Exeter Living – Issue 313-314

INSIDER’S GUIDE

THE EXETER LIVING AWARDS 2023

ALL THE SURPRISES! ALL THE GLAMOUR!

People are never not surprised by winning an award. Is that universal or just another lovely, humble Exeter thing? Watching the teams whoop, gasp and leap into the air when they’re announced as the winner of an Exeter Living Award is one of my favourite things to witness t is ure, un ltered oy and is more often than not accompanied by tears and hugs, not to mention thunderous applause from the 500-odd people in the room. You can’t beat it.

The awards are also, let’s face it, the best people-watching night in the city. This year’s recent Exeter Living Awards were no e ce tion the red car et was a flurry of sparkly sequins, glossy manes, velvety waistcoats, and shimmering cheekbones. You can see all the pictures from the night, including the winners, on page 11.

Glamour and pizazz aside, these awards are a much-needed recognition of the incredible people in our city.

How often do charity organisations, restaurant owners and the like, who are grinding away in uncertain times, get a big hearty well done for their tireless work?

Our awards do just this. They say: what you do, e ery day, ma es a big difference to our city. Thank you.

ABOVE: Exeter Living winners Luxury Coastal, page 11 BELOW: The glittering award

© BECCY NUTHALL PHOTOGRAPHY © EMILY APPLETON

Issue 313 – 314 / May 2023

COVER Exeter Living winners 2023. Images by Emily Appleton, Isobel Buxton, and Erron Russell. Turn to page 11 for the Exeter Living Awards Review.

REGULARS

6 SPOTLIGHT Sport in the city, a brand-new festival, and where to party for the King’s Coronation

EXETER LIVING AWARDS 2023 REVIEW

11 LOOKING BACK... Meet the winners, check out the gallery of party pics, and soak up the glamour from the night!

THE ARTS

30 WHAT’S ON All the top theatre, music, comedy, art (plus the Devon County Show!)

34 BOOKS Feeling the need to get swept away by a stonking good book? The Bookbag team have ideas galore!

ANIMALS

27 JP HEDGE chats about the joys and heartache of having a pet dog

38 ED’S CHOICE The animal-themed goodies you didn’t know you needed

66 LIVES Meet John Evans, and his beloved guide dog Phoenix

FOOD & DRINK

40 FOOD AND DRINK NEWS A new supper club and cocktail festival are landing shortly in Exeter

41 TARA SMITH is digging into Asian delights in the city

AREA FEATURE

47 HEAVITREE A spotlight on where to eat, drink, shop, and play in Heavitree

BUSINESS

51 NETWORKING How to nail networking in Exeter, according to the to social butterflies in the city

58 EXETERWORKS Highlights from An Evening with Maia Thomas

59 JOURNEY TO THE JOB From his school days to becoming MD at Luxury Coastal, Phil Beattie talks us through his career path

61 BUILD A BUSINESS James Miles and Michael Tilston on creating The Mortgage Quarter

63 ENTRECONF Reporting back from the entrepreneurs event

PROPERTY

64 SHOWCASE A unique local property, featured on Grand Designs, is now up for sale

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 Rob Baxter, JP Hedge, Charlie Richards,Tara Smith Commercial manager Paula Miller paula.miller@mediaclash. co.uk Production/Distribution Manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Production Manager/ Production Designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@ mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Exeter Living MediaClash, Carriage Court, 22 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

© BECKY CRAVEN

ROB BAXTER EXETER CHIEFS

What a wonderful moment it was for us to bring the Premiership Rugby Cup home recently, and to do so with such a resilient performance in the final against a London Irish side that put up a real fight in front of their home crowd.

I thought our young side showed great character and discipline to come out on top and put on a show for all the supporters who made the trip up to the capital. It was a great showcase of the talent we have coming through our system, and a reminder that the future is indeed bright for Exeter Chiefs. A big congratulations to everyone involved in the win, and I’m sure it will prove a springboard for many of the youngsters on display.

As we look to the 23/24 season, there are plenty of reasons to be excited. We have some exciting signings joining the team, including Joe Hawkins and Ethan Roots, who are coming over from the Ospreys, together with Will Haydon-Wood who is moving back from France after spells with Newcastle Falcons and Wasps in the past.

Joe is an exceptional talent and will add even more depth to our already strong squad, while Ethan brings a physicality to our pack that will help to offset some of our departing players. Equally, Will is a proven performer in the Premiership, and with his array of skills, we are confident that they will make a huge impact on the team and contribute to our continued success.

But it’s not just the men’s team that are thriving. Our Exeter Chiefs Women’s Team have been nothing short of prolific this season, winning their last 13 games, each one with a bonus point. They have gone from strength to strength and now sit at the very top of the Allianz Premier 15s as we head into the business end of the season. Get behind this incredible squad as they look to go one better than last season and claim the league title.

In other news, I am thrilled to announce the launch of a new concert series, Party on the Pitch, at Sandy Park Stadium. The events team have some big names lined up, including Will Young, Rick Astley, and Ronan Keating amongst the headliners. This is an exciting new venture for us, and we hope that it will be a great success, not just for the club, but for the city of Exeter as a whole. We want to create an inclusive and vibrant atmosphere where everyone can come together to celebrate the best of music and sport.

As we continue to move forward, I want to take this opportunity to thank all the fans for their unwavering support. We are nothing without you, and your passion for the club is what drives us forward. We will continue to work hard to ensure that we represent Exeter with pride, and we look forward to sharing many more special moments with you all. For more: www.exeterchiefs.co.uk

Shopping MARKET VALUE

InExeter has recently announced its Markets Programme for 2023, which will feature the return of the Fore Street Flea and The Exeter Independent Market.

The Exeter Independent Market is set to take place monthly from now through to September – the next two take place on 29 April and 27 May – following its successful debut on Cathedral Green last summer. The market will feature over 60 stalls and showcase a new curated ‘suitcase pitch’ area, live music, and

street entertainment for visitors to enjoy.

“We are committed to supporting local businesses and promoting markets which bring activation and footfall to the city,” said Ann Hunter, BID Manager.

“The markets offer an opportunity for small, independent businesses to showcase products and market days bring a vibrant atmosphere to the city.”

The next Fore Street Flea is on 14 May.

For more: www.marketsinexeter.co.uk

The director of rugby at Exeter Chiefs has all the latest news from the club

The Exeter Independent Market

Coronation

WHERE TO CELEBRATE THE KING’S CORONATION IN EXETER

POWDERHAM CASTLE

Screenings of both the Coronation (6 May) and the Coronation Concert (7 May) will take place, and the team is also hosting a big community party on the Sunday. Expect lots of Pimms.

www.powderham.co.uk

PRINCESSHAY

The city centre spot is hosting a ‘Big Lunch’ on 7 May with live music, Lindy Hop dancing, and family entertainment including free face painting and a magician. www.princesshay.co.uk

TURK’S HEAD

Indulge in cream tea and/or pints at the pub on the High Street. Doors will be open from 8am on the 6 May with plenty of screens to catch all the action.

www.turksheadexeter.com

EXETER PHOENIX

Rave is King! is a music event taking place on 6 May. Expect solid hours of indoor and outdoor music, fun and dancing from 6pm-3am. www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

EXETER CATHEDRAL

At 4pm on 7 May, Exeter Cathedral will be hosting a service of celebration for the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort. www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk

PARK LIFE HEAVITREE

From 2-4pm on 8 May, expect live music outside the Park Cafe, plus face painting, glitter tattoos and cake! www.parklifeheavitree.org.uk

May bank holiday FEST IS BEST NEW FESTIVAL!

Exeter welcomes a brand-new festival this May bank holiday. Exeter Fest will take place on 27 – 29 May in Northernhay Gardens and offer food, drink, music and plenty of family entertainment.

“The whole focus of this event is for it to be a great space for people of Exeter to come with their kids, friends, family, dogs and bring along picnic blankets, camping chairs and grab a seat in front of the stage and enjoy the ambient music,” says organiser Nikki Fairclough, of Exeter Bar Co.

Local food producers confirmed already include That’s Nacho Burrito, The Churros Company, Oasis Falafel, The Dog House and Camper Coffee, while the music line-up features Southern Troubadours, Adam Sweet Band, HiFi LoFi, Big Noise Chorus Choir, and The Epic Drumming Bus, a drumming school that will be offering free drop-in drumming sessions to all ages.

“It’s always exciting embarking on such a big and exciting project and we have loved meeting all the traders who have said they want to be involved, and also booking the musicians and activities,” adds Nikki.

“We love curating a space and creating a vibe and it’s in the city we love, so it’s extra rewarding. The joy will come in abundance the day we open the gates and welcome our first visitors in to Exeter Fest and see them fold our their camping chairs and picnic blankets for a day of soaking up the sun and music with great food and an ice cold local beer in their hands!”

The new festival has been launched by new company Exeter Bar Co, which was set up by Ollie Bainbridge and Nikki Fairclough. In 2022 they joined forces to run the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Bar (the Cathedral Tavern). Their main focus with Exeter Bar Co is to create spaces and events for the local community and for the enjoyment of the city visitors. For more: www.exfest.co.uk

The Exeter Bar Co duo: Ollie Bainbridge and Nikki Fairclough © TEMPO MEDIA

The new festival will be at Northernhay Gardens

Hoorah for the Coronation of His Majesty The King and a lovely long weekend!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

The glitz, the glamour, and all the gongs! Here we look back at the recent Exeter Living Awards...

OH, WHAT A NIGHT

Bedazzled and hopeful, throngs of Exeter Living Awards Finalists descended on The Great Hall once again as we crowned this year’s most impressive movers and shakers in the city.

As always, the night’s winners were an eclectic array of the fresh and the familiar, proving, once again, the tenacity of the enduring and the dynamism of Exeter’s start-ups. Taking home the coveted overall Platinum Award, and the Sustainability Award, was employee-owned Coastal Recycling.

Our judges said, “Coastal Recycling are envisioning Exeter’s sustainable future and contributing expert services to nearly 1,600 organisations including Exeter University and Devon County Show. They prompted a significant increase in recycling while educating thousands – generating a better tomorrow, today!” Fantastic winners (and also a very glam troupe – yes, we’re talking about Emily Delve’s floaty red dress of dreams).

Also double dipping into the awards was Exeter Phoenix, who scooped both the Arts & Creative, and Civic Award. Our judges said, “The Phoenix has risen this year! Deeper and wider Exeter

engagement increased the number of ‘Pay What You Can’ events across its programme and successfully promoted mental health to hundreds at its Bloom Festival.” Anyone who’s seen the volume, quality, and diversity of their creative output in the last year wouldn’t doubt it.

Setting the tone for the whole evening was comic Mark Olver, our co-host for the evening, whose booming, friendly voice provided the merriment to the proceedings; he joined MediaClash’s CEO Greg Ingham in giving out the Awards. After a bounteous meal, and plenty of drinks of the bubbly variety, the party moved to The Botanist where the joyful became positively effervescent, and celebrations continued into the wee hours.

A huge, hearty thank you to everyone who made this night so spectacular: the winners, hosts, judges, sponsors, photographers, and all our guests. Your support and all-round good vibes made the night such a joy. We can’t wait to do it all again next year.

With love, from Harry, Greg, Jane, Paula, Harriette, Steph and all the Exeter Living team For more: www.exeterlivingawards.co.uk

©

EMILY APPLETON

CATEGORY WINNERS

ARTS & CREATIVE

WINNER: EXETER PHOENIX

BAR

WINNER: MARGOUX RESTAURANT & WINE BAR

BUSINESS SERVICES

Sponsored by

WINNER: AB BRAND AND MARKETING AGENCY

CHARITY

WINNER: FEARLESS

CIVIC

Sponsored by

WINNER: EXETER PHOENIX

EDUCATION

WINNER: LIFE CHANCE GROUP

PHOTOS BY ISOBEL BUXTON

EVENT

Sponsored by

WINNER: COLOUR BOMB BY THE BEAR TRAIL

EXETER LIVING AWARDS

FINANCIAL

Sponsored by

WINNER: THE MORTGAGE QUARTER

HAIR & BEAUTY

WINNER: MALE FOCUS SALON

HEALTH & WELLBEING

WINNER: EPIC SOLUTIONS

HOMES & INTERIORS

WINNER: STOVAX & GAZCO

LEGAL

Sponsored by

JOINT WINNERS: COMMUNITY LAW CLINIC AT UNIVERSITY OF EXETER AND STEPHENS SCOWN SOLICITORS

EXETER LIVING AWARDS

LEISURE & TOURISM

WINNER: MARKETS IN EXETER

NEW BUSINESS

Sponsored by

WINNER: BUTT ESTATES

PEOPLE SERVICES

WINNER: AVOCET RECRUITMENT

PROPERTY

Sponsored by

WINNER: VICKERY HOLMAN

RESTAURANT

Sponsored by

WINNER: HARRY’S RESTAURANT

RETAIL

WINNER: BERNAVILLE NURSERIES

SUSTAINABILITY

Sponsored by

WINNER: COASTAL RECYCLING

PLATINUM AWARD

WINNER: COASTAL RECYCLING

AWARDS 2023

PHOTOS ON PAGES 18-21 BY EMILY APPLETON

PHOTOS ON PAGES 22-23 BY ERRON RUSSELL

© BECCY NUTHALL PHOTOGRAPHY

© BECCY NUTHALL PHOTOGRAPHY

EXETER LIVING AWARDS WINNERS 2023

Meet Community Law Clinic at University of Exeter, winners of the legal category at this year’s Awards

What does it mean to win an award?

It means a great deal to us to have been selected as joint winners in the Legal category given the fierce competition. We are often so busy just getting on with doing the work that it feels great to celebrate how far we have come.

What have been your achievements in the past year?

Getting the Specialist Quality Mark from Recognising Excellence and being the only Law Clinic to have this level of accreditation awarded was a big deal for us. Growing our team and being able to facilitate over a 100 student volunteers on the Clinic has also been fantastic.

How was the awards entry process?

Once we decided to go for it, it was an enjoyable exercise drawing together our nomination and it made us stop and take a moment to reflect on the past 12 months.

Talk us through the ceremony…

Great food, great people, lovely atmosphere, excellent after party. We were not expecting to win, so that was probably evident on our faces.

Where do you keep your award?

The award is kept pride of place in our dedicated Community Law Clinic room on campus where we have our team meetings and students come to speak to us about their cases.

What are your winning qualities?

Fantastic teamwork – we could not do it without our passionate and dedicated team. Small but mighty! Also, social responsibility – we believe in fairness, increasing access to justice to those in need, and equality before the law.

Was there a moment when you realised your business was heading in the right direction?

Building resilience to embed longevity is important to us and the running of a successful law clinic. We did a lot of work this year examining our service to ensure it was fit for purpose and we strengthened our foundations. From then on, things just fell into place.

What’s the best part about your city’s business community?

Exeter has such a thriving and diverse business community. We pride ourselves on our links with the local community and organisations; people are keen to give back and are generous with their time. We are always on the lookout for volunteer lawyers.

What do you love about life in your business?

Being able to bring law to life for students is so rewarding. Teaching our students whilst at the same time serving the community in which we live are huge motivators for us to continue to increase access to justice for those unable to afford private legal representation.

Are there any frustrations?

Of course, there are plenty. A big one is not being able to help everyone who approaches us. There are limitations on our student-led service, but we always strive to help those who

get in touch find an organisation to help them if we cannot.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?

We think S Club 7 said it best when they said: ‘Don’t stop, never give up!’.

What’s next for your business?

We recently recruited an immigration solicitor who will be re-starting our Immigration Clinic in the coming months. We are also looking to expand our student numbers in order to reach more clients and hope to recruit a further supervisor. University of Exeter Law School Community Law Clinic

Email: A2Jclinic@exeter.ac.uk

Photo Credit: Isobel Buxton Photography WINNER

Stockists of: Orientique, Foil

Dolcezza, Hatley

One Life, Marble

Anna Montana

Barbara Lebek

Gollehaug

Adesso, Van Dal

Lunar shoes

The Flexx, We also stock a fabulous selection of jewellery, scarves, leather belts and accessories.

12 High Street, Budleigh Salterton EX9 6LQ Tel:01395 443117. Open Mon to Sat, 10am - 4pm. www.angiesofbudleigh.co.uk

Pet sounds

On e tember we said goodbye to our li elong aith ul et ooch oney he re ious day we had recei ed a distressed call rom the amily we share her with

he news rom the ets wasn t good oney is ish and has a dodgy hind leg he et said that one day soon she ust wouldn t get u again, and then it would be all o er e would need to gi e her one last act o grace and ma e sure she didn t suffer t was a retty gutting call

o we geared the ids u or their rst real taste o the circle o li e and headed o er or the nal cha ter and to say goodbye n our car ourney we tal ed about the im act oney had on the li e o mysel and my wi e

he was a rescue dog initially met during a lunch hour wor ed as a cub re orter or a news a er and the olunteers at the dog shelter were sim ly o errun with abandoned u s eneral a eals generally went unheard owe er, the staff and wor ed out that i we used o ular naming trends around

the pets, like the cast of Harry Potter when the lms were being released, they would nd brilliant new amily ore er homes ou d ha e arry, a stray with a chun out o his head, on the ginger one, that ind o thing oney has always gi en our amily more lo e than we e er deser ed, es ecially gi en her aw ul start to li e n her early days she e t running away rom her original amily home n the end the amily didn t care enough to collect her bac

he was art o our wedding, was the most er ect et when we e tended our ac with some children he dog e en came on honeymoon with us

he s had her air share or near death e eriences too he had an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic on a sim le rocedure and our ets brought her bac to li e here were some hristmas themed ad entures too he tri ed on a bunny hole on Bo ing ay and ri ed her stomach On mo ing to eter the art amily indly and une ectedly gi ted us a ham er with the world s most lu urious rich hristmas udding n ortunately, the dog ate the whole thing when we briefly went out he et, in otnes, said we had an hour to

sa e her he was ne, but our ban balance ne er reco ered

Our brilliant dog artner amily ha e gi en her a new li e we could ne er do he has had more ad entures on a train than homas the an ngine and also ended u wor ing as a thera y dog he is as chilled as a enguin on ice

hen went to say goodbye was more emotional than e ected oney is now a big umbo dog in act, she loo s li e a dog that ate my dog he loo s more li e a baby bear er small daily chemist o medications includes enough ramadol to light u arty island bi a or a season he is, with res ect, ery ha ily, off her nut and erha s e en more so ha y, tender and lo ely whis ered than you to her at the end o a ew hours sim ly lying with her on the floor and connecting ust being resent he s brought me com ort and oy in ways could ne er ha e imagined dro e home rom Bri ham a com lete wrec thin it is the rst time my ids ha e seen me that u set But did good, and said goodbye in the way that ama ing dog deser ed he only issue is, she didn t die i e some ind o er erse re erse o the Monty Python dead arrot s etch, she is still with us ith the aw wardness o someone ta ing rom the inside o a co n, li e so many times in our li es, we ha e woe ully underestimated her ability to bounce bac and ha e one more cha ter ow, si months on rom our tender goodbye, the dog is robably in better health than me on some wor days hate er comes in the ne t ew wee s she truly has been the best dog e er han you oney n

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

“I whispered ‘thank you’ to her at the end”

Tender, lovely, and off her nut, Honey has been a huge part of JP’s family life. But as with all pets, there comes a time when you have to say goodbye…

O28th April onwards

THEATRE/ PERFORMANCE

5-7 May

ZOG

The smash-hit stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel che er s boo is bac and romises to be bigger, brighter and more roar some than e er be ore ect li ely songs in this magical roduction or all ages

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

15 May HOT HOUSE

elebrating its th anni ersary, internationally renowned com any ichard ha ell ance brings a brand new creation eaturing a soundsca e influenced by hinese, ndian and uro ean classical music

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

18 May-21 May

DEMON DENTIST

hildren are lea ing their teeth or the tooth airy and wa ing u to nd odd things under their illows in this o ular comedy rom a id alliams Exeter Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road; www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

SMUSIC

Every Monday and Thursday LIVE MUSIC AT ARTIGIANO

he coffee house and wine bar hosts wee ly a ondays and acoustic hursdays ect old a ourites and contem orary numbers Artigiano Espresso & Wine Bar, 248 High Street; www.artigiano.uk.com

14 May

ERIC BIBB

oted bluesman and multi le award winning and rammy nominee, ric and his band will be laying songs rom the new album, Ridin’ alongside all the classic material

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

17 May

THREE CANE

WHALE CONCERT

he acoustic trio s e onymous debut album was chosen by erys atthews as one o her to e modern ol albums

e ect a mesmerising blend o ol and classical music

Exeter Library, Castle Street; www.librariesunlimited.org.uk

26-29 May

SIDMOUTH INTERNATIONAL JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL

he esti al will lay host to an eclectic ro usion o a , swing, blues, roots, soul, un , atin, and uban music eadliners include British acid a giants he Brand ew ea ies who ll be belting out all the hits

Outdoor stage at Blackmore Gardens, Sidmouth; www.sidmouthjazz.com

FILM

30 April

THE LIGHTHOUSE

et on a remote and mysterious ew ngland island in the s, comes this hy notic and hallucinatory tale o two lighthouse ee ers layed by illiam a oe and obert attison

Exeter PictureHouse, 51 Bartholomew Street West; www.picturehouses.com

9 May

THE BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR

his esti al e ent eatures two new collections o ins irational lms rom remote areas o the lanet One is Bridge Boys which sees to British climbers ete hitta er and om andall

climb a , t hori ontal groo e beneath a motorway bridge on the , o er the i er e in e on lee ing on ledges sus ended rom the bridge, the air ace erocious climbing mo es, bridge sha ing tra c and olice sus icion on this e traordinary challenge

Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter; www.exetercornexchange.co.uk

COMEDY

3 May

NICK MOHAMMED

ouble mmy award nominee, and star o Ted Lasso, ic ohammed ta es his critically acclaimed alter ego r wallow on his rst tour with a mi o new, old, ery old and re iously unusable material ect noise, maths, magic and the whole o Les Mis!

Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street; www.exetercornexchange.co.uk

26 May

EXETER COMEDY CLUB

he e er o ular comedy club has been going or a uarter o a century, leasing crowds with to comics, an o en bar and i as galore

Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street; www.exetercornexchange.co.uk

The Brand New Heavies will be performing at Sidmouth Festival

27 May

COMEDY NIGHT AT NORTHBARBERS

The quirky barbershop on Exeter Quay will be transformed once again into a bar and comedy hotspot for the night. Your host for the night will be up-and-coming Bristol comic Burt Williamson, and the line up includes Nick Page, Josh Elton, and Suzy Bennett. Northbarbers, 1 Piazza Terracina, Haven Banks,The Quay; www.northbarbers.co.uk

ART

On now until 7 May

EARTH SPELLS: WITCHES OF THE ANTHROPOCENE

Through the work of eight contemporary artists, this exhibition explores otherworldly connections to nature and invites the viewer to consider if the artists and the artworks could be perceived as suspicious and challenging, radiating ‘witchiness’.

RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter; www.rammuseum.org.uk

On now until 25 June

HARRIET BOWMAN: MAYBE THEY HAD AN URGENT CALL Featuring sculpture, photography and text, this exhibition speculates on the motives of two men, encountered once while visiting a classic car show, who abruptly left their café table when the artist began breastfeeding her child. Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street; www.exeterphoenix.org.uk

On now until 30 June

EXMOUTH OPEN EXHIBITION

Local art organisation Sea Dog Art and Ocean LED are hosting an exhibition of art in the Ocean building on Exmouth’s seafront. Expect art in all forms, from 2D artwork to photography, textile art to illustrations.

Ocean Exmouth, Queens Drive, Exmouth; www.seadogart.com

20 May-10 September

SUBLIME SYMMETRY: THE MATHEMATICS BEHIND DE MORGAN’S CERAMIC DESIGNS

Victorian ceramic designer

William De Morgan’s conjuring of fantastical beasts and manipulation o meandering flora and auna fascinated his contemporaries and still captivates today. RAMM, Queen Street; www.rammuseum.org.uk

13-18 June

ART WEEK EXETER

This week-long multi-venue celebration of local art will feature contemporary art at RAMM and Exeter Phoenix; a funked-up Library Lates, plus tours, trails,

DEVON COUNTY SHOW

workshops and mind-expanding debates. www.artworkexeter.org.uk

OTHER

21 May

BLOOM FESTIVAL

Bloom was born out of a need to talk about, connect with and platform the mental health and wellness experiences of our community in a mindful and safe space. Visitors can take part in creative activities like print-making, music, photography and poetry, and also meet with organisations and communities who are there to support mental health and wellbeing inExeter.

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

18-20 May

DEVON COUNTY SHOW

Love animals, tractors, good nosh, lively music, dog shows, and scurry racing? Devon County Show celebrates all that is wonderful about rural living in the area. Visitors will be treated to competitions and shows featuring horses, ponies, alpacas, bunny rabbits and guinea pigs, as well as the headline act, The Bolddogs FMX Motorcycle Display team. This year, for the first time, there will even be a creep of giant tortoises on display!

Devon County Show is also playing host to the qualifying rounds to find ‘Britain’s Fittest Farmer of 2023’. Qualifying contestants from the South West region will be invited to test their mettle in various heats and to see if they can successfully muscle in on the hotly contested Fittest Farmer title. Something for everyone!

Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, Exeter; www.devoncountyshow.co.uk

Bridge Boys, part of The Banff Mountain Film Festival, features the two men who climbed the motorway bridge over the River Exe

Mobile: 07850 655 913 enquiries@edengardendesigndevon.co.uk www.edengardendesigndevon.co.uk

“A garden should make you feel you’ve entered privileged space — a place not just set apart but reverberant — and it seems to me that, to achieve this, the gardener must put some kind of twist on the existing landscape, turn its prose into something nearer poetry.”

Michael Pollan – Second Nature: A Gardeners Education

BOOKS CHARLIE RICHARDS

And the winners are...

Bookbag, your community-loving bookshop, has had a busy few weeks. We’ve visited local schools handing out World Book Day books and supporting local author Hannah Foley whose excellent new children’s book The Tiger Under My Chair is out now. We ran a pop-up bookshop at a sold-out Roxane Gay talk arranged by Exeter UNESCO City of Literature and the University of Exeter, one of only two dates on her UK tour. We visited Exeter Library for a Simon Armitage late night poetry and music gig and book signing. Oh, and we went viral with Penguin after a book vending machine was installed at Exeter St. Davids.

Mostly, however, we’ve been at the bookshop recommending reads. This time of year is book awards season, and here’s some long- and short-listed books we rate. Reviews are by our bookseller, Ocean Tawiah.

At the expense of sounding dramatic, I started reading Wandering Souls and immediately had to wrestle back tears. The opening line, here are the goodbyes and then the shing out of the bodies – everything in between is speculation.’ should be enough to tell you why. This story follows the lives of siblings Anh, hanh and inh who nd themsel es or haned and alone a ter fleeing their illage in ietnam and nding that their arents, and younger siblings, did not survive their crossing. Told from the perspective of these siblings, and their dead brother Dao watching them from Limbo, this book is a read that you cannot be ready for but is vital addition to your TBR.

The Dog of the North is a fast-paced, humorous story following Penny Rush, a grieving woman whose parents have recently disappeared whilst travelling, and a grandmother whose science experiments are escalating to unforeseen

levels. Deciding to roll with the punches, she quits her job to live with her grandmother and from there our story unfolds. This book is a story of hope and coping, and if you like your reads with a homely dose of humour, this read is perfect for you!

Escape to the London underground scene in Fire Rush by Jacqueline Cooks which follows Yamaye, a young woman who uses music and sound to navigate adulthood and identity. After a deeply emotive whirl-wind romance is cut short, amaye sets off on a ourney across continents exploring love, loss, freedom, and the bass of dub-reggae. This read also comes with it’s own Spotify playlistmade by the author that brings the soul o the boo ali e de nitely would recommend a listen!

A book guaranteed to get you on the edge of your seat.

The Bandit Queens by arini hroff eatures reeta who is accused of murdering her abusive husband after he leaves their village in rural India without a trace. This sparks a wave of requests from other women who want to be free from the abuse of their own husbands making Greeta, who was previously an outsider, key to the inner workings of the village. The themes of violence in this book are carefully balanced by its witty humour and air of village gossip, making it an enjoyable and impactful read.

Finally, we’re adding to oursigned copies all the time, so keep your eyes open for pre-orders coming up late spring, including new signed Caleb Azumah Nelson and Deborah Levy. You’re so welcome.

Charlie Richards is the co-owner of Bookbag, 7-10, McCoy’s Arcade, Exeter; uk.bookshop.org/shop/bookbag

It’s book awards season and Charlie (and Ocean Tawiah!) have got all the best long-listed and shortlisted books for you to dive into

“I started reading Wandering Souls and hadimmediately to wrestle back tears ”

THE FIRS

RESIDENTIAL HOME, BUDLEIGH

EASTER MAGIC

Hatching ducklings bring joy and therapeutic comfort at the FIRS RESIDENTIAL HOME

Residents and staff at The Firs Residential Home in Budleigh Salterton were thrilled earlier this month when they received a special delivery from ethical providers of hatching kits, Incredible Eggs: six duck eggs. Facilitated with an incubator and all the necessary equipment, the duckling hatching experience promised to be an exciting journey to watch for the residents, as well as offering animal therapy once the ducks hatched.

Liz and Joan, two residents, lovingly named the first two arrivals, Dilly and Dally. Soon after, the duckling family grew with the addition of Stripes, Ducky, Bonnie and Clyde. The Firs Manager, Nikki, commented on the positive impact these adorable ducklings had on the residents, stating, "The residents loved the ducks. They loved to hold them and watch them have their daily swim, and feed them. One resident who owned a farm said it reminded him of his ducks."

Residents and staff enjoyed morning cuddles

with the ducklings, bringing happiness and joy to everyone. The ducklings were observed taking their first paddling experience and first stroll, captivating the residents and staff. Animal therapy had a very positive impact on the residents' emotional wellbeing, allowing them to have something to love and to nurture. Although it was difficult to say goodbye, the ducklings were destined for a farm in Cornwall after their stay at The Firs Residential Home. The duckling experience was a heartwarming reminder of the power of animals in providing comfort and healing. As the Easter season unfolded, the residents and staff at The Firs cherished the memories created with Dilly, Dally, Stripes, Ducky, Bonnie and Clyde, as they brought an unrivalled joy to their days.

This Easter, The Firs Residential Home demonstrated that Easter could be recognized beyond traditional celebrations, encompassing the therapeutic and emotional benefits of animal companionship and the magic of new life. The

The Firs is an established Residential an outstanding reputation, nestled within gardens in a picturesque and tranquil

•Magnificent en suite bedrooms

•Top quality food, freshly prepared each day

•Permanent, short term stays and day care

•Daily activities and entertainment plus regular

duckling hatching experience created a sense of unity and love, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of residents and staff alike n

33 West Hill, Budleigh

To find out more about The Firs, please visit us online at: www.bucklandcare.co.uk or visit our Facebook page - @thefirsresidentialhome.

faradaystoves@gmail.com www.faradaystoves.co.uk Open

EMILY SMITH COASTERS, £4 EACH

Up your drinks party game with these colourful coasters, created by local artist Emily Smith. Emily Smith; www.emily-smith.uk

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

GOLD LEAPING RABBIT NECKLACE, £144

Hop down to PolkaDot Gallery where you can pick up this gold necklace. PolkaDot Gallery, 12 Martins Lane, Exeter; www.polkadotgallery.com

MILK CHOCOLATE TURTLES TO SUPPORT OGP, £6.50

Handcrafted with 45 per cent Venezuela origin milk chocolate, these choccies are not only delicious, they support marine life – 5 per cent of each sale goes towards Ocean Giants Programme, which helps support rays, whale sharks and turtles. Chococo, Gandy Street, Exeter; www.chococo.co.uk

HARE POT HANGER, £9

This adorable hare pot hanger is a must have companion for your home and garden. Not just for pots though, let them peerinto fruit bowls, lamps, mirrors… anything that has asmall edge basically!

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

FELT HEDGEHOG DECORATION, £5.95

Offering a whimsical touch, the hedgehog is crafted from top-quality felt. The perfect addition to a bookworm’s bedroom.

Hyde & Seek, 1 Paul Street, Exeter; www.hydeseek.co.uk

FLAMINGO LAMP & SHADE, £155

Bright and flamboyant, this tall flamingo lamp complete with white shade is the perfect statement piece if you’re looking to add a pop of colour into your living space.

Distinctly Living, 35 Lower Street, Dartmouth; www.distinctlyliving.co.uk

Time to get these wild, cute and fun animal-themed goodies (from the local indies, of course) into your life

ANIMAL DECORATION KITS, £11

DOG TRAVEL BAG, £40

A spacious and stylish travel bag for your pooch with lightweight fabric that folds down easily for storage,while the tote shape perfect for carrying all the home comforts, from their favourite blanketto those must-have treats! The DD Company; www.theddcompany.com

storage, blanket

These fab paper animal decorations make a fantastic gift. Children will enjoy making them and parents will love the way they look on the kids’ bedroom wall.

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

COLE & SON ARMORE COLLECTION: LEOPARD WALK, £POA

As the leopards march back and forth across this stunning wallpaper, their tails forming patterns and rhythms associated with Zulu dance and music. Love Frankie, 34 High Street, Totnes; www.lovefrankie.com

BASKET WHALE, £32

Whale hello there! A cool earthy basket, ideal for a bedroom or bathroom. Lark, 16 Fore Street, Topsham; www.larktopsham.shop

COPPER CERAMIC JUG, £90

This eye-catching 1.3l jug is perfect for large gatherings and can also be used as a vase or utensil pot.

Brit Locker, Kings Wharf, Cellar 1, The Quay, Exeter; www.britlocker.com

MARINEA GARCIA FERNANDEZ, £86

Brighten up your walls with this artwork from the Poster Club. Bode Living, Alexandria Trading Estate, Alexandria Road, Sidmouth; www.bode-living.com

FOOD & DRINK

NIBBLES FROM EXETER’S FOOD SCENE

ALL SHOOK UP!

From 31 May – 7 June, more than twenty bars are ti ed to ta e art in eter s rst coc tail wee esti al ttendees can e lore and si their way around the artici ating enues, including rtigiano, roc etts, he Botanist, he ermaid, osy lub, oolings, at he Bird, argou , and he errace or any as iring mi ologists, there will be a rogramme o tastings, coc tail masterclasses and ood and drin airing e ents ha ening throughout the wee

dditionally, eter oc tail ee is ta ing o er the uay with the hel o local coc tail com any Bar o a rom m m on une there will be a o u coc tail bar eaturing local brands and roducers at the transit shed, lus a selection o local ood endors ll the coc tails are ust each with an eter oc tail ee wristband

For more: www.exetercocktailweek.com

STAR PRIZE

idleigh ar has ust been awarded a ichelin star, ollowing the release o the ichelin uide

t s great news or the udor style country house hotel and restaurant near hag ord, on the edge o artmoor, who ha e not had a ichelin tar since

m incredibly roud to head u idleigh ar s itchen, and to wor with such assionate and hard wor ing eo le, whose dedication gi es our guests the best

e erience, says e ecuti e head che hris den

his award belongs to e eryone at the hotel as a team they deser e it d also li e to recognise our roducers, who are at the heart of what we do at idleigh ar each day we showcase the ama ing roduce we ha e in the west country, and realise how luc y we are to be located here

For more: www.gidleigh.co.uk

JOIN THE CLUB

o u restaurant o sorts is set to launch in the heart o eter this une

he eaterie will be a boo able outdoor su er club enue in outhernhay, offering a tasting course o ood coo ed o er a re ect an intimate outdoor dining e erience, says co owner ob artman e lan on dra ing the entire area in estoon lights and candles to gi e it a welcoming and romantic eel e ll aim or it to be a really uni ue dining e erience thin re ned barbecue here ll be a mi ture o che s, and the remise is about ma ing affordable are, s eci cally or the local community

For more: www.openairevents.co.uk

Get bar hopping at Exeter’s first cocktail festival

Gidleigh Park; BELOW: pistachio and fig leaf cheesecake

Executive head chef Chris Eden

THAI A LITTLE TENDERNESS

Where are the top Thai places locally? Columnist, ballet-dancing foodie, and blogger TARA SMITH goes for a wander…

With Rosa’s Thai opening in Exeter’s Guildhall Dining recently it got me thinking about the wealth of amazing Thai restaurants we have in Exeter. I love Thai food; it’s a go-to for me when I need comfort.

I may be mista en, but off the to o my head there are six Thai restaurants alone in Exeter’s city centre, not including Rosa’s, with a number of Thai-Fusion restaurants too. A large amount for a not-very-big city, wouldn’t you say? That can mean only one thing. You, like me, love eating Thai food.

If you are looking for your next authentic then head to the idwell treet three of my favourite Thai eateries are there or nestled nearby.

If you want intimate and cosy then KinKhao Café on ell treet has to be your rst ort o call. Opened in 2021, KinKhao has steadily built a clientele who love its home-from-home feel, laidback furnishings and green plants. It’s decorated with handpainted art works that are available to buy and has a cosy and inviting log burner out the back to keep diners toasty on colder days. The food is cooked fresh to order and they often have enticing weekend specials. They cater extensively for those that are gluten

free or vegan too.

omboon is a café and grocery shop combined. Their specialties being Thai street food as well as hot and cold Thai drinks to eat in or take away. If you want to stock up on ingredients to make your favourite dish at home then you can pick up your essentials here too.

IFood Thai Taste, opposite the Odeon Cinema, has recently undergone a big rebrand and moved next door to much bigger premises. I have written about iFood Thai Taste before, in my ery rst column or Exeter Living no less! t s still a rm a ourite o mine a year on and a great spot for people watching. They cater for customers who want to dine in as well as having a bustling takeaway counter. Everything on the menu can be made extra spicy by using their chilli guide. Pick one, two or three chillis to regulate the heat li e s ice but nd one chilli on the scale is enough for my palate.

In the old iFood Thai Taste building you will nd their brand new sister com any i oodle specialising in Thai noodle soups. To tickle your taste buds two dishes that make me want to visit right this minute are their Tom Yum noodle soup and their tofu noodle soup. I walk past most days and judging by the queues outside it’s as good as the original iFood!

If the bustling café e erience doesn t float your boat then head to Cathedral Yard to visit hai Orchid his restaurant was the rst hai restaurant to open in Exeter and is situated over three storeys in a beautiful building overlooking the Cathedral that dates back to the 1500s.

This family run restaurant opened back in and it was my rst introduction to hai food when I visited as a teenager with my mum after her trip to Thailand. Everything is beautifully presented, authentic and made to order by their team of Thai chefs. Their recipes have been created and perfected over the past quarter of a century. They also serve traditional hai u iya i which is a coo at the -table experience. For more: tarasbusykitchen

THAI FOOD PLACES IN EXETER

• KinKhao Cafè, 9 Well Street, Exeter; www.kin-khao.co.uk

• Somboon, 153 Sidwell Street, Exeter; @Somboon Thai Shop

• iFood Thai Taste,116-117 Sidwell Street, Exeter; www.ifoodthaitaste.co.uk

• Thai Orchard, 5 Cathedral Yard, Exeter; www.thaiorchidrestaurant.co.uk

KINKHAO CAFE

Plates of Thai yummness at KinKhao

Calm and warm decor at KinKhao

KinKhao’s spring interiors

THE VOW FACTOR

Say I Do

TO YOUR WEDDING AT

THE LAMB INN SANDFORD

TEL: 01363 773676

WWW.LAMBINNSANDFORD.CO.UK

From rustic to country chic, The Lamb Inn can provide the ideal setting for an intimate wedding with a relaxed atmosphere. The Inn nestles among the Tudor cobbles of the picturesque village of Sandford in Devon. This unique location provides the perfect backdrop for the couple looking for the easy charm of a country village wedding. You can stay the night, say your vows, enjoy a delicious wedding breakfast and celebrate the night away, all under one roof. The Lamb Inn offers licensed wedding ceremonies from 2 to 40 guests, with up to 80 in the evenings.

SIDMOUTH HARBOUR HOTEL

TEL: 01395 513252

WWW.HARBOURHOTELS.CO.UK/SIDMOUTH

Sidmouth Harbour Hotel’s wedding venue is a stunning and unique location for your special day. Situated in the charming coastal town of Sidmouth in Devon, the hotel overlooks the tranquil waters of the River Sid and the beautiful Jurassic Coast. The hotel’s elegant and contemporary décor provides the perfect backdrop for your wedding, while the panoramic views from the venue offer a picturesque setting for your ceremony and reception. The hotel offers a range of flexible spaces, including the Connaught Suite, which can accommodate up to 100 guests, and the private outdoor terrace, perfect for al fresco dining and drinks. With its exceptional service and attention to detail, Sidmouth Harbour Hotel’s wedding venue is the perfect choice for your dream wedding.

The only Spanish Tapas Restaurant in Exeter with a cocktail bar and views overlooking the Cathedral.

Flamenca, Princesshay, Exeter, EX1 1GJ hola@flamenca.co.uk | 01392 420070 www.flamenca.co.uk. ollow us flamencas anishta as

Proud Finalist: Restaurant Category

HEAD TO HEAVITREE

What connects a secret time capsule, retro vinyl nights, plates of paella, and free yoga classes in the park? Heavitree, of course! We go for a wander…

By Harriet Noble

Free yoga classes take place in the warmer months in Heavitree

For many, the heart o ea itree is rmly in ea itree leasure round he community hub and ca in the ar o ened in October brought into e istence by the antastic local charity ar i e ea itree and has been a hi e o acti ity since urn u on any gi en day and you ll nd anything rom a bo ing class to an art e hibition going on he charity had a clear ision o wanting to create a warm, welcoming lace where eo le o all ages and bac grounds could come together erything we do centres around three main aims, says ate ilder, ar i e hub manager irstly, building community and bringing eo le together secondly, ro iding o ortunities to im ro e mental and hysical health and wellbeing and lastly, hel ing to gi e eo le the chance to get in ol ed, ha e their say and nd a ob or olunteering o ortunity

e are currently artnering with a local charity and the community to offer sewing and cra t wor sho s throughout the year to su ort eo le with articular needs around social isolation, adds ate

DID YOU KNOW…

here is a time ca sule in the ar t was buried last summer in the gardens in the ar and contains letters and artwor rom local school children, the menu rom the ar a , news cli ings rom the o ening and a lateral flow o id test

here is also a year old whale in the ar he large mosaic whale sits near the hub locals were ery een it was reser ed during the build o the community s ace

LOOK OUT FOR…

ery o ular wee ly yoga classes are hosted in the grounds o ea itree leasure round during the warmer months his year they start on ay and run e ery unday until e tember here ll also be a s ecial e ent to celebrate the oronation on ay, lots o o u and s orting e ents during the summer holidays, and a un ay on e tember

STREET SPIRIT...

al down ore treet in ea itree and you ll nd a healthy cro o sho s, ubs and oodie s ots or a cu a and a slice o ca e, dro in on The Daisy Cafè. he o ular s ot has ust celebrated si years, is ery

dog riendly chec out their doggy ice cream , and boasts a sweet south acing garden around the bac e are a small, close nit team, says owner aye owbury e wor hard but there is always lots o laughter, dancing, music and singing interiors and homeware in calm and earthy tones are your thing, visit the pretty The Thrifty Stylist at o orth treet O ening in ebruary o this year, owner aren ones sells recycled and hand ainted urniture combined with brand new and re lo ed clothing and homewares

icro ub Pig & Pickle is also a great nd in ea itree Owners te hen and oni ottram are big on su orting outh est breweries, and you ll nd an e er changing menu o local beers, wine and s irits ll our drin s are cool, says te hen e re different to ust about e erywhere else e re always trying to get our customers to try new things li e s too short to be boring here s no ood other than bar snac s and my locally amous balsamic ic led eggs

YOU HAVE BEEN READING Park Life Heavitree, Whipton Lane, Heavitree; www.parklifeheavitree.org.uk

The Daisy Café, 98 Fore Street, Heavitree; www.thedaisycafe.co.uk

The Thrifty Stylist, 1 North Street, Heavitree; @thrifty_stylist

Pig & Pickle Micropub, 38A Fore Street, Heavitree; @ Pig&Pickle Micropub

The Spanish Shop, 44 Fore Street, Heavitree; www.thespanishshop.net

Brides at Waterfield, 100 Fore Street, Heavitree; www.bridesatwaterfields.co.uk

hec out the uir y d cor which is e ered with memorabilia rom te hen s li e, including his grandmother s reci e or ginger beer, a coconut grinder he grew u in the est ndies , guitars hanging on the walls, and arious images o his amily, and moody loo ing roc stars te hen runs a inyl night on the second hursday o e ery month, and they e recently started doing a night too, as that s a bit retro too now, ui s te hen ro by on their birthday arty on ay ric, aul, and aite enner are the team at The Spanish Shop. ithin its walls, you ll nd reshly made anish dishes such as sea ood aella, tortilla de atatas, cro uettes, and ta as lates which you can hoo er u in their recently o ened ca onsite, or ta e away ect a riendly daughter and mum team and a si e inclusi e selection o stylish dresses e erything rom classic to romantic, bold to boho at bridal sho Brides at Waterfields um mothers the brides and is ery multi s illed and am the one who wants to be besties with all the brides and has all the mad ideas, says owner emma ilson e sur i ed the andemic and are now stronger than e er um decided to retire last year too but she still loo s a ter the accounts and ma es the most incredible accessories or our brides eryone has been so su orti e and we get so many com liments about our sho window e o ten will see a car with ladies in holding u tra c outside because they are staring which ma es us laugh so much n ©

PARKLIFE HEAVITREE

© PARKLIFE HEAVITREE

The hub hosts a pop-up cinema during the school holidays

Heavitree Pleasure Ground hosts regular community events

HEAVITREE’S BEST BITS

“We class Heavitree as The Gateway to Exeter. Most Exeter visitors pass through ‘our village’ on their way to Exeter city centre. We would heavily encourage people to stop off in Heavitree; it’s friendly, it’s quirky, plus we have a lovely park! We look out for each other as business owners and we are proud of our businesses collectively.”

Faye Rowbury, Daisy Café

“I love that Heavitree appeared in the Doomsday Book and still retains some of the villagey feel it has been known for over many hundreds of years. Some of the community still has connections to its historical purpose like Butts Road which is likely named for the archery training ‘butts’ that were created during Tudor times, as all yeomen were required to learn to shoot a bow and arrow in case of war.”

Kate Wilder, Park Life Heavitree

“I want to stay in Heavitree forever. In my opinion it's the best place we could have chosen for our business. Great car park nearby and two great cafès (Daisy Cafè and the Heavy Tree) for a celebratory lunch after finding your dream dress!”

Gemma Wilson, Brides at Waterfield

“I have lived in Heavitree for over 18 years and love the real sense of community amongst its residents. Everyone comes together for events and to support each other in good times and bad.”

Karen Jones, The Thrifty Store

Check out the kooky interiors at the Pig & Pickle

YOU CAN TALK

The ultimate guide to networking in Exeter (and how not to feel like a wallflower)

By Harriet Noble

© BECKY CRAVEN

Networking isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The pressure to be con dent and im ressi e, to seamlessly wor the room , radiating charm and nowledge is immense hen there s the aw ward logistics simultaneously attaching a name badge to your chest, grabbing a drin , sha ing hands with someone, and trying to get rid o your le to er coc tail stic rom the chic en satay you ate, and wondering whether it s socially acce table to lace it between your teeth li e you re starring in a estern But maybe, ust maybe, everyone is struggling to oo e cool, cor orate ibes and maybe it doesn t ha e to be that hard e chatted to a hand ul o eter s brightest networ ing wi ards all who run regular networ ing e ents to nd out how to succeed at these social gatherings here s hannon ymond o omen in Business, art o our artnershi s hris Bentley, ounder o he otwor ing etwor ing lub ames ourt, local enter rise manager or at est nter rise and ouise enner, artner at e on omen in Business

ere are their to ti s, sage bits o ad ice, and reassuring nuggets o wisdom urns out, not all the best networ ers are natural born raconteurs…

WALKING INTO THE ROOM…

still nd this scary y ad ice would be to nd the re reshment area, see i there is anyone you now in the room i not, then nd another single networ er or see an o en grou o eo le who loo welcoming a e a dee breath and say hello and introduce yoursel tart with as ing names and as ing what each erson does

James Court

One o the best bits o ad ice had was rom entre reneur ara organ on the rule o three oo or threes con ersation o two eo le is in ariably closed while in a three there is always a s are wheel who will be een to engage nd the third wheel and say hello

Chris Bentley

WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU TALK ABOUT?

would say the golden rule is to listen more and tal less or hard to remember the erson s name s about their role, tell them about yours, de ending on their industry as about what is challenging them right now hat are they en oying s o en uestions and de nitely a oid olitics and gi ing o inions on sub ects that may cause the other erson to eel aw ward rst im ressions still really do count

James

Court

it s a ro essional networ then remember you re there to tal about wor so as them how things are going or them and then go with the flow One o the bene ts o women only networ ing is that women can o en u about things they might not eel so com ortable discussing when men are around ommon challenges include wor ing during erimeno ause and meno ause

Louise Jenner

WHAT’S YOUR STYLE?

his is retty sim le e learnt to ust be mysel ou re essentially the ace o your business when out networ ing and being ro essional is ey, but we re all human so being yoursel is what is going to build those aluable connections and ma e eo le want to wor with you

Shannon Dymond

NETWORKING MYTHS

hat it s di cult hen was a young man starting to learn about courtshi , my uncle said to me, ust tal to a erson you li e and i you hit it off, you ll get along see networ ing in a similar i less intimate light get tal ing and i you get on, you re away not, go and tal to someone else

Chris Bentley

THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH

oor hos itality, grou s o eo le huddled together that don t welcome you in to tal , and bad o es

James Court

or me, it s the really early morning e ents ull o suits tried some networ ing e ents where it almost elt li e had another ob here were targets to reach in terms o re erring other members and tra c lights to show how well you were doing gh

Louise Jenner

TOP TIPS FOR INTROVERTS

Being an intro ert can be your su er ower mbrace it as that, it s not a negati e ou ll be sur rised how many riends ha e who are intro erts and great networ ers heir listening s ills are o ten some o the best which ma es them great networ ers

James Court

“A Chamber breakfast is not the time for tequila shots”

© NICK HOOK

Chris Bentley is the founder of the lively Notworking Networking Club

© ROSIE PARSONS PHOTOGRAPHY

James Court runs monthly ‘Boost’ events in Exeter

“My tip would be to research some of the likely attendees in advance and prepare some questions that you can use to open up conversations with people you’d like to get to know better.”

Louise Jenner

WHAT DO WE NEED MORE OF IN EXETER?

“Events that cater for diversity in terms of time – varying times to su ort eo le on different schedules or e am le, changed my own event start time to 9.30am to cater for people who do the school run.”

James Court

LOCAL LEGENDS

ic illiams, or sure you re art o the eter networ ing community, m sure you ll com letely agree ic was one o the rst eo le was introduced to at networ ing and he recognised was new to the networking scene and would always introduce me to people and ma e sure had someone to tal to e learnt so much rom him and we now co host in ed n ocal e ents together

Shannon Dymond

“John Harvey of the Samphire Club is a great man to know and between us thin we are a call away rom anyone in eter

Chris Bentley

FULL OF INTENTION

m com letely a erse to targeted networ ing es, we all need to ma e a li ing and yes, business does need to get done but ta e time to tal to eo le, understand them and you ll create much stronger connections and invariably do more business than producing a card and selling ‘the goods.’”

Chris Bentley

TO DRINK OR NOT TO DRINK?

“Very much depends on the event; a Chamber breakfast is not the time for tequila shots but the afterparty of a Notworking Networking event very much is.”

Chris Bentley

THE TIMES ARE A CHANGIN’

thin the whole world has had a seismic shi t since we emerged from lockdown as people have reassessed their thoughts towards business in general O ce occu ancy is down, more ol are loo ing to en oy what they do and is ery common lace his means

that networking has taken on a greater importance as we look to make real connections.”

Chris Bentley

WHEN NETWORKING IS GOOD, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

un osts and attendees are rela ed and engaged in ositi e con ersations he catering is rst class and the enue is accessible, easy to nd with lenty o ar ing

Louise Jenner

HOW TO BE THE HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS

n my e erience, there are two ey elements to this atience and mar eting on t com are yoursel to the e ents that ha e been running or years they started out in the e act same lace as you and it takes time to build a well-attended event. A successful event doesn’t come on its own, so s read the word on in ed n ell eo le about your event when talking to them in person – anything you can do to get the word out there helps.”

Shannon Dymond

YOU’VE EITHER GOT IT OR YOU HAVEN’T, RIGHT? WELL, NO…

ha e de nitely had to wor on it o er the years t s not something that always elt con dent with and it has ta en years to de elo con dence, howe er, still get ner ous on the inside thin that’s normal.”

James Court

m naturally chatty and lo e nding out about other eo le s obs and businesses e learnt o er the years that as ing uestions and listening to the answers is really important at networking events. Nobody wants to be talked at or pitched to without their consent.”

Louise Jenner

Bit o both to be honest e always been an affable cha , ha e been told m a uni ersal communicator and ha e the gi t o the gab but certainly ma e sure m always brushing u on how to ensure good conversations are had.”

Chris Bentley

m and ublic s ea ing was always a really big ear o mine, des ite being a really social and con dent erson O er the ast year, e attended a mi ture o e ents, small and large, and co hosted e ents which are really hel ing to get o er my ear o ublic s ea ing lo e networ ing now and ha e met so many great eo le rom doing it, so or anyone thin ing o doing it or wondering i it s worth the time, say go or it n

Shannon Dymond

© TONY COBLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Louise Jenner is a partner at Devon Women in Business

Shannon Dymond hosts events for Women in Business

© ROSIE PARSONS PHOTOGRAPHY

MEET THE WILLS & PROBATE LAWYER

Exeter‘s legal experts talk about their businesses, and the importance of their services

KARYNA SQUIBB

PARTNER, CARTRIDGES LAW 01392 256854; www.cartridgeslaw.co.uk

Talk to us about your firm Cartridges Law is a professional law firm based in the heart of the St Thomas community in Exeter. We pride ourselves on providing accessible legal advice and going the extra mile for our clients.

What are your own specialist areas?

I specialise in Estate Administration, Wills –including Inheritance Tax advice and Estate Planning – and Lasting Powers of Attorney, and Deputyships.

Do I need to use a solicitor for probate? No, but instructing a professional to administer an estate will normally mean that the process is resolved more quickly and can reduce the risk of mistakes. There are many layers to obtaining probate and administering the estate including tasks such as tax payments, estate valuations, distributing any inheritance due to beneficiaries. We are experienced at supporting clients through an often difficult and emotional process.

What advice would you give to those looking to sort out their Wills? Using a lawyer can give you peace of mind that your Will is valid and properly reflects your intentions. DIY Wills often contain mistakes that may not come to light until it is too late, and this is a big source of probate disputes, which can be lengthy and expensive.

CLAIRE AGNEW

SENIOR ASSOCIATE, EVERYS SOLICITORS 01392 477983; www.everys.co.uk

Talk to us about your firm

Everys is recognised as a law firm with expertise in specialist market sectors as well as covering a broad range of industry sectors. We have seven offices across Devon and Somerset, and one in London.

What are your own specialist areas?

I am a private client lawyer and act for individuals on a variety of work including advising on and drafting Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and acting for Executors and Administrators in relation to Estate Administration.

What is probate?

Probate is the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and possessions when they die. Probate is the entire process of administering a dead person’s estate. It involves collecting in their money, assets and possessions, payment of debts, expenses, inheritance tax and legacies and distributing the balance to the beneficiaries.

Do I need to use a solicitor for probate? With regard to the application for probate, certainly this is something that can be done independently. However, as an Executor of the estate, it is imperative that all reporting is correct as the Executor could be personally liable to the residuary beneficiaries if things are incorrectly reported.

CHARLOTTE MCGREGOR PARTNER, WOLLENS SOLICITORS

01392 274006; www.wollens.co.uk

Talk to us about your firm Wollens is a full service law firm with three hubs in Exeter, South Devon and North Devon. Our team of specialist lawyers are not only brilliant but also approachable!

What are your own specialist areas?

I sit within our Estate Administration team (Probate). Executors appointed in a Will (Administrators in cases where no Will exists) are responsible for ensuring that the deceased’s pre-death taxation has been settled and also to ensure that the Estate is correctly identified, collected in and distributed, with the correct declarations being made to HMRC and Inheritance Tax paid.

Do I need to use a solicitor for probate?

In limited circumstances, it may be possible to proceed without the involvement of a solicitor but if you appoint a professional, you will have certainty that you have done everything correctly. Your solicitor should be willing to work with you to undertake as much or as little of the Estate Administration work as you want them to. Some people find comfort in knowing the professionals have it all in hand, whereas others want to be deal with some of the more personal aspects of the Administration themselves.

1. Will I have to go to court?

Many couples amicably sort out their finances and make arrangements regarding their children, whilst others prefer to take independent legal advice to help them understand their position. If you reach an agreement, with or without a solicitor, you don’t have to go to court.

2. Can I get a divorce after 6 months of marriage?

In England & Wales you need to have been married for 12 months before you can issue divorce proceedings.

3. Do I need to disclose details of my assets to my spouse if we kept them separate during the marriage?

Your lawyer and the judge need to know what is in the matrimonial pot before advising you or determining a fair division of those assets. Think about asking for half of a piece of cake - you need to know the size of the cake first!

4. Do I need to communicate with my spouse directly during the divorce?

If you have children it’s better to be able to speak to each other, or you could also consider using WhatsApp or email. One of

Divorce and You

Rachel Buckley of The Family Law Company answers the top 10 most common questions about Divorce.

the benefits of a lawyer is that if you find it too difficult to communicate with your spouse, they will do it for you.

5. Will I automatically get 50% of my spouse’s assets?

Not necessarily. There are a number of reasons why the court can depart from equality and your lawyer will explain what the court takes into account.

Rachel’s top tip Speaking to a lawyer can be daunting so have a list of questions written down before you see them for the first time.

6. I don’t know what my spouse earns – how can you advise me as to a fair settlement?

During a divorce, both parties must disclose full financial details such as income, debts, capital and pension positions. Failure to do so may result in penalties or the court drawing inferences. If you enter into an agreement with your spouse without full and frank disclosure you usually have to sign a disclaimer form confirming that you understand the risks involved.

The Family Law Company specialist lawyers supporting families through the realities of life

T: 01392 421 777 E: enquiries@thefamilylawco.com

www.thefamilylawco.co.uk

7. How will our assets be valued?

You may be able to agree valuations of your assets between you. Otherwise, you should instruct independent experts, such as surveyors to value property and actuaries to advise on pensions.

8. How often will my lawyer communicate with me?

Most lawyers regularly keep you updated about the progress of your case. If you feel that you are not being kept in the loop you should raise this with them.

9. How long will the divorce proceedings take?

It depends on how quickly you deal with any requests you receive, how efficient your lawyer is, how busy the courts are and how complex your case is. Once your lawyer knows the facts of your case they can give you a more precise time estimate.

10. How much will it cost?

Factors include how long the case goes on for, how complicated it is, and the charge out rate of your lawyer. They should give you a cost estimate and review this with you regularly.

Hand-picked by Exeter Living is the insider’s guide to what to eat, drink, watch, shop, buy, learn, do and more in the city each week. Our newsletters feature unmissable time sensitive information landing in the inboxes of over 5,000 residents and business contacts each time.

The curated email offers a regular and targeted marketing opportunity for a wide range of budgets. We can help make the most of these as part of your campaign. Ideal for a time sensitive push ahead of a particular promotion.

To find out more contact Paula Miller

07563 529772 | paula.miller@mediaclash.co.uk

EXETERWORKS

Why diversity should be everyone’s business

arch is the home of International Women’s Day (IWD) and this year’s theme #embraceequity sparked conversation all around the city as businesses considered how they can help create safe and welcoming spaces within their organisations where important topics such as equity, diversity and inclusion can be fully considered and, ultimately, champion positive change.

A variety of events took place across Exeter culminating in a thought provoking and intimate evening with Maia Thomas, an Exeter-based award-winning EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion) consultant, auditor, trainer and international speaker.

Graduating from the University of Exeter

Mwith a degree in Politics, her work has featured on CNN, BBC, ITV and Sky. Maia also scooped the Ron Todd award for Equality and she also featured in The Mirror’s Top 100 Inspirational Women, 2021.

To meet Maia is to be instantly in awe of her –she talks frankly and openly about how she’s taken her personal experiences of racism and prejudice at school, in the streets and in workplaces and dedicates her (powerful, articulate and reasoned) voice to raising awareness and steering positive change across businesses and organisations around EDI.

As soon as Maia starts talking it’s easy to see how she deserves the title of Inspirational Woman –when most of us were adjusting to the new ‘stay at home’ Covid rules, Maia invested her own money and raised additional funds so she could start a food bank with a focus on helping marginalised groups. To date, this has helped deliver food packages to around 100,000 households.

All of this and Maia has just celebrated her 24th birthday. Wow. Just Wow.

If there was ever an example of how someone can take personal experiences and use them as a force for good, then Maia is it.

When she’s not taking to the stage to share her insights or liaising with the media, Maia is working to audit and train leadership teams on EDI and has completed work with Devon County Council along with a whole host of other businesses.

Here are Maia’s tips on what businesses can do around improving equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Start by giving those that need it most a voice Empower individuals that are potentially being affected to share their e eriences should they eel comfortable) whilst also making sure that voices across the organisation are heard so that the ‘table’ is open to everyone.

Be really inclusive

Seek the opinions of more than just the leadership team so that all rungs of the organisation can be included. Yet Maia cautions that not all of the pressure should be on those with the lived experience to spark the changes needed.

Model the behaviour you want to see

Another way for businesses to ensure EDI becomes part of an organisation’s DNA is for the behaviour to be modelled by the leadership team, meaning that the leadership team has to exhibit the behaviour they want to see adopted by their entire organisation.

Create safe spaces

Create a safe space for communication where everyone can feel included and valid.

Practise inclusive language

Start by being aware of inclusive terminology –ma ing a conscious effort and ensuring that the company does its best to use inclusive language. Follow Maia Thomas on Instagram via @blvck.angelx; Sarah Jepson is the Founder of Six Degrees and CEO of Attention Marketing; www.sixdegrees-group.com

Local equity, diversity and inclusion consultant MAIA THOMAS recently spoke at a Six Degrees event on how organisations can create a more equitable workplace for all. Sarah Jepson reports back…

Maia Thomas spoke at a recent Six Degrees event, held at Sacred Grounds

© ROSIE PARSONS

“IF THERE WAS EVER AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SOMEONE CAN TAKE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND USE THEM AS A FORCE FOR GOOD, THEN MAIA IS IT”

JOURNEY TO THE JOB

Phil Beattie

PHIL BEATTIE is the managing director of Luxury Coastal, a leading holiday company that provides coastal cottages, apartments and lodges across the South West. It’s not always been plain sailing for Phil though; he went to 12 different schools growing up, and launched the company just before the pandemic hit. Here, he talks us through his journey to the job.

Hi Phil! What did you want to be when you grew up?

Growing up in Australia, I wanted to be a rugby league player or marine biologist. I certainly wasn’t thinking about a holiday company.

What were your favourite and least favourite subjects at school?

PE was always my favourite subject and I love playing sport. English was something I never enjoyed; I wasn’t much of a reader at school but have made up for it since.

You studied at Exeter College. What are your lasting memories of your time there?

I adored Exeter College and threw myself into the young enterprise scheme, learning how businesses work and how to make money. Every time I drive past Exeter College I do so with a smile.

You read Business and Marketing at the University of South Wales. What was the big dream at this stage?

I wanted to get into advertising and came up with an idea for an online student discount website, but in 1999 it was di cult to get this u and running on a budget, and I took a different ath

EXETERWORKS

While you were at uni you were involved in the Gaelic Athletic Association, and you did a bit of DJing! Tell us more…

The pub I worked in sponsored the Gaelic Athletic Association and we had some amazing times as a team both on and off the itch e always been a music obsessive and live life to a soundtrack! I co-hosted an alternative music show twice a week and even interviewed Clint Boon of the Inspiral Carpets.

What led you to working in the holiday industry?

I had been working in a call operations centre for a number of years but when my rst child came along, it made me re-assess. I applied for a director role in a holiday agency and months in, I was hooked.

What inspired you to start Luxury Coastal in 2019?

The holiday company I was working for was acquired by a larger American business and went from being a family run company with a lot of autonomy, to something I didn’t enjoy or recognise in a very short period. A group of us decided to go it alone to ensure we remained independent and keep on working in an industry we love.

How did Covid impact your business? What has been the lasting impact?

In a way we are still working through the effects e were a brand new business when the pandemic hit and made the scary decision to refund our guests early on when others weren’t. It was hard watching the pounds heading out of the bank account rather than into it, but this decision created loyalty from guests and owners that remains.

Then came a boom time when UK holidays were the only option, but the hangover from this is an oversupply of accommodation in the marketplace and arti cially heightened e ectations of the returns a holiday home can provide. We are still navigating through this to set the right expectations from owners at the outset.

Devon is a popular holiday destination; how do you make sure Luxury Coastal stays ahead of the competition?

Service underpins everything we do; our customers and owners deserve the best and our aim is to try and deliver that every time. Selecting the right properties is also critical. Guests want a great property, a great location and a memorable experience. We focus on properties that are not going to remove viable housing for the communities in which we operate.

How does your company try to be a force for good locally?

We support a lot of good causes including Till the Coast is Clear, a Community Interest Company based in the South Hams; Six Degrees, a female only networking club originating in Exeter; Surfers Against Sewage, and the South West Coast Path Association.

Now that you run your own business, what is your key motto?

The right way is never the easy way, is something I tell myself a lot. Doing the best for our team, customers, owners and the business generally requires hard work. If it was easy, we wouldn’t be here to start with.

What do you find hardest about running a company?

Making the initial decision to start a business, which requires honesty and an appreciation of risk. There is no sa ety net but once the rst ste is taken, momentum and passion carry you forward.

What advice would you give someone wanting to work in the holiday sector?

Embrace it, it’s a brilliant industry. There is responsibility, as guests will count down to their holiday all year, so caring and wanting to get it right are so important.

What do you get up to when you’re not working?

I coach my eldest son’s football team at Central FC Exeter. I get so much satisfaction from the team performing well and watching them develop, not just as footballers but as young men.

Lastly, what is the most surprising thing about you? went to different schools and missed a decent chunk of schooling along the way. It’s helped me to ada t to all different sorts o situations, and probably explains my horri c handwriting

For more: www.luxurycoastal.co.uk

“THE RIGHT WAY IS NEVER THE EASY WAY”

GROWTH STORIES

Building a business

How do you grow a successful business in Exeter? Recent Exeter Living Award winners James Miles and Michael Tilston from THE MORTGAGE QUARTER share their story…

James Miles and Michael Tilston launched The Mortgage Quarter in 2008, helping people to get a mortgage for their dream property. They’ve won numerous accolades, including the Finance Award at the recent Exeter Living Awards, and have just expanded the business to Plymouth and Bournemouth.

Having both previously worked in banks – and understanding only too well that eo le can nd it really daunting to go into a formal place and ask for a mortgage –their shared aim with the business has always been to be com letely different rom a ban

“We’re very down-to-earth people,” says James.

“We deliberately chose a former

EXETERWORKS

THE MORTGAGE QUARTER IN NUMBERS

Annual income in first year (2018): £158,196

Annual income in 2022: £525,356

Number of new mortgages gained for clients 20182019: 156

Number of new mortgages gained for clients Feb 2022Feb 2023: 407

Headcount of The Mortgage Quarter: 10

home as our o ces they re based on Richmond Road], so hopefully when people walk in, it feels homely. We also have a bar here, so people can have a drink and chill out with us before even talking business.”

While they share similar professional backgrounds, like most successful duos they each ha e different strengths

“James does a lot of the business development” says Michael, “whereas I’m very much a business writer, and do a lot of the numbers.”

“Personality wise, we’re very yin and yang,” says James.

“I’m obviously the loud one, charging around at 100 miles per hour with a lot of enthusiasm! Mick’s happy to sit back and contemplate a lot of the decisions. If I’m coming up with ten ideas, he’ll say – OK, let’s just think about this for a moment.”

“Yeah, I’ll go through the ideas in a

bit more depth and come up with the right solution,” says Michael. ames is the rst erson ha e ever met who I thought I could go into business with. I could see that it would work, and we’ve never fallen out.”

One of the key things the two did when launching the company was to take small steps, being cautious about building up the business – something they strongly advice to any start-ups in the city.

Our contract with our rst o ce was on a rolling, month-by-month basis, so we didn’t tie ourselves in. Managing your outgoings as a business owner is key. If you don’t have the cashflow, you re not going to sur i e, says James.

“Yes, absolutely, don’t overcommit,” agrees Michael.

“We’ve known companies who’ve done that hey want the big flashy

premises from day one. Keep your overheads as low as you can. That’s what we did and it’s worked very well for us.”

While they had always expertise in mortgages, they’ve had to build on their s illset to ul l their responsibilities as business owners.

“We’re quite nerdy,” says James, “so when there’s something we don’t know about we do a lot of research. We’re always keen to know the detail so we can understand things better. But then that also means leaning in on experts in Exeter: for example, branding people, HR specialists, estate agents –we’ve leaned on loads of people to get great advice. You’ve got to be unafraid to ask for help.”

How about managing employees?

“I am quite lucky because my wife manages 100 people in her job, so she’s good to go to for advice,” says James.

“Last year I went on a course on emotional intelligence; that helped me a lot. I learnt that when employees come and talk to you, to really listen and not always jump in straight away with a response. Even if what they’re talking about is not important to me, it might be important to them. As a manager, I need to understand where they are coming from.”

“We have an open-door policy here for all our employees,” adds Michael. Our staff can wear their sli ers to work if they like – as long as our clients are looked after.”

For more: www.themortgagequarter.co.uk

“WE’RE VERY YIN AND YANG”

© INSTAGRAM @MORTGAGEQUARTER

The dynamic duo: James Miles and Michael Tilston

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Nick founded The Wave in 2010, starting with a budget of just £500 and a vision o bringing sur ng, nature and ‘blue health’ to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. After building a team and raising £30 million, it opened in Bristol in autumn as the rst lace in the world to use ground-breaking Wavegarden Cove technology.

In his pre-Wave life, Nick – just like his dad, his wife, sister, brotherin-law and sister-in-law – had been an osteopath. “We called it the family practice.”

And then came the trigger moment: Nick’s dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. “He died at Bristol oyal n rmary made a slightly crazy promise to him that I would do something in his name that he’d be really proud of. Something that would pull together all of his passions, which are also my passions: looking after people’s health.

“I made that promise at that time, not even knowing what I was getting myself into. And then slowly,

seeds of an idea started coming through. About creating a space where people could engage, which could also turn into a business.”

Nick knew the importance of creating a killer team who bought into the vision. “When you truly trust people around you, anything’s possible. I had a team who were way more bright than me to be able to work out the legals and the nancials and all the rest o it

Through luck or judgment, Nick chose the right people. What advice would he give to any entrepreneur looking to appoint advisors?

“First of all, choose the one that actually backs you and doesn’t charge you to start off with But then it’s about making sure you’re working with somebody you can scale up with, who is willing to treat you and the absolute grassroots as though you were the most high-

flying business o all time about treating you with the respect that what you’re bringing forwards is just as important as if it was Elon Musk standing front of them.”

or the rst two or three months, says Nick, “we were like rabbits in headlights none o us had e er done what we were doing at that time before. It felt like we had the whole eyes of the world watching us, waiting to see how we were going to react to tricky situations.”

In early 2020 – as if the pandemic were not enough – Nick suffered a stro e traumatic or anyone, but or a ery t man in his early 40s, who had just launched a business, a potential disaster.

“Again, it was about trusting the people around me. I needed to raise another e million ounds to sa e the business and make sure that our staff, wa e ma ers and in estors were all right, while not being able to communicate the need to make sure that they were all right.”

So did the experience changed him as a manager? “Yeah, massively. Through [recovering up at The Wave] I realised that a massive part of my rehabilitation was being

in blue spaces around water. It gave me a renewed vigour to be able to message how important being by water is to people’s health and wellbeing.”

It also cemented Nick’s determination that The Wave should be for everyone.

“I realised that it was still being used by the lucky few. We weren’t yet ul lling our ision, which was about all ages, all backgrounds, all abilities. Right at the start we’d known it’d be really easy to market sur ng to white, middle class males We knew that it would be really hard to do the opposite.”

This year, Nick has concentrated on more social impact work, trying to reach out to communities that would not normally have the ability to use he a e and also to reflect di ersity in his own staff

“It’s been working, but we’ve got a long way to go.”

For the full talk, find the event on YouTube; www.thewave.com

EntreConf returns on 22 June at Watershed with a whole host of fresh inspiration for start-ups and established businesses.

NEW: nominations are open for the first EntreConf Awards on 28 September, celebrating entrepreneurial excellence and recognising the vital roles of advisors. For full details see www.entreconf.com

At our latest EntreConf dinner, NICK HOUNSFIELD of The Wave explained how he took a slice of the ocean and put it in some fields just north of Bristol, creating the first inland surfing destination of its kind in the world

Nick in conversation with Greg Ingham at Avon Gorge Hotel

“WHEN YOU TRULY TRUST THE TEAM AROUND YOU, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE”

© PHOTOS BY JON CRAIG

By Imogen Davidson-Smith

If this house makes you think of fossils, or of a Fibonacci spiral (that’s the mathsy sequence featured in the Da Vinci Code), then you re right on the money he uni ue e bedroom house, nestled in the Blackdown Hills, was built in 2017 by an engineer and horticultural enthusiast who took inspiration from an ammonite fossil found on the site and created a design that combines natural elements with the Fibonacci spiral. Its niche and quirky shape made it the ideal candidate for Grand Designs (series 18, if you’re interested) where it was declared one of the most ambitious homes on the show.

ocated on the e on omerset border, a short dri e rom the illage o embury, near minster, the lot boasts , s uare eet o li ing s ace, and sits on acres o wild meadowland and bordering elds

Of course, as well as the peaceful positioning and anoramic iews, the main credential with this ro erty is its sustainability and energy e ciency which were at the forefront of the design and construction, making this home a stand out off grid house in the west country he house achie ed one o the highest ratings in the region than s to the cur ed orm o the building the main li ing areas ace the west and south to ma imi e solar gain, and a conser atory acts as a solar and heat collector contributing towards the system ground source heat um ser es the underfloor heating, while hot water is boosted by both solar thermal and solar systems he house e en has a dedicated

HOUSE NUMBERS

Where? Membury, Axminster (about 30 minutes from Exeter by car)

Nearest train station Axminster (direct trains to Exeter (approx. 40 mins) and Waterloo (approx. 2hr 45 mins)

Bedrooms 5

Size Over 4,470 sq

Outside Over seven acres; includes meadows, an arboretum and two small barns

Guide price £1,950,000

For more The Modern House; www.themodernhouse.com

Bpackage treatment plant for drainage and a borehole for water supply, making it a true oasis in the countryside. s you a roach the house, you ll be greeted by a ri ate gated dri eway leading to the entrance tuc ed away beneath the undercroft. The roof is made of mi ed s ecies timber cladding, which blends beauti ully with the rolling elds in the surrounding hills ocal chert stone walls gi e the house a natural, rustic eel Head inside and you’ll be met with the bright entrance hall, which leads to a utility and boot room on the right and a study ad acent he central li ing s aces un old across the cur ature o the u er storey – this is the showstopper design element of the interior – with Glulam ribs (glued laminated timber to you and me , creating an im ressi e sense o scale and olume ansi e high er ormance gla ing orms the southerly acade, in iting e cellent natural light throughout the day and raming e ic iews across the meadows.

The kitchen and larder are positioned at one end, with appliances neatly housed within bespoke joinery. imber flooring runs under oot, and a central island creates a natural di ision to the dining areas cosy family room lies to one side, and a central atrium bridges the westerly tail o the u er storey, offering breathta ing iews across the countryside and the beauti ully landsca ed rear gardens s iral staircase leads to an u er me anine s ace, and one o the e bedrooms and an en suite shower room are also located in this section of the house.

ecognise this ast e on gaff eatured on Grand Designs, it was built as the ultimate off the grid home with sustainability and energy e ciency at its core and it s now u or sale e go or a wander

s you head downstairs, you ll nd our bedrooms e tending across the lower le el, with care ully considered windows showcasing the changing seasonal iews wo double bedrooms and a bathroom occu y the southeast wing, while the rimary bedroom suite and another en suite double bedroom occu y the western section.

he outdoor s ace has been designed with great attention to detail, eaturing raised beds, a greenhouse, and a garden shed or the ultimate sel su ciency e erience he ormal gardens at the rear are ull o care ully curated flowering erennials and mature shrubs, with e anses o lawn bordered by s ecimen trees he wildflower meadows are a designated county wildli e site, creating an integral as ect o the o erall e erience o the house

s or location, embury is a short dri e rom the charming mar et town o minster and the o ular town o yme egis Both towns ha e thri ing communities o artists and creati es, with the annual Art Trail and The Axe Vale Show showcasing gardening and local cra ts e ery summer you e dreamt o li ing in a ro erty that has sustainability at its core but don t ancy doing the leg wor yoursel this distincti e abode could be ust the tic et n

JOHN EVANS

Meet John, a former RAF man (whose favourite sport was target rifle shooting at distances up to 1,000 metres). Since his Retinitis Pigmentosa diagnosis, his eyesight has dropped to just two per cent. Here he chats about the world as he sees it, his favourite jaunts in Exeter, and his love for trusty black lab guide dog, Phoenix

I’ve been based in the village of Talaton for 25 years but grew u in orthern reland, where trained shee dogs n oined the so could see the world was osted to Bicester and then bingdon in O ordshire

I trained as an aviation engineer and was art o a s ecialist team that re aired lanes le t the in and wor ed as a reelance engineer consultant, ing aero lanes all around the world

My eyesight got gradually worse. had worn glasses or a long time but my rescri tions e t getting stronger and stronger hen in got my eyes tested and they measured my eyesight at er cent central ision By the end o that year, it was down to er cent a ery shar decline was diagnosed with etinitis igmentosa an inherited retinal disease causing rogressi e loss o sight and eri heral ision otherwise nown as tunnel ision am now down to two er cent

People think if you are partially blind that everything is very blurry. n act, it s the o osite, e erything is ery shar it s ust that don t see a lot ll see your le t eye but not your right eye, so ha e to loo around a lot to build u the icture li e a igsaw u le

There’s a scale of things that you have to stop doing when your field of vision fails you. ou ha e to gi e u dri ing when it gets below er cent nd then there s my s ort target rifle t s a bit li e sni er training e ce t you re shooting bits o a er not eo le n act, as my eyesight deteriorated, actually ound got better at shooting because there were no distractions and could concentrate, but when got to two er cent eld o ision had to gi e u as the olice don t issue rearms certi cate at this oint hat was hard

I had always refused to get a guide dog but then was on a holiday tri and met two guys who were tal ing endlessly about their guide dogs not their wi es or ids so thought might gi e it a go

Guide dogs have given me so much freedom.

irst we had ohnny who guided me or si and a hal years and then he retired, though we still ha e him as a et ow we e got hoeni who we e had since ery day we ta e out the dogs or long wal s in the surrounding countryside it s beauti ul

I used to have a white cane which people would trip over or knock over. t s different with a guide dog hey let you now there s an obstruction and guide you away rom it

t can be intense wor or them, es ecially wal ing down the high street where there s lots o eo le hat s why they only wor two hours a day

Guide dogs are incredibly intuitive. hey now how to deal with eo le or e am le, i hoeni is near a small child who is a little bit scared o his si e, he ll bac off and be really gentle hoeni is riendly to nearly e eryone but i there is a erson who he a oids and won t go near, ta e heed listen to him and he listens to me

Some people treat their guide dog as an accessory, but to me he’s a friend. he more you treat them as a com anion not as a wor ing animal the more you get bac

Public access to public places has got so much better in recent years. One o my a ourite laces to go in eter is eter athedral lo e the e hibitions here remember the emembrance ay o y dis lay some years bac hey wanted local eo le to get in ol ed, thin they had a target o about , crochet o ies hey ended u ha ing o er , ma ing

Best thing about Phoenix? e gi es me my inde endence n For more: www.guidedogs.org.uk

“People think if you are partially blind that everything is very blurry. In fact, it’s the opposite”