Summer Issue 2019

The Social Influencer

Issue X SUMMER 19 Your Free Copy £3.75 where sold

Book a showround today with our events team, call 0 1 4 8 0 4 5 3 3 7 3 or visit t h e j o c k e y c l u b . c o . u k / h u n t i n g d o n

HUNTINGDON RACECOURSE CONFERENCE & EVENTS

It’s not just about fantastic horseracing – we also have a fabulous Conference & Events Centre Our extensive facilities offer the flexibility to cater for Conferences, Meetings, Exhibitions, Weddings and Parties.

We offer a multitude of indoor and outdoor events across our 175 acre site.

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letter

WELCOME

Summer time and the living is easy Summer is here, and the thoughts of hot summer days and holidays come to mind. This Summer issue is our 10th, yes, we made it to double figures, break out the Champagne.

We also spent a fabulous day at Huntingdon Racecourse where we were the Style Award Sponsors for their Ladies’ Evening, catch up on the event on pages 67-70.

We had a fabulous spring, and in this summer issue we have collected some great information from local businesses around our distribution areas. We have Bat and Bottle giving us some fabulous advice and their top summer wine tips.

Our YouTube channel @gravitasmagazine is filling with our latest videos; we have now launched {Gravitas Peeks} and {Gravitas Celebrates} as well and thanks to Reckless Abandon Media, our subscribers are growing every day.

On the holiday front, we show you some fantastic places to ‘staycate’ in the local areas. We entice you with a review of Lavender Cottage, in the pretty village of Thornham, courtesy of Barefoot Retreats - page 25-27.

We talk to the Rare Breed Chef, and share several of his recipes with you, and in our business pages there is a very interesting interview with young entrepreneur, illustrator Katie Cardew.

Cover

I can’t believe that while you are reading this fantastic issue, my team will be planning the Autumn magazine, where does the year go?

Have a fantastic summer, and we will see you again in October!

The Gravitas Team

Model - Becky Louise Fowler Hair – Pkai Hair Make Up – Bellamie Sunglasses – Maui Jims - Titanium frame with polarised pink mirror lenses. From £289 The Oculist, Westgate Arcade, Peterborough Photography – Kai Wan

@gravitas_mag @gravitas_magazine Gravitas magazine

Abigail Richardson Editor Gravitas Magazine abi@gravitasmagazine.co.uk

Dee Kennedy Publisher Gravitas Magazine 07917 114341 dee@gravitasmagazine.co.uk

Amanda Cooper Advertising Sales Manager amanda@gravitas-magazine.com

Each issue of Gravitas is brought to you with pleasure and sincerity by a dedicated team of local professionals. Do follow us on our social media platforms and subscribe to our YouTube Channel, for updates and details on local news and events

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Contents

Below is the reason that Gravitas reads and looks so fabulous…

Dee Kennedy – Publisher

06-08 Entrées

A little taster to start your read

09-21 Fashion

09-21

hue – brand design digital – Graphic Design

22–29 Health & Beauty

Lucy Dack – Photography

30–37 Escape

Alex Russo – Fitness Tim Barnes Clay – Motoring

38–39 Music

Ashely Todd – Home Coulter Elite – Business hue - brand design digital – Design

Tim Barnes Clay reviews the Lexus LC500 V8

44–53 Homestyle

Loveness – Health and Beauty

54–65 Taste Explosion

Huntingdon Racecourse

66–76 Down to Business

Interview with Katie Cardew and meet Coulter Elite Recruitment

Huntingdon Racecourse Ladies’ Evening - catch all the action from the event

82–Out and About

77-80

Jenni Penfold – Eco Salon

With special thanks to...

77–80 Gravitas Style Awards

54-65

Catherine Miller – Hair

Outdoor living feature and news from The Rug Studio

The Rare Breed Chef shares 3 recipes and some summer wine tips

44-53

Rachel Simpson – Home Tom Cockerill – Food

40–43 Driven

40-43

Editorial contributors

Barefoot Retreats’ review and summer staycations

Meet The Houndogs

30-37

Amanda Cooper – Advertising Sales Manager

Styling it out in the festival season

Superfoods, skin and hair care for summer

22-29

Abigail Richardson - Editor

What’s on in the local area over the summer period

Barefoot Retreats Bat and Bottle Katie Cardew The Houndogs and Pure Artists Sarpech Restaurant

Photo shoot It’s HorsomeBar, Kitchen and Stage - Backdrop The Houndogs (pureartists.co.uk) – Backdrop Funky Tents – Backdrop Paula Tennant – Makeup Number Three Eco Salon – Hair David Stephens – Stylist Lucy Dack – Photography Charley, Hannah, Gethin and Mitch – Models

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LET’S GET SOCIAL ... gravitasmagazine.co.uk

@gravitas_mag

Reckless Abandon Media – Videography

@gravitas_magazine

Oliver’s of Uppingham, Arch Label Agency – Outfits

Gravitas magazine

Sunglasses courtesy of The Oculist – theoculist.com

06 Entrées

Let’s get started

The latest news and updates from the Rutland, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire area…

Photography by James MacDonald

The place to see and be seen -

The Oculist Sunglass party The Oculist, an independent Lifestyle Opticians in Westgate Arcade, Peterborough has been changing faces since 2007.

Says Gerry Sondh, optometrist director, “Since 2007 we have been providing our customers with what we call the Oculist experience. The exact opposite of the stereotypical optician experience – friendly, professional, personal and… fun. This experience breeds trust and over time many of our customers have become friends”.

A year into the business saw the first Oculist Sunglass Party - now the bi-annual event which is eagerly anticipated with clients travelling from all over the country. Born out of the frustration of not being able to stock every pair of sunglasses manufactured by his suppliers, Gerry came up with the idea of hosting a party. Having been in the business for several years, he had a strong relationship with many of the sunglass ambassadors of the designer world and so convinced them that attending a party with live music, pink champagne and beer would be to their advantage. He was right! No mean feat

as, for each event, the store must be stripped back and all usual stock removed to make space for the 2000 plus pairs of sunglasses provided by the brand ambassadors such as Theo, Dior, Prada, Face-A-Face, Tom Ford et al.

In order to retain the party vibe, the event became bi-annual in year three. “I found I wasn’t enjoying myself anymore – the event had become more of a sales/promotional activity and even though it was hugely successful financially, I felt it had lost its relaxed atmosphere,” explained Gerry. Anyone who attended the Oculist 10th anniversary party at the Peterborough Museum will know that Gerry knows how to host a party!

With a zest for life and a commitment to his clients, there is no better place or person to find you those eye-catching pair shades. Watch this space for all upcoming events and exclusive promotions. theoculist.com

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PKAI HAIR Congratulations to Style Director Emma Melia and Senior Stylist Holly Thompson who have been selected to represent Pkai Hair at the Wella Professionals TrendVision Award 2019 UK & Ireland Final.

The competition started with hundreds of photographic entries, showcasing the competitors’ creative hairdressing skills. Emma and Holly then joined the shortlist of finalists who were selected to present their look at the TrendVision Award Regional Heats. Now Emma and Holly are among the 40 UK finalists and will go on to compete at the TrendVision Award UK & Ireland Final held on 30th September 2019 at The Roundhouse, Camden, London.

The winners of the two international categories (Colour Artist of the Year and Creative Artist of the Year) will then go on to the International TrendVision Award Creative Retreat, taking place in Seville, Spain, in 2020.

To book an appointment with Style Director Emma from Pkai Hair, Westgate call 01733 358825 Senior Stylist Holly from PKai Hampton call 01733 358835 or visit pkai.co.uk

It’s Horsome Bar, Kitchen and Stage Looking for something different for your wedding, party or event? A truly unique collection of traditionally built horse drawn wagons are now available to hire that will add timeless and theatrical quality to any occasion. It's Horsome is aimed at those who embrace all things imaginative.

The adaptability of the wagons mean they can be tailored to meet the exact requirements of the client. It's Horsome is creative in all aspects of its service from its backdrop to its food, drink and music. This adaptability is reflected in the food and drink menus available including an extensive rum and gin bar, cocktails, premium beers, quality wines and locally sourced ales and cider as well as British, Asian, Persian, Moroccan and Mediterranean dishes. Vegetarian and vegan menus are also available.

It's Horsome's stunning stage, called All The Worlds provides a perfect platform for a variety of entertainment from a kicking funk n soul band to stomping DJs and anything in between.

For further information email: itshorsome@outlook.com or call Matt Rey 07377652681

08 Entrées

Huntingdon Racecourse is on track for thrills

Huntingdon Racecourse is gearing up for its autumn and winter programme of visitor attractions which include fantastic horse racing, the annual Beer Festival, Winter Ladies’ Day and Boxing Day. October brings two midweek ‘Go Racing’ meetings – the Season Opener on Wednesday, 2nd October, and Tuesday 15th October. Adult tickets are £10 in advance, with restaurant options available too. During these midweek fixtures, which make up half of the racing calendar, everyone can enjoy the best that’s on offer at the racecourse for a very affordable cost – a third less than the regular admission price.

The annual Beer Festival raceday returns on Sunday, 3rd November, with live music from Ompah bands and a wide selection of fine ales from Cambridge’s Milton Brewery.

Go Racing Michaelmas Hurdle raceday is nine days later, before another big seasonal highlight, Winter Ladies’ Day on Saturday, 23rd November. The largest crowd of the year gathers at the racecourse for the finale to 2019 on Boxing Day. For all other fixtures check out the website.

While horse racing is number one at Huntingdon, there’s so much more to the racecourse than sport. It is a hub for conferences and events, Christmas parties and Weddings.

For further information log on to: thejockeyclub.uk/huntingdon or call 0844 579 3007.

Accompanied under 18s are free. Young adults, aged 18 to 24 years, can get half-price admission by registering at RacePass18to24.co.uk to receive a free RacePass membership card.

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Go Crazy

with Prints and Patterns As spring morphs into summer, beige continues to dominate but colour and pattern are also key.

The colour palette ranges from the pretty pastels to the bold, with orange and emerald green taking centre stage. This season also sees some very flattering styles with prints in abundance on shirts, tops, shorts and dresses as well as in the wide leg trouser.

Detail is all the rage with special attention to the sleeve.

Animal prints continue to be on trend along with the addition of tie-dye and paisley. Traditional prints like florals and butterflies are also in vogue. Pretty much anything goes and the more it is mixed and matched, the better!

Gone are the cycling short, as styles become looser this summer - with a more tailored effect. Pleats are back but this time they’re a lot more intricate. Tighter than before, the micro pleat provides maximum impact as it generates more movement to give a fluctuating silhouette.

For the men, there is a nod to the retro with wild 1980s style prints on T shirts and shirts. Strong, bright colours are also plentiful, as are subtler shades - blush pink, khaki, mint green, pale blue.

Our stylist David advises, “It’s quite nice to mix the new designs with what you already have, as the colours and patterns work well with denim and plain trousers/shorts, what men already have in their wardrobe. It’s a particularly nice story this year that can work for a man of any age, particularly if there is a bit of rebellion in him!”

Huge thanks to David for styling our Summer Festival Vibes Fashion Shoot held in Rutland. Visit David at his boutique, Oliver’s of Uppingham. David stocks many Danish brands in both menswear and womenswear including Casual Friday, Blend and British brand Bellfield for which the price point is very affordable.

Oliver’s of Uppingham 5 Queen Street, Uppingham LE15 9QR Tel: 01572 868530

10 Fashion Stirling silver Ram’s head necklace £90 Crossbody leather bag by Underwood and Tanner £85 Shirt by Casual Friday £45 T-shirt by Bellfield £18 Jean cut-offs by Blend £25

Sweatshirt by Casual Friday £50 Shorts by Casual Friday £50

Mitch wears

Gethin wears

Oliver Peoples Aviator with blue graduated photochromic lenses £282 from The Oculist

Orgreen pure Japanese titanium frame with solid grey tint £329 from The Oculist

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Clothes all from Oliver’s of Uppingham Stirling silver necklace by Chris Lewis £155 Belt by Coster Copenhagen £30 Leather wristlette by Hannson C openhagen £59 Top by Kaffe £50

Wicker Rucksack by Basket Basket £55 Beaded Choker £15

Shorts by Kaffe £40

Vest by Kaffe £40 Pinafore dress by Chalk £99

Charley wears

Hannah wears

Mykita black tortoiseshell acetate with stainless steel temples and solid grey tint. £389 from The Oculist

Tom Ford Ladies Aviator In rose gold with pink mirrored lenses £330 from The Oculist

12 Fashion

RAYBAN in pink acetate with silver graduated mirrored lenses £127 from The Oculist

Hannah wears Tassled necklaces by Nicola Hardy Designs from Oliver’s of Uppingham Sweater by Sandwich £90 from Oliver’s of Uppingham.

Marc Jacobs Gold Mini Skirt £50 – Arch Label Agency Jil Sander Fabric Zip Clutch £40 – Arch Label Agency

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Charley wears Dodo Barr white jumpsuit small £60 Arch Label Agency Yellow Moncler sunglasses £125 Arch Label Agency Boots – models own

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Fashion

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Charley wears T-shirt by Gucci £250 from Arch Label Agency Two necklaces from Nicola Hardy Designs from Oliver’s of Uppingham Trousers by Bohéme £120 from Oliver’s of Uppingham

Hannah wears Hat by Madaraff £30 from Oliver’s of Uppingham Chunky resin necklace, by Big Metal £50 from Oliver’s of Uppingham Leather crossbody/clutch bag £40 from Oliver’s of Uppingham Dress by Thought £55 from Oliver’s of Uppingham

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Fashion

Oliver Peoples Aviator with blue graduated photochromic lenses £282 from The Oculist

Mitch wears T-shirt by Blend £18 Sweatshirt by Casual Friday £40 Jeans by blend £65

Clothes all from Oliver’s of Uppingham

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Clothes all from Oliver’s of Uppingham Gethin wears Shirt by Bellfield £35 T-shirt by Casual Friday £35 Shorts by Blend £37

Mitch wears T-shirt by Blend £18 Sweatshirt by Casual Friday £40 Jeans by blend £65

Fashion

Gethin wears

Models - Hannah, Charley, Mitch and Gethin | Photography – Lucy Dack, lucydack.co.uk

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Sweatshirt by Casual Friday £50

Mitch wears Crossbody leather bag by Underwood and Tanner £85 Shirt by Casual Friday £45 T-shirt by Bellfield £18

Clothes all from

Oliver’s of Uppingham

Stockists: Arch Label Agency 43 St. Pauls St, Stamford, PE9 2BH 01780 764746 Oliver’s of Uppingham 5 Queen Street, Uppingham, LE15 9QR 01572 868530 The Oculist Opticians 24 Westgate Arcade, Queensgate Centre, Peterborough, PE1 1PY theoculist.com

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Made you look .

Made them stare.

Get used to people staring at your new frames... our amazing qualified staff will help find your perfect frames from an equally amazing selection of eyewear.

The Oculist is an INDEPENDENT lifestyle opticians in Westgate Arcade, Peterborough.

Don’t hide your eyes... frame them.

Call now and book an appointment 01733 555 621 www.theoculist.com 24 Westgate Arcade, Queensgate Centre, Peterborough, PE1 1PY

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Fashion

Behind the Scenes Special thanks to: It's Horsome Bar, Kitchen and Stage, (email: itshorsome@outlook.com), The Houndogs (pureartists.co.uk), Funky Tents (funky-tents.co.uk), Paula Tennant (paulatennant.co.uk), Reckless Abandon Media (recklessabandonmedia.co.uk), Number Three Eco Salon (numberthreeecosalon.com) and our stylist David from Oliver’s of Uppingham.

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Fashion

Location - Stamford | Photography – Adrian Dewey | Hair – p•kai | Make-up - Glitter & Glam

Relax and enjoy your Sensual Haven

www.lovenesslondon.com email:info@lovenesslondon.com @ Love n e s sLo n d o n

@ Love n e s sLo n d o n

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Relax and Enjoy your Sensual Haven with Loveness London

Loveness, creator and director of “Loveness London”, takes us through her bespoke well-being and sensual beauty brand.

The collection consists of natural scented candles, scented reed diffusers, scented natural bath salts and vegan body night oils. I was inspired to create the brand due to a traumatic ordeal I encountered when I was young.

My main purpose is to help people unleash their ‘sensual beauty’ through therapeutic treatments, using my brand to encourage self-love, adventure and pleasure.

The newest collection, “Classic Love” is bursting with the new season’s charm. It’s made of perfectly paired floral scents of lavender and English rose, expertly blended to help enhance your wellbeing through its deeply calming effects. It will help you de-stress, feel fresh and rejuvenate. The collection is perfect for use every day or more infrequently as a treat.

The Natural Candle, a luxurious, sensual candle for setting a calming and relaxing mood, is the perfect antidote for stress or for when you’re feeling tired. Light it on a cosy night in, whilst having a soak in the bath or practising yoga or meditation. The natural candle is blended with essential oils and beautifully fragranced with a divine blend of lavender and English rose notes.

The Classic Love Reed Diffuser is perfect for this summer season and creates an aroma that’s unique, fresh, relaxing and inviting. A luxurious, sensual and expertly blended lavender and English rose fragrance, it helps, unconsciously, to declutter your mind and make you feel happy and relaxed.

Use this reed diffuser in your room(s) of choice for a real burst of gorgeous fragrance.

The Natural Bath Salts are formulated using Dead Sea Salt (with its therapeutic benefits) to refresh the body and rejuvenate the senses. They restore your mind, body and skin by infusing your body with minerals. Scented and enhanced with beneficial therapeutic grade lavender and English rose, these salts not only calm the body and mind but also have detoxing properties.

The Night Body Oil offers relaxation, nourishes the skin - giving you a perfect glow and offers an aphrodisiac experience as well. It has been specially formulated to care for dry, stressed skin in need of extra nourishment. Created with the natural finest lavender and English rose and blended with the arousing almond oil, it has long been associated with sensual and erotic feelings. So, not only does it smell divine, but it is also rich in mythical aphrodisiac properties. Why not give it a try? info@lovenesslondon.com | www.lovenesslondon.com

24 Health & Beauty

Gorgeous Summer Hair Catherine Miller, owner of Millie & Co Hair and Beauty advises on how to keep those locks luscious this summer…

Summer is a happy and cheerful time of the year when we really can enjoy its beauty by spending time relaxing in the sunshine, but it can also bring a few challenges to our hair, for instance the sun, the chlorine, and the saltwater. Let’s not forget to mention sweat, in addition to heat damage from electrical styling tools used to blow dry and style, straighten and curl. The way we wash our hair is another very important factor - rubbing hair fibres into each other can cause a significant increase in split end formation and dryness.

Here are a few tips to help keep your hair healthy and happy for gorgeous Summer Hair: Always use a good moisturising conditioner or a hair masque after washing your hair. We recommend SERIE EXPERT SOLAR SUBLIME by L’OREAL PROFESSIONNEL AFTER -SUN NOURISHING MASQUE with UV filter, Aloe Vera and vitamin E. It nourishes the hair fibre and helps to counteract the drying effects of the sun, salt and chlorine, leaving your hair soft and smooth.

By combing your conditioner or masque through with a large tooth comb before rinsing will help to flatten the hair cuticle, so also help with reflecting the light for a healthier looking shine.

Use a moisturising shampoo.

We recommend SERIE EXPERT SOLAR SUBLIME by L’OREAL PROFESSIONNEL AFTER-SUN NOURISHING SHAMPOO for all hair types. With a lightweight touch, it leaves hair smooth and radiant.

Spritz and seal with a UV protector spray, especially in the swimming pool because when our hair comes into contact with the chlorine it can turn it green, yes, that can actually happen! We recommend SERIE EXPERT SOLAR SUBLIME UV FILTER leave- in PROTECTION CONDITIONING SPRAY

by L’OREAL PROFESSIONNEL, which can be used on wet or dry hair.

Use a light hair oil on a humid day. We recommend Mythic Oil by L’OREAL PROFESSIONNEL with its high concentration of Argan oil. Spray or hairspray your brush and run it through your hair (if your style lends itself to this) which will help lock your frizzy and rebellious locks in place. Switch from using a bristle brush to an anti-static brush such as a vent or paddle brush.

Do not over wash your hair.

Always try to help keep yourself and your hair hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

All the above products can be purchased at Millie & Co hair and beauty.

Millie & Co Hair and Beauty, 58, Hargate Way, Hampton Hargate, Peterborough, PE7 8DS Tel: 01733 344900 | millieandcohairandbeauty@gmail.com

Modern ladies & gents hairdressing • Award winning L’Oréal salon • Hair Extensions • Beauty Therapy • Verticle Fast Tan Sunbed Cosmetics Treatments: Botox, Dermal Fillers, Microneedling, Sculptra, PRP, Pigmentation problems by Dr Bence Hajdu, FCAI, MRCA • Kenzi Holistic

Millie & Co Hair and Beauty 58 Hargate Way, Hampton Hargate, Peterborough, PE7 8DS Tel: 01733 344900 • millieandcohairandbeauty@gmail.com

26 Health & Beauty

Boost your energy with our mitochondrial clean-up Dr. Britt Cordi, who has a doctorate in molecular biology and has worked with the finest nutritionists across the world, tells us how we can boost our energy naturally…

We all lack energy from time to time and feel as though we’re not performing at our best. Energy drinks - full of caffeine and sugar - are cleverly marketed to us a quick fix to get us through this slump. Of course, these aren’t a long-term solution. All you’ll do is raise your blood sugar only to have it crash back down again. So we have more caffeine and the cycle begins…

For natural, sustained energy give you mitochondria a boost.

What are mitochondria?

Mitochondria (mostly found brain, heart and muscles) are the small molecules inside our cells that produce energy (as adenosine triphosphate, or ATP) from the foods we eat. If our mitochondria are unhealthy, they do not produce as much ATP as our cells need for us to feel energetic and healthy.

How do we ‘boost’ these mitochondria?

Buy your superfoods with a special offer today. Use code: gravitas and benefit from 15% discount.

It’s simple - eliminate sugary and white flour-based products from your diet. The empty calories in these foods are lacking in the nutrients needed for healthy mitochondria.

✓ Eat high-quality protein in the form of fish and white meat.

Eat a rainbow of fresh fruit and vegetables every day. If you can try and eat a variety of colours of fresh produce to get the right balance of nutrients.

✓ Reduce your pesticide intake. Poisons in our bodies can dramatically reduce our energy and wellbeing - use organic food and vegetables whenever you can.

• Think green: wheatgrass is incredibly rich in all B vitamins, magnesium and it contains 91 minerals and 21 of the 24 amino acids our bodies need for optimum health.

An easy way to boost your energy and performance

• Think red: beetroot is such a good energy booster that athletes often use it as part of their training diet. It contains folate, a B vitamin needed by our cells to divide and regenerate.

• Think white: onions and garlic contain sulphur, vital for mitochondrial health.

What else do mitochondria need?

Mitochondria need the entire range of B vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, zinc and sulphur, so it’s vital we eat food such as herring, free-range chicken, seeds, broccoli and cauliflower.

It can be a challenge making sure you’re eating right for optimum health. Our organic juices are powerhouses of nutrition and offer expert blends of everything you need for mitochondrial health, improved performance and a sustainable energy boost.

Log on to www.brittsuperfoods.co.uk to find wheatgrass, beetroot juices and more. The Beet & Maqui Juice is a unique Beetroot Blend with added Raw Cacao which makes for a refreshing as well as an energising drink.

Sustain your energy with a mitochondrial boost

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Unit 5a Serpentine Green Hampton Peterborough PE7 8BE 01733 358835 The Arcade, Westgate, Peterborough PE1 1PY 01733 358825 10-12 Market Place, Market Deeping, PE6 8EA 01778 300558 Book online: pkai.co.uk

Cutting • Styling & Restyles • Colouring • Straightening • Perming • Colouring • Bridal Packages • Extensions

28 Health & Beauty

Great skin isn’t everything... but it’s a good place to start!

I have a saying I try to live by: “If you look good, you feel good, you do good.”

Alex is a Sports Science Graduate and Certified Personal Trainer who has written for Men’s Health, FHM and Gravitas Magazine. He works with people to optimise their health, get a better body and look and feel great.

Connect with Alex linktr.ee/alexrussolive

One of the best ways to look great is to take care of our skin and I believe deep down, we all want to look our best for as long as possible.

In general, the best foods for your skin are ones that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, and antioxidant-rich vitamins A and E. These will help strengthen your skin, maintain its elasticity, and boost your natural collagen production.

Try and include some of the foods below each day along with two litres of pure water, restorative sleep and some daily exercise or movement you enjoy.

• Frozen berries - help protect skin cells from free radical damage.

• Avocados - an excellent source of healthy fats, fibre and micronutrients.

• Almonds - a good source of vitamin E. Our skin renews around every 28 days so what we eat today will reflect in our skin around a month from now.

Retaining skin moisture levels is so important for its appearance. Cotton pillowcases dry out skin, try swapping them for silk ones – they keep in moisture and reduce bed hair!

Celavive is a new, high quality, science-based skincare line that communicates with our skin and tells it to look amazing again. The results with my clients have been extraordinary.

In only a few short weeks, you will notice:

Celavive awakens your body’s own natural renewing abilities to activate youth-preserving functions in your skin, personalised to you.

Celavive is gluten free, dermatologist tested with no harsh chemicals and no parabens. Available in dry/sensitive or oily/combination ranges, for men and women.

Try some of these food and skincare tips today - I'd love to hear of your successes!

• Brighter, healthy-looking skin • Enhanced look of firmness • Visibly reduced fine lines and wrinkles • Improved hydration • Appearance of soft, smooth texture • Visibly even skin tone Our body's in-built ability to protect and renew itself is far more powerful than nutrients we can eat or apply to our skin.

Using targeted nutrient combinations and powerful peptides,

Cotton pillowcases dry out skin, try swapping them for silk ones.

Discover Celavive at: linktr.ee/alexrussolive Instagram: celaviveofficial & #celaviveselfie

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A Salon with a Difference Number Three Eco Salon is located in the heart of Oakham. Dedicated to keeping their clients’ hair, wellbeing and environment beautiful, the team of four attentive stylists all have over 15 years’ experience and promise to meet the highest of expectations.

“As an eco-salon, we try to be green in as many ways as possible from led bulbs, compostable gloves, eco towels, eco cleaning products, water reducing shower heads, printing on recycled paper using eco-friendly ink and we are powered by renewable energy,” explained director, Jenni Penfold.

Even the milk and squash are organic, delivered in glass bottles by the milkman and the cake and biscuits are homemade. Tea and coffee are zero waste from the Brew and Roast Company based on Goal Street in Oakham.

“A great deal of research and consideration went into our choice of supplier KEVIN.MURPHY. Billed as ‘skincare for your hair’, these exceptional cruelty-free products are designed to deliver performance, strength and longevity.

They use the highest quality natural ingredients, with vitamins and amino acids to restore and thicken your hair and reduce the formation of split ends. Ingredients include mango, baobab, bamboo and orange blossom to moisturise, and repairing Kakaduplum and orchid. Hair colours are made from gentle, natural ingredients including Aloe Vera, Honey, Shea Butter and Pomegranate, and are free from ammonia, PPD and parabens to reduce the risk of allergies. Ingredients come from businesses that use organic farming practices, sustainable wild harvesting or small-scale cultivation. Their products even come in packaging made from ocean waste plastic which is recyclable,” enthused Jenni.

Kevin Murphy also offers continual training in and out of the salon, so the team are constantly updating their skills and honing the latest techniques in the industry.

Try out Number Three Eco Salon with a 25% off your first cut and finish and join their loyalty programme for further discounts. numberthreeecosalon.com | 01572 868956

As an eco-salon, we try to be green in as many ways as possible

30 Health & Beauty

Website: www.lucydack.co.uk | Email: lucy-dack@outlook.com | Mobile: 07849255852 Instagram: @lucydackphotography | Facebook: Lucy Dack Photography

River Nene Cottages

3 Award winning self-catering holiday cottages with riverside garden and outdoor swimming pool.

15 mins from Stamford, Oundle & Peterborough 1 Mill Lane, Water Newton PE8 6LY | 01733 230628 or 07778 625 166 www.rivernenecottages.co.uk | info@rivernenecottages.co.uk

32 Travel

Enjoy a Holiday at Home If a trip abroad is challenging the budget this year, don’t despair. Just because you are not hopping on a plane doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a break taking in some fun closer to home.

Osprey Cottage

Rutland Retreats Situated close to Rutland Water is Rutland Retreats, a collection of three bedroomed environmentally friendly, stylish buildings set in idyllic countryside surroundings.

Rutland Retreats is adjacent to Barnsdale Lodge Hotel and within a very short walking distance so guests can take advantage of the hotel’s on-site facilities at any time. Make self-catering even easier by using the hotel’s housekeeping and personal catering services for a truly luxurious stay.

Guests staying in a Retreat can take full advantage of Barnsdale Lodge’s concierge service including ‘Barnsdale at Home’ personal catering in your Retreat – picnics, dinner parties, BBQ’s, canapés, wine and romantic meals for two, housekeeping and porter service – transport to and from your Retreat within the hotel grounds. rutlandretreats.co.uk | 01572 724678

Osprey Cottage is set in the delightful quiet hamlet of Egleton, Rutland nestled closely to the shores of Rutland Water. This beautiful 3-bedroom grade 2 listed cottage built in the 18th century has been refurbished to a very high standard by The Home Styling Company (www. thehomestylingcompany.co.uk) to create a luxurious retreat.

The cottage is also dog friendly with lovely walking and cosy dog friendly pubs close by to unwind in throughout your stay. luxurioushideaways.co.uk | 07946 706763

33 Meadow Cottage and Meadow Barn, Braunston in Rutland

Knotting Hill Barn House One of the largest cabin rentals on the market, the brand-new Knotting Hill Barn House is an off- grid, uber-luxurious, magical cabin in the woods. Located in the beautiful countryside of Leicestershire between the villages of Ashby Folville and Great Dalby, it is set in its own eleven acres of woodland, complete with a wild swimming lake.

For an idyllic country getaway on a listed farm in a picturesque village, which plays host to two very good pups, look no further than these two stylish self-catering cottages. Each cottage has been beautifully restored (one was originally an iron stone-built granary) and refurbished to a high standard. Both have two bedrooms as well as large open plan sitting rooms with modern kitchens. The farm is surrounded by fields and meadows with ducks, sheep and cows in your back yard.

Find the barns on Airbnb.co.uk (where Caroline has won the accolade of superhost).

Nestled in a glade, the cabin lies in a completely private setting amidst elegant silver birch, oak, cherry and chestnut trees.

The cabin is designed for outside living, with six metre bi -fold doors that on sunny days transform the barn house allowing you to enjoy the morning sun and evening sunset.

It is panelled throughout in reclaimed wood and with intricate attention to detail and the highest quality finish.

The Barn House sleeps eight but guests are invited to pitch tents to accommodate more. (Larger camping groups can be accommodated by arrangement.) The camping glade is festooned with hundreds of fairy lights, as is the driveway, the BBQ fire pit, pizza oven and wood fired hot tub to add to that enchanted experience. knottinghillbarnhouse.com

Stapleford Park Something to celebrate? Where better than the sumptuous Stapleford Park Country House Hotel with offers including the Stay and Dine Break for two. From ÂŁ129 per person, this offer includes an overnight stay in an individually designed bedroom, a three-course dinner, full English breakfast and access to the pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gymnasium and tennis courts and 20% off spa treatments or golf. Also included is the use of croquet, pĂŠtanque, miniature golf and giant chess facilities. staplefordpark.com | 01572 898564

RE T REATS Laid-back luxury holiday cottages

Laid-back luxury holiday retreats AT BAREFOOT RETREATS we are

passionate about marketing luxury holiday properties that are individual and unique. From cottage hideaways, beautiful boltholes, coastal gems to rural retreats, their unique features will define our portfolio.

With an ever expanding portfolio of over 100 properties we’re confident our passionate and dedicated reservations team will match you with your idyllic retreat.

2020 BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN!

AS OUR GUESTS you will have the keys

to some of the most beautiful and individual private homes in Norfolk, providing a distinct laid-back luxury holiday experience ensuring you feel at home from the moment you arrive, until you leave. With an indepth knowledge of our hand-picked portfolio, we will ensure we match you with the right property. You’ll have access to our exclusive concierge service, ideal if you’re organising a special celebration or want to experience something different on your holiday. And once you’ve booked your holiday, you’ll receive a Barefoot guide ensuring you have all the information you could need to enjoy your precious time away.

BOOK YOUR PERFECT SHORT BREAK TO NORTH NORFOLK

THERE’S STILL TIME TO BOOK A SUMMER BREAK, BUT BE QUICK!

Barefoot Retreats, Church House, Overy Road, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8HH 01485 512245 • enquiries@barefootretreats.co.uk • www.barefootretreats.co.uk

35

Violets are Blue, but Lavender is Luxury Gravitas Magazine reviews Lavender Cottage, Thornham.

When the sun shines in the early afternoon it becomes a glorious sun trap

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Escape

We were delighted to be asked to review a cottage in North-Norfolk, a newly renovated and extended property on Barefoot Retreats’ portfolio.

The Lavender Cottage, situated in the quintessential village of Thornham, five miles from Hunstanton, is a luxury 4-bedroom property that has everything one needs for that luxurious break away from the hubbub of our increasingly busy lives.

On arrival, we were amazed by this property’s size. We entered through the back door, which leads to a bright and airy, fully equipped kitchen/diner. We were greeted by a Barefoot Retreats’ welcome hamper, which included delicacies such as bread, milk, apple juice, Prosecco, crisps and biscuits. A lovely touch!

There are two lounge areas, the first, with its sumptuous sofas, log burner and dining table for 8 provides an elegant eating space or a cosy place to chat and play family games on colder evenings.

In between the two lounge areas is a small but sunny snug for relaxing or reading, with a leather sofa and books galore.

When the sun shines through in the early afternoon, it becomes a glorious sun trap.

The term luxury does not do it justice

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This property is clean, fresh, uber-luxurious and welcoming The second lounge hosts another log burner, a hidden tv, and luxurious seating for evenings in. Netflix is available and there is also a DVD player with several films available.

Also, downstairs is the first bedroom, a newly decorated and renovated room, which hosts a king-size bed and ensuite bathroom.

Moving upstairs, there are a further three super-king bedrooms all with ensuite. The master bedroom has the larger bathroom; bedrooms three and four are also large, airy, bright and spacious. All have plenty of cupboard space and the beds are enormous and all made up with fresh cotton linen. Upon each bed is placed a Barefoot Retreats’ bathrobe, towels and slippers for that extra touch of luxury.

Close by are a variety of restaurants and pubs for eating-out namely, The Orange Tree and the Lifeboat Inn, both recipients of numerous food awards. We visited Eric’s fish and chips on our first night and can thoroughly recommend.

We spent two days at Lavender Cottage and the term luxury does not do it justice! We were extremely impressed with the styling, the peaceful location, the attention to detail, the free wi-fi and the little extra additions like toiletries in every bathroom.

This property is clean, fresh, uber-luxurious and welcoming.

Gravitas highly recommends a booking with Barefoot Retreats to make your staycation a very special one, whether it’s at Lavender Cottage or one of their other stunning Norfolk retreats. barefootretreats.co.uk | 01485 512245

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Music

The Houndogs

It’s all about the atmosphere

Over the last 15 years, The Houndogs have built a reputation as one of the nation’s favourite Rockabilly and rock n’ roll bands. All self-taught, the three Wilson brothers, Robert, Ian and David have been playing together for 24 years. They began with Dad, Bob, on vocals and Mum, Jill as chief roadie and van driver. Their colourful career so far has consisted of playing a combination of their own songs and their own versions of classics alongside mesmerising and unique performances.

The band have performed on national TV several times, played with members of the Stray Cats, played at the wedding of (and with) Tom Chaplin, lead singer from Keane and played 50 nights in a row at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. We’re taking this opportunity to have a chat with the most humble and hilarious rock stars as they kindly provide a festival vibe for our summer Fashion Shoot.

What are your most memorable moments?

Oh, there are so many…one of the best moments was when we got to play with Lee Rocker, the bass player from the Stray Cats, in 2005 at The Chicago Rock Café in Peterborough. Another highlight was when we toured with Slim Jim Phantom (the Stray Cats’ drummer) and performed our biggest ever gig at The Rewind Festival in front of 40,000 people. But the big ones aren’t necessarily the most memorable it’s all about the atmosphere.

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The most important thing is that we feel that we played well Some of the gigs we played at the Golden Fleece in Stamford have been particularly memorable and great fun. The crowd was amazing, every single time and we are much more comfortable playing up close to the audience. Sometimes you feel disconnected when you play a larger gig - you almost need binoculars to see who is at the back of the audience and wondering whether they are cheering for us or someone else!

It’s all about having a great gig. The most important thing is we feel that we played well. It doesn’t matter if there are five people or 5000 - it’s important to feel we have done a good job!

What’s your favourite food on a gig night?

(Laughing), we can tell you what our worst food is– a hog roast. We would rather have anything else! Our favourite food is most definitely curry – although the way we jump around on stage, we have learned to wait to eat after the gig!

Who is the best singer?

Sing? We all warble! Dad was an amazing singer and when he became ill, we had to learn. It was a long process and we were pretty bad at first, but worked hard and chose songs that suited our voices. Ian does Elvis the best, Robert has the more rocky/punk/growly voice and David is somewhere in the middle – but we do know our limits, which is annoying as there’s no song we cannot play but there are songs we can’t sing. In all seriousness, we are confident with the playing and the showmanship on stage – for example, if we are in a festival with say 10 other bands, we are never frightened about where we are positioned - our show carries us through.

We never feel intimidated by other bands.

Who are your musical influences?

The Stray Cats as a band are what we modelled ourselves on and Elvis is a huge influence (and Bill Black and Scotty Moore) from the early days, particularly his Sun Recording Sessions from the early 50s.

Where do your acrobatics come from?

We are always trying to come up with new ideas. Setting fire to the cymbals is inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis who used to set fire to his piano and standing on the double bass originates from Bill Haley (The Comets). We had three double basses on stage recently, which worked well as a piece of theatre and was a bit of fun. We play the ‘Guitar Boogie’ with two of us playing the same guitar at once. We tried it with the three of us playing but it ended up more like a game of Twister!

To see the Houndogs live, head to the Barn Farm Campsite Festival on Sat 13th July.

They are also performing at a charity ball to raise money for SADS UK at Barnsdale Hall Hotel on Saturday September 28th: barnsdalehotel.co.uk For further information or to book this dynamic trio, log on to pureartists.co.uk

41

Lexus LC500 V8 review

By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Journalist.

Follow on Instagram @tbarnesclay

42

Driven

The Lexus LC500 looks elegant and impressive all at the same time. With a grille like a shark’s mouth, smooth flanks, razorsharp lights, and a low-slung roofline, it’s more striking than many European rivals.

Simply housing a non-turbocharged powerplant is different enough in the ocean of turbocharged cars for the Lexus to stand out. That its powerplant is a 5-litre V8 makes you sit up and take notice of it.

What’s more, the LC500 is equipped with a ten-speed automatic gearbox. You have so many cogs that you never need any more power from the engine because you can compensate with the meticulously assembled mass of ratios.

The clout and glut of gears help the LC500 rush to 62mph in 4.7 seconds, and onto a maximum 168mph. The pitch and tone of the V8 drawing in air as the amount of throttle changes is as pleasing as it is invigorating.

As well as the magnificent sound the Lexus makes, there are other advantages to its atmospherically nourished engine - and that’s throttle reaction. Every bit of accelerator-pedal movement has an impact on forward propulsion, and instantaneously.

Up and down gearshifts are quick and distinct, too. The steeringwheel-mounted paddles are well-weighted, and a delight to operate. If you don’t want to enjoy changing gears manually, the automatic mode does a top job.

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The LC500’s ride is firm, and there’s a lot of control, so any sense of rigidity is worth it. The car’s body feels tough too, with no indication of a shudder from the shell, even over the most uncompromising lumps and bumps. The steering is light, so it’s undemanding to point the Lexus’ snoop where you want it to go. Every facet of the car – the feel from the chassis, the engine and the steering – enables you to drive the vehicle with confidence.

In a nutshell, the LC500 is a compelling and attractive choice of car, and its kit list and refinement make it stress-free to live with. In its most rudimentary form, the car costs only £76,660. In the guise I tested it – with the Sport+ pack, that comes with rear-wheel steering, 21-inch wheels and an adaptive rear wing – it costs £86,335. Yes, that’s still a lot of cash, but not many cars provide the same level of sophistication as well as elation for a similar outlay. That it also feels and looks so spectacular and unique makes it very hard to trounce.

When it comes to V8 rivals, you might want to think about the Jaguar F-type. The GT is more expensive at £93,630 and a tad more powerful, but the cabin feels lots cheaper than the LC500 - and the Jag’s engine lacks grace. My advice is to stick with the Lexus – you won’t be disappointed.

Pros’ n’ Cons • Looks

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• Power

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• Handling

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• Kit

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• Room in the rear

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Fast Facts (Lexus LC500 V8 – as driven by Tim Barnes-Clay) • Max speed: 168 mph • 0-62 mph: 4.7 sec • Combined mpg: 24.4 • Engine layout: 4,969cc, normally aspirated V8 • Max. power (PS): 464 • CO2: 265g/km • Price: £86,335

Est. 2000 STAMFORD•LONDON•HOLT

Sales

• Cleaning • Restoration • Bespoke

Shop: St Martins Antiques, 23a High Street, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 2LF - Open: Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 10.30am - 5pm Shop: Holt Antiques & Interiors Centre, Thornage Road, Holt, NR2 6SU - Open: Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 11am - 4pm Warehouse: 21 Acton Trading Estate, The Vale, Acton, W3 7QE - Open: Mon - Fri by Appt. Tel: 0208 261 7434

Email: info@therugstudio.co.uk

Tel: 01572 829927

www.therugstudio.co.uk

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The Rug Studio is Moving with the 21st Century “In a time-short culture, we have found that more people were looking for rugs by doing their research online. Clients have also utilised our ‘try at home’ service where we either send the goods direct or take them personally to show in situ.

Instagram and Facebook are helping direct people to our website and, for us, we are finding the traditional high street shop a thing of the past.

We understand our clients still want to see and handle the goods, so to enable this we will maintain a concession in both Holt, Norfolk and Stamford, Lincolnshire in two leading Antique centres and continue to showcase fresh goods and latest trends at London and National interior and antique fairs,” explained Rachel Simpson, director and owner.

Stamford is the latest move over from Uppingham where Rachel and the team have been based for the last six years.

Rachel will be found at the St Martins’ Antique Centre on Fridays from 10 to 3pm, Thursdays she will continue to be in Holt and at the London warehouse weekly, by appointment.

Consultations will be taken over the phone and real or virtual appointments will take place at the London warehouse. For cleaning or restoration, rugs can be dropped off seven days a week at either centre.

As Rachel says it’s a win win without the tie of five days a week in a shop, she will have much more flexibility to offer that personal service whether it’s for buying, restoring or advising.

Log on to www.therugstudio.co.uk for details of upcoming events and pop up locations.

More flexibility to offer that personal service

SUMMER SALE

£500 FREE

PREMIUM STORAGE

*

PLUS AN EXTRA

Bedrooms, sliding and kitchens Call or visit us for a free brochure and be inspired

25% OFF *min order £2,500 on selected finishes Offer ends 2nd September 2019

Peterborough One Retail Park, Eye Road, Peterborough, PE1 4YZ

01733 221 681 Hammonds-uk.com

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Big ideas for small kitchens When it comes to smaller kitchens, you might feel like your options are limited and creating your dream kitchen is an unattainable goal, according to Hammonds, that is not the case.

When kitchen space is at a premium, getting the most out of it is all about careful and clever planning. Little details can make a huge difference and when you’re faced with choosing between cupboard and drawer space, every centimetre counts. Your kitchen must be both liveable and loveable, a place where you can cook up a storm and store all the things you need.

Small kitchen, big storage Storage is one of the most essential elements in a smaller kitchen. Think about the storage you might need and plan around that. Think about what you use frequently and those you use less often. Having items you use on a daily basis to hand makes them more accessible. Your best dinnerware that only comes out at Christmas, however, can be safely stored away until needed. If you have a corner area that feels like wasted space, consider a magic corner pull out, which will double your cupboard space.

Get organised Go through all your kitchen items. If you use and need it - keep it, if it's out of date or you can't find the lid, get rid.

Organising your kitchen items and drawers will help you identify what storage you need and where. It will help you to make the most of every inch; it might be a thankless task but in the long run, it's worth it.

Maximise your space If you’re in the stages of planning a newly fitted kitchen and have a small space, think about extending your cupboards all the way to the ceiling. There's very little point leaving a gap between your cabinet and the ceiling - it's just an area that will collect dust. If you go full height, you will get so much more storage space and can keep the things you don't use much out of sight.

On the shelf If you want an open feel but still want storage, shelves can really help to create a lighter, brighter space. Wall cabinets in a small kitchen can encroach and block light, shelves will help to create an airy feel and act as an area to either display or store your things.

If you have a small kitchen or large kitchen and want inspiring design ideas, the Hammonds experts are on hand to help you unlock the space you have with truly bespoke fitted kitchens so you can get the most out of the heart of your home.

For further information, Log on to www.hammonds-uk.com or call 01733 221681 or visit the showroom at Peterborough One Retail Park, Eye Road, Peterborough, PE1 4YZ

Established 1991

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62 Werrington Business Centre, Papyrus Road, Peterborough PE4 5BH

01733 894422 | sales@pdakitchens.co.uk

www.pdakitchens.co.uk

Made to measure glass splash backs for your kitchen, shower room and bathroom Choose from a vast selection of colours to compliment or contrast Glass and mirrors cut to size

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01733 344 177 glass@rabaker.co.uk | www.rabaker.co.uk Edgerley Business Park, Challenger Way, Peterborough, PE1 5YG

Barnack

We create the space.

You add the finishing touches!

To find out more about our projects visit qks-ltd.co.uk Contact us on 01780 756666 or enquiries@qks-ltd.co.uk

Stamford

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Indoor/Outdoor Hanging Egg Chair £395

Indoor / Outdoor Living Discount Code : GRAVITAS20 for a 15% discount

52 Homestyle

Double Hanging Chair ÂŁ595 incl Free Delivery, ellajames.co.uk

Accessorising our gardens to make them as inviting and stylish as our indoor spaces is a fast growing trend. You can now create wonderful outdoor rooms for entertaining with outdoor sofas, coffee tables and rugs.

Words by Ashley Todd, owner Ella James

Rattan and Glass Side Table from ÂŁ75 ellajames.co.uk

For a more formal setting, place a patterned outdoor rug either under the table or in the centre of a seating area to define and warm up the space. To create a party vibe, replace your old garden umbrella with a decorative patterned parasol adding a touch of colour and individuality to the setting.

Replace your old gas barbecue with a handsome metal wood fired version - it will double as a firepit and outdoor heater and look so much more stylish.

Fashion a tranquil spot to unwind with an inviting cocoon shaped chair or swing, many designs work well both indoors and outdoors and are versatile investment pieces.

Accessorise hammocks with colourful outdoor cushions and place a table nearby ready to accommodate books and drinks for lazy Sunday afternoons.

For further inspiration log on to ellajames.co.uk 01572 759 190 | info@ellajames.co.uk Mail Order : ellajames.co.uk

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Palm Leaf Parasol £85 ellajames.co.uk

Patterned Outdoor Rug £49.95 cuckooland.com

Outdoor Butler’s Tray £49 johnlewis.com Outdoor Leaf Print Cushion £20 johnlewis.com

Palm Leaf Pouffe £39 ellajames.co.uk Wood Fired Barbecue £1440 cuckooland.com

54 Taste Explosion

Food and Drink

As always, we are excited to introduce new eateries in our area….do email abi@gravitasmagazine.co.uk with information about any new venture worth our mention.

The Hare and Hog Following on from the success of the award-winning Rutland Charcuterie, which can be found in Harrods and Fortnum and Masons (and online), Nick and Nicky Brake have recently opened The Hare and Hog - a new style charcuterie deli and café on the Oakham Enterprise Park on the outskirts of Oakham.

Their excellent charcuterie, made from British, free-range meats, can be found to purchase and across the menu in the unit formerly occupied by The Rutland Cake Company. Also find delicious freshly made rolls, focaccias, savoury tarts and freshly baked cakes, a great wine list, speciality coffee and teas and soft drinks. We can vouch for the exquisite quiches, paninis and charcuterie paired with their perfect summer wine list. We are told the breakfasts are sublime.

For more information log on to: rutlandcharcuterie.co.uk and follow them on Facebook @The Hare & Hog Café and Charcuterie

Pack Horse Pub & Restaurant Set in the picturesque village of Northborough, the traditional Pack Horse Pub & Restaurant, full of 16th Century charm and character, has recently changed ownership. Current owners of the successful Square Pub and Circles Wine Bar & Kitchen in Market Deeping have expanded their portfolio and are delighted to introduce a new management team Heidi Semple and Darren Wells, together with a fresh new menu. Chef Laura will be serving up lunchtime and evening meals to suit all appetites and tastes. Darren says, “We are looking to take the experience at The Pack Horse to even greater heights and deliver excellent customer service and delicious traditional food.”

Gravitas offer: Order 2 meals from the main menu and receive a complimentary bottle of Prosecco.

Superb real ales, fine wines and a large gin menu will be offered alongside traditional homecooked pub food. Look out for gourmet nights, food theme nights, BBQs in the revamped gardens and more - all supported by an amazingly friendly atmosphere.

Follow them on facebook @ThePackHorsepuboffcial

Circles Wine Bar and Kitchen Circles Wine Bar & Kitchen is a fabulous, boutique wine bar located in the Square pub in Market Deeping, offering a superior selection of wines, gins and spirits.

It has vibe all of its own and with the added bonus of serving a delicious selection of tapas dishes, platters and salads. So, whether you are looking for a place to dine or just to enjoy a superb glass of red or a quality gin, Circles is the place to be out in Deeping. www.thesquarepub.co.uk

Gravitas offer: 4 Tapas dishes only £16 AND buy 2 large glasses of wine and receive the rest of the bottle FREE, Valid Wed-Fri. Offer closes 15th September.

WINE BAR & KITCHEN

Whether you are dining with us, enjoying a quality wine or trying our selection of superior gins & spirits, Circles welcomes you with a friendly relaxed atmosphere.

W I N E WB IANRE B A R &Our K I Ttraditional &C HKEI N T C H E Ntapas and perfectly served steaks are all cooked to order.

The venue can also be hired out for groups of between 30 - 80 guests for private parties etc.

INFORMAL & COMFORTABLE RELAXED MUSIC SELECTION

INFORMAL & INFORMAL COMFORTABLE & COMFORTABLE

SUPERB COLLECTION WINES, PREMIUM DRINKS, RELAXED MUSIC RELAXED SELECTION MUSICOF SELECTION GINS, RUMS & OTHER SPIRITS

WINE B AR & KITCH EN UPSTAIR S AT THE SQ UARE!!

SUPERB COLLECTION SUPERB COLLECTION OF WINES, PREMIUM OF WINES,DRINKS, PREMIUM DRINKS, GINS, RUMS GINS, & OTHER RUMS SPIRITS & OTHER SPIRITS EVENING MENU INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL TAPAS &

STEAKS EVENING MENU EVENING INCLUDING MENU INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL TAPAS & TAPAS & STEAKS STEAKS SPECIAL “THEMED EVENINGS” INCLUDING STEAK NIGHTS,

SPECIAL “THEMED SPECIAL EVENINGS” “THEMED EVENINGS” INCLUDING INCLUDING STEAK NIGHTS, STEAK NIGHTS, DESTINATION EVENINGS (I.E. INDIAN, MEXICAN, FRENCH), DESTINATION DESTINATION EVENINGS (I.E. EVENINGS INDIAN, MEXICAN, INDIAN,FRENCH), MEXICAN, FRENCH), SPECIALIST MUSIC NIGHTS (I.E. (I.E. JAZZ-FUNK/SOUL, SPECIALIST SPECIALIST MUSIC NIGHTS MUSIC (I.E.NIGHTS JAZZ-FUNK/SOUL, NORTHERN SOUL, MOTOWN ETC)(I.E. JAZZ-FUNK/SOUL, NORTHERNNORTHERN SOUL, MOTOWN SOUL,ETC) MOTOWN ETC)

OPEN WED-SAT EVENINGS 6PM - 9PM REGULAR “LAZY SUNDAYS” WITH DJ PLAYING FUNK/SOUL AND THE KITCHEN OPEN 12PM - 6PM REGULAR “LAZY REGULAR SUNDAYS” “LAZY WITH SUNDAYS” DJ PLAYING WITH DJ FUNK/SOUL PLAYING FUNK/SOUL AND AND

OPEN WED-FRI OPEN EVENINGS WED-FRIAND EVENINGS SAT & SUN AND FROM SAT & LUNCH SUN FROM TILLLUNCH LATE TILL LATE THE KITCHEN THE OPEN KITCHEN 2PM -OPEN 8PM 2PM - 8PM

PRIVATE ROOM HIRE FOR UP TO 80 PEOPLE TO SUIT ANY

PRIVATE ROOM PRIVATE HIREROOM FOR UP HIRE TO 80 FOR PEOPLE UP TOTO 80 SUIT PEOPLE ANY TO SUIT ANY OCCASION, INCLUDING BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, OCCASION, OCCASION, INCLUDING INCLUDING BIRTHDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, ANNIVERSARIES, WEDDING RECEPTIONS AND WAKES WEDDING RECEPTIONS WEDDING RECEPTIONS AND WAKESAND WAKES

13 MARKET 13 PLACE, MARKET MARKET PLACE, DEEPING MARKET DEEPING PE6 8EA PE6 8EA SEE OUR FACEBOOK SEE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE PAGE THESQUAREDEEPING THESQUAREDEEPING or call Steve or call on 01778 Steve on 347653 01778 347653

56 Taste Explosion

A Summer Menu from

The Rare Breed Chef Tom Cockerill, a slow food chef*, shows us how less can be more with this perfect seasonal menu…

Food photographer, stylist, writer and local chef Tom Cockerill, aka The Rare Breed Chef, began his career working in multi-Michelin star kitchens across the world before going on to own two award-winning restaurants in the UK. He has enjoyed regular national TV and local radio work over the years, working both in the studio and on location. Previous appearances include Channel 5’s Street Market Chefs and Marco Pierre White’s ‘Kitchen Wars’.

Rutland Charcuterie Duck Prosciutto with Chicory, Orange and Pistachio A super simple salad showcasing an amazing product recently re-introduced by the folks at Rutland Charcuterie - carefully sourced free range duck breast, cured with fennel and coriander before air drying and slicing wafer thin; I could eat it all day!

It seems you can’t watch an episode of MasterChef these days without seeing the chefs knocking up ‘fluid gels’ out of everything and ‘swiping’, ‘blobbing’ or more fashionably now ‘splatting’ them all over the place. There are a few ways to make a fluid gel, but the thing is, as with many modern techniques, it is about as technically difficult as making Angel delight. By far the simplest way I’ve found is to buy yourself some Ultratex - it’s a modified maize starch, blend it in to anything and you’ve got yourself a fluid gel - now go on, get your Masterchef application in, you’ve got this!

Serves 1-2 Ingredients 40g Sliced duck prosciutto 2 heads of chicory 1 Handful of mixed leaves 1 orange, segmented 4 radishes thinly sliced For the dressing 1 tbsp roughly chopped pistachios ½ tbsp finely chopped chives ½ tbsp orange blossom honey 2tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp red wine vinegar For the orange fluid gel

200ml Freshly squeezed orange juice (smooth) 1 tbsp ultratex Method To make the fluid gel, blend the orange juice and Ultratex in a food processor for 10-20 seconds, use a table spoon to swipe/blob/splat over one or two serving bowls.

Place all salad ingredients in a large bowl, combine the dressing ingredients and pour over the salad, lightly toss and assemble in the bowl(s).

Tom began his career working in multi-Michelin star kitchens across the world

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Now go on, get your Masterchef application in, you’ve got this!

BBQ Poussin with Turmeric, Lemon & Tarragon Ingredients 2 Poussin For the marinade 100ml Extra Virgin Olive oil 1 tbsp Maldon sea salt 2 Tbsp Turmeric 6 Cloves garlic Zest and juice of 2 lemons 1 Tbsp tarragon leaves, torn Cracked black pepper

Method Combine the dry ingredients in a pestle and mortar and crush together, slowly combine with the olive oil and lemon juice to create a smooth, loose paste.

Spatchcock the poussin by using a sharp pair of scissors to cut out the backbone of each poussin by snipping along each side. Flatten out each poussin by pressing firmly on a chopping board. Brush or rub (wearing gloves to stop your fingers from staining!) the marinade evenly over each poussin and leave to marinade at room temperature for 45 minutes. BBQ over a moderate heat using tongs to occasionally turn the poussin, depending on the heat of the BBQ you will need approximately 15-20 minutes of cooking time, ensure the juices from the thickest part of the thighs runs clear when pierced with a knife.

58 Taste Explosion

Panna Cotta with Spiced Summer Fruits Ingredients For the panna cotta 500ml Double Cream 250ml Milk 50g Sugar 1 Tbsp Vanilla bean paste 5 Leaves Gelatine For the spiced fruit 2 Peaches, halved and stoned 2 Plums, halved and stoned 12 Strawberries A handful of Raspberries, Blueberries and Blackberries 1 Orange Segmented 2-3 Stems fresh lavender 2 Tbsp golden caster sugar 2 Tbsp Honey 250ml Dessert wine 2 Star anise Cinnamon stick 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste

Method For the panna cotta, bring the cream, milk and vanilla to a simmer in a saucepan. Soak the gelatine leaves in a little cold water for 5 minutes, remove and squeeze off any excess water, add to the cream mixture and stir until fully dissolved over a low heat, strain the mixture in a jug and cover with clingfilm, allow to cool in the fridge until just starting to set.

Pour the mixture into 4 ramekins and chill for a further 2 hours until fully set. To remove each panna cotta, dip each ramekin into a bowl of hot water to loosen the edges and tap out.

For the spiced fruit, arrange all the fruit on a shallow tray and sprinkle evenly with the golden caster sugar. In a heavy based pan over a high heat, place the peaches and plums flesh side down until starting to caramelise. Add the remaining fruit and stir for a further minute or so. Add the dessert wine, honey, lavender and spices, stir well and remove from the heat.

Allow to cool, covered at room temperature.

To serve, place the panna cottas onto a rectangular serving dish and garnish with the summer fruits and the cooking juices.

Tom is a member of the ‘Slow Food Chef Alliance: slowfood.org.uk *Tom is a member of the ‘Slow Food Chef Alliance’ and he also works alongside Slow Food UK in support of their ‘Slow Meat’ initiative, promoting the idea to consumers of eating less but ‘better’ meat and raising awareness of the alternatives to intensive meat production. For further information about this movement, Tom’s blog and more delicious recipes log on to: therarebreedchef.com

AFTERNOON TEA AT S TA P L E F O R D PA R K Experience the quintessentially English charm of a stunning country house and take afternoon tea at Stapleford Park. Sink into the soft plump cushions of the Drawing Room, glistening chandeliers above, and enjoy freshly made sandwiches, a selection of warm scones served with clotted cream and homemade strawberry compote, accompanied with a selection of cakes, sweet pastries and freshly made tea.

From ÂŁ27.50 per person.

To book or for more information please call 01572 787 000 or email reception@staplefordpark.com

Stapleford Park, Stapleford, Nr. Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 2EF. www.staplefordpark.com

60 Taste Explosion

TRY ONE OF OUR KNEAD

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Fr es

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FEAST YOUR EYES ON THESE TEMPTING OPTIONS For just £27.95

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2 Not So Large Pizzas with 2 toppings each PLUS a bottle of house wine.

1 Not So Large Pizzas with 2 toppings PLUS a pint of selected beer, 175ml glass of house wine or a selected soft drink.

Available Monday to Sunday 6pm-7pm

Available Monday to Sunday 12pm-2:30pm and 6pm-7pm

Stamford

Bourne

kneadpubs.co.uk

Oakham

Newark

61

Sarpech

A Jewel in the Crown Fresh quality ingredients, an excellent dining space and exceptional service, Rutland now has a wine bar and fine dining restaurant with an Indian flavour.

A ‘Sarpech’ is the jewel worn in Indian turbans throughout history as a symbol sovereignty – this aptly named restaurant pledges to take its customers on a culinary journey by offering diners a jewel box of sensory pleasures inspired

by India’s aesthetic and cultural history. And oh my, does it deliver!

From the moment you enter the cocktail bar area, adjacent to the restaurant, one is transported to some uber chic London-style private club. The addition of Bamba, cocktail expert, intensifies the cool vibe.

Manager, Adi Sinha invited us to take a seat in the bar, at a high table and served us our aperitifs along with the most intriguing bar snacks or should I say taste explosions.

We make what we like to eat and serve it homestyle

As the poppadoms were shown to the table, so were we - along with an incredible array of non-traditional chutneys including their Homemade Pickles - a customer favourite… be warned, pace yourself as everything is so delicious, it is hard to hold back. “The last and first impressions have to be right which is why we place so much importance on the chutneys, which are always different,” explained Adi. Adi took over the restaurant in 2017 having gained his experience initially in India where he was Chef de Partie for the Taj Hotels group. Brought to the UK by the hotel group, he went on to front of house at an award-winning Indian restaurant in Nottingham and own a Peking restaurant in Leicester. Head chef is Santa Tamang who makes everything on the premises using local ingredients as well as butchering his own meat – to ensure it is the highest quality. Sous chef Raju Saini is also a pastry chef and makes the desserts as well as the notoriously tricky samosas.

With a first-class reputation for service, we discovered that this is no accident. Adi talked us though his clear and rigorous training path which ensures all staff member are comfortable with their roles and his expectations. The current well trained and professional team include Soma, a director of the restaurant and Adi’s wife, Asif, Bhakti, Bamba, Yuvraj and Izzie.

62 Taste Explosion

We were treated to an array of starters including Aloo Tikki Papri Chaat, Paneer Shaslik, samosas and Malai Tikka. Everything was utterly divine, and each dish had an unusual twist. The chicken tikka was like none I had ever tasted – delicate and fresh with a good hit of spice and punch of coriander.

The selection of main courses was not only a work of art but a taste revelation. I have dined at Sarpech on many occasions, but I rarely wander from my staple king prawn dish (Kashmirir Jhinga) – not anymore, although it is superb. My favourite on this evening was the Beef and Potato Madras – tender, rich, succulent and really spicy, as I like. Pete adored

the Lamb Nihari - totally melt in the mouth with an intense gravy from secret ingredients. The Chicken Biryani, cooked together with basmati rice under a special dough to keep in moisture, was beyond sensational and the aubergine side dish made a convert of Pete. All were served ‘homestyle’ in stylish beaten copper pots from India (designed to keep the food warm) and accompanied with Pilau Rice, an unusual, but ever so tasty, Red Leicester and Chilli Naan and a moreish Paratha flatbread.

We really did not need desert but the melange of Gajjar halwa – homemade carrot cake, pistachio kulfi and baileys cheesecake were so delicious that we finished the lot!

Priced possibly at the higher end, this fine dining restaurant offers incredible quality, exceptional service and, thus, value for money. I will most certainly be back – probably next week!

For more information, menus and to book log on to: www.sarpech.co.uk. Check out the Sunday Thali experience at £15pp and the 6 'til 8 menu where two dine for £19.99 if you finish and pay for your meal before 8pm Tuesday to Thursday.

THE BLUE BELL GLINTON

RELAX, EAT DRINK & ENJOY Good honest food served in a glorious village pub.

Book online or call 01733 252285

thebluebellglinton.co.uk

10 High St, Glinton, Peterborough PE6 7LS

64 Taste Explosion

Five Perfect Summer Wines from

Bat and Bottle

Abigail Richardson chats to Emma Robson of Bat and Bottle (bat.wine), specialist Italian wine importers, about her top wine choices for the season…

Pink Fizz – £10.20, Monte dei Roari. Rossanel From Custoza Rosato Frizzante This is perfect for a hot day after working in the garden or taking a long walk – I call it a lager substitute as it is light, salty and dry - not very wine-like! But not everyone wants a glass of wine in the heat. It has a beer-cap top and, unusually (but quite trendy now), the remaining yeast is still in the bottle – pour it into a jug before serving if you like or straight into the glass but don’t be surprised if some glasses are cloudy and others are not - that’s the beauty of it.

It is a really refreshing, organic wine with no sulphites. Not a serious wine, it’s more a glass of “freak-your-friends-out” but it so incredibly refreshing, well-priced and good fun – pair with crisps/olives when sitting in the garden in the late afternoon/early evening.

Incredibly refreshing, well-priced and good fun.

65

Pinot Grigio – £10.50, Monte dei Roari Pinot Grigio Veneto DOCG*.

Don’t be put off by the terrible Pinot Grigio often served by pubs and clubs these days – this really is a different animal. One of our top house whites, it is light, fresh, dry and organic. It contains no chemicals. This producer is ‘Bio-dynamic’ – that’s beyond organic. I call it ‘Girly Gossip wine’ or ‘Book Group wine’. Perfect for sitting around chatting with friends or served with light pastas and salads.

This is one of our top selling wines as it’s a real crowd pleaser and has a strong following.

Erbaluce – £18, produced by Camillo Favaro – a well-known wine writer and also a wine-label designer from Alto-Piemonte. Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG. A grape rarely found in the UK, this is a light but seriously elegant wine. It’s more of an occasion/dinner party wine, one to impress your friends – still a girly wine (see Emma’s definition) as it has such a light, fresh zing. Nicely made (no nasties), it’s perfect with risottos, cheese, chicken but can also take on fuller flavours and fattier dishes.

Squinzano - £12.90, Puglia. Squinzano DOC Riserva This is holiday wine - the male equivalent of girly wine! It is a juicy red full of flavours which delivers comfort in a glass. Perfect with BBQs, Sunday roasts, charcuterie and particularly red meats.

It has nice rounded tannins, not ones that leave your mouth dry and it has no acidity, it’s certainly not thin. It’s really popular people rebuy this wine all the time. It’s a perfect weekend wine and would be the one with the most empty bottles after a BBQ. It’s equally comforting in the winter.

Emma’s definition of girly wine is: crisp, fresh and fun to drink with gossip – light and clean, not ‘sticky’ = easy drinking and appears to have evaporated from the glass.

Suri Barbera - £11.70, Piemonte Barbera d’Asti DOCG This is happy wine, a fruity and juicy wine and the perfect accompaniment to antipasto or the primo (first course). It’s quite high in acidity, which benefits meat dishes as it adds a melt in the mouth effect, but it’s also good on its own. It is one of our top selling wines as it’s a real crowd pleaser and has a strong following. Perfect for a summer BBQs and parties.

This is a light but seriously elegant wine…one to impress your friends!

To join the Bat and Bottle wine club, find out more information about Emma and Ben’s winemakers or to buy a bottle or two, log on to their website: bat.wine or give the very friendly and highly amusing duo a call on Tel: 01572 759735. Alternatively, simply pop in to their unit at 18D Oakham Enterprise Park, Ashwell Road LE15 7TU. The Shop is open 9.30am - 5pm but do call ahead as they are often selling around the UK, or in Italy! Free wine tasting occurs every third Saturday in their Warehouse (on the same day as the Farmers’ Market is held in Oakham) – see more info online. *DOCG - Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin, DOCG) is a quality assurance label for Italian wines - modelled on the French Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) designations.

67

Katie Cardew Illustrations Interview with artist Katie Cardew – the young entrepreneur behind Katie Cardew Illustrations

Katie Cardew Illustrations specialises in bright, quirky and stylised illustrated prints and premium quality homewares.

The range of products include Fine Art gicleé prints, high quality tea towels, aprons, Aga tops, oven gloves, kitchen boards, mugs, coasters and placemats and a selection of premium cosmetic bags and greetings cards. All products are produced in the UK. Katie launched her illustrations business in 2013, since then she has created over 2000 unique illustrations for private clients as well as commercial commissions for the likes of

Waitrose, Harrogate International Festival & Estée Lauder.

The homeware range, launched in 2017, has taken off in the UK and now boasts over 70 stockists.

What is Katie Cardew Illustrations?

The business is split into two parts. Firstly, I design and produce a range of fine art prints, homewares and gifts to sell directly to our customers and through our stockists. Secondly, I illustrate bespoke commissions for private customers and commercial businesses – from house and family illustrations right up to large commercial projects for merchandise.

68 Interview

I love designing our gifts and homewares but still hold a special place for the bespoke commissions – I started the business six years ago by drawing people’s houses and I still thoroughly enjoy working with customers on commissioned pieces. The commercial commissions are really great too – it’s fab to have a long-term project to get my teeth into.

Can you tell us a bit about your latest product?

We have recently launched a new bespoke house and wedding venue illustration. I have been doing commissions for six years now, but the large-scale ones do take a lot of time. Sized at a manageable 8 by 8 inches, this new concept is a smaller and slightly simpler bespoke illustration of a house or wedding venue, complete with the building name or a little message. The best bit is you can order via the website and upload a photo directly to the order! The turnaround time is shorter than the premium house/wedding commissions at just five weeks, and they come ready framed and ready to hang.

How do you prioritise your time?

I have a 3-year-old daughter, Agnes – so life/work balance is always a juggle – I’m not the first though and I certainly won’t

be the last! I have had to learn to be much more organised in order to put my daughter first – as any working parent will know. I try to compartmentalise business from family life, which has been made easier since we moved the business out of the family home and into a custom-built studio two and a half years ago. I try to stick to 9-5 during the weekdays and keep weekends free but I do have a spare iMac at home, so I am never really off the clock!

What made you choose this particular business?

I set the business up at age 23 – I did Fine Arts at school for ‘A’ level but got dissuaded somewhere along the line from doing art at University – the message was something along the lines of it will be a real struggle to make a living from it. As a result, I changed my plans and did English at Uni as I also love to write (check out Katie’s blogs – they are very engaging). When I graduated, I went to work in the city for a foreign exchange firm – it was fun, and I really enjoyed it, but I knew, ultimately, it wasn’t what I wanted to do. It taught me a lot, however, about being brave and standing up for myself in a very male dominated industry. During this time, I was asked to do some illustrations for a magazine my sister worked for and lo and behold, they paid me for them!

This gave me the confidence to move back to Rutland and start my own business. Taking that leap of faith is a huge step but I took each day as it came. The first step was to put some examples of my house illustrations up in a local pub and almost immediately, the commissions started to roll in. I was so relieved that the risk had paid off!

Is there anything you would change?

I try to have no regrets – there are things I might have done differently but mistakes are how you learn. If you don’t take risks, you are more likely to stay as a small business – mistakes are good! When the risks pay off, your business grows and when they don’t, you simply learn not to try that again.

If you don’t take risks, you are more likely to stay as a small business – mistakes are good!

What does success mean to you?

That is such a tricky question. For some I guess money is the goal – and it certainly plays a part, obviously, but for me money comes beneath growth and if I’m learning, progressing and growing and ultimately coming into work and enjoying it, then that is success for me.

69 Do you have any advice for fellow entrepreneurs?

Let your business grow organically – there is a lot of pressure for small businesses to be massively successful immediately and have a huge following on social media. Word of mouth is a brilliant tool. If your product is good and if your social media is happy, chatty and fun, then your customer base will grow organically. You are much better off having 400 followers who will actually buy from you than 40,000 who don’t.

What does the future look like for Katie Cardew illustrious?

2019 is a big year for us. I recently launched a new commercial website – kcbespoke.com and I have just finished a secret project for a London company, which I can’t talk about but follow us on social media to find out more in the Autumn time!

Don’t put too much kudos on social media…try not to worry too much about how many likes you are getting.

I have also recently launched Club Create with the lovely Tara from Freckle Face Fragrance, which involves informal meet ups every six weeks for established creative business people.

(Follow on Instagram: @club.create) And, in conjunction with Stamford businesses, we are about to launch the Stamford Map 2019 which will be available in three sizes, from A3 to A1. It’s five years since I produced the very first Stamford Map and so much has changed in the town since then, I felt I really wanted to represent how vibrant and exciting Stamford is now in 2019. Taking ideas from Stamford businesses made the process really fun and exciting - there were so many great ideas sent in and I’m over the moon with the final illustration.

To find out more, buy products and to read Katie’s blog, log on to kcillustrations.co.uk. Katie is also on facebook @kcillustrations and Instagram @kcillustrations

The Stamford Map 2019 fine art giclée print is available to buy from the Katie Cardew Illustrations website and will be available to view at Katie’s Summer Open Studio on the 19th & 20th July 2019.

Alongside the Stamford Map 2019, Katie has also added a Stamford 2019 notebook, an updated Stamford Buildings tea towel and a brand-new Stamford fabric, available by the metre, all featuring illustrations based on the new map.

70 Down to business

Coulter Elite - This is us!

As PT Barnham said, “No one ever made a difference by being like someone else”. The team at Coulter Elite Resourcing Recruitment Consultancy, with their head office in Peterborough, certainly believe this.

Coulter Elite believe that no two businesses are the same and nor are any two candidates. They build long term relationships with their recruitment business partners, they get to know not only what their business is about but also their culture and dynamics. It isn’t purely about filling vacancies for this team, it is about matching companies, roles, people and personalities - all of which are required to make successful long-term recruitment decisions.

Coulter Elite Resourcing is an independent recruitment consultancy founded in 2008 by Managing Director Wendy Coulter and has been successful in the local recruitment world for years.

Coulter Elite has been expanding in recent times, opening offices in both London and Milton Keynes during 2018 and is proud to have moved into a new head office in Lynchwood in Peterborough in April 2019.

They pride themselves on Account Management with each client having their own dedicated manager looking after their recruiting needs across the entire business. Whether you are looking for a Managing Director, Accountant, Marketing Executive, Engineer or Receptionist, your Account Manager will take care of your businesses’ needs. Your personal Account Manager will have an excellent understanding of your business and, as such, will be the best placed person to work as an extension of your team, looking at both passive and active candidates. They will then only represent the very best candidates that are right for you and your business.

If you are looking for a personal, professional and passionate business partner, then look no further than Coulter Elite Resourcing … give the team a call today to find out more.

Tel: 01733 306030 For further information log on to: coulterelite.co.uk or email info@coulterelite.co.uk

71

Personalised recruitment training programmes for recruitment professionals, corporate clients and candidates

Corporates We offer in-house bespoke interactive courses, workshops and executive coaching designed to raise the skills of both your HR professionals and line managers responsible for selecting the staff that will enhance your company.

Some of the issues we have covered with our corporate partners are: • • • • • • • •

Manage recruitment process CV reviewing and reading Managing candidates Offer management Writing job descriptions Shortlisting Conduct effective interviews Employment law

FOR A FREE CONSULTATION CONTACT

01733 306030 • info@yourrecruitmentcoach.co.uk 07791162481 • www.yourrecruitmentcoach.co.uk

72 Down to business

Trust the professionals Whether your business is a new start up or well-established and expanding, expert advice can be invaluable to ascertain the correct ways to focus your time, energy and resources for a solid foundation or growth plan. Our wealth of industry experts explain how, with up-to-date information and insights. For further guidance contact our professionals directly.

Assessment Centres?

Using a Recruiter?

As a business have you ever thought of using an assessment centre to recruit your next team member? The majority of the top FTSE250 companies do, so why don’t you?

Candidate attraction is one of the biggest challenges modern business now face.

Unemployment is at its lowest for over 40 years.

Normally you’ll sit in a private room and have a one-to-one interview lasting 30-60 minutes with a nervous individual, at the end of this short meeting you have decide whether they are right for your business or not. You sometimes spend more time in a supermarket deciding what to have for dinner.

So how do you attract people to you?

The Thursday job paper is a distant memory. You could post an advert on the internet or even Linked in, but in reality, have you got the time or resources to sift through hundreds of applicants, shortlist them, talk to that shortlist, arrange their interviews etc etc etc?

Assessment centre benefits are immense.

It means you get to spend a whole day with someone, see them in action, see how they interact with you and others.

This process also means you are also only accessing active candidates. Only 20% of roles get filled by active candidates.

Recruitment Agencies are the professionals in finding candidates for your business.

office) and it will do the selling for you.

They also have access to the pool of both passive and active candidates, and your business wants to have access to both of these pools, you then have 100% selection of the best candidates. And what business wouldn’t want that for themselves?

potential embarrassment of being seen

By making the day relevant to your business, you get to see how they will fit into your organisation, enabling you to make the right informed decision for your business.

To arrange a free consultation contact Mark at mark@yourrecruitmentcoach.co.uk Mark Deaton Your Recruitment Coach mark@yourrecruitmentcoach.co.uk 07870 603565

For all your recruitment needs contact Wendy at wendy@coulterelite.co.uk Wendy Coulter Coulter Elite Resourcing wendy@coulterelite.co.uk 01733 306030

Don’t be afraid to blow your own trumpet Being on the radio five days a week, you’d think I’m a bit of an extrovert – but I’m much more comfortable when someone else is singing my praises, because I don’t like big heads!

In business it’s much better if other people are extolling your virtues, so testimonials are great – and if you put those testimonials on a roller banner, you can leave it anywhere (exhibitions, networking events, front of your

Logo, bullet points, testimonials, call to action- a simple and cost effective (especially if you buy one from us!) way of shouting about yourself without the as a show off. So start collecting those testimonials and then give me a call about the roller banner.

Now I’m off to do my radio show – why not give it a listen and see how shy I am!

You can listen to Craig’s radio show, every weekday between 3 and 5pm on PCR 103.2FM or join in the conversation on Facebook.

The Craig Bunday Afternoon Show For Graphic Design or Print call 07771 538661 or email craig@ascotgraphics.co.uk

73

Trust the professionals Whether your business is a new start up or well-established and expanding, expert advice can be invaluable to ascertain the correct ways to focus your time, energy and resources for a solid foundation or growth plan. Our wealth of industry experts explain how, with up-to-date information and insights. For further guidance contact our professionals directly.

Are you ‘hidden’ or are you a well known face of your local community?

Disagreeing Respectfully

Are you doing enough? A one off advert in your local paper or a one time leaflet drop isn’t going to cut it these days amongst the noise of many other companies and businesses fighting to be heard.

Of course, ouropinions don’t always match up. Healthy debate and even a little bit of conflict can be genuinely productive in a team!

Some of the things you can try are: •

Different social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Create good content and post regularly.

Target your audience wisely when boosting Facebook posts.

• Also call in favours from friends by

asking them to share your posts.

• Local news and advertising. When

purchasing advertising space, also ask

for an editorial on your business.

• Offer existing customers incentives for

recommending you.

• It’s known leaflet drops are more

effective when concentrated in a

specific area and done consistently.

• And finally, talk to people! Face to face

communication is far more memorable.

Get yourself known!

Kelli Taylor - 1:1 Consultant kellithedietlady@yahoo.co.uk 07716 87708 | 01778 701180

Most of us want to be team players and get along with those that we work with.

Here are five ways to disagree respectfully and assertively: •

Avoid starting sentences with “you”.

It’ll turn the conversation into a personal grudge, especially whenfollowed by “always” or “never.”

• Highlight agreement first: “I agree with

you on X, butthink we should research a

few alternate ideas before commiting.”

•

Be aware of ‘facial management’– It’s amazing how often we roll our eyes, shake our head or pull a disapproving face without realising!

• Know the topic. Presenting facts is

far more influential than just sharing

your opinion.

•

Finally, genuinely listen. Don’t just wait to speak- take a few seconds to process what the other person has actually said before responding.

Get in touch with Shaun at inspireignite.net, @inspireignite on Instagram, or @inspireignitetalent on Facebook

To Sunscreen or Not to Sunscreen?

As the holiday season approaches our thoughts turn to summer holidays, and for most people, that’s the time we buy a sunscreen. But is that the only time we should be considering it? No. The sun is an invisible form of radiation.

Even if its cloudy and raining, you need protection. The sun is always present.

Whether we can see it or not.

It is important to use a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays.UVA are ‘Ageing’ rays and UVB are ‘Burning’ rays.

The SPFnumber is not that important. What is important is how frequently we RE-APPLY. Like anything, the sunscreen will break down when its introduced to other elements like salt, water etc. So the key is to always RE-APPLY. Especially after swimming or sweating.

Forever’s Aloe Sunscreen contains Aloe, Vitamin E and the all important broad spectrum ingredient Zinc Oxide which is designed to sit on the skin to reflect the suns rays.

Sushma Bragg, Health & Wellness For more information, contact Sush on 07877 265725 sushmabragg.com

Not only do we create brave, bold and beautiful work, but we also love to support local charities...

Charity: Anna’s Hope Event: London Marathon Time completed: 3hrs 58mins Total raised: £2172 #ThanksaBillion #number1

#efc43b

Get in touch to discuss your brand, design or digital projects

01780 753313 wearehue.co.uk hello@wearehue.co.uk

75

Making our Mark Mark Buttress, founder of hue – brand design digital, continues to clock up the miles in aid of a very worthy cause, Anna’s Hope.

As if running the London Marathon earlier this year wasn’t enough, 42-year-old Mark is determined to keep ‘running’ up the donations for the East of England’s leading children’s brain tumour charity, Anna’s Hope.

Committed to giving hope to children and young people diagnosed with a brain tumour, the charity was inspired by Anna Olivia Hughes, who tragically died from a brain tumour aged just 3 years and 8 months. With a young daughter himself, this touched his heart and Mark set out to hit his target of £2,500, but would love to exceed this amount through his continued fundraising activities.

Mark said: "A donation of £30 funds one week's specialist neuro-rehabilitation therapy for a child, while £125 will cover a month's worth of this treatment.

Businesses, friends, family and strangers, have been very supportive, and people can still make donations to help push me up to, and hopefully exceed, my target."

This years’ marathon was actually Mark’s 16th, and since the start of the year, he has covered 380 miles through his passion of running.

Mark finishing

Support Mark as he prepares for the Rutland Water Marathon in September and the Great Eastern Run (half marathon) in October.

the marathon

Help with these vital treatments for children and young people with a brain tumour and donate today via: justgiving.com/fundraising/iammarkbuttress

We love collaborating with people who aspire to unlock the unique value of their business through brand, design and digital communications, including branding, graphic design, web development, social media, illustration, ad campaigns, photography and videography.

01780 753313 | hello@wearehue.co.uk | wearehue.co.uk

Carole Hughes, Anna’s mum with Mark

76 Down to Business

Time to network

A number of opportunities for you to network with like-minded business professionals.

Talk Networking Flexible and affordable networking.

Meeting on the 1st Thursday of every month from 12.30-2.00pm at Mama Liz’s, Stamford, these events attract 35+ attendees with up to a third as new visitors. There is no commitment to join so you attend as and when you want to.

A full delegates list is provided following the meeting with access to a LinkedIn group for attendees.

To book a seat or for more information: Felicity Francis info@talknetworking.co.uk 01780 693123

Rutland & Stamford Business Network This local network aims to encourage local businesses to get together and prosper. It’s a great way to make new business contacts and gain the advantages of belonging to a larger enterprise.

Every four weeks on a Friday at Barnsdale Lodge, Oakham.

Ben Callaghan ben@rutlandbusiness.co.uk rutlandbusiness.co.uk 01572 770352

No need to feel unsure, be confident, walk in the room, and feel at ease Gravitas Connections formerly known as Scene Business Connect, hold a regular monthly meeting, where you are able to come along and feel at ease with the friendly attendees at our network meetings. With guest speakers, workshops and more, we host a lively 2 hour meeting each month at our regular spot in Circles, 1st Floor, The Square, Market Deeping, PE6 8EA. Upcoming dates: July 25th - Presentation

Tickets are always £15 or free if

September 26th Workshop

you are one of our VIPs.

October 31st Halloween Special

donna@scenepublishing.co.uk 07917 114341

Booth Networking Booth networking has taken Peterborough by storm with the most recent events attracting over 120 businesses into the stadium.

Mark Granger peterboroughgreyhounds.com 01733 296939

The Business Network

Positive Networking

Attracting senior decision-makers to the monthly events, the unique, professional format offers an effective environment for building close working links and establishing that invaluable ‘support network’ of business contacts.

A supportive environment for open-minded and collaborative business people – those looking to open up, share experiences and learn from each other.

Monthly on the 4th Thursday 12pm-2pm July & Aug – Haycock Hotel Sept & Oct – Marriott Hotel Peterborough Simon Coy simon@business-network.co.uk business-network-peterborough.co.uk 07860 121773

This group provides the widest range of networking formats on the circuit – innovative events with much participation and collaboration.

The focus is on developing the business owner as well as the business.

Held monthly at Orton Hall Hotel, Peterborough, on a Thursday 6.00pm - 9.00pm Mike Stokes positivenetworking.co.uk 07887 651394

77

Gravitas Style Awards We were very proud and excited to sponsor the Gravitas Style Awards for Ladies’ Evening recently at Huntingdon Racecourse. Ladies’ Evening is the penultimate race meeting and one of the highlights of the season at the racecourse, guaranteed to bring out the most fabulous fashion.

We were all set to enjoy thrilling racing under the evening sun – and boy were we lucky with the weather! We would like to thank Huntingdon Racecourse and our amazing and loyal clients who, not only provided the incredible prizes, but also joined us for this spectacular event.

Best Dressed Lady First Prize •

BMW i8 for a weekend courtesy of Sycamore BMW, Peterborough

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Loveness London product package

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Two Premier Enclosure tickets for Ladies Day at the July Festival on 11th July at Newmarket Racecourse

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Afternoon Tea for Two at Quy Mill Hotel

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Champagne & Flowers

Second Prize •

Two tickets to Winter Ladies Day at Huntingdon Racecourse

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Prosecco & Flowers

Third Prize •

Two tickets to any Go Racing raceday in 2019/20

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Prosecco & Flowers

Check out our YouTube Channel for Videography of the day by the fabulous team at Reckless Abandon Media

Best Dressed Man First Prize •

BMW i8 for a weekend courtesy of Sycamore BMW, Peterborough

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Two County Enclosure tickets for Madness at Market Rasen

• •

Best Dressed Group First Prize •

Weekend break courtesy of River Nene Cottages

Family Ticket to any home 2019 T20 match at Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

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Hospitality Viewing Box for 10 guests at Huntingdon Racecourse

Table for two at the Peterborough Chase Restaurant

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Mini bottle of Prosecco per person

Second Prize

Second Prize

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Two tickets for Beer Festival raceday at Huntingdon Racecourse

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Group tickets to Peterborough Chase raceday at Huntingdon Racecourse

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Prosecco

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Mini bottle of Prosecco per person

Third Prize

Third Prize

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Two tickets to any Go Racing raceday in 2019/20

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Two tickets to any Go Racing raceday in 2019/20

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Prosecco

•

Prosecco

78 Gravitas Style Awards

Place Your Bets

Style Awards

79

Gravitas Cocktail Bar

80 Gravitas Style Awards

Lights Camera Action

Dress To Impress Don’t miss ‘Winter’s Ladies’ Day’ to be held on November 23rd, 2019. One of Huntingdon’s most stylish and established fixtures of the season, Winter Ladies’ Day welcomes over 4,000 racegoers where individuals and groups are invited to, yet again, compete in the prestigious Style Awards - this time set alongside a Gin and Jazz Festival.

Tickets from £17 per person. Hospitality starts at £89 per person and offers award-winning dining, stunning panoramic

views of the racecourse and parade ring, table service while placing your bets at a dedicated bookmaker and an exclusive viewing balcony.

For all other events, races and further details for next season, commencing October 2nd, log on to: thejockeyclub.co.uk/huntingdon Photography: Lucy Dack Photography | lucydack.co.uk

82 Out and About

What’s on

29 June – 3 September | ‘Live Action Gaming’ at Grafham Water

Rumble brings you an exciting new concept in outdoor family fun – ‘live action gaming’. This isn’t just laser tag, it’s about bringing together the best of the real and virtual worlds.

Acres of beautiful woodland with hides and dens meet state-of-the-art laser-sharp guns and hidden utility boxes which can unlock dozens of different weapons, extra ammo, medical packs and more.

Weekends from 7th September – 13 October and daily again from 19 October – 27 October Admission: £15 for a full hour in the arena How to book: Online booking essential. Visit rumblelive.co.uk for session times

Where: Marlow Park, Grafham Water, (far end of the car park, follow the flags)

20 July - 1 Sept 10am – 6pm | The Wistow Moon Walk To mark the 50th anniversary of the first man to walk on the moon, this year the award-winning Wistow Maze has been designed in the shape of an Astronaut.

The giant 8-acre maize maze has a fun Quiz Trail hidden amongst its 3 miles of pathways, with high level bridges and towers giving stunning panoramic views.

Visitors have to find 12 quiz boards which will test their knowledge on other historic achievements. Visitors can also take part in a variety of mini mazes and games in the Activity Funyard, which includes a space-hopper track, hoopla, beanbag throwing and a football shooting game. Across the road is the Wistow Rural Centre with its cafe, garden centre, art gallery, model village and numerous shops, making it a great day out for all ages. Open weekends only until Sun 22 Sept.

More information on: wistow.com Admission: Child £5.95, Adult £6.95, Family Ticket (2+2) £24 Where: The Wistow Maze is situated opposite the Wistow Rural Centre, which is signed from the A6 at Great Glen & Kibworth and the A5199 at Kilby

10 August 11am| Maxey Classic Car & Bike Show Now in its 18th year, the Maxey event promises to attract a large entry of two and four-wheel vehicles including classics cars,as well as exotics like modern Ferraris, kit cars and 4x4s. A great day out for all the family with live music from Paul Lake and the jazz band Herbie Lamb Quartet, real ale bar, BBQ and children’s amusements.

Admission: £5 with free entry for exhibitors and under 14s Where: Quarry Lane, Maxey – one mile off the A15 south of Market Deeping

PHONE 07743 073 866

EMAIL INFO@RECKLESSABANDONMEDIA.CO.UK

WEBSITE RECKLESSABANDONMEDIA.CO.UK