The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

PLYMOUTH’S BIGGEST MONTHLY CIRCULATION MAGAZINE - 46,000 COPIES

plymouth magazine the

ISSUE 138 DECEMBER 2015

New kids on the restaurant block!

Key dates for big events in 2016 Festive guide to What’s On

Helping homeless veterans Make the most of Mayflower 400!

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Our competitions are one of the most popular features in the magazine and we regularly receive literally hundreds of entries.

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And finally from all the magazine team we wish you a joyous Christmas and happy New Year.

Publishers: Chris Girdler and Ian Pilkington Editor: Debbie Girdler Designers: Sven Lauch, Diana Mazuru and Naomi Girdler Photography: Roy Perring and Laura Joint Contributors: Anthony Goord; Fiona Newton; Derek Anderson; Laura Joint; Liz Crudgington Advertising sales: Sarah Simpson, Tendai Chetse, Dave Simpson, Korneel Verhaeghe Distribution: Tim Hodges, Simon Evans and Adrian Boughton Finance: Karen Pilkington and Kim Craig Front cover: Key members of the team at Catch 22 in The Barbican, which is receiving rave reviews on Trip Advisor. Photo byLaura Joint.

Contacts: Editorial Tel: 01752 225623 e-mail: chris@cornerstonevision.com Advertising Tel: 01752 225623 e-mail: karen@cornerstonevision.com

The views expressed in the plymouth magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers.

Every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of all information contained in this magazine.

However, the publishers do not accept any liability for any advice or information included in the magazine.

The Plymouth Magazine is distributed free to 44,000 homes across Plymouth each month, with a further 2,000 copies strategically placed in leisure and retail outlets in Plymouth, Saltash and other locations.

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 2015 EDITION

MAYFLOWER MISSION

8

Laura Joint meets Sabrina Simpson who is urging local independent businesses to make the most of the Mayflower 400 opportunities

HOMES FOR HEROES

12

48

We meet Annamaria Farkas, fund raiser for the charity which provides much needed homes for former service personnel

FAMILY AFFAIR

Roland Sloggett talks about the family history behind his new retail business in Union Street which opened earlier this year

10

GOOD HEALTH

Plymouth-based health coach and nutritionist Laura Wilson with some top tips for kick-starting a healthy New Year

WHAT’S ON

20

Our comprehensive What’s On section has details of all the events coming up in the Plymouth area over the next few weeks

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

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WOMEN AT WORK

Mayflower 400 opens up a lucrative market for Plymouth’s small business ‘gems’ The American co-founder of Plymouth’s hugely successful THINQTANQ hub for entrepreneurs and freelancers says the Mayflower 400 anniversary is a ‘unique opportunity’ for the city’s small independent traders, and hopes to make sure American visitors find these ‘local treasures’.

Sabrina Simpson, who manages THINQTANQ with co-founder Rob Wick, said that American visitors would love Plymouth’s vibrant independent businesses and that it’s vital these ‘gems’ benefit from additional exposure.

She has set up a website and blog, plymouthwayfarer.com, to showcase Plymouth and its surrounding areas, with a focus on the many independent shops and restaurants as well as the area’s natural beauty.

Although the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s crossing to America isn’t until 2020, Sabrina, who has a background in marketing, says businesses should be planning for it right now.

“I started Plymouth Wayfarer because I realised that I have a unique perspective in knowing what Americans are looking for. Apart from our fabulous historical connections, they would love the great little shops, the pubs and the restaurants and all the unique businesses we have here. The Barbican is a great example of lots of places run by smart, creative people that the Americans should know about.”

Sabrina says the feedback in the US to her Plymouth Wayfarer blogs has been overwhelmingly positive: “I just know that what I’ve been showcasing resonates with people in America. There’s no landscape anywhere in America that’s anything like Dartmoor. And when I posted photos from my morning ferry trip from Mountbatten to the Barbican, the response was ‘wow, how lucky are you!’ And they’re right, I am lucky.

“The problem is that Plymouth is way off their usual tour itinerary so we have to tell them about the great things they’ll eat, drink and see.”

Sabrina came to Plymouth from her home town of San Francisco in 2010, when her English partner Peter returned from the States to take up a post at Plymouth University. The idea for setting up THINQTANQ in March 2014 came when she noticed so many talented people were leaving Plymouth to find work: “Everything I do is based around making Plymouth a successful place to work, live in and visit,” she explained.

“We rented the space here and completely remodelled

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

Sabrina Simpson

it to create an environment that enables people to thrive.

We’ve grown and grown and now we’re almost up to capacity so we have to do some more remodelling to enable us to accommodate more people. At the moment we have 15 to 20 people here who are regulars and quite a few more who make use of the space on a less regular basis, which works okay because you can just turn up on the day.”

The co-working space currently has an open plan office, two private offices, two meeting rooms, free wi-fi, LCD screens, lounge area, kitchen facilities and free refreshments. The fees range from £5 for half a day to £120 a month including VAT for full-time use.

Additional resources including accountants and mentors are available, while entrepreneurs who don’t use the space are also encouraged to pop in to network. “This is a great resource for Plymouth,” said Sabrina. “It’s definitely enabled creative people to stay in Plymouth. And they’ve also collaborated by passing work to each other.

“The way that people work is changing and the working environment has to change with it,” she added. “Young people want to work in cool environments and it’s no longer necessary to move away in order to work. You can work from anywhere – if the facilities and support is there.”

Sabrina is hoping that Plymouth Wayfarer proves just as successful: “The aim is to build it up between now and 2020. A lot of Americans will be coming over because they’re interested in history THINQTANQ and their origins. For them it might be a once-in-a-lifetime trip and I want to work with our local traders to make sure our American visitors learn their stories and get a chance to discover our inspirational places and businesses.

“The aim really has got to be to encourage the visitors to keep on coming back and the best way to do that is to make sure they know about all our little gems.”

You can get in touch with Sabrina through her Plymouth Wayfarer website to discuss how she can help Americans find your business. People wanting to use THINQTANQ can phone, email or pop in.

••

Plymouth Wayfarer: plymouthwayfarer.com THINQTANQ: thinqtanq.spaces.nexudus.com/en Fairbairn House, Higher Lane, Plymouth PL1 2AN 01752 395022

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WOMEN AT WORK

Laura’s top tips for kickstarting a healthy New Year!

Plymouth nutritionist and health coach Laura Wilson has helped literally tens of thousands of people around the world to transform their health with her research-based food advice. Now, she’s sharing some of her top tips with Plymouth Magazine readers so that you can get your 2016 off to a great start.

The chances are that many of us will be taking on board quite a bit of acidic food and drink as we celebrate the festive period. And why not? It is the party season after all.

But afterwards, the New Year is the perfect time to get our systems back into shape. The good news, says Laura, is that this doesn’t mean going without. In fact, the food plan she has devised is based on abundance.

Laura, 35, is a former medical research manager with the National Health Service. She has 15,000 subscribers on her website and earlier this year her book, The Alkaline 5 Diet, was published by Hay House. The 21-day food plan allows us to have five meals a day without restricting calories – as long as the food is alkaline.

The book has received national and international publicity and been translated into German and Spanish. So what’s the main message? Laura explained: “Our blood is slightly alkaline and we need to keep it in that range, so it’s about eating foods that live with that. Keeping the balance correct frees up your energy and improves your health, your skin – and your weight.

“It might surprise people to learn some foods that seem acidic to taste are actually alkaline when they go through the body. So lemon, grapefruit, oranges, tomatoes, limes, although tasting acidic, are alkaline.”

One of Laura’s top tips is to start the day with the juice of half a lemon in a cup of part-boiled water. And a green

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

Laura Wilson... successful nutritionist, health coach and author

smoothie (preferably home-made) a day, combining fruit and green veg, will perk the whole family up: “Throw in a few pieces of fruit like apples, pineapple, ripe bananas and, very importantly, some green vegetables such as spinach, celery or cucumber for chlorophyll. The kids will love it too – just don’t be put off by the fact that it’s green!”

When it comes to fruit and veg, Laura says you can have as much as you like: “Don’t be afraid to eat three, four or five pieces of fruit all in one go so that it fills you up. It’s highly nutritious and full of fibre and doesn’t have many calories.”

The plan also advocates carbs: “Foods such as porridge, potatoes, wholegrain pasta and rice are good,” said Laura.

“Natural sugar is fine, too. The issue is to keep your fat low.”

Laura is a huge fan of wheatgrass juice, which you can buy from health food shops for about £8 a pack. “Just one heaped teaspoon with a pint of cold water does the trick. It has 97 vitamins and minerals.”

Laura advises people to reduce or cut out acidic foods such as meat, dairy and alcohol. But she says The Alkaline 5 Diet has been devised so that it’s sustainable over time so you can make the changes in stages: “It’s not about going cold turkey.

Instead of having meat every day, cut down to a couple times a week. If you like a curry, try chick peas instead of meat.

Swap dairy milk for coconut milk or almond milk.

“It’s about making small switches. You’ll still notice a difference and it will make it more sustainable in the long run. The idea is that you can follow the plan for 21 days or 21 years.

“The focus is on abundance, not deprivation,” she added.

“When you eat this way, you eat tons of stuff you really like.

You’ll feel energised, alkalised and you’ll enjoy natural weight loss. You’ll feel younger, you’ll have greater mental clarity and you’ll sleep better.”

If you can combine the eating plan with a bit of exercise, then so much the better. Even a 20 minute walk a day can make a big difference to your wellbeing: “It’s not just the exercise, it’s the fresh air. So move, stretch, get outside, get good sleep and rest, and build a positive mind-set.”

Laura says the alkaline diet has turned her own life around, after getting completely out of shape when she was a student: “In my own experience, I’ve gone from being an overweight smoker to running ultramarathons.

“I was living the typical student life: drinking, partying, smoking and eating badly. I gained weight, lost energy and I felt just terrible, really lethargic. I remember thinking ‘I’m 19-years-old, surely I shouldn’t be feeling like this’. And then I got a rash all over and the doctor told me it was alcohol poisoning. That really hit me and I started to make some changes.”

Laura stopped smoking, cut right back on alcohol and began to exercise. She also started to do more home cooking with healthier foods. But it was while working in medical research for the NHS in Plymouth and running marathons that she made the biggest change: “I started on a plantbased diet, so no meat, fish or dairy.

“I feel a different person. I feel vibrant and young – and I hear that from so many people. Our bodies are very intuitive.

With the right diet, you won’t feel the need for so much wine or cigarettes and you won’t need that stodgy food. You become happier, self-confident and better able to handle stress.”

Laura added: “The work I was doing at the NHS was mainly based on drugs and surgery I was disappointed with that.

It didn’t look at how diet or lifestyle could improve health so I left and set up my website in 2007. I wanted to make a positive impact on people’s health. I’d seen the difference it had made in my life and in others.”

Laura had already self-published her first book before being signed up by the world’s leading natural health and healing book publishers, Hay House, for The Alkaline 5 Diet.

The book is available at Ethica and Waterstones in Plymouth and on Amazon.

••

Visit Laura’s website to download some free recipes – www.laurawilsononline.com – or visit her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/alkalinediethealth

Activator Green Smoothie Recipe Laura’s own ‘go to’ health booster is her Activator Green Smoothie: “After drinking it, you’ll find that you enjoy a real boost, both mentally and physically.” Why not give it a try?

Activator Green Smoothie Recipe (single portion): √√ 2½cm slice of pineapple √√ 2 apples, peeled and cored √√ 5cm slice of cucumber √√ ½ stick of celery √√ Large handful of spinach or kale √√ Juice of 1 lime √√ 150ml of water (more if you prefer a thinner consistency) Roughly chop all the ingredients, pop into a blender and blend for 1 minute. And if you want some extra zing, add a 2½cm piece of fresh root ginger, peeled. “It’s quite delicious,” says Laura. And it’s as simple as that!

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

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CHARITY MATTERS

Plymouth charity that’s a ‘Godsend’ for homeless veterans Without Plymouth Homes for Veterans, ex-serviceman Ben would be sleeping rough on the streets.

Ben, 26, joined the Royal Navy as soon as he left school 10 years ago but was medically discharged in 2012 at the end of two years of rehabilitation following an accident while serving. The accident involving radiation caused brain tumours, which have since cleared but Ben has been left without any sight at all in his left eye and with no peripheral vision in his right eye.

“I’ve been told I’m unemployable,” Ben told Plymouth Magazine. “Because of my eyes I’d be a liability at work and uninsurable.”

Ben left his home town of Manchester to join the Royal Navy and was based at Devonport. When he was medically discharged, Plymouth was his home. But his injuries and being unemployed made life difficult: “I wasn’t doing the right things, I was on a bit of a slippery slope.”

It led to him moving out of the family home, which he shared with his partner and their four children, and heading back to Manchester: “I spent about three weeks living in a park in Manchester.

The council kept moving me on and then the Royal British

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

Annamaria Farkas, senior community fundraiser in Plymouth

Legion got involved and I was placed in a hostel. But it wasn’t a home. It was a homeless shelter. It was awful.”

Finally, Ben learned that the charity behind Plymouth Homes for Veterans, Alabaré, had a room available at one of their two houses in Plymouth: “I had a deadline that I had to be out of the hostel by 30th October so it looked like I was heading for the streets again. But about 10 days before the deadline I heard about this place.

“It was perfect,” said Ben. “I wanted to come back to Plymouth because I want to work on my relationship with my partner, which I’m doing. I’m trying to get my life back on track. I’m getting my head straight and I’m doing the right things. I want to be in a position where I can move back home and be with my kids 24/7.”

Alabaré has 25 homes for veterans in the South and South West of England and across Wales. The first one to open in 2009 was the house where Ben is currently staying in the Lipson area of Plymouth. A second house in the city has since opened, which is smaller and for veterans who are a stage closer to being able to move into permanent accommodation of their own.

Between them, the two properties have housed around 100 veterans.

The main

Plymouth home has seven bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large dining room and kitchen, lounge, and an office with a computer to assist with job-seeking. Outside, there is a conservatory and garden.

The homes are a ‘half-way house’, providing veterans with accommodation and support until they’re able to move on. Even then, they have the support of the charity’s outreach team and they’re able to return to the home for socialising and to see the two support staff who are based there. As Annamaria Farkas, the charity’s senior community fundraiser in Plymouth says: “They need never feel that they’re on their own or isolated.”

The average time spent in the house is around nine months, but some are able to move on sooner while others need longer. The charity works with statutory agencies to find training and employment opportunities for the veterans, and to ensure they’re getting the help they’re entitled to. The residents are also taught skills to increase their self-confidence.

Up until 2015-16, much of the funding for all the homes has come from the Royal British Legion. But a 50% cut in funding from the Legion means that help is needed from elsewhere to keep the services running.

Plymouth Homes for Veterans is looking for businesses to choose them as their 2016 charity. Shops are being asked to take collecting tins and individuals can organise sponsored events. But it’s not all about money. The charity is appealing for people to get in touch if they have skills that can help with property maintenance, and venues are also needed to stage events.

More than anything, it’s your time that the charity needs: “We’re looking for volunteers to help with things such as driving, collecting, helping at fundraising events and being community champions,” explained Annamaria. “You’ll get training and it’s very rewarding, knowing that what you’re doing is making a difference.”

And Annamaria says the difference can be huge: “Quite a few veterans don’t have the routine and support network once they leave the forces and finding work can be hard.

Some have health problems or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Basically, these are people who have fallen through the net. For many of the veterans it’s very difficult to ask for help so by the time they come to us their needs can be high. Without us, quite a lot would have nowhere to live, they’d be sleeping rough.”

Just like Ben: “This place is a Godsend,” he said. “Without them, I’d be on the streets. And it’s a home, not a hostel.

It’s a nice environment, it’s comfortable and I feel supported. It’s brilliant and I owe them a big ‘thank you’.”

For more information about the charity and future fundraising events, visit the website. And to get involved, you can email Annamaria at a.farkas@alabare.co.uk or phone her on 07788 835 587.

••

www.alabare.co.uk www.facebook.com/H4VPlymouth www.twitter.com/AnneH4VPlymouth

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

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FOOD MATTERS

Flying start for The Greedy Goose Award-winning chef Ben Palmer and his partner Francesca McBean have celebrated their first anniversary running The Greedy Goose restaurant in one of Plymouth's oldest buildings.

Inside of a year, The Greedy Goose has been awarded two rosettes by the AA, as well as being listed in the Michelin Guide 2016. The venue also won the 2015 City and Waterfront Best Fine Dining Restaurant Award.

In their first business venture, the couple took over the historic Prysten House building - which had previously been occupied by Tanners restaurant for 15 years.

Patron chef Ben said: “It had always been my ambition to run my own restaurant and Chris and James Tanner gave me that opportunity.”

The restaurant describes its menu as ‘contemporary cuisine, using the very best fresh and local ingredients’.

The couple are celebrating their success by offering complimentary Prosecco with dinner for reservations made from now until the end of the year.

Ben said: “As we reach the end of our first year at The Greedy Goose, we want to share the occasion with our supportive customers and welcome those who have yet to visit us.”

••

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FOOD MATTERS

Catch 22 hits all the right notes to go straight to the top of the restaurant charts It’s taken the Plymouth restaurant scene by storm, shooting to Number 1 in the city’s TripAdvisor restaurant rankings – and no-one is more surprised with the rapid rise of Catch 22 than the friends who opened its hatches on the Barbican just a few months ago.

Mark Tam and Sam Johnson snapped up the chance to take over the premises when it became available in July. But what started off as a takeaway for simply-cooked, ultra-fresh local seafood has turned into a busy restaurant with rave reviews.

“We didn’t see it coming,” said Mark. “My mum rang me one day and said ‘you’re number 47 out of 500-odd Plymouth restaurants on TripAdvisor’ – and it just crept up and up. Then we were in the top 10 in Devon and Number 1 in Plymouth. It was mad!

“We were going to do a little takeaway, with street food,” added Mark, “but all of a sudden we were getting calls from people saying ‘can we book a table?’ So I went out to one of the shops up the road and started buying up a load of retro knives and forks and crockery, which people seem to like. And it’s in keeping with what we’re doing here, which is home-cooking, really. There’s no messing. It’s just fresh fish cooked very quickly on a hot plate with some great

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

The Catch 22 team (from left) Sam Johnson, Mark Tam and Nick Ludlam

seasoning. We let the fish sing.”

While Mark’s background is in carpentry, Sam has been a chef all his working life and specialised in seafood at the Rod & Line in Tideford, where he worked until joining Mark to open Catch 22. With business taking off so quickly they brought in manager Nick Ludlam from Boston Tea Party and they now have a staff of six.

It was while helping his friend Ben Shearn to renovate Bar Burrito on Quay Road that Mark had the idea of opening his “fish bar” in the hatch which is part of the same building: “I said to Ben ‘what are you going to do with the hatch next door?’ and it all happened very quickly after that.

“I spoke to Sam and we felt there wasn’t anywhere else doing this type of seafood. There are loads of great fish and chip shops and restaurants on the Barbican but nothing really doing simply cooked seafood that you could eat out of a little box.

“When so many people started ringing to book a table we spoke to the guys at Burritos. It makes so much sense for local businesses to work together like this. People come to our hatch and if they want to eat in, we tell them to take a seat next door. We then bring our menu blackboard to their table and take their order, and they can get their drinks from the bar in Burritos. Everyone wins!”

Don’t expect a menu with a long list; at Catch 22, the menu is a blackboard that changes every day, depending on what’s landed at the fish quay opposite: “If you’ve got a good arm, you can throw the fish over,” says Mark.

“We’ll have six or seven dishes, sometimes fewer than that.

We’ll choose what we really like the look of. We buy direct at the market every morning, which is such a privilege. Everyone in the fishing community has been so supportive. They’re great guys. They’re out doing a very difficult, dangerous job, getting this wonderful fish to us every morning. We want to do justice to the fish they bring us.”

He added: “Our business is very local and sustainability is key to everything we’re doing. We only buy what we need for the day, then we start fresh again the next morning. Anything we have left over when we close at night, we cook up and give to the

FOOD MATTERS

homeless people, because there are always a few around here.”

The day that the Plymouth Magazine visited, there was a choice of monkfish in a Thai green curry or with rustic mash and salad; plaice with sautéed paprika potatoes; garlic king prawns; and salt and pepper squid.

“We keep it simple,” said Sam. “We just use some butter, garlic, chilli, white wine and fresh herbs. The fish is done in a few minutes. It’s fresh, it’s hot, it’s tasty and it’s just very good food.”

It’s the most informal dining experience in Plymouth and there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the menu: “It’s all very flexible,” said Mark. “If you want a bit of this and a bit of that, then that’s fine. You can have sole in a roll if you like and if we’ve got it.

“Yes, it’s amazing that we’re Number 1 on TripAdvisor but I don’t think it means we’re the best restaurant in Plymouth at all. But there’s not many that can top us for atmosphere.”

It was partly in response to people wanting “a bit of this and a bit of that” that Catch 22 introduced their Seafood Platter, which is £50 and can be shared by two people. The restaurant also does Banquet Nights, where for £30, diners can try everything on the fish board.

Mark and Sam are well known on the local music scene and Owen Laughton, a member of Sam’s band, The Sound, supplies the restaurant’s bread from his family’s Jacka Bakery in Southside Street. From the New Year, the pair will be growing their own herbs and vegetables at Warleigh Barton Farm in Eggbuckland and the goal is to have virtually zero food mileage in 2016.

As if Mark and Sam weren’t busy enough with Catch 22, they’ve recently started doing the food at the Mayflower Sailing Club on Phoenix Wharf. Catch 22 @ the Mayflower Sailing Club is serving food on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday lunchtimes. Mark and Sam have taken on a new chef, Jack Noades, to help and they’re offering a 3-course festive menu for £25 in December.

The food at the Sailing Club is part of a wider aim to get more people involved with the club’s history and to get the boats back into the water in time for Easter 2016. The club is looking for volunteers with sailing and teaching experiences to help.

Mark has also teamed up with Ivor Edmunds from the Notte Inn to cook up a Christmas Day dinner in the banquet room at The Loft on the Barbican. “One thing that life has taught me is that you never know what’s around the corner,” said Mark.

“And never has that been truer than this year. But I’m loving it!”

Opening times at Catch 22 are 12-8pm Monday and Tuesday; 12-10pm Wednesday and Thursday; 12 to 11pm Friday and Saturday; and 12 to 10pm on Sundays. Bookings are taken but walk-ins and takeaway customers are also welcome.

Visit the Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest menu and events.

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WHAT’S ON

The Lyric Royal Parade Plymouth Box Office 01752 267222 www.theatreroyal.com Dec 3 to 5 BOOTS AT THE DOOR Looking beyond the drama of the frontline, Boots at the Door is a funny and poignant play that explores what it means to be a hero – both in the field and at home. Forging a brand new theatre company, members of Plymouth’s Armed Forces community have developed this show from scratch, based on their own experiences and stories. Boots at the Door offers a rare opportunity to see them in a new light.

Dec 6 KATE RUSBY AT CHRISTMAS This unmissable evening of entertainment will feature songs and carols from Kate Rusby’s new Christmas album, together with a selection of songs from her latest album Ghost. As ever, Kate is touring this festive season with her hugely talented and intuitive band, complete with the enchanting sound of the brass quintet who join her each Christmas tour.

Plymouth to launch tour of Billy Elliott the Musical Multi award-winning smash hit Billy Elliot the Musical is embarking on its first-ever UK tour - starting in Plymouth.

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01752 364186 18\

The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

The show recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in the West End and will open at the Theatre Royal Plymouth where it will play from February 24 to April 2. Following Plymouth, the tour will continue to play until May 2017 with details of further venues to be announced.

Producer Eric Fellner said today: “All of us at Billy Elliot the Musical are delighted to be bringing the show on tour across the UK and Ireland for the first time. It has taken us 10 years to put this truly British show on the road in the UK and to be opening the tour at the Theatre Royal Plymouth is a real privilege for us. We look forward to our time in Plymouth and hope that audiences in the South West will take this inspiring production to their hearts”.

Set in a northern mining town, against the background of the 1984/85 miners’ strike, Billy’s journey takes him out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by over 10 million people across five continents and is the recipient of over 80 awards internationally, including ten Tony Awards and five Olivier Awards. In 2006,

••

Tickets can be booked online at www.theatreroyal. com or by calling the Theatre Royal Plymouth Box Office on 01752 267222.

Theatres & Shows Feb 24 to Apr 2 BILLY ELLIOT - THE MUSICAL Featuring a timeless score by Elton John, sensational dance and a powerful story that has captivated millions around the world, Billy Elliot the Musical is a funny, inspiring and spectacular theatrical experience. See story opposite.

Drum Theatre ROYAL PARADE PLYMOUTH Box Office 01752 267222 Dec 1 to Jan 16 3 LITTLE PIGS Perfect for ages two and beyond, the unswervingly energetic Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company return to Plymouth with a show chock full of puppets, music, comedy and thrills! Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company’s 3 Little Pigs follows in the footsteps of the company’s hit shows The Little Red Hen, The Enormous Turnip, The Hare and The Tortoise and Goldilocks and The Three Bears.

Dec 18 to Jan 16 CINDERELLA The famous rags-to-riches story will be brought magically to life in a sumptuous production which carries the Theatre Royal Plymouth’s hallmark of quality entertainment for all ages; an abundance of comedy, stunning sets, the magical pantomime moment when Cinderella is transported to the Prince’s Ball with the help of a pumpkin, and lots of Fairy Gokmother magic!

Dec 2 to 19 GLORIATOR A hilarious new show revealing just what happens when a glamorous French actress and her hapless assistant stage their own version of Hollywood blockbuster Gladiator.

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Castle Street, Plymouth BOX OFFICE: 01752 267131 www.barbicantheatre.co.uk Dec 9 to Jan 10 ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRY MEN This fools’ version of the legendary fable of Robin Hood is suitable for the whole family, with lightning-quick comedy, a love story like no other and incredibly historically (in) accurate characters, these men in Lincoln green will keep you on the edge of your seat with excitement and peril.

Feb 26 and 27 FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT Edinburgh sell out and award winning artist Bryony Kimmings heartbreaking and life affirming new show about clinical

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WHAT’S ON Plymouth’s Barbican Theatre has been awarded £80,000 for its vibrant new performing arts space and rehearsal studios in Plymouth city centre from the Social Enterprise Investment Fund.

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The theatre began life in 1980 as an outreach theatrein-education company and has maintained its roots in the community and in challenging important social issues. Today, they are one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations and have an excellent reputation for their work with diverse young people and emerging artists, developing their talents through theatre and dance.

Over 90,000 people visited the theatre last year, with 140 young people taking part in Performance Training sessions each week to learn dance and theatre skills, build their confidence and make new friends. More and more people are using this small-scale theatre every year, generating a need for the charity to expand to meet the increasing demand.

The Basement project will accommodate three new custom-built rehearsal spaces and a messy making space in the city centre. Working closely with local firm Crayon Architecture, the team will transform this disused commercial property into an incubation hub for young people and emerging artists. The project will provide new opportunities for young people and emerging artists to make the challenging transition from academic learning into the professional world of theatre and dance.

••

To find out more about Barbican Theatre and keep up to date with the latest news about this exciting new space, follow the theatre on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit www.barbicantheatre.co.uk.

depression and men. Bryony is an outrageous, hilarious and fearless performance artist from London. Tim is an outrageous, hilarious and fearless account manager from a top advertising agency. Bryony and Tim are a couple. Bryony spends most of her life on tour, trying her best to change the world. Tim spends most of his life at a desk trying his best to sell the world. Six months into their relationship, Bryony found out that Tim suffers from severe clinical depression.

He had kept it a secret for a very long time. Fake It ’Til You Make It is Bryony Kimmings’ new work about clinical depression and men made in collaboration with Tim. A wickedly warming, brutally honest and heart-breaking show about the wonders and pitfalls of the human brain, being in love and what it takes to be a ‘real man’.

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CASTLE STREET, PLYMOUTH 01752 242021 www.b-bar.co.uk Dec 2 COMEDY NIGHT Some light relief with some of the best stand-ups on the UK circuit.

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

Dec 3 JOANNA COOKE AND NATHAN AUSTIN Popular Plymouth-based duo Joanna Cooke and Nathan Austin make a welcome return to the B-Bar. Audiences at their shows can expect a mix of tasteful covers, with a twist, and strong original songs, all delivered with Joanna’s distinctive, high quality vocals and piano touches, complimented by Nathan’s fine guitar work, vocals and subtle percussion.

Dec 4 HAMER & CO Everything from silky smooth to smokin’ hot jazz music! Rich Hamer, Frank Hamer and some fabulous Special Guests unite to form this sublime band, seamlessly combining Swing, Blues, Latin and Bebop.

Dec 5, 12, 19 FREE CUBA PARTY Latin tunes and cocktails with our resident DJ playing the best in salsa, merengue, bachata, son and more.

Dec 9, 23 CAFE ACOUSTICA The B-Bar’s fortnightly showcase of unplugged talent, hosted by singer-songwriter Jessie Mullen.

Dec 10 RHYMEWARP Rhyme warp is the B-Bar’s

Theatres & Shows

£80,000 boost for Plymouth based performing arts hub

s ng nly i v o Sa nd ve ke i s e as we M is th

Prom Weekend December 11th-13th

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Sheila Snellgrove company director, Barbican Theatre and young people from the theatre’s Performance Training programme celebrate the funding award for the new performing arts space. Photo: Gem Ward

participatory poetry and spoken word night. Hosted by the inimitable Mama Tokus and bringing you an excellent array of talent, we think every one of these will be a unique experience not to be missed.

Dec 11 HOT CLUB OF STONEHOUSE Hot Club of Stonehouse bring the gypsy jazz of 1930s Paris bals musettes to present day Blighty - sultry, insouciant and swinging, their authentic Hot Club sound is uniquely anointed with the balmy and incomparable vocals of the divine Miss Becky Brine.

Dec 16 HAUNT THE WOODS Haunt the Woods are a folk band from the Shires of Devon and Cornwall who effortlessly blend classic folk-rock with a more modern and unique sound.

Dec 17 ANDY QUICK The entertaining and personable frontman of popular local band Land of the Giants. ‘Warm, bluesy and brimming with soul’ - BBC Introducing.

Dec 18 LOST IN SPACE A seven-piece party band, playing a heady cocktail of horn-driven retro grooves, funky ska and folk-stomp. Raunchy female www.cornerstonevision.com

vocals, trumpet, trombone, alto sax, guitar, bass, percussion, augmented with violin, mandolin, flute, clarinet and accordion; a slew of classics from Madness to Gogol Bordello, with a plentiful supply of their own songs thrown in.

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MILLBAY ROAD, PLYMOUTH Box Office: 0845 146 1460 Nov 28 DARA O BRIAIN Dara is one of the most recognisable faces on British TV, as host of the hugely successful Mock The Week, The Apprentice You’re Fired and Star Gazing Live.

Not forgetting his most recent shows Dara O Briain: School of Hard Sums for Dave and Dara O Briain’s Science Club for BBC2.

Catch one of the most charismatic, intelligent, fast-talking and downright funny live performers working today.

Dec 1 & 2 KEVIN BRIDGES Scotland’s biggest export, Kevin Bridges, dubbed as “brilliant” by one of his comedy idols Billy Connolly, has had an astonishing rise to success. In 2012, his tour ‘The Story Continues…’ sold 45,000 tickets on day one and @CornerstoneVis

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WHAT’S ON

smashed box office records. And now this December Kevin will be bringing his hilarious new show to Plymouth!

Dec 3 THE VACCINES The Vaccines return to the Pavilions stage with supporting acts Palma Violets and The Big Moon. 2015 will see The Vaccines release their third album “English Graffiti”, following their UK No. 1 release ‘Come Of Age’ in September 2012 and their platinum selling debut ‘What Did You Expect From The Vaccines’ released in 2011.

Dec 4 MAGIC OF MOTOWN Featuring more chart toppers than ever before, starring the music of the Four Tops, Supremes, Temptations, Jackson 5, Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and more, the show marks the official arrival of Motown style, sophistication and musical brilliance to these shores.

Dec 5 ROYAL MARINES CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR During this annual event, the Band will perform Christmas music, military marches, big band hits

and popular showstoppers – to name but a few. In addition, their world-renowned Corps of Drums will demonstrate the precision, accuracy and musical skills for which they are famous across the globe.

Dec 10 CARO EMERALD With more than 2.5 million record sales, 40 million YouTube views, a host of awards (including an Echo, Goldene Kamera, Edison Award, EBBA & MTV Music Award), and a string of sold out tours and performances at festivals throughout Europe including Glastonbury and Isle of Wight, Caro has made her mark.

Dec 11 JOOLS HOLLAND Pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, television presenter and multiplatinum recording artist Jools Holland returns this year for his 31 date autumn/Winter Tour across the UK and Ireland. A series of intimate shows in iconic venues accompanied by special guests, these gigs are not to be missed. With very special guest KT Tunstall.

• Continued on page 24

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Theatres & Shows

Guitar legend Joe Bonamassa set for Plymouth date Guitar legend Joe Bonamassa is returning to Plymouth in the spring.

Hailed globally as one of the greatest guitar players of his generation, Joe will be appearing at the Plymouth Pavilions on Monday March 21.

Approaching his 27th year as a professional musician, he continues to blaze a remarkably versatile artistic trail, and amass an authentic, innovative and soulful body of work.

The ever-evolving singer-songwriter has released 15 solo albums in the last 13 years, all on his own label, J&R Adventures. Bonamassa will perform songs from his classic albums including Sloe Gin, Dust Bowl, The Ballad of John Henry, Driving Towards The Daylight (the latter reached #2 in the Official UK Album Chart 2012), and his critically acclaimed 2014 album Different Shades of Blue.

••

To book tickets visit www.plymouthpavilions.com or call 0845 146 1460

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BBC Radio’s multi award-winning antidote to panel games returns to the stage in 2016 with its sell out touring show.

The team from I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue will be on stage at the Plymouth Pavilions on February 6.

Join Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Jeremy Hardy and host Jack Dee for an unmissable evening of inspired nonsense. Colin Sell provides piano accompaniment. “Whether the teams are singing the words of one song to the tune of another, making up serial rhymes or entering the mythic maze of Mornington Crescent, they have now become the National Theatre of fun” Gillian Reynolds, Daily Telegraph.

••

Tickets available at www.plymouthpavilions.com or by calling 0845 146 1460

• Continued from page 22 Dec 13 GARETH MALONE Gareth Malone first appeared on TV in the three-part BBC documentary series The Choir in 2006. The series saw Gareth take on the challenge of bringing music into the lives of students who had never sung before and ultimately taking them to compete in the World Choir Games in China, and following a hugely successful nationwide tour in 2014 Gareth is excited to announce his second even bigger tour with his choir ‘Voices’.

Dec 14 AN EVENING SHARED WITH JASPER CARROTT & ALISTAIR MCGOWAN Comedy legends Jasper Carrott and Alistair McGowan split the bill and your sides with a night of comedy stand up and impressions. Drawing on their wealth of experience they present a show of pure laughter and entertainment that is not to be missed.

Dec 18 THE ABBA REUNION Following successful International tours selling out theatres, stadiums and concert halls, this award winning, critically acclaimed Abba Tribute performer, producer, choreographer and director together with The Reunion Group, created ‘The Abba Reunion Tribute Show’.

Dec 19 SETH LAKEMAN Seth has successfully steered English folk into the mainstream with high-energy performances and a series of best-selling albums including his current album Word of Mouth which entered the charts at No.20 on release in February 2014 to rave reviews. With very special guests Cara Dillon and Wildwood Kin.

Jan 13 RUMOURS OF FLEETWOOD MAC Having performed to over a million fans since they formed over a decade ago, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac returns to the UK in late 2015 and early 2016 to launch its stunning new stage production performing in meticulous note-fornote detail all the classic hits from one of the most outstanding and enduring catalogues in the history of rock music.

Jan 14 LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE ‘The Hoff’, iconic star of Baywatch and Knight Rider , plays an extrovert, party going, DJ and night club owner in Ibiza. His teenage daughter arrives to stay for the summer and he has to cope with being a single parent, to a girl who wants to meet boys and live the party life. Suddenly his motto is “do as I say, not as I did!”

Feb 12 & 13 SARAH MILLICAN: OUTSIDER In just seven years Sarah Millican has gone from winning the Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to becoming one of the UK’s most successful and multi-awardwinning comedians, who also holds the record as the highest selling female comedian in the DVD market. Her last tour, ‘Home Bird’, was seen by over 200,000 people.

Feb 14 REBECCA FERGUSON Following in the footsteps of Billie Holiday and Diana Ross, singing superstar Rebecca Ferguson is back, showcasing her smoky vocals on her third album ‘Lady Sings the Blues’ and touring throughout the UK.

Theatres & Shows V

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Feb 19 KODO Twinning contemporary music and dance that are based on Japanese traditional arts, the production is directed by Tamasaburo Bando (one of the most celebrated Kabuki actors)

and expresses the Japanese sensation of ‘Mystery’ defined by a dynamic taiko drumming performance.

Feb 20 PADDY MCGUINNESS The star of ITV’s Take Me Out will return to his performing roots, with his first stand-up comedy tour since 2011. After numerous sell out tours and best-selling DVDs, Paddy’s long awaited return to stand-up will see him perform 50 dates across the UK with another hotly anticipated show, Daddy McGuinness.

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WHAT’S ON

Plymouth Athenaeum hosts festive comedy extravaganza Plymouth Comedy Club returns on the first weekend of December with it’s now traditional Christmas festive special. Four fantastic comedians, five if you count resident host and compere Chris Brooker, will be taking to the stage of the Plymouth Athenaeum.

A building rich with history, it’s sure to rock with laughter and host the perfect night to kick off the festive season. The show is on Saturday December 5 and features Ian Cognito, Bethany Black, Kevin Dewsbury and David Arnold. Doors open at 6.30pm with the show starting at 8pm.

A true icon, headliner Ian Cognito is one of the great heroes of the alternative comedy circuit, treading the boards of the original Comedy Store in Soho alongside the likes of Ben Elton, Alexei Sayle and Rik Mayall.

Bethany Black will be familiar to anyone who has watched E4’s Banana and will probably strike a chord with fans of Doctor Who by the time the night comes around as well.

Delightfully dark yet blessed with a glorious sense of absurd mischief, Bethany will have you cringing one second and then breathless with laughter the next.

Kevin Dewsbury brings a glorious fusion of proper northern cheekiness and razor sharp wit. Gags, wit and true tales from a gentleman of the circuit that’s been one of the most

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

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popular acts to grace circuits all across the nation. Local resident David Arnold has been making waves in the area as part of Plymouth’s Comedy Avengers and is now starting to receive the recognition he deserves beyond the south west.

••

Tickets cost £15, plus £1 booking fee and are available online at www.plymouthcomedyclub.co.uk.

For further information call 07586 325159 or visit Plymouth Comedy Club’s Facebook page.

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The tense and stifling atmosphere on board a ship during the Napoleonic wars is powerfully evoked in a film of Glyndebourne’s Billy Budd.

The opera, recorded in 2010 and sung in English with English supertitles, is being screened at Plymouth Arts Centre on Thursday November 26 at 4pm.

With the fear of mutiny always at the back of officers’ minds, crew members below deck were obliged to obey orders instantly and without question. Britten and his librettists E.M. Forster and Eric Crozier present a situation where a man’s innocence, a shining goodness as embodied in the character of Billy, is not enough to save him. And at the heart of it all lies an insinuating emotional ambiguity, making this opera a deeply disturbing and unforgettable experience.

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WHAT’S ON

Music Dec 2 PLYMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Plymouth Guildhall Conductor Anne Kimber, with Michael Petrov - cello. Verdi: Overture: The Force of Destiny Dvorak: Cello Concerto; Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; Richard Rogers: Slaughter on 10th Avenue. TIckets at the door or from Kerry’s Music, 51 Ebrington Street, Plymouth PL4 9AA, Tel:01752 227120 Dec 3 TAMAR CONCERT CHOIR United Reformed Church, Powisland Drive, Derriford.

Concert of seasonal songs and carols. 7.30pm. Tickets £5 including refreshments at the door. Proceeds to church funds.

Dec 4 THE SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS CHOIR Yelverton Methodist Church A Christmas Presentation.Details TBA - contact Edward Gigg 01752 405429 Dec 4 PLYMOUTH AREA POLICE CHOIR - 180TH ANNIVERSARY Mary Tavy Methodist Church. For details contact Bob Sheldrake, 01752 406995 Dec 5 CHRISTMAS CONCERT University of Plymouth Choral Society and Sinfonia. Minster Church of St Andrew, Royal Parade, Plymouth. Conductor Simon Ible, with Laura Mitchell soprano, Angela Simkin - mezzosoprano, Ross Scanlon - tenor and Christopher Cull - baritone.

Pergolesi: Magnificat in B flat major; Mozart: Missa Brevis No.2 in D minor. Plus carols for audience participation. Tickets from Peninsula Arts, 01752 585050

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Dec 5 RING FORTH YE BELLS Tavistock Town Hall, Bedford Square Plymouth Gilbert and Sullivan Fellowship present ‘Ring Forth Ye Bells’. Tickets from 01822 617232. Proceeds to CLIC Sargent Charity

Dec 6 PLYMOUTH PHILHARMONIC CHOIR The Guildhall, Royal Parade, Plymouth. Conductor Christopher Fletcher, with Catherine Hamilton - soprano, Alison Kettlewell mezzo-soprano, Christopher Lemmings - tenor, Darren Jeffery - bass-baritone. Mendelssohn: Elijah . Tickets in advance from 01822 853791.

Dec 6 PLYMOUTH JAZZ CLUB The Matt Carter Trio with Leigh Coleman. Royal British Legion Club, Tailyour Road, Crownhill.

Details 01752 721179 Dec 10 THE SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS CHOIR Saltash Methodist Church. A Christmas Presentation. Details Edward Gigg 01752 405429 Dec 10 PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA Davy Main Hall, Plymouth University. Conductor Rupert Bond. Beethoven: Egmont Overture; Delius: Walk to the Paradise Garden; Coates: London Suite; Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture ; Mozart: Symphony No 41 in C major Jupiter. Plus music for String and Wind ensembles Admission free - donations invited to concert costs Dec 11 PLYMOUTH AREA POLICE CHOIR Plymouth Methodist Central Hall. Plymouth Area Police Choir - Christmas Concert. For details contact Bob Sheldrake, 01752 406995 Dec 12 PLYMOUTH PHOENIX CHORALE St Peter’s Church, Wyndham Square. Musical Director: Marcus Alleyne. Concert of Carols and Christmas Music. Rutter: Gloria; Vivaldi: Gloria. Further information 07971169335

Music

John Shillito’s Select Six - starring at the Plymouth Jazz Club Christmas Party at the Royal British Legion Club Crownhill on December 20

Dec 12 THE SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS CHOIR Harewood House, Plympton.

Annual Christmas Concert.

Advance booking advisable - contact Edward Gigg 01752 405429

Dec 15 PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY CAROLS St Matthias Church, North Hill, Plymouth. Carols by Candlelight University of Plymouth Choral Society, musical director Simon Ible. Members of the public are invited to join students and staff of Plymouth University in this traditional service of carols and readings. Admission free donations invited to Shekinah Mission

Dec 11 TAMAR CONCERT CHOIR Pilgrim United Reformed Church, St Levan Road. Concert of Christmas music. Tickets £5 including refreshments at the door. 7.30pm Proceeds in aid of Neonatal ‘Keep Me Close’ appeal at Derriford Hospital

Dec 16 TAMAR CONCERT CHOIR The choir will be taking part in the • Continued on page 32

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Christmas Grotto returns to illuminate Plymouth’s festive season Featured as one of the Top Ten Best Christmas Attractions in the UK in the Guardian last year, Radiant, the creative arts space in Derry’s Cross will once again host the Radiant Christmas Grotto in December.

With 20 minute micro-theatre performances running from Saturday December 5 to Wednesday December 23, the grotto is an unmissable experience in the Plymouth Christmas calendar.

Devised by the Plymouth-based cultural laboratory Effervescent – which recently won the coveted ‘Best City Centre Company’ in the Plymouth City and Waterfront Awards – last year’s production was a huge success and this year’s event promises to delight again.

Effervescent’s director, Eloise Malone said: “The Christmas Grotto at Radiant is a celebration of kindness and thoughtful acts at Christmas at a time when the commercial word is emphasising spending money and running up debt.

“We design the Grotto with children and young people - some of whom face daily hardship and disadvantage in their lives to be a generous Christmas experience for everyone from small babies to people who are retired.”

The audience can immerse itself in the magical story of Snowy the Fluffy Snow Creature, his baby Snow Creature, the Frightfully Charming Deer and, as always, lots and lots of snow.

This year, the baby Snow Creature finds himself in a spot of bother when he is kidnapped by a jealous deer.

Amongst the music, dance, aerial acrobatics, the audience needs to help persuade the grumpy deer to return the baby Snow Creature and find the fun and joy of Christmas.

But what’s the creative inspiration behind the show?

Festive Events

Eloise said: “Our inspiration comes from the young people we work with and also from things we ourselves love - especially Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro – an animated film by the company that made Spirited Away.

“But also we try to make it belong at Radiant - so there is some vintage stuff in there which fits with our on-site bistro, RumpusCosy - the drop lights, the slightly posh deer, the emphasis on having a lovely time together.”

The Grotto experience includes the opportunity to make a special Christmas treasure of your own to take home. And afterwards, stay for a sparkling Christmas High Tea or candlelit Christmas Supper in RumpusCosy.

The grotto is, as always, a foot deep in snow. Radiant is delighted to accommodate wheelchair users but it advises calling ahead so that comfortable access can be ensured.

With its emphasis on the culture of giving, rather than getting, at Christmas, the Radiant Grotto provides a refreshing alternative to more commercial Christmas entertainment.

Eloise added: “As with everything we do at Effervescent, we want people to feel happy, warm, and that they have the power to make the world a tiny bit better by spreading love, joy and kindness.”

••

Prices are £6 for adults, £4 for children (2-18 years) and babies come along free. Tickets are available online at www.radiantspace.org.uk or call 01752 227448 for large bookings and special arrangements. Radiant Gallery is situated at 12 Derry’s Cross, Plymouth.

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To book your tickets visit www.plymouthpavilions.com or call the ticket store on 0845 146 1460 Calls cost 2p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

/31

WHAT’S ON

Music

Music • Continued from page 29 St Luke’s Hospice ‘Light Up a Life’ service at St Andrew’s Church at 7pmincluding refreshments at the door. 7.30pm Proceeds in aid of Neonatal ‘Keep Me Close’ appeal at Derriford Hospital Dec 17 TAMAR CONCERT CHOIR St Mary’s Church, Tamerton Foliot. Concert of seasonal songs and carols at 7.30pm. Tickets £5 including refreshments, at the door. Proceeds in aid of Neonatal ‘Keep Me Close’ appeal at Derriford Hospital Dec 19 MUSIC OF THE NIGHT CHORAL FOUNDATION Plymouth Methodist Central Hall. Music of the Night Choral Foundation with the Kelliwick Orchestra, directed by Marcus Alleyne. ‘Once upon a Christmas’

- an evening of Christmas music and song. Tickets £8 from 01752 365580.

Dec 19 GALA CHRISTMAS CONCERT St Eustachius Church, Tavistock.

Ten Tors Orchestra & Choir, conductor Simon Ible, with Alexander Robin Baker - baritone.

Mozart: Symphony No.38 in D major Prague; Handel: Arias & Choruses from Messiah; Corelli: Christmas Concerto op.6 no.8; Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols. With traditional carols for audience participation. Tickets from Peninsula Arts, 01752 585050

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

City Steam Jazz Band who are appearing at Plymouth Jazz Club at the Royal British Legion Club Crownhill on January 17

Dec 19 TAMAR VALLEY MALE VOICE CHOIR St Nicholas & St Faith Church, Saltash. Concert for CHICKS Dec 20 PLYMOUTH JAZZ CLUB Christmas Party with John Shillito’s Select Six. Royal British Legion Club, Crownhill. Details 01752 721179 Dec 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Plymouth Jazz Club with ‘Enjoy Yourself’ Jazz Band. Royal British Legion Club, Tailyour Road, Crownhill. Tickets £15, including buffet, visitors very welcome. Full details 01752 721179 Jan 17 PLYMOUTH JAZZ CLUB Royal British Legion Club Crownhill City Steam Jazz Band from Exeter.

Details 01752 721179 or www. plymouth-jazz-club.org.uk Jan 21 BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Plymouth Guildhall Conductor Frank Zielhorst, with Jean-Guihen Queyras - cello. Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin; Haydn: Cello Concerto in C; Beethoven: Symphony no. 2. Tickets: £19, £17 from Theatre Royal Box Office, tel: 01752 267222 Jan 29 PLYMOUTH AREA POLICE CHOIR St Jude’s Church, Plymouth For details contact Bob Sheldrake 01752 406995 Feb 7 PLYMOUTH JAZZ CLUB Royal British Legion Club Crownhill

Maggie Reeday with the Craig Milverton Trio Details 01752 721179 or www. plymouth-jazz-club.org.uk Feb 12 PLYMOUTH AREA POLICE CHOIR Janeva Court, Saltash For details contact Bob Sheldrake, 01752 406995 Feb 16 MY MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE Duke of Cornwall Hotel Jeanie Moore MVO. Words and Music from 1931 to 2016. Tickets £10 from the Duke of Cornwall Hotel 01752 275850 Feb 21 PLYMOUTH JAZZ CLUB Royal British Legion Club Crownhill Featuring The Savannah Jazz Band Details 01752 721179 or www. plymouth-jazz-club.org.uk Feb 26 to 28 PENINSULA ARTS CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL The House, Plymouth University Frontiers: Expanding musical imagination. Ten Tors Orchestra, Simon Ible Conductor, with PierreEmmanuel Largeron, violin.

Eduardo Reck Miranda : Shockwaves – Concertino for solo violin, percussion, electronics & chamber orchestra (2015). Linas Baltas: New Commission premiere.

Federico Visi: Kineslimina (2015). David Everson: Dreamscape premiere. Tickets: £12, £10 Friends of Peninsula Arts & Ten Tors Orchestra, free students & children, from Peninsula Arts Tel 01752 585058

WHAT’S ON seasonal refreshments complete the Christmas experience.

Booking is essential.

Major Events Various dates LEAGUE 2 FOOTBALL Dec 12 Argyle v Cambridge Dec 26 Argyle v Yeovil Jan 9 Argyle v Northampton Jan 16 Argyle v Stevenage Jan 30 Argyle v Wycombe NATIONAL LEAGUE RUGBY Dec 12 Albion v Loughborough Jan 9 Albion v Hull Ionians Jan 23 Albion v Coventry Feb 6 Albion v Blaydon

BRITISH LEAGUE BASKETBALL Dec 20 Raiders v Manchester Dec 27 Raiders v Surrey United Jan 10 Raiders v Leeds Force Jan 24 Raiders v Leicester Jan 31 Raiders v Bristol Dec 1 to 24 CHRISTMAS AT PENNYWELL Pennywell Farm Nativity Plays in the barn with all the animals looking on, safe and dry in their winter home.

Visits to Father Christmas and

Dec 6 CHRISTMAS GOOD FOOD MARKET The Green, Royal William Yard A chance to stock up for Christmas with the best of local food and drink from across the South West with a nod to festive flavours and a special Santa Cruise grotto.

Dec 13 FESTIVE GIFT MARKET Royal William Yard A special Christmas themed gift market for all the family from 12 noon to 8pm including a performance by the Military Wives Choire and the Royal William Yard’s first Christmas Lantern Parade. Enjoy roasted chestnuts and mulled wine and visit the Christmas stalls. Santa will be making an appearance arriving into the Yard’s harbour by RNLI Life Boat at 5pm. Visitors are encouraged to join in the parade and to bring their own lanterns for entry into the Yard’s ‘Best Lantern Competition’ for a chance at winning a range of fantastic prizes from the Yard.

A chance to stock up for Christmas with the best of local

food and drink from across the South West with a nod to festive flavours and a special Santa Cruise grotto.

Until Jan 3 PLYMOUTH SNOW GLOBE Plymouth City Centre, Armada Way Gardens. Head to Armada Way Gardens, step inside the giant snow globe and create your own Christmas scene.

Have your picture taken and remember this moment forever - you could even create your own Christmas card with the picture!

Until Jan 4 NUTCRACKER TRAIL Plymouth City Centre, Armada Way. Santa has been busy touring Plymouth getting lots of toys for all the boys and girls this Christmas. On his travels he has left behind 20 Nutcrackers who have been told to find out what presents children are asking for.

Until Jan 31 PLYMOUTH WINTER ICE RINK Plymouth City Centre, Armada Way. Get your skates on and wrap up warm as the winter ice rink provides an authentic Christmas experience.

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Major Events Spectacular start of the Transat in Plymouth in 2008

Say YES to AGS Windows & Doors A number of key events have been announced in Plymouth today as Britain’s Ocean City looks ahead to 2016.

Plymouth City Council along with the city’s two private sector Business improvement Districts, the Plymouth City Centre Company and Plymouth Waterfront Partnership have pulled together another strong program of high profile, vibrant activities.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors and residents enjoyed a jam packed events calendar this year and 2016 is set to do the same.

The world famous Transat yacht race will return to Plymouth after a successful bid to host the start of the race.

People will be able to see the yachts in Plymouth from April 24 up until the solo sailors start their 2,800 mile race across the North Atlantic on May 2. A brand new Ocean City Blues Festival will take place on The Barbican and Sutton Harbour during this time.

Plymouth Waterfront Partnership’s hugely successful and award winning Pirate Weekend, popular with families and children, will be returning to The Barbican and Sutton Harbour for a weekend of pirate themed fun on May 14 and 15.

May will also see the announcement of the new Plymouth Lord Mayor and the traditional welcome will be given during Lord Mayor’s Day being held on May 28. This revamped event will focus on providing fun for the whole family as well as an evening of live music.

2016 will see Plymouth City Centre Company’s Flavour Fest returning for its twelfth year with a revamped feel. The event which showcases local cookery talent as well as local food produce will move in the event calendar and will take place from June 3 to 5.

Plymouth’s Armed Forces Day, which was attended by around 50,000 people in 2015, will once again bring together a range of exciting entertainment, activities and shows by working in partnership with all of the Armed Forces in the city. This event is scheduled to take place on June 25.

August will see the return of the British Firework Championships where six of the top pyrotechnic companies will compete to be crowned the champion over two nights on August 16 and 17. Visitors from all over the world come to see these amazing displays take off over Plymouth’s fantastic waterfront.

Work has already begun to make these free events attractive, fun and exciting for the whole family and to drive tourism within the city. More events will be announced over the coming six months.

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

EVENTS AT PLYMOUTH CITY MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY, DRAKE CIRCUS THE IMAGINATION STATION ‘Imagination Station’ Every Wednesday during term-time between 10.30am and 12 noon After an enjoyable 10 years, the Imaginator sessions are taking a break in 2015 - but the Museum’s Imagination Station will be available for all rising fives and their adults to enjoy. This is a self directed activity so there is no need to book. Just come and have fun meeting other rising fives to share activities and play together. The Imagination Station will appear in different galleries so ask at the Welcome Desk when you arrive to find out where it is.

WILD ABOUT PLYMOUTH Jurassic World Dec 12 1.30pm to 3.45pm 22 years after the original Jurassic Park failed the new Jurassic World is open for business. After years of study the scientists at the park genetically engineer a new breed of dinosaur.

When things go horribly wrong can our heroes make it off the island? Come along to our free film screening and then enjoy some dinosaur colouring activities afterwards. ‘Jurassic World’ has a running time of approximately 124 minutes and is rated PG-13.

Dec 12 CHRISTMAS CREATURE DECORATIONS Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery Make Christmas decorations based on the creatures in our natural history collection. Have a fun festive time using glitter galore and take home a lovely addition for your Christmas tree.

Dec 19 to 24 CHRISTMAS COLOURING TABLE & TRAIL Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery Get in the yuletide spirit in the build up to Christmas with our themed colouring table and trail.

These are self-directed activities that anyone can have a go at.

Dec 22 FILM SCREENING: LOST AND FOUND Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery This beautiful short film is the ideal way to start the countdown to Christmas. Based on the best selling children’s book by Oliver Jeffers it tells the story of a penguin who appears on a little boy’s doorstep one day and their combined efforts to return it to the South Pole.

Dec 23 FILM SCREENING: FROZEN Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery Considered by some to be one of Disney’s best-ever animated musical features, this massively successful film is inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tale The Snow Queen. It tells the story of a brave princess who sets off on an epic journey to find her sister, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in an eternal winter.

Along the way she is helped by a rugged iceman, a loyal pet reindeer, and a naive snowman.

Dec 24 FILM SCREENING: THE POLAR EXPRESS Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery This record-breaking musical fantasy tells the story of a young boy who embarks on a magical journey to the North Pole, learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas along the way.

Jan 16 FILM SCREENING: GERHARD RICHTER: PAINTING Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery See Corrina Belz’s 2011 documentary about artist Gerhard Richter.

Feb 6 to Jun 18 WAR GAMES Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery Explore the fascinating relationship between conflict and children’s play, with this major touring exhibition from the V&A Museum of Childhood which gives an insight into the way toys have been influenced by warfare from the 1800s to the present day.

Family Events

The popular family film Polar Express is being screened at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery on December 24

Jan 23 COOL LABS Plymouth University A quiz with a difference and a chance to see inside one of the labs at the University. Adults £2.

Children £1. Under 3s go free.

Advance booking essential by 10 January via the Museum Welcome Desk or 01752 304774.

Saltram House Plympton 01752 333500 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/saltram

Daily until Nov 27 A COLOURFUL TRAIL Pick up a fun colourful trail and go on a journey exploring the many shades of Saltram inside and out.

Nov 28 & 29 CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL Feel Christmassy as the Garden transforms into a festive craft and food fair with entertainment, talks and demonstrations then explore our treasure rooms in the House

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WHAT’S ON magically lit by candlelight as ‘The night before christmas’.

Until Dec 7 THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Take a magical peek through our candlelit treasure rooms dressed for the night before Christmas.

Twinkling lights take you on a festive journey from room to room along the East Wing to see the Saloon and Dining Room as you have never seen them before.

Finish in the Great Kitchen where you can discover the cooks preparing for a traditional festive feast.

Until Dec 7 FAMILY FESTIVE TRAIL Get into the Christmas spirit with the family festive trail around the House and Garden.

Until Jan 3 FAMILY FESTIVE TRAIL Get into the Christmas spirit with the family festive trail around the House and Garden.

Jan 4 to 31 A WALK AMONGST THE SNOWDROPS As the snowdrops frame the pathways take some time for yourself and enjoy a brisk winter walk. Return in February to plant a snow drop with our garden team.

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Jan 4 to Feb 12 SALTRAM IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT See Saltram in a different light as we illuminate our grandest rooms and discover what goes on behind the scenes with our conservation in action team and a family friendly trail.

Feb 21 SNOWFLAKE WINTER RUN The Cancer Research UK Plymouth Snowflake Run challenges people to keep running through the winter by taking on a 10km run, while raising vital funds to help beat cancer sooner. A great challenge to fundraise for Cancer Research UK. Experience the Snow Zones, Polar Bear Hugs, Show you’ve got what it takes to conquer the cold, A great reason to keep running all year, Electronic chip timing system with results texted to mobile phones after completing the race .

Dec 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 AN AUDIENCE WITH OLDE FATHER CHRISTMAS Rediscover the Christmas magic as Olde Father Christmas invites you into the Great Hall for tales of Christmas past.

Dec 6 to 13 FESTIVE FAMILY FELT Get into the Christmas spirit with Claire Packer’s festive edition of her popular drop-in family felt workshops.

Buckland Abbey Yelverton 01822 853607 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bucklandabbey

Dec 19 & 20 NATUREMAKE AT CHRISTMAS Make a Christmas gift or a tree decoration using unusual natural objects with the team from Naturemake. Drop-in anytime between 12noon-4pm.

Nov 29 CHRISTMAS RAG RUGGING WORKSHOP Learn the art of rag-rugging with expert Deborah Hastings. This time get set for Christmas by making baubles, corsages and wreaths.

Dec 27-31, Jan 2 & 3 WINTER WALKABOUT You’ve eaten all of the turkey and scoffed all the sprouts, now it’s time to discover the great outdoors as Buckland’s estate is open-to-all every single day between Sunday

The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

Dec 1 to 20 CHRISTMAS AT THE ABBEY Discover traditions old and new, as we step back in time into a Tudor Christmas inside the Abbey and uncover a festive surprise in our Great Barn.

27 December 2015 - Sunday 3 January 2016.

Mount Edgcumbe Cremyll 01752 822236 www.mountedgcumbe.gov.uk

Family Events

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Dec 12 and 13 CHRISTMAS FAYRE Back for the twelth year, the Christmas Fayre will be better than ever! The fayre will run 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Inspirational cookery demonstrations from leading

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

/39

WHAT’S ON

Exhibitions & Other Events

SALTASH CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL Over 60 brightly lit and decorated Christmas trees will be on display as part of the festive event at St Nicholas and Faith Church in Saltash.

The event opens on November 28 and closes

on December 11, with easy parking and disabled friendly access. Entry is £1.50 with accompanied children free.

On December 5 there will be refreshments served in the church rooms with a raffle and sales tables.

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

On December 6 at 4pm the Saltash Ladies Choir will sing carols among the trees and serve warm mince pies and tea.

Cost £2.50 During the festival Saltash Handbell Ringers and Brunel Ladies Harmony will perform at various times.

Choir to perform at Royal William Yard The Military Wives Choir will be performing at the Royal William Yard during the Festive Gift Market on December 13

Exhibitions at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery Until Jan 16 ARTIST ROOMS: GERHARD RICHTER This exhibition will examine the breadth and depth of the practice of Gerhard Richter, recognised as one of the world’s most significant living artists, through a carefully chosen selection of paintings and prints.

The works that will be on display are taken from Artist Rooms, an inspirational collection of modern and contemporary art acquired for the nation by Tate and The National Galleries of Scotland through the generosity of Anthony D’Offay with additional support from funders, including the Art Fund.

Until Jan 16 FIJI: OCEAN CONNECTIONS This newly-developed world cultures exhibition will explore the surprising connections between Plymouth and Polynesia. Over a hundred artefacts from the Pacific island of Fiji have travelled to the Museum since the late 1800s.

The exhibition will display a

selection of these, including barkcloths, weapons, shells and jewellery. As well as highlighting aspects of island life, ‘Fiji: Ocean Connections’ will show the complexity and beauty of Western Polynesian art and culture, investigating how oceans connect Plymouth with the Pacific.

Extended into 2016 IN THE FRAME: PLYMOUTH’S PORTRAITS REVEALED Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery This popular exhibition delves more deeply into the portraits collection and presents new research into some of its characters. ‘In the Frame’ features the newest acquistion - an early self-portrait by Plympton-born 18th century artist Sir Joshua Reynolds. The exhibition also includes paintings of other artists, maritime greats such as Hawkins and Raleigh, important local faces such as William Cookworthy and families like the Eliots of St Germans.

KF

KITCHENS & BEDROOMS Faraday Mill

Search for wallpaper leads to a dream kitchen!

What started as a search for new wallpaper eventually led to a Plymstock couple having a stunning new kitchen installed.

Dave and Janet Henwood were visiting one of the big DIY stores in Plymouth to look for wallpaper to brighten up their kitchen when Janet spotted a kitchen display which really caught her eye.

“Our kitchen was at least 20 years old and looking a little tired,” said Janet “and I managed to talk Dave into thinking about having a completely new kitchen.”

But when Janet checked on the internet she found some negative customer comments on the DIY store’s performance.

The couple decided to look at local independent kitchen companies and one of the first on their list was KF Kitchens in Faraday Mill Business Park.

Dave said: “We were really impressed with the huge range of displays at KF

Kitchens and there was no high pressure selling at all. Nathan Damarell, one of the directors, told us to have a look around and see if there was anything we liked.

“We saw a style which really appealed and Nathan kindly arranged for us to take away some door samples so that we could see which colour and finish was our favourite,” said Janet.

Nathan then visited the couple’s home and came up with his suggestions on layout and equipment. “Nathan was able to give us a ball-park estimate of the likely cost involved and we only had to pay a small deposit to enable the installation to be started,” added Dave, a retired shipwright.

Although the Henwood’s kitchen is relatively small at 120 square feet, KF Kitchens have made the most of the space available.

The new kitchen features the popular Cashmere coloured units with soft close

Tel: 01752 255022 www.kfkitchens.co.uk enquiries@kfkitchens.co.uk

doors and drawers, full length NEFF fridge and separate freezer, Neff CircoTherm oven and microwave, with separate induction hob and a built-in NEFF dishwasher.

Janet said: “I wasn’t sure about high level units with built-in appliances, but I was delighted that the oven and microwave could be installed at a height which is ideal for my height!”

One of Janet’s favourite features of the new kitchen is the easy access pull out corner LeMans shelving. Janet said: “I really didn’t want to have get down on my hands and knees to reach into the corner units so I was delighted to find out about the LeMans shelves.

“Hardly any effort is required to make the shelves swing out from the cupboard and they can carry a lot of pots and pans or food items,” said Janet.

The final touches to the sparkling new kitchen included Silestone quartz worktops,

supplied and installed by Mayflower Stone of Plymouth, Fuchsia glass splash backs supplied by Armada Glass and matching Karndean flooring.

Dave said: “We couldn’t be more thrilled with what KF Kitchens have achieved. The installation team were fantastic and the whole project was completed in about two weeks.”

Janet loves her new kitchen and has been delighted to re-ignite her love of baking.

“It’s a wonderful kitchen and still have to pinch myself every morning when I open the door,” she said.

By complete coincidence Janet’s brother Richard is also having a new kitchen installed by KF Kitchens, while one of her best friends has been to look at what KF Kitchens have achieved.

Janet said: “My friend is moving house soon…I think she will be heading for KF Kitchens for her new kitchen too.”

KF Kitchens Ltd 67 Faraday Mill Business Park, Cattedown, Plymouth PL4 0ST

PROPERTY MATTERS

Chance to view luxury bungalows at Derriford

The award winning Sunnybanks Homes ‘view home’ at their development of 11 four-bedroom detached bungalows at Caradon Close, Derriford, just off Powisland Drive will be open on Saturday November 28 and Sunday November 29 between 11am and 3pm.

After those dates viewings will be available on an appointment basis with the agents Manabridge & Balment.

Graham Clark, planning director at Sunnybanks Homes said: “We have a longstanding reputation for building quality, superior bungalows. The site at Caradon Close offered us the opportunity to build spacious four-bedroom

bungalows which are rarely if ever built, particularly in such a prestigious location just off Powisland Drive which is one of the most favoured areas in Plymouth.

"In our view, these are the best bungalows we have built and we have our first purchaser moving in in December.

“To find a new build bungalow is extremely rare these days. To find a new build four-bedroom bungalow, particularly located in a prestigious area, is even rarer.

"We are aware of only a handful being built in the whole of the south-west so the opportunity to purchase one does not come along very often.

"Our development of four detached bungalows, in

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

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They can be contacted on 01752 791333 or by e-mail on plymouth@mansbridgeandbalment.com Further details are also available at the Sunnybanks Homes website www. sunnybankshomes.co.uk

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home' and is available at £487,500. This property is being used as the ‘View Home’ The Delgany at 6, Caradon Close is a four-bedroom detached bungalow, with integral double garage with optional electric doors and has Sunnybanks Homes’ trademark natural stone and natural slate finish. It is available at £492,000.

Both bungalows have their own independent access direct onto Caradon Close and have been built to Sunnybanks Homes’ award winning superior standards and specification and will be available with a 10-year NHBC Warranty.

With the first three bungalows being completed, the rest will become available in early 2016. Mansbridge & Balment are the appointed sales agents. Their Plymouth North Office, based at Woolwell (next to Tesco) is handling the sale of the bungalows. So if you are interested in the development, please contact the office.

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nearby Woolwell Drive, proved to be very popular and set the benchmark in terms of price and standards. We think these bungalows are even better and will be more popular, judging by the number of enquiries we have already received and the off plan sales.

"Bungalows of this size and standard, which cater for the difficulties of downsizing from a large house whilst also comfortably accommodating the demands of visits from an extended family, do not come along very often.”

Ten of the bungalows have an internal floor space of close to 2,000 sq ft including the double garage. Each bungalow has four double bedrooms, as well as a spacious lounge and kitchen/breakfast room which both open onto a sunny rear garden. The master bedroom and guest bedroom have en-suite shower rooms. Four of the bungalows have a double width driveway access direct onto Caradon Close. The other seven are accessed off a private road.

The Westbrook at 4, Caradon Close is a four-bedroom detached bungalow with integral double garage with optional electric doors, has a feature brick frontage with concrete tiles that reflects the character of some of the houses in Caradon Close. It is being used as the 'view

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TRAVEL MATTERS

Argentina revisited

The spectacular waterfalls at Iguazu in Argentina

The first part of my cousin Keith’s article on Argentina earlier in the year proved very popular with readers, so as promised here is his second instalment on a part of the world few of us have ever visited. Hopefully this insight will whet your appetite for travel to South America.

Keith Roe writes: We start this second part on Argentina in Salta, an old colonial town in the country’s north west corner. This is a mountainous

By Travel desert region with spectacular scenery Expert including rocky outcrops of stunning Anthony Goord colours formed from the various mineral deposits.

From Salta the bus climbs 3,000 metres to the picturesque towns of Humahuaca and Purmamarca, near the Bolivian border. Nine out of ten Argentinans are of European origin and this is one of the few areas where real communities of the native American population can still be found.

While living mostly from tourism, they are trying to maintain their traditional culture – for example we had llama for lunch! On the way back we stop in the provincial capital, Jujuy, where the bustling bus station is a fascinating multi-cultural experience in itself.

From Salta we flew to the jungles of the north east corner and the great waterfalls at Iguazu. Larger than Niagara, Iguazu is surpassed only by Africa’s Victoria Falls and is one of the great natural wonders of the world.

The National Park is well organized with a narrow-gauge train most of the way up and then safe walkways leading to the very edge of the breath-taking falls. Here Argentina borders Brazil and Paraguay and trips to both are easy to make. However, we refrain from the latter after our hotel receptionist tells us ‘it’s dirty, dangerous and boring’!

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

Next, we flew south to Bariloche in Patagonia. This region has gorgeous alpine scenery but the town itself is a tacky tourist trap and best avoided. Instead we stayed in the attractive little town of San Martin de los Andes, situated on a small lake near the Chilean border. Here boat and bus excursions make it easy to explore the nearby magnificent national parks.

After returning to Bariloche, we board the Tren Patagonico – The Patagonian Express – for the 500 mile trip to the Atlantic Coast. The journey takes 17 hours in rattling, swaying coaches that are reminiscent of the 1960s, including sleeping cars and a diner.

However, the time passes quickly as the scenery and wildlife of the Patagonian wilderness provide lots of surprises and, after a decent dinner and bottle of Malbec, we sleep surprisingly well.

We awake to hear that we are running three hours late, the locomotive having broken down in the night.

Happy to hear that the problem has been fixed, we merely

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Sea lions gathering on the beach at Puerto Madryn

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Preparing to board the Patagonian Express

shrug our shoulders and go to the dining car for breakfast we’re in Patagonia in a different era. If you’re into this kind of authentic retro-travel then the Tren Patagonico is for you. It’s also extremely cheap, a one-way ticket with a sleeping berth costs about £60. The rub is that tickets are very hard to obtain: the train only runs once a week in each direction and you can’t book from abroad.

One of my wife’s Argentine cousins fixed it for us but if you don’t have that kind of contact you’ll have to book via a local travel agent. It seems like a lot of hassle but, believe me, it really is a unique, unforgettable experience.

The next leg of our Patagonian tour took us to the beach resort of Puerto Madryn – gateway to the Valdez Peninsula.

Here in the breeding season large numbers of penguins and sea lions gather on the beaches to raise their young while, out at sea, whales do the same. If you’re really lucky (we weren’t) you can also see killer whales hunting the young at the water’s edge.

Guided tours take visitors very close to the animals while, further south in Punta Tombo, there is a huge penguin colony where you can actually walk among them! In this area, too, small boats take the more adventurous out among playful dolphins.

An hour inland from Puerto Madryn is Trelew, centre of Argentina’s Welsh immigrant area where the language can still occasionally be heard in traditional tea shops. Here the highlight was our hotel - the Touring Club. Built in 1895, a few years later Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid stayed here while on the run and they would still recognize the unchanged décor.

Argentina is now more accessible to British tourists with the recent introduction of direct flights from Heathrow to Buenos Aires with British Airways.

GETTING AROUND: Argentina is the world’s 8th largest country and travelling takes time. For domestic flights I recommend Aereolineas Argentinas or LAN. There are cheaper budget carriers but their reliability is (sometimes) very questionable. Alternatively, there is a dense national network of cheap, comfortable and fairly reliable coaches. There are few train lines and most are not recommended.

Finally, while I have definitely never met any personal hostility, it is worth remembering that the Falklands issue is still very sensitive in Argentina and consequently a discussion simply not worth getting into.

Happy Holidays - Keith Roe www.cornerstonevision.com

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BUSINESS MATTERS

Union Street family firm open for business 203 years on!

When Roland Sloggett opened the doors of his shop in Union Street earlier this year he was restoring a family tradition of trading in the street which began over 200 years ago.

Roland and his wife Hannah launched their shop which sells retro and vintage collectables in January 2015, some 203 years after his ancestors opened Levy & Sloggett watchmakers, jewellers and pawnbrokers in 1812.

Sloggett & Son – Seller of Interesting Things is at Number 140 Union Street while Levy & Sloggett was at Number 190.

That building survived the blitz but ended up being in the middle of Derry’s Roundabout in the post-war rebuild and was eventually compulsorily purchased and demolished in 1953.

Standing behind the counter at Sloggett & Son, and surrounded by an array of quirky items, Roland can’t stop grinning: “We’re so proud to have a family shop back in Union Street again,” he said.

His pride in the family name is nowhere more evident than in the placing of a photograph of his great grandfather, Jack Sloggett, on the wall behind the counter, alongside an old clock he’d sold in the pre-war years.

“Jack was a well-known businessman before and after the war,” said Roland. “In the 1930s the shop was known as Jack’s Court because people would go there to hang out. It was used as a meeting place for locals to go and socialise. Older readers will remember

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

Roland Sloggett outside the new shop in Union Street

the shop well – it’s probably where they would have bought their wedding rings.

“But when it was knocked down for the city centre redevelopment in 1953, it was the end of the family business because it wasn’t moved on.” The shop was finally to become part of H Samuel.

Roland’s grandfather Harold decided not to carry on the family business but became well known in the city as an architect, designing the West Hoe pub and a number of other buildings with his signature mock Tudor design.

Harold’s son – Roland’s dad Geoffrey – became a chartered surveyor and is a former city councillor.

“So we missed two generations, which is why it’s great to be back,” said Roland, who worked for 10 years as schools outreach officer at Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery after getting a degree in history and art history. “I grew up in an environment of appreciation of artefacts and of the stories they tell about their past and their owners. And our family has always been involved in collectables.”

Roland and Hannah bought the property, which is virtually opposite the Aldi store, in 2014. It was previously the wellknown military tailor’s shop, Feneck’s, which closed after more than 60 years of trading. “A lot of people were upset when Union Street lost Feneck’s,” said Roland. “It was seen as a standard bearer for the street but it’s been replaced by another family concern that’s also offering something completely different to anything else in Plymouth.

“And our heart is here.

My family has been a part of the history of this area for a long time. We live in Stonehouse and Hannah is chair of the Stonehouse Action community organisation which is behind the annual street party and promotes wellness in the area.”

It took Roland and Hannah six months to create the shop’s retro-but-hip look. And then the search began for the stock: “Most is post-1920s and 1930s but we have some antique pieces. We were looking for highly individualistic, stylistically evocative items, statement pieces that would stand out in anyone’s home, and gifts that will startle and surprise recipients. We also keep a lookout for items that have links to Plymouth.

“If you’re after something in particular and we don’t have it, we’ll find it for you,” he added.

Among the pieces in the shop are Ercol, GPlan and Gordon Russell furniture, bespoke armchairs by Howard Keith,

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Sloggett family memorabilia on display in the Union Street shop

Edison lamps, period clocks, vintage posters and prints, retro radios from the 1960s, glass, crockery, ceramics and various kitchenalia. There’s even a big, old Soviet Union flag!

January marks the first anniversary of the shop’s opening and Roland says the aim is to build on the success of the first year – and to be part of a thriving community: “We’re very encouraged with how things have gone and we love being in the heart of a community of like-minded businesses and independent shops. There’s a lot happening down here right now and we want to be part of a vibrant future for Union Street.”

••

Sloggett & Son 140 Union Street, Plymouth PL1 3HL01752 665763 roland@sloggettandson.co.ukwww.sloggetandson.co.uk

The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

/49

PLYMOUTH MATTERS

All systems go for huge city centre leisure development and new coach station

Artist’s impressions of the new Drake Circus Leisure complex

Plymouth's £42 million Drake Circus Leisure development has moved a step nearer.

British Land has exchanged contracts with Cineworld to run the anchor cinema complex as part of the huge redevelopment of Bretonside.

The 12 screen cinema will incorporate state of the art audio and visual technology and have screens ranging in size from a 63 seat to a giant 450-seat IMAX auditoria.

The deal means all the conditions have now been met by the developers which unlocks funds to get started on the new coach station that will replace the dated bus station.

Consultant Jonathan Dean recently gave Plymouth City Council’s cabinet a progress report on behalf of British Land.

And as well as unveiling the latest fly-through and images of the development, he told cabinet that there had been a huge amount of interest in food businesses hoping to become part of the venture.

British Land is working closely with potential businesses and has had strong demand from companies with a number expected to sign contracts before the end of the year.

He said: “Drake Circus Leisure is an exciting scheme and we are delighted to be one step closer to delivering the project.

The recent letting to Cineworld and interest from restaurant operators has allowed us to accelerate our plans, and we are excited to be working with the Council to enhance the city centre.”

Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets and City Centre champion Mark Lowry said: “This is a critical milestone in the scheme as it signals the move from the planning stage towards delivery on the ground.

“Now that these conditions have been met, we are in a positon to begin drawing down funds for the new coach station.

“I’m chuffed to bits that so many companies are lining up to be part of this complex and part of Plymouth’s success story.

This will add another string to the city centre’s bow and keep more people coming, both during the day and in the evening.”

British Land has now issued the ‘coach station notification’ which means it has formally served notice on the council, as

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

owners of Bretonside, to vacate the land by Summer 2016, ahead of start of building.

Final discussions are currently underway with South West Highways, the preferred bidder for the coach station, who will start work on site shortly.

Councillor Lowry added: “An enormous amount of work has gone into getting this development to this stage and it is beginning to get a real sense of

momentum.

"Work on the new coach station at Mayflower Street is just around the corner – with the main construction to start in January and a few months later, the public will be able to see work start on the British Land development – these are big changes and a huge deal for the city."

The coach station on Mayflower Street will have seven coach stands that will serve National Express and Megabus. Features include real time passenger information systems, blue badge holder drop-off bay, customer help points, ticket machines, toilets, cycle stands, CCTV and ornamental lighting.

Some of the facts and figures: • The scheme is going to cover 100,000 sq ft • The 12 screen cinema complex will cover 42,000 sq ft • The IMAX screen is 18 metres tall – this auditorium will have 450 seats and will include the latest cinema technologies.

This could include a 4DX auditoria – where film viewing is enhanced with environmental effects such as seat motion, wind, rain, fog, lights and scents.

• There is room for 14 restaurants – and one on the roof • It’s going to be big – its 105 feet from the plaza in Bretonside to the sky bar – that’s 3 ½ double decker buses stood on end.

••

The fly through is available on YouTube at www. youtube.com/watch?v=7obxsAJPzss

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

√√ 400g carrots, peeled & thickly sliced √√ 2 tbsp olive oil √√ 1 tsp ground cumin √√ 1 tsp paprika √√ Half tsp ground cinnamon √√ 2-3cm piece peeled, grated ginger √√ 2 cloves garlic, crushed √√ 1 tsp clear honey √√ juice of 1 lemon √√ a little extra olive oil for drizzling √√ 1 tbsp pine nuts, lightly toasted in a dry pan until golden (optional) Method Toss the carrots with the olive oil in a baking dish. Roast at 200C for 30-40 mins until tender. Remove from the oven and crush with a fork. Stir in the cumin, cinnamon, paprika, ginger, garlic, honey and lemon juice. Season to taste. Alternatively you can blitz the roasted carrots in a food processor with the rest of the ingredients. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle over the pine nuts if using, to serve.

••

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FOOD MATTERS

Last minute Christmas cake recipe If you didn’t manage to make your Christmas cake weeks ago here’s a recipe for a Boiled Fruit Cake that you can make really easily and will last a good week or so.

It tastes great as it is or cover it in marzipan and icing for a more traditional cake. It can also be served with cream or warm with ice cream.

This recipe uses cups as a unit of measure which actually makes it even easier to make. Use a small mug or a tea cup when it says cup.

Ingredients √ √ 1 lb mixed dried fruit √ √ 1 cup sugar √√ 1 cup water √ √ 4 oz margarine or butter √ √ 2 cups self-raising flour √√ 1 egg, beaten √√ Pinch of bicarbonate of soda √ √ 1 teaspoon mixed spice Method Put the dried fruit, sugar, margarine and water into a pan and boil for 5 minutes. Leave to cool.

Stir in the flour, egg, bicarbonate of soda and mixed spice.

Put into a 7.5 inch lined cake tin and cook for 45 minutes at Gas

Mark 4 and then another hour at Gas Mark 1. Leave to cool in the tin.

How children can help: • The units of measure are really simple in this recipe so they can easily help with this.

• Before you begin to heat the fruit mixture let them stir in the fruit, sugar and water.

• Let them beat the egg for you.

• When cool let them help decorate it.

By Liz Crudgington of the Roundabout Day Nursery

Making or updating your Will, is it on your ‘to do’ list?

Writing your Will is often one of those tasks which always falls under the umbrella of ‘I need to do that…’ and ‘I will have a look at that next month…’, but seems to always end up being put off or forgotten.

However your Will is probably one of the most important legal documents you will write in your lifetime and putting a Will in place, and making sure it is reviewed and updated regularly, is not only good practice but is a vital part of making sure your wishes are followed when you pass away.

Some people find death and the thought of a Will intimidating, scary and even upsetting, but your Will is nothing more than you ensuring your wishes are followed when you pass away.

This doesn’t just mean your savings, investments and property, although these are some of the most important considerations for many – but have you

considered whether you would like to buried or cremated? Who you would like to indicate should be the guardians of your minor children? There are so many considerations you can include in your Will – and more often than not, your family might not know what your wishes were if you had not discussed them in your lifetime. Another huge benefit to having a Will in place is being able to choose who you feel is best placed to deal with your estate and name them as your ‘executors’.

If you die without a Will in place, you will have died ‘intestate’. This means all of your estate will be subject to automatic laws. Equally it means that you will not have chosen anyone to deal with your affairs and a relative must apply to deal with things, and this may not be the same people that you would have necessarily chosen or trusted with your estate.

You may be aware that you do not need to use a firm of solicitors to prepare your Will – you can use a Will writer or even prepare a homemade Will from scratch or from a preset form. However, many Will writers do have hidden costs such as storage fees, call out fees and review fees. More importantly, Will writers very rarely have the level of accreditation and experience our solicitors and legal executives have. Our team are able to provide legal advice for Wills of all levels of complexity, including those for estranged or second families, Inheritance Tax planning and for those

concerned about possible future care home fees.

Wolferstans also offer free storage and reviews for all our Will clients.

Further to our lawyers extensive individual training, Wolferstans Solicitors has now been accredited with the Law Society’s Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme in August 2015 in addition to the Lexcel quality mark.

The Law Society wanted to create a scheme that is easily recognisable by consumers, that provides a best practice quality mark for Wills and estate administration advice which consumers can trust and a quality mark that can only be awarded to practices that are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. In order to be awarded this high accreditation, practices had to meet set criteria for best practice and demonstrate their compliance with this criteria.

Wolferstans are a forward thinking firm that offer a high quality service to their clients which is supported by this award.

This accreditation has only been awarded to one other firm in Plymouth, and three others within 25 miles of Plymouth. This in itself is proof that this quality mark is something that consumers can use as a guide when choosing a solicitors firm for the first time and gives the consumers confidence that they are choosing a reputable firm that will always act in their best interest. For more information please call Rebecca Bawler on 01752 292 322.

www.wolferstans.com Wolferstans your local legal Wills and Trust experts, here for you when you need us

www.cornerstonevision.com

@CornerstoneVis

The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

/53

ART MATTERS

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For this month’s Art Matters I met up with a creative and talented woman, Esther Witherall.

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She moved to Plymouth with her young family in 2004.

Since then, the family have grown and life has been very busy. Now all her four children are in school, she has found the space and time to pursue her passions - sewing and painting!

She showed me some of the lovely things she has been making for her customers. From purses, to aprons, tea cosies to hand warmers. Her perfectionism comes through in the attention to detail and quality of each item. Her choices of fabric and combinations are stunning. She seems to have a natural eye to be able to see what works.

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The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

Esther Witherall with one of her advent calendars

y in blood craft. They are more like something you might expect to buy from a high-end retailer. Esther smiled as she showed them to me, “I am rather proud of these”. I could understand why. They are beautiful. A modern day heirloom no less.

I discovered, Esther comes from a creative family. Her mother is always knitting, sewing and creating. Her father is a very accomplished painter and Esther’s Grandpa, an oil painter, painting paid commissions for most of his life.

Esther said: “I used to love going into Grandpa’s studio, the smell of oils, turps and white spirits.

By His paintings piled up against the walls. Sketches and studies pinned up all over. He was always encouraging us grandchildren to paint.’

So, it is no wonder Esther has gone down this route too.

Kerry Cole

The cards and notelets she is producing have a very definite style. Simple yet emotive and have a quality that catches character and movement with ease. She has produced a country collection with mainly pheasants and chickens to date, but has intentions to extend.

There is also another collection that is equally beautiful but very different in which she is uses pebbles and materials. Not only do these make great original pieces of art at ‘card prices’ they could easily double up to be framed on a wall.

Esther has only just started out on this journey, but the quality and uniqueness of her work is something I am sure we will see more of.

She currently uses a Facebook page called Daisy Doo’s to show her items and I encourage you to take a look, like, and share her page. You could also message her about purchasing items. I expect exciting things to come from this kitchen table enterprise.

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Facebook.com/Daisy Doo’s. Direct email address is: Daisydoos76@gmail.com

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Fort Austin Avenue, Crownhill, Plymouth PL6 5NU www.plymouthgardencentre.co.uk Telephone: 01752 771820 The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

/55

CHRISTMAS MATTERS

Christmas decorations to ring the changes this

So you have either badgered someone to get up in the loft and drag the artificial tree down and dusted off the decorations or have agonised over which fresh tree to buy: the slim one, the bushy one, the one the children like but Dad doesn’t…and now it’s time to decorate the tree!

By Fiona Newton and Derek Anderson of Plymouth Garden Centre

us a picture of your tree or upload some Do you keep to the same theme every pictures to our Facebook page! year? Traditional red and gold? Is it a family Make a statement this Christmas by project or do the children have their own tree decorating your front door with a real as you like your decorations just so?! Is it fun traditional Christmas wreath. We do holly, fir or do arguments arise? and mixed foliage wreaths in multiple colours As the focal point of the living room and and styles, so there is one to suit every taste. certainly the topic of discussion if you have Real wreaths look luxurious and elegant, but visitors, it’s certainly become a piece of art are actually inexpensive and helps to add for some! We certainly feel the stress of those little finishing touches of decoration to decorating the trees each year. We often do your home. each one at least three times before we are Real Christmas wreaths are commonly happy with it. Less is more? Put lots on? made from evergreens as a symbol for the Stick to a couple of colours or make it clash strength of life, with these plants overcoming and get your tree seen. So what’s hot for even the harshest winters. Our wreaths are 2015? all handmade locally using locally sourced Spectacular decorated trees...Santa Express (above) and Party Popper Traditional red and gold is always a materials, so every one is unique and of a (below) favourite and you can add some green to high quality. introduce a new element to the tree. This With your Christmas wreath in pride of year ceramic decorations are very popular place on your front door, add a touch of with traditional angels, rocking horses, sophistication and elegance to your home by stockings, bells, santas and reindeer to name a few. It brings back childhood memories for me.

My favourite for this year is the tartan tree.

It’s rich colours incorporate the red, green and gold with a deep red undertone. It feels warm and even more traditional. Tartan baubles, stocking and bow decorations with candle lights brings together a truly nostalgic look.

Woodland is an ever-growing popular theme which this year brings together a beautifully natural mix of rich red berries, beautiful golden leaves and rich brown and gold glittered pine cones. I particularly love the owl baubles! Mix in birds and butterflies and sparkling acorns and you can create a truly wonderful look.

Due to popularity Winter Sparkle – our mix of gold, clear, silver and white – is back again. It is certainly the most ‘twinkly’ of themes and looks great on trees or garlands.

The colours can be used to create so many different looks whether you have a traditional green tree, frosted, white or black tree.

Not to everyone’s taste is black and gold, but if you dare to do something different why not try our theme from ‘The Great Gadsby’. Our ‘Strictly Come Christmas’ model would certainly be a show stopper in any home this Christmas!

For the children it has to be multi coloured. ‘Party Popper’ is our fun tree where anything goes! Bright colours, cupcake baubles, funky sunglasses, Santas and penguins you name it, it’s on there!

We love to use lots of flowers in decorating our trees, you can always find roses and poinsettias in various colours to mix in to any existing themes. You can push them right into the tree and give your tree real depth and richness in colour.

Look out for decorating tips on all our trees. Why not send Basil’s not quite getting the Christmas spirit

56\

The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

With Plymouth Garden Centre

is it time year?

framing your front door with a pair of Bay lollipops (Laurel nobilis). These look glamorous and stylish when planted in glazed pots, particularly a festive red, but you can match the pot to your colour schemes. For a really festive look, decorate with battery operated outdoor Christmas lights and tie a bow around the stem to match the colour of your pots. If you want to really go for the wow factor, under plant the base of them with red cyclamen or primroses. These will flower right throughout Christmas and continue to flower well into the spring.

For a prolonged display, you can under plant with spring flowering bulbs that will come through and extend the colour just as the cyclamen and primroses are fading. These are tough, hardy plants that will stand up to the elements over Christmas and can be used for the rest of the year as permanent focal points.

Plant the Bays in John Innes No.2 Compost and mix in a slow release fertiliser. Ideally place them in a sunny position if you can. As an added bonus, when you clip it to keep it in shape, you can use the bay leaves in the kitchen for cooking!

So it seems to come around faster every year but all is left to say is that we thank all our customers for their support this year and all of us here at Plymouth Garden Centre wish the Plymouth Magazine Team and all its readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you in 2016.

Fiona, Derek & Basil!

Green, red and gold is always popular

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or listen online at www.xrhyth.ms/crplymouth This woodland theme creates a totally different festive feel www.cornerstonevision.com

@CornerstoneVis

The Plymouth Magazine December 2015

/57

WIN A FRIGIDAIRE FROST FREE FRIDGE FREEZER WORTH

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Beacon Electrical has been trading in Plymouth for nearly 40 years now.

The successful local business is now run by the second generation of the family, and has gone from strength to strength over the years. There are now five branches across Plymouth and South Devon. The head office is at Beacon Park, with other branches at Pennycomequick, Plymstock, Totnes and Kingsbridge.

“There have been lots of exciting developments over the last year or so at Beacon. We added the Kingsbridge branch about 18 months ago and now we feel we can accommodate and serve the whole of the South Devon population.

We run a free delivery service on appliances across all of South Devon and into East Cornwall” Large Kitchen Appliances is clearly a focus for Beacon, but there is so much more they supply and advise expertly on, from electrical heating and flame effect fires, to house wiring accessories

and all types of lighting and light bulbs.

“All our staff are fully trained to give advise on all the different products we sell. Whether is is how the latest Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners perform, advising on the different cooking features of Neff built-in ovens, or helping our customers to save hundreds of pounds off their lighting bills with the ever evolving LED light bulbs, we are here to offer honest, professional advise to our customers”.

Looking around the showrooms at Beacon Park it is clear there has been a lot of effort put into making sure the latest products are available to touch and feel and try out. They can give demonstrations on the latest induction electric hobs, they can show you the Dyson cordless cleaners. Their washing machines are all powered up so the features can be shown and explained, and a wide selection of different light bulbs are turned on to show the differences and benefits.

Most recently the showroom has been extended and the lighting area moved and improved. The new space has made way for a specialist Rangemaster “design centre” showroom, with 14 styles of range cooker on display, together with a wide selection of hoods and splashbacks to compliment them.

The showrooms at Stuart Road, Pennycomequick have just re-opened after a total new shop-fit too. This branch specialises in the large kitchen appliances, and has a completely new range of Hotpoint, Indesit, Whirlpool and Kitchenaid products to choose from.

“We have over 100 different products on display at Stuart Rd. A great range of appliances, from built-in cookers and hobs to heat pump condenser dryers and american fridge freezers and also a whole showroom of small appliances like amazing coffee makers, food mixers, and microwaves.It is a state of the art showroom here in Plymouth. You have to see it to believe it.”

263 Beacon Park Rd, Plymouth 01752 787600 15 Stuart Rd, Pennycomequick 01752 222003 28 Pomphlett Rd, Plymstock 01752 492122 15 Fore Street, Totnes 01803 863448 15 Fore Street, Kingsbridge 01548 853116

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Beacon really does have everything electrical on offer and like their slogan, “local service and internet prices”, they offer great prices and friendly advice.

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