Style of Wight Issue 76 May/June 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 I S S U E 7 6 M AY / J U N E 2 0 2 2

D E S T I N AT I O N

VENTNOR Eco Island

Chaise Longue

Ou r busi nesses lead the wa y

- a sofa with a backrest at only one end.

R e a d o u r exc l u s ive i nte r v i ew w i t h t h e I s l a n d b a n d re a c h i n g a ro u n d t h e wo r l d . lifestyle

fashion

health

AFTERNOON TEASE our pick of destinations you must try

beauty

food

home

family

art

L I F E S T Y L E

Natural jute, bamboo and hessian home lighting, unique wall art and stylish home furnishings available now.

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm

14 -16 High Street, Shanklin, PO376LB | Te l : 0 7 9 5 6 3 5 1 3 4 1 @ a c a c i a b a y i ow | a c a c i a b a y i ow. co . u k

About Island Harbour Set in a beautiful and secluded valley, yet in a central location, Island Harbour is the perfect base from which to explore the Island and the Solent. Located in navigable water on the River Medina, the marina is approximately 2 miles upstream from Cowes, just above the Folly reach. As a site of Special Scientific Interest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the marina is home to many species of birds and wildlife. Meadows and woodland copses slope down to the marina’s edge. A stroll along the nature trail allows you to fully appreciate the seclusion and tranquillity of the marina site. With just under 100 properties, Island Harbour is home to permanent residents, secondary residents and holiday makers alike. The locked harbour is a safe and secure place to moor a boat or just visit for the day!

Cormorant Grove

Guide price

£450,000

A modern townhouse immaculately presented throughout, 3 double bedrooms with the unique bonus of an impressive open plan dining, kitchen and entertainment area, wrap around balconies on the ground and first floor. Refurbished to a very high standard with quality materials. 10m mooring and parking.

Heron Square

Guide price

£650,000

Immaculate 4 storey Tower property with outstanding views over Island Harbour, the River Medina and surrounding countryside. 5 bright and airy bedrooms beautifully presented and waterside views from every floor and phenomenal outlooks from the 4th floor bedroom suite which has a vaulted ceiling and superb ensuite shower room. 10m mooring and parking.

www.watersideproperties.com

The harbour benefits from The Breeze, a popular restaurant, only a short walk away with lovely marina and river views. Other amenities include a chandlery, boat builders with a repair workshop, 50 ton hoist and slip crane, hard standing, showers and laundry room. The development is surrounded by well kept communal grounds that include a meadow, an open field which has been purchased by the residents to provide private dog walking space and a bbq area. Parking is allocated throughout the site and in one of the two main car parks there are newly fitted Evu electric car charger points. There is a walk/cycle trail that leads you to Newport along the River Medina with beautiful views. Waterside are delighted to offer these beautiful Island Harbour properties for sale...

Redshank Way

Lynda Blenkinsop

Paul Booker

Georgie McCarthy

T | 01983 300111 Guide price

£400,000

Three storey 4 bedroom Yachtsman’s end of terrace cottage with the use of a 12 metre pontoon mooring. Kitchen/breakfast room, sitting room and private patio. Parking.

Heron Square

Guide price

4 bedroom waterfront home in an enviable position of seclusion with stunning views of the river and countryside. Spacious accommodation over three floors including kitchen/breakfast room, sitting room, 2 balconies, 10m mooring and parking.

£425,000

Beckfield Totland Bay £1,100,000 (Guide Price)

4 | EPC E

Nestled in the countryside on the edge of Totland Bay is this strikingly pretty barn conversion which was once a former dairy and milking parlour. Beckfield is an attractive property thought to date back to the 1800’s that has been empathetically enhanced and extended over the years. Built from Island stone and arranged with family and socialising in mind, this home takes welcoming, country style to a new level. There is a separate dwelling that is currently used as a holiday let but would double fantastically as an annexe if preferred.

Red Gables Brighstone £750,000

4 | EPC C

A substantial house with a stunning backdrop. Built less than 40 years ago, for the current owners, and sitting in a unique plot measuring 0.62acres within the blossoming village of Brighstone. The current arrangement allows for a study/ bedroom to the ground floor in addition to the four bedrooms on the first floor. With three bath/shower rooms there is potential to create a revenue stream from this property with little disruption.

Our London office is at 21 Park Lane, Mayfair and guarantees our properties are exposed to a vibrant national and international markets.

CLASSIC

CONTEMPORARY

Pipistrelles Wootton Bridge £795,000

COASTAL

3 | EPC B

Contemporary and stylish, nestled in a rural setting and enjoying a countryside vista. This home is spacious and light with open plan living in the main accommodation. The lounge and dining space brings the outside in with bifold doors to the deck and garden, the lake and countryside can be seen from here. All bedrooms are double size and the master benefits from a sleek and modern ensuite, like the rest of the property these rooms are also light and airy.

Westridge House Ryde £1,700,000 (Guide Price)

5 | EPC E

Accessed through electric gates, an exceptional south facing family home in an acre plot, set back from the road and taking the lion’s share of residential land on this popular road. Edwardian style and enjoying countryside views, Westridge House is set in mature well-established gardens. Extended and upgraded over recent years to incorporate a custom design snooker room and balcony to the rear that overlooks the gardens, swimming pool and holiday let accommodation.

Newport 01983 538090

Ryde 01983 617640

Bembridge 01983 875000

More available on Rightmove, OnTheMarket.com and www.hrdthecollection.co.uk

COWES £2,7 5 0 ,0 00 A l a n d m a r k h o u s e o c c u p y i n g a p ri m e p o s i t i o n o n t h e s eaf ron t wit h e xt e n s ive a c c om m oda t ion , pa rkin g , g arag in g , g a rde ns an d w o n d e r fu l s e a v i e w s .

V I E W IN G 0 1 9 8 3 2 0 0 8 8 0

SPENCEWILLARD.CO.UK

HELLO@SPENCEWILLARD.CO.UK

GURNARD £1,495,000 A s t u n n in g c on t e m porary wat e rf ro n t ho m e provide s a c c om m oda t ion of a ppro x . 2 2 10 s q.f t . wit h 3 t e rrac e s a n d e xc e pt io n al s e a vie ws . EP C Rat in g C

V I EW I NG 0 1 9 8 3 2 0 0 8 8 0

Purveyors of Fine Coastal & Country Property across the Island WHETHER YOU WANT TO BE BY THE COAST OR NESTLED IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, LET SPENCE WILLARD FIND THE PERFECT PROPERTY FOR YOU

C O W ES £ 1 , 37 5, 0 0 0 A n e x c e p t i o n a l t w o s t ore y a p a rt m e n t o f approximately 2,596 sq. ft. occupying an u n r i v a l l e d p o s i t i o n a n d w i t h u n o b s t ru c t e d S o l e n t v i e w s a l o n g w i t h p a rk i n g a n d a communal garden. EP C Ra t i n g D

V I E W IN G 0 1 9 8 3 2 0 0 8 8 0

@ s p e n c e w i lla r d i w

Designing with Nature's Colour Wheel

www.raineypetrie.co.uk

@raineypetrie

Cover Photography by Hollie Fernando See page 18

Editor and Creative Director Christian Warren christian@styleofwight.co.uk Associate Editor Jo Macaulay jo@styleofwight.co.uk Sub Editor Helen Hopper Production Assistant Hannah Wilson office@styleofwight.co.uk Contributors Lauren Fry, Dale Howarth, Tracy Curtis, James Rayner Design Tim Mander

Note from the Editor Here at Style of Wight we like to think we have our fingers on the pulse; we can spot the trends before most, maybe even start a few of our own… Well, this time we’ve surpassed even our own high standards. We have been following our cover stars ‘Wet Leg’ since long before they hit the dizzy star-a-sphere they have now attained — and let’s be fair once you start following them it’s difficult to take your eyes off them! As an appearance at the iconic Isle of Wight Festival looms, and with a debut album charting at number 1 after a sell-out American tour, we sent Jo Macaulay along to chat about fast-track fame and to reveal the band’s favourite Island haunts. Also, in this edition we champion those Island businesses that don’t just pretend to be green, but live and breathe ecology as part of their DNA.

Photography Christian Warren, Julian Winslow

Destination Ventnor is a whopping 12-page feature giving you the essential lowdown on the town we believe is fast becoming the Island’s food capital.

Sales Christian Warren christian@styleofwight.co.uk

So, relax and enjoy this rather special edition of Style of Wight ...but only for a short while, as we really do encourage you to get out there and see it for yourselves!

Distribution office@styleofwight.co.uk 01983 861007

Christian Warren

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

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.

May and June 2022

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

Ditch the single-use and Reuse Reduce Recycle with Bottles, Coffee Cups and Food Pots at Shorelines, proud stockists of Chilly’s and KeepCup. Both brands encompass modular design with consistent components so that the part rather than the product can be replaced. We carefully selected suppliers who are committed to improving both social and environmental performance, utilising renewable, recyclable and biodegradable materials. We also have a fab range of Bamboo Cups, keep one in your bag to avoid the single use plastic/polystyrene.

109 High Street, Cowes

07368 841308

Contents Issue 76: May and June 2022

REGULARS

FEATURES

FASHION, HEALTH AND BEAUTY

Style Picks: Be green and mindful with these suggestions for early summer and festival season

The Style Scoop: Our seasonal round up of places to go, people to meet and things to know

Lead interview: The Meteoric rise of Wet Leg

Meet the owners: Dita and Adam, Cantina

HOME AND GARDEN

118

Style speaks: to Mhairi Macaulay

Afternoon Tease

Al Fresco Living: with Busy Bee

Recipe: Scones with Feta and Green Herbs

Adding a Touch of Glass to Your Home

Recipe: Lavender and Orange Scented Scones

102

Stylish Sustainable Living

Recipe: Spinach and Sweet Potato Muffins

113

Honey Fermented Rhubarb: with Will Steward of Living Larder

Money Makes the World go Round: by Ben Silk

116

Briddlesford Lodge Farm Wins Top Awards

Is Your Will up to Date: by Hannah Lisseter

117

Neworking, that Sounds too good to be True: by Dale Howarth

ART

Ecology and Diversity Feature – how our fabulous Island businesses are leading the way in sustainability

Fashion: Cottagecore and More

Destination Ventnor

Make Time for Self Care with Charlotte Hurley

2022 Wedding and Events Show

FOOD

Miniature Worlds: with Lauren Fry

International Year of Glass

Meet the Maker: Timothy Harris

Glory Art Glass

Isle of Wight Museum of Glass

Clare Ralph Leonty

Style Spectrum: Stu Barnes

Children’s Writing Competition winner: Alice Joubert

Creative Cross Currents at Dimbola

55 57

Meeting Salty’s New Captain

Review: Mermaid Bar and Isle of Wight Distillery

BUSINESS

May and June 2022

Roake Studio Effortless Styling Minimal Brass Hair Pins — the perfect plastic-free everyday hair accessory. Simply twist your hair around the end of the pin and slide it through to secure (just like you did with a pencil at school, right?). The 90s throwback scrunchie — comfortable, simple, and made from fabric saved from landfill and the offcuts from their garment production. Roake.studio | @roakestudio

Style picks Our seasonal round-up of sustainable swaps for a more eco-friendly lifestyle

Blue Labelle Glow Powder Cleanser A ‘Green Parent Natural Beauty’ award-winning product. This vegan, clay-based cleanser combines natural ingredients for clean, bright and glowing skin. Blue Labelle, Pier Street, Ventnor | bluelabelle.co.uk @blue_labelle_skincare

styleofwight.co.uk

Calm Candle Refillable and made with calming, pure essential oils of Lavender, Clary Sage, Chamomile and Bergamot. Biodegradable, vegan and made locally by ChilliWinter. chilliwinter.co.uk | @chilliwinteriow

Refill, Reuse, Reduce The ‘Sea Room’ by Island Refillery offers a range of refillable eco laundry and household cleaning products making it easy for you to reduce your single use plastic waste and use plant-based products at home. To read more see page 69. The Sea Room, Sherbourne Street, Bembridge | islandrefillery.com @sea.roomiow

Voylok Classic Boot Boots that are better for the planet — these sustainable boots are technical by nature; the wool is breathable and insulating. Wear them inside or outside by simply removing the rubber overshoe. Perfect for slipping into nature whenever the urge strikes! Voylok.com | @voyloks

Flower Seed Gift Packet Favours The perfect little eco wedding favour or letterbox gifts, allowing your guests to take home wildflower seed and sprinkle it onto their garden to encourage bees, ladybirds and more! All hand-stamped with the words ‘Let Love Grow — Take Some Seeds and Save Some Bees’. Mummymrfox.co.uk | @mummyandmrfox_

Rhodes Skincare A British brand that is both sustainable and vegan. Their packaging is made from sugarcane waste that is normally burnt or buried. The waste is used to make the tubes and bottles and is 100% recyclable. To read more see page 68. Rhodesskincare.com | @rhodes.natures.skincare

May and June 2022

the Style

scoop

Team Style’s seasona l roundup of places to go, people to meet, and things to k now across the Isle of Wight this summer.

Summer Arrives Festi-Style It must be summer as the Isle of Wight Festival is about to happen — from June 16th to 19th. The Happy Mondays entertain campers on Thursday in the Big Top, (and local band Wet Leg play there on Sunday), Lewis Capaldi and Madness headline Friday’s main stage, Kasabian and Pete Tong provide party beats on Saturday, and Rudimental and Muse will close the Festival on Sunday. Be there or be square. isleofwightfestival.com

SEAFOOD SPECIALS AT THE FISHBOURNE

Island Produce and Gin at The Boathouse From May 20th to 22nd The Boathouse has an Island produce weekender event with fantastic dishes created by chef Marcin Halbiniak using the best produce our Garden Isle has to offer. Then, on June 17th, they have a gin-tasting evening with a selection of Mermaid gins from the Isle of Wight Distillery, plus other more far-flung distillations. Pair your choice with your favourite mixer from Fever Tree. Call 01983 810616 to book.

styleofwight.co.uk

On May 14th T he Fishbou rne has created a one-off specia l seven cou rse tasti ng menu w ith d ishes from Executive Chef Joel a nd Head Chef Way ne, for loya lty ca rd holders, w ith the option to add a bottle of w i ne per couple. To become a member of thei r Loya lty Club just pop i n a nd f i l l i n a form. Ju ne sees spectacu la r sea food on the specia ls boa rd ever y weekend th roug hout the month. Book you r place ea rly on 01983 882823

Fol k & Blues i n the A i r It’s the tenth Wolverton Fol k & Blues Fa i r i n the stu n n i ng g rou nds of Wolverton Ma nor, Shor wel l, on Satu rday 14th May from 11.30a m to 8pm. Specia l g uests i nclude Dave Kel ly & h is ba nd, Gra n ny’s Attic a nd T he Papa G eorge Ba nd, plus loads of Isla nd music a rtists. Tickets from Waterstones, T he Vi l lage Shop i n Brig hstone, Bridd lesford Fa rm Shop, a nd Orcha rd Brothers i n Freshwater. Facebook : Wolverton Fol ka nd Blues ema i l: i n fo @fol ka ndblues.org.u k

We a re Sa i l i n g T he Need les a re a lways a sa fe bet for bri l l ia nt v iews of the Rou nd the Isla nd Race, a nd the boats of ten come i n close to the coast past Ventnor. T he race sta rts ea rly from Cowes, ru ns a nti-clock w ise, a nd w i l l be on Satu rday Ju ne 25th th is yea r. It w i l l be the 91st yea r for th is a n nua l event, orga n ised by the Isla nd Sa i l i ng Club, wh ich is a ‘Race for A l l’ welcom i ng a m i x of professiona l sa i lors, keen a mateu r crews, fa m i l ies, a nd f i rst-ti me racers to the sa me cou rse. rou ndtheisla nd.org.u k

Mischief and Mayhem at Tapnell This May half term (May 28th to June 5th) there’s a new arrival at Tapnell Farm who is rather cheeky and has a larger-than-life personality. Your kids are bound to want to meet this elusive character, who is starring in their own brand-new show. To help celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, from June 2nd to 4th the craft cabin will be open for making tiaras, crowns, and flags so you can join in the Paddock Parade, led by that new arrival! tapnellfarm.com/events

May and June 2022

STYLE | Interview

Style of Wight caught up with Wet Leg’s Rhian Teasdale just before the band left for their sell-out US tour, and hot on the heels of a glowing recommendation from Dave Grohl, no less! This Island band have taken off like a rocket since their quirky single Chaise Longue launched online in June 2021 – the video currently has 4.5 million hits and counting. By Jo Ma cau lay

styleofwight.co.uk

Interview | STYLE

our singles later (Wet Dream, Too Late Now/Oh No, Angelica, Ur Mum) and with their debut number one selling album ‘Wet Leg’ now out on Domino Records, the band is being feted as the next big thing. They appeared on Later… with Jools Holland in October, on the Stateside chat show Late Night with Seth Meyers, in December, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in March and The Late Show with James Corden on April 1st.

Fronted by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, the girls are supported by Ellis Durand on bass, Josh Mobaraki on guitar and synth, and Henry Holmes on drums. All the band members are from the Island – although Rhian was born in Merseyside, moving to the Island with her mum (who was born and raised on the Island) when she was about eight years old. Right now, however, they’re all living out of suitcases! Wet Leg will be back on the Island to play the Big Top at the Isle of Wight Festival on Sunday June 19th, 2022 – but what are Rhian’s earliest memories of the Isle of Wight Festival? Rhian: Probably just being a really naughty reckless teenager. It was kind of like the first time I was let loose, so maybe it involves mainly drinking in the campsite. It was a real coming-of-age thing. But mainly I remember being in like Hipshaker, and I think I saw the Bees play a little set. They were sooo good. And I really love that tent. There’s lots of Northern Soul going on in there late at night. Style: You played the Isle of Wight Festival last year. How does it feel to be up on one of the main stages? Rhian: It was really kind of strange because we’ve always been able to be there with our friends’ bands, like in previous projects, just playing the Kashmir café and like the small local stages, so it felt really strange to be there, to even be on the line-up. Style: But was it fun? Did you really enjoy it?

Rhian: Yeah, it was really good. It was kinda nerve-racking because sometimes playing hometown shows is more pressure. But it was really good and, do you know what, it was so nice because after we finished our set we just pootled on home. I went for lunch with my mum and then slept in my own bed that night. It’s such a luxury being able to play a big festival and then go home and sleep in your own bed. Style: I think you all met at Platform One, didn’t you? Can you tell us how you got together? Rhian: We both did the BTEC and then we both dropped out of the degree. It wasn’t until a few years after dropping out of uni and having proper jobs that took up all of our time basically. It was just something that we tried to fit in when I was back for Christmas, because Hester still lives on the Island, and the rest of our band are all on the Island. But we’re all away so much at the moment, we’re all just living out of suitcases. We’re in London right now doing a bit of a promo session pre- the album coming out and pre- going to America at the end of the week. May and June 2022

STYLE | Interview

Style: That’s going to be exciting, isn’t it? Rhian: Yeah, it’s so wild but it will be our second time… (They played several sell-out shows in NYC, LA, and San Francisco just before Christmas). Style: Did you have time to get out and see the sights? Rhian: Yeah, we had one day off, and we all walked around New York together, which was really nice, but it was very, very busy Style: You were on the Seth Meyers show. What was that like? Rhian: So surreal. So surreal. Like, being in America itself was really surreal, you feel like you’ve walked into TV-land, movieland, so being in a studio environment in the Rockefeller Center was just so unreal and we were literally just there to play Chaise Longue, the

styleofwight.co.uk

one song. So, we sound checked in the morning, at about 9 or 10am and then at 2pm or something, after just waiting around and going through hair and make-up, which was really funny, it was like “It’s time for you to play the song now,” and we got up and went out and played the song. Also, what was funny is that they had their house band — that’s the way their format works for these American talk shows — so they always have a house band. So, it’s funny with us having our set-up and then right next to us are the house band – two bands looking at each other. Style: When was the first moment that you realised that this might get really big? Rhian: I don’t know! I think we’re still kind of in disbelief about it really and we’re so new, we’re such a baby band.

It’s all so new. We get told that we’re doing things like going to America and we’re going to have a tour bus, and it’s so crazy, and you can’t really internalise any of this until it’s actually happening, and the pace is so fast, and sometimes you forget to take anything in. But we did have a really nice session — we got on a flight, and we didn’t really have anything to do and me and Hester just went through her camera roll then, over the past six months, and had a moment then taking in everything that we’d done, and we were like “this is our life, this is nice, listen to it”. But yeah, we’re so so busy doing so many exciting and fun things but sometimes you do forget to take a moment, take a breath and be like “this is cool”. Style: How do you think growing up on the Island influenced you and your art and music? Rhian: I think having the festivals

Interview | STYLE

there was pretty key because it’s so expensive to go over the water to see gigs and so on as a young person. Who has 40 quid to go and see a gig when you’re 16? And there’s this thing where you’re going to miss the last ferry or miss the last song. Having the festivals in the summer was really inspiring, having all this free time and space. There are so many people on the Island making music now… Style: I think maybe Platform One have helped with that. Did you have a favourite music teacher at Platform One? Rhian: We had JC and Angelina and they would come in once a week and do songwriting workshops with us and they were such truly inspiring people. When I dropped out as well Angelina reached out to me. They’re just really cool, and really supportive and they’re just the best people – I can’t even put it into words – they were truly inspiring. Style: How did your relationship with Domino begin? Rhian: In lockdown Hester and I, just because we were bored, and both hanging out on the Isle of Wight, we happened to make the video for Chaise Longue and then we also made a couple more demos and we actually found our management and Martin Hall — that happened in lockdown. We sent him our promos and the video, actually it may have been our friend, and he said, “I’d really like to meet these girls,” and we were a bit reluctant at first because it was never really our agenda to be doing something with Wet Leg. We just kinda wanted to play a few festivals in the summer… Style: In Chaise Longue, the muffin buttering – that’s from the ‘Mean Girls’ movie isn’t it? Rhian: Yeah, it was from a film that we probably watched when we were like 13, and it was kind of like a cult classic, like chick-flick movie isn’t it and (realisation dawns) we were ten or eleven! Oh, my goodness!! (Laughs)

directed Wet Dream but we had a small team down from London that we used – a production company called Mister Mister – female-led and DOP Elsa. We like to work with as many women as possible. Style: You made another film in Ventnor Exchange didn’t you? Rhian: Yeah, for that one we used a little production company called Tea Films and that was a Tiny Desk production. Style: That Little House on the Prairie look, which I loved because it was so cute and tongue in cheek, you sort of dumped it. Was that intentional? Rhian: We do revisit that. That ultrafemme theme but just in different formats like for Wet Dream and in our photoshoots and stuff. We do revisit it, but we don’t set ourselves rules like “we are this” or “we are that” because it’s just good to think how you feel that day isn’t it? Some days we’ll wear our Little House on the Prairie dresses and other days our business-lady suits. Style: So, what’s your favourite place on the Island? Rhian: Hester and I have a real soft spot for Alum Bay, the beach there, it’s just like really beautiful. At low tide it’s just really chalky underfoot in the sea.

that me and Hester have had to contend with before, but it was really nice kind of repurposing those comments and making them into something new. We had help from our friend Lava La Rue. She’s like the number one harvester of these comments. We did an evening of harvesting these comments and then I couldn’t sleep. Might need to just lay off the comments now. It was really funny, people just post the weirdest stuff. Like “Wet Your Leg” was one of my favourite comments. It’s like, what does that even mean? It’s not good, it’s not bad, it’s just the online equivalent of someone going “Argh!” Style: Do you have other favourite places on the Island? Rhian: Blackgang Chine, Sheer Pink Coffee (Shop) in Newport and we love to have sandwiches in Peach vegan café, also in Newport, run by the guys in Coach Party, and also we love a cocktail at the Exchange. This is like a food tour of the Isle of Wight… So if you want to bump into Wet Leg on the Island you know where to go. Make sure to catch them in the Big Top on the Sunday of the Isle of Wight Festival!

Style: You did your video for ‘Oh No’ there? How did you get that Yeti type of costume? Rhian: Yeah, I stole it! I was doing a commercial – because I’ve been working in London as a wardrobe assistant – and it was left over. I borrowed it and repurposed it and made it into something new. Reuse, recycle. It was so heavy; I think it weighs about 50kg. It’s actually the weight of a person. It was in lockdown, so everything was closed, which was great because the beach was absolutely empty.

Style: Who made those amazing videos for you?

Style: I notice you used some of the comments made about you on social media in that video. How would you say your relationship with social media has changed since this all happened?

Rhian: We made them ourselves, we made Chaise Longue ourselves and we

Rhian: It’s so strange being visible on social media. It’s not like something May and June 2022

STYLE | Art

Miniature worlds

With Lauren Fr y, Arts Educator

hroughout works of children’s literature, from classics such as ‘The BFG’ to modern marvels like ‘In the Jar of Happiness’, jars have been used as symbols of preservation and safekeeping where precious things are stowed away by protagonists to admire, remember, and inspire. Recycling activities are as versatile as they are fun, given the only limit is a child’s imagination. Projects made from recycled materials can include cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, corks, egg cartons, jars and so much more. In this eco-friendly make, we will be transforming everyday recyclables into miniature dioramas of magical scenes, promoting a new-found sense of understanding and respect for the natural world and all it does. Whilst creating their very own oasis of imagination, children can conjure up tales of its inhabits, flora, and fauna. In a world where anything goes, an egg box can become a gigantic mushroom, plastic packaging transforms into coastal plant life and a tin foil tube makes the ideal lighthouse guiding unseen sailors through a stormy fuchsia sea. By creating a world of their own making, with things that are often discarded without a second thought, young minds can be encouraged to consider how to best protect and preserve the future of their natural world.

styleofwight.co.uk

Materia ls Glass jars Recyclables Scissors, glue, and tape Leftover art materials Felt tips/paint/crayons/colouring pencils

Art | STYLE

Hut

Lighthouse

Mushroom

My stilted shoreline shelter uses plastic packaging for kelp-like leaves, a cereal box for the mini building supported on wooden kebab sticks, finished off with a scrap of tin foil for the billowing smoke.

The lighthouse scene uses a tin foil tube to create a perfect cylindrical building mounted atop a polystyrene rocky base. Scrunched bubble wrap creates the dark stormy clouds.

My magical mushroom home uses an egg box to form the giant toadstool, a chocolate bar wrapper for the tiny reflective door, and finally tall blades of translucent grass cut from a plastic milk bottle.

To finish off each of my dioramas I have used some scraps of coloured card I had left over from a previous make, as well as some felt tips and paint markers from my art supplies. 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 May and June 2022

STYLE | Feature

A glass act Meet the ma ker Timothy Ha rris

By Jo Ma cau lay Pictu res Ju l ia n Wi nslow

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Timothy Harris is a master glassma ker in the art of ma k ing studio glass and creates his beautif u l glass pieces in his studio at A rreton Barns Craf t Vi l lage.

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imothy followed in the footsteps of his father, Michael Harris. During the 1960s and 70s Michael was preeminent in originating the studio glass movement in the UK, and in 1968 founded Mdina Glass in Malta. In 1973 he founded Isle of Wight Studio Glass at St Lawrence on the Island. As a teenager, Timothy began working with his father at the St Lawrence studio. “Heat, fire and smoke were really appealing to me as a teenager,” explains Timothy. “It was a very masculine setting, and it was a really inspiring place to be. Whether it was nature or nurture, I don’t know. “But glassmaking is something for which you have to have a passion. If a day goes by where I don’t make a piece of glass, I feel odd.

“If a Roman glassmaker came into my studio he would recognise some of the tools.”

“Glassmaking is all about teamwork and I began by sweeping the floor and learning from the team. Next, I took a glassmaking course at the College of Glass in Brierley Hill – at the time Brierley was the centre of the glass industry in the West Midlands. After that year I returned to the studio.

“Back then it was all about production. We were alone in producing high quality goods, but on a large scale – it was studio glass for the masses. It’s now more about making glass for direct sales, commission work, bespoke items and internet. “We’re still developing new collections, especially since we moved from St Lawrence to Arreton in 2013. We’ve done dozens of collections over the years, but there are some pieces I’m particularly proud of because they’re technically challenging.” Timothy’s current work is on sale in the shop adjoining the studio. A few current collections, such as Nightscape and Undercliff, were originally his father’s designs and are now in their fourth generation. Others pay homage to his father’s innovative work, but the

May and June 2022

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majority are now very much Tim’s own designs, such as Jazz with gold leaf and its swirls of colour. Earlier in his career a scholarship from QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) enabled Timothy to work alongside glass artists in the United States. In April examples of Timothy’s work were displayed in Fortnum

and Mason as part of QEST and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. When we visited, Timothy was making a piece of Linear – a large onionshaped vessel blown in iridised blue glass containing silver leaf, with a hot trailed surface. This is a comparatively recent design and it’s very popular.

The Process

1. 1. Assistant Roger gathers glass from the furnace at 1,100 degrees centigrade, and it is coated with black powdered glass to create the black inner core. This is cooled a little and then clear glass is added over the top so that the black is sandwiched in the clear glass. Blue glass powder is put on top of this, and sheets of sterling silver leaf are rolled on top. Then the silver leaf is burned out to leave silver oxide on the surface. 2. The glass is then rolled over thin glass canes, which stick to the surface, and then the blowing process begins. Tim will part blow it and then hot trails are applied to the surface with the assistance of Roger. The blowing process continues until the vessel is transferred from the blowing iron to the puntil iron or bridging post, by attaching the puntil iron with a piece of molten glass – a tricky manoeuvre as this new joint has to take the entire weight of the piece. Then the vessel is broken off from the blowing iron and

2. then reheated. Glass cools very quickly and the vessel is frequently returned to the reheating point, which is 1,200 degrees centigrade. 3. The neck of the vessel must now be formed, and the glass is so hot that Roger must shield Timothy’s hands from the heat with wooden boards as he works the vessel with the glassmakers’ tools (jacks). Gradually the neck becomes smaller and smaller and longer and longer, until finally the neck is broken off to a tiny point.

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4. The last hot process is to iridise the piece by using a gas torch to reduce the silver oxide that was applied earlier and then spray the surface with tin salt to iridise it. 5. The piece is then removed from the puntil iron and put into an annealing oven to be held at a constant temperature of 500 degrees centigrade and then cooled very slowly overnight to reach a relatively cold at 50 degrees centigrade by morning. The piece then has its face ground and polished. www.isleofwightstudioglass.com

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Glory Art Glass

d Evans at Glory Art Glass in Sandown has a topical sea-themed collection new for this summer. Taking centre stage in the light and airy gallery, Buoys N Gulls is a beach scene bursting with beautiful hand-blown glass. Sandblasted seagulls perch atop a breakwater, overlooking a tangle of beach-found nets and rope bejewelled with brightly coloured buoys, fish, and even a sea hedgehog. The gulls and some buoys are blasted with sand, giving them a smooth matt finish similar to ceramics, and are very tactile. “I’ve been making the gulls for a couple of years they’ve been flying out. The buoys are all new for this summer,”

explains Ed, who is island born and bred, and most definitely a beach bum. “I had the best childhood ever! Much of it was spent on beaches with family. I would spend hours exploring rock pools, snorkelling, and fishing. I still do. I love the way water plays with light and colour. I’m trying to mimic that with my glass. “Sea Stones are another new thing. Big chunks of glass, they almost look wet to touch — a stone that looks as if it’s made of ocean. The seaweed, plankton, and bubbles suspended inside are just tiny, coloured glass canes and crystals fused onto a big, gorgeous lump of gloopy glass. They bounce light beautifully!” Ed’s parents, Martin and Nicky, opened

the studio to the public in 1996 and enjoyed many happy years building the business; sadly the pandemic forced an early retirement. Now Ed and his wife Hanna have picked up the torch. Hanna is technically Ed’s apprentice, but we can see who’s the boss! Hanna is also a talented lamp-worker, which is glassmaking in miniature. Tiny rods of coloured glass are melted in a fierce flame torch, creating intricate beads usually in the form of animals, insects and flowers. People go bonkers for her bumblebee earrings. Aside from beautiful glass to brighten your home, this creative couple offers glassmaking demonstrations and lessons, trophies, awards and “Eternity Glass” ashes memorials and jewellery.

See more at www.gloryartglass.com May and June 2022

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Isle of Wight Museum of Glass

ake sure you go upstairs from Isle of Wight Studio Glass to the Isle of Wight Museum of Glass, which houses a collection of over 700 pieces of Tim Harris’s work, and has more than 1,200 pieces of studio glass on show. The museum also hosts work by other Island-based studio glass makers such as Alum Bay Glass, Glory Art Glass, SculptGlass, and others who have come and gone over the years. “We try to collect all of the Island glassmakers and British studio glass,” explains Anton Doroszenko, who opened the museum in January 2016 – the ribbon was cut by Tim Harris and Michael Rayner, and TV presenter Mark Hill gave an introductory talk on ‘Taking Risks’. “It was the first specialty glass museum to be opened in England in 40 years,” adds Anton. The Studio Gallery is full of brightly coloured studio glass pieces in cabinets, ranging from a cabinet of experimental pieces from Mdina Glass in Malta, through the history of Isle of Wight Studio Glass to the present day. The museum even has Tim’s father Michael Harris’s original workbench from Mdina Glass. Other makers featured include Peter Layton, Nick Orsler, Karlin Rushbrooke,

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and Island maker Pippa D’Arcy at Quay Arts. A recent addition is Clare Ralph Leonty’s ‘Lady of Light’ which contains uranium glass that glows under ultraviolet light. The next gallery hosts a collection of British, French, and German Art Deco glass from the 1920s and 30s, with a particular focus on Edmond Etling. This gallery also has a seated area and activities for children, and this space is used for school visits with a huge pulldown screen. Through this gallery is a small shop, with good quality glass objects on sale. There is no entrance fee, but visitors are encouraged to give a donation or to buy items from the shop. The museum has recently launched an outreach programme to take the glass to people who might not visit a museum. Sculptural pieces were recently taken to Sight for Wight, who very much enjoyed the visit. Born in Edinburgh, Anton has more recently lived near Oxford, but is relocating to the Island soon and retiring from his day job as a scientific editor. Anton is of Ukrainian heritage and intends to offer his Oxfordshire home to refugees from Ukraine until he moves here. www.isleofwightglassmuseum.org.uk

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Clare Ra lph Leonty

clare@ralphleonty.co.uk | www.ralphleonty.co.uk

sland artist and sculptor Clare Ralph Leonty’s work has increasingly used the medium of glass, and her most recent pieces have been made with Tim Harris of Isle of Wight Studio Glass. Toxic Lady, renamed Lady of Light, is a full-sized torso of a woman, in glass, which has uranium glass embedded within the sculpture. This green glass glows under ultra-violet light because of its uranium content, and the sculpture has a music- and voice-activated lighting frame. You can see it in action at the Isle of Wight Glass Museum. A previous piece incorporated stained glass in slate; an art nouveau-inspired garden sculpture, with flowers in iridescent greens, blues, and purples. This piece was commissioned and is in a private collection. Before this, Clare made a huge ammonite sculpture in wrought iron, with rondels of stained glass radiating out from the centre, in a kaleidoscope of rainbow colours. This is also in a private collection. Clare was also commissioned to make a selection of garden sculptures for Robin Hill – a large stag made entirely

of stag oak; giant bluebell art and spider web, all made from steel; a fourfoot-high metal phoenix and a number of other giant flowers, all made from metal. You can see some of these in the woodland gardens at this popular Island attraction. She is now in the process of finishing a concrete sofa and chair - a lockdown project. Clare first hit the headlines when she designed a huge Easter Island head that was installed at Ventnor’s Botanic Gardens in 2002. A statement on our misuse of the planet’s resources, the sculpture was made from car parts and had two Jaguar wings for its nose. At this time Clare was also designing and making jewellery, which was made from dinosaur bone found on the south coast of the Island, and Isle of Wight Studio Glass (IWSG). In fact, Clare did work experience at IWSG under the tutelage of Michael Harris, which is where her passion for glass began. After lockdown, Clare again worked with Tim Harris to produce a limitededition range of iridescent ‘Lady of Light’ and ‘Men of Light’ paperweights, which have been selling well and are available directly from Clare. May and June 2022

Beautiful jewellery for life’s precious moments Green Sapphire and Diamond Statement Ring A custom made dress ring created with a natural green sapphire accented with a full channel of round brilliant cut diamonds in white gold.

Gemstone and Diamond Halo Rings Fire Opal and Diamond Halo Ring At the centre of this incredible ring design we set a rare oval cut fire opal surrounded by a halo of diamonds.

Here we see three variations of the ‘Eleanor’ engagement ring design, set with alternative gemstones including ruby, sapphire and tourmaline.

Cushion Cut Tourmaline Ring Another one-of-a-kind gemstone ring. This example featured a unique cushion-cut teal green tourmaline, accented with channel set diamond shoulders.

Emerald and Diamond Half Eternity Ring Round emeralds alternated with sparkling diamonds in this beautiful handcrafted half eternity ring made in yellow gold.

Bespoke Opal Necklace

Alexandrite Unity Ring

A unique oval opal necklace handcrafted in luxurious yellow gold. This is just one example of the many custom made necklace designs created for local clients.

Here we picture an unusual gemstone version of the ‘Unity’ ring design. This example featured a unique colour change alexandrite set into platinum.

Specialists in jewellery remodelling and custom jewellery design Browse designs online or visit our showroom Monday to Saturday www.serendipitydiamonds.com/uk chat online or call 01983 567 283

STYLE | Art

Style spectrum Stu Byrnes

Stu first took up photog raphy as a hobby in 2014 because he thought it wou ld be a stress reliever, a lthough he admits that it hasn’t quite worked!

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Opposite: Chicane, October 2020.

Self-taught, and learning via YouTube videos, Stu’s professional career started when he took photos at Walk the Wight and, after the Hospice uploaded his photos, one of the walkers asked him to cover her wedding.

I was a bit of a fan boy and agreed to do the stills when Chicane was making a video at Brook Beach for ‘All We Had To Leave Behind’. He later asked me to do his wedding. @nickchicane

Photography became his full-time career after being made redundant from his former job in April 2020. He admits that he needs to find more time to do landscape photography. Stu now shoots on a Fuji XT3.

Above: Nomadic, May 2021. Nomadic is my friend and he asked if I could do him a favour in October 2021 – he now calls me his ‘Official Press Photographer’. He’s DJing on the Electro Love stage at the IW Festival this year. @nomadicstudioproductions

stuby rnesphotog raphy.weebly.com | Fa cebook : @stuby rnesphotog raphy | Instag ra m: stuby rnesphotog raphy May and June 2022

STYLE | Art

Above: Sandown Pier February 2021. It was very cold, in February 2021, and I could see it was a lovely clear morning when I woke up so I knew it would be a nice clear sunrise. Right: Groyne at Sandown, September 2019 . I was testing a new camera, trying out a long exposure in the late afternoon.

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Art | STYLE

Above: Groyne at Yaverland, September 2019 . This one was taken the same morning, further down the beach toward Yaverland with my new camera, again a long exposure. Left: Pigeons on the Pier, November 2019 . I was waiting for the boat in the early morning, and I really liked the pigeons. They looked as if they were waiting too.

May and June 2022

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Art | STYLE Style of Wight Children’s Writing competition winning story…

Griffinsea By A l ice Jouber t, aged 11 I l lustration Ju les Ma rri ner T he sta rr y n ig ht loomed over the fa ntastica l, majestic tow n of Gri ff i nsea . In the centre stood the orpha nage. Si rius sat up i n h is bed, th i n k i ng about a l l the chaos he had caused. T he cu rta i ns waved i n the breeze. T hey were wh ite, long, si l k y cu rta i ns that let da zzl i ng moon l ig ht i nto the da rk room. A l l the ch i ld ren slept, d rea m i ng of pa rentage. Sudden ly, a thu n k on the w i ndow sta rtled Si rius. T wo stra nge shadows appea red. One was a d ragon-l i ke shadow, a nd one of a ma n. Si rius pretended to be asleep, but he kept one eye open. T he ma n tip-toed i n a nd looked a rou nd ca ref u l ly. He wore a long g rey wa istcoat a nd a ta l l top hat w ith a golden buck le. He held a big, sma l l holed net. Si rius closed h is eye. A creatu re w ith eyes l i ke f la mes a nd sha rp claws ca me i nto the room. It g rowled a nd sha rpened its claws on the door way. “A re you su re th is is the place Piet?” T he monster sa id i n its sna ke-l i ke voice. “I’m su re th is is the place Ni n k i.” Repl ied Piet. He sudden ly froze a nd held h is net up. He sta rted wa l k i ng between a l l the beds. He stopped at Si rius’s bed a nd wh ispered “Someone has been naug hty today……” He reached out a w ri n k led ha nd a nd l i ke a Ma ntis Sh ri mp he wh ipped off the bla n kets. Si rius sat aga i nst the wa l l, fea r i n h is body. “Come boy,” Piet sa id. “Come to me or Ni n k i w i l l get you,” he sneered. Si rius slowly ca me for wa rds, h is breath heav y. Piet sl ipped the net u nder Si rius’s feet a nd he fel l i n, f ig hti ng f u riously w ith the la rge, sma l l holed net. T hen he beca me face to what cou ld be the face of Ni n k i. Her hot breath ma k i ng h i m sweat. Her sl ither y voice sou nded “Look i nto my eyes,” she sa id i n a hoa rse wh isper. Si rius tried not to look but he d id. Later on, they broug ht h i m outside a nd Ni n k i held the end of the net i n her mouth. T he th ree rode off, Si rius da zed at the front. Just then, a sma l l wh ite mouse ca me sca mperi ng up a d ra i n pipe, h is ra i ncoat f lappi ng about i n the breeze. It had sta rted to ra i n. His wh ite f u r coat, u nprotected by h is ra i ncoat, got soa ked as he took shelter i n the orpha nage’s open w i ndow. He watched the Ni n k i-Na n ka f ly away. He took off h is hat a nd held it aga i nst h is chest. “No……..”

Meet the Winner Style: Why did you write the story and what inspired you? Alice: I thought about the legends and myths people believe in around the world, then I made them work together (or against each other) in their own fantastical world. Style: How did you come up with the characters of Ninki-Nanka and Piet? Alice: They are real, and people believe in them. Piet is from the Netherlands, and what I know is that he took naughty children away. The Ninki-Nanka was the first ever resemblance of a dragon. She is from Africa and is believed to eat naughty children – but in my story she decided to join up with Piet. Style: Do you like writing stories and have you written others? Alice: I LOVE writing stories. I have written others, but this is the best one. Style: One of the judges wanted to know why the mouse was wearing a raincoat. Alice: The Tooth Mouse would think it is rather rude to walk around naked. Style: Have you now finished the story, and if not, are you going to? Alice: I am going to carry on writing it, maybe one day turn it into a book. Style: What are your favourite subjects to learn? Alice: Art, Maths, Science, English, PE, History – I really like all subjects! Style: What do you like doing in your spare time? Alice: Drawing, daydreaming, trampolining, baking, and sailing. I also play Jeff (the mini bassoon.)

TO BE CON TI N U ED May and June 2022

Caffe Isola &

The

Chapel STreet

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

info@caffe-isola.co.uk Tel: 01983 524800 the home of

island roasted artisan coffee from the isle of wight

www.islandroasted.co.uk

London House Kitchen Delicious homemade food.

Daily specials, homemade Pastries, quiches, cakes and scones. Award winning Artisan Breads. OPEN: 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday TELEPHONE: 01983 638856 | 40b High St, Ventnor PO38 1RZ

STYLE | Food

MEET THE OWNERS DITA KRISTOPAVICIUTE AND ADAM EDMUNDS CANTINA

The love story between Dita Kristopaviciute, Adam Edmunds and Cantina began nine years ago, after this stylish Ventnor restaurant opened, and the couple became customers.

ita says, “We fell in love with everything about it, the food, drink, décor, and ambience. Eventually, I was looking for new job and was offered a front of house position here. Of course I took it, and loved it.” Dita was later promoted to Manager and excelled at that for five years before the owner decided to step away from the business. Dita’s enthusiasm and experience, along with her relationship with Adam, made them the obvious choice as Cantina’s successors. Adam grew up in Niton, and spent 15 years working locally as a chef, developing most of his skills on the job. The couple’s own love story began 12 years ago, when Dita was living in Lithuania and met Adam online. After extending a planned trip to Dublin, she stopped off to spend a few days in London with Adam, saying, “We had an amazing time, and the rest is history.”

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Food | STYLE

Dita subsequently moved to the Island, and they both now live and work in Ventnor. “We always thought we’d open our own restaurant, but it’s a lot to deal with — the pressure of running your own place — so we’d let the idea go. When Cantina came into the picture it was a very tough decision. We spent time weighing things up, but the thought of giving Cantina to someone else, after spending so long loving it, meant I couldn’t say no, and Adam felt the same way.” They took Cantina over in September 2021 and are clearly passionate about its continued success. Dita’s warm personality lights the up restaurant, and Adam shines as chef, but they aim to share everything as a partnership. Both contribute ideas, and the pairing is working really well. Dita runs Cantina during the day, taking on everything from preparing breakfasts including some of her own dishes, to ordering,

cleaning and reservations. Adam is generally in the kitchen for the weekend and dinner service, working around his current commitments as general manager at the local Spyglass Inn. They’ve very much kept the essence of the place they loved, “The old Cantina had an exclusive drinks menu, and very unique dishes, so we’ve simplified those things, and want our customers to enjoy any occasion here in a more relaxed atmosphere.” The team have kept to the same style of high quality cooking, largely taking inspiration from Mediterranean cuisine. “We use more local produce now than we did before, because it’s tastier and much more convenient when it’s on our doorstep — we just walk across the road to the butchers. Ventnor attracts visitors from all over the world, and we think it’s important to introduce them to what the Island has to offer, like our potted Ventnor crab.”

At Cantina, customers can watch their food being prepared in the open plan kitchen, and there’s a good selection of drinks, from coffees to cocktails. Dita and the team always provide a great service, and Adam is enjoying the creativity of being a chef here. “You always want to create food that gets a good response, and we hope that’s the reason people come here.” Dita agrees, “When you clear the table and see empty plates it is a very good sign. It’s a nice feeling when someone has appreciated your hard work. For me it’s also the customer interaction, sharing emotions, as well as food and drink. We treat every single person like they’ve been invited to our own dinner party. It’s really important our customers are treated like friends, and when they leave with happy faces and full tummies, that’s the biggest compliment we can get.”

May and June 2022

Casual Dinning Cosy Atmosphere Handcrafted Cocktails Local Produce Brunch’in Perfect for any occasion Booking Advisory Book your table now (01983) 855988 cantina.ventnor@gmail.com Connect with us

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Afternoon Tease Ever si nce the 7th Duchess of Bed ford (supposed ly) i nvented a f ternoon tea to put a stop to ‘that si n k i ng feeli ng’ du ri ng the gap between lu nch a nd d i n ner, Brits haven’t needed much of a n excuse to i ndu lge i n a m id-a f ternoon treat. By Ja mes R ay ner Pictu res by Ch r istia n Wa r ren

May and June 2022

STYLE | Food

As the yea rs have rol led by, the possibi l ities for the trad itiona l a f ternoon tea have become end less a nd the opportu n ity to gather w ith friends or fa m i ly a nd sha re the ex perience has become more a nd more i mporta nt. So sh i ne up the ca ke forks a nd d ig out that tea stra i ner as we ta ke a look at the more casua l, u n ique, a nd custom isable a f ternoon treats you ca n fi nd across the Isle of Wig ht th is spri ng a nd su m mer.

Going Nuts for Doughnuts First stop is Cook + Baker, located in a Victorian stone cottage at the hear t of Godshill village. S tepping inside you’ll find Roger Serjant (up to his elbows in doughnuts) and wife Lisa (piping bag in hand), producing a fresh array of baker y specialities that, since opening, have attracted a steady stream of sweet-toothed patisserie addicts. The inspiration for the couple’s latest venture comes from the other side of the world — Australia to be precise — and that countr y ’s unique take on cafe culture. “ We lived out there for a number of years and loved how ser vice at cafes just naturally flowed from breakfast into brunch, into lunch. Nothing was fixed, it was all ver y relaxed and casual”. This ethos is now at the hear t of Cook + Baker, with a menu offering something for ever yone — “even those who lef t home not really knowing what they fancied” — and a place to meet with friends for a drink,

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a cake, or perhaps something more. Taking a seat in the Cook + Baker garden, it’s time to place that order and a quick scan of the food offering shows why this Godshill cafe is the per fect place for a customisable af ternoon treat. To begin, you could tr y the smashed avocado toast or maybe share a tofu scramble with sweet potato rösti. Then, why not add in one or two of the day ’s specials, which on this visit included an Italian pork sausage roll and a red wine braised beef pie (made with local Wagyu beef from Niton) On to sweets, which feature éclairs on Mondays and Por tuguese tar ts on Sundays, but visit on a Saturday and you’ll discover the highly revered ‘ doughnut day ’ where freshly fried doughnuts are piped and decorated with an ever- changing reper toire of flavours, including lemon verbena, pistachio with rose, salted caramel and Vietnamese coffee. Unveiled at

10:30am they ’re normally sold out by noon! Cook + Baker ’s tempting array of handcraf ted and exciting options is really no surprise, as hospitality runs in both sides of the family. Lisa was born on the Island to a family of Chinese cooks (her grandfather opened the Isle of Wight’s ver y first Chinese restaurant) and Roger grew up in his parents’ hotel, before catering college and cheffing his way around Hong Kong, Australia, and a string of posh London hotels. Finishing up with a sip of whole leaf Royal Chai tea (hand - blended in Arundel), the af ternoon draws to a close. All that’s lef t is to thank Roger and Lisa for their hosting and set a reminder for nex t Saturday, which from now on will always be ‘ doughnut day ’. Cook and Baker | 01983 840080 High St, Godshill, Ventnor PO38 3HZ

Food | STYLE

One Lump or Two? For the tea leaf connoisseurs amongst us, local brand Wight Label Tea offers a classier alternative to trusty old Twinings. Brought to you by the people behind Caffe Isola and Island Roasted Coffee, their range includes ten specially selected varieties, each full of flavour and wrapped up in completely biodegradable pyramid tea bags.

Brews include a rich and malty South African Rooibos, a fragrant Egyptian chamomile and a refreshing Peppermint Tisane (made from mint leaves freshly plucked in Poland). If your cup awaits a more full - bodied mix ture, they also offer an award -winning All Day Breakfast Blend, containing a finely balanced combination of Kenyan, Rwandan and Indian Assam tea. Wight Label Tea | 01983 524800 (Café Isola) 85A St James’ St, Newport PO30 1LG

Shrimply the Best If you want to take your af ternoon tea into a more al fresco dimension, then pack a picnic blanket and head to Yarmouth Deli to fill your hamper with the best ar tisan produce around. Take your pick of Cornish Yarg or Dorset Red cheese,

local jams and Wild Island drizzles, fresh olives, and toasted crackers. Time it right and you might be able to intercept Head Chef Kevin bringing out his profiteroles, meringue nests and Por tuguese tar ts, fresh from the deli’s oven.

If your tongs are clanking at the thought of a beachside barbeque, the team can also supply BBQ packs — and with the return of the first fish counter in Yarmouth for 25 years, flame - grilled prawns are back on the cards too! Yarmouth Deli | 01983 761196 1, The Square, Yarmouth PO41 0NS

May and June 2022

STYLE | Food

Fit For a Queen

More tea, Julia?

Over at Ventnor ’s Royal Hotel, Head Chef Matt Egan and Pastr y Chef Huber t Zuchowski have been busy curating a new and ex tra regal af ternoon tea for 2022 — to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 70 th year on the throne. No stranger to visiting monarchs, the hotel hosted Queen Victoria on a trip to the town back in the 19th centur y, so they take these things pretty seriously!

Offering both culinar y and cultural treats is Dimbola Lodge, home of pioneering Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. Julia’s drawing room has now become a character ful tea room, complete with William Morris wallpaper, vintage crocker y, and stunning views down to Freshwater Bay.

This spring and summer, guests taking a seat on the Geranium Terrace for this Platinum Jubilee tea can look for ward to finger sandwiches (including Gallybagger cheese with Isle of Wight tomato chutney), freshly baked fruit and plain scones (accompanied by homemade jam and Briddlesford clotted cream) and a patisserie selection that comprises rose and chantilly choux buns, a lemon tar t with torched meringue and an English custard slice. Top tip: upgrade with a glass of Joseph Perrier Champagne if you’re feeling ex tra jubilant.

Af ternoon teas can be tailor- made and include a shor tbread hear t and slices of homemade cake, such as chocolate orange or lemon and lavender loaf. And to drink, it has to be tea — Dimbola tea to be specific — grown on a Sri Lankan plantation formerly owned by the Cameron family (and where Dimbola Lodge takes its name from!) Af ter wards, head up the wooden stairs to take in the spring exhibition — Creative Cross Currents — mixing a selection of Julia’s rare photographs from Sri Lanka with works by 21st centur y visual ar tists that combine both British and South Asian influences.

Royal Hotel | 01983 852186 Belgrave Road, Ventnor

Dimbola Tearooms | 01983 756814 (Museum and Galleries) Terrace Ln, Freshwater Bay, Freshwater PO40 9QE

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Food | STYLE

Pasta La Vista While Brits have af ternoon teas, Italians have merenda — a small meal or snack between lunch and dinner — and where better to sample it than Ryde’s much -loved outpost of continental cuisine: Ristorante Michelangelo. The trio of Nor thern Italians behind the business can offer you any thing from steamy filled ciabatta to hand - made pumpkin tor telli, or (our personal favourite) toasted

croissants stuffed with wilted spinach, goat’s cheese and caramelised onion. For a sweeter alternative (or your second course if you’re feeling ex tra peckish) swap that tea pot for a barista- made coffee and cast an eye over the cake counter where Sicilian lemon tar ts, homemade muffins, and sugar sprinkled cannoli lie in wait. Ristorante Michelangelo | 01983 811966 30 St. Thomas St, Ryde PO33 2DL

All Aboard Imagine following the twinkling lights across S t. Helen’s Duver one late af ternoon in summer, to discover an exquisite af ternoon tea laid out before you. Rugs and cushions spread out on the grass, low tables covered with charcuterie boards of cured meats and fine cheeses, alongside sharing platters of

bespoke cakes and sweets. No, this isn’t a hallucination, it’s exactly what’s on offer from Lauren Ellingham of Boho Car tel. You name the location (an event, a garden, or an outdoor public space) and any dietar y requirements and she handles the rest, setting up the per fect

picnic and af ter ward leaving no trace of the fun that was had. All you have to do is simply turn up and enjoy. Af ter a successful stint in S ydney, Lauren brought the brand over to the Isle of Wight in time for summer 2021 and has big things planned for the coming months. BoHo Cartel | 07938 063764 www.facebook.com/bohocartel

May and June 2022

STYLE | Food

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Food | STYLE

SCONES WITH FETA AND GREEN HERBS Ingredients 180g flour 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp baking soda Pinch of salt Pinch of pepper 110g cold butter cut into cubes ½ egg (use the other half for brushing) 4 tbsp cold milk ½ cup Greek yoghurt ½ cup feta cheese cut into small cubes 1 tbsp chives, chopped 1 tbsp thyme, chopped Additionally Salt Pepper Powdered paprika ½ egg for brushing Method Heat oven to 180˚C/350°F. In a bowl mix dry ingredients and add cold butter cut into small cubes. Work it with your hands so the butter will combine with the dry ingredients. In another bowl mix ½ beaten egg, milk and yogurt. Make a hole in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the wet ones. Mix only so the ingredients will combine, very delicately. Add feta and herbs and distribute them evenly in the dough. But don’t knead it.

L AVENDER AND ORANGE SCENTED SCONES Try scones with a difference. These fruity, floral masterpieces will grace the most elegant of summer afternoon tea spreads. Ingredients

Brush each scone with an egg and sprinkle with salt, pepper and powdered paprika.

8 oz blanched almond flour 1/4 tsp sea salt 1 tsp baking soda 1 ½ tsp dried lavender flower, minced Pinch of nutmeg 1 large egg 2 tbsp honey 1 tsp blood orange zest, finely grated

Bake for about 15 minutes.

Method

Flatten the dough so it’s 1 cm thick and cut circles with a glass or a cutter.

Preheat oven to 180˚C/350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a small separate bowl, whisk together egg, honey and orange zest. Stir wet mixture into the dry ingredients, mix until thick dough has formed. On a sheet of parchment paper, pat dough into a 6-inch diameter disk about ½-inch thick. Cut into 8 wedges. Place wedges on the parchment-lined baking sheet. You can also do this in a pie dish and cut once the scones are cooked. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving. Serve with cream cheese and orange jam.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, lavender and nutmeg. May and June 2022

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MORE THAN JUST PUBS

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NEW EVENTS BOOK NOW FOR SUMMER 2022

MAY 20th-22nd The return of our Local Produce Weekender with dishes created from Isle of Wight produce and fantastic wines to match

MAY 14TH A one off special evening showcasing a 7 course tasting menu with the option to include a bottle of selected wine

JUNE 17TH Gin Tasting - Sample a selection of local and far ﬂung gins and matched mixers in association with Fever Tree

JULY It’s a celebration of seafood! Our specials board will be showcasing the best of the Island’s abundant seafood harvest

THURSDAYS THROUGHOUT JULY It is music, cocktails and seafood barbecues every Thursday with talented local artists and the fabulous Isle of Wight Cocktail Company!

SUNDAY 24th July Join us on the patio for an afternoon of live music, hog roast and the obligatory jug of Pimms!

01983 810616 theboathouseiow.co.uk

01983 882823 theﬁshbourne.co.uk

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Please see our social media or call the pubs for more details and to reserve your places

VISIT US AT INNS OF DISTINCTION AND MAKE YOUR SUMMER SPECIAL!

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SWEET POTATO & SPINACH MUFFINS Stock up on superfoods with these tasty sweet potato and spinach buckwheat muffins – Popeye would approve! Ingredients 1 sweet potato, peeled and coarsely grated 160g buckwheat flour, sifted 100g oat flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground ginger ½ tsp sea salt 3 eggs 2 handfuls (50g) baby spinach 2 soft dates, pitted 180ml plain unsweetened yoghurt 125ml olive oil 2 tsp lemon zest For the topping 75g pumpkin seeds (pepitas) 2 tsp runny honey or maple syrup 1 tbsp olive oil ¼ tsp sea salt

Method Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/gas 6). Grease a 12-hole muffin tin and line it with baking parchment or paper muffin cases. Alternatively, use a silicone muffin tin. Put the sweet potato in a large bowl along with the rest of the dry ingredients. Stir together, make a well in the middle, and set aside. Crack the eggs into a food processor, add the spinach along with the rest of the wet ingredients and blend until completely smooth. Pour the wet mixture into the well of the dry ingredients, gently fold together and set aside, making sure not to overmix, as the muffins will turn out tough otherwise. To prepare the topping, put all the ingredients in a small bowl, stir together and set aside. Spoon the muffin batter into the prepared tin and top each muffin with a couple of teaspoons of the topping. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden and springy, or until a skewer inserted in the middle of one of the muffins comes out clean. Remember to turn the tin around halfway through the cooking time to ensure that the muffins bake evenly. Once cooked, remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly in the tin, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, or devouring while still warm! Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. May and June 2022

INTRODUCING MULTI-AWARD WINNING EXECUTIVE CHEF Matthew Tomkinson LUNCH DINNER GARDEN BAR

Wednesday to Saturday Tuesday to Saturday Open daily subject to weather Open daily from 11am

Hambrough Road, Ventnor, PO38 1SQ Tel. 01983 856333 www. thehambrough.com

Food | STYLE

Honey

By Wi l l Stewa rd, Liv i ng La rder

s spring makes its move towards summer, our rhubarb is in abundance and our bees are hard at work collecting pollen and nectar from the surrounding fields and hedgerows. By now the first substantial flow of nectar should have taken place and our beehives are starting to fill with honey. In this early part of the season, the honey produced comes largely from flowering trees, oilseed rape and wildflowers – we purposefully leave a wild meadow to ensure they have plenty of food. You can assist the bees in your garden by leaving your overwintered brassicas (kales, sprouting broccoli, and all cabbage family plants) to run to seed. The bright yellow flowers that will result provide an excellent source of food for hungry bees and will encourage them into the rest of the springtime vegetable garden for better fruit set on flowering fruit and vegetable plants.

HONEY-FERMENTED RHUBARB Honey is a great natural preservative, this honey-fermented rhubarb was suggested by one of our customers, and it’s delicious with Greek Yogurt. Ingredients 150g fresh rhubarb – choose bright red tender stalks 150g raw honey (or enough to fully cover the rhubarb) Method Cut your rhubarb into slices and fill a clean jam jar. Pour in enough honey to fully cover the rhubarb, wait for the honey to settle, and top up. Screw on the lid and rotate the jar to really make sure all the rhubarb is covered.

Living Larder is a family-owned, Soil Association certified Organic farm. livinglarder.co.uk | Instagram: @livinglarder

Loosen the lid and put the jar in a dark place on a plate – as the rhubarb ferments it might overflow. Every few days tighten the lid and give the jar a few turns, then re-loosen the lid and return it to the plate. You should expect to see bubbles after a few days. As the rhubarb ferments, the honey will get runnier and hopefully turn pink, the rhubarb will start to lose some of its tartness and soften. Ferment for 1-2 weeks, depending on how tangy you want it to taste – once ready pop into the fridge where the fermentation will slow. It’s now good to enjoy!

May and June 2022

THE IS LE O F WIGH T’S MOST IC O NIC P U B Serving fresh, homemade burgers and sides all made using locally sourced products.

JUNE-SEPTEMBER 5pm till 8.30pm - Ventnor -

Thursday and Friday at St Catherine’s Church,

- Freshwater Bay -

Saturday at The Lifeboat Station Open 7 days a week serving up tasty home-cooked food from 12noon. Enjoy picturesque views across Ventnor bay and over the English Channel. Live & local music regularly throughout the week. THE SPYGLASS INN, ESPLANADE, VENTNOR PO38 1JX THESPYGLASS.COM | 01983 855338 |

Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free options available. See our menu and pre order at:

www.strippedventnor.co.uk T: 07944920603

strippedontheroad

Food | STYLE

Briddlesford Lodge Fa rm w ins top awa rds at the Great Hampshire Sausage a nd Pie Competition Briddlesford Lodge Farm proved, once again, that it can compete with the best at The Great Hampshire Sausage and Pie Competition 2022. Their luxury Veal and Wild Mushroom pie went on to win the overall ‘Champion Speciality Pie’ award, after all their seven entries had received gold and silver awards. It was the first time that Briddlesford had taken part in the annual competition, and they were thrilled to come home with this recognition and success. Briddlesford butcher, Stephen Sheaf, devised four different types of sausage for the competition. All were made from Isle of Wight meat and ingredients, whilst also showcasing Briddlesford’s own products. Steve’s silver medal-winning entries were as follows: Veal, ale, and honey sausages using Briddlesford Veal, Goddard’s Ale, and local honey.

Traditional Pork sausages made from The IOW Meat Co. pork. Pork, Gouda, and Jam sausages made from Briddlesford Gouda, jam from The Fruit Bowl in Newchurch, and again, pork from the Isle of Wight Meat Co. Bluebells at Briddlesford Head Chef, Dave Holley, won a gold award for his delicious Scotch Egg, made from Isle of Wight pork and Isle of Wight free-range eggs. Dave entered two pies into the competition and his Farmer’s Pie, made from veal, ham, apple, and black pudding won a gold award, as did his Luxury Veal and Wild Mushroom Pie. To top off the occasion, the Luxury Pie went on to become the overall Speciality Pie Champion.

Louise says “It was a wonderful evening, and a great time was had by everyone. We are extremely proud of our achievements against some very strong competitors, and we will certainly be entering next year”. “It was incredible news, particularly as it was the first time we had entered. We couldn’t have expected any more really!” says Stephen Sheaf. “We sell the Luxury Veal and Wild Mushroom Pie in the shop alongside a Veal and Vegetable Pie. They are probably the most popular pies we do because all the veal is from the farm here. People love to come to Briddlesford to taste and buy some of the best food available at the very farm where it is produced.” These pies are available in Briddlesford Lodge Farm shop as family size or individual one portion pies, and they are served in rotation for lunch at Bluebells. The sausages and scotch egg are also on the menu, and available in the shop. All the products can be ordered in advance for barbecues or other events. www.briddlesford.co.uk

Louise Griffin, Steve Sheaf, and in place of Dave Holley, his assistant chef Abigail Amos, represented Briddlesford at the awards evening at Southampton Football Club.

May and June 2022

Traditional Italian Pizzas - made to our own wholemeal and white dough recipies Serving light lunches and evening meals, licensed bar and full wine list 25 High Street Ventnor PO38 1RZ

For Bookings and Enquiries 07481 621157

TONI'S TEA ROOM Freshly Ground Coffee Speciality Teas Soft Drinks Home Made Scones & Cakes Sandwiches To Order Toasties & Bagels Vegan & Vegetarian Options Indoor & Outdoor Seating Dogs Welcome VENTNOR SEAFRONT OPEN 9-5 DAILY

Food | STYLE

RED, WHITE AND ROSÉ: M E E T I N G S A LT Y ’ S N E W CA P TA I N By Ja mes R ay ner

I n Ya r m o u t h ’s Q u a y S t re e t , h a rd a l o n g s i d e t h e t o w n ’s Tu d o r c a s t l e , i s S a l t y ’s — a l o c a l i n s t i t u t i o n o f o v e r 25 y e a r s ’ s t a n d i n g . N o w, t h i s former carriage house (and later sail loft) is fast becoming one of the I s l a n d ’s t o p s p o t s f o r f i n e d i n i n g .

nside, new manager and sommelier Fran Ayling is ready to meet and greet. With pub-owning grandparents and a Cordon Bleu-trained mother, she grew up in the industry, being served chef-quality food after school and experiencing front of house from an early age. Following a degree in London came jobs in event management at a string of Premier League rugby and football grounds before returning home to the Island to take over the management reins at the Little Gloster in Gurnard. Fran’s latest move has seen her join the new lineup at Salty’s, alongside talented Head Chef Tom Axford, and together they’re taking the much-loved restaurant in exciting new directions. Turbocharging the change is Fran’s newly acquired WSET Level 3 — a qualification for serious sommeliers — and rumour has it she’s the only person on the Island to hold it. Fran explains, ‘It’s knowing the difference between a Pinot Noir from New Zealand and one from France’. To pass, a final nerve-wracking test is held

by a group of Wine and Spirit Education Trust experts, involving blind taste testing wines to determine what region of what country each wine comes from, and how climate and geography affect them. Combining this knowledge with Head Chef Tom’s culinary creativity, the team has concocted an exciting wine pairing menu. It’s no easy task, as some of Tom’s dishes can include up to ten different elements! Courses include a starter of local asparagus, with soy pickled egg, sesame and ginger mayonnaise paired with a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc ‘to balance out those tropical flavours’. For dessert, a mille-feuille of caramelised apple and bee pollen yoghurt sorbet is paired with a Sauternes wine from Bordeaux. ‘If a dessert is sweet, you want the wine to be sweeter, and this one really complements the caramelised apple’. Salty’s has also unveiled a new ‘connoisseurs’ wine list — for those looking to swirl, sip and

savour something extra special. Recommendations include a Serghesio Zinfandel from Sonoma County, California and a Montrachet White Burgundy from the Côte-d’Or in Eastern France. As the corks start popping, one thing is clear: this is just the start. Salty’s continues to invest in the best local talent, supporting them, encouraging them, and offering creative free rein. Watch this space. May and June 2022

HAND-CRAFTED ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

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Review: Mermaid Bar, Isle of Wight Distillery

By Ha n na h Wi lson Pictu res by Ch r istia n Wa r ren

Situated on Pondwell Hill, nestled in picturesque countryside, you’ll find Isle of Wight Distillery’s Mermaid Bar — home of Mermaid Gin. Sample their collection and watch the stills in action, before heading onto the terrace for a Mermaid & Tonic or stepping inside by the log fire to browse their perfectly mixed cocktails. We expected some rather special creative recipes from Mermaid Gin’s very own bar, and we were certainly not disappointed. Head mixologist Ash Worcester treated us to an array of classic flavours and wild-foraged ingredients – here’s a selection of our favourites:

Ash’s Mermaid’s Kiss: A fresh and slightly floral mix of Mermaid Gin, elderflower cordial, lemongrass syrup, lemon juice, coriander, and lemongrass. This carefully crafted, short cocktail uses the botanicals from their dry gin.

Ginacolada: A creamy, sweet, and delightful take on the classic Pina Colada using Mermaid Gin, coconut syrup, milk, pineapple, and lime.

Bramble: A fruity, sweet, and sour mix of Mermaid Pink Gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and crème de Mure, garnished with a lemon slice and blackberry.

French shellfish dish, Moules Mariniére, served in a creamy garlic and wine sauce. We can see that the Mermaid Bar is set to be a popular hot-spot for expertly mixed cocktails and high-quality dining this summer — the Style of Wight team are certainly looking forward to returning. www.isleofwightdistillery.com | 01983 613653 or mermaidbar@isleofwightdistillery.com

We also had the pleasure of meeting Head Chef Josh Buckle and sampling the dinner menu. For our starter we enjoyed delicious garlic mushrooms on sourdough bruschetta and baked camembert with a wedge of crusty bread. The main courses consisted of the show-stopping Mermaid Burger, an 8oz steak burger topped with cheese, bacon, and large crispy onion rings served in a soft brioche bun with tomato, lettuce, and a generous handful of over-turned fries. Not forgetting the delicious classic May and June 2022

• Fresh Fruit and Vegetables • Local Island grown produce • Seasonal Specialities

FREE

Home Delivery

Our Fresh fruit and Veg boxes to Ventnor and Surrounding areas

Open Monday to Saturday 9.30 to 5.30pm 34 High Street. Ventnor. Isle of Wight.PO38 1RZ T. 07891083806

Tel. 01983

854330

The finest Beef,Pork and Lamb. - our speciality -

Own reared milk fed Isle of Wight Lamb

- pre-orders advised

Handmade Sausages and Burgers, BBQ meats Isle of Wight Cheeses and locally made Sausage Rolls and Pies

OPEN

8.30am to 4.30pm Monday - Friday 8.30am to 1.30pm Saturdays 23 High Street Ventnor

Food | STYLE

May and June 2022

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tel. 292966

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ECO ISLAND

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HOW ISLAND BUSINESSES ARE L E A D I N G T H E WAY I N S U STA I N A B I L I T Y Tapnell Farm is celebrating ten years as a staycation resort this year, which means it has offered staycations and glamping before the former was a household term and the latter was included in the dictionary!

May and June 2022

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TEN GREEN YEARS AT TAPNELL FARM The Turney family first took over Tapnell and East Afton Farms 40 years ago and, at its peak, Tapnell became one of the biggest dairy farms on the Island with over 800 cows producing 24,000 litres of milk every day. Today, still family-run, by brothers-in-law Tom Turney and Tom Honeyman Brown, it is an award-winning holiday destination enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. When it comes to a leading example of best practice in sustainability and green issues, Tapnell Farm is hard to beat, and they have multiple Green Tourism Awards to their name. Sustainability is at the heart of everything they do, whether using the sun to make electricity for hundreds of homes, powering heating systems with a biomass boiler or building using natural materials. The mission is to “... pass on our farm in better environmental and productive health than it was at the beginning of our life’s tenure,” says Tom Turney. A great deal has changed in the past ten years. Now, Tapnell’s staycation offer is just about as good as it gets, featuring accommodation in wood cabins, ecopods, modulogs, geodesic domes, safari tents, farm cottages, and Tapnell Manor. On top of all that, Tapnell has evolved

into a self-contained resort with its own Farm Park, and family and dog-friendly restaurant, The Cow. Activities today vary from a circular six-mile walk – the Tapnell Trail – to the island’s only Aqua Park and Football Golf course, archery and axe-throwing ranges, and clay-pigeon shooting. Not to mention a recently expanded Farm Shop focusing on local produce, to include vegetables grown on the farm. It was all quite different just ten years ago, when Tom’s Eco Lodge, named after visionary owner Tom Turney, began welcoming guests into five glorious canvas safari tents. A decade ago, hot-water bottles, wood-burning stoves and eco- friendly powered electric blankets under canvas were revolutionary. So, while camping wasn’t for everyone, glamping quickly brought that touch of “glam” to a style of accommodation that kids and the young-at-heart already loved. Tapnell recognised the need to capture the family market first but, in truth, you couldn’t have found a much cooler place in the UK to stay than a Safari Tent on the Isle of Wight in 2012. Even now, that “wow factor” remains. With all its home comforts and stunning views across the countryside to the sea, Tom’s Eco Lodge grew in popularity very quickly, with Tom soon joined in the new venture by his brother-in-law, Tom Honeyman Brown. Together they have made Tapnell what it is today, with the help of an amazing team. One of Tapnell’s original features was the creation of a very special hen house for rescued battery hens. Back in the day, some of the land had been used for ‘Banger Racing’. The chequered caravan that was once the HQ of the racing operation was transformed into a hen house with roosting hatches – each painted with the name of a particular hen – where guests could collect fresh eggs. Today, the caravan itself may have

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been retired, but Tapnell Farm remains home to lots of rescued hens – and fresh eggs are always on the menu (when the hens oblige). “From the start, our ethos has been to create ‘maximum enjoyment with minimum impact on the environment’ and this has been true from the construction of our glamping safari tents in 2012 to the Aqua Park enjoyed by so many today,” says Tom Turney. “We’ve just wanted to grow organically and to create a unique and welcoming place for everyone to enjoy the farm as we did; the fresh air, stunning views, and space to explore – whilst trying to keep everything rustic and in keeping; no gadgets or gizmos … just people-powered fun!” adds Tom Honeyman Brown Here are some of the ways in which Tapnell Farm has taken decisive action on environmental practices and social and ethical choices:

POWER Tapnell has installed 500kw of renewable solar generation across four buildings and two small field arrays, meaning the farm is electric positive and sends excess green power back to

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the grid. Tapnell generates more than 500,000kwh of energy a year, enough to power more than 100 homes. Oil boilers have been removed and replaced with a district heating network powered by sustainably sourced renewable wood pellets. Air source and ground source heat pumps are installed in new properties and business premises, and they were early adopters and promoters of LED low-energy lighting, converting all properties in 2012 and saving thousands of kilowatts of energy and tons of unnecessary carbon emissions. Plus, they grow tons of energy crops annually to produce renewable gas.

RECYCLING Tapnell was an early adopter of compostable and biodegradable packaging to replace plastic products, and all farm plastics and scrap old metals are recycled. Former farm buildings have been repurposed to regenerate rather than building on greenfield land. They upcycle products wherever possible to avoid unnecessary purchasing and even recycle used wetsuits!

PEOPLE Tapnell has generated full-time and seasonal employment for more than 100 local people, offering high-quality jobs with real career opportunities, supported by as many local suppliers and contractors, who work hard to continually improve the Tapnell offer. “Our local Island community is important to us and we champion ‘local’ with most of our supplies and services coming from the Island,” says Tom.

CONSERVATION Animals have been rehomed from a closed wildlife park to create the farm park, with hundreds of animals rehomed and cared for over the years. Miles of footpaths and bridleways in the surrounding countryside have been upgraded, maintained, and promoted and two new lakes have been created to better manage the watercourse and provide habitats for wildlife. Miles of hedgerows and thousands of plants, shrubs, and trees have been planted across the farm, and acres of land have been taken out of arable production and pioneered large field margins for greater biodiversity of flora and fauna. Owl, squirrel, tit and bat boxes have also

been installed across the farm, giving them a home and actively encouraging them to live at the farm. Lodges are constructed with natural materials, powered by low-energy sources, supported by a market-leading sewage treatment system that meets the highest environmental standards, and supplied with a recycling station. If regeneration, diversification, and the creation of jobs and opportunities were high on the list of priorities for the Toms, what Tapnell has also achieved is holidays as kind to the planet as possible and that don’t, “cost the earth”. May and June 2022

STYLE | Feature

A C AC I A B AY Acacia Bay has loads of lovely items on sale that are eco-friendly, fair trade, and simply beautiful. All their rattan products are made from recycled rattan, and if you buy cushions from the ‘Interior’ label you are supporting a more sustainable and long-lasting, thoughtful product development. Their eco design ‘Original Home’ tablecloths are hand-loomed from waste cotton from the textile industry in a small rural workshop in the northern part of Bangladesh. The artisan workers are treated equally, earn fair wages, and turn organic waste into something beautiful. Drop in and make a difference when you choose from the wide range of lovely home interior items on sale. www.acaciabayiow.co.uk

DIG FOR VINTAGE Dig For Vintage’s eco-credentials are central to all that they offer in their eclectic emporium in Ryde’s Colonnade in Lind Street, which specialises in vintage fashion, antique & vintage household furniture, goods, textiles, clothing, and quality collectables. Sarah Campbell and Mike Hamlet, at Dig For Vintage, collect and curate vintage pieces dating from the 1900s into the 1980s, to suit all styles and budgets, and they have a range of classic, timeless pieces, presented with good old-fashioned service. Dig For Vintage are also the only trained stockists of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint on the Island and they offer monthly, informal, hands-on workshops that will equip you with the skills to develop your individual personal style and beautiful creations using Annie Sloan’s worldfamous Chalk Paints and accessories. Chalk Paint is safe to use in interior and exterior settings because it is water-based & non-toxic therefore more environmentally friendly than most other chemical-based paints.

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The most responsible and affordable solution to waste is to recycle, repair, renovate, reuse, and reinvent from clothes to the wardrobes they hang in. If it doesn’t work for you now, then fix it, don’t throw it or replace it. Or you could re-invent it with Annie Sloan’s beautiful range of Chalk Paints.

won’t sell anything they wouldn’t want themselves. Amongst this eclectic and unique collection are masses of interesting, innovative, and amazing gift ideas complete with a range of Dig For Vintage cards.

Sarah says: “We love the colours, shapes, textures, and quality of vintage clothing, fabrics, ceramics, and homewares. They were made well and to last.

www.digforvintage.co.uk

Mike says: “If you don’t see what you are looking for, chances are we may have it in stock or know where we might find it, so please feel free to contact us — we have an efficient vintage finding service and will be only too pleased to help in any way we can.” Mike and Sarah are always on the lookout for original fashion, fabric, furnishings, and homewares and

Open six days a week Monday through to Saturday 10am until 4pm

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B AY L I SS & BO O T H Bayliss and Booth have a selection of lovely home items that are as green as they are beautiful. An amazing range of soft cushions and throws are made from...100% recycled plastic bottles! Perfect for using throughout the home and garden, they’re stain and water resistant and machine washable!

Beach Clean placemats and coasters are made from a combination of Portuguese cork and recycled EVA plastics like flip flops - each unique in colour and pattern. Make your home smell gorgeous with their new range of Bougies La Française, each depicting an element of nature - Natural Lights. This collection

uses responsibly sourced natural rapeseed in partnership with perfumers committed to protecting biodiversity and a fair income for producers. These candles have wooden lids and can be refilled. www.baylissandbooth.co.uk

May and June 2022

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RHODES SKINCARE: Benefits you and the planet Rhodes Skincare is a British brand that is both sustainable and vegan. Its founder, Annabel Rhodes, has a wealth of experience within the skin care industry. The products combine ‘Green Science’ with the latest Plant Cell Technology, harvesting plant cells in a totally clean laboratory environment, using no soil, fertiliser, or pesticides. This technology maximises the benefits of each ingredient to reverse and reduce sun damage, protect, hydrate, and decrease wrinkles. Rhodes Skincare packaging is made from sugarcane waste, that is normally burnt or buried. It is used to make the tubes and bottles and is 100% recyclable. The packaging even comes in a smart green colour. Plant Cell Technology is the key, and the latest way of harvesting products in a totally clean atmosphere. You just take 2 millimetres of a leaf or root and harvest it in a completely pollutionfree laboratory environment, without harming the plant and while ensuring that it is kind to your skin. “It’s better than organic”.

at their freshest. Maca root looks like an old turnip, but it’s great for laughter lines and enhances radiance by 40%!” Kind, funny and strikingly beautiful (modelling for Dior and Saint Laurent in the ‘70s!) Annabel learned about natural skincare working for Eileen Malone, Jo Malone’s mother, in the ‘90s and trained in Essential Oils with Neal’s Yard Remedies. Clearly, Annabel is not going to give up her fight to get the sustainable skincare word out there. Her products really do work and can be good for the planet whilst not sacrificing any of the luxury. They smell divine too. Her skin, by the way, is amazing. www.rhodesskincare.com

MADONNA LILY PROMOTES SKIN CELL RENEWAL PROCESS BY DECREASING MELANIN AND HELPS EXPEL IT FROM THE EPIDERMIS, THEREBY PREVENTING AND DECREASING DARK SPOTS.

“We use Desert Rose plant cells for hydration – This plant grows and flowers in the desert,” explained Annabel of the main ingredient in her Desert Rose Face Wash. “Madonna Lily and Barbary Fig reduce and reverse sun damage. Found in The Edelweiss Face Rescue and The Orange Skin Food “Himalayan Edelweiss, which is a protected species, gets battered by extreme weather conditions. The cellular structure allows its survival, and the cells provide the very best protection and regeneration in The Edelweiss Face Rescue.” Annabel, who is encyclopaedic in her knowledge of plants and what they can do for us, explained it beautifully during our meeting at her lovely cottage in Bembridge. “Rather like cooking, a recipe is best when the ingredients are

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HIMALAYAN EDELWEISS LIMITS BAD UV RAY EFFECTS WHICH AGE AND DAMAGE THE SKIN. LIMITS THE CREATION OF FREE RADICALS, DECREASES MELANIN PRODUCTION AND INCREASES TOLERANCE, THEREBY PROTECTING SKIN CELLS. IT TIGHTENS SAGGING NECK & LIFTS CHEEKS, SMOOTHES CROWS FEET & WRINKLES AS WELL AS PROTECTING AGAINST POLLUTION AND UV RADIATION.

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SEA~ROOM AND ISLAND REFILLERY Word is out about Bembridge’s beautiful new zero waste shop, Sea~room, where you can refill from a carefully curated selection of eco-friendly household, hair, and body products as well as browse their range of sustainable, locally made, home accessories.

Customers are encouraged to bring their own containers to be refilled and relabelled by Fiona and her team, using a weigh-fill-weigh system, paying only for the product in the bottle. Plus, they offer expert advice on getting exactly what works for you, and how to use it.

Sea~room’s founder Fiona handpicks and tests all the refill brands, selecting only those ethically made in the UK that demonstrate a completely closed-loop, circular production system, ensuring no waste is generated. All the big plastic containers necessary to the refill process are reused time and again by her suppliers.

Sea~room stocks local products wherever possible and is proud to work with some of the island’s favourite ecominded makers like XV Stripes, ROAKE Studios, Permaculture Island, Earth Conscious, Hunter and Boo, Soap and Anchor, ChilliWinter, and more.

The pretty shop stocks a huge range of refill products, all of which are vegan, cruelty-free, biodegradable, plant-based, and contain no harsh chemicals. Many are also organic and hypoallergenic. Everything from shampoo, body lotion, and face serum to dishwasher tablets, laundry liquid, and floor cleaners lines the walls of the refill bar in beautiful vintage-style glass jars, ready to be decanted into customers’ bottles.

Pop in to have a look around and discuss how this more sustainable and natural approach could work for your home, maybe even bring an empty bottle! Sea~room is open from 10-2pm Tuesday to Saturday and is between Spence Willard and the Co-op in Bembridge village centre. Instagram: @searoom.iow Email Fiona: refill@islandrefillery.com Sea-room, The Old Bank, Sherbourne Street, Bembridge, PO35 5SB

Recently registered as a Community Interest Company, Sea~room’s ethos is to refill bottles with eco products at the same time as highlighting the issue of plastic waste and toxins in our oceans and seas. By encouraging customers to reuse rather than recycle, and use readily biodegradable, natural products, Sea~room seamlessly demonstrates how a circular, waste-free model can work. Fiona says: “We try to empower our customers by giving them an alternative to buying endless amounts of plastic bottles and enable them to take some direct action towards cleaner seas and a more natural way of living. The phrase I hear most from people in the shop is, “We have just got to do this.” People really do want to see change.”

May and June 2022

STYLE | Feature

MERMAID GIN If you’ve ever picked up a bottle of Mermaid Gin, you may be surprised to find out that the tamper-proof seal on every bottle isn’t plastic, it’s actually completely plant-based. It is made using potato and corn starch. In fact, the whole bottle is plastic-free.

When designing their bottle, the Isle of Wight Distillery team had many factors to consider, but perhaps none more important than being completely plasticfree. The gold neck label is crafted from recycled paper and the bottle itself from recyclable glass. To minimise waste in their distribution, all their cardboard is shredded and repurposed

as bedding for local livestock. Their efforts don’t stop there as they actively work alongside the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to support their efforts in monitoring and restoring seagrass meadows in the waters around the Isle of Wight. www.isleofwightdistillery.com

BLISS ICE CREAM Bliss Ice Cream is not only proud to be situated in the beautiful yachting town of Cowes, but is also proud to support Isle of Wight cows too! Offering scooped ice cream made with Isle of Wight milk, they are always pleased to chat to customers about how important it is to support the Island’s herd of dairy cows. We all love the feeling of chilled, creamy sweetness across our hot tongues on a sweltering summer’s day, but there’s so much more to ice cream than the taste. Did you know that in the 1970s there were over 365 dairy farmers on the Isle of Wight? Now in 2022, there are fewer than 10. This in turn means there are fewer cows. The Isle of Wight offers rich pastures and rolling countryside, much of it in Areas of Outstanding Natural

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Beauty, for cows to graze. However, there are now fewer dairy cows than ever before. Without the need for grassy fields for grazing livestock, the land is usually utilised for other cropping. This means the views will change further on the Island as fewer green fields are needed. Dairy farms used to be at the heart of our small rural communities and employed generations of local people. Buying ice cream made with local milk and cream, such as Calbourne Classics, Minghella, and Isle of Wight Ice Cream brands means you are not only supporting the cows and subsequently supporting our beautiful countryside, but you are also supporting our local communities. Bliss offers over 40 flavours of high-quality ice cream made

with Isle of Wight milk and cream, which is produced and stored right in the middle of the Island to keep food miles to an absolute minimum. www.blissicecreamparlour.co.uk

Feature | STYLE

HARVEY BROWNS FARM FOOD HALL, BUTCHERY AND CAFÉ There’s a brand-new farm food hall, butchery and café opened in Arreton called Harvey Browns and it’s powered by solar panels on their farm, making it one of the few businesses on the Island to be run on sustainably produced Island electricity. Just off the main road at Hale Common, Harvey Browns is the new incarnation of Farmer Jacks at Arreton Barns but is now much larger and has its own on-site café. A spacious food hall specialises in local foods, which are therefore low in food miles, although some do of course have to come from further afield. Their own butchery, which is separated from the building by a glass link, sells Isle of Wight beef and lamb. Currently in-season and grown on AE Brown Farms is their delicious

asparagus, which carries on until around Solstice (June 21st) and a selection

closely followed by crunchy sweetcorn in July. Many local producers’ goods feature in the farm shop such as The Tomato Stall, Island Bakers, Scarrots Lane Bakery, Grace’s Bakery, The Garlic Farm, and Briddlesford Farm. The café serves breakfast from 8am till 11am, lunch from 12 till 3pm. Tea, coffee and cake are available all day, with local and home-grown fayre featuring on the menu.

of brassicas such as cauliflowers, cabbages, broccoli, and chards, all grown on the farm. Their home-grown strawberries will be arriving in June,

For the knowledge that you are putting your money back into the Island economy, that some of the food miles of your groceries will be very short, and that the power behind the venture is completely green, make sure to check out Harvey Browns at Hale Common soon. Open 8am to 6pm daily. | www.harveybrowns.co.uk

CAFFÈ ISOLA & ISLAND ROASTED Caffè Isola has very high green credentials as they roast their own coffee at their sister company Island Roasted just down the road from the cafe, and the beans are delivered to Caffè Isola in reusable buckets. In fact, you can watch the roasting process from start to finish in their profiling roastery on the first floor of Caffè Isola. This smaller roastery gives

them the facility to develop new coffees without having to disturb their whole production schedule, and to produce some very bespoke small runs as well as stock the Isola label retail shelves. Their tasty coffees are then sold to retail customers as beans or freshly ground on site into recyclable or compostable packaging. They also recently introduced their own fully compostable coffee pods – and they also have a cost-effective reusable coffee cup currently in development. Plus, Island Roasted delivers its retail coffee orders to homes and businesses by electric van. They’re also taking part in a project run by People Powered CIC

which means that their Newport and West Cowes customers receive their coffee deliveries by e-cargo bikes. www.islandroasted.co.uk www.people-powered.uk May and June 2022

6 PIER STREET. VENTNOR.

01983 716 062

Quirkies Gifts with a difference

Fb/Instagram Quirkiesiow Open Monday to Saturday 10.00-16.30pm 29 High Street. Ventnor. Isle of Wight.PO38 1RZ T. 01983 856185 www.quirkiesiow.co.uk quirkies.iow.co.uk

STYLE | Fashion

INSPIRING COTTAGECORE TRENDS with Visual Impact

“Serious h a t - we a r i n g c o t t a ge - c o r e lady”

Visual Impact Ladies are taking style inspiration from two women with guitars, coming on fierce, cool, arrogant, lusty, funny, not the least bit apologetic. They’re the most exciting new rock chancers in years… They are Wet Leg. The duo Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers are often described as a couple of artsy rock & rollers who want too much, feel too much, hate too much, while chasing too many good times. No wonder the world was so ready to fall madly in love with them. After two years of quarantine blues, there was just a widespread cultural craving for this kind of action, and Wet Leg were as surprised as anyone when they tapped into it.

Get the look in gingham Gingham dresses are a fashion staple that never goes out of style. While most people associate gingham with a particular print, it refers to the fabric. Light-weight in texture, gingham is made out of cotton or cotton blend fabric that serves as the perfect material for the spring and summer months.

Stride out in sustainable sandals This women’s sandal features a comfortable and eco-conscious GreenStride™ sole made of 75% renewable material. The upper is crafted from premium Better Leather, which is sourced from a sustainable tannery, rated silver for its environmental processes. Sturdy enough for a range of activities, the Ray City fisherman-style sandal has a rubber lug outsole for enhanced traction. Must-have trend: the pyjama blouse Some pyjamas almost feel too fancy to wear to bed, so we’re fans of breaking out those satin and silky shirts in the daytime, too. A pair of baggy or tapered leg jeans will balance out the look, keeping this staple sleek instead of over-the-top.

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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

Fashion | STYLE

STYLISH AND UNIQUE STATEMENT DRESSES with Luchelle Boutique Nights are getting longer, people are going out, and with a few new spring-summer outfit ideas on board from Luchelle Boutique, you’ll be ready to go just about anywhere. FUSCHIA & BLUE CONTRAST LEOPARD SHORT-SLEEVED TIERED DRESS A smock style, tiered dress with short sleeves and pockets. Perfect with a blazer for workwear, or take it on holiday with a pair of your favourite summer wedges.

ROYAL BLUE & FUSCHIA STAR & WAVES WRAP DRESS Feel all those Spring-Summer vibes with the gorgeous Melody Dress. It has a wrap fit with Kimono-style short sleeves and waves of gorgeously bright star print. Team with killer heels for evening drinks, or take it to that summer festival with your favourite pair of sandals.

MINT & BLACK BRUSH STROKE MAXI SHIRT DRESS A flattering shirt dress with buttons all the way down, belted at the waist to give shape, cinched cuffs and pockets. Add some serious colour to your wardrobe with this versatile piece that can be dressed down with denim jacket and trainers, or teamed with bright heels and a matching clutch for that wow factor.

C o mp l e t e t h e l o o k f r o m t h e collection in store or online at: Lu ch e l l e B o u t i qu e P i e r S t r e e t , Ve n t n o r | @ l u ch e l l e . b o u t i qu e

SPRING / SUMMER CLAMS & DROPS with Honeybourne Jewellery

Sophie’s classic enamel range is inspired by change and repetition found within nature, drawing from the surrounding beautiful, deserted beaches and unspoilt woodland. She works mainly in silver, adding seasonal colours from a palette of around 50 kiln-fired vitreous enamels. S h o p t h e H o n ey b o u r n e J ewe l l e r y collection in store or online at: H o n ey b o u r n e J ewe l l e r y C h u r ch S t r e e t , Ve n t n o r h o n ey b o u r n e j ewe l l e r y. c o m @ h o n ey b o u r n e j ewe l l e r y

ENAMEL DROPS These long, elegant drop earrings feature classic Honeybourne sterling silver organic-shaped pods. We simply love this fresh spring/summer blue mist colour.

CLAM SHELL Each Honeybourne clam shell piece has been designed and handmade by Sophie, then cast in sterling silver in Britain, before the final pieces are hand-finished by the Honeybourne Jewellery team in Ventnor.

May and June 2022

Let us help you refresh and revive

BeCalmed in the perfect place to help you relax, recover and feel good.

INNER CALM MASSAGE

Helping you unwind a busy mind, let anxieties slip away for a renewed sense of positivity with our new Inner Calm Massage.

BeCalmed Specialises in: Wellbeing Treatments • Beauty Therapy Pre-Natal Treatments • Anti-ageing treatments Gift Vouchers are available at BeCalmed or on our website.

A tranquil oasis in the heart of Cowes 01983 296655 8 Birmingham Road • Cowes • P031 7BH info@becalmedincowes.co.uk • www.becalmedincowes.co.uk

Health and Beauty | STYLE

M A K E T I M E FO R S E L F - C A R E By Ca rol i ne Hu rley I.I.H.H.T. A RT( R eg) W EL L BEI NG PR ACTITION ER AT BECA L M ED SPA A N D H EA LTH W EL L SOLU TIONS

‘It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary’. Mandy Hale

hat is self-care? Self-care is not the indulgent luxury we may perceive it to be. It is making a conscious effort to promote your own physical and mental wellbeing with the intention of enhancing your energy and reducing your life stresses. Self-care can fall into five different areas: Physical: the movement of your body, your fitness and sleep patterns, health, rest, and nutrition. Emotional: acknowledging your feelings, love, and kindness for yourself and those around you, dealing with stress effectively, and developing compassion and forgiveness. Social: surrounding yourself with people that support you and make you feel good, building relationships with people that you can trust and talk to, enjoying positive social media, and setting boundaries. Spiritual: your values, beliefs, and the practices in your life that nourish your soul and allow you to pursue your goals and seek understanding. Try journaling, meditation, and spending some time alone.

Intellectual: your self-development and personal growth, learning new things, and having a strong and positive mind. There are many ways to practise self-care. Fuel your body with nutritious food, drink plenty of water, and get moving. Enjoy a relaxing aromatherapy bath using your favourite products, light an ESPA Candle, take some time to relax and meditate. Spend time with friends, laugh, and get outside. Let others help you. Try a therapeutic treatment such as a massage. Our Inner Calm Massage is designed to quieten your mind, release tension, and nourish your skin. This treatment is personalised to your physical and emotional needs. Carefully chosen aromatherapy blends relax, cleanse, or energise, while advanced massage techniques alleviate muscular pressure, soothe anxiety, and invoke profound relaxation. Includes: Aromatherapy massage, Heated Neck Pillow, and a Scalp Massage with Rose Quartz Crystals. What will you do today to take care of yourself?

May and June 2022

STYLE | News

P R E ST I G I O U S G LO B A L E X C E L L E N C E AWA R D W I N FO R I S L E O F W I G H T C L I N I C

he Courtyard Aesthetic Clinic, Newport, was named the Most Outstanding Aesthetic Clinic 2022 by Global Health and Pharma Magazine. The awards recognise companies, teams, and individuals who excel in the ever-growing industry of human and environmental health — those who set the highest standards by pushing boundaries and creating cutting-edge medical solutions. The Courtyard Aesthetic Clinic was established in October 2021 by Dr Hayley Elsmore. It specialises in modern cosmetic procedures to reduce the signs of ageing and improve the skin, such as anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers. It is the only Isle of Wight clinic to offer the latest popular Morpheus8 and Hydrafacial Elite treatments, which are a favourite of celebrities. Dr Elsmore said she was delighted the hard work of the clinic and her team had been recognised. “We are thrilled to receive this award. It’s fantastic for the clinic to have this recognition and we are so grateful to the many talented people who have contributed to its success,” she said. “We hope this is the first of many awards as we have lots of developments in the pipeline. “My vision is to create beautiful, natural results for my clients using the latest techniques the industry has to offer.” To find out more about the Courtyard Aesthetic Clinic visit www.thecourtyardcliniciw.co.uk

styleofwight.co.uk

Business | STYLE

2022 Wedding & Events Show Style of Wight had the pleasure of being Media Sponsors at the 2022 Wedding and Events Show, held at Cowes Yacht Haven. What a spectacular show this was! Event Director, Hannah

Wilson, went above and beyond to ensure this was no standard wedding fayre, but a high-impact two-day interactive showcase of what the Island’s wedding industry has to offer.

rganisers welcomed guests with luxury gift bags brimming with specially selected goodies worth over £150. From bottles of bubbles supplied by Gems Bridalwear, cocktail tasting vouchers with The Isle of Wight Cocktail Co., a free veil or pair of shoes at Bridal Treasures, and treatment vouchers for The Courtyard Aesthetic Clinic — these amazing bags went out to the first 100 guests through the doors.

table favours from Mummy & Mr Fox, to your Prosecco drinks reception with Gastronomy.

The event hall was filled with the Island’s best wedding and event suppliers all pulling out the stops to make their stands as beautiful and eye-catching as possible. To keep visitors entertained, there were a large variety of stage activities running throughout the day, including performances, guest speakers, and exciting show competitions allowing you to win anything from handmade

The impressive catwalk was the main feature point — each side lined with rows of spectator chairs filled with guests hoping to spot that perfect dress. Gems Bridalwear opened the catwalk on both days, followed by Miss Diamond UK taking to the catwalk to start the runway for Bridal Treasures. Black Swan Events have certainly taken the Island’s Wedding Fayres to another level, we’re excited to see what they have in store for the 2023 show! Organisers: Black Swan Events and Promotions in partnership with Madeline James Events for 2022. Full event gallery can be found online at www.blackswanevent.co.uk. Exhibitor applications & sponsorship enquiries are now being taken for the 2023 Black Swan Wedding & Events Show, please email hannah@blackswanevent.co.uk for an application pack.

May and June 2022

“Celebrating glass design and craftsmanship” Arreton Barns Main Road, Arreton Isle of Wight PO30 3AA 01983 716270 www.isleofwightglassmuseum.org.uk

THE HOUSE OF

Clare Ralph Leonty D e s ign e r A r tis t Sculpt or Dinosaur Hunter

m obile 07989880796 we b ralphleonty.co.uk

Art | STYLE

From left to right Jane Richter, Colin Ford, Sunara Begum, Julian Bell, Jaspreet Singh Sukhija from Indian High Commission, Griselda Bear and Jeremy Bear at the launch of the exhibition

Jeremy Bear - Craftsman with his Festival Gods, Goddesses and their Familiars

Creative Cross-Currents at Dimbola By Jo Ma cau lay

T he colou rs a nd v ibra ncy of Ind ia en fold you as you enter the new ex h ibition, Creative Cross- Cu rrents w ith Ind ia a nd Sri La n ka , at the Di mbola Museu m a nd Ga l leries. T hey rad iate from Jeremy Bea r’s stu n n i ng creation, desig ned to evoke a household sh ri ne for the a n nua l Du rga P uja festiva l.

Brightly hued portraits and street scenes by Jeremy, close by Sunara Begum’s drypoint and carborundum prints and Dunstan Perera’s monoprints, all in one way or another echo the remarkable photographs that Julia Margaret Cameron took in Sri Lanka. Curator Griselda Bear’s starting point for this exhibition was recognising similarities in the lives and work of the four artists: “Like the pioneering nineteenth century photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron, the present-day artists, Jeremy Bear, Sunara Begum and Dunstan Perera have strong links with the cultures and heritage of India or Sri Lanka and make work inspired by that part of the world and they all also have a UK perspective,” explains Griselda.

Julia Margaret Cameron was born in 1815 in Kolkata and had Indian, French and English ancestors. She spoke several Indian and European languages and was known for wearing Indian-style clothes. She lived almost a third of her life in India and Sri Lanka and in 1875 she finally left Dimbola in Freshwater for Sri Lanka. Jeremy has family links with India both past and present. Long visits to India, including filming the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, have inspired his paintings, film, and installation in this exhibition. Sunara Begum was brought up in London in the traditions of Bangladesh and now lives in London and Jaipur. In 2018 she walked in the footsteps of Julia Margaret Cameron in Kolkata and Sri Lanka and those journeys inspired

Jeremy Bear Spring Festival Dancer

her prints and film in this exhibition. Dunstan Perera was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka and moved to London as a young man. A rare visit to his country of birth inspired the prints in this exhibition. The heliographic process he uses results in remarkable similarities with Julia Margaret Cameron’s much earlier images of people in rural Sri Lanka. For a £10 family and friends ticket offer for up to two adults (including over 15s) and four children up to 15 years old, present this issue of Style of Wight Magazine at the Dimbola ticket desk. This offer is valid until 5th June 2022. The Creative Cross-Currents exhibition runs until 5th June. Contact Guest Curator Griselda Bear at griseldabear35@gmail.com | www.dimbola.co.uk

May and June 2022

STYLE | Feature

DESTINATION

VENTNOR Tracy and Chris Holbrook welcome you to ice cream nirvana at Crave

Ventnor is undoubtedly the coolest, quirkiest seaside resort on the Island, and it has never felt so alive. There’s so much to see and do, from exploring its independent boutiques and artisan shops to discovering the best local places for incredible food and drink.

veryone is so welcoming and it’s clear the town is thriving because all the local businesses are passionate about providing customers with something different, and supporting each other. They promote local produce, brands, arts and crafts, and are rewarded by Islanders, second homeowners, and tourists returning for more again and again. Ventnor’s seaside vibe is well and truly back, and there are plenty of ice cream stop-offs around town, but Crave is truly an ice cream destination. Tracy and Chris Holbrook opened their popular ice cream parlour seven years ago, and make the ice cream onsite daily. They always use the best quality Italian ingredients for their special recipe, honed by trial, error, and lots of good advice. Offering 24 different flavours, including dairy-free options, Tracy says, “We love being in Ventnor, and have the best job in the world. We wanted a seasonal business, had big imaginations, and it’s all turned out beyond our expectations. We come to work, have fun, and make people smile.” You can sample heavenly flavours

A dazzling array of flavours served with a smile!

styleofwight.co.uk

Feature | STYLE

Sensational savouries in The Kitchen @ London House

Soak up the relaxed vibe at Cantina

like Jammie Dodger or Malted Teaser from 10am-6pm, seven days a week throughout the summer months. The Island’s southernmost town has become a real foodie destination, where local menus are full of fresh produce grown, farmed, caught or made on the Island. Sally Cooper owner of The Kitchen @ London House says of the town, “We’ve been here six years now, and it’s definitely the place to be. We’re busy all year round and I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.” Her sandwich shop, deli, and bakery provides delicious light bites, lunches, homemade cakes, pastries, milkshakes, smoothies, and

Kirsty and Lauren welcome you to the Kitchen at London House

much more, all to take away. The deli sandwiches are incredible – the salt beef comes enveloped in thick wedges of Island-baked speciality breads, like roasted red onion and olive focaccia, with gherkins, melted Monterey jack cheese and mustard mayo. Their bakery offerings are out of this world, from brownies to sausage rolls, and possibly the best scones on the Island. Sally will soon be opening the space next door as a bistro, for breakfasts, brunches, and afternoon teas, so keep an eye out for that too. Whether you pop in for brunch, a coffee or evening meal, Cantina always has an easy-going vibe. Partners Dita Kristopaviciute and Adam Edmunds showcase fresh local ingredients on their largely Mediterranean-inspired menu. You’ll find distinctly different dishes here, and for brunch you can savour a full English breakfast, try shakshuka – a deliciously simple dish with poached eggs in a tomato and pepper sauce – or Swedish Hash, a tasty bowl of potato, onion, beetroot, and sausage, topped with a perfectly fried egg. They’re well known for their good coffee, from specialist London roasters Square Mile, and on Friday and Saturday evenings the restaurant opens for customers to enjoy dinner in the same relaxed environment.

Possibly the best scones on the Island

When sisters Debra Hart and Kay Russe were looking for somewhere to establish their café, Two Cooks, they knew in their hearts Ventnor was where they wanted to be. “We love Ventnor, we live and work here now, and it doesn’t get any better. We’ve carried on with same ethos we started with offering freshly cooked food, using local ingredients where possible, with a flexible menu, creating minimum wastage.” Their breakfast menu includes everything from a full English, with vegetarian options, to boiled egg and soldiers, with light lunches like omelettes, bagels, and jacket potatoes, and you can’t leave without sampling the delicious

Sisters Debra and Kay offer good home cooking at Two Cooks

May and June 2022

STYLE | Feature

From Italian favourites...

...to fine dining

homemade cakes. It’s real cooking from the heart. They’re supported by local customers all year round, and visitors return because it’s a friendly, welcoming place. One of the newest eateries in town is Amarcord Pizzeria e Ristorante. The owner fell in love with Ventnor and took almost a year to completely renovate the restaurant. Now, with a warmly industrial dining area upstairs, and a brighter, Mediterranean-style space below, this labour of love opened as an Italian pizzeria in April. Their pizza dough uses a special blend of flours not found anywhere else in the UK, and they use as many local ingredients as possible. The owner

Ventnor’s newest pizzeria is a must-visit

styleofwight.co.uk

uses Isle of Wight tomatoes because they have a fantastic flavour, and give Italian tomatoes a real run for their money. There’s a good selection of tapas, with a Steakhouse and cocktail bar coming very soon, and the whole space is available for private functions. Check facebook for the latest updates and opening times. Another very inviting option for lunch this season is The Royal Hotel. In good weather you can make the most of al fresco dining, surrounded by pink climbing geraniums in the beautiful gardens, or enjoy relaxed dining in the Conservatory and Brasserie. Customers can always expect top class service, and superb food using seasonal and fresh ingredients. The Island’s best produce is showcased on the menu in dishes such as The Royal’s classic Gallybagger cheese soufflé, Briddlesford halloumi served with beetroot hummus, a half or whole local lobster, and sumptuous panna cotta with a Mermaid Gin granita and mint. Their weekday lunch menu is available Monday to Saturday from 12 noon to 3pm, and you can also stop by for dinner, Afternoon Teas and Sunday lunches. Perched majestically on the cliff overlooking Ventnor seafront, The Hambrough’s friendly team welcomes all to its bar and restaurant, whether

... all served with true Ventnor hospitality

There are three noticeable archways between buildings in the shopfronts of Ventnor - see if you can find them. They are there because a waterway is running beneath them – hopefully in a large pipe a long way beneath your feet. you’re popping in for a coffee, a cocktail, or a three-course meal. Multi-award-winning executive chef Matthew Tomkinson prepares exquisitely tasting dishes cooked from scratch, using the best quality local produce. Lunches are delicious, and very good value at £25 for two courses, or £30 for three. There’s even

Award-winning dishes abound at The Hambrough

Feature | STYLE

For those with a sweet tooth...

...or families to feed

a charming tiered garden for lunching outdoors. The dinner menu includes starters like slow-cooked heritage beetroot, with whipped Briddlesford Farm fetter (the local version of feta cheese), or mains like Cotswold white chicken, with white onion puree and wild garlic. Moving down from the town past the pretty Cascades waterfall, and iconic Isle of Wight-shaped paddling pool towards the seafront, the good food just keeps coming. Toni Horsfield opened her bustling seafront café, Toni’s Tea Room in 2019 and says, “I want my customers to feel like they’re in my front room, surrounded by plants and homely

Try something colourful and delicious

touches. We make sandwiches to order, and customers can essentially build their own, with as much or as little as they want. We make our own cakes and fabulous gluten-free cream teas here too.”

...there are feasts for all in Ventnor

quality sakes, old world wines, and fizz. Here you can eat delicious and beautifully presented seafood, in a contemporary space right next to the sea.

With tables outside, customers can soak up the beauty of Ventnor Bay with a tea or coffee.

For more than 30 years, The Spyglass Inn has been an iconic landmark overlooking Ventnor Bay. Here, you really can enjoy a pint with a view.

Open seven days a week, the café is dog friendly, with resident dogs Florence and Tallulah happy to provide cuddles to anyone who needs them. “We get lovely feedback which warms my heart. I try to give people what they want, so they go home with a smile, and want to come back.”

Bar manager Jo Gibbs says, “We work in the best office in the world. We’ve got amazing views, we meet lovely people, and I’m proud to be serving really good food in such an established venue. It’s a proper family-owned pub, and you don’t find many like this anymore.”

Situated at the heart of the bay, and 2021 winners of best restaurant at the Red Funnel Awards, Smoking Lobster is yet another jewel in Ventnor’s crown. Specialising in seafood, cooked to perfection with a blend of pan-Asian flavours, it quickly established itself as the place to be. Manager Paris Curzon says, “We cook everything fresh, using seafood caught by local fisherman Justin Urry, and our new menu features dishes like tempura lobster, lime and mango sweet chilli uramaki, or katsu yellowfin tuna with soy cured quail egg, ginger and wasabi cream”. There’s outdoor seating here too, and drinks include Asian-inspired cocktails,

Relax with a perfectly pulled pint

May and June 2022

STYLE | Feature

Stripped on the Road was born. She took over this mobile business last year, and says, “Stripped was a bit different, always thinking outside the box, and I love that I’m working with something that’s got such a great reputation, and provides quality food.” Andy Flood is Jo’s chef and right-hand man in the van, cooking up delicious burgers, plant-based options, creative fusion fries, and unexpected accompaniments like refreshing tomato and watermelon salad. Everything is freshly made here, Street food in Ventnor is something special

The characterful interior is more like a nautical museum, housing owner Neil Gibbs’s 50 year collection that pays tribute to Ventnor’ smuggling heritage. Food is served all day, prepared to order using local produce like freshly caught seafood. There’s an extensive wine list, and on most evenings throughout the summer, live music fills the air. Moving back up to town, Jo Keyes’s upmarket burger van has become a familiar sight at the unusual location of St Catherine’s Church on Friday and Saturday evenings. Jo was working at Stripped in Ventnor when lockdown closed the restaurant, and

Check out a plant-based burger

styleofwight.co.uk

Ventnor has its own flower, Ventnor Pride, which grows along the cliffs and out of walls around the town. Introduced from the Mediterranean, this pink flowering plant called Red Valerian (centranthus ruber) became naturalised, but Ventnor may have been one of the earliest places in the UK it appeared.

Browse vintage sounds at Ventnor Exchange

Japanese for ‘stay drink place’. The cool, welcoming ambience certainly makes it a very inviting place to unwind with a sophisticated cocktail or two.

From 4th June the van will pitching up at Freshwater Bay on Saturday evenings, with Thursdays and Fridays in Ventnor.

Bar manager Rob Gilmore loves the experimental element of making cocktails, coming up with new techniques and combining unusual spirits with mouth-watering ingredients like fresh apple and coconut. Their ‘Smoking Old Fashioned’ even uses smoke, and Rob explains, “We use oak chips to create a really nice woody aroma, because that smell is associated with the bourbon.”

For great drinks, head to Drunken Lobster, an Izakaya bar, which is

It’s a real experience watching the cocktail come together in the glass,

from buns to the burgers, sauces, and toppings. Customers can pre-order online or just rock up.

Cocktails with theatre at the Drunken Lobster

Mhairi pours craft ale at Ventnor Exchange

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Ventnor has a beautiful, gently sloping beach of sand and fine shingle set in a sheltered bay. The southernmost beach on the Isle of Wight the beach is popular all year round but is more tranquil than the larger resorts even at the height of the summer season. Nestled in the bay beneath the tumbling tiers of the Victorian town you will find vintage beach huts – and deckchairs for hire. Ice creams and fresh seafood as well as traditional family pubs and dining.

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The steep south-facing St. Boniface Down is chalk down that acts like a shielding blanket to Ventnor. Its summit, 241 metres, is the highest point on the Island, with views stretching from Beachy Head to the east, Portsmouth to the north and the Isle of Portland to the west make this a true Isle of Wight viewpoint.

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Feature | STYLE games on the comfy sofas. The versatile Exchange hosts a variety of creative performances and workshops all year round, and is a record shop too.

Find a hidden treasure at Reggie’s Records

but of course, the best part is drinking it. With a range of Japanese whiskeys, premium sake and wines, we bet you’ll find something new to try here. For a chilled blend of arts, culture, good drinks, and company, pop into Ventnor Exchange. The town’s social and creative hub is run by Mhairi Macaulay and Jack Whitewood, the team that delivers the eclectic Ventnor Fringe festival. The specialist craft beer bar offers around 50 varieties, with an extensive wine list and selection of gins. They also make a mean cocktail - their Gooseberry Bramble is worth a taste. You can order teas, coffees, and add an Isle of Wight cheeseboard at any time of day while playing board

From funk and soul to jungle - it’s all here!

If music is your thing, then you’ll also have to visit Reggie’s Retro. The shop is a collaboration between Sharon Holloway and Mick Sumner, a second-hand vintage record trader. Sharon runs the place day to day, and says, “There’s something special about visiting a record shop. People can spend time just mooching, and chatting to other customers. It’s an experience you can’t get online. It stimulates the senses, you can browse through the records, listen to music, appreciate art on the covers with aromas of incense, all in a chilled space.” A vinyl lover’s dream, it stocks everything from funk and soul, to ‘80s, EDM, and jungle. You can also browse for gifts, like T-shirts, socks, puzzles, mugs, vinyl accessories, and incense here. The creative vibe in Ventnor is very strong, and you’ll find a wealth of local talent creating a variety of desirable things. At Honeybourne Jewellery the windows, walls, and cabinets are adorned with the gorgeous items fashioned right here. As well as jewellery, you’ll find unusual vintage

Bethany and Ku take a break from the design studio

dome frame pictures, enchanting door plates, and tealight holders, lovingly crafted by owner Sophie Honeybourne and her team. “We see that as jewellery for the home, and the shop is just the tip of the iceberg of what we do. We take so many commissions, and I never know who’s coming in or what I’ll be asked to do next. One little spark from an order I’ve discussed and designed with a customer can inspire a whole range. I love it, and never get bored.” The team can also upcycle sentimental or old jewellery to make a special new piece. Kimiko Ure opened her jewellery studio Ku six years ago, and now shares the airy space with fellow designer Beth Hayes.

Ventnor’s creative community includes jewellers Honeybourne and Ku

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Adorn your home...

...treat your body

Their exquisite jewellery is made on-site, largely inspired by the Island’s delicate natural forms and ever-changing seascapes. Creating commissioned pieces for all price brackets and occasions, Beth says, “I love that silver starts off as a boring piece of wire, and you need to use creativity to mould and shape it, to transform it into something customers will love for years.” Kimiko adds, “I think of each individual item as a piece of art that can enrich life with its beauty. I want to make sure the wearer of my jewellery feels very special.” The studio also showcases local art in the gallery space downstairs. It’s hard to pass the window display

Complete your look at Luchelle Boutique

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of colourful clothing and homeware without being drawn into Luchelle Boutique. As well as stylish ladies’ fashions, there’s a small children’s section, with an array of gifts, jewellery, bags, and sunglasses. Debbie Malcolm has owned her family-run boutique for three years, and enjoys every aspect of what she does, saying, “I just love shopping — picking the garments and homeware to sell, and meeting the variety of people that come in.” Debbie likes to stock things that are a bit different and supports local traders, selling cute beach huts made using recycled wood from Ventnor beach by Trudi Bridgeman Design, natural skincare from Duxmore Botanics, and The Constant Doodler’s clever greetings cards. Ventnor is also home to awardwinning organic vegan skincare range Blue Labelle. Entrepreneur Pascale Edwards-Labelle started her brand in 2011, and now produces it at her shop, Blue Labelle Boutique. She says, “People can come in for skincare advice, and I give them a consultation before recommending products to suit them.” Her award-winning Argan and Sea Buckthorn face oil replenishes and rejuvenates the skin, and nourishing lip balms in delicious flavours like peppermint and cacao or Italian bergamot are packaged in

... uplift your spirit.

eco paperboard tubes. “I love it when tourists come in asking if anything’s made in Ventnor, and I can say all of this is,” smiles Pascale. Her products sit beside other ethical brands like Lavera and Benecos, and she sells locally made gifts, from art to candles, essential oils, bath products, and diffusers. On the theme of self-care and health, Laura Jane Toogood offers a wide range of beauty and holistic therapies at her welcoming unisex salon Laura Jane. Having grown up next door to a Romani gypsy, who taught her about crystal balls and tarot, she’s always had an interest in the holistic side,

Laura Jane offers a holistic wellbeing approach

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Paul and Dee champion fresh local produce

saying, “Holistic therapies treat the mind, body, spirit, and emotions, and can be really beneficial, particularly after the stresses of of recent years.” The shop front stocks candles they make themselves, a variety of crystals, incense sticks, and local brands like Earth Conscious cream deodorants. “We also host friendly, informative talks and workshops, where groups or individuals can learn about everything from chakras and charm casting to aromatherapy or making dreamcatchers.” What you put inside your body is important too, and at Five a Day you’ll find shelves filled with daily goodness, as fresh and local as it can

Farm to fork is just a short journey thanks to Ventnor Butchers

Wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) live in Ventnor, and you’ll often see them on rockeries and rocky walls around the town on sunny days. Originally from Italy, it is thought that a Victorian botanist may have introduced them to Ventnor, or that they escaped from an Italian shipwreck. be. Owners Paul and Dee McMullin are born and bred in Ventnor. They saw a gap in the market to open this charming, traditional, greengrocery 11 years ago and have never looked back. The couple has built up good relationships with local growers, and supply several restaurants and hotels in the area. “As well as locals, we get a lot of holidaymakers and second homeowners coming in, often looking for Isle of Wight produce to take back home.” At this time of year Isle of Wight asparagus and juicy cherries from Godshill are top sellers, and are a real taste of the Wight. There’s always plenty on offer, from high quality local tomatoes to free range Isle of Wight eggs, with accompaniments like Non’s local marmalades and pickles, and Isle of Wight honey.

grazier on the Island. He began learning his trade straight out of school, and has owned sheep since he was 10 years old. Now, his flock of around 250 Dorset horns and polled Dorsets roam on local land, providing the shop with the highest quality fresh lamb. Paul says, “It’s really satisfying when you can breed and raise the lamb, prepare it for the customer and they come back in to tell me how good it was.” They sell beef from Westcourt Farm in Shorwell, and all the sausages are hand-made on the premises, with a variety of tempting flavours like Ventnor spicy leek. You’ll find plenty more meats and accompaniments to create a delicious summer barbeque too.

Paul Whitewood, owner of Ventnor Butchers, is now the only butcher Paul Whitewood takes pride in the quality meat he supplies.

May and June 2022

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Contemporary art...

Quirky gifts...

Ventnor Butchers, Five a Day and The Kitchen @ London House also provide a free local delivery service for customers to order meats, grocery, and bakery products to their homes, another example of how the businesses aim to support each other here. “We’re so lucky in Ventnor, we’ve got everything here, the sea, beautiful walks, all the shops but, most of all, the people. It still has a community feel which is hard to find these days. Quirky, arty, like-minded people are drawn here, and end up staying,” says Lesley Genge, who’s lived and worked in Ventnor for many years. Everything inside her well-loved shop Lesley’s Nutshell supports a healthy and ethical lifestyle. The wide range of health foods and supplements include Isle of Wight mushroom tinctures, containing non-hallucinogenic medicinal mushrooms like Lions Mane, said to be beneficial for the brain, anxiety, and depression. There’s also a range of carefully sourced, natural, and environmentally friendly gifts, fairtrade homeware, locally made children’s clothing, and traditional toys. More unusual gifts can be found in Quirkies, the perfect name for a shop in the quirkiest of Island towns. Owned by partners Joanne Dore and Gavin Pullman, it’s packed with gift ideas and

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homeware for all ages. Joanne says, “We just pick things for the shop that we like — we need to feel passionate about what we sell, and we love to find those odd things that people haven’t seen before.” You can’t help but be captivated by the shelf full of beautiful Mova globes, magically spinning using just the earth’s torque and lights. Stylish click clocks light up when you

The streams running down under Ventnor from the Downs emerge at the top of the Cascade on Ventnor’s Shore Road. These attractive waterfall gardens were designed in around 1900 by Edgar Harvey, the Town Surveyor (1856-1943).

...and Hurst’s Dave Rudman can supply everything else!

early 17th to early 20th Century, and our main love is period oak furniture. Pete just has the ability to spot a good piece.” Last year, Burfields was visited by TV’s Salvage Hunters, who discovered plenty of exciting finds to feature on the show. The shop also promotes modern art, including ceramics and sculpture, from a range of leading local artists, and you can find garden and architectural antiques in a separate space next door. And if you need anything else for your home or garden, you can expect to find it at W Hurst and Son’s. This independent Ironmonger is a real Island treasure. Dave Rudman is the Ventnor store manager and has

clap your hands, and there are plenty more items to quirk up your life, from striking steampunk sculptures and decorative skulls to Sass and Belle children’s tableware. If you’re looking for something more classic to enhance your world, it’s worth visiting Jackie and Pete Burfield at Burfields Antiques, Art and Design. Established on the Island for 40 years, their blend of antiques and contemporary art really complement each other, drawing in customers of all ages and varied tastes. Jackie says, “We generally deal in antiques from the

Laurence at 01 estate agency is on hand with local property knowledge

Feature | STYLE been working for the business for 21 years. He says, “It really is one of those shops that you don’t see around much anymore. We sell everything that people need, even out of season, stocking over 20,000 products.” These include barbecues, charcoal, all you’ll need to prepare your garden for summer, gifts, and homeware. What sets this store apart is the friendly, traditional customer service. Dave and the team will always go out of their way to provide expert advice and ideas to help you find exactly what you need. Lawrence Allen knows the area well, and has sold hundreds of incredible

properties in Ventnor, and the surrounding villages, since establishing 01 Estate Agents in town 16 years ago. He says, “I run the business, so I’m involved with everything and enjoy every aspect of the job. We offer a full service for clients and always go above and beyond to make all our customers happy. I see all kinds of individual and unique properties, and beautiful Victorian buildings, which keeps things fun and interesting. The area is so desirable, with the National Trust downs, beaches, countryside and coastline, and Ventnor just has its own quirky side, which draws people to it.”

Ventnor certainly has plenty of stunning spaces where you can picnic, sunbathe, play, walk, and generally explore to create a different experience each time you visit. It really does have a special magic about it. There’s a buzz in the air, and there’s never been a better time to uncover all of Ventnor’s delights.

Karl Marx visited Ventnor on several occasions and convalesced here in the last years of his life, staying at number 1, St Boniface Gardens where there is a blue plaque in commemoration. Marx claimed to his friend Engels that: “One can stroll here for hours enjoying both sea and mountain air at the same time.”

May and June 2022

YARMOUTH GALLERY B A Y L I S S

Contemporary Art & Craft

B O O T H

Anne Toms - Resident Artist

est.1997

Island & UK Artists

Natural Contemporary Luxe MID-CENTURY SCANDI FRENCH CHATEAU VINTAGE FINDS INSPIRATION

01983 528600 @baylissandbooth

B AY L I S S A N D B O O T H . C O . U K

LUSHINGTON HILL

WOOTTON

PO33 4RD

PAINTINGS PRINTS CERAMICS GLASS WOOD TEXTILES JEWELLERY

& a great little card shop ﬁnd us in the high street - Foresters Hall

www.yarmouthgallery.com

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May and June 2022

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Grosvenor Arbour RRP £399, Our Price £349

Buckingham Egg Chair (available in Black or Grey), Our Price £375

AL FRESCO LIVING with Busy Bee 96

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Hampshire Bench (available as a 2 seat: £319 or 3 seat: £399. Colours: Teak, Duck Egg Green or Stone Grey) Made from high-density polystyrene, fully recyclable, fully weatherproof, Easy to assemble & UV protected.

s your garden furniture looking tired and unloved? Would you like a brand-new lounge or dining set to relax in your garden this summer? Then look no further than Busy Bee in Ryde where there is a fabulous range of garden furniture to fit every taste and budget. Rattan weave-style furniture is especially popular at the moment and the Aspen Grey six-seater Oval Set pictured here is perfect for a family dinner, barbecue or drinks party. If you would rather lounge around a coffee table, then check out the fashionably dark grey Santorini Dusk Modular Lounge Set.

Advertisement Feature | STYLE

Aspen Grey 6-Seat Oval Set RRP £1899, Our Price £1599

For something individual, you might like to try the Windsor Egg chair, which is available in blue or black, or the Buckingham Egg Chair, available in black or grey. New in for this season are a selection of benches made from high-density polystyrene, fully weatherproof, easy to assemble and UV protected. These benches might be made from manmade materials, but they look just like wooden benches, except they don’t require maintenance each year. The Sanderson and Hampshire Benches featured here, are available as 2 or 3 seaters, and come in teak, duck egg green or stone grey.

To make an eye-catching and comfortable feature for your garden, perhaps you might add an arbour? The Grosvenor Arbour is wooden and traditional, whereas the Cottage Arbour in Charcoal and Cream might complement your lounging or dining set. Make sure to pay a visit to Busy Bee to see their selection of garden furniture soon. Brading Road, Ryde PO33 1QG | t: 01983 811096 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Sundays 9am to 4pm busybeegardencentre.co.uk May and June 2022

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ADDING A TOUCH OF GLASS TO YOUR HOME A n inorganic solid materia l that can be transparent or translucent, as wel l as hard and brittle. Glass can capture and play w ith the light around your liv ing space to add romance or movement – here we have sourced some of our most inspired pieces avai lable right now on the Isle of Wight. Photography Holly Jolliffe Styling Studio Jute Interior Design With thanks to Shademakers, and Ryde Arts for the location, and assistance.

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NATURAL STYLING: TONAL TRACES From sea g reens to deep blues, the organic forms and subtle movement of these glass pieces maintain a refined connection to their humble beg innings. Green ballon lollypop from IOW Studio Glass, £695 | Green candlestick, Bayliss & Booth, £12.99 Gin glass, Hursts, £5.50 | Green vase, Acacia Bay, £35.00 | Jellyfish paperweight, This & That, £19.50 Tall green vase from Alum Bay Glass, Hursts, £34.99 | Blue ridged votive, This & That, £6.49 Blue bowl, Bayliss & Booth, £49.99 | Blue bobble bud vase, Bayliss & Booth, £4.99

May and June 2022

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VINTAGE STYLING: A PLAY ON REFLECTION Reminiscent of days gone by, mirrored and gold-trimmed pieces sit effortlessly against the faded beauty of the backdrop.

Mirror, Acacia Bay, £250 | Lady of Light paperweight, Clare Ralph Leonty, £500 | Linen napkin, This & That, £26 (set of 4) Mirrored tray, Bayliss & Booth, £34.99 | Amber bud vase, Bayliss & Booth, £4.99 | Water glass, Acacia Bay, £6.50 Tall candlestick, This & That, £16.00 | Beer glass, Acacia Bay, £12.00 | Handmade flower stems, Glory Art Glass, £7.00 each

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COASTAL STYLING: WAVES OF LIGHT Clean crisp blues sing out against the ex posed red brick. These delicate glass pieces transform an un loved corner into a light-fi l led landscape.

Bobble vase, Bayliss & Booth, £35.00 | Wight Wave vase, Glory Art Glass, £64.00 | Dartington crystal blue vase, Hursts, £8.00 Waves, Glory Art Glass, £18, £36, £72 | Glass pendant, Acacia Bay, £170

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STYLISH SUSTAINABLE LIVING Living the green dream. Whether you want your home to produce all the power you need, would like some of your electricity produced by solar panels, or you want a home from which you can cut down on your carbon footprint by easily accessing shops and transport links, these properties each have something to offer. From a self-built and self-sufficient cedar-clad house overlooking the western Solent, to a deceptively spacious country cottage with solar arrays, and finally a cute end of terrace town house right in the centre of cool Cowes.

As befits our circularity themed issue, Rosegarth in Totland has its own self-generating power sources and consequently no annual energy bills. This attractive bespoke cedar-clad three storey home has a ground source heat pump system operating underfloor heating and has two banks of solar panels supplying its electricity needs. Self-built in an elevated position on the fringes of Totland Bay, Rosegarth was constructed in the mid-2000s by the current owners and incorporates bespoke features such as stainedglass windows and an internal lift. It has loads of space and most of the rooms have double aspect views through double glazed hardwood framed windows. The lower ground and ground floor areas are unified by attractive solid wood flooring. There is a large double garage and additional workshop on the lower ground floor and a generous entrance hall. The ground floor space has two large double bedrooms with ensuite facilities, a study with potential to be a fourth bedroom, and a utility room. The first floor has another double bedroom, a separate shower room, and the grand feature open plan living/ dining area and kitchen with vaulted ceiling. The open plan option allows the owners to enjoy far-reaching countryside and sea views, but with the privacy of being higher than the surrounding properties. Outside there is parking for two to three vehicles plus the double garage and there are gardens to both sides and the rear of the property, although the real attraction of Rosegarth is the property itself and its location and outlook from the first floor. Viewings with Spence Willard on 01983 200880

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Pretty as a picture, with roses climbing the white-painted exterior of this country cottage in Horringford, Millbank Cottage has renewable energy with an array of solar panels on the rear roof space of the property. Deceptively spacious with three floors, this house is close to rural walks and the cycle path and enjoys countryside or garden views from almost every window. Through the pretty porch, the ground floor has a dining room, sitting room and large breakfast/family room with double-glazed French doors to the patio and garden. This floor also has a utility area and shower room and there is underfloor heating for the hard floor areas of the ground floor. The first floor has the master suite which has garden and countryside views to both the front and rear of the property, and a feature rolltop slipper bath with claw feet. This floor also has a family bathroom and a further two good-sized bedrooms. On the top floor are two further rooms that could be used as bedrooms, but are currently an activity room and a summer lounge. The green room here houses the gas boiler and hot water cylinder, and access to the solar/green system mechanics. The garden is mainly laid to lawn with a variety of trees, plants, and shrubs, with several seated areas offering countryside views, and a secluded tucked away vegetable garden. Enclosed by fencing on the upper level is a newly laid terrace giving a 360-degree view. On the lower level, there is a patio and seated area with herb border and a sheltered sun terrace with space for loungers. Viewings with Hose Rhodes Dickson Collection on 01983 538090

Rarely do you find a property in central Cowes with its own parking and a courtyard garden, but 17 Sun Hill boasts both of these and is a stone’s throw from Cowes High Street. This charming end of terrace cottage has a cream, beige and brown palette throughout, complementing the high-end fittings and attention to detail. The exterior of Number 17 has bright white painted brickwork and a cobbled parking area, which has two lockable security posts. Two steps lead up to the front door, which opens into the kitchen/dining room, with a large, double-glazed window letting light flood into the stylish and homely kitchen. The rustic brown stone tiled floor that runs throughout the ground floor contrasts beautifully with the cream base and wall units, and there is plenty of space for a fourseater dining table. Also on this

floor is the comfortable sitting room with UPVC double glazed ‘French’ doors to the courtyard garden, and a modern shower room. Upstairs are two generous double bedrooms; one with a window to the front of the property and the other with a rear aspect and a luxurious ensuite bathroom with stone tiles, a large white bath with stone surround, and overhead shower. The courtyard garden, with its cream-painted walls and dark stone paving, can be accessed via the front side entrance door and the living room ‘French’ patio doors. To the very rear, up four stone steps, is a grassed area with curved stone seating area and raised beds, which is shared with the adjoining property. Viewings with Waterside Properties on 01983 300111

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Breakwaters

PHASE TWO - NOW RELEASED CULVER PARADE, SANDOWN, PO36 8AT

OVER 50% D R E S E RV E

1ST YEAR SERVICE CHARGE FREE Breakwaters is an exciting brand new development situated on Sandown Seafront. Phase One is fully reserved with Phase Two available to be reserved now. The development consists of luxury apartments, duplexes, penthouses and townhouses. Every property will be finished to a high standard and will comprise at least 2 bedrooms with either a balcony or terrace, benefitting from sea or country views.

Reservations being taken NOW! Images are computer-generated and for illustrative purposes only, final build may differ. Fixtures, Fittings and Furniture are for guidance purposes only.

For further details call our shanklin office on:

01983 866000 or email shanklin@hrdiw.co.uk

CT (IOW) LTD

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PEACE OF MIND AND CONTEMPORARY RURAL LIVING Moor Lane, Brighstone

Coming soon is this contemporary home located off Moor Lane, Brighstone, which is of traditional block and brick construction. This stunning property will be built by local Island-based builders, Shurmer Developments Ltd, who have a growing portfolio of exceptional properties and an excellent reputation for their high-quality, traditionally built homes across the Island.

*Please note imagery used is computer-generated, final build may differ.

hurmer Developments have won three NHBC ‘Pride in the Job’ awards and a sense of security and ease is provided when purchasing a home from them.

Currently in construction, this property will benefit from spacious living accommodation, a high specification throughout, underfloor heating, and a spacious garden for al fresco dining and entertaining. To the front is a garage, driveway, and front lawn occupying a superb position with far-reaching views over beautiful countryside. The rear garden is a south-facing sun trap with two sets of bi-fold doors that lead out onto the rear patio and turfed lawn. The garage has an electric main door and power supply, as well as a personal door to the side.

Luxury accessories will be found throughout, including a quality fitted kitchen with integrated appliances and a double oven. There will be space to have a separate washing machine and dryer in the utility room. Purchasers benefit from peace of mind, with the NHBC 10-Year Warranty that comes with the property. On approaching the property, you will be met with a high-security front door fitted with a multi-locking system leading into a spacious hallway with a feature staircase fitted with oak accessories. There is a downstairs study, which can be utilised as a fourth bedroom if necessary, and to the right is a shower room. At the rear is a kitchen/dining room which leads through to an adjoining lounge and utility room, providing access out to the side of the property.

shower room. All bedrooms have a south-facing rear view from the property. Purchasers will be able to enjoy the village nature of sought-after Brighstone and experience the sense of village history and its exquisite location. The parish of Brighstone is set within an area of outstanding natural beauty and the coastline is designated as heritage coast and a site of special scientific interest.

The first-floor accommodation comprises three bedrooms and a family bathroom. The master bedroom benefits from an en-suite

For further information please phone Hose Rhodes Dickson New Homes Department on 01983 538080 or email newhomes@hrdiw.co.uk. May and June 2022

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BURFIELDS ANTIQUES ART & DESIGN est 1982

• Antiques • Contemporary Art • Studio Pottery • Lighting • Sculpture • Jewellery • Prints & Cards 38 High Street, Ventnor, PO381RZ

T. 01983 853909 burfieldsantiquesandart.co.uk

17-21 High Street Ventnor IoW PO38 1RZ t. 01983 855101 info@01estateagents.com www.01estateagents.com

GIVING BACK FEELS GOOD at Mountbatten

“Giving something back is so rewarding. It makes you appreciate what you have and that others are suffering and need your help.”

racey Richards’ retirement sounds idyllic. Quality time spent with her partner and sons watching football, weekly coffee catchups with friends, trips to the theatre, and long walks with her Jack Russell, Ozzie. But despite having a full schedule that includes the occasional holiday somewhere hot and sunny, Tracey, 59, from Ashey, Ryde, volunteers every week to support Mountbatten. “I wanted to do some volunteer work to support a local charity,” Tracey said, speaking from the inpatient unit at Mountbatten, where she helps every Thursday. “I chose Mountbatten because it is a worthwhile cause and gives much-needed support to people who are dying, and their families.” Mountbatten relies on the generosity of people like Tracey, whose support enables us to provide the best possible care for people across the Island. “Giving something back is so rewarding. It makes you appreciate what you have and that others are suffering and need your help. I get a great sense of achievement from giving my time to support others.” Volunteering is a great way to enhance your CV, build your experience, boost your social life, and give back to your community. As well as volunteering on the inpatient unit, Tracey is also a Mountbatten Neighbour and visits

Angie at home once a week to keep her company. Angie is in her 70s and her husband recently died. She has regular bereavement counselling with Mountbatten, alongside a weekly visit from Tracey. “We sit and chat and put the world to rights,” Tracey said.

There are opportunities to fit whatever time you have available, and Mountbatten is flexible to make sure it fits with life. And, as Tracey says, there are lots of benefits for you, too. “I would recommend volunteering with Mountbatten to anyone. Being part of a community and giving back selflessly – it will enrich your life.”

Mountbatten Neighbours are a group of trained volunteers who offer their time, companionship, and support to people living near them who have serious illnesses, or who are older. The project aims to keep people connected to their community and protect them from loneliness and isolation. “I love being a Neighbour and knowing I’ve made a difference to Angie’s day. And the friendship we have developed is important to both of us,” said Tracey. Back on the inpatient unit, Tracey is preparing for her afternoon shift. “I serve lunch to patients and drinks to their visitors, checking on them regularly to see if I can get them anything. I love stopping for chats as I go round. “The hospice is an amazing place. Whilst there is sadness there is also happiness and laughter. I meet wonderful people – patients, families, and staff. It is one of the friendliest places I have ever had the pleasure of working in.” With the demand for Mountbatten’s services increasing rapidly, more people like Tracey are needed to give their time, creativity, experience, and knowledge to fill a wide range of volunteer roles.

For more information about volunteering with Mountbatten, visit www.mountbatten.org.uk/volunteer. May and June 2022

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MOLOK 5PCE

A N T H R A C I T E

GARDEN SEAT SET

Perfect for those family gatherings

CREATING THE IDEAL LIVING SPACE IN YOUR GARDEN THIS SUMMER IS SO EASY WITH THE NEW RANGES WE HAVE TO OFFER! POP IN STORE, OR ONLINE, AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE AMAZING SAVINGS ON OUR SUPERB RANGE OF OUTDOOR LIVING.

www.tryHURSTfirst.co.uk Cowes 296341

Shanklin 862564

Ryde 562379

Ventnor 852139

Freshwater 755254

DIG FOR VINTAGE

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

The Colonnade Ryde PO33 2NE

us today!

T 01983 719433 E info@digforvintage.co.uk

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

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MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND

By Ben Si l k ROUSE LTD

ut it can mean different things to everyone: security and stability, a burden or an unattainable goal. With most people facing a significant squeeze on their income, it can be difficult to think about saving anything, let alone for retirement – even less that there might be a planet-saving, ethical way to do it. But before filing ‘saving’ or ‘retirement’ under Pipe Dreams, perhaps this could actually be a time to sow the seeds for a healthier, more ethical financial life, suggests Ben Silk of Rouse Limited.

You have more power than you might realise There are many ways we can, as individuals, reduce our carbon footprint. From re-usable shopping bags, recycling and composting to eating less meat, using electric cars and switching to renewable energy. But are these small gestures enough? Arguably the biggest environmental impact you can have as an individual involves your money. The benefits to be had are not just about the planet either; being more money mindful can help you control your finances, however tight your budget might currently feel.

It starts with planning Obviously, we are advocates of planning in order to stay in control of your finances but there are non-financial gains to be had too. A recent study by HSBC has found that people engaging with financial advice are found to have better mental health. As HSBC noted: ‘Our study of 3000 UK adults confirms that financial fitness is intrinsically linked with health and wellbeing.’ Right now, the cost-of-living crisis is forcing many people to look at their money only in terms of survival. But even in these straitened times, you can still take steps to help you feel in control of the money you do have.

You have the power From the cash in your bank to the way you save for your retirement, your financial choices can make a difference to your life – and could change the world. It’s easy to think you’re a passive player when it comes to where you put your money but from your pension savings to ISAs, and sometimes even the bank you use: you can choose to filter out options that don’t reflect your ethics.

5 tips to help you achieve money mindfulness Work out your monthly expenses Use your bank statements to understand your monthly income and expenditure. Sort your spending into liabilities (rent/mortgage, utilities, credit card/phone payments) necessities (food, clothing travel), and luxuries (eg entertainment, a daily takeaway coffee). Set your budget for the year ahead Once you know what your monthly income and outgoings are you can set a budget. Where you can, use direct debits to make payments as this can make it easier to control your outgoings. Keep a regular check on your budget Some of your outgoings might vary each month. Your budget can guide your spending and help you see where you can make savings or cutbacks if necessary. Try to save for a rainy day Transferring whatever you have left at the end of each month, however little, to a savings account eg an ISA, allows you to build up a fund for emergencies. Developing a good savings habit is a positive step that can bring peace of mind. Keep track of all your subscriptions It’s easy to let subscriptions roll on. Check all your subscriptions/ memberships and cancel any you don’t use.

Rouse Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority May and June 2022

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I S YO U R W I L L U P TO D AT E ? By Ha n na h Lisseter DI RECTOR , GL A N V I L L ES DA M A N T

Research commissioned by Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) has revealed that almost half (48%) of people living in the South of England who have a will haven’t updated it for more than five years, meaning nearly half of wills made in the area are likely to be outof-date. Of those, over a third (33%) haven’t updated it for over 7 years, and over a fifth (21%) haven’t looked at it for more than a decade. Having an up-to-date and well-drafted will is crucial in ensuring your wishes are carried out in the way you’d like when you die.

This research shows that:

We recommend that a will be reviewed every five years, or when a major change in your life occurs such as divorce, marriage, a new birth, or even a death in the family. SFE’s research has revealed that almost a third (33%) of people in the South with a will have had significant changes to their lives and circumstances since they drafted it, which can have costly implications for your loved ones after death – including missed inheritances and higher care fees and inheritance tax. This can be very distressing, particularly when it could have been avoided. For expert advice in reviewing your will contact Glanvilles on 01983 527878 or visit gdlegalservices.co.uk

• Only 16% of Brits realise that remarrying invalidates a will • Less than a third (31%) of people realise stepchildren won’t automatically be included in your will • 17% of people wrongly think you can update your will by making changes on the original document and initialling them. • 53% of people in the South of England don’t have a will in place at all • One in ten British families (11%) have been caught out by a ‘bad will’ – a will that is out of date or badly drafted.

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www.gdlegalservices.co.uk

Business | STYLE

N E T W O R K I N G , T H AT S O U N D S TO O G O O D TO B E T R U E By Da le Howa r t h BUSI N ESS M EN TOR A N D CONSU LTA N T

Unfortunately, it is. Your digital face in a sea of faces in an online session is far less memorable than an in-person interaction. Online, things can be misread and misinterpreted. You are soon forgotten. Online also misses several key ingredients – personal interaction being a vital one. Yes, remote conversations can get you part of the way, but there is no substitute for developing professional relationships ‘in the flesh’.

Photograph by Chris Montgomery

the future.

etworking has always been a long game and very much about building your reputation and the contacts around you. The more you give, the more that investment will pay off in

Over the past couple of years, the need to maintain business connections has increased in importance, as has the desire to establish new collaborations, new markets, and diversify business. Within this, the need to lean on our network of contacts to seek help and advice has been huge. Online has allowed businesses to expand way beyond the realms in which they have previously operated. Going global is no longer a fantasy, but a very reachable ambition. Networking online has opened up a whole new pool of potential customers, clients, and collaborators. For those that are not natural conversationalists and don’t know how to ‘work a room’, it’s tempting and all too easy to see online business networks as a great substitute for face-to-face networking. After all, online takes less effort, is less timeconsuming and you can do it at any time of day or night to suit you from the comfort of your home or office – no more social awkwardness or ever having to meet people ever again; it sounds too good to be true.

Technology can provide initial engagement and start you on the road to building a relationship but can’t compete with the subtle signs that only face-to-face delivers – a handshake, direct eye contact, and body language that signals if you are trustworthy, professional, someone they could work with, and you with them. Being able to look someone in the eyes, shake their hand and say ‘hi’ can never be replicated online. The reality is that there should be a conscious balance between the two. Online can be a very powerful way to find and then develop relationships at scale and across borders. It gives you ‘reach’ and helps sow the seeds of collaboration. Face-to-face then allows you to cement meaningful and memorable relationships in the real world, in addition to further developing your social skills. Online networking is great at giving you the illusion that you are ‘getting out there’, but if digital is all you do, you’re just building an extensive, but skin-deep, base of acquaintances. Every time you make the effort to network face-to-face, it gets a little bit easier and your contacts run deeper. Experts agree that the most connected people are often the most successful. So invest in your relationships both online and in person, it can seriously enhance your success.

Dale Howarth is a Business Mentor and Business Growth Consultant. Working with individuals and companies to make the business leaders and businesses successes of tomorrow. To find out more visit www.dalehowarth.com

May and June 2022

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Style speaks

to Director at Ventnor Exchange

Mhairi Macaulay The vibe here is about taking risks and trying something new, and everyone who gets involved and interacts with it becomes part of the story. It’s taken on a life of its own, and I really love that.”

Mhairi (pronounced Var-ee) Macaulay grew up on the Island, and she’s a very impressive role model for anyone wanting to make creative things happen. In 2010, aged just 18, she established the now hugely successful Ventnor Fringe festival with her friends, saying, “We loved the local festivals, and decided we wanted to run our own event here. We had no experience at all but went for it anyway.” After moving away to complete a fine art degree in London, she made the bold decision to return to Ventnor, and continue her passion to support young up-and-coming creative artists by developing the edgy Fringe. She helped establish community arts hub Ventnor Exchange eight years ago, saying, “The exchange exists to provide a yearround Fringe atmosphere in the town, so the same sense of community, theatre, arts, and music would be ingrained in day to day life. It began as a specialist craft beer bar, record shop, and theatre because there was a gap for those things on the Island back then.” Mhairi shares her diverse Exchange responsibilities, from managing every aspect of the Fringe to working behind the Exchange bar, with friend, fellow Fringe founder and company Director Jack Whitewood. Supported by an enthusiastic young team, they’re full of innovative ideas to help make the Island a better place. Mhairi’s particularly proud of their

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Style is? Just being yourself, choosing things you like. Money equals success? Not when you’re running an arts organisation. We do it to make stuff happen, for art and creativity for creativity’s sake. What does Island living mean to you? It’s a balance with nature. I love walking and swimming in the sea all year round, and it has a really good friendly community. Icons or Inspirations?

youth platform Brave Island. “We feel strongly about young people being engaged in creative opportunities because we grew up here, and knew things were lacking. With Brave Island, local 14-25 year olds can sign up to the website which provides artistic opportunities to develop their careers, and generally enrich their lives.” As well as hosting an eclectic mix of performances and workshops, the Exchange also runs events outside the building, like the recent IOW Children’s Festival in Newport. Mhairi says, “Everything we do at the Exchange helps bring together people of all ages, from all walks of life, who might not necessarily see each other; it’s about joy in people. We want people to come on a journey with us.

I recently loved watching Lizzo’s ‘Watch Out For The Big Grrrls’ where she searched for big girl backing dancers. She’s really inspiring big girls to dance, and therefore, me! Blunders and what you learned? We’ve made loads of mistakes, but they’re really important because we always learn from them. Mistakes help us work out where we need to be. Top tips? If you want to run an event, start a project, or try doing something new, you just have to do it; no one will do it for you. Be determined and find your tribe to help you get there. Facing the future? We’ve got lots of ideas. We don’t like doing the same things for too long, so we’re always trying to evolve.

Style of Wight Issue 76 May/June

Articles inside

Style speaks: to Mhairi Macaulay

Is Your Will up to Date

Neworking, that Sounds too good

Stylish Sustainable Living

Money Makes the World

Destination Ventnor

Adding a Touch of Glass to Your Home

Al Fresco Living: with Busy Bee

Creative Cross Currents at Dimbola

2022 Wedding and Events Show

Make Time for Self Care with Charlotte Hurley

Fashion: Cottagecore and More

Honey Fermented Rhubarb

Ecology and Diversity Feature

Meeting Salty’s New Captain

Review: Mermaid Bar and Isle of Wight Distillery

Briddlesford Lodge Farm Wins Top Awards

Recipe: Spinach and Sweet Potato Muffins

Afternoon Tease

Glory Art Glass

Lead interview: The Meteoric rise of Wet Leg

Clare Ralph Leonty

Miniature Worlds: with Lauren Fry

Style Picks: Be green and mindful with these suggestions for early summer and festival season

Style Spectrum

The Style Scoop: Our seasonal round up of places to go, people to meet and things to know

Isle of Wight Museum of Glass