GL Magazine - April 2015 by LocalWorldGlos

APRIL 2015 £3 WHERE SOLD

LIFE AFTER

OASIS N O E L’ S C H A S I N G Y E ST E R D AY

GET THE

GANDY LOOK HOW TO TONE UP FOR SUMMER

Marco

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our guest contributor

WELCOME

Chrissy Iley is a freelance writer who splits her time between London and LA. She is renowned for her intimate celebrity profiles and was a w a r d e d I n t e r v i e w e r o f t h e Ye a r i n t h e 2 0 0 8 British Press Awards. Victoria Beckham and Johnny Depp are among her favourite subjects.

WELCOME to the very first issue of GL Magazine. We feel like there’s never been a better time to put our glorious county firmly in the spotlight, to place it centre stage and raise a glass of Champers in its honour. You see at times we may take it for granted; an embarrassment of riches on our doorstep with almost too much choice and more often than not, too little time. Which is where GL comes in – to provide a definitive guide on how to live it and spend it in Gloucestershire and plenty more besides. One man who shares our desire for the finer things in life is our cover star, Marco Pierre White. Here’s a man who changed the culinary landscape and earned himself a rock-star reputation in the process. While the passage of time may have mellowed him, Marco’s charisma remains as potent as ever. He’s still Mr Cool – with that twinkle in those steely eyes.

In this month’s edition, Chrissy interviews Marco Pierre White. “Marco was one of the first interviews I ever did and he made me think that interviewing people was amazingly fun because he is hilarious and a one-off. But what people don’t expect about Marco is his kindness and utter loyalty. Those kind of qualities are rarely mixed with consummate charm. It’s what makes him exceptional and world class at everything he does, not just cooking. He’s a wonderful writer and performer. He is about to play the voice of the cat Roger de Niro in an upcoming reality TV show where he’ll be a judge in finding the world’s next cat superstar, the new Grumpy Cat.”

Jonathan Whiley

get in touch

Editor e: jonathan.whiley@localworld.co.uk t: 01242 278 072 @jonnywhiley

Jenny Eastwood | Editor-in-chief 01242 278 075 jenny.eastwood@localworld.co.uk Jonathan Whiley | Editor 01242 278 072 jonathan.whiley@localworld.co.uk

CONTENTS 8

WEAR IT: GET THE GANDY LOOK Dress to impress as we check out the sartorial style of model and former University of Gloucestershire student, David Gandy

THE BIG INTERVIEW Is the wild man of cuisine finally settling down? Marco Pierre White opens up in one of his most revealing interviews to date

LIVE IT: FITNESS & NUTRITION Get tips on how to stay healthy when you work out and how to get toned for summer

FOOD: WILD AT HEART We sample what’s on the menu at Eat Wild in Cirencester

OWN IT: HOMES & INTERIORS Take a look through the keyhole and see the hottest trends in the world of interior design

DRIVE IT: THE NEW JAGUAR XF R-SPORT Alex Callaghan goes for a test-drive in the Cotswolds

130

THE FINAL WORD Two Michelin-star chef Tom Kerridge on growing up in Gloucestershire

@GLmagazine | GLmagazine.co.uk

online at glmagazine.co.uk GAME ON Seven restaurants in Gloucestershire that will satisfy meat-eaters TREAT YOUR OTHER HALF Five places to enjoy the perfect spa break in the Cotswolds COOKING UP A STORM Recreate Michelin-star food with recipes from Le Champignon Sauvage chef David Everitt-Matthias Front cover image of Marco Pierre White supplied by Rex Features.

PLUS: THE SOCIAL NETWORKS Been to a VIP event this month? See if you have been snapped at the races on page 8, or at a Ladies’ Day private party – turn to page 28. Indian Summers star Craig Parkinson calls in to Room 101 in Cheltenham (page 35), and invited guests attend the opening of The Jockey Inn on page 55. Plus, The Property Centre held a VIP event for staff and clients during race week. See page 102.

@GLmagazine | 5

Brands we stock

Hackett Has returned to tHe sHop after two years due to popular demand. Hayden taylor, 60-62 westgate street, gloucester, gl1 2nZ 01452 522735 | www.haydentaylor.co.uk Full Page indd 1

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SOCIAL CALENDAR

DATES FOR THE DIARY

S E E W H AT ’ S O N T H I S M O N T H I N G LO U C E ST E R S H I R E A N D WHERE TO BE SEEN

celia and mark bennett open studio exhibition

cheltenham poetry festival at the wilson

Come and have a glass of wine or a cup of tea or coffee and see the large selection of original art, signed prints and cards. Join them at 3 Joyford Passage, Cheltenham on Friday, March 27, from 6pm. The exhibition runs from 11am until 5pm on March 28-29.

little machine “The most brilliant music and poetry band I’ve seen in decades” (Carol Ann Duffy). Little Machine will make you fall in love with poetry all over again with their blistering rock, folk, punk and pop renditions of classic and contemporary poems. April 24, 8.30pm, tickets from £7, The Wilson, Cheltenham

the april meet april 15-16 cheltenham racecourse networking @ the daffodil, cheltenham Join the team at The Daffodil in Cheltenham for their monthly cheese club.

23MARCH 24MARCH 25MARCH 26MARCH 27 MARCH 28MARCH 29MARCH the grand

national at the chequers inn

turtle bay opening night, cheltenham

30MARCH 31 MARCH 1 APRIL

2 APRIL

3 APRIL

4 APRIL

Good Friday

6 APRIL

7APRIL

8 APRIL

APRIL

10APRIL

5 APRIL EASTER SUNDAY

11 APRIL

12 APRIL

EASTER Monday

13 APRIL

14 APRIL 15 APRIL april meet cheltenham racecourse

20APRIL

16APRIL

17 APRIL 18 APRIL 19 APRIL

april meet cheltenham racecourse

21 APRIL 22 APRIL 23 APRIL 24 APRIL

28 APRIL 29 APRIL 30 APRIL 1 MAY

April 28, The Daffodil, Cheltenham, £20 to book a place

cheltenham jazz festival This year’s line-up includes Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Caro Emerald and Wilko Johnson. For further details and where to get tickets visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz

Cheltenham jazz festival starts

next issue

grand launch opening party at the convent A new boutique hotel opens up in South Woodchester that boasts a members’ club, restaurant, two bars, a hotel and a live music venue. April 1, 8pm ’til late

25 APRIL 26 APRIL

forget me not concert

2 MAY

A gala evening of entertainment, featuring artists from the world of opera, musical theatre, dance and television.

Cheltenham Poetry festival

27APRIL

Fancy a flutter? Get your bets on for this year’s Grand National on Saturday, April 11

3 MAY

April 19, The Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham

the ultimate jazz party A night with Gregory Porter – featuring Cerys Matthews and Trevor Nelson. May 2, No 131, Cheltenham @GLmagazine | 7

S a m m i F l e t c h e r , A m a n d a To m k i n s o n a n d S i a n I r l a m

THE SOCIAL NETWORK VIP guests gathered in the Chez Rouz and Final Flight marquees at Cheltenham R a c e c o u r s e o n d a y t h r e e o f T h e Fe s t i va l ÂŠRosemary Watts

I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

Lizzy Craft and Mike Sander

K e n Ta l l i s a n d J u l i e C o l e

J u d e F l e t c h e r, B e c k y Fletcher and Nicky Carey

Christina Pittaway and Charlotte Still

Natalie Hackett, Sebastian Hargreaves and Della Harwood

Mark Pearce and Nick Hempson

Mary, Noel and Noel Regan

M e l i s s a a n d V a s i l i s Fa t o u r o s

S t e v e Tw o h i g a n d Bryan Blinman

Martin Lewis, Ray Preston and Dougie Henderson

To m D a v i e s , D a n D a v i e s , J o e H o l l o w a y , Gerard Ellis and Ryan Birnie

To n y L a n g e n e g g e r , I z z y A n s e l a n d R i c h a r d J a q u e s

Mark and Louise Blackham

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WEAR IT

style tip no1 Let your feet do the talking with these timeless Russell & Bromley styles, such as brown leather brogues or suede driving loafers in neutral shades

get the

GANDY LOOK E F F O R T L E S S LY S O P H I S T I C A T E D , M A S C U L I N E

A N D G R O O M E D , D AV I D G A N DY ’ S G O O D LO O K S AND DISTINCTIVE STYLE MAKE HIM A MODEL EXAMPLE FOR THE MODERN MAN. TIMELESS F E AT U R E S O F T H E G A N D Y LO O K S U I T T H E SPRING TRANSITION. DAVID GANDY – THE MAN OF THE MOMENT C H E C K O U T T H E L AT E S T T R E N D S AT P I N T E R E S T. C O M / G L M A G A Z I N E 0 8 1 5

12 | GLmagazine.co.uk

WEAR IT

style tip no2 For serious accessorising, the Mulberry briefcase combines soft leather with hardworking design. For a weekend away, the Clipper bag is the ultimate travel essential

PAGE OPPOSITE CLOCKWISE: small Clipper travel bag, £1,150, Mulberry; plaited leather belt, £195, Mulberry; Somerton six-card wallet, £225, Mulberry; Breitling Chronomat 44 Bi-Metal men’s watch, £10,040, Beaverbrooks; stretch cotton trunks, £20, David Gandy for Autograph at Marks & Spencer; oversized buckle belt, £85, Russell & Bromley; Person Wayfarer polarised sunglasses, £260, asos.com; grey Mayfair slimfit wool suit, £730, Paul Smith London mrporter.com; misty trimmed slip-on loafer, £175, toecap slip-on, £315, and oak antiques brogue lace-up, £225, all from Russell & Bromley. THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE: Belstaff Racemaster leather jacket, £1,195 mrporter.com; Boss Jason dot print shirt, £139, John Lewis; blue slimfit pin-dot wool three-piece suit, £1,900, Dolce & Gabanna; lasercut money clip, £70, Mulberry; silk zigzag pocket square, £25, Jaeger; Omega aqua black cufflinks, £260, Beaverbrooks; Gant jacket, £250, Hayden Taylor, Gloucester; Oxton leather briefcase, £1,300, Mulberry.

WEAR IT

the it bag IT IS S AID A WOMAN CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY BAGS AND I T ’ S A S E N T I M E N T S H A R E D B Y C H E LT E N H A M D E S I G N E R H A R R I E T S A N D E R S . H E L E N B L O W C H AT S T O H E R T O F I N D O U T M O R E A B O V E : TA N & L E M O N D U F F E L B A G , £ 1 9 0

14 | GLmagazine.co.uk

WEAR IT

L E F T T O R I G H T: L U X E S N A K E S U E D E TA V I S T O C K T O T E , £ 3 5 5 ; T H E B E L L A S AT C H E L , £ 1 9 0 ; TA N & P I S TA C H I O B L O O M S B U R Y B A G , £ 2 2 0

ALKING into her showroom and workshop in Montpellier, you can understand why so many women covet a Harriet Sanders handbag.

Fashioned from butter soft leather in a range of fabulous jewelled colours and classy neutral shades, her bags are top quality at an affordable price.

College of Art in London at 16 on accessory design, which is when my love for accessories really took off. “While there, someone told me that about 90 per cent of all designers’ incomes came from accessories,” she said.

also be ordered in gold or silver. “My most popular styles are the classic and minnie classic, and the rucksacks also sell well, despite being the most expensive of the products,” said Harriet.

“While I’m not doing this for the money, it was good to know a living can be made from it.”

“Tan and black are still the most popular and plum is also doing very well. The bright colours are becoming much more popular these days.

Styles range from a classic over-the-shoulder handbag and evening clutch to a funky backpack, classy tote or perfect purse.

After completing an art foundation course at the University of Gloucestershire, Harriet won a place at the London College of Fashion to study accessory design, gaining her BA degree two years later.

“I always wanted to have my own company; that was my aim from when I was still at school, and my parents have backed me all the way,” said Harriet, whose father is managing director of the company.

At just 26, Harriet has already been described as ‘the new Patrick Cox’ and the handbag designer we should all be keeping our eyes on.

“I could have stayed on a further year to get my honours but I wanted to get out into the big wide world and start designing,” she said.

Born and bred in Cheltenham, Harriet was creative from a young age and was taught to sew by her grandmother when she was just four years old.

A spell in London saw her designs being sold at a shop in the famous Carnaby Street and Spitalfields Market

“I am happy with growing the company steadily and I really like having a workshop and showroom working together, so visitors can see that all the bags are handmade by us right here.”

Handmade from ethically-sourced Italian leather, customers can choose exactly what colours and style they want at no extra cost.

“Once I could sew I have never stopped,” she said. “I made my own bags and clothes when I was young.” Her passion for beautiful things was fuelled at the age of 14 when she visited the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to see a Versace exhibition. “It was then that I realised I could actually make a career out of what I loved to do and from then on my education was based around that dream,” she said. The former Balcarras School pupil first took an evening course in women’s clothes but realised her interests lay more in accessories than clothes. “I attended a summer school at St Martin’s

“I worked from a shed in the garden of my London home and my designs sold well and I raised enough money to do the British Craft Trade Fair.” “From there I got my first four stockists and employed my first members of staff working in a London studio to meet the demand.”

ﬁnd me

Last year however she decided to move her business to Cheltenham and move back home, a decision she hasn’t regretted. Now her bags are sold at more than 40 stockists across the country and in Japan, including Anthropologie and online gift company, notonthehighstreet.com. Harriet uses cowhide leather for the exterior of her bags and a contrasting inner colour in pigskin suede. The trimmings and clasps can

WILLIAM BURFORD HOUSE, 27 LANSDOWN PLACE LANE, C H E LT E N H A M 01242 525836 HARRIETSANDERS.CO.UK @GLmagazine | 15

WEAR IT

bling

FOR SPRING C H A M PA G N E D I A M O N D S , R O S E P I N K C R Y STA LS A N D

SOFT HONEYSUCKLE GEMS ADD THE PERFECT TOUCH OF L U X U R Y T O S P R I N G F L O R A L S . D E L I C A T E LY F L O A T I N G I N G O L D , T H ES E B E AU T I F U L F I N E J E W E LS O F F E R A S U BT L E N O D TO S P R I N G B E F O R E T H E F I R ST B LO O M O F B LO S S O M

16 | GLmagazine.co.uk

WEAR IT

THIS PAGE: 18ct gold Teeny Tiny Bumblebee Ring, £460 Alex Monroe at Liberty; Larkspur & Hawk Bella double drop rose gold-dipped quartz necklace, £495 net-a-porter.com; Omega Constellation ladies’ 18ct gold bracelet watch, £10,440, Ernest Jones; Omega Seamaster men’s stainless steel bracelet watch, £5,430, Ernest Jones; Marco Bicego 18ct yellow gold multi-stone necklace, £1,750, Ernest Jones; Omega Seamaster men’s stainless steel bracelet watch, £5,050, Ernest Jones; Olivia Collings 1830s 18ct gold diamond ring, £30,000 net-a-porter.com; Super Star bracelet, £550 from the Super Star Collection by Astley Clarke. OPPOSITE PAGE: Yossi Harari Positive 18ct gold diamond necklace, £1,450, net-a-porter.com; Kimberly McDonald 18-ct gold, emerald and diamond necklace, £8,500 net-a-porter.com; Medium Astley locket, £1,350 from the Cosmos Collection by Astley Clarke; mini halo Ring, £650 from the Halo Collection by Astley Clarke; Daniela Villegas peacock 18ct rose gold, opal and diamond necklace, £6,000, net-a-porter.com; Larkspur & Hawk Olivia Button rose gold-dipped topaz rivière necklace, £4,700 net-a-porter.com.

@GLmagazine | 17

STYLE IT

18 | GLmagazine.co.uk

STYLE IT

well groomed W I T H M E N F I N A L LY L E T T I N G T H E I R H A I R D O W N A B O U T T H E I R O W N

V A N I T Y, T H E R E ’ S N O E X C U S E T O P I N C H Y O U R G I R L F R I E N D ’ S P R O D U C T S . J O N AT H A N W H I L E Y C H E C K S I N F O R A N A P P O I N T M E N T W I T H B L U S H E S H A I R A N D B E A U T Y I N C H E LT E N H A M T O D I S C O V E R M O R E There is a big difference between men’s hairdressing and men’s barbering. Blushes don’t just ask the question ‘how much are we taking off for you today sir?’, for them it’s more about how much they are keeping on. “It’s not just about a set of clippers,” says manager Rob Hicks. “It’s more about using a variety of products and equipment to create the best look for our clients. We have noticed recently that men are much more groomed and no longer embarrassed to say that they spend just as much time as women to create the best groomed look. Men are just as conscious as women and this is something not to be ashamed of.”

create the blushes look

1 2 3 4 5

Shampoo your hair using Kerastase Homme Capital Force Shampoo, removing any product to cleanse the scalp. Reduce dampness using a towel and apply L’Oréal Techni Art Air Fix. This is a light gel, allowing hold.

Blowdry using a small round brush (available in our salon)

GHD are vital to create that all important look

investment – they’re vital. Blushes Hair Salon in Cheltenham are on the frontline in the grooming stakes; tailoring their services for those who are no longer embarrassed to say they spend as much time as women to look their best. “Correct product use is key. If you have fine hair don’t weigh it down with heavy wax or clay products, use a light styling spray such as loreal techni art beach waves, this gives hair texture and light hold, perfect for that loose dishevelled messy look.” Before long you’ll be turning heads like a certain Mr Goldenballs. Use L’Oréal Techni Art Air Fix hair spray to finish off that perfect style

Once dry apply a cream wax (L’Oréal Techni Art Density Material) to create texture and hold. Finally use L’Oréal Techni Art Air Fix hair spray to ensure your hair keeps its style throughout the day and night.

PONYTAILS, Alice bands and even a Mohawk – David Beckham changed his hairstyle as often as Manchester United won titles in the 1990s.

Hollywood A-Listers bring as much razzle dazzle to Oscar ceremonies as leading ladies with the likes of Jared Leto and Johnny Depp poster-boys for the hair-raising revolution.

The former England captain’s ever-changing statement cuts redefined what it meant to be a modern man with the classic ‘short back and sides’ consigned to an era where grooming was frowned upon.

Times have changed. Men are more relaxed. It’s no longer embarrassing to nab your girlfriend’s hairbrush or hairspray, but why would you want to?

But, my dear brothers, come forth with your trendy salt and pepper beards and luscious locks. Now is the time to step forward with your brogues and be proud of the fact you take care in your appearance. Frankly, those who don’t are behind the times. Just take a look across the pond in Tinseltown;

Pick up your own – there’s no excuses. You can’t expect to achieve that all-important look without a host of products. We’re not talking a little bit of gel when you’ve come out the shower. Think brushes to create volume and hairspray to maintain it. If you’re hair is greying a little, then think colour. Support products are not just a trendy

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@GLmagazine | 19

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fake baked I F Y O U C A N ’ T G E TAW AY T O ST T R O P E Z , T H AT G O L D E N G LO W M A Y N O T S O B E H A R D TO FA K E . G ET S ET F O R S U M M E R W I T H O U R P I C K S O F T H E B E ST H I G H - E N D TA N N I N G PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET

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CLOCKWISE:The Face and Body Gradual Tan, £65, Creme De La Mer; Bronzing Gel, £35, Tom Ford; Sisley Self Tanning Hydrating Body Cream, £74.50, Selfridges; Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Universel, £32, Chanel

top tip

To ensure your tan glides on smoothly, exfoliate and moisturise your skin before applying your tan, using extra moisturiser on rough areas such as knees and elbows. Allow your tan to dry before dressing and wear dark colours to avoid stains.

Dermalogica Gatineau Moroccan Oil St Tropez OPI & Essie nail products GHD Hair Straighteners L’Oreal Hair care products.

01242 251755. www.auraofbeauty.co.uk 47 The Promenade. Cheltenham. GL50 1PJ @GLmagazine | 21

BE IT

He was super cool, Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, Jim Morrison in The Doors and Sonny Corleone in The Godfather: they were all cool, but MPW was the coolest PA U L K I TC H I N G , M I C H E L I N - S TA R R E D C H E F

Marco

PIERRE WHITE THE ORIGINAL ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CHEF MEETS CHRISSY ILEY

22 | GLmagazine.co.uk

BE IT

Bob Carlos Clarke with Marco Pierre White Photographs: Bob Carlos Clarke

@GLmagazine | 23

BE IT

turning up the heat T H E Y O U N G E ST E V E R C H E F T O W I N T H R E E M I C H E L I N STA R S , M A R C O P I E R R E W H I T E WA S T H E E N FA N T T E R R I B L E W H O B L A Z E D A T R A I L A N D I N S P I R E D A G E N E R AT I O N . A S H I S W H I T E H E AT C O O K B O O K I S R E - R E L E A S E D , C H R I S S Y I L E Y L O O K S I N T O T H E S T E E LY E Y E S I N T H O S E N O W I C O N I C I M A G E S

ARCO Pierre White is huddled into a battered tweed jacket and a tweed cap that looks like a tea cosy. He wanted to meet in Bibendum, Chelsea, where we could eat outside in their café. He says he likes the simplicity of their menu. He is singing Everybody Wants to be a Cat from the Aristocats. “I love the Aristocats,” he says. “I watched it the other night with my girlfriend’s daughter.”

By this he means his girlfriend Emilia Fox’s daughter Rose, four. The last time we met was when he was the judge of the best dog and cat food recipes for a magazine. He remembered that I’m a cat woman. We are here to talk about the 25th anniversary edition of White Heat, the book with Bob Carlos Clarke’s pictures that established him as the wild man of cuisine.

A rock and roll chef working tirelessly to get those three Michelin stars. He was the first British chef ever to attain these heights and five years later in 1999 he gave them back. But more of that later. He is now 53 but has the same fire in his eyes but exudes almost a cartoon calm. What does he think when he looks at the pictures of the beautiful young chef ? “I see my sons. That’s who I see. (Marco, 20, and Luciano, 21). He has three children – the youngest Mirabelle, 13, – with his estranged Spanishborn wife Mati Conejero, 49, with whom he has been separated for nearly a decade. The divorce seems to be the most protracted in the legal profession starting in 2007.

Have you forgiven her? “She’s my wife. There’s nothing to forgive.” And then, “Maybe I drove her mad. Blame me.” He looks at me all burning eyed and sadness. I tell him he is being unreasonably placid. Was he not hurt by the break-up, hurt by her actions? There is the longest pause. I could have eaten an Omelette Arnold Bennett, which he once made me, in the length of this silence. “I was hurt. Yes, very hurt. I’ve never admitted that before. But I’d never speak a bad word against her. She is the mother of my children, three beautiful children,” he repeats. “My mother would never have wanted me to disrespect her. You’ve got to put it in perspective.

Ambition is the most dangerous occupation in the world MARCO PIERRE WHITE

Rather proprietorially he says, “Mati is my wife. And by the way she sends her love.” Back in the day Mati and I were friends. Beautiful, funny, she liked making me bracelets and having long dinners. Really,they were just casually chatting and she sends her love.I thought these days Marco and Mati only ever screamed at one another. “No, I never scream. She is the mother of my three very, very, very beautiful children. We spent a long time of our lives with one another. I’ll always love her. She’s a special and wonderful woman.” Marco. Reality check. She smashed up your Range Rover with a scooter. He shrugs. “Materialism. Who cares.” She vandalised his walls with nail polish and blood. He looks blankly. “Mati supported me. 24 | GLmagazine.co.uk

Without her there would have been no three stars. I wouldn’t have what I have without what she did.”

“There are worse things that have happened, like my mother dying (when he was six and she was 38. She had a brain haemorrhage). “They carried her out. The ambulance doors closed. I never saw her again and I was left behind. My childhood ended when I was sixyears-old but I always try to behave as my mother would have wanted.” What happened with Mati? He has said before there were no infidelities. “We all change. We are not the same people as we started off. We are not our same selves. We all evolve differently. We were the not the same as we were five years ago or even five days ago, let alone 25 years ago.”

But I’m confused. Are you ever going to finalise this divorce? “I am married to Mati, she is my wife.” OK, but what about Silent Witness actress Emilia Fox, 40, his girlfriend of three years? What does she have to say about this? “Emilia is a wonderful person. Without most question the most understanding lady, the kindest lady in the world. In the world. She’s clever, kind, really exceptional, really special.” But how does she put up with this? “When people love each other they try to do everything they can to support each other. I don’t judge Mati and I hope that she doesn’t judge me. “She supported my dreams and supported me. For that I will always

BE IT

Photographs: Bob Carlos Clarke

@GLmagazine | 25

be grateful. Emilia understands that everybody comes with baggage and sometimes that baggage means other children. “Just like Rose came into my life and she’s very dear to me. Everybody comes with some kind of baggage. It’s all part of falling in love. You accept it. You have to.” Does Emilia make you happy? “Well. The [Daily] Mail said that we were engaged because they saw a picture of rings. I don’t know anything about it.” His fingers are indeed ring free. Also, how could he be engaged when he’s still married? “Well exactly.”

London restaurant Harveys, criticised him and tried to belittle him. Yet Ramsay has written a tribute to Marco in the book. Have they made up? “I never fell out with him,” he says. “Gordon came to my wedding with Mati with a camera crew and hid in the bushes and six months later when his show came out that’s when I knew he’d filmed my wedding. “I never fell out with Gordon, I just made the decision that I didn’t want him to be part of my life. I bumped into him on a plane and we had a good six hours at the bar.

Where did they meet? “By owning restaurants and spending my life in restaurants you meet everybody. You know who my new best friend is? Robert Plant.

“There’s a man who won three Michelin stars and still has those stars. I kept them for five years and then I wasn’t enjoying my time in the kitchen.

“So cool. The most generous man. Every time I go to bed I think of him. Stairway to Heaven. Ha, ha, ha. And the other day David Coverdale came into my hotel in Bath. And that’s how I met Emilia.

“I came from the old world of gastronomy where you have a duty to those stars and your clients and that’s why I gave them back. I couldn’t do 60 hours a week. I had been doing 80 hours a week.”

“They play a part in your life. They complete your life. They are all pieces of a jigsaw, a very important jigsaw.” Marco wants to pontificate about chance meetings and how tiny things can change your life. I want to know if the cosiness he paints with Emilia is exactly so. He looks at me not bored, not irritated, but trying to give the impression of somewhere in between the two. He might talk a lot but he’s actually rather private. But he’s also very gentlemanly. “We were together in October when it was written that we were not,” he says. “Then they [the Daily Mail] wrote that we were engaged, and they got that wrong. We are together, we are not engaged.”

In 1993 he married Mati and in December of that year Luciano came along. Partly it was because he wanted to spend more time with his family. And partly it was because “it’s very repetitive conveyor belt cuisine.” “People are coming in for those specials,” he adds. “You keep delivering those specials. I was a little bit lost, but I was no longer happy in the kitchen. “Winning three stars is a very exciting journey… retaining them is very boring. “But I place a lot of value on my stars, that’s why I gave them back. He was 33 when he won the three stars for his restaurant Hyde Park and and cooked his last meal at The Oak Room, Meridien, Piccadilly in December 1999 announcing his retirement from the kitchen.

Does he want to be engaged? “That’s the next article.” He grins, rather pleased that “It took courage to give he has accommodated my Photographs: Bob Carlos Clarke them back, to set yourself questions and the privacy of free, because that’s what his girlfriend. And with this that did. Kitchens were he offers me warm bread and wine and says that if I’m a cat person he must order me some fish. different then. I was old school. It was no different to being a mechanic when I stepped into that world. If you are working class you follow Marco has always loved animals and nature. He has planted orchards your father’s footsteps.” near his home in Wiltshire. His father Frank was a chef firstly in hotels and then large scale “The orchard is for my daughter Mirabelle. I like beautiful things. I factory canteens. Marco had a tortured relationship with his father. like my hens. Yesterday I got three eggs from my beautiful bantams. He felt that he could never please him. They made up before his death I don’t think I’m very ambitious. People get me wrong. I like to do in in 1997 and now Marco thinks that the reason he sent him to train things. I like to make things. to be a chef in Harrogate, in a prestigious restaurant in a hotel, was “In fact I have never been ambitious, only by default, by doing my job because when he himself was offered a position there he didn’t have well. Ambition is the most dangerous occupation in the world.” the courage to leave his home town Leeds. We refer back to when we were judging cat food recipes and his former protégé Gordon Ramsay, who worked under him at his first 26 | GLmagazine.co.uk

White Heat was photographed at Harveys, his first London restaurant in Wandsworth Common, where in 1988 he became the youngest ever

chef to win two Michelin stars. There is an iconic picture of him in the kitchen, cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Another when one of his junior chefs complained he was hot he slashed off his clothes with a kitchen knife. He shrugs, “It just happened. In those days it was different. It’s not the same world. “The kitchen is not the same because these days I can imagine that Mr Jason Everett (the chef whose clothes he cut off ) would be going to a lawyer’s office with the photograph and I would be down the tribunal. “All of this was done with great affection… but it will never be the same again.” It could also never be the same again because his great friend Bob Carlos Clarke, who photographed made pieces of fish look sexy because of the startling way he photographed them, committed suicide in 2006.

doing Knorr adverts. I love their stock cubes,” he says evangelically. I heard that the actor Tom Hardy was going to play him in a film of his life. “No, that’s wrong. Michael Fassbender has first refusal. Ridley Scott is going to direct it.” Scott’s company bought the rights to his memoir White Slave which was called Devil in the Kitchen in the US to capitalise on his TV show Devil’s Kitchen.

I want a hundred per cent of everything, or everybody, or nothing at all

“Bob was obsessed with Don McCullin who did all those Vietnam pictures. Bob was the Vietnam of cuisine. He was a genius. He shot on 35mm to get that grainy quality. He was a great friend. I spoke to him on the day he died. He had completely lost confidence in MARCO PIERRE himself.” Carlos Clarke was being treated in the Priory for depression when he walked in front of a train. He gave up cooking to move into the hospitality industry to franchise restaurants and hotels. He tells me that he even has a restaurant in Newcastle – Marco Pierre White’s Steak House, Bar & Grill. “I’ve got loads of restaurants. Shall I be honest? I haven’t got a clue what I’ve got. I know what’s close to me. I’ve got the Ludlow Arms and The Frogmill in Cheltenham [Andoversford] with 25 bedrooms. “That’s where I built my first ever orchard. I love the P&O (the cruise ships on which he has restaurants). They showed me the world. They make everything affordable and everything glamorous. And I love

“Ridley Scott is a genius and so kind to me,” he says. “It’s the story of me being born in Leeds and winning three stars.The interesting bit. I suppose what I do now is rather boring,” he says with a look in his eye that is both mischievous and wanting reassurance. The man who smoked the cigarette in the Michelin star kitchen and cut off the clothes of his sous chef had an endearing appeal because he was naughty and that made him exciting. “When we are in our twenties we are just naughty boys. That’s just the way we’re made. It doesn’t mean we want to be naughty, it just happens that way.

“And if we’re not naughty then we’re boring and I wouldn’t be sitting here now. I was one of those naughty boys. Have I grown up? I think I’m still a boy. Well I’m old but I’m still very young mentally.”

WHITE

Is he saying he’s an old giant baby? “I suppose I am. But one who is very well house trained.” White Heat 25 by Marco Pierre White, published by Mitchell Beazley, £25 (octopusbooks.co.uk) The Frogmill Inn, Andoversford, near Cheltenham

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THE SOCIAL NETWORK Some 180 guests enjoyed afternoon tea and a private tote at the races, raising more than ÂŁ8,000 for the Ullenwood charity N a t i o n a l S t a r, w h i c h h e l p s p e o p l e w i t h disabilities and acquired brain injuries to achieve their goals. Adrian and Anthea Newland

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tone up for summer H O L I D A Y S E A S O N I S R A P I D LY A P P R O A C H I N G A N D T O N I N G U P F O R S U M M E R I S H O T LY B E C O M I N G T H E N E W S P R I N G T R E N D . CHERANNE HACK TELLS YOU HOW TO GET IN SHAPE FOR SUMMER

ITH a barrage of fat burning DVDs and fitness apps promising the 60-second six-pack on the market, getting the Adonis beach body has never been easier.

However, with the distractions of home life and convenience foods sabotaging our efforts, fitness goals often come and go. There are many health benefits to regular exercise; it lowers cholesterol, decreases the risk of heart disease and increases stamina and circulation. Fat-busting exercise combined with optimum nutrition is key to achieving the ultimate beach body. And now is the perfect time to move it and lose it and reach your getlean goal. Toning up isn’t quite as laborious as you might think. Peter Nunn, personal trainer at Fitness First in Cheltenham, has devised a range of exercise tips which can lead to drastic results in just 12 weeks. Peter specialises in well-studied toning techniques to get clients in shape. Promising the perfect physique in double the time, clients trust his safe, controlled methods to produce rapid results. “It’s important to train in a gym where there are no distractions,” he says.

“Alternate exercises that use the upper and lower half of your body,” he says. “Do 15 squats then 15 lunges, three reps of dead lifts then three reps of press-ups. You want to keep your heart rate up in order to burn fat.” He emphasises the importance of healthy eating, sticking to a high protein diet combined with complex carbs and good fats, with foods including chicken, sweet potato and avocado. “You can’t out-train a bad diet,” he says.

Power walk every morning for 30 minutes before breakfast without fail

“It’s the only way you will be able to commit to an intensive programme.” To get the body of a lifetime, Peter recommends intensive weight training five to six days a week, twice a day. “Power walk every morning for 30 minutes before breakfast without fail,” he says. “Then weight train after work. Power walking tones the whole body and is the perfect steady exercise for fat reduction, whereas jogging will increase your fitness level but burn the muscle you want to keep.” The way to produce the most effective results is surprisingly simple; it’s what you do and when you do it that matters. 30 | GLmagazine.co.uk

Peter advises exercise that uses the whole body rather than setting individual days to work different target areas, such as legs and arms.

“It’s 60 per cent diet and 40 per cent exercise, so you have to prepare prior to your working week. “Make a healthy meal plan and cook your meals on a Sunday, then reheat them when needed.” But he adds that cutting out sugary carbs is essential when it comes to fat-burning. “Pastries, bread, chocolate and biscuits are full of sugar and your body can’t process them so it turns to fat,” he says. “It’s not the healthy high fat foods that are the problem.” Keeping insulin levels steady is vital to keep fat burning at optimum level, so Peter recommends eating every three hours.

Commitment and dedication are needed in order to cut the gut and get your dream figure; it’s about mind over matter and hard work, but it’s possible.

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J AY H A L F O R D AT T H E C O R E I N C H E LT E N H A M T A L K S T O G L A B O U T H O W T O S T A Y W E L L N O U R I S H E D A N D H E A LT H Y WE created The Core on a mission to get people healthy and get people fit through juicing and through introducing them to a much more plant-based diet. I have now started to take this mission to the next stage and look at how we can use it to improve the performance of some of our athletes. I truly believe that the manufactured way in which many of us are getting our protein fix cannot be good for our bodies. The amount of space and time that it takes to manufacture meat is not sustainable and is of very poor quality. The amount of time that it takes the body to properly digest meat is around eight hours, therefore taking much longer for the body to absorb any goodness from it. Plant-based protein sources such as nuts, seeds, avocados and algae are much more widely available and more sustainable – they are the future. They are also easily absorbed by the body. It digests them quicker and more efficiently. Compared to any other sources, plant-based ones that are 100 per cent pure and natural also contain many other benefits alongside the proteins and animo acids. These include nuts and seeds, which contain all your omega 3s and healthy fats. Juicing beetroot is also great to incorporate into the diet and has been proven to massively help with sports performance. Mixed martial artist Ronnie Mann has now been having at least two juices or smoothies a day which are packed with beetroot. He says: “I have definitely noticed the difference since Jay has had me on four juices and two smoothies a day. It has help me massively with my weight-loss after Christmas and to get fight-ready. I feel healthy and, alongside healthy-eating, it’s making me train harder and better for longer.” Increasing nitric oxide bioavailability via supplementation with nitrate-rich beetroot juice, has been shown to attenuate the negative effect of hypoxia on peripheral oxygen saturation and exercise tolerance. Juicing and raw food also massively complements training. When we train, our body is using up the sodium and potassium in our body, and a great way to replace that is with spinach, celery and cucumber. At The Core we have a juice called Energy Boost and it’s simple to make: half a cucumber, two sticks of celery, two apples, quarter of a lime and a handful of spinach. This juice is great for before or after training.

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MAGAZINE

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RECORD-BREAKING M O U N TA I N E E R K E N T O N COOL ON CONQUERING THE WORLD. PLUS,THE FINAL WORD WITH COLUMNIST PHIL V I C K E R Y A N D A L L T H E L AT E S T FA S H I O N , F O O D A N D T R A V E L GLmagazine.co.uk

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hooked for good ANGLING FOR A WELLBEING BOOST? GL LINES UP SOME OF F I S H I N G ’ S H E A LT H - E N H A N C I N G C R E D E N T I A L S

T’S the UK’s most popular participatory sport and a beloved hobby of thousands of men - and women - up and down the country.

But fishing doesn’t always get the best press. For all the Robson Greens ‘extreme’-ing it up, the general image is that it’s a bit staid, a bit boring, and generally a bit pointless.

Fishing aficionados, however, are well aware that’s not the case at all. All that baiting up, casting and reeling in has loads of good points and some of them revolve around wellbeing. Fancy netting some of those benefits for yourself ? Here are seven of fishing’s wellbeing enhancers to scale through for starters...

ups your vitamins d It doesn’t have to be sunny while you angle, simply being outside will help your body top up its very critical vitamin D reserves. Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, keeping your bones and teeth healthy, and has also been strongly linked to helping battle depression.

upsyourconcentration This outsideness also ups your ability to concentrate, according to research in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Apparently, walking in nature or simply spending time under leafy trees prompts “electrochemical changes in the brain” leading to a “highly beneficial state of effortless attention”. So there you go.

lowers your stress Several surveys of keen anglers have found that their main motivation is not just about what they might catch, but about what they can leave behind. Nearly 90% said escaping crowds and de-stressing was their ultimate goal, and there are now even charities supporting the power of fishing to treat Post Traumatic Stress.

helps your heart OK, this one does slightly depend on winning the prize that we just said wasn’t that important, but still. If you do catch something, and it’s an edible oily something, then you’ve got yourself a low-fat meal that’s packed with blood pressure-lowering and heart disease-reducing omega-3.

keeps you fit It might look like a lot of sitting, but actually, a good fishing session can be very good exercise, toning your arms, and, say the experts, burning between 250 calories (if you are just sitting) and 500 calories (if you’re angling in waders).

gives you a challenge Like any sport, fishing helps fill that basic human desire for purpose. “Fishing, like many outdoor activities or farming practices, puts you at one with nature. You’re the hunter, the provider,” says Lucy Downing of Visit North Norfolk. “You belong and have a purpose. In all, fishing takes you back to the very essence of humanity giving you a sense of place in the world.”

boosts friendship While there is no specific scientific formula for what makes a good male bonding activity, one that includes hunting things, buying lots of kit, and having an easy excuse to take along some beers is probably a good enough guess. Certainly, a National Angling Survey a few years ago revealed over 38% of anglers were introduced to fishing by a parent; 19% by another family member and 26.6% by a friend - “suggesting that familial and friendship groups are vital for the development of angling participation”.

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Country Dining Our chefs are passionate about the food they serve and know that when it comes to quality, it is the little things that count. That is why we only use the ﬁnest seasonal ingredients and source the best local produce available. Our breakfasts, lunch and dinner menus will only ever be made using the ﬁnest wholesome ingredients, turning every bite into a mouth watering delight. Breakfast: 07.00am - 09.30am Monday - Friday, 07.30am - 10.00am Saturday and Sundays only Lunch: 12.00 noon - 3.00pm Monday - Friday

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Alisa and John Craddock, their son Oliver with Danielle Cole, right and Carolyn Lacy in the centre

THE SOCIAL NETWORK A VIP drinks reception was held to celebrate the grand opening night of Room 101 waxing bar on The Promenade, Cheltenham. ÂŠAndrew Higgins

Actor Craig Parkinson

Barbara Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill-Joyce, Claire Hanchard and Penny Andrews

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A l i A n s a r, l e f t , Sammi Badat, and M.K. Zaman

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E AT I T

eat it YOUR GUIDE TO THE TOP PLACES T O I N D U L G E Y O U R TA S T E B U D S I N GLOUCESTERSHIRE

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E AT I T

where do the chefs eat in gloucestershire?

hungry for

DAVID EVERITTMATTHIAS Le Champignon Sauvage “I have two favourites at the moment,” says David. “Wild Rabbit is a fun place to go to, relaxed with a great atmosphere, and very welcoming staff. Purslane I have admired. A great neighbourhood restaurant run by a talented husband and wife team.”

HOME TO SOME OF THE W O R L D ’ S M O S T I N N O V AT I V E R E STA U R A N T S , T H E N O R D I C REGIONS ARE A FOODIE’S HEAVEN. KAREN BOWERMAN PICKS HER PERFECT DISHES ON A WHISTLE-STOP TOUR

ROB REES The Cotswold Chef

Rob enjoys menus that offer a fresh, local, ethical and sustainable process as the background to the menu planning. Recent enjoyable meals have been at No 131 Cheltenham, The Little Green Wiggly Machine, Jolly Nice Café and a simple bacon sandwich at Heathers in Cirencester.

GARETH FULFORD Purslane

“Usually, the restaurants we like to eat in are closed when we are closed, so we don’t get to eat out that often!” says Gareth. “However, we do love a Sunday lunch at 5 North Street in Winchcombe or The Chequers in Churchill. On one of our four Saturday nights off a year we like to go to The Chef’s Dozen in Chipping Campden or Le Champignon Sauvage to catch up with Helen and David.”

MARTIN ADAMS Tudor Farmhouse “Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham”, says Martin. “David Everitt Matthias is a living legend. He has had two Michelin stars for such a long time. His three-course set lunch is excellent value at £30 per head.” 38 | GLmagazine.co.uk

T H R O U G H S W E D E N , N O R WAY AND DENMARK

OR the guy that’s the equivalent of Gordon Ramsay, chef Wassim Hallal seems a surprisingly agreeable chap. Maybe my delight in his smorrebrod (Danish open sandwiches) has something to do with this, but even when my foodie companion, Bill, begins drilling him on sarnie specifics he’s still patient and polite. We’ve got three days to visit three cities in three countries: Sweden, Norway and Denmark. We meet Hallal in Aarhus, on the country’s east coast. His deli, F-Hoj, has a classy cosiness. Our open sandwiches are heaped with toppings: smoked salmon with avocado puree, smoked cheese and fresh horseradish; potato and pear with mustard and honey and eggs and crayfish with grapes and salsify.

long as it’s made with good ingredients.” Focusing on fresh, seasonal produce is at the heart of New Nordic Cuisine. It’s led to a renaissance of Scandinavian classics, including smorrebrod, which is now being seen, and served, in a new light. Using organic, regional ingredients is also the aim of Nordisk Spisehus, where Bill and I have dinner. The restaurant serves signature dishes from Michelin-starred establishments.

“I think texture is as important as taste,” Hallal tells us. “I aim for crispy, creamy, salty and sweet, all in one mouthful.”

The restaurant manager and sommelier, Ditte Susgaard, clarifies: “We don’t just copy; we try to turn every dish into a tribute to the chef who created it.

“At first, I just wanted to create high-end dishes,” he says. “But now I want to show that simple food can also taste great, as

“I look forward to seeing my dish in the hands of other chefs – the best way to create culinary art is by being open to new ideas.”

nordic gloucestershire A small restaurant offering a taste of Sweden in the heart of Cheltenham. Chow down on dill stewed potatoes, assorted herring or meatballs for lunch or pick one of their generous open sandwiches. In the evening, try a blackened cod speciality known as Kullavik or tuck into a bowl of Tanum, a creamy risotto made with wild Swedish chanterelle mushrooms. There’s also a smorgasbord available on the first Saturday of each month.

S V E A C A F E A N D R E S T A U R A N T, R O D N E Y R O A D , C H E LT E N H A M CALL: 01242 238134

is Gabriel, where we’re having lunch. It’s run by chef Johan Malm, who won the World Oyster Opening Championships in 2010. We eat sumptuously; fresh oysters from Grebbestad, the thickest of fish soups with sweet prawns and fish that’s almost al dente, and grilled plaice with browned butter and potatoes. On our final day, we forego fine dining for fishing. At Ersfjordbotn, we meet Trond Lorentzen, whose family runs a fish processing plant at nearby Brensholmen. We clamber onto his boat and chug through the fjord. Gulls bob on the water; shoals of herring dart beneath. We drop a line and almost immediately I’m pulling it up again along with a 7kg cod.

E AT I T

#hungryformore Avoided the rain by having a LONG brunch @BTPcafes #Cheltenham. Eggy bread using @HobbsHouse sourdough & avocado Lucienne Simpson @luciennesimpson Had great fun this Sunday putting in a shift during the busy lunch service at @PREGObroadway. G. << for “Georgio” ;) George Davies @George_W_Davies

Gradually, the blue twilight gives way to sunrise. The sky turns rose and a humpback whale arches gracefully through the waves. As the day grows dark, talk turns to our foodie adventure. “It’s been so much better than meatballs,” I joke, as Bill and I help ourselves to more. F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , VISIT VISITDENMARK.CO.UK, VISITSWEDEN.COM AND V I S I T N O R W A Y. C O M

George Davies

In an Indian restaurant in Newcastle. Owner auditioned for a job on Top Gear 12 years ago. Hammond got the gig. His curry was effing hot. Jeremy Clarkson @JeremyClarkson @MadeByBob beautiful Spring White Truffles now in the deli, only £2/g!

For roasted turbot (Nordisk’s own dish), she pours an oaked chardonnay. Its ripe, mineral taste works well with the intense lobster jelly.

Sarah Parker @sparkyski

Pudding is Nordisk’s own: salty hazelnut ice cream with crystallized white chocolate. It’s outrageously rich and insanely indulgent.

I strongly recommend this little restaurant @GauthierSoho,1Michelin star; it is small, romantic, elegant, welcoming and delicious wines/food

The next morning Bill and I catch a ferry to Sweden’s west coast city of Gothenburg. It’s known for its coffee culture (try da Matteo’s, which roasts its own beans) but we’re heading to the “Fish Church”. The “aisle” is laden with fresh lobster, shrimp and salmon. But it’s the variety of pickled herring that catches my eye. Choices include oregano and pink peppercorn, carrot and juniper and onion and bay leaves.

Raymond Blanc @raymond_blanc

H A V E Y O U E AT E N A N Y W H E R E SUPER DELICIOUS THIS MONTH? LET US KNOW BY TWEETING US @GLMAGAZINE W I T H T H E H A S H TA G #HUNGRYFORMORE

On a mezzanine at the far end of the market

cook up a storm scandi-style

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book now Michelin star chefs Raymond Blanc, Ashley Palmer-Watts and Nathan Outlaw will take centre stage at this year’s Big Feastival. The three-day event, held at Alex James’ farm in Kingham, runs from August 28 to 30 with Jamie Oliver and Gennaro Contaldo also cooking up a storm. Tickets are on sale now. Visit bigfeastival.com

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Fa i r f o r d ’ s n e w v i c a r, C a r o l i n e S y m c o x

THE SOCIAL NETWORK Guests gathered at Arkell’s The Bull Hotel i n Fa i r f o r d f o r a s p e c i a l d i n n e r t o t o a s t t h e best local beef. ©Lucy Hamilton Photography

Ian Summers and Andrew Butler

Ian and Liz Summers

Megan Archer and Adam Curtin

E AT I T

sage advice

THE HONEST OPINION

This month, with the re-release of Marco Pierre White’s iconic White Heat book, Jonny Whiley puts one of his classic dessert recipes to the test. Will Marco’s method of fruit soufflé rise to the challenge or will Jonny have egg on his face? In round two in the battle of the celebrity chef cookbooks, Jamie Oliver’s lamb recipe take centre stage. His 15-minute and 30-minute meal books have come in for criticism over the years, but is it valid? Jonny digs out his best serving board and prepares for a Greek feast.

L A M B K O F T E P I T TA A N D

PA S S I O N F R U I T S O U F F L É S

GREEK SALAD

Marco Pierre White: White Heat 25, waterstones.co.uk

It’s a recipe which should come with a warning. So here it is – don’t try this at home unless you have the patience of a saint. I do not – and by the end I could have thrown a packet of Knorr stockpots at Marco’s smouldering face. It’s a lovehate relationship where desserts are concerned. Love to eat them – hate to make them It’s the exact science of it all; endless measurements, a drop of water here, half a teaspoon there. Anyway. I read the recipe twice – I’ve been watching that sweet old lady who never stops eating cake on TV – and got to work. First, crème patisserie. Oh lord – let the milk simmer, cool, add to a sugar and egg mixture and then whisk continuously on the heat. It’s pretty simple but the error margin is high – a moment too long or a notch too high on the cooker and you have scrambled eggs. Thankfully I caught it just in time and let the mixture cool in a bowl of iced water as Marco suggests. Next you have to cut 12 and a half passion fruits – enough to put Um Bongo! out of business – and sieve out the seeds. Then there’s the laborious process of whisking the egg whites and sugar to soft peaks and folding the whole thing together as gently as possible. Crikey, after all that waiting I was exhausted. One last push. I filled the ramekins with the mix and seven minutes later they emerged from the oven like little golden pillows. Not exactly perfect – they didn’t rise a great deal – but pretty darn good. J O N N Y ’ S P R E PA R AT I O N T I M E : 5 0 M I N S JONNY’S COOKING TIME: 7 MINS

key ingredients

what i thought

Available in Jamie’s 15-Minute Meals, £15.99, waterstones.co.uk

Bish, bash, bosh! The Naked Chef ’s recipes tend to be a pretty failsafe option and so the pressure was well and truly on. I should declare myself a fan at this point – branded mugs rather than bedroom wall posters – as I’m yet to find a Jamie recipe I haven’t liked. To lamb mince then, with a generous kick of spice from garam masala, a good grind of black pepper and a healthy pinch of salt. Simples. No egg, no flour, no ruddy breadcrumbs. The lamb, a naturally fattier meat, holds everything together so you can make little koftas very easily indeed. I fried them in a little oil until golden brown all over and then started to assemble my salad board. Jamie recommends grating an onion at this point. Don’t listen to him – it’s a nightmare. Cut it very finely instead and add gratings of cucumber, chunks of lettuce, slices of tomatoes, a few springs of mint and a sprinkle of sharp feta cheese. He’s got a cracking lemon and natural yoghurt dressing too which you can whip up in seconds. The entire dish is perfect ‘sharing’ food; it’s light and fresh and looks fabulous too. JONNY’S REAL COOKING TIME: 25 MINS

key ingredients SERVES 2 200g lean lamb mince ½ tsp garam masala Pistachios Fresh thyme ½ tbsp runny honey

SERVES 2

12 ½ passion fruit 2 tbsp crème patisserie 5 egg whites

COOKING TIME: 15MINS

42g caster sugar Few drops lemon juice 15 ml water

At first I was afraid. I was petrified. Kept thinking I’d never get through it without a glass of wine. But then I spent so much time thinking this could all go wrong and then it grew strong, as Marco suggested all along.

Couscous ½ bunch fresh mint

½ fresh red chilli 75g couscous Salad ½ Iceberg lettuce ½ red onion ½ cucumber 5 ripe cherry tomatoes

4 black olives 2 heaped tbsp fat-free yoghurt Lemon juice 20g feta cheese

what i thought

Laverly jubbly! Although it took me at least 10 minutes more than the recipe suggested, it’s a simple, flavoursome, colourful dish that is perfect to add to any repertoire. I’ll be back for more. @GLmagazine | 41

E AT I T

MEET THE CHEF: Purslane Restaurant H E A D C H E F G A R E T H F U L F O R D AT S E A F O O D R E S T A U R A N T P U R S L A N E P R O M I S E S O N LY T H E B E S T I N G R E D I E N T S . H E C H AT S T O S U E B R A D L E Y A B O U T C R E AT I N G H I S L AT E S T M E N U S

MALL touches make a big difference at Purslane restaurant in Cheltenham.

Head chef Gareth Fulford sets out to use the best ingredients he can possibly find when he’s drawing up his menus. That’s why something as basic as the potatoes he cooks with will be heritage varieties that are full of flavour, while the scallops he serves are hand-dived from The Kyle of Lochalsh. His emphasis on freshness and quality means that he is able to keep his flavour combinations straightforward, allowing the ingredients to speak for themselves. “I am passionate about food and I cannot see that ever diminishing,” says Gareth, who has been a chef for 21 years. “To me the changing seasons are inspiring and we change our menus every month so that we can match the best seasonal produce with the fish or meat we’re using. “We buy British and local wherever possible: freshness is everything.” Purslane enjoys an enviable reputation for its fish and seafood and there are always three such choices on its à la carte menu, along with meat and vegetable-based options. Gareth relies on the catches from Cornish day boats, delivered by Fairford-based New Wave Seafood, for most of the fish he uses. “It’s sustainably caught and we try to champion under-used species such as gurnard, mackerel and megrim sole,” he explains. “I am very much led by what the fishermen are landing.” Other ingredients are often sourced from Gloucestershire and surrounding counties, with Cacklebean Eggs from Stow-on-the-

Wold, Severn and Wye Smokery in Westbury -on-Severn and Native Breeds Charcuterie from Lydney among his suppliers. Some might consider Purslane’s emphasis on fish to be ironic when they learn that Gareth’s grandparents were butchers in his native Wolverhampton. “Cooking was what I always wanted to do,” laughs Gareth. “I was always around food from an early age. “I have always enjoyed cooking with fish and when we took on our own restaurant we wanted to do something that would make us stand out from the crowd.” Gareth cooked at various racecourses, during which time he often was called upon to cater for the royal box, and the Kingham Plough before joining forces with his Cheltenhamborn wife Helena and their business partner Stephanie Ronssin, who runs the front of house, to open Purslane. Since then they haven’t looked back, earning a large number of repeat customers and a steady stream of accolades for their efforts. Recently their restaurant was ranked within the top 100 in the UK by the Good Food Guide. “We’re constantly trying to evolve; always pushing ourselves to be better and refining our dishes,” says Gareth, who shares his kitchen with his sous chef and a trainee pastry chef. “We hold a special tasting evening on the first Thursday of the month so that diners can take a tour of that month’s à la carte menu. It’s really catching on and the reaction of diners is really satisfying. “We love cooking but Purslane is about customer enjoyment as well.”

cornish hake with darra cockles, heritage tomatoes and seashore greens ingredients

2 pieces of hake, approx 120g each 200g cockles 2 heritage tomatoes 1 glass white wine 1 finely chopped shallot

100g seashore greens (samphire or sea spinach) Lemon juice Butter Rapeseed oil Salt Pepper

method

Cut the tomatoes in half, oil and season them and pop them in the oven. While they’re in the oven, wash the cockles thoroughly under cold running water for 10 minutes. Wash the seashore greens for the same reason. Heat a non-stick frying pan on the hob, season the fish, add a little oil to the pan and place the fish in, skin-side down. Add a knob of butter as it starts to cook. Meanwhile, heat a saucepan on the hob, large enough to take the cockles. Add oil, then the shallot and cook until softened. Add the cockles and the white wine, put the lid on and turn up the heat. When the cockles have opened, add your tomatoes and season. The hake will turn white as it cooks. In a separate pan, wilt the samphire or spinach in a little emulsion of boiling water and butter. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice into your cockle and tomato stew and serve it in a dish with the hake and greens. Photograph: Gerard Hughes

find us 16 Rodney Road, Cheltenham Gloucestershire, GL50 1JJ 01242 321639 purslane-restaurant.co.uk @GLmagazine | 43

44 | GLmagazine.co.uk

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THE HIDDEN O GEM AT N .38 B O U T I Q U E H OT E L N O . 3 8 T H E PA R K H A S B E E N O P E N FOR ALMOST A YEAR. SUE BRADLEY DISCOVERS HOW IT OFFERS MORE THAN FIRST MEETS THE EYE

MPRESSIVE and elegant yet comfortable and quirky: No 38 The Park is a boutique hotel that really is a home from home for people staying in Cheltenham.

Guests at this stylish 13-bedroom Georgian townhouse in Evesham Road can make the most of its spacious lounge, light and airy open kitchen and dining area, courtyard and well-stocked honesty bar. But to regard this beautiful building on the edge of Pittville Park simply as an oasis of calm that visitors can use as a base when they come to Gloucestershire is to overlook its capacity to provide the perfect party house. Whether it’s a wedding celebration, family get-together, business do, Christmas party or launch, it can be hired in its entirety for private events. No 38 The Park is the latest addition to the stable of The Lucky Onion company, which also own No 131 and The Tavern in Cheltenham, The Wheatsheaf in Northleach and The Chequers in Churchill. The company, run by husband and wife team Sam and Georgina Pearman, purchased its fifth property last year. Since then the townhouse, built in 1830, has been carefully renovated and furnished to create a luxurious hotel that remains true to its Georgian heritage, albeit with a peppering of contemporary touches such as a warming glass-fronted feature fire that can be seen from the front door and dazzling modern chandeliers. The 13 individually decorated bedrooms boast artworks by British artists such as David Hockney, Sir Peter Blake and Roni Stretch, reconditioned antique radiators, large Loewe televisions with full Sky entertainment packages and Apple docks. They all have queen or king-sized beds made up with Egyptian cotton linens supplied by British company Three Thieving Magpies and en-suite bathrooms fitted with under-floor heating and large-headed power showers.

Toiletries laid on for guests are made from essential oils using natural botanicals by the English company 100 Acres and there are hot water bottles with hand-knitted Aran covers, information books and individual welcome letters in every room. Meanwhile teas from the Rare Tea Company, coffees, beef jerky, popcorn and chocolate are also provided. The rooms fall into three categories based on their sizes, views and facilities, beginning with ‘cosy’ at £120 a night. The ‘very good’ rooms, which include twin showers and basins, cost £150, while the wellappointed ‘excellent’ rooms with their pop-up televisions and antique bath tubs are £180. Included in the ‘excellent’ category is Room One, with its views of the park. Continental breakfasts are laid on for all guests, with an option of cooked food, and private chefs, nannies, in room 100 Acres treatments, butlers, bar staff and flowers can be organised if required. Permanently on site are Australian-born hosts Adam Souter and Kassandra Snow, whose job it is to welcome guests and make their stays as comfortable as possible. “The hotel is meant to feel like a guest’s home, however long they’re staying,” explains Adam. “We aim to make them feel very welcome. “Guests can use this place as they choose: they can use our rooms to hold private dinner parties or meetings; we have a conference phone and a facility to link computers to a television for slide shows if required.

find us

“This is an especially popular hotel for people staying in Cheltenham for its festivals and for the racing; we started taking bookings for the races last year.” No 38’s capacity to provide a stunning venue for parties has really taken off too. “We have seen several Christmas parties being held here and some wedding celebrations,” says Adam. “It’s the perfect place for an exceptional house party.”

38 Evesham Road Cheltenham, GL52 2AH no38thepark.com / 01242 822 929 WHERE IS YOUR TOP TABLE IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE? TWEET US @GLMAGAZINE @GLmagazine | 45

46 | GLmagazine.co.uk

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WILD AT HEART T W O B R O T H E R S A R E P U T T I N G W I L D A N D E X O T I C M E AT B A C K O N T H E F O O D M A P. J O N A T H A N W H I L E Y F I N D S O U T I F C I R E N C E S T E R ’ S T R E N D I E S T R E S T A U R A N T, E A T WILD, LIVES UP TO THE HYPE

ABLECLOTHS and menus are a little like a Bruce Forsyth dance routine; we still hold them dear in our hearts but there’s no getting away from the fact they are becoming increasingly outdated. Of course they’re nice to see (to see them nice) occasionally, if only to remind us that they still exist. But then the same could be said of an eccentric relative who visits at Christmas and drinks the seven-year-old bottle of Bristol Cream you were hoping to use as a recycled gift.

Oh how times have changed in the world of food and drink. Delia is no longer showing us to how to make a sandwich – she’s far too busy wine tasting – soya milk is no longer the domain of dreadlocked hippies and guacamole isn’t considered some form of disease. Hallelujah! Above all though, we’re more discerning diners and it seems we’re happy to pay top dollar if the food is good, the ingredients are local and we can buy into a concept. Because these days it’s all about the concept. The vibe. The brand. Preferably all washed down with a superfood salad and a kale and goji berry smoothie. I rebelled against this for a while – what’s wrong with prawn cocktail in a crystal glass and a Depeche Mode vinyl? But I soon realised the error of my ways. The truth is, in this brave new culinary world, food is so much more exciting. When restaurateurs get it right – and don’t put style above substance – I couldn’t give a taramasalata about a starter drowned in Marie Rose sauce. To effortlessly cool Eat Wild in Cirencester then which, through word of mouth, is earning itself quite the reputation. Of course it helps when Levi Roots – of Reggae Reggae sauce fame – pops in and recommends it on Twitter and the Channel 4 cameras have also featured Calum and Will Thompson, the siblings who founded the restaurant in 2010. But I didn’t really know any of this before I ate there. It was through ye olde tradition of word of mouth that brought it to my attention. The restaurant sits beneath a trendy wine bar in Castle Street, Cirencester, and there’s not a great deal of fanfare to suggest the eclectic interior. When you do enter, it’s a little like tumbling down the rabbit hole. A taxidermy

fox, sporting a red scarf, stares at you from his perch above the bar, a squirrel clings on to one of the suspended lights and a pair of rutting stags form the centrepiece of the statement wall art. Everywhere you look, there’s something that will catch your eye. In many cases, quite literally. I could write an entire piece on the interior – the lampshade made from pheasant feathers, the antlers, the tuba – the attention to detail is remarkable. I should say something about the food though, since I’m contractually obliged. There’s no starters so you’re straight into full frontal mains. There’s a blackboard with several chalk-scrawled offerings to navigate; venison and barley broth, pulled pork (obviously) and whole fallow fillet should you wish. Instead we chose the wild venison burger, a pulled roe deer chilli and a couple of sides. They arrived in no time with each allowing the quality of the game to speak for itself. The burger, a tower of meaty splendour, was perfect; left a little on the medium-rare side, it was juicy, well-seasoned and moreish with a portion of fries served in a bang-on trend ceramic cup. The roe deer chilli was equally magnificent with a generous spike of heat and beautifully tender, flavoursome meat. I did have one bone to pick – in the literal sense of removing it from my mouth – but I took another gulp of my Goose Island Pale Ale and soon forgave them. Our halloumi salad was vibrant and fresh with crisp cubes of the cheese and a light lemony dressing, while the slaw, served in a mess tin, was creamy and crunchy in equal measure. Cocktails and dessert followed. The latter is without doubt THE best Oreo cheesecake you will ever taste. I’m not kidding. I’ve dreamt of it ever since. The waiter,naturally sporting a salt and pepper beard and checked shirt, recommended the cocktails. The basil and gin gimlet was summer in a glass, while another, made up of Campari, sloe gin and Prosecco was scarily easy to drink. A rogue bone aside, Eat Wild is putting wild meat firmly on the map again. You could say it’s on top of its game. All photographs by Anna Lythgoe

find us 4 Castle Street, Cirencester, GL7 1QA eat-wild.co.uk / 01285 850033 HAVE YOU RECENTLY VISITED A NEW RESTAURANT AND WANT OTHERS TO KNOW? TWEET US @GLMAGAZINE. @GLmagazine | 47

48 | GLmagazine.co.uk

FURLONGS AHEAD

E AT I T

T H E STA R T E R ’ S F L A G I S D O W N A N D T H E G O I N G I S A L R E A D Y P R O V I N G T O B E G O O D AT T H E J O C K E Y I N N . S U E B R A D L E Y D I S C O V E R S W H Y T H E A R E A’ S L AT E S T G A ST R O P U B I S W O RT H A C LO S E R LO O K

HE newly-refurbished Jockey Inn has got off to a flying start after a three-year refurbishment and the odds are that it will be a winner with customers looking for great food and a memorable ambience. Located in the village of Baughton near Upton-upon-Severn, the free house blends a sense of heritage with a contemporary feel. The owner Rebekah Seddon-Wickens has overseen the multi-million transformation of the pub and is looking forward to welcoming guests.

“We are serving simple yet delicious dishes that allow the provenance of the ingredients to speak for themselves,” says James. The pub’s name is thought to be linked to racing stables that were part of the Croome estate and this has prompted Rebekah to work with renowned interior designers Harrisons to create a restaurant that honours the horse and the jockey. Quirky touches such as saddles, boots, buckles

She believes The Jockey Inn’s position on the Worcestershire/Gloucestershire border will make it especially popular with people from Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.

All of the meat comes from Royal Warrant Holder Aubrey Allen of Leamington Spa and James says he is looking forward to using locally-grown fruit and vegetables such as asparagus, strawberries and plums when they are in season.

There is also a menu of signature cocktails, including The Jockey, made with blackberries, cracked black pepper, Chivas Regal, Crème de Cassis and apple and pineapple juices; and Red Rum, created from Captain Morgan spiced rum, fresh lime juice, pineapple and apple juices and a dash of grenadine for colour.

For Rebekah, who has spent several years as a property developer, transforming The Jockey has been a new experience that looks set to be the starting line for similar projects in the future.

“As a team, we have worked tirelessly to create a new destination for people to enjoy dinner and drinks with friends and family.”

The pub’s menu offers a selection of simple dishes cooked with quality ingredients, with choices including braised belly of pork, ‘Cotswold White’ free range chicken breast, pan seared sea bass and the Jockey’s signature burger made from finest steak mince among the choices.

On the pumps is a range of locally-brewed ales such as Wye Valley’s Butty Bach, along with the popular Doom Bar from Cornwall, while ciders include Stowford Press on tap and the popular bottled Rekorderlig fruit varieties.

Rebekah was born and bred in Cheltenham but has spent many years in Birmingham and is bringing several feature of city dining to The Jockey Inn. The pub is opening seven days a week and serving food up until 9pm. Sharing boards have also been introduced.

“Our ethos throughout has been to try to create an exceptional rural dining experience which is relaxed in atmosphere yet exudes well-executed menus delivered by a team whose passion for food and wine is infectious,” she says.

Taking the helm in the kitchen is Michelintrained head chef James Garth, who spent more than 10 years at Colwall Park Hotel. He is joined by Piotr Antkowicz, who previously worked at Ellenborough Park near Cheltenham, and a team of talented chefs.

priced fine wine and Champagne set to be one of the hallmarks of the inn.

and other racing memorabilia nod to the pub’s heritage and these are complemented by natural materials such as slate, oak, leather, wicker and wood and contemporary lighting and furniture. “Paying tribute to the restaurant’s racing heritage, as well as creating a home from home ambience, has been at the core of my work,” explains interior designer Mathilde Le Villain. “We wanted a hint of style, sophistication and individuality while also enabling an ambience where people still feel relaxed and at ease. This is a place for everyday dining as well as special occasions.” A large glass ambient-controlled feature cellar sitting at the heart of The Jockey is already a talking point for diners, with reasonably-

“It’s great to have been involved in something from the beginning and to get such a huge amount of positive feedback,” she says. “At a time when many village pubs are closing, we are bringing one back and making it a place to which people want to go.”

find us Pershore Road, Baughton, Earls Croome, Worcestershire, WR8 9DQ thejockeyinn.co.uk / 01684 592153 @GLmagazine | 49

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restaurant guide L O O K I N G F O R S O M E W H E R E T O E AT O U T ? C H E C K O U T O U R G U I D E T O R E S TA U R A N T S I N G L O U C E S T E R S H I R E T H E R OYA L

MADE BY BOB

5 4 H O R S E F A I R S T R E E T,

THE CORNHALL, 26 MARKET

BLUEGINGERGLOUCESTER.CO.UK

C H A R LT O N K I N G S , C H E LT E N H A M

CIRENCESTER, GL7 2NY

01452 411102

R OYA L P U B . C O . U K • 0 1 2 4 2 2 2 8 9 3 7 F O O D M A D E BY B O B . C O M

Blue Ginger is much more than just an Indian restaurant. It is a fantastic experience during which you can enjoy the finest contemporary and fusion cuisine available. Their highly experienced chefs are innovative and original and are continuously working to create new dishes to compliment traditional favourites. The modern Indian food at Blue Ginger is always imaginatively presented and delicately spiced. The menu incorporates both traditional classical flavours and original dishes that apply Eastern flavours with a Western twist. The menu features a vibrant mix of dishes from culinary areas across India. Only the finest and freshest ingredients are used with many of the recipes having been handed down generations.

The Royal’s philosophy is all about simple fresh food expertly prepared and many of their dishes are cooked on the chargrill with grilled steaks, meat and fish a speciality. Whatever the occasion, whether it’s for lunch or dinner, a quick pint of ale or simply for a coffee, you will always find a warm and friendly welcome when you visit The Royal, which is set in the heart of Charlton Kings, They pride themselves on good simple fresh food. The menus change frequently which allows them to take advantage of seasonal produce and endeavour to use local suppliers wherever possible, like their butcher, Pete Jefferies, who is situated just around the corner. It’s also a perfect spot to soak up the sun on a spring day.

BLUE GINGER 72

BRISTOL ROAD, GLOUCESTER

01285 641818 Their aim is to provide a relaxed meeting place where people can enjoy fantastic food and drink throughout the day, from breakfast and mid-morning coffee through to lunch and afternoon tea. The menu at Made By Bob changes daily and they use as much seasonal, local produce as they can – but they do have a love for beautiful Italian produce. They make everything on-site in the huge open kitchen that dominates the room. They also offer a bespoke outside catering service to meet almost any requirement, including summer weddings, autumn birthdays and Christmas parties. Alternatively, pop in to their deli counter where they serve a wide range of produce.

SAMPLE MENU

S TA R T E R Popadoms and pickle tray, with onion salad, mint sauce, lime pickle and mango chutney

S TA R T E R Grilled goat’s cheese on pesto toast with pine nuts and honey

S TA R T E R Salad of morcilla with white bean puree, pimentos, courgette relish and a poached egg

MAIN Shatkora Bhuna – cooked with Shatkora (a bitter lemon vegetable from Bangladesh) with chicken, lamb or vegetarian, plus rice DESSERT Matka Kulfi – a traditional Indian ice cream

50 | GLmagazine.co.uk

MAIN Braised ox cheek with mustard mash, red wine gravy and red cabbage DESSERT The Royal Waffle with Fraser’s Crumbly Butter Fudj, ice cream, cream and toffee sauce

MAIN Cutlets of milk-fed lamb with crushed Jerusalem artichokes, prosciutto, green olives and truffle DESSERT Milk chocolate bavarois with malt anglaise and honeycomb

E AT I T

restaurant guide L O O K I N G F O R S O M E W H E R E T O E AT O U T ? C H E C K O U T O U R G U I D E T O R E S TA U R A N T S I N G L O U C E S T E R S H I R E WHARF HOUSE

RED PEPPER

D I N O ’ S TA V E R N A

HORSESHOE DRIVE, HIGHNAM,

1 3 R E G E N T S T R E E T, C H E LT E N H A M

1 S A I N T C A T H E R I N E S T R E E T,

GLOUCESTER

R E D P E P P E R C H E LT E N H A M . C O . U K

GLOUCESTER

THEWHARFHOUSE.CO.UK

01242 253900

01452 410055

01452 332900

Red Pepper is a combination of a relaxed coffee lounge, delicatessen serving high quality products; with the emphasis being on local produce. Finally there is a bistro serving delicious freshly prepared food in a comfortable informal environment. Providing customers with a wide variety of deli products, sourced from local suppliers, ranging from handmade sausages from Evesham; ice cream from the Cotswold Ice Cream Company and smoked meats from the Upton Smokery, Burford. They are open five nights a week, and provide breakfast, lunch and evening menu as well as a pre-theatre dining menu – aimed at customers wishing to have two or three courses with limited time constraints.

Dino’s Taverna has been up and running for more than 40 years and they are proud of their vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. They have a first-rate reputation in the local area as well as further afield. As a family-run business, they know how to provide fantastic tasting food as well as a personal and dedicated customer service. The authentic dishes that they have on the menu means they can give the customers a taste of traditional Greek food – right on their doorstep. Having relocated to Gloucester from Cheltenham six years ago, they have worked hard to maintain a good atmosphere and keep their reputation as one of the most popular restaurants in the county.

The Wharf House is a waterside restaurant with rooms overlooking the canal at Over and the River Severn. Menus are created with flair and imagination, giving mouth-watering quality food to savour. The experienced team pride themselves on the use of only the freshest local produce where possible which means the menus are constantly changing to take advantage of seasonal produce. There is a fine blend of setting and dining on the edge of the historic city of Gloucester. The Wharf House is a unique business in Gloucester; owned and run by the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust with all profits used for the promotion and restoration of the Gloucester canal.

SAMPLE MENU

S TA R T E R Duck – a fan of pink duck, orange segments, caramelised walnuts and rocket salad

S TA R T E R King prawns sautéed in garlic with provencal sauce served on a grilled bruschetta

MAIN Meze – a Greek speciality, an exciting array of 22 hot and cold dishes served in two courses

MAIN Herefordshire Pork – tenderloin filled

MAIN Monkfish tails marinated in Thai spices cooked in a green curry sauce, crunchy vegetables served with rice

Afelia Pork – marinated pork in red wine cooked with aromatic spices served with rice, Greek yogurt and fresh Greek salad

DESSERT

Individual Amaretto cheesecake with summer fruit compote

Baklava – layers of filo pastry with Champagne-soaked chopped almond or cashew nuts, drizzled with honey

with apricot and orange, served with buttery swede mash and french beans cooked in martini bacon and onion DESSERT Trio of chocolate – a white chocolate sorbet, flourless chocolate cake, dark chocolate and grand marnier mousse

@GLmagazine | 51

E AT I T

restaurant guide L O O K I N G F O R S O M E W H E R E T O E AT O U T ? C H E C K O U T O U R G U I D E T O R E S TA U R A N T S I N G L O U C E S T E R S H I R E TIGER’S EYE

THE SWAN

THE HARVEST HOME

9 A S O U T H G A T E S T R E E T,

S O U T H R O P, G L 7 3 N U

EVESHAM ROAD, GREET

GLOUCESTER

01367 850205

C H E LT E N H A M G L 5 4 5 B H

THEOLDBELL-TIGERSEYE.CO.UK

T H E S W A N A T S O U T H R O P. C O . U K

T H E - H A R V E S T- H O M E . C O . U K

01452 332993 The Tiger’s Eye Restaurant at the Old Bell is in a prime position, situated in the heart of Roman Gloucester where the four ancient gate streets cross. The menu fuses rare treats such as sushi and dim sum, tantalizing noodles and the legendary Black Rock Grill. From succulent prawns to tender fillets of steak to delicious halloumi, enliven your taste buds while enjoying this sensational cooking medium. Alternatively the chefs will prepare your meal for you in the traditional way. The bar at the Old Bell offers a liquid feast of fine wines, beers, cocktails and spirits from around the globe. Prepare to be inspired and spoilt for choice by the vast collection we have to offer.

The Swan at Southrop is a quintessential 17th century Cotswold village pub. With highly acclaimed modern British and European cuisine, the menus are created with flair and imagination, maximising the use of the freshest produce from the kitchen, gardens, and their own hens and quails for eggs, combined with the excellent local suppliers. There is a comfortable, relaxed and informal ambiance, with experienced staff providing efficient and friendly service. There are two new pub gardens that will be opening at Easter, designed by Bunny Guinness. One is for public use and the other is more formal and can be booked out exclusively.

01242 602388 A traditional country pub in the heart of the Gloucestershire countryside in the village of Greet, a 15-minute drive from Cheltenham or the Cotswold hills, The Harvest Home welcomes families, walkers and dogs. They have a great variety of hand-pulled house and guest ales, beers and wines. They hold regular events including live bands, quiz nights and men’s and ladies darts. The Harvest Home has a large beer garden at the rear of the pub, perfect for spending lazy sunny afternoons sipping an ale, or watching the GWR steam trains pass. And to compliment this further, there is also generous off-road parking.

SAMPLE MENU

S TA R T E R The Tiger’s Eye sushi plate – hand-rolled sushi consisting of nigiri, maki and ISO

S TA R T E R Pappardelle – white Bianchetto truffle, hand-cut pappardelle, reggiano

S TA R T E R Homemade potted chicken liver pate

MAIN Fish and chips – beer-battered haddock, hand cut chips, mushy peas,

MAIN Duo of Fish – sea bass and cod fillet, dressed with tomatoes, black olives,

and tartare sauce

dill and lemon

DESSERT Tarte Tatin – pear tarte tatin for two to share, with vanilla ice cream.

Blade of Beef – slow-cooked beef In a rich wine sauce

MAIN Black Rock four meat selection – kangaroo fillet, ostrich fillet, sashimi grade tuna loin and tiger prawns DESSERT White chocolate cheesecake with poached strawberry and spun sugar

52 | GLmagazine.co.uk

E AT I T

restaurant guide L O O K I N G F O R S O M E W H E R E T O E AT O U T ? C H E C K O U T O U R G U I D E T O R E S TA U R A N T S I N G L O U C E S T E R S H I R E T O P O LY S

SEBZ

CAFÉ RENE

4 9 S O U T H G A T E S T R E E T,

9 3 N O R T H G A T E S T R E E T,

3 1 S O U T H G AT E S T R E E T

GLOUCESTER GL1 1TX

GLOUCESTER

T O P O LY S . C O M • 0 1 4 5 2 3 3 1 0 6 2

SEBZ.CO.UK • 01452 310599

CAFERENE.CO.UK • 01452 309340

Topolys is a friendly, family-run Italian restaurant established in 1990 serving fresh home-cooked food in a traditional, yet modern, setting with a relaxed atmosphere. There is a wide menu serving pasta, risotto, fish, salads, steaks and specialities such as pork and chicken dishes. There is also a fine selection of classic Italian wines. Furthermore, a takeaway service is available with 10 per cent discount off your total order. There is a lunchtime special offer of homemade pizza or pasta for only £5.95. Between Sunday and Wednesday, you are able to enjoy three courses for just £11.50. All their food is made fresh to order and they make it easy to cater for all appetites.

Enjoy traditional Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine in a friendly and relaxed setting. They offer a mouthwatering selection of tapas at lunchtime, a full à la carte evening menu or for something in the morning, hot breakfasts, pastries and delicious coffee. The relaxed and informal atmosphere makes the chefs focus on delivering the most tantalising dishes in the area, specialising in fresh fish, grilled meats, a wide selection of tapas and offering tasty vegetarian options. So whether you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate a special occasion, an intimate dinner for two, or just looking to take a daytime break, visit Sebz for a taste of the Mediterranean.

Set in the heart of Gloucester, Café René is steeped in history. The building once served as an ale brewery for the resident monks, and over the decades has transformed its current form as a thriving venue. It attracts a multitude of visitors, tempted in by the sociable atmosphere, fantastic food, festivals, and live music. Being a top steakhouse grill they have a full and varied menu but pride themselves on serving the finest expertly grilled prime steaks, from traditional cuts of rib-eye, sirloin and rump to the premium fillet and T-bone. The hearty well-priced dishes on the menu are crafted from locally sourced ingredients, with a range of choices for vegetarians and catering for all dietary needs.

SAMPLE MENU

S TA R T E R Brushetta al funghi, topped with fresh mushrooms, garlic, cream and pesto sauce

S TA R T E R Cogumelos – mushrooms stuffed with spinach, shallots and mature cheddar (V)

S TA R T E R Sautéed garlic mushrooms, in a white wine and cream sauce, with fresh white or granary bread

MAIN Pollo pomodoro – breast of chicken,

MAIN Espetada – Portuguese kebab, (fillet

chilli, napoli sauce, green peppers, herbs, mozzarella cheese and red wine

steak, chicken, Parma ham) with garlic butter, white wine, Portuguese paprika, salad and chunky chips

MAIN Homemade steak and ale pie (using ale of the week) with your choice of potatoes and salad or fresh vegetables

DESSERT Homemade tirimisu – homemade Italian trifle, made with coffee, mascapone cheese and Italian liquor.

DESSERT DESSERT Semifredo, nougat ice cream with crunchy hazenuts

Vanilla baked cheesecake

@GLmagazine | 53

E AT I T

restaurant guide L O O K I N G F O R S O M E W H E R E T O E AT O U T ? C H E C K O U T O U R G U I D E T O R E S TA U R A N T S I N G L O U C E S T E R S H I R E LOWER SLAUGHTER MANOR

BUCKLAND MANOR

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B U C K L A N D , N R B R O A D W AY,

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LOWERSLAUGHTER.CO.UK

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01451 820456

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Situated in one of England’s prettiest villages, Lower Slaughter Manor is a beautiful 17th century manor house, which combines striking interiors with traditional charm, attentive service and one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the Cotswolds. Each one of the hotel’s 19 guest rooms and suites is individual in style with many featuring views over the front lawns and beautiful village of Lower Slaughter beyond. The restaurant at Lower Slaughter Manor celebrates the finest regional and seasonal produce. Executive chef Nik Chappell creates tantalising menus that are English at their core, perfectly matched by the sommelier’s wine selections.

One of the most elegant country house hotels in the Cotswolds, Buckland Manor is tucked away in a tranquil corner of the village of Buckland, next to the old village church. Set in 10-acres of grounds which blend seamlessly into the village, the beautiful manor house is unmarked by the passing of time. It is an idyllic setting from which to enjoy an exceptionally warm welcome, tantalising menus crafted from the ‘market garden of England’ and breathtaking Cotswold scenery. All 15 bedrooms are individual; original features include leaded windows and beamed ceilings, combined with luxurious fabrics and spectacular views.

Set in the heart of one of the most picturesque Cotswold villages, The Slaughters Country Inn offers the authentic charm of a traditional village inn; exceptional food made with the best local produce, a fine selection of local ales, roaring log fires to warm the winter months and a stunning terrace for when the sun shines. The Slaughters Country Inn is perfect for a country break where wellies, walks and unwinding are the order of the day. The Inn’s 25 guestrooms and six charming cottages each blend the traditional features of the oldest part of the house with contemporary design.

SAMPLE MENU

S TA R T E R Roasted quail with butternut squash, truffle and pumpkin seeds

S TA R T E R Seared scallops with grilled sardine, hazelnut pesto, celery jelly and winter truffle

S TA R T E R Cured Loch Duart salmon with capers, horseradish and cucumber dressing

MAIN Monkfish loin with trompettes, salt baked celeriac and fennel DESSERT Blood orange soufflé with pistachio ice cream and crumble

MAIN Breast of partridge with red onion and port purée, creamed leek, confit leg sausage and baby beets DESSERT Praline parfait with milk chocolate aero, toasted hazelnuts, dark chocolate sorbet

54 | GLmagazine.co.uk

MAIN Chargrilled pork cutlet with mesclun leaves and house fries DESSERT Steamed sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream

Ta Lis

Paddy Brennan, Lindsey Brennan and James Smith

Shelle Duffin and Abigail Evans

Ta r a C a v e n d i s h , C l a i r e H i l l m a n , M a r t h a To m l i n s , L i s a To m l i n s a n d L i l y To m l i n s

THE SOCIAL NETWORK Champion jockeys and VIP guests gathered at the launch of the newly refurbished Jockey Inn in Upton-upon-Severn. ÂŠManos Koukakis Photography Edgar Smith and Sali Green

A n n a b e l R a y e r, L i n d s e y Brennan and Sali Green

Nicola McKenzie, Rebekah Wickens and Alex Clansey

Izy khan and Sam Mamadou

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ownit designs for life IN ASSOCIATION WITH

56 | GLmagazine.co.uk

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t @GLmagazine | 57

through the keyhole WHEN IT COMES TO ENHANCING YOUR HOME, INTERIORS A R E K E Y . N E W LY E S T A B L I S H E D L ’ U N A D E S I G N , B A S E D I N C H E LT E N H A M , H A V E H I T T H E N A I L O N T H E H E A D W H E N I T COMES TO BEAUTIFUL AND CONTEMPORARY FURNISHINGS

LIGHTING Lighting design should be both practical and enhance the ambience and overall experience in open plan living spaces. Floor standing lamps and feature pendants help to create a wonderful moody atmosphere.

S E AT I N G It is just as important to pay attention to comfort as it is to style and design. Don’t be afraid to mix designs. Add extra seating with occasional ottomans or poufs. 58 | GLmagazine.co.uk

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...have nothing in your houses which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful

get the look Introducing exclusive to L’una Design – The Molteni Collection from Italy Coffee tables, from £899, Molteni

- WILLIAM MORRIS

Fantasia chair, from £1425, Molteni

Light, from £335, Ligne Roset

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find us ACCESSORIES Rugs and cushions are a must to define areas, creating warmth, texture and adding that splash of colour.

L’una Design Centre, 6 The Courtyard, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1SR / lunadesign.co.uk / 01242 578798 @GLmagazine | 59

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World of Smile Conservatory & Leisure Village, Wyevale Garden Centre, Evesham Road, Cheltenham GL50 4SJ

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contemporary homes in gloucestershire h

OUSE hunters in Gloucestershire will be thrilled to know that Woodland View in Mitcheldean has released a new phase of contemporary homes into the scheme. Local property developer, Freeman Homes are developing the site to provide 47 fabulous new homes for the area. They were keen to build a variety of homes in different styles to give purchasers a choice of design. With 10 different styles of home, two of which being more contemporary, this development will appeal to families looking for large living accommodation, retirees wanting an easy-tomanage home as well as professional couples looking for something more contemporary in a semi-rural but accessible location. The ‘Longford’ style of contemporary home offers a generous 2,400 square feet and features accommodation arranged over four floors including open-plan living areas, four double bedrooms and four bathrooms. The design also incorporates large south-

facing terraces to enjoy the fantastic views over the Forest. For those seeking modern, stylish homes look no further. Knowing the importance of storage, bedrooms incorporate dressing rooms or built-in wardrobes, with additional storage built into every space possible giving these properties an advantage over others in the area. The houses also come with a garage and double driveway, as well as a private garden. Woodland View is situated at the gateway to the Forest of Dean, perfectly placed for anyone who loves the outdoors with miles of wonderful walks, some of the best bike trails nationwide and exhilarating activities including rock climbing on the doorstep. The best thing is that being only 20 minutes from Gloucester and 35 minutes from Cheltenham, these modern homes are attracting people from the surrounding towns who can enjoy a short commute to work while enjoying stylish living in a semi-rural location. “It’s not surprising that we have had a great

deal of interest in these homes,” says Hayley Coombs, sales and marketing manager for Freeman Homes, “They are built to a high standard and include a high specification. The Longford houses offer a rare alternative to the local market. Often contemporary homes are built in towns like Cheltenham and come with a huge price tag. We want to offer people the option of city-style living at an affordable price and in a great location.”

find out more

The sales office is open seven days a week 10am-4.30pm. Prices for the Longford homes start from £350,000 and are due for completion early autumn. To find out more about this development, visit woodlandview.info or call 01594 544271 to speak to our sales coordinators.

e e g %

@GLmagazine | 61

Tr a n s f o r m y o u r h o u s e w i t h sleek, stylish stone flooring

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the lost and found IF YOU WANT TO ADD CHARACTER TO YOUR HOME, RONSON RECLAIM IS AN ALADDIN’S CAVE OF RELICS AND ARCHITECTURAL WONDERS. CORRIE BOND-FRENCH DISCOVERED MORE

OR many of us, there is no greater thrill or pastime than rummaging through reclamation yards for treasures and architectural gems – the thrill of a potential ruby in the dust is just irresistible.

And for anyone in Gloucestershire who wants to replace lost character features in their home, re-home a relic or introduce a new/old vibe, the first port of call for those in the know is Ronson Reclaim. The family business has been supplying homeowners, architects, design professionals and the film industry for decades, with a reputation for rare, unusual and impossible to imagine beautiful objects of desire. Their five acre site in Sandhurst, on the fringes of Gloucester, is chockfull of every conceivable – and inconceivable – architectural feature, with reclaimed building materials piled high and wide and as far as the eye can see. There’s a surprise around every corner as you navigate through the statuary, reclaimed doors, Victorian fireplaces, Roman aqueducts, huge French medieval stone wells and Georgian pillars and balustrades. And while Ronson Reclaim source items from across the globe, they also have an international customer base, including Hollywood stars and international fashion designers. But despite their foray into Tinseltown they are still passionate about preserving the history of their own county, and are always happy to match building materials such as roof tiles and house bricks for any keen restorer. Back in the day before we all became obsessed with property, architectural features such as these were either chucked on a bonfire, in a skip or sent to landfill. But 30 years ago, owners Ron and Dave Jones were way ahead of the curve, and the business grew organically from when they decided to source original materials from Gloucester Docks for a house they were restoring, and their passion for preserving the past and recycling grew from there.

Ron and his sons and team have near-encyclopaedic knowledge of their stock, where it came from and the history involved, and they are happy to deal with any query. Whilst the team’s passion for the past is evident, they are happy to adapt reclaimed building materials to suit.The team are a dedicated lot, and will happily advise about anything from a vintage door handle to a gothic archway. They also offer a stone cutting service, which enables them to thin out stone flooring to cater for modern-day underfloor heating. They can also restore and cut timber and wooden flooring, and supply bricks and tiles true to the period of your home. The site also offers an appealing array of garden items, from bridges and ironwork to staddle stones and planters. They even supplied a Chelsea Flower Show designer with his award-winning garden. On-site carpenters can build beautiful bespoke one and two-storey follies and furniture to order. But the beauty of a visit to Ronson Reclaim is that you could end up being inspired beyond your wildest dreams, with a beautiful home to boot.

find us RONSON RECLAIM U P P E R P A R T I N G , S A N D H U R S T L A N E , S A N D H U R S T, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL2 9NG 01452 387890 • RONSONRECLAIM.COM

Ron Jones

@GLmagazine | 63

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Give the lawnmower the push and instead settle back and allow Robomow to keep the lawn looking neat. This new MS1000 model uses state-ofthe-art technology and extra wide 56m blades to mow quickly and efficiently. It can cover up to 1,000 square metres and features a unique edge mode that cuts outside its wheel base for better results. Robomow, £1,699, witt-ltd.com

Compost is one of the secrets of a great garden but making it from kitchen and garden waste can be a lengthy process. HOTBIN reduces the amount of time involved by achieving temperatures of up to 60˚C, producing mulch within 30 days and rich compost in 90. And due to the heat that’s generated, it can even be used to compost cooked food, meat and bones. HOTBIN is made from expanded polypropylene and features a thermometer in the lid that shows then hot composting is taking place. HOTBIN basic, £165 and HOTBIN extra, £185, hotbincomposting.com

cast iron cooking

If sitting around a burning outdoor fire with a few beers and possibly a group of mates is your idea of relaxing evening, then a brazier could be just the ticket. This magnificent cast iron bowl has a simple design but can hold a good-sized blaze. It’s built to last and can be teamed with a tripod cooking stand that will support a griddle or cooking pot. The brazier costs £149.99 while a tall tripod is £29.99 and a low version is £22.99, crocus.co.uk

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Apply a touch of Far Eastern know-how with a pair of Japanese secateurs. These extremely high quality high carbon steel tools are made using traditional forging and grinding techniques and have thick handles for easy working. Their sharp blades can be used on thick branches. T-21 Japanese Secateurs, £94.99, crocus.co.uk

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE

grill bot Keeping the barbecue clean has just got easier with a revolutionary robot that makes short work of grease and grime. Grillbot is a single button-operated machine that works automatically on hot or cold grills. It has built-in LCD and an alarm that can be set to a light or deep clean. Grillbot, £139.99, witt-ltd.com

Chronograph, £7,400; Tag Heuer Chronometer Diver’s Watch, 3,400; Omega Seamaster II, £8,200; Rotary Submariner, £1,995; Longines Swiss Chronograph, £4,500; MontBlanc Diver Chronograph, £9,200; Rotary 24ct Gold DateJust , £2,400; Rolex Diamond Hold, £8,200 All Beards, Cheltenham

Qu in

Middle Lypiatt | Gloucestershire

Quintessential country living, beautifully created in rural tranquillity About 18.4 acres

Guide Price ÂŁ3,250,000

Cirencester 01285 653101

sam.trounson@struttandparker.com

RIDING THE PROPERTY WAVE

ALISTAIR BONE estate agents

• An unrivalled database of buyers in Gloucester • The only agent in Gloucester which accompanies viewings 7 days a week • We have late night viewings on Wednesdays & Thursdays for your convenience • We have 15 dedicated members staff to make your move as smooth as possible

For a FREE market appraisal call 01452 550123

www.alistairbone.co.uk 10a Old Cheltenham Road, Longlevens, Gloucester GL2 0AW

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happy birthday A L I S TA I R B O N E

HEN Alistair Bone launched his estate agency business in Gloucester four years ago, the property market was almost stagnant, mortgages had all but dried up and the UK’s economy was in the doldrums. Not surprisingly, few people patted Alistair on the back and said “perfect timing”. But actually, that’s exactly what it was. Started as a one-man outfit, the firm Alistair founded now has a staff of 15. It is one of the most vibrant and thriving independent property businesses in the area and is selling houses fast and furiously. Not only selling houses, but renting them out as well, looking after and repairing them and helping buyers on to and up the property ladder by finding them the mortgage deal that best suits their needs. So how come the business Alistair Bone founded in March 2011 has gone from strength to strength when others have struggled, or fallen by the wayside? “I said from the outset that if we could make it work in bad times we would be well placed when the climate changed,” said Alistair. “Having worked in property for 15 years, including time spent with some of the biggest corporate names in estate agency, I knew it was possible to do things differently and better. “My plan was to take the best elements I’d identified in estate agency, throw out the worst and introduce new ideas.”

A F T E R L A U N C H I N G I N 2 0 1 1 , E S TAT E A G E N T A L I S TA I R B O N E H A S G R O W N F R O M ST R E N GT H T O ST R E N GT H . T H E Y SHARE WITH GL THEIR SUCCESSES OVER T H E PA ST F O U R Y E A R S

Alistair says one of the key things that distinguishes his agency from others is local knowledge. “All my experience in the business is in this area and the same goes for the team here, including Sue Walker my assistant manager who has been on the local property scene since there were wheels on Boadicea’s chariot.

business and that’s certainly true in our case.” Alistair predicts that in the year to come the property market will remain buoyant and continue to improve.

“We can help prospective buyers or tenants with anything they want to know about the locality, such as schools for example.”

“This is a great time to buy, whether you’re new to the market or an upsizer,” he said. “Stamp duty changes, the availability of cheap mortgages, schemes such as Help to Buy and low inflation mean that property is within people’s reach in a way that it has not been in the recent past.

Innovation is another point of difference. Two years ago Alistair’s agency moved into property rental, followed by mortgage advice. Then came property services, as Alistair explained.

“My advice to anyone looking to move is do it now, just in case there are changes to the market by an incoming government after the May election – and go for a long-term fixed rate mortgage”.

“In the early part of last year we had high winds and people with houses on the market with us kept phoning to ask if I knew anyone who could mend fences that had been blown down. Others asked if I could recommend decorators, handymen, gardeners and so the idea was born of providing a property repair and maintenance service for our clients. “This took off so well that we began having enquiries from people who aren’t clients, but needed a reliable, professional home maintenance service. For the same reason we now offer a house clearance service as well. So what started as simply an estate agency four years ago has grown into a comprehensive property service.

find us A L I S TA I R B O N E E S TAT E A N D LETTINGS AGENTS 1 0 , O L D C H E LT E N H A M R O A D LONGLEVENS GLOUCESTER GL2 0AW 01452 550123 A D M I N @ A L I S TA I R B O N E . C O . U K A L I S TA I R B O N E . C O . U K

“They often say that listening to what people want is the best way to build a @GLmagazine | 69

Fine & Country Cheltenham 113 Promenade, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1NW

An impressive Grade II listed barn conversion on the edge of Upper Coberley

UPPER COBERLEY ÂŁ1,650,000

This barn was converted around nine years ago by the present owners and the interior is an excellent mix of original features combined with quality fittings and modern convenience. The main reception spaces have polished tiled floors and the whole building, upstairs and down, has underfloor heating from an oil fired boiler system. The rooms are impressive with full height, open to apex ceilings, exposed stone and timbers.

cheltenham@fineandcountry.com

The master bedroom suite is set on its own on the first floor via an exceptional bespoke spiral staircase with a 'floating' landing area and this leads to the bedroom, walk in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom. In total, there are four bedrooms and four bathrooms. This is a wonderfully light and airy barn conversion, with beautiful views, which has been lovingly created with great attention to detail and craftsmanship. EPC - Exempt

Superb detached Edwardian house with 4-5 bedrooms. Set in a sought after tree lined road, just round the corner from the station, this property has accommodation over three floors. On the ground floor there is the drawing room, sitting room, dining room, a fitted kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, and cloakroom. There are three bedrooms [with fireplaces], and two bathrooms, on the first floor, and a further bedroom lies on the second floor; from the latter, there are steps up to an attic

playroom/hobbies room which has been used as a fifth bedroom. Outside, there is a garage and secluded gardens primarily to two sides, with lawns, and terraces. From the house, it's a lovely walk into Montpellier and the town centre, and yet the road itself has been capped off at one end, and so there's no busy through traffic. A detached studio and garage with planning permission for conversion is available subject to separate negotiations. EPC - F

Call 01242 220080 Scan me with you smart phone to view the listed properties online

CHELTENHAM ÂŁ869,950

W an o ad ro

ms. n

Fine & Country Cheltenham 113 Promenade, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1NW

A captivating country manor house dating back to the 16th Century

BREDON'S NORTON ÂŁ1,499,500

This magnificent Grade II listed Manor House stands majestically above the main part of the village and enjoys superb views over open farmland to the distant hills. This unique and historic building dates back to 1575-1585 and has the focal point of the Great Hall with its panelled walls, flagstone floor and an inglenook fireplace. Features such as panelled walls, stone mullioned windows, imposing fireplaces and beams adorn the

cheltenham@fineandcountry.com

house. Further accommodation includes five reception rooms, six bedroom suites and two further attic bedrooms. A series of five attic spaces have been used as bedrooms and could easily be 'work from home' space. The whole has a feeling of space and tranquillity. Outside there are beautifully cared for grounds with formal gardens interspersed with quiet places to sit and an outdoor swimming pool. EPC - Exempt

A beautifully presented detached house with superb views. Well away from traffic and enjoying some of the best views the area has to offer, this extended and pretty house enjoys space around it with a large well tended garden and the open aspect of the paddock in front. The property is sunny and light and the accommodation is varied and adaptable with three characterful reception rooms downstairs as well as the kitchen, breakfast room, utility and shower room/WC. Upstairs there are four bedrooms and two bathrooms,

all with fabulous views. There is an outside dining area in the garden within an open fronted chalet to make the most of the views. In addition, there is parking on the drive for up to four cars. With this property you feel as though you are nestled deep in the countryside yet Cheltenham with all its facilities and cultural delights is just minutes away. This is a house which has to be seen to appreciate all that is on offer. EPC E.

Call 01242 220080 Scan me with you smart phone to view the listed properties online

SOUTHAM ÂŁ875,000

Six Bedrooms Five Bathrooms Cinema Landscaped Garden Gated Parking ÂŁ5000 pcm

Whittington GL54 4HB

Five Bedrooms Five Bathrooms Beautiful Setting Extensive Gardens Luxury Family Living ÂŁ4500 pcm

www.morgan-associates.co.uk

Montpellier GL50 3AH

For help finding your next property, contact our lettings team today on 01242 514285 or email Lettings@morgan-associates.co.uk

Rotunda Buildings Montpellier Exchange Cheltenham GL50 1SJ

01242 514285

morgan associates

ail

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50 years of success

STABLISHED in 1965 and superbly located in one of Cheltenham’s most prominent Regency buildings, Morgan Associates is arguably Gloucestershire’s most successful and long-established letting and management company. This area of the property business is very specialised and often overlooked as an important part of the housing market. Unlike sales, where usually the agent’s relationship with vendors and purchasers ends with completion of a sale, in letting and management, that relationship is ongoing and can be long-term. Stuart Turner, general manager at Morgan Associates, is very proud of his team and the company’s record. “We provide a customer service that is second to none,” Stuart said. “The fact that so many of our landlords were once our tenants, speaks volumes.” It is this attention to detail, local knowledge and friendly service which has stood the company in good stead through difficult economic times and Morgan Associates is reaping the reward by celebrating its 50th anniversary of achieving excellence in the Cheltenham area. “What better way to celebrate 50 years than with a new look? And that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Stuart continued. “The new Morgan Associates’ website is about to be launched, along with fresh logos – and we will be involving ourselves in several charity events throughout the year.” Having been in the lettings and management profession for 12 years, Stuart has seen agencies come and go and attributes Morgan Associates’ longevity to the experienced team he has around him. “Many of our landlords have been with us long-term, in some cases 35 years. They know us and feel confident that we understand their needs and that any issues will be dealt with swiftly and efficiently. In fact it’s fair to say that many are friends as well as clients.” A licensed agent and member of the National Approved Lettings Scheme and the Association of Residential Letting Agents, Morgan Associates was one of the first agents to sign up to the new SAFEAgent kitemark, which demonstrates to all clients and customers that their money is protected and held safely in a separate client account – something that matters even more in the current economic climate. “When a tenant or landlord chooses Morgan Associates they know that the property will be managed professionally, repairs dealt with promptly by competent tradesmen and at the end of the tenancy the checkout will be handled fairly using the most detailed inventory. That’s the way we’ve always done things and I like to think it’s the right way. It has certainly worked for us,” said Stuart. So here’s to the next 50 years!

find us

M O R G A N A S S O C I A T E S LT D , ROTUNDA BUILDINGS, MONTPELLIER EXCHANGE, C H E LT E N H A M G L 5 0 1 S J 0 1 2 4 2 5 1 4 2 8 5 • M O R G A N - A S S O C I AT E S . C O . U K @GLmagazine | 73

Battledown, Cheltenham An elegant Victorian family home forming part of the Battledown Estate.

KnightFrank.co.uk/cheltenham cheltenham@knightfrank.com 01242 246959

A immaculately presented house with superb proportions, in all about 6814 sq ft. Entrance hall, kitchen/family room with pantry, drawing room, dining room, sitting room, cloakroom, cinema room, gym, laundry/utility room, boiler/boot room. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room, 6 further bedrooms, 4 further bathrooms. Original coach house (double garage with stores over), ample gated parking and gardens. EPC Rating E.

Guide price: ÂŁ1,800,000 KnightFrank.co.uk/cheltenham

@KFCheltenham KnightFrank.co.uk

PRIME RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SALES To find out how we can help you please contact us KnightFrank.co.uk/cheltenham cheltenham@knightfrank.com 01242 246959

Guide price: ÂŁ675,000

College Road, Cheltenham A classic period town house with large town garden & self-contained garden flat. Reception hall, double drawing room, kitchen/breakfast room, 3 bedrooms and family bathroom. Self-contained 1 bedroom garden apartment. Generous town garden and permit parking. EPC Rating D. cheltenham@knightfrank.com Office: 01242 246959

Guide price: ÂŁ675,000

Montpellier, Cheltenham An elegant Grade II listed raised ground floor apartment in the heart of Montpellier. Drawing room, dining area, kitchen/breakfast room, master bedroom with en-suite shower room, 2 further bedrooms and bathroom. Secure allocated parking and communal lawns. cheltenham@knightfrank.com Office: 01242 246959

@KFCheltenham KnightFrank.co.uk

Spring Property Auction Wednesday 22nd April at 6pm

at Hyde Barn, Fosse Manor Hotel Stow-on-the-Wold, Glos, GL54 1JX 9 Lots including Cottage for investment, Barn for development, Workshop, House with views, Building Plot, Pasture Land, Cottage for renovation, Public House with Cottage. Catalogue available from our 3 local offices or to download at www.taylerandfletcher.co.uk

Naunton Lot 2

Cheltenham Lot 4

A rare opportunity to acquire a Traditional Barn and Tallet Barn for residential conversion, in lovely rural location with far reaching views and the option to purchase surrounding Farmland – nearly 30 acres in all.

A charming detached Chalet Style House enjoying an elevated position in edge of town location.

Auction Guide Price in excess of £550,000 Bourton-on-the-Water office 01451 820913

Hall, Sitting room, Kitchen/Dining room, Dining room/Bedroom 3, Utility room, Bathroom, Landing with small study area, 2 further Bedrooms, Gardens, Parking. EPC rating E

Auction Guide Price £450,000 Bourton-on-the-Water office 01451 820913

Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham Lot 5

Salford Lot 9

An exceptional opportunity to acquire a prime site of just over 1 acre, on the edge of Cleeve Hill with permission for a stunning 4 bedroom house, enjoying superb views to the Malvern Hills.

A unique opportunity to purchase a Cotswold village Public House and attached two bedroom Cottage, requiring complete modernisation and improvement.

Auction Guide Price £650,000 Bourton-on-the-Water office 01451 820913

Public House comprises ; Public bar, Cellar/Cold room, Dining room, Kitchen, 3 Bedrooms, Bathroom, Beer garden, Parking area, Attached Barn. EPC rating F. Cottage comprises ; Hall, Sitting room, Kitchen/ Breakfast room, Cloakroom, 2 Bedrooms, Bathroom, Garden. EPC rating E.

Auction Guide Price £350,000 - £400,000 Stow-on-the-Wold office 01451 830383 *Guides are provided as an indication of each sellers minimum expectation. They are not necessarily figures at which a property will sell for and may change at any time prior to the auction. Each property will be offered subject to a reserve price (a figure below which the auctioneer cannot sell the property during the auction) which will be set within the quoted guide range or no more than 10% above a single figure guide.

STOW ON THE WOLD 01451 830383

BOURTON ON THE WATER 01451 820913

Tayler & Fletcher

Chipping Norton

A stunning third floor 3 bedroom apartment set in this iconic converted Grade ll Listed Victorian tweed mill with extensive grounds and enjoying beautiful countryside views. Hall, Sitting room/Dining room, Kitchen/Breakfast room, Utility/Cloakroom, 3 Bedrooms (one with en-suite bathroom), Shower room.

Guide Price ÂŁ575,000 Chipping Norton office 01608 644344

Bourton-on-the-Water A beautifully presented and individually designed detached Cotswold stone house with a fine southerly aspect over landscaped gardens and grounds adjoining open countryside. Hall, Sitting room, Study, Cloakroom, Kitchen / Dining room, Utility area, Laundry room, Master Bedroom with en-suite Wet room, 2 further en-suite Bedrooms, Second Sitting room, Kitchenette, Workshop, Car Port, Grounds. EPC Rating C.

Guide Price ÂŁ650,000 Bourton-on-the-Water office 01451 820913

CHIPPING NORTON 01608 644344

FINE ART SALES 01451 821666

Elliot Oliver Sales and Lettings 101 The Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NW 01242321091 | www.elliotoliver.co.uk

Prestbury Road, Prestbury, Cheltenham GL52 3DD

Evesham Road, Cheltenham GL52 2AA

An imposing ﬁve bedroom detached Georgian home. Having been sympathetically updated by the current owners, whilst retaining many period features including open ﬁres, sash windows and picture rails.

A luxury ground ﬂoor apartment set in this Period style building built in 2006. High ceilings and sash windows give it the period charm. Two double bedrooms and allocated parking ﬁnish the property off. Available with no onward chain.

£460,000

£280,000

t: 01242 321091 w: www.elliotoliver.co.uk e: info@elliotoliver.co.uk

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Import Furniture Depot

Westgate Island, Westgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2RU (Opposite Dunelm) Telephone: 01452 524545 • Mon - Sat 9.30am-5.30pm Sun 11am-4pm

www.cheltenhamregencycleaners.co.uk

Import Furniture Depot is Gloucestershire’s finest furniture store selling unique products found nowhere else in the UK. We pride ourselves on the quality and originality of all the furniture we sell. If you are interested in one of our pieces or have a general inquiry about Import Furniture Depot then don’t hesitate to give us a call.

spend H O W T O C R E AT E A S E C R E T LUXURY WINE CELLAR IN YOUR OWN HOME

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@GLmagazine | 83

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bottoms up I N V EST I N G I N W I N E C O L L ECT I N G I S T H E F U T U R E , S O STO R E Y O U R FAV O U R I T E

B OT T L E S O F M E R LOT I N A C U STO M - M A D E W I N E C E L L A R . C O R R I E B O N D - F R E N C H L E A R N S M O R E A B O U T T H I S H O M E N E C E S S I T Y, P E R F E C T F O R T H E A V I D W I N E - LO V E R

HEN James Bond unmasks his adversary in Diamonds are Forever by exposing their ignorance of a Chateau Mouton Rothschild’s true claret identity, his impeccable savoir-faire struck a chord.

Because, whilst it’s a given that we would all like the cars, gadgets, casino expertise and other Bond accoutrements, what most of us would dearly love to have up our sleeves is his depth of knowledge about wine. With current market growth and the trend for collecting and investing in the grape, this knowledge could also reap dividends.

and this will raise its value. With the right, considered approach, wine collecting could be the alchemy of the future, the fruits of the vine transforming to liquid gold for the considered investor. So it would be a tragedy (though sadly, not unheard of ) to see a lovingly amassed collection become undrinkable and valueless after being carelessly stored in a garage or under the stairs, with fluctuating temperatures ruining the liquid and low humidity drying out the corks.

Burgeoning interest in wine has had far from a sobering effect; growing numbers of individuals and investment funds have pushed prices to record levels, with mushrooming demand from Asia – particularly China, where consumption has more than doubled in recent years.

If you are thinking that you could simply store your wine in your cellar or basement, do your homework. The warmth of central heating and improved insulation is a consideration, but temperatures in bespoke storage are not necessarily set in stone; personal preference can play its part. The crucially important part of a cellar is a constant temperature. Red and white wines should all be stored chilled, it is easy to bring a red to room temperature by letting it breathe, or indeed decanting it. And it is also worth bearing in mind that the notion of serving reds at room temperature was conceived when houses were a minimum of five degrees colder than modern times.

Savvy investors in Blighty are also capitalising on this luxury market as the international love affair for wine matures. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Alex Ferguson, to name but two, have sold extensive wine collections for record prices at auction in recent times.

Going the extra mile with storage will pay dividends in preserving the intrinsic character of the wine for consumption and ensuring the integrity of the investment – and that’s definitely something to raise a glass to.

Not since Bacchus was a partying teenage demi-God has wine been more popular. Increasing numbers of people are turning to the bottle – as an investment. And they have been richly rewarded.

The wine world is changing and moving with the times, and historic associations and loyalties to centuries-old vineyards have been challenged by the new kids on the vine. And these days, no des-res home is complete without a wine cellar. From underground spiralstepped space-saving style to bespoke fully-glazed pods, the appeal shows little sign of diminishing. And the beauty of developing a wine collection, be it for personal satisfaction or for investment and returns, is that it you can build it up and learn as you go – no one is born a wine-expert. For the purpose of the potential wine collector, it is best to stick to what you like yourself, and to lift the shroud of mystery from those gleaming bottles of liquid nectar, you need to drink it first. Be aware, firstly, that wine-making tradition is not universally set in stone: Europeans shop by wine region (Bordeaux, Burgundy, etc), but grape variety takes centre stage on the label in the Pacific. Taste is defined by grape combination, soil and weather condition, hence a good year is easily calculable and defined, but it is no simple matter of white versus red. Both grapes offer a wide variety of flavours. White ranges from grassy and tangy to buttery and oaky, and reds can vary from berry bouquets to aniseed or earthy. And wines age in both the barrel and the bottle, so one Cabernet Sauvignon will not be quite like the next. Whites can often become acidic and bitter with age, whilst reds can become musty – old wine does not automatically equate to good wine from a good year. Bond’s seemingly nonchalant comprehension of wines and wine derivatives such as Champagne and sherry is underpinned by his expert understanding of vintages, When creating your wine cellar, decide firstly whether your intention is for drinking and collecting or investing. Investment-grade storage is essential if you want to sell it on. Buyers will want to know that the conditions under which the wine has been kept can be guaranteed, 84 | GLmagazine.co.uk

extra tipple

A GOOD way to start your journey into wine appreciation is to attend tastings and courses, or to join a wine club with fellow learners and enthusiasts. Cheltenham-based wine merchants D’Arcy Wines will happily accommodate new tasters in their provencalestyle tasting room, and host a monthly wine club, as does Tom I’Anson Wines in Colesbourne. Vinotopia in Tetbury and Broadway Wines both offer tastings, and John Gordons in Montpellier and Tivoli Wines will happily provide expert advice and tastings at their bars. The Oxford Chelt Wine School is an independent wine education company offering a wide range of courses and tastings throughout the Cotswolds. They will be holding a World of Wine Course at the Wilson Cafe in Cheltenham, starting in May, with the emphasis on learning by tasting over 50 different varieties of wine in eight weeks, so you’ll learn to taste like a professional, identify faults and learn which wines match which food. The school also offers day courses, meet the winemaker evenings and tours of the Rhone for a further foray into wine wisdom.

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not-so-plain sailing F R O M G LO U C E ST E R D O C K S TO T H E C A R I B B E A N – T H E R E ’ S N E V E R B E E N A B E T T E R T I M E T O O W N Y O U R Y A C H T. T R O U B L E I S , W H E R E D O Y O U S T A R T ? H AY L E Y M O R T I M E R G E T S A TA S T E F O R L I F E O N T H E O C E A N W A V E A S S H E P R O V I D E S T H E U LT I M A T E G U I D E

O you have bought the house, the car, the horse – what’s next? Most of us associate sailing and power boating with money – big money. Sailing, or at least yachting, can be a huge cash drain but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, not only can just about anyone afford it, but you don’t even have to live near the sea. Almost any stretch of water, any time of year, will do. Matthew Symonds, boating liaison manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: “Our advice to people interested in getting out on the water is to give it a go and Gloucestershire’s waterways are the perfect place to start. “From the industrial history of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal to the wealth of wildlife on the River Severn, it’s all best seen at four miles per hour with a hand on the tiller.” Sailing can be divided into two basic categories – dinghies and yachts. Dinghies are small, fast, manageable and cheap. Yachts, by contrast, are unimaginably expensive to both buy and maintain. However, if you obtain a Yachtmaster’s certificate from the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), you can hire a craft anywhere in the world.

“When you compare it to a football season ticket, boating can be very economical as the vessels last for a long time. “We have members who keep their smaller boats at Frampton right up to yachts on the coast.” If you have a big budget you can pick up a Sunseeker super yacht for a whopping £8.5million at Yacht World while those with a smaller wallet can try their luck at auction. An extensive range of sailing boats, yachts and power boats for auction are listed atboat4auction.co.uk But the costs don’t end there. Initial costs will include insurance, extra kit or repairs, as well as the mooring charges. From Gloucester Docks and Saul Marina to Spain and the Caribbean, there are thousands of places to berth and moor your boat. Berth means a space in a marina while a mooring is usually anywhere else you can keep a boat, for instance, along a riverbank, next to a jetty or from a buoy in the water. The cost is usually dependent on the location and the amenities offered, such as on-site showers or, for instance, a club house.

Meanwhile, Genus Marine and Leisure The RYA is an umbrella organisation holds the largest listings of boat berths for MY The Wellesley that controls the teaching and instruction of sale in mainland Spain, the Balearics and the sailing, windsurfing and power boating. Its aim Mediterranean. is to make the sport as accessible as possible It does And if you aren’t quite ready to make the commitment you this by accrediting sailing schools around the country, all of which offer both yachting and dinghy sailing course certificates on an can get a taste of life on the ocean by staying on MY The Wellesley, a ascending scale. If sailing round the Mediterranean is your fantasy, sophisticated 32-metre sister super yacht of London’s first boutiquegrand hotel, The Wellesley. then go for the yachtmaster course. In many ways, it’s easier than sailing – your source of power is onboard and there’s no need to catch the perfect wind or run around pulling ropes and ducking under the boom with the athleticism of a gymnast. However, an introductory motorboating course at Frampton-onSevern Sailing Club, will give you the skills you need to competently pilot a powered vessel, alongside teaching you essential maintenance, repair skills and local boating laws. Joining a sailing club is a great route towards not just affordable time afloat, with or without your own boat, but also a whole new social scene. Ken Elsey, chief powerboat instructor at the club, said: “It is so easy to get into sailing. We have taster days throughout the year and we have lots of leaflets for our members with advice on which boats to buy. “The sailing club has its own boats to hire but if you do want to purchase one you can buy a cheap boat second-hand. 86 | GLmagazine.co.uk

Based in the South of France, MY The Wellesley can accommodate 10 guests and is complete with a luxurious jacuzzi, relaxation areas, large wet bar and barbecue. For more information visit thewellesley.co.uk

where to moor your boat in gloucestershire

The River Severn Upton-upon-Severn Marina Maisemore Upper Lode Lock Lower Lode The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal Alexandra Quay Llanthony Pontoons

Monk Meadow Sellars Bridge Parkend Saul Junction Fretherne North Fretherne South Splatt Bridge Patch Bridge Purton Bridge

MY THE WELLESLEY Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o r t o b o o k , v i s i t m y t h e w e l l e s l e y. c o m o r e m a i l m a n a g e r. y a c h t @ t h e w e l l e s l e y. c o . u k

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This set of antique Chinese stamps, including some rare material, sold for a staggering £66,000. Nicholas says: “With figures of £15,000 being mentioned by potential purchasers, I had a gut feeling we could be in for a very nice surprise.”

objects of

desire O N T H E LO O KO U T F O R QUIRKY AND BEAUTIFUL ITEMS FOR YOUR HOME? F I N D I N S P I R AT I O N AT

An attractive Italian Maiolica Charger Tarquato Casstellini, dated 1843-1931, fetched three times its estimate at £960. A good example of 19th century Maiolica, it depicts a coat of arms within a scroll border of white flowers on a black background.

AUCTION – NICHOLAS GRANGER FROM BRITISH BESPOKE AUCTIONS IN W I N C H C O M B E TA L K S US THROUGH SOME C O N V E R S AT I O N P I E C E S

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There is always a good market for high-end watches, says Nicholas. This Rolex lady’s 18ct yellow gold and diamond oyster wristwatch, with diamond set bezel, face and bracelet, sold to a telephone bidder for £15,500.

This solid silver regimental claret jug, dated 1880, features a classical frieze and is inscribed “Presented by Captain AB Vorster, of the 6th West Yorkshire Militia”. It formed part of an important sale of military and other silver and fetched £2,800.

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This 1.75ct solitaire diamond and platinum ring caught the eye of a private buyer looking for an engagement ring. It sold for £3,600.

This 17th century Sino-Tibetan bronze figure of Buddha is in a contemplative pose, with lotus blossom on his arms and shoulders highlighted with pearls and turquoise. Nicholas says: “Once it was put on the internet we had more interest in this one lot than any other lot. With an opening bid of £5,000, the Buddha quickly reached £30,000, then £76,000 with a bid in the room. The hammer eventually fell to a telephone bidder at £90,000.”

A cool £4,800 was paid for these William IV regimental wine coolers by Charles T Fox. They were inscribed “Presented to Captain Robert G Wale of the 33rd Regiment, dated 1845, for fourteen years’ service”.

Who could resist this pair of Victorian Opaline vases? “It’s unusual to find a pair of glass vases this size and quality, which is why they fetched £700 against a estimate of £100-£150,” says Nicholas.

THE OLD BOYS

SCHOOL,

GRETTON ROAD, WINCHCOMBE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL54 5EE TEL: 01242 603005 admin@bespokeauctions.co.uk bespokeauctions.co.uk @GLmagazine | 89

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@GLmagazine | 91

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WHEN PETROLHEAD ALEX CALLAGHAN WAS GIVEN THE C H A N C E T O T E S T D R I V E T H E J A G U A R X F R - S P O R T, H E J U M P E D AT T H E O P P O R T U N I T Y T O E X P LO R E T H E X F O N A N E X T E N D E D T E ST D R I V E T H R O U G H T H E C OT S W O L D S . HERE HE GIVES HIS VERDICT

IKE any petrolhead, I couldn’t wait to put the Jaguar XF to the test.

I was presented with the keys to a Jaguar XF R-Sport. It looked amazing in high gloss white with 20inch black alloys, it certainly was an eye full. The XF R-Sport is enhanced with dramatic body styling compared with the standard XF giving it an aggressive stance on the road. A bigger front bumper, R-badging throughout, side skirts, a subtle boot lid spoiler and gloss black window surrounds. Inside is a sumptuous black interior with half leather and alcantara seats which would shame the most expensive household recliner. It’s easy to get the perfect driving position with fully adjustable seats and a leather-bound steering wheel and 8/8 way electric seats. The car comes to life with a press of the red pulsating start button, the 2.2 four cylinder diesel engine springs into action, the chrome rotating gear selector raises from the centre console into the palm of your hand and on engine start up, the air vents rotate and reveal themselves from behind the aluminium and gloss black veneer. Out on the open road the XF makes for lovely ride and I could see this car eating up the miles and leaving you feeling fresh when you arrive at your next meeting. Although it feels spacious inside, I think having three passengers in the rear would be a bit of a push on a long journey due to the size of the transmission tunnel running the entire length of the car. I headed for Stow and I was really impressed with how the R-sport handled the twisting Cotswold roads. For a car running on the optional alloys it stayed where you pointed it and didn’t tramline on the poor quality tarmac. I was pleasantly surprised the ride quality as it wasn’t too sporty or jarring. It rolls seamlessly over the rough and soaks up the bigger bumps with ease. The steering is very direct and responsive, which is exactly what you need when pushing the car along. The mix of the 200 PS diesel engine and the eight-speed automatic are a great combination.

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The gearbox will offer you the optimum gear to keep the MPG on a leash and still have the power on tap as soon as you bury the chrome accelerator into the premium carpet. I managed to achieve almost 50 MPG, which for a car of this size I find remarkable. Parking the car is an absolute breeze thanks to the optional parking pack. This gives you front and rear parking sensors and a rearfacing camera that displays on the seven-inch touchscreen multimedia screen, centrally mounted in the dashboard. The XF comes with a huge range of equipment as standard; Bluetooth phone pairing, big screen navigation, xenon headlamps, cruise and climate control. All of these are easy enough to use even for the hardened Luddite. Even at night, all of the controls are illuminated by what Jaguar call phosphor blue halo lighting which offers just enough light to make things visible but not a distraction. The boot is vast, enough room for two full sets of golf clubs and overnight bags, so you won’t be wanting for space after the weekly trip to the supermarket. My only grumble with this car is the standard 250W Jaguar stereo doesn’t give you the same feel of luxury yet functional goodness that the rest of the car does. It does have DAB and Ipod connectivity but it doesn’t pack a punch. But then I guess you aren’t spending almost £40,000 on a stereo on wheels. The model I drove comes in at just over the £36,000 mark but I feel there is a more value to be had in the XF R-Sport Black. Starting at £38,350, it comes with a boat-load more goodies as standard including the upgraded Meridian sound system. Whichever model you choose I don’t think you will be going far wrong, especially when you take into consideration the finance options available. The clever people at H.A.FOX can let you have a XF with no deposit but will be able to tailor a package to every need. There is even deposit contributions and free servicing available on PCP deals.

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SMOOTH

operator find us H.A.FOX JAGUAR, ADVERTISEMENT Official fuel economy figures for the Jaguar XF range in mpg (l/100km): Urban from 16.7 (16.9) to 8.7 (5.8). Extra Urban from 32.8 (8.6) to 64.2 (4.4). Combined from 24.4 (11.6) to 57.7 (4.9). CO2 emissions from 270 to 129 (g/km). Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. Representative 4.9% APR available on new Jaguar XF Saloon and Sportbrake models only (excluding all 163PS models apart from Luxury), registered between 1st January 2015 – 31st March. H.A.FOX is a trading name of Inchcape Retail Ltd and an authorised credit broker.

R U T H E R F O R D W A Y , C H E LT E N H A M , GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL51 9TU 01242 584488 • JAGUAR.CO.UK @GLmagazine | 93

The new BMW 2 Series Convertible

Cotswold

The Ultimate Driving Machine

T ta th a th fr d k tr ju G

D fl

THIS SUMMER IS GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE. THE NEW BMW 2 SERIES CONVERTIBLE. With its elegant and sporty design, the new BMW 2 Series Convertible is a breath of fresh air. A well-insulated soft-top adds to the convertible luxury; without dampening the thrill of the drive. See it drop in a fleeting 19 seconds, even at speeds of up to 31mph. To arrange a test drive* please call Cotswold Cheltenham 01242 578838 and Cotswold Gloucester 01452 872600.

COTSWOLD CHELTENHAM Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham GL51 9SG 01242 578838 www.cotswoldcheltenhambmw.co.uk

COTSWOLD GLOUCESTER Cole Avenue, Gloucester GL2 5ER 01452 872600 www.cotswoldgloucesterbmw.co.uk

BMW ECONOMICS. Official fuel economy figures for the new BMW 2 Series Convertible range: Urban 24.6-54.3mpg (11.5-5.2l/100km). Extra Urban 47.1-70.6mpg (6.8-4.0l/100km). Combined 33.2-64.2mpg (8.5-4.4l/100km). CO2 emissions 199-116g/km.

Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. *Test drive subject to status and availability.

Ro art off eq tha

DRIVE IT

get personal

ate hine

As the name suggests, this one can be taken from room to room or left in one spot and hooked up with others from the Soundtouch range of speakers.

The drone market really did take off last year and now, filling the gap between hobby models and professional machines is this 4K camera equipped unit from DJI. Attach your smart device to the control unit and keep an eye on where you travel. Get slightly lost and you just hit ‘return home’ and using GPS, it’ll return back to base.

Bose Soundtouch Portable Series II WiFi Music System - £349.95 from bose.co.uk

DJI Inspire 1 - £2,381 from flyinggadgets.com

listen up These over-the-ear numbers are rechargeable and with Bluetooth connection. Also, it’s really simple to control your music with the ear cup controls. Beats by Dr Dre Wireless Bluetooth Headphones - £199.95 from currys.co.uk

wrist wear For style and substance – when it comes to smart watches – we think that Asus can claim victory. Synch up with your smartphone or tablet and have it organise your information. It also shows messages alerting to meetings - an essential piece of kit. Asus ZENwatch - £199.99 from currys.co.uk

boys’ TOYS

W E ’ V E P I C K E D O U T T H E M U S T- H A V E GADGETS AND BIG-BOY TOYS TO S AT I S F Y Y O U R I N N E R C H I L D

slot racing updated Roll out the race track, synch your mobile to one of the cars, set the other into artificial intelligence mode (or to another smart device-toting person) - and you’re off. This incredible piece of kit allows up to four cars to compete, and each car is equipped with multiple weapons to take out the opposition. It’s like a video game that’s just burst out of your TV screen. ANKI Drive - £149.99 from currys.co.uk

Taking on the more established players in the action camera market is this super compact camera from Sony. This X1000VR is compatible with Sony’s wrist-worn Live-View Remote, which lets you start and stop recording without reaching for the camera, then you can review, edit and delete footage on the go. You also have loop recording for putting the camera into continuous shooting mode, meaning you’ll never miss those thrills (and spills). DSony X1000V Action Camera £359 from sony.co.uk

@GLmagazine | 95

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earn it THINGS ARE ON THE UP FOR G LO U C E ST E R S H I R E ’ S R I C H A R D YORKE AS HE REFLECTS ON HIS EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH POLE

@GLmagazine | 97

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meet the team t

H E coaching and mentoring approach by outsourced HR specialists Heather Resource Limited Management (HRML) lays the foundations for clients to handle situations themselves in the future. Members of the team even sit in on meetings with managers, as well as advising and drafting scripts and letters. HRML serves private and public sector organisations across the south west and has 15 charity clients. Typical of its customers are organisations which do not have their own in-house HR team or require additional support and expertise. It provides all aspects of HR that would be expected of an in-house HR department, such as recruitment, training and appraisals but also has a strong employment law team, who deal with redundancies and complex employee issues. The team are

all professionally qualified and experienced – they have been linemanagers themselves – and so are able to support and provide legally sound but totally practical and business-focused advice. HRML often works with business owners and charities, helping them prepare or update their contracts and policies, to handle issues and train their line managers. It has a delightful office in an oak-beamed converted barn in Twigworth, which clients love, and undertakes line management training there for clients. Many clients use their facilities for their strategic away days. HRML has also been proud sponsor of the Believe in Gloucester Awards since 2011 and the Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Women in Business Awards since 2012. HRML has been in business for over 13 years and is proud that most clients have been referred by others – word of mouth at its best.

Unit 13, Twigworth Court Business Centre Tewkesbury Road, Twigworth GL2 9PG hrml.co.uk / 01452 739000

GEMMA DUGGAN Gemma has an extensive background in retail and sales, having worked for major international brands for most of her career. As a line manager for more than 10 years in customer-focused organisations, she spent most of her working life on the “other side” of HR. After turning the dreaded age of 30, Gemma decided to change career – HR was the obvious choice as people and development have always been her passion. Gemma’s strength is approaching HR from a line manager’s perspective as well as viewing HR as a partner to the business. Away from the office, sport is a passion for Gemma. As she supports Bath Rugby and England and her husband supports Gloucester Rugby and Ireland, the Six Nations and upcoming World Cup will decide the bragging rights in the Duggan household. If Gemma isn’t at the rugby she can be found watching Crystal Palace attempt to play Premier League football. She is also a lover of TV, film and cooking and enjoys trying out new recipes while watching a box set on Netflix. K AT H E R I N E M A C B E T H Katherine is our senior HR & employment law consultant and she has been with HRML since 2010. She joined the business after 10 years with a national retailer, as well as time in financial services and brought with her a wealth of commercial and practical experience – there doesn’t seem to be much that she hasn’t experienced in her HR career. Her strong commercial approach to HR means that she will always look for the best outcome for her clients to help them drive success in their businesses via their people. As a full-time working mum she juggles her commitments to her clients with her commitments to her family and outside work her time is spent ferrying her daughter to different activities. She also finds (some) time to go running to keep fit and maintains she keeps an ageing picture of herself in her attic (or lots of expensive face cream) to explain her youthful looks. I A N H E AT H E R Along with his co-director Julie, Ian is proud to have grown HRML as a leading employment law and HR consultancy in the south-west. Ian was delighted to have made a total career change from being the head of property in the British Energy PLC to the consultancy and would recommend everyone making such change in direction. His role in the company is strategic, financial and business development. Ian has a true passion for long-haul holidays, combining sightseeing with lazy beach time, usually accompanied by his two teenage sons – well, who would refuse a holiday paid for by their parents? He is also somewhat of an expert in cooking curries and Mexican food.

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HRML provide practical and professional support for a wide range of organisations on HR, Employment Law and Business Strategy. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe in off the shelf solutions and tailor our support to the needs and requirements of our clients.

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this month our success G L C H AT S T O J E N N I F E R

A L L E N AT H U G H E S PA D D I S O N S O L I C I TO R S ABOUT THEIR RECENT SUCCESS

In 100 words tell us about your business Hughes Paddison was founded in 1985 and is based in the heart of the Royal Crescent in Cheltenham. With a compliment of 50 or so people we are able to provide insightful and jargon-free legal advice on matters of English law to businesses and private individuals.

heading north

Our services for individuals include wills and estate planning, residential property, personal disputes and divorce and family law. Services for businesses includes commercial property, drafting legal documents and advising businesses regarding partnerships and shareholder agreements, commercial disputes and acquisitions. Our family team is one of the largest in the south-west and we are experienced in dealing with complex financial disputes between married and unmarried couples, divorce, pre and post nuptial agreements, disputes regarding children and domestic abuse. What would you say sets you apart from the competition? We are very much a client-led business and we are constantly looking at ways to improve our service. Regardless of our size, a client will always be able to deal with the lawyer they chose to instruct and not a paralegal or unqualified person. We have a keen interest in client relationships and retention of clients. What are the secrets to your success as a company? Measured growth, providing a full service to our clients and recruiting like-minded people who share in our client service ethos. I am one of seven directors and we all get on incredibly well. The firm is vibrant, unstuffy and we all enjoy what we do. This makes the firm a wonderful place to work and I think that is reflected in the atmosphere of the firm when our clients visit. What advice would you give to someone starting out in your industry today? Establish great connections in the area as networking and remaining in contact with other industries is crucial to being able to provide a full service to clients. Having contacts with other industries assists with providing appropriate signposting and good recommendations to our own clients for their additional needs. H U G H E S PA D D I S O N 1 0 R OYA L C R E S C E N T C H E LT E N H A M GL50 3DA H U G H E S - PA D D I S O N . C O . U K

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RICHARD YORKE’S TREK TO THE NORTH POLE L E F T A L E G A C Y T H AT H E D R A W S O N T O T H I S D AY, A S A N D R E W M E R R E L L F O U N D O U T

HERE are probably endless metaphors to be gleaned from a trek to the North Pole to describe the world of business through the recession.

Certainly many business people will be familiar with a lonely struggle across a landscape offering no immediate relief or sense of an end, of harsh conditions beyond belief where survival is as much about grit, character and luck as it is any kind of planning. Apart from the unlikely event of being eaten by a polar bear in the general day-to-day of running a company, the likes of Scott’s merciless trudge to the South Pole makes for inspiring reading. Richard Yorke is one of the few who can say he knows both worlds well and must surely have some survival skills to rival a Bear Grylls or a Ray Mears. It is almost eight years ago that Richard, then 45, found himself part of a trio of Gloucestershire businessmen called Team Star on a 16-day battle to the magnetic North Pole. It has left a legacy that he draws on to this day. And yes, he did come face to face with a polar bear – well, close enough for him to reach for his shotgun. “I guess the things I have taken from the challenge personally is that I’m not too afraid

of anything. I have the confidence to try and overcome challenges that are put in front of me. “The past seven years have been a real challenge in the world of construction with the financial crisis and recession that followed. “My determination to get the job done while under all sorts of pressure – winning work, maintaining cashflow, keeping staff, motivation – have all been tested. “But with my experience of being in the middle of Polar Bear pass . . . with bear prints all around and having to pitch a tent and try to sleep knowing at any moment a hungry bear may come for a snack . . .” Despite one of the team having to retire due to injury, the trek raised some £100,000 for the National Star College. “I took the challenge on as I saw it as a way of testing me both mentally and physically. As it turned out, while being extremely physical it was mentally that was the toughest. “Things are very positive at present and I am looking forward to seeing the back of this long recession. As for future challenges it has been discussed to try the Atlantic row – but we will see as I’m not getting any younger.”

R i c h a r d Yo r k e

and remains on its books as a student. He has now been with Hartpury since he was 16 when he arrived to study a BTEC Diploma. Lecturers now help him manage his playing career alongside studying his degree in Sports Business Management, as the college puts it, to “ensure he has a future beyond his sport”. “When I came to Hartpury, I hadn’t achieved much rugby-wise at all; county B squad at best,” said Jonny. “I improved massively while I was at college and winning two finals at Twickenham with Hartpury was incredible. We barely lost a game that season, it was a really special time and my performances put me on Gloucester’s radar. “If I hadn’t come to Hartpury, I honestly don’t think I’d be where I am now. It was a risk at the time, doing a BTEC instead of A-levels, being the only person from my school to come to Hartpury and living away from home, but it has paid off massively for me.” Of course, not everyone has the makings of becoming a legend in their chosen sport, but with modern sport being big business the potential in the sector is enormous.

be inspired ANDREW MERRELL S P E A K S TO G LO U C E ST E R – AND NOW ENGLAND – R U G BY STA R J O N N Y M A Y A B O U T H I S T I M E AT HARTPURY COLLEGE AND I N T E R N AT I O N A L S U C C E S S

LOUCESTER Rugby and England star Jonny May knows all about good coaching – both for his club and country and for his previous team – Hartpury College.

Few people will probably have heard of former Hartpury student, Paul Goulding, but when the USA team arrive here for the Rugby World Cup later this year, he will have a key role to play. The 26-year-old is now the national performance analyst for the USA Eagles senior team, travelling the world on the international rugby circuit and living on the beach in California. His role is to review and preview the team’s games and training sessions and collate stats and video analysis, which is then fed back to the coaching staff, the team and individual players. Another Hartpury graduate, Ryszard Chadwick, is credited with playing a key role in the growth of rugby in America since heading there in 2013 and also carried out an internship with the national team, who, along with Scotland, will use Hartpury as an official Team Base when the Rugby World Cup swings into town.

bite-size business PHIL VICKERY

GLOUCESTER Rugby legend and MasterChef winner turned businessman Phil Vickery has spoken of how his farm upbringing gave him a “mental toughness” – and how he is now developing a range of pasties.

The former Lions rugby union tighthead prop, who was capped 73 times for England and was part of the legendary winning 2003 World Cup side, now runs his own highly successful Gloucester-based clothing line called Raging Bull. A winner of Celebrity MasterChef in 2011, the father-of-two admitted he was working with a beer brand and pasty company and in the future hoped to develop a line of Raging Bull restaurants. However, he told The Daily Telegraph how, despite his amazing sporting success, at first his income was so low he struggled to pay the bills and having been loaned money worked on a building site to square the debt. “Twelve months later, the game turned professional and I was on a salary of £6,000. As I was used to either working for £3 an hour on a farm or, when on my father’s farm, earning anything from £25£50 a week, that seemed a huge amount to me,” said Phil, who lives near Gloucester.”

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A little known fact is that May continues to receive coaching from his former college – albeit in the form of mentoring for a potential future in business.

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In fact, it was the lure of a place at the internationally renowned agricultural college with its equally well-known sports focus and high-performing rugby teams that brought the then unknown May up from Swindon to Gloucestershire. Although he has a role in the current RBS Six Nations the 24-year-old, who plays at outside centre and full-back, continues to be inspired by the help the college continues to give him

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school D AY S

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school of life S T E D W A R D ’ S I N C H E LT E N H A M I S O N E O F T H E C O U N T Y ’ S LEADING INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. ALED THOMAS FINDS OUT HOW THEY PREPARE PUPILS FOR LIFE

HE name Preparatory School is well chosen for St Edward’s in London Road. The school which takes children from the age of two up to 11 years old recently changed its name from Junior School to its current nomenclature.

And speaking to the headmaster Stephen McKernan it’s clear that the school is serious about preparing its children, not just for their secondary education but also for a productive and successful life. Mr McKernan said: “We prepare our children for both grammar schools and our Senior School. “We have very high academic standards, but we see our job as much more than just that. We want to prepare our children for a very successful life; we want to make them fully rounded people.” Although the Prep School maintains many traditions of English schools, including uniforms with caps familiar to generations of schoolchildren, in many ways it confounds expectations. Its gates front on to the busy London Road at Sixways in Charlton Kings, but behind the wall is a surprisingly large, peaceful and, above all, green campus, with acres of fields as well as the normal playing fields, and even a woodland. As you approach the headmaster’s office there are even some chickens scratching around in some individual pens. Mr McKernan said: “It’s like a green oasis behind the red-brick wall. When you see the chickens, it gives a different impression of what the school is like as you drive in. “Although the school takes children across a wide-range of ages, it handles them very sensitively.” Mr McKernan showed me the kindergarten area. “We’ve replaced all the plastic with wood, so it’s very tactile,” he said. “And we have an amphitheatre area, so we can get them used to performing before they have any inhibitions. The kindergarten is based on the Reggio Emilia approach. It has its own playground and all the equipment is generic, so they can imagine the equipment is a forest, or a boat or whatever they think. It’s about freeing their imaginations.” The reception class and years one and two are in their own small building, so very young children can feel comfortable. Reception has its own playground, and an outdoor learning area for children in years one and two. Mr McKernan said: “If we want them to do some creative writing about nature, for example, they can go outside and actually look at it. We also use the woodland for walks with the children, as we’re very keen on them having an outdoor education. “We pride ourselves on what value we can add to a child’s education, and really try to bring them on. I insist on them having their shirts tucked in and ties straight, not because I‘m authoritarian, but because 106 | GLmagazine.co.uk

it’s about self-respect and respect for others and the school community.” In summary, amid the traditional elements, there’s some seriously forward thinking at this school.

senior school While ‘strive for the best’ is the motto of St Edward’s Senior School, and staff and pupils aim for that every day, it’s unofficial motto might be something along the lines of ‘giving, not taking’. Headmistress, Pat Clayfield, explains the whole ethos of the school, both academically and in its extra-curricular activities. She said: “We ask our students to give themselves every day. That’s what they have to do to strive for the best. And they realise that to be successful in life, things aren’t given to them on a plate.” Mrs Clayfield is justifiably proud of the Senior School’s academic record. It sends pupils to the best British universities every year, and a member of the sixth form is soon to head off to Harvard in the United States, where he has an unconditional offer. But the headteacher is just as proud of the extra-curricular activities of the school, and the leadership skills it inculcates in the students. She said: “The older children particularly have a strong sense of giving back to the school community. Our sixth form pupils help out their younger schoolmates. They might help with a sports club or a lunchtime club, or they might even give extra tuition, in something like Latin. “And that ethos goes into things like charitable work. We had some students go to Highbury Club for elderly people and they volunteered to sing and recite verse for the members. But they also got the chance to chat to some of the members and when they came back that’s what they were saying they enjoyed the most, being able to talk to people older than them and see that it gave pleasure. “We aim to make sure that everyone finds their place here, whatever they are best at, and that they leave as the most successful people they can be, academically, sporting and morally.” St Edward’s Preparatory School London Road, Charlton Kings Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 6NR www.stedwards.co.uk Tel: 01242 538900 Email: Mainoffice@stedwardsprep.co.uk St Edward’s is an independent day school for boys and girls aged 2-18. A Catholic foundation welcoming all faiths.

at a glance

ethos

ALTHOUGH both schools have students of all faiths and none, they are both Roman Catholic in ethos and nature. The newly-appointed chaplain to both, Father Pat O’Keeffe was a teacher at Whitefriars School, the forerunner of the Prep School for many years. He said: “It’s a Catholic school and we follow the ethic and teaching of the Catholic Church. But it’s about being part of the school community and that nobody here is more important than anyone else, “That’s the ethos we teach through the teachings of Christ about respect for yourself and others.”

sport Sport is important at both schools, from the Oxford ‘blue’ vest and international rugby jerseys proudly displayed in the

lobby of the Prep School, to the extensive grounds and courts on both sites. Olympic wheelchair athlete Mel Nichols visited the Prep School recently to inspire the children, and there are trips for youngsters to Twickenham yearly to see the varsity match, while the cycling club at the Senior School made a mammoth ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats, as well as taking part in shorter sportive rides throughout the year.

reggio emilia The Reggio Emilia approach to early years’ education began in Italy after the war. It takes a view of education that puts the child in control of a lot of their learning. Staff at the Kindergarten at St Edward’s Prep School travelled to Italy to see it in action before bringing it back to Cheltenham. Mr McKernan said: “In the playground, we used to have a pirate ship. Now all the playground equipment is wooden

Picture: Sadie Johns

and it’s generic, there’s a bridge, there are some posts, but it means the children can imagine using it in any way they want. It’s about not imposing on their imagination. And in the classrooms there are seats made from tree trunks. All the blocks are wooden, not plastic, and it’s all natural materials, putting the children more in touch with the natural world and its textures.” Photographs by Anna Lythgoe

St Edwards Preparatory School

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BELIEVING IN

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The swimming pool at the Aria hotel in Las Vegas

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viva las vegas H A S S I N C I T Y TA K E N O N A N E W A I R O F S O P H I S T I C AT I O N ? RICHARD JONES TRAVELS ACROSS THE DESERT TO I N V E S T I G AT E F U R T H E R

Y first day in Nevada’s gambling haven was a whirlwind of sights and sounds, from a steak and eggs breakfast at Avenue Cafe, to a pool party at Wet Republic and dinner at MGM Grand’s Michelin-starred L’atelier de Joel Robuchon. And the evening didn’t end there for my friend Matt and I, as we joined the thousands paying homage to the biggest name in world dance music – Calvin Harris – at prestigious nightclub, Hakkasan. Those opening 24 hours in Vegas summed up perfectly what Sin City is all about these days. Granted, many tourists still gamble all day, breaking occasionally for a refuel at the cheap buffets or to take in a show. However, Vegas has become a more sophisticated and refined place during the 21st century, though thankfully, its hedonistic spirit is still there for all to see. Sure, New York is known as ‘the city that never sleeps’, but I reckon Vegas deserves a similar moniker. With some of the world’s best restaurants, clubs and attractions springing up in the desert oasis, there is so much temptation on offer, even for those with discerning and expensive tastes.

Vegas’ newest and most intimate spa at the smokefree and gambling-free Vdara resort. And for those who want extended respite from the demon booze, Vegas’ planners have constructed a number of new attractions aimed at making folks part with their hard-earned dollars in alternative ways from the bars, casinos and shops. The historic Downtown area is where it all began at the start of the 20th century, and heavy investment into the Fremont Street Experience over the last two decades has changed this district beyond all recognition. It’s often said that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. But that is a cliché. From my experience, not much stays there for long – certainly not the decrepit, under-performing hotels which are pulled down in the blink of an eye. After sleeping for about 20 hours (at most) during my seven nights there, I could have given Rip Van Winkle a run for his money when I returned home. Visit www.virginholidays.co.uk

However, what seems to have taken over from the aforementioned dirt-cheap all-you-can-eat buffets as the staple of tourists’ diets are the family-style restaurants which cater for big parties. Nevertheless, buffets remain popular in Vegas, especially in some of the older hotels which have evolved over time. Take the Fountains Brunch at Jasmine, in the Bellagio resort, for example. Fresh seafood is combined with an array of breakfast specials, such as lobster potato cake Eggs Benedict, to create a memorable Sunday brunch experience. Las Vegas likes to bill itself as the new entertainment capital of the world, and its nightclub roster is the best on the planet. Each hotel houses at least one lavish club and in order to compete in a saturated market, they know they have pull out all the stops to get the punters in. However, it’s not just after the sun has set that parties go on in Vegas - dayclubs are also a massive phenomenon. MGM Grand’s Wet Republic along with Liquid at Aria have proved a big pull for those with a taste for all-day drinking and dancing, against a backdrop of bikini-clad babes and muscle-bound hunks. After a week of partying, detox can be found at Las @GLmagazine | 111

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travel must haves C H E C K I N F O R T H AT M U C H NEEDED BREAK IN STYLE. FROM A HIP FLASK TO STORE Y O U R S I N G L E M A LT T O A MULBERRY TRAVEL BAG TO KEEP YOUR COPY OF GL, WE M A K E T H O S E A L L - I M P O R TA N T C H O I C E S T H AT M A K E L I F E A LITTLE BIT EASIER

great escapes ST I L L H AV E N ’ T D E C I D E D O N Y O U R S U M M E R H O L I D AY ? F O R G ET T H E B R I G H T L I G H T S O F T H E TO U R I ST H OT S P OT S A N D H E A D S O M E W H E R E W I T H AT T I T U D E . D I T C H T H E P R E D I C T A B L E C O C K T A I L B Y T H E B E A C H F O R A N A LT O G E T H E R MORE AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE AS GL PICKS OUT SOME OF T H E W O R L D ’ S C O O L E S T D E S T I N AT I O N S

italy

A two hour drive from Milan, on the southern tip of Lombardy, is Mantua, nicknamed ‘sleeping beauty’ because the city hasn’t changed much since the Middle Ages. It’s also where Romeo lives in exile in Shakespeare’s Romeo And Juliet. If you’re looking for tales of love and tragedy then Palazzo Te in the heart of the city should be your first stop.

cuba Cuba’s irrepressible energy and irresistible charm will no doubt continue to capture visitors’ hearts for years to come, but a chapter of the island’s history is coming to a close. If you want to experience what Cuba once was, it would be best to visit now.

dubai

With desert safari camps, indoor ski slopes and a theme park where children are in charge, there’s plenty in this emirate to entertain families.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Passport holder, £85, Polo Ralph Lauren at Harvey Nichols; Taylor of Bond Street Razor set, £69.95, Selfridges; Medium Clipper travel bag, £595, Mulberry; Single Grain Scotch, £55, Haig Club at Harvey Nichols; Eve Lom Travel Essentials, £75, Space NK

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Virgin Holidays (virginholidays.co.uk; 0844 557 3859) who offers a three-night holiday in Dubai from £729pp (based on a family of four travelling). Includes flights with Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow direct to Dubai, B&B accommodation at the 5V Grand Hyatt Dubai and private airport transfers.

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hole in one H E L E N B L O W P A Y S A V I S I T T O AT G O L F C O A C H I N G I N G LO U C E ST E R W H E R E S H E L E A R N S H O W TO I M P R O V E H E R G A M E W I T H T H E L AT E S T T E E - O F F T E C H N O LO G Y

OLF is a sport that can be played in any weather but, like anything, it’s not much fun when you are battling across a course in the wind and rain.

On days like that, think how much better would it be to be able to practice your drive, chip or putting somewhere a bit warmer and drier. That’s where AT Golf Coaching comes in. Seasoned players can improve their techniques with the help of a professional and stateof-the-art equipment following their every move, while beginners can learn the basics before heading outside to the fairways and greens of their local club. Run by professionals Alex Whittall and Tom Longley, the studios can be found within the walls of Gloucester Golf Centre in Barnett Way, which means you can stock up on clothes and clubs while taking in a lesson or two. And as you swing or putt, specialist radar tracking cameras track your every move to show you exactly what you’re doing wrong and right - for future games. All your attempts are recorded on video so you can watch a summary of your golf lesson whenever you want, on the green or at home. Both qualified coaches and professional players, Alex and Tom set up AT Golf Coaching a year ago, helping to design and build the practice studios alongside specialists. “We use a Flightscope radar tracking monitor to provide accurate ball flight and club data,” said Alex.

“I played a lot of sport at school and golf is the hardest game I’ve ever played. However good you get, you always think you can do better.” Alex played at Brickhampton Golf Club in Churchdown as a junior, later moving to Ross-on-Wye and turning pro at the age of 19. He took a degree in professional golf so he could teach and got experience playing at The Belfrey course in Birmingham as part of the course. “I taught and competed on the West region professional circuit for a few years but was then looking around for something different to do and came up with the idea of setting up the coaching studios,” he said. He and Tom approached Gloucester Golf Centre, which has been selling equipment to the public in Barnett Way for 20 years, and opened a year go. Since then the pair have welcomed customers of all different abilities and walks of life through their doors, seeking advice and improvement to their game. Run by Peter Darnell and Richard Jewell, the shop sells all golfing brands, catering for everyone from complete beginners to professionals. “There are club sets for beginners from around £50 to hand-built Japanese forged clubs up to around £1,500.

Alex Whittall with a customer

“This is all projected on to the screen in front of you so you can watch the ball fly, as well as your own technique. “The matting we use allows us to use normal wooden or plastic golf tees instead of large rubber driving range matt tees that create poor spin on the ball. “To keep every reading as accurate as possible we have more than 30 different balls in stock in our studio so you can use the ball you normally would on the golf course.” In the Putting Lab there are four holes on flat and undulating ground, so players can practice every scenario they would get on a normal green. “We video from three different angles so you can view your play from all sides to get the maximum benefit.” Although still only 25, Alex has a wealth of experience behind him, including time spent on the county and English golfing circuit as a professional player. He first picked up a golf club at the age of 12, when his next door neighbour used to take him to the local driving range. 114 | GLmagazine.co.uk

“I absolutely loved it and, after that time, I never looked back,” he said.

“The shop also sells clothing, golf balls and tees and everything else anyone could require for their game.”

AT Golf Coaching offer all different kinds of lessons, from individual to a one-year development programme. “We cover every aspect of the game or just a particular area someone might want to improve and they can do just one lesson or a course of six or 10,” said Alex. They also offer a custom fitting service so clients can order golf clubs that fit them perfectly and have an area at the shop dedicated to this service.

find us

GLOUCESTER GOLF CENTRE AND AT G O L F C O A C H I N G B A R N E T T W AY, B A R N W O O D , GLOUCESTER, 01452 613864. AT G O L F C O A C H I N G

@ AT G O L F C O A C H I N G

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Alex Whittall helping a customer in the Performance Studio

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game W E K N O W T H E WAY TO S P O R T I N G

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hole in one

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A H A N D . I T ’ S N O T C H E AT I N G , I T ’ S J U S T BOXING-CLEVER

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Now you can analyse all aspects of your game with this smart piece of kit. It attaches to your racquet, then tracks power, spin, shot types (serve, forehand, smash) rally times and more. By sending this data wirelessly to an app on your iOS device, you can compare and share your data with other players, while also listening to its tips for your improvement.

Whether you can’t find your ball because you’ve hit it so brilliantly far, or not so brilliantly into the rough, these glasses are here to help, seeking out lost balls among the flora with their blue tinted hue. Just remember to remove before taking that next shot. Golf Ball Finder Glasses, £9.99 from menkind.co.uk

Zepp Tennis Swing Analyser, £129.95, from store.apple.com/uk

battery bait

This highly-rated piece of kit assists in the detection of weeds, sand and rocks where you’re fishing to give you a distinct advantage without having to dive in with your goggles. It can also offer approximate locations of fish and the depth of water you’re angling in. If 007 were an angler, he’d certainly be packing one of these in his tackle box.

Electronic Sonar Fish Finder, £24.98, amazon.co.uk

on the road

If you cycle as much for fitness factors as you do to get from A to B, then forget the great outdoors and the rainy misery it brings; put on the telly and sit your commuting cycle astride this superb machine. Set it to one of five resistance levels and let the workout begin. ELITE Super Crono Mag Force Turbo Trainer Pack, £149.99, decathlon.co.uk

116 | GLmagazine.co.uk

TRY IT

en garde t

HERE is something quite exhilarating about fencing that makes it feel worthwhile. Experiencing this sport for the first time after being invited along by Cotswold Fencing Club to one of their training sessions at the GL3 Hub, I feel a great degree of satisfaction at giving it a go and can see the social and fitness benefits. Instructor Kevin Nelson also makes me feel at ease with his relaxed approach, helping to make it enjoyable.

D A U N T I N G , E S P E C I A L LY W H E N S O M E O N E I S C O M I N G AT Y O U W I T H A S W O R D . R O B E R T ILES BECAME A MUSKETEER WHEN HE PAID C OT S W O L D F E N C I N G C LU B A V I S I T

of people taking part from youngsters still at school to the retired, while Rio 2016 hopeful Piers Gilliver is also a member of Cotswold Fencing. Kevin, who has been chairman for six years, said: “I took it up for fitness and I like playing with swords and it went from there. I turned up one night and I haven’t left since.”

Wearing a thick jacket, a glove and a mask, I feel safe as well. Although playing with swords is the main appeal for many taking part, this is not a dangerous sport. Yet despite all the protective gear we’re both wearing as Kevin starts off by teaching me the basics, I am naturally reluctant to go flying in with the sword, as if I’m going to cause some sort of damage he’s never experienced in 25 years of doing this before. To demonstrate that I’m worrying about nothing, Kevin attacks me, extending his arm fully, and I can only feel a light prod. The weapon I am using is foil, as opposed to eppe or sabre, which Kevin explains is the basic practice weapon and perfect for a beginner like me as it can be manoeuvred easily. I am shown basic attacking moves such as stepping into the opponent and using the lunge and then how to parry and riposte, essentially blocking the opponent’s blade and then attacking them. Next I learn how to disengage, by pointing the sword down and moving in another direction to avoid the parry, which is more difficult than it looks and is a movement that requires a certain grace I don’t seem to possess as I struggle to get my aim right. After my “crash course”, Kevin pits me up against Jon Pritchett, an 18-year-old who has been fencing for three years. Part of the experience is also learning about the protocol and so I salute my opponent, standing with my back straight and my mask off, raising the sword into a vertical position.

Robert Iles fighting Jon Pritchett

New classes for 2015 Small friendly classes, baking and creating cakes and cupcakes. Come and learn how to create beautiful sugar flowers.

In order to score any points, I need to hit him in the torso. Luckily, we aren’t keeping count but I manage to make contact on a couple of occasions and feel quite pleased with myself as I shake his hand at the end of the battle. Next I face Richard Wood, who has been fencing for a year and after he passes on some useful tips I gradually feel like I might be getting the hang of it, or perhaps he is just going easy on me. “You’ve got good reflexes,” he says, probably out of kindness. By the end I’m breathing quite heavily and happy to get the warm protective gear off, but able to reflect on an enjoyable experience.

get ur

TRYING A NEW SPORT CAN BE QUITE

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There is a friendly atmosphere at the club, with a range @GLmagazine | 117

7-10 MAY 2015

BE INSPIRED BY SPRING

DAZZLING SHOW GARDENS FLORAL MARQUEE WITH FINEST QUALITY PLANTS FOR SALE EXPERT ADVICE & DEMONSTRATIONS DISCOVER FOOD, CRAFT, ART, MUSIC & MORE

Three Counties, Malvern, WR13 6NW, 7–10 May 2015 It’s closer than you think, only 15 mins from M5/M50 Tickets from £16 BOOK NOW rhsmalvern.co.uk 01684 230 126 Three Counties registered charity no. 511868

RHS registered charity no. 222879/SCO38262

see it WHERE TO GO AND W H AT T O S E E I N G LO U C E ST E R S H I R E THIS MONTH

music

DUKE SPECIAL

Singer-songwriter Duke Special will showcase work from his new album as part of his latest UK tour. Tickets cost £14 in advance, visit gloucester.gov.uk APRIL 15, GLOUCESTER GUILDHALL

film

stage

Heartthrob Ryan Reynolds teams up with Dame Helen Mirren and Elizabeth McGovern in this gritty drama. It centres on an octogenarian Jewish refugee who takes on a campaign to recover a Gustav Klimt painting stolen by the Nazis.

Join LA actor and YouTube sensation Miles Allen for a rip-roaring ride through one of the most popular TV shows every made. Tickets cost £20, visit cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk.

WOMAN IN GOLD

OUT ON APRIL 3

TOYAH WILLCOX

Pershore singer and actress Toyah Willcox is back with her band, The Humans. A transatlantic three-piece, you can expect plenty of classic rock. Tickets cost £20, visit gloucester.gov.uk APRIL 14, GLOUCESTER GUILDHALL

ONE MAN BREAKING BAD

MARCH 29, CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL THIS HISTORY BOYS

A LITTLE CHAOS

Alan Rickman, Helen McCrory and Gloucestershire-based actress Kate Winslet star in this lavish period drama. A landscape gardener is given the opportunity to construct the grand gardens of Versailles. OUT ON APRIL 3

Alan Bennett’s comic masterpiece is one of the nation’s favourite plays. The story of a group of bright, funny and unruly sixth-formers. Tickets cost £14-26, visit everymantheatre.org.uk MARCH 30-APRIL 4, EVERYMAN THEATRE, CHELTENHAM

@GLmagazine | 119

SEE IT

great days out in gloucestershire Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park Guiting Power Lambing, bottle feeding and Easter egg hunts all make for a packed day of family fun at the Farm Park, as well as the usual activities, including the touch barn, jumping pillows, tractor trails and of course all the animals. Admission: adult £9.25, child £8.40 Call 01451 850307 cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk

one for the adults

Littledean Jail, near Cinderford A selection of diverse and fascinating exhibitions can be found through the gates of the Forest of Dean’s notorious Littledean Jail. Anyone with an interest in James Bond will have their curiosity satisfied by The Real James Bond, an exhibition on Churchill’s post-war secret SAS team. Elsewhere can be seen exhibits on the Great Train Robbery, organised crime duo the Kray Twins and the UK’s only Quadrophenia collection. Entrance costs £8 for adults and £7 for children. The jail is open from 10am to 5pm Thursdays to Sundays. Visit littledeanjail.com for more information.

easter treats

ITH Easter just around the corner and the promise of warmer weather ahead, families are spoiled for choice for how to fill weekends and holidays.

Alongside all the other birds at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, visitors can hunt for giant ducks between March 28 and April 12. Youngsters can pick up an activity sheet to mark down all the ducks spotted in return for a yummy treat, as well as keeping their eyes out for real-life baby birds, handfeed a goose or hear all about otters. Children will watch with open-mouthed wonder at the tricks performed by the Amazing Bubble Man at Cheltenham Town Hall on March 30. Louis Pearl mixes spellbinding science, magic, art and comedy in his entertaining show that runs at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Tickets cost £14 from 0855 576 2210. Children’s book favourite Superworm can be found in the Forest of Dean until October 31, heading up his own trail through the trees. Starting at Beechenhurst, the activity packs

will include a mini book, collecting bag and string to make your own super hero, and the trail is aimed at children aged from three to eight years. The trail runs from 9am and 5pm and is free to join. Talking of children’s books, quirky siblings Charlie and Lola will be on stage at the Parabola Arts Centre in Cheltenham with some new adventures on April 4 - 6. Charlie and Lola’s Extremely New Play takes a magical journey through the seasons as the pair enjoy adventures with friends, pets and pirates. Buy tickets priced at £12 from everymantheatre.org.uk Don’t be late for a very important date at Blackfriars in Gloucester on Easter Sunday for an Alice In Wonderland family extravaganza. The Hatter’s Tea Party features a petting zoo, live music, fun-filled workshops, activities galore and screenings of both the Disney classic and Tim Burton takes on the Lewis Carroll classic. Choose one of two sessions from 11am - 2pm and 3 - 6pm. Tickets cost £7.50 per child and £2 for adults on 01452 503050.

CRIME THROUGH TIME COLLECTION

LITTLEDEAN J AIL UNLOCKED MUCH MORE THAN JUST A JAIL.. ! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE... BUT YOUR MIND! Opening times 28th March to the end of October 2015

16+ RATED

IMPORTANT!!! Please note that we’re only open from Thursdays to Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays

Follow CRIME THROUGH TIME @ LITTLEDEAN JAIL on...

Littledean, Nr Cinderford. Gloucestershire. GL14 3NL 01594 826659 | www.littledeanjail.com

Warning! Please kindly note if easliy offended or of a sensitive nature DO NOT ENTER Littledean Jail 120 | GLmagazine.co.uk

SEE IT

just a walk in the park Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury All the trees are waking up after their winter sleep at the National Arboretum and some will be hiding clues to an Easter riddle that families can try to solve. Different spring crafts will feature each week in the learning centre. Admission: adult ÂŁ9, child ÂŁ3 01666 880220 www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt

eggsplore woodchester park Woodchester Park, near Stroud

The Amazing Bubble Man

Trails will be held at Woodchester Park every day from Monday March 30 to Monday April 6 between 11am - 2pm. More information is available on nationaltrust. org.uk/woodchester-park

20 - 25 APRIL

everymantheatre.org.uk 01242 572573

@GLmagazine | 121

SEE IT

current single, Ballad Of Mighty I. His forthcoming album, Chasing Yesterday, has been finished since July 14 last year, he says, with typical accuracy. The delay in release was caused by the reissues of Oasis’ first two albums, Definitely Maybe, 20 years old last year, and its follow-up (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? “I produced the album myself and finished it really quickly, so I just had to wait in the queue ‘til those reissues were done and dusted. It won’t happen with the next album, which I’ve already started writing,” he says. “And I’ll tell you something else for nothing - producing albums is easy.

“

Chasing Yesterday, the follow-up to 2011’s self-titled debut, sees Noel move further away from the euphoric, anthemic template he perfected during his time in Oasis.

PRODUCING ALBUMS IS EASY

NOEL GALLAGHER

WITH A NEW ALBUM AND TOUR, NOEL GALLAGHER IS IN A

T Y P I C A L LY C H A T T Y M O O D . H E T E L L S G L W H Y C H A S I N G Y E S T E R D A Y I S F I R M LY I N H I S P R E S E N T

“

COSTUMES? What costumes? You’re looking at it,” says Noel Gallagher, pointing to his de facto uniform of brown shoes, dark jeans and blue bomber jacket, zipped up to the top.

He might be about to go out on tour, but he’s adamant there is not going to be a ‘show’. “I often say when people tell me they’re coming to see me, that there’s nothing to look at. There’s plenty to listen to, but there’s nothing to see.” Noel’s argument is that he’s been doing what he does for more than 20 years, taking into account his 18 years as guitarist and songwriter with Oasis.“I occupy a space about the same size as this rug,” he says, pointing to the small square of fluffy fabric on the floor of his publicist’s office, “and that’s it. “Anything more is like a workout. I should be able to do what I do sitting down, smoking. If I break a sweat during a gig, I need to rethink the whole thing.” He is, of course, being slightly disingenuous, but then with a quote machine like Noel, you get the impression the absolute truth never gets in the way of a good soundbite.

122 | GLmagazine.co.uk

The 47-year-old is hugely entertaining company, taking in everything from Manchester City, other bands, and Blur’s recently announced comeback. “It’s very exciting, isn’t it? I know Damon [Albarn] and Graham [Coxon] are very excited,” is his verdict on that one.

“I had no idea there was going to be a saxophone solo somewhere down the line. Or psychedelic jazz,” he says, referring Chasing Yesterday tracks The Right Stuff, and album opener Riverman. Having sold more than 70 million records with Oasis, and more than a million as a solo artist, Noel doesn’t need to work. And, as he points out, he’s reluctant to put too much of his personal life in his writing, through fear it would be “more boring than a James Blunt song”, meaning he doesn’t have any demons to work through. So why does he carry on? “I love the work,” he says flatly. “Me and Paul Weller are cut from the same cloth, in that respect. I love making records. I’m not interested in anything else - how much it sells, or me being better than anyone else. “I hate the photographs, but they’re a necessary evil,” Noel adds. “And I loathe the videos, so I’m trying to wriggle out of them at the moment.” NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH F LY I N G B I R D S ’ N E W

Few interviewees relish interviews as much as he does, and no subject is out of bounds. “What can I say? I’m Mancunian, and we love to talk,” he says, before reeling off a tale about the day former Smiths guitarist and fellow Mancunian Johnny Marr joined him in the studio to add a guitar part to Noel’s

ALBUM CHASING Y E ST E R D AY IS OUT NOW A N D T H E Y A R E C U R R E N T LY O N T O U R . F O R I N F O R M AT I O N , V I S I T NOELGALLAGHER.COM

BEST NEW RELEASES STEVEN WILSON Hand. Cannot. Erase. According to Steven Wilson, frontman and founder of Porcupine Tree, the aim of Hand. Cannot. Erase. was to prove there’s more to his repertoire than grandiose prog rock. A brilliantly crafted, multi-layered epic, is what this album needed to explore more as it beautifully married the various electro and prog styles into one cohesive work. Full credit to Wilson for venturing into new territory here, even if the overall result is a little patchy.

MARK LANEGAN A Thousand Miles of Midnight It’s hard to think of a less likely raver than the stone-faced Lanegan, but this is wonderfully uplifting. It is a bit surprising more of the remixers don’t make more of the baleful majesty of Lanegan’s voice. It’s hardly one for the dance floor, but I bet it’s the one Lanegan likes best.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, Brickhampton Court Golf Complex remains a family owned company. The complex provides a friendly and welcoming atmosphere to members and visitors alike. Facilities at the complex include the 18 hole Spa course, 9 hole Glevum course, a 28 bay Driving Range as well as a newly installed state of the art Foresight Sports GC2 golf simulator, which offers unrivalled technology in all weathers and is now taking bookings for game play, gap analysis testing or even children’s parties playing demolition golf or crazy golf, there really is something for everyone. The Proshop is stocking more golfing equipment than ever before, including brands such as Titleist, TaylorMade, Ping, Callaway, Mizuno, Cobra,Wilson. Corporate and society days are the club’s speciality with the focus being on the quality of golf and food. Meeting and function facilities are also available and can cater for up to 120 people.

FOOTGOLF IS HERE AT BRICKHAMPTON GOLF COMPLEX Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April sees the launch of Footgolf on Brickhampton’s 9 hole Glevum course. Footgolf is a relatively new sport taking the world by storm. It has been in the UK for just over two years and is being played at over 70 golf courses, but there is currently nowhere offering it within Gloucestershire, Herefordshire or South Gloucestershire. However, forward-thinking golf complex Brickhampton Court is now set to offer the sport that is open to everyone! Footgolf is played on a golf course using a size 5 football.The object of the game is to get the ball into the hole using only your feet in the fewest number of shots possible. It is a highly addictive sport, combining the best of football and golf, two of the world’s most popular sports. The beauty of the game lies in the player being able to strategically combine power and precision every time they play. For more information, please telephone 01452 859 444. Footgolf will be available every Saturday and Sunday between 1pm & 7pm. You are welcome to bring your own footballs, or you can hire them for £1 with a £5 deposit for each football hired. Please check the website for more details, everyone welcome.

www.facebook.com/BrickhamptonGolf @BrickhamptonGC

01452 859 444

www.brickhampton.co.uk Cheltenham Road | Churchdown | Gloucester | GL2 9QF

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Ǥ ͲͳͶͷʹ ͵͵ʹ ͵͵͸ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ

THE DIRECTORY

BUSINESS A-Z

Armada Exports 54 Suffolk Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2AQ antiquecrystalchandeliers.co.uk

Beechwood Shopping Centre 123 High Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1DQ beechwoodsc.co.uk • 01242 261122

Bikini Bathrooms Ltd City Business Centre, Llanthony Road, Gloucester, GL2 5JH 01452-387178 • bikinibathrooms.co.uk

Chapman Opticians Regent Arcade, Cheltenham GL50 1JZ 01242 584358 • chapman-opticians.co.uk

Dajon Interiors 102-104 Finlay Rd, Gloucester GL4 6TP 01452 332 336 dajoninteriors.co.uk

Elephant Moon Day Nursery Cheltenham 01242 577779 • Tewkesbury 01684 851021 elephantmoondaynurseries.co.uk

Gillmans Appliance Specialists St. Oswalds Road, Gloucester. GL1 2SG 01452 528776 • gillmans.co.uk

Harriet Sanders William Burford House, 27 Lansdown Place Lane, Cheltenham, 01242 525836 • harrietsanders.co.uk

126 | GLmagazine.co.uk

THE DIRECTORY

BUSINESS A-Z

Joyce Brooks joycebrookslingerie.com • 01242 524706 Anita Fitting Day, 10 am–3:30pm, April 22 with Catherine Cuttriss For ladies who have had breast surgery – appointments advised

Just Fabrics Unit 2 Honeybourne Way, Cheltenham, GL50 3QW justfabrics.co.uk • 01242 530423

Laura Leigh Hairdressing 105 Promenade, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1NW 01242 530598 • lauraleighhairdressing.co.uk

Plantation Florists 41 Seymour Road, Gloucester, GL1 5PS plantation-florist.co.uk • 01452 332203

Regent Arcade High Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1JZ regentarcade.co.uk • 01242 521345

The Royal 54 Horsefair Street, Charlton King’s, Cheltenham royalpub.co.uk • 01242 228937

Trioscape Garden Centre Highleadon, Newent, Gloucestershire GL18 1HQ 01452 790550 • trioscape.co.uk

Truscott Jewellers 1 College Court, Gloucester GL1 2NJ truscottjewellers.co.uk • 01452 524914

@GLmagazine | 127

Our new Glevum conservatory is so much more than just a new room, it is a new way of life â&#x20AC;Ś. Visit www.glevum.co.uk to see the Glevum Conservatory range for yourself or visit the county's largest Conservatory Village.

Call us on: 0800 33 22 55

MAGAZINE

12 issues for only ÂŁ18 To s u b s c r i b e s i m p l y v i s i t

GLmagazine.co.uk or call us on

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THE FINAL WORD

tom kerridge G LO U C E ST E R- B O R N TO M K E R R I D G E , 41, WAS THE FIRST CHEF TO WIN TWO M I C H E L I N STA R S F O R F O O D S E R V E D AT A P U B , T H E H A N D A N D F LO W E R S I N M A R LO W , A N D I S W E L L K N O W N F O R H I S COOKBOOKS AND TV APPEARANCES. HERE H E T A L K S A B O U T H I S E A R LY Y E A R S A N D HIS JOURNEY TO CULINARY SUCCESS

Photograph: PA Photo/Cristian Barnett

I ABSOLUTELY loved growing up in Gloucester and I am very proud to come from the city. I went to Saintbridge School, now Gloucester Academy, which at the time was an all boys’ comp. A lot of the pupils were boys who loved fun. I loved school, not for academic reasons but seeing my mates and playing sport. Being Gloucester, I played a lot of rugby; I was a prop. To be honest, I wasn’t really aware of any pressures on me when I was growing up. Any that I may have felt were the same as those for anybody else, such as trying to find myself and being able to wear the latest trainers and jeans, things like that. I suppose there was a lot going on in my personal life with Mum and Dad splitting up, Dad not being well and Mum working hard with two jobs. Career-wise I didn’t feel pressured. Mum gave me a lot of space and never pushed for me to do A-levels or go to university, it was more a case of finding what I wanted to do. I’ve been quoted as saying that for my last supper I would have fish and chips and a can of Lilt from Danny Dyke’s. Going there was our Saturday lunchtime treat. It was always a friendly place: the guys behind the counter were always smiling and Danny would give any kids in the queue a chip on a chip fork. From Danny Dyke’s I learned the value of personality and generosity. My journey to becoming a chef started with going to youth theatre at the Everyman in Cheltenham. I did a bit of acting but it wasn’t really a career pursuit. By 18, I had decided I needed to do something that paid. I got a job as a kitchen porter and from the first moment I walked into a kitchen I absolutely loved it. I went to Gloscat during the day, finished at 3.30pm and went to work. Kitchens were where I wanted to be. I worked at Calcot Manor in Tetbury, the Painswick 130 | GLmagazine.co.uk

Hotel and The Country Elephant with Rob Rees before moving to London at 21. I find being a fashion role model ridiculous: I think the reason GQ had me in the magazine was because there are more people like me than David Beckham and I think people relate to that. I am just a fat, bald bloke who wears jeans and white trainers. I think some chefs comes across as being super special and seem to believe their own hype, whereas I consider myself to be a bit of a white van man who just wears an apron. I work very hard and surround myself with great people and together we achieve wonderful things due to huge team work. I don’t have any style icons. I would prefer people to come into my pub wearing what they feel most comfortable in and letting their personalities shine through rather than dressing up and making a statement. I think men think about body image more than they used to, but I think it’s because people are much more health conscious now. I think people see exercise as something that’s good fun and seem to be more conscious of what they eat and drink. Over the last two years I have lost nearly 10 stone but this was down to health rather than body image. I had got to 39 and decided that somebody else could take up the reins of being the last man standing with drinking. When it comes to role models I’d say it’s hard to pick because there has been so many. As a chef I wouldn’t be here without Marco Pierre White’s cookbook White Heat. In terms of making a business work I would have to say my role model is my father-in-law Jim Cullen, a self-made man who made loads of money, lost it in the 1980s, then built up another business. I’m also very self-influenced: I have a strong work ethic and I never stop, not because I’m influenced by money but because I want to make things work.

SHADES OF SPRING TRENDS

Images courtesy of Primark

Treat yourself this season and give your wardrobe a refresh with all the latest fashion trends at King’s Walk. Whether it’s matching coordinates, pastel patterns or statement accessories, it’s time to walk the line in Springs’s most stylish shades. Visit King’s Walk Shopping Centre where you really will be spoiled for choice.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK VISIT WWW.KINGSWALK.CO.UK

JD POWER SURVEY 2014/15 Best manufacturer Jaguar

IF YOU THINK THE PRICE IS GOOD,

WAIT UNTIL YOU DRIVE THE CAR.

JAGUAR XF Imagine how you’ll feel experiencing these classleading features as standard every single day... • Leather seats with full electric adjustment • 7” colour touchscreen navigation system and DVD player • Xenon headlamps with daytime running lights • 8-speed automatic transmission with SPORT mode and paddles Even the price of the XF has the power to raise your heartbeat and is now available at £289.52 a month, plus deposit and final payment, with 3 years free servicing* Contact us today to book your test drive.

REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE† On the Road Price††

£33,445

Finance Deposit Allowance

£5,049

Customer Deposit

£5,999

Total Amount of Credit

£22,397

Purchase Fee (Included in final payment)

£10

36 Monthly Payments

£289.52

Final Payment

£14,753

Total Amount Payable

£36,223.72

Duration of Agreement (Months) Representative APR

37 4.9% APR

Interest Rate (Fixed)

H.A.FOX CHELTENHAM RUTHERFORD WAY, CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL51 9TU 01242 851 655 HAFOX.CHELTENHAM.JAGUAR.CO.UK

4.82%

HOW ALIVE ARE YOU?

Official fuel economy figures for the Jaguar XF range in mpg (l/100km): Urban from 16.7 (16.9) to 48.7 (5.8). Extra Urban from 32.8 (8.6) to 64.2 (4.4). Combined from 24.4 (11.6) to 57.7 (4.9). CO2 emissions from 270 to 129 (g/km). Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. † Representative 4.9% APR available on new Jaguar XF Saloon and Sportbrake models only (excluding all 163PS models apart from Luxury), registered between 1st January 2015 - 31st March 2015 at participating retailers only. With Jaguar Privilege you have the option to return the vehicle and not pay the Final Payment. If the vehicle is in good condition and has not exceeded the allowed mileage you will have nothing further to pay. If the vehicle has exceeded the allowed mileage a charge for excess mileage will apply - in this example 14p per mile for any excess mileage up to 4,999 miles and 28p per mile for any excess mileage exceeding 5,000 miles. Representative example is based on an annual mileage of 6,000 miles. Finance is subject to status and only available to applicants aged 18 and over resident in Mainland UK and N.Ireland. This finance offer is available from Black Horse Limited trading as Jaguar Financial Services, St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. ††The Representative Example is based on an XF Luxury 163PS. *This free servicing promotion applies to eligible Jaguar XF Saloon and Sportbrake cars registered between 1st January 2015 31st March 2015 at participating Jaguar retailers. Not available in conjunction with Jaguar Contract Hire or Personal Contract Hire. Services must take place at participating Jaguar Authorised Repairers. The ‘free servicing certificate’ should be presented to the dealership at time of booking the vehicle in for a service in order to qualify. The promotion is only available at the point of registration of the vehicle in the customer’s name. Free servicing covers scheduled servicing and associated parts and labour for three years from the date of invoice up to a maximum of three services (3 years or 48,000 miles whichever is sooner). Excludes wear and tear items such as shock absorbers, exhaust systems, tyres, windscreens, windows, engines, transmissions, electronics, cost of fitting or repairing accessories and any form of accident damage and non-routine servicing work, parts or labour. The service package is not a warranty package. The free servicing promotion is only valid for the vehicle purchased.