The West Wilts Magazine - November 2016

NOVEMBER 2016 // ISSUE 87

FREE

The magazine

Christmas is

Coming

All our local light switch ons, markets and events

12 PAGES OF XMAS SHOPPING IDEAS

Festive Feasts

EAT WELL THIS CHRISTMAS WITH OUR 10-PAGE GUIDE

+ LISTINGS GUIDE AVON VALLEY RUNNERS PIETRA WOOD & STONE & MUCH MORE FOOD & DRINK // INTERVIEWS // HOME & GARDENS // HEALTH // COMMENT

contents Published by Wired Publishing Editor Lisa Rockliffe Contributors Craig Gates-Mutton, Phil Rockliffe, Neil Mortimer, Andy Diffey Advertising Enquiries Andy Diffey e: andy@wired-publishing.co.uk t: 01225 807775

November 2016 // issue 87

F

or those of you, like me, who feel like the world is turning too fast this will come as a bit of a shock. This is our penultimate edition of the year.

2016 has gone by in a flash it seems and Christmas is well and truly on the horizon. Fear not, though, with a copy of The West Wilts Magazine in your hand you are well equipped to finish the year off in style.

First up for foodies is our Festive Feasts feature (page 19) - that’s a lot of fs! Packed to the gunwhales with butchers, delis, farm shops and more it is the ideal way to ensure you and your loved ones eat well over the festive season.

As well as eating well, you’ll want to be sure you take in the best of the region’s events over the next few weeks too. As well as having the world famous Bath Christmas Market on our doorstep, we are also fortunate enough to have plenty more markets and fairs to explore, as well as light switch ons, lantern parades and much much more, so head to page 43 and apprise yourselves of the details. And finally, as if that weren’t Christmassy enough, we have the first of our Christmas shopping guides (page 57) - there’ll be another, along with another jampacked edition, in December. In the meantime, turn the page and enjoy.

in this issue...

LOCAL LISTINGS

What’s on in November

6

Round up of news & events

12

Address 20 Azalea Drive, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 9GG

AVR Wiltshire Half Marathon

14

Front Cover: © Bath Christmas Market

43

Follow us on Twitter... @wiredpublishing Read online... www.wired-publishing.co.uk

LOCAL NEWS

The publishers shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by the failure of an advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions or misprints.

Reproduction of this magazine in whole, or in part is strictly prohibited wihout prior permission of the publishers.

19

Lisa Rockliffe, Editor

General Enquiries e: info@wired-publishing.co.uk t: 01225 807775 www.wired-publishing.co.uk

This magazine is printed on paper sourced from sustainable forests.

Please recycle it when you are done, or pass it on!

6

East Farm Christmas

54

Lacock Photography

62

HOMES & GARDENS

FOOD & DRINK

Pietra Wood & Stone LEGAL & FINANCIAL Paying for elderly care

Food & Drink News

28

Eat The Seasons

30

Pudding recipes

31

The Duke at Bratton

36

FEATURES

68

74

BATH RUGBY The latest news from Bath Rugby

78

COMPETITIONS & PUZZLES Quiz, wordsearch & sudoku

Festive Feasts

19

Christmas is Coming

43

COMMENT

Christmas Shopping

57

The Last Word

80

82 THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

3

We sell a large selection of (Wiltshire made) painted, oak, pine and upholstered furniture, all made to order with a wide choice of finishes, fabrics and handles; displayed in room settings designed to inspire.

Find us in the Westway Shopping Centre in Frome (next to Ellenbray Toy Shop), come and browse the showroom displays. Colour Brochures available for furniture ranges.

Visit our Facebook page ‘Avalon Interiors’ (look for our leaf logo).

ORDER NOW FOR PRE-CHRISTMAS DELIVERY 01373 466414 | sales@avaloninteriors.co.uk Westway Shopping Centre, Frome, Somerset BA11 1AL

Your local furniture and home accessories store

| events

local

listings NOVEMBER 2016

MELKSHAM ASSEMBLY HALL

Market Place, Melksham, SN12 6ES Box Office: 01225 709887 melkshamassemblyhall.com For full listings go to the website.

BOOTLEG SIXTIES SHOW 8 November, 7.30pm Tickets: £21 Great music from all the classic artists of the decade, back-dropped by fantastic visual footage, including archive material from each town hosting the show.

SHERRY BABY’S 18 November, 7.30pm Tickets: £20 A magnificent interpretation of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

THE SEARCHERS 22 November., 7.30pm Tickets: £20

Claire Martin / Ray Gelato, Wiltshire Music Centre

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BUSCH TRIO 23 November, 7.30pm Tickets: £18 Award-winning young piano trio LES MCKEOWN’S ‘BAY CITY ROLLERS’ perform Haydn, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky.

24 November, 7.30pm Tickets: £22.50 All the hits songs and a fantastic night BLAZIN’ FIDDLES 26 November, 7.30pm of fun and nostalgia.

Tickets: £18 Folk brilliance from the Scottish WILTSHIRE MUSIC Highlands and Islands.

CENTRE Ashley Rd, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1DZ SHAPPI KHORSANDI: OH MY COUNTRY Box Office: 01225 860100 27 November, 8pm wiltshiremusic.org.uk Tickets: £15 For full listings go to the website.

Shappi is reclaiming patriotism. She’s celebrating her 40th year in Britain CLAIRE MARTIN OBE / RAY GELATO with a love letter to her adopted land.

11 November, 7.30pm Tickets: £22 A Swinging Affair – sassy and sharp POUND ARTS CENTRE jazz from acclaimed duo.

Pound Pill, Corsham, SN13 9HX Box Office: 01249 701628 BATH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA poundarts.org.uk 12 November, 7.30pm For full listings go to the website.

Tickets: £15 Commemorating the 400th MAZ O’CONNOR anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.

11 November, 8pm Tickets: £10 (Concs: £8) DONA ROSA Maz O’Connor is a singer/songwriter 15 November, 7.30pm whose songs turn intimate and true Tickets: £16 tales into poignant examinations of A special UK performance by leading our relationship to others, to home exponent of Portuguese traditional and to the notion of identity. song.

NT LIVE: THE DEEP BLUE SEA VOCAL WORKS GOSPEL CHOIR 15 November, 7.30pm 19 November, 7.30pm Tickets: £15 (Concs: £14) Tickets: £15 Helen McCrory returns to the The legends of soul, pop and gospel.

National Theatre in Terence Rattigan’s With total record sales well in excess of 50 million, The Searchers still have great appeal to audiences of all ages.

| events FROME DRAMA CLUB presents THE TEMPEST 24, 25 & 26 November, 7.45pm Tickets: £10 (Concs: £8) Revenge, forgiveness, friendship, folly, loyalty, treachery, and plain stupidity all join hands in this roller coaster of a ride.

THE ATHENAEUM CENTRE Mark Thomas - The Red Shed, Pounds Art Centre

devastating masterpiece, playing one of the greatest female roles in contemporary drama.

BROKEN BONES MATILDA 25 November, 8pm Tickets: FREE Broken Bones Matilda’s sound is created by a blend of raspy lead vocals, three part harmonies and a wide range of eclectic instruments.

VIN GARBUTT 26 November, 7.30pm Tickets: £12 (Concs: £11) A folk singer/songwriter whose songs are powerful, moving, humane, funny and gut-wrenchingly honest.

BLITHE SPIRIT 30 November – 3 December, 7.30pm Tickets: £11 (Concs: £10) AdHoc Theatre Company return with Blithe Spirit, one of Noel Coward’s most successful and enduring comedies.

MERLIN THEATRE

Bath Rd, Frome BA11 2HG Box Office: 01373 465949 merlintheatre.co.uk For full listings go to the website.

THE BOLSHOI BALLET presents BRIGHT STREAM 6 November, 3pm Tickets: £16 (Concs: £10.50) Alexei Ratmansky invokes the genius of Shostakovich’s score at

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the Bolshoi, creating a laugh-outloud masterpiece with its slapstick comedy, hilarious deceptions and false identities.

DOJOJI 7 November, 7.45pm Tickets: £17 (Concs: £12.50) Through powerful Japanese drumming, music and dance, Taiko Meantime rampages through ancient Japan in a unique theatrical concert.

THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE presents LES CONTES D’HOFFMAN 15 November, 6.15pm Tickets: £16 (Concs: £10.50) Vittorio Grigòlo and Leonardo Capalbo share the title role and lead an excellent cast including Thomas Hampson and Sofia Fomina in Offenbach’s fantastical operatic drama.

MARK THOMAS – THE RED SHED 18 November, 7.45pm Tickets: £17 (Concs: £12.50) Mark Thomas presents a show about the place he first started to perform: a red wooden shed in Wakefield, the labour club, to celebrate its 50th birthday.

JO CAULFIELD: THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS WRONG 19 November, 7.45pm Tickets: £15 (Concs: £12.50) Jo Caulfield takes a humorous look at life’s potential traps, what can go wrong and how to deal with them.

18-20 High St, Warminster, BA12 9AE Box Office: 01985 213891 theath.org.uk For full listings go to the website.

WARMINSTER SCHOOL presents GREASE! 16-19 November, various times Tickets: £12 (Concs: £10) A production of the film musical with a matinee on the 16th and a 50’s dress up theme on the 19th.

AN EVENING WITH KATE ADIE 22 November, 7.30pm Tickets: £15 Kate Adie became the BBC’s chief news correspondent in 1989, and has reported from war zones around the world. All proceeds from this event will go to the Wessex MS Therapy Centre, a Warminster based charity.

JEKYLL & HYDE 30 Nov ember & 1-3 December, 7.30pm Tickets: £12.50 The Athenaeum Limelight Players present a stage version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Gothic novel.

LACOCK ABBEY

Lacock, Chippenham SN15 2LG Tel: 01249 730459 nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock Normal admission applies unless otherwise stated DRAWN TO THE LAND Until 12 March 2017, 10.30am FREE A series of photographs of female farmers in Scotland by award-winning photographer, Sophie Gerrard.

| events

CHEESE & GRAIN

5 The Bridge, Frome BA11 1AR Box Office: 01373 455420 cheeseandgrain.com For full listings go to the website.

LIMEHOUSE LIZZY 19 November, 8pm Tickets: £17.50 Renowned for an action-packed show, Limehouse Lizzy continue to keep the spirit of rock icon Philip Lynott and his band Thin Lizzy alive.

DODGY 25 November, 8pm Tickets: £15 The 90’s Britpoppers long awaited return to Frome!

VILLAGE PUMP FRIDAY FOLK

Lamb Inn, Mortimer Street, Trowbridge Doors open: 7.30pm PETE COE plus support 4 November Tickets: £10 Coe is as much admired as a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist as for his versatility and dry wit.

OPEN MIC NIGHT 18 November Tickets: £3

THE THREE HORSESHOES

Frome Rd, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LA Tel: 01225 865876 All gigs are FREE and start at 9pm THE VENEZUELAN PIG RUSTLERS 12 November PORT ERIN 13 November THE SANS + NINE LIVES 18 November THE HAT CLUB 19 November

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SHOOTIN THE CROW 20 November MAGIC TRACTOR + THE BAD DETECTIVES 26 November THE LIGHT GARDEN 27 November

BRADFORD-ON-AVON FOLK CLUB at THE SWAN Email: phil@deverall.on4free.co.uk Contact: Phil Deverall on 01380 870734 boafolkclub.org.uk SINGAROUND 1 & 15 November FREE, 8pm PHIL KING 8 November One of the finest singers in the South West, a great guitarist and writer of beautiful and mesmerizing songs.

Tickets: £12.50 A concert of remembrance featuring The Armed Man: Karl Jenkins and Requiem: John Rutter. For more info go to athenaeumsingers.com BATH ARTISAN MARKET Green Park Station, Bath, BA1 1JB 13 November, 10am Every 2nd & 3rd Sunday, Bath’s biggest monthly gathering of independent artists, designer-makers, vintage sellers and local food producers.

CHIPPENHAM & DISTRICT ARTISTS Yelde Hall, Market Place, Chippenham 25 November - 3 December, 10.30am-3.30pm FREE Winter exhibition and sale of paintings.

See chippenhamartists.co.uk for more information.

Limehouse Lizzy, Cheese & Grain

REG MEUROSS 22 November Reg Meuross is a true modern day troubadour – commenting on life as he sees it, with beautifully disarming songs and lyrics.

OTHERS CORSHAM CREATIVE MARKET Springfield Community Campus, Corsham SN13 9DN 5 November & 3 December, 11am-3pm FREE Join one of Wiltshire’s best up and coming craft markets, with over 30 local stallholders selling handmade, home produced goods - the perfect venue to buy unique, one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts. For more details email nicola-davis@live.co.uk THE ATHENAEUM SINGERS The Minster Church of St Denys, Warminster, BA12 8PQ 12 November, 7pm

WILTSHIRE FARMERS MARKETS BRADFORD ON AVON 3rd Thursday of the month in Westbury Gardens CORSHAM Every Tuesday, 9am – 1pm DEVIZES 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month, 9am – 1pm TROWBRIDGE 2nd & 4th Friday of each month, 9am – 1pm WARMINSTER 1st & 3rd Friday of each month, 9am – 1pm

| local news

roundup

All the latest news and events from West Wiltshire and beyond!

SEE ALADDIN AT THE THEATRE ROYAL

This Christmas, the Theatre Royal Bath and UK Productions present the enchanting family pantomime Aladdin, a truly traditional show starring Bill Ward, well-known for his roles in Emmerdale and Coronation Street, and children’s TV presenter Mark Rhodes alongside Dame extraordinaire Nick Wilton and Bath’s own Jon Monie.

Theatre Royal Bath from Thursday 8 December to Sunday 8 January.

British Soap Award winner Bill Ward stars as the wicked magician, Abanazar. No stranger to playing Mr Nasty, he starred as the baddie builder Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street from 20032007 and has appeared as James Barton in Emmerdale since 2013.

The thrilling story of a boy, a lamp and a genie, Aladdin The title role of Aladdin will is one of the most popular be played by Mark pantomimes of all.

Rhodes, winner Audiences can of the 2015 look forward to BAFTA a fun-packed Children’s performance, Presenter full of comedy, Award as half of singing, dancing, Sam & Mark, whose dazzling special programmes effects and plenty of include CBBC’s Big audience participation.

Friday Wind-Up Guaranteed to and Copycats. entertain both the young and the young Much-loved at heart, Aladdin comedian Mark Rhodes will star as Aladdin appears at the Jon Monie

returns by popular demand to play Wishee Washee, marking his 15th Christmas show at the Theatre Royal.

Appearing as Widow Twankey is award-winning Nick Wilton. On television, he has played Market Inspector Mr Lister in EastEnders since 2008 and he makes a welcome return to the Theatre Royal after playing Dame Trott last Christmas.

The role of Princess Jasmine is played by Gemma Naylor from Go!Go!Go! on NickJr. Tom Whalley will play PC Pong with Loula Geater as Slave of the Ring. The Theatre Royal also welcomes back the talented young dancers from Bath’s Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance.

Join in the fun this Christmas and visit the Theatre Royal Bath for a truly spectacular festive treat for the whole family to enjoy. To book tickets contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or online.

• theatreroyal.org.uk

JOIN IN THE DOROTHY HOUSE CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISERS Always a popular event in the seasonal fundraising calendar, the Christmas Fayre held in the Bloomfield Hall at Dorothy House HQ in Winsley promises something for everyone. Held over the weekend of 25 & 26 November you’ll find brilliant gift hampers, turned wood, fresh produce and wooden reindeer; it’s a Christmas Fayre that really does have it all. Entry is £1 on the door, which includes entry into a raffle.

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Another event you might want to get involved in is The Santa and Fairy Fun Run on 4 December. It’s their Santa Dash…but with added fairies!! This year it’s a flatter 5k route through the beautiful grounds of Dorothy House via a circular run around Winsley. You can choose whether you’d like to be Santa or a fairy! As part of your entry fee you will receive either a santa suit or fairy accessories. Registration fees

are £17. All entrants receive a festive outfit and yummy refreshments after the run.

• dorothyhouse.org.uk/events The Santa & Fairy Fun Run is on 4 December

local news |

CATCH CINDERELLA AT WYVERN THEATRE THE CHRISTMAS The Wyvern Theatre’s 2016/2017 who this year plays one of the Ugly VINTAGE BAZAAR panto will be the fairest in all of Sisters, Louie Westwood who takes Swindon, when the enchanting tale of Cinderella takes to the stage, starring Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas!

Ryan is joined in the cast by Swindon favourite David Ashley,

the role of the other Ugly Sister, and Victoria Farley who plays Cinderella.

Staged by the producers of the Wyvern’s hugely successful productions of Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs, Dick Whittington, Jack & The Beanstalk and Aladdin, you are guaranteed lots of laughout-loud comedy, spectacular sets and costumes, dazzling song and dance routines and fun for all the family. Plus, as audiences have come to expect from Swindon’s number one entertainment venue, there will be an abundance of audience participation!

Performances take place from Saturday 10 December to Sunday 8 January and prices start at £19 per adult - book your seats today before the clock strikes midnight!

Cinderella starts on 10 December

• swindontheatres.co.uk

ENJOY LIVE MUSIC AT THE BARGE INN Chris Jagger

Head over to the pub on Friday 25 November and enjoy a wonderful evening of great music, food and, of course, beer!

No tickets are required, just call to reserve your table on 01380 828230.

And be quick, tables are sure to go fast after Chris’ hugely popular gig earlier this year!

As well as being one of the region’s most popular pubs, with its tasty food and drink offerings and wonderful canalside setting, The Barge Inn is offering yet another reason to pay it a visit this month with the return of Chris Jagger.

As well as this special live music event, The Barge is also taking bookings for Christmas parties, offering two courses for £16.95 and three for £20.95. They are also open on Christmas Day, with a five course menu available for £69.95 (children 12 and under are half price). For more information, or to see the menu in detail, take a look at the website, and call for availability.

• bargeinnseend.co.uk

The bazaar has oodles of beautiful vintage fashion, jewellery, fabrics and homewares

With a chill in the air and Christmas fast approaching it’s time for a little retail therapy.

This month sees the return of the renowned Vintage Bazaar event to The Corn Exchange, Devizes.

It takes place on Saturday 26 November from 9.30am to 3.30pm This bi-annual event is a firm favourite with interior and fashion designers as well as makers and devotees of quality vintage wares.

After a summer spent sourcing beautiful vintage fashion, fabric, homeware and jewellery from brocantes here and in Europe you’ll be overwhelmed by the choice and quality on offer.

The stallholders come from all over the UK and are chosen carefully to represent the very best in vintage and handmade so it’s a fantastic opportunity to purchase truly beautiful, unique items for Christmas or just for yourself!

Doors open at 9.30am on Saturday 26th November so make sure the date is firmly in the diary.

• thevintagebazaar.blogspot.com THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

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| local news

Keep on Running

Avon Valley Runners is one of the most popular sports clubs in the region, and one of their biggest events of the year, the AVR Wiltshire Half Marathon, takes place on Sunday 27 November. where you’ll find a race village with parking, secure areas for your kit and a tent selling teas, coffees and delicious homemade cakes. It is a friendly, well organised race which still has spaces available if you would like to take up the challenge – go to www.entrycentral.com/avrhalf to enter.

• avonvalleyrunners.org.uk

A

AVR organises a number of road and cross country events throughout the year

von Valley Runners (AVR) is a running club based in West Wiltshire with over 600 members. They cater for runners of all abilities, competing in road and cross country running as well as multi-sport events like triathlon.

They organise two hugely popular beginner courses each year, one in spring and one in the autumn, and also have an ever growing junior section - JAVR.

and Sundays. All sessions start at 7pm apart from the Sunday session which is at 9.30am.

The club organises several road and off-road races each year and Sunday 27 November sees the fifth running of the AVR Wiltshire Half Marathon.

The 13.1 mile (21.09km) course starts at Station Yard in Edington and makes its way out of the village through the beautiful, undulating, West Wiltshire countryside, taking in If you would like to have a go at Steeple Ashton, Great Hinton, Cold running with some slightly mad Harbour and the hamlet of Dunge but thoroughly lovely people then before returning to Edington. It is you can try it out for free! Your first a challenging route combining flat three visits are completely free, and sections with a few decent hills to after that a small yearly subscription keep you on your toes. There are of £20 is payable. As a fully paid up three drinks’ stations and, if you are member you can head along and very lucky, the possibility of jelly take part in as many club nights as babies too! It is a single loop course, you like, with runs from Trowbridge with around 40 volunteer marshals Rugby Club on Mondays, Tuesdays stationed at strategic points all the and Wednesdays and from Pound way round, and the race finishes Lane, Bradford on Avon on Thursdays where it begins, at Station Yard,

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Mike Towler

Jackie Rockliffe

WWM033

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BOX OFFICE: 01373

455420

MARKET YARD, FROME, SOMERSET BA11 1BE

www.cheeseandgrain.com

STEVE BACKSHALL’S WILD WORLD £19.50 / £15.50 CONCS THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY £5 MULTI STORY £10 WISHBONE ASH £19 NEW MODEL ARMY £21.50 ADV KING KING £22 ADV THE SONS OF PITCHES £22.50 LIMEHOUSE LIZZY £17.50 ADV FROME CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL £2 DODGY £15 ADV CURVED AIR £17.50 ADV CSF WRESTLING: SHOWDOWN £10 THE UNRAVELLING WILBURYS £15 ADV SHAKATAK £18.50 ADV GLENN TILBROOK £20 THE ALL-NIGHTERS CHRISTMAS PARTY £7 ADV SILENT DISCO £8ADV THINK FLOYD £17 GRATEFUL DEAD -LIVE DEAD ‘69 £19.50 ADV TREXTASY £16 IN CONVERSATION WITH

Steve Backshall

Limehouse Lizzy

Glenn Tilbrook

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ENIZAGAMSTLIW TSEWEHT

THE THREE

HORSESHOES

From leather jackets to suits, work boots to shiny shoes and mohicans to combovers, you’ll get a warm friendly welcome at The Three Horseshoes.

THE ANGEL INN UPTON SCUDAMORE

N O W TA K I N G CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS A RUSTIC COUNTRY INN OFFERING CLASSIC DISHES ALONGSIDE THE BEST MODERN BRITISH COOKING.

Live Music with Friday & Saturday night bands, and Sunday afternoon acoustic sessions.

Good selection of Real Ales available too Beer Garden | Pub Games | Real Log Fires | Parking Next to Bradford on Avon Train Station Frome Road, Bradford On Avon, Wiltshire BA15 1LA

Tel 01225 865876 | Find us on Facebook

BOOK YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY NOW!

Upton Scudamore, Warminster BA12 0AG 01985 213225 • angelinnupton@gmail.com • www.theangelinn.co.uk

A T R U LY H E AV E N LY E X P E R I E N C E

V.L.P.

Ristorante, Pizzeria & Takeaway

Authentic Homemade Italian Food to Eat In or Take Away 01249 713444 | 55A High Street, Corsham SN13 0EZ | Find us on Facebook: vlpcorsham

Paxcroft Farm Shop Home of Wiltshire’s Finest Eggs

Free Range Eggs straight from the farm at half the price you pay at the supermarket

Wholesale prices available for customers buying more than 15 dozen eggs a week Open Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 1pm Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton, Trowbridge BA14 6JB • www.paxcroft.co.uk • 01225 753060

food & drink |

Festive Feasts Eat and drink better than ever this Christmastime with help from these local delis, farm shops and producers...

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

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| food & drink

ALLINGTON FARM SHOP Allington Bar Farm, Chippenham

At Christmas Allington Farm Shop is packed full of delicious treats, premium Christmas trees and gift ideas including a fabulous range of hampers ready to be filled to the brim with the goodies of your choice. There is an extensive range of locally produced goods on sale (any of which can be included) from local cheese, chutneys and biscuits, fine wines, local ales and ciders, preserves, cakes and chocolates to an entire Christmas dinner! Meat orders are now being taken in the in-house butchery; home reared turkeys are naturally matured on the farm, just behind the farm shop, in large open fronted barns on deep straw bedding. Turkeys are dry plucked, hand finished and then hung for at least 7 days in cold rooms; a process that preserves

"At Christmas Allington Farm Shop is packed full of delicious Christmas goodies, premium Christmas trees and unusual gift ideas" the natural texture and enhances the superior flavour of the bird. As well as home reared turkeys, the butchery specialises in local free range cockerels, chickens, geese,

Select your favourite items for a hamper at Allington Farm Shop

ducks and home cooked hams, all cuts of pork, beef and lamb as well as local seasonal game, dry cured bacon and gammon joints and homemade sausages and faggots.

For a preview be sure to head over for their Festive Tasting Day on Saturday 12 November, when you can meet some of their suppliers and taste their delicious products!

cheese board at Christmas or for gift hampers for that someone special.

Book early to avoid disappointment!

The shop is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

01225 920240 | cheese-shop.co.uk

CJ ROBBINS

76 Market Place, Warminster

CJ Robbins is a Warminster institution; having occupied its premises in the Market Place for three generations it is now owned THE CHEESE SHOP and run by Chris Robbins. Business 5 Market St, Bradford on Avon is thriving largely thanks to the The Cheese Shop, just up Market simple principle of offering a high Street hill in Bradford on Avon, is quality product at a reasonable a retailer of fine cheese and quality delicatessen produce including local price. They source many of their wares from local established micro ham, pâtÊs, olives, jams, chutneys, food wholesalers, including farmers, biscuits, wine, luxury chocolates, cheese makers and egg producers, gifts, hampers and much more!

Perfect treats whatever the occasion, all of whom value the small business and operate exacting welfare codes, they are also taking pre-orders for the festive season from 1 November producing free range food with until 10 December for your perfect complete traceability. Right now they are taking orders for locally reared Woolley Park Farm bronze Order your Christmas treats at The Cheese Shop now turkeys and geese as well as all your usual Christmas favourites, including superb beef, ducks and cockerels, local pork and lamb as well as Sandridge Farm dry cured bacon and products.

01249 658112 | allingtonfarmshop.co.uk

01985 213052 | cjrobbins.co.uk

THE DELI AT CORSHAM 18 High Street, Corsham

Sitting on the High Street, The Deli is your one stop shop for some of the finest foods in the region.

It is a licensed delicatessen and

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The Cheese Shop 5 Market Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LH

Retailer of fine cheese, quality delicatessen produce, gifts & hampers

We are now taking orders for our locally reared Bronze Turkeys and Geese as well as all your Christmas favourites.

Taking pre-Christmas orders from 1 Nov-10 Dec

All our staff are qualified to offer an efficient, reliable and personal service, using traditional methods of butchery.

t: 01225 920240 e: info@cheese-shop.co.uk

tel: 01985 213052 | www.cjrobbins.co.uk 76 Market Place, Warminster BA12 9AW

www.cheese-shop.co.uk

Award Winning, Family Run Farm Shop Established for over 30 years Selling Quality Local Produce Open Daily 9am – 6pm (10am – 5pm on Sundays) HOME & LOCALLY REARED FRESH MEAT, POULTRY & GAME HOMEMADE SAUSAGES, BURGERS & FAGGOTS CHRISTMAS MEAT ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN

LOCAL CHEESES & HOME COOKED MEATS LOCALLY GROWN VEG, FRUIT & SALADS HOMEMADE CAKES & PIES LOCALLY MADE CHOCOLATES & FUDGE FINE WINES, LOCAL ALES & CIDERS PRESERVES & CHUTNEYS GIFT HAMPERS ON SALE 26TH NOVEMBER

PREMIUM CHRISTMAS TREES allingtonfarmshop.co.uk

TEL 01249 658112

Join us for our

Christmas Tasting Day

on Saturday 12th November, 10.30am-2.30pm Meet our suppliers & sample their delicious produce!

Allington Bar Farm, Chippenham SN14 6LJ

| food & drink CJ Robbins offer high quality products at reasonable prices

cheesemonger offering a superb selection of artisan cheeses, as well as some continental and local cold meats. As you would expect there are also many other delicatessen favourites – including delicious freshly baked pastries and quiches, a selection of olives and some award winning chutneys, pickles and jams. For those with more of a sweet tooth, take a look at The Deli’s tasty cakes, biscuits and quality chocolates. You can also take home some aromatic freshly ground coffee and impressive wines. Why not request a delicious hamper, made to order? They create a unique gift for Christmas or any other special occasion. Whilst you’re there, you could also stop for a coffee or pick up a delicious filled baguette or sandwich; the perfect way to sample what The Deli has to offer.

01249 716091 | thedeliatcorsham.co.uk

FAIRFIELD FARM COLLEGE SHOP, CAFE AND POST OFFICE

The instore butchery offers locally sourced free range pork, lamb and beef as well free range poultry and game in season – orders are Coming up on Friday 9 December is now being taken for locally reared turkeys, grass fed geese and all your the shop’s Christmas Fair. Running from 6-8pm, this special fundraising other Christmas favourites. event will feature craft stalls, a raffle and tombola, bric a brac, and more, Throughout December the award winning café will be offering and the shop and cafe will be open seasonal specials to help you get too. It should be a great fun way to into the festive spirit. And they do a bit of Christmas shopping.

01373 866064 | Find them on Facebook are now taking bookings for their special Christmas evening menu “Coming up on Friday on Friday 16 December prepared 9 December is the shop’s by their fantastic chefs - places are Christmas Fair. Running limited so book early! and gifts. The Post Office is open seven days a week offering a range of postal and banking services.

01225 720006 | farleighroadfarmshop.co.uk from 6-8pm, this special fundraising event will HARTLEY & NESTON feature craft stalls, a raffle FARM SHOPS and tombola, bric a brac, Winsley, Bradford on Avon and more” Fairfield Farm College Shop Bath Rd, Atworth, Melksham

FARLEIGH ROAD FARM SHOP Norton St Philip, Bath

Farleigh Road Farm Shop and Café, based 6 miles south of Bath on the A36, offers a fantastic selection of local produce and gourmet treats as well as a large range of awardwinning ready meals, quiches, pies, pasties, soups, salads, cakes and desserts all made by their own inhouse chefs.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and both Hartley and Neston Farm Shops are ready for the Christmas rush. Make sure to get your Christmas order forms in by 14 December and put on a Christmas feast to remember, treating your family and friends to the best quality food. Whether it’s a turkey, goose or their own wonderful roast beef, they want to help you spoil your loved ones. You can also find some fabulous unique

43 High St, Dilton Marsh

Fairfield Farm College is an independent specialist college for young people with learning disabilities, offering flexible residential and day provision for young people aged 16 to 25 years.

The cafe offers a spacious, familyfriendly area, serving coffee, teas, cold drinks, cakes and light lunches, play area and animal walk. The farm shop stocks every day groceries at competitive prices, fruit and vegetables, plants, compost, cards

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Neston have all you need to put on a feast to remember

Fairfield Farm College Post Office, Shop & CafĂŠ Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 09:00-16:00 Sat 09:30-16:00 Sun 10:00-15:00

POST OFFICE NOW OPEN! Farm Shop selling quality everyday groceries at competitive prices as well as gifts, cards, vouchers, home & locally grown plants CafĂŠ offering a good selection of light lunches and snacks, cakes, teas, coffees & soft drinks

CHRISTMAS FAIR

Friday 9th December, 6-8pm Featuring craft stalls, raffle, tombola, bric a brac, refreshment, shop and cafe open.

Telephone: 01373 823028 / Email: info@ffc.ac.uk Fairfield Farm Trust Registered Office: Fairfield Farm, Dilton Marsh, Westbury, Wilts BA13 4DL. Registered in England: No. 1318397. Registered as a charity. Registered No, 273924

A charity for the advancement of education, care and employment of young people with learning disabilities

The Deli at Corsham Licensed Delicatessen & Cheesemonger

Bronwen & her team welcome you to visit and explore the impressive selection of delicatessen favourites including award-winning chutneys, pickles & jams.

Delicious bespoke hampers available Why not stay for a coffee or pick up a delicious filled baguette or sandwich whilst you are here?

18 High Street, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 0ES Tel: 01249 716091 | www.thedeliatcorsham.co.uk

| food & drink gifts in both farm shops including made to order Christmas hampers.

Scribble Saturday 26 November in your diary for the Christmas Market at Hartley Farm. You can find all sorts of gifts from all their favourite producers, as well as enjoying face painting, mulled wine and mince pies! They are also now taking Christmas party bookings, so if you are interested in holding a Christmas party of any sort at Hartley, just get in touch! Their menu offers two courses for £16.50, three for £22.50.

01225 864948 | hartley-farm.co.uk 01225 700881 | nestonfarmshop.co.uk

LOWDEN GARDEN CENTRE

Bath Road, Shaw, Melksham

Food is at its best when it is in season, and throughout the year, the farm shop is bursting at the seams with fabulous local fresh fruit and vegetables. Lowden work in partnership with nearby fruit and vegetable farms, and sell produce that is fresh and full of flavour. The farm shop centres around its fantastic butchery, with all meat locally sourced, with the focus on quality rather than quantity! They are taking orders for all manner of festive meats now so call to find out more or pop in.

You will find everything you need for your larder, from homemade jams and Wiltshire honey to wholesome pickles and chutneys.

There is a great selection of milk, cheese, and yogurt from Somerset Dairies, and fresh bread arrives daily from the Hobbs House Bakery.

There is also a fabulous range of homemade goods, ranging from delicious cakes to quiches and

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sausage rolls. The Brew Store is a new addition and stocks a wide range of craft beers and cider, all brewed within 10 miles of the shop.

As well as the farm shop, inside the garden centre you’ll find a huge array of gifts as well as trees and wreaths. They are also welcoming in the festive season with a Christmas market on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 November.

year. They also have their own farm shop. Small, but perfectly formed, it is the ideal place to pick up your own supply of free range eggs – at half the price you’ll pay in the supermarket – as well as honey, homemade preserves and condiments, sauces from Wiltshire Chilli Farm, award-winning oils, snacks, soft drinks, sacks of locally grown potatoes and more besides.

01225 702345 | lowdengardencentre.com

01225 753060 | paxcroft.co.uk

PAXCROFT FARM SHOP Hilperton, Trowbridge

Edward Oatley moved his already successful farm to Paxcroft back in 1947, starting a pedigree Friesian dairy herd as well as producing over 500,000 chicks every year.

In the 1960s The Oatley Family at Paxcroft Farm changed to commercial egg production and cereal farming. Since then, over 400 million eggs have been produced at Paxcroft Farm under the best possible conditions, without health or environmental problems. Even though the farm has expanded to incorporate offices and workshops, today’s laying stock continues to produce over 15 million eggs a Lowden’s selection of veg is fresh,and full of flavour

“Small, but perfectly formed, Paxcroft Farm Shop is the ideal place to pick up your own supply of free range eggs – at half the price you’ll pay in the supermarket” PLANK’S FARM SHOP Lydeway, Devizes

Plank’s Farm Shop has gained a reputation for offering fabulous home cooked food and at Christmas time they have a fantastic range of festive food available. From free range turkeys and grass fed geese to homemade Christmas cakes, puddings and mince pies they have everything you need for the perfect Christmas dinner and while you are there you can pick up some great gifts for the gourmet in your

| food & drink life. You can choose from a wide range of baskets and gift boxes and select your own goodies from the shop and have the staff transform them into an attractive hamper while you wait. They will also have a wide selection of Christmas trees to choose from, as usual, from Friday 2 December.

Riverford can supply all your Christmas favourites

01380 848691 | planksfarmshop.co.uk

“Plank’s Farm Shop has gained a reputation for offering fabulous home cooked food” delicious. Alternatively they have smaller options to feed 2-3 and Online vegetarian boxes too. For full details Founded in 1986 by farmer Guy head to their website where you’ll Watson, veg box company Riverford also find other Christmas favourites makes cooking beautiful food easy like hummus, olives, smoked with its range of flavourful, ethically salmon and cooked meats. produced organic meat and veg 01962 763927 | riverford.co.uk boxes. This year, they can make your Christmas food shopping WHITEHALL FARM SHOP stress free with their seasonal Within Whitehall Garden Centre, dinner boxes. Their Christmas Lacock, nr Chippenham dinner box with turkey and Regular visitors to Whitehall Garden trimmings feeds 6 to 8 people and Centre will no doubt already be contains everything you need for a aware of its popular farm shop, where fantastic Christmas dinner in a box. you can find organic, free range and It includes a large original vegbox gluten free products. Their meats packed with Christmassy veg, 1kg are sourced from West Country clementines, 12 of their legendary suppliers, with their lamb bred and mince pies, a 450g fruity Christmas raised on Whitehall’s own farm, beef pudding, zesty cranberry sauce, from Wiltshire College, just a mile award-winning stilton and buttery down the road, pork from Padfield oatcakes not forgetting a 6.5kg Porkies in Seend and chicken from free range turkey and 16 pigs-inPocock’s Farm blankets. in Melksham.

All organic Their inhouse and all butcher will be utterly

RIVERFORD

more than happy to talk

to you about different cuts of meat and give advice on how to get the best out of them.

Elsewhere in the shop you will also be able to find a large selection of quality wines, beers and spirits alongside a wide range of fresh fruit, vegetables, breads and ready meals.

01249 730204 | whitehallgardencentre.co.uk

WILTSHIRE LIQUEUR COMPANY Online

The Wiltshire Liqueur Company has been providing their original liqueurs to some of the smartest country estates, stylish picnics and fun filled family gatherings since 1993. There are four delicious liqueurs to choose from; Sloe Gin, Damson Vodka, Wild Strawberry and Blood Orange, and all are available to buy online with a bespoke labelling service so that your name or personal message can be added with no set up fees, additional print fee or minimum order. As such they make fantastic Christmas gifts. With a collection of wonderful recipes on their website to inspire experimentation, no doubt you’ll be heading back for a top up before long!

01264 731467 | wiltshireliqueur.com

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Great Gift Ideas

Lighting Entertainment

Real Ice Rink & Santa’s Grotto Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 2LZ Tel: 01249 730204 Norton Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 0BT Tel: 01275 832296

| food news

Christmas cooking at Demuths

D

emuths’ Christmas cookery classes are perfect for anyone who wants to make special vegetarian and vegan dishes and crowdpleasing creations for celebrating with friends and family. Each Christmas the team creates a completely new menu, with many students choosing to come back year after year.

You will learn how to cook a selection of savoury nibbles, appetizers, main dishes and puddings, which you can mix and match to cover a variety of meals over the festive season. They will help you plan ahead with freezing guides and handy tips on saving time and reducing the inevitable stresses that come with hosting at Christmastime!

The day will involve lots of hands on cooking as well as demonstrations and knife skills.

You will finish the day with a pre-Christmas meal that you have made during the day accompanied with organic wines or juices. The day will end at 4.30pm, leaving you plenty of time to experience the delights of the famous Bath Christmas Market.

At the end of the day you will also be given a pack of recipes to take home so you can create the perfect stressfree Christmas at home. There are lots of Christmas day and evening courses in November and December, whilst their gift vouchers also make great presents for foodie friends.

• demuths.co.uk

Festive Dining at Whatley Manor

T

he Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa team is celebrating following the announcement that Executive Chef Martin Burge has retained his second Michelin Star for the

ninth consecutive year. Martin oversees both The Dining Room, which has 40 covers and is open for dinner Wednesday – Sunday, and Le Mazot Brasserie, which has 70 covers and is open daily for lunch

and dinner. A three-course lunch in the brasserie costs from £35 excluding wine.

Bookings are currently being taken for Christmas parties, as well as hotel stays over the festive season.

Festive Dining and Christmas Parties in Le Mazot cost £32 per person for three-courses. For bookings of less than nine people contact Reservations on 01666 822 888 or email reservations@ whatleymanor.com. The usual set lunch menu will not be served from 1 December and will be available from 3 January 2017.

During December two-courses many be chosen from the a la carte menu for £26 per person.

• whatleymanor.com

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Demuths Cookery School Course Vouchers A deliciously different Christmas gift idea.

Visit our website for more details. demuths.co.uk us@demuths.co.uk 01225 427 938 6 Terrace Walk, BA1 1LN

| food & drink

The Grand Old Duke The Duke at Bratton is a traditional old country pub that has just been given a new lease of life following a stunning refurbishment.

T

he Duke at Bratton is a traditional country pub that dates back to the 18th century. Formerly three cottages, with outside tea rooms, it was known as The Duke William and was owned by the church before being sold on in 1888. One of The Duke’s many features is a pair of whale jaw bones.

They once graced the tea rooms and were a well known local landmark, having been brought back to the village by a ship’s captain called Edward Smallcombe. After being lost for many years, the bones were discovered and re-erected in 1995.

The Duke, these days a Moles Brewery pub, is now run by SueAlice Grant and her team. Sue-Alice says, “The Duke has been at the heart of the community for many years and we hope it will continue to be so for many more to come.

The pub had begun to look a little tired so we took the decision to give it a refresh. We didn’t want to lose the traditional feel or make it into a gastro pub, we wanted to keep that warm feel of a country pub that complements our offering of good home cooked pub food and real ales.”

The Duke has a new chef on board, and he has created a brand new menu comprised of traditional pub classics like prawn cocktail and Wiltshire ham, egg & chips and a weekly specials board that makes the most of seasonal ingredients. One of the most popular new options is ‘The Duke’ Beef Burger (£11.95), which comes with cheese and bacon and is served with chips and a side salad.

anyone has any pictures they would be happy for us to borrow and copy we’d be most appreciative.”

In the meantime The Duke is gearing up for a busy festive season. “With our beautiful new look restaurant we are really excited about Christmas this year.” Says Sue-Alice. “Our chef has constructed a stunning menu including the likes of local wild game terrine, roast turkey with all the trimmings and a scrumptious Bailey’s crème brûlée with homemade shortbread. Give us a call on 01380 830242 to find out more or to book your party.”

Sue-Alice is also keen for The Duke to rediscover its history. “We are hoping to obtain some original photos of the pub and village from years gone by to display in the pub. It has such an interesting history I’m sure it would be of interest to visitors and locals alike. If • dukebratton.cascadepubs.co.uk

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NEW LOOK, NEW MENU

Come and rediscover The Duke, it’s just been refurbished!

Lunch & Dinner Menu Sunday Roasts Specials Board

Children’s Menu *Gluten Free* Bar Snacks

Real Ales Excellent Ciders Great Wines

• Large beer garden complete with whale bones!

• Large Car Park • Family Friendly • Free WiFi available • Live Sport on TV

OPENING TIMES BAR Monday to Thursday 12noon to 3pm & 6pm to 11pm Friday to Sunday 12noon - Open All Day

KITCHEN Monday to Saturday 12noon to 3pm & 6pm to 9pm Sunday 12noon to 4pm

BOOK A TABLE TODAY ON 01380 830242 e dukebratton@cascadepubs.co.uk w dukebratton.cascadepubs.co.uk

Melbourne Street, Bratton, Wiltshire BA13 4RW

| food & drink

eat the

seasons Keeping you in the know as to what is coming into season each month is NEIL MORTIMER from Lovejoys Wholesale...

N

ovember is a month when we as a wholesaler need to get organised for December. This is obviously the busiest month for us with Christmas looming! Hopefully the weather will stay kind through to the New Year.

up in September/October when the weather cools down. Like celery it needs a lot of moisture all through the growing season.

Next month will be all about Brussels sprouts and parsnips. For those of you eagle eyed readers out

“The winter veg crops, especially our leeks, savoy, kale, cavolo nero and red cabbage, have started off exceptionally well” The winter veg crops, especially our leeks, savoy, kale, cavolo nero and red cabbage, have started off exceptionally well, and we are still going strong with our delicious squashes too. Bunch baby carrots should last up to mid December and we also have romanesque caluiflower and celeriac from Bromham, which seems to get more popular every year. Celeriac originated in the mediterranean and is also called turniprooted celery or knob celery!

If you would like to try growing it just treat it like normal celery. Don’t be tempted to harvest it too early as it bulks

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there - send us a photo of one of our vans out on its deliveries we have 14 on the road now!

Double points if you can email me a photo of one of our new vans too -

Lovejoys Larder - which is supplying provisions to professional kitchens.

Send your emails to tracy@lovejoyslarder.com or neil@lovejoyswholesale.com, there may be a fresh sprout stalk in it for you if you do! Remember you can still pop over any veg questions you might have too. @lovejoysuk Find out more at lovejoyswholesale.com

recipes |

Perfect

Puddings Indulge your sweet tooth with these delicious recipes from Waitrose.

Sticky Pear & Date Puddings

�

Ingredients 150g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 150g light brown muscovado sugar 4 pitted Medjool dates, roughly chopped 4 Conference pears, peeled, cored & diced 2 medium eggs 100g self-raising flour 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tbsp demerara sugar Custard or vanilla ice cream to serve

Method Preheat the oven to 190ºC. Lightly butter 6 x 250ml ramekins or heatproof dishes. Mix together 50g of the butter and 50g of the muscovado sugar with the dates and pears, and divide between the dishes.

Whisk together the remaining 100g butter and 100g muscovado sugar, eggs, flour and cinnamon to make a thick batter. Spoon

Serves 6

over the pears and sprinkle with demerara sugar. Transfer the dishes to a baking tray and bake for 30–35 minutes, until the topping is risen and set and the pears are juicy beneath. Serve with custard or ice cream.

Cook’s tip To make one large pudding, use a 1.5-litre ovenproof dish and bake for 45–50 minutes until the topping is set.

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

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| recipes 340g blackberries 100ml Belvoir Blueberry & Blackcurrant Cordial 100g self-raising flour 100g salted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes 50g light brown muscovado sugar 40g whole almonds, roughly chopped Custard or vanilla ice cream, to serve Method Preheat the oven to 190ÂşC. Place the apples, blackberries and cordial in a large saucepan. Heat gently and simmer for 5 minutes. Spoon into a 2-litre ovenproof dish.

Rub together the flour and butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs, then stir in the sugar and almonds. Add 2 tbsp cold water and bring together to make a soft dough.

Serves 8 Ingredients 150g ginger nut biscuits, smashed into pieces 75ml rum or brandy 100g unsalted butter 125g golden caster sugar 1 medium egg 200ml whole milk 200g 70% dark chocolate, broken into pieces Method Divide most of the crushed ginger nuts between 8 small glasses and drizzle over the rum or brandy.

Set aside. Meanwhile, in a large heatproof bowl, whisk together

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the butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Whisk in the egg.

Place the milk in a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate then whisk until it has melted and the mixture is smooth. Whisk into the sugar mixture.

Spoon the mixture into the glasses, sprinkle over the reserved biscuit crumbs and leave to cool. Chill for at least 8 hours or ideally overnight.

Apple & Blackberry Cobbler Serves 4

Ingredients 4 British apples, peeled, cored and thickly sliced

ďż˝

Chocolate & Gingersnap Pots

Shape the dough into 8 rough balls and place around the edge of the baking dish. Place the dish on a baking sheet then bake for 25–30 minutes until the dough balls are cooked through and the filling is piping hot. Serve warm with custard or ice cream.

EAT Enjoy breakfast lunch and dinners, craft beers, wines & much more at The Lock Inn CafĂŠ beside the Kennet & Avon Canal. www.thelockinn.co.uk 01225 868068

PEDAL OR PADDLE TT Cycles is a premier bike shop offering sales and servicing whilst Towpath Trail offers bike and canoe hire. www.ttcycles.co.uk 01225 867187

SLEEP Widbrook Barns offers self contained, comfortable B&B barns in private grounds plus Gypsy Caravan stays. www.widbrookbarns.co.uk 01225 865049

THE

Shaw Country

CHAPMANSLADE

HOTEL & RESTAURANT

CHRISTMAS PARTY MENU 2 COURSES £18.95 / 3 COURSES £22.95

STARTERS Bacon, leek and cheddar mini cheese pie served with mixed leaves and cherry tomato garnish

Our restaurant enjoys a high reputation for its food, atmosphere and attentive staff. We can accommodate parties up to 80 people this Christmas and New Year.

Chicken, tarragon and sundried tomato terrine served with homemade chutney and pickled beetroot

Christmas Menu Available 1-29 December Lunch £22 Dinner £27 (Mon - Thurs)

Smoked salmon and crab parcel served with dressed leaves garnish and balsamic reduction

ASK ABOUT OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHTS!

MAINS

Bath Road, Shaw, Nr Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 8EF www.shawcountryhotel.com // 01225 702836

French onion soup served with crusty bread and butter

All mains served with roast potatoes, roasted root vegetables & greens

Winner Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014

Traditional roast turkey served with chestnut and apricot stuffing, and all the trimmings Roasted cod loin, roasted cherry tomatoes and prawn and lobster cream Fillet of beef wellington, mushroom duxelles, red wine reduction (£7 supplement) Forest mushroom, lentil and cheddar pithivier and truffle scented jus

THE

Farmhouse INN

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

DESSERTS Chocolate and whiskey mousse served with orange compote and ginger tuile biscuit Date and pecan tart served with pistachio ice cream Christmas pudding served with brandy ice cream Cheese plate – stilton, brie and Truckle cheddar, biscuits and chutney

The Christmas party menu is available from November 1st until December 23rd with booking & pre-order only

01373 832211 threehorseshoes.uk.com

Your wedding day should be the best day of your life, filled with happiness, for you, your family and friends.

Our Wedding co-ordinator, Janet Harris, will be delighted to work with you to ensure your wedding reception is truly memorable.

Frome Road, Southwick, Nr Trowbridge BA14 9QD t 01225 764366 e the.farmhouse@btconnect.com www.farmhousesouthwick.co.uk

The Longs Arms is a charming pub serving fantastic ales for the discerning drinker and tasty food for the hungry traveller.

It’s a true English inn, so why not take a seat by the open fire and enjoy the tranquility of beautiful Steeple Ashton.

High Street, Steeple Ashton, Trowbridge BA14 6EU 01380 870245 | www.longsarms.co.uk

Situated on the picturesque Kennet & Avon Canal The Barge Inn offers excellent food, great Wadworth beers, an extensive wine list and much more. It really is a pub for all seasons.

LIVE MUSIC WITH CHRIS JAGGER 25th November, 7.30pm

Enjoy a great night of music, food and beer.

No tickets required just reserve a table!

BOOK NOW FOR XMAS

Christmas Party menu now available

Three Courses £20.95 Two Courses £16.95 Bar Open Mon - Sat 11.30am - 11pm Sun 11.30am - 10:30pm

Food Served Mon - Thurs 12pm - 2.30pm & 6pm - 9pm Fri - Sun 12pm - 5pm & 6pm - 9.30pm Sign up to our mailing list and get £5 off your food bill when you spend £20! Details on our website.

Tel 01380 828230 www.bargeinnseend.co.uk

Seend Cleeve, Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 6QB

A

PUB

THE

WESTBROOK CHRISTMAS PARTY MENU

2 courses £21.99 per person • 3 courses £25.99 per person £2 DISCOUNT FOR PARTIES BOOKED MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY

STARTERS

Christmas Spiced Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup (v) Oak Smoked Salmon Mousse with King Prawns Duck, Orange & Grand Marnier Parfait Smoked Haddock Somerset Brie Parcel (v)

MAINS

Traditional Free Range Roast Turkey 28 Day Aged Scotch Sirloin Steak (£2 Supplement) Sandridge Farm Pork Fillet Herb Crusted Stone Bass Fillet Pheasant Breast Spinach, Chestnut Mushroom & Sun Blush Tomato Puff Pastry Wellington (v) (all served with a selection of locally grown seasonal vegetables, roast and new potatoes)

DESSERTS

West Country Christmas Pudding Raspberry & Cointreau Cheesecake Chocolate & Cherry Brandy Torte Apple Crumble Festive Crème Brûlée Cheese & Biscuits (£2 supplement)

CALL FOR AVAILABILITY & TO BOOK! Bromham, Chippenham,Wiltshire SN15 2EE tel 01380 850418 www.westbrookbromham.co.uk

| food & drink

Cooking up a storm

Whether you are a novice in the kitchen, a keen amateur cook, or a would be professional chef Vaughan’s Cookery School can help you hone your skills.

T

hings are heating up in the kitchen at Vaughan’s Cookery School! The school is headed up by Peter Vaughan, award-winning chef and local celebrity, and backed by his team of well qualified staff. Sessions for the general public to enjoy learning more about cooking in a sociable environment are hugely popular and recently a series of guest lecturers have added even greater depth and interest to the courses available.

Guests include Juanita Hennessey, finalist in Masterchef 2016, Christine Wallace, a quarter finalist in 2013’s Great British Bake Off and Gianni Campanella, regional finalist in Britain’s Best Bakery.

The most popular sessions at the school are still Sharpen Up Your Knife Skills, Basic Bread Making, Speedy Meals for Busy People, Seafood Special and Cooking to Impress – but there are lots more on

the programme, and their Saturday cooking clubs for children (6-10 and 11-16) are a great way to get youngsters confident in the kitchen from an early age.

“If you are thinking of Christmas, a gift voucher is an ideal gift for friends or family”

Vaughan’s Cookery School is also in great demand in the corporate sector, with local companies enjoying the opportunity to set their staff team building culinary challenges. A culinary challenge is a great way to bring work colleagues together in a different environment As well as their general one and two for practical and fun sessions. day courses, this year the school There’s still time to make the office also became an approved teaching Christmas party something different centre for the Confederation of this year, cooking your own meal Tourism and Hospitality (CTH). This with a bit of festive fun thrown in to means that in January they start their the mix! first professional cookery course that will lead to a Level 2 internationally • vaughanskitchen.co.uk If you are thinking of Christmas, a gift voucher is an ideal gift for friends or family – you can book a spot on a specific course or leave them to choose the one that most interests them.

Vaughan’s Cookery School offer a huge variety of courses

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recognised qualification. It is a 90 hour course that is a popular choice with anyone who wants to give a professional touch to their cooking, either to gain employment, to run a food business or just for their own personal satisfaction. It is called Kitchen Essentials – a professional cookery course.

01225 865650 • 67 Woolley Street, Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 1AQ

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Christmas is

xmas events |

Coming

From Christmas Lights Switch Ons to markets, festivals and fayres, if you want the lowdown on everything that’s happening in our region over the coming weeks, you’ve come to the right place!

Bradford on Avon

Made in Bradford on Avon Christmas Market takes place on Saturday 12 November from 10am to 4pm at St Margaret’s Hall and is a great way to start the Christmas season. Browse an array of festive stalls offering unique local and handmade products. This special event has been created due to the popularity of the

permanent Made in Bradford on Avon Community Arts Centre, which is home to over 100 local artists and creators. Something for everyone and all ages. Cakes, coffee and raffles provided by a local charity for exhausted shoppers. The Christmas Lights Switch On takes place in Westbury Gardens on Friday 25 November at 6pm – with double Olympic silver medallist

Jazz Carlin all set for switch on duty.

There is also a Christmas market to look forward to at The George at Woolley on Saturday 19 November from 10am to 2pm, where there’ll be more than 20 stalls of fashion, local art, flowers, Christmas decorations, crafts and food. That, and you are already at the pub – what more could you want?!

• bradfordonavon.co.uk

Corsham

The Christmas lights go on in Corsham on Friday 2 December, with Father Christmas making a very special visit, along with his reindeer!

There’s also a Christmas market, entertainment, music, donkeys,

Bath Christmas Market

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| xmas events festive food, mulled wine and lots more. The family-friendly fun starts at 5.15pm, with the lights on at 6pm.

And the week before, on Saturday 26 November, from 10am-1pm, the High Street’s Wishing Tree will be open, taking wishes from good boys and girls of all ages to hang on the town’s Christmas tree. This pretty town has everything you need for a fun festive shopping trip, it’s easy to find, easy to park, it’s Christmas how it used to be!

• corsham.gov.uk

“The Christmas lights go on in Corsham on Friday 2 December, with Father Christmas making a very special visit, along with his reindeer!”

Frome

The Frome Christmas Extravaganza takes place on Friday 2 December.

In the town centre from 5pm there will be a lantern procession into the Market Place followed by carol singing around the Christmas tree accompanied by the Frome Town Youth Band. Also on Friday 2 is a market at the Cheese & Grain. With

free entry and open from 5-9pm, it will be packed to the rafters with sumptuous gifts and produce, music, mulled wine and much more.

There is also a Christmas Charity Fair at the Cheese & Grain on Saturday 19 November, 9.30am – 3pm) where you can shop ‘til you drop and support your favourite charities at the same time!

• discoverfrome.co.uk

Melksham

The annual Christmas Fayre is back on Saturday 3 December featuring all your favourite Christmas treats and gift ideas. The Assembly Hall and Market Place will be packed with stalls, food, activities and everything Christmas, with Santa Claus in his grotto. Make sure you don’t miss the renowned Melksham Christmas Lights Switch On at 5pm!

• melkshamtown.co.uk

Trowbridge

Christmas celebrations kick off in Trowbridge town centre on Saturday 26 November. Head over to find ideas for gifts, treats for all the family, ride on the land train, say hello to the naughty elves and listen to the musical entertainment on the stage. Santa is leaving his reindeer Melksham’s famous Christmas lights

in Market Street whilst he is busy in The Shires that day and Castle Place will be putting up a Wishing Tree, with funds going to BCUSG. Following the day’s festivities all the family can enjoy the fun of the Lights Switch On at 6pm followed by a Shoppers’ Carol Concert at St James Church.

• trowbridge.gov.uk

Warminster

Saturday 26 November marks the start of the official Christmas celebrations in Warminster with the fabulous annual Christmas Market at the Civic Centre running from 10am until 4.30pm, with a chance to visit Santa. The 33 stalls this year are packed with Christmas gift ideas.

Stay around after the market for the Christmas Lights Switch On, which this year is centred around St Lawrence Chapel. The High Street will be closed for festivities from 5pm until 7pm and an artistic lantern parade will assemble at the Civic Centre from 5.30pm and march off at 6pm. Three Horseshoes Walk is hosting lots of Christmas events on the same day, with children’s entertainment and late night shopping until 7.30pm. With free parking in the Central and Western Wiltshire Council car parks there’s no reason to celebrate Christmas anywhere else. Pick up a copy of the town’s Christmas brochure to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

• warminster-tc.gov.uk

Westbury

There’ll be magic, music and ferret racing(!) at this year’s Christmas Fayre and Christmas Lights Switch On, which takes place in the town centre on Saturday 3 December.

Leading up to the event Westbury Town Council has again produced its Christmas in Westbury booklet containing listings of all the local

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Street Fayre & Lights Switch On

Saturday 3rd December – Town Centre Street Fayre - 10am to 4pm Lights Switch On - 6.30pm • Balloon Magic • Jugglers • Live Music • Hog Roast • Fun Fair • Gluhwein • Santa’s Grotto & Elves • Magician • Market Stalls • Tropical Discovery • Ferret Racing • Hot Chestnuts • Face Painting • ‘The Spiced Satsumas’

xmas events | festive activities; including carols, coffee mornings, fetes and fayres, as well as essential information for the Street Fayre and Lights Switch On.

volunteers. The Craft Fair on 26 and 27 November (11am – 4.30pm) is a great opportunity to buy unusual gifts and decorations and gain inspiration for making your own.

This event offers a wonderful shopping experience away from the hustle and bustle of crowded city centres – and, what’s more, the parking is FREE. There’s a magical end to the Christmas season with the Holiday Homecoming on 18 December (1 – 4pm) featuring Father Christmas, carols from the choir and festive activities.

• americanmuseum.org

Christmas competitions feature strongly again this year with entries coming in for Mayor’s Christmas Card, Christmas poem, and the Christmas window. On the day there will be magic, dancing, face painting, a fun fair as well as plenty of food and Christmas gift stalls, and Santa’s Grotto. Running alongside the Street Fayre this year will also be the very popular Christmas Tree Festival in All Saints Church. The fun starts at 10am, and the Lights Switch Bath’s world famous Christmas On is at 6.30pm.

Market will this year be running • westburytowncouncil.gov.uk from Thursday 24 November Sunday 11 December. The market occupies a stunning location in the heart of the city, nestled between the Roman Baths and Bath The Christmas display at the Abbey. Soak up the festive sights, American Museum in Britain is a smells and sounds from over 170 real treat. This year’s display is a decorated wooden chalets as you celebration of traditional toys and wander through the picturesque games from American history which streets and squares. are being shown throughout the Period Rooms, and the exhibition With stalls offering local artwork, runs from 24 November – 18 handmade Christmas decorations,

Bath Christmas Market

Markets & Events American Museum

"A magnificent Christmas tree fills the main hall and is adorned with stocking-filler toys and decorations" American Museum

for friends and family.

Filling the streets with music and festive joy during the Bath Christmas market are various entertainers from carol singers to local dramatic societies. Children from local schools will be singing their favourite Christmas songs and Bath Abbey will be opening their doors for carols.

Weary shoppers can drop into The Lodge for comforting winter food and warming tipples from Bath Ales. The relaxing rustic décor make it the perfect place to take a well-earned rest and soak up the festive atmosphere.

• bathchristmasmarket.co.uk

Bath Guildhall Market The Bath Guildhall Market is located on the east side of the High Street and is one of the longest running shopping venues in Bath, serving the community for around 800 years and operating from its current venue in one form or another from at least the 16th century.

The market is home to 20 independent retailers and serves up a plethora of products and bespoke jewellery, homewares, services including a traditional festive food and drink, toys, sweetshop, secondhand books, accessories and even gifts for pets, you will be sure to find something to phone & PC repairs, handmade treat yourself or the perfect present leather goods, two cafes, natural

December. Numerous Teddy Bears (named after President Teddy Roosevelt) will be running amok amongst the decorations too.

A magnificent Christmas tree fills the main hall and is adorned with stocking-filler toys and decorations – many of which have been hand-made by our staff and

The wonderful tree at the American Museum

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| xmas events health products and a helluva lot more! Catering for virtually everything you need under one roof – it’s always service with a smile and the personal attention one always gets when dealing with family run businesses!

At Christmas things really step-up and the excitement and buzz of their annual Christmas Market is not to be missed. Extending out of the building next to the Market Café, large interlinked centrally heated marquees are erected in the car park at the rear housing an amazing array of fabulous seasonal gifts for everyone. There’s also a licensed bar serving locally brewed Abbey Ales beers, hot mulled wine and ‘live’ entertainment throughout the day. This year’s Christmas Market runs for 18 days from Thursday 24 November until Sunday 11 December – entrances on Orange Grove, Pulteney Bridge and High Street.

• bathguildhallmarket.co.uk

Box Christmas Market

Box Christmas Market Box Christmas Market is a hugely popular event run by Box Pre School and guaranteed to provide magical fun with stalls, children’s entertainment and a fabulous café serving freshly baked treats and hot mulled wine. The event takes place in Selwyn Hall, Box from 2-5pm on Saturday 3 December.

You are sure to find that special gift for family and friends and with

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over 30 fabulous local stalls, with gorgeous gifts from Box Candles, Neal’s Yard and Box Steam Brewery.

There is also a rumour that Santa will be joining in this delightful event and there’ll also be seasonal craft activities, cookie decorating and face painting. Children can enter the Christmas Market for free and adults will receive a complimentary glass of bubbly with their £2.50 entry ticket purchased at the door. All profits will go towards the charity run Box Pre-School Playgroup.

Hope Nature Centre

Hope Nature Centre, based at Southwick Country Park, is hosting a Christmas Market on Sunday 20 November from 11am to 4pm.

As well as stalls offering crafts, food and drink and plenty of gift ideas there’ll also be a tombola stall, Christmas raffle and much more.

Hope Nature Centre’s own choir will be performing and singing carols throughout the day and the tea rooms and animal park will all be open too. Entry and parking is free, and should you want to have your own stall there are a few spots remaining, with pitches just £20.

Email info@hopenaturecentre.org. uk for details.

• hopenaturecentre.org.uk

Lacock Abbey

Christmas at Lacock Abbey is a very inviting occasion; make yourself comfy by the roaring fire in the beautifully decorated abbey Great Hall and help yourself to a tasty bon-bon in front of the enormous Christmas tree, following a 200 year old tradition begun by the Talbot family in the 1800s.

abbey grounds and village on our fun family trail. Wander through the medieval cloister and vote for your favourite Christmas tree in Lacock’s annual Christmas tree festival. The trees are all decorated

"Christmas at Lacock Abbey is a very inviting occasion; make yourself comfy by the roaring fire in the Great Hall and help yourself to a tasty bon-bon in front of the enormous Christmas tree." by local schools, charities and community groups. Also, on 10 & 11 December, the National Trust pop-up Christmas shop in the Manger Barn is the perfect place to pick up some presents and decorations and to taste a sample of Frome-based Friary Vinters’ delicious alcoholic drinks.

• nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock

Lowden Garden Centre

This year Lowden, in Shaw, is welcoming in the season with a fabulous Christmas Market.

On Friday 18 (6pm to 8pm) and Saturday 19 November (10am to 4pm) they will be hosting a market in their marquee. It will be brimming with gifts, decorations, stocking fillers, homewares, craft, food and beer tastings from lots of lovely suppliers, wreath making and lots of ideas for Christmas.

On the Friday Evening there will be fizz, mince pies, Christmas songs and roasting chestnuts and on the Meet Mother and Father Christmas Saturday there will be a hog roast, in their cosy kitchen, listen to a roasting chestnuts, pop up café story and receive a gift (booking and Christmas songs. There will essential). Then, see how many of be a raffle in aid of Dorothy House their reindeer you can find in the Hospice, and the centre is honoured

| xmas events online or on the day. The Father Christmas Grotto Experience will also be available from Saturday 19 November to Saturday 24 December. Unsurprisingly it’s a hugely popular attraction and Father Christmas has limited time available so be sure to book your ticket ASAP (£12 per child and £2.50 per adult) to ensure you and Families have been flocking to your family are able to enjoy this Whitehall for years at Christmastime. magical experience.

It’s the perfect place to spend • whitehallgardencentre.co.uk some time browsing the colourful displays, but most of all it’s a great chance to take the family skating! to have The Duchess of Beaufort, Whitehall’s real ice rink is a must do patron of Dorothy House, to open New Years Eve is always such family activity and it is open from the event on the Friday evening. special time of year so why not Tuesday 1 November – Sunday 1 • lowdengardencentre.com celebrate in style at The White Horse January. Adults and children can Country Park for their White Ice Ball. skate from as little as £5.99 – book The evening starts from 7pm with your time slot today! The Magic The sights and sounds of Christmas a champagne reception followed of Christmas Begins at Whitehall will soon fill the STEAM Museum in properly on Saturday 12 November, by a indulgent 5 course meal, the Swindon when it is transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Christmas at when between 10.30am-4pm Father entertainment then gets underway STEAM is an annual event and will this Christmas will be popping by to say with the resident disco spinning the tracks, a fun casino and a fun photo year take place on 3 and 4 December. hello with his elves and sleigh. The booth to capture those laughable nativity animals will be there too For the cheerfully discounted price moments. The evening draws to a so it’s a great fun day out for all the of £1 for children and £3 for adults family. Enjoy a selection of children’s close after a spectacular fireworks visitors get to browse over 50 display at midnight, with carriages activities, including Christmas card artisan market stalls among the full at 1.30am. Tickets are selling fast so making, festive face painting, and atmospherics of steam trains, choir why wait to book call the team on create your own reindeer food. music and Christmas lights.

01373 822323.

All children’s activities will be £1 • whitehorsecountrypark.co.uk per ticket and can be purchased Expect to see one of the top Christmas markets in the region, The choir at STEAM with quality gift and craft items for sale - from silver jewellery and photographic prints, to wooden toys and games plus luxury confectionery.

Lowden’s hosting a Christmas market

Christmas at STEAM is a fun day out for all ages as it includes full access to the main exhibition area with its famous GWR locomotives No. 6000 King George V, No. 3717 City of Truro and No. 4073 Caerphilly Castle among many other magnificent engines.

• steam-museum.org.uk

Christmas at Whitehall

White Horse Country Park NYE Ball

Christmas at STEAM

Santa’s Storytime takes place in the Museum’s Hawksworth Hall. Here, young children get to enjoy the traditional sights of Christmas as they engage with Christmas stories and sing-a-longs. There is an extra charge for these sessions that last around 20 minutes and you need to pay and book ahead at the front desk). The sessions run every half an hour and include a wrapped gift.

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| xmas shopping

Christmas Under One Roof Set in the heart of the Wylye Valley, East Farm Christmas in Codford is a truly enchanting Christmas shop, and it’s open every day until 23 December.

N

ow in its seventh year, the East Farm Christmas shop captures the very essence of Christmas - from an encounter with real live nativity animals to a meeting with Father Christmas himself, and the opportunity to purchase the most beautiful Christmas decorations sourced from across the globe.

Every year Jennifer Stratton and her team transform an empty barn into a winter wonderland, complete with grotto, living nativity and a vintage café. Regular customers see it as an essential part of the festive season, travelling from as far afield as Wales, Grimsby, Liverpool and the Channel Islands just to find the perfect bauble!

For children, one of the most memorable and magical moments of the year is meeting with Father Christmas, his arrival by tractor to the

farm is always eagerly awaited. Each child who books to meet him has a lovely chat with the man himself, they then receive their own gift and the jolly fellow reads a seasonal story from his simply spectacular grotto! See the website for the dates of his visits.

“Every year Jennifer Stratton and her team transform an empty barn into a winter wonderland, complete with grotto, living nativity and a vintage café.”

There is always something new and exciting at East Farm Christmas. This year the selection includes beautifully crafted collectable German music boxes, eye catching table centre pieces and a selection of hilarious hats, footwear and eyewear!

Alongside the shop is the charming café, which offers steaming mugs of hot chocolate, delicious homemade cakes, bowls of piping hot soup and the chance for a get together with friends and family.

At East Farm Christmas, customers can enjoy time away from the stress of overcrowded shops and streets with the added bonus of lots of free parking and friendly helpful staff all willing to help you find the perfect decorations and gifts for one and all.

Every year, generations of families, visit the shop, where they find everything from real trees to faux trees, baubles, candles, fun gifts, shimmering lights, beautiful garlands and wreaths, snow globes and traditional music boxes.

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The list is practically endless but at East Farm Christmas one thing is for sure - the magic of Christmas truly is under one roof!

Find East Farm on the edge of the village of Codford, just seven miles from Warminster. Follow the signs on the A36 and A303. To find out more call 01985 850982 or email: info@ eastfarmchristmas.co.uk. A special Ladies Night is taking place on Wednesday 9 November (6.30-9.30pm) in aid of Cancer Research UK, call for more information.

• eastfarmchristmas.co.uk

FUNTASIA MAGPIE CAFE SHOP

QUIRKY, COLOURFUL, UNIQUE & FULL OF FUN! • Children’s Clothes newborns

upto

16 • Dazzling ‘Irregular Choice’ &

• Swinging 60s vintage style dresses

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• Fantastic paintings & pictures

• Amazing items & artefacts of all sorts

• Stunning wallets, purses and bags

• Delightful quirky cards & gifts

6 East Street, Warminster BA12 9BN • 01985 216497

xmas shopping |

Christmas

Crackers

From driving experiences to jewellery, if you’re looking for inspiration for Christmas you’ve come to the right place!

THEWESTWILTSMAGAZINE

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| xmas shopping Museum in Britain & the Fox Talbot Museum at Lacock. The Drive-Tech Ltd are Skid experience and skills Control, Karting and 4x4 they have learnt Off Road experts. there feeds back Based at Castle into the work Combe Circuit they do for (within easy their regular reach of customers the M4 & too.

M5) their ultimate If you are keen driving to mount your

Drive-Tech Ltd

experiences will help you Drive-Tech build individual skills, increase your confidence, improve your personal safety, raise your awareness and provide white knuckle tension, all at the same time!

Any motorsport fan would love pushing their driving skills to new limits and there are options for everyone aged 10 and over. With gift vouchers starting at just £36, open dated and valid for 18 months, they make perfect presents this Christmas. For more details see the website or call their team.

01249 783010 | drivetechltd.co.uk

Right Angle Picture Framing A beautiful picture can really set off a room, and ensuring that it really sings is a job requiring an expert eye. Right Angle Picture Framing has been part of Corsham High Street for 30 years this month, so they’ve had a lot of experience framing a huge variety of items in many different ways. Whether you have an antique oil painting, classic album cover, sporting memorabilia, military honours or even simple family photographs, they can frame almost anything and make it look fantastic. In the last few years they have worked for the American

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new great recipes and get first hand advice, this is an event not to be missed. And if you are looking for a bargain you’ll find that too – just head over on ‘Black Friday’ 25 November and you’ll Right Angle find some for Picture Framing superb discounts throughout the store!

own pictures, Right Angle also sell mount board by the sheet and moulding by the length, as well as readymade frames and art materials, so you can get really creative and make something unique for your home.

01225 754161 | knees.online

"Knees Home & Electrical is a great place to go to search out those perfect Knees HomE & Electrical Christmas gifts."

Knees Home & Electrical, which 01249 716051 | rightanglepictureframing.co.uk

has branches in both Trowbridge and Malmesbury, is a great place to go to search out those perfect Christmas gifts. Foodies will love a Kitchen Aid Mixer (£359.10) or a Morphy Richards Spiralizer (£49.99 pictured), and they are available at internet beating prices. If you would prefer to browse online though you can do that too Knees at their new look website, knees.online. Foodies will also love the Neff cooking demonstration at the Trowbridge store on Saturday 19 November. Expert Alison Haigh, Neff’s Home Economist, will be demonstrating Neff’s fantastic new appliances. If you are updating your kitchen, or you are a food lover keen to learn some

Magpie Cafe & Gift Shop Since they took over Magpie Café & Gift shop last year, Julia and Robert have expanded their shop, on East Street in Warminster, into multiple rooms to cater for their huge variety of stock, which offers an everchanging choice of gifts for the home, transforming from one month to the next.

These gifts are of high quality and are irresistible and Julia is constantly on the lookout for new ideas to inspire the town of Warminster!

They cater for every occasion and provide the kind of wow factor when you walk in that is so often missing elsewhere.

Gifts include stunning Irregular Choice / Butterfly

xmas shopping |

S L Corden & Sons

Magpie Café & Gift Shop

Twist shoes, Vendula of London creative artwork bags, cushions, glasses, pictures, umbrellas and simply too much to mention here.

Over the festive period Magpie will be stocking the usual beautiful array of wonderfully quirky gifts including items from Canada, America and Germany to name but a few. Options will include gifts with a purpose such as a squirrel on a bowl nutcracker, salt and pepper pots that double as lovely ornaments, and lots of beautiful wooden items crafted in native timbers. There is so much to choose from just pop in and see for yourself.

01985 216497

Cordens in Warminster is a real fixture of Warminster High Street. A traditional ironmongers, the store is so much more to local residents, and currently operates 10 departments over three floors, covering: kitchenware, DIY, ironmongery, tools, electrical, gardening, camping, locks and key cutting, sugarcraft and gifts.

As an independent firm, they are renowned for their helpful and cheerful staff (many of whom have been in the shop between 10 and 25 years), their ability to solve problems, and being able to source unusual items quickly. Their famous Christmas Shop is also now open for all your decoration requirements, pop in and have a look, and if you are looking for gifts and stocking fillers - you won’t be disappointed with their selection.

01985 212115 | Search yell.com for S L Corden & Sons

Wadswick Country "Over the festive Store period Magpie will be Wadswick Country Store is a familystocking the usual owned and operated beautiful array of business based just wonderfully quirky outside Corsham. gifts including items They sell a wide of equipment from Canada, America range and clothing with and Germany to name top brands including but a few."

Dubarry, Musto, Barbour

and Joules to name just a few. They also have an extensive collection of footwear including Hunter and Le Chameau wellies.

As equine specialists, Wadswick is also the place to come S L Corden & Sons for

protective gear – they have qualified staff on hand to fit both body protectors and safety hats correctly.

As well as clothing, at this time of year look out for wonderful gifts for the whole family (pets included!) as well as stunning Wadswick accessories for the Country home. With easy Store parking and a café selling fresh coffee, cakes and lunches, why not head over and enjoy a relaxing shopping experience in the countryside?

01225 810700 wadswick.co.uk

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Friends of Bath Cats & Dogs Home

What can you get for ÂŁ1 a month?

Support the Friends of Bath Cats & Dogs Home and get the satisfaction of knowing you have helped to care for unwanted, neglected and abandoned animals.

Please join us for just ÂŁ1 a month.

Please support our Christmas Fair Sunday 27 November, 11am - 3pm at Bath Cats & Dogs Home, The Avenue, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AZ

e membership.friendsbcdh@gmail.com

07970 555537

www.friendsofbcdh.org Charity registration No. 284424

S.L. Corden & Sons

Timeless Elegance

A huge range of antique, pre-owned and vintage jewellery available online & instore

We are a traditional hardware store with a modern twist. Come to us for...

Also stockists of pre-owned Rolex® watches

• Household Items • Ironmongery • Tools • Paint • DIY • Electrical • Key Cutting • Gardening • Camping Equipment • Sugarcraft • Gifts

CHARLES HART Jewellers Since 1820

4 Cheap Street, Frome, Somerset BA11 1BN

THE CHRISTMAS SHOP IS NOW OPEN!

Telephone: 01373 462089 Open: Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm

4 High Street, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 9AE 01985 212115 | s.fraser2@btconnect.com

www.charleshart.co.uk www.vintagetom.co.uk

RIGHT ANGLE Picture Framing

For all types of picture framing & art materials too.

OPEN Mon to Fri 9am-5.30pm Sat 9am - 4pm 20 High Street, Corsham SN13 0ES

Tel 01249 716051

www.rightanglepictureframing.co.uk Serving Corsham since 1985

| xmas shopping

Lacock Photography Develop your skills with a photography course in the National Trust village of Lacock, the ‘Birthplace of Photography’...

E

very minute, millions of photographs are uploaded around the globe. Facebook has reported that its users have uploaded more than 250 billion photos and over 700 million photos are uploaded on Flickr every month. With such staggering and almost incomprehensible figures, it’s interesting to question why photography continues to inspire so many of us.

Fiona Turnbull, co-owner of Lacock Photography - one of the UK’s leading providers of photography workshops - shared her thoughts on this phenomenon. ‘‘Photography has always been an important aspect of my life; it enabled me to document my children growing up, stay connected to overseas family, remember the best holidays and really notice and appreciate the small details in life. It gets you outside (even when it’s raining!), allows you to express and share your creative

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side and is a hobby that knows no age limit. Considering the huge variety of reasons to be interested in photography, I’m not at all surprised it has become a part of so many people’s everyday lives’’.

Lacock Photography was founded

by Andy and Fiona Turnbull in 2010 and offers a variety of workshops, such as ‘Night Photography’, ‘Wildbird’ and ‘Creative Composition’. The most popular course is ‘Beginners’ Photography,’ which runs up to five times a month. On encouraging

absolute beginners to book on a course this autumn, Fiona explained that beginners are often anxious about grasping the technical side of photography. ‘‘A common concern for beginners is that they just ‘won’t get it’ on the day. However, the beginners’ course has been meticulously designed so everyone gets a clear understanding of the basics. People are always amazed by how much their photographs improve in just one day, and swear they will never go back to auto mode again!”

Online booking and Christmas gift cards are available for all courses on the Lacock Photography website.

• lacockphotography.com

“the beginners’ course has been meticulously designed so everyone gets a clear understanding of the basics.”

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Email: scott@sovereigndpc.co.uk www.sovereigndpc.co.uk Covering Wiltshire & Somerset

Call 01225 800537 /07538 206917

01249 716161 / 01225 811222 Unit 1, Ingoldmells Court, Edinburgh Way, Leafield Ind Estate Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 9XN

Ten Enterprise Centre, Whitehorse Business Park, Ascot Court, Trowbridge BA14 OXA

www.homefix365.co.uk

alex@homefix365.co.uk

Offering beautifully designed kitchens, or kitchen replacement doors, with a FREE innovative design & planning service • Stunning ranges including Contemporary, Traditional, Painted, Gloss and more • Expert Design & Installation • Appliances from the Industry’s Leading Manufacturers • The Homemaker Customer Care & After Sales Service 5-6 George Street, Warminster, Wilts BA12 8QA 01985 219200 | www.myhomemaker.co.uk

Allsop Carpets & Flooring • Carpets • Vinyl • Naturals • Wood Flooring

The ‘Barefoot’ range from Alternative Flooring

www.allsopcarpets.co.uk | 01373 463866 or 07887 953014 Corner Garage, Christchurch St West, Frome BA11 1EB

Using British Manufacturers & Suppliers

OPEN TO RETAIL & TRADE SPECIALIST SUPPLIERS OF QUALITY BATHROOMS & BATHROOM PRODUCTS

We are the number one source for heating and plumbing in Trowbridge and surrounding areas. We can supply a huge range of products: RADIATORS BOILERS CYLINDERS UNDERFLOOR HEATING SHOWERS COMPLETE BATHROOM SUITES ACCESSORIES

FIND LUXURY BATHROOMS AT LOW LOW PRICES Unit 6-7 Riverway, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8LL

01225 765000

www.activeplumbingsupplies.co.uk

Come see our range of fantastic sofas at unbeatable prices!

TREAT YOURSELF TO AN EARLY XMAS PRESENT! 01985 847031 | sofacoplus@yahoo.co.uk| www.sofaco.co.uk | 15 George Street, Warminster, BA12 8QA

| house & home

Pietra Wood & Stone

If you are looking for a beautiful new floor or stunning wall tiles, head over to Holt and speak to the experts at Pietra Wood & Stone.

S

ituated in the charming village of Holt, Pietra has been supplying and installing quality surfacing products for over 13 years. The company prides itself on the range of products it can offer to both the residential and commercial market. There is also a full fitting service available to help make your project hassle free.

With so many beautiful period properties in the area, from stunning Georgian apartments to charming Cotswold stone cottages, it is unsurprisingly that Pietra often

Before

After

what is already there, for instance installing beautiful flagstones as with the property above. From stunning reclaimed wooden or stone flooring to fully tiled bathroom suites, the team at Pietra can help sympathetically renew and restore any period property to former glories.

Pietra are equally at home though working on large scale renovations and new builds, with staff just as happy speaking with individual customers - or, if they prefer, liaising directly with their architect/interior

“With so many beautiful period properties in the area, from stunning Georgian apartments to charming Cotswold stone cottages, it is unsurprisingly that Pietra often find themselves working with clients to update character properties.” find themselves working with clients to update character properties. Largely with these properties it is a case of updating

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designer - to find the ideal product for your space. Not only that, but with another showroom in Fulham, they are also at the forefront of the

new up and coming designs being introduced in to the interiors world.

In recent months their Holt showroom has been extended and refurbished, enabling clients to view a selection of stone flooring, porcelain wall tiles and engineered wood flooring in a relaxed atmosphere where friendly, knowledgeable staff will help you find the right product at the right price. Choosing your new floor or wall tiles is not easy; the staff at Pietra can help to guide you through the process to ensure you know you have made the right decision. Once you have made your choice, they can also install it for you to guarantee a stunning, top quality finish. So, if you are thinking of modernising your home, call in to see them and they will be happy to help. Call 01225 783527 or email info@pietrawoodandstone.com to find out more.

• pietrawoodandstone.com

The Old Filling Station 400 Ham Green, Holt BA14 6PX t 01225 783527 / 782408 e info@pietrawoodandstone.com

NEW HOLT SHOWROOM NOW OPEN

Opening Hours Mon-Fri 9.00-5.30pm Sat 9.00-5.00pm

www.pietrawoodandstone.com

Fulham Showroom 196-198 Wandsworth Bridge Road, London SW6 2UE

Tel 0207 610 6111

XMAS TREES FOR SALE FROM END NOV

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE HERE

BEAUTIFUL PLANTS ALL GROWN ON BRITISH NURSERIES • Bedding & Annuals • Perennials • Veg & Herbs • Trees & Shrubs • Climbers • Roses PLUS: Pots & Planters • Compost • Fertilisers & Chemicals • Bulbs & Seeds • Tools • Sundries OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: Monday - Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm Marsh Road, Hilper ton, Wiltshire BA14 7PL | www.avonfield-gardens.co.uk | 01225 571331 Also visit J Alex Brown Hardware, Ironmongery, DIY, Gardening & More 30 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire Tel 01225 862236

| later life

What does the future hold?

Will you end up in long term care? Will your relatives have to sell your home to fund it? We asked ANDREW DOUGLAS, partner at Awdry Bailey Douglas Solicitors, to examine the issue. He and his team specialise in elderly care.

W

e all know that statistics can be misleading.

With that warning what do the statistics show?

Firstly, that 81% of people in care homes are over the age of 65. If you drill down, this same research also shows that if you are in the 65 year age group your chances are only 3 to 4%. This percentage increases significantly however for nonagenarians. A person who is between 90 and 99 years old – one of the fastest growing groups in our demographic – has a 50% chance of being in a care home. If you do end up in a care home research shows your average likely stay is just under three years.

over or a child aged 18 and below.

There are certain other exceptions If you do not fall into any of the exceptions mentioned councils do have a discretion not to require you to sell where another person lives in the property. Also, and importantly,

“a local authority must in certain circumstances allow you the option to defer paying for your care home fees by putting a charge on your property.”

a local authority must in certain circumstances allow you the option to defer Statistics are statistics. Of more paying for your care home concern to people is if they do need fees by putting a charge longer term elderly care will the on your property. This is local authority require you to sell called a deferred payment your home? This is a complicated arrangement. Interest is area. The first point to note, and chargeable and other which is fundamental, is that your conditions apply. home will not be taken into account for so long as you are receiving care abdcare is a managed, within your home. If you do need to branded division within go into a long term care home the Awdry Bailey & Douglas council will not take into account Solicitors. The firm is Lexcel your home until your other savings and IIP accredited and has are reduced to £23,250 and your won a number of awards. income is insufficient to pay for the They specialise in fighting for care home. the rights of victims, advising and assisting people with elderly care If your home needs to be issues. considered the local authorities cannot take it into account if there If you want to know remains living in your home your more, partner, former partner or civil then for a free partner, or if you leave behind a appointment and member of the family who is 60 or to find out the

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answers to questions that need answering email Andrew Douglas or his team on ajd@awdrys.co.uk or call 0800 072 8636. The firm has offices in Marlborough, Royal Wootton Bassett, Devizes and Chippenham. Alternatively visit their website where you have the option to complete a free quick enquiry form.

• abdcare.co.uk

| education

An outstanding education for life Taunton School is a co-educational boarding and day school, educating pupils from nursery through to sixth form on the edge of Somerset’s county town. the sports field, in the orchestra and theatre, students and teachers side by side. The school’s strengths lies in the diversity of pursuits that students are actively engaged in, which gives everyone the chance to shine. CCF, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Ten Tors, orchestras, choirs and instrumental groups, theatre productions, dance and drama performances, as well as an extensive sporting programme from elite players through to those just wanting a game, Taunton has a well-deserved reputation in the sports and the arts, with many children representing the school at county and national level.

T

he inspiring educational journey at Taunton starts in nursery, moves on through pre-prep, prep and senior school and on to sixth form, all in a spacious 56 acre campus on the edge of the county town of Taunton in Somerset.

to ensure students achieve their full potential with results well above national averages. We take time to find out what makes your child tick. This is how we can maximise academic achievement and how we motivate students to attain better than predicted results.

The school has extensive sports fields and facilities, beautiful old buildings, vibrant modern classrooms, specialist arts, music, drama and design & technology departments, but it’s really the people and the warmth of the community which makes us stand out. Our teachers are passionate about their subjects and inspire our students by going the extra mile in and out of the classroom. We hail from all walks of life and speak dozens of languages, reflecting the global community to which we belong.

“Students leave with a love of learning and a creative approach to problem solving”

The school has high academic standards and inspirational teachers

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The school has high academic standards and inspirational teachers

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The wellbeing of every child is front and centre of all they do.

Their teachers nurture, support and encourage every child to become resilient, respectful, confident young men and women, comfortable in their own skins. They also believe you don’t have to be at your desk to learn. Commitment, team work and leadership; improvement and success through iteration and practice; these are lessons learned on

There’s always more learning out there. The careers guidance, advice and support is outstanding and enable students to make informed decisions about their choices at sixth form, whether they pursue A Levels, International Baccalaureate or BTEC courses, and beyond school. Students leave with a love of learning and a creative approach to problem solving whether they go on to university, college or the world of work, anywhere in the world.

• tauntonschool.co.uk

Trowbridge Chiropodist

Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary Saving stray & unwanted dogs since 1958

Peter Wilkinson M.Inst.Ch.P

IMPROVING YOUR FOOT HEALTH

We can help with... • corns • calluses • hard skin

• ingrown toenails • fungal nail infections • footcare for the elderly, diabetics & those with poor circulation • advice & support Member of the Institute of Chiropodist and Podiatrists

Call today to make an appointment

Tel: 01225 571030

www.trowbridgechiropodist.co.uk Find us at: 13 St Georges Works, Silver St, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8AA

Find us on Facebook: Trowbridge - Chiropodist Follow us on Twitter: @TrowChiropodist

Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary is a small independent animal rescue organisation.

We are a non-destruction sanctuary for abandoned and unwanted dogs.

Our dogs are all vet checked, vaccinated, wormed, neutered and chipped, and looking for loving new homes

Open Daily 10am – 12.30pm & 2pm – 4.30pm Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary, Priory Rd, Ascot, Berks SL5 8RJ

01344 882689 | pineridgedogs@yahoo.co.uk Registered Charity Number 256728

| bath rugby

AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS Eight Bath players called up for international duty

G

eorge Ford is one of five players called up for England duty ahead of this month’s Autumn Internationals. He is joined in the squad by clubmates Jonathan Joseph, Charlie Ewels and Semesa Rokoduguni as well as Anthony Watson, who Eddie Jones hopes will recover from a broken jaw to take some part in the series. Called up for international duty with Wales were Luke Charteris and Taulupe Faletau, with coach Rob Howley hoping Faletau recovers from a knee injury to feature for Wales towards the end of November. Rhys Priestland missed out, though he wasn’t surprised by his omission. He said: “It hasn’t helped that I haven’t

played, so If I was picking the squad I wouldn’t have picked me. It will be nice for me to get some game time at Bath and hopefully hit a bit of form.” The final senior international call up was Kahn Fotuali’i, who has been selected by Samoa.

England face South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia this autumn whilst Wales play Australia, Argentina and Japan. Bath’s home match against Saracen’s on 3 December has been moved to a 12.15pm kick off to allow supporters to watch England v Australia (KO14:30), on the big screen at the Rec after the game, making it a feast of rugby for those attending.

• bathrugby.com

ENJOY A CHRISTMAS PARTY AT THE REC!

I

f you’re looking for a Christmas party with a difference or want a great festive night out with a group of mates, treat yourself to a Christmas package combining European rugby action and hospitality.

For just £125+VAT per person Bath Rugby is hosting a party package at the Pavilion. Situated right next to The Recreation Ground, you really couldn’t be closer!

GUESTS WILL BE TREATED TO: PRE-MATCH Bath Rugby welcome Complimentary bar serving beers, wines and soft drinks for one hour pre-match Two course Christmas menu Match programmes (1 per 2 guests) Open or covered match tickets

Luke Charteris has been called up for Wales

UPCOMING FIXTURES To buy tickets call the Ticket Office on 0844 448 1865 or go to the website.

4 November

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19:45

H

Leicester Tigers

LV

11 November 19:05

A

Scarlets

LV

18 November 19:45

H

Bristol

AP

TV

27 November 15:15

A

Harlequins

AP

TV

3 December

12:15

H

Saracens

AP

TV

10 December 14:30

A

Cardiff Blues

ERCC

15 December 19:45

H

Cardiff Blues

ERCC

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TV

TV

Groups of 10-12 guests will be seated on a private table while smaller groups will be seated on shared tables. For more details or to book call the Hospitality Team on 01225 325200 or email hospitality@bathrugby.com.

images Patrick Khachfe © Onside Images

POST-MATCH Cash bars DJ Q&A session with man of the match

images Patrick Khachfe Š Onside Images

| puzzles

Tea Break Teasers RUNNING KIT WORDSEARCH

What/who is missing from the grid?

BASE LAYER BUFF DRINK GARMIN GEL

SUDOKU

MEDIUM

GLOVES HAT HI VIZ LEGGINGS LIGHTS

SHOES SHORTS SOCKS T SHIRT VEST

WIN A £10 NEXT VOUCHER! Email your answers to these trivia questions to comp@wired-publishing.co.uk by 23.11.16 to be in with a chance of winning a £10 Next Voucher.

Good luck!

Q1: Who holds the IAAF world record for the women’s half marathon?

LAST MONTH’S SOLUTIONS Wordsearch missing word: COBNUT Quiz answers: 1: University of Bologna 2: Cambridge 3: 1826 4: Queen’s College, Cambridge 5: Vim promovet insitam

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Q2: What is the world record time for the men’s half marathon?

Q3: Where did Paula Radcliffe set the fastest Female half marathon time in 2001?

Q4: Who was first lady home in the 2015 AVR Wiltshire Half Marathon?

Q5: Who won the Bath Half Marathon in 2016?

Be sure to include your contact details so we can get in touch with you if you are our winner!

| last word

It’s a small world after all

W

e have worked very hard this year. At least we think so and as we are self-employed ours is really the only opinion that matters! Due to the blood, sweat and tears expended a short, long weekend around Christmas time was in order….if that makes any sense at all!! If you are a couple and believe you deserve a holiday at this time of year you might be looking at some winter sun options. Something involving relaxing by the pool, drink in hand looking forward to eating fantastic,

having photos taken with, normally sane adults dressed up as talking cars, massive bears with a penchant for hunny, one eyed green monsters or a beautiful princess that falls in love with someone so ugly that his name is actually The Beast!! We will be transported, literally, into different worlds. Worlds of wonder and fantasy where everyone loves each other and nothing bad ever happens. What more could you want at Christmas?!

As it goes, I am a bit of a fan of Disney. As long as you leave your cynicism at the turnstiles - and take your inner child in with you - it is

“As it goes, I am a bit of a fan of Disney. As long as you leave your cynicism at the turnstiles - and take your inner child in with you - it is very easy to get caught up in the occasion and have an amazing time…” freshly cooked food while the sun sets romantically in the background. If you are a couple and have an, almost 4 year old child, then not so much…. we are going to visit The Mouse.

Yes, we have bitten the Disney bullet and bowed to the pressure of advertising, 25% off if you book early don’t you know, and are off to Paris for The Disney Land Paris Winter Spectacular Enchanted Christmas Light and Laser Show on Ice Dance Party Spectacular……did I use spectacular already? Oh well you get my drift! We are taking the child on her first plane flight (which could be an interesting occasion in itself ) and spending three whole days in the company of cartoon and film characters galore. I can imagine we will be chatting to, and probably

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very easy to get caught up in the occasion and have an amazing time… Although at this stage I feel I should give you a warning. DO NOT go on the It’s A Small World ride after a few drinks….it is without question the most psychedelic experience you can have on this earth without actually ingesting any hallucinatory substances. If you don’t believe me have a look on YouTube; it’s freaky enough sober but with a few drinks on board it would be downright scary!!

Slightly weird, stereotypical and mildly racist rides apart, the whole Disney experience - if you are with a child - is pretty uplifting. What I’m not so sure about is the amount of adults you see with no children in tow. Unless they have left their

charges alone with Winnie the Pooh, Cinderella, Lightning McQueen or Mike Wazowski (which I would imagine is frowned upon) then walking around, what is essentially, a gigantic kids’ playground wearing plastic mouse ears is just plain odd.

And don’t even get me started on Disney weddings. Yikes.

I’m hoping the whole experience will be a really lovely addition to our Christmas. Immersing oneself in the Disney world for a few days may not be everyone’s cup of tea but at this time of year, and with a child who is still pretty full of wonder, it promises to be a fantastic, family weekend…

I just need to find my mouse ears!!

Phil Rockliffe