Presenting: Edward James Furniture Ltd

Presenting:

Edward James Furniture Ltd

By Zara Harris

Discover the story behind Edward James Furniture in our interview with the founder, James as he gives us an insight into what the company is all about, why he set it up and his core values. Here’s what he had to say...

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR COMPANY.

We are a furniture shop in the centre of Kendal, selling high quality furniture for an affordable price. I started the business Edward James Furniture Ltd in 2012. This was after coming back from Australia in 2008 and trying to buy some decently priced, good quality furniture to no avail. This led me to opening up my own business to fulfil such a need. The name was derived from the middle names of my two boys, Charlie Edward and Harry James.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT EDWARD JAMES FURNITURE?

It’s a family run business located in Kendal, specialising in high quality British made furniture. Our Lakeland range of sofas are crafted from the finest materials. The furniture is constructed for strength and durability, with all components extensively tested for the customers peace of mind and all of the money goes back into Britain. I am proud to be British and our furniture is hand-crafted and tailored here in the UK.

The furniture has a free upgrade of Aquaclean fabrics on all sofas, as opposed to most selling this as a feature! Aquaclean® technology is a revolutionary fabric treatment that allows you to clean stains using water only. This provides you with simple fabric maintenance in the minimum amount of time. Aquaclean helps to remove the majority of household stains (wine, ink, sauce, fat, mud, chocolate, cream, etc) making life easier and giving you more time for the more important things. And it really does work.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FURNITURE YOU SELL? (For example classic, neural etc..)

We have a variety of collections in all types of designs, in 100’s of quality fabrics and are all very comfortable, and will stay comfy! No cheap materials used whatsoever. Even the cushions are made of quality materials with duck feather inners. The furniture combines traditional techniques with modern technology to ensure the highest quality construction and superior comfort.

WHAT AREAS DO YOU COVER?

near them. We do direct home delivery from the factory to the client and free local delivery is to: Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Kirby Lonsdale, Ingleton, Sedbergh, Kirby Stephen, Coniston, Hawkshead, Ulverston, Grange over Sand, Arnside, Carnforth and Milnthorpe.

HOW DO YOU GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS?

We don’t pressurise our customers, we are there for the customer’s needs. I take the pressure off of the customers by listening to their needs and making sure their purchase is the right choice. Old fashioned quality with old fashioned service. We offer a free set-up service with delivery to the room of your choice, and the removal of all packaging.

WHAT PRICE ARE YOUR PRODUCTS?

I am proud that the furniture isn’t necessarily the cheapest, but by paying that little more, you’ll get furniture that will last over 15 years! I don’t want to sell a person a cheap sofa that only lasts 4 years. I know that in buying the right sofa, the best quality will please customers enough that they will then recommend us to their friends and family, and that’s better than a repeat purchase. WHAT ARE YOUR BEST SELLING PRODUCTS/ SIGNATURE STYLE?

We have seven best sellers, with a further five new models being introduced after Christmas, so stay tuned!

WHAT TRENDS HAVE YOU NOTICED?

Blues are very popular right now, with rusty orange and khaki following closely.

HOW DID THE BUSINESS ADAPT DURING THE PANDEMIC?

My business did OK during the pandemic as we already had orders to fulfil when the Kendal shop was closed. When it opened again, all those who had refunds from their holidays etc had money they wished to put into their homes, so business is doing well.

WHAT IS NEW FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT?

We will be extending due to continued success with more choice, styles while still keeping the more traditional designs people know and love.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT CHRISTMAS DELIVERY LEAD TIME?

If you are thinking of a new sofa for Christmas, please consider ordering your sofa as soon as possible to guarantee Christmas delivery as due to the current circumstance and demand, the current lead time is 14 weeks from date of order.

Their full collection is available to view now at the Kendal showroom at: 37 Highgate, LA9 4ED N 01539 734439 F Edward James Furniture E enquiries@edwardjamesfurniture.com www.edwardjamesfurniture.com

The Lancashire Magazine Eats Out...

Beijing Cantonese Restaurant, Clow Bridge

by Richard Sagar

Meet The Food Critic...

Barrister-turned-food-writer Richard Sagar takes us through some of the finest culinary venues our historic county and surrounding areas have to offer.

Keep an eye out for Richard’s reviews in our editions as he quite literally eats his way through the North West!This week takes me out of my usual comfort zone of gastro pubs and restaurants to the Beijing Cantonese Restaurant on the outskirts of Burnley – where I sampled a true selection of tastes from the orient with their renowned ‘all you can eat – cooked to order’ banquet. You won’t find any vats of noodles and sloppy sweet & sour under a heat lamp here – everything chosen is freshly cooked and brought to your table by the friendly waiting on staff. And at only £18.50 a head, it makes for a great value indulgence!

As we arrived at the bustling restaurant, just off the main road and adjacent to the glorious Clowbridge Reservoir, we were shown to our table by a charming waitress – and I was pleased to see proper linen tablecloths and napkins! Admittedly only a small thing, but for me it makes such a difference to first impressions. Once we’d settled ourselves down we placed our drinks order and started to peruse the extensive ‘all you can eat’ menu. I hasted to add, the Beijing does offer an a la carte menu too with some seriously tastylooking signature dishes, but for this mid-week treat we were going all in.

I started with a bowl of hot and sour soup – not the most visually attractive dish I’ve ever seen, but the taste was outstanding! Plenty of hot chillies left a tang on the tongue which made the meaty soup lively and fresh; with a plate of prawn crackers on the side this was an ideal introduction to the Beijing’s offerings.

Next on the menu – the impressive selection of starters of which, my fellow diners and I were determined to try as many as we could. Arriving freshly cooked on a sharing plate, this made for a very sociable way of dining – and an ideal opportunity to mask ones gluttony with the guise of sharing! Beijing Cantonese Restaurant 2-6 Burnley Road Clow Bridge Burnley Lancashire BB11 5PB N 01282 832188 beijingcantonese.com

In our first ‘round’ of starters, we opted for crispy chicken pancakes, crispy duck pancakes, Cantonese spareribs, pork dumplings and crab claws. The pancakes were delicious – the chicken/duck being served separately and the pancakes themselves lightly steamed. The spareribs were melt in your mouth tender with all the piquancy one would expect from a well balanced Cantonese sauce. Chinese dumplings are a firm favourite of mine, and the pork dumplings (or Fan Gor) were no disappointment; well-seasoned minced pork with spring onions all wrapped in a lovely fried dumpling – delicious simply dipped into some light soy sauce. The crab claws were a thing of beauty – each akin to a crab lollypop, held together round a small crabs claw. The lollypop on this occasion was finely minced, soft and sweet white crab meat coated in breadcrumbs – a most delicious and surprisingly filling starter!

The drinks at the Beijing were particularly reasonable for restaurant prices – and really went down well with the lively food served. We had tap water for the table and I decided to go for a bottle of the house red – Jean Paul Rouge. It is a wine I’m always happy to see in a restaurant as their house red – a lovely easy drinking number, and at less than £13 a bottle you really cannot complain.

For our second round of starters, we had to order more of the delicious duck pancakes, simply because they were so very morish! Alongside, we went for the ubiquitous seaweed, some King Do spareribs, salt and pepper chicken wings, deep fried wan tun and a Cantonese spring roll. The seaweed was simply as one would expect it to be – beautifully salty and crisp to the tongue. The spareribs were once again as tender as anything whilst the King Do sauce added the beautifully fruity flavour associated with this Worcestershire sauce heavy recipe.

Chinese style salt and pepper must go down as one of the all-time favourite flavour combinations, and the chicken wings at the Beijing were beautifully done. The salt and pepper was neither too salty or too spicy – instead bringing out all the natural flavours of the chicken itself whilst providing a little kick along the way. For me, the wan tun were a little too pastry heavy which resulted in them being too much crunch at the expense of substance, but given the rest of what we had, this was no real hardship. Last but not least, the Cantonese spring roll was delicious – crammed full of beautifully tender meat and vegetables, it amazed me how it could retain such moisture inside with the outside so beautifully crisp.

After this starter marathon, it would have been easy to completely forget about mains, but I had my eyes on the sliced chicken in satay sauce. Whilst I know it is completely unforgivably British, I ordered this to come with chips, despite egg fried or boiled rice being on the menu! It arrived on a sizzler plate, full of chunky pieces of chicken breast and adorned with a multitude of coloured peppers. The sauce itself was deep and flavoursome – in parts extra-reduced on the roasting hot iron serving dish. Despite being somewhat embarrassed at ordering it with chips, it was actually a perfect accompaniment and I would encourage you to try it!

Sadly at this stage I could hardly move, let alone order more food - so there I was, defeated by the all-you-can-eat banquet. But what a nice experience it was. Very low key and informal dining, but a perfect place to meet with friends, try foods you wouldn’t necessarily order from an a la carte menu, and really explore this fabulous cuisine. The surroundings are comfortable, the service punctual and the value, unbeatable. At £18.50 a head, I really would urge you to give the Beijing at Clow Bridge a try – I have every confidence you’ll enjoy it just as much as I did.

Manish Kumar Arora is a renowned KP Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Reader & Vastu Consultant. He has been rendering

professional advice to clients with a reasonable degree of success. He has been conferred with the title of ‘Jyotish Varahamihir’ and ‘Jyotish Aryabhatt.’ He has been writing monthly astrological columns for many international magazines.

ARIES: (21 Mar - 19 Apr)

This month is good for bringing new, more creative energy to your daily life, or the work you do and services you provide. You may find that career dealings go smoother than usual. You get and give advice, you learn about lots of new things, you get lots of new information, and your mind is going fast. You also come across well publicly. You’re more affectionate with others, and you feel more romantic and flirtatious. You come across as fair, wanting to be compromising, a good mediator, and concerned with striking a balance in your life. Favourable Dates: Oct 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, 24 Favourable Colours: Blue & White

TAURUS (20 Apr - 20 May)

Exciting surprises may be in store that expand your mind and experience, but be aware that delays or troubles while travelling, or with new initiatives, could be part of the picture. If you have any creative projects to work on, you do them well. If you have to deal with your boss or a parent, you can win them over. If single, you could meet someone through your career. Depending on your current age, it may be a time when you feel your age, or it is a time when you see your body more clearly. Favourable Dates: Oct 5, 6, 14, 15, 23, 24 Favourable Colours: Blue & Green

GEMINI (21 May - 20 Jun)

This is also a good period for career advancement and connecting with people who help you to feel more confident about reaching your goals. You could also be reassessing your feelings and attachments, or current pursuits. While you could be wrestling with some decisions, you can in fact be a real dynamo with a little extra solitude and time to yourself. You also feel bogged down by your values. You want security, but you don’t feel as though it’s possible for you right now because of all of your responsibilities or issues that need to be addressed. Favourable Dates: Oct 5, 9, 14, 18, 23, 24 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Blue

CANCER (21 Jun - 22 Jul)

You keep your thoughts to yourself, don’t want to share your ideas, and are more focused on your imagination. You may see things unravel, secrets come out, old issues come back, and things that you thought were dead and gone suddenly alive and kicking your butt. People in your life can be draining your energy now, and you’ll need to work out a plan that helps you to better divide your attention between self-care and attention to others. You may derive enjoyment from getting in touch with your roots or family traditions. Favourable Dates: Oct 7, 8, 16, 17, 25, 26 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White

LEO (23 Jul - 22 Aug)

You are encouraged to find your creative voice, to seek out activities that you truly enjoy, and to discover and share your unique talents. There are plenty of rewards for you here. You continue to look for ways to improve your life experiences and increase your knowledge and wisdom this month. You could also decide to devote yourself to a cause and do something good for people or the planet. You can confront deeply held issues with less anxiety and fear. This is also a good time for dealing with your joint finances, debts, loans, taxes, or inheritances. Favourable Dates: Oct 7, 8, 16, 17, 25, 26 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White

VIRGO (23 Aug - 22 Sept)

The month brings some hurdles to jump. It will be important to work on a solid plan for organizing your money. You can be working especially hard for your earnings these days, but you’re also finding ways to inject routine work or daily life with more excitement. You’ll also want to deal with some of the trickier elements of your relationships instead of letting problem areas grow. Desires that have been buried or left unacknowledged can emerge now. Combining your resources or talents with someone can be beneficial for reaching a goal. Favourable Dates: Oct 1, 5, 10, 14, 19, 23 Favourable Colours: White & Grey

LIBRA (23 Sept - 22 Oct)

You’ll be less impulsive and impatient, and this can point to a more enjoyable experience of this creative, romantic, and sexy combination. You are attracting strong and intelligent people into your life, and you’re also taking more pride in your close relationships. This motivates you to put forward a solid effort when it comes to relating in positive, rewarding ways. You’re less competitive and want to do things on your own, feeling like you have better energy by yourself, and that other people drain you. Favourable Dates: Oct 1, 9, 10, 18, 19, 27 Favourable Colours: Green & Yellow

SCORPIO (23 Oct - 21 Nov)

You’re encouraged to play with new ideas for work, and you can find much to enjoy in the process. . If you’ve been working hard for something with your career, you could finally get there. Conversely, if you’ve been doing things wrong, you could have setbacks, delays, or other problems. You could find yourself in the public eye for some reason. You are called upon to strike a balance between your own needs for security and comfort and the same needs of other people, likely those of a significant other. Favourable Dates: Oct 1, 3, 10, 12, 19, 21 Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow

SAGITTARIUS (22 Nov - 21 Dec)

You can be strongly motivated to take action that helps boost your feelings of security as well as your comfort as the month begins,. You have wonderful support from the cosmos for these efforts. It’s a great time for bringing creative flair to business endeavours, discovering new ways of earning more, and making your home life more enjoyable and comfortable. You’re more emotionally tied to your possessions, and you may shop for something just to make yourself feel better. You come across as more charming and beautiful, and people are attracted to you. Favourable Dates: Oct 1, 7, 10, 16, 19, 25 Favourable Colours: Red & White

CAPRICORN (22 Dec - 19 Jan)

This can also be a time for discovering, developing, and putting to better use of your natural talents. You’ll be finding fabulous new ways for using the resources you already have to your advantage now. It’s a great time for getting the support you need, but perhaps more importantly, making things happen on your own. You feel like beginning something new, feeling more adventurous and pioneering, and you have the energy you need to embark on a new journey. You’re positive about your chances, and you forge ahead. Favourable Dates: Oct 3, 9, 12, 18, 21, 27 Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

AQUARIUS (20 Jan - 18 Feb)

This is a strong time for simplifying and structuring your life, and this can involve boosting your faith in a higher plan to your life You closely identify with your values, and you want other people to have the same values as you do. You prefer to spend time around people who come from the same background or have the same beliefs as yourself. You also feel like letting loose and having fun in a way and engaging in your hobbies and may feel more inspired, creative, and artistic, as well as flirty and romantic. Favourable Dates: Oct 2, 8, 11, 17, 20, 26 Favourable Colours: White & Blue

PISCES (19 Feb - 20 Mar)

It’s a great time to pay special attention to your income, how you spend your money, and your valuables. You’ll have great ideas for how to improve your bottom line, as well as how to better make use of the resources you have. Exciting surprises may be in store that expand your mind and experience. Pleasure-seeking activities, recreation, and amusement are increased. You are far less inhibited when it comes to expressing yourself creatively, and you are a lot more fun to be around. Favourable Dates: Oct 2, 9, 11, 18, 20, 27 Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow

Manish Kumar Arora, 91-9871062000 | K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant F www.facebook.com/manishastroconsultant | E manish@manishastrologer.com