Edge Magazine August 2015 Edition (Volume 35) by MLP Publishing Ltd

Edge Magazine August 2015

(Volume 35) FREE EDITION

Warwickshire, Worcestershire, West Midlands and North Cotswolds

Food & Drink | Culture | Business | Fashion | Lifestyle

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, >W/E' zKh Ͳ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ ĂƐ ƚŽ ǁŚǇ ǇŽƵ ǁŽƵůĚ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐ ǇŽƵƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ Žƌ ĐŚŝůĚ ƌĞůĂƚĞĚ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ ǁŝƚŚ ǇŽƵƌ ƐŽůŝĐŝƚŽƌ͘ tĞ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ĐŽŶĨƵƐŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌĞƐƐĨƵů ƚŚŝƐ ĐĂŶ ďĞ͘ tĞ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞ ƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƌĞƐŽůǀĞ ǇŽƵƌ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ ĂƐ ĐŽƐƚͲ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞůǇ ĂƐ ƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ͘

ǁǁǁ͘ůŽǁĞƐͲƐŽůŝĐŝƚŽƌƐ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ

Editor’s Note

Lucie Abu-Zalaf Editor-in-Chief

ell Firstly, welcome to the August edition of Edge Magazine. You may have noticed that the photograph above is somewhat different from previous editions, as we have had a bit of a change around here. One of the benefits of being a small, family run business is that we can readily look at our individual strengths and swap things around to utilise them. You may have (hopefully) read some of my previous articles so it is a very natural progression and Michael is still a key part of the business; doing what he does best, continuing to ensure that we grow the business in a way that works for our readers and clients alike. So, back to the August edition... We’ve had another busy month out and about, we checked out Trust Salons and ES Beauty, recently opened at Wootton Park in Warwickshire. We sampled the new monthly tasting evenings now run on the first Tuesday of every month at Ostlers, what a treat that was. We went local with our Pershore feature, a whole host of independent shops and cafés definitely worth a visit, or a revisit if you haven’t been for a while. I also got to experience my first drive of an electric car with the BMW i3 and was very pleasantly surprised. August is traditionally a month for weddings, so we searched out the best venues in your area and Matthew Curtis has given us some styles, tips and tricks to give you some inspiration for your hair, whether the bride, bridesmaid or just as a guest.

We also have our regular features from our contributors, Laura Clay tells us about 100 awesome wines, Mike Stafford reviews a great book to take away on holiday, Karl Strawbridge gives some summer garden tips. Mel Taffs shows us some easy food swaps to keep you on the straight and narrow, Emma Jenkins tells us what’s in fashion this summer, David Hatton has us thinking about how to refresh your home and Tom Ware gives us his pointers on pension death benefits in his financial article this month. Celebrating the first anniversary of the redesigned spa at The Belfry, we interviewed Susan Harmsworth MBE, founder of ESPA and all round inspirational woman. We also have some great reader offers and competitions this month, so keep your eyes peeled for those. Please do get in contact with any feedback, or anything that you would like to see more of by dropping me an email at Lucie@edgemagazine.org From all of us here, thanks again for reading Edge Magazine, we hope that you enjoy it and we look forward to seeing you next month

Lucie x www.edgemagazine.org August 2015

Hot Property Modern living with period style

et within the highly sought after area of Battenhall in Worcester, this newly refurbished Georgian property will make a fantastic home for any family looking to live in the city. With easy walking access to Worcesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic city centre, easy access to motorways and train stations, this property not only has the right look but also the right location. Renovated by renowned, locally based, McMinn Developments, the property has been finished to the highest of standards and is one of the finest houses within the city. The property retains many original features which give it character, but has also been modernised and updated to reflect contemporary living standards. This stunning property is set over three floors, with the ground floor comprising of a grand reception hall, drawing room, sitting room, dining room, snug, breakfast kitchen, utility room and cloak room. The first floor comprises of a family bathroom and four generous bedrooms, with the master suite having the additional benefit of a dressing room/nursery and an en-suite bathroom. On the lower ground floor there is a study, games room and wine store. Further benefits include bespoke double glazed sash windows, gas central heating, enclosed gardens and electric gated driveway parking for multiple vehicles. Upon entering the property you find yourself stepping into a particularly grand reception hall which has Karndean flooring, high ceilings with original deep moulded cornicing with LED lighting giving the period features a modern twist. An exquisite sweeping staircase rises in elegant fashion to the first floor. Handmade bespoke panelled doors lead through to the drawing room with

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twin shuttered double glazed sash windows to the front, further double glazed sash windows to the side, high ceilings finished with moulded plaster cornicing and Karndean flooring. The formal dining room also contains twin shuttered double glazed sash windows and an arched doorway through to the snug. The comprehensively fitted bespoke kitchen enjoys ample storage space and has been fitted with weathered granite work surfaces, a range of appliances, slate effect ceramic tiled splash backs and a ceramic tiled floor. The ground floor accommodation finishes with a large utility room and cloakroom. The beautifully arranged first floor offers three large double bedrooms and what can only be described as a magnificent master bedroom suite, which benefits from a large dressing room/nursery opening through to a high specification Heritage bathroom; the en-suite comprises of his and hers wash basins, a roll top cast iron bath with ball and claw feet and double walk in shower. The large family bathroom has been finished to the same high specification. The hidden gem of the house is the lower ground floor which has been fully tanked and converted, offering further versatile accommodation which could be used as a games room and study and even benefits from a wine store. The garden to the house offers ample entertainment space on a block paved seating area with steps leading to a well manicured lawn with planted borders. The final piece of the jigsaw, the house benefits from electronically gated, ample parking to house a number of vehicles. The property is on the market now for ÂŁ725,000. To arrange a viewing please call Lee Francis at Shelton and Lines on 01905 616 330

Western Lodge, London Road, Worcester WR5 2DS

August 2015

Main Features Pershore A market town

See the whole drama unfold. Test drive the all-new Audi TT Roadster. It’s not just features like the electric hood that opens or closes in 10 seconds. Nor the Audi Virtual Cockpit and optional Super Sports seats with head level heating. In fact, there’s a whole sky full of reasons to experience the sheer drama of open-top driving – on a test drive in the all-new Audi TT Roadster.

Spectacular Settings The perfect venues for your wedding 24

Trust Salons & ESBeauty A counrtyside gem

A Taste of Ostlers at No 1 A review

Call your local Audi Centre to book a test drive.

Coventry Audi

503 Fletchamstead Highway, Coventry, Warwickshire CV4 9BY 024 7667 5675 www.coventry.audi.co.uk

Stratford Audi

The Future of Motoring The New BMW i3

Western Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 0AH 01789 414477 www.stratford.audi.co.uk

Worcester Audi

157 Bromyard Road, Worcester, Worcestershire WR2 5EA 01905 421000 www.worcester.audi.co.uk Official fuel consumption figures for the all-new Audi TT and TTS Roadster range in mpg (l/100km) from: Urban 29.7 (9.5) – 55.4 (5.1), Extra Urban 44.8 (6.3) – 72.4 (3.9), Combined 37.7 (7.5) – 65.7 (4.3). CO2 emissions: 174 – 114g/km. Standard

EU Test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Image is for illustrative purposes only.

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We now have South Warwickshire covered with offices in Stratford-Upon-Avon and Henley-in-Arden Staffordshire West Midlands

Stourbridge Solihull

Shropshire

Ludlow

Kidderminster Bromsgrove Droitwich Spa

Redditch

Henley-in-Arden

Worcester Warwickshire

St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Hereford

Stratford-Upon-Avon

Malvern Pershore

Powys

Gloucestershire

Monmouthshire

With our 14th and 15th office now open in both Stratford-Upon-Avon and Henley-in-Arden we are pleased to offer the area over 40 years of expertise in Sales, Lettings, Country Homes, Property Management and Commercial. Please call in or ring us to discuss how we can help. Stratford-Upon-Avon, 2-3 Union Street: 01789 294444 Henley-in-Arden, 116a High Street: 01564 794155 andrew-grant.co.uk

August 2015

Contents PRODUCTION

Contents

Editorial

Hatton Shopping Village

Pershore

Holiday Essentials

Summer Style

Wedding Hair

Spectacular Settings

Escape the chains

Cadmore Lodge

Trust Salons & ESBeauty: Review

Lauren Picker - Copy Editor lauren@edgemagazine.org

New beginnings – Trust Salons & ESBeauty

Sales

Your Guide to Wine

Making Changes – Health Food Substitutes

The Foodies Extravaganza

A taste of Ostlers at No1

The Local Kitchen

Café Rouge – Solihull

Community Shops

Allotments

Dahlias

Keeping a well-manicured Lawn

Andrew Grant

Create your own sanctuary

Dodderhill School

DMS Awards

The Big Hoot 2015

Hecuba At the RSC

Blood Salt Water: A Review

The Future of motoring: The BMW i3

Sue Harmsworth MBE

Pension death benefits

Pop of Culture

What’s on this August

Lucie Abu-Zalaf - Editor in Chief @LucieLincolnLew lucie@edgemagazine.org Tel:07714 490 943 Megan Ace - Content Editor @Megannelsey Megan@edgemagazine.org

Michael Abu-Zalaf - Sales Director @ZalafAbu michael@edgemagazine.org Tel:07809 702 992 Charlie O’Neill - West Midlands Sales @EdgeMag_Charlie charlie@edgemagazine.org Tel: 07834 538 284 Steve Picker - Worcestershire Sales @EdgeMag_Steve steve@edgemagazine.org Tel:07515 493 703 Lucas Wright - Warwickshire Sales @EdgeMag_Lucas Lucas@edgemagazine.org Tel:07525 120 626

CONTRIBUTORS Laura Clay Tom Ware Lucie Abu-Zalaf Emma Jenkins

Karl Strawbridge Mel Taffs David Hatton Mike Stafford

WRITE TO US MLP Publishing Ltd 3 Warwick Court Saxon Business Park Stoke Prior Bromsgrove B60 4AD

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Hot Property

Auctioneers & Valuers Antiques | Jewellery | Watches

Monthly auction of Antique & Modern Jewellery Thursday 13th August at 11am Visit www.fellows.co.uk to view the auction catalogue and calendar of auction viewing times. 0121 212 2131 Jewellery Quarter Saleroom | 19 Augusta Street, Birmingham, B18 6JA Mayfair Office | 2nd Floor, 3 Queen Street, London, W1J 5PA

fellowsauctions

GBK Birmingham Mailbox, Wharfside Street GBK Leamington Spa, Livery Street

A Canine boutique with a difference. Hand-made treats crafted to please every pallet, along side garments that will catch every eye.

Professional and modern grooming. Tailor made treatments to suit, where coats are embraced and hygiene is maintained.

30 New St Worcester WR1 2DP - Tel 01905 731645 hodsboutique

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@hods_boutique

Hatton Shopping Village A slice of quintessential England

Hatton’s famous ‘stairway to heaven’ on Grand Union Canal, or enjoying a delicious champagne tea at one of its quintessentially British eateries – The Spinning Jenny or the Café Lavender Blue.

his summer the independent shopkeepers and craftsmen of Hatton Shopping Village, near Warwick, are encouraging shoppers to swap the bustling city streets for the peaceful tranquillity of the Warwickshire countryside.

With roots as a craft centre, some of the original tradesmen still remain, and those Carved out of Victorian farm buildings that underwent a major refurbishment last who love bespoke gifts tend to look no further than John Garland Taylor or Alan year, Hatton Shopping Village is a place Wright jewellers, the Art of Glass stainedof very special charm. The carthorses, cows, granary and dovecotes that used to glass workshop or the Blue Lemon natural skincare manufacturer. occupy the buildings have given way to a bustling community of traditional and Then there’s Hatton’s traditional sweet contemporary shopkeepers – making it and farm shops, offering everything from the perfect place for shoppers to treat homemade fudge and toffies to luxury themselves and their friends. Belgian chocolates and award-winning local jams, chutneys and honeys. At Hatton, there is that timeless tranquillity and friendly courtesies for And the centre’s penchant for the unique which the English countryside is so continues at Ranson’s Garden Centre, famed – whether taking a stroll along

with specialist plants that the big chains simply don’t stock. And alongside the garden centre, a furniture shop divided into a series of rooms with very different styles and some amazing bargains. The newest additions of Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Brantano Shoes bring a bustle of big brands providing further choice for shoppers, without straying too far from the special British feel for which Hatton is renowned. No surprise that people come to shop, stay to wonder and make a summer’s day of it. Hatton Shopping Village is located between Solihull and Warwick about 5 minutes from the M40. It is open daily from 10am – 5.30pm. For more information, visit www.hattonworld. co.uk or call 01926 843 411.

n EE io g FR iss d kin m n r ad a pa EE

What better way to herald the arrival of Summer than to take a drive in the countryside, browse around some unusual little shops and perhaps enjoy an afternoon tea, or a glass of wine, alfresco in a delightful courtyard ? Hatton Shopping Village offers all that; and so much more!

Come to Shop, Stay to Wander

The Shopping Village has seen some dramatic changes over the last 18 months - a complete make-over of the old Victorian buildings, upgraded restaurants and some great new shops.

unusual little shops, a drink at the new bar - and, if you’re looking for some exercise, one of our country walks to Hattons’ famous flight of Locks and back.

The Garden Centre is well stocked with some Specialist ‘Connoisseur’ plants that are hard to find elsewhere, with friendly advice and help always on hand. and, you can pick up a treat

With masses of free parking and delightful scenery, a day out in Hatton Shopping Village is a quintessential English treat!

from the Farm Shop to take home for tea. All this alongside bespoke jewellers, antiques, old fashioned sweet shop, interiors, gifts and accessories. Those balmy Summer days are the perfect time to be at Hatton - the rolling Warwickshire countryside, a casual browse round all our

Open every day 10am - 5pm (4pm during Jan and Feb) Tel:

01926 843411

17854a 7/15

www.hattonworld.com

Hatton Country World, 5 minutes from J15 M40, 3 miles outside Warwick off A4177 Warwick - Solihull Rd. August 2015

Pershore Pershore is a beautiful market town, residing on the banks of the river Avon. Approximately 6 miles west of Evesham, 10 miles from Worcester and surrounded by countryside that will take your breath away. This small unspoilt, picturesque town is rich in heritage, with the Abbey taking centre stage in the town. Pershore has an array of independent cafes and boutiques, a covered market and lots of welcoming pubs and restaurants making it a great day out for all the family.

Tappers

Janice Brown opened Tappers in 1997. The shop quickly gained a reputation for its personal friendly service and the business grew rapidly. This necessitated a move to larger premises which was completed in 2002 where we remain today. With a lovely relaxed atmosphere, customers are encouraged to try on footwear that has been selected from major European designers. Tappers takes pride in offering collections that are practical, comfortable, stylish and funky!! 36 High Street, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 1DP 01386 554602 12

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Persora

Family-run business Persora first opened it’s doors in October 2014. With around 6000 square feet of retail space, it is one of Worcestershire’s largest independent and privately owned retail, interior design and art gallery spaces in a stunningly restored Grade II Listed Building directly on the high street of the beautiful Georgian town of Pershore, Worcestershire. The family at Persora specifically focus on and look for emerging UK brands and artists, including those such as Alphabet Bags, Bill Skinner Jewellery, Bloomingville, HouseDoctor, Orla Kiely, Ridley’s, Gentlemen’s Hardware, Parlane, Anthony Hughes Designs, Shruti and Olivia Earl Clocks to name just a few. 29 High Street, Pershore Worcestershire WR10 1AA 01386 556 161

www.persora.com

Jolie Ladieswear

Judy Lianos, sole owner of Jolie, boutique ladies fashion store. Her goal is providing friendly service, time after time, with the aim of making you feel good. Giving personal service with honest, genuine advice she works with you to get the look you want. Using her understanding of colour, style & design empowering you to try new styles & create a new You. With a great relationship with suppliers, she can even buy with you in mind once she knows your style. 36 High Street, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 1DP 01386 554692

August 2015

Chase Heating

Chase Heating specialise in wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves, Range Cookers and Stove accessories. With over 45 years’ experience a trip to our Pershore based showroom is well worth a visit. The showroom features many stoves varied in style, Rayburn Cookers and Everhot electric cookers. There are working models on display to see, enabling customers to get a feel for what they can expect. Chase Heating, Racecourse Road, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 2EY, 01386 555333 www.chaseheating.co.uk

Memory Lane Memorials

Passionate about stone and creative by nature – Memory Lane Memorials is a family run business with 30 years of experience within the memorial masonry industry. Our ‘fixers’ are approved, registered and qualified National Association of Monumental Masons Fixers. This means you can be assured your chosen memorial will be fitted and comply to a high standard. We fully understand the importance of remembering a loved one with a fitting memorial. Our aim is to enable you to “say it in stone” with a high quality lasting tribute to treasure the memories and lives of those you love. 60 High street, Pershore WR10 1DU 01386 555201 www.memorylanememorials.co.uk 14

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Andrew Grant

Established in 1971, Andrew Grant is recognised as the Regions Premier Estate Agent and offers a comprehensive Sales, Lettings, Property Management and Commercial service which now covers 15 offices spread over 5 counties and London. Merging the best of new technology including internet advertising and social media with the tried and tested traditional marketing including newspaper advertising and professionally printed sales particulars, Andrew Grant prides itself in providing a top class service with exceptional results. 2 High St, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 1BG 01386 554031 www.andrew-grant.co.uk

August 2015

Deli@Pershore

Here at the Deli@Pershore we have a passion for catering, it’s what we’ve done throughout our careers. With the skills we’ve picked up over the years and a passion for great home-made produce we believe we can be the answer to your catering needs. From a small get together to a lavish wedding, our bespoke service will be tailored around you. 66, High Street, Pershore WR10 1DU 01386 553689

TC Fireplaces

Conveniently situated in Baker Arcade, just off the High Street, TC Fireplaces is your one- stop- shop, offering a full range of beautiful fires, fireplaces and accessories. A fireplace is a major acquisition requiring careful consideration and deliberation; you will be looking at it for years to come so you need to enjoy the experience. Once you have chosen your fireplace, we offer a free survey with our fully qualified fitter ensuring you are getting the best fireplace to suit your home. Unit7 Baker Arcade, High Street, Pershore WR10 1DP 01386 561 186 www.tcfireplaces.com 16

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Coffee & More

Opened in April 2015, we are an independent coffee house. My name is Seamus & I have been in the industry for 35 years. If something is not good enough for me its not good enough for my customers. Supporting local produce suppliers (Capers for our cheese & organic roasted gammon). Our Independent coffee mechant is local. We are cycle & dog friendly. We are the only Coffee shop to serve cranberry teacakes in Pershore. We are open 7 days a week. Baker Arcade, High Street, Pershore WR10 1DU

Thai Legend

If you like the taste of good Thai Cuisine then head down to the Thai Legend on Pershore High Street. Offer a great choice of beautifully cooked Thai dishes, you can choose from set menus or the wider selection of starters and main courses from the full menu. Special lunchtime menu is available from 12pm-2:30pm Monday - Friday. 62 High Street Pershore WR10 1DU 01386 554604

August 2015

Holiday Essentials

Image courtesy of Next

Emma Jenkins

oliday season is here! At last, I can hear you all say! I’m terrible at packing for my hols, but this year, I’m determined to pack light and really think about what I take with me. There is some great swimwear, throw overs and amazing outfits for a night out available on the high street. All at reasonable prices too, so in effect, it doesn’t matter if you wear it for that precious week away and then throw it in the back of your wardrobe for next year. However, if there is one thing I do think is worth an investment, it would be your swimwear. Your bikini or one piece needs to work hard. You sunbathe in it, swim in it, lounge in it and most importantly, strut to the beach bar in it! Your body shape (and sometimes, your body confidence) almost decides what style you want to go for before you even see it. This year, more covered up styles of bikinis are the way to go. Tummy covering pants and bralets are stylish, the one-piece is back, and bikinis seem a little less revealing and more structured. Plus, the 70’s hippy style is here to stay. Boho chic, kimonos and flowing dresses have never been so on trend this decade! And, as all us ladies know, sometimes ‘accessories make the outfit’. The ideal bracelet or necklace, throw over, beach bag, shades and even flip flops are all considered when planning your beach debut.

Bikini £40.00 Next

Biba Bikini Top £35.00 Bottoms £20.00 House of Fraser

Image courtesy of Next

This month I’ve rounded up some great high street styles to inspire you. Some have already gone into sale so grab them quick. Remember, we are all beautiful, so embrace your individual style and be confident that you look amazing! For more style inspiration, follow me on; Pintrest: Emma Jenkins Instagram: itsabeautifullifeuk Blog: www.itsabeautifullife.co.uk

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Image courtesy of New Look

Red Herring Bikini £32.00 Debenhams

Sophia Scattered Butterfly Kaftan £29.00 Accessorize

Blue Summer Dress £55.00 Next

Humbug Seedbead Tassle Slinky Earrings £12.00 Accessorize

Lucille Tunic £28.00 Oliver Bonas

Oyster Sandals £28.00 Office

Aviator Sunglasses £12.00 ASOS

Image courtesy of LA Redoute

Bella Beaded Clutch Bag £36.00 Oliver Bonas Image courtesy of New Look August 2015

Summer Style

When is it okay to wear a suit without a tie?

ne of the questions I often get asked - especially in the summer months when the sun is blazing - is when is it okay to wear a suit without a tie? This is a question of judgement. In my opinion, a suit will always look better with a tie; it finishes off the outfit and from a sartorial point of view, it is far more elegant. Wearing a tie is often about showing respect. If you are going to a wedding or a funeral then out of respect to those who invited you, I suggest you wear a tie. The workplace is different. If you are going to an important business meeting or interview, then once again I would suggest that wearing a tie shows respect. If you are jut having a normal day in the office then it will be depend on the dress code that the company prefer and because many businesses are now adopting a smart casual look, then the tie is often optional. When it comes to determining the type of tie to choose then silk is the obvious classic choice which is ideal for both business and formal occasions. Linen and cotton ties are less formal and are good options for wearing in the summer.

Wool and cashmere ties are also less formal and they can create a nice contrast with a crisp shirt and are good for wearing in autumn and winter. 20 www.edgemagazine.org

As far as colours and patterns are concerned then this is personal choice. Classic choices would be plain, striped or polka dot which are very versatile. Ties which are darker than your shirt but lighter than your suit is a good smart choice but there are so many attractive options such as paisley, geometric, floral or tartan to go for that you should make sure that you have a good selection of ties to complement the suits you have in your wardrobe. Whether you choose slim or wide ties will depend on the types of suits and shirts you have. Slim ties tend to look better with small collars and trim cut suits with slim lapels. Wider ties tend to look better with double-breasted suits and wider lapels. The length of the tie should ideally touch your belt buckle and waistband in order to fit neatly with your suit and create that classic elegant look. All you need to know now is how to tie it properlyâ&#x20AC;Śbut thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a whole other article! For more information about being a sharp dressed man please see www.thebespoketailor.co.uk Adrian Barrows 07968 438717

Adrian Barrows

August 2015

Wedding Hair

At Matthew Curtis Hair Design

atthew Curtis our monthly hair expert takes you through your wedding day from your lingerie shoot to your big moment all the way to the party after Remember your wedding day is individual to you and you must embrace what you're personality, letting that show through your style and work with your hairdresser to create your perfect look. When styling runway shows for Jenny Packham and Alon Livne, who when specialize in wedding garments, where the looks are always diverse and never really follow trends. Matthew's top tip is to find a stylist that is competent to achieve any look, a true specialist that can create styles to a higher standard than your average salon stylist can. Be different, be unique, but most of all be “you”.

“The Party”

Let your hair down and have fun – go for something more nonchalant, this allows you to relax and be you, a change of outfit for the evening is always a good idea why not change into something more sexy, after all it is your big day and you should milk it for every last second of feeling special.

Jenny Packham’s Bridal Collection Presentation in London Hair by Stylist Matthew Curtis The hair that accompanies Jenny Packham’s refined gowns always serves as a lovely inspiration for a variety of life’s dressiest occasions – be it that you are the blushing bride, her devoted bridesmaid, or a partygoing guest. Jenny Packham recently hosted an exclusive high tea event for brides-to be in London and the hair was, once again, a perfect pairing for the designer’s elegant creations produced by the Matthew Curtis Creative team. For this event, Jenny said that she wanted the hair to be “soft and effortless” with “a little texture and a romantic feel.” With this inspiration, Matthew Curtis created a loose up do with loose curls, that fell naturally around pretty beaded accessories. Here’s how Matthew Curtis created the look: 1. Starting with dry hair, apply mousse around the hairline and blow dry the hair backwards to reduce any fly-aways. 2. Divide hair into large sections starting at the nape of the neck, spray with a quick 22

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spritz of heat spray and then, using a 2” barrel curling iron, curl the hair. 3. Pin each curl into place along the scalp for extra staying power while the curl cools, lightly spraying with hairspray to help the hair hold this shape. 4. Once the hair has cooled, release the pins. Flip the hair so your head is upside down and spray Dry Shampoo throughout the hair for a soft, matte finish. Turn your head right side up to reveal tremendous volume. 5. Next, gather your hair into a loose side ponytail to whichever side you prefer, and loosely secure with an elastic band. 6. Take random sections of the hair from within the ponytail, twist and pin outside of the elastic. Repeat this until all the hair is pinned, allowing pieces to fall naturally as you go. 7. Finish the look by spraying the hair with hairspray for hold throughout the day, and adorn with a hair accessory for added flair.

A lived in effortless hairstyle, whether short or long, is a great way to make yourself look effortlessly glamorous. With guests clutching you all night, a style coiffured within a inch of its life is going to quickly become dishevelled and those photos aren’t going to be the ones you hoped for. So embrace the night and embrace what it is truly about, being there with the ones you love.

Lingerie shoot Allow yourself to have more fun and let your inner seductress shine through for only your partner to see. Images are around for years to come forever so invest in your hair and makeup and choose something to best show of your sex appeal. The images from a recent lingerie shoot show takes from the 20â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marcel wave that was well associated with high class glamour from the American Gatsby era - here is how you get the look.

Step 1- Section the hair into a deep side parting, using small size curling tongs to tong the hair in small sections working up the head, making sure to tong all of the hair horizontally and even sized sections from the nape of the neck up.

Step 4- Use a combination of hair spray and shine spray to create a smooth slick finish. Tease lightly the underneath of the hair to create a smooth wave and to stop the hair from curling back into a tight curl.

Step 2- Use pic curl clips to pin the sections to allow the curls to cool.

Step 5 - Work your way up the head until finished.

Step 3- Once the hair has cooled, unpin the curls and brush them out starting at the bottom of the nape of the neck.

A top tip for this look is to use a Mason & Pearson brush - the ultimate hairdressers brush!

To book an appointment with Matthew and his team at the Matthew Curtis salon in Stratford-upon-Avon, contact 01789 266551 or visit www.matthewcurtis.biz Twitter: @mcurtishair

www.youtube.com/matthewcurtishair

August 2015

Spectacular Settings

The perfect venues for your wedding

nless you have a venue in mind searching for the perfect setting for your wedding can be one of the most time consuming factors in your wedding planning. From hotels and restaurants to country houses and castles weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve compiled a selection of spectacular settings for your big day.

Redhouse Barn, Stoke Prior

Set in five acres of beautiful grounds and gardens, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no wonder Redhouse Barn is popular with stylish wedding couples! Say your vows in the beautiful Redbrick barn seating up to 105 guests or the Timber Barn for up to 160, before sitting down for a bespoke wedding breakfast by the award winning Morgans Catering. Finish the night in style with an amazing party for up to 200 guests. www.redhousebarn.co.uk; email info@redhousebarn.co.uk; or call Jane 07875 142493

Eastnor Castle

Eastnor Castle is the perfect fairy-tale castle for the most memorable day of your life. You will find tranquillity, splendour and complete exclusivity with 12 beautiful bedrooms hosting a limited number of very special weddings each year. Every wedding that takes place at Eastnor is treated with utmost discretion and personal attention to detail ensuring that the bride and groom feel comfortable and relaxed in this truly exceptional family home. Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 1RL 01531 633160 www.eastnorcastle.com

Episode Hotel

Located in the heart of Leamington Spa, on the banks of the River Avon, this picturesque town house hotel is the perfect intimate and unique setting for your special day. Catering to each individual taste the team at Episode Hotel are on hand to discuss all of your personal requirements. Offering exclusive use of the venue, along with a designated wedding co-ordinator, personalised menus and an idyllic location for your photographs, Episode Hotel really is a perfect choice for your special day. 64 Upper Holly Walk, Leamington Spa CV32 4JL 01926 883777 www.episodehotels.co.uk 24

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Stanbrook Abbey

Nestled in glorious Worcestershire countryside, Stanbrook Abbey is a rare architectural gem and a truly inspiring wedding venue. Boasting a rich heritage, this incredible property has undergone a ÂŁ5million renovation and is quickly becoming one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most sought after wedding venues. With an array of beautiful function spaces, 57 brand new bedrooms and a wonderful team dedicated to you, let Stanbrook Abbey make your dream wedding day reality. Jennet Tree Ln, Callow End, Worcester 01905 830195 www.amazingvenues.co.uk hello@stanbrookabbey.com

The St. Andrews Town Hotel

The St. Andrews Town Hotel, located in historic Droitwich Spa in the heart of Worcestershire, offers you the perfect venue for your wedding day. The elegant Georgian building and tranquil garden make you feel you're in a country house retreat, yet the hotel is only minutes away from the town centre and motorway network. There are a choice of function rooms including 150 seat Orangery, civil wedding licence, fully licensed bar and gorgeous bridal suite. The hotel has a superb restaurant and 31 contemporary styled en-suite bedrooms, ranging from the value Classic rooms to superior Heritage rooms. St Andrew's Dr, Droitwich Spa, Droitwich, Worcestershire WR9 8AL 01905 779677 www.st-andrewshotel.com

Welcome Hotel Spa and Golf Club

Set in 157 acres of beautiful parkland, just outside Stratford-uponAvon, the Welcombe Hotel Spa and Golf Club is steeped in history and tradition. The hotel is wonderfully romantic. Built in the style of a Calendar House with 7 entrances (days of the week), 12 fireplaces (months), 52 chimneys (weeks) and 365 windows (days of the year), it is said to infuse luck and prosperity to everyone who stays; the perfect venue for your special day. Warwick Road, Stratford-uponAvon, Warwickshire CV37 0NR 01789 295252 www.menzieshotels.co.uk

August 2015

JILL WHEELOCK-LINES A

F A M I L Y

R U N

B U S I N E S S

E S T .

1 9 8 5 .

4 Y Y Y 01905 613799

8 F R IA R S T R E E T, W O R C E S T E R

W W W. J I L L W H E E L O C K - L I N E S . C O . U K

Escape the Chains Jill Wheelock-Lines - Priding themselves on the quality of their pearls. Megan Ace

estled in amongst the city’s most desirable, designer and boutique shops on the charming 17th/ 18th Century Friar Street in Worcester, lies one of the most luxurious Jewellers in Worcestershire, Jill Wheelock-Lines. Step inside this exclusive and extremely tasteful emporium, which furnishes a vast array of absolutely stunning jewellery, and you’ll find yourself never wanting to leave. There is a wealth of fine jewellery at every turn - each piece desperately awaiting your possession. Established in 1985, this family run business, with a combined experience of over 75 years’ in the field of fine jewellery, offers the most beautiful diamonds and naturally coloured pearls including, South Sea; South Sea Baroque, Fresh Water, Round and Baroque, Akoya, Sea Keshi, River Keshi and Tahitian. A unique and comprehensive collection, to say the least. ‘We pride ourselves on the quality of our pearls’ says Jill ‘and we also aim to offer Jewellery with a highly personal service, working to make and match any of our clients’ needs.’ With one of the largest collections of earrings in the county, there is also a huge collection of diamond rings and diamond set jewellery in Platinum, White, Yellow and Rose Gold. There’s an indescribable charm in Jill’s approach. If you’re after thoughtful and personal service partnered with a cup of tea, or even a large glass of something stronger depending on the time of day, then Jill Wheelock-Lines is the jewellers for you.

8, Friar Street, Worcester, WR1 2LZ t. 01905 613799 info@jillwheelock-lines.co.uk www.jillwheelock-lines.co.uk Facebook: Jill Wheelock-Lines August 2015

Luxury Retirement Living set in the peace and quiet of this idyllic and tranquil retreat. Create a luxurious, independent lifestyle of your own; it truly is the place to be for something different. Offering luxury country living, short breaks, respite care ultimate and The as much or as littleexperience high quality care to suit our residents or guests personal uxury Retirement Livingrequirements. set in the peace and quiet of this

Cadmore Lodge

idyllic and tranquil retreat. Create a luxurious, independent

Take timelifestyle out from busyown; schedules, tryplace a short of your it truly is the to beholiday for something breakdifferent. or a weekend retreat, come and experience the luxury of ourluxury surroundings andshort enjoy the fabulous Offering country living, breaks, respite carefacilities and as much or as little high qualityLodge. care to suit our residents or guests available here at Cadmore personal requirements.

Set in the beautiful surroundings of this breathtaking forty Take time out from busy schedules, try a short holiday break acresor of Worcestershire country side, lakeside scenery, a weekend retreat, come and experience the luxury of our wooded glades and andenjoy glistening water, transform thehere at surroundings the fabulous facilities available CadmoretoLodge. landscape a whole new level. Every scene is a delight, bothSet calming and relaxing. in the beautiful surroundings of this breathtaking forty acres of Worcestershire side, lakeside scenery, wooded A place where you country can gather inspiration, allow yourglades and glistening water, transform the landscape to a whole imagination to run wild and stimulate, transform andnew level. Every scene is a delight, both calming and relaxing. revitalise your senses. A place where you can gather inspiration, allow your imagination to

run wild and stimulate, spacious transform and revitalisehall yourinvites senses.you A beautifully appointed entrance into the uniquely designed, luxurious, open plan lounge A beautifully appointed spacious entrance hall invites you into the with uniquely countrydesigned, and lakeside views luxurious, openfrom planevery lounge window. with country and lakeside views from every window. Superbly appointed, with the ultimate in décor, there are spacious, modern bedrooms which have exceptional Superbly appointed, with the ultimate in décor, there are spacious, countryside views and all equipped with fabulous, luxurious modern bedrooms which have exceptional countryside views and all equipped with rooms. fabulous, luxurious en-suite shower rooms. en-suite shower The finest of cuisine is on offer, with delicious homemade and

The mouthwatering finest of cuisine on offer, withbydelicious homemade food,isfreshly prepared our resident chef and his and team mouthwatering food, freshly prepared ourproduce, resident in our own kitchens, using locally sourcedbyfresh A superbly furnished using restaurant with a choice chefmeat and and his fresh teamfish. in our own kitchens, locally of dining areas, including secluded private dining and ‘Al fresco’ sourced fresh produce, meat and fresh fish. A superbly dining in the grounds, or on the terraces in the warmer weather. furnished restaurant with a choice of dining areas, Our own private, quite challenging, newly 9 - holeingolf including secluded private dining and ‘Alconditioned fresco’ dining course, with the opportunity of golf tuition from PGA professional the grounds, or on the terraces in the warmer weather. Joanne Lee. We have a fishing lake and a full sized indoor swimming pool and relaxing sun lounge. Woodland walks, nature

Our trails own and private, quite17th challenging, newly conditioned a working century thatched watermill cottage 9toholeexplore; golf course, with the opportunity of golf tuition there really is so much to experience during yourfrom stay. PGA professional Joanne Lee. We have a fishing lake and The Ephraims Care Group is a family run business and enjoys a fullextending sized indoor swimming pool and sun lounge. this ethos into our homes. Our relaxing strong commitment to Woodland walks, nature trails and acare working 17ththecentury providing the highest levels of quality has been key to our success in runningcottage well managed and efficient thatched watermill to explore; therehomes reallyforisover so thirty years. much to experience during your stay. The Ultimate Experience in Luxury Retirement Living

The Ephraims Care Group is a family run business and Cadmore Lodge, St. Michaels, Tenbury Wells, enjoys extending this ethos into our homes. Our strong Worcestershire WR 15 8TQ commitment to providing the highest levels of quality care E:info@cadmorelodge.co.uk has been the key to our success in running well managed and T: efficient for over thirty years. 01584homes 810044 www.cadmorelodge.co.uk 28 www.edgemagazine.org

The Ultimate Experience in Luxury Retirement Living

SUNRISE

over Cadmore Lodge

The Ultimate Experience in Luxury Retirement Living Short Breaks - Respite Care - Independent Lifestyle - Revitalise and Relax

Excellent Cuisine - Golf - Fishing - Indoor Swimming Pool - Woodland Walks

Cadmore Lodge, St. Michaels, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire WR 15 8TQ T: 01584 810044

E: info@cadmorelodge.co.uk

www.cadmorelodge.co.uk

August 2015

Trust Salons and ESBeauty A countryside gem Charlie O'Neill

et back in the tranquil countryside of Wootton Wawen is Wootton Park, approached by a long sweeping driveway with breath-taking views. My initial thoughts were, ‘Am I in the right location, this is too good to be true’. A hidden gem in an idyllic location and the home of Trust Salons & ESBeauty, an exclusive hair and beauty salon offering innovative and specialized treatments for all. Set in a picturesque courtyard I could not think of a better place to visit and receive hair and beauty treatments as well as being home to one of the most stunning wedding venues in Warwickshire. Immediately I was greeted by my therapist, Emma Tibbs and Salon Director, Sam Smith. The Salon is light and airy and has been converted into a lovely space. There is also a fantastic outdoor patio at the back of the salon where you can sit and relax with a glass of wine whilst having your treatments. Emma led me to the beauty treatment rooms where I filled out my health and skincare questionnaire. I then changed into my spa robe and was directed to the main treatment room ready for my day of relaxation to begin. It was truly

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spectacular being able to enjoy my treatments whilst gazing up through the sky lights of the converted barn to the beautiful blue sky above. The spa throughout has a lovely country feel with the original beams and farmhouse style doors.

a skin perfect primer to help defend against UV rays. After this I was provided with a refreshing eye treatment to rehydrate and protect eyes from fine lines and dark circles. Then to conclude I had an exfoliation and masque. My skin felt revitalised and was glowing.

My day of pampering included a variety of beauty treatments, a mini facial, foot massage and a classic back massage followed by a specialized volume conditioning hair treatment, with a blow dry and styling. To finish I was then provided with a makeover by Emma using an array of make-up brands including NARS and Bobbi Brown.

Continuing on with the beauty treatments I received a relaxing foot massage and a deep relaxing body massage. I am always extremely tense so have a build-up of knots in my back. Emma knew exactly how to rid of these and applied a relaxing yet firm amount of pressure using the Dermalogica Professional Strength Stress Relief Oil, an intense blend of essential oils to help alleviate stress and soothe the body which left me feeling peaceful and in a place of tranquillity.

Emma started my treatment with the facial where my skin was assessed with the Dermologica Face Mapping Skin Analysis. I have had problem skin from a young age I am a big believer in using paraben free products and I am always interested in revealing my skin condition as well as finding out which products are most suited to my skin type in order to deliver healthy skin. The facial Emma used Dermologica products and was very relaxing, it consisted of a double cleanser, toner treatment to help hydrate followed by a skin smoothing moisturiser cream and

Once my beauty treatments were completed, I was provided with my final analysis and a list of all of the recommended products to suit me along with samples to test out the products at home. The next part of my pampering session took place in the downstairs Hair Salon with Sam who firstly asked me to tell her about my hair. My first thoughts that came to my head were… ‘Flat and Lacking Volume, yet great for styling’.

However, I am sure many women will say they struggle to style and curl their hair like a Salon professional. In this instance Sam put together a specialized Volume conditioning hair treatment which included no chemical nasties. The treatment was left to set for 5 minutes and was rinsed to reveal a healthy shine and indeed more volume. I must say my hair has never looked so healthy and it smelt fantastic. Sam then blow dried my hair and finished off the final look with some styling, where I opted for loose curls. Sam had left me with some great advice for how to maintain healthy long hair. I was feeling slightly sad that my morning of pampering was coming to an end. However, I still had my final makeover to be completed using some of the best brands of make-up such as MAC, NARS and Bobbi Brown. I was extremely jealous over the size of Emma’s Make-up case and its contents! I was asked if I would prefer the natural look or a more glamorous daytime look with smoky eyes. Of course, I opted for the smoky eyes! Why Not?! Not only did she apply a great coverage to my problem skin but I also learnt some great makeup tips for the future, after all applying

make-up is not easy and is something many of us women struggle with. I will be back for more tutorials I am sure! I felt like a new women after seeing my before and after shots. I had a fantastic experience and pamper day with the team who were extremely welcoming and very good listeners. Just what every girl needs! Trust Salons & ESBeauty not only offer a range of the essential hair and beauty treatments but the salon provides a specialised wedding service in both departments along with bespoke packages designed for the bride and bridal party so that they can enjoy their big day knowing that they look wonderful and feel unique. Other services include’ Total Cover Plus’ hair systems for hair replacement and ‘The Hairforce’ which provides a simple solution to helping children and adults get rid of lice infestation as seen on channel 4’s ‘Embarrassing Bodies’. I can certainly say I will be returning to see Sam and Emma at Trust Salons & ESBeauty after such a fantastic day in the most perfect location. This is the place to enjoy being pampered!

Trust Salons & ESBeauty The Courtyard Wootton Park Wootton Wawen Henley -in-Arden Warwickshire B95 6HJ

Samantha Smith Trusthair@gmail.com 01789 731865/07773222747 Emma Sara Tibbs Emma@es-beauty.co.uk 07960657903

August 2015

New Beginnings Trust Salons and ESBeauty Open Event

rust Salons and ESBeauty launched their open event this month at Wootton Park giving the chance for individuals to find out more about the business and what it has to offer. Located in an exclusively private and tranquil spot in Warwickshire perfect for clients to unwind, relax and put themselves first. The open event gave the perfect opportunity for existing and new clients to experience just this. With Prosecco and nibbles plus live music from the fantastic Cameron Dunbar this was an excellent evening. There were prizes to be won, gift bags for all and discounts on products and treatments. What more could you ask for! Having the chance to meet one of the Dermologica Reps was one of the highlights of the event where guests could learn about the brand itself and provide individual skin analysis’, product recommendations and advice from Emma Tibbs on treatments available at ESBeauty.

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Samantha Smith the founder of Trust Salons explained how the name “Trust” was chosen for her business. Sam believes in having an honest and trustworthy team that deliver genuine treatments and services to all clients. With the team expanding and with the expansion work set to take place in the near future its an extremely exciting time for the team. The Salon’s not limited to one product range; everyone is individually different which gives the chance to explore the ranges to provide the perfect match. After meeting lots of Brides and Grooms to be at the event Sam and Emma have been able to provide their expert advice and look forward to hosting their next Wedding Open Day. Samantha Smith explains “We would love for Edge Magazine readers to feel that they can approach the team whether it is wedding related or if their query involves some of the more sensitive areas. Trust Salons believe the impossible is always the possible”.

Trust Salons & ESBeauty The Courtyard Wootton Park Wootton Wawen Henley -in-Arden Warwickshire B95 6HJ

Live Music: Cameron Dunbar cam999@hotmail.com 07796 353 919

Makeup & Beauty lounge

N OW O P E N O N L I V E RY ST R E E T GBK Leamington Spa

August 2015

Your Guide to Wine The more you look the more you discover Laura Clay

’m as guilty as the next man of throwing the same things in my trolley every week. If I did internet shopping I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘Same as last week, love?’ popped up as I logged on. I’ve had the same hairstyle since I was 14. I’ve been with the same man for 34 years. Obviously, I’m either not very adventurous or I just know what I like. When it comes to wine, however, I’m more daring and I enjoy spreading my vinous wings. But from what most wine drinkers tell me, they aren’t quite so brave, preferring to stick to what they know and generally buying the same wines week after week, an a few extra bottles when they are on offer. I understand this - a bottle of wine is, for most people, a cost they need to consider; they need to be sure that they are going to like it and that it is money well spent. Please bear in mind for a moment though, that if a couple each has a large Cappuccino from Starbucks, they’ve just spend more than the average spend on a bottle of wine. Now, I like my caffeine fix but seriously, which is better value here? As a wine educator and writer, I believe that one of my roles is to try to inspire, persuade and encourage (perhaps even push, shove and drag!) wine drinkers to buy those wines which have more substance and character, more style and impact but without necessarily having to dig too deeply into their pockets. Just as with anything in life, as a general rule, you get what you pay for so spending

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a little more than the average £5.39 on a bottle of wine will generally offer you a more full-filling wine-drinking experience. I’m not suggesting wines with the dizzy heights of full-on slap-in-theface hedonistic pleasure or with ‘having to re-mortgage your house’ prices, just more flavoursome wines for around a tenner. So, the current Chairman of Association of Wine Educators (AWE) and I set about finding out what other AWE members drink and enjoy and which wines they like to use at their tastings by asking for their top 2 or 3 wines costing either under £10 or between £10-£25. AWE members are all wine professionals, many of them are Masters of Wine, and many are judges at international wine competitions. They taste and talk about wine almost every day of their lives. They have well-tuned wine palates and opinions I respect. A brochure of 100 AWESOME WINES has resulted which can be viewed and downloaded online at www.wineeducators. com . It is a handy guide designed to give wine buyers confidence to branch out, and hopefully splash out a bit as well, safe in the knowledge that their money is well spent. There are wines from 15 different countries, made from more than 35 different grape varieties sold by a range of supermarkets, and independent and online merchants. Do have a look and if you need more encouragement and advice please email me.

For an opportunity to win a couple of bottles from the 100 AWESOME wine selection, please answer the following question: What does AWE stand for? Send your answer to wine@ edgemagazine.org by 31st August 2015 You must be over 18 to enter. Terms and conditions apply For wine advice, tastings and courses email laura@bywine.co.uk or visit the website www.bywine. to.uk Put 7th November in your diary for Birmingham’s very own wine festival. For full details go to www. lovewinefest.co.uk For wine advice, tastings and courses email laura@bywine.co.uk or visit the website www.bywine.to.uk

THE CROWN INN

Peopleton ● Pershore ● WR10 2EE ● 01905 840 222 www.crowninnpeopleton.co.uk

Get into summer with some of our new tasty treats An extensive range of Tapas created by our chefs Dishes include favourites such as the cod & chorizo skewers, king prawns in chilli, lime & garlic butter and scallops wrapped in pancetta & set on saffron infused risotto which is run daily alongside our lunch and dinner menus. Our tapas dishes are available for £5 each or 3 for £12.

Kids eat for free throughout the summer holidays with every adult main course ordered. Chefs special chimmichurri beef- our take on an argentine national treasure; a whole flank of beef dry rubbed with specially selected spices, marinated for three days then cooked on our char grill until crisp and served medium rare. Served with potato wedges, garlic mayo, salad & our own chimmichurri sauce. An absolute must for real meat lovers! (For two to share, minimum of 20oz before cooking) £25.95. Claire and Craig are now celebrating the one year anniversary of when they took over the Crown last August, they would like to thank all customers, both new and old, for making the Crown a must visit place to eat and drink @CrownPeopleton

PU09027

/thecrowninnpeopleton

Peopleton • Pershore • WR10 2EE • 01905 840222 www. crownpeopleton.co.uk

August 2015

Making Changes Healthy food substitutes Mel Taffs

e are always looking for ways to make our favourite foods healthier without sacrificing flavour, so I have compiled a list of just some of my favourite food substitutes... Mashed bananas for fats The creamy thickening- power of mashed ripe banana acts the same as avocado in terms of replacing fat in baking recipes. The consistency is ideal and the bananas add nutrients like potassium, fibre and vitamin B6. One cup of mashed banana works perfectly in place of 1 cup of butter or oil. Stevia for Sugar The natural sweetener stevia is lower in calories and up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. Since it’s so much sweeter swap with caution. A recipe needing 1 cup of sugar should be replaced with 1 teaspoon of liquid stevia or 2 tablespoons of stevia powder. Quinoa for couscous While couscous is made from processed wheat flour, quinoa is a wholegrain superfood packed with protein and nutrients.

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Mashed cauliflower for mashed potatoes Just like turnip mash, mashed cauliflower has only a fraction of the calories of potatoes and it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference. Crushed flax or fibre cereal for breadcrumbs Crushing a fibre- rich cereal and mixing it with some herbs makes an easy lower sodium substitution for traditional breadcrumbs. Frozen or fresh fruits for canned fruit

Sweet potato fries for French fries Opting for sweet potatoes rather than the traditional white potatoes adds an extra dose of fibre and vitamins A, C and B6. Plus, it cuts out roughly 20 grams of carbohydrates per one cup serving. Nuts for croutons Every salad needs that extra crunch, but rather than getting the extra carbs that come with croutons try some lightly toasted almonds, pecans or walnuts. Avocado mash for Mayo

Cut down on excess sugar and preservatives by choosing fresh or frozen varieties.

Half a mashed avocado is a great substitute for mayo on any sandwich. Both give some moisture but avocado packs a big dose of vitamin E and cholesterol checking mono saturated fat.

Popcorn for potato chips

Garlic powder for salt

Lower in calories and fat, natural popcorn without pre - flavoured seasonings is a great snack alternative to replace those oily, super salty potato chips. Try made at home flavours by adding cinnamon, chilli powder, or Parmesan.

Just like fresh herbs garlic powder can provide a powerful punch without adding the sodium. A word of warning though don’t mistake garlic powder for garlic salt!!

Brown rice cereal with flax meal for rice crispies Brown puffed rice has the same texture as conventional white rice, but with half the calories. The flax adds extra fibre, omega 3 fatty acids and phytochemicals to mix without compromising the flavour. Edamame hummus for regular hummus While hummus looks innocent from the sidelines it’s on our list of a high calorie food as it’s packed with more than 50 calories per 2 tablespoons. Switch to edamame based hummus as it can help reduce the fat and calorie content whilst still providing a tasty delicious dip. Dark chocolate for milk chocolate Higher in antioxidants dark chocolate is a better choice as it also contains flavonoids. Coconut milk for cream Coconut is a great substitute for heavy cream in soups and stews. And don’t be turned off by the word coconut .... it doesn’t taste like the sweetened shredded kind.

Avocado puree for butter They’re both fats (very different fats) and have nearly the same consistency at room temperature. The creaminess and subtle flavour of the avocado lends itself well to the texture of fudge brownies and dark chocolate flavourings.

Plain yogurt with fresh fruit for flavoured yogurt Pre flavoured yogurts often come packed with extra sugar, to skip the sugar rush without sacrifices, opt for plain Greek yogurt and add fresh fruit or honey for a hint of sweetness.

Chia seeds for butter

Americano for latte

These funny looking little seeds are good for more than just growing countertop pets. Combine 1 tablespoon chia seeds with 9 tablespoons of water, let sit for 15 minutes and you get that gel that is the perfect consistency to stand in for fat in baking recipes. One word of caution, don’t try to cut out all the fat with this substitute... It works best when subbing an equal amount of this mixture for half the fat in a recipe.

Just by cutting the milk out of that daily latte in favour of hot water, the calorie count drops by more than 150 calories. Steaming for boiling While both are great options for meats and veggies steaming is king because it removes fewer nutrients from vegetables. While boiling can leech out some of the better nutrients steaming keeps all that green goodness inside the veggies.

Lettuce leaves for tortilla wraps It’s not a perfect swap but forgoing the carbs for fresh lettuce is a fun switch that can lighten up any wrap or taco dish. Want to get fit: Lose weight and keep it off: Call Melanie on 07792421080 for more info.

August 2015

The Foodies Extravaganza The Leamington Spa Food And Drink Festival

housands of taste buds will be tingling with anticipation for the hugely popular Royal Leamington Spa Food and Drink Festival being dished up on the first weekend of September. With over 25,000 foodies flocking to the Royal Pump Room Gardens in the town centre from across the UK for the two-day annual extravaganza, it is the biggest event in the town’s calendar and regarded as one of the best autumn food festivals in the country. More than 150 producers and retailers will be showcasing the best in local and regional food and drink alongside an impressive line-up of chefs demonstrating their culinary skills. And in true festival style, the atmosphere will be topped off with live music from local acts. BID Leamington, which organises the festival with the support of local businesses, is hoping to top last year’s record crowd with an action-packed programme featuring new attractions and regular favourites like the Live Cookery Theatre, BBQ Masterclass, Make & Bake Kids Cookery School and Taste Trail. Stephanie Kerr, executive director of BID Leamington, said: “People travel from far and wide to the festival and its reputation grows every year. The diverse range of local food and drink is a big attraction along with a packed programme of cooking demonstrations, tastings and live entertainment. Plus it’s totally free to attend. “Exhibitors were blown away by the great crowds and atmosphere last year. All of the pitches and stalls for this year’s event were snapped up months in advance in record time and demand like that bodes extremely well for an even bigger and better festival in its eighth year.”

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Once again Aubrey Allen will be running the ‘Home Cook of the Year’ competition with applications available from the store in Warwick Street, Leamington. The four finalists will compete pan to pan, knife to knife in the Festival’s Live Kitchen on the Sunday. New for this year is a search to find the town’s best amateur baker with BID Leamington teaming up with Sweet As Cake Emporium, the award-winning chocolate specialist that produces cakes from its bakery in Warwick Place, Leamington, to launch the contest. Home bakers of all ages are being challenged to put their skills to the test with Jenny Hudson, chef director and founder of Sweet As Cake Emporium, leading the judging of three categories with fabulous prizes up for grabs. Jenny, who has created cakes for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Phillip Schofield and Peter Andre, said: “There is so much interest in baking at the moment and we know that there are some great home bakers so we thought the Leamington Food and Drink Festival would be a fantastic platform to see what talent is out there. “As a judge, I will be looking at the skill, creativity and passion that has been put into the bake and of course, the taste. And who knows, we might find the next Mary Berry or Paul Hollywood!” Contenders for the Leamington Bake Off hosted by Sweet As should register in advance by downloading and completing an entry form from www. leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk or www. sweet-as.co.uk Full event details including the festival programme for Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, from 10am to 6pm, can be found at www.leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk

August 2015

A Taste of Ostlers at No1 A review

Michael Abu-Zalaf

elcome to the Continent. Whether you’re lucky enough to have the time (and weather, of course) for sundowners on the tastefully decorated terrace, or you simply can’t wait to get seated comfortably inside and while away your evening, you’d easily be swayed into believing you’re somewhere in continental Europe. You’re not of course, rather on a pretty corner of Worcester, adjacent to the racecourse. This place oozes charm and romance. From a hand written blackboard with the week’s specials on, to attractive candle light setting a delightful backdrop for the summer’s evening, prepare to fall in love. Since reopening the doors of Ostlers, owner Ben Nelsey and Head Chef, Richard Deim have strived to make the whole dining experience first rate; cosy and intimate, with exceptional food that looks as good as it tastes. To celebrate a fantastic first year at the helm of this little gem, Ben and the team at Ostlers have launched a monthly tasting evening, held on the first Tuesday of every month. We were lucky enough to attend the first one and we were bowled over.

The Menu: Fresh Colchester Oyster, accompanied by a Portuguese gaspachio A Taste of Ostlers- 3 miniature starters inspired by their best sellers Handmade bread with homemade flavoured butters Scallop with caviar and samphire Beef carpaccio with a tomato sorbet and parmesan crisp Venison with asparagus spears and a sweet potato choux bun Assiette of dessert- White chocolate panacotta, chocolate fondant and passion fruit cheesecake One of our party was an ‘oyster virgin’ he had been presented with them before, but had never quite plucked up the courage to try one for himself. Whether it was 40

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because we were only presented with one fine specimen each, meaning he wasn’t over faced, or because the rest of us were excitedly chattering about how it had been a while since we had eaten oysters, he soon followed suit and down the hatch it went. The accompanying gaspachio was perfect to wash it down with, not as spiced as Tabasco - why ruin the flavour of an oyster so? The Taste of Ostlers at Number 1 starter trio was probably my favourite course of the night, a small but perfectly cooked piece of pork belly served on sweet potato fondant, a beetroot risotto with smoked salmon and a miniature Columbian lamb shank - a perfect replication but the size of a profiterole which managed to taste even better than it looked. The handmade bread is always a delight at Ostlers and the rosemary butter was a real treat - our only concern here was that we might fill up too much to enjoy the following courses! The scallop was a great size and perfectly cooked - soft and naturally sweet, with the samphire again bringing that real taste of the seaside to the dish and the following beef carpaccio was delicately flavoured and melted in the mouth with the sorbet complimenting perfectly and the parmesan crisp was a gorgeous change of texture. The main event was venison, it was wonderfully tasty and tender and the choux buns filled with beautifully seasoned sweet potato mash ensured the presentation was as good as the taste. All of the desserts were small but perfectly formed, just enough of a taste of white chocolate to satisfy with the panacotta, the gooey middle just that with the chocolate fondant and possibly the lightest passion fruit cheesecake that I have ever tasted, it was a fantastic end to what could only be described as an amazing meal.

stlers

The portion sizes were just right, enough to satisfy and give you the taste, but not too much to ruin the final courses. There is also an accompanying wine flight, should you want to really compliment the dishes with each wine having been sourced and chosen to enhance all of the dishes discreet flavours and textures.

N U M B E R

Ben and the team will be hosting their tasting evenings on the first Tuesday of every month, with the menu set to change for each one to ensure the best seasonal vegetables, meat and fish are offered. Booking is essential for this night, even the first one was sold out so make sure that you call ahead well in advance to book your table and trust me when I say that if you love top class cuisine and eating in a relaxed atmosphere with attentive service, this is not one to be missed.

Upcoming Tasting Evening Dates: Tuesday 4th August Tuesday 1st September Tuesday 6th October Tuesday 3rd November Tuesday 1st December Don’t forget the restaurant is also open for their famous Sunday brunch and lunches with bottlemless cups of coffee and the Sunday papers. For your chance to win a Sunday brunch or lunch for 4 people (up to the value of £100), visit the restaurant’s Facebook page and simply write ‘Edge Magazine Competition, Pick Me!’ on the public wall. Winner will be announced via Ostlers at Number 1’s Facebook page at the end of August. Voucher expires 4th October 2015.

Monday, Closed (Open by appointment) Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 12pm - 2pm and 5:30pm - 9:30pm Friday and Saturday, 12pm - 2pm and 5:30pm - 10pm Sunday, 10:00am - 2:30pm

1 Severn Terrace Worcester WR1 3EH t. 01905 21302 e. info@ostlersatnumber1.uk Facebook: Ostlers at Number 1 Twitter: @OstlersatNo1 www.Ostlersatnumber1.uk

Images: Max Luke Of Wüu Marketing Worcester.

Facebook/Twitter Ostlers at Number 1

Ostlers at Number 1, 1 Severn Terrace, Worcester WR1 3EH

t. 01905 21302

www.ostlersatnumber1.uk August 2015

The Local Kitchen Everything that’s cooking in the four counties

Chocolate Heaven

Joseph Vaughan, one of the UK’s youngest Chocolatiers, is to open his own shop in the Midlands

The Almanack is back with a smart new look The Almanack, Kenilworth has had a contemporary makeover bringing it right up to date, with a stylish new look inside and a delicious new seasonal menu. A gastropub in a modern setting, The Almanack sports a chic bar which is light and bright in the day and glowing at night, with comfortable spaces to relax over a drink. The eatery has a glamorous feel with rich blue teal walls and splashes of red. Smart leather booths and high-backed sofas make for lots of desirable tables, including a new chef’s table for 14 to enjoy the food of multi award-winning head chef Rob Hartwell. Chef Rob has created fantastic food that takes you through from brunch to supper, with slow-cooked barbecue dishes, daily roasts, deli and sandwiches plus classic brasserie dishes for a gastro night out. Open for brunch, lunch and dinner, The Almanack is at Abbey End North, Kenilworth, CV8 1QJ. Tel: 01926 353637 www.thealmanack-kenilworth.co.uk

are able to communicate their dietary needs and offer a wide range of dishes that are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free.

Café Bliss

Café Bliss is situated on the ground floor and courtyard area of the Worcester Arts Workshop. The Belizean chef ‘Ms Bliss’ is passionate about delivering ethically sauced authentic food with influences from Belize, the Caribbean and Mexico as well as more popular dishes. The open kitchen reassures customers who 42

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Café Bliss is not just about the food; Every second Sunday of the month is their ever popular event ‘Lazy Sunday’ featuring fantastic live performances from a variety of musicians from around the country; each month a different art exhibition is renewed in the dining area as well as regular evening events including raw food demonstrations, discussion groups, poetry and music. The Café is open Tuesday– Saturday, 10am–3pm and available for hire including a Central American buffet.

Knowle High Street, Solihull will soon have an exciting new addition. 1683 Chocolate Place, an artisan chocolate shop is due to open on 4th September 2015, selling couture chocolates handcrafted on the premises by 16 year old Chocolatier Joseph Vaughan. A passionate foodie, Joseph will be handcrafting his range of mouth-watering chocolates made from the finest Belgium Chocolate and fresh ingredients ensuring they are bursting with flavour without any additives. The extensive range features many favourites including hazelnut pralines, salted caramels and fruit ganache’s, but also more unusual and exciting new creations with something for everyone. 1683 Chocolate Place will also offer a bespoke service for corporate, weddings or special occasions with the ability to personalise with your logo or text. Call 01564 732266 or email or visit the shop to experience Joseph’s fantastic creations:

enquiries@1683chocolateplace.co.uk

1683 Chocolate Place, 1683 High Street, Knowle, West Midlands, B93 0LL

NO35 THE

PROVENANCE Worcester’s finest restaurant and wine bar

Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Lunch and Drinks WWW.35THEPROVENANCE.CO.UK 35 FOREGATE STREET | WORCESTER | WR1 1EE 01905 726 333 | MANAGER@THEPROVENANCE.CO.UK

The Oak Inn “Daily Menu”

Our Daily Menu is available Mon- Sat 12.30- 2.30 Mon - Thurs Evenings 6pm-9pm 1 course £10/ 2 course £12.50/ 3 course £15.00 Al a carte menu also available daily Sunday Lunch served 12pm-7pm The breakfast club - Mon- Fri 10am-12 noon & Sat/Sun 9.30am-12 noon All day Tuesday - Pie and Pint (Pie of the day, buttered mash, peas) £10

Defford, adj Woodmancote turn Worcester WR8 9BW

01386 750327

www.theoakinndefford.com August 2015

FRE

ENT

FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL SAT 5th & SUN 6th SEPTEMBER 2015 10am-6pm PUMP ROOM GARDENS

Immerse yourself in a world of tasty morsels. It’s not to be missed! WIN a £250 Hamper! See website for details. “One of the top 10 UK Food Festivals.” (Telegraph 2013)

www.leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk 44

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Bee-utiful

Honey-buns and Bee-cakes to celebrate Stourport Manor Hotel’s beeautiful Summer Gardens

Arctic Cabins – Barbeque in style

Barbecue cabins are hexagonal or octagonal timber buildings, with a central barbecue unit and bench seating around the inside walls. But what they really are is a haven, a place to escape, relax and unwind. There is something about the wood, the way you sit in a cabin, the fire, the cosiness, the peace and quiet, the warmth and the atmosphere that needs to be experienced to be truly appreciated. Arctic Cabins have been manufacturing barbecue cabins for over 10 years and have customers all over the UK and beyond. Once inside, the cabins are deceptively spacious and come in a range of sizes from approximately 10 to 25 meters squared. Most cabins have benches that are extendable and convert into sleeping bunks that are surprisingly comfortable. Made from the highest grade Scandinavian red wood, from sustainable sources and the finest quality roofing shingle, these cabins are built to last and are supplied with a coat of timber preservative and 10 year manufacturers guarantee for complete peace of mind. They also come with cushions or authentic animal skins and a full accessory kit to get you barbecuing straight away. For more information on Arctic Cabins visit www.arcticcabins.co.uk or telephone 0115 932 8888.

The Royal Shakespeare Company is hosting a brand new series of special cocktail masterclasses at its bar based in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Royal Shakespeare Company offer brand new series of cocktail masterclasses this summer

People can learn more about how to mix the perfect drink and the history behind cocktail making at the theatre’s Rooftop Restaurant bar - which offers unique views across the river Avon. Sessions run until 28 August 2015 and begin at 8.30pm. Each session costs £12, and includes two free drinks. The masterclasses follow on from the RSC’s creation of Shakespearean

The Stourport Afternoon Tea inspired by their favourite floral nectar consists of scones, honey, clotted cream and jam, classic sandwiches of salmon, cucumber and honey of course, teacakes alongside your choice of teas and bubbles if you would like to toast to their wonderful bees! Stourport Manor has taken their bees health and the support they bring to the ecology of the grounds and surrounding area, by creating beefriendly gardens. Donald Stewart, General Manager of Stourport Manor said ‘We want to benefit the local community by making sure the bee population is supported. The hotel has planted Lavender and Oregano to make sure they›re plenty for the bees to survive.› Afternoon tea £12.95, with prosecco £16.00 - children’s version £5.00 35 Hartlebury Road, Stourport on Severn DY13 9JA www.menzieshotels.co.uk Reservations: 01299 289955 or stourport@menzieshotels.co.uk

inspired cocktails which celebrate the shows that the Company performs. Past offerings include the Bloody Tamora, based on Shakespeare’s gory and tragic Titus Andronicus, as well as the Kiss Me Kate cocktail – which focused on the witty character, Katherina, from Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew. With only a few weeks left of the classes, make sure you do not miss out. RSC Rooftop Restaurant 01789 403449 or www.rsc.org.uk/Titus Andronicus

August 2015

Café Rouge – Solihull

New Look, New Menu – Authentic French Cuisine Charlie O'Neill

ocated in one of the West Midlands popular destinations, Café Rouge has recently undergone a new look which unveils a beautifully redesigned bistro on the Solihull High Street as well as a brand new menu for all to enjoy. Café Rouge’s signature brand of relaxed, authentic French dining coupled with downto- earth, friendly service make Solihull’s local bistro the perfect place for business breakfasts, impromptu lunches, special occasion dinners and everything in between. The restaurant, housed in a charming, listed building, has been given a very special make over, one which marries the restaurant’s French, cosmopolitan spirit with one of Solihull’s best loved attractions – The National Motorcycle Museum – putting a whole new spin on Va Va Voom! As well as the new look, the bistro now presents a brand new menu, featuring the most authentic and classic dishes yet. Executive Chef Duncan McEwan has explored 25 years of Café Rouge menus and French cuisine – from their debut offering in 1989 right through to current French food trends. The selection even includes a rather special appearance from one of France’s most famous culinary exports – the snail - with Ragoût D’Escargots a new, must-try dish! Firstly, I chose to have a glass of the La Côte Flamen Picpoul de pinet which introduced all of the vibrant citrus flavors you would want in a glass of white wine and from the south of France, followed by Plateu Du Pain which included the baked in-house baguette, fougasse fingers, rye & caraway bread, black olive tapenade and d'lsigny butter and served with a selection of green and black olives. To start I opted for the Crevettes which were infused with garlic & smoked chilli butter. I have a weakness for seafood and these were cooked beautifully. My partner opted for the Chicken Liver Pate accompanied by grilled rye & caraway bread and chutney. Once we had finished our starters we were surprised by our waiter with one of their signature taster dishes… which they explained we must try! Of course, I knew that

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it was going to be SNAILS! Something I have always been very apprehensive about trying, with images in my head of what they look like and how I can imagine them tasting. However, we were both pleasantly surprised. The snails tasted a lot meatier than I had originally imagined and were complemented by the garlic butter. If you are afraid to try snails, please don’t be, the taster pots are only £1.95 so it’s a great place to give them a try! My choice for main course was the Confit De Canard, a slow-cooked duck leg accompanied with French beans, dauphinoise potatoes and cherry sauce. The duck was tender and melted in the mouth. My other half decided on the Poulet Breton, a roasted roast chicken supreme with mushrooms, courgettes, leeks, herb wine sauce and mustard mashed potato. This tasted delicious. We were both quite full at this point however, it would be rude not to try the desserts, so we both went for it and I opted for the Torte Aux Chocolats et Banana, which was as good as it sounds and a recommendation from our waiters. With chocolate, banana & praline cake, salted caramel ice cream and dark chocolate sauce how could it possibly go wrong? My partner chose the signature Tarte Au Citron. This lemon Tart was to die for served with crème fraiche, the perfect summer dessert. A fabulous evening with fabulous food. If you haven’t tried the new menu already make sure that when you are next doing a spot of shopping in the Touchwood Centre, pop by for breakfast, Lunch or Dinner at the new look Cafe Rouge where there will be plenty of choice to satisfy those taste buds. Café Rouge Solihull 134 High Street Solihull B91 3SX Tel. 0121 711 8881 www.caferouge.com/french-restaurant/ solihull

August 2015

Community Shops Making a comeback

ince the decline of most village shops around 20 years ago, the recent rise in community shops has been a welcome change to rural, village locations. Community shops are essentially village shops that are owned and run by members of the community. Although they trade as businesses, they are primarily there for the benefit of the community and those passing through. They tend to have voluntary membership, whereby members of the village can buy shares which are usually regulated so that everyone owns the same amount and effectively become part owners of the business, meaning that everyone has a say, should they wish. The majority of community shops in the UK are managed and run directly by the community, mostly by volunteers, but sometimes including some paid members of staff, from the villages and surrounding areas, which helps to keep overheads low and build community spirit. They are an incredibly resilient form of business –

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out of the 286 community shops that have ever opened in England, Scotland and Wales, only 13 have ceased to trade, which gives a survival rate of 95%. This compares extremely positively with estimations for UK small business nationally which have a 5 year survival rate of 46.8%. They succeed for a number of reasons. Most importantly they engage the community and stimulate social activity and community cohesion. Because the community have a shared ownership in the shop they are more likely to shop there, which gives a stronger sales base than privately owned village shops. Some shops also pay no rent as the community often raise the funds through the share schemes to buy a property for the shop to use. People are also very aware these days of the decline of local shops and the ‘use it or lose it’ mantra still rings very true, with many local residents remembering the days of the original village shop.

One real success story, from the heart of our region, is The Shop at Feckenham. A voluntary group from the community who operate The Village Shop has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. The Shop, a Community Enterprise, is kept open 60 hours a week by a team of 80 plus volunteers from the village and surrounding area. In 2009 after 20 years without a shop a group of villagers with no previous retail experience, upgraded and opened a new one. They raised £40,000 in just 7 months and 300 villagers signed up as shareholders. The result has been a resounding success, not just because a shop has returned to the village after so long, but also because the project has brought the wider community together, from teenagers to pensioners, enabling friendship, co-operation and a sense of pride. This has rippled outwards and local schools and businesses are

Next Step, villagers only shop

A popular community shop in a village near Malvern is taking the next step to acquiring its own permanent building. The Alfrick and Lulsley Community Shop opened its doors in 2012, following the closure of the last village store, and has proved to be hugely popular with residents. It currently occupies a portable building in the grounds of Alfrick Village Hall, but the long term plan was always to build a permanent home for the shop. Now the organising committee has submitted a planning application to Malvern Hills District Council for the new building on the site of the existing cabin. The building designed by Ian Guest Associates, includes a shop area, café with kitchen and server and an outside veranda, a post office counter, and an upstairs mezzanine to provide office space.

also benefiting from this shop’s support. Inspired by their achievement the community planned and built phase 2, which saw the addition of a café with free wi-fi. It has proved very successful and is popular with cyclists, walkers and villagers alike. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities. The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. Award winners this year range from Ablaze, a charity helping to raise academic achievement amongst disadvantaged young people in Bristol to a volunteer rescue boat service on Loch Lomond.

Alan Soper, chairman of the shop committee, said: “This is an important moment for us, coming as it does just about three years after the shop first opened on June 22, 2012.” Since then, the shop has succeeded more than we would have imagined possible. Not only has the turnover increased year on year, but the shop has really become a social centre for Alfrick and Lulsley and the surrounding area. People use the shop as a meeting place, they come in and have a cup of tea and talk to friends, and it really is a thriving Centre. He said that none of this would have been possible without the team of about 70 volunteers who staff the shop and café and provide back office services. “It’s a huge contribution by the community and it means that something like one in ten of the population of the local parishes is involved in the shop.” Mr Soper said that, assuming planning permission is granted, the next step will be applying to a group like the Lottery Fund for grants to pay for the building. Organisers are also launching a sale of shares to enable local people to invest in the project. The total cost of the project is estimated at about £240,000. Mr Soper said:” That’s a lot of money to raise, but we’ve been ambitious in the past and it’s paid off so we remain optimistic.”

August 2015

Allotments The sun is shining…….IT’S GARDEN TIME! Lauren Picker

adly not for all of us though. Some of us are not fortunate enough to have a garden, instead our humble abode is a beautiful apartment centrally located in the heart of the city - which I absolutely adore I must add - but without a garden I must look elsewhere for a beautiful green space that makes me feel relaxed and at ease, a place to unwind. Is an allotment my answer!? In the UK there are 330, 000 people who are allotment holders and a large proportion are over the age of 50, but it is commonly becoming more and more popular with younger people too. I am a young professional who could not think of anything more rewarding than looking after beautiful flowers, growing my own vegetables and creating a valued habitat for wild plants and animals. I do however believe that not enough people are aware of the benefits in life that an allotment can bring which is why I decided to put of a focus on it in this month’s Edge Magazine. Let’s have a look at some of the benefits… Having an allotment gives you not only plenty of fresh air and exercise it is also great for peace of mind. In some parts of the UK, doctors recommend horticulture as treatment for stress as it can be a very calming and relaxing activity, but is also exceptionally rewarding. Having an allotment can be a very sociable activity, with most plots side by side it is a great way to meet new people who share similar interests. Certain sites across the UK hold events throughout the year to encourage its allotment holders to share ideas, show their produce and involve local community groups and schools. Allotments can also be a great family project helping to unite a family – it won’t break the bank either. Most allotments cost in the region of

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£25 - £125 per year to rent and when taking in to consideration how much money a family spends on fresh produce a year, it benefits you both health wise and financially. Learning how food grows and knowing where it comes from, helps develop a healthy relationship with food and appreciate that food is not indispensable. Locally grown food does not have to be transported long distances, which helps to reduce pollution and road traffic in turn lowering your carbon footprint. How to become an allotment holder? First of all, get in contact with the local council to find out where the nearest allotment sites are. The council usually own the land and will either be able to allocate a plot right away or add your name to a waiting list. It is also recommended that you take a look at the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners as they can provide you with advice and support, and can help you determine whether having an allotment is right for you. If you are a current allotment holder or are thinking about getting an allotment, did you know its National allotment week 10th to the 16th August? The theme this year is designed to emphasise the benefits that allotments bring to everyone regardless of age or gender, and to also highlight the fact that we need to value our remaining plots and preserve them for future generations to enjoy. What are you waiting for? Fresh air, organic home grown food and an activity the whole family can enjoy together. For further information check out: www.nsalg.org.uk

August 2015

Dahlias

A true showstopper Karl Strawbridge

ahlias, simply invaluable in the summer border, often flowering until the first frosts and although perfect in the border they are just as comfortable in a pot on the patio. With the milder winters in the midlands they are capable of being left in the ground all winter as long as you protect them with a thick blanket of warm winter mulch, homemade compost is perfect, chipped bark is equally as good, but to remove all risk and be absolutely sure of keeping your Dahlia from year to year you will need to dig them up after the first few frosts have blackened their foliage. Dry the tubers off in a cool greenhouse for a few weeks, then brush off any excess soil and store away in a frost free place till next spring. Dahlias are often a bushy tuberous perennial native to Mexico, there are fourteen show stopping groups of dahlia ranging from the single flowered types through the doubles to the cactus and pompom varieties of flower head including the darker foliage range of the Bishops which have become very fashionable over the last few years because of their vibrant flowers contrasting with the bronze foliage. Wagon house gardens at the Jinney ring craft centre have a good range of Dahlias for you to select from this summer including the very popular Bishop of Llandaff. There are many Dahlia clubs and societies all over the UK and it’s easy to see why they are so addictive to collect and show. The blooms are so versatile and great for picking for a home display or to give as a gift and they are often now featured in a fresh seasonal bridal bouquet. Enthusiasts of the dahlia also competitively display the tall stems in a variety of classes at flower shows and events and they have an enduring appeal to gardeners, a true highlight of the late summer season. Dahlias are prone to Aphid attack and slugs adore them when young but these pests can easily be controlled, the blooms can also become home to earwigs so give them a shake before bringing them in the house. They are tolerant of a number of soil types but most like fertile well drained soil which gets plenty of sunlight. Propagate by division of the tuber or by taking cuttings of new growth from the growing tuber in the spring. They root very easy in the spring. The dahlia is experiencing somewhat of a revival and they are becoming much more fashionable for late summer colour so if you have a dull corner to brighten up then the dahlia could be that perfect plant for you and it’s so easy to see why. Wagon house Gardens, The Jinney Ring Craft Centre, Hanbury B60 4BU

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August 2015

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Keeping a well manicured lawn

well manicured lawn is often the envy of friends and neighbours, but in the summer months it can be tough to keep it looking lush, green and coveted by all of those who cast their eyes upon it! It is more likely in the summer months that drought will occur and without a little TLC even the best lawns can turn brown and straw like. The good news is that a lawn that is well maintained, aerated and appropriately fed throughout the year should spring back pretty quickly from periods of drought but the only real option that you have if a prolonged period of hot, dry weather strikes is to water it. Always try and water evenly but also bear in mind any restrictions on watering that could be brought in. The best time for watering is early morning or late evening, what you don’t want is for the water to frazzle the grass in the heat of the day, but at least it’s handy for those of us that have to go out to work during the day. Also, if your lawn is really struggling with sign of drought, mow it as little as possible, it won’t really be growing without a good supply of water and the extra mowing will just stress it and cause it to brown even further. Aerating your lawn also plays a key part in keeping it healthy, allowing more air to circulate, in turn encouraging the grass to grow. This can be done with a garden fork, or with special shoe spikes that can be worn and walked around the lawn. Cutting the lawn is often the most time consuming part of caring for your grass, but paying attention and giving it the focus that it deserves really will pay off. The leaves of the grass trap the sunlight and this sunlight is transferred into energy using photosynthesis. You can think of the grass a little like solar panels, the bigger the leaf, the more sunlight will be trapped and available to be converted into energy, making the grass green and healthy. If you cut

your grass too short, say below ¼ of an inch, it is like ripping out half of your solar panels. Not enough surface area is available to allow the plant to make ample food to grow and flourish. Close mowing also causes the grass to go into survival mode and try and replenish its leaves quicker, leading to the energy stores being used up even faster and there being less available to fight off disease and maintain that good green colour. If you keep your grass at a good length, but the lawn is thin, patchy or full of weeds and moss, the chances are that your mower could be causing your problems. Like if you cut your finger, a cut from a sharp blade heals much more quickly than a jagged cut. Grass is exactly the same, so make sure that your mower has plenty of power and a nice sharp blade. You should aim to mow your lawn once a week, apart from in times of drought and never remove more than 1/3 of the blade. If you are removing more of this in your weekly cut, raise your mower blade so that less is taken off. It’s best to mow a dry lawn, but follow these tips if the grass is wet and you can’t put it off any further. Drag a hose across the grass to ‘squeegee’ off the rain or dew. It will now dry much quicker if you can wait awhile, otherwise you can mow straight away Raise the mowing height to reduce load on the lawn mower Empty the bag/box more often – less weight for you and your mower Keep your speed down to reduce load on the mower blade Clogging may occur so take it steady Hose down your mower when done and leave in a ventilated area to dry

August 2015

Andrew Grant

Opens new offices in Stratford-upon-Avon and Henley-in-Arden

dynamic organisation, Andrew Grant is recognised as the region’s premier Independent Group of Chartered Surveyors, Auctioneers and Estate Agents. Andrew Grant has been established for over 40 years, in which time they have gone from strength to strength and remain at the top of their game and continue to push the boundaries in their industry. They offer a bespoke, personal service from fifteen residential offices in Warwickshire, Worcestershire, the West Midlands, Shropshire and Herefordshire. In addition they also have a London Office in St. James Place which draws applicants from a wide geographical area. Andrew Grant has recently agreed the acquisition of the established residential

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sales’ and lettings’ operations in both Stratford-upon-Avon and Henley-InArden from CP Bigwood. Taking the ground floor of the double fronted offices of 2-3 Union Street, Stratford-upon-Avon and the whole of the Henley-In-Arden office at 116a High Street. The move into Warwickshire will be the fifth county Andrew Grant now operates from. David Stuart-Smith, Managing Partner of Andrew Grant said: “This acquisition extends our office network further into Warwickshire – giving us a total of 15 residential sales’ and lettings’ offices across the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and London”.

“Towns like Stratford-upon-Avon and Henley-In-Arden are natural growth areas for a firm like Andrew Grant which has built a very strong reputation for residential sales and lettings. Therefore this transaction perfectly suits the aspirations and core business plans for both Andrew Grant and CP Bigwood”. CP Bigwood’s residential service charge team and property management department will remain to service their Warwickshire and Cotswold clients on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Stratford office – along with commercial agency, agricultural, professional and valuations’ staff. Matt Burrows, Partner of Andrew Grant and Office Manager for both Stratfordupon-Avon and Henley-In-Arden said:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;These extensions of the Andrew Grant brand are a natural and dynamic progression following our successful launch of the Solihull branch a few years ago. Moving into our fifth county builds on our established local branches which include Redditch and Pershore. I am now looking forward to meeting new and existing clients of both offices to assist them in all of their buying, selling, renting or letting requirementsâ&#x20AC;?. Worcester is the home of the flagship Country Homes department where they specialise in the sale of unique prestigious properties. Country Homes sell these individual properties throughout Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, the West Midlands, Herefordshire and across the border into Wales.

Andrew Grant conduct a number of auctions every year selling a wide range of properties from building plots and land, cottages and barn conversions to traditional residential homes and commercial property, also having specialist departments for Surveys, Commercial, Lettings, New Homes and Fine Art. All departmental leaders are qualified members of their respective professional disciplines and can be relied upon to deliver the highest standards of service to you. Andrew Grant's trustworthiness to you as a customer is assured by their committed partnership with a number of highly regarded professional bodies. All operating practices are rigorously governed by them and they are thoroughly accountable for their performance.

Always challenging established practice whilst embracing the latest technology, to offer an unrivalled, bespoke personal service. Striving for excellence and endeavoring to exceed clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expectations. The staff at Andrew Grant are amongst the most experienced agents in the industry and are dedicated to constant training and review of service standards, wanting every customer to know how valued and important they are to the business. Andrew Grant's regional branches are based in Bromsgrove, Droitwich Spa, Kidderminster, Henley-In-Arden, Hereford, Ludlow, Malvern, Pershore, Redditch, Solihull, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Stourbridge, Worcester City Homes and Worcester St Johns.

August 2015

Create your own sanctury At Hatton and Harding Interiors David Hatton

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e recently paid one of many visits to Chelsea Harbour, the Mecca of Interior Design, which always exceeds expectations. On this occasion though we were given the ultimate treat with a visit to the Mulberry Home studio where the designers were busy at work on future designs, surrounded by mood boards of inspirational images. It was a feast for the eyes. If you’re about to take on a project, no matter how big or small, identifying and developing your own individual style is paramount to the success of designing a beautiful home and vital for any scheme. Following a simple process may help you to make the right decisions on those costly items that blow the budget, which flooring will work or the right kitchen for your home as well as the more impulsive purchases such as what shade of towels to choose or where a vase of flowers should go. How well you already know your own taste will determine how long this takes, it could be hours, it could be weeks. We always follow this process with clients, even if the project is only small and most definitely on our own home. In our case the outcome is usually slightly different every time, some people find the result is always the same, either can be just as useful. Get inspired - Most of us aren’t aware of our own style, not initially anyway. So, start with a pile of glossy magazines. Cut out and keep all of the images of interiors that you like, the more the better, you may not like everything in the image so it helps to list what appeals to you in each picture and just note if there’s anything you don’t like. Many magazines also list tips on how you can recreate a look including stockists. It doesn’t have to be just images of interiors either, cut out the places you love to visit, clothes you like, it will all add to how you determine your style. Just think of Italy, fabulous food, elegant style, superb design, luxury fashion, history and culture.

House rules - You may love your own home, you may not. While the architectural style of your property is important you need to be comfortable with your own style so that it can work with any property. So if you’re longing to create your very own sanctuary with wow factor with plush pieces and industrial items....go get those magazines!!!

Hatton & Harding Interiors 13a Old Square Warwick CV34 4RV 01926 408892

www.hattonandharding.co.uk Follow us on Twiter @HattonHarding5, Facebook Hatton&Harding, Instagram Hatton_Harding and Pinterest @hattonharding

Picture the whole room - It’s great to collect images of particular items, pieces of furniture, carpets, lamps etc but our mind collates styles of whole room settings easier than from individual products. Pinterest & Instagram are great sources of inspiration. Many magazines also have a House Clinic section, almost a problem page of interiors information. Keeping up with the Jones’s - Appreciate & enjoy the homes of your friends and family while realising their style may be different from yours. One of the biggest mistakes people make is mirroring a friend’s style they love which may not translate well into their own home.

August 2015

Dodderhill School Why single sex education tops mixed sex schools

he headmistress of independent girls’ school, Dodderhill School in Droitwich Spa, Cate Mawston, explains what it is that sets single sex schools apart from mixed. Dodderhill School was placed firmly at the top of the local league tables in January this year. The tables show how Worcestershire’s secondary schools performed in the latest round of GCSE and A Levels examinations. The results revealed that 92 per cent of Dodderhill’s pupils achieved five A* to C grades, including English and maths, ensuring it came out on top.

Cate Mawston Headmistress at Dodderhill School

Mrs Mawston explains the reason that Dodderhill girls perform so well: “Dodderhill is the only girls’ school in the area. Many girls come here because they tell me that they are keen to learn, but feel that mixed sex schools detract from that.

“Tomorrow I will be even better than today.”

At Dodderhill School in Droitwich, girls grow to become inspiring leaders. A highly challenging curriculum also prepares them for the most competitive sixth forms in the area. In fact, our GCSE results consistently rank Dodderhill as one of Worcestershire’s top schools. Bursaries available for up to full fees.

What could your daughter achieve tomorrow? Visit www.dodderhill.co.uk or call 01905 778290.

“What sets Dodderhill apart is our unique, bespoke approach to each and every girl. We adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of the student, not the other way around, which ensures that everyone is challenged, stretched and stimulated at the appropriate level. “Our classes are deliberately small and our exam results are consistently amongst the best in Worcestershire. It is not unusual for girls to take AS examinations with their GCSEs. The latest league table results demonstrate the success that our single sex education approach achieves.” Dodderhill School provides continuity of education for girls from six weeks to 16 years old. For more information visit www.dodderhill.co.uk, email enquiries@dodderhill.co.uk or call 01905 778290.

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August 2015

DMS Awards

Dorridge Music School Awards

eigh Perry, Principal and trustee of DMS Heart of England Music Academy (Knowle) was honoured to be shortlisted for West Midlands Woman of the Year 2015 in two categories, Outstanding Contribution to The Arts and Outstanding Contribution to Education. The Award ceremony was held in July at The Hyatt Regency Birmingham, where over 400 nominees were recognised for their work and contributions within the community and in the West Midlands. Leigh started working at Dorridge Music School aged just 16 when the school had around a dozen pupils. Given the opportunity to take over the business she built the school to where it is today. DMS, now a registered charity is the largest independent music school in the country teaching four year olds to adults and beginners to diploma level. Leigh produces a concert at Symphony Hall every 18 months and October 4th this year will be the sixth time at the prestigious venue. The concert raises money for charity, with all profits from the programme sales going directly to DMS’s chosen charities.

This year Birmingham Dogs Home (Who have linked with DMS for ongoing support), Kissing It Better and Delete Blood Cancer will benefit from the event. Sadly Riya Dandekar a pupil at DMS lost her battle with blood cancer earlier this year. Leigh contacted the BBC and media to help with Riya’s plight and has started a campaign through DMS, getting staff, pupils and friends to register as blood donors and raise the profile of DBC. For more info about Joining DMS or for Concert tickets T: 01564772831 E: leighperry@sky.com Follow: @DMSMusicSchool / @leighmusicangel

A fusion of music and dance

Over 300 musicians will perform in this musical spectacular co-hosted by Rock Legend Bev Bevan and featuring music from Classical to Rock, The Eagles to Queen . Special celebrity guest performers include Bev Bevan of ELO, The Move and Black Sabbath, Angelo Starr (brother of the late gr8 Motown legend Edwin Starr) and front man of THE TEAM, The Town Hall Gospel Choir plus we are delighted to announce that “The Rat Pack are back”! The Ultimate tribute act as seen in the Royal Command starring David Alacey as Frank Sinatra, Des Coleman as Sammy Davis Junior and Paul Drakely as Dean Martin . Also appearing is Faith Tucker one of this country’s most promising sopranos. It’s going to be “A Night to Remember” Supporting Delete Blood Cancer, Birmingham Dogs Home and Kissing it Better. For info www.dorridgemusicschool.com Contact leighperry@sky.com

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The Big Hoot 2015

Birmingham has one hoot of a summer as owls flock to city-wide art display

iant owls have been spotted nesting in Birmingham’s streets, parks and open spaces as The Big Hoot took flight on Monday 20 July. The project, presented by public art specialists Wild in Art in partnership with Birmingham Children’s Hospital, runs for 10 weeks and hopes to raise £500,000 for the hospital when the owls will be sold at auction in October. But just what is The Big Hoot? The Big Hoot is Birmingham’s largest free mass participation public art event, offering residents and visitors the opportunity to explore The Big Hoot trail and find all 89 owls along the way. Organisers hope that this will not only encourage the city to engage with the arts, but also to reconnect with their city and rediscover Birmingham. Tourists, both local and national, are encouraged to follow the trail and enjoy Birmingham’s beautiful open spaces and

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inspiring buildings. Visitors can also download the free ‘The Big Hoot’ app to keep track of their owl findings and unlock exclusive rewards or discounted tickets to attractions. In just three days, the app saw over 10,000 interactions, giving some indication as to just how big The Big Hoot might be by the end of the summer. Alongside the main project runs The Big Hoot’s Little Hoot. The Little Hoot project, supported by Official Education Partner, The Schools of King Edward VI, has encouraged children and teachers alike to have fun with the project, within the curriculum. Pupils can now see their works of art and baby owlets on display in leisure centres, libraries and recreation centres across the region. So who has created the owls? The Big Hoot has been made possible by Birmingham’s businesses community. Private equity specialists LDC were at the forefront of the project and have

sponsored three out of the 89 owl sculptures in the city, including an owl on behalf of renowned athletics club Birchfield Harriers. The owls stretch as far as Sutton Coldfield in the north, to Northfield in the south and everything in between. Trail followers will rediscover poignant landmarks, with owls situated in iconic Birmingham places such as Bullring, the Library of Birmingham and The Cube. Neil Edginton is Director of The Cube and has sponsored Mr Architect, an owl by Tamworth artist Sam Pierpoint which celebrates Birmingham’s architecture. He said: “It has been a pleasure to be involved in The Big Hoot. It’s wonderful to welcome something so unique to the city bringing the community and businesses together to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. It’s all about having fun, finding the owls, enjoying the splendid artwork that has been created specifically for our city and

raise a little bit of money to support a truly deserving charity”. Decorated by artists of all disciplines, including illustrators, graffiti artists, printmakers and graphic designers, the owls have given artists the opportunity to work with a unique canvas, whilst funding the arts and raising money for a worthy cause. 10 community owls, which have been part-funded by Birmingham City Council, are on public display within their own community, including North Yardley, Richmond, Birchfield, Lozells, Soho Finger, Winson Green, Nechells, Ward End, Erdington and Bordesley Green. Sally-Ann Wilkinson, Director of Wild in Art, said: “The Big Hoot offers both residents and visitors an opportunity to discover Birmingham’s rich cultural and creative offer, whilst at the same time raising significant funds for our partner Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

“The success of The Big Hoot has been completely dependent on the generous participation and exceptional contribution of many people and communities across the region. The incredible level of support from businesses is unprecedented and we are indebted to so many companies and organisations who have embraced this project”. Thousands of families have already flocked to the city to mark each owl off their list. Sarah-Jane Marsh, Chief Executive at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, hopes that The Big Hoot has encouraged families to be more active. She said: “I am so excited that hundreds of vibrant owls have swooped into Birmingham to fill it with colour. “The innovative ‘Big Hoot’ offers families a free and fun day out and an opportunity to explore areas of our city they may never have visited before, with the added bonus of helping them to stay

active. This is important to us, because at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, we believe leading an active lifestyle is one of the best things you can do for your family’s health, and we are committed to doing all we can to promote it.” Local residents and businesses are also being encouraged to get sponsored to walk, jog, run or cycle the trail and raise money for the hospital’s charity at the same time. The owls will be on display until the end of September. After which they will be taken to auction on Thursday 15 October. If you’ve seen an owl you want to give a home to, visit www.thebighoot.co.uk/auction or email auction@thebighoot.co.uk. To donate £2 to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, text HOOT to 70099.

August 2015

S WA N T H E AT R E STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

F R O M 17 SE P T E M B E R

EURIPIDES A NEW VERSION BY MARINA CARR

WOULD YOU BETRAY YOUR HUSBAND TO SAVE YOUR LIFE?

TICKETS FROM £16 w w w.rsc.org.uk/hecuba

0661 www.edgemagazine.org 7 8 9 4 0 3 4 9 3

arina Carr reimagines Euripides’ Hecuba, an ancient Greek tragedy originally written around 424 BC, through many voices in a visceral new play. Running at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-uponAvon, from September 17th, this is the second play that Marina has written for the RSC, following her two-hander The Cordelia Dream, performed as part of the Company’s residency at Wilton’s Music Hall in London in 2008/9. Marina’s best known play is By the Bog of Cats (Abbey, Dublin and Wyndham’s Theatre, London). Her awards include the Irish Playwright Award and the Susan Smith Blackburn Award. ‘How frail a king is with his crown off…’ Troy has fallen. It’s the end of war and the beginning of something else. Something worse. As the cries die down after the final battle, there are reckonings to be made. Humiliated by her defeat and imprisoned by the charismatic victor Agamemnon, the great queen Hecuba must wash the blood of her buried sons from her hands and lead her daughters forward into a world they no longer recognise. Agamemnon has slaughtered his own daughter to win this war. But now another sacrifice is demanded… In a world where human instinct has been ravaged by violence, is everything as it seems in the hearts of the winners and those they have defeated? Speaking to Marina, Dan Hutton found out that she feels that Hecuba’s story has been misrepresented.

Image courtesy of Stewart Hemley

Hecuba At the RSC

“I’ve always disagreed with the legacy of Hecuba and the way she’s been treated, so I wanted to argue a bit with how she’s been handed down to us.” Hecuba, in Homer’s Iliad and later in Euripides’ play of the same name, was the wife of King Priam and bore eighteen children during a time of immense conflict. Marina, however, takes issue with a major plot-point in her narrative: “I fundamentally disagreed with the idea of her killing her two little grandsons in revenge. I just never bought that. So I’ve written my own version of what might possibly have happened on that beach.” According to the legend, Hecuba is driven by revenge, but Marina suggests her actions are less straightforward and come from a deep-seated sense of injustice. Marina Carr

“Her daughter Polyxena is taken from her to be sacrificed and she has to endure the death of her last son and husband. She has to endure being the mother of Cassandra, the prophetess... so she has quite a lot on her plate.” Marina has always been drawn to these ancient myths, in a busy, often superficial world, it’s the depth of human understanding that these plays demonstrate which draw her back time and time again. Her version of Hecuba brings to life private thoughts, making the play resonate for a modern audience. Above that, the story also helps us understand what it means to live within a society, in much the same way the Greek playwrights themselves were trying to invent an idea of the world. “In a way we’ve come full circle as we’re also trying to define a series of narratives and powerful codes by which we live.” These huge plays, Marina believes, are about “powerful emotion that we all carry around, even though we try to sift through it because our passions are so huge. But I think they were onto something trying to define and contain the immensity of what it is to be alive.” Deputy Artistic Director, Erica Whyman, continues the RSC’s commitment to explore questions of gender and power which the Company ignited with the ‘Roaring Girls’. This searing new commission explores war, womanhood and regime change. Find out more about the production at www.rsc.org.uk/hecuba

August 2015

Edge August 2015:Churchfields Farm

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Churchfields Farm • Ice Cream • Barn Barn Open Monday to Saturday 10am -6pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

For a fantastic range of gifts and uncommon objects.

Eat and drink at our restored Barn this summer Our menu features delicious homemade cakes and Churchfields award-winning ice cream, with 36 fabulous flavours available made here on the farm from our pedigree herd. Enjoy the rural character of the Barn’s interior or relax on the patio with views of the glorious Worcestershire countryside. Free parking

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Children welcome

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Dogs welcome outside on a lead

Churchfields Farm, Salwarpe, Droitwich, WR9 0AF www.churchfields-farm.co.uk

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This month we are showcasing a craft display from ‘Nature’s Messages’, of spiritually inspired art works from nature on wood using pyrography (the art of drawing with fire) Cadbury Courtyard Blackminster Business Park Worcestershire WR11 7RE

01386 839568

www.mercurymoongifts.co.uk

Blood Salt Water A review A novel by Denise Mina Mike Stafford

lood Salt Water’ is the fifth instalment in Denise Mina’s DI Alex Morrow series. A critical smash, two of the previous books have scooped the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year Award, and earned the Glaswegian the adulation of anyone with a taste for authentic, deftly-plotted crime. In this outing, DI Morrow investigates the disappearance of Roxanna Fuentecilla, a Spanish woman implicated in drug smuggling and money laundering, and who recently moved from London to Glasgow in suspicious circumstances. Fuentecilla’s arrest promises to be a boon for the two cash-strapped forces who vie to bring her in - but first she must be found. The main setting is the dynastic, parochial old town of Helensburgh, where each generation of clans have known each other’s business for centuries. The backdrop is the Independence Referendum of 2014. The ‘indyref’ was a subject that dare not speak its name for many writers, but Mina is not just any writer. She depicts a Scotland tired and divided; Morrow hears the florid rhetoric from both Yes and No voters, and ultimately just wants them to shut up. To describe Scotland as a ‘powder keg’ would be pushing it, but Mina’s writing exposes deep divisions among the people of Scotland. Mina is not just a skilled political commentator though. Her characters are complex and fascinating, and none more so than Morrow herself. Formidable and flinty, Morrow has a stout and decent heart, but buries her warmth deep. We, the reader, see a woman brimming with love for her sons and husband, and a compassion for people across the social spectrum. This irreducible core is not shown to other characters - to them Morrow presents the face of a hard-bitten public servant who seeks out the truth above all else, and suffers no fools. Even Mina’s supporting characters can be stronger and deeper than other writers’

heroes, and in ‘Blood Salt Water,’ career criminal Iain Fraser is the case in point. A professional thug, there is little to recommend Fraser to a law-abiding reader, but through his fallibility, his love of a young girl in his family, and his consumption by guilt, Mina has us rooting for him; he’s still a human being, after all. Mina’s scene setting is again masterful. Armed with little more than an exchange between old acquaintances, Mina can do social commentary, psychoanalysis and character expansion, and do it all with a laconic turn of phrase that sees the whole thing fit into a single page. When a delicatessen owner meets a former Scout leader, we’re treated to comments on gentrification and selfdeceit, as well as sexual tension, off-colour humour, reminiscence and awkwardness. There is little in ‘Blood Salt Water’ that doesn’t advance the plot, but also very little that doesn’t enrich our understanding of the world Mina reports on. ‘Blood Salt Water’ is another triumph from arguably the Queen of Scottish crime writing at the moment. It questions identity both national and personal, sets scenes to die for, gives us a historical marker to remind everyone of the state of the Scottish nation in those fractious weeks in 2014, and threads all this with a plot which is as deftly woven as any you’re likely to see this year.

www.nudge-book.com/blog/ contributor/mike-stafford August 2015

The Future of Motoring The BMW i3 Lucie Abu-Zalaf

he presence of electric vehicles can no longer be ignored, with experts already predicting the time when EVs will account for a million registrations around the world, some say it will take a decade, others saying much sooner. Having never driven an all electric or hybrid car of any sort I was excited and at the same time slightly nervous when BMW offered up their i3 for review. Built as an all electric car from the ground up, the i3 shares many materials and design elements with the now almost infamous hybrid sports car, the i8. But they are very different beasts aimed at very different market sectors. The i3 is for those looking for an everyday car, with the fuel, tax and eco friendly benefits that an EV brings.

The design and styling of the i3 is noticeably different from other BMWs and also other electric cars, they want this car to get noticed. It is everything that you would expect from the first battery powered series production car from BMW. 70 www.edgemagazine.org

•Built from the ground up using purely renewable sources. •The chassis is made from Aluminium securing the battery at the base of the car, holding a low centre of gravity. •The body is made from carbon fibre. This substance is extremely light in weight and provides such strength that the i3 could be manufactured without a ‘b pillar or transmission tunnel’. This proves extra room in the cabin for the public to get in and out of the vehicle. •The wheel positioning of the car holds the same design as other BMW’s creating small overhanging as well as positioning the wheels as far apart as possible. Inside the cabin, whilst looking very different from BMW’s usual style, there is also a sense of familiarity. Everything music, sat nav and drive wise is controlled through the slick iDrive system which just cannot be faulted. After a quick run through of the controls and the charging options I

was off. And what a strange feeling that was, moving off silently and smoothly it almost felt as though I was gliding along. The dashboard sits fairly low and there is plenty of glass around to let light in, mine came with the double sunroof too, making for an extra airy cabin and a good view of the road and all around. The i3 is a four door, with conventional front doors and rear hinged coach doors for access to the two rear seats, with a high roof line and the flat floor, there is plenty of room for two fully grown adults. The front seats are about half as deep as usual BMW seats, which frees up extra knee space for the rear passengers but doesn’t impact on comfort for those in the front at all. I drove the Range Extender model, which is fitted with a small petrol engine, which maintains battery charge once depleted enabling you to continue on for longer journeys and means that you can drive 170-180 miles without the need to stop. This is really key for the i3 as it

makes it a viable option for single car households, rather than just a little city run around. This leads me nicely onto the charging point... Now, I have to admit that this did make me slightly anxious. I think this was mainly because I wasn’t putting enough faith in the little petrol engine to do its job and maintain the battery when it got down to 3 miles range left and also because I felt like I was venturing into the unknown. A quick Google search, however, brought up plenty of local charging points and with the rapid DC charge the i3’s battery can go from empty to 80% charged in only half an hour. All of this worry would, of course, be totally negated had the car been my own as providing you have your own parking space, you would have BMW i wallbox installed and just plug in whenever you reached home. Of course the sat nav also shows up charging points as well as petrol stations, should you need to charge up whilst out and about, I was just too busy gliding along to think of that. Performance wise, due to the electric motor and all of the torque being available straight away, the i3 doesn’t hang around either, with a respectable 0-60 time of 7.2 seconds, the range extender model is slightly heavier, but still gets there in 7.9 seconds and word out and about that in 0-30mph tests the i3 will even out-perform the BMW M3, although we haven’t put that to the test-yet. Many of you will be wondering what it costs to run the i3 on a regular basis, and BMW have worked it out to cost just £3.00 for every 100 miles. There is very low wear and tear on the breaks due to how the car is designed and there is 24 month service interval. You can also park for free in certain places and if you travel to London you will not pay the congestion charge. This combined with fewer moving parts to go wrong, compared with a standard petrol or diesel powered car and an 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty on the battery, it would seem that you’re onto a winner. At the end of my time with the BMW i3, I could be sure of one thing- I liked it. I wasn’t really expecting to, I’ not sure why, but I really did. I had even come around to thinking that its quirky looks were quite appealing and liked that it looked a bit different. It definitely is as strange to drive as it is to look at, until you get used to it, but as it turns out, this is actually quite a good thing.

Rybrook Warwick BMW Heathcote Lane, Warwick CV34 6SP 01926 333 888 www.rybrookwarwickbmw.co.uk August 2015

Sue Harmsworth MBE A truly holisitc approach to modern living Megan Ace

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ucie and I were lucky enough to meet with the thoroughly inspiring, Sue Harmsworth MBE, founder of ESPA at The Belfry to celebrate their incredibly swanky spa’s first year anniversary (more about that in the coming months). Having been in the industry for 45 years, Harmsworth knows her stuff and her passion for her business is overwhelmingly infectious. Having had a career as features’ editor at Vogue Magazine in the 60s, Harmsworth saw a gap in the market and set up ESPA 25 years ago. Now, at 70 years’ of age, Harmsworth is incredibly attractive, effortlessly stylish and does not look a day over 50. I am more sold on this product than ever before. Without wanting to patronise, Harmsworth should feel proud of what she’s achieved. A real credit to herself and her product, and one of the most inspiring women I’ve ever met. Through the many ESPA treatments I have been fortuitous enough to experience, I am yet to find fault. To achieve this standard and keep up with consistency, my guess is that Harmsworth employs a rather rigorous training strategy for all ESPA therapists. Can you tell me a little more about the training for your therapists and brand strategy? It is very rigorous. We turn away 80% of salons. The E in ESPA stands for Education and we have different levels of spas. We have spas that we design, build and manage, have 500-600 spas globally in 60 countries and I am very passionate about what I do. I work with a wonderful, committed team and amazing owners throughout the world. I also feel extremely lucky to work closely with my two sons - my one son is CEO and my other is Brand Consultant. We work with amazing designers and architects and because we own our own Eco Certified, Fair Trade, Soil Association factory in Somerset, we’re probably the best natural factory in Europe. And then I work with all of these amazing therapists. They are so passionate and so caring about what they do.

Were you working at Vogue when you had your children? A career and small children must have been extremely tough, can you talk me through it, in brief? I worked at Vogue in the early 60s. I went to America in ’68 (my sons were 15 months and 2.5 years) and I carried on working for Vogue in America. We then moved to Toronto in ’70, and it was like a village. No hair, no beauty, there was no nothing. I come from a very entrepreneurial background; my father built a very successful business, my mum was a paediatric nurse, my grandmother was a herbalist, so I had the herbalist thing, the entrepreneurial thing and the medical. I had a father who’s father died very young in the war and saw his mother bring him up in very difficult circumstances, so he really believed in the empowerment of women. With that, I had very strong female role models. I was very lucky. So in 1970 I opened my first salon, where I employed 80 staff (all Eastern European therapists but I recruited hairdressers I knew from my time in London) on four floors. I had already worked with product in the UK through the Vogue connection. Like New York, many Polish and Germans had settled in Toronto post war. There was a big Jewish esthetician population. All amazing therapists, because they had to, and still have to, study medicine prior to becoming estheticians. That’s when I learned a lot about skin and also a lot about anatomy and physiology.

To cut a very long story short, I had that very successful business for 10 years, sold it, came back to the UK, put my kids in school and ran a health farm. My view is that you can’t have it all; small children, full time careers, husbands who travel etc. Without support at home, something has to give. I used to teach stress management. And I used to use a visual tool called the pyramid, with a circle inside. You have emotional, social and work at the three points. And then the middle circle: spirit. You are fine if one corner gets knocked off and you’d survive if two corners get knocked off, but if you experience tragedy, or something else has to give, that’s when it all collapses. You strike me as a very supportive boss? Well yes. We’re 80% female. All my leaders have been with me for 16-20 years; my Head of Training, 20 years; my National Sales Manager, 20 years; my Head of Pre Openings, 16 years and my International Sales Manager, 16 years. When a salon employs a new therapist, how do you over see that process? We have a training school in head office where we train up to 26 students per week. It’s all post-graduate; they all have to be fully qualified first. The business model in the UK is slightly different to the rest of the world’s. Globally, we only really have 4* or 5* hotels selling ESPA. We also design and manage a lot of spas as well. However in the UK, we have a range of salons, health and fitness clubs and hotels. We have a larger support system, which allows for it. Our area managers will make visits on a regular basis. Because we operate spas globally, my team is probably one of the best in the world, as they have cross skills. A lot of companies simply have ‘sales reps’ (a word I hate!) just flogging product, but ours aren’t doing that. They’re teaching salons how to build their businesses through organic growth. If they don’t invest in training and having the right product then frankly, we have to remove the ESPA brand. The worst thing is if I August 2015

see a trolley in a salon, which doesn’t have the correct product on it; I know too well that they’re not delivering the treatments properly. It’s just protocol. Do you have any particular areas of interest? Pregnancy is a very interesting topic for me. 15 years’ ago therapists would not dare touch pregnant women. It’s why we created our pregnancy packages. Nine times out of ten, therapists won’t treat pregnant women in the first trimester, they are nervous but when you’re pregnant, you need it more than ever! Did you have some involvement with the design at the salon here, at The Belfry? It’s stunning by the way. We did, yes. The joy of The Belfry is that there is a lot of privacy. We just opened another in Manchester too, so it’s a shame your magazine doesn’t cover up there too! What next then? Well, we have ESPA Life as well, which is about prevention and wellness. I do, however somewhat dislike the fact that everyone seems to be using the ‘wellness’ word. 85% of treatments in the UK are done in spas. Everyone is looking for new words and what’s next (as is also the case for natural skincare). Everyone is using the wellness word, but yet most are just other spas. You can’t just simply have a spa with a nutritionist in it and call it a ‘wellness’ spa; wellness is much bigger than that. I sit on the board of The Global Spa and Wellness Summit. Wellness is the fastest growing sector in tourism, in medical etc and we have to be careful about separating it out. To me, wellness is about prevention. By that I mean nutrition, personal training, osteopathy, acupuncture - holistic treatments. I also sit on the European Commission, which is trying to segregate what’s a salon, what’s a spa, what’s a clinic, what’s medispa etc. I think

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medispa is an oxymoron. A spa’s all about complimentary health, holistic treatments, relaxation and stress management, all of those things and medi is invasive. In my mind, medical intervention should be in a clinical environment with doctors and nurses and certainly in Europe, it’s what we’re looking towards.

Saudi, and Qatar and understanding those cultures is really important when it comes to design. I’ve been lucky enough to work with the royal families in most of the Middle East, so I really get the culture and that’s quite difficult to replace. Once I’ve done the concept, the team can kick in. Nothing goes out without me having stamped it!

But it’s quite difficult because in Germany and the Germanic countries there is a long history of ‘medical’ spas, but they wouldn’t call it a spa. They would use the ‘wellness’ word as medical. Same for a lot of Europe, so we have to be careful.

People keep asking me about when I’m going to slow down but I don’t really have the opportunity, or in fact desire to. I believe if you do have a passion and you do find your passion, you shouldn’t slow down too soon because people age so quickly.

To me, to qualify as a spa, you have to have a bit of a journey and an experience; you can’t just walk into a room and get onto a bed. Can you pinpoint any particular areas of growth? One of the biggest areas of growth in the UK is large groups of girls. Although the male market is large in hotel spas (for us, 40% of our market) the groups of girls thing continues to grow - all generations and all demographics. A lot of that is because during the financial crisis, money and time were tight and you didn’t see your friends. People buy vouchers for various gifts etc and I see that as huge market potential. Could you occasionally think you’re a victim of your own success? I’d guess it’s going to be hard for you to wind down? I’m trying to cut back my long haul flights, but it’s not working! I have a very large team and offices throughout Hong Kong, Dubai and Miami. As said, I have a wonderful team but there are a couple of strands where I’d struggle to be replaced; Conceptual Designs and Understanding Cultures – we are very busy in Dubai, Abu Dhabi,

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BRINGING TOUCHES OF ELEGANCE AT SCARLET OAK, SOLIHULL They say that home is where the heart is, and at luxury retirement housebuilder, Ortus Homes’ flagship development in Solihull, a love of fine designs, careful attention to detail and a passion for high specification finishes has blossomed into a stunning scheme which offers an exclusive, contemporary opportunity to those wishing to downsize. Ortus Homes is a pioneering new concept from the UK’s leading retirement housebuilder, McCarthy and Stone, and appeals exclusively to active retirees aged over 55 who are looking to downsize to high-quality, well-located and low-maintenance apartments in an elegant and picturesque setting.

Director for McCarthy and Stone Midlands, explains:

Located on Warwick Road, Scarlet Oak presents a stunning contemporary design, featuring brick and cedar cladded exteriors with an abundance of exterior glazing. The development offers 28 luxury two bedroom apartments and boasts a winning combination of intelligently designed living space and high quality finishes. The award-winning housebuilder has already seen significant interest in the new apartments, with just a handful of properties remaining for sale.

– it’s a time when people can really enjoy the finer things in life, in the esteemed location of Solihull, once voted one of the UK’s most attractive places to live.”

Gill Sabin, Regional Sales and Marketing

With Ortus Homes, we’re dispelling the myth that retirement is for ‘old people

As Ortus Homes’ flagship development, and the first of its kind in the UK, no expense has been spared. Styled by local interior designers, The Open Door Company, the apartments exude style and luxury, presenting on-trend greys, charcoals and coffee colour schemes, sumptuous fabrics and feature statement accessories throughout the communal areas.

For further information please contact 0800 201 4741 or visit www.ortushomes.co.uk

Delighted homeowners at Scarlet Oak

Delivering designer specifications throughout, the apartments at Scarlet Oak benefit from fully-fitted HATT kitchens with integrated appliances and Neff ovens, along with open-plan living and dining areas which open onto spacious balconies or terraces – not to mention stunning bi-folding doors which allow the outdoors to flood into the properties. Each apartment benefits from a spacious master bedroom and en-suite, along with a separate bathroom and boasts white contemporary sanitary ware with Porcelanosa tiling. All the properties come with their own parking space as standard. Homeowners at Scarlet Oak will benefit from total peace of mind thanks to restricted access to the homes via secure door entry systems, as well as the McCarthy and Stone group’s well established Management Service. The practical interior design is also discreetly future-proofed, offering level access throughout the apartment plus wider than average doors for wheelchair users, making the apartments a worthwhile investment for later years. Mr and Mrs Randle were one of the first occupants to move into Scarlet Oak in February this year. Mr Randle said: “When we came to view the new apartments at Scarlet Oak we were really impressed with the stylish design and interior finishes throughout.

We took the plunge and moved into our new apartment earlier this year, and we’ve never looked back.

Diane Ferguson also moved into a new apartment at Scarlet Oak last month, added: “I noticed the development being built when I was visiting my mother. I had considered downsizing for a while and wanted to move somewhere that offered greater security, so I that I could simply lockup and leave, should I wish to go away for a while. “The Foyer at Scarlet Oak is so impressive, and provides a really attractive meeting place. I bought one of the frontfacing properties with a stunning south-facing balcony, so I can sit outside in my own private space and read until my heart’s content! “One of the most impressive things about the apartments are the finishes, and high tech features. The development definitely has the feel-good factor – I feel like I’m walking into the lobby of a 5* hotel every time I come home!

I honestly have to pinch myself to realise that this really is my home.

Solihull offers homeowners the best of both worlds, with green suburbs merging seamlessly into the vibrant town centre. The development is in the ideal location for the motorway network, with links to the M40 and M42, and Solihull station, just a mile away, offers regular direct trains to London. Potential purchasers are now able to see the high specification of the exclusive properties first-hand, as a contemporary show apartment is available to view, also styled by The Open Door Company.

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Pension Death Benefits What the changes mean for you Tom Ware

n spite of their complexity, the changes to the pension rules have provided new opportunities for many clients, particularly for Inheritance Tax planning.

In our recent Insight editions, we have covered the pension changes in detail. After feedback from a number of clients, we have now compiled flow charts to provide a clearer picture, using examples specifically covering the death benefits.

Which brings us onto the thorny issue of inheritance tax. As the pension remains within the pension arrangement technically a type of trust - the Fund remains outside of all parties’ estates for the purposes of inheritance tax.

Under the old pension rules it was only possible to leave the pension in a drawdown arrangement for a dependant. However, it is now possible for anyone to benefit from a pension pot, with the onerous 55% tax rule now replaced by a set of taxes dependent on an individual’s age at the time of death.

So what would happen if Doug had instructed his pension administrator to leave a percentage of the pot to his children on his death, rather than leaving the whole pot to Jean? He could do this through the completion of an instruction of payment. Under the new rules this is certainly a possibility and does not have an effect on the IHT position of the Fund. It does however have a number of tax benefits when it comes to the amount of tax paid by the children. While the different methods of taking a pension income are beyond the scope of this guide, it is possible to see that where a ‘Member’ (the technical term given to the person leaving the pension) dies before the age of 75, the pot can be passed to the nominated beneficiaries free from tax.

This is shown in the flow chart below.

Where the member dies after age 75, the pension is treated as earned income in the hands of the beneficiary, and taxed at their marginal rate of tax (the top rate of income tax paid). It is important to note at this stage that with drawdown arrangements the beneficiary will have full flexibility over the level of income they take. If no income is taken then there is no taxation levied on the pot. The example below illustrates the most likely outcome when a pension pot is left to a member’s family. Here you can see that as Doug dies before age 75, his wife Jean can receive tax-free income and withdrawals from his pension fund.

In the illustration above, Doug has decided to split his pot in three and leave 50% of the pot to Jean and 25% to each of his children. As he died before 75, all parties receive the tax benefits.

However there is one important note to bear in mind - when the pot is passed to the next recipient, the ‘Taxation Clock’ is reset.

The children, Michael and David, will receive the remainder of the pot on the death of their mother, this time after age 75. As such, they are subject to tax on withdrawals at their marginal rate.

In this example you can see that once Jean is in possession of the pot and dies after the age of 75 it becomes taxable at their marginal rate in the hands of her children.

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Once in the hands of Michael and David - the first generation after the member’s death - the ‘Taxation Clock’ is again reset and the process starts again for the passing down of the pot to the second generation, in this case, their children, Imogen and Brian. In the example, Michael dies before age 75 and David after. As a result the tax treatment of the remaining pot differs for the two final beneficiaries. Lifetime Allowance tests The ‘lifetime allowance’ (LTA) – the limit on the final size of a pension pot – has been lowered. Pension pots of over £1 million will now face a tax charge. Those who have applied for protection will be covered up to the higher rate but there are a number of conditions. The rules are complex and require discussion with an adviser. There are a number of events throughout the life of a pension that are deemed to trigger a test against the LTA. Most of these tests revolve around the taking of benefits. While an advisor will be able to walk you through these trigger points, for the purposes of assessing death benefits it is important to note that there is an overriding test at age 75 on all assets that have not been tested under one of the other Benefit Crystallisation Events (BCE) earlier in the life of the pension. In the hands of the beneficiary the potential for the Lifetime Allowance charge is determined partly by the age of the member when they die, partly by whether the pot has been previously tested, and partly by the total value of the pot. That said, once a pound within the pension fund has been tested against the Lifetime Allowance, it cannot be tested again. This means that once the money has passed down to the next generation it will not be tested again. If someone were lucky, it could grow to, say, £10 million over several generations and never suffer an LTA charge.

Tom Ware

Churchill Investments PLC Registered in England No. 3125227 Registered Office: 9 Woodborough Road, Winscombe. BS25 1AB 01934 844444 info@churchillinvestments.co.uk www.churchillinvestments.co.uk IMPORTANT NOTICE The contents of this article are intended to inform, not offer specific advice on your individual circumstances. If you think any of the points we have featured may be to your benefit, please contact us for further advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any financial loss incurred as a result of reading and acting on this newsletter without receiving individual advice and our written endorsement. Our comments are based on our understanding of current tax and HMRC legislation which often changes. Taking your pensions benefits early, including the tax free cash sum, can reduce the pension you will receive in retirement. Taking withdrawals may erode the capital value of the portfolio, especially if investment returns are poor and a high level of income is taken; this could result in a lower income if an annuity is eventually purchased. That high-income withdrawals may also not be sustainable. Please note that income drawdown is not suitable for everyone and advice should always be sought before entering into such an arrangement as future pension income is not guaranteed as there is a reliance on investment returns and performance. The value of your investment will rise and fall in value depending on which portfolio you invest in and inflation can reduce the future value of your investment. August

2015

Pop of Culture Music, art and making friends

Musical Picnics at Symphony Hall

The next session is Saturday 15 August at 10.30am with Andy Isherwood.

Musical Picnics are a free, monthly concert in the Symphony Hall foyer, aimed at 0-7 year-olds. Featuring a wide range of musicians and musical styles, they are a great place to relax and experience something new.

The London-based saxophonist Andy Isherwood returns to Birmingham after touring with bands as varied as The Drifters and the Strictly Come Dancing band! Recently working with the RSC and Town Hall & Symphony Hall’s brassy Young Pilgrims, Andy is These sessions are an ideal opportunity also a brilliant and in-demand teacher, for parents to help their children develop so expect to hear him on saxes, flute or their social skills, creativity and musical clarinet, along with his exciting surprise talent – in a fun, inspirational and band, with musical games his speciality! chilled out environment. As well as Saturday parents are welcome Parents are encouraged to bring a picnic to come along to Town Hall & Symphony and meet new friends while the little Hall’s Musical Picnic Midweek ones sing, listen and dance their way Explorers, on the Symphony Hall foyer, through each picnic. Parents can also Wednesdays at 10.30am. sing and dance along too!

At Home with Vanley Burke Ikon is pleased to present At Home with Vanley Burke, a unique exhibition from Birmingham-based artist Vanley Burke. The project sees the entire contents of Burke’s flat in Nechells, north-east Birmingham, transported to Ikon’s main exhibition space. Referred to as the "Godfather of Black British photography", Burke (b. Jamaica, 1951) is also a dedicated archivist and collector of objects relating to black culture in Britain. His flat’s distinctive interior is an embodiment of his compulsive acquisitiveness. Displaying a vast collection of printed material - posters, flyers, publications - clothes, records, ornaments and countless other items, it provides an invaluable insight into Britain’s African Caribbean communities. The countless objects that fill Burke’s space, serve as a portrait of religious and political beliefs, 80

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artistic activities, fashions, leisure pursuits, food, health issues and many other aspects of everyday life. This exhibition reveals Burke too as a subject of his own enquiry. Burke's collection stands as one of the most significant bodies of material in the city of Birmingham’s Archives, and exists in part within the Library of Birmingham; the majority, however, remain in his flat near the city centre. From 22 July to 27 September these items are on public exhibition at Ikon, revealing a shared human experience and community identity that has long been hidden from view. Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS 0121 248 0708 / www.ikon-gallery. org Open Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm / free entry

Herbert Lates

14 August - 7.30pm – 10.30pm Missed out on Glastonbury? Can’t make it to Bestival? Join us at the Herbert this August for our Summer Festival edition Herbert Late. Soak up the festival atmosphere with live music, life drawing, magical happenings and a drink or two to get your weekend started in the Herbert Courtyard. On one night a month we open our doors for an exciting evening of art, music, drinks, talks, performance, and history inspired fun. Discover your own creativity, meet artists, learn new skills, see inspiring performances, explore our exhibitions and prepare for a unique evening out. Different every time, bring your friends and join us after hours. Get more details and reserve your place at theherbert.org/whats-on

THE BELGRADE THEATRE AND BIG BROAD PRODUCTIONS PRESENT

Starring

BOOK

MAUREEN CHADWICK

(WATERLOO ROAD, FOOTBALLERS’ WIVES) DESIGNER

DAVID FARLEY

LIGHTING DESIGNER

JOHANNA TOWN

MUSIC & LYRICS

KATH GOTTS

(BAD GIRLS THE MUSICAL) CHOREOGRAPHER

RICHARD ROE

ROSEMARY ASHE and SARA CROWE

DIRECTOR

ANNA LINSTRUM

(THE SOUND OF MUSIC, HIGH SOCIETY)

ORCHESTRATOR & MUSIC SUPERVISOR

STEVEN EDIS

SOUND DESIGNER

BEN HARRISON

4 – 19 Sep

Tickets from £19.75

BOOK NOW 024 7655 3055 www.belgrade.co.uk Prepare for riotous routines and hockey sticks to the fore as the girls of Dame Dorothea’s battle to save their school – and find true love – in Crush, a brand new musical from Maureen Chadwick and Kath Gotts. Brought to you by a creative team behind Waterloo Road, Footballers’ Wives and Bad Girls, this all new show comes complete with riotous routines, toe-tapping tunes and lashings of charm. Starring Sara Crowe (Four Wedings and a Funeral, Carry On Columbus), Rosemary Ashe (Phantom of the Opera) and Kirsty Malpass. It’s 1963 and Dame Dorothea Dosserdale School for Girls has a proud tradition of fostering free spirits from all walks of life. So it’s a crushing blow when the new Headmistress turns out to be a reactionary tyrant with strict Victorian values – and top of her hit list are the two Sixth-Formers accused of “Unnatural Behaviour” in the Art Room... But hope is revived by a glamorous Games Mistress known as ‘Miss Givings’ and it’s hockey sticks to the fore in an all-out battle to save the school and the course of true love.

A jolly smashing night out, Crush is a coming-of-age romp that celebrates and subverts the traditional schoolgirl fiction genre, with lashings of charm, team spirit and toe-tapping tunes. We’ve teamed up with the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry to offer up to TWO pairs of tickets to see the show on Tue 9th September at 7pm. To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following question: Which fictional premiere league club was home to the players featured in the hit ITV series, Footballers’ Wives? a) Crystal Park F.C b) Earls Park F.C c) Hills Park F.C

To enter simply email your answer to belgradecomp@ edgemagazine. org by 31st of August August 2015

What’s on this August Clive’s Fruit Farm

Nestling between the Malvern Hills and the River Severn, there’s so much to see and do at Clive’s Fruit Farm, including a rustic farm shop selling home grown and local produce and a butchery selling local meat and famous BBQ packs. PYO fruit, collect your own eggs, feed the animals or just relax in Godfreys with a coffee. Even Glamping in the Orchards is an option! Your summer just got a whole lot tastier! Upper Hook Road Upton–upon–Severn Worcestershire Family

Backstage Tours – Birmingham Repertory Theatre On selected days throughout the Summer Holidays you and your family can delve behind the scenes at Birmingham’s premier producing theatre. Visit the props room, paintshop, wardrobe and wings; and maybe rub shoulders with an actor or stage manager. The tours have been created especially for families and last approximately 90 minutes.

WR8 0SA 01684 592664 www.clivesfruitfarm.co.uk

Dates & times: Wed 5 Aug 11am and 2pm, Sat 8 Aug 11am, Sat 15 Aug 11am, Thu 20 Aug 2pm and Sat 22 Aug 11am Tickets: £6 (£4.50 concessions) Family of four £18 Box Office: 0121 236 4455 Book Online: Birmingham-rep.co.uk

Country Car Boot Sale Sunday 6th September & SHN Golf Day Friday 11th September

September will be a busy month for Shipston Home Nursing with their Country Car Boot sale on Sunday 6th at Honington Hall Estate near Shipston on Stour and the SHN Golf Day on Friday 11th which will be held at Tadmarton Heath Golf Club near Banbury. The 18 hole Stableford competition will also include an auction and prizes plus a 2 course buffet. For more information on both of these events call Rebecca Mawle on 01608 674929. Honington Hall, Honington, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire CV36 5AA Tadmarton Heath Golf Club, Tadmarton Heath, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 5HL Shipston Home Nursing, T. 01608 674929 www.shipstonhomenursing.co.uk/

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