West Magazine June 17 2017

17.06.17

34 Gift ideas he’ll love

INSIDE:

‘My first mad 12 months as a dad’

WIN:

£100 worth of gourmet snacks

DADDY COOL All the ingredients for the perfect Father’s Day

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“Last week I sang Incy Wincy Spider 200 times to get Sam to sleep.”

Chris McGuire on his first year of fatherhood, p12

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MOJITO, ANYONE? There’s a rum festival in town

28

HELLO, HANDSOME Wardrobe updates for him

[contents[ Inside this week...

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THE WISHLIST Our pick of the best treats this week

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JUST BETWEEN US...

Sh! We have all the latest gossip

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OUR FIRST FATHER’S DAY ‘What a year as a dad has taught me’

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THE WRITE STUFF

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THE WRITE STUFF ‘I jumped at the chance to live in Devon’

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BOARD MEETINGS New ways to get fit and have fun

Author Jane Corry’s Devon dream

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SIMPLY CHARMING Go off the grid on Dartmoor

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JUST ASK GRACIE

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LET’S DO LUNCH Calamari at the Barbican Kitchen

Our style guru solves Dad’s problems

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HELLO, HANDSOME Smart casual staples for him

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BOOST YOUR WELLBEING Great ways to feel your best this week

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SMALL BITES What’s hot in the South West foodie world

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OYSTERS A LA MITCH TONKS A new way with Westcountry shellfish

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SECRET WESTCOUNTRY Where to go, what to do

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HOOK, LINE AND SINKER Phil Goodwin takes his son fishing

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OUR FIRST FATHER’S DAY

Chris McGuire reflects on life as a dad 3

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“Last week I sang Incy Wincy Spider 200 times to get Sam to sleep.”

Chris McGuire on his first year of fatherhood, p12

39

MOJITO, ANYONE? There’s a rum festival in town

28

HELLO, HANDSOME Wardrobe updates for him

[contents[ Inside this week...

6

THE WISHLIST Our pick of the best treats this week

9

JUST BETWEEN US...

Sh! We have all the latest gossip

12

OUR FIRST FATHER’S DAY ‘What a year as a dad has taught me’

16

THE WRITE STUFF

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THE WRITE STUFF ‘I jumped at the chance to live in Devon’

30

BOARD MEETINGS New ways to get fit and have fun

Author Jane Corry’s Devon dream

22

SIMPLY CHARMING Go off the grid on Dartmoor

26

JUST ASK GRACIE

42

LET’S DO LUNCH Calamari at the Barbican Kitchen

Our style guru solves Dad’s problems

28

HELLO, HANDSOME Smart casual staples for him

32

BOOST YOUR WELLBEING Great ways to feel your best this week

35

SMALL BITES What’s hot in the South West foodie world

36

YOUR STARS THIS WEEK Cassandra Nye has your latest horoscope

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SECRET WESTCOUNTRY Where to go, what to do

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HOOK, LINE AND SINKER Phil Goodwin takes his son fishing

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OUR FIRST FATHER’S DAY

Chris McGuire reflects on life as a dad 3

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HEAVEN IN DEVON

Discover a Dartmoor hideaway

[ welcome [ It’s all about you, Dad! his week’s West has a distinctly masculine flavour - at least, compared to our usual rather girlie offering. Yes, it’s Father’s Day tomorrow and, with this in mind, we’ve been looking out some special treats for the chaps in our lives. First up, there’s men’s fashion on pages 28-29. Then our style guru Gracie Stewart addresses the burning issue of male grooming on page 26. Once you’re looking your best, then turn to page 11 for some fun ideas of things to do tomorrow to celebrate, from welly wanging near Falmouth to free train rides in east Devon.

Something for everyone, I’m sure you’ll agree!

T

Tweet

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of the week

[

[

On page 12, we have the writer Chris McGuire’s take on fatherhood, as he approaches his first Father’s Day as a dad to new baby Sam. It’s very funny - and, if you like Chris’s sideways take on life, do check out his blog, Out Of Depth Dad. It can surely only be a matter of time before Chris gets the call to turn the blog into a hilarious book.

Talking of book deals, we also have a wonderful (and non-Father’s Day related!) feature (p16) by the author Jane Corry on how moving to Sidmouth helped her top the Sunday Times bestseller charts. She’s organising next weekend’s Sidmouth Literary Festival, too: well worth a visit.

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Welly wanging and free train rides something for everyone!

@CandCC

Coast & Country Cottages Thank you @WMNWest for featuring our exciting new pet friendly holiday guide on Saturday!

TO ADVERTISE: Contact Cathy Long: 01752 293017 or 07557 576668, clong@dc-media.co.uk

Becky Sheaves, Editor

EDITORIAL: westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk Tel: 01392 442250 Twitter @wmnwest

COVER IMAGE: T-shirt £26 Barbour

MEET THE TEAM Becky Sheaves, Editor

Phil Goodwin

Kathryn Clarke-McLeod

Gillian Molesworth

Cathy Long

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Eds letter_One thing_June 17.indd 4

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If you do one thing this week...

Why not spice up your snacktime by trying out the new flavour chips from Plymouth-based Burts Chips? Their new Quinoa Crinkles now come in Sweet Pepper & Chorizo flavour, made with chorizo from Good Game, who make top-quality charcuterie in Topsham, Devon. Burts’ new Quinoa Crinkles range contains fewer than 90 calories per packet but tastes terrific. Burts Chips have a track record of interesting flavours - they also make potato crisps in flavours such as Guinness and Firecracker Lobster - all cooked in small batches to ensure the highest quality products. www.burtschips.com

Win

Win a £100 hamper containing Burts Chips Sweet Pepper & Chorizo Quinoa Crinkles and delicious locally-made charcuterie from the Good Game company. To enter, simply tell us which company makes the chorizo for Burts Chips? Send your answer plus your name, address, phone and email to: westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk to arrive by June 30. Alternatively, you can post your entry to: Burts Chips competition, West Magazine, Queen’s House, Little Queen Street, Exeter EX43LJ. Normal terms apply, West magazine will not share your details.

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CUPPA Mug £20 Emma Bridgewater

Link watch £2,200 TAG Heuer

the

wishlist It’s Father’s Day tomorrow - time to go shopping today!

Father’s Day chocolates £12.50 Hotel Chocolat

fave!

DJI Mavic Pro drone £1,099 www.dji.com

SNIFTER! Hip flask £40 Barbour

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Wishlist

Father’s Day card £3.50 Designist

CUTE Mr Strong t-shirt £19 M&Co

Turner & Sanderson Ickley paisley jacquard silk tie £35 House of Fraser

Leather carry-all £150 Dune

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talking points Gillian Molesworth

Story of my life...

Confessions of a crazy eco lady

“

se a tea towel if you’re just drying off your hands,” I say to my kids constantly, watching them carelessly snap off a sheet of paper towel and throw it, only lightly damp, into the bin. Sometimes I fish it out of the bin and put it on the side of the counter for re-use or I wipe off the hob with it. ers? Crazy eco-lady warning bell “You’re turning into a crazy no. 2: it makes my blood boil to eco-lady,” a friend said to me. It’s see a bin full of small plastic true. cups next to the water cooler at The trouble is, once you start the end of every day. noticing waste, it’s all around Lots of us are doing our little you. I was horrified the last time bit to help and we’re all getting we had a barbecue. We managed more in the swing of re-using to fill half a big bin-liner with our grocery bags. But there are plastic trays, plastic cups, wrapmore little changes that will pers and general detritus. make a big difference.

This earth is groaning under I’m a paid-up member of the the weight of the “refuse the straw” things we are initiative, recently throwing away, endorsed by fashI was horrified and there really ion icon Vivienne does not seem to Westwood. Single last time we had be any improveuse drinking a barbecue. We ment in the straws are pointwasteful way we less and many will filled half a binare living. eventually make liner with plastic Another extheir way into the trays, cups, ample: the office waterways and water cooler. Our choke baby ganwrappers and office has two, nets or seal pups. general detritus one either end of Stir your cocktail the long room. with a spoon – the Both of them bartender should are within a 20 foot radius of a have done it for you anyway. kitchen, containing both a tap Another top tip: you can buy and assorted glasses and mugs. toothbrushes made of bamboo.

I can understand the point of Seriously, type “bamboo tootha water cooler if you’re living in brush” into your search engine. a place where the mains water is Not only do they come in an dodgy, and would give you gasarray of shapes and sizes, they troenteritis or typhoid or someare also cheaper than plastic thing. But, to my knowledge, the ones. What a great way to cut UK’s filtration technology is top down on more plastic waste. notch. And, it goes both hot and I am about to buy a family cold with the swing of a mixer pack. And endure the jeers of my tap, with lukewarm in between. kids, who also think I am turning So why do we need water coolinto a crazy eco lady.

U

TIED UP

with a bow As the host of the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, Vanessa Hudgens posed on the red carpet in a pale pink dress by Marchesa with gigantic bows on the bodice. Although this dress could have easily veered into 80’s prom territory, High School Musical star Vanessa made it work by keeping her accessories and makeup to a bare minimum.

Metallic bow dress £69 Topshop

steal her

style

OR MAKE IT YOUR OWN

OPTION B Perfect

Bow detail dress £95 Laura Ashley

OPTION A Pretty

Shoulder bow dress £65 Very

Gillian Molesworth is a journalist and mum-of-two who grew up in the USA and moved to north Cornwall when she met her husband 8

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17.06.17

HE’S ONE TO WATCH...

We’re thrilled to hear that our favourite Westcountry actor, Lewis Peek, has a peach of a new TV role.

Lewis, 23, played Ted Carkeek in the second series of Poldark but sadly his character in the show died. The good news is that Lewis is now filming the next series of Endeavour, the Oxford-based prequel to Morse, alongside Shaun Evans and Roger Allam. Lewis will play new recruit Detective Constable George Fancy in the six-part series, which will air in 2018.

Just

Lewis cut his teeth at Plymouth Theatre Royal‘s youth group and then worked in a coffee bar in Plymouth while he tried to get his big break as an actor: “You have to stay patient and positive,” he says.

“It’s not about being famous or having loads of money, I just want to be constantly in work.” Sounds like you’re well on the way to us, Lewis – well done.

between us Gossip, news, trend setters and more – you heard all the latest juicy stuff here first!

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LILY: MY NEW MUM RULES

WHO’S THE DADDY, ROSS? Talking of Poldark (see above) and with Father’s Day in mind, the one thing we’re all wondering here at West is: who is the dad of Elizabeth’s baby in Poldark? Star Aidan Turner was quizzed recently on the burning paternity question but he isn’t giving anything away: “We don’t know!” he says. “If the baby comes out with a scar on his face…”

Ross’s transgression with old flame Elizabeth in series two sparked an outcry from viewers – and the mum-to-be’s new baby could serve as a permanent reminder of Ross playing away. But writer and execu-

tive producer Debbie Horsfield is trying to quash any further speculation. “Nobody knows for certain,” she says. “Elizabeth never says what she thinks either.

“I have my opinions and the book [by Winston Graham] has its suspicions – but, during the period we’re covering, it’s never overtly stated.”

But that’s not to say that things are strained between Ross and his wife Demelza. Far from it, says Aidan. “You really feel like Ross and Demelza are growing through their relationship, it’s exciting to play.”

And to watch, Aidan!

Lily Cole – who was born in Torquay – has been describing how she intends to bring up her daughter Wylde, aged one, to be fearless. Lily, 29, said recently: “Fear can be healthy within reason, but if I’m scared of something I take it as a signal I should do it.

“I did my first play when I was ten and I was absolutely terrified, almost to the point of being crippled before going on but then I’d get off with a high.

“You get a high from pushing your fear.”

This brave approach seems to be working for Lily, whose dad Chris was working as a boatbuilder and fisherman in Torquay when she was born. She’s recently played Elizabeth I in a TV series and also won a part acting onstage in a comedy called The Philanthropists, directed by Simon Callow in London’s West End. What’s next, we wonder?

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Soaring: Bridget Batchelor took this photo of Paignton beach during Torbay Air Show

in pictures Wow: Sue Heyward, Eluned Bree and Gill Butler set a new pom pom garland world record in Par, near Newquay

Splish splash: Mark Solomon and daughter Lauren enjoyed a morning dip in the newly opened Jubilee Pool, Penzance

End of the day: Sunset over the Tamar Bridge 10

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talking points A HISTORY

of the

WEST in

100

objects 50: TILLET BLOCK

The best way to:

CELEBRATE FATHER’S DAY Tomorrow is Father’s Day, so here are some fun ideas to celebrate. Why not plan a family day out in the Westcountry especially for dads and granddads?

Sheep at the price: There is free entry to The Big Sheep in north Devon for all dads when accompanied by a child (you have to download a link from their website to qualify). Dads can enjoy a refreshing pint of real ale from the The Sheep brewery over lunch and then an afternoon of whizzing down the slides and monkeying around on the gladiator rings. www.thebigsheep.co.uk All aboard! Who doesn’t love a train ride? Seaton Tramway in east Devon is allowing dads to go for free on their vintage trams between Colyton and Seaton if they travel with their family tomorrow. Make Dad’s day extra special and treat him to a delicious roast Sunday lunch or Devon cream tea at the Tramstop Cafe. Children £8.25 adults £11 www.tram.co.uk

Welly wanging: The World of Country Life, Exmouth, is offering fathers and grandfathers free entry to the park plus free entry into their Welly Wanging competition – with great prizes up for grabs for the winner. There are all the usual daily activities as well, including goat walking, animal handling, bottle feeding, lamb racing or ferret racing (depending on the weather!), the Hawkridge Birds of Prey flying display and the Deer Train Safari. Entry is £10.70 (children) and £12.90 (adults) www.worldofcountrylife.co.uk.

Garden games: To mark Father’s Day, Glendurgan Garden near Falmouth is organising some games in this spectacular valley garden garden. Why not try Wildlife Bingo or the Glendurgan Garden quiz? Then have a go at the 180-year-old maze and finish the day off with tea in the garden’s Tea Rooms. The games are free but normal admission charges (children £4.50, adults £9) apply. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Custom House, Exeter, 1700–50 Julien Parsons is the Senior Collections Officer, The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter.

He says: These days, Britain’s role as a manufacturer and exporter of goods is at the forefront of political debate. If we stepped back ten generations, we would find that Exeter was almost reliant on a single industry: 60 per cent of its workers were employed in fulling, dyeing and pressing woollen cloth.

Of course, it was Devon’s sheepfarmers who provided the wool and it was the county’s weavers, working in their cottages, who produced the cloth. But it was Exeter’s wool merchants who made the most profit.

The writer and traveller Celia Fiennes reported in 1698 that Exeter’s trade in serge, a type of hard-wearing woollen cloth, ‘turned the most money of anything in England’. The city boomed, becoming the fourth or fifth largest in Britain by around 1700.

English serge was in demand across Europe – the Netherlands were a major

market – so controlling the export and maintaining the high quality of woollen cloth were paramount to running a successful business.

Before shipping, bales of cloth were wrapped in a coarse fabric called tillet. The outside of the bales was stamped using inked wooden blocks, probably at Exeter’s Custom House.

Usually, tillet blocks feature coats-ofarms, floral patterns or initials, but in this example a more fitting subject was chosen: a weaver sat at his loom. The stamp acted as a buyer’s guarantee that the cloth inside the bundle was of superior quality.

#50

On display in Gallery 3, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter

Competition winner: Congratulations to Julie Rivers of Bittaford near Ivybridge who wins a spa day for two (worth £110) at the luxury Budock Vean Hotel near Falmouth, www.budockvean.co.uk

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People

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PARENTHOOD

Our first Father’s Day

Nearly a year ago, Devon-based writer Chris McGuire became a dad for the first time. With Father’s Day in mind, Chris now looks back over twelve months with his new baby Sam, a time that has changed his life in more ways than he could possibly ever have imagined...

uddenly you hit the water…

SPLASH! You’ve always seen yourself as a pretty good swimmer. But the pool is colder than you expected, and just treading water is hard. You try to touch the bottom with a foot, it’s well out of reach.

It’s then that you realise you’re out of your depth and struggling under the sudden weight of responsibility that’s landed on your shoulders.

Welcome to fatherhood.

Nine months of denial ends with a (literal) pop and all you can hear is crying – and sometimes the baby cries, too.

Let’s be clear, when I say “denial”, I don’t mean I didn’t want a baby. My partner and I wanted it more than anything. I was just in denial about my ever becoming a proper “FATHER”.

It seemed to me that Sam’s mum took to her role like a duck to water. But I didn’t feel like a

S

dad, I just felt like me – the same old me as ever.

Throughout the pregnancy, I’d half expected some kind of celestial transformation to take place: turning me into a middle-aged, responsible, sage, oil-changing, radiator bleeding, slipperwearing dad. This didn’t happen. So, as readers of my blog will know, I’ve been making up this whole Dad Thing as I go – feeling totally out of my depth.

I’m not what you’d call handy, I’m useless at DIY. I’ve never lent my next door neighbour jump leads – I don’t have a car. In fact, I am only now learning to drive at the age of 38.

When things go wrong I still look around for a

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grown up. I tend to forget I’m already one myself.

That’s why my blog is called Out of Depth Dad. To be honest, before Sam’s arrival, blogging wasn’t on my radar. It sounded far too trendy for me: “Did you write your blog this morning?”

“Oh yes!” “What’s it on?” “The effect of beards on 21st Century Politics.”

“Super.”

Yet, Sam’s birth had such a dramatic, allencompassing, effect on our lives, I found myself scouring the internet in the wee small hours looking for advice. So, as the dust of Sam’s initial arrival settled, I started to share my thoughts on fatherhood, a role that

‘All you can hear is

crying - and sometimes the baby cries, too’

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PHOTOGRAPHY: KILIAN HALL

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seemed to me to be in a state of flux these days.

And here we are, Sam is approaching his first birthday and I’ve been a dad for almost a year.

Together, we are about to face our very first Father’s Day. So, what have I learned along the way?

1: I can survive on amazingly little sleep It’s amazing what the human body can cope with.

I love my sleep. I mean I LOVE it. So does Sam. Sadly, the times my son and I like to slumber have often been quite different. Sam, especially in the early months, liked to sleep during the day, reserving the hours of darkness for fullvoiced screaming and laughing at his father’s increasingly h a g g a r d appearance.

I never thought I’d appreciate a 3am wakeup call but last night his mum and I actually celebrated Sam waking at this time. It was the longest stretch of sleep we’d had since he was born.

Right now, I would genuinely, without hesitation, give large (and I do mean LARGE) amounts of money for some sleep. I think of it in the same way normal, sane, people fantasize about winning the lottery.

than I do – just because I’m a man.

I look after Sam three days a week, while his mum works. It’s the best fit for us, as a family. I’m one of many stay-at-home dads (or SAHDs) who do similar childcare duties, yet most of us have had experiences with strangers who assume we must be giving mum a half-hour break and have never really looked after our child before.

Dealing with this in a calm manner is a skill we SAHDs must learn: “His mum? Where is she?”

“She’s at home, working.”

The lady gave me a look of “Oh you poor dear,” then stuck a grubby finger into Sam’s, unsuspecting, mouth.

“Please don’t do that,” I said.

“He’s fine,” she said, dismissively.

Whether Sam was fine, or not, was hardly the point.

I pulled the pram away, simultaneously trying to remember if there was a way of disinfecting a baby’s mouth.

‘Last week I sang Incy

Wincy Spider 200 times

to get Sam to sleep’

2: Dads can’t avoid unwanted advice I sometimes think I’ve a sign on my back, that says: “Come on over and state the bloody obvious.” I’ll be minding my own business (out and about with Sam), when a complete stranger will assume they have a better knowledge of my child

3: Babies can’t be interesting all of the time Looking after a newborn is a never-ending treadmill of feeding, burping, wiping, rocking and nursery rhymes that (if you’re honest) can make your brain turn to mush. Personally, I think admitting that we find the whole baby routine tedious at times, and finding the humour in it, is a huge key to coping.

It doesn’t mean we love our child any less, it just means we’re human. Or at least, we would be human if we had more sleep. Ironically, I’m now at a stage where Sam is getting more interactive

by the day and I’m worried he’ll soon learn dads can’t be interesting all of the time either.

Last week, I sang Incy Wincy Spider 200 times, to get Sam to sleep. It was the only thing that would keep him calm. 200 TIMES!!! I got to the point where I was giving the condensed version: “Incy… Spider… Water… Spout… Down… Rain…

Washed… Out…” I never want to hear that song again.

4: Despite the isolation, I am not alone.

I’ve been struck by the solidarity of other parents, especially stay-at-home dads. SAHDs all

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People

over the world have got in touch, sharing their wisdom (and hatred of nursery rhymes). When I worried my personal appearance may have slid, a little, I found I was just one of many, many, SAD SAKs (Shabby Appearing Dad, Slickly Attired Kid). To be honest, if I’ve not got a conspicuous sick patch on my shirt, I think I’m on to a winner.

5: I’ll never be the perfect dad Of course, everyone’s view of how a dad should be is different. I’m far from the end role I currently envisage. Looking back, I was foolish to think I’d be instantly transformed into some kind of

SuperDad. Becoming the father I’d like Sam to have is going to take time and effort. Still, even with practice, I’ve got the feeling I’ll never be the slippers & DIY type of dad – which (as anyone who’s seen me assemble flat-pack furniture will know) is probably for the best. @Outofdepth_dad, www.facebook.com/ OutofDepthDad, www. outofdepthdad.wordpress.com 15

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The WriTe sTuff Author Jane Corry on finding her Westcountry literary inspiration hen I was a child, growing up in a leafy London suburb, I used to dream of living by the sea. My much-loved Godmother had a cottage in the Isle of Wight which we would visit every August for two weeks. I would then spend the rest of the year, writing little poems and stories about waves, hidden rock pools and that amazing coldbut-wonderful feeling when you dipped your toes in the water.

Fast forward some 40 years or so! I got married, for the second time, to a man I’d known all my adult life and who was Godfather to my own children. We’d reached that stage in our lives where we could live where we wanted but couldn’t agree on a location. "How about Sidmouth?" he eventually asked.

"Where’s that?"

"In Devon. By the sea."

"Done," I said.

One visit later, we moved in. The first thing I did was to set up my study on the top floor of the house where I can look out to that thin line between the sky and water. Although I didn’t know it at the time, my new surroundings were to give birth to My Husband’s Wife, a Sunday Times bestseller, and now Blood Sisters which is being published by Penguin at the end of June.

Both books are psychological thrillers. They are also known as "domestic noir" because their heroines could be like you or me – living a normal

W

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photography: killian Hall

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life until it suddenly goes horribly wrong. They also contain three essential ingredients: the sea, art and prison. My heroine Alison in Blood Sisters grows up in Devon but finds herself living in London where she becomes an artist in residence in an open prison. The other heroine, Kitty (whose story is told in alternate chapters) is living in a home for the mentally-impaired.

She can’t talk or walk but, unknown to anyone else, she can take in everything she hears. The one thing she doesn’t understand is how she got there…

Luckily, Kitty has a great sense of humour.

The writer Simon Brett once told me that tragedy and laughter are very close – something I’ve never forgotten. This was brought home to me during my visits to various brain injury units in the South West in order to research my novel. At times, I wanted to weep when I saw men, women and children in wheelchairs, unable to talk or look after themselves. Yet time and time again, the wonderful staff who care for these broken souls assured me that each one still has his or her own character.

You might be wondering by now how the art and prison bits fit in! I used to be a full-time

journalist, writing for The Times and various women’s magazines. But after my first marriage ended, I took a job as writer in residence of a high security male prison near London. I’d never been inside a prison before and I was, to be honest, utterly terrified. But to my surprise, I became almost addicted by this strange world which was both dark and unexpectedly humorous at times.

I worked there for two days a week for more than three years. In fact, I spent the last nine months commuting up and down from Devon. By some amazing coincidence, one of the prison officers used to live in Cornwall so he would pick me up in his big white van at 7am from Exeter services station and drop me back on Thursday night where my new husband would be waiting for me. I used to hope that my new neighbours wouldn’t see me getting in and

out in case they thought I was back on prison home leave!

Life behind bars is so intense that it’s hard to get it out of your head. So both Lily in My Husband’s Wife and Alison in Blood Sisters find it takes over their lives in very unexpected ways. I can’t give away the many twists in both plots but I will say that no one is quite who they seem!

When you’re writing novels with dark streaks, it’s essential (at least in my view) to lighten it. This is where art comes in. I always wanted to paint but, until I moved down to Devon, there was never time. Then I discovered a wonderful art class in Sidmouth and began dabbling in watercolours. My husband calls it my "Tuesday night therapy".

Colour can make a story come to life. You can use it to describe the setting and also the way that a character dresses. If someone refuses to wear

'How about Sidmouth?' he eventually asked.

'Where’s that?'

'In Devon. By the sea.'

'Done,' I said

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People

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People

Books by the beach Sidmouth Literary Festival

Valerie Grove green, for example, it might be a clue to something which has happened in their past…

Friends from my old life often ask me if I miss London. No. I don’t. Once or twice a month, I catch the train from Honiton to see my publishers and my elderly father. But as soon as I reach Waterloo, I want to go home again. There’s nothing I love more than my early morning run along the front with our dog or swimming in the sea in the wetsuit I bought from a local newsagent when we first arrived. I’m incredibly lucky that my daughter and her husband moved here to join us: I now look after my toddler granddaughter for two days a week which is a great joy.

I’ve also become very involved in the arts side of east Devon. Three years ago, I helped to found the Sidmouth Literary Festival, along with Winstones Books in the town and other like-minded souls.

Over the years, some very well-known authors have lived or stayed in Sidmouth, such as Jane Austen, R F Delderfield, Beatrix Potter and Elizabeth Barratt Browning. We wanted to build on that heritage. This year’s festival (June 23-25) has some very big names, including Sophie Hannah, who writes the new Poirot books, Bryony Gordon from the Daily Telegraph, Karen Byrom who is the fiction editor of My Weekly, romance writer Adele Parks and obituarist Valerie Grove. We also have a strong South West flavour from gardening writer Anne Swithinbank, Lesley Pearse, Lee Weeks, Julia Creeke, Tim Pears, the Unmumsy Mum, Judi Spiers and many others.

One aspect which makes us different from many other festivals is that we have a How To

Get Published day with agents and editors from all over the country coming down to give advice to aspiring writers. Tickets can be booked online through www.sidmouthlitfest.co.uk or bought from Winstones Books, Sidmouth Library and the Tourist Information Centre.

I’ll also be giving writing tips at Exeter Library, the Tiverton Literary festival and the Penzance Literary festival in the next few weeks.

Do come along. You never know who you might meet. Soon after I moved here, I ran a local class for aspiring writers. One of my students asked me for advice on a short story. I felt it was more like the beginning of a novel and advised her to finish it - not long after that, she got a publishing deal and I’m delighted to say that she has become a national success! I’m sure she would have got there anyway but I do think that being in the right place at the right time makes a huge difference.

Meanwhile, I count my blessings every day in our local church that I, too, am in the right place at the right time. Right now, I’m about to sign off and go for my 7am run along the seafront. Then I’ll write the next chapter of my new novel for Penguin which comes out next year. The plot? My lips are sealed. But I do promise you will never look at anyone’s ex-husband the same way again…

Blood Sisters by Jane Corry, £5.99, Penguin

'I’m incredibly lucky that my daughter and her husband moved to join us: I now look after my toddler granddaughter'

The Times journalist and author of The Life and Loves of Laurie Lee, on the art of obituary writing, 4.30pm SaturdayJune 24, £12, Sidmouth Rugby Club.

Bryony Gordon Daily Telegraph columnist, author of hilarious memoir Mad Girl, £12, 6pm Saturday June 24, Sidmouth Rugby Club.

Adele Parks Best-selling author of The Stranger in my Home, on the art of crafting a romantic novel.

8pm, Saturday June 24, £12, Sidmouth Rugby Club.

Workshop How to Get Published, with top literary agents, £25, apply online, 10am-4pm Sunday June 25, Sidmouth Rugby Club.

Anne Swithinbank Gardeners' Question Time panellist and writer speaks on all things horticultural, 10am Sunday June 25, £12, Knowle Chamber. www.sidmouthlitfest.co.uk

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Interiors

Full oF charm Nicola Smith discovers a rural retreat on Dartmoor that’s proving hard to resist ryony and Bertie Hancock describe the curved glass roofs in their shepherd’s huts as a “labour of love”. In fact, that is a phrase that neatly sums up all the passion - and hard work - that has gone into creating their two very special holiday properties on the edge of Dartmoor.

“We wanted to really push the boundaries of luxury glamping,” says Bryony. Their shepherd’s huts are jointly called StarBed Hideaways - and individually named Aurora and Halcyon. They sit high up on a hill within the National Trust Buckland Abbey estate, surrounded by rolling fields.

The couple worked with Blackdown Shepherd Huts in Somerset to create shepherd’s huts that would blend with the rural setting, yet without compromising on life’s luxuries. “Our stumbling block was space,” says Bryony. A shepherd’s hut is, traditionally, small enough for a shepherd to move around fields at lambing time. “We knew we wanted a roll top bath at the end of each bed and space for a kitchen too, as well as the loo!”

The answer lay in combining two shepherd’s huts into one, linked by glass and blurring the lines between luxury indoors and wilderness outside. For one hut, the couple fell in love with a blue floral Sanderson print by designer William Turner, used in wallpaper, curtains and blinds. It is offset by the crisp white tongue-and-groove woodwork. “We worked with our interior designer, Holly Keeling, of Holly Keeling Interiors in Totnes, to source and style interiors that really stood out,” says Bryony.

Blankets and cushions are made from recycled bottles by Salcombe-based Weaver Green, while the duvets and pillows are 100% wool from The Wool Room in Axminster, which also provided the white sheepskin beanbag chairs.

B

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Interiors

A simple mirror in a distressed ery in up-cycled frames. “The up-cywindow frame sits above the bed, in- cled touches really make it ours.” viting sunlight in and reflecting the In Halcyon shepherd’s hut, the bath greenery all around. is painted with Farrow & Ball’s StiffThe knitted hot water bottle covers key Blue, a rich colour mirrored by for chilly nights were discovered in detail in the wallpaper and fabrics.

Nkuku interiors store near Totnes, as This colour is also used on the Hidewere the distressed pendant light fitaways’ exterior doors and window tings. “We love their ethically sourced frames. “Living on a National Trust and unusual products,” says Bryony. estate, we are surrounded by lovely The couple have browns and greens, also managed to but the Hideaways house a small wood were designed to be burning stove in each unexpected - a stylish ‘We agonised of the Hideaways, statement, hence the over justifying the taking Holly’s advice bold outside colour,” cost of painting to spend extra on says Bryony, who also an almond coloured runs a B&B nearby. the woodburner paint finish. “We Outside sits a - we went for it agonised over jussingular piece of tifying the cost but, spherical oak deckand the colour encouraged by Holly, ing, made painstakabsolutely made we went for it and ingly from sleepers the difference’ the colour absolutely by local joiner, Jason made the difference,” Headdon. “Sleepers says Bryony. are not designed to be “We really strugcut into triangles but gled with pictures as they needed to we are thrilled with the unique look,” be in keeping but not dated or twee,” says Bryony. On it sits a fire pit, a says Bryony. “Holly found us some perfect spot to while away an evening beautiful hand-painted water colours before retreating to your Hideaway of birds, butterflies and beetles.” and watching the stars…

Above the inviting slipper bath hang Stays start at £145 per night: antique plates of agricultural machin- www.starbedhideaways.co.uk

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GET THE

LOOK For quirky charm, add some special touches to your home

Leather look DAB Radio £29.99 Argos

Gold lantern £39.99 TK Maxx

A sense of luxury and glamour at a down-to-earth price

Traditional rolltop bath £499.99 Very

Bamboo chair £49.99 Homesense Pinecones bed linen £39 Secret Linen Store

fave!

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This one’s for you, Dad

Ask Gracie...

Welcome to our special Father’s Day men’s style pages! Our expert Gracie Stewart of Exeter can help all you chaps out there fulfil your fashion potential. All you have to do is ask...

Hairy moment I’ve recently started growing a beard and was wondering if you had any tips on how to keep it well groomed and soft?

LP, Tiverton

Q

Growing a beard has never been more on-trend but a proper grooming routine is essential to avoid looking untidy. On top of investing in the right products there are some simple self-care rules you can follow to ensure your beard is looking its best.

Brisk beard oil £6.99 Superdrug

1. Keep it clean: Just as you wash your hair, it’s important to wash your beard. This is especially important in the early stages of growth, when trapped food and skin cells can exacerbate itchiness. Use a specially designed beard cleanser and always gently pat it dry, overzealous towelling can lead to frizz and split ends.

oil. There are many varieties to choose from but all of them will condition hairs to make them softer and shinier.

3. Trim regularly: Whether you have reached your ideal beard length or you still have a way to go, it’s important to trim regularly. This will remove old and split ends that can look scruffy or refuse to lie correctly. Use sharp scissors and a comb to trim the lengths of your beard and an electric trimmer for edging and shaping.

Bulldog Original 2 in 1 beard shampoo and conditioner £6 Boots

King of Shaves beard comb £7.99 www.shave.com

2. Use beard oil: Nothing tames a beard like regular use of beard 26

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Polo tee £29.95 White Stuff

Wear it well What are the biggest trends in men’s fashion this season?

KH, Torquay

Q

Planning a wardrobe refresh? Here’s everything you guys should be investing in this season.

1. Pink: From dusty rose to salmon, pink is definitely having its moment in the spotlight.

Keep it simple and stick to one item in the hue, be it a simple t-shirt or a pair of trainers.

2. Camouflage: It’s not just the army that can make the most of this trend.

Make sure you pick up a baseball cap, t-shirt or field jacket sporting this bold pattern.

3. Embellishment: Whether

What he wants Q

I still haven’t got my dad a Father’s Day present. Have you got any last-minute gift ideas?

TS, Penryn

If you’ve left shopping for Dad to the very last minute fear not, we’ve got some great gift ideas up our sleeve that dads of all kind will love.

Foodie: The Tom Dixon Tank Lowball Glasses (£45 for a set of two). These heavy, generously proportioned glasses are perfect for a pre or post-dinner tipple. If you really love your dad, you could also give him the matching Tom Dixon Tank Decanter (£95).

Active: Try the Withings Activité Pop Activity & Sleep Tracking Watch (£99.99). Available in three colours, it’s the first analogue watch combining time and activity

decorating sweatshirts, tailored jackets or jeans, embellishment has made its mark this season.

4. Wide leg trousers: With a relaxed fit and smart look, wide leg trousers are a summer trend to watch out for. Dress them up with a formal shirt or go casual with a polo shirt and trainers.

5. Sports luxe: The sports luxe trend has been round for some time now, and it isn’t going away any time soon. Its practicality and comfort is what makes it so appealing. Try teaming a smart shirt with a pair of joggers and formal shoes, or a sports jacket with a pair of chinos and trainers.

Cropped wide leg chinos £30 Topman

Withings Activité Pop activity and sleep tracking watch £99.99 Argos tracking. It detects your activity level and automatically syncs with your smartphone.

Gracie’s shopping list Redken For Men Clean Spice shampoo £10.50 www.mankind.co.uk Working to cleanse and condition your hair, the Redken For Men Clean Spice 2-in-1 conditioning shampoo uses nourishing essential wood oils to moisturise and control even the most hard-to-manage hair while aromatic spices revitalise the scalp and warm the senses.

Comme des Garcons leather coin wallet £60 www.mrporter.com This supple leather coin wallet is great for keeping organised on the go. Fill it with spare change and keep it in your bag, briefcase or pocket.

Well-groomed: Clarisonic Alpha FIT Facial Cleansing Brush (£170).

Engineered specifically for men’s resilient skin, it clears away dirt, sweat and oil for skin that looks smoother and healthier. Its shorter bristles thoroughly cleanse the skin and help to give a closer shave.

Tom Dixon Tank lowball glasses £45 for a set of two John Lewis

Clarisonic Alpha FIT facial cleansing brush £170 Boots

Lab Series Future Rescue repair serum £49 www.escentual.com Repair and rejuvenate your skin with the Lab Series Future Repair Serum, a targeted treatment to restore the texture of your skin.

Got a style or beauty question? Email Gracie Stewart at westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk with the subject Ask Gracie

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Boat shoes £75 Dune

fave!

It’s your day, Dad

Brennan jumper £89 Dubarry of Ireland

These are great to wear on warm days without socks

hether you’re a father yourself or you’re spending Sunday celebrating with your own pop, every fellow should look like a gentleman this Father’s Day. From tailored shorts to fitted blazers, there’s an option to suit every taste and style. If you’re the kind of man who usually wears jeans and t-shirts, then why not make the move to chinos? Although they look a bit more formal, they are just as comfy and can be worn with short sleeves to keep your look suitably laid back.

W

Polo tee £29.95 White Stuff

Check shirt £89 Dubarry of Ireland

Linen shorts £75 Jigsaw

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Fashion

Blazer £75 Topman

Suit trousers £55 Topman

Shirt £20 Shorts £20 M&Co 29

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Wellbeing

the boost

Life just got better. Our wellness guru Charlotte Dear has handpicked the latest health secrets and expert advice to help you be your best self, every day

Riding the waves Celebrate International Surfing Day on Wednesday June 21 by booking yourself on to a beginner’s course to riding the waves. Providing an intense upper body workout, this mood-boosting sport will see you burning heaps of calories while building strength in your shoulders and back. What’s more, our coastlines are lined with fantastic surfing beaches, many of which offer beginner’s lessons at surf schools, including Newquay, Gwithian, Bude, Croyde and Westward Ho!

Tough going

The Red Bull Steeplechase returns to Exmoor for its fifth year tomorrow.

With the rugged terrain and coastline of the National Park as its backdrop, the gruelling 23-mile route is separated into three knockout stages. At knockouts one, two and three the number of racers will decrease, with only 20 of the original 500 athletes competing for the gold medal at the final stage. Find more information about where to watch and - if you’re inspired other Red Bull fitness events at www.redbull.com

ON THE VEG When you’re shopping for fruit and veg, are you ever tempted to stop by the frozen aisle?

Most of us assume that frozen peas, broccoli and berries are lacking the nutritious value of their fresh counterparts, but we could be mistaken. A recent study to compare the two found no consistent differences between fresh and frozen and some items, such as sweetcorn, actually contained more Vitamin C when plucked from the freezer!

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Sensory journey Monday June 26 marks the start of Deafblind Awareness Week 2017 and to kick off proceedings, voluntary organisation, Sense, is hosting a Crossing Bridges event at The Transit Shed in Exeter.

Taking place from 10.30am-4pm, the event is an opportunity for visitors to explore some of the challenges people living with combined sight and hearing loss face. At 11.45, take part in the sensory walk and count how many different surfaces you travel along the way. www.sense.org.uk

Check it out Do you use a fitness tracker to monitor your calorie burn? After conducting a number of studies using a range of popular wrist trackers, scientists are warning users to take their calorie measurements with a pinch of salt.

Though the watches are excellent when it comes to measuring heart rate, the number of calories you burn while working out is a very rough estimate and therefore should not determine how much you eat that day.

What’s coming up? Tweet us your wellbeing diary dates

@WMNWest or email westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 31

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Wellbeing

Giving pain the elbow When tennis elbow strikes, there are solutions, says our expert stage it’s at, so I will explain both briefly.

If your elbow pain started within the last two to six weeks, the pain doesn’t affect your sleep and there is no morning stiffness, then this section is for you. Initially you Physiotherapist Sarah Moore need to off load the tendon by says: Ah yes… spring has modifying your activities, so sprung and the in the short-term try to avoid ‘Pain on the gardeners are aggravating tasks. Try mixing outside edge of the out in force. up the gardening (hoe for Although pain five minutes, trowel for five, elbow, especially in the forearm rake for five, plant for five in during gripping and elbow can rotation) and also use your and lifting be referred other arm. If it hurts to pick up from your neck and shoulder, objects palm face-down, then activities, can we physios say that “common lift and carry with your palm begin after a bout things happen commonly” face-up. When carrying, keep of gardening’ and it’s more likely that you weights close in to your body. have what is frequently termed Avoid picking up items with a tennis elbow. straight elbow and the palm This is characterised by pain face-down. Try massaging the on the outside edge of the elbow, especially area, taking painkillers and gently stretching during gripping and lifting activities, and the muscle – elbow straight, thumb to floor and can begin after a bout of over-enthusiastic bend your wrist. gardening or DIY. This overload of the tendon For symptoms lasting more than six weeks (tendons attach the muscle to the bone) is and if you have tried the above, then the tendon treated slightly differently depending on what needs to be introduced to load again. This may I’ve been doing lots of gardening recently and I’ve started to get elbow and forearm pain – what can I do about it?

PH, Barnstaple

Q

[[

sound strange if loading the tendon too much started the trouble, but think about exercise in the gym. With increased weight comes increased muscle soreness but if you increase the load gradually, eventually it doesn’t hurt any more.

It is the same with tendons, except (importantly) your exercises should all be pain-free.

Try starting with this exercise. Bend your elbow to a right angle, thumb facing upwards and gently hold a light weight (1-2 kg, or a small bottle of water/bean can). Make sure your wrist is not cocked upwards, the middle knuckle should be in line with the middle of the forearm.

Hold this position for 60 seconds, rest one minute and repeat three times, once a day. This should be pain-free, and if it is not then hold for less time or do fewer repetitions. If it is easy to do, then instead, start in the same position but palm face-down. Eventually progress towards functional everyday tasks with more load.

If you are unsure how to progress your exercises so that you can keep on top of those weeds, then I suggest seeing a Chartered Physiotherapist, who can assist you with a gradual loading programme.

Sarah Moore runs Cathedral Physiotherapy in Exeter www.cathedralphysiotherapy.co.uk

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Food

SMALL BITES Our pick of what’s on in the Westcountry food world right now

Well seasoned Dukkah is a traditional North African seasoning packed full of seeds, nuts and spices - now made in Cornwall. Coastal Dukkah (£3.75) from The Dukkah Company Cornwall, based in Penzance, contains local seaweed, Cornish sea salt, mint and cayenne. It’s perfect with fish or can be used as a dip for fresh bread and oil. www.thedukkahcompany.com

High spirits Summer’s here so let’s get into the Caribbean spirit! A celebration of all things rum is coming to the South West. Exeter Rum Festival will showcase more than 50 rums, plus tasting sessions, great food and a wide range of cocktails in Exeter’s historic castle in the heart of the city. Saturday July 29, Exeter Castle, £22.50. www.ukrumfestivals.com

A ernoon delight To celebrate National Cream Tea Day and the fact that the Earl of Devon played a part in the invention of the Devonshire cream tea by monks back in the year 977, Powderham Castle is serving scones, jam and cream on Saturday June 24. With Langage clotted cream made in west Devon, jam from Little Bowhay near Exeter and Plymouth Tea, it’s a treat not to be missed.

Visitors can join a guided tour of the castle, home of the modern-day Earl of Devon, and walk through the castle grounds on the River Exe to burn off any extra calories.

The Watch Devon Rock choir will sing live from 2pm. Teas £3.50, www.powderham.co.uk

Fabulous foodies Relish South West: Second Helping is a collection of recipes from the crème de la crème of the South West’s restaurants. The book showcases three dishes per venue - a starter, main and dessert – providing recipes as well as tips on how to recreate such sublime flavours at home. £20, available online at www.relishpublications.co.uk or at selected Waterstones book shops.

Got some foodie news? Let us know on westmag@westernmorningnews.co.uk 33

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FEAR OF THE

DENTIST? Are you worried about your smile? evitalise Dental Centre and Same Day Teeth have been developed for people who have a genuine fear or anxiety that prevents them from going to the dentist.

Get the same day smile you want with this revolutionary technique that means we can provide a new arch of comfortable, natural-looking teeth – fixed in place using dental implants – in just one day, without your anxiety getting in the way.

Sedation is administered by Dr Simon Martin or Implantologist, with patient safety and comfort our top priority. Relax and let the team take care of everything.

R

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12/06/2017 12:37:13

Meet the highly experienced experts, Martin Docking, GDC No: 115044 and Simon Martin, GDC No: 67146

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I’ve had a fear of dentists since my teens. However, I knew I had a problem and I had to find a sympathetic dentist. I went for my first consultation with the Same Day Teeth team.

I was very nervous but they put me completely at ease. They understood my major fears, and I had all the information for the solutions they could offer me.

And to know that I was talking to the people that would make my teeth, as well as fit them, made it very easy to communicate my wishes. I have gone through all the stages and have ended up with my fabulous implants and teeth fixed in place on the same day!

I was the woman who kept in the background, hiding myself away from people. I was the one who talked to others with one hand across my lower face, I always felt embarrassed eating out so would make excuses and not go.

I became introverted with very little confidence in myself. The Same Day Teeth team have put sunshine into my everyday life. I was always afraid of the dentist because of a few horrendous treatments in my earlier days. This was so different. They are not only completely professional, but gentle, kind and most importantly honest, explaining each treatment before the event. I cannot thank them enough, they have changed my life.

Tel: 01872 555915 www.revitalisedentalcentre.co.uk Revitalise Dental Centre, Hurlingburrow Farm, St.Agnes, Cornwall TR5 0PG Martin Docking, GDC No: 115044. Simon Martin, GDC No: 67146 Ads_June 17.indd 4

12/06/2017 12:37:27

Cook

mitch tonks:

Oysters with lardo Mitch says: I am usually a purist with oysters - I like to enjoy them just as they are. However I know that a fair few people don’t like them raw and this dish is popular in our restaurants, especially in colder weather. Lardo is cured pork fat and it melts into the oyster in this dish making it quite savoury. If you can’t get lardo very thinly sliced smoked bacon will be fine.

Serves: 2

You will need:

Method:

12 oysters 12 slices of lardo (cured pork fat) Dash of Worcestershire sauce 100g finely grated Parmesan cheese Pepper Tin foil

1.

Scrunch up the foil and then open it out onto a tray.

2.

Open the oysters, then press them into the foil so they do not roll on their side.

3.

Sprinkle on a few drops of Worcestershire sauce, half the parmesan and some black pepper.

4.

Lay a strip of lardo on top of each then sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.

5.

Grill under a hot grill for 4-5 minutes until the lardo has melted and the cheese browned. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

FISH by Mitch Tonks, Pavilion, photography Chris Terry. Eat out at Mitch’s Seahorse and Rockfish restaurants: www.mitchtonks.co.uk 36

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Drink

Happy h ur with drinks expert April Marks

April says: Gin has enjoyed such a resurgence over the past three years, with new distilleries starting up seemingly every week in the UK - much to my delight as I thoroughly enjoy discovering new gins. So, when will the bubble burst? Not my question but one I’m asked frequently, to which I respond “When are you going to stop drinking gin?” Of course, the answer is that gin lovers have no intention of moving on to the next fad and I truly believe gin is here to stay. However, we may see the spirit plateau in the next couple of years – or

will we? In the meantime, I have so far managed to keep Brexit out of this page but it is a reality that will hit the wine industry significantly on April 1 2019.

We have no current trade agreements in place and it would probably take at least five years to complete a trade deal, so wine will be exposed to import tariffs in 22 months’ time, whether we like it or not. Some say tariffs it could be as high as 32% (although, in reality, nobody knows as yet). But this will surely lead to increases in wine prices. Potentially this is massive opportunity for our home-grown wine pro-

Potentially this is a

huge opportunity for

our wine and gin makers

Camel Valley makes wine history Congratulations to Camel Valley in Cornwall who recently became the first UK wine producer to receive a Protected Designation Origin (PDO) from the European Union for their 28 acre Darnibole vineyard. PDO’s relate to regional food and drink that has been produced, processed and prepared in a specific area, quite o en using a particular method.

The products will have a stand-out quality that must be maintained.

Father and son Bob and Sam Lindo grow Bacchus on the vineyard’s slate sub soil which gives the wine a steely mineral character unique to the area.

ducers and gin distillers, who won’t be subject to tariffs. There may be even more gin consumed in 2019 when the tariffs hit.

April Marks is co-founder of Regency Wines Ltd Exeter @regencywinesuk

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK Camel Valley Darnibole Bacchus PDO Here’s a homegrown wine from Cornwall to try. Bacchus grapes are hand-picked then crushed and pressed within two hours to retain freshness.

It’s a crisp, bone-dry white wine with excellent varietal character and great balance.

Aromas of elderflower, greengage, citrus lime with mineral notes and a white pepper edge. £14.95 www. camelvalley.com 37

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Darren Norbury

talks beer Beer of the week I’m a sucker for a red ale and Electric Bear’s Drop (4.3% ABV) ticks lots of boxes.

Caramel, red apples and slight nuttiness in this sessionable brew with a good gentle bitterness. Ridiculously moreish.

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE What we learnt from Wild Beer Co’s appearance on Countryfile: although John Craven could appreciate the quality and skill that went into the spring beer with foraged ingredients, he still prefers a pint of traditional Yorkshire bitter!

Into the valley

Next Saturday, it’s an open day at Exe Valley Brewery, Silverton, when a pop-up bar will be serving some of the brewery’s fine beers. There will be cider, too, and soft drinks for chauffeurs (or chauffeuses). Visit the Exe Valley Brewery Facebook page for specific parking instructions.

“

PICTURE: PORTIA CROSSLEY

Drink

reat pint of Dartmoor IPA at Farnmy and for the profile of Dartmoor throughout ham Rugby Club,” said my friend our UK markets.”

Andy on Facebook. A far more Dartmoor has rightly recognised that it has useful update than those ones tellto invest to stay front of mind when beer lovers ing how someone has achieved level 583 on think of Westcountry brews. Jail Ale (4.8% ABV) Candy Crush Saga, and far less irritating than a is the flagship brand, and there were plenty of post bearing the wretched word “hollibobs”. members of JAAS – the Jail Ale Appreciation Dartmoor beer in Surrey.

Society – at the opening event It’s all part of the next stage to concur that the strong preof growth for the Princetownmium bitter, with its roast malt based brewery, which has just and light berry notes, is as fine ‘The brews will opened a £400,000 extension. I as ever. With the prison close by, be in cask, but was lucky enough to join supIPA (4% ABV) is often known by don’t tell me pliers and customers for a hog the nickname ‘Inmates’ Pale Ale’. roast evening as the new buildIt’s light golden, with some spicy Dartmoor won’t ing was opened. hop notes and a hint of apple - rebe tempted to Managing director, Richard freshing and nicely sessionable.

Smith, who joined from Sharp’s Legend sits nicely between the dabble in keg last year, explained to me how other two, at 4.4% ABV, and offers cra at some the new layout would simplifylovely malt and hop balance, with point’ ing the production flow: essenlight sweetness, some hints of tially, ingredients in one end of spice and a slightly dry finish. the brewery, finished cask beer In the words of Lieutenant out of the other end. More storColumbo, though, there’s one age, too, and a state-of-the-art boiler system. last thing. A new craft beer coming soon under With a relatively new head brewer, too, Ian the sub-brand 50° – the brewery’s position west Cobham, the classic core range of IPA, Legend relative to Greenwich. The brews will be in cask, and Jail Ale has had a bit of a tweak, ahead of but don’t tell me Dartmoor won’t be tempted to pushing up into the Home Counties and further. dabble in keg craft at some point. It may be in Dartmoor won’t be turning its back on its roots, the middle of its titular moor, but the brewery though, says Richard: “Dartmoor is our home is close enough to the A30 and A38 roads to be and the inspiration for our ales, and this new comfortable with expansion and increased proextension really underlines our commitment to duction. I’m looking forward to seeing where growing our production here on the moor.

Dartmoor beers go next.

“It’s good news for our business, and our cusDarren Norbury is editor of beertoday.co.uk tomers, but also a real boost for the local econo@beertoday

G

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Enjoy

culture vulture Our pick of the most interesting and exciting things to see and do right now in the South West African music in Penzance One of Africa’s leading drumming groups is bringing an evening of music and dance to the Acorn theatre in Penzance. Members of Kakatsisi African drummers, the !Gubi Family from Namibia and Bwiti Nganga from Gabon are touring this summer under the banner Indigenous People and visiting Penzance as part of their tour. Their fusion of traditional drumming dance grooves combined with acoustic instruments and chants will ensure a night of fun for everyone.

Sunday June 25, 6pm, £15. www.theacornpenzance.com

In full bloom

Animal yoga? Yes, really...

What happens when you combine yoga with Pennywell Farm’s miniature pigs? The Buckfastleigh farm park is offering a workout that is guaranteed to help you smile on the inside and out. Staying true to the teachings of yoga, this class aims to relax and revitalise the body while boosting and uplifting your mood. You will practise animal-themed asanas and deepen your connection with the animal kingdom.

Thursday June 22, 6pm – 8pm, £25. www.pennywellfarm.co.uk

It’s early summer and our gardens are in full bloom, so this is the perfect time for some garden photography. Using a wonderful garden conveniently located just south of Exeter, Nigel Hicks’ Garden and Flower Photography one day course will teach you how to photograph wide garden views and details, as well as flower and plant close-ups/macro shots. You’ll also learn how to control and make use of the balance between shutter speed and lens aperture to gain the best exposure and to control depth of field. Saturday June 24, 10am – 5pm, £90. www.nigelhicks.com

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Hello, sunshine Kathryn Clarke-Mcleod heads to Newquay and finds a stylish weekend escape, and a room with a view istral Beach Hotel must have one of the best handshakes in the business.

As you park your car, you are treated to a sweeping seascape of blue water and golden sand.

The only downside is that it presented us with a quintessential First World Problem: When you arrive at your luxury coastal hotel and you can’t decide if you should go for a surf immediately or have a massage first. Tricky.

As it happened, my boyfriend and I had both had long work weeks, so the massage prevailed.

We entered the lobby where the theme of coastal calm continued. Fresh cold lemonade accompanied our welcome and we headed to our rooms to drop our bags off feeling refreshed and ready.

The theme of great handshakes continued to our room. The door swung open to reveal a gorgeous freestanding bath in front of a floor-

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to-ceiling window boasting a view of the aforementioned blue vista. Talk about wow factor. We tear ourselves away from the window and head off to the on-site Fistral Spa. Our therapists are waiting for us with smiles, soft robes and comfortable slippers.

Zane heads off to enjoy a back, neck and shoulder massage, while I am led off for an hourlong pamper session. It starts with a back, neck and shoulder massage with a nourishing ESPA oil blended with relaxation in mind. My therapist's skilled hands tease out

every bit of tension in my shoulders in the most exquisite example of "good pain" I have ever encountered. Then she works her magic on my neglected eye area. Skilled strokes help reduce puffiness and it is all I can do to stay awake as she applies luxurious pink hair and scalp mud into my hair. Bliss is an understatement.

I leave my room utterly relaxed and wonder how Zane has got on with his massage experience, I’m hoping he doesn’t feel discombobulated by the luxury spa environment, but it turns out I needn’t have wor-

I find him stretched out

like a cat on one of the

relaxation room loungers

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ried. I find him stretched out like a cat on one of the relaxation room loungers, happily sipping cucumber water and snacking on banana chips. He declares his treatment incredible: "It’s the loosest my back has felt in months."

By mutual agreement we decide to abstain from any ocean activity that evening and after a quick rinse in the fabulous rain shower above our bath we head on down to the Bay Bar for sundowners instead. The bar nibbles are too tempting to resist and, with an hour to kill until our dinner reservation, we decide to indulge in a plate of miniature meatballs and some goats cheese bonbons. These prove to be the perfect pairings for my Tarquin's

gin and tonic and Zane’s frothy glass of Lushingtons beer from Cornwall's Skinner's Brewery.

Suitably refuelled, we head for dinner to the Dune Restaurant where we enjoy a memorable three courses from a chef who clearly knows his way around seasonal produce. We sip a fantastic merlot while we watch the last of the day's light fade over the ocean. Zane declares his fillet steak the best he has ever eaten, and my pan-roasted cod loin is fresh and flavourful.

We sleep with the balcony doors slightly open to hear the sound of the waves and drift off happily surrounded by fresh salty air. The next morning, the hotel has arranged longboards from

the adjacent Quicksilver Surf School and we are in the water just minutes after stepping out of bed. Later, thoroughly surfed out, we return our boards and warm up with a dip in the spa’s heated pool and Jacuzzi before heading to breakfast smoothies, a stack of blueberry pancakes and the delicious creation that is Eggs Fistral – poached eggs and avocado on an English muffin with a honey and mustard dressing.

There are surely few places that can rejuvenate one so thoroughly in less than 24 hours. We’ll be back.

Book a bed and breakfast package from £149. www.fistralbeachhotel.co.uk

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Let’s do lunch Gillian Molesworth has a great meal out in one of Plymouth’s favourite eateries, complete with calamari... he Barbican Kitchen in Plymouth’s Southside Street gets so many things right. First, the atmosphere: heritage meets industrial chic.

You stomp up the steel steps in the 224-year-old Plymouth Gin distillery into a bright cosy room. The décor is trendy without trying too hard, and the staff friendly.

The food is just the right blend of staples and exotics, gourmet without being too faffed up.

I’ve been to the Barbican Kitchen for several different types of meal: business meetings, lunch with friends, and a company “do” – and it’s never failed to deliver.

It’s owned by the Tanner brothers, chefs James and Chris, but I speak to head chef Martyn Compton today, whose aim, he says, is “to make everyone happy”. Though not confusingly long, the menu has variety: you can go highbrow or lowbrow, strange or familiar, “I’m watching the calories” light or Frenchmother-sauce heavy. What the dishes have in common is that they’re all expertly cooked.

“Our aim is to source locally and seasonally

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within reason, and let the ingredients do the talking,” Martyn says. So, let’s see what they’re going to say to us today.

My lunch date is fellow West writer Sarah Pitt and obviously the first thing we need is wine, so we opt for a zingy sauvignon blanc from New

‘It’s so recently landed it didn’t even make the menu print deadline’ Zealand. The next challenge is to break off the gossip for long enough to get down to the business of ordering.

Sarah, to my annoyance, immediately bags the special starter, calamari so recently landed that it didn’t even make the menu print deadline,

and also the main that I also had my eye on: Thai green curry with monkfish, mussels, and jasmine rice.

Luckily there’s plenty more temptation on the menu so I opt for caramelised cauliflower risotto with marscapone and toasted hazelnuts, followed by the Creedy Carver duck breast with chicory and potato gratin. I tell Sarah that we have to share everything.

We have only just got stuck into a lively conversation when the starters arrive on attractive earthenware plates. My cauliflower risotto was everything it should be: rich, creamy, and nutty. It is topped with a garnis of sliced cauliflower so thin that it must have been shaved with a razor.

Sarah’s starter wins the round. I have never tasted squid so perfectly fried, and so piping hot it was a battle between greed and safety.

Delicately battered, it had an exciting bite to it, which we later discovered was Szechuan pepper.

After a seemly pause (and more gossip) came the main event.

Sarah’s Thai curry was fragrant and just

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the right consistency – “not goopy” as she characterised it. My duck breast was seared to produce a delicious sweet crust, and set attractively on its bed of potatoes and chicory.

The chicory’s slight bitterness nicely offset the sweet taste of the duck and creamy potatoes.

We had ordered green beans with shallots and butter on the side, which did not prove to be too much food (empty plates all around). I have to think hard to criticise the Barbican Kitchen but if I had to, it’s that the mains come with a limited range of veg, and you have the prescience to order an extra one.

It would be rude not to sample the pudding menu. After a brief battle, I chose the vanilla bean crème brûlée with a chocolate chip cookie, while Sarah celebrated the bounty of the season with a frozen clotted cream parfait with poached rhubarb and rhubarb sorbet.

Though perfectly cooked as per the norm, I did find my pudding a little sweet, and found my spoon wandering for a little hit of Sarah’s rhubarb. Her parfait was creamy and cool, pleasingly offset with the tangy rhubarb.

After that we sat in a dreamy coma contemplating the unpleasant prospect of a

return to reality.

The Barbican Kitchen is definitely a special treat destination: by the time we had finished our gourmet feast our bill had topped £70 – though we were ordering at the top end of the range.

But this is the kind of food that burns bright in your memory, with that warm glow that a really special meal produces in the cockles of your heart. Or maybe your stomach. Anyway, it was fabulous. What a gem. www.barbicankitchen.com

How they scored...

Food

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Atmosphere

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Service

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Price

Lunch for two including two glasses of wine cost £72.85

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13/06/2017 13:54:36

Charmouth, Dorset

The Tuckers Arms, Dalwood

My favourite:

My Secret Westcountry Gerard Lovell Gerard Lovell , 45, is joint managing director of Forthglade, making allnatural pet food in mid Devon. He lives in Dalwood, east Devon with his wife Sarah, daughters Sophie, 13, and Phoebe, 11, and their dog Bo.

Walk: My dog Bo and I love nothing more than just getting out and breathing in the fresh Devon air. Our favourite walk has to be starting off at Dartmeet on Dartmoor and going along the river to Yar Tor. Bo loves it because she can get her paws wet and for me, the views are just outstanding.

Place to eat: Right on the seafront, the Anchor Inn in Seatown, west Dorset, is the perfect end to a long walk along the South West Coast Path.

Given its location, it’s no surprise that it specialises in fish and seafood. There’s nothing better than devouring a big bowl of fish chowder and a fantastic glass of wine, while taking in the spectacular surroundings with my wife and children.

Weekend escape:

Hopping in the car and driving down the A30 to Cornwall. A favourite spot of mine is Sennen Cove. The crystal-clear

waters combined with the rugged nature of the coastline, makes it almost unbeatable. You’ll find me sitting on a cliff top just taking it all in, almost mesmerised by the power of the huge Atlantic rollers.

Event: Call me biased but you can’t beat the Devon County Show. Here at our company, Forthglade, we go there every year and it’s a great event for all – plus it’s dog friendly, and Bo always loves the attention she gets when she’s ‘working’ on the Forthglade pet food stand. It always makes me immensely proud to be a Devon-based business, and we’re always in great company among all the other fantastic local businesses, producers and suppliers.

Beach: Charmouth

Beach in Dorset is a regular Sunday morning haunt for the Lovell family.

It’s in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coastline, so the perfect place to go fossil hunting. Charmouth also holds a very

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Sennen Cove, Cornwall

Martin Clunes special place in my heart because it’s where Bo learnt to swim.

Shop:

Abbotsbury is a bit of a gem, with an abundance of craft shops. It’s hard to pick just one favourite, but if I had to, then probably the Dansel Gallery. It has a beautiful collection of unique items from local designers. A real showcase of great Dorset craftsmanship.

View:

This one is easy. Without a shadow of a doubt, it has to be Golden Cap in Dorset. At 191m high, it’s the highest point and best view on the South Coast – you can see to Portland and back across Lyme Bay and Lyme Regis

Westcountry icon:

Not technically born in the Westcountry, but someone who has helped to put the region on the map, is Martin

Dartmeet on Dartmoor Clunes. I grew up watching him in Men Behaving Badly, and then more recently watching Doc Martin with the family. It helps that he is a huge animal lover and proud owner of dogs and horses.

fresh mussels and crusty bread.

Pub:

ter nearly 20 years ago, so places like Maiden Castle hold lots of good memories for me - not secret, but certainly special. It’s an extremely peaceful place to gather your thoughts and walk.

My local of course! The Tuckers Arms in Dalwood, Devon. It’s more than 600 years old, so it has bags of character and history. If only those pub walls could talk, I suspect there would be a few stories to tell! It serves fantastic food, serves a good pint of local ale and is very dog friendly. What’s not to love?

Food: The Westcountry boasts such an array of fantastic food and drink producers. Whether you’ve got four or two legs, you’re spoilt for choice. Living so close to the sea, a dish that I can never resist when I see it on the menu is

Drink: A pint of

Otter Bitter, brewed in Devon, is the perfect tipple to end a long walk with Bo.

Secret place: I met my wife Sarah in Dorches-

Special treat:

This one is more for Bo, but her special treat is of course the new Forthglade grain-free baked treats. We’re getting ready to launch them and Bo has very much enjoyed helping with the recipe development and doing the all-important taste tests.

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My life

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MAN AND BOY

Hook, line and sinker

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Phil Goodwin and dad of James, seven, go fishing ive a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and feed him for a lifetime.

Words to live by, I thought, as the boy and I set out to hook a beauty. Picture the idyllic scene: a father and son, fishing rods in hand, making for the shore as the sun sets. Then fast forward to find the pair, empty handed, trudging home in the dark, exchanging glances and apportioning blame.

I do not pretend to be an angler. But James decided he wanted to catch a fish. I was at a loss, so I did what any bewildered father would: I spent money. I asked for help. When that failed, I resorted to prayer.

Now I am not completely without fishing skills. I once caught a baby tope, half a dozen mackerel and a spiny, winged gurnard from a fishing boat off Newquay.

But this was done with the aid of a salty old Cornish skipper, not to mention a very helpful piece of kit known as a fish finder. Left to my own devices, I am at all at sea, floundering. To make matters worse, the lad measures me against gurus like Jeremy Wade, of ITV’s River Monsters fame.

So half term. After a night on Brittany ferries from Plymouth, we arrive in the picturesque Basque region, camping just outside the surf mecca of Mundaka, home to Europe’s famously long left-hander. After a recce, we decamp at a rocky wooded beach and cast a few lines.

The first thing that happens is nothing.

Then my line gets tangled beyond repair. Then James slips on the sharp rocks and slices open his arm. Blood gives way to tears. We leave. A bad start.

After consultation at the camping office, it

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transpires we are also in breach of the regulations: a fishing licence is required. Handily, this can be bought online (16 Euros for five years) but collected only from head office in Bilbao, 28 miles away. We return to the fray, permit in hand but, sadly, the denizens of the deep take little notice of the Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco. No bites.

Typical blokes, we bemoan our bad luck, while my forward-thinking wife peruses the tourist brochures and comes up with an idea. Just around the coast is a church, perched high on a rocky island, to which the old fishermen and whalers of nearby Bermeo have for centuries made the annual pilgrimage to ask for divine blessing.

She reckons we may have offended the Almighty. Happy to try anything, we make the trip and dutifully climb the 241 steps, ring the bell three times and ask San Juan de Gaztelugatxe if we can please catch a fish.

With God on our side and - crucially - now also armed with a box of disgusting worms, we give it one last go off the rocks by the harbour wall.

Time and again we cast; time again we reel in the empty hook. I come in for some abuse when I waste the last few worms with my vigorous casting: hook and line one way, worm in the other direction. Da-ad! After two hours we pack up and go home.

The next day, tails between our legs, we hit the supermarket wet fish counter and pick up the makings of a seafood paella. I cook it on the big pan I brought along outside the camping cabin.

The produce is amazing but it tastes of failure.

Back home in Blighty, I dig out the dusty tome, Fishing Skills, and turn to the page about lures.

There is some work to be done here to restore a somewhat damaged fatherly reputation.

I am not completely without fishing skills. I once caught half a dozen mackerel off Newquay

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NEXT WEEK: Chris McGuire on becoming a new dad and moving to the Westcountry 46

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from just

£129 per room per night

Discover Devon this summer and escape to the Grosvenor Hotel in Torquay. Receive a delicious cream tea, 3 course fine dining experience in our 2 AA Rosette restaurant, John Burton - Race at the Grosvenor & full English or continental breakfast from just £129 per room per night.

Valid from June – September 2017. Based on two people sharing a standard inland room. Some length of stay restrictions may apply. First night payable upon booking, non-refundable, non-transferable. Subject to availability. New bookings only. Prices for July and August will be higher due to seasonal capacity.

01803 294 373 | www.grosvenorhoteltorquay.co.uk The Grosvenor Hotel | Belgrave Road | Torquay | Devon | TQ2 5HG

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