Wigwam Magazine Issue No.4

ISSUE No.4 2020

THE PREMIER PROPERTY MAGAZINE FOR SWINDON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

THE BEATING HEART OF THE KITCHEN WITH

MARY BERRY MADE IN SWINDON WITH BARBURY KITCHENS &

BINKY FELSTEAD

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2nd Floor Cornmarket House, Old Town, Swindon SN1 3EB

CONTENTS ISSUE No.4 2020

08

MARKET WATCH

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder.

18

12

BADBURY PARK

Modern Swindon development is inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement.

THE FUTURE OF OFFICES

Smethurst Property Consultants on the impact of Covid-19 on offices.

22

KITCHENS THROUGH THE DECADES

From kitchens that reflected the American dream to Scandinavian cool.

24

THE VAULT IS OPEN

Swindon’s exclusive new bar is inspired by intimate spaces in Barcelona and New York.

wigwamswindon.co.uk

CONTENTS ISSUE No.4 2020

30

GREAT BRITISH MENU WINNER

Wigwam speaks to award-winning chef Niall Keating from Whatley Manor.

38

IN LOVE WITH AGAS

Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood and Marco Pierre White on the kitchen essential.

42

MADE IN SWINDON

Binky from Made in Chelsea shows off her Barbury kitchen.

60

BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN

Extension Pro’s guide to kitchens and internal spaces that flow into the garden.

wigwamswindon.co.uk

Swindon is a modern and diverse town steeped in heritage In 1843 Isambard Kingdom Brunel spotted the potential of Swindon’s location between London and the South West to build the GWR railway works, which eventually became one of the largest manufacturing sites in the world.

Modern Swindon offers visitors a staggering variety of experiences to explore, often with a tantalizing hint of the past, whether it’s a treat-yourself shopping trip to the Designer Outlet in the old GWR Carriage Works or a bracing walk along the Ridgeway, Britain’s oldest road.

Whether it’s history or high jinks, muddy boots or designer shoes, Swindon really does have something for everybody! When are you next visiting Swindon?

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HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED WITH WIGWAM? Wigwam are here for the Swindon community to enjoy. There are lots of ways that you can interact and get involved. Here are just some of the ways.

PROPERTY NEWS

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EXPERT OPINION

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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We’ll showcase your best properties online, in print and via our social channels, just send us the details and we’ll do the rest.

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Wigwam® is published by Jazzbones Creative Ltd. Registered In England No: 0658 6564 VAT Reg No: 891 859463 2nd Floor, Cornmarket House, High Street, Swindon SN1 3EB 01793 847300 www.jazzbones.co.uk

Please recycle this magazine when you have finished with it.

Wigwam is a property magazine that brings you the hottest property news from across Swindon and the surrounding areas.

Welcome to Wigwam. It’s been said that life may be created in the bedroom, but it’s lived in the kitchen. Whether big or small, bijou or bohemian, the kitchen is where meals are created and the place where families and friends come together.

In Mary Berry’s kitchen her AGA rules the roost. Likewise Paul Hollywood and Marco Pierre White. Find out why and discover other tasty treats in this kitchen-themed edition of Wigwam, including an exclusive interview with ‘Great British Menu’ champion of champions Niall Keating.

Away from the kitchen, a new survey has revealed that Swindon is the sixth quickest place in England to sell your home, an average of 84 days between going to market and completion. Compare that to neighbouring Oxford where the average time is a whopping 152 days. Neither buyers or sellers are interested in long drawn-out-processes, so this is really positive news for Swindon’s property market.

Enjoy the magazine (and our website and social media posts) and remember, we’re here to support the local property sector, so if there’s anything we can do to promote your business or if you have news you would like us to share, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Jeff King Editor Wigwam Swindon press@wigwamswindon.co.uk

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SWINDON PROPERTY WATCH As Wigwam went to press, the average price for property in Swindon stood at £260,800.

This is a rise of 1.12% in the last three months (since July 2020) and a rise of 0.16% in the last twelve months.

1,692

HIGHEST PRICE

£1.85M LOWEST PRICE

£39K PROPERTIES TO RENT

460 AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE

£260,800 8 | ISSUE No.4

374 324

BORIS JOHNSON VOWS TO INTRODUCE HELP FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS Amidst all the speculation about the potential longer-term effects of Covid-19 on the property market and the impact it might have on different demographics, most people would agree that first-time buyers are already having a particularly hard time of things.

For that reason Wigwam welcomes the news that Boris Johnson has promised a scheme to allow first-time buyers to get a mortgage with just a 5% deposit, in an effort to turn ‘generation rent’ into ‘generation buy’.

492

“I think a huge, huge number of people feel totally excluded from capitalism, from the idea of home ownership, which is so vital for our society,” said the prime minister.

“We need now to take forward one of the key proposals of our manifesto of 2019, giving young, first-time buyers the chance to take out a long-term, fixed-rate mortgage of up to 95% of the value of the home – vastly reducing the size of the deposit.”

“We believe that this policy could create two million more owner-occupiers – the biggest expansion of home ownership since the 1980s. We will help turn generation rent into generation buy.”

419

First-time buyers have been a driving force of housing sales over the last decade, but lower availability of higher LTV (loan-to-value) mortgages mean that many would-be purchasers have found it harder to get a foot on the property ladder as the gap between income and house prices continues to rise.

Last year, around a fifth of all mortgages for property purchase were at or above 90% LTV. Weaker demand among first-time buyers correlates directly with when lenders started to withdraw high LTV mortgage products in early June.

The prime minister recognises that lower LTV mortgages are needed to help people get on to the property ladder, “even if they only have a very small amount to pay by way of deposit” and that this change could be “absolutely revolutionary” for young people. We await the details with great interest.

80 3

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2nd Floor Cornmarket House, Old Town, Swindon SN1 3EB

PROPERTY NEWS BADBURY PARK

12 | ISSUE No.4

BADBURY PARK, SWINDON OFFERS MODERN HOMES WITH ARTS AND CRAFTS INSPIRATION The Heritage Collection, as seen at Swindon’s Badbury park development, stands apart from other homes for its individual character and superior specification. Designed perfectly to marry the very best of old and new.

flourishes of the day. The Industrial Revolution was already in full swing at the time, which made possible the manufacture and transportation of the ornate swirls and patterns that found their way into many Victorian homes.”

One of the most popular and enduring of architectural styles, the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th century grew from a desire to bring back the skill and creativity of individual craftsman; and to revive the ‘simplicity’ and ‘honesty’ in the way buildings and furnishings were made.

“But the methods of mass-production were not to everyone’s taste. People like the writer John Ruskin and the designer William Morris reacted against the poor conditions in which Victorian materials were created.”

The Arts and Crafts influence can be seen in many character homes from later periods too, especially the 1920s and 1930s, which still prove as popular today as when they were built.

Redrow has taken inspiration from this era to create its Heritage Collection and deliberately set out to bring a high degree of individuality to the external design of their homes.

Characterful features include bay windows, hipped roofs, dropped-eaves, decorative tiling and brickwork, canopies above doorways and the use of timber.

Redrow’s Heritage Collection of new homes is perfectly suited to the modern lifestyles of today’s homeowners, with higher ceilings and spacious open-plan living. The inspiration, however, for such highly desirable properties, dates back to the 1880s. It was around this time that the Arts and Crafts Movement sprung into life. The popularity of the movement, which began in Britain, meant that it quickly swept across Europe and the United States.

Kirsty Hartsiotis, an expert from the Wilson Art Gallery and Museum in Cheltenham, answers Wigwam’s questions about the Heritage Collection. So what made it so popular with people all over the world?

“At least one of the reasons people flocked to the Arts and Crafts Movement was simply that they preferred it to firmly established Victorian tastes. Many Victorians enjoyed flaunting their wealth and social standing with the elaborate

Kirsty believes the popularity of Redrow’s Heritage Collection is based on a desire to get back to homely pursuits. “The backlash against Victorian tastes brought about a real appetite for simpler living. The Arts and Crafts Movement favoured natural materials, like stone and timber for housebuilding, sourced from the local area. The Movement was a celebration of craftsmanship, and people like William Morris wanted everyone to be a craftsperson and make things for themselves.”

“Today, we seem to have increasingly complex lives,” she says. “People are tapping into simpler pleasures that allow them to switch off occasionally. This is possibly why millions of us really enjoy watching TV programmes like The Great British Bake Off and The Great Pottery Throwdown, both all about making things, and inspiring us to go out and do the same.”

“It is also true that there is renewed enthusiasm among people to get outdoors and enjoy the natural environment.

Many natural materials, and the traditional methods of working with those materials, are reflected in the Heritage Collection’s traditionally styled exteriors. Homes that are made of local materials look like they have sprung out of the landscape.”

In essence, Redrow homes provide the perfect balance between modernity and tradition, indoor and outdoor living and simplicity that is complemented with carefully considered finishing touches. redrow.co.uk

wigwamswindon.co.uk | 13

PROPERTY NEWS HUNTERS WOOD

BRAND NEW WILTSHIRE DEVELOPMENT SEES HUGE INTEREST AS SHOW HOMES OPEN

14 | ISSUE No.4

A BRAND-NEW WILTSHIRE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FROM DAVID WILSON HOMES IS SEEING MASSIVE DEMAND FOR APPOINTMENTS AT THREE SHOW HOMES. Hunters Wood, which lies off Spa Road to the south of Melksham, is set to bring 225 much-needed 2, 3 and 4 bedroom new homes to the area. Demand from local buyers is particularly strong with more than half of those registering their interest already living in Melksham and Wiltshire.

First time buyers Andy and Cerise Richardson and their son Marley were amongst the first people to view the new show homes and have registered their interest in buying a three bedroom home at Hunters Wood when it becomes available later this year.

Local electrician Andy, 34, and marketing assistant Cerise, 29, currently rent their home in Melksham and say it was the location, design of the homes and sense of space at Hunters Wood that attracted them.

"We love the design and layout of the three-bedroom Hadley which is perfect for family life with its large kitchen diner, separate utility room and spacious lounge. The bedrooms are a really good size too and there's both an en-suite and a family bathroom so it seemed like the perfect house for our family to grow into.

We really liked the sense of space at Hunters Wood too, and the plot we're looking at has a good size garden and doesn't feel at all overlooked. The fact that a good primary and secondary school are both within walking distance is really important to us too, so we know we won't have to move again as our children get older."

Set in a beautiful part of rural Wiltshire, the new community of Hunters Wood is within walking distance of the market town's historic centre, shops, cafes and restaurants. It has good local schools and is surrounded by villages and open countryside. It has been named Hunters Wood to reflect the area's historic roots as a royal forest where Tudor kings roamed and hunted.

Builders have been back on site since July, with strict safety and social distancing procedures in place, and have worked hard to ensure the three stunning new show homes are now ready for potential buyers to see what their future home may look like. The first homes are due to be complete and see their first residents move in from spring next year.

The number of people registering their interest in a David Wilson or Barratt development in the South West increased by 60% last month on the same period last year. Meanwhile, Rightmove reported the highest level of house sales ever in August, driven by pent up demand due to the lockdown.

With the government's recently announced stamp duty holiday until March 2021 now is an ideal time to buy a brand-new home. The show homes at Hunters Wood are currently open by appointment only and with a full range of safety and social distancing measures in place.

Louise Ware, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes said; "We are really excited to welcome potential buyers to our stunning show homes. The homes will be perfect for a wide range of lifestyles and we're delighted to be able to show people everything they have to offer.

"Melksham and Wiltshire are proving incredibly popular currently, with people looking for homes and communities that are both well connected but within reach of the countryside and all of its benefits.

These new homes will fit wonderfully with their surroundings here and our designers have worked hard to combine a traditional look with all the requirements of modern-living. We're proud to be delivering much-needed, high quality new homes for the Wiltshire community."

For further details of homes at Hunters Wood visit dwh.co.uk.

Prospective buyers Cerise and Andy Richardson with their son Marley

wigwamswindon.co.uk | 15

PROPERTY NEWS

SKYLARK MEADOW

16 | ISSUE No.4

SKYLARK MEADOW TAKES FLIGHT IN BLUNSDON South-West based housebuilder, Newland Homes, has returned to the Blunsdon area this month with the launch of its latest development - Skylark Meadow. This follows the award-winning success of its Broad Blunsdon Heights scheme, which was completed in 2018.

Skylark Meadow on Blunsdon High Street was unveiled to the public on the weekend of 12th and 13th September with tailor-made personal appointments, and an opportunity to try a wood fired pizza from the showhome’s garden pizza oven, cooked by chef Ian from Coleshill Catering.

The development consists of 37 three, four and five bedroom homes, reflecting the unique character of Broad Blunsdon on the edge of the Cotswolds. Having recently been voted Wiltshire’s best-kept village, it goes without saying that Broad Blunsdon is an incredible place to live; boasting an abundance of facilities and a location close to areas of stunning natural beauty.

Erica Povey, Field Sales Manager for Newland Homes, comments: “Skylark Meadow is a very different design aesthetic to Broad Blunsdon Heights, as we believe that each handpicked location warrants its own palette of materials and finishes. Skylark Meadow is designed to reflect the character of its surroundings, so you’ll see glorious golden-coloured stone and architecture synonymous with the Cotswolds, plus beautiful brickwork, stone and render detailing.”

Erica continues: “Don’t be fooled by the classic design though; these houses exceed Building Regulation requirements, having significantly enhanced renewable power with solar PV panels to detached homes.

Homes are also wired with provision for an electric car charging point.”

As home working looks to become a more permanent fixture in our lives, a good broadband connection is imperative, and Skylark Meadow boasts pre-installed superfast fibre broadband.

Prices start from £400,000 and those looking to purchase will benefit from both a stamp duty holiday on homes up to the value of £500,000, along with the Help to Buy incentive which is available on all new build properties up to £600,000 and lends buyers up to 20% of the cost of their new home through an equity loan from the Government, which is interest free for the first five years. Both schemes have a limited time window, as the stamp duty holiday ends in March 2021 and the eligibility criteria for Help to Buy is changing from next Spring.

Broad Blunsdon Heights was the winner of ‘best new large housing development’ in the LABC Awards in 2019, which recognises excellence in external appearance and internal planning, layout and landscaping.

Newland Homes Senior Sales Consultant, Jayne Palmer, doesn’t have far to travel to work, as she herself bought a property at Broad Blunsdon Heights, just across the road from Skylark Meadow! Jayne and her colleagues will be offering tailor-made tours of Newland Homes’ latest development from 11am to 5pm, seven days a week.

To book your visit, please call 01793 278101. newlandhomes.co.uk/blunsdon

wigwamswindon.co.uk | 17

COM COM M EMRECRC IA IA L PR L PR OPOP E RT E RT Y IN Y IN SI G SIHT G HT – WHAT – WHAT D ODES O ES T HTEH E F UTURE F UTURE H OL H OL D FOR D FOR O FFI O FFI C ES? C ES? The The Covid-19 Covid-19 pandemic pandemic has disrupted has disrupted nearly nearly everyevery aspect aspect of our of lives, our lives, including including taskstasks as fundamental as fundamental as going as going to work. to work.

Whilst Whilst therethere are those are those who who claimclaim that that the modern the modern officeoffice is dead, is dead, I firmly I firmly believe believe that that therethere is stillis huge still huge valuevalue to betohad be had fromfrom a dedicated a dedicated officeoffice space. space.

You You simply simply cannot cannot underestimate underestimate the the importance importance face face to face to face meetings meetings play play in nurturing in nurturing not not creativity creativity and and generating generating business business opportunities, opportunities, to mention to mention the social the social integration integration of employees. of employees.

The The way way we work we work may may havehave changed changed but Ibut believe I believe that that whatwhat we are wewitnessing are witnessing is more is more of anofoffice an office evolution evolution as opposed as opposed to a to revolution. a revolution.

When When the COVID the COVID pandemic pandemic is over is over offices offices will still will still be inbe use in but use used but used differently. differently.

To quote To quote Darwin Darwin “It is“It is not the notstrongest the strongest of the ofspecies the species that that survives survives nor the nor the mostmost intelligent, intelligent, but the butone the most one most responsive responsive to to Successful Successful companies companies will be willthose be those who who change”. change”. placeplace greater greater importance importance on design on design of their of their workplaces. workplaces.

Offices Offices can no canlonger no longer be densely be densely packed packed and and working working environments environments will need will need to to provide provide the necessary the necessary space space for distancing, for distancing, so that so that they they become become a place a place where where employees employees wantwant to beto be rather rather thanthan are obliged are obliged to be. toItbe. willIt be willthese be these organisations organisations who who will see will employees see employees understanding understanding and and the importance the importance of these of these spaces spaces onceonce again again beingbeing much much moremore willing willing to return. to return.

Flexible Flexible working working methods methods havehave an important an important role to role to play play in shaping in shaping our working our working environment environment going going forward, forward, and and I would I would argue argue that that a more a more blended blended approach approach is what is what is required. is required.

The The very very notion notion of anof an option option to come to come into into shared shared officeoffice space space may may seemseem alienalien rightright now now but abut hybrid a hybrid approach approach would would provide provide much much needed needed networking networking opportunities opportunities and and teambuilding teambuilding capabilities. capabilities.

Homeworking Homeworking is a an is a an effective effective shortshort - medium - medium termterm solution solution but isbut it the is it the “silver “silver bullet” bullet” to the toway the way we work we work longer longer term? term?

Whilst Whilst the benefits the benefits of more of more flexible flexible working working cannot cannot be ignored be ignored manymany employees employees will ultimately will ultimately struggle struggle to find to find a homework a homework life balance life balance and and it willit become will become increasingly increasingly difficult difficult to monitor to monitor and and gauge gauge employee employee wellbeing. wellbeing.

For many, For many, the switch the switch to homeworking to homeworking will will be transient be transient but for butothers for others it may it may take take months months to to

18 | ISSUE No.4

adapt adapt and and the impact the impact on mental on mental health health fromfrom a lack a lack of physical of physical interaction interaction and and integration integration cannot cannot be be takentaken too lightly. too lightly.

Covid-19 Covid-19 has changed has changed the way the way we view we view our daily our daily lives lives and and Ben Ben Cullen Cullen (Cushman (Cushman and and Wakefield) Wakefield) raised raised an interesting an interesting pointpoint in a in recent a recent article article whenwhen he suggested he suggested that that in a world in a world where where people people commute commute less often less often it is perfectly it is perfectly plausible plausible that that they they will will of a of better a better quality quality of lifeof life commute commute further further in search in search and and lowerlower livingliving costs.costs.

It is feasible It is feasible therefore, therefore, that that we, share we, share our time our time between between home, home, regional regional hubs,hubs, and and the city. the city.

This This working working approach approach is likely is likely to beto be sector sector specific specific and and therethere will be willinstances be instances where where organisations organisations will simply will simply lose lose synergy synergy by adopting by adopting a a complete complete homeworking homeworking model. model.

Swindon Swindon is well is well placed placed to capitalise to capitalise on the onregional the regional growth, growth, has has hub hub model model as it as is witnessing it is witnessing major major superb superb connectivity connectivity and and its commercial its commercial real estate real estate offering offering is extremely is extremely competitive competitive whenwhen compared compared to to Bristol Bristol and and Reading.

Reading.

ThatThat said,said, competitive competitive occupational occupational costscosts alonealone will not willattract not attract occupiers occupiers – we– we needneed to forward to forward planplan and and deliver deliver a vibrant a vibrant amenity amenity for meetings for meetings and leisure and leisure if theiftown the town is to is betopromoted be promoted as anasalternative an alternative to the tobright the bright lightslights of the ofcity. the city. will inevitably will inevitably see see The The commercial commercial property property markets markets a correction, a correction, and and somesome would would argue argue that that this isthis long is long overdue. overdue.

For many For many occupiers occupiers it willit be willabe case a case of of striking striking the right the right balance balance between between the level the level of of commitment commitment and and the incentives the incentives on offer. on offer.

It is It is anticipated anticipated that that somesome SME’s SME’s will seek will seek greater greater flexibility flexibility whilstwhilst corporates corporates will continue will continue to commit to commit to more to more conventional conventional leaselease termsterms suchsuch is their is their capital capital investment investment in their in their space. space.

Commercial Commercial property property markets markets havehave beenbeen choked choked by anbyundersupply an undersupply of commercial of commercial stockstock over over recent recent yearsyears and and any any realignment realignment in the inoffice the office sector sector will provide will provide a a fantastic fantastic opportunity opportunity for landlords for landlords to reinvest to reinvest in their in their assets assets and and create create workspaces workspaces for the forfuture. the future.

Daniel Daniel Smethurst Smethurst BSc BSc (Hons) (Hons) MRICS MRICS Founder Founder of Smethurst of Smethurst Property Property Consultants Consultants

0 74 748 39710 ku.oc.stnatlusnocytreporptsruhtems.www

01793 01793 847 847 470 470 www.smethurstpropertyconsultants.co.uk www.smethurstpropertyconsultants.co.uk

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wigwamswindon.co.uk | 19

PROPERTY NEWS ZURICH

20 | ISSUE No.4

WORK BEGINS ON ZURICH’S NEW TOWN-CENTRE OFFICES Skanska, the world’s fifth biggest construction company, has begun work on Zurich’s new state-of-the-art offices in Swindon town centre, next to the bus station.

Reflecting Zurich’s focus on sustainability, the new build is looking to minimise waste during construction and through the building’s life cycle. It is located on a long-vacant, brown field site in the town centre with work due to be completed in 2022. The building will provide over 100,000 sq ft of office space over six floors with a terrace and function space at roof level.

The major project demonstrates Zurich’s commitment to Swindon where it has a long history as one of the town’s largest employers. It will play an important role in the ongoing regeneration of the town centre, providing over 950 staff with a modern workspace designed to enhance their wellbeing and the local environment.

The offices will be ‘single use plastic free’ with an ambition of having no printing or filing and the digitisation of all post.

Electric car charging will also be installed for visitors. And to enhance the local environment, there are plans for a beehive on the roof terrace to boost biodiversity and produce honey to be sold and raise money for Zurich’s charitable arm the Zurich Community Trust (ZCT).

John Keppel, Zurich UK Chief Operating Officer said, “Swindon has been home to Zurich for over 30 years and we’re pleased to be playing our part in the regeneration of the town centre. The positive impact that our buildings can have on the environment and health and wellbeing of employees are a vital part of our sustainability agenda and sit at the heart of our new office design.”

David Renard, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said, “Zurich’s decision to maintain its presence in Swindon is tremendous news for the town and a significant boost to our local economy. This is the first brand-new office block to be built in the town centre in a generation and is a real statement of intent, not to mention a show of faith, in our exciting vision to rejuvenate this particular area.”

“This new striking building with its sustainable features will be a catalyst for further investment and build on our exciting plans for the Fleming Way Bus Boulevard and the adjacent Kimmerfields site.”

A central feature will be an open atrium staircase to encourage more walking between floors. There will also be extra facilities for cyclists, to encourage more sustainable means of getting to and from work.

Working with the community is a key focus for the project and Zurich will be reaching out to local schools, colleges and community groups to create artwork via a competition to be displayed in the new building. The insurer will also be looking into opportunities for local college students to visit the site as part of its work with schools to inspire and engage young people about careers in insurance.

Zurich’s new Swindon offices will continue to be the base for the ZCT which recently announced a £2m support package for charities working to tackle the Covid crisis. This includes a £25,000 award to the Wiltshire Community Foundation. £134,000 has also been donated to local partner organisations including a number of projects in Swindon.

wigwamswindon.co.uk | 21

22 | ISSUE No.4

KITCHENS

THROUGH THE DECADES CLAIRE PHILLIPS - WRITER. MARKETER. MAGICAL MUMMY. LOOKS AT THE EVER-CHANGING FACE OF THE HEART OF THE HOME The Kitchen! To many the hub of the home, the place where most people at parties (remember those pre pandemic?) would congregate and chat despite there being many other perfectly good rooms to hang out in.

Kitchen islands were cutting-edge and integral to the modern design. The décor was bold, and water and ice dispensers arrived in American fridges, allowing homeowners to dazzle guests.

1980s Why is this, why are we so enamoured by them? Is it because the kitchen holds the snack cupboard and the gin? Either way, whether we are thinking about the latest matching appliances, manically pinning ideas on Pinterest for our dream kitchen, or fantasizing about having the highly coveted kitchen island complete with bespoke hanging lighting, there is definitely some kind of pull to the “magical” kitchen.

We all have our own memories I’m sure, and being a child born in the ‘80s, how can I forget how mad my mum was about Tupperware, the “orange brown” retro décor and the constant battle of making sure the lino on the floor was flat enough! Now it’s cushion floor vinyl and minimalist vibes or nothing “darling”.

So, to pay homage to the delights of the ever-changing kitchen let’s take a look back across the years at some of the popular trends of the most important room in the house.

1950s With the rise of movie stars and the American dream, the UK was taking style tips from our friends across the pond, décor like wood cladding and bright colours was fashionable - think the popular series Mad Men and the retro Stepford wives style. Fridges start making their way into more homes, with easy to clean glass shelves and a more efficient cooling technology, making daily grocery shopping a thing of the past. The ‘50s also saw the birth of the open planned home and with the growth of timesaving devices, there was more room to show your personal style with ornaments and decor.

1960s The u-shaped kitchen makes its first appearance in this era providing more space without feeling enclosed. Bold prints and bright colours are now in the family home as well as upmarket apartments.

The daring design really took over in the ‘60s and ’70s, with saturated colours, loud wallpapers often in more than one print, wood cabinets and brightly coloured appliances. But the bold design was not limited to colour - rustic wood grain, a stone backsplash, gleaming copper, and a ton of ferns made for a very "in" look. The bold trend in colour also shows how fashion often crossed over to interior design.

1970s Home tech took a leap forward in the ‘70s with the microwave hitting British homes. A little larger than their modern-day counterpart but with the rise of ready meals, marketed as the next best thing, this appliance became the must-have-item.

Just like everything else in the ‘80s the kitchen got supersized. The kitchen really starts to become a social place and the real heart of the home in the ‘80s with cooking shows becoming far more popular and the style being very “extra” with stand out detail on the tiling. Bold woods and brown are still a staple of the colour scheme and Tupperware parties become a huge hit. However, as the ‘80s progress the bright colours are dwindling and in their place stand sleek black or white counters and appliances.

1990s The ‘80s country look shifts in the ‘90s to become the popular farmhouse look, nostalgic and eclectic with open shelving and white cabinets. With cooking shows really gaining traction the ‘90s kitchens begin to shift towards the gourmet look, taking cues from restaurants, with professional ranges and huge refrigerators. If you need reminding of an opulent ‘90s kitchen just watch some re-runs of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

2000 Open plan design becomes the trend in the early noughties and so we see the rise of the effective use of space with minimalist inspired designs. The kitchens of the noughties all but boycott colour and the timeless shades of beige, cream and magnolia become the favourite choice for walls and cabinets alike.

2010 Like the noughties, the trend in early 2010 borrowed elements from trendy restaurants which would all look as amazing as a new social media post. This is the beginning of the loss of the average trend with some kitchens getting bigger and others getting smaller. Colour makes a statement for some while others stick with the dark cabinets or a clean white finish.

2020 Kitchen design in the UK is looking to Scandinavian countries and Germany for inspiration, handle less and flat-panel kitchen units are becoming increasingly popular while traditional British shaker kitchens remain as desirable as ever. A rise in awareness and support for environmental issues has filtered into our interior designs, with kitchen colour palettes taking on a new range of muted, natural tones. Hand in hand with this is a revival in wood finishes bringing a warmth to our spaces. 2020 looks to continue with a sophisticated use of more daring colours and a love of stylish stone worktops and metallic elements.

So, there you have it, an array of designs and progression. One thing stays the same though - the kitchen is still the hub of the household and definitely holds the heart of the home.

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SWINDON'S MOST EXCLUSIVE NEW BAR IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS THE VAULT IS INSPIRED BY ‘HIDDEN BARS’ AND INTIMATE SPACES IN BARCELONA, NEW YORK AND PRAGUE.

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SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST INTRIGUING BARS ARE IN LOCATIONS YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT, HIDDEN IN TACO JOINTS AND NOODLE SHOPS, OR DISGUISED AS EVERYTHING FROM UMBRELLA SHOPS TO VIDEO STORES. These tucked-away watering holes invite those who find them to enjoy craft cocktails in settings that range from a cozy Prohibition-era hideout to a 1950s airplane cabin. Now Swindon has its very own ‘hidden bar’, in this case housed in the vault of the old post office building in Victoria Road, and named, you guessed it, The Vault!

The Vault Bar & Lounge finally opened its doors for the first time over the August Bank holiday weekend after postponing the original date for three months because of the coronavirus pandemic. All told, owners Alex Mastrodomenico and Matthew Barr have been working on getting the right venue in the right shape for two years.

Alex told Wigwam: “I have worked in bars since I was young and more recently I was the manager of a restaurant, but having my own place is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. We had looked at a few places but as soon as the vault (taking up half of the old post office) became available we knew it was the one.”

“I’ve travelled all over the world trying different cocktail bars to get ideas so I can do something I’m passionate about. I’m particularly inspired by ‘hidden bars’ and places like Paradiso in Barcelona, 18th Room in New York and Anonymous Bar in Prague.”

“We wanted The Vault to have a select, intimate feel; the kind of vibe you would expect from a members only club, and that’s reflected in the décor, which is very traditional with wood panelling and lots of black and gold features.”

The pair say the bar will “bring something fresh to Old Town” with flavours from across the world. Matthew says: “The spirit selection will have a taste from various countries and the cocktails we have made ourselves. We have 20 different rums, 15 vodkas, 10 tequilas and whiskies. We just want people to expand their taste. They will get a flavour of Mauritius, America and Barcelona. We also stock Louis XIII cognac, the finest cognac in the world, which is already proving popular.”

Like all bar owners, Alex and Matthew are taking measures to ensure their customers will be safe from the coronavirus. They are cutting the capacity by 70 per cent so customers can socially distance safely and there will be hand sanitisation stations on the door, masks will be worn and customers will be rotated every two hours so they can clean the area regularly.

“We’re going to extremes to make sure this bar is as safe for people as it possibly can be,” Alex said. “For the moment we are fully booked at the weekend and busy during the week, too, so if you’re planning to visit us I suggest booking in advance.”

As they say in the bars around the world that inspired The Vault - Salud!

Prost! Santé! Gesondheid!

To make a booking, please message The Vault on Facebook facebook.com/thevaultbarlounge/

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CH-CH CHANGES. DON’T DO AS BOWIE DID AND TURN AND FACE THE STRANGE Face a nicer, brighter kitchen instead.

Pink flamingos and tigers optional.

Perhaps you’ve just bought a property and are already rolling up your sleeves, hammer at the ready, to rip the existing kitchen out. Maybe your existing kitchen is completely uninspiring and needs a refit. Either way, if you’re about to let loose, read this first.

Make a wish list Write down the all the things that aren’t working with your kitchen’s current layout. Maybe you need more storage for pots and pans? If so, consider a corner pull-out unit.

At the same time, chuck out or donate anything that you haven’t used in the past year. If you need a bigger oven you’ll have to sacrifice space somewhere else but it’ll be worth it when you can cook an entire Christmas dinner at once. Don’t forget worktop space, too – maybe you’d prefer that giant bread-maker hidden away and have always wanted a coffee maker. Put mugs away rather than keeping them on a stupid mug tree. Take a look at the Orla Kiely range of storage jars and tins at John Lewis – sometimes basing your kitchen décor around accessories is a great place to start. If you don’t want an under-thesink bin, pick one in a bright colour and make a feature of it rather than trying to hide it. We’ve got a bright yellow one and matching bread bin in the same shade as our kitchen chairs and I love it. I love a bin. That’s right.

Save on the big stuff Once you start moving light fixtures, sockets, pipes and radiators, costs mount up. If you’re on a budget, design your new kitchen with this in mind, you’ll save big time.

Keep your cooker, sink and washing machine/dishwasher in roughly the same spots and if your existing kitchen and white goods are in good condition, sell them (via PayPal or cash on collection) on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

Ask showrooms when their new collections are coming in and work around that, as you might get an ex-display or end of line kitchen for a bargain price.

What do you need from the space?

Will your kitchen also be your entertaining space? If not you can probably get away with a breakfast bar. If you want to have people over for dinner and drinks, consider where you’ll put the table, and how much room you need for the chairs. Perhaps a bench seat will work better, as you can tuck that against the wall when not in use. You could even have one built with storage underneath it if you’re short on space. If you have the budget for it and are already changing pipework, remove a radiator to give you a clear wall space for a dining area or units and install (water-based) underfloor heating.

Choose your tradesman carefully Once you’ve been to a showroom and chosen your kitchen, get it designed. You don’t have to go with their fitters - they are almost always more expensive than finding your own – but take the time to research your fitter if you do opt out. Choose one whose company has been around for a few years. Make sure they have liability insurance and guarantee the work they do.

Ask to see a previous client’s kitchen if possible. Make sure everything is costed and get a contract. Never pay cash – you’ll have no proof of works carried out in case something goes wrong. Ask for timings and don’t pay upfront unless it’s to cover items they’re purchasing on your behalf, such as white goods or a cooker. Consider paying some of the deposit on your kitchen on a credit card as it will protect you on anything you buy between £100 and £30,000, irrespective of bankruptcy, damage or problems with a supplier.

Set up your temporary kitchen If you leave in a couple of units and chunk of worktop you can set up a toaster, kettle, microwave and camping stove on it. Store as many plates as you need, utensils and a couple of pans underneath. We bought a small fridge second hand on eBay to get us through our kitchen refit and sold it for the same price afterwards. Consider where you’ll wash up – you might have to take over the bath or shower. If you have a loo or utility room, set everything up in there. I had to put up with that for nine months (don’t ask) so a few weeks of faff will be a breeze.

Juliette Wills Journalist. Broadcaster. Author.

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NIALL KEATING

GREAT BRITISH MENU WINNER WIGWAM GOES BEHIND THE SCENES AT WHATLEY MANOR WITH NIALL KEATING, AWARD-WINNING CHEF

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GREAT BRITISH MENU WINNER NIALL KEATING SPENDS LONG DAYS WITHIN THE CONFINES OF HIS KITCHEN AT WHATLEY MANOR SO HE INSTINCTIVELY KNOWS WHEN ANYTHING, BE IT A SPATULA OR A BONING KNIFE, IS OUT OF PLACE.

Rational bratt pan. This chunky piece of equipment the size of an old-fashioned photocopier contains a rectangular enclosed pan that is heated from below. It can be used for braising, boiling, steaming, poaching, stewing, roasting, deep-fat frying and shallow frying in large quantities, and it can even cook rapidly under pressure.

“It is essential to us because as a kitchen we have to make up to 80 staff meals a day and we also make all our own stocks and sauces. The bratt pan is like having another chef in the kitchen – it cost £23,500 but it’s worth it all day long,” says Niall, who earned his second Michelin star last October.

For organization is everything to the well-oiled (extra virgin, naturally) machine that produces scores of two Michelin Star quality meals each week.

“It is one piece of equipment that saves having pans everywhere or open stock pots bubbling away. It takes two chefs to strain the stock and in a busy kitchen with 18 people it’s a nightmare, it shouldn’t be going on any more.”

Sourcing the finest produce that Wiltshire and Gloucestershire has to offer and using a palate refined by jobs in superb eateries from Nottingham to San Francisco, the 29-year-old executive chef has carved out a reputation as one of Europe’s best young cooks.

The absence of the traditional bubbling stock pot is just one sign of a forensically clean kitchen that shimmers with pristine stainless steel and is a far cry from the Staffordshire pub kitchen where Niall had a first taste of commercial catering.

But having the right kitchen, designed to get the very best out of his 18-strong brigade, is just as vital. “For me, having the kitchen design right is absolutely key, it just wouldn’t work otherwise,” he says during a swift break between lunch and dinner at the award-winning hotel and spa at Easton Grey, near Malmesbury.

“My first job was as a pot washer in a local pub. The food offering was very basic, but I was very young and I was interested in the fries going into the fryer,” he recalls. “There were also microwaves and some hot lights to keep the food warm and an air extraction system, a lot of stainless steel and brown tiles. Not the most inspiring space, but I loved the teamwork and the creativity, and I was hooked.”

“We designed the kitchen at Whatley Manor around the fact it is a hotel and not just a two Michelin Star restaurant.

It works for a breakfast service from 6.30am, straight on to lunch service in the brasserie on one side of the kitchen but also accommodating prep for evening service in the brasserie and the dining room. We also produce food for the hotel’s spa throughout the day so the kitchen has to be laid out to meet the hotel’s needs,” he adds.

“Practically we needed to have the pass (the station from which waiting staff collect food) closest to the exit points so the food is as hot and as fresh as possible when it leaves the kitchen. We have one long pass so that there’s a lot of space for everyone to be able to dress the plates as they go out.”

Niall, who earned his first Michelin Star within a year of joining the hotel in 2017, wanted a flexible kitchen that can adapt to the demands of customers flocking to try his food after the Great British Menu win in the summer. “The kitchen is modular and we have work benches on wheels that clip together so we can move them and create an even bigger pass when we are doing a wedding or a function. I like the idea of having islands instead of straight stainless steel benches against walls,” he says.

“Sometimes we are a Michelin Two Star taster menu and sometimes we will be doing a wedding for 100 people. I can’t just have a very small, intricate, set-up for the dining room.”

His kitchen at Whatley Manor echoes the new trend for cleanliness and comfort. “It was really important for me to give my chefs an environment where they want to come in and work every day and be proud of the place they are in.” he says. “Kitchens are often described as the back of house bit with chefs in stripy aprons and rolled up trousers looking scruffy but our kitchen is very streamlined, very clinical and the guys that work in it have to wear white aprons so there can be no mess on the jackets.”

His own dream kitchen at home would have an AGA but he is also interested in induction hobs and sees this as an essential for anyone designing their own kitchen. “Induction creates direct, instant heat rather than waiting for a pan to heat up and it is clean so I think it is the way ahead,” he says.

“An oven and a combi oven that you can steam in is really good, that would be a top tip from me. That saves you a pan on the stove because you set up your steamer to 100 degrees, pop your vegetables onto steaming trays and pop them in, it’s perfect.”

It is fair to say he is not a fan of kitchen gadgets. “Cooking is about the senses and as soon as you take that away you lose something,” he says. “I completely understand that people love technology and if that’s the way they want to cook that’s fine. But for me, if it gets to a point where you are at work and you are going on your phone and asking your oven to come on and then it’s done when you get home, it is wrong.”

The centrepiece of the kitchen is its 12ft long, £30,000 Athanor range, which is complemented by two other ovens and the piece of kit Niall regards as indispensable – the

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“It should be about feel and touch, it’s a very basic thing and it always should be. Thousands of years ago it was about fire and water and either cooking something over fire or in water and technology takes all the romance away for me. But that’s just me.”

Whatley Manor is a grown-up getaway in the heart of the Cotswolds. A country house hotel and spa set in 12 acres of gardens, it as an ideal spot for some serious rest and relaxation, notably the chance to immerse yourself in tranquility at Aquarias Spa. As befits such a luxurious venue, Whatley Manor offers a mouth-watering range of options for foodies at Grey’s Brasserie, the two Michelin starred restaurant, The Dining Room, or The Garden Room for private dining. And now, of course, it boasts an award-winning chef from the telly!

The 15th series of BBC Two’s Great British Menu followed 32 chefs competing over 8 weeks, including, of course, Niall Keating, executive chef of Whatley Manor.

The brief for the series was to celebrate ‘Britain’s Success in Children’s Literature’, and each chef was tasked to create imaginative dishes that reminded them of some of their favourite childhood stories.

Niall’s fish course “The witches of the northern lights” featured in the final banquet where he was named “Champion of Champions’, winning the series overall.

Available as a lunch menu to enjoy in The Dining Room, the menu includes each course created by Niall and inspired by his favourite children’s books.

Niall’s Great British Menu £85 per person Amuse Bouche – Tempura oyster wrapped in nori Starter – Farmer Maggot’s mushrooms Fish course – The Witches of the Northern Lights Main course – Aye up Duck! Duck… Goose Pre desert- Staffordshire oatcakes Desert – Harry Potter inspired chocolate frog Lunch can be booked on Friday and Saturday lunch times only and bookings are subject to availability.

Pre booking is required and the menu price does not include beverages. whatleymanor.com

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LIFESTYLE KITCHENS

DEVIZES FINE KITCHENS ON COVID-19 INSPIRED CHANGES

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THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SIDE EFFECTS OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, FEW OF THEM GOOD, BUT FOR KITCHEN DESIGNERS THE ENFORCED TIME COUPLES HAVE SPENT AT HOME HAS TRIGGERED A BOOM IN UPGRADES AND, FOR MEN IN PARTICULAR, A HUNGER FOR NEW AND EXPENSIVE GADGETS. Men who are more used to vanishing at 7.30am and re-appearing in the evening have been working from home and consequently have played more of a part in the cooking and washing.

This close contact with the appliances they were only on nodding terms with has shown up their inadequacies and, with unspent holiday money to burn, they are being taken seriously.

James Hopkins, owner of Devizes Fine Kitchens, has seen the trend in the last couple of months and he says it is not just gadgets that are being upgraded, whole kitchens are being redesigned as couples seek extra space to work, rest and play in.

“People are without a doubt going for bigger kitchens,” he says. “They are having extensions built so they can have a larger, open plan kitchen with an island unit and a seating area. People have been spending more time indoors and they need the space.”

He said the boom began as soon as lockdown eased in June. “Since Covid when everyone came back to work we had a massive boom in orders,

partly because we had been closed for three months but also because people have been home more and decided they want to change the kitchen around to make it more of a living space, they want the gadgets."

Even humble kitchen islands bristle with more technology than a space shuttle. Hidden pop-up sockets made by companies such as S-Box rise up from the counter top to reveal plug sockets and USB ports.

“The men have been at home more and using things like the dishwasher more often. They have begun noticing little things they don’t like about it and so they want to upgrade. When they were getting up and going to work they didn’t notice them as much. And men like their gadgets.”

And it isn’t just somewhere to plug in your food processor that can lurk beneath the surface says James. “If you have a peninsular or island unit with a hob the only way you used to be able to have an extractor was a big island fan that came down from the ceiling practically in front of your face. This downward extractor fan sits in the worktop at the back of the hob and comes up to suck the air and the cooking aroma from around you,” he says.

Kitchen technology has moved on apace in the last five years, not just in terms of design but in functionality too. Ovens are no longer passive appliances, they can play their part in meal planning too.

“Pyrolytic ovens are almost standard now because they are self-cleaning but people are wanting wi-fi enabled ovens now,” says James, who took over the 38-year-old family firm from his late dad Bruce six years ago.

“That means they can display recipe ideas and hook up to your phone so that you can put in a prepared meal before you go out, and then switch it on with your phone so that dinner is ready when you get back.”

Gone are the days when you have to open the door to see how your dinner is faring. Hoover has a model with an HD camera that beams a picture to your phone. Neff models have a built-in meat probe that test the temperature of your Sunday joint and switch the oven off when it reaches the medium well done your dad demands.

New smart fridges are not being left out of the in-vision experience either. “They have cameras looking at each shelf so that you can see what’s in them without opening the door. If you are in the supermarket and can’t remember if you have any milk indoors, you can look at the live pictures on your phone and see,” says James.

“Siemens introduced a glass one three weeks ago that sells for £2,000 and I’ve already had three orders for them.”

The family business takes James all over Swindon and Wiltshire, as well as London and Guernsey.

His domestic customers can spend up to £70,000 on a kitchen, while he is also busy fitting out new apartment developments.

He says the most in-demand gadget by far are boiling taps that produce instant boiling water.

“I’d say eight out of ten new kitchens have one,” he says. “Basic models can cost anything between £1,000 to £2,000 but if you want one that will dispense chilled still and sparkling filtered water as well as hot and cold, a Zip model will cost anything up to £4,500.”

Wi-fi technology in the kitchen is still in its infancy says James but he expects it to develop rapidly. “It is everywhere now so it is only going to develop as people use it more and more,” he says.

Find out more about Devizes Fine Kitchens at devizesfinekitchenswiltshire.co.uk

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THERE’S ONE THING CELEBRITY CHEFS AGREE ON – A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME WITHOUT AN AGA MARY BERRY, PAUL HOLLYWOOD AND MARCO PIERRE WHITE ON WHY AN AGA IS THE BEATING HEART OF THEIR KITCHENS.

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REASSURINGLY TRADITIONAL YET ELEGANTLY FASHIONABLE, THE ENDURING CASTIRON AGA HAS BECOME A DOMESTIC ICON IN THE 95 YEARS SINCE ITS INVENTION

BY SWEDISH PHYSICIST GUSTAF DALÉN.

‘It’s the heart of the kitchen,’ declares Mary Berry, probably Britain’s most famous AGA owner.

‘I love the warmth and the wonderful welcome.

If I had to live without one, I’d loathe it.’

When Berry moved to her new home in Oxfordshire, she chose a 3-oven AGA Dual Control for its flexibility. The ovens are on all the time, but the hotplates only need to be switched on when they’re needed, meaning the kitchen is always cosy, something Mary relies on – “I’m a cold mortal,” she jokes.

“I don’t move without an AGA. It’s part of my life. When people ask about it I always say the most important thing is the warmth. Oh, and by the way, it cooks brilliantly. Now I have a Dual Control, which is wonderful as it’s so much more economical. I can turn the hotplates off when I don’t need them and can have the ovens on at half power or on full.”

“I didn’t for a minute consider not having an AGA. It takes the thinking out of cooking. I use it for all sorts of other things too. I put seeds at the back of the AGA to dry out. When I buy too many mushrooms, I slice them up and put them at the back of the AGA to dry. I wash my cashmere

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clothes in the washing machine and hang them by the AGA. It does so many jobs for me. I couldn’t imagine life without it.”

Mary’s cocker spaniel, Darcey – named after Darcey Bussell because she’s so light on her feet and very beautiful – also loves the warmth and can often be found curled up by the AGA. “The colour of the AGA was very exciting because I had chosen the colours for the kitchen and I knew I wanted a grey AGA but there wasn’t quite the right shade in the range at the time. So AGA made it especially for me. I matched it to the colour of a jumper. It’s a lovely colour and it goes with everything. It’s now in the range and is called Slate.”

“I have three ovens on this one – roasting and baking and you can keep things warm in the simmering oven. It’s a very versatile machine. I have two favourite ovens: the roasting one as I want things in next to no time, and the simmering oven because often I want to reheat. Providing I’ve cooked it beautifully to start with I find that reheating a casserole in the simmering oven works best for me as you don’t break up the meat, you just give it an occasional stir.”

better way of cooking rather than an open gas or electric hob. In my opinion the AGA cooker is the closest you get to a professional stove. I’ve cooked on an AGA now for 20 years, always at home. But you know something, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have one in a professional kitchen because they’re fantastic things and they are so strong. It’s like having a workhorse next to you. They don’t give up on you and they’re very easy to clean.”

Paul Hollywood doesn’t just share Berry’s passion for baking, he shares her passion for AGAS. “I’ve had an AGA now for around 15 years,” says The Great British Bake Off presenter.

“My last one was huge, but I’ve downsized to the 3-Series. When I saw the pictures I thought ‘they look nice’, and then I realised they’re different as well, a real move away from that traditional thing where the AGA is on 24/7. You can turn them on and off like a conventional oven and still have the look, style, cooking and baking ability of an AGA, so you’ve got the best of both worlds.”

“The AGA will always be the core of the house.

Even when it’s not on people will congregate around it. It’s a bizarre thing. It’s in the psyche. If you go into someone’s house and see an AGA, you gravitate to it. I love the AGA. I love the look.

I love the tradition it has. Even though I turn mine off when I’ve finished cooking it still holds its temperature. It remains warm in the kitchen for quite some time afterwards.”

Having a cooker that is great for bread was a big pull for Paul. “The beauty of the AGA is once you set it for roasting or baking it’s set and that’s it. It’s pretty solid and it will be stable all the way through the bake as well. They have big, heavy doors so your bake is more constant.”

“I do a lot of flatbreads directly on to the hotplate and it’s great. I mainly use the roasting oven for baking too, as I like to cook bread at a high temperature. So although the baking one is great for cakes, when I gravitate up to bread I’ll use the roasting function. Having said that, the big thing for me is the roasting oven because you cannot beat a Sunday roast done in an AGA.”

Marco Pierre White has been described variously as the first celebrity chef, an enfant terrible, the godfather of modern cooking and – perhaps Wigwam’s favourite – the Jagger of the AGA. His kitchen is home to two gleaming black, 3-oven AGA Total Control cookers. Why two? “Because one is not enough,” he laughs. “It’s true. One is perfect; two is a luxury. It really is. Six ovens, four solid tops, lots of space. What more do I want? I think a 3-oven AGA is perfect for a cottage. When you have a family you have to have at least a 4-oven. But in a perfect, perfect world two 3-ovens are better than one 4-oven because you have six ovens and four hotplates.”

“Say, for example, I’m doing roast chicken with all the trimmings. I’ve got my gravy on the side, I’ve got my bread sauce on the side, which I cover with cling film, and there’s enough heat on the edge of the AGA to keep it as hot as I want it. The reality is when I come home I am exactly the same as everybody in this country; I want to cook. And you know something, to cook well – to cook really well – it’s not just about knowledge and technical ability. You also need the right pans and the right oven. If you haven’t got the equipment it doesn’t matter how talented you are, you will never deliver perfection consistently without stress." agaliving.com

"The reason I like the AGA cooker is because throughout my cooking career I worked on solid tops, so when I cook on an AGA I work it like a professional solid top. For example, I can have my sauce just on the side so it stays warm. It’s a much

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MADE IN SWINDON:

BARBURY KITCHENS

FOR

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BINKY FELSTEAD

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BARBURY KITCHENS IS PROUD TO HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN AUGUST 2020’S HELLO! MAGAZINE, HAVING RECENTLY COMPLETED A NEW BESPOKE KITCHEN FOR MADE IN CHELSEA STAR BINKY FELSTEAD. At Barbury Kitchens every kitchen, bathroom and bedroom furniture we build is unique, thoughtfully designed and tailored to suit each client’s lifestyle, home and tastes. Our bespoke kitchens are built to be lived in and built to last; backed with our 25 year British guarantee.

Binky Felstead now has a beautiful shaker kitchen fitted with quartz work surfaces, Smeg appliances and features a very special sparkling, boiling and filtered tap by Quooker.

To top it off we added an InSinkerator disposal unit, the beautiful Armac Martin Sparkbrook handles and a mQuvée wine fridge. Through these partners we were able to deliver appliances that complimented the style of the kitchen and provided the highest quality finish. We at Barbury, and most importantly Binky, couldn’t be happier with the finished product.

Barbury Kitchens has been providing bespoke kitchens and furniture for many years, providing the highest quality workmanship across Swindon and the surrounding area.

With our workshop and showroom based in Swindon, we are proud to provide authentic, made in Wiltshire bespoke furniture and cabinetry. With any bespoke work, it is key that you get to see your project coming to life before it goes into your home. At Barbury Kitchens we construct each kitchen, in full, in the Barbury workshop for our customers to see ahead of painting. This gives the opportunity to stand in your kitchen and really feel how it will look and be when it is in your home. After this final sign-off, the kitchens are then painted and installed, ready to be enjoyed for years ahead.

Barbury Kitchens worked alongside Binky Felstead for much of 2020 in order to deliver this fantastic finished product.

As with all bespoke kitchen designs, Barbury’s designers took the time to understand the needs and style that Binky was hoping to achieve, and brought it to life. The bespoke kitchen was provided alongside a full home refurbishment, this gave us the opportunity to start from scratch and build this bespoke kitchen, exactly as Binky wanted. With a focus particularly on providing a kitchen island and breakfast bar to provide space for Binky and her family, this feature is a striking piece when you enter the room.

"I LOVE MY QUOOKER TAP WHICH GIVES ME SPARKLING WATER AND STILL FILTERED WATER, AND I LOVE MY (BUILT-IN) CHAMPAGNE FRIDGE.” 44 | ISSUE No.4

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Barbury Kitchens has always been based in Swindon with our workshop and showroom. This project is one of many in London that represents Barbury’s next steps to becoming a national brand. Having previously featured in “Great British Brands", being in the nationally recognised Hello! Magazine has always been a goal for Barbury Kitchens. Throughout 2020, and the years to come, Barbury Kitchens intends to develop its capabilities to provide bespoke kitchens, and furniture, across the UK. To celebrate the feature in Hello! Magazine, some new appliances entering the Barbury Showroom and the launch of our Bespoke Furniture E-Commerce Platform, we are looking to host an exclusive event in the near future. With more details being released in November, we hope that this will be one of many events that Barbury hosts going forward. For more information around this and future events, simply request a complementary design consultation and be added to our exclusive email list.

For more information around Barbury Kitchens or to enquire about your own bespoke kitchen or individual piece of furniture, visit our website at www.barburykitchens.co.uk or contact the Barbury offices on 01793845911.

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SUSTAINABILITY NSBRC

LEAD THE WAY WITH A SUSTAINABLE HOME The UK is committed to achieving an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 and to achieve this we will all need to reduce our energy consumption and move towards sustainable, low carbon living. Right now we are seeing the impact that groups such as Extinction Rebellion are having, led largely by a younger generation, who believe we should be doing much more, much faster. Whether you agree with their direct-action approach or not, there is no doubting their ability to raise awareness and encourage debate on climate change.

The government has introduced a new ‘Green Homes Grant’ which allows homeowners or residential landlords to apply for a voucher of up to £5,000 towards the cost of installing energy efficient improvements and the Prime Minister has recently announced £160m to fund a huge off-shore wind turbine scheme to help the country "build back greener".

So, what can we do, as individuals, about this global problem? Well, with domestic consumption making up 28% of energy use in 2018 (second only to transportation), our homes are a good place to start. There is much room for improvement. Just 12% of domestic heating comes

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from renewable sources despite over 1 million Solar Panels (generating both electricity and hot water) having been installed on UK homes to date.

Home Improvers and self-builders are actually leading the vanguard in the green revolution.

Visitors to the National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC) in Swindon want to create well designed, energy-efficient, homes. Typically self-builders will be using more insulation, and installing higher-performing heating systems than the big housing developers and one of the most sought after products, in their showroom area are ‘Renewable Technologies’.

The NSBRC is unique, as the UK’s only visitor centre for people doing homebuilding projects and their mission is to help people build better homes.

Open six days a week (Tuesday to Sunday) all year around, the NSBRC offers a series of workshops and courses – many looking at creating eco homes – along with a free Helpdesk, some fascinating educational zones and over 250 permanent exhibitors displaying everything you could need to create a new home.

Their next two workshops are both free to attend and focus on improving existing homes (Eco

Workshop) and exploring passivhaus homes (Passivhaus Workshop) - buildings that provide a high level of comfort while using very little energy for heating and cooling.

The workshops both offer a busy programme of specialist talks covering topics like Heat Pumps, Ventilation, Solar and Underfloor Heating. Led by independent experts the workshops will help you get the answers that the sales teams might not tell you; what’s new, what works and what are the practical issues that need to be considered when installing both conventional and renewable technologies.

Whether your motivation is saving the environment or saving money, the National Self Build & Renovation Centre is well worth a visit!

The Eco Workshop is on Saturday 7th November and the Passivhaus Workshop is Friday 27th & Saturday 28th November You can find out more and book free tickets at: nsbrc.co.uk

Specialists in integration of technology in high-end residential properties.

Luxury lighting systems, shading, audio + video solutions, CCTV, heating and cooling, home data networks - all of these solutions are provided by MW Smart Homes. We offer superior quality products installed in an exceptionally professional manner. If you have an unused space in your property, a spare room, loft or garage, we are well equipped to install professional quality cinema and media rooms, using the latest technology to achieve outstanding results!

From concept and design right through to commission, your journey doesn’t end there with MW Smart Homes. We will maintain your installations once completed as part of our aftercare package. Our aim is always to achieve the highest quality solution for our clients, bespoke solutions that are complex and sophisticated on the inside, but user friendly on the outside. With this accomplished you can enjoy a pure sense of luxury and add a new dimension to how you live in your home.

mwsmarthomes.co.uk

Phone: 0330 088 1104 Email:

info@mwsmarthomes.co.uk

Web:

mwsmarthomes.co.uk

85 Avenue Road, Old Town, Swindon, Wiltshire SN1 4DA wigwamswindon.co.uk | 49

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SWINDON INTERIOR DESIGNERS DELIVER BESPOKE LUXURY KITCHENS They say kitchens are the heart of the home. So not surprisingly they are a big part of the interior design briefs for Pepper&Co, whether that means a start from scratch project or a luxury makeover.

Take the kitchen for a Victoria Road apartment we designed. It was an old office space that we literally stripped back to the bare bones, giving us a complete blank canvas to work from. Our aim was to create an open plan living space with a sophisticated urban feel to it. The beautiful concrete worktop was a custom build by Chris Read Fabrication, we dyed the concrete black, leaving some bubbles to make it feel like organic rock. The worktop is perfectly complimented by some similarly finished GANT concrete pendant lights with a gold inside which also matches the gold hardware and gold undermount sink, keeping some continuity throughout the space. The Carrera marble hexagon wall tiles and the contemporary storage units from the premium German company In-Toto give the space that ‘luxury apartment’ feel.

The tumbled vintage solid oak parquet feels established and authentic like it’s always been there and the custom painted matt grey iconic Smeg fridge freezer feels just right for the space. As an alternative to built-in wall cabinets we opted for matt black, ply-edged open shelfing to help create a modern open feel to the space and we powder coated the cooker hood matt black to match the shelves perfectly.

Other highlights are the understated Amsterdam glass table from Blue Sun Tree and the cool looking Studio Sander Mulder chairs, plus some inspiring artwork from the Oink Gallery (sister company to Pepper&Co) - black line engravings by Dan Hillier and collages by Adrian Boswell. Then on the table we’ve got a Flower Attitude chainsaw candleholder from Seletti.

At the Oxford Gardens house we worked on fourteen different spaces, including a makeover of the kitchen which was already of a high quality but needed a visual revamp so it was in harmony with the rest of the house. It was a case of working with the good quality fittings, rather than replacing everything.

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"THE FIRST THING WE DO IS TO GET TO KNOW THE CLIENT" We took one of the doors out to improve the flow and entrance to the kitchen, painted some of the units to modernise and compliment some of the wood cabinets, ripped out the old fashioned splash backs, replacing them with clean white brick tiles. We painted the ceiling a very dark blue and installed pendant lights from Lit and Co Lighting for some drama and installed some very large porcelain white marble floor tiles which visually expands the space.

We changed all the cabinet handles for new brass handles to compliment the lights and brass window sills we installed. With a new table and chairs and new blinds the space was transformed.

As with all the rooms and spaces we do, the kitchens we design are absolutely bespoke; the first thing we do is to get to know the client, their tastes and their preferences. Oxford Gardens was a great example of that, we worked closely with the clients to create a space that reflected their tastes and vision in a cohesive way.

That’s where Pepper&Co, come in. We’re interior designers, we can source great furniture, homeware and artwork from Oink, and we have a great team of local tradesmen and artisans who can deliver our designs to exceptional standards.

Mark Pepperall Artistic Director, Pepper&Co pepperand.co

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COMMUNITY

YOUTH ADVENTURE TRUST

Nationwide Team

10 PEAKS CHALLENGE 2020 The weather in the Brecon Beacons can always be unpredictable but neither Storm Alex nor a global pandemic were going to stop the Ellis Brigham 10 Peaks teams take on their recent challenge despite the less than favourable weather conditions.

The event normally takes place in June and brings together teams of between 4 - 6 to embark on a 34 kilometre hike of the 10 highest peaks in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. Teams from Swindon and Wiltshire companies such as Nationwide, Spring PR and TH White all braved lashing rain and high winds on an amended route which still allowed them to get to the top of the highest peak Pen Y Fan and between them raise over £20,000 for the Youth Adventure Trust.

Stewart Kelly from RHA Automotive said about his experience: - “As the name implies it’s a challenge.

The weather was against us from the start, but it galvanised us as a team. We pulled together and took each peak and each mile individually to focus on completing the challenge” Youth Adventure Trust CEO, Mark Davey praised the 10 Peaks’ participants:- Building resilience in the face of challenge is what the Youth Adventure Trust is all about and the teams certainly displayed that! They had to work together and showed a real determination to finish despite the challenging weather conditions’

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The Youth Adventure Trust is a registered charity that has helped thousands of young vulnerable people through its outdoor adventure programme which builds resilience, confidence, self-belief and essential life skills - transforming children’s lives. Since lockdown began, the charity has been supporting the 11-16 year olds on its programme by providing online mentoring and virtual group sessions.

The 10 Peaks Challenge provides the perfect opportunity for team building and getting to know your colleagues in a unique environment away from screens and desk. We can’t guarantee the weather, but we can guarantee a memorable experience!

Are YOU ready to take on the challenge? Join us next year with your colleagues, clients or friends 10 Peaks Challenge Saturday 10th July 2021.

Contact Philippa Cox: philippa@youthadventuretrust.org.uk or 07956 934 100

TH White Team

Let Us Create Your Happy Place extensionpro.co.uk | 01793 387 205

The team at ExtensionPro specialise in making the most of your home and the land around it. We delve deeply into how you live and use your property to enable us to produce an extension design that suits your needs, fits your budget and looks absolutely amazing!

Our one-stop service means we carry out the complete design, planning, building regulations, structural calculation and other legalities on your behalf, with your dedicated project manager overseeing the whole

process! Meaning a clear and concise process, with no hidden costs or delays along the way.

We can then construct the extension on your behalf ensuring your build is in safe hands, working with a company you already know and trust!

ASK THE EXPERT PEBLEY BEACH

MODERN CARS BOAST EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK Dominic Threlfall Managing Director Pebley Beach pebley.co.uk

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TODAY'S CARS HAVE GADGETS WE COULD ONLY DREAM OF AS KIDS

Anyone of a certain age will remember how popular culture heightened our anticipation for what motoring would offer in the future.

From James Bond's machine gun-toting, passenger-ejecting Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger to the self-driving and seemingly sentient Pontiac Trans Am KITT in Knight Rider, and the household waste-fuelled (not to mention time-travelling) DeLorean in Back to the Future, our expectations were high.

And when we got our first car? We were lucky if it had a fifth gear and FM radio.

Fast forward to 2020 and – in the spirit of the 'kitchens' theme of this issue of Wigwam magazine – even the most modest cars come with everything except the stainless steel washing-up basin. Here are some of our favourite features:

Never get lost again For most of motoring history we relied on folding paper maps to explore unfamiliar terrain. When electronic navigation units started to arrive in the early 1980s they were expensive – Honda's Electro Gyro-Cator navigation unit accounted or a quarter of the cost of the car it was equipped in.

Toyota gave the world the first CD-ROM navigation system in 1987, and it was another Japanese manufacturer – Mazda – that pioneered the satellite-utilising in-car GPS system in 1990.

Truly we were motoring into the space age, and the MX5 soft-top was taking us there.

By the end of the decade we were sticking Garmin's StreetPilots onto our windscreens, and today built-in satellite navigation comes pretty much as standard – you'll find it in your car's entertainment system. Which brings us to...

Music, music, music Unless you're an audiophile, chances are the best sound system you own is in your car. Indoors you might be streaming Spotify on your tinny mobile phone speakers, but get behind the wheel and you're enjoying crystal-clear treble and booming bass on a high-end stereo system.

Buy an Audi and you'll be tapping your fingers to music delivered on a Bang & Olufsen sound system. BMW owners get a choice of a sound system by Harman Kardon or – if the budget will stretch to it – surround sound from Bowers & Wilkins Diamond, while British specialist Meridian is Jaguar Land Rover’s audio brand of choice.

But you don't need to be driving a luxury car to enjoy a great in-car stereo system.

Seat teamed up with Beats by Dre – better known for its headphones – to launch a Beats versions of its Ibiza hatchback. And – if we do say so ourselves – up there with the best is Hyundai's partnership with American audio specialist Krell.

Cruise along like Michael 'Knight Rider' Knight Okay, if you want a car that will drive itself you need to test drive a Tesla. But increasingly 'intelligent' cars can make our driving experience a lot safer.

From Lane Departure Warnings that emit a signal if we stray into another part of the road and Lane Change Assistance, which stops us pulling out in front of a car in our blind spot, to Adaptive Cruise Control, which maintains a safe distance between us and the car ahead, and advanced Parking Sensor, which doesn't just beep if we're about to hit something while in reverse but can guide us into a parking spot, even the most modest cars offer an enviable array of tech

designed to relieve us of some of the mundanity of driving whilst keeping us – and other road users – safe.

Our favourite? It has to be Hyundai's Smart Park. Currently only available in the UK in the hydrogen-powered Nexo, but surely to be rolled out to other models soon, you can hop out of the car, press a button on the key fob, and – using on-board cameras and sensors, clever computer software, and some Hogwarts-level magic – the car backs itself into a parking space, while passers-by gawp in amazement.

Everything but the kitchen sink The disappointing news is that kitchen sinks are still not offered – either as standard, or as an optional extra – by any of the major motor manufactures. If you really want washing-up facilities on wheels you'll need to look to the after-sales market; specifically to the Nomad Kitchen Company.

The Californian manufacturer has created a pull-out camping cooker and sink, which will fit into the boot space of most SUVs and many hatchbacks – even a car as small as the Mazda 3.

The 'vehicle-mounted kitchen' is designed for motorists who enjoy camping trips, but there's no reason why you couldn't get one fitted, pile up the dirty dishes on the passenger seat, and catch up with the washing-up at work on your lunch break. After all, it saves eating into your free time at the end of the day when you drive home, pull your car into the driveway, and... just sit back, enjoying another tune or two on your high-end in-car stereo. pebley.co.uk

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ASK THE EXPERT

OPTIMUM PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

CONTROVERSY OVER LEASEHOLDS FOR NEW BUILD HOMES Iain Mason Head of Legal Optimum Professional Services imason@optps.co.uk

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THERE HAS BEEN MUCH IN THE NEWS IN RECENT MONTHS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS HOMEOWNERS HAVE FOUND WITH LEASEHOLDS AND NEW BUILD HOMES, AND THE ASSOCIATED FEES THEY HAVE TO PAY TO THE DEVELOPERS.

The issue is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which has now given the UK’s top four residential developers six months to sort out the problem or risk being taken to court.

What is the problem with leaseholds and new build homes?

The media has picked up on concerns homeowners have with the terms of their leaseholds.

What is leasehold?

There are two main types of property ownership: freehold and leasehold.

Put simply, with a freehold property, the resident owns the property and the land on which it stands.

With leasehold, the resident may own the building but not the land it is built upon, instead renting (or leasing) the land, often for many years – perhaps even decades or centuries.

Leasehold is a common arrangement for flats, where each resident owns their flat, but they lease the land the flats are built on from the landowner, or developer or builder – whoever has the freehold. This isn’t always the case with flats, though. Sometimes, and particularly where a house is converted into flats, the residents collectively have the freehold – known as ‘shared freehold’.

Generally, houses are sold as freehold, but in recent years, for new builds, there has been a trend towards making them leasehold, and this is where the issues have arisen.

According to Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert, some 12,000 homeowners are now subject to hefty annual ground rents that are paid to the freeholder (usually the developer) that, under the terms of the lease, double every ten years. These ground rents can prove attractive to investors, particularly where there is a guaranteed increase, which is part of the reason why developers sold properties in this way.

In some cases, people have bought their properties completely unaware that they are buying them as a leasehold and not freehold.

These spiralling ground rents bring a double problem for the homeowner, because they make the property difficult to sell and in some cases impossible to remortgage.

What is being done to solve the leasehold and new build homes issue?

In March last year, some developers and freeholders signed a pledge to remove excessive ground rents for existing and future leaseholders, but this wasn’t mandatory.

The CMA has been investigating and believes it has found evidence of mis-selling of properties to unwitting buyers. Its order to the big four developers - Barratt Developments, Countryside Properties, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey – that they should issue refunds and hand over the freeholds to buyers who were sold expensive leasehold deals, is the latest in the saga.

At Optimum, we are watching developments with interest. In principle, there may be good reasons for houses to be sold as leasehold. For example, obligations to pay for the upkeep of communal areas – where these are not going to be adopted by a local council - can be more straightforward to recover from leases.

But to impose leases that start high and double every ten years, and to mis-sell properties without the buyer being fully aware they are acquiring a leasehold, cannot be condoned. Of course, careful scrutiny of legal paperwork relating to property sales should have highlighted a lease and its terms.

Our legal team at Optimum specialise in property law, so if you are buying a property from a developer and want some expert help and close scrutiny of the terms of the sale, especially if a lease is involved, then please get in touch. optps.co.uk

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ASK THE EXPERT EXTENSION PRO

BRING THE OUTSIDE INSIDE WITH A KITCHEN EXTENSION Bradley Quesnel Managing Director ExtensionPro extensionpro.co.uk

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BRADLEY QUESNEL FROM EXTENSIONPRO ON VALUE-ADDING KITCHEN EXTENSIONS

Most people would agree that the kitchen is an all-important room and the heart of any family home. Yet, in years gone by, these rooms were generally only designed to be functional spaces, small rooms tucked away at the back of the house.

Nowadays, with the popularity of open plan living, people want more from this all-important part of the home!

Most homeowners are now craving an openplan layout which brings a new sense of space into their dwelling, connecting ground floor rooms, and allowing the internal space to flow naturally into the outside spaces.

This really allows families to spend more time together, whereas in the past, mum, dad and the kids would have been cut off in different rooms of the house.

With that in mind, it will come as little surprise to hear that kitchen extensions are one of the most sought-after home extensions we carry out at Extension Pro. Furthermore, dependent on what you spend, they can really add value to your home and be a great return on investment.

So what’s it all cost?

Good question!

Well a standard, single-storey, rear extension across the rear of a mid-sized property generally costs within the region of £40-50k, but of course every property is different. It is always best to have an initial informal chat with a reputable designer or builder like Extension Pro to get a feel for the work and costs involved.

Depending on your tastes, kitchen units and general finishes (flooring, tiling, decoration, etc.) can be your largest added cost here. You can spend very little with a deal from one of the big chain kitchen suppliers, or, if you have expensive tastes, you can spend as much as the build costs you on the actual kitchen. It depends on your style and budget!

Most rear extensions can be constructed under permitted development rights, so there is no need to attain full planning permission (subject to certain caveats). However, we would always suggest getting an experienced designer like Extension Pro on board at an early stage, so they can advise you on all the legalities and give you a guide budget for your proposal.

There is very little benefit in getting to the end of the design phase of a project only to realise that what has been designed is not achievable within the budget available or required some sort of local authority approval. Set your budget early on and make your designer aware of this consistently throughout.

Knocking through from the main house into the new rear extension to give a large open planned area is generally a must, therefore always allot an amount for structural calculations and structural design by a qualified structural engineer. These usually cost in the region of £500-1k and will be required by Building Control during construction. You cannot skip this step!

If the budget stretches, other very sought-after design trends are large areas of bespoke folding glazing, vaulted ceilings with more glass to flood light into the area and maybe underfloor heating...the possibilities are endless and most people will push the boundaries to get their perfect kitchen. After all, it’s normally a once in a lifetime project! extensionpro.co.uk

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CARE HOMES

COATE WATER CARE

AWARD-WINNING CHEF IS AN INSPIRATION FOR COATE WATER CARE HOME Swindon-based care providers Coate Water Care pride themselves on making major investments in their care homes in order to deliver the very best experience for their residents, many who are living with dementia. One example is Mockley Manor in Warwickshire which has just undergone a £4 million makeover.

But it’s not just the bricks and mortar which guarantee a premium experience. Coate Water Care also believe in providing the best possible culinary experience for their residents. At Mockley Manor that involved a recent collaboration with Matt Cheal, award-winning chef and co-owner of Cheal’s of Henley.

“It was a pleasure to have Matt here during March,” says Mockley Manor’s chef Jean Pierre Adjutor, know to everyone as JP. “He demonstrated how to make different types of foam, a favourite of mine was the cauliflower cheese. It showed a real diversity to presenting a softer type diet to those who have swallowing issues.”

“Matt was very informative about his techniques and how to support people with a variety of dietary requirements and specialities.”

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JP has used Matt’s knowledge to help him review presentation of food and how day-to-day foods can be made into foams and other types of dishes.

The Mockley Manor menu changes throughout the year to reflect the use of seasonal vegetables.

The residents continue to have their favourite foods such as traditional Sunday roast and fish and chips on a Friday, but they have also been trying other foods such as buttered chicken and BBQ Pork which is proving popular at the moment. The favourite dessert is pineapple upside down cake and chocolate brownies.

Founded in 1995, Coate Water Care is a familyrun care home provider with nine welcoming and highly-rated nursing and residential care homes for the elderly located in Swindon, Wiltshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucester.

We specialize in providing personalized care for people who are living with dementia.

Jamie Smith Managing Director, Coate Water Care coatewatercare.co.uk

Coate Water Care Menu CoateMon day Wat er Care M enu Mo nday Chicken & Mushroo m Pie, Mash, Broccoli & Cauliflow er Chicken & Mushroom or Mash, Broc Pie, Vege coli &lette table Ome Cauliflower or Vegetable ∞ Omelette Fruit Cake & Custard

∞

Fruit Cake PM & Custard Hot Dog & Fried Onions PM Hot Dog & Fried Onio ns

Open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:30 FREE entry!

Discover the UK’s only Self Build Visitor Centre Tickets MUST be booked in advance

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre Self build courses Over 250 exhibitor displays Expert Helpdesk

Eco & design workshops Self build shows with free seminars Educational audio tours

A unique and inspiring resource, the NSBRC is here to help provide you with the knowledge and support you need during your homebuilding project.

MORE INFO & FREE TICKETS AT

WWW.NSBRC.CO.UK 0345 223 4455

The home of Self Build Custom Build & Renovation

National Self Build & Renovation Centre

7 TIPS IF YOU WANT TO INVEST IN BUY TO LET PROPERTY If you’re looking for assets to invest in, a Buy to Let property can be attractive. Rental yields have climbed significantly in recent years, especially in cities and commuter towns.

If it’s an option you’re exploring, these seven tips could help you assess if it’s the right decision for you and help you get started.

1. Research the market It’s important that you fully understand your investment and how you can expect it to perform.

When it comes to a ‘good’ investment, there’s no single rule that applies to every area. A home that appeals to a young professional will be very different from the one that attracts a growing family. You need to research the type of home that’s in demand where you’re planning to buy, what potential tenants expect and rental values of properties nearby.

As a Buy to Let investor, the good news is you’re in a good position to haggle. You benefit from the same advantage as a first-time buyer in that you’re not part of a chain. As a result, sellers may be willing to accept lower offers for less chance of the sale falling through.

2. Understand the responsibility of landlords Becoming a landlord can often be seen as an ‘easy’ way to make some extra money. However, it comes with a lot of responsibilities too. You have to ensure the property remains in good condition and meets stringent regulations. This can cost both time and money. For instance, gas and electric appliances will need to be tested regularly, fire safety should be considered and any repairs that need completing should be done so in a timely fashion. Failing to comply with regulations could result in hefty fines or legal action.

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3. Carefully calculate ongoing expenses A Buy to Let investment isn’t one that you can manage passively. You will need to be involved in managing a property and it’s important to be aware of the ongoing expenses associated with this. These include repair and maintenance work and landlord insurance. If you decide you’d like to take a more hands-off approach, a letting agent is an option. However, this too will come at a cost. Keep in mind, that a good letting agent can reduce the chance of void periods and save you money in the long run.

4. Prepare for rental voids There will be times when the property is vacant or rent isn’t being paid, costing you money.

Recognising and preparing for this can help you maximise your investment.

The first step is to fully vet tenants. This can help you minimise the risk of selecting tenants that won’t pay on time. Once you’ve got tenants in the property, treating them well and responding to concerns promptly can improve the chances of them staying long term. It means you reduce admin costs and the periods of rental voids.

In some cases, a letting agent may be a good option for tackling this. They’ll vet potential tenants on your behalf and handle initial enquiries.

5. Take advantage of the Stamp Duty holiday As part of the 2020 Summer Statement, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a temporary reduction in Stamp Duty rates. This will apply to all residential properties purchased until 31 March 2021, including Buy to Let investments. If you’re thinking about purchasing a house to let out, taking advantage of this could save you thousands of pounds. The threshold at which Stamp Duty is payable on residential properties is temporarily increased from £125,000 to £500,000.

Property investors will still need to pay a 3% Stamp Duty surcharge but assuming the property’s value is below £500,000, no further duty will be due.

6. Have a long-term plan As with any investment, you should purchase a Buy to Let property with a long-term plan in mind.

Current worries about the economy following the Covid-19 pandemic has led to speculation that the housing market will ‘crash’.

While this can be frustrating in the short term, prices have historically increased in the medium and long term. Take the 2008 recession, for example. House prices fell by around 20% over 16 months. However, in most areas, these have gone on to recover and deliver long-term gains.

7. Prepare for rising interest rates At the moment, interest rates are at historic lows, good news for anyone paying a mortgage. Given the current economic situation, steep rises in interest rates aren’t expected. However, as Buy to Let mortgages generally have higher interest rates, a rise could have an impact on profitability. When assessing Buy to Let as an investment, keep in mind that interest rates could rise.

If you’re considering investing in a Buy to Let property, please contact us. We’re here to help guide you throughout the process.

Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only. Buy to Let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Sanjay Badhan Managing Director, Future Planning futureplanningwm.co.uk

EXPERT OPINION ?

COVID-RELATED MORTGAGE SUPPORT SCHEME TO BE EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHS

The Financial Conduct Authority, in conjunction with the government, have recently announced that the Covid-related mortgage support scheme (otherwise known as the payment holiday scheme) is to be extended from November 1st for another 6 months.

The first incarnation of this undoubtedly helped a lot of people who saw an income dip during the early stages of lockdown and it was very welcome. The statement at the time was that taking a payment holiday would not affect your credit score.

While this has largely been true, it has influenced lenders’ decision making when some people have come to apply for a new mortgage.

Lenders have enquired about the circumstances around the need for a payment holiday and, understandably, want some form of reassurance that you might not need to take another one.

Where you have been on furlough leave, the lender wants to make sure you have returned to work (or at least have a firm return to work date from your employer).

The new support scheme (I much prefer that to a “holiday” but that debate is for another day!) will be slightly different. It will allow people to suspend payments or lengthen the term to reduce payments or maybe even switch to interest-only payments for the time being.

A very important change is that lenders will be allowed to mark up your credit file with any changes they make. They will be able to record suspensions as missed payments potentially and reduced or interest only payments as an “arrangement” and these can certainly affect your ability to borrow any money going forward.

Consumer advice always say to communicate with your lender if you are facing difficulties in making payments and that is a good tip.

What is also a good tip is to speak to an independent mortgage adviser who will be able to assess all options for you with more lenders than just your current one.

Rob Derry Managing Director Brunel Mortgages & Loans Ltd brunelmortgages.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE WILTSHIRE LAW FIRM AWDRY BAILEY & DOUGLAS COMPLETES THE LEASE OF THEIR NEW SWINDON OFFICE Awdry Bailey & Douglas, one of Wiltshire’s leading law firms is delighted to announce that they have recently completed the lease of their new office in Swindon as part of the firm’s continued expansion plans.

The newly built, well specified office is part of the Swindon Gateway North business park on Latham Road, adjoining the B4534 Lady Lane and the A419 dual carriageway. The office provides dedicated car parking spaces, is easily accessible via Junction 15 of the M4 and is conveniently located close to the Orbital Shopping Park and the David Lloyd sports and leisure club.

The new office, which is due to open in early 2021, will provide a full range of legal services, including Conveyancing, Commercial, Employment, Family Law and Private Client services to the local community throughout Swindon and the surrounding areas.

Tim Hotchkiss, Partner and member of ABD’s Management Board, who have overseen the completion of the lease, commented “Geographic expansion is one of the firm’s key strategic objectives.

Whilst we already offer our services remotely, through video calls, over the telephone and via email, we understand that being able to access your lawyer in person, in an easily accessible, COVID-19 secure environment, is still highly valued by our clients.

Being part of the local community is important to us at ABD. Our new Swindon office will enable us to offer easy access to our highly qualified lawyers, who are here to provide not only the trusted, personalised and high quality legal services we are renowned for, but also to help and support local people, local businesses and the wider community as a whole.” awdrys.co.uk

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GET INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME – INCLUDING AUTOMATED LIGHTING AND SHADING CONTROL Wiltshire and Bath based MW Smart Homes design, install and maintain high-end home automation systems that can include lighting and shading, audio and visual, home cinema systems, and CCTV, as well as full system integration adding a total sense of luxury to a client’s home. Our team are highly experienced in the industry and can advise you on the best system for your home. Everything we do is bespoke, so tailored around you and your vision for your home.

MW Smart Homes complete projects working alongside architects, interior designers, M+E designers, as well as private and affluent clients.

If you are looking to automate any of your home’s services, such as lighting or audio, and integrate that with your CCTV or heating then we can make that possible. We are a Control4 authorised dealer and installer and also provide Rako and Lutron automated lighting systems.

That means we can create fully bespoke lighting and shade control systems for your home.

Our integrated systems go far beyond the basics of switching lights off and on. Imagine simply clicking a button to lower the perimeter lights in your dining room while keeping the lights above the dining table at a suitable level. At the same time your dinner playlist starts playing gently in the background and your kitchen lighting switches to party mode. Both of these scenarios are achievable using the solutions that we provide.

With multi-room hi-fi quality audio you can control which music plays in which rooms, all from a central and intuitive control interface. It’s not just

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audio that can be controlled, our integrated audio-visual systems also look after all your high res visual devices from smart screens to TVs and projectors.

Like the thought of waking up to natural light and your favourite song?

With our home automation systems, you can have the blinds slowly rise in the morning to ease you into your day while your selected playlists stream into your bedroom setting you up for the day ahead.

Lighting control systems while being functional, also add a sense of luxury and security to homeowners - our programmers are well equipped to make sure you get the most out of your system in every sense.

MW Smart Homes cover the whole of Wiltshire and the South West, from Swindon to Bath and Bristol to the Cotswolds. Call our expert team on 0330 088 1104 to discuss your project and our home automation team will start by doing a free on-site consultation to find the best-tailored automation system for your home.

Chris Morgan Co-Founder of MW Smart Homes mwsmarthomes.co.uk

ECOPRENEUR MUM LAUNCHES ECO CLEANING BOX DURING LOCKDOWN Amelia, a stay-at-home mum of four, founded a new sustainable cleaning box subscription service during the height of the pandemic. Bide boxes was formed to answer two problems; how can we live more sustainable lives and how can we help rebuild communities during this Covid crisis?

Bide boxes contain one month’s supply of vegan and plastic free cleaning essentials. Many of the items have been made by hand by bide home manufacturing (bhm). Bide home manufacturing is an on-demand workforce operation that empowers its producers to work from home whilst supplementing their income.

Amelia is currently working with producers in Manchester and Glasgow.

She sends them the raw natural materials and provides the recipes and training for each item. They then return the completed eco goods to her where she assembles each box by hand.

The vision is to roll-out bhm across the UK, focusing on those areas that have been worst hit by the pandemic.

“I have been wanting to launch an eco-venture for a number of years,” says Amelia, “and when lockdown was rolled-out I realised that we have to start now. The climate crisis is worsening and the pandemic has highlighted how vulnerable our communities are.”

The public support for eco companies is growing exponentially. According to Globaldata, 45% of consumers actively buy products that are better for the environment, but more importantly, 41% claim that they are interested in buying these products but do not actively buy them, highlighting that there is potential for change.

The Covid onslaught has bolstered interest in local suppliers and delivery companies which bide boxes talks to, with its local producers and box subscription to customers’ doorsteps. Amelia enjoyed a 20 year highprofile corporate media career and gave it up to start this venture. She juggled home-schooling her two infant children whilst also caring for her toddler and 6 month baby. The support and positive reviews she received from her first customers has really helped her pursue this dream. “It really feels like a community effort to get this start-up going. I am determined to get our boxes delivered nationwide to help people upgrade to ecoconscious lives whilst supporting communities”. amelia@bideboxes.com 07961 807958 bideplanet.com

wigwamswindon.co.uk | 67

OLDER PEOPLE WILLING TO FUTUREPROOF THEIR HOMES NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY OFFERS FREE CONSULTATIONS ON BORROWING TO PAY FOR FUTURE-PROOFING HOMES. Eight in ten homeowners aged over 50 are willing to future-proof their home so they can live independently for longer, with research showing the average cost comes to more than £6,500 – just shy of the annual state pension.

According to a Nationwide Building Society poll of more than 1,600 homeowners aged 50 and above, around one in three of people aged 75 and over have already made changes to futureproof their home.

Nationwide recently revealed that if older homeowners do need later life assistance, more than half would prefer to continue living alone, with help from a carer who lived separately.

Nearly a quarter would opt to continue living alone but near a family member.

Only two per cent would want to move into residential care if they needed support completing everyday tasks.

Nearly half of homeowners aged 50 and above have already moved into their ‘forever home’ and do not expect to move again, according to the research. This is substantially more than the 35 per cent who do expect to make another move. Almost a quarter of homeowners would either consider moving or have moved to a bungalow to avoid the need to venture upstairs.

More than half of those planning to make improvements expect to spend £5,000 or more to ensure they can remain in their home. This includes nearly a third of older homeowners who expect to spend more than £10,000.

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Nationwide’s research suggests that futureproofing a property to live independently at home for longer could cost upwards of £6,000 – which is similar to the full basic state pension for a year (£6,981). Given the steep cost of home improvements compared to pension income, one in ten over-fifties plan to make the improvements before they retire.

Typical cost of age-proofing Age Proofing Items Cost Stair lift

£2,845 Handrail

£80 Door ramp

£700 Walk-in shower £1,000 Personal Alarm £135 + £160 (p.a.)

Video Doorbell £137 Adjustable Bed £1,450 Total: £6,507 For older homeowners who expect to make the age-proofing improvements, more than four in five plan to dip into their savings to cover the cost of these improvements. Seven per cent expect to release equity from their home, and eight per cent will pay using credit cards. More than a fifth of homeowners aged 50 and above believe future-proofing improvements will actually increase the value of their home.

Nationwide offers a range of later life lending options for older borrowers, including a Lifetime Mortgage – a type of equity release mortgage where there are no contractual repayments. The Society offers free consultations for homeowners who may be considering releasing equity from their home to pay for future-proofing.

These consultations can be done via high quality video conference straight to people’s devices at home. Nationwide’s later life mortgages are designed to let people make use of the money that's built up in their home, with all loans coming with no valuation, product or advice fees.

Nationwide never sells later life products without giving consumers the whole picture and sharing the tools necessary for them to make the most informed decision possible.

Jason Hurwood, Nationwide’s director of home propositions, said, “As people get older, they may find it becomes more difficult to complete everyday tasks at home. Most people understandably want to maintain their independence and stay in their own home for as long as possible, rather than moving into residential care, and are willing to make the necessary home improvements to do so."

“However, home improvements, such as stair lifts or walk-in showers, can be expensive. Although people immediately look to their savings to cover these costs, more and more people are also considering accessing the value in their home as a realistic and perhaps more suitable option.

However, releasing equity is a major financial decision. We’d strongly recommend people seek advice to understand all their options before progressing. That is why the Society offers free advice and our later life mortgages come with £1,000 cashback, which can be used to pay for independent legal advice.” nationwide.co.uk

Progress means pushing our Hybrid range further (and further).

Introducing the new KONA Hybrid and IONIQ range.

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Experience the next level of hybrid. Book your test drive at try.hyundai.co.uk today.

Pebley Beach

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Fuel Consumption figures for the Hyundai Range. Mpg (l/100km): Combined 28.0 (10.1) to 256.8 (1.1). CO2 emissions: 265 - 0 g/km.

Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. Hyundai 5 Year Warranty subject to Terms and Conditions. Participating dealers only.

VISIT SWINDON'S HERITAGE PHOTO CHALLENGE

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SWINDON IS A MODERN AND DIVERSE TOWN STEEPED IN HERITAGE Visit Swindon has been asking people to take great photos relating to Swindon’s history as part of its ‘Heritage Photo Challenge’. There have been some amazing entries and you can see the results by looking for the #SwindonHeritage2020 tag on Instagram or check out the winning photo on the Visit Swindon website.

In 1843 Isambard Kingdom Brunel spotted the potential of Swindon’s location between London and the South West to build the GWR railway works, which eventually became one of the largest manufacturing sites in the world.

Modern Swindon offers visitors a staggering variety of experiences to explore, often with a tantalizing hint of the past, whether it’s a treatyourself shopping trip to the Designer Outlet in the old GWR Carriage Works or a bracing walk along the Ridgeway, Britain’s oldest road.

Past and present are also on display in Old Town, where Swindon Museum and Art Gallery’s much-heralded collection of UK modern art, and a range of funky restaurants, bars and artisan shops make for a great day out. If it’s the great outdoors you love, all the family will enjoy Lydiard Park, Coate Water Country Park or the orchard and meadow at Richard Jefferies Museum.

Whether it’s history or high jinks, muddy boots or designer shoes, Swindon really does have something for everybody! visitswindon.org.uk @visit_swindon @mitchjnelson_photography

wigwamswindon.co.uk | 71

ARTS & CULTURE SMAG

Desmond Morris, Girl Selling Flowers, 1946 (©Desmond Morris) 72 | ISSUE No.4

SWINDON MUSEUM & ART GALLERY IS OPEN FOR (ONLINE) BUSINESS

THE ARTUK.ORG WEBSITE GIVES PEOPLE ACCESS TO ONE OF THE UK’S BEST MODERN ART COLLECTIONS. Swindon Museum & Art Gallery is still closed due to

The exhibition also explores the rise of abstract painting in

Covid-19 but that doesn’t mean activity has ground to a

1960s British art, as artists sought to embrace new forms

halt as two fascinating online exhibitions shine a light on the

of expression. Paintings by Bernard Cohen, Terry Frost and

museum’s outstanding collection of modern British art.

William Gear are included.

‘Pop and Prosperity: 1960s British Art from the Swindon

Finally, the exhibition looks at the influence of sixties art on

Collection’ explores the art and culture of 1960s Britain

subsequent generations of artists, from 1980s abstraction to

through some of the most significant paintings and drawings

the YBAs, Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst et al.

from the Swindon collection, and it’s online now at artuk.org.

The exhibition explores the impact of popular culture and

The selected works of the second exhibition, ‘Big Hitters:

society on British art in the 1960s, and features work by

Significant Artists in the Swindon Collection’, span the

Howard Hodgkin, Michael Craig-Martin and Mary Fedden.

twentieth century and include work from defining groups

Viewers of the exhibition will be able to appreciate the

and movements, such as the Bloomsbury Group, the St Ives

diversity, confidence and ambition of British art during

School and the School of London.

the swinging sixties and the way it responded to a rapidly changing world.

‘Big Hitters’ also showcases pieces by important contemporary painters Christopher le Brun, Eileen Cooper

‘Pop and Prosperity’ takes as its starting point one of the most

and Maggi Hambling, as well as treasured paintings in the

significant works in Swindon’s collection, Richard Hamilton’s

Swindon collection by Gillian Ayres, David Bomberg, L.S.

Interior Study. This collage embodies the growing ‘pop’

Lowry and many more.

sensibility in contemporary art at the time, which engaged with everyday life and Britain’s post-war prosperity.

artuk.org

wigwamswindon.co.uk | 73

MAKING EVERYDAY AS INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE AS POSSIBLE Ridgeway Rise is a specialised home-from-home care service offering residential, nursing, respite and dementia care packages tailored to your needs.

Our chefs prepare excellent meals from fresh ingredients daily. They are designed to suit the palate of every resident. We offer big variety while maintaining familiar favourites, following individual food preferences and dietary requirements.

Our philosophy is to make the daily lives of our residents as pleasurable and comfortable as possible. Our activities coordinators design an enrichment programme that reflects your hobbies, preferences and interests. These activities may include bingo, minibus trips, Oomph exercises, special days and awareness days celebrations.

Home is where you cherish your memories and safekeep those special moments. Your home is where you pursue your hobbies and invite friends to homemade Sunday roast. Tea tastes better at home, where the walls smile at you from family photos and the roof provides safety and security.

Living life to the fullest means that aside from joining in our daily activities, you are encouraged to reminisce your preferred, pleasurable pastime and to accomplish your pursuits with our Dream Catcher project.

At Ridgeway Rise we understand there is no place like home. We also know that circumstances can unexpectedly change and life can take a dramatic turn. We are here to invite you to write the next chapter of your life with us. We want to give you

peace of mind and make every day enjoyable and easier, without taking away your independence, identity, dreams and habits.

Our team loves to meet new friends and feels privileged every time someone’s mum, dad, grandmother or brother chooses to share their journey with us. We cannot wait to meet your family and friends and make new memories together.

Join the squad of gardeners, bakers, knitters and artists. Surprise us with your skills, impress us with your achievements and touch our hearts with your stories. Moving to a care home may seem like a difficult adjustment but change means chance. ridgewayrise.com

RIDGEWAY RISE CARE HOME

Call us now 01793 98 77 30 40 Richardson road, Swindon, SN25 4DS www.ridgewayrise.com • info@ridgewayrise.com

RESIDENTIAL | NURSING | RESPITE | DEMENTIA CARE 74 | ISSUE No.4

Specialists in conveyancing, property law, wills and probate The legal team at Optimum are specialists and experts, so we really know the ins and outs of our area of law: property law, wills and probate. And because we specialise in these areas, we can focus on the real issues that affect our clients daily: property sales and purchase, buying land, drawing up a will, dealing with probate, powers of attorney and so on. We offer the same approach to all our clients: we listen carefully, we use our expertise to come up with the best course of action for you, and we deal with your issue in a professional, responsive manner keeping you informed every step of the way.

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