CotswoldXL Magazine Issue 19 by CotswoldXLmagazine

Welcome

A very warm winter welcome to our December issue from all of the team at CotswoldXL magazine – we’re wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Chris Brown

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Kim Raxter

EDITOR

Mide Carter

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Joshua Higham

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Jodie Jago

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PAGE 6

Christmas Carol Services in the Cotswolds

Discover the best Christmas Carol services in the Cotswolds.

PAGE 10

Experience an unforgettable steak night at Wild Thyme and Honey, a boutique hotel near Cirencester.

PAGE 30

The Big Sleep

Find out what animals are hibernating in the UK this winter. Fireside Feasts at Wild Thyme and Honey

A Letter From The Editor.

Welcome everyone to this bumper Christmas issue of CotswoldXL Magazine; we have lots to offer you this festive season.

I love Christmas but, as I’ve grown older, I find the descent towards the shortest day of the year harder and harder on my mind and body. Like many people now and for centuries before us, the Christmas celebrations are a welcome distraction from the dark and cold. No wonder some people are itching to get their Christmas trees up. It may feel too soon, but I understand they might just want to feel better. The lights peppered throughout our Cotswold towns and villages have made me smile this week. They are both soothing and hopeful. It’s no surprise that their positive effect on us is backed by science. Simply put, Christmas lights trigger a release of the happy hormone, dopamine.

I enjoy the rituals around Christmas too, one of my favourites being a good old-fashioned carol concert. On P10, we’ve listed a range of concerts throughout the Cotswolds, plus top-up your history with Factoids on Christmas Carols on P46.

Make the most of your Boxing Day meal with my ‘Leftover Turkey Pie Recipe’, as ever it’s very easy. Then on P18, its my Easy Chocolate Orange Mousse Recipe, which is delightfully light and full of flavour. On P40 it’s ‘Perfect Presents for Your Pooches’ – no excuse not to give the dog a stocking this year.

For a look at wildlife in the cold season, turn to P30 for ‘The Big Sleep’ to find out more about who’s hibernating during a British winter, and if you feel like hunkering down yourself, turn to P10 for ‘Fireside Feasts, – a Steak Night with a Difference’, where we review a very special kind of steak night at Wild Thyme and Honey, a boutique hotel and Inn near Cirencester. Plus, there’s lots more to grab your interest in this issue on the short days and long nights ahead.

Have a truly wonderful Christmas and New Year and look after yourselves. See you next year!

Mide x

Christmas Carol Services in the Cotswolds

Carols, turkey, mince pies, and the school nativity are at the heart of a British Christmas. Just the opening notes of Silent Night are enough to propel me back into a slightly stuffy, brightly lit school hall brimming with anticipation for the holiday ahead. I would feel an odd, joyful ache in my chest, mingled with a sense of peace and unexpected sadness. Something I never really understood as a child. But, of course, I was moved by the music.

We’re fortunate in the Cotswolds to have an array of beautiful and special places to enjoy this special part of the seasonal celebrations, take your pick from our list.

Many churches and cathedrals offer more than one Carol event. To find out more, visit their websites.

Gloucester Cathedral

Sunday December 1st at 6pm

Advent Carol Service

Everyone is welcome to this dramatic and majestic service, featuring beautiful choral music and traditional readings. No tickets are required - just turn up.

Christ Church Cheltenham

Saturday November 30th at 7pm

Winter Light

Soprano and star of ‘The Voice’ Nadia Eide presents ’Winter Light’, a special Christmas concert for all ages. Singing festive favourites and classic carols, plus a special guest choir. Everyone is welcome – Entry £19.

Find tickets here.

Tewkesbury Abbey

Saturday 14th December at 7pm

Handel’s Messiah

With Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum. Tickets £22, £18 and £15

Find tickets here.

Christmas Carol Service

6pm Sunday 22nd of December – no tickets required.

St

Peter’s Church

Marlborough

Sunday 22nd of December 4pm and 7.30pm

Carols and Music by Candlelight

An evening of all your favourite carols accompanied by candlelight and piano Tickets are £6.13

Find tickets here.

St Laurence Stroud Parish Church

15th of December at 4pm

Phoenix Choir Carol Concert

This Carol Concert is celebrating and raising funds for the wonderful work of the Trinity Rooms Community Hub Stroud.

Old and new carols will be sung with a local Children’s Choir with a bake sale at the end.

Tickets for adults are £5.50 and tickets for children under 12 years are £1.00. Children under two, sitting on laps, are FREE

Find tickets here.

St John Baptist Cirencester

4th of December at 7pm

Cirencester Singers and Juniors Christmas Concert

A Christmas concert with special guests Harmonia and Hawkesbury Choir and pupils from Stratton Church of England School. There will be a selection of music and your favourite Carols. Plus, a raffle, Mince Pies and Bar.

Find tickets here.

Christ Church

Cathedral,

St Aldates Oxford

12th of December at 8pm

Viennese Christmas Spectacular

This concert celebrates the magic of Christmas, bringing people together for a seasonal evening of wonderful music in a beautiful setting.

Including Tchaikovsky’s elegant Nutcracker Suite leads on from Brahms’ serious Hungarian Dance No. 5. Tickets from £32

Find tickets here.

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A STEAK NIGHT WITH A DIFFERENCE

Fireside Feasts at Wild Thyme and Honey

On a dark and chilly night in November, as the wind whipped about our ears, we walked towards the inviting glow of Wild Thyme and Honey - a boutique hotel and Inn near Cirencester. We were spending the evening as guests at ‘Fireside Feasts’ – a steak night and regular event by the team at Wild Thyme and Honey showcasing fine food and drink. With a talk and demonstration by Leamington Spabased butcher Aubrey Allen preceding the feast, this was not your run-of-the-mill steak night.

I was excited. With a never-ending deluge of fast and ultra-processed food, sourcing high-quality, healthy options, understanding its origins and how it arrived at our plates feels more important than ever. With the knowledge that Aubrey Allen had won the Chefs Choice Butcher award a notable five times, I had high hopes for the evening.

Entering the calming light of Wild Thyme and Honey from a dark November evening felt like a warm and welcoming embrace. The mellow interior successfully combines the natural beauty of the rural Cotswold landscape and the comfort and ease of modern design. The colours are soft, relaxing and neutral with nods to nature everywhere. This is clever design; it pays homage to its location rather than arguing with it. And why would you? It’s the Cotswolds, after all.

As we knocked back a delicious sherry cocktail in front of a roaring fire (sherry was made for cocktails), I wondered how much there was to say about steak; it turned out quite a lot. In a world that seeks a white-washed convenience around what we eat, Lewis Kelsey from Aubrey Allen helped remind me of the need for passion, openness and respect for food. Learning that their cattle have a comparatively long 18 months out to pasture in unpolluted places felt important. They also put sustainability at the heart of everything they do; nothing is wasted. Plus, producing meat in a clean, green way gives the best meat. A win-win, it’s easy to see why chefs rate them so highly.

However, what I found particularly fascinating was the demonstration by master butcher Michael. I am ashamed to say I assumed you cut up meat willynilly, and a good knife and strong forearm were what mattered most. It transpires that without expert knowledge of the physiology of the meat, you can reduce a beautiful piece of beef to something tough and tasteless. That feels like a crime to me. Rump steak isn’t the poor man’s meat after all; we’ve just been eating rump steaks that have been badly butchered. The fact remains though, that the proof is in the pudding, so I reserved judgment until the feast arrived and, my, what a feast it was.

With a selection of six cuts of steak side by side, expertly butchered and beautifully cooked, it was possible to see what magic could be made with good-quality cuts. This was complimented with a range of wholesome side dishes. I was in heaven.

The evening made me realise that I had been eating badly butchered meat for a large portion of my life. This made my head spin. Why go to all that effort of raising the animal just to render it just a fraction of the product it could be? Presumably, because it’s cheaper. It’s quite frankly scandalous. Our evening with Aubrey Allen at Wild Thyme and Honey was a priceless reminder that we should source our food carefully and from those who are passionate and care about what they do. It matters. This Fireside Feast wasn’t just a pleasant way to spend an evening; it was a vital lesson in how to live better. If you get the chance to go, do it.

WORDS BY MIDE CARTER

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RECIPE

Easy Chocolate Orange Mousse

I have a confession. Like a small child, the main event of Christmas Day – the turkey, the spuds, the parsnips, and the stuffing—isn’t the highlight for me. I have always been, and always will be, a lady who likes the sweet things in life. The trouble is that I’m pretty stuffed by the time dessert comes around, and the joy of pudding is significantly diminished. This is why I like a mousse. It’s light but can be full of rich flavour with the added soothing charm of a creamy texture. Don’t miss out on a sweet finale this Christmas Day and enjoy my Easy Chocolate Orange Mousse recipe.

Ingredients

• 150g of good quality dark chocolate finely chopped

• 80g unsalted butter

• 1 tablespoon of Cointreau

• zest of 1 orange

• 3 eggs separated

• 20g Caster sugar

• 125ml double cream

Method

STEP 1

In a small pan over a low heat, gently melt the butter, sugar and Cointreau. Continuously stir

STEP 2

Then add the chocolate, mixing the ingredients well as it melts

STEP 3

Add the orange peel and set the pan aside to cool

STEP 4

Next whip the double cream into soft peaks and set aside

STEP 5

Whip the egg whites into soft peaks and set aside

STEP 6

Add the egg yolks and the whipped cream to your mixture and fold in

STEP 7

Then, pour the mixture into shallow containers and chill for at least 3-4 hours before serving straight from the fridge. Garnish with orange peel

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Christmas Day with Martin Keighley Racehorse Trainer in the Cotswolds

How do you celebrate Christmas Day as a family? Is it party time, or do you like the peace and quiet?

The majority of the team comes in, plus extras, and we all ride out often with a bit of Christmas fancy dress! We aim to get the yard done as quickly as possible and get the team home. We have a relaxed Christmas at home with my parents and the boys and sometimes some friends. A few of the team come back to help at evening stables, and we all pitch in. It’s actually a really fab day and we wouldn’t change it.

Is it business as usual in the yard for you and the staff, or do you get a lie-in?

It’s definitely business as usual. The team prefer to come in at 6am, so they can be gone by 9.30am. We only ride out one or two quick lots - maybe just the upcoming runners. We never have a lie-in on Christmas Day, there are always lists to be done for the team and horses to tend to.

December is obviously an important month in the Jump race calendar. With the runners you have, what would be the best Christmas winner you could receive?

Any winner is a brilliant winner, but a special Christmas winner would be our 16-year-old son, Freddie, getting his first winner under Rules. He’s had some placings but hasn’t yet had that Rules winner to add to his Point-to-Point winner earlier in the year.

If the weather turns nasty, how does that affect your training at this time of year?

The weather apps are our most used apps, and we just have to work with whatever the weather throws at us, however frustrating that may be. It’s the same story for everyone. Plus, the boys love snow, so if it snows and we can’t go racing, we just get the sledges out, it’s brilliant.

How do you feel about the new year ahead, and do you set yourself targets and goals?

Our targets are always to keep improving the quality of horses here and to win bigger and better races. And, of course, to keep solvent in these difficult times.

WORDS BY MIDE CARTER

AS CHRISTMAS APPROACHES....

The absence of loved ones can be deeply felt, reminding us of cherished memories and the impact they had on our lives.

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A Hazel Dormouse Hibernating

The Big Sleep

THE ANIMALS HIBERNATING IN THE UK THIS WINTER

With short days, long nights and a crisp chill in the air, winter has most definitely arrived in the UK. Most of our Indigenous animals don’t need to hibernate during the winter. In fact, only three British mammal groups truly hunker down for the winter months – all of our bat species, hedgehogs and dormice.

Hibernation is a prolonged period of inactivity that enables animals to survive when food is scarce, and the temperatures are low. During hibernation, animals can slow their heart rate to 10x slower whilst

lowering their body temperature. They also lower their metabolism, meaning they don’t require as many nutrients during the winter. This means hibernating animals can survive long periods of not eating, although they can wake up for short bursts to go to the toilet and to look for food. Their bodies have also adapted to wake them up from their dormant state if there are drastic temperature drops and they are in danger of freezing to death.

DORMICE

When Dormice settle down to sleep for the winter they are extremely round, having doubled their size in preparation for hibernation. It’s vital as their body weight will halve over the winter months.

Dormice sleep in tiny woven nests between October/November through to April. They will choose a moist place, so they don’t become dehydrated as water vapour is lost when they breathe. This also means their fat reserves will last longer.

Dormice numbers are in decline, and the Hazel Dormouse is considered at risk of extinction. Mainly due to habitat loss and mismanagement. It’s actually illegal to disturb a dormouse.

We can all help by taking certain steps;

• Avoid cutting trees or shrubs between November and April, as dormice may be nesting

• Plant hedges instead of fences as they give shelter and protection to dormice

• Stick to paths when out walking to avoid disturbing hibernating dormice

• Place nest boxes in your garden or surrounding area. They’re available here, for around the £20 mark

HEDGEHOGS

During October and November, hedgehogs eat excessively to prepare themselves for the long sleep ahead. When they’ve reached a good weight and the temperature drops, they will seek out a suitable place to hibernate. It may be under a pile of leaves, a compost heap, a garden shed or some decking. It’s important not to disturb compost heaps or leaf piles during winter months just in case some hogs have settled in for the winter sleep. If you do come across a ‘sleeping hog’, leave them in peace and make sure they remain undisturbed. British hedgehogs have seen a dramatic population decline, and we can all take steps to prevent further significant loss of these beautiful animals.

• Create hedgehog highways by creating access through your garden and limiting the number of roads they have to cross

• Create a compost heap, they’re great for hedgehogs and a range of other wildlife

• Be mindful of bonfires, check bonfires for hedgehogs and other wildlife before lighting

• Avoid using chemicals in your garden

• If you come across a hedgehog before it hibernates, give it some hedgehog food.

• You can buy a 5l bucket for around £11.99 here. Avoid milk as hedgehogs are actually lactose intolerant

Buy Hedgehog Food Here

During November, bats search for suitable hibernation spots known as roosts. They often choose underground spaces and caves but can also settle in the hollows of trees, roofs and bat boxes as long as the roost remains cool and with a constant temperature.

Bats are very well adapted for hibernation. They slow their breathing down to only five breaths a minute to preserve energy and some species of bat can last an hour without breathing at all.

Bats will mate during the autumn, just before they hibernate. However, the females have adapted to store the sperm and delay pregnancy until the spring, after hibernation, when there is enough food to support her during the pregnancy.

There are an impressive 18 species of bats in the UK, that’s almost a quarter of our mammal species. Four of those species are

classified as at risk of imminent extinction. Loss of habitat and food plays a significant role, but we can all do things to help.

• Plant flowers for the summer that bloom at night to attract night-flying insects for bats

• Build a compost heap to attract bat prey

• Reduce light pollution by using lowintensity garden lights

• Avoid pesticides, especially insecticides

• Build a bug hotel to attract insects for bats

• Put up a bat box

If you find a sick or injured bat or have a general question, call the National Bat Helpline on Tel: 0345 1300 228

WORDS BY MIDE CARTER

BATS Pipistrelles Bat commonly found in the UK

Autumn is a poignant reminder of the cycles of life. The falling leaves symbolize change and the passage of time, encouraging us to cherish the memories of our loved ones while embracing the present.

This season provides a unique opportunity to honour those who have passed and to celebrate their lives.

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Perfect Presents for Your Pooch

this Christmas

Yes, I confess we are those people who put presents under the tree for our dogs. If, like us, you can’t bear leaving your four-legged friends out of the festivities, then you’ll love these quirky gifts just as much as your dog will.

STRETCHY FLEECE DOG LEG WARMERS

These easy-to-use fleece leg warmers will keep your precious pet warm and clean when it’s cold wet and muddy. Plus, they’ll look ridiculously stylish on your Christmas Day walk.

From Spark Paws priced £8

See more here

PETLIFE HOTTIES

A soft microwavable heat pad for dogs, cats and other small animals. The gentle warmth is ideal for warming up a chilled dog, soothing aching joints, aiding recovery, and reducing stress. The heat pad is non-toxic, chew and claw-resistant.

From PetLife

Priced around £20

See more here

HOW TO SPEAK

These cards will help you understand what your dog is trying to tell you through their everyday behaviours. From the pitch of their bark to how they stand, these cards promise to open up your dog’s world and yours.

From Oliver Bonas

Priced at £7

See more here

DOG DAYS OUT

A book offering reliable and comprehensive information on dog-friendly activities across the UK. From dog-friendly beaches to excellent accommodation options. Ideal for dogs and dog lovers alike.

From all good bookshops Priced around £15

See more here

POOCH & MUTT CHEESE FONDUE ADVENT CALENDAR

A grain-free and probiotic advent calendar just for dogs. One cheesy treat behind every door all the way up to the big day.

From Pooch and Mutt At £9.99

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The Wiggly Lobster is an interactive toy designed to ignite your dog’s natural prey instinct as the lobster wriggles and moves about the floor. It’s excellent stimulation for your dog, which, in turn, helps to keep their body and mind sharp.

From Pets Dreams For £9.95

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Factoids on The History of Christmas Carols

1. The first carols were pagan songs sung at winter solstice celebrations around the 22nd of December. The word ‘carol’ comes from an old French word, ‘carole’ and means to dance or sing a song of praise and joy.

2. It wasn’t until much later, during the 9th and 10th centuries, that songs were sung in churches and associated with Christmas. This happened when monasteries in Northern Europe developed the Christmas hymn into a sequence of rhymed verses. In the 12th century a Parisian monk, Adam of Saint Victor, began to create Christmas music from popular songs. His work didn’t catch on though, as it was in Latin, and not everyone spoke it.

3. In 1223 in Greccio, Italy, Francis of Assis is credited with creating the first nativity play for midnight mass. The nativity contained songs called ’canticles’ that told the Christian story. The choruses of these new carols were normally sung in a regional language, meaning people watching could join in, and this style of singing spread throughout Europe. People singing together and understanding the words was key to the success of carols.

4. It was nearly another 200 years later, in 1426, when Carols sung in English appeared in works by John Awdlay. He was an English priest and poet. He listed 25 ‘Caroles of Christmas’. They were probably sung by groups of Wassailers who went from house to house singing. ‘Wassail’ is derived from an Old Norse toast, ‘ves heill’, which means ‘be well and in good health’.

5. In 1647, however, when Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans came to power in England, the celebration of Christmas and singing carols was banished –labelled as a Pagan festival and pastime. Carols and Christmas were sung and celebrated secretly, but surprisingly, carols remained mostly unsung until the 19th century.

6. In 1822, William Sandies and David Gilbert published the long-winded titled ‘A Collection of Ancient Christmas Carols with the Tunes with which they were Formally sung in the West of England’, there were over 100 carols, many of which we still sing today.

7. The Victorians loved Christmas and helped cement the festival we recognise today. They established it as an important family holiday, and music and singing were central to the celebrations. They would sing carols after the Christmas meal, and wassailers were now large carolling groups that moved around towns rewarded with a hot spiced drink known as ‘wassail’. The first carol service is said to have taken place in 1880, at Truro Cathedral. The Edwardians continued the tradition, and carol services became a way to bring communities together. This was particularly poignant and important during the two world wars.

8. In the present day, carols remain very much at the heart of a British Christmas for both religious and non-religious people.

WORDS BY MIDE CARTER

The perfect way to showcase our work…

The Thomas Fox team have now been working with SKY XL for over 2 years creating movie content for our extensive portfolio of country home garden maintenance projects Their services enable us to show our workmanship in a very unique way. The SKY XL team are great to work with, and consistently bring us great new ideas for our social media and website content

Thomas Fox: Thomas Fox Landscaping,Warwickshire

A super smart service

My business advertising strategy includes working with SKY XL on a r basis as they document our construction projects throughout dlands The XL team work on many important and prestigious s they gather footage to showcase work for our website and social platforms A great forward thinking team offering an amazing e. Highly recommended.

Andrew LeBrun : LeBrun Construction,Gloucestershire

WESTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS

VISIT US TODAY..

See the many businesses and different services on

Alan Yates Motor Engineering

Vehicle servicing & repairs.

Call us: 01386 841233

Aspey Energy

Renewable Energy Solutions Experts

Call us: 0800 0858289

Website: www.aspeyenergy.co.uk

The Butty Hut Cafe

Your new favourite café!

Call us: 07747 782603

Facebook

Broadmark IT LTD

Computer equipment and related services to homes.

Call us: 01386 841900

Website: www.broadmark.co.uk

Camgraphic

Custom engraving and print in wood, acrylic for businesses.

Call us: 01386 849217

Website: woodensignskeyringsbadgestokens.co.uk

Cotswold Automotive

Full range of services, ranging from Servicing to MOTs for all makes and Models.

Call us: 01386 841727

Cotswold Oak LTD

Bespoke construction, joinery & new house development services.

Call us: 01386 898086

Website: www.cotswoldoakltd.co.uk

Cotswold Raw Ltd

An independent, family run company, producing delicious and nutritious raw dog food.

Call us: 01386 426335

Website: https://www.cotswoldraw.com/

DS Blinds

Measuring, supply and fitting service. Quality exterior and interior blinds.

Call us: 07967 992368

eSX Productions

We’re an event production company offering hire & event production services for high impact business & private events.

Call us: 01386 896828

Website: https://esxproductions.co.uk/

George Willcox LTD

Suppliers of granite memorials.

Call us: 01386 840855

Website: www.willcoxgranite.co.uk

Granite Planet

Beautiful, bespoke worktops. We create and install quartz, granite and ultra compact surfaces.

Call us: 01386 840868

Website: www.graniteplanet.co.uk

Grinnall Carpets

Carpet tiles, vinyls, flotex, karndean, naturals, woods, laminates.

Call us: 07834 486687

Website: grinnallcarpets.co.uk

Grizzly Custom Vans

Custom Camper Conversions. Full or partial builds, Pop-tops, Carpet lining, Electrical installation, flooring and Cabinet installs and more…

Call Us: 07776 826268

Holden Garden Machinery

Garden machinery specialists.

Call us: 01386 841285

Website: www.holdengardenmachinery.co.uk

Interfab LTD

Interfab is one of the UK’s leading Corian® and solid surface fabricators.

Call us: 01386 858100

Website: www.interfab.co.uk

John Russell digger Hire

Professional Digger Hire & Groundworks Services for The Cotswolds and The Vale of Evesham.

Call us: 07813167190

Website: https://www.groundworksdiggerhire.

Joinery Classics

Bespoke furniture and joinery manufacture for high end domestic and corporate interiors.

Call us: 01386 841888

Website: www.jccreed.co.uk

KDE Partnership

Quality electricians offering bespoke services.

Call us: 01386 578404

Website: www.kdepartnership.co.uk

KL Evesham

Timber and associated product supplier.

Call us: 01299 252921

Website: www.klevesham.com

L and J Rider Training

Motorcycle and scooter tuition.

Call us: 01386 840588

Website: ljridertraining.co.uk

Outdoor Adventurer

Outdoor goods from hiking and camping to snowboarding and climbing.

Call us: 01386 841899

Website: outdooradventurer.co.uk

PPSC Ltd

Design | Manufacturing | Repair | Consultancy

Email: sales@ppscomposites.co.uk

Website www.ppscomposites.co.uk

PFH Fabs Ltd

Welding and manufacture of fabricated metal products.

Call us: 07977 849622

PHX Security

Professional security services for both commercial and domestic customers.

Call us: 01386 841982

Website: www.phxsecurity.co.uk

R Christie Picture Framer

Classic and contemporary picture framing, gilding, and frame restoration services.

Call us: 01386 841177

Website: www.richardframemaker.uk

R Rodgers Motor Engineers

Motor engineer specialists.

Call us: 01386 840981

Realm Engineering

Produce replica cars and manufacture specialist car parts.

Call us: 01386 849116

Website: realmengineering.com

A traditional barber with professional service.

Call us: 07825 047677

Website: secretbarber.com

Secret Barber Spacemaster

Manufactures a whole range of products designed to protect doors and windows.

Call us: 01386 848852

Whitsun Motorsport Ltd

Vintage and historic motorsport specialist.

Call us: 07584 433722

Email: info@whitsunmotorsport.com

Worktops on Avon Ltd

Your replacement worktop specialist in Warwickshire and the cotswolds.

Call us: 07935 329582

Website: https://www.worktopsonavon.co.uk/

Leftover Turkey Pie

There’s something wonderfully hearty and deeply comforting about a pie. They’re also a classic British dish I’m incredibly proud of; we do pies well. With a portion of buttery mash and a good helping of gravy, a sumptuous pie can take the edge off winter and soothe your soul. I’m a big fan. It’s no wonder East Londoners have run a campaign to give pie and mash protected status, a motion that’s now been backed by some ministers. Quite right I say.

Christmas leftovers are an ideal way to easily create something rich and flavoursome, and as regular readers will know, I’m all about keeping things simple. Make the most of your Christmas leftovers with my Leftover Turkey Pie recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 pack ready rolled puff pastry

• 100g butter

• 300g leftover turkey

• 150g leftover ham

• 300g leftover vegetables (parsnips, carrots or brussels sprouts – avoid cabbage as it’s too acidic for the sauce)

• 1 Leek

• 300ml of leftover gravy

• 300g tub of crème fraiche

• 1 beaten egg

Method

STEP 1

Preheat the oven to 180°

STEP 2

Melt the butter in a saucepan on a low heat and gently sauté the leek for 5 minutes to soften it, taking care not to let them brown

STEP 3

Cut up all your leftover turkey and vegetables into bite-sized pieces, then place them

STEP 4

Spoon the mixture into an oven-proof dish and cover with a layer of puff pastry. Pierce and score the pastry lid several times, then brush with beaten egg to glaze

STEP 5

Place in the oven for 40 minutes or until the pastry is puffed and golden

STEP 6

Enjoy with a generous helping of buttery mash

DRIVEWAYS, PATHWAYS AND ROADS

Ribeye Steak with tomato, mushrooms, onion rings & chips

Fillet of Salmon with a lemon & caper Butter Vegetarian Lasagne

T H E S E C R E T G A R D E N P L A Y C A F E

FARM SHOP COFFEE SHOP AND

: Sunday & Monday

HRISTMAS OPENING HOURS HRISTMAS OPENING HOURS

FARM SHOP COFFEE SHOP

Weds 18th Dec

Thu 19th Dec

Fri 20th Dec

Sat 21st Dec

Sun 22nd Dec

Mon 23rd Dec

XMAS EVE

8:30am - 6:00pm 8:30am - 6:00pm 8:30am - 6:00pm 8:30am - 6:00pm 9 00am - 3:00pm 8:30am - 6:00pm 8:30am - 2:30pm

WED 25TH XMAS DAY TO SAT 28TH DEC 8:30am - 2:30pm 8:30am - 6:00pm

Sun 29th Dec Mon 30th Dec NEW YEARS EVE TO THURS 2ND JAN 2025 Fri 3rd Jan 2025 return to normal

9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 3pm 9am - 4pm 9am - 2pm 9am - 2pm 9am - 4pm return to normal

Locally grown seasonal vegetables from our own Washbrook Farm

Fresh fruit and locally sourced produce.

Home-made delicious cakes, scones tea-cakes and croissants.

Gluten-Free, Vegetarian and vegan diet options.

B R I N G I N G B E A U T I F U L I N T E R I O

T O E V E R Y C O R N E R O F Y O U R H O

D i s c o v e r o u r B r o a d w a y s h o w r o o m , s h o w c a s i n g a n e x q u i s i t e c o l l e c t b e s p o k e f u r n i s h i n g s , l u x u r i o u s f l o o r i n g , p r e m i u m f a b r i c s , a n d e l a c c e s s o r i e s t o e l e v a t e y o u r b e a u t i f u l C o t s w o l d 0 1 9 0 5 9 6 4 9 9 4 o r 0 7 7 3 8 8 9 1 1 1 2

C o t s w o l d D e s i g n C e n t r e , K e n n e l L a n e , B r o a d w a y . W R 1 2 7 D J w w w . c a n w e l l i n t e r i o r s . c o

O U R G U I D E T O D A S H B O A R D

The CotswoldXL online business directory is your go-to guide for some of the best local services on offer throughout the Cotswolds and the Vale of Evesham. We have made it easy for you to select and connect with some of the best local trades in the area. TURN TO NEXT PAGE TO GET