Wye Life Summer 2016 by Good Life Publishing

SUMMER 2016

P R O U D

T O

B E

PRICELESS

I N D E P E N D E N T

The Vale Of Usk & Wye Valley ’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine

Secret Treasures BRECON, MONMOUTHSHIRE & HEREFORDSHIRE PLUS HIDDEN GEMS OF THE USK & WYE

Restaurant Reviews What’s On, Business, Shopping

There’s more online plus Art, Music, Style www.wyelifemag.co.uk Health, Homes and much more

CALL 029 2066 7787

VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.ALEXANDERBULLOCK.CO.UK

C EA TO OM R A IN YO P G U UB SO ON N

wyevalleybrewery.co.uk

wyevalleybrewery

@wyevalleybrew

THE VALE OF USK & WYE VALLEY’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Editor Jennifer Hobbs-Roberts jennifer@goodlifepublishing.co.uk Creative Director Mark Roberts mark@goodlifepublishing.co.uk Editorial Thomas Goodyear editorial@goodlifepublishing.co.uk Features Lucy Atkinson lucy@goodlifepublishing.co.uk

www.wyelifemag.co.uk 0845 130 6452 Girls House, Ponthir, Caerleon NP44 8DQ Passionate about the Vale of Usk and Wye Valley We are a small independent publisher. We are not a large publishing group pretending to be home grown. Wye Life magazine is written, designed and printed in the Wye Valley for the people of the Vale of Usk and Wye Valley. Our philosophy We are committed to quality. This quote by William Foster pretty much sums up our thinking: “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” Caveat emptor Advertisers supply their own copy or artwork, and therefore Wye Life cannot accept any responsibility for disputes between advertisers and their customers. Caveat emptor - let the buyer beware. Important you read this We have made every effort to ensure that all information contained in Wye Life or on www.wyelifemag.co.uk (or our social media streams) is correct and accurate. However, we accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions and can offer no compensation should we get it wrong. Please note that the opinions, thoughts, views or ideas expressed in articles contained in Wye Life are strictly those of the authors. Intellectual property © Copyright Wye Life 2016. All rights reserved. Nothing in this magazine (including adverts) may be reproduced in any shape or form (in whole or part) without the express written permission of the publishers. We take breach of copyright and theft of intellectual property extremely seriously and will sue at the drop of a croissant. You have been warned (nicely); ignorance is no excuse. Subscriptions To guarantee your copy, please send a cheque for £20 (four issues) made payable to Wye Life. Visit www.wyelifemag.co.uk for special subscriber discounts and special offers. Missed the last issue? We hold a small number of each issue in stock so if you do need a pristine copy, please telephone us or email jennifer@wyelife.co.uk. Hopefully we’ll have the issue you want (but we cannot guarantee it). Each back issue costs £5 including postage and packing. Yes it’s free. Priceless actually! Wye Life is distributed free through a wide variety of outlets across Vale of Usk, Wye Valley and beyond and is given away free of charge on the understanding that we are happy for it to be lent, passed on, given to friends and generally read until it falls apart. At which point, you can recycle it and we’d be delighted if you did.

WELCOME Well, we can’t believe it’s been a year since we launched our very first Wye Life magazine. Time certainly flies when you’re having fun... We have been so warmly received by the people of Monmouthshire and Herefordshire, from the people behind the businesses that have and are advertising with us and, not forgetting you, our lovely readers. Every week we receive emails or social media messages saying how much you all love Wye Life; how Wye Life offers something a bit different and is jam-packed with interesting information and stories. We can’t tell you how much we love hearing this. It is very touching and humbling. Our front cover features the very lovely owners of The Trumpet Corner Tea Rooms near Ledbury. If you haven’t visited this tea rooms before, then you really are in for a treat. You will love their walled gardens (perfect for the summer months), their homemade, freshly prepared lunches and scrumptious home-made cakes. You will be assured of a warm welcome from owner Jo Stephens and her team. Wedding Showcase We are delighted to announce this fabulous Premier Club event in association with Glewstone Court Country Hotel. For full details and some great pictures of this beautiful venue, please see the main Wedding Showcase feature on pages 6 and 7, plus the hotel’s main feature on pages 20 and 21.

If you think you could sell advertising space in this beautiful part of the country, then please send your CV to jennifer@goodlifepublishing. co.uk. We would love to hear from you. Have a lovely summer. Jennifer Hobbs-Roberts Editor 07766 106701 jennifer@goodlifepublishing.co.uk linkedin.com/in/jenniferhobbsroberts

If you’d like to promote your business or event in the autumn issue of Wye Life, please contact: Chris Howell Client Liaison Director 07837 940639 chris@goodlifepublishing.co.uk

Cover Girl! Congratulations to Jo Stephens of Trumpet Corner Tea Room, Galleries and Garden, on opening their wonderful establishment near Ledbury. See feature on pages 50 and 51.

Green is good The pulp used in the production of the paper Wye Life is printed on is sourced from sustainably managed Scandinavian tree farms and utilises an elementary chlorine-free bleaching process.

We’re very sociable! We’re on the web! www.wyelifemag.co.uk Like on Facebook! www.facebook.com/wyelife Follow on Twitter! @WyeLife #WyeLife

We’re a friendly, happy bunch here at Wye Life and we’re always looking for like-minded people to join our team.

WYE LIFE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED US OVER RECENT MONTHS. OUR CONTRIBUTORS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS (INCLUDING ALL THE NEW ONES WE HAVE MADE) AND OUR ADVERTISERS - WITHOUT THEM WYE LIFE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. WE HOPE YOU LIKE WHAT WE’VE PRODUCED AND WE’LL TRY TO MAKE EACH ISSUE EVEN BETTER THAN THE LAST AND IF YOU HAVE A STORY THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH. FOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.WYELIFEMAG.CO.UK

Premier Club in association with Glewstone Court Hotel & Restaurant are proud to be hosting a Wedding Showcase. This will be a superb opportunity for couples to view the very finest wedding suppliers in Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.

WEDDING SHOWCASE

The perfect location Glewstone Court makes for a breathtaking wedding venue at any time of the year. Offering exclusive use of the hotel so you and your guests can make the most of the beautiful Grade II listed Georgian Manor House and its grounds. The splendour of the country house and its surrounding beauty, with stunning views of the Herefordshire countryside, is an amazing backdrop for all weddings, with a special and relaxed ambience. With friendly and dedicated staff available throughout your entire stay for all your needs, nothing is ever too much trouble. Whether you’re planning an intimate wedding ceremony, a large wedding reception, or wish to arrange for a marquee on the lawns, Amy, the events manager, will be on hand throughout the entire process to help create and plan the perfect country house wedding.

Testimonial “The perfect wedding venue. We couldn’t have wished for a better venue for our wedding in August this year. Amy helped us plan our wedding just the way we wanted it - relaxed, friendly and informal. We specifically didn’t want a ‘template’ wedding and with the help of Amy, her parents Karen and Gary, and their manager Sam, our day was so special. We really felt that the wedding was ours as they were very accommodating to our requests. The setting is perfect for photographs, both inside and also in the grounds. Having exclusive use of Glewstone Court for the day ensured a relaxed atmosphere for us and our guests. Everyone was so attentive yet we felt that the day was truly ours.” Best Wishes, Jan Hartley (Bride) 6

What to expect at the Showcase See some of the leading wedding suppliers to give you some added inspiration and, of course, our expert sales team will be on hand to give you a guided tour of our stunning grounds and beautiful venue. Wedding Showcase Saturday 8th October 2016 11am - 4pm

Please feel free to bring family and friends to share in the experience. If you would like to join us on the day then please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/glewstonecourt.

Glewstone Court Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 6AW 01989 770367

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The setting is perfect for photographs!â&#x20AC;?

info@glewstonecourt.com www.glewstonecourt.com Like and follow on Facebook

Showcase your wedding business! If you would like to showcase your business at the event, then please contact Chris Howell on 07837 940639 or PM your details to Chris Howell at chris@goodlifepublishing.co.uk

Selected images courtesy of Caz Holbrook Photography

Set to be the highlight of the social calendar, join The Premier Club’s rugby themed event of the year at the prestigious Vale Hotel, Hensol, for an exclusive social, dining and fund raising evening, plus a Q&A with a number of high profile rugby players. You’ll be able to relax and enjoy a wonderful culinary experience, hosted by Scrum V’s Sean Holley, with great entertainment from award-winning comedian Rod Woodward. It all kicks off on Thursday 6th October 2016.

THE ODD SHAPED BALL T H E ODDES T EV EN T OF T H E Y EA R!

For more information visit www.oddshapedball.co.uk

Thurs 6th October 2016 Enjoy a great evening out and help raise much needed funds for some deserving local charities. WELCOME DRINKS Arrive at 6.30pm and you’ll be greeted with a welcome drink and the chance to soak up the atmosphere. OUR MC

OUR COMMEDIAN

Sean Holley

Rod Woodward

Sean Holley is a TV Rugby Analyst for BBC Wales Scrum V in studio and outside broadcasts. Sean provides commentary and match analysis In-game and pre/post match. Sean Holley is also host of the ‘Rugby Nation’ weekly show for Town and Country Broadcasting. He also writes technical coaching articles for several publications. Sean was Head Coach for Ospreys Rugby for nine Seasons - over 250 Games.

Award-winning comedian Rod Woodward’s dream started when he took a year out from university to pursue his childhood ambition of becoming a professional comedian; following a job offer as a studio audience warm up man at HTV Wales. Rod Woodward is in big demand on the corporate circuit and his exceptional delivery and material have attracted the praise of some of the business’ most respected names and critics.

DELICIOUS THREE COURSE MEAL You will be treated to a fabulous seasonal menu, with two bottles of complimentary wine (one white, one red, like the logo!). E N J O YA B L E Q & A S E S S I O N We will bring together well-known faces and some prominent rugby players to answer questions from the floor. G R E AT E N T E R TA I N M E N T Laugh the night away with awardwinning comedian, Rod Woodward.

How to book Tickets £100 per head £1,000 per table for businesses (to include a full page advert in InBusiness Magazine). Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Places are limited and will sell quickly, so please book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be purchased by calling

029 2010 0698

THE ODD SHAPED BALL T H E ODDES T EV EN T OF T H E Y EA R!

For more information visit www.oddshapedball.co.uk

OUR COMMEDIAN

Sean Holley

Rod Woodward

029 2010 0698

Photography courtesy of Michael Dean

AROUND THE WYE

PROPERT Y MANAGEMENT

Hamilton Stiller Recently relocated to the beautifully historic Man of Ross House, Hamilton Stiller know a beautiful building when they see one. Now with increased staff and a larger window for showcasing more properties, Hamilton Stiller is the independent business focused on selling, letting and managing quality properties in Herefordshire, Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire, and offers a hands-on personal approach with a work ethic geared towards excellent service. Man of Ross House, 34 High Street Ross-on-Wye HR9 5HD 01989 563525 www.hamiltonstiller.co.uk Follow on Twitter N E X T G E N E R AT I O N S E RV I C E S

Python IT Python IT is an established provider of information and communication technology services in the UK. Along with technical services, Python IT also offers the installation and update of digital advertising boards. With these, establishments can advertise events or current offers and even help increase sales. Python IT provide all the equipment and support to get started. With years of experience, Python IT should be your first choice when looking for technological support. 01495 616181 www.python-it.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 10

Photography courtesy of Andrew Evans

VALLEY

INTERIOR SPECIALISTS

The Classic Floor Company Proudly supplying a range of hardwoods at only one type of quality - the best! Not only do The Classic Floor Company supply hardwood, but also engineered oak flooring, solid wood doors, lighting solutions, curtain poles, architraves, skirting, and Farrow & Ball paint. Pop in for your free, no obligation design and fitting quote. If they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking they can order it in specially for you! 18 St Mary Street, Chepstow NP16 5EW www.theclassicfloorcompany.co.uk 01291 409841 Like on Facebook SUPERIOR BED & BREAKFAS T

Southbank House In the very heart of Herefordshire, this elegant Victorian villa is what all bed and breakfasts should aspire to. Located in a quiet conservation area, surrounded by beautiful gardens and just ten minutes walk from the city centre, Southbank House retains many of its original features from when it was first built in 1877. Inside you will find five period styled en-suite bedrooms, two of which enjoy views of the cathedral, plus an elegant drawing room with an original fireplace. 34 Southbank Road, Hereford HR1 2TJ 01432 341886 stay@southbank-house.co.uk www.southbank-house.co.uk 11

Basepoint Business Centres Ltd is one of the UK’s leading developers and operators of business centres. They currently have 31 centres across Southern England, Midlands, East Anglia and Wales; including a Centre in Chepstow. We spoke to Assistant Manager Chloe Geogehgan.

A LL A BOUT THE BASE

Please tell us about Basepoint’s Charity Support… Basepoint is owned by The ACT Foundation, a leading UK grant making charity, which means that 100% of our profit goes to charity. Each centre is dedicated to fundraising for a selected local charity and The ACT Foundation match funds money raised, up to a maximum of £10,000. The Chepstow centre’s chosen charity is St David’s Foundation Hospice Care, who provide a free and comprehensive palliative care service throughout Monmouthshire and beyond.

of our other Licensees, including JustIngredients Ltd who hosted a charity sale of their herbs and spices to raise money, we were delighted to be able to do our bit to help Andy beat his £2,000 target by more than £3,500. Andy has raised an astonishing amount for Cancer Research UK through this gruelling challenge. Everybody here at Basepoint would like to offer huge congratulations for an incredible achievement.

So, Basepoint obviously take a keen interest in supporting good causes? Yes, and when Licensee Andy Hosking announced his 100km London to Brighton walk in aid of Cancer Research UK, the Chepstow centre staff were keen to help him raise awareness and funds for his cause. With the help

Basepoint Business Centre Riverside Court, Beaufort Park, Chepstow NP16 5UH 01291 635500 www.basepoint.co.uk Follow on Twitter @Basepoint_Chep chepstow@basepoint.co.uk For information on the Basepoint App visit www.basepoint.co.uk/makeadate basepointbusinesscentres M @Basepoint_Cntrs

C 12

Upon a visit to Basepoint, Chepstow, we met Andy Hosking. Andy took on the epic task of walking from London to Brighton on the 28th May with a goal of achieving this all within a 24 hour period. After months of training, many of which were either circuit training over the Severn Bridge or around the family cycle route in the Forest of Dean, Andy was ready to give it his all. Here he shares his thoughts of the day…

BEST FOOT FORWARD Firstly I wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported me leading up to and during my walking challenge from London to Brighton.

My work colleague James Cameron and I left Bristol Parkway on the Friday night and headed for Richmond for the start of the walk the following morning. Up early and eager to go on Saturday morning, we tucked into an all you can eat breakfast and headed towards the starting point in Deer Park at just after 9am.

Both James and I were called to the starting pen where we were confronted by a ‘Mr Motivator’ trying to get people limbered up. Given my inability to coordinate my body to any type of music, I elected for a vigorous stretching regime. Finally an air horn sounded at 9:40am and we set off from Deer Park in Richmond down towards the Thames on what was to be a very long 24 hours. We continued along the Thames to Kingston and from here started to cut across south London towards the M25. The weather was blisteringly hot and unforgiving and our three litre water packs didn’t last long.

Thankfully, we had stops at 12km, 25km, 40km, 56km, 67km, 80km and 88km which allowed us to fill up with both food and drink. These also allowed us to dress our feet, pop blisters and take the weight off our legs for brief periods. We continued on and arrived at the 56km stop just after 9:30pm and piled into a couple of very large plates of food. More blisters popped and zinc oxide tape applied we started on the night element - pushing through until sunrise.

Day breaks and the end is in sight, the final hill, the final stop. Blisters and chafing are starting to take their toll but the finish powers us both on. At last we manage to see Brighton Racecourse and at 9:13am, a mere 23 hrs 33 mins after leaving Richmond, we cross the line, running the last 50m. There were many highs and lows en route; many blisters, many chafed bits, many aching limbs, but we got there. The best bit was seeing my wife, daughter, my inlaws, my dad and, more importantly, my mum at the finish line. When I started this journey my target was £2,000 and, thanks to everyone, I have smashed that by a massive £3,800. 13

The total amount comprises funds raised by Basepoint Business Centre in Chepstow, where my employer is based, and their licensees including JustIngredients Ltd who generously hosted a charity sale of their herbs and spices at Basepoint to raise money. I also received generous support from CMH Engineering and Ainscough Crane Hire.

Help me go out with a bang and see if we can break the £6,000 mark, that’s just another £200.

“Thank you all again, without your support I couldn’t have done this.”

For information visit www.justgiving.com/100kmtofightcancer

Courtesy of Glenn Gb Photography

AROUND THE VALE

HASSLE FREE EXPERIENCE

Bathstore Bathstore is striving to be the UK’s leading bathroom retailer by making the creation of your dream bathroom a hassle free experience. Bathstore says, “We design, we assist, we deliver, we install and, above all, we care. This is the policy that we live by to prove that we are bathroom experts.” “Let us give you peace of mind as we help you from inspiration all the way through to installation. Still unsure, then 95% of our customers are happy to recommend our services!” Unit 1, Malpas Road, Newport, NP20 6WB 01633 858100 www.bathstore.com Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter T R A D I T I O N A L S PA N I S H F O O D

Curro’s Restaurant Jam packed with continental flavours, Curro’s is the family run restaurant that has been proudly serving the people of Caerleon for over 30 years. With menus to suit all occasions, Curro’s is the alfresco dining experience that is perfect to enjoy whilst out with friends or a loved one - especially if you are enjoying your food alongside their range of drinks that include a large selection of fine wine and even jugs of sangria. 4 Cross Street Caerleon, Newport NP18 1AF 01633 421857 www.curros-restaurant.co.uk 14

Courtesy of Glenn Gb Photography

Usk

DESIGNED FOR GOOD TIMES

The Green Recently refurbished and voted ‘Best New Restaurant 2015’, there’s plenty to celebrate about The Green. Lovingly converted to incorporate a modern and relaxing shabby chic vibe, The Green will always make you feel welcome, whether sat inside the restaurant or outside in their spectacular garden. With menus brimming with delicious foods, outdoor catering, venue hire, afternoon teas, and Sunday roasts all available, it is easy to see why they won Best New Restaurant 2015. Goldcroft Common, Caerleon NP18 1NG 01633 421614 www.thegreencaerleon.com Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

THE BEST OF RURAL LIFE

AWA R D - W I N N I N G F E S T I VA L

CHEPSTOW CASTLE ROCKS!

The Usk Show

Abergavenny Food Festival

Castle Roc

Every year since 1884, on the second Saturday in September, the Usk Farmers’ Club have held the Usk Show - one of the biggest one day agricultural shows in the UK, and this year is no different.

One of the biggest, and best loved food festivals, in Wales. Abergavenny Food Festival celebrates the craft, diversity, and culture of food from across the country on the 17th and 18th of September. We’ll be there, definitely!

Running from the 18th to the 29th of August, the Castle Roc Music Festival is back in the beautifully preserved Chepstow Castle. This year musical acts include The Wurzels, The Proclaimers and Jools Holland! Sounds like a date!

01873 851643 www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

1 Bridge Street, Chepstow NP16 5EY 01291 627122 www.castleroc.co.uk Like on Facebook

September 10th from 9am to 6:30pm. Usk Show ground, Near Usk NP15 1DD 01291 690889 www.uskshow.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

Want to look good and feel great - with minimal down time and no surgery? We chat with Tina Johnson, a client of the Sugarbox Clinic, to find out what she thought of their Silhouette Soft treatment.

SUGAR BOX CLINIC

Tina, how did you hear about the Sugarbox Clinic? It was via recommendation; some of my friends had been to this clinic for treatments and highly endorsed it. How did you find the booking process and initial consultation? Booking the consultation was easy. I spoke to Joanne over the phone; she took all my personal details and booked the appointment. When I came into the clinic, I completed an in-depth medical history form. During my initial consultation with Chantalle we discussed my expectations. I was informed I was a suitable candidate for Silhouette treatment, and told how many threads I would need and the exact cost as per the Sugarbox

guarantee; where a price will always be confirmed before treatment takes place. How was your treatment on the day? Dr Lacey carried out my silhouette treatment. She was lovely and put me at ease from the start. We went over the treatment again, and post care. I was given anaesthetic injections to numb the treated area. I can honestly say I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel the injections and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel the treatment bar one bit right at the end when the thread was pulled. At that point I was given more anaesthetic to make me more comfortable. I was given the mirror straight after treatment where the immediate result was astonishing.

Were you provided with aftercare? Yes, I was given antibiotic cream for the puncture wounds and told how and when to apply. It was explained to me how I would bruise but I have been pleasantly surprised with the lack of bruising. I had no black bruises, more sort of yellow ones, which have been

We guarantee that every customer will be greeted with a warm welcome. Want younger, more rejuvenated skin? Look no further, call now for a FREE skin consultation, on 01633 462083.

before treatment

easy to cover with foundation. I was given a follow up appointment the very next day in case of any concerns but I had no problems or questions. Are you pleased with your results? I am absolutely delighted with the results, it’s better than I ever hoped it would be. The difference was immediate and remarkable. I had lost over a stone and a half over the course of a year and was left with sagging skin hence my search for a treatment. The sagging skin has gone.

after one day

Would you consider further treatments with the Sugarbox Clinic? Absolutely. The staff are so friendly and professional, and I love that there’s no hard sell. They’re so experienced in their field and incredibly informative about all the treatments they offer. I have complete trust in them. Would you be happy to recommend Sugarbox Clinic to your friends and family? Yes most definitely. As I mentioned before, several of my friends already go to the Sugarbox clinic for botox and filler treatments but, for anybody who has not been and is looking for treatments, I would highly recommend them. 17

Sugar Box Clinic 61a Caerleon Road Newport NP19 7BW 01633 462083 www.sugarboxclinic.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

Courtesy of Mansel Davies Photography

GEMS OF THE WYE

FREE BREWERY TOURS

Wye Valley Brewery Have you ever wondered how your favourite beer is brewed? It’s something we get asked a lot at Wye Valley Brewery, particularly as many of our award-winning range of beers, including Butty Bach, HPA and Dorothy Goodbody’s Golden Ale, are popular choices in pubs throughout the Wye Valley. Fortunately, we couldn’t be more proud of our beer and our ‘green business’ winning brewhouse - from the local hops and other natural ingredients we source locally, to our brilliant team of brewers. So, if you’d like to experience a Wye Valley Brewery tour and tasting, suggest it to your pub landlord or landlady - it’s completely free, lots of fun

and we can take groups of up to 50. So best book a bus to take you all home! Tour enquiries 01885 490505 marketing@wyevalleybrewery.co.uk www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk

BAR & BISTRO

Gilbies The popular, family run bar and bistro that has been serving Hereford for almost thirty years. Gilbies are keen to meet your every culinary need, and they claim to stock the best drinks, with a great selection of imported beers and European wines on offer to complement their delicious food. Chalkboards advertise the daily specials which are based on what fresh, seasonal produce is available - with every visit there’s an opportunity to sample a new, delicious dish. 4 St Peters Close, Commercial Street Hereford HR1 2DL 01432 277863 www.gilbies.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 18

“Look out for our new-look, core range pump clips.”

Courtesy of Mansel Davies Photography

A F T E R N O O N T E A AT I T S B E S T

White Swan Tea Room This unique vintage tea room will remind you of the good ol’ days and just why tea rooms are the best place to spend a relaxing afternoon. Homemade cakes, delicious light lunches and a brilliant afternoon tea are all available in the White Swan Tea Room - and all served on beautiful vintage china. The lovely staff also happily accommodate any dietary requirements and will even tell you what everything contains. Now if that isn’t great service, I don’t know what is. 9 White Swan Court, off Priory Street Monmouth NP25 3NY 01600 719782 Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter COUNTRY CHIC COMES TO TOWN

RAFT Have you visited your local Raft shop yet? Why not pop along to Raft at Ledbury, Monmouth, Newent and Ross-on-Wye, where you’ll find abeautiful collection of clothes, accessories and giftware. Raft’s fresh and light style is as individual as each shop, with the focus on providing great customer service within unique surroundings. If you’re holidaying in the area or fancy a day out, visit their Somerset store in the exquisite medieval village of Dunster. Follow on Twitter @RaftStores Like on Facebook @RaftClothing www.raftclothing.co.uk info@raftclothing.co.uk 19

Multi award winning Glewstone Court is a charming, Georgian Grade II listed, Country Manor House set in 2 acres of beautiful grounds with stunning views of the Herefordshire Countryside. The country hotel and restaurant is owned and run by husband and wife Gary & Karen Homewood along with their daughter Amy and her partner Sam Nicholls.

GLEWSTONE COURT Gary can you tell us a bit about your background – and what led to you purchasing Glewstone Court in 2014? I started my career in Herefordshire and have over 30 years’ experience in the corporate food & drink industry. Our daughter Amy & her partner Sam have a wealth of experience in the hospitality trade. We wanted to move back to this area and we fell in love with Glewstone; we’re delighted to be back home in Herefordshire. What food can we enjoy in your restaurant – and is it open to non-residents? Yes we’re open to non-residents for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday and Sunday lunches. Our 2 AA Rossette Georgian restaurant offers affordable fine dining and we have a Mediterranean courtyard, which is perfect for alfresco dining

and enjoying our tapas menu in the Summer months.

We also hold wine dinners throughout the year that are aimed at lovers of fine wines and delicious food and are great fun, you don’t have to be a wine expert to join us. Details of our menus and events can be found on our website. Our Head Chef Vicky Lyons worked with John McMahon who is best known for creating the Wedding Breakfast for Madonna. Vicky is extremely creative with her menus and sourcing fresh ingredients daily from local suppliers to create our signature á la Carte dishes. Do you hold private events here at the hotel? Yes we can offer the whole venue exclusively for special celebrations, house parties and family retreats and 20

can also arrange for large marquees on the grounds. It is an ideal venue to host a dinner party, celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions or just enjoy private dining with a group of friends and family.

This is a breath-taking venue – and we’ve heard about your Best Newcomer Wedding Venue in Herefordshire award, so we’re guessing you’re looking forward to your Showcase on October 08th? Thank you, and yes, we are. Glewstone Court is an idyllic setting for creating your dream wedding, guided and supported all the way by Events Manager Amy. We are licensed for both weddings and civil ceremonies. The splendour of the country house and its surrounding beauty makes it an amazing venue for weddings, and of course a perfect backdrop for capturing those special memories.

Opening hours Monday to Saturday 12pm - 2.30pm plus 6.30pm - 8.45pm Sundays 12pm - 3pm for traditional Sunday lunch (booking is advised) Glewstone Court Ross-on-Wye Herefordshire HR9 6AW 01989 770367 info@glewstonecourt.com www.glewstonecourt.com Like and follow on Facebook 21

Courtesy of Glenn Gb Photography

GEMS OF THE USK

AWA R D - W I N N I N G R E S TAU R A N T

The Gate The Gate goes beyond the typical ‘pub grub’ seen elsewhere and, to its credit, offers award-winning, freshly prepared food with a warmth and hospitality that is second to none. Soon to be celebrating its fourth year of business, after opening in October of 2012, The Gate is a traditional country pub that goes above and beyond when it comes to its food and service. Serving classic British cuisine with an infusion of internationally influenced meals from across the world, local ingredients are used wherever possible and chosen from an outstanding pool of carefully sourced suppliers who provide only the very best ingredients. With a programme of regular events throughout the year, The Gate is often host to Summer Fun Days as well as Food and Drink Gourmet nights (we’ve enjoyed a few ourselves). So no matter what time of the day you decide to visit you could be treated with great entertainment to match the food. Quite simply, The Gate is a high quality establishment that is extremely popular with both locals and visitors from far and wide. There is a certain charm found within that makes The Gate a must visit dining destination. Caerleon Road Llanfrechf NP44 8DQ 01633 861822 www.thegatellanfrechfa.co.uk Like on Facebook 22

“A South Wales local online estate agency with a growing reputation for providing excellent attentive service combined with competitive, fair pricing for our customers.” Samantha Troy

A DRE PROPERTIES “Personal Service Guaranteed. Contact me now.”

Having relocated back home to Wales to give my four wonderful children a better quality of life, I originally went to work for the family estate agency business in Chepstow. But after ten years of working from the high street it was my opinion that the future of the estate agency lies online. So I took the plunge to set up on my own, and Adre Properties Ltd was established by September 2014 as a dedicated South Wales online estate and letting agency for both residential and commercial property. I often get asked about the name Adre, it’s actually taken from the Welsh meaning home or homewards, which I thought was a lovely concept whether you are home buyer or Tenant! Adre Properties is quite literally based at the gateway of Wales at Chepstow and operates throughout Monmouthshire, the Wye Valley, Chepstow, Caldicot, Caerwent, Magor, Llanvair Discoed, Llanvaches, Penhow, Parc Seymour, Langstone, Newport, Cardiff and along the South Wales corridor.

“We’re committed to operating within best practice guidelines.”

Adre Properties is situated on Junction 2 of the M48 in the modern serviced offices at Basepoint. The team at Basepoint, headed up by Tina Colegate and her assistant Chloe Geoghegan are always on hand to really support your business and help you succeed. I chose this location as it offered an accessible, friendly and professional environment in which to do business it’s a really great community in which to work! But perhaps more importantly, we don’t have the heavy overheads of being on the high street so we can offer competitive rates with absolutely no compromise on the quality of service.

The only difference is we are still working often when some agents are in bed or long gone home. This is a great advantage, as I am finding that most people don’t really start their property search until at least 7pm at night, and particularly if you are selling your home it’s reassuring to know we are working as hard as we can for you. We’ll advertise your property on the UK’s most popular property search websites where your property will be visible to thousands of people.

Underpinning the integrity of the services offered by Adre Properties for vendors and purchasers, landlords and tenants are qualification, accreditation and ten years previous experience within a traditional estate and lettings agency and, most essentially, local knowledge. Adre Properties is fully committed to operating within best practice guidelines and is dedicated to improving conditions in both property sales and the private rented sector. We have been growing through reputation and word of mouth and we are happy to provide references from vendors and landlords. Personal service is core and yes we do viewings and offer the same services as a high street agent. 23

Adre Properties Samantha Troy MBA, PGDipSurv 0330 1234 099 sales@adreproperties.co.uk lettings@adreproperties.co.uk www.adreproperties.co.uk

C Adre-Properties-Estate-and-Lettings-Agency

M @AdreProperties

Celtic Heritage Kitchens have many years’ experience in designing and installing bespoke kitchens in all types of homes; from regular family dwellings to a National Trust property! We caught up with owner Hugh Davies to chat about the beauty of bespoke…

IT STARTS WITH A D REAM

Hugh, when was Celtic Heritage Kitchens established? We started the business in 1999 first working from home and then expanding to where we currently custom build in our own workshops. With my background as a cabinet maker I’ve always been passionate about quality and design. One of our biggest strengths on which we pride ourselves is our quality of workmanship - working to traditional methods whilst combining the advances of modern engineering. For example, dovetail drawer lines with Blum soft close runners which carry a lifetime guarantee, these are fitted as standard. And do you make all the furniture yourself? Yes, I remain totally involved in the whole process from designing

and drawing the plans, through the construction process, and right through to fitting. It’s so important to me to remain hands on from start to finish. At no point do we contract out to other companies to fit. For us it’s all about the finished product and the attention to detail and, of course, maintaining the relationship you have built with the client. Where does your creative spark come from? Without wanting to sound corny my inspiration is my father. It’s from him I inherited the creative gene. He had great universal skills as an accomplished sign writer and an artist; his greatest passion was classic cars - he used to restore and hand paint using fine brushes. When the car was finally 24

restored the paintwork used to gleam to perfection. It’s this attention to detail that drives me to always do my best work. How have you grown your business to where it is today? Attention to detail, and standards of workmanship, and being open to change. Customer service and ongoing after-sales service is another aspect we pride ourselves on. Building up strong customer relationships has been key to growing our business, as much of our work are referrals from delighted customers.

“At no point do we contract out to other companies to fit.”

What’s your most prestigious project to date? That would have to be the Lake District Derwent Island House which is owned and leased by the National Trust. The house featured in the Daily Mail; it’s situated on its own private Island with panoramic views over the lakes. All of the kitchen furniture had to be transported via boat crossing; very unusual but, I’m proud to say, it went like clockwork thanks to the professional team I work with. It was a great experience and I can’t wait to return next year to refurbish the former servant’s quarters. I’ll keep you posted. Do you have your own workforce? Yes, I have a small team of highly skilled craftsmen who are very adaptable. All our work is carried out and completed in our own workshops, including the hand

painting which we touch up on site. We have a team of certified tradesmen we call on for plumbing, electrical and building work. They work independently, and the client pays them directly even though the management and arrangements are made through ourselves - it’s all part of our high level of customer service. For more detailed information you can check out the Celtic Heritage Kitchens blog on their website www.celticheritage-kitchens.co.uk/blog

“Building up strong customer relationships has been key to growing our business, as much of our work are referrals.” 25

Celtic Heritage Kitchens info@celticheritage-kitchens.co.uk 01792 816416 www.celticheritage-kitchens.co.uk CelticHeritageKitchensUK

Multi award-winning restaurant, The Stonemill, is celebrating its benchmark 15th anniversary this year. We chat with restaurant owner Michelle Decloedt to find out what’s new…

THE STONEMILL

Michelle, it’s lovely to see you again, and congratulations on your 15th anniversary. Thank you, we continue to be overwhelmed with the success of the restaurant, and the positive feedback from our customers. What’s new since we chatted last year? We’re thrilled to welcome on board our new Chef, Ross Hunter, who’s been trained to Michelin star level. Ross is young and ambitious and he’s made a few changes to our menus since joining us. He’s introduced our Wednesday Welsh steak nights (6pm - 9pm: 2 courses for £20) and our Thursday Fish and Fizz nights (again 6pm - 9pm: 2 courses for £20 plus a glass of fizz). These are incredibly popular, so if any of your readers fancy popping along to try, we do recommend booking.

Also our Market menu is very popular and changes frequently - this is available Tuesday to Saturday from 12pm - 2pm, Tuesday to Friday 6pm - 9pm, and Sundays 12pm - 2.30pm. Our light lunch menu (available Tuesday to Saturday) features platters to share which are very popular; and you can choose to sit in the restaurant, relax on the leather sofas or eat al fresco if the sun’s out. And you’re still championing local produce? Absolutely, we’re passionate about sourcing the best local suppliers. Fresh and seasonal are important bywords in our kitchen. We have our own herb and vegetable garden and we make our own bread, pasta, ice cream and sorbets, jams and chutneys. 26

“we’re passionate about sourcing the best local suppliers.”

The wedding season is in full swing, how’s that going for you? We’ve been very busy as you can imagine. We have our own fully functional marquee within our grounds, which is a concrete based permanent fixture, catering for up to 200 guests; and, of course, our restaurant which accommodates up to 70 guests. Midweek weddings are increasingly popular now - we offer free marquee hire for those weddings (Mondays Thursdays) with a minimum of 50 guests. Also, Steppes Farm is licensed for civil ceremonies - so we can offer the full wedding package if required. It’s not just weddings though, we cater for a variety of private functions from birthday parties to corporate events. This fabulous restaurant is well worth a

visit and, on the plus side, it’s situated in the grounds of Steppes Farm, which has six very luxurious cottages for those who wish to linger a little longer. You can find them in all the major eating out guides including Michelin, The Good Food Guide, Hardens and Time Out. In November 2006 they were delighted to be awarded two AA rosettes which they’ve maintained now for nine years.

“...we continue to be overwhelmed with the success of the restaurant, and the positive feedback from our customers.” 27

The Stonemill Rockfield, Monmouth NP25 5SW 01600 716273 www.thestonemill.co.uk Like on Facebook Accommodation bookings 01600 775 424 www.steppesfarmcottages.co.uk

Gold Collagen Hydrogel Masks RRP £19.99 Available online at www.gold-collagen.com

Jo Malone London Cologne Intense Body Crèmes RRP £60.00 Available nationwide

Joan Collins Timeless Beauty Class Act Treatment Gel £20.00 Available from www.joancollinsbeauty.com

Favourite T HINGS... MY

UCR Triple Rescue RRP £17.95 Available from www.paul-mitchell.co.uk

RapidShield™ Daily Eyelash Conditioner £28 Available from Boots, LookFantastic.com and Rapidlash.co.uk

Ferrari Fragrance EDTs RRP £65.00 Available from: Harrods and Harrods.com

Summer Kiss with Suzy Starr £34.00 Available from www.joancollinsbeauty.com The Lash Inc. No.11 Lashes RRP £6.99 Available online at www.thelashinc.com

Jo Malone London Peony & Moss Charity Candle £44.00 With 75% of the RRP less VAT going to all Jo Malone garden projects, available from www.jomalone.co.uk RapidLash® Eyelash Enhancing Serum RRP £39.99 Available from Boots, LookFantastic.com and Rapidlash.co.uk

Clarins BB Skin Detox Fluid SPF 25 £30.00 Available from www.clarins.com

Christophe Robin Regenerating Balm with Prickly Pear Oil RRP £29.00 Available from: Fortnum & Mason, Fenwick Bond St, Harrods, Net-A-Porter & lookfantastic.co.uk

AWG Sea Spray RRP £20.50 Available from www.paul-mitchell.co.uk

Neal’s Yard Remedies & Deliciously Ella Rose, Lime & Cucumber Facial Wash and Moisturiser RRP £16.00/£25.00 Available from Neal’s Yard, 23-25 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff, and www.nealsyardremedies.com

PRO:VOKE Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo/Conditioner 200ml RRP £3.99 Boots, Superdrug and supermarkets nationwide

Set in picturesque Gloucestershire countryside, with plenty of wonderful walks and places of interest nearby, it’s easy to see why the gorgeous Blaisdon House is so popular. Wye Life chats with owners Chris and Sue Light…

BLAISDON HOUSE

What are your backgrounds? What led you to Blaisdon House? We recently sold a very successful five star B&B in Cheltenham. We originally saw this property for sale three years ago and always had a soft spot for the building and the beautiful countryside so, eventually, we purchased the property last year. Basically we started with an empty shell and put in new windows, doors, rewired throughout and completely refurbished the whole house making three individual en-suite guest rooms, a guest lounge and a dining room. This took nine months of ‘tlc’ and we opened in January of this year. In addition, the gardens have been transformed and are now a stunning feature to the property. After only three months we were awarded the AA 5 star gold award which we’re very proud of indeed.

Quite rightly so; can you tell us about your accommodation? Each upstairs guest room is very different and unique, we’ve used gorgeous Farrow & Ball colours, and some of the antique furniture has been in the family for over a hundred years. Only the highest quality goods have been used in each luxury bathroom. The downstairs drawing room is splendid and a perfect place to relax and unwind. We love our breakfasts, please tell us about yours? They really are very popular indeed. Everything is locally sourced; from the fresh vegetables, to the products from the Severn Wye Valley Smokery, we even have our own chickens, and we make our own bread. The local salmon is a firm favourite with guests. 30

Who is your target audience? We attract a lot of people from the home counties and, more recently, more local people who are looking for a romantic break. We’re also extremely popular with cyclists and walkers as we have perfect countryside all around us. It’s also popular for special occasions, early retired people, business people, local wedding guests and even honeymooners.

Do you have any plans for the future? We are planning to grow more fruits in season, and develop a walled vegetable garden. Plus we’ve just invested in a two bedroom self-catering holiday cottage in Hangerberry in the Forest of Dean which is less than a half of a mile from the River Wye. This should be ready by Christmas so exciting times. 31

Blaisdon House B&B Blaisdon Gloucestershire GL17 0AH 01452 830437 www.blaisdonhouse.com Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

The Kilcot Inn is an award-winning country pub, with accommodation, just outside Newent on the beautiful countryside border of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. We chat with the owner Mark Lawrence…

THE K ILCOT INN

Mark how long have you been running the Inn? We bought the building in 2009 after it had been derelict for five years, although the pub has been here since the 1690s. It took us eighteen months to completely gut and refurbish the structure, turning it into the pub and restaurant with four en-suite rooms and our vast beer garden and children’s play area. We also have some fabulous African Pods for outdoor seating. It really is beautiful here; what do you love most about your location? We’re ideally located close to the borders of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean. If you enjoy a tipple, we are surrounded by Westons Cider Mill, Hillside Brewery and Three Choirs Vineyard. We are also near the world famous International Birds of

Prey Centre and, of course, gorgeous countryside walks and very popular cycling routes. What type of food and drink do you serve here? Our style is locally-sourced, quality, seasonal food with our own unique twist. Our lunch and dinner menus change every month and look out for our Head Chef Richard Kaye’s mouthwatering daily specials. We have Steak Night every Tuesday night; two rump steaks with a bottle of house wine for just £29.95. We are also proud of our totally separate vegetarian menu with vegan options too. Richard also writes an amazing Friday Fish menu every week, which is proving very popular. We support local drink suppliers such as Wye Valley Brewery, Westons, 32

Marstons, Bentley fruit juices, Chase spirits and local craft beers - and we have an enviable wine list which also includes local wines. We can see you have a number of awards. Yes, our team strives for excellence and we’ve worked hard to receive a 4 star AA Quality Standard Award. We were thrilled to be finalists in the Best Restaurant of the Year by The Forester Business Awards and the Best Food & Restaurant by Farming & Food.

“We worked hard to receive our 4 star AA Quality Standard Award.”

What are your plans for the future? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be converting the old barn into more accommodation, sowing wild flower fields and opening up some animal farm pens. Look out for our cider tasting evenings - you can follow us on Facebook for all our latest news. Opening hours 9am to 11pm Food served 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 9pm The Kilcot Inn Ross Road, Kilcot, Newent GL18 1NA 01989 720707 info@kilcotinn.com www.kilcotinn.com Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 33

A little bird told us that the Old Railway Line Garden Centre has won the Garden Centre Association’s Best Garden Centre in Wales for the past five years; so we went to see Katie Eckley, manager of the independent, family run garden centre, and daughter of owners Mark and Christina Cleary.

RIGHT ON TRACK Hi Katie, this is obviously a family affair, how long has your family been involved in horticulture? Yes, there are seven of our family members involved in the business. The first 6 x 8 foot greenhouse was opened to the public in January 1990. Mum and Dad sold home grown vegetable plants, shrubs and bedding plants.

What products and services are popular here? We have recently added three new ranges of wooden indoor furniture which has already proved popular with our customers. The furniture is available for delivery to you directly from the manufacturer or by our friendly delivery drivers!

A lot of hard work has gone on since then to grow into the Garden Centre, Restaurant and Farm Shop combination we are today. Although the business has grown significantly our core values remain the same and offering our customers the best customer experience possible when they visit will always be our priority.

In our award winning plant area we have top quality shrubs and trees, and offer a two year hardy plant guarantee. Our 150 seater restaurant serves hot food all day, with our popular Railway Roast on Thursdays and Sundays, and afternoon tea is served daily from 2.30pm. We also have our farm shop which stocks food and drink from over sixty Welsh or local producers. Our shop sells gifts and homeware items to suit all occasions and we have a premium range of outdoor furniture during the spring and summer months. In the winter we produce a fabulous Christmas display, complete with Santa’s Grotto and live reindeer! We installed a clothing department just over twelve months ago which has proved very popular with our customers so we’re hoping to develop this collection further over the coming seasons.

“ Serving hot food all day.” 34

What advice would you give to someone starting a garden from scratch? Try and plan what you want to achieve but don’t complicate it too much. Some people can be put off by the thought of gardening being hard work and time consuming but it doesn’t have to be! You can always come to us with an idea and we can suggest ways in which you can achieve your dream garden without overworking yourself. You’ve won numerous awards, which are you most proud of? We’re thrilled to have won Best Garden Centre in Wales and the West for the last five years running. Each year we try our best to provide our customers with the best quality service possible.

This year we were also awarded ‘Garden Centre Outlet of the Year’ and ‘Best Planteria’ in the UK at the prestigious Garden Retail Awards. Plants will always be the heart of the business so we were delighted to be recognised nationally for the high standards we work hard to achieve and call the norm. You’re obviously extremely busy. Dare we ask if you have any plans for the future? Absolutely - we aim to develop our events further, to focus on families and meeting the needs of our community.

70 A4

A4 38

70 A4 A4 79

A43

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre Three Cocks, Brecon LD3 0SG 01497 847055 info@oldrailwaylinenursery.co.uk www.oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 35

Brecon is a market town and community in Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of around 8,250. Historically it was a county town of Brecknockshire and remains an important local centre for the region. Brecon is the third largest town in Powys after Newtown and Ystradgynlais and lies north of the Brecon Beacons mountain range, but is just within the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Basin of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal starts on the outskirts of the town centre.

Photography courtesy of Alyn Wallace

GEMS OF BRECON

NEW MG GS LAUNCH

Brecon Motors There is a new addition to the MG family – The brand new MG GS. Starting at just £14,995, the MG GS with its dynamic and sporty looks is inspired by the diversity of a modern family, its an SUV that stands up to the challenges of every aspect of your weekly routine. Family Fun and Affordability don’t often go hand in hand, but with the MG GS that’s exactly what you get. The good news keeps coming, with the MG GS benefiting from a full five year factory warranty as standard; which shows the confidence we have in the quality of this new model. The MG GS, which has been designed and engineered in Longbridge, Birmingham,

“A family run business in the heart of the Brecon Beacons with friendly, helpful service.” has been developed to make it drive and handle like an MG should. The chassis has been tuned to deliver agility and great handling, making the driver feel confident when they take on the most challenging of roads. To book your test drive, call today. Rich Way, The Watton, Brecon LD3 7EH 01874 611721 www.breconmotors.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter. 36

JAZZ! NICE!

Brecon Jazz Festival With venues all over Brecon, the Brecon Jazz Festival is now celebrating its 33rd year! With a host of incredible concerts, special guests, workshops, and activities all centered around the world of jazz, the 12th to the 14th of August has to be one for your diary. www.breconjazzclub.org Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

NEW GIFT S HO P AT TH E B U LWA R K

Bobbins Fabrics & Haberdashery Located at The Bulwark in Brecon, Bobbins has all of your fabric and haberdashery needs under one roof. In addition to stocking an extensive range of fabrics, haberdashery, crafts, and tools, Bobbins is pleased to announce its newly opened Gift Shop. The gift shop showcases incredible items created by talented locals and will initially run until Christmas but already has lots of interest so may become a permanent feature. 6 The Bulwark, Brecon LD3 7LB 01874 622287 Like on Facebook www.bobbinsofbrecon.co.uk BED & BREAKFAS T IN BRECON

Ty Helyg Guest House With an incredible rich history dating back to the 1780s, this renovated, Georgian townhouse is only two minutes walk from the centre of Brecon. Home to contemporary en-suite bedrooms finished with individual touches, Ty Helyg Guest House also boasts freshly cooked and locally sourced breakfasts that are included with every stay - plus a relaxing guest lounge fitted with an idyllic log burning fire, honesty bar, and refreshment area - perfect for socialising with loved ones. The Watton, Brecon LD3 7EG 01874 623321 www.tyhelygguesthouse.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 37

Set in the Brecon Beacons National Park, and just three miles from Brecon town centre, this beautiful Georgian country house hotel is an elegant home away from home.

PETERSTONE COURT

There are eight stylish bedrooms in the main house, including a master suite; the annexed stables have been converted into four duplex loft rooms, ideal for guests with dogs. All rooms have fabulously comfy beds, flatscreen TVs, DVD players, tea and coffee makers with homemade cookies delivered daily, robes, slippers, en-suite bathrooms with gorgeous Myddfai toiletries, and full use of the fantastic spa facilities. A three bedroom cottage is a mere two minute walk along the picturesque driveway. For some well-deserved ‘me time’, the spa offers the chance to relax in the jacuzzi, detox in the sauna, take a dip in the seasonal heated pool, or work out in the gym where qualified fitness instructors are on hand to help you - or simply sit in the Moroccan styled relaxation room after a treatment or two, and chill-out with a refreshing drink.

The Conservatory Restaurant and a cosy bar are open every day for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Outside the restaurant and bar there’s a wonderful, spacious terrace with tables overlooking the beautiful valley below, perfect for a summertime drink or al fresco dining in the sunshine. Peterstone Court is run and owned by a group of restaurateurs rather than hoteliers, so it’s no surprise that great food lies at the heart of the house which is supplied by a network of hardworking, passionate local suppliers. The restaurant at Peterstone has won many awards for its food and is recommended by all the major food guides; their Head Chef has a talent for creating dishes which combine traditional favourites with a modern British bistro-style. Come try our new lunch menu, also our set menu - £16 for 2 courses or £20 for 3 courses. 38

With the beautiful gardens overlooking the river Usk and the Pen Y Fan Mountain range, the views from Peterstone Court are truly stunning, and make a perfect backdrop for a country wedding. It’s no surprise then that Peterstone Court was awarded “number one wedding venue in the UK for Georgian splendour,” by Tiara wedding magazine. The gorgeous surroundings; relaxed atmosphere; friendly, attentive service and fabulous food all add up to a truly special offering - we’ll be back.

Peterstone Court Hotel Llanhamlach, Brecon, Powys LD3 7YB 01874 665 387 enquiries@peterstone-court.com www.peterstone-court.com 39

GET IN THE MOOD FOR SUMMER

Brecon Pet and Garden Centre There is something special about a Garden Centre that always puts us in the mood for Summer. Brecon Pet and Garden Centre is no exception. Now in its 40th year with a new family theme which started in October of 2015, this great garden centre is the place to visit to celebrate the sun. With quality gardening equipment thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perfect for anyone with green fingers, exquisite plants and flowers, plus delicious food for household pets and any wildlings that may visit. 51 - 53 High Street, Brecon LD3 7AP 01874 652913 GEAR FOR ADVENTURERS

Likeys For those of you with a sense of adventure, feed the need at Likeys. Originally created to cater for those with a passion for the more extreme of sports and climates, Likeys soon evolved into what they are today. Their extended product ranges now support a wider sporting market including mountain marathons, adventure racing, triathlons, and cycling, with every piece of equipment or accessory you can think of (or ever need) available inside. 2 The Struet, Brecon LD3 7LH 01874 622900 www.likeys.com Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 40

Starting from humble beginnings, Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages have flourished over the last forty years to become an idyllic getaway hidden away in the Welsh hills.

BRECON BEACONS

HOLIDAY COTTAGES

Elizabeth Daniel started the business in the late 1970s whilst single handedly parenting two children. After purchasing and renovating the small riverside cottage next door to where she lived she decided to rent it out to people for holidays. As time passed, six step-children came along as well as numerous animals and an organic small holding. The stables located on the premises became an office and members of staff were taken on. Now, almost forty years later, Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages has a portfolio of almost four hundred graded properties and works closely with Visit Wales. They pride themselves on being a local agency with local staff whose members

visit the properties ‘so we all know what we are talking about’. They are not a call centre that just “Sell Holidays” which is shown by their Feefo rating that gives them a consistent 98.99% for service and for the accommodation. The cottages and farmhouses on their books cover many different properties. There are remote and secluded cottages (perfect to hideaway from the world), grand and luxurious country houses for special occasions, comfortable family homes, superbly converted barns, town houses, and a romantic little village cottage for two. Many of the cottages welcome pets - some have hot tubs and saunas, even swimming pools! - whilst others offer fishing on the Usk and Wye rivers. 41

When visitors book with Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages they are sent a map showing local business in the area that offer various discounts or have special offers specifically for their visitors, and all types of outdoor activities can be arranged or discussed. Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages Brynoyre Talybont-on-Usk Brecon LD3 7YS 01874 676446 enquiries@breconcottages.com www.breconcottages.com Like us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

SIT BACK AND RELAX

The Hours Cafe & Bookshop Relax with good food and a good book in this rustic cafe that is as comfortable as your own living room. The Hours is much more than just a cafe or a shop. It’s a meeting place, a cultural hub, or a haven for a weary traveler in need of some cosy me time. When they aren’t serving something from their scrumptious seasonal menu, the ‘time team’ are hosting readings and other such events whilst surrounded by books that you can read or buy. 15 Ship Street, Brecon LD3 9AD 01874 622800 www.the-hours.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

THE CLASSIC HARDWARE S TORE

A BRECON MASTERPIECE

TRADING SINCE 1960

LDC

Sable and Hogg Gallery

Bulwark House

LDC is the classically-styled hardware store that is one of those places that aims to have everything you’ll ever need, especially when doing DIY or the odd ‘handy man, or handy woman’ jobs. With paints, ironmongery, tools and more, LDC’s number should be on your toolbox. 4 The Bullwalk, Brecon LD3 7LB www.decoratorscentral.co.uk 01874 622707 Like on Facebook

An integral part of creative Brecon for over 25 years. Inside the gallery you will find wildlife and country scenes, figurative, contemporary, and original paintings all created by the highly skilled gallery artists.

Brecon’s oldest established electrical retailer has been trading over 56 years! Offering white goods and electricals from Euronics, plus exclusive offers from Sky, the staff at Bulwark House are known for their excellent customer service.

15 Lion Street, Brecon LD3 7HY www.sableandhogg-gallery.co.uk 01873 625901 Like on Facebook

5 The Bulwark, Brecon LD3 7LB 01874 622974 Like on Facebook www.bulwarkhouse.co.uk

SET A COURSE FOR...

Ship Shape Hair Design With 37 years of business behind them you’re pretty much guaranteed a perfect cut from Ship Shape’s experienced stylists. Experts in all aspects of hairdressing (especially Wella and L’Oreal colouring techniques including balayage, ombre, and contouring), Ship Shape Hair Design will help you get the style you want. In addition to stocking hair care items from Paul Mitchell, L’Oreal, and GHD, Ship Shape also offer a range of wedding packages tailored to help bring out a bride’s beauty for the big day. 18 Ship Street, Brecon LD3 9AD 01874 622077 Like on Facebook

200 YEARS OF HISTORY

BAR & KITCHEN

Dragonfly Cruises

The Bank

Spend a delightful few hours cruising leisurely along historical waterways through some of the most beautiful scenery the Brecon Beacons National Park has to offer. Dragonfly Cruises are available for both public outings and private chartered trips. Canal Road, Brecon LD3 7EW www.dragonfly-cruises.co.uk 07831 685222 Like on Facebook

Bikers, hikers, and paws are welcome at this modern gastro pub found in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Offering home-cooked food sourced from the finest quality local produce, and all freshly prepared by Del Parsons. 37 The Watton, Brecon LD3 7EG 01874 623997 Follow on Facebook/Twitter www.thebankbarbrecon.co.uk 43

www.jamesdean4property.co.uk Like on Facebook Follow on Twitter and Instagram

What’s not to like about walking? It’s free and it has so many health benefits such as preventing or managing various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, and it helps you maintain a healthy weight. Wye Life’s Chris Howell found himself with concerning health issues so took up walking. How has he got on?

W ALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS What made you take up walking? I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in March of this year and, at the same time, found out that I had severe arthritis in my left hip. This was as a result of depending on that side of my body due to an old football injury in my right knee which has never fully recovered. So I was faced with a huge, life-changing decision of changing my diet and exercise regime in order to improve my fitness and reduce the risk of diabetes taking over my life. What’s the name of the walking groups and events you joined and how did you hear about them? I have joined several groups and found them all on Facebook. I would urge anyone interested in taking up walking to check out Monmouth Walkers and Chepstow Walking Festival. How often do you go walking? I go on a different walk each weekend and walk my sister’s dog Jackson

throughout the week. Quite a few of the walks are for charity, and it’s nice to support different causes. Which areas do you walk in? Mostly guided walks throughout Monmouthshire and a few in Herefordshire. The beautiful countryside is breathtaking. The walks include The Kymin, Monmouthshire and Brecon canal and Offa’s Dyke to name a few. I also went on a week’s walking holiday in Sidmouth in Devon with Ramblers Worldwide and enjoyed the best of the weather so far this year. What do you enjoy most about walking? I love the fact that you meet a different cross-section of people, although mostly over 50s. The experience and knowledge they hold is fascinating. I’m quite a sociable person myself and I have managed to forge good friendships and often go on walks with different people if there are no organised walks available. 44

What difference has walking made to your health? Well, after three months of walking, I gave blood and the results were unbelievable. My doctor has now taken me off the diabetic register. Plus, I am pleased to say that I have lost over a stone in weight. My hip seems to be holding out, however I realise that the only cure is a hip replacement. I’m already on the waiting list for an operation.

Will you continue walking? Absolutely. I am planning to go on another walking holiday and already have different walks lined up throughout the summer and beyond. We have started a Walking Life Facebook page in the hope that next year, we can organise our own walks in conjunction with the food and beverage clients that we work with in Wye Life magazine. Watch this space!

What would you say to anyone hoping to take up walking? I would definitely say go for it. One of the main reasons for me taking up walking is that I have seen other people start to exercise and benefit from it. Hopefully my story can inspire others to get fit and avoid the risk of illnesses associated with lack of exercise and poor diet. Maybe if you live in the area, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see you on one of my next walks.

Does it help having a dog to walk with? Oh yes. Jackson is a lovely dog. He is a seven year old Jack Russell. He is usually the smallest dog on any walk and I have christened him the Duracell dog! He must take six steps to one of mine and just keeps going. Mind you, as soon as he gets home, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not to be seen and finds a quiet hideaway to sleep off the walk. He is really well natured and gets on with everybody. I think he will become our Walking Life Mascot!

Please follow Walking-Life on Facebook.

MONMOUTHSHIRE How’s business? Business is great thank you! With every month that goes by we seem to be evolving - it’s really exciting.

What’s been happening with the business since we last saw you? Any notable developments? We’ve had a busy couple of months since your last issue. We’ve added to our fantastic team of skilled tradespeople with new installer Kelvin. We’ve completed some really showstopping projects including a couple of beautiful Skyrooms and Livinrooms (these are our glass roof systems, check our website for more info). We supplied an enormous aluminium bifold door to the BBC’s DIY SOS when they

were in Monmouth. Plus our on-site greenhouses have been a great success over the spring and summer, not just selling well but producing lots of veg for our hard working staff to take home!

Can you tell us about your windows? Our windows are such a focal point within our business, mainly because we have so much to offer. Whatever the property, we feel we’ve got the right look to suit the style, era and practicalities of the building. At the moment, our aluminium windows seem to be a real hit. We think this is because you can have this product powder coated in any colour from the RAL spectrum - it offers our customers the opportunity for complete

individuality and a bespoke finish that is particularly hard to find. As well as this, we’ve noticed foil-coated UPVc and secondary glazing is as popular as ever. Choice is the key - everyone and every build is different and this is something that really excites us. And the same for your bifold doors? Yes, are bifold doors are becoming increasingly popular but when you see them in the flesh, you realise why. They definitely provide the wow factor! Why do customers choose you? We like to think its because we are a family business and although we work on some quite impressive projects, we also haven’t lost touch with our roots and the small touches that are important

CONSERVATORY CO to people. The saying ‘no job too big or too small’ is a little cheesy but there is some truth in it. We want to work with people to produce what they want for themselves and their home. Whatever the job, we understand how important it is to get it just right, and for our customers to have complete confidence within our abilities.

Any plans for the future? We will soon be replacing a couple of our show-site conservatories with some particularly sensational builds. We don’t want to give too much away at this time so lets just say watch this space.

TESTIMONIAL

What customers say… “Very friendly family run business that is professional and helpful. They worked with us to create the exact look we wanted and it exceeded our expectations. All the workmen were lovely and the quality of their work is brilliant. Would definitely recommend to others. Thank you so much.” Katie Lee

“We would definitely recommend to others.” Monmouthshire Conservatory Company Pengethley Garden Centre Peterstow, Ross-on-Wye HR9 6LL 01989 730551 www.monmouthshireconservatory company.co.uk

C MonmouthshireConservatoryCompany M @MonCoCompany 47

Brooks Country House Hotel is a spectacular 22 bedroom Georgian Manor House set in thirteen acres of magnificent Herefordshire countryside, with the picturesque market towns of Hereford and Ross on Wye a mere stone’s throw away. Affordable luxury meets country house glamour; this is a perfect retreat to escape modern urban life.

BROOKS

“Our restaurant serves classic brasserie food... plus a great Sunday lunch.”

COUNTRY HOTEL Wye Life magazine chats with General Manager Ben Hudson who has spent the previous three years as General Manager of Brooks Hotel Bath, and so fully understands the quality expectations of this independent brand.

Ben, we understand the hotel has been totally refurbished - can you talk us through that? Yes we’ve completely refurbished our bedrooms with Cole & Son wallpaper, luxury soft furnishings and pocket sprung mattresses - many in four poster beds - with goose down duvets and comfy pillows. We now have a restaurant in the former library and dining room, a guest lounge with comfy sofas and a large fireplace, bar, pool room, games room, gym and swimming

pool available for residents’ exclusive use. Design wise, it’s an eclectic mix of modern and antique furniture quintessentially British.

Tell us about the food you serve here? Food is at the heart of what we do here at Brooks. We’re blessed with wonderful local produce here in Herefordshire; we have a fantastic source of local artisan suppliers and producers including Pengethley Farm Shop where we buy all our meat. We change our menus seasonally and like to offer ‘specials’ too. Our restaurant serves classic brasserie food such as moules marinières and our Hereford steak frites, plus a great Sunday lunch with succulent Hereford beef. And our full afternoon teas are proving extremely popular. 48

Do you cater for private events? Yes we cater for birthday parties, family celebrations and events, corporate functions and Christmas parties. We also have a civil ceremony license and can cater for 65 in our restaurant for wedding breakfasts. Plus we have a marquee which can be hired for larger events. Why not treat yourself and a loved one by taking advantage of Brooks’ fantastic opening offer? A weekday stay for only £99 dinner bed and breakfast for two people sharing a double or twin room (£10 supplement for weekends, £20 supplement for four poster rooms) subject to availability. Remember to tell them Wye Life sent you!

Brooks County House Pengethley Park Nr Ross-on-Wye Herefordshire HR9 6LL 01989 730211 info@brookscountryhouse.com www.brookscountryhouse.com 49

Our cover star, Trumpet Corner Tea Room, Galleries & Garden, is tucked away behind the Trumpet Corner traffic crossroads near Ledbury, Herefordshire. Blink and you’d miss it, which would be a great shame as Trumpet Corner has a delightful tea room and gorgeous walled garden where you can enjoy freshly prepared lunches made from the finest, locally-sourced produce, award-winning cream teas and homemade cakes.

TRUMPET CORNER

TEA ROOM, GALLERIES

Jo Stephens re-launched the popular tearoom last summer and redeveloped the garden gallery in January 2016 with resident artist Caroline H Green. Within the grounds there are two art galleries exhibiting the finest quality artwork available for sale to suit all budgets. Plus there’s ample car parking and free WiFi. Jo has established a new artist cooperative with over twenty selected members, with work including ceramics, weaving, prints, sculptures, textiles and jewellery. Together they run and manage the rolling exhibitions, which change every six to eight weeks. Each one is a diverse small group from their cooperative exhibiting in the themed Garden Gallery, and the Tea Room Gallery hosts the remaining artists.

They also run a large variety of workshops including felting, pottery, watercolour painting, machine knitting, weekly yoga and many more. A full list of the workshops, along with their events, can be found on their website. Look out for the Trumpet H-art week exhibition from September 10th to the 18th, including daily demonstrations, meet the artist and free workshops. Plans for the future include the introduction of a ‘Friends of the Gallery’ membership, plus a ‘New Beginnings’ young artist competition aimed at encouraging links with local schools and various fundraising events. Plus they will be offering the tea room and garden as an exclusive hire venue and an exciting plan for licensed themed evenings.

TRUMPET FANFARE

Our local suppliers...

Treviso Coffee Co Ltd

AND GARDEN

Proudly supplying the very best coffees to discerning customers of the Wye Valley. www.trevisocoffee.co.uk

D.T. Waller & Sons

A family run butchers, serving food lovers for nearly 40 years. www.wallers-the-butchers.co.uk

PA I N T E R

ARTIST & SCULPTOR

Caroline H. Green

Simon Probyn

Resident painter, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sÂ author and illustrator of renowned Oscar books, Caroline also enjoys painting dynamic colourful works.

Resident artist Simon Probyn is a sculptor who works using heavy industrial steel, creating original sculptures for the home and garden.

www.carolinehgreen.com

www.simonprobyn.co.uk

Pixley Berries

We live for the taste, flavour, aroma and colour derived from the fruits we squeeze and supply a naturally delicious Cordial which contains lashing of juice, sugar and water. www.pixleyberries.co.uk

Trumpet Corner Tea Room Gallery and Studio Trumpet Crossroads, Near Ledbury Herefordshire HR8 2RA 01531 670082 jo@trumpetcorner.co.uk www.trumpetcorner.co.uk Opening Hours Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday & Bank Holidays 10am - 4pm

SCULPTOR

Ed Elliott Resident artist Ed Elliott is a national sculptor making large, predominantly figurative work for private and public collections. His work is mostly carved from tree trunks, using traditional methods and a range of other materials. www.edelliott.co.uk 51

Courtesy of Mansel Davies Photography

THE TREASURES OF

ECLECTIC GIFTS

Crowsfeet Located at the top of Cantilupe road crowsfeet is one of the most quirky and distinctive shops in Ross-on-Wye. Go to Crowsfeet for your cards and Gifts and have them beautifully wrapped! There is an eclectic range of gifts including Silver Jewellery, scarves, Italian Leather Handbags, Italian soaps, beautiful fair trade products and hanging hearts. Also Mens and Childrens gifts. Open Monday to Saturday 9.30-5pm 1 Cantilupe Road, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7AN 01989 763698 www.crowsfeetgifts.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter H A N D - B U I LT S H E P H E R D H U T S

Aconbury Shepherd Huts Our traditional huts are used for glamping sites, home offices, classrooms for private schools, additional accommodation, playhouses etc. So before you go spending a small fortune on a hut from our main competitors, our basic measuring 14’ x 7’ is insulated, certified electrics, choice of external colours, decorated internally, double glazed etc all for £9,280.00 plus delivery! Our rural Herefordshire workshop is always open for visitors, so pop in to see Steve for a 2016 brochure. The Underhills, Hollybush Lane, Much Birch Herefordshire HR2 8HX 01981 540090 or 07768 206296 steve@aconburyshepherdhuts.co.uk www.aconburyshepherdhuts.co.uk 52

HEREFORDSHIRE S H O P, E AT, U N W I N D , R E C H A R G E

The Nest Encompassing 14 acres of beautiful land, The Nest grew from humble beginnings and is now the perfect destination when visiting Ledbury. Even with all that land, The Nest is full to the brim with things to do and see. With a deli that sells delicious locally grown produce, a family friendly cafe full of fair trade treats - chicken runs, local events, their yearly food and drink fair ‘Nestfest’, and so much more. If we had to describe everything that is going on at The Nest, we’d probably need 14 acres of space just to do it - Open 7 days a week! Hereford Road, Ledbury HR8 2PZ 01531 670816 www.thenestledbury.co.uk Like on Facebook, Follow on Twitter PROSECCO SPECIALISTS

Hay Wines Looking for your perfect Prosecco? Discover why it is much more than just an easy drinking fizz! Hay Wines is an independent, family run, wine and spirits merchant based in Ledbury offering over 800 wines, 140 single malt whiskies, a great range of gins, rums and liqueurs plus local beers and ciders. Explore our unique range of artisan Proseccos, selected to suit every taste: Brut (dry), Extra Dry (less dry), Dry (slightly sweet), or a state-of-the- art single vineyard wine - our friendly experts are on hand to help you choose your perfect fizz. Cheers!

“Offering over 800 wines, 140 single malt whiskies and more.”

11 High Street, Ledbury HR8 1DS 01531 634449 www.haywines.co.uk 53

Originally the village butchers shop and mill, the black and white timbered frame of the The Butchers Arms has stood in the village of Woolhope for hundreds of years. With a long standing reputation throughout the area as a great place to eat, locals are undoubtedly thrilled that Phil Vincent and his team are continuing that tradition.

THE BUTCHERS ARMS

Phil, what led you to take over the Butchers Arms? I am originally from Herefordshire and was looking to move back into the area when we came across The Butchers Arms. The family came to view the property and we found a Vincent (my surname) Van Gough painting on the wall, plus the view from the pub was a field of our favourite sunflowers - so it felt like fate. Practically, the kitchen was an excellent size which is important to me as a chef, and it’s location in such beautiful countryside couldn’t be beaten. We also loved the history of the pub and building; it became a pub when the butcher married a local publican’s daughter in 1867. So are we correct in thinking that you’re the Head Chef here? Yes, and I still love coming up with new recipe ideas and preparing them for our diners. I trained to be a chef straight from school and I’ve always worked in the hospitality business. I lived in Cambridge for twenty years and ran a few pubs there, winning the Village Pub of the Year in 2003.

The business is clearly a family affair, so who works with you? I’m the Head Chef and landlord, my daughter Leonie looks after front of house with her son Owen-John, and my other daughter Jemma works on our marketing and social media. Our sous chef Sophie is not strictly family, but is such an important part of the team she is as good as! What food can we enjoy here? Fish and game feature a lot, and change regularly according to the season. Popular dishes are Woolhope rabbit pie, haggis fritters, roast rump of lamb, and our green vegetable Thai curry, plus we cater for gluten free and other dietary requirements on request. Our Sunday lunch service is always popular, so much so that we have one couple who have been having roast dinner here for 45 years! We offer a very popular daily lunch menu at £8.95 per head and, of course, our evening meal is available every night apart from Sunday and Monday. 54

Do you use local produce and, if so, how important is that to you? The reputation of The Butchers Arms has been built on using quality ingredients, and we’re passionate about sourcing fresh, local produce wherever possible. We buy pork and sausages from Pork and Two Veg, plus lamb, rabbit, duck and chicken eggs from businesses right here in Woolhope. We also grow some of our own vegetables in the kitchen garden and use our own quail’s eggs. We serve fish from the sustainable fish list, which is brought to us fresh by New Wave Seafood. Behind the bar we keep local ales and ciders from Ledbury Real Ales, Wye Valley, Westons and Once Upon A Tree, all of which are very popular.

“The reputation of The Butchers Arms has been built on using quality, local ingredients.”

Who might we bump into at the pub? Our local trade is really important to us, but we also have regulars returning from all over Herefordshire and surrounding counties. We are recommended by all the local B&B’s and campsites, and have many cyclists, walkers and their dogs dropping in! As for non-paying guests, we’re very fortunate to have woodpeckers and a variety of wildlife visiting our garden. Do you have any special events coming up? We often run themed evenings, such as our recent English Tapas Night, and feature special menus for high days and holidays. We hold summer BBQ’s on a Friday evening (weather permitting), and we also cater for parties and family celebrations. We offer exclusive hire for weddings and private functions, which can include a marquee in the garden which enables us to cater for up to 150 people. You can catch up on all that’s happening via our website, or on Facebook and Twitter.

And any plans for the future? Well, we’ve just erected a tether rail to cater for our larger four legged friends, and we are always looking for new recipe ideas to tempt customers. We’re also in the throes of expanding our vegetable garden to offer even more fresh produce grown here at the pub, and I have an idea for a duck pond! But, most of all, we are looking forward to summer, as we have plenty of outside seating for people to enjoy a drink or a meal surrounded by this glorious Herefordshire countryside. What could be better?

Butchers Arms Woolhope Woolhope, Near Hereford HR1 4RF 01432 860281 Opening hours Monday - Closed except Bank Holidays Tues to Sat - 11:30am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm Food served 12 noon - 2.30pm 6.30pm - 11pm Sunday - 11:30am - 5pm Food served 12 noon - 2:30pm www.butchersarmswoolhope.com TheButchersArmsWoolhope

C 55

Courtesy of Chris Lyons

EXCLUSIVE WEDDING VENUE

Lemore Manor Lemore Manor’s 11 acres of glorious gardens and grounds have been extensively renovated to cater for luxury weddings both outdoors and indoors. Lemore also offers the use of its beautiful new Orangery. Exclusively yours and whether you’re planning a lavish summer wedding or an intimate winter ceremony, we pride ourselves in offering something very special and unique for everyone. Lemore Manor was Wye Life magazine’s first front cover photo taken by Jarek Lepak. 01544 300281 www.lemoremanor.com T R I PA DV I S O R AWA R D W I N N I N G

Lea House Bed & Breakfast Originally built in the 16th century Lea house still retains many of its original features to this day giving a traditional feel of days gone by every time you stay. With a large inglenook fireplace and exposed beams everywhere this homely, comfortable accommodation is the perfect location to stay when visiting any of the hundreds of sites that surround it. Hay-on-Wye, Tintern Abbey, the Forest of Dean, Clearwell Caves and Westbury Court Gardens are just some of the places located nearby with The Wysis Way and The Gloucestershire Way within perfect distance for walkers.

Andy and Sophie Evans invite you to stay, offering three well appointed bedrooms, all with eclectic decor gathered from local artists, good home made food, and everyday services to make sure that your stay with them is the very best it could possibly be. Lea House, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7JZ 01989 750652 www.leahouse.co.uk Like on Facebook, Follow on Twitter 56

L I C E N S E D AC C O M M O DAT I O N

Brandon Lodge Beautifully converted 19th century building just outside historic Hereford that is the perfect accommodation choice when visiting. Brandon Lodge boasts ten well appointed en-suite bedrooms, plus free WiFI and parking. Ross Road, Hereford HR2 8BH 01432 355621 info@brandonlodge.co.uk www.brandonlodge.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter CHAR TERED SURVEYORS

Brandon Consulting Property Services n Architectural Design n Home extensions & alterations n Loft conversions n New build developments n Planning permission advice, preparation & applications n Building Regulations advice, preparation & applications n Building Surveys & Defect Analysis reporting n Party Wall Act matters n Contract Administration

“Brandon Consulting Property Services Your property is safe in our hands”

Ross Road, Hereford HR2 8BH 01432 343456 info@bcps-charteredsurveyors.co.uk www.bcps-charteredsurveyors.co.uk T A S T Y, N U T R I T I O U S , H E A LT H Y !

Trecorras Farm In a beautiful corner of beautiful rural Herefordshire sits Trecorras Farm, a premium British Kid Goat meat supplier - we’re not kidding! High quality British kid goat meat is a sweet, healthy, and a nutritious alternative to traditional meats - and with less fat than chicken, kid was named the hottest food trend of 2015. The meat from Trecorras farm is supplied to many chefs and restaurants both locally and nationally. So what are you waiting for? Try it today! Llangarron, Ross-on-Wye HR9 6PG 01989 770258 or 07920 770735 www.trecorrasfarm.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 57

Photograph courtesy of Andrew Evans

FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Moor Fascinators & Hats Make sure that everyone’s eyes are on you at your next special event, thanks to Moor’s exquisite range of headwear. Moor Fascinator’s & Hats is the only place you should consider visiting when in need of headwear for any occasion. Perfect for weddings, the races, or just when you want to feel chic, Moor has bespoke, individually designed fascinators and hats that are tailored to the style of the customer, including colour coordination with any outfit. And, if you don’t wish to buy then Moor also offer a handy hire option. 4 Hill Street, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7AD 07582 971481 Like on Facebook R E S TAU R A N T W I T H RO O M S

Orles Barn One of the most idyllic settings in Ross-on-Wye for weddings, celebrations, business meetings... in fact, any kind of event! Orles Barn is a fantastic place, no matter if you stay for just a meal, or for a few days and is now in the friendly hands of Craig and Cath Morgan. Enjoy the real log fire in the comfortable bar or choose delicious meals from their menus in their intimate restaurant whilst looking out over their beautiful garden. Wilton, Ross-on-Wye HR9 6AE 01989 562155 www.orles-barn.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 58

EXPERT CARE

Reds Hair Company Providing the expert city centre hair and beauty treatments without the hassle of actually traveling to the city. Established in 1999 Red’s Hair Company is a 5 Star Salon that offers incredible, up to date hairdressing and beauty therapies often only found within the larger cities. Now introducing Semi permanent makeup - eyebrows, eyeliner & lips. Open six days a week with evening openings on Wednesday and Thursday.

14 Henry Street, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7AA 01989 566800 www.redshaircompany.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter INDEPENDENT COFFEE SHOP

Caffe Eleganza With a unique custom blend of coffee beans that have been painstakingly selected, it’s no wonder that each cup shines with quality and good taste. Opened in 2009 Caffe Eleganza is full of baristas who guarantee that no one will ever leave dissatisfied. Offering bespoke coffee, speciality teas, smoothies and milkshakes complemented by a menu of delicious meals, no matter your preference or dietary requirements, Caffe Eleganza is the Ross-On-Wye coffee shop to visit. 2 Broad Street, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7DZ 01989 764254 Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter C LO T H E S A N D T OY B O U T I Q U E

Little Chic The children’s clothes and toy boutique that has everything your child may need and want. With stock from newborn up until 8-10 years old, Little Chic chooses its designs by selecting the brands with the highest quality, visually gorgeous products that are very easy to take care of. With brands including Little Joules, Hatley, Piccalilly and Lilly & Sid, FRUGI and Emile et Rose, as well as boots and toddler shoes, and toys ranging from the wooden classics of times gone, soft baby toys by to educational games and even Lego. 30a Brookend Street, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7EE 01989 762404 www.littlechic.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 59

HELP FIND MAX

Take a walk on the Wye side We decided to dedicate this feature as a tribute to the missing dog Max, a liver and white Springer Spaniel who went missing on Christmas Day 2015 in the Stoke Lacey area. A Facebook public group page was launched and now has over 9,000 members raising awareness. Posters, leaflets and emails have been issued to every vet, dog warden, dog kennels, dog groomers and dog walking groups in the UK. People have displayed posters and raised awareness in schools, shops, dog rescues, kennels, garages, work places, Facebook pages and Twitter. We are talking thousands upon thousands of people, companies and

organisations who are aware of Max’s disappearance and many have helped in the fruitless searches. Owner Amanda Lambert and her family are truly grateful for everything that everyone is doing to help find Max. Please keep on searching, sharing and looking. We will find this boy, come on Max it’s time to come home. Please keep an eye out for Max and join the Facebook page ‘Lets get Max home’.

BABY PERIGRINE

SQUIRREL

Colin Henderson

Photography by Lee Parsons Where was the picture taken? Gwent Wildlife Trust, Pentwyn Farm, Penallt. What camera did you use? Canon 7D Mark 2, Canon 24-105 lens. What’s your favourite ildlife subject? Birds. Do you take any other types of photography? Yes, Sports Photography. How can we see more of your work? www.leeparsons.webs.com Are you available to hire? Yes, full contact details available on website.

Where was the picture taken? A quarry in the Forest of Dean What camera did you use? Canon 7D What’s your favourite wildlife subject? Birds, but all wildlife appeals to me. How can we see more of your work? Facebook/Dean Wildlife photography Are you available to hire? Yes please call on 07760 161006 or e-mail colinandgeraldine456@btinternet.com

FALLOW DEER

Ray Buckley Where was the picture taken? Little Kensley Enclosure near Speech House, the Forest of Dean What camera did you use? Canon 5d mk3 What’s your favourite wildlife subject? Deer and wild boar. How can we see more of your work? FInd me on Facebook. Are you available to hire? Yes please, I am based in Cinderford. I can be contacted on 01594 727052. I also undertake guided walks through the Forest of Dean and Wye area

SWAN

Matt Carpenter

Where was the picture taken? Forest of Dean’s Exmoor Ponies at Gloucestershire wildlife Trust in the Forest of Dean. What camera did you use? Canon EOS 600D. What’s your favoutite wildlife subject? Wild Boar. Do you take any other types of photography? Nature and Wildlife only. How can we see more of your work? www.caldwellcreations.co.uk Are you available to hire? Yes, please contact Matt Caldwell at info@caldwellcreations.co.uk

Where was the picture taken? The River Wye. What camera did you use? Canon 70D with Tamron 70-300mm VC. What’s your favoutite wildlife subject? Boar, Deer and various Birds. Do you take any other types of photography? Landscapes, Architecture, portraits and Macro. How can we see more of your work? www.facebook.com/MattCarpenterPhotography Are you images available to buy? Yes they can be bought via Facebook or please call 07432 192266 or e-mail on M.carpenter0909@gmail.com

H AW F I N C H

G O L D E N R I N G D D R A G O N F LY

Piers Suckling

Robin Jones

Where was the picture taken? Forest Of Dean. What camera did you use? Nikon D750, 300mm f4. What’s your favoutite wildlife subject? Birds of Prey. Do you take any other types of photography? Yes, I love macro photography. How can we see more of your work? Instagram pierssuckling Facebook - Piers Suckling Are you available to hire? Yes, please call me on. 07805 274977 or e-mail on pierssuckling@gmail.com

Where was the picture taken? Forest of Dean. What camera did you use? Canon 6D, Canon 100-400 mk2 lens. What’s your favoutite wildlife subject? Deer and Wild Boar. How can we see more of your work? Find me on facebook at www.facebook. com/forestblood or you can go to my website www. forestblood.co.uk Are you available to hire? Please call me on 07540 658894 or e-mail on Robin@forestblood.co.uk

P E A C O C K B U T T E R F LY

WILD BOAR

Kerry Palmer

Sam Webb Photography

Where was the picture taken? Forest of Dean. What camera did you use? Nikon D3300. What’s your favoutite wildlife subject? Usually I am out in search of a great landscape photograph, but nature and wildlife always make an appearance during my shots. Do you take any other types of photography? Wild Boar. You always get a special kind of thrill watching these beautiful animals. Are you available to hire? Yes please. I am on Facebook; Kerry Palmer Photographs, which also has a link to a website www.kerrypalmerphotographs.co.uk and also have pictures on sale at The Abbey Mill in Tintern.

Where was the picture taken? The Forest of Dean. What camera did you use? Canon 7D Mk 2 (lens), Canon 100-400mm L. What’s your favourite wildlife subject? Fallow bucks during the rut. Any other types of photography? Yes I’m into all types of photography. How can we see more of your work? On Facebook - Sam Webb photography. Are you available to hire? Yes for all your photographic needs on 07792 259206, Facebook or e-mail: samwebbphotography@gmail.com.

EXMOOR PONIES

Matt Caldwell of Caldwell Creations

The Court Cupboard Craft Gallery is nestled at the foot of the Skirrid Mountain, just outside Abergavenny. We stopped for a coffee and to chat with acclaimed weaver Stuart Neale who showed us around the impressive gallery and workshops.

CUPBOARD LOVE

Please tell us about the Gallery & Coffee Shop? We were offered this building as an element of the European Craft & Activity Trail in the Black Mountain Circle in Autumn 1995, and we opened in March 1996 following substantial renovations of the old building. The former piggery, opposite, was converted into a modern, fully equipped workshop and training centre in 2001. The Court Cupboard Craft Gallery membership was created exclusively for members of the Black Mountain Circle - a group of local artist and crafts people whose work demonstrates and represents the best in traditional skills and high quality products within their chosen discipline.

Our exhibitions began in 1997; we run these all year around - they encompass a variety of disciplines and they change every nine weeks. We also run a coffee shop here with hot and cold drinks and locally home-made cakes, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very fortunate to have this lovely outdoor seating area with magnificent views of the Skirrid mountain. What workshops do you hold here and who are they aimed at? We run a variety of workshops all year around - they are all listed on our website. There are booking details on there so that you can contact the tutor direct. Do you have any plans for the future? Yes weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re busy planning our 20th 62

anniversary celebrations which will be held on Saturday 19th November 2016 - look out for further details on our website and social media pages. Opening times The Gallery is open every day Summer opening 1st April - 24th December 10.30am - 5pm Winter opening 3rd January - 31st March 10.30am - 4pm Directions From A40 south of Abergavenny, follow A465 Hereford road north. Turn first right on B4521 Skenfrith road and follow brown Craft Centre signs.

The Court Cupboard Craft Gallery New Court Farm Llantilio Pertholey Abergavenny Monmouthshire NP7 8AU 01873 852011 www.courtcupboardgallery.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 63

CHEPSTOW STAMPEDE OBSTACLE mud RACE

saturday 22 october 5K & 10K OBSTACLE MUD RUN

PIERCEFIELD PARK, CHEPSTOW RACECOURSE

iN SUPPORT OF

CHARITY NO. 1102913

CHARITY NO. 1146420

chepstow-racecourse.co.uk ChepstowRacecourse

Chepstow_Racing

CHARITY NO. 1017658

01291 622260 ChepstowRacecourse

Terms & conditions apply. For full terms and conditions please visit our website. Chepstow Racecourse encourages responsible gambling. www.gambleaware.co.uk.

Lisa Haughton’s labour of love, Flaunt, opened for business in 2015. Wye Life popped over to take a peek at her fabulous shop.

IF YOU’VE GOT IT FLAUNT IT

Taking a look around us, gorgeous is the word Thank you. Once I’d decided which products to stock the rest fell into place. I’m thrilled with the pieces I’ve chosen – we offer furniture, jewellery, handbags, cards, gifts and home accessories. Some of our current brands are Village Candles, Miss Patisserie, East of India, Love the Links, Rose & co, Peach Accessories, Bath House, Lily Flame Candles and Sass & Belle. I’m constantly updating our ranges so that each time our customers pop in there’ll be something new in store. I also upcycle furniture so this was the perfect time to combine the two, and add gorgeous gifts and home accessories. Tell us about your location, Caerleon? Caerleon has very much become a destination town; as well as the Roman attractions it also has a great range of very popular Restaurants & Cafés. I saw there was a gap in the market for more retail offerings and as I live locally, and we often frequent the great restaurants in the area, there was already a pull towards the town. As well as tourists, local people are coming into the town for their shopping - Sainsbury’s, Spar, World of Kitchens, The Goldcroft, and Roberts & Co are all right on our doorstep. Any news since our last feature on Flaunt? We’’ve added “Monique Quinn Flowers at Flaunt” with a rear garden and a selection of plants, plus we’re planning themed evening shopping events. Please follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with our news and offers.

Flaunt Home & Gifts 3 Station Road Caerleon NP18 1NH 01633 422 224 Like on Facebook 65

M A KI N G O U R B EERS LOOK AS G R E AT AS T H EY TAST E Our new look core range - same great taste, new fresh feel. wyevalleybrewery.co.uk

wyevalleybrewery

@wyevalleybrew

It may be a town famous for Henry V, Geoffrey of Monmouth and Charles Rolls, but Monmouth is now celebrating its contemporary history with an exhibition about its legendary recording studio; Rockfield.

STABLES TO STUDIO Copyright Monmouthshire Museums Service

Photograph courtesy of F8 Create

The story of Rockfield, Monmouth and Music. A new exhibition at Monmouth Museum. From Robert Plant to Motorhead, Queen to Tom O’Dell, some of the biggest names in the music industry have passed through the doors of this former farm and riding stable to create music that is known around the world. Stables To Studios tells the story of brothers Charles and Kingsley Ward; two musicians and dairy farmers who transformed the family farm, once part of the Rolls Hendre Estate, into an internationally famous residential recording studio which is still in operation today. Meet ‘Doris’ the tape machine, on which iconic hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody were recorded. See the guitar

Noel Gallagher played on Wonderwall, and the football shirt worn by Noel when Oasis played Nigel Kennedy’s team on Chippenham Fields.

Museums Service, as part of their Welsh Baccalaureate qualification. It is a truly remarkable achievement and this summer’s ‘must see’ exhibition.

Find out what the bands think of Rockfield by exploring the visitor books and discover just how many of your own albums were recorded at this world renowned studio.

Opening times

The exhibition also features the memories of local people who encountered band members in the town’s shops, pubs and restaurants and offers visitors an opportunity to record their own experiences too. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Stables to Studios was created by thirteen sixth form students from Monmouth Comprehensive School, in partnership with Monmouthshire 67

Monday to Saturday 11am - 1pm and 2 - 5pm Sunday 2 - 5pm Admission is FREE and the exhibition runs until April 22nd 2017. The Nelson Museum & Local History Centre Market Hall, Priory Street Monmouth NP25 3XA 01600 710630

Fresh to Monmouth, recently opened (February 2016) #7 is already attaining excellent reviews. As you can imagine, we wasted no time in sampling their delicious food and chatting to acclaimed chef and owner Mark Turton.

CHURCH STREET

Mark tell us about your background? I’m an established chef; classically trained by Roux Brothers’ School of Culinary Excellence. I’ve worked locally, as well as in London and Hungary. I decided this was the right time to start my own business and I took over the business with my partner, Bea Sebestyen, in February this year. Bea is also highly trained in the hospitality industry. Can you tell us about your concept for #7? This is somewhere we can share our vision for quality food; to cater for the local community and of course for those coming to visit Wales, so that they can all enjoy what this beautiful area has to offer. We’re becoming very popular with the locals. We are overwhelmed by the fantastic comments about our food and compliments about our service too.

Where do you source your ingredients and how important is this to you? This is fundamental to us; we aim to use as much local produce as possible from carefully selected suppliers in Monmouthshire and the surrounding counties. For instance, our meat is from The Welsh Venison Centre near Brecon and we use local drink suppliers such as Ty Gwyn Cider and Bespoke Brewery. We also serve our own home-made Elderflower cordial and lemonade which is very popular, and forage our own ingredients such as Wood Sorrel. What hours do you serve your food? We’re open seven days a week; we serve our seasonal à la carte dinner menu from 6.30pm to 9.30pm, and a choice of à la carte or light lunch menus between 12pm until 2pm. Throughout the day we serve coffees from 10am. 68

Tell us about the accommodation? We have eight en-suite rooms and attract all types of guests from foodies, walkers, golfers, cyclists (we have storage for bicycles) and, of course, theatre goers with the Savoy theatre just opposite us. We are also family friendly. What is the secret of your success? We strive for consistency and to maintain our high quality of food and service. We plan to maintain our restaurant’s great reputation and establish ourselves in Monmouth.

“We recommend the steamed hake fillet with spinach, mussels and taragon broth”

#7 7 Church Street, Monmouth NP25 3BX 01600 712600 www.numbersevenchurchstreet.co.uk Like on Facebook 69

“Hummingbird is the ideal rural location to unwind in the tranquil surroundings of the Llanover Estate. A unique coffee and gift shop situated just outside Abergavenny (a five minute drive) offers the opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. Owners, Alison and John Healy tell us more…

HUMMINGBIRD Whether you are meeting friends or family, surfing the net, reading the papers or having a break on your walk or cycle Hummingbird provides a setting to enjoy and refresh. The beautiful décor sets the tone for a relaxing ambience. Hummingbird provides an ideal base for walkers to explore the adjoining Mon and Brecon Canal or picturesque Usk Valley countryside. Cyclists too are welcome, with plenty of room to park bikes in a secure location. With its own car park, it makes an ideal stopping off point on the adjacent A4042 and lies within a ten minute drive from Nevill Hall Hospital. There are attractive outdoor seating areas for dog owners with fresh water bowls and shade provided. Our shop is perfectly placed for dog walkers with many walks nearby. An adjoining car park provides excellent flat access for people. Hummingbird will be extending it’s opening hours for the Eisteddfod and will be open from 8am to serve breakfasts and will close at 9pm. Light lunches and snacks are available all day including salads, panini, sandwiches and quiche. Choices include gluten free options along with vegan and vegetarian.

HUMMINGBIRD EISTEDDFOD

Week events n Whinchat Walks and Talks Guided Walks on Aug 1, 2 and 3rd. n Pop up market Sunday July 31st with Alison Powell ceramic artist, Sarah Goodgame of Little Bird Feltmaker, Sally Hall, Cut Flower Kitchen amongst others. n Story teller Anne Lister telling Welsh folk stories. Please see website for full details.

Summer delights such as Pimms, strawberries and cream and Joe’s speciality ice cream are available. We are fully licensed to sell local beers, ciders and wines. Our popular Afternoon Tea is available but please book beforehand. Spoil yourself in the gift shop which offers an assortment ranging from jewellery to locally produced chutneys, honey, chocolate, beers, wines, ciders and liquors. We also promote the work of local crafts people with items including prints, cards, paintings and handmade wooden products. An ideal opportunity to buy that gift for someone special. 70

Hummingbird Hall House, Llanover Business Centre Abergavenny NP7 9HA 01873 881044 or 07718 487018 www.hummingbirdlearning.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

The National Eisteddfod is one of the world’s greatest festivals, and this year’s event is held in Monmouthshire, so if you want a truly unique experience, this is definitely one to pop in your diary.

NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD

Held over an eight day period, the Eisteddfod is a celebration of Welsh culture and the Welsh language but don’t worry if you don’t speak Welsh - there’s a warm welcome for everyone at the Eisteddfod, with plenty of bilingual information and a free translation service in the main pavilion. With over 800 events and activities for people of all ages, you’ll find plenty to see and do at the Eisteddfod. And with up to 150,000 Eisteddfod visitors expected in Monmouthshire during the festival, it looks set to be a bustling and busy week across the region. Interested in events for the family? Visit the children’s literary festival, or explore the Maes (Eisteddfod site) for a wide range of activities for children of all ages on over 250 tradestands and stalls.

Want to hear some music? Head down to the outdoor stage for the best Welsh live performers and bands from 12 noon until late into the evening, and have a bite to eat in the food village; selling all sorts of street food, made with the very best Welsh produce. Thinking of learning Welsh? Join the team in Maes D, the centre for learning Welsh - with free taster sessions and all the information you’ll need to get started with the language. Interested in seeing some of the world famous competitions? Visit the Pavilion for a taste of music, dance, singing and much more. Make sure you catch the Gorsedd ceremonies, when the best writers and poets in Wales are honoured in ceremonies dating back hundreds of years. A colourful pageant not to be missed! 71

Whether you’re into the visual arts, science and technology, folk traditions, literature, music, dance or theatre, or just want to see what’s going on, you’ll have a great time at the Eisteddfod from morning until night! Join in at Castle Meadows, Abergavenny from 29 July - 6 August for a wonderful experience right on your doorstep.

“You’ll find plenty to see and do at the Eisteddfod.” The National Eisteddfod Find out more by visiting the website www.eisteddfod.wales 0845 4090 900

Courtesy of Mansel Davies Photography

THE MARVELS E A T . S L E E P. S H O P. D O !

Love Abergavenny If you’re looking for a family day trip, relaxing day out or for a great shopping experience, Abergavenny is the perfect place. The town has over fifty great independent retail and food outlets, a beautiful castle and set in the most incredible scenic countryside with lots of walking and cycling paths to explore. There’s something for everyone!’

“There’s something for everyone!” Full details on Abergavenny can be seen at the website www.loveabergavenny.com’ Twitter @loveyfenni MAGNIFICENT MALE FASHION

Revue Clothing The clothing shop that is run by gentlemen, for gentlemen. Revue Clothing is Abergavenny’s high street fashion retailer. Proudly stocking high fashion pieces with an incredible selection of shirts, jackets, waistcoats, and stylish shoes on offer. In addition to all their quality products, Revue Clothing also provide customer service that is second to none. Every time you visit, Revue guarantee to make you feel at ease and treat you like the magnificent male you are.

“In addition to all their quality products, Revue Clothing also provide customer service that is second to none.”

39 Cross Street, Abergavenny NP7 5ER www.revue-mensclothing.co.uk 01873 851751 Like on Facebook 72

MONMOUTHSHIRE T H E F A M I LY P H A R M A C Y

H. Shackleton Pharmacy Run by the same family for five generations, H. Shackleton Pharmacy first opened in 1873 and has been supplying the best pharmaceutical services for the last 143 years. Now run by Ian and Geoff Shackleton, as well as their father Brian, all of whom are qualified pharmacists, H. Shackleton Pharmacy is at the heart of community healthcare in Abergavenny. Offering prescription dispensing as well as a comprehensive range of major health brands, members of the highly trained staff are always on hand to help. 1 Nevill Street, Abergavenny NP7 5AA 01873 853219 www.hshackleton.co.uk CAPTURE THE MOMENT

Glenn GB Photography Glenn Gameson-Burrows is a skilled photographer based in Abergavenny, whose expertise has been used by some familiar faces. Dirty Sanchezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Matthew Pritchard and BAFTA Award winning actor Michael Sheen have all been shot by Glenn, and his talents speak for themselves. Specialising in wedding, portrait, landscape and documentary photography, Glenn captures the special moments in a non-intrusive way to reveal the true moments of happiness in your life. 01291 698456 or 07814 516520 www.glenngb-photography.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 73

C O C K TA I L S & J U I C E B A R

Tapas Lounge The ultimate ‘night out’ venue. This contemporary and vibrant venue is home to the complete entertainment package. You can relax with a cocktail, sample their delicious tapas or just dance the night away. Sounds like fun! 13 - 14 Nelson Street, Chepstow NP16 5HT 01291 626609 Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

Courtesy of Mansel Davies Photography

THE BOUTIQUE FOR YOU

Viva Couture Look your best this summer thanks to Viva Couture, the boutique that’s always on trend. Found in the town of Chepstow, Viva Couture provides a style solution for every occasion. With day wear for the casual look, occasion wear for a wedding or day at the races, cocktail for cruises or parties, and long evening and prom dresses perfect for those special nights out. All from respected designer labels as Joseph Ribkoff, Frank Lyman, Bianca, Lebek, Pomodoro, Izabella, and Mori Lee. 12 High Street, Chepstow NP16 5XY 01291 627221 www.vivacouture.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter F R I E N D LY F A S H I O N A D V I C E

Brigitte Ward Styling Is your wardrobe overflowing but you still have “Nothing to wear”? Would you like to learn what style or colour best suits your body shape? Do you have a special occasion coming up and need some help finding the perfect outfit? Then why not try a Wardrobe refresh, a style or colour consultation or a personal shopping trip with Brigitte? Whatever your lifestyle, personality, body shape or budget, Brigitte can help and will give you the confidence to look and feel great everyday. 07836 534344 www.brigittewardstyling.co.uk Find on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Linkedin 74

THE HOME OF PERFECT GIFTS

J’adore A fine selection of quality ‘exclusive’ products ensures that each time you visit J’adore you will always find some-thing new. For the home and garden, J’adore has gifts, jewellery, scarves and candles that’ll certainly catch your eye.

5 St Mary Street, Chepstow NP16 5EU 01291 409652 www.jadoreonline.com Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter NOW YOU’RE MOTORING

Volvo & Landrover Thompson & Thompson was established way back in 1953 and is family owned and operated. Based in Caldicot, Monmouthshire the company offers a large selection of preowned Volvo and Landrover products to suit all budgets. Plus after sales operations offering servicing, repairs and parts for the both iconic marques all at one location. Competitive finance and part exchange offers are always available . Severn Bridge Industrial Estate Caldicot, Monmouthshire NP26 5PU www.thompson-thompson.co.uk 01291 424500 Like on Facebook EXCEPTIONAL FLORIST S

Deacons Florist Established in Chepstow for over thirty five years, Deacons Florist offers the very highest quality flowers for all occasions. Make your floral dreams a reality thanks to Deacons award-winning team of florists. With more than 35 years of floristry under their belts, Deacons can put together the perfect arrangement; for a wedding, birthday, or just a spur of the moment gift for someone you love. Tell them your wildest flower fantasy and they’ll make it happen. 4 Bank Street, Chepstow NP16 5EL 01291 623768 www.deaconsflorist.co.uk shop@deaconsflorist.co.uk kay@deaconsflorist.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 75

Courtesy of Mansel Davies Photography

MAKE YOUR DREAMS A REALIT Y

The Curtain Studio Make your home as unique as you are with help from The Curtain Studio and their 25 years of experience. The Curtain Studio is the ideal place for outfitting any premises, whether personal or commercial, no matter the size. With thousands of fabrics, and a comprehensive range of designer wallpapers and curtain poles to suit all budgets on offer, it is easy to create your dream space with help from The Curtain Studioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friendly team who are always happy to help. 10 Twyn Square, Usk NP15 1BH 01291 671204 www.curtainstudiosouthwales.co.uk Like on Facebook A BESPOKE BEAUT Y BOUTIQUE

Clarisons Beauty and Wellbeing It is time for RESULTS. Your 4 steps to more youthful and healthier skin. 1 Book a FREE no obligation skin analysis TODAY. (Ends 31/12) 2 Have an in-depth skin analysis with our skincare specialist. 3 Receive your unique PERSONALISED skin analysis. 4 Start YOUR journey to restoring and rejuvenating your skin with our targeted, affordable facial treatments. Clarisons utilises CACI non-surgical solutions, Micro Lift and Ultra anti-ageing facial treatments with result driven products to help you look and feel your best.

2 New Market Street, Usk NP15 1AU 01291 408084 www.clarisonsbeautyandwellbeing.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter 76

M Y, W H A T A L I T T L E P O N Y !

Mini Magic Ponies Make your child’s party magical with a visit from two beautiful miniature Shetland ponies. Fred and Yogi Bear will visit you, and can be groomed, dressed up, and posed for pictures, and they’re not afraid of a little noise. They also visit nurseries, nursing homes, or hospitals for educational therapy. For more information, call 07799 411526 Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

Courtesy of Mansel Davies Photography

A U N I Q U E R E T R E AT

Pathways Holistic Pathways Holistic is a luxurious retreat that is perfect for taking away the stress of everyday life and replacing it with a sense of calm. Browse through the wide variety of candles, skin products, and gifts for that special person in your life. With a coffee lounge that has hot and cold drinks with a selection of sandwiches and cakes to enjoy. You can also relax in their garden, a unique place thats perfect for reflection and contemplation. 33 Bridge Street, Usk NP15 1BQ 01291 671405 / 07730 405558 www.pathwaysholistic.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

COFFEE. WINE. INTERIORS

B E S P O K E I N S TA L L AT I O N S

TO TREASURE FOREVER

Number Forty Nine

Burning Desire

Reeks Stained Glass

A special experience that is one of a kind. Combining an interiors shop, a coffee house, and a licensed wine bar, Number Forty Nine allows you to relax with some refreshments before browsing their superb collections.

With more than 15 years experience and a team of specialist fitters, Burning Desire is one of the region’s premier stove showrooms. They also fit bathrooms, kitchens, log gasification and more.

Reeks pride themselves on creating unique stained glass for over 20 years. Reeks undertake commissions, so if you have a design in mind, contact them! Create a piece you can treasure forever.

8 Bridge Street, Usk NP15 1BG 01291 672295 www.burningdesirewales.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

Usk Garden Centre, Llanbadoc NP15 1TG 07775 684302 www.reeksstainedglass.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

Number 49 Bridge Street, Usk NP15 1BQ 01291 671151 Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

A real hidden gem, not far from Monmouth, The Inn at Penallt is a 17th Century traditional country inn with breathtaking views of the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean. We chat with proud new owners Chris and Bron…

THE INN AT PENALLT

Can you tell us what led you to taking over The Inn at Penallt? We were working and living in Cardiff, and we noticed the pub was for sale when we were visiting the area. It felt so positive and we realised right then that it was an outstanding destination venue, so we suspended our plans for travelling and here we are. What changes have you made since taking over this business? We’ve totally refurbished our conservatory, as you can see it has magnificent views and it’s very popular with our diners. We’re very proud of our new kitchen garden, and Bron is working with the non-profit organisation ‘Art in Penallt’ to showcase work from leading local artists here. What food can we enjoy here? We begin with breakfasts which are on offer to non-residents as well our B&B residents - then we have our à la carte

menu, set lunch menus, light snacks and bespoke vegan/vegetarian menus, and we also serve morning coffee and afternoon teas. We’re very much focused on supporting local producers. Our meat is from the local rare breed Cowshill Farm, our vegetables, herbs and edible flowers are from Humble By Nature, and our bread is provided from our kitchen and also by artisan bread suppliers. Also, we have our own self-sufficient kitchen garden and our own chickens. The Inn is perfectly situated for walkers and holidaymakers - can you tell us a bit about your B&B facilities? We have four en-suite rooms, two of which are pet friendly rooms and look out directly onto the lawns. Bookings are best made directly via phone or email, although an online booking service will be in place later in the year. 78

Are you family friendly? Yes, children and dogs are welcome in our bar, conservatory and, of course, in our beer garden. And, as we’ve mentioned, two of our bedrooms are pet friendly. Do you have any plans for the future of the business? Yes, The Inn at Penallt already has a fantastic reputation as a ‘foodie retreat’ and we see huge potential to build on and expand our offering. We will be extending the conservatory next year, subject to planning permission. Also, we will be refurbishing the bedrooms, opening some up to the gorgeous valley views we’re so lucky to enjoy here. And we’ve started to host weddings and private functions so we’ll be looking to expand that side of the business and, with all of this happening, we’ll need to update our website too!

The Inn at Penallt Penallt, Monmouth NP25 4SE 01600 772765 www.theinnatpenallt.co.uk enquiries@theinnatpenallt.co.uk 79

OUT OF TOWN GEMS

T H E M O B I L E C O C K TA I L LO U N G E

Beetle Juice Taking the party to the people since 2012 Beetle Juice is the mobile cocktail lounge that is certain to both shake and stir you. What is better than a classic VW van? One that serves alcohol of course. This unique venture is perfect for a host of events including weddings, parties, festivals, hen and stag doâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, fetes, and so much more. Covering everywhere from South Wales to London and as far up as Manchester, if you are interested in hiring this vintage, quirky camper van cocktail bar simply call or email. 07500 029573 www.beetle-juice.co.uk kieran@beetle-juice.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

Shutters Awnings Blinds and Motorisation Conservatories Curtains

Shutters

Awnings

Blinds and Motorisation

Conservatories

Curtains

Create the Mood for your home for less than you think with Solar Sunshades. Shutters Awnings Blinds and Motorisation Conservatories Curtains

Cardiff showroom

Bridgend showroom

Gripoly Mills Retail Park, Sloper Road, Cardiff. CF11 8AA

North Road, Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend. CF31 3TP

Telephone: 01600 729155

www.solarsunshades.co.uk 81

One of the joys of working on Wye Life is meeting new and interesting people with a story to tell. Kaely Backland of Usk welcomed us into her beautiful home and chatted to us about her incredibly successful business, Aunty Acid, and home improvements.

HOME OF CHARACTER Kaely lives in a gorgeous property in Gwehelog near Usk. Kaely has a keen eye for interior design which is evident as she showed us around her home. Over a cup of coffee, in her immaculately tended, peaceful garden, we were accompanied by her two Main Coon cats and a variety of wild animals. We could think of no better place to be. What do you do for a living Kaely? I am the Creative Director of an intellectual property creation company which creates brands based on characters, one of which is a grumpy old woman called Aunty Acid. She has 10.5 million followers worldwide. Please have a look at the website at www.auntyacid.com. Describe your home. I moved here two years ago and remodelled it to my style. I was completely smitten with how beautiful

the area is and knew that this was where I wanted to set up home. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so peaceful here and I love the fact that I am close enough to major motorways as I do a lot of travelling both regionally and internationally. How did you hear about Alexander James? I wanted some beautiful bifold doors. I researched online and found the Alexander James Bifolds website. I liked the look of it. It looked very professional and gave me the confidence to give the company a call. Did you get quotes from other companies? I believe in doing my research so I did contact one other company but came back to Alexander James. What made you choose to work with Alexander James? They came across very professional, 82

both on the phone and when their representative, Andrew, initially came out to talk about their products and service before and after installation. What work did Alexander James carry out for you? They installed a set of beautiful bi-folding doors with four doors which open onto the garden. How did you find the workmen? The Alexander James team were excellent - very personable and professional. They made me feel confident that they would do a good job and, if there were any problems, they would certainly sort it out. Are you happy with the finished product? Very happy - so much so I have asked Alexander James to quote to replace the existing set of French doors to mimic the bifold doors that they have completed.

What difference have the doors made to the way you live? I already had PVC bi folding doors which were a substandard product and not fit for purpose. After talking with Andrew from Alexander James, and going with his advice to choose their aluminium product, I couldn’t be happier. The doors are not only a better quality product but, aesthetically, they are more pleasing - especially since I could almost choose any colour I wanted and, finally, the big plus - they actually work! Before I hardly bothered opening the PVC doors but now I use them all the time. I love to entertain. This is the perfect house for that. I have a large social network of friends and entertain regularly. Would you be happy to recommend Alexander James to others? Absolutely. I would have no hesitation in recommending them.

“The Alexander James team were excellent, very personable and professional.” 83

Alexander James Unit 3A Ashmount Business Park Upper Forest Way, Swansea SA6 8QR 01792 794 549 www.alexanderjamesbifold.co.uk

Emma Cull, lives in North Cornelly near the beautiful Kenfig Hill Nature Reserve and, in our opinion, has a real talent for interior design, so when she wanted some new furniture, only bespoke would do, and that meant a call to Jack & Rose.

INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED A ND LOVINGLY CREATED

How did you hear about Jack and Rose? I was introduced to Dave from Jack & Rose through Julie Hughes of Interiors, Bridgend who has supplied our handmade curtains.

Jack and Rose made me exactly what I required, and to the size I required, to fit into my home. The wide choice of fabrics was also a massive positive; the only hard bit was to actually choose as there is so much choice.

What made you want to work with them? What I loved about the service Jack and Rose provided was to have the bespoke touch of the furniture, which I just couldn’t get in any of the other furniture shops. Dave from Jack and Rose gave us such a high standard of service. If I was unsure of something, Dave would bring the piece of furniture to our home allowing us to see how it would look before he went to the next stage of upholstering, which always gave us great reassurance.

What work did Jack and Rose carry out for you? My first purchase from Jack & Rose was a two seater settee to fit in our kitchen living area. From seeing the high quality of that piece of furniture, we ordered two Chesterfield style settees as part of a scheme that I was working on with Julie from interiors, who works closely with Dave. Then I bought a French bed for my little girl’s bedroom which needed some work so Jack and rose stripped, painted and re upholstered it it’s beautiful. 84

They also supplied the wallpaper to match the bed for our little girl’s bedroom. We then extended our kitchen so needed a bigger settee, so asked Dave to come and advise us on what we could have. From there we purchased two armchairs and another settee, which is very comfortable, with great child proof fabric and also looks good. We have also purchased a super king size bed, dining chairs, and had more furniture re-upholstered. Did you have your own ideas or did you work with an interior designer? Yes, I did have my own ideas of what I wanted and how I wanted the furniture to look like, but I did also get some ideas from the internet and Jack and Rose’s show room was a big help.

“Dave from Jack and Rose gave us such a high standard of service.”

Owner, David Waters talks a little about the history of Jack and Rose... How long has Jack and Rose been established? Jack and Rose was started by the Rowe company in 1995, supplying House of Fraser, the Rowe company had been manufacturing carpets since 1934. Jack and Rose was set up to complement this side of the business. Who are the owners of the business? We have been making the Jack and Rose furniture for the Rowe Company since 2011 and, in 2014, I acquired the brand and specialised in bespoke furniture, supplying interior designers and private clients. I am third generation in the upholstery business.

Are you happy with the end product? Definitely! We’ve been very happy with every purchase from Jack & Rose; the furniture standards are set very high and have been everything I imagined and more.

after seeing and sitting on the furniture they have made for us. Dave is friendly, professional and very helpful - Jack and Rose have met all our expectations.

How long did the process take? I do take a long time to make my mind up, but as soon as I decided on what I wanted, the furniture making was around six to eight weeks.

What services do you offer? We offer a fully tailored service for both individual private clients and interior designers; any size, any shape, any material; if it involves upholstery, we can create it. For sofas, chairs and beds, we can take a drawing or a photo and create almost anything. Who would you like to work for? We would love to expand our commercial profile. We enjoy collaborating with designers when they are creating a hotel scheme or working with individual boutique hotels in creating a one-off statement piece to set a style.

Jack & Rose Banthorpe House, Crosby Yard Bridgend CF31 1JZ 01656 768844

Would you be happy to recommend Jack and Rose to friends and colleagues? Yes we’d highly recommend Jack and Rose to friends, and anyone else looking for that something special. My sister and brother have since purchased furniture from Jack and Rose

info@jackandrose.co.uk www.jackandrose.co.uk Like on Facebook, Follow on Twitter 85

DAVI D E DWA R D S JEWELLERS

One of a kind. “ I ’ m d e l i g hted to offer for sale this be a utif ul A r t D e c o Style D iam ond R ing . Colour G, VVS2 2 . 4 5 c t surrounded by approxima te ly 1c t of b r i l l i a n t cut diamonds. O ne car e f ul owne r.” NEW, THIS GORGEOUS RI NG W OULD BE £ 3 5 , 0 0 0 PRE-OWNED PRI CE, AVAI LABLE FROM U S AT JU S T £ 2 5 , 0 0 0 Jack Cohen - Managing Director

Simply Perfect 2 3 - 2 5 R O YA L A R C A D E , C A R D I F F C F 1 0 1 A E

029 2064 1939

W W W. D AV I D E D WA R D S J E W E L L E R S . C O . U K

WALESWIDE

Heart screening programme for young people in Wales A leading heart charity in Wales has secured the future of heart screening for young people through-out Wales thanks to a new partnership with a cardiac diagnostic team based at Swansea University. Welsh Hearts Cymru, the charity which provides the public access defibrillators and CPR training across Wales, has partnered with Cardiac Health Diagnostics to launch the new programme which is open to young people aged between 12 -35. The Screening Young Welsh Hearts Service aims to raise awareness of undiagnosed heart conditions in children and young people by providing easily accessible screening services to communities in Wales.

suddenly from a previously undetected heart problem. The new initiative will screen around 150 young people per session at college or school locations through-out Wales using non-invasive ECG or echocardiogram tests.

Ian Gough, former Wales and Ospreys international rugby star and Patron of Welsh Hearts Cymru, is also putting his weight behind the initiative to help raise awareness amongst young people. According to the charity each week in the UK around 12 young people die

The screening programme is directed by Professor Michael Lewis, Professor of Cardiovascular Diagnostic Technology at Swansea University and Director at Cardiac Health Diagnostics. For more Hearts Screening dates and locations visit: www.welshhearts.org/screenings

In partnership with

www.chd.clinic

Registered charity number 1154109

HEART SCREENING WALES Hundreds die each year from an undiagnosed heart condition. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take the chance! Book a heart screening today for ages 12-35 at welshhearts.org/screenings

se Plea to e t a don more fund ning e scre

Go to welshhearts.org/screenings Email screenings@welshhearts.org WelshHearts 029 2064 7735 87

In the world of business, change is happening at such a pace that business owners may be tempted to look for guidance from the stars! However, if you really want to see what’s in the future, instead of star gazing, just look a little closer to home - to the Cloud. Janet Ballard of Lewis Ballard Accountants is a big fan.

A HEAD IN THE CLOUD Cloud accounting has been gaining fans for several years, which isn’t surprising as it really fits seamlessly into our growing need for instant and accessible information. We now remotely access our emails, social media and bank accounts throughout the day, so doesn’t it make sense to also access up to date information on our business performance as and when we need it too?

So what is Cloud Accounting and why all the fuss? The Cloud is a secure platform that makes data and software accessible online anytime, anywhere, from any device. Your hard drive is no longer the central hub and, unlike traditional accounting software, you are not tied to a single office or desk. For a simple example of Cloud technology, just think about when you use internet banking. Every time you access this data, you’re using the Cloud.

As with everything new it’s natural to be cautious, but it’s one of the most secure ways to store information as no data exists locally - it’s all online, protected by powerful encryption. You don’t risk a lost laptop or memory stick messing up your plans or putting your confidential information in jeopardy, instead it’s safe, secure and available as and when you need it.

At Lewis Ballard Accountants, we passionately believe Cloud Accounting is the future for any business aiming to grow and prosper. So, as well as training our team on most Cloud Accounting systems, we have teamed up with market leader XERO to become Gold members, giving our clients access to not only what we consider the best software available, but also the best advice and support.

How does this help businesses? Well if you want your business to work smarter and faster, Cloud Accounting is the way to go. It will give you a better overview of your finances and, more importantly, the information you need to make those timely decisions that keep you ahead of your competitors.

You no longer need to rush back to the office for important information, instead you access it by laptop, tablet or smartphone anywhere. And why stop there? You’ll soon find yourself raising invoices and chasing payment whilst grabbing a coffee! No need to spend hours typing in bank transactions, instead they automatically upload through a secure bank feed and why not upload your receipts as you shop too?

“The Cloud is a secure platform that makes data and software accessible online anytime.” 88

“At Lewis Ballard Accountants, we passionately believe Cloud Accounting is the future for any business aiming to grow and prosper.”

“The future isn’t in the stars… it’s in the Cloud!” You won’t have to visit your accountant’s office when considering borrowing money or an expensive purchase, only to wait anxiously for weeks while they work through your papers to give you answers. Instead you can both log in simultaneously and talk through your figures in real-time. Even from opposite sides of the world!

Once you use it you will soon see having your head in The Cloud is for serious business and not just day dreamers.

You accountant can regularly review your figures to eliminate bookkeeping problems and identify trends, so you can react swiftly to any downturns or pounce as opportunities arise. Or even to give you a simple pat on the back for doing so well. Lewis Ballard Celtic House, Caxton Place, Pentwyn Cardiff CF23 8HA 029 2073 5502 info@lewisballard.co.uk www.lewisballard.co.uk

One final consideration… With the looming HMRC digital regime in 2018, you will have to submit digital accounts and tax information quarterly and pay any tax each time. Your accountant can log in, make expert adjustments and ensure you avoid costly errors, saving you unnecessary tax.

Follow on Twitter and Google+ 89

When we launched Vale Life back in the summer of 2007, we didn’t dare to dream that several years later our small but perfectly formed little publishing business would be employing sales-people, writers and designers across south Wales. Our latest project, Wye Life magazine, is one year old this issue.

GET MORE OUT T H E VA L E O F G L A M O RG A N

Vale Life magazine The Vogue of The Vale

Vale Life is distributed right across Wales’ most southerly county including Barry, Cowbridge, Penarth, Porthcawl, Talbot Green, Pontyclun, Llantrisant and many of the Vale’s smaller villages.

VALE L IFE SPRIN G 2016

P R O U D

t he vale

T O

B E

PRICELESS

I N D E P E N D E N T

g laMORgan ’s p ReMieR l ifestyle M agazine

Vale Life has a new responsive website www.valelifemag.co.uk

“ We’re a Welsh family-run publisher. At least 95% of our revenue is reinvested in the Welsh economy and we’re passionate about the shop-local ethos.” VA L E L I F E S TAT I S T I C S E S T I M AT E D R E A D E R S H I P

Over 35,000 FACEBOOK LIKES www.facebook.com/valelife

4,700 T WITTER FOLLOWERS @ValeLife #ValeLife

12,500

Fantasy A ROUND UP OF OUR FAVOURITE INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES FASHION, FOOD, WELLBEING, HAIR & BEAUTY & MUCH MORE

RestauRant Reviews what’s On, Business, shOpping

theRe’s

MORe Online

www.valelife.co.uk

After creating Superman inspired jewellery and an unbreakable wedding ring for Laurence Fishburne, Cardiff jewellery designer Neil Rayment really is flying high.

STAR STRUCK What better way to commemorate the cinematic release of Man Of Steel than with a stunning jewellery creation inspired by Superman himself? As a fan of the superhero and friend of the film’s star Laurence Fishburne, award-winning goldsmith Neil Rayment wanted to create an out of the ordinary tribute in the shape of Kal-El’s Crystal - an homage to Superman’s birthplace, a timeless classic, expertly crafted in platinum and diamonds. “I was looking for something spectacular, I’m a huge fan of Superman and the franchise featured heavily in my childhood,” says Neil, owner and artistic director at Advanced Jewel Craft. “What better place to seek inspiration than the birth place of Superman?” Advanced Jewel Craft attracts clientele as sparkling as its bespoke pieces. The iconic brand has slowly blossomed since its inception in 2004 and is now a firm favourite amongst A-listers from LA to Abu Dhabi. Oscar-nominated actor Laurence Fishburne is one of Neil’s most prestigious clients. The pair met when Neil briefly switched jewellerymaking for acting and appeared alongside him in The Matrix sequels. Neil was honoured to be tasked with designing and creating Laurence and his wife Gina Torres’ wedding rings.

VA L E L I F E I N TE RV I E W

One of Hollywood’s real diamonds Laurence kindly took time out of his busy schedule to explain more about his experience of working with Neil. How did your friendship with Neil come about? We worked on The Matrix sequels together. We became friends on set and then I found out that Neil’s passion was for jewellery design. Have you kept in touch? Have you been over to Wales to visit him? Yes we’ve kept up with each other but still have not made it to Wales I’m sorry to say. I’ve heard that it’s a very beautiful country.

W E B S I T E S TAT I S T I C S Unique visitors

10,690 Unique page views

13,952

plus aRt, Music, style health, hOMes and Much MORe

Neil designed and made your wedding rings. That’s a high pressure assignment - how was he to work with? He was terrific. The basic design was worked out between Neil and my wife. We’re delighted with the result. Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind the design? Gina wanted something that would be unbreakable for me. I’m a would-be drummer, so I’m always beating things to hell. The platinum band and three diamonds are all a reflection of my personality and style. How involved were you in the design process? I’m very creative but I really felt it was best to trust both Neil and Gina on this one. It was our first custom jewellery experience. Neil often takes inspiration from films. If you could challenge Neil to design jewellery based on one of your previous films, which would it be? Probably King Of New York. I think that would be an interesting challenge for Neil but one I’m confident he could rise to. Created in his Cardiff Bay studio, Advanced Jewel Craft’s pieces are beautiful and exclusive. Neil adopts a personal approach, forging firm relationships with his customers. And while he works with A-list clients, his feet are firmly on the ground. “Jewellery is something that needs personal attention,” Neil says. “You can get entangled in the glamour, the parties, the shows, but the most rewarding thing is to see someone wearing one of my pieces and the pleasure it brings.”

Advanced Jewel Craft 103 Bute Street, Cardiff CF10 5AD 029 2132 8114 www.advancedjc.com

❧ 14 ❧

Vale Life reaches my target audience. I rarely advertise in any other publication these days. Russell Scott-Lawson Owner, Hawkes

VA L E O F U S K & W Y E VA L L E Y

W Y E L I F E S TAT I S T I C S

Wye Life magazine Our latest creation

E S T I M AT E D R E A D E R S H I P

Wye Life magazine is our new baby. The launch issue and event at Lemore Manor was a great success and we’re delighted to be following that up with an even better second edition.

Over 35,000 FACEBOOK LIKES

www.facebook.com/wyelife The Brogue Trader, in Morgan Arcade, stocks a 4,750 footwear from range of fine gifts and gentleman’s eight British manufacturersT W(fiI Tve hold a Royal Wye Life magazine will cover Chepstow, TER FOLLOWERS Newport, Monmouth, Ledbury, Ross-on@WyeLife Warrant). Owner, Chris Macnamara, is passionate Wye, Tintern, Abergavenny, Caerleon, Usk, 4,200 about gentleman’s shoes but, more than that, he’s Hereford, Hay-on-Wye and surrounding areas. To advertise passionate about British made gentleman’s To advertise pleaseshoes. call please contact Chris Howell.

BEST OF BRITISH O F LIFE C L chris@goodlifepublishing.co.uk

Chris on 07837 940639

CARDIFF

ITY IFE SPRIN G 2016

City Life magazine Reflecting Cardiff life

P R O U D

City Life is the City Of Cardiff’s premier lifestyle magazine.

Th e C i T y

T O

B E

PRICELESS

I N D E P E N D E N T

C a r d i f f ’s P r e m i e r L i f e s T y L e m a g a z i n e

City Life is distributed right across Wales’ capital city covering Rhiwbina, Whitchurch, Canton, Roath, Llandaff, Radyr, Llanishen, Cyncoed, Pentwyn, Llanederyn, Fairwater, St Mellons, Grangetown, and Cardiff Bay.

“ Good Life Publishing provides businesses with an integrated marketing facility that seamlessly combines social media and tried and trusted print advertising.”

Delicious! WE INTERVIEW NICK COLLINS OF THE PICKLED RADISH, LLANDAFF BOUTIQUES, SALONS, INTERIORS, CARS, SPORTS & MORE

resTauranT reviews whaT’s on , Business, shoPPing

There ’s

more onLine

citylifecardiff . co . uk

PLus a rT , m usiC , s TyLe heaLTh, C omPeTiTions and more

C I T Y L I F E S TAT I S T I C S

The Brogue Trader has been open E S T than I M A TaEyear D R Eand ADE R S H I Pis less already gaining a reputation around the UK for its selection of very best of British gentleman’s footwear. Read F A Ctestimonials E B O O K L I Kon E SThe Brogue the www.facebook.com/citylifecardiff Trader website and the comments from its 2,000 plus fans on Facebook and you’ll soon realise that this is not simply down to the quality T Wthe I T Tshoes, E R F Obut L L Othe W Eexceptional RS of @CityLifeCardiff #CityLifeCardiff service delivered daily by Chris and The Brogue Trader team.

England since 1886. Their shoes are still hand-crafted entirely in their original factory - from the cutting out of the leather, through stitching to final polishing.

Owner, Chris Macnamara, has W E B S I T Echosen S T A T Ieach S T I Cbrand S personally he sells. Unique visitors “I love shoes!”, exclaims Chris. “It gives me immense pleasure to wear a fine pair of shoes but when a customer Unique The pageBrogue views Trader feeling great leaves about their new pair of shoes, I couldn’t be happier. I can see the difference it makes to their lives.”

Chris says, ”At the Brogue Trader we understand that, for a true Gentlemen, well-fitting, long-lasting shoes makes a real statement. It’s like a mark of refinement and a statement of personal pride in one’s appearance. A handmade pair of quality shoes goes beyond mere apparel, they are the creation of a master craftsman, 91 expressing the social standing of the wearer whilst

Over 35,000 7,000

18,000 25,360 44,217

Their Classic range includes timeless oxfords and brogue shoes, in both black and beautiful, hand burnished brown. Their Country and Leisure range includes shoes, loafers and boots with a choice of leather and rubber soles. This is the pinnacle of English craftsmanship.

After considering various local magazines to market the business in I decided to place an ad in both Vale and City Life to promote our wares, the only thing I can say is ‘WOW’. The response I’ve had from both publications has been staggering, literally staggering and now both publications are a permanent marketing expense within our strategy. If you haven’t tried it, you must! Chris Macnamara MD The Brogue Trader When it comes to price, versatility and finish, no other material can match it, which might explain why, for windows, doors and conservatories, aluminium is fast becoming the material of choice for the seriously savvy.

The UK may not be the manufacturing powerhouse it used to be but we still make shoes of exceptional quality. And yes, you pay a little more, but shoes of this quality (if you look after them) can last a lifetime. And you can’t say that about a lot of products these days.

THE LIGHT

FANTASTIC Vellacine have been manufacturing aluminium double glazing windows and conservatories in South Wales since 1978. We spoke to Managing Director, Mark Nayler about the resurgence of aluminium for windows and conservatories.

Vellacine has a solid reputation for supplying uPVC products. Why are you promoting aluminium? Aluminium went out of fashion simply because of problems with heat transfer between glass and frame. However, technological advances over the last ten years have meant that aluminium’s benefits of lightness and strength are making a serious comeback among consumers. We’re definitely noticing more enquiries, with customers asking us to cost a project alongside uPVC.

What are the benefits of aluminium? A warmer house, lower energy bills and less outside noise are just some of the benefits that our aluminium windows bring to the table. Increased security is important to customers. Our superstrong aluminium windows and superior locks help customers feel safer in their homes.

“The materials that we use are environmentally friendly, robust and durable. Our aluminium windows last for years without maintenance.”

Is aluminium eco-friendly? The materials that we use are environmentally friendly, robust and durable. Our aluminium windows last for years without maintenance.

What about colour? Our aluminium products can be custom-made for each property and come in almost any colour or style. They look great and our designs are highly attractive and certainly improve the look and value of a home. In addition to manufacturing aluminium products of the highest standard, we pride ourselves on the high standard of service we offer. Vellacine customers return to us time after time and most of our work is generated through word of mouth recommendation. We’re extremely proud of that. Why should customers buy aluminium windows and conservatories from Vellacine? They’ll be dealing with a financially strong, well established and highly regarded local company. Vellacine has been around a long time and we provide a fully comprehensive ten year guarantee with all our aluminium windows. As well as a full installation service, Vellacine offer an aluminium window replacement and repair service should any existing aluminium windows be damaged, show misting or just simply need a facelift.

The Brogue Trader 27a Morgan Arcade Cardiff CF10 1AF

❧ 35 ❧

Vellacine Limited The Window and Conservatory Centre Hadfield Road Leckwith, Cardiff CF11 8AQ 029 2022 8578 enquiries@vellacine.com www.vellacine.com

Welcome to Wye Life Magazine’s Social Life section, a veritable who’s who in and around Monmouthshire and Herefordshire.

SOCIAL L IFE A B E R G AV E N N Y

The Courtyard Cupboard exhibition

To celebrate the Eisteddfod, we will be having an exhibition ‘Of Wales’ with work from members of the gallery. During the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru week, we will have extended opening hours from 10.30am - 7pm. Please come along and see this wonderful hidden gem at the foot of the Skirrid Mountain and just two miles north of Abergavenny.

See full feature on pages 62 - 63 www.courtcupboardgallery.co.uk ROSS

Courtesy of Caz Holbrook Photography

Made In Ross first anniversary Made in Ross is a co-operative of local arts and crafts producers living within 20 miles of Ross-on-Wye. We are based in the Market House in the centre of Ross where we display and sell a wide range of affordable arts and crafts. We are open seven days a week from 10 – 4 pm. For more information and details of upcoming exhibitions and events please see our website:

www.madeinross.co uk 92

USK

Llangview Lodge opens its doors Bev, Roland and Holly offer a warm welcome to their family run pub with rooms and restaurant, situated just outside Usk in the heart of the Monmouthshire countryside. The Lodge is on the former Ratrap premises and has been totally refurbished creating a peaceful haven for all of their guests. An opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of every day life and offering good hearty food with a well stocked bar www.llangeviewlodge.co.uk A B E R G AV E N N Y

Becky James on her bike to Rio Ex World Cyclist Champion Abergavenny local Becky James has been selected to represent Team GB in the Keirin at the Rio Olympic Games in August. Despite a serious knee injury and a cancer scare, Becky has made a successful comeback having won a bronze medal in the recent World Championships in London. We wish her every success and a medal would be a huge achievement. Find out more at www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/ bio/Becky_James HEREFORD

Hereford FC win triple What a season for Hereford FC winning the treble on their very first season and a trip to Wembley as runners-up in the FA Vase final. They won the Midlands League Division1, the HFA Challenge Cup and the Midland League Cup. A remarkable season which saw crowds over 4,250 and manager Pete Beadle form a side that will surely be challenging for honours this season. Season tickets are now on sale. Can they repeat their success again?

Season tickets are now on sale www.herefordfc.co.uk 93

MONMOUTH

Courtesy of Elle Bright Photography

Envee fashion show In celebration of 10 years in business Envee of Monmouth hosted a gorgeous social evening and fashion show at Monmouth’s Priory. Attended by over 100 guests the event and fashion show highlighted Envee’s high summer 2016 collections, modelled by local women who put on an elegant and professional show. Guests were treated to canapes and a charity bar as well as bespoke gift bags.

All proceeds of the event will be donated to St David’s Hospice www.envee.co.uk PENGETHLEY

Brooks Pengethley Manor Hotel opening Brooks Country House (formerly Pengethley Manor) open it’s doors for business on July 1st. The restaurant is open to non-residents for dinner and Sunday lunch. They look forward to offering you a warm welcome. Look out for their outdoor swimming pool, opening in August.

For full details see feature on pages 48 - 49 www.brookscountryhouse.com USK

Copper Tree opens new boutique On June 1st Claire Strong opened her new premises in Bridge Street, Usk, moving into their new boutique next door to Bridal Lane. The new venture sees Copper Tree now across three floors and being able to offer an extensive range of mother of the bride and groom ensembles, wedding guest outfits, occasion wear and a selection of smart/casual. So if you need to be inspired for your Autumn wardrobe why not pop along and see the new hot styles for the season. www.thecoppertree.co.uk 94

S TAU N T O N

Oakchurch charity Fashion Show We at Oakchurch thought it important to do something that would help aid Motor Neurone Disease Charity. This charity is close to Oakchurch’s heart due to a friend of the family losing his battle to this disease. During May we decided to host a fashion show selling tickets to raise money, offering a selection of amazing canapés and wine. It was an incredible evening with fun, laughter and a wonderful array of clothes and models. We raised £1,550 for the charity and the next Charity fashion show will be on Monday 3rd October at 7pm. www.oakchurch.net HEREFORD

Wye Valley Brewery 1985 lager launched Casting an eye around Wye Valley Brewery in rural Herefordshire, it is hard to imagine how far and how quickly this family-run business has progressed from humble beginnings to leading regional brewer. Casting an eye around Wye Valley Brewery in rural Herefordshire, it is hard to imagine how far and how quickly this family-run business has progressed from humble beginnings to leading regional brewer. In addition to its much loved core range of real ales that include the ever popular HPA and Butty Bach, an exciting departure for the brewery is the launch

of their lager 1985. As with all Wye Valley Brewery products, 1985 is traditionally made using only the finest ingredients. 1985 was officially launched on the 9th of June – the event was attended by friends of the brewery and members of the local press. 1985 is now available in pubs near you. For more information visit: www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk

BRECON

Hours Cafe lunchtime royal harpist recital On Thursday June 16th, The Hours were thrilled to host Anne Denholm official harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales for a free lunchtime recital. The event, organised by Live Music Wales, marked the start of the 2016 Gregynog Festival – Wales’ oldest extant classical music festival – the theme of which this year was ‘Eire’ celebrating the cultural connections between Wales and Ireland. The rapt audience were treated to over an hour of beautiful music, including the Carrickfergus lament which had several of our Celtic cousins close to tears. www.the-hours.co.uk 95

BLAISDON

Blaisdon House AA nomination What a lovely surprise for Chris & Sue Light of Blaisdon House, as the AA nominated them for the friendliest B&B of the year 2016 - 2017. They were invited to the award ceremony in London and finished runners-up from over 2,000 B&B’s. They have totally refurbished Blaisdon House, offering a 3 bedroom B&B; situated in the heart of the beautiful village of Blaisdon.

See full feature on pages 30 & 31 www.blaisdonhouse.com USK

The Chainbridge Inn launches Executive Head Chef, Charles Rouse, who has previously worked under Michael Caines and Heston Blumenthal has taken over as owner of The Chainbridge Inn on the outskirts of Usk. Offering amazing lunches by day and a gastro menu by night. Our advice is to book ahead, especially if you want to enjoy a Sunday lunch on the banks of the river Usk.

Booking in advance is strongly advised www.chainbridgeusk.co.uk LEDBURY

Trumpet charity event Our recent fundraiser being the “Big Tea” in aid of St Michael’s Hospice included tea tasting, tea cocktails and strawberries and cream on a lovely summer’s afternoon. Every penny from the Big Tea parties goes straight into caring for the thousands of people each year in Herefordshire and the surrounding counties who benefit from St Michael’s Hospice services.

Please see front cover and pages 50 & 51 www.trumpetcorner.co.uk 96

MAGOR

Grazia cafe-bar opening Newly opened, family run Italian cafe-bar situated in Magor Square, open for breakfast, lunch and early evening supper. Gianni and Abbie Zanotti invite you to join them in their new venture. Book your table on 01633 881817 or just pop in.

The brand new Italian cafe-bar now open in Magor Find us on Facebook ROSS

Glewstone Court sparkling & sweet wine dinner Friday 12th August Join us for the perfect Summer medley – a delicious 7 course menu created by our Head Chef Vicky Lyons, each dish will be paired with a sparkling or sweet wine by Rupert Birch from Nothing But The Grape. Rupert has spent 10 years building up his own organic vineyard in the South of France. From tilling the soil, to making the wines and to selling them to all the local Michelin starred restaurants, there is little he has not learned about growing, making and selling wines. Vicky is preparing a delicious menu with the highlights including Wye Valley smoked salmon BRECON

MG Brecon launch of GS We had a successful launch event on the 1st and 2nd July Launching MG’s New addition to the family – The New MG GS.

Make this a date for your diary

crème brulee, honey glazed pork fillet and pistachio & white chocolate & raspberry chouxbun. Price is £70 per person for Dinner & Wine Pairings, or £40 Dinner only. To book contact 01989 770367 or visit our website: www.glewstonecourt.com

To book your test drive today call 01874 611721

Starting at just £14,995 - With 5 Years Warranty, The MG GS with its dynamic and sporty looks is inspired by the diversity of a modern family, its an SUV that stands up to the challenges of every aspect of your weekly routine. Family fun and affordability don’t often go hand in hand, but with the MG GS that’s exactly what you get. www.breconmotors.co.uk 97

Quails is a family business designing and making bespoke furniture to order. From initial design through to installation we undertake every step of the manufacturing process, producing award winning furniture in our own workshop in Wales. We work with clients to create beautiful commissions for both private and corporate projects throughout Greta Britain and Europe. We bring to the table a wealth of design ideas, know-how and craftsmanship. However, the greatest influence in our design for your kitchen is you, the Client. Please get in touch and we would be delighted to discuss your requirements.

Quails Interiors UK Ltd Head Office 01633 271946 Showroom 01291 672799 2 Castle Parade, Usk NP15 1AA www.quailsinteriors.co.uk 99

ACCOMMODATION

•

BAR

•

RESTAURANT

“From the moment we arrived the host and the staff were brilliant.” - Trip Advisor

Newly opened pub / restaurant with rooms, fully refurbished in the heart of the Monmouthshire countryside near Usk. Offering good food in relaxed and comfortable surroundings with twelve en-suite bedrooms. Llangeview Lodge, Chepstow Road, Llangeview, Usk, NP15 1EY 01291 673338 www.llangeviewlodge.co.uk

THANK YOU Thanks for taking the time to read this edition of Wye Life magazine. Wye Life is the Vale Of Usk & Wye Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier lifestyle magazine. We print 10,000 copies of each edition and cut no corners on design, production and the quality of our print. Talking about printing, we source pretty much everything locally, and over 95% of Wye Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turnover is reinvested back into the community of South Wales. If you have a business and are interested in promoting your goods or services to an aspirational audience in the Vale Of Usk & Wye Valley then Wye Life is almost certainly right for you. Jennifer Hobbs-Roberts Editor jennifer@goodlifepublishing.co.uk

“Follow your heart, not your head.” Kevin Green, Wealth Coach www.kevingreen.com

P ROMOTING YOUR BUSINESS We value our advertisers. We appreciate the trust they place in us by promoting their businesses in our magazines. With our local partners, we currently publish a range of high quality quarterly titles across Wales. You can advertise your business from as little as £35 per season in this magazine. Pick-up-ability! Our magazines aren’t like other magazines. They have real pick-up appeal - in fact, they really do go like hot cakes. Quality comes first... along with the environment. We’re passionate about quality. The magazines are beautifully written and designed, and printed locally in South Wales on high quality paper (and no nasty varnishes or lamination we’re as green as green can be). Quality distribution to an affluent, aspirational audience... We distribute our magazines to over 1,000 carefully selected outlets across South Wales. We’d love to have your business on board. If you’d like to promote your business or service in our magazines, please get in touch, we’d love the opportunity to work with you.

OUR TITLES We proudly publish four Life-style magazines and one business to business title. Vale Life (our first magazine). This covers the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan - the most southerly county in Wales and deemed to be the most affluent. Vale Life was the first magazine we published. City Life The premier lifestyle magazine for Cardiff, Walesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; capital city. The magazine is delivered to all areas of Cardiff. Valleys Life At the heart of the South Wales Valleys. From the Neath Valley in the West to Blaenau Gwent and Pontypool in the East. West Life Covering Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and coastal Ceredigion, West Life is in touch with the relaxed lifestyle of this very special part of Wales. In Business Walesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; premier magazine for people in business. This is the kind of publication people in business want to read; interesting, inspirational and aspirational.

WHAT A DVERTISERS SAY We proudly publish four Life-style magazines and one business to business title. “The best advertising we’ve ever done!” Andy Bradshaw, Partner, Hamptons, Penarth. “Honestly, the best response I’ve ever had.” Matt Mullooly, Owner, Northern Star, Penarth. “At last, advertising that really delivers.” Ann Bryl, Owner, Bryl’s Boutique, Barry. “A truly astonishing response.” Russell Scott-Lawson, Owner, Hawkes, Cardiff. “The experience I have had with this magazine has restored my faith in advertising. Gauci Organic Candles is a small business with an equally small advertising budget. We have to make every pound count and that’s what we get with Vale Life, City Life and Valleys Life. It’s refreshing to find a magazine that really understands my business. They are never short of ideas. I recommend them whenever I can.” Spiro Gauci, Owner, Gauci Organic Candles, Cardiff www.gaucicandles.co.uk “These are beautiful publications. We love working with people who are passionate about what they do.” Spiro Borg, Spiros Caterers, www.spiros.co.uk We’d love the opportunity to show you what a truly effective campaign in our publications can achieve.

passion passion is bespoke bespoke catering catering for for conferences, confferences, “ Our eevents, vents, lo location cation cat catering, ering, yyour our b business usiness b buffets ufffets o orr our C Chef hef at H Home ome se service. rvice. W Wee lo love ve tto o mak makee yyour our occasion o ccasion ttruly ruly me memorable. morable.

”

St P Peters eters H Hall, all, St Peters Peters Street, Street, Cardiff Cardifff CF24 3BA T el: 029 2049 4425 • www.spiros.co.uk www w..spiros.co.uk • info@spiros.co.uk inffo o@sp os.co.uk o@spir Tel: Find us o on nF Facebook acebook @SPIROSCATERERS @SP IROSCA AT TE TERERS