Hbcpsummer2013

HOT BRANDS COOL PLACES FASHION CULTURE LIFESTYLE

SUMMER 2013

The Summer Issue

EDITOR’S LETTER Welcome to our summer issue. In this issue we have interviews with Kathryn Wright, Founder of Luxury and Little Ones, Martin Collett and Scott Simpson, Co-Founders of The Gift Atelier Ltd. and Kate and Philip Reeves Founders of Essential Sailing.

This issue also includes a feature on Our Adventure in Cornwall, and it made us think about how much there is to offer in this country without travelling abroad.

Throughout the country there are gems waiting to be discovered, canals that meander through the countryside, local fetes, carnivals, walks, even in the busy cities there are undiscovered parks, places to find tranquillity among the bustle of our daily lives.

So as we start the school holidays we hope you will have the opportunity to share with your children the history and heritage of some of our most famous landmarks, but also to discover and create your own little havens!

Happy Summer!! www.hotbrandscoolplaces.com Picture Credits Our front cover image of the view from Moonrakers is courtesy of St. Mawes Retreats - www.stmawesretreats.co.uk Pictures of The Village at Watergate Bay © Kirstin Prisk Pictures of The Eden Project courtesy of The Eden Project www.edenproject.com Pictures of St.Just in Roseland and Tate St.Ives © Paul Watts Pictures of St.Mawes © Bob Berry Other images throughout the magazine supplied by the various companies, or publishers featured.

Please Note All information about products and services are supplied to us by the individual organizations, or agencies acting on their behalf. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, it may be subject to change.

Please check with individual organizations for the latest information about all events, products, or news items.

Inclusion in this magazine does not imply endorsement by Hot Brands Cool Places. Hot Brands Cool Places does not accept responsibility for the content of any external site.

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Our Cornish Adventure

FEATURE

As an online luxury lifestyle magazine we appreciate the finer things in life and so when we received an invitation to visit Cornwall and to stay in two new luxury self-catering venues, one on the south coast in idyllic St. Mawes and the other on the north at the stunning Watergate Bay we couldn’t wait to explore this delightful opportunity; particularly when the owners said we could bring our junior reviewers, Charlotte and Annabelle to review it from a child’s perspective.

Dates were fixed for the end of June, special permission was given for the children to join us and under cover of darkness suitcases were stowed, the car was re-fuelled, the sat-nav loaded, the next morning we woke up two sleepy headed children and our adventure began!

With our junior reviewers having no idea of our destination we had prepared for the road trip with a package of clues to make the journey more of an adventure for them.

First stop was ‘Moonrakers’ part of the St Mawes Retreats Collection: www.stmawesretreats.co.uk Moonrakers is described as:

A house of exceptional quality, perfect for large families and groups. Moonrakers combines contemporary living with space, comfort and tranquility and with breathtaking sea views – simply stunning. Set in magnificent gardens and with breathtaking sea views Moonrakers can accommodate up to 12 guests in exclusive style. All bedrooms are fully ensuite and the property has a dedicated Games Room.

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This description didn’t really prepare us for the absolute delight on the faces of the children and our own joy as we walked around the property.

Annabelle immediately (and still does) called it ‘The mansion’. Beautifully decorated and with masses of space it immediately felt like home, the views are unbelievable and the garden is a tranquil haven.

We spoke to Amanda Selby about her vision for the properties: ‘I wanted to create the luxury of a 5 star hotel, but with the freedom and independence that comes with your own home, perfect for families who want to relax in style!

All our bedrooms are spacious and have their own ensuite bathrooms with showers providing privacy and room to relax in at any time of the day. There are also two master bedrooms providing the perfect opportunity for families of all generations to holiday together. Stargazers, Moonrakers and Dreamcatchers have magnificent gardens for children to explore allowing the adults to relax sunbathe or enjoy a barbecue. At Moonrakers and Stargazers children can play on the 14ft trampoline with safety net . There is plenty to do inside too with games rooms in Moonrakers and Stargazers and HD televisions and DVD players in all properties.

To occupy both adults and children we have a fantastic selection of traditional games and more unusual games and puzzles. For little people we have a dressing up box in every house so whilst the grown ups relax Batman and Cinderella can go to the Ball!! Babies are welcome in all of our properties. We understand that traveling with babies often means taking everything but the kitchen sink! We have an extensive list of baby equipment that we would be delighted for parents to use. If there are any special requests for items that we may not have, we will be happy to organise it for them.

I also provide guests with a bespoke Concierge Service which means that I can organise as much or as little of their holiday for our guests.

This service may include: Daily housekeeping, laundry and ironing services, grocery shopping Unpacking of internet shopping prior to arrival, beauty and massage treatments, child minding 5 and baby sitting, local home cooked foods for the freezer, home baked cakes.

A personal chef for a special occasion dinner or simply a night off cooking, table reservations in local restaurants, floral bouquets and champagne can be delivered to the house to give loved ones or friends during their stay.

We can also book sailing ,windsurfing lessons for adults and children on the Percuil River.

With the Personal Chef service the food can be delivered so that you just have to put it in the oven yourself which means that you have complete flexibility as to when you eat. Some of our guests have special requirements, whether it is a special holiday for an aged or sick relative, we can arrange for extra care during their holiday. In the future we want to offer Creative Writing, Art courses, and other leisure pursuits. Above all I want people to feel that they can ask for anything and we will do everything we can to make their holiday special.‘ For us it was an idyllic stay, the girls had enough space to be themselves, they exhausted themselves on the trampoline, in quiet moments they relaxed in the games room, and we were happy to just sit and relax. There just seems to be more sky in Cornwall, in the gentle climate the gardens flourish, more than anything you can spend hours just looking out at the sea, and a calm descends over you like a balm. South Cornwall has a gentleness, something that cannot be explained until you experience it for yourself. If you spend your life as many of us do, rushing frenetically from one activity to the next, multi-tasking as working parents, coming to a place like the Roseland Peninsula is a revelation. At the end of a long journey it may take a while, but eventually you realise that you actually have slowed down, your heart-rate has settled, you start enjoying the simple things again, an ice-cream with its explosion of flavours on your tongue, sitting on a harbour wall watching the boats gently bobbing in the harbour, the progress of the local ferry making its way from St Mawes to Falmouth.

At Moonrakers, we loved the little touches, champagne in the ‘fridge, a breakfast hamper of locally produced food, the cream tea, and the pièce de résistance as far as the girls were concerned, Amanda’s husband Peter arriving with two crabbing buckets (see our review below of crabbing)!

While we were there standing on the balcony, we saw the ‘Supermoon’ hanging in the sky over St Mawes Harbour, a truly magical experience and one we will all remember.

Crabbing in St Mawes was a real experience for us all, as complete novices I’m sure we were a source of amusement for all the locals as we struggled to find the right location and to work out how to load the little mesh bag with bacon rind which we were assured was perfect bait for crabs. The anticipation was enormous, but luckily we had co-operative crabs and soon Charlotte landed her first crab, things took a dramatic turn minutes later when she attracted a particularly large crab who seemed determined to hang on to the bacon! Suddenly we were faced with the challenge of coaxing this little monster back into the water!

Annabelle meanwhile was desperate to land her own crab, after several abortive attempts when all the crabs seemed to be moving sideways away from the bacon on the bottom of the harbour she landed her own little crop, and we also gathered a crowd of international tourists fascinated by our achievements.

Basking in their success and with all the crabs safely returned we wandered along and bought freshly caught fish and chips.

In today’s technological age one of the biggest joys of this holiday was to see the girls outside clambering over the rocks and exploring rock pools. They relished being outside and whether cloudy or sunny there was plenty for them to see and do.

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The Village at Watergate Bay Fully rested from our stay in St Mawes, we were now ready for the invigorating air of the north coast at The Village, Watergate Bay. With spectacular views as the road sweeps down there is a pull-in at the side of the road where people can stop and wonder at the beauty of the bay with its different shades of blue. This is a view that you never get tired of watching.

As you look across you can see The Village, www.thevillagewatergatebay.co.uk the latest addition to the Watergate Bay collection: a cluster of beach-chic apartments subtly embedded into the cliff-top. Each two-storey eco pod is coolly crafted from sustainably sourced, natural materials, and finished in Watergate Bay’s trademark beach-fresh style.

As their website describes, ‘The morning surf. The long lazy lunch. The changing colours and soothing sounds of the sea. The drinks at sunset. Salt in your hair. Sand in your toes. Time for yourself. Peace and quiet. Think of it as an outsized hotel suite with all the trimmings, then add in mind-blowing ocean views and all the freedom and flexibility of a self-catering break.’

As we arrived at The Village we were delighted to find Jenny, our chalet host, already preparing our evening meal, after a busy day exploring The Eden Project, (see below) this was a very welcome sight. This also allowed us time to unpack and settle in before we caught the last of the sunshine on the balcony. With the kitchen and open-plan lounge upstairs, the girls loved the novelty of going downstairs to sleep. The next morning we awoke to the delicious aroma of a cooked breakfast with Charlotte and Annabelle already helping Jenny to lay the table.

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The chalet host concept really has some unique advantages for families who want the freedom of self-catering but with unobtrusive help.

We spoke to Will Ashworth about how he and his brother Henry have channelled their energy and passion in developing Watergate Bay as ‘a ski resort on the beach.’ Each stage in the development has been carefully planned, and has created a perfect haven for those wanting to enjoy a social and active beach life style. In the Village each of the apartments has been uniquely designed with beach life in mind, with surfboard racks, outdoor showers and ocean-facing decking.

Will described how an important feature of the apartments is that each apartment has been architected to incorporate the latest energy-efficient construction, including sedum roofing, earth sheltering, 8” insulation, exhaust air heat pumping from the bathroom to under-floor heating, whole house ventilation and brise soliel to help heat and cool the buildings. They are also fitted out with high-efficiency insulation and lighting.

The interior decor makes extensive use of natural materials, including natural stone fireplaces, slate flooring and solid oak stairs to create an organic yet sleek design. The overall aim is to create an environmentally friendly contemporary house, where people can come for their main, or as an extra holiday. New for this year is a dedicated chalet host providing as much or as little help as people want. This can include a three course meal with wine, wine and staple goods provided for the week, cooked breakfasts, or breakfast provisions, freshly baked cakes, and a daily light clean and tidy.

In addition there are plenty of choices for eating out at Watergate Bay: The Watergate Bay hotel dining room is where breakfast is served each morning and in the evening there’s a daily changing menu of European influenced dishes. Cross the reception and you’re in to the hotel’s bar; but the Living Space is so much more than that and from 11:30am till 10pm it serves a menu of rustic dishes perfect for sharing.

Down the lane and almost on the sand is The Beach Hut. One of Cornwall’s best known beachside hangouts and a great place to eat, The Beach Hut serves brilliant burgers, steaks, fish and shellfish you’ll find by the sea.

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Up above The Beach Hut is Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall; the Italian inspired, social enterprise restaurant that empowers, unemployed, young people in Cornwall with the kitchen skills and experience to flourish in the world of work.

Will was one of the Founding Directors of Fifteen Cornwall and we discussed the importance of this work and the high success rate of young people successfully moving into a new and sustainable career.

To complete the feeling of a resort there is the Extreme Academy which gives you all the great things you find in the best mountain resorts, on a beach!

You can choose from surfing to wave skiing, traction kiting to beach volleyball. You can mix and match your lessons or specialise in one sport, the choice is yours!

One of the great advantages of The Village is the accessibility of the beach, we had great fun at Watergate Bay watching all the surfers and body-boarders, the girls jumped in and out of the waves and wanted to try it all for themselves.

Watching them playing in the waves made us realise how much Cornwall has to offer why would you need to go anywhere else?

Places to visit Fern Pit Cafe and Ferry Later that day we took a step back in time at the delightful Fern Pit Cafe and Ferry, established in 1910, it is a family run business based on the River Gannel between Pentire headland and Crantock beach on the edge of Newquay, Cornwall and just half a mile from Fistral Beach.

We met Dawn Truelove, who has worked at the café for fourteen years and Gill King who with her brother Gerald Northey are the third generation involved with running this delightful café and ferry. Dawn showed us a picture of the original café, and Gill explained the traditional values are still as important today as they were when the café first opened, and what a wonderful location for family holidays it was. Many of their visitors return year after year and are delighted to find that it still retains its original charm.

The beach offers over a mile of golden sands sandwiched between sand dunes, the sea and the tidal river. Crantock is a popular family beach with plenty of rock pools and caves to explore at low tide.

On view at the ferry boathouse are live lobsters and crabs caught by their own fishing boat Zarvan in the waters around Newquay & the North Cornwall coast.

These are available for you to order and can be bought live or cooked. They can offer advice on how to cook the fish or cook it for you, ready to eat at home or on the beach.

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Charlotte and Annabelle meanwhile were enjoying delicious Kelly’s ice-creams from the Kelly’s ice-cream parlour within the cafe featuring great flavours, such as: Honeycomb and Caramel Chocolate Triple Blackcurrant and Cream Cornish Vanilla Strawberry Rum and Raisin And new for this summer – gingerbread and banoffee While the girls ate their ice-cream they relaxed in the children’s playroom, perfect for entertainment while the adults talk, or enjoy their own ice-creams, one of the most popular flavours for adults and children is the mouth-watering Honeycomb & Caramel. www.fernpit.co.uk www.kellysofcornwall.co.uk Cornwall is a stunning county, and any visitor will be spoilt for choice in seeking out local attractions.

One comparatively recent addition which has exceeded most people’s expectations is: The Eden Project The Eden Project does much more than offer a memorable day out in Cornwall. Eden is also a charity and social enterprise. As well as creating stunning gardens and laying on fantastic arts and music events, much of their energy goes into: • running transformational social and environmental projects on their doorstep and around the world • creating unforgettable learning experiences for students • doing valuable research into plants and conservation • making sure they run their operations in the greenest possible way.

For the visitor it provides a spectacular experience, keeping this part of the journey a secret, Charlotte and Annabelle were so excited when we arrived. Arriving just before lunch we took them to the Med Terrace where over delicious pizzas freshly made by the chefs in the Mediterranean Biome we spoke to Varshana Trudgian about this year’s latest developments in Rainforest Biome.

The Rainforest Aerial Walkway The visitor journey begins at the Rainforest Basecamp, which sets the scene for the walkway experience. The Basecamp provides an introduction from the perspective of the people who live in the rainforest and from the canopy scientists who work there. From the upper level of the Basecamp visitors will get their first spectacular views over the canopy.

An aerial walkway high above the forest floor leads visitors to the Nest: a platform with fabulous views out through the treetops. Art exhibitions are currently being created, with public participation, to bring the story of the rainforest’s biodiversity to life. A second aerial walkway takes the visitors further through the canopy to a cliff path nestled in the back wall of the Biome.

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Fundraising continues and plans for the second phase of the walkway are already underway.

Once funded, Eden will build on the experience reaching further into the treetops to take visitors to the Weather Station, an artistic installation which will enable intrepid explorers to discover how rainforests control the world’s climate and experience and measure weather. The Met Office are working with the Eden Project on this phase.

Subsequent phases will include a Fruit Bar in the treetops, exploring ways of supporting livelihoods in the forest through rainforest-friendly products, and a Field Station where visitors will be able to discover ways in which they can help look after the rainforests of the world.

Varshana also told us about some new arrivals which was the introduction of free-flying butterflies!

The Rainforest Biome will host 19 species, including the spectacular blue morpho. All these species naturally live, mate and feed in the rainforest, so they should feel right at home in the Rainforest Biome, the largest rainforest in captivity.

She explained that you’ll see them display their natural behaviours at different stages of their lifecycle, from pupae to fully grown butterflies! Although they were not officially being shown until July, some had already been released and she said to the girls that they might be lucky enough to spot one. Full of anticipation we set off, our first stop was...

The Mediterranean Biome We loved this Biome, the olive trees are beautiful, and as you wander through the peaceful groves you can easily believe you are in a Mediterranean garden.

The girls however, couldn’t wait to get to: 11

The Rainforest Biome This is spectacular, you really do feel as if you are in a rainforest, it is a feast for the eyes and senses, they loved the crashing waterfall and were so excited to find the The Rainforest Balloon, that lifts the Eden gardeners up to the canopy. Then just as Varshana had predicted suddenly fluttering above was a butterfly! This was a very special moment for them, but the excitement hadn’t finished, as we wandered along, we stopped to look at some bananas and suddenly something moved and Charlotte pointed out a little green creature which we all thought was a gecko, focusing in we quickly took a picture. Later Varshana identified it as an anole lizard, which she said didn’t normally venture that far down the Biome preferring to lounge in the sun on the warm wall at the back of the Biome, so again the girls had another special memory. We continued on our journey taking in the Giant Bee and the WEEE Man sculptures and the chilli garden before ending up at...

The Core This is the education centre full of hands-on exhibits explaining topics like ecosystems, evolution and climate change which was great fun and full of fascinating information. Our final stop was the Shop where the girls were able to choose from a wonderful range of ethically sourced products.

Annabelle was especially delighted to buy a fluffy toy dog made from Bamboo! We also bought an enormous Edenbaked focaccia to take on the next stage of our journey which was absolutely delicious. www.edenproject.com “I really enjoyed my time in Cornwall it was so much fun!

We loved going to Eden and staying in all the pretty houses”

Annabelle, Aged 7

“I think Eden Project was really inspirational and the Lizard I found was very cool! The houses were absolutely amazing!

I loved Cornwall!”

Charlotte, Aged 10

We loved visiting both our self-catering venues, increasingly people are attracted to luxury selfcatering, but in a relaxed and informal way. Moonrakers offers the services of a private chef, The Village, a chalet host. The beauty of this arrangement is that the whole family can relax and enjoy time together without someone having to be in the kitchen. As for our overall experience, Cornwall is a delightful county, with contrasting coasts, Charlotte and Annabelle had such an amazing time, our biggest challenge was persuading them to go home!

Our grateful thanks to St Mawes Retreats, The Village Beach Retreats, Watergate Bay, The Eden Project, Fernpit Café and Ferry, Kellys of Cornwall, Wildcard PR, and everyone who welcomed us and made our trip so memorable! www.stmawesretreats.co.uk www.thevillagewatergatebay.co.uk www.fifteencornwall.co.uk 12

www.fernpit.co.uk www.kellysofcornwall.co.uk www.edenproject.com www.wildcardpr.co.uk

Things to do in Cornwall

St Mawes Take the St Mawes ferry www.falriver.co.uk from St Mawes Harbour to Falmouth Harbour. Visit the National Maritime Museum www.nmmc.co.uk. The multi award winning museum celebrates the sea, boats and Cornwall with 15 galleries illustrating past present and future maritime life.

St Just in Roseland Church St Just in Roseland Church is a very special 13th century Church, with a 6th Century Celtic heritage, in a unique waterside semitropical garden setting. http://stjust.roselandchurches.co.uk/ St Mawes Castle St Mawes Castle is among the best-preserved of Henry VIII’s coastal artillery fortresses, it guards the important anchorage of Carrick Roads, sharing the task with Pendennis Castle on the other side of the Fal estuary.

English Heritage http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ The Lost Gardens of Heligan, The Lost Gardens of Heligan, the world-renowned restored productive gardens and pleasure grounds. Their contemporary focus is to work with nature, accepting and respecting it and protecting and enhancing the variety of habitats. http://www.heligan.com/ Tate St Ives Art gallery in St Ives, Cornwall, displaying British and international modern and contemporary art. Includes Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives The Minack Theatre The Minack Theatre is an open-air theatre, constructed above a gully with a rocky granite outcrop jutting into the sea. The theatre is at Porthcurno, http://www.minack.com/ The Camel Trail The Camel Trail is an 18 mile multi use trail which passes through along a disused railway line between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow. http://www.cameltrailfriends.co.uk/ Truro Cathedral Truro is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of Truro, Cornwall, http://www.trurocathedral.org.uk/ National Trust 50 things in 50 days festival. Designed with families in mind, each day will focus on a different activity from the 50 things to do before you’re 11¾ list. National Trust, http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ or for further information about Cornwall http://www.visitcornwall.com/

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HIDEAWAYS Hideaways cottages provide the perfect escape from busy and stressful lifestyles. Located across the south of England from Cornwall to Kent and up to the Cotswolds and Welsh borders, Hideaways specialises in high quality properties – from idyllic, romantic retreats just for 2 to large barn conversions sleeping up to 22. www.hideaways.co.uk

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SALCOMBE HOLIDAY HOMES Salcombe Holiday Homes have a fabulous portfolio of beautiful coastal holiday homes in Salcombe, Devon. Some with amazing sea views, some luxurious with beautiful gardens and swimming pools... all are personally inspected by our experienced team. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll show you a house you’ll love. www.salcombe.com 01548 843485

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SYKES COTTAGES Sykes Cottages has a great selection of more than 4000 self-catering holiday cottages across the UK and Ireland. Ideal for a family holiday or last minute getaway, choose the UK’s leading cottage agency for your next staycation. www.sykescottages.co.uk/family-cottages.html

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PERFECT STAYS LTD Perfect Stays offer luxury houses, boutique cottages and penthouses in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. We personally inspect every property and we also offer an inclusive concierge service with every single booking so that you can live like a local. All of our handpicked properties have unique attributes which could be the location, style of house, great features or all three! www.perfectstays.co.uk

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Hot Brands Cool Places spoke with Kathryn Wright, Founder of Luxury and Little Ones for an exclusive interview.

INTERVIEW 18

What inspired you to start Luxury and Little Ones?

The inspiration came after having my two little girls. When I was searching for hotels and holidays for my family I wanted a “go to” website where I could find a luxury, childfriendly hotel and search for exactly our requirements – whether that was a hotel in the UK with a playground, a catered ski chalet which had all of the baby and toddler supplies I needed when we got there or a hotel abroad which offered children’s activities during the day.

Our first two summer holidays post-children were in selfcatering abroad. We had a lovely time but it felt like just being at home – but with some sunshine. We were still making breakfast, lunch and tea and having to wash up!

We chose self-catering as we could still put our children to bed (in a separate room!) at 7pm and enjoy an evening on our own (enjoying the sundown cocktails on our balcony) so it almost felt like we were still going out like the old days – but staying in!

It was then that I wondered whether a hotel could offer that – so you had the luxury of a hotel with room service, spa, breakfast all cooked for you - but with the children also not just catered for but considered equally as guests. As we all know, if the kids are happy you are happy.

I thought that there had to be a hotel out there where you could go where the children would be warmly welcomed, spoilt, and looked after as equal guests which would mean we as parents could still enjoy a relaxing holiday. Not something I had looked into, or even thought about prechildren.

I began to do some research for a hotel for our next break but found it took a lot of searching to be able to find exactly what we were looking for. I thought that if I was struggling to find a place then others parents must be in the same position so decided to put all of my research into one website. So Luxury and Little Ones was born.

What have been the highlights and challenges since you started?

There have been so many highlights and challenges. Being able to travel more with my children and husband to review the hotels has been the biggest highlight. It is magical to see the girls’ faces when we go somewhere new or they get to try a new experience.

The biggest challenge has been giving up a secure job which I loved to do this on my own but once I had the idea I just knew I had to give it a go. It has been a lot of hard work setting up on my own, but I have learnt so much along the way and although there have been moments of madness I have loved every minute of it.

What do you look for when you select your properties?

There isn’t really a set criteria, it is a combination of things. We have some places which are just amazingly child-friendly and offer so much for parents and children: a crèche; baby supplies; children’s clubs; playgrounds in the grounds, toys and games and are like a home away from home for families. It was a given that these would be in the collection. However, we also have places which don’t offer all of those things but are places run by families which are relaxed, welcoming places to go for a chilled out break with the kids.

How has social media helped your business?

Social media was totally new to me. I wasn’t even on Facebook before I set up the business so this has been a real learning curve but it is a fantastic medium to connect with people. Social media really allows you to reach a wide range of people and get to know your potential clients.

You can also learn a huge amount from other businesses and communities. There are so many travel related communities, on Twitter and Google Plus especially, which means you can engage with people who are interested in the same things as you very easily, which is an amazing networking opportunity.

What are your travel essentials when travelling with children?

Wet wipes, plenty of snacks, sticker books and colouring books and for when it gets to the point when they are asking, “Are we there yet?� every few minutes an iPad is pretty useful!

What makes a perfect holiday for you?

A perfect holiday for me is finding somewhere where we can all relax and have fun. Family time is so important to us as we both work full time so getting quality time with the kids and each other is a real treat. www.luxuryandlittleones.com

THE MOORINGS At The Moorings, we have been delivering premium sailing holidays with five-star customer service across the globe for over 40 years. Swim, snorkel, explore or simply relax amongst tropical surroundings aboard your own private yacht with a selection of 28 beautiful destinations. www.moorings.co.uk

A & K VILLAS Abercrombie & Kent’s collection of exclusive, luxury villas are hand-picked to ensure they meet the highest standards. Choose from beachside locations villas in the heart of Tuscany or something completely different. The wide range means that whatever size family or group you are they will have a luxury villa perfect for you. www.akvillas.com

HANDMADE HAMMOCKS Handmade Hammocks is a dynamic rural business based in the Scottish Highlands at GLENMORE near to AVIEMORE in the heart of the CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK. We specialise in hammocks of all shapes and sizes with hammock chairs and the most delicious hammock cushions to match. Handmade Hammocks also produces its own wooden hammock stands made from wood that bears the FSC mark as coming from sustainable sources, as well as a variety of suspension accessories to cover all eventualities.

All products are fairtrade - purchased at source on the basis that the workers who produce them earn fair pay and work in clean and healthy working conditions.

Most of the fabrics used are woven on handlooms. www.handmadehammocks.co.uk

AURALEY Beautiful designer nightwear for girls and boys ages 2 to 8. The acclaimed signature is luxurious sustainable fabrics, tailored styling, gorgeous trim and embroidery, while always maintaining exceptional comfort. A piece from the Auraley collection is a wardrobe staple makes the perfect gift. www.auraley.com

DOROTHY & THEODORE Dorothy & Theodore features stylish and yet still practical products, along with truly unique, one of a kind personalised gifts. As seen in Baby London, The Independent and Prima Baby, at www.dorothyandtheodore.com you will find everything you need for stylish family living. www.dorothyandtheodore.com

INTERVIEW

Hot Brands Cool Places spoke with Martin Collett & Scott Simpson, Co-Founders of The Gift Atelier Ltd for an exclusive interview Where did you get the inspiration for your company?

We both share an appreciation for design and craftsmanship and, above all, wanted to create an online gift destination where people can find a gift more than ordinary. We were both tired of finding the same massproduced products online and on the high-street and wanted to create something different – a one-stop shop for finding that perfect gift. Neither of us are fashion lead, but we are obsessed with quality and want things to last, and we have worked hard to bring together brands and products that fit with our ethos as well as our sense of style. Another key inspiration for launching The Gift Atelier was our passion for supporting ‘Best of British’ whether it be British owned companies or British made products. This is key to our business, and we are proud to offer a collection of wonderful ‘Best of British’ brands including Bamford, Drakes of London, Ettinger, Johnstons of Elgin, Linley and Vivienne Westwood!

How has your previous experience helped you in running your own company? What advice do you have for others thinking about setting up their own business?

Scott has first rate experience in working with some of the best makers in the world. His background in designing and developing bespoke leather accessories, as well as sourcing unique gifts and gadgets for the British luxury brand, Bamford & Sons, and managing the accessories collection at the iconic design label, Vivienne Westwood, gave us a unique opportunity to stock some great brands. We were lucky to have a lot of goodwill from suppliers that Scott had worked with over the years, and this proved to be invaluable when we first launched the website. On top of this, Martin’s experience as an Operations Director has been essential in running the business – Scott may have a good eye, but Martin is the one that ensures that invoices are paid, and VAT returns made on time. It made sense to combine our shared experience and launch The Gift Atelier.

Our main advice to anyone wanting to set-up their own business is to listen to advice from as many people as possible. It is easy to get caught-up with the excitement of launching our own business, but get as much feedback on your ideas as possible. We quickly learnt, that whilst you must be true to your idea, you cannot be precious about it. Constructive criticism family, friends and colleagues helped us to iron out issues before it was too late. It also goes without saying that ‘cash is king’. Keep cash coming in before you leave a job to set-up your business. We couldn’t have made it through the first year without both working full-time. It meant that we had to work every spare hour available, but it meant that we could pay the seemingly never–ending arrival of invoices.

What guides your selection of products?

Above all, we have to like the products. We personally select all gifts for their originality and quality.

We like to understand a brands history, to see how and where the products are made, and what makes them special.

We are obsessed with quality, and this guides us through every purchase we make. We are not about ‘stack them high, sell them cheap’ or purely about luxury. Instead, we want our gifts to give lasting pleasure – to get better with age! Realistically, you can’t source everything from within Britain, but there are still so many great brands that make in the UK and this is also central to our selection process. That’s why we include handmade ties made in London from Drake’s, cashmere accessories produced from the Johnstons of Elgin Mill in Scotland, and handmade sterling silver cufflinks produced from one of the oldest silversmiths in England.

Do you have your own favourites in the range?

There are so many favourites we have in the range, it is always hard to resist temptation and raid the warehouse to try everything ourselves. We love Bamford Bath & Body, and a personal favourite is the collection of witty cushions from Barbara Coupe – especially the ‘No Cats On This Sofa’ cushion.

Above all, we’re really proud of our own collection of men’s leather accessories we have created under the ‘Collett & Scott’ label. We have been able to work with the best leather manufacturers who make for some of the world’s most luxurious brands.

It has been so exciting to realise our own men’s accessories –albeit on a small scale for now. Scott says ‘Our ambition is to make beautifully designed but practical accessories which give lasting pleasure. All of our collection is made by hand, and we strive for the best quality possible. The charm of each piece is that it will age beautifully. We are working hard to make Collett & Scott become a name synonymous with design integrity and unrivalled standards of quality with the signature of understated luxury.’

How do you see your business developing in the future?

We are working hard to add more brands to The Gift Atelier and grow our own collection of ‘Collett & Scott’ accessories. We are working to make it different from fashion websites. We are a gift site, and not exclusively about fashion, but where brands like Vivienne Westwood and Tom Ford fit with our ethos, it’s great to be able to offer them alongside other British heritage labels and other products chosen for their quality and design. We are excited to welcome British brands including Corgi Socks, The Cambridge Satchel Company, Liberty of London and Hackett among others to The Gift Atelier later this year!

What makes a perfect holiday for you?

A mixture of sun, sea and sand is ideal, but the main thing for us is to find somewhere we can relax and switch-off our phones and discover somewhere new. It doesn’t have to be in an exotic location, and we often take a holiday in England. The perfect holiday for us at Cowley Manor in the Cotswolds. It is in a beautiful setting, has a great spa, as well as the best breakfast menu you can find anywhere… and there is very limited phone reception! www.giftatelier.com

SASS & BELLE Sass and Belle design beautiful vintage style gifts and affordable home accessories. Bring summer into the home with floral designs on many ranges or make the most of outside space with our tea light holders and bright buntings.

Find more at www.sassandbelle.co.uk

MELIN TREGWYNT Make a splash with a Melin Tregwynt ‘Broadstripe’ blanket - for that summer nautical vibe.

Made from 100% Shetland wool & in a variety of gorgeous colours. Woven by the sea in Wales - by the family company that’s been weaving for over 100years. www.melintregwynt.co.uk

FARMISON

BBQ Essentials Box £42.95 This great selection includes everything you need for that family friendly BBQ. With Free Range British Beef Burgers, 14 Day hung Pork Ribs and Goosnargh Chicken Drumsticks there is something for everyone to enjoy. http://www.farmison.com/bbq/bbq-essentials-box

BBQ Steaks and Chops Box £44.95 Love steaks, and want something a bit more than sausages on your BBQ? This is the box for you. With a great selection of British Beef Rump Steaks and Saltmarsh Lamb Leg Steaks you won’t know which to grill first. http://www.farmison.com/bbq/bbq-steaks-and-chops-box

Family Entertaining Box for 8-10 £69.95 Designed to cover all your family barbecue needs, this delightful box boasts a great range of meats. Complete with more typical barbecue sausages and burgers, to a fantastic Goosnargh Spatchcock Chicken, and succulent Saltmarsh Lamb Cutlets, it’ll keep everyone happy! http://www.farmison.com/bbq/family-entertaining-box-for-8-10

BBQ Condiment Selection £9.95 With a selection of condiments to suit all tastes, these luxury Mrs Bridges’ sauces are sure to impress. Specifically chosen to suit a wide range of traditional barbecue meats, come rain or shine these sauces make for a cracking meal! http://www.farmison.com/bbq/bbq-condiment-selection

MY HEART AND HOME My Heart and Home offers a charming range of beautiful cotton nightwear and traditional keepsake gifts for children age 2-12 years. Gifts which are unavailable on the high street, include rag dolls, tea sets, hand crocheted toys and teddy bears. www.myheartandhome.co.uk

SQUIRREL DESIGN TREE HOUSE Squirrel Design Tree Houses are leading specialists in designing and building bespoke tree houses and garden retreats. Creations range from adventurous children’s treehouses, imaginative tree house living and entertaining spaces, to inspiring hideaways, all carefully set in their natural environment. www.squirreldesign.co.uk

LITTLE LUCY WILLOW The exclusive luxury children’s furniture and accessory company that prides itself on designing unique collections of beautifully crafted furniture. Designed and built to the very highest standards here in England, our furniture is always in stock. Committed to quality, our furniture has a variety of colour and bespoke options and comes with a reassuring 10-year guarantee. http://www.littlelucywillow.co.uk

RUFUS RABBIT Rufus Rabbit is created by the family run card and gift company The Little Dog. The funny bunny with his own gorgeous & organic gifts, beautifully packaged for newborns & little ones.

They all aim high to ensure delivery of the loveliest products and best service possible; always going that extra mile to deliver your Rufus with a smile! www.rufusrabbit.co.uk

INTERVIEW

Hot Brands Cool Places spoke with Kate and Philip Reeves Founders of Essential Sailing for an exclusive interview.

What do you enjoy most about your current lifestyle ?

Although we can be extremely busy, we usually wake up in a different port or anchorage each day. This is an huge privilege and the best part of living on a yacht with ‘no fixed address’! It’s amazing being able to choose where you wake up each day and to share these places with others makes the hard work worthwhile. The view from our windows is constantly changing which makes life interesting and fresh each day.

What are the challenges?

The weather is a constant challenge. Avoiding strong winds or finding some wind so we get good sailing as well as peaceful nights is a constant worry.

But good research and a good reputation in marinas helps us deal with all the surprises the weather can throw at us!

How do you choose your locations?

Places that interest us and have a good mixture of sailing, history, culture and an excellent reputation for food and wine are high on our list. We don’t so much go in for big, noisy night life but a bit of glitz and glamour is ok occasionally!

What do your guests enjoy most about sailing holidays?

When you read through our guests book there are a couple of recurring themes: the excellent food prepared by Kate on board, a very comfortable yacht, beautiful sailing grounds, superb local area knowledge and an extremely high level of service and professionalism.

What do you do during the winter months?

We spend the winter months marketing our summer months, researching new places – if it’s good in winter it’ll probably be even better in summer – and making business connections within our operating areas. This year we’re planning to try out Croatia…

What makes a perfect holiday for you?

We’re hard to please! We like experiencing the ‘true identity’ of the place we choose, whether it’s a foreign country or in the UK. So no package tours for us!

Hot or cold – we don’t mind. We like most outdoor activities and enjoy being active so that’s quite an important part of a holiday for us. We also like to relax, whether in a quiet comfy corner with a book or in the spa, we’re easily pleased. A high level of service is very important as is the choice and quality of food. So pretty much everything we try and give our guests, we like to receive when we’re on holiday! www.essentialsailing.com

BRAMBLE ROSE Bramble Rose was born out of a passion for high quality personalised products and creates beautifully embroidered keepsakes, clothing and extra special gifts for babies and children.

Using high quality fabrics and designs, you can choose from personalised bibs, blankets, bags, rag dolls and commemorative teddies. Whatever the occasion and whatever the gift, you can be sure you’re giving someone something special they’ll want to cherish forever. www.bramble-rose.co.uk

OLIVIER BABY Classic and simple, but with an element of fun, Olivier Baby and Kids introduces its gorgeous designs for Summer 2013. Perfect for play as well as smarter occasions, all items have been designed in the UK and are superbly-priced. Olivier Baby and Kids is inspired by old-fashioned knitwear but introduces a modern twist which makes them practical and fun for children to wear. www.olivierbaby.com

REVIEWS The Belle & Boo Book of Craft - Belle and Boo Synopsis: Belle and Boo are the enchanting characters created by artist Mandy Sutcliffe. Belle is a little girl with a brown bob, the odd scratch on her knee and an insistent curiosity about the natural world, while her pet rabbit Boo, a flopsy brown bunny, is her faithful friend and confidant. Together they inhabit a sweetly nostalgic world where days are spent playing in a pirate treehouse, cloud-spotting from hot-air balloons or riding a fairground carousel. The Belle & Boo Book of Craft contains 25 innovative projects for parents to make for their children and bring to life this magical childhood world. Special sewing projects include an irresistible cuddly rabbit toy, a delightful washing-line wendy house and an intrepid explorer’s canvas satchel for playtime as well as a robust beanbag and stylish toy storage for your child’s room. www.belleandboo.com / www.amazon.co.uk Hot Brands Cool Places Verdict We love Belle and Boo and these two characters have long been favourites of ours. The Belle & Boo Book of Crafts is beautifully illustrated with exquisite drawings and delightful photographs.

It is full of gorgeous projects to make for children that will bring delight and joy. Perfect for the Summer, we loved it! Highly Recommended!

The Only Recipes You’ll Ever Need - Tony Turnball Synopsis: Simple and delicious dishes for every night of the week. This book is a great staple for any kitchen.’ Gordon Ramsay Based on the hugely successful feature in The Times Saturday Magazine, this inspirational collection contains over 250 easy recipes ranging from soups to desserts. So, look for an ingredient such as chicken and you’ll find four different ways to cook the bird; look for a dish like salad and find the recipes for Couscous, Thai Beef, Caesar and Niçoise salads.

Despite the plethora of cookbooks and cookery programmes encouraging us to try new recipes and ways of cooking, most people’s everyday cooking revolves around staple ingredients and dishes that are tasty and simple – and they often feel the need for new and original ideas. http://www.amazon.co.uk/ Hot Brands Cool Places Verdict We loved the simplicity of this book, taking ordinary ingredients and divided into Light Dishes, Main dishes, Desserts and Drinks, this compilation features four recipes each for 60 ingredients/ styles of dish – including soups, fish, chicken, meat, roasts, salads, stir fries, fruit pies, berries and many more. Perfect for a student leaving home, or someone who wants inspiration for weekday cooking. Highly Recommended!

BELLE AND BOO Welcome to the world of a bob haired little girl called Belle and her adorable bunny friend Boo – a charming world of innocence, warmth and adventure. Belle and Boo is a British lifestyle brand known for original, nostalgic ‘story book’ illustrations of children created by the artist Mandy Sutcliffe. The collection includes gift items, books, framed artworks, stationery, home wares and a beautiful collection of girls’ clothing. www.belleandboo.com

DOODLE BY STITCH Summer, the perfect time to celebrate with friends and family. Doodle tablecloth and placemats make every get-together special. Create individual place-settings in advance, or let guests get creative…and it all washes out for the next occasion! www.doodlebystitch.com

GIC THE VILLA COLLECTION GIC The Villa Collection offers a range of stylish villas across a number of the beautiful Greek islands, dotted through the Ionian and Aegean seas – perfect for those who are looking for a stunning place to stay while discovering the real Greek island lifestyle. www.gicthevillacollection.com

HOLIDAY COTTAGES Holiday Cottages is a family owned and operated business with more than thirty years experience as a holiday lettings specialist. We offer some of the finest holiday cottages throughout the country including; Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, the New Forest and the Cotswolds. www.holidaycottages.co.uk

HOT BRANDS COOL PLACES www.hotbrandscoolplaces.com