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There’s a definite ‘getting away from it all’ vibe to this month’s Pride, with a Getaway Guide featuring local providers of quirky or luxury properties for anything from glamping to pampering. When we first created the guide a couple of years ago, we were sceptical about the merit of promoting local accommodation providers to a local market. But without exception, each one has assured us that a significant proportion of their visitors in fact arrive from the local area, keen to ‘get away, without going too far’ and find somewhere to host family celebrations, reunions or just somewhere relatively nearby to enjoy a local adventure... we hope you enjoy seeing a few of the more unusual places for a short break, not too far from home.
A couple who were quite far from home recently, though, Stephen & Viv also feature in this edition. They’ve recently appeared in the BBC1 series Race Across the World which has seen them embarking on a 15,000km journey with limited funds, no smartphones and just their wits to survive on! As a viewer, I must say it’s been a pleasure to see the stunning scenery in the series, and to see the couple working together, with such a strong relationship standing them in good stead for making it to the final of the series which will be shown as Pride goes to press.
Elsewhere? We’ve images of the recent visit to the county of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh who added another horseshoe to Oakham Castle’s already rather extensive collection.
We also enjoy dining out at the excellent Red Lion in West Deeping, we explore the area’s literary connections at John Clare Cottage and we go up on the roof with a local thatcher.
Best wishes for a wonderful month!
Julian Wilkinson Publisher, Pride Magazines
This month’s covers show thatched cottages in the village of Exton, with the heritage skill explored in this edition, and on Stamford’s cover, the village of U
ngton’s Bertie Arms. We’re always looking for great images of the area, so please feel free to email us your best photos to us at robin@pridemagazines.co.uk.
9 LUXURY HOMES Enjoy the finest selection of quality homes on the market in Rutland & Stamford.
22 NEWS ‘Good news’ stories from Rutland & Stamford including celebrity osprey Maya’s new chick!
28 HIGH LIFE Oakham School Ball.
40 WHAT’S ON Live music and theatre.
24 A ROYAL VISIT FOR RUTLAND
The Duke & Duchess of Edinburgh’s recent visit to Oakham to unveil the latest horseshoe to be displayed at Oakham Castle.
32 RACE ACROSS THE WORLD
44 THE GETAWAY GUIDE Rutland & Stamford’s most quirky and unusual accommodation.
55 UFFINGTON Enjoying village life.
112 THATCHING Heritage skills and a traditional look for country homes.
50 LIVE EVENTS Burghley’s Battle Proms.
60 DINING OUT Pub dining, elevated, at the awardwinning Red Lion.
71 WINE Tempting tipples for summer.
72 WELCOME HOME Market Overton’s beautiful 17th century Stocks Cottage.
84 HOMES Nautical fabrics, luxury kitchens and al fresco dining.
98 GARDENS Clare Cottage’s gardens.
125 BEAUTY The gold standard of beauty. JULY 2024 55 44 98
As Pride goes to press Rutland couple Stephen & Viv will complete their bid to travel 15,000km across Asia as part of the BBC’s Race Around the World.
122 FASHION Sunburst style.
Pride Magazine is delivered free of charge, via Royal Mail, to high value homes in the county. Our circulation is to homes in the top three council tax bands, which are predominantly worth over £500,000. This guarantees the magazine has an affluent readership commensurate with our content.
The magazine is also sold in leading newsagents and supermarkets and we also deliver the magazine to local businesses including selected hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, doctors, dentists, executive motor dealerships and golf clubs. This helps to ensure we have a continued presence, right across our catchment area.
Our titles also have more social media fans than any other local magazine. In addition we have over 45,000 online visitors viewing our magazines free of charge, online, on their tablet, computer, laptop or mobile phone via our website, our app, and via the Readly and Issuu platforms.
If your business would benefit from being showcased to the wealthiest people in the area, please call our friendly sales team on 01529 469977.
The largest selection of luxury homes on the market in Rutland, Stamford and the surrounding area
Wing
The Stone House is a striking period property nestled on the outskirts of the conservation area in the village of Wing. True to its name, the family home is built of stone under slate and dates back to the 1850s, offering charm and characterful features throughout.
Guide Price: £2,200,000
Step into a realm of character and modern comfort with this stunning stone-built home in the style of a barn conversion nestled within the picturesque landscapes of Langtoft and a paddock set on approximately 0.65 acres (STS). Over 3,000 square feet benefiting from a separate home office.
Guide Price: £900,000
Hurfords 5 The Barns, Milton Lane, Castor, Peterborough. Call 01733 380956 or see www.hurfords.co.uk
Langtoft
This stunning five-bedroom home perfectly blends historical charm with modern comforts and is located in a soughtafter area of Stamford just meters from the town centre. Mentioned in the famous The Town of Stamford book, the property was built by Moses Peal soon after 1840 on the historical site of the Black Friars' house, which was founded before 1241. The house is part of the Blackfriars Estate, originally laid out by the 1st Earl Brownlow.
Stamford Guide Price: £795,000
Easton On The Hill
The Old Bake House is located in the heart of the conservation area of Easton on the Hill. Radiating charm and the characteristics of a period property, The Old Bake House build was actually completed in 2014 of stone under a new Collyweston roof and is unlisted. Boasting a plethora of unique and tasteful design features.
Guide Price: £1,150,000
In the labyrinth of real estate transactions, few things are as pivotal as securing the right mortgage. It's not just about numbers and percentages; it's about trust, guidance, and a seamless journey towards homeownership.
Enter the Mortgage Adviser , the unsung hero in the realm of property acquisition, who goes above and beyond to ensure their clients not only get the best deal but also navigate the complex terrain with ease and confidence.
Setting the Foundation: Agreement in Principle (AIP)
A great customer service experience with a Mortgage Adviser begins with understanding the client's needs and financial situation. This is where the Agreement in Principle (AIP) comes into play. It's not just a formality; it's a strategic move. A knowledgeable adviser will assist you in obtaining an AIP before you even start house hunting.
Why is this important? It's like having a golden ticket in your pocket. With an AIP, you have a clear idea of how much you can borrow, giving you a solid foundation to explore properties within your budget. Moreover, having an AIP
in hand positions you as a serious buyer in the eyes of sellers, giving you a competitive edge in a bustling market.
Guiding You through Negotiations
Once you've found your dream property, the negotiation stage can be daunting. This is where a stellar Mortgage Adviser truly shines. Beyond crunching numbers, they serve as your trusted advocate, leveraging their expertise to negotiate favorable terms on your behalf.
From negotiating the purchase price to advising on potential incentives or contingencies, a proactive adviser is by your side, ensuring every aspect of the deal aligns with your best interests. Their role extends beyond mere transactional facilitation; it's about empowering you to make informed decisions that shape your financial future.
Providing the Essential Checklist
Securing a property involves more than just signing on the dotted line. There are essential elements that need to be in place, and a toptier Mortgage Adviser ensures you have everything you need to proceed smoothly. These typically include:
Agreement in Principle (AIP): As mentioned earlier, this demonstrates your creditworthiness and outlines the amount you can borrow,
streamlining the buying process.
Evidence of Deposit: Proof of your financial capability to cover the initial deposit is crucial. Your adviser will guide you on gathering and presenting this documentation effectively.
Solicitor Details: A reliable solicitor is instrumental in navigating the legal intricacies of property transactions. Your adviser can recommend trusted professionals or liaise directly with your chosen solicitor to facilitate a seamless process.
Identification (ID): Providing valid identification is a standard requirement in property transactions. Your adviser ensures you have the necessary forms of ID ready to comply with legal regulations.
Beyond the Transaction: Building Relationships
Great customer service doesn't end when the deal is sealed. A reputable Mortgage Adviser understands the significance of fostering longterm relationships built on trust and reliability. They continue to be a resource for you, offering guidance on mortgage management, refinancing options, and any future property endeavours.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage
Colston Bassett
One of the finest examples of a regency home in the Midlands set within it’s own mature parkland of approximately 12 acres, offering 25,000sqft of accommodation. Offered to the market with NO ONWARD CHAIN.
Colston Bassett Hall is one of the finest examples of a regency home in the Midlands set within it’s own mature parkland of approximately 12 acres, positioned on the edge of one of the most popular Vale of Belvoir villages.
OIRO: £3,950,000
Moores Estate Agents Goodwood House, Hackamore Way, Barleythorpe, Oakham, LE15 7FS Call 01780 484555 or see www.countryequestrianhomes.com
- BESPOKE NEW HOMES AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT - TURNKEY PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR YOUR NEW BUILD - HELP WITH PLANS & BUDGETS, 10 YEAR ICW GUARANTEE
When you embark on the journey to design and build a bespoke new-build home, there’s just one chance to get it right.
That’s why it’s wise to partner with someone who can help you to bring your dream to frui on from achieving planning permission, then help throughout the design and build process, managing me, budgets and paying a en on to small details that will make a big di erence.
This horseshoe was made by the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME) of which The Duchess of Edinburgh is Hon. Colonel in Chief.
Defender Burghley Horse Trials’ charity partner for 2024 is My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which was launched by Scotland rugby player Doddie Weir...
Defender Burghley Horse Trials is delighted to reveal that the event’s charity partner for 2024 is My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which was launched by Scotland rugby player Doddie Weir to fight motor neuron disease (MND). Doddie, who died from MND in November 2022, made 61 international appearances for Scotland on the rugby pitch, but in his youth he was a keen rider and competed in eventing.
The charity’s plans during Defender Burghley (5th-8th September 2024) include a very special tug-of-war competition in Burghley’s Main Arena, between rugby players and event riders. Burghley’s Event Director, Martyn Johnson, said: “A celebrity tug of war, ‘Pulling Together For MND,’ should be great fun for our weekend spectators and be a real spectacle ahead of the main event cross-country on Saturday morning.’’ Tickets are now on sale at www.burghley-horse.co.uk.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visited Rutland last month, enjoying a trip to the Rutland Showground, Oakham Castle, The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Statue and The Duke of Edinburgh Memorial Garden.
At Oakham Castle, the oldest court in the country, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were asked to forfeit a symbolic horseshoe, an ancient right of the Lord of the Manor to demand of passing Peers of the Realm. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are the first members of the Royal Family to view the recently unveiled statue of Queen Elizabeth II and three of her Corgis commissioned by the Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr Sarah Furness, where their Royal Highnesses watched a short film about the statue’s creative journey and met its sculptor Hywel Pratley.
First osprey chick of 2024 born to prolific mum Maya, who is looking after her youngster very well!
It might not be everyone’s idea of a yummy breakfast, but one of Rutland’s youngest residents is seen here enjoying fresh Rutland Water trout courtesy of mum’s hunting skills.
Maya and partner ‘33’ remain the Rutland Osprey Project’s most prolific parents and have fledged 20 chicks, including this one, which will be ringed and numbered in June.
Rutland’s Great Dementia Conversation takes place on Friday 28th June at The Barnsdale
Alicia Kearns MP is hosting an event titled ‘Let’s Talk About Dementia with Angela Rippon’ on Friday 28th June, which will take place from 13.30 - 15.30 at The Barnsdale in Rutland and will be chaired by Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador Angela Rippon. The event is free and open to all Rutlanders, charities, community groups, and GPs. See www.rutlanddementia.com.
Send your press releases & business news to us via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.
Local landmark’s cameo appearance in historical Netflix drama Bridgerton and Sky’s Mary & George
If you’re an avid viewer of historical dramas you may notice a cameo in season three of Netflix’s Bridgerton or the Sky drama Mary & George, with Bourne stately home Grimsthorpe Castle making an appearance in both. Bridgerton was filmed at the Castle back in 2022, whilst Mary & George was filmed in June 2023. Both series are available to stream now. Image: Grimsthorpe Castle.
And Finally... Despite being inland, Rutland has still managed to achieve a Blue Flag award for its reservoir ‘beach’ in the recentlyannounced Keep Britain Tidy awards. The award recognises water quality and environmental education programmes. Since 2019, Rutland Water has also enjoyed a Green Flag award, given to the site to recognise the management and quality of its green spaces.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are the first members of the Royal Family to view the recently unveiled statue of Queen Elizabeth II and three of her Corgis commissioned by the Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr. Sarah Furness
Images: Elli Dean, www.ellideanphotography.co.uk.
A right royal visit for Rutland last month as The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visited Rutland. Highlights of the couple’s visit included a trip to Rutland Showground, Oakham Castle, and viewing the recently unveiled statue of The late Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh Memorial Garden.
The Castle is the oldest court in the country, and claims to be the finest surviving example of Norman domestic architecture in Europe.
At the historic venue, Their Royal Highnesses were asked to forfeit a symbolic horseshoe, an ancient right of the Lord of the Manor to demand of passing Peers of the Realm.
The Duke and Duchess presented an unusual double horseshoe which in due course will
join others displayed on the walls presented by past Monarchs and members of the Royal Family, including the late Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II in 1967 and King Charles III (as Prince of Wales) in 2003. This horseshoe was made by the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME) of which The Duchess of Edinburgh is Hon. Colonel in Chief.
The Duke and Duchess are the first members of the Royal Family to view the recently unveiled statue of Queen Elizabeth II and three of her Corgis in Oakham Library Gardens, meeting sculptor Hywel Pratley.
The couple also viewed local sculptor Chris Groomsbridge’s bas relief image of the late Prince Philip and enjoyed a trip on board The Rutland Belle, taking in the scenery and enjoying refreshments on the water.
Year 13 pupils from Oakham School celebrated the end of term in style with a memorable black-tie dinner in the School’s Barraclough Dining Hall
Images: Elli Dean, www.ellideanphotography.co.uk.
Year 13 pupils from Oakham School celebrated the end of the Spring Term in style with a memorable black-tie dinner in the School’s Barraclough Dining Hall. The event, held exclusively for Year 13 students and their tutors, was a delightful evening with dancing, and camaraderie. The dining hall was transformed into a sophisticated venue and the students cut glamorous figures as they made their red carpet entrance. Pupils and teachers enjoyed a drinks reception with canapés, followed by a three-course dinner prepared by the School’s talented catering team.
Following dinner, the students took to the dance floor, showcasing their best moves and making cherished memories in an evening of celebration and friendship. Housemistress of Round House, Sophie Clarke, said “The event was a fitting way to round off the term and for our students to let off some steam ahead of their summer exams.”
See www.oakham.rutland.sch.uk.
Uppingham couple Stephen & Viv have been reliving memories of their once-in-alifetime trip across the world as participants in the recent BBC 1 series of the same name. The programme reached its conclusion as Pride went to press, so we’ve been sworn to secrecy as to the winners, but you can join the couple on their epic 15,000km journey on the BBC’s iPlayer to find out why, sometimes, it’s better to travel than to arrive
Words: Rob Davis. Images: BBC.
“Shall we?” two little words spoken in May 2023 which would prove to have really significant consequences. Uppingham couple Stephen and Viv returned to Britain in autumn last year after going on a trip... but this was no ordinary holiday.
As avid viewers of the first three series of BBC 1’s Race Across the World, the couple found themselves completing an application to appear on series four of the programme, which sees five pairs of competitors putting the old adage that ‘it’s better to travel than to arrive’ to the ultimate test.
Stephen is from Liverpool and Viv is from London. The couple met in 2005 whilst working at Uppingham Community College and between them, they’ve seven children. After Stephen experienced a heart attack and Viv a stroke in 2011, the two created a ‘bucket list’ and reckon they’ve ticked off most of the experiences they shortlisted.
Neither, though, reckoned on venturing on an epic trip covering 15,000km (9,300 miles), over 50 days, competing against four other couples, to complete each leg of their journey first.
“We’d been on holidays, but we hadn’t ‘travelled,’” says Stephen. “The most adventurous journey we’d been on was to China to see our daughter who lived out there in Wuhan province, but these were organised and well-planned, conventional trips. Apart from a road trip around Europe – again, well-planned – that was our experience of travel; remaining on the beaten track.” Stephen is fluent in German and French, teaching those languages at UCC, adds Viv.
“So there was a degree of security in being able to communicate and plan our trips properly… but our recent experience was something quite different.”
“We both loved the previous three series of the programme, with their spectacular scenery and that sense of adventure, as well as the competitive dimension. A message came up on the screen at the end of one of the closing episodes and invited entries for the next series and after the ‘shall we?’ conversation, we applied, and soon found ourselves submitting a video clip and speaking over Zoom to the producers.”
The series was filmed from September 2023, taking eight weeks to make. Race Across the World, for the uninitiated, sees teams embarking upon a journey with a deliberately tight budget of just £1,390 per person (the equivalent air fare of travelling the race route). The overall route is divided up into eight legs, each designed to be around four or five days in duration with mandated rest periods of a day or two in between... the first couple to reach the finish line will win a prize of £20,000.
The locations vary from series to series, and remain a secret right up until the moment the teams meet one another and set off. In Stephen and Viv’s case, they travelled to Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido in Japan, arriving at the Gokuru shrine and handing over their credit cards and mobile phones, collecting their budgeted cash and then making their way to Odori park where they met their fellow contestants.
“The eventual programme is an authentic reflection of the whole experience too, not faked or engineered,” say the couple. “Before the journey began, we wondered if we’d be a little bit coached by the producers, but absolutely not...!”
“We became very close to the other teams and we wouldn’t hear a bad word said against any of them,” says Stephen. “It was competitive, but also a shared experience so there was a great sense of camaraderie between us. You see people at their best but also at their most exhausted. We’ve a WhatsApp group and still keep in touch. There’s also a reunion planned not just for our series, but for all of the participants across all four series, so that’s something we’re really looking forward to!”
At 2pm a claxon sounded and the teams each separated, having received their first checkpoint destination, Nara, capital city of the prefecture of the same name. Soon each team was finding how to overcome language barriers, how to live on a modest budget, and why keeping hold of a map is important. Really important.
“We play a lot of sports together, we’re competitive and we never argue,” says Viv. “We thought ‘yea, we can do this,’ but the challenges and the pressure were always present. As well as a sense of competition and time pressures, there’s so much going on, all the time. You’re on a constant state of heightened alert; you’re tired, looking for any clues and any information that can help you. But you’re emotionally exhausted, too.”
“A team accompanies you all the time and you’re equipped with microphones, with cameras constantly trained on you. They’re lovely people and we liked them, but they’re professionals – there to observe, not influence – so if you were about to make a huge mistake, they’ll let you, and film the consequences!”
“Sometimes you end up reeling from overload, exhausted, with a lack of sleep and food taking its toll – we both returned having lost weight – but it’s an uplifting experience despite the adversity, and we felt privileged to be a part of the whole experience. The producers and crew were all supportive and positive. And when you reach the mandated checkpoint breaks, the chance to reflect and to see the other participants is really welcome.”
“The conditions have to be challenging – that’s what makes it a competition, after all – but in the toughest conditions, you also see the best of each other, you work together and pull together, and you also appreciate gestures of support and kindness.”
“There are so many experiences we’ve had on the journey, and we’ve found that generally people are so willing to help, even if you’re a stranger. In Japan, where we started, people are so polite and so humble, and in other countries we’ve found that even those who are poor, relatively speaking for someone who lives in the Western world, are willing to share what they have with you and to support you, which is really uplifting, it validates your faith in mankind.”
“Supplementing the budget we were working to, we were allowed to undertake paid-for work throughout the series, often working for bed and board. Doing so is much more personal than staying in a hotel and you find yourself really getting to know the whole family, finding out about their lives.”
“There are four people in particular we’re intending to keep in touch with, people we were really grateful to see, people who were prepared to help us along the way with acts of kindness, giving us lifts or paying for hotel accommodation for us. We also discovered jobs that we didn’t realise existed, duck herding for example (8,000 of the creatures!), harvesting wasabi and picking coffee beans.”
“The eventual programme is an authentic reflection of the whole experience too, not faked or engineered,” say the couple. “Before the journey began, we wondered if we’d be a little bit coached by the producers, but absolutely not. You’re given a world map, which folds out quite large, so the area that you’re looking at is not at all detailed, it covers less than an A4-sized sheet of paper for the whole 15,000km journey. Japan was just a couple of inches in size on the map and we had to make our way from Hokkaido to Nara using just that, then on to the Hakata ferry port in the Fukouka prefecture.”
“You really do just get an envelope and then you sit down for half an hour and try to figure out what you need to do. Often a bus station and train station will be on opposite sides of town too, and if your connection isn’t for another six hours, say, you’ve just got wait it out. In some locations there was just a man or a woman at the side of the road sitting at a fold-out table, and your fate is in the hands of someone who phones someone they know, who phones someone they know, and they may or may not pop over shortly, which is frustrating given that it’s, ultimately, a race!”
“The producers and crew were all supportive and positive. And when you reach the mandated checkpoint breaks, the chance to reflect and to see the other participants is really welcome...”
A couple of the most memorable moments of the series include Viv opening up about her stroke whilst embarking on a visit to see pink dolphins in Thailand, and fellow participant, 20-year old Alfie, lighting a lantern for his late mother in Vietnam.
As uplifting as the experience was for the participants, it’s also an uplifting series for the viewer. The camera operators following the teams around captured a whole series of bright, colourful and beautiful images with spectacular scenery, dramatic aerial shots and time-lapse photography, recording the teams’ journey from crowded urban environments into some off-the-beaten-track rural places.
Modern camera kit and the expertise of the crew reinvent the traditional travelogue genre in absolutely gorgeous, high-definition, visually stunning form.
Someone medically-trained was on each team and GPS trackers were given to the participants as they set off, ensuring the producers could ensure their safety but also send messages giving clues as to exactly where the next checkpoint was located as each one was approached.
Along the way the couple had their backpacks, and from an initial weight of 20kg, the couple both managed to slim their packs down to 11kg. Some of the competitors were much younger and the couple reasoned that in lieu of being able to jog around cities for hours, being canny when planning their route and travelling light was prudent.
Unaware of where in the world they’d be heading to, they’d packed for all eventualities, with thermal underwear quickly ditched in favour of insect repellent and sunscreen among other essentials like head torches, padlocks and shampoo bars.
The couple even went as far as cutting out the labels from their clothes, shedding every bit of excess weight. There was little protection, though, from the 3pm monsoons which would frequently drench the participants in six inches of rain, leaving them with soggy rucksacks.
At the checkpoints, the participants all checked into hotels, and could have all of their clothes laundered, ready for the following day, but they were still isolated from their families and friends for the duration of the process.
“That was the hardest thing for us, really,” the adventurers say. “We’re sociable people, we love to talk, but we were under a strict embargo not to talk about our appearance on the series before the official announcement of the participants was made public.”
“We made the excuse that we were seeing our daughter in China. We’re members of Oakham Tennis Club and on our return our friends were all interested in where we’d been. We had to lie which felt awful, and we found ourselves staying away from people so we didn’t have to answer any questions.”
“Our children were allowed to know we were participating in the programme but they didn’t know where we were, and of course we didn’t know where we were going next, either!”
“Thailand was our very favourite place thanks to the coastal scenery and the wonderful people. We’d go back there, but actually as much as the experience has left us keen to return to those places, it’s made us more aware that there are places we haven’t been, off the beaten track with those once in a lifetime opportunities.”
“We’ve arranged to travel through Canada in an RV for a month, as we’ve never been there. But nor have we been to Australia, New Zealand and any one of thousands of other places. We have a lovely life together and we’re used to spending time together, so we’re looking forward to travelling much more, off the beaten track, to see as much of the world as we can!”
The whole of series four of Race Across the World featuring Stephen and Viv is now available to watch in BBC iPlayer (www.bbc.co.uk).
As Pride goes to press the winning team is still a closelyguarded secret, but we’re looking forward to finding out how far the couple get through the process! The series is produced by Studio Lambert.
Friday 12th Sunday 14th July
Birdfair re-born, for the third year running. Join in to make this the future of Conserving Nature Worldwide.
This year the event moves to Lyndon Top with four main stages of lectures and event, plus owl workshops, young conservationists’ hub, and over 200 exhibitors covering many interests from optics and wildlife photography to travel and conservation.
Last year’s event featured wellknown faces from Tim Mackrill and Simon King. Provision for glamping plus caravans and motorhomes plus a wealth of entertainment and food on site.
Tickets £40/adults, three day. At Lyndon Top, LE15 8RN, see www.globalbirdfair.org.
Mixed media artist Richard James begins third exhibition at Uppingham’s Goldmark Gallery with preview afternoon, lunch and drinks reception...
From Saturday 22nd June
Few artists work with the kind of intense and profound reverence for their materials as Richard James. Using mixed materials to create intricate and handmade reliquaries, this new exhibition of Richard’s work will be the third such exhibition to appear in Uppingham.
Preview/Q&A 1pm, fizz and light lunch, see goldmarkart.com or call 01572 821 424.
From 3rd July to 21st July
Board the Rutland Belle and sail to parts of the reservoir where you stand the best chance of seeing fishing Ospreys, and with a bit of luck you’ll be rewarded with close-up views of the birds
Wednesday 3rd July
Saturday 6th July
Friday 12th July
Saturday 13th July
Wednesday 17th July
Saturday 20th July
Wednesday 24th July
Wednesday 31st July
Tickets £16/adult, from 6pm, departure from Whitwell Harbour, LE15 8BL.
See www.lrwt.org.uk or call 01572 737378.
Wed 26th June to Fri 26th July
In late June and throughout July, enjoy a treat of senses to the visual delights of perfect sweet pea blooms at Easton Walled Gardens.
Dazzling colour and fragrance from over 40 sweet pea varieties including heritage and antique sweet peas to modern varieties and some new trial varieties.
Easton, Grantham NG33 5AP. £10/adults, £5/children, see www.visiteaston.co.uk.
Send your press releases and events to us via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk
18th June to 28th July Singin’ In The Rain at Kilworth House Theatre
Adapted from the 1952 movie of the same name, ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ is set in Hollywood in the 1920’s, when the silver screen found its voice and left silent movies – and some of its stars –behind! Packed full of charm,
romance, comedy and tinsel town glamour, this spectacular show focuses on romantic lead Don Lockwood, and his sidekick Cosmo Brown.
Features MGM hits from ‘Good Morning’ and ‘Make ‘em Laugh,’ to ‘Singin’ in the Rain.’
Ticket prices £45£55, dinner and overnight packages available, call 01858 881939 or see www.kilworthhouse.co.uk.
Taking Risks with Watercolour, featuring Shirley Trevena RI, is now available to view in Uppingham
to August
Enjoy wonderful open air performances of plays by Shakespeare and others at Tolethorpe, home to Stamford Shakespeare Company.
This year’s three productions are A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in the Edwardian era, plus Farquar’s Recruiting Officer and Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. 600-seater auditorium is covered in case of rain, and guests can enjoy a pre-show picnic in the ground. Pre-prepared picnics and drinks available to preorder online, see website for details and performances. Stamford, PE9 4BH. Call 01780 754381 or see www.tolethorpe.co.uk.
Friday 26th July
Join Stamford Arts Centre for a day of creativity and craft, inspired by Stamford in the summer.
10am-11.15am, Bug Hotel workshop. 11.15am - 12.30pm, Clay Flower making. 1pm-2.30pm, Butterfly printing activity and mindful colouring. 2.30pm - 3.30pm, Seed Bomb making and make your own wild garden. £4/child, all children must be accompanied by an adult, all four activities £12.
Based at Stamford Arts Centre, St Mary’s Street, call 01780 763203 or see stamfordartscentre.com.
Running until 29th June
The Rutland Gallery on Uppingham’s High Street East proudly presents an exhibition by internationally acclaimed British watercolour artist, Shirley Trevena RI, who is renowned for her innovative approach to watercolour painting. With a career spanning five decades, Shirley has established herself as a master of the medium, pushing the boundaries of traditional watercolour techniques. Gallery owner, John Jolley,
says that her paintings pulsate with energy, as bold hues dance across the canvas in a symphony of light and shadow. The Rutland Gallery shows a mix of original bold colourful artwork by established British artists and Shirley’s paintings are available for purchase both at the exhibition and via the gallery’s website.
Until 29th June, 10.30am4pm, Rutland Gallery, Uppingham. Call 01572 510048, or see www.rutlandgallery.com
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Summer events at Lamport always feel particularly special with the gardens a riot of colour and the sun (mostly!) shining.
This year’s outdoor theatre is being performed by Boxtree Productions and will be a familyfriendly performance of Wind in the Willows on Friday 12 July. Order a picnic and enjoy the wonderful surroundings of the Walled Garden on a summer’s evening.
The Tame Valley Stompers Allstars return for another year on Sunday 14 July. This always feels like a quintessential day out so gather a group of friends and family, bring some strawberries and soak up the sounds of traditional jazz on a Sunday afternoon.
We continue to celebrate 50 years of the Preservation Trust which cares for Lamport Hall with the King West Country Club Cocktail Party on Saturday 27 July. Lamport Hall was converted briefly into a country club in the 1930s so we’ll be turning back the clocks for a cocktail party in the Hall. There will be themed
cocktails and canapes as well as dance demonstrations, a gramophone DJ and a live jazz vocalist. 1930s outfits are encouraged!
We will also be welcoming LunaFlix back to Lamport on Saturday 3 August for an outdoor cinema screening of Pretty Woman. Enjoy a stroll round the gardens, an evening picnic and the bar and gourmet popcorn on offer before settling down at sunset to watch the 1980s classic. Perfect for a girl’s night out or romantic date night.
We have expanded our general offering for smaller visitors just in time for the school holidays. We have launched a new snug area in our café with comfy seating, children’s books and toys as well as children’s packed lunches. Our gift shop is stocked with lovely pocket money gifts, toys and books for all ages. We have also setup partnerships for our stay and
play sessions with The Realm of Enchantment and Outdoor Explorers. Both groups champion being outside with a focus on discovery, play and learning through nature.
The new exhibition in the Hall is aimed at families with hands on elements to inspire a love of history and art. We have also got brand new activity packs to complement a visit to the Hall with two age groups catered for helping children of all ages to explore something new on a visit to the Hall. The Hall and Gardens are open every Wednesday and Thursday alongside our café and gift shop. Dogs on leads are most welcome.
We can’t wait to welcome you this summer! Please visit the website on www.lamporthall.co.uk for more information or phone the office on 01604 686272.
Quirky familyfriendly accommodation for rural getaways in Rutland and Stamford
Somewhere Very Secret (in Rutland!)
Sssh! We’re sworn to secrecy as to the exact location of A Little Bit of Rough, as its creators Nick and Sarah are keen to keep is a secret from anyone but its lucky guests, to whom exact details are disclosed upon booking.
What we can tell you, though, is it’s set in 20 acres of private woodland, it was established in 2014 and it’s been featured on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces and visited by Sandi Toksvig and Rosie Jones as part of their series
Extraordinary Escapes.
Four luxurious canvas lodges have solar power and log burners, whilst Rocket Lodge has been created from three reclaimed grain silos and four shepherds’ huts, connected by oak frames and glazing for a unique look as well as a comfortable stay.
Other luxuries include pizza ovens, fire pits, wood-fired hot tubs and Rocket Lodge’s gorgeous copper bath with disco ball above.
Rocket Lodge £690/two nights, July. Canvas lodges £400/two nights, July. See www.alittlebitofrough.co.uk.
Brook Farm, Greetham, Rutland
Comprising six geodesic domes, each sleeping six people, In The Stix was founded eight years ago by Alex Cowie & Darren Blackwell, and featured on Channel Four’s Four in a Bed back in 2020.
The domes all have mezzanine levels as well as private bathrooms and wood-fired hot tubs.
Guests have access to a field kitchen with barbecue and pizza oven, and for those who seeking al fresco dining, Smoke ‘n’ Stix is a new communal dining experience where guests gather around the wood-fired oven and BBQ area to enjoy rustic campfire cooking including pizzas and steaks.
A welcome hamper includes Farmer Lou sausages and bacon, Hambleton Bakery granola, Two Chimps coffee and locally sourced eggs... everything you need for a jolly good breakfast!
Guide pride £400/two nights, Greetham For information see www.inthestix.co.uk.
Southorpe, Stamford
Cuckoo, Pinkfoot and Teal are three luxury lodges located near Southorpe, Stamford. Each Lodge sleeps six people in a king-size master bedroom, a kingsize cabin bed and a twin room. All lodges have views over the lake, plus comfortable bedrooms, private bathrooms and kitchens too.
Pizza oven available to hire, as is an outdoor screen and projector plus firepit enabling guests to enjoy an open-air movie experience from under a cosy rug.
Each lodge has its own wood-fired hot tub and spa treatments are also available in your lodge. The lake is also available for guests to use either for fishing or wild swimming. The Lodges are spaced out for privacy but are also close enough should you wish to take more than one for your stay.
Guide pride £990/four nights in July. See www.thenestglamping.co.uk.
Near Oakham, Rutland
Five Lotus Belle tents including Stargazer versions with views of the night sky, plus a Stamford Shepherd’s Hut structure, which is a shepherd’s hut crossed with a cabin.
Lotus Belle tents nestle within the cider orchard, with tea and coffee making facilities plus a private bathroom for each tent.
Each tent has electricity, plus a private garden too with decking area, hammock as well as fire pit/BBQ. Event space and BBQ/picnic area hire also available. Accommodation prices are from £140/night tents; £150/shepherd’s hut.
For more information see www.thehideatmantonbay.co.uk.
Summer Holidays Made Easy
Craving a break from the daily grind but haven’t planned your much needed getaway yet? Fear not - we might be in June already, but it's not too late to secure yourself a lastminute summer holiday!
If the fabulous Stephen & Viv from the hit show Race Across the World have taught us anything, it's that spontaneous travel can often lead to incredible and totally unexpected experiences! Planning a summer escape this late in the year might seem a little daunting, but with a little help from the professionals –you can remove all the stress and unlock, quite literally, a whole world of possibilities.
No internet booking site can compare to the service of a great travel agent. They’ll help you navigate the landscape of late availability, recommend destinations you may not have considered (yet perfectly suit your travel style and budget) and can probably save you some money as well through their access to exclusive deals and offers.
From arranging pre-flight accommodation at your preferred airport, recommending restaurants that can cater for your eldest child’s current obsession for sushi or ensuring the logistics run like clockwork on a complex, multi-destination itinerary – it’s that level of detail that elevates your entire experience and leaves you free to simply, enjoy!
So, whether you dream of ditching the laptop for lounging by the pool with the family, closing shop to cruise the Med with your girlfriends, or taking some time off with your partner to travel the far east Stephen & Viv style (perhaps at a little more leisurely pace), now is the perfect time to start planning your summer adventures.
Call 01733 972377 or visit www.sandalwoodescapes.com.
Going with a Bang, July sees the return of the Battle Proms at Burghley House
Saturday 13th July sees the return of the spectacular Battle Proms Picnic Concert at Burghley House, bringing a summer celebration of uplifting music from the New English Concert Orchestra plus breathtaking aerial and pyrotechnic displays for the orchestra’s 19th performance in Stamford.
The musical delights start in the afternoon with the mellifluous vintage harmonies of the Battle Proms Belles – warming up the crowd with their live band – and culminate in a jubilant flag-waving, sing-along finale with all the traditional ‘last night of the proms’ favourites under a sky of dazzling fireworks. This year the orchestral programme includes
iconic modern pieces such as the Dam Busters March, the Downton Abbey Theme, and Gershwin’s Summertime (performed by star soprano Denise Leigh), complementing beautiful classical favourites you know and love like Elgar’s Nimrod and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with live cannon fire and fireworks!
Concert patrons will also enjoy a horseback
‘Cavalry through the Ages’ show plus breathtaking displays from the British Army’s world-famous Red Devils parachutists and the legendary Grace Spitfire, an appearance made especially poignant in 2024 as this very plane shot down the first enemy aircraft on D-Day 80 years ago this June.
Then as darkness falls, experience groundshaking live fire from 200 cannons and magnificent firework displays alongside the music. With such a packed programme it’s a great evening out for the whole family, and you are even invited to bring your own picnics and drinks into the auditorium. All the action takes place in a stunning, elevated position overlooking the grand Elizabethan architecture of Burghley, the perfect setting for this summer spectacular. Tickets are available online, with pavilion tables, and picnics also available.
4.30pm: Gates Open
Unpack the picnic and uncork the wine, then settle in for a fabulous evening of entertainment.
6.15pm: Cavalry Display
The Worcestershire Cavalry provide a thrilling display of horsemanship.
6.45pm: The Red Devils
The British Army’s parachute display team drop in for a demonstration of their freefall skills above the concert, proudly flying the Union flag!
7pm: The Battle Proms Belles
Lizzie and Abi warm up the crowds with a great performance of close harmony vintage sounds.
8pm: Musical Programme
An inspiring programme of classical favourites conducted by Douglas Coombes MBE and presented by the BBC’s Pam Rhodes.
7.55pm: Evening Gun Salute
A volley of shots from the infantry’s muskets to mark a special arrival!
8pm: Spitfire Air Display
To the sound of Elgar’s Nimrod, the Grace Spitfire performs a choreographed aerial display over the parkland of Burghley House.
Into the Evening:
The Battle Proms also features Soprano Denise Leigh, 200 cannons to shake the ground as the orchestra performs Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and there’s a spectacular firework finale too, as Land of Hope and Glory rings out across the skies of Stamford!
JSL Productions’s Burghley House
Battle Proms takes place on Saturday 13th July, from 4.30pm, tickets from £55/adults; £22/children over four. Visit www.battleproms.com or call 01432 355 416 for enquiries.
Leicester’s Curve Theatre presents its second Made at Curve interpretation of Broadway’s 1975 love letter to performers working in musical theatre. A Chorus Line returns with Adam Cooper starring as Zach, keen to make the cut in auditions
Words: Rob Davis. Images: Marc Brenner.
“It’s incredible!” says Adam Cooper. For the second time, the performer returns to the stage in late June and early July to appear as Zach in a Made at Curve production of the 1975 Broadway love letter to musical theatre.
Raised in south London, Adam recalls that his father had the soundtrack to the original production and after his schooling at ArtsEd London and the Royal Ballet School, he found himself performing in a 2013 version of the show at London’s Palladium.
A Chorus Line was chosen quite deliberately by Curve Theatre’s Artistic Director Nikolai Foster and the team as their first big postCovid production in Christmas 2021... and it proved a huge hit with local audiences.
Its return this summer, though, marks a new and more powerful treatment of the Michael Bennett production, which uses real-life testimonies from late-night recording sessions with dancers, to document the lives of theatre’s unsung heroes, as they tell searing stories of ambition, shattered hopes, and what it really costs ambitious performers to follow their dreams.
Adam says that this version is very different from the original production and it’s also an enjoyable experience for audiences who saw the 2021 Made at Curve show.
“What Nikolai has done with this new version is an extension of his work on the 2021 production. It gives the show a modern feel, so whilst the production still retains its original setting, innovations for the new production include the performers’ physical presence in the auditorium for part of the performance, the theatrical equivalent of breaking the fourth wall in TV,” says Adam.
Curve’s production returns this summer complete with its all-new choreography and use of video feeds through the production to ensure an even more visceral and edgy projection of the production’s characters so essential when bringing A Chorus Line to the stage.
“It’s a dramatically different version to the last production at Curve,” says Adam. “I was keen to be part of the production once I learned that A Chorus Line was returning to Curve as it was really enjoyable before, but this version is bolder and more daring.”
“There’s a great combination of returning cast members and a new infusion of talent too, so it really is a recommended show for anyone keen to enjoy the unique appeal of live theatre this summer, presented in a way that only a Made at Curve production can bring theatre to life for audiences.”
Earlier this year Uffington was voted ‘the poshest village in Lincolnshire,’ which met a mixed response from locals. Posh or not though, there’s a smashing sense of community in this very pretty village
Words: Rob Davis.
The village of Uffington was recently named the ‘poshest village in Lincolnshire’ for the second year in a row by The Daily Telegraph... what do locals think about that?
Let’s have a count up. 15 people say ‘yes,’ whilst six people have voted ‘no.’ It not exactly a scientific poll, and of course many more people will have walked past, choosing not to vote at all. However, the chalk board at this year’s Uffington Scarecrow Festival and village fête, held last month, did allow locals to respond to the question of whether the village of Uffington really is the ‘poshest in Lincolnshire.’
We suspect that locals would dismiss the title, conferred upon it two years in a row now by The Daily Telegraph, which used house prices and a couple of other criteria to determine its findings.
Posh or not though, there’s absolutely no disputing the sheer sense of community in Uffington, and the fact that it’s one of the area’s prettiest and most well-kept villages.
The village is home to 300 households and 700 people but it was visited by over 5,000 last month as Uffington held its annual scarecrow festival with over 50 entrants and lots of events taking place in and around the village.
This year’s theme was ‘A Celebration of the BBC’ with scarecrows representing Top of the Pops, Countryfile, Top Gear and Planet Earth among the television and radio programmes represented.
Meanwhile, at St Michael & All Angels Church, the theme was continued with a Songs of Praise service featuring culminating in a Top 20 Countdown of hymns. Locals also enjoyed trips up to the bell tower, and demonstrations of lacework and spinning in the church. Elsewhere, there was a dog show, classic cars, BBQ and cake stalls, model railway exhibitions and even a flypast of heritage aircraft.
Left: Scarecrows, bellringing and the Church of St Michael & All Angels.
Uffington was originally known as Casewick, until the Bertie family built their manor house, in the village...
Interestingly the village was originally known as Casewick, but in the Tudor era, the Bertie family built their manor house, Uffington Park in the village. The site remained until 1904, but by that time, the village’s new name was well-established.
The village’s name is also reflected in the name of the local pub restaurant, the Bertie Arms, which dates back to 1681 and features a thatched roof plus a really lovely outside dining area.
The place is run by Katie Genever and husband James, and the family also have links to the nearby ‘3 Daughters @ Croft Farm’ which as its name suggests is a farming operation run by three sisters who really care about the animals they rear in a high-welfare environment which produces beef, lamb and pork, as meat boxes for locals, also supplying the pub when volume permits.
As the epicentre of the village, The Bertie Arms is home to Uffington’s monthly quiz night, a ‘knit ‘n’ natter’ group and the Bertie Book Club, but it’s perhaps better known for a lovely offering of lunch and dinner, with options ranging from sharing platters to grill and à la carte main courses, not to mention some rather good puddings.
Parish Priest Father Aran Beesley, has lived in the village since 2018 and is known affectionately as FAB. The Grade I listed St Michael and All Angels church dates back to the 13th century. Its clock was successfully repaired last year, with new bearings, bushes and a new oak beam ensuring it’s structurally sound and will remain fit for the future.
Finally, Uffington’s Village Hall was converted from two cottages and donated to the village in 1928 by Arthur Sells... it’s one of only 15 thatched villages halls in the UK.
Shirley Trevena RI
Saturday June 1st - Saturday June 29th
The first exhibition of Shirley Trevena RI at The Rutland Gallery. A member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Shirley enjoys an international reputation as one of Britain’s most innovative artists in watercolour.
Shirley Trevena, RI Metal Bird & Irises, watercolour, gouache and pen & ink, 18x151/4in (46x39cm). All work available to view and purchase online now and throughout the exhibition.
High Street East, Uppingham LE15 9PY, 01572 510048 | www.rutlandgallery.com
Open seven days a week throughout the exhibition, 10.30am-4pm.
Congratulations to Frazer and Emma King who celebrate three years as custodians of West Deeping’s Red Lion. This summer sees some great dishes for summer dining, special events and the return of the ‘picky bits on the patio,’ a relaxed, enjoyable tapas-style menu
Words: Rob Davis.
Time flies when you’re having fun. It passes by quickly when you’re busy, too. So if you’re having fun whilst being busy, it’s easy to see how three years can pass by in what seems like an instant.
But as Pride goes to press, both Frazer and Emma King are thrilled to be celebrating their third anniversary as custodians of the Grade II listed village pub in West Deeping, The Red Lion.
In our last editorial we told how, despite studying marine biology, Frazer instead fell into and then fell in love with hospitality, returning to the area after working in London with Mark Hix MBE, then in Norfolk, and finally close to home at Clipsham’s Olive Branch, at Paten & Co in Stamford and at what is now known as The Barnsdale.
Lockdown provided a chance for the couple to evaluate their work/life balance and they set about creating a restaurant of their own in West Deeping. The Red Lion dates back to at least 1632 and it’s a handsome place, the centre of the village with tonnes of character, a lovely sunny terrace and log burners for the cooler months.
Frazer’s mission statement from the outset was to provide ‘elevated pub dining.’ His words, not ours, but frankly we can’t sum up Frazer’s philosophy any better. Take his fish ‘n’ chip main course for example, which improves substantially on a Great British classic: the chips are triple cooked, lovely and fluffy inside with just a bit of bite on the outside. Instead of a flat fillet, there’s a lovely big portion of hake, cider-battered and served with home-made tartare sauce and crushed minted peas. A great dish, made better.
Opposite: Roast chicken breast with grilled baby gem, green beans, crispy bantam egg, and sourdough croutons.
Above, centre: Barbecue monkfish tail with summer slaw and pickled fennel.
Barbecue monkfish tail with summer ‘slaw and pickled fennel.
Grilled courgette with spiced aubergine purée, nasturtium, pickled coulis and wild chervil.
White wine poached chicken terrine with wild garlic emulsion and toasted brioche.
Fried squid with pickled radish and sea buckthorn mayonnaise.
Roast chicken breast with grilled baby gem, green beans, crispy bantam egg, and sourdough croutons.
Cider-battered hake with triple-cooked chips, crushed peas and tartare sauce (always gluten-free by default).
Jerusalem artichoke and wild garlic risotto with burnt onion caramel.
Slow roast hogget shoulder with garlic, hasselback potatoes purple sprouting broccoli and white pudding.
Ribeye steak with rosemary fries, roasted tomato and mushroom and chophouse butter.
DESSERTS
Elderflower panna cotta with almond sponge and pickled gooseberries.
Tallington strawberries with basil sorbet and meringue.
Forced rhubarb with whipped saffron custard and rhubarb sorbet.
NB: Sample menu and featured dishes, subject to availability and change.
Frazer & Emma’s young daughters have the special responsibility of caring for their rare breed hens!
“Good food doesn’t need to be fussy, but I think diners can always tell when effort has been made and time has been taken,” says Frazer. “It’s a pleasure and an obligation to make the most of the really good ingredients and really diligent producers that we’re lucky to have all around us.”
“We also feel a real duty to look after our many local diners and our regulars who have looked after us and have appreciated our efforts right from the start.”
“When we first opened we were still unable to have people in the building, so we were limited to serving people outside. When restrictions eased our guests came into the place and they’ve supported us ever since, sitting by the log burners in winter and enjoying the terrace in summer.”
“In return we’ve always tried to create dishes which are prepared with both skill and imagination, providing a really good dining experience, one that reflects both seasonality and provenance.”
Above: Ciderbattered hake and chips. Opposite: Grilled courgette with chervil.
“Our meat is provided by Price & Fretwell and Grasmere Farm, with lamb from Lavinton and fresh fish delivered every day. We source bread from Hambleton Bakery because we don’t believe there’s a bakery that comes close, and we create our own sorbets, ice creams in house.”
Frazer’s efforts even extend to creating his own caramelised butter using Poacher Butter as a starting point, then creating a beurre noisette for a nuttier, toasted flavour.
Meanwhile, there’s a productive kitchen garden to the rear of the pub with about 12 beds, heaving at this time of year with heritage rhubarb first grown by Emma’s great grandmother, plus heritage tomatoes, chillies, herbs, nasturtiums and heritage herbs such as hyssop.
Frazer & Emma appreciate all of their suppliers, but two deserve a special mention. The couple’s daughters have the very special responsibility of caring for their six rare breed hens and two cockerels. The couple’s daughters care for their Peking Bantams, Speckled Sussex and Olive Eggers, and in
return, mum and dad let them keep the proceeds of any eggs purchased by locals over the bar. Seems fair to us, and the eggs are lovely, all different colours with bright, healthy yellow yolks.
“As a village there are lots of growers and producers of ingredients all around us, and we’ve a pub shop selling charcuterie, honey, jam, and bottled ales to enjoy at home.”
As Pride goes to press the family is also preparing to replace their set lunch menu with ‘Picky Bits on the Patio’ which as its name suggests is provision of tapas-style dishes, big on flavour with no lack of talent invested; Cromer crab, mussels in cider, flatbread with homemade hummus and pork crackling are all examples. Thursdays see Frazer’s ‘not a pizza’ night with homemade flatbreads served, topped with local seasonal ingredients... like a pizza, but truly British!
There’s a cheese board too, which one regular of the pub enjoys out in the fresh air with a bottle of Malbec on a Saturday night.
If that doesn’t suit, there are four real ales including the pub’s exclusive golden ale, King Street. Look out too for an ever-evolving wine list plus cheese and wine dinners and other events like hedgerow and foraging dinners, and a harvest festival later in summer. Elsewhere there’s an à la carte menu with seven starters and main courses brimming with seasonal ingredients at this time of year like Tallington asparagus and strawberries. As the family celebrates its third anniversary at The Red Lion, they’ll also reach the end of their year-long tenure as The Great Food Club’s Pub of the Year 2023/2024. Time may fly when you’re having fun, in the kitchen, or at front of house, doing great things, but your hard work will always be rewarded, in this case with a reputation for being one of the very best pub restaurants in the area.
The Pitch: “Local, fresh and sustainable food and drink with friendlyfamily service courtesy of Frazer & Emma King. Ingredients sourced within 30 miles where possible. Beautiful Grade II listed 17th century pub restaurant.”
Opening Hours: 12 noon to 11pm Wednesday to Saturday (kitchen 12 noon to 2.30, 5pm to 9pm) and Sunday 12 noon to 6pm (kitchen 12 noon to 3pm).
The Red Lion, West Deeping, PE6 9HP. Call 07421 977661 or see www.theredlionwestdeeping.co.uk.
Jurassic twist on the local distillery’s dry gin
Classic, smooth dry gin with subtle hints of acorn and floral notes. The gin is macerated with bu pea fl rich blue colour. Oh, and watch what happens as you add your favourite mixer!
£40 / 70 multumginparvo Limited edi 400 bo
This month we’ve a trio of English rosés, plus a local spirit and a French fizz with zero alcohol so you can keep a clear head at summer celebrations. Enjoy high summer, with our chosen wines and tipples...
Gusbourne’s 2023 rosé enjoys a lush, fruitdriven palate of strawberries, raspberries and redcurrants. £25 / 75cl / 12% ABV, www.gusbourne.com.
Salmon pink in colour, cranberry and fresh acidity with a fragrant floral finish, a beautifully balanced rosé. £21.99 / 75cl / 12% ABV, www.drinkfolc.com.
Chapel Down’s delicate rosé with strawberries and toasty shortbread with a fine mousse, ideal as an aperitif. £29 / 75cl / 12% ABV, www.chapeldown.com.
A rather lovely and great value single varietal Viognier produced from grapes grown at altitude in the Hérault and the Aude Valley in the South of the Minervois
A decadent, fragrant wine reminiscent of Condrieu, bursting with notes of peach, apricot and almond, as well as ginger spice and orange blossom, meanwhile the palate is creamy and fresh.
£11.99 / 75cl, 13.5% ABV, available at majestic.co.uk.
Crafted from organic French Chardonnay grapes with the dealc touch, this exquisite Champagne unfolds with a distinct minerality subtle pear undertones, highlighting the unmistakable character. With a harmonious blend of acidity and depth, it unravels a lively essence of tones at its heart.
£32.50 / 75cl fortnumandmason
Our featured wines are available from local independent wine merchants, supermarkets and online, prices are RRP and may vary.
Tim & Bianca Dally’s achingly-beautiful 17th century cottage has been treated to just the kind of attention and love it deserves, during the couple’s time at the property. Now though, it’s seeking new custodians looking for a property with space, character and modern features
Words: Rob Davis.
“It was going to be our forever home,” say Tim & Bianca Dally. “Throughout its refurbishment from 2013 to 2015 we didn’t cut any corners, compromise on any materials and we only used local heritage craftspeople. It was a real labour of love, which reflected the fact that we could see ourselves living here for the rest of our lives.”
“We also refurbished the place with children and grandchildren in mind, ensuring there was plenty of space for
the whole family... but that family is now spread right across the world from New Zealand to Dubai to the UK, so they turn up on our doorstep rather less than we’d anticipated.”
‘Consequently, we’re looking to downsize (a little), travel (a lot), and to begin a new project, because aside from the work and expense, we’ve loved absolutely every moment of what we’ve done to improve Stocks Cottage, and we’ve loved living here.”
Tim and Bianca met 32 years ago and purchased the cottage back in 2013, embarking upon its refurbishment, including its thatched roof, its wiring and plumbing to replacing windows and lime rendering the interior walls.
The building dates back to about 1650 and was originally three separate dwellings, which were combined in 1911. Today the cottage provides three reception rooms and four bedrooms with three bathrooms.
The ground floor comprises a breakfast kitchen with French doors, sitting room with inglenook fire, dining room plus a study and utility
Deceptively large – there’s a total of 2,600sq ft of living space in the main property alone – the ground floor comprises a kitchen and breakfast room with French doors leading onto the terrace, plus a dining room, sitting room with inglenook fireplace, and a study, utility and shower room.
The first floor, meanwhile, has four bedrooms with a family bathroom plus a large and rather glitzy en suite over the property’s garage.
“We were really fortunate to have a great main contractor in Michael Trigg, and some really wonderful local tradespeople... we think the furthest that any of them had to travel was from Oakham!”
“Our cabinet maker and joiner Mark Atton lives in the village and installed the French oak floor boards that we imported, with their wide planks, then created our bespoke kitchen with its butcher’s block and the large central island in white engineered stone which we envisaged would reflect the light from both the east and west aspects. His attention to detail was really impressive and his sense of craftsmanship is second to none.”
The kitchen has an electric Aga with six gas burners, and there are built-in appliances including undercounter fridge and freezer, plus an integrated Fisher & Paykel dishwasher.
A separate larder provides plenty of storage for food and treats, at least until the grandchildren all descend, whereupon it’s promptly depleted of its spoils.
The only way to keep them out of the pantry is to host a good barbecue, at which point the utility room doubles as an outdoor kitchen complete with drinks fridge and adjacent cloakroom.
Happily the fact that the pretty cottage garden is enclosed ensures the children’s safety and ensures plenty of space for al fresco barbecue cooking and dining adjacent to a herb and rose garden which is heaving with both colour and scent in June and July.
The garden also comprises a good lawned area – again, a great resource for grandchildren – with a beech hedge and archway at the end leading to a vegetable garden with greenhouse and shed, Bianca’s art studio, plus an orchard with fruit trees yielding apples, pears, plums and cherries with which to make some good summer puddings.
“It’s a surprisingly temperate house both in high summer and deep winter,” says the couple. “We commissioned an energy certificate which confirmed what we already knew; its really efficient thanks in no small part to the reed and straw thatch and thick walls which retain heat in the winter months but keep the inside rooms cool when the sun’s shining.”
“Stocks Cottage really does retain a pretty consistent temperature all year round and it’s always quiet and cosy despite being quite large.”
“It’s with real reluctance we’ve put the place on the market. We really did see us living here for many more years to come, so we’re in no rush to sell, but we hope when the time comes to move on, we can find someone who will love the place as much as we have!”
Location: Market Overton, Oakham 7 miles, Stamford 13 miles.
Provenance: Grade II listed cottage dating back to C17th, beautifully renovated by current owners.
Rooms: Three receptions, currently arranged as breakfast kitchen, dining room, sitting room. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, study, outdoor art studio.
Guide Price: £1,250,000.
Find Out More: King West, St Mary's Street, Stamford, PE9 2DE. Call 01780 484520 or see www.kingwest.co.uk.
6 MARKET PLACE · UPPINGHAM · RUTLAND · LE15 9QH 01572 823389
www.sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk • info@sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk www.facebook.com/sarahhardinginteriorsltd Sarah Harding Interiors (@sarahhardinginteriorsltd)
Kate Vincent from Garrington property finders discusses factors that parents should consider when searching for a property in conjunction with schooling.
Access to a good education for children is one of the highest priorities for most parents. It is not surprising therefore, that when buying a new home, proximity to highly rated schools can have a major influence on where to buy and in some cases the price paid.
The Rutland and Stamford area has a good supply of excellent state and independent schools, but what are the wider considerations for parents when factoring schooling into their property buying decisions?
When searching for a long-term family home, it is important for parents of primary school-aged children to consider the progression to quality secondary education. The transition to secondary school arrives before you know it, and not all primary schools are automatically linked to appropriate secondary placements nearby.
The financial implications of private education are well understood but choosing an exceptional state school can also have a financial impact. Typically, homes located in the catchment area of such a school attract significantly higher prices than those located further away. These price premiums can amount to a considerable sum, and it is important to remember that the property’s value is largely reliant on the school in
question maintaining its high standards and reputation. Furthermore, a state school’s catchment radius varies each year depending on applications.
Fees for children boarding usually far exceed the day school rates so some parents choose to live close to a boarding school to enable their children to benefit from the facilities without the added cost. This can result in increased competition and prices for the larger properties near the school as parents compete for the often-limited stock of premium homes. One alternative is to look for property further afield, however parents should be mindful of travelling times and the potential for long days as the extracurricular activities can stretch way beyond the typical school day. Whilst many schools provide extensive bus services, the timetable for these usually reflects standard school hours so parents need to consider whether their children will stay late and thus increase demand for the parental taxi service.
The best schools are often oversubscribed and in the case of some independent schools, have registration dates many months ahead of the school year. The latter are generally not concerned about where the pupils live but of course with state schools, homes need to be
within the school’s catchment area for the children to be considered. So, parents who have a specific school in mind should give themselves at least a year to find and move into a property.
Help with the challenge
Juggling everyday life with the challenge of choosing a new school and the difficulty of finding the perfect home can be a highly stressful and overwhelming experience. A professional property finder can provide reassurance to homebuyers regarding their property buying decisions. Their local expertise, knowledge of the property market and skill in negotiating and completing can help facilitate a smooth and efficient purchase.
If you would value some support finding and buying your next home, Garrington can help so please do get in touch for a commitment free initial meeting to share ideas: Tel. 01780 408377. Email info@garrington.co.uk www.garringtoneastmidlands.co.uk
Seashells and sailboats this month as we take nautical inspiration from leading partners of local interior designers
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Below Marine Life wallpaper. Our recommended local interior designers: HWorks, Stamford (01780 754605, www.hworksdesign.co.uk); Hunters Interiors, Stamford (01780 757946, www.huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk); Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors (01572 722345, www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk); Sarah Harding Interiors, Uppingham (01572 823389, www.sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk).
The complete kitchen cupboard re-spray and refurbishment specialist
2024 see’s our 28th year in business, refurbishing and painting kitchens on a nationwide basis.
What started out as hand painting kitchens in the 1990’s, has progressed to a much greater business, offering all aspects of the kitchen refurbishment services.
As well as removing kitchens to prepare and paint in our factory, we offer our clients a full repair service as well as the manufacture of damaged items to match the originals. We also have our very own range of hardware which covers contemporary ranges in Nickel, Chrome, Brass and Copper too.
Last year we had the pleasure of announcing our partnership with a natural stone supplier who manufacture and fit new worktops, and also for those clients seeking an alternative, a product called Corian – amazing durability, non-porous and seamless fitting!
This year will see us continuing to build on our business, refurbishing and painting more furniture and kitchens.
Trends and colours change, and we like to be able assist our clients with up-to-date ideas and examples of how they improve their kitchens at a fraction of the cost of a replacement.
Adhesives, Grouts and Accessories
Established since 1984, We celebrate our 40th year this year. Visit our showroom for ideas and experienced advice. Suppliers of tiles, adhesive, grout, tools and accessories, plus fitting service with free estimates. We also serve the construction industry with competitive trade prices. 01572 821119 OPEN MON-FRI 9am-4:30pm www.superceramicservices.com superceramicservices@live.co.uk
Our experienced interior designers create timeless spaces tailored just for you
Our experienced interior designers create timeless spaces tailored just for you
Visit our showroom 01780 757946 See our website www.huntersinteriors.co.uk
See our website www.huntersinteriors.co.uk
A Collyweston couple are thrilled with their kitchen and utility room created by Easton on the Hill’s Fitted Furniture Company... and they’re not the only ones! This month we teamed up with Bourne’s Sophie Allport to provide the perfect finishing touch for Labrador Alfie, a comfy bed to fit his own space in the utility room...
Words: Rob Davis.
Special delivery for Alfie! Last month a parcel arrived for a fox red Labrador in Collyweston. In it, a brand new, personalised and very comfy medium-sized dog mattress, provided by Sophie Allport.
Alfie’s new bed measures 88cm and it fits its intended space perfectly because Easton on the Hill’s Jason Nicholls and Graham Fowkes have created a space specifically for it within Alfie’s new utility room.
“The house was constructed in the 1960s, and we suspect its original owner wasn’t a keen chef because when we moved in about 30 years ago there was a smaller kitchen, quite narrow and north-facing, which wasn’t a great place in which to cook,” say Alfie’s owners.
The couple reasoned that combining the previous kitchen and dining room would create a much larger space and commissioned The Fitted Furniture Company to create a new place for the family to pursue their love of cooking.
A second phase would see the creation of a utility room with space for Alfie, as well as plenty of practical storage space for family collateral including muddy boots.
The complete redesign of the couple’s garden in conjunction with designer Adam Frost was a retirement project, and now there’s a much nicer view from the kitchen window over three acres including a productive kitchen garden.
When the couple come in from a morning spent weeding and watering they can take their boots off in the new utility room and put a basket of fresh veg on the side. Meanwhile after a morning supervising the couple’s work in the garden, Alfie can return to his own doggy des res and settle down for a snooze.
“The Fitted Furniture Company are great to work with,” say the couple. “Nothing is too much trouble and everything is really well planned thanks to their input.”
“They’ve given us everything we said we wanted, but also gave us their input too, and there’s plenty of really practical storage.”
Established in 1991, The Fitted Furniture Company are traditional cabinet makers creating kitchens, bedrooms, studies and freestanding furniture.
Their work can also be seen in the couple’s study, dressing room and lounge. The kitchen, meanwhile, features solid timber cabinetry, created in tulip wood finished in Little Greene’s French Grey, with Dekton engineered stone and Iroko timber surfaces.
Highlight colours of Juniper Ash and Royal Navy have been used on the kitchen’s freestanding dining table and on the coat rack, with a splashback in antiqued glass behind a British Racing Green Aga and companion unit.
Integrated appliances include a boiling water tap, dishwasher and drinks fridge with a freestanding US-style fridge freezer. There’s also a built-in bookcase for the couple’s cookery books.
Curved cabinetry helps to soften the kitchen’s edges whilst a traditional in-frame shaker profile ensures the design will retain a timeless look... the cabinetry can also be repainted in the event of the couple seeking a mid-life kitchen refresh.
The result of The Fitted Furniture Company’s hard work and the couple’s input is a space that’s beautiful as well as being fit for purpose.
As for Alfie, he approves as well, with a very comfy bed that fits perfectly into his space and will allow him to snooze the summer away in comfort and luxury!
The Fitted Furniture Company is based at Easton on the Hill, providing bespoke kitchens, bedrooms, studies and freestanding furniture. For a free, no obligation discussion about your next kitchen, call 01780 480080 or see www.thefittedfurniturecompany.com. Thanks to Sophie Allport for providing Alfie’s new Woof mattress, (£62/small 68cm; £80/med 88cm; £100/large 108cm), with removable and washable, 100% cotton, destructionproof cover. See www.sophieallport.com or visit the designer’s Stamford shop.
At Stamford Domes we believe that function should always be combined with beauty. Our domes allow you to make the most of your existing garden and create a space which is uniquely you. They offer the perfect setting for a meal and drinks in the garden with friends, for a romantic glass of wine with a loved one or even some time alone simply reading a book.
Fully customisable in size, appearance and function. The nature of the domes construction means that each individual panel can be selected by the client to be solid or clear, and can be constructed from a variety of materials. This allows the design to be tailored to suit a wide range of purposes; from stunning timber framed greenhouses to cosy snug spaces to curl up, outdoor social areas or bars, even saunas! Get in touch to find out how we can help you achieve your garden dreams.
Back in 2009, a group of volunteers armed only with trowels, a wheelbarrow full of compost and some Heritage Lottery Funding completed the restoration of the cottage garden at John Clare Cottage in Helpston
Words: Rob Davis.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the restoration of John Clare Cottage at Helpston, equidistant between Stamford and Peterborough. Clare was born in July 1793 to a poor family, working as a gardener at Burghley House, an agricultural labourer and a pot boy at the local pub (The Blue Bell at Glinton). Having enlisted in the militia and after living with gypsies for a short while before working at a lime burner, Clare was obliged to accept parish relief.
His early poems were sold by John Taylor of Taylor & Hussey, with a view to trying to earn enough money from them to prevent his parents’ eviction from their property in Helpston.
Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery in 1820 and Village Minstrel and Other Poems were lauded. With an annuity of 15 guineas from the Marquess of Exeter and an annual income of £45, Clare’s
financial woes eased temporarily until his 1827 collection of poems, The Shepherd’s Calendar, proved less than successful. Working the fields did nothing for the poet’s ailing physical health either. And with bouts of depression and significant alcohol consumption, the ‘peasant poet’ was soon hospitalised in the first of several asylums including Northampton General Lunatic Asylum in which he wrote I Am, his most famous poem in 1944/1845, around 10 years prior to his death.
John Clare Cottage was a sanctuary for the poet and its cottage garden was not only a reflection of Clare’s agricultural and horticultural knowledge, but an important resource, too, for the family to grow food and medicinal herbs. In 2004 a trust was formed by Dr Paul Currie with a view to restoring the gardens, ensuring they remain open to visitors but also accurately reflects the likely flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs which would be been grown there during Clare’s life.
Between 2004 and 2009 the half-acre site was restored, with the concept of the garden created by Adam Frost initially for a show garden at RHS Chelsea, before it was transplanted to the site of the cottage. The Trust also partnered with Cambridge University Botanic Garden to ensure only appropriate heritage varieties of plants and flowers were used.
Within a decade or so the fund was repaid, and ever since the garden has been held in trust for future generations to enjoy. Sharon Pallister is the manager of the property working with a team of four volunteer gardeners including long-standing volunteers Allen and Barbara.
The gardens are divided into three areas, the first being a courtyard with herbs that would have served medicinal purposes in Clare’s day.
The second area is a traditional cottage garden which comprising three beds comprising, among other plantings, fruit and vegetable used in the cottage’s café.
In the summer, the beds will also be heaving with hollyhocks, roses including the vibrant pink rosa John Clare, plus aquilegia, alliums, foxgloves, and michaelmas daisies. The third area of the garden is the orchard with heritage fruit trees on what is believed to have been the site of a former quarry.
“The newer areas of the garden are maturing nicely with trees, hedging and flower borders are now all very well established,” says Sharon. “The garden volunteers have further developed the garden by planting new specimens, constructing compost areas and extending dry stone walls.”
John Clare’s birthday on 13th June is commemorated each year at the cottage with a festival, and this year is no exception with an evening of folk music on Friday 12th July, then a day of celebrations in the garden with poetry readings, children’s crafts and folk music.
Next month the gardens will also welcome The Pantaloons open air theatre company who will present their version of Robin Hood in the gardens.
Clare noted of crowded places; ‘I shunned them as noises too rude, and flew to the silence of sweet solitude,’ it’s easy to believe that his place of sweet solitude was none other than the gardens of Clare Cottage, whose sense of solitude may also be enjoyed with a visit this month.
Beautifully maintained, peaceful and offering an insight into the peasant’s poet, Clare Cottage is a must-visit garden, all summer long.
John Clare Cottage is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 10am3pm. Entry £5.50/adult, £4.65/under 16, including GiftAid. Call 01733 253330 or see www.clarecottage.org. Clare Cottage, Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough PE6 7ED.
01780 756666
enquiries@qks-ltd.co.uk qks-ltd.co.uk
Everything you need to dine in comfort this month thanks to Gates Garden Centre, presenting three ways to cook al fresco!
One of the most enjoyable aspects of a British summer are those special days when we can dine al fresco. Happily our friends at Gates Garden Centre provide all you need to be comfortable all summer long with quality garden furniture and outdoor cooking appliances.
Pictured opposite is Supremo’s Rishi rectangular dining set, eucalyptus and aluminium the perfect blend of style and practical durability. Also pictured is the more contemporary Life Mixx set with robust teak top and chairs upholstered in hard-wearing weatherproof Soltex fabric.
For cooking al fresco, you can’t beat the control and convenience of a barbecue from Weber. Shown at the top of the page is an E-310 gas barbecue (£599) with 60cm x 45cm cooking area and large wheels.
Alternatively, discover the pleasure of stonebaked pizzas on Saturday 8th June from 11am as Gates Garden Centre hosts its Ooni pizza oven day, demonstrating how to cook authentic fresh flame-cooked pizza in just 90 seconds. Shown here is the Ooni Karu 16 multi-fuel pizza oven (£599).
The centre will also host a Weber event on Saturday 6th July & Sunday 7th July and the
Weber World Store has a range of charcoal, gas, electric and wood pellet barbecues.
A firepit table will help you remain cosy and provides a show-stopping way to cook for guests. Seen here is Bramblecrest’s fire pit griddles and bracket (£137). And finally, remember that Gates Farm Shop also provides quality food including high-welfare meat from Gates Farm via Hambleton Butchery to make any barbecue truly delicious. Featured products available from Gates Garden Centre, Cold Overton, LE15 7QB. Call 01664 454309 or see www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk.
NB: All prices quoted correct at time of going to press.
mail@rutlandshutters.co.uk
This month we’re enjoying the high life, looking at the skilled craftspeople preserving heritage skills – and period properties – for future generations as we go up on the roof with William McKie and his team of thatchers
Words: Rob Davis.
According to The Drifters’ song, up on the roof is as peaceful as can be and a paradise that’s trouble proof.
That’s perhaps overstating matters for Britain’s 1,000 or so thatchers, who work rather hard to tend to between 50,000 and 60,000 natural rooftops. It’s a physically hard job, a niche skill, and understandably, modern thatchers are very much in demand.
Andrew Raffle is the secretary of the National Society of Master Thatchers and reports that in some parts of Britain, there can be a two or even three year waiting list for a thatcher to tend to your roof.
The Society represents over a third of thatchers in the industry. Only in the 20th century did thatchers all join together for collective representation of the trade, and in 1947 these became 12 regional associations. In 1967 these Master Thatcher Associations came together to form the National body, which also held a world forum for the craft in 2010 to establish standards for best practice.
In addition the association has a list of thatchers including those in our area and they can mediate between client and thatcher in the event of any disputes.
Traditionally a thatched roof is made of either water reed, grown in wetland areas and cut during winter, or from either long straw or combed straw.
Variations were regional, and depended on the availability of material locally, but now a listed building’s mandated requirement for a like-for-like replacement dictates that, in our area, water reed is more common.
Thatchers today source their material from merchants supplied by smaller-scale heritage farmers, usually with four or five acres, as modern combines and varieties of cereals aren’t conducive to leaving straw sufficiently intact.
Thatching straw is usually cut with a stripper header and stooked or stood up in the field to get the air through it. It’s also cut later than modern cereals farmers giving the straw a tougher, waxy feel.
Typically producing thatching straw using heritage varieties of cereals results in grain yields of 1.5 tonnes/acre; 8 tonnes/acre is closer to what a farmer would expect, today so thatching straw remains a niche crop. No roof and no job is identical but on average it takes six to eight weeks to complete a replacement roof. Similar to tiling, thatchers begin at the bottom of the roof, overlapping stooks (four or five sheaves) working across and upwards to the ridge. The positioned material is knocked into shape with a device that enjoys different names depending on the region, but in our part of the world it’s known as a stincher
There are regional variations and from thatcher to thatcher as to how the material is secured to the roof. Traditionally material is tied into place with split brambles or twine, or pegged into place with spars. Traditionally these were made of hazel or willow, but they’re a pain to produce and the industry needs 18m of them a year. Also, willow coppicing is less common today, so in recent years plastic spars have been used instead, to the disdain of some traditionalists.
The requirement by conservationists for a like-for-like replacement of a thatched roof means demand for the skill is unlikely to disappear, but the job is hard work and traditionally an apprenticeship lasts four years, with a further two years spent as a journeyman thatcher.
For that reason recruitment is challenging, as is retention of apprentices given how physically demanding the job is. Happily demand for the skill is high and the profession is safer than ever thanks to modern health and safety considerations.
A wheat thatch lasts around 30 years, whilst water reed could last up to twice as long. Surprisingly, a thatched roof is even more effective at retaining heat than modern tiles and insulation. It’s also just as safe with the number of fires last year falling by a quarter. Greater awareness of the need to have chimneys swept, to use only seasoned firewood, and to not treat fires or wood
burners as incinerators to get rid of general material has all led to a better reputation.
The proliferation of wood burners which emit fire gases quicker and also at much higher temperatures still necessitates caution though. Having a chimney sweep (e.g.: Avondale Sweeps, 01536 510865) give you a clean bill of health twice a year is important.
Replacing a thatched roof is hard work, but it’s certainly an enjoyable profession and a great source of pride, says William McKie who has been in the industry for a number of years and founded his own company Simply Thatch (www.simplythatch.co.uk).
As the team completed a job on Cottesmore recently, we joined them on the roof to see exactly how it’s done.
Established in 2017, the company has four offices in Cambridgeshire and the south, with five thatchers working simultaneously on this particular cottage, and offering thatching services from repairs to complete replacement in each of the main materials.
The company also offer thatched animal finials such as those in the village of Cottesmore; look at the roof tops and you can see boxing hares, and foxes... decorative today, but once thought to be a way to ward off evil spirits!
Few features make a country property look as bucolic as a thatched roof, and with one estimate suggesting it could add around £50,000 to the value of your home, not to mention intrinsic kerb appeal, it’s little wonder they’re sought after when they come onto the market; a thatched roof remain a traditional heritage feature that most homeowners really do covet!
bright tones for making a summer statement
This month luxury cosmetics to ensure you’re basking in a warm glow all summer long
The newest addition to luxury perfumer Penhaligon’s portfolio, and named a the city in Saudi Arabia, AlUla is ‘inspired by the desert.’ The PR text describes how ‘Vanilla winds whisper across the horizon.
Plum. Patchouli. Palms, with spice and tobacco, saffron, born of sand.’ £215/100ml EDP call 0800 011 9877 or see www.penhaligons.com.
Antiageing micronutritive face serum from Dior, designed to visibly correct and plump the skin. From the first application of the serum, skin feels plumped and replenished from within, and seems firmer and more radiant.
Flawless foundation for serious skincare from Estée Lauder, with SPF45, breathable, skinloving hydrating foundation available in 28 different shades, for a 12hour glow, £42/35ml, see www.esteelauder.co.uk.
Gucci’s Palette de Beauté (Summarina Brown shown here) provides a fourpart palette for eyes, lips, and cheeks. Comfortable to wear and can be used as eyeshadow or blush, £53/6.1g, see www.gucci.com.
Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk lipstick is a cooltoned satinfinish lipstick available in four shades including this one, Pillow Talk Fair, £28/3.5g, available from www.charlottetilbury.com.
£210/30ml, £267/50ml, £327/75ml, from www.dior.com.
A skin nourishing bronzer, with three versatile shades, enriched organic coconut oil, to help prolong your natural tan and boost glow. 96% ingredients of natural origin, full of organic coconut oil for hydrating the skin and enriched with safflower extract to enhance your tan. £40/19g available from www
All our beauty products are available from local independent stockists unless otherwise stated, note that prices stated are RRP and may vary.
Molecular Bio-Physical Stimulation Therapy (MBST) is a safe and non-invasive treatment for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Using technology similar to MRI scans, MBST helps stimulate the body's natural healing processes, treating the cause of the condition, not just the symptoms. The therapy offers several benefits with zero side effects, including pain relief, reduced inflammation and improved mobility.
Understanding MBST Therapy
MBST therapy uses electromagnetic fields to promote cell regeneration and repair. MBST is the only treatment to work at a cellular level, targetting specific tissues essential for treating osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, where cartilage and bone integrity are weakened.
How MBST Benefits Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage, causing joint pain and stiffness. MBST therapy helps manage this condition by:
1. Targeting the Cells: MBST interacts with damaged cells, triggering the body's natural repair mechanisms.
2. Encouraging Regrowth: It stimulates cell growth, helping replace degenerated cartilage.
3. Relieving Pain: By reducing inflammation, MBST decreases pain and increases mobility.
How MBST Benefits Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis weakens bones, making them fragile and prone to fractures. MBST therapy offers the following benefits:
1. Enhancing Bone Strength: It rebuilds bone density, making bones less brittle and reducing pain.
2. Boosting Metabolism: It increases metabolism, speeding up bone tissue regeneration.
3. Activating Repair Processes: MBST stimulates cells at the molecular level, activating the body's repair and regeneration processes.
Clinical Evidence & Patient Outcomes
Many clinical studies and hundreds of patient testimonials support the effectiveness of MBST therapy in managing osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Research shows significant improvements in pain levels, joint function, and bone density after MBST treatments, without the side effects associated with medication.
A Non-Invasive Alternative
One of the main advantages of MBST therapy is that it is non-invasive. Patients can receive treatment without surgery or medication, avoiding the risks of more invasive procedures. Simply lay back, relax and read a book, listen to music or even have a nap.
Advancing the Treatment of Injury & Pain MBST therapy is a cutting-edge treatment for
osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Using magnetic resonance technology, it promotes cell regeneration and repair safely and effectively. For those suffering from these conditions, MBST therapy offers hope for a better quality of life.
If you're dealing with the pain of osteoarthritis or the fragility of osteoporosis, MBST therapy is a safe alternative worth considering. Contact Cell Regeneration LTD in Rutland to see if this innovative treatment is right for you.
Exciting news: Soon, the second full-body Osteospin bed will be available at Ann Clare and Richard Evans Physiotherapy in Rutland. The only Osteospin device in the UK is currently at At the Core, Primrose Hill in London.
Contact the friendly team on 01780 238084 or visit www.mbstmedical.co.uk to learn more.
Physiotherapy and Cell Regeneration LTD.
Visit MBSTmedical.co.uk or call the friendly team on 01780 238084
At Market Place Dental Practice, we are an independent local dental practice situated in the heart of Rutland, Uppingham established in 1994. We are focused upon providing holistic and preventative treatments to all our patients whilst using the latest in innovative technology. We pride ourselves on being a long-standing member of the local community and this is evident in our ethos to promote good oral health and hygiene.
At Market Place Dental Practice we offer a full range of dental services including routine dental check-ups, teeth whitening, implants and cosmetic treatments, all designed to enhance your smile and oral health.
If you are looking to improve your smile, we will listen carefully to your wishes and explain any recommended treatments. We will then create a bespoke, individualised treatment plan just for you and once your treatment plan has been agreed we will book the appropriate appointment(s) for you.
We strive to provide high quality dental care for all our patients. Care that provides as positive an experience for all our patients as possible.
With continuous advances in technology, orthodontic treatment is becoming more popular amongst all ages. The traditional fixed braces in silver, gold alloy and ceramic as well as plastic aligners such as Invisalign are popular choices for straightening teeth.
Fixed braces are made up of small brackets attached to each tooth and connected by a wire. Different wires are placed and adjusted over time, creating gentle pressure which aligns the teeth accurately into the desired position.
INVISALIGN
Invisalign uses removable plastic aligners that are taken off for eating, drinking and tooth brushing. They have a very subtle appearance, are comfortable and convenient. A series of these aligners, in combination with attachments on the teeth, gently move the teeth over time to improve alignment.
Lincolnshire Pride, Rutland Pride and Stamford Pride are delivered free of charge to high value homes in the county, which means we are the only county magazine which can guarantee a wealthy, discerning readership
