Stoke Park Magazine Issue 10 by Azzy Asghar

STOKE PARK COUNTRY CLUB

ISSUE 10

SPA & HOTEL

MMXIX

TYRRELL HATTON STOKE PARK MEMBER AND RYDER CUP WINNER

CELEBRATING OUR FABULOUS 10TH ISSUE TRAVEL - HEALTH & BEAUTY - MOTORING - FOOD - FASHION - INTERIORS - JEWELLERY - STYLE 1

STOKE PARK

WELCOME TO STOKE PARK 4

STOKE PARK

Welcome 2018 has been a very special year as we celebrated our 110th anniversary since becoming the UK’s first Country Club! I hope you have had a great year and enjoyed everything Stoke Park has to offer. There have been many fantastic social events which have taken place, from our inaugural Halloween Ball, Bonfire Night and, of course, not forgetting the magnificent week that was The Boodles! At this year’s event, guests enjoyed five days of glorious sunshine and we were delighted to welcome back tennis superstars such as the ATP Tour World Finals Champion and World no.4 Alexander Zverev, World no.5 Juan Martín del Potro and World no.6 and Wimbledon finalist, Kevin Anderson. Stoke Park’s teams continue to have enjoyed huge success in competition – many congratulations to all those who have not just triumphed, but have been great ambassadors to our Club! This year Stoke Park had not one, but two members compete in the Ryder Cup. Tyrrell Hatton (who this edition graces our front cover) and Conor Gough, who competed in the Junior Ryder Cup. The full 27 hole bunker refurbishment of our golf course has now been completed, and has been widely praised by members and the press. I would like to congratulate the Golf and Estates teams in delivering this for us to enjoy. Works have just been completed on a new putting green and wedge area – both will be open next year. I am also delighted that Stoke Park has become the European HQ of the world renowned David Leadbetter Golf Academy. I hope that our members and scholars enjoyed the opportunity to have clinics with David Leadbetter himself when he visited in July. I would like to thank our 2018 Lady and Men’s Golf Captains, Jean Taylor and Derek Ball, for a superb year as well as the Club Tennis Captains Judy Cordingly and Tony Maycock. I would also like to wish 2019 Golf Captains, Alison Gillam and Manoj Sharma, all the success for the year ahead. This year we have continued to receive wonderful awards and accolades, recently being awarded the ‘World’s Best Golf Clubhouse’ at the World Golf Awards and GQ stating, ‘After three years of wintery renovation, the iconic Stoke Park golf course has gone from being one of England’s best parkland courses to, well... simply the best’. As always, Stoke Park has supported over 150 charities this year and has helped raise vital funds for a huge range of local and national causes including our Golf Captain’s chosen charity, The Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice. I wish you all a fantastic 2019!

Andrew Strauss OBE President, Stoke Park

STOKE PARK

CONTENTS 8 David Leadbetter Launch of the Leadbetter Golf Academy

54 Perfect Timing A selection of luxury watches

14 Aced It The Boodles 2018

65 Travel Tales Your next travel destination awaits

31 Master Chef Chef Chris Wheeler’s Top 10

77 Love All 10 Top tips from our Tennis Coach

34 Going For Gold Meet Stoke Park’s golf champions

78 SportsAid Stars We raise funds for SportsAid

42 Perfect Proposal Celebrating the Big Day at Stoke Park

94 A Legend Returns The Aston Martin DBS

44 All That Glitters A selection of dazzling jewellery pieces

96 Spooktacular Events Our Halloween Ball and Bonfire Night

46 Spa Couture Our fabulous fashion shoot

98 Social Calendar A look at the year ahead

STOKE PARK MAGAZINE AZZY ASGHAR Publisher azzy@epicureanlife.co.uk

CHRISTINA RAPTIS Chief Editor christina@epicureanlife.co.uk Hanaa Foura Designer Therese Cooklin Advertising Manager therese@epicureanlife.co.uk Stoke Park Magazine is published by

ISSUE 10

STOKE PARK COUNTRY CLUB

ISSUE 10

SPA & HOTEL

MMXIX

THE ALEXANDER GROUP

790 Fulham Road, Fulham London SW6 5SL T: 020 7731 7747 www.thealexandergroup.co.uk

NICK DOWNIE Club Editor STOKE PARK

Park Road, Stoke Poges Buckinghamshire SL2 4PG T: 01753 717171 www.stokepark.com

STOKE PARK 2019

TYRRELL HATTON STOKE PARK MEMBER AND RYDER CUP WINNER

CELEBRATING OUR FABULOUS 10TH ISSUE TRAVEL - HEALTH & BEAUTY - MOTORING - FOOD - FASHION - INTERIORS - JEWELLERY - STYLE

Tyrrell Hatton - Ryder Cup Winner SP10 Front cover 3 pages.indd 1

STOKE PARK

20/11/2018 15:37

All rights reserved. Nothing within this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the Publishers. Although the Publisher has endeavoured to ensure that all information within this issue is correct prices and details are subject to change. Copyright © 2019 www.thealexandergroup.co.uk

www.bpcollins.co.uk/personal | 01753 889995

Protect your beautiful things. by your side

he legendary golf coach David Leadbetter opened his new European academy headquarters at the multi-award-winning Stoke Park Country Club & Spa and described the venue as “one of the world’s premier golf facilities.” Leadbetter, who has coached players to 22 Major championships and more than 100 individual worldwide tournament victories, has more than 30 academies across the globe – with Stoke Park as the 13th to open in Europe. Many of the world’s top golf coaches have gone through the Leadbetter Golf Academy certification and Stoke Park’s team of dedicated professionals has been undergoing the training programme. West Sussex-born Leadbetter said: “We’re really excited to open our new academy at Stoke Park. Stoke Park is one of the world’s premier golf facilities, with an amazing hotel, a 27-hole golf course and a great practice facility.

STOKE PARK

LEADBETTER’S STOKE PARK

‘DREAM COMES TRUE’

I want to thank Stoke Park Chief Executive, Chester King for his vision and everybody involved for making this happen, as this is going to be our European headquarters. We’ve had academies in the UK for some time, but to have a facility such as Stoke Park really is a dream come true. It’s going to be a tremendous facility and we can’t wait to get started, to help the members out and really promote the game of golf in general. I know how much involvement Stoke Park has in developing young players and we look forward to being part of that as well.” Chris Murtagh, Stoke Park’s head of instruction, leads the facility and his team of teaching professionals have been trained in the Leadbetter philosophy by coaches who have flown in from the USA. Stoke Park’s Director of Golf, Stuart Collier, added: “This is wonderful news for all connected with Stoke Park, for David Leadbetter is a legend in golf coaching. Few, if any, in the world game can match his track record in golf coaching – or the success his students have achieved. The opening of his academy’s European headquarters here at Stoke Park is a further exciting development and will be of great benefit for golf in the south.” At the official opening on the 24th July, David treated our members to a series of wonderful coaching clinics as well as spending time with our Scholars. He also spent time with the media, who were present to celebrate the official opening of our Lane Jackson course!

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“

We’ve had academies in the UK for some time, but to have a facility such as Stoke Park really is a dream come true. It’s going to be a tremendous facility and we can’t wait to get started, to help the members out and really promote the game of golf in general.

”

In line with the new partnership, Stoke Park has been investing heavily in their golf facilities. A new short-game area with brand-new bunkers and a chipping/putting green at the far end of the driving range has been complemented with a new pitching field allowing for pitch shots up to 100 yards to be practiced. There has also been a new monster practice putting green laid closer to the range. This winter will also see a grand refurbishment of the current Academy building which will entail a simulator space provided by Leadbetter partners, Golfzon (world leaders in golf simulator) a strength and conditioning room, and an upgrade of the swing studio with Golfzon simulator software. With all of the recent developments, Stoke Park and Leadbetter Golf Academy has undoubtedly become the premier resort for improving your golf in the South of England. For more information about the Leadbetter Golf Academy, including our Kids Academy, please contact the Golf Academy on 01753 717184 or email: golfacademy@stokepark.com

STOKE PARK

A bespoke home to call your own

s the winter months descend, and cosy nights in with the family top going out, having a home that is designed around you can make all the difference.

Whether it’s having a dedicated games room for the kids to enjoy movie marathons, or an indoor leisure suite to ensure the exercise continues beyond the summer months, Octagon’s Bespoke division work with clients to create the luxury home of their dreams. In collaboration with our in-house team of architects, surveyors and designers, our Bespoke team help realise the client’s vision, using their wealth of experience to advise on all aspects of the build. From securing planning through to handing over the keys, our comprehensive service gives buyers the framework to see their perfect home become a reality. John Pope, Director of Octagon’s Bespoke team, comments: “As the temperature drops outside, some choose to spend the evening in front of the TV, whilst others are busy hosting extravagant Christmas parties. Through our Bespoke service, we can add the personal touches that elevate any home into something truly special, whatever the occasion. “In recent projects, we have installed swimming pools whereby the cover doubles up as a ballroom dancefloor with the click of a switch, and dedicated cinema rooms with private bars and cigars room. There are few limits to what our bespoke team can deliver, promising truly memorable get togethers for both our clients and their guests.”

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Octagon’s Bespoke service has expanded over the past couple of years, with high demand tripling the number of projects undertaken. Not just working on new builds, our team complete extensions to satisfy those looking to improve, not move. Whether in need of further bedrooms to fit a growing family, or suddenly inspired to extend a kitchen, our team can transform the home without the need to start from scratch. Building across London, Surrey and the Home Counties, current projects include the restoration of an extraordinary Georgian townhouse in Knightsbridge and a neoGeorgian country home in Chigwell, whilst planning consent has been granted for a 40,000 sq ft supermansion in Berkshire. Whilst the traditional Georgian manor house has become synonymous with the Octagon brand, our team are just as versed in building contemporary apartments through to cosy country retreats. Working with Britain’s finest craftsmen and installation specialists, from stone masons and award-winning bricklayers to cabinet makers and audio technicians, Octagon has developed an unrivalled position in delivering the highest quality of luxury housing. The Octagon Bespoke team take on projects from £1m. Get in touch on 0208 481 7500 to find out more.

T H E U LT I M AT E DESIGN

BUILD

At Octagon, we have 40 years experience and an unrivalled reputation for building spectacular, one-of-a-kind homes to the highest standard of luxury. Our discreet bespoke service takes clients on a journey from planning stages through to handing over the keys, with our in-house experts on hand every step of the way. Whether an Arts and Crafts country home, inner-city apartment or Georgian inspired townhouse, our team of architects, interior designers and project managers help clients realise their dream homes. Whether you have a piece of land already secured, wish to replace an existing property or completely renovate your current home, Octagon Bespoke can help you transform your vision into something truly unique. Bespoke projects start from ÂŁ1m.

020 8481 7500 | OCTAGONBESPOKE.CO.UK

The Boodles 2018

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elebrating its 17th anniversary this year and often described as, “One of the highlights of the summer social season,” The Boodles, has, in recent years made a habit of attracting some of the biggest names in tennis, while offering guests the unique chance of an opportunity to get up close and personal with the players. The event is hosted within Stoke Park’s stunning 300-acre estate in the Buckinghamshire countryside, perhaps the most picture-perfect setting in the English tennis scene. It also has an intimate purpose built stadium of only 2,000 with no seat further than ten metres from the grass court, The Boodles allows you to be breathtakingly close to the action! The Boodles is truly a unique event; a fun English garden party atmosphere, with world-class tennis being played in intimate and beautiful surroundings. Whether a hospitality guest, or a stadium pass ticket holder, The Boodles is a wonderful experience!

STOKE PARK

With an exclusive list of official sponsors, such as Perrier Jouët Champagne, Audi, Patek Philippe, PlayBrave and the established status of our title sponsor, Boodles, guests will experience the luxury and service that has become so synonymous with these brands of excellence. Players included stars such as the current world ATP Tour Finals Champion and world no.4 Alexander Zverev, World no.5 Juan Martin Del Potro, World no.6 and Wimbledon finalist, Kevin Anderson, Grigor Dimitrov, Fabio Fognini, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Nick Kyrgios and making her Boodles debut, former WTA World no.1, Victoria Azarenka! We welcomed back our title sponsor, Boodles Jewellers, who displayed some of their finest pieces much to the delight of all the guests as well as stunning Patek Philippe watches. Fellow sponsor Perrier Jouët Champagne flowed. Audi and the British sports brand, PlayBrave, also returned as sponsors, with the latter providing the outfits for the Umpires, Line Judges and Ball Boys and Girls. Our hosts for the week were the wonderful Di Dougherty, who was a big hit with the audience as well as the players and then on the Saturday, the fabulous Sarah-Jane Mee! Stoke Park’s Executive Chef Chris Wheeler and his team provided exquisite cuisine and our guests enjoyed five days of glorious sunshine, tennis and world class hospitality! The Boodles 2019 will take place from the 25th June – 29th June (the week after Royal Ascot) and tickets are on sale now from £79 at www.theboodles.com

STOKE PARK

Soap Large Gold Pendant Made from hand-blown glass, this glistening pendant inspired by soap bubbles is a stunning addition to brighten up your home, €400. www.bomma.cz

Staffan Tollgård Design Store OKHA STM Full Arm Swivel Chair Comfort and modernity are perfectly fused together with this swivel chair, which is available in a variety of colours and wood finishes, POA. www.tollgard.co.uk

The White Company Highland Escape Large Candle Add a beautiful scent to your living area with this large three-wick candle released in a mercury vessel, £60. www.thewhitecompany.com

Our World of

Interiors

Decorate your living space with Kelly Jackson’s luxurious selection of interior décor

Chaplins Gubi Grand Piano Sofa Sit back and relax in the Grand Piano Sofa, whose unique shape and colour is bound to be a conversation starter amongst your houseguests, £4,368. www.chaplins.co.uk

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Frette Tuileries Throw Made of pure cashmere with a buckskin suede border, this throw is guaranteed to keep you warm during the chilly winter months, £2,050.

Staffan Tollgård Design Store Molteni & C 5° Table This “open box” shaped table with a crystal top will add a chic and modern touch to your living space. www.tollgard.co.uk

eu.frette.com

Oka Ballygannon Mirror The versatility of this antique inspired, distressed metal frame mirror makes it a truly perfect addition to a living space of any style, £375. www.oka.com

Rodarte Marble Rug Inspired by nature elements such as copper, gravel and wood, the Marble Rug is what you need to add a touch of zen and relaxation to your living room, from £2,075. www.therugcompany.com

Amersham Designs Julian Chichester Mercure Chandelier This stunning chandelier consisting of hand-cut Lucite panels that hang from a simple gold dirty frame is a perfect accent piece for any room in your home, £1,166. www.amershamdesigns.co.uk

Bespoke Sofa Houston Armchair Inspired by art deco aesthetics, this velvet armchair can be custom designed and upholstered to your exact liking, from £1,350. www.bespokesofalondon.com

STOKE PARK

BEACONSFIELD’S FIRST DEDICATED MEDICAL AESTHETIC CLINIC

hether your goal is to improve your skin health, reduce fines lines and wrinkles, sculpt your body by removing stubborn pockets of fat, or simply to look less tired, our multi-award winning, surgeon-led clinic has a customised treatment plan for you. We believe the fundamental basis of a successful aesthetic procedure or skincare treatment is a good quality consultation with a skilled, qualified practitioner who fully understands your needs, and looks at your treatment as a journey, not a one-off event. During your in-depth consultation, you have the opportunity to highlight any areas concerning you, whether these are skin conditions such as acne, pigmentation or rosacea, or worries about signs of ageing and a desire to rejuvenate your skin. Your skin will then be analysed by a state-of-the-art 3D digital skin imaging system called the VISIA, which takes surface and sub-surface images of your skin and develops a detailed complexion analysis. Then we tailor a treatment plan designed around your needs, goals and lifestyle.

S-THETICS SPECIALISES IN THE VERY LATEST IN ADVANCED NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS FOR THE FACE AND BODY:

• Surgeon-led by Miss Sherina Balaratnam MBBS, MRCS, MSC (UCL) • Multi award-winning clinic located in Beaconsfield Old Town • Advanced cosmeceutical skincare • Medical grade facial treatments: - The Fire & Ice - The Hydrafacial • 1 of 4 European launch clinics for EMSculpt, the world’s 1st FDA-approved device to build muscle and burn fat • 1st clinic in England outside London to launch SculpSure, FDA approved body contouring and fat reduction treatment • Cosmetic injectables including Juvederm facial fillers and muscle relaxing injections • Laser skin rejuvenation • Femilift laser treatment for vaginal tightening and stress urinary incontinence • Radiofrequency skin tightening and microneedling • VISIA digital skin imaging and VECTRA full body imaging

The “S” in S-Thetics is Miss Sherina Balaratnam (MBBS, MRCS, MSc (UCL)) a fully qualified surgeon and cosmetic doctor with extensive plastic surgical training who has devoted the last nine years of her medical career to specialising in the latest non-surgical cosmetic treatment innovations. Her subtle and highly personalised approach to facial rejuvenation has earned her a place as one of the UK’s leading non-surgical cosmetic specialists. She regularly trains other healthcare professionals on advanced injectable techniques and the consultation process. She holds the prestigious title of “Local Country Ambassador” (LCA) for Allergan, the manufacturers of BOTOX® and the Juvederm® range of dermal fillers. As one of only nine UK surgeons and doctors selected as an LCA, she regularly trains and mentors other health care professionals in advanced injectable techniques and treatment strategies such as the MD Codes™. In February 2018, Miss Balaratnam was selected by world-renowned Brazilian plastic surgeon and creator of the MD Codes™, Dr Mauricio de Maio, as one of his world’s “Top 50 injectors.” As well as being renowned for advanced cosmetic injectable treatments, at S-Thetics we have a key focus on skin health, with treatments ranging from medical grade facials through to acne and scarring management using topical cosmeceuticals, microneedling and laser skin resurfacing.

“S-Thetics is a one-stop shop for world-class non surgical treatments for face and body.”

Brides Magazine Cosmetic Beauty Guide “Miss Balaratnam’s super discreet S-Thetics clinic is based in a 200-year-old coach house just off Beaconsfield’s High Street: there’s no sign, it doesn’t look clinic-y, and high profile clients make the easy 35-minute drive for her seamless Botox and filler work, high-tech body treatments and skin programmes.”

Daily Telegraph, Olivia Falcon’s Black Book of Names to Know “When it comes to looking good and feeling great, Sherina Balaratnam is a name you’ll want to know. A fully qualified surgeon with a background in reconstructive surgery, she’s made it her business to master the latest non-surgical cosmetic treatment innovations. Literally.”

Tatler 2018 Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Guide

WINNER OF ‘Best Clinic South England’ At the 2017 / 2018 Aesthetics Awards WINNER 2017

THE IS CLINICAL AWARD FOR BEST CLINIC SOUTH ENGLAND

AS FEATURED IN: • The Times Raconteur ‘Skincare and Dermatology’ and ‘Future of Skincare’ supplements, Brides Magazine, Tatler, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Good Housekeeping Magazine, You magazine, Coutts Magazine and more.

WINNER OF ‘Best New Practice South England and Wales’ At the 2016 / 2017 MyFaceMyBody Awards

WINNER OF ‘Winner of ‘Clinic Reception Team of the Year, UK and Ireland’ At the 2016 / 2017 Aesthetics Awards

S-THETICS MEDICAL AESTHETIC CLINIC

Marlborough House, 45 Wycombe End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 1LZ P: 01494 670990

Tatler named S-Thetics One of Four Super Clinics located outside London in the ‘2018 / 2019 Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Guide’

E: info@sthetics.co.uk www.sthetics.co.uk

STOKE PARK

Leighton Denny HTFUL LIGHT & DARK DELIG £43.50 (70ml)

Prosody London Rose Rondeaux £135 (50ml)

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Chloe Nomade E au De Parfum £42 (30m l)

Herba London Urban Hipster £125 (100ml) www.herbalondon.com

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ELLE L’EDITION £55 (100ml)

Hanaa Foura’s selection of luxurious fragrances

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Juliette Has A Gun Liquid Illusion £200 (75ml) www.harrods.com

Lalique Mon Premier Cristal Blooming Lumiere £910 (80ml) www.lalique.com

SEKSY Embrace £35 (50ml)

Art de Parfum Encore Une Fois £150 (50ml)

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Did you know, you can have a private GP as well as an NHS GP?

Your local Private GP Service in Buckinghamshire

Why Use A Private GP? Increasing numbers of patients are now using a Private GP in conjunction with their NHS service. With a range of membership and pay-as-you-go options available, accessing private GP services has never been more affordable. At Your Doctor, we pride ourselves on being able to offer you an appointment with your chosen GP at a time to suit you. This way, our hand-picked team of experienced doctors can really get to know you and your family, and offer an ‘old fashioned’ family GP service - but with all of the conveniences of modern medicine and technology.

Choose ‘Pay As You Go’ or Membership We believe in working with you to provide high quality, personalised healthcare. Our range of monthly membership packages enable quick access to our experienced team, giving you peace of mind that your health needs are taken care of. But you don’t need to be a member of Your Doctor to access our services - with Pay As You Go you can simply pay for what you need, when you need it. You’ll receive the same high quality, personalised service, however you pay for your care.

To find out more about Your Doctor’s range of services and for more health advice, information and tips visit www.your-doctor.co.uk

Quick access and longer appointments

A return to the traditional ‘patient-doctor’ relationship that we believe delivers the greatest benefits to your long-term health

Proactive health screening and support for healthy ageing

Fast turnaround for diagnostic tests

Access to a range of treatments and services not widely available on the NHS

Your Doctor Buckinghamshire Park Hall Clinic, Wexham Park Hall Wexham Street, Bucks SL3 6NB

0330 088 2020 info@your-doctor.co.uk

Business Meetings It’s all about Location, Location, Location!! Situated only 35 minutes from London and a short drive from Heathrow Airport, Stoke Park’s nine function rooms provide the perfect setting for business meetings and conferences. Each room not only provides a professional, five star atmosphere for board meetings, training seminars and conferences, but has the added benefit of giving these events a breathtaking backdrop. Day Delegates also have use of our award-winning health facilities.

Corporate Golf Days Our recently refurbished 27 hole championship golf course designed by Harry Colt in 1908 is undisputedly one of the finest parkland courses in the country and was the setting of the iconic golf battle between James Bond and Goldfinger. With resident PGA Professionals you can host golf clinics at our David Leadbetter Academy incorporating stateof-the-art coaching technology including Trackman and Corporate Golf days which will really impress your clients and colleagues!

perfect reasons to have an event at Stoke Park!

Tennis Days Our 13 tennis courts, 3 indoor carpet courts, 4 artificial clay courts and 6 Wimbledon specification grass courts plus our LTA Professionals, make the perfect setting for hosting individual tuition sessions or company tennis tournaments, whilst a tennis clinic can be an effective team-building exercise.

Spa Days Who doesn’t love a spa day? Treat your clients and colleagues to a day of true pampering in our stunning Spa. With fabulous treatments and gorgeous facilities, including our recently opened Spa Gardens, it makes for the perfect treat for your guests.

Private Celebrations For a special occasion, there is no place quite like Stoke Park. Whether a family gathering, a special party with close friends, a private lunch, gala dinner, award ceremony, baby shower, Afternoon Tea or a romantic candlelit dinner for two (followed by a memorable night in one of the sumptuous bedrooms, of course) or just some recent good news, if something is worth celebrating then it’s worth celebrating in style.

Team Building Activities Want to incentivise your team and need some inspiration? At Stoke Park we offer a whole range of team building activities. Your team could enjoy a cookery masterclass with our award-winning Chef, Chris Wheeler, or a cocktail masterclasses, or perhaps flower arranging. They could experience challenges such as archery, riding Segway’s, Spy School or a treasure hunt plus much more! At Stoke Park we have all the facilities with which you can provide a fun and motivating event.

Lights, Camera, Action! From the small to the silver screen Stoke Park has been a star! It is very versatile as a venue, from Bond to Bridget Jones, Layer Cake to RocknRolla, to fashion shoots, to product launches to playing a pivotal role in advertising campaigns, Stoke Park makes the perfect location!

Weddings Over 200 years old, our grand building is truly one of the most romantic settings for a marriage ceremony, civil partnership or wedding reception in the country. Not only does it make a picture perfect setting but as Europe’s leading 5 AA Red Star Hotel, Spa and Country Club, it offers undeniable luxury for your special day.

Offsite Activities – From one estate to another! There are only a few fun activities which we are unable to cater for onsite at Stoke Park. We have teamed up the E.J Churchill West Wycome Estate so we can offer our clients more fabulous experiences. This fantastic location is only 25 minutes from Stoke Park. EJ Churchill and West Wycombe Corporate Entertainment Visit the EJ Churchill Shooting ground and you’ll discover for yourself why it has been voted the ‘Best Shooting Ground/Club in the UK.’ Situated in over 40 acres of fabulous landscaped grounds, why not combine Clay Shooting with a range of activities including Off Road Driving, Archery, Motorised Buggies, Segways, Human Bowling, Helicopter Flights, Musket Shooting or Falconry Handling.

The Boodles Celebrating its 17th anniversary this year and often described as, “One of the highlights of the summer social season,” The Boodles, has, in recent years made a habit of attracting some of the biggest names in tennis, while offering guests the unique chance of an opportunity to get up close and personal with the players. It also has an intimate purpose built stadium of only 2,000 with no seat further than ten metres from the grass court, The Boodles allows you to be breathtakingly close to the action! The Boodles is truly a unique event. A fun English garden party atmosphere, with world-class tennis being played in intimate and beautiful surroundings.

For more information about Events at Stoke Park, please contact the Events team on 01753 71 71 71 or by email sales@stokepark.com

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THE MANY BENEFITS of joining the Club!

s well as enjoying world class facilities, service and a fabulous social life, Stoke Park offers many benefits to being a member with us which you may or may not be aware of. Members using their House Levy* account are entitled to: • 15% discount on all beverages in Humphry’s, San Marco, The Orangery and The President’s Bar* • 10% discount on all food in Humphry’s, San Marco, The Orangery and The President’s Bar* • Specially priced Member only menus in both the President’s Bar and San Marco • 20% discount on all food and beverages in the Halfway House* • 20% discount Monday – Friday and 10% Saturday – Sunday on all spa treatments and retreats at our multi award-winning spa** • Preferential accommodation rates • A complimentary room upgrade on residential packages (subject to availability) • A 5% discount on the final bill for any conference, golf day, wedding, or private function held at the Club (when booked directly with the Club) • Receive double credit on their levy account for referring an adult member within 30 days of starting your membership • Golf Members receive complimentary insurance, range balls, tees, pencils and reduced rates on buggy and trolley hire at the Club * The House Levy is a personal account that can be used to purchase

goods and services ** Excluding events on the Club’s Social Calendar and special promotions

Members also have access to Reciprocal Clubs around the world… These reciprocal clubs allow you, as a Stoke Park Member, to play golf and stay with preferred rates. Three clubs, asterisked * below, offer full reciprocity, which means complimentary golf on up to six visits per year. All other clubs offer a social member status whilst you are there, and discounted rates on accommodation and green fees. UK • Bluebird Restaurant & Club Guest Rate Green Fees • Naval & Military Club (In & Out) • Buckinghamshire Golf Club – Member Guest Rate Green Fees • The Royal Scots Club USA • Fisher Island Club • Lake Nona Golf & Country Club • New York Athletic Club • The Concession Golf Club • The Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel • The Palm Beach Yacht Club • The Standard Club • The Union League of Philadelphia • The Yale Club of New York City • Washington Athletic Club AUSTRALIA • The American Club, Australia • Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club • Royal Automobile Club of Victoria • The Peninsula Country Golf Club* • Tattersall’s Club • The Western Australian Club (Inc) BARBADOS • Royal Westmoreland BRAZIL • Gavea Golf & Country Club CANADA • Toronto Lawn Tennis Club • The Vancouver Club • University Club of Montreal

CHINA

Almeria Private Resorts including:

• Han Yuan International Club & Marina Placid Rivers Club • Naga Club • Old Chengdu Club • Stone Mountain Golf Club & Resort American Hong Kong Club, Central Hong Kong • KEE Club, Shanghai • Mission Hills, Shengzen CYPRUS • Aphrodite Hills Resort • Elea Resort CZECH REPUBLIC • LS Club FUERTEVENTURA • Elba Palace Golf Club FRANCE • Paris Golf & Country Club • Chateau des Vigiers Golf & Country Club HONG KONG • Hong Kong Cricket Club • Kowloon Cricket Club • Pacific Club INDIA • Chikmagalur Golf Club, Karnataka State • The DLF Golf & Country Club IRELAND • Ring of Kerry Golf & Country Club* ITALY • Palazzo Arzaga Hotel Spa & Golf Resort • Royal Park I Roveri, Torino

JAMAICA • The Tryall Club JAPAN • Tokyo American Club LITHUANIA • Le Meridien Vilnius Golf Club MAJORCA • Golf Son Gual MAURITIUS • The Paradis Hotel & Golf Club MOROCCO • Mazagan Beach Resort & Golf Club NEW ZEALAND • Auckland Golf Club* • Northern Club • Wellington Club PORTUGAL • Monte Rei Golf Club • Praia d’el Rey Golf Club SOUTH AFRICA • Pezula Club Port Elizabeth St. George’s Club SPAIN • Finca Cortesin La Reserva Club de Golf, Sotogrande • The San Roque Club • Las Colinas, Alicante TENERIFE • Hotel Las Madrigueras TURKEY • Kemer Golf & Country Club

STOKE PARK 27

Sophia Webster Andie 85 Leopard Print Bow Mules, £375

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Instincts Harris Wharf London Boiled Wool Belted Blanket Coat, £370

Kelly Jackson selects this season’s Top 10 must-have animal inspired statement pieces

www.harriswharflondon.co.uk

Laurus Rina Handbag, £4,560

www.laurus-online.com

Rebecca Taylor Cheetah Satin Jacquard Dress, £310

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Gas Bijoux Caftan Oval Hoop Earrings, £110 www.gasbijoux.com

Ganni Printed Georgette Shirt, £110 www.ganni.com

A.L.C. Mercer Jacket, £377 Harrison Pant, £278 www.alcltd.com

MADELEINE Snakeskin Pattern Leather Ballet Flats, £149 www.madeleine.co.uk

James Lakeland Jacquard Tie Belt Coat, £375 www.jameslakeland.net

STOKE PARK 29

I I The Broadway, Old Amersham, Bucks. HP7 0HL Tel: 014947257I I www.odettelingerie.co.uk Hours Monday - Saturday 9.30 - 5.30

THE PERFECT THE PERFECT GET AWAY THIS SUMMER... GET AWAY THIS SUMMER... th Wheeler in France a 3 hands-on day hands-on culinary experience 21st 2019 July 2019 Join Join ChrisChris Wheeler in France for a for 3 day culinary experience | 18th| -18 21st -July

Looking for perfect the perfect foodie gift Christmas, this Christmas, building or even the ultimate culinary break? notour join our Looking for the foodie gift this teamteam building eventevent or even the ultimate culinary break? Why Why not join award-winning for In Big In France to learn culinary techniques andproduce key produce knowledge to perfect dinner award-winning chef chef for Big France to learn culinary techniques and key knowledge to perfect your your dinner partyparty skills.skills.

THE PERFECT

For more information www.biginfrance.com/chris-wheeler For more information visit:visit: www.biginfrance.com/chris-wheeler

Chef Chris Wheeler’s

MEET THE CHEF’S GOURMET EVENING 6 CHEF’S, 6 COURSES

Top 10 ingredients for 2019 1

Wild Fennel Pollen – this is delicious when sprinkled on scallops or fish.

Truffle Honey – exquisite when poured over blue cheese.

King Oyster Mushrooms – great for barbecuing or simply sauté with garlic and thyme – the perfect accompaniment to any beef dish.

Champagne reception, six course tasting menu with fine wines.

Denver Steak (thinly sliced steak from the chuck part of cow) – if you speak to your butcher, this slightly cheaper cut of meat is delicious when quickly fried.

Tim’s Dairy Greek Style Yoghurt with honey – simple for a perfect cheesecake or heavenly on its own.

Dorset Black Cow Vodka – a delicious creamy vodka – perfect for marinating berries or to add to a simple sauce for any fish dish.

Rose Harissa – a great way to add a little spice to couscous or to add a kick to the marinade for any lamb or chicken dish.

Superfood Pesto – this is perfect for any vegetarian dish – you can make it yourself or a similar product (Seeded Supergreen Pesto) is available from Belazu – it is yummy and also great with pasta!

Dorset Ginger (Strong) – this delicious non-alcoholic drink is ideal when added to curries, or to spice up a dressing or simply added to a custard!

Best end neck of Lamb – this is a great alternative to loin or rack, full of flavour and ideal for a mid–week meal.

29th March Members £105.00 pp Non - members £115.00 pp Please contact Ellie Page on 01753 717112 or email epage@stokepark.com

Untitled-2 1

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To experience some of these ingredients in Chris’s recipes, please do come and enjoy an exquisite meal in Humphry’s, our 3 AA Rosette fine dining restaurant! To book please call Reservations on 01753 71 71 72 or email reservations@stokepark.com

5 9

So, What’s Cooking? 2018 has been a great year for our Executive Chef, Chris Wheeler. Not only has he brought out his debut cookbook, The Ginger Chef ‘Served Up’, he also graced the stage at Taste of London and the Thame Food Festival, wowing the crowds with his incredible recipes and personality! 2019 will see Chris cook in Japan in his role as the UK Ambassador for Quality Standard Mark Beef and Lamb as well as France, where he will host a cookery school for Big in France. Overseeing all the culinary outlets at Stoke Park, including Humphry’s, The Orangery, San Marco and all events and weddings, life is always busy – he has even included many of the exquisite recipes in his debut cookbook in this year’s Banqueting Brochure, so all guests attending an event will be able to enjoy these!

Speaking of recipes, please enjoy his signature recipe, ‘Wild Pollen Pan-Fried Salmon with Roasted Red Pepper Textures, Goats Curd Bon Bons, Micro Cress and Mango Gel’ Ingredients 4 salmon fillets 2g wild pollen For the pepper textures

6 red peppers 2 plum tomatoes 2 mangos 1 lemon 50ml olive oil 2g agar agar

For the bon bons

50g goat’s cheese 50g flour 1 egg 2g chives (chopped) 50g breadcrumbs For the garnish

12 small violet edible flowers 100g micro-cress

Method Roast 2 peppers for 15 minutes, remove from the oven and wrap in cling film, allow to cool. Remove the skins and dice. Juice the remaining peppers and pass through a sieve then reduce by half by adding the agar agar. Mix and allow to set. Blanch the tomatoes in boiling water for 30 seconds and then place into iced water to remove the skins. Quarter, remove seeds and dice. Remove the mango skins and roughly chop. Blend until you reach a purée-like consistency. Remove the goat’s cheese skin and roll the cheese into 1cm balls – you will need 12. Roll each ball in flour, egg and then breadcrumbs, coating evenly. Heat the olive oil in a pan, add the bon bons and fry until crispy. Season the salmon and pan-fry, skin side down for 4 minutes, sprinkle with wild pollen and pan-fry on the other side for an additional 4 minutes. To Serve Place the salmon in the middle of the plate, skin side down. Dot the mango and pepper purée around the plate. Mix peppers, tomatoes and chives in a pan with some olive oil, warm through and scatter on the plate. Place 3 goat’s cheese bon bons on each plate and decorate with the micro-cress and flowers.

Chef compiles his favourite 10 dishes of all time at Stoke Park! After 16 years at the helm of Stoke Park’s kitchens, our wonderful Executive Chef, Chris Wheeler, compiles his favourite ten dishes...

7 4

1 Chef’s Classic Beef en Croute with Truffle Mash, Green Beans and Madeira Jus 2 Pumpkin and Walnut Gnocchi with Pumpkin Purée, Toasted Pine Nuts and Wild Rocket 3 Humphry’s De-constructed Snickers Bar 4 Brookfield Roast Fillet of Beef with Pomme Purée, Cep Mushrooms, Crispy Pancetta and Baby Carrots 5 Dorset Crab, King and Avocado Tian with Cucumber and Pink Grapefruit Dressing

6 Wild Pollen Pan-Fried Salmon with Roasted Red Pepper Textures, Goats Curd Bon Bons, Micro Cress and Mango Gel (Recipe opposite) 7 Rhubarb and Gingerbread Soufflé with poached Rhubarb, Ginger and Rhubarb Sorbet 8 Red Mullet Escabeche with Fennel and Baby Beetroot 9 Pan-fried loin of Dorset Lamb, with Mini Shepherd’s Pie, Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Root Vegetables and Red Wine Jus 10 Home-smoked Pan Fried Scallops served with a Salad Niçoise

All of these exquisite dishes can be found in Chris’s debut cookbook, The Ginger Chef ‘Served Up’ available to buy on www.stokepark.com £10.

STOKE PARK 33

Celebrating our CHAMPIONS! 2018 has been an incredible year for Golf at Stoke Park. This year saw the launch of our David Leadbetter Golf Academy, completion of the bunker refurbishment and short game area. Feedback has been wonderful with GQ magazine recently commenting that ‘After three years of wintery renovation, the iconic Stoke Park golf course has gone from being one of England’s best parkland courses to, well... simply the best’ and Golf World naming us the ‘No.1 Golf Resort in England.’ All of these things we are extremely proud of, however it is the incredible success of our members which makes us truly proud! Here are some of the amazing competition triumphs of our Members in 2018... JUNIOR STARS ur scholarship programme, under the guidance and direction of Chris Murtagh and Tom Reid, has continued to strengthen. For 2018, scholars were divided into three “squads”: Elite, General Scholars and Development. The Elite Scholars – Thalia Kirby, Daisy Kennedy (pictured), Conor Gough, Thomas Gregory and Taylor Paul – aged between 15 and 17 with handicaps of scratch or better, are all performing at high level and are selected for England training squads. This year Thalia, Daisy, Conor and Taylor have been selected to represent England in international Under 16 and Under 18 matches – producing winning performances which should ensure their continued selection going forward. We have 10 General Scholars, 6 boys and 6 girls aged 11-16 with varied handicaps who are active at County level and five further boys aged under 11 in the Development Squad. As has been the trend in recent years, our talented youngsters have led the way in putting Stoke Park on the golfing map and adding to the silverware. Daisy Kennedy has continued to shine at local level especially – In the space of two weeks in August, she won the Stoke Park Junior Championship, Stoke Park Ladies Championship, Beaconsfield Junior Open and Stoke Park Junior Open (the latter two combining to earn her the BB&O Bucks Trophy for best aggregate). In fact, 2018 has definitely been a year for the girls. Three of the scholars Daisy Kennedy

34 STOKE PARK

– Rachel Mackinlay, Fraya Shiell and Jessica Pilgrim – teamed up for the Women’s Par 3 Championship at Ampfield in Hampshire. As the only juniors in a field of 100 lady golfers, individually the girls placed 3rd, 4th and 7th respectively but this was also sufficient to give them first place in the team event. 2018 has been a genuinely stellar year for Elite Scholar Conor Gough. With a plus 2 handicap, Conor was one of Conor Gough the original intakes for the Scholarship Programme, joining when he was barely 10 years old. This year he was victorious in three major National Competitions all of which attracted international fields – the Fairhaven Trophies (72-hole Scratch Open), Macgregor Trophy (England Under 16 Boys) and the British Boys Amateur Championship (pictured). In winning the British Boys Amateur at Royal Portrush, Conor became the first English player to win the title since 2012. In doing so, he also guaranteed himself an entry into final qualifying for the 148th Open Championship, also at Royal Portrush, and a place in the 124th Amateur Championship, at Portmarnock. He also secured an automatic spot on the European team for the Junior Ryder Cup at Golf Disneyland, Paris, from September 24-25 and was selected for the Great Britain & Ireland team to face the Continent of Europe in the Jacques Léglise Trophy, in Finland. No wonder then that his 2018 achievements see him currently as no 1 in the English Boys Order of Merit.

COLT CUP

018 was the 25th Anniversary of the Colt Cup – an interclub competition hosted annually at Stoke Park for teams from Colt designed courses throughout the world. This year saw 33 clubs competing, including six from overseas and Stoke Park was represented by Captain Derek Ball, Jerome Drouin and Phil Fretwell. For the first time in six years, home advantage played its part and with 108 points, the Stoke Park team triumphed relegating teams from Hendon GC (104 points) and Wentworth (101 points) into 2nd and 3rd places respectively.

Colt Cup Winners- Jerome Drouin, Derek Ball, Phil Fretwell

SCRATCH PLAYERS SUCCESSES

hile the scratch team did not repeat their league winning success of 2017, on an individual basis some excellent results were produced in club competitions. Kevin Freeman threw down the gauntlet with a strong performance in the R.H. de Montmorency, his two-round total of 139 (1 under) claiming the nett handicap trophy. In July, Tom Lawson equalled this score in the Stoke Park Trophy, the club’s 36-hole Scratch Open, where Kevin (3 shots back) had to settle for 2nd place. However, roles were reversed once more for the Club Championships later in the month when, in very tough windy conditions, Kevin Freeman claimed 1st prize with his two-round total of 145, ahead of Tom Lawson in second. Fellow scratch team player Andrew Lynch was awarded the Courage Trophy for the leading player in the BB&O Champion Club competition.

“

The iconic Stoke Park golf course has gone from being one of England’s best parkland courses to, well... simply the best GQ

Kevin Freeman

”

Tom Lawson

STOKE PARK 35

LADIES MAKE THEIR MARK IN THE COUNTY ith such strong junior girls, we were able to enter four pairs for the Bucks County Lady and Junior Girls Foursomes competition at Oakland Park for the Karchargis Trophy. All four pairs performed well (scoring better than handicap) but the star performers were Edwina Acheson and Jessica Pilgrim whose back nine 25 points (out of a total 42) was enough to win the trophy. Former Lady Captain of Stoke Park, Barbara Briggs, entered the Rose Bowl Trophy, the Bucks Ladies Singles Match Play Knockout for ladies with handicaps of 20.5 and above. In the Final at Flackwell Heath GC on Thursday 25th October, Barbara proved too strong for her opponent – Gill Hepsworth of Burnham Beeches – defeating her on the 15th hole 5 and 3.

Penha Longa

CAPTAINS’ TOURS

I Barbara Briggs

Edwina Acheson & Jessica Pilgrim

Trip to Turin

36 STOKE PARK

n keeping with tradition and the Stoke Park Members’ thirst for adventure, Captains Derek Ball and Jean Taylor hosted three Golf tours. First to venture forth were the Men who travelled North to Aberdeen in May to take part in what Derek aptly named the ‘Heads of State Links Tour’. Twenty men enjoyed playing the challenging links courses at Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay and Trump International. Jean Taylor took a group of 35 Ladies to Penha Longa, near Lisbon, Portugal. The weather could have been kinder, rain and strong winds affecting play on most days, but with the Stoke Park ladies being made of sterner stuff, their spirits were not dampened! In addition to golf, they thoroughly enjoyed the meticulously planned wining and dining alongside the R&R. The big competitive tour of the year was the Men’s trip to Turin. In September, 24 golfers headed off to Italy for the annual “battle” between the Captain’s and Professional’s team. They enjoyed some excellent weather and strong competition on Circolo, Biella and Royal Park. The Professional’s team, under Stuart Collier’s captaincy, were the convincing victors. On behalf of Stoke Park, we would very much like to thank 2018 Captains, Derek Ball and Jean Taylor, for a magnificent year, and wish 2019 Captains, Manoj Sharma and Alison Gillam all the success for the year ahead!

New Year, NEW YOU!

10 tips from our Head of Fitness, Sarah Westbrook-Burr 1 Have a goal to work towards 2 Track your progress – you are accountable for the results 3 Have a good work/life balance 4 Avoid or minimise stress 5 Train a minimum of 3x per week 6 Achieve at least 8 hours of sleep 7 Drink between 2 – 4 litres of water a day or 1 litre per 25kg of body weight 8 Reduce alcohol intake – minimise intake 9 Work towards single ingredient food, basic ‘Grandma recipes’ 10 Achieve a minimum of 10,000 steps per day

Treat Yourself or a Friend to a Gym Membership To find out more, please contact the team on 01753 71 71 79 or membership@stokepark.com

STOKE PARK 37

1/Animal: Exploring the

2/ Jean-Michel Basquiat

Bookmarked!

Zoological World James Hanken Hardcover: 352 Pages

Christina Raptis’ selection of Top 10 coffee-table books

Hans Werner Holzwarth, Eleanor Nairne Hardcover: 500 Pages

This fascinating title highlights the diversity of life on earth through manuscripts, paintings, prints and illustrations with photographs and digital renderings to bring the zoological world vividly to life, £39.95.

Get up close to the bold brushwork and scribbled words of legendary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose vivid paintings remain as fresh today as in 1980s New York, £150.

www.phaidon.com

www.taschen.com

3/ Streets of Paris

MENDO Hardcover: 224 Pages As one of Europe’s most important and vibrant cities for art, fashion, and culture this title captures the multifaceted city of Paris from the perspective of over 40 different lenses, £45. www.teneues-books.com

4/Ferrari Pino Allievi, Marc Newson Hardcover: 514 Pages This immense tome offers unrestricted access to hundreds of photographs from the Ferrari Archives and from private collectors, to reveal the full story behind Ferrari’s victories since 1947, £4,500. www.taschen.com

5/Flora Hardcover: 360 Pages Discover the extraordinary diversity of the plant world and how plants work, with this photographic celebration of the trees, flowers, and plants that share our planet, £30. www.dk.com

8/ NEW YORK BY NEW YORK Jay McInerney, Wendell Jamieson Hardcover: 368 Pages

This impressive volume reveals New York through the expert eyes and iconic images of leading photographers and top writers and is sure to be treasured by lovers of this great city for decades to come, £195. www.assouline.com

6/Writers Their Lives and Works James Naughtie Hardcover: 360 Pages

From Shakespeare and Jane Austen to Gabriel García Márquez and Toni Morrison, this title features more than 100 biographies of some of the world’s greatest writers, £20. www.dk.com

9/ Sevan Biçakçi:

The Timekeeper Vivienne Becker Hardcover: 200 Pages

Explore master jeweller Sevan Biçakçi’s work within this gorgeous title showcasing his exquisite timepieces which all have the allure and grace of his original jewellery, £150. www.assouline.com

7/ Ultimate Lifestyle

Collection for Women Chloe Fox Hardcover: 256 Pages

This opulently-illustrated coffee-table book showcases the world’s most exclusive and luxurious products and services for discerning females, £90. www.teneues-books.com

10/ Gumball 3000

Hardcover: 304 Pages

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Gumball, this title is a compilation of the glitzy and famed international event from the past two decades – a must have for all petrol-heads, £65. www.teneues-books.com

STOKE PARK 39

Well Read!

Award-winning editor, journalist and novelist, and friend of Stoke Park, Jade Beer, has worked across the national press for more than twenty years and is currently the editor-in-chief of Condé Nast Brides. Christina Raptis spent 10 minutes getting to know her better and hearing all about her exciting new novel.

What inspired you to enter the world of book writing?

I think lots of journalists wonder if they have a book in them. Can they go from writing articles of 500 words to a story of 100,000? As the months and years went by at Vogue House, I realised my debut novel was writing itself – in my head at least! My day job places me in the path of such fascinating and talented women, I felt compelled to write about them.

Can you give us a brief summary about your newest novel, What I Didn’t Say?

There are four main female characters in the book and when the story opens they are all being dishonest with themselves. Betsy is the happily engaged twenty-something whose eyes should be all over her wedding plans but are all over another man. Her mother Helen is playing the part of the ecstatic mother-of-the-bride, while keeping her own secret love affair under wraps. Nat lies for a living and is questioning how much longer she can keep it up while Jenny tells one seemingly harmless lie in the opening chapter that has much bigger consequences.

What was your inspiration for What I Didn’t Say and The Almost Wife?

Please tell us about yourself.

My working day starts at 6am sharp. It’s the only way I can get from my home in the Cotswolds to my desk in Vogue House in London, with a brief snatched moment with both my daughters, who are ten and four, over breakfast. I start editing, reading copy and emailing the second I am on the train so that by the time I land in the office, I am ahead of the game. Before magazines, I worked on national newspapers where everything had to be done at breakneck speed – an essential life skill as it turned out.

40 STOKE PARK

Women are under incredible pressure to be nothing but blissfully happy in the time they’re engaged – and the reality is often very different. Real life doesn’t stop when they slip on the diamond ring and that was something I was keen to explore with both books. I have spent the past seven years hearing women’s thoughts, fears, worries and ambitions for the future and it’s this really powerful cocktail of glamour and reality that dances across every page of The Almost Wife and What I Didn’t Say.

Are any of the characters in your novels inspired by people you know?

There is one character, Jessie, in The Almost Wife, who is raging out of control at the beginning of the story – insisting that only beautiful people can be in her wedding pictures and having the church aisle carpet ripped up and replaced because it clashes with the colour of her wedding dress. Everything she does, I have witnessed first-hand!

What are the most surprising things that you have learned as an author?

There can be no such thing as writer’s block. You sit, you open your laptop and you write. You have to have a very strong mentality of getting on with it. Good reviews will make you cry. You will put on half a stone. All that time you used to spend working out, you now spend sitting.

How do you find the time to write a novel?

I effectively spent seven years researching the first book. Writing it was the quick bit! Aside from that, I developed a love of very early mornings. I never write at night. I am much better at 5am than 9pm.

Can you tell us about your writing process?

I set realistic goals of one chapter a week – about 3,000 words, except at the beginning of the book where I like to take a week off to kick start the whole process. My husband is the only person I let read it as it develops, then I send the finished manuscript to Erin Kelly, a friend and the crime novelist and await her ruthless feedback. Then it’s agent’s and publisher’s edits until about five drafts later when I can write The End.

Which novel was easier to write and why?

The first was easier without a publishing deal in place, I was working to my own deadlines. Once you have a commercial contract, there are a great deal many more people to please! That said, there is a confidence to the second book that wouldn’t have existed without the first.

Do you have any new novels in the works?

I have started to loosely plot book three and will start writing it next year. Just like the first two, it will be very character led, with plenty of glamour – and tears!

www.jadebeer.com

Photo Credit: Clane Gessel and James Mason

STOKE PARK

The Perfect Proposal If you are looking for the magical moment to pop the question to your loved one, and need a bit of assistance in creating the perfect moment, we are here to help you.

toke Park has for many years been a much loved wedding venue – with its breath-taking setting and world class service, Stoke Park oozes romance. So we have come up with some gorgeous packages for wedding proposals too! We can create a bespoke package to make your dream proposal come true… and to help you along the way we have created our Blossom and Peony Packages. Our Blossom proposal packages are based around Afternoon Tea including a stunning bouquet of flowers and champagne starting from £99.50 per person. Our Peony proposal packages are based around a romantic dinner for two including a beautiful bouquet of flowers and champagne starting from £124.50 per person.

Our vision is to make your proposal one of the most memorable and magical moments of your life so please do contact our Events Team, who would be delighted to assist on 01753 71 71 71 or email sales@stokepark.com

42 STOKE PARK

And after the proposal…time to plan the BIG day! As a wedding venue, Stoke Park is a stunning backdrop to your perfect day. Set within 300 acres of beautiful parkland, landscaped gardens and lakes stands an imposing white Palladian Mansion. Over 230 years old, the grand building is truly one of the most romantic settings for a marriage ceremony, civil partnership or wedding reception in the country. Not only does it make a picture perfect setting but as Europe’s leading 5 AA Red Star Hotel, Spa and Country Club it offers undeniable luxury for your special day. Stoke Park exudes romance and luxury, and can cater for a wide range of needs to make your dream day come true. Whether it be a champagne breakfast or a sumptuous reception banquet, a live swing band or an awe-inspiring fireworks display over the fountains and gardens, the happy couple works closely with Stoke Park’s Wedding Coordinator, Michele Connelly, and award-winning Executive Chef, Chris Wheeler, to ensure preparations for the big day run flawlessly. Every aspect is planned to the highest quality and finest detail, to guarantee a day that will engender fond and lingering memories. Late Availability Dates If you are looking to marry within the next six months, and are searching for your dream venue, please do get in touch as Stoke Park have special late availability available.

For more information about Weddings at Stoke Park, please contact our wedding co-ordinator Michele Connelly on 01753 71 71 88 or email mconnelly@stokepark.com

Graff Diamonds Peony Necklace Harry Winston Lotus Cluster Diamond Earrings Inspired by the motif of a delicate Lotus flower, these stunning earrings consisting of 62 round brilliant diamonds and set in platinum are an exquisite piece, POA.

This spectacular necklace uses multishape diamonds and emeralds to create an elegant cascade of a delicate Peony bloom on leafy branches, POA. www.graffdiamonds.com

www.harrywinston.com

Jewels

Kelly Jackson’s selection of glistening jewellery inspired by nature

of Nature

Boodles Raindance Long Drop Diamond Earrings These long drop diamond earrings set in platinum resemble cascading raindrops glistening in the sun, £12,500.

www.boodles.com

Fabergé Frédéric Zaavy Hibiscus Ring Interspersed with pink diamonds, white diamonds and moonstones, this dramatic glacial composition ring replicating frozen winter landscapes is a captivating piece for any occasion, £41,700. www.faberge.com

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Stephen Webster Love Me, Love Me Not Crystal Haze Bracelet This versatile 18-carat white gold with green agate bracelet mimics the “loves me, loves me not” game of chance and is a stunning accessory no matter the time of year, £6,500. www.stephenwebster.com

Tresor Paris Emerald & Diamond Cluster Necklace The 16.57-carat pear-shaped emerald surrounded by clusters of brilliant diamonds on white gold is bound to draw attention and admiration, £53,997. www.tresorparis.co.uk

Chaumet Feuillage Èternel Bracelet Set in white gold with cascades of brilliant cut diamonds which replicate the leaves of a mighty oak, this supple bracelet will look exquisite on your wrist, POA. www.chaumet.com

Messika Shards of Mirror Earrings

David Morris Phoenix Rose Cut Diamond Drop Earrings

Boucheron Lierre de Paris Earrings

Composed of pear-cut diamonds, these asymmetrical earrings are both a feminine and bold statement accessory, POA.

These dazzling earrings feature 30.10 carats of pear shape, round and micro-set diamonds in 18-carat white gold and are sure to add a touch of sparkle to your evening attire, POA.

Replicating fragile and modest leaves, these diamond earrings set in white gold are a timeless piece which will add simplicity and sparkle to your look, £8,800.

www.messika.com

www.davidmorris.com

uk.boucheron.com

STOKE PARK 45

Dress – Gyunel Couture, £POA Flower Ring £13,000 Necklace £33,000 – Bykovs’ Jewellery

46 STOKE PARK

PA COUTURE

Our luxurious spa looks even more glamourous than ever! Photography by Darren Paul Styled by Katherine Doyle Hair & Makeup by Lauren Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell

Dress – Isabell Kristensen, £3,800 Necklace £113,838 and Ring £5,448 – Catherine Best

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Dress – Bao Ta London, £1,300 Marine Earrings £210, Bracelet £310, Ring £195 – Giovanni Raspini

STOKE PARK 49

Dress – Isabell Kristensen, £3,200 Earrings £21,000 and Necklace £25,000 – Bykovs’ Jewellery Triple Diamond Bangle – Calleija, £25,500

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Dress – Jennifer Clair, £POA Earrings £21,000 and Ring £13,000 – Bykovs’ Jewellery Triple Diamond Bangle – Calleija, £25,500

STOKE PARK

Oksana (left) wears Swarovski Crystal Dess – Jennifer Clair, £POA Earrings £12,600 and Triple Diamond Cuff £25,500 – Calleija Flower Ring £13,000 – Bykovs’ Jewellery Denisa (right) wears Gold Dress – Nina Naustdal, £POA Leaf Earrings £21,000 Purple Jewel Ring £9,000 Gold Flower Ring £13,000 Purple Jewel Bangle £2,900 – Bykovs’ Jewellery

Stockists Bao Ta London - www.baotalondon.com Bykovs’ Jewellery - en.bykovs-jewellery.com Calleija - www.calleija.com Catherine Best - www.catherinebest.com Giovanni Raspini - www.giovanniraspini.com Gyunel Couture - www.gyunel.com Isabell Kristensen - www.isabellkristensen.com Jennifer Clair - www.jennifer-clair.com/couture Nina Naustdal - www.nina-naustdal.com 52 STOKE PARK

STOKE PARK 53

Rolex Sky-Dweller watch featuring an 18-karat gold bracelet with a black dial, £35,550.

Patek Philippe Ladies’ Moon Phase watch in yellow gold, with silvery grained dial and gold applied Breguet numerals, £38,200.

www.rolex.com

www.patek.com

Gold Rush Azzy Asghar’s selection of dazzling gold timepieces

Hublot

Christopher Ward

Fabergé

Aerofusion King Gold bracelet featuring a satin-finished and polished 18-karat King Gold bracelet with a sapphire dial, £40,000.

C5 Malvern 5 95 watch with an ultra-thin rose gold case with a black leather strap, £595.

Visionnaire DTZ Gallivanter watch with a satin-finished dial encased in an 18-karat yellow gold and titanium case, £26,880.

www.hublot.com

54 STOKE PARK

www.christopherward.co.uk

www.faberge.com

Harry Winston

Breitling

Piaget

Premier 31mm watch with a white mother of pearl dial encased in a rose gold bracelet with brilliant cut diamonds, POA.

Navitimer 8 B01 Chronograph 43 in 18-karat red gold with a bronze dial and an alligator strap, £15,980.

Piaget Limelight Gala watch featuring a rose gold Milanese bracelet with a diamond set rose gold case, £32,880.

www.harrywinston.com

www.breitling.com

www.piaget.com

Bulgari Women’s Serpenti watch in rose gold, with an interchangeable chain bracelet and black lacquered dial, £13,700.

www.bulgari.com

Boodles Raindance watch featuring diamonds and mother of pearl set in 18-carat rose gold, £30,000.

www.boodles.com

STOKE PARK 55

Childs Play We spend 10 minutes with the very busy Claire Adams who runs our fabulous Kids Club, Tinies

1. Can you tell us more about Tinies?

Tinies is the UK’s leading childcare company. Family owned and managed, we’ve been looking after children for over 40 years. We pride ourselves on the caring nature of our service and are renowned for the quality of the child carers we provide. Tinies runs a number of kids clubs, as well as dedicated local day nurseries, permanent crèches, and mobile wedding crèches across the UK in various health clubs, hotels, private organisations and Ikea furniture stores. Tinies Kids Clubs always have a fantastic range of activities planned, and we’re constantly striving to develop our children’s programme. 2. What activities do you offer at Stoke Park?

Each Tinies setting varies in both its activities and routines as play and activities are based around the age group being cared for and the reasons why care is taking place. At Stoke Park, we offer qualified

and experienced staff that can care for your children and ensure that their daily needs are met. We have a range of toys and equipment that is interchangeable to stimulate all ages. The Kids Club looks different every day and we ensure that activities are kept varied. We have a small soft play area that can be adapted to suit sitting babies to the adventurous climbing toddler, who wants to pretend to sail a pirate ship to sea. We have an outside area to utilise when the weather permits and an abundance of arts, crafts and messy play. Our activities are planned around seasonal themes such as Halloween, fireworks, religious festivals and, of course, Christmas! Giving a little build up to all those festive occasions that children look forward to. On New Year’s Eve we are excited to be holding a Children’s New Year’s Eve Party with a disco, party games and a big countdown balloon drop. As an exciting addition to our usual opening hours, we aim to

“

Our staff are experienced and hold a wealth of knowledge in adapting the planned activities to suit any age...

”

offer regular movie nights held on various nights from 6-8pm so that children can be dropped off at the Kids Club to enjoy a chilled out film on our huge bean bags with a box of popcorn in hand, whilst parents have a quiet meal or drink at the bar. The Kids Club is also available for private hire for corporate family fun days, weddings and children’s parties, if you are looking for a venue for your little ones special celebration. 3. Do you need to pre-book a spot?

Yes, booking is recommended in order to guarantee your child’s place; however we can accommodate last minute bookings and walkins on occasion. Our current opening hours are Monday-Friday 9.15-12.45pm and Saturday and Sunday 9-12.45pm. We will be opening during the Christmas week from 27th December to the 6th of January in the afternoons also from 1.30-5pm. 4. How do you keep the children entertained especially with the variance in age?

We will always cater for the age range that we have attending for that session. Our staff are experienced and hold a wealth of knowledge in adapting the planned activities to suit any age and can encourage different learning opportunities and fun focused around each age attending. For example, Playdough can be experienced with any age with the younger children being supervised to experience the textures and handling basic shape cutters and toys to squish through their fingers and into the playdough. The older children can get involved by making the playdough themselves and experimenting with different ingredients like glitter, corn starch, mixing colours and using varying quantities of each ingredient to get different textures. In the New Year, we hope to have some exciting workshops planned during the school holidays for the older children to come and spend some time with us. Keep your eyes peeled for slime making, cooking and science workshops.

Members or hotel guests can book their children into the kids club with hotel reception, reservations or spa reception. They can also book directly with the kids club during kids club hours by emailing spkidsclub@tinies.com or calling the kids club direct number on 01753 717186. For new members or existing members who have not yet used the Kids Club facility, Tinies are offering a free child’s 1 hour session to be booked in advance during Mon-Thurs.

For 100 years Maltmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Green has been providing a high-class educaï¿½on for young girls, preparing them for future challenges through a relevant and innovaï¿½ve approach, supported by a foundaï¿½on of tradiï¿½onal values. Though non-selecï¿½ve, the School has shown ï¿½me and again how it empowers girls to achieve places at top Grammar and Independent Senior schools. A Maltmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s girl truly gets a foundaï¿½on for life. STAY & PLAY (1-3yrs): 26 January 2019 | OPEN MORNING: 8 February 2019 www.maltmansgreen.com | oï¬&#x192;ce@maltmansgreen.com | 01753 883022

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To book To book a a tour, tour, visit visit www.gayhurstschool.co.uk/visit-us www.gayhurstschool.co.uk/visit-us or or call call 01753 01753 882690 882690 To To book book a a tour, tour, visit visit www.gayhurstschool.co.uk/visit-us www.gayhurstschool.co.uk/visit-us or or call call 01753 01753 882690 882690 The only Co-educational Independent School in Gerrards Cross for Girls and Boys aged 3 to 11 The The The The The

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A year in the life of… a grieving family

January 2018 My partner passed away today. He called me to say that he was running a few minutes late as something needed to be finished off at his own business and that he would meet me and our daughters for some supper at our favourite restaurant. We said ‘I love you’ and he said to give the girls a kiss. But he never made it. He died in a car crash on his way to meet us. When we met, we knew straight away that we were meant for each other. We always intended to get married and make our relationship ‘official’ but we never got round to it. When he turned 50 we started talking about making a will, but we were so busy with work and raising a family, there never seemed to be a good time. And now he’s gone. We are completely devastated.

March 2018 My partner’s business has gone under, as all his clients have had to go elsewhere. But my daughters and I need money and I’m shocked that I don’t have automatic entitlement to his business bank account even though we were in a ‘common law’ marriage and raised a family together. The process to access this is now so convoluted and lengthy that I don’t have the headspace for it. It’s looking like it will take much longer to deal with than if we had been married or had a will in place.

April 2018 Another month brings another hurdle. As we never got married, the intestacy rules say that our children automatically inherit my partner’s estate including our home, but as they are under 18, they

are not eligible to apply for a grant of administration. Therefore, I have to apply to the courts to deal with the estate. But there’s a huge problem. I have to sue my own children to access it, which means that they have to have their own legal representation. Although I’m doing it for us, it feels a little sickening. The court costs are eye watering too.

June 2018 I’ve now found out that because we were unmarried and the estate is over the inheritance tax threshold of £325,000, I’ve got to pay a tax liability. If we had been married anything which I inherited would have been exempt from inheritance tax.

December 2018 Everything is crumbling down around us. Although I now have a grant of representation to deal with the estate, I’m ashamed to say that as we didn’t have life insurance, the inheritance tax I owe has to be paid by selling our home. It was one of the things that the girls relied on to be consistent when everything else was falling apart. They’re so worried that all of their memories of their dad are going to disappear as soon as the house is sold. I can’t help thinking that we’ve failed them. I just wish my partner and I had planned ahead.

There are many families who may not realise the implications of not planning for the future. You can speak to Sharon Heselton or a member of the wills, trusts and probate team by calling 01753 279030 or emailing privateclient@bpcollins.co.uk. www.bpcollins.co.uk

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Extremely Sporting An exclusive invitation to play the most addictive game around. Beginners, you have been warned.

o sport is more glamorous than polo. It’s a heady combination of Steve McQueen’s ‘Thomas Crowne Affair’ cool and Jilly Cooper – style fun. Its appeal is wider than you think and more dashing for it. Nestled in 72 stunning, laser-measured acres of baize green countryside, Emsworth Polo Grounds is a stone’s throw from Windsor and a mere 40 minutes from central London. This imperial but not imperious setting is the base of Four Quarters Polo Emsworth’s amazing facilities and provides an authentic introduction to the sport and the opportunity to see behind the scenes of a successful polo organisation. Emsworth’s appeal springs from the sheer quality of the facilities, the scope of its utility and the ultimate privacy of it all. The grounds are ideal for truly exclusive corporate hospitality right through to very private celebrations – all of which can include a ‘learn to play polo’ experience. To every sense, Emsworth offers incredible possibilities for bespoke events, along with space for those whose imaginations are as large as their ambitions. While there are many amazing clubs throughout the UK offering spectacular polo events, we differ from the norm in that we are a privately owned, private hire venue. Ultimately this is an invitation to come hang out, enjoy our wonderful location and, most importantly, get to grips with this exhilarating game, meeting those who play and have a passion for polo. Polo is thought to be the oldest ball sport and possibly the oldest team sport in the world, with a tournament recorded back in 600BC. It has been played in the UK since the mid-19th century, quickly

Photo Credit: Abby Hancock The Art of Polo

becoming established as a favoured pastime of the rich and sport of princes, if not kings. Today, Berkshire is considered the heart of British polo. Emsworth’s unique ‘Learn to Play’ experience is available yearround and is suitable for team building as well as individuals. This is a hugely enjoyable introduction to the sport, a real hands-on experience. Our fully accredited instructors provide the skills and confidence to enable you to compete in a polo match, schooling you in the three fundamentals: riding, hitting and rules. The team consists of professionals who have played at the highest levels, bringing not only a wealth of knowledge, but also some interesting tales to boot. Even those without any riding experience, can enjoy Polo’s exhilarating thrills. Our aim is to give people an opportunity to come and really see what this wonderful sport, and those who play it, are all about. Polo delivers huge excitement and thrills, but it also a very sociable activity… An invitation to Emsworth is not unlike an invitation to come hang out with friends. emsworthpologrounds.com Stoke Park is delighted to be working with Emsworth Polo Grounds to offer our guests and clients a fabulous off-site activity when hosting an event with us. For more information please contact our Events Team on 01753 71 71 71 or email sales@stokepark.com

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SIMON SAYS! We shopped ‘til we dropped in South Florida

here’s really no point in denying it – sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and face the facts. So here it goes – my name is Christina Raptis and I am a shopaholic! And just in case it isn’t obvious – I’m extremely happy to admit it to the point of bragging. I’m not just a shopaholic but I’d like to think somewhat of an expert at it. And thus, when Simon Shopping Destinations came asking us to review some of their malls in Southern Florida – well as you know – we have to do what ‘Simon Says’! We flew into Fort Lauderdale International Airport which is so much more civilised and less hectic than Miami. Once we had navigated US Immigration we were en route to the glorious Conrad Hotel. This towering South Florida beachfront resort sits right on the main strip and offers spacious suites, exquisite dining, and a luxurious award-winning spa – breathtaking views of the beach and Atlantic Ocean are complimentary! The hotel was the perfect base for our first shopping excursion to the only mall in the USA that has all of the leading stores under one roof – Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue – the Town Centre at Boca Raton – it was all I could do to control myself. Shopping in the USA is an experience like no other, and Simon Shopping Destinations have the largest collection of shopping destinations in the United States, with over 100 Simon Malls, Premium Outlets and The Mills offering the ideal mix of renowned brand icons in an unparalleled setting with a host of retail and dining options available.

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The Town Center at Boca Raton is one of South Florida’s top luxury shopping destinations featuring a mix of upscale and elite specialty shops and is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation – adding even more shops! After shopping ‘til we dropped it was time to see the artistic side of Fort Lauderdale. We took a guided tour through the City of Hollywood to learn about The Downtown Hollywood Mural Project – a collection of curated outdoor murals by local, national and internationally recognised artists. The Mural Project’s goal is to curate contemporary outdoor murals at key locations in Downtown Hollywood in an effort to enhance and enrich the existing cultural fabric of the community. After our stroll admiring all the creative murals it was time to enjoy an authentic Italian dining experience at Louie Bossi Las Olas – we sat in their lovely garden and sipped cocktails and enjoyed fantastic pastas and original Italian fayre. Our itinerary was packed full of dinners, shopping, art, and yet more shopping! A further art excursion led us to the Frank Stella art exhibition titled Experiment and Change at the NSU Museum of Art. This was a unique exhibition encompassing Stella’s work throughout his lifetime with a mix of mediums, from sculptures to paint. The exhibition is breathtaking and showcases some of his finest pieces. Known as the ‘Venice of America’, there is no better way to cruise around Fort Lauderdale than by water taxi. We enjoyed a ride around the waterways taking in the beautiful surroundings and million-dollar waterfront properties... stopping for dinner at waterfront restaurant Shooters – piña coladas and tapas – a perfect break! The next morning we left bright and early for another day of you guessed it... shopping! Our next target was Sawgrass Mills – the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in the US. Featuring more than 350 stores, including outlets from Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ralph Lauren, we were spoilt for choice. For more luxury-brand outlet shopping, The Colonnade Outlets offer 70 exclusive outlets not found anywhere else in South Florida, including Burberry, Diane von Furstenberg, GUCCI, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Versace. As we’re mentioned in the same breath as the world’s most luxurious magazines (wink!) – we were kindly invited into the very VIP area where select shoppers can escape from the hustle and bustle and relax in lavish surroundings, enjoy some refreshments and even have a personal shopper take care of all your needs. Very epicurean, very fabulous and tres chic indeed!

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After a shopping-filled morning we sadly had to say goodbye to Sawgrass Mills and Fort Lauderdale as it was time to move on quite swiftly to our next destination – Miami – via Brightline. This is Florida’s new hospitality-focused express intercity passenger rail service which connects West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. It opened with a launch of eight northbound and eight southbound trips per day. Imagine some chic and fabulous boutique hotel running a train line and you get the picture – fabulous service, cool relaxing waiting areas and trains that run very efficiently! In just thirty minutes we arrived in Miami and checked into Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Situated right in the heart of South Beach, the imposing art deco hotel is the perfect location to explore the area from. Florida and especially Miami has a rich tradition of fabulous seafood so we headed to Loews’ signature restaurant Lure Fishbar – we were definitely not disappointed. I woke in the morning ready for another round of shopping and we headed to Dadeland Mall, Miami’s original and most iconic shopping centre, and home to Florida’s largest Macy’s. Spanning over 1.4 million square-feet, the shopping center features more than 185

retail stores and restaurants. A revamped Fashion Wing with 102,000 square-feet of retail space houses all the leading luxury brands. The evening was spent enjoying Miami’s nightlife with a visit to Cibo Wine Bar, the newest and largest Italian eatery in all of South Beach. Boasting 3,500 bottles of wine in a soaring two-story awardwinning wine room equipped with a harnessed wine angel to retrieve your favourite bottle whilst performing acrobatics is something not to be missed. A Cirque du Soleil meets Oddbins if you will! The next hotspot not to be missed is newly-opened Chotto Matte which specialises in Nikkei cuisine – a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavours. The interior décor blends the artistic energy of underground Tokyo and modern sophistication of London’s Soho. The 219-seat restaurant and bar features lush, hanging gardens and a large floating ceiling which delivers year-round al fresco dining. The flavours in their creative ceviche dishes were amazing and some of the best I’d ever had – pure Instragram magic on a plate but equally as wonderful on your palate. All were washed down with fabulous cocktails from their very skilled barmen. The original Wynwood Mural Tour is a must for art lovers. This formerly run-down area of Miami has been transformed into a soho style chic neighbourhood for arts and crafts and a day spent strolling the area looking at works from international artists is escapism from Miami hustle at its best. Another up-and-coming area is the Miami Design District – an uber-cool neighbourhood dedicated to innovative fashion, design, architecture and dining experiences. Tenants include the cream of international luxury brands such as; Cartier, Celine, Christian Louboutin, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Prada and more. Located in the centre of the Miami Design District and the perfect spot for lunch is international superstars Emilio & Gloria Estefan’s Estefan Kitchen, a new fine-dining Cuban restaurant offering reimagined versions of traditional Estefan family recipes, making for a one-ofa-kind dining experience. After all the art, culture and, of course, shopping, our trip exploring Fort Lauderdale and Miami sadly had come to an end. The savings and value in American shopping malls almost pays for the trip in itself ! We’re just waiting until Simon Says “do it again”. www.simon.com www.conradfortlauderdale.com DowntownHollywoodMuralProject.org FloridasHollywood.org www.louiebossi.com www.watertaxi.com www.shooterswaterfront.com www.gobrightline.com

www.loewshotels.com/miami-beach www.dadelandmall.com www.chotto-matte.com/miami www.MiamisBestGraffitiGuide.com www.dacra.com www.estefankitchen.com www.sunny.org www.miamiandbeaches.com

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TRAVEL TALES

From one continent to another Azzy Asghar travels the globe in search of the hottest hotel openings for the discerning traveller

The Ritz-Carlton Scottsdale, USA Located in Arizona’s most affluent and desirable area, the town of Paradise Valley, The Ritz-Carlton Scottsdale will bring together a masterfully-crafted community of luxury villas within the gates of what will soon become the pinnacle of sophisticated, full-service resort living. Just a few steps away, this collection of residences is intimately connected with an emerging icon of luxury, The Palmeraie – the soon-to-be number one shopping destination in America. The Murray, Hong Kong

www.experiencescottsdale.com

Located in the heart of Hong Kong, The Murray is the city’s newest, sustainably designed, luxury iconic landmark hotel. This contemporary urban sanctuary features 336 sophisticated spacious suites and guestrooms across 25 storeys and five elegant dining destinations including a rooftop restaurant and bar with panoramic views of the city, Hong Kong Park and Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens. www.niccolohotels.com

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W Xi’an, China

Lon Retreat, Australia Located in Point Lonsdale, on over 200 acres of rural and conservation land in the Bellarine Peninsula sits the new adults-only hotel Lon Retreat. The hotel features seven luxurious suites each individually designed with its own unique character and connection to the ocean, lakes and surrounding farmland. Each suite is a personal sanctuary, inspired by its natural surroundings combining earthy tones with contemporary luxury. The hotel is also home to Lon Spa, a small and exclusive spa using water from natural mineral springs running beneath the property – ideal for those looking for a tranquil and relaxing escape.

The largest W to open in Asia Pacific is adding a new beat to the pulse of one of the oldest cities in China. Known to many as “the birthplace of Chinese civilisation,” Xi’an has long been regarded as one of the most culturally and historically rich destinations of the world, and is a perfect location for W’s newest flagship property, with its eclectic mix of iconic art, design, entertainment and cuisine. www.whotels.com/xian

www.lonretreat.com.au

Grandes Alpes, Courchevel 1850, France Overlooking snow-capped mountains and pristine slopes in the heart of Courchevel with direct ski-in and ski-out access, Grandes Alpes provides a cosy chalet experience. Offering 30 guest rooms that can be arranged into nine three and four-bed apartments – each feature spacious living rooms, dining rooms, personal wine cellars, fully equipped kitchens and private balconies overlooking the slopes. Ahead of the upcoming ski season, the chalet has partnered with luxury award-winning ski brand, Foil Skis, to develop signature 14-karat gold Grandes Alpes skis available exclusively for hotel guests making for a truly luxurious winter escape. www.grandesalpes.com

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The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah, Maldives Set on the one of the country’s most beautiful atolls – Gaafu Alifu Atoll, all of Dhigurah’s 173 spacious beach and water villas overlook turquoise waters and each one has its own private pool. Each room blends the beauty of traditional Maldivian architecture with contemporary flair and are crafted using the finest local materials. Surrounded by a beautiful, untouched reef with more than 250 species of coral and 1,200 species of marine life including manta rays, dolphins and green turtles, Dhigurah is a must-visit for snorkel and dive enthusiasts. www.cenizaro.com/theresidence

Silversands, Grenada Changing the face of Grenadian hospitality and design, this chic resort comprises of 43 suites and nine residential villas and is also home to the longest pool in the Caribbean, the Silversands Spa, two diverse restaurants and an authentic cigar and rum bar. Located on the pristine Grand Anse Beach, the resort entices its guests to explore the unspoiled island peppered with pristine white sand beaches, sparkling waterfalls, lush rainforests, and vibrant food culture. www.silversandsgrenada.com

Ikos Aria, Greece Situated on the southwest coast of Kos, Ikos Aria features 373 elegantly designed rooms, all with panoramic views across the Aegean Sea. Bringing an elevated and luxury dimension to all-inclusive offerings on the popular Dodecanese Island, guests will be spoiled with signature à la carte menus curated by Michelin-starred chefs, private pools measuring up to an impressive 40 square metres, complimentary kids clubs and an innovative ‘Dine Out’ offering allowing guests to head out to carefully selected, local restaurants across Kos Island and dine there as part of their all-inclusive stay. www.ikos-aria.com

Nobu Hotel Miami Beach, USA A food lover’s paradise set in a stylish retreat, Nobu Hotel Miami Beach is bursting with the dynamic combination of Japanese refinement and upscale Miami liveliness. The 206 guest suites all exude a light and airy feel, each designed with relaxation and comfort in mind. An ideal destination for foodies, it is home to some of the best eateries in the area including Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s eponymous restaurant where guests can try some of the world’s best Japanese in one of Miami’s most sought-after tables. www.nobuhotelmiamibeach.com

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Turkish Delight Christina Raptis is in Southern Turkey and visits the breathtaking D Maris Bay resort

urkey is firmly at the top when it comes to compiling my list of favourite travel destinations in the world. The mix of East and West is as alluring as the country’s stunning natural beauty and numerous archaeological sites. To complement the hustle and bustle of life in vibrant Istanbul, there are many idyllic escapes, especially on the south coast, where you can relax and unwind. After a short four hour flight we were touching down in Dalaman. The journey to D Maris Bay is via a winding road nestled by luscious greenery to the secluded mountain top where the resort majestically sits. Those with a penchant for travelling in style could opt for a private helicopter which lands on the resort within 30 minutes! No matter how you get there – it is heaven on earth! Nestled in the hills of the Datça Peninsula, D Maris Bay is a peaceful oasis where the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas converge, a remote enclave that guarantees complete seclusion and tranquillity. This diverse setting is like no other – surrounded by volcanic mountain ranges, verdant pine forests and countless small islands it is like nothing you could ever imagine. Part of the Mytha Hotel Anthology, a collection of unique properties which are linked together by the eternal spirit of the Mediterranean, D Maris Bay encompasses and exudes all that the Mediterranean has to offer.

Upon entering the hotel lobby an endless view of the sea and surrounding mountains takes your breath away. The lobby itself is also truly impressive, decorated in a luxurious contemporary décor showcasing modern art and staffed by an enthusiastic and friendly team waiting to greet you. Each room offers a private sanctuary amongst contemporary décor but the piece de resistance is the Infiniti-esque bathtub with panoramic views of the endless sea and surrounding mountainside. After eyeing the turquoise water from the moment we arrived it was about time to head down to the beach – connected by a lovely wooden funicular or you can choose the active option and take a 196 step descent. As Epicureans we were spoilt for choice when it came to choosing where to dine as the resort offers five amazing restaurants. For lunch, there’s nothing better than Rüya – serving traditional Anatolian dishes and Turkish mezes, it was the perfect spot to admire the glistening blue sea and experience authentic Turkish cuisine. Award-winning contemporary Japanese restaurant, Zuma was the perfect late night dining spot as unlike all the other beachfront restaurants it is located on a terrace overlooking the beautiful bay below. We enjoyed fresh sashimi and sushi, Zuma staples, as well as a mixture of delicious izakaya style dishes and, of course, their signature dish, miso-glazed black cod. Famed for his ‘Salt bae’ viral video, Nusret’s eponymous restaurant Nusr-Et serves exceptional dry-aged steaks in a relaxed atmosphere. Each course is presented with a tableside-show of skilled knife work and their inventive dishes like blowtorched steak sushi are not to miss. Located on the beachfront, La Guerite, with sister restaurants in Cannes and St Barts, offers an exceptional twist on Mediterranean cuisine. We were spoilt for choice and enjoyed fresh watermelon and feta salad, traditional Turkish mezze and fresh seafood all accompanied by a gorgeous view of the crystal blue sea and loud beats from an energetic DJ. For an evening of traditional Greek music and a selection of authentic Greek dishes with a focus on fresh seafood head to Manos restaurant. We enjoyed the catch of the day along with authentic Greek salad, fresh octopus and, of course, a few glasses of ouzo! After indulging in all the epicurean eateries we were in need for a workout session and D Maris Bay’s Spa and Gym was the perfect place to burn off some of the calories we had consumed. The Bodyism Gym offers indoor and outdoor fitness spaces and we were lucky to meet personal trainer Jamie (who was amazing!). He showed us a range of personalised exercises to help improve our training regimes without the use of gym equipment – perfect for busy travellers like us.

Apart from all the gastronomic delights the true highlight of the resort are the five exceptionally beautiful beaches. Each private and secluded, you can only reach them by the resorts private boat service, like a water taxi, which whisks you away from one beach to the other. My favourite of them all (if I had to choose!) was Silence Beach. Secluded within a small cove, the waters are turquoise blue and as clear as glass and as the name suggests it is the perfect spot for some must needed R&R. It’s truly nothing short from paradise. Once you’ve had enough relaxation on the beach why not explore the waters. The resort offers numerous water sport facilities, from water skiing to wakeboarding, windsurfing and catamaran sailing, as well as a certified dive centre. Kayak tours, paddle boarding and yachts are also available to explore the hidden coves and neighbouring Greek islands; Symi is just 25 minutes away. Aside from the natural beauty and incredible décor, it was the Turkish people and the staff’s exemplary service and truly warm welcome that made my visit even more memorable! I’m not sure if it’s the ‘done thing’ to have the same item on a bucket list twice – but if it’s accepted D-Maris would be there! D Maris Bay Datca Yolu Hisaronu Mevkii P.O. Box 119 48700 Marmaris | Mugla Turkey www.mythahotels.com

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have a dear friend named Thierry who sounds like Sacha Distel and is better looking than Emmanuel Macron! Couple with this his wavy light-brown hair and bright blue eyes and you could be forgiven for thinking he was born in downtown St Tropez! But alas, he was born and raised in the even more exotically beautiful Mauritius and has spent almost two decades extolling the islands endless virtues to me. Well, it took a while but I finally listened and very recently I was fortunate enough to be invited to visit the Maradiva Villas Resort and Spa, a five-star oasis of tranquillity on an island paradise, and discover its natural beauty for myself. The resort was recently named Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Villa Resort at the 2018 World Travel Awards. Mauritius is an Indian Ocean

island nation, renowned for its turquoise waters, lagoons and reefs. The mountainous interior includes Black River Gorges National Park which boasts some of nature’s most verdant rainforests, cascading waterfalls and breath-taking hiking trails for the more adventurous. Me, I was headed straight for the golden beaches that were 10 metres away from my very own, very private villa – thank you Maradiva! Located east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is a small African island nation with a population of just over 1 million residents, which, believe it or not makes it the most populous nation on the continent! The island captures the essence of East meets West. Nowhere is this more evident than in their food and culture which are both heavily influenced by Indian and French cultures.

Azzy Asghar enjoys a slice of heaven on earth – or actually in the Indian Ocean

The Maradiva resort is a byword for ultimate luxury. Upon landing at Mauritius airport we were greeted by a chauffeur and a gleaming Rolls-Royce which was to whisk us to our island escape. The scenic drive to the resort allowed us to get a preview of the stunning beaches, bright turquoise waters and incredible green landscapes that we would be admiring all week. Upon arrival at Maradiva, the friendly welcoming staff offered freshly squeezed juice and scented cold towels to refresh ourselves after a long day of travelling. After check-in we were taken by golf cart to our Luxury Villa. All of the villas are secluded and surrounded by their own tropical gardens – each is simply breathtaking. Between the open air concept, private pool and neutral colour palettes, each villa at Maradiva provides guests with their own personal, luxurious haven within the idyllic resort. Using design influences by Hermès, the natural elegance of the villas is felt throughout. Neutral shades of beige, grey, and orange beautifully compliment the lush green landscapes along the perimeter. Whether you want to sprawl out on a sunbed next to your private pool, take an outdoor garden shower or a short walk to the beach, there are endless options for relaxation. The world-class dining options that Maradiva has to offer made for a truly epicurean culinary experience during our stay. Quality and freshness are not only a priority at the Maradiva, each restaurant gets their produce from the on-site mini organic farm and fresh food deliveries weekly. Our first night at Maradiva was spent enjoying an exquisite Indian dinner at Cilantro. With its romantic design, Cilantro serves the finest of modern Indian cuisine. Whether you would like to enjoy dinner, appetizers beforehand or after dinner drinks,

Cilantro’s lounge and dining room allows guests to indulge at all phases of their evening. The resort offers you the chance to just enjoy nature and relax or to be as active as you desire. For those looking for a rush of adrenaline in the midst of their relaxing week there are endless complimentary resort activities including; water-skiing, windsurfing and snorkelling, Maradiva also helps to coordinate activities not affiliated with the resort. For the real thrill seeker, Seakarting is an absolute must try – a cross between a jet ski and a mini speed boat – the Seakarts can be rented by hour or for a half day tour. Enjoy the array of Mauritius wildlife and breath-taking coastal views while zooming at speeds up to 70 km/hr. For our second adventurous excursion, we ventured a bit deeper, 35 metres to be exact, for a submarine tour. Get a glimpse into life under the sea in Mauritius, with one-of-a-kind views of coral reefs, ocean wildlife and maybe even a shipwreck! For those looking for a unique rather than a traditional table service option – the resort offers a more interactive dining experience with their Teppan restaurant. Prepared and served Teppanyaki style (hence the fitting title) by renowned Mauritian Chef Kelly, enjoy delectable Japanese, Thai and Indo-Chinese food in a social and convivial atmosphere. Between the excellent service, delicious food, breathtaking villas and once in a lifetime experience, the Maradiva Villas Resort and Spa should be at the top of your travel bucket list. It is now on mine for a return visit – and what makes it absolutely so is the people – the Mauritians are truly welcoming and gentle souls who genuinely enjoy service and take pride in showing you their beautiful island – touché Thierry! www.maradiva.com

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BarcelonaBreak A round-up of three NH Collection hotels in Spain’s art and architecture capital

Hotel NH Collection Barcelona Pódium

NH Collection Gran Hotel Calderón

Hotel NH Collection Barcelona Pódium he restored 19th-century building of the NH Collection Barcelona Pódium captures the essence of authentic Barcelona while seamlessly fusing both style and elegance. While the hotel is located in the heart of the city, the neighbouring area is peaceful and provides guests with the utmost enjoyment and relaxation. Upon arrival, the inviting lobby greeted us with friendly staff and sophisticated décor. Each staff member I came across throughout the duration of my stay was personable, professional and genuinely looking to enhance my experience at the Barcelona Pódium. Each of the 140 rooms throughout the hotel’s five floors are tastefully decorated with warm, soothing colours and stylish hardwood floors. Guests can enjoy unique views of the Barcelona city streets no matter which room they are in. One of the many unique characteristics of the Barcelona Pódium was the accessibility that we had to a variety of Barcelona’s notable attractions. Located minutes away from Barcelona’s main shopping and cultural district; Plaza de Cataluña, the Arc de Triomf, Parc de la Ciudadela, Las Ramblas and much more, the location of the Barcelona Pódium is truly unbeatable. After a packed day of exploring, we enjoyed unwinding with a cocktail at the hotel’s rooftop pool terrace and bar. With sweeping views of the city, poolside service, comfortable, contemporary lounge

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seating and colourful murals and décor, the atmosphere of the rooftop is the perfect way to reset before a fun night out. The Barcelona Pódium played a vital role in making our time in Barcelona a positive and unforgettable experience. Between its excellent service, facilities and the prime location, this hotel is a true gem. NH Collection Gran Hotel Calderón f you are looking for a more modernised accommodation during your Barcelona stay, then look no further. Located in the middle of the Eixample district of Barcelona, the NH Collection Gran Hotel Calderón provides the perfect touch of elegance and modernity that a guest would be longing for in such a historic city. Upon arrival, the bright and modern lobby makes you feel as if you have entered a lounge. With plenty of comfortable seating options, we felt welcomed to sit back and relax before we even got into our own rooms. Although the hotel houses a total of 255 gorgeous guest rooms amongst its 11 floors, it still succeeds to emulate the feeling of a boutique hotel as the staff works earnestly to provide service that makes each guest feel as if they are the only one. Each guestroom is beautifully decorated with calming neutral tones, hardwood floors, pops of colour and gorgeous flower

arrangements. Whether you are located higher up with panoramic city views or overlooking the Rambla de Catalunya, each room provides a spectacular one of a kind view. With a living wall, neutral tones and hints of modern décor, the rooftop pool and terrace is the perfect spot for anyone looking to relax and unwind. The glass barriers that surround the perimeter of the rooftop make it effortless to get a 360° panoramic view of the city, whether you are taking a dip in the pool or sunbathing on one of the comfortable lounge chairs. Looking for a memorable start to your night out? Then the ELEVEN BCN Rooftop Bar and Terrace is the perfect spot. Fittingly located on the 11th floor, the atmosphere comes alive as guests can sip world class cocktails while admiring the striking sunset that the bar is lucky enough to witness nightly. Between the Gran Hotel Calderón’s exquisite facilities and its easy accessibility to many different landmarks around the city, there is truly an abundance of things to do. Whether you want to take a short walk to Barcelona’s premier luxury shopping street, Passeig de Grácia, visit world renowned buildings or landmarks such as La Sagrada Familia and the Picasso Museum, there is something nearby that caters to every desire, which makes the Gran Hotel Calderón the perfect hotel for your Barcelona getaway.

NH Collection Barcelona Constanza

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Gran Hotel Calderón has exquisite facilities and offers easy accessibility to many different landmarks around the city...

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NH Collection Barcelona Constanza hether you are traveling for business, pleasure, or anything in between, the NH Collection Barcelona Constanza’s versatility will help you enjoy your time in Barcelona with ease. Located in the heart of Barcelona’s business district with easy accessibility to the city centre, the Barcelona Constanza is the perfect hub for both business people and vacationers. The urban and modern vibe that the Barcelona Constanza gives off is reflected in every design aspect of the hotel. The building, which is an avant garde creation, was designed by famous Spanish architect Rafael Moneo. While the hotel is filled with modern furniture and décor, it still provides guests with the comfort that they long for. The rooms, which feature high design furnishings, polished wood floors and neutral colour schemes, are both inviting and serene. After a comfortable night’s rest, we enjoyed heading down to the daily breakfast buffet, which is freshly prepared each morning. Consisting of fresh fruit, cold cuts, pastries, cheeses and more, this buffet was a perfect start to an action packed day. The Barcelona Constanza’s convenient location provides access to a variety of shopping and city attractions. Located next to the Avenida Diagonal, the L’illa shopping centre and only a short drive to the city centre, the options for what to do are endless. After a long day in meetings or exploring the city, the spa was the perfect place to unwind and refresh. With a panoramic window, sky light, and a slate grey colour scheme throughout, the stunning simplicity of the spa makes a guest feel at peace from the minute they walk in. This desirable escape includes amenities such as a jacuzzi, steam bath and compact gym. While the Barcelona Constanza has access to a variety of restaurants in its neighbouring area, their in-house restaurant named Don Giovanni is a must-try. Having won one Repsol Sun, this restaurant serves some of the most exquisite Italian food in Barcelona. After exploring Barcelona and each NH Collection hotel, whether you are looking to be right in the middle of the action of bustling Barcelona or rather be a bit further away in the business hub, the NH Collection group offers a luxurious stay suited to your every desire.

www.nh-collection.com

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Dining with the Stars And Beyond Norah Bradford’s selection of 10 must-experience eateries for your next visit to Los Angeles, or beyond

LOS ANGELES

Culina at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills has long been regarded as among the best hotels in Los Angeles. Culina was named one of LA’s best by Esquire magazine and one of the greatest restaurants for outdoor dining by Zagat. Guests can enjoy hand crafted cocktails at Vinoteca at Culina, or select from an extensive selection of the world’s best wines.

The Ivy The Ivy in Los Angeles is like dining at the country cottage belonging to your hip, super-star, gourmand relative at the centre of the entertainment universe. Brunch dining recommendations include the Ivy Cobb Salad and Ricky’s Fried Chicken – in fact everything on the menu tastes great – after all, what meal would you not appreciate made by your favourite relative… www.theivyrestaurants.com

Tao Los Angeles TAO Los Angeles is an extravagant two-level space, complete with four private dining rooms and a large bar. A grand staircase connects TAO’s ground and lower level seating, creating the ultimate platform to see and be seen. As in New York, a 20-foot tall Quan Yin statue stands atop a koi pond; using 3D projection mapping technology, subtle animations bring this signature statue to life. www.taolosangeles.com

Craig’s Some restaurants transcend being a place to dine and become a place to simply be – Craig’s is one of them. One of the aims of anyone seeking to ‘make it’ in LA is to secure a table in the centre of Craig’s. One can probably take a seating location at Craig’s as a barometer reading of where a celebrity is at. Like Hollywood, Craig’s has something to please everyone, and of course, people watching. www.craigs.la

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AVRA Beverly Hills New York City’s famed, authentic Greek restaurant Avra Madison Estiatorio opened its first West Coast outpost, appropriately named: AVRA Beverly Hills. Located in the “Golden Triangle” of Beverly Hills, the restaurant is designed by award-winning, architecture and design firm, Rockwell Group, with fresh lemon trees, imported limestone and stone washed walls. The new eatery features traditional Greek cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood. www.avrabeverlyhills.com

THE WORLD BEYOND The City of Angels

The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong Dining at the first and flagship hotel The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is one of the greatest dining experiences of the world. Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Man Wah’s design is as celebrated as the menu. Visit for dinner and enjoy your meal against a backdrop of sparkling city lights or stop by at lunchtime for dim sum dishes that are the talk of the city. www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong

Kerridge’s Bar & Grill, Corinthia Hotel, London The debut London restaurant for Michelin star chef, Tom Kerridge with Head Chef Nick Beardshaw, offers a menu with Kerridge’s personal take on classic British cuisine. Try the fresh Cornish Crab Volau-vent with avocado, green apple and crab bisque or the Rib of Beef from The Butcher’s Tap with triple-cooked chips, bone marrow sauce and gherkin ketchup.

La Dame, Silversea The latest addition to the Silversea’s fleet, the Silver Muse, has eight restaurants of which the pinnacle dining experience is La Dame. Featuring a bespoke menu by top chefs, the restaurant is the highest expression of excellence of French dining on the fivestar Silversea cruise line. The gourmet restaurant is unsurpassed in their belief in standards of hospitality, personalised service and outstanding cuisine.

www.kerridgesbarandgrill.co.uk

Mahali Mzuri, Kenya Dine amongst the wild things at Sir Richard Branson’s exclusive safari hotel, Mahali Mzuri – a luxury 12 tent safari camp located in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy in the wider Maasai Mara ecosystem in Kenya. The cuisine is African inspired using locally sourced products and spices and service ranges from a BBQ in the bush to a champagne picnic to sundown cocktails while watching the magnificent beasts of the African plains. www.mahalimzuri.virgin.com

www.silversea.com

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas From dining in true Caribbean style and savoring classic Dominican Republic cuisine, to fresh seafood, pasta, steaks and sushi creations, Casa de Campo offers all of the best flavours from around the world. With six resort restaurants on the Inclusive Supplement and another 14 from which to choose, it’s hard to decide whether the exotic flavours or breathtaking settings are more unforgettable. Minitas Beach Club Restaurant offers an open-air dining experience for lunch and dinner just steps from Minitas Beach.

www.casadecampo.com.do

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elcome to the world of

Executive Coaching

Nick Downie catches up with Stoke Park’s fabulous Executive Coaches in Residence, Alli Spargo and Valerie Wark, to gain more of an insight into the importance of Executive Coaching and to hear their personal insight into what it is all about…

Tell me about your backgrounds and how did you each enter into the world of Executive Coaching? AS: I have had a fabulously rewarding career to date and have had the great pleasure of working with a plethora of different types of people, having started my early career working in sales and marketing within different organisations in different industry sectors. When I met my husband, I started working more locally with an international head-hunter, focusing on senior level FMCG recruitment. Through my work with the Nichols Consultancy, I became more involved with really talented people and the key requirements they needed to think about to get their role of choice; not just from a competency perspective but also from a behavioural perspective. When you are headhunting, you are looking for really specific people to fit key roles within a client organisation, both culturally as well as competency-wise, i.e. not just skills but personality as well. By doing lots of research into candidates and research into what makes the candidates tick, I became increasingly interested in behaviours and what makes human beings unique… I’m all about the people. I continue to be increasingly curious about what makes people tick, why people do what they do, what it takes for someone to be really content in their role and what about their individual behaviours may trip people up; when does a strength become a weakness? When I returned to work after having my children, I thought it was an ideal opportunity to dive into what really fascinates me and to give wings to my key motivator – making a difference to other people’s success and happiness. I spent 4.5 years working with a Spanish psychiatrist and

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cultural change guru working with blue chip organisations, supporting their leadership teams going through significant change. I supported this amazingly talented organisational architect by handling his business development and relationship building and began looking into the psychology behind change and what it takes to create really impactful behavioural change within organisations. It was after what felt like a fabulous “apprenticeship” at his side, that I decided I wanted to do more of the “doing”, rather than be the “support act,” so I enrolled with The Coaching Academy to train to be a Personal Performance Coach and set up my own business in 2011. Since that, time I have been honoured to be awarded International Executive Coach of the Year in 2017 and have completed a wealth of additional courses and more industry recognised coaching qualifications. VW: My two major passions are health and education; if you have these you have the potential for anything. My career started in healthcare; I became an NHS Chief Executive in the NHS, and led the international division of the NHS, travelling the world consulting on health care with my clinical colleagues, particularly in the developing world. After having children, I thought I might explore education and was fortunate to see an ad in the Guardian to go to Ashridge Business School and to work on why there weren’t more women in board rooms, particularly in health care. They wanted a woman who had board level experience, and I thought, “I have this, plus I’m a mother,” and decided to go for it.

Alli Spargo

I became a member of the faculty at Ashridge working primarily on the representation of women and other minority groups, which is a continuing concern within the UK. From that, I got involved in having conversations with women about why they weren’t even applying for jobs, let alone how they interviewed. From our action research, we realised that the people that were securing jobs were the people that we’d actually met face-to-face and had a conversation with. At that point I wasn’t trained as an executive coach, but I was intrigued by the power that conversation had in enabling an individual to 1- think yes they could compete, 2 – to compete well and 3 – to transition into some very senior roles in British life. The power of conversation led me to explore, what if I knew how to manage conversations in a more structured way. Then I could develop conversational patterns and processes that worked every time. With the support of Ashridge, I did my training and qualifications and moved into executive coaching and generic leadership development working with chief executives, top teams and high potentials. Six years later, I set up my own company, www.valeriewarkassociates.com, which offers Executive Coaching and tailored leadership development programmes. 50% of my work is in the private sector and the other 50% with senior leaders within government and civil service. I love the insights that working in both sectors provides and wrote Leadership PQ – How Political Intelligence sets Successful Leaders Apart, which was runner up for business book of the year. The focus was on how to become a world class leader, working across sectors to deliver better outcomes for business, government and society.

Many will ask, what is Executive Coaching? Is it life coaching? Could you give me an insight into what is Executive Coaching? AS: This is a question I get asked a lot – people typically ask “you do life coaching don’t you?” My response is always, “….Well whilst I’m actually an executive coach, you can’t take the ‘life’ out of coaching as you are dealing with human beings.” For me, an executive coach is someone who works with professional people on issues which impact their ability to perform at their optimum. An EC becomes a critical thinking partner, someone who is recruited typically when someone has something significantly impactful that that they want to sort out within their working life where they may not feel comfortable enough or able to speak to somebody else within their organisation about it. Once you get to a certain level within an organisation, it becomes increasingly difficult and possibly inappropriate to show any weakness, be it doubt, lack of confidence or any other felt sense which may be deemed inappropriate for someone at a senior level. The expectation is that at your level, you’re really great at your job, you’re confident, you have all the capacity to actually achieve what you need to achieve through your role, however you’re still a human being, and you still have those moments when you may have an issue with your self-belief, your inner narrative may be tripping you up and you could really benefit from working with someone who has no axe to grind, no investment in you being super human, a totally non-judgemental independent person to explore your thinking and challenges with. Even senior directors and board members can have this thing called imposter syndrome where they can hardly believe that they’ve got where they have got, and they may have days with low confidence, or need to perform at a major event when they are feeling really challenged. Having an executive coach is having the ears of someone who you can be really open and honest with, someone who can challenge and/or support you to explore what’s going on in those moments – this may sometimes be really impactful things to do with the business which they can’t discuss with their closest colleagues and/or families. An executive coach Valerie Wark would be expected to have an

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You are both Executive Coaches in Residence at Stoke Park? understanding of how business works without necessarily being an For our Members, there are so many different ways you can expert in the industry or area in which you operate; they are experts at help them – why should they give you call? coaching at a senior level. Executive coaching is a non-judgemental, AS: Reasons for contacting us are diverse – they may simply want non-assumptive relationship with somebody that you trust, that you some time to think, they may be finding themselves in a rut within can be truly open and honest with and share your concerns, whether their role, on a career break, having been made redundant, they may around competency or around behavioural performance issues. It’s have a team of people who are not working a strategic thinking partner; it is not someone well together, or have husbands or wives who who is there to tell you what to do – they help are struggling with their work, or graduate kids you come up with the answers for yourself; unsure as to what to do next… If you simply possibly sharing tools and techniques to For me, an executive coach is aren’t sure how we could help, and you’d like support your thinking. find out more, please do get in touch. It VW: Coaching is about improving someone who works with professional to would be our pleasure to have a chat. performance, and therefore it is not counselling. VW: I believe that if you’re a member Coaching is future focused and about achieving people on issues which impact their at Stoke Park, you’re seeking a quality an outcome, so its impact can be measured. You want to get a new job, did you get it? You ability to perform at their optimum. venue where you can take time out to relax, decompress and to have a chance to enjoy want to be an effective public speaker, are you yourself and think. Stoke Park is an amazing now a confident public speaker? It is good to place to take time out and we know from remain open to psychological practice in other personal experience and research that time sectors, there is always something new to learn out is critical for our overall performance and wellbeing. To have that can be transferred to your own world. I have worked with both available with your Stoke Park package the opportunity to work with the England Rugby and Cricket teams, as games are won and lost a personal coach, focused solely on you and questioning, challenging not just by physical and tactical capabilities, but as much by what’s and supporting your development makes for a truly holistic experience. going on in a players head, do they believe they can win? Do they feel For many, Christmas and New Year symbolise new beginnings, so ready? A common question is what do clients typically bring to their now may be the perfect moment for you to stop, think and prepare coaching sessions? As coaching is tailored to the specific needs of each for your better future. A series of one or two hour conversations over individual, there is no easy answer. However, common themes are a period of time is an investment, but the benefits of a great executive working on a career plan, securing a new job, transitioning well into a coaching relationship are truly second to none. new role, returning to work after a career break, being a motivational leader, developing a high performing team, a strategic leader working on building empathy or vice versa, personal confidence, developing a personal leadership brand or work/life balance. Leaders are To discover more about Executive Coaching please contact: generally so busy supporting others that they rarely take time out to Alli Spargo: check in with themselves, both in terms of their own performance M: 07753 450865 alli@allisonspargo.com and their mental and physical wellbeing. Having been a senior leader, Valerie Wark: I know from direct experience the support and impact that executive O: 01494 670509 M: 07780 671373 valeriewark@aol.com coaching delivers. Having someone to talk to who understands you, the demands of your role and what you want to achieve is not a luxury – it makes the difference for improving the experience of the leader and their entire organisation.

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Love All! Our Head Tennis Coach Marc Codling shares his tips for playing on clay and indoor courts

We are very fortunate at Stoke Park to have fantastic tennis facilities – with three different surfaces on offer. Like the Pro players on the ATP and WTA circuits who have to regularly change surface, a game at Stoke Park will conjure up different challenges according to which surface you pick!

Top 5 Clay 1) ‘Tough mind-set’ – Ready to rally/never give up! Clay courts are slow, so winning the point early on can be difficult so you have to be prepared to build the point up and be more patient before your glory moment comes! You may need to develop your cardiovascular capacity as you will need to expend more energy to compete for each point. 2) ‘Shape the ball’ – The bounce of the ball is higher on this surface so you will have to play more shots positioned behind the baseline. I would suggest you try to play shots with a nice rainbow shape using topspin if you can or higher balls to push your opponent back deep in the court. If you are further back on the court, try to play with more height over the net to ensure good depth and also time to recover. 3) ‘Drop shots’ – Use the occasional drop shot or short ball when you see your opponent far back as space in the short court becomes more available. But try to create depth or width first for this opportunity to arise. 4) ‘Make them move’ – Clay courts can be slippery and awkward to move on. Angles and shorter balls create potential for your opponent to be off balance. Use “ghosting in” when your opponent is off balance and out of position to win the point with an easy volley. 5) ‘Use your weapons’ – Try to use your weapons from the back of the court as you have more time to move around the ball. Try to move around your backhand and hit lots of forehands. Especially try to use the “inside out forehand” as this is hit to a right handers backhand giving you a potential opportunity to attack off a weaker ball.

Top 5 Indoor 1) ‘Dominate the point’ – Be proactive early on in the rally with first strike tennis! Usually the player who is playing more aggressive tennis will control the court indoors as it plays faster and with few complications. No wind, sun or high awkward bounces to distract your flow. You can dominate the point using a pre-planned combination of shots, for example serve and volley, serve plus forehand, return of serve forehand followed by another forehand. 2) ‘Slice serve’ – This is very useful indoors as it will slide through the court and if hit with width, can be devastating and leave you with an easy second shot if returned. It also could send your opponent into the court divider curtain! 3) ‘Chip n charge’ – Make use of your slice backhand on any mid court balls and follow it up to the net to apply full pressure. A slice shot will stay low and will skid through, meaning the opponent will have to hit up from a tough position and more than likely you will get a nice chance to capitalise and finish the point either with a smash or high volley. 4) ‘Stay low’ – Try to adopt a slightly lower more athletic ready position as this will really help you react quicker and stabilise on those faster lower balls zipping through the court. This is particularly relevant on the return of serve. During the rally, try to play closer to the baseline and try to play with your weight more on the front foot. 5) ‘Short and compact’ – You have less time on this surface as the bounce is lower and faster. Think about shortening your backswing to save time and to ensure that you can maintain a strong contact point that’s in front of your body which can utilise your body weight and the speed of your opponent’s shots.

For more information about tennis memberships please contact the team on 01753 717179 or membership@stokepark.com

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SportsAid

STARS

Stoke Park has a wonderful relationship with SportsAid, a charity we have supported for many years. In 2016, we were invited to become a SportsAid Fellow and each year to support a sporting star of the future.

his year, we are delighted to be supporting Tasha Strudwick, a young British rower from Buckinghamshire, who is already making her mark in the world of rowing. In 2018 Tasha competed at the Henley Royal Regatta and represented Team GB at the Junior World Championships. We look forward to seeing how her career progresses and wish her all the success for 2019!

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SportsAid Day

n Friday 28th September, we were delighted to welcome Olympic Champion Denise Lewis and World Champion swimmer, Mark Foster, back to Stoke Park to take part in our Tennisathon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a four hour non-stop tennis match to raise important funds for SportsAid. Both former SportsAid alumni, Denise and Mark were joined by our Tennis Members and two very talented British tennis stars of the future currently being supported by SportsAid, Will Jansen and MJ Changwereza. We also had fantastic gym fitness challenges taking place and amazing raffle prizes on offer. Thank you to all our members who took part, all the team who helped organise the day, everyone who bought a raffle ticket and to Denise and Mark for their support â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we hope you had a fabulous day! www.sportsaid.org.uk

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Under Armour Men’s UA Storm Cyclone Jacket This durable outdoor jacket is built with lightweight, super waterresistant materials, to keep you warm and dry no matter what weather comes your way, £80. www.underarmour.co.uk

Asics GEL-FujiRado This ultimate trail shoe is reliable on ascent and descent, has trusted grip on wet and dry, hard and soft surfaces and its rock sole protects your feet against sharp objects, £120. www.asics.com

Beats by Dre BeatsX These extremely light and secure wireless earphones connect to Bluetooth, have an 8-hour battery life, and a 5-minute charge gives you 2 hours of playback, £129.95. www.beatsbydre.com

Swims Motion Insulator Shirt An excellent alternative for chilly winter days the Motion Shirt Jacket is made with hi-tech Primaloft thermal microfibre, to keep you warm without the bulk, £180. www.swims.com

Soar Dual Fabric Tights 2.0 Keeping you comfortable whilst running the targeted compression on the calf of these tights helps to improve circulation and performance as well as speed up recovery, £115. www.soarrunning.com

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Hoka One One Torrent This super lightweight, nimble, and technical trail racer with high-traction rubber and aggressive lugs will allow you to tackle a variety of terrain at any speed, £105. www.hokaoneone.eu

361° Strata 3 Designed for runners seeking a moderate amount of stability, the Strata 3 is a comfortable high mileage running shoe, featuring some of the most innovative running shoe technologies, £134.99. www.361europe.com/en

Helly Hansen Verglas 3L Shell Jacket This durable all-around 3L shell jacket is perfect for any outdoor adventure, no matter what conditions, £260. www.hellyhansen.com

Helly Hansen Loke Rambler HT The all-around shoe for any terrain, the Loke Rambler HT are perfect whether you’re running in high altitudes in extreme weather or in your local park, £130. www.hellyhansen.com Weird Fish Newark 1/4 Zip Grid Fleece Sweatshirt Maritime Blue This fleece sweatshirt uses its geometric shaping in the weave to hold onto the heat and insulate you from the cold, £40. www.weirdfish.co.uk

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your for short periods CALL CALL CALL CALLjoints, whilst TO TO TO TOBOOK BOOK BOOK BOOK A A AAthroughout SESSION SESSION SESSION SESSION the day, www.ejphysio.co.uk the beneﬁts will be seen. simultaneously restoring muscle control reception@ejphysio.co.uk reception@ejphysio.co.uk reception@ejphysio.co.uk www.ejphysio.co.uk www.ejphysio.co.uk www.ejphysio.co.uk facebook.com/EmmaJamesPhysiotherapy facebook.com/EmmaJamesPhysiotherapy facebook.com/EmmaJamesPhysiotherapy facebook.com/EmmaJamesPhysiotherapy and supporting your joints. #ejphysio #ejphysio #ejphysio #ejphysio

@emmajamesphysio @emmajamesphysio @emmajamesphysio @emmajamesphysio device to realign

reception@ejphysio.co.uk

NO SURGERY. NO DRUGS. youtube.com/user/ejphysio youtube.com/user/ejphysio youtube.com/user/ejphysio youtube.com/user/ejphysio

AposTherapy® is covered by Bupa for severe knee pain. Subject to eligibility criteria. THIS ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE IS NOT INTENDED TO DISCOURAGE ESSENTIAL SURGERY IN RELEVANT CASES OR TO DISCOURAGE OTHER TREATMENTS. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR DOCTOR OR OTHER HEALTH PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS MAY VARY. AposTherapy® medical device bears a CE mark of conformity.

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Knee pain in golfers

How can AposTherapy help?

Knee pain is a common complaint from keen golfers, the long distances walked, often on uneven surfaces, provide quite a challenge for our muscles and joints. Bending down repeatedly to pick up a tee or ball, crouching to line up a putt and rotating the knees during the golf swing can all lead to a knee injury or exacerbate an existing problem. A lack of internal hip rotation can cause excessive extension of the knee joint during the back swing and down swing, whilst weak Gluteal muscles and dominance of Quads muscles are commonly associated with knee pain in older golfers.

AposTherapy represents a very successful clinically proven, non-surgical approach for treating trauma-related and degenerative meniscal injuries in all age groups. Clinical experience has demonstrated that AposTherapy can reduce pain and improve the stability, movement patterns and quality of life of patients following a meniscal injury.

Osteoarthritis & meniscal tears Degenerative meniscal tears and knee osteoarthritis are the most common conditions for golfers living with knee pain and they often go hand-in hand with each other. Studies show that people who have had a torn meniscus are at greater risk of premature knee osteoarthritis. So if a golfer has meniscus surgery, he or she should consider intensity of play, body mechanics and the benefit of targeted exercises prior to returning to the game to decrease the risk of early knee osteoarthritis Despite being among the most common types of sports injury, the majority of times a torn meniscus will occur, is during routine activities, as a result of daily wear and tear of the knee or, becoming more prevalent as we age. Meniscal tears carry the risk of further disease development, as well as symptoms that include significant pain, stiffness, swelling and limited range of motion. In some cases patients report a sensation of the knee “giving way”, which is due to weakness and loss of control in the muscles.

AposTherapy also overcomes the challenge of incorporating valuable therapeutic exercise into the patient’s real environment, since treatment can be carried out during routine daily life. In addition, whilst there are many important treatments for meniscal injury, such as muscle training, balance work and walking exercises, AposTherapy combines all these therapies into one approach.

Now available at all of our clinics

Book a FREE initial consultation now.

01442 870 686 www.ejphysio.co.uk www.apostherapy.co.uk

Strength and Conditioning for Golf at the

Leadbetter Golf Academy Here at the European headquarters of David Leadbetter Golf Academy (LGA) not only do we have LGA Qualified coaches who can improve your swing and your game, we also have Adam Lewis, who is an expert in the field of Strength and Conditioning.

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dam studied Sports Science at Portsmouth University before qualifying as a personal trainer in 2007. After this, he worked freelance for two years before starting his PGA training in 2009 and qualifying in 2012. Adam then decided to take his love of coaching to another level and started studying for a Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning at Middlesex University, passing with Merit in 2014. During the course, Adam specialised in golf specific fitness which lead him to producing a research paper published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning in 2015. Since then, Adam has worked with all ages including Junior Ryder Cup competitors, Senior European Tour Professionals and players ranging from 70+ years of age all the way down to budding young junior golfers.

If you are looking for those extra few yards or just to feel like you are able to swing better and improve your body in 2019, then please email or call Adam. alewis@stokepark.com | 01753 717184

Adam’s role at Stoke Park goes beyond that of a golf coach, having been an integral part in the success and development of our Scholarship program in 2018 and helping our best young golfers move better, become stronger and reduce their injury risk. In 2019, Adam is opening up the program that has been so successful with the Scholarship to the members and visitors to Stoke Park in order to give you the best opportunity to play your best golf. Strength and Conditioning in golf is an area that has developed hugely over the last 5-10 years through the publicity of golfers such as Rory McIlroy and Brooks Keopka. Fitness in golf has historically played its part with the likes of Gary Player who trained hard so he could keep up with the physically bigger and stronger competitors of his age. Golfers are now finally getting the recognition that they deserve in being referred to as athletes. The work that Adam does with players is not only for the elite. Amateur golfers of all standards can benefit from increased flexibility, mobility and strength work. Improving all these aspects of your body will also help improve everyday life and help reduce the chances of injuries including lower back difficulties suffered by so many. The process to having a program written and delivered by Adam starts off with a movement screening and basic strength testing. Through the information collected from these tests, Adam writes programs that are specific to your needs, this includes whether or not you have access to a gym, equipment at home or you just have your front room to train in.

The packages Adam will offer through the Academy are as follows: 6 Week Movement and Mobility Package • 1 screening and strength testing • 1 program specifically designed from results • 6 1 on 1 S&C sessions with Adam delivered once a week 12 Week Strength and Conditioning Package • 2 screening and strength tests Week 1 and Week 6 • 2 tailored programs designed from the screening results • 6 1 on 1 S&C Sessions with program reviews and progressions given 1 Year Strength and Conditioning Package • 6 screenings and strength tests • 6 tailored programs designed from the screening results • 24 1 on 1 S&C Sessions with program reviews and progressions • Online support through the use of Coach Now

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10 Spa Time

Our Stoke Park Spa Head of Treatments Sandy Richardson shares her Top 10 beauty and wellness tips for the winter season

1. Make sure that you moisturise your face morning and evening.

I recommend trying one of the Thalgo moisturisers depending on your skin type.

2. Exfoliate your face at least twice a week – try the Thalgo Resurfacing Cream which is the next best thing to a micro dermabrasion.

3. Exfoliate your body twice a week – Thalgo have the Polynesian Exotic Island Body Scrub and the Indoceane Sweet and Savoury Scrub which are amazing.

4. Apply moisturiser to the whole body – try the Thalgo Deeply Nourishing Body Cream

Here are a few treatments to try out at the Stoke Park Spa to prepare for the winter season Thalgo Ultimate Full Body Exfoliation – A full body scrub followed by an application of oil to nourish the skin Feeling stressed? Why not book an Aromatherapy Massage, choose from: Clear your Mind – To help you unwind and de-stress

5. Drink loads of water to prevent dehydration.

Uplift Your Mood – To harmonise and rejuvenate the spirits

6. Remember to still use sunscreen protection on your face and

Sleep Deeply – To induce a state of relaxation

hands as they are still exposed to the elements.

7. Use a really good moisturising shampoo and conditioner as heating can be very drying – try the Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner and the Treatment Balm.

8. Use a heat protection spray on your hair especially if using a hair drier and/or straighteners.

9. Try not to have a scalding hot bath, instead just have lukewarm water.

. Invest in a really good facial oil or serum to apply under your moisturiser as adverse weather conditions can really dry out the skin. Try the Thalgo Absolute Hydra Marine Concentrate which in an intense course for 7 days, which really helps to hydrate the skin.

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Or book a Thalgo Swedish Massage that can suit your individual needs using traditional massage techniques Feeling cold on these dark winter nights? Why not try a Lava Shell Relax Massage, the heat from the shells helps to relax your muscles and balance the mind and body. The I Beauty Facial is a fantastic facial that can be adapted to suit all skin types featuring an exfoliating and purifying mechanical exfoliation from sound vibrations, ultrasound emission to drain and stimulate the skin plus regenerating and plumping tripolar radio-frequency for a purifying, hydrating or anti-ageing result. Prepare your nails for the festive parties, book an Artistic Manicure and Pedicure and try gels that will last for 2 weeks.

/ Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara

/ KAPLAN MD

Perfect Pout Duo

Standout lashes are just a brush stroke away, this runway mascara with lash-extension volume and an XXL brush with a buildable cream formula creates professional volume, £27.

This anti-ageing, lip plumping treatment instantly exfoliates dry, chapped skin whilst visibly plumping the lip contour, in just two simple steps, resulting in instantly softer, smoother, fuller lips, £24. www.cultbeauty.co.uk

www.dior.com / Tropic Eye Work Rejuvenating Serum

/ Temple Spa

The Power Breakfast

Intensive Nourishing Cream

www.madebycoopers.com

/ Thalgo Silicium Marin Lifting Eyecream

www.epionce.co.uk

/ Artis Palm Brush Mini

This soothing face mist uses a healing blend of Manuka, Aloe Vera and lavender floral waters to tone, calm, soothe and hydrate the skin, £18.

Regenerate and strengthen the collagen and elastin in your skin with this dual action cream designed to nourish the skin with ultra-hydrating ingredients, £85.50.

www.thalgo.co.uk

www.templespa.com

/ Made By Coopers Apothecary Manuka Aloe Soothing Face Mist

This luxurious body mask gently exfoliates and shifts impurities, improving texture and leaving skin rejuvenated and glowing, £48.

/ Epionce

This targeted cream, reinforced by active ingredients including plant extracts, vitamin B5 and Marine Silicium Complex, delivers tripleeffectiveness against ageing, £48.

This nutritious scrub and mask in one is like muesli for the skin. It will brighten, decongest and smooth even the dullest of complexions, £28.

Every Body Purity Paste

www.tropicskincare.com

/ Saint Iris Adriatica

www.siadriatica.com

A must-have after a late night out, this lightweight serum with hydrating actives helps reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles, £28.

Editor’s Pick

/ Guerlain Météorites Electric Pearls

Golden, copper, white gold and champagne pearls serve to brighten, warm up and illuminate the complexion for a fourdimensional glow, £44.

www.guerlain.com

I love how compact and travelfriendly this makeup brush is. It’s perfect for applying liquids, creams and powders on the go for a beautifully blended, flawless finish, £53. www.artisbrush.com

All Made Up! Christina Raptis’ selection of Top 10 skin and beauty essentials

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Berkshire Aesthetics

Specialising in

Ultherapy Non-surgical facelift

If you are looking for a non-surgical lift that tightens your neck, gives you a mid-face lift, reduces wrinkles and creates a décolletage to be desired for in just one treatment, then Ultherapy is for you. This ground-breaking ultrasound treatment stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin deep within the skin. Using precise ultrasound energy to target the deep structural layers of the skin without disrupting the skin’s surface, Ultherapy creates a lifting and tightening effect. Ultherapy works to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the chest, tightens the jowls, and even treats fine lines around the eyes, with minimal recovery time. This means patients can carry on their day-to-day lives immediately post treatment. Dr Selena Langdon, a medical doctor and founder of Berkshire Aesthetics, is delighted to be partnering with Merz Aesthetics to offer Ultherapy treatments for both men and women; either for full face, neck and décolletage treatments individually or as a whole. Berkshire Aesthetics is a leading Ultherapy clinic headed by Dr Selena Langdon, representing Merz and presenting on Ultherapy at major industry conferences and events. At Berkshire Aesthetics we believe Ultherapy, as a powerful and effective device, should be operated by medical doctors. This approach makes Berkshire Aesthetics unique in the UK. Ultherapy is a micro focused ultrasound with visualisation, it is FDA cleared and EU CE certified. The procedure lifts and tightens, stimulates collagen and elastin regeneration, and best of all has minimal downtime. Using precise ultrasound energy to target the deep structural layers of the skin, the procedure targets and delivers focused energy to a specific skin layer without disrupting the skin’s surface. This ultrasound energy initiates the body’s natural response to stimulate growth of fresh, new collagen and elastin – creating a lifting and tightening effect.

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Unlike lasers, radio frequency and other technologies, Ultherapy is an intense ultrasound therapy which treats the deep foundational layer bypassing the epidermis. The Ultherapy technology is sharply focused, leaving the surrounding regions unaffected; allowing for a precise application and result for the patient. A unique aspect of Ultherapy is it allows practitioners to see and target where they need to treat and tailor treatment to the patient’s own skin requirements. You may be wondering whether or not you are you a good candidate for Ultherapy. A good Ultherapy candidate has mild to moderate skin laxity where the skin begins to look less firm or tight. Examples include a lowered brow, loose skin on the neck, sagging under the chin, and lines or wrinkles on the chest. Ultherapy is suitable for most skin tones and types including darker skin tones. The Ultherapy procedure has been used in over 1 million treatments worldwide and every Ultherapy practitioner receives extensive procedural training and tools. Ultherapy is the only micro focused ultrasound technology that has been reviewed and cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration, (one of the World’s most stringent regulatory bodies for healthcare. In the European Union, Ultherapy is CE certified for non-invasive sculpting and lifting of the dermis on the upper and lower face, neck and décolletage. Please visit www.berkshireaesethetics.com or call the clinic on 0333 444 0633 for further information and to book your consultation. Berkshire Aesthetics Suite 1B, 1 Park Street, Maidenhead SL6 1SL 0333 444 0633 info@berkshireaesthetics.com www.berkshireaesthetics.com

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How We’d Spend It

Collector

Azzy Asghar’s selection of 10 luxurious gifts chosen for the…

Sautter Cigars Vintage Designer Humidor Trunk Restoring and turning one-off designer trunks from top high-end designers into the ultimate cigar humidors, these trunks are the perfect gift or investment piece for the discerning man, POA

Riedel Mamba Fatto A Mano Decanter

Editor’s Pick

Impress your guests with this elegant and unique blown glass decanter perfect for young, wild wines that benefit from it’s dual decanting function, £395. www.riedel.com

www.sauttercigars.com

Wine Connoisseur Chic Traveller Floris London Fragrance Travel Collection For Her

Photographer

Leica Q-P Camera

The perfect way to sample the finest eau de toilettes from the women’s Signature Collection, this travel set is a must-have for the discerning woman, £75.

The Leica Q-P is the newest model of Leica’s highperformance, compact camera with a full-frame sensor and fast prime lens which is ideal for photographers on the go, £4,100.

www.florislondon.com

www.leicastore-uk.co.uk

Charabanc Luxury Car Fragrance Comprised of a finely handcrafted, stencilled-steel pomander encased in leather and five fragrance journeys inspired by the world’s most iconic drives, £145. www.charabanc.com

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Motoring Enthusiast

Norman Walsh x Lexus CT Trainer

Modern Gentleman

Inspired by the Lexus CTF Sport luxury hatchback these stylish trainers draw on the design, colour and interior materials of the car creating a cutting-edge style with comfort, and quality, £165. www.normanwalshuk.com

KEF LSX Wireless Music System This wireless music system features Apple AirPlay2 technology enabling multi-room streaming and despite its small size offers an immense and deep sound field, £1,000. www.m.uk.kef.com

Music Lover

Fashionista

Timekeeper

Whisky Enthusiast

Launer London Eva Handbag

Bamford Watch Department BWD x Jonas Wood TAG Heuer Calibre 5

HAIG CLUB CLUBMAN

Crafted in fine calf and stingray leather complete with a detachable, adjustable strap, this is the ideal party season bag, £820.

Created in collaboration with contemporary artist, Jonas Wood this timeless limited edition watch features a hand drawn basketball design on the dial and Military Grade Titanium Coating, £7,000.

This iconic single grain scotch whisky is aged in ex-American Bourbon barrels giving it a unique, smooth and light flavour base of sweet toffee notes and butterscotch, £25.

www.launer.com

www.bamfordwatchdepartment.com

www.amazon.co.uk

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picture, they say, is worth a thousand words, thus let’s pause for a second to truly appreciate the beautiful lines on Aston Martin’s new flagship model – the DBS Superleggera – a two-door body styled coupe with 2+2 seating – a pure GT roadster.

Pirelli tyres developed specifically for DBS Superleggera. There is also a choice of striking Designer Specifications, with specially chosen colour and trim combinations selected by the Aston Martin Design Team to accentuate certain aspects of DBS Superleggera’s character.

The DBS Superleggera name marks the return of two names that are forever etched in the brand’s illustrious history. The DBS nameplate first appeared in 1967, while the famous Superleggera mark pays homage to the super-lightweight construction technology of the famous Italian coachbuilder, Carrozzeria Touring.

As befits its position as the flagship of Aston Martin’s series production range, the new DBS Superleggera is a truly stunning piece of design. Designed in-house at Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ , under the guidance of Executive Vice President & Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman.

Replacing the Vanquish S was always going to be very difficult but the all new beautifully sculpted carbon fibre DBS Superleggera takes it all in its very rapid stride. The DBS has looks and performance to take on the world’s finest supercars and emerge from the battle proud.

Stoke Park will forever be inexorably linked with, of course, James Bond and the Aston Martin brand. Sean Connery as James Bond playing the grudge match against Goldfinger on our golf course is one of the enduring images of the Bond franchise as is the car itself. Adding to the mystique that surrounds this Aston Martin’s name, both first and second generation DBSs have appeared in James Bond movies: the original being used by George Lazenby in the 1969 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; DBS in 2006’s Casino Royale and 2008‘s Quantum of Solace alongside Daniel Craig.

The Aston Martin is powered by a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, tuned to produce incredible power and amazing torque levels that offer unparalleled performance and numbers to match - 725PS, 900Nm of torque – this results in a 0-62mph of just 3.4 seconds and a top end speed of a neck-snapping 211mph! As yo would expect the DBS Superleggera features a generous level of standard equipment, including keyless entry, tyre-pressure monitoring system and a 360-degree camera with Parking Distance Display and Park Assist. The Bang and Olufsen audio system has DAB plus Bluetooth audio and phone streaming, iPod, iPhone and USB playback. There is also an integrated satellite navigation system and wi-fi hub. All the in-car infotainment systems use a central LCD screen, controlled via a central dial. This car is pure Aston Martin and the flagship of the brand. As you’d expect from the brand the craftsmanship and attention to detail is the finest that British craftsmanship has to offer. Beautiful supple leathers and Alcantara upholstery are omnipresent and come as standard, as do Sports Plus performance seats, and the performance steering wheel. A choice of two alloy wheel designs is offered, the standard ‘Y’ Spoke Forged Wheel and the Lightweight Twin Spoke Forged wheel. Both are 21” in diameter and fitted with

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We look forward to bringing you the DBS Superleggera in one of our upcoming photoshoots with its beautifully sculpted and distinct lines proudly sitting in front of our glorious mansion! www.astonmartin.com www.stratstone.com Priced from £225,000

Azzy Asghar loves the new

ASTON MARTIN

DBS Superleggera

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Two Spookily fabulous events

Our inaugural Halloween Ball and Bonfire Night!

Sunday 4th November, the Bonfire was lit, the entertainers arrived and our members enjoyed a spectacular fireworks display and BBQ to celebrate Bonfire Night! A wonderful time was had by all!

Photo Credit: Keith Walker

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Bonfire Night

For more information about our Social Events, please do visit: www.stokepark.com

Halloween Ball

Saturday 27th October, the Stoke Park Mansion was transformed for our inaugural Halloween Ball! Guests donned their most spooktacular outfits and partied the night away like no other!

Photo Credit: Paul Martin | www.picturesinc.co.uk

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2019 SOCIAL CALENDAR As a Stoke Park member you are able to enjoy a host of Social Events at the Club! Here are some of the events this year...

FEBRUARY Valentine’s Day

Wednesday 13th – Sunday 17th February Four-course dinner £98 per person

MARCH Ladies Lunch Wednesday 6th March Host to be confirmed Drinks reception and two-course lunch Followed by a talk from the host Members £39.50 per person Guests £45 per person

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Gourmet Evening by Chef (new event) “Meet the Chefs” 29th March Commences at 19.00 Six-course dinner cooked by a team of award-winning chefs Fine wines Jacket and tie Members £105 per person Guests £115 per person Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea Sunday 31st March Sparkling Afternoon Tea £52.50 per person

Mother’s Day Lunch Sunday 31st March Three-course lunch Sittings from 12.00 – 14.30 Adults £55 per person Children £27.50 per child (12 and under)

APRIL

Easter Sunday Lunch Sunday 21st April Three-course lunch Sittings 12.00 – 14.30 Adults £55 per person Children (12 and under) £27.50 per child

MAY

OCTOBER

DECEMBER

Ladies Lunch Wednesday 1st May Host to be confirmed Drinks reception and two-course lunch Followed by a talk from the host Members £39.50 per person Guests £45 per person

Annual Tennis Dinner Friday 11th October Three-course dinner Jacket and tie Members £55 per person Guests £59.50 per person

Sunday Christmas Lunches Sunday 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th December Sittings from 12.00 –14.30 Three-course lunch Adults £52.50 per person Children (12 and under) £24.50 per child

JUNE Father’s Day Sunday 16th June Three-course lunch Sittings from 12.00 – 14.30 Adults £55 per person Children (12 and under) £27.50 per child The Boodles Tuesday 25th June – Saturday 29th June www.theboodles.com

Tennis Club Finals Sunday 30th June Plate competition commencing at 09.30 until 11.00 Finals commencing from 12.00 Family BBQ from 13.00 Complimentary for all tennis members who entered the Club Championships

SEPTEMBER Ladies Lunch Wednesday 18th September Host to be confirmed Drinks reception and two-course lunch Followed by a talk from the host Members £39.50 per person Guests £45 per person

Stoke Park Halloween Ball Saturday 26th October Commences at 19.00 Carriages at 01.00 Three-course dinner Live band £110 per person including reception drinks

NOVEMBER Bonfire Night Sunday 3rd November BBQ and entertainment Members £40 per person Guests £45 per person Children (12 and under) £20 per child Under 2’s Free Gourmet Evening Thursday 21st November Commences at 19.00 Six-course dinner and fine wines Jacket and tie Members £95 per person Guests £105 per person

Ladies Lunch Wednesday 4th December Hosted by Executive Chef Chris Wheeler Commences at 12.00 Drinks reception and two-course lunch Followed by a talk from the host Members £39.50 per person Guests £45 per person Tennis Ladies Christmas Lunch Thursday 5th December Three-course lunch £39.50 per person Children’s Christmas Party Sunday 8th December Entertainment, party food and a gift for every child £42 per child New Year’s Eve Tuesday 31st December Commences at 19.00 Champagne Reception Three-course dinner and wines Black tie Members £185 per person Guests £195 per person Tables of 12 £1,925

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Wined &Dined

ine wine & Spirits Merchants, Justerini & Brooks, were established in 1749. Awarded their first Royal Warrant by King George III in 1761, they have been granted this honour by every successive monarch since, including HM Queen Elizabeth II. With over three thousand wines from the world’s greatest Chateaux, estates and domains, Justerini & Brooks’ fine wine portfolio offers an unrivalled selection. As the largest UK importers of fine wines from Burgundy, Barolo and Germany, they also have longstanding relationships with the most celebrated properties in Bordeaux, the Rhône, the Loire and Champagne. The Justerinis’ fine wine Buying team has developed a rich and revered portfolio. Their task is simple – to source the finest wines and offer exceptional value. This is a never ending pursuit, always seeking out the new superstar winemaker wherever he or she may be. Giles Burke-Gaffney, Buying Director at Justerini & Brooks puts it best “we have a team of six people sourcing across the globe, looking for the wines that are going to give our customers the greatest pleasure and experiences. Portfolio is the heart of what we do.” www.justerinis.com

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Here is our selection of 10 wines to try from the Stoke Park wine list:

Mâcon Uchizy, Gerald et Philibert Talmard, 2017 A classic white Burgundy from Macon, made by Gerald and Philibert Talmard, harvested so as to obtain a very fresh, precise wine. Sancerre, Lucien Crochet, 2016 A really expressive Sancerre from Gilles Crochet, brimming with aromatic lime and broad citrus notes, a real clarity of expression as this bursts with cool crisp, star fruit, tangerine and lime pith on the palate. Meursault, Les Charmes, Dessus, 1er Cru, Château de Meursault, 2014 A wine that manages to be simultaneously 'solaire' and saline, with a touch of butter and crisp lemon zest and white flower notes. Very smart indeed. Rosé, Château Unang, 2017 A pale rose/peach coloured Rosé, with wild strawberries at its core and subtle lychee notes on the nose. The mouthfeel is soft, delicate and the palette is a blend of citrus fruits, most notably pomelo, followed by gooseberry. Château La Grande Maye, Côtes de Castillon, 2014 A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon – lovely notes of violets and cut flowers mingle with velour textured fruit. Cain Concept, Napa Valley, Cain Cellars, 2010 Dark purple in colour with cassis, cocoa and sweet redcurrant, the Cain Concept 2010 is a blend of vineyards and hails from one of the cooler vintages in the last decade. Rully, Les Preaux, 1er Cru, Eric De Suremain, 2015 One of the great value reds in Burgundy – fresh, crunchy, red and black cherry flavours, as open, lovely and digest as ever with a slightly dark profile than is usually the case. A little fullerflavoured and more complex than usual but as gentle and alluring as ever. Barolo, Azelia, 2013 A compelling and generous blend that offers surprising complexity for a "regular" Barolo. Sweetly-scented fruit with a bold, spicy and savoury side too. The flavours are fresh and fruity, notes of small, black and red berry with a hint of liquorice. Ribera del Duero, Aalto, 2015 A powerful, age worthy Aalto, with fruit from 9 villages and vines ranging from 40-100 years old. Floral then spiced aromas melt into notes of blackcurrant, tea and fine chocolate. Château Petit Vedrines, Sauternes, 2015 Petit Vedrines is the second wine of the high flying Doisy Vedrines. Under the stewardship of Olivier Casteja, Doisy Vedrines has become one of the most consistent and best performing of the big names in Sauternes.

LEADING THE NOBLE PURSUIT O F F I N E W I N E S S I N C E 174 9 Justerini & Brooks. Portfolio, expertise and personal service. Justerinis.com/discover