Style of Wight Issue 73 November/December 2021 by Style of Wight

T H E I S L E O F W I G H T ’ S I N S P I R AT I O N A L L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E ISSUE 73 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2021

PA G E CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE INTERVIEW SPOTLIGHT IOW

Festive food stories

Destination Ryde lifestyle

fashion

health

beauty

food

home

family

art

L I F E S T Y L E

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm

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Brand new 2 bedroom luxury apartment right on the seafront. Private balcony with panoramic views of Sandown bay and just meters from the sandy beach. Open plan living area with stylish kitchen. Allocated parking.

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Island Harbour

Guide Price

£395,000

Choice of 2 Yachtsmans cottages. both very well presented, allocated parking, courtyard gardens and marina views, they also include a 12 metre deep water pontoon mooring!

Cedar Cottage, Swains Road Bembridge SSTC 5 | EPC n/a Strikingly pretty and sitting in the centre of its own plot, this 5-bedroom house is located on the sought-after Swains Road in the heart of Bembridge. Approximately 100yrs old, Cedar Cottage has been thoughtfully arranged and benefits from spacious accommodation that flows with ease. The cottage style garden is mature and enjoys a sunny aspect and there is ample parking on the gravelled driveway for several cars. Only minutes from the beach at Swains Steps, village centre and other local amenities.

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Mannington 40 High Park Road Ryde SSTC 5 | EPC D A beautifully renovated Victorian Villa boasting high ceilings and original features. A wide staircase and marble fireplaces, mature gardens and driveway parking. Located in Elmfield and situated in a private enclosed plot, this home is well arranged and flows throughout. The rooms are large and bright, with bay windows and French doors overlooking and leading to gardens and outside space.

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Cover Spindler’s Folly, Binnel Bay, by Chad Powell Photography

Publisher and Creative Director Christian Warren christian@styleofwight.co.uk Editor Emma Elobeid emma@styleofwight.co.uk Sub Editor Helen Hopper Editorial Assistant Jen Parker office@styleofwight.co.uk Contributors Tracy Calder, Lauren Fry, Dale Howarth, Rebecca Lawson, James Rayner, Roz Whistance, Jo Macaulay Design Laura Craven Photography Holly Jolliffe, Julian Winslow Sales Christian Warren christian@styleofwight.co.uk Distribution office@styleofwight.co.uk 01983 861007 Supported by Acclaim Logistics Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of Style of Wight Magazine, but legal responsibility cannot be accepted for errors, omissions or misleading statements. Winners at the IW Chamber Awards 2016

Note from the Editor I get a bit starry eyed at this time of year (as a December baby, that’s my prerogative). I go all in for Christmas – the lights, the magic, the commotion. And, of course, the memories. Because so much of how we experience the festive season – the gifts we give, the traditions we continue, the food we eat – is handed down to us, tied up in nostalgia from Christmases past. Each year, we add extra bells and bonus whistles, in pursuit of an ever bigger and brighter celebration. And yet, Christmas isn’t always about the crescendo – it’s about the hum of contentment, and the release of expectations. Magazine life has a funny old way of endowing a Moral of the Season, and this issue in particular has been a lesson in less, not more. In our interview with the professional performers from Spotlight IOW (page 17) we learn that it’s the little things – friendship, fun, and faith in each other – that build a BIG show. Arts Educator Lauren Fry (page 22) teaches us how to make festive folk art from paper pom-poms and painted pasta. Local restaurateurs, farmers, and bakers share their festive food stories and Ryde’s retail community comes together in celebration of this sparkling seaside town (page 55). There are lessons, too, in seeing and believing: magical moonscapes in artist and exhibition curator Syrett’s opalescent nail varnish paintings (page 32), and gazing up at the magical milky way with night sky photographer Chad Powell (page 102). And within the beautifully curated pages of our 15-page Christmas Gift Guide, you’ll find thoughtful present suggestions for every budget – all from our favourite independent Island brands. Whatever your Christmas looks like, may it be filled with magic, sparkle, and memory-making.

Emma Elobeid

Get in touch

8 Salisbury Gardens, Dudley Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight PO38 1EJ 01983 861007 www.styleofwight.co.uk

At the time of going to press we are seeing changes to regulations and social behaviour guidelines due to Covid-19. Some of the content in this magazine was committed and published prior to this guidance being in place.

November and December 2021

Find The Pieces That Make A House A Home

This & ThaT Our collection of furniture and accessories offer inspiration for every single room in your home. Whatever life throws at you, if you’ve got somewhere that feels homely - somewhere loved and lived - you’ll have a place of your own

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telephone: 01983 612 152 email: thisandthatseaview@aol.com web thisandthatseaview.co.uk Address: 1 Pier Road Seaview Isle Of Wight PO34-5BL

Contents

Issue 73: November and December 2021

Regulars 15

Style picks: a magical (mini) selection of lovely things

Style scoop: our seasonal roundup of places to go, people to meet, and things to know

Lead interview: Behind the Curtain with Spotlight IOW

114 Style speaks: to Father Christmas himself

Features 55

Destination Ryde: exploring the people and places of this sparkling seafront town

Christmas Gift Guide: 15 marvellously magical pages of gifts to want and wish for

102 People with style: with Chad Powell Photography

Art 22

Feeling festive: Polish Pajaki with Lauren Fry

Fashion, health and beauty 63

What’s new in beauty?: festive beauty news

Style spectrum: Alice Greenfield and Sam Morris

Movement for wellbeing: with the Island Pilates Centre

Forage for a flat lay: with close- up photographer Tracy Calder

Winter fashion: with Visual Impact

Meet the maker: artist and exhibition curator Syrett

Bags of sailing style: with Ratsey and Lapthorn

Food

Home

Best Christmas cake (ever): with Richmonds Bakery

Creating cosy: with interior designer Rachel Savage

Holiday cheers!: with Mermaid Gin

Comfort and joy: with Bayliss & Booth

Caramelised Christmas sprouts: with Living Larder

A natural alternative: with Abbott’s Carpets and Flooring

Christmas granola: with Balance + Glo

Sustainable style: with A J Wells

Sicilian Pasta di Mandorla: with Caffe Isola

Seasonal Dining Guide: for Christmas parties, New Year’s nights out and beyond

Business

100 Style of Wight Diner’s Club: taste, experience, explore

111 Celebrating 25 years at Roach Pittis: with Sally Stone 113 The rule of three: with Dale Howarth

November and December 2021

HAND-CRAFTED ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

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Mama, I love you Show your mum you care with these beautiful earrings in handhammered silver. £28, Beth Hayton Jewellery Instagram: @bethhaytonjewellery

Pull my cracker!

It’s a holiday miracle This classic Elizabeth Ardens Eight Hour gift set will make you feel brand new. £35, Gibbs & Gurnell, Ryde

Style picks

Merry and bright: our favourite reusable crackers for filling with your own gifts and jokes. £16, BamBoojum Instagram: @bamboojum

Spotted by Team Style this season – a magical (mini) roundup of lovely things from Island independent makers and retailers.

For blissful bedtimes Be soothed to sleep and wake afresh with this dreamy collection of night-time essentials. £60, BeCalmed Wellbeing & Medi Spa, Cowes Instagram: @becalmedmedispa Let your heart be light Happy hand-stitched sweatshirts to make every day a Christmas jumper day. £30, Stardust and Stitches Instagram: @stardust_and_stitches

November and December 2021

the Style

scoop

A festive round-up of places to go, people to meet, and things to do across the Isle of Wight

‘Tis the season for…. P ick i n g the perfect tree Give someth i ng back th is yea r: at Staplehu rst Gra nge’s Wig ht Ch ristmas Trees £5 from each sa le goes d i rectly to the Pop-up Soup K itchen.

Ch r istma s mov ies – f rom you r ca r Wessex Ca ncer Trust’s festive favou rite Ch ristmas Drive-In Fi l ms is back ; screened i n the Robi n Hi l l ca r pa rk on Satu rday 20th a nd Su nday 21st November.

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Getting your skates on

From Saturday 11th to Wednesday 22nd December, enjoy all-weather ice skating in Yarmouth on Ice’s Christmas marquee in the square. Bring on the festive fun (and falling over!)

Festive rea ds Need to u nplug th is Ch ristmas? Lucy Dav ies at the Med i na Bookshop i n Cowes recom mends T he Strays of Pa ris by Ja ne Sm i ley; a sweet stor y of u n l i kely friendsh ip between a ru naway racehorse, a g roup of rema rkable a n i ma ls a nd one lovely l ittle boy.

Shopping local

There are so many wonderful local craft events this season; from Quay Arts’ Christmas Cracker Weekend on the 27th and 28th November to the Briddlesford Christmas market on Sunday 5th December, featuring over 30 independent Island businesses, live festive music from Ben Stubbs and tasty seasonal refreshments aplenty.

Behind the curtain WITH SPOTLIGHT IOW By Emma Elobeid P ictu res Ju l i a n Wi nslow

November and December 2021

STYLE | Interview

The professional performers from Spotlight IOW share memories of magic and mayhem as they prepare for their thirteenth pantomime season

Producer and performer Jayne Derbyshire prepares to take the stage

t is the second-to-last night of ‘Beyond The West End’, their flagship summer show; the secondto-last time that they will perform this particular set of songs from the musicals before shifting key and tone into Panto season proper. “Christmas honestly wouldn’t be Christmas if we weren’t in a Panto. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself,” admits Company Manager James Derbyshire, whose own performance career, like many of his colleagues, began right here at Shanklin Theatre. Arriving for their penultimate performance and lugging equipment up onto the stage, Producer Jayne Derbyshire explains, “We all muck in

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and break down the set afterwards – it’s harder on the boys, but they get beer for their efforts!” Jayne and James are the husbandand-wife team who run Spotlight IOW: in between this annual professional pendulum of sparkling summer spectaculars and packed-out festive pantomimes they also manage a wider team in coordinating weekly stage schools – and a termly performance – for hundreds of Island children aged 4 to 18, as well as (pre-Covid) workshops for visiting schools and EFL organisations. Though fresh faces and new names join each season, the core Spotlight team remains the same – not just

partners in performance, but pals for life. This is the first time they have lifted the curtain on not only the way they work, but the way they are together. What strikes me most during our interview is the laughter. The quips come thick and fast, the comebacks gleeful, and the ensuing hilarity every bit as raucous as you might expect from a group of people whose very identity is built around entertainment. But it’s not all banter: the team changes chords from serious to silly and back again with as much ease as their on-stage harmonies. Assistant Choreographer Joe says, “It doesn’t feel like work – it feels like hanging about with your mates.”

Interview | STYLE

Above left: The boys discuss post-show snacks | Right: Rowan Lathey’s backstage power walk

There is an old theatre expression about warming the walls before a show. No need for that tonight: the Spotlight crew are welcoming and warm, open and honest. Bearing witness to their relationship feels a bit like being an extra in Friends; they finish each other’s sentences, jumping from animal-mishap anecdote to affectionate teasing and talk of postshow snacks in quick succession. In case a reminder is needed that we are in musical theatre land and not Rock ‘n’ Roll territory, Choreographer Charlie declares on the latter, “I always have a Nesquik strawberry milkshake when I get home!” “For a lot of us it all started here,” says James, gesturing around the

Green Room. In the 1990s, many of the group attended the Stagecoach theatre school, then run by their nowMusical Director David Redston, who still writes, arranges, and plays music for all their shows. “There is so much history; these walls literally are our second home. Back in the day we’d have sleepovers in here, and rehearse and party in what is now the bar!” All have gone away and done their own thing – on international cruise ships, in the West End, from Bollywood to Benidorm – before returning to their home stage and the shared histories that bind them. Right now, on the cusp of seasons, there is a dual sense of closure and excitement at the run to come. “It’s a

BIG show,” says James. “We’ve got to deliver on all sorts of things.” Checking through the long list of ‘to-dos’ (planning a Pantomime is a complex arrangement of scenery and song, pyrotechnics and props) I learn that the costumes have been ordered in and the script is (almost) ready. I ask who is playing who. “Erm, Rowan, you’re Beauty,” says Dominic, who writes and directs the pantomimes, as well as performing in them. “Oh, thank you very much, I accept!” replies soon-to-be Panto Princess Rowan Lathey. This is no Disney adaptation: pantomimes are based on the original fairy tales, and each year is a brandnew script which offers something for everyone in the family. I ask about the November and December 2021

STYLE | Interview

writing process: is it a roundtable cocreational collaborative affair? “What happens is…” Jayne jokes, “we go on and on and on at Dom and eventually…” writer, director and performer Dominic Pope fights back: “Every single word is all mine. But these guys are nice, they come along.” There is a real appreciation in the room, it seems, for being here at all. “Achieving a socially distanced pantomime last year seemed completely impossible,” recalls Jayne. “I don’t know if we ever really thought that those curtains would actually open. When we knew it was going to go ahead it was so overwhelming.” “And then when we went back up to full capacity this season,” she continues, “that was really emotional because everyone clapped as soon as the curtains opened. It was a reminder that we do offer an ‘out’ for people for two hours – over the years we’d become complacent about that because it’s just what we do. And actually it’s been humbling to remember that what we do is kind of cool.” Recalling the government-backed national advertising campaign which encouraged ballet dancers to retrain in cybersecurity, Dom cringes. “It’s so insulting to dismiss an entire industry as something disposable. But you know, especially during lockdown when we were all stuck indoors – what

“…actually it’s been humbling to remember that what we do is kind of cool.” was everyone doing? We were being entertained by entertainers. So it’s a product that everyone wants. Actors and performers are as valuable as ever.” James continues: “I think everyone does naturally come to a point – probably in any job but particularly as a performer – where they ask themselves, ‘Can I do this forever?’ And although before I’ve considered retraining as a youth support worker or a fireman, actually for me personally the pandemic made me go ‘Nope. This

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is all I know. And it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. And it’s needed.’” “We’re so incredibly lucky to do what we love,” says Joe. “As performers, there’s a deep drive to just carry on.” Even when the theatres closed and lockdown was at its strictest, the team never stopped performing; what started as a one-off ‘Spotlight Get Moving’ video, designed to provide some light Joe Wicks-esque Saturday morning entertainment for their stage school students, evolved into a year-long project of remote (and then

Interview | STYLE

Pre-show rituals in action

distanced) weekly musical productions, launched live on the group’s Facebook page. Together, they represent a social history of an impossibly tough year measured in cake and costume, laughter and tears. Looking back is bittersweet. “The magnitude of everything that happened that year...” says Jayne, referring not only to the global pandemic but the loss of friend and colleague Rachael Stratton in a tragic accident right in the middle of it, “...it’s huge. And we’ve got a record of it now, forever.” The group falls silent. James says, “We’ve never given up and I don’t think we will now. I honestly believe that. As a core team and as a business I don’t think we could face any more than we already have.” This year, the stage feels mercifully steadier. Talk turns to pre-show routines. Dom, I learn, is a notorious

Writer Dominic and Choreographer Charles Johnson share a dressing room joke

corridor pacer (“it’s hugely irritating for everyone else, but I have to do it”); Rowan and Charlie have their immovably favourite car parking spaces. Over the years the group have accrued a medley of quirks and habits which signal ‘a good show’ – from motivational circles to silly games like ‘Pass the Smartie’. Jayne recalls how “one season Rowan and I would always touch index fingers right before curtain-up.” These seemingly small touches speak to a bond greater than the sum of their steps. Charlie explains, “We’re so in sync on stage; we know what each other is thinking or when a part needs covering.” Watching closely, I spot several of these magic moments from the auditorium; flashes of solidarity and showmanship in the flicker of a sequin. The show is, of course, professional, polished and practically perfect in every way: we could indeed be in the West End. That’s not to say that

mishaps don’t happen. Over the years the group have dealt with all the usual comedy of errors: technical hiccups, malfunctioning microphones, and over-sensitive fire alarms – as well as some more unexpected disasters; from slipping Shetland ponies to whole-town power outages. “Don’t forget the bat that once flew at me during a Madness medley!” says Dom. Maybe it’s the magic, maybe it’s the moment, but there are times during the show when a lyric feels particularly weighted with emotion. Jayne says, “We have highs and lows; we’re performers, not robots. If someone is feeling it we know because we’re such a close team. If someone’s feeling poorly, if someone’s feeling sad, it’s our job to carry them through the show and that favour is always returned. We’ve had shows where people have spent the entire run in a really not very good place, so it’s nice to go ‘We’ll get through this, together.’”

See the Spotl i g ht IOW tea m perfor m thei r 2021 Pa ntom i me Beauty & the Bea st at Sha n k l i n T heatre f rom 22nd December u nti l 3rd Ja nua r y. For tickets, v isit sha n k l i ntheatre.com November and December 2021

STYLE | Art

Feeling festive w ith

Polish Pajaki P

With Lauren Fr y, Arts Educator

ajaki (pah-yonk-ee), meaning ‘spiders’, are traditional Polish straw and paper chandeliers. Symbolising health and happiness these folk-art beauties date back to the 18th Century where women living in the Polish countryside would use locally harvested materials to create brightly coloured and intricate chandeliers for festive occasions and celebrations. Making your own Pajaki with family or friends is a fantastic way to while away a few winter hours chatting and crafting, perhaps with some tasty festive treats! Using simple materials and techniques, in a colour scheme of your choice, these celebratory centrepieces make a fabulous focal point above a dining table or hanging in a window as they welcome in happiness and ward off bad luck.

Materia ls Tissue paper Coloured card Paint (acrylic/emulsion) Paper straws Pasta tubes (penne/macaroni/tortiglioni) String Craft wire Scissors and glue

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Ma k i ng pom-poms • Cut and layer up between 8 and 12 rectangles of tissue paper: here I have used 8 layers of 12 x 20cm • Concertina fold starting from one short end and working all the way to the other, making each fold about 2cm wide • Tie a piece of string around the centre

• Next cut the ends of your folded tissue paper either into a curve or a point • Carefully flatten out one side and start separating out the tissue paper layers • Once all the layers are separated you can fiddle with the shape until you are happy with your finished pom-pom.

Art | STYLE

How to ma ke you r Paja k i Ma k i ng a tassel • Cut a piece of tissue paper around 18 x 25cm and fold in half lengthways

• Unfold your tissue paper and roll up starting from one of the short sides

• Starting from the open long side cut into your tissue paper stopping around 2cm from the fold

• Once rolled twist the centre between the tassel ends

• Continue cutting all the way along the length of the tissue paper to create a fringe

• Finally, fold in half and twist together to create a loop.

Fol low t hese i n st r uct ion s to ma ke a ch a ndel ier l i ke my exa mple. However, t he possibi l it ies a re end less a nd t here a re no r u les so play a rou nd w it h patter n a nd st r uctu re to ma ke you r ver y ow n per fect Paja k i.

• Assemble all your materials and create the elements for your chandelier; for my Pajaki I made 7 tissue paper pom-poms, 1 tassel, painted pasta and paper straws and cut various shapes and circles from tissue paper and card. • To create the hoop for your chandelier thread 5 paper straws onto craft wire and twist the ends together, cutting off the excess. • Decorate 5 long strings with a range of your decorations, tie one set of ends together and then tie each of the other ends to the 5 corners of your hoop. • Decorate another set of 5 strings and attach them hanging down from each of the 5 sides of your hoop. • Create one final longer string of decorations with a tassel on the end and attach this to hang down the middle of your Pajaki. • Finally, add your pom-poms to each corner of your hoop and put 2 at the top where all the strings are tied together.

Fi nd out more about Lau ren’s i l lustration work at stud iow ren.co.u k or fol low her on I nsta g ra m @stud io_w ren November and December 2021

Give

HOPE This Christmas

Buy your tree from us this year, and we’ll give £5 from every sale to help support those who really need it this Christmas. PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE POP - UP SOUP KITCHEN Find us at Staplehurst Grange, Staplers Road, PO30 2LU Open daily from 27th November Free parking • Island-wide delivery

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Art | STYLE

Style spectrum

A lice Greenfield and Sam Morris A f ter many years work ing in London, Sam and A lice combined their fi lmma k ing and photog raphy ex pertise during lockdow n, resu lting in Adri f t Visua ls: a v ideo and photog raphy production agency creating beauti f u l mov ing stories for clients in the outdoor sector. November and December 2021

STYLE | Art

Alice says, “Our whole business is sculpted by the coastlines here. We love how rugged and wild West Wight can be; when you drive along the military road you could be anywhere in the world. The Island is beautiful in every weather and capturing its moody seascapes and unpredictability is what we love most.” The pair takes pride in taking a picture every day, and they constantly practice their skills capturing moments and memories outside of their regular client work. Last year, when Sam bought Alice an advent calendar that had a little car on it with a Christmas tree tied to the top, she instantly said: “let’s recreate that.” They hired Brian the Land Rover Defender from Isle of Wight Campervan Holidays and sourced decorations before chasing a Compton Bay sunset on Christmas Eve. Alice recalls, “We shot for 2-3 hours and all in all it was very overcast and dull. Just before the sun set a small gap in the clouds opened up and some golden light came through creating an amazing set of colours and tones – we couldn’t believe it! Totally magical.”

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Art | STYLE

Instag ra m: @sa m morris3 @shot _by_ a l ice @a d ri f tv isua ls November and December 2021

YARMOUTH GALLERY nd us in the high street, off the main square

CONTEMPORARY

ART & CRAFT

by Artists from the Island and around UK

OPEN DAILY

��a�great�l��le�car��ho�

AUTUMN . . .

“season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”

www.yarmouthgallery.com

THE

Corn Exchange... AT ARRETON BARNS

Escape the high street for a more local, relaxed and personalised shopping experience this festive season. Visit the shops, artists and artisans at Arreton Barns to ﬁnd a gift as unique as the person you are buying for.

MAIN ROAD, ARRETON, PO30 3AA | 01983 539365 | ARRETONBARNS.CO.UK

Art | STYLE

Forage

for a flat lay

Pete Lock Photography

By Tra cy Ca lder, co-fou nder of the a n nua l Close-up Photog rapher of the Yea r competition

lat lay photography – shooting objects directly from above – is particularly popular with product and food photographers, but it’s also a fabulous way of shooting nature in all its winter glory. Next time you’re planning a walk, take a basket or bag with you and gather up any leaves, berries or dried grasses that catch your eye. Once home, examine your natural treasures and arrange them on a white board where each shape, colour and skeletal form can be celebrated. There’s something so calming and meditative about the process, and once you start it’s really hard to stop! Aside from fostering a general sense of calm, flat lays are a great way to further your understanding of composition, positive and negative space and how to use colour theory to enhance your images.

1. Think more is more When it comes to selecting objects for a flat lay, choose items that relate to one another, whether via shape, colour or theme. For this style of photography, more is most definitely more – anything in abundance can be turned into a picture with a bit of patience. I like to head out on a colour or shape treasure hunt, training my eye to look for just green leaves, triangular grass tips, etc. With its mixture of woodland and heathland, Parkhurst Forest is a great place to begin your search.

2. Gather what grows together Chefs often say: ‘What grows together, goes together’ and this is good advice when foraging for a flat lay. If you’ve found some attractive leaves, look around to see what else might be growing nearby. Are there berries or twigs that might work in the composition? Can you tell the story of a particular place through your work? With a variety of habitats, sites such as Newtown National Nature Reserve could become the subject of multiple flat lays. November and December 2021

STYLE | Art

3. Complete your jigsaw When positioning objects, imagine you’re completing a jigsaw. Choose one subject to be the ‘hero’ and place it in the centre. Next, choose items for each corner – I reserve my favourite leaves, twigs or flowers for this. Now, line the edges with attractive objects and fill in the larger gaps with items of secondary importance. Finally, add small items to the remaining spaces to balance the composition. With seaweed of various shapes and sizes, a jigsaw flat lay of the salty treasures at Bembridge Ledge would be fabulous.

4. Follow the lines Eyes like to follow lines, so use twigs, stems or petals to direct the viewer’s gaze. Where possible, create pause points where the eyes can linger and take in the surroundings – a line of similar flowers interrupted by a rogue bloom, for example. When positioning objects, think about how they relate to one another – is there a connection between shapes and colours? Are there texture or size similarities? Learn how other artists direct the viewer’s gaze around the frame – Dimbola Museum & Galleries never fails to inspire.

5. Let nature dictate When using natural objects, let them have a say in the arrangement. If you force a plant or a leaf into a certain position it often retaliates by tearing, bending, or just looking completely unnatural. Hold your object and consider its natural shape and the way it moves or grows – work with nature, not against it. Arreton Down Nature Reserve is a great place to sit and observe how plants naturally bend and move in the breeze.

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Art | STYLE

6. Lighten up Consistent light is crucial when shooting a flat lay. Bright but overcast days are best, but if the sun is too fierce then you can diffuse it by hanging a white sheet over a window. If areas of the composition fall into shadow, use a piece of white card to bounce light into them. You can also keep shooting into the night by arranging objects on a lightbox. Head to the coast and watch how the light alters in quality, direction, and temperature throughout the day – Compton Bay is a favourite haunt of mine.

7. Keep it clean Stray pollen and torn leaves can lead to more time in front of the computer making corrections, so use a paintbrush or tweezers to remove any detritus. On the other hand, when flowers fade and wilt they twist into wonderful shapes, so don’t throw dying or damaged leaves away until you’ve explored their full photographic potential. Fallen petals and discoloured leaves from formal gardens such as Mottistone would make a wonderful arrangement.

Feel i n g i nspi red? Ta g @style_of w i g ht on I nsta g ra m to sha re you r festive fora ged f lat lays – we’d love to see them! November and December 2021

STYLE | Art

The shining Nai l varnish is a tricksy, risk y medium to work with. But for artist and ex hibition curator Sy rett it has opened new doors in both fashion and art

hen you arrive at the house of an artist whose medium is nail varnish you expect to meet somebody effete, petite. You expect his art to be ephemeral, superficial, dashed off perhaps. Nail varnish, after all, puts on and takes off an image instantly. So much for preconceptions.

By R oz W h ista nce Pictu res Ju l ia n Wi nslow

Syrett is tall, substantial, casually dressed, northern. He is welcoming, with a dry humour and conversation that reflects a huge and varied life in the arts. So the intricacy with which he describes his work comes as something of a surprise. “Look at this, it’s like ice cream – and that opalescence, that’s where there

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are tiny pyramids reflecting the light. So pretty – like sweeties. See this little raised bit – that slight roughness like old skin? Those are happy accidents and I really like those.” Syrett creates roundels of moonscapes, skies, otherworldly landscapes, oceanic dreams: they become what you see. The iridescence of colour, the captured movement, the spikes of pigment create works that apparently glow beyond the two dimensions of the board. Going with the happy accidents and moving with the swirls that life throws up is something of a theme. “I graduated in textiles from Liverpool, and ran Icon, the dance nightclub there. At the same time, I became a

Art | STYLE

freelance textile designer through an agency in New York.”

medically induced coma, and basically lost everything.”

Lack of work in Liverpool led him, via Amsterdam, to London, where he became a fashion stylist. “Trade stuff led to styling lots of pop stars and celebrities, doing Top of the Pops, things like that. I ended up being a bit of a presenter on really bad daytime TV,” he grins.

Physical recovery was intense and slow, and a side effect of all this was a nervous breakdown. It was his counsellor who suggested he started painting again: “She forced me back into the studio. I wasn’t really interested in it. So I started to play with nail varnish.”

A girlfriend led him back home to Harrogate where he started to do artwork. “A group exhibition I was in was with a lot of famous street artists, like Blek le Rat and Nick Walker, and because I was the local boy it elevated me.” All was looking rosy, until Syrett discovered he had cancer. “I spent quite a lot of time in hospital, in a

“My work is much more affected by the seasons here. You have to slow down, and I kind of like that.”

Why? “I’d started to advise some artists in the fashion world and was looking at beauty from a sponsorship perspective. Someone gave me a whole bag of nail varnish and said: ‘I’m sure you can do something with this.’” So Syrett did, and posted the results on an Instagram account. He did some prints, and that started him off. “They November and December 2021

STYLE | Art

became quite popular,” he says, and the little bottles he began with were replaced by more industrial-sized tanks. Even so, there are certain practicalities: nail varnish sets quickly so speed is key. “First I weigh each colour. Darker colours are much heavier, so move slower, so you have to put something that moves quicker next to them.” Then it becomes about dance, about moving. “I tend to pour it so it’s not near the edges, because that makes me move it, to go there.” Extraordinarily, given the necessary working speed, he has created pieces up to two metres in size. “I’m essentially a printer of textiles so I like the stuff I can’t control along with what I do control.” One of the less benevolent things he couldn’t control is fire. “I used to use a hairdryer to dry parts I liked. One day with fluff on the hairdryer and fumes of the nail varnish – well, I set the studio on fire.” His studio survived, but a burned leg meant another spell in hospital. “One good thing came out of it,” he says. “My nurse brought her husband to the exhibition I’d been preparing. It turned out he was one of the Bradford Six with Hockney!” Today his work is highly sought after, whether originals or prints. He is beginning to be influenced by the Japanese pottery technique of kintsugi, where broken pots – or in Syrett’s case torn prints reworked with gold leaf – essentially become originals. Success in art, however unusual the medium, is hard to achieve but Syrett’s varied career and contacts have come into their own: “I’m a poacher/ gamekeeper kind of artist,” he says. “I understand the gallery side so I’m always looking for connections to help with the marketing.”

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Sometimes he’s more of a curator, sometimes more of an artist. “I’ve just had a show at Blacks, a private members club in Soho, where I teamed 10 artists with 10 perfume brands. That’s moving to JOVOY, the perfume store in Mayfair, and then to Paris.” Being here on the Island has changed him. “My work is much more affected

by the seasons here. You have to slow down, and I kind of like that.” One repercussion of the virus was that the perspex Syrett uses for his work became prohibitively expensive – it is in demand as screens in shops, pubs and restaurants. But he found wooden bases work just as well in most cases, which fits with his environmental

Art | STYLE

concerns. He swims most days, and the plastic debris he pulls from the sea has a new life as stencils to add another dimension to his poured nail varnish pieces. He’s also started to work with Graphenstone, an environmentally positive paint that removes CO2 from the air. Changed, too, is his way of thinking

about the traditional diktats of the fashion world. “In naming my pieces I was keeping that tradition going of spring/summer, autumn/winter collections, but living here that doesn’t seem appropriate.” He adds: “I think the idea that there’s going to be fashion as we know it, with catwalks and new looks, throwaway fashion, I think that’s

got to change – it’s about what you need.” While his move to St Lawrence means he has stepped physically away from the art and fashion hotspots, he is still watching the way the market is changing, and working within it to effect change.

November and December 2021

Caffe Isola &

The

Experience a Traditional Family Farm on the Isle of Wight Happy Christmas to all our Customers!

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Roastery artisan cafe, roastery & independant retail 85a St James St, Newport

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trimmings All the

Come one, come a ll, and discover the very best loca l food and drin k from across the Isle of Wight this Christmas. From farm field to festive table, larder staples to lu xurious menus – you’ll find it a ll here.

Festive food stories

The best Christmas cake ever by Richmonds Bakery’s Immy Bawdon (page 39), caramelised Christmas sprouts by Living Larder’s Will Steward (page 45), Christmas crunch granola with Balance + Glo’s Evelyn Joyce (page 47), and Sicilian Pasta di Mandorla by Caffe Isola’s Viviana Burgess (page 48)

Holiday cheers! This Pine and Cranberry Buck packs a pretty peppy punch (page 41)

Our Seasonal Dining Guide: for Christmas parties, New Year’s nights out and beyond with some of the Island’s finest eateries (pages 50-53)

November and December 2021

Food | STYLE

Best Christmas cake (ever) “A s t he f i rst rea l ca ke I ever ba ked, t h i s Ch r i stma s ca ke h a s a specia l pla ce i n my hea r t; I st i l l remember proud ly ca r r y i n g it i nto t he d i n i n g room on Ch r i stma s Day. To t h i s day I st i l l st a nd by my Gra nd ma’s ‘Ch r i stma s Ca ke Ru les’ – 1) soa k t he f r u it for a m i n i mu m of t h ree days i n copiou s a mou nts of bra ndy a nd 2) a lways leave t he pa rch ment on t he ca ke when feed i n g. O ver t he yea rs I’ve a dded my ow n l itt le twea k s – l i ke a dd i n g a sma l l d rop of apple ju ice, wh ich g ives t he ca ke a l itt le bit of sh a r pness to cut t h rou g h a l l t he natu ra l f r u it su ga rs.” – I m m y Bawdon, ow ner of Isle of Wi g ht (i n Cowes a nd New por t) a r t i sa n ba ker y a nd ca fé R ich monds Ba ker y

F u l l recipe on l i ne at styleof w i g ht.co.u k Vintage cake tin provided by Dig For Vintage

November and December 2021

Indulge yourself this Christmas at Pickle & Dill

• Festive Treats • Hampers • Local Produce • Christmas Cheese Orders • Grazing Platters • Deli breakfasts, lunch & tapas

51 Union Street, Ryde, PO33 2TU 01983 811694 eat@pickleanddill.co.uk

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Holiday cheers R ela x a nd enjoy t he cosy Ch r i stma s v ibes a f ter a cr i sp fora g i n g wa l k w it h t h i s pu nchy P i ne & Cra nber r y Buck, f rom t he Isle of Wi g ht Di st i l ler y m i xolog i sts. I n g red ient s 30m l Mer ma id Sa lt Vod k a 10m l P i ne sy r up 5m l Lemon ju ice Gi n ger a le Met hod Bu i ld i n a tu mbler w it h ice. Ga r n i sh w it h f resh sea sona l cra nber r ies a nd a spr i g of peppy pi ne.

November and December 2021

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Fancy dress, happy hour 6-7pm dancing, nibbles & a glass of bubbles for dressing up NO TICKET OR ENTRANCE FEE ~ RESERVATIONS: 01983 882823

Fancy dress, happy hour 6-7pm dancing, nibbles & a glass of bubbles for dressing up NO TICKET OR ENTRANCE FEE ~ RESERVATIONS: 01983 810616

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A late night soul food cafe serving

CREPES, WAFFLES, ICE CREAM, COFFEE AND GIFTS OPEN TIMES Sunday to Thursday 10am til 10pm Friday and Saturday 10am til 11pm 22 High Street NEWPORT www.sweetcharlies.co.uk

Food | STYLE

Caramelised Christmas sprouts “Br u ssels sprouts a re one of t he most popu la r item s t h at we put i n ou r veg boxes. Love or h ate t hem, t he lovers def i n itely out nu mber t he h aters. Best eaten f rom November when t he colder weat her cau ses t he leaves to d rop a nd t he sprouts to be ex posed, t h rou g h to late Febr ua r y when t he sprout tops a re a l l t h at’s lef t. A lon g a nd slow g row i n g pla nt, sprouts a re ty pica l ly pla nted out a rou nd m id su m mer’s day a nd nu r tu red for more t h a n h a l f a yea r before a r r iv i n g on you r Ch r i stma s t able. W hen it comes to cook i n g Ch r i stma s sprouts I t h i n k si mple i s best: lots of butter a nd good stock ma ke t he most del iciou s ca ra mel i sed sprouts.” – Wi l l Stewa rd , f rom fa m i l yow ned , Soi l A ssoci at ion cer t i f ied Orga n ic fa r m L iv i n g La rder F u l l recipe on l i ne at styleof w i g ht.co.u k

Image courtesy Julian Winslow

November and December 2021

at, drink, m�t friends and stay a while.....

Whether coming to enjoy a lunch, dinner, an overnight stay or a perfectly chilled glass of wine after a busy day, Albert Cottage is the place to be. Always stylish and elegant, with a vibrant atmosphere and warm friendly service.

YO R K AV E N U E • E A S T C O W E S • P O 3 2 6 B D • 0 1 9 8 3 2 9 9 3 0 9 • A L B E RT C O T TA G E H O T E L . C O M

Christmas crunch

“P ut on you r favou r ite Ch r i stma s ju mper, tu r n up t he fest ive tu nes, a nd ma ke a bi g batch of Ch r i stma s Cr u nch Gra nola . Golden oaty clu sters w it h wa r m Ch r i stma s spices a nd maple/medjool sweet ness w it h red goji ber r ies (swap for cra nber r ies i f you prefer!) pa cked i n reu sable K i l ner Ja rs a nd t ied up w it h some pretty st r i n g ma ke t he per fect pla netf r iend ly g i f t.” - Evel y n Joyce, f rom Isle of Wi g ht wel l ness plat for m, Ba la nce + Glo

F u l l recipe on l i ne at styleof w i g ht.co.u k

November and December 2021

STYLE | Food

Sicilian Pasta di Mandorla “Pa st a d i Ma ndorla a re a Sici l ia n Ch r i stma s specia l ity. My g ra nd mot her, Non na Ma r ia , my au nt ies a nd my mu m u sed to ma ke hu ge t rays of t hem i n t hose bu sy ba k i n g days lea d i n g to Ch r i stma s. Pa st a d i Ma ndorla ma ke a del iciou s fest ive g i f t a nd a re natu ra l ly g luten f ree. T hey a re a lso a g reat sweet a ccompa n i ment to a st ron g bla ck cof fee such a s one of ou r Isla nd R oa sted espressos or a mer ica nos.” - Viv i a na Bu rgess, Ca f fe Isola

F u l l recipe on l i ne at styleof w i g ht.co.u k

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STYLE | Food

Style of Wight

Seasonal Dining Guide for Christmas Pa rties, New Yea r’s nights out a nd beyond…

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Food | STYLE

Christmas at Albert Cottage W hether v isiti ng for a n opu lent a f ternoon tea , l ig ht lu nch, specia l d i n ner or w ith you r friends a nd col leag ues for a f u n-f i l led Ch ristmas pa rty, when you choose to celebrate Ch ristmas at A lbert Cottage you’re i n exceed i ng ly good compa ny. It’s rather specia l to th i n k that Queen Victoria hersel f a nd her beloved Pri nce A lbert wou ld once have enjoyed thei r ow n specia l occasions at th is Grade II l isted former Roya l residence. With roa ri ng log f i res, friend ly a nd professiona l ser v ice, a nd a n atmosphere steeped i n British h istor y, A lbert Cottage is the perfect place to enjoy catch i ng up w ith friends a nd fa m i ly. T he hotel is prepa ri ng for ref u rbish ment works i n Ja nua r y 2022, so now is the perfect ti me to enjoy its wa rm i ng w i nter menus; l i ke th is ga me pie of pheasa nt, pa rtridge a nd ven ison – ser ved w ith honeyroasted heritage ca rrots a nd pa rsn ips. A lber t Cotta ge Hotel, Ea st Cowes a lbertcottagehotel.com Instag ra m: @a lbertcottagehotel To book : 01983 299309

Warm yourself in Salty’s welcoming atmosphere Celebrate Ch ristmas w ith a cosy coasta l v ibe at Sa lty’s Ba r & Restau ra nt. Enjoy exqu isite cu isi ne i n sof t ca nd lel it su rrou nd i ngs, embraced by its wa rm a nd welcom i ng front of house sta ff a nd en ha nced by a superb ra nge of Fi ne Wi nes a nd Old Fash ioned a nd Si ng le Ma lt W h iskeys. Usi ng the freshest a nd f i nest produce from loca l a nd specia l ist suppl iers, Head Chef Tom A x ford w i l l ser ve up a cu l i na r y ex perience to be savou red: from sig natu re n ibbles such as crispy, squ id i n k crackers to del icate gou rmet d ishes a nd cha rg ri l ledto-perfection stea k favou rites, to desserts i nclud i ng honey-roasted necta ri ne w ith mu l led w i nter spices. Cateri ng for ex tra-la rge tables a nd g roups, Sa lty’s is the perfect place to celebrate ‘en masse’: from sta ff Ch ristmas pa rties to seasona l fa m i ly reu n ions a nd events. Sa lty’s Ba r & R estau ra nt, Ya r mouth sa ltysrestau ra nt.co.u k Instag ra m: @sa ltysba ra nd restau ra nt To book : 01983 761550 November and December 2021

STYLE | Food

The party is on at the Seaview Hotel

Celebrate you r Ch ristmas pa rty at the Seav iew Hotel on Satu rday 11th a nd Satu rday 18th December w ith a 3-cou rse d i n ner a nd enterta i n ment, from £35 per person. Later on i n December, say fa rewel l to the festive season for a nother yea r a nd toast the a rriva l of 2022 w ith a f u l l even i ng of New Yea r’s Eve enterta i n ment from Lew is Berr y Blues Ba nd a nd a 5-cou rse d i n ner specia l ly created by the Head Chef; on ly £85 per person. Featu ri ng a menu that combi nes Modern British cu isi ne w ith a reg iona l Isle of Wig ht tw ist; l i ke th is sage-crusted mon k f ish w ith mussel, cla m a nd chestnut chowder. A nd why not ex tend the celebration? Stay i n one of th is i ndependent coasta l hotel’s w ide ra nge of cosy accom modation options, from £50 per person i nclud i ng brea k fast. Seav iew Hotel & R estau ra nt, Seav iew seav iewhotel.co.u k | Instag ra m: @seav iewhotel iow To book : 01983 612711 or ema i l restau ra nt @seav iewhotel.co.u k

Experience the magic of Christmas with Michelangelo You don’t need to travel fa r to ex perience the true taste of a n Ita l ia n Ch ristmas th is yea r – authentic Ita l ia n cu isi ne prepa red by genu i ne Ita l ia n chefs awa its at popu la r Ryde restau ra nt Michela ngelo. T h is friend ly a nd rela xed d i n i ng ex perience is testa ment to its Ita l ia n ow ners’ passion for rea l home-cooked food, much of wh ich is i n f luenced from thei r gastronom ica l ly rich reg ion of Em i l ia-Romag na . Open for la rge pa rty book i ngs th roug hout the festive season as wel l as on Ch ristmas Day itsel f (fou r cou rses for £75), d i ners ca n choose from a del icious a rray of Ita l ia n d ishes, ser ved i n a n i nti mate ca nd lel it atmosphere. T h is elega nt North Ita l ia n d ish – Crespel le a l Gra nch io e Sa l mone – of cute homemade m i l k-based pasta pa rcels f i l led w ith crab meat, smoked sa l mon, Sw iss cheese a nd Pa rmesa n a nd coated i n a velvety wh ite sauce w i l l si mply melt i n you r mouth. Plus: on Satu rday 4th December, Michela ngelo hosts its a n nua l ma rket to ma rk the beg i n n i ng of the Ch ristmas season: a n essentia l food ie event for you r festive ca lenda r offeri ng a rea l feast for the eyes, w ith the f i nest qua l ity Pa nettone, Pa ndora , Torrone a nd more. R istora nte M ichela n gelo, Ryde ristora ntem ichela ngelo.co.u k Facebook : @Michela ngelo Restau ra nt IOW To book : 01983 811966

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Food | STYLE

Celebrate in style with Inns of Distinction In ns of Disti nction a re determ i ned to ma ke th is festive season its most celebrator y ever. At T he Boathouse a nd T he Fishbou rne, pre- Ch ristmas pa rty menus ru n th roug hout December, i nclud i ng a spectacu la r Ch ristmas day menu. T h is trad itiona l British classic by Executive Chef Joel Yea rsley is a lways a show-stopper; h ig hest qua l ity Isla nd beef f i l let rol led i n pa rma ha m a nd mush room du xel le w ith a l ig ht homemade pu ff pastr y a nd ser ved w ith pom me pu ree, cha rred tenderstem broccol i a nd rich red w i ne dem i g lace. Both pubs a re open for d i n ner reser vations on New Yea r’s Eve as they i nv ite you to ‘bri ng you r house pa rty to ou r house pa rty’ a nd see i n 2022 i n style w ith da nci ng to resident DJs a nd free f izz to a l l who come a long i n fa ncy d ress. T he Boathouse, Seav iew a nd T he Fishbou r ne, Wootton Creek In nsofd isti nction.co.u k | Instag ra m: @ i n nsofd isti nction Book i ng essentia l: T he Boathouse – 01983 810616 T he Fishbou rne – 01983 882823

Keep the party going with Smoking Lobster At the Isla nd’s most exciti ng triptych of food ie desti nations, the Ch ristmas spi rit(s) a re just the beg i n n i ng. Offeri ng a l l-yea rrou nd fresh sea food, vegeta ria n a nd loca l meat d ishes w ith a pa n-Asia n tw ist, a l l th ree locations have become sy nony mous w ith fa ntastic food a nd beauti f u l ly cra f ted cock ta i ls w ith fresh ju ices a nd Asia n f lavou rs. From 2022 onwa rds, d i ners w i l l be able to enjoy a l l thei r favou rite d ishes i n a n exciti ng new package of at-home events. Choose from bespoke 3 cou rse menus a nd enjoy the ver y best of the Smok i ng Lobster ex perience i n you r ow n home or on location, cooked by you r ver y ow n chef a nd attended by you r ver y ow n cock ta i l ba rtender. We’re a l ready i mag i n i ng the lu x u r y of sippi ng on a fresh ly-made-for-us cherr y blossom ma rti n i as we awa it ou r favou rite sea red Isle of Wig ht f i l let beef w ith ponzu gel a nd cav ia r ser ved w ith butternut squash, nasu denga k u beig nets. Bri ng on the New Yea r! Smok i n g Lobster, Ventnor Bea ch Instag ra m: @smok i ng lobster ventnor | 01983 855938 Smok i n g Lobster, Cowes Ma r i na Instag ra m: @smok i ng lobstercowes | 01983 240168 Dr u n ken Lobster, Ventnor Tow n Instag ra m: @d ru n ken lobsterba r smok i ng lobster.co.u k November and December 2021

Handmade cosmetics, vegan and cruelty free. @essentia_bodyandburn

Implant grade Titanium or 14k gold ethnically sourced Swarovski Crystal Junipurr with lifetime guarantee @piercingsby.Rachel

6 Union St, Ryde PO33 2DU 01983 611168

Feature | STYLE

Destination Ryde Christmas shopping is back, and what better place to embark on your search for the perfect gifts than the Victorian seaside town lined with quirky independent businesses? From vintage boutiques to luxury jewellers, you will find something for everybody on your stroll from the top of Ryde town to the picturesque seafront.

November and December 2021

STYLE | Feature

Find timeless sparkle with Emily Austin at Serendipity Diamonds

Make a present of the past at Dig For Vintage

et the warm glow of fairy lights guide your late-night shopping experience and head to Ryde after dark on Thursday 2nd December, when visitors can enjoy a street festival with seasonal treats and marvel in the magic of a Lantern Parade.

Whether a Christmas proposal is on the horizon, or you are just on a quest for something special, Mark and the friendly team are open to private appointments to guide customers through the stunning showroom, explain the bespoke options and help them find the perfect diamond.

At the top of the town, our journey begins with a little bit of luxury. Serendipity Diamonds is open to all, with gorgeous gift ideas for every price tag. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings in timeless styles glint in the light of the glass cabinets.

Across the way, on the corner of Lind Street, Dig For Vintage’s colourful storefront entices us in from between the grand pillars of The Colonnade. It is easy to get lost amongst the swathes of vintage fabrics and antiques inside. The shop is scattered with an eclectic mix of fashion and furnishings awaiting a new lease of life. Sarah, joint owner of the shop, explains her dislike of unnecessary waste; repurposing vintage pieces is Sarah’s passion and remains at the heart of the business. “If we can reuse something, then we will,” she says. Dig For Vintage is also home to a wide selection of popular Annie Sloan Chalk Paints, stencils and kits – a gift guaranteed to bring joy to anybody with a passion for upcycling.

Luxury jewellery for all budgets from Serendipity Diamonds

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A quick diversion down Cross Street, and we reach Her Whey – a zero

Make principled gift choices with Czara Anderson at Her Whey

waste shop with everything from pasta, cereals and snacks to allpurpose cleaners, soaps and laundry liquids available for refills. After years working as a freelance writer and travelling abroad, owner Czara made the decision to settle on our beautiful island. She opened the doors to Her Whey six months ago with a mission to make positive, community-based change. Her product selection is centred around the ethos of low waste and the shelves are brimming with affordable refills and eco swaps. Perfect for a spot of guiltfree Christmas shopping, wherever

Ethical beauty swaps to help body and soul glow from Her Whey

Feature | STYLE

Lisa Garth is on hand to help you pick the perfect perfume at Gibbs & Gurnell

Refuel deli-style with Danielle, Nicole and Anthony Wright at Pickle & Dill

possible, products are made in the UK and sourced locally. It is impossible to step into the iconic Gibbs & Gurnell without first gazing at the stunning storefront from the Union Street pavement. Surely the oldest business in Ryde, Gibbs & Gurnell has been loved as the local pharmacy since its doors first opened in the 1850s. The team prides itself on providing a friendly welcome; “we are a family chemist and perfumery that offers a personal service,” Lisa says. This season, the shelves are bursting with Christmas gift ideas with

Giftboxes galore from Gibbs and Gurnell

luxury bath and body giftboxes to suit every recipient. For a more traditional present, there is, of course, a great array of fragrances to explore behind the beautiful, classic wooden counter. If there is one thing we have learnt during our trips to Ryde over the past year, it is that one cannot simply walk past Pickle & Dill. A deli and café that transforms into a wine bar offering tapas and sharing boards in the evening, the family-run establishment has something delicious for every time of the day. Ready for Christmas, the shelves are brimming with gift ideas for foodies – from craft beers to paella kits and beautiful hampers filled with local produce. As we tucked into our New York Deli sandwiches (a perfect combination of pastrami, Swiss cheese, pickles and Dijon mustard on toasted sourdough bread), others enjoyed a glass of wine and antipasti snacks. Nicola, Danielle and Anthony embarked on the Pickle & Dill venture as a family in October 2020 and haven’t looked back since. Suitably stuffed, we made our way down the street to our next stop. A mixture of incredible scents hangs

Get the scents of the season at Pure Wight Soy Candles

in the air as we cross the threshold into Pure Wight Soy Candles. Owner and maker Jenny appears from the open workshop area at the back of the shop, where she busily creates her scented products blended from soy wax, essential oils and a mixture of glorious fragrances. The shelves are filled with gorgeous gift ideas from Island-based artisans. Candles, melts, reed diffusers and room mists are all popular prezzies, available in a selection of addictive scents, like lime and lemongrass, rosemary and bay and, our personal favourite, seaside.

Build your hygge with rustic room accents from Pure Wight Soy Candles

November and December 2021

STYLE | Feature

Sacha Chowdhury curates bohemian vibes at Lost Lover

Mia invites you to step out in style

Just down from Pure Wight Soy Candles, we are met with an oasis of colour in Lost Lover – the perfect place for hunting out unusual gifts for trend-setting friends and hard-to-buyfor teens. The store is an Aladdin’s cave of Boho fashion, with a fantastic selection of bold dungarees and unusual knits. Sacha and Seija, sisters and owners of Lost Lover, source products from all over the world. An escape from high street chain stores, the hangers are adorned with clothes and accessories that you won’t find anywhere else. Some of our favourite collections are their dungarees

Warm hands, warm hearts - Lost Lover

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designed and manufactured in Italy and Christmas decorations handwoven by a family in Africa. “We try to be very different and stand out from the crowd,” says Sacha – and they have certainly succeeded in achieving that goal. Continuing our jaunt into women’s fashion, just a couple of doors down, pom-pom hats and winter woollies welcome us into a world of cosy style at Mia. Winter fashion has landed and there is a huge range of stylish clothes, shoes, and accessories to choose from in this Union Street store. Beyond the rails of autumnal clothing ready for layering up, cabinets of statement jewellery and shelves of ankle boots draw us in. With her carefully curated collections, owner Maria provides stylish, ageless, affordable clothing that makes women feel good. A little further down the road, the team at La Familia are busy tending to their regular clients. The party season is upon us and what better way to treat yourself and your loved ones than with a bit of pampering? La Familia is a bright, spacious salon with colourful, elegant touches – including

Glow up for the festive season with help from La Familia

a larger-than-life peacock displaying its feathers on the far wall. After opening at the end of 2020, the two sisters, Sammy and Nikki, hired Tony and became a team of three. The team is, true to their name, like a family. “We are a friendly salon and our clients feel like they get more than they pay for; we take great care of their hair health,” says Tony. Hair and makeup packages are available for Christmas gifting, as well as gift vouchers for people who deserve a little hair and beauty indulgence. Next, we cross the road and make our way down to the quirky gift shop and

Sammy, Tony and Nikki are your holiday party beauty team - La Familia

Feature | STYLE

Step out of this world at Essence

Paul Wyett from Jack’s Vintage helps clients find unique pieces

piercing studio, Essence. Surrounded by miniature cauldrons and spellbooks, stepping into Essence is like hopping into another world. The business underwent a transformation during lockdown, when owner Vanessa homed in on manufacturing her own cosmetic products, including a new range of unique perfumes, to keep up with demand. Vanessa blends essential oils and fragrance oils to create fun, unusual products to suit every taste and sensitivity. There is a short queue of people waiting for nose and ear piercings, but even the wait is enjoyable, as they happily chat with

Experience perfumes and piercings with Vanessa Walker and Rachel Lamy of Essence

Vanessa while browsing the selection of candles, mugs and bath salts before Rachel calls them into her studio at the back of the shop. Towards the bottom of the hill, we dive into an oasis of wonderful finds at Jacks Vintage and Collectibles. “We didn’t want it to look like a secondhand shop,” explains Paul, as we are greeted with a selection of gorgeous Italian and Spanish lamps, beautiful art deco furniture and a display of natural history artwork on the wall. As customers inspect the walls and shelves on a quest for unusual items they feel belong in their homes, two children play with a traditional wooden Christmas game, bagatelle (an early form of pinball), in the front of the shop. It is evident that everything has been carefully curated and selected – mostly from auctions abroad, Paul explains – to fit the shop’s bold, eclectic style. Finally, we are greeted with the contagious, warm smiles of Anna and Rosie at Ristorante Michelangelo – a welcome retreat for a hot drink and unbeatable Italian food at the bottom of the hill. The restaurant is situated in

Gifts for foodies abound at Ristorante Michelangelo

the perfect spot to bask in the beauty of the Solent while safely tucked away from the chill of the winter sea air. Beautifully packaged, authentic Panettoni are available to order for Christmas and, for people who like to cook, the selection of quality olive oils, balsamic vinegars and homemade sauces offer fantastic gifting opportunities. Dinner at Michelangelo is much more than just a meal. “When we opened the restaurant, we did it as if we were cooking for a family,” said Anna. “Our restaurant is not just a place to serve food; we like to create an atmosphere and keep culture alive.”

Join Rosie, Victoria and Anna for a taste of Italian culture at Michelangelo

November and December 2021

Health and Beauty | STYLE

What’s new in beauty? The Isle of Wight’s beauty scene is growing – and in good time for the festive season BeCalmed, the popular salon offering holistic and beauty therapy in Cowes, has been awarded a prestigious five-star rating from The Good Beauty Guide, and in Newport a new aesthetic clinic has opened its doors. The Good Beauty Guide – the only independent guide to beauty quality standards in the UK, Ireland and Malta – this year awarded BeCalmed a 5 Star rating. The establishment is the only beauty salon to be awarded this recognition on the Isle of Wight. The Good Beauty Guide provides an easy, reliable means of checking out the best salons in any area. Recognised salons are visited and objectively assessed by top industry professionals, giving potential clients confidence in their choice. Salons are regularly reassessed to ensure standards are maintained so membership is as good as a personal recommendation! Gareth Penn, Managing Director of the Good Beauty Guide, said: “Being in the Guide means a salon is among the

best in the country which undoubtedly attracts new business and makes existing clients feel good.” Caroline Hurley, the salon owner of BeCalmed, added: “Being a member of the Good Beauty Guide shows we are a fantastic salon in every way. It’s great not only for our clients, but for our team to know the salon has reached such high standards. It makes us all very excited about the future of our salon.” Meanwhile, in Newport, former Island GP Dr Hayley Elsmore has opened a luxury aesthetic clinic. Dr Hayley, who spent 16 years as a partner at two Island GP practices, opened the doors to The Courtyard Aesthetic Clinic – one of the Island’s few doctor-led medical aesthetic clinics – on the 18th October 2021.

Dr Hayley Elsmore Image: Stephanie Mackrill Photography

To mark the launch of the business, Dr Hayley hosted an Open Day on the 16th October. The clinic invited Islanders to meet the team and featured a special guest: award-winning beauty journalist and The Tweakments Guide author Alice Hart-Davis. With an emphasis on state-of-the-art technology, bespoke treatment plans and unrivalled patient care, the luxury clinic, in The Courtyard at St Cross Business Park, features a long list of innovative treatments – some of which are completely new to the Island.

body contours by reducing areas of stubborn fat, The Courtyard is here to help you love your looks.

Dr Hayley prides herself on enhancing the natural beauty of her patients. She said: “Whether you are looking for solutions that will help soften the signs of ageing, give you back your glow, treat specific skin problems, or improve

“Our new clinic combines the ultimate in luxury and comfort, whilst ensuring the highest levels of safety and hygiene, so you can feel confident you’re in the best hands. We’re so excited to welcome you.”

Alice Hart-Davis

Caroline Hurley with daughter Laura

November and December 2021

new wardrobe...new season...new you wishing all our customers a very merry christmas

ryde cowes online ryde 63 union street

63 union street

tel. 810581

123 high street

tel. 292966

www.mia-uk.com

newport 20 st. thomas square

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25 years of movement for wellbeing… …at the Island Pilates Centre Kim, Alison and Emma, the experienced team at the Island Pilates Centre (IPC), are looking forward to 2022 as it will be 25 years since they first brought the Pilates Technique to the Island. They have clients who have been with them since they first started, which shows how effective their work is.

Kim Davey Sinclair

Alison Beardsall

oth Kim and Alison have a background in dance and, upon moving to the Island in the 1990s, decided that they wanted to help people through the medium of movement. The duo hit upon the idea of teaching the Pilates Technique, which was relatively new in the UK at that time. All three are now qualified in all aspects of Pilates and Sports Therapy, having integrated other approaches into their rehabilitation programmes. As Master Equipment teachers they help clients with a wide range of biomechanical problems using their fully equipped studio at Long Lane. Many clients incorporate Pilates training as part of their fitness and wellbeing regime to support their other activities. “Pilates is now used by all professional sports teams,” explained Alison.

The fully equipped and spacious studio at Island Pilates Centre

IPC integrates this exceptional technique, via use of Pilates machines, into all of their programmes, including rehabilitation programmes, using corrective, creative and logical movement patterning that is simple and effective. They also accept clients pre- and post-operative and liaise with health professionals for more cohesive sessions. “Emma often handles referrals from health professionals and our one-toones,” added Kim. “What makes us different, our unique selling point, is that we look at how you move and work from the individual. Health professionals can see the difference. “We want to get you to be as good as you can be. People say that they learn more in our sessions than anywhere else.”

New for

2022 Responding to huge demand from both clients and health professionals for their material, ONLINE VIDEOS are now available to purchase, which include THE BASICS such as Breath Connection to the Core, Postural Awareness, Falls Prevention and Low Back Discomfort.

Fo r m o r e i n fo r m a t i o n v i s i t : pilatescentre.co.uk November and December 2021

STYLE | Fashion

Winter fashion

With Visual Impact

As the temperatures start to drop, stay snug in the embrace of soft knits and stylish statement coats this winter.

Jacket, £159; Sweater £85; Shirt £69.95 Stay smart Layer up this tailored check shirt with a simple lambswool sweater and practical Barbour quilted jacket for winter style on the go.

Pullover, £89; Treggings, £69

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Get the modern look With an asymmetric hem, this cashmere blend boat neck pullover looks effortlessly stylish teamed with a pair of straight-leg faux leather treggings.

Fashion | STYLE

Everyday style You can’t go wrong with a woolblend trench coat – an ideal option for pulling together any outfit while keeping warm on those frosty mornings.

Overcoat, £170; Polo neck jumper, £100; Jeans, £100

Coat, £195

Sweater, £89

Jumper, £89

Layer on luxury Keep it simple with this lovely forest green shade soft sweater, made from a knitted blend and featuring subtle rib details.

Two cushy coats in one Furry on one side and quilted on the other, this long-length, hooded overcoat makes for a brilliant winter wardrobe staple. Pair it up with a polo neck sweater and high waist jeans for a contemporary look.

Blouse, £89

It’s a classic Everybody needs a classic striped jumper. This piece is made of a super soft viscose blend – perfect for keeping cosy under a winter coat.

Pretty prints We love this elegant, printed blouse with wide sleeves and ancient sand scroll design.

C o mp l e t e t h e l o o k f r o m t h e c o l l e c t i o n i n s t o r e o r o n l i n e a t : Vi s u a l I mp a c t L a d i e s we a r a n d M e n s we a r 21 H o ly r o o d S t r e e t , New p o r t | v i s u a l i mp a c t . c o . u k | @ v i s u a l i mp a c t November and December 2021

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Bags of sailing style C owe s i s s y n o ny m o u s w i t h y a ch t s a n d y a ch t i n g , a n d a l l t h r e e a r e s y n o ny m o u s w i t h Ratsey and Lapthorn, so it’s no surprise t h a t t h e i r n ew r a n ge o f eve r y d ay c a n v a s bags is bursting at the handmade seams with elegant but practical nautical style. Above: Ro makes the Ratsey bags on a vintage Singer called Sydney. Images: Stephanie Mackrill Photography

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ust like their hometown of Cowes, Ratsey and Lapthorn is steeped in sailing history. The brand has certainly earned its canvas stripes – established in 1790 Ratsey and Lapthorn sails have been flown on vessels across the globe ever since, and it is arguably the oldest company on the Isle of Wight. The company’s rich maritime history boasts a long list of achievements, which impressively includes making sails for none other than HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. More recently, the brand has launched a new range of canvas bags that clearly have sailmaker craftsmanship sewn into every stitch. In the airy sun-filled loft where the bags are made, the gentle hum of a vintage 1935 Singer Sewing Machine

called Sydney fills the space. Rolls of reassuringly sturdy canvas in a range of beautiful colours neatly stock the wooden shelves next to spools of rough twine, cobs of cotton, needles, labels and leather – evidence that all the bags that come out of the Ratsey and Lapthorn loft are given personalised, handmade attention. Managing Director Jim Hartley explains how a sailmaker of such renown began making bags: “Many of the old sailmakers used to make bags for the sailors out of scraps of canvas left over from making sails – these original ‘Ratsey Bags’ were made to transport heavy items such as coal and ice onto ships.” Luckily for their modern clientele, the 2021 range is crafted from the same

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Gary, the company’s master sailmaker, has worked there for over 40 years.

ethically sourced canvas as the original Ratsey Bags, but now boasts a few contemporary twists. They come in a variety of styles and sizes designed to complement everyday life – from a visit to the office to a day at the beach – and their carefully thought out colours include a beautiful indigo blue that was inspired by the colour of the sail plans from the 1950s and 60s. The Isle of Wight’s compelling maritime history also has an obvious influence on the 2021 range. “Being from the Island really matters,” Jim continues. “Cowes is the spiritual heart of the world of sailing, and the Solent is the playground for classic and traditional yachts. We, as a company, have a huge respect for that and are very proud of our long history within it.”

Ratsey bags are beautifully designed, hand finished and built to last by real craftsmen. They are also sustainable, and Jim explains that these really are designed to last a lifetime: “You buy a Ratsey Bag once and you have it forever – you quite simply can’t break them. If there is any damage, we’d love to see them come back in for a repair – we want the bags to live and wear the scars of life with you, they just get better and better with age.” Besides style, functionality and durability, what is the secret behind the international popularity of the Ratsey Bag? “I think there is an appreciation around the world for British-made goods,” Jim says, “goods that have nautical heritage as part of their DNA.” If that doesn’t describe Ratsey and Lapthorn, nothing will.

The blue inspired by the colour of the working sail plans.

Yo u c a n s h o p t h e n ew r a n ge o f R a t s ey B a g s (and read more about their amazing history) at r a t s ey a n d l a p t h o r n . c o m , or find them at regattas throughout the UK and the Mediterranean. November and December 2021

Quality & Style Since 1985 RALPH LAUREN, BARBOUR, TED BAKER, PART TWO, LEVIS, FRENCH CONNECTION, DIESEL, GANT, NUDIE JEANS, LYLE & SCOTT, YAYA, TIMBERLAND, FARAH VINTAGE, FRED PERRY, NYDJ, SCOTCH & SODA, NICCE, LUKE 1977, GREAT PLAINS, TAMARIS, LOAKES SHOEMAKERS

An independant womens boutique specialising in branded clothing and accessories.

stockists of SEASALT CORNWALL . MAT DE MISAINE THOUGHT . POMODORO . ROBELL

COWES

15 High Street PO31 7RZ tel 01983 290500

A boutique independant shop with styles to suit all budgets

Ladieswear

3/4 Watchbell Lane Newport I.O.W. PO30 5XU telephone 01983 525665 Menswear

21 Holyrood Street Newport I.O.W. PO30 5AZ telephone 01983 821908 www.visualimpact.co.uk

ask about our...

• layaway and pre-loved schemes • complimentary Xmas gift wrapping • luxury vouchers 1 Watchbell Lane, Newport PO30 5XU Suzie-QsI.O.W tel. 07494 576622

T H E

S T Y L E

O F

W I G H T

Christmas Gift Guide 15 m a r v e l l o u s ly m a g i c a l p a g e s o f g i f t s t o w a n t a n d w i s h fo r f r o m o u r f av o u r i t e I s l a n d i n d e p e n d e n t r e t a i l e r s PHOTOGRAPHY HOLLY JOLLIFFE

Because we need a little Christmas (right this very second)

Ralph Lauren red plaid twill shirt, Visual Impact Menswear, £115. Luxury Rudolph matches, Pure Wight Soy Candles, £9.95. Large Winter Spice candle, Pure Wight Soy Candles, £18. Christmas tree key holder, Jacks Vintage, £18. Jellycat Merry Mouse, Shorelines of Cowes, £25. Winter berries soap, Shorelines of Cowes, £4.95. Compliments of the Season, The Goose Books, £7. Assorted scented envelope sachets, Bayliss & Booth, £4.50 each. Gourmet mulling syrup, Farmer Jacks, £5.25. Christmas mug, Shorelines of Cowes, £9.99.

For those that wander on land... Serbian Kilim rug, Jacks Vintage, £215. Ruff & Tumble ultimate dog drying coat, Pets with Hart, £48.95. British Sport by Eric Parker, The Goose Books, £5. Mustard Herschel wallet, Visual Impact Menswear, £30. Professional trainer care kits, Visual Impact Menswear, £25. Backpack, Bayliss & Booth, £45. Huskee reusable Cup, Island Roasted, £17.50. Puffin bobble hat, Shorelines of Cowes, £20.99. Barbour green beanie, Visual Impact Menswear, £22.95. Barbour Fairisle socks, Visual Impact Menswear, £14.95. Vintage RAC Road Map, The Goose Books, £4.

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...and those who speak of nothing but the sea

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Health and Beauty | STYLE

Guiding Beacon driftwood, Wight Originals, £30. Blue herringbone throw, XV Stripes, £60. Mugs, Chad Powell Photography, £8.95. Aurora sea spray soap, Wight Originals, £4.95. Mermaid Gin gift set, Isle of Wight Distillery, £62.50. Ocean Bingo, Acacia Bay, £19.99. Navy throw, Nervous Wreck Designs, £23. Island Scents candles, XV Stripes, from £25. British Seamen by David Mathew, The Goose Books, £4.50. Marine life bamboo coffee cup, Corn Exchange, £10.99. Luke Oceanic gift set, Visual Impact Menswear, £25. Framed print, Nervous Wreck Designs, £20.

November and December 2021

For home workers…

Smart book light, Bayliss & Booth, £37. 1000-piece puzzle, Chad Powell Photography, £32. Stone paper journal, Bayliss & Booth, £16. Motta coffee tamper, Island Roasted, from £25. Vintage wooden ruler, Jacks Vintage, £26. Oolong & Stem Ginger Candle, Bayliss & Booth, £30. Slippers, Mia, £20. Dipped mugs, Nervous Wreck Designs, £5 each. Woodless pencils, Bayliss & Booth, £19. Firestone Studios leather bag, available at Caffe Isola, £120. Classic dominoes, Hurst, £1.50.

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Advertisement Feature | STYLE

…with all things nice

Ballerina Mouse, This & That, £14.99. Gingerbread candle, Pure Wight Soy Candles, £9.65. Blush velvet cushion, This & That, £29.99. Barbour blush pink cable beanie, Visual Impact Ladieswear, £28. Norwegian glass polar bears, Jacks Vintage: small £40, large £70. Decorative gingerbread house, Shorelines of Cowes, £5.50. Chloe Eau de Parfum Gift Set, Gibbs & Gurnell, £75. Mermaid Pink Gin, Isle of Wight Distillery, £38. Pink hot water bottle cover, Bayliss & Booth, £32.50. Luxury macaroons, Farmer Jacks, £4.50 each.

November and December 2021

Christmas is created in the kitchen Wild Island Fine Fruit Vinegars Gift Set, Island Roasted, £13.50. Wight Apothecary beeswax wraps, Wight Originals, £16. Wight Label Indian Chai Tea, Island Roasted, £5.1950s rolling pin, Jacks Vintage, £42. Gordy’s Wood cheese board, Nervous Wreck Designs, £15. Earl Grey classic tea caddy, Island Roasted, £7.50. Chocolate-covered pressed fig salami, Yarmouth Deli, £7.50. Raw granite salt and pepper pots, This & That, £13. Isle of Wight Handmade Biscuits, Wight Originals, £20. Tea by T Eden, The Goose Books, £15. Wooden bowl, £12 and spoon £6, Acacia Bay. French sea salt, Yarmouth Deli, £6.75. Cranberry, port & orange sauce, Farmer Jacks, £5.50. 24-piece cutlery set, This & That, £52.50. Mermaid Salt Vodka, Isle of Wight Distillery, £38. English truffle oil, Farmer Jacks, £6.25. Extra virgin olive oil, from Ascolana Tenera olives, Yarmouth Deli, £21. Mrs. Beeton’s “All About Cookery”, 1964 Edition, Dig For Vintage, £14.50. Cotton tea towels, Hurst, £7.99. Cocktail snacks and canapés, The Goose Books, £2.50.

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November and December 2021

STYLE | Home

Gifts that glisten

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Vintage sequin beret, Dig For Vintage, £12.50. Vintage tie, Dig For Vintage, £12.50. Cranford by E. Gaskell, The Goose Books, £30. Crescent moon necklace, Mia, £18. Gold leather bag, Mia, £45. Champagne coupe etched star glasses, Bayliss & Booth, £9.95 each. Dom Perignon 2010 Champagne, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, £165. Caviar, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, from £135. Barbour sparkle star socks, Visual Impact Ladieswear, £10. Black suede shoes by Hall & Son, Dig For Vintage, £45. Black patent trainers, Mia, £39. Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Gift Set, Gibbs & Gurnell, £55. Gift set, Pure Wight Soy Candles, £31. Leather phone clutch case, Mia, £35. Magnifying glass, Bayliss & Booth, £21.99. Ted Baker braided fringe bag, Visual Impact Ladieswear, £140. Barbour black and gold beanie, Visual Impact Ladieswear, £30. Vintage gold clip on earrings, Dig For Vintage, £12.

Home | STYLE

November and December 2021

STYLE | Home

Festive finery

styleofwight.co.uk

Silk scarf, Visual Impact Menswear, £40. Ettinger Bordeaux leather billfold wallet, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, £195. Glenmorangie 18 Year Single Malt Whiskey, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, £115. Alynn silk tie, A-Z international flags, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, £55. Set of 3 Barbour paisley handkerchiefs, Visual Impact Menswear, £21.95. Captain Fawcett Razor & Shaving Set, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, £95. Kent shaving brush, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, £35.Ted Baker socks, Visual Impact Menswear, £9. Edwardian tortoiseshell opera glasses, Dig For Vintage, £69. Dalaco sterling silver stag cufflinks, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, £90. Life of Riley leather bottle opener & corkscrew set, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, £80. Apothecary 87 beard oil, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, £10. Macallan 18 Year Single Malt Whiskey, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, £335. Courvoisier XO Cognac, Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs, £172. Luxury Venchi pick & mix, Yarmouth Deli, 35p to 55p each.

A country christmas…

styleofwight.co.uk

Cuban Tobacco and Oak Candle, ChilliWinter – available at This & That, £15.50. Ashwood leather bag, Corn Exchange, £65. 100% pure wool Harris Tweed flat cap, Corn Exchange, £24.99. Olive eye mask, Bayliss & Booth, £16.50. Selection of soaps, Bayliss & Booth, £5.50 each. Wooden hare, Bayliss & Booth, £8.99. Hare mug, Corn Exchange, £9.99. Olive suede bag, Bayliss & Booth, £75. Vintage hip flasks, Jacks Vintage, £20 and £35. Firestone Studios leather belt, available at Caffe Isola, £55. Wellington boot sterling silver necklace, Corn Exchange, £42. Wild Island Great Taste Award Gift Pack, Yarmouth Deli, £12.50. Island Roasted Coffee, Caffe Isola, from £6.50.

Home | STYLE

Fat Face dog bed, Pets with Hart, £67.99. Acorn shaped bird feeder, Hurst, £14.50. Rope toy, Pets with Hart, £8.99. Assorted natural treats, Pets with Hart, from £3. Jolly Moggy mini mice toys, Pets with Hart, £3.25. Travel Dog Set, Hurst, £10.99. British Dogs and Various Breeds, The Goose Books, £85. Pet portrait by Elise Barnard, from Wight Originals, £30. Brambles hedgehog food, Pets with Hart, £8.59.

...for animal lovers

November and December 2021

Handmade with love by Island Artisans

Come and visit our

Christmas Emporium at the Island Sailing Club, Cowes 26th – 28th November

Unique Art, Gifts, Food & Drink...All in one place

wightoriginals.com

Chemist & Perfumery

Open Monday to Saturday 9.00am - 5.30pm 34, Union Street, Ryde PO33 2LE Tel. 01983 562570 www.gibbsandgurnell.co.uk

Feature | STYLE

Send season’s greetings…

...with help from Island artists Surprise your friends and fami ly with unique Christmas cards designed here on the Island this festive season

Spot the Isla nd! Profits from A n gela’s fu n, qu irk y a n ima l ca rds go to w i ld l ife education cha rity, Natu rezones. A n gela Hew itt, pack of 6 £14, w w w.natu rezones.org.u k

he Isle of Wight is bursting with artistic talent, which has manifested in a whole range of wonderful collections for this year’s Christmas season. From beautiful representations of classic Island scenes dressed up for the season to bold, modern hand-lettered designs and eco-friendly cards featuring festive British wildlife, we don’t have to look far to find something to suit every taste. We think the only thing more special than sending beautiful, hand-written Christmas cards to our loved ones might be knowing that we have supported a local artist in the process.

We love the selection of festive Isla nd la nd ma rk desig ns by T he Little Boat IOW – especia l ly th is Ch ristmas scene at Freshwater Bay. T he Little Boat IOW, £2.50, @thel ittleboatiow w w w.thel ittleboatiow.co.u k

Pa rt of a new series of ha ndd raw n letterin g ca rds, T hea’s stri k in g ‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’ desig n oozes simple style. Ada May, £2, @ada _ _ may, ada may.co.u k

Draw n in her cha racteristic pen a nd in k style, Zoe’s ‘Baby it’s Cold Outside’ ma kes us feel wa rm inside. Zoe Sad ler, £2.50, @zoesad ler_ in k, w w w.zoesad ler.com

A stu n n in g, intricate watercolou r image, we love that the isla nd is at the hea rt of Gem ma’s ‘Sta rry Ch ristmas’ desig n. Bespoke A rt by Gem ma , £3, @bespokea rtbygem ma , w w w.gem mapackera rt. wordpress.com

Coupl in g adorable native w i ld l ife w ith pops of Ch ristmassy colou r, Jen’s cha rm in g ca rds a re made usin g eco -friend ly materia ls. Wi ld Lines, £3.25, @ w i ld l ines. a rt, w w w.w i ld l ines.a rt

November and December 2021

STYLE | Home

Creating cosy A f ter many years spent overseas in hotter climes, I rea l ly appreciate the opportunity a fforded by w inter to add cosy layers and textures to my home. We aren’t ta l k ing about redecorating or ma k ing a huge financia l investment; many of the things I love the most are stored in my linen cupboard a l l year round. Here are a few seasona l snaps and twea ks that can turn your home into a mag ica l space to spend qua lity time w ith friends and fami ly.

By R a chel Sava ge Interior Desig ner, R ACH EL SAVAGE ST U DIO

Welcome in warmth Let’s get the essentials out of the way. Preparing your home for the drop in temperatures will mean you are free to enjoy it in full. Make sure your heating is running efficiently – book a boiler service, get your underfloor heating checked, and bleed your radiators. A wood burner is the perfect winter feature, and a beautiful display of stacked wood is a quick and inexpensive way to elevate your fireplace. We upgraded our wood burner last year to an Island-made Aire 5 from Charnwood and will never regret it.

Layer up Trading cushions and throws in lighter fabrics for heavier, textured materials is a quick way to transform a space and add a sense of warmth. Add a throw to your favourite chair or switch out a few pillows on your sofa to create a cosy corner. Nervous Wreck Designs on Newport’s Long Lane always has a fabulous selection.

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Home | STYLE

Add texture and colour Swapping out for thicker curtains is a great way to keep the heat in during chillier nights: 40% of the heat escapes your home through windows, so hanging a curtain in front of glass or draughty doors can make a big difference. Look for heavier, tightly woven fabrics such as heavy cottons, velvet and suede; like this enduring William Turner ‘Roslyn’ design by Sanderson, available at Anne Ginger Soft Furnishings. Adding a thermal lining will also help block outside light and noise.

Light the way I get really nostalgic over different scents and always have candles at home – they create a wonderful soft feel and make the perfect first impression when welcoming festive guests. Adorn your mantelpieces, surfaces, and tables with a selection of candles of different heights and colours. Bayliss & Booth has a wonderful candlearium this season and ChilliWinter candles are always a firm favourite too.

For more i n formation about Ra chel Savage Stud io’s consu ltation pa ckages, v isit Instag ra m @ ra chelsavagestud io or ra chelsavagestud io.com November and December 2021

Inspired by life on and off the water

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Home Decor

Home | STYLE

Comfort and joy With Bayliss & Booth

ring hygge home with sumptuous velvets and twinkling lights this festive season. There is no better time to get creative: decorate with berry stems, garlands and wreaths, coupled with beautiful, coloured glassware for an elegant flourish. Blend textures and richness with cushions, throws, and rugs in gorgeous shades and add luxurious faux fur for the ultimate in winter comfort.

Find everything you need to curate your winter interiors at Bayliss & Booth. Whether you’re looking for delicate tealights or a signature piece of furniture, drop in to discover creative inspiration for the whole season.

Add a magical dimension to glassware and metallic accessories using soft, golden lights that dance across your Christmas display.

Bayliss & Booth cherry picks the best furniture, accessories, and homewares, as well as an ever-changing array of French finds and antique one-off pieces.

Discover more at their spacious store at Lushington Hill, Wootton or visit baylissandbooth.co.uk | Instagram: @baylissandbooth November and December 2021

NEW SHOP NOW OPEN ON COWES HIGH STREET

Quality items bought. Full and partial house clearances undertaken

ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES ANTIQUE & VINTAGE FURNITURE LIGHTING & INTERIORS JEWELLERY & CURIOS telephone: 07943 139 562 email: hello@attacusantiques.co.uk

Anne Ginger soft furnishings

With 40 years experience Anne Ginger and her dedicated team are happy to assist in making the right choice of soft furnishings for you, from helping you choose the perfect product through to installation. Our service is based around giving excellent advice combined with quality products. Come and see us and turn your dream into reality. Due to Covid-19 the showroom is operating Monday-Friday on an appointment service so please call to book. info@anneginger.co.uk www.anneginger.co.uk

tel. 01983 407730

Home | STYLE

A natural alternative With Abbott’s Carpets & Flooring

ncorporate rich, natural colours into your home this winter with textured tiles that remain warm and comfortable underfoot yearround. The ultimate alternative to real wood and stone flooring, luxury vinyl tiles easily withstand the daily wear and tear of a busy household. The tiles are made from several layers of PVC, bonded together and finished with a clear, embossed layer to create authentic replicas of wooden and stone floors. Easy-to-clean, scratch resistant, waterproof, and available with antislip properties, luxury vinyl tiles are a practical alternative to real wood and stone flooring. In Abbott’s Carpets & Flooring’s Sandown showroom you will find a range of luxury vinyl tile options to choose from; here are just two of their wood-effect favourites. Wood without the worry This rustic, plank-effect flooring is more durable than real wood and completely waterproof, making it a superb option for kitchens and bathrooms.

Above: Harvey Maria Premium Wood Plank in Reclaimed Pine Right: Project Floors Timber Collection in Elkington Oak

Perfect for pets A modern, clean twist on traditional wooden flooring with a mosaic of plank sizes, these tiles are scratch-resistant and easy to maintain. Abbott’s Carpets & Flooring has over 30 years’ experience and a wealth of knowledge; visit the Sandown showroom to see the full range of cosy carpets and fabulous flooring.

abbotts-flooring.co.uk | 01983 217868 | info@abbottsflooring.com | Instagram: @abbottsflooringiow November and December 2021

Merry Christmas

We would like to thank our customers for all your loyalty and support, and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

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*Free delivery when you spend over £10 in store or online

Feature | STYLE

Left: Though often used as a decorative piece, the hand-woven Rush Brush is designed for use and functions extremely well.

Doing away with the traditional notion of a handle, the oversize rim of Fat Lip Basket can be grabbed anywhere, providing a stylish, ergonomic design solution.

S U S TA I N A B L E S T Y L E with AJ Wells Combining artistry, sustainabi lity, and practica lity, these simple, elegant Bodj baskets ma ke beautif u l additions to any fireplace. The stylish storage solutions are idea l for logs, k ind ling and wood pa l lets. Behind each product lies a story of sustainability; the baskets and Rush Brush are hand-woven in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, using eco-friendly materials. Floppy Baskets are crafted from soft, steamed water hyacinth – a weed that

clogs up waterways and chokes other plant life, while the Fat Lip Baskets are made using rattan – the harvesting of which provides an attractive alternative to logging timber, and so can help protect the native trees where it grows.

Browse the full collection at bodj.co.uk | Photos by Holly Joliffe and styled by Tanya Goodwin

A seamless, unstructured basket, the Floppy Basket is very strong with a leathery texture and can be stored flat when not in use.

November and December 2021

STYLE | Business

THE ST YLE OF WIGHT DINERS’ CLUB Indulge in delicious, local food, learn from high profile chefs, and take part in unforgettable dining experiences with a membership of the new and exclusive Style of Wight Diners’ Club

e are building a cultural experience with food at its core, where people from different backgrounds come together and connect over a shared appetite for exquisite food. We want to immerse ourselves in the fascinating stories and journeys behind ingredients sourced from around our coast and get hands-on with gathering, foraging, cooking and savouring sensational meals from scratch.

Member Benefits

Email office@styleofwight.co.uk with the subject line ‘DINERS CLUB’ to register your interest and be amongst the first to receive information and updates about the new Style of Wight Diners’ Club.

Partners

• Access to exclusive dining events • Celebrity chefs and guest speakers • Exclusive offers and discounts on hotel accommodation • Priority bookings to our partners’ events • Pop ups with one-off venues • Discounts and offers from the Island’s very best gourmet eateries Create something exclusive and take an opportunity to engage with the Style of Wight Diners’ Club. For more information on becoming one of our partners please email christian@styleofwight.co.uk

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taste astounding food styles and new sensations experience exclusive themed events and parties explore the Island in a new light

Events | STYLE

Help ‘Smudge’ save Christmas! Tapnell Farm Park’s award-winning Christmas Experience is back and ready to take you on a magical new Christmas adventure – The Tale of the Naughty Elf! The all-weather event for children of all ages (from 2 to 100) starts at home, with a little letter from ‘Smudge’ the naughty elf, who needs help saving Christmas. This enchanting Christmas journey is guided by a team of Santa’s trained elves who will fully immerse you in the wonderment of Christmas, through story-telling, interactive puzzles and amazing scenery. At the end of your

journey, you will meet Santa himself (turn to page 114 to read Style of Wight’s exclusive interview!) The whole Farm Park will be decorated to welcome in the festive season: in the café you’ll find delicious treats, with festive music and Gingerbread decorating too! Christmas at Tapnell is open on 3rd5th, 9th-12th, 16th-18th and 21st-23rd December.

For full details including Covid measures and to book tickets online, please visit tapnellfarm.com

November and December 2021

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Home | STYLE

People with style

STARS IN HIS EYES By Ja mes R ay ner

When you lose yourself in Chad Powell’s magical and mesmerizing masterpieces, it’s easy to assume he’s from a formal photography background, with a string of illustrious qualifications to his name. But Chad’s skill with a camera – and his ability to capture both the finest detail in the Island’s dark night skies and depth of atmosphere in its rolling landscapes – is entirely selftaught. “It’s all come from YouTube, passion, and wanting to learn,” he explains. It was while studying Graphic Design at Isle of Wight College that Chad bought his first DSLR camera. At the time, he had just moved from the Newport estate in which he grew up to rural St. Lawrence – an urban to countryside move which, at the time, he resented. Chad is open and honest about his mental health: “anxiety is a massive thing for me.” At the same time, it was also anxiety that he now credits for him getting out and discovering the natural beauty within easy reach of his doorstep. “It drove me to take the camera, get some fresh air, walk along the cliffs and take photos of the sunsets.”

“I set the camera up, let my eyes adjust and couldn’t believe what I saw.” In 2013, after seeing some incredible photos of the night skies taken a short drive from US cities, Chad decided to see if he could replicate the same on the Isle of Wight, known for its clear night skies. Telling the story of the First Shot, he describes heading to Steephill Cove in the dead of night with his new camera and a fisheye lens in an attempt to capture the stars with a long exposure. “I set the camera up, let my eyes adjust and couldn’t believe what I saw.” After capturing his first breathtaking photos of the Milky Way above the English Channel, Chad put some of the images on Facebook and instantly received messages from friends asking for prints on canvas. Seizing the opportunity – and with just £50 to his name – his business began. The Cove Coffee Shop at Steephill became his first stockist, and Island Artisan in Branstone his first retail space. Chad has had his name above the door of his very own shop at Arreton Barns for two and a half years now, with his photographs adorning everything from coasters and calendars to t-shirts and tote bags. No longer just a local secret, his work has been featured in The Times and The Guardian, even receiving praise from the makers of his first proper camera, Canon: “Chad Powell’s stunning images of the stars above the beaches of England’s biggest Island really are out of this world.” We couldn’t agree more.

Style is: I’ve no idea! It’s way more than just what you wear or how you look – style is how you express your individuality. Style is your imagination. Icons or Inspirations? There isn’t one single photographer or artist I look up to – I think I’m more inspired by sunsets and sunrises than how other people work. Favourite thing about the Island? The whole south-west coast is so different to anywhere else, it’s almost Jurassic. I also really love the caves at Freshwater. Tips for budding photographers? Don’t try and shoehorn style. Experiment and try all sorts at the beginning – practice the basic principles of photography on anything and everything, from portraits to puppies. Hope for the future? I’d love to open a gallery coffee shop – that’s the dream.

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DIG FOR VINTAGE

Wishing you a Merry Christmas! Offering monthly painting technique Vintage lifestyle through workshops. Find out more in-store the decades, fashion, iconic DIG F ORV I N TAG E .Facebook C O.page. UK and on our furniture, fabrics, The ceramics, Colonnade, Lind Street, art and classic books. Book a painting Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2NE experience with 719433 Everything you need to create 01983 a us today! gorgeous vintage look for your home.

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CARPET | VINYL | LUXURY VINYL TILES LAMINATE | ENGINEERED WOOD SAFETY, CONTRACT & COMMERCIAL FLOORING WWW.ABBOTTS-FLOORING.CO.UK

Property | STYLE

Luxurious countryside living W E S T R I D G E H O U S E , B U L L E N R O A D , RY D E

Unwind in style with a swimming pool and snooker room in the country This Edwardian-style home has recently been extended to incorporate a snooker room and balcony at the rear, overlooking the mature gardens and swimming pool. The spacious kitchen-diner features an exposed brick inglenook fireplace with a log burning stove and opens onto a beautiful decking area. Set on an acre plot accessed through electric gates, garden and

countryside views can be enjoyed throughout the property. The swimming pool and surrounding palm trees are striking and inviting, giving the property great potential as a lucrative holiday let. It comes complete with a modern threebedroom lodge towards the bottom of the garden, including its own decked area near the pool.

Clockwise from left: This feature-packed home has it all – perfect for people who love to entertain. The stunning pool and three-bedroom lodge provide both entertainment and income potential. Spacious bedrooms complement the generous living space.

House of games – catering for pool, chess and more

Viewings with Hose Rhodes Dickson – The Collection, on 01983 538090 November and December 2021

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Turnbull & Maton estate agents have rebranded as

Clare Maton homes DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND

BUYING OR SELLING WE'LL GET YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO GO

TRUST 01983 874777 3 Foreland Road, Bembridge clarematonhomes.co.uk

KNOWLEDGE

RESPECT

Property | STYLE

Countryside cottage 4 , R O W L A N D S L A N E , H AV E N S T R E E T

A characterful property with a superb wraparound garden This detached property (formerly two adjoining farm workers’ cottages) occupies an idyllic rural setting, with breathtaking views across the surrounding countryside. The property, which has five bedrooms and two spacious reception rooms, has wonderful views of Havenstreet. Situated on a large plot, the property provides extensive

parking, a driveway and beautiful wraparound gardens. The sitting room offers a taste of the country outlook and is fitted with a wood burning stove. A long galley kitchen was created from the two original cottages, with a view out to the garden. With the unique benefit of two entrance porches from the original cottages, the two homes could be utilised independently.

Clockwise from left: The cottage has immediate kerb appeal. The cosy living room features a log burner. Bedroom décor continues the country vibe.

Breath-taking views abound

Viewings with Spence Willard, on 01983 200880. Visit hello@spencewillard.co.uk November and December 2021

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Premium decorator and leading installer of wall coverings from source to completion Premium painting and decorating Wallpaper installations Mural andTel: feature wall 951145 installations 07812 HVLP Airless Spraying www.paulwaldeninteriors.com Commercial wallcovering installations Furniture upcycling T: 07812 951145 E: paul@paulwaldeninteriors.com www.paulwaldeninteriors.com

Property | STYLE

Stunning Solent views H O M E WAT E R S , T R I N I T Y C H U R C H L A N E , C O W E S

This refurbished ‘upside-down’-style house is just a short walk from the town centre A detached home in a highly desirable private lane, Homewaters is a spacious property with four double bedrooms and a stunning sea view. Better yet, the house is just five to 10 minutes’ walk from Cowes town centre and connections to the mainland. The property has been extensively refurbished to fully exploit the beauty of its coastal location.

Thanks to the ‘upside-down’ design, owners can take full advantage of the panoramic sea views over the Solent from the first floor sitting room and kitchen. Double doors open from the sitting room, kitchen and office, giving way to a stylish balcony that stretches the length of the house. Downstairs, the French windows provide a superb sea view from the bedrooms.

Clockwise from left: This elegant home is perfectly positioned to enjoy all Cowes has to offer. A modern kitchen-diner makes the most of the Solent outlook.

The sea sparkles along with the refreshments on the balcony

Viewings with Waterside Properties, on 01983 300111. Visit watersideisleofwight.com November and December 2021

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Business | STYLE

C E L E B R AT I N G 2 5 Y E A R S AT R O A C H P I T T I S By Sa l ly Stone F I NA NCE DI RECTOR , ROACH PITTIS

hen I first joined the firm in October 1996, I was fresh out of college and looking for a role that would challenge me. Though it wasn’t in the field I thought I wanted – or had trained in – here I am, 25 years later, and with no plans to slow down anytime soon. My work has changed enormously over the years; when I started out in a split role of administration and accounts, the minimum wage hadn’t even been introduced. Over time, more and more tasks were added to my role, and I was given more and more responsibility. Then, in November 2006

“I’m more than ready for new challenges here at Roach Pittis – bring it on!“ when the then-Accounts Manager left, I took on this role plus my own – doing the same again in 2010 when the Office Manager left. Being offered the position of Finance Director when Roach Pittis incorporated in May 2019 was a real honour. Within our friendly office I’m generally known to the staff as the woman with many hats. From accounts, payroll and HR to office plumber, IT go-to and office idiot – you name it, I’ve probably got a hat for it! I’m also dependable, highly organised, reliable, efficient and

can always be relied upon to bring the entertainment; I particularly love dressing up for charity events. My advice for anyone at the start of their career would be to stay positive and dream big. Though I’m not going anywhere anytime soon, my focus for the next 10 years includes having plenty of involvement in futureproofing the firm for generations to come. I’m more than ready for new challenges here at Roach Pittis – bring it on!

Roach Pittis has been serving businesses and individuals across the Isle of Wight and South of England for almost 150 years. Find out more at roachpittis.co.uk November and December 2021

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To s p e a k t o o n e o f o u r e x p e r t s p l e a s e c a l l u s o n 0 1 9 8 3 5 2 7 8 7 8

Island knowledge, national expertise At Glanvilles Damant, we are committed to achieving the highest standards and the best results for our clients. We pride ourselves on putting the needs of our clients at the heart of

The Courtyard, St Cross Business Park Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 5BF

t: 01983 527878 f: 01983 821629

DX 56352 Newport IW e: hello@gdlegalservices.co.uk

www.gdlegalservices.co.uk

Business | STYLE

THE RULE OF THREE By Da le Howa r t h BUSI N ESS M EN TOR , SPEA K ER A N D CPD TR A I N ER

the people’, is perhaps one of the greatest and most influential statements of democracy ever. Brian Clark, founder of Copyblogger, wrote: “If you want something stuck in someone’s head, put it in a sequence of three.”

Image courtesy of RODNAE Productions

ometime around 350 B.C. the Greek philosopher Aristotle observed that people find it easier to remember things in threes. Over two millennia later it’s surprising how the ‘rule of three’ affects our everyday lives and businesses. Consider the Latin phrase ‘Omne trium perfectum’, which means: ‘everything that comes in threes is perfect’. When you think about it, the rule of three is everywhere. Time is reflected as past, present and future, Newton had three laws of motion. The body’s ability to stay alive depends on three key deprivation timeframes: three minutes without air; three days without water; and three weeks without food. Every story has a beginning, middle and end. There were three little pigs, three Musketeers, three blind mice and three wise men. What about ‘blood, sweat and tears’, ‘I came, I saw, I conquered’, and don’t forget ‘sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll’. Comedians use the rule of three to craft three-part jokes (set up, build anticipation, punch line). In Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare wrote ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen…’. Winston Churchill and Barack Obama filled their speeches with rule-of-three messages. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address is one of the best-known speeches, where ‘Of the people, by the people, for

But why? Well, as humans our brains are very good at processing patterns and three represents the smallest number of elements needed to create a pattern. It is something that goes back to our primitive days when recognising patterns helped us to predict danger and be able to expect what was coming next. Today, our brains are instinctively comfortable with patterns and therefore it makes information in threes more memorable and satisfying to us. It’s one of the most powerful principles used in marketing today. Some believe the rule of three is key to power. Steve Jobs used the rule of three in almost every presentation he gave - describing the iPad 2, for example, as “thinner, lighter, faster” - conveying to the audience in a very memorable way all they needed to know about the new device. In another presentation he said that Apple would be introducing “three” revolutionary products: a new iPod, a phone, and an Internet communications device. He repeated the three statements until the audience finally figured out that he was talking about one device capable of handling all three tasks – the iPhone. There are many memorable marketing slogans: ‘Stop, look and listen’, ‘Every little helps’, ‘Vorsprung Durch Technik’, ‘Snap! Crackle! Pop!’, ‘Just do it’, ‘I’m lovin’ it’ and of course ‘Hands, Face, Space’ and ‘Finger lickin’ good’ (which, by the way, was dropped in 2020 due to coronavirus – for obvious reasons). The Rule of Three is a highly powerful and impressive communication technique that can help you build a lasting impression, to make you and your message stick when you want to write better copy for your website, a social media post or when giving a presentation. It can take a speech from being simply good to great, to make your message a little more complete, powerful and memorable! (see what I did there?).

Dale Howarth is a Business Mentor, CPD Speaker and Accredited CPD Training Provider. Working with individuals and companies to make the business leaders and businesses successes of tomorrow. To find out more visit www.dalehowarth.com. November and December 2021

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Style speaks

to Father Christmas On Island flyovers

On the True Meaning of Christmas Straight in with the big questions! Well, that’s easy: because – of course – it’s all about love (actually). Christmas is a time that brings people together, from all walks of life and from all corners of the earth, to appreciate and celebrate each other. It’s a time to put down our work, and just be thankful for all that we have. Gifts are merely the icing on the Christmas Cake; it feels good to give and receive but it’s important to not get too wrapped up (excuse the pun!) in material things. Am I talking myself and the elves out of a job here?! On maintaining The Beard What, this old thing? It’s something I just threw on! Joking aside, it’s a job in itself, one I’m proud to have mastered – in fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve picked up a few tips from Style of Wight in the past. I use a great beard shampoo (no sulphates and cruelty-free) and a smidge of beard oil before bed; my favourite is Apothecary 87 in mango & vanilla – you can get some of that near you, at Yarmouth Barbers & Connoisseurs! Mrs. Christmas loves it. On working from home productivity Back in the workshop, the elves like to listen to the soundtrack from the movie ‘Elf’ on a constant loop: for me, Christmas really starts when ‘All I want for Christmas is You’ is first played on Isle of Wight Radio. It gets

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I’m always dreaming of a Wight Christmas and I’m lucky that I get to holiday here each December before I head off on my adventure, setting off across Tennyson Down. I so love flying over The Needles – what a view! The reindeer also love grazing on the Island; the soil must be very rich as their coats gleam after a week scoffing moss and grass.

earlier and earlier each year, but I love it. When it comes to getting my lists in order ahead of the Big Night however, there can only be one soundtrack: a roaring fire, falling snowflakes, and the rather loud snoozes of softly-sleeping reindeer topping up on their pre-flight naps. On just One Christmas Wish My wish is to reverse the winds of time and reduce our impact on the earth’s climate. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough magic in these bones to do that, but if everyone continues to do their bit, we can get there! Up on my sleigh I have perspective on how the planet is looking and there is still a lot of work to be done. Great efforts have been made, but we mustn’t become complacent, we need to keep talking about it.

You can meet Santa during his short Isle of Wight break at Tapnell Farm’s magical award-winning Christmas Experience; for children from 2 to 100! To book, visit tapnellfarm.com

Charnwood Aire 3

YEARS

Extraordinary stoves. Made on the Isle of Wight, sold worldwide. 01983 537780 • @charnwoodstoves • www.charnwood.com

charnwood

Style of Wight Issue 73 November/December 2021

Articles inside

People with style: with

Style speaks: to Father Christmas himself

Celebrating 25 years at

The rule of three

Sustainable style: with A J Wells

A natural alternative: with

Comfort and joy

Creating cosy: with interior designer Rachel Savage

Christmas Gift Guide: 15

Movement for wellbeing: with the

Bags of sailing style

Destination Ryde: exploring the people and places of this sparkling seafront town

Seasonal Dining Guide: for

What’s new in beauty?: festive

Christmas granola

Best Christmas cake (ever

Lead interview: Behind the Curtain with Spotlight IOW

Meet the maker: artist and exhibition curator Syrett

Forage for a flat lay: with close

Caramelised Christmas sprouts

Style scoop: our seasonal round up of places to go, people to meet, and things to know

Style spectrum: Alice Greenfield and Sam Morris

Style picks: a magical (mini selection of lovely things