Salisbury Life - issue 229

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Homes ISSUE 229 / CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR 2017 / £3

Festive larders

or the ne w

o late Never to

Looking ahead t o 2017 Arts and culture f

year

Christma eats and treats

it on ! nearest & dearest for your goodies Gifts &

ISSUE 229 / CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR 2017 / GIFTS, EATS AND TREATS

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The hard wor donek's it's to ptime arty !

EDITOR’S LETTER / ISSUE 229 / CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR 2017

33

FESTIVE LARDER

Celebrate Christmas with a cheeseboard

Many thanks to Archett and Garne deli in Wilton for the wonderful cheese photography

BRING IT ON! I have to admit to thinking I was ahead of the game this year with shopping but Christmas has that way of lobbing a curve ball at you when you least expect it.

A blissful half-hour of peace on the sofa on Saturday ended in utter, unbridled panic. The kids had, unbeknownst to me, gone off to write their Christmas lists for Santa after lunch. (For the sake of clarity, I had finished the shopping before they’d actually got round to writing their lists).

My daughter’s list was reassuringly predictable – this book, that book, this book, that book, some lemon sherbets, a denim pinafore. Not far off the mark, I thought.

My son’s, however, was a different ball game altogether.

Highlights included a mini fridge, the biggest tomato in the world, seven puddings a week for two months, a bunny (“this is my most pleading one”), a small labradoodle (“2nd favourite”), a TV in my room, £100 for games on my tablet (£50 scribbled out and changed to £100), a hover speaker from Selfrigis [sic], and six good pens (each with a separate entry).

Wish me luck, dear readers. I’m gong to need it!

Happy Christmas, Salisbury!

Rachel Ifans Editor info@mediaclash.co.uk Tweet me @SalisburyLife

REGULARS / ISSUE 229 / CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR 2017 M EET T H E T EAM

FEATURES

Editor Rachel Ifans info@mediaclash.co.uk

10 It’s the final countdown!

Part 2 of our Christmas Gift Guide has all the last-minute inspiration you could want

Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover illustration Jim Robins www.jr-illustration.co.uk Cover design Trevor Gilham Intro image John Rose Contributors: Russell Mardell, Tom Bromley, Anne Brison Advertising manager Hillary Thompson hillary.thompson@mediaclash.co.uk

THE ARTS 19 Arts intro Looking ahead to arts and culture in Salisbury in early 2017

20 What’s on Exhibitions, theatre, music and events for kids in the area over Christmas and into the new year

Commercial director Steve Hawkins steve.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk Head of customer publishing Gary Tipp gary.tipp@mediaclash.co.uk

22 Homegrown talent Treat yourself to a look at the very best wildlife photography from the past year with some accolades for local images

24 Love at first sight As industrious as she was talented, Rena Gardiner was a class printmaker and her work is iconic. A new exhibition comes to Salisbury

FOOD

Production and distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager and production designer Christina West christina.west@mediaclash.co.uk

33

Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Salisbury Life, MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash

26 Restaurant

© All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

The Compasses Inn in Damerham is a gem of a place. Open fires, a warm welcome, no pomp and absolutely delightful food

SHOPPING

BUSINESS

43 Shopping intro

53 Business insider

A new kitchen showroom

30 Recipes

44 Special shops

Visitor numbers are up at Salisbury’s Christmas Market this year

Kay Fox, local pizza maker, lets us into a couple of her secret recipes.

It’s amoré!

Dinghams is a family-run cookshop at Salisbury’s heart

PROPERT Y

HEALTH & BEAUT Y

Glass, timber and wonderful views in this modern Huf Haus near Ringwood

33 Christmas larder We hope our eats and treats feature will be the icing on your Christmas cake. Cheese, wine, puds, chocolates, fresh vegetables and fish. Everything you need in the run-up to the big day

47 Weight-loss coach Erak Simsson coaches clients to lose weight and keep it off

49 Charlotte Churchill A treat for hair and soul

62 Property showcase

DEPARTMENTS 7 50 66

Spotlight Society Salisbury lives

About 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, Exeter and Salisbury.

We also publish foodie mag Crumbs. (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag) and wedding title Vow (@VowMag).

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

On the cover Our wonderful stag illustration was drawn by Jim Robins. It’s always time to party if you see a dude with antlers and a Christmas jumper!

S A L I S B U R Y: I T S L I F E A N D T I M E S

The wonderfully restored Ansty Plum

AWARDS

A GRAND DESIGN Of course, we all know that Wiltshire is brim full of gorgeous houses of every style and era, but it’s always nice to be recognised and so we are very proud to reveal that a Wiltshire home, Ansty Plum, has been nominated for the 2016 RIBA House of the Year award.

The award is run by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and every year they search high and low across the nation for excellence in housing, designed by a British architect.

Ansty Plum (not surprisingly located in Ansty!) has been re-designed by architects Coppin Dockray and it certainly fits the remit of a very special house. The 1960s modernist home has been lovingly renovated and resurrected with sensitivity to its original incarnation and transformed into a light, comfortable place with careful thought to recreating the space for viable modern living.

It’s carbon emissions have also been reduced by 80 per cent.

Sited on a steep, wooded slope, the house, originally designed by David Levitt in 1964, had fallen into disrepair and was uninhabitable for much of the year. The challenge for Coppin Dockray was to insulate and heat the building without undermining its original form. A new kitchen, study, bedroom joinery, bespoke furniture and floor finishes were added. New

windows, heating, lighting, an air source heat pump and insulation were also added.

The re-build has kept in mind the spirit of the original design, despite some dramatic changes – such as replacing the original brick floor to allow for central heating. In this instance, stock paving slabs surface ground down to the aggregate allowed for such fundamental changes while retaining the look and feel of the original floor.

The stone shell of the dilapidated studio adjacent to the house was also renovated to provide an accommodation annexe featuring a bedroom, shower room and storage subspace, sitting above a garage. The space is lined with timber to create an almost nostalgic atmosphere in keeping with its 60s heritage.

The judges for the 2016 RIBA House of the Year award are former award winners Meredith Bowles from Mole Architects; Charlotte Skene Catling from Skene Catling de la Pena; Jonathan Dallas from Dallas Pierce Quintero; Elle Stathaki Architecture Editor for Wallpaper* and Phil Thorn, Head of Direct Homes Insurance Hiscox.

For more: Ansty Plum is one of seven houses nominated, all of which will feature in a special, fourpart TV series, Grand Designs: House of the Year, for Channel 4, which will air on December 15.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 7

D

D E FFR ELL R E IIVVEEEE ERR YY

WINTER SALE STARTS TUESDAY 27 TH DECEMBER

Emsworth 3 seater Sofa RRP £909 Sale Price £699

Cosmos Italian Leather 3 seater Sofa RRP £1818 Sale Price £1299

Please visit our spacious showroom to see a huge choice of British fabric upholstery and Italian leather upholstery, dining furniture, bedroom furniture and a large range of British pocket sprung beds. We offer a personal and friendly service to help you in your selections.

Opening hours Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5.00pm 14 Winchester Street, Salisbury, SP1 1HB • 01722 322596 • www.pure-comfort.co.uk

Dinghams Stoves & Chimneys Est. 1982

There are over 70 fireplaces, woodburning stoves and multi-fuel stoves on display in our main showroom in Salisbury.

We have 15 fireplaces in our Winchester showroom.

Most fireplaces can be manufactured and installed to suit the customer’s requirements. We sell a wide range of stone fireplaces, woodburners, gas fires, gas stoves and electric fires.

Salisbury

18-20 Newton Road, Churchfields Industrial Estate, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 7QA 01722 506040 / 01722 506041

Winchester

4 The Square, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9ES 01962 863333

dinghamsfires@gmail.com

www.dinghams.co.uk

Hot hands These alpaca wool handwarmers are a steal. If you manage to get these home, wrapped and delivered without snaffling them for yourself, I take my bobble hat off to you; £7.50 From www.beulahsattic.com

It’s the final countdown!

Stay calm, there’s still time… Yes, with this Christmas gift guide sequel under your arm, you can whizz around the shops, bag a few last-minute gems and be back in time to put your feet up with a sherry and mince pie (we can’t help with the wrapping though!).

By R ac h e l I fa ns 10 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

FASHION

You’ve been framed This cock pheasant feather and glass photo frame from Wingfield Digby is just lovely – a gender neutral gift for someone who likes things that are a cut above.

Sourced and sold by those reliable style types at Digger and Mojo; £60 From www. diggerandmojo.com A new titfer This classic winter warmer from Olney is perfect for the man in your life who likes a tweed number; £42.95 From www.chashbaker.com

Pastoral perfection Framed limited-edition giclée print of a linocut pastoral scene by Layla Khani called Green Valley; £240 From www.fishertonmill.co.uk

Kilim time This colourful kilim pouffe is just like a puppy begging for company. One of those additions that instantly becomes part of the family; £280 From www.bakhtiyar.com

Best served chilled This vodka shooter set comes in an ash caddy. The four tall shooters are made from soapstone and get really chilly in the freezer before use; £31.50 From goodfayre.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 11

twenty one b Outfits for Mothers of the Bride or Groom.

High quality ladies’ fashion and millinery, casual, occasion, formal and evening wear and coats.

Business suits Jackets Suits Trousers Skirts Curtains Made to measure

TAILORING ALTERATIONS FOR LADIES & GENTLEMEN

Military uniforms and medal ribbons altered Shirt and t-shirt ironing service JEANS, LEATHER JACKETS CURTAINS, ZIPS, DRESSES SKIRTS, ETC

SAME DAY QUALITY SERVICE

1 HOUR SERVICE AVAILABLE

PROFESSIONAL LEATHER REPAIRS

UNIT 4, THE MALTINGS, SALISBURY SP1 1BD • 01722 322377

01722 410522 • 15 Milford St, Salisbury SP1 2AL www.twentyonebsalisbury.co.uk

FOR THE HOME

Novel idea We love these chrome bookends and cannot think of ANYONE who wouldn’t like them on their bookshelf. Male or female, young or old: a real crowdpleaser; £79 From pure-comfort.co.uk

A bit of French polish Liven up someone’s mantelpiece with this cased clock with inlaid rosewood. This French piece by Lageusse & Co, Paris has a white enamel dial and silk suspension; £875 From www.salisburyantiquescentre.com

Perfect specimens Bear with us here, it’s not one for the lovers out there, but what kid wouldn’t want an insect in resin to display on a shelf for when mates come to play?

From £3 to £15 From www.diggerandmojo.com

Break out the baubles Chocolate baubles in both Venezuelan milk chocolate and Madagascan dark chocolate. Each bauble comes in a gift box with a hand-tied ribbon; £3.50/50g each or £6.50 for two From www.chococo.co.uk

Elephants never forget The Dalai Lama once said that anyone who buys a Tibetan brass elephant candle holder for a loved one at Christmas time will be blessed forever. (If you believe that you’ll believe anything, but this 19th century piece is so special it could almost be true); £960 From www.indigo-uk.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 13

FLOWERS

Line ’em up!

Line these up and down a long table or just have one in the middle.

These festive candle holders are the perfect table decoration, along with some sprout party poppers, of course!; £9.99 From www. gullicksflorists.co.uk Bouquet barmy When all is said and done there is no bad time to receive a beautiful bouquet and Paloma Lily has many ideas for something special and seasonal using metal, glass, candles and flowers; made-to-order bunches from £20 From www.palomalily.com Wonderful winter English Burleigh creamware jug filled with berries, wax flower and seasonal English foliage and herbs. Its vigour and beauty will last long into 2017 – if only the same could be said for us!

Prices from £75 for bouquet in two pint jug From www.tedmartinflowers.co.uk

The floral dance These floral and foliage table rings with storm lantern and candle make a beautifully presented gift to enjoy on the big day. Last orders 20 December; prices from £60 - £75 From katerobinsonflowers.co.uk

The centre of it all Another beautiful table centrepiece. Using seasonal cut flowers, foliage and accessories this is a perfect gift for the person who has everything; from £19.99 From www.thelittleflowershop.website 14 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

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Mug shots Gorgeous tiny tree decs from Emma Bridgewater. Now we come to think of it, this could be a good way to sip that sloe gin; £12.95 From www.dinghams.co.uk

christmas wreaths arrangements gift ideas UK wide delivery

Ted Martin Flowers | The Square | Tisbury | Wiltshire | SP3 6JP Telephone: 01747 871333 | Email: ted@tedmartinflowers.co.uk VISIT OUR NEW WEBSHOP

www.tedmartinflowers.co.uk

07906 580361

kate@katerobinsonflowers.co.uk W W W. K AT E RO B I N S O N F L OW E R S . C O . U K

WEDDINGS AT CRANBORNE

The Little Flower Shop Florist 32 High Street Amesbury SP4 7DL thelittleflowershopamesbury@gmail.com 01980 625458

www.thelittleflowershop.website

The Garden Room at Cranborne is a beautiful new wedding venue nestled in a quiet corner of the walled, former kitchen garden of Cranborne Manor. Set in a private landscaped garden, this is the perfect setting for an English country garden wedding.

With their lovely local suppliers, the team at Cranborne will work with each couple to create a truly unique day.

To celebrate the launch of this new venue, discounts are being offered for 2017 weddings.

For more information please contact Claire Whitehead on 01725 517248 or email weddings@cranbornegardencentre.co.uk

CRANBORNE, DORSET BH21 5PP Follow us on • www.cranbornegardencentre.co.uk

GIFTS

The inevitable sock Designed by Marcus at MrD London, these are cotton for comfort with a hint of nylon and elastane for longevity; £11.95 From www.fishertonmill.co.uk

Ring true This tendril ring comes in sterling silver and 9ct yellow gold so it will perfectly complement existing jewellery. If you’re panic-buying with a few days to go, you won’t go wrong with this one; £95 From www.elinorcambray.com

Snail trails The Snails nail collection is safe for children and because it washes off with soap and water, they can really go to town. Operating instructions: place child on huge wipe-clean mat in the centre of your kitchen and run to safety!

Polishes £8, glitter £3.50, nail stickers £2.75 From www.vitaskinspa.co.uk

Hubble, bubble Cufflinks, cufflinks and more cufflinks!

Ian Flaherty cufflinks are all designed

by Ian and his partner Sasha and handmade in London. Made from fine English pewter and base metal they are plated with Rhodium before being hand finished.

(Sshhh! They’re worn by celebrities too – John Barrowman, no less!); £65 From regenttailoring.co.uk

Watch it!

This ornate piece

by Aviv is more than just a timepiece – it’s a piece of jewellery too. We’re not going to strong arm you into it, but you’d be a fool not to; £159 From osoboutique. co.uk

Rainy days Victorian umbrella stand. For no reason other than we liked it and we thought you might too. £325 From Salisbury Antiques Centre

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 17

The Fovant Cattery “Designed for cats and their discerning owners”

VISITORS WELCOME

Please contact us to arrange a time.

An exceptional boarding cattery, built and run to International Cat Care standards, offering bespoke care for your cats.

Relax while you are away, knowing your pet is being professionally looked after by people who care.

Our guests enjoy our light and airy environment, a warm, comfortable chalet and wonderful views of the garden and wildlife.

15 minutes from both Salisbury and Shaftesbury.

Contact Debbie, Babs or James on 01722 714232 • info@thefovantcattery.co.uk

www.thefovantcattery.co.uk

Music/theatre/film/more

City of Culture When the glitz and glamour of Christmas becomes a long-forgotten echo and spring feels very far away, what better way to fill your days and nights than with some of the fabulous events, gigs and exhibitions coming up in Salisbury in the New Year. Here are some forthcoming events to whet your appetite. There’ll be no excuses for glum faces with these listings!

Salisbury City Hall hosted some fantastic shows in 2016 and they’re not resting on their laurels as we head into 2017. Folk singer-songwriter and troubadour Billy Bragg will be joined by Joe Henry to play a collection of songs inspired by rail travel in their Shine a Light tour on 20 January. Hampshireborn songstress Laura Marling visits on 18 March followed by funny man

Russell Kane on 23 March and on 16 May Shakin’ Stevens is doing the rounds playing his super-successful 2016 album, Echoes of Our Time.

At the Salisbury Arts Centre the winter temperatures will be rising on 21 January as Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo star as opera’s classic lovers in Gounod’s lush adaptation, Romeo et Juliette. Other opera highlights at the Arts Centre in 2017 include Rusalka (25 Feb), La Traviata (11 March) and Idomeneo (25 March).

With panto season done and dusted, the Salisbury Playhouse welcomes Barney Norris’ new play Echo’s End, which runs from 29 March to 15 April.

Set on the edge of the Salisbury Plain in 1915, the play follows the story of two families and the seismic changes bought

on by World War 1 and the events that alter their lives and the country forever.

Looking further ahead, the Salisbury Playhouse will be welcoming a range of top touring productions including The Play That Goes Wrong (27 February to 4 March), The Verdict starring Clive Mantel, Jack Shepherd and Richard Walsh (6 to 11 March), Showstopper!

The Improvised Musical (20 to 22 April) and, heading into summer, The Watermill Theatre’s production of Twelfth Night (20 to 24 June).

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg and there are many more cultural treats in store for Salisbury residents and visitors in 2017. If proof were needed of this city’s status as a vibrant, cultural hub, then let the critics be silenced! www.mediaclash.co.uk I salisbury LIFE I 19

16 December – 16 January

Above left: Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel; Above centre: music-hall fun at the Playhouse; Above right: Guy Masterson in Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood

Art 26 NOVEMBER – 6 JANUARY

SALISBURY GROUP OF ARTISTS EXHIBITION The SGA’s annual winter exhibition takes place at Salisbury district hospital.

Proceeds from the commission on all sales will go towards the hospital’s ArtCare fund.

All welcome.

our feature on this exhibition and her work on page 22. No booking required; the exhibition is free but normal Salisbury Museum admission charges do apply; For more info visit: www.salisburymuseum.org.uk

Plays/ Shows 3 DECEMBER – 7 JANUARY

14 JANUARY – 13 MAY

RENA GARDINER ARTIST AND PRINTMAKER Rena Gardiner (1929-99) is best remembered for her guidebooks to historic places, buildings and the countryside, which she wrote, illustrated and printed in her cottage in Dorset. Read

ALADDIN We hardly need to elaborate on this classic pantomime. It’s all about genies and magic carpets and it promises laughter and song for all the family.

Tickets from £12.50; 01722 320333; www.salisburyplayhouse.com

20 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

5-31 DECEMBER

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse”. We can all recite it word for word, so it’s time to see it on stage.

Tickets £9; 01722 320333; www.salisburyplayhouse.com 16-18 DECEMBER

A WINTER’S TRAIL A promenade experience at Salisbury Cathedral from Hoodwink, the company in residence at Salisbury Arts Centre. There’s a lost girl who needs help but then she’s gone, disappearing into the shadows.

Only a white hair ribbon is left on the ground…

Two performances a day; www.salisburycathedral. org.uk/events/winters-trail 20 DECEMBER – 21 JANUARY

A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY A feast of Victorian and vaudevillian theatre, inspired by music hall of the past. This show is a laugh-out-loud treat.

Tickets £19.50; 01722 320333; www.salisburyplayhouse.com 13 JANUARY

DYLAN THOMAS’ UNDER MILK WOOD Adapted and performed by Guy Masterson – he plays all 69 roles himself! For one night only.

7.30pm; Tickets £16; 01722 320333 www.salisburyplayhouse.com

W H AT ’ S O N

ARTS

14 JANUARY

COME AND SING THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE No experience needed for this fun evening with G&S4U and the D’Oyly Carte soloists. Join them and take on the roles of pirates, policemen or one of the Major General’s daughters – all from the comfort of your seat!

Prizes for the best costumes.

7.30pm; £18.50; 01722 320333 www.salisburyplayhouse.com

Kids 16 DECEMBER – 2 JANUARY

FOLLOW THE CHRISTMOUSE TRAIL! Ask a cathedral guide for a leaflet and hunt for the little Christmouse, who has lost his way to the stable in Bethlehem.

The trail is available each day except during services.

Make sure you collect your glittery sticker from the shop afterwards. 01722 555120; www.salisburycathedral.org.uk 22 DECEMBER

STORY POCKET THEATRE: ARABIAN NIGHTS Come and enjoy Ali Baba’s encounter with the 40 thieves along with Aladdin and his lamp, the Little Beggar and the Fisherman and the Genie.

Be transported to a wonderful world of mysterious marvels and tales retold with music, puppetry and theatrical magic.

Tickets £7.50; 01722 321744; www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk

Above: Stunning wildlife on show at Moors Valley. Credit: Robert E Fuller; Below: Aladdin flies into town on his magic carpet

23 DECEMBER

MAD SCIENCE CHRISTMAS PARTY! Educational but extremely fun days for all mad scientists aged between four and 11 years old. Coming to Britford on 23 December from 10am-3pm but other dates are also available in Winchester and Shaftesbury.

Tickets cost £30 per child (group discounts are available: book five or more children and each child pays £25); For more information visit www.wessex.madscience.org/

Music

14 JANUARY

17 DECEMBER

SLADE – CHRISTMAS TOUR Perfect pop rock ’n’ roll, outrageous flamboyance and pure fun. It wouldn’t be Christmas without them!

8pm; Tickets £24.50; 01722 434434 www.cityhallsalisbury.co.uk 17 DECEMBER

LIVE LUNCH: STEVE PAGE Contemporary Americana from a songwriter best known as the front man of Open Secrets.

Enjoy lunch while you listen – free to all (not including lunch!).

12-2.30pm; 01722 321744; www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk 22-23 DECEMBER

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT Deck the Hall, O Come..., Hark, God Rest..., O Little... and many more – and all in Salisbury’s wonderful cathedral. 7pm Free admission; 01722 555120 www.salisburycathedral.org.uk

NII! FEATURING FRITITI The perfect tropical Christmas!

An evening of music rooted in African rhythm with Nii Okai Tagoe and choreography from Frititi. “From haunting Celtic violin and rockers’ reggae, to Welsh harp and balafon; his music is like nothing you’ve heard before.” Bet it’s dancey!

7.30pm; £18.50 (inc programme and edited score); 01722 321744 www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk 15 JANUARY

TOMMY EMMANUEL Australian guitarist and songwriter and two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel will be bringing his passionate and infectious live show to the City Hall, Salisbury.

7.30pm; Tickets £27; 01722 434434 www.cityhallsalisbury.co.uk

Exhibitions 14 JANUARY – 26 FEBRUARY

13 JANUARY

STEVE KNIGHTLEY Show Of Hands frontman with songs new and old and crowd pleasers like Santiago and Cousin Jack. 7.30pm Tickets: £18; 01722 434434 www.cityhallsalisbury.co.uk

BWPA PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION This year’s British Wildlife Photography Awards exhibition comes to Moors Valley Country Park. Have a sneaky peak at a selection of winners on page 22; www.bwpawards.co.uk

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F E AT U R E

INTERIORS SPECIAL

The British Wildlife Photography Awards have been judged and you can see the top entries at a local exhibition during January and February

22 LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk 42 II SALISBURY CLIFTON LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY

ARTS

Main image: Highly commended in the Animal Behaviour category – Jamie Hall Prey’s Eye View Top: Overall winner – George Stoyle’s Hitchhikers Middle: Animal Portrait winner – Jamie Mina’s Mountain Hare Bottom: Documentary Series winner – Nick Upton’s Monitoring Harvest Mice

T

he British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) exhibition is being shown at Moors Valley Country Park near Ringwood from mid January and it is definitely worth a look.

This year there were thousands of entries from all corners of the UK including a fair few – the overall winner, no less – taken in the seas that surround it. The exhibition makes heroes of our home-grown species and raises awareness of their habitats and biodiversity, and you may even recognise some local inhabitants if you choose to visit.

Moors Valley Communication Ranger, Katie Davies said: “With so many stunning photographs on show, this exhibition is proof that you don’t have to travel far from home to capture some amazing images.” Indeed, says Katie: “Moors Valley itself is home to many different animal species and even in winter there is lots of see including visiting wildfowl like shovelers and teal, early morning species such as roe deer, and the usually shy and retiring water voles.”

Local successes include Jane Morgan’s close-up of a feathery, tentacled fan worm in Weymouth, Mark Bridger’s roe deer in a field furrow in Salisbury, and 14-year-old Harry King’s image of a short-eared owl taken at Wroughton’s Barbury Castle. Wiltshire is also home to category winner Nick Upton, whose images detailing the monitoring and tracking of harvest mice won the documentary series award.

This year’s BWPA overall winning shot, though, was Hitchhikers, taken underwater off the Island of Hirta in Scotland and featuring what photographer George Stoyle describes as: “one of the largest jellyfish I’ve ever encountered”.

The amazing folds, frills and kaleidoscopic colours of this giant lion’s mane jellyfish should make Hitchhikers a winner, but it is the shoal of shimmering fish finding sanctuary amongst its tangle of stinging tentacles that make this unique picture really stand out.

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THE BWPA exhibition is at Moors Valley Country Park from 14 January to 26 February and it is free to view although parking charges apply. For more information go to www.moors-valley.co.uk The 2017 British Wildlife Photography Awards opens for entries in early February. Details can be found at www.bwpawards.org

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F E AT U R E

INTERIORS SPECIAL

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT A new year’s exhibition at Salisbury Museum throws light on the life and work of one of our most hard-working illustrators whose pieces have instant appeal. Meet Rena Gardiner

HER HANDS BLACK WITH INK, HER PRESS HUMMING

SMOOTHLY

THROUGH ANOTHER RUN, SHE WOULD BE MOST

RELUCTANT TO FARM OUT ANY OF THE PROCESSES

22 I CLIFTON LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

I L L U S T R AT I O N

ARTS

A

new exhibition at Salisbury Museum will be the perfect antidote to any January blues that descend once the last echoes of Auld Lang Syne have silenced and the ribbons from the last party popper have been picked from the sole of your diamond encrusted brogues...

Artist and printmaker Rena Gardiner’s colourful illustrations and prints have a magical quality of being familiar, even when you may never have set eyes on them before. She was an industrious talent, seeing all her work through from rough sketches to final distribution of the end product.

“Her hands black with ink, her press humming smoothly through another run, she always made it clear she would be most reluctant to farm out any of the processes,” reads an extract from a paper local to Gardiner’s beloved Dorset home.

Gardiner, who died in 1999, is probably best remembered for her guidebooks to historic places, buildings and the countryside, but her illustrations were definitely her passion. Indeed the books are more works of art than literature.

“I’m an artist first and foremost. I always do the picture first and the text has to be fitted around them,” she said in the same article.

Several of these books are about Salisbury Cathedral, but her artistic legacy also includes paintings, pastels and prints reflecting the coastline and countryside of the whole of south west England. The National Trust commissioned her for various books, a couple of which had her illustrating the Trust properties that are dotted around the Cornish coast, a project which “involved a lot of landscape”, something she described as “marvellous” and “a bit of selfindulgence”. The National Trust ended up buying a huge archive of Gardiner’s work and it’s now housed at Cotehele in Cornwall.

Gardiner, who lived alone in a thatched cottage in Tarrant Monkton in the heart of Dorset, shied away from public attention during her life. However, her body of work and her legacy as writer, illustrator and printmaker is rightly enjoying a renaissance now as new generations of artists and printmakers discover her idiosyncratic interpretation of buildings and landscapes. She called her process artistic lithography, building up colour by colour and achieving subtlety that only comes with great experience. She even used her press for mixing several colours at one time – an incredibly complicated method that sets her work apart.

The Pantheon at Stourhead in Wiltshire, late 1960s Pastel © The Estate of Rena Gardiner

Rena Gardiner, Artist and Printmaker opens on 14 January at Salisbury Museum and runs until 13 May. Normal admission charges apply (£8 adults, £4 children).

Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm www.salisburymuseum.org.uk; 01722 332151

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 25

26 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

R E S TA U R A N T

FOOD

The Compasses Inn Michele Mirabile proves that you can find very high-quality food in a pub in the middle of nowhere. The Puglian chef cooks dishes at The Compasses Inn in Damerham that are pleasingly British with an ingenious Italian twist. And, best of all, he loves every minute of it!

I

By R AC H E L I FA NS decided on the way to Damerham that I was going to get Chef Michele Mirabile to choose for me. This is not usual behaviour for me. My husband is the one who has a different drink each round in the pub – he’s just as likely to fancy a pint of stout as he is to pick a gin and tonic, a cheeky red wine or a Bloody Mary. You just don’t know with him.

At friends for dinner recently I invented a game where you had to describe your partner in one word. A bit mischievous – especially as we’d all had a few by then.

Well, I said my husband was ‘unpredictable’, a description which got unanimous oohs and aahs from the table. Male or female, it’s apparently hot to be unpredictable these days. In case you’re wondering, he described me as ‘delightful’ which immediately got my back up. How bland to be delightful, a description a friend instantly qualified with ‘delightful and bitchy’ which not only cheated (THREE words) but got my back up even more.

Anyway, in a bid to unleash my unpredictability on the world I decided to haul my set-in-their-ways bones out of their comfort zone and let someone I’d never met choose for me at lunch. It’s good for you to let others pick once in a while – you could end up liking something you would never have chosen – and besides I was too tired to choose and almost too tired to read the menu.

We chose from the Compasses’ evening menu, a great selection of British cuisine with obvious Italian influence.

Michele is from Puglia in southern Italy, but now settled in Bournemouth. I think we should group together and demand a law preventing him ever leaving these shores as his cooking is so good. In fact Bournemouth’s position seems weak to me – shall we plonk him in the most landlocked bit of Britain that we can find so he can’t escape?

MICHELE IS FROM PUGLIA. I THINK WE SHOULD GROUP TOGETHER AND DEMAND A

LAW PREVENTING HIM EVER LEAVING THESE SHORES – HIS COOKING IS SO

GOOD

Michele chose a pigeon breast wrapped in cabbage and filo pastry devils on shoulders, artichoke velluté and sweet potato chips (at a staggeringly good value £6.50) for my starter, which I shared with The Brunette (cue homage to wonderful A A Gill).

I have never had pigeon before and I think I’ll find it tricky to find it this good again. It was incredibly well cooked – pink, tender and tasty – and we loved the delicate cabbage and filo wrapping. As a fan of artichoke I almost fainted when I tasted Michele’s lightly-battered artichoke accompaniment. Not at all greasy, it smacked of Puglian cuisine. I could have eaten 10 of them.

For my main course, I had pork fillet Wellington, celeriac squeak, toasted kale with chorizo, crispy leeks and sage jus. I thought I would just eat one of the pair of ‘boots’ (Wellington – geddit?) but they were somehow so light I wasted no time in eating both. The pastry, the pork, the leek and chorizo was a great combination and I was surprised and delighted by how Michele perfectly judges the richness of his food, never going too far and leaving a customer overwhelmed.

The Brunette’s main was, like the others, new on the menu – fillet of cod in herbs and mandarin, rosti potato, mixed pulses, caviar sauce and mussels. Michele was charmingly self-deprecating when he came out to sit with us afterwards and asked whether the mandarin had been strong enough in the mix of flavours or whether it could stand to be turned up a notch.

Michele is a great chef and the Compasses Inn is steadily gaining a reputation for his food. He loves British cuisine and completely disagrees with the bad reputation we’ve had in the past for limited menus and sub-standard ingredients. His meat is local, and his fish is very fresh and his passion is deep-rooted. We had a thoroughly delicious meal finished off with a dessert to share (that’s where my new-found unpredictability ended – I’m a slave to cheesecake).

It really was a lovely experience and renewed our faith in the fact that you can stump up in a village in the middle of nowhere in this country and have the most finely-judged cuisine you have had in a long time.

And having my food chosen for me? Well, it’s just like joining a book club (bear with me). I don’t like war and I don’t like horses but when forced by book club chums to read War Horse, I loved every minute it. Boundaries, be gone!

DINING DETAILS The Compasses Inn, Damerham, Hampshire, SP6 3HQ; 01725 518231 www.compassesinndamerham.co.uk Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 12:00 - 00:00 Sunday 12:00 - 23:00 Atmosphere: We ate at lunchtime on a Friday and it was pretty busy. Weekends are very busy Good to know: Compasses Inn is doing a fantastic dinner on Christmas Day - £60 for five courses Price: Starters around £6.50, mains around £15 Menu: the evening menu was very varied, with vegetarian options. There was also a short classics menu with catch of the day fish and chips, burger and steak options Drinks: A great selection of affordable wines by the glass along with a fully-stocked pub bar

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 27

Forkingout Catering for all occasions

WEDDINGS • CORPORATE FESTIVALS • PIZZA PARTY

4 - 9PM EVERY FRIDAY IN SALISBURY FOOTBALL CLUB’S CAR PARK FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 01722 330508 OR 07760197647

01722 328 808 www.forkingout4food.com

Do you want a real taste of the Forest?

Then visit…

New Forest Cider Farm & Tearooms, Burley Free cider & perry tasting, handmade stone flagons, local preserves and cheese, country wines, delicious cream teas and homemade cake.

Tel: (01425) 403589 Email: info@newforestcider.co.uk

www.newforestcider.co.uk 300m from village centre on Pound Lane.

Ltd

I N T E R I O R S A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

COOL COLOURS AND WARM HUES Hania Southwell

Time to add a splash of red or blue! in-toto Salisbury is in the know with this season’s on-trend hues

R

ose Quartz and Serenity won Pantone’s Colour of the Year in 2016 which meant we saw these colours appear in both fashion and interior trends. “Joined together, Rose Quartz and Serenity demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace.”

Leatrice Eiseman, Exectutive Director Pantone Colour Institute.

Last year’s winner ‘Rose Quartz’ and in-toto Salisbury’s prediction on what the next year’s winner could be

in-toto Salisbury predict that the start of 2017 will see a development of this trend however in place of the pastel blue of Serenity, we will see deeper shades of Navy Blue and Teal creating the perfect cosy colour pallet for the cooler months.

There are so many ways you can use colour in your kitchen so why not consider a few of these: Paint: Liven up a blank wall or even set a backdrop for your kitchen units by painting entire walls or sections of wall.

Tiles: Whether you go for a patterned tile, a single colour tile, or even coloured grout, this is a great way to add an individual touch.

Splashbacks: We have several options of splashbacks available at in-toto Salisbury, from picture splashbacks to beautiful toughened glass which can be used as an accent behind the hob or even across large expanses of wall.

Kitchen furniture: For those who are completely in love with their colour we have coloured door

fronts available which can be paired with more muted tones to create a contrast.

Accessories: There is also the option of using colour in your general kitchen accessories; tea towels, mixers, utensils and even your kitchen crockery are a great way to add splashes of colour and can be combined nicely with any of the other methods mentioned above.

For more information please visit your local in-toto on Catherine Street.

Alternatively, you can visit the in-toto website at www.intoto.co.uk or call on 01722 238177

Indian born chefs Rasheed and Bartkath are bringing a whole new dining experience to the city launching their exciting menu of Indian Street Food and Craft Beer at Cafe Diwali.

NEW DINNER MENU CHRISTMAS PARTY MENU 2 COURSES £23 3 COURSES £28

90 Crane Street, SP1 2QD Salisbury, Wiltshire 01722 329700 cafediwali.com

Go for dough When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie… Kay Fox, pizzaiolo from The Slinky Fox, lets us into the secret of her gorgeous pizzas, both savoury and sweet

Ham it up Dough ingredients 500ml of cold water 4g dried yeast 10g sugar 900g of '00' flour 25g salt 12g of extra virgin olive oil Method 1. Pour all of the water into the kneading machine.

2. Dissolve the yeast and sugar in a separate bowl with a drop of hot water (not exceeding 45ºC otherwise you will damage the structures in the flour).

3. Pour the dissolved yeast into the kneader and incorporate the 750g of flour, sprinkling into the mixture from a height.

4. Turn on the kneader.

5. As soon as you see the dough coming together you will need to add more flour.

Add an extra 150g of '00' flour; once this has been incorporated add the salt. When you can see and feel that the salt has been absorbed into the mixture add the oil.

6. The dough is ready when there is no mixture left on the sides of the machine.

The whole process, from beginning to end, should take no longer than between 15 and 18 minutes.

If you leave the kneaded mixing for longer, your dough will be damaged due to the breakdown of the gluten. It will be

30 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

(Serves 1-2)

tough when you are stretching it and the end result will be chewy to taste.

7. Once the dough is made, transfer it onto the work surface, cover with clingfilm and let it stand for a good half hour before making dough balls. Make your dough balls and put in the fridge for at least 24 hours (ideally 36 hours) so that the sugars and proteins in the dough break down making it easier to digest. Ensure that when you put your dough balls in the fridge you cover with a lid or clingfilm so that the dough doesn't dry out making it difficult to hand stretch.

Tomato sauce ingredients 1.5 tins of San Marzano tomatoes or good quality Italian plum tomatoes will do.

1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil 2 tsp of dried oregano 2 gloves of garlic (crushed) Method Add the olive oil to a large pan and bring up to heat gently then add the garlic and simmer but don't brown it otherwise it will burn and leave a bitter taste.

Once the garlic is gentle cooked through, add the tomatoes and oregano and place in the oven for at least two hours on a heat of 150ºC. Once you can see that the sauce has cooked through, blitz the tomatoes with a

blender until smooth. The sauce is now ready for your topping.

For the rest of the topping you will need per pizza 85g of Fior di Latte 3/4 slices of prosciutto 2/3 mushrooms sliced 5/6 sundried tomatoes A pinch of fresh garlic interspersed around the edge of the pizza Method 1. Ensure your oven is on the highest temperature possible otherwise you won't achieve any crisp! Hand stretch each pizza to roughly 12" on a pizza stone or tray and then start adding the toppings.

Pour one and half ladles of tomato sauce on to the pizza and then evenly place the Fior di Latte. Next place the mushrooms and sundried tomatoes and then put the small pinches of fresh garlic around the edge of the pizza in the tomato sauce if possible. Lastly, place the prosciutto in whole slice or break up if preferred.

2. Place your pizza in the oven and cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until you think it's perfect!

3. To finish add fresh basil and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

RECIPE

FOOD

Pizza pud (Serves 1-2 ) Ingredients 1 egg yolk 250ml of water 250ml of milk 90g sugar 5g yeast 750g '00' flour 45g of cocoa 50g olive oil margarine 7g salt Fruits, Nutella, marscapone, nuts for topping – the more the merrier!

Method 1. Put the egg yolk and sugar in a container and mix well.

2. Dissolve the yeast as before and put into the sugar and egg yolk mix.

3. Sprinkle the flour from a height after mixing well with the cocoa powder.

4. Add the olive oil margarine and turn on the kneader.

5. Towards the end of the cycle pour in the salt then turn off the kneader once you have obtained a smooth, homogenous dough.

6. As before, cover with clingfilm and then

leave for 30 minutes before making the dough balls.

7. Smear Nutella or mascarpone over the base, sprinkle crushed hazelnuts and sliced banana for a real sweet treat! Cook as previously mentioned.

www.facebook.com/theslinkyfox

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 31

O CH BE RD RI IN ER ST G S M TA NO AS K W EN

Berwick Farm Shop Berwick St James • SP3 4UA Telephone 01722 790490

Fresh local produce and good home cooked food.

Our own home-reared beef and pork, local reared lamb, free range chicken and duck.

HOMEMADE Marilyn’s well known steak pies, pasties and cakes.

Also a nice choice of chutneys and jams.

OPENING TIMES

Monday - Closed Tuesday - Wednesday - 10am to 5pm Thursday to Friday - 10am to 6pm Saturday- 9am to 4pm Sunday - 10am to 2pm

CHRISTMAS T R E AT S

CHRISTMAS LARDER A collection of eats and treats from Salisbury and surrounds to whet your appetite

By R AC H E L I FA NS

F Go all gooey over a perfectly ripe Vacherin this Christmas

or many people it starts with the advent calendar. The first purchase of Christmas.

Then it moves on to bits and bobs from Christmas markets, early posting to relatives (‘How much?!’ I just spent £17 spending a tiny parcel to Hong Kong).

Then it’s demented lunch-break dashes, an online delivery that is so big it has to be lowered in by helicopter, ramping up to frenzied panic buying (veering dangerously from, ‘I haven’t bought enough for the kids!’ to, ‘I’ve bought far too much – this is IMMORAL!’), a Supermarket-Sweep style food shop at 6am one morning to beat the crowds and then, only THEN, you get to the good bit. The foodie treats, the fresh bits and bobs, the things that everyone likes the most.

Let us guide you through those last few days as we, in Salisbury and surrounds, are lucky enough to have the pick of the best delis, cheese and fish counters, chocolatiers and wine merchants…  www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 33

cheese rules

W

hether as part of the main meal, an evening snack with Boxing Day leftovers or just as something to constantly graze, a cheeseboard is an important and delicious part of Christmas. While there are no set rules on how to assemble a cheeseboard there are a few guidelines to follow. By far the most important thing is to choose cheese that you like and will enjoy!

Quantity

When to buy

A soft, a hard, a blue and a goat or sheep’s milk cheese will give a good balance, but it is also worth considering something more unusual and luxurious, like the seasonal Vacherin Mont’ D’Or or a

Try to buy the cheese as close as possible to the time you want to eat it. Leave it out of the fridge for around an hour before serving.

a soft, a hard, a blue and a goat or sheep’s cheese will give good balance but it’s worth considering something more unusual too

34 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Generally speaking, larger amounts of fewer cheeses is better.

As a rough guide, three or four different types is good, not only to be able to distinguish flavours but larger pieces keep better, particularly if you are aiming to eat over a few days.

If serving as a supper, allow around 100g per person, for grazing allow around 40-70g per person per sitting.

The Cheese

CHRISTMAS T R E AT S truffle pecorino. Archett and Garne specialises in local and English cheeses, with a few continental additions, and aim to support small, artisan cheesemakers wherever possible. The following cheeses are ones that they love showcasing and would make for a memorable board.

each) from Bruton. It has a well balanced, mellow flavour and creamy texture and looks great on a board with its distinctive maroon wax casing. It comes in 200g or 400g rounds or heart shapes – slice the top off and spoon the cheese out.

THE SOFT

For a creamy and mild goat cheese A&G loves local favourite Rosary (£3.50/100g), made at Landford. Snow white with a fresh flavour and texture, it comes in small pots or logs with or without an ash rind.

An Archett and Garne (A&G) favourite is Tunworth (£8.95). Made in Hampshire, it has been described as: “the best Camembert in the world“ by Raymond Blanc and comes in an attractive wooden box.

THE BLUE

A&G will be serving Bath Blue (£3.50/100g), a fantastic, Stilton style organic cheese and was World Cheese Champion in 2015.

THE HARD

A&G’s family all love Godminster Organic Cheddar (£7.95/£14.95

THE GOAT (OR SHEEP)

SOMETHING SPECIAL

Vacherin Mont D’Or (£12.50/each) is a delicate, velvety, gooey alpine cheese. Only available from October to March, the Vacherin season is eagerly anticipated by cheese lovers. It’s encased in spruce, which imparts a subtle flavour. Absolutely fantastic baked in its box and scooped out with a chunk of Reeve’s sourdough.

PRESENTATION

A wooden board will give a natural look, dark slate will allow the cheese to standout and marble looks elegant and sophisticated.

Slate and marble can, however, be heavy. Try garnishing the board with a few sprigs of fresh herbs from the garden or sliced fruit.

ACCOMPANIMENTS

Chutney always goes down well: spicier, more robust chutneys tend to pair well with blue and milder and sweeter ones go well with cheddars and harder cheeses. Fig relish suits softer cheeses and ewes milk and goats milk cheeses. Quince, damson and gooseberry fruit cheeses are also great accompaniments, balancing sweetness and sharpness.

Grapes, celery, dried fruits, Isle of Wight cherry tomatoes and apples all lend themselves well to a variety of cheeses.

For something a bit different, try an Italian baked fig ball or a tropical fruit press. Honey pairs really well with goat’s cheese – Wiltshire Wildflower honey drizzled over Rosary is just heavenly!

Crusty or sourdough bread are good partners and, of course, there are cheese biscuits. Natural, whole wheat and sourdough crisp breads and biscuits are good for all types and flavoured biscuits and toasts can really enhance the right cheeses.  Gareth from Cambridge Wine in Salisbury guides us through his Christmas Day line-up of favourite wines “Firstly the Paper Road Pinot Noir (Paddy Borthwick Winemaker) at £15.99 per bottle would be my choice of red. It goes really well with turkey. I would recommend the La Pierrelée Chablis at £13.99 as a bit of a festive treat which will also complement the Christmas meal.

I love dessert wine – especially with cheese – and these three would be my top three. Firstly a couple of whites from the area just west of Sauterne – the Château des Tours from Sainte Croix de Mont (£13.99) and the Château de Madere from Cérons (£5.99). They are both sweet and go well with something a bit acidic, so maybe blue, soft cheese.

This M Chapoutier Banyuls sweet red is from southern Rome and goes well with similar cheeses, although I just love it with chocolate or chocolate cake (£16.99).

Finally, you’ll need a digestif so this Armagnac is a nice festive addition. My recommendation is this 10-year-old Baron de Sigognac from Bas Armagnac at £39.

Many thanks to Archett and Garne in Wilton for this fantastic Christmas cheeseboard!

Cambridge Wine in Winchester Street will be open Monday-Saturday up to Christmas. Order in store or on the telephone on 01722 324486 or by email: salisbury@cambridgewine.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 35

CHRISTMAS T R E AT S

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

G

iven the massive mound of ice cream in front of your very eyes, I don’t think we need to signpost that this is the puddings section of our Christmas larder.

The shelves are also stocked with more cheese (you can never have too much and the West Country has so much locally-made treasure to seek out that it’s criminal not to make a star of it), sorbet, chocs and cakes to give a little inspiration beyond the traditional figgy pudding!

Purbeck Ice Cream comes from a farm in the Isle of Purbeck and by jingo they’ve hit the jackpot with this Christmas Pud ice cream.

The icy delight uses chef Paul da Costa Greaves’ award-winning recipe and comes in different sizes – as do appetites! I’m ignoring the 125ml and 200ml tubs and only letting you buy a 2.5lt at RRP £14.15 and the four litre version at £21.55.

Dangerously close to being OTT, we also recommend Purbeck’s Bucks Fizz sorbet, which is brilliant for any celebrations and can be eaten alone or as an accompaniment to something else (although, we feel, this is doing it a disservice).

Now, listen – if any of your family tells you that you can’t have a scoop of each in one bowl, bring out your Joker card. My uncle Peter has NEVER (not ever) had one pudding when multiple are on offer and as soon as you’ve done it a few times, it becomes expected, accepted and even embraced. RRP for a 2 litre tub is £9.40.

CHOCOLATE O’CLOCK

After the meat, the veg, the stuffing, the bread sauce, the… (skip to the end, for goodness sake) comes the puddings, the cheese and then, for those who have endless space and those who have reposed long enough to be able to scoff more, comes coffee and chocolates. No 44 Homeworks on Fisherton Street is stocking a lovely selection of New Forest Chocolates. The honeycomb snaps are fantastic cloaked in dark and milk chocolate (prices from £4).

LET THEM EAT CAKE!

Once Christmas Day is done, a change of pace is necessary to avoid the inevitable slump. We’re not suggesting taking the decorations down and demanding that everyone picks the wrapping paper off the floor. No, just something to keep things fresh – like a nonChristmassy cake from the Cake Forge maybe. You’ll inevitably have a trail of guests in and out of the house in the subsequent days and something like this could be just the thing to ring the changes (and impress the guests and mince pie-refusniks). 

SEEK OUT THE CHEESE Lyburn Cheese, farmhouse cheesemakers in Landford, have a few ideas for Christmas cheeses and where to buy them! The last one particularly – the Garlic and Nettle – is as good as a gift when friends or family are hosting as it is on your own cheeseboard (it’s just that little bit more unusual and adventurous than the others and a bit of a talking point too should the inter-course game of charades turn sour).

Stoney Cross is a young cheese, mould ripened, and comes in a 3kg wheel. Soft buttery and creamy for those that don’t like a strong cheese, eat with a light white wine. You will have to come to the farm shop to buy this one.

Old Winchester, an 18-month-old very hard cheese, that almost looks like a Parmesan, and grates like a Parmesan. Made with a vegetarian rennet, it can be, and is, used by a number of chefs, as a Parmesan replacement, but also has its place on the cheese board.

Eat with a robust red wine. Available at Waitrose cutting counter.

Lyburn Lightly Oak Smoked, is a young 3-month cheese, smoked locally, a week after making. This is not a strong smoke, and for those that like a lot of smoke this may not suit. As they age they go a glorious caramel/brown that just gets deeper the older they are. Find it in the NISA shop on the Downton road.

Garlic and Nettle is for the more adventurous. Again, a young cheese it obviously has garlic and nettle, but also a little horseradish, ginger, and paprika. Makers say: “Flavoured cheeses don’t have the best of reputations as they tend to be re-processed, but with ours we add the ingredients at the time of making so they blend in well.” Find it in the NISA shop on the Downton road.

Lyburn Cheese, Lyburn Rd, Landford, Salisbury SP5 2DN; 01794 390451

36 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

C H RXI S XT XM XX AX S T R E AT S

THE ICY DELIGHT USES CHEF PAUL DA COSTA GREAVES’ AWARDWINNING RECIPE AND COMES IN

DIFFERENT SIZES – AS DO APPETITES!

Top left: Garlic and Nettle cheese from Lyburn, and their lightly oak-smoked cheese below Bottom left: Purbeck’s Buck’s Fizz sorbet This page: Purbeck Christmas Pud ice cream

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 37

CHRISTMAS T R E AT S

BREAD of HEAVEN

F

resh bread is a challenge at Christmas. You can’t buy it until Santa’s already left the North Pole but (and this is a big one) you can’t leave it too late Xxxxxx as there’ll be no good bread left on the shelves and you’ll be up kneading all night long when you should be sleeping/ wrapping/drinking sherry (delete as appropriate). It’s a real dough-lemma (sorry!).

This year you can make it simple by being strategic. Almond croissants for breakfast and sourdough loaves for everything else.

Not forgetting the unforgettable Christmas treats like stollen, panforte, mince pies and more.

RIGHT HERE WE GO...

Reeve the Baker’s sourdough bread made the headlines when chef James Martin used it to make a Christmas present sandwich on TV. A pan bagnat that used the Xmas leftovers in a sarnie, it didn’t need cutlery (a winner as the dishwasher is still working its way through hundreds of baking tins from Xmas lunch!) and it didn’t need cooking (a double winner because, well, it’s obvious).

Anyway. Reeve’s sourdough is gorgeous and costs £3.85 for the large and £2.15 for the small. There’s a multispeed option too. Reeve’s is also our pick for almond croissants. Get down there on 24th, stock up and, bang!, you’ve freed up more time for unwrapping your stocking presents, or at least watching your kids unwrap theirs.

Hendersons does a great range of Christmas delights.

Traditional stollen made as closely as possible to the classic Dresden recipe is an incredibly buttery marzipan treat. And their mince pies use their very own recipe mincemeat, with fresh apple, lemon and orange juice and rum!

Hendersons has also got a couple of surprises up its sleeve: “New for this year we are making a panforte, a classic Italian dessert from Siena made from dried fruits and nuts: very rich and moreish.

We’ve also created our own Christmas jewel bun, which is a brioche bun with angelica, cherries and mixed peel.” 

Perfect sourdough rounds from Reeve the Baker 38 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

19 Oatmeal Row, Salisbury SP1 1TH 01722 341717 Visit us in Salisbury’s Market Square for tasty Christmas treats and our usual range of traditional breads, light lunches and coffees and teas.

A selection of mince pies, with our own mincemeat, Viennese swirls, traditional Stollen and panforte.

Everything we sell is baked freshly every day on the premises, using only organic our and traditional methods with no additives or preservatives.

Follow us on Twitter @hendersonbakes or like us on Facebook

CHRISTMAS T R E AT S

AS FRESH AS IT GETS!

T

hese pages are all about the fresh food you should buy as close to Christmas as possible. We’ve got together with Riverford for the veg and The Fishmongers at Tisbury to see what they would advise for last minute purchases.

For Riverford, Christmas is their busiest time of year.

Founder Guy Watson told us: “We deliver everything needed for a fantastic, ethically-produced meal but at heart we’re veg nerds and, like any other time of year, we Xxxxxx don’t believe in boring boiled veg at Christmas.”

Talking of which, here are two recipes on how to serve veg that shines on the Big Day.

Roast carrots with honey and fennel (Serves 4 as a side) Ingredients

1kg carrots, peeled 2–3 tbsp olive or rapeseed oil 1 1/2 tsp fennel seeds 4 tbsp honey A good pinch of salt

Method

Heat the oven to 200°C. Cut the carrots into long wedges or roll-cut them into angular pieces.

If they are small and slender, leave them whole or cut them in half lengthways. Toss with the oil, fennel seeds, honey and salt. Spread the carrots in a single layer over a roasting pan lined with baking paper. Roast for around 30 minutes until cooked through and caramelising in places – check after 20 minutes and turn over to ensure even roasting. Serve hot or warm.

Variations

• Add a few sprigs of thyme to the roasting tray.

• Swap carrots for beetroot or celeriac – or use a combination of root veg.

• Instead of fennel seeds, try cumin seeds or lightly-bashed coriander seeds.

40 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Roast potatoes with lemon, rosemary and thyme (Serves 6 as a side) Ingredients

1.5kg fairly waxy potatoes (such as Marfona, Orla or Triplo), washed but not peeled, cut into halves or quarters, depending on size 2 lemons, cut into thick slices, plus an extra 1/2 lemon to finish 7–8 garlic cloves, unpeeled, lightly smashed 4 rosemary sprigs 6 thyme sprigs 4 tbsp olive oil salt and black pepper

Method

Heat the oven to 180°C. Put the potatoes into a pan of cold salted water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Drain and let them dry in a colander for a few minutes. Transfer to a roasting pan and scatter over the lemon slices, garlic, rosemary and thyme. Drizzle over the oil and toss together with your hands, making sure each potato is coated in oil. Season well with salt and pepper. Roast for 35–40 minutes, turning everything once or twice, until the lemons are starting to caramelise and the potatoes are golden brown. Squeeze over the extra lemon half, sprinkle with a little more salt and serve immediately. Eat whilst hot.

Variations

Small waxy potatoes such as pink fir apples and Charlottes can be halved lengthways, tossed with oil and salt and roasted from raw at 180°C. Toss the potatoes with a tablespoon of wholegrain mustard before roasting for more of a zing. www.riverford.co.uk/recipes Riverford hampers include organic veg, mince pies, Christmas puddings, cheeses, wine and much more.

There are vegetarian options, plus Boxing Day and gift hamper boxes; www.riverford.co.uk or 01803 227227

THE FISHMONGERS AT TISBURY With over 20 years experience as a fishmonger, Ashley knows what is good on his fresh fish counter at Christmas. Pop in and ask for advice – they will be open until Christmas Eve (weather permitting). They will have plenty of smoked salmon, pâtés, and prawns available, and if you want to lay on a seafood feast you’ll need to order your lobster, oysters, platters and poached salmon. www.thefishmongers.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 41

THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF TILES IN SALISBURY

OPENING HOURS Mon - Fri 07.30-17.00 Sat 09.00–17.00

www.salisburytilestore.net Salisbury Tile Store, Unit 2 Faraday Centre, Faraday Road, Salisbury SP2 7NR Also at: Unit 5, The Enterprise Centre, William Road, Nursteed, Devizes SN10 3EW

01722 325306

salisburytilestore@hotmail.co.uk

Carpet Centre

Amtico, Karndean, Sisals, Jute, Seagrass, Vinyl Flooring, Wood Floors, Laminates All at special prices, see in store for details

01722 421 671

147-151 Fisherton Street, Salisbury. Off St Pauls roundabout

Quality roll ends now in stock Wool twists 6x5 was £750 NOW £399 Wool Twists from £8.95sqm was £17.95 Special prices on all Kardean products

Typical 3 bedroom house Lounge, hallways and bedrooms was £2700 NOW £1350

Won’t be beaten on price • Measuring and estimating All our own fitting teams (NVQ qualified)

Fashion/gifts/stores/more

ON PLANET NEPTUNE Wilton Kitchen and Design feel like the cat who got the proverbial cream and who wouldn’t, frankly? It is now proud host to a new showroom selling Neptune hand-crafted kitchens that come with a lifetime guarantee.

And you know what that means? So assured are the makers of Neptune that their design and products are the absolute crème de la crème that they are willing to keep in touch for a lifetime should you need ever them. They’re also pretty proud of their installers who are – in the words of Neptune – “experienced carpenters who’ve taken an in-depth training course at our Wiltshire headquarters learning how best to work with our fully-framed solid timber cabinets so that their installation is skillfully carried out”.

The new store offers a personal design service for kitchens and it also stocks Neptune furniture, lighting and accessories for the kitchen, living, dining, boot and laundry rooms. Austin from

Neptune by Wilton Kitchens says: “Neptune cabinetry and furniture is so beautifully made, I have no doubt it will become collectible. If we don’t stock a particular Neptune item, we will order it instantly. We want each customer who comes in to be delighted every time.”

Neptune’s roots are in trees, of course, using timber as their main material. But their metaphorical roots are in the ’90s in a farm workshop in Wiltshire with a small team of “very dedicated (and dusty) individuals”. Not just dedicated and dusty but also thoroughly decent as they genuinely put great importance in a good service team, guarantees and aftercare products.

Neptune by Wilton Kitchens, 1 Silver Street, Wilton, SP2 0HX; 01722 743332; www.neptunebywiltonkitchens.com Open Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 43

enter the aladdin’s cave Crockery, kettles, can openers, cookers. Sieves, shape cutters, spoons, salt pigs. Dinghams in Salisbury is a magical mix of family effort, eager staff, interesting stock and enthusiasm

D

inghams are embracing the flurry of activity in the build up to Christmas: “Saturdays in the run-up are such good fun. It’s busy in the shop and there is such a buzz. There are also fewer deliveries so staff have much more time to do what they love – talking to customers!”

It’s obvious when you meet Sarah Hardingham and the team at Dinghams Cookshop in Salisbury’s Market Place that they have a genuine passion for this business.

They’re not exaggerating when they say they like to spend time with customers because – Sarah believes – this sets them apart from larger shops. “Our staff have been here for a long time – around 10 years or more on average – so they know their stuff. We have staff at the front of the shop, in the middle and upstairs and we try to ensure there is always someone on hand to answer customers’ questions.”

Take, for instance, the seemingly neverending wall of gadgets and it’s little wonder 44 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

customers have questions. “Inevitably, people need help and it’s only when they are shown the product they’ve been looking for, when they see how well something works or when they taste the coffee from one of the machines we sell that we feel we have done our job.”

Dinghams, if you haven’t yet visited, is something of an Aladdin’s cave. With numerous rooms rubbing up against and on top of each other, it sits looking out on the square, a site it has occupied for 15 years. Sarah loves the opportunities the luxury of space provides.

“We stock many quality brands like Emma Bridgewater, Dualit, KitchenAid, Le Creuset, Nespresso and Joseph Joseph but the joy of a shop this size is that we can also sell unexpected items – stag’s heads, door knobs, funny mugs, fridge magnets. We have the space to experiment.” Not sure they’ve stocked a genie’s lamp yet, but it could only be a matter of time…

It also means they can react quickly to customers’ wants and needs, sometimes rushing to stock a piece of equipment shown on a TV show and sometimes getting it wrong altogether.

Above left: Dinghams also sells fireplaces in Salisbury and Winchester Below: Sarah Hardingham and her mum The rest: A tiny part of Dinghams’ stock

SPECIAL SHOPS

SHOPPING

NOT SURE THEY’VE STOCKED A GENIE’S LAMP YET, BUT IT COULD ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME…

Sarah blushes: “From time to time I might get an order wrong and end up with something I didn’t mean to. I think to myself, ‘That’s disgusting – it will never sell’ and then, sure as eggs, it flies of the shelves!”

Sarah Hardingham is one of five siblings, four of whom work in the family business. “My mum and dad moved to the area from South Africa 34 years ago, having been farmers in the Natal national park in the Drakensberg Mountains.” They set up a business selling South African Jetmaster fires in Salisbury at first and then expanded to encompass a cookshop too.

“Mum still works and my three brothers run the fireplace business and manage the admin of the branches here and in Winchester. Having such a traditional family business is rare in the UK and it would never have happened had we stayed in South Africa,” says Sarah.

Having been here so long I imagine the shop has a lot of loyal regulars. “You sometimes don’t realise just how many regulars you have until you make a change. When we moved our till to its new position after 15 years on the other side of the shop, everyone was commenting on it for weeks – it was then that we knew how much we value our loyal repeat customers!”

Dinghams Cookware, 28 Market Place, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 1TL; www.dinghams.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 45

Get spotted this Christmas with a whiter smile It’s easier than you think

info@thedentistsalisbury.co.uk www.thedentistsalisbury.co.uk

01722 413513

...not your average dentist

Sienna Taye Hairdressing is an independent hair salon in the heart of Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Set within a grade two listed building this salon is bursting with character & charm.

The team offer a bespoke service to suit your individual needs.

To find out more about the Salon Team & Services please visit our website SiennaTaye.co.uk or find us on Facebook.

Tel: 01722 333440

|

21,Winchester Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP11HB

H E A LT H A N D BEAUTY

CLASS COACH SUE’S SUCCESS Sue Gambleton is 60 and first contacted Erak when she hit 11 stone last spring. She suffers from rheumatoid arthritis so that was the main reason for losing weight, to ease pressure on the joints, but – in her words – she also hated the way she looked.

Sue is now down to 8st 11llbs (just a couple off her target), feels in control of her weight and thinks that having Erak as her coach is a way of life for her now.

Probing that, what has Erak taught that has become key to her weight-loss success? “He has coached me through failure. Before, if I had a bad weekend while on a diet, I would think I’d ruined it and give up altogether. Erak has helped me see that that isn’t true. Also, he has exploded the myth that older ladies cannot lose weight by saying it’s just middle-aged spread or that a slower metabolism prevents weight loss. It’s rubbish!”

Erak Simsson from Coach Me Slim and Trim brings a new dimension to weight loss – it’s tried and tested and it works!

E

rak Simsson loves his job.

“The really cool thing is that all the people who come to us have the skills they need already,” Erak, personal trainer, owner and founder of Salisbury’s Coach Me Slim and Trim gym says. “Myself and Ben are not gurus sitting on high – we just have a way of doing things and working with clients so that, if they’re open to it, they can lose weight successfully and stay in a healthy weight range long term.”

It becomes clear quickly on talking to Erak that dieting is complex because people are complex. Many clients have been struggling with their weight for ages when they come to Erak – 10 years, 20 years, a lifetime – and almost without exception the weight gain and subsequent weight loss is a tangle of emotional and psychological issues.

HE HAS EXPLODED THE MYTH THAT OLDER LADIES CANNOT LOSE MIDDLE AGE SPREAD It’s a wellresearched and documented fact that people underestimate how much they eat and overestimate how much they exercise.

Erak’s gym combines diet and exercise with coaching to help people lose weight and maintain their weight loss

Allie Bonczoszek, 41, says: “Having just hit my forties, and coming from a family with weight and related health issues, I knew I had to do something to look after myself. I got in touch with Erak and despite my misgivings (I hadn’t done any regular exercise for quite some time!), he put me straight onto an intensive VIPER programme; five mornings a week for three months at a time. Tough, but not as bad as you would think once I got used to it. Six months on I completed a 100km Ultra-Challenge (that’s 62 miles non-stop) and I am looking to tackle another one in Morocco next year.”

Although each client receives a tailored plan and individual attention when they join

the Coach Me Slim and Trim gym in Castle Street – after all, everyone has different goals and these are key to success – there are generalities for all dieters.

Erak explains: “What’s general to everyone is the period of denial people go through when they are not accepting they are overweight. This is followed by a period of awareness, by which I mean the need to lose weight is at the forefront of their mind but they are not necessarily doing anything about it. And then there is the realistic stage – where clients come in prepared to be a bit vulnerable. They may say ‘I’m great at my job, I’m a high flyer, my home life is great but my weight is something at which I’m currently failing.’”

The Coach Me Slim and Trim gym seems to help people achieve a sustainable approach to health, diet and exercise. Erak says: “It’s about getting these people back to a place where they are in control and accepting of themselves.”

The programme is split into three parts – firstly weight loss, then maintenance and finally showing clients how to push their fitness goals a bit further – but it inevitably becomes more than just a ‘programme’ for people. Many of Erak’s clients – both men and women – have achieved goals they never thought possible and have been on emotional journeys that have become turning points in their lives, the key unlocked to physical challenges like scaling Kilimanjaro, doing a midnight marathon walk, running a 10K, entering a body-building competition, or reducing daily medications from 30 to six!

For more: Erak is holding a free talk in January for busy, professional women in Salisbury who want to kick-start a new regime.

Title: How to Lose Weight Without Willpower Where: At Coach Me Slim & Trim – Private Gym 2nd Floor, 29a Castle Street, Salisbury When: Saturday 7 January, 12pm – 1.15pm Tickets: www.cmstrim.co.uk/talk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 47

MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION (MBSR)

Free talk

Sarum College, Salisbury Close SP1 2EE • 25 January - 22 March (9 Wednesday evenings 7-9pm) • cost £225

How to Lose Weight Without Willpower

A structured course in Mindfulness Meditation practice, as formulated by Jon Kabat-Zinn, with highly experienced tutor Hilary Armstrong.

A life-changing training in dealing with stress, difficulty or change, and restoring balance and fulfilment in one’s life.

with Erak Simsson Weight Loss Expert

No more:

“brilliant teaching” “your classes have been a life-enhancing experience for me” “It has given me insight into a different way of being”

“If I can do it, anybody can.”

Sue, 52 Lost 5st 1lb

For details/bookings: wvwellbeing@gmail.com

Just the results you want!

Av Lim ai ite la d bi lit y

• Failed Diets • Beating yourself up • Confusion about exercise

To book your place call 01980 595 502 or visit: cmstrim.co.uk/talk 29a Castle Steet, Salisbury. Call 01980 595 502

H E A LT H A N D BEAUTY

INFO Olaplex Spa treatment costs £40 in the salon and the optional take-home third step is £35. The treatment will last for around four months although the bottle you take home might last for six months on shorter hair. If you have it done at the same time as your colour, Olaplex costs an additional £25.

Charlotte Churchill also specialises in colour melts – with a freehand painting technique, the effect is very natural, with beautiful tones of light and shades in any length of hair.

Olaplex is available at Charlotte Churchill and is a new repair treatment for all hair types

HAIR REPAIR An Olaplex treatment at this busy Salisbury salon repaired so much more than just my hair bonds. An experience akin to a desert island of loveliness in the choppy sea of life

By R AC H E L I FA NS

B

rrrring! Barely have I opened my eyes than the sleep app on my phone is admonishing me for the sub-optimal night’s sleep I have just had.

Apparently, the time I spent in bed was far too short, the hours of light sleep far outstripping their deeper rivals, meaning I achieved an overall score of 47% sleep quality. (Honestly, everyone’s a critic these days, right? Why not just put FAILURE on the phone screen and just be done with it?).

And just as the holier-than-thou sleep icon dims and slips back into the shadows, up pops the perky calendar app, not once, not

I EXPLAINED THAT – WITH MY DAUGHTER AIMING A GUN AT MY HEAD – I AM GROWING MY HAIR

twice but SIX times. Bing, bing, look at me!

I’m your day ahead!

‘Say it ain’t so’, I groan to myself, as the reality of the day dawns. Three meetings back to back in the morning, plus three more in the afternoon but there, perfectly squished in the middle, lies an hour and a half of bliss, a desert island of loveliness: a hair appointment with Charlotte Churchill.

I spoke to Charlotte when booking. I explained that – with my daughter aiming a gun at my head – I am growing my hair. (“Everyone else’s mummy has long hair and you’ve NEVER had long hair!” – see, the critics again?). It’s now bob length and longer than it’s been for a decade, but it needs something. Not a cut or a colour but a fluff-up of some kind as I’m teetering on the brink of giving up the growing and risking disappointing my daughter for the rest of her life.

Charlotte immediately suggests a new treatment called Olaplex. It’s essentially a hair repair system fresh from the States, which works equally well on all hair types.

“This will work so well on your hair,”

enthuses Charlotte. “It will speed up hair growth as well as stopping any breakage due to the colouring you’ve had. It will make your hair feel so strong and, unlike traditional conditioning treatments, the effects last for months.”

And – more to the point – it takes an hour to do, so, taking into account the pampering, the comfy seat, the peace and quiet, the filter coffee… I’m in!

My Olaplex treatment was done by Chloe and it was a three-stage process. I’m not that advanced in my understanding of hair science, so bear with me if any budding Toni or Guys are reading this.

The first stage uses Bond Multiplier to rebuild damaged disulfide bonds. The lotion is applied to wet hair and left on for 10 minutes. The second step uses Bond Perfector to do more of the same (and, in fact, at Charlotte Churchill they repeat this step to be extra sure), again each application is left on for 10 minutes. Finally, the hair is washed and conditioned as normal. The third step is optional and continues the treatment at home, lengthening the life of its results. Buy a step-three solution to take home and apply once a month (the bottle should last quite a few months, maybe six – I’ll let you know).

Well, after a really good blowdry by Carly, my hair did indeed feel stronger, more bouncy and less damaged on the ends. And I felt human again! A few days later, it still looks good, so I’m a convert to regular treatments to keep hair healthy.

You can have an Olaplex treatment as a standalone appointment – like I did – or it can be added when doing your usual colour. It lasts for a few months so it makes complete sense to combine with regular colour treatments.

For more: charlottechurchill.co.uk; 01722 403091; 165, Fisherton Street; Salisbury; SP2 7RP

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 49

Adventures in party-going

SNAPPED! AC ROS S S A L IS B U RY, O N E S H I N D I G AT A T I M E

BY ‘ROYAL’ APPOINTMENT

L-R; Alexa Quinn, Stephanie Longhurst, Paul Guymer, Stephanie Widdup, Jack Allum, Ivonna Poplanska, Jason Allum (MD), Kate Middleton & Prince William played by Heidi & Simon, Paul Lewis (Store Manager), Abi Stradling, Zoe Dyball and Chloe Welling

Having had a jewellery store in Salisbury for over 40 years, Allum & Sidaway upped sticks and relocated across the Market Square in November to settle in their new home in Minster Street.

To mark the opening of the new store, on 19 November shoppers were treated to an altogether ‘royal’ experience, greeted by professional lookalikes of Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as a prize draw, magician, bubbly & canapés.

The new store offers two floors showcasing fine jewellery, a brand boutique, bridal lounge, watch gallery and prosecco bar. Expanding their brand offering, new fashion collections include Alex Monroe, Swarovski and ChloBo along with watches from Elliot Brown, Ball, Frederique Constant & Seiko.

Store manager Paul Lewis

Paul Guymer plays host to ‘royals’

50 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Jason Allum and Ivonna Poplanska and guests

SOCIETY

GOING DOWN MEXICO WAY It’s all about shop openings this issue and The Long Room is the second one to feature – a pop-up shop in Tisbury from Montes & Clark.

Montes & Clark is a partnership between two friends; Lucy Montes de Oca and Kate Clark. They work with an amazing women-run cooperative in Chiapas, Mexico to create woven cloth made on a backstrap loom. They buy stunning hand embroidered fabric from women living in the mountains of central Mexico and turn this into modern artisanal pieces for the home in our workshop in Wiltshire, England.

What a fantastic project!

The pop-up shop will stay open until Christmas.

The colourful store welcomed shoppers on launch day on 27 November

Co-owner Kate Clark

Thank you for all your support during 2016 Get your free Canine Care Card and have complete peace of mind. It will guarantee that Dogs Trust will look after your dog if you pass away first.

Apply now for your FREE card

Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity with 20 rehoming centres nationwide and they never put down a healthy dog.

This service is currently only available for residents of the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands & the Isle of Man. All information will be treated as strictly confidential.

For more information call Lucy Hooper on 01980 629853 or email lucy.hooper@dogstrust.org.uk Dogs Trust Salisbury, 45 Amesbury Road, Newton Tony, Wiltshire SP4 0HW Registered Charity Numbers: 227523 & SC037843

Shake-ups/launches/intel/promotions

S A L IS B U RY G E T S S ER I O US

Keith Steggall, from Stonehenge Landscape sewing seeds

The new grassland will attract new wildlife

HERITAGE

NATIONAL TRUST SOWS SEEDS OF STONEHENGE CONSERVATION As Stonehenge celebrates 30 years on the World Heritage List, National Trust volunteers and staff are sowing seeds by hand in one of Europe’s largest grassland reversion project to help restore the chalk grassland landscape Since 2000, the National Trust has been working tirelessly to restore the Stonehenge landscape by sowing seeds from nearby Salisbury Plain by machine as well as by hand and working with tenant farmers to graze the land.

Keith Steggall, National Trust Area Ranger for the Stonehenge Landscape says: “The locally-sourced seeds will help to restore the chalk grassland landscape our ancestors would have known at the time of Stonehenge.

In recent years the land was farmed to grow crops, but by harvesting and sowing the seeds and working with our tenant farmers to manage the land through grazing, we are succeeding in both protecting the historic monuments and bringing back the grassland landscape.”

Since the grassland reversion project started, the Trust and its team of volunteers have seen some major

improvements. These include the first sighting of an Adonis Blue butterfly in 2008, the establishment of a grassland species Sainfoin and the sound of Skylarks registered in large numbers in 2002.

Keith continues: “The chalk grassland landscape took thousands of years to develop and so it will take decades for it to completely recover and so we will continue to graze the land and bring in more seeds.” It’s having a positive effect. “We’ve managed to attract many species of insects, birds and mammals, including key species such as the Marbled White butterfly, brown hare and birds such as the Skylark and Meadow Pipit – and things are only going to improve over time.” www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stonehenge-landscape

QUOTE OF THE ISSUE

“WHEN ANYONE IS STRESSED I GIVE THEM A HUG” Jamie Adams, page 57

30 THE BIG NUMBER

Years that Stonehenge has been a World Heritage site

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 53

Introducing Hector Remember Training is for Life, not Just Christmas Give the Gift of Knowledge One to One, Small Groups, Business Training

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BUSINESS INSIDER Robert Tandy is an extremely skilled and experienced restorer of classic cars

What are the highs and lows you have experienced?

The lows come when I’m not able to deliver for whatever reason. Whether it’s elusive parts or a tricky process that slow the job down, I always find it frustrating. Unless you strip the car completely before providing the client with an estimate, there is always an element of doubt as to what you really need to do, and that is also a part of the job that I find difficult to negotiate.

The highs are watching somebody drive off in a car that had arrived at my place in bits and pieces on the back of a trailer. It’s knowing that they are going to enjoy themselves, driving around in their classic car on warm summer days and evenings.

What have you found to be the best tools for growth in your business?

I am old school here. I believe you need to get out there and show people what you actually do and the processes you use. I am not a big internet fan even though my daughters keep telling me to embrace it – it’s the way of the future, they say!

BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO CARS

GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING...

Robert Tandy, who worked at the Morris Minor Centre in Bath for over 30 years, now has his own classic car restoration business in Salisbury Are you Salisbury born and bred?

No, actually, I was born in Bath and I still live there.

Having worked for the world-famous Morris Minor centre for 31 years, I decided to leave and start a business venture with somebody from the Salisbury area so that’s why Bodytech Restoration is located where it is. Rather like with marriages, some business relationships work and some don’t and I have become the sole owner of BR now.

How does an average day unfold at work?

There isn’t really an average day. For instance I’m currently rushing to get a car restored in double-quick time. It’s a wonderful old Morris convertible that has been on the cards since April but the client only recently decided to get it done in time for his wife’s birthday present!

What are the main challenges involved in your role?

Working on older cars means that the parts I need are not always that easy to source. The internet, of course, makes this process a little bit easier.

I AM OLD SCHOOL HERE. I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO GET OUT THERE AND SHOW PEOPLE WHAT YOU ACTUALLY DO AND THE PROCESSES YOU USE

Tell us about a memorable moment with a client?

Having done an exterior restoration project on a Vauxhall Cresta, the customer took it to a large classic car show at Shepton Mallet Showground and he came away with the overall Runner’s Up prize. Amazingly, it was only the fact that he hadn’t got the engine bay restored that stopped him winning ‘best car of the show’. An incredible feat!

If you could go back 10 years, what business advice would you give yourself?

Don’t leave it so late to start your own business.

What would you say is your most effective work stress-busting technique?

I don’t really need them! I’m a very laid-back person – in fact, I’ve been told so many times that if I didn’t wear boots I would fall over!

What are your plans for the future? Where do you see the business in 10 years?

To be honest I’m just going to carry on doing what I’m doing. I love it and when you enjoy something there’s no need to change. I might get into buying and selling classic cars sometime in the future but that’s very much in the pipeline at the moment.

What do you like most about living and working in the Salisbury area?

I am currently living in Bath, but maybe when my daughters flee the nest myself and my wife Gail might consider a move towards Salisbury. We’ve always thought that Teffont seems a nice little village. bodytechrestoration.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I SALISBURY LIFE I 55

BUSINESS INSIDER built or renovated home with a proud (and often emotional) customer knowing our part has been the finishing touch! The lows are the typical ones small local businesses face whereby you really do feel as though there aren’t enough hours in the day to keep on top of the chores let alone have time for planning, marketing etc!

What have you found to be the best tools for growth in your business?

Most of our growth comes from existing customers being really happy with what we do and recommending us to their friends and family – we often get told that not one or two but three of their friends recommended us so they felt they couldn’t go elsewhere!

HE’S GOT IT ALL COVERED

RED-CARPET TREATMENT High-quality service is key to Jamie Adams, owner of Salisbury Carpet Company in Fisherton Street.

He knows the growth of his business depends on his reputation in the local community Are you Salisbury born and bred ?

Yes and no. I was born at Odstock hospital but soon after we moved to Braunton in North Devon as my mum wanted to live by the sea. By the time I was 7 she realised that there was little work there so we moved back to Salisbury. I stayed in Salisbury until my early 20s when I made the break for the big city to study interior design before embarking on my first property renovation project. In 1998 I decided to set up a property development company with a builder friend and I moved back to Salisbury.

How does an average day unfold at work?

It sounds like a cliché but every day is different! I usually start my day having a coffee and a briefing with my fitting teams about their day’s jobs and I help them measure and load up before they go on their way. Next, I either go to a customer measure or to the shop where I catch up with the day’s measures, products to order, quotations, invoices and the usual day-to-day duties of running a local business.

What are the main challenges involved in your role as owner of the business?

One of the main challenges is the varied skillsets required: one minute I am discussing complex fitting plans and sub floor preparation with my fitting teams, the next I am in the showroom talking to a customer about styles, textures, colours and the suitability of a particular type of carpet, then I get a call from a delivery driver needing my assistance unloading a 300kg carpet roll, then on a dusty site going through plans with a local builder – incredible variety but I have to say I love that!

What are the highs and lows that you have experienced in your career?

The highs are many – I love walking around a recently

Jamie Adams lives on the edge of town with his wife, two of their children and Diego the dog

Your proudest business triumph?

In my previous career as a property developer I was pleased to be given a Heritage Award for Interior Design and Landscape Design on one of my new-build projects.

More recently, I was super proud of my team when we won the local business accelerator award sponsored by SpireFM and Salisbury Journal. The award meant lots of local promotion and the opportunity to be mentored by another business owner.

A memorable moment with a client?

Too many to mention, but one from a few years ago was having homemade Dorset apple cake at the kitchen table with the Bishop of Salisbury’s wife, Helen, while we were carpeting the South Canonry at the final stage of its major refurbishment programme.

What is your most effective, work stress busting technique?

As the boss I feel it is up to me to always keep a positive attitude. When anyone in the team is stressed I find the best remedy is to have a good laugh or to give them a hug, one of those remedies tend to do the trick!

WHEN ANYONE IN THE TEAM IS STRESSED I FIND THE BEST REMEDY IS TO HAVE A GOOD LAUGH OR GIVE THEM A HUG

What are your plans for the future? Where do you see the business in five years?

We are constantly improving our showroom and the fitting experience. When I look back I see that every year we have made massive strides forward but I don’t think you ever get to the point where you think, ‘That’s it’! I am excited to see how our business looks and how well regarded locally we are as the years move forward.

What do you like most about living and working in Salisbury?

I love the indie vibe here. Being in the centre of Fisherton Street we are surrounded by local independent businesses, which gives a real feeling of camaraderie. I am so chuffed at the level of support the local community gives us – almost weekly we get customers telling us they have come to us as opposed to a big national as they know we will give them a real level of service.

Salisbury is a great city, particularly for families. I love the fact that it is quite small and everyone seems to know each other. By giving great service the community act as our messengers – so, thank you!

www.salisburycarpetcompany.com

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BUSINESS INSIDER

NEWS STORIES Our pick of the most exciting, intriguing or important local business stories happening right now

Amber Rawlings helps walk a donkey through its paces in a rehearsal for the family service

A still of the homemade title sequence

A HAPPY VLOGMAS! Salisbury Cathedral is producing a ‘Vlogmas’: a video advent calendar, published daily until 25 December and it’s going great guns on social media.

The films feature behind-the-scenes footage of what it takes to make Christmas at the Cathedral happen including 10 foot-high puppets, naughty choristers, access to hidden spaces and even a donkey in the cathedral… plus a few gaffes, some dodgy focus and some camera wobble!

Please help spread the word by sharing posts on the Cathedral’s Facebook and Twitter accounts: www.twitter.com/salisburycath www.facebook.com/salisburycathedral #Vlogmas #MakingChristmas #AChristmasintheMaking

Behind-the-scenes footage of the choristers in full flow!

CAFÉ DIWALI SCOOPS CURRY AWARD Muhammed Rasheed and Bartkath Ali Khan from Café Diwali in Salisbury recently won a highly commended in the Best Casual Dining Restaurant in the South West category at the Asian Curry Awards 2016, which were held in the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The Asian Curry Awards were presented by TV newsreader Kate Silverton with former Sky TV news anchor Samantha Simmonds as co-host. The awards recognise the best in the industry, encouraging ever higher standards and inspiring the next generation of chefs and restaurateurs. cafediwali.com

L-R: Muhammed Rasheed, Yawar Khan (Chairman of the Asian Curry Awards) and Bartkath Ali Khan

58 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Sheila Suresh with the award

VISITORS FLOCK TO SALISBURY THIS CHRISTMAS Thanks to the efforts of many, Salisbury Business Improvement District (BID) is reporting that the city has been a very busy place this Christmas.

Locals and visitors to the city have been supplied with maps provided by the Christmas Market showing them how to get around the city; early indications are that this initiative has been very successful. Hundreds of coaches have come to the city from as far afield as Oxford, Birmingham and Burnham on Sea. The opening night, which was dry and crisp, attracted the largest number of people in one evening since the market started five years ago, and early visitor numbers were high according to Steve Godwin at Salisbury BID. This was thanks, in part, to many new chalet holders with a mix of different product ranges and a varied entertainment programme.

Steve says: “This year the BID also invested in a promotional campaign. We have targeted over 70,000 people outside the city with an informative Christmas card, inviting them to visit our city.”

PHOTO ©SPENCER MULHOLLAND PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO ©SPENCER MULHOLLAND PHOTOGRAPHY

The Christmas Market: the shopping map and entertainment have all proved popular this year

A busy time but fun for stallholders

There’s been a variety of entertainment to enjoy in the city this year

Both locals and visitors to the city have enjoyed the build-up to Christmas

salisburybid.co.uk

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIPSEYS! Shipseys is celebrating 90 years of business this year. The company, which provides marquees and equipment for events as well as offering catering services, is a family run business founded in 1926.

Shipseys is led by Rod and his son Tim. Rod says of the company’s longevity: “The strong bond that we develop with our customers has led to Shipseys being used by

the same families for a variety of different events over the years, which makes our work even more rewarding. Additionally, we are proud of our strong links with several organisations in the area.”

Shipseys celebrated its 90th anniversary with a party on 8 December for current and ex-members of staff and many valued local clients at The Refectory at Salisbury

Cathedral. Our selection of photos will follow in Salisbury Life next issue! www.shipseys.co.uk

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PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

IN A HUF

62 LIFE I I www.mediaclash.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk 112I I SALISBURY CLIFTON LIFE

SHOWCASE

PROPERTY

This German-made flatpack is a rare find. A wood-framed, glasswalled, eco-sound, ideally placed haven of high quality

By L I LY BR E N D ON

IT FEELS

LIKE YOU’RE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, A COUNTRY WITH A LOT MORE SPACE TO PLAY WITH

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PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

I

f you’re in the know, these pages will be screaming ‘Huf Haus’ at you, synonymous as the brand is with timber-framed, glass-clad beauties like Avon Place. But if architraves, balustrades and cornices are more your ABC of architecture, you may need a bit of background here.

Huf Haus is a phenomenally successful brand from Germany that manufactures prefabricated houses.

Prefabs – or flatpacks as they have also been called – are manufactured off-site, usually in standard sections that are easy to ship and assemble. Huf Hauses (now that’s a bastardisation of the German word for house but, hey, I’m running with it) are in the Bauhaus Fachwerk (or frame house) tradition. And while it sounds like the houses come in standard pre-determined shapes and sizes, you can actually design your own Huf floorplan. Hufs major on wood and glass or materials and can be built as zero energy homes.

So to this particular Huf Haus. Avon Place was plonked fortuitously on the banks of the River Avon, and the combination of elevated position, far-reaching views, water and a load of glass weighing roughly the same as a country the size of Wales is something of a perfect storm.

It feels like you’re in another country, a country with a lot more space to play with. The views create space, as do the glass walls and the mere four garages on the driveway just add to that deep-breath-and-exhale sensation.

Open-plan living is a good way to describe the inside of Avon Place. A large lounge runs from the reception hall, oozes out to the kitchen and breakfast room and puffs up to mezzanine spaces on the upper floor. Real treats await in the snooker room and home cinema and there are six bedrooms and six bathrooms on offer too.

This house plays with its borders: blurring inside and outside with glass and bags of balconies, and it’s just fantastic. The gardens extend to about one acre with flat 64 I SALISBURY LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

It’s the glass we love... and the timber too

HOUSE NUMBERS

6

bedrooms

6

bathrooms

£2,995,000 price

1

Games/snooker room

1

Cinema

1

Distant views

lawns and mature bushes as well as a secluded deck on the bank of the river. Avon Place is actually part of the residential estate of Avon Castle, which is also home to other high-quality, modern dwellings and it’s only two miles from the market town of Ringwood with good transport links in all directions.

It’s unlikely, but if you should tire of your riverside view – heaven forbid – Avon Place is on the edge of the New Forest, with open moor, heath and woodland for walking, riding, cycling and more. And, of course, it’s only a few miles to the beach.

Hamptons International, 72 High Street, Winchester, SO23 9DA; 01962 920 016; www.hamptons.co.uk

SHOWCASE

PROPERTY

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S A L I S B U RY L I V E S

W

Q&A

e managed to catch Amanda just before she dashed off to host a ‘pitch up and play ladies’ rugby event at the rugby club. Inspiring!

Are you a local gal?

Alas, no, but I have been in Salisbury for the past 12 years now and it does feel like home to me. I feel very passionate about this city and I consider myself almost local.

Tell us about your family I have one brother who I used to work with before I moved here from Surrey. The family unit in Salisbury, though, is my partner, Fi, who works as a guard on South West Trains – she makes sure I stay on track!

– and our two dogs, Hector the Staffie and Archie the Jack Russell.

What do you do for a living?

I have my own company, Hector Merrywheather.

We offer training and admin support for companies.

I love acting as a conduit for other people and making people think about their businesses in a different way.

What are your main ambitions in life?

To feel that I have had a positive impact through my personal and professional life, and that I make a difference to our community. I also aim to enjoy a pleasant, peaceful and relaxing lifestyle after a busy day at work.

What’s your life motto?

I have two. The first is: ‘Life is not a rehearsal’ and the second is: ‘It’s only a problem if you make it a problem’!

Who is your biggest inspiration?

Again, I have a couple. One you will have heard of – Steve Jobs – and it’s because he had a vision and just kept going.

Also, and this one is a bit more personal to me, I had a great teacher in Leeds. He just gave 100% and inspired others to do the same. He taught that you have to be honest with yourself, work hard and treat others as you would like to be treated.

AMANDA FOSTER Amanda Foster, Director of Ladies Rugby at Salisbury Rugby Club is set on building a thriving environment so that our local women and girls can play and enjoy the sport Tell us about your role in Ladies Rugby As Director of Ladies Rugby I was a bit surprised when I saw the job description – it’s basically to make sure that everything is in place so people can play, specifically the girls and the ladies. I need to make them feel that they are part of the family by focussing on the ‘one club’ philosophy.

What does it involve?

I make sure the girls and ladies have a voice at a high level in the club. I ensure people in the wider community are aware of Salisbury Rugby Club and the facilities that we have for girls and ladies here. I oversee adherence to the rules set by the RFU (Rugby Football Union) and I encourage our coaches to deliver varied training for the players.

How is the state of women’s rugby generally?

It’s pretty good! Let’s face it, the ladies’ teams in most sports have done better than the guys recently and, with great coverage of the Olympics and World Cups, the audiences are getting bigger too!

The RFU has plans to take the game out to some 100,000 ladies to encourage more females to play rugby, whatever background or experience.

Salisbury Rugby Club girls (and an interloper or two!)

How can people get involved?

Please do call the club and come on down! Or follow us on Facebook. Geoff Wilman coaches the girls’ team and he’s done such an awesome job that he now has players playing at county level. Lilly Oliver and Anais Wilman are both now in the Dorset and Wiltshire U15s squad, which is a fantastic achievement. The girls train on a Sunday morning and the ladies on Tuesday evenings.

Do you like a scrum down yourself, then?

Despite being given a rugby ball and a pair of lace socks for my fifth birthday, no. I have always said I am not a player or an expert, but I do have the passion to drive this project forward and be part of building a great club for girls and ladies with opportunities to progress and develop.

What do you think of Salisbury as a place to live and work?

It’s wonderful! Walking to work and seeing the cathedral everyday is inspiring. We are also blessed with a fabulous theatre, lovely restaurants and strong rugby, football, cricket and hockey teams, all reflecting our great community.

When was the last time you cried?

Last week after attending a fabulous yoga and mindfulness day with Brett Moran.

What is your biggest weakness?

Not saying no to new projects! Also, Fi would say I’m untidy.

What is your most prized possession?

I most value personal freedom and power of choice in being able to live with my partner. Mind you, a close second would be my shotgun! Clay pigeon shooting is my hobby but I need more practice.

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