Wigwam Magazine Issue No.5

ISSUE No.5

PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE

TALKING HOMES WITH

JASMINE

HARMAN

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REFLECTING ON WIGWAM'S PROGRESS Launching a property platform and magazine during a pandemic has had its challenges, in fact some people said we were crazy (and they might be right!) but we have been blown away by the response to Wigwam from readers and from the wider 'property' community. Our website has grown rapidly and publishes daily property news and lifestyle features that have amazing engagement. The quarterly print and digital magazine has had an estimated 60,000 readers across Swindon and the surrounding areas in just eight months, which is bloomin' amazing!

We are absolutely delighted to welcome our new Wigwam platform sponsors Prospero Finance who are independent mortgage brokers specialising in providing mortgages to commercial and residential clients, along with our new category sponsors - Awdry Bailey & Douglas, one of Wiltshire's leading law firms.

We would also like to say a BIG thank you to A Place In The Sun presenter Jasmine Harman for welcoming us into her home in between lockdowns to 'talk homes' and for giving us an insight into her life working in the property sector.

The property market across the UK looks set to continue to boom in the first quarter of 2021, but what lies ahead after that is anyone’s guess. Our aim will be to continue producing positive property news and growing our reach, readership and supporting Swindon businesses. We have lots of great plans in the pipeline including launching our TV platform (Covid-pending) so watch this space for future developments throughout the new year.

We hope you enjoy reading Wigwam and that it gives you some respite from the daily Covid announcements!? If you would like to send us any feedback then please use the contact form on our website or contact us via one of our social channels. Stay safe.

Nathan Sandhu Wigwam - Co-Founder press@wigwamswindon.co.uk

PREVIOUS ISSUES Wigwam has been up and running for five issues now and right from the beginning our goal has been to serve you the very best property news with an added dash of lifestyle features.

We’ve discussed the serious stuff - house prices, mortgages, property tax – but also waxed lyrical about the best in interior design and the arts. We’ve featured words of wisdom from Mary Berry, Dom Joly, Niall Keating and Binky Felstead, amongst others. Above all, we’ve done our best to promote Swindon's property sector and why we like to call Swindon home.

wigwamswindon.co.uk/magazine

ISSUE No.5

HIGHLIGHTS

24

LIVING ROOM INSPIRATION

Emma Barber is on a mission to turn your interior design dreams into reality.

34

TALKING HOMES

Talking homes with A Place In The Sun presenter Jasmine Harman.

46

ESCAPING YOUR WILD MIND

Wild Lone designs luxury interior products with a hint of the unusual.

66

A HIDDEN GEM

Swindon artist Gem Van Gils produces edgy works but also digs the Dutch Masters.

PROPERTY NEWS INSPIRATION MARKET PREDICTIONS

WIGWAM INSIGHT.

WHAT WILL THE PROPERTY MARKET DO IN 2021?

Property experts Ross Sutton (Richard James), Chris Dewhurst (Dewhurst & Co), Richard Whatton (Miles Byron) and Rob Derry (Brunel Mortgages & Loans) give Wigwam the lowdown.

1. What is your forecast for the property market in 2021?

We’re hoping that things will be resilient this year. Nationwide, Savills and RightMove are predicting things to be positive, but perhaps there will be a few bumps in the road. (RS).

We expect the market to continue at a steady pace through the year although it will be somewhat dictated by the current pandemic. A shortage of available stock could mean prices remain stable overall.

(CD) It very much depends on whether the stamp duty holiday is extended past March 31st.

If it is I assume the property market will remain very strong. (RW) 12 | ISSUE No.5

I think house prices generally will be fairly stable. There may be a drop off when the stamp duty holiday ends. (RD) 2. Will the Swindon area follow national trends?

I know we are seen as an island of good value along the M4 corridor, so that always stands us in good stead, but I imagine we will follow the national trends. (RS) Swindon usually follows trends, however the ease of commute to London and the attractive prices may mean we see the gap narrow in relation to surrounding towns on the M4 corridor. (CD)

developments selling quickly so I think that is where the local market will be slightly different to the national picture. (RD)

3. There has been lots of talk of an exodus from London and other big cities. Are we seeing this kind of buyer moving to the Swindon area?

The short answer is yes, particularly the outlying villages where we do a lot of our business - Wroughton, down towards Marlborough, out towards Wanborough, towards Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

We have seen quite a few enquiries from people in London, and actually quite a few people complete. (RS)

I believe Swindon is very much a hot spot for buyers wanting to live or invest here due to the town being along the M4 corridor.

(RW)

We are certainly seeing this happening in the villages surrounding Swindon and Cirencester. (CD)

All local markets have their own intricacies and Swindon is no different. There is a lot of building activity going on and new

We have been seeing an exodus from London and other big cities coming to both live and invest in Swindon. (RW)

I see people moving from cities and wanting more space for their money. More working from home makes this easier as well and I’m certainly seeing people factor these in to their purchase decisions. (RD)

4. Will a prolonged lockdown change the kind of thing buyers seek from a property?

Yes, a lot of people want a home office, and an awful lot of people want a bigger garden. So character properties with lots of space so people can spread out, that’s also been important, as have garden rooms.

(RS)

Outside space and open spaces locally are already prime factors when people look to move. Prolonged lockdowns will only increase that. (RD)

5. Do you expect a lull in sales after the stamp duty holiday ends on March 31?

Depending on when it ends, but I do imagine there will be a slowdown in activity.

(RS) No. We may see a small increase in activity in the early weeks in 2021 but I believe that will then stabilise through the year. (CD)

We’re seeing outside space and home working space becoming high on buyers' priority lists. (CD)

If the stamp duty holiday does end on March 31st I would expect property sales to cool down. (RW)

Lockdown will continue to effect what buyers seek from a property. With many buyers not travelling to work decisions will be made on lifestyle quality rather than the commute to work. (RW)

Yes I do. Only because the stamp duty holiday was not necessary in my opinion. It will have brought forward some transactions and will cause a stutter when it ends. It will recover though. (RD)

6. Will the threat of an increase in capital gains tax have an impact on the buy to let market?

I would imagine so, but again it is very resilient because Swindon is very good value and rents are good. (RS) It’s possible... although it would be a brave move for the government to make any substantial tax changes in the current climate. (CD) I believe the threat to capital gains will have a large impact on the buy-to-let market due to their being less of an investment to be made. (RW) Possibly, but the income tax changes haven’t had the sort of effect the government were looking for. Tax benefits help but most investors are looking beyond tax and seeing the long-term benefits so overall, I don’t think it will affect people holding property as an investment. (RD)

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PROPERTY NEWS LEGAL

LEASEHOLD SCANDAL ENDS AS GOVERNMENT VOWS TO SCRAP RIP-OFF COSTS Leaseholders in England and Wales will be given the right to extend their lease by up to 990 years and pay no ground rent under major changes that the government said would save some households tens of thousands of pounds and make homeownership “fairer and more secure”.

Currently, leaseholders of houses can only extend their lease for 50 years once and pay a ground rent, while flat owners can do so multiple times with a peppercorn rent for 90 years.

The changes follow an outcry when it emerged some flats and houses had been sold with clauses that meant ground rents would rise dramatically in later years.

Under the reforms, which were recommended by the Law Commission, both will be able to extend to up to 990 years with a ground rent at zero, and all new retirement properties will be sold without a ground rent.

Around 4.5m households own their homes on a leasehold basis and pay an annual ground rent to the freeholder of the property – often an investment firm – which, through the lease, grants the right of the homeowner to live there.

Extending a lease comes at a cost, but the government said it would change the way these were calculated, including getting rid of costs such as the “marriage value”, which forces the leaseholder to share a potential profit from the extension with the freeholder.

Typically they are set at a low “peppercorn” rate but clauses in some new developments stated that rents would double every 10 years, making some homes unmortgageable, and leaving owners unable to move and facing hefty bills.

The housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: “Across the country people are struggling to realise the dream of owning their own home but find the reality of being a leaseholder far too bureaucratic, burdensome and expensive.”

14 | ISSUE No.5

“We want to reinforce the security that home ownership brings by changing forever the way we own homes and end some of the worst practices faced by homeowners.”

The Law Commission also proposed the adoption of commonhold ownership as the preferred type of ownership of new builds, and the government said it was setting up a council to “prepare homeowners and the market for its widespread take-up”, part of the biggest reforms to English property law for 40 years Under this model, which is popular in other parts of the world but has been used on fewer than 20 developments in England and Wales, blocks are jointly owned and managed, and flats can be owned on a freehold basis.

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PROPERTY NEWS STONEWOOD

EARTH MOVES FOR STONEWOOD AS EXPANSION CONTINUES INTO 2021

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Fast-growing building group Stonewood says it will continue its expansion in 2021 after finishing 2020 strongly with the launch of a new division and the opening of its fifth office.

The 48-year-old company has added Earthstone, its own groundworks company, to the portfolio while opening another office for its highly successful contracting arm, Stonewood Builders, in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. Now it plans to establish a base in Cornwall after winning a multi-million museum contract there.

Chief Operating Officer Ben Lang said the moves are an expression of the confidence the group is feeling after riding the wave of a five-week Covid shutdown in March and April by employing more than 60 new staff since May. Further reason for optimism comes from the group’s turnover climbing to £48m for the year ending in September, up from £44m the year before.

Said Mr Lang: “It just feels logical to grab good people when they become available. The more good people you have got, the better you are at meeting a challenge and the better placed you are to then flourish when times improve. That’s all in addition to retaining your best people.”

Fifteen of those new appointments have come at Earthstone, based at the group’s main office in Castle Combe, north Wiltshire. Managing Director Neil Blackman and Construction Director Shane Andrews are known to Mr Lang and Stonewood Group CEO Matt Aitkenhead not just through their work in the sector but on the football pitch as well.

“We played with and against each other a lot in our younger days but we have worked with Neil and Shane as well,” said Mr Lang.

“They both picked up the phone to us to say they were available within a couple of weeks of each other. They are both good characters who are a great fit with us and they have complimentary skills, so it just felt like a logical move.”

Earthstone won the contract for housebuilding arm Stonewood Partnerships’ 44-home development at The Tannery in Holt, west Wiltshire, and has several other contracts with Stonewood Builders but, said Mr Lang, it won’t be guaranteed every job.

“They will be one of the ground working options for Stonewood Builders and Partnerships but we still value the relationships we have with other groundworkers,” he said. “Earthstone are not going to be given work, they will still have to win it, which means they will have to be competitive just like everyone else.”

The move into Oxfordshire has been under consideration for some time and adds to those in Castle Combe, Corsham in north Wiltshire, Tormarton in South Gloucestershire and Castle Carey in Somerset.

“There have been some really high calibre, really good fitting people that have become available, so we’ve looked to recruit positively to develop our presence in Oxfordshire,” said Mr Lang. “Opening the office in Kidlington makes sense given the increasing amount of work we have in the Cotswolds and it is a convenient base for that.”

“We always want to be able to know our clients, understand their needs and be able to be responsive and that means we have to have a physical presence, work with local suppliers and contractors and also be part of that local economy and community. Stonewood Builders can go into new areas, develop contacts and relationships which then enables other divisions of the group to follow.”

Stonewood Builders will begin work in January on an extension to the birthplace of Boer War feminist and activist Emily Hobhouse in St Ive, near Liskeard, to form a museum. Said Mr Lang: “It’s a very prestigious project for an existing client. The plan is to use a blend of our tried and trusted team and to build relationships and teams from the local area with a view that we find a permanent base there in the course of 2021.”

With almost 250 staff, the company has grown exponentially from the family firm Mr Aitkenhead’s father Neill passed on to his son and Mr Lang in 2009 but the pair have worked hard to retain the values Mr Aitkenhead senior instilled.

“The things that are important to us are attention to detail, client experience, safety, quality of build and looking after our staff.

By structuring differently we can make sure we don’t lose sight of any of those things and by bringing in new talent we can continually improve our processes,” he said.

“Our plan, particularly though the recession between 2008 and 2012 and Brexit and now Covid, has always been to do whatever we needed to do to keep our good people employed. What you don’t do is cut back your people because they are the ones who got you there in the first place and they are the ones who will allow you to push through when things improve.” stonewoodbuilders.co.uk

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PROPERTY NEWS BARRATT HOMES

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BOOST TO LOCAL WILDLIFE WITH NATURE FRIENDLY HOUSING NEW ÂŁ1M INITIATIVE LAUNCHES IN SPRING 2021 SUPPORTING WILTSHIRE COMMUNITIES TO HELP NATURE THRIVE. Barratt Developments and wildlife charity RSPB are raising the bar for nature friendly housing across Wiltshire by announcing a new goal for their ongoing partnership.

By 2023 Barratt will further prioritise wildlife on all of its new developments by creating dedicated space for local biodiversity conservation, installing a range of wildlife friendly features and following expert RSPB advice. Beyond 2023 the goal is to have at least 10% more wildlife habitats in and around developments, delivering a clear biodiversity net gain.

Within two years every new development in Wiltshire will be provided with the guidance and tools to include wildlife friendly features into its public open spaces including plans to create climate resilient landscapes. More trees will be planted each year and it is transitioning to become peat free.

Every new show home garden will follow strict RSPB guidance which prioritises wildlife through specialist planting and landscaping, with at least 50% of the gardens to receive special RSPB commendations. Many of the new developments will also feature more hedgehog highways and swift nesting sites.

As part of the ongoing partnership, Barratt is also investing ÂŁ1m in an exciting new project with the RSPB to support people to help nature thrive in their gardens, balconies and eventually their community green spaces.

Launching in Spring 2021 and called Nature on Your Doorstep, the project will deliver the resources, connections and inspiration that will empower people to create their own havens for wildlife where they live.

The project will focus on the development of digital resources and an online community that brings people together to share their stories, tips and advice on the best ways to look after nature near them.

With local nature habitats in serious trouble and 40 million birds having vanished from the skies in the last half century, every community has a role to play in tackling the ecological and climate emergency. The actions taken for nature by individuals or communities together, such as welcoming wildlife into gardens or green space, will make a really big difference. barratthomes.co.uk

Barratt Developments, parent company of Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, is currently building thousands of homes across the South West, including at Canalside Wichelstowe in Swindon, Mill Brook Westbury and Birds Marsh Chippenham. Many of these developments have been given RSPB awards for their wildlife friendly show home gardens.

Back in 2018 Barratt became the first housebuilder to target 10 cities around the country with swift nesting bricks developed with the RSPB. Having already installed hundreds of the swift bricks now its goal is to install several thousand around the country.

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PROPERTY ON THE MARKET

ON THE MARKET AROUND SWINDON There’s never a bad time for a bit of internet surfing for your dream home and as we enter another lockdown and even more Covid restrictions, we reckon fantasy house buying is an even better property game than Monopoly! To kick off, here are a few houses we reckon would make a great investment this year, with something for every budget.

Premium Property. £3,950,000 Bowmoor Copse, Coln Waters, Lechlade.

The property is undoubtedly one of the finest on an exclusive lakeside estate. Not only does it offer over 6,000 square feet of luxury accommodation but it also occupies an enviable position, enjoying a beautiful westerly aspect over Bowmoor Lake. savills.com

Country living. £725,000 Sutton Road, Kington Langley.

Set down a quiet country lane, this beautifully presented Grade II listed cottage sits in delightful grounds and enjoys versatile accommodation. The property retains much of its period character of the original cottage yet complimented by a contemporary extension to the rear. strakers.co.uk

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Prime investment. £850,000 Marlborough Road, Swindon.

New Build Plot. £545,000 High Street, Blunsdon.

One of Old Town's most historic properties, originally owned by the Royal Veterinary Society. This Grade II listed building retains many original features and much character whilst it has been transformed to six, self contained apartments that are well appointed and finished to a great standard. Planning permission in place for two further apartments.

The picturesque Wiltshire village of Broad Blunsdon is home to Skylark Meadow, a new and exquisite development of 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes. The Painswick is an attractive 5-bedroom detached with a magnificent open plan kitchen dining area. newlandhomes.co.uk

henrygeorge.co.uk

£250,000 buys you a lot in Swindon.

Eastbury Way, North Swindon.

First time buyers. £145,000 59 William Morris Way, Tadpole Garden Village.

This stunning four-bedroom end of terrace family home was originally built by Crest Nicholson with flexible and generous accommodation arranged over three floors. Great kerb appeal and lovely enclosed garden.

Stunning first floor apartment with an open plan feel, stylish kitchen and bathroom, and good-sized double bedroom in sought-after location. allenandharris.co.uk

connells.co.uk

View more featured properties at wigwamswindon.co.uk

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INTERIORS INSPIRATION

SWEDE DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS JULIETTE WILLS ON KEEPING THINGS SIMPLE WITH A SCANDINAVIAN-INSPIRED BEDROOM THEME. It’s fair to say that Nordic countries – and Sweden in particular were early adopters of clean, simple and functional design. Their minimalist approach to interiors gained momentum in the 1950s, and today we’re all familiar with what constitutes a classic Scandi look: lots of wood, natural fabrics like linen, jute and wool and no clutter. Seriously, none.

MAIN PIC: 1/Joelle Pink Velvet & Oak Bed £1095, loaf.com

Washed Linen Bed Set £106, bombinate.co.uk

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Amber and Pink Glass Candle Holder £38.99, trouva.com

Sagres Pendant Lamp Shade Natural Cane & White £49, made.com

Sheepskin Rug in Ivory £1575, johnlewis.com

If your bedroom is in need of a revamp, you could do worse than adopt their approach. White walls are classic, but pale grey or a light, dusky pink also does the job. What you don’t want is fuss, so please, leave the flocked wallpaper and giant ‘Love’ cushions for someone else.

A sheepskin rug beside the bed will be a treat for cold feet, while wool throws and linen bedsheets will keep you cosy. Try to keep it tidy – invest in a bed with drawers underneath it if you’re short on space or treat yourself to built-in wardrobes. Pick out leather, copper or wooden handles and paint the doors to match your walls so they blend in and create a smooth, seamless space.

A couple of statement plants will complete the look, but if you’re not the green-fingered type, or the room doesn’t get much light, there are some convincing fake plants that’ll be just as happy in your new space.

Soft Edge Freestanding Mirror in Oak £350, johnlewis.com

Faux Cheese Plant £39.50, marksandspencer.com

Wool Herringbone Throw £53, annabeljones.co.uk Teak Bedside Table £189, tikamoon.com wigwamswindon.co.uk | 23

INTERIORS EB INTERIORS

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LOOKING FOR LIVING ROOM INSPIRATION? YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE. EMMA BARBER, THE OWNER AND CREATIVE FORCE BEHIND SWINDON-BASED INTERIOR DESIGNERS, EB INTERIORS, IS ON A MISSION TO HELP PEOPLE CONVERT THEIR VAGUE DESIGN YEARNINGS INTO REALITY. As she explains: “I believe no matter what your day throws at you, the moment you walk through your front door and kick off those shoes, you should feel calm, centred and ‘at home’. Instantly. And that’s what I can help you achieve.”

“The internet can only get you so far when it comes to interior design.

Yes, you may find plenty of great ideas, but how on earth do you pull it all together?”

“That’s where experience comes in. If you find it difficult to picture a room looking different to how it does now, I can help you visualise it. I have loads of tricks up my sleeve to make the best of small nooks, and create clever storage solutions. I love searching out unique ‘finds’ for any budget.

And I have loads of reliable, Wiltshire-based tradesmen to call on.”

“With a degree in interior design and over 10 years' experience, I know a thing or two about delivering on time, to budget, and delighting my clients in the process. My experience really could help save you the time, energy and research required to achieve the home of your dreams.”

Here, Emma talks Wigwam through three recent living room projects.

wigwamswindon.co.uk | 25

VICKY AND MIKE, FIVE-BED 1950S DETACHED, OLD TOWN, SWINDON “A space we can relax and unwind in was the brief. With a busy life, this couple wanted to have a space they can totally relax in and feel calm.

They already have a vast open plan kitchen, dining and snug area that is used for everyday family life so this room was more for those nights in front of the fire, just the two of them."

"We wanted to keep the room light to contrast from the darker richer colour used in the kitchen area so we went for Strong White from Farrow & Ball as it adds a hint of colour to the walls along with warmth. With this soft colour palette, we introduced blues and greys through accessories and textiles, along with the marble coffee and side tables and brass pieces which all add a touch of luxury. This has now turned from what was once an unused space into a room all the family use for those cosy nights in… and there have been a few of those recently!”

Photo credit EB Interiors

wigwamswindon.co.uk | 27

HOUSE OF HOOPER, DETACHED HOUSE, RAMSGATE, KENT “This lounge was designed online, a service EB Interiors has offered for a while, and even more so in recent months. With four children, the client wanted a space that was dedicated to the grown ups… an adult room!"

"This is a room that did not need any clever storage for toys, and where special pieces could stay on display and be enjoyed by themselves or when entertaining friends. With a stunning backdrop full of original character we set to work creating this adult room (don't we all need one of these!). We used Downpipe from Farrow & Ball on the walls, giving the room a warm and cosy feel both during the day and at night when the lights are on and the shutters are closed."

"The client wanted their collection of artwork to at last be displayed so a gallery wall is positioned on one side of the room. In order to balance out this wall, a bespoke panelled wall sits opposite, giving this wall just as much interest. A mixture of soft textures, warm tones and woods complement the rest of the room and bring together all the colours used within the gallery wall. Now who wouldn’t want to enjoy a glass or two of something nice in this room, and just relax!”

Photo credit House of Hooper

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EMMA AND JULIEN, FOUR-BED SEMI, OLD TOWN, SWINDON. “Like most 1920s houses, the rooms here were originally two separate spaces and used individually as dining and living areas. As with many renovations the way of living changed in this house, the dining area was re-positioned and became part of the new extended kitchen area, making the original dining area redundant."

"To address this issue we knocked through and opened up this area allowing light to flood in from both the front and back and also visually balance out the rooms downstairs. In decoration this room reflects one of my favourite styles, and one that I find many people are nervous of … we went white! By doing this, the room is kept light throughout and acts as the perfect back drop for key pieces of furniture and with a variety of lighting this room transforms in the evening to a cosy, tranquil space. The existing fireplaces remain, but have been built up and modernised in order to become focal points tying, what was once two rooms, together. Adding a variety of seating options throughout the room enables each area to be used and enjoyed, if not by the client, by their dog too!”

Photo credit Jody Sutton Photography

ebinteriors.co.uk

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INTERIORS INSPIRATION

GREEN IS THE NEW BLUE

SAYS JULIETTE WILLS Not all of us are blessed with vast living spaces and endless pots of gold with which to furnish them nor, it must be said, the vision and interior design skills to bring our ideas to life.

Not every living room is light and airy. Not all ceilings are high enough to welcome a giraffe, and what looks amazing against the backdrop of a Georgian town house with its vast, sash windows may look somewhat awry when paired with the low ceilings of a characterless bungalow (and I should know, because although I’m not 100 years-old I live in one).

MAIN PIC Velvet 3-Seater Sofa in Vine Swyfthome.co.uk, £995

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Apple Green Mid-Century Style Chair bombinate.com, £310 Electric Stove in Sage £1095, everhot.co.uk

Put simply, we must find what works for our own space and embrace it. The good news is that if you’re not entirely sure where to start, colour can be a fabulous first step.

Two years ago it was all about blue - Farrow & Ball’s ‘Hague Blue’ (perhaps named after ex-Tory leader William Hague?) must be on at least one wall of every other house in England. This year green is going to be big, and not only because it’s such a versatile colour, but because it connects us to nature and has a calming, stress-reducing effect (much like wine, I find).

A bright emerald green will work well on the walls of a westfacing room, while a darker forest green in an east-facing room has a cocooning effect in the evenings.

Leopard Candle Stick Holders £55, oka.com

Olive and sage green work fabulously with white, while so many vibrant shades – burnt orange, mustard, blush pink, coral – clash beautifully with the darker greens. If you prefer to go neutral and natural, here are some ideas for introducing green into your living room.

Gold Swallow and Marble Art Deco Style Lamp £160, rockettstgeorge.com

Cria Throw in Evergreen £325, oka.com

Flora – An Artistic Voyage through the World of Plants by Sandra Knapp £15, nhmshop.co.uk

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TALKING HOMES WITH A PLACE IN THE SUN PRESENTER

ASMINE

HARMAN

JASMINE HARMAN ON HER EAST END CHILDHOOD, VEGAN-FRIENDLY HOMES AND A PLACE IN THE SUN. What are your childhood memories of the family home?

a farm. It was also very different from where I had initially lived on the Algarve.

I grew up in pre-gentrification Hackney in East London. We lived in a rented Victorian flat with no garden and I shared bedrooms either with my brothers or my sister after she was born. My grandmother had lived in the flat before we did, and then she moved to the block next door. I lived there until I was about eleven when we moved to Clapton in another part of Hackney, which at the time was nicknamed ‘Murder Mile.

When I first arrived I lived in Vale do Lobo (Valley of the Wolf!) which is a very exclusive golf and beach resort, but when I moved to the farm it gave me a much more authentic experience. It felt like the “real” Portugal, which was lovely. Living abroad changed my whole outlook. Living in the East End my experience had been very narrow, and suddenly I realised that the world was my oyster.

It’s very much gentrified now, but it was a bit rough back then which made me quite streetwise. It was a housing co-op property and the first time we’d had a bedroom each so we were able to choose the paint colour for our bedrooms, I chose lilac, of course! And it was the first time we’d had a garden so we pestered mum to let us get a dog, I’ve got lots of happy memories from that time. Throughout my teens however, it was no longer the sanctuary that your home should be because the house became very full with “stuff’ due to my mum’s hoarding issues.

I think I’d only been on a plane once by the time I was eighteen, so moving to Portugal was life changing. It made me realise I could go anywhere and do anything. I didn’t have to be limited. It was really transformational, as it is for a lot of young people; travelling just changes you. It helps you grow and understand where you fit into the world, and I managed to pick up the language quite easily. If you speak Portuguese you can understand Spanish so when I am in Spain I’ll often be speaking in Portuguese with a Spanish accent, and I just about manage to get by!

In my early twenties I was still living at home but I began to feel ashamed of where and how we lived.

I kept it a secret by never letting friends come round, never letting a boyfriend visit, and I noticed that everybody I knew lived differently to us. Those are my memories from that time. Then, when I was twentyfour I left home and moved to Portugal to work as the Marketing Manager for a golf and health resort.

What kind of place did you live in in Portugal?

The place I lived in for the longest was just outside a town called Almancil near Faro, in a little hamlet called Ludo. I had a little one bedroom annexe at the back of a farmhouse - the farmer and the farmer’s wife lived in the main house, her parents lived in another annexe, and there were sheep and geese and crops growing, so it was a really different experience for me coming from London, from the big city to

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Did the A Place In The Sun opportunity come about because you were in the Algarve?

In a roundabout way. I felt like I needed a new challenge and after a few margaritas with some friends one night, one of them suggested I go and be a TV presenter. I thought "Yes, great idea!” so the next morning with a bit of a hangover I went into work and I gave in my notice. I then spent all of my savings on employing a little production company in Faro to help me make a showreel.

I’d never worked in television before but I came up with an idea for a travel show, (I’ve still got a VHS of it somewhere in the loft) it was called Girl’s World! The concept was “where are the best locations for a girl’s holiday?”. My friends and I went around testing the spas on the Algarve, the beaches, the restaurants, the night life, the shopping centres etc. We filmed it and from the footage, I made a little show reel which looking back, is really hilarious. Obviously I’d never done anything like it before, so it’s really cringey.

When I came back to London, I sent off the VHS to a production company called Freeform. It turned out that they were looking for somebody to present A Place in The Sun: Home or Away which had just been commissioned. They said they’d had around 170 applications, and I ended up getting the job!

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What clinched it, was it the showreel?

No definitely not, I think it was my dazzling personality (laughs)! I think the big clincher was that the company was in Bethnal Green, near where I’d grown up in Hackney, so when they took me out to do vox pops, (chatting to the public on camera) I felt very comfortable.

I was completely in my environment, I didn’t mind approaching market stall traders or taxi drivers or students milling about on the street, whereas some of the people they’d screen tested had found it very difficult just to go up to people and chat. I could chat for England to be honest! My job is about being able to talk to people from all different walks of life in a way that makes them feel comfortable, that’s my superpower!

Getting that job proved life-changing in other ways?

Yes, I met my husband Jon, who was the cameraman, on the very first show in Portugal, so we spent lots of time together, though we don’t usually travel together any more; having two children means we take it in turns.

Why do you think A Place In The Sun has been so popular for so long?

The British are obsessed with the weather and property and A Place in the Sun combines those two passions. I think that’s why it’s been so enduring. Plus it’s such feel good television; people watch it and think “if they can do it, we can too!”.

I’ve done house hunts with budgets as low as £19,500 and as high as over a million, but when you think about the average person watching it, they sit at home and think “blimey they’ve got less than twenty grand, and they found a house”.

That lowest budget was one of my all-time favourite house hunts; it was inland Granada in Spain, and we were looking at five cave houses. Tina the house hunter bought one of them which was fantastic. The most rewarding part of my job is helping people who have been dreaming of buying a property overseas for years, or even decades.

Some are moving permanently, others are looking

for a holiday home. You can tell straight away if they fall in love with a place and if they then decide to take the plunge and make an offer, there is nothing else in my work life that compares, because it’s such a buzz, such a thrill. I get really invested in it and I always cry and get choked up because it means such a lot.

For many of our house hunters there has been a catalyst that has made them think “now is the time”. It might have been a health scare, a bereavement or a redundancy; something big has happened to trigger them to say, "we’ve been thinking of this for a long time, we’re going to do it now.” So when they find the place it’s their joy, their relief, it’s palpable, it’s amazing.

It’s such a great feeling to be able to be part of that, to help them on the way.

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What makes the perfect home in your experience?

I think it’s less about the bricks and mortar and more about the feeling that you get from a home, and that is what most of my house hunters say.

They might end up choosing a property that on paper doesn’t look as appropriate for them as something else we might have showed them, but it will be a feeling that they get. It’s a combination of the location, the space, the potential, and the vision of the person who’s looking at it. I might look at a house and think “oh my gosh, it’s perfect, imagine what we could do here” and someone else would look at it and think “oh my goodness, this is awful”, so what is perfect for one person is not perfect for somebody else.

We looked at our house (in the leafy South London suburb of Carshalton) lots of times, but it took us about a year to finally take the plunge and buy it. It took us time to get the vision of what it could be like and what we’d need to do and how we could change it, plus taking into account factors like what is nearby.

That was before we had our two children, but we had a dog and we were looking at the nearby parks,

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where we’d walk the dog. I was pregnant at the time but we didn’t even look at schools! But as it turned out we were really lucky, with two very good primary schools within walking distance.

Even factors like having the train station nearby and having shops and amenities right at the end of the road were important, but the flip side is sometimes there’s traffic. I had to take my own advice; I always say if you want peace and quiet in the middle of nowhere then you’re not going to have train stations and amenities and schools nearby, so it’s about balancing it out.

When we bought this house we lived in it for about a year and a half before we started the work, because we wanted to really get a feel for it, see it throughout the different seasons, and then we did lots of work here. We changed the whole layout, and now it’s completely different. In fact, I bumped into the previous owner one day when I was out with the children, and I said to her “you must come round and see what we’ve done”, so she came round for a cup of tea, and she just couldn’t recognise it, she thought it was amazing.

What were your top priorities when designing this house?

My dining table is made of old roof beams and an old workbench that has been adapted.

We wanted to take advantage of the South facing aspect and make it feel really bright. I love the fact that we have got all this glass, and even in the winter you feel like you’re getting your little dose of the outdoors. Actually we’ve got so much glass it can get really hot in here, even in the winter.

Actually, I found an amazing company online called mybespokeroom.com - they do virtual interior design and they designed the hub area for me. It’s really cheap too; after speaking to you and discussing the layout they give you all the options and suggestions, so you have a choice of cushions, lamps, plants etc.

Then you just click all the things that you want, and buy it in one go.

I am vegan and I wanted that to be reflected in my home. I absolutely love my kitchen, I love to cook and Jon my husband is a really good cook too, but the vegan lifestyle is not just about food, it’s everything.

When we did the house I decided to use only animal free products, and also a lot of up-cycled, repurposed items to make it as sustainable as possible, and vegan friendly. That meant materials like silk, wool, leather, down and sheepskin were out of the picture, so for example all my duvets are lovely, really warm snuggly synthetics.

With what you can get nowadays you don’t have to compromise, there’s always a really great vegan alternative, like our rug from Laura Ashley which is cotton rather than wool, the carpets upstairs are not wool either and the cushions aren’t filled with down. I also love all the reclaimed pieces; like the re-purposed shutters, and the up-cycled tables and chairs that we got from a local company called Louisa Grace (louisagrace.co.uk).

All my little old cabinets are reclaimed. The shutters came from a chateau in France, we just re-purposed them. We had a carpenter come in and make them into a toy cupboard, the TV is in there as well.

Even though you’ve got items coming from lots of different outlets it makes it so easy, and that is probably the only area of the house that is properly finished. But a house is never really finished.

Do you pick up things for the house on your travels?

I don’t often collect things from my travels, but I do frequently see things that inspire me. Visiting a friend in Canada we were staying in an Airbnb where they had a marimba (a musical instrument similar to a xylophone). I looked it up online and got in touch with the guy and he said the Airbnb people were just renting it from him and that he’d only made twelve, constructed from old pallets and old bits of pipe. So he disassembled one and packed it so we were able to take it back on the plane. That was five years ago, and the children still play it and it’s given them a really good musical grounding.

You can follow Jasmine’s travels and adventures on Instagram and jasmineharman.co.uk.

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INTERIORS WILD LONE

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to your wilder mind

begins at home

WILD LONE DESIGNS LUXURY INTERIOR PRODUCTS WITH A HINT OF THE UNUSUAL FOR CURIOUS MINDS, AND WIGWAM COULD NOT BE MORE IMPRESSED. ​ rom its Buckinghamshire studio, F Wild Lone specialises in elegant and provocative fabric and wallpaper featuring layers of historical and fantastical influences. Founded in 2019

by Jessica Jordan, their designs embody a culture of storytelling, whimsy and escape. ​ Wild Lone began with one of Rudyard Kipling's classic Just So stories, ‘The Cat that Walked by Himself’. The solitary character of the untamed cat, walking by his wild lone, captured Jess’s imagination at a young age.

“​ … when the moon gets up and night comes, he is the Cat that walks by himself, and all places are alike to him … he goes out to the Wet Wild Woods or up the Wet Wild Trees or on the Wet Wild Roofs, waving his wild tail and walking by his wild lone.”

Formative literary and artistic influences underlie Jess’s emphasis on storytelling and the importance of self-expression.

Stories in which the natural world - and its wilder, fantastical alternatives embody the human experience, have always felt like home to Jess. wigwamswindon.co.uk | 47

INTERIORS WILD LONE

The Greenhouse

Zephyr

ALL THREE DESIGNS ARE AVAILABLE IN

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Wallpaper Fabric Cushions

Berry Galaxy

The Greenhouse design unites Art Nouveau and Japanese design. An abstract illustration has been reconstructed into a complex botanical motif.

Zephyr is a bold and bewitching statement print. Full of movement, the design is inspired by the rhythm and grace of the geisha.

Berry Galaxy is an uplifting and playful print. Hand drawn hypericum berries meander above a delicate, lace-like arrangement of reconstructed linocut leaves, echoing Japanese lattice patterns.

Wild Lone's inspired designs are perfect for feature walls, eye-catching nooks and all-out maximalist interiors. The wallpapers are proudly manufactured in the UK on the finest quality wallpapers, using innovative digital printing methods for superior durability and light fastness.

Each fabric design is available on a high quality, medium weight 100% cotton half panama. With a rich and glossy colour, soft touch and solid drape, the fabrics are suitable for upholstery, soft furnishings, curtains and blinds.

Designed and handmade in England, Wild Lone’s cushions are digitally printed on 100% cotton half panama. Each

cushion is finished with an invisible zip and comes with an ethically sourced plump duck feather pad.

Wild Lone’s belief in individuality extends to bespoke modifications. Each design can be custom recoloured, rescaled or reproduced on different material with accurate colour matching. However big or small the bespoke project, Jess and her team guarantee a dedicated, personal service. As another Rudyard Kipling classic might have put it, “If you can dream” Wild Lone can make it come true! wildlone.com

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LIFESTYLE HOME-SCHOOLING

TOP 10 TIPS FOR SURVIVING LOCKDOWN WITH KIDS As the prospect of the next few months sinks in and more parents in Swindon face the hardships of home schooling and home working, we explore how parents can cope with the pressures of working from home with kids (again).

hit you like a brick wall – life has changed for a few months and you need to accept that”, Ratcliffe adds.

Turn off your phone: How are your kids meant to feel involved if you are checking emails?

So here are our 10 tips on how to survive lockdown in Swindon with your kids.

“Our hearts literally sank when the Prime Minister said the words ‘schools are to close’ because we remember what it was like last time – seriously tough times,” says Jonathan Ratcliffe from office provider, offices.co.uk.

“Entertaining the kids whilst trying our best to keep working and the money coming in is hard. Plus, last time the weather was nice, now it is awful.”

Set aside breaks for TV, iPad and exercise: Use these times to schedule work emails or calls.

Start early at the same time each day: Routine is important for good sleep and mental health, for both you and your kids. School starts at a set time, so make sure you are ready and stick to the timetable.

Working from home is tough. Home schooling is very tough. So, if you must combine the two for a long period of time, how are you going to cope?

For starters, you will need to get organised and work to a strict timetable if you want to get everything done. Equally, you will need to have a proper split between work, school, fun and rest.

“You firstly need to take some time to come to terms with the change in lifestyle – and lower expectations, because the minute you try and do too much is when the stress will

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Get dressed properly like teacher and student: Getting showered and dressed is important to divide sleep and school.

Create spaces for different activities: You might set up a teaching room (kitchen), quiet room (spare bedroom) and a play area (living room).

Structure your day like a school day: Teaching time, activity time, play time and lunch time – just like their normal school routine.

Make a plan with your kids: At the start of the day ask them what they want to do (within reason) so they feel involved.

Take exercise: Depending on where you live, if you have a garden or not – try and get some fresh air, this also allows you some headspace.

Finish at a set time, bedtime at a set time: By getting a routine drilled in early on, you can try and get the kids to sleep at a sensible time, thereby giving yourself some space to work if you need to.

Don’t be tempted to hit the booze too much: If you can, evening time will be the only real time you can realistically work.

If you drink your concentration will be poor, you will sleep poorly and you will wake in a grumpy mood.

The only positive is that you’ve done this before, and you can do it again – but life has changed and coming to terms with that is a good start. Good luck to everyone. offices.co.uk

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!

DEACONS HAS BEEN A SWINDON FIXTURE FOR 172 YEARS … … AND AS CURRENT MANAGING DIRECTOR RICHARD DEACON EXPLAINS, THEY’RE STILL GOING STRONG. Richard, Deacons Jewellers has been in business in Swindon since 1848, how do you explain that amazing longevity?

Good question! There is an element of luck, of being in the right place at the right time when you set up a business. Geographically Swindon was and is a great location. The founder George Deacon was quite astute because his catalyst was the coming of the Great Western Railways to Swindon, so he knew he was investing in a growing Victorian town during the industrial revolution. He also knew that North Wiltshire had a rich agricultural hinterland which was another good source of regular trade, so there were strong foundations.

Then there was the determination of various generations of the family. We’ve survived five monarchs, 28 British prime ministers and two world pandemics, so we really have seen it all! My great-grandfather contracted TB and died at 37. That was in 1913, so his widow Mildred then became one of the first ladies to run a commercial enterprise in Swindon. She was an amazing lady and ran Deacons for 27 years, initially with three small children.

The fact that I am talking to you now is very much down to Mildred who got us through a very difficult period with the First World War and then the economic problems of the 20s and early 30s. Also, each generation has been flexible, as a family we have always tried to adapt to economic conditions and spot market trends to stay ahead of the curve.

You are an official Rolex retailer, does that mean you sell more Rolex watches than other brands?

As Wiltshire’s only official Rolex dealer we have a long history with the brand, we are in fact one of their oldest official retailers, but it has really exploded in popularity in the last five years. Most Rolexes have increased in value in that time, so again people see it as an investment. Also, the pre-owned market is incredibly strong, and not just Rolex.

Why do the Swiss still dominate the luxury watch sector?

Well, they have a history of mechanical watch making and all the skills that have been passed down the generations. Like at Deacons, it goes from father to son. Precision engineering has always been a Swiss specialism, and you need a certain type of aptitude

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and eye for detail to be a successful watch and clock maker. Artisan skills of clock and watchmaking were also something that the Benelux Huguenots bought to Switzerland when they settled in places like Neuchâtel and they were very much a hive of timekeeping.

Do you sell the James Bond watch, the Rolex Submariner, as first worn by the late great Sean Connery?

Yes, we stock the current model of the Submariner which is an iconic piece in the Rolex collection, and still one of the most popular models. Some of the 1960s professional models go for upwards of £25,000, and on some occasions for hundreds of thousands. Interestingly, back in the day the Rolex brand wasn’t so sought-after but there has been an explosion in interest for vintage Rolexes, especially in the last five years where it has been rated the number one brand in the world three times. Patek Philippe is the other luxury watch that is highly sought after. They produce a lot less than Rolex so their models are even scarcer.

Are engagement and wedding rings a big part of your business?

Very much so, we like to do marketing around our slogan ‘Deacons for Diamonds’, we’re still the first port of call in Swindon for these special purchases. Often the engagement ring is the first thing that people buy from us, it’s an important part of our business and another one where we see successive generations of loyal families come to us, so mothers coming with their daughters. We are a well-known destination for Swindonians because we are the town’s oldest retailer and we also have Marlborough which is smaller than the Swindon shop but mirrors what we do in Wood Street.

Do diamonds tend to be a one-off purchase?

Most customers would buy a diamond ring to become engaged, then they might buy a diamond maternity ring for the birth of their first child or another significant event in their lives, so maybe three times in their lifetime. Then there are people who collect diamond jewellery who will splash out on more occasions because they are in the financial position to do so. For the majority, it’s a very occasional purchase, that’s why we have to make it special. A visit to the store is very much about customer experience, which is one way that retail has changed, even in the last five years. deacons-jewellers.com

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BESPOKE SERVICE AND JARGON-FREE ADVICE FROM INDEPENDENT ADVISORS. Swindon-based Executive Wealth Management is celebrating ten years of giving independent financial advice and its January 2021 merger with Prospero Finance is a further boost for clients trying to secure products that best serve their individual needs, whether that’s a residential or commercial mortgage, protection, investments or pensions. Founder James Relph talks all things financial with Wigwam.

There are plenty of financial advisors out there, what is your USP? First of all, I would say experience. Between us, my fellow director Martin Smedley and I have over 50 years’ experience in the financial services industry.

Our other USP is that unlike most other independent financial advisors that typically charge between 2-3% for their initial advice, we do not charge percentage based fees and instead have fixed fees which are dependent upon the level of review a client wishes us to undertake. Our fee structure is laid out very clearly. On the wealth and pensions side of the business we offer a menu of fixed fees starting with a small fee for a cash flow forecast to help clients plan their future income requirements, rising through an investment review or a pension review to a full and detailed inheritance tax planning review. The fees for clients of Prospero Finance are a very simple £595 for a residential or buy-to-let mortgage but no fees for bridging finance.

the drawbridges on lending by removing a lot of rates and deals. It also did not help that valuations could not take place, which caused a backlog of cases in offers being issued. As soon as valuations were allowed to resume, the cases started to move again. Our investment and wealth clients were mainly concerned with the falling stock market but by keeping in almost daily contact we managed to reassure them, meaning we did not have clients panicking and pulling their investments out during this time. That has proved a successful strategy since the bulk of our clients were back in positive growth by June and ended the year on very good growth, certainly considering where we were at the end of March.

As the lockdown continues and with the prospect of a market downturn, do you think more people will seek independent financial advice?

Has the Covid pandemic had an impact on your business, have you seen individuals and companies behaving in a different way?

I think the Covid pandemic has resulted in more and more people looking at their finances and realising that perhaps the time is right to look at something else. One example is a couple that were referred to me at the start of last year before the pandemic even started. The wife had just been informed she was being made redundant from a large local employer and they wanted to know if they could both afford to retire in two years’ time. Through a detailed cash flow forecasting, I managed to show that not only could they afford to retire in two years’ time, they could actually afford to retire straight away. I spoke with them during the summer and they said it was such a relief that they had retired and did not have the worries about their finances during the pandemic. I appreciate that not everyone is in such a fortunate position but I strongly believe that taking financial advice can hugely improve your chances of reaching your financial objectives.

With regard to the property finance market, working with an experienced finance broker can save huge amounts in terms of finance costs, getting the wrong deal cannot not only cost more in terms of monthly costs but we have seen extreme cases where lenders have called in loans early when a property investor purchasing without the help of an experience broker has inadvertently used the wrong product. Not only will that cause huge additional time and costs but put the investor under added stress.

The Covid pandemic did cause us concerns back in March and April of last year, but mainly on the property finance side of the business as lenders just pulled up

executivewealthmanagement.co.uk prosperofinance.co.uk

What are the advantages for people using independent financial advisors?

We strongly believe that our knowledge and experience can help all our clients find the right solution for their financial needs, whether that is a review of all their pensions to checking their retirement planning is on target through to help finding the right finance arrangement to purchase their next development property. Our approach is straightforward. You tell us about your current situation and about your financial objectives and when you want to achieve them. We develop a practical plan designed to help you meet those objectives.

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ASK THE EXPERT PEBLEY BEACH

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ASK THE EXPERT

FOUR REASONS WHY YOUR CAR IS BETTER THAN YOUR LIVING ROOM Living in your car, popular culture tells us, used to be the preserve of the man or woman at the very lowest ebb of their existence.

Kicked out of the family home, desperate men (it was usually men) would sleep in the back seat of their saloon (it was never an estate/station wagon – that would afford too much comfort) and rise when the morning sun poured through the gaps where the taped bin liners didn't quite meet the edge of the windows.

Exhausted, they'd kick aside takeaway cartons and empty beer cans to shave with an electric razor, using the rearview mirror to guide them. Pathetic. But nowadays, who hasn't pulled into their driveway, front door just a few tantalising steps away, and thought 'just a few more minutes'? Because today's cars are more comfortable than your living room – and I'll prove it.

Sitting pretty Can you adjust the height and angle of your sofa at the flick of a switch? Does your 'comfy' armchair provide lumbar support? Does it heat your body on a cold day? Can it give you a massage? Then – one point to me – your car seat is comfier than your three-piece suite. Oh, and you don't have to be driving a Jaguar XJ, a BMW 7 Series or a Mercedes S-Class for that back massage – it's also available on the Skoda Superb.

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 from your mobile to your smart speaker, 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, 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. That's two-nil to me.

Keeping your cool Unless you're reading your copy of Wigwam from sunnier climes, chances are your house doesn't have air conditioning. But nowadays it's rare to find a car that doesn't come with some form of air-con or climate control.

And let's face it, who among us has not left their house on a hot day, climbed into their car, and relished the blast of cold air on their face?

Thinking of getting air conditioning installed in your house?

Save your money and buy a Dacia Sandero – at a shade over £7,000 it's the cheapest car on the market with air-con as standard. And I'm three-up.

We love TV Back in January 2020, when you could still pack a conference centre with geeks without causing a public health emergency, there was something of an audio-visual revolution going on at CES, the world-famous consumer technology event held annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center. But this revolution wasn't about home entertainment – it was in-car technology. LG, Samsung and Sony all unveiled ultra-widescreen in-car entertainment systems of up to 20 inches.

So while the size of in-car entertainment systems has been creeping up from four to seven to 10 to 12 inches – and 15 if you drive a Tesla – it really won't be long before your entire car dashboard is one or two top-quality, interactive screens. Until that day comes, we'll call this one a draw, shall we?

Dominic Threlfall is managing director of Hyundai and Suzuki car dealership Pebley Beach

Dominic Threlfall Managing Director Pebley Beach pebley.co.uk

The Hyundai i20 with mood lighting and 10.25-inch centre touchscreen

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ASK THE EXPERT OPTIMUM PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

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ASK THE EXPERT

HOUSE BUYING DURING THE PANDEMIC: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW When the end of the first lockdown came, the housing market – which had been unable to operate – exploded due to pent up demand. People took the opportunity to house hunt and to move, and this frenetic activity has continued ever since.

Even now (and at the time of writing, we are in our third lockdown) the market remains buoyant because, unlike the first lockdown, it can continue to operate. This activity is in part fuelled by the Chancellor’s decision to introduce a holiday on Stamp Duty Land Tax, with buyers scrambling to complete their purchases before March 31, the current end date for holiday. Although there are demands in the marketplace for the holiday to be extended, at the time of writing there was no indication from the Chancellor that this would happen.

The volume of movement has even meant many conveyancing firms are turning away business. We are pleased to say that this is not the case with the team here at Optimum. We continue to take instructions, and are using our specialist knowledge and expertise to drive forward the buying and selling process for our clients.

This urgency can lead to a temptation to cut corners, but this way disaster lies. Buying a house is probably the most expensive purchase you will ever make, so it is important to understand everything it entails. It is vital that the process is adhered to, to ensure all the legal stages are carried out.

Again, this is where legal expertise is so essential.

To make things a little simpler, here is Optimum’s quick guide to the house-buying process.

What is a property search?

To ensure you and your mortgage lender are protected, your legal advisers need to carry out various searches, to find out information about the building and where it stands.

The lawyers will look at the local land charges registers.

They will explore any planning decisions, roadbuilding proposals or rights of way that affect the property, and an environmental search will also be carried out.

The property search is not the same as a survey. While a survey is not a legally required stage in the process, we strongly recommend you commission one, to avoid any nasty surprises after the house becomes yours.

As both searches and surveys are provided by third parties, these can be pinch points in terms of timing, so need to be organised as early as possible during a transaction.

What is the exchange of contracts stage?

Until contracts are exchanged, nothing is binding.

Once exchange happens, you become legally committed to buying the new property. This process is carried out between your lawyer and the seller’s lawyer, and the completion date is inserted in the contract on exchange of contracts.

Once contracts are exchanged, you cannot withdraw from the purchase without legal consequences. You are, of course, entitled to withdraw from the purchase at any time up to that point.

You will pay a deposit for the property to your lawyers, who will hold on to it until completion or pass it to the seller’s lawyers. If you fail to complete the buying process, you are likely to forfeit this deposit.

What is the completion date?

The completion date is the day you have been waiting for!

It is the day you get to pick up the keys and move into your new property.

Your lawyers will liaise both with yourself and the seller’s lawyers and, once the money has arrived with them, you have formally become the new owner of the property. Your lawyer will call you once completion has taken place to confirm that you can then go and pick up the keys from the selling estate agents.

If you are house-hunting and would like to speak to expert conveyancers to help with the legal process, please get in touch with the Optimum Professional Services team.

Iain Mason Head of Legal Optimum Professional Services imason@optps.co.uk optps.co.uk

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ASK THE EXPERT EXTENSION PRO

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ASK THE EXPERT

TURN YOUR HOME RENOVATION DREAMS INTO REALITY BRADLEY QUESNEL FROM EXTENSIONPRO ON VALUE-ADDING BEDROOM EXTENSIONS

In terms of adding value to your property through an extension, there’s one room that trumps all others in terms of return on investment– bedrooms. This is handy, as it means the returns you gain from an expensive loft conversion or extension can go right back into your pocket.

And If you’re fortunate enough to find bedroom space through renovation rather than extension, then that right there is a developer’s dream!

How Much Value Can One Add? Depending on where you live in the UK, some estimate that you can add up to 20% extra value to your property by adding an extra bedroom. However, whilst bedrooms are a powerful way of generating added value, they’re not foolproof. Your house price can still be affected by…

Where you build your new room It goes without saying that us Brits like things to be a certain way. Meaning, we like our bedrooms upstairs. Because of this, loft conversions tend to add more value than something like a garage conversion, or rear extension, if used to create a new bedroom. Bedrooms upstairs can add up to 20% onto your home, while ground floor additions only around 11%.

How many bedrooms you already have?

Homes that benefit the most from an extra bed are twobedroom properties. That’s because three beds have the biggest market for buyers. On the flip side, converting your home into a four bedroom might be less valuable. People are having fewer children, you’ll find fewer people needing that extra bedroom.

How big the rest of your home is?

Generally, the more bedrooms on offer, the more people will be living in that property. Therefore, the more people you have under the roof, the more space you’ll need to accommodate them. You’re unlikely to attract buyers for a four-bedroom house if the kitchen is still small, there’s only one bathroom, and you’re lacking a garden.

Getting the Most Out of Your New Bedroom If you want to give your bedroom the real WOW factor, you might look at these trends to help inspire your design. While interior fittings can depreciate in value, these timeless trends will keep your home’s value climbing.

The Ceiling As you’ll be spending most of your time lying down in this room, it makes sense to think about your ceiling. Say goodbye to a boring flat ceiling, and impress buyers with exposed trusses or a vaulted ceiling – always a classy touch!

A Fireplace The fireplace is a classic and can be highly sought after as the perfect focal point for the room. If you don’t already have one, talk to your architectural designer on how this feature might be created. A good designer will know how to balance out this impressive feature, and stop it dominating the space.

Views If you’ve been blessed with beautiful local scenery or a stunning skyline, don’t let those views go to waste. Make your master bedroom something special with floor to ceiling windows, bi-fold doors, or even a balcony. Not only does this give yourself and buyers an outdoor space to enjoy, it fills the room with natural light. Just make sure you’ve got thick curtains to keep that light out in the morning – no one wants a lie in disturbed!

En-suites and Dressing Rooms If the space and budget allow, try incorporating an en-suite bathroom to your new bedroom space. Drainage may be an issue here, so always try and locate the new en-suite near existing drain runs and plumbing to help keep those build costs down.

If you’re blessed with space, also adding a sleek dressing room would really wow any future buyer!

Bradley Quesnel Managing Director ExtensionPro extensionpro.co.uk

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ASK THE EXPERT AWDRY BAILEY & DOUGLAS SOLICITORS

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ASK THE EXPERT

DEALING WITH SEPARATION – 5 POSITIVE STEPS TO TAKE IN THE NEW YEAR IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH SEPARATION, TRY NOT TO WORRY, CINDY ERVINE OFFERS ADVICE

If you are having to deal with separation this New Year, try not to worry; at Awdry Bailey and Douglas we offer a sympathetic ear and a free initial consultation, where we can explore all your options in order to help you find practical solutions.

We understand that no one wants to be dealing with separation or divorce, particularly on top of what has already been a very trying year, but if things need to change, please get in touch.

In this article we’ve put together 5 positive steps you can take to help you move forwards in 2021.

1. Take a step back, breathe. Going through a separation can be emotionally draining and you should try to prioritise your mental health whenever you can.

This may not be easy, especially if you are juggling work and child-care. However, doing small things every day that make you feel better really help. Taking time to sit down with a cup of tea can make all the difference sometimes.

You may also choose to confide in a close friend, or a family member and talk through your difficulties with them or you can get in touch with a member of our Family Law team.

2. Communication really is key. We know this is difficult, and sometimes frustrating. However, if you can take the emotion out of the situation, and deal with things rationally this will help everyone involved.

Keep an open channel of communication with your expartner and find a form of communication that works best for both of you. Face-to-face meetings may be difficult, but emails or text messages may work in the short term.

3. Think about your children and prioritise their needs above all else. Deciding how to tell your children that you have separated can be a daunting prospect.

We always advise instructing a Resolution member.

Resolution is an association of family lawyers, mediators and other professionals who are committed to the constructive resolution of divorce, separation and family disputes. We are members of Resolution and very much agree with this approach.

You could also think about trying family or relationship therapy; not necessarily to discuss whether your relationship has a future, but to focus on how you can work together during the separation process and beyond.

Make sure you keep in contact with the children's school and ask that both of you receive any letters or emails that are sent out. Keeping to their usual routine will help to ease children through what can be a difficult time in their lives.

4. Think about your assets, and how you would seek to divide them. Writing things down will really help with this aspect of the separation. It makes things easier if you can have a master list setting out your financial position.

We can provide appropriate advice as to what is fair and help you to negotiate a financial agreement with your ex-partner.

5. If you think you would benefit from our advice, we offer a free initial consultation in a safe and secure face to face meeting, socially distanced and with face coverings; or we can hold a video meeting if you feel safer staying at home.

You will receive expert, practical advice given by a qualified legal professional.

The situation you find yourself in may not be ideal, but it is important to remember that we can help you to navigate through it; together we can help you move forward into the New Year in a more positive way.

Cindy Ervine Head of Family Law Awdry Bailey & Douglas Solicitors 01380 722311 awdrys.co.uk

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ISIT

SWINDON 64 | ISSUE No.5

A NEW PROMOTIONAL FILM HAS BEEN RELEASED BY DESTINATION MARKETING GROUP VISIT SWINDON

A

new tourism film, which was launched on social media recently, features a host of Swindon businesses and attractions, all looking forward to a time when people can visit the town safely.

It opens with a young couple arriving by GWR at the town's railway station. The couple take some time to explore the railway village before checking in to their base for exploring the town and its attractions: the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel.

Later, we catch up with the safely-masked couple enjoying a trip to the award-winning Steam Museum of the Great Western Railway and doing some shopping at Swindon Designer Outlet before grabbing a bite to eat at Los Gatos tapas bar in Old Town.

Their visit clearly has a positive effect on them, as we next see the man buying his girlfriend an engagement ring at Deacons Jewellers – Swindon's second-oldest business – before they head off to The Vault for celebratory cocktails.

“The video makes clear that Swindon is a great destination, whether it’s shopping, heritage, or wining and dining that takes your fancy," said Jazzbones creative director, Nathan Sandhu.

Visit Swindon is supported by Switch on to Swindon and Swindon Borough Council, and the film forms part of the council's Swindon's Bouncing Back campaign.

Tourism chiefs are asking residents and businesses to share the video to reach as many potential visitors as possible.

The video can be viewed and shared from the Visit Swindon website or straight from Visit Swindon's social media platforms: on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @visit_swindon. visitswindon.org.uk

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ARTS & CULTURE GEM VAN GILS

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ARTIST PRODUCES EDGY WORKS BUT ALSO DIGS THE DUTCH MASTERS

ARTS & CULTURE GEM VAN GILS

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ARTS & CULTURE GEM VAN GILS

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GEM VAN GILS IS A 30-YEAR-OLD SWINDON ARTIST WHOSE PAINTINGS OF ICONIC FIGURES FROM MUSIC AND FILM GRAB YOUR ATTENTION AND WON’T LET GO. HERE SHE TALKS TO WIGWAM ABOUT WHAT INSPIRES HER AND HOW SHE PRODUCES HER COMPELLING WORKS. Tell us a bit about your background?

Tell us a bit about your painting process?

My understanding of art and its importance within the world has been shaped massively by my degree in the History of Art. Studying at Oxford Brookes allowed me to visit museums and galleries constantly. Despite barely having time to practise painting, I gained a deep understanding of the industry and had the opportunity to study artworks from the masters in the flesh.

After planning out a composition I begin with a layer of bold colour on canvas. I use acrylic paints to mix the exact shade that I’m trying to capture for the backdrop.

I then map out a rough grid, using a printed photo for reference in order to get the proportions correct. For the portrait, I work in oil on canvas and tend to begin with the main features such as the eyes, mouth and nose. It’s all a relatively fast process until I feel I have achieved a likeness. At this point I slow right down, very carefully adding small fragments of paint and debating how much negative space to leave in the composition.

Since graduating in 2017 I’ve been working in museums and galleries, the last few years have been at Oink Gallery in Old Town. I’ve been drawing and painting since I can remember. I’ve always been completely obsessed with making art, as well as learning about it.

I’m self-taught and began painting with oil on canvas ten years ago.

My partner kindly helped me set up a studio in our home two years ago, giving me the space and time to paint. He also gifted me my easel, now one of my most prized possessions. I’ve always been drawn to portraiture but it was only in recent months that I became really confident with my style and subject matter.

Which artists have influenced you?

It’s hard for me to narrow it down, but some of the portrait artists that make me strive to improve my skills are Jenny Saville, Shawn Barber and Caravaggio.

How do you decide who to paint?

The people I’ve felt compelled to paint so far have been those with a captivating personality. I’m aiming to capture their unique charisma in an expression or likeness.

Among others, I’ve painted David Bowie, Prince, Audrey Tautou as Amelie, Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore in Her, Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, Saoirse Ronan as Agatha in The Grand Budapest Hotel, Florence Pugh as Dani in Midsommar and Zoë Kravitz as Robyn ‘Rob’ Brooks in High Fidelity.

You seem to be attracted to quite edgy characters?

Definitely. Growing up I was very self-conscious about my alternative clothing style and having niche interests.

I then discovered these iconic characters who are all celebrated for how distinctly unique they are. Amelie Poulain’s quirky nature is endearing, Mia Wallace’s bold red lipstick and French bob is iconic. It made me realise that individuality is a strength not a weakness.

Is Van Gils a Dutch surname?

That’s correct. I practise using the surname of my late Dutch nan, Cornelia Van Gils. And I grew a deep connection to Dutch art while studying in Oxford, frequently visiting The Ashmolean’s display of Golden Age still lifes. After losing my nan earlier this year it felt like a fitting sentiment. Growing up I practiced drawing with my dad and learned to craft from my mum but I’m the only practising artist in the family.

What are your ambitions for the future?

I’m incredibly happy with how things are going for the moment and I’m really excited to keep painting and expanding my portfolio. I’m always striving to improve my art but it’s hard to say what that evolution will be in the future. I turned 30 in October and I feel that’s quite relevant.

Where can people buy your work?

You can purchase my original oil on canvas paintings, limited edition prints and gold leaf embellished prints directly from my website gemvangils.com. I’ve put a lot of time into ensuring my prints are the best quality available and carefully apply all gold leaf embellishments by hand. If you’d like to see my original artwork in person, my Bowie painting is currently hanging in Oink Gallery on Victoria Road.

Do you take commissions?

I do take commissions, I’ve actually just finished an original painting for someone local and I’d love to take on more. I’m working my way through an endless list of amazing people I want to depict but it depends on my mood at the time. I’ll feel compelled to capture someone’s energy and that’ll inspire me to pick up my palette and brushes. gemvangils.com

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LIFESTYLE INTERIOR DESIGN

LEARN HOW TO BECOME AN INTERIOR STYLIST Are you the kind of person who is in awe of interior stylists like Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Bobby Berk or do you look at their lavish creations on the telly and think ‘I can do that’?

If you fall into the latter category, the reality is almost certainly you can’t do that, at least without professional help. Luckily, that help is on its way in the form of a new online course from leading UK interior stylist Lucy Gough.

Lucy’s latest course is titled ‘how to style your home like a magazine…and bring those dreamy looks to life!’ and it will open up your world to the tips and techniques that stylists use to style the interiors of their own homes.

The brand-new course will cover everything from: - figuring out your style - deciding your favourite colour palette - paint techniques, help with furniture placement, storage ideas, organising and decluttering your home (an important step

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for all if you want your home to look like it’s out of a glossy mag!)

- experts in lighting, art in your home, carpentry, organising your home and upcycling furniture.

- How to style your home around your existing furniture - How to create a mood board for your home!

The course launches on 25th January at a price of £149.

London-based Lucy is a true renaissance woman of design, working for a dizzying array of clients in the commercial, editorial and advertising sectors.

“I have worked in my field for a decade. I started out working in-house at Livingetc magazine and have since freelanced for the best glossy magazines in the UK like Homes and Gardens, marie claire, Sunday Times Style and YOU magazine.

I have also styled for big names like John Lewis, M&S, Debenhams, Furniture Village,

Heal's, Hilary's, Made.com, Monsoon, House of Fraser and NEXT, among many others.”

“Now I am writing the online courses that I wished had existed when I was starting out all those years ago!"

So what’s needed to take part? “Just you, your computer, pen and paper,” say Lucy, “and then when we start talking about creating portfolio images it will be objects that you have around the house that you can utilise.”

“I have had such positive feedback from the students on my initial courses, people have found it interesting, informative and most of all inspiring! Almost 300 students have taken courses so far, ranging from entrepreneurs, career-changers, creatives, mums at home, people looking for a hobby, home stagers and many people who live outside the UK too!” lucygoughstylist.com

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 | 73

MONEY MORTGAGE TIPS

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A MORTGAGE EACH LENDER HAS ITS OWN BESPOKE CRITERIA, SO THIS IS MORE ART THAN SCIENCE.

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Having a big enough deposit isn’t the end of the game according to moneysavingexpert.com. It’s just the start. These days, affordability and credit checks play a crucial part in a lender’s assessment of whether they will give you a mortgage.

Each lender has its own bespoke criteria, so this is more art than science. Think of it as a beauty parade where you need to make yourself as attractive as possible to lenders in the hope they’ll pick you out of the line-up.

Not everyone will view you the same way, but there are many little and large things you can do to shape up and stand out that are likely to make a big difference. Let’s run through them…

Boost your credit score This isn’t a quick fix. Some of the techniques below need to be done months before applying, so ensure you do the necessary groundwork in good time or risk a rejection.

The lender’s aim is to ensure you’re a profitable customer and can make your repayments. It does this by credit scoring you, to try to predict your future behaviour based on your past.

These criteria aren’t published so it’s impossible to pinpoint which lender wants what. But many mortgage brokers have a reasonable idea which lenders are pickier and what they look for in a borrower.

Lenders are now much more selective – if your score is poor, almost all will reject you. Here are some quick tips to help, but if it’s an issue for you, spend more time and read the complete guide at www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/credit-rating-creditscore/ or join MoneySavingExpert’s unique Credit Club to get your Experian credit score and find out what lenders really know about your finances: www.moneysavingexpert.com/creditclub Get on the electoral roll If not, it makes life so much more difficult. Go to www.gov. uk/register-to-vote to register on the electoral roll or to check whether you’re already registered. For anyone ineligible (mainly foreign nationals), you can add a note to your credit file saying you’ve got other proofs of address/residency.

Check your credit file Get copies of your credit file from all three credit agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion (formally Callcredit). But don’t bother paying for ‘credit scores’ that the agencies try to flog you, they’re only loosely indicative. You can do this for free (or even get paid to do it) if you know how, see www.moneysavingexpert. com/creditcheck.

Once you get your file, check everything for errors. If you think your file is wrong, ask the lender to correct it. You can add a notice of correction to your file explaining why it’s unfair or how the circumstances arose. If the credit reference agency won’t help you, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Just remember that lenders also rely on your application form and their past dealings with you, which the credit files don’t contain.

Check addresses on your file It’s one thing people often miss. Check your address is up to date on all active accounts (even if you no longer use them).

One woman didn’t get a mortgage because her unused but still active old mobile contract was listed at a past address. Anything unusual causes lenders to worry.

Break with past relationships Write to credit agencies asking to be delinked from any ex you had joint finances with. This stops their credit history affecting your applications.

Build / rebuild your score If you have a poor credit score, it takes time to rebuild it.

Perversely, one way to do it is to get a credit card and spend on it each month. This proves to lenders you can borrow responsibly. Yet only do this if you ALWAYS repay in full to avoid interest.

Put about £50 on it each month, clear it each month for a year, and it should help. If your credit rating isn’t good enough to get a normal card, see the www.moneysavingexpert.com/badcredit guide for how to get a card.

Time it right Issues such as county court judgments for unpaid bills are wiped from your record after six years, so wait for that until you apply.

Applications only stay on your file for a year, so if you’ve a raft of those (e.g., lots of credit cards) then wait.

Don’t miss payments / pay late Set up a direct debit to make at least the minimum repayment on credit cards so you’re never late and never miss a month. It’s always better to repay more, so make manual repayments on top when you can.

Keep other applications to a minimum in the months before a mortgage Applications, whether successful or not, go on your file, so space out applying for anything that adds a footprint to your file (including car insurance and mobile phones). The worst thing is a lot in a short space of time as it makes you look desperate for credit. Prioritise your mortgage if that’s the most important thing, and hold others off until you’ve got it.

Never withdraw cash on a credit card This is specifically noted on your file. It’s frowned upon as it’s incredibly expensive and not a good sign. It looks like you’re desperate for cash and can’t live within your budget.

Never apply after rejection Always check for errors on your credit files before applying for anything else. If not, even if you fix an error later on, all the footprints from rejected applications may kibosh your ability to gain credit anyway. moneysavingexpert.com

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LIFESTYLE REDROW

HOW TO GET YOUR HOUSE ‘MARKET READY’ IN 2021 Planning to move in 2021 and have a house to sell? Investing a little time, energy and money to prepare your house for sale could reap dividends. Try our simple tricks of the trade to add the wow factor and you’ll hopefully sell more quickly and for a better price.

First impressions count Whether potential buyers are viewing your property online or in person you want it to have kerb appeal. Pay close attention to every aspect, not just the décor inside. Make sure the garden is tidy, lawns are mowed, paths are weeded and the windows are clean. And from the moment viewers step inside your home - or take a look online make sure the impression they get is a good one.

Jon Bryan is valuations manager for home sale experts The Property Perspective. He says: “The internet portals that we use, Rightmove, Zoopla, etc, are simply like a dating website for properties and buyers.

There are lots of simple things you can do to ensure that your property profile is as attractive as you can make it.

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That way more potential purchasers will show their interest and make an appointment to view.”

Jon’s tips include: Declutter and tidy up – no one wants to see rooms with too much furniture, boxes, children’s toys, pet bowls, cat litter trays, washing on radiators, pots on the draining board, unmade beds, clothes everywhere or toilet seats up.

Get round-to-it jobs – Finish off all those jobs that you were going to do. Weed the driveway. Fix the skirting board. Put the light up. And so on. If people perceive too much work is required, they will quickly move on to the next house. Make them see that you are looking after your home so they won’t have to.

Clean up – vacuum everywhere, wash the windows, clean the kitchen and bathroom.

Make the effort, it will be worth it.

Fresh flowers, succulents or hand-picked greenery brought in from the garden and arranged in simple ceramic or earthenware pots will also add colour and freshness.

Show home know-how Follow the advice of Redrow’s interior design manager Alysha Alli and make sure your house ticks all the boxes when it comes to space, style and showing off.

Natural colours: Most buyers prefer neutral, calming colours to bold tones as they can make a room feel brighter and more spacious. Lighter shades of grey and taupe work well, as well as clean neutrals.

It also helps create a blank canvas so they can start visualising themselves and their belongings in your home.

Splashes of colour and hints of personality can easily be added with accessories (which you can take with you to your new home) and the right lighting can also help to enhance the space. Use over-sized table lamps and bedside lamps for extra effect.

“Little extras that can make a big difference include adding a large mirror to bounce light around a small space and make it look bigger and brighter. It’s a particularly welcome feature in a hallway,” Alysha adds. redrow.co.uk

Pl a n A If plan A isn’t working, don’t worry.

The alphabet has 25 more letters…

n o d n i w S K e e p g oi n g ! s i h t t o g e – We ’v i s it t h e V : o D o T aft e r NSBR C wn L ock d o From all the employee-owners at The home of Self Build Custom Build & Renovation

National Self Build & Renovation Centre

www.nsbrc.co.uk

FOR YOUR DAILY DOSE OF PROPERTY INSPIRATION FOLLOW WIGWAM ON INSTAGRAM @wigwam_swindon

© Images shared from Instagram. Please see feed for image credit.

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

Introducing the new KONA Hybrid and IONIQ range.

Progress is the new IONIQ range, and KONA Hybrid. We’ve taken our forward-thinking technology further, so you can go further. Our new electrified range combines efficiency, low emissions, and outstanding performance, to deliver a driving experience without compromise.

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

Pebley Beach

Paddington drive, Swindon, SN5 7SB 01793 816800 | www.hyundai.co.uk/dealer/pebley-beach-swindon

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.