has designed a 3 oven pellet Aga style
cooker for the ECO Range Cooker Co. They work off a time clock and take just 45 mins. to heat up from cold.You just fill up with pellets every 4-10 days, and vacuum the ash out every month, and running cost are only £200-£400 a year! and it’s green energy. It’s simply the answer to everybody’s nightmare of high oil bills, and dreams of a cosy kitchen. Manufactured locally the ECO Range Cookers have a log, log boiler, pellet and oil fired cooker in production in East Kent, with parts made in Deal, Margate, Sandwich, Ashford & East Grinstead. A real local company. www.charnwood.com www.ecorangecooker.co.uk www.esse.com www.aarrowfires.com www.burley.co.uk www.cosi.co.uk www.victorianfireplace.co.uk 39
[home and garden ]
Gifts That Keep on Giving By Tony King – Papillon Interiors, Fort Hill, Margate
This seasonal episode will focus upon some inspirational, contemporary and design led gift ideas available from Papillon Interiors that will continue to brighten and enhance the home for many months to come after that all important day of December 25th. Whilst some contemporary designers focus upon the clean lines and almost minimalist approach to their work, others, particularly under the spectrum of those products from Vitra, or the ideas from Stelton & Magis, also provide some wonderful yet modern gift inspiration within their ranges ideas for him, her or to complement the modern home.
For House & Home...
The Eames House Bird – Vitra Design
The Iconic House bird was designed by Charles and Ray Eames as part of the collage in Eames House and has appeared in many of their photographs. Charles and Ray Eames designed the interior "collage" of their home with numerous objects and curiosities brought back from their extensive travels.Vitra Eames House Bird is inspired by American folk art - and has stood in the centre of their living room for over fifty years. The image illustrates how the bird could be included as a wider range of Eames pieces for an iconic look for any living room.
George Nelson’s Ball Clock – Vitra Design. With the diversity of materials used and their sculptural shapes, George Nelson’s clocks embody the joie de vivre of the 1950s. To this day, his wall clocks remain a refreshing alternative to the usual timekeepers. The Vitra Design Museum presents a re-edition of the designs so cherished by collectors in true to the original form.Vitra Design Museum Collection. The Vitra Ball Clock comes in a variety of colours from the bright, inspirational and seasonal red to the warm, inviting black and brass.
Vitra Wooden Dolls Designed by Alexander Girad in 1963 These are a combination of half toy and half decorative items designed originally for the home of the designer and his own personal use.They come in 16 different designs and are made out of solid pinewood which is carefully hand painted. Each Vitra doll is delivered with a brochure and presented in a high-quality printed wooden box. 40
Magis Dalmatian Puppy The ever popular Magis Puppy has been joined by the new Dalmatian Puppy and would make a fun seasonal family gift.The original design of the Magis Puppy was created by Eero Aarnio in 2005 and has gone on to become a recognizable icon in many homes and gardens. All puppies are constructed from an extremely durable polyethylene and are suitable for all weathers.
Stelton Jugs & Coffee Makers. Erik Magnussen's award-winning vacuum jug, with its unique, patented rocker stopper, is one of Stelton's all-time bestsellers. Designed in 1977, the vacuum jug has evolved into a design classic with a broad palette of colours to match any home decor. In fact, over the past few years it has turned into something of a fashion icon, setting the trend with new colours every spring and autumn. The classic vacuum jug now plays a double role as a press coffee maker. The new press coffee maker features double walls to keep coffee hot after brewing, and a specially designed press that brings out the best in coffee flavour and aroma.
[home and garden ]
Country Warmth Top quality fireplaces from a top quality company
Traditional to ultra modern • Established 30 years Full design & installation service througout the south east 1-3 Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, Kent • 01303 240300 www.countrywarmth.com • GAS SAFE, HETAS
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Made to measure kitchen door replacement Transform your kitchen in one day
Quality service you can trust! Choose from over 30 colours in over 20 different styles, with hundreds of combinations available. Let us show you how we can transform your kitchen. Call now for your free no obligation home consultation 01622 297 371 Why tear out your old kitchen when simply replacing your kitchen doors can save up to 40% on the cost of a brand new kitchen with the same beautiful finish? Coupled with our unique worktops which fit over the top of your existing worktop, Granite Transformations can transform your tired kitchen in just a few days.
Door style: Newport Colour: Vanilla
Showrooms open: Mon-Fri 9.00-4.30pm Sat 9.00-4.00pm Newnham Court Shopping Village, Bearsted Road, Maidstone ME14 5LH www.granitetransformations.co.uk
Great choice . Excellent service . Competitively priced.
[home and garden ]
Reface Not Replace Experts Move Out Of The Kitchen
Kitchen cabinet refacing, where the original units are upgraded with brand new worktop overlays, replacement doors and drawer fronts, is booming in the United States and this money-saving interior design trend has caught on strongly here too. So much so that kitchen makeover experts Granite Transformations, who pioneered the ‘reface not replace’ trend in this country, are broadening out their refurbishment options to include bathroom remodelling, utility rooms, garden buildings, outside living areas and patio barbecues. This expanded makeover portfolio, as well as exciting new products like mosaic splashbacks and hard flooring, are covered in their new range brochure, available by ringing 01622 297371 or downloading from their brand new, informative website at www.granitetransformations. co.uk/maidstone Despite the name, Granite Transformations are not just about transforming kitchens with their luxurious granite-based work surfaces. Their top-selling worktop is actually recycled glass, made from the used beer, wine and mineral water bottles that we discard, and they recycle.
There are woodgrain and acrylic-faced replacement doors too, in a host of fashionable styles and colours. Whilst in the pipeline are earth-toned decorative surfaces produced from porcelain, one of the hardest substances on Earth, again made from recycled content, this time factory-fresh rejects rather than used sinks and bathtubs. Part of the Trend Group, the Italianbased international tilemaker known for its designer mosaics and handsome hard agglomerate flooring, Granite Transformations continually tap into their parent company’s product catalogue for further design inspiration. This includes their inimitable ‘mosaics on a mattress’ collection, for fitting over kitchen and bathroom tiles as splashbacks or shower liners, and elegant clicktogether flooring planks in quartz, granite and recycled glass finishes, for laying in kitchens and bathrooms.
Nor is a wide choice of refacing materials, now extending to over 80 work surfaces, door and mosaic colours, the whole story. Through their growing network of showrooms and associated workshops, Granite Transformations’ tailor-make all their makeover materials off-site, then have them professionally installed by their factory-trained fitters, avoiding the mess, hassle and builder’s waste associated with new fitted units, and completing most projects in a day or so. With a slick makeover, homeowners can also look to save up to 50 per cent over new fitted kitchen and bathroom installations, justifying the growing trend to ‘reface not replace’. To request a copy of the new Granite Transformations range brochure, call 01622 297371 or email enquiries@ granitetransformations.co.uk or visit www.granitetransformations.co.uk/ maidstone 43
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ROMA
KITCHENS Som erse t Rd
St Ln
Ma ce Ln
Hig h St
Rd
El w ic k
FIRE STATION he yt H
Station Rd
e rg Fo
He nw oo d
Ne w
Rd
Unit 15, Heron Business Centre, Henwood, Ashford, Kent TN24 8DH Telephone 01233 645530 Kitchen showroom open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm Saturday
Visit our new and improved website now!
www.roma-interior
Drop by to see these displays and much more in our He 44
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ROMA KITCHENS ASHFORD
rs.co.uk
endwood showroom
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[food and drink ]
Jacksons guarantees all its products for 25 years. So when you see this badge, you are guaranteed a seamless installation by our team of specialists, top quality, great British design, and most of all, peace of mind. We call it our badge of quality... 0800 41 43 43
www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk
Jacksons Fencing Head Office 586 Stowting Common Ashford Kent TN25 6BN 48
Tel 01233 750 393
[home and garden ]
Jacksons Fencing
news, topical treats and more... Dreaming to chase away the winter blues. Am I alone in using this strategy to get through the worst of the winter months? The Retreat is a classy nook to relax in with Jacksons Venetian panels giving it an attractive contemporary look
I know it’s only November but the dark mornings and evenings are closing in alarmingly fast. It feels like there’s no escape, especially once the clocks go back. It seems like we are quite literally “locked in” for the next few months - it is dark when you get up and normally dark before you are home in the evening too. We all develop ways of coping with the lack of light, for some it may be really getting in to the spirit of Christmas (apologies for mentioning the C word when it’s not even December yet!) and going all out to make it the best Yuletide celebration ever. For others researching and booking next year’s holiday can chase the winter blues away, or if you are lucky,
actually going on holiday and getting some precious winter sun, is definitely up there on the list! As ways of coping, these can work well, but they can be over all too quickly. So here’s my tip for something that can last a bit longer – plan a project to tackle once the weather improves. I’m talking outdoor or garden projects, because that’s my thing. Part of the beauty of this sort of planning is visualising the stages and end result of your project that you can indulge in.You can pick a part of your garden that you would like to transform. Picture it cleared of clutter and weeds, and see it replanted with various different plants/ shrubs, or paved, or decked. Imagine what else would work there, some kind of structure? Maybe a pergola,
Win tickets to Your Horse Live! Enter the free prize draw and be in with a chance to win one of our very popular wheelie bins, or £150 of Jacksons vouchers. Simply log on to your local page, address below and follow the easy instructions on how to enter. The draw closes 31.12.13. To enter go to:
www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/ashfordlocal conservatory, summerhouse, or some trellis or fencing. It’s a bit like virtual gardening. You can try out ideas in your imagination and then if the idea works start doing some real time planning, measuring up and costing out. Another way to make this work for you is finding something that inspires you as the starting point for your project. Research garden magazines, brochures and of course the web. Here’s a possible candidate, our new Retreat shelter is a very attractive nook for relaxing in.The standard Retreat (pictured here) is a modest size and could easily fit into most gardens. It even has the option of polycarbonate sheeting on the roof to give you some protection from showers.You can imagine what outdoor furniture you
would put in it, down to the colour of the cushions and throws, and even plan the planting and other accessories around it.With imagination and some planning through the wintertime, you can be ready to put your plans into action as soon as conditions allow. And with the added benefit of visualising your sunny, spring project coming to fruition it will help to chase the dreariness of winter away. Special Offer... Just a quick mention about our Oct/Nov special offer which is free delivery on gates, details are on your local page, along with info on the new Retreat shelter too: www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/ ashfordlocal louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk 49
[home and garden ]
In Praise of Winter By Martin McHugh
As the nights draw in and we head off to work in the darkness, it is easy to think that Winter is a gloomy time of the year with nothing going for it, but we should count our blessings. Our islands are fortunate in having distinct seasons and, like a good night's sleep, The cold short days of Winter let our rich green landscape rest and recover until the fantastic awakening of Spring. The ancient English rites of Hallow e'en (not an American invention), the uniquely English Bonfire Night, the almost universal Festival of Christmas and the Joy of New Year's Eve are all winter festivals and surely the highlight of any year. Making the most of Christmas has become something of a challenge these days. Many of us are really fortunate and can enjoy a glass of wine or a big roast meal at any time of the year so we need to think hard if we are to celebrate Christmas like our forebears. Most people will be familiar with the difficulty of buying a present for someone who has 'everything'. It was once only the rich who had everything, but a regular person today probably has a car, a TV set, one or two phones, lots of clothes, gadgets galore, several watches and, I am sure, plenty of socks. In fact they may have more shoes than socks! These are presents of yesteryear and many people are thinking 'outside the Christmas box' at Christmas. Perhaps a garden ornament would be an idea, statues, birdtables and 50
even fountains are being purchased as Christmas presents these days. They have no moving parts or batteries to run out, and they will last for years giving much pleasure to their owners and perhaps a happy reminder of the giver too. Metallic ornaments like armillary spheres and sundials (a very popular ornament) can be engraved with any message. It can be a moving message about a loved one, a celebration of an event, such as an anniversary or a momento of a cherished pet. An engraved ornament can be a uniquely personal statement that will endure for many years, decades and more. In the same way a handsome plaque can be carved that might record a well known occupant of your house, the date of building (if you have built the house yourself) or some interesting fact about the building – you can simply commission these items and have your own words carved in stone. How about that for desk top publishing and it is cheaper than you think. A stone fountain is a surprisingly easy addition to a garden or perhaps for a patch of ground that you cannot seem to do anything with. Fountains can use mains water supplies but many simply use 'closed systems' using the same water over and over again – no worries about the hosepipe ban there and birds love to play in fountains. One unusual gift idea might be a genuine monument on your land. A lasting memorial to a friend,
ancestor or significant event. Such a monument can be large or small and can really make an impression on the landscape. Chilstone of Tunbridge Wells is a company that specialises in creating such stonework and have completed many such monuments, often for famous people and national organisations, but anyone can commission one from the company. The famous gardens at The Laskett even have small, brightly painted monuments to their beloved cats. Painted, gilded or carved – the choice is yours. Another popular gift idea is a bronze or bronze resin animal or sculpture in the garden. Bronze resin is very similar to bronze and is made from bronze powder. It is much less expensive than bronze metal but has a wonderful look that is very similar to pure bronze in most characteristics except the heavy weight. Bronze and resin animals look superb on a stone pedestal. A gift can be very large, like a full sized stone lion or small like a life sized bronze owl or a stone cat – one of Chilstone's best sellers. For further information visit www.chilstone.com or call Duncan on 01892 740866 Chilstone are based at Victoria Park, Fordcombe Road, Langton Green near Tunbridge Wells TN3 0RB. The Chilstone Show gardens and lake are open to the public, entrance is free and there is free parking and dogs on a lead are very welcome.
[cover story ]
Martin Freeman attends the UK Premiere of Sleuth at the Odeon West End, London.
By Nina Atesh
Fans of Martin Freeman have plenty of reasons to be excited right now. The critically acclaimed BAFTA award winning actor returns to the big screen in his portrayal of Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in December, as well as hitting our small screens as the ever loyal companion of consulting Detective Sherlock Holmes, Dr John Watson. 51
[cover story ]
The second installation of The Hobbit franchise is already set to be a hit, with the first film smashing through the box office and winning a handful of awards. Loyal fans are expected to faithfully fill seats in the theatres with the hype already building up around the sequel. Freeman has come a long since his days as the hapless Tim Canterbury in The Office, the famous dry, and occasionally toe-curling sitcom written by Rickey Gervais, which ran between 2001 – 2003. Since then, Freeman has climbed up the pole of prominence, having bagged roles in Ali G In Da House, Love Actually, Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy, and even starring alongside Hollywood superstars Danny DeVito and Penelope Cruz in The Good Night. Freeman also made appearances in all three of the “Cornetto trilogy” films, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and most recently (and with his much biggest part out of the three) The World’s End. The hit BBC series ‘Sherlock’ has perhaps been the most surprising success for Freeman, which catapulted both him and his co-star, Benedict Cumberbatch 52
into the limelight. There’s no doubt the praise he garnered from his role as Watson, brought him to the attention of Hollywood, and to the attentions of The Hobbit’s director, Peter Jackson. Initially the actor turned down the role, as it clashed with the filming of the second series of Sherlock, but Peter Jackson, director of the previous Lord of the Rings trilogy, was willing to wait, claiming Martin Freeman was “the only actor who could play Bilbo.” As for future
after the first few days start, I thought, 'Well, I don't know if he's this thrilled with what I'm doing. And I don't know if I'm really that thrilled with what I'm doing.' So yeah, it took-- I would say there was a period of negotiation where I was thinking, 'Why is he saying that?' And he was probably thinking, 'Why is he doing that?'" But Freeman had nothing to worry about. The first film, The Hobbit; An Unexpected Journey, grossed over three hundred million dollars at the box office and was nominated for three Oscars
In an interview projects, he is with HitFix this already rumored When asked whether he found October Freeman talked of his taking on these famous, previously to be playing coming to terms well established characters, opposite Billy Freeman told online publication with playing the famous mythical Bob Thornton... Dark Horizons; “I came to this creature; “"All I job, this profession, out of joy and out of play, and I know no one is going had heard before this film started was that I was the only person who could to die, however s**t I am. Do you ever play Bilbo. I know that's not true, know what I mean? It's okay. I'd rather because no actor is the only person not be s**t, obviously, I'd rather be who can do anything […]Indeed, that's good. Genuinely, it's crushing if people what he (director, Peter Jackson) said. don't like me, but as with everything, So I was thinking, 'Oh, okay,’ But then I'm the ultimate judge of my work.
[cover story ] Martin Freeman and wife, Amanda Abbington arriving for the TV BAFTA Awards 2013, Royal Festival Hall, London. 12/05/2013
I can only say, 'Well, I liked it', or, 'I didn't like it', and there are sometimes when I didn't like it. But no, I'm honestly not, I'm really not. I'm daunted by so many other things in life; work is not one of them. I'm daunted about almost everything else; it is a constant cause of concern to me. Work is just not one of them at all, yeah. I don't worry about work. That's partly 'cause I've been lucky and I've always worked. I left drama school early to work, and I've never really stopped working. It's easy for me to say, in a way, but I enjoy work, and even when it's driving me mad, I'd still rather be doing that than anything else.” Freeman is no stranger to taking on roles previously played by established actors with already established fan bases. In 2005 he played Arthur Dent, the dressing gown wearing space explorer in Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, a role previously played in the 1980’s cult TV Series by Simon Jones, and of course more recently Dr John Watson, played by countless actors and made famous by the late 19th century stories from the peerless Scottish physicist and author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Earlier this year we saw Freeman return to a more comedic persona, alongside Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in Edgar Wright’s The Worlds End, in which a group of childhood friends reunite for a pub crawl, only to find out their
home village has been ransacked and taken over by aliens. Rumored to be on BBC 1 in December, we see him return, mustached and married, in the new series of Sherlock (where he’ll eventually become privy to the knowledge that his detective friend is indeed still very much alive, despite having watched him jump from the roof of a London hospital). And Dr Watson’s canonical love interest, Mary Morstan, will come in the form of Martin Freeman’s real life partner Amanda Abbington with whom he has two children, a son and a daughter. The couple met on the set of TV drama Men Only in 2000. “Martin walked in and I felt like I’d been hit by a thunderbolt’, she told the Daily Mail in December last year. “I’d fancied him after seeing him in a TV sketch show called Bruiser, a couple of months earlier, and I told my girlfriend: ‘He’s my ideal man. I’d really like to meet him.’ Then suddenly, there he was. I thought, ‘Oh God, it’s him! I’ve got to be really cool here’. So we flirted with each other all day and when I went home he texted me saying: ‘You left and I wasn’t done flirting with you. That’s a bit rude,’ which I thought was really smooth.” She told Digital Spy about her role as Morstan and playing alongside the established twosome; “They really bounce off each other. When I was at
the read-through, I remember watching them, and the chemistry between them is just amazing. They do have this beautiful relationship, so getting in between that - which is what Mary does, she becomes this kind of third wheel - was scary. Also, the fans love these two together, so I'm sure Mary won't be particularly liked by them, but I hope that on the whole people really like her, because she's a great character and she has some fantastic secrets." Freeman is also no stranger to award ceremonies, having graces the stage at many a BATA an Emmy bashes, courtesy of his time as part of The Office cast, but more recently he has landed major individual awards, and in 2011 won the BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor for his role of Dr John Watson in Sherlock, and his performance in The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey earned him the Best Hero award at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards and Best Actor at the 18th Empire Awards. As for future projects, he is already rumored to be playing opposite Billy Bob Thornton in a ten part drama series ‘Fargo’ inspired by the Coen brothers’ 1996 film. We don’t expect the actor to be lying low any time soon. At only forty-two, Martin Freeman is one of the UK’s brightest stars, and we don’t see it fading just yet.
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[food and drink ]
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[fashion ]
CuRe’s CooL Cuts Josh The Founder
Interview with Josh Jackson of Cure Clothing by Nerissa Blower Ambitious artists and fortune seekingfashionistas hoping to get their dream job should look no further than the county's east coast. Josh Jackson, 24 from Deal, Kent is the creator of Cure, an independent clothing label which thanks to a strong Kent following is slowly but surely claiming national fame. The former fine arts student-turnedentrepreneur told reporter Nerissa Blower why he swapped spray cans and canvasses for fabrics and threads to launch a career in fashion. Where did the idea come from? Originally I experimented with guerrilla marketing, using tiles and spray cans to escape the confines of a gallery and “exhibit” my work in an urban environment. However, even a city has walls and I soon realized that if I wanted to confront boundaries, I needed a kinetic kind of art form. I soon realized that people were the ideal canvas for artistic expression. Why did you create Cure clothing? I wanted to progress and make a career out of my art. After University I started to work for a company called Euroshowers which helped me fund the initial start up costs for my business. It is hard to juggle a full time job with
Cure Clothing, but I need to until my business kicks off financially. Then I can focus solely on my clothing brand. It would be a dream to turn my brand into my career. How near are you to fulfilling your dream? I launched the company in late October 2012 and since then I have been very pleased with the response to the brand. The first range of clothing has been so successful I nearly sold out of most of the stock. Since then cure Clothing has been advertised in national magazine “Front” and I have worked with local bands, artists and DJ's on promotions. It is important to get the brand recognized in music videos, live events and all forms of media and this is what I have been working on for the last couple of months. In addition I am currently designing a new range which will be released in the summer. What makes your brand so special? Cure Clothing pride itself on producing high-end products that are environmentally sound with a designer label. We use fabric from American Apparel and Earth Positive, a wind powered, fair trade product that is extremely low impact. Therefore, all
the merchandise is the best it can be, for the customers and for the planet. I like to maintain a sense of exclusivity with the brand and this is why we never mass produce any of our products, not in design or colour. Where does the name come from? Cure has a number of connotations, both personal and artistic. I have lost close family and friends through terminal illness, so the word Cure means a lot to me. I like the idea people can take their own perception of the word. Cure Clothing is an antidote to mass produced fashion. Where did you get the idea for Cure Clothing's graffiti-style design? My brand acts like a graffiti tag in the sense I'm spreading a name but in a legal way. I got inspiration from my old artwork; from paintings and films to photography. I liked the idea of being able to make something grow and spread it as far as possible. For more information on Cure Clothing, visit www.cureclothing. bigcartel.com or follow on Twitterwww.twitter.com/ cureclothinguk. Cure Clothing stocklist is also available at Tribal Nations tattoo studio in Deal, Kent. 55
[feature ]
Photography
Tom KeeNan
Interview by Bradley McManus
It’s been quite some time since I spoke to Tom at any length. It wasn’t too long ago that I was interviewing his old band about the gigs they had lined up in summer 2011. How time flies! Now, Deal based Tom Keenan is a professional photographer who I bumped into again whilst he was doing the shots at my old school’s anniversary dinner. We got chatting and I ask him what was so special about taking photos: The thing that excites me the most about photography is when people make positive noises about their picture. I love it when a client goes from saying "I'm quite nervous" to then saying "Wow that looks really good!" as they see their photograph. Often we can get a bit bored of the reflection we see in the mirror on a daily basis, so I love breaking that view by trying to take a decent photograph. It’s a bold move to start doing it for a living, especially as I used to know him as a guitarist but he went on: It was a gradual process for me in building client experience. To not sound cheesy, I would say I started professionally when I started taking photography seriously. I've said to myself, "I'm not a full on professional, but I will work fully professionally." This has set the standard for my business.
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This standard is what makes him different to other photographers because he is more used to taking fashion photography so when it comes to moving into a more formal or corporate environment he takes a different approach. For our event, rather than being a head on standard photo, he used a ladder to place himself above us all and take photos of us looking up. It’s a small difference but it’s that which can make a huge change, to break the mould. Still, Tom only finds some time to dedicate to his new skill. I asked him if this was his complete focus now: Potentially. For the time being it is part time because I'm also passionately involved in my role as worship leader in my church; I can see this being something that will occupy a lot of my time in the future, though I love photography none the less. I am open to what is set before me in each season of life. After a whirlwind few months, Tom spoke of his highlights: It has to be between photographing model Ryo Love whilst on my apprenticeship
at PhotoTraining4U & a portrait session of a local musician. Ryo was fantastic to work with over the course of the year at PT4U. We got on really well and she always provided good make-up, styling & charisma to the shot. But then contrasting to a fashion model was a portrait session with a musician friend of mine a year or two ago: he opened up about his past, we spoke about faith & life and we created some really intriguing, personal portraits that went so well with the story he shared with me. He cares. That’s the thing, Tom doesn’t photograph and move on, often spending more time than he needs to see how he can create a unique piece. Moving towards Christmas he is looking at new opportunities for private and corporate events offering a yet to be confirmed special offer for anything booked before Christmas (even if the photos are done at a later date). He assures me to keep watch on www.tomkeenanphotography.co.uk for the latest news.
[feature ]
East Kent
LiteRature Interview With Hannah Fielding
Romance novelist Hannah Fielding lives in Ringwould, outside Kingsdown, close to the coastal towns of Deal and Dover. From where did you get the story for The Echoes of Love? My love story with Venice began when I was a child; the first time I saw the magnificence of the Piazza St Marco, which was nevertheless overrun by pigeons that marred its beauty. The two faces of Venice struck me then, and again when I revisited the city as an adult.
Hannah's new book, The Echoes of Love, is an epic romance just like Hollywood used to make, set in Venice during winter which brings to life both the fragile beauty of the city and the romance of its winding streets and canals and is out on 6th December. We caught up with Hannah, to find out a little bit more her past, her love of literature, and her latest offering. How did you become a writer? Stories and writing have always been part of my life. My father was a great raconteur and my governess used to tell fabulous fairy stories. When I was seven we came to an agreement: for every story she’d tell me I would invent one in return. That is how my passion for storytelling began. I read French Literature at university, but with a career and family to nurture, it wasn’t until my children had flown the nest that I finally created room in my life for writing.
I wanted to write a romance set in this elegant fascinating city, but I knew I needed a plot that reflected its two facets. Thus in The Echoes of Love a large part of what Venetia – my heroine – sees when she meets Paolo is a mirage; in fact, Paolo carries a dark secret in his heart that could tear them apart forever. How would you spend a romantic weekend in Venice? Blissfully! I’d stay at the San Clemente Palace Hotel on the Isola di San Clemente.
Where do you do most of your writing and what is your writing ritual? In England I write in our woodpanelled library surrounded by my favourite books, and in France I write in my bedroom. Both places have wonderful views over the gardens – and in France I love the backdrop of the azure Mediterranean and sky. I wake up early. Bathe, dress, cup of coffee. Once all my daily chores are done, I sit at my desk until late afternoon with a half hour break for lunch. Then I take a long walk before dinner, on the beach in France and in the countryside in England Do you think you might one day write a book set in Kent? Maybe one day; but for now I’m concentrating on warmer countries!
Saturday I’d visit the Guggenheim Venice which exhibits modernist and surrealist art and then lunch at Ai Gondolieri: a meeting place where gastronomy and art combine. In the evening, I’d take in an opera at La Fenice and dinner at Le Bistro de Venise. Sunday I’d visit Torcello to view the fabulous mosaics in its cathedral. Lunch would be at Locanda Cipriani made famous by Ernest Hemingway. Then a gondola ride at sunset and a romantic candlelit dinner over-looking the lagoon in "Le Maschere" restaurant. As a romance writer do you believe in love at first sight? Yes, of course! When I met my husband it was love at first sight.
The Echoes of Love by Hannah Fielding is available from Amazon from £6.99 in paperback and £1.99 in eBook 57
[east kent author ]
SHEDDING LIGHT ON CANTERBURY’S
STAINED GLASS
A new book targeted at young people is shedding fresh light on Canterbury Cathedral’s world-renowned stained glass windows.
'Paintings in Light’ has been written and designed by best-selling educational author Martyn Barr. He says: “The cathedral’s collection of medieval stained glass owes much to the brutal murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket… and a few stray sparks! After Becket’s murder in the cathedral in 1170, and subsequent reports of miraculous healings in his name, his shrine became one of the most important places of pilgrimage outside of the Holy Land. But disaster struck four years later, when one of the houses near the cathedral gate caught fire. Sparks were carried up on to the roof of the cathedral, which led to its partial destruction. “Thanks to its highly profitable pilgrim trade, the cathedral’s monks were able to rebuild the eastern end of the church and fill it with the very best stained glass. The famous French architect William of Sens supervised the rebuilding in the new Gothic style. With pillars, vaulting and flying buttresses bearing the weight of the roof, more of the wall space could be taken up with windows featuring saints, the genealogy of Christ, Bible stories and the miracles attributed to St Thomas.” Léonie Seliger, Director of Stained Glass at Canterbury Cathdral, adds: “Martyn has the gift of seeing things with fresh eyes – and to transmit that sense of discovery and excitement to the reader. The book is filled with unexpected details – sometimes funny, sometimes all too human, and sometimes downright gory - that make you want to get out those binoculars and go on your own journey of exploration through the stained glass.”
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Paintings in Light includes chapters on the history of glass, how stained glass windows are made, the different types of window in the cathedral and the amazing stories they tell. The book also highlights the work of Canterbury Cathedral’s Stained Glass Window Studio, which oversees the repair and preservation of the windows. Paintings in Light can be purchased from Canterbury Cathedral or online at www.OOTBShop.co.uk, priced £5.99. £1 from every copy sold is being donated to the cathedral’s restoration appeal.
[food and drink ]
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[days out ]
Whitefriars Christmas Markets Presents…
The 12 DaYs Of By Peter Nichols
This year the annual Christmas Markets in Whitefriars Square, Canterbury, have been extended, re-themed, and been given what one can only described as a traditional “kick up the backside”!
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For the past few years, the market has taken the shape of a “traditional German Christmas Market”, which in reality boiled down to half a dozen large sheds in the main square selling Gluwein, bratwursts, candy, and a few trinkets, gifts, and arts and crafts. As pleasant as the market was, one always felt there could be a little more to it. One who certainly felt there could be a little more to it was Kentish entrepreneur Nathan WhitingMay, who, for
several years has operated a concession near the square with a gift and interiors “pop-up shop” at weekends, while running a successful hotel interiors consultancy during the week. Over the years, Nathan felt that more could be done to encourage other businesses to get involved, and to make the Christmas Markets at Canterbury a real “event”. One of the major problems, in Nathan’s opinion, was that the stalls were prohibitively expensive for local traders and artisans, were fairly inflexible in terms of size, and didn’t really offer much opportunity for family involvement.
[days out ] When I met with Nathan, he summed it up with, “To be honest, I just love Christmas, in our family I am ‘Mr Christmas’. Maybe it sounds a bit sad, but to me it’s such a magical time, and Canterbury is such a beautiful, atmospheric, city, and I had a vision that if we (the traders and Whitefriars) all pulled together, we could create something extra special for both local traders, tourism, and the thousands of Christmas shoppers”. He continued, “The inspiration really came from years of watching people trawl around the shops as if it were a chore, rather than something they can actively experience, and have fun doing. A genuine desire to make the visitor experience of the market something fun and exciting was the driving force behind everything” After lengthy discussions, Whitefriars agreed that Nathan and his company ‘Noah and The Shed’ will organise and manage the Christmas Fair this year. Noah and The Shed have been responsible for the design, layout and production of this years’ market.They have provided the stunning festive shopping sheds, and even arranged for four huge toy soldiers to mark the entrances of the market! Nathan is incredibly enthusiastic about this project and is keen to stress that it has received great support from Whitefriars along with the shops and small traders within the Whitefriars vicinity. Nathan says “I chose the ’12 Days of Christmas” theme to bring back some of the English tradition and festivity of Christmas, but also for the fun element. The sheds in the market will be decorated according to the “12 Days” theme”.The new markets have also
allowed for smaller traders to take part, with smaller spaces, making it a more affordable venture for the traders, and therefore offering greater choice for the shoppers. It seems to have worked, as this year there will be 23 festive shopping sheds, stretching from Whitefriars Square, all the way down to and through,Whitefriars Arcade, with each trader providing a unique offering. As well as the gifts and products on offer there is also plenty of food and drink, including a bratwurst stall, ‘Real meat” burgers, ‘pasta to go’, crepes, doughnut, and even biscotti with dipping chocolate – and of course plenty of mulled wine to keep the adults warm, and in the Christmas spirit! Besides the sheds, there will also be a Father Christmas grotto, a giant Christmas tree using Pavengen technology (the brainchild of local inventor Laurence Kemball-Cook, which turns the kinetic energy from footsteps into electricity) via tiles placed along Whitefriars arcade to light the tree and a photo booth where you can dress up with friends or family for unique photos. What’s more, keen to make this more about “the experience” than just a business venture, the Santa’s Grotto will only be charging £3 per visit, with a present of greater value each time. Figuring that Saturdays needed to be extra special, is it’s the main time families will be out shopping together, the Markets will play host to a series of “themed” days:
Saturday 23rd November The Grand Opening! Father Christmas will parade through the market and take residence in his Grotto around midday. Kids can post their Christmas letters and post them in a letterbox in Whitefriars square. Saturday 30th November Father Christmas’ helpers will be on hand with art supplies to help you design Christmas cards which you can post in the postbox for your chance to win a £500 shopping voucher!You can post your cards anytime, but don’t miss out on the craft activities on offer on the 30th to help you find your “creative” self. Saturday 7th December Prince & Princess Day – The square will become a winter kingdom for a day, join the team in royal garb, and get the family to dress up in their favourite royal attire.Take your photo posing by the festive backdrop and post online at www.whitefirars.eu for a chance to win yet more great prizes.There will also be giveaways and spot prizes up for grabs throughout the day. Saturday 14th December Character Day – Families can dress up as characters from a fairy-tale or film. Once again, post your photos online at www.whitefriars.eu for the chance to win more great prizes. Saturday 21st December Elf & Pixie Parade – With photographers from local newspapers in attendance, we would like to fill Whitefriars with as many children and adults dressed as Winter Elves and Pixies as possible. Once again, prizes are on offer for winners of our photo completion, so get to the picture point at the back of the Grotto, and get snapping! Part of the proceeds from the themed events, and other activities taking place during the market period will be going to several nominated charities. For more information on the Theme Days please email enquiries@ whitefriarschristmasmarket.com 61
[food and drink ]
Protect yourself for the UK’s biggest health risk,
HiGh bLood By Renee Maguire
pressuRe
With so many of my clients coming to me with high blood pressure, I’m realising just what an epidemic we have on our hands.
Renee Maguire is a chef, raw nutrition coach, food writer and motivational healthy eating speaker. Through discovering the benefit of her own health improvements she has dedicated her work to helping others find a balance between the foods they love to eat and the foods their body needs. Renee writes for a variety of newspapers, magazines and blogs, and tours the country delivering inspirational motivational talks and food workshops to find out more visit www.rawchifood.com or email renee@rawchifood.com photography by jo doran
With the most common cause of death in the UK being heart disease and strokes, there is no time like the present to start protecting your heart and improving your health and vitality
How to prevent or reducing High Blood Pressure Adopting a healthier more active lifestyle is the first step to preventing and lowering BP and protecting your heart.
Blood pressure is the strength of blood against the walls of arteries.When BP remains elevated, this becomes what is commonly known as high blood pressure or hypertension. Left unaddressed and high blood pressure can become hazardous as it makes the heart work overtime, and contributes to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It can also increase the risk of other conditions, such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness.
Your weight impacts, your BP rises as your weight increases. By losing weight, you will reduce your BP and reduce the risk of heart diseases, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol, caused by being overweight or obesity. I coach people to make feasible goals for weight loss, such as working towards an initial loss of 10% current body mass; this often achieves high results that are easily maintained.
Those at risk • Over the age of 55 • A poor diet, consisting of high sodium, high fat, high processed foods and little fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seed. • High cholesterol levels, lead to high BP, again due to poor diet. • Overweight and Obese • Physically inactive • Diabetic • Smokers
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Foods to avoid Studies have shown a high-sodium diet increases blood pressure in some people, whereas with lower sodium consumption significant blood pressure control is shown. This is due to the fact that sodium causes the body to retain fluid, which reduces your body’s ability to regulate your blood pressure. Processed foods can contain high amounts of sodium, and although you are not physically adding salt to your food, it is ever present. Check food labels.Your daily consumption of sodium should be
no more than 2.4 g sodium (6g of salt) a day: about one full teaspoon. Every day foods that can be high in salt are • All white breads • Pasta sauces / cooking jars • Crisps • Pizza • Ready meals • Processed soups • Packet Sandwiches • Sausages • Tomato ketchup, mayonnaise and other condiment sauces • Breakfast cereals Reduce your daily intake of processed foods and have a diet rich in fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds where possible. Foods high in sugar increases adrenalin, which can constrict your blood vessels, and with smaller space to work, your heart will be under a lot of pressure which will raise your blood pressure. Foods such as white bread, rice, pasta, potatoes and biscuits, all increase your glucose levels and adrenalin levels and should be either removed from your diet completely or eaten only as a treat and not as an everyday occurrence.
[food and drink ]
Here’s a superfood snack that contains foods to help lower blood pressure. The mix offers a perfect combination of nutritional benefits from immune support, reducing inflammation andalkaline, balancing sugar levels, aids rehydration, reduces stress, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, increasing neurotransmitter, let’s just say it’s a SUPER SUPER grazing mix.
the heart benefits greatly from eating cacao. It contains theobromine dilates the cardiovascular system making the hearts job easier.
1 cup of goji berries
Pumpkin seeds; protect against heart disease, lower cholesterol, contain mood enhancing typtophan.
Goji berries; contain betaine and master molecule polysaccharides, can restore and repair damaged DNA, they are high immune system builders.
1 cup of cacao nibs 1 cup raisins
Sunflower seeds; help lower blood pressure, because the seeds are high in potassium and low in sodium, they act as a diuretic. They help improve cardiovascular health.
1 cup of sunflower seeds 1 cup of pumpkin seeds
Mix everything together in a bowl, then bag up and carry around with you in times of grazing.
For more information on foods to heal and repair the body, go to www.rawcifood.com and leave your queries there.
Cacao; (Raw chocolate) helps to regulate heartbeat as well as helps control BP. It contains essential fats,
Have you discovered
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Monday to Friday 12:00 - 14:30 & 18:00 - 21:00 Saturday 10:00 - 15:00 & 18:00 - 21:30 Sunday 12:00 - 16:00
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Tel: 01843 587862 Email us at: info@churchilltavern.co.uk 19-21 Paragon Ramsgate CT11 9JX 63
[food and drink ]
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[food and drink ]
Broadstairs
Food FestiVal Words and Photos by Jo Scott
Broadstairs Food Festival celebrated its fifth birthday in style – with visitors and stallholders saying this was the best one to date.
Over 47,000 people poured through the gates over the first weekend of October, to sample and buy some of the county’s best produce. Local cheeses and pickles, ales and ciders, rare breed meats, pies, cakes and confectionery all displayed alongside hand tooled bread boards, designer kitchenware and the sharpest knives on the planet. Jo Scott, Festival Director said:“We have a great team behind the festival including an enthusiastic body of volunteers, led by Kerry Millett, who give their time and energy – wholeheartedly and without complaint - whatever the weather.”
East Kent College, prime sponsors of the Festival, had centre stage in the Kitchen Theatre, headlined by Andy McLeish, Chapter One restaurants and Charlie Lakin,The Marquis, Alkham. Local chefs included Steve Dray, Albarino, Dev Biswal,The Ambrette and Phil Miles of Godmersham Game and the very able double act of Craig Mather and Rob Alsworth from the college. The new Children’s Workshops were a resounding success and definitely on the menu for 2014. Brushes were the order of the day: pastry ones in the Fun with Filo sessions run by The Kitchen Cafe,
Ramsgate, and paint laden bristles with printmaker Cathy Moore with whom children created images for future festival textiles. Students from East Kent College Early Learning Years course came along to lend able, and much welcome, hands. “I believe the festival is the success that it is,” says Malcolm Cox,Vice Chairman of BFF ,“is because it is not a commercial event: we are a community festival, run on revenue generated, in part, through stall holders fees, but also through fundraising events and local business support. ”
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[food and drink ]
&TreAts
Meats at The Minnis Bar & Restaurant
By Peter Nichols
Having long since been one of my favourite restaurants in East Kent, I was excited to be going back to The Minnis Bar & Restaurant for a hearty lunch for two on a windswept October day. I’ve always enjoyed the Minnis for several reasons; it stands to reason that the primary reason is the consistent quality of the food, but the location always adds to the atmosphere to me. In the summer, with the restaurant overlooking the long stretch of beach at Minnis bay, with its brightly coloured beach huts, tables of families enjoying bar food and drinks on the lawn, and The Minnis’s permanently busy seafood & ice-cream hut, it’s a pleasure to enjoy great food whilst watching an idyllic summer scene through the restaurant’s picture windows. As you head towards winter, there is something equally enchanting about watching the dog walkers braving the coastal winds as you sit in the warm and elegant surroundings of the restaurant
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Unfortunately the delivery of scallops was a little late so I had to forgo the As ever, the lounge area was busy with Scallop fettuccini served with chorizo locals popping in for a and samphire in an cappuccino and a chat, arrabiata sauce from "Minnis are real and for those of you who experts in smoking the “House Menu” (2 don’t have the time for courses for £12, 3 for a three course meal, the and curing meat £19), but was equally Minnis offers a fine bar happy to partake of and fish..." menu, and some tasty the Thanet earth roast local ales among the pepper and tomato plentiful variety of soft and not so soft soup, served with farmhouse bread. drinks, for any hop buffs among you. Perhaps not as adventurous, but boy was it tasty. I would happily have eaten The restaurant menu at The Minnis is three servings of that and been happy. constantly evolving, and one of my great Wouldn’t have made for much of a loves about a visit to The Minnis is the review though I guess. knowledge that I’ll always be able to try awaiting freshly made comfort food.
out something new from Chef Patron Jason Freedman’s eclectic list of offerings.
So juicy are the tomatoes from Thanet earth, the UK’s largest, most high tech
[food and drink ]
greenhouse complex which is just a couple of miles down the road from The Minnis, that no stock is required to make the soup. The soup was a wonderful explosion of home grown flavours, perfect for a windswept autumn day. My partner opted for the plate of homemade charcuterie, including salamis, salt beef, and cured pork alongside some homemade pickles and chutneys, all served with a more than generous helping of breads. The Minnis are real experts in smoking and curing meat and fish, and produce a wonderful selection of homemade pickles and chutneys. So popular are they, in fact, that Jason has an entirely separate business “Curiously Kentish”, which is dedicated solely to the production of these wonderful foods, and who offer an outside catering service, business lunches, and a delivery service.
Moving on to the main and I was drawn to the “Homage to the Humble Pig”, which, I am told, is a dish which changes daily, depending on how the Chef feels like cooking up the pig that day! On my visit the offering was a duo or pork with spiced pork belly, and pan fried pork loin. The pork came with a Kentish ashmore (cheese) and home cured pancetta croquette, warm pickles and drizzled with a mustard scented creamy pork jus. The loin was good, but it was the tender pork belly which really made the dish for me with perfectly soft flesh, beautifully cured and marinated with spices and slow roasted for 24 hours to ensure maximum flavour. A classy take on the classic “Pork & Pickle” combo. My partner went for a Minnis favourite, confit of Kentish Salt Marsh Lamb, which has been cooked for three hours in duck fat, and which this time came, served with pommes fondant, seasonal
vegetables, and fresh mint sauce. I can’t comment too much on the dish as I daren’t ask for any, although the favourable noises and nods of the head coming from my opposite number suggest it was as tasty as ever. Last time out we opted for “The Minnis Platter” to share as a dessert, which comprised of a plum frangipane, homemade ice cream, panna cotta, chocolate brownie, and strawberry jelly top with a foamy cream topping. This time, I was the only one man enough to take on a third dish, so the platter really wasn’t an option. Instead I plumped for the Arctic Roll “Minnis Style”, an interesting take on the school kid favourite.The ice cream is replaced by a delicate sorbet, encased in a tiramisu sponge, and topped with a light and fluffy homemade meringue, scorched at the ends to create delightful caramelised tips. Foodie heaven all round.
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[food and drink ]
GOOGIES Words and Photography By Amy McManus
The award-winning, locally-sourced ingredients, gourmet burger, proper barista coffee, craft beer specialist, art cafe... I have never seen a town so deserted as Folkestone on a cold, rainy Sunday afternoon.There is hardly a soul to be seen, and with good reason, the weather is abysmal today.Turning the corner into Rendezvous Street and the creative quarter, I expected Googies Art Cafe to be as empty as a bird’s nest in December. I couldn’t have been more wrong. We were greeted by the smell of coffee beans and a noise of genial conversation from the tables, all of which were filled. A decor mix of bold colours, blackboards and local illustrative art gives Googies a modish indie meets artisan look. After being shown to a table by Barista Dave (who’s own illustration works adorn many of the walls) we were recommended the pulled pork and New Yorker burgers. Let me guess, you’ve had these kinds of burgers before, they must taste the same? Wrong! How about I paint a sumptuous picture for you... All burgers are made in-house daily using chuck steak from local farms in Kent. All of the beef is traceable back to origin and supplied by award-winning 68
butcher,Watson Neal and Sons. Served with homemade coleslaw, the free-range pulled pork is slow-cooked in Jack Daniels and Coca Cola which makes it sweet and moist without the usual brackish aftertaste.The New Yorker is accompanied by American cheese, pickle, mustard, mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato. Both are served in a brioche bun and completed with a side of homemade chunky chips, skins on of course. I could have eaten the New Yorker burger for breakfast lunch and dinner.This is the food my dreams are made of. How great to finally find the London burger scene making an appearance further afield. For those of you who can tell your Meat Liquors from your Patty & Buns, this is the place for you.The atmosphere is refreshingly informal without compromising on great service. Don’t be misguided however into thinking that this is just another burger place.The menu is full of variety including traditional free-range breakfasts, brunches, light bites, salads, mussels and Big Apple hot dogs. For those of you
who haven’t yet had the pleasure, Big Apple Hot Dogs contain 94-98% meat, are gluten-free and hand-made with freerange pork and prime beef. Normally you have to travel to Old Street to get one of these! Right...let’s move on to the drinks! It’s unusual for me to talk about beverages in a review (unless it’s a particularly snazzy bottle of wine or a well-made cocktail). I’m not usually a huge coffee drinker, but it’s clear from the moment you arrive here that these guys know how to create a proper brew. As Googies say “we study and care for our coffees like enthusiasts of whiskies and wines.” And of course, all of their coffees, teas and hot chocolates are ethically sourced.
[food and drink ] The cappuccino was how a proper barista should make it: velvety with no requirement for sugar and a consistent froth throughout (rather than a top full of bubbles with a watery base). Also, one additional point that I love in any place; the tea came in a pot as leaves (rather than a bag) - how fab!
Shepway by the Herald Newspaper. It also won the 2013 Kent Independent Traders Award for Best Bar / Restaurant and has been nominated 4 times out of 5 years for the Taste of Kent Awards as Restaurant of the Year.
The large selection of beers available could encompass another review to
themselves. As well as varieties from The Old Dairy Brewery in Kent, Googies provides a range of craft beers, modern pale ales and IPAs. My particular favourite of the day was Bevertown Neck Oil; pale ale brewed in Hackney Wick, London. You don’t just have to take me word for it...Googies was recently voted the Peoples Favourite Restaurant in
So there you have it; a cafe which is very difficult to sum-up in a few words (although I have tried). Googies: the award-winning, locally-sourced ingredients, gourmet burger, proper barista coffee, craft beer specialist, art cafe. Perhaps a bit long to use as a title, but when each individual element deserves shouting about, how can you concentrate on just one? Googies has probably been one of my favourite reviews to date and I look forward to returning in the very near future with a mob of comrades in tow. 15 Rendezvous Street Folkestone Kent CT20 1EY (01303) 246188 googiesartcafe@yahoo.co.uk
googies cafe bar 15 Rendezvous Street Folkestone CT20 1EY
gourmet burgers pulled meats artisan coffee craft beers www.googies.co.uk tel: 013032 46188
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[food and drink ]
Live music downstairs Wednesdays and Fridays Restaurant Pianist Wednesday Evenings and Saturday Lunchtimes Sunday Lunches Served Open Every Day from 10 till late Christmas Bookings Now Being Taken – 3 Course Menu for £20 NYE All Night Buffet, Live Band, and Glass of Bubbly Tickets only £45.00 13-15 High Street, Margate, Kent CT9 1DL T: 01843 449160
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[food and drink ]
From The Cuban The Cuban Canterbury, 41-43 High St, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2RY | Tel: 01227 464464
This month we’ve concocted a terrific Christmas Whisky based cocktail to get you in the mood for the upcoming festivities, and a classic Dolce Havana.
Dolce Havana Santa Teresa Claro Rum Campari Cointreau Lime Juice Sugar Syrup Shake over ice and pour into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with and orange twist.
Auchentoshan Whisky XMAS Cocktail
Layer into a tall glass Auchentoshan Single Malt Classic Whisky Luxardo Marashcino Cherry Liqueur Almond Syrup Dubonnet Chop 3 fresh Cranberries in half and add crushed ice. Top with Ginger Beer Garnish with a Sprig of Holly
Our new cocktail menu was released on Monday 1st July 2013 with upgrades and additional cocktails. Cocktails are now discounted by 25% Sun to Thurs until 11pm and Fri and Sat until 9pm
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[food and drink ]
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[food and drink ]
Richard Phillips With an early restaurant career starting off at London's famous Savoy Hotel, going on to work alongside the likes of the Roux Brothers at Le Gavroche and then becoming Head Chef for Marco Pierre White at The Criterion, Mirabelle and Les Saveurs, it's no wonder Richard Phillips had his own Michelin starred restaurant by the age of 29. Now a highly successful restaurateur in his own right, Richard had excellent grounding to prepare him for creating his own restaurant, having come from two years with the Schrager Hotel Group, putting together and directing teams in both the Sanderson Hotel and St Martin's Lane, the first hotels owned by this group outside United States.
Ingredients (Serves 12) 1x 8k Turkey 1x Large Onions 2x Carrots 1x Leek 4x fresh Bay leaf 2x sprigs of thyme 10 x peppercorns For the stuffing ½k of good quality sausage meat 1x onion (finely chopped and cooked in butter without colour) ½ x bunch if chopped sage 250g soaked and chopped apricots 3 x egg yolks ½ bunch chopped parsley
To make the stuffing Heat a knob of butter in a pan, add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, add the apricots and sage and cook for a further 2min until it releases its flavour, add the parsley and mix, allow to cool then add the sausage meat and egg yolks. Season to taste.
RoAst
TuRkeY
Made SiMple By Richard Phillips
The turkey When buying your fresh turkey from your butcher ask them to remove the legs, wish bone and the under carriage so as to create a crown with the bird, and to bone out the legs. Making sure to keep all the bones for the sauce. Place the boned legs out onto a work surface place a piece of cling film over the top and with the base of your hand or meat bat, bat the leg out so it is all even. Remove the cling film season the legs with salt and pepper (celery salt is also very good to use) place the stuffing evenly down the centre of the legs. Roll it up so as to create a sausage effect, then wrap in tin foil very tight and twist the ends so that you have a tight sausage. Place into a steamer for around 15 min. allow to cool, (this can be done 1 or 2 days in advance) Fill up a large pan with water, add the diced onion, carrot, sliced leek, bay leaf, thyme and peppercorns and bring to the boil. Once boiled, plunge the turkey into the pan and blanch for 2 min per kilo, once blanched allow to cool, (this can also be done 1 or 2 days in advance). This process makes your bird far juicier and also cuts down on the cooking time.
Roasting the turkey In a large roasting pan, heat up some duck fat, once hot but before it starts smoking, put the turkey in breast side down and colour the bird on all sides until golden. Remove from the pan add the bones from the legs colour, add 2 heads of garlic cut in half, 3 carrots peeled and left whole and a good handful of smoked bacon trimmings and colour. Place the bird on top of the bones and coloured vegetables. Place into a pre heated oven and cook for 1 .5 hours (until the juices run clear) ensuring to baste the turkey every 15min. After half an hour of cooking place the blanched legs into the roasting tray with the breast. Once cooked allow to rest for 20 min in a warm place before calving. Keep all the juices and bones. For the sauce Take the pan that the turkey was cooked in pour out all the excess fat, place back onto the heat, add 2 tablespoons of honey, some sage stalks, a small sprinkle of flour and around a pint of chicken stock (this can be brought at most good supermarkets in the fresh meat department). Bring to the boil skim, pass through a fine sieve, bring back to the boil reduce to the correct consistency add a knob of fresh butter and serve. 73
[food and drink ]
Restaurant hours Sunday – Tuesday: 8am – 9.30pm last orders Wednesday – Saturday: 8am – 10pm last orders
Bar hours EVERYDAY: 8.00am – till late
Tel 01843 585008 website www.milesbarramsgate.com contact sally@milesbarramsgate.com mailto:mick@milesbarramsgate.com 56 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 8LN
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[travel ] Words by Jaillan Yehia, Pictures by Kevin Oke
StArry StArry
NigHts
If ever there was a time to call to mind a Hamlet soliloquy, surely mid-stargaze is that time. Man by nature is in love with ‘this most excellent canopy the air, this brave over hanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, this congregation of vapours.’ Which of us doesn’t seek out beautiful night skies on our trips? In typical Canadian style and scale, the ‘Dark Sky Preserve’ (an internationallyrecognised area where light pollution is restricted to virtually nil) here at Jasper is bigger than the other 35 worldwide preserves put together, making it astronomical in more ways than one. It’s One place where the stars in the also the largest preserve in the world to sky always outnumber the human include a town, giving contingent (though not "The rumble of the visitors the opportunity the wildlife population) a to stay close to the million times over is Jasper Canadian Pacific action for the ultimate National Park in Alberta, weekend star safari. rolling stock Canada. But for just a few days a year the earthbound Held in October when added a certain conditions are ideal for stars of professional wild west feeling seeing the tantalising astronomy - as well as a combination of both few hundred keen amateur to proceedings..." the Milky Way and the stargazers and specialist sky photographers - descend Northern Lights, the on the small Rocky Mountain town for festival gives hobby astronomers a host of free opportunities to peer through the Jasper Dark Sky festival. Yet ‘what a piece of work is a man’ indeed, because the irony is that in most of Europe light pollution prevents us from seeing the wonders of the night sky, and we must go where men are not in order to truly see the beauty of the stars.
the eye-pieces of telescopes in a range of stunning mountain and lakeside settings, and attend workshops and talks on every aspect of the night skies. And there’s nothing more conducive to an atmospheric night under the stars than sitting around an open campfire complete with guitar-playing local singers and First Nation drummers and storytellers, all enjoyed while clutching a cup of hot cider. For the newbie starlight viewer there are small but fascinating discoveries, such as learning how to spot the big and little dippers (also known as asterisms; that means easily recognizable star patterns), or hearing how the names for the stars vary hugely from culture to culture - in Japan for example the symbol for Subaru cars is taken from the Japanese name for the star cluster we call Pleiades. 75
[travel ]
"One of the eureka moments you have out here is realising just why you’re so relaxed..."
One of the eureka moments you have out here is realising just why you’re so relaxed – it’s not so much about the things that surround you in this X hectares of parkland, but the things that don’t – without man there’s virtually no buildings, that means no noise pollution, and of course the key to the festival’s success: no light pollution. During this year’s opening night the railways tracks running alongside the lodge which provided a warm base for our star spotting activities were buzzing with uncharacteristically frequent train traffic following a derailment earlier in the week. The rumble of the Canadian Pacific rolling stock added a certain wild west feeling to proceedings, but it was only when I failed to take heed of the astronomer’s advice to keep my eyes clamped tightly shut as one of the freight trains boomed past that I realised just how important the pure deep darkness was to stargazing – after allowing some light beams to contaminate my retinas, I struggled to focus on the stars for the following 76
few minutes, and even a quick glance at my phone had serious implications. I soon understood why apps like Sky Safari and Star Walk which help you identify constellations by holding your iPad or iPhone up to the sky are tinged red - and why the professionals came with red-hued torches which were now dotted around the field like little moving dark rooms. Accustomed to the darkness once more I spotted shooting stars and even witnessed the International Space station streaking across the sky - it’s really something to imagine the six astronauts up there, including one Canadian; though the most famous Canadian astronaut and the first Canadian to walk in space Chris Hadfield, one of the only men who can truly claim to have looked down upon earth’s majestical roof will be the keynote speaker at next year’s festival and will illuminate visitors from all over the world as to how magical it is to experience the night sky from beyond earth’s parameters. Visit www.jasper.travel for more information
thRee More Destinations Where It Pays To Look Up
Gambia Light pollution is enemy number one to serious stargazers, and that’s why the view of the night sky from Mandina Lodges, a series of luxury floating bungalows which are perched quietly down a wooden walkway on the edge of the River Gambia, surrounded by 1000 acres of utterly peaceful African forest, is hard to beat.
[travel ]
Much of Gambia is without electricity, meaning light pollution is almost non-existent here, and those visiting this British slice of West Africa can e njoy balmy evenings with unadulterated and uninterrupted views of the night sky. Sitting on the wrap-around balcony of your luxury stilted wooden river-lodge is all about watching the abundant birdlife, monkeys and baboons by day – but the real magic happens after dark when the twinkling lights stretch as far as the eye can see along the water and appear to sweep right down to the mangrovelined horizon. Visit www.gambia.co.uk for more information
Tuscany
Egypt
A residential cookery course in the Tuscan countryside may not seem to have much to do with stargazing but on Eating Italy’s new Tuscan Cooking Experience the secluded 11th century Villa Ferraia, nestled in the heart of the Italian region’s verdant countryside is the perfect setting from which to enjoy a view of the night skies.
The Bedouin stargazing experience in the Egyptian desert outside Sharm el-Sheikh is the number one excursion from Egypt’s best-known holiday resort, and once you’ve seen the planets and stars through a telescope in a Bedouin camp you’ll understand why.
After a day of cooking up Italian classics such as hand-made pizzas, pasta and passata you can relax and unwind in the villa’s grounds with a well-earned glass of wine and a stellar view. Visit www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com and www.villaferraia.com for more information
The experience involves a traditional dinner complete with bread-making lesson on an open fire, and for your desert dessert the highly knowledgeable astronomer helps you navigate the dark skies above with the help of his trusty laser pointer. If learning astronomy lessons such as how to identify the North Star based on its position in relation to other constellations sounds intriguing this is the place to come.
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[travel ]
Storm Watching Spa Escape at the
HeadLaNd Hotel
Situated on a North Cornish cliff top, sits the unique Headland Hotel, which has recently added to its charm as it unveiled Cornwall’s largest Spa. Family run for over 30 years with sea views like nowhere else in Cornwall, Storm Watching Escapes are the ideal winter experiences. Thundering seas outside with log fires inside mean guests can gasp in awe as salty spray shoots high above the cliffs like a fireworks display. Being indoors is also enhanced with Cornwall’s finest spa and unique signature spa treatment – ‘The Dreaming’. This treatment uses pure organic Cornish spa brand SPIEZIA. The treatment reconnects body, mind and soul from head to toe in 80 minutes. ‘The Dreaming’ includes a foot massage, body massage, body scrub, head massage, facial and hand massage. Every aspect of the treatment process has been researched to enhance best results. Throughout the 80 minutes, 11 songs in total are played, each vibrating different body chakra at certain times with certain massage moves. The combination of these moves enhanced by the music will bring the body mind and soul into what is known as the “Alfa State”- (Alfa brain waves are associated with the brain's relaxed or neutral state. This occurs when we are relaxed and 78
healthy and not under stress). This unique treatment fuses together the four elements, Water, Air, Earth & Fire through four massage moves. The skin is cleansed, invigorated, restored and nourished. Tired muscles are eased and energised, and the whole body is rebalanced and rejuvenated. The goal is to nurture energy and emotions. The Headland Hotel offers 96 bedrooms whilst The Headland Cottages consist of 39 luxury cottages available in 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms, all ideal for front row seats to the great outdoors. The jaw dropping Atlantic views can’t be beaten at any time of the year but during the winter months when dark clouds charge across the ocean with house –high swells, a sense of adventure is felt & guaranteed. Throughout your stay at The Headland enjoy all aspects of the spa and leisure area which includes a Spa pool with jet stream & bubble seats, a Cornish salt steam
room, Swedish sauna and aromatherapy showers and now a Rhassoul. The Headland faces the eye of the storms that surge across 3000 miles of ocean and crash into the rugged coastline. This wild landscape drama is played out on nature’s canvas and once the storm subsides allows visitors to explore the remote corners of undiscovered Cornwall. Traffic-free roads make winter a fantastic time to visit Cornwall. Grab a front row seat for a seascape drama at The Headland this winter!
Storm Watching Escapes B&B from £89.00 per room, per night. The Dreaming spa treatment is priced £99.00 http://www.headlandhotel.co.uk Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 1EW Tel: 01637 872211
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[fashion ]
feNWick
Fillers
Taken from a selection from Fenwick, Canterbury
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[fashion ]
Gossard Egoboost Bra £48 Shorts £22 81
[fashion ]
Freya Fan-tastic Bra £30 Short £13 Thong £12
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[ fashion ]
LEPEL Maddison Plunge & suspenders Bra £28 Suspender £14
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[fashion ]
Chantelle Opéra Corbeille Bra £60 Shorty £36 84
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Chantelle Opera Nuisette Lace Slip ÂŁ85 85
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RACHEL-BLACK-UNDERWIRED - Fantasie Bra £32 Short £18 86
[fashion ]
VIVIENNE RED UNDERWIRED - Fantasie Bra £38 Brief £20-50 87
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[health and beauty ]
FellA's toP [ Hair & Styling Tips ]
Styling buys for the festive season By Bobby Gordon of Fella
With the party season about to start here's a guide to the best styles, products & how to achieve a great look this Christmas. Men-U Clay
Men-U Create & Shape
Great for matt, choppy & dishevelled styles. Easy to apply, work product into hands first then run through hair to give dishevelled look ,a little goes a long way. Provides versatile styling options with great separation with a great fresh & fruity fragrance.
This product is great for achieving my second predicted “on trend” style, which comes in the form of longer textured hair on top with sharp shorter sides. Create and recreate your style with a natural look and shine. It adds texture, definition, smoothes and defrizzes. This style and finish is really about being as individual as you can be.
American Crew Super Glue
With slick side partings still being bang on trend this Christmas super glue is great for trying to creates a more refined & formal look. Apply a small amount onto damp hair and comb or brush into place. Super glue can create extreme styles never before possible, with high hold, high shine & high definition.
Men - U Matt Moisturiser
Winter conditions can have quite an effect on our skin. The cold, wet and windy weather and things like central heating often cause our skin to take a hit as it becomes more exposed, as such a dry and tight feeling can develop. Using Matt moisturiser, which is oil and fragrance free, and packed full of vitamin E, will leave the skin refreshed matt, smooth and firm throughout those winter months.
Men-U D-Tox Deep Clean Clay Mask
With lots of partying and excess eating and drinking over the festive season, our skin can build up lots of excess oil and impurities. Applying D-Tox clay mask twice a week can help combat this. Good for normal, combination and oily skin. Great for the T-zone!!Leaving you clean & refreshed for the party season...
Fella is the destination for sharp haircuts. Founded in 2009 by Bobby Gordon, who had previously worked in some of Soho’s hottest hair joints for over 15 years. Fella is located in the heart of Canterbury & brings a unique boutique feel to the barber shop experience like no other in the area. With no appointment necessary & late night openings you can kick back & listen to some cool beats whilst one of the expert stylists take care of you. Fella has a highly trained & skilled team who pride themselves on grooming for the modern man 89
[health and beauty ]
ARe you feeliNg By Amy McManus
Seasonal Affective Disorder affects around 2 million people in the UK. Health and Beauty expert Amy McManus takes us through some of her natural methods for beating the winter blues.
With the long, warm summer evenings now replaced with cold dark mornings and ice on the car window, it’s no wonder that some of us can feel a little despondent from time to time.You may find however that your low mood is a much more permanent issue and makes it hard for you to complete everyday tasks. Difficulty waking-up, lack of energy, withdrawal
LIGHT THERAPY
Light Therapy is probably the most well-known form of SAD treatment and consists of exposure to daylight or to specific wavelengths of light using polychromatic polarised light, light-emitting diodes, fluorescent lamps, dichroic lamps or very bright, full-spectrum light. The light is administered for a prescribed amount of time and, in some cases, at a specific time of day. The great news is that these devices are available in many different designs online and on the high-street. Some can be quite expensive, but have a look around and see what suits you. Some are portable, while others sit as lamps on desks and wall-mounted fixtures. One of the highest rated and best value Light Boxes on the market is: Lifemax Light Pod 107a. A portable daylight simulation box with 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon. RRP: £59.99, but maybe available at other online retailers. Before using a light box to treat SAD, speak to your GP and check the manufacturer’s instructions. 90
from social activities, decreased sex drive and a tendency to overeat are all trigger signs that you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).This results in feelings of depression, hopelessness and lack of pleasure. Although the exact causes of the condition are not understood there are many theories. Some scientists
DAWN SIMULATION
Another option of light therapy which I found very beneficial was dawn simulation. In some studies dawn simulation was 83% more effective when compared to other forms of light therapy. This can be done easily through devices such as sunrise alarm clocks. These are desktop alarm clocks with one vital difference; instead of a noisy racket, they wake you up with gradually brightening light. My top pick: Lumie Bodyclock STARTER 30. With 30 minute sunrise and sunset options, this natural light simulator helps regulate your body clock and wake up feeling refreshed. RRP: £59.95, but maybe available at other retailers.
[health and beauty ]
SAD this Winter believe that the lack of exposure to sunlight affects the hypothalamus; the part of the brain which controls mood, appetite and sleep. It also results in a lowered production of hormones such as serotonin; a hormone popularly thought to contribute to feelings of happiness. Another suggestion is that SAD relates to a remnant of evolved
hibernation response from a remote ancestor.Whatever the cause, SAD affects 2 million people in the UK and although the condition can affect people of any age (including children) the symptoms are most likely to appear in individuals aged between 18 and 30. Having suffered with SAD in the past I know that it can seriously affect everyday
EXERCISE
It is a well known fact that exercise is fantastic for the body’s health, but it is also has a huge psychological impact on our mood. In recent years increasingly more studies have shown that regular physical activity has beneficial effects on mental health. It can not only help those suffering with depression, but prevent its initial manifestation. It also helps relieve stress and anxiety; both of which can increase the symptoms of SAD. You do not have to go out and run a marathon. Find something you enjoy doing, this will help you find the motivation to do it regularly. A daily walk outside is a great way to start and will also help you absorb more sunlight (even on those cloudy overcast days). My favourite way to exercise is classes at my local gym. When you are in a room of people being pushed by an instructor you work much harder than you would by yourself and the social interaction with the other members will help lift your mood. Classes such as Pilates and Yoga are great to help you unwind and decrease stress levels.
life. I have felt tired after hours of sleep, unhappy when presented with good news and would regularly burst into tears for no other reason than I felt I could not stop myself. If you feel you have the symptoms of SAD do not be worried, there is nothing wrong with you.There are many fantastic natural remedies out there to lift your mood and beat the winter blues:
ST JOHN’S WORT
There are many herbs that are suggested to improve the symptoms of SAD such as Golden Root and Rosemary. However, few herbs are as well-known as St John’s Wort, its popularity resulting from conclusive clinical research of its effectiveness in treating mild to moderate depression. In European herbal medicine St John’s Wort has always been seen as a remedy for down-heartedness and this (along with wound healing) remains its core therapeutic use today. This herb is thought to increase serotonin levels by inhibiting serotonin reuptake. However, it must be taken carefully. As St John’s Wort stimulates liver detoxification it lowers the levels of other medications in the blood. For example: the birth control pill can become ineffective if taken with St John’s Wort. It can also cause photosensitivity in the skin and eyes so should be avoided if you wish to undertake light therapy. You should always inform your GP before taking any supplements, herbal or otherwise.
If conservation work sounds appealing, look at the Green Gym website: www.tcv.org.uk/greengym. Green Gym projects run in association with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and provide exercise for those of you who hate the gym! Projects involve working in local woodlands or creating community gardens. Sessions are free and led by a TCV member of staff.
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Co-educational, day & boarding school for ages 3-18 years in South-East England
Senior School Scholarships for September 2014 entry 16+ Examination for 6th Form: 11+ Examination for Year 7: 13+ Examination for Year 9:
Tuesday 19 November Thursday 21 November Friday 17 January
Strong academic results at GCSE and A Level Small classes offering close individual attention Excellent pastoral care with a Christian ethos Exceptional facilities including 500-seat Theatre, Sports Complex and Indoor Swimming Pool Academic, Music, Sports & All-Rounder Scholarships Available
For further information and an application form, please contact: Miss Alison Hall, Registrar T: 01843 572931 E: ah@slcuk.com www.slcuk.com
College Road Ramsgate Kent CT11 7AE
[education ]
Scholarship Opportunities at St Lawrence College Just received your child’s 11+ results?
If you have a current Year 6 child, whether they have passed the 11+ or not, have you considered looking at St Lawrence College in Ramsgate for the next stage of his or her education? St Lawrence College is proud of its high academic standards and this year is celebrating higher A Level grades at A*-B% than both local, selective, grammar schools. These results are fostered by a close sense of community and supportive atmosphere which puts great emphasis upon the needs of each individual pupil. • Your Year 6 child is welcome to sit the school’s forthcoming scholarship tests for entry into Year 7 in September 2014. • The scholarship tests take place on Thursday 21 November, when candidates are invited to come and spend the day at the school. • Depending upon the results, up to 50% off the fees could be awarded.
• Scholarships are offered for Academic, All-Rounder, Sports and Music disciplines, so whatever your child’s strength, there is something to suit. • Scholarships are also offered for 6th Form and Year 9 entry. Many independent schools in the UK, including St Lawrence College, offer financial support to pupils through scholarships and bursaries. According to the Independent School Council 2013 census, over 33% of ISC pupils receive help with their fees. Scholarships are awarded for outstanding ability and are aimed at attracting talented pupils, whatever their family’s financial background. If you have a gifted child, a scholarship may provide the opportunity for an enriched educational experience that may not be available under normal circumstances. Bursaries are means-tested and designed to offer financial assistance to lower income households to either start at a school or remain at school if
the family’s circumstances change. A bursary is designed to make up the shortfall between what the family can afford and what the fees actually are. If you apply for a bursary you will need to provide the school with comprehensive details of your family’s financial position and be prepared for this to be reviewed at regular intervals. While parents can apply for a bursary at any time during their child's time at school if the need arises, scholarships are usually allocated well in advance of the start of the school year, so do not delay in finding out more! Contact Alison Hall, Registrar, on 01843 572931 for an informal discussion about the scholarship process. www.slcuk.com For further information contact: Melissa Gabbott on 01843 572912, email mag@slcuk.com
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[title ]
Kent Kent College College Canterbury Canterbury
An Anoutstanding outstandingschool schoolfor forboys boysand andgirls girlsaged aged3 3- 18 - 18
Another AnotherChoice... Choice... Dates Datesfor foryour yourDiary Diary
Senior SeniorSchool School 01227 01227763231 763231 CT2 CT29DT 9DT 94 www.kentcollege.com www.kentcollege.com
Year Year7 7Entrance EntranceExam Exam January January21st 21st2014 2014 Year Year7 7Scholarship ScholarshipAssessments Assessments January January22nd 22nd&&23rd 23rd2014 2014 Year Year9 9Scholarship ScholarshipAssessments Assessments February February25th 25th2014 2014 Year Year1212Scholarship ScholarshipAssessments Assessments February February26th 26th2014 2014 Download Downloadthe theKent KentCollege CollegeApp App Availabe Availabefrom fromthe theApp AppStore Store
[education ]
GREAT the foundation stones to educational success. The GREAT programme (which stands for Gifted, really enthusiastic, able and talented) offered by the unrestricted curriculum structure at the Nursery, Infant and Junior School at Kent College is key to early success. Setting in core subjects is designed to accelerate progress and gives children the option to develop particular skills, be they academic, art, drama, music or sport. All children are on individualised programmes to maximise their academic potential and are set for English and Maths according to their needs and talents rather than their chronological age. Parents can also choose for their child to enjoy more focus in a particular area: academic challenge; Kent Test preparation; art; design technology; drama; music or sport. Students do
not have to sit the Kent Test, however, those that do enjoy excellent results. Scholarships to senior school are targeted and in recent years there has been a success rate of over 50% Whilst the school day finishes at 4pm there is a full range of after school clubs and activities, which all the children can enjoy until 6pm each evening. There are also holiday activity weeks meaning the school is open for at least 47 weeks a year. Boarding places are available on a full, weekly or occasional basis and accompanied travel home is available to
London’s St Pancras station. All in all a win win situation resulting in the students being well equipped for senior school education and parents given the peace of mind so that they can focus on their busy working lives. Mrs Carol Baker Development Director Kent College Canterbury CT2 9DT P:01227763231 F:01227787450 www.kentcollege.com
Come and see us at the Independent Schools' Show at Battersea 9th & 10th Nov! 95
[feature ]
?
november & december
occurring Saturday 23rd November – Monday 30th December Canterbury Christmas Markets @ Whitefriars Shopping Centre, Canterbury This year, the Christmas Markets in Whitefriars Square and beyond will be themed on the 12 days of Christmas. With 23 stalls confirmed, bearing various gifts, artisan craft works, and plenty of festive food & drinks, as well as various “Theme Days” where families will be encourages to take part and join in the fun, this year’s market should be bigger than better than ever before. More information on page 60. Free Entry
Sunday 24th November, 10am-4pm
Sunday 1st December, 7.30pm
Quexmas @ Quex Park, Birchington
Award-winning opera director/producer Ellen Kent is bringing to life Aida's story of war, jealousy and revenge, set amid the splendour and mystery of ancient Egypt and topped off with an amazing wall of fire. With opulent sets and costumes, this traditional production is as stunning visually as it is musically, featuring some of the greatest pieces of music Verdi ever wrote.
Visit the annual festive Christmas Craft Fair at Quex Park Estate, with more than 70 stalls selling a variety of crafts and gifts. Santa will be warming his toes by the fireside and invites you to join him in the dining room of Quex House. Face painting, Christmas trail and Lino printing for children. Choirs and the Birchington Handbell Ringers will provide entertainment from the garden gazebo. Mama Christmas will provide a festive fare in the Mama Feelgoods Boutique Cafe. Please remember to bring cash and a cheque book to the fair, as many of the exhibitors are small artisan producers and will not have credit card facilities. Admission £3 Adults (accompanied children under 16 FREE)
Saturday 30th November – Tuesday 24th December Santa Special @ Romney, Hythe, & Dymchurch Railway All aboard for the Santa Express Train! Depart Hythe station and be greeted 30 minutes later by Santa’s elves at New Romney station, where you will spend the next hour. See Santa arrive on his sleigh and visit him in his grotto to receive your gift. Enjoy seasonal refreshments in the Heywood Buffet, have fun in the Model Railway Exhibition and play in the “snow” before boarding your train again for the 30-minute return journey to Hythe. Please note there will be different prices for later dates (21-24th Dec) Please check website for more details. Scanlons Bridge Road, Hythe, CT21 6LD Tel: 01797 362353 www.rhdr.org.uk
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Aida @ Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone
Tickets from £17.90 (plus booking fee), from www.atgtickets.com
Sunday 1st – Tuesday 24th December Winter Wonderlands @ Dickens World, Chatham Enjoy a Christmas themed guided tour with Christmas activities with a fantastic version of the classic Pantomime, “Aladdin”. Tickets also include gingerbread making, storytime, and a visit to Santa and receive a gift. Dickens World Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime Chatham ME4 4LL Tel: 0844 858 6656
Thursday 5th – Saturday 7th December Christmas Fair @ The Churchill Tavern, Ramsgate This year The Churchill Tavern is hosting its first ever Christmas Fair! Come and relax, in front of our burning log fires, in our country pub in town. On the 6th, 7th and 8th of December from 12 to 5PM there will be stalls including Vintage clothes, Christmas cards, Decorations, Food, Real Ales craft, stalls and of course lovely Hot Chocolate and Mulled wine. If you would like to get involved in the craft fair or book for a Christmas party please contact 01843 587862 or email info@churchilltavern.co.uk
[feature ]
Saturday 7th December - Sunday 22nd December (weekends only) Christmas Markets @ The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood Come visit the magnificent Hop Farm Christmas Fairs featuring locally sourced Kentish products, gifts, crafts, food, drink and more. Guaranteed to get you into the Christmas spirit! The Family Park is open with all its popular attractions for the children and the opportunity to meet Father Christmas! Hop Farm Family Park, Maidstone Road, Paddock Wood TN12 6PY Tel: 01622 872068 www.thehopfarm.co.uk
Saturday 7th – Tuesday 24th December The Twelve Days Of Christmas @ Leeds Castle, Maidstone Nature has crept into the magnificent castle rooms to create a beautifully decorated and glittering ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’. Wander through the magnificent castle state rooms brimming with traditional decorations, twinkling lights and fragrant pine Christmas trees and admire the 1920s influence in many of the last private owner, Lady Baillie’s private rooms. Escape the cold wet weather as log fires crackle and warm each room while you explore the history in each room of Leeds Castle. You can also enjoy husky sleigh rides through the grounds, find Santa in his enchanted forest grotto, see the reindeer outside the castle, and make your own Christmas wreath with the castle florist! This year also sees the first Christmas Market with German market style chalets open daily from 11am to 6pm, 7 to 22 December and late night shopping until 9pm on 12, 13, 19 and 20 December. Leeds Castle, Maidstone, ME17 1PL Call or visit website for prices for individual activities Tel: 01622 767865 www.leeds-castle.com
Sunday 8th December, 7pm The Darkness @ Leas Cliff Hall Having reformed early last year, released a new album, and toured with Lady Gaga, Brit Rockers “The Darkness” seem to be enjoying their second bite of the cherry. One thing you can be sure of, anyone attending this high octane, high energy performance for Lowestoft’s finest will be guaranteed to be entertained. Catchy tunes, peerless musicianship, Justin Hawkins’ soaring falsetto vocals, and a bucket load of showmanship will never disappoint an audience up for a party! Tickets from £29.90 (plus booking form), available from www.atgtickets.com
Tuesday 10th December, 7.30pm Union J @ Margate Winter Gardens Hot on the heels of the success of their debut single 'Carry You', X Factor boyband sensations Union J have announced their first ever UK headline tour and they are coming to Margate Winter Gardens with a special warm up show! Tickets from £23.50 from www.margatewintergardens.co.uk
Monday 23rd & Tuesday 24th December Carols for Christmas @ Canterbury Cathedral This year there are two identical services, the first, on 23rd December being non-ticketed on a “first come, first served” basis, and the second, a ticket only performance, takes place on Christmas Eve Time: 7.30-9.30pm, Monday 23rd 3pm-5pm, Tuesday 24th For Christmas Eve service, apply for tickets with SAE to: Carol Service, Cathedral House, The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2EH. Max 4 per person.
Friday 27th December – Sunday 29th December, 10am-4pm Make and Paint Activity Days @ Hornby Visitor Centre, Margate Come along to the Hornby Visitor Centre and Airfix Make and paint activity days. Get the kids out of the house and give them an extra Christmas treat, with the make and paint activity day included in the price of admission to the Hornby Visitor Centre. Great fun for all the family - build an Airfix kit, paint it and then take it home to keep. Hornby Visitor Centre, Margate, Kent CT9 4JX Tel: 01843 233524 www.hornby.com/hornby-visitor-centre
Sunday 31st December, 7pm - 1am New Year's Eve Gala Night @ Canterbury Cathedral Lodge We cannot think of a more spectacular backdrop to seeing in the New Year than from the Kentish Barn which overlooks Canterbury Cathedral. This year the Lodge are hosting a fabulous New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, with champagne and canapés on arrival, a 5-course gala dinner, DJ and live music, followed by champagne and Scottish piper at midnight. If you would like to stay the night and enjoy a late brunch on New Year’s Day, bedrooms are available. Please note that this event is strictly black tie. Price: £99.95 Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2EH Tel: 01227 865350 www.canterburycathedrallodge.org
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[East Kent Business ]
JAmes LinsLey Canterbury Fireplace and Stone Centre, Birchington
A veteran of East Kent Business, having owned and operated Canterbury Fireplace & Stone from the same Birchington showroom for the past 35 years, James Linsley talks to EKL about life in East Kent, the effects of a global economic depression, and how he went from building BBQ’s to renovating Castles. Thanks for talking to us Jim, so how does a lad from the North-East end up in business in Thanet for the best part of 40 years? I actually came down as a young lad to train in landscaping with a firm in London. As they did work all over the home counties I ended up in Kent quite often, and the combination of my genuine love of the place alongside the relative cost as compared to London living pretty much made my mind up for me! And you’re still here all these years later, I take it you still enjoy the lifestyle on the East Kent Coast?
Absolutely, it’s a wonderful place to live, it has the climate (well certainly compared with the North East), some lovely beaches, open spaces, and countryside. I love London, but sometimes you just need to breath. It’s also a great place to bring up kids. Being smack bang on the coast, when the kids were young they got to enjoy all the benefits of growing up in a seaside town. In particular we all loved 98
the Minnis Bay Sailing Club, which is literally just down the road. You sell some beautiful products, some of which can be pretty pricey, has your location affected your business at all?
I was actually told by a friend when I started the business that I was crazy, as being right on the edge of the south east tip of the UK most of the space within a 25 mile radius of the shop is actually in the sea!. However, I believe that if you do good work, have good contacts, good expertise, and are willing to be competitive, then location shouldn’t hold you back. Our products aren’t especially cheap, so when someone wants a good product and a good job, they rely more on references and testimonials than on how close they live to the showroom. Can you tell us about some of the more interesting jobs you’ve worked on?
We recently renovated a marble swimming pool dating back to the 1920’s in an East Kent Castle, a really
beautiful piece of work, we’re also on an ongoing job renovating an antique marble bathroom in Leeds Castle, and we’ve also not long completed some marble mosaic walls at Greenwich University, the part which used to be the old Royal Naval College. Did the Economic downturn affect you?
Oh god yes, that and the increase in VAT. We had to lose almost 50% of our staff. We went from 24 employees down to 14. It was a terrible time. However, we have a loyal customer base and were confident that if we rode it out, that the work would come. It took until the middle of last year to really turn the corner, mainly on the back of the wood burning stoves, the combination of the eco friendly combined with energy efficiency (especially with gas bills on the up) have made them extremely popular. We’re now back up to 20 staff, and busier than ever!