OM Plymouth Magazine 147 August 2021 by OM Plymouth Magazine

OM Plymouth 147 August ‘21

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Plymouth Gin We uncovered more about the history of the 228-year-old Gin Distillery along with their plans for a sustainable future

Flo Martial Arts We had a closer look into the Flo Martial Arts gym and learnt about how the sport can better your life outside of the ring

GasJack Plumbing & Heating Ltd We spoke with the owner and founder of GasJack, Jack Bellingham to find out more about the highly recommended plumbing & heating company

Mike LeGassick Find out some great tips and tricks about the world of investing by the author of ‘Your Money and Your Life’, Mike LeGassick

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Editor's Note...

Design Editor Amy Fry BA (Hons) editor@oracle.uk.net

Time to top-up the sun cream as the heatwave is on its way! In this issue, we have four business profiles, lots of exciting events in store for August as well as some tasty recipes for those scorching summer days.

Accounts Emma-Jane Corry BS (Hons) emma@oracle.uk.net

We spoke with Plymouth Gin, England’s oldest working distillery, to find out more about its deep history and its plans for a sustainable future.

Sales Managers Myles Lockwood myles@oracle.uk.net Matt White sales@oracle.uk.net

Kenny and Darren, founders of Flo Martial Arts spoke to us about their state-of-the-art gym and more about how the sport can better your life outside of the ring.

Graphic Design Amy Fry BA (Hons) Editorial Amy Fry BA (Hons) Stock Images Pixabay | Pexels | Freepik | iStockphoto Sister Magazine The Plympton Community Magazine

We found out more about GasJack Plumbing & Heating Ltd, the services they offer and why they are one of the most recommended companies in the South West. Independent financial advisor for Manning & Company and Author of ‘Your Money and Your Life’, Mike LeGassick shares his tips and tricks of investing. There are lots of fun events happening in Plymouth this August like the British Firework Championships, the flight of the Hatchling and the huge music festival, 1 Big Summer, happening on the Plymouth Hoe. Found out more about the events and how to watch them. We hope you enjoy this edition of OM!

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Contents

August 2021

Door Doctor

Dream Doors

Trend Transformations

GasJack Plumbing & Heating Ltd

The Old School House Care

British Firework Championships

What’s Back On Guide

Flo Martial Arts

Cycle To Work Day

Plymouth Gin

Summer Scorcher Recipes

The Hatchling

31 32 36 39

High quality door repairs since 1987

28 35

New life for old kitchens

Stylish new kitchens without ripping out your old one

We spoke with Jack Bellingham, Director of GasJack to find out more about one of the most reccomended companies in the South West

Innovative and personalised dementia care

Find out more about the annual firework competition happening in Plymouth this August

We have found the very best events happening in Plymouth this August

We spoke with Darren and Kenny, founders of Flo Martial Arts to find out more about the gym and why learning a discipline can be a lifechanging

Find out the history of Cycle To Work Day and why cycling to work is so beneficial

We find out more about the history of the Plymouth Gin Distillery and their plans for a sustainable future

We have found the best recipes for those hot summer days

Find out more about the world’s first flying puppet to take to the streets and skies of Plymouth

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Wax Melt Bars • Geo Heart Melts • Torso Candles • Bubble Candles Wax Melt Jars • Wax Melt Burners • Hair Scrunchies

We spoke with independent financial advisor for Manning & Company, Mike LeGassick to find out more about his new book

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Editors Guide On What To Watch

A guide to a few of the new films and TV shows to watch this August

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Jack Bellingham

Considered to be the most recommended company in the South West, GASJACK Plumbing and Heating Ltd. puts the relationship of their customers at the top, together with the welfare of the team. By creating a tight-knit, professional unit that enjoys the work they do and truly care is noticed and greatly appreciated by their customers who never have a bad word to say about them. Maintaining a good reputation is something owner and founder, Jack Bellingham feels very strongly towards and can only be reached by making sure all aspects of his business are running smoothly and of the highest standard.

ASJACK was founded by Jack in 2014 as soon as Jack became fully qualified in plumbing and heating. He split ways with his previous employer, became self-employed and ventured into London with his van. After a few months of doing various jobs in London, he decided that he needed to return to Plymouth in order that he could be with his wife and watch his children grow up. Jack started boxing when he was 14 and eventually progressed to a professional level where he obtained a record of 4-0 before deciding to pursue his business aspirations full time.

At the time, Jack was coaching a young man whose father was a very clever businessman. He invited Jack to work alongside him once he had proved himself worthy by installing a central heating system. Impressed by Jack’s hard work, he offered him a three-year contract and promised to enlighten Jack’s mind into the world of business and taught him everything he needed to know. Whilst learning about business, he was also learning more about the trade by working with Plymouth Community Homes and specialising in boilers and heating. After

the three-year contract was up, he took to social media and put GASJACK Plumbing and Heating Ltd. on the map. The more he promoted GASJACK, the busier it became until he was faced with a tough choice, to either keep fighting professionally as a boxer or continue to grow his own business. As much as Jack would have liked to have done both, he realised very quickly that there were not enough hours in the day and he felt the safer option for his children was to grow his business. Although it was the safer option, it wasn’t necessarily the easier option however, Jack has never looked back since. GASJACK deals with everything plumbing and heating related but they specialise in boiler repairs, installations and heating.

Their services include • Boiler Installation • Renewables • Heating installations • Plumbing services • Bathrooms • Commercial • New build installations • Wet rooms GASJACK has a close-knit team of 5; Lee, Sam, Jack himself, Maria and Chloe. Lee is known in the team as the “guru in boiler repairs”, he has so much knowledge in the industry and believes that every boiler can be fixed, it just depends if the owner works it out to make financial sense. Sam is a thirdyear apprentice trained in installations and will soon be qualified in both installations and repairs. Jack primarily does installations and has trained Sam through his three years as an apprentice within the company. Maria works in

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Home the office, organising the team, fetching quotes over the phone and booking jobs. Chloe, Jack’s wife helps with the admin as and when she can and pops in with their two children once in a while. The small, yet organised team means that Jack can trust everybody to maintain the highest standard of work in any job they do. Since last year, they were a team of 12 however, the pandemic made it clear to Jack that it doesn’t matter how big your team is, it’s all about maintaining a good standard of work and ensuring a healthy work-life balance. Last year, Jack was working tirelessly, managing the whole team whilst booking in jobs and completing a lot of the jobs himself. He found himself struggling to balance family life at the same time as maintaining their reputation therefore he stripped the company down to 5 team members and hired Maria to take care of the admin. Because of this change in dynamic, they are now the most recommended company in the South West. Since he made the decision to scale down his company, GASJACK has been able to identify his favoured clientele to be domestic customers. Jack finds the best thing about his job is to see the joy on the homeowners face as they appreciate the before and after results and how much it means to them. It’s also very satisfying for Jack to see the transformation after he and the team has completed the job. Jack added, “It’s always nice to have a cup of tea and have a chat with the customer too!” The relationship between the team and the customers are always positive and can be seen by the many exceptional testimonials on their website and social media. They like to go above and beyond to satisfy the customer and will follow the job through to the end to ensure they are happy. They even like to leave personalised ‘GASJACK Plumbing and Heating Ltd’ hand towels or bathmats for the customers as a thank you! Gas Jack’s quotes are always honest and fair, and the service that comes

01752 659458 info@gasjack.co.uk www.gasjack.co.uk

Bathroom fitting with it is exceptional. They will reach out to anywhere in the South West. The team are well presented with GASJACK uniforms and are always prompt, they get the work done with no hassle and leave the customers happy at the end of the day. Jack has been known to have helped out the community free of charge for example, in the winter of 2020, a local NHS nurse had no hot water and couldn’t afford a new boiler at the time, so Jack personally bought and fitted her with a brand-new boiler. After that, other companies followed suit as they saw the growth that GASJACK had benefited from the good deed however, Jack never helped the lady for the recognition. GASJACK is trying to change the way people see the trades industry as he feels it can be very ruthless . GASJACK are simply honest people who genuinely care about their customers and the community.

Boiler Installation GASJACK are eager to make their company more environmentally aware and are excited about the positive changes within the industry. Renewable energy sources are becoming vastly more popular and readily available on the market and GASJACK offer a range of renewable alternatives. When the technology has progressed, Jack will make the switch and hopes to rebrand the name, swap to electric vans and offer more renewable products. We asked Jack where he’d like to see the business in 5 years and he replied with “Honestly, I’m happy with where the company is. Of course, I want it to grow but I’d like to do it slowly to be able to keep the team organised and the customers happy.”

They also sponsor local football teams and boxers to give back to the community. Jack believes very strongly that if you give then you will receive.

The team at GASJACK Plumbing and Heating Ltd. truly care about their clients and will always strive to impress them with the finished results. The changes that Jack has made to the company in the past year has changed the way they think about business by always putting their relationship with the customers first.

Not only are they thinking about the community but also the planet. As we know, gas isn’t very sustainable however,

To book one of their services you can give the office a call or email them and Maria will book you in - See details below.

Pod 10, Christian Mill Business Park, Tamerton, Plymouth, PL6 5DS

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BRITISH FIREWORK CHAMPIONSHIPS Tom Coles Photography

The annual British Firework Championships have been displaying their beautiful firework displays in Plymouth since 1997. Last year they had to cancel the event due to the Covid-19 pandemic however, this year, they are back with a BANG!

his year, the British Firework Championships are being held on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th August in our very own Ocean City. The fireworks will be let off on the Mountbatten breakwater creating a safe stage for the largescale pyrotechnics. The natural curvature of Plymouths coastline creates an amphitheatre of endless viewing platforms which enables everyone to have a decent view of the display.

The annual event celebrates six professional display companies as they compete to win the crowd and the judges’ favour! Three teams will compete on both evenings with a 10-minute performance and then the winner is announced at the end of the competition. Every sixth year, the champion-of-champions takes place, where the winners from the five previous years go head-to-head and battle it out to be crowned the champion-of-champions! Due to the competition’s popularity, it is now recognised as the premier annual display

in the UK which has done wonders for the city by attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year. The busy nature of the event may cause some disruption on the roads therefore, our best advice is to use Plymouth’s Park and Ride facilities to enter the city if you are coming to watch from further afield. As seen in previous years, the event does get fairly busy and although social distancing guidelines have been relaxed, it is still important to be careful when in large crowds. The Hoe is located in a prime viewing spot therefore all of the entertainment will pop up on the Hoe and the promenade. There will be a whole host of fun happening on the Hoe with a funfair, live music from Heart FM and some delicious food stalls! The prime viewing areas fill up rather quickly so if it’s a nice day, it’s worth holding onto a good location and getting there early. Although The Hoe and Madeira Road are the main viewing platforms, you can also get a brilliant view from the Queen Anne’s Battery, Mountbatten itself or Jennycliff.

It is important to note that fireworks can cause distress to animals. Here is the advice to pet owners given by the British Firework Championships.

Cats

Keep your cat indoors. Close all windows and curtains and switch on music or the television to drown out the noise. Leave your cat to take refuge in a corner if it wishes. Do not try to tempt it out as this could cause more stress.

Dogs

Exercise your dog during the day. Never walk your dog while fireworks are being let off. As with cats, keep your dog indoors, close the curtains and play music or turn on the television to drown out the noise. Let your dog hide if it wants to take refuge under furniture or in a corner. If you have a dog or cat that is particularly prone to becoming distressed, seek the advice of your vet.

Small animals

- such as rabbits and guinea pigs - living outside should not be forgotten. They can also become very stressed from loud noise. Bring small animals indoors or into an outhouse or garden shed to give them extra protection.

Horses

Tom Coles Photography

12 August 2021

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Horses often bolt from firework noise and become injured. Always make sure horses, ponies and donkeys are stabled while fireworks are being let off. Make sure fireworks are not in view by closing the stable door. Playing music during the displays can also help to calm horses and reduce the effects of sudden noise.

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August 2021 13

Health & Leisure

What’s Back On

August 2021

All events and dates are correct at time of print. Please check or contact events organiser for further details.

1 Big Summer The Hoe, Plymouth Friday 27th - 29th August

EXPERIENCE THE FUN AT THE WEST END CARNIAVL OCEAN CITY BLUES N JAZZ FESTIVAL

West End CARNIVAL

The Parade, The Barbican Friday 6th - 8th August

The West End, Plymouth Saturday 28th August

The smooth sounds of blues and jazz will fill the Barbican from the 6th - 8th August this year. The free festival will consist of three days of brilliant live music. The main stage will host some of the region’s best musicians, showing a range of musical genres from jazz and blues to rock ‘n roll and soul. The festival will start at 12 pm and finish at 10 pm on Friday and Saturday and on Sunday it will finish at 6 pm. The festival will return for the fourth year after missing a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Come along to the Barbican and enjoy a drink and a bite to eat whilst listening to some amazing live music.

The Plymouth Market and The West End of Plymouth are bringing you a summer of sights, sounds and wonders of Carnival. They are hosting a free day of family fun around the West End and inside the Plymouth Market. Live entertainment includes a sword swallower, danger performers, hula hooper, fire performer, unicycle juggler and a crystal ball manipulation. They will also have Alice from Alice in Wonderland, a stilt-walking queen of hearts and a stilt-walking mad hatter! There will be live music from Andy Quick and Joanna Cook as well as the West End Carnival Parade featuring Plymouth Dance, The Barbican Theatre Salsa Kernow and Crooked Tempo.

QUIET AT THE AQUARIUM National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth Monday 23rd August The National Marine Aquarium is opening its doors for a special two-hour event after hours for families and people with autism. The Aquarium will be quieter to allow you to enjoy the exhibits without the noise and distractions that occur in the daytime. The event is tailored specifically for people with autism and other sensory needs as they forget about their worries and immerse themselves in the world of marine animals. The mellow sounds and dull lighting of an Aquarium is a great way to relax and unwind. Tickets are £6.50 per child, £8 per adult and free under 3 years old or carers.

14 August 2021

DINE AT THE AQUARIUM National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth Friday 6th - 7th August Relax and unwind with a dining experience you will never forget. A £55pp ticket will give you a stunning four-course a la carte menu with a bottle of their house wine in the UK’s biggest aquarium. You will be greeted with a glass of prosecco and have a chance to explore the beautiful aquarium and see the marine life before sitting down beside the large fish tank to enjoy a delicious meal. This is truly a VIP experience that is too good to miss. To find out more or to book a ticket, head to the National Marine Aquarium website www.national-aquarium.co.uk

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1 Big Summer is a three-day music event located in the very heart of Plymouth. Each day has been made to appeal to different music tastes ensuring there is something for everyone. To start off the weekend, the Friday will consist of Ibiza Classics 2021 and will feature a live 26 piece orchestra as well as a soundtrack to transport you through 3 decades of music. The night will feature a headline set from Chase and Status and several more supporting acts. The Saturday consists of the main event which follows suit of the biggest events ever held on the Hoe. This will feature an array of UK chart music including The Libertines, Deadmau5, KSI Raye and plenty more. The Sunday houses a more relaxed event called The Great British Sausage and Cider Festival. There will be an unprecedented array of cider, sausages, street food and entertainment including stage games and competitions throughout the day. BRITISH FIREWORK CHAMPIONSHIPS The Hoe, Plymouth Wednesday 18th - 19th August The world-famous British Firework Championships are back with a BANG after missing a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The natural amphitheatre of The Sound will house the spectacular competition bringing you undisturbed views. Six top firework companies will battle it out across the two nights, each displaying an awe-inspiring ten-minute display in an attempt to be crowned the winner.

Tom Coles Photography

Let the battle commence!

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Health & Leisure

FLO MARTIAL ARTS

HEALTH, FITNESS, STRENGTH & BALANCE

Flo Martial Arts is one of the largest and most impressive martial arts facilities in the South West. Established in 2016, the co-founders are experienced martial artists Darren Hession and Kenny Baker. Passion for the sport drove them to create a friendly, welcoming and professional martial arts gym that’s open to everyone. Flo Martial Arts has now been running full time for five years, and specialises in Brazilian Jiujitsu, Judo, Kickboxing, Wrestling, Muay Thai and MMA for ages three upwards.

he founding concept was simple: number one, it should be fun and number two, it should be safe and clean. No matter what your goal is, whether you want to be a world champion, lose weight, or socialise, the key to achieving these goals is having fun. If you are enjoying yourself, then your goal will work for you. Kenny and Darren felt that this approach would inspire more people in Plymouth to step through the door, and not only learn a new discipline, but to have fun and discover more about themselves along the way. Having a large, modern set-up was at the forefront of Kenny and Darren’s minds when designing and building their dream gym. Inside the gym, they have dedicated areas for each discipline, all of which are state-of-the-art. They also have a fully functioning weights and cardio area, with everything you need for an intense workout, and a drinks bar for socialising afterwards.

The Gym Ethos The sign above the entrance to the matted areas states, ‘no shoes and no egos past this point’. Kenny is a strong believer in learning to control the negative emotions that come from ‘losing’ to a training partner and accepting that it’s a part of the sport and part of your personal growth. ‘Everybody has an ego, it’s not about eradicating it, it’s about understanding and controlling it.’ At Flo, no one individual is more important than the team as a whole. Flo’s friendly atmosphere is noticeable as soon as you walk through the door. Everyone is on a level playing field in the gym; whether you’re a builder, scientist, doctor, or parent, none of this matters on the mat. Flo Martial Arts is available for anyone to join, no matter your skill level, strength or age. They have recently set up a peewee

class for children aged from three to six years old, which Kenny’s daughter loves. They try to make the classes as fun and enjoyable as they can and the emphasis is on learning through play. They believe that it’s especially important to introduce children to wrestling and ‘play fighting’, and give them a physical outlet and a chance to learn to deal with conflict in a way that is far too often missing from the modern world.

World Class Coaching Team All Flo Martial Arts coaches have a wealth of experience. After training as a child, head coach Kenny Baker came across footage of the early Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events. He was impressed by the level of skill it took to control a resisting opponent, and how much Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiujitsu differed from traditional martial arts, where moves are often practised on a compliant partner. He started training under Karl Tanswell in Manchester at one of the now-famous SBG Gyms, alongside the UFC’s Gunnar Nelson, who became a friend and regular training partner. After multiple training camps at Renzo Gracie Academy in New York, Kenny was awarded his Brazilian Jiujitsu black belt in 2012 and, whilst his competition days are now behind him, he’s still capable of casually out grappling the whole team. Mixed Martial Arts fighter, Kate Jackson, coaches junior and adult MMA and no gi grappling at Flo. She started with karate and judo 20 years ago, and has been a professional MMA fighter since 2009. She fought on Season 23 of the UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter and is a Brazilian Jiujitsu brown belt. She currently fights for Bellator MMA, where she’s ranked number seven in the world. She’s a regular jiujitsu competitor - a European Champion, and in 2019, in Hawaii, Kate became the first British woman to fight for a world title in a major MMA organisation.

Inside Flo Martial Arts 16 August 2021

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One of the gym’s main coaches is Steve Hollister, a karate black belt with 40 years of international competitive

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Health & Leisure experience. He’s also a BJJ brown belt and the gym’s head kickboxing coach. In 2014 his drive and passion for martial arts led him to ‘start again’ as a white belt, and put his black belt and ego aside in order to start a new journey and learn to grapple. He’s incredibly dedicated, and still spars with the fight team and gives them a hard time. The Flo Judo team are led by highly accomplished husband and wife duo, Mark Adams (4th Dan and 22year Judoka), Masters World Bronze Medallist 2017, Masters Commonwealth Silver Medallist 2019, Masters European Bronze Medallist 2019, Masters 2 x British Champion (ranked top 5 GB for 4 years’) and Kylie Adams (3rd Dan and 27-year Judoka) Masters 2 x Bronze European Medallist 2019 and 2018, Masters Commonwealth Champion 2019, Masters 2 x British Champion, Olympic Test Event 2011 to name a few. Mark and Kylie are also a brown belt and purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu respectively. Two BJJ purple belts, Will Conway and Jordan Bussell, lead the children’s BJJ classes. Will is a strength and conditioning coach who competes

The bar area

Kickboxing classes regularly, whilst Jordan also teaches at a local primary school, which means she’s great with the gym’s junior members. Flo offers a one-week free trial, so people can properly experience the classes and the gym. The gym’s core sport is Brazilian Jiujitsu. They have a large team, with four black belts and nine brown belts, and a separate beginners’ (101 BJJ) programme. This programme runs three days a week and is designed to give you a basic understanding of the sport before you move on to the intermediate (201 BJJ) programme. It also provides a great introduction to the gym, our coaches, and your new teammates. You’re welcome to start the classes wearing normal gym clothing. Flo strongly encourage their members to train in a way that helps them and their teammates improve and stay injury free. Classes are for learning and improving, not ‘winning’ at all costs. It’s a great way to make use of your one week free trial!

Kids classes

Membership Options Flo Martial Arts memberships range from £25-£70 per month, depending on how many classes you wish to attend a week. They have a pay as you train option, and then two, three, four and unlimited sessions a week. One of the most popular is the Platinum membership, which includes an unlimited amount of classes, and free use of the weights and cardio area, with no joining fee, for £60 a month for a full 12 months. This option comes with either a free BJJ uniform or free striking gear (gloves, shin guards, mouth guard and hand wraps). As an exclusive offer, Flo Martial Arts are offering all packages without a joining fee if you show them this article until the 15th September.

Flo Martial Arts Gym

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Flo Martial Arts offers something much more valuable than a gold medal, it offers a safe space to be yourself, to have fun, to make friends and to develop yourself into a stronger person inside and out. All you need to do is surrender yourself to the power of the sport and let it take you on a journey of self-discovery.

Unit 9 62 Valley Road Business Park Plympton, Plymouth PL7 1AB

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Health & Leisure

CYCLE TO WORK DAY Cycle to Work Day is an annual awareness day set up to encourage people to cycle to work and to spread awareness of the benefits this has on the body, mind and the planet. This year, the campaign will take place on Thursday 5th August.

he Cycle to Work Day organisation is believed to have started in 1956 by the League of American Bicyclists and has since grown in popularity in the UK. Although it has become a widely known awareness day in our calendars, only 6% of British workers cycle to work therefore there is still work to be done.

Cycling to work not only keeps you fit and starts your day off right, but it also helps dramatically reduce fuel emissions and general traffic on the roads during rush hour. If you cycled to work every day for a year, you could be saving over £3,000! Unfortunately, a lot of people say they would like to but are put off cycling to work due to the distance, the time it would take and the fear of an accident. In the Netherlands, one of the most common modes of transport is cycling and from that, they have prevented about 6,500 deaths each year. Dutch people also have a half-a-year-longer life expectancy because of cycling. High levels of investment in bike paths, bike racks, traffic calming and other policies have helped the Dutch to feel safe cycling on roads and in return, have one of the highest cycling levels. Opting to cycle to work instead of taking a car has been proven to have huge health benefits however, our unpredictable British weather doesn’t help to persuade people to make the change. In an ideal world, we all wouldn’t mind a leisurely 15-minute cycle to work on a flat surface on a sunny day however, it’s not always that quick and easy. By making small changes to your daily routine, for example, waking up earlier to give yourself time to understand the cycle lanes will help to make it safer for you. Or if you are thinking about spending that little bit extra, investing in an electric bike will help to give you that extra push when you need it.

Puffing Bil y Cycles Whether you’re new to cycling or are on the roads every day, Puffing Billy Cycles offer a range of premium bikes to best suit your interests, for example, electric, kids, mountain, road, hybrid and gravel. Tackling those hills on your commute will seem like a distant memory with an electric bike!

“

At Puffing Billy Cycles, they are not only passionate about the health benefits that come with cycling but also our environment.

Cycling has the potential to reduce pollution levels in our cities and our greenhouse gas emissions. Although the weather may not always be on our side, hills and fitness are no longer an excuse. Electric bikes have revolutionized the cycling industry and have the potential to revolutionize the whole transport sector for the better. So what’s stopping you?

”

WHERE THERE’S A HILL, THERE’S A WAY

Supply, Servicing & Repairs of all Bikes. Service costs & repair price list on our website Electric Bike specialist

01364 388100 www.puffingbillycycles.com

B3213 off A38, Wrangaton, Near South Brent, TQ10 9HD

Cyclescheme Before spending any money on a bike or cycling equipment, you could save hundreds of pounds and spread the cost with Cyclescheme. By purchasing a bike through a choice of over 2,000 retailers including Puffing Billy Cycles, you are entitled to employee benefits that save you 25-39% on any bike and bike accessories with no price limit. For more information, head to www.cyclescheme.co.uk

18 August 2021

Call OM Plymouth Magazine 01752 691007

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Health & Leisure

The Chestnut Appeal for Men’s Health is delighted to offer golfers the chance to play alongside a Plymouth Argyle Legend. On Friday October 1st at Boringdon Park Golf Club teams of three will be able to tee off with an Argyle Legend for 18 holes of Golf. Get a team together and join a legend for a round of Golf at Boringdon Golf Club for the cost of 120 pounds. The price (40 pounds per each team member) includes Bacon roll and coffee to start the day. Followed by a round of Golf with your Legend for the day and after 18 holes back to the Clubhouse for a one course meal. (all dietary requirements are catered for)

There will be a Prize for the team who wins, The Stableford format will be used.

August 2021 19

Health & Leisure The most popular gin from their Plymouth Gin range is the original Plymouth Gin at 41.2%. To drink this, it can be served neat, with a little dash of water, or if you want a longer-lasting drink, pour over ice, add some Indian tonic water and a slice of lemon for a refreshing hit. There are a total of five gins in the range, Plymouth Gin, Plymouth Gin Navy Strength, Plymouth Sloe Gin, Plymouth Gin Fruit Cup and Mr King’s 1842 Recipe.

We all talk about visiting wine orchards in France and the Guinness brewery in Dublin, but to taste one of the world’s best loved gins, you just need to take a walk down the cobbled streets of the Plymouth Barbican and head to Southside Street which is home to The Plymouth Gin Distillery.

he Black Friars Distillery has been distilling Plymouth Gin since 1793. The building itself has held many other uses in its time with the oldest part of the building dating back to the early 1400s. The Refectory Bar is situated in the oldest part of the building and is one of the oldest buildings in the city! The building’s first use was rumoured to be some sort of monastery with its tall wooden beamed ceilings, arched doorways and stained-glass windows. It was believed to be a monastery to the Blackfriars which is how the building received its name ‘The Black Friars Distillery’ however, historically, Blackfriars were never in this area, it was predominantly Whitefriars which raises questions as to why it got its name. After the monastery, the building had several uses from a debtor’s prison to a town hall but more famously, it was believed to be where the Pilgrim Fathers stayed before they set sail in search of America. A lot of the branding used by Plymouth Gin now resonates back to the history of the building and Plymouth’s maritime origins, for example, the monk and the Mayflower ship. It was only until 1793 where it became a distilling house with the arrival of Thomas Coates. In search of somewhere to make his gin, Plymouth appealed to Mr Coates rather nicely as it was close to the docks which meant receiving botanicals was effortless and it was easy to ship the products out to the world. In the early 1900s, Plymouth Gin became one of the biggest alcohol brands in the world and a lot of its success not only came from the

20 August 2021

great location but the Royal Navy as they took it around the world with them. Early cocktail recipes like the dry martini recipe had Plymouth Gin listed as one of its ingredients! The recipe for Plymouth Gin remains untouched whereby Mr Coates would still recognise it today however, the taste has altered due to advances in technology within alcohol production. With thanks to Mr Coates, Plymouth Gin has gained the title of the oldest working gin distillery in England. Although other brands may have been going for longer, they have all moved house whereas every drop of Plymouth Gin has been made in the Plymouth Gin Distillery.

The original Plymouth Gin was carried by the Navy below deck alongside the gun powder however, there were concerns that at 41.2% alcohol if accidentally spilt onto the gun powder it would render it useless as it wouldn’t be able to ignite once wet. Thomas Coates then made a stronger version with 57% alcohol and if the gun powder could still ignite then it could be taken on board the ship. This was then named Plymouth Gin Navy Strength. We asked Plymouth Gin why they don’t offer a pink gin or a fruit-based gin liqueur and they said, ‘If it’s not broken, don’t fix it!’ Plymouth Gin has stood the test of time by solely making traditional gins and that is their brand identity. They consider their range of gins to speak for quality instead of quantity which is why there are only five gins in total.

Distillery Tours Plymouth Gin has three standard tours that run all year round. The first tour lasts for 40 minutes where one of their expert tour guides will talk to you about the history of the building, the distillery and the gin itself. You then get three tastings of the original Plymouth Gin, Plymouth Sloe Gin and Plymouth Gin Fruit Cup. Afterwards, you can either stay for a gin & tonic or you can take a miniature bottle away with you, all of this will only cost you £11pp!

Original Plymouth Gin

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Health & Leisure

ENJOY

10% OFF ON ALL TOURS AND PRODUCTS IN STORE

The Plymouth Gin Range 200ml bottle of gin. They currently only have 4 dates for this experience within the next couple of months as the Master Distiller is very busy distilling all of the gin!

The Connoisseur’s tour The second tour is called the Connoisseur’s tour where you receive a deeper insight into the history of the building, more about the distilling process and the journey of gin. You will then taste the whole Plymouth Gin range with another comparison to taste against. After you have sampled all the gins, you make your way to the Refectory Bar to enjoy a gin & tonic or again you can take a miniature bottle away with you. This tour lasts around 1hour 30mins and is £31pp. The third tour is called The Master Distillers tour whereby you receive everything on the Connoisseur’s tour and you get to distil your very own 200ml bottle of gin at the end for £48pp!

Everybody at the distillery adores their job; tour guide, bartender or shop assistant, their enjoyment of the job is truly infectious to the visitors that come here. We certainly felt a very warm welcome by everybody, and we were very well looked after by the bartenders who even offered us a complimentary gin & tonic to try. Absolutely delicious! The amazing work that the team at Plymouth Gin do, doesn’t stop at the doors of the distillery. They have teamed up with the National Marine Aquarium to support the Plymouth based charity, Ocean Conservation Trust. Plymouth Gin has a huge connection to the ocean and maritime history, so it felt only right to use

They have an exciting new tour available very soon called The Smeaton’s Tower Experience. Sean Harrison, their Master Distiller will steal you away from the 21st century for 5 hours and take you up to the top of Smeaton’s Tower for a gin & tonic overlooking The Sound. Next, he will take you to the Barbican Kitchen for a traditional fish & chips (dietary requirements taken into account) and will then guide you on the Master Distillers tour and teach you how to make your own

*Terms & conditions apply. One voucher per customer. Vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash. Subject to availability. Valid from 1st August until 30th September. Plymouth Gin reserves the right to discontinue at any time or modify.

their established platform to good use and inspire the public to ‘leave nothing but footprints’ behind. The campaign is run by Ben Fogle, wildlife presenter and keen advocate in the hopes they can encourage people to protect our beautiful country and to leave it the way it was found. Plymouth Gin has led by example and has volunteered to attend many litter picks throughout the year, in and around Plymouth. They helped clean up the Barbican on the 13th of April, just after the stage one lockdown restrictions were lifted and they were also at the SailGP, clearing up any litter left behind. Within the walls of the distillery, Plymouth Gin have made some positive changes by thinking more sustainably. They have completely eradicated single-use plastic in all of their products, online, in stores and in the distillery. Everything they use now is either recyclable, compostable or biodegradable, even down to the shipping of their gin. Although Plymouth Gin is very traditional when it comes to its distilling, the people behind the company are certainly glancing into the future by respecting the land and sea we surround ourselves with.

Litter Picking for The Ocean Conservation Trust

01752 665 292 info@plymouthdistillery.com www.plymouthdistillery.com Please mention OM Plymouth Magazine when responding to adverts

See the history of the building and the journey of Plymouth Gin for yourself on one of their brilliant tours. To book a tour or to find out more information, see the details listed below.

Black Friars Distillery 60 Southside Street The Barbican Plymouth PL1 2LQ August 2021 21

Eating & Drinking

DRINKING AND DINING Local Directory Bars & Cocktail The Treasury Annabel’s Le Vignoble The Slug and Lettuce The Refectory The Gin Sanctuary Seco Lounge The Blues Bar & Grill Barbican Botanics Gin The Bottling Plant Honky Tonk The Clubhouse Brewdog

Pub food Catherine Street, Plymouth Vauxhall Street, Plymouth Royal William Yard, Plymouth Berkeley Square, Plymouth 60 Southside St, Plymouth 140 Vauxhall St, Plymouth Royal William Yard, Plymouth 8 The Parade, The Barbican 38 New St, Plymouth 5 Southside Street, Plymouth 2 N E Quay, Sutton Harbour Brewhouse, RWY Ground Unit 10, The Barcode

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ASIAN RESTURANTS Buffet City The Red Lantern The Wet Wok Dragon City China Chef Takeaway Jasmin Restaurant Silver Dragon Yungs Carry Out East Eat Shapla Balti Cusine Plympton Spice Nibana The Eastern Eye Mombay Brasserie Ganges and Gurkha Himalayan Spice Papa Raj The Thai House Bengal Flavour Wagamama Kuku Sushi & Robata Sizzall B-Bar Suphas Tea and Bun

1 St Andrews Cross, Plymouth 57 North Hill, Plymouth 75 Hoe Road, Plymouth Glen Rd, Plymouth 3 Seymour Rd, Plympton 3 Buckland Terrace, Yelverton 255 Dean Cross Rd, Plymouth 39 Lopes Rd, Plymouth 18 Barne Rd, Plymouth 137 Ridgeway, Plymouth 151 Ridgeway, Plymouth 9 Morshead Rd, Crownhill 57 Notte St, Plymouth Penrose House, Plymouth 36 Bretonside, Plymouth 31 New St, Plymouth 41 Springfield Rd, Plymouth 63 Notte St, Plymouth 18 Buckwell St, Plymouth Royal William Yard, Plymouth 19 Princess St, Plymouth 15 Derrys Cross, Plymouth The Barbican Theatre, Plymouth Sutton Harbour, Plymouth 135 Cornwall St, Plymouth

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EUROPEAN RESTAURANTS La Bistrot Pierre La Roux Café Meze Grill Grecian Taverna Zeus The Leandra Lanterns Kapadokya Lorenzos Maritimo Positano Barbican Pasta Bar Il Capriccio Prezzo Frankie & Benny’s Pizza Express Wildwood The Stable Knead Pizza Bill’s Nando’s Samphire (V) Bella Italia Fletcher’s

Royal William Yard, Plymouth 33 Notte St, Plymouth 48 Southside St, Plymouth 9 Market Avenue, Plymouth 150-152 Cornwall St, Plymouth 19-21 Frankfort Gate, Plymouth 88 Cornwall St, Plymouth 12 New Street, Plymouth 26 Derrys Cross, Plymouth Hoe Rd, Plymouth 36-38 Mayflower St, Plymouth 40 Southside St, Plymouth 4 Frankfort Gate, Plymouth Royal William Yard, Plymouth Barbican Leisure Park,Plymouth 16 Barbican Approach, Plymouth 3 Derrys Cross, Plymouth Vauxhall Street, Plymouth 151-156 Cornwall St, Plymouth 1 Charles St, Plymouth 15-21 Old Town St, Plymouth 111 Mayflower St, Plymouth 30 - 33 Derrys Cross, Plymouth 27 Princess Street, Plymouth

Latin AMERICAN RESTAURANTS Turtle Bay Arribas

5 St Andrews Cross, Plymouth 56-58 Notte St, Plymouth

01752 221243 01752 603303

Rose and Crown The Imperial The Boringdon Arms The Three Crowns The Chaddlewood The Elburton Inn The Fishermans Arms The Jack Rabbit The Miners Arms The Royal Oak The Ship Inn The Ship The George Inn The Navy Inn The Odd Wheel The Mussel Inn The Treby Arms The Waterfront Eddystone Inn

Market Street, Yealmpton 28 Western Road, Ivybridge Boringdon Terrace, Plymstock 11 The Parade, Plymouth 100 Glen Road, Plympton 221 Elburton Road, Plymstock 31 Lambhay St, Plymouth 8-9 Howeston Road, Plymouth Hemerdon Ln, Plympton Meavy, Yelverton Noss Mayo, South Devon The Barbican, Plymouth 191 Ridgeway, Plymouth 34 Southside St, Plymouth Knighton Rd, Wembury Down Thomas, Plymouth 6 Newton Row, Sparkwell 9 Grand Parade, Plymouth Heybrook Dr, Heybrook Bay

01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01822 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752

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228556 255974 260717 667688 603183 600560 946932 335567 221144 227262 835793 651410

68 Ebrington St, Plymouth Durnford Street, Plymouth Finewell Street, Plymouth 31 Stonehouse Street, Plymouth 18 Millbay Road, Plymouth 36 Admiralty Street, Plymouth 33 Southside Street, Plymouth Longbrook Street, Plymouth 61 Notte St, Plymouth 60 Southside St, Plymouth 50 Exeter St, Plymouth Richmond Walk, Plymouth New Continental, Millbay Road 55 Shaw Way, Plymouth Sutton Wharf, Plymouth King Point Marina, Plymouth Kingsbridge Road, Brixton 162 Exeter St, Plymouth Sir John Hawkins Square, Plymouth

07530 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752 01752

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55 Bretonside, Plymouth 48 Ebrington St, Plymouth 46 Southside St, Plymouth 82-84 Vauxhall St, Plymouth 11 Millbay Rd, Plymouth Beckley Point, Plymouth 9 Vauxhall Quay, Plymouth 14 Darklake View, Plymouth 46 Tavistock Place, Plymouth 58 Southside St, Plymouth Darklake Lane, Plymouth 2 Haye Road South, Elburton 117 Beaumont Rd, Plymouth

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TBC 657050 253788 267862 785855 958645 639565 977540 263910 256655 695888 481117 659755

FISH AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS 21 Sutton Harbour, Plymouth The Harbour 3 Sutton Harbour, Plymouth Rockfish Seafood & Pasta Bar 10 Quay Rd, Plymouth The Village Restaurant 32 Southside St, Plymouth 35 Southside St, Plymouth Harbourside 2-4 Commercial Wharf, Plymouth The Boathouse 11 St Stephen Rd, Plymouth Plym Fish Bar 6 Glen Rd, Plymouth Kingfisher 58 Faringdon Rd, Plymouth Atlantic Fryers 12 The Barbican, Plymouth Platters Fishbone Restaurant 1 William Prance Rd, Plymouth 12-13 Madeira Rd, Plymouth Pier Masters house

TRADITIONAL RESTAURANTS Tilt The Artillery Tower The Greedy Goose Rock Salt Salumi The Fig Tree @ 36 Quay 33 St Elizabeth’s House Barbican Steakhouse Barbican Kitchen Fusion Restaurant Jolly Jacks Steve’s Brasserie The Bridge Miller & Carter The Dock The Foxhound Inn Heaven Cosmic Kitchen

CAFES Minerva Cafe Prime Cafe Bar The Flower Cafe Boston Tea Party Rhubarb & Mustard Ground Coffee House Koffiehuis Hive Cafe Caffeine Club Chocaccino The Woolwell Centre Lemon Tree Cafe Cobblers and Coffee

PLEASE CALL IN ADVANCE TO CHECK ON OPENING TIMES AND RESERVATIONS

22 August 2021

Call OM Plymouth Magazine 01752 691007

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Eating & Drinking

BRITISH CURRY & BRITISH TAKEAWAY AWARD FINALISTS

est. 1999

RESTAURANT OPEN AS USUAL Thank you to all of our customers for their continued support & custom. We are keeping to all Government guidelines. We will look forward to serving you all soon in the restaurant!

FOOD ALLERGIES AND INTOLERANCES Please speak to our staff about the ingredients in your meal before placing your order - THANK YOU

By word of mouth we are the BEST BALTI HOUSE in the area! 137 Ridgeway, Plympton, PL7 2AA

Call us on 01752 338169 or 340555

Open 7 days a week - Mon-Thurs 5.30-10.30pm Fri, Sat 5.30-11pm | Sun 5.30-10pm (opening times may vary due to government guidelines)

Shaplabaltiplympton.co.uk

WIN! A 1L bottle of original plymouth gin For a chance to win

...just answer these questions Where did you pick up your copy of this magazine?

What type of businesses would you like to see advertise in OM?

What do you think of this month’s Front Cover? Unsatisfactory

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NAME:

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EMAIL: Please send to: OM Media Reader Response, Unit 5, Bowker House, Lee Mill, Ivybridge, PL21 9EF by Tuesday 31st August 2021

Which businesses have you used from the magazine and why?

T’s&C’s:The voucher is non-transferable and no change can be given.Voucher cannot be exchanged for cash. Must be aged 18 or over.Voucher can be redeemed at Plymouth Gin Distillery. Must redeemed and used by 30th November 2021

Please mention OM Plymouth Magazine when responding to adverts

August 2021 23

Eating & Drinking

OUR FAVOURITE

SUMMER SCORCHER RECIPE IDEAS

Enjoy our favourite refreshing recipes perfect for a hot summers day. From BBQ goodness to ice cold cocktails, there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Smoked salmon & avocado sushi (Makes 32) • • • • • • • • •

300g sushi rice 2 tbsp rice or white wine vinegar 1 tsp caster sugar 1 large avocado juice ½ lemon 4 sheets nori seaweed 4 large slices smoked salmon 1 bunch chives sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), to serve

ONE Put the rice in a small pan with 600ml water. Bring to the boil and cook for 10 mins until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Stir through the vinegar and sugar, cover and cool. TWO Skin, stone and slice the avocado. Put in a bowl and squeeze over the lemon juice, turning the avocado to ensure the pieces are covered. THREE Divide the rice between the nori sheets and spread it out evenly, leaving a 1cm border at the top and bottom. Lay the salmon over the rice, followed by the chives and finally position the avocado across the centre. FOUR Fold the bottom edge of the seaweed over the filling, then roll it up firmly. Dampen the top border with a little water to help it seal the roll. Repeat to make 4 rolls. At this stage, the rolls can be wrapped individually in cling film and chilled until ready to serve. FIVE Using a serrated knife, cut each roll into 8 rounds. Serve with sweet soy sauce for dipping.

Aperol & limoncello cocktail (Serves 4 - Easily doubled)

• • • • •

100ml vodka 100ml limoncello 1 tbsp triple sec 200ml Aperol or Campari 300ml orange juice

To Serve

• sliced oranges • lemons on skewers ONE Mix together all the ingredients in a jug. Chill until ready to serve. Pour into 4 highball glasses with ice. Decorate with citrus skewers.

Sweet potato Tex-Mex salad (Serves 4) • • • • • • • • • •

600g sweet potatoes , cut into even chunks 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp chilli flakes 400g can black beans , drained and rinsed 198g can sweetcorn , drained and rinsed 2 avocados , chopped 250g tomatoes , cut into chunks 1 small red onion , thinly sliced 1 small pack coriander , roughly chopped juice 1 lime

ONE Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. On a baking tray, toss the sweet potato in 1 tbsp of the oil with the chilli flakes, sea salt and pepper. Roast for 30 mins until tender. TWO Once the sweet potato is nearly ready, combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl with the remaining 1 tbsp oil and season well. Mix everything well but take care to avoid squashing the avocado. Divide the salad evenly between plates, or serve sharing-style with the sweet potato chunks.

24 August 2021

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Eating & Drinking

Melon & crunchy bran pots (Serves 1) • • • • •

½ x 200g pack melon medley 150g pot fat-free yogurt 2 tbsp fruit & fibre cereal 1 tbsp mixed seed 1 tsp clear honey

Not just for breakfast, this healthy pot of yoghurt, fruit and seeds is a real mid-afternoon hunger booster and ready in 10 minutes ONE Top melon medley with yogurt, then sprinkle over cereal mixed with seeds. Drizzle over honey and eat immediately.

Citrus-spiked sea bass (Serves 4) • 2-3 large oranges • zest 1 lemon (use the juice below) • 1 tbsp olive oil • 4 x 300g whole small sea bass , scaled, gutted and slashed a few times down each side

Vegan kebabs with avocado dressing (Serves 4) • 3½ tbsp olive oil • 2 garlic cloves , crushed • 1 tsp chilli flakes • 3 rosemary sprigs, finely chopped • 4 Portobello mushrooms , each cut into quarters • 4 peaches , destoned, each cut into quarters • 2 large courgettes , each cut into 8 chunks • 2 large red onions , each cut into 8 wedges (leave the root on) • 1 avocado • 1 lemon , juiced • ½ tsp wholegrain mustard • large bag rocket , watercress and spinach salad • 2 tbsp toasted mixed seeds

You will need

• 8 metal skewers ONE Mix 3 tbsp oil with the crushed garlic, chilli flakes and rosemary. Thread alternate pieces of mushroom, peach, courgette and red onion onto each skewer – you can get two pieces of everything on each. Brush the kebabs with the flavoured olive oil and season with salt and black pepper, then set aside. The kebabs can be made the day before and kept in the fridge.

For the salad • • • • • •

2 oranges , segmented juice 1 lemon 4 tbsp olive oil 2 bags watercress handful small capers handful pitted green olives , roughly chopped

ONE Finely grate the zest of 1 of the oranges and add to the lemon zest. Mix with the olive oil, then drizzle over the fish and season. Cut the rest of the oranges into slices about 5mm thick. When the coals are ashen, arrange the orange slices over the barbecue in groups the length of each fish. Char the orange slices on 1 side, then flip them over and lay the fish on top of them – this stops the fish sticking. Barbecue the fish for 5-8 mins on each side (turning them carefully), or until the flesh flakes away easily when prodded. TWO While the fish is barbecuing (or beforehand), make the salad. Put the orange segments in a large bowl with the squeezed juice from the rest of the oranges and the lemon juice. Season and stir in the olive oil. When the fish is cooked, toss the watercress in the orange dressing with the capers and olives. Serve the fish with the salad.

TWO Heat the barbecue or a grill to its highest setting. Meanwhile, blitz the avocado, half the lemon juice and 50ml water to a smooth dressing and season to taste. Whisk the remaining lemon juice, remaining ½ tbsp olive oil and mustard together, then toss with the mixed rocket salad and toasted seeds. THREE Barbecue or grill the skewers for 4-5 mins on each side or until cooked through and nicely charred. Pile onto a platter and serve with the avocado dressing and salad on the side.

Recipes from bbcgoodfood.com Please mention OM Plymouth Magazine when responding to adverts

August 2021 25

Eating & Drinking

INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY Annually on the first Friday in August, we raise a glass to celebrate International Beer Day! The end of summer is looming but the start of another weekend gives us the perfect opportunity to celebrate our love of beer.

eer is something many of us can agree on, and it’s from that, plenty of us have solved many problems over the years with a few pints of beer.

Beer is one of the oldest drinks the world has ever known. In fact, there have been beer recipes unearthed by archaeologists that were written on clay in 4300 B.C. and ceramic bottles that were still sticky with beer from 3400 B.C. The evidence was found in ancient Babylonia and Mesopotamia and has been consumed by nearly every country and culture ever since. A lot of people in ancient Egypt drank beer as part of their daily diet. The recipe for beer came about unexpectedly after the first few grains had been fermented which made a bubbly, flavoursome product. The person sceptical to try the fermented drink was surprised to be greeted by a lovely little buzz, he smiled and said ‘Wow!’. Until the industrialisation of brewing, beer was generally made by women - for thousand of years, all over the world, women were the main brewers, and the first recorded use of hops in beer was by a woman - St Hildegard.

“By the Middle Ages, Christian monks were brewing beers and introduced the use of hops. Until then, beers were brewed with local additives like dates and olive oils to add flavour. Today’s beers continue to be brewed with hops, herbs, or fruits that add flavour. Macro, micro, or craft, the art of brewing beer today remains a craft that employs age-old techniques carefully perfected over centuries and millennium.” – www.nationaltoday.com International Beer Day was founded in Santa Cruz, California by Jesse Avshalomov in August 2007 whilst enjoying a few beers with his friends.

His reasons for founding International Beer Day were: • Gather with friends and enjoy the taste of beer • Celebrate those responsible for brewing and serving beer • Unite the world under the banner of beer, by celebrating the beers of all nations together on a single day After the founding of International Beer Day, it is now being celebrated in 207

cities, 50 countries and 6 continents across the world!

Other countries that celebrate beer for their own reasons: • Ireland – March 17th – St. Patrick’s Day, when the luck of the Irish and Irish Whiskey is celebrated. • Germany – April 23rd – Reinheitsgebot is the German Beer purity law which regulates the ingredients in all traditional German beer. • Iceland – May 1st - Beer Day is when Iceland celebrates the drink after it was banned in Iceland for a decade.

Fun facts about beer • The average beer consumed in the UK is decreasing gradually after hitting its peak in the mid-2000s, especially among young people. The average consumption per adult today in the UK is about 9.7 litres per year. • The most popular beer drunk in the UK is Guinness. • The oldest working brewery dates back to 1040 and is located in Munich. • The Czech Republic drink an average of 320 pints a year per person which puts them at the top ahead of Germany and Austria who take second and third place. Luckily in Plymouth, we have a whole host of pubs, restaurants and bars ready to serve you a fresh pint of beer this International Beer Day!

26 August 2021

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Eating & Drinking

Vessel is an independent beer shop and bar located a few minutes’ walk from Plymouth city centre. We stock over 350 different beers and 50 ciders and perries from some of the best breweries in Britain and around the world

Dom Moore Photography

We sell bottles, cans and draught to drink in or for take away using growlers. We will happily guide you through our range to find that perfect beer or cider.

Vessel Beer Shop 184 Exeter Street Plymouth PL4 0NQ

check our social media

@vesselplymouth for up to date opening hours and info about upcoming tasting events at the shop and on zoom

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August 2021 27

THE HATCHLING

Artists impression produced by Trigger

World’s first flying puppet to take to the streets and skies of Plymouth on 14th-15th August 2021!

his August, theatremakers Trigger will stage The Hatchling, an extraordinary outdoor performance bringing a universal myth to life. A giant puppet in the form of a dragon will appear in Plymouth and roam through the city before taking flight in a unique feat of artistry and engineering. Created in collaboration with a world class team of immersive theatre makers, puppetry specialists and champion kite flyers, the event aims to bring people together to celebrate freedom following a year of isolation.

The World Premiere of The Hatchling, which is free to attend, will invite the public to take to the streets and accompany the dragon on her epic two-day journey. The performance has been created with 25 partners including The Queens Harbour Master, Plymouth University and Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Whilst found in stories in every ancient culture around the world, the dragon is revered and respected in eastern mythology but often considered menacing in western folklore. The event will bring together people from all walks of life to participate in a shared experience, opening up conversations around migration and freedom of movement. The project is a collaboration between a team of leading UK creatives including Mervyn Millar, part of the original creative team of the acclaimed stage production War Horse, and Carl Robertshaw, a designer who has created sets for the London 2012 Olympic Ceremonies, collaborated with artists including Ellie Goulding and Kylie, and is a 5-time sport kite world champion.

Standing at over 6.5m tall, The Hatchling is the largest ever puppet to be solely human operated. It is constructed from super lightweight carbon fibre weighing less than a piece of hand luggage, allowing it to be operated by a team of 36 puppeteers working in rotation in groups of 15. Designed in collaboration with a paleontologist, she will be the largest ever flying creature, surpassing the size of the prehistoric pterosaur on which she is based. Angie Bual, Artistic Director of Trigger, says: “We’re thrilled to be bringing The Hatchling, which has been six years in the making, to life this August. This show is a love letter to the city, and has been created with the support of partners across Plymouth from industry, academia, sport, culture and more. Plymouth will become a world stage for an event that

Upon hatching the dragon will explore her surroundings, stopping traffic as her curiosity takes her through the city and she meets the public. At sunset on Sunday 15 August, she will undertake a miraculous metamorphosis into a kite, unfolding her wings spanning over 20m. Flying from a cliff top, she will soar into the sky and across the sea in a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle featuring lighting design by Mat Daw and a choral score by Ruth Chan. The Hatchling was conceived by Angie Bual, Artistic Director of Trigger, who was inspired by the dragon as a global symbol.

28 August 2021

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Artists impression produced by Trigger

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being asked to register their interest and availability for rehearsals at theatreroyal. com/thehatchlingbepartofit. Meanwhile Trigger are searching for local buskers to perform along the route - interested musicians should contact becca.gill@triggerstuff.co.uk.

Angie Bual, Creative Director of Trigger celebrates the talent and energy of the people who live there. The Hatchling asks us to celebrate our commonalities over our differences - no matter your heritage or age, everyone has a connection to the dragon. When she flies, it will be a moment for all of us to reflect on freedom of movement, and what that means for each of us. The power public art has to unify us has never been more important.” Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, says: “Plymouth has been the starting point for some of the world’s most historic journeys including those of The Mayflower, Darwin and Shackleton, and for thousands of emigrants setting off all over the world. The Hatchling will be another unique journey starting from the city this summer. It will be a world-class cultural event set against the beautiful backdrop of Plymouth Sound.”

A number of groups are already preparing to take part in the two-day event including Barbican Theatre Plymouth, who are creating new work especially for The Hatchling. On Saturday 14 August, 30 singers from The Lost Sound choir will perform a lullaby to send The Hatchling to sleep after a day of exploration. The following day, performers from Plymouth Roller Derby will encounter The Hatchling on the Hoe before she undergoes a miraculous transformation, unfurling her wings and flying off the coast in a worldfirst attempt. The epic finale will take place to the melodies of Mayflower A Capella group who will perform a musical soundscape with a blend of 26 voices harmonising together. In advance of The Hatchling’s visit, designers and makers in Plymouth are creating their offerings. Plymouth College of Art students have joined Trigger’s costume department to make outfits for performers, and Mother’s Who Make are producing individual textile works that will be stitched together during the weekend to form a huge quilt for the sleeping dragon. Elder Tree will be participating in knitting and crochet work on Saturday before hosting a mass Tai Chi Class on the Sunday. Plymouth communities are also getting involved through the Real Ideas Organisation who are working with families to create windsocks which will fly on the Hoe on Sunday evening.

The Conscious Sisters are working with local groups around the city to make lanterns which will be shown in a parade with the help of Nudge Community Builders. Sandra Smith from The Lost Sound said: “Coming out of lockdown has been hard for our communities; we haven’t been together at large events for a long time and we’ve missed that buzz! But wait till you see this amazing outdoor show - The Hatchling will burst out onto our Plymouth streets and allow our minds and imagination to soar again – to dream big! We can’t wait to be part of it, it’s time to fly again!” Harriet Bolwell, Senior Producer at Trigger said: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with so many participants and partner organisations from across Plymouth to create The Hatchling. The event is a true celebration of the city and the creative people who live here, and we can’t wait to come together after a year of isolation.” After Plymouth, The Hatchling will continue her journey to London to head a procession of more than 5,000 performers at Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, taking place on Sunday 5 June 2022. She will take to the streets of London with her baby dragon, heading a procession of more than 5,000 performers which will pass iconic landmarks including Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. The Hatchling will interact with a playful young Princess Elizabeth, surprised by the appearance of a mysterious pearl, a symbol of strength, wisdom and power which features in dragon folklore.

The Hatchling has been made possible thanks to public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England and support from Plymouth City Council and Mayflower 400. It will be delivered in partnership with a range of event partners, alongside 5 academic research projects conducted by the Brigstow Institute at the University of Bristol Community groups and creative organisations from across Plymouth are preparing to welcome The Hatchling. The public are being invited to take part in the show across the weekend. Theatre Royal Plymouth are looking for people to join their regular groups to create a fitting welcome for the dragon. No performance experience is required, but people are

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Barbican Theatre ReBels on Plymouth Hoe

August 2021 29

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Law & Finance

AN INTERVIEW WITH MIKE LEGASSICK Mike’s success within his career has grown from years of study and hard work but most importantly, it has stemmed from his likeability and trustworthiness that he has maintained throughout his life by business colleagues and clients that he has met along the way. The trust of a client and the ability to be liked by many people allows the relationship between Mike and the client to become strong, which is paramount when dealing with clients hard-earned life savings. What started as a job collecting monthly premiums on a rainy day in Plympton has evolved into a means of educating readers and clients on all he has learnt over his lifetime to give you a head start in controlling your money and your life.

inance was never something Mike was interested in. If you had asked Mike as a teenager, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ Mike would have shrugged his shoulders, and not for one second thought he’d become an Independent Financial Advisor (specialising in pensions and investments) and a Behavioural Investment Coach. He loves his job and the responsibility that comes with it. Mike never really applied himself at school and ended up with just a handful of CSE’s in his pocket and left for the world of fulltime work. He fell into the world of retail as soon as he left King’s Tamerton School at age 15. With retail, he learnt a lot about sales and talking to people but the main thing he learnt was that working in a busy retail environment on a bank holiday wasn’t for him.

Meet Mike LeGassick

Snooker was and still is, a fond passion of Mike’s ever since he was 13. He played for Devon and on the Pro-am circuit and met a lot of people in the snooker fraternity that became close friends of his. One friend who worked for Pearl Assurance approached him and said ‘You’re friendly, you’ve got a good sense of humour, and you get on well with people, that’s half the battle. Why don’t you apply for a job with Pearl Assurance?’ Mike thought to himself, well it’s got to be better than retail on a bank holiday weekend, so he took the aptitude test and by the skin of his teeth, he passed it and soon after, he was hired at age 23.

them to invest in regular savings plans. Sadly, this type of saving has long gone which is a shame as it engendered a savings mentality. Mike remembers his first day in Plympton well. It was raining and miserable and he didn’t really have a clue what he was doing. He should have been joined by his supervisor to show him the ropes but was instead left to his own devices. He vividly remembers thinking to himself ‘What on earth am I doing here?’ But something inside of him made him keep going, day after day until he learnt more and more about the profession he was unknowingly falling into.

Mike remembers his first day working for Pearl Assurance as if it were yesterday. His role at Pearl Assurance was essentially to collect premiums from his customers in Plympton and encourage

He then progressed to work for an insurance company and then Lloyds TSB. Mike began to see his passion growing for the finance profession and decided to take more exams and gained more qualifications to become what he is today, an independent financial advisor with over 30 years experience. He specialises in pensions and investments and is passionate about telling people the unvarnished truth about money without the useless jargon and how to invest wisely and reduce investment management costs. You could say he is the Martin Lewis of the investment world. To be an ‘independent advisor’ doesn’t mean he works on his own, far from it. Mike has a fantastic personal assistant called Sharon, and a great support team back in the office in Ivybridge. The independent part means that he has access to every single provider to ensure the best fit for the client.

Mike LeGassick’s book ‘Your Money and Your Life’

32 August 2021

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Law & Finance 8 years ago, Manning & Company, based in Ivybridge approached Mike and asked him to join them to which he told us ‘was the best move I have ever made.’ 4 years ago he became one of the directors of the company. Mikes relationship with the finance profession goes hand in hand, except for the complex jargon that tags along with it. He believes there are ways to explain complicated matters that just instantly make sense and he proves this daily with his clients and did this with myself, the Editor and Myles, the managing director at our interview with him. To be able to understand how people think and creatively phrase the question or explanation has been mastered by Mike through his 10 years studying behavioural psychology. As he felt the profession needed some simplicity, Mike decided to write his book called ‘Your Money and Your Life.’ ‘Your Money and Your Life’ is a collection of first-hand stories, examples, and simple steps to follow that have stuck by him through the years and things that he wished he had known when he was younger. The book is written on topics that have been widely discussed for hundreds of years, so it is no surprise that he can’t re-invent the wheel, however, Mike has developed a certain way in which it has been written that will make you think ‘Nobody has ever explained it to me in that way before – That makes so much sense now!’ The book is composed of two sections. The first half is largely about life lessons and it is important to note, this book is not only about money but also about life choices too. Chapters include Planning for the life you choose, the mistakes we make with our money and how to avoid them, wishes won’t bring riches, and how not to be a workplace prisoner. The second half of the book is focused on investing and your behaviour around money. There is even a section on

regret. Flowing through the whole book is an underlying theme of ‘Life is not a rehearsal’ which is something Mike believes very strongly in. Mike has also designed a website to educate his clients and readers to keep them on the right track when it comes to their finances and mindset. The website, www.saverbehaviour.co.uk is comparable to an educational tool, full of bite-sized information and easy to understand video content to educate yourself around money and investing. Amongst some fantastic tools embedded into the website is a calculator which shows historically how much you would have amassed if you began investing just £1 a day in the stock market from the day you were born. We were both shocked when we did this for ourselves. We weren’t even close to guessing how much this would have been worth today. Mike likes to carry out this exercise with his clients and they are, more often than not, shocked by the results. Therefore, his golden piece of advice to anyone is ‘Start early’ because you are unlikely to ever be able to make up for the lost time. The book and the website are not just about money, they are about changing your perspective on things. Mike has done this in a way that is thoughtprovoking, creative and motivational, highlighting all of the common financial

‘blind spots’ that we make daily without being aware of them. However, reading is one thing, but doing is quite another. If you don’t push yourself, nobody will do it for you. This is where the psychological aspects come into play. Mike will run through scenarios that help you to see things from a different perspective and in turn, reveal a more capable version of yourself and how to be successful. Mike says the primary objective of any investment is to maintain its purchasing power so invest with prudence in mind, not performance. Anything above this should be deemed a welcome bonus. Investing wisely for your or for your children’s future can be done safely with the help and guidance of Mike. Your retirement funds should enable you to maintain your standard of living without fear of running out of money. Most people just think, I’ll save something over the years and that should give me enough, however, most people forget about inflation which erodes the purchasing power of your money over time. The £50,000 you managed to save over the years won’t be worth £50,000 in the future. Think about it like this, if Mike said to a client, ‘I have a great investment idea for you, you put your life savings in here, and it is guaranteed to lose 2 ¼% each year.’ You just wouldn’t do it! This would be madness, but this is the effect inflation has on people who sit on cash for years in a low paying bank account. One 1st class stamp in 1991 cost 24p. Today it is 85p. As far as planning is concerned, do you know how to accurately calculate how much money you are going to need for the rest of your life so you can live an independent and dignified retirement? In other words, do you know what your number is?

Mike LeGassick’s website ‘Saver Behaviour’

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Mike teaches you how and explains this in detail in his book.

August 2021 33

Law & Finance Another well-worded scenario Mike likes to ask his clients is ‘Do you believe you could save 20% of your income each month?’ Most people say no, however, later, he asks another question, ‘Do you think you could live fairly comfortably on 80% of your monthly income?’ Most people think they could. To be able to live on 80% of your income is effectively to be able to save 20% of it. It was just phrased differently. Mike tells us that a lot of the work he does with his clients is psychological and once you overcome that hurdle, you have passed the most difficult part. Unfortunately, emotions generally trump logic, and this is where Mike can help. Warren Buffett is regarded as the greatest investor that has ever lived and is a great example of someone who has great patience when investing. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos approached Warren Buffett and asked, ‘Your process is so simple and proven to work, why doesn’t everyone do what you do?’ Warren replied, ‘Because no one wants to get rich slowly Jeff.’ Trusting the stock market with your money is something humans are not well-equipped to do. It can be daunting. Mike tells us ‘One of the biggest mistakes investors make is that they confuse volatility with permanent loss.’ He then began to explain that the process of investing money into the stock market is comparable to a rollercoaster. As you strap yourself in, your mind is full of different emotions from fear to excitement and adrenalin and you experience the steep climbs and sharp drops and bends and loop the loops. This is volatility. Midway through a loop the loop and people are screaming ‘get me out of here!’, get me off this ride! – If you had managed to get out of your seat while upside down, that would be permanent loss. Yet you keep going until the ride reaches the end and you come out of it unscathed. Markets go up and down all the time, but long-term history has proven they go up much more than down over time. Explaining concepts like these to clients is key to managing their expectations. Mike has only ever invested his clients’ money in things that have always worked. i.e., investing their money in a huge collection of the greatest business in the

world. He will never invest their money in fads, flavours of the month, or things that just happen to be working now. This is not investing. This is speculating. Mike prides himself on managing client expectations and being brutally honest with them. He makes it clear to his clients that their investments categorically will fall in value from time to time. Not might or could, they will. The important thing is to stick to the plan and to never be tempted to get off that ‘rollercoaster’ halfway through. He recommends that clients take a ‘sloth-like approach’, to investing. Looking at the value every day will not help you in any way, just let time do its thing. This way you won’t be panicking about any temporary drops in the market and therefore won’t be tempted to withdraw it at the wrong time. Imagine if house prices were reported every day on the news. Thankfully, they aren’t so people don’t care to look. Mike has phrased his questions so well over the years that he can determine whether a client understands investing or not in no time at all. He asks his clients, ‘Do you know what Black Monday was in 1987?’ This was the single biggest stock market crash in UK history. And then he asks them, ‘Do you know what the FTSE 100 is?’ It is the 100 biggest companies in the UK. ‘Imagine you had £100,000 invested in the FTSE 100 and the news came on reporting the biggest stock market crash in UK history. ‘What do you think your £100,000 is worth right at that moment?’ Most people say ‘zero’. In fact, the stock market fell by 22% in 48 hours, but you haven’t lost any money because you haven’t cashed it in – remember the rollercoaster, don’t get out when you’re upside-down. If you thought you would have lost all your money, that would have meant that the 100 largest companies in the UK went bust overnight. And for that to happen, it would be Armageddon territory and your money would be meaningless anyway. Lack of understanding of the stock market means you could potentially make some bad decisions. The stock market is now way higher than back in 1987. Stock markets will suffer big temporary dips occasionally, but they have always come back stronger to reach new highs.

w: manningandco.co.uk

34 August 2021

Mike always works on a ‘no surprises’ policy by explaining everything important, very clearly so that the phone never rings with the dreaded, ‘You never said this could happen.’ This was the main reason why he wrote the book in the way it has been written to ensure everybody can understand it. The book is for everybody, whether you have just finished your education, halfway through your life or just about to retire. He is certain that everybody will learn something from it and if the reader follows it through with actions, then they will save tens or even hundreds of thousands through their lifetime. And where does Mike see himself 5 years from now? ‘I love what I do, and I will continue to ensure my clients remain on the right track.’ He may reduce his hours and pass on clients to younger members of the team but ultimately, he doesn’t want to stop. Another book may make an appearance in the future focusing solely on how to be a better investor. Director at Manning & Company, Behavioural Investment Coach, member of the Parliamentary Financial Review Team and the UK Leaders Council, 2nd in the South West for Top-Rated Advisor by client reviews on ‘VouchedFor’ and not forgetting, great friend to his clients, Mike has gained a lot of knowledge, understanding, and trust throughout his career that he would now like to share with you, the reader. To buy his book, head to www.lulu. com or Amazon and other online book retailers. It comes in hardback, paperback, and Kindle versions with varying prices from £2.99-£29.95. He is also releasing an audiobook version very soon!

w: saverbehaviour.co.uk

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The Green Knight Starring - Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton

guide Editors guide to the latest and upcoming releases...

An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, “The Green Knight” tells the story of Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), King Arthur’s reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in what becomes a deeper journey to define his character.

Released: August 6th

Navarasa (Season 1)

Candyman

Starring - Vijay Sethupathi, Suriya, Parvathy Thiruvothu

Starring - Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett

The much-expected series, which was announced last year, will stream on Netflix on August 6. Navarasa, as the name unambiguously says, will explore the nine basic emotions of humans --- anger, compassion, courage, disgust, fear, laughter, love, peace and wonder. The series will consist of nine episodes that represent a different emotion or rasa.

Released: August 6th

In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, Anthony and his partner move into a loft in the now gentrified Cabrini. A chance encounter with an old-timer exposes Anthony to the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to use these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, he unknowingly opens a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence.

Released: August 27th

Cinderella

Free Guy

Starring - Camila Cabello, Billy Porter

Starring - Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi

We’ve all heard the story and Amazon’s adaptation promises to draw heavily from the iconic fairytale, but with a bold new twist. This musical adaptation of Cinderalla’s story promises to introduce viewers to a Cinderella unlike any we’ve met before! Cinderella (Camila Cabello) is an ambitious young woman with big dreams, but with the help of her friend (Billy Porter), she is able to persevere and make them come true.

Released: September 3rd 36 August 2021

In “Free Guy,” a bank teller called Guy discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game called Free City. After the shocking revelation, he decides to become the hero of his own story... one he rewrites himself. Now in a world where there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way... before it is too late.

Released: August 13th

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CRUELLA

SWEET GIRL

Starring - Emma Stone, Emma Thompson

Starring - Isabela Merced, Jason Momoa

From the 27th August, Cruella will be available to all subscribers to watch on Disney+. Cruella follows the story of a young and clever grifter called Estella who’s determined to make a name for herself in the fashion world. She soon meets a pair of thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they build a life for themselves on the streets of London.

Released: August 27th

Family man Ray Cooper, vows justice against the pharmaceutical company responsible for pulling a potentially life saving drug from the market just before his wife dies from cancer. But when his search for the truth leads to a deadly encounter that puts Ray and his daughter Rachel (Isabela Merced) in harm’s way, Ray’s mission turns into a quest for vengeance in order to protect the only family he has left.

Released: August 20th

The Loud House Movie

Only Murders in the Building

Starring - David Tennant, Grey Griffin, Michelle Gomez

Starring - Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, Martin Short

In Nickelodeon’s The Loud House Movie, the biggest family on television goes on the biggest Loud family vacation ever. The adventure follows the Loud family to Scotland where they discover that they are descendants of Scottish royalty. The family quickly indulges in the most wish-fulfilling high-life ever when they discover their ancestral home is a castle.

Only Murders In The Building follows three strangers who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one. When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth.

Released: August 20th

Released: Auguts 31st

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Vacation Friends

Starring - Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung

Starring - John Cena, Meredith Hagner, Lil Rel Howery, Anna Maria Horsford

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Shang-Chi. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be the 25th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Martial-arts master ShangChi confronts the past he thought he left behind when he’s drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.

Released: September 3rd

In this raw and raunchy comedy, straight-laced Marcus and Emily (Howery, Orji) are befriended by wild, thrill-seeking partiers Ron and Kyla (Cena, Hagner) at a resort in Mexico. Living in the moment, the usually level-headed couple lets loose to enjoy a week of uninhibited fun and debauchery with their new “vacation friends.” But they later understand that what happens on vacation, doesn’t necessarily stay on vacation.

Released: August 27th

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August 2021 37

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