Stamford Pride March 2023

There’s a real sense of optimism at this time of year. All of the signs indicate that, imminently, spring is about to yield blue skies, new growth on trees, warmer weather and the chance to enjoy a little bit of colour in the landscape once again... and personally, I can’t wait!

Already we’re hearing about many activities and events planned for spring and summer 2023, which we’ll be delighted to bring you news of in due course. Remember that our County News pages and What’s On guides are always available if you’re hosting an event in your village, opening your garden to the NGS or if you’re involved with a local charity.

Speaking of local charities, we’re celebrating a few good causes in the area this month, hoping to raise the profile of organisations which do good things in our communities, relying on the selflessness of volunteers and fundraisers.

Elsewhere? We’re enjoying a visit to Hough on the Hill’s Brownlow Arms, we’re celebrating community spirit in Barrowden and we’re meeting actor Sir Ian McKellen as he stars in a great new production at Curve Theatre. Our best wishes for a wonderful month!

Executive Editor robin@pridemagazines.co.uk

This month’s cover shows spring lambs gambolling around... a sure sign that blue skies, warmer weather, daffodils and new life are alls on the way! We’re always looking for scenes of Rutland and Stamford to feature on our covers and in the magazines. If you’re a budding photographer, email your pictures to the address above!

HOMES & GARDENS

58 WELCOME HOME A beautiful barn conversion in Empingham offering great design and a generous specification.

69 HOMES New season inspiration.

74 SOFAS Are you sitting comfortably? If not, it’s time to discover the Delcor difference.

82 OUTDOOR LIVING The latest outdoor furniture ranges from Gates Garden centre.

LIFESTYLE

100 MOTORS Mini’s new convertible is open for business this season.

104 FASHION Spring style for March.

115 HIGH LIFE Stamford’s King West hosts its Champagne & canapé reception.

118 WEDDINGS King’s Cliffe couple Jordan and Matt’s special day.

122 COSMETICS Night & Day products.

THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE AREA READ PRIDE MAGAZINE

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 £300,000. 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 PRIDE TEAM

Managing Director: Julian Wilkinson.

Sales Director: Zoie Wilkinson.

Customer Service Manager: Abby Moon.

Sales Executives: Kim Alford and Tamara Mortimer.

Executive Editor: Rob Davis.

Customer Care Manager: Mandy Bray.

Accounts Manager: Joanna Burns.

IT Manager: Ian Bagley.

Web Developer: Joe Proctor.

Office Manager: Chloe Watson.

Administrator: Bethany Freeman-Burdass

What will this year mean to you financially?

If you haven’t done so already, it is time to plan for the year ahead. But this is unlike most years.

In fact, this year is unlike any year we have experienced for decades, possibly in our lifetime. Increasing interest rates, soaring energy costs and high levels of inflation mean that this year, more than ever, we must plan for our financial future.

So now is a good time to review your mortgage, pension arrangements and other investment plans.

BCM Wealth Management Ltd in Stamford can help. BCM’s director, Oliver Smith, says: “Whatever your stage of life or your circumstances, it pays to take professional advice and plan ahead, especially given all the uncertainty that’s going on.

“Our team is happy to arrange a noobligation meeting to review your current arrangements and offer advice on any recommended changes.”

Mortgage planning

Following last year’s spate of interest rate rises, many homeowners would benefit from reviewing their existing arrangements and shopping around. With so many lenders and various types of mortgages available, this can seem overwhelming. BCM can help.

The right mortgage isn’t always the one with the cheapest interest rate. But the right mortgage always starts with the right advice, and the right advice always starts with the right conversation. Whether you are a first time buyer or thinking about remortgaging, BCM’s friendly and experienced mortgage advisers take the time to get to know you, understand your situation and guide you through the entire process.

Retirement planning

It’s never too early to plan for your retirement. BCM Wealth Management’s approach to planning your retirement is transparent, honest and designed to meet your requirements. The team takes the time to understand your current arrangements

and future financial goals, and then helps to identify the best plan for you.

A good place to start is with BCM Wealth Management’s pension review service, to see if you are on track to meet your retirement goals.

Investment planning

Whether you’re an experienced investor or a new investor, BCM Wealth Management can help you achieve your investment goals across a wide range of investment solutions.

Five-star service

BCM Wealth Management’s clients clearly appreciate the service they receive, demonstrated by more than 50 five-star Google reviews. As Oliver Smith explains: “We don't go into a relationship looking to sell you something. Our aim is to help you find the best solution. That’s what really matters to us.”

The next step is yours. Get your year and your future off to a good start by speaking to a BCM Wealth Management adviser today. n

if repayments are not maintained. We offer a comprehensive range of first charge mortgages from across the market, which lenders make available to mortgage intermediaries, for which we will be paid a procuration fee by the lender. The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

BCM Wealth Management Ltd is an appointed representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

Chat to our specialist mortgage team at BCM Wealth Management, based at 5 Ironmonger Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1PL www.bcmwealth.co.uk 01780 437500

The home on which the mortgage is secured may be repossessed

RAF base’s new Station Commander

TOP BRASS NIKKI DUNCAN TAKES OVER FROM JEZ CASE AT RAF WITTERING

WITTERING

Wing Commander

Nikki Duncan is the new Station Commander at RAF Wittering, taking over from Wing Commander Jez Case.

Under the guidance of Wing Commander Case, RAF Wittering navigated a significant period of change including the Station’s successful emergence from the pandemic while continuing to meet commitments to defence.

Wing Commander Case said: “It has been an immense privilege to command RAF Wittering. Getting to know the people of RAF Wittering and the local communities in Wittering, Stamford, Peterborough, Rutland, and Leicester has also been incredibly rewarding – thank you.”

Wing Commander Duncan arrived at the Cambridgeshire Station in July 2022 as Officer Commanding Support. She joined the Royal

Air Force in 1990 and is an experienced People Operations Officer.

She said: “It is an honour and privilege to be made the Station Commander at RAF

Andrew’s Rowing for Amy

ANDREW OSBORNE’S MISSION IS TO HELP FUND HEART SCREENING FOR CHILDREN

Wittering which has a long and proud history. It is a challenging role, but the Station has a talented and dedicated team of service, civilian and contractor

3,000 miles, a 22ft rowing boat, and one very determined man. Andrew Osborne is embarking on an epic row across the Atlantic, in memory of his daughter, Amy Osborne, who died in her sleep five years ago from an undiagnosed heart condition at the age of 25.

She became one of the 12 young people who die each week in the UK from this cause. Like Amy, 80% don’t experience any symptoms. Amy’s memorial fund set up by Andrew and family at the charity CRY has so far raised enough money to pay for over 500 children and young adults

personnel who will continue to deliver and support our Defence outputs. I am also looking forward to working with our friends and neighbours in the local community.” n

to be screened as well as contribute funds towards research and raise awareness to help save lives. The money fundraised through Row For Amy will be used to test hundreds, possibly thousands more children and young adults for undiagnosed heart conditions and consequently save lives.

Andrew has already encountered large tanker vessels and a pod of dolphins, and he has covered 700 miles, having set off in early January. n Donations for Andrew’s bid and for the charity CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young (Cry) can be made at www.rowforamy.com.

RUTLAND

Blooming marvellous

BURGHLEY’S GARDENS SOON OPEN TO VISITORS

Oakham welcomes back Rugby Star Jack...

Oakham School recently welcomed back an Old Oakhamian, England and Leicester Tigers rugby player Jack Van Poortvliet.

Stamford will be looking blooming marvellous this month and nowhere is the new season making its presence known than in the parkland of Burghley House.

From 19th to 31st March, the estate will open its South Gardens, designed by ‘Capability’ Brown from 1757 and witness truly wonderful views of the lake, Lion Bridge and the park beyond. Visitors can

discover the ‘Capability’ Brown designed summer house overlooking the lake, the oak circle and enjoy swathes of spring snowdrops and nodding daffodils in the gardens.

That gardens are also open for the NGS from 1st-2nd April which aims to raise money for nursing and healthcare charities, through donations from people opening their gardens to the public. n

Sketch Peterborough Cathedral

ENJOY A DRAWING DAY AT PETERBOROUGH

CATHEDRAL WITH LOCAL ARTIST KAREN NEALE

Jack gave pupils rugby tips and advice and answered questions about his time at Oakham. The school has one of the most impressive rugby records in the country with high-calibre players, including Hamish Watson, Alex Goode, Matt Smith, Tom Croft, Lewis Moody, and Sam Colstelow. n

If you love Peterborough Cathedral and love drawing, an event coming up on Tuesday 27th February or Saturday 4th March may be just what you’re looking for. Enjoy a drawing day at the Cathedral with artist local Karen Neale.

Whether you are a doubting doodler or a drawing diva, Karen’s workshops are a wonderful opportunity to pick up some of her sketching secrets as you spend the day drawing. The workshop runs from 10am until 4pm and will move between various locations around the Cathedral site, All you need to bring is a sketchbook and pen or pencil. n See peterborough-cathedral.org.uk.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced that Rutland County Council and Melton Borough Council’s joint levelling up bid has been successful. This funding is part of more than 100 projects across the UK. n

LOCAL NEWS

In Brief

PETERBOROUGH

102-year old Mona’s video message from David Beckham...

At the grand old age of 102, fan of ‘the beautiful game’ Mona was delighted to receive a video message from her favourite footballer, David Beckham!

RUTLAND

Levelling Up

£23m

A resident of Castor Lodge Care Home, Mona told staff she’d like a football themed party as part of the home’s Make a Wish initiative. Having enjoyed her party in the presence of a life-size David Beckham cardboard cut out, Mona was thrilled when the man himself sent her a message wishing her a happy birthday, and thanking her for following his career.

We think that Becks is a really nice guy and Mona is a real star! n

PETERBOROUGH

OAKHAM

STAMFORD

40th anniversary celebrations begin

BARNSDALE GARDEN CELEBRATES BIG BIRTHDAY WITH 40 PLANTS ON OFFER

March sees Barnsdale Gardens reopening to visitors full time from 9am-5pm, and it’s a big year for the attraction, as the team prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

In 1983, Geoff Hamilton, the much-loved BBC Gardeners World presenter founded Barnsdale, developing the gardens from a pasture that he had ploughed. The BBC filmed there from the moment he moved in cementing Barnsdale as the new home of Gardeners’ World. Geoff’s down to earth style whilst filming each show made him a hit with the viewers.

Nick Hamilton now continues his father’s legacy at the helm of Barnsdale, and has kept the sustainable ethos alive. In fact, for over 30 years the gardens have been kept peat and chemical free.

LOCAL NEWS

In Brief

COUNCIL MOVE WILL SAVE OVER £300,000 EACH YEAR FOR SKDC...

South Kesteven District Council has relocating to a modern, open-plan office on the top floor of Grantham’s St Catherine’s Road cinema complex in a move that will improve business efficiency and working conditions, and save taxpayers an estimated £300,000 a year. n

The 40th Anniversary will give the Barnsdale team a chance to celebrate Britain’s largest collection of individually designed gardens, and visitors can purchase 40 plants

on special offer – one for ever year of the garden’s life – plus a Geoff Hamilton afternoon tea, competitions, and promotion of the eponymous Geoff Hamilton rose.

New website for Rutland

SIMPLER, CLEANER DESIGN TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO ACCESS COUNTY COUNCIL’S SERVICES...

The site covers eight acres and comprises 37 individually designed show gardens with different themes. Entry is £12.50/adults, £8.50/child.

n See www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk.

RUTLAND

Rutland County Council has launched a brand-new website with information and online services for people living in the County. The new website has useful information about all of the council’s core services, including, public transport, waste and recycling, health and social care, planning, Council Tax and benefits. All the council’s latest news is published on the site, along with records of public meetings, upcoming events and other useful information.

Aims in creating the site were to streamline navigation and simplify content.

n See www.rutland.gov.uk.

BARNSDALE

HANTHORPE,

LINCOLNSHIRE

Offers in excess of £550,000

A delightful, characterful house sits down a private lane in the South Lincolnshire village of Hanthorpe. It is rare for houses in this particular location to come on the market and although rural, it is close to the A15 and is within easy reach to Bourne, Stamford and Peterborough. Constructed in 1994, the property is approached from a private road onto a gravelled drive with a separate double garage stands to the right. This attractive house with its dormer windows and terracotta pantile roof has a front entrance hall, a triple aspect living room, a snug / study, a dual aspect dining room, a kitchen breakfast room overlooking the garden, a utility room and WC on the ground floor. First floor accommodates four double bedrooms – the principal bedroom has a spacious en suite – and a family bathroom. The garden is fully enclosed and private, divided into different areas of lawn, gravel and paving and features a pond with an ornamental bridge.

A modest sixties house has been transformed into a contemporary, family home perfect for modern living with its open plan layout and fabulous connection with the garden. The location is excellent, only a fifteen minute walk from the town centre. This four bedroom, four bathroom property has an attractive, modern façade, a mix of the original yellow brick, pale grey render and cedar cladding, its gable end full of huge windows that stretch up to the eaves for the influx of natural light and a stylish contemporary look. Sitting on a corner plot, an angled low brick wall denotes the front boundary where a block-paved drive offers parking in front of the garage. Stepping inside, a vast living space opens out before you, the garden visible beyond. Bi-folding and sliding doors glide back to create an almost seamless connection to the timber decking, the perfect space for al fresco dining and entertaining.

GRETTON £865,000

A superb Barn Conversion offering spacious, flexible accommodation appointed to a superior specification. Boasting an array of spectacular features, the property enjoys far-reaching rural views. Grand Reception Hall with winged staircase and Minstrels' Gallery, Dining Kitchen/Family Room, Utility, Garden Room, feature Living Area and Reading Area, 4 Dbl Bedrooms, all Ensuite; dbl Garage, Gym & Office, Courtyard Gardens. Energy Rating: D.

GRETTON £700,000

A substantial detached new build four-bedroom dwelling within an exclusive new residential development situated in a desirable Northamptonshire village. Welland Heights is a gated development of just five dwellings, which sits in an elevated position adjacent to the Gretton Conservation Area and enjoys views over the Welland Valley and surrounding countryside. Estimated time of completion TBC.

BRAUNSTON OFFERS OVER £610,000

A delightful character property set on a select development of seven mews-style houses set in the heart of a fine conservation village. The well-proportioned and tastefully appointed accommodation sympathetically combines period features and charm with modern highquality fixtures and fittings. Sitting Room, Conservatory, open-plan Kitchen/Diner, Clkrm/WC, Master Bedroom with en-suite Shower Room, 2 further dbl Bedrooms, Bathroom. Single Garage, Parking, mature private Garden. Energy Rating: E.

MARKET OVERTON GUIDE PRICE £650,000

A substantial, detached, individual property with private, mature, south-facing garden in a desirable village location. 2 Reception Rooms, open-plan Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Utility Room, Cloakroom/WC, 4 Bedrooms, Master Dressing Room & En-suite Bathroom, Family Bathroom; double Garage, ample off-road Parking. Energy Rating: C.

GRETTON OFFERS OVER £500,000

Tastefully refurbished character cottage with high quality fittings throughout, a large, detached Garage and good-size Gardens situated in a popular village. Dining Hall, Living Room, Central Hall, refitted Bathroom, well-equipped Dining Kitchen, Master Bedroom with Dressing Room and refitted en-suite Shower Room, 2 further double Bedrooms. Energy Rating: F.

LYDDINGTON £370,000

Charming Grade II listed stone-built cottage with garage and walled private courtyard garden set in the heart of one of Rutland's most sought-after villages with views over the village green and offering character accommodation which briefly comprises Entrance Hall, Sitting Room, open-plan Kitchen/Diner; FIRST FLOOR three Bedrooms, Bathroom. EPC exempt.

Guide Price: £475,000

Offers In Excess Of: £850,000

68 High Street, Gretton

A three-bedroom, Grade II listed home in a prominent village position, modernised throughout whilst retaining its original period features.

Guide Price: £1,250,000

Parklands, High Street, Somerby

A substantial and high-quality, double-fronted, detached village home tucked away in a private position with open countryside views to the rear.

Guide Price: £1,400,000

Cottage Farm, Oakham Road, Halstead

A substantial, five-bedroom family home standing in the middle of its own plot of approx. six-acres with flexible living accommodation, incredible views, paddock land & stabling.

Long Barn, Barn End, Empingham

An impressive five bedroom barn conversion, providing abundant, free-flowing and stylish accommodation with garaging and ample outdoor spaces in this popular Rutland village.

This

For Rutland: Improving Lives in Rutland

Established in 2014, For Rutland is hosting its Good & New Clothing sale this month at The Rutland Showground...

FOR RUTLAND it was formed in 2014 with a view to improving lives in the local community, but even its founders Elizabeth Mills and Trish Ruddle could scarcely have imagined that a year off its 10th anniversary, the service would have brought over £8m into the county in the form of grant funding and benefits for local recipients... nearly £1m each year.

Its current chairperson is Jeanette Warner, and together, the charity and its volunteers work tirelessly to raise the £87,000 a year to fund specialist advisors who provide free, confidential, independent and non-medical advice for those living in the county with long-term health conditions.

“One in four people in the UK suffer from long term conditions, such as cancer, strokes, dementia, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and mental illness. This affects every part of our community and people of all ages,” says Jeanette.

“The point of diagnosis is often just the beginning. Living with the practical problems associated with long-term conditions can be overwhelming at a time when people are at their most vulnerable.”

Good & New Clothing Sale

This year’s sale takes place on Friday 24th March from 5pm via ticketed ‘early bird’ entry and on Saturday 25th March from 8.30am, at the Rutland Showground, with all items half-price.

The service helps local residents, often trying to cope with their own, or a spouse’s long term conditions, to maximise their income, manage debts, and the service provides help with employment, housing, relationships, access to care services or referrals to other services.

Among the ways the service raises its funds are The Grand Bottle Tombola at the Rutland Show, and its most popular event, the Good & New Clothing Sale which is usually held at Barnsdale Lodge but this year, due to a refurbishment of the hotel, will instead take place at the Rutland Showground. The sale typically attracts over 650 people and raises over £50,000 a year with designer items including accessories like shoes, bags and millinery, as well as items for gents.

Whilst the event is open to the public on Saturday morning 25th March, you can enjoy first dibs at a ticketed VIP preview evening on Friday 24th March, for £20/ticket, which also includes a glass of Champagne and canapés, provided free of charge to the charity by Hambleton Hall, who support the event alongside sponsors Hegarty Solicitors. n

Find Out More: For Rutland raises funds to pay for two Specialist Advisers, who provide non-medical advice to people of all ages living with long-term health conditions see www.forrutland.org.uk.

Tickets for The Good & New Clothing Sale’s Friday event can be obtained by emailing info@forrutland.org.uk, and on Saturday, admission is £5 on the door, with everything half-price from the previous evening.

Lottie Crooke modelling for the Rutland Good & New Clothing Sale. Pictures by Elli Dean (07932 055548, www.ellideanphotography.co.uk), make-up by Rebecca Chantrel, 07841622366, stylist Sally Stillingfleet, 07809 766530.

Lottie Crooke modelling for the Rutland Clothing Sale. Pictures by Elli (07932 055548, www.ellideanphotography.co.uk), make-up by Rebecca Chantrel, 07841622366, stylist Sally Stillingfleet, 07809 766530.

Your Local Air Ambulance

3,119 PEOPLE were grateful for the presence of the area’s air ambulance in 2022. Funded entirely by donations and receiving no money from the NHS or from national or local government, the service exists only through the generosity of its supporters, fundraisers and donors.

The service took to the skies of Warwickshire and Northamptonshire 20 years ago, and five years later extended its operating radius to include the counties of Derbyshire, Leicester and Rutland from its hub at Nottingham Heliport

In 2022 the service attended 1,069 medical emergencies (cardiac arrests, for example) as well as 839 road traffic collisions as well as falls, or sports injuries and it provided help to casualties of equestrian incidents, plus industrial and agricultural casualties, often in remote or rural areas.

Flying at up to 185mph, the service’s two AgustaWestland AW109SP aircraft cover the territory staffed with critical care paramedics, doctors and pilots. The aircraft both fly during daylight hours.

In addition, the charity has the Children’s Air Ambulance, a vital inter-hospital transfer service which covers the whole country. The charity also operates two Critical Care Cars with doctors and critical care paramedics with the ability to anaesthetise, intubate and administer specialist drugs. n

Find Out More: Each mission that Your Local Air Ambulance service flies costs £1,700, raised entirely by donations. To make a regular donation, play the service’s lottery or for information about the charity’s network of 56 shops, see www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk.

Matt Hampson Foundation

IT’S THE AIM of the Matt Hampson Foundation to inspire and support young people seriously injured through sport. Namesake Matt – or Hambo as he’s known – sustained a life-changing injury whilst practising for an under 21 Six Nations match against Scotland in 2005.

In what was described as a freak accident during a scrummage, Mat’s neck became dislocated, severing his spinal cord, paralysing him from the next down and requiring the permanent assistance of a ventilator to breathe.

A foundation was formed in 2011 to raise money for a facility that would provide advice, support and therapy for those with similar

Find Out More:

life-changing conditions. Work began in 2016 and the facility at Burrough on the Hill opened in 2018. At its heart is the Get Busy Living centre and its Challenge which invites donations to expand its gym and social areas and create a new hydrotherapy pool. n

How Many Good Causes

There are about 166,000 charities in the UK, with a total annual turnover of just under £48bn. Charities in the UK spend over £40bn a year, and employ 827,000 people. Source: NCVO.

Stamford Civic Society

STAMFORD was the first of England’s Conservation Areas created back in 1967, and it’s no accident that the town has maintained its sense of commitment to preserving its unique look and feel since. However, predating even the town’s protected status, Stamford Civic Society has been looking out for the town’s interests since 1962.

In addition to ensuring the preservation of the town, the Society organises meetings with speakers and trips to local ‘of interest’ places for members. Its ‘hands on’ Urban Group, was incorporated into the society itself in 2013 and now performs everything from a bit of sweeping and painting to keeping an eye out for vandalism... in short, doing whatever’s necessary to keep the town looking smart whilst working with the town/district councils and other groups such as Stamford in Bloom. With over 200 members, the group was responsible for creating blue plaques in 2022 recognising three of the town’s famous sons; Frank Pick, Colin Dexter and Harry Brown. n

For details of donations, the charity’s foundation Rugby Dinner on 1st March and the annual Walk4Matt event in June 2023 see www.matthampsonfoundation.org.

Anna’s Hope

IN FEBRUARY 2005, Anna Hughes of Stamford was diagnosed with a brain tumour and after a 15 month battle, lost her life to the condition. Her parents Carole and Rob Hughes vowed that they would try our best in the future to help children with brain tumours, to try to improve their chances of survival and support their rehabilitation.

The two founded the charity Anna’s Hope, the aims of which are to help children and their families during cancer treatment, help to provide specialist neurorehabilitation, facilitate family support groups and to raise awareness of brain tumours, the side effects of a tumour and the fact that their treatment can have a significant impact on a youngster’s learning, physical and emotional ability.

“The charity is now in its 17th year and has helped hundreds of children and their families and we are proud to have influenced and been able to invest in a pioneering dedicated neuro rehabilitation service called Brainbow,” says Carole.

“We are also proud to have raised awareness of brain tumours which is the biggest cancer killer of children and young people and helped those who survive reach their full potential. Without Anna, this may not have been possible. Anna has changed our lives and now she is changing the lives of others.” n

Find Out More: For more information about Anna’s Hope and to donate please visit their website www.annas-hope.co.uk. For those who want to enter the Half Marathon or the Anna’s Hope 5K Fun Run in the Great Eastern Run, which take place on 15th October 2023 visit www.letsdothis.com/gb/e/great-eastern-run-16703.

LIVINGIN A RURAL COMMUNITY has many benefits, but in the event of a serious medical emergency, it can also mean that a casualty takes a little longer to reach.

Fortunately, there’s a team of volunteers across Rutland keen to improve the chances of reaching a patient as soon as possible. Rutland Community First Responders are members of the community who undertake to undergo training and provide a uniformed first response service for their local communities, equipped with an AED defibrillator, oxygen and various monitors.

There are currently eight such responders based in villages like Langham, Cottesmore, Greetham, Barrowden, Empingham and North Luffenham. Dispatched automatically by 999 call handlers when appropriate, these First Responders can often reach a patient fast, providing a calm presence of mind, reassuring the patient and their relatives, liaising with paramedics. Crucially their early intervention with patients requiring CPR or the use of an AED can also dramatically improve someone’s chances of survival.

Donating to Good Causes

With these First Responders also able to record a patient’s BP, blood sugar or oxygen levels, responders are also able to report a patient’s conditions to paramedics upon their arrival.

People gave £11.3 billion to charity in the UK in 2020, up from £10.6 billion in 2019. The average monthly donation in the UK in 2021 was £49.

Source: www.nptuk.org

It costs around £2,400 to train and fully equip a First Responder, and to run the service’s First Responder vehicle. Completely self-funding, the service not only provides community first response for medical emergencies, but also offers CPR training in communities in return for donations to the service and has so far trained over 500 people in Rutland.

“The service started 11 years ago and we’ve volunteers from a range of backgrounds,” says Coordinator Barbara Crellin. “All of us are enfranchised in making a difference to our communities and to supporting our hard-working NHS colleagues.” n

STAMFORD KIWANIS was the organisation’s first group to establish itself in the UK, despite having over 250,000 members across the globe, mostly located in America. Back in 1973, two groups based in Stamford in the US and Stamford in Canada came over to visit their UK namesake and to establish a group over here.

Today there are 10 British Kiwani clubs over here, with the Stamford contingent and its 21 members making up about 25% of the UK’s Kiwani population.

Prior to Covid, the group held its summer parade of floats, and a replacement event for mid-summer is currently in the planning stage.

The group also hosts a firework event in November and arranges for Santa to tour the streets of Stamford the following month.

The group often partners with other local charitable organisations, serving as their fundraising arm to help them fund equipment or help out their communities. n

Rutland Community First Responders Stamford Kiwanis

What’s On...

PETERBOROUGH

WEDNESDAY 22nd MARCHSUNDAY 30th APRIL

THREADS THROUGH CREATION AT PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL

Leading textile artist Jacqui Parkinson returns to Peterborough Cathedral to showcase her stunning exhibition, Threads Through Creation.

The exhibition includes 12 large vibrant panels telling the Genesis story. Her previous exhibition Threads Throughout Revelation was exhibited at 14 other cathedrals across the UK between 2016-2018 and it was viewed by up to 1,000,000 people.

n Peterborough Cathedral, entry by donation, call 01733 355315, see www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk.

Elementary, dear Watson...!

SHERLOCK HOLMES COMES TO STAMFORD WITH THE TOWN’S ARTS CENTRE HOSTING THE VALLEY OF FEAR

STAMFORD

THURSDAY 30th MARCH

FRIDAY 31st MARCH

SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE VALLEY OF FEAR

Blackeyed Theatre, in association with South Hill Park, presents Sherlock Holmes: The Valley Of Fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle hosted by Stamford Arts Centre. A mysterious, coded message is received, a warning of imminent danger, drawing Sherlock Holmes and the faithful Dr Watson into a tale of intrigue and murder.

n Stamford Arts Centre, PE9 2DL. Tickets £16, call 01780 763 203 or see www.stamfordartscentre.com.

STAMFORD & OAKHAM

MARCH - OCTOBER GUIDED TOURS

Take advantage of the local knowledge of Jill Collinge and her five volunteer guides as they take guests on a tour of Stamford (Wednesday to Sunday from April, Stamford Town Hall, 11am) or Oakham (11am, Fridays from Rutland County Museum). Lots of facts, history and insight even for those who possess a reasonably good existing knowledge of the towns!

n Pre-booking essential, call 01780 729076 or see www.thestamfordtown guidedtours.co.uk.

LEICESTER

FRIDAY 17TH MARCH

PRUE LEITH: NOTHING IN MODERATION

An evening with the Great British Bake Off judge, restauranteur and author. Frank and funny!

n Tickets £33.50, 7.30pm, De Montfort Hall, LE1 7RU. Call 0116 233 3111 or see www.demontforthall.co.uk.

LEICESTER

MONDAY 6th MARCH

TUESDAY 7th MARCH

WEDNESDAY 8th MARCH

A BALLET TRIO AT DEMONTFORT HALL IN LEICESTER

Varna International Ballet brings Collelia to the stage on Monday, then Giselle on Tuesday and Swan Lake on Wednesday.

n Tickets £22.50-£45, 7.30pm, call 0116 233 3111 or see www.demontforthall.co.uk.

STAMFORD

SUNDAY 12th MARCH

10CC’S GRAHAM GOULDMAN: A HEART FULL OF SONGS

It’s only between 10cc’s sell-out, bi-annual UK tours that the band’s co-founder Graham Gouldman is able to fully indulge his Heart Full of Songs project and take it on tour. The semi-acoustic four-piece performs a broad

spread of Graham’s song-writing catalogue, including chart hits for 10cc, the Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, Yardbirds, the late Jeff Beck and Wax with Andrew Gold. Acoustically performed by the composer, a Heart Full of Songs is a great experience for music lovers!

n From 7.30pm, tickets £31, Stamford Corn Exchange PE9 1PX, 01780 766455, www.stamfordcornexchange.co.uk.

Mother Goose in Leicester

CURVE INVITES SIR IAN McKELLAN & JOHN BISHOP TO BRING PANTO TO LEICESTER... IN MARCH!

OAKHAM

SATURDAY 11th MARCH STAGE AND SCREEN FAVOURITES WITH RUTLAND SINFONIA

Favourite tunes from productions like Cats, Les Miserables, Singing in the Rain, Lord of the Rings, Magnificent Seven and West Side Story.

Violinist Katherine Collison performs, David Calow conducts.

The Rutland Sinfonia is an ‘amateur’ orchestra based in Oakham, but 46 years after its formation and with a reputation for quality and character, there is nothing amateurish about the quality of its performances.

n Oakham School Chapel, 7.30pm, tickets £14/door, call 0333 666 3366 or purchase from Oakham Wines. See www.rutlandsinfonia.org.uk.

LEICESTER

WEDNESDAY 15th MARCH -

SUNDAY 19th MARCH

MOTHER GOOSE

Who puts a panto on in March?! Ian McKellen and John Bishop, that’s who!

The whole nation is flocking to see Ian McKellen and John Bishop as they join forces to bring you a hilarious family-friendly panto. Mother Goose is the ultimate theatrical feast – full of fun, farce and surprises that will make you honk out loud.

Meet Mother Goose (McKellen) and her husband Vic (Bishop), running an animal sanctuary for waifs

Send your press releases and events to editor@pridemagazines.co.uk

OAKHAM

FRIDAY 17th MARCH

MACBETH: SUITCASE

SHAKESPEARE AT OAKHAM CASTLE

Innovative show at Oakham Castle in which a duo perform The Scottish Play with just a few props concealed within their suitcases. 45 minutes in duration and suitable for both children and adults, doors open from 7pm.

n See www.oakhamcastle.org.

STAMFORD

SATURDAY 18th MARCH BURGHLEY HOUSE AND GARDENS

Burghley House reopens the property to visitors, and its South Gardens will open from 19th - 31st March to show off its spring bulbs in aid of local charity The Evergreen Trust.

n See www.burghley.co.uk.

and strays, living a wholesome life... inside an abandoned Debenhams. But when a magical goose comes along, will fame and fortune get the better of them?

Will Ma’s feathers get ruffled? Will Pa tell everyone to get stuffed?! And is their humble life about to turn fowl?

Get ready for fairies with hefty vocal chords, puppets with tap dance qualifications and im-peck-ably constructed mayhem that will quack up the whole family!

n Curve Leicester, LE1 1SB, call 0116 242 3595 or see www.curveonline.co.uk.

Book Signing

Friday 17th March 11am-1pm at Walkers Bookshop Stamford

The COMPLETE Salvaged Summer Trilogy available to pre-order NOW for £40 (Incl P&P), in presentation wrapper with special Preview Booklet. These gloriously gentle, charmingly nostalgic and insightful stories are presented in beautifully crafted hardback books, with a generous font designed for an unhurried read.

Book 1: All for Overalls: “Just because you’re out of the way doesn’t mean you’re not in the middle of it!” The news from Dunkirk in the summer of 1940 finds a small Lincolnshire village adapting to wartime ways and the new RAF hospital, as characters and best-intentions abound! A 14-year old errand-boy, called Gertie, is spurred into action bringing half the village into his scrapes!

Book 2: If the Sock Fits! “You get them to believe they can fight back … and they stop feeling beaten.” This second book in the Trilogy moves on to autumn 1940 and the harsh reality of harvest time as the Battle of Britain rages in the skies overhead. However the Greatest Generation – and Gertie – were rising to the challenge!

Book 3: Raids, Rallies & Reserves: Blasted Blitz! Freezing winds and no overcoats … and now the Americans were coming! The village was gearing up to ‘get it done’ through 1941, but Doug’s ‘lovely lady’ still managed to plough up the grazing meadow and send a piece of wing skipping the hedge. The RAF pilot walked away with nothing more than a few scratches and a sandwich, leaving Riggs with two broken legs and Gertie playing cupid. As for Sarg at the gate wondering about that officer? Gertie could explain everything: “Oh don’t worry Sarg, he’s just there to stop the others falling out!” … and, of course, ‘Granny would approve.’

Books 1 & 2 available NOW. Book 3 available for pre-order from Walkers Bookshops of (Stamford & Oakham) and directly from purchases@GertiesPath.co.uk priced individually at £12.99 + P&P

Still holding out hope for a hint of Spring? A moment to catch your breath? Or have you just realised Mother’s Day is coming soon?

Rediscovering the Beauty of BARROWDEN

Home to about 700 people, the village of Barrowden is a terrifically close-knit community which loves to take action to benefit the whole area. Its residents have already created a village shop, they’ve refurbished the church in 2019 and next on the list is the village hall!

Image: Barrowden village pond, Rob Davis, Pride Magazines.

>> IT CERTAINLY IS A PRETTY VILLAGE, but Barrowden’s beauty isn’t superficial. There’s a true sense of community and plenty going on, creating a happy, healthy place to live.

If anyone should know that, it’s villagers Sarah and Steve Preston. The two worked for Natural England, and whilst Steve specialised in protected landscapes, Sarah’s professional area of expertise was promoting access to the natural environment as a way of maintaining health and wellbeing.

What village could be a better example of a place to live that’s pretty, has a close-knit feel and residents who all look out for one another, for everyone’s wellbeing, than Barrowden?

“We came to the village 20 years ago and quickly settled in,” says Sarah. “We retired a couple of years ago but honestly, we’re involved with so much in the village that I don’t know how we found time to work!”

“Barrowden is a beautiful village both to look at and live in. It is a classic English village, with golden stone houses and cottages, extensive village greens, and its duck pond, overlooked by the village pub.”

“Everyone is very welcoming, friendly and helpful with many people very active in the village making it a vibrant place with plenty of community spirit.”

“Newcomers to the village are given a Welcome Pack to make them feel at home, listing all the facilities, services, organisations and key people in the village, with something happening to interest everyone. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer and get more hands on, too.”

One example is the village’s Community Shop, which Sarah helped to set up as part of a committee 14 years ago.

Today the community enterprise endures and there’s a team of directors running the shop, for the benefit of everyone in the village. >>

The very pretty Rutland village of Barrowden is home to about 700 people and around the green there’s a thriving community with lots of activities and groups...

>> “It is a tremendous asset offering the day-to-day basics through to more specialised locally produced items.”

“It’s also excellent value as a recent exercise demonstrated with a typical basket of provisions actually cheaper in the shop than at the supermarket... and that’s without taking into account any fuel costs.”

“The shop not only sells food and basic groceries but stationery and newspapers, plus greeting cards and a wide range of locally made crafts and gifts.”

“The shop also has a cafe, popular with villagers as well as passing cyclists, walkers and tourists; Barrowden is on the Jurassic Way.”

“It sells sandwiches made on the premises and cakes and scones made in the village. Currently it is acting as a Warm Hub on Tuesday afternoons to help beat the cost of living crisis and rising heating costs.”

“The vulnerable and needy are supported in their purchases at the shop through the Barrowden Charity.”

“The shop has a paid manager but relies on volunteers for additional staffing support. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and the shop welcomes new recruits in a number of different roles.”

Close to the shop is probably the smallest Doctor’s Surgery for miles around; a satellite from Uppingham, offering three sessions per week, it’s very much valued by villagers and surrounding settlements.

“Living in the village it’s easy to get involved in various clubs, and many of these are held in the Village Hall, next to the shop.”

Regular activities include the village’s cinema club, lunch club, open mic night and WI, each of which take place monthly. Fitness and even Scottish country dancing classes are offered weekly and the hall is used for many meetings, parties, and local interest talks to list a few.”

“The hall was built in 1927 and time is taking a toll on its structure, so the village is looking to replace it with a building fit for

Left: The interior of St Peter’s Church was refurbished in 2019 and has a keen group of bellringers keep the bells active on a weekly basis. Above: The village fête.

“Living in the village, it’s easy to get involved as there are lots of activities available, something for everyone!”

the next 100 years. An active group of committed volunteers is heading up this initiative developing plans for a new hall on the same site, and it has just started fundraising.”

The village’s Grade II* listed 11th century Church of St Peter was reordered in 2019 with a new floor, WC and servery and the removal of the Victorian pews.

“The result is a light, airy and welcome space for quiet contemplation and religious services, and it also provides a fantastic acoustic space for musical concerts, talks and larger social events.”

“A keen group of bellringers keep the bells active on a weekly basis and the bell tower is the next part of the church which will benefit from some refurbishment.”

For the more active Barrowden resident, the village has an active cricket club on the recreation ground with its play area for the little ones and some fitness equipment too.

The adjacent allotments provide a haven for green-fingered villagers who spend many

happy hours growing wonky vegetables. For those who prefer their food on a plate, not in the ground, the Exeter Arms pub is set in an idyllic position overlooking Barrowden’s village green.

Featured in Pride’s November edition, we admired publicans Mark and Kate’s work refurbishing the pub and creating a menu of British pub classics... the outdoor bar and kitchen will also be very busy too, once the temperature picks up.

“There are plenty of other opportunities for the community to come together with the annual village bonfire and firework display, the biennial open gardens, the vintage car meet on the green, carols round the tree and Advent windows at Christmas time to name a few.”

“We have lived here for over 20 years, and it would be hard task to find anywhere that lived up to what Barrowden has to offer. For a village of 700 it’s amazing what is on offer!” says Sarah. n

“There are plenty of other opportunities for the community to come together during the year with open gardens, the vintage car meet on the green, and carols round the tree at Christmas time to name a few...”

Above: Classic cars and their owners, meeting up in Barrowden.

PANTOMIME HILARITY at CURVE THEATRE

Anarchy, energy, colour and camp... all of the things you love about a traditional pantomime as Leicester’s Curve Theatre brings a smash-hit touring production of Mother Goose to the city, starring veteran actor Sir Ian McKellen and comedian John Bishop...

WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE is good for the audience this month, as Leicester’s Curve Theatre brings a smash-hit production of Mother Goose, one of the most celebrated pantomimes, to the stage from 15th March.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the response we’ve had to the show already,” says writer Jonathan Harvey. He really shouldn’t have doubted the likelihood of its success, though. For a start, Jonathan has writing credits to his name including Coronation Street and Gimme Gimme Gimme (the 1991-2001 TV series starring Kathy Burke and James Dreyfus), so he’s no stranger to either drama or comedy with a strong sense of camp.

But when you add in a stellar cast of talent including lead actor Sir Ian McKellen and comedian John Bishop, the stage is set for a production that’s guaranteed to prove a golden goose for Curve Theatre this spring.

“It’s silly, camp anarchic, everything you want from a pantomime,” says Jonathan, a Liverpudlian whose 1994 debut saw him launching not one but two shows on stage in the form of Beautiful Thing and Babies.

“I was approached by the producers of Mother Goose – ATG Productions (Ambassador Theatre Group) – and asked to create the script and development. Sir Ian was already attached to the production subject to the script, and as there has already been many different versions of the story, we wanted to give it a fresh new relevance, and do something different, modern and interesting with the story.”

The new production debuted in Brighton in early December and will continue its run until April, touring the UK across 10 venues. Mother Goose is played by Sir Ian McKellen, married to husband Vic, played by John Bishop. The two run an animal shelter in an abandoned branch of Debenhams, but feathers fly when the goose in question proves able to lay golden eggs. >>

Words: Rob Davis. Photos: Manuel Harlan, Ellie Kurttz.

>> A rags to riches tale with more than a cautionary moral undertone ensues as fame and fortune get the better of the family.

“We’ve references to the energy crisis and cost of living crisis, so there’s an allegorical element to the story, but otherwise it’s traditional pantomime perfection,” says Jonathan.

“Sir Ian has really brought the dynamic of the family’s relationship to life, and he’s a benevolent, warm and talented actor, a real force of good for a production.”

The Guardian has praised the production’s song and dance energy, whilst The Telegraph gave the show five stars and The Times has described it as ‘cheerfully chaotic.’

“We tend to associate pantomimes these days with the Christmas and new year period but traditionally pantomimes would have run

through until Easter, and there’s definitely more than a reference or two to eggs, so we think it’s a great production for spring.”

“Underpinning the production, too, is a range of showtunes and musical numbers which are all well-known and which really help to keep the energy of the production alive. There are so many treats in the whole thing that it’s a definite feel-good show.”

Curve Theatre is renowned for its Made at Curve productions, with Wizard of Oz and Billy Elliot the Musical two recent successes on the part of Artistic Director Nikolai Foster and the team.

“Curve has developed an international reputation for producing, programming and

touring a bold and diverse programme of musicals, plays, new work, dance and opera,” say Nikolai. “We believe everyone who lives, works or learns in our city and beyond should have access to great art and culture.”

“Each year over 750,000 people engage with Curve through performances and projects at our home in Leicester, across the UK and internationally.”

The theatre is looking forward to presenting an inspiring spring programme with the semi-fictitious biopic based around the music of Bob Dylan – Girl from the North Country – a returning production of J B Priestley’s classic thriller An Inspector Calls and Jersey Boys, which goes behind the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. All are due to appear at Curve Theatre in March and April alone, ensuring the theatre is a must-visit venue this season. n

Above: Sir Ian McKellen and John Bishop bring zany pantomime fun to Curve Theatre.

Spring & Summer at Curve Theatre...

n Girl from the North Country

Celebrated playwright Conor McPherson boldly reimagines the legendary songs of Bob Dylan, like you’ve never heard them before, in Girl from the North Country. A heart-breaking and universal story about family and love.

Tuesday 7th March - Saturday 11th March

n

An Inspector Calls

Stephen Daldry’s multi award-winning National Theatre production of JB Priestley’s classic thriller returns. Winner of 19 major awards and hailed as the theatrical event of its generation, An Inspector Calls has thrilled more than five million theatregoers worldwide.

Tuesday 21st March - Saturday 25th March

n Fisherman’s Friends

The true story of the Cornish chart topping buoy band. Based on the true story of the chart-topping Cornish singing sensations and their hit 2019 movie, Fisherman’s Friends:

The Musical is a feel-good voyage about friendship, community and music which smashed box office records in Cornwall.

Tuesday 28th March - Saturday 1st April

n

Steel Magnolias

Hilarious and heart-warming true story that inspired the hit film starring Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts. The beloved film is beautifully brought to life on stage and features Call The Midwife star Laura Main.

Tuesday 4th April - Saturday 8th April

n Mother Goose will appear at Leicester’s Curve Theatre from Wednesday 15th to Sunday 19th March, 1pm, 2pm, 6pm, 7pm performances, tickets £10-£45.50 call 0116 242 3595 or see www.curveonline.co.uk.

Saddle of Belton Park venison with carrot purée, tender stem broccoli, mini venison cottage pie, red wine jus and pickled silver skin onions.

Always Excellent Dining at the BROWNLOW ARMS

It’s unusual, but this month we’re advocating a trip out of the Rutland, about half an hour from Stamford to be precise. You’ll find that a comfortable restaurant and high quality dining are just two of the treats to be discovered at The Brownlow Arms, at Hough on the Hill near Grantham, a pretty country inn with lots of tradition and talent...

Words & Images: Rob Davis.

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE Some things should... but others really shouldn’t, and definitely falling into the latter category is The Brownlow Arms at Hough on the Hill. Since 1979, Paul & Lorraine Willoughby have been custodians of the 17th century country inn, formerly owned by Lord Brownlow, at Hough on the Hill. Paul initially purchased the property with his parents before he became sole owner in 1983. Together they renovated The Brownlow before selling it in 1999, and then returning in 2003 to a run down premises which lead to them giving the Brownlow another make-over.

Their long-term custodianship of the place underwrites The Brownlow Arms’ rock solid reputation for consistency and quality; it’s one of those ‘can’t go wrong’ dining options. So what do you do when you’ve acquired a reputation over 43 years for excellence, two AA rosettes for your dining, an award from Hardens, one from the Good Food Guide, and the title Restaurant of the Year as voted for by our sister publication Lincolnshire Pride’s readers?

You could increase the number of covers? No. You could increase the complexity of the food? No. You could just hike up the prices? No, no and no. Instead, Paul and Lorraine, along with chefs Matt, David and Lizzy have opted to reduce the number of covers a little to ensure the team has the headroom to work to the best of their ability.

They’ve ceased to offer lunchtime dining, enabling the staff to concentrate on the quality and consistency of their evening menu, and they’ve ensured they all work well together. This has created a happy, close-knit team which is reflected in the quality of the excellent dining experience.

Sous Chef David Newton points out – whilst treating our saddle of venison to a few spoonfuls of its silken red wine jus – that a good sauce takes time.

If they were juggling prep for evening service with lunchtime covers, compromise would be needed, and the team doesn’t really do compromise; rather, it does quality. What’s nice, too, is a single menu, with six starters, and six main courses plus two steaks. >>

MEET THE CHEF

DAVID NEWTON

Career: “I was raised in Grantham and worked at The Olive Branch before coming here in 2019.

Food Heaven: “I really love venison, lovely and rich!”

Food Hell: “I’ve a sweet tooth so I love desserts but I really don’t like preparing them... luckily we have Lizzy to provide that speciality!”

Pan fried sea trout.

on the MENU

Starters

Steak tartare, cornichons, capers, toasted Hambleton bread, £13.75.

Pan fried scallops, pea purée, fresh peas, basil and lemon emulsion, £14.75.

Moules Mariniere, white wine, shallot and garlic, cream sauce), £10.95.

Brownlow twice baked Lincolnshire poacher cheese soufflé, creamed leeks, crispy onion, £12.95

Main Courses

Belton park saddle of venison, carrot puree, tender stem broccoli, mini venison cottage pie, red wine jus, pickled silver skin onions, £29.95.

Pan fried sea trout, sauteed peas and baby gem, Champagne beurre blanc, caviar, £26.95.

Seafood linguine (mussels, prawns, scallops) rocket and parmesan, chilli oil, £26.50.

Churchill farm chicken Kiev, hassle back potatoes, watercress sauce, £24.95.

Dessert

White chocolate and Baileys bread and butter pudding, creme Anglaise, £9.95

Dark chocolate fondant, £9.95. Assiette of lemon Lemon posset with creme Chantilly, lemon and pistachio parfait, white chocolate and lemon blondie, lemon curd £9.95.

NB: This is a sample menu, and featured dishes are subject to availability and change.

>> Speaking as someone who can’t abide complicated or extensive menus, or different menus according to the time of day or day of the week, plus specials boards and promotions, I find it refreshing.

In the half dozen or so options per course, the chefs are confident you’ll find something you’ll love, and they’re confident that they’ll be able to have the time and practice to perfect every single dish.

The Brownlow Arms limits its number of covers to 64 on a Saturday evening, and to 90 for Sunday lunch service.

This does mean that booking is more essential than ever, but it also means you’re likely to experience a team able to really flex their creative talents. Sauces, ice creams, sorbets are all made in house, but bread comes from

the nearby Hambleton Bakery, whose artisan dough-wranglers have the expertise and commitment to produce the best bread in the district.

Puddings, meanwhile, are created by dedicated pastry chef Lizzy Goodwin. Chefs David and Matt reckon that desserts are more intricate and time-consuming than starters or main courses.

Lizzy, fortunately, has the methodical character, precision and patience to produce some absolutely stunning puddings and we reckon she’s probably one of the best – if not the best – chefs in the whole county in the respect of producing desserts.

And again, Lizzy is also given the time and headroom she needs to create some really great puddings, as well as the restaurants’ petit fours, too.

“Dining out is all about creating a warm, welcoming experience. We want to create a place that’s comfortable and friendly, one that offers the very best experience, very consistently...”

Assiette of lemon.

Steak tartar. Steak tartar. Pan fried scallops.

Ingredients are sourced locally when there’s no concession to quality. Fruit and veg is sourced from Donington farm, Peterborough Game provides game from estates like Belton, and butchery is from Owen Taylor. The Brownlow Arms’ wine list, too, is beautifully curated with 15 reds, 15 whites, half a dozen sparkling options plus rosé and dessert wines and bin ends.

Popular both with those who live reasonably close to the restaurant as well as those from a little further afield, Paul and Lorraine also maintain six nicely styled bedrooms for guests who wish to stay over.

Paul says that the number of repeat customers they have is really satisfying and that since 1979, the offspring of their customers have also become regular diners.

“We love living in the village and we’re delighted to have had the opportunity to get to know so many customers over the years,” says Paul. “Dining out is all about creating a warm, welcoming experience. We want to create a place that’s comfortable, friendly, and that consistently offers the very best experience to our guests.” n

DINING OUT AT... The Brownlow Arms, Hough on the Hill

The Pitch: “Providing good old fashioned country hospitality and modern comforts in a tranquil and relaxing location.”

Opening Times: Tuesday to Saturday evening, 6pm-9pm, Sunday lunch from noon to 3pm. Booking strongly recommended.

Brownlow Arms, Grantham Road, Hough on the Hill, NG32 2AZ. Call 01400 250234 or see www.thebrownlowarms.com.

Dark chocolate fondant with raspberry sorbet.

In the KITCHEN

Who says cheaters never prosper? This deceptive main course can be made in advance, it’ll feed the whole family, and it looks deceptively laborious, but is actually really easy, thanks to Waitrose’s frozen fish pie mix and Jus-Rol pastry! there’s no better way to mark British Pie Week from 6th-12th March!

EASY ONE DISH FISH PIE

Preparation Time: 20 minutes. Cooking Time: One hour 10 minutes. Serves: 6.

3 leeks, halved lengthways • 50g unsalted butter • pinch dried thyme • 3 tbsp plain flour, plus extra for dusting

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 500ml fresh vegetable stock • 150ml double cream • 1½ tbsp wholegrain mustard

2 tbsp finely chopped fresh soft herbs (tarragon, dill or parsley) • 400g Waitrose Frozen Fish Pie Mix

200g raw peeled prawns, defrosted • 150g frozen peas • 320g sheet Jus Rol Puff Pastry • 1 egg, beaten

Finely slice the leeks. In a large pan, melt the butter over a low heat. Add the leeks and thyme with a pinch of salt and cook very gently, stirring every so often, for 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 5 minutes more, until the leeks have softened and are starting to colour. Stir in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes, then stir in the vinegar and cook for a minute more. Gradually add the stock, a little at a time, stirring constantly, then add the cream, turn the heat up and bring to the boil, stirring. Simmer for a couple of minutes until you have a thickened sauce (you can chill or freeze at this stage).

Take off the heat; stir through the mustard or miso and herbs. Season, then set aside to cool to room temperature. You can cover and chill for up to three days or freeze it for up to six weeks.

When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 200ºC, gas mark 6. Spoon the filling into a roughly 1.5-litre pie dish and stir in the fish mix. Dust the worktop with flour, then unroll the pastry onto it, rolling it out a little widthways. Lightly brush the edge of the dish with a little beaten egg, then lay the pastry over the top. Press down the edges and trim. Crimp to seal. Use a small knife to make 2 little holes in the middle for steam to escape.

Brush the top of the pastry with beaten egg. If you like, re-roll the pastry scraps to cut out decorations and arrange on top of the pie, brushing with the egg. Put the pie on a baking tray and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the filling is piping hot, the fish is cooked through and opaque, and the pastry risen and golden. n

Thousands of recipes can be found at www.waitrose.com/recipes.

In the KITCHEN

An ideal recipe for March, you can enjoy this easy-peasy Bakewell Tart warm with lashings of custard, or cold with a slather of cream... and with Jus-Rol Pastry, it’s a cinch!

EASY BAKEWELL TART

Preparation Time: 15 minutes. Cooking time: 45 minutes. Served 6.

1 x 320g Jus-Rol Shortcrust pastry sheet • 170g unsalted butter, softened 170g caster sugar • 170g ground almonds • 4 large free range eggs • 1 tsp vanilla extract 4 tbsp raspberry jam • 30g flaked almonds or more to decorate

Take the pastry out of the fridge and remove from the packaging approximately 10 minutes before you are ready to use it, as it will be easier to work with.

Preheat the oven to 200°c or 180°c for fan-assisted ovens, gas 6. Unroll the pastry to line a 23cm flan case. Place baking or greaseproof paper on top, fill with baking beans and bake for 12-15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 190°c or 170°c for fan assisted oven, gas 5.

Meanwhile combine the butter, sugar and almonds and then beat in the eggs and vanilla. Spread the base of the pastry case with jam and when the pastry is completely cool spread the almond mixture evenly over the jam and scatter over the flaked almonds.

Bake in the oven for 25 minutes, until the filling is golden brown and set in the middle. If the filling appears to ‘wobble’, then return to oven for 5-10 minutes. If the top is getting too brown, lower the temperature by 10 degrees. Serve warm or cold, dusted with icing sugar.

Once cool, the tart can be cut into slices put in an airtight container and frozen for up to a month. For a fruity treat, scatter fresh raspberries over the jam before adding the almond filling. n

A story of the forest from Glenmorangie with woodland botanicals

A Tale of the Forest is the Highland distillery’s first whisky crafted from barley kilned with woodland botanicals...

A new special edition whisky from the Highland distillery, created by Director of Whisky Creation (what a job title), Dr Bill Lumsden, right. Bill has brought back an ancient method of kilning barley with botanicals. In this case, he chose juniper berries, birch bark and heather flowers, reflecting all of these flavours and many more, £75 / 70cl / 46% ABV.

The Wine Cellar

BOTANICALS, A FANTASTIC LOCAL WINE PLUS A TRIO OF RIESLING WINES TO ENSURE YOU CAN RAISE A GLASS WITH FRIENDS THROUGHOUT SPRING!

A SWEET SELECTION: Monday 13th March represents International Riesling Day...

1. Our first Riesling offering is Leitz’s zero-alcohol version, a vacuum distillation of which has removed the alcohol whilst retaining a medium-dry citrus flavour profile. £5.50 / 75cl / 0% ABV.

2. Next up is Willi Haag’s sweet Riesling Auslese, a sweeter and more traditional expression of Riesling from Germany’s Mosel region. Honeysuckle and passionfruit flavours, nicely mineral with a bit of vibrancy, £11.99 / 75cl / 7.5% ABV.

3. Waitrose presents this bone dry Leitz Riesling as its high-end offering, ideal with lighter curry dishes or grilled local duck breast. Herby with peaches and floral honey, £36 / 75cl / 12% ABV.

Wine of the Month

Short-Eared Owl, (Medium Dry White), Burton Pedwardine, Sleaford, Lincolnshire £14 / 75cl / 11% ABV

From Lincolnshire’s Mayfield Vineyard comes Short-Eared Owl, a medium dry white made from Phoenix grapes. A balance of floral meadow notes, delicately infused with autumn fruits; blossom, pear, grass, and elderflower. Ideal match for salads, creamy pasta dishes and gently spiced dishes. Own Collection Tasting experiences also available by arrangement, see mayfieldwine.co.uk for details or email events@mayfieldvineyard.co.uk. n

George’s Old Gin has a modern twist!

George Hill Ltd is based in Market Harborough and presents its award-winning house gin with bags of lemon, lime and orange zest, on the nose, coupled with fresh pink grapefruit. There’s a gentle fresh citrus spice, with lemon zest and pink grapefruit at the forefront, lengthened by lighter undertones of juniper. The finish is long with mellow citrus and warming spice. Mix with good quality tonic and enjoy!

£38.6 / 70cl / 44% ABV, www.georgehill.co.uk sloeberryspirits.co.uk.

n Our featured wines are available from the best local independent wine merchants, supermarkets and online, prices are RRP and may vary from those stated.

A WHISKY WITH UNIQUE

BARN CONVERSION AN ULTRA STYLISH

Offering over 4,200ft2 living space, modern decoration, a beautifully landscaped garden, five bedrooms and three reception rooms. There’s plenty of space and style for the next owners of this month’s featured property, Long Barn in Empingham...

Words: Rob Davis.

THE DETAILS Long Barn, Barn End Empingham

Location: Oakham five miles; Stamford five miles; A1 2.5 miles.

Provenance: Former farm building dating back to 1658, converted for residential use in 1982 and modernised by current owners in November 2003.

Rooms: Four reception rooms currently arranged as lounge, sitting room and dining room plus living kitchen. Five double bedrooms.

Guide Price: £1,400,000.

Find Out More: James Sellicks, Market Place, Oakham LE15 6DT 01572 724437, jamessellicks.com.

THIS MONTH’S FEATURED PROPERTY should serve as a masterclass for anyone seeking to convert a barn, and turn a once utilitarian building into a contemporary family home whilst retaining its character and provenance. Long Barn is based in Empingham and among its many other selling points, the property also enjoys great views over farmland and is but a stone’s throw from the shores of Rutland Water. No wonder then, that the building – which dates back to 1658 – caught the eye of a developer back in the early 1980s.

The farm upon which the property once stood was sold in 1982 and its sale released three barns and a farmhouse for redevelopment, yielding a little community. Since then, just three families have lived at the property including its current owners, who moved in back in November 2003.

Back then the family’s son was of pre-school age and his sister was yet to grace the family with her presence. As attractive as the property was, the family managed to enhance it further by making a few internal changes to its layout.

Top/Main: The contemporary kitchen features high gloss and oak Cesar cabinetry, white engineered stone surfaces and Miele appliances.

“There aren’t many walls which remained in the same place,” say its owners. “But the changes were worth it, and the place has great flow and a really practical layout.” Among the changes the couple made was the incorporation of the south wing of the barn, creating a couple of further bedrooms a dressing room for the master suite and a study downstairs.

Over the years too, the couple have kept the property relevant to their circumstances, with a more football-friendly garden giving way to a newly landscaped outdoor space last year with brilliant hard landscaping courtesy of Alastair Peat of Alfresco Landscaping, including a couple of palm trees and fancy lighting to the terrace area creating a nice outdoor space to enjoy on summer evenings. The property is arranged over two floors and there are five bedrooms on the first floor plus

an en suite for the master (plus that dressing room), as well as two further bathrooms. The ground floor comprises a large lounge incorporating home cinema with a mezzanine level that can serve as a space to enjoy music, work or read. The lounge has a feature fireplace as well as soaring ceilings to the lounge with exposed beams and roof trusses. An additional lounge to the south of the barn has lower ceilings plus a wood burning stove and there’s a dedicated dining room adjacent to the kitchen with French doors opening onto the terrace.

As well as having bags of period style, Long Barn has been brought right up to date by the family, no least by virtue of a state-of-theart kitchen designed by Stamford-based NGI Design with Cesar high-gloss handleless cabinetry and with engineered stone surfaces, as well as appliances by Miele. >>

>> Elsewhere, flooring comprises of porcelain tiles and timber, whilst bathrooms feature and Duravit fittings with a clean, modern look to each room and a total of 4,250ft2 of living space in total. There’s lots of space, but it’s useful space, too,” say the owners “In addition there’s built-in storage to the bedrooms a separate utility, a double garage and a couple of outbuildings.”

“Even the garden is a reception room in its own right, but it’s been landscaped to offer an ultra-low maintenance quality, with just an annual haircut for the hedging and a bit of a tidy up of the orchard’s apple and cherry trees. There’s a fair bit of lawn but even that’s taken care of by our robot lawnmower which we thought might be a gimmick at first but has turned out to be a fantastic bit of kit... I almost feel guilty watching it in summer!”

“We’ve made lots of family memories here, and as the kids have grown up, a place to play has turned into a place to return to during breaks from university, and a place to spend time as a family. Your priorities change and we’re now looking to downsize so we can spend more time in London and travelling internationally, but we’re very keen to keep a foothold in Rutland, we’ve lots of friends here. It’s been a great family home that has evolved and adapted to suit our needs, over the years!” n

n First Drift, Wothorpe

Guide Pride: £2,250,000

St Andrew’s Lodge is a magnificent light-filled family home on a plot approaching an acre, comprising four bedrooms, and four receptions currently arranged as a drawing room, dining room, sitting room, garden room and living kitchen, www.pelhamjames.co.uk

n Fineshade Abbey, Northants

Guide Price: £2,495,000

Fineshade offers graceful living space in a Grade II listed former stableblock with four bedrooms plus two self-contained cottages, and four reception rooms currently arranged as a breakfast kitchen, dining room, drawing room and reception hall, www.kingwest.co.uk.

n Gretton, Northamptonshire

Guide Price: £865,000

Stunning barn conversion offering a spectacular interior with views over the Welland Valley. Four double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, reception hall, living kitchen, garden room and first floor living area. Gym annexe and home office, oak-framed garage, murrayestateagents.co.uk.

Time to Spring into Action?

After a brief slowdown during the final months of 2022, buyers and sellers are now re-entering the market in greater numbers presenting both opportunities and challenges for those planning to buy a property.

Whilst this increase in appetite to move is resulting in more homes for sale, uncertainty remains surrounding property values with the slowing down of price growth. Buyers are right to maintain an air of caution but also must be mindful that the most sought after homes will still command a premium price.

The right price

With roughly a third of property transactions not dependent on lending and funded entirely by cash, together with the fact that over a third of home moves are made out of necessity, people will continue to move home regardless of the political and economic landscape. For all homemovers, regardless of their motivation, paying the right price when moving home is incredibly important.

Local micro property markets are moving at their own pace and are experiencing varying degrees of changes to pricing. Homes that are considered to be the most desirable maintain a scarcity value and buyers should expect competition and potentially paying a

premium to secure such a property. Some sellers though are attempting to achieve a post-pandemic boom price for their home which simply does not align with the current market climate.

So, how can buyers determine the right price for a property? Firstly, the length of time it has been on the market often serves as an indication as to whether the price is appropriate; whether it has had a price reduction will also be visible on a property portal. Secondly, although there can be a delay in recording of sold prices, it is always worth researching recent values of nearby transactions of comparable properties. Off-market homes will not have a live digital footprint so greater research is needed. Navigating property values in a moving marketplace, where uncertainty is present, can be overwhelming and buyers might benefit from the professional guidance offered by an independent expert. A property finder can offer assurance when it’s most needed; being immersed in their local market they are able to share valuable insight regarding property prices.

Selling and buying at the same time

Whether upsizing, downsizing or relocating, many homemovers will have two transac-

tions taking place in tandem. Selling and buying at the same time can often require greater planning and consideration.

With there still being a shortage of prime homes for sale, some sellers are preferring to sell off-market through their estate agent. This can offer sellers opportunity to test the market both for pricing and appetite prior to spending time actively searching for a home to buy. With a surprising number of homes continuing to be sold discreetly buyers can benefit from professional representation to ensure access to all opportunities and, furthermore, receive guidance crucial during negotiations which, at this time, is particularly important.

Kate Vincent from Garrington Property Finders shares some expert tips for successfully moving home this Spring

Kate Vincent Garrington

Image: William Yeoward

SPRING FRESH for

A light green and canvas-coloured reflects the brighter, natural hues of spring as a sense of freshness returns to both home and garden...

This Page: Colefax & Fowler fabrics, blind in Ariadne, russet/sage; sofa in Tarn, beige; armchair in Kellen, beige; ottoman in Newland, olive; paintwork in Tarn, oak green; cushions in Carlotta, red.

This Page: Colefax & Fowler fabrics, blind in Ariadne, russet/sage; sofa in Tarn, beige; armchair in Kellen, beige; in Newland, olive; oak cushions in Carlotta, 67

Above: Kristiana lamp in sage, £495. Morris buffet in greyed oak, £6,545, Pentile rug (300cm x 425cm) £3,450, all William Yeoward.

Top/Right: Nympheus wallpaper in Botanical from the Signature Wallpaper collection by GP & J Baker. Right: Chair and bolster cushions in Saint-Tropez Prairie by Manuel Canovas, chair and table by McKinnon & Harris.

To make the best of these fabrics, seek out one of the county’s leading interior design specialists to create bespoke soft furnishings and decoration for your interiors...

Colefax & Fowler fabrics, curtains in Dante, willow; Kincome armchair in Kellen, ivory; ottoman throw Genista, aqua; cushion in Irwin, old blue.

Stamford & Rutland Interiors: Broughtons: Leicester, 0116 2341888,www.broughtons.com. Delcor Interiors: Stamford, 01780 762579, www.delcor.co.uk. Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors: Oakham, 01572 722345, www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk.

H-Works: 01780 754605, www.hworksdesign.co.uk. Hunters of Stamford: 01780 757946, www.huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk.

Sarah Harding Interiors: Uppingham, 01572 823389, sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk.

Colefax & Fowler fabrics, Kingcome chair in Campion, pink/green; cushion in Carnforth, leaf green; Lamp Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler.

If you want to enhance the style of any room in your home, adding beautifully crafted curtains, distinctive blinds or unique cushions could be the solution. We are specialists in made to measure soft furnishings and have an inspiring range of decorative fabrics to personalise your home. Call into the showroom for a chat and to see our latest collections.

Shop

Open 9am-4.30pm Monday to Saturday

Picture Courtesy Of: Osborne & Little

Made-to-Measure since 1967, that’s

THE DELCOR DIFFERENCE

Having the sofa you want... not the one that’s ‘close enough’ is the difference that Delcor provides. Bespoke to the inch and down to the finest detail, with British craftsmanship and infinite choice, we this month champion a few of the Stamford studio’s latest examples of their made-to-measure sofas and chairs...

Magnum extra large Sofa in GP & J Baker Rockbird Velvet prices from £3,362.

DELCOR isn’t an ‘it’ll do’ sort of a company. Their sofas are made by craftsmen and women in the company’s Northumberland workshops and chosen by customers visiting one of the company’s five design studios, including the one on Stamford’s Bath Row. A sense of quality is evident in the company’s hand-cut beech wood frames and hand-stitched fabrics, then underwritten by a 50 year guarantee, which comes as standard on all of its frames. So given that Delcor doesn’t accept anything less than perfect, why on Earth wouldn’t you? Normally, choosing a sofa means choosing something closest to what you have in mind for your home in terms of style, size or fabric. But Delcor creates your sofa just for you; to your exact size, in the fabric you want, with the finishing touches you choose.

That means instead of opting for the sofa that’s closest to what you have in mind, you can create the sofa you want, even making it taller or wider, before choosing your preferred filling, fabric, feet, and finishing touches like piping or scatter cushions. Since 1967, the firm has stuck determinedly to its ethos of ‘Delcor does it right,’ to ensure your sofa is the one you settle on, not the one you settle for. That experience begins with a showroom consultation where you can try out different styles, experience different fillings - from springy to squidgy – and then see and feel different fabrics from leading designers whose collections can also be used to create curtains and other soft furnishings, ensuring you can achieve a cohesive looking scheme for your room, with a sofa you’re proud of as its centrepiece... >>

A little longer?

Lower? Wider?

Delcor’s sofas are made to measure.

Choose your filling, fabric, feet, finishing touches and create the sofa you want, not the one that’s in the brochure...

Above: Boxer corner, prices from £4,978.

Right: Turin medium sofa in Warwick plush, Mallard Velvet prices from £2,897. Milan armchair in Harlequin Kelamby, Emerald Lime prices from £1,656.

Earl Chair in Linwood fabric, Fable in Tyger blush colourway, prices from £998.

Décor Armchair in Linwood velvet, Wonderland double dragon Lacquer red, prices from £1,455.

Since 1967, the firm has stuck determinedly to its ethos of ‘Delcor does it right,’ to ensure your sofa is the one you settle on, not the one you settle for...

Delcor crafts its British sofas, chairs and upholstered beds to your exact requirements from its Northumberland workshops. The company has five destination showrooms across Britain for design consultations including one on Stamford’s Bath Row. For a no-obligation design discussion and to see examples of the company’s work, visit Delcor on Bath Row, Stamford, PE9 2QX, call 01780 762579 or see www.delcor.co.uk. n

Welsey Armchair in Riga, Fox colourway, prices from £1,780.

Robert E Wells | Mother and Daughter in Red |Oil on Panel | 9” x 9” | £995

Outdoor Living

at GATES GARDEN CENTRE

Outdoor Living at Gates launches this month with the latest new brands, new styles from old favourites and on-trend accessories for making the most of your garden this season...

GATES GARDEN CENTRE is getting ready for summer, and inside a dedicated showroom, you’ll find 14,000sqft of display gardens, set up for easy browsing to inspire and enhance your outdoor living space. “There’s something for every budget and taste,” says the centre’s Ali Bailey.

“From contemporary rope weave, marine grade faux leather, robust teak and slate grey aluminum; bohemian, mid-century and Scandi inspired furniture; to traditional and timeless rattan, wicker, sturdy hardwoods and bronze cast aluminum. All are on display, meaning you get to try before you buy.”

“This year we have added new brands including high-quality garden cushions from Madison and hybrid barbecues from Grillstream; we’ve also extended our range from last year’s new garden furniture brand Supremo; as well as retaining and extending favourite leading brands Bramblecrest, Kettler, Hartman, 4 Seasons Outdoor, Life Outdoor Living, Alexander Rose and Quest.”

“Popular brand, Supremo Garden Furniture was first launched at Gates last year and has been extended for 2023. We now stock the Iris, Vienna and Belfort ranges, as well as continuing to offer Barcelona, Catalan and Melbury. Iris oozes modern style in lightweight rattan with sophisticated urban black cushions. This chic range features practical, stackable dining chairs for easy storage. Vienna is a contemporary hand-woven range with darker anthracite weave, lava seat cushions and granite effect tabletops. The all-weather Belfort grey pergola with drop-down curtains, integrated LED mood lighting and retractable, louvred canopy allows you to switch quickly between sunlight, shade or full rain-cover.”

“As well-established stockists of Bramblecrest we continue to offer a huge range of their most popular garden furniture, as well as new styles for 2023 including the Bramblecrest Vienna range with its more contemporary modular floating design and eco cushions made from recycled plastic bottles.” >>

Main: Bramblecrest Vilamoura Rectangular Modular Sofa Set. Outdoor Sempre six Seat Dining Set with Bel Air Table. Bramblecrest Worcester Grey Rectangular Side Post Parasol with LED, Granite Base & Cover.

1: Supremo Leisure Belfort Grey Rectangular Pergola with Curtains & LEDs (3m x 4m). 2: Bramblecrest Tetbury Cloud Single Hanging Cocoon.

3: 4 Seasons Outdoor Kingston Corner Lounge Set with Teak Top Coffee Table. 4: Kettler Classic Mesh Caredo six Seat Rectangular Dining Set with 3m Sage Parasol & Base.

5: 4 Seasons Outdoor Sempre Double Daybed. 6: Bramblecrest Zurich Tree-Free Garden Lounge Set. 7: 4 Seasons Outdoor Flores 6 Seat Dining Set with Goa Table.

>> “There’s also the multifunctional Vilamoura patio set that can be configured any way to suit your style. Make a classic corner set, a large flat day bed, giant recliners or simply place the modular sofas opposite each other; and the eco-friendly Zurich lounge set with its stylish tree-free armrests and accents and eco cushions. There’s also a new premium, cantilevered Worcester parasol with LEDs, granite base and practical castors, for easy movement around your patio.”

“Also new this season is the luxurious Sempre range from 4 Seasons Outdoor, including the generously proportioned double daybed with its on-trend, Scandi mid-century styling in silver grey marine grade rope and teak.”

“In addition, there’s new, lightweight Classic Mesh with fresh sage green cushions from popular brand Kettler, including the Caredo, Savita and Novero ranges.”

“To complement your patio furniture and extend the outdoor season we also offer a huge selection of contemporary and traditional solar, electric and dual-powered garden lighting, as well as gas and electric patio heaters and traditional fire pits. And for protection from the sun or sudden showers there are garden shades in every size and design, from half round balcony parasols and patio sails, to large cantilevered parasols with pre-installed lighting and huge garden gazebos with electronic shades… and everything in between.”

“Add scatter cushions in this season’s maximalist designs or opt for classic neutrals, add a decorative garden mirror, wall art or a weatherproof garden rug to complete your look and ensure your outdoor space is as comfortable and welcoming as indoors. And with matching cushion storage boxes and made to fit protective covers for every set your new furniture will look its very best year after year.”

“This year we have added a new selection of hybrid barbecues to our range from revolutionary barbecue brand, Grillstream. These are multi-fuel barbecues, giving you the option to choose gas or charcoal cooking on the same grill. Start the cook using charcoal, and finish on gas, or mix it up and barbecue burgers over hot coals on one side, whilst grilling chicken over gas on the other. Flare-ups are eliminated with the Grillstream System as fat and juices are channelled to the front of the barbecue, and ash is kept completely away from the burners, so clean-up is a doddle.”

“As an established Weber World store, we continue to offer the full range of Weber barbecues including gas, charcoal, electric and smokers, alongside an extensive collection of Weber accessories and sundries for all barbecues.”

“You can also buy garden buildings on-site at Gates, from a simple shed for keeping tools secure to the most elegant and spacious garden rooms and hot tub shelters…and you can pick up the hot tub too!”

“All ranges are on show for you to compare finishes and get a real feel for the size and specification of each. We offer a free UK wide delivery service for orders over £50 and there’s a ‘white glove’ delivery service too if you prefer to have our team deliver, assemble and set up your new furniture, ready for you to begin enjoying your garden immediately.” n

Add space and style with a TIMBER FRAMED EXTENSION

With timeless style and traditional craftsmanship, a timber framed extension is the ideal way to add space and style to your home... just like this customer, who had a very important deadline to meet!

Words & Images: Rob Davis.

Oh, that’s better! It’s quite chilly when we get out of the car but nice and warm when we enter the brand new garden room extension we’ve come to view, and the homeowner has even lit the log burner for us.

We’re here to find out what happens when a customer chooses Top Barn Timber Frames to create a new garden room extension for their property.

The company provides traditional timber framed extensions, garden rooms, home offices, porches, car ports and outdoor living spaces, all in chunky rustic oak. This one was completed just in the nick of time for the client who had a particular deadline the family wanted to work to.

“It was a really tight deadline!” says our homeowner. “Our son was due to get married at the end of November so we had a choice of a strict deadline prior to the wedding, or a strict deadline prior to Christmas or the option of waiting until the new year!”

With a sense of derring do and some wellplaced confidence in the Top Barn Timber Frames team, which is headed up by Oliver and Charlotte Penn, the customer opted to start work if the team could complete it before their son walked down the aisle on 26th November.

On the morning of the wedding there was the usual nervousness and pacing about, but certainly no worries about the garden room which had been completed a day or two before. It was the very room in which buttonholes were pinned to the groom and

three groomsmen, and a month later, the same room was packed with Christmas gifts, which were opened in the room on 25th December too.

The couple’s family also raised a glass to one another on New Year’s Eve by the wood burner, and at the time of writing, they’re looking forward to throwing another log on the fire, snuggling under a blanket and watching the snow fall outside. Clare will also invite the book club into the room for the evening when it’s her turn to host its eight members as they debate literature... and of course, enjoy a glass of wine too!

“The house dates back to 1771 and it’s located in a conservation area, so obtaining planning permission wasn’t straight forward but it wasn’t too bad. It’s a south-facing room, so it enjoys plenty of natural light. It’s safe to say that it has been well-used already, and we’re thrilled with the space. Already a few neighbours have admired it and it wouldn’t surprise me if a few of them were considering something similar!” >>

>> Quite in addition to adding beautiful and usable space to your home, timber framed structures blend beautifully with your home, and the benefits don’t end there.

The structures are suitable for both internal spaces – living kitchens, studies, garden rooms – or external structures like car porches. Each building is completely bespoke and each one is fabricated beforehand too, meaning much of the work takes place off-site.

“Our bespoke structures are pre-fabricated in our own workshops, which means we’re free of disruption from bad weather and can do trial build runs, ensuring when we get on site everything will fit perfectly together. We cut traditional mortice and tenon joints, and when we assemble the structure on site, everything is pegged together with timber pegs which are, again, made in house.”

Direct glazing also means that whilst the buildings retain a traditional look and character, blending beautifully with older properties, they remain comfortable all year round; cosy in winter and cool in the summer. With sustainable materials like oak and hempcrete – lime mortar and dense hemp fibre – Top Barn Timber Frames’ buildings are energy efficient and sustainable, as well as being beautiful. Attractive, practical, sustainable and affordable... we think that Top Barn’s timber framed buildings are the future for many people looking to enhance their home, but a future that’s very much rooted in tradition, too. n

Find Out More: Top

www.topbarntimberframes.co.uk for a free, no obligation, pressure selling-free discussion about your project.

Barn Timber Frames produces garden rooms, timber-framed buildings, extensions porches and carports using sustainable oak and time-honoured construction methods. Call 07501 087593 or see

Left: A couple of the company’s garden rooms, created for local families.

Top/Far Left: Traditional mortice and tenon joints pegs are time-honoured methods of construction for Top Barn Timber Frames’ bespoke structures.

Image: Dean Fisher.

Beautiful, practical, sustainable and affordable too, Top Barn’s timber framed buildings are the future for many people looking to enhance their home... but a future rooted in tradition!”

TOP BARN TIMBER FRAMES

THE FIRST SIGNS of

SPRING

This month we’re composing a love letter to spring and anticipating all of the sights, sounds and joy that blue skies, longer days, and warmer weather is set to bring...

FOR MANY, spring is the best season of all, with blue skies, fresh air, new signs of life and without the sticky, exhausting heat of mid-summer.

The beginning of spring is marked officially by the equinox, but unofficially – and subjectively – by some of our favourite signs that the season is changing, and so in a love letter to the season we thought we’d identify a few of the things we’re looking forward to this month...

Lighter Days

Solstice refers the longest (in June) and shortest (in December) days in the year, whilst the term equinox denotes the two times in a year (in March and September) when both day and night are equal in duration.

The British have also been observing British Summer Time since William Willett first proposed changing the clocks in 1916, which was mandated by the Summer Time Act. In 2023, the clocks will go forward by an hour on 26th March, when we can all look forward to some lighter evenings. In mid-March, sunrise occurs at 6.01am, and sunset at 8.03pm.

Warmer Weather

Just to complicate matters, weather scientists split the year into quarters based on statistics for temperature norms, and begin their spring measurements on 1st March, lasting until 31st May.

March sees average temperatures of between 5°c and 12°c, with an average of 40mm rainfall and 107 hours of sunshine.

In February, temperatures are about 5°c cooler and there’s only 77hrs sunshine. Scientists have identified exposure to sunshine and our production of vitamin D as beneficial for improving sleep, reducing stress and strengthening the immune system.

On the Farm

For livestock operations, spring means lambing and calving. About 16m ewes give birth in Britain each year, and though lambing can take place from November to May there’s still a birth rate peak in March. On arable farms, slurry is spread on fields, drilling of sugar beet, potato crops and peas takes place and cereal crops are sprayed with fertiliser and pesticides. >>

Words: Rob Davis.

On the Trees

Spring means new growth on trees. In March, ash, beech, oak and rowan buds begin bursting into life, with alder, maple and birch next. Though cherry blossom is synonymous with spring, it actually blossoms a little later, typically in April.

In the Garden

In our own gardens, snowdrops will gradually give way to daffodils and bluebells, perhaps the first few crocuses too. The arrival of spring blossom is another highlight for many, and bare-root blossom trees can be purchased now and planted out. Elsewhere it’s time to give the garden a good tidy up. Leaving the lawn a little longer before giving it the first cut of the season, however, will benefit pollinators.

Insects

Insects also begin to awaken in March, with peacock, tortoiseshell and brimstone

butterflies first to be seen, followed by the small white and red admiral. As the weather continues to warm up, beetles, spiders and ladybirds are next to appear.

Bees

Spring Forward

The first day of spring is Monday 20th March, coinciding with the spring equinox – the first day of astronomical spring – when the day and night are almost equal in duration.

Birds will also begin to sing the dawn chorus to identify their territory about half an hour fore and aft of sunrise from March. Interestingly there’s always a set sequence to the species who sing; robins and blackbirds are first, followed by thrushes and then wrens, warblers, great tits, and finally sparrows and finches.

Bees

It’s estimated that there are just 1.23m honeybees in the UK, and 24 of the UK’s bee species are bumblebees, with a colony typically comprising of about 400.

Gardeners will see bees buzzing around as temperatures warm up, and planting as many bee-friendly species as possible will help ensure this essential part of our eco-system thrives.

Since 1900, the decline in bee population has seen the loss of 13 species of bee, through change in land use, habitat loss, pesticide use and invasive non-native plant species.

It’s estimated that to perform the job of pollination that bees help us with would cost the economy £1.8bn in labour in the UK alone. Their preservation is essential, hence the advice of planting bee-friendly seed mixes where possible, for instance in a wildflower meadow left uncut with marigold, poppy, cornflower and oxeye daisies. n

30 Years of Top-Down Motoring with the

Mini Convertible

Mini’s new Seaside is now available to order with first deliveries in time for top-down summer motoring in this cheerful incarnation of a British motoring icon!

TUSCANY? THE SEYCHELLES? SKEGNESS?

Where are you planning to enjoy the sun this year? Chances are, as you read this, temperatures will still be on the chilly side, hardly a climate for top-down motoring. But the Great British summer will be along soon, so assuming you’re going to be spending at least part of the sunnier months in the UK, now is the time to start considering an open-top car in which to waft along the UK’s back roads and motorways.

Happily, Mini is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its first convertible model, – released in 1993 – with this, the cheerfullynamed Seaside Edition of its existing Mini convertible. It’s priced at £34,500, which we think is pretty steep, but Mini remains a premium-badge in the small car world, and it’s

still backed with meticulous BMW mechanicals, build quality and reliability. It’s also equipped with a 2.0 four-cylinder engine, turbocharged to 178hp to reach 60mph in 6.9 seconds, making it rather nippy to say the least.

With first deliveries this month, the Seaside Edition features double decorative stripes in white running across the side doors to the rear of the vehicle, while a unique 30 motif graphic on the front apron and wheel caps refer to the model’s anniversary. The car also comes with Mini’s Premium Plus packaged option pack which provides

automatic air conditioning, reverse parking control, various driving modes, wireless smartphone charging and an upgraded stereo. Other thoughts? Well, it’s fun, attractive, but also quite expensive for what remains a very small car. Though it’s likely the Mini Convertible will be a more useful second car than your daily driver, and given that its uniqueness can only be fully realised in the summer, when the roof’s down, we’d question its value against the entry-level Mini convertible which is £9,000 cheaper.

Still, with all the kit, performance and style you need, it’s likely to be a ‘with the heart’ purchase, and if you’re yearning for a bit of motoring fun, the only thing you need really need this summer, apart from the Mini Convertible, is a little bit of sunshine! n

THE DETAILS

Mini Convertible Seaside Edition

Price: £34,500 (On sale now).

Powertrain: 2.0 four-cylinder engine, 178hp, automatic gearbox.

Performance: Top speed 143mph, 0-60mph 6.9 secs. Fuel consumption WLTP 47.9mpg.

Equipment: 18” wheels, Caribbean Aqua paint, leather trim in carbon black, electrically folding roof, navigation, heated steering wheel, heated seats, air conditioning, reverse parking sensors, wireless smartphone charging. n

Farewell to a motoring icon

Aston Martin DBS 770

With electrification, new technology and smaller, more efficient engines with fewer cylinders, the writing’s on the wall for internal combustion behemoths like Aston Martin’s mighty 5.2 litre V12 powerplant. And so, the company is retiring its flagship DBS, but not before a final edition version which can claim to be the most powerful production Aston Martin model to date...

BEFORE TOO LONG, we’ll have seen the last of cars like this. Aston Martin’s DBS is powered by the firm’s 5.2 litre twin-turbo 12-cylinder flagship powerplant, but as the industry moves away from internal combustion engines and into the era of electrification, massive engines like this are increasingly anachronistic.

Today’s electric vehicles like Tesla’s Model S are capable of sub-three second 0-60mph sprints, and whilst the relatively silent power delivery might not have the evocative bark of a traditional supercar like the DBS, they’re certainly the future.

Sadly that means saying goodbye to cars like the DBS, but Aston Martin is at least treating us to this final edition version, badged the DBS 770 Ultimate, a swan song for its V12 engine.

The figure 770 refers to its uprated engine which puts out 770ps of power and a mighty 900Nm of torque. The most powerful production Aston Martin ever has been extensively re-engineered for enhanced performance, driver engagement and visual

drama, not least with a new front splitter, dramatic horse-shoe vent and deeper rear diffuser, for improved engine cooling and aerodynamic balance.

Its hand-built engine propels the DBS 770 Ultimate to a top speed of 211mph and its modified ignition and air flow pathways result in a 7% increase in turbo pressure, providing a significant increase in performance over the ‘standard’ DBS.

Power is fed through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and mechanical Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) mounted at the rear of the car. Carbon ceramic brakes have been added, too, plus 21” wheels available in three finishes.

Inside, the DBS 770 Ultimate delights with a dazzling array of fresh design treatments that set it apart, while retaining the instantly recognisable cabin environment of the current DBS. Signifying its halo positioning, DBS 770 Ultimate comes with Sports Plus Seats trimmed in full semi-aniline leather and Alcantara, featuring a ‘fluted’ quilt and perforation pattern as standard.

Aston Martin’s performance seat can also be selected as an option. A bespoke trim split has been introduced, with contrast colours linked to welt and stitching, along with a tailor-made strap and buckle badge featuring a laser etched DBS 770 Ultimate logo found on the centre arm rest. Carbon Fibre Gearshift paddles are also fitted as standard.

Finally, DBS 770 Ultimate is fitted with a unique set of sill plaques showcasing the Aston Martin Wings, DBS 770 Ultimate logo and Limited-Edition numbering. The current DBS is the second of two V12powered DBS generations introduced during Aston Martin’s Gaydon era. Launched in 2018 it’s immaculate design, muscular physique and breathtaking potency quickly became synonymous with Aston Martin’s unique brand of Super GT and coined the term ‘Brute In A Suit.’

Only 499 examples of the car will be made globally, and deliveries will begin towards the end of 2023. In its place, it’s anticipated that Aston Martin will release a nextgeneration electric vehicle. n

THE DETAILS

Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate

Price: £250,000 (est; undisclosed).

Powertrain: 5.2 litre V12 twinturbo engine, 770ps, 900Nm torque, 0-60mph 3.4 seconds, top speed 211mph.

Equipment: Carbon fibre and Alcantara interior, 16-way electrically adjustable heated and ventilated seats, 360° camera, active park assist, infotainment touchpad and dial. Cruise control, sat nav, Apple Carplay, 8” screen, blind spot monitoring system. n

Spring FORWARD

Whatever the weather, you’ll feel good and look great with the new spring collection from Mint Velvet... fashions for any occasion!

1. White Striped V Neck Jumper, £89.

2. Black Texture Cardigan Jacket, £129.

3. White Textured Cardigan Jacket, £129.

4. White Striped Cuff Detail Top, £55.

5. White Bow Front Jumper, £89. >> www.mintvelvet.co.uk

1. Cara Print Cream Shirt, £79.

2. White Cutout Detail Shirt, £79.

3. Beige Double Breasted Coat, £199.

4. White Striped Ribbed Top, £49.

5. Cream Leather Biker Jacket, £299.

6. Livia Asymmetric Midi Skirt, £99.. >> www.mintvelvet.co.uk

1. Livia Print Asymmetric Shirt Dress, £129.

2. Hallie Asymmetric Midi Dress, £139.

3. Ciara Print Mini Dress, £109.

4. Black Collared Mini Dress, £119.

5. Bella Print Slip Dress Set, £159. www.mintvelvet.co.uk

Holland Cooper Regency Holdall, £199. www.hollandcooper.com

Katie Loxton

Kensington Weekend Bag, £99.99, www.katieloxton.com.

Osprey London

The Kellie Leather Weekender, £395, www.ospreylondon.com.

BAGS OF FUN

Mulberry

City Weekender in Double Yellow, £1,425, www.mulberry.com.

Luxury and designer holdalls for fun weekends away, and spring adventures...

Edit: Mandy Bray.

Sophie Allport

Poppy Meadow Weekend Oundle Bag, £63.50, www.sophieallport.com.

Fairfax & Favor

The Oxburgh, £350, www.fairfaxandfavor.com.

Aspinals Of London

Brit Travel Bag, £795, www.aspinaloflondon.com.

Antler

Chelsea overnight bag in mineral, £139. www.antler.co.uk.

Gucci Savoy medium duffle bag, £1,610, www.gucci.com.

Clinique Perfectly Happy

Fragrance

Clarins Hydra-Essentiel

New range launching 9th Feb, call for availability and prices.

SPRING PERFUMES

Q

My

SPRING FRESH

New adventures in fragrance plus some familiar favourites for Mother’s Day at Coneys Department Store...

Coneys Department Store, Broad Street, Spalding PE11 1TB. Call 01775 767155 or see www.coneysdesignerwear.co.uk.

Luxury

set with 100ml EDP, body cream, handbag atomiser.£52.

Georgio Armani

Way, bright floral scent, £75/30ml, £102/50ml.

Lancôme La Vie Est Belle 100ml EDP, 50ml lotion, handbag atomiser, mascara, £129.

Estée Lauder

Collection, one of eight new 40ml EDP fragrances, £76.

Dolce & Gabbana

by Dolce & Gabbana, EDP. £86/50ml.

Paco Rabanne Olympéa Floral Intense, EDP. £78/50ml.

Molton Brown Hand care collection, 3 x 40ml, £30.

Enjoying Champagne & Canapés at King West of Stamford

A WELCOME RETURN, the directors of Stamford estate agency King West said, as they extended a warm welcome and thanks to guests, at their annual drinks party reception which returned in January 2023 following a three-year absence due to Covid.

Tom Wilson, Director, said: “Whilst January isn’t the obvious time for a drink’s reception, we feel it works well. Hosting inside our Stamford Offices is a great chance to see a number of people together and an opportunity for us to thank those we have worked with and those we look forward to working with, in future. King West is focused on its clients and professional partners, and we are very proud of those relationships and very much look forward to repeating the event next year!”

The evening was a great success with those attending enjoying Champagne, and canapes created by Sarah Rivett, The Rutland Gourmet. n

Words & Images: Rob Davis.

WEDDINGS

Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Jordan and Matt from King’s Cliffe enjoyed a fabulous summer wedding at Irnham Hall, with plenty of beautiful blooms courtesy of the groom...

Wedding Photographer: Rebekah Robert Photography, 07736 931496, www.rebekahrobert.com.

IT’S GOOD to have a plan, but sometimes you’ve just got to concede that life has different ideas. By extension, it’s good to just accept that life also knows what it’s doing and that soon, everything will be coming up roses.

And talking of roses... meet Matt Sharpe, this month’s groom. The couple live in the village of King’s Cliffe, and Matt works in the flower industry in Cambridgeshire, as one of his company’s senior buyers, with a particular professional interest – and a fondness for – roses.

Chances are, if you’re purchased a beautiful bouquet of roses from one of the country’s biggest retailers – supermarkets or one of the smarter multinational retailers – it’ll be Matt who has purchased them for his company, and worked alongside his floral designers and product developers to present them beautifully for Valentine’s Day.

As you’d expect then, there were plenty of flowers – some very beautiful ones too –when Jordan and Matt married in June last year at Irnham Hall, the country home of the Benton Jones family, dating back as far as 1380 and virtually unchanged since the 16th century.

Both Matt and Jordan are local and met on Jordan’s 19th birthday after both happened to be out on the town that evening. Feeling peckish on the way home, each stopped at a local takeaway to enjoy a bite to eat, and bumped into each other. Matt asked for Jordan’s number, then messaged her the following morning and the rest is history. That was back in 2014, and a proposal followed a couple of years later with Matt popping the question under a starry sky, accompanied by flickering candles.

“We had a longer engagement than anticipated, partly because we fell pregnant

WEDDING

SUPPLIERS

JORDAN & MATT

with our eldest daughter – who’s now three and a half years old – but also because there was still uncertainty around Covid,” says Jordan, who works in the financial services industry as a claims adjuster for a local insurance company.

“Matt will tell you that I’d been planning my wedding since being a little girl, and that I took the lead, but the truth is we’re really compatible with each other and our values and preferences tend to be aligned, so we were both very much on the same page in the respect of the day we wanted to create.”

“We wanted a summer wedding, when no football tournaments were on, and we favoured a manor house or country property with pretty grounds.”

Wedding Venue: Irnham Hall, Grantham, 01476 550244, www.irnhamhall.co.uk.

Wedding Dress: Adella Bridal, 01603 814992, www.adellabridal.co.uk.

Groomsmens’ Tailoring: Vow Bridal, Wansford, 01780 783607, www.vowbridal.co.uk.

Bridal Hair: The Boho Bridal, Stamford, www.thebohobridal@hotmail.com.

Makeup Artist: Sharpe Faces, sharpefaces@hotmail.com.

Evening Catering: www.rivapizza.co.uk.

Cake: Caz’s Cakes, 07799 848930, cazscakesandsugarcraft.com.

DJ: Rob Giddings, 01780 470983, www.strobediscoroadshow.co.uk.

Wedding Singer: www.trulyromantic.co.uk.

“When we saw Irnham Hall online we both fell in love with it. It looks stunning and the owners Jamie and Leila Benton Jones are lovely. There’s a pub with rooms on the estate too, so we were able to stay over the night before and then after the wedding too. It’s also a place we can return to – for date nights – as well.”

Waiting a little longer meant Irnham Hall was available, Covid restrictions had passed and their eldest daughter could join mum and dad in celebrating their day. It did, however, also mean that Jordan was seven months pregnant with the couple’s second child when they married in the grounds of the stately home... so technically both of the couple’s children were able to attend the day.

Jordan wore an embroidered mermaidprofile wedding dress from Adella Bridal in Norwich, and her bridesmaids wore soft pink dresses sourced from ASOS.

“Matt and the groomsmens’ suits were from Vow Bridal in Wansford, with a grey check tweed indigo ties to match the lining.” >>

>> “Our flowers were stunning, with Avalanche roses in white and pink arranged by Georgia Bremner, who works with Matt. Our cake was from Caz’s Cakes & Sugarcraft and the wedding catering was by Black Peppermint in Lincoln. We’ve been back since to their pop-up restaurant for a tasting menu, which was delicious.”

Jordan also found time to create some of her own finishing touches, creating her favours, and table decorations.

“We were really lucky, too, with our photographers. We’d seen Rebekah and Rob’s work before so we knew they were talented, but they were also so lovely and so easy to work with on the day.”

“I had some pre-wedding nerves and Rebekah was a total voice of calm. We really felt we got to know them and there was definitely a sense that as well as being there to capture some beautiful photos, they really wanted us to enjoy the day too.”

“Jamie from Irnham Hall acted as master of ceremonies on the day and everything ran so smoothly. For the whole day it was like we were just in a bubble of love surrounded by family and friends. We really couldn’t have planned the day any better!” n

Wedding Photographer: Rebekah Robert Photography, 07736 931496, www.rebekahrobert.com.

“We were really lucky with our photographers. Rebekah and Rob were talented, but they were also so lovely and so easy to work with...!”

Night & Day

LUXURY WELLBEING AND BEAUTY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOTH NIGHT AND DAY

1. Guerlain’s Orchidée Impériale Facial Mask

Available from John Lewis, The Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Mask offers intensive replenishing skincare and has been formulated to meet the needs of skin which has been damaged by demanding lifestyles. Enveloping the skin in a moment of pure indulgence it mitigates redness and discomfort. Skin feels firmer, smoother, more supple, and its radiance is restored, £283/75ml, www.johnlewis.com.

2. Double the Volume

Estée Lauder’s Double Wear is our mascara and you too will love its extreme wear, extraordinary length and unstoppable power. Now the smudge-free look you see in the mirror each morning is the look you keep all day, £26.50/6ml.

3. Lasting Nail Colour

Dazzling deep royal blue shades courtesy of Nailberry, whose L’Oxygéné nail colour creates a breathable, water permeable oxygenated formula delivering a high standard of colour vivacity and shine with just a single coat, £16/15ml, from Space NK, Stamford.

4. Visibly Smoother

Neal’s Yard promises visibly smoother and softer skin thanks to its frankincense-infused intense cleansing melt, which removes everyday impurities, plus waterproof makeup, without drying out the skin. Organic formula, proven to work for 12 hours, £40/100ml.

5. La Prairie’s hard-working luxe sleep mask...

La Prarie’s Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask brushes on smoothly, melting instantly into the skin where it works its magic overnight. Formulated with La Prairie’s Exclusive Cellular Complex, this richly-textured treatment works while you sleepthe most

moment for cells. Awaken with smoother, firmer-looking, glowing skin.

£340/50ml, John Lewis.

6. Aromatherapy from Diptyque Le Redouté

Diptyque’s signature scented candles to stunning effect with the Le Redouté Lantern for a 190g Candle: an enchanting accessory that will enhance any living space. Once lit the graphic lines come into their own, casting a magical spacenk.com

All our beauty from local independent stockists unless otherwise stated, please note that prices stated are RRP and may vary.

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.

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME

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.

TEETH STRAIGHTENING IN UPPINGHAM

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

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.

To advertise here call our friendly team on 01529 469977.