Exeter Living - Issue 280

ISSUE 280 / JUNE 2021 / £3

GLAMP UP!

DISCOVER DEVON’S GLITZY CAMPING SPOTS

ESTATE OF GRACE

DINING AT WINSLADE MANOR RESTAURANT & BAR

FASHIONABLY LIGHT

GLOW UP YOUR INTERIORS

SIMPLY BED ISSUE 280 / JUNE 2021 / PAWSITIVELY GORGEOUS

BEAUTIFUL BOUDOIRS HERE WE COME

THE

MUTTLEY CREW DISCOVER THE ARRAY OF LOCAL PET-FRIENDLY HANGOUTS

EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOVE Glamping at Sunrise,

Penhill Farm, page 40;

BELOW Glam lamps from

Love Frankie, page 50

I

watched an Instagram video post recently from actor Simon Pegg that really struck a chord. In the video, he says he begins each day by getting down on the ground with his gaggle of dogs and spending ten or so minutes sitting with them, stroking them softly, and just thinking about the day ahead and how he’s feeling. I thought: this guy has got the right idea. That kind of simple, soothing and tactile interaction with the most loving creatures on the planet sounds like the best way to start off the day.

And we know that during the past year, dogs have been more appreciated than ever. They’ve got us out of the house come rain or shine, and provided some much-needed comfort.

So, in this issue we celebrate the wonderful dogs of Devon.

On page 14 we hear from dog owners, a dog walker, and multiple dog-friendly businesses to find out the best places locally for your pooch to hang out, walk, nap and be pampered. We’ve got dog-themed shopping goodies, (page 18), and we hear from JP Hedge (page 11), who’s recently welcomed new dog Fern into the family.

Elsewhere we look ahead to the summer, revealing some of the best glamping sites in Devon (page 40), the festivals happening nearby (page 24); we get a first taste of the beautiful food – and wowzers interiors – down at newly opened Winslade Manor Restaurant & Bar (page 30). And if you haven’t quite got round to redecorating your home during lockdown, as you planned, pore over our bedroom (page 44) and lighting (page 50) features; they exude excitement and calmness in equal measure. Enjoy! #ExeterTogether

HARRIET NOBLE Follow us on Twitter @ExeterLiving

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Issue 280/June 2021 COVER Lola, Poppy, Rocco and Nita. Image

by Aaron Brooks of Black Dog Walks, page 14

REGULARS

8 SPOTLIGHT Newsy nuggets from around the city 11 JP HEDGE has a new furry friend 66 LIVES Meet the writer who got inside the mind of a wolf

THE BIG READS

14 DOGS IN DEVON The top dog-friendly places to visit 40 GLAMPING Live it up, boho style, this summer

THE ARTS

6 INSTAGRAM Strike a paws 23 ARTS It’s festival time 24 WHAT’S ON Bags of culture, loads of fun

SHOPPING

18 ED’S CHOICE Pooch products to fall in love with 21 STANDOUT Cottagecore fashion at its finest

FOOD & DRINK

28 NEWS A flurry of new restaurants coming our way 30 RESTAURANT REVIEW We go dining – and exploring

– at the newly opened Winslade Manor Restaurant & Bar

34 RECIPES Dishes from the sea

HEALTH & WELLBEING

18

36 MIND, BODY & SPIRIT Interviews, new openings, and

boutique gyms

INTERIORS

44 BEDROOMS How to create your own haven 50 LIGHTING The bright and beautiful offerings on

the market

EDUCATION

54 TOP OF THE CLASS Happy stories from local students

and teachers

BUSINESS

56 EXETERWORKS All the latest from the city’s

corporate world

PROPERTY

61 NEWS Exeter Property Awards launches 62 SHOWCASE Pretty party house

62

Editor Harriet Noble harriet.noble@mediaclash.co.uk Managing Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior Art Editor Andrew Richmond Graphic Design Megan Allison Cover Design Trevor Gilham Contributors JP Hedge, Callum Elliott-Archer, Advertising manager Paula Miller paula.miller@mediaclash.co.uk Production/ Distribution Manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Production Manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Production Designer Gemma Scrine gemma.scrine@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash. co.uk Exeter Living MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, and Exeter. Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT

POSURE

Just some of our favourite dog pics from Exeter and the surrounding areas

Aaron Brooks and his furry friends, @blackdogdevon

Mr Gatsby with Oakley and Otis, @theddcompany

Dottie in Cranbrook, @shinercycles

Pickle, Blew, Saffron at Ludwell Valley Park, @sue_cade

Races at the beach, @blackdogdevon

Looby Loo in Tiverton, @andypotts1989

Splash time with the gang, @blackdogdevon

Sunny plus a pal, @vegbox_cafe

Walkies down by Double Locks, @blackdogdevon

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Culture

QUEERING THE MUSEUM This May a group of writers, poets and performers who are QTIPOC (queer, transgender and/or intersex people of colour), will produce a digital event to reveal the LGBTQ+ heritage found in the collections at Exeter’s RAMM. The Out and About: Queering the Museum project will, through a queer and trans lens, re-write the stories of objects within the collections and give a different perspective on their history.

This is the second group of artists to be commissioned as part of a twoyear project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The artists in this round have all chosen to focus on one of the project themes ‘Home, belonging and exile’, each selecting one object from the museum’s collections to unpick and explore

this theme.

Museum staff are working together with Professor Jana Funke from the University of Exeter and socially engaged artist and writer Natalie McGrath to empower lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities in the South West to uncover, create and share existing and new LGBTQ+ heritage.

“We are looking forward to working with these fantastic artists to uncover hidden LGBTQ+ stories and heritage behind objects from RAMM’s collections,” says RAMM’S Ellie Coleman.

The pieces will be released in a digital format, and will be shown and discussed at an online event on 27 May as part of Exeter Pride celebrations.

clockwise from top: Rushaa Louise Hamid, Sachal Khan and Shiri Shah will be headlining the event

PERFORMERS AT OUT AND ABOUT QUEERING THE MUSEUM EVENT:

Rushaa Louise Hamid is a socio-political researcher, writer, and poet whose work centres on identity tensions in the modern world.

Sachal Khan is an emerging writer based in Exeter who uses poetry and manipulated sound to explore history embedded within memory.

Shiri Shah is a poet and lyrical essayist who dedicates her artistic practice to unearthing mythical histories. www.rammuseum.org.uk

Charity

TASTE THE RAINBOW

The popular ‘Rainbow Run Your Way’ Children’s Hospice South West fundraiser is back this year and will be taking place on 19 – 20 June.

Rainbow Run has become an event synonymous with sunny days and explosions of colour across three different Pretty in pink locations in the South West, including at Westpoint in Exeter.

Open to absolutely anyone who wants to get involved, CHSW is encouraging participants to pick a route of any distance and complete it however they wish.

It will be a chance to don a bright outfit and complete your distance by running, skipping, walking, skating or riding and have fun along the way.

For more: www.chsw.org.uk

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Summer

GET THE PARTY STARTED Princesshay will welcome visitors this summer with its brand new, pop-up Mojito Beach bar, open from 27 May to 30 August in Princesshay Square.

Complete with real sand, thatched umbrellas, cocktails and mocktails, palm trees, live music and table tennis, visitors can feel the holiday buzz this summer while sitting in a sheltered beach booth, or relaxing in one of the deckchairs. And each week, a changing selection of local street food vendors will join the summer party, offering food to take away.

“International getaways might be off the cards this summer, so we’ve decided to create a holiday vibe in the heart of Exeter!” says Michelle Menezes, Princesshay centre manager.

“Friends and families can relax at our beach bar, enjoy delicious cocktails and live music in the Hawaiian atmosphere.”

The bar will be open from 10am to 10pm every day with live music on selected Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 3pm – 8pm.

For more: www.princesshay.co.uk/beachbar Time to unearth your flip-flops

SPOTLIGHT Conservation

GOING GREEN There will be a huge increase in trees

Plans for the park are set to go ahead

Plans for Clyst Valley Regional park, a protected greenspace about half the size of Exeter, has been given the green light as East Devon Councillors unanimously give their backing for the project.

“I am delighted by the level of engagement with this consultation exercise,” says Mark Williams, chief executive of East Devon District Council.

“The publication of the masterplan for the Clyst Valley Regional Park is a significant milestone in terms of turning the concept in to reality. The Council has declared a climate emergency and the delivery of the Park goes to the heart of how we can start to reduce our carbon emissions – from increasing tree planting and canopy cover to bringing forward a major new cycling trail. The Park will also bring other wider benefits including supporting the local economy and boosting biodiversity. I hope that it will be enjoyed by local residents for generations to come.”

Next steps include securing funding to take forward a variety of aims for the Clyst Valley Regional Park over the next 25 years: • Clyst Valley Trail linking the Exe Estuary Trail to the Exe Valley Way – opening up the possibility of an Exmoor to Exmouth national trail in future • Land-based learning centre and café at Heathfield Farm, Broadclyst • A new cycle trail linking Cranbrook to Exeter along a quiet route • Renaturalising the River Clyst between Clyst Honiton and Cranbrook • Clyst Canopy – 20 per cent increase in trees through both planting and natural regeneration • Crystal Clear Clyst – restoring good water quality in the river • A new visitor hub at Ashclyst Farm and cycle/pedestrian links into the Forest from Cranbrook, Broadclyst and Killerton For more: www.eastdevon.gov.uk

Theatre

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

Exeter Phoenix has announced the launch of four new theatre commissioning opportunities for Devon-based theatre makers and artists. £3,000 of cash support is available for the region’s theatre and performance makers to develop new work, alongside additional mentoring support.

The available commissions are the Devon Ignite Commission for Ethnically Diverse Artists (£1,000), Devon Ignite Commission for d/Deaf, Neurodivergent and disabled artists (£1,000) and the Devon Seed Commissions (two awards of £500).

The commissions aim to support new, emerging and established talent in Devon, recognise and amplify voices from underrepresented backgrounds, connect theatre makers to a wider cultural network, and offer dramaturgical advice and mentoring support to theatre makers within the region.

The final works will be shared in a special live event at the venue later in the year.

For more: www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

The theatre commissions will be performed later this year

Audio tour

WHAT’S THE STORY

Throughout the pandemic, Theatre Alibi took to the streets of St Thomas for a guided walk with actors and a musician sharing enchanting stories and songs about the area and its people for ‘St Thomas Story Tours’. Due to restrictions, each group had to be small meaning some people missed out on a slot.

So, they’ve decided to weave together ‘St Thomas Stories The Audio Walk’ a free audio tour to enjoy on your phone or computer. This digital version includes new stories, but perhaps most special of all, many of the voices you’ll hear belong to the people of St Thomas and you’ll be able to listen to these vivid and moving stories as they were first told. There are photographs too, and a map to guide you on your way.

To have a go at the audio walk, or find out more, click here: www.theatrealibi.co.uk/st- thomas-stories-audio-walk/

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OPINION JP HEDGE

To have a dog or not to have a dog, that is the question JP Hedge remembers dogs past and present – and is embracing the joys of new arrival Fern

W

e have a rescue dog – in fact we have two.

They are such an integral part of our lives that I’m really not sure if we rescued the dogs, or they rescued us.

Honey is a diddy black Labrador. She’s nearly 12 now although we don’t know her exact birthday. As a puppy she was originally part of a large family under tricky conditions and special educational needs.

From the outset Honey was an escapologist. She escaped out the back garden on several occasions, running through the streets like an urban version of Born Free. The final time she escaped, the family just didn’t want her back.

In 2010 I was working as a journalist in Torquay and often worked with a local charity kennels to try to rehome unwanted animals. They were constantly oversubscribed and in need of support. We used to run themed features on the dogs.

For instance, to try and get some of the older and scruffier ones

shifted, we would tie their names with the latest blockbuster Harry Potter movie. Poor old Dobby never did find a home.

Honey came into our lives before I was married and was the missing part of our jigsaw.

She came to our wedding, and even came on Honeymoon in North Devon.

She got into some scrapes on the first day of the honeymoon, crashing into a pub bench during a mad moment. She fell down a bunny hole in Marldon and needed a vet on Boxing Day. She was allergic to anaesthetic, heart stopped on the table, but came back due to the brilliant vets.

She required various operations and those amazing head cones.

Then there was the time I was gifted a Dart’s Farm hamper.

Whilst alone in the kitchen she ate the Christmas pudding, packed with delicious, but dog-killing, raisins. We had just moved to Exeter and the Totnes based vet gave us an hour before the damage would have been irreversible. She was fine.

As we got children and shifted

“As a family we don’t ever want to get back to a stage where we are too busy to have a loving dog in our lives”

gear career wise, we somehow lost our work life balance with her.

I found myself taking a baby to nursery, and the dog to dodgy day care, so I could do a job I increasingly didn’t want to do, in order to pay for them both.

Our amazing retired friends Steve and Brenda love and live for dogs. Honey had built up a relationship with them and was increasingly heading over for long weekend walks or trips around the South West Coastal Path or down to the South Hams. Steve would get on a train and the pair would book into a Travelodge for an adventure. In the end she made the permanent switch for a kind of life that a rescue dog could only dream of.

She has given that love back tenfold and, due to her softer than silk nature, is now a therapy dog, helping others get through trauma.

Lockdown made us, and many others, reassess our lives and values. Pandemic puppies will be my generation’s baby boom.

As a family we don’t ever want to get back to a stage where we are too busy to have a loving dog in our lives.

We have re-engaged that part of our lives and are so much the better for doing so.

I spent a long time with my wife, and a few teary moments, discussing taking on another dog.

I felt the most profound sense of betrayal for Honey.

She quite rightly pointed out

that Honey, with her stunning life and long pristine beach walks, trauma career and second holiday home, would be amused by my guilt.

Fern who is six and pictured above with my son Harry, is the stuff of dreams.

She lived outside on a farm in a shed and old caravan all her life, and was bred for puppies.

She is now very much inside, with my bonkers family, in a city, in a house with fake grass.

Other than her fear of vehicles (she simply wouldn’t have seen any) she has adapted like an absolute trouper.

She is a bottomless pit of love. I can’t think of her not being a part of our lives.

During the pandemic I’ve written quite a lot about how, as a city, we could learn from reflections on the past 18 months and try and hold onto some of the best bits.

As a family we are rediscovering what we once knew.

On top of the dog herself we have reconnected with the importance of getting the work life balance a dog requires.

They are called rescue dogs for a reason. ■ Jon-Paul Hedge is a director at Exeter City Council where he currently looks after leisure. He is a former newspaper editor and lives in the city with his wife and two young children. www.exeter.gov.uk

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SPONSORED CONTENT

MEET THE

VETERINARIAN

Exeter’s experts chat about their passion for animals and how the treatments have changed over the years

CAROLINE ARTHUR

DAN SKELDON

Why did you decide to become a vet?

I grew up on my grandparents farm in North Devon where I found my love for animals. Apparently from the time I started school, I always said I wanted to be a vet.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?

Working with a great team to make diagnoses and give the best treatment options for the patients and their owners. Animals are amazing and bounce back rapidly.

Personally, learning new skills and developing them is very satisfying. I’ve developed a niche in surgery over time with further study and experience. This enables me to see referral cases from other practices, particularly in orthopaedics, but also to learn new skills such as laparoscopic (keyhole) procedures.

CITY VETS 01392 250066; www.cityvets.co.uk

ST DAVID’S VETERINARY HOSPITAL 01392 271221; www.stdavidsveterinarygroup.co.uk

Where and when did you qualify?

I qualified from the University of Bristol in 2013. I started my career in Wales before returning to the South West and joining CityVets in January 2016.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?

Improving an animals quality of life.

Caroline Arthur

What aspects of your job do you find most challenging?

Owners trust us to make the right decisions when treating their beloved pets, and that responsibility is a big challenge, as it’s there every day with every decision we make.

How have treatments advanced for animals over the years?

Over the years veterinary diagnostic technology has grown greatly. It is also a great achievement in our profession that most of these advances can now be offered in first opinion practices. I am a currently studying towards a certificate in diagnostic imaging and therefore very excited to offer a state of the art CT scanner to our clients, at our Heavitree hospital this year.

What key bit of advice would you give to an animal owner?

Do your research before you get your pet. Pets husbandry can be overlooked, especially in our small mammal and exotic pets. Meeting your pets husbandry requirements can prevent a huge amount of health problems.

12 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

How have treatments advanced for animals over the years?

Massively, compared to the days of James Herriot!

However, a lot of the cornerstone elements are still there, such as dealing with people and building relationships, thorough history taking and clinical examination, then using that to make a diagnosis. Despite all the modern sophistication these human factors remain at the core of what we do.

Dan Skeldon

Where can you grap a pint or a cuppa with your pooch? Where are the best spots for a wild walk with your dog? (free parking included) And, crucially, where can you buy a sequin bow tie for your furry friend? Exeter’s dog experts and owners have all the answers…

By Harriet Noble

Stellar line-up: Lola, Poppy, Rocco, Nita, and Wilma

14 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

“The whole team are animal mad so treat the visiting dogs like VIPs!”

@BL ACKDOGDEVON

STRIKE A PAWS

W

ith green spaces all around the city, by all accounts it’s a great place to be a dog. The boom in the dog industry has also seen businesses become proactively dog-friendly, with more cafés, pubs and restaurants actually encouraging people to bring their pooches with them, luring them in with promises of dog treats, water bowls and, likely, cuddles from other customers. If you’ve got a dog or just like being around dogs, here are some of the hot spots in and around the city.

© BOVEY CASTLE

WALKIES

© THE DAISY CAFÉ

Veg Box café on the Quay is a top place for dog walkers, with many people grabbing a coffee before their walk and some lunch afterwards.

The owners Kelly and Ollie love dogs and provide free dog treats and water bowls.

“We have regulars Chumley, Barney, Frank, Roxy, Monty, Honey to name but a few...and also Sunny the café dog” says Kelly.

“When our inside area is open, Sunny usually ends up sitting on various customers’ laps while they enjoy a coffee or two!”

The Daisy Café is another canine-friendly spot.

“We welcome doggies with open arms, and they get an awardwinning sausage,” says Faye Laing, owner of Daisy Café.

“Dogs are welcome in our Secret Garden of Heavitree and the café itself. We have a dog visitor hall of fame on our website. The whole team are animal mad so treat the visiting dogs like VIPs!” Elsewhere, professional dog walker Aaron Brooks has top tips for where to take your pooch.

“Mango’s on the Quay are real dog lovers and super friendly staff.

The Thatched Pub in Exwick; Tuesday pub quiz or Sunday roast

@VEGBOX

THE HANGOUT SPOTS

top: Relaxing at Bovey Castle; www.boveycastle.com;

middle: Sunny, the cafe pooch at Veg Box; @vegbox_cafe; left: Faye Laing with Ginny;

@TheDaisyCafeHeavitree

will always come with a treat from the kitchen for four-legged patrons.

Double Locks always have great big bowls of water available for the dogs and plenty of shade in the summer.”

If you’re thinking of getting away for a night, but don’t want to leave your dog at home, Bovey Castle is also a dog-friendly haven.

Located on Dartmoor, and situated within an extensive estate, it offers fantastic grounds for your four-legged friends.

“We have woodland walks, two small rivers for excellent splashing and some swimming and, of course, fantastic walks directly on to the moor without having to get in your car,” says Charlotte Rides, from Bovey Castle. And if it’s pampering your dog is after they won’t be disappointed. On arrival, dogs receive a welcome card, dog treats and an eco-friendly toy, and there’s even room service menu for dogs.

What’s more, there’s a pooch parlour so dogs can be washed off after a muddy walk, followed by a blowdry to re-style their coats.

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© THE DISTINGUISHED DOG COMPANY

FUR-BULOUS ACCESSORIES

Devon-based Distinguished Dog Company design and make products for the most discerning dogs. It’s run by Tracey Andrews, who takes inspiration from her dog, Mr Gatsby.

“Our story began whilst looking planning our wedding; naturally we wanted Mr Gatsby to look to part on our special day,” says Tracey.

“I couldn’t find anything that fitted the bill, nothing matched the level of quality (and luxury) he deserved. So I made him his very own bow tie. After our wedding I continued making Mr Gatsby Bow Ties and they seemed to give him an extra spring in his step.”

Taking inspiration from the world of fashion and interiors, the handcrafted collection now includes bow ties, leads and collars, neckerchiefs, bowls, toys, plus products for owners such as personalised sweatshirts. Head to page 18 to see some of the products. www.theddcompany.com

DOG OWNERS RECOMMEND...

“Weston near Sidmouth. Lovely walk from the car park down on to the stony beach at Weston Mouth, then back up on the other side of the valley through The Donkey Sanctuary (stop for a cream tea). Dogs can go on this beach year-round.”

Sue Cade, PR, writer and dog owner to Pickle and Saffron “Recently we have visited the Exeter Inn in Thorverton which is a great dog-friendly pub, and The Agricultural Inn which is another dog-friendly pub both serve great food and great drinks.”

Faye, owner of The Daisy Café and dog owner to Tudor

@BL ACKDOGDEVON

Time for a cuppa: Tracey Andrews with Mr Gatsby

THE PROFESSIONAL

Aaron Brooks is a professional dog walker in Exeter, launching his company Black Dog Walks in 2019. Here he tells us about the best dog-friendly spots in Devon and tips on how to keep your pooch happy.

Why did you decide to become a professional dog Walker?

I’ve always loved dogs and wanted to run my own business, so figured why not take the jump and go for it.

What do you love about the job?

Every day is different. I never plan where I’m going to go until we get there. My ‘office’ has a different view each day and conversation is generally one-sided and based around whether it was a good idea to roll in ‘that’.

The best way to describe my job is, if you’ve ever been the parent who’s helped out on a school trip. Your group will have a sensible one, a quiet one, a chatty one, the hyperactive problem one, the sicky one, the ‘I don’t like it’ one. Generally they follow you, as the grown up, and hope they don’t realise they could run off to the arcade or drink the Coke in their bag. It’s a bit like that.

What are the challenges?

What were you doing before?

My previous life was behind a desk eight hours a day.

My biggest challenge is ‘where will there be the least people today?’.

Our walks are about letting the dogs run and play away from any distractions or dangers.

How did your love affair with dogs begin?

What are some of the best rural walks in Devon?

Growing up we always had dogs in the family and I just find they give so much back. Why wouldn’t you want to be around them all day?

Each one has its own personality.

16 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

To get away from it all head to Dartmoor, Woodbury or the South West Coastal path. Just walk in the opposite direction or away from everyone else. You’ll soon find your own Devon happy place.

WALKIES What are some great walks in the city?

Look for the Exeter Green Circle and find a part that is close to you.

You’ll see parts of Exeter you never knew were there. Also, the flood relief channel behind St Davids Station is good for the dogs to swim.

You could extend the walk to the Quay if you’re feeling fit. Stoke Woods is great in the rain, as plenty of cover. The River Exe Country Park, off Bridge Road, is good for a run around, swim in the river and a drink at the Double Locks before walking back along the canal. Plus, free parking (you’re welcome).

Any hidden gem walks?

There is a really nice loop from the RSPB Exminster and Powderham Marshes car park. It’s very quiet, great for bird-watching and you can stop for a drink of lunch on the way. Plus it’s completely flat.

Any walks that take in something special?

Some walks catch you out. You climb a hill, turn around and see a cracking view. Ludwell Valley Park or Barley Valley Nature Reserve provide this. Take a walk at sunset and enjoy.

What if you’ve got the family with you?

If you’ve got small kids and want a shorter flat walk, the Mamhead Sensory trail has a fantastic short loop with an outstanding view over Aaron makes sure the dogs get off the beaten track

the Exe Estuary (spot Powderham Castle), views to Exmouth and round to Dawlish.

How do you make a walk really fun for the dogs?

Get off the beaten track. If the wider track goes left, head right. Make your dog work for it. Get them climbing steep hills, jumping through bracken, chasing a stick down the river. Make them look and smell out something for themselves. Keep your pace high and keep talking to them to keep that engagement. The worse the weather the better it is.

Make up some hot water bottles during the colder months and pop it under their bed on the drive home.

How has your life changed since you became a dog walker?

I have a lot greater work/life balance. It’s more life/life now. I have a greater appreciation for anybody that runs their own business and try and befriend other dog walking businesses in the city and beyond.

If we’re all communicating together we can give feedback to each other, and Exeter City Council, on issues or problems around the city to make it a better experience. Being inclusive with other businesses should hopefully bring us all up and ultimately provide a better service to customers.

What are your top tips for keeping a happy dog?

Keep it well exercised and socialised too. The dogs I walk get an immense amount of enjoyment running about with other dogs they know. They go home completely worn out and hopefully snooze the rest of the day. Seeing dogs play and build confidence is so rewarding. The older ones tolerate the younger ones and even the smaller breeds get chasing dogs three times their size.

If your dog is a bit nervous or doesn’t like other dogs, or has a few bad habits, I would highly recommend getting in touch with a dog behaviourist or dog trainer.

I’ve seen incredible transformations of young and old ‘naughty’ dogs that are now happier than ever and their owners are so much more relaxed. n You can find Aaron Brooks and his dog-walking pictures on Instagram: @blackdogdevon

@BL ACKDOGDEVON

@BL ACKDOGDEVON

“Look for the Exeter Green Circle – you’ll see parts of Exeter you never knew were there”

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HANDMADE PATCHOULI SOAP BAR, £5.95 Cold pressed vegan soap with no palm oil and wrapped up in this beautifully designed paper. Pawsitively gorgeous.

From Leaf Street, 53 Magdalen Road, Exeter; www.leafstreet.co.uk

DOG DRAUGHT EXCLUDER, £99 Made from beautiful Harris Tweed and rich leather, this cheeky little chappie sits guard at your door keeping the drafts away whilst adding an extra touch of character to your room.

From Queenstreet Carpets & Furnishings, Church Road, Alphington; www.queenstreet.co.uk

FUR THE FUN OF IT

The ulti-mutt pooch-inspired shopping edit from Exeter’s indies PUG FACE EGG CUP, £15 If eggs aren’t your thing, this cutey could also be used as plant pot, pinch pot for your salt and pepper or a jewellery storage for your earrings. The pawsibilities are endless.

From Toot Garouk, 19 Queen Street, Exeter; www.tootgarook.co.uk

ULTIMATE DOG GROOMING KIT, £39.95 Treat your four-legged companion to this luxury cleanse and pamper set. Inside you’ll find botanical dog shampoo and cleanser along with a dog cologne and a wooden grooming brush to ensure a healthy gloss. Each product is delicately scented with a refreshing coastal inspired scent. Goodbye smelly dog, hello fragrant fur-end.

From Hyde & Seek, Unit 1, Harlequins, 1 Paul St, Exeter; www.hydeseek.co.uk

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TANDY RAINBOW HARRIS TWEED BOW TIE, £20 This bow tie is a kaleidoscope of colour; a full twist on the traditional tweed look. Perfect for that smart-casual event.

From The Distinguished Dog Company, www.theddcompany.com

ED’S CHOICE

DOG KEY RING, £10 This spotty chap is made from genuine leather with a gold plate ring. Perfect gift for your canine-crazy pal.

From Moko, 17 Gandy Street, Exeter; www.mokoexeter.co.uk

DOG SHAPED HEATING PAD, £29 Super cute dog-shaped heating pad, filled with rice and lavender to heat up and soothe aches and pains.

From Nest Living, 60 Fore Street, Topsham; www.nestliving.net

NEON RAINBOW WALKIES SWEATER, £56 One sight of this organic cotton sweater and your pooch will be leaping up and down in excitement. You can also have your sweater personalised with your dog’s name on the sleeve. Fur-real.

From The Distinguished Dog Company, www.theddcompany.com

SAUSAGE DOG DOORMAT, £20.99 This stylish doormat is exactly the warm welcome you want to exude to family and friends. Guaranteed to make the postie smile too.

From Boka, 3 High Street, Crediton; www.bokaonline.co.uk

DOG PET BED, £995 This beautiful and rather stately dog bed is designed with your pet’s comfort in mind and built to last.

It’s made with traditional Victorian casting techniques, featuring knuckle fixings and comes in nine colour options.

From Cornish Beds, Devon Showroom at Odhams Wharf, Topsham; www.cornishbeds.co.uk

DOGS IN JUMPERS LIST PAD, £5.99 Lists don’t have to boring with this lovely pad. It’s a magnetic stick-on-thefridge jobby – perfect for jotting down your food shop essentials.

From Insideout, 1 Bampfylde Lane, Princesshay, Exeter; www.insideouthome.co.uk

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SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

PRETTY GREEN

This dress is part of Lorna Ruby’s Prairie edit which, quite frankly, we just can’t get enough of. It’s all summery, hazy, romantic items where floral embroidery, cotton lace trimmings, butterfly sleeves and long empire line dresses are prevalent.

If you’re worried about looking too Little House on the Prairie, Prairie, team with gold jewellery (you can’t go wrong with hoop earrings) for a modern take on this cottagecore trend.

MABE Alberta Dress, £139; available from Lorna Ruby, 17 Catherine Street, Exeter; www.lornaruby.com

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THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN

SMART

THINKERS The Conference for Entrepreneurs is scaling up, with seven sponsors OUR SPONSORS, CURRENTLY:

CONTENT: claudia.butler@mediaclash.co.uk

COMMERCIAL: annie.kelly@mediaclash.co.uk

CONCEPT: greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk SITE: EntreConf.com Tickets now available for July 1

THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F E X E T E R ’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E

FESTIVAL FEVER Budleigh Music Festival makes a welcome return this year from 9 – 17 July, with a jam-packed programme of live music to be held in the town.

Among the line-up is saxophonist Jess Gillam (pictured here) headlining with her own ensemble band. Since her previous appearance at Budleigh Festival in 2018, Jess has achieved international recognition performing at Last Night of the Proms and will be touring the globe throughout 2021.

This year, for the first time, the festival also introduces Colourscape – an interactive walk-through labyrinth of colour, light and music. Held on The Green, this familyfriendly experience brings a new element to the festival offering visitors the chance to walk into a new world of radiating colour filled with music and dance.

“After all the gloom we are incredibly excited to create a festival in magical technicolour with a unique selection of events that I hope will make audiences smile, laugh, cry, and reflect on everything we have collectively been through,” says Jason Thornton, artistic director for the Festival.

General tickets for the Budleigh Music Festival will be on sale from 1 June and can be purchased here: www.budleighmusicfestival.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I EXETER LIVING I 23

WHAT’S ON

Mad Dod Mcrea will be performing at Exeter Phoenix

21 May onwards

Always check COVID-19 restrictions and instructions with venues before your visit

ART

Until 6 June

EARTH This exhibition will celebrate and cherish this planet; expect a collection of work by local artists to remind us of the beauty, and fragility, of the earth.

The Glorious Art House, 120 Fore Street, Exeter; www.thegloriousarthouse.com

Until 12 July

FLOOD & PULL This exhibition showcases the work of four Double Elephant Print Workshop screenprinters: Sarah Foque, Chris Laver, Rachel Jaques and Jeremy Speck. The range of work serves to highlight the versatility of this popular printmaking medium.

Double Elephant Gallery at Café Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/ www.doubleelephant.org.uk

Until 14 August

MIKE PERRY LAND/SEA Mike Perry’s work engages with environmental issues; this ongoing body of work classifies objects washed up by the sea into groupings – bottles, shoes, grids – capturing their intriguing surface detail using a high-resolution camera.

This exhibition will be at two sites: Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton; thelmahulbert.com and at Ocean, Queens Drive, Exmouth; www.oceanexmouth. co.uk from 8 June – 1 August

19 June – 2 July

MARTIN PROCTER Leading contemporary South West artist Martin Proctor will be exhibiting a range of new mixed media paintings highlighting his distinctive approach to form and structure. With an individual eye for landscape, the work reflects his academic background in human and physical geography and his lifelong passion for remote hill-country

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and wild places.

10am – 5pm daily, Marine House at Beer, Fore Street, Beer Near Seaton, Devon; www.marinehouseatbeer.co.uk

19 June – 9 July

BOB CROOKS As one of Britain’s most recognised leading glassmakers, Bob Crooks is highly regarded internationally for his original and highly challenging dynamic forms and surfaces. Bob’s new exhibition showcases his exceptional talent for exploiting the properties of glass.

10am – 5pm daily, Steam Gallery, Fore Street, Beer, Near Seaton Devon; www.steamgallery.co.uk

THEATRE / COMEDY 26 – 29 May

LOCKDOWN WONDERLAND Created as a reflection on the past

year; an exploration into the ‘rabbit holes’ our minds wandered down during lockdown. What happens to us when we are forced to step off the hamster wheel?

Taking inspiration from Lewis Carroll, the production is a visual, playful and reflective piece.

7.30pm, Cygnet Theatre, Friars Gate, Exeter; www.cygnettheatre.co.uk

27 – 29 May

ANTIGONE Exeter Northcott Theatre is creating a filmed production of Bertolt Brecht’s celebrated play. Staged in the theatre with a full professional cast alongside a chorus of students from The University of Exeter Drama Department, this production is being made exclusively for a digital audience.

Exeter Northcott theatre, available as a stream-on demand service; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk;

Party time at the Gone Wild Festival

9 – 17 July

BUDLEIGH MUSIC FESTIVAL Expect a week-long programme of live music to be held in the town. Among the events will be Colourscape – an interactive walk-through labyrinth of colour, light and music.

General tickets will be on sale from 1 June and can be purchased here: www.budleighmusicfestival.co.uk

23 – 24 July

CHAGSTOCK MUSICAL FESTIVAL The Dartmoor festival returns with a line up which includes Scouting for Girls, Seasick Steve, Town of Cats and Elles Bailey. There is loads of family fun too with a Bouncy Castle, slide, face painting and climbing tower.

Chagstock, Festival, Higher Fields, Whiddon Down, Near Chagstock; Devon; www.chagstock.info

FESTIVALS 11 – 12 June

TOBY’S GARDEN FESTIVAL

Join Gardeners’ World presenter and allround horticultural whizz Toby Buckland as he celebrates the wonders of the great outdoors at Powderham Castle. Expect specialist nurseries, quality plants, artisan food, crafts, live music, talks and demo’s.

Powderham Castle, Exeter; www.powderham.co.uk

3 July

LET’S ROCK EXETER! The retro festival is back with Adam Ant, Wet Wet Wet, Kim Wilde, Tony Hadley, T’Pau and many 80s icons performing their big hits at this fun, family-friendly festival. Stay for the day or camp overnight.

Powderham Castle, Kenton, Exeter; www.powderham.co.uk

3 – 17 June

A SEASON OF POWERFUL WOMEN Cygnet theatre will be putting on three plays with a focus on women.

The Players (by Nick Whitby) takes an intriguing, mysterious, and funny look at where power truly lay in the Elizabethan age; Meek (by Penelope Skinner) is a haunting vision of ruthless state control, tense friendships and one woman’s determination not to be broken; and Boy Actor (by Caroline Monk) reveals the most personal history of Elizabeth I. 7.30pm, Cygnet Theatre, Friars Gate, Exeter; www.cygnettheatre.co.uk

8 June

SIMON MUNNERY Multi award-winning comedian Simon Munnery reprises his notorious alter ego, the bedsit anarchist Alan Parker Urban Warrior. Once the most radical, now the only radical, Alan is making

30 July – 1 August

THE SOMETHING WILD FESTIVAL The festival site at Huccaby Farm is embedded right in the heart of Dartmoor, next to the Dart, offering an ideal swimming spot and a lovely tranquil location for camping.

The running trails are the big events but there’s also wild swimming, walks, yoga, and other outdoorsy fun for all ages.

The Something Wild Festival, Hexworthy, Princetown, Yelverton; www.wildrunning.co.uk

30 July – 6 August

SIDMOUTH FOLK FESTIVAL The week-long festival will see everything from big concerts to small intimate sessions;

his return. Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter: www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

Sir Willard White at Budleigh Music Festival

dancing, storytelling, workshops and entertainment for all ages and lots of great food. The Sidmouth Folk Festival, Blackmore Gardens, Sidmouth; www.sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk

26 – 29 August

NATURE VALLEY GONE WILD FESTIVAL WITH BEAR GRYLLS By day, you and your family can join Bear and the team of adventurers and learn new skills on how to survive in the wild, or try one of the many adventure activities such as quad biking, climbing, paddle boarding and many more. By night, see artists including Razorlight, Kaiser Chiefs, Ministry of Sound Classical, Melanie C, Scouting for Girls, Morcheeba, Dick and Dom, Andy and the Odd Socks and more! www.powderham.co.uk

3 – 4 September

SHEB FEST Ash, Ella Henderson, Republica and Exeter’s very own Pattern Pusher will be belting out the big numbers at this popular over-16s Devon festival.

Sheb Fest, Allacott Farm, Shebbear, Beaworthy, Devon; www.shebfest.com

Comic Sarah Millican will be at Exeter Northcott Theatre

24 June – 3 July

THE HONEYMAN The absorbing tale of an unlikely friendship that develops between an ageing West Indian recluse, living in a derelict cottage and tending his bees at the edge of a picture-postcard English village, and Misty, the fiery, teenager heir to the nearby manor house, who bursts into his life one summer and turns his world upside down.

Exeter Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

4 July

JONNY & THE BAPTISTS: DANCE LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED This is a show about grief. This is a show about loss. Just not how you’d expect as the performance is a blend of silly, joyful songs, deadpan stand-up and riotous

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storytelling. Finding meaning, humour and beauty in the hardest parts of life.

7.30pm, Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

4 July

SARAH MILLICAN: BOBBY DAZZLER In Sarah’s new show, audiences will learn what happens when your mouth seals shut, how to throw poo over a wall, trying to lose weight but only losing the tip of your finger, a surprisingly funny smear test, and how truly awful a floatation tank can actually be.

Exeter Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

MUSIC 24 May

MESSIAEN ‘DAWN CHORUS’ Exeter Cathedral will host an early morning ‘dawn chorus’ of organ music to launch a week-long festival of birds and birdsong, organised by the London Review of Books (LRB). This will be the first public recital to be held in the Cathedral since lockdown, and will be open to all and free of charge. For those

who can’t make it to the Cathedral for the 7am start, it will also be broadcast online via an LRB livestream to festival ticket-holders.

Exeter Cathedral; www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk

12 June

MAD DOG MCREA Expect a mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and tales of adventure, drinking, love and life, to traditional songs of gypsies, fairies, legless pirates and black flies.

8pm, Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter: www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

3 July

UNDERGROUND ENERGIES A night of rap and dnb featuring Digdat, (of smash hit Air Force One fame), Monroller, T-menace and local Emouth based label Trillestliving Ent who’ll be bringing many genres to the night and will keep it going till the early hours.

10pm-3am, Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter: www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

FILM

21 May – 27 May

SOUND OF METAL

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Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke star in this ground-breaking drama about a musician called Ruben who loses his hearing. With help from his band connections he checks himself into a home for deaf addicts and in this world of silence he must confront himself more honestly than ever before.

Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter: www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

28 May – 3 June

MINARI Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother, played by Youn Yih-jung who scooped an Oscar and a BAFTA for her performance.

Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter: www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

FOOD

Every Thursday

EXETER FARMERS MARKET Sample West Country produce at this vibrant market. Expect local

producers offering meat, fish, preserves, organic fruit and vegetables, freshly baked cakes, bread, pies and brownies.

Every Thursday from 9am-2pm on Fore Street and South Street; www.exeterfarmersmarket.org

FAMILY FUN Ongoing

PAIGNTON ZOO Hoorah, zoos are open! Chat freely with the orang-utans, rhinos and flamingos or hang out with the friendly gang down at the crocodile swamp or reptile nursery.

Paignton Zoo, Totnes Road, Paignton; www.paigntonzoo.org.uk

Ongoing

CANONTEIGN FALLS Explore the gardens, waterfalls, adventure playground, walking trails for a fun day in the outdoors.

The (outdoor) snack bar and café will be open for refreshments.

Canonteign Falls, Christow; www.canonteignfalls.co.uk

Ongoing

OPEN GARDENS AT POWDERHAM CASTLE

WHAT’S ON opposite page: Talisk will be performing at Sidmouth Festival this page: Minari will be screened at Exeter Phoenix

The beautiful gardens have sprung to life and visitors can enjoy a walk around the grounds, visiting the animals in the Secret Garden and grabbing takeaway drinks and food from the café.

Open daily, Powderham castle, Exeter; www.powderham.co.uk

Ongoing

THE DONKEY SANCTUARY As well as meeting some of the resident donkeys, people can visit the on-site restaurant and enjoy the new family activity trail, which gives visitors the chance to explore the sanctuary and discover the A-Z of fun donkey facts, while completing activities along the way.

The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth; www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/sidmouth

AND LOOKING AHEAD….

6 July

BRYAN ADAMS The Canadian rocker will be belting out all the hits, including Summer of 69’, Please forgive me, Everything I Do and Heaven. Sure to be a big singalong feel-good gig.

Powderham Castle, Exeter; www.powderham.co.uk

23 July

AMADEUS ORCHESTRA AT EXETER CATHEDRAL Principal conductor Philip Mackenzie says, “As an orchestra, we have been silent since February 2020 when we performed in the House of Commons, and we are very excited by the prospect of performing once again. It is very fitting that our first post-Covid concert will be held in Exeter Cathedral as this is the city where the orchestra was founded in 1990.” The orchestra is well known in Exeter and performs in the Cathedral every summer.

Exeter Cathedral; www.exetercathedral.org.uk / tickets from Exeter Northcott Theatre; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

9 August –14 Aug

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG The award-winning smash hit comedy returns to Exeter, telling the story of a farcical 1920s murder mystery where, inevitably, everything goes wrong. Expect to leave the theatre with your cheeks hurting from excessive laughter.

Exeter Northcott theatre, Stocker road, Exeter; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk n

LIBRARY LIFE CALLUM ELLIOTT-ARCHER shares the latest from Exeter Library At the time of writing, the last lockdown is nearly a month behind us, and we are all finding our feet in this new world. The pubs are open (outside seating) and retail is getting back into the swing of things. Restaurants and cafés are trying their hardest to gain momentum, and we are all trying to work out what the next 12 months will bring.

This is why the 17 May restriction lift is so important to us. We cannot wait to be able to return to our normal opening times, have people sit inside and use our café, and begin offering small scale local events. We are also going to welcome Newtown and Bowhill Primary school into the space for a class visit, something we have not been able to do for well over a year. We are not there yet, but the next few months are going to be really exciting. Next time you are in town, please stop by and say hello to us. Use our space, borrow our books, and take part in our events. We have missed you and can’t wait to see you. wwwdevonlibraries.org.uk

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FOOD & DRINK NIBBLES FROM EXETER’S FOOD SCENE

Bursts of colour at The Ivy

FIN-TASTIC

Celebrated South West chef Mitch Tonks has released a new cookbook called Rockfish, showing fish fans easy ways to prepare and eat sustainable British seafood informally with minimum fuss and maximum joy.

Mitch is the founder of Rockfish and has a restaurant on Exeter Quay, as well as seven other restaurants across the Devon and Dorset coastline. His recipes aim to be a true celebration of seafood, offering a combination of simplicity, taste and zeal, while reflecting the changing catch and the changing scenery of coastal life through summer and in winter.

With more and more people discovering the joy of homecooking during lockdown, Mitch hopes this book will give people confidence when it comes to preparing and cooking fish. Go to pages 34 for recipes from the book.

For more: www.therockfish.co.uk/products/rockfish-the-cookbook Are you salmon who wants to learn how to cook fish?

GOT MY IVY ON YOU The wait is nearly over. Neighbouring Exeter Cathedral at 65-67 High Street,

The Ivy Exeter will open this June, offering all-day dining seven days a week.

The premises have undergone a huge refurbishment which will see a main restaurant and bar area, an outdoor terrace and an intimate private dining room for eight guests.

The signature dusting of glamour that the Ivy brings will include artwork inspired by Exeter’s heritage, along with soft furnishings, stylish gold fittings and warm hues of green and red to match the quintessentially Ivy floral design.

Like other Ivy restaurants, the menu will mainly feature modern, seasonal British classics. Breakfast, coffees, elevenses, weekend brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner will all be available, with dishes including pea velouté with lemon and thyme ricotta, crushed peas and black pepper, and roasted scallops with crispy potato rösti, pea purée, parmesan sauce and grated truffle.

“We’re thrilled to be able to announce the opening of The Ivy Exeter,” says Drew Davey, general manager at The Ivy Exeter.

“Our location next to the stunning Exeter Cathedral is a beautiful location, and we’re excited to reveal the newly refurbished interiors and welcome our first guests this summer.”

For more: www.theivyexeter.com

LET’S TACOS ABOUT IT Californian-Mexican eatery Tortilla opens its doors in Exeter this June.

Located on the High Street, the branch will be the Southern-most Tortilla restaurant in the country.

Customers can expect fresh, vibrant dishes including burritos, tacos, nachos, quesadillas and more. Managing director Richard Morris says the Tortilla family can’t wait to roll into Exeter – “a city we’ve wanted to join for a long time.”

For more: www.tortilla.co.uk/club

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Ready to roll

FOOD & DRINK Co-owners Joel Barnard and Andrew Whyte met at uni

ONE TO WATCH

Hoorah! Exeter is just about to get a new bar – the Cuckoo Bottleshop and Taphouse. We chat to co-director Joel Barnard to find out what we can expect…

How did you get into making beer?

Me and Andy (Andrew Whyte, the other co-director of the business) met at Plymouth University in 2012, I have a background in Chemistry and Andy in Geology. We both enjoyed trying different guest beers at our local pub and started learning how to brew beer at home. After a few years we decided to brew something on a commercial scale and our first beer was born; Nothing’s Easy, an easy drinking 5 per cent American Pale Ale. We’ve brewed several more beers since, as well as some collaborative beers with other breweries like Dig Brew Co. and Topsham Brewery.

We then started our professional careers in the beer industry, I started managing the craft beer bar The Pursuit of Hoppiness in Exeter, and Andy is the head brewer for Dig Brew Co. in Birmingham. Unfortunately, due

Stirring all the tastiness in

to Covid, The Pursuit of Hoppiness closed down which was a huge loss for Exeter; it was my favourite place to drink for a long time before I started working there, but it gave us the opportunity to now do something for ourselves.

Tell us about the brewing side of things...

Our company Whyte Bär Brewing Co. is a Cuckoo Brewery, this means that we rent brewing space at existing breweries, we take our own ingredients to the brewery and we brew our beer using their equipment. Much like how a cuckoo bird lays its eggs in other birds nests. So Cuckoo seemed like the perfect name for the bar.

What sort of beers will you be serving?

As a small independent business, supporting other independents is crucial to us. We will be serving the best quality beer from independent brewers all over the world, with a fantastic selection available at any one time, in keg, can, or bottle. Having this bar will also allow us to brew our own beer more frequently. We have some really cool beers in the pipeline, with some really crazy names that we can’t wait to reveal, as well as the return of one or two of our previously brewed beers.

Anything else?

We will also have a modest selection of wines, whiskey and gin, as well as other spirits and soft drinks, there really will be something for everyone!

“As a small independent business, supporting other independents is crucial to us” What about the look and feel of the place?

We wanted to take inspiration from some of our favourite looking bars, Evil Twin in New York or the Mikkeller and To Øl bars in Copenhagen. They have this really clean, fresh and inviting feel that we really want to emulate.

Expect natural colours and wood, with a welcoming, relaxed and approachable atmosphere. We are here for the beer connoisseur but some people want a straightforward beer after work and we are here to facilitate that too.

When will the bar open?

If all goes smoothly, early June.

For more: Cuckoo Bottleshop and Taphouse, 25 Paris Street, Exeter; @whytebarbrewing on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

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The domed lantern in the hall; below: The glamorous bar

WINSLADE MANOR RESTAURANT & BAR

Prepare to be wowed by this luxury lifestyle destination

By Harriet Noble Interior images by Matthew Heritage

W

ith the doors of hospitality finally open, there has been a backlog of restaurants we all want to visit. Top of my list, though, was Winslade Manor Restaurant & Bar because, well, there are so many reasons.

Firstly, it’s new; secondly, Matt Mason, formerly of Jack in the Green, is chef director – so you know you’re in good hands – and thirdly, because I am unashamedly wowed by the pictures. Call me fickle, but the images of the beautiful pearly white mansion, all restored – more on that later – set within expansive green countryside in Clyst St Mary was enough to get me seriously excited.

After a year of lockdown in loungewear, this is exactly the kind of glamour and elegance that I’m pining for. In fact, I’m already imagining myself out on the terrace for an al fresco lunch, sipping blush pink rosé and shielding my eyes from the glare of the sun.

But, as we know, it’s been a shocker of a month weather-wise and the skies are pebble grey and the wind

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RESTAURANT

clockwise: The lounge area where you can work and have business meetings; Matt Mason’s fine dining dishes; eye-catching wallpaper

ferocious. No matter, we are out! My dining companion and I cheerfully sit huddled out on the sizeable terrace in front of Winslade Manor and enjoy a warm-your-cockles kind of meal. I tuck into a hearty Thai green curry, accompanied by a warm rolled up naan bread the size of a mattress, coconut rice and lime pickles. It’s beautifully fragrant, with fruity and zesty flavours punching through.

My friend opts for the duck liver parfait which comes with a delicious rhubarb chutney and doorstep-thick brioche. For mains she has fish pie with seasonal greens which goes down a treat. Other choices on this informal terrace menu include classics such as steak, burgers, jerk chicken; lighter options such as the wellness bowls and a good splattering of fish, like the St Austell Bay mussels and smoked chalk stream trout.

There are also very tempting puddings, the sticky date and little pod vanilla pudding with salted caramel maple and ice cream calls out to me, but we are happily both a little on the full side so the very lovely woman who is looking after us gives us pastries for our journey home.

My pal gets a handsome looking banana bread, while I get a doughnutmeets-French pastry, with a vanilla custard that oozes out of the middle. It is divine.

“This is exactly the glamour I’m pining for”

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RESTAURANT

clockwise: Duck liver parfait is on the Lounges & Lawn menu; the elegant halls and galleries; local cheffing legend Matt Mason

THE BIG TOUR…

After our meal and a very much appreciated hot mug of mint tea, chef Matt Mason kindly takes us on a tour. For those not in the know, Winslade Park has undergone a dramatic transformation, thanks to property developers Burrington Estates, and is on its way to becoming a fullyfledged lifestyle destination. What does this mean? Well, yes, it’s a place you can eat and drink. But with offices here and plans for residential buildings, it’s also a place you can live and work.

There’s also a big wellbeing aspect to it, with a health club, fitness studio, swimming pool, and day spa all on the way.

Matt shows us round the restaurant inside (where he’ll be flexing his culinary muscles with the Elegant Dining Menu), the cocktail bar and the spacious lounge. The interiors, courtesy of La Maison Bohéme, are nothing short of spectacular. The huge rooms, with their even huger proportions, are elegant and luxurious, with décor details that catch the eye at every turn – whether it’s the bold bird motif wallpaper, rich lagoon-coloured curtains or bunch-of-balloons style lighting. It’s fun too, the bar area being glitzy yet classic with splashes of gold.

In the heart of the building comes the real Sistine Chapel moment where we gaze up at a full-height top-lit central hall, with a stunning blue and white dome surrounded by ornate garland decorations. This hall space has two sets of galleries, all with beautiful detailing along the ceilings and paintwork, not unlike a beautiful tiered wedding cake. This, unbelievably, is where various companies have offices. Talk about a glamorous location

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for your day job. I can imagine you’d want to don a ball gown to work, just to feel part of the furniture here.

We also nip inside the boutique gym, Number 6, run by rugby champion Tom Johnson, and we poke our heads round the kitchen and some of the outer buildings where work is going on.

As Matt shows us round, his passion for Winslade is boundless. It’s been non-stop for him and the team (including his wife Jo Mason, who is restaurant manager here) getting this place ship-shape and ready to go.

Additionally, when the country was in lockdown Matt teamed up with local charity St Petrocks to cook lunches every week to give to anyone that needed a meal.

And now the restaurant is open, it’ll be full steam ahead. He tells me he’s currently working with local business Good Game to create cured meats, and he’s also teamed up with Dartmoor Wild Flower Honey who will keep bees on site, so expect Winslade Honey to be making an appearance soon.

And there is much much more. Matt say that work is just beginning on the ‘forge’ – this will be another dining area especially for the people who rent out office space at Winslade. It is quite the community that they’re building here, that’s for sure.

“I just fell in love with this place,” says Matt.

“I believe Winslade is truly unique and will be a hive of positivity; there is something for everyone with health and wellbeing at its core. I cannot wait to bring the site to life and watch as people fall in love with it just as I have.” n

DINING DETAILS Winslade Park, Manor Drive, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, Devon; www.winslademanor.com Food options Elegant dining menu, Lounges & Lawn menu (more informal), brunch and Sunday lunch menus, plus cocktails Prices Elegant dining menu: 4 course, £55, 2-course express lunch £27.50; Lounges & Lawn menu: little plates £7-10, big plates £14-18 Atmosphere Luxe, imaginative and friendly

WINSLADE PARK: PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE

clockwise: Al fresco dining out on the terrace; more glitz and glamour in the restaurant and lounge area

“There are décor details that catch the eye at every turn”

Winslade Manor Restaurant & Bar is set in the Grade II* listed building in the heart of the parkland of Winslade Park.

It was built in the early 19th Century

by Edward Cotsford, MP and Sheriff of Devon. Among its various uses, the House was used for a school in the mid20th century but was later neglected. In 1975-77 Winslade was converted to the headquarters offices of the London and Manchester Assurance Company.

The dramatic redevelopment by Burrington Estates New Homes has seen the property restored, with the introduction of the restaurant, bar, lounge and offices.

Looking ahead, the whole development will include around 137 residential homes and apartments, alongside offices and lifestyle facilities. Upon final completion, Winslade Park will be home to a boutique health club, subterranean day spa, onsite childcare facilities, and extensive catering options.

Additionally, the plan is for the site to host many events such as weddings, wellbeing and food festivals and openair music concerts.

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SEA BREAM BAKED IN PAPER WITH GARLIC, OLIVE OIL, CHILLI & ROSEMARY From Rockfish, by Mitch Tonks Serves 2

C

ooking a fish ‘en papillote’, or in a bag, is an excellent way to prepare it. The fish retains its moistness and the other flavours that you add really get a chance to develop with the flavours of the fish to create something quite magical. The combination of roasted garlic, chilli and rosemary is a good one, as is thyme, lemon and cumin. But you will find your own preferences.

Look for wild gilt head or black bream, or use farmed gilt head bream, which are delicious and perfectly acceptable. Ask your fishmonger to scale and gut the fish and remove the head.

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Ingredients 8 garlic cloves 100ml olive oil 2 whole sea bream, weighing about 450g each, head removed 1 small fresh bird’s eye chilli, finely sliced 4 sprigs of rosemary 50ml white wine Finely chopped parsley Salt Method 1. Preheat the oven to 160°C Fan/180°C/Gas Mark 4.

2. Place your garlic cloves, with the skin on, on a small roasting tray, drizzle with a little of the olive oil and sprinkle with some salt.

Roast for 10 minutes or until soft – you should

be able to squeeze the garlic from the skin. If not then just cook a little longer. Set aside to cool slightly.

3. Turn up the oven to its maximum heat.

4. Cut out 2 pieces of baking parchment large enough to enclose a fish. Lay the parchment on the worktop and place the fish on it. Sprinkle the chilli over the fish and place the peeled garlic around it. Tuck some rosemary into the belly. Sprinkle with salt and pour over the rest of the olive oil. Fold the paper up and over the fish, and just before you seal it up completely, pour the wine into the corner, then finish sealing.

5. Place the parchment bags on a baking tray and cook for 15 minutes. Cut the paper open, sprinkle the fish with chopped parley and serve straight from the bag. www.therockfish.co.uk/products/rockfish-the-cookbook

RECIPE

CANNED SARDINES ON TOAST WITH CAPERS & RED ONION From Rockfish, by Mitch Tonks Serves 2

I

love canned seafood. It becomes something different in the canning process. Oily fish like tuna, mackerel and sardines are particularly delicious.

I have always wanted to can seafood caught in the UK. Canning seems to be something we don’t do much in this country yet in ports across Brittany and northern Spain it is quite a craft, and the canned anchovies and tuna from those areas are revered the world over. They’re even more expensive than the fresh catch.

There is a healthy sardine fishery in Cornwall. We bought a tonne of the new season’s catch in 2019 and worked with a Spanish seafood cannery to have the fish popped into cans. We tasted them alongside the very best of the Portuguese and Spanish rivals and arrived at the conclusion that the

Cornish sardines set the bar, being fat, oily and delicious.

I’m often asked what you can do with canned sardines. This is how I prepare them at home, just a simple combination of ingredients.

But the sardine mayonnaise we make at the restaurants is what transforms the dish.

Ingredients 1 x 140g can sardines (I recommend Rockfish brand or Ortiz) Sardine mayonnaise ½ red onion, finely sliced 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and drained 1 tablespoon finely chopped curly parsley 1 dill pickle, finely sliced 2 slices of sourdough bread Salt and white pepper

Method 1. Drain the oil from the can of sardines and use it to make the mayonnaise.

2. Put the sardines in a bowl with the onion, capers, parsley and pickle. Gently break up the fish but leave nice chunks. Season. Toast the bread, then heap the sardine mixture on top.

Serve the mayo on the side. www.therockfish.co.uk/products/rockfish-the-cookbook

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HEALTH & WELLBEING B R I N G I N G YO U A L L T H E G O O D S T U FF F O R T H E M I N D, B O DY A N D S O U L

Plants can add a bit of joy

ROOTING FOR YOU Treeconomics, an Exeter-based consultancy which works to promote the benefits of trees, is offering all permanent staff who work from home an allowance of £50 to furnish their workspace with houseplants.

“We are a growing company and keen to break the mould in terms of how we approach staff welfare,” says Kenton Rogers, director of Treeconomics.

“Staff are so much more than workers; they are human beings, each with their own individual strengths, weaknesses, and brilliance.

They need to be valued and feel that their needs are acknowledged, in order to flourish in the workplace. It is also vital to recognise that stress and anxiety are features of modern life and if we can add a little joy to the workspace of our employees, then we have achieved something far more valuable than an increase in profit.” www.treeconomics.co.uk

5 MINUTES WITH… AESTHETICA MEDICAL SPA is a facial aesthetics and body sculpting clinic based in Exeter Castle. Here we chat to Dr Alice Havard and Dr Nick Webster, both practising dentists and aesthetic practitioners there Tell us about the business in a nutshell?

Our approach combines high-quality, scientifically backed treatments for both men and women with an authentic spalike experience to make you feel safe, comfortable and relaxed.

All our procedures are non-surgical, with very minimal risk and downtime, so you can feel more confident in yourself without the worry that comes with surgery.

What treatments are popular right now?

Lip fillers are always popular, however more and more now, patients are wanting a naturally beautiful “blank canvas” aesthetic.

With the rise of no make up selfies, we are seeing more and more men and women start to focus on their skin health, to give them that glowy, youthful appearance. Chemical peels and radio-frequency microneedling both stimulate natural collagen production and provide tightening and smoothing of the skin.

Tying in with this more natural approach,

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our EMSculpt machine which builds muscle and reduces fat has been hugely popular for patients who want to improve their overall health as well as their outward appearance.

It’s a perfect motivator for gym-goers, or those who are injured but don’t want to lose muscle tone while they heal.

What are the benefits of ‘tweakments’?

We believe tweakments are the perfect way to age gracefully. Small, non-invasive procedures keep you looking like the best version of you. Our goal is never to completely change a feature, we want to enhance what is naturally given, and promote both mental and physical health.

Has there been an increase in people wanting non-invasive treatments?

Over the last year we’ve found so many more patients are thinking about subtle enhancements, possibly due to a sudden increase in video calls which has forced us to

The Exeter clinic offers non-surgical treatments

look at our own image more than ever.

Another boost this year was when Judy Murray openly talked about her medical-grade Obagi skincare regime and Radiofrequency micro-needling experiences.

We’re so glad more and more patients are now talking about their treatment. It used to be so taboo to mention Botox, and visions of puffy, shiny, warped celebrity gossip icons were the only conversation starters to be had.

These days it’s more about how injectables boost your confidence safely and effectively.

For more: www.aesthetica-medicalspa.co.uk

HEALTH & WELLBEING

WHEN TWO BECOMES ONE

Courses and workshops will be free and open to everyone

ALL IN VEIN Veincentre, the varicose vein treatment specialists will be opening a brand new clinic in the heart of Exeter to offer patients safe, effective, and minimally invasive laser treatment to remove varicose veins.

During the pandemic, Veincentre has received record numbers of enquiries from patients in Exeter and across the UK who have either been in discomfort with their legs after working throughout the lockdown, often on their feet for long period of times, or individuals who have been hiding their legs and are now wanting to tackle their problem before all the restrictions are eased and the summer arrives.

The clinic will be located on Southernhay East and will join 12 other clinics around the UK www.veincentre.com

Two of Devon’s leading mental health charities have joined forces to tackle poor mental health in Devon in the wake of the pandemic.

Devon Mind and Step One Charity launch Devon Mind x Step One, a joint initiative created in response to the need for mental health services across the county in the wake of the past year. Together, the charities will be providing digital support in an ongoing programme of courses, webinars and workshops covering topics such as anxiety, resilience, bereavement and depression. Everything is free and open to everyone.

“Our collaboration was borne out of a desire to ensure that people had access to a wide support offer,” says Olivia Craig, CEO at Devon Mind, “that they should only need to go through ‘one front door’ to discover courses, workshops and groups that will benefit their mental health. We will continue to work together to develop and grow more opportunities to support people in Devon who need us.” www.steponecharity.co.uk/www.devonmind.co.uk

Pumping music will see you whizzing through the session

LOOKING FOR A NEW CLASS?

The vein centre will be located in Southernhay East

Shift Indoor Cycling arrived in Devon (within the CrossFit Pi gym on the Woodbury Business Estate between Exeter and Exmouth) just last year, and offers high energy indoor cycling classes run by experienced trainer Natalie Grainger.

“Our classes use the best quality bikes, highly experienced instructors, great music and you’ll struggle to match the level of service provided anywhere else,” says Natalie.

“Yes, on the surface it may seem like just 45 minutes sat on a bike, but it is so much more than that, and I’d encourage anyone and everyone to come and try just one class, I guarantee you’ll be hooked on that post class buzz!” www.shiftindoorcycling.co.uk

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HEALTH & WELLBEING Matt works with a lot of people in educaton

MATT HYDE Matt is a qualified humanistic counsellor and runs Elephant Counselling in Exeter, helping people manage depression, anxiety and stress

Hi Matt, tell us about what areas you specialise in…

Unsurprisingly, with 20 years of experience in schools and in light of current times, home schooling and constant examination pressure, I work with many students in schools, colleges and universities looking to explore their personal battles with stress and anxiety in its many forms both inside and outside of education.

I also have experience as a grief support worker during a period when I volunteered for the amazing charity BALLOONS. Sara and the wonderful team at Balloons work closely with children and young people who are dealing with the effects of grief and bereavement and offers incredible support at the most difficult of times. I am also interested in couples and family counselling.

What can you tell us about your approach?

In its most simple form, I am a counsellor who looks to explore and untangle the complexities that life throws at us from time to time. I refer to these complexities as ‘stuff’. Sometimes our ‘stuff’ can get a little too big for us to be able to manage on our own and it is at these times a little help can be useful for us to look at the same ‘stuff’ but from a different yet supported perspective.

Do you think everybody should be in therapy?

To a degree, everybody is in therapy. Recognising the things that we do because we enjoy doing them are all forms of therapy in their own way.

It would be fair to say that the run you decide to take or the walk along the river from the swing bridge to the Quay would act as therapy for some,

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whereas a trip up to Sandy Park or a chin wag over a glass of wine with a friend is therapy for another.

The things we do that make us feel better are all therapeutic!

However, in the truer sense of the term ‘therapy’ there are some ‘things’ that may need a deeper exploration and deserve a more considered and professional form of support. Talking therapy is always helpful, for those who are open to it.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about therapy?

That the counsellor will have all the answers!

Without wanting to burst bubbles, we don’t.

Furthermore, it would be fair to say that it is the client that possesses all of the answers just maybe not the ability to see them.

It’s been a very difficult year for lots of people. Outside of counselling, what advice can you give to people looking to improve their general wellbeing?

A useful technique is to try and identify ‘unhelpful’ triggers that cause the need to worry. Share your thoughts and how they make you feel with trusted and respected ‘others’ and try and notice how these thoughts and feelings physically feel and

make you behave. Connecting with these triggers and recognising them can be very useful when attempting to manage them. Recognising themes and reoccurring patterns of behaviour could also lead to self-soothing actions.

Outside of work, what do you get up to?

Along with my wife I tend to ferry our three children around to their clubs and currently skate parks and confess to a bit of armchair sports viewing in between. As a family we also enjoy spending time in our caravan on the North Cornwall coast where we eat pasties and try and catch waves.

What are your passions?

I am an avid follower of our city’s sports teams and like to visit St James Park and Sandy Park when I am able. I love running despite the shorter distances and the slower speeds. I love live music and have promised myself a trip to Glastonbury at the very next opportunity.

Elephant Counselling has two locations in Exeter: The Practice Rooms, 15-16 Castle Street; The Iron Mill College, Morewenstow, 7 Barnfield Crescent, Exeter; wwwelephantcounselling.co.uk

Are you a health or wellbeing business?

Why not get in touch to see how you can be involved with Exeter Living!

Glamping and Camping, East Devon We offer glamping and camping wedding accommodation, meaning you can keep your wedding party together and enjoy your reception until the small hours. Our accommodation includes a beautiful bell tent glamping bridal suite for the happy couple, and guests can pitch their tents in our camping field with all the facilities you could need.

To find out more about the extensive range of camping facilities that are available at our luxury campsite, please visit:

www.bovehay.co.uk Contact Paula Miller 07563 529772 paula.miller@mediaclash.co.uk

Bovehay Down, Farway Honiton, Devon, EX24 6JD • 01404 871436 info@sweetlands.co.uk Find us on Instagram

 bovehay

Rain showers, treehouses, pizza ovens, rolling fields, beautiful beaches – and luxury bedding.

Devon might just be the best county to go completely off the grid in

By Harriet Noble 40 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

© JOHN SL ATER

GLAMP IT UP

GLAMPING

“There are roll top baths and a rain shower”

G

lamping has come a long way in the last decade. It’s no longer merely an expensive way to do Glasto, but a fully-fledged industry with a plethora of different choices. Owners of a field or two have really thought about how to make their spaces accessible and appealing to all – whether you’re a family of five, part of a couple or with a gaggle of friends – while crucially hanging on to the pure essence of it all, which is to embrace the outdoors, but in comfort. So, there’s activities galore for the kids, peace and quiet for adults, and stunning surroundings courtesy of Devon countryside. Here are three glamping spots that caught our eye…

The Orchard Retreat Set the scene:

The Orchard Retreat is set within 15 acres of old farm land near Crediton, where you’ll find meadows, a wood, streams, the orchard and the main courtyard where the cottages are located. The yurts are set in the gentle sloping orchard, all well-spaced and surrounded by ancient apple trees.

How about the accommodation?

© JOHN SL ATER

The yurts sleep up to four guests and have proper double beds and two single beds.

“To make the beds extra comfy they also have luxury bedding which really helps make for a comfortable night’s sleep,” says Vicky Ritchens, director at The Orchard Retreat. “So many guests go home and buy the same after asking us about what bedding we use.

“The yurts are also fully carpeted, have a Woodburner, a kitchenette and a small dining area. They are lit by fairy lights, lanterns, and candles as there is no electricity in the yurts. Off grid luxury at its best!”

For those who fancy something slightly less outdoorsy, there are two pretty cottages: the Cider Barn, that sleeps six, and the Apple Tree cottage, that sleeps four.

Any fun stuff?

Plenty. There’s a spacious lawn with badminton, table tennis and a natural play area with treehouse, slide and swings. Oh, and they’ve got a hand-built pizza oven too. That’s supper sorted.

The all-important facilities…

There’s an outdoor bathroom – The Tubhouse – with two traditional roll top baths and a rain shower, all plumbed in with hot running water, privately set by the babbling stream.

What can we get up to while we’re staying?

“Being in rural Mid Devon, we have the best of both worlds,” says Vicky.

“We are within touching distance to both Exmoor and Dartmoor and both the North and South Coast. Guests often comment on how lovely it is to retreat back to The Orchard Retreat after a day out and our location gives them the option to explore most of Devon. But right on our doorstep we have Thorne’s Farm Shop with its PYO, in season, and café serving breakfast and lunches; and The Ring of Bells, our wonderful local pub, serving gourmet style pub food and local ales.”

What’s the clientele? © JOHN SL ATER

During the holidays it’s mostly families, but couples and groups of friends also visit a lot. Older generations tend to go in the cottages and the younger ones fill the yurts.

In a nutshell: MAIN IMAGE: The Orchard Retreat; TOP: Relax in a roll top bath;

BOTTOM: Hammock hangout

Special, luxurious and intimate.

The Orchard Retreat, East Forde Farm, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Crediton, Devon; www.theorchardretreat.co.uk

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GLAMPING Set the scene:

Sunrise Camping is set high up on the Haldon Hills just below Haldon Belvedere. The farm as a whole and the camping field have spectacular views over the Exe Valley – from the sea at Exmouth right up to Exmoor on a clear day.

“We have great views of the city of Exeter and the cathedral in particular,” says farm and campsite manager Simon Gray.

“And because of this panoramic viewpoint we get the most amazing sunrises. If you’re lucky enough to catch it at the right time of year the sun can rise through the yurt door and light up your morning! All of our glamping accommodation is set within a new woodland which the owners have planted up 900 native trees. It’s a lovely, peaceful place to come and unwind and enjoy everything that the beautiful Devon countryside has to offer.”

How about the accommodation?

© SIMON GR AY

Willow Hut sleeps two adults with a pull-out bed that can be folded back during the day. The hut has a wood-burning stove and plenty of space for cosying down if the weather’s not behaving. It also has a level outdoor space for outdoor cooking with a fire circle and grill, as well as a space for a two-man tent for older children to stay.

Then there’s Apple Tree Yurt, a traditional yurt which sleeps a family of four to five and has a wood-burning stove for indoor cooking.

Outside, the yurt has a veranda area with seating and steps down to a

Fun round the fire at Sunrise Camping; INSET: Quite the view from the Apple Tree Yurt

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fire circle, complete with cooking trivet, that looks out over the Exevalley below. There is also a picnic bench for sitting and enjoying the peace and quiet next to new apple trees and a space for a Bell Tent for those who want to camp.

What about the facilities…

This site is very much a planet-friendly spot.

“We’re off-grid with no electricity on-site and people also get the chance to minimise their environmental impact during their stay with the bucket showers, compost loos and wood-fired heating and cooking,” adds Simon.

“The glamping is one part of the farm project which is focused on increasing biodiversity, mitigating climate change and contributing to our local community – hence newly planted woodland and hedgerows (with more on the way), a meadow restoration project, two new orchards and a new 1.5-acre market garden.”

Any fun stuff?

Guests can explore the 40-acre farm which includes three acres of woodland, new orchards, a market garden, and parkland. There’s an ever-expanding brood of hens and guests can collect the eggs and buy fresh vegetables directly from the farm.

What can we get up to while we’re staying?

The site is right on the doorstep of the Haldon Forest Park which can be accessed directly from the farm on foot or by bike. The Forest Park is full of outdoor activities from their nationally renowned mountain bike trails – suitable for all ages and ability levels – through to the newly re-vamped Go Ape which is now open to kids and adults. They also run an excellent little café and hire out bikes and Segway.

Three miles away is Dartmoor National Park, less than 30 minutes away are local beaches at Dawlish or Exmouth, and under an hour from the beaches of the South Hams.

“Because of this panoramic viewpoint we get the most amazing sunrises”

© LUKE AGBAIMONI

Sunrise Camping at Penhill Farm

Space galore at Coastal cabins

What glamping options should we go for?

“We recommend the yurt, which has a bit more space, for families, and the hut for couples – but we’ve had couples in the yurt and families in the hut who’ve all had a great time,” adds Simon.

“With the peaceful setting for both, couples can certainly get away from it all but there’s also plenty to do for families and kids in particular.

We’ve also had lots of guests from Exeter and the surrounding area who’ve really enjoyed getting a different perspective on their city.”

In a nutshell:

Friendly, peaceful, off-grid.

Sunrise Camping at Penhill Farm, Penhill Farm, Nr Dunchideock, Exeter; Instagram: Sunrisecampingpenhillfarm

Coastal Cabins Glamping Set the scene…

Coastal Cabins are located in an enviable position just over a mile from the stunning North Devon coast. A total of 10 unique glamping cabins are spaciously dotted around a fishing lake with far reaching views across the fields towards the Atlantic Ocean, with the South West Coastal Path right on your doorstep.

What about the accommodation?

All 10 cabins come with an integrated kitchenette and en suite shower room. Eight of the cabins are designed with families in mind and have kingsize beds for the grownups and bunk beds for the little ones. Two of the cabins are specifically for couples, with stunning views from the kingsize beds. Every cabin has its own private deck with a BBQ , perfect for relaxing evenings watching the sun setting over the lake.

Any fun stuff?

For an extra bit of luxury there is a ‘wild spa’ hot tub (hires out at £40ph). There is also a fully stocked fishing lake which is free to use for anyone staying on site. When the evenings are a bit chillier then the BBQ cabin is the perfect space for all getting together to cook up a feast.

What can we get up to while we’re staying?

“The quaint village of Hartland is just over a mile away with three great pubs and the very popular Hartland Farmers Market,” says Melissa Sheldon from Coastal Cabins.

“Hartland Quay, just two miles away, is a stunning spot to visit with a dramatic cove bordered by breathtaking cliffs, great coastal walks and a pub with views. The famous fishing village of Clovelly is just a five-minute drive away where the car free cobbled streets make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

‘Within a half an hour drive there are also numerous large sandy beaches where you can try your hand at surfing, rockpooling or simply relaxing.”

What’s the clientele?

Families looking for fun and couples looking for a chilled retreat.

In a nutshell: Relaxing, unique, memorable. n

Coastal Cabins, East Long Furlong, Hartland, Near Bideford, Devon; www.coastal-cabins.com

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BEDROOMS

SACRED SANCTUARY Interiors inspiration to help you create the bedroom of your dreams

By Harriet Noble

B

edrooms should be the most relaxing room in the house – but that doesn’t mean you have to slap on some magnolia and pare down the decorating.

Current trends are going for deeper (and more interesting) calming shades like camel and blush, with hints of opulence including bespoke headboards, big-print wallpaper and four-poster beds reigning supreme. We spoke to a couple of local interiors experts to get some inspiration.

Aissa Gonzalez is the creative director at Naturalmat, the Devon-based company that handcraft organic made beds and bedroom homeware and accessories.

Where is the best place to start when redecorating a bedroom?

I would love to say the bed as it is easily the biggest / most visible piece of furniture in most rooms, however I’d advise starting with something you’ve found that you love. An accent pedant light for the centre of the room perhaps? A beautiful freestanding wardrobe? A painting you’ve acquired or perhaps a wallpaper print you’ve been eyeing? It is very useful to have one object as an anchor for the style and colour decisions the rest of the room can grow from.

When thinking about buying a bed, what important factors should you consider?

Particularly in the UK where wide hallways, stairs and doorways are often a luxury, access is a very important thing to keep in mind. A room may easily be able to take an Emperor-sized bed, but the stairwell may not. You may have to opt for bed bases that come in two pieces along with mattresses on a zip and link, or perhaps frames that come apart completely and assembled in situ. You can also have headboards made to hang on the wall as opposed to standing on the ground and bolted onto the bed base, so you can still have a tall one without having to manoeuvre a beast of a headboard around doorways.

It is also worth thinking about whether or not you

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need the bed’s real estate for storage in that room – drawers, a lift up mechanism, or perhaps legs higher off the ground to accommodate decorative underbed storage baskets.

Another key factor to consider is the workmanship of what you’re buying. It’s easy to fall into the ‘this will do for a couple years’ kind of mindset, especially when you’re having to purchase a lot of items to fill a room. It often creates unnecessary waste and a false economy to then have to replace it not too long after. Think about investing in a wellmade bed and mattress that you know you’ll love for many many years to come. You’re seeing it every day and spending at least a third of that day in it, more than any other piece of furniture in your home, it is well worth putting the budget towards.

What are you seeing a lot of interest in when it comes to bedrooms?

Using the bed as the main accent is definitely something we’ve noticed an increased interest in. The four-poster trend that emerged a couple years ago has only become more and more popular. Gone are the days of just a simple divan base up against the wall, or a greige- coloured bed; people are becoming braver with their fabric choices, and we’ve been getting more and more queries by the day from customers wanting bespoke statement headboard shapes.

What colour schemes for bedrooms are popular at the moment?

Spending more time at home has made people look to more restful, nature-inspired colours for us to seek sanctuary in. Shades of matte limestone white, as opposed to a very fresh cool white, and chalky pastels such as peach are popular. In addition, people are drawn to shades of rusty browns, camel, blush and olive or seafood greens.

On the flip side of that, statement wallpaper seems to be having a moment – botanical prints from subtle micro florals to bolder William Morris type foliage, or more geometric patterns inspired by Moorish, Ottoman or Southeast Asian textiles like ikats. You can see quite a few projects where they use the same

“People are drawn to shades of rusty brown, camel and blush”

The Appledore bed, from Naturalmat; opposite: Mini woven seagrass planter from Love Frankie; www.lovefrankie.com; blush colour schemes

TOP TIPS FOR REDECORATING YOUR BEDROOM

Garry Smith is director at Cornish Bed Company.

The company makes hand cast traditional iron, brass and nickel beds.

•F ind a bed you really love; that room has to be somewhere you want to start and end each day. Think about where you buy your bed from and make sure it is well made and will last a long time.

• Always think about lighting, if there isn’t much natural light in the room, investing in some bedside table lamps or floor lamps will add a warmness to the room as well as much needed reading light at night.

• Take your time trying out different mattresses, there are varying degrees of firmness when it comes to a mattress and it is important you choose the right one for you. If you and your partner both have different needs, go for bespoke options to enable you to find one to suit and connect them by a zip to fit your bed.

• You could also consider reconfiguring the space; move your bed to a different position to give it a different look. You could also paint your bedside tables a different colour or re-upholster an old chair for a fresh new finish.

Cornish Bed Company, Devon showroom: Odhams Wharf, Topsham, Devon; www.cornishbeds.co.uk

“That room has to be somewhere you want to start and end each day”

The Elgin bedstead from Cornish Beds

BEDROOMS

ABOVE: Clifton four poster from Cornish Beds; BELOW: Floral wall hanging from Nest Living; www.nest.co.uk ; INSET: Pink throw from Hyde & Seek; www.hydeseek.co.uk

print across the wallpaper and the fabric on the headboard which makes for quite a stunning scheme.

What other exciting trends can we see emerging in bedroom interiors?

The popularity of indoor plants has skyrocketed in the past year and what used to mostly be found in the common areas are now a fashionable bedroom accessory to add a bit of life and greenery.

With that, sustainability has come to the forefront of a lot of consumers’ minds, so bedding and accessories made from 100 per cent natural, breathable fabrics or ones made from recycled wools or plastic water bottles have been garnering attention, along with those made from sustainably sourced wood and other materials like cork and rattan.

There has also been more attention to lighting going beyond just functional or having a pretty fabric on a lampshade. Oversized hanging lights as the room’s focal point and wall lights are being used in place of the more traditional bedside reading lamp. Table lamp styles in the market nowadays are often quite sculptural pieces in themselves. ■ Naturalmat, Devon showroom: Odhams Wharf, Topsham, Devon; www.naturalmat.co.uk

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After THIS year of all years, it’s absolutely time for EXETER to CELEBRATE again

NOTHING BEATS BEING THERE… 2 SEPTEMBER 2021 THE GREAT HALL, UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

Platinum Sponsor

Initial Sponsors

For Sponsorships: harriette.dixon@mediaclash.co.uk events@mediaclash.co.uk

paula.miller@mediaclash.co.uk

exeterlivingawards.co.uk

@ExeterLivingAwd

PHOTOS: KIM SCHOEMACHER Cats pictured have already been rehomed

Whether it’s through donating, fundraising for us or even adopting your own feline companion there are many ways to support us here at Exeter Axhayes Cats Protection.

We are currently running a hands free homing process enabling us to continue to find our cats their forever homes throughout the pandemic. Our cats are advertised on our website and social media pages for potential adopters to view and apply for. We often have several older cats that are overlooked on our website and spend twice as long as younger cats waiting for their new homes.

To offer one of our mature moggies their purrfect retirement home today please visit www.cats.org.uk/axhayes/adopt-a-cat

Did you know?

You can now donate £5 directly to our Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre. Simply Text EXET to 70577 from your mobile, to help to care for our cats and kittens until they find their forever homes. We will receive 100% of your donation.

T&Cs: www.cats.org.uk/sms-terms

Exeter Axhayes Cats Protection Little Hill Cottage, Clyst Honiton, EX5 2HS 01395 232377 exeteraxhayes@cats.org.uk

www.cats.org.uk/axhayes

LIGHTEN UP

We’ve scoured the local indies to find out what lighting trends are shining bright right now…

UMAGE EOS X-LARGE WHITE PENDANT WITH ROSETTE SUSPENSION, £392 Made from all-natural white goose feathers, these romantic lampshades set the tone for a soft, dreamy space.

From Amos Lighting and Home, 6 Dart Business Park, Topsham; www.amoslighting.co.uk

LIGHTING

SELETTI BLOW LIPS LED NEON LIGHT, £220 Fun and fantasy are the names of the game here; definitely a conversation starter.

From Love Frankie, 34 High Street, Totnes, Devon; www.lovefrankie.com

RIPPLE FLOOR LAMP, £325 Influenced by the ripples of water coming in from the sea, this calming lamp will do wonders for your mood in your wfh office.

From Stuart Lamble Designs, Showroom in Pyworthy, Devon; www.stuartlambledesigns.com

UMAGE ACORN WHITE POLISHED STEEL PENDANT, £276 The UMAGE Acorn Pendant consists of three parts: a soft silicone cup in white, a smooth outer shell of glass, and a kernel in a distinctive polished steel finish. This set of three pendants comes complete with a cannonball cluster suspension cable in white, for a line of dancing lights.

From Amos Lighting and Home, 6 Dart Business Park Topsham; www.amoslighting.co.uk

GOLA PENDANT LAMP, £118 This warm exotic light is made from pressed steel, the interior then sprayed with gold lacquer to create a tonal contrast.

From Toot Garouk, 19 Queen Street, Exeter; www.tootgarook.co.uk

GLASS MIRRORED PENDANT LIGHT, £150 This hand blown glass light looks equally impressive either switched on or off and comes on a long chain allowing it to be hung on a high ceiling.

From Lark, 16 Fore Street, Topsham, Devon; www.larktopsham.shop

GOLD LIGHTING, POA Angular and eye-catching, these gold lampshades will cosy up any sitting room.

From Amos Lighting and Home, 6 Dart Business Park, Topsham; www.amoslighting.co.uk

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LIGHTING

FLORAL DUCK EGG HANDMADE LAMPSHADE WITH FRINGING, WHITE LINING £45-65 Chintzy and velvety, this is boho granny-chic at its finest.

From Love Frankie, 34 High Street, Totnes, Devon; www.lovefrankie.com

RED DRAGONFLY TIFFANY GLASS STYLE LAMP, £85 Each shade of this antique lamp is composed of individual pieces of glass, cut and colour matched and then copper foil soldered to form an upside-down dragonfly.

From Eclectique, 23 The Quay, Exeter; www.eclectique.co.uk

DOUBLE NEST PENDANT, POA Natural beigy hues make for a cool, contemporary look.

From Amos Lighting and Home, 6 Dart Business Park, Topsham; www.amoslighting.co.uk

LEOPARD PRINT SILHOUETTE LAMPSHADE IN DIRTY PINK, £40-£180 Kitsch and cool, this mischievous lamp adds cheeky wink sauciness to your gaff.

From Love Frankie, 34 High Street, Totnes, Devon; www.lovefrankie.com

UMAGE SILVIA PENDANT WITH ROSETTE SUSPENSION, £92 This flower-meets-artichoke lamp, with its triangular-shaped blades, is a fab centrepiece.

From Amos Lighting and Home, 6 Dart Business Park, Topsham; www.amoslighting.co.uk

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AQUA MAGNA PENDANT LAMPSHADE, £80 This dark floral print lampshade features pops of burnt orange and vibrant yellows.

Déco with drama.

Insideout, 1 Bampfylde Lane, Princesshay, Exeter; www.insideouthome.co.uk

EDUCATION H I G H L I G H T S F R O M E X E T E R ’ S E D U C AT I O N S E C T O R

CONGRATULATIONS! Lara Vincent-Young, 21, a final year student from the University of Exeter Business School has been named Black Heritage Undergraduate of the Year 2021.

The award seeks to recognise exceptional undergraduates with Black Heritage who can demonstrate they are passionate about helping others, are champions of diversity and inclusion and have a knack for solving problems.

Lara won the award after being named on a short-list of 10 students from universities all across the UK. She is a passionate advocate for improving student diversity and has worked as a student ambassador for the Business School throughout her time at Exeter, as well as serving on the student-staff liaison committee, working on open days for the Business School’s Recruitment and

Widening Participation Team, and giving presentations to prospective students and parents.

“Having an award like this shows that people are realising the potential that people with Black Heritage do have,” says Lara.

“Something I found quite refreshing about it was that although they do want me to champion diversity, it’s more focused on ability, not just colour.”

“It was more about who I was as a person, what I’ve been able to achieve and I think that’s something that is perhaps not spoken about enough and can fly under the radar.

“It’s really refreshing not to be siloed as a Person of Colour and to have the opportunity to celebrate the things I’ve been able to do over my undergraduate career.”

For more: www.business-school.exeter.ac.uk

Lara has worked on numerous projects and events while at uni

Energetic Jack

HOP ONBOARD An Exeter School pupil has been selected from almost 1,000 applicants to sit on the Good Future board of a British renewable energy company.

Year 8 pupil Jack is one of six young people selected to share their views on climate change for Good Energy, the UK’s first renewable electricity supplier.

The board is made of up of six secondary school-aged students who will feed into how Good Energy is run and make sure the voices of tomorrow’s leaders are heard.

“I applied for the Good Energy’s Good Future Board because I thought it could be an amazing opportunity to get involved with people doing some good for the world, as well as developing my skills in meeting new people and how businesses work,” says Jack.

For more: www.exeterschool.org.uk

HOWDY PARTNER Tracey Cleverly has just been appointed chief executive of The Learning Academy Partnership, the Multi-Academy Trust with schools across Devon. Having been a part of the Trust since it was first founded, Tracey has held several important roles within the Trust, before assuming the role of director of education in 2016.

“I hope to help ensure the Trust continues to reach new heights and achieves exceptional outcomes for our pupils, staff and local communities, and continue to provide transformational opportunities for children and staff alike,” says Tracey.

“And I am just incredibly excited to get stuck into my new role.”

For more: www.lapsw.co.uk Smiley Tracey Cleverly

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It’s the city’s business

EXETERWORKS Stronger together

The hub is a team effort from organisations across the city

A new city centre drop-in hub has recently opened to support people looking for work in Exeter and the surrounding area, as part of post-pandemic economic recovery plans.

Exeter Works, which is a partnership between Exeter City Council and Exeter Chamber of Commerce, has joined with Devon County Council and more than 25 local organisations to provide a space where people searching for a job will be able to obtain face-to-face information and support. The hub, which is based in Princesshay, will also offer opportunities for businesses to advertise vacancies and training opportunities; and young people aged 16-24 will benefit from their own dedicated service, Youth Hub Devon.

“Exeter Works is an example of the fantastic work which can be achieved through collaboration – something that we are very good at here in Exeter,” says Clodagh Murphy, chair of Exeter Chamber of Commerce.

“By working together, sharing knowledge and resources, we are very optimistic about the benefits this initiative will bring to both the city, and the wider Devon economy.”

For more: www.exeterworks.org

LAUNCH TIME Exeter’s reputation as a city with a flourishing tech sector is set to grow further with news that a new local business using artificial intelligence to accurately assess risk in the commercial property insurance sector has raised close to £1 million.

Founded by entrepreneur and innovator Anthony Peake, Intelligent AI has been backed by investors and the government through funding from Innovate UK. The company has developed an online Intelligent Risk platform using 300 real-time data sources ranging from weather and flood risks to crime rates and fire service response times. It is thought that it could help to save the sector over £500m per year in lost revenue.

Working in partnership with the likes of the University of Exeter, the company has already secured the £1m investment including over £400,000 in private equity and another £295,000 in grants including from Innovate UK. Anthony Peake, previously managing director of Exeter-based Software Solved, has held key roles at

BUSINESS CLUB

global technology companies including Apple, GE, BT and Oracle. “We’re delighted to be launching Intelligent AI in the South West and have already had a fantastic response from investors and new clients in the UK and US,” says Anthony.

“There is a huge global opportunity across the commercial property insurance sector. We need to move away from a system based on incomplete and historic data, which is failing to accurately define levels of risk in the marketplace. Having real-time, accurate data on risks, and risk mitigation, could ultimately help to prevent catastrophic incidents like Grenfell Tower.

“As a startup it’s really exciting to be already working with some of the UK’s key insurers and in the US. We love being in the South West. It’s a great place to live and work, the tech sector is thriving and we have access to some of the best tech talent in the country. We’re growing fast and already we need five more people to join the expanding team.”

For more: www.intelligentai.co.uk

Anthony Peake

Virtual one hour sessions, all free to attend Search Exeter Living on LinkedIn for upcoming dates and registration If you would like to get involved, please email events@mediaclash.co.uk

EXETERWORKS The company works in oilfield innovation

WHAT AN HONOUR

Mary-Ann Wanjiku and Sonam Ahmed

JOINING THE TEAM… The Family Law Company has announced the appointment of lawyer Mary-Ann Wanjiku and paralegal Sonam Ahmed to its Exeter Children and Domestic Abuse Team at Balliol House. Both are working with experienced team leader, senior associate solicitor, Gemma Sparks. www.thefamilylawco.co.uk

Exeter-based company AnTech has been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.

The company works in the oilfield innovation sector designing and manufacturing products for the upstream oil and gas industry. It is one of just 205 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise, and the only company in Exeter to receive one.

The award is only given to businesses able to demonstrate their organisation has achieved outstanding growth overseas, which AnTech achieved through its expanding global operations.

“As a small company operating in Devon, we are extremely proud to have been selected and to have secured such prestigious recognition,” comments Carly Sugden, finance director for AnTech.

“This reflects our collective achievement as a team and our growing global presence, being at the forefront of innovation in oilfield technology.”

For more: www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise.

Launch Online is expanding

CALLING ALL ENTREPRENEURS…

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES… Exeter-based digital advertising agency Launch Online is celebrating after winning PPC Agency of the Year at the European Agency Awards 2020 and also Travel/Leisure Campaign of the Year and Small Biddable Agency of the Year at the UK Biddable Media Awards.

Set to hit £1m turnover in 2021, the agency has also recruited five additional team members.

“I’m really excited to see the team grow and our work getting recognised,” says Jaye Cowle, founder of Launch Online.

“The digital landscape has changed dramatically over the past 12 months, and with our highly skilled team we are in a great place to continue helping our clients grow their businesses online.”

For more: www.launchonline.co.uk

EntreConf is the new conference for business-minded people seeking to inspire entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups with powerful insights – and to link them with key advisers and partners.

The virtual conference will take place on 1 July and is already gathering pace with seven big name sponsors and an innovative tickets scheme.

The first tranche of sponsors features: Bath Spa University; law firms Bevan Brittan and Burges Salmon; Swiss private bank Lombard Odier; technology companies Rocketmakers and Storm Consultancy and the University of Bath’s School of Management.

The conference also features a unique approach to attendance.

“Ours sponsors are gifting tickets to entrepreneurs,” explains event organiser Claudia Butler for MediaClash, Exeter Living’s publisher.

“This means that many will be able to access this compelling content for free – and develop crucial partnerships.”

Further sponsorships are available, including opportunities to sponsor a special entrepreneurs’ dinner in real life in the autumn. www.entreconf.com For sponsorships: annie.kelly@mediaclash.co.uk

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© MAT T ROUND

EXETERWORKS

EXETER LIVING AWARDS 2020 The Hair Boutique won the Hair/Beauty award at last year’s ceremony. Here, co-owner Nicky Mill tells us about the joy of reopening...

How did it feel to win an Exeter Living award?

We were so surprised and honoured! It felt great to have all of our hard work recognised by such a prestigious award. We’re all so proud of what we have achieved in our salon in seven years.

Where do you keep your award?

The award has such a stunning stained glass design, we keep it pride of place in our front window where the sunshine hits it beautifully!

Why do you think you won?

It’s down to the work by our team of incredibly talented stylists.

They absolutely love what they do and it shows in their hairdressing and their lifelong relationships with clients. We always think about the bigger picture and how our business is impacting the wider community, we raised almost £1,000 for charity in

It’s a team effort at The Hair Boutique

HAIR/BEAUTY WINNER

2019. We also love the business side of our industry and see great results experimenting with new marketing techniques.

Tell us a bit about how business has been during this challenging period?

Our salon has been closed for more months than we ever could have imagined. Thankfully, we have such great support from our clientele who have continued to wait for us. At one point, we had an appointment waiting list of over 1,000 clients! So throughout each lockdown, we have been very fortunate to have the comfort of knowing we will be busy when we reopen.

“AT ONE POINT, WE HAD AN APPOINTMENT WAITING LIST OF OVER 1,000 CLIENTS!” 58 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

How has your business model had to change?

During the first lockdown, we were pretty quick to build an online shop on our website so our clients could still support us and buy their favourite products. Since reopening, it has been all go!

The most important thing to us is making sure everyone is safe in our salon so we have installed protective screens, provided PPE and hired extra juniors to help sanitise the salon throughout the day. We have also extended our opening hours to 9am-9pm to accommodate as many clients as possible.

Have there been any positives from this time?

Absolutely. We are reminded everyday how lucky we are to have an amazing community in Exeter that supports us. Whether it was buying a gift voucher, a hair product or just liking a Facebook post, it kept us going!

What can we look forward to this year from your business?

Any exciting news?

We’ve got a new website on the way to go with some new rebranding.

We’ve had a lot of time over the

past year to think about what is important to our business, so we’re going to be having a digital overhaul to reflect our new ethos ‘Be different, be yourself, feel amazing’.

What do you love most about Exeter?

We love the community of Exeter, it’s so full of life. There’s always something going on to bring people together, from food festivals to Chiefs games, theatre performances to Christmas markets. We just hope it can get back to normality again soon. Plus, you really can’t beat a trip to the quay on a summer’s day, it’s beautiful!

What have you learnt about Exeter and its people during this pandemic?

We’ve learnt that the people of Exeter are fiercely loyal and deeply care about keeping our independent businesses thriving.

The support for independent shops, restaurants and salons has been really incredible. We wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

For more: www.hairboutique.co.uk

© SIMON TUTTY

EXETERWORKS

Guests will descend onThe Great Hall

Grand Reveal Day looms

© SIMON TUTTY

Drum roll please...the finalists for the Exeter Living Awards are about to be announced

Strike a pose

Categories for the Awards include Restaurant, New Business, Creative, Education, Civic, Property, and Charity

TESTIMONIAL

“Just a quick thank you for the invitation to the awards dinner last night, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a really uplifting event with a great variety of organisations and people.”

Paul Jefferson, business support director, Gregory Distribution

T

o all those who’ve nominated their business for an Exeter Living award, take note: the finalists will be announced live, at 12pm on Thursday 27 May at our Grand Reveal Day Zoom event. It’s free to attend, and registration is on the Exeter Living Awards Twitter and website.

The Exeter Living awards will be held at the University of Exeter’s Great Hall on 2 September and tickets to the glamorous event have been in

SPONSORSHIPS For remaining options, please contact harriette.dixon@ mediaclash.co.uk or paula. miller@mediaclash.co.uk.

TICKETS ELA: updates when on sale.

Limited number of silver sponsorships including table.

Please note: we sell out every year with many on the waiting list.

high demand for some time.

“All companies wishing to join this celebration should secure their tickets soon – as they’re expected to sell out once again,” says Claudia Butler, events and brand manager at MediaClash, Exeter Living’s publisher. “We’re overwhelmed by Exeter’s support for the awards and we’re excited for what will be another top-notch night of Exeter at its best.”

For more: www.exeterlivingawards.co.uk; @exeterlivingawds

AWARDS The uberglam Exeter Living Awards will be held on 2 September 2021 at The University of Exeter. Nothing beats being there…

SOCIAL MEDIA Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for all updates.

SPONSORS: We thank our sponsors so far on board for 2021, led from the front by our platinum sponsor, Marsh Commercial, and then also our other category sponsors: Exeter Science Park, Powderham food festival, Regus, Warwick event services, Yellowtail financial planning; and of course, Exeter Living itself, also including our feature sponsor Triangle Networks.

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THE EXETER PROPERTY AWARDS ARE COMING…

19 NOVEMBER 2021 Headline Sponsor

Sponsorships now available Please contact harriette.dixon@mediaclash.co.uk

EXETERPROPERTYAWARDS.COM

Initial Sponsors

PROPERTY P L A C E S T O L I V E , W O R K A N D P L AY

EXETER PROPERTY AWARDS LAUNCHES

This year sees the launch of The Exeter Property Awards, set to be the leading property event for the region. The awards will be held on 19 November at Sandy Park and will celebrate Exeter’s thriving property sector.

To find out more about the awards, join us on 23 June for the EPA launch on Zoom.

Nominations are also open on this day. With thanks to our Launch Event Sponsor Yorkshire Building Society.

We thank our sponsors so far on board for 2021, led from the front by our headline sponsor Close Brothers Property Finance plus category sponsors Avalon Planning & Heritage, Halsall Construction, International Tiles & Bathrooms, Original Style, Vickery Holman, Willmott Dixon, Exeter Living, and feature sponsors Redrow Homes, Triangle Networks and Yorkshire Building Society.

To discuss how sponsorship might benefit your business, please talk to harriette.dixon@mediaclash.co.uk or paula.miller@mediaclash.co.uk

Fun interiors everyway you look

SPOTTED!

The need-to-know details: This newly refurbished HMO conversion is located 0.2 miles from St. Thomas train station and is on the market now. The property is split in half to create two five-bed HMOs. The guide price for the whole property is £900,000.

The fun stuff: The historic building has been given quite the makeover and would appeal to anyone with a penchant for eye-catching interior trends including midnight blue kitchen cabinets, neon-coloured art, and splashes of botanical motifs. Arranged over two floors, there is also integrated video/ audio intercom throughout the building and each bedroom has an en suite bathroom.

Wilkinson Grant, The Old City Library, I Castle Street, Exeter; www.wilkinsongrant.co.uk

QUE SARA SARA

Naomi J Ryan Estate Agents recently welcomed Sara Scott-Hake to their Letting Department as the property manager.

“Sara will bring her knowledge of property management to our Congratulations Sara! already experienced team,” says director Naomi J Ryan.

“Sara has a great deal of expertise within her field acting for both landlords and tenants and I am looking forward to the continued growth of the department.” www.naomijryan.co.uk

TOMMY TO YOU

The figures show support to veterans

More than a dozen commemorative Tommy figures were recently installed in Barratt David Wilson Homes show home gardens across Devon.

The housebuilder firm is patron of the new Tommy Club, a fundraising initiative launched by the Royal British Legion Industries charity (RBLI) to raise money to support armed forces veterans of all ages to gain independence and overcome challenges including mental and physical disability. Barratt Homes has also donated £100,000 to the Tommy Club. www.tommyclub.co.uk

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FUN HOUSE Skip into this lively St Leonards property

By Imogen Davidson-Smith

62 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

PROPERTY

T

he bones of the house are this: it’s an elegant Grade II listed five-bedroomed semi-detached house with a south-facing rear garden, in the much sought-after location of St Leonards, within walking distance of the city centre and quayside.

But, by golly, it’s so much more than this. Whoever chose the colour scheme, for starters, deserves a medal. There is colourpopping fun in every room but it’s never garish, obeying the maximalist rule that if you’ve going to go bold don’t go overboard and cover every surface – just do splashes of colour. Hence, the kitchen has eye-catching moments with the botanical wallpaper, sky blue aga, table and yellow cabinets but never overwhelms because of the white walls, tiling and stripped wooden floors.

This characterful house also does a really good job of embracing both the traditional and the modern, giving proper space and emphasis to the intrinsic features like the fireplaces, open shutters, and tall ceilings but looks thoroughly contemporary due to remodelled and updated units, especially in the kitchen.

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A PLACE TO CALL HOME PROPERTY

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And, you’ll be thrilled to hear, there is space. A lot of space – not just in terms of the total floor area (it’s 220.3 sq.m) but, advantageously, it’s split over four floors so you can really make a racket if needs be.

Taken from the top, the second floor has got two bedrooms and a storage room. Downstairs to the first floor and there’s another two bedrooms and a bathroom.

On the ground floor is the dining room and that gorgeous green sitting room, plus a useful utility/store, cloakroom and loo.

The lower floor offers a further dining room, the kitchen/breakfast room, shower room and pantry.

Outside, the property is approached by a timber gate and path leading to the pillared entrance porch. The front garden is laid to lawn with planted flower and shrub borders. A side gate leads to a concrete area with bike storage space and side door to the rear lobby.

The rear garden is laid with stone chippings and raised perimeter flower and shrub beds. There’s also a log store and steps leading down to a paved area useful for storage and has the access door from the kitchen/breakfast room. There’s planning permission in place for a double garage and there is also a resident permit parking scheme.

This family house offers the perfect blend of character and charm together with modern contemporary living. But it’s also a home that cries out for parties and playtime, music being played loudly and long lively chats that carry on until the wee hours. This happy house is on the market now, you know what to do. n

HOUSE NUMBERS Guide price £895,000 Where Friars Walk, St Leonards, Exeter Bedrooms 5

Bathrooms 2 Outside South-facing rear garden For more Wilkinson Grant, The Old City Library, 1 Castle Street, Exeter; www.wilkinsongrant.co.uk

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EXETER LIVES

“Once I crossed the threshold, that’s when the magic began” challenge was to put pencil to paper. I spent so long researching, and had such high expectations for the story, there was a massive threshold between me and actually writing. Once I crossed the threshold, that’s when the magic began.

Did you find the lockdown to be a fruitful time for you, creatively?

ATLAS WEYLAND EDEN 15-year-old Atlas recently won first place in the 11-15 category of the Young Walter Scott Prize, the UK-wide historical writing prize. His story, We Wolves, is set in the Ice Age and is written from a wolf’s perspective...

Congratulations on winning the writing prize! In a nutshell, what’s your story about?

Thank you. We Wolves looks through the eyes of a wolf pack in Ice Age Europe, as they hunt, sing, listen, and smell. A world where a change in the wind means the difference between life and death.

The judges said you inhabit the mind of a wolf – how did you set out to do this?

I imagined being a wolf; I put myself into their world. An important part of the style was the pack mentality — we run, we sniff, we sing. I studied wolves to get a clearer image, but the most valuable research I did was going into the woods at dusk with my dog Jack. We stalked a herd of deer for two hours under the moon. This helped me embody the story more than anything else.

How long have you been into writing and would you like a career as a writer?

I’ve been writing stories ever since I knew how to write, but I defined myself as a writer when I was nine.

I’d love a career as an author: it’s a world that feels natural and a craft I enjoy.

Who are your writing heroes?

One of my writing heroes is Neil Gaiman. His stories inspire me in the way they weave darkness, humour and myth. My other hero is my mother Joanna Eden, who’s also a writer. She showed me I could create books, and we love reading and editing each other’s work.

What’s the toughest thing about writing?

The hardest thing is different for every story. For We Wolves, the

66 I EXETER LIVING I www.mediaclash.co.uk

To be honest, I’ve been largely unaffected by the lockdown. My home’s always been a nurturing space to create in. I enjoy writing in cafés, though it’s been nice to knuckle down at home while the storm blows over outside.

What are your plans for the future?

I’d love my writing career to take me to places like Japan, for the culture, Scandinavia, for the wolves, and back to my birthplace in Byron Bay.

When you’re not writing what do you like to do for fun?

I have the most fun when I’m enjoying good stories, whether in the form of books, movies, theatre, or games. I enjoy music and drawing, but my favourite pastime is dancing around the garden, daydreaming ideas, some of which become fully fledged stories.

Where do you live and why is it a special spot?

I live on Broomford Manor Estate in Jacobstowe. It’s special to me because its woodlands have become entwined with my imagination, and whenever I take my dog for a walk, I traverse places from my stories.

How long have you lived in Devon?

I was born in the uttermost east of Australia and when I was two, we moved to the outermost west of Devon. We spent a few years in Surrey, but Dartmoor called us back. I’m homeschooled by my

parents, which mostly involves me researching and writing about what I love.

You’ve got a free hour in Exeter, where do you go?

First stop, Chococo chocolate house in Gandy Street. I have a Ugandan hot chocolate, grab a coffee gelato for the road, and then head to the new bookshop Bookbag, where I will most likely make many cacaofuelled purchases.

What’s your favourite place to eat in Devon?

In all of Devon, my favourite place to eat is by Beckamoor Brook. It’s a short walk from my house, the right distance to bring breakfast, and tea without it going cold. There’s a bench by the brook and a pine tree that serves as a hat stand. Water trickles by, kingfishers flit across the stream, and light filters in through the canopy.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

My choice would be Sir Mark Rylance, with Tim Burton directing. I love Tim’s innocence and mystery, and I love Mark’s fierceness and gentleness, in his Weyland the Smith style roles like Rooster Byron and the BFG.

Has winning this prize given you the confidence to dream big and if so, what’s the big dream?

Winning the Young Walter Scott Prize has let me know that my dreams, even the big ones, can happen. Last year this win was a fantasy, and now I’m writing about it for a magazine. My big dream is to be a published author, doing readings at festivals, branching out into mediums like movies and animation as my stories are adapted. But mostly my dream is to spend the rest of my life doing what I love, and since that’s what I’m doing, I think I’m off to a good start. n For more: www.walterscottprize.co.uk

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