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Each season brings its own particular joy, from sharp frosts on glistening gardens in winter, to the emergence of bulbs and the return of blue skies in spring, to long balmy days of summer spent in the garden. Autumn’s joys, meanwhile, include walks around Stamford & Rutland with crunchy leaves underfoot and a dazzling array of colours carefully selected by Mother Nature from a palette of gold, bronze orange and red.
Nowhere is that colour palette more evident than in our gardens and in the fields, headland and open spaces which are a source of inspiration and enjoyment for, among others, local artist Angela Harding. We’ll meet Angela later in this edition as well as gardener and broadcaster Bunny Guinness, in advance of a dinner she will host at Hambleton Hall this month.
Elsewhere in this edition, we’ve enjoyed speaking with Lady Victoria Leatham, custodian of Burghley House until 2007, when the house passed into the care of her daughter, Miranda Rock and her family. Among Lady Victoria’s legacies are the Sculpture Garden, Garden of Surprises, and the Angel Fair which takes place on the estate at the end of this month. We’ll discuss what Christmas means to the family and why Burghley’s Christmas Fair helps to support the important work of Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall in Peterborough.
Finally, we continue to support local hospitality with our Good Food Awards and invite nominations for each of our six categories, not least our coveted Restaurant of the Year title.
Best wishes for a wonderful month!
Julian Wilkinson CEO, Pride Magazines
This month’s Rutland cover shows Andrew Dejardin’s scene of autumn looking towards Empingham. Canvases and prints available to purchase alongside his other work at Gallery Stamford, Maiden Lane, or see www.gallerystamford.co.uk. Also seen here is Stamford’s awardwinning Bull & Swan. We’re always looking for great images of the area, so please feel free to email us your best photos to us at robin@pridemagazines.co.uk.
110
9 LUXURY HOMES Enjoy the finest selection of quality homes on the market in Rutland & Stamford.
26 NEWS ‘Good news’ stories from across Rutland & Stamford including Hollywood stars at Burghley House.
44 WHAT’S ON Live music and theatre.
30 ANGELA HARDING Rutland’s illustrator and author celebrates Britain’s Still Waters & Wild Waves.
38 LADY VICTORIA LEATHAM
Former custodian of Burghley House and founder of the Angel Committee discusses the estate’s Christmas Fair.
110 BUNNY GUINNESS Gardener and broadcaster Bunny Guinness on her career and why selfsufficiency is good for both body and mind.
Food & Drink
50 DINING OUT Delicious dining out at Stamford’s Bull & Swan.
57 THE GOOD FOOD AWARDS
Continuing to collect votes for our Good Food Awards including our coveted Restaurant of the Year title.
Homes & Gardens
70 WELCOME HOME A tour around Brigstock Manor, on the market with Savills of Stamford for £3m.
81 INTERIORS Cosy homes for autumn.
Lifestyle
126 MOTORS Nordic and nice, it’s Volvo’s XC90 flagship luxury 4x4.
128 FASHION For ladies and gents.
141 COSMETICS Makeup and skincare.
156 WEDDINGS Sophie & Stuart’s day. NOVEMBER 2024
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Situated just four miles from the picturesque market town of Stamford lies Casewick. This stunning country estate is marked by a set of ornate gates that herald the beginning of a magnificent approach. The sweeping driveway meanders through 14 acres of communal parkland, through a second set of gates leading to several homes including North Stables. This fabulous Grade II listed home is nestled within a charming conservation area.
Stamford Guide Price: £1,000,000
Guide Price £750,000
Brooke Road, Oakham
An attractive five-bedroom, double-fronted family home offering spacious and flexible accommodation including an attached one-bedroom annexe, sitting on a generous plot with a well-established garden, countryside views to the front, all situated within walking distance of Oakham town centre.
Main Street, Pickwell
Offers In Excess £600,000
Top Street, Wing
A four-bedroom, detached family home sitting on a generous corner plot with off-road parking and garaging in the sought-after Rutland village of Wing.
Offers In Excess £575,000
Offers In Excess of £500,000
Smithy Cottage is a charming, three-bedroom red-brick cottage offering deceptively spacious accommodation, pretty cottage gardens, off-road parking and garaging, situated at the heart of the peaceful village of Pickwell.
Great Lane, Greetham
A unique five-bedroom home offering flexible and deceptively spacious accommodation with a private driveway and mature garden, all sitting on a generous wrap-around plot in the popular village of Greetham.
Originally a stone barn conversion in the early 1980's, Pantiles has been progressively and sympathetically extended by previous owners. The current owners commissioned building the new utility room and garage, and the cottage annex was completely refurbished in 2017 to a high standard, including roof replacement. It is now a superb property with style and character, offering privacy and flexible accommodation.
Guide Price: £975,000
Stretton
Oakham
Nestled in almost an acre of land, this exceptional barn conversion blends historical charm with modern luxury. The property preserves original stone walls and beams while incorporating contemporary elements, including an open-plan kitchen, dining, and sitting area. The flexible layout offers six bedrooms, including a walk-in dressing room. Outside, a beautifully designed courtyard and landscaped gardens provide ideal spaces for relaxation.
Guide Price: £1,600,000
King’s Cliffe
Nr Rutland
This family home extends to roughly 2,400 sqft of well-maintained accommodation in a desirable village.Features include a kitchen breakfast room, utility, sunroom and three further reception rooms. To the first floor a spacious landing allows access to the master bedroom with a dressing room and en-suite along with the 3 additional bedrooms and a 4-piece bathroom. Externally the property offers a double garage, private gardens, and a summer house.
Offers Over: £800,000
Luxury Homes
Rutland
A rare opportunity to purchase the most charming, five bedroom house dating back to the 18th century with a beautiful, mature garden in the delightful conservation village of Ketton, stands overlooking the Chater Valley.
Guide Pride: £1,295,000
Fine & Country The Old Jewellers, High Street East Uppingham LE15 9PZ. Call 01780 750 200 or see fineandcountr y.co.uk
Knoll House
Uppingham
Knoll House is an impressive family home and former Victorian Hunting Lodge within the sought after market town of Uppingham. With a prominent hill top position surrounded by woodland.
Offers Over: £995,000
Savills St Martin's, 9 High Street St Martin's, Stamford PE9 2LF. Call 01780 484696 or see www.savills.com
Manor Farm House
Barrowden
This stunning four bedroomed family home dates to c.17th century and boasts character features throughout with a fully enclosed garden, garaging and off-road parking, nestled in the Rutland village of Barrowden.
Guide Price: £725,000
King West 13 St Mary's Street, Stamford PE9 2DE Call 01780 484520 www.kingwest.co.uk
Berrybrooke House
Bisbrooke
Berrybrooke House is a substantial, limestone-built home offering large and light accommodation with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. It stands in approximately a quarter of an acre with well-established gardens.
Guide Price: £900,000
James Sellicks 6-8 Market Place Oakham Rutland LE15 6DT. Call 01572 724437 or see www.jamessellicks.com
Ketton
Luxury Homes
Braunston
Oak House is an impressive and substantial detached fivebedroom two-bathroom family home, on a lovely plot of approximately 0.5 an acre, with open countryside views within the well-regarded Rutland village of Braunston.
Price: £1,675,000
Country & Equestrian Hackamore Way, Barleythorpe, LE15 7FS
Call 01780 484555 or see www.countryequestrianhomes.com
Stamford
We are pleased to bring to the market this rare opportunity to purchase one of the largest properties on the Hereward Place development. The property offer s an open plan living space and six bedrooms.
Price: £1,320,000
Nest Estates 8-9 Red Lion Street, Stamford PE9 1PA. Call 01780 238110 or see www.nestestates.co.uk
Meadow
Edge Langham
Built in 2021, Meadow Edge is a beautifully-finished, four-bedroom family home offering spacious and freeflowing accommoda tion with off-road parking, garaging and countryside views to the front, set in a generous plot.
Offers in Excess Of: £1,000,000
James Sellicks 6-8 Market Place Oakham Rutland LE15 6DT. Call 01572 724437 or see www.jamessellicks.com
Drakes Cottage
Clipsham
Situated within the idyllic Rutland village of Clipsham sits Drakes Cottage, a beautiful Grade II detached home with fabulous gardens, generous parking space, separate stone outbuilding presently garage and a garden store.
OIEO: £685,000
Digby & Finch 8 St Mary's Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DP. Call 01780 758 090 or see www.digbyandfinch.com
Oak House
Hereward Place
Braunston
Foxley Farm has recently undergone extensive renovation and extension to now offer quality state of the art living, whilst still retaining many original character features. The property is situated in an idyllic position within grounds of approximately 8 acres, just on the edge of the sought-after village of Empingham with far reaching views of open countryside and Rutland Water beyond.
or see www.countryequestrianhomes.com
Foxley Farm Empingham
First Drift Wothorpe
Nest Estates are pleased to bring to the market this impressive modern property (Built by Simon Boon) offering versatile split level accommodation extending to around 4900SQFT.Situated on a generous plot in a location that needs no introduction. The property offers Open Plan Living, five further reception rooms and five double bedrooms all with en-suite.
Price: £2,000,000
Nest Estates 8-9 Red Lion Street, Stamford PE9 1PA. Call 01780 238110 or see www.nestestates.co.uk
Tivoli
Luxury Homes
Willoughby Road
Morcott
Located in the heart of the picturesque village of Morcott, this historic stone-built property, dating from 1710-1830, offer s a perfect balance of period charm and modern living. Unlisted and therefore free from the restrictions.
Offers In Excess Of: £1,000,000
Eastaway Property Orion House, Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE. Call 01780 672030 or see www.eastaway.co.uk
St. Peters Church
Little Oakley
A fabulous conversion of a 13th Century Medieval Church with later additions, listed grade ll* as a property of architectural or historic interest. Converted to provide a substantial four bedroom three bathroom family home.
Offers Over: £1,800,000
Bartram & Co Town Hall, Watling Street East, Towcester. NN12 6BS. Call 01327 359164 or see www.bartramandco.co.uk
Milburn
Tinwell
Milburn is an impressive contemporary home built in 2007. Occupying an elevated position with delightful, landscaped gardens to the rear, plenty of driveway space for numerous vehicles plus a generous double garage.
Guide Price: £1,150,000
Digby & Finch 8 St Mary's Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DP. Call 01780 758 090 or see www.digbyandfinch.com
Jasmine Cottage
Harlaxton
In the idyllic village of Harlaxton, just a stone’s throw from Grantham, Jasmine Cottage stands as a testament to timeless elegance and meticulous craftsmanship.
Guide Price: £800,000
Pelham James 3 Saddler’s Court, Oakham LE15 7GH. Call 01572 497070 or see www.pelhamjames.co.uk
Luxury Homes
Brownlow Street
Stamford
This stunning five-bedroom home perfectly blends historical charm with modern comforts and is located in a sought-after area of Stamford just meters from the town centre.
Guide Price: £795,000
Eastaway Property Orion House, Barn Hill, Stamford, PE9 2AE. Call 01780 672030 or see www.eastaway.co.uk
Maple Lodge
Greatford
A beautifully presented, five-bedroom family home with double garage, large, landscaped garden with views of rolling countryside, nestled in the sought - after village of Greatford
Guide Price: £1,295,000
King West 13 St Mary's Street, Stamford PE9 2DE Call 01780 484520 www.kingwest.co.uk
Puddle View
Edith Weston
A delightful family home with outstanding views of Rutland Water. Grade ll listed, dated 1642, which has been sensitively refurbished and extended. A stunning four bedroom beautifully refurbished and modernised.
Guide Price: £1,650,000
Savills St Martin's, 9 High Street St Martin's, Stamford PE9 2LF. Call 01780 484696 or see www.savills.com
Barrowden
Rutland
An immaculately presented, traditional style home that is built for modern living and includes solar panels, is situated down a private no-through drive in the highly sought after village of Barrowden
Offers in region of: £900,000
Fine & Country The Old Jewellers, High Street East Uppingham LE15 9PZ. Call 01780 750 200 or see fineandcountr y.co.uk
Local News
Rutland Calendar now on sale
The stars come out at Burghley
Filming takes place at stately home of adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic horror Frankenstein
Burghley House was busy last month thanks to film crews using the historic house as a filming location for the forthcoming adaptation of Frankenstein, due for release in 2025.
Frankenstein’s monster will be portrayed by Jacob Elordi (right) who starred in the 2023 psychological thriller Saltburn. Dr Frankenstein will be portrayed by Oscar Isaac, who starred as Poe Dameron in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Other members of the cast include Christoph Waltz of the James Bond franchise’s Spectre and veteran actor Charles Dance.
Filming took place from 15th-24th September, with dozens of trailers, vans and lorries spotted on the estate. Burghley House is no stranger to such activity, having doubled up as Windsor Castle in Series Four of The Crown and used as a location for Middlemarch (1994); Pride & Prejudice (2005); The Da Vinci Code (2006); and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007).
Local photographer Richard Adams has once again curated 12 beautiful Rutland scenes in order to create his 2025 calendar picturing England’s smallest county in all its glory!
All the profits from the 2024 calendar will go to local charities, the main beneficiary being the Rutland Historic Churches Preservation Trust, which grant aids repair and maintenance work to the county’s churches and chapels.
The calendar is priced at £6.99 and is available from Walkers Bookshops in Oakham and Stamford as well as selected village shops and post offices across Rutland.
This will be the 25th calendar that Richard has photographed and created, which we think is a rather impressive achievement!
Best School award for Oakham
Oakham School has been shortlisted for ‘Best Public School’ in the Tatler Schools Awards for 2024/2025
Oakham School has been shortlisted for ‘Best Public School’ in the Tatler Schools Awards 2025. Only five UK independent schools have been nominated for this category and Oakham School is the only East Midlands school to make it to the shortlist. The Tatler Schools Guide is an annual publication
that reviews the nation’s best independent schools. Oakham School Headmaster, Henry Price, commented: “This nomination is a reflection of our commitment to holistic education and the feeling of warmth towards the School. It’s pleasing to read the positive views of our parents and pupils cited in the review.”
Stamford Commemorates
RAF Wittering recently commemorated the battle of Britain with an open-air service in Stamford
RAF personnel recently marched from Star Lane to the War Memorial outside the Browne’s Hospital where an open-air Service to commemorate the Battle of Britain was led by RAF Wittering Padre, the Revd Squadron Leader Andrew Tucker. The Mayor of Stamford Kelham Cooke, joined the station’s Michael Masters, and Darren Rose for the occasion.
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Bull & Swan ‘Best Town Pub’
The Great British Pub Awards, has named Stamford’s Bull & Swan as the winner of Best Town Pub in the UK
Stamford’s Bull & Swan has been named as one of the best pubs in the country. The Great British Pub Awards – which recognises excellence across a range of categories – has named the Bull & Swan as the winner of Best Town Pub in the UK.
The Bull & Swan was declared winner after an intense multi-stage judging process which saw the pub triumph over strong competition from other finalists to take the title.
“Expertly blending 17th century charm with modern design, creating a vibrant community with a hub for unique events, from outdoor cinema nights to live music, not forgetting it’s garden to table menu,” the judges said, before praising the pub’s calendar. Two exciting events coming up at the place include its first Oktoberfest on 26th October.”
“The Bull & Swan is everything a traditional English pub should be, with gastro food, epic Sunday roasts, real ales and nine luxury bedrooms with artisan suppliers. Its kitchen garden has also been curated in partnership with the garden team at Burghley House.”
The pub’s Potting Shed, will also be going through its autumn and winter makeover later this month, transforming back to the popular Alpine Ski Chalet with sell out DJ Party Nights, Friday night live music. Cosy cinema nights are also on the agenda, and the Bull & Swan is the perfect destination for private Christmas parties.
Paul Brown, owner of the Bull & Swan says: “We are delighted to have taken home such an amazing award, and it’s a true testament to the team and everything they’ve created!”
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Art
Putting the natural world in print with
Angela Harding
Rutland artist, illustrator and author Angela Harding’s latest book celebrates the natural world and the British coastline, as seen from her boat. This month we’re off on our travels, enjoying Britain’s Still Waters and its Wild Waves Images: Angela Harding/Joanne Crawford.
Should you ever doubt that the natural world is nothing short of a miracle, Rutland artist Angela Harding’s work will serve as a beautiful reminder. Based in Wing, Angela is inspired by nature and by birdlife in particular. Last month, she published her third book combining her artwork with reflections of how nature is a constant in a world that’s otherwise ever-changing.
In the run up to Christmas Angela will be promoting the book, Still Waters and Wild Waves, returning to her premises on Oakham’s Burley Road to host an Open Studio event on Friday 1st November to Sunday 3rd November, enabling her appreciative audience to meet the artist and to purchase this year’s new Christmas cards and gift wrap, Angela’s advent calendar, as well as her homewares, books and gifts.
Angela was the first to direct the Leicester Print Workshop, a centre of excellence for those pursuing techniques in fine art printmaking such as Angela’s linocut work, which has established her as one of Britain’s most sought-after artists for publishers of books including authors such as PD James and Val McDermid. Her work has also featured in many magazines from Gardens Illustrated to BBC Countryfile and Country Living.
From an initial sketch, Angela’s print involves carving into lino and silk-screen printing images manually on her Rochat Albion press. It’s a slower and more considered process than other forms of art, but the reward is worth it... and besides Angela and her husband Mark recognise that sometime the journey, not the destination is the point. Hence they’ve enjoyed extensive trips together abroad their wooden sailboat, Windsong.
STILL WATERS & WILD WAVES
Angela’s latest book was released last month, and it’s a journey across Britain in pursuit of wildlife and water
Featuring over 50 original illustrations of dramatic seascapes and reflective rivers, alongside photography of the stunning places that inspired the artwork, Angela Harding's beautiful new book captures the waters that move us.
Throughout its pages, Angela turns her attention to the UK’s waterways. Sailing in Windsong, her fiftyyearold trusted wooden boat, she travels the Northern shores of Shetland, down to the Isles of Scilly, drawing the coastline and waterways, birds, boats and beaches, capturing the serenity of still waters and the energy and power of wild waves in her sketches, photos and prints.
Angela takes readers with her on her travels across rivers and seas, featuring beautiful paintings and prints, pages from Angela's personal sketchbooks and stunning photos.
It is a joyful celebration of water and wildlife across Britain: perfect for art admirers and nature lovers everywhere.
Available via www.angelaharding.co.uk or in Angela’s studio on Burley Road, Oakham. £25/hardback, 175 pages with 50 original illustrations.
“Mark is a self-taught sailor and restored the boat, a 24ft clinker, which we’ve sailed around Britain affording me plenty of time to record the landscape and the animals and birdlife we’ve observed, sketching them roughly so I can develop them into more formal designs later on.”
“My sketchbook was a gift from professional bookbinder and friend Roger Grechs, and it is definitely one of my favourite possessions. It’s frayed and tattered with the cardboard showing through the decorative cover, and my initials embossed in gold. It’s a little grand for a sketch book, but also too beautiful to go unused, so along with Mark and the boat, it’s been an important partner during our travels.”
“For two years I’ve filled it with sketches, some random notes, and my dashed-off scribbles, and so together we’ve been everywhere from the Shetlands to the Isles of Scilly, where it has picked up raindrops and the odd coffee stain along the way.”
“Two of those months, in 2023, were spent in an artist’s croft on Fair Isle, an absolutely extraordinary landscape measuring three miles by one and a half miles, and with a population of just 40 people.”
“My time on the island has seen me working with the knowledgeable and friendly rangers, observing migratory birds and generally just spending time taking in the awe and relatively undisturbed beauty of such an impressive landscape.”
“I’ve dedicated a chapter – Wild Waves and Small Islands – to the experience. Having worked on a number of other projects in 2024 I missed the opportunity for a return visit so I’m definitely planning to return in summer 2025.”
“This year however I’ve been really lucky to have had the chance to collaborate with some incredible writers including Isabella Tree on her story of the rewilding of the Knepp Estate in West Sussex.”
“I’ve also worked with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage to illustrate his book, Blossomise, published in collaboration with the National Trust and celebrating spring in a collection of 21 poems. I’ve enjoyed really good connections and close working relationships with the authors. I feel blessed and honoured that together we’ve produced some really beautiful work which I hope those who purchase a copy of the books will really enjoy.”
“It does mean I’ve had to turn down a few commissions and prioritise illustrating those books over producing my own work, but I’m looking forward to picking that up this
Open Studio Event
Angela’s Burley Road studio in Oakham will be open on Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd November
Angela Harding’s Burley Road shop and studio will open for Christmas on Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd Nov, 10am3pm. Angela’s advent cards calendars, gift wrap and books will all be available to purchase.
“This year I’ve been lucky to collaborate with some incredible writers like Isabella Tree and Simon Armitage...”
winter, enjoying a coffee and looking out of the window of my home studio at the bottom of the garden over frosty Rutland scenery.”
“I do have a few ideas for a future project but for now I’m keeping those under wraps a bit, but before that there’s Christmas too, which I absolutely love.”
“We’ve finally completed an extension at home which means I’ve the space to host a proper family Christmas with our grown-up children and our grandchildren.”
“Christmas is one of the few occasions that people take the time to handwrite a proper message in a card and post it off to someone. It’s old fashioned to some and undoubtedly it’s easy to send an email or a text these days. But that’s not the point.”
“To me it’s a gesture which is more deliberate. more meaningful. I hope that each of my notelets or Christmas cards are sent with messages of love and best wishes, and that each of the doors of my advent calendars are opened with a smile, a little gesture or a moment of happiness each day!”
Two Curlews on the Deben. Angela combines block printing with silk screen printing. Known as relief printing, ink is transferred to paper by means of her Rochat Albion press.
Angela Harding’s Books
A Year Unfolding: Angela’s first book depicts a journey through a year in nature, watching the seasons unfold in front of the artist from Angela’s studio in Rutland.
Wild Light: Reflections on changing light and the transition of the seasons in the natural world with text and illustrations by Angela.
RSPB Birds: Discover the fascinating world of birds in this beautiful collection written by Miranda Krestovnikoff, illustrated by Angela.
Wilding: A beautiful gift book written by Isabella Tree which tells the story of the Knepp Estate in West Sussex. It is illustrated in full colour with lino prints and watercolours by Angela.
Blossomise: Featuring 21 poems by Simon Armitage, poet laureate, illustrated by Angela, published in conjunction with the National Trust.
Still Waters & Wild Waves: Angela takes readers with her on her travels across rivers and seas, featuring beautiful paintings and prints, pages from Angela’s personal sketchbooks and stunning photos.
Available from www.angelaharding.co.uk.
Burghley House Celebrating the Festive Season at
As the festive season approaches, we’re reflecting on the success and the appeal of Burghley House’s Christmas Fair, organised in association with the Angel Committee including Lady Victoria Leatham, a previous custodian of the historic property
Words: Rob Davis
As the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness leaves dew on the parkland, and trees coloured in the same golden yellow hues at the stonework of Burghley House, the estate is enjoying a few weeks of relative calm.
At the time of writing this year’s Burghley Horse Trials has concluded with 160,000 people cheering for Lincolnshire rider Ros Canter as she lifted the silver salver. Granted there have still been events like Burghley by Twilight and a performance of Messiah, plus the estate’s Halloween activities to look forward to at the end of October… not to mention visitors enjoying autumn walks and freeflow visits to the property, but until the end of November at least, Autumn will be a little quieter.
However, with over 20,000 people expected to visit Burghley House from 28th November to 1st December, the estate will soon be a festive flurry of activity. The estate’s Christmas Fair is run in association with the Angel Committee, providing festive gifts, the estate’s fine food & drink market and Christmas stocking fillers and decorations.
The Angel Fair was established six years ago as a separate event, but this will be the fourth year it has been based at Burghley House and run as part of Burghley’s own Christmas Fair. One of its biggest fans and someone keen to see its continued success is Lady Victoria Leatham, custodian of the property from 1982-2007 and the daughter of David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter.
For a number of years Victoria has also been a supporter of Sue Ryder, founded in 1953 by its eponymous palliative and bereavement support ambassador. It’s a charity which now has 3,000 staff across the service as well as 6,000 volunteers, care hubs and seven registered hospices including Thorpe Hall near Peterborough with its consultant-led care and 20 inpatient beds, but support is really important in order to meet the huge daily costs necessary to provide care at the place.
“I visited various people who lived in and around the Burghley Estate there and that’s how, one day, I came to meet Sue herself,” says Lady
Victoria. “She was an amazing woman, I remember her energy and her very bright blue sparkling eyes. She had such enthusiasm that it was impossible not to be swept away by that.”
“But she also had a point. She couldn’t bear to see people dying badly in this country, and as she pointed out, a lack of care or willingness to acknowledge a stage of life that we’ll all come to is simply not the mark of a civilised country, we have to do better.”
“I wanted to do something to contribute. That’s how the Angel Fair came about. I had contacts in retail as I was running a business at the time, so I contacted a few friends who were in retail too, and said how keen I was to support Sue Ryder and their work.”
“They said ‘of course,’ and then – bless them – they all came, and so did hundreds of visitors to the event. The Angel Fair has grown and grown, and then a few years ago Burghley offered us the opportunity to join their event too. Today, we’ve around 150 stallholders, and tens of thousands of visitors, which help to makes the event a success, but also to ensures it has a busy, festive feel, with just the kind of happy energy that Christmas is all about.”
“It’s just the kind of event that Burghley House and our family enjoy, and just the kind of event that the estate suits. When my father was custodian of the house, it was open, but on very different terms.”
“You could make an appointment with the housekeeper in the 1950s who would show you around but tourism, as such, had not begun at that point. My father was responsible for democratising access to the house, he and my mother too. In the early years my father would be in the dining room at lunchtime on a Sunday and say ‘my goodness, I’ve just seen half the town walk past.’”
“Soon busloads of visitors would come along and then word got out and it was just regarded as being a great day out, visiting one of England’s most beautiful properties. When we took over the house in 1982 things had changed a great deal, but I remember one comment in the visitor book ‘the house is interesting, but dusty.’” Lady Victoria Leatham
“It’s hard to believe but when I lived in the house as a young girl, the Horse Trials was based elsewhere. It only came to Burghley House in 1961 after an outbreak of Foot & Mouth at the previous fixture, Harewood. The early days of the trials was a bit more modest with just a few straw bales and people in bowler hats… much more relaxed!”
“My mother set up the Orangery restaurant and together with my husband Simon, we created the Education Centre, now the visitors’ entrance. Before that you’d just enter the house and walk into what used to be my kitchen, which wasn’t exactly an impressive or ideal start to a tour.”
“Simon did a good deal to persuade the property’s trustees that it was a good idea to spend the money to encourage people to visit, and to provide a proper environment into which they could be welcomed. At first the trustees would put on hard hats when we walked in as they knew we were going to come at them with our plans for the house, but we soon worked together very well and the huge success is evident. The education centre, though, was very much Simon’s baby.”
“It’s a challenge to balance the need to encourage people to come and visit the house with not selling the soul of the estate. The fact of the matter is, without encouraging some degree of commercialisation, we would have been letting the house down greatly.”
“Revenue from visitors and from events like the Horse Trials is essential if we’re to keep on top of preserving the fabric of the building, but also the collection of art and furniture within it.”
“It’s very necessary to share the property and its contents with visitors, but it’s essential for its upkeep too. The property features some incredible carvings by Grinling Gibbons, frescoes by Antonio Verrio such as the Heaven Room and Hell Staircase, but also paintings from artists like Artemisia Gentileschi and other 17th century Italian Old Master paintings, regarded as being among the finest in private ownership.”
Lady Victoria Leatham
“Everyone should be able to enjoy those works of art, and the parkland itself, but I can’t think of another property in our area that’s so open to visitors and in such good condition.”
“I really am so proud of my daughter Miranda. She’s an amazing person and I’m in awe of her energy. She shares that same understanding that there’s a careful path to walk between keeping the house alive for people whilst preserving its soul.”
Like her daughter Miranda, who has a Masters degree in Arts Policy and Administration, Lady Victoria is an expert in antiques who began her career working for Sotherby’s on Bond Street and was a regular contributor to the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow for 20 years.
The couple lived in Northumberland where Victoria ran a knitwear shop with colleagues in Corbridge. Simon was working as an accountant and so later the couple also spent working around the home counties before returning to her childhood home.
“Growing up at Burghley felt normal. As a child you don’t question things, you just accept them. But returning to the place, we were reminded of just how wonderful the house is, not just as an historic property but as a family home too.”
“It was quite impractical though. The first thing we had to contend with when we moved in was how to keep the rain out. And as you either live on the ground floor or the top floor, you’re always up and down stairs.”
“When Simon retired from working in London and as we were getting older, we reasoned that it was time to let Miranda and her family enjoy the property. We moved to a smaller property in Fotheringhay, although it dates back to about 1473 or something, so of course we’ve had to contend with all of the troubles that a very old property brings, but it’s a privilege to be the custodian of an old house, to help it thrive into the next century.”
“Before we left, we created the Sculpture Gardens and Gardens of Surprise, based on the design of a similar property belonging to Lord Burghley in Hertfordshire. As Miranda and her family moved in, we were proud to leave the property in good condition and good health, but we were definitely ready to leave.”
“It’s a lovely place to revisit when we see family though, and we’ve had some wonderful Christmases there. This year I think we’re at home for Christmas Day, with our son and the grandchildren. I really enjoy hosting a good family Christmas with the usual traditions… the stockings, the bread sauce, panic over the turkey in the kitchen, all the usual things!”
“Christmas will start for us properly, though, with a visit to the Angel Fair. There’s a lot of planning and a lot of hard work that goes into creating an event that we hope people really enjoy. The festive season is a really important time for families, and we all really hope that we can use the joy of the season to also highlight the work of Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall and ensure it’s as well supported as it deserves to be.”
n The Angel Fair and Burghley Christmas Fair take place from Thursday 28th November to Sunday 1st December. The event raises funds for the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough, see www.burghley.co.uk.
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What’s On
Friday 22nd November
Aled Jones: Full Circle
Prepare to hear Aled Jones as you’ve never heard him before. The original, classical crossover star’s recording of Walking in the Air, from the animated film The Snowman, established him as a household name, but he remains equally at home in London’s West End shows.
Aled also heads up BBC’s Songs of Praise and his own Saturday and Sunday morning shows on Classic FM.
Now, after 40 years in the business, he’s looking back on a remarkable career with a oneman show... with his story told in his own words.
Stamford Corn Exchange, tickets £31.50 71.50. Call 01780 766455 or see stamfordcornexchange.co.uk.
Burghley Christmas Fair
Thursday 28th NovemberSunday 1st December Christmas Fair
Stamford’s Burghley House is proud to present the region’s largest and most magical Christmas Fair with stalls offering a wide range of artisan and unique gifts. You can also enjoy the very best festive food and drink for the most wonderful festive day out. With lights twinkling, music filling the air, and a Victorian carousel, there’s lots of seasonal cheer!
£10/adult, £5/child, from 9.30am, Burghley House, PE9 3JY. See www.burghley.co.uk.
Friday 1st November
Murder Mystery
Creepy Kooky Addams Murder
They’re creepy, and they’re kooky. Join Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester and the rest of the spooky household for a murder most ooky! A Murder Mystery adventure against the backdrop of the thoroughly lovely Kilworth House hotel.
Kilworth House, LE17 6JE. £60, including three course dinner and drinks reception. Optional accommodation. Call 01858 880058 or see www.kilworthhouse.co.uk
Wednesday 20th November An Intimate
Fry
ABC’s hits earned their place in pop history. From Poison Arrow to The Look Of Love, from All Of My Heart, and Be Near Me, to When Smokey Sings, ABC was the band that redefined glamour and cool, led by the charismatic Martin Fry.
Martin’s intimate tour reaches Stamford this month and follows a sold-out UK tour, coinciding with the publication of his autobiography... meet ‘n’ greet’ packages are also available.
Stamford Corn Exchange, £34.50 (£86.50/meet ‘n’ greet). Call 01780 766455 or see stamfordcornexchange.co.uk.
Send your press releases and events to us via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk
Tuesday 12th Sat 16th Nov Luxmuralis
The award winning artistic collaboration known as Luxmuralis is back with a new Christmas illumination display based at Peterborough Cathedral entitled Starlight.
The installation is set to transform the Cathedral inside and out using a stunning sound
and light artwork, to begin this year’s Christmas celebrations taking viewers on an uplifting journey telling the Nativity Story in a modern and artistic way projected onto the historical architecture. An incredible event for all ages to enjoy!
For booking details call 01733 355315 or see peterboroughcathedral.org.uk.
A Festive Extravaganza
The Rutland Big Christmas Market is back at a new venue, The Barnsdale, in Exton this November
Wednesday 20th November
Bunny Guinness Dinner at Hambleton Hall
Long-time friend of Rutland country hotel Hambleton Hall, Bunny Guinness hosts a dinner in November and delivers her entertaining talk, Tripping Over Molehills, which covers her experiences as a Landscape Architect.
Bunny is also a journalist and radio personality as well as a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time. She exhibits regularly at the Chelsea Flower Show, where she has won six gold medals.
Hambleton Hall, LE15 8TH £175/person, optional accommodation, call 01572 756 991 or see www.hambletonhall.com.
Introducing winter 2024’s positively dashing Made at Curve Christmas musical... is Lerner and Loewe’s rags to riches tale, My Fair Lady.
Filled with comedy, romance, and dazzling songs such as The Rain in Spain, Wouldn’t It Be Loverly and I Could Have Danced All Night, this unmissable production is set to be a Christmas treat.
Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower seller meets phonetics professor Henry Higgins, who sets out to teach Eliza how to speak like a lady of high society – but learns a few lessons of his own along the way!
Curve Theatre, Leicester, call 0116 242 3595 or see www.curveonline.co.uk.
Friday 15th to Sunday 17th November
The Big Rutland Christmas Market
From the creators of the Big Rutland Sale, the ‘Rutland Big Christmas Market’ returns.
Supporting local businesses has never been more important, and The Big Rutland Christmas Market provides the perfect opportunity to do just that.
From artisanal chocolates to handcrafted decorations, every purchase supports the talented individuals who pour their heart and soul into their creations.
So mark your calendars and let it snow at The Big Rutland Christmas Market. Join us in celebrating the magic of the season while supporting our local community.
Get ready to discover new flavours, find unique gifts, and embrace the joyous atmosphere of this enchanting event with its 75 stallholders.
The Barnsdale, LE15 8AH, see www.rutlandcreative.co.uk or call 01572 724678.
SATURDAY 23RD NOVEMBER
Unversed – a one-woman Stratford commissioned solo Shakespeare show. Matinee and evening performances available.
TUESDAYS FROM THE 5TH NOVEMBER – 17TH DECEMBER
Handmade Christmas workshops including glass decorations, wreath making and linocut Christmas cards.
SATURDAY 30TH
NOVEMBER & SUNDAY 1ST DECEMBER AND SATURDAY 7TH & SUNDAY 8TH DECEMBER
Christmas Market including over 100 stalls selling gifts, food and decorations, mulled wine, a festive choir, a photobooth, entertainment and facepainting.
SATURDAY 30TH
NOVEMBER & SUNDAY 1ST DECEMBER AND SATURDAY 7TH & SUNDAY 8TH DECEMBER
Father Christmas in the Tudor House. Includes a personalised, wrapped gift, crafts, a nice certificate, a sweet treat, a meet and greet with Father Christmas by a roaring fire and refreshments for adults.
THURSDAYS – SUNDAYS FROM THE 28TH NOVEMBER TO THE 22ND DECEMBER
Christmas Shop and Café. Explore our special Christmas gift shop selling decorations, gifts and stocking fillers and our café stocked with festive specials including hot drinks, sweet treats and festive toasties.
Great British Pub Awards accolade for Stamford’s
Bull & Swan
Congratulations to the team at Stamford’s Bull & Swan who are celebrating an impressive recent win. The Great British Pub Awards has named the High Street St Martins establishment Britain’s Best Town Pub. The news follows its award of an AA rosette at the end of summer and its first anniversary under the custodianship of its new owner Paul Brown
Words: Rob Davis.
‘Everything a traditional English pub should be.’ That’s the claim of Stamford’s Bull & Swan on its website. We’d follow that statement up with ‘and more,’ as the place goes well beyond the remit of your average local pub, given the quality of its dining, the warmth of its welcome and a lively events calendar all combining to ensure that locals really have taken the place into their hearts.
Located on Stamford’s High Street St Martin, the Bull & Swan was established within the Grade II* listed 1653 building still owned by the Burghley Estate.
The sister venue of the William Cecil and its bistro, Milly’s, The Bull & Swan was created in 2012 but last November a management buyout saw current owner Paul Brown adopt the place under his Woodford brand which is progressive in its approach to providing modern hospitality in a
traditional environment, commensurate with the look and feel of Stamford.
A year on from Paul bringing the Bull & Swan into the Woodford family and it’s safe to say this has been its finest moment.
As Pride goes to press, the team will transform The Potting Shed – the pub’s outdoor drinking and dining space – into a venue in its own right with an Alpine ski chalet feel, with the addition this winter of a dedicated outdoor bar.
Octoberfest on 26th October will mark the transition, debuting new menus of satisfying dishes to enjoy outdoors including bratwurst, fondue and monkey bread – for the uninitiated the latter is a sweet, sticky bread with cinnamon and caramelised sugar.
Opposite: Cod loin, Morteau sausage, beans, chicken butter sauce £24.
Above: Mussels, ‘nduja, sourdough, £10.50. Jerusalem artichoke, mozzarella, radicchio, £9.50.
Dining Out
The Bull & Swan
St Martins, Stamford
SNACKS
B&S scotch egg, black pudding, pork crumb, apple sauce and mustard, £7.
Camembert topped with mac & cheese, bacon bits, chutney, bread, £16.
Hambleton sourdough, butter, £5. STARTERS
Chicken liver parfait, chutney, toast £9.50.
Mussels, ‘nduja, sourdough, £10.50.
Butternut squash, miso glaze and seeds £9.50.
Jerusalem artichoke, mozzarella, radicchio, £9.50.
Curried crispy chicken thigh, £7.
Cod cheek scampi, tartare sauce, £7.
Mushroom arancini, truffle mayo, £7.
MAIN COURSES
‘The Bull’ burger with two smashed patties, fig jam, black truffle relish, crispy onions, crispy bacon, cheese, steamed brioche bun, gherkin, skinny fries, £18.50.
Fish and chips, curry sauce, mushy peas, tartare sauce, £20.
8oz sirloin steak, sauce Diane, confit tomatoes, rosemary fries, £28.
Cod loin, Morteau sausage, beans, chicken butter sauce, £24.
Braised lamb shoulder, herb crumb, kale, chips, £23.
DESSERTS
Apple tarte tartin, vanilla ice cream, £9.50.
Spotted dick and custard, £9.
Pineapple fritter, rum ‘n’ raisin ice cream sundae, £9.
NB: Sample menu and featured dishes, subject to availability and change.
A
‘garden to plate’ philosophy is adopted with a range of satisfying dishes that are very well-executed...
Adjacent to the outdoor space is a kitchen garden with raised vegetable beds which service both the Bull & Swan and The William Cecil’s Milly’s. Such has been the success of the kitchen garden and Potting Shed/Alpine ‘Ski Chalet,’ alongside the pub itself, that each has organically evolved to achieve its own following over the past couple of years.
The outdoor spaces feature live music and Alpine parties, whilst in the pub itself many local groups like The Stamford College Old Boys have adopted the Bull & Swan as their regular meeting place too.
The pub is open seven days a week with a daytime and evening menu comprising eight ‘snacks’ to graze on, plus four starters, 13 main courses, four puddings and an English cheese board.
Interestingly, the Bull & Swan and Milly’s Bistro at the William Cecil not only co-exist but actually complement each other very well, with regular customers enjoying both establishments, and accommodation guests
Above: Iberico pork cheeks, celeriac and potato mash, cavolo nero, £24.
alternating between the two for their evening meal. The days of pubs providing uninspiring dishes whilst more formal restaurants provide smarter dining are long gone. Today, both the Bull & Swan and Milly’s provide an exceptional experience, albeit with a different feel. The Bull & Swan’s dishes are unfussy dishes, elevated.
Local suppliers include Hambleton Bakery, game is sourced from the Burghley Estate, Grasmere Farm supplies pork and there’s a cheese board curated by Stamford’s Rennet & Rind.
A ‘garden to plate’ philosophy is adopted across a range of satisfying dishes that are traditional but well-executed. That’s thanks to great ingredients but also the skill of Head Chef Jake Parfitt, Executive Head Chef Liam Goodwill and Jake’s five-strong kitchen team.
Such is the Bull & Swan’s success that the Great British Pub Awards sent along a secret shopper and interviewed Paul, ascertaining that the Bull & Swan was worthy of its coveted Best Town Pub title in the Great British Pub Awards.
Apple tart tatin, vanilla ice cream £9.50.
Dining Out
The Bull & Swan has nine letting rooms, all in the old building with its charming wonky walls and exposed beams. In the pub itself there’s a log burner, tweed and leather furnishings, timber floorboards and stonework with an attractive lived-in patina. It’s all authentic, and all the better for that, especially in winter when it feels particularly cosy and traditional.
Speaking of which, a word too about the very strong Sunday lunch offering. Roast beef sirloin is with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, seasonal veg and cauliflower cheese, a winter crowd-pleaser for £26.50.
To accompany there’s a really good selection of real ales including those from Grainstore plus spirits from Lincolnshire’s State of Rum and gin from Mallard Point and Tipplemill
“We don’t want to reinvent the wheel. We’d rather stick faithfully to our town pub remit,
but elevate that to a really enjoyable experience,” says Jake. “We love the fact that so many Stamfordians enjoy visiting us, get to know us and build up an authentic relationship with us.”
“It means a lot to us that we provide a really enjoyable experience and serve as an ambassador for Stamford’s values… we’re an independent business providing an enjoyable, quality experience that’s sufficiently welcome and inclusive to ensure that everyone wants to come back… and I think that’s the secret of our popularity.”
Just a couple of months ago, the team were proud to be able to display their AA rosette, awarded to the pub for the quality of its dining. The award underwrites 2024’s Best Town Pub Title in the Great British Pub Awards competition. Quality would be nothing without the warm welcome you’d expect from a great local pub, but that’s abundant too. We’re therefore thrilled that such a lovely team are able to celebrate their success!
The Bull & Swan St Martins, Stamford
The Pitch: “Just as an inn should be, cosy and unpretentious, where the ale is real, and the food is comfortingly traditional. With outdoor spaces inspired by Alpine ski lodges promising comfort all winter long.”
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday 12 11pm (food served 12 – 2.30pm, 5 – 8.30pm)
Sunday 12pm – 10.30pm (food served until 7pm)
The Bull & Swan, St Martins, Stamford, PE9 2LJ. Call 01780 766412 or see www.thebullandswan.co.uk.
Above: Salted caramel chocolate bar, vanilla ice cream £9.50.
Sunday lunch, image Jack Matthew Photography.
The 2024 Pride Magazines Good Food Awards
This month we’re cooking up something rather special as we launch our Good Food Awards for 2024. Vote for your favourite restaurants and food & drink producers from across Rutland & Stamford and we’ll ensure they get the recognition they deserve...
Words: Rob Davis.
Magazines
Good Food Awards 2024
Cast your vote in our Good Food Awards and help us to recognise Rutland & Stamford’s finest food and drink businesses...
Rutland & Stamford Pride’s Good Food Awards are designed to seek our readers’ opinions as to the county’s best restaurants, coffee shops and food & drink producers, with no commercial bias on our part,` whilst ensuring the whole county is evenly represented.
Our awards are designed to provide really good publicity for those working hard in the area’s hospitality sector who deserve recognition for providing great dining and front of house service.
You can vote for whichever businesses you believe are the best in their respective categories. They don’t have to be one of our advertisers although they do have to be in or near to Rutland or Stamford.
Our Six Good Food Award Categories
n Restaurant of the Year 2024:
Our flagship award which aims to find our readers’ favourite formal dining venue or a high quality pub restaurant.
n Best Café, Coffee Shop or Bistro: Celebrating daytime dining from cafés serving cake to places for lunch.
n Best International Dining Restaurant: Celebrating cuisine from around the world, from panAsian dining experiences to Mediterranean restaurants.
In keeping with the spirit of the awards, you should not be commercially affiliated with the businesses and should only nominate those business you think truly deserve recognition. Vote online at www.pridemagazines.co.uk or by filling in the form at the end of this feature. Please vote in all six categories!
n Best Restaurant with Rooms: Recognising quality accommodation or a place to enjoy a great short break with really good dining.
n Best Local Food Producer/Retailer: In this category we’re looking to celebrate a local producer or retailer of artisan food e.g.: a butcher, baker or cheesemaker.
n Best Local Drink Producer: From real ale to gin, tea and coffee to soft drinks, a favourite local thirstquencher.
Gates Garden Centre.
Hambleton Hall.
Blossoms at Rutland Hall Hotel.
The Pride Magazines Good Food Awards
Voting Form 2024
You’re free to vote for whichever local businesses you choose; they don’t have to be mentioned in this edition. You can also vote online at www.pridemagazines.co.uk
Restaurant of the Year 2024: Your favourite place to dine in Rutland, Stamford or the surrounding area
Café, Bar or Bistro of the Year 2024: Your preferred place to enjoy a lighter meal or coffee.
International Cuisine 2024: A local restaurant providing great international dishes.
‘Restaurant with Rooms’ 2024: A restaurant that also has really special accommodation.
Local Food Producer 2024: A producer/retailer of local food e.g.: a butcher, baker or farm shop.
Local Drink Producer 2024: This could be a wine or spirit, locally roasted coffee, local tea or soft drink.
Name:
Address:
Postcode: Telephone:
Cut out this page and send your nominations to Pride Magazines Good Food Awards, Pride Magazines, Boston Enterprise Centre, Enterprise Way, Boston, Lincolnshire PE21 7TW. Closing Date 1st November 2024.
The Perfect Autumn Pie (À la Bourguignon!)
Preparation Time: 45 minutes. Baking Time: Three and a half hours.
For the Beef Bourguignon: 800g beef stewing steak, cut into chunks
3 tbsp plain flour • 200g streaky bacon, chopped • 1 large onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 250g carrots, sliced 250g chestnut mushrooms, halved • 250ml Burgundy red wine 300ml beef stock • 2 tbsp tomato purée • Sprig of fresh thyme
2 bay leaves • Salt and black pepper • 1 tbsp vegetable oil • 25g butter
One pack of puff pastry (because life’s too short to make pastry) our ‘goto’ pastry is JusRol • Creamy mash and/or seasonal vegetables to serve
This delicious Bourguignon pie is perfect autumn and winter comfort food, combining tender beef braised in red wine with vegetables and herbs, encased in a golden pastry crust. First, preheat the oven to 160°C, gas mark three. Season the beef chunks with salt and pepper, then toss them in the flour, shaking off any excess.
Heat the vegetable oil and butter in a large, ovenproof casserole dish over medium heat. Brown the beef in batches until it’s golden all over, then remove from the pan and set aside. Add the chopped bacon to the same pan and cook for four or five minutes until browned and crispy. Add the onions, garlic, and carrots to the pan and cook for five minutes until softened.
Stir in the mushrooms and cook for another two or three minutes. Return the beef to the pan, pour in the red
wine and stock, then stir in the tomato purée, thyme, and bay leaves, then simmer. Cover the casserole with a lid and transfer it to the preheated oven. Cook for two and a half to three hours, or until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened.
While the beef is cooking, prepare the pastry. Preheat the oven to 200°C, gas mark six. Once the Bourguignon filling has cooled, transfer it to a large pie dish.
Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface until it’s large enough to cover the pie dish. Drape the pastry over the filling, trim the excess, and crimp the edges with a fork. Cut a small cross in the centre of the pastry to allow steam to escape.
Brush the pastry with the beaten egg. and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and crisp. Serve with creamy mash and veg.
Food for Thought
A reminder of the desserts we’ve enjoyed over the past few months... and a gentle reminder to cast your vote in this year’s Good Food Awards!
1. Milly’s Bistro in Stamford’s William Cecil created this gooseberry fool for our September Dining Out feature. Call 01780 750070 or see www.thewilliamcecil.co.uk.
2. The Olive Branch at Clipsham’s almond & hazelnut praline is shown here with salted caramel, caramelised hazelnuts, and mascarpone ice cream, £11.50. Call 01780 410 355 or see www.theolivebranchpub.com.
3. The White Horse, Baston’s chef Adam Childs prepared this crème brûlée tart, £8, for our February visit. Call 01778 560923 or see www.thewhitehorsebaston.co.uk.
4. The Crown Hotel in Stamford’s January Dining Out feature included this Black Forest tart with rum and raisin gelato, £10.50 Call 01780 763136 or see www.kneadpubs.co.uk/the-crown-hotel.
5. The Chubby Castor created this apple sorbet with honeycomb and tuile, accompanied by blood orange sable as part of its nine course tasting menu, £90/head. Call 01526 352588, or see www.dowerhousehotel.co.uk.
6. Hambleton Hall dessert options during our visit included this taste of garden rhubarb dish, featuring caramelised ginger, £125/head, three courses day/evening. Call 01572 756 991 or see www.hambletonhall.com.
7. Blossoms within Rutland Hall Hotel created this dessert for our October edition. Chocolate brownie with burnt white chocolate, salted caramel ice cream, £11. Call 01572 757901, or see www.rutlandhall.co.uk.
NB: You can vote for these, or any other restaurant you wish as you nominate your preferred Restaurant of the Year winner. Featured dishes are subject to availability and change.
Sloe Dance, the perfect tipple for autumn walks...!
A big spirit from a small county: Multum in Parvo!
Made from local rich Rutland sloes and dark cherry with piney juniper notes, a hint of dark chocolate with some sweetness and a light sour note.
Traditionally drunk neat. Alternatively top up with fizz or mix with a lemon tonic water for the perfect combination. This gin is ideal for all gin lovers and fans of Multum Gin Parvo craft gins.
£38 / 70cl / 26% ABV www.multumginparvo.com
The Wine Cellar
This month we’ve a trio of Beaujolais from some of the area’s best appellations, plus a celebrity cider courtesy of Clarkson and a local gin ideal for toasting autumn and winter by a roaring fire...!
A Trio of Beaujolais in time for Nouveau Day...
Wild Soul? Aren’t we all, dear. Lower alcohol, a floral lift and a little pepper elevate this Juliénas appellation wine nicely! £23.50 / 75cl / 12.5% ABV, www.bbr.com.
From the MoulinàVent appellation, Thibault LigerBelair utilises the Gamay grape for a floral red. £37 / 75cl / 14% ABV, www.thibaultligerbelair.com.
Les Impénitents is fun branding for a seriously good red with dark berries & brambles, medium bodied. £79 / 75cl / 14% ABV, www.bbr.com.
Wine of the Month
A benchmark Cortesebased wine from Italy’s Piedmont, a cooler climate where the Broglia family’s estate yields this fresh and fruity wine with its pear and almond flavour. Best served with fish based dishes and white meats, it’s also an ideal wine to pair with your Christmas turkey next month. Straw yellow in hue, a dry wine that you’ll also enjoy in front of the fire this month.
£11.99 / 75cl 13.5% ABV, www.waitrose cellar.com.
In-cider information on Hawkstone’s fruity autumn offering
Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone Brewery produces this autumnal Hedgerow cider, made with tart pressed juice from (of course) British apples which are blended with the delicious sweet juice of equally indigenous blackcurrants and blackberries for a bold fruity flavour and a clean, crisp finish. Other offerings include an apple cider, an IPA and a premium lager.
£35 / 12 x 500ml / 4% ABV www.hawkstone.com.
Our featured wines are available from local independent wine merchants, supermarkets and online, prices are RRP and may vary.
Four Seasons A Property for
A beautiful country home with ample space, some wonderful period features and the privacy that families crave. This month we’re enjoying a tour around Brigstock Manor, currently on the market with Savills of Stamford.
Words: Rob Davis.
Welcome Home
It’s a country property for all seasons, surrounded by the woodland of the Royal Forest of Rockingham which, as Pride goes to press, will sacrifice a little of its verdurous appeal in favour of a palette of autumn hues; gold, brown and taupe throughout the gardens.
Then, in the new year when autumn gives way to winter the family will light the fires and look out of thick mullioned windows at a carpet of snow, enjoying supper by the Aga or the rather surprising addition of a few cosy features within a property otherwise discernibly Jacobean and Victorian in provenance.
Brigstock Manor is arranged over three floors and its internal features command a starred suffix to its Grade II listing. The country house is located within a clearing in the Royal Forest of Rockingham originally a medieval hunting lodge attached to the manor and admired by Pevsner
From a shooters’ bolthole to a gentrified country home, Brigstock Manor was last extended in 1890 by Northamptonshire architect J A Gotch, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in the interbellum and just about the only such incumbent of the organisation’s presidency to come from an architectural history rather than a purely architectural background.
His work succeeded in ensuring Brigstock Manor provides its residents with over 9,500 sq ft living space, including three or four reception rooms on the ground floor and a couple of additional reception rooms on the first floor – more about those later.
Brigstock Manor has C12th origins, but is mainly late C15th and midC16th in origin, set within four acres with 9,500sq ft accommodation.
An entrance porch with thick oak double leaf-arched doors opens up onto a Jacobean Great Hall...
The first floor provides four bedrooms and two bathrooms with a further five bedrooms on the second floor.
The approach to the property is by way a sweeping driveway, the evergreen trees that surround it then part to reveal a limestone property under Collyweston slate. An entrance porch with thick oak double leaf-arched doors opens up onto the Jacobean-era Great Hall with its beautifully restored flagstone flooring and oak panelling as well as its stone chimneypiece, timber mantel and herringbone brick fireplace.
Another unique feature of the Great Hall is its contemporary mural commissioned in 2016 and created by the esteemed Chinese contemporary painter Zhang Enli, whose other work includes the ceiling of the drawing room in the Cairngorms’ five-star hotel The Fife Arms in Braemar.
Beyond the Great Hall is a snug or office, whilst on the south-west elevation of the property, The Adams Room, is named after the two-tone fireplace commissioned by the eponymous brothers Robert and James who were synonymous with the creation of Georgian fireplaces for the era’s great country homes.
The property’s formal dining room also features flagstone flooring and an Ashlar stone fireplace, as well as mullion windows.
Towards the rear of the property there’s a less formal breakfast room and adjacent kitchen featuring Brontë hand-crafted cabinetry, granite surfaces, four-oven Aga as well as a separate utility room and larder.
The first floor of the property can be accessed by the principal Jacobean staircase, or a second staircase adjacent to the kitchen.
The principal bedroom adjoins a second bedroom with en suite, from here, its occupants are granted access to the solar – or first floor reception room – with its vaulted partiallyexposed timber ceiling and oak-panelled walls. An adjoining family room has an exceptional Rococo fireplace and painted alpine fresco.
In the opposite wing of the property are two further bedrooms, dressing rooms and a large family bathroom with modern fittings. There are five further bedrooms with two en suites and a family bathroom on the second floor as well.
The property is set within four acres and its outbuildings include a stableblock or workshop, whilst the landscaped gardens surround the house on all sides and include a parterre terrace and bridge over to the principal areas of lawn.
Low stone walls encircle the property and also create a sunken garden adjacent to the former moat. The babbling Harpers Brook though still runs alongside the property beyond the gardens.
Undoubtedly unique in terms of its scale, presentation and its history, Brigstock Manor is a superb family property offering privacy, and some truly lovely views. The fact that it functions so well as a family home too makes it, in our opinion, one of the most desirable properties in the area.
Brigstock Manor, near Kettering
Location: Located adjacent to Royal Forest of Rockingham, Uppingham 13 miles, Stamford 18.8 miles, Oakham 19 miles.
Provenance: An exceptional modernised Grade II* listed Manor House set within four acres offering 9,500sq ft accommodation with up to seven reception rooms and nine bedrooms.
OIEO: £3,000,000.
Find Out More:
Currently on the market with Savills, St Martins, Stamford, call 01780 484696 or see www.savills.co.uk.
Balancing appeal and efficiency
Kate Vincent from Garrington Property Finders explores the practical considerations when buying a home.
Most buyers have a list of priorities when looking for a property to buy and typically all those searching for a property are focused on location and the appeal of a home, but energy efficiency can sometimes be overlooked.
Understandably, buyers can get swept up in the excitement of finding the perfect location or the charm of the property itself. However, it's essential not to overlook practical aspects that can significantly impact both your comfort and ongoing costs. One such aspect is energy efficiency, which encompasses more than just how good the heating is going to be. Evaluating the overall performance of insulation, windows, and the property’s ability to maintain stable indoor temperatures is crucial to ensure that your new home is both an economical and an idyllic place to live.
Think before you buy
It is very easy when viewing a property on a gorgeous summers day to forget about how it might feel when the weather gets cold. Indeed, some recent research carried out by Zoopla which tracked buyer’s eyes as they viewed a property, revealed that over half the ‘eyeball focus time’ was spent looking at décor and furnishings, a third of the time on structural elements such as the roof,
ceilings and floor and less than half a second on the radiators!
Questions to ask
Whilst Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are imperfect measures of a property’s efficiency they are good starting points to gain an indication of how a property might feel when it’s cold outside.
Of course, not everyone has the same perception of what feels warm, but it is worth asking the seller of the property how much they spend each year on heating. Look out for standalone plug-in heaters which may suggest a property needs more than the central heating systems usually provide. Ask when the boiler was last replaced/serviced and if buying in the cooler months do touch the radiators to see if the central heating is pumping out heat to maintain the warmth or if the morning’s blast has been contained.
An increasing number of homes have had more eco-friendly heating systems installed and whilst such moves are highly commendable, the likes of air or ground source heating is not suitable for every home. Old properties that are poorly insulated or draughty will not retain the gentle heat that is provided so may result in a property feeling too cool in winter or expensive to run as the
booster back-up system is constantly fired up to replace lost heat. Once again ask the seller and check with your surveyor.
Get help
If you are prone to spending too much time looking at a property’s decoration and furnishings and so risk missing the signs of what it truly feels like to live in a home, a professional property finder on your side is an invaluable aid. Removed from the emotional element of a property purchase, a property finder will help you balance the ‘heart and head’ when making the huge decision to purchase a home.
If you are interested in buying or selling offmarket and would like to discuss this matter in more detail, Garrington offer a commitment free meeting. Please get in touch: Tel. 01780 408377. Email info@garrington.co.uk www.garringtoneastmidlands.co.uk
Kate Vincent Garrington
Hibernature
Villa Nova fabrics, available at Hunters Interiors of Stamford. Blind in Enzo spearmint, rear wall Aurea meadow, curtains Abloom meadow, throw Cerelia meadow, and Florence honey. Cushions Parterre spearmint and Aurea meadow. 01780 757946, www.huntersinteriorsofstamford.co.uk.
Homes & Interiors
call 01572 823389 or see sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk.
www.wmorrisandco.com. Above:
&
Top left: Designers’ Guild Margaretta cushion in linen with handembroidered detail, 55cm x 55cm, £145 complete from Sarah Harding Interiors, Uppingham,
Top right: Morris & Co Pure Acorn bedding £120/double,
Colefax
Fowler Fern Tree/Dante, new for AW24 from Sarah Harding and Hunters Interiors.
6 MARKET PLACE · UPPINGHAM · RUTLAND · LE15 9QH 01572 823389
www.sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk • info@sarahhardinginteriors.co.uk www.facebook.com/sarahhardinginteriorsltd Sarah Harding Interiors (@sarahhardinginteriorsltd)
Our experienced interior designers create timeless spaces tailored just for you
www.huntersinteriors.co.uk Our experienced interior designers create timeless spaces tailored just for you
Image courtesy of William Yeoward
DEKTON® FRONT IN KIRA FINISH WITH TOBACCO WALNUT
DEKTON®
Quality furniture inspired by the
Countryside
We’re delighted that The Cotswold Company has made a new home in Stamford, bringing to the area quality furniture built to last and designed to be loved... here we’re picking a few of our favourite examples from the company’s beautiful ranges This page: Chester
Forest
£1,499.
double larder in
Green,
The Cotswold Company
Welcome to Stamford! The Cotswold Company may be the newest addition to the town’s High Street, but it’s a familiar name to those who appreciate quality furniture. It’s a good fit for the town; designed in a style that suits perfectly the modern country vernacular of Stamford and Rutland homes.
What’s more, every one of the company’s products is built to last with materials like
solid timbers, with a 15-year guarantee on furniture, and with all of the company’s products designed to withstand family life.
Over the next couple of pages, we’ve showcased a few of The Cotswold Company’s most beautiful products, including freestanding pantry cupboards and larders to provide more space in your kitchen, plus living and dining furniture, sofas, chairs and bedroom ranges...
Top left: Stow kitchen island with marble top in warm white, £1,099. Top right: Inglesham storage shelf and hooks in whitewash oak, £275; shoe storage bench £425.
Above left: Chester small kitchen island in forest green with granite top £499.
Above right: Morris chaise sofa from £2,999; Chester classic cream bookshelf, £1,350.
The Cotswold Company
Below: Taylor highback sofa from £1,149, in four sizes and 68 fabrics; Morris sofa from £899 in seven sizes and 60 fabrics; Kingham coffee table in cherry, £249.
Right: Lewis sofa from £1,399 in six sizes and 70 fabrics; Berkeley Nordic oak coffee table £399; Captiva floor lamp, antique black £220.
Below: Chadwick threeseater sofa, deep blue matt velvet: £2,399; Camille oak table £499.
Below right: Brick velvet bedspread £125; Cushions £20£29; handwoven throw £50; table lamp £99; Berkeley black kingsize bed £799, Berkeley black bedside table £225.
It’s furniture envisioned with love but designed to stand up to years of use: style, and quality too...
Right: Inglesham whitewash oak TV and media storage unit, £1,999.
Below: Chester corner desk in charcoal, £899; large bookcase £499. Berkeley Nordic chair in charcoal, £150.
Finishing Touches from The Cotswold Company...
Below: Ravello ceramic vase, £23.
Above: Illusion Throw in yellow and grey, 100% wool, 183 x 150cm, £65.
Right: Hessianlined linen basket, 32x55x35cm, £45.
90cm diameter, £119. Manaia lamp, 54cm tall, £135.
Beautiful lighting inspired by historic interiors, shown here is Down House, part of the Patterns with Provenance’ collection designed in partnership with English Heritage, from Broughtons of Leicester, fourlight pendant, 57cm diameter, £280.
1933 DESIGN
Royal Air Force blue, 23cm diameter, 16 colours available, £170.
CIRCUS TABLE LAMP
Complete with ivory shade, 58cm, ceramic, £149.
ENGLISH HERITAGE
Down House fourlight pendant, 57cm diameter, £280.
BOBBLE LAMP
49cm tall, Persian blue and coconut, £294.
Seeing The LIGHT Lighting
Specialists in designer lighting and architectural ironmongery for doors and windows, Broughtons of Leicester presents some of their newest ranges
Broughtons is based on Cropston Road, Leicester LE7 7BP. Call 0116 234 1888 or see www.broughtons.com.
TEARDROP TABLE LAMP
Mouthblown glass, 74cm tall, light blue, £246.
SHOREDITCH
Pendant in smoke blue, 31cm diameter, £330.
1950s TABLE LAMP
1950s style in blue and brass, 70cm tall, £150.
HYDE PENDANT
Finished in smoke blue and brass, 53cm diameter, £780.
Established since 1984, We celebrate our 40th year this year. Visit our showroom for ideas and experienced advice. Suppliers of tiles, adhesive, grout, tools and accessories, plus fitting service with free estimates. We also serve the construction industry with competitive trade prices. 01572 821119 OPEN MON-FRI 9am-4:30pm
At Stamford Domes we believe that function should always be combined with beauty. Our domes allow you to make the most of your existing garden and create a space which is uniquely you. They offer the perfect setting for a meal and drinks in the garden with friends, for a romantic glass of wine with a loved one or even some time alone simply reading a book.
Fully customisable in size, appearance and function. The nature of the domes construction means that each individual panel can be selected by the client to be solid or clear, and can be constructed from a variety of materials. This allows the design to be tailored to suit a wide range of purposes; from stunning timber framed greenhouses to cosy snug spaces to curl up, outdoor social areas or bars, even saunas! Get in touch to find out how we can help you achieve your garden dreams.
www.stamforddomes.co.uk enquiries@stamforddomes.co.uk 01780 693979 / 07984 489956
SPRAY KITCHEN ELITE
2024 see’s our 28th year in business, refurbishing and painting kitchens on a nationwide basis.
What started out as hand painting kitchens in the 1990’s, has progressed to a much greater business, offering all aspects of the kitchen refurbishment services.
As well as removing kitchens to prepare and paint in our factory, we offer our clients a full repair service as well as the manufacture of damaged items to match the originals. We also have our very own range of hardware which covers contemporary ranges in Nickel, Chrome, Brass and Copper too.
Last year we had the pleasure of announcing our partnership with a natural stone supplier who manufacture and fit new worktops, and also for those clients seeking an alternative, a product called Corian – amazing durability, non-porous and seamless fitting!
This year will see us continuing to build on our business, refurbishing and painting more furniture and kitchens.
Trends and colours change, and we like to be able assist our clients with up-to-date ideas and examples of how they improve their kitchens at a fraction of the cost of a replacement.
Luxury & Style by
Moir Wade
This month we’re admiring a stunning kitchen created by Leicester’s Moir Wade for a local family who were seeking a space which really makes a statement Images: Paul Brown Imaging, 07976 285157, www.paulbrownimaging.co.uk.
Moir Wade was established over 20 years ago and everything that the company creates is bespoke
Top: The family opted for a Lacanche gas range with griddle and teppenyaki
Far Right: The creation of the family’s kitchen also included this larder with additional storage and sink.
There are good kitchens. There are great kitchens, and then there are Moir Wade kitchens. The company reckons that over 1,500 hours of workshop time alone have been spent creating the kitchen pictured here, which includes a beautifully-appointed pantry, adjacent library, and luxury kitchen featuring not one, but two islands, each one measuring two metres by three and a half metres.
Created for a local client within a new extension adjacent to the family’s early 20th century home, the kitchen has been designed by Moir Wade’s Jim Hyde-Dryden and Jonathan Wade, created by a workshop team led by Will Moir alongside colleagues Ian, Dave, Jay, Matt & Dennis, and the company’s installation team Mike & Tom.
The cabinetry has been created in solid oak with a bespoke stain, with white quartz surfaces featuring a subtle light grey vein. Motion sensor LED lighting is employed in the cabinetry, with antique brass taps and dark bronze handles supplied by Perrin & Rowe and premium German appliances including two Siemens dishwashers and US-style fridge freezers.
The display fridge has been created by Moir Wade in marble and glass, plus bespoke cooling technology integrated into the cabinetry, and there’s a boiling water tap integrated into the breakfast larder. A Lacanche Vezelay range cooker measures 220cm and is set against an antique mirror splashback
Moir Wade was established over 20 years ago, with expert in-house design and workshop teams ensuring everything the company produces is bespoke... not job is too small but, as this project should illustrate, no job is too large for the company, either!
Find Out More: Moir Wade is based on Nelson Street, Leicester LE7 2JQ. Call 0116 269 5915 or see www.moirwade.co.uk.
Gardening with Bunny Guinness
In the Garden with Bunny
Far from being a time to put your feet up, for keen gardeners autumn presents a good opportunity to put the garden to bed, plan for next year and complete all of those pesky jobs you’ve been putting off. An especially well-known gardener is looking forward to getting out in the crisp autumn air, although RHS-winner Bunny Guinness will be taking one evening off, as she invites fellow gardeners to join her for dinner at Rutland’s Hambleton Hall
Bunny Guinness’s garden isn’t the only thing that’s growing. Her online presence has also enjoyed a steady increase and today Bunny is as much a broadcaster and journalist on the subject of gardening as she is one of the country’s most sought-after and knowledgeable horticultural experts and landscape architects.
Beyond her regular presence as one of the experts on BBC Radio 4’s venerable Gardener’s Question Time programme and her presence as the Telegraph’s gardening columnist, Bunny established her own YouTube channel during lockdown, which now has around 50,000 subscribers. And, at the start of 2024, she also began podcasting, and now has nearly 40 episodes of her show Bunny in the Garden, available to those keen to hear her in conversation with guests such as Jim Carter of Downton Abbey fame, Mary Berry, John Humphries, Emma Bridgewater and Rutland hotelier Tim Hart.
With all that going on, plus healthy demand for her own landscape design work, it’s little wonder that Bunny rarely has the opportunity to host live events. Happily, that’s not the case this month when she will host a dinner at Hambleton Hall followed by a new talk, entitled ‘Tripping Over Molehills.’
“The idea is that the evening is a light-hearted tour through a career in gardening, that sort of thing. Things that have gone wrong, things that have gone right and most of all things that are fun.”
Above all, Bunny’s idea of fun is to be out in the garden whenever possible, throughout the year.
“The secret to enjoying gardening is to always start with a really nice job… don’t start with the worst,” she says. “And always wear a hat. A decent hat is good for keeping direct sun off you – UV levels and all that – but also for preventing the wind blowing your hair everywhere, and for keeping the odd spot of rain off you.”
“As soon as you discover a love of gardening you’re never overly concerned with the weather. Regardless of whether it’s hammering down outside or there’s full sun, I’ll always be keen to get out there on a Saturday morning. That said, a decent pair of waterproof trousers and knee pads are a good investment.”
The garden designer’s own plot celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Raised in Wiltshire, the late horticulturalist and rose breeder David Austen was Bunny’s uncle, and
Words: Rob Davis. Image: Andrew Crowley.
Gardening with Bunny Guinness
Bunny enjoyed unprecedented access to Highgrove and to HRH The Prince of Wales as part of her 2014 book celebrating the country estate to document the future King’s garden throughout the seasons
though he planned to name one of his roses in honour of his niece, there were, apparently, issues with using the name Guinness because of the association with the brewing dynasty into which she married when she and husband Kevin wed in 1976.
Bunny initially left Wiltshire to pursue a degree in food science at the University of Reading, anticipating life in a lab… until fate – and some fancy footwear – intervened.
“I met someone doing a horticulture course at the place, I can’t even remember who it was, but he had these gold-coloured wellington boots, and it just sparked a conversation, then curiosity, then commitment.”
“I thought horticulture sounded much nicer so I switched courses. Ironically I think he actually dropped out of studying horticulture. I, on the other hand, did not!”
“I realised in the third year of the course that there was such a thing as a landscape architect and that the role offered so much scope for design and for meeting people. I pursued that as a career and went on to work for some very lovely firms before setting up on my own.”
So sought-after is Bunny’s expertise, that today she works on all sorts of gardens from tiny to huge including the gardens of modern British restaurant, kitchen garden and cookery venue Thyme, in Gloucestershire for instance, and its chef Charlie Hibbert’s kitchen garden.
Other work has included gardens for everyone from HRH Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia to Sir Bob Geldof, plus work on hotels such as the walled gardens of Stapleford Park during Bob Payton’s 1988 restoration of the property.
Bunny also enjoyed unprecedented access to Highgrove and to HRH The Prince of Wales as part of her 2014 book celebrating the country estate to document the future King’s garden throughout the seasons.
The Prince purchased Highgrove in 1980, completing a remodelling of the property and its grounds by the end of the decade.
Ensuring his privacy from increasing press intrusion during his first marriage, the Prince was keen to plant leylandii cypress hedges, but thankfully, as he was new to gardening, Lady Salisbury persuaded Charles to plant yew hedging instead, which were later topiarised and are now world-class examples of such hedging. Bunny’s 2014 book Highgrove: A Garden Celebrated is a beautifully illustrated guide to the gardens as the change throughout the year.
However, Bunny’s approach to garden is much more egalitarian than those projects –or her lovely clipped tones on Radio 4 –would suggest.
Early work included renovating the outdoor spaces around the London borough of Greenwich & Lewisham, providing green spaces and play areas for communities living in high-rise flats, creating areas that would otherwise remain a dearth of brutalist concrete structures.
“The setting, the size of the plot and the budget that a particular project has are all, for the most part, less important than a cohesive masterplan and the implementation of the design itself.”
“I like working with tiny suburban gardens and shoestring budgets just as much as larger projects. I like to spend a day with a client so they can tell me how they live, how much maintenance they’re seeking to commit to the space, so much other information too all guiding the design process.”
It's a methodical approach to design and landscaping undoubtedly, but one Bunny was less willing to employ when she moved to the area in 1984, around the time that she stated a family and a couple of years before establishing her own landscaping design practice.
Above: Bunny’s garden near Sibberton, images by Marianne Majerus and Andrew Crowley.
Gardening with Bunny Guinness
“My husband had been a farmer and retrained after 10 years to become an accountant. We were both London-based and we wanted somewhere within commuting distance, so we looked at a two-hour radius from the city and we were attracted to a property in the village of Sibberton because it had plenty of land.”
Bunny and her family aim for self-sufficiency with a productive vegetable garden and fresh eggs as well as Dexter cattle, Soay sheep and Oxford Sandy & Black pigs with low stocking density.
“It’s sometimes difficult because nothing is 100% predictable, you do have your off years, but it’s a mindset that we need to value more, because kitchen gardening feeds into values like provenance, nutrition, food security and ultimately our health and overall wellbeing.”
The property is an old stone farmhouse, on the site of a 13th century Manor House but extended over successive owners, notably in the 17th century when it became a farmhouse and a series of outbuildings.
“I never did draw a formal plan for it, which is something I always tell my clients they need! I sort of saw it in my head, but it has evolved.”
“When we moved in, I took a week off work and I think my husband thought I was unpacking the suitcases and boxes but all the while I was planting 1,000 or so trees as it’s located on a hill and it was very exposed.”
“The creation of that cover has changed the microclimate and I’m lucky to be friends with a very good local tree surgeon who will bring me all of his shredded and chipped material which is all really good organic matter to improve the soil. All through the winter I find it really satisfying to trot around the garden with a wheelbarrow, working some really good nutrition into the soil.”
“In 1994 I entered three competitions to design a garden for Chelsea Flower Show; one for the Sunday Times and one for Gardens Illustrated. I was highly commended for each of those but it was the third one, Wind in the
Willows, that won, and the prize was to have the garden built at the flower show.”
Since that first award, Bunny has won five other golds, she was named one of the top 50 garden designers in the UK by House & Garden magazine and she received an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University – her alma mater following graduation with a post-graduate certificate in Landscape Architecture – in 2009.
“A decade or so after we established the practice, the children were growing up. And around 1996 I wrote Family Gardens: How to Create Magical Spaces for All Ages. It was basically about designing gardens that families can enjoy. I didn’t want to create a garden that was littered with plastic slides and stuff like that.”
Bunny has won six RHS golds, and has been named one of the top 50 garden designers in the country
Images by Marianne Majerus and Andrew Crowley.
Gardening with Bunny Guinness
“We had a party at home at the time and I remember we hired a clown but the children were too busy in the natural pool that we had and they were hanging off tree branches instead of watching the entertainment.”
“As I was watching a mother reprimanding her boy for ruining his new shoes it was a moment of realisation that children really can engage with gardens given the opportunity.”
“It’s still true that young people engage with their environment and if anything, it’s even more of a novelty to get away from a video game to enjoy getting messy whilst discovering the magic of watching something grow.”
The book counted among its fans BBC Radio 4 producer Trevor Taylor, who asked Bunny to contribute to Gardener’s Question Time. It was about the time Geoffrey Smith was stepping back from his role as a panellist.
“When Trevor called and asked me to become a regular member of the panel it was quite a shock. The shows are recorded as-live, but it’s authentic in the sense that you don’t get the questions beforehand.”
“Everything that you’re asked potentially puts you on the spot, but that’s the fun as a member of the panel and that’s the appeal as a listener; it keeps you grounded in the subject, and you have to have a strong understanding of horticulture, you can’t use production values to gloss over that.”
“I think that’s one reason the programme is so very well-loved and so trusted. There’s an authenticity to it, but also radio is an intimate, really engaging media. Whether you’re listening in the car or in the potting shed, you can have it on in the background as you work and it’s good company, but in the case of Gardener’s Question Time, a really good source of knowledge too. It’s also much quicker than producing television, and radio allows you to explore a subject in more depth.”
The omnipresent nature of digital media has, of course, managed to permeate the centuriesold pleasure of gardening, and the two make good bedfellows. Accordingly, since February 2020 when Bunny founded her own lockdown YouTube channel, there are now more than 200 videos for her 50,000 viewers to enjoy.
In early 2024 Bunny also established her own podcast Bunny In the Garden. Each episode is about an hour long, available to enjoy whilst you work in the garden!
A particular recommendation is Bunny’s guide to baseless plant pots: the seven minute and 39 second video has achieved 996,636 views since it was first broadcast.
In early 2024 Bunny also established her own podcast Bunny In the Garden with…, each about an hour long, available to enjoy whilst you work in the garden (or put your feet up and refuse to do so), with each episode featuring a well known guest, known for something other than gardening keen to impart their gardening experiences. ‘It’s a hybrid between Desert Island Discs and Gardeners’ Question Time’.
Bunny’s podcasts and YouTube content are ideal ways to reaffirm the joy of gardening, as is accepting an opportunity to enjoy the landscaper for dinner at Hambleton Hall.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” she says. “Because things are pretty hectic, I don’t take
on many speaking engagements. But I’ve absolutely committed to appearing at Hambleton Hall as it’s such a warm and welcoming place, with such a lovely garden, too!”
“I’m 40 years into looking after my place but one of the lovely aspects of gardening is that you’re never ‘finished,’ there’s always something to do, it’s a slow but steady and incredibly happy, healthy way to spend time… that’s why I’m always keen to share the joy with as many people as possible.”
n Bunny Guinness is the special guest at Hambleton Hall’s Tripping Over Molehills dinner, Wednesday, 20th November 2024. Dinner £175/person, apéritifs from 7.30pm, call 01572 756 991 or see www.hambletonhall.com.
For Bunny’s podcasts and YouTube content, see www.bunnyguinness.com.
Bunny will feature on R4’s Gardeners’ Question Time on 29th Nov/1st Dec.
Bulbs to Plant in Autumn & Winter
1. Snowdrops generally flower from December, but they’re often early... plant them in October! and November in borders and under deciduous shrubs.
2. Plant pansies in November, preferably in partshade, for colour in late winter and early spring.
3. Magnolias can be planted from October to December ready for spring flowering.
4. Plant hyacinths in October and November ready for flowering from January to April.
5. Christmas roses or helleborus niger flower from January, and can still be planted if October and November are mild.
6. Pale tulips do best in shade, plant bulbs from October to December.
7. Plant bare root roses in November and they will give a good display in their first year.
8. Plant daffodil bulbs until December, as long as conditions are mild. Flowering from January to April.
Christmas at Gates Garden Centre A Novel Approach to Celebrations
This month there’s a literary theme to seasonal celebrations at Gates Garden Centre as the beloved local retailer reveals its 25,000sq ft Christmas department: a must for anyone who adores getting into the festive spirit!
Are you sitting comfortably? Then Christmas will begin, with a visit to Gates Garden Centre and the chance to enjoy the area’s largest display of festive decorations, gifts and food.
This year Gates is finding inspiration in our favourite Christmas novels to present a range of festive themes for its huge 25,000sq ft range of Christmas decorations.
“From the rich history of Charles Dickens Victorian London to the elegance of the Snow Queen on her frosty, icicle clad sleigh, we’ve a range of themes to help get your Christmas creativity flowing,” says the centre’s Claire Parker.
“Browse through our superb range online for wonderful ideas or visit us to see the magnificent displays, filled with twinkling lights, glittering stems, eye-catching baubles and stunning greenery – everything you need to bring your Christmas story to life!”
Gates Garden Centre will this year present ten different festive themes across its display area, with each one centred around a beautifully decorated Christmas tree surrounded by everything you need to recreate the look. Elsewhere there are beautiful Christmas scenes, and a wealth of quality artificial trees, sustainably sourced real Christmas trees from the end of November, plus all of the lights and accessories you need to create a dazzling festive display.
Making its debut last year, The Barn is a new area for Christmas crafting, and there’s a larger-than-ever display of Lemax model villages and accessories. Festive decorations is only half the story though.
Gates Garden Centre is also well-renowned for its range of gifts for men and women, including those in the new Gates Wardrobe clothing department, plus fragrances and accessories, jewellery and even gifts for pets. There’s a large toy department too with games, toys, puzzles and books for every age. naturally there’s a wide selection of festive gift wrap and cards, as well as stocking fillers, crackers and table games for keeping the family around the Christmas table.
Speaking of which, Gates Garden Centre’s farm shop opened in 2019 and now covers 12,000sq ft with more than 4,000 products. Partnering with Hambleton Farms, you’ll fine high welfare beef from Gates’ own farm, as well as lamb and pork, plus local freerange turkeys and quality fruit and veg.
Organic milk from the shop’s self-serve vending machine, self-serve orange juice plus a range of zero-waste loose-fill products (nuts, seeds and pulses, for example) will ensure you have all the ingredients close to hand. Meanwhile, your local Lakeland store is also located adjacent to Gates’ Farm Shop, with cookware, kitchen and home essentials for everything you need to cook, carve, serve and savour during the festive season.
Finally, Gates Garden Centre’s 360-seater Garden Restaurant, Courtyard Coffee Shop, Glasshouse Winter Kitchen and in November, tasty treats from food trucks in the covered plant area, will all prove satisfying, whilst events like the centre’s Wreathmaking Workshop and Dine with Santa events, you’ll have fun and make memories, for the whole family.
Gates Garden Centre’s Christmas displays are now available to enjoy. The centre is open seven days a week, 8am5.30pm. Open until 7pm from 1st Nov to 21st Nov, MonSat. Open until 7.30pm 22nd Nov to 23rd Dec, MonSat at Somerby Road, Cold Overton, Oakham LE15 7QB. Call 01664 454309 or see www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk.
Just as big... but now, even better!
Volvo XC90
Seven seater family-friendly SUV has plenty of Nordic-appeal, and with its hybrid engine, it’s considerably cheaper than its all-electric stablemate
We’ve always had a soft spot for Volvo’s XC90, and we’re not the only ones. Even car enthusiast Jeremy Clarkson is a fan. It might not be the fastest, most outrageous car on the market, but even he has to admit that as a family car, it’s an all-rounder par excellence. The company’s ‘90’ series of vehicles now comprises the S90 saloon, V90 estate, and the more recently launched EX90 all-electric SUV. That model was expected to be the successor to the combustion-engined XC90, but consumer uptake of all-electric vehicles has slowed recently, leading Volvo to delay migrating to an all-electric range of vehicles.
That’s meant a stay of execution and a facelift for the XC90, bringing it a little more in-line with its all-electric stablemate, but whilst that model is priced from a Range Roverworrying £96,000, the XC90 starts at a much more reasonable £63,790.
There are two engines. The B5 is a 2.0V4 petrol with 250hp, achieving up to 32.8mpg, and reaching 60mph in 7.7 seconds. The same engine is available with a plug-in hybrid setup, badged T8, reaching 60mph a couple of seconds quicker, but rather more importantly, it also provides 44 miles of allelectric range. It commands a premium of about £10,000, but provides fuel savings and will prove a better prospect for company drivers... it’s also likely to give a higher residual value, so it’s the one we’d go for.
Three trim levels are available. The Core model is generously equipped; mid-spec Plus adds a 360° camera, Harman Kardon stereo and power sunroof; Ultra adds seat ventilation with massage and head-up display. We’d stick with the Core, but specify the 360° camera as an option... because the XC90 is big!
Seven seats are standard, they’re all large enough for adults. With seven passengers you’ve 262 litres of space; 640 litres as a fiveseater, and a whopping 1,007 litres with two passengers... even more than that in the B5 which doesn’t have to make room under the boot floor for the hybrid model’s batteries.
Whilst all cars have all-wheel drive, don’t expect the XC90 to match a Range Rover off the beaten track. Hill descent control and an off-road mode are standard, but this definitely a car more suited to tarmac.
Build quality is smashing and the XC90’s materials are deployed with Scandi-chic in mind: lots of artificial leather or wool-blend upholstery and contemporary brown ash wood trim. It’s all very tasteful, all very luxurious, and all very well thought out.
In fact, we reckon the XC90 is probably the best seven-seat SUV on sale, not to mention the fact that, for all the car you get, it’s very competitively priced too.
The Details
Volvo XC90
Price £72,650 (T8 Core, OTR).
Powertrain: 2.0 fourcylinder petrol, with plugin hybrid motor, total 310hp. Allwheel drive, eightspeed automatic. Economy: WLTP Combined, 176mpg, 44 miles electric range.
Performance: 112mph top speed, 060mph 5.1 seconds.
Equipment: Adaptive cruise, vegan leather, heated seats (f/r), windscreen and steering wheel, electric seats, fourzone climate.
Brown for Town Fashion for Men
Opposite: Hackett check blazer, £370 (www.hackett.com). This Page: Charles Tyrwhitt merino rollneck jumper (centre), oatmeal, £59.95 (www.charlestyrwhitt.com). Pringle cashmere scarf in camel, £119 (www.pringlescotland.com). Crockett & Jones suede loafer in khaki, £460 (www.crockettandjones.com). Czech & Speake Amber 7, a warm captivating unisex scent, £160/100ml (www.czechandspeake.com). Ralph Lauren socks, £44.95 (www.ralphlauren.co.uk). Cashmere crewneck jumper in nutmeg, £129.95 (www.houseofbruar.com). Buckley tailored shirt in stone, £84.95 (www.barbour.com). Reiss Pitch slimfit chinos in navy, £88 (www.reiss.com). Dents Birkhall leather gloves, £65 (www.dentsglove.com). Buckingham brogue in dark brown, £299 (www.loake.com). Aspinal men’s woven leather belt in tan, £135 (www.aspinaloflondon.com). Hawes & Curtis Pocket Square, 100% silk, £29 (www.hawesandcurtis.co.uk).
Suitably Dressed
Opposite: Pia pinstripe blazer, £149; matching wideleg trousers, £99; waistcoat £79, www.phaseeight.com.
Above: Singlebreasted blazer, £159; matching tailored trousers £199, both in dark grey, www.mintvelvet.com.
Opposite: Textured double breasted suit blazer, £250; textured wide leg suit trousers, £150 both in Navy, www.reiss.com.
Above: Pure wool Belmont jacket, £450; matching flared trousers, £335 both in Forest Green, www.thefoldlondon.com.
Fashion
Opposite: Tatton Italian wool pinstripe blazer, £350; matching trousers, £220; waistcoat, £160 all in Grey, www.jigsawonline.com.
Above: The Founder Italian technical stretch tailored tab jacket, £339; matching slim leg trousers, £25 both in Navy, www.karenmillen.com.
Fashion
www.gb.maxmara.com.
www.ralphlauren.co.uk.
Opposite: Singlebreasted patterned jersey blazer, £1,045; matching trousers, £695 black,
Top left: DoubleBreasted woolblend blazer, £649; matching wideleg trouser, £349,
Top right: The Clarence check merlot suit blazer £399; waistcoat £299; trousers £299, www.hollandcooper.com. Above left: Harrie jacket, £95; matching trousers, £69 both in burgundy red. www.frenchconnection.com. Above right: Marciano single breasted blazer, £225; matching trousers, £155 both in brown. www.guess.eu.
Day to Night
Fashion for Women
Day: Cream Jacquard Blouse, £89 (www.mintvelvet.com). HC Classic Slim Belt Champagne Croc, £99 (www.hollandcooper.com). iPhone 16 Pro, £999 (www.apple.com). Superstella Gold & Silver Leather Trainers, £149 (www.sargassoandgrey.com). Taifun Gilet Padded In Bronze, £125 (www.elizabethrose.com). Gold Leather Woven Knot Handle Bag, £119 (www.mintvelvet.com).
Night: Cream Textured Ruffle Blouse, £120 (www.mintvelvet.com). Gold Metallic Nappa Mini Bag, £675 (www.jimmychoo.com). Rouge Louboutin Silky Satin lipstick, £84 (www.christianlouboutin.com). 30 Montaigne Bracelet, £410 (www.dior.com). Metallic leather slingback pumps, £890 (www.prada.com). Born in Roma The Gold Parfum, £149 (www.valentino.com).
Struggling with Menopausal Symptoms?
Reclaim control of your health and hormones with the help of a trained Women’s Health Expert. Understand WHY you gain weight and lose your “zest for life” and learn why STRESS, SLEEP, NUTRITION and the right type of EXERCISE for you can give you back control of your life.
Please visit www.lincolnshiremenopauseclinic.co.uk to book your free non obligation telephone consultation.
Offering an Olive Branch Cosmetics
This month we’re contrasting the orange and gold hues of autumn with product recommendations based around a lovely olive-hued bancha green
The scent of autumn
Loewe presents this delicate floral scent for autumn, which combines pear, muguet, and jasmine. The fragrance has top notes of pear and lily of the valley.
A beautiful floral scent from the fragrance house founded in 1846, £153/150ml, www.loewe.com
Mac Eyeshadow
Luxury from Liz Earle
Enhance and maintain the firmness, smoothness and brightness of your face with Liz Earle’s Superskin Advanced Mourishing Cleansing Balm, and follow up with Superskin moisturiser and night cream, all designed to work together, £9/15ml, www.lizearle.com.
From one our favourite brands comes this beautiful intense green shade, Humid, with its with shimmer and generous pigments, £20/1.5g, www.maccosmetics.co.uk.
Charlotte Tilbury Eyeliner
Charlotte Tilbury presents this Magic Eyeliner Duo in Green Lights. Also available in Super Blue, Copper Charge and Mesmerising Maroon, each with super rich colours, £25/1g, www.charlottetilbury.com.
The Treatment, La Mer
Achieve nextlevel hydration with this silky lotion, with its Active Liquid Hydrogel to cushion on contact and penetrate rapidly, delivering allday benefits, £165/150ml, www.cremedelamer.co.uk.
Reviving Rosemary from Molton Brown
Everyday luxury from the undisputed kings of the cloakroom, Molton Brown presents this everyday shower and bath oilingel, whose beneficial aromatherapy comes from a balance of enlivening rosemary, grounding geranium and rich patchouli, £27/300ml, from Molton Brown’s new studio at Springfields Outlet Shopping & Leisure.
All our beauty products are available from local independent stockists unless otherwise stated, 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.
TEETH STRAIGHTENING IN UPPINGHAM
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.
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.
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One of the UK’s leading emotional trauma retreats THE MANSE RETREAT
Do you suffer from the symptoms of emotional trauma?
If you find yourself battling flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts, you're not alone. These symptoms can be debilitating, affecting your ability to work, socialise, and even engage in daily activities. The invisible scars of PTSD reach into every corner of life.
Why choose the Manse Retreat?
Now, imagine a place designed specifically for those grappling with PTSD. Here, overcoming symptoms means removing them, giving you hope for the future. Best of all, we work content free, which means you don't have to talk about the bad memories!
We can’t change the past, but we CAN change the way you feel about it!
The
owners, Kim and Carl
Our shared vision and complementary skills have made The Manse a unique and highly respected international destination for those seeking to heal from trauma and achieve lasting personal transformation.
Bespoke Retreats for Transformation
Unlike traditional retreats, where group dynamics often limit personal attention, we specialise in providing a unique experience exclusively for you, ensuring you receive our undivided attention.
Proven Techniques and Lasting Results
Using methods such as psycho-sensory techniques specifically designed to tap into the brain’s ability to rewire itself. These methods enable us to assist individuals to detach the powerful emotions often associated with traumatic memories.
What Our Guests Say
… I had been suffering with trauma for over 30 years, scored it a 10, after literally minutes of doing the techniques; it was a zero… I cannot recommend them enough…
…The Manse has changed my life! As a veteran, I was suffering from PTSD and emotional trauma. But now, with the help of the techniques and tools taught to me, have cleared my past trauma. I know it's hard to believe, but I didn't even need to speak about any of my trauma to be rid of it for good!...
… A life changing experience. Kim & Carl made me feel so comfortable which enabled me to engage in and benefit from the expert therapy that they offer. A life changing experience. Thank you for your kindness, patience and understanding…
The highly coveted Jo Loves Advent Calendar has returned in another iconic design. You're invited to experience the magic of the season through Jo's cherished family ski trip to the enchanting mountains of Whistler, £375, www.joloves.com.
HARRODS: The Harrods Beauty Advent Calendar 2024, £250, www.harrods.com.
SPACE NK: Beauty Advent Calendar, £250, www.spacenk.com.
SEPHORA: Sephora Favourites Advent Calendar, £199, www.sephora.co.uk.
L’OCCITANE: Luxury Advent Calendar, £130, www.uk.loccitane.com.
THE ADVENT of BEAUTY Beauty
Enjoy the build-up to Christmas and treat yourself to a little luxury each day with these very posh but very lovely advent calendars!
Selection: Mandy Bray.
LIBERTY: Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar 2024, £260, www.libertylondon.com.
SELFRIDGES: Beauty advent calendar, £250, www.selfridges.com.
CHARLOTTE TILBURY: 12 Door Advent Calendar, £170, www.charlottetilbury.com.
BENEFIT: The Gorgeous Grocer Kit Advent Calendar, £156, www.benefitcosmetics.com.
Regain Control of Bladder Leaks
“There has been a long-term improvement to my pelvic floor, specifically: I no longer really think about the risk of leaks.”
Cirone Health was founded earlier this year to offer this new treatment for urinary incontinence to both men and women. If you have urinary leaks, you are not alone.
Urinary incontinence is a significant problem for both men and women of all ages. Often the cause is weak pelvic floor muscles. In men, aging and prostate issues, including surgery, contribute to muscle weakening. In women, factors like aging, menopause, childbirth, or pelvic surgery can weaken the muscles. These muscles act as a hammock, supporting organs like the bladder and prostate. When they weaken, leaks can occur.
Rushing to get to the toilet?
Don’t make it to the loo in time and leak?
Wake up to pee in the night several times?
Sneeze or cough and leak urine?
Can’t exercise because you leak?
Have to wear pads?
These symptoms can be embarrassing and difficult to live with. They hamper daily activities like shopping, exercising, traveling, sleeping and socialising.
Treatment options for incontinence are limited. Many are invasive and unappealing and for many the only option left is wearing pads.
HOW CIRONE HEALTH CAN HELP
Cirone Health have the Ultra Tesla Seat, a non-invasive treatment that uses highfrequency electromagnetic stimulation to strengthen pelvic floor muscles. The treatment painlessly boosts muscle strength and retrains the muscle which improves bladder control and alleviates symptoms of incontinence allowing you to regain control.
Research shows that 95% of people report
improved quality of life after treatment, with pad users experiencing a 75% reduction in usage. Here’s what a recent client said
“There has been a long-term improvement to my pelvic floor, specifically:
I no longer really think about the risk of leaks. I don't have concerns in the way I used to. I am not disturbed at night any more by the need to go to the toilet.
I feel more confident that it's not a downhill slope from here!
The psychological effect of knowing there is a treatment that can help is also very positive.”
HOW DOES IT WORK
The Ultra Tesla Seat uses electromagnetic technology to cause supra-maximal muscle contractions, which are stronger than those you can achieve with normal pelvic floor exercises (Kegels). Each 28-minute session when you sit on the seat activates the entire pelvic floor, retraining the muscles, leading to improvements in your symptoms and quality of life. Most people require 6 sessions and start to feel the benefits after 2 or 3 sessions.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Our clinic room is a private space where you can talk openly and in confidence to us. During your first visit, we will discuss your symptoms, how they affect your daily life, and assess if the Ultra Tesla Seat is right for you. We’ll offer a short trial session to ease any apprehension you may have. If the treatment is suitable, we can proceed with a full session. You sit fully clothed on the seat for the 28-minute cycle. The six sessions are typically spread over three weeks, with two sessions per week. The treatment isn’t painful. Some people describe
it as tingly or compare the sensation to tiny taps. You may feel your muscles contracting and relaxing, similar to doing usual pelvic floor exercises. During the session, you can read or chat with us, but electronic devices like mobile phones and laptops cannot be used. There are some conditions where this treatment may not be suitable, such as if you have a pacemaker or have undergone a hip replacement.
WHERE ARE CIRONE HEALTH’S CLINICS?
Clinics are at Stamford Osteopathic Clinic in Great Casterton.
Clinics are in a private room where you can feel the focus is on you. Bobbie and Jo both have healthcare backgrounds and are passionate about helping you.
“Clients are really empowered by this journey and we love hearing their confidence return and how their quality of life improves” Bobbie and Jo.
Bobbie and Jo would love to hear from you and start you on your journey to defeating incontinence. Come take a seat!
Call 01780 678 003
A Winter of Content For Those Suffering from Osteoarthritis
If you’re dreading the aches and pains usually associated with winter, fear not... this month anyone suffering from osteoarthritis, osteoporosis or similar musculoskeletal conditions need only speak to Tinwell’s Cell Regeneration and its physiotherapist Ann Clare, to achieve a winter of content!
Here are a few facts which might make for uncomfortable reading, especially if you’re one of the ten million people in the UK already too familiar with the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA). Six million women and four million men already have the condition across the UK, whilst 350,000 people are newly diagnosed with OA each year. The mean age at which people experience the onset of symptoms is 55. It’s usually experienced in knee and hip joints, and it’s the most common type of arthritis in the UK, with symptoms including pain, swelling and stiffness.
Cold weather doesn’t cause it, but certainly aggravates the condition. That’s why millions are dreading falling temperatures and damp weather, already stocking up with painkillers. Happily, there’s a way to reduce pain and inflammation, regenerate tissue and increase mobility to treat not just the symptom, but to address an underlying problem; in the case of osteoarthritis, the degradation of cartilage.
A Champion for Osteoarthritis Relief
Back in the mid-2000s, physiotherapist and long-term rehabilitation expert Ann Clare discovered a German technology called MBST – magnetic resonance therapy – and to say that it was a revelation is somewhat of an understatement. “We instantly saw the benefit and adopted the technology when we witnessed the transformative effect it can have on those who suffer pain and immobility, especially throughout the winter,” says Ann’s daughter Liz.
Alongside their mother, Liz and her brother Charles, co-founded their Tinwell clinic back in 2011 to bring the technology to a wider audience.
The Science Bit
It all sounds a bit like science fiction, but the basis upon which MBST works is simply about encouraging the body to heal itself. The clinic’s machines generate a magnetic field to encourage cells to increase their metabolism, and thus regenerate themselves.
It’s a bit like using an alarm clock to wake up tired cells and encourage them to get out of bed and start their day – or rather restart their day since the therapy works with the body’s own circadian (24-hr/body clock) rhythms.
The ‘alarm clock’ is set according to what’s known as the Larmor Equation, producing the correct energy to very specifically target muscles or bone, ligaments or cartilage, nerves etc. This means the therapeutic effect only reaches the area of a patient’s physiology it needs to, and that each treatment is tailored to a patient’s needs.
That’s where the alarm clock metaphor ends, incidentally, since the machine is silent, and there’s minimal physical contact with the machine, you simply lay back and relax. There’s no pressure, no pain, no medication or injections. The benefits can be felt almost immediately after an hour-long session and the therapy is usually administered in blocks of nine sessions.
MBST is most commonly used to treat osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, as well as back pain, spinal disorders, sports injuries and trauma, as well as aiding post-surgery recovery.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE; the regulatory agency responsible for approving all of the NHS’s permissible treatments) has recognised MBST – also known as MRT – as a safe treatment.
Taking it Further
The technology behind the treatment was created 26 years ago and has since been used to provide over 2 million hours of therapy. Ann, Liz and Charles founded the first UK clinic and have since helped to establish the 15 clinics now operating in the UK, as sole distributors for the machines used to administer the therapy. The team is also helping to take the technology into other countries.
Tried & Trusted
“I’ve had the therapy myself so I can vouch for its effectiveness, and we’ve been thrilled with the feedback that we’ve had from our patients,” says Liz. “They report feeling a great deal of relief and they are often able to remain more mobile, which helps to keep other health problems at bay.”
“Winter doesn’t have to become synonymous with aches and pains. There’s a therapy available that really can ease the suffering of conditions like osteoarthritis... one that’s safe, non-invasive and most of all, effective.”
Cell Regeneration, provides MBST therapy for osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. MBST is backed by clinical studies and empirical data. It’s painless and effective, wellsuited to knee pain, hip pain and similar applications. For a free, noobligation discussion on the therapy, call Ann Clare Physiotherapy & Cell Regeneration, to speak with an MBST specialist: 01780 238 084 or see www.mbstmedical.co.uk.
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Know Your Bone Density and Bone Fragility Score: PROTECT YOUR FUTURE HEALTH
Why Bone Density Matters Bone density is a crucial indicator of your bone health. It measures the strength and solidity of your bones. Understanding your bone density helps in:
• Preventing Osteoporosis: Early detection of low bone density can lead to timely intervention.
• Reducing Fracture Risk: Strong bones mean fewer fractures and breaks.
• Maintaining Mobility: Healthy bones keep you active and independent.
The Bone Fragility Score Your Bone Fragility Score complements your bone density test by providing a comprehensive overview of your bone health. It assesses:
• Risk Factors: Identifies lifestyle and genetic factors contributing to bone weakness.
• Predictive Analysis: Estimates the likelihood of future fractures.
• Personalised Health Plans: Guides your healthcare provider in creating tailored treatment and prevention strategies.
Benefits of Knowing Your Scores
• Proactive Health Management: Stay ahead of potential bone issues.
• Informed Decision-Making: Make educated choices about your diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
• Customised Care: Receive personalised advice and treatment plans from healthcare professionals.
If you already know you have Osteoporosis or Osteopenia, we can help you.
How to Get Tested Getting your bone density and fragility score is quick and easy:
• Get Tested: Simple, non-invasive scans provide accurate results. The Echo Light REMS scan is more precise than other methods, involves no exposure to radiation, and you get your results immediately!
• Review Results: Immediate results with instant health advice. Any bone degeneration can be reversed without medication.
Protect your bones and ensure a healthy, active future. Schedule your bone density and fragility score test now!
Contact Us: Contact the clinic to book on 01780 238084 or email Sarah@ cell-regeneration.co.uk Cell Regeneration and Ann Clare Physiotherapy, Casterton Lane, Tinwell PE9 3UQ
50% of women and one in five men over the age of 50 will develop osteoporosis. Individuals who participate in lean sports, such as cycling and running, may have a higher risk of developing the condition. It’s important to begin testing for osteoporosis in your 30s as a preventive measure. Early detection can help prevent bone loss, and in many cases, any degeneration can be reversed with proper care, so there’s no need to fear.
Your closest MBST centre is Ann Clare Physiotherapy and Cell Regeneration LTD. Visit MBSTmedical.co.uk or call the friendly team on 01780 238084
A Burghley Wedding
This month we’re celebrating the special day of Sophie & Stuart, who enjoyed a rare opportunity to marry at Burghley House among friends and colleagues!
Photographer: Sarah Carter, 07970 327716, www.sarahcarterphotography.co.uk.
Burghley House is the much-admired jewel in the crown of Stamford for most people who live in the town. But for those who live or work on the estate itself, it’s a community within a community, with a real sense of family.
Sophie & Stuart already loved working on the estate; Stuart as Head Porter and Sophie in the ticket office, greeting visitors.
Fleeting interactions turned into shared lunches and moments of laughter with love blossoming and the couple eventually moved into a property on the estate and with their Hungarian Vizsla puppy, Robyn.
“We visited the Peak District for my birthday in 2022,” says Sophie. “We were walking in Edale and stopped at the summit of a hill with beautiful views across the valley. To my complete surprise, Stuart dropped down on one knee and proposed. It was totally unexpected, but so lovely, and of course I said yes immediately!”
“As we both love the estate we were keen to marry at Burghley House. The estate hosts weddings on Friday during the open season and on any day or the week from November to March, so were thrilled that Head of Events Kara, Director of Commercial Visitor
Operations Phillip and Burghley’s Executive Chair Miranda said they were happy for us to hold our ceremony at Burghley, in the Great Hall, followed by a wedding breakfast and a reception in the Orangery.”
“We were so happy, not just because Burghley is so beautiful, but because it meant that all of our friends and colleagues on the estate could share the day with us.”
“We were also offered the use of the house for our wedding photographs and Miranda allowed us to use the Burghley Rolls Royce, a 1926 Phantom, as our wedding car.”
“My brother, Jack Stafford, was essentially our wedding planner. He’s incredibly creative and he designed a wedding ‘newspaper’ we could hand out to guests with our story, and a few facts and fun details in the pages.”
“He also designed our save the date cards, invitations, table plans and other elements. I think he’s had a few offers from other brides-to-be keen to enlist his services since!”
The couple sourced Sophie’s wedding dress – a Dando London gown called Costa Rica with V-neckline and Cathedral train – from Vow Bridal of Wansford. Vow also supplied Sophie’s Theia Danielle Matte Petals veil, the bridesmaids’ dresses as well as the groomsmen’s Torre Uomo wool suits.
The couple’s wedding breakfast was created by the team in Burghley House’s Orangery whilst the estate’s John Burrows and house florist Kitty Walmsley created the couple’s flowers incorporating roses from the estate.
“Everyone across the estate was lovely, with Natalie Taylor and Kara Groves, especially, proving to be fairy godmothers by making sure everything was perfect leading up to the day and on the day itself.”
“We really loved working with our photographers Sarah Carter and Josh Hyde, and we’ve got some really amazing images of our day, as well as pictures from our engagement shoot with our two dogs Robyn & Ronnie.”
“We were so lucky to have other incredible people who helped us to create our day too, from our Master of Ceremonies, Rob Finnigan to local singer and musician Jordan Poole, to our Maid of Honour, Hannah Barnett.”
“Above all, we’ve memories that will last a lifetime of a day shared with our friends and colleagues and our family, especially our wonderful parents. Everyone was there, everyone had a lovely time and everyone helped to make our day a reality... we’re so grateful to them all.”
Local Suppliers
Venue & Catering: Burghley House, with help from Kara Groves, Head of Events and Natalie Taylor, Wedding & Events coordinator, www.burghley.co.uk.
Photography: Sarah Carter Photography & Josh Hyde, 07970 327716, www.sarahcarterphotography.co.uk.
Dresses/Tailoring: Vow Bridal, Wansford, 01780 783607.
Hair: Louisa Sarah, 07552 046996.
Makeup: Rachel Bray, rachelbraymakeupartistry.com.
Floristry: Kitty Walmsley, John Burrows at Burghley.
Cake: Whittlesea Cake Company, 07738 061162.
Singer/Songwriter: Jordan Poole 07398 724276.
DJ: Rob Giddings, Strobe 01780 470 983.
Styling/Design: Jack Stafford.
Gina Fernandes Photography
Jon Flint Photography
Happy Moments Co
